The Triangle

Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Evan Rosen Drexel cuber Stanley Wong concentrates on solving the puzzle of the cube.

One unique fad has just gone from hobby to competition.

On Dec. 1, eleven Drexel students gathered to "cube". Cubing is the term for solving a Rubik's Cube, and those who cube are called cubers.

The cubers assembled on Saturday as part of the newly formed organization, Drexel Cubers, who came together this fall term. Dec. 1 was their first competition.

Five students competed in four events: Standard Rubik's Cube Solve (3x3x3), Rubik's Cube: One Handed, 4x4x4 cube, and 5x5x5 cube. Stanley Wong, the group's president, won the first three events, and had a fastest solving time of 17.60 seconds during a practice round for the 3x3x3 competition. Chase Gibson, the group's treasurer, won the 5x5x5 cube solving competition.

According to Chase Gibson, Stanley Wong and he had discussed forming a group at the end of last year, and the idea finally came together at the beginning of this term.

Gibson said Stanley Wong was most responsible for forming the group, and that they thought, "It would be fun."

The group's meetings generally draw around five members. They meet every Thursday night from 5 to 6 p.m. The meetings consist of "teaching, and just having fun solving cubes," Gibson said.

Gibson also said the Drexel Cubers decided to hold the competition to "kick-off the club, and the idea of having competitions."

Cubing has enjoyed something of a resurgence in recent years, due mostly to Tyson Mao's presence on the CW's Beauty and the Geek, where he exhibited his cubing skills.

When asked about this, Mao said: "I think it's great that people are starting the explore this puzzle again. I hope people continue to realize that the Rubik's Cube is possible for anyone, and that the only thing holding you back at the cube, or in this world in general, is yourself."

Mao is well known worldwide as one of the top competitors in cubing, and is especially adept at blindfolded cubing. Mao said, "I originally got into the Rubik's Cube through my younger brother … he gave me a two hour lesson. At the end, I was able to solve the Rubik's Cube in 10 minutes with a set of notes." Mao said that in his initial two years he spent at least an hour or two a day practicing.

Another reason for the Cube's resurgence was its notable role in Columbia Picture's film, The Pursuit of Happyness, in which Will Smith's character solves a Rubik's Cube in the backseat of a cab and impresses a potential employer. Mao helped to teach Smith the method used to solve the cube.

On working with Smith, Mao said: "He's just a cool ordinary person. He doesn't make you feel like he's anything big." Mao last competed on Nov. 10, but said he is cubing less because, "I have a full time job now…I'm also trying to spend more time on the violin."

Mao is currently a trader for a hedge fund in Beverly Hills, CA; he recently graduated from California Institute of Technology with a degree in astrophysics.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools