by Jacqueline Martinz.

"The University of Waterloo’s United Way Campaign begins later this year, but some staff and faculty have already started contributing to the cause," writes Jacqueline Martinz.

A group of 10 met earlier this summer to assist the John Howard Society in Kitchener for the United Way’s Day of Caring 2013. Pictured above (l-r) are Lynn Teixeira (John Howard Society), Melissa-McNown Smith (Housing), Christy Elliott (Housing), Jacqueline Martinz (Federation of Students), Maureen Murphy (John Howard Society), Melissa Campbell (Human Resources), Patrick Mihm (Plant Operations), Jessica Bondy (Student Success Office), and Kathryn Barratt (John Howard Society).

"The volunteers enjoyed sunshine and a cool breeze on June 12 as they maneuvered their way around the building, clearing yard debris and smoothing areas for painting." Martinz writes. "To learn how to show your support, keep reading the Bulletin for updates on the United Way Campaign."

Photo by United Way Kitchener Waterloo and Area.

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Architecture prof makes fashion statement

a news release by the media relations team.

A new collaboration between an architecture professor from the University of Waterloo and an avant-garde fashion designer blurs the boundaries of clothing and architecture, and could influence how cities of the future might look.

Professor Philip Beesley of the School of Architecture at Waterloo is working with Iris van Herpen, a fashion designer based in Amsterdam who has created work worn by Lady Gaga. Two exhibits are on display in France through the summer.

The unconventional collaboration sees the introduction of architectural elements to Van Herpen's clothes. As Professor Beesley put it, the two share a design language.

"I think architecture can be reconceived as something that lives and breathes. And clothing can be reconceived as having multiple boundaries that expand beyond your physiology, as a building does," said Professor Beesley.

The two exchange technical craft and imagination to create the kind of experimentation that may one day lead to buildings that can breathe through layers of mesh and durable woven fabrics.

"We were building some new hybrid fabrics and experimenting with how they might work," said Professor Beesley. "I brought her some laser-cut, silicon 3D acrylic lace work with forests of needles and small vessels covering them. In our exchange, we explored how to construct and use new techniques to develop lightweight mesh, using modeling and digital fabrication."

A series of Professor Beesley’s suspended architectural environments influenced by Van Herpen’s own explorations is continuing this exchange with Radiant Soil currently on view in the Fondation EDF Alive/En Vie exhibition, Paris, and Epiphyte Veil, currently touring throughout France.

Van Herpen's Fall/Winter 2013-14 collection entitled Wilderness Embodied included some of Professor Beesley's cutting-edge contributions, as did her Voltage Haute Couture collection in January.

The pair is now working on the next generation of designs, creating new fabrics, including one that has radical, trembling extensions that resemble artificial porcupine quills.

The Beesley studio is associated with the SSHRC Near-Living Architecture Partnership Development group and Waterloo Architecture’s Integrated Group for Visualization, Design and Manufacturing and F_RM Lab,  research clusters focusing on computational design in architecture. Current Waterloo collaborators include professors Rob Gorbet (Knowledge Integration) and Dana Kulic (Electrical & Computer Engineering), grad Andrea Ling (Architecture),  students Connor O’Grady, Sheida Shahi, May Wu (Architecture) and Brandon Dehart and Matthew Chan (Electrical & Computer Engineering).

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Brad Sims named Warriors golf coach

by Dan Ackerman

The Waterloo men’s golf team has not seen a coaching change in over a decade. After the retirement of renowned coaches Dave Hollinger and Jack Pearse the illustrious men’s golf program was left a big hole to fill. Enter Brad Sims who takes over coaching duties in 2013 and brings with him a wealth of golf experience and knowledge.

Sims has been a teaching professional at Rebel Creek Golf Course since 2003 and has an extensive background in teaching both the physical and psychological aspects of the game to golfers of all ages.

“We are excited to welcome Brad to lead the men’s golf program,” said Director of Athletics Bob Copeland. “Certainly, we had huge shoes to fill in replacing coaching legends Dave Hollinger and Jack Pearse, and we found the ideal leader in Brad Sims. We were most impressed with Brad’s commitment to the development of the whole athlete and the student-athlete experience which is our core mission at Waterloo.”

With an honours degree in Kinesiology and bachelor’s degree in education, Sims clearly understands the bio-kinetic necessities of not only the golf swing but all components of the game. He is able to reduce the complexities and techniques involved in both teaching and learning to a very simplified approach. Sims relies on more than 35 years of teaching and coaching experience with all age levels. Completing his golf teaching certification in 2001, he has since compiled extensive experience with individual, group and clinic lessons.

“I am very excited and looking forward to the challenge of helping these student-athletes pursue their potential as individuals and a team,” said Sims. “The challenge is made much easier because of the first class program that has been established at Waterloo by my predecessors, Dave Hollinger and Jack Pearse. It is an honour to follow in their footsteps."

Sims has hopes of building on last year’s second place finish at the OUA Championship with Waterloo’s fifth OUA gold medal in the last decade.

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Student publishes book while on co-op work term

Riding on the wagon with workers during Stratford’s General Strike of 1933. Gathering milkweed pods for the war effort. Distributing the first electric lawn mower.

The memories of 50 Stratford seniors have been collected into a book by Waterloo student Lindsay Kroes that launches today.

"Gather by the Avon" is an anthology of stories collected through interviews with 50 Stratford residents between the ages of 70 and 98.

According to Kroes, who is a third-year student of English and history at Waterloo, the book is a "community history initiative" that aims to preserve the stories and life experiences of Stratford's seniors.

Kroes began the Stratford Story Project in May for her summer co-op term as part of the Enterprise Co-op program, which allows students to create their own business for a semester. She was inspired to write the book after her experience in an earlier work term at Doon Heritage Village, a living history site in Kitchener. There, she was astounded by the recollections that senior citizens shared.

“I realized the importance of recording and preserving these stories for future generations,” she says. “Not only are they historically rich, but they’re also full of charm and wisdom.”

The resulting 250-page book, illustrated with period photographs, will be released at a launch party tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the University of Waterloo Stratford Campus. The party will celebrate the seniors who shared their stories in the book. There will be readings, refreshments, and a chance to purchase the anthology, which sells for $20.00. The event is open to the community.

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