  <!-- begin hiding

  // =======================================================
  // preload rollover images for navigation menu
  // =======================================================
  home_button = new Image();
  home_button.src = "../pix/button_home_over.jpg";
  news_button = new Image();
  news_button.src = "../pix/button_news_over.jpg";
  calendar_button = new Image();
  calendar_button.src = "../pix/button_calendar_over.jpg";
  students_button = new Image();
  students_button.src = "../pix/button_students_over.jpg";
  links_button = new Image();
  links_button.src = "../pix/button_links_over.jpg";
  alumni_button = new Image();
  alumni_button.src = "../pix/button_alumni_over.jpg";
  staff_button = new Image();
  staff_button.src = "../pix/button_staff_over.jpg";
  scholarships_button = new Image();
  scholarships_button.src = "../pix/button_scholarship_over.jpg";
  housing_button = new Image();
  housing_button.src = "../pix/button_housing.jpg";
  academics_button = new Image();
  academics_button.src = "../pix/button_academics.jpg";
  schedule_button = new Image();
  schedule_button.src = "../pix/button_schedule.jpg";
  media_button = new Image();
  media_button.src = "../pix/button_media_over.jpg";

  // =======================================================
  // load the show/hide div system
  // =======================================================
  // be sure the div and image are named via name="whatever"
  // the div tag includes style="display: none"
  // there's also an onload script in the body tag to make 
  // sure hidden divs start out hidden
  var plusImg = new Image();
      plusImg.src = "../pix/div_trick/menu_tree_closed.gif";
  var minusImg = new Image();
      minusImg.src = "../pix/div_trick/menu_tree_open.gif";

  function toggleDiv(divName, imgName) {
      thisDiv = document.getElementById(divName);
      thisImg = document.getElementById(imgName);
      if (thisDiv) {
          if (thisDiv.style.display == "none") {
              thisDiv.style.display = "block"; 
              // avoid the 'thisImg has no properties' error
              if(thisImg) {   
                thisImg.src = minusImg.src;
              }
          }
          else {
              thisDiv.style.display = "none";
              // avoid the 'thisImg has no properties' error
              if(thisImg) {
                thisImg.src = plusImg.src;
              }
          } 
      }
      else {
          alert("Error: Could not locate div with id: " + divName);
      }
  }

  // this is called via onload in the body tag
  // it makes sure all hidden divs start out hidden
  // might be redundant considering the 'display: none' style on the divs
  function hideAll() {
      students_info.style.display = "none";
          students_img.src = plusImg.src;
  }

  // end hiding-->