Why Do Many Prestigious Universities Use Chalkboards Instead Of Whiteboards?

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Dec 10, 2005
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What? Even the lab at work has acetone a we're nothing but proteins/biologics.
We had no need for acetone, and with all the proteins we were working with, you wouldn't want to risk the accidental modifications that can come from exposure to acetone.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,392
1,780
126
It actually goes back to facilities management. Newer classrooms = newer facilities....when planning a new building, whiteboards are selected by the architects/designers. The ivy league schools may have been rocking chalk boards for years and the rooms haven't been renovated because if it ain't broke....

The way that stuff is expensed can make a difference too. Most college classes are scheduled to be in rooms that aren't technically owned by departments...the departments just use the rooms. That means if they updated the chalkboards in the room, they would be on the hook for the $$ and may not have exclusive use of the boards or room (if that makes senses).
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,887
10,224
136
You're a chemist, I know your ass dragged a TLC vial's worth of acetone or ethyl acetate to one of those boards to erase the offending sharpie marks 😂
One thing I craved for a year of pandemic and finally got after being vaccinated was acetone... I stocked up at Home Depot, 2 gallons! I keep it in little 1oz bottles and it's working out great, no evaporation that I can see. Got em off Amazon:

Auropack 1oz (30ml) Amber Boston Round Bottle with Black Poly Cone Screw On Cap, Pack of 12
Sold by: Auropack
$9.55

My days in college were choked with chalk. I see white boards now at the U. I volunteer at campus radio station, and we meet in various classrooms on a monthly basis (well, will again when the U says we can). I'd prefer white boards. Chalk is ghastly stuff. Gets all over everything. The classrooms all seem to have projectors now.
 
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Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,392
1,780
126
One thing I craved for a year of pandemic and finally got after being vaccinated was acetone... I stocked up at Home Depot, 2 gallons! I keep it in little 1oz bottles and it's working out great, no evaporation that I can see. Got em off Amazon:

Auropack 1oz (30ml) Amber Boston Round Bottle with Black Poly Cone Screw On Cap, Pack of 12
Sold by: Auropack
$9.55

My days in college were chocked with chalk. I see white boards now at the U. I volunteer at campus radio station, and we meet in various classrooms on a monthly basis (well, will again when the U says we can). I'd prefer white boards. Chalk is ghastly stuff. Gets all over everything. The classrooms all seem to have projectors now.
They say you can simply mark over the permanent marker spots on a whiteboard with dry-erase marker and let it dry...the dry erase solvent will allow the permanent marker to come off.

I need to get some more acetone. I used it all cleaning out small engine carburetors and have more to clean out.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,887
10,224
136
They say you can simply mark over the permanent marker spots on a whiteboard with dry-erase marker and let it dry...the dry erase solvent will allow the permanent marker to come off.

I need to get some more acetone. I used it all cleaning out small engine carburetors and have more to clean out.
Acetone is a marvelous solvent. I don't think it's particularly bad for you to breathe compared to most solvents, if at all. I think in enough quantity it might affect your liver, but not sure about that. I got into it when I worked on the docks, cleaning boats. It doesn't affect fiberglass. It will affect SOME plastics, some not. So, test to make sure it doesn't turn your plastic to goo before depending on it to clean plastic. Acetone works with a lot of things. I use it when working with contact cement, which is a lot. Now, the solvents in contact cement are quite bad for you, so try not to inhale them more than necessary. Acetone evaporates quite quickly and thoroughly and leaves no after odor.

It's around $17/gallon at Home Depot. I like to pour it into smaller containers, usually glass... something tight fitting because it's very volatile and you'll find your bottle empty if it wasn't well stoppered or lidded.