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Laurier will celebrate its 80th Homecoming with a jam-packed weekend full of fun, friends and football.
Did you know that Laurier has its own interior designers? Meet the design savvy duo.
Here we grow! Get a first look at Brantford’s new University Centre and its green initiatives.
ENVISIONING
September start-up in full swing Record number of first-year students arrive at Laurier campuses By Mallory O’Brien For many staff and faculty, working on campus during the summer months has its benefits: the campuses are quiet, there is ample parking, and the lineup for coffee is much smaller. But for Michael Belanger, director of Residential Services, the start of the fall semester is a date he looks forward to every year. “Reaching Labour Day is a relief,” he said. “It’s good to finally say, ‘Yes, we made it! It’s the start of a new year.’” It is Belanger’s job to make sure that when students arrive in September, their home-away-
from-home is ready. This year there are a record 3,850 firstyear students attending Laurier, and Belanger and his team sifted through 3,300 residence applications over the summer. “Laurier guarantees residence to all first-year students,” said Belanger, explaining there were more applications than beds at the Waterloo and Brantford campuses. To compensate, about 100 single bedrooms were converted into double occupancy by using bunk beds. Students who accepted a placement in one of these rooms received a 50 percent discount on the cost of residence and a free laptop computer.
Dealing with space issues wasn’t the only challenge Belanger faced. “Room assignments are always tricky, especially since we have so many different kinds of rooms,” he said. The residence team does it all by hand, using a questionnaire and their “tried and true method of knowing what goes well together.” The process takes about two months. For Kelly Ough, director of Food Services, the lead-up to the start of classes is also a busy time of year.
Photo: Dean Palmer
ENVISIONING
Share your thoughts! The Envisioning Laurier initiative is entering an important stage this fall and there are a number of engaging ways for you to share your thoughts about Laurier and the direction the university should take over the next 30 years. Check out page 3 of this edition of InsideLaurier to learn more about these opportunities. As well, all staff, students and faculty will be invited via email to participate in an online survey about the future of Laurier. This research
ENVISIONING
is being conducted by The Strategic Counsel, a national firm hired by the university to carry out a comprehensive market-research project. For more information ENVISIONING about the Envisioning Laurier initiative, visit www.wlu.ca/ envisioning. Your input is important, so share your thoughts about Laurier’s future!
SEPTEMBER Continued on page 4
Laurier playwright’s work to be featured at Stratford Festival writing is worth supporting.” Rice Boy is a lyrical full-length play set in 1975. It explores the relationship between a mourning father and his son as they make a series of trips between Kitchener and India. Kuruvilla wrote the play while attending the Yale School of Drama in the late 1990s. It has won numerous national and international awards, and was nominated for a Governor General’s Award. “I wrote the play during my first year of grad school in the States as a way to fight homesickness,” he said. “That
the play will now have a life at Stratford is beyond my expectations.” Kuruvilla graduated from Laurier with an English degree, and then studied under Alistair MacLeod in the University of Windsor’s creative writing program. A few years later, he studied under the late Anthony Minghella. He has served as writer in residence at the University of Guelph and the Blyth Festival. An amateur boxer, several of his plays have incorporated the sport. PLAYWRIGHT Continued on page 4
Photo: Peter Lee
Playwright Sunil Kuruvilla will have his award-winning play, Rice Boy, performed next season at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Kuruvilla, who works as marketing and promotions coordinator for Laurier’s Faculty of Music, directed a reading of the play in June and recently learned it was being added to the festival’s playbill for 2009. “I’m very happy but I also realize that good news is never authored by one person,” said Kuruvilla. “I’m fortunate to have people who think my
Sunil Kuruvilla in his favourite place — the theatre. The playwright’s work, Rice Boy, will be performed at the Stratford Festival next season.
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September 2008
ACUNS renewed, new director named
president’s message
A busy year ahead September is a wonderful month at the university. There is an invigorating sense of optimism and energy on campus as our students return and our staff and faculty gear up for a new term. The year ahead is an important one for Laurier. The Envisioning Laurier initiative, which will provide a vision statement to guide the university over the next 30 years, is entering its final stages. The Senate Envisioning Committee will continue to provide opportunities for you to voice your highly valued thoughts and opinions (see page 3). As well, the market research firm we’ve hired will be asking staff, faculty, students and a sample of alumni and the general public to participate in online surveys. This research will help us as we continue to develop master plans for the university and our individual campuses, including our exploration of a possible Laurier campus in Milton. This master planning is prudent and unavoidable. The demand for university education in Ontario continues to grow and Laurier’s reputation for excellence continues to make our university one of the most attractive choices in the
Laurier is the first institution to host the organization for consecutive terms By Tiffany Bradley
Photo: Dean Palmer
province. Consequently, there is considerable pressure on Laurier to expand. We cannot control this pressure, but we can control our response to it. Some of the questions we’re asking include: How do we preserve what Laurier does best while addressing the societal demand for more university spaces? How do we ensure that Laurier evolves in step with changes in knowledge, technology and society? How do we ensure that our Brantford campus continues to thrive in a strategic and sustainable fashion? What challenges and opportunities exist for our Kitchener and Toronto campuses? These questions all touch on Laurier’s multi-campus reality. Therefore, a significant part of our discussions address the pros and cons of a multi-
campus university: What are the challenges in terms of communications, governance, technology and shared culture? What are the benefits: Growing big while staying small? Complementarity of research and synergies that create a total greater than the sum of the parts? Meeting societal and governmental expectations while remaining true to our fundamental values? These are challenging and fascinating issues that must be addressed. We will continue to seek your input and keep you abreast of developments. Welcome back and enjoy the exciting year ahead!
