March 18, 2003

After learning the horrific story of one of her students on a CBC documentary about "Victims of Torture", something became acutely clear to Alison Miculan, sessional lecturer in the departments of philosophy and health studies. "As we proceed through our busy lives, we rarely take account of the circumstances of those around us," she says. Her hope is a three-day conference beginning tomorrow on refugee women's lives and identity will open eyes to the experiences of refugees, who may be students, teachers, neighbours or friends. Canada, she says, admits more refugees per capita than any other country in the world  three quarters of whom are women and children. "Many of these people have suffered persecution, rape, torture, physical and mental intimidation." Hosted by McMaster's Women's Studies Program and the Settlement and Integration Services Organization, the conference "Saying "I" Is Full of Consequences: Refugee Women Reclaim Their Identity", will focus on identity, research, education and policy. The conference takes place March 19-21 in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business. The initiator and academic organisor of the conference, Maroussia Ahmed, spent a year researching and preparing for this event. Ahmed is an associate professor of French and women's studies at McMaster. Other key organizers include Vera Chouinard, acting director of Women's Studies; Madina Wasuge, director of programs at SISO; Patricia Young, administrative co-ordinator, Office of Interdisciplinary Studies; Georgina Al-Hallis, McMaster graduate; Claudia Montan, program co-ordinator, SISO; and Miculan, administrative co-ordinator of the conference. The timing of the event could not be better, Miculan says. "In the current climate of international instability, Canada's refugee population is bound to increase," she says. "We need to be thoughtful and responsible in our policy and decision making with respect to refugees. We hope that this conference will give a listenership to the voices that need and deserve to be heard."

March 18, 2003

Students and employees from McMaster residences are launching a pledge and button campaign in a bid to honour the diverse nature of the McMaster community. The launch of the Mac in 3D - Diversify, Don't Discriminate campaign takes place Tuesday, March 18 at 12 p.m. in the McMaster University Student Centre Marketplace. There will be speeches by McMaster President Peter George and Noah Gano, first-year residence student and committee member, followed by a facilitated roundtable discussion. Students and employees from the Residence Life Diversity Committee, formed in the fall, have joined together to promote diversity with the launch of the pledge campaign and a discussion on diversity. The committee was formed to take a proactive and educational approach to raising awareness. "The idea of the diversity pledge and button is that people will wear the button and send a message that we're a diverse campus and we celebrate it," said Michele Corbeil, residence manager-educational programs, housing & conference services. "We also want to discuss how our diversity can contribute to peace." Participants will take part in roundtable discussions following the launch of the pledge and button campaign in a process called Conversation Cafi. The idea started on the west coast following the events of Sept. 11. Conversation Cafis are lively, hosted, drop-in conversations among diverse people where everyone can share thoughts and actions. Traditionally, Conversation Cafis are held in public cafis.

March 17, 2003

Mary Beth Norton, a Hooker Distinguished visiting professor from Cornell University, will present two on-campus public lectures this week. Sponsored by the Departments of History and Women's Studies, the first is a public lecture entitled "Sex, Religion and Violence in Early America; or a 17th-Century Minage-`-Trois and its Consequences" and will be presented Monday, March 17 at 3:30 p.m. in Council Chambers (Gilmour Hall, Room 111). Using evidence from a series of linked court cases, Norton will take a revealing look at life in a 17th century Maryland colony consisting of mostly Protestant Settlers but led by Catholic rulers. Norton's second presentation will be as the keynote speaker at the Department of History's Annual Graduate Colloquium on Tuesday, March 18 from 1:30  5:30 p.m., in Council Chambers. The topic of this presentation will be "Rethinking Salem Witchcraft". Norton will discuss the groundbreaking new perspective she has taken in studying the events of 1692. Norton's new book, In The Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692, has been well received in both the academic press and popular media, and was recently chosen as a finalist for the LA Times History Book Prize. Norton received her B.A. from the University of Michigan, a M.A. and PhD from Harvard University. She has since devoted more than 30 years as a professor at Cornell University, and in 1987 was named the Mary Donlon Alger Professor of American History. She is one of the first researchers to closely examine the role of women in early American history and is highly respected for her related research and publications.

