11 Burning Questions with the Serif Sheriff

1. Why are you called the Serif Sheriff?
Because I’m the law when it comes to typography. I’m there to patrol the typography.

2. Can you clarify what a serif is?
Well, in the world of typography, which deals with letterforms and symbols, serifs are the semi-structural details on the ends of some of the strokes that make up those letterforms and symbols.

3. What relation do you have to the ‘WANTED’ posters plastered all around campus?
We put them up because we wanted the student body to be aware of the typographical crime that was committed on our dear bluff. The posters feature our top six suspects. I have reason to believe each had motive. If you see them, search them for serifs!

4. Can you explain the significance behind these letters?
The “L” was the original letter on the bluff before the original Loyola University merged with Marymount College. The remaining letters were added after that. Currently, the “L” and the “U” are the only letters with serifs. The serifs on the “M” are missing.

5. How does that effect the LMU community?
The LMU letters on the bluff are not only a beacon for Westside residents and students, but [they] are a part of the school’s legacy and heritage. Now, it looks attrocious and cannot be tolerated. It’s my job to bring the serif thief to justice!

6. Should the student body be fearful?
I am confident that our primary suspect will be apprehended by the beginning of “Typography Week,” opening at 5 p.m. in the Thomas P. Kelly Jr. Student Art Gallery in Burns.

7. Has the tradition of sliding down the letters affected your investigation?
Definitely. It is indeed a tradition to slide down the letters, and I have nothing against that, although it has made the investigation more difficult because of the ambiguous clues that we keep discovering.  There’s lot of torn clothing and fingerprints from the myriad of students.

8. Are you working alongside Public Safety in this endeavor to find the missing serifs?
Let’s just say that if they would let me borrow a Segway, I would be a lot closer to closing this case. We’re definitely not going to hit any students.

9. Is this a fabrication or has a real crime been committed on the bluff?
Of course a real crime has been committed; any crime to typography is a crime to mankind!

10. What and when is Typography Week?
Typography Week is a collaboration of student designers and faculty members who have created an exhibition that focuses on letterforms and symbols as a medium. The opening of the gallery show is tonight from 7-10 p.m.

11. You have a great mustache. Does it have any meaning or connection to the mustaches handed out at convocation?
Yes, I feel that when you are out there searching for your suspect you sometimes have to think like a criminal would. So my mustache is my approach to closing in on the person we feel has stolen the serifs off of the bluff. See you at Typography Week.