CAMPUS | COMMUNITY | CONNECTIONS
CAMPUS | COMMUNITY | CONNECTIONS
• September 2011
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Homecoming, galas and more: centennial celebrations move towards grand finale
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CAMPUS | COMMUNITY | CONNECTIONS
Campus decoder: the Laurier prof who built his own electric car from scratch – in 1981
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VOL. 1 | NO. 1 | APRIL 7,2008 Weird science: quantum theory meets the butterfly effect
Laurier’s centennial celebrations rev up CAMPUS | CONNECTIONS | COMMUNITY
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Photo: Mallory O’Brien
For Laurier’s centennial class of incoming first-years, Orientation Week is a blur of frantic activity, over in the blink of an eye. But for the student leaders who are putting it all together, the prep work has been going on since March. It’s no wonder: this year’s incoming class is Laurier’s largest ever, with just under 4,000 new students descending on the Waterloo campus alone. There are info sessions and barbecues to plan, parties and Shinerama activities to arrange – and over 600 student volunteers to manage and support in a multitude of roles along the way. It’s a lot of responsibility for the WLUSU organizers behind the festivities, but Kevin Duquette, director of orientation on the Waterloo campus (pictured in photo, on right), calls his job “a once in a lifetime chance.” “I just love the camaraderie,” he says. “It’s been such a privilege to work with the team and watch them come together and do something beautiful, to change and inspire lives.”
From left: Ryan Sweeney, operations executive; Lisa Andreana, vice-president of programming; Emily Butcher, head ice-breaker; and Kevin Duquette, director of orientation.
Laurier centennial history book slated for release this fall
By Lori Chalmers Morrison
By Nicholas Dinka
Laurier and the YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/ Brantford took one step closer to a new community athletics and recreation centre when the Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure announced more than $16 million in funding for the project. The investment, announced at a news conference in mid-July by the Honourable Bob Chiarelli and Brant MPP Dave Levac, is a significant contribution towards the development of a 115,000-squarefoot facility to be used by Laurier students and the broader Brantford community. The crowd of partners, community members and YMCA camp children at the event met the news with enthusiastic cheers and a standing ovation. During the announcement,
Photo: Simon Wilson
Provincial government commits more than $16M to joint Laurier–YMCA facility in Brantford
From left: Chris Friel, Brantford mayor; Jim Commerford, pres. & CEO, YMCA Hamilton/ Burlington/Brantford; Bob Chiarelli, Ont. min. of infrastructure; Dave Levac, Brant MPP; Lesley Cooper, acting principal/VP, Laurier Brantford; Max Blouw, Laurier president.
political and institutional leaders spoke passionately about the impact of community and educational investment and the power of partnerships. In addition to Laurier Brantford and the YMCA, project partners include the City of Brantford, Six Nations, Nipissing University and
Mohawk College. “The province’s Building for the Future and Putting Students First programs are visionary and show not only how we can transform individuals through education, but also how we can transform REC CENTRE see page 6
Andrew Thomson says that books of institutional history can sometimes be slow going for the average reader – the overall story of how a place came to be can get lost amid discussions of financial minutiae and the minutes of longforgotten meetings. It’s a problem that Thomson and his editors were careful to avoid in their upcoming book of Laurier history, commissioned by the university in commemoration of the university’s centennial. “For this project, what we wanted was an overview of how the university developed, a look at some of the characters who helped make the place what it is, and some photos of life here over the decades,” Thomson says. “Basically, we wanted to tell a great story.”
The resulting book will be published later this fall, as Laurier’s year-long centennial celebrations approach their finale. Divided into nine chapters, it is a chronological account of the university’s hundred-year progression from its roots in 1911, as the Evangelical Lutheran Seminary of Canada, to the major, multi-campus institution it is today. “The history book is one of the initiatives that is viewed as a special legacy from the centennial year,” says Jacqui Tam, Laurier’s assistant vice-president of Communications, Public Affairs & Marketing. “Andy is known for really making history come alive through the stories he tells, and we were thrilled when he was willing to take on the project.” The book covers such milestones in Laurier’s evolution CENTENNIAL HISTORY see page 6
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September 2011
president’s message
September is a glorious month on a university campus, full of fresh beginnings and a vibrant sense of optimism and possibility. At Laurier, this September will be even more exciting than usual. The university’s centennial activities pick up in earnest this month as we prepare to celebrate our 100th anniversary on Oct. 30. Some of the upcoming highlights include Homecoming 2011, which features a special centennial alumni event and the introduction of our 100 Alumni of Achievement; the unveiling of a new heritage plaque near the Seminary and a statue of Sir Wilfrid Laurier by the amphitheatre; and the final centennial weekend activities, which include musical concerts and an evening of food, fellowship and festivities in Bingemans Ballroom in Kitchener. Laurier is also hosting an international conference Oct. 20 entitled, Re-imagine: The Role and Future of Universities in a Changing World. Change
has been a constant theme throughout Laurier’s 100-year history as a post-secondary institution, so it is fitting that during our centennial we host a conference that addresses the most relevant issues facing universities today. These issues, which affect institutions of higher learning around the world, include the rapid growth of enrolment, dramatic changes in funding models, revolutionary advances in communications technology, and the ongoing influence of globalization. Keynote speakers and participants will explore complex and challenging questions, such as: Is there a more sustainable model of teaching and research in the age of exponential enrolment growth? What opportunities exist to re-envision the academy of higher learning? What elements of our traditional approach to education and research should we maintain, and what parts should we renew or replace?
The RE-imagine conference promises to be a day of stimulating and insightful discussion. It will also set the stage for the 2012 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, which Laurier will host, along with the University of Waterloo, from May 26 to June 2, 2012. For those of you who haven’t experienced Congress before, it is the largest annual gathering of scholars and researchers in Canada. Some 9,000 participants are expected to visit Laurier over the course of the weeklong event. Congress is both a prestigious and enormous undertaking, and many staff and faculty from Laurier have already put a considerable amount of work into planning for its success, with a great deal more work still to come. Hosting Congress is a great honour for Laurier. It is also a tremendous opportunity to showcase the breadth and depth of our abilities and achievements as a university community, especially as we embark on our
Photo: Simon Wilson
Looking forward to another great year for Laurier
Laurier President Max Blouw at the announcement of funding for the new YMCALaurier Brantford athletics and recreation centre, in July.
next century. I urge you to get involved and look for ways to make the most of this extraordinary event. The year ahead promises to be as exciting as the remarkable year that has just passed. I will be addressing some of our recent achievements and future goals in my annual town hall meetings, which take place Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. in Brantford’s Carnegie Building, and Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. in the
Turret on the Waterloo campus. I would be delighted for you to attend. Until then, I wish you the best for a successful and enjoyable year.
Dr. Max Blouw President and Vice-Chancellor
Global innovation: at Laurier, it all begins with a purple fence By Lori Chalmers Morrison When it’s complete, Wilfrid Laurier University’s Global Innovation Exchange will be a state-of-the-art facility and an iconic representation of Laurier’s leadership role in business and technology – and the first step is a purple fence. The construction fence (“hoarding”) – to be painted in Laurier’s signature purple – was erected at the beginning of September, signaling the start of site preparation for the $103-million Global Innovation Exchange (GIE) building. The hoarding will be placed around the site to provide protection from construction activity. Located on University Avenue at Laurier’s Waterloo campus, the GIE will house the School of Business and Economics and the Department of Mathematics. Demolition of the former St. Michael’s school on the site was scheduled to begin in early
September and will continue for approximately six weeks. During this six-week period, construction vehicles will use University Avenue to enter and exit the site. Laurier has arranged for the vehicles to avoid using the University Avenue entrance during the morning and afternoon rush hour periods between 8 and 9 a.m. and 4 and 5 p.m. to minimize traffic disruption. A number of parking spots behind the former St. Michael’s school will be unavailable during the demolition period, but will be available again by November. With recent campus moves to 255 King Street, the overall parking inventory at the Waterloo campus will remain constant. Regular updates about parking availability during the demolition phase and the construction phase will be posted to the GIE website (www. wlu.ca/gie) as they become available.
