Building projects await board approval

The university's board of governors will meet this afternoon and will discuss three building projects, as well as other agenda items that include the 2011-12 operating budget.

Board members will also be given "virtual tours" of Waterloo's Stratford campus and the new Summit Centre for the Environment in Huntsville, and will hear a briefing about the work of the co-operative education department and the Centre for Career Action. The president, vice-presidents and board committees will also report, touching on everything from research grants to "value for money/efficiency measures" on campus.

One of the building proposals that will come forward is the "conceptual design" (left) for an addition to the Health Services building, which is moving ahead with a $7.75 million budget as the result of a student fee referendum in 2009.

"With a total floor area of approximately 18,500 square feet, the siting of the building addition meets the requirements of the floodway established by the Grand River Conservation Authority," the board's building and properties committee reports.

It reminds the board: "The original Health Services Building was designed by Raymond Moriyama in 1967 and built as a doctor's clinic and small hospital. Raymond Moriyama is recipient of many awards including the Governor General Award and is a member of the Order of Canada. The design for the addition is respectful of the original building by the extensive use of glass which creates a backdrop and reflects the landscape.

"The south wall consists of a solid structure that acts as a retaining wall due to the change in grades and helps anchor the building on the site. The first floor of the building includes 21 new examination rooms together with the required infrastructure to operate a modem team based medical clinic. The second floor provides the facilities necessary for the university's mental health and health promotion activities."

Also up for approval by the board today:

• A $15 million project for renovations to the Douglas Wright Engineering Building, the university's oldest academic structure, after the chemical engineering department moves out, and into the new Engineering 6 building, later this year.

• Designation of a site, "in principle", for a new student services building. "Execution of the project is dependent on students' support of a referendum," the board is reminded, and a similar project, with a proposed site on the present parking lot H, was turned down 18 months ago. "Students are considering the possibility of conducting a second referendum," the committee's report notes. It recommends "the site west of the RCH lecture hall" — that is, between Rod Coutts Hall and the Dana Porter Library, just north of the Graduate House.

Today's board meeting, which starts at 2:30 in Needles Hall room 3001, will also be asked to approve the 2011-12 level of student services fees. For full-time undergraduate students the fee, which currently stands at $126 a term, would go up to $133, effective May 1.

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Warriors hand out year-end honours

The athletics department’s “Warrior Campus Service Award” for this year was presented Friday to Tom Ruttan, director of the university’s counselling services, recognizing “his meaningful contributions to the advancement of the Department of Athletics and Recreational Services”.

A citation noted that Ruttan “has been instrumental in providing prompt servicing for Waterloo’s student-athletes in need over the past years. This year alone Tom helped the cross country team deal with the passing of a legendary coach, the football team through its tribulations including the affected individuals, as well as attending and speaking at football recruiting sessions about the services and support his department provides.”

Ruttan is seen above (right) accepting the award from athletics director Bob Copeland at Friday night’s annual awards dinner. At the same event, women’s rugby star player Sam Eyles (left) and men’s hockey player Kyle Sonnenburg (right) were named Warrior athletes of the year. “Eyles and Sonnenburg have been elite student-athletes on their respective teams for the past four seasons,” the department boasts, “and capped off tremendous careers, taking home the top prize.

“Eyles was awarded the Marsden Trophy as Warrior female athlete of the year after a dominating season on the pitch as part of the Waterloo women’s rugby team. Eyles, a leader on and off the field, led her team to a 4-1 regular season record. Following a hard fought loss to Queen’s in the OUA semifinals, she rallied her squad to blank the McMaster Marauders in the OUA bronze medal match by a score of 42-0. The fourth year kinesiology student had four tries for her Warriors throughout the playoffs and was named an all-star for her stellar season donning the black and gold.

“Eyles has also been a big contributor to Warrior athletics serving as a member on the Interuniversity Council and always willing to lend a hand to promote Warrior spirit. On top of her success with the Warriors, she was busy during the 2010 off-season winning a gold medal with Team Ontario at the under-23 Canadian Women’s Rugby Championship in Toronto.”

Sonnenburg was presented with the Totzke Trophy as Warrior male athlete of the year following another stellar season on defence for the men’s hockey team, which led him to be named the OUA west defenceman of the year for the second straight season. He was also named an all-star, for the third straight season and a second-team all-Canadian. Sonnenburg had six goals and 10 assists in 24 games. Sonnenburg’s skill set also earned him a spot on team Canada at the World University Games in Turkey. He helped Canada defeat Kazakhstan 3-1 to capture the bronze medal. He’s graduating from the legal studies program this spring.

Other hardware handed out included the first annual Warrior Shield of Excellence award recognizing outstanding accomplishments by upper year student-athletes in their sport, academics and community service. Winners included Amanda Carruthers (badminton), Caitlin Martin (rugby), Garrett Rank (golf), Chris Ray (hockey), Kelly-Lynne Spettigue (cross country and track and field), Andrew Tai-Pow (badminton), and Tiffany Terrier (golf), as well as Eyles and Sonnenburg.

The Imprint Coach of the Year award was collected by Jay and Leslie Shaw of the women’s rugby team. In their first year in that role, they guided their squad to a 4-1 record and a top-10 national ranking.  The team capped off their successful season with that OUA bronze medal victory over McMaster.

The Federation of Students rookie of the year awards went to Devon Rizzo of the women’s golf team and Fiodar Kazhamiaka of the men’s volleyball team. Rizzo, a first-year engineering student, shot the lowest score in OUA women’s golf history twice (two-under, 70) and helped her team win its first-ever gold medal. Kazhamiaka led his squad in all statistical categories including points per set, kills and digs. The first year computer science student was sixth in the OUA with 3.7 points per set and fifth in kills per set with 3.3.

The Rotary Athletics Community Citizen Award was presented to Nancy Spreitzer of the track and field team. The second-year award is given to a student-athlete who combines athletic excellence, academic achievement, while giving back to the community. Spreitzer, an executive member of the IU Council, has helped organize several charity events including the annual trick or eat event and helped collect for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

The J.O. Hemphill and Director’s awards were won by Austin White and Jessica Lawson. These two awards are presented annually to recognize students who provide an outstanding administrative contribution to interuniversity athletics. White, a member of the Warrior men’s soccer team for four seasons, has been involved in several fundraising and outreach programs. Lawson, the captain of the Warrior field hockey team, was honoured on the provincial and national levels for her outstanding contributions to the sport. Lawson was also an executive member of the IU Council this past year playing a key role in several varsity athletic initiatives.

The Brian Farrance award presented to student therapists who have demonstrated excellence, commitment and dedication, was collected by Catherine Barrett and Lindsay Paxton.

CAR

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