Missing Class Mystery

You log in and get ready. You have a world clock app pulled up, you have your phone clock, and your laptop clock pulled up next to each other. You will not miss the chance to get [[this class!]]

All three clocks strike 8am on the dot and you rush to click. Your mouse is zooming across your screen when you see something odd. You see a class pop up on the top of your list that you’ve never seen before. It’s titled ''Mysteries of Oxford College''. As soon as you go to click on it (even though you might miss registering for your psych class!), it disappears from your list. [[Where could it have gone?]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/H3.png">

You decide it’s not worth your time to keep looking right now. You to sign up for an advanced English class with Dr. Higinbotham. You get the very last spot before the wait list begins. You feel accomplished for a second but nagged by the class that popped up to the top of your list and then [[disappeared...]]

There is no way you’re going to just let that go. Will you [[investigate this missing class?]] [[Nah, I'm good ->GAME OVER]]

If there was a class, surely the best people to ask would be Academic Affairs, right? You send an email to the Advising Support Center asking about Mysteries of Oxford. The adviser writes back saying there is no record of a class with that title, but if you’re interested in putting an Independent Study together on the topic, they’d be happy to talk about it with you. But you are sure you saw it in the course registration system... [[Ask your friends.]] [[This isn't worth it->GAME OVER]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/H2.png">

You’re determined to figure this out. You know you saw something – and Mysteries of Oxford sounds like a really interesting class. You wonder what mysteries are hiding around Oxford, just out of sight. It wouldn’t hurt to ask around a little to see if [[anyone knows anything, right?]]

Life is too short to chase down mysteries. You give up and resign yourself to a mundane schedule. [[Maybe you'll have the energy to investigate next semester... ->First]]

The next day while waiting for class to start, you lean over and tell your friend about the class you saw. One of your friends gives you a skeptical look. “Are you sure you weren’t just imagining it? I know you stayed up all night to create five potential schedules for yourself. You probably just fell asleep right after registering and dreamed that you saw it.” [[Roll your eyes]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/V8.png">

One of your classmates turns around and inserts themselves into your conversation. You’ve never really spoken before. “I’ve heard that there are all kinds of courses out there you can only take if you make a bribe to the right person – they get you on the insider track to success! All these elite institutions have a network of connections that they use to get the people they want in charge of everything, and it’s all funded with a massive crypto slush fund. You can read all about it on this blog – [[I'll send you the link.”]] Ignore them and [[ask a friend at lunch.]]

You check out the blog, True Atlanta Uncovered. The blog lists several secret courses at Emory. Nothing matches Mysteries of Oxford They have a photo of a class in session that they claim was “secret and undisclosed” at the Woodruff library on the Atlanta campus. [[Investigate the image.]] [[Go to the library.]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/Fake_Blog_new.png">

You explain what happened to your friends at lunch. Most of them laugh it off, but one of them looks thoughtful. “I feel like I heard someone say something similar around course registration last semester. It’s possible you really did see a course. Maybe there was a glitch or something? Try the library and see if they have any course reserves for it, or if it was offered in a previous semester. I think they have a list of every course ever taught at Oxford?” [[Go to the library.]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/H4.png">

You ask the students about the missing class. They’re helpful, but they don’t know much. One of the students says he thought he heard someone talk about classes missing, but he’s not sure. The students say you could ask a librarian, or since it might be a technical question, you could try the technology help desk. [[Talk to the librarian.]] [[Visit the technology help desk.]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/H5.png">

You walk up to the neutral-looking librarian at the desk on the left. You explain the situation. The librarian tells you that they have heard of similar stories in previous years, but they’ve never been able to track down a firm answer. They offer to connect you with [[archives and special collections.]]

You walk over to the technology support desk on the other side of the library. The technology specialist thinks it probably was a glitch, but they’re willing to look. They do see an old class that was reposted and wiped out a minute later. They say it was a glitch. [[Ask if they can tell you any information about the old class.]] [[Talk to the librarian.]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/H6.png">

The librarian mentioned the archives and special collections, maybe you should check those out. You look at Special Collection and Archives Web Page. It looks like you could search through the digital collections or you could schedule a research consultation with the Coordinator of Archives & Special Collections. [[Schedule a research consultation.]] [[Search digital collections.]]

You ask what they can tell you about the old class. They show you that there is limited information, and most of the data fields are missing. But at the bottom of the page, there is a [[room number->Seney 104]]

You meet with the Oxford College archivist, to discuss the missing class. She asks what you are researching. You tell them about the missing class. They ask you for more details about what you have found so far on the topic. You mention the old rumors about the missing classes and the class number. The archivist asks if you want to look through old Oxford yearbooks. [[Look through the yearbooks.]] [[Decide to look online.->Search digital collections.]] [[Take a nap instead of continuing->GAME OVER]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/H7.png">

You select to look at the digital collections and you notice a variety of digital collections that may be help to you, yearbooks, course catalog, early photographs. [[Yearbooks->Look through the yearbooks.]] [[Course catalogs.]] [[Early photographs.]]

You look through the yearbooks. In one of the years, you notice students meeting with Dooley for a Mysteries of Oxford Class. The room number is [[Seney 104]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/H8.png">

It is common knowledge that Seney is one of the most historic and memorable buildings on the Oxford campus. It is less common knowledge that some students swear the building is haunted. Sometimes when you pass by Seney on your way through the quad, you can swear the building is watching you. It's getting dark out. Do you go to Seney? [[I won't give up!]] [[Maybe I should look at other electives->GAME OVER]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/V2.png">

While you find more information about old classes offered at Oxford, you don’t find any room numbers or mention of the class. [[Look through the yearbooks.]]

