A-V troubles: who you gonna call? The audio-visual (A-V) department has an easy-to-remember new e-mail address for reporting audio-visual related problems. That address is avfix@uwaterloo.ca, and can be used for virtually any non-emergency A-V problem reporting. "Typically," says Derek Madge of A-V, "this would be used to report burned out projector lamps, or equipment that appears to be malfunctioning. Besides being a direct line to the technicians, it also offers them the opportunity of asking relevant questions, and replying with an explanation of what was done to solve the problem." Emergency help can still be reached by dialing ext. 6198. A-V technicians can often be in the classroom within a few minutes of a call, if a lecturer requests, and can frequently solve problems over the phone, Madge says.

Season for 'a generous spirit'

The goal will be to raise $150,000 by the end of October. Most of the money should come from individual staff and faculty members' gifts -- pledge forms are being distributed today -- but special events always make a contribution to the campaign as well.

There was lots of United Way information in an ad in last week's Gazette: "The United Way of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area funds more than 80 social service and health-related programs offered by its 50 Member Agencies -- programs that are central to the well-being of the community in which we live." (Agencies supported by the United Way include the K-W Multicultural Centre, the food bank, the Victorian Order of Nurses and Epilepsy Ontario.)

The ad told staff and faculty members: "In the next two weeks, you will receive a brochure telling you about some of the many people whose lives have been changed because of the help they received from United Way member agencies. It also lists the programs and services which are currently being funded with United Way contributions, programs which you will recognize as having served you, your family or a friend at some time.

"Your support ensures that others can also benefit from these programs in their time of need and builds a stronger, more caring community for us all.

"We are asking you to care and to share."

The ad also included a letter from UW president David Johnston: "Over the past two years, Sharon and I have come to feel so at home here in Waterloo.One reason is the generous spirit that fills this community. It's a spirit that comes from a tradition of caring for and supporting one another -- a tradition that dates back to the founding of the Kitchener-Waterloo community, and many 'barn raisings' thereafter. But despite this generous community spirit, there is always a need. There are always those less fortunate in our midst who need assistance. While we go about our daily lives, the United Way does its utmost to assist the members of our community who are most in need. The United Way reaches out to assist those who may be our neighbours, our friends, or members of our families."

Safety audits set for Wednesday

A evening of Personal Safety Audits will take place on Wednesday, October 3, 2001 from about 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Faculty, Staff and Students are invited to come out to part of the teams of volunteers. Meeting location is Environmental Studies 1 Courtyard. The personal safety audit teams will each have an area of the campus to review the physical environment and personal safety services. Areas included in the audits are new buildings and construction sites. A light dinner is included.

The personal safety audits are supported by the Federation of Students and UW's Personal Safety Advisory Committee. Previous audits have resulted in improvements to lighting, sightlines and the addition of Help Lines.

Senate executive committee, and more

Hey, how's your schema? Reservations are being taken now for a session on "Reinventing Your Life", scheduled for October 18 and sponsored by the employee assistance program and the staff training and development committee. "In this half day workshop," a flyer says, "Dr. Jeffrey Young will present Schema Therapy, the treatment he developed for breaking common self-defeating emotional patterns. Some of the patterns he will discuss include feelings of vulnerability, abandonment, defectiveness, entitlement, and unrelenting standards. Dr. Young will show participants how to identify their own schemas." The health services department (Johan Reis, ext. 5418) has more information.

There's free food today in the Student Life Centre multipurpose room. From 11:00 to 3:00, the Sikh Students Association holds its occasional langar, or free community meal. Everyone is welcome.

Here's one to cross off your calendar. "The First Monday Coffee and Scholarship meeting for faculty, scheduled for October 1, is postponed until the first Monday in November," says a note from Diane Salter in the LT3 learning technology centre. "Coffee and Scholarship is an informal late-afternoon gathering for faculty who are, or who want to be, working with LT3 to develop effective applications of learning and teaching technology."

Down the street at Wilfrid Laurier University, today begins a two-day "Olympic Roundtable". Sessions on such topics as "Doping and Sport" and "Canada's Priorities in Bidding" will be discussed in six sessions, all to be held in the WLU Theatre-Auditorium. Admission is free.

I hear that the occasional "Go High-Tech, Stay Local" career fair is to be held tomorrow and Wednesday in Federation Hall. Nobody's sent details, but the event, as it's been held in the past, is an opportunity for high technology firms based in Kitchener-Waterloo to tell students what they have to offer. That would include a number of UW spinoffs, as well as branches of international firms such as Raytheon and NCR.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The "Bridging the Gap" lecture series, based in the faculty of engineering, gets going for this term with a talk tomorrow morning by Kenneth Foster of the University of Pennsylvania. Title of his talk: "How to Make Medical Technology Work". Foster, who is in Penn's department of bioengineering, is interested in technological risk and the impact of technology. Using breast cancer as an example, he will describe "how doctors and patients have needs that are largely invisible to engineers, and the costly effects of these discrepancies". His talk tomorrow starts at 11:30 a.m. in Carl Pollock Hall room 3385.

The "iWomen University Tour" comes to campus tomorrow -- a project to "showcase careers for women in the new economy". Exhibits in the Student Life Centre will be complemented by two presentations in the multipurpose room: a "creative careers panel" at 1:30 and a "women in leadership panel" at 3 p.m.

Finally, here's an advance note that recruiters from faculties of education will be on campus this Thursday and next. Visitors are due October 4 from Toronto, Lakehead, OISE and Ottawa, and October 11 from Queen's, Windsor, Western, Nipissing, York and Brock. The career resource centre in Needles Hall should have more information.

After the shock . . . the sadness -- by Tom Ruttan of UW's counselling services

Some individuals may feel a general sense of being unsafe in their world. Others may not want to travel to the United States or fly in Canada. Their work may suffer. They may feel smothered by the ongoing media coverage of the events.

These are all normal emotional reactions to an abnormal and tragic set of events. Emotional responses to such disasters can appear immediately or sometimes not for weeks or months later. People respond differently and deal with their emotions at different paces.

The horrific events of September 11 are not over, as there continues to be ongoing uncertainty about the world wide reactions. With such uncertain situations, it can make it difficult to grieve and to deal with distress. This type of uncertainty can also fuel one's worry about possible reactions and reprisals.

Remember that it is important to take care of yourself during such stressful times. It is helpful often to talk with others about your reactions and your feelings. As well, you can attend a memorial event; donate; pray; take a break from the media coverage when you need to; make efforts to maintain your usual routine. The nature of terrorist attacks create fear and uncertainty about the future. Continue to do things that you enjoy. Don't become preoccupied with things that you cannot control to the extent that they prevent you from living your normal life.

If you find that the repercussions of the terrorist attacks are having a significant impact on your life, consider talking with a counsellor. For additional support, call counselling services at ext. 2655 or stop by Needles Hall room 2080 to arrange an appointment.

CAR