Smith Engineering

The Faculty of Applied Science is the faculty responsible for all students pursuing degrees in the various engineering disciplines at Queen's University. Undergraduate students are represented by the Engineering Society.

History

In 1893, the Ontario government established the Kingston School of Mining, coinciding with the location of Queen's University, but existing legally as a separate institution. When Queen's became a non-secular institution in the early 20th Century, the School of Mining officially joined with the University and subsequently renamed itself the Faculty of Applied Science.

Engineering Traditions

Engineering students at Queen's are enrolled under the Faculty of Applied Science. Engineering student spirit is very evident through strong traditions. One such tradition is the dyeing of themselves and their yellow leather jackets (known as "Golden Party Armour" or GPA for short) purple with gentian violet (purpling, as a verb is used to describe this). The full body pupling is mostly done only by second year students who are involved in frosh week facilitation, called "FRECS", an acronym derived from "Frosh Regulation Enforcement Committee," although the original term remains only as a historical note. This is a result of ban on "purple people" in residences and cafeterias made in 1990 (due to the colour rubbing off) as most first year student live in residence. However, frosh are known to purple themselves during homecoming weekend on the Saturday morning preceding the football game. The purpling of Jackets by frosh is virtually considered a right of passage, performed by the frosh two nights before their final exam of the fall term, immediately after delivery. The right to wear the jacket is not permitted until the final fall term exam has been completed.

Another tradition is "Ritual", which entails spending one's Friday afternoon at Clark Hall Pub, a bar on campus run by the Engineering Society,which is commonly referred to as EngSoc. Traditionally it is well attended and, contrary to popular belief among other faculties, is open to all students. Ritual typically involves the showing of a popular TV show, most often The Simpsons or Family Guy.

In the Fall of 1956, the class of Science '60 was forced to climb a goalpost stolen the previous year from the University of Toronto's Varsity Stadium. Over the years, this has evolved into the legendary Greasepole tradition, and led to some friendly rivalry with the University of Toronto. To this day first year students are lead to "climb the greasepole" which is the goalpost covered in inch thick industrial lanolin, surrounded by a waist deep pit of water, commonly known as "the greasepit." Although it sounds terrible, it is the highlight of the frosh week activities for most students and is typically held on the very last day. It is teambuilding and creates a sense of community with all year engineering students as upper years join in as the day progresses.

Another Queen's Engineering tradition is an event called "Sci Formal" (Science Formal) in which fourth year students spend thousands of man hours constructing and transforming the interior of Grant and Kingston Halls into storybook scenery that rivals movie sets for a one night black tie event. In past years, whole castles, churches, pyramids and a giant sphinx have been constructed inside Grant Hall. The Engineering Society also publishes the weekly humour newspaper, Golden Words.

Clark Hall

Clark Hall is named after Arthur Lewis Clark, who was Dean of Applied Science for 24 years. The building houses Clark Hall Pub, the Campus Bookstore and the old EngSoc Lounge (with the new one being in the EngSoc offices in Beamish-Munro Hall).

Clark Hall Pub is a traditional hangout of engineering students at Queen's University. It is run by the Queen's Engineering Society (EngSoc), and is located in Clark Hall, above the Campus Bookstore. It was Canada's first completely student run pub, and remains to be the only campus pub that is operated solely by students. First opened in 1971, Clark Hall Pub is the oldest pub on the Queen's campus.

Clark Hall Pub is host to a wide variety of events, from foosball leagues to a wide range of smokers. Most importantly, it is home to Ritual, the traditional Friday afternoon drinking event of Queen's students, in particular engineering students.

Clark Hall Pub is also the home to War Child @ Queen's Keep the Beat. War Child @ Queen's, the Queen's University branch of War Child Canada, hosts a Keep the Beat concert twice a semester at Clark Hall in order to protest the use of child soldiers abroad. Clark Hall Pub has also been home to many successful acts, including The Tragically Hip, Bedouin Soundclash, Poison Ibey, The Radical Dudez and satirists Khaki Snack.

Integrated Learning Centre

The Faculty of Applied Science's newest building, the Integrated Learning Centre, was officially opened in June of 2004 as Beamish-Munro Hall. This unique facility designed to support and stimulate undergraduate learning includes multi-purpose rooms and shared teaching laboratories, convenient space for students to work on projects together, environmentally-sustainable features, Live Building systems through which the building itself can be used as a learning tool, and a three-storey-high Green Wall which acts as a biofilter. The Queen's Tea Room, a student-run café with objectives of environmental sustainability, opened in the Integrated Learning Centre in the fall of 2006.

External links

• Official Faculty of Applied Science site
• Clark Hall Pub
• History of Clark Hall and Biography of Arthur Lewis Clark
• Campus Bookstore
• Integrated Learning Centre