WA .

10
March 15, 1991 . THE ENGINEERING SOCffiTY'S STUDENT FORUM March 15, 1991

Mech Stunts.

Page 2
Iron Warrior
We Don't Exist
Recognition. I don't expect any. I
don't really know if I even deserve
any. What I do know is that the
people who have 'run the Iron
Warrior this term have all put a lot
of time and effort into making this a
very respectable newspaper. I
sincerely felt that most people on
campus would have recognized this
effort. I was, unfortunately, proven
wrong by the staff at the Imprint. In
their last issue they claimed to be
'The only student newspaper in the
city of Waterloo".
I was not impressed. As a matter of
fact, I was upset enough to make a
trip to the Imprint office to talk to
their editors. The response 1 received
merely infuriated me more. Since
neither of the Imprint editors were
available for comment 1 briefly
discussed the issue with some of the
workers that were there. The whole
issue to them was a big joke. They
commented on the rw as being in the
same realm as the Gazette, that it
was only printed on 8.5" x 11" paper,
that they never saw any of the issues
and that the IW wasn't a real paper
anyways. Well, I'm sorry we don't
live up to their extremely high
standards of what a university paper
should be.
I guess we'll have to make some
changes to bve up to the Imprint's
standards. We'll just have to:
- Develop an extremely 'Holier-
Than-Thou' attitude when it comes to
other newspapers
uw
Apathy
HlJ,ve, you ever been slad that you
were really really really wrong? I
am glad to say that I have had this
experience in the last week. In my
last editorial I challenged you, the
readers of Iron Warrior, to respond to
the editorial by sending a note that
said "I am not apathetic." The
response was overwhelming I got over
four times the number of responses I
challenged you to send in. In my view
this response proves only one thing:
You are NOT APATHETIC. no way,
no how, no when. This test proves
once and for all that the engineering
students at the University of
Waterloo are NOT APATHETIC!
Now you can hold you collective
heads high and walk with assurance.
If anyone ever says "You're
apathetic" again, you can say "We
are not apathetic and we proved it."
Among the responses I've heard in
the last week have been suggestions
that I should have discussed other
topics and researched other issues. I
wish I had had time to cover them
but there are only five issues printed
in a term and this is the last one.
expre58ed in IrOg WarriOr. other than
the editorial., ... those of the authors and
(10 not neceuarily reflect the opinions of
the edi10ra or tba Enameering Society.
The IrM Wanior encourages
IUbmis.ions from studenb. faculty and
other mCJ1\ber$ of the university
eoinmunUy. SubnUssioris lbollld reflectlhe
c:oncems and iftteDeciual standCll'ds of the
university in sonenl. atld should be
typewritten or on Macintosh or MS.ooS
3 1/2" disk. The authors' name. clus (if
appUcablO) and number should be
included.
All Otherwise
There are numerous. people who
have contributed and helped put Iron
Warrior together this term. I wish
that I could thank all of them
personally but the following will
have to suffice. Thank-you for all
the interesting and informative
articles. Thank-you for all the
layed-out pages. Thank-you for all
the events and activities that
happened this term that gave us
something to write about.
I would especially like to thank
Linda Hachey, the Layout Manager,
who did a fabulous job, Chris
DeBrusk, the Photo Editor, for all
the pictures, and Kevin, my co-e<iitor,
for making my job of editor less
burdensome.
This issue is the last one of the
term. As a result I should tell you
that there are a lot of directorship
positions now open. Ask Cheryl in
the Orifice for the application
sheets. The new executive have all
been acclaimed and look like they
will do a fabulous job and be a good
group to work with.
-.tated, boooIno
Wauior. which r ..... the ri&ht to rofuse
publicadon of matQri'al which it deems
un$uitable. The Iron Wmior teSOrVerI
the right to edit grammar, spelling and
portions of text that do not university
standards. Authors will be notified of any
maJor changes chat may be
All submissioDJ and advertising
enquiries should be forwarded to:
Iron WarriQr
EhgineeriJt&
CPR 1321
University of Waterloo
WATERLOO. Ontario
N2L3Gl
phone: (519) 888-4762
fax: (519) 8886197
e-mail: engsoC@sunee.waterloo.edu
- Start making fun of other
university newspaper's problems (the
line was obviously aimed at the
problem's being experienced by the
Cord)
- Start printing pictures of
extremely scantily clad people to
grab people's attention
- Put in some really rude cartoons
that will be guaranteed to offend
almost anyone
- Create an arts section that is
totally out of sync with reality
- Have a news section that seems
like an extra editorial section
Maybe if we do this we will gain a
little respect from the Imprint staff.
I don't know, maybe I'm over-
reacting a little bit. All I can say is
that I'm glad I haven't paid my
Imprint fee since lB. Maybe some day
soon many other students will see
that this would be an effective way
to combat the type of behavior the
Imprint staff continually exhibit
(yes, that was a not so subtle hint).
I'm graduating and I will miss this
place. I wish that I had done more
before I left but such is life and we all
make decisions along the way.
Good luck to everyone in their
exams. Remember: life is what you
make of it so don't let the golden
opportunity slip by.
March 15, 1991
Editors:
Kevin Johnson
Harvey Watson
Photo Editor:
Chris DeBrusk
Advertising:
Todd Bailey
Julie Shigetomi
Contributors:
A.T. Baxter
Andrew Pape
Bruce G. Fraser
Doug Pilmoor
Marc Gravel
Michael Ross
Fieguth
Quirien Muylwyk
Al Morewood
Baldwyn Chieh
Jelf
Layout Manager:
Linda Hachey
Layout:
AI Morewood
D. Jewlal
Florin Lazar
Hakem Habib
J.B. Wood
John Kingdon
Milind Ghanekar
Rob Davis
Ted Timar
Too Ruthman
"
Val 'Las Smith
h01to21raohy:
Chris DeBrusk
JeffDyck
March 15, 1991
Apathy
Dear IW,
Hah! You said it. This is the first
time I've ever responded to anything
in the IW. From my point of view,
though, few things in the IW provoke
me in any way. Sure, it's well
written, has coverage of relevant
school and social issues, etc., but it
just doesn't have a bite to it. I love a
paper that has the letter page
covered in a flame war between two
extremist groups, one that really
stands out. More excitement,
contoversy, and thought provocation
(as in real, not just 'sociology 101'
thought kind of provoking) are'
needed. If that fails, get the guy who
writes "Intelligent HGmor" strip in
Imprint to write supplementary
episodes for IW.
Basically sincere,
Kenn Heinrich
4B Computer
Dear IW,
I am not apathetic! I am a free
Iron Warrior
Letters
affirmati ve action because of the
reverse discrimination and the "token
nigger" syndrome, many people
believe it necessary. Satirical
writing has got to be one of the most
thankless jobs on Earth: you're trying
to raise people's hackles. And the
ones quickest to respond are the ones
who thought you meant it seriously.
While no letters to the editor were
printed last issue, I find it hard to
believe that no-one wrote in about
Jonathan Lee's "Shadow Program"
article from the issue before. It was
patronizing, generalist, and it kicked
a lot of people in their collective
asses; exactly the sort of article that
should have brought forth
disparaging comments on Mr. Lee's
ancestry. And worst, of course, there
was a lot of truth in it. We need more
long-term solutions to the problem,
not just of getting students interested
in engineering, but of getting people
interested in the world around them.
Not that I'm the best person to
talk, but I do drag myself out of my
shell every so often.
social life and activities. The
consequences are evident every term
when you return to a smaller class.
My purpose is not to make excuses
for what you call apathy and what I
call a result of priorities. I just want
to stress three examples which
totally, unequi vocally and
wholeheartedly show incredible
enthusiasm, dedication, selflessness
and a lack of apathy.
First: Over one hundred screaming
engineering students from all
departments and years spent a
Saturday morning last month pulling
a bus from campus to KW to raise
money for little and big sisters. Three
organizers ensured the event would
roll without a hitch through great
planning and endless efforts. Doesn't
sound apathetic to me.
Second: If you passed by DC two
weeks ago you would have seen a top
rale competition for design and other
engineering topics, the OEDe. The
professional atmosphere and total
success of the weekend can be entirely
attributed to Waterloo engineering
student volunteers (lots and lots of
them too) who have spent up to eight
months planning the event. Not my
man! Bryan Feir
Page 3
definition of apathy. I don't think
the other participants from all
Ontario universities would think of
the event as an exampie of student
apathy at UW.
Third: EngSoc meetings this term
have been incredibly well attended
by young and old, civil and comp,
mech and sys, chem and elec, and a
few geas too. Overall, class reps are
making a big effort to get their
classes involved. Meeting after
meeting, these people are showing
that, no matter what their opinion,
they care. Isn't this what its all
about.
I can understand that your
editorials are written to generate
controversy: you have shown success
at this with your opinions on beer,
bribery and women in engineering.
The one on apathy hits a little to
close to home. There are so many
students who do so much for this
society and I do not think that their
efforts should be belittled because no
one answered your meaningless poll
on naming ugly Waterloo statues.
Robert Greenwald
4B Mechanical
Now that I've got that out of the COR
way, down to business. This letter 4B omp ass ep Ted McCollum tries to keep the image of the boozing
was written in response to last issue's 4B Political Science Engineer alive?
editorial, some of the recent letters to Dear IW, Most of the Engineers that I have
the editors, and a few snatches of met are hard working people who are
overheard conversations. Also My definition of student apathy not boozers and are very nice people.
because I've never written a letter to doesn't quite jive with the one in your The problem that Engineers have is
the editor before. most recent editorial in the IW. That question has been put to me that they try and live up to a pre-
It's an unfortunate feature of our I would prefer to use the term many times in the past. When I was conceived notion that they have to be
culture that the best way to hear 'priority' when trying to explain the the President of the Arts Student belligerent, ignorant, and loud in
what people think is to 'get them mad lade of prMdpation, lade offtsponse tJIRioDp ....... .. .. . r eel of ot er
at you. And the simplest way to do or general lack of ... from the student committees at the University. students. they do not reattze fhat
that is to poke fun at their "sacred population. Everyone is pulled in It is a hard question to answer. they can let their academics and
cows". The "bleen-eyed" editorial is different directions during the term What kind of Engineer arc we talking th ms('lv com out and be accepted.
a perfect example of this; although and one must choose between a about? The one that works hard to Frosh w' k i. a perf ('t xampl :
some civil rights groups dislike balance of school, co-op, athletics, get their work done? The kind that cv ry frosh w ck th fro h get
-----..;;.-......;------------------------.... --------------, dumped, or sprayed, or !Jom thing by
AJ Baxter
President
This is it, finally, my last Prez
Spews. Wow!!! The last year has
been quite the experience. I ran my
campaign on three issues; Engineering
Image, the Endowment and FUN. So,
did I deliver? Here is my view (stop
me in the halls if my version of
reality differs from yours).
Katherine has made great strides
in the Engineering Image department.
