Editing Skule Cannon

The '''Skule™ Cannon''', also known as '''Ye Olde Mighty Skule™ Cannon''', is the official mascot of [[Skule]]™, the University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. It is a hand-held custom-designed piece which is fired at many major University and Faculty events. The Skule™ Cannon has been in existence since at least 1936, and numerous Cannons have been commissioned over the years. Retired Cannons have often been presented to historically significant members of the Skule™ community, such as former Assistant Dean [[Malcolm McGrath]] and former Dean [[James Ham]].

===Hart House Cannons===

===Early Cannons===

===1929===

Around 1929, a small portable cannon begins to appear at school events. subtitleities attempted to track it down, considering it dangerous, hence it was shrouded in mystery and very little actual details are known. It is likely it was made of water pipe, although another source mentions steel pipe and the Varsity describes it as brass in 1935.

[[Image:1929.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Varsity Article, Nov. 20, 1935]]

1929 also saw the firing of one of the two cannons in front of Hart House. Unfortunately, both were supposed to fire. The caper was repeated in later years, including 1943.

The next day, the Cannon was fired outside UC's Junior Common Room, where their parliament was meeting. This was followed by a brief snowball skirmish. Due to this and the fact that we recovered the Cannon before they got to present it, UC declared war on SkuleTM on Friday, February 16. SkuleTM responded with a proclamation of hostilities on Tuesday, February 20. Plans for the permanent destruction of UC were published in the Toike Oike on February 23. UC was saved from certain destruction by an agreement to channel hostilities into the Hart House elections. These elections were, of course, dominated by SkuleTM.

[[Image:Nov30.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Varsity ad placed by SkuleTM asking for the location of the Cannon (Varsity, Nov. 30, 1944)]]

[[Image:Dec1.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The thieves' response the next day (Varsity, Dec. 1, 1944)]]

[[Image:Feb16.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Varsity resource/images/articles/cannon/timeline of events (Varsity, Feb. 21, 1945)]]

===1949: Meds students steal the Cannon===

The 1949 Chariot race, held on Thursday, February 3, had a good start. SkuleTM won the first heat, and the second heat was started by a blast of the Cannon. Then, disaster struck. The Cannon was grabbed by a Med student, beginning a huge brawl between all the parties present who wanted possesion of the Cannon - that is to say, everybody. Eventually a SkuleTMman managed to grab it and retreat to the Little Red Skulehouse. Even there, however, it was not safe from the thieving Meds. Two of them, standing just inside the door, took the Cannon from the exhausted engineer and made their way to the Medical building by a back route. The engineers quickly regrouped and entered the Meds building, but were prevented from recovering the Cannon by an overwhelming number of Meds. They took II Pre-Meds president Bob Sheppard captive, but were forced to release him later the same day. They replaced him by taking Bob Hetherington, Meds Society vice-president, from the frat where he lived. Hetherington was held hostage over the weekend while negotiations took place, and was traded for the Cannon at 17:30 February 7. On its return, the Cannon bore a blemish in the form of an inscription reading "Captured by Meds 5T2 3 Feb. 1949."

===1949: U.C. steals the Cannon===

The engineers had arranged for a photo shoot of the Cannon with a Varsity photographer, yet when they arrived at the meeting a group of U.C. students snatched the Cannon and fled in a car. In order to recover it, the CA Paul La Prairie assembled a large group of engineers in front of U.C. while some SkuleTMmen dressed as construction workers entered the building through a side door. These engineers set up proper construction barricades around the main staircase, and carefully removed the U.C. gargoyle from the newel post on the stairway. When word got out that the wooden gargoyle was missing, the CA was summoned to Dean Young and President Sidney Smith, to whom he assured that it would be returned safely in exchange for the SkuleTM Cannon. A truce was then arranged with U.C. to exchange the Cannon for the gargoyle on front campus. The Cannon was handed back, and the engineers presented the artsmen with a bag of sawdust, supposedly the remains of the gargoyle. While this happened, the gargoyle was being placed back in its post by the SkuleTMmen.

