Daily News

September 18, 2000

McMaster University is well represented at the Sydney Olympics by alumni, staff, former students and coaches. Although she competes in a variety of swimming events, 23-year-old Joanne Malar, a former McMaster swim team member, went into these Olympics hoping to shine in the 200- and 400-metre individual medley (IM) meets. Malar finished seventh in the 400-metre competition, and fifth in the 200 IM, which took place early this morning (Sept. 19). It is expected that this will be her last Olympics. Level III social sciences student Janet Cook, 21, who swims with the McMaster-based Hamilton-Wentworth Aquatic Club as well as the varsity swim team, qualified with a sixth-place finish in the women's 4x100-metre freestyle relay Olympic trials. She is coached by McMaster's Gaye Stratten.

September 18, 2000

Ancient Greece together with the grandeur of Rome at the height of its power have inspired artists throughout the ages. This was particularly true in . . .

September 15, 2000

The future of health sciences education and research was front and centre as officials from the Ontario Government, Mohawk College and McMaster University officially opened a shared Institute for Applied Health Sciences (IAHS)on Friday, Sept. 15. "This institute represents a major step forward in providing training for the high-quality health care professionals Ontario needs," said Dianne Cunningham, minister of training, colleges and universities. The $25.85 million, four-storey facility is a unique partnership of two health care educators. Located at the McMaster campus, it is home to 1,200 full-time and 3,500 part-time students from both Mohawk College and McMaster University. For a "virtual tour" of the institute, click on Read More below and scroll down to the photographs. Photo right: Education minister Dianne Cunningham speaks at institute opening

September 15, 2000

The grand opening of the new Mohawk-McMaster Institute for Applied Health Sciences takes place at 11 a.m. today (Sept. 15). The institute is a one-of-a-kind partnership in health sciences education and research. It is home to 1,200 full-time and 3,500 part-time students from both Mohawk College and McMaster University. The opening ceremonies will be held in the building atrium.

September 14, 2000

The eighth annual Mahatma Gandhi Peace Festival on Saturday, Sept. 30 will include a peace walk in Hamilton's downtown, speeches, music, community displays and refreshments. . . .

September 13, 2000

The University's first cyberspace career fair is up and running. Established by the Career Planning and Employment Centre and funded by the McMaster Students Union . . .

September 13, 2000

The McMaster Celebrity 2000-01 Concerts series, organized by the School of Art, Drama & Music, features a wide range of soloists, instruments and musical styles. From bagpipes, piano and cello, to early music, Celtic and jazz -- the series covers the full musical spectrum. The September concert, however, is notable for showcasing the three areas of study within the school. A Song of Lilith (Sept. 29) tells the legend of Adam's first wife through art, narrative and music. Written by Canadian author Joy Kogawa, who will deliver the narrative, the production features actor Moira Wylie, with musicians Erika Raum (violin), Clare Scholtz (English horn), Julie Baumgartel (violin), Kathleen Kajioka (viola) and Kristine Bogyo (cello). "We're really excited about this production," says Rose Riopelle, admininistrative co-ordinator for the school. "It's playing at some important venues across Canada, so we're pleased it's coming to McMaster."

September 12, 2000

Nominations for teaching and non-teaching staff vacancies on the University Planning Committee closed on Friday Sept. 8. No additional nominations were received, so the nominees . . .

September 12, 2000

The Michael G. DeGroote School of Business has formally entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indian Institute of Management-Lucknow (IIM-L) to promote graduate students and faculty exchanges and collaborative research between the two institutions. Naresh Agarwal, professor of human resources and PhD program co-ordinator, was instrumental in initiating this relationship with IIM-L and represented McMaster University at the signing of the MOU earlier this summer. Agarwal emphasized the need for students as well as faculty to get international exposure for familiarization with current global as well as transnational perspectives. The agreement marks the foray of McMaster University into India."Our goal is to become global and internationalize the prospectus and curriculum of both institutions" Agarwal. He added that a key strength of IIM-L is their management development and outreach program, while the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business is strong in research and innovation. Describing the partnership as the beginning of a relationship between equals, Agarwal said IIM-L was the preferred institute because of its excellent growth rate. "The kind of set up they have established over the last 15 years is indicative of the immense potential of the institute," he added.

September 12, 2000

The Career Planning and Employment Centre today launches McMaster's first annual Virtual Career Fair (VCF)and the all new Career Links Program. Students are invited to visit the tent located in front of the Burke Science Building for a host of exciting events with tons of free giveaways. Starting at 9:30 a.m. computer stations will be available where you can view the VCF. At 10:30 a.m. try out the Twister Game for prizes game, a speakers corner and tons of free giveaways! Starting at 11:45 a.m. the VCF, followed by Career Links, will be launched inside the tent by a number of local dignitaries. The Survivor Series commences at 1 p.m. Come out and cheer on your student faculty president, the MSU president or the Maroons president as they compete in a series of crazy activities that will test their ability, agility and sensibility! Be part of the tribal council that votes two people off after each event!