Laurier’s Special Constable Service will provide extra patrols at the St. Michael’s parking lot during the six-week demolition period when nighttime lighting will not be operational. Following the demolition phase, design work will continue behind the scenes until the start of construction, which is anticipated for fall 2012. The GIE building will be designed to achieve, at a minimum, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification. The university is committed to providing regular updates to the Laurier community and Waterloo residents throughout the design and construction period via the GIE project website: www.wlu.ca/gie. The site includes a photo gallery, project updates, answers to frequently asked questions and facility renderings. The GIE will be a signature
InsideLaurier is published by Communications, Public Affairs & Marketing (CPAM) Wilfrid Laurier University 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5
InsideLaurier Volume 5, Number 3, September 2011 Editor: Nicholas Dinka Assistant Editor: Lori Chalmers Morrison Design: Erin Steed Contributors: Sandra Muir, Mallory O’Brien, Lori Chalmers Morrison, Kevin Crowley, Kate Brand, Sara Lawrence, Samantha Dzikewicz, Simon Wilson, Tomasz Adamski, Ranier Leipscher, Dean Palmer, Tiffany Bradley
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facility, approximately 215,000 square feet and four storeys. Housing business and economics and mathematics within the GIE will not only allow Laurier to meet the growing demand for enrolment in these programs, it will also enhance synergies between the two areas and expand the university’s ability to deliver integrated and engaged learning
to students locally and globally. In June, John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, announced that the provincial government would invest $72.6 million toward the $103-million GIE facility, representing the largest single capital investment in the university’s history. The remaining funds will be raised through the university’s development efforts.
Send us your news, events & stories Email: ndinka@wlu.ca Deadline for submissions: September 15 All submissions are appreciated, however not all submissions will be published. We reserve the right to edit all copy for accuracy, content and length.
InsideLaurier welcomes your comments and suggestions for stories. Tel: (519) 884-0710 ext. 3341 | Fax: (519) 884-8848 Email: ndinka@wlu.ca InsideLaurier (circ. 2,100) is published eight times a year by CPAM. Opinions expressed in InsideLaurier do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the university’s administration. Available online at www.wlu.ca/publicaffairs. Printed on recycled paper
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Centennial
Centennial celebrations kick into high gear this fall Festivities include statue unveiling, lectures and gala Centennial Alumni Celebration By Tiffany Bradley
Upcoming Events Save the date: Sir Wilfrid Laurier Statue Unveiling Ceremony – Tuesday, October 18, 1 p.m. Amphitheatre Jill Bolte Taylor Lecture – Tuesday, October 18, 7:30 p.m. The Tannery Re-Imagine Conference: The Role and Future of Universities in a Changing World – Thursday, October 20, all day, Senate and Board Chambers Gala Musical Performance – Friday, October 28, 8 p.m. Knox Presbyterian Church, Waterloo
Laurier is in the final months of its Centennial Celebrations. And what a year it has been so far! From the colourful building banners to music concerts and academics conferences, many members of the Laurier community have joined in the celebrations. Canada Post’s commemorative envelope is now available for purchase as a collector’s item though the Laurier100.ca website. These envelopes will be available for a limited time. Rockway Gardens in Kitchener is honouring Laurier’s 100th anniversary with a special planting. The planting, which bloomed over a six-week period during the summer, now looks spectacular. Week by week photos are now posted on the Laurier100.ca website.
For those with a sweet tooth, Tim Hortons recently jumped on the celebration bandwagon by creating a special centennial donut for Laurier… look for it on the Waterloo campus soon. Although there are only two months left of Laurier’s year-long centennial celebration, some of the biggest centennial events are yet to come. Continue to watch LAURIER100.ca as closing events are finalized, new contests are launched and more special events are added. Here are some details about the next four centennial events: Canada’s Foreign Policy: 100 years after prime minister Wilfrid Laurier Thursday, Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m. Maureen Forrester Recital Hall The Honourable Bob Rae will speak about the changes to
Canada’s Foreign Policy in the years since Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s term as prime minister of Canada, which ended in October 1911 (the same month our roots were established in Waterloo). Free event; open to the public. Heritage plaque unveiling Friday, Sept. 23, 1:30 p.m. Heritage Walk The Ontario Heritage Trust will present Laurier with a special Heritage plaque to commemorate the university’s 100th anniversary. The plaque will be unveiled during a ceremony at its permanent location on the Waterllo campus Heritage Walk (between the Seminary and the Library). Free event; open to the public. Drabble winners’ reception Thursday, Sept. 29, 8 p.m. Hawks’ Nest, Waterloo campus
The winners of the popular Drabble contest will be recognized during an evening reception in the Hawks’ Nest. Featuring Drabble readings, prizes, food and drinks, this will be an evening of few words. Free event; open to the public. Centennial Alumni Celebration Saturday, Oct. 1, 6 p.m. Bingemans Ballroom, Kitchener Honouring Laurier’s 100 Alumni of Achievement and the centennial reunion classes, this recognition dinner is the Homecoming event people won’t want to miss. Tickets are $50 each. The names of the 100 Alumni of Achievement selected for this honour were released in early September. Ticketed event; $60 per person includes reception and dinner.
Ahead by a Century: The Final Evening – Saturday, October 29, 7 p.m. Bingemans Ballroom Photos: CPAM
Final Gala Musical Performance - Sunday, October 30, 2 p.m. Maureen Forrester Recital Hall, Waterloo Campus From left: the Laurier centennial envelope (available through LAURIER100.ca); artist Marlene Hilton-Moore works on the centennial statue of Sir Wilfrid (to be unveiled Oct. 18); special Wilfrid Laurier University planting at Rockway Gardens in Kitchener.
Adding centennial flair to 2011 Homecoming By Mallory O’Brien
a kick-off time of 1 p.m., the Homecoming football game will see the Golden Hawks challenge the Ottawa Gee-Gees. One of this year’s special events is the Centennial Alumni Celebration, which honours 2011 reunion classes and the 100 Alumni of Achievement – 100 selected alumni who represent Laurier’s living legacy of inspiring lives of leadership and purpose. This event will
take place Saturday evening at Bingemans in Kitchener, and the entire Laurier community is invited. Tickets include transportation to and from the event, a three-course dinner and live entertainment by Laurier’s own Blackwater Trio. Other Saturday night events include alumni parties at Wilf’s Pub and the Turret. Participants can lace up their runners Sunday morning for the fourth-annual Laurier Loop run, or join alumni on a trip to Stratford to see Jesus Christ Superstar. Visit www.laurieralumni. ca/homecoming to purchase tickets for Waterloo campus Homecoming events. “We’ve been adding a centennial flair to events throughout Laurier’s 100th year, but there’s no annual event bigger than Homecoming,” said Webster. “It’s sure to be the biggest, most unique event we’ve ever held.”
Laurier Brantford celebrates third-annual Homecoming By Mallory O’Brien Laurier Brantford will hold its third annual Homecoming on Sept. 24. Events include a dugout party before a varsity baseball doubleheader, a home-run derby, a class of 2006 fifth-year reunion, a Homecoming pub night and a comedy festival gala at the Sanderson Centre featuring Seán Cullen from Last Comic Standing. “Everyone is encouraged to come out and watch as the Golden Hawks take on the Guelph Gryphons for the baseball doubleheader this year,” said Ann Brandt, associate director:
Development and Alumni Relations for the Brantford campus. “We are excited to welcome all of our alumni back to campus and to celebrate the class of 2006 during their fifthyear reunion. “Students, staff, faculty and the Brantford community should join our alumni in wearing purple and gold, and cheer on the Hawks during this fun-filled day.” Visit www.laurieralumni.ca/brantfordhomecoming to get tickets for the Brantford campus homecoming – the all-access pass is available for $12.
