Inside
WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY
Waterloo | Brantford | Kitchener | Toronto
Photo: Sandra Muir
MARCH 2015
Laurier celebrated Aboriginal Education Week March 2-7 with events on the Waterloo and Brantford campuses, including a drum circle inside a teepee erected on the Waterloo campus (pictured). For more, see page 8.
Board of Governors approves IPRM reccomendations Laurier’s Board of Governors passed a series of motions approving the Integrated Planning and Resource Management (IPRM) report recommendations at its meeting Feb. 26. The report identifies Laurier’s academic and administrative priorities and a new resource allocation model for the university. The university’s Senate endorsed the report Jan. 12. “I would like to thank all members of the Laurier community for highly engaged involvement, interest, and discussion around IPRM,” said Max Blouw, Laurier president and vicechancellor. “The decision by our Board of Governors is the culmination of a strong collegial effort by the faculty, staff and students on the IPRM working groups and by our wider community.” The Board decision followed extensive and vigorous discussion within the university community. “It is because we have engaged in this level of dialogue that I am confident that we have identified sound and strategic recommendations necessary for our university to succeed,” said Blouw. “At the same time, I recognize that this decision means change for our
community, and change is not easy.” The IPRM recommendations follow an 18-month review process conducted by more than 90 faculty members, staff and students nominated by their peers. The process evaluated submissions from each academic and administrative program area of the university according to how they align with institutional priorities, based on criteria that included essentiality to the institution, internal and external demand, costs and revenues. The recommendations also identified a new budget model to more effectively allocate university resources to identified priorities. “IPRM is an important prioritysetting process that enables Laurier to clearly identify those programs that, if resourced appropriately, will distinguish the university and allow it to continue to excel,” said Jamie Martin, chair of the Board of Governors. “In approving the report recommendations, the Board of Governors has given the university the tools it needs to move forward in making strategic decisions.” The Board took into consider-
ation discussion and comments from the Senate, senior administration, and from faculty, staff and students who attended town halls and submitted written comments. The Board emphasized that its role in approving the IPRM report was to give high-level strategic direction to the university, while leaving specific program recommendations to be decided and implemented through the appropriate academic and administrative processes involving Senate, Board of Governors and budget processes. A significant majority of academic and administrative program areas at Laurier were identified as viable, healthy and of good or excellent quality. Overall, the report recommends that about 22 per cent of academic and administrative areas receive additional resources; that roughly 60 per cent of the areas continue with existing resources; and that 18 per cent receive fewer resources. In place of Laurier’s existing “historical–based” budget process, the report recommended a modified version of a “respon-
sibility-centred” budget model, whereby budget decision-making is distributed to academic and administrative units to ensure they are responsible and accountable for strategic and financial performance.
“Laurier will increase its focus on excellence; IPRM has given us the tools to succeed,” said Blouw. IPRM information continues to be available online at legacy.wlu. ca/iprm.
Laurier curlers sweep provincial championships back-to-back provincial titles. “I was really happy we made it to the top three. And after that For the second time in the semifinal win, we just felt so good university’s history, the Wilfrid going into the final and knew we Laurier Golden Hawks men’s and had a good chance [to win].” women’s curling teams swept “It’s a great feeling,” added men’s the Ontario University Athletics team skip Aaron Squires, who (OUA) Championship banners. missed last year’s finals due to Repeating the feat they last illness when Laurier won silver. achieved back in the 2007-08 season, the men’s team won their “It was unfortunate last year what happened, not having a chance to seventh OUA gold medal thanks play the finals. This year to come to a 4-3 win over Western, while the women won their eighth OUA out on top is a great feeling for everybody.” title, and second consecutive, The two teams took different with a 5-3 win over Brock. paths to reach championships. “It feels really good,” said Carly Howard, who became the second Laurier skip to guide her team to Curling see page 2 By Jamie Howieson
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Olympians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir to speak at Outstanding Women of Laurier event.
Laurier wins Greater K-W Chamber of Commerce sustainability award.
Do cyber bullies really mean to hurt? A Laurier professor has the answer.
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march 2015
president’s message
The Laurier community has achieved what I think will prove to be a significant milestone in positioning our university for continued success in the rapidly changing world of post-secondary education. On Feb. 26, the Board of Governors approved the recommendations of the Integrated Planning and Resource Management (IPRM) report. A month earlier, the same recommendations were endorsed by the university Senate. After more than two and a half years of research, consultation and discussion, Laurier now has a clear and detailed picture of our institutional priorities. We also have a new budget model — a modified version of a what’s known as a “responsibility-centred” process, whereby budget decision-making is distributed to academic and administrative units to ensure they are responsible and accountable for strategic and financial performance. It is hard to overstate the importance of these achievements. Universities everywhere are facing significant challenges. Students and society are demanding new approaches to educational content and delivery
Curling continued The men’s team — comprised of Squires, vice Richard Krell, second Spencer Nuttall and lead Fraser Reid — had to go through each playoff round after finishing third in round-robin play. After defeating UOIT in the quarterfinals, they upset the undefeated Brock Badgers, who were a perfect 7-0 in pool play, including a 7-3 win over the Golden Hawks, in the semifinals before beating Western in the final. The Laurier women’s team — made up of Howard, vice Kerilynn Mathers, second Evangeline Fortier and lead Chelsea Brandwood — earned a bye directly to the semifinals, where they topped the Carleton Ravens in a rematch of last year’s OUA championship game.
Photo: Tomasz Adamski
Laying the groundwork for a sustainable future
Laurier President Max Blouw speaks with Daughters for Life Laurier co-president Elliot Alder after signing a partnership with the Daughters for Life foundation.
methods; technology is transforming the way we teach, research and operate; and economic forces continue to constrain our revenue while costs rise at a much faster rate.
