Daily News

December 11, 2002

Bikramjit Nahal, a first-year science student at McMaster University, received the 2002 Lincoln M. Alexander Award at a Queen's Park ceremony Tuesday for his leadership in promoting racial harmony and eliminating discrimination. Nahal was a member of the Anti-Racism Committee at Parkside and played a large role in implementing programs teaching students to learn about racism. He also created student interest in the annual Walk Against Male Violence Rally and began a Necessities Drive, collecting donated hygiene products and giving them to teens and adults sheltered at Wesley Urban Ministries. He organized a book drive to raise awareness about educational poverty, collecting more than 900 books for children in Poland, Russia, Africa, Lithuania and India. Nahal was recognized by the prime minister for excellence in leadership, academics and community, and has won several awards, including the YMCA Peace Medal a few months ago. Created in 1993 to honour the former Lieutenant Governor's commitment to support young people and promote racial harmony, the annual Lincoln M. Alexander Awards are presented to two Ontario youth who have worked hard to improve racial understanding, one in their school and the other in their community. Two young people, between the ages of 16 and 25, receive an award of $2,500 each and a framed scroll. The other 2002 recipient was Tamara McDonald, a student at Sir Winston Churchill High School in Thunder Bay. Click "Students prove making a difference a matter of choice" to read the story in The Hamilton Spectator.

December 10, 2002

The billowing smoke from steel mills may not only make it hard to breathe, but may also cause genetic damage, according to new research by McMaster biology researchers. Scientists have long suspected that industrial pollution poses a significant risk to the health of human and animal populations, although much of the evidence is anecdotal or confounded by factors other than air pollutants. McMaster associate professor James Quinn and colleagues previously found a high rate of heritable mutations in herring gull populations nesting near steel mills. However, it was unclear whether the observed effect was due to emissions in the air or contaminants in the water. To isolate and examine the effect of air pollution, Quinn, PhD student Chris Somers and colleagues from Health Canada housed laboratory mice in ambient air one kilometre downwind from two integrated steel mills near Lake Ontario and a rural location 30 kilometres away.

December 10, 2002

The author of Canada's current number one children's book, Hana's Suitcase, will speak at the book launch for the fifth volume of Main Street: The Anthology of the McMaster Certificate in Writing Program tonight (Tuesday, Dec. 10). Author and CBC producer Karen Levine will give a 30-minute presentation on her remarkable true story, which documents a Japanese woman's effort to find out what happened to a young Jewish girl, Hana Brady, in the Second World War. The evening will also feature Faculty of Humanities writer-in-residence Shyam Selvadurai, reading from his award-winning novel, Funny Boy. Main Street, the award-winning anthology series published by the Centre for Continuing Education, features selected short Canadian fiction and poetry from 34 students in the writing program. Several Hamilton and area authors will also receive awards handed out during the evening's festivities. Levine is a prize-winning producer with CBC Radio. She was formerly executive producer of As It Happens and currently works at This Morning as producer of the First Person Singular series. Karen has won the prestigious Peabody Award for her documentary Children of the Holocaust, and her production of Hana's Suitcase was nominated for a Governor General's Literary Award, the Ontario Library Association's Silver Birch Award, and their new adult literacy award, The Golden Oak. Selvadurai, McMaster's writer-in-residence, was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He came to Canada with his family at the age of 19. He has studied creative writing and theatre and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University. Funny Boy, his first novel, was published to acclaim in 1994 and won the Canadian W.H. Smith/Books First Novel Award, and in the U.S., the Lambda Literary Award. The novel was also named a Notable Book by the American Library Association. His second novel Cinammon Gardens has been published in Canada, the U.K., the U.S. and translated into six languages - Italian, French, German, Danish, Spanish and Hebrew. It was shortlisted for Canada's Trillium Award, as well as the Aloa Literary Award in Denmark and the Permio Internazionale Riccardo Bacchelli in Italy. The Main Street book launch takes place Tuesday, Dec. 10 in the University Club from 7 to 9 p.m.