The shadow program is up and
running (thanks to Jonathon Lee and
Janice Gatt), Eric Langford is running
with the Science and Engineering
Summer Camp that will be
happening this July. Bill Lennox and
Katherine have contacted the Peel
Board of Education and we will
hopefully have presentations and
workshops for public school children
in the near future. Serge Gravelle
and Jagdeep Bachher coordinated the
OEDC that made the Engineering
Society look really really good. So
although not directly responsible for
these activities, they were
happening within EngSoc B.
On March 10th we held the Joint
Council and yet another reading of
the WEEF constitution. This latest
version has been scrutinized by
lawyers and university officials and
thus should not have any problems at
the next Board of Governors meeting.
Therefore, the Endowment is formed.
.. The funding council will be getting
into some important work next term
and the responsibilities for the
money is separated from the
Engineering Society. At this time I
must express my sincerest thanks to
Milos, that amazing God of WEEF.
He took the idea left by John
Vellinga and Avi Bolinsky and made
it a reality.
As for FUN, well, there have been
some good times and some not so good
times. Never before have I seen such
participation in EngSoc. There are
always terrific ideas floating around
the Orifice, some of them were
implemented and some remained in
the idea stage. The Bus Push was a
phenomenal success, the Rocky
Horror Picture Show didn't really
have time to get really rocking but it
was well on its way before we ran
into. . .shall we say "problems".
During the last 16 months there were
many changes that took place within
the engineering society. Some really
hard calls had to be made on what
'traditions' were acceptable and
which were not. There was the ever
present debate as to who had the
right to determine which activities
would stay and which would not.
Some interpreted the changes as the
taking away of fun and others saw it
as an opportunity to create new (un.
Whatever the interpretation, it was
an interesting time for all of us. I
hope those who have been involved
in Eng Soc have had a great time and
that everyone who participated in
the events that were run enjoyed
themselves. I had an awesome time
(on average).
Congratulations to the next Exec;
Sean Murphy as President, Amy
Alfred as Treasurer, Serge Gravelle
as VP External and Jack Sawezcko as
VP Internal. As well, Dave Morton
will be replacing Milos in the WEEF
department. You are all in for an
interesting sixteen months. The part I
liked best was writing these #@$%
articles every two weeks. And r
always had them done on time!!!
(almost)
So with all this blithering done, I
am going to close this spew session.
Thanks for all your help and input
over the last year. Good luck on
exams. And, If you have any concerns,
complaints or general problems ...
take 'em to Sean. I'm outta here.
the orientation people. This is done
in th nam of tradition. Fine, If
sam one wants to g t mud dumped on
them, so be it .
But then the engin rs decide that
it is so great that they have to share
the feeling of mud with evcryon .
Maybe because they arc engineers, or
maybe because they feel that the rest
of the campus really wants to be
covered in mud and just docs not have
the same opportunity to live out that
dream. Whatever the case, the real
image that is put across to the other
faculties is that the engineer don't
care about anyone but themselves.
This image of the engineers takes a
while to shake. For me it took until I
met John Vell1nga when he was the
EngSoc. President. He was
responSible, articulate, and he didn't
seem anywhere near the jerk that
most people say that engineers arc.
And when I met more engineers, they
were not jerks either. In fact they
were determined to shake that image
of the 'typical' engineer.
Unfortunately, most of us only see the
engineers who make the most noise,
are the rudest, and the most obnoxious
and typecast all engineers in that
way.
Our image of the engineers is
changing, but it will require the
silent majority of engineers to help us
realize that they are not all jerks and
idiots and that they are, for the most
part, more like us.
Page 4
Iron Warrior
VP's Last Words
of Wisdom
Katherine Koszarney
VP External
Five days after you pick up this
last issue of the Iron Warrior, the
new Engineering Society executive
will be sworn in at our council
meeting. At that time I will end my
term as your Vice-President External.
What can I say about these last 10
months? It's been an incredible
learning experience for me and I
realize that just as I have contributed
to the Engineering Society, it has
equally helped me in my own
development.
Prior to being elected VP, I had
been involved in the Engineering
Society for a number of terms as a
director. When you're a director, you
focus completely on your specific part
of the Engineering Society pie. You
may have to interact with other
directors, but in general your focus is
on making the most out of your own
directorship. When you become VP,
suddenly all of that changes. Your
concern shifts to looking at the big
pic,ture, and being responsible for
EngSoc as a whole, while still
fulfilling the duties and requirements
of your position. The position of VP
External was very open-ended when I
was elected. You basically looked
around, saw a niche that you wanted
to fill and with the guidance and
direction provided by the rest of the
executive did just that.
My interests lay in promoting the
engineering profession to elementary,
high school students and the
community in general and I'm happy
to say that many of the initiatives
we've started are well under way.
We've got a lot of terrific people
working on such projects as high
school students shadowing
engineering students, speaking to
elementary school students (Gr.6,7,8)
on work terms, conducting guidance
counsellor forums, to name a few.
This personal area of interest
supplemented the additional duties
of VP External such as ensuring that
we were adequately represented at
all kinds of events from conferences
(APEO, CFES, ESSCO, RESSA - if
you don't know what these acronyms
are, find out) to forums like the one
that was held by the Canadian
Committee on Women In Engineering
last Wednesday.
I'd like to take this oppor,tunity to
thank the rest of the executive - AI,
Sean and Janice for making my term
as VP External an experience that I
will never forget. Thank you for your
guidance, patience and direction. It
was terrific working with you!
Thanks to all of the directors!
Dedicated and hard-working people
like yourselves make the Engineering
Society into the i ibly strong and
spirited society that it is. Thanks to
Cheryl, who put up with me these
Treasurer's Words
Sean Murphy
Treasurer
Howdy. Well, it looks as though
this is not my last spews for the IW,
It is my last spews as treasurer
though. I shall summarize what has
been done what will have to be done
in the future.
The EngSoc accounts are now active
in the new accounting package.
Therefore the new treasurer, I hope,
will maintain these accounts. It will
become simpler with more practice
and eventually will require very
little work in terms of managing
EngSoc on a day-to-day basis.
Once that is accomplished, the role
of Treasurer can then be expanded to
handle more people-oriented
situations with directors and less
emphasis on the actual mechanics of
financial drudgery.
What has to be pursued may be the
Poets Patio with additional funding
from Bar Services (they" make all the
profit, why don't they pay for some
of it.) As well, Novelties needs to be
Low Cost Flights froln Toronto
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ByL. Milley
Assistant Course
Critique Director
It's time to put it in writing. It's
time to put some input back into our
engineering faculty for the
administration, faculty, and students.
Over the next few weeks, the class
reps will be conducting course
critiques. These will be used by the
department chairmen and the Dean
for salary, promotion, and tenure
decisions. The professors will receive
the comments and their specific
course evaluations directly (After
final marks are released). Students
will be able to read the bound copies
of course critiques which are kept in
the Orifice.
It's important for the whole class to
respond to the survey, for its
accuracy, objectivity and validity.
Similarly, we should respond to all
of our courses and professors. Existing
last 10 months, were we ever lucky
the day you joined the team! In
addition, I'd like to thank all of the
class reps and you, the engineering
student body for giving me this
opportunity. Your concern and
feedback throughout my term were
greatly appreciated. Finally, thanks
to the Iron Warrior editors, Harvey
and Kevin for accepting all of my
articles even after the submissions
deadline.
expanded to incorporate new ideas to
progress rather than regress. It's ok
for EngSoc to make money if we spend
it on new stuff in the Novelties area.
As well, it may be high time for
EngSoc to copyright the designs it
already has. Hence, we will be in
more of a position to make more
money from the actual artworks to
create newer ones and expand our
selection.
Eventually, it may be in the best
interests of the Society to incorporate
into its own entity. These expansions
lie in the domain of the treasurer and
must be looked at as such.
However, my role as treasurer is at
an end. I must now fill the shoes of
president that my precocessor A.J.
Baxter has admirably filled for the
past 12 months. She served as a great
motivator and a fantastic friend. r
can only wish her luck and hope she
does not forget who she leaves behind
in her wake.
The other exec members are Serge
Gravelle (VP External), Jack
Sawezcko (VP Internal) and Amy
Alfred (VP Finances/Treasurer).
They are quite possibly the best
bunch of people I'll ever have a
chance to work with. I look forward
to the next 16 months with them. I
only hope they can stand me.
As well, it's time again from
Directorship Applications. If you are
interested in being part of a most
excellent and triumphant adventure
(it's fun too), don't hesitate in picking
March 15, 1991
course critiques show definite class
trends in evaluating a professor or a
course. This applies to high, average
and low evaluations.
The course critiques consist of a
comment sheet and a list of standard
questions. The whole thing can be
done in ten minutes. The questions are
answered in terms of a scale which
will be converted to a grade form.
They try to address both the
subjective and objective evaluation of
course and professor (e.g. degree of
difficulty of concepts vs. blackboard
presentation. This helps to isolate a
class-professor relationship from a
course.
Last but not least, the comment
sheets are a useful source of praise,
criticism and suggestions for the
professors.
So take the few minutes to provide
some useful feedback for our school.
Sixty percent class participation
submitted by Wednesday March 20th
nets P**5 points.
In closing, I'd like to welcome the
new executive. They're an amazing
group of people and I'm very pleased
that they will be representing and
leading us, the engineering student
body as our future EngSoc executive. I
hope that they find their terms in
office as rewarding as I found mine.
Since this is the last issue of the Iron
Warrior. I hope that everybody has
a terrific work term this summer and
we'll see you in the fall!
, Copywrite Mad Magazine
up an application form in the Orifice
from our terrific office secretary,
Cheryl. It will guarantee you a front
seat as EngSoc B enters the twilight
zone to emerge in the Fall of 1991 as a
lean, mean school busting machine ....
To leave you with a thought for the
upcoming examinations, I have
quoted from the book Letters of a
Businessman to his Son by G. Kingley
Ward. I quote from his letter on
education. "Your goal must be kept in
front of you each new day you put
your feet on the floor, for only this
will get you through all the rough
spots - the arduous work, a failed
exam, a poor mark on an essay, a
boring professor or a difficult but
compulsory course."
So if I leave you with any such
thoughts, it is to wish you good luck
on your examinations, to say "Good-
Bye" to the Grads of 1991 and to
thank both A.J. and Katherine for a
challenging and educational term.
March 15, 1991
Recycling
Paul Fieguth
4B Electrical
Recycled goods are stupid? Well,
not quite; let me qualify that
s ta temen t.
Most of the goods that tout their
environmental friendliness these
days (particularly in grocery stores)
do so on the presumed virtue that
products containing recycled goods are
preferable on environmental grounds;
in addition they then often feel
justified to charge some premium
because of the cost of their noble
efforts.
In actual fact, there are two factors
of greater importance than the
recycled content of a product:
- the reusability of the product,
which potentially determines how
often the product must be produced
(assuming that consumers are
sufficiently able / conscientious to
reuse it).
