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Daily Bulletin

Thursday, September 18, 1997

University of Waterloo -- Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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How Downey sees the situation

UW president James Downey gave a brief state-of-the-university report at Monday night's meeting of the UW senate, and here's some of what he said:

"The Ontario and Canadian economies are seemingly robust, the deficits are coming under control, the Ontario government has turned the corner in its mandate and must begin thinking of the next election, rather than the last. Add to that the relative level of funding of higher education in Ontario and one might conclude that better days are a slam dunk.

[Downey] "That would be too facile. Our arguments for increasing provincial grants have not been politically persuasive to date and are unlikely to carry the day at a time when many groups have their own arguments for government reversing the policy of reduced spending. I think it unlikely that there will be any general increase in our operating grant in the near future. It is not improbable, however, that the government will decide to set aside money for specific purposes -- focussed, competitive, and leveraging. We'll know more in November when the Treasurer presents the next financial statement to the Legislature. COU will continue to press the case for more government support, and I expect our arguments may become a little more compelling as an election approaches and the opposition parties take round on issues where the government's record appears vulnerable.

"It is possible that a new tuition fee policy will be announced this fall, but it is more likely that last year's arrangement will be continued for another year. That is to say, no increase in formula fee but some further room on discretionary fees. I say this because the government has not yet been able to deliver on the income-contingent loan repayment plan that was promised in the Common Sense Revolution. The Minister of Education has indicated an ICRP will be in place by next September.

"In the meantime, concern is growing about the indebtedness of students upon graduation, and I would hope that the federal government will take a lead in addressing this serious issue. Without some up-front grants to encourage students to undertake higher education, it is doubtful that a more equitable method of repayment of large debt-loads will provide enough encouragement.

"There will be no shortage of challenges confronting all of us -- faculty, staff, and students -- as we adapt and adjust to either a cauldron or kaleidoscope of change. . . . Of the various challenges we face by far the most important ones are being played out at the program and department level. Redesigning our courses, programs, and methods of learning and teaching, together with the choices we make when we hire people to replace those who have retired in the past couple of years -- these are the most important decisions and actions being taken at Waterloo. From what I have seen in the curriculum changes, new program offerings, and faculty appointment lists, as these are presented to Senate, I am encouraged to think that we are responding with the positive, imaginative, and adventurous spirit which got us here.

"Other challenges include:

"It is a matter of the utmost encouragement that we have come through the financial turbulence of the past four or five years without rupture to the fundamental human and group relations on which the realization of our academic goals depends. We haven't by any means exhausted the possibilities of improvement here; we can still be a lot better than we are; we shall have to work hard to live up to our enviable reputation; and we should always be on guard against complacency; but I sincerely believe that our fundamentals are sound, our human resources are deep, and our opportunities are virtually limitless. "

Maybe you could save a life

Two advanced courses that are part of the Lifesaving Society leadership offerings are being offered at UW this fall: the Distinction Award and the Diploma Award. "They are both lifesaving awards that go beyond the scope of the Bronze Cross," explains Darryl Rolfe, a science student who's helping to organize them. "Emphasis is on thought and consideration of advanced situations and appropriate rescue techniques. The Diploma Award is the highest lifesaving award achievable in the commonwealth. It is designed for those seeking a challenging opportunity to demonstrate exceptional lifesaving ability and leadership. The Diploma Award is earned by only a handful of people annually, nationally."

Rolfe notes that the class is open to anyone with Bronze Cross qualifications, current or otherwise, whether or not they're directly connected with the university. Anyone interested in such a challenge can come to an organizational meeting on Wednesday, September 24, at 5 p.m. in Physical Activities room 1001. For more information in advance of the meeting, Rolfe can be reached at 725-6587, e-mail dwrolfe@sciborg.

Your art and your philosophy

And your welding too. Among the day's major events at Waterloo:

A campus under repair

As the jackhammers continued to pound on the front steps of the Dana Porter Library, a crew was hoisted to the library's third-floor roof yesterday to hunt for the source of leaks. University architect Dan Parent was up there too, in his white hard hat, but he's got other repair work in mind as well:
The ring road will be closed from South Campus Hall to the Carl Pollock Hall loading dock, September 22 through October 3, for repairs. Traffic should use the west side of the ring road instead.
Work on the west side will follow during October, details to come.

And I hear that repairs are also being made to various things that weren't quite right in the early days of Polaris, the new computer network in engineering, science, arts and applied health sciences. Except that the Polaris name still isn't official, and hereafter we shall speak instead of The Network Formerly Known as Watstar.

CAR

TODAY IN UW HISTORY
September 18, 1962: Some 500 volunteers from the business world begin collecting for the Canadian Fund to Expand the University of Waterloo, with a goal of $3 million. On the same day, a charter is granted to Camp 15 Waterloo by the Corporation of the Seven Wardens, responsible for the engineers' Iron Ring ritual.

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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