Daily Bulletin

Some readers didn't much like the background graphic on yesterday's Bulletin -- New York Yankee pinstripes, celebrating the Bronx Bombers' win in the World Series. "It is a great thing that the Yankees won," one reader told me. "However, the background makes it impossible to read the words." My apologies to anyone who was inconvenienced -- but please note, I did include a link at the top of the page to a pinstripe-free version of the Bulletin. Incidentally, some comment in a more affectionate style also arrived. Said one letter: "I look forward to, and long for, the day that the Montreal Canadiens win their next Stanley Cup and, on that day, to seeing their logo adorn the Daily Bulletin. Alas, the Habs' performance this year suggests that I may have a long wait."

'Will there be room?' they ask

Tomorrow brings the first Fall Saturday Tour, an event organized by high school liaison staff for young people who don't want to wait until Campus Day in mid-March to see Waterloo first-hand. With the changes to undergraduate application procedures in Ontario over the past couple of years, most students will have made their choice of university before then: February 25 is "the recommended last date" for applications and choices by students seeking to enter university in September 2000.

The Fall Saturday Tour will be a lot more low-key than Campus Day. Activities include two-hour campus tours (beginning at 10:30 or 1:00), information booths in the Student Life Centre, and one-hour information sessions (at 10:45 and 1:45) presented by the faculties and the church colleges.

"We're almost ready for the big day," says Tina Roberts, director of undergraduate recruitment and publications, "and we're anticipating both great weather and a good turnout."

It's had to predict the turnout, she said, but "we've been taking electronic and telephone registrations, and expect about 1,000 to 1,200 visitors." About 130 people from the registrar's office, faculties, and other parts of the campus are "working hard to organize and implement the day", Roberts said.

As this year's 18-year-olds get ready to choose a university, the capacity of Ontario's institutions, including UW, is quickly turning into a political issue. The Council of Ontario Universities, issued statements earlier this month pointing out that this year's enrolment increase of 6.6 per cent looks like just the beginning of a boom. They're talking about a 40 per cent increase within a decade.

Said Paul Davenport, president of the University of Western Ontario: "The large increase this fall has resulted in a lot of scrambling to ensure that all students can be accommodated, and considerable anxiety about maintaining a quality educational experience. For example, how can we reconcile an increase in student demand with the significant drop in the number of full-time faculty at Ontario universities since the early 1990s?"

UW president David Johnston told the university's board of governors on Tuesday that "universities are very prepared to expand their capacity, but it's on condition that there be full-cost funding for each new student." The way universities are financed at present, extra students shoehorned into classrooms don't bring any government funding at all -- and tuition fees alone fall far short of covering the cost of a student's education.

At this point, he reminded the board, the government hasn't even said what the level of university funding for 2000-01 will be, let alone given a long-term commitment. "There is," he said, "perhaps not a full appreciation" that universities need to know next year's funding by December so they can start their planning and know how many new students to admit.

Provost Jim Kalbfleisch also spoke to the board about the possibility of enrolment expansion. Within a few years, he said, UW could realistically grow by 15 or 20 per cent, but only if the government will pay the cost.

Universities are currently being invited to submit proposals for money to build new buildings, the provost added. "I think all the universities will take the position that the bids we put in are conditional on satisfactory operating funds."

Preregister next week for spring

"If you are considering a faculty change next term, you should contact the appropriate advisor of the faculty to which you wish to transfer.

"Pre-register with your department/faculty advisor. Information regarding advisors, times, places, etc., is listed in the Course Offerings List. Course Offerings Lists and additional information are available from the department and faculty offices.

"The 1999-2000 undergraduate calendars are available from the registrar's office."

Meanwhile, if you plan to be on campus in the winter term, the date to note is Monday, November 15: fee statements and schedules will be available for pickup starting at 10:00 that morning.

Computing courses this month

The UW Apartments have a "community centre" now, in renovated space in the East Tower, and Chris Read is on hand as the first residence life coordinator in UWA. His role: "to make this a better place for you to live," as he has told the residents. (See page 4 of Wednesday's Gazette for more about residence life programming in the culturally diverse UWA.) Much of the complex is gradually being converted to residence space for single students. On Tuesday, UW's board of governors gave approval for $2.5 million in construction work next summer, creating 240 rooms out of 120 apartments in the East Tower.