Times
Iron Warrior
Is Stupid
- the recyclability of the product,
which dictates decisively whether
the materials within the product
must be condemned eternally to a
landfill site, or fed back as material
input for another product
We can't start cheering yet; we
have a long way to go. The average
consumer doesn't know what to look
for in a "greener" product. Many
products say "environmentally
friendly" on the label, but there is no
explanation of how or why and
therefore no credibility. We can't let
this become a marketing technique to.
fool the ignorant consumer. Ken
Arnold has noticed his customers buy
a lot of soap and shampoo as these
organic products have been on the
market for some years, but they aren't
ready to try others. He also finds it
difficult to keep a particular water-
saving shower head in stock; it has a
colourful package. The identical
(and cheaper) product wrapped
Are
merely in clear plastic remains on the
shelf.
So, a certain responsibility falls on
us, as educated consumers. We have
to make it clear to the market that
green imposters aren't welcome. We
have to help our friends and
relatives spot questionable products.
Environmentally safer products arc
out there, It is our responSibility to
find them and use them. KEA is only
a small voice, but we can support and
augment it. It's up to us.
The premise on which my comments
are based is that recycled material is
not inherently inferior to new
materials. This is not true in all cases
(for example, paper can be recycled
only about 6 or 7 times, however the
vast proportion of paper never
attains this degree of reprocessing),
however for the following goods this
is generally true: steel, tin,
aluminum, plastic, and paper. Next,
assuming that consumers do recycle
objects, then recycled material
becomes a resource in exactly the
same sense as an oil field or mineral
bed. 'In addition, given the decreased
Page 5
energy costs associated with a
recycled good, other things being
equal, should lead to lower costs for
recycled goods (once economies of
scale have been overcome by full
fledged recycling programs) as
compared to refined materials '
Economics then, rather than social or
governmental pressure, will
determine that the use of recycled
material makes sense,
As a mathematical aside:
Pr = probability that a given good or
product will be recycled
Er = expectation value of the number
of times that the good wiIl be reused
Rr = raw materials required given Pr
and Er
Ru = raw materials required if no
reuse or recycling were taking place
Then Ru = Er It Rr / (1 - Pr), or raw
material use is reduced by the factor
Er / (1 - Pr), Note that Pr can be non
zero for recyclable goods only, and Er
can be non unity for reusable goods
only, but nowhere does the status of
containing recycled material come
into play - this is an assumption that
is forced on economic grounds as
outlined in the above paragraph.
A- Changin'
Nevertheless, the population is
trying to shop "greener". According to
the Gallup poll of January 1991, 71 %
of Canadians consciously buy products
that are better for the environment.
This is up from 46% of the same time
in 1990. The market is still trying to
catch up.
between a recycled good (non
recyclable) and a recyclable good
(perhaps containing virgin material
only), the choice must be for the
recyclable good (which had then
better be recycled), since it has the
potential to reduce future raw
material use, as opposed to the non
recyclable (albeit containing recycled
materials) that is doomed for a
landfill site.
Kim Farwell
IB Chemical
Have you seen the Inca ad on TV?
Besides telling us that they are the
supplier to the Canadian Mint, the
advertisement also stresses Inco's
concern for the environment and their
pollution improvements. Many
companies tack "We use recycled
products" below their advertising
slogans. Times are a-changing and we
are in the middle of it! You, the
consumer, has demanded that
manufacturing processes change - and
they have -- even beyond government
regulations. Companies have
discovered that their public relations
depend on their environmental
record.
So that's okay, not bad. But I won't
consider it satisfactory yet. How
many of the new products are really
environmentally better? Or is it just a
label for consumer purposes? As
Engineers we have better knowledge
than the average person of
manufacturing processes and we have,
therefore, a better . chance of seeing
through "green" imposters. For
example, the "biodegradable"
plastic bag, which merely
disintegrates into very small pieces
of plastic bag. We are also the
people who will have to redesign the
processes to be cost effective and yet
match the environmental demand.
And then there's KEA & Company
(Keep Earth Alive). It's one of the
first "environmentally safer" stores.
And guess what? The owner is Ken
Arnold, a 1983 Waterloo ChemEng
grad! He describes KEA as: "My
little attempt at a better way to
live." KEA also does environmental
consulting on the household and
small business level. Ken creates a
strategy for environmental
improvement based on each unique
situation. He has also researched
the products he sells to ensure they
meet his re u iremen t of
environmental safety. These products,
include: biodegradable soap,
shampoo and household cleaners (in
bulk too), cloth diapers, recycled
paper products, paint that can be
composted, and energy savers, to
name a few. Ken describes them as
"environmentally safer" instead of
the usual marketing lines:
environmentally friendly or
environmentally safe, as both are
misleading and usually false
advertising.
There are no doubt those among you
who would take issue with my
comments, saying that for the time
bein fled lin companies attemptin
to use recycled Inaterial cannot tate
advantage of economies of scale, and
hence need all the help that they can
get, which includes advertising
gimmicks like proclaiming the
recycled material content in the
product. This is a valid pOint,
however until recyclability becomes
the key concern in the minds of
consumers, insufficient goods will
actually be recycled in order for
economics of scale to become a
reality. In addition, in choosing
......
.. . . .
6o ... .
In condu!ffon, Whatf propose is not
a ban on recycled goods in any way
(which arc, of cour e, a ncC('ssity), but
rather a chang' in mphasis when
buying products towards onsidering
the ultimat di$pO 'a1 of the item,
rather than th source of it
ingredients. Ultimately, we would
prefer to rely upon the invisible hand
in economics to push corporations to
usc recycled material, rather than
their consciences, which t nd to b
less reliable.
... .
... .
:fI


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NOW HAS ONE NUMBER
FOR GREAT
PAN PIZZA!
Pizza Pan Pizza.
Ooey, gooey good:
Page 6
Iron Warrior
I
4
Your New VP external with his back to the wall
Students
Andrew Pape
2A Systems Design
I am going to tell you a little bit about
an organization on campus called
Youth Building the Future (YBF),
which has been in existence for about
five years, and which regularly sends
students to attend annual YBF
international youth conferences in
various locations around the world.
This July, three Waterloo students,
Marion Black (Spanish), Caroline
Guirguis (Economics), and myself,
will be going to Norway to attend the
fifth Youth Building the Future
international conference which is
being held at the University of Oslo.
The conference will be focusing on
human rights, including children's
rights, and "environmental rights".
... an international
network of students
One of the objectives of the conference
is to come up with a consensus of what
youth can do to help solve global
injustices in these areas. There will
be as many as 30 countries represented
at the conference, which will provide
a basis for some very interesting
discussions because of the diverse
backgrounds of the delegates. The
Gulf War question will be
addressed in a workshop session, and
I am certain that we will hear
varying viewpoints of whether the
war was "just" or not. Former
Norwegian Prime Minister Gro
Harlem BrundtIand, a tentative
speaker at the conference, will be
looking af the question of
Abroad
"sustainable developm n " and t e
environmental implications of
development. BrundtJand headed an
international commission on the
environment which reported some of
its findings in the publication "Our
Common Future".
Youth Building the Future is a non-
aligned (politically, religiously)
organization of students which was
started at MIT (Melbourne Institute of
Technology) four years ago, and has
since formed chapters in over thirty
countries in Asia, Africa, South and
North America, and Europe. Their
mandate is to develop an
international network of students
which educates and sometimes takes
a stand on various global issues such
as environmental conservation, role of
science in SOciety, development,
poverty, military conflicts, and
others. Previous conferences have
been held in Melbourne, Australia in
1987, Waterloo in 1988 (I bet you
didn't know that!), Buenos Aires,
Argentina in 1989, and Cairo, Egypt
in 1990.
University of Waterloo has a
chapter that sends 2-3 students to the
YBF conference every year, as often
sponsors a student from a developing
country (Peru this year) to attend as
well. This fall, the three of us will
be running the group, and we will be
organizing some events induding a
presentation on the Oslo conference,
and a coffee house, as well as
selecting delegates for the 1992
conference which is being held in
Dublin, Ireland. ALL STUDENTS
CAN APPLY. Keep your eyes open in
the fall for details. Now that you
know what YBF is and what some of
its goals are as an organization, the
next step is to get involved!
March 15, 1991
More Stunt Stuff ...
March 15, 1991
Iron Warrior
Page 7
More About Engineering Societies
CSME/ ASME/SAE Presents:
Variety! Waterloo has one of the
largest student chapters with
members in the Canadian Society of
Mechanical Engineers, American
Society of Mechanical Engineers, and
the Society of Automotive (and
Aerospace!) Engineers. Our purpose is
to present interesting and thought-
provoking seminars on topics of
technical interest. Also, it provides
something interesting to do during the
weekly Tuesday class-prof hour!
As the names indicate, the
Societies are mostly organizations for
Mechanical Engineers. We strive to
present seminars which are of
interest across many disciplines. The
control and technology of robotics is
inherently Computer and Electrical
engineering oriented. Dangerous
environment process operations may
make robotics of interest to Chemical
Engineers. Our seminar on the design
of trucks emphasized the importance
of road design, of interest to Civils.
SuperBowl
Sean Murphy
3B Mechanical
When I left you, we (Collin, Dave,
Robb and 1) had had just arrived in
Tampa for the greatest football game
our lives. After only 24 hours in the
car we had achieved our goal for the
term, for the year and for the rest our
lives. We were at the SuperBowl.
Now we only had to worry about
our lodging. We only had a hastily
drawn map to indicate where we
were staying. It was only supposed to
be a hour by car from Tampa Stadium
on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Once we were on track, I pointed out
all the sites such as the colorful
bridge spanning Tampa Bay from St.
Petersburg. With the different lights
and the early morning sun, the bridge
looked spectacular. However, we
weren't the most favoured on the road
after dropping our money on the
ground at the tollbooth at the end of
the bridge. We earned a few a angry
honks and curses for stopping and
ensuring that we had indeed paid the
toll . We must have been tired.
Before reaching the condo we
decided to stop for breakfast at
Denny's. We were a welcome sight
after spending 26 hours in a car
Jaime Caceres
3A Chemical
One cold winter's day, someone
approached me and asked why, as
engineers, should we care about what
is happening in the Persian Gulf. The
fact of the matter is that what
happens in the Gulf has immediate
and longer lasting consequences than
what most people think. Politically,
the justification of wars and actions
will only come with time. However,
we can view this war in a different
light.
Engineering grew out of the love of
Seminars on all topics may be of
interest to Systems with their wide-
ranging interests. We have members
in Systems (including several
members of the branch executive),
Electrical and Chemical Engineering.
Now that I have made everyone feel
like one big happy family keen to
listen to interesting speakers, I would
like to encourage everyone to attend
our events. There will be something
of interest for everyone.
Each week we presented a speaker
from industry or faculty who dealt
with a particular area of interest.