March 17, 2003

The future of science and engineering will be on display in McMaster's Burridge Gymnasium April 2 to 5. Close to 500 of the Bay Area's top brains from Grade 7 to OAC are participating in the 43rd annual Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair (BASEF). This is nearly double the number of students who participated in the event last year. Students from 65 schools located from Halton Hills to Dunnville will take part in the fair, which will offer more than $70,000 in prizes, including cash awards, scholarships and trips. There will also be a $250 prize donated by the McMaster Engineering Society. The top winners will qualify to compete at both the Canada Wide Science Fair in Calgary, Alberta May 10-17 and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Cleveland, Ohio May 11-18. McMaster students and employees are among approximately 200 volunteers that will judge 329 projects. The fair takes place over the course of four days, starting with project set-up on the first day, judging on the second day, trips and activities on the third, culminating in the award ceremony on Saturday.

March 17, 2003

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to live in the Middle Ages? To eat medieval food, take medieval medicine and listen to medieval music? McMaster researchers Kathy Garay and Madeleine Jeay do. The creators of Mystic Women of the Middle Ages II, a six-part documentary series premiering tonight on Vision TV at 8 p.m., wrote most of the scripts, supervised the location filming throughout Europe last summer and also appear in the series. They are excited about presenting the medieval period to the public. It has been an area both have researched, published and taught for 30 years. "It is a period which is sufficiently different from our own to be fascinating, but at the same time it has enough similarities to help us understand our own time," Garay says. "We are keenly aware that our contemporary culture has its origins and roots in the medieval period." The series explores the lives of extraordinary women, including spectacular location footage from Eastern and Western Europe: France, Germany, Hungary and Italy. The music, composed especially for the series, was inspired by authentic medieval music. There are descriptions of each episode on the Vision TV Web site.

March 17, 2003

McMaster joined the world in a candlelight vigil for world peace Sunday, March 16 in front of the McMaster University Student Centre. Nearly 300 people attended the vigil, which included a few words by associate professor of religious studies Graeme MacQueen, followed by a period of silence. The event was one of more than 6,000 vigils held worldwide Sunday. Visit www.globalvigil.org for further information. Photo credit: Ron Scheffler

March 13, 2003

McMaster students will join together tomorrow armed and ready to combat racism. A Forum on Student Leadership in Anti-Racism is the second of a two-part series, led by McMaster student Shelly-Ann Riley, who planned and organized the forum as part of her fourth-year social work placement. "This forum aims to address solutions or proposals for addressing racism," she says. "It is also an opportunity to further educate students on the issue." It takes place Friday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the CIBC Banquet Hall in the McMaster University Student Centre. The first forum, on Nov. 14, 2002, addressed the issue of racism in the academic community. "It was intended to create dialogue among students dealing with ways to deconstruct and then combat racism in our community," Riley says. "The forum on student leadership on anti-racism was structured on the assumption that students in attendance would identify and/or acknowledge our internalized racist attitudes by creating an open arena to voice our concerns and interested of how we address this issue." Two general observations emerged from the first forum, she says. First, most students have only minimal understanding about racism as a structural problem and second, many feel education about racism has been missing from their formal and informal education through their socialization. Organized under the Strengthening Hamilton's Community Initiative, the forum is organized by a committee, comprised of Shelly-Ann Riley, Patricia Daenzer, Pat MacDonald, Jane Mulkewich, Christine Sager, Gary Dumbrill, Madhavi Reddy, Shelley Dormer, Robert Cosby, Erin Dufresne, Bonnie Freeman and Marilyn McLeod.

March 13, 2003

The MSU Teaching Awards Committee held its annual awards ceremony Wednesday night at the CIBC Banquet Hall in the McMaster University Student Centre. "Teaching is an art and McMaster and our students are fortunate to have some of the very best teachers from whom they can learn," said McMaster President Peter George. "Each of you brings a special dedication and inspiration to your profession. For students, it means a chance not only to learn the essential elements of the their chosen field, but also to develop the passion for discovery and the satisfaction that comes from challenging themselves to learn and then to apply that learning to the building of better lives and better communities." Winners were named in three categories; Faculty Awards, Merit Awards and Lifetime Teaching Awards.

March 13, 2003

Hunched over a table in an army hut, exhausted from hours in a brigade obstacle course, Pierre Berton tapped away on his portable typewriter. He had a need to write. It was an urge that had been with him for as long as he could remember. Many years later, speaking to a 200-plus audience of aspiring, professional and hobby writers, Berton spoke of the years he served with the army and about the letters he wrote to family and friends, even when it was torture, even in despair, but mostly, because he couldn't stop. "The urge to write was there almost from the beginning," he said in his characteristic booming voice. Reading from his latest book The Joy of Writing in the McMaster University Student Centre this week, Berton reflected on his career as a writer, broadcaster, journalist and a teller of tales. He offered several pointers to successful writing such as, know and understand your audience, do not write down to your readers, don't use a $10-word when a 5-cent one will do, dig deeper, don't neglect the obvious, always describe the people and places, always check the weather and don't read reviews, measure them.