===1950: First official firing of the Mark II Cannon===

The Mark II Cannon was officially fired for the first time during the annual Chariot Races in January. This Cannon was built by W.H. Kubbinga, a machinist in the Civil Engineering department, and presented to the Society on Christmas day 1949. The barrel and wheels were made from a bronze alloy, and later given a heavy electroplating of nickel and chromium. The carriage was made of heavy steel plate, which was painted black. The Mark II had a barrel 11½" long, with a 2" diameter and ¾" bore.

The Engineering Society honoured W.H. Kubbinga with a scroll extolling his loyalty, courage, and good conduct and made him an Honorary Member in Ye Ancient and Honourable Company of SkuleTM Cannoneers with the rank of Sergeant Artificer.

===1952===

Vic students attacked the Cannoneers during the Homecoming Float Parade in an attempt to steal the Cannon, but they were staved off by the group of Engineers protecting the float and the Cannon remained safe.

The Engineering Society decided to put up the Mark I Cannon as a trophy, to be presented annually to the faculty or college donating the greatest number of pints of blood per capita during the Red Cross Blood Drive. The objective of this measure was to provide an extra incentive for blood donations and increase the total amount donated, which was achieved. The engineers even arranged a mock theft of the Cannon by the Meds, to increase publicity. Unfortunately, Engineering lost to Forestry and the Cannon was mounted on a plaque and handed over.

Medsmen, knowing that the Cannon was usually carried inside the engineering float during the parade, launched a tear gas attack on it. The Meds outnumbered the SkuleTMmen and a fierce fight ensued that lasted for over half an hour. The SkuleTM float was almost completely destroyed, but the Cannon remained safe thanks to the ingenuity of the CA who removed it from the area without anyone noticing.

===1958===

On the evening of November 25, a group of artsmen broke into the Engineering Building and stole a safe. They used a ladder to climb to a window which was 15 feet above the floor and then pushed the safe out through it. They believed the safe contained the Cannon, but it actually held $1300 in cash and checks and the financial records of the Society. The students were, however, unable to crack the safe open and they abandoned it next to Elmsley Hall after painting some slogans on it. The thieves were Vic students, who were planning to steal the Cannon in order to fire it at the Mulock Cup finals in which they were playing against SkuleTM. The Engineering Society decided to be lenient with the thieves, who were at the legal mercy of the engineers and could have been charged.

After losing the Blood Drive for five years in a row, the engineers became wise and changed the rules so that the winner would be declared on a total donation basis instead of the previous percentage basis. SkuleTM easily won back its Cannon with 732 pints donated, over 600 more than the closest competitor.

In order to publicize the nominations for Hart House Committee positions, the Engineering Society approved a plan to fire the SkuleTM Cannon in the front hall of Hart House on five consecutive noon hours. The blasts would mark the beginning of the five pre-election campaign-speech sessions. The fact that the Cannon would be fired in the same place for five consecutive days posed a security problem, since it would invite robbery attempts by other faculties. Preventive measures were taken, however, and the Cannon was kept safe.

On February 1959, the Meds finally succeeded in stealing the Mark II Cannon for the first time. In order to publicize the annual Blood Drive, the engineers had agreed to take the Cannon to the Blood Donor Clinic for a photo shoot. They had been guaranteed a safe conduct, so the Cannon was only accompanied by two engineers instead of the usual guard. However, the whole thing was a plot by the meds and the Varsity to lure the Cannon to a place where it could be captured by brute force. As the Cannoneers left the Blood Clinic, a large group of Medsmen attacked them from all directions and made off with the Cannon. A whole week of kidnappings and attacks ensued, until the meds finally saw the light and agreed to return it. The following is a calendar of the events as published in the Toike:

Safe conduct to and from the Blood Clinic promised for the Cannon and the Cannoneers.

Cannon stolen from two Engineers by fifty Medsmen. Meds getaway car traced to the Lee Chemical Co. Two carloads of Engineers block off car as it leaves company parking lot. Driver found to be company President; he was released with a warning. SAC-Varsity office raided by forty SkuleTMmen, one roll of film confiscated.

Handcuffs and miscellaneous chemicals purchased. Medical Society film disappears. Premeds attack SkuleTM in attempt to recover same. Grand brawl including over 200 students. Two Medsmen and one Engineer taken prisoner. One Meds student chained to tree in front of SkuleTM, another sent packing minus shoes.

