![[University of Waterloo]](/images/logobars/snowflakebar.gif)
| Yesterday |
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
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Editor: Chris Redmond credmond@uwaterloo.ca |
![[In the days of green grass]](/images/2005/0117joy.jpg)
Gone
and not returning to its plinth across from the Graduate House is
"Joy", a concrete sculpture by Theodore Harlander that had graced
the campus since 1971. It was damaged in a vehicle accident last
year, and after consultation with experts in the fine arts department,
"the decision was made that it just wasn't worth trying to repair
it," says Rick Zalagenas of UW's plant operations department.
No joy in Mudville -- and no Joy in Waterloo. . . .
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Provost Amit Chakma told the senate that after architecture faculty members voted unanimously to seek the change, he asked the deans of the two faculties "to discuss the matter in their respective Faculties and advise me".
The result, he said in a memo, is that both engineering and ES support the move. "While the faculty and staff of the Faculty of Environmental Studies regret that the School of Architecture has made the decision to leave the Faculty, they do not wish to oppose the separation and prolong the instability this action has caused. The remaining units of the Faculty are now engaged in a strategic planning process in anticipation that the School of Architecture will no longer be part of FES. . . .
"Engineering sees the benefit of strengthening relationships between the School of Architecture and the Departments of Civil and Systems Design Engineering and is willing to welcome the School."
Adel Sedra, dean of engineering, said his faculty welcomed the "return" of the architecture school, which was based in engineering before the environmental studies faculty was created in 1969. He said the UW school has a "more technical" bent than many other schools of architecture in Canada, and should be a good fit in engineering.
"We have a very strong and effective curriculum," said the director of architecture, Eric Haldenby, describing it as a balance of technical content, humanities background, and the study of design. He told senate that there are no plans for changing that. "What we do see," he said, "are possibilities for future collaboration -- we look forward to enhancing our research activity."
In other matters at last night's senate meeting, registrar Ken Lavigne reported on steps toward creating a "scholarship grid" that would guarantee a certain level of funding for first-year students who arrive with top high school marks. As a step in that direction, he said, UW will be able to guarantee a $2,000 scholarship for every student who arrives this fall with a high school average of 90 or higher. "What we want to do is make an impact when we make offers of admission," he said, noting that some students will be offered larger scholarships later.
Senate gave a round of applause to Tom Coleman of Cornell University, who has been visiting Waterloo in preparation for becoming dean of mathematics on July 1.
I'll have more to say in the next day or two about the doings at last night's senate meeting.
Chakma came to UW in 2001 from the University of Regina. As provost, he's responsible for "leadership in all matters, academic, financial and material", and is the university's second-ranking official, after the president.
The nominating committee includes faculty, students, staff, and a member of the board of governors. This week's memo from the secretariat invites nominations for some of the seats on the committee:
"Nominations are requested for:
"Nominations are requested for two staff members, elected by and from the regular staff of the University. Consistent with past practice, the Secretariat will be conducting this election. At least three nominators are required in each case. Completed nomination forms should be submitted to the Secretariat no later than 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 8. Elections will follow if necessary."
For all the positions, a nomination form is available online.
| WHEN AND WHERE |
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Computer science colloquium: Dennis Shasha, New York University,
"Upstart Puzzles", 10:30 a.m., Physics room 313.
'Facilitating Effective Discussions' workshop sponsored by teaching resource office, 12 noon, Math and Computer room 5158, details online. 'Starting Your Own Business' career workshop 4:30, Tatham Centre room 1208. Residence dons: information session about 2005-06 positions, 5:30, multipurpose room, Student Life Centre. 'Invasive Plants' presentation by Larry Lamb, environmental studies, 7 p.m., Kitchener Public Library. 8-ball pool league "try-it" session sponsored by campus recreation, 8 p.m., Dooly's, 35 University Avenue East; league starts next week. Design project symposium showing off the work of fourth-year electrical and computer engineering students, Wednesday all day, Davis Centre, details online. Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology program information session Wednesday 4 p.m., Needles Hall room 1101. The New Quarterly literary magazine launches new issue, Wednesday 7 p.m., Waterloo Public Library. 'Fantastic Alumni and Staff Day' at Warrior basketball games Saturday (women's game 1 p.m., men's game 3 p.m.), Physical Activities Complex, details online. Writer Malcolm Gladwell speaking on his new book Blink, Saturday, February 12, 3 p.m., Centre for International Governance Innovation, free tickets online from UW alumni office. |
The One-Tonne Challenge, an initiative of Environment Canada, calls on each Canadian to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by one-tonne or 20% of the five-tonne average for an individual annually. The national website allows you to calculate your emissions and offers recommendations on how they can be reduced. A local web site will highlight local programs for citizens.
Suzuki will speak to the community and students at 8 p.m. at the Modern Languages building, and he will provide a student symposium at 4:30 p.m. in the Student Life Centre -- to re-enact an appearance he made there in 1972. The format is a casual question and answer about his latest book, Tree: A Life Story, and related topics. The student symposium admission is free.
David Suzuki is an ideal speaker on the importance of taking concrete steps to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, whether that be driving less or making one's home more energy efficient. "This event will be the initial spark to get our project out into the community," says Jessica Kwik, coordinator of the One-Tonne Challenge for Waterloo Region.
The Challenge has brought together a range of organizations from community groups to government to businesses. "It's really been a galvanizing point to bring together disparate groups who are working on greenhouse gas reduction programs," says Daryl Novak, organizational development staff person at the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group, one of the leading members of the advisory committee.
The launch event is funded by Environment Canada and WPIRG. Other funding support has been made by the TD Friends of the Environment, the Federation of Students, the UW Sustainability Project, and the UW Bookstore.
Tickets for Suzuki's 8 p.m. talk are on sale at $11 for community members and $6 for students through the Humanities Theatre box office from noon to 5 p.m., or by calling 888-4908. The student symposium will be held at 4:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Student Life Centre, free admission. Various titles written by Suzuki will be available for sale at both events with a book signing by Suzuki following the evening event.
CAR