UW president David Johnston is greeted by an alumnus — and a future alumnus — at the UW gala held Saturday evening in Hong Kong. Photo by Alison Boyd.

Visit to Singapore and Hong Kong

by Michael Strickland

Five hundred alumni. Four countries. Two outstanding 50th anniversary events. More than a dozen UW officials helped alumni celebrate the university’s anniversary last week in Singapore and Hong Kong.

The celebrations began Monday when 55 alumni from Malaysia and Indonesia joined those in Singapore, in some cases flying in from their home countries specifically for a reception at an outdoor pub along the south bank of the Singapore River.

For many it was an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and Waterloo. Associate vice-president (international) Gail Cuthbert Brandt brought greetings (right) on behalf of president David Johnston and the rest of the university. She spoke of the many things alumni have helped accomplish since UW opened with 74 eager young men in 1957, growing into a university now pursuing global excellence.

“We could not have achieved any of these exciting results without your support and participation,” she said. “Alumni are the true stewards of this university, and you are our frontline ambassadors.” And she invited them to support a new initiative — the creation of an official alumni chapter in Singapore.

The model of that chapter may well prove to be the UW Hong Kong Alumni Association. More than 440 alumni filled the Grand Ballroom of the Hong Kong Sheraton Hotel for a gala dinner on Friday night. The guest list included some of UW’s most successful alumni from the area and close to a dozen university presidents from that part of the world.

President Johnston, board of governors chair Bob Harding and math dean Tom Coleman spoke on behalf of the UW delegation, reminiscing about the early days and outlining a vision of what lay ahead. Then the fun really started.

Two MCs, one an alumnus and the other a professional, kept the program moving. Brothers and fellow alumni Andrew and Peter Cheung, who launched their singing careers while at UW, performed. And alum Danny Ying sang over a photomontage of couples who met at UW over the decades. The event also included a raft of prizes and an eight-course dinner.

“This has been just a wonderful evening,” said Johnston. “When the university prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 10 years’ time, the Hong Kong alumni will have set the bar against which those celebrations will be measured.”

The event also recognized the three Hong Kong alumni who are among the 50 this year being acknowledged for their tremendous and continuing support of the university. The three were presented with their copies of the limited-edition print, “Fifty: Upholding Imagination”, that 47 other winners received last month at a ceremony much closer to Waterloo.

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‘Exam-time energy boosters’

from a handout prepared by Sandy Chuchmach, dietitian in UW’s health services department.

All-nighters in the library. A diet of coffee and gummy bears. Sound familiar? It’s exam time — and you’ve got a lot more on your mind than good nutrition, right? If so, think again.

If you’re like many students, preparing for exams can lead to a major energy crisis. The foods you choose have a definite impact on both your energy level and academic performance. Poor eating habits can leave you drained and struggling to remember what you spent hours learning. Follow these tips — don’t leave yourself running on empty!

Eat breakfast. After a 12 or 14 hour fast, your body needs food in order to function at its best. Short on time? Try one of these “5 minutes or less” ideas: whole grain cereal, milk, OJ; bagel with peanut butter, banana; instant oatmeal with raisins and milk; toaster waffle with frozen berries, yogurt; bran muffin, piece of cheese, grapes; cereal bar, chocolate milk, apple; English muffin with cheese and tomato.

Re-fuel every 3-4 hours. Students who eat at regular intervals avoid energy slumps and the extreme hunger which can lead to binge eating. If your meals are more than four hours apart, have a snack. Stock the fridge, freezer and cupboards ahead of time with nutritious, easily-prepared foods: whole grain bread, cereals and pasta, pasta sauce, lentil, bean and vegetable soups, tuna, eggs, pre-cooked sliced meats or chicken, frozen fish fillets, ready-made salads, frozen veggies and fruit, fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, cheese and milk.

Plan balanced snacks. Although a handful of gummy bears may satisfy you for a few minutes, a quick sugar fix provides little brain fuel and leaves you feeling more sluggish. A nutritious snack contains a balance of carbohydrate and protein to stabilize your blood sugar and keep you energized. Some ideas: cheese and whole grain crackers, apple with peanut butter, nuts and dried fruit, hummus and raw veggies, yogurt with berries and granola, “light” popcorn and 100% fruit juice, oven-baked corn chips and salsa.

Don’t depend on caffeine. Caffeine can give you an immediate energy boost, but its effect is short-lived. When you overdo it, you feel even worse — jittery, restless, irritable, and unable to relax. Limit yourself to 2 cups of coffee per day or try tea, which has less than half the caffeine of coffee and contains antioxidants which may be beneficial to health.