Dr. Max Blouw President and Vice-Chancellor
Senior administrators appointed Dr. Leo Groarke, principal and vice-president of the Laurier Brantford campus, has accepted the appointment of acting vicepresident: academic. His term runs from Dr. Leo Groarke. August 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, at which time he will return to his position at Brantford. Groarke was instrumental in developing the innovative Contemporary Studies
curriculum at the heart of Brantford’s degree programs, and he helped forge unique partnerships with Nipissing University, Mohawk College and Conestoga College. “I am very excited about the appointment,” he said. “It will be difficult to step away from Laurier Brantford during such an exciting time in that campus’ development, but I look forward to making significant contributions to our entire multi-campus university in this new role.” Meanwhile, Dr. Bruce Arai, dean of the Brantford campus, has been appointed the acting
principal/vice-president of Laurier Brantford. His term also runs from August 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. Dr, Kathryn Carter, associate dean of Laurier Brantford, will succeed Arai as acting dean for the same term. “I am delighted to welcome Drs. Arai and Carter to their new roles at Laurier Brantford,” said Laurier president, Dr. Max Blouw. “Each has a history of accomplishment and success at Laurier Brantford that will serve us well as the university continues to grow and diversify.”
InsideLaurier is published by The Department of Public Affairs Wilfrid Laurier University 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5
InsideLaurier Volume 1, Number 4, September 2008
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: Tiffany Bradley, Kevin Crowley, Jim Hertel, Peter Lee, 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
Being an associate professor of political science at Laurier carries with it an interest in multilateral relations, global governance and international cooperation. So, when Dr. Patricia Goff, who is also a senior research fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), was named the new executive director of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) in June, it was an excellent fit. “Keeping ACUNS here at Laurier is timely because of the momentum surrounding global governance studies in the Waterloo area, as well as Laurier’s growth in related programs,” said Goff. “It’s also an incredible professional challenge for me to oversee the programming, finances and general administration of an organization that I believe can make an important contribution to the study and practice of international governance.” Laurier won the honour, in partnership with CIGI, of hosting the ACUNS secretariat for a second five-year term — the first time an institution has been chosen for back-to-back terms. ACUNS initially relocated from its home at Yale University to Laurier in 2003, marking the first time in 15 years the
Dr. Patricia Goff, takes over as director of ACUNS.
prominent organization had been headquartered outside of the United States. ACUNS represents nearly 800 international scholars and practitioners from around the globe who study the workings and effectiveness of the United Nations system, as well as international organization, international law and the processes of multilateralism in international relations. It plays a unique role in facilitating boundary-crossing conversations — between scholars and policy officials; figures from the developed and developing worlds; and scholars of international relations and international law. ACUNS will be hosting an event on World Food Day, October 16, 2008, featuring an open house at its offices at 165 Albert Street, and an evening public lecture by Dr. Susan Horton entitled, “Fighting Malnutrition: The Copenhagen Consensus Solution.”
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Email: insidelaurier@wlu.ca
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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October 2008 CAMPUS | COMMUNITY | CONNECTIONS
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ENVISIONING LAURIER You have a way with words Essay writing contest a big success
Photo: Mallory O’Brien
As part of the Envisioning Laurier exercise, an essay contest was held earlier this year. Staff, faculty, students, alumni and community members were invited to share their aspirations for Laurier. The response was fantastic, with more than 75 essays submitted. At the conclusion of the contest, a random draw was held and 10 individuals were
treated to dinner with Laurier’s president, Dr. Max Blouw. The evening was filled with lively conversation as the participants discussed how Laurier can leverage its unique qualities as the university evolves over the next 30 years. To read excerpts from some of the essays, visit the Envisioning Laurier website at www.wlu.ca/ envisioning.
From left: Public affairs staff members Lori Chalmers Morrison, Dawn Wharnsby, Mikael Christensen and Amanda St. Marie take part in the Envisioning Laurier workshop. Are you interested in participating? Email kjeffreys@wlu.ca for more information.
Thoughts? Comments? Join the discussion online Laurier is launching its first-ever web forum to encourage conversation, solicit opinions and exchange ideas about the future of the university. The forum is part of the Envisioning Laurier initiative, which will help the university develop a mission statement to help guide it over the next 30 years. To participate in the online discussion, or to simply read what others are thinking about Laurier’s future, visit www.wlu.ca/envisioning.
