Did uWaterloo steal the Laurier Hawk? It appears that they thought so:
Last week an article appeared in the K-W Record stating that the Waterloo Univeriity College Hawk had been stolen. Emphasis was placed in the belief that it was the University of Waterloo Arts Faculty who had perpetrated the “crime”. I’m sure the artsmen are quite flattered by this accusation!
Since the article appeared, it has been reported that our premises were searched by some of the W.U.C. students. Some say that the search revealed nothing; others that the hawk was found. In addition, it has been stated that the first revelation of the theft came, oddly enough from the College PublicityDirector who made a speech to the students in the Torque Room!
In my eyes, the article is nothing more than mudslinging and may just be an underhanded publicity stunt. Nevertheless, I think that their interpretation of this prank is extremely immature and I would truly be ashamto admit association with an institution which encouraged the writing of such a defamatory article.
I just wonder how they would regard the pranks pulled on their own campus “cop” last year by the Willison Hall boys or the painting of the stadium by O.A.C.? — pranks in which personal and property damage were incurred?
Harmful pranks are most definitely frowned upon by everyone but a good honest-to-goodness prank can be appreciated even by the faculty.
It seems inevitable that with our two institutions located in such close proximity to one another several pranks should occur. However, in vi&w of the college’s lack of appreciation for a practical joke (as manifested by accusations which have no basis in fact) it might be advisable to limit our association with the college to football and basketball games, and to devote our ingenuity to our more sportsmanlike rivals such as O.A. C. and MeMaster. (By the way, we owe the Aggies a deficit of gratitude for “painting” our stadium. But, let’s keep it, clean and sportsmanlikewe don’t want an all-out war !)
Chief Tall-Moose and
Oslow Junk, M.P.
The Coryphaeus, January 26, 1961. Page 1.
Orientation week on university campuses is notoriously a time for pranks. And so it should be. But there are limits, and these limits must be strictly obeyed.
Kitchener – Waterloo police and courts have already tightened up their attitude toward student pranks and have announced that students will not be considered special cases, but charged according to the law.
Since many activities usually engaged in by students during orientation actually violate the criminal code, care must be taken this year – or we shall suffer the consequences.
Remember that no student is an entity unto himself. As a member of the student body his actions reflect on the entire group. Your Student Council is often required to go to the public for aid in many forms. These dealings as well as the student’s individual transactions with the public at large could be severely impaired by unthinking pranks in the coming weeks.
We hope that the coming orientation week proves to be the best ever held at Waterloo. The orientation committee has worked hard to see that it will be. After last year’s particularly bland week we look forward to an orientation in the real style of university orientations.
Have fun but don’t ruin everyone else’s.
The Coryphaeus - September 14, 1966 (Page 7)
Recent reports from “La Belle Etat” indicate that out-term Waterloo engineers engineered the disappearance of an eight-foot replica of “Bon’homme Carnival,” mascot of the Quebec Winter Carnival, from a McGill fraternity house.
-The Coryphaeus, March 8, 1963
Many months ago we posted an article from the 1965 Coryphaeus that mentioned a police car that was vandalised with the phrase “Cooky Car 54”. At the time, no one at The Spirit of WTF knew what this meant and we asked for submissions from anyone who might have some idea.
We now know who “Cookie/Cooky” was.
Fred “Cookie” Cook was UW’s original head of security. He joined the university in 1958 and worked until he took an early retirement in 1967.
Below is an interview that discusses the lives of the Campus Guards and the state of security on campus during those early years.
IN PRAISE OF OUR POLICEMEN
We are talking about our three Campus Guards, of whom Fred Cook is the best known to daytime students (often under the name of Cookie). Fred has been with us for over three years. “I was on night duty the first two years, and got to know the older students. Now I’m getting to know the younger.”
Fred originally came from Toronto, got married in Kitchener in 1935, and went back to Toronto where he was supervisor of a crew of appliance salesmen. From 1940 to ‘45, he served the army in England, Sicily and Italy, as Corporal in charge of the Transport Section at the No. 1 Canadian Repat. Camp. He got his discharge in December and was back in Kitchener by March. He was in real estate here for about six years.