The talk of the campus

A task force on "tuition fees and student financial support" presented a report last winter, with a few recommendations and a lot of straight talk about the issues. A new working group has been formed to carry on where that one left off, provost Jim Kalbfleisch told the university's board of governors earlier this week. The group includes student leaders, faculty and administrators; it's just held its first meeting, he said, and will bring a report to the board in February.

UW is getting a $50,000 grant for personal safety from the provincial government again this year, safety director Kevin Stewart has announced. The personal safety advisory committee discussed how to spend the grant, and has listed criteria; in particular, "the grant should be used to implement the findings from safety audits, educate and inform students, staff and faculty about safety and security issues, and support programs that will address safety and security needs of women workers and students." Specific suggestions? Preliminary submissions are due by November 12. Stewart, at ext. 5814, can provide more information.

"Involving students on promotion and tenure committees" was a fragment of one recommendation in the 1997 "Building on Accomplishment" planning report, and there were brief efforts in that direction, but not much more. At Tuesday's meeting of the UW board of governors, when a two-year progress report about "Building on Accomplishment" was presented, somebody asked why. The answer came from provost Jim Kalbfleisch: because it would probably mean changes to UW's formal policies on tenure and promotion, and there was no enthusiasm for revisions at that time. Now, he said, both documents are under review by the Faculty Relations Committee, and that recommendation (part of #36 from the 1997 report) will get new attention.

The staff association has named staff representatives to two more UW committees. Serving on the nominating committee for vice-president (university research) will be Don Kasta of the continuing education office; serving on the dean of science nominating committee will be Pam Van Allen of the faculty of science office.

Events of Hallowe'en weekend

Various Hallowe'en parties are scheduled in the course of the weekend, including the Graduate Student Association party on Saturday night at the Grad House. "We plan to have a costume contest," GSA vice-president Stephanie Faint advises graduate students, "but don't be afraid to come without a costume." Tickets are $5 in advance "and, if there are any left, at the door".

Scarier than any pumpkin is the winter flu. Advice on how to fight it, from Carole Hea of UW's health services: stop by today between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. for a flu shot. And another clinic is scheduled for November 12.

On to other matters . . . friends of Reg Friesen of UW's chemistry department, who died last year, will be gathering to remember him at the University Club this evening starting at 4:30. Pam Van Allen (pam@sciborg) is taking RSVPs.

The drama department's production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" continues today at 11:00 and 8:00, Saturday at 8:00, Sunday at 2:00. Tickets are $10, students $8, with "special matinee pricing" for the Sunday afternoon children's show, from the Humanities box office, 888-4908.

There's a major live show at Federation Hall tonight: Big Sugar and "Scratching Post". Doors open at 8 p.m.; tickets are $12 (or $15 for those who aren't fee-paying Fed-type students); and, the fine print says, "licenced show, photo ID required, university minors only."

Saturday night brings an intergenerational concert in the Humanities Theatre, sponsored by the city of Waterloo. "This musical gala," a news release says, "is sure to attract all tastes and ages, and offers a cross-section in musical performance, from classics, light classics to modern, contemporary music." (Possibly nothing to compare with "Big Sugar", though.) Tickets are $8 from, among other places, the Humanities box office.

The Columbia Icefield gym and the Physical Activities Complex will be busy this weekend with the Black Knight "Survival of the Fittest" badminton tournament, a major project of the Badminton Club. Competition starts this evening, and runs all day Saturday; a tournament party follows on Saturday evening in the Icefield.

Sunday brings the Bike Centre's annual Hallowe'en ride, around Laurel Creek and Columbia Lake. "This is not a race, it's a ride," says Ted Harms of the Bike Centre. Riding continues from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; registration forms are available at the turnkey desk in the Student Life Centre.

Sports this weekend: the hockey Warriors host Laurentian tonight at the Icefield, and both men's and women's volleyball teams host Wilfrid Laurier at the PAC gym (women at 6:00 tonight, men at 8:00). Other teams are on the road: the badminton Warriors are at Brock, the men's basketball team is at Laurentian, the women's basketball team is at Western, the swimmers are at Laurier. And the football Warriors may look as though they're at home, but they're actually on the road: Saturday afternoon's game against Laurier (2 p.m., University Stadium) is a home game for the Golden Hawks, a road game for Waterloo.

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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