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Meet Noni Campbell and learn how the Registrar’s Office is key to convocation.
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Wilfrid Laurier University • June 2009 VOL. 1 | NO. 1 | APRIL 7,2008
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CAMPUS | COMMUNITY | CONNECTIONS Dr. Gary Warrick’s archeology research takes him to South Africa.
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Our Community, Our Laurier campaign kicks off with sundae celebration.
Laurier celebrates spring convocation University graduates 2,250 students, awards four honorary degrees CAMPUS CONNECTIONS COMMUNITY |
and more than 340 students at the In her address to graduates of Brantford campus June 10. The Laurier’s Faculty of Graduate university also bestowed four Studies, honorary degree honorary degrees. recipient Lousie Fréchette spoke “Convocation is a moment of her own career path. “I entered the Foreign Service by of great pride for our whole community as we celebrate the fluke — literally,” said the former academic success of our students,” United Nations deputy secretary said university registrar Ray general and officer of the Order Darling. “Many of our students of Canada. “To tell you the truth, will treasure this milestone for I did not realize I was joining the years to come.” diplomatic career until my first In |total, Laurier conferred day at work. All I knew was that | CONNECTIONS CAMPUS COMMUNITY 222 graduate degrees, 2,003 I was getting a job that would undergraduate degrees and 25 allow me to travel and see the diplomas. world. The rest of my career was The ceremonies began June not planned any better than this 3 with a morning event for first episode.” It’s the surprises in life, she told the Faculties of Education and Music, followed by an afternoon graduates, that are usually the ceremony for the Faculty of most exciting. Graduate Studies. “The best things in life are The following day, ceremonies often unplanned,” said Fréchette. were held for the Faculty of “And planning for tomorrow should not be done at the expense Science. This year, the event returned to the Athletics Complex of today.” and two ceremonies were held to Laurier celebrated spring accommodate graduates and their convocation earlier this month, graduating 1,908 students at its Waterloo ceremonies June 3-5, CONVOCATION see page 4
A view into China Honorary degree recipient opened borders for journalists By Kevin Klein Audrey Ronning Topping, who received an honorary degree from Laurier Brantford, is one of the small band of western news correspondents whose reporting did much to shape the West’s view of China when that country was still closed behind the Bamboo Curtain. Many of the earliest images of Mao Zedong’s China published in the West were those captured by her camera. In 1966, while stationed in Hong Kong with her reporter husband, Ronning Topping obtained a visa to mainland China, the first granted to a correspondent of an American newspaper. While in Peking, she covered the onset of the Cultural Revolution. Her article,
Audrey Ronning Topping
illustrated with her photographs, became a cover story for The New York Times Magazine. In 1972, she was assistant producer of the first documentary done by an American crew in China, RONNING TOPPING see page 4
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Photo: Tomasz Adamski
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Graduates from the Faculty of Graduate Studies celebrate after receiving their degrees at convocation.
Laurier gets $26 million for Brantford Research and Academic Centre The provincial and federal governments are contributing $13 million each to help Laurier build a state-of-the art Research and Academic Centre on the university’s fast-growing Laurier Brantford campus. The funding will enable construction to start immediately on Phase 1 of the project. Much of the site preparation has already been done and the building is scheduled to open by fall 2010. A proposed second phase is dependent on securing appropriate funding. The Research and Academic Centre is a key part of a development strategy that will significantly increase enrolment and research capability at Laurier Brantford. When both phases of the project are complete, the facility will enable the Brantford campus to grow to
4,000 students by 2012 from the present 2,200 students. It will provide research and teaching space for a number of programs, as well as library facilities and administrative areas. The university is aiming to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®)
silver certification for the facility. “The Research and Academic Centre is an important step in the ongoing development of Laurier Brantford as a campus that provides comprehensive university infrastructure and services,” said Laurier president Dr. Max Blouw.
InsideLaurier wins bronze! The U.S.-based Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) has awarded InsideLaurier a bronze medal in the Print Internal Audience Tabloids and Newsletters category of the organization’s Awards of Excellence Program. Entries were received from across North America, with one gold and four bronze medals being awarded. “This is a well-deserved achievement,” said Laurier president Dr. Max Blouw. “Since launching a year ago, InsideLaurier has faithfully pursued its mandate of reflecting and fostering Laurier’s distinct sense of community. Congratulations to everyone who has helped make the publication a success.”
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June 2009
president’s message
In the life of a university, there is no event more joyous and gratifying than convocation. It is a time to come together as a community to celebrate the scholarly achievements of our students and the learning and support provided to them by our faculty and staff. It is also a time to acknowledge the support and encouragement provided by parents and families. A university degree is a significant achievement, requiring a great deal of discipline, hard work and commitment. Few students travel the long road to graduation without the emotional and financial assistance of their families. Convocation ceremonies, replete with a degree of pomp and circumstance rarely seen in our workaday lives, are a colourful reminder of our links to a long and rich tradition. The ceremonial robes, traditional music and presence of
Photos: Tomasz Adamski
Laurier’s convocation is a time to celebrate
Laurier president Dr. Max Blouw, left, presents Louise Fréchette with an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
the university mace evoke the respect, authority and dignity that have long been attached to higher education. Yet, above all, convocation is a celebratory and joyous event — especially at Laurier! A university that prides itself on school spirit shouldn’t be surprised to see it burst forth on graduation day.