The odd impertinent remark that is thrown at him, Fred is able to take with an enviable calm. “If you tell them something, it’s because you’ve got to, and not because you want to. As long as they co-operate and don’t damage property or play around with University equipment, everything is okay.” When asked about trouble on the parking lots, Fred revealed one reason why most students are willing to co-operate with him. “We don’t like to tow cars away, because it costs the students $6 or $7, and we know they don’t have a great deal of money.” He went on to tell of one boy who had parked three times without permission. Willing to give him one more chance, Fred put sticky paper on the windshields of the car, as a friendly warning. The boy took the hint and has never been any trouble since!
“We have never had a student fight on our hands, or anything in that way. The only thing is, we have had signs here which have disappeared. If whoever is responsible would bring them back, we would appreciate it.”
Fred is the supervisor for the other two guards: Ron Evans and John Shevkenek. Mr. Evans has been a guard at a reformatory and has a St. John First Aid Certificate. Mr. Shevkenek was a medical orderly in a hospital Operating Theatre. Their backgrounds have trained all three men to handle any trouble with cool efficiency.
Mr. Michael Brookes, our Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, said, “Good guards are extremely hard to find. Students don’t like to feel they are being watched over by policemen. The other extreme is to have just straight watchmen. Somewhere between the two there is a happy medium: men who are liked and respected by the students, who can exert a measure of control without necessarily causing any unpleasantness, and who don’t get upset by a little bit of ribbing. Fred Cook is an excellent example of just this type.”
Although they will soon be sworn in as special constables, our Guards have no formal connection with the Waterloo Police Force. Mr. Brookes said they have the full co-operation of the latter, “but there is always a reluctance on their part to get a student into real trouble. They usually tell me, ‘We have had a bit of trouble, but it’s alright now.” However if anything happens that really warrants action by the Administration, the name of the offending student is given to Mr. Brookes, who then hands it onto the responsible authority. “They should not be regarded as police, here to control the students. Their function is to control traffic and protect property.”
All three guards have recently been outfitted with uniforms. Fred said these make a big difference. “Before, when I’d ask someone if I could help them, they wouldn’t know who I was. I’d have to show my card.”
Patrol duty can be a lonely job, but Fred’s warmth has attached many students and staff members to him. We are grateful to be so well protected.
-The Coryphaeus, December 14, 1961
[This article details some of the regular inter-school pranks that were standard fare, as well as a daring stunt involving the CSB smokestack(!)]
A commando-like raid on the women’s residence at Waterlootheran highlighted Halloween activities in the Waterloo area.
Moving with absolute precision, the raiders, all from the co-op residence swept down on the residence, grabbed all the phones, and blocked all the doors.
Then they carried out a successful panty-raid while the girls were unable to go for help.
The entire operation was over in less than five minutes.
The successful raiders’ spirits were dampened somewhat when they returned to Hammarsjkold residence in triumph only to have a fire hose turned on them.
Apparently some students at the Co-op mistook the returning raiders for WUC students looking for revenge.
The most courageous—or the most foolhardy pranksters were the pair who decided to decorate the 220-foot-smoke-abatement facility on this campus with lights.
Jim Millard, engineering I, and Reed Wilson, arts I, climbed the stack and worked in nearly unbearable heat to fasten the two blinking yellow lights.
The university has, as we go to press, yet to find someone to climb the stack and remove the lights.
A reverse panty-raid by Renison girls on the men’s residence caught the men students with their pants down.
They smeared cold crème on door handles and Vaseline on toilet seats.
The girls signed their work with shaving cream.
The whole weekend was led off Saturday night when U of W students travelled to Guelph to paint their cannon a delicate baby blue – and signed it “WUC”. The operation was carried out right under the windows of the men’s residence at Guelph. [Related, painting Guelph’s cannon used to be a rare occurrence.]
Halloween night, a group of residence at the Co-op carried someone’s Volkswagon into the dining hall and left it there.
-The Chevron, November 4, 1966 (Page 3)
[While there were women on campus at this point, they could be counted on one hand.]
Somewhere between adolescence and adultery comes that period of life known as the Waterloo Man, or the Waterloo Engineering student. Waterloo men come in assorted shapes, sizes, weights and colours (mainly grey and gold)…
Everyone has the same creed: to pull pranks on Waterloo College and out-scream and out-prank every other University body in the world; Waterloo men are found annoying arts students, chasing girls, staring through transits or bending elbows…
They are innocence in a jam, beauty with a beer bottle, and wisdom with a slide rule…
Waterloo men are a composite, they have the appetite of an army, the absorbing capacity of a sponge, the curiosity of a Di Vinci, and the audacity of a bear trap…
They like liquid spirits, pretty girls, Engineers’ Weekends, bird courses, money from home, pranks and loafing…
They dislike authority, intelligent girls, labs, examinations, the high price of liquid diets, coffee shop coffee, professors who hand out assignments and twelve o’clock curfews …
Yet no one gets more fun out of a snake-dance, a boat ride or a good-night kiss than a Waterloo man. Only a Waterloo man can cram into one faculty jacket a half-filled twenty-sixer, a slide rule, three old bones, one pipe (smoking variety), one well thumbed sexy novel, two match boxes, three phone lists and five lipstick stained handkerchiefs.
-The Coryphaeus, February 17, 1961
In early 1961, Waterloo courts stopped making exceptions when it came to “harmless student pranks”. As a result, several students were charged in rapid succession, leading to this letter from the president at the time, J. G. Hagey:
In view of some of the student pranks which have occurred recently, I think it is in the interests of all of our students to understand the University’s attitude toward these.
The good name of this University should be of major interest to students who anticipate receiving degrees from here. In the long run, the reputation of the University depends primarily upon its academic excellence, but public reaction to student extra-curricular activity is relevant and important, particularly in the short run. The fees you pay to the University provide for less than one-third of the cost of your education, with the remaining two-thirds coming from society at large through various levels of government and through individual contributions. When you offend public opinion, you jeopardize your education.
Student pranks that destroy property or bring hazard to the general public are intolerable for the preservation of the University’s good name. They are usually the result of irresponsible action on the part of a small minority, and in the best interests of all students cannot be permitted to continue. It should be realized that as student members of the University you participate in a society which requires obligations of you as well as providing benefits for you. For better or worse, your individual actions and behaviour reflect on all other students. In particular, it should be realized that it is not enough for you alone to refrain from actions prejudicial to the good name of the University, but that you have a responsibility on behalf of all students to attempt to dissuade others whose actions would inevitably bring disfavour on you and all other students.
There are plenty of challenging activities within the University, particularly at this formative stage in our development. The Student Council, Coryphaeus, Athletic programme and Glee Club are but a few of the many organizations within the University that need any surplus time the students may have available from their studies. These are constructive activities in which your efforts would be expended to your advantage as well as to the advantage of the University. It is our sincere hope that whatever spare time is available to you will be used for the welfare of the University, including your fellow students. It is our unhappy obligation to deal severely with those students who by their individual activities would bring harm to the entire student body.
J. G. Hagey,
President.
-The Coryphaeus, March 3, 1961 (Page 1)
Yes, there was a Glee club.
A Waterloo Lutheran University student posed as an engineer in the University of Waterloo Intramural Swim Meet on November 17, and won an event, thereby gaining points for the engineers in the intramural point standing. Marv Altracks, a second year student at W.L.U., told the officials of the swim meet he was an engineer, and was allowed to enter several events. He won the fifty yard breaststroke in a record time of 31.9 seconds.
Since this was the first year that this event was included in the swim meet, Altracks was able to set a record for this University of Waterloo Intramural Swim Meet. All intramural events are supposed to be closed to everyone other than undergraduates at the University of Waterloo.
Of course, this will necessitate a change of the points allotted to the engineers, and will cause a change in the entire points standings at the University of Waterloo.
The Coyphaeus, December 3, 1964 (Page 1)
The Great Train Robbery was re-enacted this week by a group of U of W students, but the police were waiting.
At three o’ clock Wednesday morning, several kampus kops sat and watched as about a dozen students began to push a 60-ton boxcar along the CN railway tracks and across University Avenue. They had been tipped off by a similar attempt a few hours earlier.
Many of the students were from the Co-op residence.
The boxcar was partially loaded with steel culverts and had been parked on the siding between the warehouse and the university.
