Calibrating Cognition : SENSORS'08

--- One of the most looked-forwarded to events in NITT college life is the respective department’s symposium every year.There are many plausible reasons for this:

• You get to see your class girls in saree
• You get to see junior girls in saree
• You get to eat some unlimited nice snacks
• You get to present yourself in formal full hands and ties
• You get to take pictures with anyone you feel like
• You get to have one Friday off generally, citing the organization of the event
• You get to have some fun overall

This year’s SENSORS was not short on any of these points. The inauguration saw an unprecedented full capacity A2 hall, a first for any symposium in college. And it set the tone for the next two days. Day One was short as the events started around 6pm. All the preliminary events took place by the end of the day. That SENSORS’08 was not allowed to have informal guest lectures was indeed a dampener. The organization team had to arrange for only technical events and guest lectures. Given this, that the symposium managed to get many participants from outside the college was an indication of the innovation applied to the new events and also the good publicity that must have been given to all the colleges.

Day Two was the most eventful day. The girls had come in their best dress (sarees) and makeup and they did make a few heads turn (at least the junior girls). The guys including the author had come in formals and A2 hall was buzzing with smart guys and girls. The events were all technical but the social relevance that it expected to serve was conspicuous. Be it project presentation or solutions to practical problems or recent trends in the instrumentation field, it had everything. One pleasing thing was to see some introvert classmates participate and speak out in front of all and win some prizes. Absence of big names in the guest’s list lessened the popularity levels that the event deserved to attain.

The Chairman of the event was smart enough in making sure that snacks got a big share of the budget and that surely attracted all the department's students. The event was organized on Thursday and Friday rather than the usual weekends which meant that the students had two extra days off and all were delighted. Cameras were flashing all around as no one wanted to miss the occasion when everyone felt smart and confident. The closing ceremony was held without much fuss. The event was over. Only officially though. For the REAL fun started after this.

It was that time of the day after an event when the organizers wish they hadn’t organized the event. A mob of people, who generally consist of juniors, tired and irritated with the amount of work given to them during the event, starts looking out for the organizers. To give what we famously call BUMPS. The organizers run like they are mad but always in vain. And the next 2-3 minutes will be a living hell. If you are a curious onlooker and an extreme blabbermouth, better beware. For any attention you get now will instigate the mob towards you and bang!

The students headed to A2 hall after the bumps showdown, apparently tired. But the real energy was released in the minutes that followed. Music all around, people dancing to tunes and cameras catching every second of the activity onstage, the fun element reached its high. The girls joined in and that’s always the best motivation any guy can get. Everyone shed any inhibitions they might have had and were open to all cranky stuff. The minutes that the students shared in the evening are something which will remain for long in all their minds. Those of you(ICE dept.) who missed out, try finding a bigger loser than yourself!! The sponsored dinner was the icing on the cake. Overall SENSORS’08 was a cultural event walking with the facade of a technical one. Congratulations to all the organizers for doing an excellent job. Kudos guys!!