December 9, 2002

E-mail may be fast and convenient, but the historians of the future may regret the havoc wrought by the delete button on the records of contemporary social and political commentary. Researchers interested in the 20th century are more fortunate in having at their disposal the letters of one of the most intelligent and prolific writers the world has ever seen - the philosopher Bertrand Russell. Even in his 90s, Russell would commonly dictate several letters in a day on a staggeringly wide range of subjects. His correspondents included both well-known figures such as Einstein, Niels Bohr, T.S. Eliot, and Edna O'Brien, and countless ordinary people who would write to Russell requesting information or advice on topics as disparate as formal logic and marriage counselling. He was a rare private individual indeed, who could write to both Khrushchev and Kennedy at the height of the Cuban missile crisis, and expect them to read what he had to say. "Russell was ceaselessly and effortlessly fluent," comments Nicholas Griffin, McMaster philosophy professor and director of the Bertrand Russell Research Centre. "Whatever he thought of, he had the words to express it. He truly believed in the power of words to change a situation." And at times they did - as a kind of one-man precursor to 'Amnesty International', Russell met with some success in his letter-writing campaigns on behalf of eastern block political prisoners. The Russell Archives at McMaster hold more than 40,000 of Russell's letters. Faced with such an embarrassment of riches, the only problem for researchers is where to begin looking for specific information. "It can be like looking for a needle in a haystack" says Griffin, who has read more of Russell's correspondence than most.

December 6, 2002

They may be young, but the age-old adage of 'giving is better than receiving' is not a new concept for McMaster students Adam Green, Adam Spence and Sam Minniti. For cancer survivor Adam Green, volunteering is a necessity. "I don't see it as volunteering," he says. "I see it as something I have to do." Green, who was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer at the age of 15, volunteers for a number of agencies, including Shinerama, Terry Fox and at a camp for children with cancer. "When I see kids who have cancer and the hardships they go through, that's what makes me volunteer," he says. The fourth-year business student, Spence and Minniti were among 46,000 Canadians and 42 Hamiltonians to receive Queen's Jubilee Awards, given to those who have contributed up to 50 years of service to the community. The Golden Jubilee Medal of Queen Elizabeth II commemorates the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty's reign as Queen of Canada.

December 5, 2002

Crunch time's on. From a walk around campus, it's unmistakable. In the McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC), baggy-eyed students are surrounded by papers and books. In lounges, groups are huddled in serious discussion. And libraries are the busiest they've been all term. The McMaster campus is a quiet place these days, with students preparing for the 60,277 examinations that will be written between Dec. 4 and 17. But studying might be a little less stressful because of accommodations made by University services and student committees. The McMaster Students Union Student Life Committee (SLC), for example, has co-ordinated an All-Night Study Program in the MUSC, where all floors are dedicated to students studying for exams. Silent areas and discussion areas have been established 24 hours day in meeting rooms, banquet halls, lounges and the atrium. Consideration hours are in effect 24 hours a day, while no tolerance hours are between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

December 4, 2002

McMaster placed second in an annual survey designed to measure the public accountability of Canadian universities. Ranked first in this survey in 2000, McMaster scored 73.2 points this year, placing behind Queen's University (with 73.6 points). The survey uses an index that considers such public documents as mission statements, performance targets, detailed financial statements and research summaries. Click here for the 2001 results.

December 3, 2002

When it comes to fighting crime in the community, students have an invested interest. "McMaster is our home throughout the school year and we want to make this place safe for on-campus and off-campus students," says Cathy Hui, co-ordinator of McMaster's Student Walk Home Attendant Team (SWHAT). So when the SWHAT team was approached by Hamilton Police constable Greg Doerr about joining forces, they were all for the idea. "This was something we had already wanted to do," the fourth-year kinesiology student says. Students on Patrol is a new program where Hamilton police and McMaster Security provide SWHAT volunteers with training on how to make McMaster and its surrounding communities a healthier and safer place. Volunteers are educated on how to watch for suspicious activity and how to be aware of their surroundings. This fall, Hamilton Police and McMaster Security trained more than 150 SWHAT volunteers.

December 3, 2002

A seminar on steel will be hosted by the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business Thursday, Dec. 5. The all-day seminar will go beyond the technological world of steel and how steel competes with other materials, to take in new auto-steel strategies and uses of steel in the housing sector. "We don't usually think in economic terms, we think more in technological terms," said Gord Irons, head of McMaster's steel research centre. "This is the first time we've done something on this basis." The centre, part of the engineering faculty, is hosting the workshops along with the university's office of research and international affairs. About 50 people -- from local industry and economic development circles to provincial officials -- are expected. Click here to read the story in today's Hamilton Spectator. (The Hamilton Spectator, Dec. 3, 2002)

December 2, 2002

Today marks the last day of Term 1 classes. Final examinations begin Wednesday, Dec. 4 and continue through to Tuesday, Dec. 17. Go to the Office of the Registrar's Web site at http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/internal/examt/ for the exam schedule. Paper versions have been posted around campus.

