Daily News

Posted on Jan. 8: McMaster student named Rhodes scholar

McMaster University student Maureen Hogan has been awarded a prestigious Rhodes scholarship. The Newfoundland native, who is a third-year medical student, received the news that she has been selected as her province's representative among the 11 Canadian Rhodes scholars for 2004. The scholarships, valued at $100,000 each, provide students from around the world the opportunity to study at the University of Oxford in England for two to three years. Maureen, 23, plans to study for her masters of science in research beginning in October 2004. Her program in the neurogenetics of mental illness will be self-directed, a way of learning she appreciated during her medical training at McMaster. "I'm excited about the opportunity to study with people from all over the world and exchange different viewpoints. I'm also looking forward to consolidating what I've learned so far, and to broaden my knowledge of mental illness."

Posted on Jan. 7: Students bike, walk 24 non-stop hours for women

Beginning today at 9 a.m., Naomi Amaria will experience one of the most demanding challenges of her life. The third-year women studies student is riding a stationary bike non-stop for the next 24 hours in an effort to raise awareness about women's studies. She's joined by women's studies students Jim J|tte on a stationary bike and Kim Clarke on a treadmill, who are participating in the Walk and Ride for Women event in the McMaster University Student Centre. The challenge is presented by the newly created McMaster Student's Women's Studies Society. "This is going to be one of the hardest physical challenges of my entire life," says Amaria, "but it's a physical challenge. My emotions, my dignity, my pride and my self-esteem are not on the line this time." The trio began at 9 am this morning and will continue until 9 a.m. Thursday. In the meantime, they hope others will see them and be inspired. "We hope to raise awareness at McMaster and also in the community about women's issues and the need for the women's studies program," J|tte says.

Posted on Jan. 6: Vital signs of McMaster’s Emergency First Response team

It's 4:30 a.m. and all is calm in the Emergency First Response Team (EFRT) office. With the occasional yawn, the on-call emergency responders rub their eyes in an effort to stay awake. They pass the time doing homework, playing cards or just talking about life. When they're tired, they steal to EFRT's bedroom for a nap. Then without warning, the dispatch sounds and the team is called to an emergency on campus. They have two minutes to get there. The atmosphere undergoes a quick transformation. Immediately, the three-member team begins to prepare. They put on their fully-equipped backpacks and grab their bikes, they adjust their psyche into medical responder mode, and they prime themselves for anything it could be as simple as a slip and fall; it could be as deadly as a cardiac arrest. "It's really a nerve-racking experience to hear the tone go off in the middle of the night," admits Brenna Ammons, first-year EFRT member and bachelor of health sciences student. "You have to calm down, relax and listen to the dispatch carefully so you know where to go." When they arrive on scene, they immediately assess the situation. They've learned every call is unique.

Posted on Jan. 5: India’s women are keeping the peace

Resolving conflict and making peace within India's local community has one non-governmental organization working with officials at home and abroad to use a secret tool that's as old as mankind women. Rama Singh, founder and chair of Hamilton's annual Gandhi Peace Festival, is working with this year's Gandhi Peace Lecturer Acharya Ramamurti through McMaster's Centre for Peace Studies to bring attention and support to the Women's Shanti Sena (WSS), a program that educates women about their rights and responsibilities. He's visiting India in February to help with the program. "Many of India's rural women are illiterate, but that doesn't mean they're ignorant or uneducated," says Singh. "They face the issues of daily life in a village so they know what the challenges are and they have ideas about how to fix those challenges but first they need to know they can speak up."

Posted on Dec. 24: Happy Holidays

Happy holidays from McMaster. The University will be closed from Thursday, Dec. 25 to Monday, Jan. 5, when classes will resume. Most campus services are closed for the holiday period. For a listing of dining facility operating hours visit Hospitality Services. Click McMaster Libraries for library hours of operation. Security will be on duty throughout the holiday period, providing services 24 hours a day. Officers will be patrolling campus, answering alarms and monitoring security systems. For assistance, call security at ext. 24281. The Daily News returns Monday, Jan. 5. Photo caption: McMaster President Peter George and his wife Reverend Allison Barrett, pose with McMaster students in front of the fireplace in the McMaster University Student Centre for the President's annual greeting card. Photo credit: Ron Scheffler