Aliens at CMU

CMU101 Students,

My name is Professor Vera Elwood and I am the Instructional Services Librarian at Smiley Memorial Library. You may not believe what I have to tell you, but, this summer, I was witness to one of the greatest mysteries of our time. I had just gotten lunch from the new Fresh Ideas vending maching on the second floor of Smiley Library and was walking around campus with my chicken wrap when suddenly, the sky went dark as if something was blocking the sun. The air smelled like sulfur and a sonic buzzing noise filled my ears until I couldn't hear anything else. I looked around in panic, but campus was eerily empty. Out of nowhere a large metal . . . ship landed in the middle of the C-Bench. A door on the front of the ship slowly opened and light poured out from inside. A small green hand reached out from the doorway and gestrued towards me. Just as I thought I was about to be abducted, the green hand produced an envelope and handed it to me. Before I had a chance to open the package, the metal ship disappeared, taking the smell of sulfer and all-encompassing buzz with it. The bright summer sky lit back up and suddenly campus was buzzing with people again, the only evidence of my close encounter being the envelope in my hand. I waited until I was safely back inside my office to tear the letter open, but I only found gibberish inside ( ERQS KA HUNG SBDQ QRIRQSRP).

This is where I need you. Help me use our library resources to research aliens so we can unlock the cipher and decode the message. All the information you need is located on the pages of this website, which can be navigated from the menu in the top left corner of the page. As you figure out each clue, input it into the locks below this note. Once all locks are opened, you will be able to decipher the hidden message and discover what the aliens were trying to communicate.

You are wecome to complete this assignemnt with as many of your classmates as you wish - group work is encouraged! However, each student must fill out the Breakout Lock Form - this is how your professor will grade your participation in the assignment.

God speed, my friends.

Vera Elwood