The Midnight Sun solar car makes its way down King Street as part of the sun-kissed Oktoberfest parade on Monday morning. Escorting the car are some members of the student team that's designing, building and racing the newest sun-powered model: Cameron Bruce, Jessica Whitney, Tim Brenner, Mike McCauley, Chris Jee. Mashael Yazdanie is the driver. In line behind them is the UW Alternate Fuels Team truck, driven by James Goh; it was followed by the Formula SAE car, driven by John Wall.

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Political scientist warns the voters

from the UW media relations office

Voters should be picky about who they vote for in this year's municipal elections, as they will have to live with their choices for an extra year, says a UW political scientist, noting that a recently approved amendment to the Municipal Elections Act permitting four-year terms of office takes effect in the November 13 Ontario vote. The new councils, as well as local school boards, will assume office on December 1 and won't have to face voters again until 2010.

Bob Williams, a specialist in Canadian municipal government and politics, said the switch to four-year terms of office from three-year terms means electors are consulted less frequently than in the past about the performances of their mayors, councillors and school trustees. "The four-year terms appear to weaken the democratic qualities of municipal government," Williams said. "It means mayors and councillors are not forced to account to voters for their actions as often. It also reduces opportunities for citizens to be engaged formally in helping to govern their community by choosing those who will act on their behalf."

Although re-endorsing incumbents may often be the result in local elections, he said electors at least have been able to pass judgment and approve of the direction in which their representatives are going.

Williams said that he hopes voter turnout will rise above the usual 20 per cent range as people realize they will be stuck with their local leaders for four instead of three years. "Since we are retreating from encouraging electors to exercise responsibility as often as we did in the past, it is important that more and more people take part in the election," he said.

Williams stressed that municipal government matters a great deal more in people's lives than either the federal or provincial governments. "Local governments control services that are essential: the roads we travel on, the water we drink, our emergency services and libraries and many of the parks and open spaces we enjoy, as well as the disposal of much of the waste that the modern world generates."

One consequence of municipal reforms undertaken after 1995 by the previous Conservative government was a drastic reduction in the number of elected officials across Ontario. "This was touted as a way to improve municipal government by reducing costs and streamlining decision-making."

Now, however, electors in many Ontario municipalities are badly under-represented and local democracy has been weakened by providing fewer voices to speak up on behalf of municipal residents, he says. "Holding municipal elections less frequently does not redress this mistake, nor does it improve local government as a democratic activity."

He suggested that the provincial government could improve matters by increasing the size of municipal councils. "That would do more for local democracy than lengthening the time between elections."

Williams is currently engaged in a long-term project to prepare a database of the key elements of Canada's federal and provincial electoral history. It will provide a Web-based resource to support the research needs of students and observers of Canadian political life working in academic, media and partisan environments.

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United Way is a sweet experience

Giving to the United Way isn't just its own reward, as everything from chocolate treats to draw prizes is turning up as part of the on-campus campaign this month. The goal is to raise $165,000 for some fifty local agencies, but nobody says folks can't have a little fun at the same time. And that's why UW library staff held a "Chocolate Decadence Extravaganza" in the Davis Centre lounge yesterday (right), charging $3 a plate for goodies, with the proceeds going to swell the United Way givings.

At last count — though Karen So in the United Way office says the money is coming in steadily — gifts and pledges from faculty, staff and retirees, plus the proceeds of such special events, had hit $63,264, or 38 per cent of the goal.

She reports that there will be an "early bird" donor draw for all donors whose paperwork is received at her office by tomorrow. The prize: a free meal at the University Club on Wednesday, October 25, when others will be paying for their lunch as part of the annual United Way Buffet benefit. Among other donor incentives: all new donors who get their pledge forms in by October 20 will be entered in a draw to win a Retail Services gift certificate. Some other United Way notes and special events:

• "Tina Obediah from the Registrar's Office is looking for used books and magazines for the Used Book Sale on October 20. If you have donations, please drop them off or contact Tina at tobediah@admmail."

• "Civil and Environmental Engineering finished their Silent Auction and had their draw for the Colour Flight Tour on Friday October 6, and it was won by grad student Phil Schmidt."

• "The Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science is starting their raffle event for a Pamper Yourself Basket. Tickets are $2 or 3 for $5; basket will be on display in Math and Computer room 6135 during this week."

And tomorrow, like every Friday in October, will be a dress-down day to support and publicize the cause.

Where does United Way funding go? Organizers have some examples: "$100 provides 37 meals of emergency food assistance to a low-income family (House of Friendship). . . . 250 provides 25 comfort kits, which include a toothbrush and shampoo for victims of a disaster (Canadian Red Cross, Kitchener-Waterloo Branch). . . . $500 provides Orientation and Mobility training to a senior in a nursing home (Canadian National Institute for the Blind). . . . $1,000 provides 10 days of shelter, food and support for a child and her mother (YWCA Kitchener-Waterloo)."

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Achievements, announcements and all

Academic All-Canadians among UW's Warriors were honoured a few days ago at a reception hosted by UW president David Johnston. The qualification: an overall average mark of 80 or higher while competing on a varsity team. UW had 170 such All-Canadians in 2005-06 (90 men and 80 women) compared with 137 the previous year. Among them were the winners of the President’s Award (left), for the student-athletes who best combine athletic and academic achievement. The title went to Graham Jarman (kinesiology, last year’s captain of men’s basketball) and Daniela Cotesta (social development studies, figure skating).

Staff members in the academic support departments are now free, in most cases, to shut computers down at night, says a memo from Information Systems and Technology. It's been standard procedure to do backups for those machines during off hours, but that's no longer the case. "We will now leave it up to the clients," writes Bob Hicks of IST, "whether or not they power off their PCs. For energy conservation, and security reasons (can't compromise a machine that is powered off), we encourage people to power off their PC before they go home at night." There are exceptions, he notes: "Those that use Remote Desktop will have to leave their PC powered on," and backups for Macintosh systems are still done at night, so Macs that are turned off won't get backed up.

A mark-your-calendar announcement: the "annual town hall meeting", at which president David Johnston and provost Amit Chakma speak to faculty and staff members and answer questions, will be held Tuesday, November 7, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Humanities Theatre.

A memo from the department of kinesiology: "The Biomechanics Research Laboratory at the University of Waterloo is seeking volunteers who have had a ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). The time commitment is approximately 3-4 hours over 1-2 sessions. Remuneration in the amount of $50 will be given for your participation in this study. For additional information about this study please contact Chris Ste-Croix by email at cjstecro@uwaterloo.ca. All studies conducted by the Biomechanics Research Laboratory have been reviewed by and received ethics clearance through the Office of Research Ethics at the University of Waterloo."

The Waterloo Region government is looking for a student representative on the Regional Growth Management Strategy/Rapid Transit Public Advisory Committee. . . . The Warrior men's golf squad is in London today to compete at the Western Invitational, and the men's volleyball team is in Kingston to begin a three-day tournament at the Royal Military College. . . . Applications are due by tomorrow for participation in the drama department's UpStart "festival of innovative theatre", to be held in February. . . .

CAR

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