No thorns, but paper cuts are a possibility: Carmen Roecker of the Registrar's Office took a photograph of these mysterious pink origami roses planted in the bushes outside of Needles Hall yesterday.

 

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Time to think about arranging fees

It's hard to believe it's that time of year again already, but as the Fall term approaches its end, many students are getting ready to come to Waterloo for the winter term, or return to campus after a term away, and that means getting their financial house in order with regard to tuition, incidental, and residence fees.

Student Accounts is on top of this, sending out a reminder to students that they must become "fees arranged" by December 17. Students can view their bill for the Winter 2013 term on Quest by clicking Finances>Account Inquiry>Winter 2013.

There are two ways to become Fees Arranged:

• by submitting a Promissory Note, including completed payment of remaining balance;
• by paying the bill in full by Certified Cheque, Money Order, or Bank Draft originating from a Canadian or US bank, Bank Payment, International Wire Transfer, or Travelex transfer.
  
  

Fee arrangement is a prerequisite to having access to Winter courses on LEARN by the first day of lectures, Monday, January 7.

The Student Accounts website has more information available, and the office is open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in NH 1110 if you need to drop by and ask questions in person. Student Accounts is also happy to take questions via email and by telephone at extension 38466 (leave a message with your student ID and phone number and they will return your call).

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Library extends hours for exam period

The hours for the Davis Centre and Dana Porter Libraries will be changing, as they do, for the period before and including examinations this term, starting Monday, November 25 and running until December 20.

Fall 2012 examinations begin Thursday, December 6, according to the schedule posted online.

During the extended hours period, the Davis Centre location will be open 24 hours, except for 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on Sundays. Dana Porter will be open Monday to Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Also during this time, service desks and related services will be closed at regular times, which for Dana Porter is 11:00 p.m. and Davis at midnight. There will also be attendants present in both library locations for security purposes. At the Davis Centre library, staff will also monitor for noise, cell phone use, and hot foods that are not permitted in the library.

On December 20, the last day of extended hours, Davis will close at midnight, and Dana Porter will close at 11:00 p.m.

Intersession hours then follow, with the libraries open on Friday, December 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 2 to Friday, January 4, and 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 5 and Sunday, January 6 in both locations.

Both library locations will be closed for the holiday break, which runs from Saturday, December 22 to Tuesday, January 1, 2013.

 

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Researcher wins Diamond Jubilee medal

by Michelle Douglas-Mills, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

John Hirdes, Professor in the School of Public Health and Health Systems, and Ontario Home Care Research and Knowledge Exchange Chair, has been honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for his significant contributions to home and community care.

The commemorative medal, created to mark the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, provides a tangible way recognize those Canadians who, like Her Majesty, have dedicated themselves to service to family, community and country.

The medal was jointly presented by the Honourable Ralph Sultan, Minister of State for Seniors, in British Columbia and Nadine Henningsen, Executive Director of the Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) and President of the Canadian Caregiver Coalition on October 23 during the CHCA’s 2012 Home Care Summit.

“The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal bestows a significant honour upon the recipients,” said Minister of State for Seniors Ralph Sultan. “Home and community care programs and organizations provide many support services for seniors, and others who are vulnerable in our communities. Seniors particularly, who receive these health care needs have told us that it helps them to remain independent and in their home longer. We applaud those who help us remain healthier and happier by keeping us closer to friends, family and loved ones.”

The Diamond Jubilee Medal, which is a national honour, recognizes citizens of all ages and walks of life who have made significant contributions to their communities.

 

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"Feminist masculinities" and other notes

Professor Corey Johnson of the University of Georgia will deliver the first talk in this year’s Women's Studies speaker series on Monday, November 26 when he’ll discuss “Feminist Masculinities: Activist Inquiries into Leisure, Gender and Sexual Identity.” 

According to a press release from the Women's Studies department, Johnson’s talk brings to light many of the contemporary challenges associated with gender and sexual identities that are encountered in today’s schools, such as bullying and the establishment of gay-straight alliances.

“I think it’s important,” notes Tracy Penny Light ,the department's new director, “that we provide students, faculty, and staff with opportunities to consider these important issues and to consider how gender relations is integral to what we all do, regardless of our disciplinary backgrounds.”

The lecture takes place at 3:00 p.m. in DC 1302 on Monday.

It has been reported that Waterloo postdoctoral fellow Tao Zeng of the Faculty of Science has received a Polanyi Prize for his research in chemistry. The Polanyi Prize was established in 1987 by the government of Ontario and is named after John Charles Polanyi, who received the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The prize is given to outstanding researchers in five fields, and is valued at $20,000. Another local researcher, English and film studies professor Jennifer Esmail of Wilfrid Laurier University, received the prize.

 

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