December 2, 2002

McMaster helped kick off the holiday season Saturday. Close to 400 McMaster employees and their families gathered in the CIBC Banquet Hall of the McMaster University Student Centre Nov. 30 for the University's annual children's Christmas party. The celebration, which included a visit from Santa, entertainment, crafts, face-painters, refreshments, draw prizes and gifts, received support from the Office of the President, the McMaster University Student Centre, Hospitality Services, Physical Plant and numerous volunteers. Photo caption: Eight-year-old Marina Van Raay gets into the spirit of Christmas.

November 29, 2002

Mathematicians will have a chance to crunch numbers with one of the world's experts on number theory Dec. 3-6. John Coates, Sadleirian professor of pure . . .

November 29, 2002

The report issued by the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada has important messages for all Canadians, says the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). "Canada's universities recognize the need to ensure that citizens across the country have access to high quality health care services," says Robert J. Giroux, president of AUCC. Click here for the complete Canada NewsWire story.

November 29, 2002

Eight first-year students were recently recognized with McMaster Scholar Awards, valued at approximately $30,000 each over four years. This year's winners competed against more than 1,000 applicants from across Canada. The recipients are, pictured in front, right to left, Ayesha Hashambhoy, Christina Schoenhoeffer, Kalinda Ramsaran and Alicia Pinarello. Pictured in back, right to left, are Michael Schatte, Trisha Pataki, President Peter George, Heather Wong and Karleen Dudeck. The McMaster Scholar Awards are the University's most prestigious entrance scholarships. In 2002-03, the McMaster Scholar Awards were redesigned to increase the value of the scholarships. In 2002, first-year meal plans and residence costs were added to the cash value of the award. The awards are presented to students with an average of 90 per cent or higher and who have demonstrated strong academic, extracurricular and leadership achievements.

November 28, 2002

More than 120 home and health care workers from Native communities across Ontario will gather at McMaster during December and January to receive specialized training offered through McMaster's Centre for Continuing Education. The Chiefs of Ontario, with funding from Health Canada, asked McMaster to provide the training to representatives from 135 First Nations communities in Ontario. McMaster is currently the only university in the province to offer extensive programming in case management education. Over the next eight weeks, three groups of approximately 40 participants each will arrive at McMaster for six days of learning under The First Nations Case Management Training Program. The program gets under way on Monday, Dec. 2 with the first group of participants. "We have developed a week-long program that has been specially designed by McMaster professor Anju Joshi for the needs of the home and community care workers in various First Nations communities," says Ruth Nicholson, CCE program co-ordinator. "The program will feature experts who are aboriginal as well as non-aboriginal and we hope it will be culturally relevant and sensitive." "We have worked hard to customize the program's content for the participants and we are very fortunate to have the support of a wonderfully committed McMaster faculty to assist in the teaching and delivery of a wide range of subject areas," says Joshi, associate professor of gerontology. Joshi says learners will enhance their knowledge and skill sets needed to perform the role of a case manager and will be able to critically examine issues that affect the delivery of service. Instruction will cover the areas of advocacy, the health and social concerns of individuals and families in different life stages, legal issues, depression and diabetes, and case management models and approaches. The program will be delivered by a multi-disciplinary faculty of professionals and includes Wayne Warry, Bill Lee, Irene Turpie, Dawn Martin-Hill, Micheline Gagnon, Kathy MacDonald, Elizabether Latimer and Harriet MacMillan. Nicholson says the program is being supported by federal funding and is part of a new First Nations and federal government initiative to bring much needed co-ordination to home and community care in Native communities. "The Chiefs of Ontario were impressed with our program and that played a role in their decision to come here. This is really an honour for Hamilton, McMaster and the Downtown Centre, " said Joshi. The first session kicks off with a ceremony beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning (Dec. 2), which will feature aboriginal singer Lisa Longboat, Chiefs of Ontario spokespersons Tracey Antone and Donna Loft, and University President Peter George. Sessions two and three will be held during the weeks of Dec. 9 and Jan. 20. Wednesday evenings during the program (Dec. 4 and 11 and Jan. 22) have been set aside for cultural and social activities in the University Centre Marketplace. These events are being sponsored by McMaster's Indigenous Studies Program and the Office of the President. For more information, contact Ruth Nicholson at ext. 24520.