In short, the post-secondary world is undergoing a profound transformation and, as hard as it is to accept, we can no longer afford to deliver all of the programs that we once did. We must make
The Hawks then beat Brock in the final, securing their fourth provincial title in the past five seasons. Following the championships, men’s team members Krell and Nuttall were named OUA First Team All-Stars while women’s second Fortier was named an OUA Second Team All-Star. Laurier’s men’s and women’s teams now prepare for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Championships, where they are both defending bronze medalists. The Golden Hawks will host the national championship at their home rink, the K-W Granite Club, from March 18-21. For both Howard and Squires, their victories at the OUA championships serve as a confidence boost before facing the top teams from
around the country. “We just think after having these wins, and just playing down in OUA’s in general, is really going to help us and just have an idea of who we’re going to be playing and what we’re going to be up against going into CIS,” said Howard. “It’s great that we got the gold here and we deserve to be there now and we’re not just the host and we made it in,” added Squires. “There’s going to be some great teams there and we know we’re going to have to come out and play our best. With our home ice, and all the fans and the support, it’s going to be really nice.” Daily passes for the round-robin portion of the CIS championships are available for $10, while a pass for the championship day is $15. Full ticket information is available at tickets.laurierathletics.com.
InsideLaurier is published by Communications, Public Affairs & Marketing (CPAM) Wilfrid Laurier University 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5
InsideLaurier Volume 9, Number 6, March 2015 Editor: Justin Fauteux Contributors: Tomasz Adamski, Erin Almeida, Lori Chalmers Morrison, Kevin Crowley, Jamie Howieson, Kevin Klein, Sandra Muir, Shawna Reibling, John Ternan Printed on recycled paper
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choices and set priorities. That is the point of IPRM. It is a process that allows us to examine all that we do in a thoughtful and collegial way, and to identify those programs that, if resourced appropriately, will put our university on a sustainable footing and position it for long-term success. This kind of periodic reflection and examination is both prudent and responsible. I firmly believe that everyone within the Laurier community — from faculty, staff and administration to students and alumni — shares in a collective responsibility to do whatever we can to ensure that Laurier remains an outstanding university well into the future. More than 90 faculty, staff and students each devoted hundreds of hours to the three working groups, developing templates and processes, reviewing program submissions, and ensuring that each and every program at our university was evaluated in a detailed and fair way. In addition to these 90 volunteers, dozens more provided support behind the scenes. And in addition to these, many more people right across the institution provided input through town
halls, online submission forms, and discussions at Senate and the Board of Governors. There remains some disagreement, and emotions can run high, but I firmly believe that the passionate discourse around IPRM reflects a level of engagement in the process that makes the outcome all the more valuable. Much work lies ahead of us as we turn our attention to the implementation of the IPRM recommendations. I am confident that we will continue the Laurier tradition of coming together as a community to embrace change and to work collectively to ensure a successful future. I look forward to being a part of this exciting work with you.
Max Blouw President and Vice-Chancellor Wilfrid Laurier University
University, full-time faculty reach tentative agreement Wilfrid Laurier University and the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association (WLUFA) have reached a tentative deal for a new collective agreement for full-time faculty and librarians at the university. The next step in the process
is ratification by the university’s Board of Governors and WLUFA members. The tentative agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2014. WLUFA represents approximately 580 full-time faculty and librarians at the university.
Send us your news, events & stories Email: insidelaurier@wlu.ca Deadline for submissions: March 20, 2015 All submissions are appreciated, however not all submissions will be published. We reserve the right to edit all copy for accuracy, content and length.
InsideLaurier welcomes your comments and suggestions for stories. Tel: (519) 884-0710 ext. 3830 | Fax: (519) 884-8848 Email: jfauteux@wlu.ca InsideLaurier (circ. 2,100) is published eight times a year by CPAM. Opinions expressed in InsideLaurier do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the university’s administration.
Available online at www.wlu.ca/publicaffairs.
April
Next issue of Inside April 2015
march 2015 Inside NEWS
What’s new and notable at Laurier
John W. Schweiter joins UK research centre as visiting professor The Centre for Applied Research and Outreach in Language Education (CAROLE) at the University of Greenwich in London, UK has invited Laurier Professor John W. Schwieter to join its research facility as a visiting professor of Applied Linguistics. Schwieter, an associate professor of Spanish and Linguistics and a Faculty of Arts teaching scholar, will maintain his primary appointment at Laurier, but will travel to CAROLE on recurring occasions between 2015 and 2018.
CAROLE consists of a cohort of over 100 associate members and is one of the largest and most extensive research networks in second-language studies in the world. In addition to offering high-quality undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs, CAROLE serves as an international, cross-disciplinary research hub in applied linguistics.
Sheila McKee-Protopapas wins OCUFA’s Lorimer Award The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) has recognized Sheila McKee-Protopapas, executive director of the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association (WLUFA) and a contract academic staff member, with the prestigious
Opera Laurier shines on stage
Opera Laurier performed one-act operas Gianni Schicchi and L’Enfant et les Sortilèges at the Theatre Auditorium on the Waterloo campus, Feb. 27 - March 1.
Lorimer Award. The award recognizes individuals who have worked to protect and promote the interests of Ontario’s academic staff through collective bargaining. McKee-Protopapas, who said it was a “complete surprise and honour” to be one of the two recipients selected for the award, graduated from Laurier with an honours B.Sc. in 1981 followed by an M.Sc. from the University of Windsor. McKee-Protopapas received her award at a ceremony in Toronto on Feb. 7. OCUFA represents 17,000 faculty and academic librarians in 28 faculty associations across Ontario.
Laurier hosts concussion symposium Wilfrid Laurier University’s Kinesiology and Physical Education Department, along with the Laurier chapter of the Sports Legacy Institute Community Educators (SLICE), hosted a public concussion education symposium Feb. 28. The symposium featured sessions focusing on head injuries from a variety of angles, including affects of concussions on vision, academics and psychosocial considerations. The event included a keynote address entitled “Playing the Odds” by Ben Fanelli, former Kitchener Rangers hockey player and creator of Head Strong: Fanelli 4 Brain Injury Awareness.
