Daily News

August 24, 2000

On July 1, the new Office of Interdisciplinary Studies opened on the seventh floor of Togo Salmon Hall (TSH). The office, located in TSH-726, functions . . .

August 24, 2000

Fine weather, good company, new programs and free food created the perfect atmosphere for the launch of a new staff learning and development series. More than 600 staff turned out yesterday for a lunch-hour launch of Doorways, a series of learning programs for staff organized by Human Resources. "We're very pleased with the turnout; frankly, it was more than we were expecting," says Cathy Emick, acting human resources officer. The large number meant extra trips to the kitchen for food services staff to fill the barbecues with enough hotdogs and hamburgers to feed a long line of staff gathered in front of Burke Science.

August 23, 2000

Local author Robert Nielsen is on campus today (Wednesday, Aug. 23) signing copies of his new book, Total Encounters: The Life and Times of the . . .

August 23, 2000

The Ontario government is investing almost $1 million to expand medical school enrolment this September, health and long-term care minister Elizabeth Witmer announced today. "We are expanding enrolment immediately to ensure that all Ontarians have better access to physician services in the future," Witmer said. "An appropriate supply of physicians is crucial to maintaining a high standard of patient care throughout the province." A total of 40 new undergraduate positions will be added at the province's five medical schools this fall with 13 positions going to the University of Toronto, eight to McMaster University in Hamilton, seven each to the University of Ottawa and the University of Western Ontario in London, and five to Queen's University in Kingston. The announcement is based on a recommendation from the Expert Panel on Health Professional Human Resources, chaired by McMaster University President Peter George. To view the full release, visit the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Web site

August 22, 2000

McMaster geology professors Bill Morris and Joe Boyce are "thinking dirty" these days  dirty sediment that is. "Strong magnetic sediments are sitting on the bottom of Hamilton Harbour," says Morris. "Development of a remediation strategy requires a solid understanding of the depth and distribution of these contaminants." For years, Ontario's Great Lakes have been treated as a convenient dumping site for waste materials. With a long history of industrial activity and urban development, the harbour is considered a pollution "hot spot." Morris and Boyce, along with graduate student Matt Pozza, will be heading out on the lake on Aug. 22-24 to make the not so apparent, much more visible. They will be measuring the magnetic intensity across the harbour bed to determine the thickness and extent of the pollution particles that make up the core of the lake bed.

August 22, 2000

When Marauder football training camp opens this week, head coach Greg Marshall will be happy to have two familiar faces report to camp. Ryan Janzen . . .

August 21, 2000

A University staff member has qualified as one of the pool of contestant hopefuls for a chance to appear on the popular TV show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Jennifer Wesson-Howes, a part-time employee with physical plant and a Level III McMaster student, correctly answered the five telephone-qualifying questions on her third try. "I was really lucky," she says, adding that she did no research in preparation for the contest. Editor's note: When we posted this story this morning we wondered whether we would get calls from others on campus who have qualified for the show. We've since learned that Dale Stevens, research grants accountant in the Faculty of Health Sciences, has also qualified. Dale, a big trivia buff, succeeded on his fifth try. The sports trivia enthusiast says he was initially disappointed that none of the questions he had to answer were about sports. Then came the fifth question on his fifth try. And, as luck would have it, it was a sports question. He was asked to put the names of the following NHL players in the order in which they won the Hart Trophy. The answers, which Stevens knew and got correct, were 1. Gordie Howe 2. Bobby Orr 3. Wayne Gretzky and 4. Eric Lindros. "I got kind of lucky with that one; it was relatively easy to answer. They could have made it more difficult by asking for consecutive Hart trophy winners." Stevens plans to be at home next Monday, waiting by the telephone between 12 and 3 p.m., when contestants who make the final selection are notified. It's a call he doesn't want to miss, given how tough it has been to qualify. "I'm hopeful, but not optimistic. If it happens, it happens," says Stevens who, with his wife, watches the show every night.

August 21, 2000

It will be a full house at McMaster this fall. McMaster's 11 residences will be filled to capacity, the result of a successful recruitment strategy introduced this year. First-year students with averages of 75 and over were guaranteed a place in residence in admission offers from McMaster. "All incoming Level I students who met the residence application deadline and criteria have been accommodated. But we do have a waiting list of about 200 and we are advising these people to find other accommodation," says Mary Keyes, associate vice-president of student affairs.

August 21, 2000

Runners carrying water from Canada's Pacific and Arctic Oceans are jogging through the University campus today. The runners are part of Relay 2000 – a . . .

