point in the scene, a shoe drops into their midst, seemingly out of nowhere. It is the proverbial “other shoe” that drops, signaling the end of their relationship. So how to make a shoe drop on cue, on a limited budget? I decided for reasons of economy and expediency to try and develop a shopmade solution. Using only materials I had on hand, with the help of student Simon Skluzacek, we were able to create a device that dropped the shoe by remote electrical trigger. My presentation will feature the device (dubbed the X-27), rigged up so people can try it themselves. In order to solve the problem of the shoe-drop, I needed to determine exactly what kind of automated movement would lead to a shoe falling. First I thought about some kind of latch that could be tripped to release the shoe by its tied lace. But how to make it trip electrically? My first ideas involved using a car starter solenoid, but this would require 12-volt power, and trips to junkyards or auto parts stores. I didn’t have a solenoid, true, but I did have a bunch of old corded drills sitting around. I began to think about a way to translate their rotational movement into a side-to-side (lateral) movement that could be used to pull a pin. I hit upon using a large shopmade wood pulley to convert the spinning of the drill into a pulling motion. With the help of student Simon Skluzacek, we fashioned our apparatus. Once we hung the X-27 in place, I plugged it into one of the circuits of our lighting system. This allowed me to control it with the light board. Several experimental shoe drops allowed us to fine-tune the timing of the cue. We found that using 20% intensity for half a second was enough force to pull the pin, but minimized the motor noise. Furthermore, we wrapped the X-27 in scrap muslin to muffle the motor sound even more. The X-27 performed flawlessly every time. It is an extremely costeffective solution to the problem of using automation. However, there are some drawbacks, the primary one being the audible noise that the unit makes when it is on. And once the unit is circuited, one must remember not to turn on that circuit during channel check or the shoe will drop at an inopportune moment! I hope that my experience with the X-27 will inspire you to come up with unique solutions for your technical problems by using the materials to hand!
Language and Narration in Cervantes’ “Don Quijote” Hunter McKenzie, 2013
Major: Great Ideas Hometown: Lindenhurst, Ill. Faculty Sponsor: Matthew Borden
Matthew Borden Department: Spanish
This is a continuing investigation into the linguistic complexity and narrative structure of Cervantes’ novel “Don Quijote.” The twofold aim of the research was to answer these questions: What is the significance of language in “Don Quijote,” and how does the experience of reading this text in its original form differ from reading a translated or modernized Spanish version? And, what is the purpose and significance of the innovative multi-narrator and meta-literary style of storytelling which Cervantes utilizes? The research was conducted through an independent study, with regular meetings for reading and discussion of the text in its original Renaissance Spanish form. The student traveled to present his
findings at the annual conference for Alpha Mu Gamma National Language Honor in Los Angeles, for an audience that included professors, language experts, and graduate students. The result has been unique insight into Cervantes’ perspective on idealism in literature, in which Don Quijote is revealed to be not a foolish lunatic, but a prudent, melancholic hero, and Cervantes emerges as an advocate of a compassionate, pluralistic humanism.
Forever Wisconsin—A Visual Homage to the Dairy State Bree McMahon, 2012
Major: Graphic Design and Art History Hometown: Appleton, Wis. Faculty Sponsor: Laura Huaracha
When you think of Wisconsin what do you think of? Maybe it’s the Green Bay Packers? Or perhaps cheese, cows, and beer? Whatever comes to mind, its clear that the great state of Wisconsin has a certain “feel” to it. Growing up in Wisconsin instilled in me a love for the state and all it has to offer. I adore the bigger cities like Milwaukee and feel at home in the tiny towns like Little Chute. Going to Carthage and living on the shore of Lake Michigan in Kenosha made that love grow even stronger. As I began to finish my degree, with the prospect of graduate school on the horizon, I saw my time in the midwest coming to an end. I found myself with a collection of photographs from the past five years. They contained images of my hometown, the places I visited, and memories to last a lifetime. I decided to use my skills learned at Carthage as a graphic design student to put these photos to use. I dreamed up a project called “Forever Wisconsin”. With my collection of photos, and the use of typography and graphic design, I decided to put together a homage to the beautiful state I grew up in. This project would be in the form of a postcard series dedicated to different places in Wisconsin that hold meaning to me. I began by taking candid photos of every place in Wisconsin I went, and then cataloging those photos on my computer. I came across and collected interesting textured images that exuded the same “Wisconsin feel” my photographs had. With the magic of Adobe Photoshop and InDesign I began experimenting and created different compositions, trying to achieve the desired look of the project. The goal of “Forever Wisconsin” is to make everyone remember the little joys and quirks of growing up or living in the state. I often find its “hometown” and “laid back” vibe giving way to waves of nostalgia. The roots anyone grows here will stay with them forever. Wisconsin is in my blood, and I wanted to seize that. “Forever Wisconsin” will capture all aspects of the Wisconsin lifestyle. This series is an ongoing process, and with time, will trigger memories for anyone who has spent time in this neck of the woods.
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