at GUELPH JANUARY 17, 2007 • VOL. 51 NO. 1 « WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH » UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH INSIDE: SUMMERLEE REAPPOINTED • MY FAVOURITE MARTIAN DIGS • PLANTING RESEARCH ROOTS Shakespeare: An Extraordinary World Festival highlights Bard's influence on Canadian arts and culture BY MARY DICKIESON R enowned Canadian actor William Hutt opened the “Shakespeare — Made in Canada” festival Jan. 11 with a flourish of words befitting the Bard himself. “Over 40 years ago, the first Lear I did was set on top of the world in the High Canadian Arctic,” said Hutt, who is honorary patron of the five-month regional festival. “I recall a later version of Romeo and Juliet where Romeo’s first language was French and Juliet’s was Eng- lish — echoes of Canada’s two solitudes. That kind of adaptation fives at the heart of this ex- traordinary festival.” Hutt thanked Lloyd Sullivan, owner of the Sanders portrait of William Shakespeare, for “providing Shakespeare’s face, wrapped in our own history and our own understanding of the world around us.” Sullivan’s family heirloom fronts the largest exhibition ever mounted by the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre (MSAC). Taking more than 80 per cent of the art centre’s gallery space, the museum-style exhibition offers an extensive display of art and cultural materials that reflect Shakespeare’s influence on the arts, theatre and pop culture in Canada. (For more about the exhibition, see pages 8 and 9.) Joint curators of the exhibition are MSAC director Judith Nasby and English professor Daniel Fischfin, who heads the Canadian Ad- aptations of Shakespeare Project (CASP). The art centre and the University have part- nered with the City of Guelph, the Guelph Arts Council and the Stratford Festival of Canada to encourage participation in the “Shakespeare — Made in Canada” festival, said U of G presi- dent Alastair Summerlee. As a result of this col- laboration, more than 40 organizations in Guelph and surrounding area will showcase their own excellence and creativity during the next few months. “We will be entertained through a number of theatrical and musical productions, inspired by the work of local artists, amazed by exhibi- tions at our civic museums and challenged by film presentations and public lectures,” he said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for the University community to discover the vibrant arts community that surrounds our campus.” Speaking on behalf of the city, councillor Gloria Kovach said the festival has created new opportunities for cultural and arts groups and will contribute to the culture-positive reputa- tion that Guelph and the region have earned over the years. She also acknowledged the Uni- versity’s leadership role in envisioning and or- ganizing “Shakespeare — Made in Canada,” and said the city has contributed $50,000 to help market the festival, with an additional $20,000 coming from the province. “We want to make Guelph a tourism desti- nation, and this festival is a terrific contribu- tion,” she said. The idea for “Shakespeare — Made in Can- ada” sprouted from the ever- expanding CASP research and database. “It came out of the fact that we were collect- See SANDERS on page 14 letired Ottawa engineer Lloyd Sullivan smiles behind a replica of the Sanders portrait he as lent to the University. To see the “real” 400-year-old portrait of William Shakespeare, isitthe “Shakespeare — Made in Canada” exhibition at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre. 15 M PHOTO BY DEAN PALMER PHOTOGRAPHY Storyteller Lives Between Fiction and Myth One of Canada’s most prolific aboriginal authors is writer-in-residence this winter atUofG _ BY RACHELLE COOPER L ee Maracle, U of G’s newest writer- in-residence, says that being one of the first aboriginal people to go to public school isolated her from her own culture and made her an outsider in Canadian culture. “I became foreign in my own context and even more foreign in the Canadian context, she says. “It just seemed like I had no place to be. So I think writing helped me create a new place of belonging because I went back to origi- nal (aboriginal) stories and then re-created them in a modem context that was my personal context.” Maracle wrote her first poem the day she learned to read and knew by the time she was 10 that she wanted to re-create myths. “That makes me a myth maker in my own culture and a fiction writer in other cultures,” she says. “It’s always been my goal not to trans- late but to get the same feeling — from the sounds, rhythm and interplay of words and image — in the English version as I do when I hear the original story." When she began publishing her work in the early 1970s, Maracle became one of the first ab- original people to be published and has since become one of the most prolific aboriginal au- thors in Canada and a recognized authority on aboriginal issues and literature. She’s the author of 10 books, including novels Will’s Garden, Ravensong and Sundogs, and has contributed to more than 20 antholo- gies and collaborations. Maracle is the recipi- ent of the J.T. Stewart Voices of Change Award and the American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation. A visiting professor at the University of To- ronto on the days she isn’t at U of G, Maracle teaches courses on indigenous thought and ex- pression and creative writing. She’s no stranger to universities. She spent three years at Western Washington University as the Distinguished Professor of Canadian Culture, was the 2001 Stanley Knowles Visiting Professor in Canadian Studies at the University of Waterloo and held a prior visiting professor- ship with the women’s studies program at Toronto, where she received a teaching award. See MARACLE on page 1 4 at Guelph 1 January 17. 2007 A Message From the Campus Accessibility Committee (CAC) The CAC meets every six weeks to discuss physical access needs on campus. If you have any proposals, concerns, questions, ideas, comments or complaints regarding any physical access needs on campus, we would like to hear from you. Send inquiries via e-mail or fax to: bwheeler@uoguelph.ca Fax: 519-824-9689 Attn: Barry Wheeler or drop them off at the Centre for Studies With Disabilities, Level 3, University Centre Edward Johnson Music Foundation 12th Annual GUELPI-I WINE GALA & AUCTION “Eat, Drink & Be Merry” Saturday, February 3, 2007 - 6:00 p.m. River Run Centre, Guelph Oirr noble guests /rill quench their thirst with Wowing wine mid ale supplied by Ontario wineries, wine importers and locnl breweries mid have a good nosh on Elizabethan -style culinari/ delights provided by Guelph’s finest restaurants and caterers. Wine Gala Tickets $75 Guided Wine I .lvling with l imy Aspler - S35 I'orl * < heesr ladling with ( lieryl Hudson - S35 For tickets, call River Run Centre Box Office (519)763-3000 Older online at www.Tivumin.cn Michael H.C. McMurray Partner „ loom Financial Services 210 Kortright Road West, Unit #5 Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X4 Telephone: (519) 826-4774 Email: michaelmcmurray@on.aibn.com • RRSP and Investment Accounts and Deposits • RRSP Loans at Prime +0 • Michael can answer your questions and help you explore your options • Call today for a free consultation e sure to enjoy your career and get the most out of each work day. let us help you || see your world || L more clearly . — 1 B of G Reappoints Summerlee to Second Term as President Board is confident that even greater achievements lie ahead , says Derry B oard of Governors reap- pointed president Aiastair Summerlee in December, extending his term to 2013. The reappointment followed a mandatory review by a committee made up of board members, faculty, students and staff. The committee sought input and feedback from the U of G community in areas such as leadership, administration and man- agement, and relationship and part- nership building. “Dr. Summerlee is doing an ex- ceptional job leading this univer- sity,” said B of G chair Douglas Derry. “He is committed to provid- ing students with the highest- quality learning environments, to retaining our excellent faculty and staff, to fos- tering collaboration and innovation, and to advocating on behalf of the University and for higher education in general. The board is confident that, building on his successes to date and his vision for the future, Dr. Summerlee will deliver in his second term even greater achievements for the entire University community in teaching, research and outreach to the communities it serves.” In accepting the reappointment, Summerlee said: “It is an absolute privilege for me to serve as president, and I remain deeply honoured to be entrusted with the responsibility. The confidence and support I have received not only from the board but also from the internal and external communities have been truly grati- fying. I am strongly committed to this university — to its values, mis- sion and, above all, its people. Guelph has enjoyed many successes in the past three years, due entirely to the hard work and commitment by members of the University com- munity. Our collective challenge is to maintain that excellence in the face of some considerable chal- lenges.” Province Invests $1.7 Million in Ongoing Research at U of G Funding will help scientists conduct world-class research that will benefit Ontario Canvision Optical 666 Woolwich Street _ __ _ Guelph, ON N1H7GS 766-7676 T he Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation is investing more than $1.7 million in ongoing research projects at Guelph. It’s part of an $1 1-million invest- ment to support 68 innovative projects at Ontario research institu- tions through the Ontario Research Fund. “The Ministry of Research and Innovation is playing a key role in helping these researchers fulfil their aspirations and capability to con- duct world-class research that will benefit Ontario,” says vice-president (research) Alan Wildeman. The provincial support matches commitments made earlier this year by the Canada Foundation for Inno- vation and the Canada Research Chairs program. Funding is also be- ing provided by the research institu- tions and private-sector partners. Among other things, the provin- cial support will fund construction of Canada’s first one-micron nuclear microprobe; Ontario’s first single- unit microneurography facility; and new laboratories for studying nutra- ceutical encapsulation and tissue, cell and protein dynamics. It is also supporting U of G pro- jects that will advance knowledge in pest management, mathematics, cardiovascular health and disease, physics, food science, and food pack- aging and design. Funding recipients are: Prof. Madhur Anand, Environ- mental Biology, $122,095 for her work as a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Global Ecological Change and Forest Biodiversity. Prof. Leah Bent, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, $86,529 for a microneurography facility to study sensory contributions to balance, posture and walking, work that will especially benefit the country’s elderly population. Prof. Milena Corredig, Food Sci- ence, $98,911 to support her re- search as a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Food Nanostructures. Prof. Diane de Kerckhove, Phys- ics, $145,795 to buy a complex lens system for the microprobe she’s building to study semi- conducters and to fabricate mi- croscopic light- emitting devices. Prof. John Dutcher, Physics, $134,379 to support his research as a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Soft Matter Physics. He co-or- dinates the University’s Centre for Food and Soft Materials and is a theme leader for Guelph’s Ad- vanced Foods and Materials Net- work. Profs. Doug Fudge and Todd Gillis, Integrative Biology, $252,3 19 to establish a world-class tissue, cell and protein dynamics laboratory that will advance re- search in human health, biotech- nology, nanotech- nology and materials science. • Prof. Paul Garrett, Physics, $149,364 for technology to im- prove the high-efficiency gamma- ray spectrometer used for beta- decay experiments. The equip- ment will improve studies of neu- tron halos in light- mass systems and research on the evolution of nuclear shell structure. • Prof. Ron Johnson, Biomedical Sciences, $126,828 for equipment to advance investigations of al- tered venous function in chronic heart failure and to support long-term research into cardio- vascular health and disease. • Prof. Peter Sikkema, Plant Agri- culture, $380,282 for equipment that will support an extensive re- search program for sustainable pest management in field and horticultural crops at Ridgetown Campus. • Prof. Loong-Tak Lim, Food Sci- ence, $84,418 to apply and de- velop innovative technologies to improve the performance of food packaging and to advance funda- mental knowledge of how food in- teracts with packaging. • Prof. Amanda Wright, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, $126,045 to set up a nutraceutical laboratory to study how to encap- sulate bioactive compounds. Editor Barbara Chance b.chance@exec.uoguclph.ca Design Peter Enneson Production Linda Graham l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca Advertising Scott Anderson theandersondiffercnce@rogers.com Director Chuck Cunningham c.cunningham@exec.uoguelph.ca At Guelph is published every two weeks by Communications and Public Affairs, Level 4, University Centre, University of Guelph , Guelph, Ontario NIG 2W1. Inquiries: 519-824-4120 Editorial: Ext. 56580 Distribution: Ext. 56581 Advertising: Ext. 56580 wmv. uoguelph.ca/adguide Classifieds: Ext. 56581 Fax : 519-824-7962 Website: www.uoguelph.ca/atguelph Articles may be reprinted with credit to At Guelph. Subscriptions $25 (includes GST); $30 outside Canada ISSN 08364478 UNIVERSITY V* GUELPH at Guelph 2 January 17 , 2007 new s in br i ef SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT President AJastair Summerlee and provost Maureen Mancuso launch a new public forum called “The Rumour Mill” Jan. 25 at noon in Room 1714 of OVC’s Lifetime Learning Centre. The quasi- monthly sessions are designed to give members of the University community a chance to separate fact from fiction when it comes to information circulating around campus. Participants will be invited to ask for clarifications, make sug- gestions and raise issues of concern. ANIMAL WELFARE CENTRE GETS NEW DIRECTOR Prof. Tina Widowski, Animal and Poultry Science, has been named the new director of the Colonel K.L. Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare. Founded in 1989 as a unique academic forum, the centre includes faculty from various disciplines across campus and aims to improve animal welfare through discussion, research and education. Widowski, who succeeds Prof. Ian Duncan as director, served as asso- ciate director of the centre from 1994 to 1998. FOCUS ON FOOD ADDITIVES The 2007 Human Health and Nutritional Sciences Symposium runs Jan. 27 at the OVC Lifetime Learning Centre. This year’s theme is “Your Food Exposed: Food Addi- tives and Human Health." Speakers include Dr. Adeli Khosrow of the Hospital for Sick Children and John Michaelides of the Guelph Food Technology Centre, as well as Gueph faculty Milena Corredig, Terry Graham and Bruce Holub. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Tickets are $20 general, $15 for stu- dents, and are available in Room 353 of the Animal Science and Nutrition Building. Send e-mail to hhnsymp@uoguelph.ca for details. CANDIDATES TO SPEAK Three short-listed candidates for the position of director of the Cen- tre for Public Health and Zoonoses will present a seminar on “Develop- ing the Centre of Public Health and Zoonoses: The First Five Years.” Prof. Scott Weese, Clinical Studies, will speak Jan. 19; Prof. David Waltner-Toews, Population Medi- cine, is slated for Jan. 22; and Jan Sargeant of McMaster University will speak Jan. 24. All seminars begin at 12:30 p.m. in OVC 1713. Chair of the search committee is OVC dean Elizabeth Stone. B OF G SEEKS NOMINATIONS Board of Governors is calling for suggestions of individuals external to the University who might be con- sidered for appointment to the board. B of G is particularly inter- ested in expanding its list of quali- fied candidates to include external members from the following equity groups: Aboriginal Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities and women. Recom- mendations are welcome at any time and can be forwarded in confi- dence to: B of G Membership and Governance Committee, University Secretariat, Level 4, University Cen- tre, or to univsec@uoguelph.ca. Closed Border Opens New Door for Farmer Dairy cattle producer devastated by BSE crisis steers new course for himself at OAC OAC student John Bouwers plans to use what he learns at U of G to get his Welland, Ont., dairy operation back on track. photo by martin schwalbe BY REBECCA KENDALL T hey say that when a door closes — or, in John Bouwers’ case, the U.S. border — a window opens. For Bouwers, an OAC student and 40-year-old father of four, the window is a university education that is framing a new future for his family. For nearly two decades, the Kemptville College diploma gradu- ate raised Holstein dairy cattle for export to the United States and Mex- ico. His herd of 200 was thriving and his Welland, Ont., operation was running well, but that all changed 31/2 years ago, he says. “It was May 20, 2003, when the BSE issue closed the border to all ex- ports of live cattle from Canada. Without an export market, farmers faced a surplus market of dairy cattle and were at the mercy of a rapidly declining market." Although the border restrictions have since relaxed to allow live cattle across, they continue to disallow breeding stock, which is what Bouwers raises. “There’s a misconception that the border is open to all live cattle and that the trade dispute is over, but this is not the case,” he says, adding that he still maintains a herd of about 60 cattle and continues to sell them domestically. At the height of the BSE crisis, he tried to think of ways to diversify his business and became increasingly frustrated with his situation. “There was nothing I could do. With no end date for the trade dispute, I knew I needed to come up with a back-up plan.” He decided he wanted to study agriculture and learn how to get his farming operation back on track, so he enrolled at U of G in September 2005. It’s proven to be a challenging plan, he admits. “The biggest obstacle has been getting used to being back in school after nearly 20 years away. Before I came here, I’d never touched a com- puter, so I spend a lot of time trying to figure things out.” Bouwers writes his first drafts of assignments out by hand while his classmates are using computers from start to finish. “I don’t type very well, but I’m learning.” Another big hurdle has been squeezing all his responsibilities into his schedule. For the past three se- mesters, he’s been getting out of bed at 5:30 a.m. three to five days a week in time to have breakfast, do chores in the bam and drive 90 minutes to campus to make it to his 8:30 a.m. classes. Typically, he has attended classes until 4:30 p.m., with about an hour’s break during the day, then hit the li- brary before driving home, eating dinner, feeding and attending to the cows, tucking his kids into bed and getting started on his homework. “Some nights I can get to bed by midnight,” he says, “but usually it’s around 3 a.m. before my day is over. It’s really difficult, but I’ve survived so far. When you throw in the time I spend volunteering to coach my children’s hockey teams on top of everything else, things are really busy.” Shortly after arriving at Guelph, Bouwers received an inaugural Wil- liam and Nona Heaslip Scholarship, which provides $15,000 a year and is renewable for up to three years. The scholarship has been a big help in fi- nancing his education and providing moral support, he says. He notes that he’s already using what he’s learned at Guelph to help enhance his farming operation. “I’ve learned lots in class that I can apply to my business.” His animal science courses, for example, have helped him make his herd healthier, and he’s also learned innovative pastur- ing practices that he applies to im- prove the rotational pasturing system on his farm. Doing well academically is im- portant to Bouwers not just because it’s helping him strengthen the fu- ture of his farm, but also because it’s strengthening the future of his chil- dren. On weekends, he and his three older children often sit around the kitchen table together working on their homework. “They see me keeping up with my studies, and I believe that helps them understand the value of education. I try to get things done efficiently and on time, and I’m hoping my univer- sity experience will entice them to pursue post-secondary education. That’s one of the biggest reasons I go on.” This semester, he and his wife, Christina, along with Petraleah, 3, Johnny, 10, and 12-year-old twins Damian and Sydney, will be sitting around a kitchen table in Australia, where Bouwers will attend the Uni- versity of Adelaide and the older children will be enrolled in school. The family leaves in February and will return in July. “I figured that while I’m at Guelph, I’d maximize my opportu- nities by gaining some international experience,” he says. “There’s a viable cattle trading in- dustry in Australia. They trade heavily to Asia and other parts of the world, so I thought it would be bene- ficial to see how they operate their industry while gaining more educa- tion at the same time.” In addition to the international experience for the family, Bouwers is looking forward to enjoying the beachfront house they’ll be living in and having a more manageable schedule. He’s also looking forward to getting a little rest. Without any farm chores and having only a 30- minute commute to campus, he’ll gain five extra hours of free time each day, he says. “It’s been an adventure, but it’s all worth it if it means I can go back to my business. I hope to be able to run it more efficiently and use my degree to create new opportunities.” oeonlp OAC PROF RECOGNIZED FOR ANIMAL WELFARE WORK The Scientists Center for Animal Welfare presented its 2006 Harry C. Rowsell Award to Prof. Ian Duncan, Animal and Poultry Science, in Texas last month. Duncan is only the second Canadian to receive the award, which recognizes individu- als known for their commitment to good science and the humane treat- ment of animals used in research, testing and teaching. 