Shohini Ghose makes the ‘A-List’ Shohini Ghose, an associate professor of physics and director of Laurier’s Centre for Women in Science, was among a group of 41 Canadians of Indian descent to be named to “The A-List”, a publication produced by The Indian Diaspora, an online resource aimed at connecting people who trace their roots to India. The list, which included 48 people in total, 41 Indo-Canadians and seven “Friends of India”, is a collection of people from a wide range of disciplines who make outstanding contributions to their fields and are leaders and mentors in their communities. Ghose, an internationally renowned researcher in the field of quantum physics, is a leader both in her field and in creating opportunities for women in science and academia more broadly.
Prominent journalist Gwynne Dyer visits Laurier Journalist and renowned commentator Gwynne Dyer visited Laurier’s Waterloo and Brantford campuses Feb. 9 and 10, presenting a public lecture entitled, “What the First World War Taught Us.” Dyer wrote his recently released book, Canada in the Great Power Game, 1914-2014, to coincide with the centenary of the outbreak of
the First World War. Canadians joined the war at an unfortunate time, and paid a high price — 60,000 Canadians died, out of a population that was one quarter of what it is now. Dyer’s talk at Laurier Brantford was part of a lecture series dedicated to the commemoration of the First World War and the more than 5,000 men and women who served from Brantford, Brant County and Six Nations. The Great War Centenary Association, along with Laurier History professor Peter Farrugia and alumnus Evan Habkirk, will host seven public lectures between Feb.24 and April 7.
Laurier researchers take part in event on Parliament Hill Donna Kotsopoulos, acting associate vice-president: Research and Andriy Shkilko, associate professor of Finance and Canada Research Chair in Financial Markets, recently took part in a pop-up research fair on Parliament Hill. The event was hosted by Andrew Scheer, Speaker of the House of Commons, and Phil McColeman, MP for Brant. Attendees included Kitchener-Waterloo MP Peter Braid. The fair was an opportunity for researchers and policy makers to engage in informal — and informed — discussion about a variety of topical issues including Shkilko’s work on high-frequency trading.
Outstanding Women of Laurier event Provincial funding helps develop online education honours female student athletes World-champion ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir to deliver keynote address at March 25 dinner
By Erin Almeida
Being awarded for the tenth time, the Outstanding Women of Laurier (OWL) Award recognizes a female Laurier student who combines athletic and academic achievement with an active commitment to leadership and the development of young athletes through community teaching or coaching. This year’s event will be a dinner, taking place March 25 at the Waterloo Inn Conference Hotel. Since it began in 2006, the OWL event has generated more than $285,000 for women’s athletic programs, scholarships and Laurier’s mentor coaching program. Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue, 2010 Olympic gold medalists in ice dancing, will deliver this year’s keynote addresst. “We are thrilled to be able to bring Tessa and Scott to Waterloo to share their experiences as highlevel athletes,” said Peter Baxter, director of athletics and recreation at Laurier. “They have been the face of Canadian figure skating for the last number of years and we can’t wait for them to share their message of success with today’s exceptional female student leaders currently attending the university.” The finalists for the 2015 OWL
Photo: Skate Canada
By Jamie Howieson
Award are Emily Brown, Sam Jacobs and Lee Anna Osei. In addition to having one of the best careers in Laurier soccer history, fourth-year business student Brown has given back to the community by helping run Laurier’s summer co-ed soccer camp and assisting with a Kitchener under-12 rep team. Jacobs, a fourth-year Kinesiology and Physical Education student, helped the women’s basketball team to its best regular season in team history. She also works extensively with youth basketball players in Waterloo Region, in addition to volunteering with Laurier’s Lettermen Club, helping organize hospital visits and raising money for the Make A Wish Foundation and the Canadian Breast Cancer
Society. Another key contributor to the women’s basketball team, Osei, a fifth-year history student, is also a two-time CIS Academic All-Canadian and this year captured the OUA nomination for the Joy Bellinger Award, which is presented to the student-athlete who excels in academics, athletics, and community service. Osei has been a volunteer basketball coach for the past eight years and created a website called “Get Recruited Canada,” which promotes and endorses female athletes. For more information about the Outstanding Women of Laurier dinner, or to purchase tickets online, please visitwww.laurierathletics.com/owl.
Over the past two years, Wilfrid Laurier University has received more than $1.1 million in funding from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) for initiatives related to online learning and curriculum development. The funding will support efforts to evaluate course and academic program learning outcomes, as well as to develop new fully online courses to be offered through the Ontario Online initiative. Laurier was one of five partner institutions to receive funding through MTCU’s Productivity Innovation Fund for a project designed to facilitate the assessment of program-level learning outcomes. In addition to supporting the faculty and staff involved in the project, the funding also provides a five-year licence to Desire2Learn’s (D2L’s) Insights analytics module, which will allow faculty to link course assessments to learning outcomes, and align them with program-level objectives and degree-level expectations. “This success recognizes Laurier’s exemplary team-based approach to online course development,” said Pat Rogers, associate vicepresident: teaching and learning. “The ministry is placing a strong emphasis on online learning,
and Laurier is well positioned to provide online courses and programs that offer excellent learning experiences for students.” The most recent round of ministry funding brings the total number of awarded projects related to the Ontario Online initiative to 14. Through Ontario Online, the ministry aims to establish a centre of excellence for developing and supporting effective online teaching and learning practices and to provide a centralized location for students to access online programs and courses. Twelve of the 14 funded projects involve development of online courses for the Ontario Online initiative. Two projects, undertaken by Laurier’s Centre for Student Success, involve developing modules to be used as open educational resources in online courses. The third was a research project led by the Centre for Teaching Innovation and Excellence focused on providing recommendations for quality standards for online courses and programs within the new Ontario Online Institute. Courses approved for funding through Ontario Online include Astronomy, Environmental Studies, Geography, Mathematics, Religion and Culture, Interdisciplinary Studies, Music, Psychology and History. 3
