Daily News

April 11, 2001

C is for concentration: Students at McMaster University are busy writing exams this week as the exam period began Monday. The exam schedule extends to . . .

April 11, 2001

The Ontario Labour Relations Board will conduct a vote on the University's final offer on Monday, April 23. Polling times and locations follow: Poll 1: . . .

April 10, 2001

MUSA members will have the opportunity to vote on the University's final contract offer. The Ontario Labour Relations Board this afternoon (Tuesday) agreed to the University's request to hold a supervised vote. The vote will be held Monday, April 23. "A vote on the final contract offer gives all MUSA members the opportunity to make their own choice," says McMaster President Peter George. "We hope they will take the opportunity to become fully informed about the final offer before casting their ballots." The University requested the supervised vote after MUSA indicated it would apply for compulsory arbitration. George believes "the vote on the final offer provides for a more timely and speedy resolution to the labour dispute. It enables employees to enjoy sooner the improvements in wages and working conditions that it offers." The University considers compulsory arbitration to be a less preferred option since it would mean a third-party resolution to issues by individuals who are not as familiar with the University. Full details of the vote and how it will be held will be made available as soon as they are finalized. The University final contract offer can be found at the following web site http://hr.mcmast er.ca/data/hrinfo/emprel/

April 9, 2001

Human Resources has posted a list of answers to frequently asked questions about the return to work this week of University employees who are members . . .

April 6, 2001

Meningitis Information Clinic If you missed the Meningitis Information Clinics held April 4 & 5 in Hedden Hall, and would like to receive more information, . . .

April 6, 2001

CANCELLATION OF EXAM IN HUMANITIES 2CO3 (Dr. Hitchcock's Section only) Since the Office of the Registrar has not received a final examination for Dr. Hitchcock's . . .

April 6, 2001

The McMaster university student who is in hospital with bacterial meningitis is improving, the Hamilton Spectator reports. To read more, go to Student suffering from . . .

April 5, 2001

The bargaining teams from the University and the McMaster University Staff Association (MUSA) met again today (April 5). The University's team, with Karen Belaire, vice-president, administration, met with MUSA's team in the morning to exchange articles and clarify issues. In the afternoon the University moved forward with a final offer.

April 5, 2001

LABOUR STUDIES COURSES Please note that the Labour Studies Program has made the following arrangements regarding final examinations in Labour Studies courses: 1AO3; 1ZO3EVE; 2CO3EVE; 3DO3EVE. The format of these exams has been changed to a "take-home exam." Students will be able to choose one of the following options in order to complete these exams: (1) pick up a copy of the exam on the picket line at the beginning of the scheduled time of the exam; (2) download the exam via e-mail beginning at the scheduled time of the exam; (3) pick up a copy of the exam at the location and time of the registrar-scheduled exam indicated on the Undergraduate Examination Timetable. Students who choose this last option can take the exam away with them and submit the completed exam as indicated in the instructions on the exam paper; OR sit and write the exam at the designated location and for the prescribed time. In all cases, a set of possible exam questions will be circulated a few days in advance of the exam; the actual exam questions will be a sub-set of these questions and will be revealed on the scheduled date and time for the specific exam. Regardless of which option is chosen, all students in each course will write the same examination. Any questions should be directed to the respective instructors of these courses. The length of the exam will not exceed the original scheduled alloted time. (END OF STORY)

April 4, 2001

Status of Bargaining The bargaining teams from the University and the McMaster University Staff Association (MUSA) will return to the table today (April 4) to . . .

April 4, 2001

A McMaster student is in hospital with a confirmed case of bacterial meningitis. The student came in to Student Health Services yesterday morning (Tuesday, April 3) and was taken to the hospital. "Our first concern is for the health of the student. Her family is with her and we are working with the Hamilton Public Health Department (Communicable Disease Control Branch) to ensure that we are following public health protocols with regard to anyone who might have had contact with her," said Mary Keyes, associate vice-president, student affairs. "Bacterial meningitis is a very serious disease but it is not highly contagious. We have been told that high-risk activities include kissing, sharing cigarettes or toothbrushes or drinking from the same containers. Essentially, it is saliva-to-saliva contact that places anyone at risk." Students who live in Hedden Hall, the residence of the student, have been given information about the disease and are talking to public health nurses today. The public health nurses will be available tomorrow (April 5) as well. In addition, information about meningitis may be obtained by calling Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Public Health at 905-546-3500. Friends and family of the student who is ill have been identified and interviewed by public health to determine their risk for the disease. "We are confident that we are taking all measures necessary to ensure that people have the information they need about meningitis," said Keyes. "I would encourage everyone to read the information posted to this page on the disease and take steps to reduce high-risk activities." Meningitis Information Sheet END OF STORY

