Daily News

posted on Sept. 24: McMaster’s student enrolment beats targets

McMaster's student enrolment figures exceeded the targets set for this academic year. Registrar George Granger told Senate last week that interim figures show enrolment goals established by the enrolment management team will be met when the final tally is counted in November. "It's very positive," Granger said. "Full-time and part-time figures are both slightly above the approved enrolment targets. Across all programs we are very much on target." As of Sept. 11, there were 4,048 first-year students enrolled at the University, 223 more than the target of 3,825. The total undergraduate enrolment figure is 13,023 compared to last year's total of 12,365. Granger said there are also 102 nursing degree students at Mohawk and Conestoga colleges as part of the nursing consortium that are "over and above" those figures. So far, there are 2,046 part-time undergraduate students enrolled at the University compared to 1,957 last year. The University's total undergraduate enrolment figure is 15,069 (full and part time) compared to 14,322. At the graduate level, students enrolled in full-time PhD programs as of Sept. 20 number 550, compared to last year's total of 532. There are 803 students enrolled in master's programs with late registrations still being processed, said John Scime, graduate registrar & secretray. Last year's final enrolment in master's programs was 730. "We expect the final number to be well above last year's enrolment," Scime told the Daily News. The University's enrolment managment team is already busy working on enrolment for the 2002-03 year with a large group attending the Ontario Universities' Fair 2001 in Toronto beginning today and continuing through the weekend. The annual fair offers prospective students and their families an opportunity to meet representatives from Ontario's 19 universities.

posted on Sept. 19: Alcohol awareness campaign a Reality Check!

More University students are drinking alcohol in moderation, according to a comparison of three annual alcohol awareness surveys conducted on campus. The average number of nights per week students reported drinking decreased by .5 from 1.6 to 1.1. As well, more students are drinking fewer drinks per event with less experiencing the negative consequences of a blackout or memory lapse. The statistics bolster the launch of the second annual Reality Check! campaign, a program designed to promote informed decision-making among students who use alcohol. The awareness campaign began this week with the release of the first in a series of posters into residences, athletics & recreation facilities and campus bathrooms and bulletin boards. The theme of "Go Figure, Eh" was adopted to use humour and pop culture to raise students' awareness about how they behave and regard their peers. The campaign is also being promoted on the Reality Check! Web site. Students are encouraged to know the facts about alcohol use and a "toonie" will be given out on Tuesdays, beginning Oct. 2, to students who correctly recall the campaign messages posed by Student Health Service volunteers known as "reality checkers." Health educator Jane Radix, of Student Health Service, said the campaign's goals are to increase student awareness and encourage students "towards more moderate and responsible use" that reflects the norm.

posted on Sept. 19: Open letter from McMaster President Peter George

The following is an open letter from University President Peter George that is being sent to the McMaster community today: The initial shock of last week's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington is beginning to ease but for many people it's been replaced by a sense of fear about safety and of uncertainty about the world in which we live. At McMaster we have seen the community come together at inter-faith services, in small discussion groups and at Tuesday's vigil organized by the McMaster Students Union which was attended by close to 400 people. While these occasions are marked with sorrow, they have also been a time to focus on the need for peace, understanding and hope. I have seen much reason for hope here at McMaster. Students, faculty and staff of every nationality, religion and ethnic group that enrich our community have shown tremendous respect and support for one another. This unity is the best defence against intolerance and misunderstanding. Maintaining faith and hope in humanity is not always easy especially after such horrific acts of destruction and inhumanity. I wanted to share with you an inspirational message from Nelson Mandela. "I have always known in the deepest regions of the human heart reside forgiveness and kindness. No one is born hating another human being because of the colour of their skin, their past or their religion. People learn to hate and if they must learn to hate then they can also be taught to love." It will take all of us working together to ensure that every member of the McMaster community feels safe and secure. By refusing to join in the hatred of those who committed these horrible crimes, we can prove that human goodness is stronger than vengeance. Let all members of our community speak with one voice for love, for peace, for understanding, for tolerance and for hope.

posted on Sept. 18: MSU president proposes fundraising to replace smashed church windows

McMaster Students Union president Sam Minniti has proposed fundraising to help replace smashed windows at Binkley United Church. Minniti stressed that it's not known whether the vandals who smashed the windows earlier this month attend McMaster. "Regardless of who's done this, this happened to our community," said Minniti. "Being members of the community, we want to step up and be part of the solution." Replacing the stain glass windows will cost about $5000. The church's insurance deductible is $500. Const. Jack Vanderpol, the McMaster liaison officer, told the Hamilton Spectator that the vandalism is still being investigated. He said police haven't confirmed that University students are responsible. (End of story)