Inside
WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY
Waterloo | Brantford | Kitchener | Toronto
Photo: Tomasz Adamski
SEPTEMBER 2012
First-year students get into the Laurier spririt during Orientation Week on the Waterloo campus in early September. Fall term classes officially started Sept. 10.
Multi-campus governance model approved New model recommends governance by academic discipline or administrative function The Wilfrid Laurier University Senate and its Board of Governors have approved a report from the Presidential Task Force on Multi-Campus Governance that outlines a new multi-campus governance model for the university. “The task force has recommended a framework that is not only appropriate to our current multi-community needs, but it is also flexible and scalable to facilitate strategic growth to additional communities in the future,” said Max Blouw, Laurier president and vice-chancellor. Key among the report’s recommendations is the principle that university governance will be aligned by academic discipline and administrative function. Functional leaders will be accountable for their activities across all campuses, and locationspecific coordinating bodies will ensure that programs and services are delivered effectively at each campus. “In practice, this means that the
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Faculty from which an academic program originally developed will be responsible for that program in all locations in which it is offered,” said Deb MacLatchy, vice-president: academic and provost. A new Faculty or Faculties will be created at Laurier Brantford from the programs that originated at that campus. “Full-time faculty members in Brantford who are part of Waterloo-originating programs will be able to choose — as a sub-unit — whether they affiliate with the originating Faculty in Waterloo or a newly created Brantford Faculty,” said MacLatchy. On the administrative side, leaders will be responsible for their functional area across all Laurier campuses. For example, the functional leadership for IT support is situated in Brantford, but is responsible for IT support at all Laurier locations. As another example, Human Resources leadership is based
Service Laurier is changing the student administrative experience.
in Waterloo, but is responsible for HR administration across all Laurier locations. “The goal of this model is to ensure accountability follows function so that each unit is tied into the subject matter expertise that it needs,” said Jim Butler, vice-president: Finance and Administration. “But it’s equally crucial that coordinating bodies
at Brantford as well as the other organizational changes associated with the academic model. President’s Group, in conjunction with functional leaders, will develop the integrated administrative model. The Multi-Campus Governance Task Force recommendations will also serve as context for the Integrated Planning and
“ The goal of this model is
to ensure accountability follows function ... ”~ Jim Butler
and processes are in place to meet local needs and coordinate local services. This combination will best serve stakeholders across the university.” Throughout the fall and winter months, work will be taking place to create disciplinary Faculties from among current programs
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Resource Management (IPRM) process. The Presidential Task Force on Multi-Campus Governance was established in 2010 to meet the need for an overarching model of multi-campus governance, in response to fundamental shifts in the university’s identity over the
Meet Daniel Boskovic, custodian at Laurier’s Brantford campus, and flute maker.
past 20 years. When the Brantford campus opened in 1999, Laurier became a multi-campus and multicommunity university. Over the next several years, the Brantford and Waterloo campuses grew significantly, the Faculty of Social Work moved to Kitchener, and Laurier established an office in Toronto. Increasingly, Laurier is beginning to realize its potential as an integrated multicommunity institution. Based on research into governance at other North American universities, the task force articulated 14 consensus points on governance, reflecting Laurier values, culture and history, that were endorsed by Senate and approved by the Board of Governors in spring 2011. The consensus points served as guiding principles for two working groups; one focusing on academic governance, and the Multi-campus see page 2
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Ken Werbin researches the real price of using social media.
Inside
SEPTEMBER 2012
president’s message
A year of transformation for PSE in Ontario In the education world, September is a time for fresh starts and new beginnings. The summer months gave many of us a chance to slow the pace just a little, reflect on the bigger picture and prepare for the new academic year. At Laurier, we have another busy year ahead. It is also a critical year for higher education in Ontario. The post-secondary sector is entering a period of transformation. In June, the Ontario government issued a discussion paper that lays out the expectation that universities and colleges need to do more to adapt to a fast-changing world — a world in which prosperity depends on increasing the number of well-educated workers in our society; a world in which students demand increasing opportunities and relevance in the education they receive; a world in which financial resources are increasingly constrained; and a world in which technology is dramatically reshaping the way we teach and learn. While change can be disconcerting, the good news is that
the Ontario government continues to value higher education and the role it plays in driving economic prosperity. At the same time, the provincial financial position makes it challenging to accommodate growing enrolments and to ensure that we meet the needs of today’s students with diverse and active-learning opportunities. We are challenged to improve productivity and efficiency through innovation. A key government proposal is to work with universities and colleges to develop individual “strategic mandate agreements” that will link an institution’s strengths and priorities with the goals that are set out in the provincial discussion paper. The province has made it clear that these agreements will shape future resource allocation decisions and program approvals. At Laurier, we have fortunately done much over a number of years that will position us well in
this new operating environment. The consultation and collegial deliberation that went into the Envisioning Laurier process, the Academic Plan, Campus Master Plans, and the Multi-Campus Governance initiative has enabled us to develop a strong position with respect to our future.
Staff, faculty encouraged to engage with IPRM process As Laurier prepares to commence the Integrated Planning and Resource Management (IPRM) program, faculty and staff are invited to become engaged with the process by providing their input at the fall IPRM workshops and participating in the IPRM working group nomination process. In addition to the five IPRM training workshops that took place between April and September, there are two full-day workshops for faculty and staff scheduled for Oct. 10 and Oct.
11. The October workshops will incorporate a mix of activities designed to gain input from the Laurier community about the university; cover the principles of integrated planning, academic and administrative prioritization and resource management; and provide background information and the opportunity to ask questions about the IPRM process. The IPRM process will be guided by a Planning Task Force and three working groups: the academic priorities team, administrative priorities team and
resource management team. All members of Laurier faculty, administration and staff are invited to put forward the names of individuals that they would like to nominate for membership on one or more of these IPRM teams. Self-nominations are also welcome. Nominations close Oct. 19. To register for the full-day October workshops, submit a nomination or to find out more information about the IPRM process, please visit www.wlu.ca/ IPRM.
