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For better or worse, here are my thoughts.
My team (116), as I think about it, is fairly well off. We have a farily compleate shop with a used mill and lathe, two drill presses and a table saw. We have 7 or so wonderful engineers and Dave. 35 or so students. As this topic has come up I have givin it thought and come to realize that once the ideas start coming, I don't see most of the engineers as any diffrent than the students. They tend to be right in there, and the students are there too. It seems, to me at least, that they treat the students as equals for the most part. When some things get outlandish as deadlines aprach, they will speak up and focus the students.
Most of the physical machining is done by the students. I know thats what I enjoy the most, the machining. Making something that fits the dimensions given me makes me happy.
Our students are there as long, or longer than our engineers who have familys and jobs and kids. But they still come, even when we spend 40 hours the last weekend, and stay til 3:30 on Tuesday morning, the adults are still there working along side the students.
As to which is right or wrong, I don't think there is a clear answer to that question. I remember MOE not because of their bot, but because of their hideous green shirts and their enthusiasm. And the Gila Monsters and the Gila, Glia, GliaGliaGlia dance. While winning on the field is great, and is very exciting, there is more. The enthusiasm of the students participating is to me what makes a succesful team.
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Viva Olancho!
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