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Nestlé Canada president shares ‘global-to-local’ insights By Justin Fauteux Nescafé coffee is found on the shelves of grocery stores in 130 different countries. However, each country’s version of Nescafé is unique. That’s because Nestlé, the company behind Nescafé, has 130 different formulas for the same product, catering to local tastes. This is just one small example of how massive multinational companies like Nestlé have to think and operate on a local scale. Shelley Martin (BBA ’85), president and CEO of Nestlé Canada Inc., shared insights on how her company goes “from global to local,” during a presentation March 2 as Laurier’s CEO-inResidence. Using five of Nestlé’s brands, four recognizable to Canadians — Nescafé, Kit Kat, Nespresso and Nestlé ice cream — and Maggi foods, a popular line of products overseas, Martin explained how products that we might think are the same everywhere differ from market to market. “We’re the biggest food company in the world and we’re in 130 countries, but to take those big,
people at Laurier
global ideas and find the right business model for the local nuance, it isn’t as easy as ‘take this and go,’” Martin told students, faculty and staff in the Senate and Board Chamber on Laurier’s Waterloo campus. “The consumer doesn’t care who you are or where you came from, they care if your product is better than another product.” In addition to variations in consumer taste — for instance, Wasabi-flavoured Kit Kat bars are popular in Japan — Martin explained that multinational food companies also have to deal with issues such regulations that differ from country to country and “grey market” goods being smuggled in from abroad. As much as global companies need to think on a local scale to cater to customers, local consumers increasingly have the ability to interact internationally. “Everything is global now,” said Martin. “Nothing’s a secret now, consumers know about everything. You can call me and ask ‘Why don’t we have Wasabi Kit Kats in Canada?’ At the same time, everything is local because it comes
home to you as a consumer, what you want to have available to you.” After her speech, Martin took questions from the audience, touching on everything from the differences between Canadian and American tastes to potential ways of stopping illegal products being imported into Canada and the challenges of bringing together Nestle reps from five different countries for an international ad campaign. Martin is the eighth Laurier business graduate to serve as CEO-in-Residence — “the Peters Building was my life, but you know what that’s like,” she told the crowd of mostly BBA students. After graduating from Laurier, Martin started her career with General Mills before moving to Nestlé Canada in 1990, where she has served in several leadership positions, taking over as president and CEO in 2013. The Laurier CEO-in-Residence is an appointed honour by the dean of the School of Business & Economics, and has been developed to deliver a perspective to students beyond their studies and research in the classroom.
Shelley Martin, president and CEO of Nestlé Canada Inc., delivered her address as Laurier’s CEO-in-residence March 4 on the Waterloo campus.
For a complete list of appointments visit www.wlu.ca/hr
New appointments: Amber McCorkindale, receptionist/communications assistant, Student Wellness Centre (Waterloo campus). Shelagh Santi, coordinator: MBA recruitment and marketing, School of Business and Economics (Waterloo campus).
Changes in staff appointments: Ifedayo Adebowale, coordinator: web and technology, Bookstore (Waterloo campus). Gina Arnold, freight/mail delivery driver, Distribution Services (Waterloo campus).
Francis Doyle, associate director: alumni relations, Development and Alumni Relations (Waterloo campus). Jeff Hunt, special constable supervisor, Special Constable Services (Waterloo campus). Katie Johnson, manager: central application and operations, Recruitment and Admissions. (Waterloo campus). Sharon Lalor, senior administrative assistant, Religion and Culture (Waterloo campus).
Education (Waterloo campus). Andrew Pieon, alumni relations officer, Development and Alumni Relations (Waterloo campus).
Retirements: Kathy Lichti, physical resources assistant, Physical Resources (Waterloo campus). Peter Jorg, special constable supervisor, Special Constable Services (Waterloo campus). Michael Pratt, professor, Psychology (Waterloo campus).
Tricia Lutz, senior administrative assistant, Kinesiology and Physical
Laurier mourns passing of Professor Emeritus Gordon McDougall The Wilfrid Laurier University community mourns the passing of Professor Emeritus Gordon McDougall. McDougall passed away on Jan. 23 at the age of 72. McDougall began teaching marketing, marketing research and marketing strategy courses at Laurier in 1977. He was a full-time faculty member from 1993 to 2007. In 1996, McDougall was selected by business students as the first recipient of the School of Business and Economics’ Outstanding Teacher Award. Later that year, he received Wilfrid Laurier Univer4
Photo: Tomasz Adamski
Alumna Shelley Martin named eighth CEO-in-residence
sity’s Outstanding Teacher Award. He was known for his unique and “confrontational” teaching style, which earned him the dedication of a large number of his students. Upon receiving his teaching award, he said, “I believe if you challenge students, then they rise to the challenge.” McDougall completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of British Columbia, and his PhD at the University of Western Ontario. Over the course of his career, he co-authored 15
books and published in a wide range of journals, and in addition to teaching, served as a consultant for a number of companies in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where he enjoyed travelling with his wife, Betty. McDougall took pride in his extensive library of records, CDs and books. He enjoyed sports and spent hours on Laurier’s tennis and squash courts. He followed Laurier’s athletic teams and attended many Golden Hawk hockey and football games.
Name: Mark Leslie Job Title: Financial Analyst Book Title: My Favourite Food Author: Tiziana and John Bendall-Brunello
This children’s story follows the adventures of Little Goose as she visits with the other animals on the farm and discovers what foods they eat. This is a great book for babies with its bright colours and animal faces. It can also be read with toddlers who will enjoy learning about the different foods and will like the playful humour. Our two-year-old daughter has loved this book since she was 3 months old and it remains high on the bedtime story request list.
