Muszynski takes on women's studies program

Alicja Muszynski (left) of the sociology department is introduced as the new director of the UW women’s studies program, in an article in the new issue of the Arts Research Update newsletter.

“With a research and teaching record that evinces a strong commitment to issues of gender, justice and society,” says the newsletter, Muszynski “is well positioned to head UW Women’s Studies. Her work has taken her across Canada: froman examination of race and gender in the B.C. fisheries to a study of women on family farms in Saskatchewan and Ontario.

“Currently, she is involved in research that looks at women in ethno-cultural communities in the Waterloo Region — research that has enabled her to forge important collaborative links with local women’s groups and social service organizations.”

It quotes her: “I am looking forward to taking on this new challenge and chapter in my career here at the University of Waterloo. I am committed to continuing the important work of my predecessors in establishing links with both feminist faculty and graduate and undergraduate students across the disciplines. As well, I look forward to continuing our outreach work with community organizations here in Waterloo Region.”

Says the newsletter: “Housed within the Faculty of Arts and founded in 1977, Women’s Studies offers a distinctive interdisciplinary program available to students from across campus. According to its Statement of Distinctiveness and Centrality, Waterloo Women’s Studies ‘is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in feminist research and teaching, and to developing a distinctive focus on women and technology, health and science that is unique among Canadian Women’s Studies programs’.”

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Twin City Harmonizers stage Well-Fit benefit

Spring into Song, a special performance by the Twin City Harmonizers and the Grand Harmony Chorus, takes the stage at the Humanities Theatre, Hagey Hall, on Sunday, May 25, at 2 p.m. All proceeds will go to benefit the UW Well-Fit program, a service based in the applied health sciences faculty and offered by UW Fitness in affiliation with Grand River Regional Cancer Centre.

“The Twin City Harmonizers,” says a Well-Fit article, “are an excellent 50-man chorus who sing a cappella, four part harmony in the barbershop style. They have been entertaining in the KW area for more than 60 years. Already in 2008 they have won the CBC Hockey Night in Canada ‘Hockey Song Challenge.’ The Grand Harmony Chorus is an outstanding 50-member women’s group of a cappella singers who, in 2007, placed fourth overall and first in the women’s mid-size chorus competition in the Ontario/Michigan area.”

Steve Brown, co-director of the Population Health Research Group at UW, will preside as master of ceremonies. Tickets are $25 (a $10 charitable donation receipt is available) from the UW Humanities Theatre Box Office (519-888-4908) or UW Fitness (519-888-4567, ext. 36841).

“UW Well-Fit is part of a comprehensive cancer recovery strategy that provides people undergoing chemotherapy, radiation or hormone therapy treatment with an opportunity to help reduce the severity of their symptoms by participating in a unique, small-group physical activity program,” the article continues.

“The objective of UW Well-Fit is to maintain or improve physical functioning and quality of life using closely supervised physical activity as an intervention. As well as benefiting from the expertise of professional exercise physiologists, who carefully assess initial physical capacities and monitor progress, participants also receive motivation and the support of others who are facing the same challenges on a day-to-day basis as they strive to recover their health.

“This local community program is available not only to residents in Kitchener and Waterloo, but has participants attending from surrounding areas including Cambridge, Elmira, Fergus, and Guelph. The success of UW Well-Fit has been evident by the continual increase in referrals from medical staff at Grand River Regional Cancer Centre as well as overwhelming positive feedback from program participants.”

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GLOW and Women's Centre re-launch libraries

from a GLOW press release

The Queer and Questioning Community Centre and the UW Women's Centre re-launched their expanded resource libraries with a new computerized search and checkout system on May 8.

With over 700 titles, "GLOW has the largest dedicated library of queer-related books in Waterloo Region," said Paul Cyr, co-ordinator of GLOW. "We hope these libraries will provide invaluable resources to the campus and greater community."

"The Women's Centre has about one thousand books in our library right now," said Women's Centre co-ordinator Ashley Kelly. "There are also a number of academic journals and other publications available for use, which we are still cataloguing."