March 12, 2003

Thanks to the digital age, McMaster students can visit the library without ever leaving their dorm room. But even the most tech-savvy student will go to the library to find the books they need, says Sheila Pepper, assistant university librarian, Mills Memorial Library. "The book is not disappearing," she says. "Library staff will always welcome users who want to access services and assistance in person. However, staff are aware that our students, particularly undergraduates, live in a digital age with increased expectations for online service." As a result, McMaster Libraries has introduced a number of new services in response to the digital bent of today's student. "The library has tried to make as much of its information and resources as possible available on a self-help and at-point-of-need basis, so that students can complete efficient research wherever and whenever they need to," says Pepper. "With the impending double cohort, the library has had to find creative ways to accommodate the additional students on campus," says Pepper. But, she adds it is difficult for the library to respond to the double cohort in specific ways due to an uncertainty of where enrolment will be increased the most. "However, there are a number of general things we have done to try to improve the situation." The libraries have worked on an extensive reorganization of the combined libraries' Web site in order to make information on library services and resources easy to locate. "An integral part of the project was the provision of an electronic resources database (ERD) through which students can more efficiently select the appropriate electronic resource." With funding from McMaster's one-time academic priority fund, library staff developed DOT@MAC, an online self-paced tutorial that students can use to develop research skills. Both DOT@MAC and the ERD can be accessed through the libraries' homepage at: http://library.mcmaster.ca.

March 12, 2003

A team led by McMaster scientists is exploring the genomics of a soil bacterium that is associated with many Canadian crops in research that could eventually help the environment and improve agricultural practices. Professors Turlough Finan and Brian Golding are leading the team that has been awarded $2.9 million from Genome Canada. Their project, Genomics Analysis of Soil Microorganisms, has a $5.8 million budget. Officials from the Ontario Genomics Institute, one of five genomic centres affiliated with Genome Canada, were at McMaster Wednesday to celebrate the award and promote the research project. Genome Canada is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to developing and implementing a national strategy for genomics and proteomics research in Canada. To date, it has received $375 million from the federal government to fund genomics and proteomics research in environment, agriculture, fishery, forestry and health sectors across the country. To date, it has invested more than $294 million in 56 innovative projects across Canada. Ronnie Gavsie, president and CEO of the Ontario Genomics Institute, congratulated the researchers. "The research team led by Dr. Finan and Dr. Golding is bringing credit to Ontario and Canada for the brilliance of their work," said Gavsie. "They are creating the basic knowledge that will spark the development of new globally-competitive products and processes, thereby generating tomorrow's employment and income." McMaster President Peter George said the McMaster community, in particular students, reaps the benefits of such leading edge research. "McMaster is home to exceptional talent  people like Drs. Finan and Golding  who motivate and inspire our students through their approach to scientific discovery."

March 11, 2003

During March Break this week, countless high school students are giving their brains a time-out by hitting the beach or skiing the slopes. But at McMaster, you may have noticed many still have academics on the brain. More than 3,500 students and their parents are visiting McMaster this week, partaking in one of several campus tours offered through Student Liaison. And if numbers are any indication, students are showing a heightened interest in McMaster. Approximately 1,500 more visitors than last year are expected to tour campus this week. "Taking a campus tour remains to be one of the best ways to find out what a university has to offer and March Break is the perfect opportunity for many of our applicants to visit campus," says Patricia Harris, associate registrar for student liaison. "For most students, the campus tour is their first visit to the University. It allows them to get a sense of the size, layout and personality of the campus." Regular student tours take place Monday through Friday, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and on Saturday at 9:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. This week they begin in the lobby of the McMaster University Student Centre. Students can register for a tour online at http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/external/tours, or by phone 905-525-9140 ext. 23650.