What are you listening to? Name: Mieke Barette Job Title: Outreach and Student Recruitment Coordinator, Faculty of Music Artist: Dave Matthews Band Album: Live Trax 32 Dave Matthews Band is my current go-to office listening; however, it’s often on repeat no matter the day, week or activity. I’ve been to 14 DMB concerts, mostly in Toronto but I’ve also travelled to Buffalo, the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California and the Gorge Amphitheatre near Seattle. Live Trax 32 is a live version of the Berkeley concert I attended this past summer. For first-time Dave Matthews Band listeners, I suggest “Everyday”, “Why I Am”, “Where Are You Going” and “Crash”.
march 2015 Inside
By Justin Fauteux The Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce recently honoured Wilfrid Laurier University for being an environmental leader in the community. The university took home the Environmental and Sustainability Award at the Chamber’s annual Business Excellence Awards gala on Feb. 19. The award recognizes organizations in Waterloo Region who have made outstanding commitments to sustainable development and “take action through self-initiated environmental practices and programs beyond legislative requirements.” Laurier has developed into a leader in environmental responsibility, with the university’s Sustainability Office spearheading numerous projects since its creation in 2010. “We are so thankful to the Chamber for this recognition of our sustainability program,” said Claire Bennett, manager of Laurier’s Sustainability Office, who
accepted the award. “There are such amazing minds and passion in the sustainability field and this is particularly true in our region — from institutions and businesses to local champions, there is such a strong sense of community and drive to be progressive.” The Chamber of Commerce award recognized Laurier for several of its on-campus sustainability initiatives such as the university’s commitment to reduce its carbon emissions by 25 per cent over 10 years through a partnership with nonprofit organization Sustainable Waterloo Region; the implementation of a central waste program; and a sub-metering project that monitors energy use in all university buildings and displays information in real time on public interactive kiosks. The Chamber also rewarded Laurier for its initiatives run through community partners such as the university’s membership in the TravelWise program, which offers discounted bus passes, a
carpool database and emergency ride home services to faculty and staff; and a partnership with nonprofit Young City Growers that resulted in the construction of a community garden on Laurier’s Northdale campus. These initiatives are just a few examples of how Laurier has made being sustainable and environmentally conscious an institutional priority. “We are seeing this momentum at a time when organizations are facing new challenges when it comes to being competitive, and Laurier is no different,” said Bennett. “To be resilient, we are embedding sustainability into our management and academic plan because we are seeing first hand that sustainable operations is good business and we couldn’t be happier to be examples of this.” For more information on Laurier’s Sustainability Office and the university’s environmental initiatives, visit wlu.ca/sustainability.
Photo: Tomasz Adamski
Laurier recognized for sustainability efforts
Claire Bennett, manager of Laurier’s Sustainability Office, accepts the Chamber’s Environmental and Sustainability Award on behalf of Laurier.
Students vote to support scholarships for youths from conflict zones
Photo: Tomasz Adamski
By Lori Chalmers Morrison
Back row (left to right): Gavin Brockett, Eileen Wood, Louise Dawe, Ken Maly, Terry Sturtevant, Margaret Walton-Roberts, Mike McCleary. Front row (left to right): David Smith, Donna Kotsopoulos, Carol Duncan, Sofy Caryannopoulos, Edmund Pries.
Reception celebrates teaching award winners of 2014 By Erin Almeida Over the course of the 2014 calendar year, 12 Laurier instructors were recognized for their dedication, engagement and passion for teaching, some even winning multiple awards. Among them was the recipient of Canada’s top teaching honour, the 3M National Teaching Fellowship. Additionally, two Laurier professors received the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) Teaching Award, an achievement awarded to only six instructors across the province each year. These 12 Laurier instructors were celebrated at a reception in early February. “The thing that stands out to me about each of these extraordinary teachers is the important connections they make with their students and their passion for teaching, which motivates their students and
inspires in them a love for learning,” said Pat Rogers, associate vicepresident: Teaching and Learning. The full list of recipients includes: 3M National Teaching Fellowship Carol Duncan, Religion and Culture. OCUFA Teaching Awards Donna Kotsopoulos, Education, and Edmund Pries, Global Studies. Wilfrid Laurier University Awards for Teaching Excellence Ken Maly, Chemistry and Biochemistry (Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence, full-time); Terry Sturtevant, Physics and Computer Science (Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence, part-time); Mike McCleary, English and Film Studies (TA Award of Excellence). Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty of Arts Teaching Scholar David Smith, History.
Laurier Alumni Awards Donna Kotsopoulos, Education, (Hoffmann-Little Award) and Margaret Walton-Roberts, Geography and Environmental Studies, (Faulty Mentoring Award). Laurier Residence Academic Partnership Award (Winter 2014) Sofy Carayannopoulos, Business & Economics. Laurier Residence Academic Partnership Award (Fall 2014) Louise Dawe, Chemistry and Biochemistry. Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance Award for Teaching Excellence Sofy Carayannopoulos, Business & Economics Laurier Teaching Fellows Deena Mandell, Social Work; Eileen Wood, Psychology; and Gavin Brockett, History.
Wilfrid Laurier University students voted in favour of a student levy that will enable up to 10 students per year from international conflict zones to pursue degrees at Laurier through the International Students Overcoming War Scholarship Fund (ISOW). ISOW, which was developed by the Daughters for Life Laurier student club in conjunction with Laurier International, has already established a partnership with the Daughters for Life Foundation, which will bring two women from the Middle East to study at Laurier in the fall. Daughters for Life Foundation President Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish and Laurier President and Vice-Chancellor Max Blouw signed a formal agreement in January. The levy, which represents up to $4 per Laurier student per term, will allow Daughters for Life Laurier to broaden its vision and develop partnerships with other organizations to sponsor those from conflict zones throughout the world. Annie Serez, Daughters for Life Laurier co-president and third-year Global Studies student, says that after working for two years on this initiative, the support from Laurier students will allow them to move forward. “I’d like to thank our executive team and the general student population,” she said. “The fact that students were willing to donate has secured everything. The Laurier community will be able to see the results of their donations and meet the students. We will all be enriched by this experience.”
The university has begun the process of identifying suitable partner organizations to bring additional students to Laurier. “Just as students have been integral to getting the initiative to this point, they will remain full partners in subsequent stages,” said Gavin Brockett, associate professor and co-coordinator of Laurier’s Muslim Studies option, whose first-year arts seminar class project and presentation by Abuelaish led to the student initiative. The Daughters for Life Foundation is in the process of selecting the two women from the Middle East who will begin studies at Laurier in the fall. Prospective students will have to meet Laurier’s admissions requirements. The foundation will work closely with both the university administration and Daughters for Life Laurier to identify the candidates best suited to the programs offered at Laurier. Serez encourages students who would like to be part of this initiative to join the student club and to contribute to its activities in the year to come. Abuelaish established the Daughters for Life Foundation in memory of three of his daughters, Bessan, 21, Mayar, 15, and Aya, 13 who were killed by an Israeli tank shell during an attack in the Gaza strip in 2009. The foundation is built on the belief that educating young women will build the road to peace in the Middle East. The foundation offers awards and scholarships to young women of any Middle Eastern nationality, background or religion to study in Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom. 5
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coffee with a co-worker
Name: Jean Becker Title: Senior Advisor: Aboriginal Initiatives Where you can find her: 165 Albert St., Waterloo Campus. Drink of choice: Marley Coffee — Stir. It. Up.