Since the incident did not occur on campus, the university police called the city police department. Each department apprehended one student.
Richard Mocarski, math 1B and Russell Chaplin, engineering 1B, both from the Co-op residence, have been charged by Waterloo police in connection with the incident. They are expected to appear in court July 4.
Charges have been laid under section 372 (b) of the Criminal Code, which deals with rendering property dangerous. This is an indictable offense and conviction is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years.
The handbrakes on the boxcar had been released and as the car was pushed along the tracks it short-circuited the signal system, setting off flashing red lights and bells.
This is the fourth time in three months the signals at the University Avenue crossing have been short-circuited and the second time within a year that students have blocked traffic with a boxcar.
Constable Herb Garrett of the railway police said although no damage was done, the panic could have been dangerous to a passing motorist.
Both Constable Garrett and Sgt. Schneider emphasized the danger to the students involved. A sudent could easily catch his foot in the railway switches, they said, and become trapped when the boxcar began to roll.
It would have been almost impossible for the students to stop the car once they had started it moving.
By Sandra Savlov - Chevron Staff
The Chevron - June 23, 1967
Remember that time when professors and faculty entered in engineering BOAT races? Neither do we, which is why this week’s article is a little gem we discovered while digging in the archives:
[Photo caption: Engineering Nite’s winning boat-race team, mechanical-engineering class of ‘69, proudly hold out their trophies. What else but silver beer steins? See story on page 4.]
Class of 69 Wins boat races
By Bob Verdun - Chevron staff
An enigma: a hot night — a lot of cold beer — good stand-up humor — formal presentations — a buffet dinner — boat races. Only the engineers could combine them all and be successful.
A record turnout of over 350 at Caesar’s Forum for Engineering Nite included 35 faculty members and 10 co-ordinators.
The hot humid atmosphere was soon forgotten when Jim Pike, the organizer, began to introduce Sandy Baird, with taunts about Sandy’s rise from newsboy to almost-editor of the K-W Record.
Baird stepped to the mike amid good-natured booing, but quickly had the audience in loud laughter with his fire-fire humor: “I feel like the guest of honor at a crucifixion”.
He remarked that he and Al Adlington, university vice-president, got some of their best education while attending Western down at the CPR Hotel.
The speech was pun-laden and the wit continued: “About my column (in the Record) — don’t think I’m going to waste all this material just on an audience like this”.
His theme turned to the local residents and their inability to appreciate the culture and money brought into the community by the universities. “The old core of Twin City people and fat, dumb and happy. They think that this is where God would make his home — if only he had the money to buy a house.”
Kicking some of his favorite dogs, he continued: “There’s Galt – it’s so poor that all a kid could get is one measle. The Twin Cities are the home of industrial and industrial slums… Waterloo’s not so much a city as a state of mind.”
Baird concluded on the theme that U of W’s cooperative programs come very close to giving students the human contact and experience they need. It was a hard act to follow.
Next, society president Steve Russell quite effectively expressed the appreciation of all the engineers for the guest of honor, A. S. Barber, director of the coordination and placement department. In making him an honorary member of Engineering Society A, recognition was given for his work in developing and expanding cooperative programs.
Then boat-race time! The scores (disqualifications are for spilling too much):
Class of ’71 38.0 seconds
Chemical 2B Disqualified
Faculty 50.8 seconds
Civil 2B Disqualified
Electrical 4A Disqualified
Class of ‘69(B) 88.2 seconds?
Out-term Disqualified (31.8 seconds)
JAPS 48.8 seconds
(Journalists, administrators, professors)
Class of ’69(a) 24.5 seconds
Class of ’68 29.2 seconds
The winners were a well-practiced group. The captain, Brian Tait, said after the victory: “We’ve got the five best drinkers in the university.” And that’s apt to be disputed until the next Engineering Nite.
In a grudge match, Lynn Baxter and Janet Brown, the two women engineers, easily outclassed Al Adlington and Sandy Baird in sculling.
In a closing statement, chairman Jim Pike expressed delight over the large turnout of faculty and coordinators, and apologized to anyone who had a long wait in the buffet line.
- The Chevron, Friday June 16, 1967
