The propaganda page
Jan. 15th, 2005 09:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kyrasantae
...a tradition worth fighting against?
Articles from "The Bridge," Vol. 48, Issue 4, January 2005 (official newspaper of the ESS)
"A Brief History of Engineering Week"
Travis Martin [5th year Engg Phys; Head Judge of Engg Week]
Engineering Week is a series of events occurring over the course of the second week of second semester. Though sponsored by the Engineering Students' Society, organized and run by engineering students, the event invites teams from all faculties to participate. The purpose is to promote fellowship and foster community spirit among the members of the campus community.
Many alumni fondly remember their participation in the events, which date back as far as 1939. However, Engineering Week has had a troubled past.
The ESS organized the first Engineering Ball in February of 1939, receiving rave reviews from participants. "The first annual ball was the tremendous success, and judging by the enthusiasm shown both prior to and following the event, it should become the social highlight of the Varsity year for Engineers." --Evergreen and Gold, Year Book 1939.
This Annual Ball grew to become Engineering Week over the next 65 years.
Engineer's Ball and Queen Week
The Engineer's Ball became the Queen's Ball in its sixth year, with the addition of the beauty pageant and crowning of the first queen. In 1945, the event was moved to January, a slide rule competition was included, and the first Godiva Ride occurred, in which a scantily clad female rode bareback through campus upon a horse.
By the mid-1950s, the length of Queen Week had been extended to a week, to allow for campaigns for the pageant candidates, dubbed Princesses, and various other activities, such as Keg Races, stunts, and pranks performed all across campus. At the end of the week, the Queen was crowned by the ESS President at the Ball.
In the 1960s, the term "Engineering Week" became more prominent, and the week's events increased in number. A pub crawl was added, as well as the Tug of War, Toboggan Races, CAB Rally (kickline), Skit Night, Scavenger Hunt, Ice Sculpture, Boat Races and a Wrap-Up party.
In 1979, the Women's Engineering Student Society (WESS) formed to provide services for the growing number of women in Engineering. This was not well received by some engineers, and in 1980 a newspaper article of a sexist nature was published in the Engineering paper raising the issues of sexism among engineers.
An Engineering Week Task Force was created in 1981 to try to resolve some of the issues. The following changes were made to Queen Week: Queen crowning based on club achievement rather than beauty pageant; Queen candidates were given new role of promoting participation; judging criteria was made more official, including media and faculty participation; alcohol consumption was regulated, with the implementation of penalties for violation.
As well, the event list was increased to provide more variety. Large Posters the Godiva Newspaper and the Blood Donor Clinic were added in 1982; Beer Brewing and Technical Display were later added in 1983 and 1985, respectively.
WESS officially competed in the 1981 Queen Week and continued for several more years.
Engineering Week
The term "Engineering Week" was officially adopted in 1990, as a result of a series of unfortunate events that occurred during the 1989/1990 school year.
On December 6, 1989, fourteen women were shot and killed in the [École Polytechnique] engineering school, once again bringing the gender issue in the Engineering profession to light. As well, a female Engineering Physics student at the University of Alberta was publicly humiliated with a lewd newspaper article published in The Bridge as a joke. This resulted in significant media coverage, bringing the sexist and misogynistic stigma to UofA engineering students.
Later in the year, during Skit Night of Engineering Week, the same female student partook in a skit based on the popular sitcom, Gilligan's Island, playing the role of the popularly dubbed "Rich Bitch," Mrs. Howell.
During the skit, the characters were set with the task of surviving on the island with limited resources. It was deemed that one character had to go. With the media present, the crowd participated in the skit by shouting "Shoot the Bitch," referring to the "Rich Bitch" character, resulting in the "Shoot the Bitch" incident.
The resulting media coverage was extensive, stating that male members of the audience shouted the moment the woman took the stage, and linked the Montreal Massacre and past issues with this female to show that the faculty was rife with misogyny. It should be noted that an independent study was performed, which found that the media took the incident out of context, and that both male and female audience members were shouting in the spirit of the event, with no sexist intent.
