The Classics club hosted its first catapult night. Due to the rain, the club had to move the event inside Wallace Hall. The rain didn’t deter the live demonstration by Logan Serpette, the club’s social chair, though. Additionally, attendees made miniature versions from popsicle sticks and rubber bands.
The catapult was made last year during the Classics department’s Ancient Technology and Engineering course as their final project. “There are several types of catapults. The one made for class is a tension catapult,” said Serpette. “A length of rope is stretched across the base of the catapult and doubled over several times. Then the arm of the catapult is placed among the rope, going back and forth. Finally, the pegs that hold the rope in place are twisted forward, so the arm is tensed up. When the arm is brought down, it will shoot back upward.”
Catapult made in the Ancient Technology and Engineering course. Photo by Dawsyn Wilson.
Serpette showcased the catapult’s height and distance with various objects, from launching M&Ms from the vending machine to crumpled-up paper. After multiple attempts, the catapult arm cracked. Club officers attempted to fix it with packaging tape and a pool noodle from storage.
With plastic spoons, rubber bands, and popsicle sticks, attendees made their own miniature catapults. The challenge was to see how far they could launch something with their contraption. A few mini catapults could launch an Elmer’s glue stick cap a few feet in the air.
Serpette said, “We host these events to draw the campus community to classics. We are more than a department. Our studies are so versatile that we can host things like a catapult demonstration or debates as to why one monster is better than another.” The club hopes to continue to host more events like this.