Society of Manufacturing Engineers host first Schleddentag Cardboard Sled Race
Two sheets of cardboard and a roll of duct tape might not seem like much to build with, but to the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the opportunities are endless.
On Saturday afternoon, the renewed registered student organization challenged Central Michigan University students to take advantage of the sunshine and inches of snow during the first SME Schleddentag Cardboard Sled Race.
With unlimited runs, the four teams raced multiple times down a hill behind Lot 63, the freshmen parking lot, from 1 to 4 p.m., each taking turns winning, losing, crashing and salvaging the remaining parts of their sleds.
"We are always looking for events that relate to engineering," said SME Vice President, and Indian River senior Brianna Ohlert. "It is something for us to do together, while getting out of the books."
Nick Thomas, SME president and South Lyon senior, coordinated the event, which challenged participants to create sleds out of the two materials while encouraging themes and costumes.
“People build their own sleds, and you have to create something from scratch," Thomas said. "The people that are going to want to do it are engineers, but it is open to everyone. We want people to recognize SME and know that we are here on campus and that we have a voice."
The event was an opportunity for SME to attract members and let CMU know who they are. Thomas said rather than just saying "join SME," they thought if people liked the event, or enjoyed building a sled from scratch, it might encourage students to join.
“If you want to learn more about new technologies that affect our careers, or people that are like-minded and enjoy problem solving in an open-thinking session that is focused heavily around creativity with engineering principles, then you should join SME," he said.
Pre-registration and a $15 fee was required prior to the event. Four teams raced, using their homemade sleds.
A group of three High Adventure Club students created a Batmobile sled, while six international students teamed up and designed a hippie van sled. Five SME members built a Jurassic Park jeep sled, and the Society of Women Engineers made a toboggan sled to race down the hill.
Japan freshman Yuri Sugiyama and the international student team went above and beyond by dressing in flamboyant 1960s attire to match their sled.
“We wanted to do something easy and fun, so we said 'OK, hippie van it is,' and then we can dress up too,” she said.
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