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‘Phflosophvi and rowing‘ Meeting of minds key for oarsmen Richard O‘Brien Chronicle Staff . And now for something completely different: A chance to ask the question, ‘"Is rowing a thinking man‘s sport..." ...and draw the conclusion that yes, it must be. Those who‘ve taken an interest in rowing may not be on their way to solving the mindâ€"body problem, but they are providing an unlikely link between certain departments at University of Waterloo. And with their efforts, the Kâ€"W Rowing Club has been launched. The thinkers from UW‘s philosophy department and the doers from athletics make up a fair percentage of the club‘s executive, with coach Don McLean bridging the Mclean, a graduate student going for his PhD in hilosophy, already has plans to cross departments with fiia interest in philosophy of sport. A Master‘s in recreation is next on his academic agenda. With the interest he‘s created in a sport that seems unlikely for this landlocked area, the club has one philosopher, Jim Van Evra, among its executive mem Other such members are Peter Hopkins and Sally Kemp. While both represent UW‘s athletic department, Hopkins started in philosophy. ’ Two philosophy professors â€" Joe Novak and Bill Abbott â€" came out to try the singles scull when the Kâ€"W club held an open house membership drive Sunday afternoon at Columbia Lake. Abbott, known for his sense of humor, had long since been aware of the number of rowing related calls for McLean on the philosophy graduate students telephone. He now answers with, "Good afternoon. Philosophy and rowing." of memberships, studies mechanical engineering. And while the club got its start through UW, it‘s open to anyone willing to show up at the university in time for the 5 a.m. bus to Conestoga Lake where they practice with coxed fours, which are 43 feet long and weigh about 130 The Kâ€"W Club‘s inauguration was on Sunday, nearly two years after UW started its competitive rowing program in the fall of 1987. So far UW has raced against city clubs, but that too is changing. o â€" lb desirable, since the bus has a stereo. "We‘re having varsity racing here in the fall," said McLean, who has rowed and coached at University of Western Ontario. He also attended University of Guelph, where he was the rowing team with a singles scull. The club has been taking out two five person crews, in addition to coaches, on weekday mornings. They work out for a couple hours, return to campus at 8 a.m., and think ahead to weekend regattas. â€" _ But the membership extends beyond the two departâ€" ments. Chris Hardwicke, one of the coaches, is a fine arts student. Harry Snider, another experienced rower, is in urban anil regional planning. Belinda Li, who is in charge A taste for classical music at that wee hour is also You need to have a whole crew show up (at practice)," Kâ€"W Rowing Club coaches Don McLean, right, and Chris Hardwicke get one of their singles sculls ready for people to try Sunday afternoon at Columbia Lake. @ret ~ WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY JULY 12 "I think we should have done something like this earher in the summer," she said, "when people are looking for something to do more so than now. We don‘t have that many experienced rowers." Hardwicke comes from Peterborough and Snider from Toronto. Li reports that the Kâ€"W club‘s heavyweight coxed four was very competitive on Saturday in St Catharines, a city where rowing has tradition The rowing season for Kâ€"W members extends over the summer. UW‘s new varsity team competes in the fall. The campus club‘s competitive and recreational programs are in the spring. McLean says the club‘s goal (philosophy?) is to build membership, get people rowing. He looks for a mixed bag of students and local residents for the right blend of permanence and athleticism. ‘"We thought it would be better to broaden the base of the membership," said McLean. Li said she signed about eight people on Sunday, bringing the membership to just under 50. said McLean, "and who has anything to do at five in the morning except maybe sleep?" . O It‘s a time of day when it‘s possible to get people together. It‘s cool out. The winds are down, the water calmer, and there are no motorboats to contend with Expos on hot streak Josh Holden, 11, tries his hand at %flu club also has two coxed fours at Columbia Lake. Richard O‘Brien photos 1989 â€" PAGE 29