University of Waterloo

Daily Bulletin

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Friday, October 6, 1995

Death of a thousand cuts

The Toronto Star says this morning that the Ontario government is going to announce another three-quarters of a billion dollars in short-term spending cuts, including $16.8 million from universities. That hasn't been confirmed by the province.

Bob Truman, UW director of institutional analysis and planning, says this morning he doesn't have any information beyond what's in the Star, but wouldn't be surprised. "It would appear to be another 1 per cent cut" to 1995-96 grants, he said.

In preparation for bigger cuts that are expected next summer, Wilfrid Laurier University yesterday announced a staff and faculty hiring freeze. UW took the same step about two weeks ago. Also at WLU yesterday, it was reported that the staff association had, as expected, filed its application for certification as a union.

Premier rolls out the barrel

Ontario premier Mike Harris, the budget-balancer and tax-cutter who's behind all these grant reductions, is to be in town today for "the tapping of the keg" as Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest gets under way. Opponents of his social policies, led by labour organizations, are expected to be on hand to protest. King Street in downtown Kitchener will be closed for the keg-tapping party. (Good thing they're not holding it on Ezra Avenue, or the police would be there for sure.)

Oktoberfest runs through October 15. Among the major events is the annual (and nationally televised) parade, held on Thanksgiving Day starting in "uptown" Waterloo at 8:45 a.m. As in last year's parade, UW will be sponsoring a float jointly with Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College. Its theme: "Tomorrow's Leaders -- Bridges to the Future". The Warriors Band is expected to be on board, and the Midnight Sun III and Formula SAE student-built cars will follow the float in the parade.

Just blowing smoke

The smoke started spreading through the Davis Centre about 10 a.m. yesterday. Somebody had to pull the fire alarm by hand -- the system had been turned off in connection with construction work in a mechanical room at the top of the building -- and the place was evacuated as Waterloo Fire Department trucks came sirening up.

No damage to speak of, was the conclusion. David Churchill of the plant operations department says the cause of the fire has been definitely identified: sparks from a welding torch that ignited a pile of air filters stored in the mechanical room. A contractor has been in the building for some time working on reinforcement of a wall support system, he said. People were allowed back into the Davis Centre about 12 noon.

I'm told that the special at the Bon Appetit cafeteria yesterday was chicken and vegetables with cashew nuts. And here was the perfect chance for smoked sausage. . . .

Pension committee meets

The UW pension and benefits committee has an all-afternoon meeting scheduled in Needles Hall. The agenda includes a conference with one of the pension fund investment managers, a discussion of benefits for faculty members on "reduced load", and other technical issues. It doesn't include any discussion of an early retirement program, something UW officials have said is being worked out as a way of cutting the salary budgets before the fiscal storm hits.

Off to a generous start

The "Dress-Down Day" held for the United Way last week has brought in $672 so far, compared to $1,435 for the same event last year, says campaign chair Helen Kilbride. She thinks there's money still to be turned in -- those who have it can call the United Way office at ext. 3840.

Meanwhile, "pace-setters" have gotten the campaign off to a $9,620 start, says Terry Stewart in the applied health sciences faculty, who's keeping the statistics. Pace-setters are donors who last year gave $500 or more to the campaign, and were canvassed ahead of time this year to give the campaign a kick-start. The target on campus this year is $150,000 to support some 50 local charitable and service agencies.

Briefly, after the rains of Opal

The key control centre will be closed Tuesday morning while some alterations are made to doors and walls. Service there may be intermittent all next week as the work continues; call ext. 2669 before you walk over, the plant operations department suggests.
Co-op students are getting to an exciting season, as employer interviews for winter term jobs begin on Tuesday morning. Job posting #5 expires at 8 p.m. tonight, and more jobs are still coming in posting #6 Tuesday at 10 a.m., the co-op department says.
The football Warriors host 0-4 Guelph on Saturday afternoon at University Stadium. "The Fan 590 AM Radio from Toronto will be bringing their 32-foot Super Sports Cruiser," says Jennifer McCormick of the athletics department. Pre-game festivities will include "sampling, interactive contests (football tosses) with prizes, and some live broadcasts too". It's Federation of Students day at the game -- first 50 fans get free T-shirts.
The Oktoberfest hockey tournament begins tonight, at the Columbia Icefield and at the Mutual Arena downtown, and continues Saturday afternoon and evening, and Sunday morning and afternoon.

And now, Thanksgiving weekend

Monday is Thanksgiving Day and a holiday; UW offices and most services will be closed, and classes will not be held. The libraries will be entirely closed on Monday, but open Saturday and Sunday much as usual. Graphics Express in South Campus Hall will be closed Sunday and Monday, but open Saturday (10 to 4).

Available 24 hours a day as usual are . . .

the UW police at 888-4911;
the Student Life Centre (turnkey desk phone ext. 3867);
the department of computing services Help Desk at 888-4839, to report network and other major computer problems;
the plant operations department at ext. 3793, for emergency maintenance problems.

And a reminder for those who don't quite remember: it's now possible to phone UW 24 hours a day at 888-4567 and follow the instructions to key in an extension number and be connected.

Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
credmond@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca

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