PVCC Puma Press: December 2006

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	Photo by Sean McDaniel
	Avast ye earthlings! Jebediah gallantly poses atop a desk in the SLC office, still wearing his pirate attire from the Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre.
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In a Galaxy not far from the Student Life Center office there exists an entity, which has observed PVCC for quite some time and has continued to do so for almost eight years running.

“There was a psychic fair here in about ’97-'98,” says Heather Kruse, M. Ed, director of Student Life and Leadership at SLC, referring to the origin of a small green alien called “Jebediah” who has come to live in the office.

Previous office staff is said to have considered him an interesting novelty during the fair and to have hoped he might stimulate attention for SLC. They adopted him and put him in the office window.

“He used to be up there,” notes Kruse, regarding the window of the SLC building that stretches around the Cafeteria. “We used to have a sign that said ‘SLC: Out of this world!’” Indeed, long time students may recall the alien’s face peering out onto the unsuspecting lunch crowds for some time with that same banner adorning the metallic side of the building.

Little, rubbery Jebediah (recently named by SLC staff) had been intrigued by human consumption for up until two years ago when he had been put away for storage purposes. “We were going to throw him out, but the students protested,” says Kruse.

A recent spring-cleaning brought Jebediah a new lease on life as new students embraced the small green visitor and have eagerly pushed him to the forefront of their workspace in the SLC office. He can currently be spotted looking into the KSC Student Union, admiring the plethora of young brains in their downtime between classes.

The years have not been kind to Jebediah as wear is beginning to show on his small body, most notably in his loss of fingers. Students don’t seem to mind as people frequently stop in to enquire about the extraterrestrial in the window.

To ensure his continued contribution to school spirit and as a friendly nod to conservatively dressed aliens everywhere, Jebediah can been seen regularly sporting PVCC apparel. This fall, he has been showing off his SLC support for the pirate-themed Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre by wielding a sturdy cutlass and wearing a convincing beard, eye patch and pirate appropriate hat.

While some staff may distance themselves from Jebediah, students such as Elba Boe, 22, have become so attached to the creature that they have been able to influence his behavior. From across the SLC office, Boe regularly gives him the cue to wave at passing students with a small arm movement from her desk. Though lately he’s been waving a sword around instead.

In spite of some protest due to the fact that Jebediah is nothing even remotely like a Puma, the students have made Jebediah into an unofficial mascot who instills them with morale and a sense of whimsy to get them through the day. Students can expect this particular visitor to hang around a while longer and to keep students guessing with his ever-changing wardrobe. Keep an eye out for Jebediah looking out of the SLC window into the KSC Student Union and be sure to wave.