Wrapped! The Search for the Essential Mummy

As part of the experience event program here at Albright College, Dr. Jonathon Elias presented his research into the fascinating world of Egyptian mummies. In his hour long lecture Dr. Elias explained the history behind the fascination with mummies and how advanced the research has become since people first began examining them. “Mummies make great fiction,” said Dr. Elias during his lecture, “but that takes away from the history of the Egyptian mummy.”
However, with an hour long time limit Dr. Elias’ lecture and presentation were rushed and focused more on the history of the mummy then his research. “I liked learning about the history, but he could have had more on CT scans and why they are so important to the study of mummies,” said senior Marc Simmons who attended the lecture. Fellow senior Moe Bounouk agreed with Simmons’ statement adding that the time constraint “made the presentation less effective because it was like he (Dr. Elias) was rushing.”
There was an obvious interest in the lecture with all the chairs being full and people standing and sitting along the walls of the room. However, with as large a turnout as there was the room wasn’t properly prepared. “The room was prepared poorly,” said Simmons. “People in the back couldn’t hear because there was no microphone. It would have been much better if it was in Klein Lecture Hall because we all would have been able to see and hear.”
Judging from the large turnout this was a topic several students, myself included, were interested in. Simmons believes Albright should offer more programs on mummies or such varied topics because “it was something new that isn’t offered semester after semester.” Bounouk agreed saying, “by the turnout people are genuinely interested in the topic, so they should have more events dealing with mummies.” Next time an event featuring such a fascinating topic should be in a better-suited room without a time limit that inhibited what began as an interesting lecture.