Water! Water! Water! Aim for at least 6 cups/1,500 ml of water daily, and steer clear of pop, fruit-flavoured drinks, and other sugary beverages. Dehydration can make you feel sluggish and light-headed, so take a water bottle with you to the library, or refill your glass often when at home.

Avoid mindless munching. It’s easy to polish off a bag of chips or cookies while you study, so don’t bring snacks to your study spot. Eat in the kitchen or away from your desk. Take regular breaks and look for true hunger signs, like stomach twinges or growling noises.

Take an activity break. A drop in energy levels can also be a sign that you’ve been sitting too long. A 15-minute walk in the fresh air will improve your concentration and help you to feel more relaxed and alert.

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'Town hall' meeting for staff, and more

A "town hall" meeting for UW staff has been called for December 11 — that's a week from next Tuesday — first thing in the morning. The event, sponsored by the staff association, is intended "to discuss what changes to Policy 36 mean to staff, and introduce a strategic direction for the UWSA that will be put to a vote by members in late January or early February." UWSA members got the first notice of the event, but association president Jesse Rodgers says it's intended for non-members too, and invitations and reminders will reach everybody. "In the best interest of UW," Rodgers writes, "we would appreciate managers/supervisors granting time to those SA members who wish to attend the town hall meeting, so that the UWSA can continue to function and act on behalf of staff." The event will be held that Tuesday morning from 8:30 to 10:00 in Davis Centre room 1350.

Graduate students are called to a meeting tomorrow. Says a memo from the Graduate Student Association: "The GSA will be holding a general meeting of its members on Thursday, November 29, at 6 p.m. in Rod Coutts Hall 307 to consider changes to the bylaws governing referenda, elections and compensation of executive officers. The meeting will also consider the adoption of a new bylaw governing the conditions under which the GSA would become a member of an external organization, such as a student lobbying group. All graduate students are entitled to attend and vote on these issues. Further information is available online. If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can proxy your vote to another graduate student. Questions can be directed to the Vice President, Communications and Organization, at gsa-vpco@uwaterloo.ca."

A book based on research done for a PhD in history at Waterloo has won this year's Governor General's Award for English-language non-fiction. The announcement came yesterday at the Bibliothèque Nationale de Québec: the award goes to Karolyn Smardz Frost for I've Got a Home in Glory Land: A Lost Tale of the Underground Railroad. It tells the story of an enslaved couple, Thornton and Lucie Blackburn, who escaped from slavery in Kentucky to Detroit and eventually to Toronto in the 1830s. Frost's research was done under the supervision of UW history professor Jim Walker. Among the books that were nominated in the same category but didn't win: Citizen of the World: The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Volume One: 1919-1968, by UW history professor John English.

“Nominations are requested,” says a memo from the university secretariat, “for the following faculty-at-large seats on Senate: One faculty member of the University to be elected by/from the members of faculty of the University, term to April 30, 2009; One faculty member of the University to be elected by/from the members of faculty of the University, term to April 30, 2008. Nomination forms are available from the Secretariat (ext. 36125) and from the Secretariat webpage. At least five nominators are required in each case. Nominations should be sent to the Secretariat, Needles Hall, Room 3060, no later than 3:00 p.m., Friday, December 7, 2007. Elections will follow if necessary.”

And speaking of the UW senate: although meetings are usually monthly, there won't be another one in 2007. "A December meeting of Senate is not warranted," says a memo to senators from the secretary of the university, Lois Claxton. "The items received for Senate's consideration in December (Faculty reports) are for information only and will be brought forward to Senate at its January meeting." Cancelling the December meeting is almost an annual tradition. The first meeting of the new year is set for January 21.

The UW grounds crew hasn't yet split into two shifts, one starting at midnight and one working daytimes, as it will do through most of the winter as a way of improving snow clearing. But the ground has turned white more than once already, and supervisor Les Van Dongen is making plans, and sending out word that snowfalls mean a work opportunity for shovel-wielding students, wielding shovels at $10 an hour. “Whenever there is 2 centimetres of snow, we could use some help,” he says. “We need people to be available to start work at 7:30 and be dressed to work outside for a minimum of one hour. We will provide a shovel.” Anybody interested, or wanting more information, can sign up in advance by getting in touch with him (e-mail lpvandon@uwaterloo.ca).

CAR

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