update:
xaphan and i put a loop by the patch panwl, and another over the bar,
and we tracked down the drops by the desk in the office and put ends
on them and plugged them into the temporary router/AP. so the jacks
by the desk in the office are hot and connected tot he internets.
the loop by the patch panel is now anchored, but there is some slack
in it so there can be some finagling when the patch panel gets punched
down.