Underwear everywhere. That's what early arrivals to Robert Lee Moore Hall were greeted with Friday morning, the day the self-descibed "Underpants of Science Museum" hung its handiwork from the ceiling of the lobby. The unofficial museum curators are still at large, and their exhibit was removed by UTPD after an unknown person filed a complaint.
The exhibit featured the mock unmentionables of several different scientists, including the likes of Albert Einstein, Rene Descartes and Marie Curie. An array of intimates were suspended from the ceiling including everything from long johns to a lace corset to whitey tighties, complete with a nameplate attributing the underwear to the wearer.
The shape of the structure is not known at this time, but the total number of pieces was less than two dozen.
The founders outlined their intentions on two Web sites, MySpace and Blogspot. The sites said that the gallery was "intended to honor those who have illuminated our understanding of the universe and has nothing to do with Saturday's date." The curators also explained that their aim was "to amuse and to educate," and promised that the gallery would be removed "someday before April 4."
But someone was not amused, and the powers that be were not compliant. A complaint was filed with the UT physical plant and UTPD, both of which arrived on the scene between 8:20 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. to remove the exhibit, said Dave Gilson, assistant in the Physics Mathematics and Astronomy Library. Gilson arrived around 8 a.m., early enough to see the underwear, as well as take pictures before they were taken down.
"When I walked in and saw it I just started laughing," Gilson said. "I'm not sure why anyone lodged a complaint, everyone I saw was cracking up. No one seemed angry."
The employees of the Seattle's Best coffee stand in the RLM lobby were some of the first to see the exhibit as well, and were there as the police removed the display. John King, a Seattle's Best employee and a senior at Texas State University, watched the police alternately rip down undergarments and write in their notepads.
"They seemed really pissed off," King said. "It just seems like they would have better things to do, or more serious crimes to get angry about. I mean aren't bikes getting stolen or something?"
While rumors circulated that there could be punishments and possibly even charges brought against the erectors of the exhibit, Rhonda Weldon, UTPD spokeswoman said no charges would be filed.
There are many unanswered questions surrounding the stunt; not only are the identities of the pranksters unknown, so is when the exhibit was set up and how. A tall ladder would be needed, Gilson said, to get the underwear as high up as the exhibit was.
As for when, those who arrived early to RLM, like Gilson and King, were greeted with a completed exhibit. However, Austin Gleeson, professor in the physics department, said that he arrived to the building around 6:20 a.m. and walked up as the curators were completing their work.
"They had just finished as I was coming in," Gleeson said. "Another professor shouted at them and tried to pursue, but they didn't stop."
While the perpetrators and their methods are still a mystery, many have their suspicions. Carol Noriega, an administrative assistant in the physics department, thinks that the museum could be the work of physics graduate students.
"They're pretty funny and like to pull off April Fools stunts," Noriega said.
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