By Lorraine Poulsen
In an attempt to win bragging rights for their particular residential floor at the University of Alberta teams of students, one wearing a hand-crafted Viking hat, all taking pictures and asking for help in locating specific locations, swarmed the town of Viking last week as part of a U of A scavenger hunt.
On Thursday morning, January 14, before the sun was really up, five residents of the tenth floor of Schäffer Hall came looking for a picture with the Mayor. Nicholas Coffin was wearing a truly unique hand-crafted winged Viking warrior helmet which, according to the rules of the scavenger hunt, he had to wear while a picture of him was taken shaking the hand of Viking’s mayor, Cindy Lefsrud.
Although there is no evidence, archaeological or otherwise, that Viking warriors wore any type of horns or wings on their helmets, this particular silver-winged headpiece, made from a turkey pan, proved most convincing on Coffin’s head.
January at Lister Hall at the University of Alberta sees students take part in what has long been a standing tradition, tower competitions.
There are four towers and each one has an in-tower competition with students competing among the floors for top honours.
Kelsey Hall has a King Louis themed hunt; Mackenzie follows an Ivanhoe theme with Henday Hall following a Skulk themed hunt and for Schäffer, the competition falls under the Norse theme entitled Valhalla.
Residence Coordinators and assistants oversee the hunt and hand out the scavenger hunt list, as well as helmet and flag making instructions, and any other directions required to take part in the Sunday to Friday event.
Every year, residents in the Valhalla group follow instructions set forth and make their way to Viking to acquire a number of the 50 or more required scavenger items.
In addition to needing a photo with the Mayor, the group came to Viking to obtain a photo near the Welcome to Viking sign; a receipt from the Lamplighter Motel and evidence of a visit to Troll Park, among other needed Viking items.
The competition has been a tradition at the university since the 1960s when the first tower was built and has continued throughout the years. There is little other than bragging rights at stake but the students all agree that participation is the reward.
