Daily Bulletin

Computer use statement is official

Two drafts of the document were discussed earlier this year at public meetings on campus.

It's much longer than the 1991 document that it replaces, and includes a number of examples of how UW interprets "free inquiry and expression", "privacy", "appropriate use of resources", "violations of university policy and/or the law", and "harassment" in the use of computers and computer networks. Many of the examples have to do with appropriate and inappropriate use of e-mail (yes to friendly correspondence, no to spamming). Other sections touch on the use of web pages, monopolizing terminals in public areas, full disk space, and copyright-protected software.

The statement begins with these five "guiding principles":

1. UW encourages the use of computing and network resources to enhance the working and learning environment of its members.
2. These resources are provided primarily to support and further the mission of UW.
3. UW values and strives to provide its members with an environment of free inquiry and expression. Freedom of expression and academic freedom should be limited to no greater degree in electronic format than in printed or oral communication.
4. Members of the UW community are responsible and accountable for their actions and statements, which includes showing reasonable restraint in the consumption of shared resources. There is an expectation of appropriate and ethical behaviour (see Policy #33) in the use of computing and network resources. Users of computing and network resources are expected to comply with applicable provincial and federal laws and pertinent University of Waterloo policies and procedures.
5. There is a presumption of privacy. The privacy of system users should be respected and reasonable safeguards in place to protect it.

Alert about library term loans

"If you are not sure which of the books that you have borrowed are due back on the 6th, there are some easy ways to find out. You may check your patron record in TRELLIS (if you're not sure how to find your record staff at any of the circulation desks, or at ext 5544, will help you). Alternatively, you may ask a staff member at a circulation desk to print a list for you while you are in the Library."

New Ontario funds for research

The Premier's Research Excellence Awards will go to "as many as 50 Ontario-based researchers" each year for the next decade, with each individual receiving as much as $100,000 from the province and another $50,000 from industry or other sources. The money will go to pay graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and research staff; the scientist who heads the project must be in the first eight years of an academic career.

"All disciplines are eligible for support," the ministry said, "but the PREA program will focus primarily on the physical, natural, and life sciences, engineering, mathematics, health sciences, and environmental sciences."

Grahame Farquhar of UW's research office said UW is likely to get "two to five" of the awards each year, but will be submitting as many names of promising young researchers as possible. Applications are due by February 1.

Another piece of research news also came from the Ontario ministry of energy, science and technology on Friday: the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund says it will match, dollar for dollar, the money institutions have received under the New Opportunities program from the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

"Waterloo received New Opportunities awards for 11 projects involving 47 new faculty members," Farquhar noted. "This means that up to $1.84 million in additional funding will be available to these young researchers."

'A great miracle happened here'

Coming at exam time, as it generally does, Chanukah isn't marked in any organized way by members of UW's Jewish Student Association, whose next scheduled event is a wine-and-cheese party January 7 to kick off the winter term. But it's always more of a family holiday in any case, with traditions that include the nine-candled menorah, the children's game of spinning the dreidel -- that's a dreidel pictured at left -- and yummy, oily food. (I won't even tell you how awful it was the one time I tried to make latkes.) Chanukah is also known for modest gift-giving, although the idea of this festival as "the Jewish Christmas" generally brings shudders.

Chanukah celebrates Jewish survival under persecution, but it's also sometimes seen as a festival of religious tolerance. The story goes back to the time when Jewish leaders went to reconsecrate the Temple at Jerusalem after it had been desecrated by the Syrian army. Only one tiny flask of holy oil could be found, but somehow, miraculously (Nes gadol hayah sham), it burned for eight days, "Moreover," says the book of I Maccabees, "Judas and his brethren with the whole congregation of Israel ordained, that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their season from year to year by the space of eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, with mirth and gladness." And that's Chanukah.

CAR

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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