Four stink bombs planted in Medical Building.

Attempt to kidnap Engineer at night fails.

Three first year Meds students kidnapped and removed to remote hideaway.

Medsmen released at 5 A.M. (they had an Anatomy test). Rick Schaeff (EngSoc President) denies any knowledge of the kidnapping of Medical Society President Doug Wilson. Varsity report branded hoax. Attempts to kidnap Jim Lewis and Rick Schaeff fail.

Negotiations completed for return of Cannon.

The terms of the pact established that the Cannon was to be returned exactly as it was when it was stolen, and the meds would be presented with a replica of the Cannon. All kidnapping on both sides was to halt immediately, and no attacks of any kind were to be made on the Engineering or Meds Dances the following week. The SkuleTM Cannon was returned, and the replica cannon given to the meds was later stolen from the trophy case where it was displayed and promptly destroyed.

On March the Brute Force Committee was reorganized. The SkuleTM Cannon and the LGMB would become divisions of the BFC, and the BFC would provide protection during events. This arrangement would go on for many years, although eventually all three became completely independent and separate entities.

After 9 eventful years of service, the numerous battles had finally taken their toll on the Mark II Cannon. The barrel was pitted from the corrosive action of black powder, and the plating was coming off. Chief Attiliator Bill Riggs made a request to the Engineering Society to replace this barrel with a new one, and oversaw the construction of the replacement during the summer. The new barrel was machined from a solid stainless steel bar, and it was 12" long with a 2 ½" diameter and ¾" bore. The old carriage of the Mark II Cannon was reused. The Mark II was later immortalized by being placed in the cornerstone of the new Galbraith Building.

In conjunction with the LGMB, the Cannon was used to literally stop the Homecoming show for ten minutes while a presentation was made to Jim Vasoff, a former SkuleTMman. The crowd, consisting mainly of artsmen, managed no protest other than a few feeble boos.

===1960===

A group of individuals from the BFC together with the Cannon paid a visit to the Victoria College Scarlet and Gold Dance. The Middlehouse Four were performing, and were stopped dead in the middle of a verse by the thunderous roar which shook Alumni Hall. The BFC then scattered leaflets proclaiming SkuleTM Night and the Cannon Ball.

Since the Cannoneer John Bell had failed his year and his handling of the Cannon had proved inadequate, the Executive of the Society asked for his resignation. A new Cannoneer was appointed.

===1964===

On Sept 23, 1964, Doug Macdonald fired the Cannon at the engineering frosh dance. A nurse from the Toronto General Hospital was injured in the right arm by a piece of unburnt wadding from the blast. She was 25 feet away, even though the recommended safe distance was only 10-15 feet. All Cannon activities were stopped until proper tests could be completed, which were overseen by Prof. MacElhinney of Chemical Engineering. When the nurse stated her intention to sue, all testing was stopped and firings were postponed indefinitely.

===1967: The Cannon visits Coventry===

1967 saw perhaps the most infamous Cannon steal. Two graduate engineers, Mike Chapelle, 6T7, and Howie White, 6T6, managed to steal the Cannon, and took it with them to University College in England. Don Morno, 6T4, and five other SkuleTMmen, followed the Cannon all the way to England, where two of them entered Chapelle's room and recovered the Cannon. On the way back home, the Cannon made a stop in Coventry to pay homage to Godiva. The statue of Godiva was adorned with an engineering jacket.

Meanwhile, back home, the Engineering Society tried to cover the fact that an engineer stole the Cannon. A new Cannon was built, supposedly to honour Canada's centennial. The barrel of the new Cannon was 11" long and had a bore of 5", with a mahogany carriage and chrome plated wheels.

The Cannon makes an appearance at Expo 67.

An Indy attempts to steal the new Cannon. He is unsuccessful, and spends some time in the Toronto General Hospital.

The year 1971 was the year of the first gangbang with the Ryerson Engineers. The purpose of the gangbang was to see who had the better Cannon. Not only did the SkuleTM Cannon win, but the UofT engineers made off with the Ryerson Cannon and the distributor wire to their bus!