'RISING STAR’ HONOURED Prof. Ryan Gregory, Integrative Biology, has been named this year’s winner of the Canadian Society of Zoologists' (CSZ) Bob Boutillier New Investigator Award for making significant contributions to zoology and being a "rising star" in his field, j He will present the Boutillier Lec- ture and receive his award at the ! CSZ annual conference at McGill I University in May. CBS PROF'S RESEARCH AMONG TOP SCIENCE STORIES OF 2006 Research by Prof. John Klironomos, Integrative Biology, on how an invasive weed is engaging in under- ground chemical warfare by poi- soning the allies of native trees was named one of the top science stories of 2006 by Discover magazine, wliich listed what it considers to be the 100 most important and interesting sci- ence stories of the year. Klironomos 's study, which was conducted with Kristina Stinson of Harvard University and a team of other researchers from Guelph, the j . VJ A Staves at\d . viis. named one of the (op six environ- mental stories. RADIO PROJECT TO AIR ON CBC The CBC Radio One show The Cur- rent will broadcast a program by Margie Taylor, a graduate student in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD), Jan. 19. Developed as a multimedia community service learning project for a course taught by Prof. Helen Hambly, the pro- gram examines a rural and remote community undergoing vast social change with the closure of the Red Rock pulp mill in northwestern Ontario. It also features SEDRD professor David Douglas. The Cur- rent airs between 8:30 and 10 a.m. In Memoriam Ramon Hathorn Retired French studies professor Ramon Hathorn died Jan. 7. A graduate of the University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa, he joined the faculty of U of G in 1966 and taught here for more than 30 years. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his daughter, Jennifer, and a granddaughter, Charlotte. Mildred Leitch Mildred Leitch, a retired laboratory technician in the Department of Environmental Biology, died Jan. 3 at the age of 90. She was employed on campus from 1947 to 1981 and is survived by her daughter, Susan, two grandchildren and two great- grandchildren. at Guelph 3 January 17, 2007 focus ‘If You Feed Them, They Will Come’ BY DAVID DICENZO I N HER 10 years at U of G, Lisa | Tersigni-Holt, manager of Conference Services, has overseen the planning of hundreds of gatherings. During the fall and winter semesters, the campus hosts between 10 and 15 conferences, but the summer is when things really take off, with groups of varying sizes holding some 120 events at U of G each year. For Tersigni-Holt, her most memorable experience over the past decade occurred during the 2003 World Plowing Match Champion- ship, which brought a large contin- gent of visitors to campus, many of whom came from abroad and didn’t speak much English. "At four o’clock on Aug. 14, the power goes out on campus,” she re- calls of the historic province-wide blackout. "I had 800 people on cam- pus. And 1 was eight months preg- nant. My immediate thought was: ‘Are you kidding me?”’ Despite not having power for two full days, she and her staff managed to pull it off. Between the makeshift barbecue dinners and the bellhops hired to transport luggage using flashlights, the visitors ended up having “a blast,” she says. “I can’t be- lieve I didn’t go into labour,” she adds with a laugh. Although most conferences aren’t quite so challenging, as Tersigni-Holt learned at a young ) age, you have to roll with the punches when you work in hospital- ity. The youngest of five children from a big Italian family in Guelph, she has been involved in the food business since she was 12. Her expe- rience has included stints as a man- ager at various local cafes and restaurants following the comple- tion of an English degree at the Uni- versity of Western Ontario. “No matter how much you say: ‘It’s too busy, it’s too crazy, I can’t do it anymore,’ you’re brought back in,” she says of the industry. “It’s a people business. That’s what drives me — the people, the interaction.” Here at U of G, she and her two assistant managers are responsible for co-ordinating all the details sur- rounding campus conferences and events, meeting the needs of a wide range of clients who hold everything from academic meetings to hockey camps. Be it a business group like Deloitte Touche, a religious retreat or the Ontario Good Roads Associa- tion (a repeat customer for 25 years), Conference Services staff provide varying levels of service depending on the event. Tersigni-Holt begins the process on the sales end, and after a contract is signed, typically six months before the event (although there are plenty of last-minute contracts, too), her staff start the planning phase. The three main areas to be addressed are accommodations, meals and meet- ing space, both on campus and off. But conference packages can also in- clude attention to every last detail, from parking and signage to au- diovisual equipment and even gifts from the U of G Bookstore. “The biggest thing we promote is one-stop shopping on campus,” says Tersigni-Holt. “Whether it’s an in- ternal client, an external client or an affiliated client, we’ll organize all their needs. I find that so many groups don’t know where to begin. No matter what they want, we’ll do it.” U of G faculty hosting large aca- demic conferences often prefer to focus their attention on the confer- ence program rather than adminis- trative details, so they’re happy to hand those over to Conference Services, she says. “We take that piece, and we do everything. We register each of the individual delegates for the confer- ence, we take their payments, we do their name tags, their packages, their registration desks. We do the whole thing.” Tersigni-Holt emphasizes that the solid reputation the department has built in conference management is a total team effort. She and her staff work closely with many part- ners on campus in units such as Stu- dent Housing Services and Physical Resources. But the actual execution of the events in the frenetic summer months is possible only through the use of student managers, she adds. Depending on the schedule, Tersigni-Holt will hire between five and eight students from various de- partments throughout the Univer- sity because of their knowledge of the campus. She tells them from the get-go that the job will be difficult and challenging and that, like the rest of the Conference Services staff, they’ll need to be on call 24 hours a day. “These kids need to know so much,” she says. “It’s a huge job for a student and a huge responsibility be- cause we have to put a lot on them. They’re the front persons. After the first couple of conferences, however, they’re empowered.” True to her Italian heritage, Tersigni-Holt always puts an em- phasis on food in organizing a con- ference. This is where she and her clients get creative, taking advantage of the top-notch kitchen in Hospital- ity Services. There have been meals with Guelph themes, featuring food developed by campus researchers and washed down with local brews. In one case, conference delegates de- veloped a menu around their specific area of research — fish. “If you feed them, they will come,” says Tersigni-Holt. “I tell so many profs this, and they look at me as though I have four heads. I come from a totally different side, the hosting side. The/ re looking at their program and all their academic pieces, posters and schedules. It’s all very detailed. And I ask: ‘So what are you serving for food?’ You can have whatever guest speaker you want, but if you have a bad lunch, you’ll hear more about that than the speaker. For some reason, it’s true.” Tersigni-Holt notes that barbe- cues have become very fashionable at conferences in recent years. Fortu- nately for her, not all of them have to be held in the dark. TV Watching Linked to Physical Inactivity, Study Finds Researchers discover that computer use, video games and reading are less strongly connected to kids' inactivity BY LORI BONA HUNT A lack of physical activity is more strongly linked with TV watching than with other types of sedentary activities like computer use, video game playing and reading, according to recent research by Prof. John Dwyer, Family Relations and Applied Nutrition. The study also revealed that children who watch TV for more than six hours a week are much more likely to be physically inactive. sal suspicion: the more television kids watch, the less energy they ex- pend on physical activity, ’’says Dwyer, a specialist in physical activ- ity promotion. “But it also goes one step further by showing that TV viewing is more connected to physi- cal inactivity than are other activities like playing video games, and by sug- gesting that watching TV reduces en- ergy expenditure, increases food consumption and decreases resting metabolic rate.” Published recently in the Journal of Adolescent Health, the study was conducted with Kenneth Allison, di- rector of physical activity research at the University of Toronto. Other re- searchers in U of T’s Department of Public Health Sciences also contrib- uted. It was funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. The researchers tracked the weekly time youths spent on seden- tary activities and measured physical inactivity through daily energy expenditures assessed through a questionnaire. The study was based on a survey of 7,982 Canadian adolescents aged 12 to 19 participating in the Cana- dian Community Health Survey. The results were produced after con- trolling for sociodemographic vari- ables, health status and body mass index. In females, as little as sue hours of television viewing per week led to a significant reduction in physical ac- tivity; in males, it was 20 hours or more. that computer use is not significantly related to physical inactivity. In feet, the researchers found that boys who spend about six hours a week on a computer are less likely to be inactive compared with non-computer users. Allison notes, however, that the study didn’t differentiate between the type of computer use (e.g., play- ing games and surfing the Internet versus doing homework). “Future research should include a more de- tailed assessment of computer usage to clarify the association between it and physical activity.” The researchers admit that break- ing the television watching habit might be difficult for many adoles- cents — and their parents. They say parents can help by providing a posi- tive role model for their kids by lim- iting their own TV viewing time, by limiting the consumption of snack foods while watching TV, and by planning a viewing schedule and let- ting kids pick their favourite shows. “This research confirms a univer- iflXND^tNKjer TH£_ CARTRIDGE REFI LLERS Stone Road Mall Near Pizza Pizza 519 - 811-1818 _ — some restrictions apply _ with this Coupon ask staff for details Interestingly, the study found at Guelph 4 January 17 , 2007 The Right Time, the Right Place After a distinguished career at McGill, clock-collecting engineer relocates to Guelph and finds his timing was just right BY RACHELLE COOPER P rof. John Gruzleski has no excuse for being late for work. The new director of the School of Engineering has been collecting old clocks for more than three decades, so he’s always well aware of what time it is when he’s at home. Out of compassion for his wife, however, he doesn’t keep them all going at once. “Occasionally, I get very enthusi- astic and wind up a few,” he says. “One of the things I’ve always wanted to do is set all the clocks to go off at midnight on New Year’s Eve, but I haven’t done it because I’d end up with a divorce.” Gruzleski says his passion for an- tique clocks probably stems from his interest in engineering. “The only kind of clocks I’m fascinated with are mechanical ones with springs and a whole bunch of gears. Electrical clocks and quartz clocks run by a battery don’t interest me at all.” The oldest clock in his collection dates from 1780, and the newest are from the 1950s. For the past 30 years, he’s been raiding antique markets, flea markets and auctions for unique timepieces. “As you build a collection, you keep looking for the unusual things and they become much more diffi- cult to find,” he says. Although mechanical, antique clocks are a far cry from Gruzleski’s professional area of expertise. Since the early 1970s, he has helped trans- form the aluminum casting process, which was essential to the automo- tive industry for making lighter vehi- cles. His research interest lies in liquid-solid transformation in met- als and how knowledge of that trans- formation can be applied to the casting industry. "A lot of the technology I devel- oped with my graduate students is used around the world today in alu- minum foundries,” he says. Throughout his prolific career, Gruzleski has published hundreds of scientific papers, articles, books and proceedings and has supervised more than 40 master’s and PhD stu- dents. A faculty member at McGill Uni- versity from 1969 to 2005, he was chair of the department of mining and metallurgical engineering for 1 1 years and served as dean of engineer- ing from 1999 until he retired in 2005. He has received several awards and distinctions throughout his ca- reer, including the University-In- dustry Synergy Award and McGill’s Engineering Alumni Award for out- standing teaching, and was named a fellow of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and of ASM International. Gruzleski is a member of many professional, technical and scientific societies, including the Canadian In- stitute of Mining and Metallurgy and the American Foundry Society, and serves on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Cast Metals Research and Aluminum Transac- tions. After retiring from McGill, Gruzleski moved to Guelph with his wife to be closer to family. His roots in the city run deep — both his parents’ sides of the family had set- tled here by 1900. The fact that the School of Engineering was looking for a new director after Gruzleski had already settled in Guelph was "serendipity,” he says. “I wasn’t portumty presented itself to me, I couldn’t pass it up.” He also has strong ties to the Uni- versity. His father graduated from the Ontario Agricultural College in 1931, and Gruzleski's PhD supervi- sor at the University of Toronto was Bill Winegard, who would go on to become president and vice-chancel- lor of U of G. An early interest in freezing or so- lidification of metals had led Gruzleski to Winegard, who was j “one of the world’s gurus in metal j solidification.” Gruzleski began his PhD with Winegard in 1965 and continued to be part of his research ! group after Winegard assumed the | presidency of U of G in 1967. “We used to come up to Guelph every Saturday morning and give him progress reports on our re- I search," says Gruzleski. “We’d meet at the President’s House, and his wife would give us coffee and sand- wiches and cookies after the meet- , ing. It was incredibly civilized, and it really worked well.” Who could have predicted that 40 years later he’d be back on cam- pus in an administrative role? Cer- tainly not Gruzleski, but he says he’s happy to be here and excited about having a chance to help the School of Engineering move to its next stage of J development. “The school has an excellent ; group of programs that have been built from the ground up,” he says. “I’m looking forward to helping de- velop the existing programs and cre- ate new ones.” Planting Research Roots New research group nurtures big plans for studying small-scale nature of plants BY ANDREW VOWLES C ALL it A research hothouse for nurturing studies in plant biology at Guelph. A new plant biology research group on campus is expected to foster research collaborations, strengthen ties among plant biologists in the College of Biological Science and underline U of G’s expertise in the molecular and cellular aspects of plant biology. The new group brings together botanists, geneticists and microbiologists and accounts for more than one-quarter of the faculty in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB). The entire research group, including graduate students, research associates and post-docs, numbers about 75 people. Most of the 14 faculty will occupy four labs in the final wing of the science complex, sched- uled to open this summer. (One of the group’s members is already located in the first phase of the complex, opened in late 2004.) They will use the greenhouses and closed-environment chambers nearby on the top floor of Phase 1 of the science complex, as well as scientific instruments located down- stairs in the Advanced Analysis Centre. Few universities can match Guelph’s con- centration of people and facilities for studying the molecular and cellular biology of plants, says MCB chair Prof. Chris Whitfield. “Nothing helps research like critical mass,” he says. “Good things generally come from the chance to talk in the hallway with others who have common research interests.” Earlier, these researchers occupied separate quarters within former departments of CBS and in the Ontario Agricultural College. “The idea is to encourage more integration and interaction between people and to make good use of new resources in the science com- plex,” says Whitfield. Referring to the 2004 reorganization of de- partments in CBS, he says: “A primary objec- tive in forming MCB was to bring together individuals with shared research interests that are linked by a common level of investigation. The tools involved in molecular and cellular biology cross biological systems, and MCB is trying to capitalize on this by forming new research theme groups." Defining the plant biology group will help in forging research links and funding applica- tions with other departments and colleges on campus and externally, says CBS dean Mike Ernes, a group member. For instance, he