Enter the Envisioning Laurier photo contest! Calling all shutterbugs. If you enjoy photography and would like to visually express your idea of Laurier’s future, here’s your opportunity. The Envisioning Laurier photo contest is calling for photo submissions that depict the theme: “Capturing the Essence of Laurier’s Future.” Ten finalists will be chosen by representatives of the Envisioning Laurier Senate Committee. The finalists will have their photos put on display at the Robert Langen Art Gallery, after which time the images will be displayed in Laurier’s Senate and Board Chamber. The winning photo, chosen by an online vote, will also become the new banner for the Envisioning Laurier website.
Meet Sir Wilfrid Laurier The Waterloo and Brantford campuses will be hosting a very special visitor during the coming weeks — Sir Wilfrid Laurier! This former lawyer, journalist, politician, seventh prime minister of Canada and the face of the five dollar bill will be touring the Laurier campuses. He wants to hear
your ideas and vision for his namesake university. Don’t be shy — stop and chat with Laurier, and share your ideas with one of Canada’s greatest statesmen. Visit the Envisioning Laurier website to watch his encounters with staff, faculty, students and community members online.
The photo contest is open to the entire Laurier community, including faculty, staff, students and the surrounding Brantford and K-W areas. Contest closes at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 31, 2008. Submissions will be judged based on the appropriateness to the theme, originality and creativity, and composition.
To enter the contest and to read the full contest rules and submission guidelines, please visit the Envisioning Laurier website at www/wlu.ca/ envisioning.
What can happen in 30 years? Are you having trouble envisioning a future for Laurier? Thirty years may seem far away, but a lot can happen in three decades. The possibilities for change are endless. Just think about some of the changes that have occurred in the past 30 years:
Thirty years ago the first com-
Sir Wilfrid Laurier is coming to campus.
Thirty years ago ... Laurier was the only university in Ontario to show an overall increase in first-year applications.
mercial mobile phone network was launched in Japan. Today, over three billion people — roughly half the world’s population — have cell phones, making it the most commonly used technological device on the planet. And these days we’re not just tallking on our mobile phones, we’re also receiving email, listening to music, surfing the Internet and playing games.
In 1978 the first students graduated from Laurier’s business co-op program. Today, Laurier has the largest business co-op program in Canada.
Shhh ... it’s a secret Feeling shy? Here’s a way to anonymously contribute your vision for the future of Laurier. Based on the popular “PostSecret” concept, simply fill in the accompanying postcard and drop it in one of the vision postcard boxes located at various locations on the Waterloo and Brantford campuses. You can also send it anonymously through inter-office mail addressed to the Special Projects Manager, Room P2078. Use your imagination — write, draw, it’s up to you. A selection of postcards will be displayed on bulletin boards in the Concourse on the Waterloo campus and the lower level
of the Carnegie Building in Brantford. New cards will be posted regularly, so stop by and browse the secret visions of your colleagues. Additional postcards are available at the bookstore or in front of the vision postcard boards. Drop boxes will be available at the following locations: Waterloo: 202 Regina Street, the Registrar’s Office, The Hub in the Concourse and the Fred Nichols Campus Centre. Brantford: Carnegie Building, Room 200 and the Vice-President’s Office.
ENVISIONING
Drop boxes will be available at the following locations: Waterloo 202 Regina Street, the Registrar’s Office, The Hub in the Concourse and the Fred Nichols Campus Centre. Brantford Carnegie Building, Room 200 and the Vice-President’s Office.
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Laurier Brantford establishes first research institute Tshepo Institute for the Study of Contemporary Africa will focus on the developing world
By Mallory O’Brien Laurier Brantford professors Dr. Lamine Diallo and Dr. Peter Farrugia have seen first-hand the adversities African peoples face on a daily basis. In addition to their numerous international research projects, both have worked with Laurier students to assist front-line workers in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. Wanting to do more to support African aid efforts, Diallo and Farrugia established the Tshepo
Institute for the Study of Contemporary Africa (TISCA), Laurier Brantford’s first research centre. Laurier’s senate approved the new institute in May. The objectives of the Tshepo (meaning “hope” and pronounced “SAY-po”) Institute include fostering research partnerships with academics in sub-Saharan Africa; providing practical assistance to African community development organizations; raising awareness of the issues confronting contemporary Africa;
and facilitating student and faculty exchanges with institutions in Botswana, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa and other African states. “We’re hoping to not only raise awareness of the significant challenges facing the people of sub-Saharan Africa, but also the immense resources in cultural vitality and creative thinking that are being marshaled to meet those challenges,” said Farrugia. TISCA draws on the expertise of nine Brantford faculty members from various programs
Laurier hosts training camp for Canadian ‘mathletes’ Students earn six medals at international math competition By Mallory O’Brien Six of the brightest math minds from high schools across Canada spent almost two weeks at Laurier over the summer attending the Canadian Mathematical Society training camp. The camp, organized by Laurier math professor Dr. Edward Wang, helped prepare the students for the 49th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). The IMO is the world championship mathematics competition for high school students and was held this year in Madrid, Spain, from July 10 to July 22. The six Canadian team members were selected from among more than 200,000 students in grades seven to 12 and pitted their skills against more than 450 of the world’s best students from over 80 countries. “To have the IMO summer training camp here shows that Laurier is interested and supportive of math competitions at the highest level and math education in general,” said Wang. “Students in the area will gain knowledge about this competition and other related ones as well. We hope we’ll be 4
inviting the next generation of math wizards back to Laurier again.” The training camp was also an opportunity to showcase the university’s math program, which has been expanding over the years. Last year, Laurier launched a Financial Mathematics program, and this year the university is offering a graduate degree in Mathematics for Science and Finance. For the Canadian math team,
all their training paid off in Spain. All six students excelled at the Olympiad, bringing home two silver and four bronze medals. Canada finished 22 out of 96 countries, an improvement over last year’s 27th-place finish. “It doesn’t happen too often that everyone on the team comes home with a medal,” said Wang. “So, overall we did very well.”
