Spring wind in April greens Zijingang. At 9 am on April 8th, it’s crowded with students before computer center in Zijingang Campus in ZJU though it’s Sunday. In fact 12th “Insigma International Cup” Collegiate Programming Contest is being held here. The opening ceremony is chaired by Wei Zhiyuan, director of scientific research and discipline contest office in teaching research center of undergraduate school, attended by Tang Xiaowu, deputy director of teaching research center of undergraduate school of ZJU, Huang Zhongdong, deputy president of Insigma, Chen Yue, deputy president of the college of computer science and technology, Weng Kai and Wang Can, gold medal coach of the college of computer science and technology and Fei Lanlan, secretary of CYL committee of the college of computer science and technology etc.
178 teams taking part in ACM contest in ZJU are lined in order with many “old faces” showing many times in the contest and a few “new faces” itching to try. Though team names show different characteristics and they are different in grade and major, there’s no doubt that they have enthusiasm about programming in common. And the contest brings them together.
In the opening ceremony Tang Xiaowu tells contestants present his understanding of programming, “it is a process of imitation to think about how to row a boat, two boats and more boats in a lake. University students need to learn from imitation while the core of imitation lies in programming.”
“This is an ‘addictive’ game free from guilt, exercising your programming skills, English understanding, team communication and on-the-spot stress resistance. I hope everyone could experience the gloom and joy together in the same place among hundreds of people!” Chen Yue shows the unique charm of ACM by her constant humor and wishes everyone good experience in technology as well as a “happy” harvest in the contest.
As representative of Insigma, Huang Zhongdong, deputy president of Insigma expresses his best wish for the successful holding of the contest. At the end of the ceremony, Weng Kai, the general umpire reads the rules and attentions of the contest article by article to students and contests present all note down them prudently.
Following the brief ceremony all participating teams enter the competition field to test the computer. Inside the compute center are floating colorful balloons on the walls, echoing with cards with various letters, which enlivens the neat and simple room. Teams locate themselves within certain distance and begin to communicate happily with a low voice. Some even take photos to keep as souvenir. No matter it is the first or second time, it is an uncommon and unforgettable experience to them.
At about 1 pm with the whistling of the umpire, the contest is formally beginning. It becomes quiet immediately from the original noisy atmosphere and tension is spread through the field. There are only page turning and keyboard typing. Volunteers have already been scattered to all competition rooms and well-prepared to serve contestants. In the umpire room the umpire team of students led by teachers in the college of computer science and technology also throw into tense work.
During the four hours of contest, contestants race against time to thing about questions and find answers with spark of thinking leaping and glow of dream shining. They are cheering for successful submitting and furrow their brows for failure to solve problems while in the umpire room members of umpire team are anxious about the submitting of answers and make discussions about the questions in the contest more often than not.
At about 5 pm the contest draws the curtain with one after another colorful balloon dropped from the second floor and the competition field transformed into a sea of joy. Finally team “infinite synthesis” ranks first by completing fives questions of AC while team “!!!{|||T_T|||}!!!”, “Godel” and “run for dream” ranking second, third and fourth based on the increasing penalty in light of the same questions solved. However whatever is the result all people present go through an unforgettable afternoon and enjoy the happiness brought by programming.
It is universally acknowledged that ACM team in ZJU gained the champion of 35th ACM international collegiate programming contest last year, which gives all teachers and students in ZJU pride and make them expect much of ACM contest and participating contestants this year. Teams selected on the basis of contest within campus will participate in the 9th collegiate programming contest held by ZJU and we wish them good performance!
Collegiate programming contest practice base in ZJU
News network center of the college of college of computer software
written by Zhou Chuhang and Li Jiahua
2012/4/9
