Talking about wireless Today's the day: Mike Lazaridis, president of Research in Motion, will share his insights about wireless technologies and his company and industry in a special seminar in the Humanities Theatre. It's the fifth annual Visionary Seminar of the Office for Partnerships for Advanced Skills. Admission is free, no tickets required, and members of the audience will have a chance at draw prizes that include a BlackBerry and a cordless phone. Free lunch starts at 11:30, the seminar at 12:15 and the prize draw at 2:00. The event will be transmitted live across Canada via satellite and webcast.

Ontario gives funds for north campus

"The six-way public-private partnership involved in the R&T Park welcomed the Queen's Park announcement by provincial finance minister Jim Flaherty," said a news release from UW late yesterday. "The SuperBuild announcement is the next-to-final piece of the puzzle before the Park becomes a reality. The sole remaining piece is the federal government contribution, which is currently under consideration."

Speaking in the Legislature yesterday as part of his financial statement, Flaherty listed the UW project along with several others that were, he said, "designed to strengthen the economies and quality of life in communities throughout Ontario. SuperBuild will be investing $1.9 billion towards improvements in municipal water and sewer systems, roads, bridges, sport, tourism and cultural facilities, and a variety of other important local projects," and that includes UW's long-awaited park.

"Partner contributions will significantly increase the total investment," Flaherty noted. "In a period of economic uncertainty, these projects will support jobs and business for local contractors and suppliers all across Ontario."

Flaherty described the $214 million north campus project: "The goal of this partnership, comprising the Region, the University, the City of Waterloo, and the private sector, is to create a Park that will be a catalyst for business and academia to succeed and prosper through collaborative research and development; create a research environment to stimulate delivery of technology from the laboratory to the marketplace; provide employment to co-op students and graduates; and respond to the demand for space from local businesses, serving to retain existing jobs and create new jobs in the region."

Drawing shows the general area that's to be developed as the R&T park -- behind the Icefield and Optometry building. Columbia Street is at bottom, Fischer-Hallman Road at left, Phillip Street at right.

Funding from Waterloo Region and the City of Waterloo has already been announced. Other partners in the project are two consortia in support of local high-tech business, Communitech and Canada's Technology Triangle.

Waterloo Region chair Ken Seiling called the announcement "a major coup for this Region", and Waterloo mayor Lynne Woolstencroft said: "I am exhilarated for the university, the city and the region."

UW president David Johnston said in a news release that the planned park is initiative a "remarkable symbol of the new economy." It's a "powerful idea and important initiative" for the people of Waterloo Region and the province, he said.

It's projected that the technology park will result in an estimated 6,000 "new economy jobs" and $5 billion to $10 billion in economic impact over the next 10 years in the area's burgeoning high-tech development.

Said last night's news release: "The University of Waterloo anticipates that the park will create many new educational and research opportunities. Of particular importance is the creation of jobs for co-op students and graduates. As well there will be opportunities for further spin-off companies from UW, already Canada's leading creator of spin-offs in the high-tech area. The plan calls for an accelerator centre for new business start-ups, which further adds to spin-off growth potential."

'Religious recruiters' are back

"Some of our students have become aware that what they thought was a benign Bible study group was something else," says Catharine Scott, associate provost (human resources and student services). She said yesterday that both UW officials and Federation of Students leaders have received some complaints about ICOC "recruiting tactics".

Posters and ads will be out in the next few days warning students about the high-pressure tactics of some religious recruiters, Scott said. "We have a policy about religious recruiting. It's not allowed!"

She said UW has nothing against Christian groups, and noted that there are at least nine such groups recognized as "clubs" by the Federation of Students, from the Navigators to the Chinese Christian Fellowship. In addition, there are mainline Christian chaplaincies based at the church colleges, and a chaplains' office in the Student Life Centre.

But recognized clubs are required to abide by Federation rules, which include not harassing potential members. The ICOC isn't a recognized club and behaves in ways that UW and the Feds won't tolerate, Scott said. Members are recruited with questionable tactics, she added -- "it looks like a friendly outreach, but when you say no to these people, they don't go away." And once someone gets involved with the group, the abuse continues, and members find it hard to "extricate themselves" even when they become disillusioned.

