Warrior action for this season starts tonight, with the first of two exhibition games pitting the men's soccer squad against a visiting team from Pennsylvania's Seton Hill University. They'll meet tonight at 6:30, and again tomorrow at 2:00, on the Columbia playing fields.

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Ramadan begins, and summer continues

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is expected to start tonight (“expected” because, according to religious tradition, the observance isn’t declared until an actual sighting of the new moon). With the university generally in quiet mode, no special activities have been announced, and the Muslim Student Association web site was updated from last year's information just yesterday with an alert that the festival is near. The food services department has sent word that residence cafeterias will offer special Ramadan hours when they open for the fall term on Labour Day weekend. Devout Muslims are required to fast from sunrise to sunset, which means a breakfast in the predawn hours, followed by a day that can be long and hot when Ramadan falls at this time of year. “To a Muslim,” the MSA site reminds readers, “fasting not only means abstaining from food and drink, but also refraining from all evil acts such as lying, backbiting, gossiping, among others. By abstaining from evil acts for the sake of God alone, Muslims are able to establish a closer link with their Creator. Ramadan acts as a spiritual training ground for Muslims, and they are expected to continue avoiding immoral acts for the rest of the year as well.”

A section of yesterday's Daily Bulletin was headed "Notes for whoever's at work this week" — well, now, here's "Food for whoever's at work this week". The majority of food services outlets are closed until Labour Day, but you can still (if you're not observing Ramadan) enjoy browsing and sluicing at three Tim Hortons outlets (the Davis Centre, South Campus Hall and the Student Life Centre); Pastry Plus in Needles Hall; Browsers in the Dana Porter Library; and the Jolly Chef window in Bon Appetit in the Davis Centre. All are open Monday-to-Friday hours only, and the Jolly Chef will be closed for the week of August 31. Also open these days, though not under the auspices of food services, is the Engineering C-and-D stand in Carl Pollock Hall. A reader's note sends "especial thanks" to the management there, observing that "the more people that use it, the more likely it is to stay open next summer." The Mathematics C-and-D outlet, which has often provided soup and solace in between-terms periods, closed at the end of July this year.

Denise Angove, a health services staff member who's been well known across campus officially retired on August 1, ending a UW career of some 35 years. "She began working at Health Services April 1, 1974, as a general duty nurse," a colleague writes. "Through the years, she held the positions of both Assistant Nursing Supervisor and Nursing Supervisor. Denise created 'Single and Sexy' and it was first produced on our campus in 1988. The UW community looks forward to a new production each fall for our frosh. 'Single and Sexy' has been adapted by several Canadian universities. Also during her career at Health Services, Denise was the Sexual Harassment Advisor for two years, which led the way to the creation of our present Conflict Management and Human Rights Department." And in retirement? "Denise has one son, John, who is married and lives out west. She has one grandchild. She spends her time redecorating her home, tending a peaceful garden oasis and enjoying friends and life. Her compassion and great laugh are sadly missed by students and staff."

These-things-happen department: the information systems and technology department reported about 9:00 yesterday morning that "housing residence networks are down, after a firmware upgrade on their traffic management system went awry. Housing IT staff, and the vendor, are working to resolve the matter. Occupancy in the housing residences is very low right now, due to term end, reducing the impact of the failure." By 9:50, IST could report that service had been restored.

Kate Jessop of the marketing and undergraduate recruitment office is on a plane to Mumbai (Bombay) today, to spend two weeks promoting Waterloo to potential students in several parts of the world's most populous democracy. "India is a priority market," she says in a pre-departure memo, "and this recruitment tour promises to build upon and strengthen our efforts from last year. The Canadian Higher Education Committee has organized another tour targeting four major cities: Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi and Bangalore. I will be travelling with 12 other university representatives from across Canada. The tour's focus will be independent school visits to the top schools in each city. I will also be hosting a University of Waterloo event on Thursday, August 7, at the Canadian Education Centre in New Delhi for prospective undergraduate and graduate students and their parents."

And a reminder memo from the Graduate Studies Office about the Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision, which was created, “in collaboration with the Graduate Student Association, to recognize exemplary Faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in graduate student supervision. Normally three faculty members will be recognized each year. The recipients will be honoured with a plaque and a $1,000 award. Nominations must be submitted to the Office of the Faculty Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, by September 14. The Associate Dean will assess the nominations and send a subset of them to the Graduate Studies Office by September 21. For questions contact egarner@ uwaterloo.ca.”

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Business is steady at 'cheerful' bike centre

by Beth Bohnert, from the UW alumni e-newsletter

The Bike Centre is a welcome (and affordable) resource for campus cyclists.

In 2000, the university's State of the Environment Report noted that 17% of students cycled to class. Since then, it seems likely that the numbers of bikes on campus have grown, as more people opt for cleaner, cheaper ways to get around. Indeed, a key element of the Campus Master Plan is a "comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle trail network that seamlessly links South, North and West Campus, and improves connections beyond the edges of the University into the Waterloo Region."

The UW Bike Centre is a convenient and affordable resource for cyclists. Located in the basement of the Student Life Centre, the centre provides space, tools and parts for do-it-yourself bike repairs. "The tools we have available are those that can solve about 99% of what's wrong with the average bike," says centre manager Ted Harms. (He's at centre in the photo, with fellow volunteers James Allen and Jen Hood.)

The centre was launched by two engineering students in 1995. Prices remain the same as the day it opened: $1 an hour for use of the tools and $1 if you use any of the fluids. Both new and used parts are available at a reasonable price. Cheerful assistance from the centre's volunteers is free.

No wonder then that the centre, although currently closed for the summer, sees a steady stream of customers during the fall and spring terms. "We might have 50 to 75 people a day," Ted says. Hours of operation depend on the availability of staff, all volunteers who sign up for two-hour shifts. Ted is a volunteer, too, managing the centre along with his full-time job at the Dana Porter Library.

The centre is a not-for-profit service operated by the Turnkey Desk; the SLC Management Board donates the space. Twice a year, the centre offers a bike auction. (Abandoned bikes are collected throughout the year by UW Police Services; those that remain unclaimed are donated to the Bike Centre, where volunteers repair them before re-sale.) The next auction takes place in September and is open to all Waterloo students, alumni, staff and faculty (ID may be requested). For more information, contact the Bike Centre at ext. 35174. And read Ted's helpful tips for buying a new or used bike.

CAR

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