Time capsule attracts variety of artifacts

February 8, 2008

Whoever is president of the University in 2032 will find some words of wisdom from a predecessor when he or she opens a 25-year-old time capsule.

As one event to mark the University’s 100th anniversary, a time capsule was unveiled during the Alumni and Friends Centennial Homecoming 2007 festivities last September. A call for artifacts, memorabilia and other items of historical significance was tendered at this time, and submissions for the centennial time capsule closed Jan. 31.

Looking through the materials donated from the campus community, several significant items were noted by Susan Bertolo, assistant to President Peter MacKinnon.

There is the 1998 Vanier Cup football signed by members of the victorious Huskies squad and donated by former University president George Ivany. A solar-powered toothbrush, designed by College of Dentistry researchers, was also submitted. There are DVD chronicles of Congress 2007, CD’s from the Department of Music, and even several copies of On Campus News that document the centennial celebrations.

And among various other documents, newsletters and bulletins submitted from across campus is the letter written by MacKinnon to the president who will open the time capsule in 2032, which he read at September’s homecoming dinner.

The time capsule is currently in Bertolo’s office. And while she said there has been no final decision as to where the sealed box will rest for the next 25 years, she suspects it will find a home in the office of the president.

A complete inventory of the items was scheduled to take place Feb. 6, during which time a group planned to look at the items and decide if any would be best donated to the University Archives. Ghislaine McLeod, director of communications, said if it is determined that particular items would be best kept unsealed for the next 25 years and publicly accessible, the donor will be asked for their consent to keep the materials in the Archives.