By way of introduction my name is John Schael and I had the honor and privilege to serve as Washington University’s director of athletics from June 1978 through June of 2014. And while I would prefer to introduce myself in person and shake your hand… circumstances will not allow me to do so.
So begins Athletic Director Emeritus John Schael’s letter to the future, one of the many items locked into a time capsule and placed into the cornerstone of the new Gary M. Sumers Recreation Center Nov. 7.
Schael was joined by students, alumni and staff members who gathered in the Hall of Champions to honor the history of Francis Gymnasium and Washington University Athletics. To be opened in 50 years, the capsule will give the future generations a peek into life at Washington University in 2015.
Other time capsule items include a piece of the original Francis Gymnasium wood floor; a 900-page course catalog; and an tablet loaded with photographs, stories and videos — as well as a charger and instructions.
An original 2003 Red Alert T-shirt, winner of a community-wide time capsule competition, also was packed into the capsule along with the version worn by today’s students. Donated by Red Alert founder Joel Gluskin, the shirt was selected for representing the spirit of student fans.
“Who knows what students will be wearing 50 years from now, but I hope they are still going to games and are proud to attend an institution that has such outstanding athletics and academics,” said Gluskin, who started the student-only fan group in ’03 and graduated from the College of Arts & Sciences in ’04.
Last year, workers extracted the original 1902 time capsule from Francis Gymnasium. University archives revealed the capsule contained a list of university alumni, a 1901-02 course catalog and photo engravings of the campuses’ original Cope and Stewardson buildings. Sadly, a crack in the cornerstone allowed water to seep into the copper capsule, destroying all but a few pages of its contents.
The exhibit, “A Snapshot in History: WU Athletics and a New Campus, 1900-1915,” includes those surviving documents, original photographs and documents from the 1902 laying of the gymnasium cornerstone as well information about the 1904 World’s Fair and the early University Athletics Program. Located in Olin Library, the exhibit will run through Jan. 3, 2016.
Schael said he feels linked to both his 1902 predecessors and his 2065 counterpart. In his letter, he quotes a 1932 university document stating: “Our vision is of a great University, whose record and traditions are splendid, whose growth, success and service have been phenomenal, whose prospects are brilliant, and whose future will be assured by the loyal cooperation and support of its former students. Will you help make this dream come true?
“This vision is as powerful today as it was in 1932,” Schael writes. “And I am confident it will be equally so in the year 2065.”