Photos: Ranier Leipscher
Just as the number of Laurier alumni grows every year, Laurier’s Homecoming celebrations get bigger, better and bolder as the years go by – and this year is sure to be the biggest yet as the university celebrates its 100th anniversary. Laurier’s 2011 Homecoming, dubbed Soaring for a Century, takes place from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 on the Waterloo campus. Thousands of alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends will don their purple and gold for a weekend full of events, including all of the old favourites and some new centennialworthy additions. “Let’s just say things will happen at this homecoming that have never happened before,” said Roly Webster, associate director: Alumni Relations. “We encourage fans to get to the football game early for a number
of surprises they won’t want to miss.” The weekend begins Friday with the 14th annual Dean’s Alumni Golf Classic and the Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner. A free pancake breakfast takes place Saturday morning in the Dining Hall quad amphitheatre, followed by a Legends of Laurier lecture, faculty open houses and other activities. With
Highlights from Homecoming 2010 on the Waterloo campus. Centennial Homecoming will feature both traditional events and new ones. “It’s sure to be the biggest, most unique event we’ve ever held.”
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September 2011 What’s new and notable at Laurier
NEWS
Pat Rogers appointed AVP: Teaching & Learning
Laurier researcher recognized for computational research
Laurier has appointed Patricia (Pat) Rogers to the new role of associate vice-president: teaching & learning, for a five-year term starting Oct. 11, 2011. Reporting jointly to Laurier’s vice-president: academic & provost and the vice-president: student affairs, Rogers will provide senior leadership and support to the institutional vision of excellence in teaching and
Ian Hamilton, a member of the Laurier Chemistry Department, was recently awarded the Computational and Mathematical Methods in Science and Engineering (CMMSE) prize at the 11th CMMSE conference, which was held in Benidorm, Spain. The CMMSE prize is given to computational researchers for important contributions to the development of numerical methods in physics, chemistry, engineering and economics. The winner is selected by a group of his or her peers. “I was very surprised, but also very happy to win the award,” said Hamilton. “It certainly gives me encouragement to keep moving in new directions and to keep looking for novel developments in computational chemistry.”
More than 400 of the world’s top scientists converged on Laurier’s Waterloo campus this summer for the International Conference on Applied Mathematics, Modeling and Computational Science (AMMCS) – one of the largest conferences of its kind ever held in Waterloo Region. Among the many scientists and mathematicians attending were experts from the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the NASA Langley Research Center. Approximately 50 sessions covered topics such as mathematical problems in nano- and bio- technologies, supply chain and product development and green energy sources.
brought home a silver medal. Alyssa Lagonia, the Canadian women’s soccer team co-captain, contributed to the fifth place finish for women’s soccer, the Canadian team’s best finish in the history of these games. Also on hand were Communications Officer Mike Whitehouse as well as Cord Sports Editor Justin Fauteaux.
Laurier appoints Director of Institutional Research
government stakeholders, building international collaborations, and improving the scale of research Orna Duggan taking place within the institutes of technology.
Laurier researcher recognized for work on quantum physics
World University Games learning as one of the two main The temperatures in Shenzhen, pillars of the university. Rogers China were sweltering – with will work with her colleagues the humidex at 99 per cent – but Centennial math conference to achieve student learning and Laurier participants in the World attracts top scientists development outcomes compleUniversity Games, held mentary to Laurier’s from August 12 to 23, kept mission of integrated and Photo: Sandra Muir their cool. engaged learning. Both staff members and She comes to Laurier student athletes particifrom the University of pated. Peter Baxter, the Windsor, where she was university’s athletics dean of the Faculty of director, was chef de Education for two terms. mission for Team Canada. She holds a BA, M.Sc. and Laurier student Kale PhD in mathematics (from Harrison represented Oxford University, the Laurier for men’s basketball, University of Toronto and which played for gold for the University of London, The AMMCS centennial math conference took place this the first time since 1997 and respectively).
Laurier has appointed Orna Duggan to the new role of director of institutional research, effective Sept. 1. Reporting to Laurier President Max Blouw, Duggan will coordinate the university’s strategic planning and assessment activities and oversee institutional data collection, reporting and management. She will also provide analytical expertise, support to Laurier’s senior management team, and project the university’s future resource requirements. Duggan holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and an M.Sc. in Applied Environmental Science from The Queen’s University of Belfast, as well as a BA in Chemistry from Trinity College Dublin. Her previous role was senior executive for research for the Institutes of Technology in Ireland. Duggan’s professional achievements include developing a strong reputation with
Bookstore opens new chapter with Waterloo renovations and new Brantford TechShop
Federal investment supports water research at Laurier
Laurier well represented at
summer on the Waterloo campus.
It may be bad form to judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to a bookstore, a makeover can go a long way. The Laurier Waterloo Bookstore is undergoing renovations designed to improve service, make better use of space, and make the store more accessible to physically challenged students. The majority of work will be completed before the beginning of the fall term, and the renovations will not impact the store’s functioning during the fall rush, staff say. “The overall space is getting a facelift to maximize the amount of retail space we have and to offer better service to the Laurier community,” said Debohra Da Costa, director, retail and printing services. The renovations include a revamp of the textbook area, featuring the addition of a new service counter (now open) where students and faculty can ask questions about course materials and where faculty can meet with book buyers to discuss their orders. The front main cash is being redesigned to accommodate more staff and cashiers, while the clothing and computer areas 4
of the store are switching places in order to make more efficient use of space and improve traffic flow. New display racks and improved signage are also being added throughout the store. “The space hasn’t been updated in several years, and with the continued increase in enrolment we’ve faced challenges to service students, faculty and staff with the limited space we have,” said Jaime Philip, marketing specialist at the Bookstore. According to figures from the National Association of College Stores, the Laurier Waterloo Bookstore already has the most sales per square foot of any major university bookstore in North America. This means that continuing to make the tight space as functional as possible is key, staff say. Work on the redesign is being carried out by Kraemer Woodcraft of St. Jacobs, which has completed similar projects at the University of Guelph, U of T and McMaster University. The renovations began in early
June, continued through the summer, and are now approximately 80 per cent complete. Following a hiatus from work during the fall term rush, finishing touches will be put on the project in late September, with a grand re-opening to be held in early October.
Brantford TechShop opening In addition to the Waterloo renovations, the Bookstore is opening a new print shop and computer servicing at Laurier Brantford called the TechShop. The TechShop is located in the East Wing of the Research and Academic Centre. “We’re excited about that – it’s looking quite nice,” Da Costa said. “For the Brantford students, faculty and staff, it’s going to be a fantastic added convenience.”
Photo: Sandra Muir
By Nicholas Dinka
The new TechShop at Laurier Brantford opens this month.
Photo: Sandra Muir
Patricia (Pat) Rogers
Laurier researcher Shohini Ghose received a prestigious Sera Bangali award July 20 in West Bengal (India) for her contributions to the field of science, which include her work on a ground-breaking study that will further the field of quantum physics. The Sera Bangali awards honour people of Bengali origin who have made significant contributions in the fields of music, film, business, science, sports, art, or public life, as well as an overall lifetime achievement award. Previous winners include Muhammad Yunus, an economist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Pranab Mukherjee, the finance minister of India. “I was very honoured that they considered me for this award,” said Ghose, an associate professor in Laurier’s Department of Physics and Computer Science. See page 7 for more on Ghose’s work.
