Student hit by bus Friday

At approximately 5:30 p.m. on Friday a first-year Engineering student was struck by a Grand River Transit bus on the Ring Road outside the Davis Centre. He was hospitalized with serious injuries and has since been transferred to Hamilton General Hospital.

“We have ensured that support is in place for the student, his family and friends,” said Associate Provost, Students Chris Read. "The thoughts of the University of Waterloo are with the student and his family, and we wish him a complete recovery."

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A week's worth of welcome

As the dust from Orientation Week settles and classes begin, students are off to their first lectures, labs, and seminars of the term.

To ease their pain, a full week of exciting events awaits returning students as Welcome Week commences today.

Do you like pancakes? if so, there will be pancakes aplenty at a free breakfast event from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the courtyard of the Student Life Centre. I stopped by this morning can report that the line is moving briskly, and the syrup flowing freely.

Later today, university president Feridun Hamdullahpur and other senior leaders will don aprons and equip their +1 BBQ Turners of Grilling for a free lunch event in the SLC courtyard that gets underway at noon.

If the above promotional video featuring scenes from last year's event is any indication, there are all sorts of activities planned for the rest of the week, including a cooking seminar with The Bauer Kitchener's Chef de Cuisine Brian McCourt in the Great Hall of the Student Life Centre tomorrow, a carnival with free poutine on the BMH green on Wednesday, a performance by mentalist duo "The Evasons" in the Humanities Theatre Thursday, and an outdoor concert featuring Faber Drive on Friday.

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United Way campaign to kick off this fall

by Jacqueline Martinz, Federation of Students

Staff members from across the university are joining forces for the Waterloo United Way campaign, which will run from October 1 to 31, 2012. The team hopes to raise $230,000 in donations, with 15 per cent participation.

“This amount was chosen because with an 11.5 per cent participation last year, we surpassed our goal of $210,000,” said Alex Lippert, co-chair of the campaign. “New initiatives are being organized for October and I look forward to being inspired once again by this community’s efforts to support United Way.”

Special events will be held prior to the campaign launch including the Day of Caring and Leadership Luncheon on September 19, followed by a volunteer appreciation lunch and training on September 26.

The team includes (from left) Alison Boyd – Incoming Office Manager (Associate Director, Alumni Affairs), Alexandra Lippert – United Way Co-Chair (Alumni and Development Officer, School of Accounting and Finance), Katrina DiGravio – Volunteer Training (Director, Organizational and Human Development), Kirsty Budd – Communications (Community Manager, Student Success Office), Melissa McNown Smith – Volunteer Management (Manager, Living Learning, Housing), Emily Huxley – Stewardship (Alumni Officer, Students and Young Alumni), Daniela Seskar Hencic – Chair, Board of Governors for KW United Way (Associate Director, Institutional Analysis and Planning), Jacqueline Martinz – Communications (Communications Co-ordinator, Federation of Students), Andres Fuentes – Student Engagement (Research and Policy Officer, Federation of Students), Richard Wells – United Way Co-Chair (Faculty, Applied Health Sciences), Nancy Bird – United Way, and Elle Crevits – 2012 United Way Co-op Student.

Also on the team, but not pictured are, Tim Jackson – Leadership Giving Chair (Vice-President, University Relations), Bonnie Oberle – Leadership Giving Team Member (Associate Director, Leadership Giving), Sharon Lamont – Office Manager (Director, Organizational Services, Library), and Pat Cunningham, (Retiree Campaign).

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Remembering Allison Kitson

It has been reported that Allison Kitson of Food Services died on Monday, September 3.

Allison started her career at the University of Waterloo in 1999 at the Registrar’s Office; in 2001 she moved to join Food Services as Department Secretary.  She worked her way to Manager of Customer Service and Staff Relations, where she made a significant contribution to the department as a senior manager.

A statement prepared by her colleagues in Food Services reads: "Allison touched so many of our lives in so many different ways, she was patient, kind, understanding and her door was always open. Allison’s positive spirit inspired all of us in the department and a few moments with her would lift and brighten your day; she did all of this in spite of her long, and ongoing, courageous battle with cancer.  She was well respected and loved by all who came in contact with her and she will be sadly missed." The announcement included a link to Linda Ellis's poem, The Dash.

A celebration of Allison's life will take place at the University Club on Thursday, September 20, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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Important dates and other notes

With a new term underway and lectures beginning this week, campus is once again operating at full tilt. The Registrar's Office is reminding students that the last day to add online courses is Friday, September 14, and the last day to add on-campus courses is Friday, September 21. The Drop, No Penalty Period ends Friday, September 28. A full listing of important academic dates for the fall term and beyond is available online.

Organizational and Human Development has published the latest issue of The Edge newsletter, which outlines workshops offered by OHD, IST, and the Centre for Career Action.

Speaking of those IST workshops, registration is now open for Skills for the Electronic Workplace (SEW) courses. September and October courses are listed here.

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