InsideLaurier is published by Communications, Public Affairs & Marketing (CPAM) Wilfrid Laurier University 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5
InsideLaurier Volume 7, Number 1, September 2012 Editor: Stacey Morrison Assistant Editor: Lori Chalmers Morrison Contributors: Tomasz Adamski, Kevin Crowley, Nicholas Dinka, Patricia Kitchen, Sandra Muir, Mallory O’Brien
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In this new environment it is all the more important that we continue to plan our future in a clear and strategic way. With this in mind Laurier has launched an Integrated Planning and Resource Management initiative (IPRM). This consultative process will define and support the principles and institutional priorities that will enable Laurier to flourish and prosper in the years ahead. At the heart of the IPRM process is the question, “How will we continue to make Laurier a better institution?” To answer this, we must identify principles and priorities that are critically important as we look strategically toward the future. We then need to put resources toward those priorities. There are many opportunities for you to participate in the IPRM process. A number of training and information workshops are scheduled over the next two months that are
open to all. Faculty and staff are invited to nominate individuals (including themselves) to one or more of the teams that will be responsible for delivering the IPRM program. We are seeking persons for election or appointment to the Planning Task Force and for appointment to the three working groups that will be established: the academic priorities team, administrative priorities team and resource management team. For more information about IPRM and the appointment and election process, please visit the website at www.wlu.ca/IPRM The year ahead will be a critical one for post-secondary education in Ontario. I am confident that the consultation and strategic planning that Laurier has done, and will continue to do, will ensure a bright future for our remarkable university.
Multi-campus continued
two working groups into a single report, which was endorsed by Senate and approved by the Board of Governors in spring 2012. To read the Presidential Task Force on Multi-Campus Governance reports and for detailed information, please visit the multicampus governance website at www.wlu.ca/presidentialtaskforce.
other on administrative governance. The working groups consulted widely with the Laurier community to develop recommendations for the integrated organizational structures. The Presidential Task Force then consolidated the findings of the
Max Blouw President and Vice-Chancellor
Send us your news, events & stories
Deadline for submissions: Sept. 17, 2012
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.
InsideLaurier welcomes your comments and suggestions for stories. Tel: (519) 884-0710 ext. 3341 | Fax: (519) 884-8848 Email: stmorrison@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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Next issue of Inside October 2012
SEPTEMBER 2012 Inside NEWS
What’s new and notable at Laurier
Athletic Complex renovation update
centre is scheduled for completion in August 2013. It will have 11,000 additional square feet of space, two new studios, a segregated fitness feature, cutting-edge equipment, casual gathering space and a revamped customer service area. Programs in the Athletic Complex remain unaffected by the construction and began Sept. 10. The main entrance to the Athletic Complex will be accessible at all times during the school year. “There may be some noise and dust, but it will be business as usual over the school year,” said Patricia Kitchen, Athletics & Recreation associate director: recreation and facilities. “We are ready to welcome everyone back with a fresh look, new equipment and improved facilities.”
It has been a busy summer of construction at the Athletic Complex. A number of projects have concluded and the fitness expansion has begun. The gymnasium floor was refinished in July, and the Hawk Shop was expanded and has a new look. The changerooms received a major facelift over the summer with the installation of new floors, lockers and showers. In August, more than $200,000 in new cardio, circuit and strength-training equipment was installed in the fitness centre. A second phase of equipment will be installed when the expansion is complete. The first phase of the fitness centre expansion is now underway with foundation work in the lower level of the Athletic Complex. In early September, the excavation began for the expansion towards Alumni Field. The new fitness
Shortlist announced for 2012 Edna Staebler Award Three books have been shortlisted for the 2012 Edna Staebler
Award for Creative Non-Fiction. The $10,000 award, administered by Wilfrid Laurier University, encourages and recognizes Canadian writers for a first or second work of creative non-fiction that includes a Canadian locale and/or significance. Award juror and Laurier English and Film Studies Professor Ute Lischke said this year’s submissions are “extremely rich and varied.” The books on the shortlist are Hot Art: Chasing Thieves and Detectives through the Secret World of Stolen Art (Douglas and McIntyre, 2011) by Joshua Knelman; Most of Me: Surviving My Medical Meltdown (Greystone Books, 2012) by Robyn Michele Levy; and The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary. A Canadian Story of Resilience and Recovery (Harper Collins, 2011) by Andrew Westoll. The winner of the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction will be announced Sept. 19, 2012. The award will be presented at a dinner and reading Nov. 13 in Waterloo and Nov. 14 in Brantford.
U-Desk offers expanded services
The Hawk Shop received a facelift over the summer and reopened Sept. 1.
“Service Laurier Brantford was excited to be a pilot for the one-stop system at Laurier and it has gone very well so far,” said Jennifer Brickman, manager of Service Laurier on the Brantford campus. “We work hard to make service levels consistent across all Laurier campuses.” One of the main improvements in the Service Laurier model is a queue system that replaces the standard lineup. Students are asked to not only take a number, but also input the area in which they require assistance. This helps tailor which representative will be able to best help the student. If the Service Laurier representative cannot resolve the issue, the student is referred to an expert in the appropriate department. On the Waterloo campus, a webcam (which can be viewed online at www.wlu.ca/servicelaurier) allows students to view how
Photo: Mallory O’Brien
Wilfrid Laurier University’s new Service Laurier model puts a focus on service to enhance the student administrative experience. Service Laurier exists on both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses and acts as a one-stop shop for Records and Registration, Business Office and Student Awards services. Additional services at the Brantford campus include Parking Services, the OneCard office, internal room booking and class cancellations. Service Laurier will allow students to access many enrolmentrelated services, including ordering transcripts, picking up awards and paying bills, in one location and with greater ease. Laurier’s Registrar Ray Darling says that one-stop enrolment services are “really a best practice at post-secondary institutions.” “We are very excited to be implementing this program at Laurier,” he said. On the Brantford campus, Service Laurier was launched in Sept. 2011 in Grand River Hall. On the Waterloo campus, Service Laurier was soft-launched in December 2011 on the second floor of 202 Regina St. To date, more than 40,000 inquiries have been serviced between the two campuses.
