Time capsule to be stored in Mammel Hall

Submissions for a 100-year time capsule will be collected at UNO over the next few months. Time capsule items will be put on display at the Criss Library in February 2010. They will eventually be stored in an interior wall of the atrium of Mammel Hall, which is now under construction on South Campus.Items sought for the time capsule include toys, folk art, written submissions and common disposable items that may not otherwise be seen in good condition in 2110.

Suzanne Sollars, an associate psychology professor, came up with the idea last year during a UNO centennial celebration event. Sollars said at the time, she assumed someone was already working on a capsule.

"I found out nobody was, so I decided to run with it," she said.

The idea took work to get off the ground. Due to budget constraints, UNO could not supply any funds. Sollars said all funds for the time capsule project came from private donations.

A large donation from the Omaha Community Foundation, as well as a contribution from Sollars herself, allowed the idea to become a reality.

Sollars said she wonders about the individual driving forces of her predecessors, which prompted the idea.

She said the time capsule will give the Omaha community a chance to speak to the people of 2110 and to share our hopes and dreams for them.

"I think history is fascinating, especially from a human interest standpoint," she said.

Sollars said contributors are only limited by their imaginations and she encourages humor and creativity in submissions.

"Whatever information and items are submitted to the capsules, my hope is that the people of 2110 will see we were not stagnant in our philosophies and goals - that we had vision, passion and purpose," Sollars said.

Some UNO students already have ideas about what they want to include in the time capsule.

One of Sollars' students suggested including a polar ice core sample, reasoning that if the earth had warmed enough, no polar ice will remain for future scientists to study.

"I would put the most recent issue of Time magazine," freshman Matt Freeman said.

Freeman said he thinks future generations will be curious about current events of 2010.

An Omaha World-Herald from the day the time capsule is sealed would also be a good choice, he said.

Senior Sean Galusha said he would include "the entire collection of Chuck Palahniuk novels - possibly the peak of 21st century literature."

Sophomore Armana Chanel Christianson said she would include "pictures of family, friends, everyday stuff," because these items are universal.

According to guidelines on UNO's Web site, item submissions should follow the theme of "forward-looking," and should not simply be archival materials like photographs. Electronic media should also not be included, as the material can degrade over time and might not be viewable with 22nd century technology.

Individual written submissions should not exceed eight pages and should include no more than a paragraph of biographical information on the first page. Authors should not have the submission published, nor should they intend to publish the work they submit for the time capsule.

Both written and item submissions are due by Jan. 5, 2010. Contact Suzanne Sollars at ssollars@unomaha.edu for more information.