150th Birthday Party closes with guilty verdict for Goldilocks

Sept. 14, 2003 -- Guilty!

Despite the best efforts of attorney Porridge "Porry" Mason, Goldilocks was found guilty of breaking Babe E. Bear's chair.

The three bears — Pop A. Bear, Mom A. Bear and Babe — applauded the verdict, which was returned by a jury of 15 children.

The mock trial was just one event staged by Washington University in St. Louis as part of its 150th birthday celebration.

Mary Butkus/WUSTL Photo

Goldilocks (far left) and her lawyer Porridge "Porry" Mason await the jury's decision along with the three bears- Pop A. Bear, Mom A. Bear and Babe E. Bear and their lawyer F. Lee Bearly (in vest) during Three Bears v. Goldilocks at noon in the Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom at Anheuser Busch Hall. Goldilocks lost the case and was held liable for the cost of Babe E. Bear's broken chair.

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The point of the Goldilocks trial was twofold. First, it was to entertain. And second, it was to teach youngsters a bit about the judicial system.

The Goldilocks trial was hardly the main event of the day, though, which kicked off at 11 a.m. More than 200 events took place from nearly every department and program in the university.

Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton traded in his three-piece suit for a lab coat and transformed into "Magic Mark." He set the tone immediately in his magic with chemistry exhibition by promising those in the front row that he "(wouldn't) make you disappear — for too long."

Wrighton's spent about 30 minutes giving demonstrations of basic chemical reactions (vinegar and baking soda), and those more complex, using dry ice and liquid nitrogen.

Other exhibits included "Physics With A Bang," given by Thomas Bernatowicz, professor of physics in Arts & Sciences; readings by short fiction writer Marshall Klimasewiski and university graduate students; ice cream made with liquid nitrogen; and student and teaching demonstrations from the Young Scientist Program, which promotes science and scientific careers to high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds..

But high drama or chemical reactions proved to be just the tip of the iceberg. Poetry was read in, and translated from, 10 different languages. Music was performed by groups as diverse as student groups The Visions Gospel Choir, The Pikers and Mosaic Whispers, to more ethic performances by the Taiko Drummers, Ashoka (the Native American student organization) and Chinese folk dancers.

For those interested in something a little more low-key, discussions and interactive displays included images of Chaucer, Dutch art through the years and Jane Austen.

Contemporary issues included a talk about SEC reform and the Enron scandal, by Law School Dean Joel Seligman, new approaches to business strategy by Glenn MacDonald, the John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics & Strategy in the Olin School of Business, and a talk about the groundbreaking research done by Richard Wilson, Ph.D., associate professor of genetics and of molecular microbiology, and director of the Genome Sequencing Center.

Lewis, believed to be the world's first robotic photographer, was on hand to take photos; professor and distinguished author Gerald Early read children's literature; the Dred Scott case was re-enacted; and baseball, basketball, soccer and volleyball clinics were be offered.

The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra capped the day with an evening performance in Brookings Quadrangle.