Newspaper insert marks the 50th

It’s not every UW publication that features a picture of president David Johnston in wellies, feeding hay to a pony. But that’s the opening image — taken at Johnston’s farm in Heidelberg — for University of Waterloo: Celebrating 50 Years, a joint project of the Record newspaper and UW communicators.

The 28-page supplement follows the "spirit of ‘why not?’ “ theme of the 50th anniversary and looks at the past, present and future of UW, particularly as it relates to the university's neighbours in Waterloo Region.

There’s an excerpt from historian Ken McLaughlin’s upcoming book Out of the Shadow of Orthodoxy: Waterloo @ 50, as well as alumni memories, a timeline, and information about the university today – including the fact that, in 2006, the Tim Hortons outlet at the Student Life Centre poured 257,624 cups of coffee.

“We wanted to celebrate the connections this university has in the community — everything from the future Health Sciences Campus in downtown Kitchener back to the beginning, when businessmen such as A. R. Kaufman laid the groundwork to support the University of Waterloo as we know it today,” says Kelley Teahen, associate director for marketing and communications in the Communications and Public Affairs office, who edited the publication. “We also wanted to emphasize all the ways the university connects with the local community: everything from on-campus museums open to the public to the UW weather station.”

Bob Copeland, senior director of development and alumni affairs, spearheaded the sponsorship and advertising drive that supported the publication, which is one of the major outreach projects of the university to the wider Waterloo community during the anniversary year.

You can get your copy of University of Waterloo: Celebrating 50 Years in Thursday's subscriber copies of the Record throughout Waterloo Region. In addition, all faculty and staff will receive a copy through campus mail, and bundles are being delivered this week to the Visitors’ Centre and Student Life Centre.

The supplement is not included in Thursday editions of the newspaper on sale in newspaper boxes or at stores. However, if you live within the city of Waterloo and don’t subscribe to the newspaper, check out your Saturday flyers bundle before taking it to the blue box: Waterloo households will get the supplement with those flyers on Saturday.

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Notes in the day's cacophony

Apparently I got the story slightly wrong yesterday when I wrote about the proposed student bus pass, saying that students' council voted to defer the issue after hearing that some 2,500 students had signed a petition requesting a referendum. It's the other way round, says Jeff Henry, vice-president (education) of the Federation of Students: "The signatures were gathered after the Council meeting, not before, so Councilors made a 16-3 decision to get more information on particularly the refundable option, not knowing that the issue would come up through a different route so quickly." With the petition now a reality, the Feds' board of directors has committed the organization to holding a campus-wide vote in March.

Here’s word from Counselling Services about two new support groups for students: Talking About It, a support group for men, is free and is designed to offer male students a confidential and respectful environment within which to talk openly and honestly about any concerns or issues they might have. This group is designed to reach those who may be experiencing social isolation, a disconnection with school and their activities, frustration in making friendships or in sustaining healthy relationships or those identifying low mood and motivation. This group begins January 25 and runs until March 1. A Support Group for Students on Campus Coping with Brain Injury is being offered in partnership with the Office for Persons with Disability. The group is scheduled to start January 31 and will run for nine weeks. The group’s goal is to provide students with brain injury an opportunity to meet and learn from each other in a supportive environment. The focus will be on developing a sense of community as well as exploring the unique challenges associated with brain injury. The group will be facilitated by representatives from both the OPD and Counselling Services so as to better address a wide variety of issues such as social isolation, interpersonal challenges, and academic concerns. For more information about registering for either of these groups, please contact Counselling Services at ext 3-2655, come to Needles Hall room 2080, or check our web site.”

