JANUARY 2010
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VOLUME 9
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ISSUE FIVE
Joining the U of L family
the UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Call centre proves to be successful
Students show Facebook is not as simple as it seems
Brown assumes new role in Research Office
Celebrate the 1960s with the classic musical Hair
The U of L Legend is published monthly during the academic year by the communications unit within University Advancement. Submissions, comments and story ideas are always welcome. The Legend reserves the right to refuse any submitted advertisement. The Legend can be found online at www.uleth.ca/unews/ legend. Next content deadline is Jan. 22, 2010. A DV E R T I S I N G For ad rates or other information, contact: legend@uleth.ca CREDITS Editor: Trevor Kenney Designer: Stephenie Karsten Co ntri b uto rs: Abby Allen, Amanda Berg, Diane Britton, Bob Cooney, Jane Edmundson, Jana McFarland, Suzanne McIntosh, Kali McKay, Stacy Seguin and Katherine Wasiak
University of Lethbridge 4401 University Drive Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 www.ulethbridge.ca
Dr. Mike Mahon and his wife Maureen enjoy their introduction to the University of Lethbridge.
By TREVOR KENNEY
T
he University of Lethbridge community was introduced to its next President just prior to the Christmas break, and if the enthusiastic reception he received during the announcement is any indication, Dr. Mike Mahon is a very popular selection. The Winnipeg, Man., native and most recently Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta, was accompanied by his wife, Maureen, as he symbolically accepted a blue Pronghorns men’s hockey jersey from Dr. Bill Cade, whom he will be succeeding officially July 1, 2010. “I don’t think my heart has beaten this fast since the birth of my third child . . . and that was 20 years ago,” Mahon said as he addressed a crowded Atrium. “It’s good to get the heart going.” Mahon, a vigorous proponent
of physical activity for people of every age and ability, would know. He holds a PhD in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Science in Physical Education from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Manitoba.
“My greatest impression so far with the U of L is the people.” Mike Mahon
The move to Lethbridge and the U of L is one he and his family are anticipating. “A big part of making such a big decision is where you’re going to live. We always said that if we were to leave the U of A, we would only
go somewhere that was obviously a good fit academically but also an interesting place geographically. We see Lethbridge as fitting that bill,” he says. “Living closer to the mountains is exciting because we both like to ski, we also both run and do all sorts of outdoor things so we see the U of L and Lethbridge as providing a wonderful outlet for those interests.” Mahon is quick to credit departing president Cade for the work he has directed over the previous decade and is enthused about the direction the University is headed and the blueprint laid out by the institution’s strategic plan. “I had always known the U of L as being terrific at educating undergraduate students, but I really learned over the past few months how it has emerged as a research intensive university with a commitment to moving more in that direction,” Mahon says. continued on pg. 2
Art Gallery ready to spread its wings By TREVOR KENNEY The University of Lethbridge Art Gallery is on the move – but don’t break out the packing crates just yet. The move is not physical but rather administrative as the gallery, once administered by the Faculty of Fine Arts, now reports to Andy Hakin and the Office of the Vice-President (Academic). “The reason for it and the big difference is that it is the University’s art gallery,” says Art Gallery Director/Curator Josephine Mills. “Being located administratively in a faculty, it was too regional and made it too difficult to do the things we do well, which are interdisciplinary projects and bringing faculties together.” The gallery is already a viable part of campus life, something Mills has played a big part in establishing. She also gives credit to a University
administration that has shown support at every turn. “We have a really great situation at the University of Lethbridge because people do know about our gallery better than most university art galleries, but there’s still room for improvement and this change will allow us to do a lot of things to make that happen,” she says. “I’ve always felt our administration sees the gallery as a very valued unit. Some institutions just don’t have that support.” Galleries often struggle with perception issues, that they are simply a housing area for collections. The U of L Art Gallery has taken great strides to break out of that mold with a much more interactive approach. “We’ve really changed how we’re operating and become a fully operational art gallery as opposed to a collection with an art gallery
attached to it,” says Mills. “I’d like to see that continue with an increased awareness for faculty, students and staff across the whole University that we’re a place to not just come to, but to come work with us as we set up more interdisciplinary projects in the future.” From Hakin’s perspective, the move just makes sense. “The gallery will still obviously have very close ties to the Faculty of Fine Arts by the nature of the work they do, but this gives it a chance to grow and really reach out to the rest of the University,” says Hakin. “This is the U of L’s gallery, and if we can expose more of our campus to the innovative and provocative programming they provide, then we’ve added a rich resource to the campus experience.” continued on pg. 2