About religious recruiting At the University of Toronto At York University From the United Church of Canada

"Mind control", Scott calls it. She said she'd heard from one parent who reported that her son had joined the group, signed over his entire OSAP cheque, and then dropped out of university.

The ICOC has "a powerful message", she said, about God and Jesus and life, but "that powerful message is brought by other religious groups who do it by free choice." She gave credit to UW's chaplains, as well as the residence dons, for helping some confused students get a perspective on their experience with the ICOC.

She said anybody who encounters such a group is urged to talk to the UW police (phone ext. 4911). The police have removed some ICOC representatives from campus, Scott said, although that isn't always possible because "some of them are our students!" Besides, she added, the ICOC doesn't always use that name initially, and is likely to present itself as a "Bible group" or something similarly innocent.

The International Churches of Christ are an offshoot of the "Restoration Movement" among fundamentalist Protestant churches in the United States. Also sometimes known as the Boston Movement or the Crossroads Movement, the church is based in Los Angeles and places huge emphasis on "discipling" to teach new recruits and bring them onto the ICOC path. The group is seen as a cult by many former members.

The talk of the campus

The university secretariat seat says that when nominations closed recently, three faculty seats on the UW senate were filled by acclamation: Science faculty (term to April 30, 2002) -- Paul Wesson (physics); faculty-at-large (terms to April 30, 2003) -- Karin MacHardy (history) and Ray McLenaghan (applied mathematics).

Sister Leon White, the only "honorary member of the university" from St. Jerome's, died on November 2 at the Notre Dame Convent in Waterdown. Her involvement with Waterloo came through St. Jerome's, where she taught English in the 1970s, eventually retiring in 1980. She was recognized as an "honorary member" in 1996.

Today . . . Jocus toy sale continues, 9:00 to 2:00, at the Early Childhood Education Centre, PAS building. Surplus sale at central stores, East Campus Hall, 11:30 to 1:30. Graduate Student Association information session about the proposed graduate endowment fund, 12 noon, Graduate House. Drop-in nutrition display, 11:00 to 2:00, Student Life Centre. "Make your diet full of essential nutrients in fast and easy ways." Islam Awareness Week continues all day in the Student Life Centre; lecture at 6 p.m. Davis Centre 1351, on "Jihad: The True Meaning". Tomorrow . . . Actor-playwright Djanet Sears reads at the bookstore, 12 noon, in the second annual Silversides Event sponsored by the drama department. Artists Robert Houle and John Abrams speak about their work (currently in the East Campus Hall art gallery), 1:30, ECH room 1219.

Mohamed Elmasry of UW's electrical and computer engineering department was in Ottawa yesterday to speak before a House of Commons committee studying the proposed anti-terrorism bill. Elmasry heads the Canadian Islamic Congress, and told Parliamentarians that the proposed law needs major changes. He said Bill C-36 seems to be forcing Muslims "to defend the civil liberties of all Canadians".

Check today's Gazette for a full sports report, including news of three medals won by Warrior teams over the weekend. The men's soccer team has collected the Ontario University Athletics gold medal, and is in line for national hardware as well; the women's rugby team took a silver in the national (CIS) championship tournament; and the field hockey team also collected a silver at the CIS level. And speaking of Warriors, yes, the deceptively cuddly fellow at left is King Warrior, the new athletics mascot, as he was revealed during Friday night's basketball action in the PAC.

Finally, this note from the local Volunteer Action Centre: "St. Mary's Hospital Festival of Trees is a beautiful annual holiday season event. This year it takes place from Thursday, November 22, to Friday, November 30, with all proceeds going to the new Cardiac Care Unit. Volunteers can become involved in several ways: greeters welcome guests and issue receipts, and Angel Store volunteers assist customers with their purchases. The event kicks off with a gala night where volunteers will also be involved in clearing tables and assisting restaurant staff. Choose a three-hour shift that suits your schedule and join in the fun at Kitchener City Hall Rotunda. Daytime, evening or weekend shifts are available." For more information, the VAC can be reached at 742-8610.

CAR