will strengthen and pursue collaborations in plant starch studies with MCB professor Ian Tetlow — a lab partner in the new complex — and with other faculty in CBS and OAC. That re- search, which spans molecular biology, breed- ing and farm trials, foods and consumer health and nutrition, may provide clues about how to alter foods to improve human health, includ- ing tackling obesity, Type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer. Prof. Joe Colasanti, MCB, uses his expertise in plant genetics to study crop-yield improve- ment and plant metabolism with several col- leagues. He expects to work with MCB professor Steven Rothstein and Prof. Manish Raizada, Plant Agriculture, on optimizing plants’ use of resources such as fertilizer. They’re also exploring ideas for using plants as biofuels. “We want to make Guelph a key player in plant biology,” says Colasanti. Elsewhere, MCB professors Annette Nassuth and Stefan Graether plan to use nu- clear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the Advanced Analysis Centre to study the dehydrin protein that enables grapevines to survive drought and freezing. Plant biology group members have already applied jointly for research funding to buy a new growth chamber intended to study low- temperature effects on plant growth. The group’s faculty members will talk about their research as part of a new seminar series being launched this winter. It kicks off Jan. 22 with Tedow and Ernes discussing plant metabolism at 3:30 p.m. in Room 337 of the ' Axelrod Building. “The idea is to expand this series and invite people from other departments and other uni- versities in the future,” says Nassuth. For more information, contact her at Ext. 58787. SCUP Shares Draft Proposal on IT Governance A t the Dec. 12 meeting of Senate, the Committee on University Planning shared a draft proposal on information technology governance. It is being developed to improve decisions around IT at the University, said chief information officer Michael Ridley. He noted that IT is important to every facet of the campus and that IT decisions need to be interconnected. The Bylaws and Membership Committee reported that a review of the 12 standing com- mittees of Senate is under way, as announced at the June 2006 meeting of Senate. The man- date, structure and membership of each com- mittee will be reviewed to increase Senate engagement, improve the effectiveness of the standing committees, and increase commit- tee-member satisfaction and productivity. The committee expects to present a final report by the end of the 2006/2007 session. at Guelph 5 January 17 , 2007 91BU9S The Personal Is the Political New chair believes tomorrow's voter begins with tapping today's inner activist New Ridgetown Director Named Prof known for work in field-crop pest management I BY DAVID DICENZO G rowing up in Ottawa, Prof. Byron Sheldrick was always | well aware of the political climate in Canada. The growing steam of the ! Quebec separatist movement and the FLQ crisis in 1970 are images that remain etched in his mind. “I would go downtown with my parents and see soldiers on the I streets of Ottawa,” says Sheldrick, , who joined UofG as chair of the De- : partment of Political Science last i August. “I can remember clearly the buzz that took place when Ren 6 I Levesque and the Parti Qu£becois first won power in Quebec in the 1970s. Because Ottawa is right on the border, those issues really played prominently in the consciousness of everyone growing up there.” Sheldrick figures those early ex- periences had a subconscious impact j on his eventual choice of an aca- demic career in political science, but | it was actually his decision to study law that steered him further down the path. After earning a BA in political sci- ence at Carleton University in 1984, he headed off to law school at the University of Toronto. There, the re- cent patriation of the Canadian Con- stitution and the adoption of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms were hot topics that sparked an in- terest in human rights and questions ' ot social eViatv^e and jusUce tor mauf j law students, says Sheldrick. “There was a huge debate about i whether or not the charter was going to be a good thing or a bad thing for social movements — whether it would draw them away from their social movement roots and divert all their energy into court cases and hir- ing lawyers, with the result that it might actually lessen their political j activism.” Sheldrick has been actively in- volved with social movements ever I since, from both a hands-on and teaching perspective. His 2004 book I Perils and Possibilities: Social Activ- ism and the Law, a guide of sorts for activists in navigating the law, is a byproduct of his interest in both j movements and the legal system. It’s j that combination of being on the j ground — actively working with anti-poverty groups, for example — and being in the classroom that has allowed him to have an impact and make change, he says. After graduating from law school in 1987, Sheldrick returned to politi- cal science, earning an MA and a ! PhD at York University. He spent three years teaching law at Keele University in England, then returned to Canada in 1998 to teach politics at I the University of Winnipeg. Here at Guelph, he spent the fall j semester settling into his adminis- | trative role but is teaching a course | on Canadian politics this semester and will teach the first-year "Intro- I duction to Politics” course next j September. Sheldrick is a rarity among pro- j fessors in that he relishes teaching I first-year classes. He wants his stu- dents, especially younger ones, to get excited about politics. He also wants them to understand that the opin- ions, attitudes, biases and perspec- tives that inform their daily lives are all inherently political. “Once students start to recognize that the world around them is highly politicized, that starts to peel away layers of assumptions they have about the way things are and the way things must be,” he says. “People need to understand that politics is much broader than what happened in the House today or what Stephen Harper is saying. It manifests itself in all sorts of ways, whether it’s a local citizens’ group fighting the building of a landfill site in its backyard or AIDS Awareness Week on campus. There are lots of ways students can get involved in things that are political without nec- essarily thinking about party politics or what’s happening in Ottawa or at Queen’s Park. That broadens peo- ple’s horizons, and I like doing that at the first-year level.” Sheldrick says he’s been im- pressed by the political spirit he’s seen at U of G, citing last semester’s campus vigil against hate crimes as an example of the strong conscience among students, faculty and staff. After a relatively quiet period in the 1980s and ’90s in terms of activ- ism, he believes there’s been a defi- nite resurgence of late. Some movements, like anti-globalization, are reminiscent of the civil rights movement in the ’60s, although with noticeable differences in the range of coalitions and the internationaliza- tion of the movements, he says. “A lot of it has been made possi- ble by new information technology. The Internet and e-mail have al- lowed these movements to organize and operate on a much different scale in a much different way. You can easily form coalitions now that span a whole cross-section of people, entire continents and time zones. “When you had the demonstra- tions in Quebec City and Seattle, you had people from all over the world showing up. You had activists from South America concerned about in- digenous people’s rights joining with people concerned about sweatshop labour in Mexico. That creates movements that are very dynamic and that I think are really exciting.” P LANT AGRICULTURE professor Art Schaafsma has been appointed director of Ridgetown Campus for a five-year term that began Jan. 15. “Dr. Schaafsma is an accom- plished leader with a demonstrated commitment to the success of our research, teaching and outreach pro- grams,” says OAC dean Craig Pearson. “He also has superb con- nections with the industries and communities of rural Ontario. I am delighted that he has agreed to lead the Ridgetown Campus through what promises to be an exciting pe- riod of growth over the next few years.” Schaafsma, who has taught at Ridgetown since 1986, is known for his research, teaching and extension BY ANDREW VOWLES T ackling rural poverty in Canada may require Ottawa to introduce a guaranteed annual income, offer transportation fund- ing and promote rural tourism, say three OAC professors quoted in a new federal report on rural poverty. Profs. Harry Cummings, Tony Fuller and Donald Reid, Environ- mental Design and Rural Develop- ment, appeared this fall before the standing Senate committee on agri- culture and forestry, which is look- ing at ways to reduce rural poverty in Canada. Chaired by Senator Joyce Fairbairn, the committee released its interim report, called Understanding Freefall: The Challenge of the Rural Poor, in December. It’s believed to be the first-ever federal report to focus on rural pov- erty. Recommendations will be in- cluded in a final report in the spring. work in field-crop pest manage- ment. As Ridgetown’s ninth direc- tor, he will oversee about 150 faculty and staff and an annual budget of $11.5 million. “It will be my privilege to work with our students, staff, alumni and industry stakeholders, all of whom play an important role in the pro- grams and services we provide at Ridgetown,” he says. “I am excited about the future of new initiatives and look forward to working closely with our many rural community clients.” Schaafsma succeeds Gary Ablett, director of Ridgetown since 1997. Ablett will continue to teach and do research on soybean breeding at Ridgetown and will be engaged in special projects with the University. Rural Canadians, who make up at least 20 per cent of Canada’s pop- ulation, tend to have less access to health services and poorer living conditions than their urban coun- terparts, says Cummings, an expert in rural economic development who has helped counsel Ontario farm families in crisis. “Farming is seen as a life with few prospects where de- pression, crisis and/or debt seriously impact many farm families.” In the report, Cummings is quoted as saying: “Youth are dis- couraged from entering the busi- ness, and off-farm work is a mainstay.” The report notes that persistendy low farm incomes have been exacer- bated by such things as mad cow dis- ease, droughts in parts of Canada, a strong Canadian dollar and falling prices for many farm commodities. Another big issue for poor rural Canadians is lack of transportation. In the report, Fuller — an expert on developing sustainable rural com- munities — calls on Ottawa to pro- vide funding for transportation services such as Meals on Wheels and Red Cross in rural areas. Ottawa should consider intro- ducing a guaranteed annual income, says Reid, who has studied commu- nity development and tourism in Canada and abroad. Cummings sug- gests the federal government look for ways to promote rural tourism and support cultural and language programs for rural immigrants. “We are tame in our promotional activities,” says Cummings. “We are not innovative in the way we pro- mote our countryside and our op- portunities.” Review Committee Seeks Input A committee has been struck to review the first term of OAC dean Craig Pearson, who has expressed interest in being reappointed for a second term. Provost and vice-president (academic) Maureen Mancuso chairs the committee, which in- cludes Profs. Karen Landman, En- vironmental Design and Rural Development, and Barry Shelp, Plant Agriculture (a third faculty member is to be appointed). Other members are staff member Jennifer Kingswell, Plant Agricul- ture; OAC undergraduate student Andrew Bowman; College of Arts dean Don Bruce; and Prof. Paulette Padanyi, chair of the De- partment of Marketing and Con- sumer Studies. The committee invites input from tire University community on Pearson’s role as dean. Com- ments should be submitted by Jan. 31 in writing or by e-mail to the chair at provost@uoguelph.ca or any member of the committee. Tough Action Needed on Rural Poverty, Profs Say Senate committee releases interim report at Guelph 6 January 17 , 2007 profile My Favourite Martian Digs Space researcher views mock Mars mission as another step in journey to red planet By Andrew Vowles H e hasn’t gotten to Mars yet, but Matt Bamsey has already staked a claim of sorts to a tiny piece of the red planet, one that he’s held since his teen years. And if humans set up a Martian colony sometime in this century, the U of G doctoral student may be able to claim that he helped them get there. In addition — and despite daunting odds — Bamsey hopes he might have a shot at taking that epic first-ever journey to our nearest planetary neighbour. That would fulfil a dream he’s nurtured since his boyhood in Guelph spent reading books about space and astronomy, keeping tabs on shuttle flights and sketching spacecraft designs. He was just 12 when his parents, both science-fic- tion fans and U of G grads, bought him a chunk of the moon as a whimsical birthday gift. Sometime later they bought him similar pieces of both Mars and Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. Now 26, Bamsey is still pursuing that ultimate goal through several avenues. Having worked for the Ca- nadian Space Agency (CSA) as a student for five years, he still spends most of his time at the agency’s Montreal headquarters. Last year he began PhD studies back in his hometown, working on life-support systems studied by Prof. Mike Dixon, chair of the Department of Environmental Biology. And he was recently se- lected to take part in a simulated Mars expedition in the Cana- dian High Arctic later this year to help earthlings prepare for that anticipated journey to the red planet. The four-month expedition will begin in May at the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS). Located on Devon Island about 1,500 kilometres from the North Pole, the cylindrical pod perches on the rim of the Haughton meteorite impact crater formed some 23 million years ago. The expedi- tion will be the longest and most isolated human Mars simula- tion ever conducted. Crew members will simulate conditions that a mission might face on Mars, even wearing spacesuits for working out- doors and experiencing an artificial time delay in communica- tions with base operations. Describing the station’s crew quarters, kitchen and research labs, Bamsey says: “It’s designed as a real habitat.” The station is run by the Colorado-based Mars Society, which selected seven crew members for this mission in late fall. Bamsey, who has visited the Haughton crater four times since 2003, is the only member with experience in the High Arctic. He will serve as executive officer and engineer while studying crew water use, habitat systems and basic geology, biology and crew psychology. Also on the team will be crew commander Melissa Battler, a geologist at the University of New Brunswick, and Canadian ge- ologist Simon Auclair of the International Space University. Bamsey will meet them and the other team members from the United States and Greece during a two-week training session next month at the Mars Society’s Mars Desert Research Station in Utah. Bamsey says he was chosen because of his university studies in life-support systems and his experience with earlier expedi- tions intended to help prepare for travels to the moon or Mars. At Guelph, he’s studying greenhouse systems in the Con- trolled- Environment Systems Research Facility, a complex of greenhouses and controlled-environment chambers adjoining die Bovey Building. Here, researchers led by Dixon study growth of plants under low-light and low-pressure conditions that mimic those of a long-haul space flight or an outpost on die moon or another planet. “Mike Dixon is a leader worldwide in advanced life sup- port,” says Bamsey, who will develop sensors to monitor nutri- ents delivered to plants grown in hydroponic solution. Scientists expect that space explorers, including anyone on a four- to six-month journey to Mars, would rely on plants as life-support systems for food, air quality, and recycling of water and waste. “We’re using plants to keep people alive,” he says. If the idea of turning a bit of Canada’s Arctic into Mars sounds otherworldly, what to make of the notion of installing a greenhouse in the same environs to grow lettuce, cucumbers and other produce? That’s what Bamsey — along with other Guelph researchers — helped do during earlier field seasons on Devon Island. On those previous trips, he helped erect a green- house and monitor its systems. Located a few kilometres from the research station where he’ll practise living on Mars this “ We’ve been pushing all the federal parties to increase space spending. The space community needs to do a better job of getting the word out there. ” spring and summer, the Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse gives scientists a place to try out growing operations in Mars-like conditions. The greenhouse operates year-round and is moni- tored from southern Canada for most of the year. (The facility is run by the Mars Institute, the SETI Institute and Simon Fraser University.) Living at the greenhouse site was less like a Mars simulation and more like Arctic survival training, says Bamsey. Like his col- leagues, he spent three or four weeks camped in his own tent, equipped with whatever gear he could pack into two big duffle bags. Even in July, temperatures hover around freezing on the world’s largest uninhabited island (not counting seals, polar bears and muskoxen). And the weather can be unpredictable: Bamsey has spent more than a few hours waiting for the skies to clear before being able to fly out on the first leg of a lengthy journey home. “It’s harder to get to Devon Island than it is to get to the moon,” quips Dixon. “But when it comes to deploying sophisti- cated technology in a remote and harsh environment, it is a su- perb analogue." Bamsey says last summer’s trek was worth the inconve- niences. “We grew a perfect crop of lettuce from seed." Not to mention the highlight of a "polar dip” at Resolute Bay, where the tempera- ture of the saltwater actually drops below zero. Research in the greenhouse is supported by the CSA, U of G, Si- mon Fraser and the SETI Institute. The principal investigator is Alain Berinstain, the CSA’s director of planetary exploration and space as- tronomy and an adjunct professor in the Department of Environmen- tal Biology. He’s also co-adviser for Bamsey’s doctoral thesis. “Matt’s work with Mike Dixon and me in developing life-support systems for the moon and Mars is very forward-looking research,” says Berinstain, “and the type of work we’re doing is a necessary step on our way there. His work is helping us understand how we’ll need to think when we operate a greenhouse on the moon or Mars." Bamsey still spends most of his time in Montreal, working as a stu- dent research affiliate with the CSA's space science department on the Arctic greenhouse project. He’s also gone on the road to talk about space science and exploration to schoolchildren, including a stop along the way at Guelph CVI, his own alma mater. (A typical question, albeit from younger audiences: “How does an astronaut go to the bathroom?") After studying aerospace engineering at Carleton Univer- sity, Bamsey went to the University of Colorado at Boulder to work on life-support systems and spacesuit design for lunar and Mars missions. There, he co-authored two conference publica- tions with his adviser David Klaus, a leader in bioastronautics, the study of what happens to the human body in space. Refer- ring to Bamsey’s planned Mars simulation mission, Klaus says: “I can’t imagine a more qualified, dedicated or hard-working individual to have on the FMARS crew.” Bamsey would love to suit up one day himself as an astro- naut bound perhaps for a moon outpost or even for Mars. (The George W. Bush administration has announced plans to return to the moon by 2020, with an eye to