Issues were wide ranging, from
robotics to the automotive industry to
energy conservation. We have
focused extensively on the robotics
field this term, with seminars by
Professor Heppler from Systems
Design speaking on Robot Dynamics
and Control, Professor Huissoon of
Mechanical Engineering speaking on
RoadTrip II
travelling cross-country without a
shower or a decent meal.
The waitress, sensing that we
weren't locals, asked us where we
were from. We said enthusiastically
that we were from Waterloo but she
only looked quizically at us. So we
said it was near Toronto, Ont rio.
She asked us jf that was dose to
Edmonton. We couldn't resist so we
said it was within commuting
distance. That satisfied her and we
were quickly relishing a breakfast
consisting of bacon, eggs, orange juice,
toast and bagels all for $2.99 a
person. (l love the C&D but sorry
Mary and Cyndi, I have to draw the
line there.)
After breakfast we found the condo
where we were staying. Not to waste
any time we decided to take
advantage of the proximity of the
beach by playing some football,
picking shells and go swimming in
the balmy 9 deg. C heat. All the
other people walking along the
beach wanted to know where they
could buy the cheap drugs that we
were evidently on because they were
walking around in full clothing as we
were running through the water in
bathing suits.
To our surprise, beer and everything
else was cheaper than in Canada. As
Gulf
harnessing nature's power to serve
man's purposes. Destruction in war
undoes these fundamentals.
Buildings, refineries, homes, and
countless people are being maimed
and destroyed in this war. To believe
otherwise is folly. "Strategic"
bombing means in this modern world
rendering a country totally impotent
of functioning. The years of creation
of man are undone in minutes.
What is left behind is the awesome
task of not only building what was
,
Automated Welding Proces es, and
Jim Wright of Asea Brown Bobere
speaking on the
technology in the robotics industry.
For Mechanical Engineers, there
arc many benefits to b gained from
membership in a Mechanical
Engineering Society. The SAE sends
out newsletters and papers regularly,
updating member branch activities.
They also publish Automotive
Engineering and Aerospace
Engineering, two excellent journals of
current and future technology in their
respective fields. The CSME
publishes a quarterly newsletter
with current events and technical
papers on research and technology in
Canada. The ASME also has a
newsletter and provides Mechanical
Engineering magazine. Membership
in these societies allows students to
attend conferences at little or no cost.
A delegation from Waterloo recently
attended a SAE presentation in
well everything could be purchased
at one location, the grocery store.
Convenience is the ability to buy
bullets, beer and milk from the same
store. Only in the USA!!
It was time to shop souvenirs and
enjoy and join in the pre-game hype.
Driving by the stadium, we were
propositioned by several people
looking to buy and sell tickets. The
souvenir vendors were doing anything
to sell their wares from selling in the
street traffic to having booths at
every street comer.
, At one souvenir place I purchased a
pair of pants that would make Herb
Tarlek proud. However we were set to
party after spending a small fortune
on souvenir articles.
We then went to explore thc
festivities in downtown Tampa .
When we arrived, a block party hnd
already started on a few
streets. There were a few stre t
dancers there who pretended they
were statues until you put money in
their cup. We decided to have our
pictures taken around her. It was nice
to have captive scenery.
We also took advantage of the
balmy weather (9 deg. C) to wear our
Bermuda shorts. Most of the people
on the street assumed we were from
New York because of our dress. We
laughed saying that we were taking
part in a study looking at the effects
of drinking in a public place on the
intelligence level of people. On
several occasions we had to run.
War
destroyed, but restoring normalcy to
the lives of affected citizens. It is
easy for one to criticize and fight
with what one believes. It takes
courage to reconcile differences
and working to reconstruct life.
We, as future profesSionals, should
seize the day when the fighting is
over. The generals and the
politicians are not going to rebuild
Kuwait or Iraq or Saudi Arabia or
any other country that has been
affected. We must use our knowledge
Toronto, where Lee Morse of Ford
spoke entertainingly and frankly on
racing technology, the automotive
industry, and Ford's position within
the two.
Membership is very inexpensive,
costing only $10 for SAE, $12 for
CSME and $22 for ASME
memberships respectively. These are
small fees for the infonnation and
benefits received. Additionally,
these costs are tax deductible! If you
missed our membership drive last
week, or would like information on
any of the societies please contact us
through our mail box in the orifice.
Our annual general meeting will be
held soon, so if you are interested in a
position on the branch executive
please contact us for more
information. It is interesting and fun
work, and (of course) looks good on a
resume. It has been a great term!
Thanks to everyone who attended
events and helped out.
So after spending the better part of
the night at the block party we made
the journey back to the condo to make
sure we were all set for the game the
next day and long blasted journey
home after the game.
AT LAST!!!! GAME DAY HAD
ARRIVED!!!!! The anticipation had
finally reached its apex and we were
now ready to experience Super Bowl
Sunday. We left the condo so as to
ensure that we arrived at the
stadium early. Upon reaching the
stadium we discovered that we were
probabl in the bi est line-up in
Super Bowl history because of the
security precautions. We spent 2 hours
in line to gel in thl' stadillm.
But it worth it. Th blood
start d pumping (rom the imm nse
patriotism at the singing of th Star-
Spang! 'd Banner by Whitney
Houston to th(' crushing
disappointm nt of Scott Norwood
missing the winning field goal.
So after those exciting 5 days, the
trip of footbalJ majesty was now at
end an end and only homework
remained. As the remaining portion
of the trip is only a reversal of our
path, we were left to ponder the
prophecy of my dream on the way
down and the many great memories
such as the warm smiles of the girls
of Kentucky, the sunny shores of
Tampa Bay and, of course, a most
excellent football game. The Super
Bowl Roadtrip was a most
triumphant success. However, I may
want to fly next time.
to rebuild not only physically these
countries, but also to say that we care.
A perfect example is Germany after
the first world war. Decimated,
defeated and destitute, the victors
ignored Germany, and blamed
everything on her. However, what
resulted was political radicalism and
turmoil which Jed to the next Great
War.
People have to realize that
conflicts are not resolved by what is
fought over, but by what is built up in
the process. Another Japan could be
in the sidelines if we take the time to
see. One should be looking towards
resolving the conflicts and the
destruction after the guns are silent.
Page 8
Iron Warrior
March 15, 1991
Life In The OEDC Lane
The Technical Excellence Award:
(sponsored by the Council of Ontario
Deans of Engineering)
Jaime Caceres
3A Chem Eng
Some time ago in a university close,
close by, the Ontario Engineering
Design Competition was held in the
fine institution of Waterloo on the
weekend of March 1-3. As a
competitor in the event, the
competi tion provided the
opportunity to interact with many
other engineers in other fields and
universities.
From my perspective, I could only
see as far as my category would
allow. In Extemporaneous
Communications (i.e. debating), the
different debates that took place
were invigorating. The debates had
to follow formal debate rules in
which points of order and privilege
and other procedural wrangling was
strictly adhered to. Persuasion of the
judges was the key, since they were
judging not only content but style of
the debating team.
In our case, we had the opportunity
to confront another team from
Waterloo, and also a team from
Toronto. With fans cheering and
jeering, the debates were a success.
From the five entrants, only two were
chosen for the finals. Queens and
Waterloo fought it out for the top
spot with a packed audience. Only
the House of Commons could rival
such excitement.
In the end, only one could prevail,
which this year was Queens. Being a
new category, the debates could see
their way into the OEDC
permanently like the Entrepreneurial
Design and Corporate Design
categories. The OEDC was also
pri vileged to have a guest speaker
from industry giving his perspectives
of engineering.
At the banquet, one had the liberty
to share with one's new-found friends
the glories over the weekend and
how all of us are pretty much alike.
Speeches, awards, and pictures ended
a flawless weekend for this
competitor.

The 1991 OEDC committee would
like to congratulate the following
winners of the Ontario Engineering
. Design Competition on their accom-
plishment.
Entrepreneurial Design:
1st "Remote Jam"
University of Waterloo
Harry Mar,k
2nd "A Colour Detector for Visually
Impaired People"
University of Toronto
Linas Dauksa
3rd"Retroreflecting Shadowgraph"
University of Windsor
Ron Iacobelli
Victor Lopes
Corporate Design:
Ist"mexpensive Wastewater
Treatment"
University of Toronto
Michael Schaffer
Efstathios Notidis
2nd "S-VHS Digital, Multistandard
Decoder"
University of Waterloo
Alexander McKinney
Warren D'Souza
3rd "Foolproof Oil Tank Filler
Closure for Aircraft Engine"
University of Toronto
Lawrence Gryniewski
Leo Po
Anton Bakalic
BruceAmm
ttl-SO: MELtON
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Editorial Communications:
1st "The Engineering of Life"
University of Western Ontario
Bradley McBain
2nd "Moving Us Into Tomorrow"
University of Western Ontario
Rodney Case
Explanatory Communications:
1st "Architecture and Optimization
of the Ariane 4 European
Rocket Propulsion System"
University of Ottawa
Laurent Michel
Robin Dufour
2nd '''Object Oriented Design and
Programming"
University of Waterloo
Andrew Reeves-Hall
3rd "Quality Maintenance"
University of Western Ontario
Jeff Calvert
Extemporaneous
Comm unica tions:
1st Queen's University
Laurent Burman
Elicia Maine
2nd University of Waterloo
Robert Hemmerich
Sylvano Carrasco
Special Awards:
The Canadian Industrial Innovation
Centre Awards: (award worth $500 in
the form of services provided by the
ClIO
"Remote Jam"
University of Waterloo
Harry Mark
"Retroreflecting Shadowgraph"
University of Windsor
Ron Iacobelli
Victor Lopes
"A Better Page Turner"
University of Waterloo
Geoffrey Vanderkooy
Lawrence Pilch
The Social Awareness Award:
(sponsored by the Association of
Professional Engieers of Ontario)
"A Better Page Turner"
University of Waterloo
Geoffr ey Vanderkooy
Lawrence Pilch
The Pcuticipation Award: ($200
sponsored by the Engineering Student
Societies Councils of Ontario)
University of Windsor
Special thanks to the volunteers that
helped make OEDC 1991 a huge
success:
Andrew Fechette
Andy Lin
Brad Loewen
Brian Lehman
Bruce Hecht
Chantal Wegner
Claire Tomlin
David Massie
Don Sturgeon
Elisa Jone
Elmer Horvath
Hans Zieman
Heather Tay
Hope Stanciu
Kat Neale
Kevin Berry
Jodi Dorfman
John Koehl
Louise Quesnel
Steven Wegner
Sumonto Ghosh
Sylvanno Carassco
SECURITY
Andrew Fechete
Sumonto Ghosh
Sandi Thompson
Mila Little
Steven Kohler
3B ELEC
3B SYST
3ACHEM
3B ELEC
3B ELEC
3B CIVI
3B ELEC
3ACHEM
3AMECH
3ACHEM
3B ELEC
ELEC'90
3B ELEC
Gen Arts
3ACHEM
3AMECH
4B BIO-CHEM
3AMECH
3B CIVI
3B CIVI
3BELEC
3B ELEC
Hans Zieman
Brad Rogers
John C. Poyser
Neman Syed
Are You
ENGINEERS?
or
GEESE?
