Our favorite colorful campus character has to be “Bible Man” (we just made that up), found near the steps of Sproul reading Bible passages in a soothing monotone. We like him because his tranquil voice makes him easy to tune out, unlike the confrontational tirades of Yoshua or the “F*ck You Technology” dude.

We always figured he was reading passages out of Deuteronomy or Genesis, but we’d never actually stopped to listen to him. Turns out the open Bible’s just for looks. He’s talking about religion, kinda, but mostly he’s just talking. Here’re some excerpts:

• “There’s an obsession in America with sex, chocolate, Big Macs, big bucks, rock and roll … let the good times roll.”
• “Michael Jackson will rise again!”
• “Girls, when a guy tells you he loves you and he doesn’t care about sex, he’s probably a sex addict.”
• “Jesus never once made a mistake. Never.”
• “SATAN WAS THE FIRST CHILD MOLESTER!”
• “There’s only two nations today: the nation of saved and not.”
• “God is a good God. He gave us potatoes and he gave us grease to make french fries.”
• “Are you having a good sex life? Well God created sex and he created you. Sex is good.”
• “Only God can make a banana.”

Intrigued, we asked him a few questions about himself:

• His real name is Edmond Richards, as we found out from his official-looking bus pass laminated and hanging around his neck.
• He was sent to Berkeley by God to save students. He was sent to other campuses as well, including USC.
• He talks to God a lot … while walking down the street, while brushing his teeth and in his dreams.
• He speaks some Mandarin.
• He was born in Cuba.
• He was saved by a campus speaker like him back in the ’70s.

So next time you see him, we suggest you tune in for a bit. The guy’s full of epic quotes.

Image Source: Ruby Lee
Earlier: Instructor Edition

This means you! Yes, even you, who were inexplicably living under a rock, and can’t make it over to the Oracle Arena in Oakland (maybe because, uh, you have class?), can feel like you’re a part of it all, and all for the low, low price of free. Priceless, indeed.

Don’t expect too much of an Election Night-esque fuss, though. Chancellor Birgeneau made it clear in his e-mail that class is not, in any way, canceled in honor of the occasion. In any event, the broadcast is scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. (yikes), the university’s “formal program” kicks off at 8:15 a.m. (yikes again) and the BMOC will be taking the Presidential Oath of Office at 9 a.m.

Image Source: Brian Hathcock under Creative Commons
Viewing: Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama [UC Berkeley Events Calendar]

If you’ve ever watched “Extreme Makeover” or “The Swan,” (God, we’re getting old) then you know that the gate is in that in-between stage when the patient’s nose is blue and their lips are stitched and puffy, and in the end it will all be worth it.

But as of right now, Sather gate is just an eyesore obstructing the flow of student traffic from Sproul to campus. And if you’re pissed because you sometimes can’t walk through the center of the gate like the notorious protesters of Berkeley’s past, it’s about to get a whole lot worse.

By Thanksgiving, only the gate’s four granite pillars will be left. We shudder at the thought of seeing our favorite hunk of bronze all naked and skeletal.

Image Source: Ruby Lee
Iconic Sather Gate to be Restored to its Former Majesty [Berkeley News Center]

The event will take place Friday, October 3rd on Upper Sproul from 12:30 to 1:45pm and will include student speakers, community members and local politicians speaking about the issue. And yet another man who scandalized the country will lead a rally to support something controversial on the steps of Sproul, and so the Berkeley legacy continues.

And check out our post on Prop. 8 from earlier this week.

Image Source: domasan under Creative Commons
The Battle Over Same-Sex Marriage [San Francisco Chronicle]

Today, a flash mob froze on Upper Sproul Plaza as the Campanile struck 1 p.m. The freeze is reminiscent of the impressive mob at Grand Central Station a couple months back in New York.

Check out the clip above, which is far more interesting than the pictures posted on the Facebook group (um, you do realize that you’re already “frozen” in a photo, right?). While we at the Clog encourage flash mob participation and creativity, we’ve got to say that standing still for a few minutes–even if you’ve struck, like, the coolest pose ever–is still slightly less boring than just walking through Sproul. C’mon, where are our ninja battles?

First Person View of Sproul Freeze [YouTube]
Sproul Freeze Interest Check [Facebook]