Friday, February 11, 1994

WILDLIFE NOTES:  It turns out that the skunk in the Physics building
yesterday was no laughing matter.  It attacked several people across
campus during the morning (no one was actually bitten, says Al MacKenzie
of the security department) and a "rabid skunk" warning was issued.  The
critter was finally taken into custody by animal control officers near
the Minota Hagey Residence, and will be tested to see whether it really did
have rabies.

As for the splendid bird spotted yesterday morning, Derek Kirkland of the 
data processing department sounds like he knows what he's talking about: 
"The large raptor that has been hanging around the physics building is 
not a falcon. It appeared to be a red tailed hawk, a rather common raptor 
in this area. (Assuming that he saw the same bird that I have seen several 
times on campus in the last 2 weeks.) I had the red tailed hawk circling 
immediately in front of my office window on the 6th floor of the Math Building, 
being chased by crows (crows often 'mob' hawks and owls to try to drive them 
away). The red tail of the hawk is diagnostic and easy to see."

NEWSGROUP ISSUE:  The Computer Science Club has talked several prominent
people into appearing at a "forum" Tuesday afternoon about the controversy
over UW's action in dropping five raunchy "newsgroups" from its computers.
The forum will start at 3 p.m. Tuesday, and has been moved from the 
previously announced room to a larger hall, Arts Lecture room 116.  "The
forum is completely neutral," says Poesy Chan of the CSC.  On the panel
will be Jim Kalbfleisch, UW's provost; Sally Gunz, chair of the ethics
committee; Jeff Shallit, computer science professor and co-founder of
Electronic Frontier Canada; and Prabhakar Ragde, also of CS.

Discussion of the newsgroup affair continues in other venues too.  The
student Math Society yesterday decided not to take an official position, but
will survey students to see what they think.  The executive of the Graduate
Student Association will recommend, when the GSA board of directors meets
Monday evening, that a petition against the university's action be started
among grad students.

One or two people have asked who or what the "ethics committee" is, anyway,
and what it does when it's not hearing complaints about newsgroups.  The
committee is established by UW's Policy 33, "Ethical Behaviour", the text
of which is available on UWinfo under "Official University Documents".

SWEETS FOR SWEETS:  "Treat someone special for lunch," the Laurel Room
is suggesting.  Its Valentine special ($9.75 plus tax) runs today and
Monday and features poached salmon with dill sauce, strip loin served with
peppercorn sauce, and such desserts as "the award-winning Valentine Heart
Delight".  Reservations: ext. 3196.

An alternative at lunchtime today, by the way, would be the Bombshelter
pub in the Campus Centre.  The cuisine may not be so fancy, but entertainment
is provided by the Royal Blood Comedy Improv team.  There's no cover charge.

And tonight at the Bomber it's "13 Engines" with "Bender".  Tickets for
the evening are for sale in the Federation of Students office, Campus
Centre room 235.

MORE ENTERTAINMENT:  "The Glass Menagerie", produced by UW's drama
department, continues tonight and Saturday at 8 in the Theatre of the Arts.

The WPIRG film festival turns to "indigenous peoples" today, with four
short films showing at 12 noon, and the National Film Board documentary
"Kanehsatake" at 6:30 p.m.  Both screenings are in Davis Centre 1302, and
there's a $1 admission charge.  Saturday at 1 p.m., WPIRG shows "El Norte"
and presents two guest speakers about Latin America, also in DC 1302.

A Brazilian Carnival Party has been announced for Saturday night in the
Festival Room of South Campus Hall -- this is the season for revelry, with
Mardi Gras coming next Tuesday.  The Brazilian Association of Graduate
Students promises the samba, the lambada, and bottled beer at $2.80;
tickets are $5 at the door, or check with lcmnova@neumann.

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