Daily News

Posted on May 1: McMaster cheerleaders crowned Open Series champions

The McMaster University co-ed cheerleading team has been named the Cheerleaders of America (COA) 2003 Grand National Open Series Champion for Co-Ed Divisions 1 and 1A combined. McMaster qualified for the Grand National Championship by placing first in the COA Niagara Falls Open on April 5, 2003. McMaster's score (341.00 out of a possible 400) was then ranked against the top Division 1/1A scores from each of the COA's eight other regional competitions (Alabama, California, Florida, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, and Texas) to determine a Grand National Champion. McMaster also announced a new partnership between the McMaster Co-Ed Cheerleading Team and the National Champion CheerForce Wolfpack from Burlington. For the 2003-2004 season, CheerForce Wolfpack founders, Frank Vurro and Chris Hollingsworth will join Carrie Lillyman as part of the coaching staff at McMaster, replacing Amy Ban and Simone Rose who have retired from coaching at McMaster after long and dedicated careers. The CheerForce Wolfpack will have more than 200 cheerleaders in their organization in 2003, and will provide a development system for the McMaster cheerleading team as well as access to facility space, in their new 5,000-square-foot complex to be opened in June 2003 in Oakville. McMaster placed fourth in the 2002 Canadian University National Championships held November 23, 2002 at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario only 26 points (out of 600) behind the National Champions from The University of Western Ontario.

Posted on May 1: He lives and breathes student life

It was exceptionally quiet in his room. Hours had passed since the last student shoved a ballot into a voting box. After months of campaigning, Neville Boney could do nothing but wait. It wouldn't be long until he would find out if he would assume the very big responsibility of McMaster Students Union (MSU) president at one of the most monumental times in university history -- the year of the double cohort. As 2 a.m. rolled around, Boney had the same sinking feeling he did two years earlier when he lost the 2001/02 MSU presidential election to Sam Minniti. Then the phone rang. "Neville, we have a bit of an issue with tabulating the votes." The feeling sunk deeper. "Maybe you should come in." Silence. "We're just kidding Neville. You won! You won!" Since that unforgettable night, Boney has had barely a second to let it sink in. But he knows he is becoming president at a crucial time in university history, when twice as many high school students are seeking entrance into university. "The double cohort is sort of a big blink in a trend of more students going to university," he says. "We have some huge changes in terms of space and location and we really need to ensure that we don't go off track."

Posted on April 30: Three McMaster football players selected in CFL draft

Three McMaster Marauder Football players were selected in the Canadian Football League (CFL) Canadian College Draft held today. Running Back, Kojo Aidoo, was taken by the Edmonton Eskimos as the first pick in the second round (10th overall). The 6'0", 240 lb Aidoo was the 2001 Howard Mackie Award Recipient as the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Male Athlete of the Year, and the 2000 Hec Crighton Award Recipient as the Most Outstanding CIS Football Player. The Oakville, Ontario resident holds the OUA Record for most career touchdowns with 39. McMaster Linebacker, Ray Mariuz, was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts with their first pick in the fourth round (28th overall). The 6'3", 226 lb, Mariuz was a first-team All-Canadian in 2002 and captured the President's Trophy as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the OUA. The native of Mississauga, Ontario had 30 solo tackles and 14 assisted in the 2002 Yates Cup winning season. Mariuz is a multi-year RBC Academic All-Canadian. Mike Botterill was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes 51st overall (seventh pick in the sixth round). The 6'2", 228 lb linebacker was a First-Team OUA All-Star and the Dalt White Award winner as the MVP of the Yates Cup in 2002. The product of Belleville, Ontario recorded 21 tackles and 1 fumble return last season. The players will report to camp in Mid-June, both Ray Mariuz and Mike Botterill are eligible to return for a fifth season at McMaster. For more information visit www.cfl.ca.

