Daily Bulletin

Wednesday, December 17, 1997

University of Waterloo • Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

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[Christmas lights]

Winding down for the holiday

Just a few more exams, and the fall term will be history. As the Christmas and New Year's break approaches, there are various notices about departments and services that won't, or will, be in operation between now and the beginning of the winter term on January 5. In general, next Monday, December 22, is the last working day for staff members and the last day that offices will be open. The back-to-work day is Friday, January 2. But here are some exceptions to note:

The libraries have regular hours today through Friday; they'll be entirely closed this Saturday and Sunday, open Monday in the daytime but not evening. (However, interlibrary loan and document delivery services will close after Friday and won't reopen until January 5.)
The bookstore and UW Shop are open regular hours this week and will be open Saturday from 11 a.m to 5 p.m.; then they're closed until January 5.
The Computer store and Compu-Scape are open regular hours this week, but closed Monday and January 2; they reopen January 5.
The staff association office will close as of 3:30 this afternoon and not reopen until January 5.
The Federation of Students office will close at noon Thursday and not reopen until January 5.
Most food services outlets are still open, although the Pastry Plus outlet in Matthews Hall and Tim Horton's in Optometry closed early in December, and the Ron Eydt Village cafeteria closed yesterday. Nearly all the remaining outlets will close some time on Friday afternoon; the only one open Monday will be Tim Horton's in the Davis Centre, until 3 p.m. No food services outlets will be open Friday, January 2.

See page 2 of today's Gazette for fuller information. The last Daily Bulletin of 1997, to appear on December 22, will be accessible through UWinfo all through the holiday and will have information as complete as I can make it.

Looking ahead to registration

There's no reason not to register now for the winter term, if you're supposed to be a student then. Tuition fee cheques can be post-dated to January 1. If you register now -- any time until close of business on Monday -- you do it at the cashiers' office in Needles Hall. (Drop boxes are available after hours: for graduate students at the grad studies office on the third floor, for undergraduates at the registrar's office on the second floor.) In-person registration for undergraduates begins January 5 at the Physical Activities Complex.

Speaking of tuition fees . . .

Reporting on the government's announcement of tuition fee increases and deregulation, in yesterday's Bulletin I quoted the words of finance minister Ernie Eves as they appeared in Hansard:

Within this new tuition policy framework, the government will require institutions to increase fees to help address shortages in scientific and technical programs where demand from prospective students and employers greatly exceeds the places available.

According to the text the finance ministry is distributing, however, Eves intended to say that the government "will require institutions that increase tuition fees" to do something or other, not require universities to increase tuition fees. University leaders are now trying to find out what they're going to be required to do by way of helping "address shortages", and how much of any new tuition fee revenue is supposed to be spent on expansion as opposed to maintaining operations and quality. No elucidation has been forthcoming from the education ministry so far.

In his speech in the Legislature Monday, the finance minister again mentioned a program for income-contingent repayment of student loans: "We are committed," he said, "to working with the federal government on guaranteed access to post-secondary education for all qualified students; income contingent student loan programs; and a review of students' total debt levels." Outside the Legislature, cabinet ministers continue to say that they hope to have an ICR loan plan in place by the time the latest fee increase takes in effect next fall.

And yes, the finance minister's reference to the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund as having assets of $600 was somewhat pessimistic. Should have been $600 million, I believe.

Take the pencil test

Here's a puzzle for you on a quiet December day:

Five faculty members were seen together in the lounge yesterday -- all male, as it happens, and all near retirement. One is 64, one is 63, one is 62, one is 61, and one is 60.
Professor Aaron does his marking with a blue pencil, and is known to avoid any joint work with Professor Brown, who naturally does his marking with a brown pencil. Professor Chung is three years older than Professor Davis. The professor who uses a green pencil is 62, a year older than the only one in the group who smokes. The one member of the group who is a former dean is a frequent joint author with the smoker, and their wives are close friends. Professor Enver is younger than the only member of the group who is single. Professor Aaron is two years older than the ex-dean, who is older than the professor who uses an orange pencil in his marking.
What is the name of the professor who does his marking with a red pencil?

No prize is offered, I'm sorry to say.

Talk on law and counselling

People from student service departments -- as well as academic advisors, students, and just about anybody interested -- are invited to a special lecture tomorrow afternoon. The speaker is Robert Solomon of the faculty of law at the University of Western Ontario, whose topic is "So This Is What a Writ Looks Like: A Primer on Counselling Issues for Universities".

Organizers promise "a stimulating afternoon. Professor Solomon will help us to look at confidentiality, duty to warn, record keeping and other related issues. You may already be familiar with Professor Solomon. During the past 10 years, he has spoken across the province alerting university communities to the concerns about alcohol use and liability. He's an excellent speaker, totally aware of the university environment, an expert in law and married to a physician (so he understands health care provider issues). We have asked him to consider individuals exhibiting disruptive behaviours or suicidal intent to illustrate his lecture at UW."

Anyone wanting to attend should call Carole Hea of health services today (ext. 6264) or e-mail cehea@mc1adm. Tomorrow's event runs from 12:30 to 4:30 in Siegfried Hall, St. Jerome's College.

Health services will be closed from 12 noon tomorrow because of the special event.

Notes under a winter moon

The joint health and safety committee meets today at 1:30 in Needles Hall room 3004. On the agenda: the monthly injury and fire reports, knife training programs, and other issues.

Hot water will be turned off all day tomorrow (from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) in East Campus Hall as the plant operations department moves some pipes.

The dean of arts office sends "a sincere thank you to those who contributed to the Food Bank by placing non-perishable food items into the Christmas Box located in the foyer of the Modern Languages building. The response was overwhelming. Anyone still wishing to contribute can do so until Friday morning."

I'm told that today marks a birthday for "two very hardworking staff members", Mary Jane Bauer of the school of urban and regional planning and Melissa Martin of information systems and technology. Many happy returns. . . .

CAR

TODAY IN UW HISTORY December 17, 1974: A colloquium sponsored by the history department, marking the 100th birthday of William Lyon Mackenzie King, winds up at UW.

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@uwaterloo.ca -- (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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