Sometime during the weekend of Jan. 20-21, 2007, following a six-inch snowfall, Herman Bubbert reappeared on campus after a long absence. With the help of some students, he built a toboggan run on the Ad Building steps in time to welcome prospective students for an Admissions Visit Day Jan. 22. A photo of then-Bethel President Barry Bartel and now-retired Vice President for Academic Affairs John Sheriff sliding down the run (garbed in their dress shirts and ties) made the rounds of Mennonite publications and The Newton Kansan. Cardboard signposts nearby directed travelers to “Barry Bartel Bungalow,” “Patty Shelly Point,” “Convocation Cabins,” “Dale Schrag Slalom” and “Mt. Menno Simons.”
Ad Building turns into toboggan run,
The astute observer will note that the beautiful sign post used in this prank has pieces of cardboard duct-taped over each sign board. This curious detail often goes unnoticed but the story behind it is relevant. The sign post was originally built in conjunction with a lesser known prank that occurred circa 2004 on the symbolic anniversary of Martin Luther’s nailing his 95 theses on the Wittenberg door. The modest prank included a modern retelling of the “Diet of Worms” in the Krehbiel Science Center, a display of prominent Reformation figures (which replaced the wall of Bethel president pictures in the student center), and a display on Reformation basics in the Mantz Library. The premier feature was a new set of 95 theses affixed on the front doors of the Ad Building with the wooden sign post standing in front of the Ad building steps. The sign post presumed its location to be Wittenberg and pointed north to Berlin, west to North Newton, among other places, with approximate distances to said places from Wittenberg. The builders of this sign post and Herman’s other hench-(men and/or women) in the 95 Theses prank I’m sure are honored that their sign got some extra mileage (and publicity) in 2007.