Fictional character Jer3miah Whitney's life is less than peachy. His parents are run over by a semi-truck, his house is burned down, his life is in danger and an unsympathetic reporter is hounding him for information.
Who is out to get Jeremiah and why?
This is the question that students involved in solving Jer3miah's interactive mystery are seeking answers to.
A TMA class created a semester-long mystery that includes weekly webisodes filmed through Jer3miah's eyes. A new webisode is released every Friday at www.jer3miah.com. So far, there are six webisodes.
Mystery-solvers watch carefully for clues hidden in the short, weekly videos. There are two links, Zoobynews and the Davenport Papers, on the Jer3miah Web site that tie in to the mystery as well. As time goes on, things will become clearer.
Anyone can become involved in solving the conspiracy Jer3miah is facing. The members of The Davenport Papers, which is a link on the Jer3miah Web site, have created a glossary online for newcomers to refer to if they jump in at any time. There are also online discussions and forums in which the members share clues, findings and pictures with each other.
For now, TDP members are searching for clues on campus, on GDT's Web site www.gainsboroughdahl.com and on the links at the Jer3miah Web site.
Allison Hymas, a freshman from Downingtown, Pa., found a strange manila envelope outside her apartment one morning. Inside was a rubbing that showed clues leading to a symbol and a torn piece of the Daily Universe. Hymas wasn't the only one who received an envelope.
Tanner Lund, a freshman from Fla., said they're trying to figure out a code, part of which was included in the manila envelopes.
"Right now we're seeking the connection between the numbers in the rub, the numbers on the hat, and the code associated with a login thing we found, as well as what it corresponds with," Lund said.
Seth Babcock, a freshman studying chemical engineering, said everyone collaborates on solving the clues.
Josh Dance, a junior from Seattle majoring in industrial design, said the current theory among TDP members is that a group called GDT are the ones messing up Jer3miah's life.
"The box may have evidence that will expose GDT," Dance said. He compared it to the Da Vinci code. Dance and some others believe that the box may contain proof that GDT is a secret society, but they do not know as of yet.
There are many pieces to the Jer3miah puzzle. Anything and everything could potentially be a clue. Hymas and others think The Davenport Papers may have its name for a reason.
"Apparently there was a Davenport conspiracy 30 years ago," Hymas said. "They found these ancient tablets that some people said were fakes and some people thought were real. There were all manner of theories of where they came from."
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Copyright Brigham Young University 6 Mar 2009
