University Mace

The Ceremonial Mace of the University is the symbol of authority of the Chancellor of the University of Waterloo.

History
The mace was first used in the Fall convocation ceremony in on October 22, 1965. It was a gift from the family of Dr. Stanley Leavine, a founding member and first vice-chairman of the university’s Board of Governors. The mace was presented to Dana Porter by Leavine's daughter, Desta Leavine.

From the years of 1965-1996(when he retired), Ron Eydt carried the mace in the convocation ceremony for all but two years.

The mace is made of 15 pounds of solid silver.

Description
The description of the mace can be found on the Graduate Students Office website:

''The symbolic theme may be described as follows: The fundamental concept is unity amid diversity and tension in the creative intellectual process that strives to bring forth a new individual. The design of the mace interprets this theme in the idiom of the life process: from the seeds at the base of the stave the mace grows in unity and strength until it differentiates by a four-fold separation into diverse elements.

The four-fold diversity is significant because of the four Faculties existing at the time the Mace was presented to the University and as well, of the four church-related colleges federated and affiliated with the University. These diverse elements together form a crown, and the points of the crown, while tending toward a union do not quite touch but remain as individuals suspended in tension and yet engaged in a deep harmony. This creative process is focused not on the traditional spherical orb of static perfection but rather on an elliptical silver ovum - the egg-shaped symbol of creativity - the marvellous potential of a new individual life.''

Use in convocation
The university mace is used as part of the convocation ceremony. It is paraded into the Graduation Ceremonies by the Mace Bearer, who leads the Academic Procession. Once the Procession has been seated on the Stage, the Mace is placed in full view of all attending.