University of Canterbury Engineering Society Inc. (ENSOC) - Social Events

Social Events

ENSOC holds a number of key social events over the academic year.

• Barbecues - it is renowned on campus for its once-a-term barbecues
• Back to School Pub Crawl - Held in various guises since 1948, the modern event sees participants dress in school uniform and make their way around a number of drinking establishments in central Christchurch over an autumn afternoon. This event was last run in 2010 and is currently on hold due to the Christchurch earthquakes and the damage to the central city.
• The Engineering Ball - the largest Formal Ball on campus, usually held with a theme in late July
• Undie 500 Car Rally - Car decoration procession and pub crawl from Christchurch to Dunedin. Cars cost less than NZD$500 and must have all registration and inspection certification and be driven by a dedicated sober driver. The 355 km (220 mi) trip usually takes 10 hours to complete. Due to trouble with the Undie 500 the event was transformed into the Roundie 500 in 2011. This new event has the same basic principals but follows a route through rural Canterbury and returns to Christchurch on the same day. The event ran without incident in 2011 and will be running again in 2012.
• Hokitika Wildfoods - Annual bus trip from University of Canterbury to Hokitika involving 100-200 students. Students attend Wildfoods all afternoon, stay overnight in Hokitika then head back to Christchurch the next day. The event is not scheduled to run in 2012 due to increasing costs.
• Fresher Field Trip - First year students are affectionately known as Freshers. To assist in the new arrivals adjusting to engineering life, ENSOC organise an event early in first semester. Annually held in a secret location, the fresher field trip is a great chance for first years to strut their stuff among their peers, watch their new friends attempt to dance, ask that "mate" what his name really is and to get to know your ENSOC committee. The trip always has a PJ's only theme and sells out every year.
• Traffic Light Party - Annual party held in 'The Foundry' until the foundry was closed due to the Christchurch earthquakes. ENSOC members come to the pub dressed in colours according to their availability i.e. Green - Single and keen, Orange - Complicated, Red - Taken. There is normally drink specials and live entertainment. The event was held in an off campus bar in 2011 but hope to return to the new UCSA events centre in 2012.
• Quiz Night - Annual quiz night is a themed quiz night with 10 rounds of 10 questions and around 25 teams of 5 members participating. Entry is restricted to final year engineers only.