The Oath and Obligations of an Engineer –

A portion of the Oath as printed in the October 8, 2009 Iowa State Daily – As an Engineer, [in humility and with the need for Divine guidance] I shall participate in none but honest enterprises. When needed, my skill and knowledge shall be given without reservation for the public good. In the performance of duty and in fidelity to my profession, I shall give the utmost.

Wow, Divine guidance indeed! Might this also mean that the [Mankind] or humanity driving, working in or sailing on these engineering marvels must pray to their heavenly father that the marvel does not collapse during their use of said marvel. An engineer using science and technology, all the while praying for divine guidance, does not give me confidence in their commitment to their work. I personally would prefer that engineers study and do their work by concentrating on accurate measure. If not, I wonder if they might not add one more phrase to their oath… “If by some chance I, as a professional engineer, do screw up, please have all the victims of my mistakes be atheists and agnostics”.

Also, I’m offended by the notion, as stated in the article, that an engineer with the silver ring on her/his pinky finger would have a “leg up” in an interview session because they might be recognized as someone who has taken an “oath” to practice their profession honestly. This bit of nonsense smacks of discriminatory hiring practices of the interviewer as well as evidence of a flawed business ethic. As a retired employee, my advice to young job hunters is; Don’t seek employment with a company that would choose an employee based even slightly by the presence or absence of her/his pinky ring.

If an Engineering degree and supporting documents from Iowa State do not assure the interviewer that the interviewee will be professionally honest and ethical, Iowa State should get out of the business of preparing engineers for employment.

Jim Wolter

Former ISU Staff Member

Ames Resident