July 18, 2003

Trash to Treasure

By ELIZABETH CRAWFORD

Every Thursday morning, when Joseph F. Hennager unlocks the University of Iowa's Campus Surplus store for its weekly public sale, he says it is like "opening the gates at a horse race." The same group of high-tech junk collectors makes a mad dash for used scientific and medical equipment.

"There are many hungry researchers who can't afford the newest science and technology equipment, so they come to me," says Mr. Hennager, who for 28 years has managed not only the store but also the