Dr. Who? sci-fi scavenger hunt takes over campus

Florida Gulf Coast University science fiction majors confirmed last week that a time traveling humanoid alien with two hearts has converged on our campus. This being is said to be a “Time Lord” that goes by “The Doctor” who has arrived in Estero most likely in a “TARDIS” telepathic traveling machine, or to blend in at FGCU, possibly a longboard or a golf cart. After speaking to students about mysterious flyers all around that lead to others, the question on many students’ minds is FGC…Who?
 Beginning in the early 1960s, the BBC starting airing the show that is now considered a staple in British pop culture from then to modern day. The series has had five consecutive wins from 2005 to 2010 at the National Television Awards, and currently holds the Guinness Book of World Record for being the longest running sci-fi television show in the world and as sci-fi’s “most successful” series ever.

     “The Doctor” is a time traveling humanoid alien who has two hearts. With numerous companions and friends made around the universe, he shows deep compassion for the ordinary person. These caring ways make for an amazing reputation with the Doctor righting wrongs and saving civilizations, and, seemingly now, universities. Students have been coming upon flyers, notes, and even coded drawings that lead to another place with kind words or statements. The FGCU Dr. Who is called “Dr. Chaser,” and many speak of him and the fun scavenger hunt-like leading notes and art around campus as something that makes them smile, knowing and being fond of the British show. Since 1963, eleven actors have principally played the Doctor. This is called ”regeneration”. Each time there was a transformation from doctor to doctor, where the doctor would take on a new body and personality. So who is the Dr. Who here at FGCU?
    After students had come to Eagle News, there was not too much to go on except to keep following the clues. A sci-fi twist loomed as well not knowing why, and of course who was doing this. The hunt was a breath of fresh air where someone was taking the time to spread nice words and have fun, but wasn’t trying to make money or requiring you to sign up with a username and password.

     The chase for Dr. Chaser was getting cold, until a Tumblr post yesterday by “Gonzopapers” caught my eye. Like mentioned, many students have loved the scavenger hunt and Dr. Who references as Gonzopapers posted “Whoever is leaving the Doctor Who references around campus please respond and be my new best friend.” Checking it again and again it seemed to be a Wizard of Oz-like moment when the curtain unveils the real Wizard. Just when it seemed Dr. Chaser wasn’t unveiling yet, a user called “Oldest-Question-In-The-Universe” reblogged that “I’ve been the guy making most of the flyers” with a wink face next to it. Under the Tumblr header saying “I Didn’t Kick You Out, I Gave You Up” this student claiming to be making the most of them had written “FGCU Music Major, Tuba Player, Laughing, Supernatural.” So have we found ONE of the two-hearted wrong righting doctors? The helpful civil doctor scavenger hunt story on campus may come to have more twists than a Law and Order show.

    For now “Gonzopapers” hopefully has a new best friend, and the FGCU Music major has made students smile and laugh. The seemingly never ending success of the British 1960s “most successful” sci-fi television series ever, along with its fun explorative trademark ways live on at FGCU. So be on the look out for pieces and clues that may lead you to the next part of the puzzle, or even the two-hearted, humanoid aliens in their “TARDIS” traveling machines themselves.