Dr. Peter Farrugia and Dr. Lamine Diallo.
who have research interests in contemporary Africa, international development and health policy issues. Although their specific interests range across the continent and focus on countries such as Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe, there are, says Farrugia, “many common themes in our work that make a collaboration possible.” Diallo, who lived in Africa for most of his life, has always been interested in helping the developing world. His recent projects in Africa include partnership building in Benin and Senegal and capacity building in the Congo. Both Diallo and Farrugia have worked closely with Project Empathy, a non-profit organization founded by Laurier Brantford students. Since its creation in 2003, it has mounted public awareness presentations
SEPTEMBER continued
After completing hands-on and in-class training for staff at the dining hall and other food outlets, the weeks before September are spent serving the dons and Laurier’s football camp. “It’s like our annual teambuilding exercise,” she said. “Returning staff get a chance to work at stations they usually don’t, and new staff get to see what a typical two hours in the dining hall is like.” All the hard work pays off during orientation week, when staff and faculty officially welcome students to campus. “To see the excitement on the students’ faces and watching it unfold is exciting for us,” said Belanger. “Of course, there are problems that will need sorting: a female student who accidentally applies as male and winds up on
PLAYWRIGHT continued
Back row from left: Team leaders Adrian Tang, Dr. Edward Wang, Yufei Zhao, Lindsey Shorser, Jacob Tsimerman, Dr. Christopher Small, Dr. Ed Barbeau and Dr Felix Recio. Front row, from left: Students Chengyue (Jarno) Sun, Jonathan Schneider, Xiao Lin (Danny) Shi, Alexander Remorov, Chen Sun, Yan (Cynthia) Li.
These earlier plays include Fighting Words, a three-woman play about Welsh pugilist Johnny Owen who was killed in a world-title bout, and Fight of the Century, which won a Shaw Festival competition. Kuruvilla says the opportunity at Stratford is possible only because of the support he has received from the Laurier community. “I had to give up a full-time job at the university to go to grad school, and I was
in Canada and has organized three humanitarian trips to Botswana. A number of TISCA participants are already engaged in advanced research projects. Journalist Rick Gamble has recently completed production of a documentary film on the civil war in Uganda, and Laurier professor and archaeologist/ anthropologist Dr. Gary Warrick just returned from South Africa, where he was working to establish a heritage tourism project for indigenous people in KwaZulu-Natal. TISCA is planning a number of initiatives for the upcoming academic year. It is working to bring the Kenyan ambassador in Canada to Brantford for a public lecture this fall, and it has invited Dr. Maitseo Bolaane of the University of Botswana to speak on the status of the indigenous San people in Botswana. A film series featuring the work of directors from across the African continent is also in the works. “As a university, we should be doing more than just teaching,” said Diallo. “We should be involved in the global community, and the challenges Africa faces are some of the greatest we’ve ever seen.”
a floor surrounded by boys; or a 6’10”-tall student who needs a much longer bed. Move-in day is always interesting.” Ough and her team serve food to as many as 3,000 tired first years every night on the Waterloo campus during orientation week. “It’s hectic, but exciting,” she said. “Staff members get to meet the students they will be seeing every day, and the students make it worthwhile — they are the reason why we do what we do.” Students are encouraged to meet the Food Services team to discuss their food options. The chefs enjoy the relationship and the challenge of meeting their needs. “The first few weeks are challenging,” said Ough. “Every year we go into September with anxiety, but then we realize that we did it every day last year, and we’ll do it again this year.”
terrified I would flunk out of the program at Yale,” he said. “My bosses at the time, Arthur Stephen and Lynne Hanna, gave me the courage to try. Also, my current bosses at Laurier, Dr. Charles Morrison and Joan Leach, have always supported my creative work, encouraging my efforts. On top of all that, Dr. Eleanor Ty has been teaching the play in some of her English courses the last few years. I’m a very blessed guy, supported by many people here.”
