The Descartes Contest has challenged the skills of many aspiring mathies and crushed the dreams of many wanting to come to UW. With the demise of the Grade 13 in Ontario high school, the CMC deemed that the contest is no longer needed. As a result, the contest will be put down on April 17.
Many people intending to come to UW math are not very happy with this decision. Many have a sense of bitterness, especially toward the CMC and the students in lower grades.
"Why do we have to endure this ordeal while those younger than us will never know the pain of writing the Descartes?" is a sentiment felt by many grade 13 students.
The Descartes has been slowly pushed aside. It ceased being an admission requirement for UW math in 2001. Many people who joined the mathie legion during the mandatory Descartes period are not happy with the decision, either. "I spent 7 months in my final year of high school to prepare for this. Just imagine that amount of time I lost in Descartes training," said one current mathie.
People from outside Ontario also are not thrilled about the news. "Why should students get a break because the Ontario government is eliminating grade 13? We had one fewer year of grade school and we still have many who get good marks in the contest," an angry mathie from Newfoundland (and Labrador) said.
Some others are more sensible (or may be not). "I wrote both the Euclid and the Descartes in my grade 12 year. I'm sure future UW mathies from Ontario are smart enough to do the same. All I want to add is, why didn't they cancel the Descartes when I was still in high school?" claimed a mathie from BC.
Of course, some mathies are overjoyed that the Descartes will be eliminated. According to some, the Descartes contest may be part of the reason why mathies are not very sociable.
"It's about time," stated one mathie.
"Students can spend their grade 13 days doing things outside the classroom rather than wasting 7 months preparing for one measly contest," another mathie remarked.
The news that Descartes will be eliminated has brought mixed emotions to many mathies. On one hand, the mere mention of the contest brings painful memories to their minds. On the other, they are glad that future mathies won't have to spend months think about the contest.
The Descartes contest will be put down at April 17 in room MC 7056. Anyone interested in attending the execution should contact Mark McDermot for details.
Jason "the Screamer" Lau