2A - Thursday, February 1, 2007

The egghead
West Quad chef turns out an omelet a minute

Every weekday, John Wood
arrives at West Quad cafeteria at
6:30 a.m., dons his Michigan base-
ball cap and white apron, and pre-
pares to use his culinary skills as
an omelet connoisseur.
Wood, better known as the
Omelette Man, is a 61-year-old
Ann Arborite. He began his career
as an Ann Arbor firefighter but
said he eventually grew bored
with that line of work.
A lifetime Wolverine fan, Wood
showed up at the University's
doorstep in 1984, thinking he'd
spend a few months working in
a residence hall cafeteria before
moving on to something else.
But a few months turned into
more than 20 years.
Although Wood's rise to cafete-
ria stardom can be attributed to his
superb omelets, he said he doesn't
eat them himself.
"I wouldn't eat an omelet on a
bet," he said. "After doing it over

and over and over, I have no desire
to eat an omelet."
His egg white and whole egg
omelets with ham and cheese fill-
ing are the most popular, Wood
said.
Wood counts the number of
omelets he makes each day. He said
his all-time record is 154 omelets
in 150 minutes. Wood said he aver-
ages 125 omelets per day.
"I'll go for stretches doing one
omelet per minute," he said. "Now
I think that's pretty impressive."
Wood said he has always worked
the morning shift - from 6:30 a.m.
to 1:30 p.m. - but until five years
ago, he worked downstairs in the
kitchen.
He said his move to the dining
hall has been a blessing, becauseit
has given him the opportunity to
interact with students.
"I really like direct contact with
the kids," he said. "It has made it so
much better for me."

In his free time, Wood said he
enjoys reading fantasy novels,
coaching girls' fast pitch softball
and online gaming. His favorite
game is World of Warcraft.
On the Friday before of the
Ohio State-Michigan football
game in November, Wood hol-
lered "Go Blue" after he served
each omelet.
"I was trying to generate a little
interest and excitement," Wood
said.
He has yet to decide if he'll make
this a tradition.
Asked about his future, Wood
said he doesn't plan on going any-
where.
"This is a secure job," he said. "I
will stay here as long as I continue
to enjoy it and have fun."
BRIAN TENGEL
- Know a campus character wor-
thy of a profile? E-mail suggestions to
news@michigandaily.com.

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
C4Cmidiigan Bailm
413 E. Huron St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327
www.michigandaily.com
DONNM.FRESARD ALEXIS FLOYD
Editor in Chief Business Manager
734-647-3336 734-704-0558
freoard@michicandailycom toyd@michigandaily.c m
CONTACT INFORMATION
Newsroom Office hours: sun.-Thurs.11 a.m. - 2 a.m.
734-763-2459
News Tips newsOmichigandaily.com
Corrections corrections@nmichigandaily.com
Letters to the Editor tothedaily@rmichiandaily.com
Photography Department photo@michigandaily.com
Arts ection artspage@michigandaily.aoo
734-763-0379
Editorial Page opinion@michiganidaily.com
Sports section sports@omichgandaily.com
734-764-8585
Display Sales display@michigandaily.com
734-764~0554
Classified Sales classified@michiganidaiy.com
734-764-0ss7
Online Sales on:lineads@michigandaiy.com
734-615-0135
Finance finance@mrichiganidaily.com
EDITORIAL STAFF
Jeffrey Bloomer Managing Editor bloomer@michigandaily.com
Karl Stampfl Managing News Editor stampfl michigandaily.com
NEWS EDITORS: Leah Graboski, Christina Hildreth, Anne Joling,Aline VanderMey
tmily lean Editorial PageEditor bano@oictsigodaily.cem
ChristophenZbrzek Editorial >PgeEditor zbrozek@m:chigandaily.:0m
ASSOCIATE EDTORIAL PAGE EDITORS: Whitney Dibri,Theresa Kennelly, fimran Syed
Jack Herman Managing Sports Editor herman@niichigardaily.com
SENIOR SPORTS EDITORS: Scott Bell. 11, Jose Bosch,
SPRrNGEDITIS:),iir tiiiliierCoilvin ,Mark
Giannotto, lan Robinson, Nate Sandals, Dan Levy
AndrewSargus Klein ManagingArts Editor klefionichigandaily.com
Bernie Nguyen Managing A rts Editor nguyen@michigandaily.com
ASSOC:ITEART'ISE DITOR:KimbileidvChiou
A RTS SU BEDITORS: Lloyd HCargo, aitl in Cowan, Pu nit Mittoo, Kristin MacDonald
Alex Dziadosz ManagingPhotoEditor dziodosz@michigandaily.com
Mike Hulsebus Managing Photo Editor hulsebus@michigandailycom
ASSOCI ATE PHoTo EDITORS: Forest Casey, Trevor Campbell, Peter Schottenfels
ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITORS: Shubri Ohri, ugene Robertson
BridgetO'Donnell Managingoaesign Editorodonnell@michigandaily.com
Phil Dokas Ma:agigO rli:c Oditor dokas@aichigandaiy.com
ASSOCIATE ONLINE EDITOR: Angela Cesore
James V. Dowd Magazitie Editor dowd@michigandaily.com
ASSOCIATE MAGAZINE EDITOR: Chris Gaerig
BUSINESS STAFF
Rnbe tChin DisplySales Manager
ASSOCIATE DISPLAY SALES MANAGER: Ben Schrotenboer
SPECIAL SECTIONS MANAGER: David Dai
Kristina Diamantoni Classified Sales Manager
ASSISTANTCLASS[ FIED SALES MANAGER: Michael Moore
Emily Ciprian onlineS ales Manager
David Jia Goh Finance Manager
Brittany O'Keefe Layout Ma:nager
Chelsea Hoard Production Manager
TheMichigan Daily (ISSN0745-967)ispublished Mondaythrough Friday duringthe
fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. One copyisavalable
free of chargetoall readers. Additional copies may be picked up atthe Daily's office
for $2.Subscriptions forfallterm,startingin September,viaU.S.malare$110.
Winter term(anuary through April) is $115, yearlong (Septemberthrough April)
is $195.University affiliates aresubject to a reduced subscription rate.On-campus
subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily
sa memberof0TheAssociated Press and The Associated collegiate Press.

