Professor emeritus Dick Moriarty says he enjoyed the stand-up format of the Big Chill holiday luncheon, Thursday in Vanier Hall.

“You got a chance to get around and talk to everyone,” he says. “I have seen colleagues who are retired, those who are still working, and some who don’t me as a professor—just as Sean’s dad.”

Dr. Moriarty—father of Sean Moriarty in Information Technology Services—also won a door prize draw for a night’s stay at the Hilton Hotel. He says his wife will help him to figure out how to use it.

The party drew more than 300 guests, says catering manager Dean Kissner.

“It was extremely upbeat and festive,” he says. “Everyone was here just to have a good time.”

This is the second year the event has followed a stand-up format, with patrons moving between food stations that served dishes ranging from tortillas with Mexican fillings to fruit in a chocolate fountain.

“I think people are getting more comfortable with the format,” Kissner says.

Moriarty certainly is, saying he chose his meal based on “whatever had the shortest line,” and eventually got to sample some of everything.

Cathie Janisse, coordinator of the campus service office, is quick to identify her favourite part: a special bar that served garlic potatoes in martini glasses with a choice of toppings ranging from broccoli in cheese sauce to chili, fried onions or horseradish.

“Who can beat mashed potatoes?” she asks. “I covered mine in poutine gravy and whatever else they had!”

Kevin Storey and Ian Hibbert work behind the bar—itself an ice sculpture—at Thursday’s luncheon.

Guests enjoyed a selection of comically long sandwiches.

Renée Wintermute of the University Secretariat adds bacon atop her mashed potato martini.

Brittany Renaud, a cook with Food Services, impresses herself with her skills at making hot chocolate.

Laura McLean, secretary to the dean of science, is in a distinct minority. She was one of just two respondents to get every answer correct in Wednesday’s trivia quiz marking the 12th day of the 12th month of the 12th year.

Since hers was the name that came out of the hat, McLean received a copy of Cooking with Giovanni Caboto, courtesy of the University Bookstore.

One question in particular tripped up the majority of contestants—the final gift in The 12 Days of Christmas. In her e-mail response, McLean called it a “trick question.”

“On the 12th day the singer received the 12 drummers drumming, but also received all the other gifts, so the final gift is the partridge (I hope)!” she wrote.

Quizmaster Kevin Johnson says he wasn’t trying to mislead anyone.

“I thought the partridge was the obvious answer; all you have to do is sing the song,” he admits. “I intended the trick question to be the one about 12 Angry Men—I had assumed everyone would guess Henry Fonda.”

Only one question was answered correctly by every player: Twelfth Night falls on Epiphany eve. For those readers playing along at home, here are the 12 correct answers to the quiz:

1. The polyhedron with 12 edges is a) a cube. A dodecahedron has 12 sides.
2. A baker’s dozen has d) 13 items, a tradition dating from efforts of the medieval bakers guild to avoid serious sanctions for shortchanging customers.
3. A dozen dozens, 144, is c) a gross.
4. On the periodic table, b) magnesium has an atomic number of 12.
5. King Eurystheus released Heracles from his labours when confronted with d) Cerberus, the guardian of Hades.
6. Of the 12 tribes of Israel, c) Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph’s sons, Jacob’s grandsons.
7. Twelfth Night falls on the eve of a) Epiphany.
8. The final gift received by the singer of The 12 Days of Christmas is d) a partridge in a pear tree—after 12 drummers drumming, etc.
9. The foreman of the jury in the 1957 film 12 Angry Men was played by a) Martin Balsam.
10. There are 12 players per side in c) Canadian football.
11. Chinese new year in 2013 will usher in the year of b) the snake.
12. The Schoolhouse Rock episode multiplying by 12 starred d) Little Twelvetoes, a space alien with six fingers on each hand.

If you didn’t win, take heart—DailyNews will run another quiz with an entirely different set of questions in Monday’s edition.

Reminder: Bookstore employee discount sale today

Today, the Bookstore is offering UWindsor faculty and staff a 10 per cent discount on almost everything in stock at both of its campus locations—its temporary home in Vanier Hall as well as the kiosk in the CAW Student Centre.

Provost Leo Groarke has announced the appointment of Bala Kathiresan as executive director of Information Technology Services, effective January 2.

“He brings to the University a wealth of experience gained in the management of information systems in the public and private sector,” Dr. Groarke says, noting his service as executive vice-president and chief operating officer, corporate services, for Ontario’s largest multisite community teaching hospital, comprising seven sites, serving 434,000 residents across 12 municipalities in Niagara.

“I count on everyone to make him feel at home and work with him as he addresses the development and maintenance of ITS at the University of Windsor,” says Groarke.

He also expressed thanks to Sean Moriarty for his “stalwart commitment and service” while serving as an interim executive director during what turned out to be a lengthy search.

In contrast to previous practice, DailyNews will publish each weekday through December 21, as well as January 2, 3 and 4 in the new year.

“Some of those editions might be pretty short, given people’s schedules,” says editor Kevin Johnson. “However, we are trying to provide the best possible service and hope that retaining daily publication will make it easier for readers to get the information they need.”

Now that the Centre for Research in Argumentation, Reasoning and Rhetoric; the nursing lab; and the Cross-Border Transportation Group have moved to  Chrysler Hall, Essex Hall and the Toldo Health Education Centre respectively, Canterbury College has developed suite style residence accommodation in the vacated Parker House, 105 Sunset Avenue.

General manager Janet Harris says the college hopes the spaces prove desirable to mature students.

“During the last several years it became clear that many students wanted more than just a room to live in while attending University,” she says. “The suites offer a beautiful and harmonious living environment while promoting academic success.”

The new suites will offer a self-contained kitchen, dishwasher and bright colour finishes, and will be available for rent January 2013. For rental information please contact Brenda Smith at brsmith@uwindsor.ca.