Daily News

March 19, 2001

The McMaster University Faculty Association has issued the following communication to its members. Dear MUFA Members: The Executive of the McMaster University Faculty Association met . . .

March 19, 2001

The following information is provided by Student Affairs: March 15, 2001 STUDENT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. What am I expected to do during the MUSA . . .

March 19, 2001

On Saturday, March 17 at the Halifax Metro Centre, the Maroon and Grey gave the St. Francis Xavier X-Men their biggest scare in 29 games, falling by a close 78-76 score. For more details, see today's Hamilton Spectator (END OF STORY)

March 19, 2001

Continuing Education is getting ready for its spring term. It's business as usual despite the current labour dispute, reports Dale Schenk, director of the Centre . . .

March 19, 2001

The communications blackout around negotiations between the University and the McMaster University Staff Association has been extended to 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, March 22. Both parties have agreed that all discussion and documents generated and/or exchanged in the negotiations process will not be broadcast or shared.

March 19, 2001

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March 19, 2001

The Hamilton Public Health Department has begun active surveillance for red measles after a McMaster University student tested positive for the highly contagious disease. Testing confirmed the diagnosis this weekend. The Health Department and McMaster's Student Health Services are working together to run measles vaccination clinics starting today, Tuesday, March 20. Clinics are open to all students, staff and faculty. Vaccination clinics will be held in Council Chamber, Gilmour Hall room 111: Tuesday, March 20 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 21 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Thursday, March 22 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The public health department says there are several groups of people who are considered to be immune to red measles and do not need the vaccination: 7 Anyone born before 1957 7 Anyone who has received at least one documented dose of vaccine for measles 7 Anyone who has been diagnosed with measles by a physician. Anyone who is unsure about their immunization history is encouraged to attend one of the vaccination clinics. Click here for more information from the public health department about red measles. Inquiries should be directed to the city's health connections phone line at 546-3550, or to McMaster's information line at 525-9140, ext. 21111.

March 16, 2001

The University and the McMaster University Staff Association met to resume discussions on Thursday, March 15. The mediator requested a communications protocol be agreed to by the negotiating teams for both MUSA and the University. Both parties agreed that all discussion and documents generated and/or exchanged in the negotiations process will not be broadcast or shared. The agreement is in effect for the current round of mediation that is currently scheduled to continue until Monday, March 19 at 12:01 a.m.

March 16, 2001

The McMaster student body has elected 31 new members to the Student Representative Assembly for the coming academic year. The new members will guide the . . .

March 16, 2001

McMaster's Steve Maga scored big last night, being named this season's top Canadian university basketball player. "This is great for Mac," the MBA student told the Hamilton Spectator. "And it's very special for my parents. From the time I was three years old, they supported and encouraged me in sports. I just loved it and all the time and effort was mutual. They gave me the optimum environment." Maga, who plays point guard, was named as the winner at an awards dinner held in Halifax prior to the start of this weekend's national championships. He takes home the Mike Mosher Memorial Trophy dedicated in honour of the late University of Waterloo basketball player and presented annually to the outstanding male basketball Player at a Canadian Interuniverity Athletic Union member institution. The selection is made on the basis of a ballot of all CIAU men's basketball coaches. Maga was also named to this year's CIAU All-Canadian First Team. Maga's win will, no doubt, pump up the Marauders' enthusiasm as the team steps onto the court this afternoon for the opening game of the 38th CIAU Men's Basketball Championships. The McMaster Marauders will fight for the jump against the Carleton Ravens this afternoon. The Marauders received one of two wild card invitations to the championships and are seeded fifth. The Ravens are the OUA East champions and are seeded fourth in the tournament. Photo: CIAU Web site

March 15, 2001

The March 17 Spring Open House for prospective students has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 12. Campus tours during the March break have also been cancelled due to the labour dispute. (END OF STORY)

March 15, 2001

McMaster's dance company received high praise from judges this month for creativity and originality after participating in the American College Dance Festival. The festival was . . .

