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University of Waterloo -- Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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Friday, February 28, 1997

End of the shortest month

What with the milder temperatures, the beginning of the Blue Jay spring training season, and the glow that comes from payday (today, for faculty and most staff members), you might almost believe that spring was on the way. And anyone scanning UW's bulletin boards in the few days since reading break has probably noticed another sign of the changing seasons: suddenly the dominant theme on flyer after flyer is "Summer sublet"!

Not providing so much of a glow was last night's hockey game, the first of a best-of-three league championship series, in which the University of Western Ontario surprised the Warriors with a 6-2 victory.

Interesting scene across from Needles Hall this morning: a plant operations crew was at work, with cherry-picker and chainsaw, taking dead branches off tall trees, while a Region of Waterloo staffer unlocked the little drawbridge that gives access to the mysterious insides of the Dearborn Pumping Station. Yes, that's what the gazebo beside Laurel Creek is: a little part of the Waterloo Region water supply system, pumping up groundwater that's so pure it doesn't have to be chemically treated before entering the pipes. (UW also has a well of its own, near Biology I, that provides water for some on-campus purposes.)

The tuition fee controversy

Queen's has joined the list of Ontario universities that have experienced sit-ins in protest against 1997 tuition fee increases. The demonstration at the principal's office at Queen's was brief, however, says this news bulletin issued at Queen's last night:
Queen's University Senate voted this evening against recommending a tuition freeze to the Board of Trustees. Senators voted 20-14 against a motion by student senator Greg Baker that the university not exceed the current proportion of its operating budget derived from tuition fees. The vote followed nearly three hours of wide-ranging debate on the effects of the university's proposed 10-per-cent increase in tuition fees. Prior to the vote, several hundred students marched silently through Senate chambers, following an earlier protest rally outside Richardson Hall. The rally marked the end of students' occupation of Principal Bill Leggett's office, which began yesterday morning to protest the proposed fee hike.
Here at Waterloo, student leaders have said sit-ins aren't the way to go. However, the Federation of Students has announced "an Open Forum on Tuition", to be held March 10 (a week from Monday) at noontime in the Student Life Centre. UW president James Downey and provost Jim Kalbfleisch will be among the speakers.

Talking about serious stuff

A new page in UW's Electronic Library is titled "Issues in Academia" and presents links to background information on some of the things people are talking about (or should be talking about, anyway): I understand that the page was largely created by Jim Parrott of the Davis Centre library's reference department.

Today and next week

The information systems and technology department holds an open house today (10 a.m., Davis Centre room 1302) to provide information about "decision support capabilities" in the new financial system and other UW software.

A "colloquium on religion and the arts" runs from 2 to 4 p.m. today in the board room of Conrad Grebel College. Speakers are Ron Grimes of Wilfrid Laurier University, Michael Higgins of St. Jerome's College, and Hildi Froese Tiessen of Grebel.

With International Women's Week approaching, there will be a "funraiser" on Saturday night at the Weaver's Arms pub, in the Phillip Street co-op residence. Several bands will play, and money raised (admission is "$5+ or pay what you can") goes to the local sexual assault support centre. IWW events start on Monday with a talk (7 p.m., Student Life Centre) by Rosemary Sadler, biographer of Harriet Tubman.

Staff association members are reminded that Monday's the day for "a general meeting to discuss staff compensation issues", from 11:30 to 1:00 in the Humanities Theatre. "Food and beverages are not permitted in the theatre," says association president Karen LeDrew, "so Staff Association members should arrange to enjoy their lunch prior to attending the meeting."

The talk of the campus

An information session about bone marrow ("how to be put on the bone marrow registration list") is set for 7:00 tonight at Calvary Memorial United Church on Park Street in Kitchener. . . .

Food services is promoting a special with a hot-pink flyer: "End of the year deadlines making you crazy? Slow down, take a minute and relax. Get a group together or for your next meeting enjoy a fresh, hot cup of flavoured coffee with a pastry of your choice. We'll deliver right to your office." The price: $1.10 per person, minimum eight people. Call ext. 3198. . . .

"Lies, lies, lies," a reader tells me after perusing what yesterday's Bulletin said about the Iron Ring tradition. "But it makes for good story telling." He thinks the "iron ring" idea was well established before anybody thought of linking it to the Québec bridge disaster. "McGill actually does the best job of spreading this myth -- it's said that the room in which they take their obligation is ringed with cables from the collapsed bridge." My reader is a ringed engineer and I'm not, but I am hoping to hear from others with definitive information. Or good stories.

CAR

TODAY IN UW HISTORY
February 28, 1990: Pat Robertson ends his UW career, in which he's held titles ranging from "assistant to the dean of arts" to "director of academic services" and eventually vice-president.

February 29, 1984: UW adopts a new version of the bookings policy, Policy 15.

March 1, 1969: The first annual Hagey Bonspiel is held at the Glenbriar Curling Club.

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca -- (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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Copyright © 1997 University of Waterloo