Daily News

Posted on Nov. 18: First loss of season a blow to Marauders

In the first of two Canadian Interuniversity Sport football national semi-finals, the Saint Mary's Huskies defeated the No.1 ranked and previously unbeaten McMaster Marauders 36-25 on Saturday afternoon in front of a capacity crowd of more than 6,400 at Les Prince Field to claim the Churchill Bowl and earn a berth in a second straight Vanier Cup. Next Saturday at Skydome in Toronto, the Huskies will try to become the first team since the Western Ontario Mustangs in 1976 and 1977, and the third in history, to repeat as CIS champions. The contest marked the first ever appearance for an Atlantic team in the Churchill Bowl. For OUA champion McMaster, it also marked a third consecutive loss in a national semi-final. The Marauders lost to Ottawa in 2000 and Manitoba in 2001.

Posted on Nov. 18: Security cameras lead to arrest

Security cameras on campus proved their worth over the weekend. About 3 a.m. Sunday, a student was walking to her car in Zone 4 parking when she was assaulted. An alert operator saw the attack on video surveillance and officers were on the scene within three minutes. The student was frightened and shaken up but there were no serious physical injuries. Officers nabbed the suspect just minutes later after a short foot chase. "Security for people on campus is our number-one priority," says Bill Armstrong, operations manager for McMaster security. "The operators did a first-rate job and everyone involved deserves tremendous credit for acting quickly. The video cameras are an important part of our work not only to catch crimes in action but also to provide clear evidence when a case goes to court." The Hamilton Police sex assault unit is working with security on the case. The suspect is in custody and it's expected that charges will be laid later on Monday. Armstrong says it's important that people keep their safety in mind and recommends not walking alone, particularly after dark. There are red security phones across campus and he says everybody should be aware of their locations. The Student Walk Home Awareness Team (SWHAT) is also available for students and he emphasizes that people should never hesitate calling security if they see anyone suspicious on campus.

Posted on Nov. 15: McMaster’s Stephen Collins, Canada’s top gastroenterologist, named University Professor

He is considered among his peers to be the pre-eminent gastroenterologist in Canada and among the top two or three in the world. His research and scholarship have helped to make McMaster's intestinal disease research unit the top clinical and investigative gastrointestinal group in the world. In his 21 years at McMaster, Stephen Collins has been a scholar of the highest calibre, earning an international reputation for excellence in research and scholarship in the field of gastroenterology. McMaster is honouring his career and lifetime achievements and contributions with the title University Professor, which he will hold for his lifetime. The title is the highest honour McMaster can bestow on its faculty and the designation is awarded to professors who demonstrate exceptional achievement by distinction in research, scholarship and education such that the work has made a major impact on a given field of study, and/or the work has had a major impact across disciplinary boundaries.

Posted on Nov. 14: Chancellor’s Gold Medal winner demonstrates passion for humanity

She spent a summer herding goats in Europe to improve her French. She travelled to Honduras to help children at an orphanage. She teaches music as a volunteer for a local community group and she has helped an international student with his English. Next fall, the talented and accomplished fourth-year linguistics major heads to Queen's University to attend medical school. Roxanne Lai, the winner of this year's Chancellor's Gold Medal, has a bright career and future ahead of her. Her resume reflects leadership and influence among her peers and within the broader community, and excellence in scholarship. Lai says she's astounded to have won the medal. "I can't even take in the idea of it and the full university recognition that goes with it. I can think of a million people who deserve it more than me." The Chancellor's Medal is given to an undergraduate student in their final year of study who ranks highest in scholarship, leadership and influence.

Posted on Nov. 14: McMaster officially opens Downtown Centre

McMaster University officially opened the doors to its campus expansion in Hamilton's downtown core today. President Peter George welcomed the Honourable James Bartleman, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, and Hamilton Mayor Bob Wade to conduct the official opening of the McMaster University Downtown Centre. Approximately 200 people attended the event including McMaster staff and faculty, representatives from the City of Hamilton, local elected officials and the Hamilton community. In 2001 Hamilton-Wentworth regional council agreed to lease the former Wentworth County courthouse to McMaster for a 10-year period, as a leadership gift to the Changing Tomorrow Today campaign. The former courthouse, now renamed the McMaster University Downtown Centre, houses 17 administrative departments and offices including the Centre for Continuing Education. "The Downtown Centre project is a win-win initiative for the City of Hamilton and McMaster," said McMaster President Peter George. "Use of the former courthouse provides McMaster with much needed space to expand our growing campus. There are 200 McMaster employees travelling to the Downtown Centre daily and thousands of people per year coming into the downtown core for continuing education programs. We are pleased that our partnership with the city allowed the McMaster University Downtown Centre to become a reality and we are proud to be part of downtown Hamilton."