March 11, 2003

Carol Stephenson, recent president and chief executive officer of Lucent Technologies Canada, will present the 19th annual J.W. Hodgins Memorial Lecture tonight (March 11). Presented by the Faculty of Engineering, the lecture "After the Bust: Rebuilding the Trust", takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the McMaster Information Technology Building, Lecture Hall, Room 137. Stephenson, who has an extensive background within the telecommunications industry, will discuss the evolution of the information technology industry and where she sees it heading in the future. She recently led Lucent's Canadian team in providing sales, marketing, installation, maintenance and other services to the company's growing service provider customer base across Canada. She has a range of expertise in marketing, operations, strategic planning, business development, regulatory affairs, alliance management, technology development and financial management. Prior to her position at Lucent, Stephenson was president and COO of BCE Media Inc., a startup company offering leading edge satellite services for corporate business customers throughout the Americas. Before that, she was president and CEO of Stentor Resource Centre Inc. where she led the national marketing and technology development centre for Canada's nine telecommunications companies. In 1995, she was named Woman of the Year by Canadian Women in Telecommunications and in 1998 was named Woman of the Year by Wired Women. She is currently chair of the Board of Directors of the Information Technology Association of Canada as well as a director for Queen's University School of Business Advisory Board, Ottawa-Carleton Economic Development Corporation, Women's College Hospital Foundation Board, Ottawa Airport Authority and ING Canada. Stephenson is a graduate of the University of Toronto and has successfully completed the executive program at the Graduate School of Business Administration, University of California at Berkeley, as well as the advanced management program at Harvard University.

March 11, 2003

McMaster President Peter George recently provided an update to the University community that the search has begun for a new sexual harassment and anti-discrimination officer. The person replaces Cindy Player, who has taken on a new position at the City of Hamilton as a human rights consultant. A selection committee, chaired by Jane Aronson, professor of social work, has been appointed to lead the search. In the interim, Jane Mulkewich has agreed to take on the role of acting sexual harassment and anti-discrimination officer. Mulkewich joined the University in June 2002 as a human rights educator in the Sexual Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Office. She previously worked with the Hamilton Police Service for eight years as the anti-racism and anti-discrimination officer. "We wish Cindy well in her new job and thank her for the tremendous contributions she made in making McMaster a more inclusive and welcoming community for students, staff and faculty," George said.

March 10, 2003

Did you nominate your favourite teacher for an award earlier this year? Do you know an outstanding professor who has made exceptional contributions to McMaster? Would you like to come out and support your instructors? If you answered yes to any of the above questions come and check out the MSU Teaching Awards Wednesday, March 12 at 6 p.m. in the CIBC Banquet Hall at the McMaster University Student Centre. The annual McMaster Students Union event, recognizes and encourages excellence in teaching. Awards to be presented include Faculty Awards, Merit Awards for teachers in the first or second year at Mac, and Lifetime Achievement Awards. A reception will follow the ceremony. Award recipients are nominated by students each semester and classes of the top two nominees in each faculty are given evaluation forms to complete. The winner is the teacher with the highest ranking on these forms. Faculty Awards are given for each of the following faculties or programs; Arts & Science, Business, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Kinesiology, Nursing, Science, Social Work, and Social Studies. Merit Awards are given to support teachers in their first or second year at McMaster who have already made a significant contribution to the community. Each year, Lifetime Achievement Awards are presented to one or more instructors who have shown dedication to teaching at McMaster University for at least ten years, have been nominated for an MSU Teaching Award in the past and are close to retirement. This award recognizes the significant contribution by an instructor to the McMaster community due to their proven years of outstanding teaching but also considers their contributions to academia. Further information about the awards can be found at www.msu.mcmaster.ca/tac/index.php.

March 10, 2003

Issues of diversity, inclusion and equity will gain a higher profile at McMaster with the recent establishment of a presidential advisory committee. University President Peter George created the President's Advisory Committee on Building an Inclusive Community as part of his and McMaster's commitment to a community that celebrates, fosters and respects diversity. "The University fosters an environment of diversity and inclusivity. It is part of our culture and is something we should all celebrate," says George. "One of our principal purposes as a University is to make possible the expression of a wide range of views, cultures and lifestyles. It is my hope that this committee will help to strengthen our commitment to these issues and will assist us in building a stronger, more inclusive community for all."