However, major changes occurred once again to try to bring Queen Week to society's new standards, including: Queen Week officially became "Engineering Week"; Queen's Ball officially became "Engineer's Ball"; Princess title changed to "PR Rep" title; Kickline official changed to "Dance Troupe"; Skit Night was removed from the event listing, and later replaced with a "Movie Night"; the Shangria event was introduced; a Food Bank Donation competition was introduced; and a Battle of the Bands competition was introduced.
For 12 year, Engineering Week occurred with only minor problems, with nothing drawing negative media coverage. The minor problems had plagued Engg Week since the beginning, including various incidents of damage caused by stunts and pranks.
During the 2002 Engineering Week, the problems resurfaced. As a stunt, the Electrical Engineering Club hired strippers from a local strip club to dance on stage during another club's CAB Rally performance. Though the strippers reduced their clothing, they did not strip completely, and some accounts state that they showed less skin than many of the dancers of the other Engineering Clubs.
Several letters were written to the Dean of Engineering, including statements that people were ashamed to be members of the faculty. With this final straw, the Dean withdrew faculty support for Engg Week, and thus the ability of the ESS to book Quad for the outdoor events. The result: the outdoor events were moved to nearby Windsor Park for Engg Week 2003 and 2004, where non-engineering spectator attendance and visibility were reduced.
This year, Engg Week 2005 hopes to start a new age for Engg Week. With serious attention to prevent unlawful and hazardous activities, Engg Week has become a more society-friendly and inclusive event. The ESS is paying close attention to the issues of the past, and is working towards securing a new future and returning Engg Week to campus.
Engg Week hosts teams from Science, Nursing, and even an Alumni Team that are back to enjoy their favorite week once more, demonstrating that the controversial Engg Week of the past has changed for the best.
"Editorial: A Tradition Worth Fighting For"
The first thing any UofA engineering student is asked when they meet an alumni is: "How is Engineering Week?" This speaks to the comraderie and bonds that build from participation in this wonderful week.
Despite objections from influential members within the Faculty, Engineering students continue to enjoy this timeless tradition year after year, and students are willing to trudge off campus to participate in many events. Students showcase their non-Engineering skills in events like poster design, newspaper page, and the glorious movie. These events encourage students to build artistic skills not emphasized by the Engineering program.
Engg Week has had recent successes, but some older members of the Engineering community remember a time not so long ago when Engg Week was a disgracing display of engineering ego. Less than ten years ago the sight of drunk students, improper innuendo aimed at female Engineers, and Arts bashing were signs that Engg Week had again descended upon campus. Many UofA alumni remember the sights and sounds of Engg Week quite vividly, with Engineers recalling its grandeur and graduates of other Faculties recollecting on "what a crazy bunch those Engineers were."
For the uninitiated, Engg Week provides an opportunity for students to meet other members of their discipline while competing in fun outdoor events and skill-testing indoor competitions for the entire second week of January.
Though engineering student participation rates remained strong throughout the past two years off campus, students in other Faculties have started to forget the hilarious events. However, the ESS is confident that an on-campus Engg Week will bring Engineering's pride week into the hearts of students unfamiliar with the various team-building events.
Those remaining students that do remember Engg Week from its last few glory days in Quad still reminisce about the amazing sight that was CAB Rally - an afternoon Battle of the Bands held in CAB. The balconies of CAB were packed with hundreds of engineering students watching their club's performance; few other groups have had such well-attended free events.
Engg Week transformed itself into a better sort of week just as it was pushed off campus. Participants from the Faculty of Science last year commented that Engg Week was a great time, and a good way for students in other areas to realize that Engineers don't have their noses in calculus textbooks all the time. They gained new respect for engineering students, especially seeing the attendance at the Blood Drive and the generous donations to the Campus Food Bank.
Engineering Week is not the garish week of vulgarity that it used to be. It is a week long tribute to the successes of Engineers in teams, and it is a tradition worth fighting for.
