Wednesday, May 19, 1993

DOWNEY'S SPEECH:  The text of the May 11 talk by UW president James
Downey, "A Humanist Meets His Waterloo", appears in full in today's
Gazette, in response to a number of requests.

ONTARIO BUDGET:  Provincial treasurer Floyd Laughren brings down a
budget today.  According to the usual speculation, it will be long on
tax increases.  It may also contain some specifics about the "social
contract" expenditure cuts, although negotiations in that area are 
still staggering on.

The "sectoral tables", including one for colleges and universities, were
to meet yesterday, but employee groups did not attend.  The Broader
Public Sector Coalition, representing employees in general, is boycotting
all the sectoral tables at least until after a meeting of the "central 
table" scheduled for Thursday.

Even after that, professors, as represented by the Ontario Confederation
of University Faculty Associations, may stay away from the sectoral table,
says Jim Brox, president of UW's faculty association.  The government
"won't talk about fiscal issues", he said this morning, and the issues
it's prepared to discuss at the sectoral tables are of little interest
to people at universities.

GARDEN PLOTS:  In response to a question that came to my attention 
yesterday -- no, garden plots will not be available on campus this year,
according to grounds supervisor Brian O'Riley.

MEMO ABOUT PICNIC:  The provost, Alan George, sent a memo to department
heads and chairs yesterday, reminding them about the June 1 picnic to celebrate
the Community Campaign (see page 3 of today's Gazette).  The memo concludes:
"Where possible, I hope that you will be able to come and that you will
encourage your faculty and staff to join us to celebrate this important
event."

LIBRARY COMMITTEE:  The front page of today's Gazette notes that the senate
library committee is meeting today to discuss such topics as reorganization
and the future of the catalogue.  It says details of the meeting are to be
found in the Notices column, but in fact they're missing.  The meeting is
at 1:30 p.m. in Needles Hall room 3001.

Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs
credmond@watserv1    ext. 3004