Daily News

April 21, 2005

A university is a place for informed dialogue and discussion and McMaster prides itself on being a place where academic freedom and freedom of expression are encouraged and respected. Along with such freedom comes responsibility. McMaster University is a microcosm of our world. It has a diverse and multicultural community and its members do not always agree with the beliefs, philosophies and positions of others. In the spirit of academic freedom, McMaster encourages healthy debate, discussion and respect. It does not give anyone a license to engage in hateful or hurtful rhetoric.

April 21, 2005

Imagining the anguish felt by those orphaned by a devastating tsunami that hit South East Asia last December, Alison Miculan decided to do something about it. So this week, she got on a plane to Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, and embarked on a journey she hopes will alleviate some of that pain. The sessional instructor in McMaster's Department of Philosophy is setting up a project called "Come Home Again" - a children's village that will house 200 orphans and employ 'house parents', or those who lost children in the tsunami disaster.

April 20, 2005

To celebrate the centenary of British philosopher Bertrand Russell theory, 'On Denoting', the Bertrand Russell Research Centre is hosting a major international conference, "Russell vs Meinong: 100 Years After 'On Denoting'", May 14-18, 2005. Evidently the dust has still not settled: 48 philosophers from 12 countries will be presenting papers on both sides of the debate.

April 20, 2005

With exams underway and summer approaching, the McMaster Solar Car Project (MSCP) is busier than ever. Team members have been labouring on the construction of their newest solar car, Phoenix, working towards this year's ultimate goal - racing Phoenix in July's North American Solar Challenge (NASC). NASC is a 10-day open road solar vehicle race that starts in Austin, Texas, and ends in Calgary, Alberta.

April 20, 2005

McMaster University has announced the creation of the David Braley and Nancy Gordon Chair in Urology. The chair was made possible by a $1-million contribution from David Braley and his wife Nancy Gordon, to be matched by the University. J. Paul Whelan, associate professor in the department of surgery, has been selected as the inaugural chairholder.

April 19, 2005

For their exceptional service, contributions to the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, and for enhancing McMaster's reputation, eight employees and two teams have been honoured with a President's Award for Outstanding Service. "Every year I am amazed at the exceptional ways in which our employees fulfill McMaster's goal of achieving excellence - and this year is no different," said President Peter George. "I extend my sincere thanks and congratulations to all of the nominees identified for the 2004 Awards."

April 19, 2005

Is the attainment of superior performance only limited by the quality of the training environment and the practice of skills, or do basic abilities like IQ and memory developed in childhood and adolescence limit an individual's success? K. Anders Ericsson, a Conradi Eminent Scholar and professor of psychology at Florida State University, will give the William J. Walsh lecture on that issue at McMaster University on Thursday, April 21.

April 19, 2005

Students are packing their belongings this week and moving out of McMaster's residences. More than 3,000 students will move out between April 19-27, with almost 1,554 of these residents departing either April 26 or 27. As a result, it will be busier than usual on the roadways near residences in the north and west quads, particularly during the peak periods between 2-7 p.m.

April 18, 2005

Peter George, president and vice-chancellor of McMaster University, will receive the Spirit of the Community Award in a gala roast on Wednesday, April 27 at Carmen's Banquet and Convention Centre beginning at 5:30 pm. The award will be presented by Hamilton Mayor Larry DiIanni, and by Paul Kells, the founder of Safe Communities Coalition.

April 18, 2005

McMaster University Senate met on Wednesday, April 13 in the Council Chambers of Gilmour Hall. A number of items were addressed at this meeting, such as renaming the Department of Psychology, the establishment of new scholarships and a proposed School of Computational Engineering and Science.

April 18, 2005

Equip. Educate. Empower. The themes for North American Occupational Safety & Health Week (NAOSH) will be taken to heart at McMaster May 2-6. Hosted by McMaster's Environmental and Occupational Health Support Services (EOHSS), in conjunction with internal and external partners, several events have been planned around these themes, including keynote speakers, training, and networking opportunities.

April 18, 2005

Lynda Redwood-Campbell, a physician in family medicine at McMaster, saw the destruction of the tsunami-ravaged areas of Indonesia first hand. For six weeks she participated in a medical/humanitarian mission in Banda Aceh, where she helped provide medical relief to one of the worst hit regions.

April 15, 2005

McMaster will host the eighth annual Friends of Football Gala Dinner and Reception on Wednesday April 20, 2005 at Michelangelo's Banquet Centre. The Reception begins at 5:30 p.m. and the dinner at 7 p.m.

April 15, 2005

The creation of an endowed chair in educational research and instructional development will stimulate and support innovation within McMaster University's renowned health professional education programs. The chair will ensure that new learning technologies are integrated into the curriculum and also tested for their effectiveness through research.

April 15, 2005

When she was in high school Stephne Buzdygan-Johnson would do detentions for smoking in the washroom, although she hadn't been smoking. She didn't want to talk about the real reason. She had been a sickly child all her life, diagnosed as a "nervous child." It was only when she was in university, down to 72 pounds, that an emergency appendectomy discovered the truth. She has Crohn's Disease, a serious inflammatory bowel disease.

April 15, 2005

Two cups each of water and dry ice. A few spoonfuls of dirt and a dash of organic material. Mix together and shape into a snowball. Voil

April 15, 2005

A folksy reminiscence about the life of an Ontario veterinarian will be used to contribute to the fight against breast cancer. Sow's Ear to Silk Purse: Anecdotes from the Life of a Veterinarian, chronicles Blake Graham's rise from Sarnia farmboy to Great Lakes stevedore to Toronto veterinarian, offering an often humorous glimpse of life in post-war Ontario. Proceeds from the book will benefit a cancer research fund set up in 1995 by Graham in memory of his wife, Barbara, who died of breast cancer. Graham donated $200,000 each to McMaster University and the Ontario Veterinary College for collaborative cancer research.

April 14, 2005

College-trained, diploma prepared registered practical nurses will have the opportunity to fast track and upgrade to a nursing degree at McMaster University. The new program will allow registered practical nurses (RPNs) to earn their Bachelor of Science (Nursing) degree and become registered nurses (RNs) in three years rather than the traditional four years. RPNs have a two-year diploma and work with stable, predictable patients, such as at nursing homes and on many units in hospitals.

April 14, 2005

Four McMaster University professors will be honored by their peers at spring convocations throughout North America. McMaster's Henry Giroux, Karyn Kaufman and Eileen Schuller will receive an honorary degree from Memorial University, the University of British Columbia and Queen's University, respectively. Henry Schwarcz will be given a professional achievement citation from the University of Chicago.

April 13, 2005

McMaster University professor Richard Harris has been awarded a 2005 Guggenheim Fellowship. He is the only academic from a Canadian university this year to receive the distinction. As one of 186 artists, scholars and scientists to receive a 2005 award, Harris was selected from more than 3,000 applicants. Guggenheim Fellows are appointed on the basis of distinguished achievement in the past and exceptional promise for future accomplishment.