AVP Research Abby Goodrum (fifth from left) joins other dignitaries at the announcement of the new investment.
The Federal Economic Development Agency recently announced an investment of $19.5 million to support the Southern Ontario Water Consortium, a unique partnership in which Laurier researchers play a significant role. The consortium is comprised of universities, private-sector companies, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations. Its aim is to understand what happens to freshwater systems under pressure from urban environments, and how to remedy the potential problems. The research will include the development, testing and
demonstration of new water technologies and services, primarily along the Grand River and adjacent watersheds. Specific research projects conducted by Laurier faculty include: • Effects of Urbanization on Water Integrity. Principal researchers: Mike English and Rich Petrone. • Wastewater and Water Re-use/Assessing Ecological Impacts in the Watershed. Principal researchers: Deborah MacLatchy and Jim McGeer. WATER RESEARCH see page 6
September 2011
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Growth prompts moves and renovations across university If you were on the Waterloo or Brantford campus this summer, you likely either packed a large grey bin or saw it loaded onto the back of a moving van as Wilfrid Laurier University expanded to accommodate its significant growth. In Waterloo, move talks began last fall, and were prompted by the addition of more than 20 new faculty in the School of Business & Economics and the faculties of Arts and Science, three new Canada Research Chairs, as well as new staff hires and restructuring in recruitment, admissions and ITS. To accommodate the expansion, the Waterloo campus Space and Facility Committee recommended re-locating staff and administration to existing or newly leased space ringing the campus centre block, while expanding faculty space on the main block. “This recommendation is based on the campus master plan,” said Mark Dettweiler, manager: planning, design and construction. “There is a lot of planning involved, and the committee follows certain standards so that things are done in a coherent manner.” One of the key challenges for the nearly 20 moves was lack of vacant space. This meant that all of the transitions had to be done in succession. It also meant that people at Laurier
some offices had to move twice to allow time for renovations of the space to accommodate incoming staff or faculty. “It has been fairly complicated, but it is the best way to accomplish all of the moves,” said Dettweiler. “Surprisingly, everything has gone close to schedule despite the fact there are so many moving parts.” Brantford has also been dealing with many moving parts, including the completion of the east wing of the Research and Academic Centre (RAC). Staff began moving into their offices in early July. It’s one of Brantford’s largest move projects, second only to the opening of the RAC west wing last summer that involved changes to offices for almost all the faculty on campus, as well as a number of staff. “Every summer in Brantford there are a significant number of moves – a lot of growth,” said Tony Araujo, director of campus operations for the Brantford campus. “All the feedback this year has been very good. We’ve done this so much that we’ve got a pretty good idea of what we need to do.” Many of the other renovations and new construction that went on this summer at the Brantford campus will benefit the university and Brantford community, including a new street-level technical support shop in the RAC east wing. The new
Bailey Gross administrative assistant (special project), FSW. David Morris coordinator, academic program support, Brantford. Jason Whalen coordinator – Pre-Leaf MBA, student recruitment.
Anna Gibbons Service Laurier advisor, Brantford. David Shorey associate director, Residence and Learning. John Williams purchasing/inventory assistant, Food Services. Margaret Harris academic program assistant, Brantford. Paul Kleinschmidt instructional design special-curriculum tech, Teaching Support Services. Sandra Castellanos intermediate administrative assistant, Anthropology.
John Siopiolosz coordinator, inventory, Physical Resources.
Sara Innes BA/B.ed. academic coordinator, Brantford.
Matthew McElhinney SBE computer assistant, SBE. Mary Ann Spencer program liaison and placement coordinator, FSW.
Scott Harris manager, Service Laurier.
Richard Cantin executive director, Laurier Executive Development Centre.
Changes in staff appointments
Retirements
Adri Spyker administrative manager, Laurier Executive Development Centre.
Ena de Jong prospect research assistant, Development and Alumni Relations.
Amanda Hansford prospect researcher, Development and Alumni Relations.
Judith Snyder medical secretary I.
Andre Furlong admin assistant (associate dean), dean of science.
255 King St. Human Resources, Communications, Public Affairs and Marketing, Finance and Procurement, WLU Press, The Sustainability Office.
Brantford – New offices and relocations
202 Regina St. The President’s Office, The VicePresident Academic Office, University Secretariat, Ceremonies and Events, Recruitment and Admissions Alumni Hall The Research Office Bricker Academic Building New Welcome Centre for prospective students 232 King St. Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety 165 Albert St. The Viessmann European Research Centre Balsillie School of International Affairs (67 Erb St West) Faculty, Master of International Public Policy and PhD in Global Governance
RAC-EAST The Dean’s Office, ITS, Health Studies, The Faculty of Aboriginal and Indigenous Studies, Psychology Department, New Tech and Print Shop 97 Dalhousie St. Accessible Learning Grand River Hall Registrarial Services, Service Laurier Carnegie Hall Recruitment and Admissions SC Johnson Building Campus Operations St. Andrews Community Centre Laurier English and Academic Foundation (LEAF) program 111 Darling St. Aboriginal Student Services Student Centre Dean of Students, Student Life Office
255 King St. North, newly occupied by Laurier, is adjacent to the Waterloo campus.
University community encouraged to direct all IT requests through the appropriate desk Topic, director, ICT support. “To provide quick, effective service, we encourage everyone to direct Laurier’s Information all IT-related requests through Technology Services (ITS) their appropriate service desk.” introduced improved service The Employee Service Desk initiatives this summer to meet staff will be dedicated to faculty the unique needs of the different and staff needs, including user groups within the Laurier account issues, GroupWise email community. support and service requests. In mid-August, the former The Student Service Desk will ITS Help Desk was split into be staffed by students familiar two service desks: an Employee with student ITS requirements, Service Desk devoted to faculty including support for Novell or and staff ITS support, and a myLaurier accounts, wireless, Student Service Desk devoted to ResNet and other systems such student support. as LORIS and myLearning Space. “This change is a key ITS also moved to an component of Laurier’s ICT renewal plan,” said Tom Buckley, automated attendant for the vice-president: academic services. Laurier Waterloo switchboard (519-884-1970) in mid-August. “By devoting specific service Laurier Brantford uses an desks to specific needs, we can automated attendant for external respond in a highly efficient callers. manner.” “This model of service delivery When a request is received, allows us to provide efficient service desk staff will make connectivity and enhance every attempt to resolve the customer service,” said Buckley. issue during the initial contact; “Callers will still be able to otherwise, the desk will log a reach an operator if they service request and the most prefer.” appropriate local ITS support With the automated staff member at each campus attendant, callers will will respond directly. be able to choose from a “This process is consistent number of preset menu with ITS best practices, and we options, and can reach people by are confident that the Laurier entering their extension or the community will benefit from this streamlined approach,” said Julie first few digits of their last name. By Lori Chalmers Morrison
Jessi Calberry residence & student life programming assistant, Brantford.
Marius Negulescu third-class operating engineer, Physical Resources.
A series of renovations also took place this summer in the Fred Nichols Campus Centre at the Waterloo campus. The concourse got a fresh lick of paint, new floor coverings and wood furniture. The two computer labs were also moved out of the concourse area and were replaced by the Laurier One Card office and an ITS Service Desk for students. Other renovations in the Fred Nichols Campus Centre, including the construction of a new International News store (formerly the Centre Spot), changes to the food court in the Terrace, and an overhaul of the third floor, were managed by WLUSU.
Arts Building Laurier International
New service desks augment ITS support
Amanda Gulka national recruitment coordinator, Recruitment and Admissions.
Antoinetta Volpe support services clerk, Brantford.