Get the flock down to
(And don't tell us you've got something better to do ... )
POETS. Open Thursdays & Fridays, 12-4
March 15, 1991
Iron Warrior
Spread
The
Quirien Muylwyk
3A Civil
Ever notice that no one ever sings
about engineering? Imagine if you
could, if all the love songs were about
engineers. Okay, so its a little
(albeit a lot) far fetched. But think
of the potential ...
What if "1 was a waitress working
in a cocktail bar" had originally been
wri tten as "1 was an engineer working
on the Canadarm". Or if "Her name
was Lola, she was a showgirl . . ."
was "Her name was Lola, she was an
engineer, ensuring that the water
would be plentiful and clear"? If
Madonna had sung about engineers
instead of virgins, do you think she
would have sold just as many records?
Last fall I had the opportunity to
speak to grade seven and eight
students about careers in engineering
during a careers day program. 1 asked
one slightly lost looking girl if she
was interested in attending the
engineering session. Unfortunately
and disappointingly she promptly
replied "Engineering? Yuck!!",
complete with a contorted face only
expressing utter disgust.
Engineering?
YUCK!!
Granted, engineering is not for
everybody. I think that sometimes
we get so excited about promoting this
profession and wanting to share the
wonders of engineering that we often
forget this. What needs to be
focussed on now is spreading the word
about engineering. Its amazing how
many people do not consider
engineering, yet appear to be the
perfect candidate for the program.
I was conversing with a high school
student who was interested in
pursuing a degree in chemistry. She
commented that she enjoyed math ,
and chemistry and she believed that
pure chemistry was the program that
could offer her the most. 1 asked her
if she had considered engineering; it
hadn't even crossed her mind.
Another high school student I met
loved working with computers but
could not see himself programming
day in and day out. For this student
too, engineering was never thought to
be an option.
What is it that makes the
engineering profession such an
important part of our everyday lives
yet so seemingly invisible? In my
idealistic little world, I would like
to have every child hear the word
engineering at least once before they
can elect to drop courses. To have
them realize the impact that the
work of an engineer has, and to let
them realize that they can be a part
of it.
Right now, students are turning
themselves away from careers that
they don't even know are out there.
In high school there aren't any
courses b!atantly identified as
engineering. There are courses in
math, and physics, and english, and
sociology. Engineering rarely gets
mentioned - yet the basics are being
taught every day.
In our continuing efforts to bring
engineering to the unaware, there is
something that you can do to get
involved. A special edition of the
Iron Warrior directed at high school
students is currently in the
preliminary planning stage. Consider
this an invite to write articles about
engineering: engineering at OW, the
profeSSion, the different disciplines,
the opportunities, the work terms,
the work, and the play. This would
be a forum; our vehicle to share with
younger students why we chose
engineering, and how we feel and
view this profession that we are
about to enter.
It is anticipated that this special
issue will be distributed to guidance
offices and to high school student
newspapers. The aim of this project
is to make the information readily
available to all students; not just the
ones who take the ini tiative to
We Love Cheryl
Harvey Watson
4B Chemical
Have you ever noticed that the
Orifice is almost always open at
eight o'clock in the morning? The
room always has someone to answer
your questions at lunch: even when
your local departmental office is
closed. These tireless trials are the
feat of a single incredible person. Her
name is Cheryl. She is the Orifice
Secretary.
Cheryl usually gets to the Orifice
at 7:30am (when many of us are still
in bed) so that she has time to get
prepared for the opening of the
Orifice at 8:00am. She works until
3:30pm without a lunch break or any
breaks during the day.
Cheryl is not just one of these ditsy
air-heads either. She knows where
everything is. She knows who is in
charge of what and how best to
contact them. She is the best person
to ask when you haven't got a clue
who to talk to. If she doesn't know
the answer then she knows who does.
The Orifice is a better place (and not
a place of total chaos) because of the
constant care and attention of the
most important person in the Orifice.
I think I speak for everyone when I
say "Thanks for all your help, care,
and attention Cheryl! We really
appreciate it!"
march into their guidance counsellors
office, nor the ones who conveniently
have a family member in the
profession. If you are interested in
writing an article, or if you have any
questions, suggestions or comments,
leave a note for me in the EngSoc
office. The articles themselves do not
have to be written until well into the
work term (when we are all
presumably stress free and only have
happy thoughts about engineering) ...
I would, however, like an indication
of those that are interested by March
22.
happy thoughts
about engineers
Many people have been
complaining that they dislike what
is being written and said about us,
collectively known as (sigh) "the
engineers". How informed are these
people, how can they have such
opinions you ask. Well the fact of
the matter is they do. A few years
down the road it will be their
children, and our own, that
universities will be turning to to
invite to consider engineering. The
views that are held by students in
other faculties now will be
Page 9
ord
remembered in twenty years. One
day, one of their children will be
investigating different career options
and will haphazardly stumble onto
engi neering. Then, like most kids do,
they will ask a parent about this
thing called engineering. Drawing on
experiences, the reply of the parent
could easily be "Engineering? Hmmm
... I think you have to drink lots of
beer, parade about in hard hats, and
complain about how you have too
much work. Sorry dear, but isn't
there something else that you would
rather try?"
We can't change the way we are
viewed by others overnight, nor can
we instantly excite the world about
engineering. What we can do is bring
engineering to young students. Expose
them to the word, the idea, the
opportunities. By going into
engineering you are only creating
more opportunities for yourself, not
denying them. Students should not
direct themselves away from
engineering until they know what it
is they are turning away from, and
only then should they decide that
engineering is not for them.
And to the twelve year old who
thought engineering was oh-so-
yucky, that's fine. Engineering may
not be for you, but don't turn a blind
eye towards it because you don't know
what it is.
Page 10
Fiction
Michael Ross
2A Systems
"In Delbert FJadgett's novel The
Factory Princess we see the witty,
insightful, and humorous satire that
has made Fladgett one of the
foremost literary moralists of this
decade. The delightful fusion of
comic romance with the industrial
novel is the backdrop for ... " The pen
underlines "Delbert Fladgett 1937 -",
stops, is placed on the desk, and I am
glancing at my watch. Christ-- three
minutes into a three hour night class
and I am clock-watching. It's not
really my fault. Some students
complain about their profs droning on
endlessly, spewing forth monotonous
fact-filled lecture after monotonous
fact-filled lecture. This is not the
case with Professor Bolling, who
takes extreme pleasure and care in
inflecting each syllable perfectly,
enunciating every word with
precision and expression, sweetening
any foreign phrase ' he might use
(surprisingly many) with the native
pronunciation. The points. of his
analyses (surprisingly few) are
illustrated with beautifully orated
passages which demonstrate, if
nothing else, the truly elusive nature
of literary meaning. He is
egalitarian: every word is equally
important, and when he speaks, all
are capitalized. The well-worn novel
cupped in one hand, a pudgy index
finger raised to some line, he towers
over his lectern, and speaks with the
dramatic fervour of a televangelist in
a Shakespearean tragedy: "Let us
turn to Chapter Seven, page 211,
third paragraph from the top: 'Sally
Kicks Off The Duvet And Gets Out Of
Bcd .. :" No, there are no droning,
monotonous, fact-filled lectures to be
heard in Prof. Bolling's classroom.
he turns a phrase
like an athlete runs,
like a magician conjures,
like a bird flies
Gazing around the classroom, my
eyes are met by his. I stare back, face
unchanged, and he addresses the
other side of the room. This is one of
my few useful talents, and 1 put it into
practice often. There are only twelve
students in this class; Bolling's slick
expositions are endured by watching
his glare swim around eleven victims
while it carefully avoids me. Oh, I
respect Bolling-- he has an
impressive manner of which I am a
bit envious: he turns a phrase like an
athlete runs, like a magician conjures,
like a bird fJies- with a subconscious,
comfortable ease that I have not felt
since I was a small child. His gaze
sweeps past me, and I lean back in my
chair and rest my feet on the seat-
back ahead. It is a behavioral cliche,
like sitting at the back of the
classroom, but brief acquaintances are
the agar for stereotypes, which 1 use
to my advantage. I have become the
foreign adversary: not quite
understood, he is usually left alone.
Iron Warrior
An
Engineer
I shift in my seat and grind my jaws
slightly harder than usual. Not even
a foreigner can ever be completely
alone. Nobody ever really is. Some
people are haunted by ghosts, some
driven by dreams, some live with
fantasies. I shift in my seat again.
My companion is the unsettled
insides, the weak, tense muscles and
grim face of the long-nauseous person
who rests with his elbows on the cold
porcelain of the toilet bowl, the
odour of mildew and antiseptiC
sitting heavily around him, waiting,
waiting .. . Even as a small child I
couldn't force myself to ram my finger
to the back of my throat. Now I sit
composed, relaxed, while I weather
both Professor Bolling's lecture and
the dormant dead-chum within me.
"Heather", three scats ahead, one
row to the left, crosses her long left
leg over her shapely right. How
thoughtful she is to make such
sacrifices for the people around her:
on this, the blizzardy twenty-third
day of January she has worn Hugo
Boss cut-off jeans over thin black
nylons, and a pair of dainty, small
black flat-heels are on her dainty,
small feet. I am being harsh, of
course; from where I sit I can not see
the cream sweater she has
appropriately chosen for this
blustery day, nor, unfortunately, the
tasteful cut of the collar revealing a
tasteful area of her well-tanned neck
and chest. I do feel guilty as my eyes
run down the continuous parabolic
trajectory of her shin from knee to toe.
My dosest friend, my confidante, has
demonstrated the worthiness of and
potential for equality of the sexes;
however, she maintains that for this
to be realized then both men and
women must change and move to a
common rationale such that decisions
are based on the same criteria. I
endorse this whole-heartedly: like
Heather I am wearing stockings
today, although mine are technically
woollen long-johns and I would have
to take my jeans off for anyone to
notice this fact. Hea ther should
learn that long-johns are far sexier, in
the long run, than fishnet, for while
nylons catch one's eye, the person
who declares (with their 'johns) " I
am your equal, I deserve the same
warm legs you have and will not let
anything stand in my way" will keep
one occupied, and thus attracted,
much longer. It's true. Just as some
guys look for blue eyes, ski-jump noses
or high-cut panty lines, I take note of
the girls whose frumpy bums and
wrinkly jeans belie their underwear
to be long, warm and itchy. These
have staying power. Yet while I
know this to be true, my eyes still
follow Heather's curving calf, and I
would be lying if I said I wasn't
interested. Heather is intelligent. I
do not accuse her of wanting this
Heather . .. crosses her
long left leg over
her shapely right
attention from me, or any other man.
