4,884 Collegians Snap Standing Record Sitting Down

--Thousands of students at the State University of New York in Albany spent four hours trying to find a place to sit down. But, when it was all over, only Peter Seirafi, a 20-year-old junior from Scarsdale, remained seated. The biology major was one of 4,884 participants in a game of musical chairs, which could be immortalized in the Guinness Book of World Records if the event becomes officially sanctioned by the record book, officials said. SUNY students broke a previous record set in 1982 at Ohio State in which 4,514 participated. Campus news spokeswoman Sheila Mahan said the event was organized to demonstrate “school spirit.”

--The focus was on attracting new jobs as about 5,000 persons crowded into downtown Vandalia, Ill., for a group photograph touting the southern Illinois community as an ideal place for industry. “I can’t believe we did it!” Chamber of Commerce President Leo Eisert said, surveying the sea of people on the flag-lined main street. “It is just what we wanted--lots of people, a sunny day. It couldn’t have turned out better.” The photo was taken for a brochure that will be sent to companies, encouraging them to put a plant in Vandalia. Photographer Bob Thoman mounted a utility company’s bucket truck to snap the big picture from 45 feet in the air. Arms outstretched, Vandalians shouted, “We want jobs! We want industry! We want work!” Town officials said the community has a 15% unemployment rate and has had two consecutive years of poor crops. “People are beginning to realize that we’re at the bottom of an economic barrel,” said Don Hecke, an industrial commission member and radio station owner.

--James Michener received a true left-handed compliment. The author was honored as left-hander of the year by the Birmingham, Ala.-based Southpaws International. But Michener, 78, who has taken a permanent endowed chair at the University of Texas at Austin, is right-handed. “At my age I’ll accept all the compliments I can get,” Michener said. “The only thing I can do with my left hand is scratch my right elbow.” Herman Moore, president of the 3,000-member Southpaws International, said he got Michener’s name from a book that listed left-handed persons. Moore said he was “flabbergasted” at the error.