The success of Laurier’s eight convocation ceremonies — six in Waterloo and two in Brantford — is due entirely to the work and dedication of so many of you. I was delighted to see the large number of staff and faculty who participated in this year’s ceremonies. Your enthusiastic involvement reflects the unique sense of
community that is a hallmark of this university. I was also impressed by the remarks delivered by each of our four honorary degree recipients. Such guests of honour are under considerable pressure to impart words of wisdom to an audience of bright young minds. And they did not disappoint. Former diplomat Louise Fréchette, environmental advocate David Anderson, entrepreneur Heather Reisman and journalist Audrey Ronning Topping each provided their own distinct take on a similar theme: the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and the value of seeking to make a meaningful contribution in the world around you. As Madam Fréchette said: “All the good things that happen in the world happen because good people believe in what they are doing and
have faith in their capacity to make life on this planet better for future generations…. Prior generations of Canadians have made great contributions to the common good and I know your generation will do the same.” Convocation, like the words of our honorary degree recipients, should be truly inspiring. Laurier’s 2009 spring convocation ceremonies earned high marks in this regard. My heartfelt thanks to all of you helped make convocation a success, and my best wishes for a safe and enjoyable summer.
Dr. Max Blouw President and Vice-Chancellor
Laurier announces Awards for Teaching Excellence By Lori Chalmers Morrison There was no shortage of peer and student praise for this year’s 2009 Awards for Teaching Excellence winners: Dr. Bill McTeer in the full-time faculty category, professor John Stephens in the part-time category, and PhD candidate Lisa Funnell in the teaching assistant category. Kinesiology and physical education professor Dr. Bill McTeer is respected by his colleagues both for his teaching
and for launching the KPE department. McTeer’s small, interactive first-year classes have become a hallmark of the program and are credited with setting students up for success throughout their university years. “It is undeniable that Bill is dedicated to students, never stops teaching, and is an inspiration to both faculty and students as someone who is a consummate professional and is full of passion for teaching,” wrote Dr. Jill Tracey, assistant kinesiology and
Award winners, from left, Dr. Bill McTeer, John Stephens and Lisa Funnell.
physical education professor, in her nomination letter. McTeer also received the 2008 Hoffmann-Little Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence from the Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association. Part-time psychology professor John Stephens is known for peppering his lectures with real-life examples from his years working in private practice and his career as a school board behavioural consultant. It’s a successful technique that results in packed lecture halls and students who do their best not to miss his lectures. “He constantly searches for innovative instructional techniques… and encourages students to become reflective learners who question what they have been taught and apply what they are learning to their own lives,” said professor and chair of psychology Dr. Mark Pancer in
InsideLaurier is published by The Department of Public Affairs Wilfrid Laurier University 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5
InsideLaurier Volume 2, Number 2, June 2009
Design: Erin Steed
InsideLaurier (circ. 2,000) is published nine times a year by the Department of Public Affairs. Opinions expressed in InsideLaurier do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the university’s administration.
Contributors: Tomasz Adamski, Erin Almeida, Kevin Crowley, Elin Edwards, Jim Hertel, Kevin Klein, Mallory O’Brien
Printed on recycled paper.
Editor: Stacey Morrison Assistant Editor: Lori Chalmers Morrison
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InsideLaurier welcomes your comments and suggestions for stories. Tel: (519) 884-0710 ext. 3341 | Fax: (519) 884-8848 Email: insidelaurier@wlu.ca
his support letter. The English and film studies professors who nominated PhD candidate Lisa Funnell have each worked with more than 20 TAs in the past few years, yet each professor ranks Funnell as one of the very best. Students respect not only her subject knowledge, but also the
way she makes herself available for advice. “It is one thing to teach, but it is quite another to teach in a way that earns the label of excellence,” said one student’s letter of support. “And in my opinion, Lisa Funnell has most certainly proven herself worthy of such a title.”
Send us your news, events & stories
Email: insidelaurier@wlu.ca Deadline for submissions: August 14
All submissions are appreciated, however not all submissions will be published. We reserve the right to edit all copy for accuracy, content and length.
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September 2009 CAMPUS | COMMUNITY | CONNECTIONS
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June 2009
Faculty, staff, students and community members were on hand as Laurier Brantford’s second community art project was unveiled in Grand River Hall. Created with the assistance of Rose Risi and Smak Dab Pottery, the project is comprised of almost 400 individual clay tiles that participants created using a variety of colours and designs. Each of the tiles was created by a student, staff or faculty member at Laurier Brantford, and feature many different designs and concepts. Some chose abstract colours and textures, while others created geometric shapes, lines and designs. Laurier Brantford’s first community art project, using colourful fabrics, was
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What’s new and notable at Laurier
Participants display Laurier Brantford’s latest community art project.
Laurier Brantford unveils second community art project
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completed in 2007, and is a central piece of the Carnegie Building.
Laurier introduces new flexible child care Wilfrid Laurier University has joined forces with Kids & Company, a provider of flexible child care designed to help parents achieve a better work/life balance. Kids & Company’s flexible child care options include full- and parttime child care and no late fees for pickups after 6 p.m. For more information, visit www. kidsandcompany.ca.