August 18, 2000

McMaster will receive approximately $600,000 for its Ontario Work Study Program (OWSP) this year, almost double the 1999-2000 amount. Liza Jamani, financial award administrator, Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships, notes that the increase "puts the University in a better position to increase the size of the envelope in addressing the post-secondary education costs for full-time students." More students will be able to access the funding as a result, she says.

August 17, 2000

Students will be visiting homes in the Ancaster, Dundas and Aldershot areas to raise awareness of the lack of funding for post-secondary students in Ontario. . . .

August 17, 2000

Web designers for CIS have been busy this summer creating a new McMaster home page. As in other years, members of the University community are being invited to view the sample home pages and to vote for the one they like best. "There are three designs to select from and viewers who cast votes for the page they like best will have an opportunity to enter a draw to win a prize. We welcome and appreciate feedback," says Muriel McKay, analyst, LAN support group, CIS. The last day to cast your vote for the page you like best is Aug. 22. To view the three choices, visit http://www.mcmaster.ca/homepage00/macvote.htm

August 17, 2000

McMaster scientists thrilled by $10m, see story in today's Aug. 17 Hamilton Spectator.

August 15, 2000

HAMILTON (August 15, 2000)  On behalf of Health Minister Allan Rock, Sheila Copps, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced today a Government of Canada investment of nearly $10 million to fund health research at McMaster University, through the CIHR. In making her announcement, Copps congratulated Hamilton area researchers and acknowledged the federal government's ongoing investment in health. The contribution of Hamilton's researchers in increasing our health science knowledge is a resource we must cultivate and maintain, she stated. Through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Hamilton researchers will continue to provide Canada's health care system with a sound scientific foundation. Today's announcement is part of the $194 million announced by Minister Rock and CIHR President Alan Bernstein earlier today in Alberta for national health research initiatives. The grants and awards will be allotted over five years and will provide a direct benefit to 647 health researchers across Canada.

August 15, 2000

An endorsement from the University Budget Committee means McMaster will offer its Honour Awards for a second year next fall. The news is being greeted enthusiastically by members of McMaster's Enrolment Management Team and the Faculty deans. "Acceptances of McMaster offers of admission by Ontario high school graduates have increased tremendously this year. We believe the two key reasons for this success are the new Honour Awards and the guaranteed residence for Level I students," says Fred Hall, associate vice-president academic and chair of the Enrolment Management Team.

August 14, 2000

For the second time in its seven-year history the McMaster University baseball team will play at Toronto's SkyDome. McMaster is one of six teams invited to play in this year's Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association First Pitch Classic tournament at the SkyDome on Friday, Sept. 8. The Marauders, the defending Ontario West Division Champion, are scheduled to play defending Ontario East Champion Durham College at 8 am. McMaster played in the inaugural First Pitch Classic against the University of Toronto in the fall of 1996. Two additional CIBA exhibition games and the Toronto Blue Jays game vs. the Detroit Tigers will follow McMaster's game. McMaster opens its regular season at Western on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. The Marauder baseball team will open at home on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. versus archrival and defending national champion Brock.

August 14, 2000

Since the beginning of 1999, the School of Business has hired five professors, but acting dean Willi Wiesner tells National Post reporter Sean Silcoff in Saturday's paper "that doesn't even begin to make a dent in the number we need." Weisner says the school needs at least 15 more professors "just to make people feel we're sort of on top of things." Enrolment at the school has grown by about 25 per cent in the past 10 years and is expected to grow that much in the next two, but the school is finding it difficult to attract and keep professors, who can expect to earn more at U.S. business schools. (National Post, Aug. 12, 2000)

August 14, 2000

First-year McMaster students who enroll in a Student Send-Off event in their local community get a head start on their university experience. The Send-Offs, to . . .

August 11, 2000

Hundreds of first-year students and their parents are visiting McMaster today to learn more about University life and what McMaster has to offer. Campus walkabouts, library and museum tours, and information sessions on everything from financing a university education to preparing for professional schools to succeeding at university are among the many planned activities. Students will also have an opportunity to learn more about campus clubs and student activities. Photo: A McMaster student speaks to visiting parents.

August 10, 2000

Pining for a cool, shady oasis during the palmy days of midsummer? Wouldn't you know it, the McMaster Museum of Art has the perfect solution: an indoor, air-conditioned exhibition that celebrates artists' conceptions of the tree. Called "Arboretum," the exhibition makes use of artworks from the permanent collection, one photograph and one sculpture, as well as several paintings and prints in a whole forest of styles.