Daily Bulletin

David Johnston, UW's president, dressed for the day as United Way volunteers from across campus got a tour yesterday of agencies supported by the annual fund drive. (That's Sharon Lamont, co-chair of the UW campaign, cracking up.)

Dress-down day begins campaign

Yesterday, a group of people already involved with the campaign went by bus to see two of the agencies supported by the United Way -- the Canadian Mental Health Association and the House of Friendship -- and came back enthusiastic about what UW's $140,000 can do.

The main canvassing dates are October 1 to 15, leaving "plenty of time at the end of October and early in November for special events," said Sharon Lamont of the library staff, who's co-chairing the campaign at UW with Winston Cherry of statistics and actuarial science.

The campaign kick-off this Friday will be celebrated with a "Dressing Up or Dressing Down" Day. Donations made by Friday, October 15, will qualify for the "day off with pay" draw, with the option of a $100 gift certificate to the University Club.

UW's new president, David Johnston, has put his weight behind the campaign, going along on the United Way agency bus tour with his wife, Sharon. "This is my first year in Waterloo, but already I am impressed by the fine tradition of giving and caring that permeates this region," he says in a message of support for the United Way drive.

"Like the early settlers who helped each other in tough times, we should not forget the less fortunate among us. . . . By combining our many small acts of charity through the United Way, we can do a great deal of good together."

Says one publicity sheet from the campaign: "No one wants to be pressured into giving. United Way only hopes that each person is well informed and given the opportunity to make a donation. The number one reason why a person does not give to United Way is because they were not asked."

Everybody at UW will get asked in the next few days -- and then the question is how much to give. Campaign staff have produced information sheets telling what some of the United Way agencies can do with a donation of $2 a week ($100 a year), $20 a week ($1,000 a year), and a couple of levels in between. A gift of $10 a week, for instance, which is $42 for each monthly pay period at UW, can provide "weekly visits for a full year for an isolated senior", through the K-W Friendship Group; or an hour of training for 20 volunteer listeners for the Canadian Mental Health Association distress centre; or three-hour workshops in job search skills for ten people through the K-W Multicultural Centre; or ten hours of crisis counselling through Reaching Our Outdoor Friends for seven young people living on the streets.

After 42 years comes retirement

Power joined the faculty in September 1957, two months after the university's first classes began, and so has logged an unequalled 42 years working here.

While the lure of work in Northern Québec has flowed like a current throughout the career of the UW fish biologist, Power told Gazette writer Barb Elve that he fears fewer biologists are feeling the call of the wild.

"Biology is moving away from field work and into the lab," he laments. "The complexion of the subject is changing rapidly. The big danger is we're going to lose touch with the environment. It could be dangerous for society if biologists lose touch with the world around them."

Through his many forays into the field, Power has attempted to maintain that contact with the natural world. He's worked at various times for the government, for hydroelectric companies and for native peoples, even spending time in court as "an aquatic expert" during the controversial James Bay hydro development. "My goal is always to get the best for the aquatic environment, to maintain its integrity."

Working with people in opposing factions -- in addition to fish -- requires a lot of patience," he laughs. As a "fence sitter", his challenge has been to find the middle ground, without selling out the fish. His internationally recognized expertise on salmon and Arctic char has taken Power to Norway and New Zealand, as well, but Northern Québec will continue to be his focus following retirement. Currently, he is involved with the Lower Churchill hydroelectric development project, working with both hydro and Native groups. Although he will continue advising his graduate students on campus, Power's goal is a "seamless retirement -- a gradual transition to other things".

Work at parking lot B

Yes, I now can, thanks to Peter Briant of parking services. He writes: "We are installing intercoms at all the card readers at this location and replacing existing data lines for the readers. During the winter months new conduit was installed from East Campus Hall past the parking island near the service road. It then carried on across the berm in front of the motorcycle pads and on to a new help line within lot B. This conduit is being extended to the other parking islands at the lot. The original conduit was either too small to accept new cable or damaged.

"This will in no way affect the operation of the present equipment. If there is anyone who is having difficulty in accessing the lot, please notify parking services at ext. 3100 or tech support at ext. 5429."

