Purdue News
Purdue News
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February 24, 2004 Rube Goldberg competition challenges students to create ultimate voting machineCast your vote, catch the coordinates, and watch for hanging chads this presidential election year when Purdue University's Rube Goldberg teams are challenged to help complicate the election process on Saturday (2/28). This year's teams are charged with the task of creating machines that will cast a ballot in no less than 20 steps. The competition honors the late cartoonist Rube Goldberg, who specialized in drawing whimsical, complicated machines to perform simple tasks. Journalists can begin coverage of the 22nd annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contest at 10:30 a.m. before the event begins at 11 a.m. in Lambert Fieldhouse on the Purdue campus. The contest is free and open to the public and sponsored by General Electric. Highlights from the contest will be available via satellite uplink after the contest from 4-4:15 p.m. EST on Saturday (2/28).
Satellite information: U/L TYPE: Analog
Last year's local winner, representing Purdue's chapters of Theta Tau and Phi Sigma Rho sorority, used a Purdue sports-themed machine to select, crush and pitch a 12-ounce aluminum can into a recycling bin. The group went on to win the national competition and later appeared with their winning machine on "The Late Show with David Letterman." In addition to a satellite uplink of contest highlights, a news release and photos will be issued the day of the contest. An ISDN line is available for radio interviews, but must be arranged prior to the contest. Video b-roll is available by request. A link to the competition story will be available after the contest on Purdue's home page. Journalists planning to cover the contest should contact Jesica Webb, (765) 494-2079, jwebb@purdue.edu. The day of the contest, Webb can be reached via pager at (765) 423-7326 or cell phone at (765) 427-4178. Questions regarding student teams and the news release can be directed to Matt Holsapple, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-2073, mholsapple@purdue.edu . Writer: Jesica Webb, (765) 494-2079, (765) 427-4178 cell, jwebb@purdue.ed Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu Related Web sites: Students put science to a vote in Rube Goldberg machine contest
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