The Plumbline

The Plumbline is a humor and student-community publication associated with the McMaster Engineering Society at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. It emerged in 1967 from the society’s one-page, bi-monthly newsletter and was developed by engineering students as a publication aimed primarily at the faculty’s student community. Larry Ireland is identified as its first editor-in-chief, while the publication’s name was selected through an Engineering Society contest in spring 1967. Early issues were produced with mimeograph and Gestetner printing, and the paper initially circulated at roughly 400 copies before expanding to more than 1,000 copies. Its readership consequently extended beyond engineering students and became particularly visible in university residences. The publication developed a distinctive editorial format during its early decades. In 1971, its editors expanded the newsletter into an eight-page tabloid-style newspaper. Its recurring features included humorous editorials, event commentary, reader opinions, fictional or absurd news briefs, games, comic strips, horoscopes, engineering jokes, and student-submitted images and articles. Historical sections included “Engitorials,” “Shines and Moon,” “Shindigs and Hoedowns,” “Onions and Opinions,” “Nuts and Bolt,” “Plumboscopes,” “Arts Matter,” and “Shafts and Gears.” The publication also used recurring cartoon and parody elements, including the character Superplumber, created by Don Mros. The Plumbline’s editorial identity changed significantly as expectations surrounding student publications evolved. By the early 1990s, acceptance of sexist and xenophobic material among students and administrators had declined. The publication responded by removing offensive material from its masthead and moving toward satire and parody that sought to avoid misogynistic humor. This transition did not eliminate controversy. In late 2005, publication was temporarily suspended after allegations from the McMaster Coalition for Equitable Social Change that the paper promoted hate speech and sexist attitudes and contributed to a broader culture of intolerance in engineering traditions and student activities. Supporters argued that the material was satirical and that the suspension raised free-expression concerns. The dispute involved the McMaster Engineering Society executive, the Dean of Engineering, and the university Human Rights Office. The publication later returned following debate, content changes, and sensitivity-training measures. In October 2012, The Plumbline moved to a digital format in response to declining readership and high printing costs. Print distribution subsequently continued in a more limited form. As described for 2022, the publication issued two print editions per semester, with copies distributed without charge through The Drain, the McMaster Engineering Society’s student-run store. Content in the current format includes student memes, bingo cards for the society’s semi-annual general meeting, opinion pieces, horoscopes, event and holiday features, and other humorous articles. Reader submissions remain central to its operation. The Plumbline is published under the McMaster Engineering Society but carries an editorial disclaimer that its content is not affiliated with McMaster University and does not necessarily represent the views of the university or its students. In the period described by the reference material, an editorial review structure involving engineering students, the Publications chair, the Equity and Inclusion Officer, and an Editorial Review Committee reviewed material before distribution. The publication’s stated contemporary purpose is to foster community and inclusive humor among engineering students.

The Plumbline began in 1967 as an outgrowth of a one-page, bi-monthly newsletter produced by the McMaster Engineering Society. The first issue appeared in April 1967, and Larry Ireland served as the first editor-in-chief. The name was selected through an Engineering Society contest. Early production relied on mimeograph and Gestetner printing, while assistance from staff in the Dean of Engineering’s office helped the publication expand from roughly 400 copies to more than 1,000. Don Mros contributed the cartoon character Superplumber, an early example of the publication’s engineering-centered parody style. In 1971, the editors converted the newsletter into an eight-page tabloid newspaper. Over time, The Plumbline established recurring departments covering editorials, student opinions, event reports, humorous news, puzzles, comic strips, horoscopes, and technically specific engineering jokes. Its content was heavily dependent on contributions from readers and was designed to reflect the social life, traditions, debates, and in-jokes of the engineering student community. The publication’s editorial culture changed during the late twentieth century. By the early 1990s, sexist and xenophobic content was increasingly viewed as unacceptable by students and administrators. The Plumbline removed offensive content from its masthead and shifted toward satire and parody intended to be less exclusionary, including a stated rejection of misogyny as a source of comedy. The most serious institutional dispute occurred in late 2005, when publication was temporarily suspended after allegations that the newspaper promoted hate speech and sexist attitudes. The McMaster Coalition for Equitable Social Change connected the publication to wider concerns about intolerance within engineering traditions and first-year welcome practices. Defenders described the material as satire and raised free-expression arguments. The dispute was considered by the McMaster Engineering Society executive, the Dean of Engineering, and the university Human Rights Office. The Plumbline subsequently returned after content changes and sensitivity-training measures. Later descriptions state that material was reviewed by an equity and inclusion officer before printing. In October 2012, the publication moved to a digital format because print readership had declined and production costs were substantial. Print editions later remained part of its operation. By 2022, it was described as issuing two print editions per semester, distributed free through The Drain, the Engineering Society’s student-run store, alongside digital material. Contemporary issues feature student memes, bingo cards for the society’s semi-annual general meeting, opinion pieces, horoscopes, and humorous promotion of events and holidays. An editorial review board of engineering students, including the Publications chair, Equity and Inclusion Officer, and Editorial Review Committee, was described as participating in review. The publication continues to distinguish its Engineering Society relationship from McMaster University affiliation, stating that its material does not necessarily represent the university or its students.

