Daily
Bulletin

A message about tolerance

Tuesday's disturbing events are still foremost in our thoughts and likely will be for some time. It is important to realize that we are here in Waterloo together, all sharing the same emotions of this experience: shock, fright, worry and anger. We ask that all members of the UW community not bring this anger to bear on those who were not involved in the attacks.

Many Muslim students have been made to feel uncomfortable and afraid both on and off campus by remarks made to them. Please remember that they are no more associated with Tuesday's events than you are and spreading hatred only helps the terrorists to achieve their goals.

In difficult times such as these, we must work to build our community rather than help others to tear it down through fear and speculation.

Counselling Services (ext. 2655) and the UW Chaplains (ext. 3633) are available to help students deal with the strong emotions surrounding this incident.

Yaacov Iland, President
Brenda Beatty, Vice-President, Student Issues
Federation of Students

Co-op students in US can return

UW is committed to the safety and security of our students on work terms," says Olaf Naese of the department of co-op education and career services. In the wake of Tuesday's terrorist attacks, he said, "We will continue to monitor the U.S. situation and offer support and assistance as required to the students employed there."

He said word to all the students who are in America this term will go out shortly to "urge them to contact us for individual advice should they have any concerns in light of yesterday's tragedy". It will also let them know that "should they now choose to terminate their work term and return to Canada, CECS will do what it can to assist them in trying to locate another work term. . . . Should they now choose to terminate their work term and return to Canada, but are unable to obtain another work term, this will not affect their co-op graduation requirements."

Students will also be reminded that counselling services and other UW departments are "standing by with help if needed". A similar invitation went out Tuesday to on-campus students.

Naese said there are a total of 176 students working in the US this term, including two in Washington, D.C. and 20 in New York -- the two cities where Tuesday's attacks happened. (The New York count has varied a little, but last night it settled at 20 in the Big Apple itself and three others outside it.) All the students are "physically OK", Naese said yesterday.

Incidentally, Peter Chiu, whom I mentioned in yesterday's Bulletin, isn't one of them. He graduated from UW last spring, so he counts as an alumnus, not a co-op student.

How people react to the terror -- a memo from the director of counselling services

Typical responses:

• Shock and disbelief: immediately after learning about such a disaster, many people may feel numb, or feel like such an event can't quite be real.
• Speculation about what happened and seeking more information, such as listening to or watching the news, checking the web for updates, talking to others about what you each know or have heard.
• Feeling sadness or anger about the tragedy and discussing this with family, friends, colleagues.
• Wanting to check in with loved ones, even if they are not close to the disaster, or in any immediate danger. It is normal to want to touch base with someone you care about.

Circumstances or signs that may lead you to seek additional counselling support:

• Do you have friends or family members in New York or Washington?
• Is this event bringing up recollections of previous loss, trauma, or crisis that you or a loved one have faced?
• Are your experiencing heightened feelings of anxiety, fear for your safety, or rage?
• Are you crying more than usual in response to sadness?
• Are you wondering what to tell your family, children, or others about this event or how they will react?

Native activist speaks tonight

His talk has quite a title: "Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss: Globalization, Genocide & Resistance".

Ward Churchill, a Keetoowah Band Cherokee, is described as "one of the most outspoken of Native American activists . . . a leading voice in the struggle for native rights. He is a Professor of Ethnic Studies and Coordinator of American Indian Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Churchill is also a former national spokesperson for the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee and member of the leadership council of Colorado AIM (American Indian Movement)."

In his talk, an announcement says, Churchill "will draw on his extensive knowledge of indigenous resistance movements, colonialism, and the origins and practice of genocide to trace the move towards corporate globalization back through the tradition of land grabs, exploitation and genocide practiced against Indigenous peoples in North America. Blazing a trail through history, culture, politics, and grassroots expressions of resistance, Churchill will argue for an understanding of genocide which challenges North American society to confront its own questionable roots and the new branches that are fast expanding from them."

A prolific writer, Churchill is the author of A Little Matter of Genocide, Struggle for the Land and Pacifism as Pathology, among other books. "Often controversial, Churchill powerfully communicates his desire for justice and eloquent sense of indignity at the wrongs still being inflicted on Natives today."

There will be a question-and-answer session following the talk. "All are welcome to what may be the most fascinating talk of the year!"

Facts and factoids of the day

• At 10:15, a briefing on scholarship and fellowship programs from NSERC, aimed at undergraduate and graduate students, staff and faculty.
• At 3:30, a briefing on funding from NSERC and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship program for graduate studies in mathematics (of interest to grad students and fourth-year students).

The women's rugby Warriors will host Laurier at 4:00 this afternoon at the Columbia Street playing fields.

"Welcome Week" continues at the Graduate House, today with a suppertime barbecue (burger and pop for $2 between 5 and 7 p.m.). Then in the evening, starting at 9:00, there's a "mixer", with "free munchies, games & prizes, great music".

Some 400 UW alumni in Ottawa will be disappointed today at the cancellation of a scheduled reception in the West Block on Parliament Hill. The event was to include a tour of the House of Commons led by government leader Don Boudria, who earned his degree from UW two years ago. What with travel restrictions, heightened security and the government's preoccupation with the terrorism crisis, the decision was made yesterday to cancel the entire event.

Back on campus, tomorrow brings a bicycle auction sponsored by the Bike Centre. Weather permitting, it'll be held in the Student Life Centre courtyard (otherwise, just indoors). Bikes will be on display at 11:30 and the bidding starts at noon.

Tomorrow night, the St. Jerome's Centre for Catholic Experience presents a talk by University of Toronto professor Stephen Scharper: "Following the Cosmos in a Consumer Society -- Where Faith and Ecology Meet". It starts at 7:30 in Siegfried Hall, St. Jerome's University.

And here's a reminder that engineering graduates from 1966 and 1971 will come to campus this weekend for a "get reacquainted lunch", tours, a reception hosted by UW president David Johnston, a reunion dinner and a Sunday brunch. The engineering alumni office at ext. 6838 has information, and would be glad to hear from on-campus people who might want to take part.

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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