6A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY,APRIL24,2003
NEWS
Brandon Baker/Kansan
Brent Larson and Sean Washatka, both Topeka seniors, lower the back end of their concrete canoe onto a packing brace. The Concrete Canoe Club has completed its project for the competition to be held at Tuttle Creek Lake in Manhattan Saturday.
Concrete Canoe Club to compete
By Amy Potter
apotter@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Christopher Bauer jokingly said after his experience building a concrete canoe that his next task would be to build a concrete SUV.
Probably not.
The competition is sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Bauer, Lake Five, Mont., senior, and 20 other students in the University of Kansas Concrete Canoe Club have been working since November on their concrete canoe for this weekend's regional concrete canoe competition in Manhattan.
They will compete starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Spillway at Tuttle Creek Lake. The competitions include concrete canoe racing, concrete bowling ball, steel bridge and writing technical papers.
Jennifer Gunby, Roeland Park senior, said people underestimated the use of concrete.
To make the concrete, the group used a mix lighter than regular concrete.
In fact, Bauer said the density of the mix is less than water.
The team wants to win it all this year and regain the reputation the University of Kansas once had, said Andres Vicuna, Lima, Peru senior.
"Way back in the day KU was known as the historical winner," Vicuna said.
The team is applying what they learned from their mistakes to this year's canoe.
"Last year our boat sank and folded in half so we came home," Bauer said. "This year we have a good chance."
The group has faced some challenges during the construction. It is on its three canoe in eight weeks.
The first two canoes were tested at Clinton Lake so paddlers could become accustomed to the shape of the canoe and prepare for the race.
"We had a weak spot. It was a predictable structure failure," Gunby said.
Each team from the region will be scored on concrete mix, design and a technical paper.
The winners of the regional competition go on to nationals in Pennsylvania. The three top finishers at the national level win $9,000.
- Edited by Brandon Gay
PRIDE WEEK EVENTS 2003
MONDAY:
SPONSORED BY QUEERS AND ALLIES
PRIDE WEEK KICKOFF 10:00 AM Wescoe Beach
SPEAKERS BUREAU OPEN FORUM 7:30 PM Walnut Room, Kansas Union
TUESDAY: QUEER MOVIE: BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE 7:30 PM Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union
WEDNESDAY:
BROWN BAG DIVERSITY SERIES: CHRISTINE ROBINSON: SODOMY LAWS 12 noon Multicultural Resource Center
THURSDAY:
BISEXUALITY 101: ROBYN OCHS 7:30 PM Malott Room, Kansas Union
FRIDAY:
TENTH ANNUAL BROWN BAG DRAG SHOW 12 noon Kansas Union Front Plaza
COMEDIAN: DEIDRE SULLIVAN 8:00 PM Hawk's Nest, Kansas Union
SATURDAY:
Student Development Center
PRIDE MARCH AND RALLY 11:00 AM South Park along Massachusetts to Watson Park
PAUL SIEGEL: WHY QUEER RIGHTS IS A FREE SPEECH ISSUE 2:30 PM Walnut Room, Kansas Union
QUEER THEATER 7:30 PM Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union: $2 donation
PRIDE DANCE
10:00 PM - 1:00 AM Ecumenical Christian Ministries: $2 donation
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