Students use Service Laurier’s new queue system.
officially partnered in providing services. As well, there is now a location at the Brantford campus, which replaces Peer Connect. The U-Desk — for Union Desk — is a one-stop shop for many campus services. As part of its services, the U-Desk offers free technology rentals, including laptops, iPads, projectors, and cameras. The U-Desk also offers
busy the line is before they arrive. “We want to free time for students, so they spend less time dealing with administrative services and more time studying, learning and enjoying their time at Laurier,” said Scott Harris, manager of Service Laurier on the Waterloo campus. The ability to gather metrics such as how long students are waiting and for what service, will also help to better shape Service Laurier in the future. Harris says they are striving for continual improvements to the experience. In addition to front-line aid, Service Laurier also manages a call centre and email inquiries, and is responsible for the university’s switchboard. There are also selfserve kiosks available in the waiting area. Service Laurier handles the majority of student inquiries, and both Harris and Brickman urge staff and faculty to refer students to Service Laurier if they have questions. “Students sometimes get bumped from department to department in their quest for answers,” said Harris. “By streamlining the system we can eliminate that frustration. Laurier has always been known for its excellent student experience — that should include their administrative experience too.”
campus event tickets, locker rentals, inter-office mail drop-off, Canada Post facilities, and tickets to local attractions, including Chicopee lift tickets and movie tickets. The U-Desk is located in the Fred Nichols Campus Centre Hall of Fame on the Waterloo campus, and on the first floor of the Student Centre on the Brantford campus.
Laurier on YouTube
The Students’ Union U-Desk now offers expanded services at Laurier’s Waterloo and Brantford campuses for staff, faculty and alumni. The Graduate Students’ Association and Students’ Union have
Service Laurier improves student administrative experience By Mallory O’Brien
A secure bike storage area is now available for use by students, staff and faculty on the Waterloo campus. The covered area, located on the north side of MacDonald House Residence, provides space for up to 25 bikes.
Learn more about Laurier’s Community Service-Learning program, including interviews with students, faculty members and community partners. www.youtube.com/LaurierVideo
Laurier signs licence agreement with Access Copyright Following approval of the University Board of Governors, Laurier has signed the university licence agreement with Access Copyright, the Canadian copyright licensing agency. The licence agreement runs until Dec. 30, 2015. It facilitates the access, use, reproduction and distribution of copyright-protected works, while respecting academic freedom and privacy. The new licence, which replaces the former interim tariff under which Laurier was operating, increases access to educational material by providing the right to not only copy print format materials, but also a new range of digital materials that were not previously covered under a licence. Under the new licence, fees will be based solely on the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) students registered at Laurier. While there is a significant increase in the FTE fee, this fee will not change over the duration of the licence agreement, is the first increase in a number of years, and covers a more expansive range of materials and copying to include both print copying of coursepacks as well as posting of course materials on the MyLearning space. Administration has consulted widely with faculty and students and has listened to the concerns expressed by students relating to the increase in fees. As such, the university proposed a
fee sharing arrangement to the Board of Governors in which the university will pay 20 per cent of the licence fee. This payment will address any copying of copyright protected materials by university employees and is consistent with the Laurier tradition of cost sharing of services with students. Students will also see a significant decrease in the cost of print coursepacks, which are estimated to go down in price by approximately 30 per cent. In approving the recommendation that the university enter into the licence agreement, the Board of Governors directed university administration to explore options to determine whether it is in the best long-term interest of the university to continue to be covered under the Access Copyright licence after 2015. The university will consider a range of opportunities to partner with other universities, enhance copyright clearance services internally, and develop policies, practices and procedures that will ensure that Laurier continues to meets its legal obligations. “This agreement strikes a balance between the need to respect copyright materials and the need to provide access to important learning resources for our faculty and students,” said Deborah MacLatchy, vice-president: academic and provost. 3
Inside
SEPTEMBER 2012
Scholars Commons @ Laurier continues to grow Digital repository of academic work contains more than 1,500 theses By Nicholas Dinka Have you ever wanted to really dig into an esoteric topic — pilgrimages to Graceland, say, or the intricacies of Facebook privacy settings, or the social history of quilts? The team behind the Scholars Commons @ Laurier has uploaded all available Laurier graduate theses and dissertations to its online database, opening up a treasure trove of scholarship on these and hundreds of other topics to the university community and general public. A total of 1,588 theses are now available on the Scholars Commons, dating as far back as 1967 and drawn from all graduate departments at the university. “Moving to this type of system for archiving theses and dissertations
is an important step forward for us,” said Caitlin Bakker, digital projects coordinator. “It’s part of a broader ongoing shift to digital collections at Laurier and beyond.” As of late July, the Scholars Commons thesis collection had logged 16,036 downloads. The most viewed document was “War and state collapse: The case of Sierra Leone,” with 263 downloads. Studies of novelist Toni Morrison and family wellness rounded out the top three, with 233 and 183 downloads respectively. “It’s an amazingly wide assortment of materials,” said Bakker. Prior to the Scholar’s Commons project, Laurier graduate theses and dissertations were only electronically available through a specialized database that was sometimes difficult to access, particularly for non-academics.
“We’ve had great feedback from members of the public so far,” said Bakker. “One gentleman who contacted us used the repository to find the only information he’d been able to locate on the World War Two regiment his father served in. It’s information he might not have otherwise been able to track down.” The new system provides a showcase for Laurier graduate students, making their work easy to access and link to. It could also help to cut down on the need for printed or microfiche copies of the theses, potentially conserving funds and space. Library and Archives Canada will require electronic submission of all theses by 2014, and the digital copies produced for Scholars Commons @ Laurier will facilitate those submissions as well. Each thesis in the collection
receives a permanent URL that can be included on a CV, for example, or in a professor’s funding application, as an example of past students’ success. Individual theses can also be embargoed, or kept off-line, for a period of three months to three years, in cases where the thesis is being externally published. Currently, most Laurier graduate students are required to create four official printed copies of their theses: one for the student, one for his or her supervisor, one for the department and one for the Laurier Library. However, in a pilot program, Biology and Chemistry students have also been submitting their completed theses to the university via Scholars Commons @ Laurier. The electronic theses and dissertations project is directed by the
Digital Online Theses Committee, which includes representation from the Library, the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and the Graduate Students’ Association. The Library’s Scholarly Communication Committee has also been involved in the planning and implementation of the project. Scholars Commons @ Laurier is a digital repository of academic work and archival materials at the university. In addition to the graduate theses, Scholars Commons will also feature archival issues of The Cord dating back to 1926, as well as research from faculty members, issues of the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies’ academic journal and other materials. The Scholar’s Commons can be accessed at http://scholars.wlu.ca.
