Daily News

April 25, 2003

The next step of McMaster's strategic plan update, Refining Directions, provides an opportunity for McMaster employees to discuss the draft document and ask related questions with President Peter George and provost Ken Norrie. Three open sessions are scheduled over the next two weeks for employees to learn more about the draft Refining Directions report and provide their input. Feedback on any part of the document is welcomed, and specifically comments or suggestions on two key areas: the long-term enrolment targets for the University; and the proposed increase in the emphasis on graduate education. The sessions are scheduled for the following dates: Wednesday, April 30  3:30-4:30, GH-111 Friday, May 2  10-11 a.m., DTC-214, 215, 216 Friday, May 9  9-10 a.m., HSC-1A4 Building on the University's vision and mission, the draft report proposes the goals and strategies to help McMaster continue to prosper in the years following the double cohort. The draft report includes the recommendations from six working groups addressing six areas: undergraduate education; graduate education and research; external activities; internal community; planning and managing; and branding. The draft Refining Directions document is available from the Daily News Web site. Input and comments on the draft report are welcome and can be forwarded to refining@mcmaster.ca. The Refining Directions process has been overseen by a steering committee that has reviewed the recommendations from each working group along with input from numerous rounds of community consultation and presentations to the University Planning Committee, Senate, the Board of Governors and approximately 25 other groups on campus. A final document will be presented to Senate in May and the Board of Governors in June.

April 25, 2003

As students wrap up the school year and prepare to move at the end of April, there is an opportunity to dispose of unwanted, reusable household goods. And for those who are interested, it is also a chance to get some great free stuff. As the saying goes, 'one person's trash is another person's treasure', and with this in mind, the McMaster Students Union Environment Committee will again collaborate with the City of Hamilton to present the second annual Dump and Run event. Those in the participating area can leave reusable goods such as furniture, bicycles, televisions, electronics or small household items at the curb in front of their own property. From April 28 to May 4, anyone is welcome to come and take what they like. Any remaining items will be picked up by the City of Hamilton Waste Management Division on Monday, May 5 for disposal. The program is a good opportunity to pick up some free items for your house, and it helps reduce the number of items going to landfill. The participation area has been enlarged this year to include approximately 4,500 households in the L8S postal code district. It includes the following areas surrounding McMaster University: from the 403 in the in the east to the C.N.I.B. on Main St. West, and from the escarpment in the south to Cootes Paradise Marsh in the north. For more information and a map of the collection area, visit the MSU Web site at www.msu.mcmaster.ca/enviro/dumpandrun, or call 905-525-9140 ext. 27201, e-mail enviro@msu.mcmaster.ca phone the City of Hamilton at 905- 546-CITY (2489) or e-mail wastemanagement@hamilton.ca"

April 25, 2003

Music aficionados looking for something to do this weekend might want to go for Baroque. The School of the Arts is hosting the New York State-St. Lawrence Chapter of the American Musicological Society's 2003 meeting at McMaster this weekend. A highlight of the two-day conference is a Baroque concert scheduled for Saturday night (April 26) at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend. "The concert is really a gift to the University and we're hoping people will come and join us for what promises to be a wonderful evening of beautiful music," says School of the Arts associate professor Jim Deaville. The concert will feature Richard Semmens (recorder) and Sandra Mangsen (harpsichord), both from the University of Western Ontario, and Mary Cyr (viola da gamba), University of Guelph.

