Beyond fun and games at Peace Camp

by Jennifer Konkle, Communications Co-ordinator, Conrad Grebel University College

The second-annual Conrad Grebel Peace Camp has just finished another action-packed week with more speakers, field trips and activities connecting youth to neighbourhoods across Waterloo region. This summer, which brought together young people from all over the tri-cities, involved exciting projects like making recyclable monsters, fashioning a trash bag slip ‘n slide and helping cultivate a community garden and a mural at the Working Centre and Sunnydale Community Centre.

Youth were also excited to connect to young people who are working to make a difference despite great obstacles they face. Camp speakers included a uWaterloo student who has brain cancer, skydives and participates in runs to raise money for the Stephen Lewis Foundation, and an individual living with HIV/AIDS who is working to help other people with this medical condition. All in all, a fantastic week at Grebel, where youth played to change and made peace happen all the region.

Photograph by Jennifer Konkle.

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St. Jerome's new president takes office

a media release from St. Jerome's University

Dr. Katherine Bergman has officially taken office as St. Jerome’s University’s 7th President and Vice-Chancellor.

Dr. Bergman comes to St. Jerome’s from University of Regina’s Faculty of Science with extensive academic and leadership experience. Having roots in Waterloo Region will allow Dr. Bergman to reconnect with the community, as well as her fellow University of Waterloo alumni. “I am looking forward to serving the St. Jerome's University community as we continue to advance our mission" said Dr. Bergman. Further, she adds “I extend a warm welcome to all others to visit our campus and attend the variety of activities that are an integral part of St. Jerome's University and the broader community we serve."

Celebration of Dr. Bergman’s Installation will be held on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at St. Jerome’s University’s Siegfried Hall beginning at 2:30p.m. followed by a reception in the Douglas R. Letson Community Centre.

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Professor wins international actuarial award

The Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science has announced that Professor Mary Hardy has received a prestigious international award, the Filaison Medal, from the UK Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, in recognition of "her service to the Profession, both within the UK and internationally, in education, research, transition of research into practice and governance in furthering these aims."

Professor Hardy's research focuses on solvency and risk management for life insurance and pension plans. She is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and of the Institute of Actuaries, and is a Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst.

"The Finlaison medal is named after John Finlaison, inaugural president of the Institute of Actuaries from 1848 until his death in 1860," reads the announcement. "The medal is awarded from time to time, in recognition of service to the actuarial profession in furtherance of one or more of the various objects set out in Institute and Faculty of Actuaries’ Royal Charter."

The award ceremony will be held in October at the Staple Inn Hall, London.

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WatIAM downtime and other notes

WatIAM is undergoing maintenance today from 7:00 a.m. to noon. During this time, the system will be unavailable for users to change their passwords, for new accounts to be created, for account activations to be completed, or SPML queries or calls to be completed in the system. Nor will the search tool be available. Information Systems and Technology (IST) reports that myHRinfo, Quest, JobMine, and Waterloo LEARN will be available. The IST Helpdesk is available at ext. 84357 to answer any questions.

In yesterday's rundown of openings and closings around campus over the next few weeks, I neglected to mention the stalwart faculty student society coffee and donut outlets (C&Ds). For the most part, they have closed their doors for the remainder of the term, like the Science Society's outlet in Biology 1. Others have not only shut their doors but are undergoing renovations, like The Mathematics Society and Environment Students Society coffee shops, and will re-open in the fall. Contrariwise, the Engineering Society C&D located in Carl Pollock Hall will remain open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., through September 7.

According to their Facebook page, the businesses run by the Federation of Students have also closed up for the term with the exception of Feds Used Books, which is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

And finally, a correction to note: REVelation in Ron Eydt Village will in fact be re-opening on Sunday, September 2, not September 12 (which is a Wednesday) as incorrectly listed yesterday.

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