Concourse renovations
Waterloo – New offices and relocations
For a complete list of appointments visit www.wlu.ca/hr
New Appointments
Andrew Kabbes lab co-ordinator, Mathematics.
shop will include a full line of computer sales and service and digital printing and photocopying. In addition, renovations to the former Moody’s Tavern at 97 Dalhousie St. include a two-storey lecture hall that can be used for live theatre. The City of Brantford has indicated interest in hosting local arts and cultural events in the hall. “Because we are right downtown, the City of Brantford has always been very involved in Laurier’s Brantford campus,” said Araujo. “They are a major stakeholder and very supportive of the university.”
Photo: Sandra Muir
By Sandra Muir
Linda Brydes career consultant II.
help desk locations Brantford Employee Service Desk: ext. 5725 or help@wlu.ca Student Service Desk: ext. 2222 or support@mylaurier.ca Online requests: http://216.249.55.39/wlu/ Students, staff and faculty can request support in person at RCE 110 Waterloo and Kitchener Employee Service Desk: ext. 4357, help@wlu.ca or in person, Bricker Academic, third floor Student Service Desk: ext. 2222, support@mylaurier.ca or in person in the Concourse Online requests: https://www. wlu.ca/forms_detail.php?grp_ id=2032&frm_id=2039
ITS has developed service desk characters to differentiate between student and employee service desks.
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campus decoder
Got a question? Send it to ndinka@wlu.ca
Back to the Future: Richard Crossman shows off the FireFly to the local media, 1981
Q: I heard that back in the ‘80s there was a Laurier Religious Studies prof who built his own electric car and drove it to work. Could that be true?
Photo: Sandra Muir
Two chemistry professors in Laurier’s Faculty of Science were awarded prestigious Early Researcher Awards from Ontario’s Ministry of Research and Innovation. This August, Hind Al-Abadleh and Kenneth Maly were each awarded up to $100,000 over a five-year term to facilitate their innovative research. In addition to the province’s funding, each professor will receive a $50,000 matching award from Laurier. “We are extremely pleased that Hind’s and Ken’s research is being recognized by the Ministry of Research and Innovation,” said Abby Goodrum, Laurier’s vicepresident: research. “They are two fine examples of the cutting-edge research taking place in Laurier’s growing Faculty of Science.” Al-Abadleh is investigating how nanomaterials containing oxides and hydroxides of iron, manganese and titanium react with arsenic, which is one of the heavy metals that accumulate in fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum. One of the questions Al-Abadleh is trying to address is the efficiency of nanomaterials in arsenic removal from crude fuels and waste water. She also looks at the impact on
Photo: Kitchener-Waterloo Record
Laurier chemistry professors win prestigious Early Researcher Awards
Hind Al-Abadleh, left, with Vice-President: Research Abby Goodrum at the Early Researcher Awards presentation in August.
the chemistry of the atmosphere brought about by nanomaterials released as fly ash through combustion. Maly’s work is focused on creating compounds that exhibit states of matter known as liquid crystalline phases. “Liquid crystals are in between solids and liquids, with properties of both. They are fluid, like liquids, but their molecules are ordered,” he said. “Using synthetic organic chemistry techniques, we can make changes to molecular structure and study how these structural changes will influence the liquid crystalline properties.” Maly believes liquid crystals may offer a more economical alternative to other substances,
such as pure silicon, used in solar cells. “At a more fundamental level, the research is helping us understand how matter can organize itself.” The provincial funding was announced in early August by Leeanna Pendergast, MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga, at a ceremony held at the University of Waterloo. The funds will support research projects at both Laurier and UW. Pendergast emphasized the relationship between the province and the universities. “It’s a partnership. It’s a collaboration,” she said. “You are leading the way. We simply acknowledge that and support you with this announcement.”
REC CENTRE continued
CENTENNIAL HISTORY continued
“People didn’t always agree
communities,” said Max Blouw, Laurier’s president and vice-chancellor. “I’d also like to recognize the very direct partnership with Laurier students, who [will be] major beneficiaries of this facility.” In addition to recognizing the athletic and recreation centre as important for the continued development of Laurier Brantford, Blouw and Jim Commerford, president and CEO of the YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/ Brantford, praised the facility as a significant milestone in the continued economic growth of downtown Brantford. By partnering on the project, Laurier Brantford and the YMCA will be able to create an athletic and recreation centre with a range of programming that will far exceed what either organization could provide independently. The facility will offer traditional YMCA programming and support the programming goals of the Six Nations partners. For detailed information about the proposed Laurier Brantford/YMCA Athletics Complex, including artist’s renderings, please visit the project website: www.wlu.ca/ homepage.php?grp_id=12742. The website will be updated regularly as new information becomes available.
as the early decision by the Seminary to offer a bachelor of arts program, the 1960 breakaway of several science and engineering faculties to form the University of Waterloo (“up the road at UW it’s the founding moment, but here it’s a huge trauma,” says Thomson) and the decision to become a public university in 1973 (much less controversial). The text also includes sidebars on specific topics, such as the key early role of the Women’s Auxilliary, which helped keep the school going in its early years by organizing lucrative tea-and-cake fundraisers and knitting hundreds of quilts for dorm-room beds. “There are lots of spots along the way where the university could have faded away or even died,” Thomson says. “People didn’t always agree on what to do, but everyone had a general sense along the way of what the university could be, and kept pushing forward.” Starting work on the project in June, 2010, Thomson did extensive research in the Laurier archives. He also conducted interviews with people involved in the university’s history, such as Lorna Marsden, the university’s first female president, and Arthur Reid, the former dean of Arts and Science and the first dean of Laurier’s Brantford campus. Thomson also had a lot of
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on what to do, but everyone had a general sense along the way of what the university could be, and kept pushing forward.” -historian Andrew Thomson
was here? Holy cow!” Following the book’s fall release, Thomson will be speaking about it at a number of events. “I think the book will be received with a high level of interest and enthusiasm, especially by people who are fortunate to hear Andy speak about it,” Tam says, before going on to note the challenges of capturing a century of activity in a single volume. “That’s a particularly challenging job for a non-fiction author, and Andy did a fantastic job in this regard,” she says. Thomson says he’s looking forward to the speaking events, in part because he “loves talking,” and in part because the material is so rich. “There’s such a great arc – we started out with four guys in a little house, and now there’s all of this,” he says. “It really is a story of success.”
Photo: Laurier Archives
personal knowledge of the university going into the project. He first came to Laurier in 1976 as an undergraduate in History. After earning his BA and MA at Laurier and PhD at the University of Waterloo, he returned to Laurier to teach history courses. “I wish I’d paid more attention,” during his early years here, he says now. “While I was researching the book, I would sometimes think, that story was going on while I
A: With worries about global warming and high prices at the pumps, electric cars are all the rage these days, and the big global automobile companies are racing to bring out new models. But long before GM or Toyota hopped on the electric bandwagon, a Laurier professor and principal at the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary named Richard Crossman was tooting around K-W in the FireFly, an electric car he built from scratch back in 1981. Fascinated with engineering and problem solving from an early age, Crossman got the idea for the car while teaching a class on technology and ethics in 1977. Crossman told his students that electric vehicles were ideal for urban travel and could be easily made using recycled parts
The university’s pyramid team in front of the original Willison Hall, back when Laurier was known as Waterloo College.
and readily available materials. His class thought it was impossible – but their McGyvor-esque professor begged to differ. The one-of-a-kind vehicle, which Crossman drove for about two decades, was pieced together mostly from locally obtained parts. It ran off 10 golf-cart batteries, and had a maximum speed of 100 kilometres per hour. Crossman figures it cost about one cent per kilometre to charge, an absurdly low price by today’s standards (if it’s any consolation, a full charge was only good for about 25 kilometres). Regulatory changes such as air-bag requirements took the car off the road circa 2001, but Crossman is trying to have it classified by the government as a “classic,” which would allow him to drive it once again. But even if it never makes it back on the open road, the pioneering FireFly has long since left the mainstream automakers’ electriccar efforts in the dust.