April 25, 2003

American Musicological Society, New York State - St. Lawrence Chapter Meeting April 26-27, 2003 McMaster University Saturday, April 26 9-9:30: Arrival, Registration 9:30-10:30: Session I: The Waltz in the 20th Century Alexander Carpenter, University of Toronto: "(Second) Viennese Waltz: Crisis, Change and the Waltz in Arnold Schoenberg's Oeuvre" Teresa Magdanz, University of Toronto: "The Celluloid Waltz: Reveries of the American Carousel" 10:30-11: Coffee Break 11:00-12: Session II: "Spiritual" Music in the 16th and 17th Centuries Marjorie Roth, Nazareth College of Rochester: "Chromaticism in Context: A New View of Orlando di Lasso's Prophetiae Sibyllarum" Janette Tilley, University of Toronto: "From Personification to Meditation: Representations of the 'Faithful Soul' in Lutheran Devotional Music of the Seventeenth Century" 12-1:30: Lunch 1:30-2:30: Plenary/Keynote Address 2:30-3:30: Session III: The Agenda of Modernism in 20th-Century Compositions Brian Locke, SUNY Stony Brook: "'Of Base and Contemptible Passions': Madness and Modernism in Jeremias' Opera 'Bratri Karamazovi'" Alexander Colpa, Kingston, Ont.: "The Role of Existentialist Theory in the Early Dramstadt Schoenberg Reception: A Study in Lateral Stylistic Transmission" 3:30-4: Coffee Break 4-5: Session IV: Reassessing Received Knowledge about the 20th Century Rob Haskins, Eastman: "'Beating My Head Against that Wall': Cage, Harmony and an Argument for Analysis" Murray Dineen, University of Ottawa: "Adorno, Jazz and Schoenberg: For the Defence" 5-6: Business Meeting 6-6:30: Concert Richard Semmens, University of Western Ontario: recorder Mary Cyr, University of Guelph: viola da gamba Sandra Mangsen, University of Western Ontario: harpsichord (Pieces by Jacques Hotteterre, Marin Marais, and Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre) 6:30: Dinner: details to be announced Sunday, April 27 9:30-10:30: Session V Performing Sensuality in the late 18th and 19th Centuries Emily Dolan, Cornell University: "Taming Sonority with Reason: Kant, Rousseau, and the Glass Armonica" Tom Denny, Skidmore College: "'Che sono i fini di chi fa mal'? - Variant Endings during Don Giovanni's First Century" 10:30-11: Coffee Break 11-12: Session VI Wagner and Verdi Lindsay Moore, University of Toronto: "Rich Man, Poor Man: Verdi's and Wagner's Operas and the Changing Copyright and Performance Rights Laws of the Nineteenth Century" Drew Stephen, University of Toronto: "The Hunt as Couleur Locale in Verdi's Don Carlos and Wagner's Tannhaeuser" 12-12:30: Session VII Chant Andrew Hughes, University of Toronto: "Early Printed Sarum Breviaries: Manuscript and Continental Origins"

April 25, 2003

McMaster will revitalize and renew its buildings and reduce energy costs with the implementation of an energy retrofit program, approved yesterday by the Board of Governors. The program will invest $28 million into facility renewal over the next three and a half years, beginning in June. Savings in energy costs will help pay for the program, says Tony Cupido, director of Physical Plant. "The energy reduction program will save the University approximately $1.5 million annually in energy costs and will reduce energy consumption by 23 per cent," he says. The first priority of the program is retrofitting lighting by replacing old, inefficient T12 bulbs with T8 bulbs, which use less energy, have less glare and provide better quality and colour of light. Additionally, new ceiling and occupancy lighting censor controls will be installed, existing controls will be replaced to improve air quality and temperature control, water efficient devises will be utilized, air handling units will be refurbished to provide better air quality and digital control will create energy efficiencies during unoccupied times. The program also addresses health and safety, code compliance and building integrity. Approximately three-quarters of campus buildings will be included in the retrofit project, says Cupido, adding the schedule of implementation will be provided to the campus community prior to work being undertaken. "The air quality in these buildings is going to improve significantly," he says. "While a lot of the work that will take place will not be seen, people are going to notice a big difference in facility comfort."

April 24, 2003

Phase II of McMaster's Web site is ready to roll, says Peter Sutherland, dean of science and co-chair of the Web implementation committee. "This phase includes the installation of a content management system (CMS) to help manage Web content most efficiently," he says. "The launch of the CMS to the campus community will begin by the end of April. The new system will make it faster and easier for departments and faculties to keep their Web content current." Phase I of McMaster's Web site update was rolled out last September and included the redesign of the University's homepage and production of templates and a style guide. Since then, many faculty and department sites have been updated using the new tools providing a consistent structure and navigation, and making it easier for users to find the information they're looking for. A content management system allows a Web site to be maintained efficiently and keep the content current.

