A: Dear Just Curious,
Yes, we know some secrets about all of that.
~Le Frog

A: Dear Curious,
Well, I'll tell you about some traditions that we used to have that no longer exist (you can draw your own conclusions as to why).

1 -- they used to plow the field (where they have intramurals now) to turn up the loose soil, then the fire department would hose that puppy down 'till it was a lake of mud. Oh yea. They'd have weekly mud football games between the dorms (and they were huge -- way big rivalries and stuff). Compare that to the flag football that we have now. Bah.

2 -- they also used to pull in and plant a huge pole in the middle of that field and have 'greased pole climbing'! Is that the coolest or what?! I look at my pa's old pictures and wonder "if BYU's supposedly increased in wisdom and intelligence over the years, how in the world did they ever do away with the greased pole climb??". Baffles me.
-PEZkopf

A: Dear Just Curious,
What a great question! BYU has more secrets and traditions than any other place I know! Lots of BYU secrets are ones that almost everyone knows. Like the system of tunnels underneath campus. Many of us have seen workers servicing them across campus, and no one can resist peaking down the manholes. These tunnels are mostly for convenience and maintenance, but they're still cool. Or one of my favorite little-known facts: did you know there is a building on campus underneath the Tallmadge Building? It's call the Data Center, and it has lot of the computer stuff that keeps BYU running. There's lots of secrets around here, but none of 'em are too secret that no one knows 'em. And what about traditions? BYU oodles of traditions. There's the canned food drive competition that we have every year between BYU and the University of Utah. There's the Cougar Fight Song, Throwing Tortillas, Hiking the Y, Waiting for Missionaries, Buying Ice Cream for Roommates when you Smooch Someone, and Tunnel Singing. There isn't another place in all the world with more traditions than BYU, so you've come to the right place.
-Balthasar

P.S. If you want to know more about myths and traditions on campus, the Daily Universe had an article about that topic earlier this year. You can still find it online at http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/39650.

A: Dear Curious,
First, I would like to state that throwing tortillas is NOT, I repeat, NOT, a tradition. This was begun by some people who don't realize that throwing objects onto the playing field could get a penalty called on BYU. After every BYU home win, the Victory Bell at the Marriott Center is rung. This has also happened after big road wins, such as 1994 when BYU beat Notre Dame 21-14 in South Bend. Another tradition at football games happens in the fourth quarter of a game when BYU is blowing out the other team. The band plays "Popcorn popping on the apricot tree" while the student body jumps up and down while the song plays. At basketball games, when an opposing players foul out, the student body chants "left, right" according to the players' footsteps until the player reaches the bench, when the crowd yells, "sit down" as the fouled out player takes a seat. As for other traditions, I don't know about many as BYU doesn't have some like other schools. Some may think that to be sad, but many schools have traditions that have ended up resulting in student deaths and other sad consequences that have to do with morality. Most of our traditions deal with our unique heritage and the world class education we receive at a very good price.
-Thor

A: Dear Sandy,
I don't mean to be Captain Obvious, but what do people usually do with gardens? They plant stuff in 'em. What particular plants and/or flowers will be up to the BYU grounds crew, but saying that something will be planted there is a pretty safe bet. It's just part of BYU's effort to make campus beautiful. As far as who created the garden, that would be your fellow students working for BYU grounds crew. Hats off to them.
-Balthasar

A: Dear curios non-pyro,
Not really. Occasionally "drills" will take place in random buildings though, such as the Wilk, or more often, the library. These "drills" interrupt everyone's lives...moving all your stuff is a lot of work, you know? As we find out later, however, they aren't scheduled. For instance, take the library for example: either someone is messing with the alarm, or the water pipes between the first and second floor will burst causing flooding in Management/Econ, or the sixth floor (yes, if you were wondering what was on that floor, it is indeed more librarians) will produce random smoke from the lunchroom, or any other given incident will occur.

Anyway, the testing center part did intrigue me as well, and fortunately I was able to ask a kind T.C. proctor that same question. I was also given the privilege of taking an English exam on that very same day! (Wasn't I lucky? Two great things in the same day! You're jealous, I know.) Right.

Well, the testing center employee gave me a strange look as she handed me my own exam, but answered that she was pretty sure they don't schedule fire drills in the testing center. "Not as long as I've been here," she said. And she'd been there awhile. So, rest assured, you will never be interrupted by a fire drill while you are wasting 2 hours of your life....er, taking an exam. If you do hear an alarm, however, first of all be grateful for the alarm, but quickly flee the premises (preferably in a neat and orderly fashion.) Thank you.
--Missing London

A: Dear Milk Man,
Well, the infamous Plant 49-19 is actually located up in Salt Lake City at Welfare Square. That's right people, no longer does BYU even produce <any> milk that you purchase here on campus. Word has it that "the Church" took over production and now transports it in on a daily basis. Where does that leave our poor little creamery? Well, they still produce a few items on their own: juice, cottage cheese, ice cream, buttermilk, sour cream, yogurt, and some cheeses (the mild ones, depending on aging processes). Smells likes a conspiracy.
-PEZkopf

A: Dear Mous,
I spoke with a financial planner friend of mine who graciously took the time to offer some excellent advice. Here's what he had to say:

"If you are asking about health insurance, it is important to know that health insurance and its accompanying laws vary widely from state to state. Therefore, you would best be served by speaking with a health insurance broker in the area in which you will be living.

"I should start by saying that if you plan to purchase an individual policy (one
for you and your family only, as opposed to one through an employer), your options might automatically be limited. Carriers for individual policies can be scarce.

"Certainly, if you will be traveling often between one location and another, it will be important that your coverage includes service providers (physicians, hospitals, etc.) in both areas. Often, the best carriers for those types of situations are the larger health insurance companies with networks of providers all over the country.

"If your needs will be localized, you would then be able to consider a smaller carrier, which might provide the most effective insurance (lowest premiums, best coverage, etc) in that particular area, although keep in mind the word "might."

"Health insurance brokers can be difficult to find. Nevertheless, they do exist.

"You might want to start by looking in the phone book for local health insurance brokers (under "insurance agent"). A couple websites at which to start would be: www.bcbs.com (Blue Cross/Blue Shield) and www.tdi.state.tx.us (Texas Department of Insurance).

"On the other hand, if your question is regarding car insurance, my advice is to
start by calling some of the larger carriers (State Farm, Nationwide, Progressive, etc.)"

If you'd like to speak with my friend, please let the 100 Hour Board know your email address or phone number and I'll have him get in touch with you.

Reinsuringly,
--MrPhil

A: Dear Clinton King,
I checked with numerous sources involved with the construction of the new SFLC and none of them verified what you said about the floor plan being north-south symmetrical. So therefore, I guess that they just thought that the different rebars and column shapes would be cuter. Besides, even if the floors are mainly symmetrical, stylistic differences just add to the effect; 'tisn't like they must be perfect duplicates.
-Scot