By Gao Na Yang
Last week, any visitor on campus would have had good reason to think that UP students and staff had morphed into pirates on a treasure hunt for hidden medallions.
The annual campus-wide hunt for prize-winning medallions, a Homecoming tradition at UP, stumps Ph.D. professors and freshmen alike.
Riddle-like clues hinting at the whereabouts of the elusive medallions were posted online and around campus throughout Homecoming week. However, seekers who hoped to find the first medallion and, thereby win first-place, didn't stand a chance for long.
Before the final clue had been posted, juniors Zach Uhles and Luke Sikma had already found the medallion taped to the shelf in the botany journals section downstairs in the library.
According Uhles, it was around 11:15 p.m. Wednesday when they found the medallion. "I was so shocked when I found it," said Uhles. "I didn't think we would find it."
The first clue read, "Touched by the stadium lights, I do not partake in the East-West quad fights." Even though they were cryptic, the riddles were not hard to decipher, Uhles explained.
"Because I do not like the rain, I stay hidden under my domain," the second clue hinted.
Sikma began his search for the medallion on Tuesday. However, it was the third clue, which read, "Austen, Nietzsche, and Robert Frost; among these names I could get lost," that led Sikma and Uhles to the correct site.
"I didn't figure out the exact location, but the third clue led me to the library," Sikma said. "So, I just started looking all over."
They had figured that the medallion would be hidden in a place students don't usually visit. Sikma suggested they begin their hunt in the basement behind the media desk, said Uhles.
When they spotted the medallion, they were ecstatic.
"To find such a small object out of the whole campus was really amazing," Sikma said.
They had attempted to find not only one, but both of the medallions, Uhles explained. Despite their efforts, they couldn't find the second.
As students commonly understood, the clues became less vague as they neared the final day. The fourth clue, which provided a visual cue, read, "To these rules we must abide; so quietly behind the yellow tags I hide."
In the past, the Traditions Committee, which is responsible for coordinating Medallion Madness, offered only one prize. According to Student Alumni Association (SAA) adviser and University Relations Special Projects Coordinator Kristin Bryant, SAA decided to have two medallions this year due to the increasing interest in "the madness."
The purpose of the event is to connect students with alumni, nurture future alumni leaders and develop tradition at UP, Bryant said.
This year, the hunt for medallions kept the library busy throughout the week, said junior front desk worker Rachel Philips. There were about 10 students waiting outside of the library at 7:30 a.m. last Friday, she said.
"People rushed in to find it," Philips said.
Sophomore Frank Winczewski and his friends were among many of the unlucky participants who waited for the final clue, which read, "Because I am a botany lover; among these books is where I take cover."
There were a lot of students who tried to find the medallion on Friday, said Winczewski. "Our hopes weren't super high to begin with," he said. "But we were a little disappointed."
Sophomore Valerie Chiong also tried to find the medallion on Friday, but gave up quickly.
"It was only for a little while," Chiong said. "I didn't try very hard, though."
The first place prize included $50 cash, a UP pride pack that consisted of a t-shirt, a UP glass, and a UP car decal and two tickets to the Homecoming dance. The second place prize included $30 cash, a t-shirt and two tickets to Homecoming as well. Although the second medallion was found, the second prize has not yet been claimed.
While prizes were the driving force for some students, Bryant believes there is much more to Medallion Madness.
"For some people, it's the prizes," she said. "But for some, it's the fun."
Some alumni followed the clues via e-mail and had wanted to know if their guesses were correct, Bryant added. Even after the race was over, some people still wanted to decipher the cryptic clues.
The fun of playing "detective," not winning tickets to Saturday's dance, was the prime motivator for Uhles.
"I already got tickets at the alcohol speaker, so Luke used the tickets," Uhles said.
The winners enjoyed the fun and mystery, but the prizes did not lose their appeal either.
"A cash prize is always worth a try," Sikma said.
Uhles described his experience as amazing, surprising and exciting, while Sikma said his experience was intense, hardcore and exuberant.
"I was excited and would definitely compete again," Uhles said.
Sikma agreed. "Absolutely," he said. "We have to defend our crowns."
