Daily News

March 13, 2006

Digital immigrant or digital native. Any idea what you are? If you're reading this story but would much prefer to print it out and peruse it as a document you can hold in your hands, you're likely a digital immigrant. While digital immigrants may or may not be comfortable with all of the high tech toys and digital tools that have emerged in the last few decades, they simply were not born into the digital world - they have 'immigrated' to this 'new country' of computers, the Web and email. Digital natives, however, speak a different language - they have always known the Internet, video games, cell phones and instant messaging. But whether you're a digital immigrant or a native, you're likely inundated on a daily basis with all of the information that's published on the Web. How do we cope?

March 10, 2006

McMaster will have a new University Librarian on July 1. Jeffrey Trzeciak will join McMaster from Wayne State University where he is associate dean of the library system. "This appointment is a coup for the University," says provost, Ken Norrie. "Jeffrey not only brings a wealth of experience from an internationally respected research university, but he also brings a commitment to teaching and learning and an understanding of how to integrate libraries into the fabric of a university that will help McMaster maximize its library resources."

March 10, 2006

McMaster's Student Representative Assembly (SRA) elections took place March 8 and 9. The SRA is the governing body of the McMaster Students Union (MSU) with numbers of elected representatives from each academic area based on the size of the faculty or school.

March 10, 2006

Market Regulation Services Inc. (RS), the independent regulation services provider for Canadian equity markets, is teaming with the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University in two new ventures to communicate leading-edge research related to market structure and market integrity. RS and DeGroote announced on March 8 that they are partnering to sponsor an ongoing lecture series and an annual conference which will both focus on current Canadian and international financial market issues.

March 9, 2006

We've all seen the dire warning from the FBI that pops up when we first load a movie into our DVDs or VCRs, advising us of serious consequences for unauthorized copying. And who hasn't stood at a photocopying machine -- and barely acknowledged -- the information posted at the photocopier, reminding you that "whatever you copy, do it legally." The notion that it's illegal to copy someone else's original work has filtered down into our collective understanding. The issue of copyright is complicated, however, far more than a warning on a TV screen or a poster on the wall would suggest. This is especially evident in the unique circumstances that arise in academic institutions, compounded further by the challenges and opportunities of the Internet. Enter Chabriol Colebatch, McMaster's recently hired full-time Copyright Officer, appointed and fully funded by the C4 Initiative.

March 9, 2006

What will it take to be a successful leader in the year 2020? Ask people to name notable CEOs of the present day and you'll probably hear Bill Gates, Martha Stewart, Mike Lazaridis, Donald Trump, Conrad Black. These people have become household names, but not always in a good way. Can the leaders of tomorrow correct the mistakes of the past and move forward to future success? The DeGroote School of Business will seek to answer that question on Thursday, March 9 at Leadership Vision 2020. Keynote speakers Bob Hedley, vice president of leadership at Maple Leaf Foods, and Richard Glover, Ontario area vice president for Frito Lay Canada, will share their insights with students, industry guests and faculty at this student organized event.

March 9, 2006

A new clinic for women ages 20 to 45 who do not have a family physician has been set up by the City of Hamilton's Public Health Services and McMaster's Department of Family Medicine. The Well Women Clinic (WWC) will run at two locations: the Mountain Clinic at 1447 Upper Ottawa Street and the East End Clinic at 2255 Barton Street East, Unit #8. The focus of the care will be on women's health issues, and the services will include: pap tests, pregnancy/sexually transmitted infections testing, immunizations, emergency contraception, and birth control (including IUD insertion). Women with other medical problems will be referred appropriately. Family physicians and public health nurses will be providing the care in the WWC.

March 8, 2006

There's mixed reaction to today's provincial announcement that allows Ontario universities to raise tuition fees for the first time in three years. It's a complicated formula that allows for tuition increases for first-year students by up to 4.5% in most programs and up to 8% in the first year of professional and graduate programs. McMaster president, Peter George says he's disappointed the tuition wasn't deregulated and while he understands that many students will be upset with tuition increases he believes the numbers have to be put in perspective.

March 8, 2006

"Thought-provoking." "Excellent setting." "Can't remember when I enjoyed a conference more." These comments are only a snapshot of the feedback from the recent Inspiring from Within McMaster employee conference. Presented by the 2006 Inspiring from Within conference organizing committee, in partnership with the Working at McMaster steering committee, this year's conference focused on "Connections - it starts with you". This year's theme developed from the concept that whether work, finance, family or health-related, all aspects of our lives are interdependent.

March 8, 2006

The first Math@Mac day was deemed a success by organizers from the Department of Mathematics & Statistics. On Tuesday, March 7, approximately 130 local high school students accompanied by 15 teachers from a total of 16 schools, visited McMaster for this event. The day, aimed at inspiring students interested in pursuing math at the post secondary level, included a presentation by David Earn on the Mathematics of SARS and Emerging Diseases and another by Bartosz Protas on Fluid Mecahnics and Flight. Undergraduate volunteers from math, physics and Miroslav Lovric's Teaching Mathematics (2U03) course facilitated an interactive problem-solving session for the high school students. Lovric concluded the day's activities with a discussion prompted by students' questions on careers in math, revisions to the grade 12 curriculum, and preparation for first year courses at university. Lovric's message to the students was two-fold. "Take as much math as you can in high school to prepare for university and remember that you are responsible for your own learning."