September 2008 NEWS Laurier wins first place in Commuter Challenge Wilfrid Laurier University won first place for participation in the Canadian Commuter Challenge in the 501+ employees category for Waterloo Region, beating out other large employers like the City of Kitchener and the City of Waterloo. The Commuter Challenge, which took place June 2 to 6, encourages participants to walk, bike, rollerblade, take public transit or carpool to work in an effort to reduce vehicle emissions and traffic congestion. This is the seventh year Laurier has participated, with about 20 percent of employees joining the challenge. “We are very proud of the
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What’s new and notable at Laurier
number of Laurier employees who continue to support the Commuter Challenge every year,” said Mary Basler, manager of Parking & Transportation Resources. Waterloo Region performed well overall, ranking first in Ontario and fourth in Canada for participation in its population category. Laurier contributed to the 140,045 kilometres that Waterloo Region participants commuted during the challenge, saving more than 28,000 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions. Laurier launches new Institute for Water Science The university has established
the Laurier Institute for Water Science (LIWS), which will develop solutions-based research and policy recommendations to protect and sustain Canada’s water supply. “Canada has significant water resources that, until recently, most citizens have taken for granted as clean, reliable and inexhaustible,” said LIWS director Dr. Jim McGeer, an associate biology professor at Laurier. “However, there is a growing realization that ongoing community and economic development, as well as the changing climate, will fundamentally alter our approach to water management.” Laurier researchers at the LIWS will examine the competition for
water access within Canada, the effects of changing climate on water resources and the sustainability of healthy aquatic and coastal ecosystems. Career Development Centre wins national awards Laurier’s Career Development Centre received two national awards from the Canadian Association of Career Educators & Employers (CACEE). The Centre received the Educational Institution Recognition Award for its strong support of CACEE over the years. A second honour – the Outstanding Achievement Award – was presented to Partnerships for Employment, a collaboration between Laurier, Conestoga College and the universities of Guelph and Waterloo. It recognizes the contributions to the field of career planning and recruitment through the development and co-sponsorship of the largest annual Career Fairs and Job Fairs in Canada. Community Psychology program receives inaugural Langs Farm Award Thirty years ago, faculty members and graduate students from Laurier’s community psychology program were instrumental in founding the Langs Farm Village Association, an organization that provides accessible community services to Cambridge residents. It’s fitting then, that Langs Farm has recognized the program
Laurier employees join the Hawk for a walk in support of the Commuter Challenge.
with the first annual Muriel Bechtel Award for Educational Partners. The award was established in honour of Bechtel, a founding member of the organization who encourages lifelong learning. It acknowledges educational partners who support the organization, facilitate learning and create research opportunities. “It is a great honour and privilege to receive this award,” said community psychology professor Dr. Geoff Nelson. “It is very humbling.” Laurier conducts national search for paintings by Woldemar Neufeld Laurier will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of artist Woldemar Neufeld in 2009, and is conducting a national search for his paintings. Born in the Ukraine in 1909, Neufeld spent 11 formative years in Waterloo, and is well known for his paintings of local scenes. He died in 2002 at the age of 93. Laurier holds the largest collection of his work, with more than 400 pieces in the university’s permanent art collection. To celebrate his birth, Wilfrid Laurier Press will publish a new book titled Woldemar Neufeld’s Canada to coincide with the anniversary date. The university is search across the country for Neufeld paintings to include in the book.
Laurier to celebrate 80th Homecoming Top comedian Russell Peters will perform
Photos: Peter Lee
One of Canada’s top entertainers, is bringing me,” said Peters. “What most people probably comedian Russell Peters, will don’t know is that just after I perform at a sold-out show at was born, my parents moved to Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Waterloo for a while — so it’s September 20 at 7:30 p.m. as part Homecoming for me as well.” of Laurier’s Homecoming 2008 More than 10,000 people are celebrations. expected at Homecoming, which “We are thrilled to have Russell runs from Friday, September 19 Peters joining our 80th annual to Sunday, September 21. Homecoming celebrations in The festivities officially begin September,” said Brian Breckles, on Friday with the Dean’s director of Alumni Relations. Alumni Golf Classic at the Rebel “Having Peters join our weekend Creek Golf Club, followed by the of events takes the celebration Athletic Hall of Fame dinner that to a whole new level. We hope evening. that staff, faculty and the greater Saturday kicks off with a free community can join us for what pancake breakfast in the quad. will be a spectacular show.” The gates to University Stadium Peters, a Brampton native open at 11 a.m. for pre-game who lives in Los Angeles, has family fun, including rides, face been nominated for four Gemini painting and a barbecue. Awards and hosted this year’s The Golden Hawks will Juno Awards. kick-off against the Windsor His 2006 Lancers at 1 p.m. Kids can particcomedy album, ipate in games, crafts and other Outsourced, has activities in the Junior Hawks gone multiprogram until halftime. platinum in Homecoming wraps up on Canada, and Sunday with the inaugural he recently Laurier Loop charity race with sold-out Russell Peters proceeds going to the Laurier Madison Movement Disorder Research & Square Garden, Los Angeles’ Rehabilitation Centre (MDRC). new Nokia Theatre and The For tickets and more inforSydney Opera House. mation about Homecoming, visit “I didn’t get a chance to bring www.laurieralumnisite.com/ my own Homecoming Tour to homecoming. Waterloo, so now Homecoming
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people at laurier
Dr. Phelim Boyle was awarded a Gold Medal for his 30 years of outstanding contributions to actuarial science by the UK-based Institute of Actuaries. It is the first time in 10 years the organization has found a candidate for its highest honour. The prestigious award – only 13 have been granted since the award was established in 1919 – is given only to honour work that is of pre-eminent importance. Through his extensive and innovative research, Boyle pioneered work on pricing financial risks and developing products to transfer risks. Dr. Kate Connolly has been appointed director of the Centre for Community Service-Learning. In addition to her experience
For a complete list of announcements visit www.wlu.ca/hr
working with Waterloo Region community groups, Dr. Connolly brings a history of CSL-based work from her previous position at Concordia University. Associate business professor Dr. Michael Haughton will be the 2008-09 Fulbright Visiting Chair in trans-border studies at Arizona State University. He will study the evolving role of trans-border transportation in the economic vitality of Canada-U.S. Trade. English and film studies PhD student Jenny Wills received a Fulbright Student Award. Dr. Chris Klassen, assistant professor of religion and culture, has written a new book called Storied Selves: Shaping Identity in Feminist Witchcraft. In the book, she analyzes three novels to explore how feminist Witches
construct their post-colonial, maternal and holistic identities.