establishing a launch pad for a Mars expedition.) “Going to the moon would be ’astro- nomical,’” he says. Dixon believes a Mars shot might be too far off for his stu- dent, but for a moon mission, “his expertise in controlled-envi- ronment systems and food production will be invaluable.” Why go to Mars, anyway? Bamsey says space exploration has already yielded numerous technological benefits. Studying space and monitoring our own planet from that vantage point may also improve life back on Earth, not least by helping us learn more about the possible extent and impact of climate change, he says. Money spent on space research and exploration is not thrown away, he adds. “Every dollar is spent on Earth for jobs and technology development. None of that money is disappear- ing. Everything is spent here on the planet." And there’s that idealistic-sounding goal of transcending national boundaries. “It’s something that can bring every country on Earth to- gether," says Bamsey. “We’ve been stuck in low Earth orbit for 30 years. We haven’t done the exploration we could do." Those kinds of arguments flow easily for him, no surprise for a longtime advocate of space science and exploration. He joined the Mars Society of Canada after high school in 1999 and spoke to more than a few skeptical audiences as the organiza- tion’s president between 2003 and 2005. He’s currently a stu- dent adviser to the Mars Institute board of advisers. “We’ve been pushing all the federal parties to increase space spending," he says. “The space community needs to do a better job of getting the word out there.” at Guelph 7 January 17, 2007 Bardolatry* From left: Second-year students Katie O’Brien, Jennifer Norrie and Kendra Cooke heard about the opening of the “Shakespeare — Made in Canada” festival from a friend and decided to see for themselves the Sanders portrait of William Shakespeare. They joined an overflow crowd at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre for the Jan. 11 event and took pictures of themselves with what U of G president Alastair Summerlee called the “definitive” image of the Bard. photo by mary dickieson Stratford I N Act IV, Scene 6 of King Lear, the mad Lear utters an obscure line: “This (is) a good block.” Richard Monette remembers directing, William Hutt in the role in 1996. When Hutt came to the line in rehearsal, he stamped his foot on the stage, rather than touching his head as many actors do. For Monette, the gesture was right for Lear and also captured an essential truth about the Festival’s unique thrust stage. “It worked,” says Monette. “It was a brilliant theatrical moment.” For actors, the thrust stage that Hutt honoured with his gesture is both enormously demanding and intensely exciting. “What we consi- der good acting at Stratford is different from other companies,” says Antoni Cimolino, Festival actor turned general director. “Acting here has been driven by the archi- tecture. You don’t have to hurl what you’re doing across the void to the audience, so everything seems more natural and easy.” With minimal sets, actors and the story they’re telling become the centre of the audience experience. Seen by the audience in three dimensions whenever they’re on stage, the actors must perform with extraordinary concentration and skill. “An actor cannot lie on that stage," says Hutt, who appeared in the Festival’s first season and most other seasons. “On a proscenium stage, he has the protection of scenery at his back. Here, he must be able to respond intuitively to the size and shape of the space around him.” The late Mervyn Blake, who played 42 seasons with the Festival, agreed. “I felt I couldn’t move without being noticed. But the best Is a World Stage thing to do is to stand still and involve yourself in the scene.” For the Festival’s first four seasons, this extraordinary performance space was located under a huge blue-grey and rust canvas tent. When the permanent theatre was built in 1957, the stage remained in place, and architect Robert Fairfield created the permanent building around it. The balcony, with its central pillar marking the geographic centre of the structure, held the engineer's tripod used for making all radial measurements. By Pat Morden, in association with the Stratford Festival of Canada Stratford’s distinctive thrust stage is featured in a gallery exhibition crediting Tom Patterson, the Stratford businessman who developed the idea for a Shakespearean theatre in his rural community; British director Tyrone Guthrie, who developed the vision; and renowned theatrical designer Tanya Moiseiwitsch, who designed the curtainless hexagonal platform. photo courtesy stratford festival of Canada Thrives at tl Shakespeare Exhibi I T TAKES A 150-PAGE catalogue to summarize the Shakespeare exhibition at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre (MSAC). Filling more than 80 per cent of the art centre’s gallery space and taking up more than half of its exhibition year, the “Shakespeare — Made in Canada” exhibition “has been an enormous and exciting undertaking,” says MSAC director Judith Nasby. She and her staff have been working on the exhibition for more than a year with joint curator Prof. Daniel Fischlin, English and Theatre Studies, and a team of co-curators who have filled the MSAC galleries ini with some surprising displays and art Sc objects. on “The exhibition includes more th< than 200 artworks and archival items th< borrowed from individuals and organizations across Canada,” says Sh Nasby. sp: The content of the exhibition vie ranges from theatrical set designs to an 17th-century mathematics to contemporary native and franco- us< phone adaptations of Shakespeare’s de plays. Le One gallery showcases changes in Up portraiture from Shakespeare’s time W< to the present, and there’s an audio bo Portraiture and the Bard MSAC director Judith Nasby put together an exhibition of contemporary po Canada to reveal the influence of the Bard on contemporary notions of characti counterpoint to the 17th-century oil-on-panel Sanders portrait that is consider Shakespeare. She says she chose artists who would extend our ideas of wh; photo, gallery visitors are discussing Cheryl Ruddick’s two-metre-long drav Shakespeare’s character Ophelia and her death by drowning. In the foregrounc to portraiture is a wearable Bottom head by Guelph artist Ryan Price. Nick Bottc hilarious comic figures. In Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bottom is convinced off is unaware when Puck magically transforms his head into that of an ass. Price’s and human features. Kids Give ’Speare Tw A VI DEO GAME that raises the bar on Flash technology and is a pioneer in educational gaming is up and running at the “Shakespeare — Made in Canada” festival exhibition. It’s called ’Speare and was designed to teach gamers about literacy within a familiar arcade environment. “We took the video gaming medium and made it an educational tool, and it hasn’t been easy, but I think we’ve done an amazing job of it,” says English professor Daniel Fischlin, who’s also the director of the Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare Project (CASP), which will host the game for free at the www.canadianshakespeares.ca. gal “Gamers say that, in terms of the kn< level of programming and concept, of this game is unique,” he says. “The game is beautiful graphically, and all lik< the elements are text-based and Ro learning-based. And it teaches liter- the acy without being overly didactic.” the 'Speare, which was created by the Fis CASP team, fuses the appeal of an arcade game with the goal of to improving basic visual and textual lea literacy by using the works of Gr William Shakespeare. The 3-D game drc puts players in a futuristic spaceship thr At Guelph 8 January 17,2007 the University of Guelph bit Fills Art Centre 5 intervention in the Donald Forster t Sculpture Park. Other displays draw on the Stratford Festival archives and ; the U of G Library 1 s Canadian > theatre archives. 1 The Canadian Adaptations of > Shakespeare Project also fills gallery space with photographs, audio and i video presentations from its database > and the 'Speare video game. > A second-floor gallery is being used for the educational program > developed by the Office of Open Learning and representatives of the l Upper Grand District and : Wellington Catholic District school > boards. As many as 10,000 schoolchildren are expected to visit the exhibition and take part in workshops related to their classroom studies in English, drama, the visual arts, history and science. Members of the curatorial team also contributed to the catalogue, which is called Shakespeare — Made in Canada: Contemporary Adaptations in Theatre, Pop Culture and Visual Arts. It was published by the art centre and co-edited by Nasby and MSAC assistant curator Dawn Shea. The catalogue is available at the art centre for $20. Native Earth Workshop Produces Video for Shakespeare Exhibition As a prelude to the Shakespeare exhibition, Native Earth Performing Arts held a theatre workshop at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre last semester. A videotape presentation of the workshop is now showing as part of the MSAC exhibition. Viewers can watch as native actors develop an adaptation of Julius Caesar written by Yvette Nolan and co-directed by Kennedy Cathy MacKinnon. The six-minute film shows how the acting troupe uses Shakespeare as the source of text to explore dysfunction in native governments and their community’s role in that. The video was produced by Guelph drama graduate Marion Gruner and graduate student Sorouja Moll, who says the actors aren’t “merely reviving a play by a dead white male. Instead, they’re grappling with the story of their people as it’s being played out now.” photo courtesy msac All’s Well in the Archives ry portraiture by artists from across laracter and to serve as an interesting isidered to be the likeness of William of what constitutes a portrait. In this l drawing of a dress that alludes to jround, an entirely different approach j Bottom is one of Shakespeare’s most ed of his attractiveness to women and ’rice’s Bottom head combines donkey PHOTO BY MARY DICKIESON L orne Bruce, head of archival and special collections at the University of Guelph Library, is co-curator of a Shakespeare exhibition that features material from the Library’s L.W. ConolJy Theatre Archives. The collection, which focuses on modern Ontario theatre, is represented by scripts, photos, house programs, sketches and scale set models of Shakespearean productions. “The library’s theatre archives began in a modest fashion with the acquisition of one small collection in 1969,” says Bruce. “In the subsequent 3 'A decades, the archival collections have rapidly expanded to form the largest archival theatre holdings in Canada, with a significant portion devoted to Shakespearean production and adaptation.” Most major Ontario theatres are now represented, along with a number of prominent individual wo Thumbs Up that they navigate through a faraway galaxy in search of missing knowledge based on an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. “There are all these nested things, like video Claymation scenes from Romeo and Juliet and games within the game, to keep kids interested in the different components,” says Fischlin. The layers within the game seem to have paid off. When the CASP team tested 'Speare on a group of Grade 6 students, the kids had to be dragged away from the consoles after three hours of playing, he says. Once gamers finish the game, their reward is access to the most highly interactive version of Romeo and Juliet anywhere on the web. Fischlin and his team have also created a whole series of pedagogical tools for teachers and students based on the actual game content. “We’ve made a direct connection between gaming and activities that can be done in the classroom,^’ he says. In addition to 'Speare, CASP has contributed posters, photographs and other material collected while compiling its database of Canadian adaptations of Shakespeare’s work. William Hutt wore this costume when portraying the king in a Stratford production of All's Well That Ends Well. The sketch is part of a collection of memorabilia and papers donated by Hutt to U of G’s theatre archives. DRAWING BY TANYA MOISEIWITSCH artists, such as William Hutt, who have deposited their personal records. “The breadth and depth of Guelph’s holdings demonstrate that the work of Canadian playwrights transcends provincial boundaries,” says Bruce. “Without a doubt, our theatres and our performers, playwrights and designers have made a national and international impact.” Jackson Mill, 12, and his sister, Chloe, 9, say ’Speare is “pretty hard.” Jackson produced Clay- mation videos for the CASP game but hasn’t seen them yet as a 'Speare player because his Clay- mation stories are reserved as payoffs for players who make it into the final phase of the game. PHOTO BY MARY DICKIESON Will in the Comics T he Macdonald Stewart Art Centre features a graphic novel by Guelph artist Nick Craine as part of its Shakespeare exhibition. Parchment of Light: The Life & Death of William Shakespeare is an MSAC publication and sells for $10. It consolidates the history of Shakespeare into a meaningful portrait that blends narrative and illustration. “Shakespeare was working in the gutter of the arts in his own time,” says Craine. “Theatre was his entry point to survival. In exchange, Will elevated the theatrical medium from disposable pop to meaningful complex structure and eventually masterpiece. “The comic book is the artistic gutter of our times. To portray the Bard’s life in a comic strip narrative makes the telling itself a relentless artistic action." Designing for Shakespeare This set model is part of the L.W. Conolly Theatre Archive at U of G and represents one of the more unusual stage designs for Shakespeare’s The Tempest. It was designed by William Chesney in 1987 and is as much a work of art as it is a working theatre set. Prof. Pat Flood, English and Theatre Studies, contributes to the Shakespeare exhibition from her research to throw light on the production of the Bard’s works from the point of view of theatrical designers. “As a professor and a professional theatre designer, I have long felt the need to promote and encourage understanding of theatrical design as an art form in its own right," she savs . PHOTO COURTESY CASP * Although William Shakespeare is credited with adding more than 3,000 words to the English language, “bardolatry" is not one of them. The term was coined by George Bernard Shaw (from the English “bard” and “latria,” Greek for worship) in reference to the way Romantic critics factored Shakespeare into an object of almost religious adoration. At Guelph 9 January 17,2007 let ters KUDOS TO SNO PIONEERS We enjoyed the Nov. 22 At Guelph article about the well-deserved awarding of the Polanyi Prize to the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory col- laboration. We might add that one of the pioneers of this international project — and one of its Canadian leaders — was Prof. John Simpson, who recently retired from the Department of Physics. Another early par- ticipant, who worked closely with Simpson and his graduate students, was researcher Pillalamarri Jagam, who has also retired. The strong support of former U of G president Bill Winegard, who was at that time the minister of state for science and technology, was crucial in getting the project funded. Profs. Iain Campbell, Jim Davis, Gabriel ICarl and Don Sullivan Department of Physics THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT I would like to thank those who generously contributed to my “tip jars” while I was playing holiday music in the University Centre courtyard Dec. 12. Almost $700 was raised for the Guelph Food Bank. A special thank you to the Octave Music Centre on Victoria Road for donating the keyboard for the day, Sam Baijal of UC Programming for the excellent technical support and those who lent their wonderful voices to help make this event such a success. Special Constable Jim Armstrong, Campus Community Police UGAA Calls for Nominations J AN. 26 IS THE DEADLINE to submit nominations for the U of G Alumni Association’s annual awards of excellence. The Alumnus of Honour Award celebrates the achievements of alumni who have brought great hon- our to their alma mater through professional, community and/or personal endeavours. The Alumni Medal of Achievement honours a graduate of the last 15 years who has achieved excellence through contri- butions to his or her country, com- munity or profession or the world of arts and letters. The Alumni Volunteer Award, Employee Volunteer Award and Student Volunteer Award recognize students, faculty, staff and alumni who have made significant contribu- tions through their volunteer work. For more details and to down- load a nomination form, visit www. alumni.uoguelph.ca/association_ awards.htm. If you have questions, call Ext. 53170 or send e-mail to mamoroz@uoguelph.ca. Complete Wellness Clinic Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine We treat acute and chronic conditions: • Allergies • Arthritis • Back Pain • Headaches • Insomnia • Stress, Low Energy • Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, Dietary Advice 519 - 763-8855 after hours Robin Milhausen ROBIN MILHAUSEN Faculty member in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition since 2006 Although Prof. Robin Milhausen, former co-host of the TV show Sex, Toys and Chocolate, has taken a break from appearing on television, she admits she’s become hooked on watching it. After she and her husband, Steve Jett, put their nine-month-old son, Leo, to bed, their attention turns to shows like The Amaz- ing Race, Survivor, Big Brother and America's Next Top Model. “We’re reality junkies,” says Milhausen. On weekends from September to February, the cou- ple’s attention turns to a different kind of reality televi- sion as they root for their favourite football teams. And a day of football wouldn’t be complete without a selection of snacks, she says. “I love to make appetizers to enjoy while we watch the games. My favourite thing to make is baked brie with green onions.” Milhausen credits her husband with getting her inter- ested in the game. “He was smart. He figured the only way he could get me to agree to let him watch all season was to get me involved.” She’s so involved that she created a couple’s fantasy football league to add to the fun of the game. "I’m actu- ally quite competitive, and I apply my research skills to the game by making up all sorts of spreadsheets with yards and touchdowns and things like that.” In November, her competitive nature helped her win $1,200 at a blackjack table in Las Vegas. "I’d never been to Vegas before, and it was unbelievable.” CATHERINE WALSH-SHANTZ Master’s student in the Department of Integrative Biology There’s nothing like spending the holidays in the clouds, which is exactly what Catherine Walsh-Shantz did. She and her husband, John, recently returned from a two-week trip to Costa Rica to spend Christ- mas and New Year’s with one of John’s brothers at his coffee farm in the Cloud Forest. “The number of different climates and ecosystems you pass through in a short drive in Costa Rica is pretty excit- ing,” says Walsh-Shantz, who captured much of her ex- perience through digital images she shot on her camera. “I had to tell myself to stop taking pictures and look Walsh- around once in a while. The huge diversity of plants and animals and the mountainous and ocean views provide for endless photo opportunities. My favourite things to do outside of school are travel and photography.” Over the past decade, she has travelled to India, Tan- zania and Kenya with her mother, who operates a women ’s-only tour company in Stratford. In addition, she and John have been to a number of European coun- tries, including Greece, where they spent their honey- moon nearly 10 years ago. This year is a big one for Walsh-Shantz, who celebrates her 30th birthday this month and her 1 Oth wedding anniversary in September. These days, it’s difficult for the couple to find time to travel because of the demands of her school