Daily Bulletin

Remembering prime minister King

Born in Kitchener -- then known as Berlin -- in 1874, King is probably best remembered as the prime minister who dabbled in spiritualism and had a "mother complex". But the conference, co-sponsored by the K-W Multicultural Centre and Woodside National Historic Site, hopes to move beyond that understanding by offering "a very different take on King", says history professor Geoff Hayes, heading up the project at UW with colleagues John English and Ken McLaughlin.

Not only will the conference examine the impact of King on Waterloo County, and Waterloo County on King, but explore King as a wartime leader, King and the "Oriental question", and King and the welfare state, said Hayes.

Providing those perspectives will be not only the usual collection of academics, but politicians, writers, even "good talented amateur historians". Among the speakers: Sheila Copps, federal minister of heritage and culture, Charlotte Gray, author of Mrs. King: the Life and Times of Isobel Mackenzie King, and Rych Mills, speaking on "Mackenzie King and Victoria Park".

In addition to talks on campus, the conference will take to the streets for a walking tour of "Mackenzie King's Berlin", compliments of the Waterloo Historical Society. A portrait of King will be unveiled in the rotunda of Kitchener City Hall, and Woodside National Historic Site will host a lamplight tour and a closing reception.

A local citizenship court scheduled today, the day before the conference opens, will be redesigned to resemble a courtroom of 1947. That was the year Canadian citizenship was first established, with King becoming the first Canadian citizen.

The links with the community provide a context in which to explore King's legacy, said Hayes. "One of the things we play with here is the ethnic identity of the community . . . looking at King as a product of a largely German community, and how it affected his views on immigration."

The community perspective is not surprising in a history department known for its local history work. "We are not just catering to academics with this conference," says Hayes. "We want to bring people on campus who would not otherwise come here. Students are being welcomed with open arms, too."

The conference begins tonight with the "Woodside by Lamplight" tour. On Friday and Saturday, talks will be presented at St. Jerome's University, punctuated with a series of forays into the community for other related events. For more information, contact Lena Yost at cfpf@watarts or ext. 2765.

Software engineering I seem to have been increasing the confusion, rather than reducing it, with the correction I published yesterday, so I'll try again to explain what was going on at Tuesday's meeting of the senate undergraduate council. In doing so, I'm helped by UW provost Jim Kalbfleisch, who writes to say that "There are actually three different programs under discussion." He lists them: The existing software engineering option, primarily for students in computer science and electrical and computer engineering. A software option for engineering students outside E&CE. That's the one undergraduate council was discussing earlier this week. A new degree program in software engineering, currently under development.

A call for Christmas volunteers

And while opportunities still exist to assist the community during the holiday season, "the irony is that many agencies are not able to accommodate all the volunteers who want to help at this time of year," says Sue Coulter, recruitment coordinator with the Volunteer Action Centre. "The rest of the year, they are often not able to fill the needs of their agencies."

While Christmas often prompts people to examine their lives and to think about sharing their good fortune with others, Coulter would like to see that spirit spread throughout the year. "Christmas volunteering is usually short term," she said, a bonus for people who lead busy lives. "But during the rest of the year, those same agencies often have other short-term needs. Volunteering doesn't need to be a long-term commitment."

The Volunteer Action Centre works with some 140 organizations in the community, listing more than 600 volunteer positions by category of interest. One of those categories is short-term or special events. Other volunteer opportunities are very flexible, such as some driving positions, said Coulter, while others are seasonal, such as gardening.

For those who wish to help out during the holidays, there are still some needs, especially in assisting agencies who provide pre-Christmas gift wrapping services as part of their fundraising program. Among them are the Alzheimer Society, Anselma House, Big Sisters, the Foster Parent Association, and CNIB. The Food Bank and House of Friendship both need assistance with food sorting and hamper delivery, and the YWCA needs "Christmas elves" to sort Christmas gifts for residents of Mary's Place.

For a unique Y2K experience, the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo both require volunteers to help with New Year's eve parties. Among the tasks: face painting, craft table, security, bonfires, bingo, information, clean up and deliveries.

To learn more about the immediate and continuing opportunities for volunteering, Coulter can be reached at the VAC, phone 742-8610.

