Traditions In the Department of Biological Science at Florida State University (updated 18 Feb 05)

Originally, BioNotes was produced on paper and was mimeographed or photocopied for distribution to all members of the department. By late 1995, when BioNotes went all-electronic, over 350 copies were being distributed each week.

• In 2002, the straw hats won the game by default (the white coats didn't show up).
• In 2003, the game was held on Saturday, November 15, at high noon on the Tom Brown Park Soccer Fields. It lasted an epic three hours and was finally called (to allow players to attend a real football game held across town) at two touchdowns each. No tie-breaker was ever played, and the "true" outcome is still in dispute.
• The 2004 matchup took place Sunday, November 7, at 1:00 p.m. on the FSU Intramural Fields (postponed from a date earlier in the same year). Decisive victory went to the white coasts.

Quilting

The first such project was that commemorating the birth (May 30, 1991) of Tander Lee Simberloff, first daughter of then faculty member Daniel Simberloff and his wife Mary Tebo. Well in advance, friends and colleagues were invited to contribute 9-inch squares to be assembled into the quilt top. Most participants had no experience in the process, and no restrictions were placed on color, pattern, or theme, so the result was an eclectic assortment of fabric images, traditional quilting patterns, and original combinations like woven ribbons and fabric paint. Tom and Alice chose coordinating fabrics to form the borders, backing, and edges; Tom assembled the top and stretched the top, batting, and backing on his home-made quilting frame; and Alice chalk-marked miles of lines, in decorative patterns, around and through the squares and borders to guide the stitchers. Finally, on April 28, 1991, everyone involved assembled at the Miller/Winn home for an old-fashioned quilting bee. Some brought musical instruments, others food, and eight people at a time took turns sitting around the frame, hand-stitching through all the layers along the chalked lines. For most, it was a first experience of quilting. When all the lines within convenient reach of the edge had been stitched, the sides were rolled inward, giving the stitchers access to more central portions. When all the decorative stitching was complete, Tom and Alice bound the edges with matching fabric, and the finished quilt was presented to the proud parents. Tander's quilt was even exhibited at the fall 1991 quilt show at the Museum of Florida History.

Yo, Chuck!