Daily Bulletin

Getting into moosechief at Renison this week are first-year students Simon Forsyth, Thomas Fisher, Chris Evans and Matt Gagliardi.

Renison welcomes inflatable friend

Lending a sense of history -- as well as some comic relief -- to the occasion is the newest incarnation of Renison's mascot, the moose.

The giant inflatable beast was designed by Renison chaplain and director of residence George Ferris to mark the college's 40th anniversary this year, as well as to provide a more portable version of the real mounted moose head that hangs over the fireplace in, you guessed it, the Moose Room at Renison.

The traveling moose, whose name will be selected in a "name the moose" contest this fall, made its debut at Student Life 101 in August, greeted students on move-in day at the college, and is slated for a spot in the Oktoberfest parade on Thanksgiving Day.

Part of the mythology of Renison, the critter is the subject of many moosterious tales told round the fireplace in the student lounge on cold, dark nights. The official version, says Ferris, traces the moose to Robert John Renison, archbishop of the Anglican diocese of Moosonee, for whom the college was named.

Orientation and weekend notes

One highlight today is the "Sassy Splashy Science Soaker", running from 10:30 to 1:15, an event that gives the heartless a chance to "dunk the dignitaries". There's a small fee; proceeds will go to Anselma House, Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Perching above the dunk tank, waiting to get soaked, will be such good sports as John Hepburn, chair of the chemistry department, and Graham Strong, director of the school of optometry, as well as members of the Federation of Students executive. I'm told that Carolyn Hansson, UW's vice-president (university research), has also agreed to take part -- and it was unkindly hinted that there are a few faculty members who wouldn't mind paying for a chance to drop her into the water.

Students in all faculties will be writing the English Language Proficiency Exam today: engineering at 9:30, arts and independent studies at 11:30, science at 1:00, math, ES and AHS at 2:30.

The last performances of "Single and Sexy" for the season are scheduled for 9:00, 12:00 and 3:00 today in the Theatre of the Arts.

Other sports Men's and women's soccer, Saturday afternoon, McMaster vs. Waterloo; Sunday afternoon, Western vs. Waterloo. Games are played on the north campus, women starting at 1:00, men at 3:00. Baseball, Sunday afternoon at McMaster.

Tomorrow, orientation does not feature a football game, and I rather liked the way Dan Mader of Imprint explained that departure from the norm: "This year it is Wilfrid Laurier's turn to host the game and their coach decided to end the annual tradition of playing the first game against the Waterloo Warriors, opting instead to play a team that Laurier has a chance in hell of beating. The Warriors play their first game at McMaster and the logistical problems of bussing 5,000 people to Hamilton were just too much. A lucky group of 1,000 frosh will get to go to the game, while the rest will take part in a day of campus-wide events."

Campus-wide orientation events wind up with "Toga on the Green", "PAC Attack" and a Student Life Centre coffeehouse on Saturday night; and then everybody can get a little rest before classes begin on Monday morning.

The University Catholic Community offers "Orientation Mass" at 11:30 Sunday morning at St. Jerome's College. Each weekend this fall, there will be Mass at 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9:30, 11:30 and 7:00 on Sunday. Weekday Mass (12 noon each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) will be in the Notre Dame Chapel.

The libraries will be entirely closed Saturday and Sunday. Normal fall term hours begin Monday.

"A day of celebration" on Saturday will mark the 25th anniversary of the Klemmer Farmhouse Co-operative Nursery on the north campus. Events will run from 1 to 4 p.m. More information: 885-5181.

A UW team will take part in the Corporate Challenge, sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce, Saturday at the Kinsmen Sports Centre in Cambridge. "Last year we ranked 11th," says Nancy Heide in the community relations office, "so we're hoping for a good score again this year." Team members are Bill Anderson, Lisa Collins, Shirley Springall and Lisa Eichholz, civil engineering; Martha Foulds, development and alumni affairs; Cathy Hale, office of research; Denise Kettle, payroll; Ted Malamoutsis, central stores; Bill Power, chemistry; and Jeff Semple, biology.

Water? Fish swim in it

The campus receives water from several sources, including untreated water from the Dearborn well (across the Ring Road from Needles Hall) and treated water from the city system, explained Dave Churchill, director of technical services for plant operations.

Although Biology usually receives well water, "some treated water does get into Biology occasionally -- with quite disastrous results," he said, referring to such an incident about a year ago in which fish were killed by the chemicals in the water.

As an extra security measure for the system, a double-check valve is also being installed on the new pipe that will prevent any backflow of city water from getting into the Biology system, he added.

The work is being carried out in two phases, with the pipe from the well being installed this week under the Ring Road during reconstruction of the roadway. The second phase, which will run the pipe across the campus to the Biology Building, will begin later this fall.

An alarm system is also being installed to alert the fish lab when the water supply is shut down for periodic maintenance of the well by the Region of Waterloo. When that occurs, Biology will have no water, said Churchill, and fish can be kept alive by aeration of the tanks.

The lab uses a huge quantity of water, he noted, 50 to 100 gallons per minute. Funding for the project is being provided by the province under its facilities renewal program.

First day in the classroom

The article in Teaching Matters, published just in time for the beginning of the fall term, says it's based on Barbara Gross Davis's book Tools for Teaching. It offers suggestions that "outline general strategies and address two important tasks of the first day: handling administrative matters and setting course expectations."

Here's the advice:

"Visit the classroom before the first meeting. Get comfortable speaking in the room and see how well your voice carries. Check any audiovisual equipment you will be using and make sure your handwriting is legible from the back of the classroom.

"Build a sense of community in the classroom. Make an effort to get to know your students and express your interest in working with them during the semester.

"Set a positive tone for the term. Greet students when they enter the classroom, encourage questions, give students the opportunity to talk, and stay after class to answer questions.

"Hand out and discuss the course syllabus. Hearing questions about the course or the instructor on the first day identifies the concerns that are uppermost in the students’ minds.

"Discuss the objectives of the course. As specifically as possible, tell your students what you wish to accomplish and why, but also inquire what they wish to learn.

"Invite students to attend your office hours. Be sure students know where your office is located and encourage them to stop by with questions and course-related problems.

"Define expectations for student participation. Besides submitting written assignments and taking exams, what do you expect of students during class?

"Tell students about campus policies on academic honesty. State your expectations, and let students know what you regard as cheating and impermissible collaboration."

"Work through a problem or piece of material that illustrates the course content. Engaging students in actual work during the first class session gives them an idea of what your class will be like."

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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