The strange case of the missing triplets

Daily Bulletin

Rex Murphy brings show to Fed Hall

Election web sites CBC Globe and Mail CNews

Canada's only country-wide phone-in show is broadcast live on CBC radio from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sundays. As the November 27 federal election nears, host Rex Murphy (right) is turning his Newfoundland accent and unequalled vocabulary to political matters. The public is invited to attend this election campaign road show broadcast and take part in discussion of the questions: "What are the important election issues for you? What's going to win your vote? The Canadian Alliance is hoping to 'unite the right' and break the Liberal lock on Ontario. It could make the difference between a majority and a minority government. What do you think? What could change the way you vote?"

Joining Murphy will be candidates Lynn Myers (Liberal, incumbent); John Reimer (Canadian Alliance); Michael Chong (Progressive Conservative); and Allan Strong (New Democratic Party), from the Waterloo-Wellington riding just east of Kitchener-Waterloo. It's considered one of Ontario's swing ridings.

Seating in Federation Hall on Sunday afternoon is first come, first served.

First-year enrolment hits 4,200

"With very few exceptions, we have attained if not exceeded our admission and registration objectives," says a memo from Peter Burroughs, the director of admissions. "Considering the numerous factors that can influence confirmations and registrations in any given year, the total registrations for the University are remarkably close to our overall target."

The science faculty reached 93.2 per cent of its goal of 600 students, ending up with 559, and engineering was just short of its goal of 840, with 833 students arriving (99.2 per cent). The other four faculties had slightly more students than they had bargained for: AHS, 290 against a goal of 277 (104.7 per cent); arts, 1,169 against a goal of 1,117 (104.7 per cent); ES, 292 against a goal of 281 (103.9 per cent); and mathematics, 1,049 against a goal of 1,000 (104.9 per cent).

Says Burroughs: "I congratulate all the many staff and faculty who are involved in all elements of the recruitment and admissions process."

Shylock, played by Joel Greenberg of UW's drama department, menaces Antonio (William Chadwick) in the departmental production of "The Merchant of Venice", which hits the Theatre of the Arts stage next week. Tickets are available now at the drama department in Modern Languages, or at the Humanities box office.

Peace activist speaks, and more

"Dear, a Jesuit priest, believes non-violent action for peace to be the essence of Christian discipleship. He will deliver the 2000-2001 Ignatian Lecture, entitled The Road to Peace: Living the Life of Radical Non-Violence."

"As an activist," the explanation goes on, "Dear has been arrested more than 50 times. In 1993 he was sent to jail, along with other members of the group Pax Christi-Spirit of Life Plowshares, for hammering on an F15-E fighter jet at a North Carolina air force base in a symbolic attempt to realize the words of the prophet Isaiah: 'They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.'

"'The praxis of non-violence,' Dear writes in his 1994 book The God of Peace, 'requires civil disobedience to preparations for war and nuclear destruction and divine obedience to the God of peace. Though we may be jailed or killed for proclaiming the truth of non-violence, we will be found faithful.' Dear has campaigned against the death penalty with Mother Teresa and Sister Helen Prejean and worked with victims of violence in Central America, the Philippines, and the United States. In 1998 he became the first Catholic priest to head the Fellowship of Reconciliation, an 85-year-old organization devoted to promoting peace.

"A scholar as well as an activist, he has published more than a dozen books on peace."

Tonight's Ignatian Lecture is part of the 2000-2001 season of the St. Jerome's Centre for Catholic Experience. It starts at 7:30 in Siegfried Hall, St. Jerome's. Admission is free.

Snow shovellers needed When the snow falls, UW's full-time grounds crew will be needing student helpers. Grounds supervisor Les Van Dongen says the job pays $8.50 an hour. Anyone interested should show up any snowy morning at 7:30 ("dressed to work outside") at the grounds section in the General Services Complex courtyard, near the smokestack. Shovels are provided. Would-be shovellers, and anybody with questions, can check in with Van Dongen in advance -- phone ext. 4010.

Also happening today and over the weekend:

Co-op students' spring work reports that were marked by co-op coordinators can be picked up in Needles Hall today. Meanwhile, placement for the winter term continues; junior students who are still jobless should hand in 15 copies of their resume package (and a completed Continuous Phase Registration form) to the first-floor desk in NH today.

The toy fair sponsored by the Hildegard Marsden day care centre winds up today (8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the Davis Centre lounge).

The Touring Players, who come to UW's Humanities Theatre every so often with children's shows, are back today with "Elliot Moose". Performances are at 10 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

All graphics copy centres will be closing at 3:45 p.m. today (but main graphics, in the General Services Complex, will stay open to 4:30 as usual).