WATER RESEARCH continued
• Safe Drinking Water/ Pathogen Analyses. Principal researcher Robin Slawson. “The effects of pollution on wildlife, especially fish species, along with groundwater and remediation, are long-standing areas of research specialization in the Waterloo region,” said Abby Goodrum, Laurier’s vice-president: research. “This announcement highlights the critical role that Laurier, and the Waterloo region, are playing in environmental research in Canada.” Laurier will host a field staging facility for the project, which includes wet-lab, work and storage space for preparing for and returning from fieldwork on the Grand River. The planned staging facility will also be used to house a watershed hydrometeorology calibration lab for calibrating hydrology equipment for use in the field. In addition, some of the funding will help with the purchase of mobile ecotoxicology laboratory trailers for use in the field. The trailers will greatly increase the accessibility and capacity of researchers to study the impacts of wastewaters and specific contaminants on animal and plant life in the watershed.
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RESEARCH FILE
When chaos theory takes a quantum leap By Mallory O’Brien For many physicists, mastering the intricacies of a single strain of theory can fill an entire career. Scientists can become very attached to their theories, as satirized on an episode of Big Bang Theory, when a character dumped her boyfriend because he was a proponent of string theory (ew) as opposed to loop quantum gravity. But Laurier scientist Shohini Ghose is an expert on the intersection between two complex and abstruse disciplines: chaos and quantum theory. In fact, she made her name by showing how chaos can affect the quantum realm. “Physicists are like nature’s detectives,” Ghose says. “I love the challenge of gathering data and fitting all the clues from nature together to solve the ultimate mysteries of the universe: How did the universe begin? What laws govern all things in nature? For me it is a passion to try to attempt to answer these questions through scientific inquiry.” To understand why her research is so groundbreaking requires a brief physics lesson. Chaos theory attempts to describe the complex behaviour of systems in the world we live in. It’s best known for giving us the “butterfly effect,” a characteristic property of chaotic systems. Small changes in one place can grow and grow and lead to larger changes in another place. So a butterfly flapping its wings in Sri Lanka could theoretically cause a tornado in Kansas. But the quantum world of atoms and other tiny particles is a different place altogether, operating under its own, often bizarre, set of laws. “The question is, is there a quantum butterfly effect?” Ghose says. “Can we make small
changes in atoms that lead to unpredictable behaviour – just like butterflies and tornadoes?” After earning her PhD from the University of New Mexico in 2003, Ghose set out to explore this issue. After a few years of nailing down the theoretical framework, she contacted her colleague Poul Jessen, an experimental physicist at the University of Arizona, to design experiments to observe chaotic behaviour at the atomic level. They used the state-of-the-art equipment in Jessen’s lab – lasers and magnets that “push” the atoms (they used cesium atoms, one of the alkali elements in the periodic table). “An atom has a spin, like a toy top,” says Ghose. “If you think about spinning a top and lightly tapping it, that is what we did with the atom.” Nobody had ever managed to tap an “atomic top” in this way before, so when Ghose and co. successfully did so in their experiments, that alone was a scientific
This summer, the Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association (WLUAA) donated $35,000 to create two new scholarships for Laurier students. “With these new scholarships, we want to recognize and encourage volunteerism that supports Laurier and its mission among undergraduate and graduate students who also demonstrate strong academic performance,” says WLUAA President Tom Berczi. The Alumni Association Undergraduate Campus Citizenship Scholarship will recognize a third-, fourth-, or fifth-year undergraduate student who has demonstrated significant volunteerism within the Laurier community and has good academic standing. A total
But the researchers’ experiment demonstrated for the first time that quantum fingerprints of chaos can also be observed in “weird” properties like entanglement. Ghose and Jessen wrote up the research in a paper called “Quantum Signatures of Chaos in a Kicked Top,” which was published in 2009 in Nature, one of the world’s most prestigious scientific journals. The publication led to many accolades and a great deal of recognition for the young Laurier scientist. Most recently, in July of this year, she won a prestigious Sera Bangali award, which honours people of Bengali origin who have made significant contributions in the fields of music, film, business, science, sports, art, or public life, as well as an overall lifetime achievement award. Previous winners of the award include Muhammad Yunus, an economist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Pranab Mukherjee,
Laurier physicist Shohini Ghose studies the relationship between two complex areas of physics: chaos theory and quantum mechanics. She was part of a team that found evidence that chaos theory operates on the quantum level. Photo: Dean Palmer
Alumni Assoc. creates new scholarships By Kate Brand
first. But there was more. “We found [that the top] wobbles around and can become out of sync, randomly out of sync just like a regular top. So a quantum kicked top shows behaviour similar to a normal kicked top.” In other words, they had observed the signatures of chaos in the quantum world. They made another major discovery before they were done, finding the fingerprints of chaos in another quantum phenomenon known as entanglement. “Let’s say I have two coins, but they are hypothetical coins that have quantum entanglement,” Ghose says. “I give you one coin and you go off to the other end of the universe. I flip my coin, and if I got a head, then guaranteed your coin will be tails. They are connected in a strange way.” The theory of entanglement has been around since Einstein’s time, and other experiments have observed this phenomenon.
of six $1,000 scholarships will be granted annually for one student from each of the Faculties of Arts, Science, Music and the School of Business & Economics, in addition to two students in any faculty from the Brantford campus. The second scholarship is the Alumni Association Graduate Campus Citizenship Scholarship in recognition of a full-time graduate student enrolled in the Faculty of Education who has exhibited significant volunteerism within the Laurier community and has good academic achievement. One scholarship will be granted each year in the amount of $1,000. Since 2005, WLUAA has donated more than $1.2 million to Laurier in support of ongoing development – from buildings to scholarships and programs.
the finance minister of India. “I’m already very passionate about my work, and getting this award just reinforces my commitment to this type of research,” Ghose said upon receiving the award. Since the paper was published, Ghose has continued to work on quantum chaos, as well as on the application of quantum mechanics for efficient communication and information processing. Physicists are already working to harness quantum properties like entanglement, which could significantly speed up computers and make them do things “that would be unimaginable.” “We are just scratching the surface right now but there are possibilities that you could have a network where all these quantum objects are linked using entanglement,” she says. “Now let’s say you have such a network. What kind of power does it give us that we didn’t have before? What can you do with it? Can you communicate more efficiently? Can you have more security? Can you have complete anonymity?” A message could be securely communicated if one can, for example, harness the power of entanglement to teleport it – eliminating any in-between passage for that message to be intercepted. Ghose agrees it sounds very sci-fi, but believes that quantum physics will allow humankind to break its current boundaries of what is possible. “These days especially, with the prevalence of the Internet, people are always thinking about ways to make things more efficient and more secure,” she says. “As quantum information scientists, our take on it is: let’s try to use quantum resources to make things better. Let’s create new boundaries.”
Laurier community invited to president’s town halls Annual address will discuss past academic year as well as year ahead The Laurier community is invited to join the university’s President and Vice-Chancellor Max Blouw for his annual town hall addresses to faculty, staff and students. The two town hall events, at the Brantford and Waterloo campuses, are scheduled to take place in September. The purpose of the annual address is to summarize and celebrate the activities of the previous academic year as well
There are two dates available for faculty, staff and students to attend:
as discuss what’s happening in the year ahead. Blouw will cover the highlights of the university’s centennial year, and some exciting new projects happening in the upcoming year. He will also introduce new members of the university’s leadership team to the event’s attendees. “I encourage everyone in the Laurier community to come out and celebrate the accomplishments we have all achieved together this year,” said Blouw.
