April 25, 2002

Thursday, April 25, 2002

Six seek staff seat on UW board
Convocation honours are announced
Between terms, still a busy place

Editor:
Chris Redmond
credmond@uwaterloo.ca

And two seek arts senate seat
Nominations have closed, the university secretariat says, for an arts faculty member to serve on the UW senate (term from May 1, 2002 to April 30, 2005). There are two candidates:

Mariela Gutiérrez (Spanish and Latin American studies).
James Skidmore (Germanic and Slavic studies).
Candidates' statements and more information are available on the secretariat web site.
The election will be conducted electronically -- the poll will be open from 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 1 to 3 p.m., Wednesday, May 8. During this period, a station will be open in the secretariat daily for faculty members who require assistance. To cast a ballot electronically, a faculty member must know her/his employee number -- printed on pay statements (Employee ID) and Assure benefits card (the last six digits of the digit sequence beginning 0000). The election results will be announced on Thursday, May 9.

Six seek staff seat on UW board -- from the university secretariat

The call for nominations for a full-time staff member to serve on the Board of Governors (term from May 1, 2002 to April 30, 2005) closed April 1. Nominations were received for the following individuals:

Patrick Cameron (Plant Operations): Mechanical Engineering Technician, 2nd Class Stationary Engineer. Employed at UW since 1983. In my capacity as a Shift Engineer I have the opportunity to interact with most elements of the university community, involving a variety of requests, policies and emergencies. My position allows me exposure to the university community as few other positions on campus will, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I plan to utilize my strong mechanical aptitude and eighteen years of experience to help make a meaningful contribution to the University of Waterloo. I would appreciate your support.

Edward Chrzanowski (Math Faculty Computer Facility): I have been associated with the University of Waterloo since 1976 both as student and staff. I currently work for MFCF and have so since 1982. I have served as a member of the Dean of Math Nominating Committee. I have served as President-elect of the Staff Association and currently as its President. I am a current member of the Staff Relations Committee and Provost's Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation. I am also chair and staff representative on the Parking Appeals Committee. With these qualifications I will be an excellent staff representative to the Board of Governors.

Stephen Markan (Information Systems & Technology): I have been associated with the University since 1981 -- as a student, and as an employee. Currently, I represent staff on the Board and I am seeking re-election for a final term. As a staff member I have served on the Presidential Nominating Committee and Board of Governors Executive Committee. Working for IST has given me the opportunity to work with staff from across campus. The Board is charged with managing the business of the University, thus it is essential staff maintain a strong voice on the Board. I look forward to serving as your voice on the Board.

Linda Norton (UW Graphics): I have been employed with UW since 1976, the last eight years as Director of UW Graphics. I have been employed at various levels within administrative, academic and ancillary departments and I feel that I have a solid understanding of the issues, particularly as they relate to the staff. I have held positions on University and departmental committees including the Staff Association (President 1993) and in 2001 I was a staff representative on the VP Academic and Provost search committee. I am keenly interested in representing UW staff on the Board of Governors.

Joe Szalai (User Services, Library): Principled, committed, dedicated, creative, independent; B.A. from UW -- undergrad in 1970; user services staff for over ten years; recent candidate for president of UW Staff Association; member of committee to certify support staff; not afraid to ask questions or to take a stand; will not be an automatic rubber stamp; will promote our interests in an honest, straightforward way.

Mark Walker (Registrar's Office): I continue to look for opportunities to represent staff and I will contribute my energies to further the work and reputation of our university. My experience as President of the University of Waterloo Staff Association and membership on the Staff Relations Committee, Provost's Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation, and Vice-President, Academic & Provost Nominating Committee 2000-2001 have given me broad and in-depth knowledge of the University's organizational structure, policies and procedures. It would be an honour to be your representative on the Board of Governors.

Ballots will be mailed to full-time union staff members on Monday, April 29 (to be returned by 3:00 p.m., Friday, May 10). Full-time non-union staff voting will be conducted electronically. The poll will be open from 8:30 a.m., Monday, April 29 to 3:00 p.m., Friday, May 10. During this period, a station will be open in the University Secretariat 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. daily for those staff members without access to a computer or who require assistance. To cast a ballot electronically, a staff member must know her/his employee number -- printed on pay statements (Employee ID) and Assure benefits card (the last six digits of the digit sequence beginning 0000). The election results will be announced on Monday, May 13.

