Daily News

Posted on April 3: McMaster students approve building fee for new multi-sport/wellness complex

McMaster students have voted in favour of paying a levy that will support the construction of a new multi-sport wellness complex. Full-time undergraduate students chose an option that will see them pay $2 per unit commencing in 2003 followed by $2.55 per unit commencing in 2006 and increasing to $4.45 per unit commencing in 2012. (The last increment coincides with the projected retirement of the McMaster University Student Centre levy ($2.59 per unit to a maximum of 30 units) that students are paying.) "It's fantastic news," said Sam Minniti, former McMaster Students Union president and student chair of the "Yes" vote campaign. "For most students it means $60 or less a year for a tremendous new facility." Athletics & Recreation director Therese Quigley said she was pleased with the results of the vote. "We're excited about the possibilities of what we can provide to the McMaster community, especially in light of the access constraints and issues we've been managing," said Quigley. "There's lots of exciting work ahead." A total of 1,450 students voted yes in the student-run referendum while 984 voted no. Quigley said the next step is to form a users' committee to begin the planning process for the new facility. The proposal for the multi-sport/wellness complex at the north end of the Ivor Wynne Centre calls for a triple gymnasia, indoor track, the Pulse fitness centre three times larger than it is today, new locker rooms, a wellness centre and an expanded sport medicine clinic. McMaster students will contribute $20 million through the approved annual building fee per student and the University is contributing $10 million to this project.

Posted on April 3: Funding boosts research and development in earth and space

The Centre for Research in Earth and Space Technology (CRESTech) is investing in four innovative research and development projects at McMaster. McMaster's recipients are: Yiping Guo, assistant professor of civil engineering, will receive $22,785 from the Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation (MEOI) for his project called, "Transferring analytical probabilistic storm-water models to practicing water resources engineers". Other support includes $7,785 in-kind from Alan A. Smith Inc and $15,000 from Weslake Inc. Daniel Ewing, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, will receive $35,000 from MEOI for, "Investigation of pollutant removal by advanced EGR cooling devices for diesel engines". Other support includes $30,000 and $17,000 in-kind from Dana Corp. William Morris, geography and geology professor, will receive $76,050 from MEOI for, "Hyperspectral imagery calibration and data integration with gradient airborne magnetometry for mineral exploration: Sudbury Basin and Cuprite, Nevada". Other support includes $75,000 in-kind from R.J. Burnside & Assoc., $40,000 in-kind from Falconbridge/Noranda and $10,000 in-kind from the Institute for Aerospaces Research NRC. Jim Smith, assistant professor of geography and geology will receive $57,580 from MEOI for, "An ecologically friendly remediation technology for subsurface pesticide contamination". Other support includes $16,020 from McMaster; $18,900 in-kind from National Water Research Institute; $8,500 in-kind from Parks Canada; and $9,600 in-kind from Acres & Assoc. Envir. CRESTech is investing $6.7 million in a total of 55 R&D projects at 13 Ontario universities and colleges beginning April 1, 2003.

Posted on April 2: MACycle Co-op hosts upcoming art show

The bicycle as art. An interesting idea and one that MACycle Co-op encourages people to explore at The MACycle Bike Show Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the marketplace at the McMaster University Student Centre. More than 15 individuals will be presenting pieces of bicycle related art. Submissions are expected from students at McMaster as well as outside community members, artists, and bike enthusiasts. "The key learning objective of the art show is to illustrate how the bicycle is a cultural and social image. It is the challenge of the "artists" to create art that conveys this notion to the audience," says Alexandra Tarkowski, an organizer of the event. "It is hoped that the audience will see that the bike is more than a mode of transportation - it is a cultural icon. The bicycle can represent a road to health, both mental and physical, or freedom from the confines of a car-dependent lifestyle." The MACycle Co-op, launched September 2002, services all members of the McMaster and Hamilton community. The mission of MACycle Co-op is to promote cycling both as an alternative mode of transportation and as a form of recreation. This is achieved through a not-for-profit workshop, bike repair courses, a cycling resource centre and the organization of special events to encourage cycling. In order to provide these services, a one-time membership fee for students is $10 and $15 for faculty and staff.