April 24, 2003

More than 2,600 students will move out of residence April 24 to 29, with almost 1,100 of these moving out Tuesday, April 29. It will be busy on the roadways near the residences in both the north and west quads, particularly during the peak periods between 3 - 7 p.m. University staff who travel the roadway and/or park in zone 2 opposite McKay Hall, the Commons Building and Woodstock Hall will find this area particularly busy over the next few days. To avoid the bustle of cars pulling in and out of the parking spots and the general increase in pedestrian and vehicular traffic in this area, staff are encouraged to park in zone 2 south of the tennis courts for the next few days. Attendants wearing safety vests will be working shifts in both the north and west quads starting Tuesday, April 22. These student attendants will ensure that visiting cars do not block roadways, fire lanes or pedestrian walkways. Pedestrians in the west quad should note that cars will be allowed to drive to Moulton, Matthews and Wallingford Halls along the emergency roadway north and east of Mary Keyes Residence to stop in designated areas to load students and their belongings. Again, student attendants will ensure that cars move safely in one direction only and do not block access for emergency vehicles. Parking and Security Services have assisted in the preparation of the move-out plan to ensure the residence move-out runs smoothly.

April 24, 2003

Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Tony Clement made a stop at McMaster Wednesday to announce the establishment of a new model of physician group practice. Called Family Health Group, the model will provide new opportunities for physicians to participate in primary care renewal and will assist in the recruitment and retention of physicians in the province. In the program, which will be offered starting in July through the Ontario Family Health Network Agency, physicians will have the option of forming FHGs consisting of a minimum of three doctors. The program will enhance doctor-patient relationships by placing an emphasis on prevention, in a setting with extended hours, resulting in more flexible access to care. Cheryl Levitt, chair of Family Medicine at McMaster, presents Minister Tony Clement with a stethoscope at yesterday's announcement. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay

April 23, 2003

A dog, a mythological creature and an eagle have what it takes to impress IBM. The Rottweiler Reactor Sentry was the winning project in the third annual IBM challenge. Second place went to Cerberus Satefy System and an honorable mention was awarded to Eagle Eyes Monitoring System. Software engineering students in their senior thesis course competed in the challenge by building a monitoring system for the McMaster Nuclear Reactor. "The winning teams in particular did an excellent job of applying their software engineering education towards building a functional and reliable system," says Spencer Smith, assistant professor of computing and software, who is in his first year of teaching the thesis course. In the course, teams of students design and document a software system. Teams consider the entire software development cycle, from elicitation of requirements to design to implementation and testing. The designs take into account economic, health, safety, legal and marketing factors.

April 23, 2003

Eleven students will enhance their educational experience with travel abroad thanks to the Student Financial Aid & Scholarship office. The winners of this year's travel scholarships are: A.G. Alexander Scholarships: Agnes Magdziak, Level III Humanities; Emily Robb, Level III Humanities; Jenna Wells, Level II Humanities Beale-Lincoln-Hall Travel Scholarship: Monica Karski, Level II Humanities; Lam Erin Siu, Level II Humanities Class of '37 Travel Scholarship in Arts & Science: Jessica Shearer, Level II Arts & Science Joan Jackson Dunbar Travel Scholarship: Lisa Devries, Level III Humanities John P. Evans Travel Scholarship: Jesse DiCecca: Level III Humanities E. T. Salmon Travel Scholarship: Joelle Lardi, Level III Humanities T. Russell Wilkins Memorial Scholarship: Phedias Diamandis, Level III Health Sciences; Linda Taggart, Level IV Science The scholarships assist students in travelling and studying abroad.

