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CAMPUS

The Norwich Guidon
Nov. 13, 2003

Medieval event (sort of) matches students in cardboard jousting competition on Disney

By Holly Manning
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

With a small boom box blaring AC/DC in the middle of Upper Disney field, a group of Norwich University students mingled, anxiously awaiting the event to take place.

On Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. precisely, a group of architecture students held a jousting event.

This was a follow-up to the milk chugging event, which took place last week behind Chaplin Hall.

"The rules were that you can only make it out of corrugated cardboard and glue, and that's it," said Ted Mikulski, 19, a sophomore architecture major from Rocky Hill, Conn. "And you have to ride the bikes and knock each other off."

What Mikulski was referring to is the armor and swords used in the event. They wanted them made of cardboard to ensure safety and enable some fun and creative ideas in making the props.

The first two contestants were off on the call of the bugle. Both parties took many jabs.

The second round, between Mikulski and Eric Punzalan, proved to be an action-packed one. The crowd of students roared as each time the two passed each other, they and the bikes fell to the ground as a result of forceful blows.

"We made [the jousting] up last month, because we were really bored, and my friends did it back home, once," Mikulski explained.

We just came up with it; we just thought of wacky stuff to do."

Many architecture students and even some non-architecture students welcomed the idea. About 50 students showed up for the event.

Some jousters made complete uniforms of armor.

"I just wanted to do this instead of studio," said Punzalan, 19, a sophomore architecture major from Vallejo, Calif.

Danielle Rupert, 19, a sophomore architecture major from Massena, N.Y., said the event was a success because those who participated had fun, and the event was "hilarious."

Rupert was also a challenger in the previous milk chugging event.

"I thought it turned out pretty well. I was surprised to see such a large crowd for such a remote location," said Rob Shakar, 19, a sophomore architecture major from Bennington, Vt. "Not a lot of people want to come all the way up to Upper Disney, and I think everyone had a good time."

Shakar didn't participate in the event because he didn't have any cardboard to make the armor, but he did get involved in a little "unofficial action" toward the end, when all the armor was destroyed.

"I think it turned out really well. All our stuff broke kind of fast, so it could have been better if we had back-up stuff, but we'll do that next year," Mikulski said.

"We were originally going to have seven or 10 [fighters], but people didn't make their stuff in time," Punzalan said. "But it turned out really good."

Word of the event first came from fliers, which were put up around the campus by the architecture students, Punzalan said, adding that it also spread by word of mouth.

The architecture students are just trying to add a little fun with these events into their stressful schedules.

"We're just trying to give people something to watch and have fun," Mikulski said.

"It's a way to relieve stress and have fun," Shakar said. "I don't want to say there's nothing to do here, because there is, but not everyone's going to like everything."

For those who think this is the last they've heard of the jousting event, think again. Mikulski said this is the first annual, and there will be more to come in the years ahead.

"Don't think it's just for architecture people. Anyone can come and watch," Shakar said. "Just let the people running the event know, and they can get involved, too. It's open to everyone."

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 056632. www.norwich.edu/guidon. If you have any questions or comments about the paper, please contact Professor Ken Bush at kbush@norwich.edu.