Et tu, gender bender: Kristi Dukovich is Brutus, making a sharp end to Terry Reid as Caesar in the drama department's production of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar", which starts a two-week run in the Theatre of the Arts on Thursday.

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'Textbook and technology grant' is here

a memo from the student awards and financial aid office

Further to the initial announcement in the 2008 Ontario Budget, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities has officially launched the Textbook and Technology Grant. The new annual grant is being introduced to help full-time university and community college students pay for textbooks and computer costs.

In the 2008-09 academic year, the Textbook and Technology Grant is $150 per student. The grant will increase to $225 per student for 2009-10 and $300 per student for 2010-11 and subsequent years. To be eligible, a student must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a protected person. For full eligibility criteria and more information about the Textbook and Technology Grant, check out the Textbook and Technology Grant website.

Full-time students who applied for OSAP for 2008-09 will automatically be considered for the grant and do not need to complete a separate application. Eligible full-time students who did not apply for OSAP need to complete a short online application. Directions are on the website linked to above.

Students studying for one term only must submit their application within the first 30 days of their study period. Students studying for two or three terms must apply no later than 90 days before the end of their study period. Students may receive a maximum of one Textbook and Technology Grant per OSAP academic year.

The Textbook and Technology Grant is fully administered by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Students’ grant cheques are forwarded to students directly from the Ministry and will not be reflected on UW Quest student accounts.

Students can check the status of their application on the website. Students should contact the Ministry with any questions toll-free at 1-877-884-4310.

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Nader returns to WPIRG after 35 years

Ralph Nader, who received 668,473 votes for president of the United States in last week's election, will be at UW on Thursday as a guest of the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group, which he helped to found 35 years ago.

"It's really quite an honour to be hosting him again," says Evan Coole, WPIRG's programming coordinator."Mr. Nader has been involved in advancing some of the most important environmental, safety and consumer protection legislation in North America. In addition, he recognizes the special role students can play in promoting the public interest."

It was a speech by Nader on October 13, 1972, that "inspired University of Waterloo students to establish a service for social justice and environmental education and advocacy," a WPIRG news release recalls. It gives some background on Nader, who is now 74: "Honoured by Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Americans of the Twentieth Century, and recently as one of the 100 Most Influential Figures in American History by The Atlantic, Ralph Nader has devoted his life to promoting the public interest. His start in public life began when a report he published on the auto industry's disregard for the safety of their customers led to the creation of strong automobile safety legislation.

"Nader was instrumental in establishing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. He has helped to draft and pass legislation such as the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Meat and Poultry Inspection Rules, the Air and Water Pollution Control Laws and the Freedom of Information Act.

"Nader's penchant for engaging students in public interest issues goes back to the 60's with the creation of Nader's Raiders, a group of students who researched public policy and lobbied for change directed at improving the lives of citizens. He was also instrumental in establishing Public Interest Research Groups on campuses all over North America, including at the University of Waterloo."

Says Kyle Gossen, a member of WPIRG's board of directors: "The mandate of WPIRG, to empower students to inform themselves of and take action on public interest issues, is reflective of Nader's philosophy. Nader has demonstrated that average citizens can and should have a role in the shaping of public policy and he has devoted his life to providing opportunities for civic engagement, much like the role WPIRG plays on the UW campus."

Nader's visit has started a buzz on campus, the organization claims. "The response we've been getting is incredible," says Coole."When the UW Bookstore heard, they offered to help promote his talk, pre-order his latest books and coordinate book signings at the event. The students I've spoken to about this are quite excited. Most only know Nader as the spoiler candidate from the 2000 American election, but I think people are interested to learn more about him."

He'll appear in the Humanities Theatre at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday as the keynote speaker for WPIRG's 35th anniversary. The event is free of charge, and both campus and community members are welcome to attend.

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Notices from the UW police, and more

UW police say that members of the UW community "provided information" that has led to the arrest of a student who is now charged with stealing laptop computers on campus last winter. Says a police announcement: "Evidence obtained through CCTV video and postings in the Daily Bulletin and Imprint resulted in information leading to the identification of the accused. The male student is charged with theft and will face a review of his standing at the University." Adds Staff Sergeant Christopher Goss: "We are extremely grateful for the assistance we received in this investigation. We remind students to be careful with their personal property — please don't leave laptops, backpacks or any valuables unattended. It really makes life easy for thieves." Campus police in partnership with the Waterloo Regional Police continue to investigate a number of thefts and encourage anyone with information to call them: 519-888-4911 or UW ext. 22222. The e-mail address is uwpolice@ admmail.uwaterloo.ca.

Another note from the UW police says they're asking "the operator of the bicycle involved in a bicycle and pedestrian accident, persons who assisted the victim to Health Services and any witnesses to the accident" to contact them. "At approximately 9:25 a.m. on Wednesday, October 22, a bicycle (dark green) and pedestrian accident occurred on the sidewalk in the area of the Student Life Centre and the ring road. Again, anyone with information can reach the police at 519-888-4911. And a third request: "At 2:22 a.m. on Sunday, 26 October, a male person removed the Queer Pride Rainbow Flag from the atrium of the Student Life Centre. UW Police are asking anyone who may have been in the area or who has information to contact them."

Enthusiasm, wit, charisma and clarity are "some of the qualities cited by students and alumni", says TV Ontario, which has been sorting through the nominations for its fourth annual Big Ideas Best Lecturer Competition. The original 285 nominations led to 125 professors now in the running, says a news release, and two of them are from UW. They're Greg Andres of the philosophy department and Andrew Hunt of history. "Sponsored by TD Insurance Meloche Monnex," says TVO, "the Best Lecturer Competition . . . invites Ontarians to nominate professors whose love of learning has helped to stimulate imaginations, open eyes and push boundaries in institutions of higher learning across the province. To spur on friendly competition between university and college campuses, the winner not only receives much deserved recognition and bragging rights, but also a $10,000 TD Insurance Meloche Monnex scholarship for their school. . . . The next stage of the competition invites nominees to submit a tape of their lecture for consideration. Following review of these tapes, 20 semifinalists will be chosen from the nominees. Then, a panel of judges will choose 10 finalists, who will then be invited to deliver complete lectures on TVO's Big Ideas beginning February 28, 2009."

A proud announcement from the faculty of applied health sciences: "Dr. James Rush of the Department of Kinesiology has won the 2008 Young Investigator Award from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. The award, which was presented on October 15 in Banff, Alberta, is presented annually to an outstanding CSEP member who received his/her PhD or MD degree within the past 10 years and who has established an excellent national reputation and notable international recognition. Dr. Rush, whose research focuses on blood vessel adaptations to lifestyle-related factors, began his first appointment as a faculty member in 2000. To date, he has published 2 book chapters, 35 full papers in peer-reviewed journals, and he and his trainees have presented 63 conference presentations. His total grants funding during his time at Waterloo exceeds $6 million, and he currently holds the Canada Research Chair in Integrative Vascular Biology."

CAR

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