Daily News

Posted on April 22: Carpooling program gears up at McMaster

Two heads really are better than one, especially when it comes to transportation at McMaster. May 2003 marks the launch of the University's new carpooling program for faculty, staff and graduate students. The pilot program, which will be evaluated and refined at the end of June, will become part of the regular slate of parking options offered at McMaster and will be extended to undergraduates for September. "We're hoping the Mac community will take advantage of some significant incentives we're offering," enthused Jennifer Dawson, ACT (Alternative Commuting & Transportation) Office co-ordinator. "Those who register their carpool during May will not only save on their monthly permit costs, but will be able to park in priority parking spaces chosen with their input." Employee and graduate student carpoolers will also be eligible for a limited number of Zone 2 and 3 carpool permits, to be released May 1. "Carpooling becomes even more attractive when you consider the long waiting lists for these prime parking zones," Dawson explained. "We're working hard to make carpooling an enticing commute option."

Posted on April 22: Studio art student exhibition opens

"....and then THE WORLD", the annual SUMMA exhibition featuring work by students graduating from the studio art program at McMaster's School of the Arts has opened at the McMaster Museum of Art. The exhibition, which runs until May 16, celebrates the academic accomplishments of 24 distinctive, emerging artists. This year's exhibition includes artwork in a wide range of media including painting, ceramics, sculpture and installation. The ideas and inspiration for this work spring from a wide variety of sources including personal experience, art history, literature and each other. The participating students will give a lunchtime talk about their work on Wednesday, April 23 at 12:30 p.m. and a public reception for the exhibition will be held the evening of Thursday, April 24 from 7-9 p.m. These events are free and everyone is welcome. SUMMA students have produced a digital exhibition catalogue.

Posted on April 21: Determining the quality of life for children with cerebral palsy

Researchers at CanChild and McGill University Health Centre are hoping to identify what determines the quality of life and participation for children with cerebral palsy (CP). By evaluating the relationship between intrinsic biomedical characteristics and extrinsic environmental attributes, researchers hope to assist health professionals in promoting supportive environments and interventions, to enable these children to participate more fully. The United Cerebral Palsy Research and Educational Foundation has awarded $99,166 (U.S. funds) for the two-year "Determinants of Life Quality in Children with Cerebral Palsy" study. CanChild's co-directors, Mary Law and Peter Rosenbaum are investigators on the study headed by Annette Majnemer, associate professor at the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research is located in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University.

Posted on April 17: McMaster crams in a van for the earth

What happens when you cram a mass of people into a McMaster Parking & Transit Services van? According to the Alternative Commuting & Transportation (ACT) office, you get a clear message about McMaster's parking situation. "We are stretched to the limits in terms of parking supply," says Daryl Bender, ACT co-ordinator. "We don't have a lot of green space left to pave over." He hopes the Van Cram, which highlights Earth Day celebrations at McMaster Tuesday, April 22, will raise awareness of alternative modes of transportation that people can take to class or work. The van will be located in Zone 2 parking, across from the McMaster University Student Centre. There will also be a barbecue and rides around campus on a Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) bus. A tent will be set up, and there will be booths staffed by HSR and MacCycle, who will be on hand to answer questions about cycling and bike repairs. To further encourage the use of alternative transportation, free HSR bus tickets will be distributed at the Compass Information Desk in the McMaster University Student Centre and at the security desk at the downtown centre. Tickets will be available Thursday and Monday. An ACT carpooling initiative will also kick off, encouraging people to register to McMaster's new web-based ride-matching system. Earth Day celebrations will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The barbecue will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and a hamburger and pop can be purchased for $2.

Posted on April 17: SARS update to McMaster community

As we approach the Easter long weekend, many people will be traveling and visiting with friends and family. Local health officials wish to remind everyone to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). There continues to be no cases of SARS in Hamilton. Some individuals have undergone precautionary quarantine measures. Hamilton Health Sciences and other Hamilton hospitals continue to implement the access restrictions and precautions as directed by the provincial government in an effort to avoid further spread of the disease. McMaster's crisis management team has established a SARS subcommittee to closely monitor related information and provide updates and direction to the McMaster community. Ongoing updates will be available on the mcmaster.ca Web site at http://www.mcmaster.ca/sarsupdate.html. A direct link is provided from the homepage. The Web site will also provide additional Web sites and phone numbers of resources to contact for further information.