How long have you been at Laurier? I joined Laurier in 2006 as the elder-in-residence for the Aboriginal Field of Study Master of Social Work (MSW) program. In 2010, I was appointed senior advisor: Aboriginal Initiatives on an interim basis, and the position became permanent in March of 2011. In this role, I oversee activities related to Aboriginal initiatives at the Waterloo and Branford campuses as well as within the Faculty of Social Work in Kitchener. What is your typical workday like? There are many wonderful aspects of my role, but one that I really enjoy is that I do not have a “typical” workday. I have numerous meetings each day, often with students, community members, professors, staff and senior administration. My position is certainly not boring and I really enjoy the variety it brings daily. There are days, where I might be called upon by
A look at staff and faculty across campus
City Hall and asked to perform a special opening for a mayoral inauguration, or consulted about a new Aboriginal initiative on campus or in our community. When I began my role, back in 2010, I was so excited to tackle this position and was thrilled that Laurier wanted to build Aboriginal initiatives that would guide us in providing services to Aboriginal students and develop Aboriginal curriculum across the university. The top priority on my to-do list was to create excellent Aboriginal student services before we hired an Aboriginal recruiter to attract Aboriginal students to Laurier. I felt it was essential that we have the right services in place to address the barriers Aboriginal students face in any post-secondary institution and that we were in a position to help any students admitted be successful. Laurier faculty and staff quickly jumped on board and soon after, the Aboriginal Student Centres were created on both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses. I think it is so important for people to understand that there are still many barriers that Aboriginal students face in a postsecondary environment. It is imperative that Laurier addresses these issues by providing the services and resources to Aboriginal students so that they can succeed both socially and academically. I am very proud to say that the
coming Events
Heard on Twitter Check out what the Laurier community has been tweeting about at twitter.com/lauriernews. Laurier also has official sites on Facebook at www. facebook.com/WilfridLaurierUniversity and YouTube at www.youtube.com/LaurierVideo.
@DaveJaworsky Nice interior! MT @LaurierNews: Great having Mayor @DaveJaworsky by for a tour of the #GIE building last week ow.ly/i/8QkVr @THEMUSEUM See what @Marskell has to say about THEMUSEUM’s experience with #LaurierCommunications @LaurierNews ow.ly/ JOOfN @berryonline Congrats to my alma mater, @ LaurierNews on winning the @ GKWCC #BEAgala Environment and Sustainability award. @GKWCC Congratulations to the Environment and Sustainability Award winner....@LaurierNews! #BEAgala @OHLRangers #alumnialert RT @LaurierNews: #Laurier to host concussion education symposium ft. Ben Fanelli: bit.ly/1CENuZo @Head_Strong_FDN
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entire Aboriginal Initiatives team is doing an excellent job at creating an environment that is welcoming and supportive to all Aboriginal students. What do you like to do in your spare time? As you can imagine, I am very much involved in my community. I love to participate in various Indigenous events, such as pow wows and ceremonies. When I am not busy doing that, I love to curl up with a good book and read. A few years ago, some women from the senior administration team started a mystery book exchange. Ever since joining this club, I really enjoy reading a good mystery, but still appreciate all different genres of books. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? People are always surprised to hear that I was a Volkswagen mechanic who specialized in engine repair… yes, you heard right! After spending many years in the garage, I developed allergies to the chemicals that I was exposed to and became ill. With my children grown, I had to make a decision as to what my next steps were. I was in my late 30s and had a friend who went to university as a mature student, graduated and became a teacher. I thought to myself, ‘If she can do it, I can too.’ I applied to the University
of Guelph as a mature student, was admitted to take a couple of courses and after successfully completing those, was granted full-time admission to a program. I graduated with an Honours BA, and then went on to earn a Master of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology. What do you like most about working at Laurier? I know it sounds like a cliché, but honestly, it’s the people. The staff, faculty and students are great. You really feel welcomed when Before attending university as a mature student, Jean you arrive on campus, Becker was a Volkswagen mechanic. and that makes me happy because I want Laurier’s Waterloo campus — and all of our Aboriginal students to I would like to see that change. feel the same sense of community There are so many cultures within when they decide to come to the Indigenous population, and Laurier. I would like to see Indigenous knowledge, philosophy, history, What are your plans for the and culture accepted as an future? integral part of education in Our team has accomplished a lot Canada. in the past five years; however, My vision for Laurier is to there is still a lot to be done. I create a welcoming space, a would like to see Aboriginal welcoming home for Aboriginal knowledge and curriculum being students to learn and to grow. taught across both campuses. Also, there is not yet one By Erin Almeida Aboriginal faculty member on
For a complete list of events visit www.wlu.ca/events
Urban Res Studies by Kent Monkman When: March 4 - April 11. Where: Robert Langen Art Gallery, Waterloo campus Cost: Free Cree artist Kent Monkman will bring his Urban Res Studies exhibition, a powerful series of paintings examining the Aboriginal experience in Canada and the United States, to Wilfrid Laurier University’s Robert Langen Art Gallery. Songide’ewin: Ojibwe Narratives Art Exhibit by Rene Meshake When: March 1 - April 15. Where: Yellow Brick Wall Exhibition Space, Brantford campus Cost: Free The Yellow Brick Wall presents Songide’ewin: Ojibwe Narratives Art Exhibit featuring acrylics on canvas by Rene Meshake. The exhibit reflects the impact of the artist’s residential school experiences and is intended as a healing tool for communities and individuals. The Frugal Foodie When: Every Wednesday until April 1, 5 p.m.