Major lectures coming this fall

• "DNA Computing in Vitro and in Vivo", by Lila Kari of the University of Western Ontario, speaking for the Women in Mathematics Committee, October 6 (3:30 p.m.) in the Math and Computer building.
• "The Science of Holocaust Research and the Art of Holocaust Denial", by Robert Jan van Pelt of UW's school of architecture, giving the second annual Faculty of Environmental Studies lecture, October 7 in the Theatre of the Arts.
• "Ignatian Spirituality and the Ecological Crisis: The Spirituality of Simple Living", by Philip D. Shano, giving this year's Ignatian Lecture for the St. Jerome's Centre for Catholic Experience, October 15 (afternoon) at Siegfried Hall, St. Jerome's College, with an evening workshop to follow.
• "Science, Folk Science and Worldviews", by Howard Van Till of Calvin College (Michigan), giving the annual Pascal Lecture on Christianity and the University, October 19 and 20 in the Theatre of the Arts.
• "Developmental Strategies and Optical Limitations of the Eye: A Case for Evolution?" by Jake Sivak, optometry professor and UW's dean of graduate studies, giving the 11th annual Clair Bobier Lecture in Vision, October 21 in the Optometry building.
• "War and Peace in the Global Village: A Canadian Perspective", by economist and left-wing activist Mel Watkins, giving this term's Stanley Knowles lecture in Canadian Studies, October 28 in the Humanities Theatre.

On a wet September day

More about careers: the co-op and career services department is continuing its series of career development seminars, including one tomorrow on working outside Canada (1:30 p.m., Needles Hall 1020) and one Friday on interview skills (10:30 a.m., same room). Then there's a day-long session this Saturday under the title "The Whole Kit 'n' Kaboodle", including occupational research, resume and letter writing, work search, employer research, networking, interview skills and so on. "This day is jam packed," a summary says. "If your attention span is limited, you may want to opt for the individual workshop approach." But if you'd like to cover it all in one day, you can register with the career resource centre in Needles Hall (phone ext. 4047).

CompuFest continues today in the multipurpose room of the Student Life Centre -- the UW computer store is the sponsor, and "top companies in the computer and information technology field will be in attendance, displaying their latest product offerings. We will be holding hourly prize draws." The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The personal safety advisory committee will meet this morning, from 10:30 to noon, in Needles Hall room 3043. On the agenda: campus signs, alcohol, a report on how last year's safety grant from the provincial government was used and discussion of how the grant for the coming year might best be employed.

The women's rugby Warriors will host the Royal Military College at 4 p.m. at the north campus fields. Looks like a typical rugby day out there. . . .

Thinking about graduate school in mathematics? Today's the day to find out more, at a talk sponsored by PMAMC&OC, which is the Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Combinatorics and Optimization Club. Kathryn Hare, associate chair (undergraduate affairs) in the pure math department, is the speaker. Her talk begins at 4:30 in Math and Computer room 2038. "Students in all years who are interested in pursing graduate school are welcome to attend, and graduating students are especially encouraged, as the information presented will be invaluable in the application process," an announcement promises.

Tonight at Wilfrid Laurier University: "My Dick and Other Manly Tales", described as "a one-man comedy cabaret for men -- and women -- from acclaimed Montréal actor Norman Nawrocki . . . extreme 'adult' content". The show goes on at 8 p.m. in WLU's Theatre Auditorium (tickets 884-0710 ext. 3318).

Barb Yantha in the staff association office sends a reminder that "the application deadline for the Staff Association award is September 30. This award is provided to a full- or part-time undergraduate student in a degree program at the University of Waterloo. The student must be a member of the Staff Association or be the spouse, child, grandchild or dependent of a Staff Association member." More information is available from the staff association office, phone ext. 3566.

A note from the local Volunteer Action Centre: "Child Find Ontario, K-W chapter, needs your help. Volunteers are needed to assist with fingerprinting clinics at Kid Checks, which are usually held on Saturdays." For more information, the VAC can be reached at 742-8610.

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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