November 28, 2002

McMaster researcher James Wadsley has helped demonstrate that large gaseous planets like Jupiter could be created in hundreds, not millions of years, as previously believed. The research associate with SHARCNET (Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network) is part of a team of international astrophysicists from the U.S. and Switzerland, who have successfully created the first computer simulation that shows giant gaseous planets can be formed quickly. Their research is published in today's edition of Science. Wadsley became involved when he developed the gas computer code used for the research as a post-doctoral fellow while at the University of Washington in Seattle. Lucio Mayer, of the University of Zurich, is the lead author. The co-authors are University of Washington astrophysicist Thomas Quinn and Joachim Stadel, formerly of the University of Victoria in British Columbia and now at the University of Zurich. The popular theory holds that rocky planets like Earth were created as rocks orbiting in a disk around the young sun continuously collided, sticking to form larger and larger objects. Further from the sun, the collision process is thought to take millions of years. This theory is more difficult to accept for giant gaseous planets like Jupiter and Saturn because the planets have to form before nearby bright stars can disperse the gases that must be added to the theoretical rocky core. The new approach assumes that the disk is heavy with gas that can fragment under its own gravity to form gas giant planets in just a few hundred years without a preceding rocky stage.

November 28, 2002

In 1977, 96 new faculty and staff joined McMaster University. Last night, they joined a special group  McMaster's Quarter Century Club. "In every decade, McMaster has grown and prospered," remarked President Peter George to the staff and faculty who contributed 25 years of service to the University. "You saw it happen. In fact, you helped to make it happen. None of what McMaster is today would have been possible without the faculty and staff who dared to dream, to ask the right questions, to go above and beyond the call of duty to help a colleague or a student. You have all risen to meet the challenge, and the University is very grateful." About 20 more employees than last year were inducted, as a result of the University marking cumulative service. Introduced in 2002, the intent of cumulative service recognition is to acknowledge the total service of employees, including those who left the University for a time and then returned to continue their work. Click here for a list of the inductees.

November 27, 2002

Pop quiz: True or false Coffee cups cannot be recycled Fine paper bins located in offices should be used to recycle paper only Newspaper, fine paper, envelopes and sticky pads can be put together in the paper recycling containers Contamination renders the entire recycling bin as garbage If you answered false to any of these questions, you may need a lesson in proper recycling. While McMaster's newly reinstated recycling program is one step closer to making the University more environmentally friendly, without the knowledge of how to recycle, these efforts may as well be trashed, says Stephanie Herod, a physical plant environmental student representative who is working with OMG Media to ensure that new recycling bins are installed throughout campus. Tossing garbage into the wrong bin can contaminate the entire container, she says. "Physical Plant can get this going but nothing can get recycled unless people do it correctly," she says. "People need to be educated about what goes in what bins and we need to generate enthusiasm in people to want to recycle."

November 26, 2002

Zipping along Route 66 at speeds in excess of 70 km/h, the car won't burn an iota of gasoline. As the sun in the hazy Arizona sky burns overhead, the driver will clinch the wheel and power on in a race against more than 30 teams from around the globe. They call it Fireball II and they know it's going to be a force to be reckoned with. "We're going to be very competitive," says third-year commerce student Tammy Hwang about the American Solar Challenge just eight months away. "We plan to make it into the top five. I know that sounds ambitious, but we have the right kind of teamwork and skills to do it."

November 25, 2002

McMaster has embarked on a new and important strategic planning process called Refining Directions. University President Peter George and Provost Ken Norrie invite all members of the campus community to attend one of three upcoming information sessions to find out more about this initiative, which will help McMaster plan and prepare for the years following the double cohort (beyond 2005). Session Dates and Times Tuesday, November 26: 3:30-4:30 p.m., HSC-1A4 Thursday, November 28: 2:30-4 p.m., Room 241 Downtown Centre Monday, December 2: 1-2 p.m., Room 319, McMaster University Student Centre Refreshments provided