Where: Aboriginal Student House, Brantford campus Cost: Free Learn to prepare food that is delicious, affordable and nutritious. Come cook, eat, converse and laugh! Each Wednesday is something different, join in the fun! March Break Open Houses When: March 18 (Brantford), March 20 (Waterloo) Where: Brantford and Waterloo campuses Cost: Free The university’s Brantford and Waterloo campuses will be opening their doors as prospective students get a taste of life at Laurier. CIS Curling Championships When: March 18 - 21 Where: K-W Granite Club, 99 Seagram Dr., Waterloo Cost: For ticket information, visit tickets.laurierathletics.com. The top university curlers in Canada will be in Waterloo for the 2015 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championships, hosted by Laurier. Cheer on the Golden Hawks men’s and women’s teams as they look to add CIS titles to their provincial championships.
3-Minute Thesis competition When: March 19, 9 a.m. - noon Where: Paul Martin Centre, Waterloo campus Cost: Free This annual competition challenges graduate students to present their research topic and its significance in just three minutes to a non-specialist audience. Laurier choirs concert When: March 21, 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Where: First United Church, 16 William St. West, Waterloo Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for seniors, free for students Join Laurier’s three choirs for an evening of beautful choral music. Outstanding Women of Laurier dinner When: March 25, 5 p.m. (reception), 6:30 p.m. (dinner) Where: Waterloo Inn Cost: For ticket information, visit laurierathletics.com/OWL Come and celebrate Laurier’s exceptional female student athletes at an evening that will include a keynote address from Olympic gold medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. Student composers concert When: March 25, 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. Where: Maureen Forrester Recital Hall, Waterloo campus Cost: Free
Laurier’s talented student composers will present their compositions and introduce the audience to the future of new music. Laurier free film series: Rhymes for Young Ghouls When: March 27, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Where: BA 101, Waterloo campus Cost: Free Laurier’s free film series, Tracking Shots 2: Aboriginal Cinema, concludes with Jeff Barnaby’s 2013 film Rhymes for Young Ghouls. The evening will also feature guest speaker Wendy Simon. Music at Noon When: April 2, noon - 1 p.m. Where: Maureen Forrester Recital Hall, Waterloo campus Cost: Free Every Thursday the Faculty of Music presents a free noon-hour concert. This week join the Conrad Grebel Gamelan Ensemble with director Maisie Sum. Winter term exam period When: April 9-28 Lectures will conclude April 6, with the exam period commencing April 9. Information on the hours of food outlets and other services during the exam period will be available on legacy.wlu.ca.
march 2015 Inside in the classroom
Popular music: more than just a melody What popular music means to culture goes far beyond a catchy tune and a memorable chorus. In Chris Klassen’s KS 210 – Cultural Studies of Popular Music, students critically examine the songs we hear on the radio every day, exploring issues related to the way this music is produced, distributed, consumed and regulated. Looking at this material critically provides insight into the place popular music holds within a culture. “Popular music, as all popular culture, is more than just entertainment. It helps shape cultural worldviews and individual identities,” said Klassen. “While we certainly try to have fun with the material, we also need to take it seriously as a site of negotiating cultural meaning.” Examining different styles of music over the course of different time periods, the course covers several topics related to popular music’s role in culture. From topics such as technology’s impact on popular music and the people who make up the music industry — including the mega-stars who take up most of the spotlight — to music’s relationship with social change and moral panics brought on by popular music — illustrated by a screening of an episode of ABC’s Nightline entitled, “Rock ‘n Roll Murder: When Lyrics Lead to Violence” — students gain a full appreciation of the significance popular music can have.
Photo: Justin Fauteux
Instructor: Chris Klassen Class: KS 210 – Cultural Studies of Popular Music
Chris Klassen discusses moral panics associated with music with her students in KS 210 – Cultural Studies of Popular Music.
research file
Laurier professor studies the causes of cyber bullying Almost everyone has experience with bullying — it takes place every day in our schools, workplaces, homes and over the Internet. Pink Shirt Day, which was celebrated Feb. 25, was created by two high school students from Nova Scotia to encourage people to come together and wear pink to symbolize that we as a society will not tolerate bullying and aggressive behaviours. Danielle Law, assistant professor of Youth and Children’s Studies and Psychology at Laurier’s Brantford campus, is engaging Laurier students and community members in her work to understand and prevent cyberbullying. Her research looks at whether teens were engaging in aggressive
behaviours online to intentionally harm others (proactive reasons) or whether their hurtful acts were more retaliatory (reactive reasons). Along with her Child and Adolescent Research and Education (CARE) team, Law recently held a workshop with Laurier students to explore the relationship among the bully, victim and witness. “I learned that the topic of cyberbullying is very prevalent, even among our Laurier students,” said Law. “They were extremely engaged and motivated to learn more about how to understand it better and how to stop it.” Law’s research found that the majority of teenagers are not intentionally mean; rather, they
are navigating a world of miscommunication that lends itself to retaliation that spirals out of control in aggressive ways. When educating teens about cyberbullying, it is important to understand their reasons for engaging in this type of behavior because how we respond to someone who is deliberate in their attacks is completely different from how we respond to someone who is hurtful because they are defending themselves. Law’s research reveals that taking away the computer or installing monitoring software does not do much to stop cyberbullying behaviours. Instead, parents and teachers should have open dialogue with their kids on how to build healthy relationships both online and offline. Law’s workshop was part of an ongoing education series, and her future research will explore what makes bullies successful and how to encourage and support those who witness cyberbullying behaviours to have the courage to step forward and stop it. “Students are welcome to be part of my research or outreach team,” said Law. “I encourage anyone who wants to educate themselves about cyberbullying to get involved, not just on Pink Shirt Day. This is an ongoing initiative that goes beyond just one day of acknowledgement.”