Bookstore strives for service excellence By Stacey Morrison When it comes to Laurier’s Waterloo Bookstore, the adage “good things come in small packages” is fitting. After undergoing a renovation last fall, the space has a new, contemporary look, improved flow and more merchandise on the floor. One thing that hasn’t changed, is the store’s footprint. “The walls haven’t moved, but we do well in spite of that,” said Debohra Da Costa, director of Retail and Printing Services. “We cram quite a bit in here, which means we do well meeting our customers’ needs. After all, that’s why we’re here.” After operating in the redesigned space for a year, Da Costa said customer feedback has been positive, and staff, students and faculty have commented on the improved shopping experience. “Students can shop anywhere these days and we recognize that. We are responding and behaving like other retailers,” she said. According to the National Association of College Stores, the
Laurier Bookstores have the most sales per square foot of any major university bookstore in North America. Students can also order books online and pick them up at the Bookstore’s kiosk in Waterloo or the Stedman location on the Brantford campus, which makes shopping easy and convenient. In addition to the Waterloo renovations, the Brantford campus’ TechShop, operated by the Bookstore, is also making strides. The street-front space recently became an official “Apple Campus Reseller,” meaning staff, faculty and students receive the educational discount when purchasing Apple products at the shop. Da Costa says the Bookstore is continuing to explore opportunities to deliver what students need. One possibility is partnering with pop-up stores to provide products and services that complement what the Bookstore offers. For example, the University of British Columbia’s bookstore partners with Bed, Bath & Beyond at the beginning of the school year, so students can buy homewares
and residence supplies on campus. “Right now we are exploring options to give students more variety,” said Da Costa. “We are retail experts and we are here for everyone on campus, so we really want to consider all the possibilities.” Hawk Shop renovation With the Athletic Complex currently under renovation, the timing was right to give the Hawk Shop, located within the facility, a facelift. Operated in partnership with the Bookstore and Laurier Athletics and Recreation, the revamped Hawk Shop is now a larger, more modern area with more Golden Hawk branded apparel available for customers. “Peter Baxter, director of Athletics and Recreation, was very generous in providing us with more space,” said Da Costa. The new Hawk Shop is currently open for business, despite the ongoing renovations of the Athletic Complex. A grand opening event to showcase the new and improved space is being planned for October.
Bookstore to host David Suzuki, Jeff Rubin in Waterloo David Suzuki, one of Canada’s best-known scientists and naturalists, and Jeff Rubin, former CIBC chief economist and bestselling author, will be at Laurier on Oct. 17 to speak about how to achieve a truly sustainable future. With a shared belief that a sustainable future can only be found at the intersection of ecology and economics, the pair is travelling across Canada on The Eco Tour. Organized and hosted by the Laurier Bookstore in partnership with Random House Books and Greystone Books, Laurier is one of only eight stops for the tour. “The challenge with climate 4
change is not how can we afford to reduce emissions, but how can we construct an economy that lives within the confines of nature’s boundaries,” said Suzuki. Rubin and Suzuki agree that Canadians and global citizens can still create the future we want, but only if we are willing to relinquish the past we have known. Suzuki is familiar to audiences around the world as host of CBC TV’s long-running series, The Nature of Things. From 1963 to 2001 he was a faculty member at the University of British Columbia. He has authored over 40 books, including Everything Under The Sun and The Sacred
Balance, and is widely recognized as a world leader in sustainable ecology. Rubin is the author of The End Of Growth and Why Your World Is About To Get A Whole Lot Smaller, both No. 1 national bestsellers. He was one of the first economists to accurately predict soaring oil prices back in 2000 and is one of the world’s most sought-after energy experts. Daiene Vernile, producer and anchor of CTV’s Provincewide, will moderate the event at Laurier. The tour will be stop at the Turret on Laurier’s Waterloo campus Oct. 17. Tickets will be on sale at both Bookstore locations or online at www.wlubookstore.com.
Name: Sheldon Pereira Job Title: Manager, Residence Life Book Title: The Opposable Mind: How Successful Leaders Win Through Integrative Thinking Author: Roger Martin
The author, Roger Martin (dean at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto), speaks to the idea of integrative thinking, or a learned way of thinking in which an individual develops the ability to hold two opposing ideas in his or her mind at once. All the while the person is working towards a synthesis of these oppositions that actually includes the valuable elements of each. A must read for anyone that isn’t satisfied with an “either-or” outlook.
What are you listening to? Name: Sarah Lamb Job Title: Biological/Chemical/Radiation Safety Officer App: Florence + the Machine
I recently saw Florence + the Machine at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto. This performance really convinced me that Florence Welch is a great musician! She has a truly powerful voice that is clearly not manufactured in a studio. When I’m working out and in need of a burst of energy, a song like No Light, No Light from the band’s album Ceremonials is just what I need to keep going!