Convocation honours are announced -- from the UW news bureau

Denis Desautels, former auditor-general of Canada, is among those receiving University of Waterloo honorary degrees at spring convocation to be held June 12-15.

Valedictorians named
Faculties have announced who two of this spring's valedictorians will be -- the students who speak at convocation on behalf of the graduating class.
For applied health sciences, environmental studies and independent studies, it will be Allison Salter, graduating with a degree in kinesiology, and well known as a star of the Warrior track and field team. For arts, it'll be Tanya De Mello, receiving her degree in economics and political science (applied studies, international trade).
Desautels, who held the single most important accounting job in the country from 1991 to 2001, will receive a Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree and address arts graduates at a ceremony to be held Thursday, June 13, starting at 2 p.m. in the Physical Activities Complex.

During his tenure, Desautels worked with the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants' Public Sector Accounting and Auditing Standards Board to improve the standards governing public sector reporting and auditing.

Also receiving LLD degrees at the arts ceremony:

Very Rev. Dr. Stan McKay, former moderator, United Church of Canada. McKay has had a profound influence on the directions for Native ministries in the United Church, particularly during the 1980s when significant changes took place.
Robert Prichard, president emeritus, University of Toronto. Now president and chief executive officer of Torstar Corp., Prichard is widely acknowledged as a leader of higher education in Canada, demonstrating both imagination and commitment to the common good of universities.

Honorary degrees will be given at other ceremonies the same week, starting with the ceremony for applied health sciences, environmental studies and independent studies (Wednesday, June 12, at 2:00 p.m.):

Paavo Komi will receive a Doctor of Science (DSc) degree and address the graduates. Komi is head of the department of biology of physical activity and director of the Neuromuscular Research Centre at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Komi is respected around the world for his research on a variety of human motion topics.
Morden Yolles will receive a Doctor of Environmental Studies (DES) degree. Yolles is one of the most distinguished designers in Canada and highly influential in the development of modern Canadian architecture. A civil engineer, he has been Canada's foremost structural designer as well as a pioneer and champion of innovative architecture and design since opening his practice in the early 1950s.

Doctor of Science degrees at the science convocation (Friday, June 14, at 2:00 p.m.):

Mario Molina will address the graduates. A Nobel laureate, Molina is an institute professor, department of earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences, and department of chemistry, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research uncovered the cause of the dramatic reduction in the planet's ozone layer.
Rudolf Zahradnik, the president of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences and professor of physical chemistry at Charles University in Prague, has made major contributions to the field of physical chemistry, particularly applied quantum chemistry, molecular spectroscopy, theory of chemical reactivity and weak molecular interactions in chemistry and biology.

Doctor of Mathematics degrees at the math ceremony (Saturday, June 15, at 10:00 a.m.):

David Wilkie of Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, will address the graduates. Wilkie is best known for his development of the "Wilkie Model," the first integrated stochastic investment model for describing the behaviour of investments (and also inflation, wages and exchange rates) based on auto-regressive features and suitable for long-term modelling.
Alexander Schrijver, department head of discrete mathematics and operations research at CWI, the Centre for Mathematics and Computer Science in Amsterdam, and professor of discrete mathematics and optimization at the University of Amsterdam. Schrijver's reputation was largely achieved with his book, Theory of Linear and Integer Programming, described as "the most outstanding piece of scholarly work in the field of mathematical programming."

Doctor of Engineering degrees at the engineering ceremony (Saturday, June 15, at 2:00 p.m.):

Micheline Bouchard, corporate vice-president and general manager, Enterprise Services, Motorola Inc., will address the graduates. Credited for initiating partnerships between Motorola's centres and many Canadian educational institutions, Bouchard has diversified experience in research, marketing, strategic planning, and business development.
Ray Bartnikas, adjunct professor in UW's department of electrical and computer engineering, is a world-renowned scientist in high-voltage engineering, particularly power cables technology. He was the first researcher to report on the electrical properties of silicone fluids, which now constitute one of the main replacement fluids of the flame retardant PCBs in transformers.