March 7, 2006

Ron Foxcroft, campaign chair for the Athletics & Recreation Centre and Stadium, made magic last fall when he matched $100,000 in donations to sponsor stadium seats in the new Ronald V. Joyce Stadium. Ron is at it again - this time, he's jump-starting things in the Athletics & Recreation Centre. Ron will match, dollar for dollar, the first 100 gifts of $1,000 to sponsor a varsity locker in the Athletics & Recreation Centre. Those who take up the challenge will receive permanent recognition on a donor wall in the Athletics & Recreation Centre and a charitable tax receipt for $1,000.

March 7, 2006

McMaster's Centre for Peace Studies presents Hans von Sponeck, former United Nations Assistant Secretary General and UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq. von Sponeck will be delivering this year's Bertrand Russell Peace Lectures.

March 7, 2006

Just a couple of weeks ago, I boarded a bus with 25 other McMaster students and headed down to sunny, sunny South Carolina for reading week. The next seven days promised to be filled with fun, friends and lots of physical labour. Typically, reading week is reserved for sleeping, meeting old friends or vacationing in the sun. But for us, the week was devoted to building affordable housing for Sea Island Habitat for Humanity in Charleston, South Carolina.

March 7, 2006

Following are highlights from McMaster's University Senate meeting on February 8 and Board of Governors meeting on February 16. Mamdouh Shoukri was re-appointed for a second five-year term as Vice-President, Research and International Affairs. The Board of Governors has approved the governance structure for the development of the McMaster Innovation Park (MIP. The board agreed to operate MIP as a non-share-capital, not-for-profit corporation, with its own Board of Directors, but with distinctive ties to the University.

March 6, 2006

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Barbara Ferrier, professor of biochemistry and the second director of arts & science, will take place on Monday, March 6 at 12:30 p.m. in the Divinity College Chapel.

March 6, 2006

You are likely aware that there is a possibility of a strike by full-time faculty of Ontario colleges, including Mohawk College, represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees' Union (OPSEU), as early as Tuesday, March 7, 2006. In this event, there may be picketing activity on McMaster's campus, particularly at the Institute for Applied Health Sciences (IAHS) a facility that is jointly operated by Mohawk College and McMaster University. As this may affect McMaster students, staff and faculty, this message is to inform you of McMaster's plans in this regard.

March 6, 2006

McMaster associate professor Robert Hamilton and Sheridan instructor Dan Zen organized the fourth annual Interactive Interactive IV (four), which took place at the Hamilton Artists Inc. gallery on Friday February 24. Interactive Interactive is a juried exhibition of student works from the Sheridan Interactive Multimedia department and the McMaster Communication Studies and Multimedia department. All types of work were eligible from experimental art to functional websites with the focus being more on creativity and interactivity.

March 3, 2006

In 2004 there were 143 structure fires per week in Ontario, 106 of those occurring in homes. On average 11 civilians and 2 firefighters were injured per week. Effective March 1, 2006, the Ontario Fire Marshall has amended the Ontario Fire Code making smoke detectors mandatory on every floor of a residential home. These changes have been made to further protect the life safety of occupants in residential housing.

March 3, 2006

Carla Geurts-Cole has won a silver medal in the Women's 200-Meter Obstacle Swim at the Rescue 2006 World Life Saving Championship in Austraila. The obstacle swim took place in a 50-metre olympic-sized pool with a requirement of diving 6 feet below the water at both the 10 and 40 metre marks. This was repeated four times to cover the 200 metre distance. Geurts-Cole's time of of 2 min 11.67 seconds set a new Canadian record and was faster than the previous world record.

March 3, 2006

Thinking about quitting? A special "Smoke-Free Day at McMaster" is coming on Monday, March 6 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. to the McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC) marketplace. Keynote speaker Shaine Peters, a youth-oriented ex-smoker and ex-tobacco advocate will be in MUSC at 12:45 p.m. to share his personal experience overcoming an addiction to tobacco. Peters paints a startling and disturbing picture of youth tobacco use, with emphasis on tobacco industry marketing tactics that target young people. The event is being organized by Leave The Pack Behind (LTPB) and the McMaster University Campus Health Centre. Representatives from local organizations, including Hamilton Public Health, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart and Stroke, and the Lung Association will be presenting displays in the University Student Centre alongside campus displays from the Health and Wellness Centre, SHEC and LTPB. Special entertainment includes the music of Mac students, free food, and fun prizes. Organizers would like to ask smokers to refrain from smoking or to smoke off-campus during the event times. Peters speaks to youth about his personal experience overcoming an addiction to tobacco, and paints a startling and disturbing picture of youth tobacco use, with emphasis on tobacco industry marketing tactics that target young people.