Articles from "The Bridge," Vol. 48, Issue 4, January 2005 (official newspaper of the ESS)
"A Brief History of Engineering Week"
Travis Martin [5th year Engg Phys; Head Judge of Engg Week]
Engineering Week is a series of events occurring over the course of the second week of second semester. Though sponsored by the Engineering Students' Society, organized and run by engineering students, the event invites teams from all faculties to participate. The purpose is to promote fellowship and foster community spirit among the members of the campus community.
Many alumni fondly remember their participation in the events, which date back as far as 1939. However, Engineering Week has had a troubled past.
The ESS organized the first Engineering Ball in February of 1939, receiving rave reviews from participants. "The first annual ball was the tremendous success, and judging by the enthusiasm shown both prior to and following the event, it should become the social highlight of the Varsity year for Engineers." --Evergreen and Gold, Year Book 1939.
This Annual Ball grew to become Engineering Week over the next 65 years.
Engineer's Ball and Queen Week
The Engineer's Ball became the Queen's Ball in its sixth year, with the addition of the beauty pageant and crowning of the first queen. In 1945, the event was moved to January, a slide rule competition was included, and the first Godiva Ride occurred, in which a scantily clad female rode bareback through campus upon a horse.
By the mid-1950s, the length of Queen Week had been extended to a week, to allow for campaigns for the pageant candidates, dubbed Princesses, and various other activities, such as Keg Races, stunts, and pranks performed all across campus. At the end of the week, the Queen was crowned by the ESS President at the Ball.
In the 1960s, the term "Engineering Week" became more prominent, and the week's events increased in number. A pub crawl was added, as well as the Tug of War, Toboggan Races, CAB Rally (kickline), Skit Night, Scavenger Hunt, Ice Sculpture, Boat Races and a Wrap-Up party.
In 1979, the Women's Engineering Student Society (WESS) formed to provide services for the growing number of women in Engineering. This was not well received by some engineers, and in 1980 a newspaper article of a sexist nature was published in the Engineering paper raising the issues of sexism among engineers.
An Engineering Week Task Force was created in 1981 to try to resolve some of the issues. The following changes were made to Queen Week: Queen crowning based on club achievement rather than beauty pageant; Queen candidates were given new role of promoting participation; judging criteria was made more official, including media and faculty participation; alcohol consumption was regulated, with the implementation of penalties for violation.
As well, the event list was increased to provide more variety. Large Posters the Godiva Newspaper and the Blood Donor Clinic were added in 1982; Beer Brewing and Technical Display were later added in 1983 and 1985, respectively.
WESS officially competed in the 1981 Queen Week and continued for several more years.
Engineering Week
The term "Engineering Week" was officially adopted in 1990, as a result of a series of unfortunate events that occurred during the 1989/1990 school year.
On December 6, 1989, fourteen women were shot and killed in the [École Polytechnique] engineering school, once again bringing the gender issue in the Engineering profession to light. As well, a female Engineering Physics student at the University of Alberta was publicly humiliated with a lewd newspaper article published in The Bridge as a joke. This resulted in significant media coverage, bringing the sexist and misogynistic stigma to UofA engineering students.
Later in the year, during Skit Night of Engineering Week, the same female student partook in a skit based on the popular sitcom, Gilligan's Island, playing the role of the popularly dubbed "Rich Bitch," Mrs. Howell.
During the skit, the characters were set with the task of surviving on the island with limited resources. It was deemed that one character had to go. With the media present, the crowd participated in the skit by shouting "Shoot the Bitch," referring to the "Rich Bitch" character, resulting in the "Shoot the Bitch" incident.
The resulting media coverage was extensive, stating that male members of the audience shouted the moment the woman took the stage, and linked the Montreal Massacre and past issues with this female to show that the faculty was rife with misogyny. It should be noted that an independent study was performed, which found that the media took the incident out of context, and that both male and female audience members were shouting in the spirit of the event, with no sexist intent.
