The 17th Annual Pumpkin Drop 2004

Aristotle was a fool.

The greatest scientist of the ancient world claimed that a heavier object would fall faster, and for the 17th year in a row, he was proven soundly incorrect.

At this year's annual pumpkin drop, presented by the Society of Physics Students, once again Galileo's theory that the objects will fall at the same time proved superior. “Drop it! Drop it! Drop it!” the more than 100 young children from various schools on the lawn in front of Butte Hall chanted, slightly out of unison.

Mrs. Anderson's third grade class from Marigold Elementary School was there. One of her students, Gustavo, explained why he thought the display was important. “I'm a future architect, so I need to be here.”

Others came not so much for the physics display, but for the chaos. “I'm here to see smashing pumpkins,” said mechatronics senior Evan Dunn. “Wait till the music starts, this is going to be cool!” he said.

Following the drop, A.S. Recycling took over the cleanup.

“We're going to shovel all the pumpkins into yellow containers to bring to the compost farm,” said psychology major Cody Gibson.