Daily News

posted on June 19: Elbestawi named engineering dean

Mechanical engineering professor Mo Elbestawi has been named dean of engineering. He begins his five-year term on July 1. Elbestawi arrived at McMaster 15 years ago and since that time has consolidated his reputation as a leading researcher, teacher and administrator. A graduate of Alexandria University, Elbestawi earned his M. Eng and PhD degrees in mechanical engineering at McMaster. He then worked for several years in industrial research and development before returning to the University in 1986 as an associate professor. He recently completed two terms as chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His industrial experience has proven invaluable in his ability to mobilize resources to support research. Founder of the Intelligent Machines and Manufacturing Research Centre, he has most recently devoted his time to the establishment of the newly created McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute where he serves as director. As well, he holds the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Precision Machining and the Braley-Orlick Chair in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. "I am confident that under Mo's leadership the Faculty of Engineering will continue to build its reputation as one of the country's premier engineering schools," said McMaster President Peter George. (End of story)

posted on June 19: Staff award winners honoured at reception today

All members of the University community are invited to attend a reception today to honour this year's recipients of the 2000 President's Awards for Outstanding Service. The award winners are individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the McMaster community in the previous year. The seven staff members were nominated by co-workers, colleagues and supervisors for the annual awards. Human Resources, on behalf of University President Peter George, is hosting the reception today (June 19) from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Great Hall, University Club. The Merit Award Recipients are: Steven Beierl, Career Planning & Employment Centre Marvin Gunderman, Department of Biology Doris Hutchison, Departments of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Medicine and Pediatrics Diane Kerss, School of Graduate Studies Liza Thong, Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics The Special Award Recipients are: Susan Birnie, School of Rehabilitation Science Deane Maynard, School of Geography & Geology. Please see the previous Daily News story, Seven staff honoured with President's Awards for Outstanding Service, for more coverage of the award winners. (End of story)

posted on June 15: Three more groups moving to courthouse campus

Parts of McMaster's University Advancement department and Business Management Services are moving to the courthouse campus. Staff from Advancement Services, Development and the Office of Public Relations, which are under the University Advancement umbrella, will begin moving out of Alumni Memorial Hall and Gilmour Hall in early August. They will occupy part of the first floor of the five-storey courthouse building. Alumni Advancement will move from Gilmour Hall to Alumni Memorial Hall and parts of the Public Relations office will move to Chester New Hall. Staff from Business Management Services' Analysis & Budgeting, Investments, Internal Audit and Human Resources Benefits are moving from the third floor of Gilmour Hall onto the fifth floor of the courthouse building after Sept. 1. In addition, staff with the Foundation for Medical Practice Education from the Faculty of Health Sciences will move into the courthouse's lower level in early July. The newest groups moving to the downtown campus will join Purchasing Resources and Financial Resources staff who began work in the building on Monday, June 4. Continuing Education staff and Human Resources staff training personnel are moving onto the second floor of the courthouse building -- an area that now contains four large courtrooms -- once a design firm has completed a plan for classrooms, computer labs and breakout rooms. The University has leased the former Wentworth County courthouse from the city for 10 years in a bid to ease the space shortage on the main campus. Student-centred services are being housed in buildings that are close to the new McMaster University Student Centre that is due to open in January. University planner Linda Axford said establishing the courthouse campus in the downtown core also helps McMaster bolster its links with the local community. (End of story)

posted on June 13: Summer Drama Festival’s tenth season continues this week

The stages are set and the actors are ready to present two very different comedies, marking the tenth anniversary of the McMaster Summer Drama Festival. This year's productions begin tonight (June 13) when the student-run theatre company presents William Shakespeare's romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing in the Faculty Hollow beginning at 7:30 p.m. Later this week, the contemporary play Bag Babies, by Toronto playwright Allan Stratton, will be staged in Robinson Memorial Theatre. (Complete times and dates appear at the end of this story). The plays were chosen to appeal to the community, says Megha Uttangi, who chairs the festival and directs Much Ado About Nothing. "This company is all about McMaster students giving back to the community." The plays are appropriate for all ages, says Uttangi, and she encourages people to bring blankets and a picnic when they come to the Faculty Hollow for the Shakespearean comedy. The Faculty Hollow is outside, beside the Alumni Memorial Hall. "Doing Shakespeare outside is wonderful in the summer," says Uttangi. If it rains, the play will continue in the Robinson Memorial Theatre. The company is made up of students from different Faculties. "The festival gives students who were too busy during the academic year the chance to do theatre," says Uttangi. Alana McCord and A.J. Haygarth star as the sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. Krista MacIsaac directs Bag Babies, a fast-paced farce starring Len Cain as George, a certifiable con-artist in search of his fortune. The festival is non-profit and the students are all volunteers. Local theatres have helped provide the sets and costumes, says Uttangi. Much Ado About Nothing Where: Outside in the Faculty Hollow Curtain time: 7:30 p.m. Dates: June 13, 15, 21 and 23. Bag Babies Where: Robinson Memorial Theatre Curtain time: 7:30 p.m. Dates: June 16, 20, 22 Admission: Pay what you can. (Photo: School of the Arts Web site)