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Friday, November 24, 1995

About the 5-5-5 rumour

I caught up with Jim Kalbfleisch, UW's provost, yesterday morning to ask him about one of the rumours that's going around this rather scared university. This particular rumour suggests that UW will deal with the coming financial crisis through applying three rules that involve the figure 5: immediate retirement for everybody within five years of normal retirement age, layoffs for everybody who's been here less than five years, and a 5 per cent cut for whoever's left.

"That's a very old rumour," said the provost, noting that he first heard it a couple of months ago, applied to the public school system. "Somebody has just imported it." It wouldn't suit UW's situation and isn't in the cards, he said. If nothing else, "The thought of getting rid of all the people that you've hired in the last five years -- what the hell does that do to your future?"

What Kalbfleisch is counting on, as the biggest part of the budget solution for 1996-97, is a big acceptance of the early retirement plan that's coming out soon.

From earth's wide bounds

Lynne Sosnowski of the Federation of Students sends this note about a tasty and cultural event that's set for Monday:
Cultural Caravan, presented by the Special Events department of the Federation of Students, happens on Monday, November 27, at Federation Hall.

A dozen student cultural clubs will participate with displays of artifacts, handicrafts, literature and more. A popular feature of the day is the multicultural food fair -- sample such exotic fare as Onigiri (rice ball), Miso-shiru (miso soup), Pirukaid (meat or carrot stuffed perogies), Moose Stew, or Blueberry Bannock.

The evening will close with a celebration of the diversity in which we are immersed at UW. The International Showcase will feature a variety of colourful and entertaining group and solo folk dances and musical acts.

Cultural Caravan will be open for lunch service from Noon until 2:00 pm, and dinner service from 5:00 until 8:00 pm. The International Showcase will begin at 7:30 pm. Admission for all events is free.

Poetry in motion . . . on ice

The Athena figure-skating team hosts the first league competition of the season tomorrow in the Columbia Icefield. Admission is free. Teams from Brock, Guelph, Laurier, Queen's, Ryerson, Toronto, Western, York and of course UW will be competing all day.

Jennifer McCormick of the athletics department sends this schedule: 9:00, intermediate singles; 9:30, intermediate similar pairs; 10:30, senior similar pairs; 11:00, technical program; 12:00, senior B singles; 12:30, senior A singles; 1:00, open singles; 2:15, intermediate similar dance; 2:30, senior similar dance; 3:30, senior solo dance; 3:45, open solo dance.

Continuing, on Hugh Kerr's birthday

Celebrating the end of term

Can't be quite the end of the fall term yet, but there are (at least) two end-of-term events announced for the weekend.

The Skydiving Club has an end-of-term movie night this evening in the Village I great hall, with "swoop" and stunt videos as well as feature films. Things start at 7:00.

The African Students Association is having its end-of-term party on Saturday night, with fashion show, dancing and food. Information: 725-4369.

North, south, east and west

Several teams of UW students will competing Sunday in the Canadian Universities Bridge Championships, being held at Kitchener City Hall, of all places. The tournament starts at 2 p.m. "We're ready to bring home the hardware," promises Jared Riley, president of UW's Bridge Club. Spectators are welcome.

Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
credmond@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca

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