![[University of Waterloo]](/goldbar.gif)
| Yesterday |
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
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Editor: Chris Redmond credmond@uwaterloo.ca |
![[Scarecrow and sunflowers]](/images/2003/1020alt.gif)
Food is the theme
of the fall issue of
Alternatives
magazine, published in UW's
faculty of environmental studies. Major articles include "United We
Fish", "When Organics Go Mainstream", and (about sustainable
agriculture) "Life After Oil".
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"We should be conscious of the upper-class crunch as the students move on," Johnston warned during a senate discussion about "Dealing With the Double Cohort -- Lessons Learned."
Leading off the discussion, provost Amit Chakma said: "Things are under control. We're on target as close as we can be but there have been some internal challenges within some of our faculties." He then introduced the deans and asked them to comment.
George Dixon, dean of science, said there are 30 per cent more first-year science students than intended -- 1,078 up from a target of 800 -- but "very few problems". Students have been all placed in courses required, he said, partly through "delinking" the labs to accommodate them all during weekdays, not just by adding weekends. And there has been "broad collaboration and co-operation" across the university campus.
Mike Sharratt of applied health sciences said AHS has 100 students more than anticipated, but all have been accommodated, with one professor agreeing to teach a course twice. Renovations had been made in the anatomy labs and seminar rooms in advance of their arrival and the number of grad students was increased to help with teaching, he said. One downside: AHS has reduced some "practical experiences" for students because of the higher numbers.
"I predict the big crunch will be next year," Sharratt said. He also said he is concerned about "morale, burnout and stress" among faculty, but "so far it's OK."
Bob Kerton, dean of arts, noted that "The double-cohort arrival wasn't really a surprise for us" and that over the past few years, arts has increased enrolment to about 1,400 from around 1,000 students. But there are "some large classes that need to be looked at. Next year will be a problem." He added that there are extra mentors and programs to help students this year.
Said Alan George, dean of mathematics: "Things are pretty tight and classes are filled to overflowing, but we're coping." He added that the younger students (more than half of this year's arrivals are 18 rather than 19) seem to be "performing well," and there are more teaching assistants and tutors. "As the bulge goes forward, second-year classes will become larger than they are now."
Adel Sedra, dean of engineering, noted a 10-per-cent increase in the first-year class in his faculty, with about 1,050 students. Of concern, he said, is a "very significant drop" in the number of young women accepting UW's offers -- down to 17 per cent from 23 per cent of the class, which "remains a mystery."
Geoff McBoyle, dean of environmental studies, wasn't at the meeting, and attention turned to some of the other senior officials, starting with Catharine Scott, associate provost (human resources and student services). "We're coping with the numbers," said Scott, telling senate that student services has an increased number of staff, so there are "no significant problems." She said there has been a 40 per cent increase in students using counselling services, a "big demand" for health services, and a "large increase in the number of disabled students," with more than 1,000 registered. Also noted was much more "parental involvement" -- as she and her colleagues had been predicting with the arrival of younger students on campuses.
Bud Walker, director of business operations, said housing is "virtually on target" with all first-year students accommodated. "They are a very pleasant group of young people and outgoing. . . . We have found a lot less alcohol consumption by everybody -- students -- on campus than we noticed last year," he added. Walker also mentioned an increased number of dons in the residences.
Finally, Chris Edey, the Federation president, told senate that "I have received no phone calls about overcrowded classes." He said the Federation has "modified programs to match the young students coming through." The students are "more academically focused and there is less drinking" than in previous years, Edey confirmed.
It's the new reality as UW, like universities across the province, revamps its guidelines for campus bar operations with the arrival on campus of an increased number of first-year students who are not legally allowed to drink. While most Grade 13 students entering university are 19 or older, most first-year students entering from Grade 12 cannot be served alcohol.
"Because of the double cohort," explains UW business director Bud Walker, "the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is advising universities to be more diligent" in enforcing alcohol regulations at campus pubs.
At UW, the Committee on Alcohol Use and Education -- an advisory committee to campus bar operations -- has been reviewing its policy on suspensions of bar privileges for violations of the Liquor Licence Act, and has enacted sanctions that will apply to all campus venues and, says Walker, will be uniformly enforced.
Staff at licensed campus pubs and events that are open to underage patrons check WatCards and photo ID (such as driver's licences), provide wristbands for underage students and hold WatCards for pickup when students leave the premises.
"Patrons who leave without their wristband or don't pick up their WatCard will be suspended from all licensed facilities or events on campus until they reach the age of 20," says food services director Mark Murdoch. That's stated in an agreement that underage students sign each time they enter a pub. The message to abide by the province's liquor laws and to use alcohol responsibly was also driven home throughout orientation events last month. Despite that, says Murdoch, "there have been a few dozen suspensions. There are always a few who don't believe there'll be consequences."
"We're implementing a new mode of operation based on the mediation agreement with the Federation of Students," Walker adds. "It's a work in progress." The university closed the pubs last winter following an incident in which police responded to a fight outside Federation Hall. Campus bars reopened in September after an agreement between the university and the Federation of Students was reached on how the pubs would be operated.
"The university has a social responsibility to help students learn to make decisions -- and to be accountable for their actions," says Walker. "We have to get the message out that there are consequences. All the universities are taking this stance."
Murdoch notes that students drinking underage may be charged by UW police with a provincial offence notice, "like a speeding ticket". The result is a fine, not a criminal charge. "If police deal with it, UW can also implement sanctions, depending on where the incident occurs."
