Smear Campaign

Texas A. & M. University, founded in 1871, is the state's oldest public institution of higher education. Nevertheless, "Aggie jokes" are a Texas staple. (Sample: Did you hear about the Aggie grad who lost his job as an elevator operator? He couldn't remember the route.) But this is no joke: workmen plan to complete a $723,000 restoration of the campus' Academic Building by smearing fermented cow manure across its brick fac,ade.

The engineering term for the process is organic patination, a technique believed to have been used in ancient times to add color to buildings. Manure is fermented in water for ten days, strained and applied to the walls. It stays on for at least a month before being hosed off. The gentle acidic effect of the mixture makes new construction look old and weathered. Admits Dan Witt, A. & M.'s assistant director of facilities: "We were a little surprised by the process." But he won't be surprised by the jokes. This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.