WLUAA Awards of Excellence Awards announced The 2009 Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association’s Awards of Excellence honoured several members of the Laurier community.
Dr. Mark Baetz, a professor at Laurier since 1980 and associate director of the Centre for Community Service-Learning, received the Hoffman-Little Award for teaching excellence, while James Mason, a teacher in Laurier’s Faculty of Music and one of Canada’s finest oboists, was presented with the Faculty Mentoring Award for his outstanding support and mentoring of students. Joan Leeson, a 20-year employee in the Faculty of Social Work, received the Schaus Award. She arranges practical learning experiences for nearly 300 students, connecting them with local and regional human services and health agencies. Also receiving awards were Alumnus of the Year Ian Troop, Honorary Alumna Joan Fisk, and Student Alumna of the Year Alyssa Mossey.
donation, high school students can attend a review session led by a Laurier volunteer. The donation will go toward one of two SOS community development projects being completed in August — one in Costa Rica and the other in Honduras. There are over 45 Laurier student volunteers preparing review sessions for 15 high school courses, from French to physics. The sessions are being held June 16 to 23 in Laurier’s Bricker Academic Building.
Laurier participates in Commuter Challenge Members of the Laurier community once again joined organizations nationwide in the annual Canadian
Commuter Challenge, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. During the week of June 1-5, participants walked, biked, rollerbladed, car-pooled or took public transit to work. This was Laurier’s eighth year in the Commuter Challenge. Laurier’s Parking & Transportation Resources office sponsored a “Beat the Heat” barbecue. Participants could grab a bite to eat with a donation of a non-perishable food item or cash donation for the local Food Bank. There was also a Commuter Challenge road hockey tournament in which staff and faculty teams took on the Parking & Transportation Resources team.
Laurier students help with community SOS Having just completed their own exams and finals, Laurier students are now taking the time to help local high school students prepare for their upcoming finals, and they’re doing it for a good cause. The high school “ExamAid” is a new initiative from Students Offering Support (SOS), a national tutoring program and charity that was started at Laurier. For a $25
Photo: Mallory O’Brien
NEWS
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The Hawk and teammates face-off against the Parking & Transportation Resources team at the Commuter Challenge road hockey tournament.
University collects e-waste for Earth Day Renovations begin on Waterloo campus
Photo: Mallory O’Brien
Dusty old CPUs, computer monitors and lonely mice were dragged, rolled and lugged to the Concourse April 22 for Earth Day as part of an Information Technology Services (ITS) initiative to collect and recycle the Laurier community’s e-waste. “We’re trying to change the IT paradigm from consumption to conservation and reduce the university’s carbon footprint,” said Stefanie MacKinnon,
event organizer and computer operator for ITS. Over 40 recycle bins were filled during the collection, which means 4.18 metric tons of e-waste was diverted from landfill sites and transported to a waste-management recycling plant in Hamilton. Seventy old cellphones were also collected and donated to the Toronto Zoo for the Eco-Cell program, which supports gorilla conservation efforts in Africa. Other departments at Laurier were also thinking green on
ITS staff members Stefanie MacKinnon, left, and Janet Jenkins with some of the e-junk collected on Earth Day.
Earth Day. Parking Services promoted Laurier’s car-share program and alternative transportation, and Health Services was on hand to discuss sun safety. The Bookstore and Library worked together to collect old textbooks for Books for Africa, a non-profit organization that ships textbooks to Africa to fill library shelves and classrooms. The Library continues to collect unwanted or unusable books throughout the year for the Better World Books program, which sells the books through online marketplaces. Books that do not sell after a period of time are redistributed to non-profit literacy partners — including Books for Africa — or recycled in an environmentally responsible manner. “We receive commissions on the books sold, which we use to purchase more books for the library,” says Carol Stephenson, head of library collections and acquisitions. “In addition to potentially redistributing some of the books we send directly to Africa, five percent of our sales also help fund the Books for Africa program. It is a way for the university to be green, socially responsible, and support literacy initiatives and give those books gathering dust a new life.”
By Stacey Morrison Laurier’s Waterloo campus is undergoing renovations to improve accessibility, with significant reconstruction projects slated for several outdoor spaces. Specific improvements will include: • Complete reconstruction of the walkway linking Mid-Campus Drive to the Fred Nichols Campus Centre to eliminate stairways; • Construction of a new public ampitheatre and open space in the Dining Hall Quad, including a patio for the Grad Student Association Pub; • Construction of handicapped parking and drop-off zones at the DAWB and Seminary; • Construction of “Heritage Walk” as a barrier-free pedestrian walkway from the Arts Building to the Seminary; • Rebuilding of parking lot 13 (located next to the Seminary) and the Albert Street entrance to eliminate vehicle circulation from Bricker Avenue to Albert Street “The main reason these areas were selected is because they
Photo: Mallory O’Brien
By Mallory O’Brien
Construction begins outside the DAWB.