contribute an additional $50,000.
Mayura Stratopoulos, intermediate administrative assistant, SBE.
New appointments: Dr. Robert Kristofferson, a professor in Laurier Brantford’s contemporary studies and history departments, was awarded a 2008 Clio Book prize for his historical book about 19th-century craftworkers in Hamilton, Ontario. Dr. Sukhvinder Obhi won a prestigous Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation. He will receive $100,000 to support his research into understanding how spatial information is represented in the brain. The award also gives the university up to $40,000 for indirect costs and Laurier will
Dorinda Kruger Allen, coordinator: development and administration, Seminary.
John Will, coordinator: facilities, Residential Services. Changes in staff appointments:
Brian Bailey, HR assistant, Human Resources.
Susan Alisat, research coordinator, Psychology.
Mark Bruvelaitis, media technician, Media Technology Resources.
Brenda Burns, administrative assistant, ACUNS.
Marc Crombeen, systems architect, ITS. Rachel Dann, office assistant II, Vice-President: Academic Office. Laurier Frosty, administrative assistant, Laurier Brantford. Dena Honig, career consultant II, Career Development Centre.
Karen Everett, employment service assistant, Career Services. Ruth MacNeil, admin manager, Faculty of Arts. Mary Mason, development assistant, Development. Kendra Young, admin manager, Faculty of Science. Retirements:
Dr. Carol Duncan, associate professor and chair of the Religion and Culture Department, has written a new book called This Spot of Ground, Spiritual Baptists in Toronto. It examines how the immigration experiences of Spiritual Baptists from the Caribbean shape the religion’s development in Canada, and in turn, how the religion influences their life in a new country. “For many immigrants, religion is the one thing that needs to stay the same, but it can’t,” said Duncan. “There’s a tension; a push and pull between religion and cultural influences that shapes the traditions within the religion.” This Spot of Ground is published by Wilfrid Laurier University Press.
Religon and culture celebrates retirements, new arrivals By Lori Chalmers Morrison A celebration, three departures and three arrivals. What sounds like a scene at the airport is actually the kind of activity that’s been keeping the Religion and Culture department flying at high speeds in recent months. The department is celebrating with a Festschrift — a published book of articles that commemorates an academic’s career. Dr. Michel Desjardins and Dr. Harold Remus (Emeritus) are editing submissions from scholars around the world to include in the Festschrift honoring Dr. Peter Erb, who recently retired from Laurier. Erb taught English at Laurier for 14 years and was a Religion and Culture professor for 23 years. He received a Laurier Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in 1990.
“Peter shaped the discipline and influenced generations of students,” said Dr. Carol Duncan, associate professor and department chair. The department also said goodbye to Dr. Ron Grimes, who leaves Laurier after 34 years of teaching. Grimes helped initiate the Ritual Studies Group of the American Academy of Religion, founded the Journal of Ritual Studies and helped establish the Laurier-Waterloo PhD in Religious Studies. But Erb and Grimes won’t have much time to relax. Erb will teach at the University of Prince Edward Island and serve as associate director of Pennsylvania’s Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center. Oxford University Press will also publish his 20-year project: a three-volume critical edition of
Manning-Gladstone correspondence. Grimes will become the new chair of ritual studies at Radboud University in The Netherlands and plans to write a ritual studies book series. He will also direct an international project through a Humanities Internationalization grant. In other news, the department graduated its first PhD student from the joint Laurier-University of Waterloo Religious Studies doctorate program. Joanne Benham Rennick will publish her study on religion in the Canadian Forces with a foreword by Romeo Dallaire. On the arrivals side, the department welcomed Dr. Meena Sharify-Funk last fall. This year the department welcomes Dr. Richard Walker, and Dr. Chris Klassen has accepted a one-year limited teaching appointment.
The name game Can you match the employees name with his or her department? It might just be coincidence, but these Laurier employees are perfectly named for their departments. See if you can match them up!
