Daily News

Posted on March 23: Budget process update to McMaster community

Like other Ontario universities, McMaster is preparing to face some significant fiscal challenges in the next three years. The University has always taken a prudent approach to budget planning and forecasting which traditionally serves us well for short and long term fiscal planning. Although there are challenges to be addressed, our goal is to continue to be prudent and to maintain our focus on the University's strategic goals as established in Refining Directions. The Budget Committee (a sub-committee of the University Planning Committee charged with advising the President on the annual operating budget for approval by the Board of Governors) believes that it is important to share the nature and extent of the challenge with members of the McMaster community at this early stage of the budget process. To this end, we have scheduled two public information sessions as follows: Wednesday, March 31, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Council Room, Gilmour Hall-111 Monday, April 5, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Council Room, Gilmour Hall-111 To set the context for the information sessions, our best estimate at this time is that aggregate revenue in 2004/05 will be a minimum of $4 million less than the amount that would be necessary to sustain operations at current levels. As a result, budget managers have been asked to prepare 2004/05 budgets based on funding allocations that will fall short of their expected increases in costs. Further, unless circumstances change markedly, the revenue shortfall is likely to be substantially greater in 2005/06 and 2006/07.

Posted on March 23: McMaster celebrates athletic excellence

McMaster's Department of Athletics and Recreation announced the award winners for 2003/2004 at the annual athletic awards presentation and celebration Monday. The Ivor Wynne Award for the Male Athlete of the Year was shared between McMaster basketball all-Canadian Adam Guiney and McMaster football all-Canadian Jesse Lumsden. The Female Athlete of the Year Award was presented to CIS gold medal winning wrestler Pam Wilson. The Dr. Ray Johnson trophy for the graduating player that demonstrates leadership on and off the field while exhibiting the "Spirit of McMaster" was awarded to OUA all around men's rugby player of the year Harry Cheung. The Dr. Edna Guest Award for the graduating player that participated in varsity sports each year at McMaster that displays outstanding athletic ability and the "Spirit of McMaster" is co-president of the McMaster Athletic Council, and women's volleyball player Deborah VanBolderen.

Posted on March 22: Lecture explores human health in a changing world

Unprecedented change in the 20th century has cost human health a great deal, according to epidemiologist John Last, who will present a lecture this week. Hosted by the McMaster Institute of Environment and Health and the Hamilton Industrial Environmental Association, the lecture, entitled, "Human Health in a Changing World," will take place Wednesday, March 24 at 7 p.m., with a reception at 6 p.m. It will be held at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, 555 Bay St. North, Hamilton. Last is emeritus professor of epidemiology at the University of Ottawa. He is Australian born and educated and is the author or editor of 15 books, many peer-reviewed articles, official reports and other publications on a range of topics in epidemiology and public health, including recent review articles on the health impacts of global ecosystem changes and on environmental or ecological ethics. He has been an expert advisor for the Government of Canada, the US National Institutes of Health, and the World Health Organization on many occasions over the past 35 to 40 years. All are welcome to attend this free event.

Posted on March 22: Public meeting shares proposed designs for new front entrance

Preliminary plans for a new "front door" into McMaster University will be on display Tuesday in the McMaster University Student Centre Donaldson Family Marketplace. Hosted by the McMaster University Front Entrance Steering Committee, the public meeting will share proposed designs for the campus entrance from Main Street opposite Emerson Street. It will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. Representatives from the project consulting firm Marshall Macklin Monaghan and the project steering committee will be present to discuss the plans and answer questions. The entrance, known as the University Gate, will be the "front door" for campus, although the main entrance to campus from Sterling Street will be maintained. Four options for the new entrance will be displayed, with a conceptual drawing of the preferred "option 1". The drawings will include information about pedestrian, cycling, transit and vehicular access.