• 2022

  Contemporary print schedule documented

  [1]The Plumblineen.wikipedia.org

  The publication is described as releasing two print editions per semester alongside its digital presence.

• 2012

  Digital conversion

  [1]The Plumblineen.wikipedia.org

  The Plumbline adopts digital distribution in response to falling readership and high print costs.

• 2005

  Temporary suspension after content controversy

  [1]The Plumblineen.wikipedia.org

  Publication is suspended amid allegations concerning hate speech, sexism, and intolerance, then later resumes after review and changes.

• 1990

  Editorial repositioning

  [1]The Plumblineen.wikipedia.org

  The publication moves away from sexist and xenophobic material and develops a more inclusive satirical style.

• 1971

  Expansion into tabloid format

  [1]The Plumblineen.wikipedia.org

  Editors expand the publication into an eight-page tabloid-style newspaper.

• 1967

  The Plumbline is established

  [1]The Plumblineen.wikipedia.org

  A one-page McMaster Engineering Society newsletter becomes The Plumbline, with Larry Ireland identified as its first editor-in-chief.

A student-led engineering humor publication positioned around satire, community participation, engineering in-jokes, and inclusive campus entertainment.

• Student humor newspaper · 1967

  The Plumbline print editions

  Free semester publications distributed to McMaster engineering students through The Drain. Contemporary issues combine memes, opinion pieces, horoscopes, games, event-related humor, and reader-submitted material. By 2022, the publication was described as producing two print editions per semester, subject to editorial review before distribution.

• Digital student media · 2012

  The Plumbline digital publication

  The digital version was introduced in October 2012 as a response to declining readership and high printing expenses. It extends the publication’s humor, satire, commentary, and student-submission model beyond physical newspaper distribution.

• 2005

  Content and culture controversy

  The McMaster Coalition for Equitable Social Change alleged that The Plumbline promoted hate speech and sexist attitudes and reinforced intolerance within engineering culture. Supporters argued that the publication’s material was satirical and protected by free-expression principles. The publication was temporarily suspended, and its return followed institutional discussions, content changes, and sensitivity-training measures.

  Source

Read more

• 2012

  Converted to digital distributionStrategy

  Background

  Readership had declined and printing costs had become burdensome.

  Action taken

  The Plumbline moved to a digital format while later retaining limited print editions.

  Aftermath

  The publication continued to combine digital content with free print issues distributed through The Drain.

  Source

• 1971

  Adopted a tabloid newspaper formatStrategy

  Background

  The original newsletter format had become a broader student publication.

  Action taken

  Editors expanded the publication to an eight-page tabloid-style newspaper.

  Aftermath

  The change supported a wider range of recurring departments and humor features.

  Source

• 2012

  The Plumbline moves to digital publication[1]The Plumblineen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The publication adopted a digital format in response to declining readership and high printing expenses.

• 1967

  The Plumbline is founded from an Engineering Society newsletter[1]The Plumblineen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A one-page McMaster Engineering Society newsletter developed into the first publication identified as The Plumbline.

1. 1The Plumblineen.wikipedia.org