Inside Iowa State
May 24, 1996
OM returns to ISU
by Anne Dolan
The Odyssey of the Mind World Finals return to Iowa State
next week for the third time. Iowa State also hosted the
world finals in 1990 and 1994. The competition runs Thursday,
May 30, through Saturday, June 1. Participants, coaches and
judges begin arriving on campus Tuesday, May 28. An estimated
14,000 visitors from all over the world, including 7,000
participants representing 740 teams, will be on campus.
Odyssey of the Mind is an international problem-solving competition that emphasizes teamwork and creativity. In four age divisions, it involves student teams from kindergarten through college in problems written each year for the last 18 years by the OM Association, based in Glassboro, N.J.
During World Finals, the residence halls will be filled to capacity. Competitions will be held in the Scheman, Fisher and Stephens facilities at the Iowa State Center, Lied Recreation Athletic Center, Physical Education and Music buildings, Memorial Union and Kildee and Pearson halls. With the exception of the spontaneous problem, all OM competitions are open to the public at no charge.
In addition, Beyer Hall will be used by "OMers" for recreation and State Gym will be the site of a creativity festival Tuesday through Saturday, May 28 to June 1. Beyer and State gyms will be closed to public recreation those days.
Special hours at Lied
The Richardson Court loop and the parking loop behind Friley Hall will be closed from 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 28, to 11 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, to allow buses to unload. Staff who usually park in those locations, whether general or reserved, are asked to park in alternate locations those two days. Lots 55 and 81 adjacent to the Child Development Lab are not included in the temporary change.
The Lied Recreation Athletic Center will have special fitness hours for the campus community during the OM World Finals. Tuesday through Friday, the main level (basketball, raquetball and volleyball courts) will be open from 7 p.m. to midnight only, and closed all day Saturday, June 1. The second floor fitness area (track, weights area and exercise machines) will have extended hours during OM week, and will be unaccessible to OM participants. The second floor area will be open to the university community from 6 a.m. to midnight Tuesday through Friday, May 28-31, and from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 1.
Volunteers needed
Liz Kurt, special events coordinator, said volunteers still are needed for assignments in the Memorial Union at information booths and a lost-and-found room. Volunteers are needed for 5-7 p.m. shifts Tuesday through Friday, all day Saturday and 8 a.m to noon Sunday. Call Chris Knight, 4-3238, to volunteer.
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