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OUR CULTURE
THE IRON RING
The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer dates back to 1922, when seven past presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada attended a meeting in Montreal with other engineers. They felt that an organization was needed to bind all members of the engineering profession in Canada more closely together. They also felt that an obligation or statement of ethics to which a young graduate in engineering could subscribe should be developed. They asked Rudyard Kipling for his assistance in developing a suitably dignified obligation and ceremony for its undertaking. Kipling was very enthusiastic in his response and shortly produced both an obligation and a ceremony formally entitled “The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer.” The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer has been instituted with the simple end of directing the newly qualified engineer toward a consciousness of the profession and its social significance and indicating to the more experienced engineer their responsibilities in welcoming and supporting the newer engineers when they are ready to enter the profession.
The Ritual is administered by a body called The Corporation of the Seven Wardens Inc./Société des Sept Gardiens Inc. The Corporation is responsible for administering and maintaining the Ritual and, in doing so, creates camps in various locations in Canada. The Ritual is not connected with any university or any engineering organization; the Corporation is an entirely independent body.
The Iron Ring has been registered and may be worn on the little finger of the working hand by any engineer who has been obligated at an authorized ceremony of the Ritual of the Calling of the Engineer. The ring symbolizes the pride that engineers have in their profession, while simultaneously reminding them of their humility. The ring serves as a reminder to the engineer and others of the engineer’s obligation to live by a high standard of professional conduct.
LADY GODIVA
Lady Godiva is worshipped by engineering students and appears regularly in the engineering hymn. Lady Godiva was the wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia. As the story goes, Lady Godiva took pity on the people of Coventry, who were suffering grievously under her husband’s oppressive taxation. She appealed again and again to her husband, who obstinately refused to remit the tolls. At last, weary of her entreaties, he said he would grant her request if she would strip naked and ride through the streets of the town. Lady Godiva took him at his word and she rode through the town, clothed only in her long hair. In the end, Godiva’s husband kept his word and abolished the onerous taxes.
THE GONG
Mandated by a meeting of the members and purchased in 2006, the Gong is the symbol and mascot of the Carleton Student Engineering Society. The Gong opens all of our important events, including EngFrosh, General Meetings, National Engineering Week, and more. It is brought in travel form to conferences as a symbol of our spirit and pride.
Typically, the President of CSES is the only member who may ring the Gong with the designated mallet. However, under special circumstances, general members may ring the Gong. This is only done with the permission of the President and under the supervision of an executive member.
THE JACKET
Easily the most recognizable jackets on campus, our engineering jackets are dark red leather and come with a removable liner for multi-season use! All jackets read "Carleton Engineering" on the back and have Carleton's crest emblazoned on the breast. The sleeves are customized with your grad/class year, your stream of study (including design streams), bands on your working wrist symbolising the Iron Ring and professionalism, and an optional name bar. Also available in women's style & cut!
We do A SINGLE ORDER of C-Eng Jackets each year (in October), so be sure to keep an eye out for the jacket fitting info in the fall!
THE PEWTER MUGS
A custom-engraved Pewter Mug is CSES's personal gift to every graduate! As a token of our congratulations, come and order a mug—fully engraved with your name, engineering stream, and graduation year! How much, you ask? No cost to you! Like we said: it's our gift to you!
You can take part in our Pewter Mug Chug at Reflections and continue to enjoy this special gift for years to come! Orders take place in CSES mid-fall and mid-winter. Ask your VP Internal for specific dates!
WHAT ARE THEY?
Flightsuits are the glorious blue coveralls that C-Eng students wear with pride. These fashionable outfits are awarded to students who dive in and immerse themselves in the engineering community by getting involved as much as they can.
They are embellished with a large "Carleton Engineering" patch on the back and equipped with approximately eighty-six pockets to fulfill any and all storage needs. The front of each Flightsuit shows off the wearer’s callsign (the unique nickname awarded to students with “special” qualities or that have done “special” things during their time here at Carleton). It’s easy to get a callsign—just be yourself and someone will notice how awesome you are. That, or eat something funky*.
Flightsuits are a way of showing everyone who you are: a Carleton engineering student with loads of pride and spirit. No matter where you go, everyone recognizes the Flightsuit as a symbol of engineering. Many other schools across Canada have their own versions, too.
*Disclaimer: We don't actually recommend eating something funky to get a callsign. We're just goofin'. Be yourself and it'll happen organically.
HOW CAN I GET ONE?
First things first: get yourself a Passport! This is how you'll be able to track all the ways you get involved in the community throughout the year.
Next, do things! Do some office hours for your stream society, submit content for the Iron Times, attend events and conferences, audition for The C-Eng Musical, or volunteer with CSES and you'll earn stamps in your Passport. The Flightsuit Committee will collect the Passports at the end of each school year and assess each one. If you've collected enough stamps by the end of the year, you’ll have earned yourself a swanky Flightsuit and can confuse the heck out of your parents when you come home wearing it.
WHAT'S FLIGHTSUIT CEREMONY?
Every year, the Flightsuit Ceremony is held in the early fall to honour those who have earned or retained Flightsuit status, and to elect the next year’s Flightsuit Committee. Come out, meet your fellow Flightsuits, and enjoy the party that follows. Perhaps one day you might even have the pride of serving on Committee.
To make an even bigger statement, personalize your Flightsuit! Don’t just wear it, cover it with patches and badges. Show off what you’re involved in and who you are. Your Flightsuit isn’t just another piece of clothing. It is a representation of who you are, so adorn it accordingly.