Daily Bulletin, Friday, February 18, 1994

SPRING BREAK:  Sun shines, snow melts, students head off for a few days
of home cooking or apres-ski libations, as the case may be.  In the
faculties of engineering and mathematics, it's a two-day "study break",
as classes are cancelled Monday and Tuesday.  In the other faculties 
it's a full "study week": back to the classroom on Monday the 28th.

It wouldn't be surprising if the parking lots were a little emptier than
usual today, too, what with the weather, Monday's "Rae Day", and today
being a professional development day for the local public schools (kids
get the day off and parents find ways to look after them).

CLOSED MONDAY:  The day is at hand -- the "Social Contract Day" on which
UW will be officially closed, and staff and faculty don't get paid.  Except
for a few emergency services and the like, everything at UW will be closed
Monday, February 21.  All food services outlets will be closed, except
those in the residences.  Bookstore co-manager May Yan sends word, just
in case anybody thought differently, that the bookstore and gift shop will
be closed too.

The libraries will be open on a study hall basis, with no services provided
except self-charge.  Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Dana Porter and the Map
and Design Library; 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Davis Centre.

Computer network problems can be reported as usual to the computing
services help desk at 888-4839.  The DCS input-output room will be closed.
The math faculty computing facility promises service from noon to 10 p.m.

Several buildings will have utilities shutdowns for part of the day, as
the plant operations department takes the opportunity to do preventive
maintenance.  Announced shutdowns include the Davis Centre (6 to 10:30
a.m.), Modern Languages (6 to 10 a.m.), and the General Services Complex
(10:30 to 2:30).

Parking lots will be open on the usual weekend basis (C and O lots free;
some other lots that are permit-only on workdays accessible for cash).

St. Jerome's College and St. Paul's United College will be closed along
with UW.  Conrad Grebel College and Renison College will be open for business.

There will be no Daily Bulletin on Monday.

MATH REFERENDUM:  The proposal to create a mathematics endowment fund,
financed through a $31.42 fee each term from each undergraduate student,
passed by a narrow margin in balloting early this week.  Returning officer
Curtis Desjardins has announced that there were 311 votes in favour of
the proposal and 282 against, with 12 spoiled ballots.  Now starts the
paperwork -- creating a legal framework for the endowment fund, and asking
UW's board of governors to give its approval.

GIFT FROM BANK:  A news conference has been called for Monday morning in
Kitchener's Valhalla Inn, at which the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
will announce "several initiatives including a major financial commitment
to the University of Waterloo for research to assist small business,
particularly knowledge-based enterprise".  UW president James Downey will
be at the news conference along with CIBC executives.  (Sounds as though
he won't get the benefit of a day off, although he's losing a day's pay
like everybody else.)

LETTER TO OTTAWA:  Hitting staff and faculty desks this morning is a 
Pension & Benefits newsletter with an update on RRSP calculations and
information on health plan deductibles for this year.  And there's a
tear-off letter addressed to federal finance minister Paul Martin, which
people are invited to send immediately.  The letter urges Martin not
to introduce what's rumoured to be in his budget: adding the value of
employer-paid health plans to people's taxable income.  "My paycheque is
already significantly reduced," the letter laments.

Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
888-4567 ext. 3004      credmond@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca