Daily News

Posted on April 22: McMaster launches action plan to protect the environment

McMaster's Environmental Steering Committee has set in action an environmental plan that will examine ecological issues at McMaster, such as solid waste, air quality and energy use. "The Environmental Steering Committee's work over the past year has largely focused on the establishment of an appropriate framework to assess current performance and measure future development in various environmental issues," says Linda Axford, university planner and member of the committee. In developing an Environmental Action Plan, the committee explored a Campus Sustainability Assessment Framework (CSAF) -- a model that has been implemented at other university campuses to set specific targets for continuous improvement. "While the CSAF defines very specific indicators to measure sustainable development, such indicators require research and adjustment to suit McMaster's needs," Axford says.

Posted on April 21: Students, residents reuse items and reduce waste

As spring approaches the buds will bloom, the sun will get warmer, and inevitably students will move out. With move-out comes unwanted, yet reusable, household goods. In 2001, the McMaster Students Union Environment Committee organized an event called Dump & Run to decrease the number of reusable items that are sent to the dump by the campus community during the student move-out in April and May. In 2004, the Environmental Committee has been renamed to MACgreen, and the Dump & Run has become Swap-O-Rama. During Swap-O-Rama, which runs from Friday, April 23 to Sunday, April 25, students and residents in the areas surrounding McMaster University are encouraged to put out reusable items that they no longer use that could benefit someone else. Other students and residents are then encouraged to prowl the streets of West Hamilton, taking items that they need. "The Swap-O-Rama provides a method of exchanging and passing on potentially useful old things that students and residents no longer want," explains Justin Grenier, events co-ordinator for MACgreen. "People can put out everything from furniture to utensils. The only requirement is that items have to be able to be used again."

Posted on April 20: Board of Governors approves botanical atrium, endowed chairs, tuition fees

A botanical atrium at the front of the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery (MDCL) will enhance campus and five endowed chairs will recruit and retain outstanding scholars. These were just two of the items approved by McMaster's Board of Governors last week, during a special meeting in the Psychology Building. Prior to a tour of the newly renovated facilities, the Board celebrated the significance of a $105-million donation from Michael G. DeGroote to McMaster, by approving the construction of an atrium that will be added to the front of MDCL. The atrium, to be constructed at the east of the front entrance, will include botanical features and a "floating meeting room" at the third-floor level. "The atrium is spectacular," said Board member Edward Minich. "It will really set off University Ave. and give the building a sense of an open, welcome area. It will open up the whole campus." The approximately $4-million "winter garden atrium" will be funded from the Michael G. DeGroote donation.