I got this email this morning at work. This is one of the funniest things I've read in a while. (BTW, AP&M is the computer science building at UCSD). I think they should give that art student free financial aid or something.

Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 07:13:02 -0800
From: Wayne Frater <>
To: , , ,
, , ,

Subject: Signs on water fountains

All APM,

I called EH&S re: the 'posted notices'. Here is their response. I,
and they, are also talking to Vis Arts to determine if this was a
'finals project' and to express our opinions about stepping over the
line.

Wayne

EH&S Response:
As some of you may have noticed, a number of signs have been posted
over campus drinking fountains warning that the water has been tested
and contains "dihydrogen monoxide". The sign goes on to list all of
the dire health consequences of consumption (bladder discomfort,
etc.) and at the bottom of the sign is a UCSD logo and the words
"UCSD Environmental Health and Safety". A sample is on the door to
my office.

Of course "dihydrogen monoxide" is just water. The signs appear to
be the work of a rogue visual arts student, but several people around
campus didn't get the joke and were very alarmed. Signs have been
removed from the VA building and AP&M, if anyone sees any more
around, please remove them.

The most significant issue is that the logo and our office were used
to give the signs a semi-official appearance. I am trying to reach
the professor for the VA class that most likely produced the signs to
discuss this and other issues. In the meantime, if anyone gets any
calls, please reassure people that normal safety precautions are more
than adequate for handling this material - Jim

Jim Kapin
Chemical Safety Officer, UC San Diego
nnn-nnn-nnnn, fax nnn-nnn-nnnn
9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0920
La Jolla, CA 92093-0920
mailto:

--
Wayne K. Frater Academic Computing Services Univ. of Calif @ San Diego