September 11, 2000

Each September, the University experiences an influx of new faces. These include first-year undergraduates and new graduate students and faculty members. Eventually, most of them will find their way to one of the campus libraries and will need assistance to use one of the many print or electronic search aids. McMaster's libraries - Mills Memorial, H.G. Thode Library of Science & Engineering, and the Innis Business Library - offer an instruction program which includes tours and hands-on training in the use of electronic resources. At Mills, librarians conduct 45-minute sessions in a specially equipped electronic classroom where up to 30 students learn about the libraries and their services, and practice using the online catalogue and other electronic tools. Sessions can also be tailored to particular courses and professors are encouraged to arrange library instruction for their classes. To view Library instruction sessions and times,

September 11, 2000

In the opening week of varsity action the football and baseball teams picked up right were they left off last season. In front of a . . .

September 8, 2000

A new seminar series developed specifically for University chairs and directors and administrative co-ordinators begins today. About 40 people, many of them new to their positions, are expected to attend the first seminar, which will provide an orientation to academic administration. The goal of this seminar series is to increase even further the quality of administration across academic departments and programs, says University provost and vice-president academic Harvey Weingarten. These seminars will provide a forum for effective, easy and efficient bilateral communication between the academic administrators in the departments and schools and at more senior levels. They will also provide the opportunity for focused training on matters and processes that are important to administration of the academy. The series will help to ensure that departments and schools have the skills and knowledge to operate in an administrative environment that has become increasingly complex and regulated. Department chairs, directors and administrators will also be better equipped to deal with staff and faculty recruitment and management issues, says Weingarten. "These seminars should help address some of the concerns raised by employees in the Reacon survey."

September 5, 2000

Police officers on bicycles and in patrol cars will spend more time in West Hamilton this week. Although the number of complaints about noisy parties has decreased over the past few years, Regional Police and city noise by-law officers are working together with McMaster to try to ensure students understand that the community expects a certain level of behaviour. "Most students are great," says chief noise control officer Frank Westaway. "But there are times that parties get too big and when you throw in alcohol there are plenty of potential problems." One common misunderstanding students often have is that noisy parties or playing a stereo outside is okay if it's in the middle of the day. Westaway says it's a common myth that noise is fine until 11 p.m. It isn't. "The noise bylaw is in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Everyone who lives in the house can be charged if there's too much noise. My message to students is be part of the solution, not part of the problem."

September 1, 2000

The University's Student Liaison Office is gearing up for what is expected to be one of the largest recruitment fairs ever. Based on the numbers which attended last year, the 2000 Ontario Universities' Fair, which runs from September 22 to 24 at the Toronto Metro Convention Centre, could attract over 40,000 OAC students and their parents. "Our main objective is to provide information and answer questions, with an emphasis on one-to-one personal contact," says Bonnie Crocker, liaison officer. Representatives from over 17 McMaster academic areas and service departments such as housing and student financial aid will be on hand during the three-day event. "We hope to create an interest in McMaster, especially for those students who are still undecided (about their choice of institution)." A total of over 130 McMaster faculty and staff will be helping outat the University's booth. "We really couldn't do this without them," Crocker says.

September 1, 2000

Teaching assistants (TAs) at McMaster University will gear up for a new academic year at TA Day 2000  a series of workshops that help TAs deal with undergraduate teaching issues. The position of teaching assistant can be difficult, especially when TAs are just a couple of years older than their students. Hosted by the Centre for Leadership in Learning, the one-day event begins today at 8:30 a.m. in the Burke Science Building. New and veteran teaching assistants alike will acquire skills that one would typically learn at teacher's college. Workshops will address pre-class jitters, lesson preparation, learning styles, psychology and evaluation, to name a few. Additionally, TAs will learn how to handle the more delicate teaching issues, such as plagiarism and harassment.

September 1, 2000

Welcome Week has already started and organizers have been kept busy greeting over 4,000 new undergraduates. Events, which officially began on Sunday, Sept. 3, continue . . .

August 31, 2000

McMaster's first ever cyberspace career fair is proving to be a popular idea with recruiting companies. So far more than 38 have signed up to take part in the three-week virtual event. Established by the Career Planning and Employment Centre and funded by the McMaster Students Union (MSU), the site will be active from September 11 to 29. It is intended to complement the on-campus Career Day which will be held on September 21 at the Ivor Wynne Centre from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

August 31, 2000

Hi-tech training on campus will have a new place to call home this fall. The Centre for Continuing Education, Computing Information Services (CIS) and Fifth Era Knowledge Inc. have joined together to open the Information Technology Centre on the McMaster campus.

August 31, 2000

McMaster's web site and email services were back to normal after problems on Wednesday. The company that manages domain names across the country incorrectly made some changes to the University's domain name. The problem was corrected Wednesday night. The glitch meant anyone trying to access McMaster's web site from off campus couldn't get through. Email service was also disrupted. Barb Campbell, the departmental manager in Computing and Information Services (CIS) says all email messages to off-campus sites that were delayed yesterday have now been sent. Email messages that were sent to McMaster from off-campus have also been delivered.