Posted on April 30: Board of Governors meeting highlights

Highlights from the April 24 Board of Governors meeting Vision for aboriginal health care Chief Roberta Jamieson of the Six Nations of the Grand River addressed a growing need for first nations health care professionals, at McMaster's Board of Governors meeting. In her presentation, she sought a commitment from McMaster to partner with the 2020 Vision Strategy to increase the number of aboriginal health care professionals. "We want our children to be on track by 2020 to have essential health care jobs," she said, adding the strategy is that by 2020, there will be an additional 40 aboriginal doctors, 60 aboriginal nurses ad 100 other aboriginal health care professionals and technicians. "Chief Jamieson and the Faculty of Health Sciences are on the same page," said Faculty of Health Sciences dean John Kelton, noting the University has an obligation and an opportunity to work with the Six Nations in addressing their health care needs. 'Culture of conversation' McMaster's strategic planning document entitled 'Refining Directions' sees the University as one of the top three Canadian universities in undergraduate and graduate education, said provost Ken Norrie. "In graduate education we are there," he said. "But in undergraduate education ... this is something we need to put some effort into." Refining Directions reinforces the University's "culture of innovation," and encourages and supports a "culture of conversation", he says, adding one of the document's most critical key success factors is securing adequate revenue. Three open sessions are scheduled over the next two weeks for employees to learn more about the draft Refining Directions report and provide their input. The sessions are scheduled for: Wednesday, April 30 3:30-4:30, GH-111 Friday, May 2 10-11 a.m., DTC-214, 215, 216 Friday, May 9 9-10 a.m., PC-155 The Refining Directions document can be viewed online at http://www.mcmaster.ca/pres/refining.html. The final report will be presented to the Board of Governors for approval in June. "We hope that each member of the McMaster family will be able to look at this and see themselves in this document," said McMaster President Peter George. "We hope you will find the Refining Directions document challenging, stimulating and encouraging." Vintage restoration Alumni Memorial Hall will undergo approximately $1.6 million in renovations and building upgrades that conforms to current building codes, is accessible to persons with disabilities and provides an appropriate setting for a showcase dining and function facility. "As with other buildings of this vintage, it is in need of upgrading and an opportunity has arisen through a financial partnership with the University Club to perform several improvements," says Physical Plant director Tony Cupido in a report to the Planning and Building Committee. "These proposed improvements include washroom upgrades, elevator and other accessibility improvements, kitchen upgrades and cosmetic features." The 53-year-old facility is designated an historic building on campus and mainly occupied by the University Club, with the remaining space currently occupied by University Advancement staff. Hamilton on display Commonwealth Games Federation members from around the world, including Africa, Asia, the Pacific shores and the Caribbean, will visit Hamilton between June and September. Delegates will be presented Hamilton's bid book, a 40-page document that represents the City of Hamilton's commitment to vie for the honour of host city of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, said Roger Trull, vice-president of University Advancement, to the Board. Hamilton, which hosted and launched the first-ever British Empire Games now the Commonwealth Games in 1930, is competing against New Delhi, which has never hosted the Games. A decision will be announced Nov. 13, 2003.

Posted on April 30: Indigenous Studies helps preserve botanical legacy

McMaster's Indigenous Studies Program is partnering with Ontario's Royal Botanical Gardens and Six Nations Polytechnic in an effort to preserve the botanical legacy of the Six Nations people. The one-year Community Leader in Indigenous Ethnobotany project enables a Six Nations member to train, research and document information on the knowledge and uses of plants by indigenous peoples. The three partners, in collaboration with the Six Nations community, will provide assistance and expertise. The Museums Assistance Program of the Federal Department of Canadian Heritage has invested funds to support the work. This project advances Six Nations' goals to address the imminent loss of current and historical knowledge about culturally significant plants, and to develop a leader who can keep this knowledge alive. It will also advance Royal Botanical Gardens' goals to document and conserve plant habitat and species at risk. Leading the project is Pat Hess, a Cayuga from the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve. She is enrolled in Honours Anthropology at McMaster University, where she also has a Minor in Indigenous Studies. "It is my dream in some small way to be able to help my community; I believe that this is definitely going to be a community-inclusive effort to restore and archive our knowledge for the youth and future generations," she said. Dawn Martin-Hill, director of Indigenous Studies at McMaster University, said the program is a component of the Six Nations community's efforts to preserve indigenous knowledge. "This relationship will benefit our community by identifying and documenting plant life that is vulnerable or extirpated at Six Nations," she said. Royal Botanical Gardens promotes public understanding of the relationship between humanity and nature. Gardens staff will assist with documenting the status of key plant species on the Six Nations reserve, and develop habitat conservation strategies. Cultural information about the plants, such as their various medicinal uses, will be curated by Ms. Hess and will be archived at Six Nations. "All project content will be controlled through extensive community consultations, which will determine ways in which the indigenous knowledge will be stored and preserved," explained Martin-Hill. "We are thankful for Royal Botanical Gardens' support and commitment and we're pleased that Pat Hess has agreed to take on this endeavour of conservation."