Dr. Bill Larkin was used to borrowing a colleague’s desk lamp on the days he taught his New Testament class in Pamplin Auditorium.  But when that colleague took time off for a medical procedure, Larkin found himself showing PowerPoints with the lights off and not being able to see his notes. 

So the students “took pity” on their professor as Larkin describes it, and purchased a lamp for him.  But not only that, they autographed it and presented it to Larkin during class.