F!rosh Week: Difference between revisions
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By the 1930's, orientations were starting to get out of hand. In 1932, a scrap in the [[Skulehouse]] (the original engineering building, demolished in 1966 to make way for the Med building) ended with what the Varsity described as "rather severe handling of the Dean (C. H. Mitchell)". In response, the Dean banned initiations in favour of a "modernized reception" for the F!rosh. He was only partly successful, though. Green ties, Freshmen dances and toned-down initiations remained right through to the '50's. In addition, a new part of orientation appeared: engineering caps. These striped caps were worn for many years in addition to the green ties. Then in 1954, things took a turn for the worse. Campus tours had always been a big part of orientation, and on such a tour that year, Trinity, Vic and UC were looted by the F!rosh. Apart from property damage, the UC registrar was injured in the fray. The University responded by suspending the [[Engineering Society]]'s constitution and giving the Engineering Faculty Council the sole power to reinstate it. But just when things were looking bleak, Hurricane Hazel hit Toronto, leaving massive damage. The engineers responded in massive numbers, donating both money and manpower to the cleanup effort. In all, over 1100 engineers turned out to help, versus a paltry 200 from the rest of the university. The faculty council reinstated the EngSoc constitution and from that point, orientation began to take on a more constructive format. It is from here that modern f!rosh week charity events evolved. After the looting, green ties and engineering caps were officially banned, but in their place, [[hardhats]] came into use. | By the 1930's, orientations were starting to get out of hand. In 1932, a scrap in the [[Skulehouse]] (the original engineering building, demolished in 1966 to make way for the Med building) ended with what the Varsity described as "rather severe handling of the Dean (C. H. Mitchell)". In response, the Dean banned initiations in favour of a "modernized reception" for the F!rosh. He was only partly successful, though. Green ties, Freshmen dances and toned-down initiations remained right through to the '50's. In addition, a new part of orientation appeared: engineering caps. These striped caps were worn for many years in addition to the green ties. Then in 1954, things took a turn for the worse. Campus tours had always been a big part of orientation, and on such a tour that year, Trinity, Vic and UC were looted by the F!rosh. Apart from property damage, the UC registrar was injured in the fray. The University responded by suspending the [[Engineering Society]]'s constitution and giving the Engineering Faculty Council the sole power to reinstate it. But just when things were looking bleak, Hurricane Hazel hit Toronto, leaving massive damage. The engineers responded in massive numbers, donating both money and manpower to the cleanup effort. In all, over 1100 engineers turned out to help, versus a paltry 200 from the rest of the university. The faculty council reinstated the EngSoc constitution and from that point, orientation began to take on a more constructive format. It is from here that modern f!rosh week charity events evolved. After the looting, green ties and engineering caps were officially banned, but in their place, [[hardhats]] came into use. | ||
During the 1970's, many of the f!rosh week events we now know and love were born. The Oath of Initiation was drafted during that time period and the annual Scavenger Hunt was started. | During the 1970's, many of the f!rosh week events we now know and love were born. The Oath of Initiation was drafted during that time period and the annual Scavenger Hunt was started. Unfortunately, an increasing sense of political correctness saw a significant decline in the more humiliating aspects of initiation that carried on into the 1980's, culminating in what is now F!rosh Week. | ||
==References/Credit== | ==References/Credit== | ||
''History adapted from Adam Trumpour, Archivist 0T2 - 0T3 and originally published in the Cannon; Volume XX, Issue I'' | ''History adapted from Adam Trumpour, Archivist 0T2 - 0T3 and originally published in the Cannon; Volume XX, Issue I'' | ||