You find a photo of students in a class. It's tough to make out, but if you zoom in, you can see a room number. [[Seney 104]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/H1.png">

You make your way to classroom. You think you hear low voices coming from the classroom, but when you push the door open it’s empty. Despite the venerable desks and chairs, the room has a modern desktop computer and projector you have seen in other classrooms. The computer is on and projecting a database with a search already typed in. Dooley AND (Oxford or Emory) AND Legends. [[Search results.]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/V4.png">

You take a look at the first article, "The Mascot Hoax." The author lays out a pretty convincing case about why Dooley doesn't exist, and the class is a complete fabrication that started as a prank in one of the residence halls. The author is a respected historian who used to teach on the Atlanta campus. [[Has anyone cited this article?]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/Article_2_1_.png">

You navigate to Google Scholar and check out a few of the sources that cited the first article. One of them notes that the author never actually visited the Oxford campus or talked to any Oxford students. They might be a big deal in Atlanta, but that feels like an oversight. One of the other sources was written by a student writing a personal reflection that was part of a special issue of an academic journal. It is less credible than a peer reviewed article, but the reflection provides a primary source account. The student describes that the class never met at set times, but that they did use the library for class materials... [[Return to the library...]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/Article_1.png">

You head back to the library with determination and vigor in your heart. This time, you know you need to get class materials. [[Talk to the librarian, again!]] [[Talk to the students.]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/V6.png">

You talk to the librarian and tell them about your research adventure and your discovery about possible materials at the library. You can see a glimmer of some kind of understanding in their eyes, but they don't say much. They advise you to ask the students at the desk about course reserves. [[Talk to the students.]] [[Pry a bit further...]]

You head over to the circulation desk. You explain you're looking for course reserves. The students ask for the course number, but you don't have it. You tell them you are looking for Mysteries of Oxford College. The students haven't heard of the class, but they scan through the reserves. Near the end of the "M" section, you see a small pamphlet wedged between two other courses. [[Ask for the pamphlet.]]

You ask the librarian if there's really nothing else that they can tell you about the class. They tell you that they've heard rumors from some of the students, but nothing solid. You feel defeated. The librarian remarks that based on all of your work, you've done more than most. They say that if the class actually exists, you definitely deserve a slot. [[Talk to the students.]]

The students hand you the pamphlet. There's no bar code, so you can't check it out. The pamphlet is titled: [[The Case Against Dooley]] [[Ask if anyone else has tried to borrow it.]]

There's no author or anything listed on the pamphlet. [[Check out the bibliography for sources.]] [[Page through the main text.]]

The students explain that any borrowing records of any item are confidential. You take a look at [[The Case Against Dooley]]

You examine the brief bibliography in the back. A few of the sources you have seen before. Nothing jumps out at you. [[Page through the main text.]]

The main text talks about how Dooley is a force of chaos and destruction. You find it hard to take seriously, especially when you don't even know who wrote this stuff. Flipping through, you discover an old hold slip. There's no name on it, but it lists a call number in the stacks. [[Find the call number]]

You unfold the paper. It's an old course registration form. The course is listed as Mysteries of Oxford, and there is a space for your signature. [[Sign the form.]] [[This is too weird.->GAME OVER]]

You sign the form and slip it back into the stacks. You walk out into the night air. It's cool and damp, and it's been a long day. [[Go to sleep.]]

You're able to get to sleep very easily. You wake up in the middle of the night to a knock at your door. [[Walk to the door.]]

You walk over to the door. Before you can open it, someone slides a piece of paper underneath. [[Who is there?]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/V7.png">

You walk into the Oxford College Library. You’ve been here before to check out course reserves and borrow a graphing calculator, but you wouldn’t say you’re a regular. You see students at the [[circulation desk.]]

You reverse Google image search it and it’s just a photo from the Woodruff library website. It makes you think other evidence on the site might be taken out of context, too. You figure you're out of people to ask, but you remember visiting the library during orientation. [[Go to the library.]]

You head to the stacks, searching to find the right call number. You get to what looks to be the right location, but there is no book with a matching number. However, there is a piece of paper where the book should be. [[Unfold the paper]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/V1.png">

Thank you for playing our adventure. We hope that you always seek out the mysteries of Oxford! Paige Crowl, Ginny Hudgins, Alex Kord, and Jacob Lackner.

You open the door, and take a look outside. The hallway is completely empty and virtually silent. You look down at the sheet of paper on the ground. You pick it up. [[Take a look]]

The piece of paper is a syllabus for Mysteries of Oxford, handwritten in ink. At the top you see the meeting time: class is about to start in five minutes at the center of the quad. You have solved one mystery. But you know that you're just getting started. [[Depart]]

THE END [[Credits]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/Dooley_Final.png">

Another semester at Oxford College. You have been awake since 6AM to make sure you are online and ready to get exactly the classes you need for next semester. [[Log in]]

Welcome to The Missing Class Mystery! This is an interactive fiction experience, written by a team of librarians at the Oxford College Library at Oxford College of Emory University. [[Begin the story ->Start 1]] <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/Emory_Yellow.png">

The Oxford quad is quiet and sleepy, but you are awake and on edge. <img src="https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/146777/images/Intro.png"> [[Open your computer ->First]]