SEPTEMBER 2012 Inside
Sport psychologist works with Olympic athletes Laurier Professor Kim Dawson helps elite runners hone their mental skills doesn’t have to be the thought they keep — they’re capable of changing their emotions.” Kim Dawson says she helps elite Dawson helps her athletes to athletes to run fast so she doesn’t set short- and long-term goals, have to herself. and then create action plans “I go for a run and don’t worry for achieving those goals. She about a thing,” she says. “It’s a little encourages them to “live their unfair, actually.” whole lives” early in the training Dawson, a professor of sport cycle, then narrow their focus as a psychology at Wilfrid Laurier big race approaches. University, works with a group of Individual events are broken high-performance runners who down into several stages, each with train at the Speed River Track and its own mental game plan. In the Field Club in Guelph, Ont. Four marathon, for instance, the first of her athletes competed in the 10 kilometres are about relaxation London Olympics: marathoners and optimizing body mechanics. Eric Gillis and Reid Coolsaet, Passing the halfway mark provides steeplechaser Alex Genest, and 1500-metre specialist Hilary Stellin- an emotional boost that is carefully harnessed in the drive to the finish gwerff. line. Dawson worked with them to “Nothing is unprepared,” Dawson develop psychological techniques for fending off slumps, dealing with says. “They are in complete control — it’s about being consistent.” injuries, peaking at the right time, The pressure and distractions managing their emotions over the of the Olympics present special course of a race, and “having a life” challenges to any athlete, and outside of running, a sport that Dawson worked with her runners requires participants to seek out to deal with those hurdles. In the huge helpings of physical pain. lead-up to the games, she coached “Just as there’s a whole arsenal of them on “event management” physical skills that runners need, around their races and on develthere’s a whole arsenal of mental oping specific mental race stratskills, too,” she says. “First and egies. foremost, the athletes have to learn “The Olympic Games are so that the first thought they have
people at Laurier
Maria Andraza, manager, academic materials (Waterloo campus). Jessica Bell, exam and booking specialist (Waterloo campus). Michael Bernhard, coordinator, Community Partner, Curriculum In and PD (Waterloo campus). Jessica Berrigan, environmental/ occupational health and safety advisor (Brantford campus). Rachel Bessette, off-campus recruitment officer (Waterloo campus). Valerie Clement, academic program assistant (Waterloo campus). Christine Dale, manager, Integrated Planning & Academic Resources (Waterloo campus).
massive, there can almost be a stigma attached to them,” she says. “We actually call it the Big O, and we do a lot of work helping the athletes to keep their perspective amid the hoopla.” Working with elite runners has provided Dawson with a wealth of knowledge about the psychology of high-performance athletics.
Patricia Freeman, administrative assistant/research coordinator, MDRC (Waterloo campus).
Simone Weil Davis, coordinator, Inside-Out Canada, Faculty of Social Work (Kitchener location).
Ravi Gokani, coordinator, Community-Service Learning (Brantford campus).
Changes in staff appointments:
Dan Graham, area manager, Facilities Operations (Waterloo campus). Shelley Groves, medical secretary II, Health Services (Brantford campus). Scott Keller, administrative assistant II, Residential Services (Waterloo campus). Adrian Lahey, faculty relations administrator, Office of V-P (Waterloo campus). Haylea Leaman, residence life resource facilitator, Residential Services, Waterloo campus.
Adrian den Broeder, disability consultant (Waterloo campus).
Sandra Martin, OneCard systems assistant, OneCard (Waterloo campus).
Melissa DiLeo, international student advisor, Recruitment & Admissions (Brantford campus).
Joanne McKee, assistant vice-president: financial resources, Waterloo campus.
Heather Doering, intermediate administrative assistant (Waterloo campus).
Charity Parr-Vasquez, research facilitator (Natural Sciences), Research Services (Waterloo campus).
Elizabeth Flynn-Dastoor, lab coordinator, Pyschology (Waterloo campus).
Kim Dawson works with elite athletes to prepare them mentally for competitions such as the London Olympics in June.
She’s been sharing her expertise in a column in Canadian Running magazine, in seminars and talks, and in her sports psychology classes at Laurier, which are studded with examples drawn from her training work. Genest had the best finish in the summer Olympics — seventh place— but for each of the four
athletes, Dawson takes satisfaction in knowing they were physically and mentally prepared for the race of their lives. “It’s so thrilling to help these runners meet their potential,” she says. “When they get an outcome I know they deserve because they’ve worked so hard for it, it’s just a wonderful thing to see.”
examinations clerk, Registrar’s Office (Waterloo campus).
Erin Riggin, receptionist/ administrative assistant, Accessible Learning Centre (Waterloo campus).
For a complete list of appointments visit www.wlu.ca/hr
New appointments:
Shannon Doherty, prospect researcher (campaign), Advancement (Waterloo campus).
Photo: Dean Palmer
By Nicholas Dinka
Sarah Rich, program administrator (Brantford campus). Malgorzata Smiarowski, custodian, Physical Resources, Waterloo campus.
Michael Ackerman, disability consultant (Waterloo campus). Suzanne Buck, custodian, Physical Resources (Waterloo camus). Brent Carpenter, coordinatormechanical operations, Physical Resources (Waterloo campus). Laura Davey, admissions specialist II, Faculty of Education (Waterloo campus).
Megan Lott, residence education coordinator, Residential Services, Waterloo campus. Kerry Martin, manager, general merchandise, Bookstore (Waterloo campus). Necia Martins, service coordinator, Service Laurier, Waterloo campus. Heather Matlashewski, manager, grounds and custodial, Physical Resources, Waterloo campus. Andrew Pieon, alumni officer, Alumni Relations (Waterloo campus).
Kevin Schultz, leadhandmechanical/plumbing, Physical Resources (Waterloo campus). Anthony Strauss, lab technician, Biology (Waterloo campus). Adrienne Wilker, mental health/ student support, Student Affairs (Waterloo campus).
Retirements: John Clement, special constable (Laurier Brantford).
Maggie Duncan, information specialist (data entry), Office of the Registrar (Waterloo campus). Una Glisic, strategic planning coordinator, Office of Research Services (Waterloo campus). Karlie Imhoff, welcome and events coordinator, Recruitment and Admissions (Waterloo campus). Erin Klassen, recruiting assistant, Career Development Centre (Waterloo campus). Janina Ganton, manager, ceremonies and events, Office of the President (Waterloo campus). Bailey Gross, coordinator: student leadership, Student Leadership centre (Waterloo campus). Angie Kobbert, Scantron/
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Inside
SEPTEMBER 2012 A look at staff and faculty across campus
coffee with a co-worker Name: Daniel Boskovic Title: Custodian Where you can find him: Laurier Brantford
Photo: Sandra Muir
Drink of choice: My drink is called Chuga. It’s a fungus — a mushroom that grows on birch trees. It’s full of antioxidents, and you just ground it and boil it. It has a vanilla rosehip taste. I drink about a litre a day.
