Daily Bulletin

University of Waterloo -- Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

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Wednesday, February 5, 1997

'To help us chart the future'

"Few institutions anywhere have more reason to celebrate," says UW president James Downey in a news release that's being issued today to tell the world about UW's 40th anniversary.

"And with due regard to our constrained fiscal circumstances," he goes on, "we shall mark our 40th anniversary with some academic and social events that will accentuate the people and forces that shaped Waterloo's character -- not so much to venerate the past as to help us chart the future. . . .

"In 40 years the University of Waterloo has evolved from a dissenting gleam in the eye of a handful of local founders to one of the most widely respected universities in Canada, celebrated for the vitality and originality of its rendezvous with academic tradition and social relevance."

Today's release, coming from the office of information and public affairs, tells the public a little of UW's history and also outlines what the 40th anniversary celebrations will include. The central date: a "friends and founders" event on May 27, during which Waterloo will honour some of the key people who formed the university.

Other celebrations include a university-wide birthday party on June 3, special activities at the July 1 Canada Day activities, and a "Business Partnership" event on September 9 in conjunction with the local Chamber of Commerce. Watch for the publication, later this month, of a 40th anniversary booklet from information and public affairs, The Waterloo Adventure, and later this year of the official history of UW by Ken McLaughlin of St. Jerome's College.

There's power in the blood

Can't live without it -- which is why the Red Cross comes to campus today hoping that 150 people will show up to donate blood. "Currently, our blood bank levels are quite low in O and A types," reports Laura Lukosik at the Red Cross's west-central Ontario headquarters.

Today's clinic runs from noon to 4:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room of the Student Life Centre. "All donors," a notice advises, "must show identification with full name and signature or full name and photograph." And I suppose the usual advice applies: please have something to eat before you come to give blood.

Yes, the blood collection system is much in the news these days. And yes, student and university leaders have cancelled a planned clinic next week at Carleton University, in protest against a question regularly asked of male would-be donors: Have you had sex with another man since 1977? Carleton's gay centre says the question is homophobic; the Red Cross says it's part of "our daily effort to make sure the blood supply is safe". The controversy continues. But meanwhile, people need blood. "One donation of blood," the Red Cross says today, "can save the lives of up to four individuals. Give the gift of life."

Today's a busy day

Once you mush through the slush and get onto campus, there's a lot happening . . . for example:

The "TexMex ERS 475T Field Course Garage Sale and Bake Sale", starting at 9:30 in the Environmental Studies I courtyard. It's a fund-raiser for students in the "field course" who will be heading off during February reading week to study the ecology of the lower Rio Grande. Today's food isn't actually TexMex, but expect "famous home-baked goodies"; there's also a raffle.
Arts information day is taking place in the lobby of Arts Lecture -- "a time for first-year students and non-major students to discuss academic major options with professors and undergraduate advisors in the different arts departments".
A surplus sale of UW property that's no longer needed, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at central stores, in East Campus Hall (off Phillip Street). Such sales are held on the first Wednesday of each month.
A 24-hour continuous event organized by the UW bridge club as a fund-raiser for the Mary's Place shelter. From 12:30 today until 12:30 tomorrow, enthusiasts will be playing bridge in Math and Computer room 3001. Visitors and players are both welcome ("we are hoping to have at least two games of bridge going for the whole night") and canned food donations will also be accepted for the local Food Bank.
Be Inc. will be demonstrating its Be operating system, described as "a modern, efficient operating system for Power Macintosh and other Power PC computers", tonight from 6:30 to 10, and Thursday from 12:30 to 6, in Davis Centre room 1301. The visit is sponsored by the Waterloo NextStep Users Group.
The astronomy group holds its monthly open house at the Gus Bakos Observatory tonight -- meet at 8 p.m. at Physics room 308.

And on top of all that, there's the job fair at Bingemans Conference Centre in Kitchener, organized by career offices at UW, Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Guelph and Conestoga College. Free bus transportation is offered from UW (the career services folks in Needles Hall should have details). "Approximately 75 employer organizations will be participating in the event, which offers permanent, summer and contract job opportunities," organizers say.

Staff seat on the board

Here's a notice from the university secretariat:

Nominations are requested from full-time staff of the University to fill one seat on the Board of Governors. Full-time staff members who are Canadian citizens are eligible for nomination. Each nomination must be signed by five (5) full-time staff members. The term is for three years from May 1, 1997, to April 30, 2000.
Nominations should be sent to the Chief Returning Officer, Secretariat, Needles Hall, Room 3060, no later than 3 p.m. Wednesday, February 19, 1997. An election will follow if necessary. Nomination forms and further information are available from the Secretariat, ext. 6125. The seat that's coming vacant -- one of two staff seats on the 36-member board -- is currently held by Barry Scott of the office of research.
CAR
TODAY IN UW HISTORY
February 5, 1968: Students' council approves a $5 per term fee as a contribution to the Tenth Anniversary Fund.

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