Daily News

October 11, 2005

After one of the most surprising losses in the history of McMaster football on Saturday, a 22-20 loss to the Guelph Gryphons (2-4), the McMaster Marauders now find themselves in unfamiliar territory in the OUA standings - in a three-way tie for fourth place, and just one point out of the playoffs.

October 11, 2005

Photonics--using light to carry information--is an exciting field that may one day lead to microchips that function at the speed of light. This technology has the potential to revolutionize computing and communications. The inaugural winners of the prestigious Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering, Sajeev John and Geoffrey Ozin will discuss their work on photonics at the Brockhouse Canada Prize Lecture on Wednesday, Oct. 12.

October 7, 2005

In 1930 McMaster University officially opened its iron-latticed doors in Hamilton. The first classes were held on Oct. 1, 1930, with about 25 professors and 500 students on a campus of six buildings. Since 1930 the student population has grown to nearly 21,000; the campus now covers some 300 acres of land with 55 buildings and counting. A number of events are being held throughout October to celebrate McMaster's 75th anniversary in Hamilton.

October 7, 2005

The Joint Job Evaluation Steering Committee (JJESC) will be hosting Information Sessions to update you on the new job evaluation system for jobs in the MUSA Bargaining Unit. You'll hear about the progress made to date and what's still required to complete the work. Employees in the MUSA bargaining unit and their supervisors are invited to attend a session. The University considers that time away from work to attend a session is paid release time. You are strongly encouraged to attend one of the following sessions:

October 6, 2005

While women's health research, due largely to feminist critiques, has acknowledged that health problems are socio-culturally influenced, such analytic work is generally lacking in men's health literature. Blye Frank, a recognized expert in the field of gender and education, will discuss this topic for the 2005 May Cohen Lecture in Women's Health on Thursday, Oct. 6.

October 6, 2005

Video game design is just a taste of what can be expected from a new generation of software engineers. Enriching the online experience through increased interconnectedness and emotional involvement is leading a new wave of cyberspace developments. Stacey Spiegel, co-founder, president and CEO of I-mmersion, a social software firm based in Toronto, will describe the future of virtual reality in a lunch and lecture titled Playing in the Parallel World: A Perspective on Life and Entertainment in an On-line Virtual Community. The lecture is taking place Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.

October 6, 2005

While the weather will soon turn to cooler days and nights, the landscaping and garden beds on campus tell a different story. Tall Rudbeckia plants stand erect, ornamental grasses sway in the breeze and Cleome spider flowers contrast brilliantly against bright yellow Marigolds. This is the season when most of McMaster's flowerbeds are at their best.

October 6, 2005

A new human resources management strategy could help create full-time jobs and attract nurses who might otherwise find it difficult to obtain full-time work, a McMaster University study says. Over the past decade nurse staffing has been a challenge for hospitals. One response has been to use a nursing resource team, an innovative transformation of the float pool of the past. Resource teams consist of staff employed by the organization to cover vacancies and absences and to respond to increases in the numbers of patients or the seriousness of their conditions. The McMaster study explored the nursing resource team (NRT) at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) from the first two years of its implementation, September 2002 until June 2004.

October 5, 2005

McMaster graduate and Canadian businessman Michael Lee-Chin has been honoured for his philanthropic commitments, including his $5-million donation to the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University, by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Toronto Chapter. With a background that embraces three different cultures, Lee-Chin, chairman and chief executive officer of AIC Limited, has a distinct perspective on life, one that is shared by many newcomers to Canada. Although he graduated from McMaster with an engineering degree, Lee-Chin soon discovered he possessed an inherent business savvy. A classic success story, Lee-Chin has gone from enterprising student to one of Canada's wealthiest men.

October 4, 2005

Before you build it they will come. At 9 a.m. on the first day of classes, students were already lined up at library computers - a very visual demonstration of the need for the Mills Learning Commons facilities and services. As part of Phase I of the Commons project, McMaster University Library has announced new and innovative campus partnerships with the Centre for Student Development (CSD), University Technology Services (UTS) and the Centre for Leadership and Learning (CLL). Together, they are offering new and enhanced services to facilitate learning and research on campus.