have accessibility issues,” said Mark Dettweiler, manager: facilities, planning, design and construction. “The second primary focus is to make these areas of campus more people friendly. And with the university’s centenary approaching, we wanted to take the opportunity to revitalize these areas of campus.” The project includes the removal of 30 trees of various sizes, which Dettweiler says will be replaced with 48 new trees, along with 496 shrubs and 503 perennial flowers. The work is being funded by provincial grants specifically earmarked for capital projects on university campuses. The affected areas will be off limits for most of the summer. 3
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people at laurier
June 2009 For a complete list of announcements visit www.wlu.ca/hr
Mike Belanger, residential services director, has been recognized for his leadership and mentorship with a new award established in his honour. The Mike Belanger Residence Life Award was created to provide financial support for future members of the residence life team. The award was spearheaded by Rob Hums (’93) and Chris Dodd (’92), and was set up through the support of alumni, staff and faculty. Dr. Judith Fletcher, associate professor and chair of Laurier’s archaeology and classical studies department received the Gildersleeve Prize for publishing the best article in the American Journal of Philology in 2008. She is the second Canadian to receive the $1,000 US prize, which has been awarded for more than 30 years.
RONNING TOPPING continued
The Forbidden City, shown on NBC-TV. In 1975, she also became the first journalist to visit the site and photograph the spectacular discovery of the terracotta army buried in 221 B.C. at the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. Her coverage of the historic event was on the cover of National Geographic. “I think I am a born recorder,” said Ronning Topping. “I am so interested in life and enjoy it so much that I try to take it with me. So, I write about what I experience and take too many pictures of everything around me.” Ronning Topping was born in Camrose, Alberta, in 1928,
Carol Stephenson, head of collections and acquisitions for Laurier’s library, won the Canadian Library Association’s award for Outstanding Contribution to Collection Development and Management.
New appointments: Janice Bruin, coordinator: general books/academic relations. Craig Chipps, recruitment officer, Brantford. Jennifer Cook, library collections and maintenance. Andre Furlong, information specialist, Registrar’s Office. Lisa Jarvis, external co-op coordinator. Tina MacPherson, access services/ reference assistant, FSW/Waterloo. Robyn Pitman, research assistant, KPE.
to a family with ties to China that span five generations. Her father, Chester Ronning, was born in China in 1894, the son of Lutheran missionaries who served for 17 years in the China Inland Mission. The Ronnings were recalled in 1899, narrowly eluding capture in the Boxer Rebellion. In 1921 her father returned with his wife and young family, serving as headmaster of the middle school that his parents had established in Xianfang, Hubei, until they were forced to leave during the revolution of 1927. He returned as minister counsellor to the Canadian Embassy in Chungking (now Chongqing) and later in Nanking.
Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, by Audrey Ronning Topping.
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Laurier implements “paperless” pay stubs Changes in staff appointments: Gordon Manning, shipper/ receiver inventory clerk, Bookstore. Paul Schell, mechanic/tradesperson, Physical Plant & Planning. Janice Vilaca, executive assistant, VP/Principal’s Office, Brantford.
Retirements: Clayton Vokey, supervisor, Security Services and Campus Safety, retired in early June after 10 years of service. Prior to his post at Laurier, Vokey had a 25-year career with the RCMP. He plans to enjoy his retirement in Belle Isle, Newfoundland, with his wife Cynthia. Do you have a professional or personal milestone that you would like to share with the Laurier community? Email your announcement and photo to insidelaurier@wlu.ca.
After graduating from Camrose Lutheran College in 1946, Ronning Topping joined her father in China and attended the University of Nanking. When Communist troops were closing in on the city, diplomatic families were evacuated. Upon returning to Canada, she married American journalist Seymour Topping and travelled with him to his post in Hong Kong. The couple spent a brief time there before Topping was dispatched to Indochina by the Associated Press to cover the war in Vietnam. For the next two decades, the duo travelled the world together on journalistic assignments, and Ronning Topping honed her photography skills. “Newspapers were eager for photos of the action, so I seized the opportunity to do professional work,” she said. Her work has appeared in many publications, including Life, Time and Newsweek. In addition, she has exhibited her photographs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, among others. Despite her numerous awards and international recognition, Ronning Topping says her honorary degree from Laurier Brantford holds special meaning. “I was surprised, honoured and humbled,” she said. “And I was especially happy because it is the first time I was honoured in my own country of Canada.”
Starting in June, Laurier employees will no longer be receiving their pay stubs in printed form. Instead, all pay information will be sent and stored electronically on LORIS, Laurier’s web information system. “This change is friendly to the environment and reduces the costs of printing almost 5,000 pay stubs per month,” said Pam Cant, director: total compensation, Human Resources. “Even though employees will no longer receive a paper pay stub, they can easily and conveniently view their pay stubs online and
print them if they wish.” The change to electronic pay stubs starts June 18 for biweekly paid employees and August 18 for monthly paid employees. All employees will receive an email about two days before the pay deposit date, advising them that their pay information is ready for viewing. Pay information remains completely secure on employees’ LORIS accounts. For more information or instructions on how to access LORIS, visit the payroll web page or contact the department at ext. 6382.
CONVOCATION continued
on June 10 for all programs, and celebrated its 1,000th graduating student. A Doctor of Letters degree was also awarded to Audrey Ronning Topping, an author and photojournalist. On average, 80 percent of Laurier graduates attend convocation. Staff and faculty volunteers help the events run smoothly. “It takes many, many hands to make convocation a success and I personally am grateful to all who pitched in this year,” said Jennifer Casey, university secretary and interim director of alumni relations.
families. David Anderson, lawyer, politician and rowing silver medalist in the 1960 Olympic Games, received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree. On June 5, ceremonies were held for the School of Business & Economics and the Faculty of Arts. Heather Reisman, founder and CEO of Indigo Books & Music Inc, the largest book retailer in Canada, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree. The Brantford campus marked convocation with two ceremonies
What are you reading
?
