The Natural Log

The Natural Log is the mascot of the Mathematics Society. It is a 2.5 foot long (roughly) section of wooden log, with the word ‘MATHSOC’ burnt into it.

The Creation
The Natural Log was originally created in late November 1980. Earlier that month, as part of Engineering Week, the engineers had paraded their Ridgid Tool around campus. Presumably this caused some mathies to discuss the possibility of MathSoc getting its own “mathscot” that could be paraded around. Prabhakar Ragde heard them and jokingly suggested a “natural log”. The mathies took him seriously and procured the log from an unknown source.

On December 1st, 1980, The Natural Log was formally unveiled to the public for the first time. The Mathies chained the log to a table (the Log Table, just a standard table that was soon forgotten) and paraded their new mascot around campus.

The First Theft
As the math students paraded the log near Engineering 1, they were attacked by a large group of engineers. A small brawl ensued. Paint, snowballs, and fists were thrown. The chains holding the log to the table were cut using bolt cutters, and the log was stolen. One student went to the hospital for x-rays.

1985 Scunt
The Natural Log was stolen as part of 1985's Engineering Havenger Scunt.

The 2005 Theft
In 2005, the engineers once again stole The Natural Log. This time, the log was defaced using permanent markers and spray paint.

After it was returned, it then sat in a corner of the MathSoc Office, neglected and graffitied, for several years.

The Restoration
In 2010, a mathematics student named John Stevenson noticed the log and realized that he had the skills required to clean and restore The Natural Log. Taking it home, he carefully removed the graffiti, and added a layer of shellac to the log. Returning it to MathSoc, the log was then placed on display in the 3rd floor landing of the Mathematics and Computer building.

The 2010 Theft
In late November 2010, The Natural Log was stolen once again, this time by NEAC. It is unclear where The Natural Log disappeared to after that. It is thought to have been passed from NEAC to Environment Students' Society to Arts Student Union.

2013 Return
The Natural Log was returned at the beginning of Stéphane Hamade's term as MathSoc president in Fall 2013.