Daily News

Posted on Sept. 5: Couple charged in connection with theft at McMaster

Hamilton's central division detectives believe two burglars caught with $60,000 worth of stolen audio-visual equipment at McMaster last Wednesday night may be part of a ring stealing high-end hardware from Ontario colleges and universities. Campus police responding to a silent alarm surprised a man on a stepladder in Kenneth Taylor Hall disconnecting a multimedia protector from the ceiling. A woman stood on the floor holding the ladder. Another man got away. Two large knapsacks on the floor contained a wide variety of tools and a couple of two-way radios. Investigating Hamilton police detectives found a car parked at the loading dock behind Kenneth Taylor Hall. Inside was the multimedia equipment stolen from the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business nearby. "(The intruders) were well prepared, had the tools and knew the value and location of the equipment," police spokesperson Sergeant Gary Ostofi said. A 25-year-old man from Varna, Ont. southeast of Goderich, and a 26-year-old woman from Stratford have been charged with breaking and entering, theft and possession of burglary tools. (The Hamilton Spectator, Aug. 30, 2002)

Posted on Sept. 4: Harry Potter required reading at McMaster

McMaster's Department of English offers a different sort of literary classic in its new course, Reading the Bestseller: Contemporary British Fiction. The reading list for the fourth-year seminar, which has filled its 18 or so spots for next term, includes J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding and the cult smash Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh. "I haven't encountered (negative) responses but I know that that's possible," says Sarah Brophy, the 29-year-old assistant professor, who is starting her first year of teaching. "But these are books that are very widely read and that have very complicated cultural consequences. "It's worth taking them seriously." Another popular course at McMaster is Modern Countercultures, a second-year course that debuted in January. It's a blend of art, literature and film. "It started off high" with 130 students enrolled, says Mary O'Connor, the English professor who will start teaching Modern Countercultures on Friday. "This year we're beginning with 140, at least, and we'll see where it goes to." The course -- which draws students from English, communications studies and comparative literature programs -- looks at the fashionable rebels who have proudly danced outside the bounds of mainstream culture. For the original story in today's Hamilton Spectator, click here. (The Hamilton Spectator, Sept. 4, 2002)

Posted on Sept. 4: Classrooms ready for the return of students

When classes resume Thursday, some students will find themselves sitting in new and newly renovated classrooms. "McMaster has worked extremely hard to prepare for the first students of the double cohort," says Karen Belaire, vice-president administration. "And it shows." In the Refectory, the dining area has been converted into a lecture hall. Renovations to this 250-seat room include flooring, lighting, electrical, audio/visual, and window treatments. Writing palettes for the seats have yet to be delivered. McMaster's largest and most heavily used classroom on campus is Room 120 in Togo Salmon Hall. "It has been completely renovated over the summer. I believe students will be pleasantly surprised when they see it," says Ken Norrie, provost and vice-president academic. Arthur Bourns Building Room 102 and Burke Sciences Building Room B135/B136 also have new seating and lighting upgrades. Three classrooms are available in the AIC Wing, an e-commerce annex constructed on the southwest corner of the Michael G. DeGroote building. This two-storey addition houses three new classrooms, labs, and office space and includes a link to the current building in the basement. The temporary classroom, located on the southeast tennis court, west of the Ivor Wynne Centre, will help accommodate much of the increased student enrolment. This facility will be ready for classes on Monday. Students with classes in this building on Thursday and Friday are instructed to go to the facility (Building T-28) where they will be provided with additional information. Some classes are being relocated and others will be cancelled.* "Construction crews were racing to put the finishing touches on it. In fact, people were working on it through the Labour Day weekend trying to get everything completed in time," says Belaire. *Note: Click here for T28 Classroom information