Name: Mallory O’Brien Job Title: Writer, Public Affairs Book Title: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Author: Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
What are you are reading What you
?
This decidedly more violent version of Pride and Prejudice follows Austen’s original story, except that now the Bennett daughters must overcome the prejudices of their class-based society and the ever-looming zombie threat. If you are not easily offended by the bastardizing of English masterpieces you will not be able to put this book down, for, as the book’s narrator says, “it is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”
listening to?
What are you listening to? Name: Dr. Lauren Eisler Job Title: Professor/Program Coordinator, Criminology, Laurier Brantford CD Title: Dusty Artist: Fred J. Eaglesmith
Fred J. Eaglesmith is a Canadian roots/alternative songwriter and musician who was born in southern Ontario. His music is often raw and poignant and tends to focus on the trials and challenges faced in life by the ordinary workingman. My favourite tracks on the CD are Ship and Rainbow.
June 2009 coffee with a co-worker
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A look at staff and faculty across campus
A key role in convocation Name: Noni Campbell
Photo: Lori Chalmers Morrison
Job: Coordinator of Records: Music, Science, SBE and Education, and convocation. Laurier employee since 1976. Where you can find her: Amid the buzz of activity in the Registrar’s Office at 202 Regina Street. How she takes her coffee: Black. Noni Campbell, above, and the records team have a big role behind the scenes of convocation.
Have you always worked in the Registrar’s Office?
I started here as a student in 1967. In 1976 I began working in the Faculty of Arts and Science, then Graduate Studies and Research in 1979. I started in the Registrar’s Office in 1994. I went to class on my lunch hours and finished my English BA in 1982 and a history BA in 2005. My two brothers, three children, daughter-in-law and my partner, Tony, all earned Laurier degrees. We are a Laurier family! The Registrar’s Office plays a big role behind the scenes of convocation — what do you do?
coming Events
Walking at Lunch When: Monday-Friday in June 12:10 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. Where: Waterloo campus Get out and about on your lunch hour! For more information, visit www.wlu.ca/ ilovemyjob. Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival When: July 17 – 19 Where: Uptown Waterloo Cost: Free Enjoy live jazz by world-class musicians in an outdoor setting. For more information visit www.uptownwaterloojazz.ca. OWL Whitewater Rafting When: July 17 – 19 Where: Forrester Falls, Ontario Cost: $130 – $165
Along with Marilyn Watson (coordinator of records: Faculty of Arts, Brantford campus and graduate studies, and undergraduate calendar editor) and our teams, we are manually clearing 2,355 students to graduate for spring convocation. Sarah Mathews and Pat Young deserve special thanks for their hard work and commitment to helping the convocation ceremonies run smoothly. We check the faculty worksheets for each student against their program requirements, as well as the gradepoint averages required to earn their degrees. We liaise with the academic departments, print and proof every degree,
and coordinate the listing of graduates in the convocation programs. It truly is a team effort. How busy are you leading up to convocation?
It’s like Santa’s workshop in here! There are many competing demands and time constraints. We have a great team that supports and humours each other, and we know it will all come together.
Kids Can Fly Book Camp When: Aug. 10 – 14 Where: Carnegie Hall, Laurier Brantford Cost: $100 A creative writing day camp for children ages 10-15 who love to read, write and draw. Michael Martchenko, illustrator of more than 50 Robert Munsch books is a featured guest. For more information visit www. kidscanfly.ca. Volunteer/CSL Fair When: Sept. 11 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Maintain good soil with ample depth and organic matter, and improve drainage in wet areas to prevent problems. • Inspect your lawn regularly for potential pest problems. • Mow your grass high (six to eight centimetres) when it’s dry, and leave the clippings on the lawn to compost and release nitrogen for the grass.
Is it rewarding?
How do you relax when convocation is over?
Are you involved in the actual ceremony?
Yes. Students line up with their participation cards, which we
What are some of the memorable moments?
Where: Science Building courtyard Cost: Free Meet local community organizations and learn about volunteer opportunities. For information contact Leanne Holland Brown at lhollandbrowna@wlu.ca or ext. 3704. Landscapes of Learning: A Transdisciplinary Conversation in Contemporary Education When: Sept. 24 – 26 Where: Laurier Brantford This conference will facilitate conversation about the conditions in which students learn, bringing together teachers, educational activists and academic researchers. For details, visit www.laurierbrantfordconference.ca.
Pesticide-free lawn-care tips Canadians take pride in having attractive lawns around their homes. Here are some tips to maintain healthy, green grass the natural way:
We have liaised with families for posthumous degrees and printed Braille degrees. It’s also inspiring to see Laurier employees earn their degrees after they’ve whittled away at them part time over the years.
It’s a wonderful celebration for all the kids who have fulfilled their goals and aspirations. Convocation is one of the most important things this university does. We want to make sure it’s great for the students and their families.