April 22, 2003

Two heads really are better than one, especially when it comes to transportation at McMaster. May 2003 marks the launch of the University's new carpooling program for faculty, staff and graduate students. The pilot program, which will be evaluated and refined at the end of June, will become part of the regular slate of parking options offered at McMaster and will be extended to undergraduates for September. "We're hoping the Mac community will take advantage of some significant incentives we're offering," enthused Jennifer Dawson, ACT (Alternative Commuting & Transportation) Office co-ordinator. "Those who register their carpool during May will not only save on their monthly permit costs, but will be able to park in priority parking spaces chosen with their input." Employee and graduate student carpoolers will also be eligible for a limited number of Zone 2 and 3 carpool permits, to be released May 1. "Carpooling becomes even more attractive when you consider the long waiting lists for these prime parking zones," Dawson explained. "We're working hard to make carpooling an enticing commute option."

April 22, 2003

"....and then THE WORLD", the annual SUMMA exhibition featuring work by students graduating from the studio art program at McMaster's School of the Arts has opened at the McMaster Museum of Art. The exhibition, which runs until May 16, celebrates the academic accomplishments of 24 distinctive, emerging artists. This year's exhibition includes artwork in a wide range of media including painting, ceramics, sculpture and installation. The ideas and inspiration for this work spring from a wide variety of sources including personal experience, art history, literature and each other. The participating students will give a lunchtime talk about their work on Wednesday, April 23 at 12:30 p.m. and a public reception for the exhibition will be held the evening of Thursday, April 24 from 7-9 p.m. These events are free and everyone is welcome. SUMMA students have produced a digital exhibition catalogue.

April 21, 2003

Researchers at CanChild and McGill University Health Centre are hoping to identify what determines the quality of life and participation for children with cerebral palsy (CP). By evaluating the relationship between intrinsic biomedical characteristics and extrinsic environmental attributes, researchers hope to assist health professionals in promoting supportive environments and interventions, to enable these children to participate more fully. The United Cerebral Palsy Research and Educational Foundation has awarded $99,166 (U.S. funds) for the two-year "Determinants of Life Quality in Children with Cerebral Palsy" study. CanChild's co-directors, Mary Law and Peter Rosenbaum are investigators on the study headed by Annette Majnemer, associate professor at the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research is located in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University.

April 17, 2003

What happens when you cram a mass of people into a McMaster Parking & Transit Services van? According to the Alternative Commuting & Transportation (ACT) office, you get a clear message about McMaster's parking situation. "We are stretched to the limits in terms of parking supply," says Daryl Bender, ACT co-ordinator. "We don't have a lot of green space left to pave over." He hopes the Van Cram, which highlights Earth Day celebrations at McMaster Tuesday, April 22, will raise awareness of alternative modes of transportation that people can take to class or work. The van will be located in Zone 2 parking, across from the McMaster University Student Centre. There will also be a barbecue and rides around campus on a Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) bus. A tent will be set up, and there will be booths staffed by HSR and MacCycle, who will be on hand to answer questions about cycling and bike repairs. To further encourage the use of alternative transportation, free HSR bus tickets will be distributed at the Compass Information Desk in the McMaster University Student Centre and at the security desk at the downtown centre. Tickets will be available Thursday and Monday. An ACT carpooling initiative will also kick off, encouraging people to register to McMaster's new web-based ride-matching system. Earth Day celebrations will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The barbecue will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and a hamburger and pop can be purchased for $2.

April 17, 2003

As we approach the Easter long weekend, many people will be traveling and visiting with friends and family. Local health officials wish to remind everyone to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). There continues to be no cases of SARS in Hamilton. Some individuals have undergone precautionary quarantine measures. Hamilton Health Sciences and other Hamilton hospitals continue to implement the access restrictions and precautions as directed by the provincial government in an effort to avoid further spread of the disease. McMaster's crisis management team has established a SARS subcommittee to closely monitor related information and provide updates and direction to the McMaster community. Ongoing updates will be available on the mcmaster.ca Web site at http://www.mcmaster.ca/sarsupdate.html. A direct link is provided from the homepage. The Web site will also provide additional Web sites and phone numbers of resources to contact for further information.

