TheTrebuchet

TheTrebuchet debuted in the fall of 1998, when RobPrestegard (HMC Class of '97, one of the '96-'97 EastDormPresidents) put the results of his math senior thesis to work on a siege engine designed to dismantle and fit conveniently in a dorm storeroom. Originally inspired as a zucchini-flinging mechanism, Rob's trebuchet optimally launched several melons, a large water bottle and a bowling ball about 100 yards each.

Devastating things happen when a cantalope hits the ground at terminal velocity.

"One of the failure modes of this thing is to shatter into hundreds of pieces, so if that happens... ummm... dodge stuff."