Neil Campbell of Wilfrid Laurier University speaks this afternoon in a philosophy department colloquium. His topic: "Huxley on Consciousness", that being Thomas Henry Huxley, "often identified as the originator of the doctrine known as epiphenomenalism". He'll speak at 3:30 in Humanities room 373.

Bob Needham, UW's director of Canadian studies, speaks today as the "Frank Fridays" series continues in the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group office, Student Life Centre room 2139. Needham will talk on "How to Be a Political Economist: A Social System Analytical Framework", starting at 3 p.m.

Barbershop music comes to the Humanities Theatre on Saturday night, as the Grand Harmony Chorus and Northern Lights Chorus (fifth-place winners in international barbershop competition) perform at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 (phone 653-4174).

A coffee house at the Graduate House on Saturday night (starting at 9 p.m.) will present music, dance, poetry and so on; proceeds from the $5 cover charge go "to support activism in Clayoquot Sound".

Sports this weekend: the women's basketball team hosts McMaster at 12 noon on Saturday in the PAC main gym, and on Sunday the hockey Warriors take on Toronto at the Columbia Icefield, 2 p.m. Meanwhile, the men's basketball team is at a weekend-long tournament at Westminster College, the women's volleyball team is at a tournament in Guelph, and the swimmers are at the University of Toronto invitational.

Away from campus -- but involving a good many people with UW connections -- the Waterloo Potters' Workshop will hold its annual pottery sale tonight from 5:30 to 9:30, Saturday from 10:00 to 5:00, and Sunday from noon to 4:00, at the Waterloo Recreation Complex.

Renovations at Wilfrid Laurier University -- abridged from Laurier News

"It has been an interesting adventure," says President Bob Rosehart of the Concourse renovation, which was one of the bigger projects tackled this summer. "The Concourse is really the heart of the campus, so I suspect students will see it as a positive change."

In addition to relocating the OneCard Office and Purple and Gold, setting up an information desk, and making way for Radio Laurier (which should be operational within a few weeks), the Concourse was opened up significantly. Walls were knocked down to create one large space, another skylight was added to brighten the area, and a stage was constructed for special events. The former Torque Room now features a coffee bar/deli and plenty of lounge furniture, as well as extra computer terminals. A patio will be built over the next four to five weeks to incorporate the green space outside the Solarium.

All of the changes are expected to improve the flow of traffic in the often-crowded "living room of the campus" (right) and create a more versatile "people place," according to dean of students David McMurray. "It’s almost a contradiction. We’ve created a bigger space, but we’re enhancing the sense of community in the process."

Creating a user-friendly social space was also part of the motivation behind the Phase 2 renovations of the Athletic Complex. The goal was to create a more equitable atmosphere by demolishing a significant part of the interior and rebuilding the locker rooms, classrooms, and washrooms. Both the volleyball and basketball teams have their own locker rooms now and, says Athletics and Recreation Director Peter Baxter, there has been "a really positive response from female users" in how space is allocated.

A Golden Hawk lounge was also constructed on the main floor to display Laurier's athletic history, showcase current successes, and provide a high-profile space for entertaining alumni. A number of smaller improvements were made to the 27-year-old building, including the construction of a cardio theatre, repainting of the exterior, the purchase of two new treadmills, and the addition of a coffee shop that will be fully operational by November.

Like the AC renovation, which was 50 percent funded by student fees, refurbishing the Terrace was student-driven. The Students’ Union (WLUSU) took over operation of the Terrace at the beginning of this year and, as part of its agreement with the University, invested $600,000 in upgrades. The new food court now includes an oriental-themed kiosk and a yogurt bar, and is designed to provide a place where students can meet and study while they eat. "We wanted to create a destination point so students will stay instead of walking through," says WLUSU President Jeffrey Kroeker.

Overall, nearly $5 million in renovations were tackled this summer. This includes $1.5 million for the Concourse/Torque Room, $250,000 for the Bookstore, and roughly $20,000 for what Rosehart calls "small but significant changes" to the Dining Hall.

The Laurier community can expect more construction in the future. Work on the Northwest Campus Project is set to start next spring and Rosehart acknowledges that the Alvin Woods Building needs a makeover. Add to that the need for more residence space, hopes for a new health and student services building, and plans for an academic/administrative building on Lodge Street, and the face of Laurier is sure to change significantly in the years to come.

CAR

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@uwaterloo.ca | (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
| Yesterday's Bulletin
Copyright © 2000 University of Waterloo