Brantford Date: Thursday, Sept. 8 Time: 2 p.m. Location: Carnegie Building, CB206
“It is also a wonderful opportunity to keep up-to-date on all the things that have happened, and will happen, on our campuses.” Additionally, Laurier’s VicePresident: Academic and Provost Deb MacLatchy will discuss the new directions for Laurier’s academic programming. Lesley Cooper, acting principal/ vice-president of the Brantford campus, will provide highlights at the Brantford town hall meeting.
Waterloo Date: Thursday, Sept. 15 Time: 10 a.m. Location: The Turret
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Jim McCutcheon retires after 37 years CIGI Campus opening soon On the first floor of the School of Business & Economics, there is a professor’s office along the wall opposite the stairs and the KPMG Atrium. It seems fitting that it’s one of the first things you see when you enter the building, because for many business students, Associate Professor Jim McCutcheon was the first person they saw at the front of the classroom. McCutcheon, who retired this summer after a 37-year career teaching business, including numerous first-year courses, has entertained, supported, and inspired thousands of students to lofty careers outside and inside the university. “He was always there for me,” said Laurier business Professor Laura Allan, a former student and teaching assistant for McCutcheon. “He was always a good sounding board. And he was always supportive. It
in Kitchener-Waterloo. But by the time his contract came up for renewal, he was starting to enjoy teaching. He had also overcome many of those in-class jitters. “After my first class was over I remember going back to my office and slumping my head down on my desk and thinking, ‘That was the worst lecture ever,’” he said. “You quickly get over that trepidation. So it really wasn’t as bad as I made it out to be. I think you’re your own worst critic sometimes.” McCutcheon flourished. In 1978, he won the Outstanding Teaching Award. He may also be remembered for creating the Most Entertaining Class of the Year contest. In the 1980s, he challenged different course sections to compete in livening up the classroom, and was surprised once or twice. One year, a group of McCutcheon’s students from the University of Waterloo – who were in the same class as Laurier
thought it was too bad.” Allan said McCutcheon has a knack for keeping students’ attention, and is also a thoughtful and supportive colleague. “He’s a very deep individual – a true genuine friend. Basically, he’s just a good solid person.” Allan has worked closely with McCutcheon for many years, and together they created the BDO New Venture Competition 10 years ago. During Business 111 and Business 121, students develop a new venture and present it to their peers. The top teams go on to compete in front of external business people for bragging rights and scholarships. Many of the external business members who return year after year to judge the contest are former students. Tim Sothern (BBA ’89), a BDO-designated assurance specialist, helps judge the contest and was “sold on the spot” when McCutcheon and Allan talked to BDO about
Photo: Sandra Muir
By Sandra Muir
Photos: Mallory O’Brien, Laurier Archives
A grand opening is planned for the new CIGI Campus facility in Waterloo on Sept. 16. The landmark building, designed by KPMB Architects, will house a number of schools and programs, including the Balsillie School of International Affairs, which is a partnership between Laurier, CIGI and the University of Waterloo.
What are What youare reading you reading
??
Jim McCutcheon is retiring after 37 years at Laurier. At right: circa 1988, honing his “knack for keeping students’ attention.”
sounds a little silly for someone my age to be saying this, but I feel totally confident to stand on my own two feet because of his mentorship.” McCutcheon, who counts having an impact on the lives of first-year students as one of his greatest accomplishments, didn’t grow up wanting to be a teacher. In fact, he had been accepted to pre-med and chemical engineering programs at other universities. But it was important for McCutcheon – who was born in Galt and grew up in Kitchener – to be close to home, so he enrolled in the honours English program at Laurier (then Waterloo Lutheran) in 1967. After first year, he found a better fit in the Geography department and completed his BA in 1970 and MA in 1972. After that he went to McMaster University for an MBA. With specialties in marketing and finance, McCutcheon was offered jobs in Toronto and Montreal, but he wanted to come home to family and friends. He got that opportunity in 1974 when he took a one-year teaching position in the business school at Laurier. At the time, he looked at the Laurier position as a springboard to other job opportunities
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students – organized a visit by a tap-dancing Easter bunny. Two days later, Laurier students invited a scantily clad Miss Nude Texas to class, calling her a “real bunny.” As she walked toward McCutcheon at the front of the class, he said he had no idea what to do. So he dipped her, and gave her a kiss. What he didn’t know is that a reporter from the Kitchener Waterloo Record was there and snapped a photo. “I could see my academic career flashing before my eyes. But as it turned out, nobody
Summer faculty retirements Ira Ashcroft Faculty of Arts: Language & Literature. Mark Baetz Faculty of Business and Economics. Michael Moore Faculty of Arts: English. F.H. Rolf Seringhaus Faculty of Business and Economics. Christopher Simpson Faculty of Arts: Archaeology. Paul Tiessen Faculty of Arts: Film Studies. Ann Westhues Faculty of Social Work.
sponsoring the event. “The first real solid business education I ever had starting out was from him,” said Sothern, who was also a TA for McCutcheon. “And because of that I enjoyed business right off the bat.” McCutcheon, 62, said he’ll have a hard time in September, but feels like it’s time to let others take over. “There is that realization that there are others who can take that foundation and really move it forward in a way that I would not be able to move it forward in the next three years or so.” As for the future, he says Laurier is “in his blood” and he can’t imagine not being involved in the university in some way. But for the first six months of his retirement he’s just going to relax. He wants to spend as much time as possible with his grandchildren, finish some of his home renovation projects, and golf a bit more. “I’ve found myself to be very fortunate to have stumbled into a job that for the last 37 years I wake up and look forward to coming to work,” he said. “I’ve loved every minute of being at Laurier. The students and the people, that’s what I’ll miss the most.”
Name: Pamela Cant Job Title: Acting Assistant Vice-President: Human Resources Book Title: Water for Elephants Author: Sara Gruen
What are you What are you listening to? listening to?
Water for Elephants depicts circus life during the Depression. The story is told by a 90-year-old man, reminiscing about his past experiences as a young veterinarian in the Ringling Brothers circus while at the same time struggling with his aging mind and body in the present. It’s a great read; I couldn’t put it down. The characters are so unique and compelling, and it combines suspense, romance and a history lesson all in one. Now that I’ve read the book, I look forward to seeing the movie!
What are What you are eating? you eating? Name: Nicholas Dinka Job Title: News and Editorial Officer, CPAM Order: Popeye crepe Where to get it: Crepe Delicious (255 King at University) I have a weakness for hearty lunches, but sometimes it’s good to go for a lighter option – although if possible with a hint of decadence. The Popeye, as the name suggests, is a spinachy salad (with tomatoes, feta cheese and a light dressing) wrapped in a warm, savoury crepe. It hasn’t given me huge forearms, but the Popeye is still a great way to split the difference between fun and healthy eating.
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coffee with a co-worker Name: Chris Dodd Title: Director, Residence Where you can find him: In Residential Services in the King Street Residence, Waterloo campus
Photo: Sandra Muir
Drink of choice: I am not really a coffee person. I’ll have a steeped tea from Tim Horton’s, but that is basically it. I am more of a Coke person. Everyone who knows me knows that I like Coke.
An avid sports fan, Director, Residence Chris Dodd as been to the Daytona 500 11 times.
How long have you been at Laurier? I started at Laurier in 1988 as a student in history and political science. After graduating in 1992, I spent two years as the head resident of Willison Hall, so I was managing the building and staff. I left for a few years to manage residences at other universities, and came back in 1999 to be the manger of Housing Services and Residence Life. When the former director, Mike Belanger, retired in January, I took on this role. What is your typical work day like? I’m lucky because I don’t have
Heard on Twitter Check out what the Laurier community has been tweeting about at twitter.com/lauriernews. Laurier also has official sites on Facebook at www.facebook. com/LaurierNow and YouTube at www.youtube.com/LaurierVideo.