Wanted: UW's top teachers

UW has been giving the awards since 1976 to recognize "intellectual vigour and communication skills in the interpretation and presentation of subject matter. The teacher's human quality and concern for and sensitivity to the needs of students is an obvious criterion. The Selection Committee will look for a clear indication that the nominee has favourable and lasting influence on students. Evidence of successful innovation in teaching would support a nomination, but it is also clear that excellence in teaching does not necessarily require innovation."

Nominations need a lot more than just a list of signatures, says the detailed information available about the Distinguished Teacher Awards:

In order for a teacher to be considered for the Distinguished Teacher Award, her/his file must include ten or more signatures, of these, at least five should be from present or former students. The following is a list of other items that are often included in successful nominations. They are presented here as suggestions if these types of resources are available to you. You should also feel free to submit other materials that are not included on this list.

• The nominee's teaching approaches (e.g. lecture, small group discussion) and special strengths (e.g. student advising, supervision). Letters from individual students and alumni describing the candidate's teaching and its impact on student learning and development would speak to this.
• A listing of the courses taught by the candidate over the past five years (including correspondence, graduate, and undergraduate courses), information on course enrolments, and the length of time the nominee has been at UW. This information is most easily obtained from the chair of the candidate's department. A detailed curriculum vitae with a complete list of publications, research grants, etc. is not normally of interest to the committee.
• Samples of excellent or innovative teaching materials, such as course handouts, project descriptions, assignments.
• Evidence of major contribution to curriculum development. Summaries of course evaluations for the past several years (original course evaluation forms are usually inappropriate because of the volume of material).
• Evidence of success of former students that can be traced back to the influence of the candidate (e.g. student projects or theses submitted for publication, prizes and honours awarded to students, examples of excellent student work).
• Letters from colleagues providing they have direct knowledge of the candidate's teaching abilities and achievements.
• Honours and awards for teaching, for example from student societies or professional organizations.
• Descriptions of teaching innovations, if possible with evidence of their success in promoting better student learning.
• Evidence of work with colleagues to promote better teaching (e.g. presenting seminars on teaching, acting as a mentor to new faculty, organizing workshops for teaching assistants).

Seats are open on senate

Faculty representatives: One student elected by/from the full-time undergraduate students in each of the following Faculties:

• Applied Health Sciences (term May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2002);
• Arts (term May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2002);
• Engineering (term May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001);
• Environmental Studies/Independent Studies (term May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2002);
• Science (term May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2002).

• one student (term to April 30, 2000), to fill a vacancy;
• one student (term May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2002).

Elections will coincide with the annual Federation of Students' elections (February 15 and 16).

Student Senators who will be completing their terms of office on Senate as of April 30, 2000, all of whom are eligible for reelection: Sarah Wilson (AHS); Chris Farley (Arts); Sanjay Kulkarni (Engingeering); Shannon Bernstein (ES/IS); Albert Nazareth (Science); and Alia Lachanan (at-large), who has resigned her seat.

Research, $2,500 winner, and more

A number of other UW departments also have Christmas parties and other events today; the library, for one, is holding a wine-and-cheese party in the Davis Centre this aftternoon, I understand.

The mature students' Christmas luncheon will be held today in the Festival Room, South Campus Hall. Last-minute information should be available from the mature student services office at ext. 2429.

Regular weekday Mass at St. Jerome's University will be held at noon today, for the last time until the new year. At 7 p.m. in Siegfried Hall, the University Catholic Community will hold a Christmas Reconciliation Service. Says Carol Persin, secretary for the campus ministry: "This will be a chance to prepare for Christmas by examining our lives and hearts as a community. There will be the opportunity for individuals to receive the sacrament of reconciliation after a communal prayer service." Sunday Mass continues (morning services, but not the 7 p.m. service) and there will be special Masses on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Jason MacIntyre of the retail services department writes that "The Bookstore would like to extend sincere thanks to all faculty, staff, students, and alumni who supported the fourth annual "Books for Kids" book drive, which provides books to underprivileged children in Waterloo Region during the holiday season. We will continue to accept book donations until 5 p.m. on Monday, December 20; a variety of children's titles at the store will receive a discount when purchased for donation."

And this news from Bonnie Oberle in the development office, who manages the Dollars for Scholars raffle: "Heather Hergott, winner of the November 1999 raffle draw, just made the early bird draw for the Dollars for Scholars 2000 raffle. The winner is Anne Zeller, department of anthropology and classical studies. She has won a Thomas Cook travel voucher valued at $2,500."

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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