The Cairn

**The Cairn**, also known as The Engineering Cairn, is perhaps the best known symbol of The UBC Engineers. Currently located on Main Mall, outside of the Kaiser Building, it is very nice to look at.

The Cairn often makes non-engineers jealous. They resort to defacing our monument, sometimes even trying to destroy it. It’s been run into, burnt, and even blown up, but their efforts are in vain! We repaint it when it is vandalized and rebuild it stronger when an attempt is made to knock it down! It shall always be a symbol of the spirit of the Engineers at UBC

## Temporary Cairns

### 1966 Cairn

The first engineering cairn was constructed outside of Main library on January 26, 1966 during The King Arthur Stunt. Over 300 engineering students gathered in fine garb as EUS President Art Stevenson condemned the sloppy dress of other UBC students. Declaring that the engineers would now lead a trend in being well-dressed, they built a cairn of rocks and cement to symbolize their intent and promise.

The cairn featured a marble plaque, with the following dedication:

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> CAIRN
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> ERECTED IN HUMBLE APPRECIATION OF THE
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> DIVERSIFIED AND CONTINUING CONTRIBUTION
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> TO CAMPUS LIFE BY THE ENGINEERS
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> MCMLXV
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This cairn was demolished less than two days later.

### 1968 Cairn

In September 1968, a large hole was dug near the centre of campus and filled with scrap metal and concrete. The top was levelled to form a flat slab with a large "E" stamped onto it. While the individuals who constructed this were never identified, it was attributed to the EUS.

## Original Engineers' Cairn (1969-1988)

While not the first cairn erected by the UBC Engineers, the first formal monument was built during Engineering Week in February 1969. The five-feet high, three-sided monument found on Main Mall was white, with a large red "E" embossed on every side. It also featured a new memorial plaque.

The Cairn became a target to other student groups and was frequently vandalized. Most commonly, it was covered in graffiti or repainted, other incidents include trying to set it on fire or tip it over. The plaque was removed for safekeeping and the Engineers promptly restored the Cairn after every vandalism attempt.

UBC's perpetual construction resulted in the relocation of the Cairn by the EUS further down Main Mall, in front of the MacLeod Building, where it stood for almost 20 years.

### The Crimes of Forestry

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On March 4th, 1988, a group of forestry students destroyed The Cairn using a rented back-hoe with a heavy duty pneumatic drill. They then cruelly left the rubbled remains arranged to spell 'FORESTRY' where The Cairn once stood.

The exact motivation behind this attack is unknown, however it may be attributable to jealousy, revenge or just another instalment in the ongoing feud between the organizations.

## Current Engineers' Cairn

With support from engineering alumni, the cairn was rebuilt in the same location bigger and stronger than ever. It featured a concrete foundation with rebar extending outwards. This was then covered with concrete poured into a wooden form to create its shape. The Cairn was finished using concrete Engineers gallantly liberated from a Civil Lab.

It was officially dedicated on February 11th, 1989 by the EUS and the Engineering Alumni Division and christened with a bottle of beer smashed over one corner.

The current cairn is 8 feet tall, it had a sudden growth spurt in 2011.