@MBALaurier Check out the pictures from the Full-Time #MBA students first day on our Facebook account. on.fb.me/ e3JYu5 #wlu #Laurier Aug. 18, 2011 @LaurierTO RT @AcademicaTopTen: Ontario invests over $1 million to help Waterloo area students launch businesses http://ht.ly/64T0J #cdnpse #Laurier Aug. 17, 2011 @WLUPress Another book to the printers! Leaving the Shade of the Middle Ground: The Poetry of F.R. Scott bit.ly/mTlpzf (Laura Moss, editor) Aug. 16, 2011 @LaurierNews MT @wr_record: #Laurier’s Alyssa Lagonia leads Canada to soccer win at university games in China http:// ow.ly/64MZO Aug. 16, 2011 @WLUConStudies RT @LaurierNews: Today’s #Laurier100 fact – On Oct. 1, 100 #Laurier alumni will be recognized for their outstanding achievements during a celebratory dinner Aug. 10, 2011
a typical work day. Every day is different because of the student interaction and what happens in different residences. It all depends on what takes place in a residence the day before or the weekend before. During the last two-tothree weeks of August, I will basically live here. We have a guest bed that I’ll use. Students are coming back and it’s the best way to deal with the sheer volume of work involved in checking in 3,200 students and training residence staff. But it’s also fun. It goes back to the days when I lived in residence. It’s like going back home.
coming Events
Learn More about Programs at Laurier When: Sept. 7, 7:30 – 3 p.m. Where: 130 King St. W., Toronto Cost: Free Laurier Toronto invites you to the concourse level of the Exchange Tower to learn more about the programs at Laurier. Representatives will be available at the kiosk to answer your questions about Laurier’s undergraduate programs and graduate programs, including MBA and Executive Masters in Technology programs. MyLearningSpace Training for Instructors - Waterloo When: Sept. 8, 9:30 a.m. – noon Where: BA207 (Bricker) Cost: N.A. For those who are new to using a learning management system, this session will orient participants to use MyLearningSpace with your courses. Topics include news items and calendar events, uploading content for students to view, managing discussion forums, chat and course mail, grades set up as well as quizzes, checklists and groups. 2011 Teaching Large Classes Forum When: Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Where: Bricker Academic (BA201) Cost: Free An opportunity for Laurier educators to meet with others
What do you like to do in your spare time? Well, we’re very busy at my house. We have 3 boys, aged 2, 4 and 6. When I do get the chance I like to play golf – I coached the golf team here on campus for 11 years. I stopped coaching while I did a master’s program in leadership, which I just completed in February of this year. I also love live sporting events – I would consider that my hobby. The Detroit Tigers are my favorite team and I go to Detroit all the time to watch them play. I’ve been to 11 Daytona 500s, the World Series in Toronto and other cities, and twice a year I go
to U.S. college football games. I’ve also been to the NBA finals and NCAA finals. This year, I also went to an F1 race. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? I grew up partly in south Georgia. My dad owned a logistics firm that had a plant in Georgia, and we spent about half of our time on a little place called Sea Island, which is about 90 minutes south of Savannah. I came to Laurier because of the small feel. At the time there were only 5,000 students and it was a very close-knit community where one really felt at home. You felt like you
knew everyone on campus. I had a great undergraduate experience here. What do you like most about working at Laurier? Laurier is very spirited. There is a passion at Laurier that is unique, and I find that very appealing. The culture of volunteerism and the culture of getting involved really make it easy to do my job. I love it here. When I started as a don at Little House, who would have ever thought I’d be director of the same program?
By Sandra Muir
For a complete list of events visit www.wlu.ca/events
who teach large classes and to learn some techniques and methodologies used in order to successfully engage a large group. The session will address issues such as using physical space and voice care and will feature an experienced panel of faculty speaking about their best practices in large classes. Beyond Genocide: The Illuminations of Amy Fagin When: Sept. 20, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Where: Keffer Chapel, Waterloo Lutheran Seminary Cost: free This series of contemporary illuminated manuscripts explores regions of the world where genocide and mass annihilation have been perpetrated. Viewed in its entirety, the exhibition is a powerful and contemporary artistic commentary on the history and legacy of mass atrocity. Music at Noon When: Sept. 15, noon Where: Maureen Forrester Recital Hall Cost: Free Take a mid-day break and join us in the celebration for the first Music at Noon of the school year with a faculty showcase. Square2Square Car Free Day When: Sept. 18, all day Where: King Street, Waterloo Cost: Free Enjoy a car-free day on King Street, Waterloo. Arrive on foot,
by bike or skateboard. Roam the closed off area of King Street from end to end, and enjoy many sights, sounds and activities. Those interested in being an on-the-street helper for a few hours or assisting in other activities can send an email to volunteer@waterloo.ca. Music at Noon When: Sept. 22, noon Where: Maureen Forrester Recital Hall Cost: Free Take a lunchhour break and visit the Maureen Forrester Recital Hall to absorb the
beautiful sounds of the Penderecki String Quartet. 14th Annual Dean’s Alumni Golf Classic When: Sept. 30, 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Where: Rebel Creek Golf Club Cost: $160 $47,700 was raised at the golf tournament held last year by SBE. Continue to help support Student Leadership Awards at Laurier’s School of Business & Economics. Visit the SBE homepage at www.wlu.ca/sbe for more information.
In the media “They see the technology as a God-given opportunity to spread the message. So when new technology such as radio or television – or in this case, Internet video – arises, these groups are often eager to employ them as tools for that purpose.” – Denis Bekkering, PhD candidate in the Joint Program in Religious Studies
Denis Bekkering
From “Fallen Televangelists Find Afterlife on the Internet,” published in The Daily Gleaner (Fredericton, New Brunswick) on July 30, 2011. The article discusses Bekkering’s research on how Internet video has become a major global distribution channel for religious sermons. Bekkering uses the term “intervangelism” to describe the phenomenon. Laurier researchers are frequently featured in the local and national media. To see more, visit www.wlu.ca/Laurierinthenews, and find out about our Experts at Laurier program at www.wlu.ca/experts.
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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 2011
In the classroom
A look inside the lecture hall
Classroom game show Professor: Jason Roy Class: PO360: Canadian Mass Politics Description: A study of how Canadian citizens relate to the political system, both in terms of their ability to press demands on the system, and in terms of their attitudes toward government.
Canadian Mass Politics is a course that explores traditional aspects of politics and new and alternative forms of political engagement. “I found students were particularly interested in our discussion of eco-moms, hactivism and vegetarianism as alternative forms of political participation,” said political science Professor Jason Roy. One of the more successful tools that Roy has used to deliver class material is a game he calls “Fact or Fiction? Future and Fantasy!” that incorporates a 1970s game show theme. Roy presents students with a series of statements, and they work in groups to analyze them. “While using breakout groups is certainly not a new approach, it is amazing how much more engaged students are when questions are framed as a game show with a few Hammond organ sound bites,” said Roy. By Mallory O’Brien
Jason Roy uses 1970’s game show themes to encourage student participation in discussions.
Photo: Tomasz Adamski
Photos: Sandra Muir
Brantford RAC East gets late-summer finishing touches
Clockwise, from top left: entrance hall and upper balcony, circle room/long room (the semi-circular wall can
connecting Research and Academic Centre (RAC) east and west wings, small meeting room, rear courtyard.
be rotated into a full circle for Aboriginal ceremonies), future laboratory space, back courtyard, causeway
All photos were taken in early August. The building is currently open to staff and opens to students Sept. 12.
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