It has been my experience tha t the
Heathers of this world are no more
receptive to me than is anyone else:
she doesn't know my nausea, but she
can sense my constant disquiet, the
grinding mismatch between what I
am and what I seem to be, the unease
that is the complete opposite of
Bolling's comfortable monologues, the
athlete's gait, the freedom of the
subconscious. In the end, we are both
victims of the s m ~ society--
compelled to follow it, Heather
abandoned herself at a shopping
mall; forced to dismiss it, I stand at
the edge of the crowd that gathers
around her, admiring her beauty
while knowing I can never approach
it. This is part of it, I think. This
curdles the stomach and
"Thomas r
'Profligate ?'-- shit--- prophet,
promethea n-- no--profl i ga te,
proficient-- damn, off guard and I
know what this means, too--
morality? no, immorality, sexuality,
extreme luxury? -- damn, I can never
put meaning to
"No." I still wear the unchanged
expression, but Bolling has scored a
direct hit and he will rejoice in it. I
never really stood a chance, even
though 'profligate' is part of my
working vocabulary. The people who
casually rattle off word definitions
are the naturals and the athletes,
and not those who are waiting,
enduring the dead-chum.
"Anyone? No ? 'Profligate' means,"
Bolling says as he gestures with his
hands and forms a facial expression
meant to convince us that he is
assembling this definition from the
abundant and fecund depths of his
mind (though he has just glanced
down at his lecture notes) "recklessly
extravagant, licentious, or dissolute."
He pauses and smiles- confiding in us
knowingly as the teller of an inside
March IS, 1991
Fiction
joke, "It is not to be confused with
'prophylactic'." Most of the class
forces laughter, anxious to show that
they are knowing insiders also, as
erudite and witty as a private circle
of so many George Bernard Shaws.
What wit.
"It is 8:15-- no 8:20-- now, so let's
take a fifteen minute break-- that
will be 8:45-- no 8:35--and we'll
return to discuss the lesser characters
in Delbert Fladgett's book.
Thus I find myself walking down
the hall to the snack-bar, following
the twelve other people from my
classroom. One holds a door from
swinging closed on my face, and I
thank him in a polite but not too
friendly fashion. Then I am
considering whether or not to buy
cheese-doodles, but the dead-churn
won't allow it, and I am sitting
around a table watching a fair
amount of popcorn, pop, cheese-
doodles, chocolate bars and chips
being greedily ingested (didn't they
just eat dinner ?). I am listening to the
discussion, which usually deals with
where someone's home town is and
how they liked ...
" ... examine the contrasting images
in Fladgett's book concerning Sally's
university education in Birmingham
and Richard's engineering schooling
at the- technical college we can see a
series of rather condemning satirical
points. In fact, ... " Wait a second. Is
Bolling just saying this to piss me off
? Maybe he hasn't seen the arm of my
University jacket. "Richard can't sec
the need for the manicured lawns,
green open spaces and human-
oriented architecture of Sally's
campus. As an engineer, trained at an
industrial/technical college, he is
mortified by the extreme inefficiency
of it." Slow down, I like green as
much as any artsy and have probably
noticed the architecture around this
place as much as .... " ... reflecting on
this university, with it's dominant
engineering and business programs, we
see that we have forgotten what the
university is supposed to be: a place
for thinking, for the humanities, for
reading with time to think about
what one has just read, for a
broadening education. Engineering
and business really should be taught
at a technical college and ... "
Everyone around the table is nodding
Long-Johns are far sexier
,
as if this makes perfect sense. I guess
engineering doesn't involve' thinking
or reading'. I guess I don't belong here:
The nausea has risen, and it is in my
lower chest now. I could put Bolling in
his place. But there is some truth in
what he says, for why else am I, an
engineer, in an artsy class ? Most
everything the engineer does is an
application, and rarely are the
implications or theory discussed. The
engineer is the tool of the rich
corporation-- the saddle on
technology. I have worked in
corporations the size of a small town,
and I know that he provides a service
(Continued on page 11.)
March 15, 1991
(Continued from page 10.)
like a computer processes data-- it's a
complex job, requires the right
training, and it helps if you've got
the right hardware built in, but the
product is the same no matter who
does it. In the final analysis, it is an
unthinking job. I hate these artsy
know-it-alls, smug in their
convictions, a cut above the rest, but
not able to build or prove a damn
thing. Okay, the artsy thinks, but can
he show anything for it?
Bolling has stopped talking and is
sipping at a can of Fresca. "But
engineers do go to universities, and
whether that is where they belong
is ... is ... "-- damn-- relative,
irrespective, " .. .is ... " -- irreverent...
"Irrelevant. Yes, that's true."
BoIling replies, and smiles faintly as
though he is the stoic resigned to
some awful fate. He has rebuffed me
with comfort and ease. My idea was
there, but obscured, lost in the
translation of thought to language. I
have to get a drink of water; my
mouth is filled with salty spit. It is
the dead-churn.
My hands are sweaty now, and' the
BIC pen slides through my grip
frequently. Bolling is smug once
again. He is back in his element:
lecturing, postulating, gesturing,
suggesting. I do not feel any better.
I must admit that my nausea is
always perceptibly worse in my
electives, which are always artsy
courses. Every term I consider taking
management science or economics, but
every term I end up in
-
"Shakespearean Comedy 2l1A",
"Ancient Philosophy 108",
"Byzantine Civilization 322", or the
like. Most people who know me here
at school don't know that I came here
as a mature student, after taking two
years at another university, enroled
in arts. Real arts: jazz major, trumpet
minor. I don't often think about those
two years, though they were for the
most part enjoyable. For three-and-a-
half terms I practised trumpet three
hours a day-- scales, arpeggios,
exercises, memorizing standards.
These I learned very well. For three-
and-a-half terms I practised
improvisation for four hours a day; I
could imbue each phrase with the
right hint of colour, play each line
with a controlled and flowing
Iron Warrior
technique, copy Armstrong, Elridge,
Dizzy, Miles and Brownie with some
fluency. But never did the music my
horn played sound like the music I
heard. I waited diligently, practised
hard, and thought that it would
come. It didn't. Half way through
my fourth term, I heard my cousin
play in her grade ten band. Her tone
was buzzy, her intonation poor, her
range limited, her sound weak, but
the music that came rushing out of
her bell with the ease and relaxed
enjoyment of a master was completely
her own. I almost failed my exams,
and took a year off school. Now I am
an engineer; I win small victories
when I solve tough differential
equatIons and a seventy is as good as
a ninety-five.
I win small victories
when I solve tough
differential equations
I was smart as a child, smarter in
relative terms than I am now. I felt
the nausea long before any other
children did. Many people don't feel
it now. I wasn"t the natural, I didn't
fit, and I knew it. It got worse as I got
older. There was so much to do, so
many ideas, and no way to express
them, no way to redefine myself
within my society. Every time I tried,
it just became something else,
something meaningless. Now I watch
Bolling, read Fladgett: they say
practically nothing, but oh! with
such eloquence. The frustration and
the nausea build.
"Why does Sally see Richard's
factory as a symbo ic exploitation 0
the masses by the bourgeoisie ?"
Bolling looks around the classroom,
catches my eye and then continues.
"Richard, the engineer, is blinded by
the technical difficulties he faces to
the point that he cannot or will not
recognize the physical,
psychological, and social difficulties
his workers face." So he knows I am
an engineer. Damn artsy smug-assed
righteous blowhard accountable-to-
no-one pig. This is his day. Every
year he watches his faculty get
trounced on by the engineers, and
today he is going to exact his revenge.
Perhaps he's right though? No,
engineers aren't that shallow: no
person is one-c\imensionaJ. But from a
certain perspective, he was right
about engineers not belonging at a
university. "Sally is attuned to these
moral and social difficulties; she is
creative and caring and couldn't
withstand the inhuman torment that
Richard's workers must withstand.
Richard, on the other hand, has
given up on these difficult dilemmas-
- the moral, the social, The Human--
problems and looks only at those that
are easily solved: note how
comfortable he is with machinery,
with 'wonderful calcula Hons'
(Chapter Three, page 108), how
ambivalent he is about his family's
fate, about his life. He will not face
The Truth."
It is up around my throat and I
have to fight to keep it down. 'Easily
solved problems, wonderful
calculations'-- my ass. This whank
can't even tell the time and he passes
off engineering like a week at Club
Med. He's wrong, and he doesn't know
what he's talking about. Damn I feel
like .. .like ... like his suit looks. Like
shit. Mother of God I need to get out
of here or it is going to .. .1 need to
relax ... " ... the engineer is unable
to .. . " ... man, I can't. This sickness--
the only medication I've got is in the
bathroom at home: Centrum vitamin
and Bayer aspirin bottles filled with
red and green capsules, purple
tablets-- and those only quell it for a
couple of hours. Lord knows I'd be in
the ground if I was taking those all
the time. What I wouldn't do for one
of them now. " .. . And he is successful,
rich even, but at what price? His
family life is non-existent, hi s
workers despise him, and Sally,
whom he secretly loves, sees him as a
gargoyle-- a demon. What price ?"
Your on a stick, that's th rice.
Bolling is completely at ease,
slashing and piercing with the suave,
collected air of a dueller al
Versailles. And here I sit, hands
clenched, getting more and more
frustrated. I've gol to stop. But why
should I? Why does thal ful-ass
orate while J stutter and mumble?
What do I have that I shouldn't be
angry about? " ... Fladgett has clearly
shown us this exploitation. Look at
the similarity between the factory
and the army: Richard is the
General" -- I'm reaching back,
reaching as far back as I can-- "who
walks among his privates, degrading
them with abusive remarks. Note
that he has them all crop their hair
to crew cut length, he makes them
wear the same grimy overalls while
he dresses in a distinguished business
suit"-- it's almost all the way back--
"and they all wear large boots such
as those worn in the army. Jt is all
very military, isn't it? This is an
obvious metaphor for the wanton
damn artsy smug-assed
righteous blowhard
aceo untab le-to-no-one
exploitation"-- all the way back
now-- "of the masses." From way
back, behind my head it is thrown.
"That's not true." Connection. Pow.
He's been lifted right off the mat.
Bolling turns to face me, slightly
surprised. Reeling, he's reeling
backwards, crumpling onto the ropes.
"If you've worked in a factory, you
will know that those aren't things
that Richard has done to purposely
Page 11
make his workers uncomfortable.
Those measures would be demanded
by workers compensation, or
whatever it is they have in Britain.
If they had long hair, it would get
caught in the machines and the boots
protect their feet from dropping
heavy stuff on their teet. .. and the
overalls protect them from the
chemicals that are ... "-- damnitall--
chemicals that burn-- accost, cause--
" ... chemicals thaL .... -- cauterize,
caucasian-- caustic !-- "chemicals
that are caustic."
Silence. I lean back, my face is hot
and red, and my heart is pumping
furiously. But he's folding out of the
ropes, headed for the mat. "Err,
that's an interesting point." Boom,
he's hit the mat. "Docs anyone have
any comment about that ?" One. Two.