When Daniel Boskovic isn’t at his job on Laurier’s Brantford campus, he’s at home handcrafting flutes.
How long have you been at Laurier? It will be four years in October, and three years full-time. What is your typical workday like? In September I start at 4 a.m. It’s quiet. I get a lot done. I need to get the academic classrooms cleaned, and usually there is no one in there so I get a lot done. It’s a busy day. Over the summer I did a lot of painting and cleaning residence rooms. What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to take classes at Laurier. I’ve already taken two philosophy classes. I love Plato, and I’m just starting to get into sacred geometry and Greek philosophy. This fall I’m taking a psychology course. At some point I might try to get into some type
of counseling role. But that will be down the road. I usually take just one course a semester because I have two young daughters and another part-time job. What is your other job? I work for Tribal Thunder, which is run by Oscar De Los Santos, a South American medicine man who is one of the youngest recognized elders by the Six Nations. He makes instruments, and holds workshops and classes. About a year ago he taught me how to make steel drums and flutes. Now I make flutes in my spare time as well. The first one I made was an Anasazi style of flute. It’s a 1,500-year-old flute that was discovered in 1931 by some archaeologists in Arizona. It’s a beautiful flute. I go through periods where I like different types of flutes.
coming Events
Heard on Twitter Check out what the Laurier community has been tweeting about at twitter.com/lauriernews. Laurier also has official sites on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LaurierNow and YouTube at www. youtube.com/LaurierVideo. @EXPkhartley Orientation week begins for Laurier Brantford | BrantfordBrant | News | Brantford Expositor http://www.brantfordexpositor. ca/2012/09/04/orientation-weekbegins-for-laurier-brantford … (http://t.co/vcto6FmB ) Sept. 4 @BoxArtShow @LaurierNews Just another reason to LOVE #Waterloo. We have a continuous surge of new, young, vibrant energy!! Welcome #Laurier students!! Sept. 2 @citywaterloo Welcome to new and returning students at UW, WLU and Conestoga! http://www.waterloo.ca/ students (http://t.co/EHTEGlit) Aug. 31 @LaurierSBE #LaurierSBE Dean Micheál Kelly is featured in today’s Inspiring Lives ad campaign in The Globe and Mail. Check... fb.me/2dRdXcQOA (http://t.co/z9eNqcxz ) Aug. 31 @WLUShinerama WLU Waterloo has raised a total of $22,468 online. The highest any school has raised EVER online!! Thank you to... http:// fb.me/1Wsf0cng5 (http://t.co/ R0BnfUxJ ) Aug. 30
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Right now I also really like an Arabic scale flute. Were you musical growing up? I played piano a little bit, but nothing major. But when I met Oscar, he began teaching me different things. The flutes are just something I took a liking to. So, I taught myself how to play and he gave me the templates on how to make them. I make them in my home and keep a small stock because each flute is unique and they are sold by order or through workshops. They usually take three or four hours to make, depending on what I’m doing to them. I have a strong desire to share the magic of the flute with as many people as I can.
I was at a festival in Georgetown, Ont., on Father’s Day called the Big Daddy Festival. I was playing the flute there with Tribal Thunder. I also play with my two daughters, who both have their own flutes. There have been times where we’re all just playing and we’re getting into it, and all of a sudden you snap out of it and think, “Wow, that was pretty good.” What do you like most about working at Laurier? There seems to be an underlying model for educating yourself. Years ago, I would never have thought that I would be in the position to take courses. My co-workers are also great. This is the best job I’ve had by far.
Do you perform as well?
By Sandra Muir
For a complete list of events visit www.wlu.ca/events
Soup & Frybread Wednesdays When: Every Wednesday (until April) starting Sept. 12 11 a.m. – 2:10 p.m. Where: Aboriginal Student House, 111 Darling St., Brantford campus Cost: Free
Powley Day When: Sept. 19 11 a.m. – noon Where: Paul Martin Centre, Waterloo campus Cost: Free
Stop in for delicious soup and tasty frybread, including vegan/ vegetarian options. To volunteer to make soup (any soup of your choice), email Bonnie Whitlow at bwhitlow@wlu.ca.
Powley Day marks the anniversary of a Supreme Court decision to recognize Métis rights across Métis land. Laurier’s Aboriginal Student Centre will host York University’s David T. McNab, a Métis historian, who will deliver a lecture.
Laurier Football: Golden Hawks vs. York University Lions When: Sept. 15 1 p.m. Where: University Stadium, Waterloo campus Cost: Varies
Lakes of Canada’s North: Messages in the Mud When: Sept. 19 Where: Kitchener Public Library, Forest Heights Branch Noon – 1 p.m. Cost: Free
For a full athletic schedule and tickets prices, visit www.laurierathletics.com
Brent Wolfe, associate professor in Laurier’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, will
lead this lecture, part of a weekly series focusing on current affairs, politics, social sciences and the arts. Marconi by Michael Longford, Robert Prenovault When: Sept. 19 – Oct. 27 Where: Robert Langen Art Gallery, Waterloo campus Cost: Free This mixed-media installation explores what remains of the first commercial transatlantic wireless station in Cape Breton built by Guglielmo Marconi in 1907. Music at Noon When: Sept. 20 & 27 Noon – 1 p.m. Where: Maureen Forrester Recital Hall, Waterloo campus Cost: Free SPIN at Scotiabank Nuit Blanche When: Sept. 29
7 p.m. – 7 a.m. Where: Laurier Toronto Office 130 King St. W. Cost: Free SPIN is a site-specific video-based installation by Kitchener-based artist Katrin Jennifer Bedford that uses traditional stop-motion animation techniquess to address the concepts of motion, light and sound. For more information about Nuit Blanche, visit www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca. The United Nations and Syria When: Oct. 3 Noon – 1 p.m. Where: Kitchener Public Library, Forest Heights Branch Cost: Free Allistair Edgar, director of the Academic Council on the UN System (ACUNS) will lead this lecture.