October 4, 2005

A single white rose continues to bloom defiantly in the Nina de Villiers Rose Garden among the falling leaves that signal winter is not far away. The rose garden was named after the young McMaster student who was sexually assaulted and murdered in 1991. Flowers were one of Nina's passions, so it's fitting that this symbol of hope and innocence will mark today's annual commemorative service to celebrate non-violence. McMaster's Anti-Violence Network is inviting all faculty, students, staff and members of the community to the Roses Among the Stones commemorative service. The event will take place today (Wednesday) at 1 p.m. on the stairs in front of Gilmour Hall, just steps away from the rose garden. The theme of this year's ceremony is "Compassion is Not Enough, Take Action" and focuses on non-violence both on campus and in the community.

October 4, 2005

Three students at McMaster are getting a different type of education this week as they learn what it is like to be homeless. Stephen Gagne, James Fitzsimons and Rami Reda from the DeGroote Commerce Society (DCS) have pledged to go homeless, living outside of the McMaster University Student Centre from Oct. 3 to 7 in support of Good Shepherd Centres. "We each have one sleeping bag, one pillow and one change of clothing. That's it," explained Reda, a third year student who also serves as vice-president, external for the DCS. The students will not purchase any food or beverages over the course of the week, relying instead on donations.

October 3, 2005

In a battle of Burlington quarterbacks, McMaster's Jon Behie showed Queen's rookie pivot Danny Brannagan how valuable a couple years worth of experience in the OUA can be. In McMaster's 43-24 victory on Saturday, Behie threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as he was named MVP in McMaster's annual homecoming game.

October 3, 2005

The golden age in music comes to McMaster this week with the 11th international Great Romantics Festival. This annual celebration of music has seen more than 100 performing artists, some of international distinction, come to Hamilton. This year's festival will run from Thursday, Oct. 6 through to Saturday, Oct. 8.

October 3, 2005

Sheila Scott, a well-respected leader of the University, passed away last Friday. Scott served as Dean of Women at McMaster from 1965 to 1982. During her tenure, she worked tirelessly to represent and help female students. One of her best-known accomplishments is the Day Care Centre at McMaster. In recognition of her work with the campus day care, the centre was named the Sheila Scott House. In 1983, the University established the Sheila Scott Scholarship in English. This scholarship recognized her outstanding contribution to the University community during 25 years of service.

September 30, 2005

Memories of McMaster will be relived by hundreds of alumni this weekend during the 68th annual Homecoming celebrations. "It should be a great weekend for the entire McMaster community -- lots of festivities, lots of reunions, lots of sports, lots of fun," says Rod Morrison, director, Alumni Advancement.

September 29, 2005

McMaster University is establishing a new state-of-the-art medical imaging laboratory and has recruited a top international scientist to run the lab. The research facility will be part of the new School of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Mark Haacke, a native of Canada who also holds citizenship in the United States, will direct research in cardiovascular, neurological and oncological imaging at the new research laboratory.

September 28, 2005

McMaster friends Michael G. DeGroote and Margaret and Charles Juravinski, McMaster alumni Mary Lou Dingle and John Pelech and Karen Kain, who holds an honorary doctor of laws from McMaster, are among seven outstanding Hamiltonians who will be inducted into the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction on Nov. 9. The Hamilton Gallery of Distinction will honour these leaders at the Hamilton Convention Centre. This evening of recognition begins at 5:30 p.m. with a reception followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and presentation of the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction Awards to this year's inductees.

September 28, 2005

Take a deep breath. Breathe in - hold - and now out. If you were able to perform that task you are now hopefully more relaxed - you are also a member of the fortunate group of people who are able to breath freely. The incidence of respiratory diseases is on the rise. In fact, between seven and 10 per cent of all Canadian children have asthma. Asthma accounts for 25 per cent of all school absences - it also kills over 500 Canadians each year.

September 27, 2005

Ron Foxcroft, chair of the campaign for the Athletics & Recreation Centre and Stadium, has announced that his match for stadium seats in the new Ronald V. Joyce Stadium has been fulfilled, months ahead of schedule. On July 1, Foxcroft pledged to match each $3,000 gift to name a seat in the new stadium, up to a maximum of 33 seats. The challenge was expected to go deep into the fall but has wrapped up early due to its popularity and the tremendous support of the McMaster community. Not only has Foxcroft matched the 33 gifts he committed to, but he extended his generosity to match six further gifts currently being finalized.