0

John Wood, known to most student as the Omelet Man, serves
breakfast in West Quad Residence Hall yesterday morning. De-
spite his nickname, he said he "wouldn't eat an omelet on a bet."
CRIME NOTES

CAMPUS EVENTS& NOTES

Tampon
machine robbed
WHERE: Mason Hall
WHEN: Tuesday at about 5
a.m.
WHAT: Change was stolen
from a tampon and sani-
tary napkin dispenser in the
women's restroom on the first
floor, the Department of Public
Safety reported.
Dorm room
wrestler dazed
WHERE: West Quad Resi-
dence Hall
WHEN: Wednesday at about
1 a.m.
WHAT: A male student hit his
head while wrestling with a
friend, DPS reported. He was
disoriented and transported to
the emergency room.

Stolen purse
found in trash
WHERE: Smith Law Li-
brary.
WHEN: Wednesday at about
4:30 p.m.
WHAT: A caller reported
that her purse and keys were
stolen from her office, DPS
reported. The purse was
later found in a trash can in
Lorch Hall. Her keys are still
missing.
Man napping in
bathroom
WHERE: School of Educa-
tion Building
WHEN: Wednesday at about
4:00 a.m.
WHAT: A man was found
sleeping in a second floor bath-
room, DPS reported. He was
escorted from the building.

Discussion on
clemency for
battered women
WHAT: Carol Jacobsen,
director of the Michigan's
Battered Women's Clem-
ency, will discuss her recent
films.
WHO: Institute for Research
on Women and Gender
WHEN: Today from 4 to 6
p.m.
WHERE: Room 1136, Lane
Hall
Dance recital
WHAT: A performance re-
staging Martha Graham's
Primitive Mysteries. Tickets
are $9 with an MCard.
WHO: University Dance
Company
WHEN: Today at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Power Center
Jazz session
WHAT: An improvisational
jazz session led by musician
Justin Walter. Attendees are
invited to participate.
WHO: The Jazz Depart-
ment, the School of Music
Theatre and Dance
WHEN: Today at 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Leo's in Pierpont
Commons on North Campus
CORRECTIONS
0 An article in Monday's
Daily (Gandhi's grandson:
Bring conscience back)
stated the website Cultur-
alConnect began with a
magazine geared toward
South Asian, Middle East-
ern and Latino readers.
The magazine originally
focused on South Asians.
Please report any error in
the Daily to corrections@
michigandaily.com.

Miami residents have been
asked to be careful when
flushing their toilets at half-
time during the Super Bowl, CBS
Miami reported. It is a popular
myth that Super Bowl Sunday is
one ofthe busiest days ofthe year
for plumbers, as so many people
use the bathroom simultaneous-
ly during breaks in the action.
The comic strip Calvin and
Hobbes ended its 10-year
run on Dec. 31, 1995. The last
frameshowed Calvinsaying"It's a
wonderful world" while sledding
withhisstuffed tiger companion.
>>FOR MORE, SEE THE B-SIDE
A salesman in Sweden
won a lawsuit and is now
entitled to state compen-
sation for dental work after,
he chipped a tooth on a cookie
while on the job, The Associ-
ated Press reported.

NEWS@MICHIGANDAILY.COM

ow'f

01

I