Answers: 1-f, 2-c, 3-d, 4-a, 5-b, 6-e
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Dr. Jeremy Bell Tyler Wunder Dr. John Banks Dr. Markus Poetzsch Taylor Marks Matt Tales
a) English b) Faculty of Education c) Philosophy d) School of Business & Economics e) Library f) Faculty of Music
Lisa McPherson, part-time FSA, Food Services. Sheldon Pereria, residence life resource facilitator, Residential Services. Nicholas Pokorny, supervisor: micro and molecular biology labs, Biology.
Ann Duffy, administrative secretary. 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.
What are you reading
?
Name: Helen Paret Job Title: Manager, Graduate Administration Book Title: A Thousand Splendid Suns Author: Khaled Hossein
What are you reading
?
What are you listening to?
I read Hossein’s earlier book The Kite Runner and was so taken with his portrayal of the human spirit, through happy times and through the most unimaginable and frightening circumstances. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on A Thousand Splendid Suns and I enjoyed it tremendously. His stories evoke such emotion — I highly recommend both books.
What are you listening to? Name: Peter Kuling Job Title: Professor, English and Film Studies CD Title: I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too Artist: Martha Wainwright
I picked up this disc after my best friend took me to see Martha Wainwright perform live in Toronto. I’m not a Rufus Wainwright fan and I was skeptical about listening to his sister, but I was impressed by her concert and this CD captures her unique and captivating presence. Her songs are a great blend of country, blues and poetry. If you’ve got some heartache, this disc will definitely help you sort through it.
September 2008 coffee with a co-worker
CAMPUS COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
VOL. 1 NO. 1 APRIL 7,2008
CAMPUS CONNECTIONS COMMUNITY
VOL. 1 NO. 1 APRIL 7,2008
A look at staff and faculty across campus
Meet Laurier’s design duo Names: Johanna Romero & Carol Kego.
Photo: Lori Chalmers Morrison
Jobs: Romero is coordinator: design and construction. Kego is coordinator: interior design and renovations. Where you can find them: First door on your left at 202 Regina Street, in the Physical Resources Department. How they take their coffee: Romero: two milk, two sugar; Kego: three cream, 1.5 sugar. Johanna Romero, left, and Carol Kego, right, use their design savvy to help keep the interiors of campus buildings looking smart.
Can you describe your jobs at Laurier? JR: We meet with internal clients to find out their needs, which can be as small as a new chair to as big as a complete renovation. We come up with designs and give them a cost breakdown. CK: We like budgets in advance. Sometimes clients want a Porsche but all they can afford is an electric bike! JR: We execute the design and hire people as needed. We act as project managers, or for larger projects we work with general contractors or architects. Do you work separately or together?
coming Events
Web CT Training for Instructors When: September 10 & 12 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Where: BA207, Waterloo campus To register, visit the Teaching Support Services web page. Learn the basics of Web CT and how to make it work for your course. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers Rookie Game When: September 15 7:00 p.m. Where: Kitchener Auditorium Cost: $5.00 for alumni; $15 and $20 regular price. Catch the action at the 2008 Toronto Maple Leafs Rookie Tournament, and see the top draft picks from Toronto and Florida. Tickets are available at Centre in Square until September 12. The password to receive the alumni ticket price is HAWK. NSERC Grant Application Information Session When: September 17 9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. Where: Science boardroom N1053, Waterloo campus Please RSVP to research@wlu.ca. NSERC staff and grant selection committee members will give a presentation on NSERC news and tips on how to prepare a Discovery Grant Application.
JR: Usually on separate projects. CK: But we bounce ideas off each other. What’s the most popular colour choice at Laurier right now? JR & CK (together): Red! And earth tones. JR: And wood. People want a wood-look lately. CK: But not real wood. It’s extremely expensive. We use products that resemble real wood at a reasonable price. What has been your most exciting project so far? JR: Career and Co-op. It was
my first overall building and a really exciting project with unique requirements. CK: The Grad Pub. They were open to all possibilities. There are only so many options in other areas of the university! How have tastes changed and how do you make sure things don’t become dated? CK: Tastes change as staff and work environments change. We use classic colours with trendy splashes here and there. We also use eco-friendly paint and flooring materials now. JR: And things that are Canadian-made. At some point things will become dated — we
stay away from things that will date quickly. CK: We also make small changes like recovering chairs and changing wall colours to update spaces. What do you enjoy most about your jobs? JR: I love that it varies from day to day. You meet different people with different personalities. CK: I agree 100 percent. There’s never a dull moment. And you get to spend other people’s money (wink). It’s a lot of fun! If you could redesign any space on campus, what would it be?
JR: Arts C & E wing. CK: I was thinking the same thing! What would you do to jazz it up? CK: Renovate and add architectural interest. We transformed 1E1 over the summer with architectural detail, changing finishes and new tablets. JR: We brought it up to code. It’s not just about looks, it’s about meeting building codes and accessibility standards.
By Lori Chalmers Morrison
For a complete list of events visit www.wlu.ca/events
Homecoming 2008 When: September 19-21 Where: Various locations For a complete schedule and tickets visit www.wlu.ca/ homecoming.