The Cannoneer at the time, Robert Gilmour did not want to fire the Cannon at his own Grad Ball, so a former Cannoneer named John Vanneste was called from retirement to fire the Cannon. The Cannon was found to be badly corroded and in need of cleaning. When the barrel was removed from the base, Gilmour's name was found chiseled into the bottom. The Engineering Society executives passed a motion of censure against Gilmour, and the entire deed was exposed in the Toike Oike. At John Vanneste's suggestion, the Cannon Guard wore black hardhats (as opposed to the traditional red) for one year to show the Engineer's displeasure. After the year was up, they decided to keep wearing the black hardhats, and they also decided to wear black t-shirts to create a new image.

In 1978, Ryerson made another weak attempt to outdo the SkuleTM Cannon. On the day of the scheduled gangbang, a message was "supposedly" left at EngSoc informing UofT that Ryerson wasn't coming because of the rain. Due to the no-show, UofT declared themselves the winners and called Ryerson to tell them. It was only after that phone call that Ryerson decided to show up. So on that rainy day, 200 UofT engineers and 5 Politechs witnessed the 2nd ever gangbang. The Ryerson judge declared Ryerson winners, but the UofT judge declared the SkuleTM Cannon superior. Once again, UofT came out on top. No one was interested in stealing Ryerson's feeble cannon, so they were allowed to return home unharmed.

January of 1979 was yet another gangbang versus RyeHigh. The LGMB showed up to play at the event; however due to the extreme cold, the instruments froze up, and nobody could play. The cannons fired anyway, and yet again Ryerson went home with their tails between their legs as UofT was announced the winner.

Godiva Week in 1982 saw another gangbang between our Cannon and Ryerson's, Devonshire House's and a fraternity's on front campus. Decibel meters quickly eliminated Devonshire's and the frat's cannons from the competition. Both SkuleTM's and Ryerson's were off the scale. A second round was held at Ryerson, this time using heavy-duty audio equipment with special shielding. Ye Mighty SkuleTM Cannon triumphs, being measured at 113 decibels from 200 yards away.

===1989: LGMB "borrows" the Cannon===

'''1988-89:'''

The Cannon Guard foolishly left the Cannon in the EngSoc offices in the winter of 88/89. The Bnad "borrowed" it and kept it at Knox College while the CA was sweating over a fake letter from Waterloo, complete with a picture of the Cannon on a Waterloo jacket.

For the second year in a row, the SAC president led a conspiracy to steal the Cannon during the homecoming parade. Due to a leak (the president's boasting), the guard learned of the plot. The guard left the uniforms behind and showed up at the parade undercover. The Cannon was fired before the thieving group found out what happened.

In 1991-92 SkuleTM witnessed the birth of a new Cannon tradition - for lack of a better name, the "How many windows can we break this time?" custom. Ironically, on both occasions the shattered panes were a direct result of the interference by the management of the buildings in question. At Hart House, during the Alumni Reunion, the Chief Attiliator prepared to fire the Mighty Cannon down the hallway bordering the Great Hall. As the meticulous preparation was being carried out, an ignorant, stubborn, and quite worried staff insisted that the Cannon must be fired in the main floor hallway. Not being the querulous type (yeah right!) the Chief Attiliator acquiesced to the management's demands. With the customary earth shattering KA-BOOM the Cannon expelled its fiery breath into the quad while, simultaneously, the concussion shattered five windowpanes in the hall. The Hart House staff uttered a collective 'gasp!' as the Alumni expressed an equally unified 'cheer!' Some of these pillars of society, to the dismay of the management, even called for an encore.

===2000: Part of the Grease Pole presented to the CA===

2000 saw the famous Queen's Grease Pole Liberation. A small section of the Pole was cut off and kept by us before the Pole was returned. Part of the piece was sold on eBay, the other part was added to the belt worn by the CA, where it can be seen to this day. The belt, incidentally, is the chain that once protected Waterloo's Engineering mascot, the Tool, before it, too, was liberated in 1982.

Originally compiled and edited by Alex Curelea. Subsequent edits by Mike Hawkins.'' <br/>

''Contains material from Transactions of the Engineering Society, issues of the Toike Oike, Cannon, Varsity, Skulebooks, F!rosh Handbooks, and A Century of Skill and Vigour by Barry Levine''

==Further Reading==

* Levine, Barry, ''A Century of Skill and Vigour''