Jeff Payne (BA '06), of Corporate Sponsorship Marketing, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, shares career advice with current students during Applied Health Sciences' Career Night Speed Networking event last Tuesday, hosted by AHS Alumni Services. Twenty-seven alumni returned to campus for the event, which included the launch of a new "Ask AHS Alumni" online mentorship program allowing the Faculty’s students to have their career-related questions answered by AHS alumni throughout the year.

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Virtual tour uses Google, not goggles

by Beth Bohnert, Project Manager, Integrated and Interactive Media

Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment, with the help of Waterloo co-op students, has developed a new virtual tour to help users familiarize themselves with campus – without ever having to cross Ring Road.

The tour, which incorporates Google maps, allows users to “visit” each of Waterloo’s seven campuses, from Cambridge to Rome, while learning about the academic, recreational and social opportunities available at each location.

The tour has been an ongoing collaborative project for the students, who represent all of Waterloo’s faculties. A progression of teams wrote code, compiled photos and drafted building descriptions.

Nick Mitchinson, a computer science student who worked on the tour as part of his Fall 2011 work term, says “We hope the tour gives people an opportunity to find out about Waterloo — in an easy-to-navigate way — before they even get here.”

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Teaching award nominations open

Nominations are now open for these teaching awards: The Distinguished Teacher Awards (DTA) and Amit and Meena Chakma Awards for Exceptional Teaching by a Student (AETS).

DTA nominators can be an undergraduate, graduate, alumni, or faculty/department member and can nominate anyone who teaches at the university and its federated and affiliated university colleges, including lab instructors and clinical associates as well as professors and lecturers. A minimum of ten nominees are required for each candidate.

Nomination sheets can be picked up at the Davis Centre and Dana Porter libraries, the Student Life Centre’s Turnkey desk and EV1 325. Drop boxes will also be available at these locations.

AETS nominators can be undergraduates, graduates, alumni, and faculty members. All registered students who have a formal teaching role, such as teaching assistants, laboratory demonstrator, or sessional lecturer, at the university or its federated and affiliated university colleges. To nominate a student, submit a completed nomination form or a letter that clearly explains why the nominee should receive the award. Nominations for the AETS are submitted by email to cte-awar @uwaterloo.ca. Nominees need a minimum of 5 nominations to be considered.

More information is available online.

The deadline to submit DTA and AETS nominations is Friday, February 3 and Friday, February 10 respectively.

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Time served and probation for email campaign

Former University of Waterloo student Zamir Nathoo pleaded guilty last week to one charge of criminal harassment for a campaign of anti-feminist emails sent to more than 100 recipients on campus, as well as posters and Facebook postings. Three other charges against Nathoo were dropped after his guilty plea.

Vice-President, Academic and Provost Geoff McBoyle gave an update on this issue to the university senate at its meeting on January 16, saying that Nathoo was sentenced to eight months already in custody and to two years' probation, during which he is to stay away from the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University campuses, and is forbidden to send emails on the topic of race or gender. He is also to attend counselling.

The posters and emails began appearing in February of last year. Nathoo was arrested in May 2011 following an investigation by the university and regional police.

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Jazz vibes, conscious living and other notes

Conrad Grebel's Noon Hour Concert series continues today at 12:30 p.m. with Michael Wood (vibes) and Kevin Muir (contrabassoon), who will be presenting a program entitled “Jazz Vibes.”

The youth wing of a Buddhist monastery in Toronto is hosting "Awaken to Conscious Living" at Renison today at 5:00 p.m. in the Dunker Family Lounge.

Health Services and the International Student and Scholar Office have organized "Challenges for International Students: Adjusting to Life in Canada, at UW, and the Impacts on Mental Wellness" this afternoon at 5:00 p.m. in RCH 305. An experienced mental health nurse from Health Services will talk about cultural and academic challenges that international students face when they arrive at the university. An overview of major mental health problems including signs and symptoms will be discussed, as well as ways to access appropriate support and treatment services. It will be an interactive session with open discussions.

The International Spouses of UW are hosting "Making Cards With Barb," at the Columbia Lake Villages community centre on Thursday, starting at 12:45 p.m. Details are available online.

A Philosophy Colloquium open to the general public on Friday will feature Waterloo PhD candidate and lecturer Rhys McKinnon speaking on "Reasonable Assertions: Why you don't need to know what you're talking about." The event gets underway at 3:30 in HH 373.

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