If the university doesn't enforce the Liquor Licence Act on campus, "we could lose our licence," says Walker. "There's a commitment by the Feds and the university to have the safest bars possible."
Janice MacKinnon, who was Canada's first female finance minister and is now a University of Saskatchewan professor, will speak at 4 p.m. in the Humanities Theatre. Her talk is titled "A New Prime Minister, a New Agenda: Health Care versus Education." A question-and-answer period will follow her 30-minute speech. Her visit is sponsored by UW's faculty of arts.
MacKinnon will draw on her experiences as finance minister during the deficit and debt crisis in Saskatchewan from 1993 to 1997. "People will find her lecture of great interest because the new McGuinty and Martin governments will need to deal with the trade-off in public spending on present health concerns versus the future economic returns on investment in post-secondary education," said Heather MacDougall, associate dean of arts for graduate studies and research.
"If Canada expects to become one of the top five knowledge-producing countries in the world by 2015, all levels of government must review their commitments to education. Difficult choices are facing the nation and it is time to start the public debate on them."
MacKinnon is the author of Minding the Public Purse: The Fiscal Crisis, Political Trade-offs and Canada's Future. A book signing will be held before and after the lecture.
During her campus visit, she will participate in a seminar with political science and history students. The seminar begins at 2:15 in Humanities room 117. Also, she will be meeting Bob Kerton, UW's dean of arts, and the chairs of the political science and history departments.
![[Wolterstorff]](/images/2003/1022wolter.gif)
Nicholas
Wolterstorff (right), Yale University professor
emeritus of philosophy and the 2003 Pascal Lecturer, will outline his
reflections
on these twin subjects under the general theme "The Importance of Justice".
The lectures will be held tonight and Thursday night at 8:00 in
the Humanities Theatre.
During his visit to UW, Wolterstorff will also present two seminars. "Could God Speak?" is the subject he plans to explore today at 3:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room of the Student Life Centre. In an event organized by the philosophy department for Thursday, Wolterstorff will explore the topic, "Is a Theistic Account of Political Authority Viable?" That seminar will be given at 3:30 in Humanities room 178.
For much of his career, after earning a PhD in philosophy from Harvard, Wolterstorff taught at his undergraduate alma mater, Calvin College. In 1989 he was appointed the Noah Porter Professor of Philosophical Theology at Yale University, where he remained at the divinity school until his retirement in 2001.
In the early years of his career, Wolterstorff concentrated on metaphysics, aesthetics and the philosophy of art. More recently, he has turned his attention to epistemology. He is the author of numerous books, including Reason Within the Bounds of Religion, Until Justice and Peace Embrace, and Lament for a Son. In the latter work he writes not as a scholar, but rather as a loving father grieving the loss of his 25-year old son, "in the hope that it will be of help to some who find themselves with us in the company of mourners." Wolterstorff has been president of the American Philosophical Association (central division), and of the Society of Christian Philosophers.
The Pascal Lectures on Christianity and the University is a annual event inaugurated in 1978 to create a forum at UW for the presentation of Christian issues in an academic environment. Each year, the Pascal Lectures committee brings to UW outstanding scholars who have also distinguished themselves in Christian thought or life. The lectures they present are intended to challenge the university to a search for truth through personal faith and intellectual inquiry which focus on Jesus Christ.
The climate change "fair" winds up today in the Student Life Centre. Information booths will be open again, and people from Grand River Transit will be available to answer questions and sell bus passes. "And," writes Patti Cook, UW's waste management coordinator, "for those interested in car pooling, CarpoolTool will be on hand to demonstrate their web site as part of the transportation theme of the Climate Change campaign. About 40 people from Waterloo are registered on CarpoolTool (U of T at Mississauga has about 300 subscribers). There are people on campus looking for rides, and willing to give rides."
At 12 noon today, Tim Jackson, partner in Tech Capital Partners, speaks on "Securing Capital for the Early Stage Technology Business". The talk is sponsored by the Centre for Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology, and takes place in its meeting room, Needles Hall room 1101. If there's any space left, last-minute RSVPs go to ext. 7167.
At 3 p.m., John Holmes of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania speaks on "Mining Health-Related Data: Methods and Applications in Research, Public Health, and Patient Care". The talk is sponsored by the Smarter Health Seminar series, and takes place in Davis Centre room 1302.
Health services will have a nutrition booth in the Student Life Centre, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with information about "Backpack Snacks" and a cookbook draw. . . . Career development seminars today deal with "Mastering the Personal Statement" (for graduate school applications) at 2:00 and "Law School Bound" at 4:00 (details on the career services web site). . . . The classical studies department is co-sponsor of a talk today at Wilfrid Laurier University: Allan Evans of the University of British Columbia speaks on "What Is History? The Case of Herodotus" at 4 p.m. in Schlegel room SBE 2260 at WLU. . . .
At 4:30 the Computer Science Club presents a talk by Stefanus Du Toit on "Real-Time Graphic Compilers" (Math and Computer room 4061). . . . The weekly "Cinema Italiano" showing is "Amarcord", a 1974 film by Federico Fellini (6:30, St. Jerome's University room 3027, free). . . . A reception for UW alumni in Ottawa runs from 5:30 to 7:30 tonight at the National Gallery of Canada. . . . "AoK: The Pre-Bomber Show", from 9 to 10 tonight on CKMS FM, presents an interview with "X-rated hypnotist" Tony Lee, who will be at Federation Hall on November 4. . . .
CAR