ENGINEERING CULTURE & TRADITION
Engineers have a long and proud tradition of comraderie and excellence. It comes to no surprise that in all that time, a certain culture developed. This culture can be mistaken for arrogance and elitism, when in fact it's merely pride and honor. This attitude keeps us competitive and sharp. Not many people can relate or fully understand the deep culture that engineers are immersed in.
All Things Purple!
The colour purple is significantly important at most engineering schools. This purple craze is commonly attributed to the story of the sinking of the Titanic in which the purple-clad marine engineers remained on board to delay the ship's sinking.
The Calling of an Engineer -- The Iron Ring
In 1907 and 1916, the Québec Bridge collapsed due to poor engineering and miscalculation. Canadian engineers got together to set standards and vow to take care with their designs and to persevere in the face of adversity. They say the original rings were struck from the metal of the collapsed bridge.
CAUTION: Hard Hat Area!!
SAFETY FIRST!! In order to protect our ego, we must wear our helmets everywear we go. You can usually spot the engineers in a first year science class by looking for their hard hats.
Every year we hold a competiton for the nicest or most decorated hard hat. All are encouraged to customize their buckets and show it off to everyone on campus.
Godiva's Hymn
Chorus:
We are, we are, we are, we are, we are the Engineers,
We can, we can, we can, we can demolish forty beers.
Drink rum, drink rum, drink rum, drink rum,
so come along with us,
For we don't give a damn for any damn man,
who don't give a damn for us
Verses:
Godiva was a lady who through Coventry did ride,
To show to all the villagers her lovely bare white hide.
The most observant villager, an Engineer of course,
Was the only one to notice that Godiva rode a horse.
She said I’ve come a long, long way, and I will go as far,
With the man who takes me off this horse, and leads me to a bar.
The men who took her off her steed, and stood her to a bar,
Were a bleary-eyed Surveyor and a drunken Engineer.
Godiva woke next morning and she had an awful head,
Decided to be sensible and spend the day in bed.
The only ones to visit her and bring her lots of cheer,
Were a broken-down Surveyor and a bloodshot Engineer.
Godiva died and where she fell a benchmark marks the spot,
In any Engineering text, its level can be got.
And up in Heaven, everyday Godiva craves for beer,
But she'll have to wait until the gates let in the Engineers
Godiva was a lady well-endowed, of that there was no doubt.
She never wore a stich of clothes, just wound her hair about.
The first man who ever made her was an Engineer of course,
But on just one drink, and Artsie fink once made Godiva's horse.
Brick Signing
At the end of every academic year, it's custom for the leaving President of the Engsoc to sign a brick in the LUESS room.