Homecoming kicks off Sept. 28 on Waterloo campus Laurier’s Waterloo campus will celebrate Homecoming Sept. 28-30 with three days of events that appeal to all ages. Annual events such as the SBE Dean’s Golf Classic and Athletic Hall of Fame dinner are on the schedule again this year, along with the popular free pancake breakfast in the quad on Sept. 29. Over the weekend, faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends and
families can participate in campus tours, lectures and faculty open houses. The Golden Hawks football team will take the field at University Stadium against the Guelph Gryphons on Sept. 29 at 1 p.m., but arrive early to enjoy pre-game festivities. Children can participate in the Junior Hawks program at the stadium for the first half of the game, which includes
crafts, face painting and story time. That evening, the entire Laurier family is invited to the Waterloo Inn and Conference Centre for a tribute in recognition of former Dean of Students Fred Nichols’ golden anniversary at Laurier (50 years!). Enjoy dinner, dancing and music by Black Water Trio Plus, and share your stories and memories of Nichols. The weekend wraps up with
a worship service, the annual Laurier Loop charity run or a trip to Stratford to enjoy a performance of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing at the Stratford Festival. For a full lineup of events, including times and ticket prices, visit www.laurieralumni.ca. Also, be sure to mark Oct. 20 on your calendar for Homecoming on the Brantford campus.
SEPTEMBER 2012 Inside research file
How personal information pays for social media Ken Werbin studies how social media platforms connect users with marketers and advertisers By Sandra Muir There is no such thing as a free lunch, so the saying goes. There is also no such thing as a free social media platform, says Kenneth Werbin, assistant professor of Contemporary Studies and Journalism at Laurier’s Brantford campus. “My students have so much experience using social media, but they’ve never stopped to think critically about how it is that it’s free,” says Werbin. “Of course they are paying for it in a whole other way because these platforms are buying and selling bits and pieces of their identities.” Werbin is studying the ways that personal information posted to social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and even through email services such as Gmail, is collected and used by these organizations. On the one hand, he says, these new platforms and new ways of creating content, connecting with people and mobilizing social movements are unprecedented.
for Werbin about five years ago while Googling his name, or as he calls it, “ego-surfing.” He found a website that had compiled details of his life, including his academic and employment history, as well as connections with other people. He had not provided any information to this website. Not only that, but some of the information was incorrect. “It was an automatically culled representation of myself that was filled with errors,” he says. “I started really thinking about how every time we represent ourselves, we open the possibility of being represented.” This idea of being represented and being included in a group — whether we consent or not — stems from Werbin’s doctoral research on lists. He traced the use of lists from ancient times through to the advent of computers, from their use by the Nazi’s during the Second World War, to present-day no-fly lists. “In working through how lists of people have operated in contexts of power, I saw that this history is one that in many ways parallels
“ Facebook is not interested in connecting you with your family and friends. ”
They open doors to new forms of democratic participation and collaborative development of knowledge, says Werbin. “But on the other hand, in opening up all of these doors, they also subject people to intense forms of commodification and surveillance. So we need to think critically about our participation.” This realization crystallized
the history of computer sorting and tabulation,” he says. Werbin draws extensively on theoretical literature around the political economy — the study of how capitalism operates. Capitalism is dependent on keeping tracking of inventory, which requires monitoring and surveilling populations of items. Werbin says this is also how social
media operates, but the items here are people. “Facebook is not interested in connecting you with your family and friends, but in connecting you with marketers and advertisers,” he says. “That’s the business model that underpins Facebook. So it’s in its interest to keep track of the minutiae of your online patterns of interaction and communication.” His current research focuses on how Facebook and other social media sites, as well as Google and its popular Gmail platform, do this. Werbin received a SSHRC Insight Discovery Grant to study these issues. As part of his exploratory research, Werbin set up a series of dummy accounts and sent emails through Gmail with identifying statements such as “I am Jewish” or “I am gay.” He discovered that after sending the emails, many of the ads popping up on Google became customized to the content of the emails. On the “I am Jewish” account, ads such as Birthright Israel popped up. For the “I am gay” account, the ads focused more on nightlife. Werbin also has a personal Facebook account. He’s never posted a status update or linked to friends. The only information it includes is his Gmail account. However, he has about 90 friend requests and countless ‘friend recommendations.’ The vast majority of these are individuals he knows, but has not communicated with in years, and many never by email. He believes that when some of these people joined Facebook they uploaded their email contact list, and Facebook recognized his email address and recommended him to these individuals, and then to individuals in their networks, and so on, and so on. “So even though I’ve never given
Ken Werbin says social media is beneficial, but should be used with caution.
Facebook any information, it has me positioned in this parallel network — a dark network. Facebook knows a lot more about me than you can see. I’m part of a network in Facebook even though I technically have no friends.” As well, with these platforms it’s often about all or nothing. There are ways to control your privacy settings, but the minute you start turning off applications you lose much of the functionality that is being promised. “Facebook wants information to be public because that’s good for business,” says Werbin. “Commodification and surveillance always go hand in hand. In order to keep
track of products, you need to surveil them.” When asked whether people should use social media platforms, Werbin says social media has its benefits by allowing us to connect, mobilize, share content, develop knowledge together, and engage democratically in ways unprecedented in the history of communication technologies. “The key is to be cautious. Think twice before you post. Familiarize yourself with privacy policies and controls and the ways that your personal data is being captured and shared. In short, try to get the most out of these platforms, while giving up the least of yourself to them.”
Humanitarian and health expert joins Laurier as CIGI Chair in Global Health Laurier has appointed distinguished humanitarian and medical doctor James Orbinski to the position of CIGI Chair in Global Health. His role started Sept. 1. Dr. Orbinski is a former international president of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) who has front-line experience in complex humanitarian emergencies, from Rwanda to Somalia, Zaire and Afghanistan. As head of Médecins Sans Frontières, he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the organization in 1999. In his new role, Dr. Orbinski will be affiliated with Laurier’s School of International Policy and Governance, the Health Sciences Program in the Faculty of Science, and the Balsillie School of International Affairs. In addition, Dr. Orbinski will serve as director of
the Africa Initiative at CIGI and as senior advisor to CIGI’s vicepresident of programs. “Laurier has a wealth of expertise, great faculty and wonderful students. I am thrilled to be joining this outstanding Canadian university, where I will work with others to develop a teaching, research and policy agenda around global warming and global health,” said Dr. Orbinski. Most recently, he was a professor at the University of Toronto Medical School where he served as chair of Global Health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. He was also a fellow at the Munk Centre for International Studies and practiced medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. Among his many achievements, Dr. Orbinski is co-founder and board chair of Dignitas Inter-
national, a non-governmental organization that performs health systems research and communitybased care for people living with HIV in the developing world. This year, Dignitas is expanding research and scaling services for a population of three million in Malawi. He is also a founding board member of the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development, the Stephen Lewis Foundation and Canadian Doctors for Medicare.
