There used to be a time when the most significant figure laying ahead of you as you pass by the main office was Senior Administrative Secretary Barbara Melone. But recently she’s been sharing the spotlight with a model of a life sized NASA astronaut, complete with booster pack and tinted space helmet.

Commander Clark, suggested by Freshman Omar Kholoki, was chosen as the new name for our out-of-this-world visitor. ASB organized a name game during the lunch periods May 26-27, which gave students the chance to submit suggestions for the astronaut.

Commander Clark created a swirl of commotion within the student body when it first appeared. Rumors of where it came from to how it got here, to why it’s even here circulated throughout classrooms. According to Melone, one such rumor was that the astronaut’s tinted helmet secretly conceals a camera similar to the surveillance cameras in our school. Other urban legends surrounding the astronaut consist of NASA generously giving Clark a gift, or Clark getting special treatment from the district and continuing to be a “country club” high school.

But according to Dall, the purchase of Commander Clark was to revamp an already great looking campus. Also, an astronaut compliments the general theme of Clark, which is science and technology, and NASA encompasses both subject matters.

Commander Clark is made of fiberglass and stands approximately six feet tall. It was purchased at Universal Rugs and Oil Paintings Mirror Factory Direct. Dall said that the original cost of the astronaut was $1500, but with stern bargaining by PE and Health teacher Randy Tiffany they purchased it at $600.

The astronaut’s current location won’t be its permanent home, though. According to Dall, the astronaut will be Clark’s own “garden gnome,” roaming hallways and showing up in random locations throughout the year.