The library resources are now indexed, managed by computer, and searchable. The indexes will soon be on our websites, so patrons can search from anywhere. Both libraries are open to all, not just UW people, with identification.

GLOW and the Women's Centre are located in rooms 2101 and 2102 in the Student Life Centre at the University of Waterloo.

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More awards, and other notes

Several people and groups with connections to the University of Waterloo have been nominated for KW Arts Awards. They include the Artery Gallery, nominated in the Leading Edge Category. From their website: “The Artery Gallery, 158 King Street, Kitchener, was opened in October 2004 and is curated and managed by the student Society of Fine Artists (SOFA) at the University of Waterloo.” Artery is run by student volunteers; Andrew Hunter, director of UW’s art galleries, is their faculty advisor. Others up for awards include poet Rae Crossman, Environmental Studies (Literary Category); Savvas Chamberlain, grad and former engineering prof, and Jean Narveson, philosophy grad (Open); Melissa Doherty and David Hunsberger, fine arts grads, and Paul Roorda, psychology grad (Visual Arts). The arts awards ceremony takes place at the Centre In the Square, June 8.

A reminder from the Registrar’s Office of arrangements for student financial aid: “The Student Awards and Financial Aid office will distribute Spring 2008 OSAP student funding from a new Loan Release Centre in Federation Hall, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 5–23. On May 15 the Centre will be open 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. In an effort to decrease waiting times, the office will continue to use a time ticket system. Time tickets are given out at the Student Awards and Financial Aid office in Needles Hall. Details are on the web site. Students from other provinces and those students who receive US Funding or Part-Time Funding should pick up their funds at the Student Awards and Financial Aid office in Needles Hall: office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Students are reminded that they must have their Social Insurance card and government issued photo ID (WatCards are not acceptable), and must have their fees arranged to pick up their student funding. Students who were on a work term January–April 2008 must also provide proof of gross earnings for that time period.”

“Spring Gardening Tips and Tales” is the topic of today’s Employee Assistance Program brown bag presentation. The speaker is David Hobson, garden columnist for the Waterloo Region Record and the Guelph Mercury. The event takes place from noon to 1 p.m. in the Davis Centre, room 1302. Hobson “was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, but has made Canada his home. He has ink stains on his green thumb and lives in Waterloo, Ontario, where he loves to watch things grow — his children, his garden, his friends, and his compost heap.” He has written two books of humorous garden stories — Soiled Reputations and Diary of a Mad Gardener — and maintains the Garden Humour website.

This note from aquatics instructional coordinator, Leah Thissen: "Campus Recreation offers Learn to Swim Lessons through the Lifesaving Society for students, children of current students and Campus Rec members aged three months and up. The LSS Swim Program includes Parent and Tot, Preschool and Children’s, and Adult levels, taught during the day as well as Saturday mornings. … We also offer Women’s Only swim lessons Tuesday and Thursday nights. Levels are available for all abilities, whether you have never swum before or are looking to improve your strokes. Take lessons right on campus for nearly half the cost of municipal pools!" Register now in the athletics office, PAC. 

How to stay safe at work is the theme of UW Safety Awareness Day, taking place later this month. UW’s Safety Office invites graduate students, staff, faculty members, departmental health and safety representatives, and members of the Joint Health and Safety Committee to take part in sessions on Thursday, May 29, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., in the Davis Centre, Room 1302. Details and registration information are online. Sessions include:

• Employee orientation: your rights and responsibilities under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA); the organization of health and safety and environment at UW; emergency procedures; reporting injury incidents and health and safety concerns; introduction to Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
• Conducting work-specific WHMIS training: Information on training in the safe handling and use of controlled products.
• Laboratory hazards: How to recognize hazards in the lab and minimize or eliminate the risks associated with them.
• Gas cylinder safety: On the proper handling and storage of compressed gas cylinders, including regulator care and selection.

CPA Staff

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