Daily Bulletin

New tenure and promotion polices

The proposed Policy 76, "Faculty Appointments", and Policy 77, "Promotion and Tenure", were to get final approval from the Faculty Relations Committee yesterday. UW provost Jim Kalbfleisch said they'd be posted some time today on the secretariat's web site.

Over the coming weeks, the policies will be discussed in faculty councils and other bodies across campus. Fred McCourt, president of the faculty association, said there will also be a general meeting of the association to discuss the new policies. They need approval by UW's senate (in two readings) and the board of governors before going into effect.

Policies 76 and 77 will replace two existing documents -- Policy 46, "Promotion of Faculty Members", and Policy 53, "Faculty Appointments -- Tenure".

Says McCourt, writing in the November-December issue of the faculty association's Forum "In my opinion, these draft policies represent both a significant repackaging of the material that was contained in Policies 46 and 53 and a substantive revision of some of the practices and procedures found there. A joint Administration-FAUW memorandum detailing the more significant revisions contained in these two draft policies will be sent out shortly by the VPA&P, Jim Kalbfleisch, and myself, as Co-Chairs of FRC."

Villagers support charity kitchen -- by Michelle T. Lehmann

"This has been a tradition in the Village residence for about five years now," explained Alyson Woloshyn, one of the co-chairs for this year's campaign. "A bunch of dons came up with the idea and each time it gets bigger and bigger." Every year, she said, the campaign scouts local organizations in Waterloo Region looking to help "one grass-roots charity" that students can really get behind.

St. John's Kitchen, based in downtown Kitchener, feeds breakfast and lunch to approximately 250 people each day. It operates every weekday and is a place in the community where people can go for food, without someone expecting something from them in return. People can rely on the agency for food or even just for some company, as many congregate there during the day. With operating costs reaching $125,000 per year, the organization receives a grant for $5,000 and must find the balance through fundraising and donations.

Woloshyn admitted the campaign's success is possible because of the 50 dons who are eager to take part. "They take turns running the events and getting their floors involved and excited. They really make things happen."

She said students get involved in the events for many reasons. "Some just like the events and they go to the Oktoberfest event or the coffee houses to have fun. Others want to give something back to the community. A lot of students in residence have a volunteering background, and this is an opportunity to continue helping people. Some participate by default because they have friends who are involved or their dons put pressure on them to come out. Whatever the reason, they always have fun with it."

The campaign has done a number of events this year, including a car wash, a cake auction, an Oktoberfest all-ages event called Village Houses, a coin drive, a bottle drive, a swimathon and two coffee houses. "Dressing for dollars is a big event for us," Woloshyn said. "The students really get into it because they love making their dons look silly." Woloshyn has even agreed to get a tattoo if her floor can raise enough money.

The campaign's goal for this year is $30,000 and the students involved are doing some great work, she added. To date, the VCOC has raised some $9,200 and the closing campaign event, the Charity Ball and raffle, are scheduled for January 28. "Watch for raffle tickets to go on sale in January. There are some really great prizes," she said. Ticket prices are $2 each, three for $5, or seven for $10. First prize is $2,500 toward tuition and a food plan sponsored by Food Services and Coke. There is also a leather jacket valued at $400 and a weekend package including tickets for the Centre in the Square, dinner, and accommodations at the St. Jacobs Country Inn.

Woloshyn said it's important to get involved and give back to the community. "It's too easy for students to come to school, get trapped in a little Ring Road bubble and never even realize they are part of a bigger community when they move to this new region."

UW helps create Algonquin guides -- from a UW news release

Author Wayne Van Sickle, a UW alumnus (with degrees in mathematics and social development studies), mingled with personnel in the Algonquin Park Research Library, which periodically doubled as the lunchroom, while researching his book. One day a member of the staff quipped, "Too bad your book isn't going to be in German, Wayne." Conversation revealed that the park is a "fabled land" for German tourists who treasure the rugged landscape, trails and abundant wildlife. And there was an overwhelming need for a guidebook. Van Sickle mused, "I'll write the book in English and find someone to translate it into German."

When it was done and checked for accuracy by park officials, Van Sickle returned to Waterloo to search for a translator. He commissioned Regina Piskorsch-Feick, a PhD student in German literature, and found she too was an Algonquin Park enthusiast.

"An introduction to the natural and human history of Algonquin Provincial Park for our German-speaking visitors is long overdue," said longtime park naturalist Ron Tozer, now retired. "This timely book will fill that need well."

Naturparkführer: Algonquin Park Kanada was published late last year, and Van Sickle was inundated with requests for an English version. The result is a detailed 200-page resource book, Algonquin Park Visitor's Guide. contains information about the park's day hiking trails, wildlife, flora, activities, services and history. As well, it includes canoeing tips, day trips and accounts of back-country adventures by the author. More than 70 black-and-white illustrations complement the text, including some by renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman, who spent several summers at a government wildlife research camp in Algonquin.

Charts, tables and maps round out the guidebook. The latter were produced by cartographer Valdis Kalnins, who has a master of environmental studies degree from UW. Mark van Bakel, with a bachelor of ES degree, designed the book.

Launched in early October, Algonquin Park Visitor's Guide was well received by the public. Van Sickle sold and signed more than 400 copies during a week at the park.

The author continued to tap into the resources of his alma mater while writing his book. He attended UW's tourism lecture series sponsored by the department of geography and recreation and leisure studies. He says the lectures helped him better understand the tourism experience and the needs of his readers.

The public is invited to meet and talk with the author during book signings at various bookstores this month -- tonight and tomorrow he'll be at Conestoga Mall in Waterloo.

Doings on campus and off

The Kiwanis Travelogue series has a presentation at 8:00 tonight in the Humanities Theatre.

Michael Higgins, president of St. Jerome's University, is back on CBC radio's "Ideas" series. Tonight brings the second of his three talks about philosopher-monk Thomas Merton, under the title "Heretic Blood", first broadcast last year. Air time is 9:05 on CBC Radio I. The third episode in the series will be broadcast next Friday, same time.

Robert McNair, of the mapping, analysis and design facility in environmental studies, uses a camera outside working hours too. A collection of his photographs, under the title "Waterline", is on display this month and next in the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery downtown; an opening reception is scheduled for Sunday, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Several community organizations are looking for help, according to a listing from the local Volunteer Action Centre. Both the Waterloo Region Block Parent Program and Planned Parenthood Waterloo Region are looking for members of the board of directors; the Doon Pioneer Park Community Association wants a "preschool/children's recreation programs coordinator"; the local chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association needs help with "community awareness, publicity, and fundraising -- especially with bingo". More information: 742-8610.

I noted in Monday's Bulletin that the senate executive committee was about to decide whether the UW senate needed to hold its scheduled December meeting or not. The decision has been made and announced: No. "The Senate Executive Committee agreed," says a memo, "the agenda did not warrant holding a Senate meeting on December 20."

And another decision that's been made, this one by students' council: the Federation of Students won't act to ban smoking in its pubs, Federation Hall and the Bombshelter, and will apply for an exemption from the Waterloo Region bylaw that forbids smoking in public places as of January 1. Council voted 18-4 to ask for the exemption.

CAR

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