Students who need a shot of fresh air to go with their espresso during a quick break before they head back to their MSE Library cubicles will be able to enjoy just that next fall when Café Q opens its outdoor wing on the library's back terrace. It is the senior class's parting gift to the Homewood campus before they leave the university--a cheerful outdoor café with canopied wrought iron tables, chairs, benches, large flower pots and landscaping.

The Class of 1999 raised more than $10,000 for the outdoor extension of Café Q which, along with a supplementary gift from humanities professor Richard Macksey, will fund the purchase of about a dozen tables. Café Q, which now consists of a coffee kiosk and tables outside the Garrett Room of the library, was a gift from last year's senior class.

"We had a great response from our class," said Ron Palumbos, one of the four co-chairs of the Senior Class Gift fund-raising drive, an annual tradition at Hopkins. "The library is so much nicer now that it has been renovated, and the indoor café is used all the time by students. We love it. So we wanted to build on those improvements, and since the area outside the library is pretty much just wasted space, everybody was very enthusiastic about an outdoor cafe.

Library officials are delighted about the gift, said Ken Flower, associate director of the MSE Library, who worked with the co-chairs of the gift committee to bring about this year's class gift.

"This year's senior class has been a terrific group to work with," Flower said. " The new furniture will extend the friendly atmosphere of Café Q and enhance a wonderful outdoor space on campus."
--Leslie Rice