Daily Bulletin

'Twas in the noon of wintertime

Willms was executive assistant to the dean of arts when he organized the first such carol-sing, in 1985, and he didn't let a little thing like his retirement, three years ago, get in the way of tradition. Arts has continued to invite him back each year to lead the singing, which ranges from the old standbys of the season to "Calypso Noel", now something of a tradition in its own right.

You don't have to be able to carry a tune to participate -- all are welcome -- but Willms expects everybody to sing at full volume.

Why did the carol-sing get started? "Christmas for me is a special time," he says, "and I felt there was something that I could share with the people who either just love to sing, or thought that Christmas was a special time for them in their spiritual pilgrimage. With some trepidation we sent out a notice, and people came -- and people have been coming ever since."

Some of the carols will be accompanied by a pianist -- Joanne Bender, a UW science graduate, has been at the keyboard for the past several years -- and a bongo player is also expected. "I wish I could find a trumpeter," says Willms, quickly adding, "but a trumpet has a tendency to drown everyone out."

Willms also leads the Kitchener-based Jubilation Male Chorus, 60 voices strong, which will be taking part in a Christmas festival at Centre in the Square this evening. It can be heard again, in a concert all its own, Saturday night at Kitchener Mennonite Brethren Church.

Christmas and stress "Stress Management for the Holidays" is the title of a seminar to be offered at noontime today, sponsored by the Employee Assistance Program and led by Paula Dimeck of applied health sciences and Helena Hahn of the dean of science office. It takes place in Davis Centre room 1302, starting at 12 noon. Stress clearly goes with the season just like snow and mistletoe. Among the web sites offering their various slants on how to cope with the pressures of a modern Yule: All That Women Want Marquette General Hospital HealthyWay Magazine There's even a whole book on the subject, Simplify Your Christmas.

No Y2K worry about UW buildings -- by Barbara Elve

David Churchill, technical director for the plant operations department, says he'll be at a party on New Year's Eve, and although key staff are leaving numbers where they can be reached, no additional crews will be on site for the New Year's weekend. Two staff members will be on duty in the power house to answer any emergency calls at ext. 3793 -- the same as on any weekend, Churchill says.

However, administrators have left no stone unturned in their earlier preparations for Y2K, which has many people nervous about how computer systems will react to the date change. The first step was assessing which systems had date/time components which could potentially be thrown off kilter by the turnover of the last two digits of the year. Elevators, for example, have no date function, said Churchill. However, the main building automation system, which controls and monitors the temperature and ventilation for all buildings on campus, does have a date/time function.

As part of ongoing upgrades provided by a maintenance contract, Y2K compliance has been gradually incorporated into the entire system. Tests have been carried out to be sure the system can accommodate the date change, but as an added precaution, heat pumps and fans in each building will be placed on manual control a couple of days before the Christmas break, he said. Building temperatures will be set back and ventilation turned down as usual to save energy during the holidays.

Fire alarm systems have also been tested, and the university has generators to supply emergency lighting, to run the elevators at UW Apartments, and to operate the fire sprinkler system in the event of a power failure such as the one that hit several years ago when a hydro pole was knocked down.

"The main thrust of the emergency system is to provide safe exit from buildings," said Churchill. "In terms of a long-term shutdown, buildings would be virtually uninhabitable." All utility suppliers have been contacted by plant operations staff, who have received assurances those systems are Y2K compliant and can be operated manually, if necessary.

UW safety director Kevin Stewart has been meeting with officials at Waterloo Region for more than a year to exchange information about utilities and emergency services and "to reassure the region that we are prepared." In the event of a utilities failure, said Stewart, "there are designated emergency locations chosen within the region, but the universities are not among them."

"The region has a diesel stand-by for the water systems," said Churchill, and will have a full water supply. Both water and sewer systems on campus can be operated manually, and as for oil and chemical supplies, "we've made sure inventories are enough to carry us through any supply problem."

Lab supervisors are being informed about precautions for the holiday season shutdown, and departments are being advised to turn off and unplug, where possible, electrical devices such as hot plates and computers -- the same advice that's given at this time every year to prevent damage to equipment from power surges while reducing energy waste and pollution.

Plant ops' attention has even extended to laboratory animals on campus. Staff have met with the animal care committee and have developed a plan to move the animals to a temporary shelter in case of emergency.

Unlike local school boards and some other universities which have delayed the return to classes in case of Y2K failures, UW expects to be up and running on January 4.

Deadline today for winter fees

Late fees will be assessed on all payments received starting tomorrow. The absolute last day to pay fees for the winter 2000 term is January 31.

From the registrar's office: "Fee receipts and stickers were mailed to home addresses for payments received by December 3. Payments received after that date and before December 10 will be available for pick-up in the registrar's office beginning January 4. Payments are processed in the order that they are received. Fee receipts and stickers will be mailed to part-time students regardless of the date payment is received."

And as the fall term winds down, students who will be returning in the winter are also reminded to pick up their class schedules (and fee statements, if necessary) in the registrar's office.

Other notes on a Wednesday

Co-op students leaving on work term are reminded (in a memo from the Federation of Students) to update their mailing address with the co-op department either before they leave campus, or early in January. Federation election material will be mailed to the addresses registered with Co-op, says Avvey Peters in the Fed office. "If students do not update their addresses, they should check the mail at their permanent address at the beginning of February to see if their election material has arrived."

The Kitchener-Waterloo Record reported yesterday that an assault that took place on campus last winter has become the basis for important legal arguments about freedom of speech. A judge has banned publication of the name or identifying details of the victim in the case -- a possibility that came into effect, in cases other than rape, just two weeks ago with amendments to the Criminal Code. "The victim does not want her name published because she fears the publicity will affect her future and that of her daughter," the Record reported. The media conglomerate Torstar is challenging the ruling. "The right to a fair and public hearing is a very important factor," said lawyer Hilde English.

Current needs from the Volunteer Action Centre: instructors to help "young people with special needs" at the Waterloo Region Track 3 Ski School; people to help promote CrimeStoppers in schools and at special events; people to pack hampers, sort food and do other chores at the House of Friendship emergency food hamper program. More information: 742-8610.

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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