April 15, 2003

The Michael G. DeGroote School of Business will honour Mossadiq Umedaly with the 2003 Wayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award tonight (April 16) at a gala dinner at the Ontario Club in Toronto. Mossadiq, B.Com. '74, MBA '77, is executive chairman of Xantrex Technology Inc. Xantrex is headquartered in Burnaby, B.C. and produces sophisticated devices to convert power from DC to AC, and vice-versa. "I am proud and honoured to receive the 2003 Wayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University. Here, I learned practical skills as well as innovative and creative ways to apply them. I have relied on these skills throughout my career," says Mossadiq. Since joining Xantrex in 1999, Mossadiq has repositioned and transformed the company from a small niche player to a world leader in advanced power electronics. His focused business strategy, targeted at high growth markets, has helped Xantrex grow its revenues from $15 million in 1998, to more than US$110 million in 2001.

April 15, 2003

Students will learn first-hand about the issues faced by newcomers to Canada, through a student-initiated project that links them with organizations serving immigrants and refugees in Hamilton. "Through the program, it is hoped that students will gain a greater understanding of the issues facing the immigrant and refugee population as they try to settle in Canada," says Leila Salehi, founder and co-ordinator of the program that will launch in September. "It is hoped that students will gain improved cross-cultural skills and be provided with an opportunity to engage in meaningful volunteer work while gaining practical skills in working with an underserved population." Through the program, students will help organize preparatory classes for women preparing to take a G1 driver's exam, help to facilitate employment workshops for immigrant and refugee women and develop and run a series of practical workshops on resources in Hamilton in English as a second language classes. The program, initiated by the Immigrant and Refugee Issues Working Group of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG), recently received an $8,254 boost from the Hamilton Community Foundation. Funding will support a student co-ordinator, and the development, testing and evaluations of the ESL workshop curricula.

April 14, 2003

Students are the beneficiaries of a $180 million investment in building projects at Ontario universities and colleges through the provincial government's SuperBuild program, McMaster President Peter George says. McMaster received $11.3 million today from the newest round of the SuperBuild program. Nine universities, including McMaster, and four colleges received funding to build, purchase or renovate facilities. "We're absolutely delighted," said McMaster President Peter George. "This significant contribution from the provincial government is an investment in students and will help us meet the needs of the double cohort class and the projected increased enrolment demand that we expect will continue throughout the decade. "The government's commitment to our project enhances the University's ability to continue to provide excellence in teaching, learning and research. McMaster University is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation and we're grateful that the Ontario government, with this commitment, supports our vision of opening doors to a brighter future for students. In turn, support for this unique facility will help increase Ontario's competitiveness in the global, knowledge-based economy and in particular, meet the need for skilled leaders in the health care sector." McMaster's award will be dedicated to new classroom space in the University's innovative Centre for Learning & Discovery, currently under construction. The $71-million facility will create 1,459 student spaces and 83,000 sq. ft. of research space.

April 14, 2003

McMaster's Mark Lawford was given a $205,000 boost for his research in software development, design and management from Communications and Information Technology Ontario (CITO). The assistant professor of computing and software engineering, received $100,000 from CITO, plus $100,000 from Ontario Power Generation and $5,000 in-kind support for his two-year project entitled "Reverse Engineering of High Level Requirements from Assembly Code." The majority of the money will be spent on support for graduate students working on the project. The group also has applied for an additional $38,000 per year in matching funds from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. CITO has provided more than $9 million in funding to support high-tech research projects at eight Ontario universities. In the latest round of funding, CITO is providing $5.373 million and industry sponsors are contributing $3.730 million in matching cash or in-kind support. McMaster's project also involves computing and software engineering professors Jacques Carette, Wolfram Kahl, Ridha Khedri and Alan Wassyng, who are members of the recently formed Software Quality Research Lab.

April 14, 2003

A local developer is hoping to cash in on the double cohort McMaster University will face this fall by providing decent affordable student housing located halfway between the University and the downtown core. The six new 2 1/2-storey homes on Dundurn Street, between Main and King streets, will feature a two-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot apartment on the main floor with four lodging rooms and a common area upstairs to house a total of 36 students. Construction began last month and is expected to be finished the beginning of August, in time for the thousands of students who will descend upon Hamilton this fall. Click here to read the story in today's Hamilton Spectator.