For a complete list of events visit www.wlu.ca/events
Staff, faculty and alumni are invited to attend an unforgettable weekend of whitewater rafting on the Ottawa River. For more information, visit www.laurieralumni.ca/rafting.
send them in the mail. The cards are flashed on a television monitor to the other side of the stage. Our team pulls the degrees and I hand them to the students as they walk off the stage.
• Keep your mower blade sharp — grass recovers more quickly and easily from a clean cut. • Water only when your lawn needs it and do it in the morning to minimize water loss and evaporation. • Over-seed your lawn in late summer to early fall to ensure it remains dense. Prepared using information from Health Canada. For more information visit www.hc.gc.ca.
For me it’s family — that’s how I unwind. I have five grandchildren who are so much fun. I also enjoy a drink with Tony on our deck! Last year was special — we went on a Mediterranean cruise after fall convocation.
By Lori Chalmers Morrison
Relay for Life team honours professor’s daughter By Mallory O’Brien Anne Wilson and Pamela Sadler are two Laurier professors who will lace up their sneakers to support the Canadian Cancer Society in this year’s Relay for Life. The two are raising money in memory of Reilly Jordan, daughter of fellow psychology professor Christian Jordan. Reilly passed away last year from leukemia. “She is in our hearts and minds and has inspired us to join in the Relay for Life as Reilly’s Midnight Runners,” says Wilson. “As a parent myself, I saw this family go through an unimaginable tragedy. Their strength, determination, and love and support for Reilly through her difficult treatments were simply inspiring. Forming the Relay for Life team is one way that we can remember what a special little girl Reilly was while we work toward the goal of greater hope for others fighting cancer now and in the future.” Reilly was two years old when she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia (acute myelogenous leukemia) in March 2008. Despite courageously battling the cancer, Reilly passed away four months later.
The Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life is a national charity event and tribute to the lives of those who have been touched by cancer. Teams of up to 10 people participate in an overnight non-competitive relay, taking turns walking, running or strolling around a track. In 2008, over 200,000 Canadians participated in the Relay for Life and over $50 million was raised. This year’s KitchenerWaterloo Relay for Life takes place June 19 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. at Resurrection Catholic Secondary School. So far, Reilly’s Midnight Runners have raised more than $6,000, surpassing their $5,000 goal. “With money raised from their various fundraising efforts, the Canadian Cancer Society funds the most promising and leading-edge Canadian research on cancer of all types,” says Wilson. “They also provide essential support programs for those living with cancer and advocate and educate on cancer prevention.” For more information or to make a donation, visit Reilly’s Midnight Runners Relay for Life team page at http://convio.cancer.ca/ site/TR/RelayForLife/RFL_ ON_Maryhill_?pg=team&fr_ id=3352&team_id=81970. 5
CAMPUS COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
VOL. 1 NO. 1 APRIL 7,2008
CAMPUS CONNECTIONS COMMUNITY
VOL. 1 NO. 1 APRIL 7,2008
June 2009
Repairs underway at fire-damaged Faculty of Education Waterloo College Hall holds open house By Stacey Morrison
Photo: Mallory O’Brien
Repairs to Waterloo College Hall residence, damaged in a fire in April, are underway and will take most of the summer to complete. The April 14 fire broke out in a fourth-floor room, sending firstyear student David LaForest to hospital with severe burns and forcing students out of their rooms during exams.
LaForest, 19, an economics student and member of the varsity rugby team, later died of his injuries. The university held a memorial service to celebrate LaForest’s life and honour his memory. It was attended by staff, faculty, students and family members. “I can’t think of anything more tragic than losing one of our students,” said dean of students
Students retrieve belongs from Waterloo College Hall after a fire in April.
David McMurray. “Our hearts go out to his family.” The cause of the fire is still under investigation, though it is thought to be unrelated to building or safety systems. The residence opened in 2002 and houses 320 first-year students. Because of exams, some students were not staying in the residence at the time of the fire. The extent of the repairs is greater than initially thought, with two electrical risers and the fire safety system, which includes 300 fire detectors, requiring replacement. There was also smoke damage throughout the building. So far the repairs have cost about $1.2 million. “The cleanup for the first three floors is complete and was pretty straightforward,” said Gary Nower, assistant vicepresident: physical resources. “We have encountered challenges on the fourth and fifth floors due to the flame spread. It’s a big job and we want to be as thorough as possible.” Nower says repairs are on track to be completed by August, in time for the arrival of firstyear students.
Honorary degree recipient visits Laurier By Mallory O’Brien Environmental activist Sheila Watt-Cloutier visited Laurier to speak with students in the geography and environmental studies program about the impact of climate change and Inuit culture. Watt-Cloutier was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Laurier last fall, but was unable to attend the convocation ceremony due to a blizzard in Iqaluit, Nunavut. During her visit, Watt-Cloutier officially received her honorary doctorate, which recognizes her as one of Canada’s most profound voices on environmental challenges. Watt-Cloutier has received numerous awards for her work, including the Order of Canada, a United Nations lifetime achievement award for outstanding contributions to human development, and a nomination for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Born in Kuujjuaq, Quebec, Watt-Cloutier experienced a traditional Inuit childhood, living off the land and travelling by dog team. Speaking with students in an informal roundtable discussion, Watt-Cloutier explained how climate change has ecological and human rights 6
costs, and outlined the history of Inuit “hunter culture” and how it was damaged by rapid changes when it was exposed to the modern world. It was the severity and speed of the change — not necessarily the change itself — that caused the greatest harm, she said.