March 7, 2003

Pierre Berton's well-chosen title for his latest book, The Joy of Writing, says it all. How else to explain the prolific writer's tremendous output of best-selling books? Berton, who himself clearly derives joy out of writing, has written a book for aspiring writers to share in that joy. On Monday, March 10, Berton will be at McMaster to read to students and other guests from The Joy of Writing, talk about writing non-fiction, and answer questions. Titles Bookstore will have copies of The Joy of Writing and Pierre Berton's other works available for purchase and he will be pleased to sign books following the question and answer session. Berton has a long association with McMaster. In 1974, the University Library received the first accrual of his papers, and received the most recent one, the twelfth, in 2002. The archive contains Berton's original manuscripts, research materials, correspondence, speeches, promotional material and photographs with Canadian and international celebrities. Looking through the extensive archive, you can witness Berton's development as a journalist, writer and broadcaster. The archives are located in the lower level of Mills Library in Archives and Research Collections. Hours are 9-5 Monday to Friday. Berton was also granted an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree by McMaster on November 11, 1983. Introducing Berton at the convocation ceremony, Peter George, then dean of Social Sciences, said this: "In a moving account of Phillips Thomson, Dr. Berton once wrote that his grandfather 'could not stop writing'. Neither, we hope, can Dr. Berton." In the 20 years that have since passed, George's words have certainly been realized. With the publication of The Joy of Writing, it is evident why. Admission is free to the event which takes place from 2-4 p.m. in CIBC Hall, third floor, McMaster University Student Centre. For more information, call ext. 24865.

March 6, 2003

The way McMaster's CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research makes a difference in the way children with disabilities and their families are treated and supported, has impressed researchers in Utrecht, Netherlands. So much in fact, that they launched NetChild, a new childhood disability research group modeled on CanChild's tradition of multidisciplinary collaboration. It is based in part on NetChild's Jan Willem Gorter's experience at CanChild in 2002, where he spent six months as a post-doctoral fellow. "We realize the added value of doing multidisciplinary research, both in developing a research program, as well as the opportunities for research funding," said Gorter, a NetChild partner. "We noticed that CanChild has made a difference in the last 10 years in the field of childhood disability research by developing a research program instead of conducting singular research projects, and by working together with a multidisciplinary approach and functioning as a community-linked organization." Gorter says it's time to work together in a network like CanChild. NetChild would like to develop a community-linked research program and work on transferring knowledge through teaching, education and promotion. "We would like to build a strong network of professionals in childhood disability research, with a focus on maximizing the level of activities, participation and quality of life of children with disabilities and their families," says Gorter. The new research group brings together colleagues from rehabilitation (Gorter and Marjolijn Ketelaar), pediatric physiotherapy (professor Paul Helders, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital) and special education (professor Marian Jongmans), each of whom has longstanding professional relationships with CanChild colleagues. The program was created with the support of professors Adri Vermeer of Utrecht University, and Arie Prevo of Rehabilitation Centre De Hoogstraat/University Medical Center Utrecht, and will be developing its first five-year research program. CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research is located at McMaster University in the School of Rehabilitation Science and has been funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care since 1989.

March 6, 2003

Why aren't more women involved in politics? What can be done to support women interested in running for office? Have there been improvements to encourage women to participate as student, community and political leaders? Redefining Leadership, a one-day conference on Friday, March 7 in the council chambers of Gilmour Hall is providing a forum to discuss these issues. The conference, co-hosted by MacWin (McMaster Womyn's Issues Network) and the MSU Gender Equity committee, will feature a keynote speaker and panel discussions allowing panellists to share their experiences and members of the audience to participate in the presentation. "The speakers are all women who have all made outstanding commitments to their communities," says Nicole Richmond, who co-organized the event with Helen Tewolde. "Each of the speakers we have seen at different events and have been truly impressed by, and felt that these are women who would provide both inspiration and insight to our audience." Keynote speaker, Sue Fraser, kicks off the day at 9:30 a.m. Fraser was MSU president from 1989-90 and is now a social justice lawyer.

March 6, 2003

A team of researchers from McMaster University will be approaching up to 1,500 south Oakville residents asking for blood samples, in the first Canadian study to find the prevalence of West Nile virus infection. The researchers are looking for antibodies of the West Nile virus in the blood to help them get a better grip on how many were infected with the potentially deadly virus. Physicians believe that about 150 people are infected for every case that reaches them. The rate of Oakville residents contracting the mosquito-borne virus last summer was one of the highest in North America, said Halton medical officer of health Bob Nosal. There have been 58 human cases of West Nile since August -- 49 confirmed cases, and nine probable -- in Halton, almost all of them in south Burlington and south Oakville. Halton has the second-highest number of West Nile cases in Canada. Only Toronto is higher. Nosal said of the 19 Halton residents hospitalized with West Nile symptoms of encephalitis or meningitis, half are still suffering significant health problems, such as trouble walking. "West Nile caused a significant amount of illness last year, and we need to take it seriously." The ministry has contracted the research to McMaster University and hospital infectious diseases specialist Mark Loeb, and university colleagues and professors John Eyles and Susan Elliott. The blood will be tested at provincial labs. Read more