Three.
"Well, let's continue then." What?
Up after a three count? Nobody is
snickering, nobody cares. I feel
literal -minded, out of place, exposed.
But the nausea has subsided, been
forced back down my esophagus. It
was a fair trade: embarrassment in
return for a respite. It is like
elementary school. I embarrassed
myself a lot more then, but I felt the
dead-churn less often. My heart is
slowing down, but I feel the
exhaustion of one has just been sick. It
is the lethargy and weakness left
when the adrenaline has stopped
coursing through the blood.
The last twenty minutes pass.
Heather and Bolling are out the door
while I am still putting my books into
my knapsack. I am the last one out
and 1 find that 1 am muttering to
myself: 'ntense-- impenjtence-
omnipotence-- importance-"
Short
Story
Winners
John Kingdon
Arts Director
Well, the Engineering Short Story
Contest is over. And the winners arc:
First Place - $75 '
"An Engineer"
Michael Ross, 2A Systems Design
Second Place (tie) - $40 each
"Harry Hardisque and the Pirates
of MARS"
Ken Slaughter
and
"Seabirds, Silhouettes and s e u d o ~
Engineers: An Alternative Look at
Life"
Andrew Lin, 3B Systems Design
Also received were the following
stories:
"An Unusual Day" by Slawo
Wesolkowski, 2A Systems
"Cola Wars" by Sanley Lui
"Heat Scored a Corner" by Greg
Cook, 4B Civil and Steve Rayson, 4B
Systems Design
Thanks to everyone who
participated. The winners can pick
up their prizes at the Orifice.
..
Page 12
Iron Warrior
March 15, 1991
I've
Bruce G. Fraser
4B Chemical
Been
In these days of ceremony and
tradition, we are inevitably drawn
back to the fact that there are tons of
things to worry us and get us down.
There is a recession going oni final
exams are coming; tensions are still
high in the Persian Gulf; and for
those of us who are graduating, the
time has come to stop procrastinating
about our careers and futures. This
blissful time of being an
undergraduate co-op student is
drawing to a close. No longer does
the job search simply represent a four
month reality. We may like our job,
we may hate it, but hey, it's only four
months. And unless we worked for
IBM, we could say "screw the two
work term commitment" and no one
would really care.
unless we
worked for
IBM
No more. This is the big time. This
is GRADUATION. No more four
month jobs. Now it's at least two
years. For those who are gung ho
about making money, and career
advancement, and the dynamic field
of engineering, this is an opportunity
- the chance to finally get going on
what we've been working towards for
23 odd years. Then there are those
who have not been terribly thrilled
about their engineering co-op
experience. Some talk of teachers'
college, or alternative professions, or
grad school. But for most, it's hello
working world because a person's got
to work. We call it the real world,
although this is somewhat of a
misnomer. It is the reality as far as
we are concerned, but it is only one of
many realities which exist in our
world.
Ringed
As an obligated engineer (I got a
RING), questions such as
professionalism and ethical
dilemmas will invariably arise. For
those in younger years who read this,
due to confidentiality I cannot give
away much about the ceremony or the
thoughts and impressions which
remain with me afterwards. Suffice
it to say that I realized there is much
to be proud of in our profession despite
some distorting and disappointing
views I have seen in my co-op jobs.
Sure there are some whose main
desire is money, and who aren't
terribly concerned about moral
considerations and the effect of
technology. Sure engineers can
sometimes get so caught up in
traditions that we are willing to
stagnate and alienate progressive
thinkers. I heard one engineer at an
EngSoc meeting complaining that we
are changing and giving in to society
by giving up events like boat racing
and "RIDGID" from the tool. It
seemed rather ironic when I
considered how much a product of
society that engineers have become.
Salaries are a top priority in co-op
jobs. Engineering students are no less
into consumerism than anyone else; in
fact we may be worse due to the
frequent work terms and competitive
salaries. Certainly we try to fit into
our perceived roles. Is not this what
our society is about? Is not this what
perpetuates the status quo?
As engineers we have the
opportunity to lead society. We can
forge new traditions out of the old.
Our ceremonies should evolve into
relevant and inclusive forms. Instead
of complaining that there aren't
enough women in engineering, we can
give engineering a less male oriented
and dominant focus in our activities
and language. We can also reclaim
our artistic creativity which a rigid
curriculum and our stereotypes seem to
stifle. Artistic should not be a dirty
word - then again, neither should
engineer.
Technology, Imperialism
and
the Iron Ring Ceremony
UW News Bureau
Many of us remember Mowgli, the
boy raised by wolves in The Jungle
Book, or h ~ Cat that Walked by
Himself in Just so Stories. Some of us
will recall Stalky, the epitome of
the scheming schoolboy. How many
know that Rudyard Kipling, the
"Poet of Empire" who wrote of these
characters, was also the author of
the Iron Ring Ceremony which
welcomes every Canadian
engineering graduate into his
profession?
Kipling wrote extensively of
technical devices and technical
progress and its triumphs, sometimes
critically, but often with enthusiasm
if not with awe.
Wednesday, March 20
12:30 pm
Paul Beam of the department of
English has studied the works of
Rudyard Kipling. On Wednesday, 20
March at 12:30 p.m. in the Davis
Centre, room 1302, he will present an
illustrated talk on Kipling's views of
technology. The talk is entitled
Technology, Imperialism and the Iron
Ring Ceremony: Kipling's
contribution to Canadian engineering.
The talk is sponsored by the Centre
for Society Technology and Values,
the Liberal Science Program and the
Department of English. Students and
faculty throughout the university are
welcome.
Iron Ring History
Osman Fekri
P.Eng
Reprinted from The Iron Ring. IEEE
Engineering in Medicine and Biology
Magazine, Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers, New York, NY.
Pg.39. June 1984.)
"Gold is for the mistress -- silver
for the maid!
Copper for the craftsman cunning at
his trade."
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in
his hall.
"But Iron -- Cold Iron - is master of
them all!"
This poem was written by the
British writer Rudyard Kipling,
author of the popular Jungle books
and author of the "Iron Ring
Ceremony" (also known as "The
Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer")
that is unique to Canadian engineers.
half-finished
bridge trembled and
crashed, killing 86
The story behind the Iron Ring goes
back to the turn of the century. We,
Canadian engineers, like our
American counterparts, make
mistakes. The Quebec Bridge over
the St. Lawrence River, the largest
cantilever bridge in the world,
collapsed twice. The first time was
in August 1907. The south arm of the
half-finished bridge trembled and
crashed, killing 86 workers. In
September 1916, as the main span was
being hoisted into place 150 feet
above the St. Lawrence, one of the
jacks failed and the bridge-work
plunged to the bottom of the river.
Eleven lives were lost" that time.
Engineers' work and their grave
errors were blamed in both cases.
Finally, in 1917, a duplicate span was
hoisted successfully into place, and
eventually the bridge was opened to
traffic.
The Quebec Bridge, no longer the
only means of crossing the St.
Lawrence east of Montreal, remains a
physical reminder to Canadian
engineers of the terrible cost of human
error in engineering work.
Ritual of the
Calling of an
Engineer
Canadian engineers wear a ring on
the dtgitus minimus (the little, fifth
or pinky finger) of the hand with
which they write. This ring is called
the Iron Ring. The iron of the Iron
Ring is apocryphally said to be taken
from the debris of that fallen Quebec
Bridge.
The Ring is obtained during the
"Ritual of the Calling of an
Engineer," a ceremony that is
restricted to eligible candidates. In
some localities, close relatives of the
candidates may be invited to attend.
During the Ritual, engineers
individually obligate themselves to
high standards of integrity that the
profession has established.
The Ritual has a long history,
starting in 1922. A group of senior
engineers in Canada met to consider
the suggestion that a young graduate,
when entering the engineering
profession, should have the
opportunity to subscribe to some oath
or creed reflecting the principles
under which he would practice. On
the initiative of Professor H.E.
Haultain of the University of
Toronto, a letter was sent to Rudyard
Kipling asking for his assistance in
writing an appropriate ritual.
Kipling responded and, in
consultation with the engineering
groups of Canada, wrote the Ritual,
which includes the Obligation, an
oath of professional standards and
honour. The Ritual is copyrighted
and is governed by a corporation of
seven Wardens. The Wardens are
empowered to create Camps in
various locations in Canada. Each
Camp normally has seven local
Wardens, su pplemented by
alternates, who conduct "The Ritual
of the Calling of the Engineer." The
Camps are not sponsored by or
associated with any professional
association or institute, nor are they
allied to a university, although
members of professional associations
and universities may be Wardens. In
1984, there are 21 camps with over
125,000 enroled engineers throughout
Canada.
The first ceremony took place on
April 25, 1925. While the language
and thoughts expressed are timeless
in their worth, they do relate to the
knowledge, skills, and conditions
that pertained at the time of writing.
The Obligation states that engineers
will have no part in poor
workmanship and will "honourably
guard" professional reputation. The
actual Obligation cannot be
reprinted, for in Kipling's words,
"the personal copy of the Obligation
may be framed or exhibited by the
owner; but beyond this the papers,
meetings, and business of the Ritual,
while no mystery, are neither for the
public nor the press."
As a matter of practice and
convenience, invitations to
participate in the Ritual are
extended to all members of
graduating classes in engineering. If
one does not graduate, however,
he/she is to return the Ring. Apart
from graduation, the Camps use the
cri terion of registration in any
provincial association of professional
engineers.
The iron is "cold" in Kipling's
words, because the material is
unforgiving when engineers make
mistakes. The Iron Ring as a circle
symbolizes continuity; the continuing
need for engineers to learn more and to
improve themselves. The ring also is
a symbol of humility; as the facets of
iron wear down over the years, so too
the engineer's professionalism
mellows with experience.
Most of all, the Iron Ring reminds
the engineer of the oath taken during
the Ritual, and that he/she must
take due care in making decisions.
Whatever the engineer's work -- a
bridge, a pacemaker, or a
maintenance program - consideration
for life and safety must be paramount.
March 15, 1991
Iron Warrior
Stags
Sean Maw
SD Grad
What's the Stag for? Why do
graduating engineering students go to
it each year? Should you go next
year, or the year after, or whenever
you graduate?
The answers to these questions
vary, if you ask around. But they are
questions worth asking, especially if
your Stag is still to come. They're
worth asking because every year .
there is a hot debate over whether
strippers should be at the Stag. And
every year there have been strippers.
And every year there are students
who don't attend the Stag because
there are strippers.
If there is any agreement on the
answer to the question "What is the
Stag for?", it usually includes
"having a fun and wild time with
yOUT friends". Different people have
fun different ways, but perhaps the
words that often get lost in the
ensuing debate about the strippers are
"with" and "friends".
A friend who did attend this year's
Stag noted that it was as if there
were almost two groups of people.
There were a group of people who
passively watched the strippers as
they began their routine, without
interacting with any of their friends.