Sheila Watt-Cloutier
“In just my lifetime I went from travelling with a dog team to flying jumbo jets to Africa,” she said. “There is the saying, ‘From ice age to space age in one lifetime,’ but it was literal for us.” In the 1960s and ’70s, the government forced Inuit communities to relocate into the very high Arctic in an effort to assert Canadian sovereignty. When the sealskin market collapsed, Inuit hunters went from making $100 a pelt to $5 a pelt overnight. People questioned the integrity of the
hunter, who takes only what is needed and wastes nothing, said Watt-Cloutier. Like many Inuit children at that time, Watt-Cloutier was sent away from home for eight years for schooling. “I lost the language (Inuktitut), and I didn’t see Arctic winter for five years,” she said. Today, greenhouse gases have had devastating effects on the Arctic landscape. The struggle to preserve the Inuit hunter culture not only “protects the ice” but also protects a people and culture that has thrived for millennia, said Watt-Cloutier. As international chair (2002-2006) of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, which represents the interests of 155,000 Inuit across Russia, Alaska, Greenland and Canada, Watt-Cloutier spent two years preparing the world’s first international legal action on climate change as a violation of human rights. “For me it was never a ‘green’ issue; we needed to keep the ice intact, it was more of a ‘white’ issue,” she said with a laugh. “But while I’m telling you about these issues from the Inuit story, they also fit into your own history, the environment is extremely important to all of us.”
By Mallory O’Brien Future teachers learned a lesson or two during the Faculty of Education’s spring open house. About 100 prospective students and family members toured Laurier’s facilities, participated in mock lectures, and met some of the faculty, staff and current students of the program. “It’s been a really interesting, fun day,” said prospective student Kim Ames, who recently completed her undergraduate degree at McMaster University. Ames participated in an exercise for the lecture “Do I have to teach drama?,” which provided strategies for bringing a reading, writing and oral program alive by using drama activities. “Everyone is welcoming and the atmosphere has been very
energetic — it’s great to see how interactive the program will be,” she said. Laurier’s education program is unique in that it is based on a Professional Development School (PDS) model. Laurier has partnered with four area school boards to provide extensive and sustained field experiences for students, or Teacher Education Candidates (TECs). TECs spend two days per week throughout the year in host schools in addition to scheduled practica. “We had a really positive response and a great turnout, more than we expected,” said Hilory Gasewicz, Faculty of Education admissions and liaison officer. “There’s a great diversity of students here today and we’re glad they get to see the diversity that makes up our program.”
Photo: Mallory O’Brien
Memorial service for student well attended
Prospective students meet staff and faculty at the Faculty of Education open house.
Repairs will extend life of university pool Laurier’s 50-metre swimming pool will undergo significant repairs this summer thanks to a funding partnership involving the university, students, community aquatic groups and the cities of Waterloo and Kitchener. The $2.2-million repair project commenced the first week of June and should be completed by the end of September. The 35-year-old pool is the only 50-metre competitive aquatic facility in Waterloo Region and is used by many community groups, including the Region of Waterloo Swim Club (ROW), the KW Synchronized Swim Club, the Waterloo Regional Synchronized Swim Club, the KW Water Polo Club, and high schools, elementary schools and Special Olympics athletes. The aging pool was scheduled to close last year due to the urgent need for costly repairs. However, given the importance of the facility to the university and community aquatic groups, fundraising efforts were launched and about $2.2 million in financial commitments were received. The repair work is expected to extend the life of the pool to
provide the community with time to develop a longer-term plan for a new competitive swim facility in the region. “The Laurier pool has been a valued community asset for nearly four decades,” said David McMurray, Laurier’s dean of students and assistant vicepresident: student services. “The renovation project is an excellent example of cooperation between the university, our students, and our municipal and community partners.” Key components of the pool repairs include: • Replacement of the de-humidification and air-handling system; • Replacement of the curtain wall and the repair of pressurerelief valves in the pool; • Some building reconstruction, including masonry, insulation and vapour barrier; • Improvements to the mechanical space to improve health-and-safety and water quality; • Improvements to interior finishes, including the pool deck, walls, drains and equipment. The Laurier Athletic Complex has suspended all pool programming until early September.
June 2009
CAMPUS COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
VOL. 1 NO. 1 APRIL 7,2008
CAMPUS CONNECTIONS COMMUNITY
VOL. 1 NO. 1 APRIL 7,2008
Research file
Community archaeology in South Africa Dr. Gary Warrick studies rock shelters, rock art and the 19th-century British colonial legacy By Elin Edwards The idea for a research project doesn’t always begin in the library or the lab, or while sitting at the computer. Dr. Gary Warrick’s current indigenous archaeology project in the Drakensberg (Dragon Mountains) of South Africa, had its start during a holiday at a community-run backpackers’ hostel in the Mnweni Valley. With a Laurier internal travel grant, he went back last summer with the intent of setting up a research program to look into the 19th century legacy of British colonialism in the area. Warrick, a contemporary studies and indigenous studies professor at Laurier Brantford, has a master’s in archeology and a PhD in anthropology. He is also a fellow at Laurier Brantford’s Tshepo Institute for the Study of Contemporary Africa. His most recent archaeological work involved colonialism in southwestern Ontario, looking at Davisville, a 19th-century Mohawk-Mississauga community on the Grand River. That project was the subject of the 2008 Silvercord Productions documentary Written in the Earth, winner of
Dr. Gary Warrick hopes to document the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the San hunter-gatherers in the Mnweni Valley region of Africa. Part of his archeological research will study the rock shelter sites in the area where the San lived, above.
