McMaster University was completely justified in suspending the McMaster Redsuits for their promotion of an outrageous songbook called “Engineering Cheers,” which is full of sexist, violent and misogynistic material that would be deemed unacceptable 50 years ago, and in today’s world is despicable. The Redsuits are spirit group that are a part of the McMaster Engineering Society that are heavily involved in Orientation Week events but also part of their Engineering Society, they can be roughly paralleled to EDCOM. Their suspension should not be up for debate.
Take a single look at the compilation of “hilarious” chants and songs complied by the McMaster engineers, and the judgment to suspend the McMaster Redsuits should seem completely necessary. Nothing about the existence of this book is — or should be — excusable. These are not behaviours that we should condone. This is not something that we turn a blind eye to anymore.
Sexual violence and child abuse are not, and never have been, things to joke about. Misogynist or anti-Semitic jokes are not amusing. The sort of humour that is preserved in this book of “Engineering Cheers” is some of the poorest in taste to have ever emerged. It is hardly the first humour of its kind to appear, and even more heartbreaking is the fact that it does not seem to be an out-dated trend either— just last fall, there were the infamous news reports of Engineering Orientation events held at Saint Mary’s University and UBC featuring chants of similar sexist tones, highlights including the advocation of underage and non-consensual sex.
We live in a society now where many different forms of media — including internet content, television series and high-budget films — continue this upsetting trend of using inappropriate humour similar to the jokes featured in McMaster’s songbook. People are readily offended and hurt by such jokes, only to be scorned and told to: “lighten up; it’s only a joke!” The year is 2014, and there are members of our society who, somehow, still find rape and molestation amusing topics. Folks might be hesitant to admit such views verbally, especially when one uses the proper terms rather than insinuations and euphemisms, yet they continue to thrive in media all the same. The fact that people even find the existence of such jokes to be tolerable — let alone slightly amusing — says much about the state of our society.
Perhaps the worst part about this book is the fact that it is clearly labeled as a songbook intended for “engineers.” It’s not labelled for crude-minded university students, or for those who cannot make a joke without referencing some sort of sexual act, but engineering students. What sort of image is presented of engineers if their idea of a “good time” is nothing but several incarnations of jokes referencing non-consensual sex to be chanted whilst in a drunken stupor?
Many voices have arisen after the news of the suspension of McMaster’s Redsuits, some of which call attention to the fact that the group has done a plethora of great deeds in the past, including running local events, holding fundraisers, and supporting deserving charities around the world. This in no way, though, excuses the existence of the songbook and the content it contains. If anything, it should only shame the society more— those that so readily lend time and money to those less fortunate should be above the telling of jokes that feed off of harmful stereotypes and exploit serious acts that should never be taken lightly.
Like many others in the Faculty of Engineering, I think rather highly of the profession and look up to those who succeed in the field, and contribute in such positive ways to society. As such, engineers should also hold themselves to a higher standard than the views so blatantly portrayed in this book. The service we give to society does not negate harmful attitudes to other people. The good deeds that we do in no way lessen the severity of terrible actions committed elsewhere.
It does not matter whether or not the book was “endorsed” by the Redsuits; acts of bigotry are never endorsed publicly. Bigotry exists when cameras are not around, outside of the press conferences, in casual remarks on the street, in everyday speech and mannerisms, and in songs sung after a few pints. It exists off the record; however, the lack of official documentation does not mean it does not exist. It only means that it is a more difficult foe to defeat.
The mere existence of the songbook is more than enough justification for punishment. The fact that only a select few members of the Redsuits worked on the content and compilation of the book is irrelevant. The fact is that, despite the irrefutably immoral content of the book, it remained in the property of the society for several years. More people knew of the existence of the book than those who penned it, and yet none of them took action to remove or destroy it, or to try to disassociate it from McMaster University or the Engineering Society. Instead of recognizing the harmful nature of the book and taking action, the members decided to accept it, or turn a blind eye to its offences. Inaction does not equate to innocence in the realm of sexism and bigotry. Those who refuse to speak out against such injustices are just as guilty of perpetuating the offensive material as those who created it.
The problem with the McMaster Engineering Society is that, based on their behaviour, had the existence of the book not been publicized, it likely would have continued to be passed down silently as the years as a quiet tradition among the McMaster engineering community, continuing the disgusting cycle of the sharing of such unforgivable jokes— the purpose clearly defined within the first pages of the book.
Some say that McMaster University was unjustified in its punishment, and that it was too harsh on the Engineering Society for punishing the society as a whole for the actions of a few. I have already addressed the issue of the “inaction implies innocence” mindset, but the other flaw is that the argument misses just how essential a large punishment is for this situation. A smaller response would send the wrong message. The sort of mentality portrayed in the songbook is not fit for this century, and the fact of the matter is this is hardly an isolated occurrence. You would have no difficulty in seeing similar displays from lowbrow comedies available for public consumption at a theatre near you.
The time has come to crack down on such immature and offensive humour with more than a mere scolding and slap on the wrists. People today should know that this sort of material is unacceptable in any setting — official or not — and we should start making examples of those who continue to participate or allow such behaviours to continue. It’s 2014, people, it’s time to act like it.
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