However, major changes occurred once again to try to bring Queen Week to society's new standards, including: Queen Week officially became "Engineering Week"; Queen's Ball officially became "Engineer's Ball"; Princess title changed to "PR Rep" title; Kickline official changed to "Dance Troupe"; Skit Night was removed from the event listing, and later replaced with a "Movie Night"; the Shangria event was introduced; a Food Bank Donation competition was introduced; and a Battle of the Bands competition was introduced.
For 12 year, Engineering Week occurred with only minor problems, with nothing drawing negative media coverage. The minor problems had plagued Engg Week since the beginning, including various incidents of damage caused by stunts and pranks.
During the 2002 Engineering Week, the problems resurfaced. As a stunt, the Electrical Engineering Club hired strippers from a local strip club to dance on stage during another club's CAB Rally performance. Though the strippers reduced their clothing, they did not strip completely, and some accounts state that they showed less skin than many of the dancers of the other Engineering Clubs.
Several letters were written to the Dean of Engineering, including statements that people were ashamed to be members of the faculty. With this final straw, the Dean withdrew faculty support for Engg Week, and thus the ability of the ESS to book Quad for the outdoor events. The result: the outdoor events were moved to nearby Windsor Park for Engg Week 2003 and 2004, where non-engineering spectator attendance and visibility were reduced.
This year, Engg Week 2005 hopes to start a new age for Engg Week. With serious attention to prevent unlawful and hazardous activities, Engg Week has become a more society-friendly and inclusive event. The ESS is paying close attention to the issues of the past, and is working towards securing a new future and returning Engg Week to campus.
Engg Week hosts teams from Science, Nursing, and even an Alumni Team that are back to enjoy their favorite week once more, demonstrating that the controversial Engg Week of the past has changed for the best.
"Editorial: A Tradition Worth Fighting For"
The first thing any UofA engineering student is asked when they meet an alumni is: "How is Engineering Week?" This speaks to the comraderie and bonds that build from participation in this wonderful week.
Despite objections from influential members within the Faculty, Engineering students continue to enjoy this timeless tradition year after year, and students are willing to trudge off campus to participate in many events. Students showcase their non-Engineering skills in events like poster design, newspaper page, and the glorious movie. These events encourage students to build artistic skills not emphasized by the Engineering program.
Engg Week has had recent successes, but some older members of the Engineering community remember a time not so long ago when Engg Week was a disgracing display of engineering ego. Less than ten years ago the sight of drunk students, improper innuendo aimed at female Engineers, and Arts bashing were signs that Engg Week had again descended upon campus. Many UofA alumni remember the sights and sounds of Engg Week quite vividly, with Engineers recalling its grandeur and graduates of other Faculties recollecting on "what a crazy bunch those Engineers were."
For the uninitiated, Engg Week provides an opportunity for students to meet other members of their discipline while competing in fun outdoor events and skill-testing indoor competitions for the entire second week of January.
Though engineering student participation rates remained strong throughout the past two years off campus, students in other Faculties have started to forget the hilarious events. However, the ESS is confident that an on-campus Engg Week will bring Engineering's pride week into the hearts of students unfamiliar with the various team-building events.
Those remaining students that do remember Engg Week from its last few glory days in Quad still reminisce about the amazing sight that was CAB Rally - an afternoon Battle of the Bands held in CAB. The balconies of CAB were packed with hundreds of engineering students watching their club's performance; few other groups have had such well-attended free events.
Engg Week transformed itself into a better sort of week just as it was pushed off campus. Participants from the Faculty of Science last year commented that Engg Week was a great time, and a good way for students in other areas to realize that Engineers don't have their noses in calculus textbooks all the time. They gained new respect for engineering students, especially seeing the attendance at the Blood Drive and the generous donations to the Campus Food Bank.
Engineering Week is not the garish week of vulgarity that it used to be. It is a week long tribute to the successes of Engineers in teams, and it is a tradition worth fighting for.