April 4, 2001

The University has started the process with the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) to hold a supervised vote on the University's final offer. This means that, if the OLRB approves the request, all members of the McMaster University Staff Association (MUSA) will have the opportunity to vote on the University's final offer that was tabled on Thursday, April 5. "The University has chosen to ask for the vote because we believe that all staff members should participate in a decision about whether to accept or reject the offer," said Karen Belaire, vice-president administration. "The University is also concerned about the length of time that a Compulsory Arbitration Board might require before resolution. We believe that the staff are entitled to as rapid a resolution as possible and one they control." MUSA has requested a Compulsory Arbitration Board (CAB) from the OLRB. A decision as to whether a CAB would take place would be handed down within 15 days. If a CAB is granted, there is a risk that the process could run for a lengthy period of time. Without a resolution, no part of the University's final offer could be implemented in that period, including those articles that both parties have already signed off on. Should the OLRB agree to the University's request for a supervised vote, it could take place as early as April 23. The MUSA negotiating team advised its members in an e-mail today to return to work on Monday, April 9. "We're pleased that MUSA has directed its workers to come back and we look forward to their return to work on Monday," says Belaire. (END OF STORY)

April 4, 2001

[img_inline align=”” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/meningitis1.jpg”] (END)

April 3, 2001

Athletics & Recreation announced yesterday its football "Team of the Century," a group of 24 outstanding Marauder football players from the 1930s to the present team. The "dream team" will be honoured on April 19 at the fourth annual Friends of Football Gala Reception and Dinner. The team was selected by a committee made up of past and present Marauder head coaches. The roster includes the late Syl Apps, Russ Jackson, Mel Hawkrigg, Mike Morreale, Kojo Aidoo and Ryan Janzen. To view the complete list, click here

April 3, 2001

McMaster University and the McMaster University Staff Association (MUSA) were both advised last Thursday by the mediator that a break would be of assistance to both sides in the negotiations. Prior to the break, the University and MUSA had signed off on 10 articles, the University was waiting for MUSA to deliver their response on 10 articles and the remaining articles had not been discussed in the latest round of negotiations. "MUSA has informed the mediator that they want to return to the table," said Alan Harrison, chair of the University's bargaining team. "MUSA has asked the University for additional articles and we will deliver those tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon. We are also hopeful that this call to the table from MUSA means that the union's bargaining team will return with their response to our material." The University and MUSA have both been in contact with the mediator and will resume bargaining on Wednesday with the mediator present.

April 3, 2001

McMaster's provost is heading West this summer to lead the University of Calgary. Harvey Weingarten's appointment as president of the Alberta institution was announced today in Calgary by the U of C board of governors. Weingarten takes up his official duties on Sept. 1. He is the university's seventh president. The news was conveyed to the McMaster community in an e-mail late this afternoon from University President Peter George. "This is a tremendous opportunity for Harvey, a wonderful choice by the University of Calgary and a loss for all of us at McMaster," said George, remarking that the University has benefited enormously from Weingarten's leadership, his scholarship and his deep commitment to post-secondary education. "I am delighted that he will be the next president at the University of Calgary and I look forward to working with him on many of the issues and challenges that are common to all universities in this country."

April 2, 2001

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/sitin01-final2.jpg”] A group of undergraduate and graduate students are occupying the main floor lobby of Gilmour Hall today in a move to pressure . . .

April 2, 2001

The 77th annual McMaster athletic awards banquet was held on March 29 to recognize the achievements of all Marauder student athletes. The theme of the evening was "Celebrating Marauder Excellence and Olympic Achievement," and former McMaster student-athletes and coaches who have been members of an Olympic Games Team were invited as special guests. Among those Olympians in attendance was Canada's head triathlon coach from the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Barrie Shepley. McMaster athletes who took home major awards were: * Sarah Dickson (swimming) , Edna Guest Award * Ben Chapdelaine (football) , Dr. Ray Johnson Award * Dani Everitt (basketball), Female Athlete of the Year * Kojo Aido (football) and Steve Maga (basketball), co-recipients, Ivor Wynne Award For more details about the award winners, and to view the list of MVP award winners for the various varsity sports, visit the Athletics & Recreation Web site. See also: Aidoo, Maga and Everitt named Mac's best(Hamilton Spectator) END OF STORY

April 2, 2001

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/kipling01-final.jpg”] How'd they do that? Engineering students spent some time “decorating” the Life Sciences building last week in celebration of March 30 and . . .

March 30, 2001

The University and the McMaster University Staff Association concluded five days of scheduled talks on Thursday evening (March 29). The mediator indicated to both sides that they should take time away from the table to assess their positions. The University's bargaining team believes the mediator's advice is important and it will now take time to review its proposals. Modest progress was made during the last set of negotiations. The two sides have now signed off on 10 articles of the contract and the University is waiting for MUSA's response to another 10 articles. There are currently 33 articles within the contract.