Daily News

Mystery writers and police officers dig up the (arti)facts

"From Crime Scene to Courtroom," a compelling seminar examining the context, methodology and the validity of forensic science in criminal investigations, continues on campus today and tomorrow. The workshop features a unit of top forensic science and legal professionals -- all equipped to share the techniques and technologies used to solve some of the world's worst crimes. The three-day educational seminar gives participants an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in archeological techniques of crime-scene recovery, analysis of skeletal remains for forensic anthropology, odontology, basic forensic pathology and interpretation of DNA evidence - all of which contribute to the building of an infallible legal case. Police officers from across the province, a private investigator, mystery writers and anthropology students are among those enrolled in the workshop. Yesterday, students excavated a simulated crime scene using archeological techniques and learned how forensic DNA evidence is analyzed and interpreted. Two evening lectures, one tonight and one tomorrow night, are open to the public. "The Red Baron's Last Flight: The Contribution of Forensic Pathology to the Solution of a World War I Controversy" tonight (Tuesday, June 27, 7 p.m., KTH-B135), and "A Decade of DNA Profiling" (Wednesday, June 28, 7 p.m., CNH-104). There is a $20 fee for each lecture.

New residence will be located behind Matthews Hall

The Board of Governors has approved an alternate location for the new student residence, based on a recommendation of the Planning and Building Committee. The west campus site, known as Site Z, was approved at the Board's June 15th meeting. One of three proposed locations, Site Z incorporates much of the existing parking lot at the back of Matthews Hall and stretches south across Scholar's Road. The dining wing will be build perpendicular to the residence and take in Scholar's Road, extending as far as (but not abutting) the Clarke Centre smoke stack. (Site X was the area between Bates Residence and the President's house; Site Y took in the entire parking area behind Matthews Hall.) Previously, it had been suggested that the residence portion of the facility be built in the existing Clarke Centre parking lot but this space is needed for a proposed expansion to the Clarke building itself to meet the future heating and cooling requirements for the campus. Instead, the residence, which will be six or seven storeys high, has been flipped over, positioning it behind Matthews Hall.