Faculty of social work hosts research forum By Shawna Reibling Over 200 people attended the eighth annual research forum, hosted by Laurier’s Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work Feb. 23. Topics explored included resilience in conflict zones and working successfully with communities. In addition to attending the presentations, participants spoke with Laurier researchers about their ongoing work. “Exploring the strengths, limits and challenges of working with community is key to our research,” said Ginette Lafrenière, associate professor of Social Work and director of the Manulife Centre for Community Health Research. One of the day’s presenters was Bree Akesson, assistant professor of Social Work at Laurier’s Brantford campus, who discussed her work on social work education in West and Central Africa. This work was completed with her collaborators Mark Canavera, Debbie Landis and Miranda Armstrong. “Developing a research protocol that works for creating a global understanding of social work practice is my goal,” said Akesson. “Presenting to social work students and faculty gives me a new perspective on my work.” Akesson’s next project will establish comparisons between Africa and southeastern Europe. Eliana Suarez, assistant professor of Social Work at Laurier, presented her work documenting
the aftermath of armed conflict in Peru. Her research with Quechua women calls for enhanced recognition of women not only as victims of violence but also as courageous social actors in recovery efforts. “Social workers must not only help survivors of war to cope individually, but to recognize that communities must come together to rebuild their social lives,” said Suarez. “I was amazed by students’ passion and interest in this work. Students must know that integrating research with the social work practice they are learning is so important.” The Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work was the first in Canada to combine a holistic Indigenous worldview with contemporary social work practice. The school continues to integrate its work in the community. The Social Innovation Research Group (SIRG) and the Manulife Centre for Community Health Research (MCCHR) shared their frameworks for conducting authentic and mutually beneficial universitycommunity research. “Research Day was a great way to learn about the different types of work happening in Social Work, especially how students can get involved,” said Adria Joel, one of Lafrenière’s students. “Being interactive and talking to people and being able to make a difference is so rewarding.” 7
Inside
march 2015
Laurier celebrates Aboriginal Education Week
Photos: John Ternan, Sandra Muir
From March 2 - 7, Laurier celebrated Aboriginal Ecucation Week, hosting an array of events on the Waterloo and Brantford campuses. A teepee raising in the Quad outside the Fred Nichols Centre on Laurier’s Waterloo campus provided a strong visual start to the week of festivities celebrating Aboriginal culture. Throughout the week, Laurier’s Waterloo campus hosted events such as a drum circle inside the teepee erected on campus, an exhibition and public lecture from Cree artist Kent Monkman, a film screening and a Métis blanketmaking workshop. Events on Laurier’s Brantford campus included a public talk with land defender Janie Jamieson, a discussion on artistic practice with Ojibway artist Rene Meshake and a soup and frybread luncheon. “We are proud to share our Aboriginal culture with the wider community through Aboriginal Education Week,” said Jean Becker, Laurier’s senior advisor: Aboriginal Initiatives. The week was an opportunity to learn about Aboriginal heritage and the programming Laurier currently has available, from community medicinal gardens to academic courses and regular soup and frybread lunches.
Top: a teepee raising on the Waterloo campus. Middle, left: artist Kent Monkman delivers a public lecture. Middle, right: a drum circle inside the teepee raised on the Waterloo campus. Bottom, left and middle: the soup and frybread luncheon on Laurier’s Brantford campus. Bottom, right: one of Rene Meshake’s works on display at the Yellow Brick Wall art exhibition space in Brantford.
New project expands collaboration in Ghana Laurier receives Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee funding for University of Ghana partnership By Justin Fauteux Laurier will be expanding its international education opportunities for students thanks to a new project in partnership with the University of Ghana (UG). The university recently received over $400,000 in funding through the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships program to initiate the “LaurierGhana Partnership for Human Rights and Social Justice,” a project that will build on the university’s existing partnerships in Ghana. The project will be led by Robert Ame and Andrew Robinson, faculty members in Laurier’s Human Rights and Human Diversity program. It will see eight graduate students from Laurier study in Ghana and eight graduate students from UG spend a term at Laurier, with a Ghanaian student completing a fully funded PhD in 8
Social Work at Laurier. There will also be internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. “Since 2012, Laurier has been sending six to eight undergraduate students from Human Rights and Human Diversity and Global Studies for summer internships with nonprofits in Ghana,” said Robinson, an associate professor of Human Rights and Human Diversity. “Not only have the students’ experiences been personally transformative, they have also shared what they have learned by making presentations in classes and at conferences. This funding will ensure that this valuable program can continue.” Ame believes the recent funding will enhance Laurier’s existing work with UG, which has seen four Ghanaian doctoral students spend semesters at Laurier, two of which
are now faculty members at their university. “The partnership is a unique approach to contributing to teaching capacity at Ghanaian universities as the students start their program in Ghana, spend a semester at Laurier, and return to Ghana to complete their studies,” said Ame, an associate professor of Human Rights and Criminology. “This funding will greatly deepen collaborations between Laurier and the University of Ghana and contribute immensely towards Laurier’s internationalization programs.” Participants in the partnership will be drawn from academic programs with a focus on social justice and human rights, such as Criminology, Social Work, History, Cultural Analysis and Social Theory and Global Studies, and will develop intercultural competence through instruction
and experience. In addition to strengthening teaching capacity, the opportunities for UG graduate students will help to develop the university’s new PhD program in Social Work. Laurier graduate students, meanwhile, will gain access to on-the-ground research opportunities on human rights and social justice issues in Ghana. “Leveraging existing initiatives and partnerships to capture new opportunities is a key driver for Laurier’s internationalization strategy,” said Ben Yang, director of Global Engagement at Laurier. “The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships program has come at the right time for us. Opportunities do favour those who are ready to embrace them.” The students taking part in this new program will earn a certificate in intercultural effectiveness and participate in a workshop
on leadership in an international context, which will help to strengthen their intercultural leadership skills. They will also have the opportunity to take part in conferences and events run through the Tshepo Institute for the Study of Contemporary Africa, a Laurier-based research centre. “Laurier is very pleased to receive funding for our partnership with the University of Ghana through the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships,” said Deborah MacLatchy, Laurier vice-president: Academic and provost. “This is a long-standing partnership that has benefited both Laurier and UG students. Our excellent track record of supporting the development of truly global citizens through this ongoing relationship will be enhanced through this national scholarship program.”