schedule and running an antique clock and watch shop in Stratford, she says. “We’re really busy year-round with the busi- ness, but especially busy during the summer tourist sea- son and the weeks leading up to Christmas.” MICHAEL CHUDNOVSKY IT assistant in the President’s Office since 2006 Michael Chudnovsky first came to U of G as a human kinetics student, a perfect fit given his affinity for math, science and athletics. He excelled in those subjects in high school and was a competitive water polo player. But the Hamilton native was also passionate about theatre and film and ended up transfer- ring to Guelph’s theatre studies program, which he graduated from last year. When he’s not troubleshooting computer problems on campus, Chudnovsky has been working on his own film and two theatre productions through the local First Light Theatre Company. “Film and television are what interest me primarily,” he says, “but theatre is a good stepping stone and I’ve always loved it.” Late last semester, he worked on a play called I Met a Bully on the Hill. He was both stage manager and assistant producer and also liaised with local education boards to bring 1,200 young people to see the show. Currently, Chudnovsky is assistant director, stage manager, lighting designer and assistant producer for a production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory slated to run at Our Lady of Lourdes High School Jan. 31 to Feb. 4. “I love working with kids,” he says. His greatest joy is being behind the scenes, especially when directing. He did just that for the movie Four Aces, a film shot on campus last year. Career-wise, his main interest lies in producing for television. “I like the idea of being able to have input in the early stages of a project and see it come to fruition.” Michael Chudnovsky UNIVERSITY yp UELPH Memories of Guelph. Introducing a magnificent new coffee-table book chat showcases the University of Guelph. Buy it as a keepsake or a perfect gift for someone who shares your Guelph memories. Noted Canadian photographer Richard Bain brought his camera to campus in all four seasons to capture the splendour of the University. His stunning photos will lead you through Guelph's beautiful walkways and historical buildings, inspiring warm memories of the University of Guelph. Foreword by Dr. Roberta Bondar, Canada's first female astronaut and a University of Guelph graduate. $40 plus taxes and shipping Order from the University of Guelph Bookstore: 519-821-4120. ext. 537 1 5 bookstor@uoguelph.ca www.bookstore.uoguelph.ca t h i Uimmsm j b°ok sf oie P erspective: what’s yours? Saturday. January 21, 2007 RwansW Rail University of Guelph M EDIA and the ENVIRONMEN T Elizabeth May Thomas |”jomer~Dixon E>ruce (G r <=enpeace) tJRj VB^T v Register online : www.uoguelph.c3/~envsyn1p at Guelph 10 January 17, 2007 Birds of a Feather Dine Together Award-winning biologist discovers that songbird’s feather colour may be determined by what it eats BY RACHELLE COOPER F or a songbird called the American redstart, its feather colour may not be determined by its physical condition, as many scientists believed, but by the food it eats while it grows new feathers, Prof. Ryan Norris, Integrative Biology, has found. By collecting single feathers from more than 200 different American redstart songbirds, Norris and his j colleagues at Queen’s University and the Smithsonian Institution were j able to determine where the birds had moulted, what condition the birds were in and the brightness of their feathers. These three pieces of information allowed Norris to test competing hypotheses of whether feather colour is dependent on con- dition or diet. His research was re- cently published in Biology Letters. “What we found was, the condi- tion wasn’t related to the feather col- our,” he says. “We found evidence that the amount or type of caroten- oids (antioxidant fat-soluble mole- cules found in plants and animals) a bird gets from the food it eats offers the best explanation for variation in feather colour.” This information provides im- portant clues as to how species can develop, says Norris. “If the males from two populations look different because they eat different insects, then female birds may choose to mate only with males from their population, and over a longer time scale, it could actually lead to differ- entiation between populations.” He sampled American redstart songbirds in the Caribbean and Cen- tral America. The migrating birds spend their summers anywhere from British Columbia to Newfoundland and south to Louisiana. After breed- ing in the north, they replace their feathers and fly south for the winter. When feathers are being grown, they carry unique hydrogen isotope values, depending on the bird’s lati- tude at the time. These values arise from variations in precipitation and are then transferred all the way up the food chain from plants to insects to animals. Looking at the ratio of heavy and light hydrogen isotopes in the feathers allowed Norris to esti- mate where the birds moulted in North America. “The isotope value of where the bird grew its feathers doesn’t change because, once the feather’s grown, the chemical composition in that feather is fixed,” he says. It’s a lot easier to track where a bird has been by analyzing isotopes than by putting a band on it and try- ing to find it again, he adds. Interestingly, the researchers found a relationship between the colour or brightness of the feather and where the bird had spent its summer in North America. “Males that moulted at southerly latitudes were more likely to grow yellowish feathers, whereas males that moulted further north tended to have more orange-red feathers,” says Norris. “Redstarts moulting at lower latitudes may consume insects with lower carotenoid concentrations.” The faint growth bars that appear on each feather also allowed Norris to estimate what condition the bird was in when it grew its feathers. “Ev- ery 24 hours, a bird lays down a light and a dark growth bar as it regrows its feathers,” he says. The width of those bars is related to how fast the feathers grew. If they grew quickly, the growth bars will be thin, which means the bud is in good physical condition. If the bars are wide, the bird grew them slowly because it was in poor condition. Unlike the link between isotope values and feather colour, Norris found no relationship between the birds’ condition and feather colour. “The theory was that, if you’re a bird in poor health, you have to use carotenoids for other things and therefore you can’t use them to col- our your feathers,” he says. If that hypothesis were true, feather colour could be an “honest signal” for females to choose only mates in good condition. “Instead, in some birds, it looks like feather colour might not be an ‘honest sig- nal.’ It just tells you where the bird grew its feathers." Even though joining U of G this summer marks Norris’s first posi- tion as an assistant professor, he’s al- ready well known within the ornithological community. In Octo- ber, he was presented with the Amer- ican Ornithologists’ Union’s (AOU) Ned K. Johnson Young Investigator /'vwaid at Us annual meeting in Mex- ico. The award recognizes outstand- ing and promising work by AOU members who have received their doctorate within five years. “It’s a tremendous honour to be recognized for my research contri- butions at this early stage of my ca- reer, especially considering that the AOU is the largest and oldest orni- thological organization in the world, " he says. “In honour of a great Canadian ornithologist who recently passed away, I will be donating half of my monetary award to the Jamie Smith Fund at the University of Brit- ish Columbia to help establish a scholarship for students to attend field courses.” Although his more recent re- search has focused on birds, Norris says he doesn’t have an attachment to birds in particular. “What really fascinates me is migration more than anything else." That fascination began when Norris was an undergraduate at the University of Waterloo, where he studied a migratory grey wolf popu- lation in Algonquin Park. He went on to complete a master’s degree at York University studying the effects of forest fragmentation on the mat- ing system of hooded warblers. He started researching the American redstart while completing a PhD at Queen’s University. After finishing his dissertation, Norris was awarded both an Izaak Walton Killam Post-doctoral Fel- lowship and a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council fel- lowship at the University of British Columbia. While at UBC, Norris began looking at how fisheries and climate change have influenced populations of marbled murrelets, small threat- ened seabirds that nest in old-growth trees. By reconstructing the | murrelet’s diet over the last 120 years, he is uncovering the effect of marine conditions on the bird. “Before 1900, this bird fed almost exclusively on fish, but now, a signif- icant amount of its diet includes ma- ' nne invertebrates," be says. “The , results of this study suggest that only j conserving nesting habitats of this < species might not be enough. Recov- ery efforts need to focus on condi- tions at sea when they’re not breeding.” Norris has already integrated multiple and diverse fields in his re- search, including ecology, behav- iour, population modelling and biogeochemistry, and says he’s ex- cited about expanding his multidis- ciplinary approach here at U of G. When he’s not doing field re- search, Norris, who lives in Guelph with his wife, Amy, spends most of his spare time fly fishing, hiking, ca- noeing and birding. Dog Flu in Ontario OVC Study Finds No BY ANDREW VOWLES F ears that a highly contagious dog flu that swept throughout the United States might cross the border into Ontario are unfounded, say OVC researchers. Dog owners and veterinarians had feared the worst in 2004 when canine influenza appeared in racing greyhounds in Florida. Although the respiratory infection has since spread to every state, testing of dogs from across Ontario has turned up virtu- ally no sign of dog flu, says Prof. Stephen Kruth, Clinical Studies. “We can’t find it in Ontario — that’s the good news. When the virus was first identified, we thought we might see a pandemic.” Kruth and departmental col- league Prof. Scott Weese tested dogs across the province last year. Out of blood samples collected from 250 dogs and tested by Susy Carman in the Animal Health Laboratory at OVC, only one turned up positive for exposure to the pertinent virus. That dog, a greyhound from Kitchener that had lived earlier in Florida, had developed antibodies against the dis- ease and was not infectious. The researchers plan to submit a paper on the study to the Canadian Veterinary Journal Canine flu remains most com- mon in greyhounds, but it affects all dog breeds. Cases of the disease number in the hundreds in states where the infection is most preva- lent, particularly California, New York and Florida, says Kruth. Of infected dogs, 20 per cent show no clinical signs of disease. Three of four infected animals de- velop symptoms resembling kennel cough, including fever, cough and a runny nose, for up to four weeks. Fewer than five per cent of infected animals suffer severe symptoms; a few of those dogs die within a day of developing them. Concerns for dogs’ health remain in the United States, where the dis- ease has spread to every state through breeding facilities, animal shelters, kennels, veterinary clinics and con- tact with o flier pets. About eight in 10 dogs exposed to the virus will de- velop the disease. Infected dogs are isolated and treated for symptoms; no vaccine exists for the virus. Veterinarians believe the bug de- veloped from a form of equine flu that jumped from horses to dogs. The canine version was identified by researchers at the University of Florida and Cornell University. Kruth says he can’t explain why the infection appears to have stopped at the Ontario border. He has seen no reports of the disease from anywhere else in Canada. That’s partly what makes the case so intriguing for him. “It’s fascinating," he says, ex- plaining that he’s interested gener- ally in the spread of disease and how infectious organisms jump between species. “It’s satisfying to be able to say it’s not even an emergency situa- tion, it’s not an epidemic." Pianos, books, lessons & more! 2 lfl-A Victoria Rd. S. Guelph, Qnt. NIE5R1 fax:519-836.9474 lesson line: 5 1 9. 7 1 6.4792 836.8492 at Guelph 11 January 17, 2007 from the archives — The Biggest, the Weirdest and the Worst Books as you know them — and as you don’t — in the U of G Library archives. PHOTO BY REBECCA KENDALL BY ANDREW VOWLES N ot surprisingly, the U of G Library archives include books of all shapes and sizes. Start looking for the most outlandish ones — the smallest, the largest, the strangest, the worst — and you find some surprises. Here’s a compendium of the “most-est” books housed in the archives. Smallest Each of the miniature illustrated volumes ' in the grandiose-sounding Thistle Library col- lection measures only 3 Vi by 2 V4 inches. U of G owns about half of this collection. The books’ distinctive tartan covers hint at their content, mostly Scottish history, geography and cul- ture. Titles include Cathedrals and Abbeys of Scotland, Bonnie Prince Charlie: The Story of I “ The Forty-five” and Edinburgh of Today — the 1 latter a monster at 250-odd pages. Heaviest A leading contender for the archives’ 1 heavyweight tide is a 1979 edition of Elora and | Salem: Twenty Sketches by A.J. Casson , pub- lished by M.B. Loates Publishing Co. The | book’s centerpiece is its collection of watercol- ours of two small towns near Guelph, all painted by the Group of Seven member. Those delicately rendered plates are contained within a 20- by 20-inch package of imported hand- made paper, all hand-bound in full leather and decorated with 24-carat gold marbled end pa- pers and weighing about 20 pounds. Widest Perceived Obstacles is an apt tide for this doorstop by American artist Richard Tutde that barely fits on its archive shelf. At more than three fee t wide, this art book contains full-size drawings from an original gallery ex- hibition in 2000. Surprisingly, the first few pages in the volume contain only Thumbelina- sized pieces that might well fit inside one of those Thisde Library volumes. Oldest The granddaddy of the archives collection is an incunabulum printed in 1490. Incunabula (Latin for “swaddling clothes”) are the earliest printed books from before the year 1501. Guelph’s vellum-bound volume is a 164-page text by the 13th-century Pope John XXI. He was teaching medicine at the Univer- sity of Siena when he wrote the Summulae Logicales, a reference manual on Aristotelian logic. Referring to the 50-year period following the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, Lome Bruce, head of Archival and Special Collec- tions, says: "This was the invention of the book as we know it.” Most fetishistic High Heels and Hairy Legs, written by Guelph fine art graduate Lise Melhom, are ar- guably the most unusual books in the collec- tion. Hairy Legs is printed on nine leg-shaped leaves in a legwork stocking held together by garters. Its topic: shaving. Her other work con- sists of a pair of papier m!ch£ shoes, each con- taining eight paper insoles that tell the story of High Heels. A close contender is another shoe — a worn men’s dress shoe wrapped in tissue paper in a box — containing a poem by Ameri- can poet and visual artist Clark Coolidge. On the Slates is written on sheets of paper the size of U.S. currency, all wrapped in a dollar bill, tied with a shoelace and tucked inside the shoe. Most salacious One of the most, er, revealing books in the archives is Sex, the coffee-table book by Ma- donna released in 1992 to accompany her al- bum Erotica. Originally purchased for use in a U of G course, the book was formerly housed in the general stacks upstairs and moved to the reserve desk before winding up in the archives. It’s hardly a rarity: two editions — about 1.5 million copies each — were printed. And its simulations of sexual acts and accompanying erotica written by Madonna as a character in- spired by silent film actress Dita Parlo would probably be considered relatively tame by to- day’s standards. Worst Perhaps the worst work in the archives is contained in an 1893 pamphlet by Lowden Macartney. Called Select Poems of McGonagall, the pamphlet sketches the life and literary ef- forts of Scottish poet William Topaz McGonagall, whose fascination with ship- wrecks, accidents and battles was matched only by his execrable writing style. One such attempt reprinted in the pamphlet begins as follows: “’Twas on the 16th of October, in 1894, / 1 was invited to Inverness, not far from the seashore, / To partake of a Banquet pre- pared by the Heatherblend Club, / Gentlemen who honoured me without any hubbub ” Most valuable The most valuable book in the U of G col- lection is a 1908 first impression of Anne of Green Gables. The volume is signed and in- scribed to George B. MacMillan, a friend of au- thor Lucy Maud Montgomery’s. Lacking a dust jacket, the cover shows a more grown-up Anne than the red-haired girl often depicted on other editions. Bruce says first impressions of this work have been auctioned for up to $40,000 US. Guelph Speaks! in Student-Produced Anthology Graduate students' project gives Guelph residents voice to share stories, experiences A GROUP OF SEVEN U of G graduate students will launch a community anthology that explores the diverse voices found in the Guelph community Jan. 18 at the Guelph Youth Music Centre. Admission to the 7:30 p.m. event and copies of the anthology are free, but donations will be accepted. Proceeds will support Guelph’s Action Read Community Literacy Centre. Guelph Speaks! Re-storying the City is a compilation of music, art and literature presented in a , 100-page book, with a colour insert I of art and photography and a CD j that includes 1 4 tracks. 