The Legend of "Flat Al"

Even though he was several hundred miles away from WIU during his recuperation from surgery, President Al Goldfarb-or at least his spirit -was present around campus, in the form of "Flat Al."

A life-size cardboard cut-out of Western's president not only gained notoriety around campus but statewide as well.

The concept of "Flat Al" began when, prior to Goldfarb's surgery last October, Provost Joe Rallo conspired with Marketing Director Kristin Dunstan and Visual Production Center staff to find a way to keep Al's presence at University functions despite his absence.

"We wanted the president to know that we were all thinking of him in his absence," Rallo said.

And that's when "Traveling Al"-or "Flat Al," as in the children's book character Flat Stanley-was born. VPC staff created "Flat Al" by snapping a photo of Goldfarb at Homecoming-complete with coffee cup in hand, and wearing a purple WIU tracksuit- and making the 5x7 snapshot into a "life-size Al" using the magic of Photoshop.

Flat Al made an appearance at a WIU Board of Trustees meeting, an Employee of the Month recognition ceremony, a holiday party (complete with clip-on antlers) and at a women's basketball team pre-game meal, to name a few. And when Western released a news story about the cut-out, the media took interest. Jan Dennis, Associated Press reporter, covered the story, which was picked up the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Peoria Journal-Star and other publications.

 

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