There were others farther back in the
room who were not paying much
attention to the strippers but who
were instead having fun dancing and
n w th each. other. Clearly,
the strippers were not encouraging
much of a social experience for the
first group, except a very self-
centered one. So in one sense, the
strippers helped divide the room in
two.
- So what does having strippers at
the Stag accomplish? They help
divide people into two groups: those
who passively watch the strippers
(kind of like TV) and those who
interact with each other socially.
They further divide the crowd along
sexual lines. Finally, they take
away from the work of many people
(friends, in fact) who have tried to
make engineering a better place for
all students. And what is the
justification for all these "minor
concerns"? So that the selfish and
insecure needs of a few males are
satisfied. Just like they could be any
other day of the week, at a local
strip club.
The Iron Ring ceremony which
precedes the Stag involves an
oath/pledge that basically asks us to
serve humanity unselfishly in the
noble profession called engineering.
That some individuals can then turn
around and a few hours later,
humiliate and insult many of their
"friends", suggests that maybe they
missed the point ...
But in an even more important sense
they divided the room another way:
by sex. It cannot be denied that the
presence of the strippers encourages
divisiveness along sexual lines. And
yet, isn't the event supposed to bring
everybody together for a fun time? If
it isn't supposed to bring "everyone"
together, then who decides which
friends are left out and which ones
are to ha ve the fun at the expense of
the others?
I got very confused about this whole
issue last year because our debate was
concerned mostly with the questions
"Is stripping worth endorsing?" and
"Will stripping hurt OUT image?" .
Every so often a voice would be raised
concerning the rights of our female
friends and concerning just plain
respect. The brilliant solution of
course, was to have male strippers
too. But it seemed to me that nobody
was addressing the problem from the
perspective of why we were hav ng
the Stag in the first place. I
certainly wasn't.
What provided me with a clearer
perspective this year was another
friend who astutely noted (before the
Stag) that several people would
probably be hurt if strippers actually
did show up at the Stag this year.
They would be hurt because they had
put a lot of unselfish work into
making their prospective profession a
better place for everyone, and now
they were going to be given a
farewell party where all of that
work was thrown back in their faces.
The Sandford Fleming Foundation
Carl Pollock Hall, Room 4333
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1
Winter 1991 Programs
Marc Gravel
4B Mechanical
The Iron Ring Stag 91, code name
Operation Desert Stag was a total
and complete success.
On March 7th, 1991, at
approximately twenty-one hundred
hours, the first wave of Desert Stag
forces comprised mostly of A-Shock
Engineering troops, secured the
Bingeman compound with lightning
speed. Armed with their shorts,
mugs and most importantly, their
RO , ert tag troops . f
Bingeman with massive bursts of
automatic drinking-fires. The second
wave, a mix of A-Shock and D-Shock
Superpartiers were transport d in
force to push the attack to an
unbearable roar as the place Rocked
to the Ground. Finally, the last
wave, B-Shock Elite-H'avy-
Drinking Commandos entered the
scene to mop up the last of the
remaining beers.
Although not in command of this
particular opera tion, Gen A.J. was
present with some heavy hardware
(The Tool) together with the
Page 13
personnel to guard it (Bearers). More
could be said about the events that
occurred in the theatre of operation,
but many details must remain secret.
Casualties were light but smiles were
abundant as the night came to a close.
It is the wish of the organizers of
Operation Desert Stag to thank the
people that helped to keep this
event a massive success. Armed with
a red T-shirt, and a clear head these
people served as Security for our
operation. Here they are: Rob
Templin, Anne Marie Long, Murray
,
Kevin Perry, Chris Pustowka, David
Rudge, Chris Lynch, Alex Berutti,
Brian D(.'le nhl 'r, Silva no Carr.ls 0,
Dave Marlin, Marlin While, Scan
Johnson, 'rg' Gravdle, Mi 'h<.'1ine
Cudahy, (avc Villamer, Denis
Hartman, J f{, Don Babbit, Phil
Wagner, John S hlotlke, James
Wilson, MirhCill Adams, Tom
Schnarr, Sheri Ncwstead, )e1\n
Gerardi, Michael Kwiecien , Jamie
McDyre, Tamy Routley, Anita
Netherton, Todd Bail('y, John C
Poyser, and N. Syed
Thanks for taking care of all of us.
(519) 888-4008
Student Travel Grants Available to students participating in technical conferences.
- Contact Prof. W. Loucks (E&CE) x3337 for additional information.
Undergraduate Debates
Teaching Assistant Awards
Karen Mark Scholarship
Faculty Coordinator is Prof. J. Huissoon, Mech. Eng.
Think about nominating YOUR outstanding TA for
this prestigious award. The deadline for nominations is
March 22, 1991.
Scholarship, established in memory of Karen Mark
- to be avaJlable to women in 3rd Year Engineering.
An organization deYolBd to the a6i.x:ement of engineering education.
Page 14
Iron Warrior
The Quiz:
Paul Fieguth
4B Electrical
The Questions
3 O,.Tl5C;TS:
4. What is the value of equation 1
in Figure 4? Can you determine the
value of equation 2 in Figure 4? If not
find upper and lower bounds fo;
equation 2. c" ) r-.luION!.ES s.
One of my roommates (initials
AKD complained that last issue's
quiz was 'boring and stupid.' J hope
that this quiz appeals to those of you
like my roommate.
1. How does the shape of an object
affect the rate at which it rolls down
a hill? For the ramp given in Figure
1, how long does it take each of the
following to reach the bottom of the
ramp: a point source (mass 1 kg), a
point source (mass 2 kg), a ring (radius
5 em, mass 1 kg), and a disc (radius 5
em, mass 1 kg)?
2. How do you measure the mass of
a mountain? Consider the experiment
shown in Figure 2. The plumb line is
calibrated to zero angle far away
from the mountain. a distance of
d, the line is drawn towards the
mountain by an angle alpha. What is
the mass of the mountain? If we knew
the mass already, what else could
this measurement tell us?
3. We have an infinite plane of
resistors connected as shown in Figure
3. What is the resistance as seen from
point A if (i) Ra=O (ii) Rb=O? Can
you calculate the impedance for
arbitrary values of Ra and Rb?
5. Here's a philosophical question
for which there is no answer: We
know that position and velocity are
both relative quantities (ie, they are
both measured with respect to other
objects), but acceleration is absolute.
Why should this be so? Mach's
principle says that acceleration is
relative also, and that for
acceleration to be felt, an object 'feels'
the position of all other particles in
the universe; ie, if you were the only
thing in you could not
feel acceleration. Does this make
sense?
Consider this: take!Wo spheres
connected by a string in an otherwise
empty universe. Now have the
spheres rotate about one another (ie,
orbiting. about the common center on
the string). In our world, this would
generate a tension on the string.
What happens in this empty
universe (ie, if the universe is empty,
can one even talk about the spheres
rotating in this fashion)? Think
about it ... it all seems like a stupid
idea until you think about it for a
while.
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Kitchen
These recipes were taken from No-
ore-Than-4-Ingredient Recipes by
Joy Douglas published by Doubleday
Canada.
When you look around the kitchen at
the end of the term you may just be
to make this one.
Iron Warrior
Page 15
How it Works:
Meters
Paul Fieguth
4B Electrical
Today's topiC considers metering
devices, in particular gas meters (ie,
natural gas meters on houses) and
electric power meters (also on
houses). Although meters generally
don't seem like a particularly
exciting subject of study, both the
electricity and gas meters share a
common problem: the ability to
accurately measure some continuous
flow over a wide magnitude range
wi thout impeding or interrupting the
flow.
. Electrical Power Meters
The criteria for a good power meter
are as follows: measure wide range of
power consumption (from a 60W
Ii ghtbulb to an 8kW electric furnace),
wit hout causing a significant voltage
drop across the meter.
As you may remember, electrical
power is the product of current and
voltage. Generic power meters are
rather complicated, needing to
measure both voltage and current
simultaneously. Measuring power
consumption to a residential unit is
simpler: the voltage is constant
(220V), so only the current needs to be
measured. If the current is integrated
over time, we obtain the amount of
energy consumed (measured in kWh).
A simple double line meter is shown
in Figure 1. A small known fraction of
the total line current is sent through
an induction motor (a simple motor
that runs off alternating current) .
The rate a whidi the moto tU is
proportional to the current flow. As a
result, if we count the number of motor
revolutions, we have a measure of
energy consumption. The number of
turns may be counted using a series of
dividing gears (as shown in Figure 2).
In practice, electricity supply to
houses is not double line, but triple
line (to give either 110V or 220V).
The meter is conceptually the same as
above, except that we must sum the
currents on two lines rather than just
one.
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cola beverage
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Mix cola and catsup in bowl. Pour
over chicken pieces in a buttered
baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and
pepper and bake in a 350 deg. F (l80
deg. C) oven for about 1 hour;
uncovered, or until chicken is tender
and has a nice glaze. Serves 6.
Gas Meters
The main problem here is to
measure the flow of a volume (gas,
water etc.) over a wide range of
possible flow rates. The method
described here, used in most ga
meters, is the bellows method.
The basic idea is to use two bellows
of the same volume and to count the
number of times they are fill ed. At
any given time, one bellow is filling
while the other is being emptied.
When one bellow fills completely,
valves are activated to change the
flow. The outer walls of the bellows
are held at a fixed separation, so
that the total amount of gas held by
the two bellows co Hecti vcly is
always constant. One typical cycle of
operation is as follows:
1. See Figure 3. The gas inlets and
outlets are located at the top of the
unit. If you look carefully at the
valve positions, you will observe
that Space 1 is being fined by the gas
inlet, and Space 2 is being emptied to
the gas outlet.
2. When Space 1 fills (and Space 2
is empty), the valves are pull ed to
their new positions (see Figure 4),
reversing the filling and emptying
cycle from step 1 above. The total gas
flow is measured by counting the
number of filling and emptying cycles
of the bellows (this mechanism is not
shown).
Clearly as long as the bellows can
fill and empty fast enough, any rate
of flow, large or small, can be
measured to the same degree of
accuracy.
For those of you who are interested,
the are a number of other flow
measurement techniques: impeller
measure (flow is proportional to the
rotationa veJoc ty of prope ler
blades located in the flow), acoustic
(speed of flow is a function of acoustic
doppl er s hift i n the gas ),
temperature (have a precise heating.
element in the flow and measure the
temperature difference before and
after the heater), and isotopic (inject
short lived radioactive isotopes into
the flow and measure the rate of
decay at a known distance from the
point of injection).
That's it for this term. I certainly
enjoyed researching some of these
topics - I hope you got something out
of the column as well!

I flJ1)UtfION
MO-roR
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Page 16 Iron Warrior March 15, 1991
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PLUS colour copying in Dana Porter Library - LIB 218
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Venda card copiers are located in the
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Same day service available at Graphic
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Copy Centre Locations
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