Patty Mah writes from the school of accountancy: "The ICAO CA$H Competition was held this past Saturday, to which UW entered one team of first year accounting students. The ICAO competition pits a team of our first year students against teams with a mix of first and upper year students from other universities in Ontario. To win, the three-person student teams took part in a friendly competition stressing the use of Chartered Accounting skills such as teamwork, leadership, organizational ability and time management. Teams were put through a skill-testing simulation designed by a selected corporation within the private industry to test the participants' ability to think on their feet and problem solve. This year's team included Kristin Hrycko (1B, AFM-FM), Mike Cheung (1B, AFM-FM), and Irvin Choo (1B, AFM-PA). The UW team placed 5th overall and won the Ethics vote by 100% as determined by their peers. UW has participated in this event for the past three years and have done extremely well all three years, having placed 1st in our first year of participation and 5th last year."

And this note comes from Catherine Schryer, director of the teaching resource office: “The Ontario government has created a new program, the Leadership in Faculty Teaching Award, to acknowledge excellent university and college instructors. Significant prestige is associated with the award along with a not insubstantial monetary component —$20,000 over a two-year period. Any student or faculty member can nominate a faculty member or instructor who has been teaching at the postsecondary level for at least 5 years and who is currently teaching at least one undergraduate course. Self-nominations are not accepted. The nomination deadline is February 28, 2007, and the nomination process is relatively simple. To find the nomination form, go to the TRACE website. If any student or faculty member does prepare a nomination, TRACE (vkeller@admmail) would appreciate knowing the name of the nominee and receiving a copy of the nomination form. TRACE is trying to coordinate this opportunity by preventing overlapping nominations.”

David Edgeworth of the men's hockey Warriors is male athlete of the week in Ontario University Athletics, after a weekend in which he scored seven goals in two games. • Valentine "treat-a-grams", sponsored by the Keystone Campaign, consist of an elegant pair of cupcakes, cost $3, and will be delivered anywhere on campus, including the residences and also including the off-campus architecture and distance education outposts. • Today's the "fully graded date" on which students can be confident that their marks for fall term undergraduate courses, as listed on Quest, are official.

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'I value the energy on campus'

Sue Grant, the student services co-ordinator in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, "is on the run", says a profile posted this month on the Keystone Campaign web site. "Her energy and positive attitude are evident in all that she is involved with, whether it’s spending time with her family, helping students at work, or taking time out for a community lunch time run through the north campus."

Each month Keystone draws attention to one staff or faculty donor, and this month it's Grant. "As the academic advisor for Health Studies and Recreation and Leisure Studies students, and students interested in professional studies," the profile explains, "Sue listens to students and assesses their needs, explains the various options and opportunities that are available to them, and guides them to the appropriate resources on campus."

She says she enjoys the work: “I started this position in 1999 and it’s constantly evolving. I find myself needing to respond and adapt, which is something that I really enjoy. I also enjoy working and sharing ideas with dedicated staff and faculty members on team events and committees — their passion, creativity, patience, and dedication are inspiring.”

And there's more: "I am a proud UW alumna! A few months after I graduated in 1990 with a BSc in kinesiology, I began working as a technician and research assistant for Dr. Howard Green. I still have very fond memories of that time as Howie was (and still is) a true mentor to me. I completed my master's degree with him in ’96, and over the years, we have published several journal articles and abstracts, and presented at international conferences. During my time in the lab, I established many lifelong friendships, including one with Russ Tupling, who is now my husband. Russ is also a UW graduate and a faculty member in the Department of Kinesiology."

What motivated you personally to give to Waterloo? "I value the energy on campus and the respect UW has for learning, both in and out of the classroom. I see first-hand that UW is making a difference in people’s lives, and I would like to contribute in my own small way. When I give, I feel like I’m saying, 'Thanks, UW!'”

To what project(s) have you designated your gift? "To the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences. I’ve also donated to other areas that have influenced me and that I admire and respect — Athletics and Recreational Services, the Hildegard Marsden Day Nursery (just a fabulous place), and the undergraduate scholarship named for Mike Sharratt (an outstanding professor and former dean of Applied Health Sciences)."

What keeps you busy outside of work? "Russ and I have two children. Olivia is 7 years old and John is 4 years old. We’ve already started saving for their tuition! You certainly learn a lot in university, but not quite as much as you learn from your kids."

CAR

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