MURDER VIA SYRIAC AT OXFORD:

Murder mystery entices applicants
Daniel Rolle [Cherwell]
Tuesday, 15 April 2008

Dead bodies on the quad used to dispel myths about Oxford.

Oxford University's Admissions Office have used a murder mystery event to try and increase applications from state sector pupils.

During the Easter vacation University authorities invited local schoolchildren to take part in the event, based at Pembroke College. 50 students, aged between 14 and 15, were greeted at the beginning of their three-day visit by a body on the front quad, followed by the revelation of the Morse-like murder mystery scenario.

Students were faced with a number of conundrums including a letter written in Syriac, which they were able to decode after a master class given by Gareth Hughes of the Oriental Institute. Hughes praised the intentions of the programme: “The best way to encourage the brightest to Oxford is to stimulate and challenge. The Access Programme is incredibly important – especially considering Oxford's position and status as a fairly elite institution. The murder mystery event is therefore an excellent way of engaging bright and enquiring minds in a variety of different ways.”

[...]

Whatever works.

(My bold emphasis.)