1 1 was created as part of a course called “Pedagogy, Human Rights, Critical Activism: Educating for Social Change,” taught by Prof. Ajay Heble, English and Theatre Studies. Inspired by course readings and discussions, the project is based on the idea that the stories and perspec- tives of everyone who lives in Guelph are valuable and important. The an- thology serves as a platform for those voices to be shared. Submissions for the project, which centre around the themes of placement, displacement and iden- tity in Guelph, came from people of various ages and with a range of writ- ing experience, says Ashlee Cunsolo Willox, one of the students who pro- duced the anthology. Despite having a story deadline of only 4V£ weeks, the group received 150 multimedia submissions for consideration, she says. “The community really em- braced our project, and we received such positive feedback and response. We were truly amazed by the quality and the diversity represented.” Among the submissions selected for publication are a theatre piece written by students in the English- as-an-additional-language program at John F. Ross High School, an oral history piece by an elderly woman who has lived her entire life on Fountain Street, and a photograph of a 107-year-old woman shot by local photographer Trina Koster. By providing a setting where many types of narratives are placed side by side, the anthology allows participants to share their own sto- ries while hearing other experiences of living in Guelph — “all with the broader aim of raising awareness of diversity in our city,” says Cunsolo Willox. “The act of storytelling — and its necessary companion, listening — has the potential to move us toward a more inclusive community.” Film Series to Focus on Shakespeare U OF G’s annual international film series, “Beyond Hollywood," will participate in the regional “Shakespeare — Made in Canada” festival by presenting a “Shakespeare on Screen” series. It begins Jan. 28 and will showcase a dozen films over four Sundays. All screenings will be held in the Florence Par- tridge Room on the third floor of the McLaughlin Library. Discussion and light refreshments will follow each film. Admission is free. "There’s no doubt this special series has a cer- tain buzz around it because of its connection to a network of activities,” says film series program- mer Prof. Paul Salmon, English and Theatre Stud- ies. “It’s a mixture of accessible works with new and different films, such as the silent Shakespeares.” On Jan. 28, a 10-minute screening of the silent 1910 adaptation of The Merchant of Venice di- rected by Gerolamo Lo Savio will be introduced at 6:45 p.m. and shown at 7 p.m. It will be followed by Lo Savio’s 16-minute 1910 silent version of King Lear. The evening will conclude with a screening of The Taming of the Shrew, directed in 1967 by Franco Zeffirelli and featuring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. On Feb. 1 1 , film buffs will have a chance to compare three adaptations of Richard III in an af- ternoon Salmon calls “Richard III Times Three." Introductions will begin at 3:45 p.m., and the 23-minute 1911 version of Richard III directed by Sir Frank Benson will be shown at 4 p.m. It will be followed by James Keane’s 1922 version. Follow- ing a supper break, Sir Laurence Olivier’s 1955 Richard III will be introduced at 6:45 p.m. and screened at 7 p.m. On March 4, the films are co-sponsored by the University’s Eastern Europe and Russia Project. German director Dimitri Buchowetzski’s 1922 Othello will be introduced at 3:45 p.m. and screened at 4 p.m. Polish director Anrzej Wajda’s 1961 Siberian Lady Macbeth will be introduced at 6:45 p.m. and shown at 7 p.m. The series concludes March 1 1 with a “Shake- speare for Springtime" theme. The 12-minute 1909 silent version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Charles Kent and J. Stuart Blackton will be introduced at 6:45 p.m. and shown at 7 p.m. A 12-minute silent 1910 version of Twelfth Night directed by Kent and Eugene Mullin will follow. Kenneth Branagh’s 1993 adap- tation of Much Ado About Nothing will conclude the series. Once the series has ended, all the films will be available in the library, says Salmon. “The series is about resource development as well, which is one of my pet passions.” For more information about the series, contact him at psalmon@uoguelph.ca or visit www.lib. uoguelph.ca/news/films.htm. at Guelph 12 January 17, 2007 Environment and Media Focus of 13th Symposium Speakers to include Green Party leader HSUF Competition Targets Bioproducts, Food, Health Two $200,000 awards available toUofG researchers R enowned author and academic Thomas Homer- Dixon, Green Party leader Elizabeth May and Greenpeace Canada executive director Bruce Cox are among the speakers at the 13th annual Environmental Science Symposium being held Jan. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Rozanski Hall. This year’s conference will bring together experts to discuss the rela- tionship between media and the en- vironment. Eleven speakers will examine issues and solutions from political, economic and social perspectives. Homer-Dixon is director of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies and a po- litical science professor at the Uni- versity of Toronto. He’s the author of The Ingenuity Gap, which won the 2001 Governor General’s Award for non-fiction; Environment, Scarcity and Violence; and Ecoviolence: Links Among Environment, Population and Security. May has been a leading environ- mentalist, author, activist and law- yer for more than 30 years. An Officer of the Order of Canada, she is a recipient of the United Nations environment program’s Global 500 Award, a former executive director of the Sierra Club of Canada and a former senior policy adviser to the federal environment minister. She is the author of five books, including her most recent. How to Save the World in Your Spare Time, a manual for activists. Before joining Greenpeace in 2004, Cox spent two decades bring- ing his passion for the environment to politics by holding positions with the Ontario ministries of Energy and Environment and at Toronto City Hall. Other presenters include jour- nalists Saul Chernos, Robert Fisher, Rick Searle, Nicola Ross and Barry Zwicker. The conference is organized by environmental science undergradu- ate students. Advance tickets are $13 general, $8 for students, and can be purchased at the Information Desk in the University Centre. Tickets will also be available at the door for $15 and $10. For more information and to register, visit www.uoguelph.ca/ -envsymp. B ioproducts and food and health are new research targets for the Hannam Soybean Utilization Fund. Started six years ago through a 10-year endowment from OAC graduate Peter Hannam and his family, the fund will support two $200,000 awards in the new targeted areas. Since its inception, the fund has awarded about $100,000 a year, directing support towards more than a dozen projects covering a breadth of soybean-related studies. Following a review of the pro- gram by an expert committee made up of Prof. Rickey Yada, retired pro- fessor Gord Surgeoner and consul- tant Greg Penner, the fund will close out by supporting two larger re- search projects instead, each with budgets of about $200,000. “This is a significant opportunity for our research community,” says OAC dean Craig Pearson, who chairs the utilization fund steering committee. The competition is open only to principal investigators at U of G, al- though creating teams by linking with other universities is encour- aged. The selection committee will be looking particularly for faculty proposals that can lead to new in- dustrial market opportunities in bioproducts or higher value for soy- beans in food and health. “This is a sound strategy for go- ing forward,” says Pearson. “These are important, topical research areas in which Guelph scientists have a great deal of expertise and can make a real difference.” Projects eligible for funding in the bioproducts area include re- search for developing biobased chemicals and materials produced from soybeans. Projects that differ- entiate between industrial soybeans and commodity soybeans will re- ceive higher priority, especially if the differentiation has the clear potential to lead to higher value. In the food and health area, pro- jects deemed eligible for funding in- clude those dealing with the composition and functional proper- ties of food derived from soybeans leading to new food products, nutraceuticals and other innovative health-related products that have the potential to enhance human health and wellness. Projects aimed at improving the cost-effectiveness of component separation will also be considered. The expert committee recom- mended that research include greater interaction between Guelph faculty and the private sector or other research institutes. To that end, the full research pro- posal should involve an industry re- ceptor for the technology and evidence of some matching funds from the receptor. The full proposal will also include a plan for intellectual property. The call for proposals will be is- sued shortly. For information, visit the Office of Research website at www.uoguelph.ca/research/funds/ contracts_grants/index.shtml. 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AIR DUCT CLEANING Breathe cleaner air • Remove microscopic dust mites • Remove mildew, mould and bacteria in air contaminants • Lower energy costs Call Us 519-836-7340 at Guelph 13 January 17, 2007 Sanders Portrait at Heart of Shakespeare Celebration Continued from page 1 ing all these artifacts and the re- search was generating so much activ- ity,” says Fischlin. “But it never would have been possible if presi- dent Summerlee hadn’t said: 'We’re going to make this happen.’” Fischlin met Sullivan while re- searching images of Shakespeare, and their subsequent friendship brought Sullivan into the U of G family. The festival marks the first time the Sanders portrait has been on display in Canada since it was in- troduced by the Art Gallery of On- tario in 2002. Since then, the painting has undergone myriad re- search and scientific tests to authenticate it. According to Sullivan, “this must be the most thoroughly researched and tested portrait in existence.” He says he wants people to see the por- trait, learn about its history and un- derstand the effort that went into authenticating it. At the festival opening, he added that he’s happy to see the painting on display in Guelph. “1 believe this fes- tival will turn out to be a crowning achievement for the arts in Canada, and it will also be a crowning achievement for the University of Guelph and its partners.” The MSAC exhibition includes information on the portrait’s trail of scientific tests, which reveal that it was painted — as the portrait is dated — in 1603 and has not been al- tered since. Sullivan and Fischlin spoke Jan. 12 about die painting’s history and Sullivan’s efforts to trace it to his an- cestor, John Sanders, who is believed to be the artist. This was the first in an ongoing speaker series hosted on campus as part of the “Shakespeare — Made in Canada” festival. Additional lectures and other events — both on and off campus — are listed on the festival website at www.shakespearemadeincanada.ca. Maracle Available to Offer Help to Aspiring Writers Where Are You Now? Continued from page 1 Maracle is also founder of the En’owkin International School of Writing in Penticton, B.C., and cul- tural director of the Centre for In- digenous Theatre in Toronto, where she teaches classes on story creation. Among Aboriginal Peoples, Maracle says she’s perhaps known ) more for Tier cultural work within the aboriginal community. She has served as a consultant on First Na- tions self-government, has con- ducted dozens of workshops on personal and cultural reclamation and has given hundreds of speeches on political, historical and feminist sociological topics related to native people. Maracle is of Salish and Cree an- cestry, grew up on a reserve in North Vancouver and is a member of the St:lo First Nation. She says that, al- though the aboriginal lifespan has gone from 39 to 66 years in her life- time, it’s still distressing that it’s un- der the global average of 67. “We’re doing better than the Third World, but not much, and that’s a bit disheartening,” she says. “But our life is improving, and I think we’re no longer oppressed be- cause oppressed means you can’t move up, and there is a movement up for us.” Maracle says she’s happy that ab- original studies is now offered at most universities. As a student at Si- mon Fraser University and Victoria University, she felt no connection to a lot of the course material. When one of her four children was study- ing world literature, “I’d weep to think that I had to do John Donne and John Dryden and all these au- thors who didn’t speak to me or ad- dress me in any shape or form and my daughter has the opportunity to study works in which you can see truth, passion and sensibility.” Working with students is reward- ing for Maracle. “I think I have a gift for seeing where the voice is taking the writer because I’ve struggled with it so much myself. I first learned to write English from a very English perspective, and it seemed to be dis- connected from my own sensibility of what story is all about.” The difference in the use of voice in aboriginal writing is an obstacle Maracle says she’s had to face a lot. "In not conforming to the stan- dards acceptable to an English- speaking public, you sacrifice popu- larity, but I wouldn’t do it any other way. I think the stories I write are ac- tually Canadian stories.” In addition to helping aspiring writers with their work while on campus this semester, Maracle will be finishing up a collection of essays, a collection of short stories and a novel. Jumping from one genre to another isn’t difficult for the seasoned writer. If you can identify where this photo was taken on campus, you will have your name entered in a draw to be held at the end of the semester for a $50 gift certificate donated by the U of G Bookstore. Anyone who submits the right answer by Jan. 19 at 4:45 p.m. is eligible for the draw. Send your response to r.kendall@exec.uoguelph.ca or call Ext. 56039. PHOTO BY REBECCA KENDALL “I think the way I write essays is creative and imaginative and oral. I don’t write anything that I can’t orally present.” She is on campus Tuesdays and Wednesdays to consult with U of G students, staff and faculty, as well as members of the local community. To book an appointment, contact Michael Boterman at Ext. 53147 or mboterma@uoguelph.ca. Banner Stands Order new or we can print new graphics for your existing banner stand —Roland Banner-Up Retractable Ontario The minimum wage is going up. If you're an employer, here's what you need to know. General Minimum Wage Students under 18 and working not more than 28 hours per week or during a school holiday Liquor Server Hunting & Fishing Guides: for less than five consecutive hours in a day Hunting & Fishing Guides: for five or more hours in a day whether or not the hours are consecutive Homeworkers (people doing paid work in their home for an employer) Current wage rate $7.75/hour $7.25/hour $6.75/hour $38.75 $77.50 1 1 0% of the minimum wage Feb. 1, 2007 wage rate $8.00/hour $7.50/hour $6.95/hour $40.00 $80.00 110% of the minimum wage On February 1 , 2007 , the general minimum wage will increase to $ 8.00 per hour from the current rate of $ 7.75 per hour. To find out more about how the new minimum wage guidelines affect employers and employees, call or visit the Ministry of Labour web site. Paid for by the Government of Ontario 1 -800-531 -5551 www.ontario.ca/minimumwage at Guelph 14 January 17, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE Peg Perego baby buggy/stroller, navy; Storkcraft white crib and mat- tress; Zenith 20-inch colour TV; CD storage tower; forest green queen- sized bedskirt with matching shams, all in excellent condition, 519-821- 2524. Sony Vaio laptop, Intel Pentium III, 1.13 GHz, 256 MB RAM, 16 GM memory, docking station, Microsoft software installed, rarely used, four to five years old, Ext. 53079. 2002 Ford Focus SE, black, four- door automatic, fully loaded, well- maintained, mint condition, 69,500 km, 519-823-5028. Two sets of golf clubs, large birdcage, man’s kilt outfit, Jean, 519-822- 4477. Colour computer monitor, 17 inches. Multisync 70, NEC, excellent condition; solid-wood coffee table, 47 by 23 by 19 inches, honey colour, smoked-glass inserts; three antique dining room chairs, photos avail- able, Ext. 53044, 519-821-1879 or kczernic@uoguelph.ca. Luxury time-share condo at Cran- berry Resort, CoUingwood, flexible use, sleeps eight, pools, golf, horse- back riding, lreid@uoguelph.ca. Acer colour flatbed scanner, Lexmark Z22 printer, Jack, Ext. 53333 or 519-821-4984. Rowing machine, concept 2, model B, no monitor, good condition, 519- 837-1742. FOR RENT Cottage in Southampton, sleeps four, gas fireplace, private treed lot, walking distance to harbour, river, downtown and golf course, $700 a week from June to September, Mel- ody, Ext. 54337 or m.wren@exec. uoguelph.ca. Two bedrooms in newly redecorated townhouse in Edinburgh/Kortright area, furnished common areas, cable, Internet, parking, laundry, Q close to bus routes and shopping, available January to Aug. 31, $399 a month inclusive for each bedroom, 519-265-2112 or rmarceli@ovc. uoguelph.ca. Two- to four-bedroom bungalow in old University area, recently reno- vated/painted, two baths, appli- ances, hardwood floors, deck, gas furnace, finished basement, laundry, sunroom, attached garage, suit fam- ily or professional couple, available immediately, $1,295 a month plus utilities, 519-824-6237. Two-bedroom apartment in quiet historical building in downtown Guelph, two baths, large living room, 11-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, large windows, balcony, park- ing, laundry, non-smokers, no dogs, available March 1, $1,350 a month inclusive, 519-822-2539. Furnished one-bedroom apartment in southwest Paris, France, short- term rental; furnished two-bedroom holiday home in Antibes on French Riviera, weekly or monthly, Nicole, fnmoll@rogers.com. ary, financial compensation, Ext. 56967 or drobin01@uoguelph.ca. U of G nutrition researchers and Health Canada seek seven- and eight-year-old boys for study of zinc intake, involves four visits over four months, compensation provided, Melissa, 519-820-2633 or zip@ uoguelph.ca. Portable dishwasher in good work- ing condition with or without butcher-block top, preferably almond or black, scurrie@ uoguelph.ca. AVAILABLE ESL coaching, specializing in profes- sional language upgrading for for- eign-bom professionals, speaking, reading, writing and listening, Jac- queline, 519-766-4504. Learn to play your favourites (piano, keyboard), 519-824-0576. WANTED Non-smoking males aged 40 to 60 for study on dietary fat in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, four-day com- mitment required in January/Febru- MUST SEE Newly restored lofts in downtown heritage building. 2 bedrooms, 12-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, exposed stone walls, new appliances, laundry. $1,300 and $1,500. Available Feb. 1. 519-763-6392 Toto Aquia tm D ual Flush Toilet (1.6 Gpf / 6 Lpf and 0.9 Gpf/ 3.4 Lpf) • Elongated skirted design, two-piece toilet •Dual-Max ™ Flushing System •Push button style flush option STARTING FROM $459 RONA CASH WAV 55 Dawson Road Guelph, 519-821-5744 On the Fergus-Elora Road, Elora 519-846-5381 eorge'V Windows and Doors George Wallace 11 Victoria Hoad North, (519) Ml -7800 Fax (519) 891-7510 ■ Enriched Academic Curriculum ■ Athletic Program • Martial Arts • Skating • Swimming • Yoga ■ Musikgarten ■ Core French ■ Monthly Field Trips ■ Certified Montessori Teachers Low Student Teacher Ratio 1/2 Day Preschool Full Day Jr. & Sr. Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-6 Emended Hours Available Downtown Guelph 151 Waterloo Avc. Guelph, ON 519 - 836-3810 "Within the Child Lies the Fate of the Future" LIFE IS ABOUT CHOICES Spring Break/Reading Week ‘07 Beaches or Slopes? • Cancun • Varadero • Puerto Plata • Los Cabos • Acapulco • Whistler • Sunshine • Tremblant • Mont Ste Anne • Fernie Plus tons of other low price options. Seats selling fast call today! University of Guelph University Centre (519) 763-1660 ^TRAVEL CUTS Canada's Student Travel Experts www.travelcuts.com The City of Music Jazz, Pop, Rock’n Roll Thursday, March 1 st • 8 pm River Run Main Stage 10% net proceeds to Speed River Project Hosted by Guelph's own the kramdens Purchase your ticket by February 16th & enler a draw for exclusive "Mter Concert Party" Receive $10 Gift Certificate for the Pub o Adi? Celebrate the Music of Our City! Tickets S25 / S35 (includes SI 0 Gift Certificate lo Guelph’s SI Pub) Available at: River Run Box Office www.riverrun.ca 519-763-3000 • 1-877-520-2408 www.guelphmontcssori.com Makers of Eight-Way,Hand-Tied Sofas Since 1990. Visit our showroom and experience firsthand the quality and comfort of every sofa we make. Main Street, Rockwood - Open Tues-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5 51 9.856.2575 www.rumoursfurniture.com at Guelph 15 January 17. 2007 EVENTS ARBORETUM Naturalist Zoe Fitzgerald leads owl prowls Feb. 2 and 3 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Cost is $12 for adults or $30 for a family of four. Deadline for regis- tration and payment is Jan. 19. Call Ext. 52358. “Growing Perennials From Seed" is the focus of a workshop led by Arbo- retum gardener Lenore Ross Feb. 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is S40. Registration is recommended by Feb. 1. The Theatre in the Trees dinner- theatre production of Broken Up by Nick Hall opens Feb. 3 and runs Sat- urdays until April 28. Tickets are $59. For details, call Ext. 54110. CONCERTS The Creative Improvisation Festival sponsored by the School of Fine Art and Music, the Guelph Jazz Festival and NUMUS wraps up Jan. 17 with a concert featuring William Parker on bass, U of G’s musical ensembles and local high school students. It begins at 7 p.m. at the George Luscombe Theatre. Admission is free. The School of Fine Art and Music's Thursday noon-hour concert series kicks off for the winter semester with Wm Henry lanzen and pianist Alison MacNeil presenting “Rela- tionships: A Viola Recital With Observations” Jan. 25. On Feb. 1, pianist Dominic Florence performs keyboard music by Bach. Concerts are held in MacKinnon 107. Greg and the Boys will stage a fund- raising concert Feb. 2 in support of the Canadian Crime Victim Foun- dation and the Guelph-Wellington Association for Community Living. It begins at 8 p.m. at War Memorial Hall. Tickets are $15 general, $10 for students. CONFERENCE The 26th annual Guelph Organic Conference runs Jan. 25 to 28 on campus, featuring more than 30 workshops, seminars and expert panels. This year’s theme is “Next Generation Organics.” The confer- ence will also include a public forum called “What Will the Next Genera- tion of Organics Be Like?” Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. Admission to the forum is $10. In addition, the Organic Expo Canada Sampling Fair runs Jan. 27 from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Uni- versity Centre. The fair is open and free to the public. For more infor- mation, visit www.guelphorganic conf.ca. FILM U of G’s annual international film series, “Beyond Hollywood,” presents “Shakespeare Italiano” Jan. 28, featuring silent versions of The Merchant of Venice and King Lear directed by Gerolamo Lo Savio and The Taming of the Shrew by Franco Zeffirelli. The films begin at 7 p.m. in McLaughlin 384. LECTURES Margaret Catley- Carlson, former president of the Canadian Interna- tional Development Agency and for- mer deputy executive director of UNICEF, will give U of G’s second annual Winegard Visiting Lecture- ship in International Development Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. in OVC 1714. She will discuss "The New World of Water.” The Centre for Studies in Leadership launches a “Leadership in the Arts” speaker series Jan. 29 at noon in OVC 1714. The inaugural speaker is Antoni Cimolino, genera] director of the Stratford Festival, who will discuss Shakespeare and finding true value. NOTICES The Women of Colour Collective hosts a discussion group for women of colour Wednesdays from 3 to 5 p.m. at the C.J. Munford Centre in MacKinnon 054. For information, send e-mail to wocc@uoguelph.ca. Jan. 26 is the deadline to apply for Guelph’s winter 2008 India semes- ter. For information, contact Craig Wallace in the Centre for Interna- tional Programs at wallacec@ uoguelph.ca or Prof. Gauri Mittal, Engineering, at gmittal@uoguelph. ca. The Stress Management and High Performance Clinic is offering classes in relaxation and stress man- agement skills training beginning Jan. 20. Classes run Tuesdays and Thursdays for 1 2 sessions, with three times available: at noon and 8 p.m. in UC 335 and at 5:30 p.m. in OVC 1691. The clinic is also offering a better sleep program beginning Jan. 19. It runs for five sessions, meeting at 12:30 p.m. in UC 441. For infor- mation, leave a message at Ext. 52662 or visit www.uoguelph.ca/- ksomers. “Student Vets for Global Pets,” a fundraiser for student veterinarians volunteering in Africa and Asia this summer, will be held Jan. 17 at the Bullring. It’s an open-mic night with a 50/50 draw and an art sale. Sign-up starts at 7:30 p.m. Donations will be accepted at the door. The Environmental Science Sympo- sium is hosting a band night Jan. 19 at 9 p.m. at the Grad Lounge (admis- sion is $5) and a Yuk Yuk’s stand-up comedy night Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. at War Memorial Hall (cost is $10). The U of G/OMAFRA research pro- gram invites submissions for new research proposals from faculty and college researchers for the resources management and environment pro- gram. Proposals must address pro- gram goals approved by OMAFRA and must be submitted in a specific format by Feb. 5. For information, visit www.uoguelph.ca/research/ omafra/index-shtml (click on “Call for Proposals, Forms 8c Proce- dures”) or call the Office of Research at 519-826-3809. SEMINARS The Department of Computing and Information Science’s winter semi- nar series begins Jan. 17 with John Morton of SHARCNET at 4:30 p.m. in Reynolds 219. The series contin- ues Jan. 29 with Jim Bezdek of the University of West Florida explaining “Visual Assessment of Clustering Tendency” at 1:15 p.m. in science complex 1511 and Jan. 31 with Jim Keller of the University of Missouri-Columbia explaining “Sensing Technology in Eldercare” at 9 a.m. in science complex 1511. The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology’s distinguished seminar series presents medical pro- fessor Kevin Kain of the Toronto General Research Institute discuss- ing “Malaria, Man and Eight Million Years of Co-Evolution: We Must Be Doing Something Right?” Jan. 17. On Jan. 31 , the topic is “ Global Anal- ysis of Kinase and Phosphatase Action in Peroxisome Biogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiaf with Rich- ard Rachubinski of the University of Alberta. The seminars begin at 3:30 p.m. in OVC 1714. “Inherent Population Heterogeneity in Bacteria: Interpreting Cell Surface Physicochemistry and Adhesive Properties” is the focus of post-doc- toral researcher Anton Korenevsky of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology in the Centre for Food and Soft Materials Science seminar series Jan. 18. On Jan. 25, Richard Epand of McMaster Uni- versity examines “Biological Roles of Lipid Movements Within and Be- tween Membranes.” The seminars are at 2:30 p.m. in science complex 2315. Next up in the microbiology gradu- ate student seminar series is John Rak exploring “Oncolytic Viruses for Cancer Therapy” Jan. 19. On Jan. 26, Jacqueline Pierce considers “Potential Regulation of Nuclear tRNA Export in S. cerevisiae by the TOR Signalling Pathway.” The semi- nars are at 12:30 p.m. in Animal Sci- ence and Nutrition 156. John Fitzpatrick of McMaster Uni- versity discusses “When the Man Is Keeping You Down: Male Repro- ductive Suppression in a Co-opera- tive Fish” Jan. 19 in the Department of Integrative Biology’s “Loaves and Fishes" seminar series. “Live Gene Banking and Supportive Breeding of Declining Populations of Atlantic Salmon in the Maritimes” is the topic of Patrick O’Reilly of the Bed- ford Institute of Oceanography in Nova Scotia Jan. 26. On Feb. 2, Prof. Jim Ballantyne presents “Death, Where Is Thy Stingray? Silly Things I Have Done in the Interest of Sci- ence.” The talks are at 12:30 p.m. in Axelrod 168. The plant biology group in the Department of Molecular and Cellu- lar Biology is hosting a seminar series on the work of 14 plant- related research groups. Discussion will focus on “Plant Metabolism” Jan. 22 with Prof. Ian Tetlow and CBS dean Mike Ernes and on “Plant Cell Biology and Programmed Cell Death” Jan. 28 with Prof. John Greenwood. Talks begin at 3:30 p.m. in Axelrod 337. “Three Art Mysteries — The Use of Mathematics in the Analysis of Anamorphic Art” is the focus of Prof. Jim Hunt in the Department of Physics seminar series Jan. 23. On Jan. 30, Russell Thompson of the University of Waterloo presents “Predicting the Structures of Self- Assembling Nanocomposites.” The seminars begin at 4 p.m. in science complex 1511. The Department of Integrative Biol- ogy presents Dan Bolnick of the University of Texas explaining “Diversifying Effects of Intraspecific Competition" Jan. 30 at 3:30 p.m. in Axelrod 265A. TEACHING SUPPORT Teaching Support Services is offer- ing a new seminar series this semes- ter for instructors who use WebCT in their teaching. Each session focuses on a specific WebCT tool, providing tips and techniques for its use. Sessions begin Jan. 18 and run every two weeks throughout the semester. Details and registration are available at www.tss.uoguelph. ca. If you have questions, call Rich- ard Gorrie at Ext. 53731. WebCT drop-in clinics will continue to run Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. in McLaughlin 200A. TSS is offering three hands-on Photoshop workshops for instruc- tors this semester, with sessions to focus on optimizing images Jan. 24, layers Feb. 28 and masks March 28. Register at www.tss.uoguelph.ca and call Doug Schaefer at Ext. 52983 if you have questions. TSS and the provost’s office are hosting a social event for new faculty Jan. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Grad Lounge on UC Level 5. THESIS DEFENCE The final examination of Jeanine Boulter-Bitzer, a PhD canadidate in the Department of Environmental Biology, is Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. in Gra- ham Hall 3301. The thesis is “Sin- gle-Chain Variable-Fragment Anti- bodies Produced by Phage Display Against S16 and P23 Glycoproteins of Cryptosporidium parvum." The advisers are Profs. Hung Lee and Jack Trevors. COMMUNITY EVENTS Jan. 31 is the deadline to submit nominations for the Guelph YMCA- YWCA’s Women of Distinc- tion Awards. For details and nomi- nation forms, visit www.guelphy. org. Third-Age Leaming-Guelph’s win- ter lecture series focuses on religion in society in the morning sessions and human impact on the environ- ment in the afternoon. Lectures run Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Arboretum Centre. For infor- mation or tickets, call 519-836-644. A lecture schedule is available online at www.thirdagelearningguelph.ca. The Guelph Civic Museum hosts Robbie Burns Day Jan. 21 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. The afternoon features displays and demonstrations as well as Scottish food, music and dancing. The Guelph Concert Band, con- ducted by Henry Janzen, welcomes woodwind, brass and percussion players to inquire about joining. Rehearsals are held Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Guelph Youth Music Centre. For more information, send e-mail to info@guelphconcertband. org or visit the website www.guelph concertband.org. The Federation of University Women/Guelph holds its general meeting Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Church. Guest speaker is LCBO product consultant and wine connoisseur Lidia Fitspatrick. The Waterloo-Wellington Wild- flower Society meets Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Evergreen Seniors Cen- tre. This month’s topic is “Native Plant Seed Collecting, Storage and Germination.” The Guelph Arts Council is selling tickets for its annual fundraiser, Ffite Romantique. Grand prize is a gour- met dinner for she in a heritage home. The draw will be held Feb. 1. For more information, visit www. guelphartscouncil.org or call 519- 836-3280. “Eat, Drink and Be Merry,” the Edward Johnson Music Founda- tion’s 12th annual wine gala and auction, runs Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. at the River Run Centre. For ticket infor- mation, call 519-763-3000. The Elora Festival Singers present “Music ofTudor England” Jan. 21 at St. John’s Church in Elora. A soup lunch begins at 1:30 p.m., followed by a pre-concert lecture at 2:30 p.m. and the concert at 3 p.m. For ticket information, call 519-846-0331 or visit www.elorafestival.com. At Guelph l6 January 17, 2007 at GI TFT PH jANUARY 31, 2007 « VOL. 51 NO. 2 . WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH . UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH INSIDE: POWER OF THE PEN • HOLD THE TRANS FAT . A NEW LEASE ON LEGS . OF FISH AND FOLLY Four to Receive Honorary Degrees at Convocation University to confer some 800 degrees, diplomas The men’s hockey Gryphons have a distinct western flavour this year with six players hailing from Alberta. From left are Chris Baker, Jeff Oginski, Adam Jennings, Evan Boire, Richard Cotter and Alex Magera. They Shoot, They Score U ofG men’s hockey benefits from Alberta-grown talent BY DAVID DICENZO G o EAST, YOUNG man! That’s the advice Gryphon men’s hockey coach Jeff Reid has been giving high school athletes in Alberta when he’s recruiting for his team. And so far, it’s working for him. Reid currently has six players from Alberta on the roster — for- wards Evan Boire (Andrew, Alta.), Chris Baker (Leduc) and Alex Magera (Edmonton), defencemen Jeff Oginski (St. Albert) and Richard Cotter (Edmonton) and goaltender Adam Jennings (Calgary). The Alberta connection began a few years back with Phil Rinn, a Sherwood Park native who earned academic all-Canadian honours and became captain of the Gryphon team. Reid liked what he had in Rinn and kept in touch with his contacts out west, which proved useful in un- earthing the current crop of Albertan talent. “Phil was one of my favourite players, so I explored that, made some connections and tried to fol- low that up every year,” says the coach. “That’s where it all started. Hockey’s a pretty small world once you start talking. You make some phone calls, and guys want to help you out and help out their own play- ers. There are only three hockey- playing universities in Alberta, so there are a lot of players out there who may not know about all the op- tions they have.” The sextet, who played with or against each other at various times as juniors in hockey-mad Alberta, agree that Guelph has proven to be a good option for each of them indi- vidually. Cotter and Oginski played their first year in the red, gold and black jersey in 2005/06. Jennings, Magera, Baker and Boire signed on BY LORI BONA HUNT A nyone who owns an older home can relate to this dilemma: You know your house is more expensive to heat and operate, but the updates and repairs necessary to make it more energy-efficient are expensive. The energy improvements will pay for themselves over time, but the upfront costs are prohibitive. The result is a continual struggle between being energy-smart and budget-conscious, with most owners of older homes opting to make the repairs one at a time as finances allow. this season, which means the Alber- tans now account for about 25 per cent of the entire roster. Although not all of the six are fans of Alberta’s Edmonton Oilers, “we have to stick together when we get ganged up on here in Leaf na- tion,” says Cotter with a laugh, refer- ring to the many Toronto Maple Leaf fans who rib the group. “They See ALBERTA on page 14 U of G faces this same dilemma — magnified about 100 times. Many of its buildings are at least 100 years old, and the average age of its 167 structures is 47, nine years older than the provincial average. “We’re in the same position as many homeowners, torn between wanting to conserve energy and the price tag of making the necessary im- provements,” says president Alastair Summerlee. He notes that Guelph is in a more difficult spot than most other On- tario universities because its build- ings are among the oldest in the province. That makes everyday maintenance a challenge, let alone U OF G WILL AWARD nearly 800 degrees and diplomas during seven convocation ceremonies Feb. 19 to 22 in War Memorial Hall. The University will also present honor- ary degrees to James Lockyer, founding director of the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Con- victed; Andrew Pipe, a medical doctor instrumental in founding the Canadian Centre for Ethics; ground- breaking plant scientist Christopher Somerville; and Canadian business leader Gabriel Tsampalieros. In addition, retired sociology professor Lynn McDonald will be named University professor emerita. CorvvocaUorv beguas Feb. a\ 2:30 p.m. with a ceremony for the College of Management and Eco- nomics. Tsampalieros, who is presi- dent and chief executive officer of Cara Operations Limited, one of Canada's leading integrated restau- rant companies, will receive a doc- torate of letters and address the graduating class. Tsampalieros is no stranger to U of G: he served on Board of Governors, was instrumen- tal in raising the funds needed for the teaching kitchen facility in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, and led the way in developing distance MBA programs. The ceremony for the College of Arts is Feb. 20 at 10 a.m., with col- tackling energy improvements. “This is why we have a deferred- maintenance bill that exceeds $200 million," he says. To date, U of G has engaged in several initiatives that relate both to energy conservation and to ensuring that steps are being taken to con- strain the effects of utility price in- creases; to improve the efficiency and quality of lighting, heating and cooling systems in campus build- ings; and to reduce greenhouse gases. As a result, the campus’ natural gas consumption decreased by 5.4 per cent from 2002 to 2005, despite the fact that the campus population lege dean Don Bruce giving the con- vocation address. Prof. Tony Vannelli, new dean of the College of Physical and Engineering Science, will address students graduating from CPES at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony. Two ceremonies for the College of Social and Applied Human Sci- ences are slated for Feb. 21. Lockyer, who taught law at McGill University and the University of Windsor be- fore launching a private practice as a criminal lawyer in 1977, will receive an honorary doctorate of laws and deliver the convocation address at the morning event. He has been in- volved \i\ exposing, tnoxe \.V\.ar\ wrongful convictions in Canada, in- cluding the cases of Guy Paul Morin, David Milgaard, Clayton Johnson and Gregory Parson. He is currently working on behalf of Steven Truscott, whose 1959 murder con- viction is under review, and Robert Baltovich, who is awaiting a new trial after his murder conviction was quashed by the Ontario Court of Appeal. McDonald will be honoured at the afternoon ceremony. The author of the Collected Works of Florence Nightingale, she has been writing about Nightingale and other female theorists since her 1993 book, Early Origins of the Social Sciences. See UNIVERSITY on page 2 increased by four per cent. In the past two years, it has meant a “cost avoidance” of $1.2 million. This has corresponded to a decrease of almost four per cent in total greenhouse gas emissions. The most significant initiative was the 2004 energy retrofit of the Crop Science Building at a cost of close to $1 million. “The retrofit will ultimately re- sult in a major cost-savings, but as with any such large-scale project, it will take several years to recover the capital costs,” says Summerlee. “We have made great strides in reducing our energy consumption, See ENERGY on page 14 President Proposes Energy Conservation Plan Conservation is a shared responsibility, says Summerlee at Guelph 1 January 31, 2007 ■ Enriched Academic Curriculum ■ Athletic Program • Martial Arts • Skating • Swimming • Yoga ■ Musikgarten ■ Core French ■ Monthly Field Trips ■ Certified Montessori Teachers Low Student Teacher Ratio 1/2 Day Preschool Full Day Jr. & Sr. Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-6 Extended Hours Available Downtown Guelph 151 Waterloo Ave. Guelph, ON 519 - 836-3810 www.guelphmontessori.com "Within the Child Lies the Fate of the Future" Dr Marin Monlasori LIFE IS ABOUT CHOICES Spring Break/Reading Week ‘07 Beaches or Slopes? • Cancun • Varadero • Puerto Plata • Los Cabos • Acapulco • Whistler • Sunshine • Tremblant • Mont Ste Anne • Fernie Plus tons of other low price options. Seats selling fast call today! University of Guelph University Centre (5 19) 763-1660 ^TRAVEL CUIS Canada's Student Travel Experts www.travekuts.com Michael H.C. McMurray Partner 210 Kortright Road West, Unit #5 Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X4 Telephone: (519) 826-4774 Email: michaelmcmurray@on.aibn.com • RRSP and Investment Accounts and Deposits • RRSP Loans at Prime +0 • Michael can answer your questions and help you explore your options • Call today for a free consultation Toto Aquia tm D ual Flush Toilet (1.6 Gpf / 6 Lpf and 0.9 Gpf/ 3.4 Lpf) •Elongated skirted design, two-piece toilet •Dual-Max ™ Flushing System •Push button style flush option STARTING FROM $459 55 Dawson Road Guelph, 519-821-5744 On the Fergus-Elora Road, Elora 519-846-5381 Uncertainty Surrounds MTCU Budget Funding SCUP, Summerlee recommend delaying preliminary budget presentation to B of G T he Senate Committee on University Planning (SCUP) was expected to present a recommendation to Senate Tuesday on the timeline for the University’s 2007/2008 Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) budget and tuition discussions. In a preliminary report, SCUP said there is significant uncertainty around information both on the 2006/2007 MTCU operating grants and for the upcoming budget year. At this stage, it appears that the provincial government is not rolling a number of its smaller grant enve- lopes into base funding, and that monies allocated for quality im- provements are being converted to deal with accessibility, but this has not been confirmed, the report says. Details on actual revenue for 2006/07 are therefore unclear. There is also uncertainty about the 2007/08 budget allocation, which will probably not be resolved until the province’s financial year-end March 31. As a result, there will be no opportunity to prepare the pre- liminary MTCU budget in its usual format for the Board of Governors meeting scheduled for April 18. As a result, SCUP and president Alastair Summerlee are recom- mending delaying the preliminary MTCU budget presentation to the June 7 B of G meeting. Summerlee adds, however, that it’s customary to provide an oppor- tunity for discussion about tuition fees while most students are still on campus. He and SCUP are suggest- ing that tuition proposals be pre- sented in the context of provisional budget assumptions at B of G's April 18 meeting. The Ontario Ministry of Agricul- ture, Food and Rural Affairs budget will still be presented to the board in April because the revenue and ex- penditure information for that bud- get is much clearer, says SCUP. The University’s ancillary budgets will also be presented at that time. Applications to U of G Rise U OF G CONTINUES to be a popular choice among high school students seeking admission to university, according to new figures released by the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC). Overall applications to U of G, including both the Guelph and Guelph-Humber campuses, is up 4. 