July 12, 2002

Friday, July 12, 2002

Co-op stats 'somewhat encouraging'
Student takes computers to Zambia
Friday and beyond

Editor:
Chris Redmond
credmond@uwaterloo.ca

The campus is buzzing with day campers participating in Waterloo's various summer programs for kids. These Engineering Science Quest campers take a break from their activities in science, math and engineering to have a little outdoor fun. Also on campus this month: the Arts Computer Experience campers.

Co-op stats 'somewhat encouraging'

For some 3,876 co-op students scheduled to work this term, it's not the best of times, nor is it the worst.

In a memo outlining the final co-op employment statistics for the spring term, co-op and career services director Bruce Lumsden notes that "the employment rates are a bit lower than last year, with approximately the same number of students scheduled to be out working.

"The spring term employment figures in percentages have remained in the 95-96 per cent range over the past four years," he adds. "While this is somewhat encouraging given the economic uncertainties, the number of students without work has increased from 117 in 2000 to 175 in 2002, a reflection of the overall increase in student enrolment.

"Recent articles in the press indicate that the economy is improving over last year's performance, but is still subject to dramatic events. The employment rates for co-op generally lag behind the economy by about six to eight months," says Lumsden.

Spring term employment rates this year range from 92.95 per cent in the mathematics faculty to 100 per cent employment in accounting. Rates for other faculties: 98.29 in applied health sciences, 96.85 in science, 96.24 in engineering, 96.18 in ERS, geography and planning, and 95.74 in arts. The employment rate for school of architecture students is 96.25 per cent.

Student takes computers to Zambia -- by Lindsey Love Forester, from the UW Recruiter newsletter for employers

Unlike the hit television series Survivor, when Lauren Cornelius went to Africa she did not have to compete for immunity challenges, face the jury at tribal council, and was certainly not vying for a million dollars. This true survivor instead provided the villagers of a small city called Kitwe with a learning experience they will not soon forget.

Lauren, a 3B systems design engineering student, had contemplated visiting relatives living in Zambia. Instead of a vacation, she decided to spend her work term there. Before taking off to Africa, Lauren arranged to have a dozen used computers donated from local organizations and shipped to Zambia. The computers were offered by local organizations at a reduced cost and then purchased with donations from within the community.

Once Lauren arrived in Africa, she set up shop at Trans-Africa College in Kitwe. Lauren transformed the classroom into a computer lab (right), where she taught classes of basic computer skills to students, and helped the teachers and the administration improve their computer skills. Most students had never used a computer before and the first few classes consisted of teaching them simple tasks like turning the computer on and how to double-click the mouse. Remembering the students' trial-and-terror attempt at using the computers, Lauren says, "I never knew a floppy disk could actually fit into a CD ROM drive." By the end of the term, the students were printing posters and assignments and were extremely proud of what they had accomplished.

Lauren kept in touch with her family and friends via e-mail. Occasionally they would exchange a letter, but Lauren says "My family only just received postcards that I sent them from Zambia about 3 months ago." When she was not teaching in the lab Lauren did some traveling through Zambia and Zimbabwe. Also, fortunate to be able to take an African culture course in her spare periods at the college, she learned more about her new surroundings.

[turntable]
Spin is in
This evening the DC Quad will be the venue for an exhibition of technology and music. Music crafted from algorithms and circuitry will be mixed by DJs and created real time by live performers. Electronica artists from across campus will gather to show off different styles of electronically generated music, including house, jungle, progressive trace, drum and bass, jump-up, tech-step, and minimal techno. A specially designed audio and light system will be set up for the evening using computers to paint the walls with lights and colour. The free event runs from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Rain location is MC 3001.
Lauren hopes that the lab will provide the Zambians a general understanding of computers for future jobs and will allow even those living in Zambia access to the Internet for information and opportunities throughout the world.

Friday music and more

Today at 3:15 p.m. on CKMS100.3 FM Visions in Sound will focus on the music of composer James L. Venable. Venable's music has been featured in the films Iron Monkey and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

The Jazz festival continues in Uptown Waterloo this evening. The Regina Street stage features the Fritz-Patrick Jazz Quartet at 6:30 p.m. and Emilie Claire Barlow and the Barlow Group at 8. The festival concludes tomorrow.

Saturday night at the Grad House the Pandemonium Blues Band will take the stage at 9 p.m. There is no cover charge for the event.

A reception to open a new exhibition of work by UW fine arts professor Emerita Ann Roberts will be held on Sunday, July 14, at 2 p.m. in the courtyard of the Burlington Art Centre, 1333 Lakeshore Road in Burlington. The installation of 17 ceramic sculptures, "to animate the inanimate," will be on exhibit thorugh September 22.

Next week, there will be a blood donor clinic in the Student Life Centre. The clinic runs Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Donors should make an appointment by signing up at the Turnkey Desk.

Avvey Peters

TODAY IN UW HISTORY
July 12, 1994: Construction work in South Campus Hall, as the bookstore is renovated and the concourse area is enclosed, sets off the fire alarms.