Westminster College recently celebrated "Geek Week," which was a week-long competition between the various science majors.

"Last spring as a group of my friends, who are also biology majors, were in a physics presentation surrounded by physics majors, when all of a sudden Patrick Foley (junior biology major from New Castle) suggested that biology majors could beat physics majors any day, any where, in any competition,'" said Tracia Despo, senior biology major from Jamestown. "I took the idea and started to think about a real Geek Week.' I got together a committee made up of a junior and senior representatives from each major."

The committee members included: Biology, Bill Clafshenkel, and Despo ; Physics, Jessica Smith, and Lorrie Straka; Chemistry, Emily Stull and Ashley Martucci; Psychology, Amanda Ries; Math and Computer Science, Heather Klink and Brad Patton.

"There were two components to each day. During the lunch time period, there was a science spoof' from professors from the corresponding major of the day who would present something cool from the major on the first floor lobby of Hoyt," Despo said. "At night, there were team competitions. Each team was made up of three to five students from the same major. They paid $15 at registration, and each member got a t-shirt and a pocket protector. Each team had to send at least three members to each event every day."

Monday was biology day, and Dr. John Robertson and Dr. J. Philip Fawley presented "Gore and More." Robertson had a variety of skeletons, fish, fossils and an inflated pig's lung, while Fawley demonstrated a low heart rate on an ECB by having a volunteer dunk her head in cold water. The evening competition, Edible DNA, had each team build DNA out of candy.

Tuesday was physics day, and Dr. Craig Caylor, demonstrated "You Can't Put that in a Microwave." He demonstrated what happened when grapes, CDs, and soap are put in the microwave for just a few seconds. The competition, Human Graph, had teams trying to mimic a graph by human movements, determining experimental error with physics explanations.

Wednesday was chemistry day, and Dr. Helen Boylan and Dr. Peter Smith showed how to make nylon "elephant toothpaste." Forensic Fun had teams trying to determine "whodunit" by analyzing invisible ink samples.

Thursday was mathematics and computer science day, and Dr. Warren Hickman talked about topography and its many applications, while taking off his vest without taking off his jacket. In the evening event, Instant Insanity and All that Craziness, teams had to use logic to figure out a hat-wearing game, math problems, and solve a cube game.

Friday was psychology day, and the entire psychology faculty did the science spoof. The spoof involved professors flailing their arms around, trying to get the audience what they wanted them to do without words. Friday's event, The Most Difficult Maze Ever, consisted of running around Hoyt answering psychology questions.

Friday night was also award night. The grand prize included a $25 Eat n Park gift certificates, a handmade geek week trophy, and bragging rights for a year. The winning team was the "Titrating Titans" from the chemistry department, and their names will be listed on a plaque in the Hoyt Library.

The "Titrating Titans" included team captain Melissa Joseph, Lynn Kiley, Aaron Bruck, Elizabeth Ross, and Emily Wall. Names of other team members were not available.

"The Geek Professor of the Year,' was also chosen," Despo said. "It's a positive thing because the winner, Dr. Carolyn Cuff, was someone the students thought really expressed her love for their line of study, and went the extra mile to make the subject, no matter how dreaded, boring or hard it is. Her name will also be on the Hoyt Library plaque."

"Overall, the first annual geek week went well. We wanted it to be a time where a healthy rivalry between majors could be enjoyed," Despo continued. "For a week, everyone was a total geek, and we hope next week is even better!"

For more information, contact Despo at (724) 946-6407 or e-mail despote@westminster.edu.