At convocation, "Distinguished Professor Emeritus" titles will be awarded to these retired UW faculty members: Bob Norman, kinesiology; Francis Dullien, chemical engineering; Terry Hollands, mechanical engineering; Jon Mark, electrical and computer engineering; Murray Moo-Young, chemical engineering; Andrew Wong, systems design engineering. Also, Phyllis Forsyth, classical studies, will be recognized as Distinguished Professor Emerita.

Between terms, still a busy place

What's all that action around the Humanities building? It's the Rhythm Dance Festival, running all day today, tomorrow and Saturday in the Humanities Theatre.

And the not-so-rhythmic action in Ron Eydt Village? That'll be orientation for next year's dons, starting today and running through the weekend.

The LT3 technology centre has two events today:

A 9:30 session on videoconferencing: "LT3 is winding down its IP-based videoconferencing research project. Come and see and try out the technology, and find out what collaborations happened with other universities via this technology."
A 12 noon "design café" teleconference session, today based on experience at the University of Calgary teaching the work of several Western Canadian artists.

Both sessions, like most LT3 events, take place in the "Flex lab", Dana Porter Library room 329.

Linda Norton, director of UW Graphics, sends word that Xplore Canada, central chapter, and the Ontario Printing and Imaging Association, southwestern Ontario branch, are holding a joint meeting at UW today. "This meeting will include a tour of the UW Graphics facility."

Reminder: the bookstore is closed today and tomorrow for inventory. As for the computer store, according to its bright yellow flyer: "We understand that it's a busy time of year for faculty and staff. You may have research or departmental funds that you need to spend, and you may not know how much you have to spend until the last minute. This year we will be closing for inventory on April 26 so that we can remain open the entire week of April 29 to May 3."

The senate graduate council will meet at 1:30 this afternoon in Needles Hall room 3001.

"How to Draw Fancy Conclusions from Simple Experiments" is a talk by Eran Zaidel of the psychology department the University of California at Los Angeles. Simple is the word for it, judging from Zaidel's abstract:

We use a simple behavioral laterality experiment employing a hemifield tachistoscopic lexical-decision task to demonstrate how the language systems in the two cerebral hemispheres function independently and how they interact. We show that the right cerebral hemisphere has a surprisingly rich language repertoire, including the ability to monitor the mistakes of the language-dominant left hemisphere.

The talk starts at 2 p.m. in PAS (Psychology) room 3026.

"Come and help us celebrate the closing of one year and the beginning of a new one": it's the Federation of Students Kiss Up/Kiss Off Party", scheduled for today starting at 4:00 in the Bombshelter pub. It's a reception at which the past year's Fed executive can say farewell and the new executive can greet the people they'll be working with over the coming year. Information and RSVPs: ext. 5248.

According to an announcement in the faculty association's Forum, "the first meeting of the interdisciplinary coffee talk society" is scheduled for today at 5 p.m. at the Graduate House. Achim Kempf in applied mathematics is the organizer and can provide more information (ext. 5462).

A "mini-conference" sponsored by SWORDC, the South Western Ontario Research Data Centre, which is based at UW, will be held tomorrow in the University of Guelph's McLaughlin Library. Several researchers from Waterloo and Guelph will report on studies they are doing, or will soon be doing, using the centre's treasury of Statistics Canada data.

Water, both hot and cold, will be shut off in the Davis Centre from 2 to 4 p.m. tomorrow for maintenance work, the plant operations department advises.

Electronic "appointments" for enrolling in fall term courses will be posted on the Quest system tomorrow; appointments start June 10, and open enrolment begins July 2.

A funeral service for John Lam, one of the two engineering students killed in a car crash on Bearinger Road last Friday, will be held on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at North York Chinese Baptist Church, Don Mills Branch, 99 Scarsdale Road, in Toronto (phone 416-446-0088).

CAR

TODAY IN UW HISTORY
April 25, 1956: The board of governors of Waterloo College Associate Faculties approves approaching St. Jerome's College of Kitchener about a possible affiliation.