March 15, 2001

McMaster's research enterprise is feeling the effects of the current MUSA strike, says vice-president of research & international affairs, Gerhard Gerber. Individual faculty members are awarded research grants or contracts from external sources based on the performance and productivity of their research group. These grants require periodic application for renewal  typically every three to four years  so at any given time, about one-third of the grants face an imminent application deadline. The money awarded through these grants, often referred to as "soft money," is then used to conduct the research, which includes paying the salaries of graduate students, research technicians and administrative staff. Approximately one-third of the MUSA members are paid through soft money. These funds are administered by the University on behalf of the researcher. Gerber is concerned that, in addition to the immediate impact, there will be greater long term effects since grants are not renewed automatically but are assessed on a competitive basis. Some researchers have expressed concern that disruptions in their current research schedules will affect their ability to compete successfully in subsequent rounds.

March 14, 2001

The University and MUSA bargaining teams reached an agreement around a picket line protocol before a motion for an injunction to limit picketing was heard in court this morning. As a result, the University has withdrawn its motion for the injunction. Under the agreement: * there will be no more than a total five-minute wait** for any vehicle getting onto campus (If a lineup of vehicles goes beyond the safety points established by police then all waiting vehicles will be allowed to enter campus at one time. For example, at the Cootes Drive entrance police will not permit traffic to overflow onto Main St.) * exceptions to the above will be made for emergency, security and medical supply vehicles, which will continue to have unimpeded access through Main Street entrance. * residence students, if they have an ID card, and it is practicable to do so, will be allowed through immediatiely. The agreement takes effect at 5 p.m. today, giving MUSA time to notify its members. The agreement is binding on everyone who is on the picket line, whether MUSA members or other supporters. The University will be monitoring very closely to ensure the agreement is enforced. It reserves the right to return to court for an injunction if the agreement is breached. The University and MUSA also appeared today at the Ontario Labour Relations Board. The pre-hearing dealt with complaints filed by both organizations. The Board decided it would not deal with the issues at this time, although either party could make a request for a hearing date. The University indicated it would not request a date. ** The first vehicle shall be released upon reaching the five minute maximum informational delay. When the first vehicle is released, the picket line shall remain open such that all vehicles which are in the line of vehicles at the time the line is opened shall proceed through immediately with unobstructed entry into the University campus, with no further communications between picketers and the persons in vehicles and no further information delay. (END OF STORY)

March 14, 2001

In a press release posted on MUSA's Web site on Tuesday, March 13, the MUSA negotiating team advises that its representatives council today approved paying strike benefits to its picketers and other volunteers. A sub-committee is working on final details, expected Thursday, the team states. According to the release, the union can make these payments because of about $1 million in donations and lines of credit from a variety of national and local unions. "We are very grateful for this support," said MUSA president Barry Diacon in the release. "Our members deserve strike pay and we hope to be able to sort it out soon." The Hamilton Spectator reported in today's issue (March 13) that Ontario Public Service Employees Union president Leah Casselman visited MUSA's picket lines yesterday and brought with her a cheque for $500,000. Diacon told the Spectator that "OPSEU's interest-free loan, combined with a $50,000 line of credit from CUPE and cash from other unions, means MUSA can now afford strike pay." (Editor's note: We are unable to provide a link to the newspaper article since it is not available online.) (END OF STORY)

March 14, 2001

More than 50 promising McMaster researchers have been awarded scholarship and fellowship funding in the 2001 competition from two key federal government funding agencies. At . . .

March 14, 2001

In conjunction with the McMaster Students Union's Annual General Meeting, the MSU will be hosting an open forum to provide information about the strike to . . .

March 14, 2001

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March 13, 2001

Five McMaster professors are among the 218 experts named to advisory boards for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's 13 virtual institutes. The volunteer representatives, . . .

March 13, 2001

Three researchers from the Faculty of Science have come up winners in the latest round of funding awards from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). The three were awarded a total of $515,968 to be put towards infrastructure and facilities connected to their research on climate change, soft matter physics and fungal genomics and population biology.