During that project, he began thinking of the responsibility of the academy to the rest of the world, looking at ways that archaeological research can make contributions to real communities and contemporary society. His current project, in many ways, builds on his experience in Ontario.
Warrick’s Mnweni Valley research involves Zulu-speaking farmers (amaNgwane and amaZizi) and some of their ancestors who intermarried with the survivors of the San hunter-gatherers in the late 19th century. The descendants of the mixed San-Zulu families will be interviewed in the oral history
Doing community-oriented research means working side-by-side with local people, acting as a teacher and a resource, as well as a researcher. the 2008 Public Communications Award from the Canadian Archaeological Association for best documentary film on archaeology in Canada. In his Six Nations research, Warrick worked with the community and — “this is important,” he says — discovered great interest on the part of local indigenous people in participating and sharing in the research.
Why Africa? While a number of scholars have been doing archaeological research in South Africa, “until recently, archaeologists have not researched the 19th-century history of indigenous Africans from an archaeological perspective,” says Warrick. British colonialism is still a legacy in the Drakensberg area, with ripples affecting the lives of indigenous people today.
portion of the project. The overall goal of the work is to document the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the San from the Mnweni Valley region. His specific research plan is threefold. First, with the help of a South African PhD student, Warrick will do an analytical study of the rock art that still survives in the rock shelters in the valley.
Many of the rock shelters have early paintings with themes relating to historical times, above.
He will also include an oral history component, interviewing descendents of the 19th-century residents — the community has a strong oral tradition and stories of that period have survived. Finally, he will conduct community archaeological research on the rock shelter sites in the area where the San, the indigenous people in the Mnweni Valley, lived. Many of the rock shelters in the side valley still have early paintings on their outside walls, with themes relating to historical times. Excavations will look for 19th-century artifacts such as maize and glass beads associated with the local culture. In describing his project, Warrick repeatedly uses the phrase “community archaeology.” There is a significant difference between community archaeology, which actively involves the people in the subject area, and traditional archaeology, which has tended in the past to dig and then leave, often taking the artifacts away from the community. According to Warrick, the ethical way of
doing international archaeology includes real community involvement and capacitybuilding, always asking the question, “How is this going to benefit the descendents of these people?” Part of the reason that Warrick has already been welcomed and had much of his project approved by local authorities is the fact that he plans to involve the community. Living in a marginalized rural area, he says the Mnweni Valley people voice a common refrain: “If only we could keep our young people here.” The area is off the beaten track, near the Lesotho border. Warrick’s project would, among other things, include local young people, offering them training and skills in archaeology that could be useful in other situations. Adding to the local tourism economy and providing resources for the documentation of local history, Warrick is looking forward not only to investigating an important gap in archaeological knowledge but doing so side-by-side with the descendents of the people who created the artifacts he will be studying. Warrick says international researchers must do “double duty.” In some ways, it’s much easier to do research at home in Canada — you can just be a researcher. Working at an international location, you also have to be aware of the politics, health care, history and social system that provide a context for your work. And doing community-oriented research means working side-by-side with local people, acting as a teacher and a resource, as well as a researcher. Still, he recognizes a huge potential not only for the scholarship that will result but also the capacity-building for the local people that will accompany his project. He anticipates being a richer person for investigating the community possibilities in his research.
Dr. Gary Warrick, left, with Zacharias Dlamini, a Mnweni elder of the amaNgwane, in South Africa. Warrick’s research involves working with local residents.
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CAMPUS COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
VOL. 1 NO. 1 APRIL 7,2008
CAMPUS CONNECTIONS COMMUNITY
VOL. 1 NO. 1 APRIL 7,2008
June 2009
In the classroom
A look inside the lecture hall
Teaching on key Professor: Anya Alexeyev Class: Studio Piano/Masterclass Description: One-on-one piano lessons.
Born and raised in Russia, professor Anya Alexeyev started playing piano at age five when her muscian parents placed her in a special music school in their hometown of Moscow. She went on to study at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and earned her diploma from the Royal College of Music in London, England. Alexeyev believes it is important for musicians to have good technical foundation because it allows them to have freedom and a wider range of expression when playing. She dedicates a lot of studio time for students to work on technique, posture and hand position. “The challenge is to foster good taste, expand musicianship and cultivate imagination without stifling a student’s own ideas and vision,” says Alexeyev. “I try hard to maintain this balance, and to provide guidance rather than impose my own interpretations.” By Mallory O’Brien
Professor Anya Alexeyev gives one-on-one piano instruction, focusing on technique, posture and hand position.
Photo: Jim Hertel
Our Community, Our Laurier sundae celebration Staff, faculty and students help kick off annual fundraising campaign
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Photos: Erin Almeida, Mallory O’Brien