Dr. Orbinski was head of mission for Médecins Sans Frontières in Kigali during the Rwandan genocide of 1994. He served as medical co-ordinator in Jalalabad, Afghanistan in the winter of 1994; as head of mission in Goma, Zaire in 1996-97 during the refugee crisis; and as medical coordinator in Baidoa, Somalia, during the civil war and famine of 1992-93. He was international president of Médecins Sans Frontières from 1998-2001. As head of the organization, he represented Médecins Sans Frontières on critical humanitarian issues in the Sudan, Kosovo, Russia, Cambodia, South Africa, India and Thailand, among others. He also represented the organization at the UN Security Council, in many national parliaments, and at the World Health Organization and the UN Refugee Agency.
Dr. Orbinski also chaired MSF’s Neglected Diseases Working Group, which created and launched the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi). The DNDi is a global not-for-profit research consortia focused on developing treatments for tropical diseases of the developing world that are largely neglected by profitdriven research and development companies. He has written a best-selling book, An Imperfect Offering: Humanitarianism in the 21st Century, and is the subject of an award-winning documentary film, Triage: Dr. James Orbinski’s Humanitarian Dilemma. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross, Canada’s highest civilian award, is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a member of the Order of Ontario. 7
SEPTEMBER 2012
Laurier’s new Active Learning classroom supports student engagement •
By Mallory O’Brien
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that allows the instructor to project and share the work being done at each table as well as his or her own materials. • Portable videoconferencing unit. • Upgraded wireless access. • Infrastructure to support table-to-table or external Skype conversations, lecture capture and web conferencing. To learn more about the classroom and its features, visit www.wlu.ca/activelearningclassroom.
By Nicholas Dinka An all-day omelet station, a made-to-order sushi bar and a pizza/pasta area complete with Woodstone pizza oven are some of the new offerings available to diners on Laurier’s Waterloo campus. The new meal options are part of a revamped Fresh Food Co., also known as the Dining Hall, which recently switched over to an “all-you-care-to-eat” service model. Under the new setup, customers pay a flat fee upon entry to the facility for all food and drink – either via a student meal plan or as an individual cash or debit purchase. Regardless of the customer’s method of payment or relationship to the university, everyone pays the same amount per meal: $9.15 for breakfast, $12 for lunch and
$14.45 for dinner (prices include beverages and HST). To facilitate the new setup, the Dining Hall’s main seating area is no longer available for casual access. However, the area at the south end of the building, overlooking the Quad, has been left open as a study and casual meeting space. This area also provides access between the John Aird Centre and the Arts Building. “We’ve almost doubled our space and increased food concepts, with 12 food stations instead of the previous eight allowing more room to move around,” said Ryan Lloyd-Craig, Laurier’s Resident District Manager. “The new system also largely eliminates disposable takeout containers, allowing us to move to an almost completely organic waste stream and improve our environmental footprint.”
Photo: Mallory O’Brien
This fall, Wilfrid Laurier University launched its first Active Learning classroom, a space purposefully designed to support collaborative learning through its layout and integrated technologies. The Active Learning classroom, located in Room 3-106 in the Dr. Alvin Woods Building, has no “front” of the classroom: all four walls are utilized by interactive projectors and whiteboards. Each of the room’s five, large round tables has its own projector, which can be hooked up to multiple electronic devices, including each table’s dedicated laptop. Although the space was designed with third- and fourth-year Arts classes in mind, other faculties can schedule courses in the room as well. The classroom is also the perfect area for the Faculty of Arts’ new first-year seminars. “The first-year experience is a priority for the Faculty of Arts,” said Dean of Arts Michael Carroll. “Last fall we introduced first-year seminars, which cap at 22 students. This classroom, which improves student learning and engagement, is a natural follow-up.” Specific features of the classroom include:
A dedicated laptop at each table and guest connections from which students can project their work to each other and/or the entire class. Six interactive short-throw projectors that allow students and the instructor to project, mark up and save images. Portable whiteboards that allow students to record their work at their tables and mount it on a wall for discussion and sharing. Movable teaching console with touch-screen monitor
Fresh Food Co. adopts new service model
(l-r) Sandy Hughes (Teaching Support Services), Gary Wagner (ITS), Sally Heath (Teaching Support Services) and Dean of Arts Michael Carroll in Laurier’s new Active Learning classroom.
Photo: Nicholas Dinka
Inside
The Dining Hall now has 12 food stations and more space.
in the classroom
The theory of music Instructor: Kevin Swinden Class: MU161 — Theory I
Every music student must take Laurier’s four-semester sequence of music theory courses, beginning with Theory I. Associate Dean Kevin Swinden says music theory is an analytical, technical and structured discipline that must be applied with artistic sensitivity and creativity. “Many students enter the first day terrified of what lies ahead,” he says, adding the preparedness of students varies widely. “The practical purpose of Music Theory I is to bring all students to the same point from which to progress in the curriculum, but for me the real challenge and the joy of the course comes from showing how the study of music theory needn’t be terrifying — that what there is to be learned through music theory has a direct and visceral connection to their experience and expressive capabilities as performing musicians.” 8
Photo: Dean Palmer
Description: A context for the study of music theory, including cultural issues, relationship of theory to other fields in music, parameters of music and an introduction to counterpoint, harmonic function and part-writing.
Associate Dean of Music Kevin Swinden hopes to cultivate music students’ relationship with the discipline in his classroom.