2004 ASCE Deep South Conference

            The ASCE Student Chapter at the University of Mississippi successfully hosted the 2004 ASCE Deep South Regional Conference. Twelve universities in the region, Mississippi State University, Louisiana Tech, University of Memphis, Arkansas State University, Louisiana State University, Christian Brothers University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, McNeese State University, University of Tennessee at Martin, University of New Orleans, Tulane University, and University of Mississippi participated. About 250 civil engineering students and faculty advisors arrive on campus on Thursday, March 25, 2004. The program started in the evening with a catfish dinner served in the Circle, as an icebreaker (Figure (a)). A Concrete Bowling Ball competition was held after the dinner, to encourage students from the universities to mix and to social (Figure (b)).

(a) Evening icebreaker catfish dinner.	(b) Concrete bowling in the Circle.

            The main competitions started on Friday. Students assembled steel bridge as time competition (Figure (c)). The bridges were tested for their strength (Figure (d)). The Ole Miss steel bridge team is shown in Figures 4 (e) and (f). The whole day event held in front of the Student Union attracted a lot of onlookers.

(c) Steel Bridge construction in front of Union.	(d) Bridge testing.
(e) Ole Miss bridge construction.	(f) Ole Miss bridge team.

            At the same time the Surveying competition started in front of Ventress Hall (Figure  (g)), goring around the Grove (Figure (h)). It was a beautiful day in a beautiful campus. By noon time, students were treated a BarBQ lunch in front of Lyceum (Figure (i)). The environmental competition started in the afternoon. Using sand, gravel, clay, solid waste, students built sanitary landfills (Figure (j)). The Ole Miss team is shown in Figure (k).

(g) Surveying in front of Ventress Hall.	(h) Surveying around the Grove.
(i) BarBQ lunch in front of Lyceum.	(j) Sanitary landfill competition.
(k) Ole Miss environmental team.	(l) Concrete canoe launching at Lake Patsy.

            The events continued Saturday. In the city park, concrete canoes were launched into Lake Patsy (Figure  (l)). Students raced the whole day in different team combinations (Figure (m)). By noon, lunch was served in the woods by the lake (Figure (n)). In the evening, the award banquet was held on the stage in the newly completed Ford Center for the Performing Arts (Figure (o) and (p)). Provost Carolyn Staton gave the keynote speech (Figure (q)). Ole Miss ASCE students presided the ceremony and presented awards (Figure (r)).

(m) Concrete canoe racing.	(n) Box lunch by the lake.
(o) Ford Performing Arts Center.	(p) Banquet on stage of Ford Center.
(q) Keynote by Provost Staton.	(r) Award presentation.

            A year ago this time, prior to winning the right to host the conference, there were doubts raised in the business meeting that the small program like Ole Miss civil engineering could handle this large scale conference. The Ole Miss ASCE students confidently presented themselves and won the right to host the conference.  To showcase the university to all participants and to make this event a memorable one, students presented an ambitious plan with a budget of $22,000, of which $12,000 would be raised form organization, corporate, and private sponsors. The small student body demonstrated amazing organizational and leadership skills. They were conscientious and highly responsible. They followed through numerous details. They worked hard and a few students were always the last to leave the scene, cleaning up everything. The fundraising reached its goal and the conference was successful. Praises were received from many sources, including the ASCE National Committee representative, that this conference was one of the best he has ever attended.