ISAT hosts Undeclared Major Competition

A competition to build the sturdiest or most creative bridges out of pasta, as well as an AOL Instant Messenger scavenger hunt, will be held on Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the first undeclared major competition.

The undeclared major contest is open to students who are undeclared or considering a change in majors, as well as guests to help out competing students, Integrated Science and Technology professor Mo Zarrugh said.

Zarrugh said that the contest is an "exciting event that we hope will be held annually in the future."
The competition hopes to show undeclared students that discovery and laboratory work are vital aspects of the ISAT program, Zarrugh said.

ISAT associate professor Ken Lewis said that many people who are undecided do not know much about the ISAT program. "Here we try to let people develop into Renaissance persons — familiar with many disciplines," he said. "We provide some depth in a broad range of disciplines so our folk leave with a broad range of skills."

The object of the bridge construction contest is to design and build a scale model bridge from fettuccine pasta in four hours.

First prize will be given to the student who builds a bridge that holds the most weight without collapsing. Second prize will be given to the student who builds a bridge with the most interesting artistic expression.

A $100 bookstore gift certificate will be rewarded to the first place winner and a $50 gift certificate to the second place winner.

Zarrugh added that the design specifications are available at http://isat.jmu.edu/undeclared/pasta.html.

In order to receive some helpful hints about building the bridges, teams or individual competitors will participate in the ISAT Instant Messenger Sector Hunt Competition. Next to certain computers will be a question. Teams will IM their names and answers to the judge.

Freshman Maigen Filzen is planning on entering the competition. "I want to try to win something and meet people in the same boat as I am in," Filzen said.

Students can enter the competition by registering at http://isat.jmu.edu/undeclared/register.html.