Envisioning Laurier Workshop When: September 24 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Where: Paul Martin Centre To register: email Kory Jeffrey at kjeffrey@wlu.ca.
Celebrate Homecoming 2008 and cheer the Golden Hawks to victory as they take on the Windsor Lancers at University Stadium. There will be activities for the whole family, including the Alumni Golf Classic, a free pancake breakfast and the inaugural Laurier Loop charity race.
What are your aspirations for Laurier? Come share your ideas in an interactive workshop. Only 40 people can be accommodated, so register early!
Royal Medieval Faire When: September 20 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Where: Waterloo Park Cost: $5.00/adult, $2.50/ children 10 and under. Enjoy a medieval day in 21st-century Waterloo with food, music, dancing, magic, and authentic costumes and decorations. Music at Noon When: September 23 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Where: Maureen Forrester Recital Hall Cost: Free Enjoy your lunch while Dan Lichti, baritone, Charlene Pauls, soprano, and Leslie De’Ath, piano, perform.
Ontario Universities’ Fair When: September 26-28 Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre Cost: Free Do you have a son or daughter graduating from secondary school? Interested in learning about Ontario’s 20 universities? Meet with representatives and find out more at this annual fair. Word on the Street When: September 28 Where: Victoria Park, Kitchener For a complete schedule of events visit www.wordonthestreet.ca. This national festival celebrates Canadian books, magazines, reading, writing and literacy. This year’s event features author signings, readings, face painting, chalk art, performers, exhibitors and more.
Tips for fitting bicycle helmets Are you trying to save gas money and riding your bike to work? Here are some tips on how to properly fit a bike helmet. • A helmet should fit snugly on the top of your head and not obstruct your field of vision. The front of the helmet should be about two finger widths above the eyebrows. • The “V” part of the chin straps should fit snugly with the “V” coming together right below the earlobe.
• Test your helmet by shaking your head forward and back. The helmet should stay in place. • Do not use a helmet after it has been involved in an accident. Even very small cracks in the helmet may greatly reduce its effectiveness in preventing injury. Adapted from SafetyNet, the newsletter of the Joint Health and Safety Committee. For information visit www.wlu.ca/eohs and click the SafetyNet Newsletter link in the left-hand menu.
• You should be able to fit one finger between the chin strap and under the chin. Always wear the helmet with the chin strap firmly buckled.
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CAMPUS COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
VOL. 1 NO. 1 APRIL 7,2008
CAMPUS CONNECTIONS COMMUNITY
VOL. 1 NO. 1 APRIL 7,2008
September 2008
In the classroom
A look inside the lecture hall
Generating diverse ideas Professor: Dr. Fang Wang Class: Building and Managing Products, Services and Brands, School of Business & Economics Description: A case-oriented course that applies marketing theories to real world decisionmaking processes.
Giving students hands-on experience is the goal of this marketing course taught by Dr. Fang Wang, who has been at Laurier for five years. She uses cases and experiential exercises to help students develop the analytic and communication skills they will need to solve marketing problems. “Instead of providing answers, I challenge students with questions and help them to identify the necessary skills to develop their own answers,” said Wang. “This makes the course interesting because we are all different and generate diverse ideas.” In addition to giving students exposure to a variety of business situations, Wang shows that the theories and skills they learn in the classroom can help them in daily tasks. “I prefer to think of my role in the classroom as an enabler,” said Wang. “I wish to help students develop the right attitude and learning abilities.” By Mallory O’Brien
Photo: Dean Palmer
Dr. Fang Wang leads a classroom discussion in her marketing course.
Brantford’s University Centre to open in 2010 Forget purple and gold; the centre’s design aims for green and silver By Lori Chalmers Morrison Over the past few years, Laurier Brantford has been injecting new life into historical buildings in Brantford’s Heritage Block. But alongside the bricks and mortar, the campus has also been laying the foundation for its own unique heritage, and the new University Centre will be the cornerstone.
Set to open by early 2010 on the corner of Dalhousie and Charlotte Streets, the $20-million facility will not only help meet students’ desire for a campus atmosphere, but it will also serve as a microcosm of the campus itself. Inside its doors, nearly every facet of the university is represented, from the cafeteria and community bookstore to academic space, administrative
areas and residence accommodations. Outside, the courtyards and pathways will create a campus environment. While the centre will be built in a heritage style to reflect Brantford as it was 100 to 150 years ago, the design approach is very much 21st century. For the first time, Laurier will aim to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED®) Silver certification through the Canada Green Building Council. To do so, the building design, by MMMC Architects of Brantford, must meet criteria for environmental responsibility and energy efficiency. It’s something that only 13 buildings in Ontario and 34 in Canada have achieved. “We’re aiming to decrease the environmental footprint of the
building through sustainable design,” explained Gary Nower, Laurier’s assistant vicepresident of physical resources. “We’re looking at life-cycle costs and considering things like energy conservation, positioning the building to maximize natural light and decrease energy use, lower water consumption and sustainable landscape design.”
A recent drawing of Brantford’s University Centre, slated to open in early 2010. The $20-million facility is aiming for LEED Silver certification for environmental responsibility and energy efficiency.
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