University of Toronto Engineering Society - Skule Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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ENGINEERING SOCIETY EXECUTIVE The Engineering Society of 1972-1973 took office at a time when Skule spirit was at an all time low. For reasons that are very difficult to explain, interest in Skule activities had been slowly decreasing since the early sixties. Many of the traditional events, programs, and capers that had once been the focal point of university life for thousands of Skulemen were disappearing. By 1972 there was no longer a yearbook for instance; it had been dropped in 1968. Skule Nite, the Election Dance, the At Home, the Skule Dinner, the Skule Formal and many other smaller activities had also died at various stages over the last ten years. And so when the 1972-1973 Engineering Society Executive and Council took office it had a very sparse program to maintain of which many events were suffering from lack of interest and would, it seemed, also be dropped before long. But more to the point, they began office with the great problem of facing a Skule spirit that was practically non-existent.

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THE SKULE CANNON No doubt many Skulemen wonder why we have a Cannon as a symbol of Engineering. Not only is there historical justification, buy loyal and , faculty spirited engineers have always had some sort of artificial noise- maker associated with them. As early as 1300 A.D., the name “Attilator” was given to the man responsible for the maintenance of defence works and weapons of war. This title was synonymous with engineer and artillery was probably derived from it. Engineers were responsible for the number of guns used in a battle, their sitting, mounting and protection. Hence the significance to the duty of every engineer to protect the Cannon from capture by rival faculities and colleges. The first cannon firings were those in front of Hart House. In 1929 an engineering caper held there produced less than perfect results, as only one cannon actually fired. The first Skule Cannon was built in 1936 by W.H. Kubbinga from a piece of water pipe 8 to 10” long, sealed at one end and mounted on a cast iron pillow block 4” wide, 8” long and 1” deep. The original Cannon lasted until 1950, with the excep- tion of a few times between 1941 and 1943, when a borrowed yacht gun was used. In 1950, Mr. Kubbinga, made a new Cannon by machining a barrel from a 2” dia cold rolled steel bar. The barrel was IIV 2 inches long and had a %” bore. It was mounted on a wheeled carriage made from heavy steel plate. The barrel and wheels were chrome plated at a later date. In 1959, a new barrel was fashioned to replace the badly pitted barrel of the 1950 piece. The new barrel was 12” long. It was machined from a stainless steel bar 2Vz dia. The bore was made to be This barrel was mounted on the 1950 carriage. The old barrel was later placed in the cornerstone of the Galbraith Building. In 1967, a crew of specialists made a new Cannon in honour of Canada’s Centennial. This barrel was made to be about 11” long with a 9 16” bore. A new carriage was also fashioned from mahogany. Included in the base is a steel plate to attach the chains to. The barrel and the wheels were chrome plated. The long lasting 1959 piece was fired for the last time at the 6T9 Cannonball by the Dean. Henceforth this Cannon formed the basis for the Skule Cannon Award, presented to a fourth year student of outstanding merit. With Skule’s Centennial fast approaching, the Can- noneer decided that a new Cannon should be fashioned for Skule’s 100th Birthday. Many hours o.f labour went into fashioning this new piece. The barrel was machined from a brass bar 3” in diameter and thus made to be 16 3 4” long with a % bore with a weight of about 38 lbs. A new carriage was constructed of walnut to enhance the beautiful brass shine of the barrel. The carriage includes a stainless steel plate for attachment of chains. The formal firing of the 1973 Cannon was at the Undergraduate Centennial Ball. On this occasion the Dean of the Faculty, James M. Ham fired the 1 967 piece for the last time. Dean Ham was then presented with the 1967 Cannon in honour of his retirement from Deanship in June, 1973. The Skule Cannon’s life has not been easy. University College stole the Cannon in 1944 and Meds in 1949 and 1959. Of course, these desecrators were severely punished. A replica of the Skule Cannon was given to Meds on the return of our 1959 piece which was stolen at a Blood Donor’s Clinic. Of course, the replica was promptly removed from a showcase in the Meds building (without scratching the glass) and subsequently destroyed by Engineers. The Meds Building was returned as a five story parking garage Since that time, the Cannon has stayed with Engineers. It is hoped that it will never leave our hands and it need not, as long as caution, brute force and devious means are employed whenever it is used. Skulemen, we have a Cannon which by virtue of the characteristics of the material used in its construction, will endure as long as Skule exists!

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If it would be possible to have, at this point, a fan-fare of the LGMB, a rousing round of “Lady Godiva”, a blast of the Skule Cannon and maybe even a few fireworks for effect there should be; but you can imagine them anyway. In the 1972-1973 Skule year a great change took place. Perhaps spurred on by the upcoming Centennial of Skule and undoubtedly due to an extremely energetic executive and a very dedicated, wide-eyed President, the course of skule spirit and society activities was to be reversed. During the 1972-1973 year new programs would be initiated, many of the old Skule activities would be revived, and interest in both the Society and spirit of Skule would come to life again. From the minute the new Council took office in March, planning and preparations for the next year began. Most of the Council and Executive was made up of new people interested in seeing changes take place and more important, willing to carry them out. The Executive Committee and most of the other committees of Council held regular meetings all summer. By the beginning of August the entire year of activities had been planned, dates had been set, and many of the necessary arrangements were being made for as far in advance as March, 1973. Ultimate commitment to these ambitious plans was made in the form of a Skule Calendar which in the eight months of the academic year showed the dates for all the new and old activities that the Society had planned. As it turned out all of these ambitions were realized, and as the year progressed new ideas came to mind and were also carried out. Social activities, professional development programs, educational events; conferences, congresses, exchanges; Skule Nite, job seminars, a French course; a new Cannon; an “Old Red Skulehouse’’, a glorious Centennial Ball; a new constitution, “Centennial Awards”, a preliminary report for an Engineering Centre; new Stores and Offices, a weekly Tiny Toike, Synergetics; Pub Crawl, the Car Rally, a Chariot Race; Cannonball; Election Dance; Founding Day; Grad Ball, Irong Rings, PHT’s, Oktoberfest, our own Float Parade; Orientation; Faculty Council, the Alumni Executive, SAC; the APEO Conference, Ecole Polytechnique, a trip to Vancouver; a Beard Growing Contest, Founding Day, “Ralph”; the Toike Oike, no BFC, our LGMG; a much loved and respected retiring Dean. The Engineering Society of 1972-1973 has had a great year. It is the sincere hope of the outgoing Executive and Council that the spark of Skule Spirit that has brought smoke to our kindling will bring fire to yours. Best of luck to next year’s Society.