1 per cent from last year, according to the annual “snapshot” of secondary school student applications released Jan. 17. The OUAC report is intended to help universities with their enrol- ment planning based on the number of applications from high school stu- dents. It includes data showing how many students applied to Ontario universities; the number of applica- tions those students generated; and which schools were their first, sec- ond, third or lower choices. First-choice applications to Guelph were up by 3.3 per cent, and at Guelph-Humber, they rose by two per cent. Overall, applications to Guelph-Humber are up by 16.4 per cent. “We’re very pleased to have so many students interested in pursu- ing the excellent opportunities and programs we have at Guelph,” says Brian Pettigrew, assistant vice-presi- dent (institutional research and planning) and registrar. “It’s partic- ularly gratifying to see such a signifi- cant increase in applications to Guelph-Humber, which continues to grow as planned.” University to Honour Sociologist Continued from page 1 McDonald is also a public health advocate. As a Toronto MP, she suc- ceeded in getting the Non-Smokers’ Health Act adopted in 1988 as a pri- vate member’s bill. She also served as president of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women. On Feb. 22, Pipe will receive an honorary doctorate of laws and ad- dress the graduands at the morning ceremony for the College of Biologi- cal Science. Division director of the Prevention and Rehabilitation Cen- tre of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, he is a leader in ethical is- sues in sport and preventive health care. He was a driving force behind Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada and has been its director since 1983. Pipe also helped found the Canadian Centre for Drug- Free Sport. He is a member of the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and the Order of Canada. At the afternoon ceremony, Somerville will receive a doctor of science degree and address students graduating from the Ontario Agri- cultural College and the Ontario Veterinary College. Prior to the 1980s, the identity and function of plant genes were vir- tually unknown until Somerville pi- oneered the development of a species, Arabidopsis, that could be grown in a petri dish to make rapid advances in the understanding of crop genes. As a result of his efforts, Arabidopsis was the first plant spe- cies to have its DNA sequenced and all of its genes mapped. Somerville is senior editor of Science magazine and has been director of the Carne- gie Institution of Washington’s plant biology department since 1994. The next issue of At Guelph appears Jan. 31. Copy deadline is Jan. 23. tr Editor Barbara Chance b.chance@exec.uoguelph.ca P- Design Peter Enneson V- Production Linda Graham l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca ro Advertising Scott Anderson theandersondifference@rogers.com Director Chuck Cunningham c.cunningham@exec.uoguelph.ca At Guelph is published every two weeks by Communications and Public Affairs, Level 4, University Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG2W1. Inquiries: 519-824-4120 Editorial: Ext. 56580 Distribution: Ext. 56581 Advertising: Ext. 56580 Hrtwv. uoguelph. ca/adguide Classifieds: Ext. 56581 Pax : 519-824-7962 Website: www.uoguelph.ca/atguelph Articles may be reprinted with credit to At Guelph. Subscriptions $25 (includes GST); $30 outside Canada ISSN 08364478 at Guelph 2 January 31, 2007 news in brief GUELPH, WATERLOO TO CO-HOST EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE Power of the PEN U of G and the University of Waterloo are co-hosting the 2007 Conference of the Educational Developers Caucus of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Feb. 22 and 23. This year’s theme is "Engagement and Educational Development.” The conference will feature discus- sions, workshops, poster sessions and a keynote talk by Mathew Ouellett, director of the Center for Teaching at the University of Mas- sachusetts Amherst. His topic is “Educational Developers: Celebrat- ing Our Roles in Supporting Engagement.” For more informa- tion, visit www.tss.uoguelph.ca/ edc/index.cfrn or contact Trevor Holmes at Ext. 52963. GUELPH-HUMBER STUDENTS SHARE TOP SPOT IN ANNUAL CMA CASE COMPETITION At the Certified Management Accountants of Ontario’s second annual case competition this month, a team from the University of Guelph-Humber shared the top winning spot in a tie with the Uni- versity of Ottawa. Members of the Guelph-Humber team were Matt McKeever, Nicholas Horvath, Justyna Hac and Hassan Gafri. Some 140 students from 18 Ontario universities participated in this year’s competition, which put stu- dents' management leadership skills to the test. CBS SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR 2007 TEACHING AWARD The College of Biological Science invites all members of the Univer- sity community to nominate a fac- ulty member or a teaching team or group in the college for the CBS Award for Excellence in Teaching. Nomination forms are available in administrative offices and should be submitted to the dean of CBS by the first week of March. ONTARIO CHORAL FESTIVAL BRINGS CHOIRS TO GUELPH The U of G choirs are hosting the Ontario University Choral Festival this weekend. The U of G, Brock University, McMaster University and Redeemer University College choirs will give a concert Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. at Harcourt Memorial United Church, conducted by Prof. Marta McCarthy, Fine Art and Music. For tickets, call Ext. 54377. CBS FUNDRAISER SUPPORTS LOCAL HABITAT FOR HUMANITY A group of faculty, staff and stu- dents in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences hosted a hockey game and free skate Jan. 26, raising $475 in support of Habitat for Humanity Wellington County, which will be building its first home in Guelph this summer. In Memoriam Parvin Jahanpour, a staff member in the Office of Registrarial Services, died Jan. 18 in Madison, Ala. She had been employed at the Univer- sity since 1989. Bosnian writer regains language and self in Canada BY RACHELLE COOPER A ward-winning Bosnian writer Goran Simic is on campus for the 2006/2007 academic year as part of the PEN Canada writers-in-exile program. He will give a free public reading Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. in the George Luscombe Theatre. Founded in 1926, PEN Canada is an independent non-profit organi- zation committed to defending free- dom of opinion and expression. It campaigns on behalf of writers around the world persecuted for their thoughts. Simic ’s year-long PEN Canada placement at U of G is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts’ author residencies program. Former U of G administrator and English professor Connie Rooke, president of PEN Canada, initiated the writers-in-exile program and helped bring Simic to Guelph. “Connie began a great program that gives writers the opportunity to come from other countries to estab- lish themselves and to be part of a new community,” says Simic. One of the most prominent writ- ers in the former Yugoslavia, he was trapped in the siege of Sarajevo, which destroyed his home and killed his brother and many friends. In 1996, he and his family were able to settle in Canada thanks to a Freedom to Write Award from PEN. “The war in Bosnia was a three-year-long siege of Sarajevo, and I found myself with my children in terrible circumstances,” says Simic. “Ten thousand people were killed during that siege. There was no electricity, no running water and no food supply.” After the collapse of Yugoslavia, Serb-Croatian — the language he had spent his whole life writing in — didn’t exist any more. “In one moment, I lost my coun- try and lost my language. The only solution was to start learning English so I could express myself because I didn’t want to lose myself as a writer.” Before the war, Simic was the edi- tor of several literary magazines in Bosnia and founder of PEN Bosnia-Herzegovina. “PEN has helped a lot of artists establish themselves in Canada in new circumstances,” he says. “One of the best things PEN does is press governments to release writers or in- tellectuals who are jailed for promot- ing freedom of speech in undemocratic countries.” His 2003 book of poems. Immi- grant Blues, deals with the immigrant experience. He published two books in 2005 — a poetry collection called From Sarajevo, With Sorrow and Yes- terday’s People, a collection of short fiction that was shortlisted for the Relit Award and the Danuta Gleed Award for best first collection of fic- tion. Selected Poems is scheduled to be published in fall 2007, and Simic is currently working on a new short-story collection. His plays have been produced several times in Bosnia, as well as in San Francisco and Toronto. He’s currently writing his third opera, which will be performed in London, England, this May. “I’m lucky because I've found a great community of writers in Can- ada," says Simic, who has lived and worked in Toronto for the last nine years as a professional writer. He’s also managed to keep his interna- tional connections and has recendy done readings in Scodand, England and Germany. Simic is on campus Mondays and Tuesdays until September to consult with U of G students, staff and fac- ulty, as well as members of the local community. To book an appoint- ment, send e-mail to gsimic@uoguelph.ca. people PROF NAMED TO EXPERT PANEL Prof. Jack Trevors, Environmental Biology, has been appointed to the National Research Council of Can- ada’s expert panel on genomics and health initiatives. STUDENT PENS NOVEL Second-year history and English student Erik Mortensen will launch his debut novel. Avenging Abe, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Ferguson Room at the Breadalbane Inn in Fergus. RETIREMENT RECEPTION SET A reception will be held Feb. 8 for Mollie McDuffe- Wright of the Uni- versity Secretariat, who is retiring after 22 years at U of G. It runs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Room 103 of the University Centre. RSVP by Feb. 2 to Sharon Cardow at s.cardow@ exec.uoguelph.ca. ! The following appointments have ! recendy been announced at the j University: • Sharon Cardow, administrative secretary. University Secretariat • Cynthia Cheeseman, communi- cations assistant, Admission Ser- vices • Frances Determan, service associ- ate, Graduate Program Sendees • Patricia Fleming, administrative assistant, Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Eco- nomics • Sean Fosbury, steamfitter, Physi- cal Resources • Gayleen Gray, manager of infor- j mation technology services. Com- puting and Communications Ser- vices and OVC • Anne Ingram, administrative assistant, Department of Food Sci- ence • Carol Ann Komarnitsky-Higgins, assistant to the dean of OVC • Martha Manning, research ani- mal technician, Campus Animal Facilities • Sandra McDonald, accounting clerk. Student Financial Services • Monica McKay, administrative secretary, University Secretariat • Emily Reed, co-ordinator, citi- zenship and community engage- ment, Student Life and Counsel- ling Services • Chris Renner, building mechanic 2, Physical Resources • Rachel Skippen, veterinary tech- nician, Veterinary Teaching Hos- pital • Campbell Smith, steamfitter, Physical Resources • Patricia Tersigni, co-ordinator of undergraduate curriculum. Office of the Provost • Kimberly Thompson, academic- counsellor, School of Engineering • Michelle Waddick, media rela- tions and communications officer. Department of Athletics • Lorraine Weir, decontamination technician, Laboratory Services • Steven Welker, mechanical designer. Physical Resources • Sandra Wolfing, student accounts clerk, Student Financial Services. at Guelph 3 January 31, 2007 appointments Prof Combines Love of History, Science Historian studies methodology in biology, examining the different approaches, methods and tools biologists use to answer questions about organisms BY DAVID DICENZO P rof. Tara Abraham, History, admits she can be a bit of a perfectionist at times. That trait ended up playing a significant role in the development of her academic career, drawing the Welland, Ont., native away from the field of biology and into a broader journey through the history of science. Abraham, who joined U of G last summer, had an early interest in bi- ology and history, excelling at both in high school. She opted to pursue the former at McMaster University, but by her fourth year, she was think- ing it was time for a change. She could spend a week on an experi- ment and, despite being as precise as possible, the results sometimes just weren’t there. “I’d have to go back and retrace my steps, and I found that really frustrating,” says Abraham. “Over time, 1 decided I liked thinking about science rather than doing science. 1 didn’t want to turn my back on sci- ence, however. I wanted to be part of it, but from a humanistic perspective rather than being in a lab all day.” A history of science elective she took at McMaster struck a chord and was influential in steering her aca- demic path, she says. After completing her science de- [ gree in Hamilton in 1992, Abraham went west, spending two years in Vancouver, where she worked at the Granville Island Market while con- templating where to do her graduate work. By 2000, she had completed both an MA and PhD in the history and philosophy of science and tech- nology at the University of Toronto. She followed that up with post-doc- toral stints at the Dibner Institute for the History of Science and Technol- ogyatMIT in Cambridge, Mass., and at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin. She has great memories of her time at Dibner, which was estab- lished in the late 1980s as a place where senior fellows, more estab- lished scholars, and post-doctoral and doctoral fellows could go and be part of a community devoted exclu- sively to the history of science. “It was just a really rich environ- ment to be in,” Abraham says of the institute, which closed its doors last year. “Someone once referred to it as the Grand Central Station in the his- tory of the science profession be- cause it was just such a huge exchange of ideas, with people com- ing and going.” After completing her post-doc- toral work, Abraham spent two years at York University before arriving at U of G. With her love of science and history now melded into a career as a historian of biology, she is focusing on 20th-century life sciences, pri- marily in the United States. Her main interest is methodology in biology, examining the different ap- proaches, methods and tools biolo- gists use to answer questions about organisms. But she’s also intrigued by the clashes in thought that have existed between hands-on and theoretical biologists in the past century. That area of research introduced her to cybernetics, a transdisciplinary movement of mid-20th century America that brought together mathematicians, computer scien- tists, engineers, neurologists, psy- chologists, sociologists and anthro- pologists, all interested in under- standing purposeful behaviour in both organisms and machines. “Methodologically, many cyber- neticians believed that math and for- mal modelling were the best ways to pursue knowledge about organisms and their complex functioning," says Abraham. “This was true especially of Warren McCulloch (an American Ivy League-educated cybernetician), who, although he was trained as an experimental neurophysiologist, took a highly theoretical approach to the brain and the mind.” She recently presented a paper on McCulloch at a conference in Van- couver. “He was a bit of a maverick and asked big questions, much to the chagrin of more traditional brain scientists.” In the classroom, Abraham con- tinually stresses to her students that science doesn’t exist in a vacuum. “We have these images of scien- tists as these separate figures in lab coats. People also have the idea that scientific ideas are all black and white, with no room for debate. What I try to show the students is that there are a lot of grey areas. The science they do — and the knowl- edge that’s produced by scientists — is shaped by social, cultural and po- litical values. There’s really an inter- play between science and society — you can’t separate the development of science from society.” Although examining the history and role of science in our world is her main passion, Abraham also has an artistic side. She’s been interested in acting since performing in a high school production called Twelve An- gry Jurors. Since then, she’s done a number of plays and was featured in Toronto filmmaker Mishann Lau’s short Come and Go and, most re- cently, a dramatic reading of Marianne Fedunkiw’ s historical play The Influence of Beauty: Dr. Dorothea Maude and the Serbs in WWI. Acting has been on the back- burner for a while, but she hopes to get back to it. “It helps with my teaching,” she says. “Teaching is theatrical in a way. Sometimes to pysch myself up, I think of it as a performance. It’s also about getting out of your head, where you’re not so worried about what’s going to happen next. Improv exercises, which I really find chal- lenging, are about getting out of your head and just being in the moment. That’s an asset in teaching, as well — to just really let go.” Hold the Trans Fats New way to make processed foods without artery-clogging trans fats may help reduce heart disease, obesity, diabetes BY ANDREW VOWLES A HEART-HEALTHY RECIPE for making trans fat-free pro- cessed foods may result from work by an international research team headed by a Guelph food scientist. By finding a new way to package oils and change them into a solid fat-like material, the researchers have developed an alternative to ar- tery-clogging trans fats that may also help fend off obesity and diabetes, says Prof. Alejandro Marangoni, Food Science. Their paper is currently online in Soft Matter , published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Trans fats from partially hydro- genated oils are used to lengthen the shelf life of processed foods and as shortening in many industrial food products. But by altering the mix of so-called good and bad cholesterol in the blood, they may increase the risk of heart disease. In December, New York City banned the use of trans fats from all restaurants. In Canada, a federal task force -last summer recommended limits on the use of these fats in pro- cessed foods. Marangoni’s group has found a way to mix oil, water, monoglycer- ides and fatty acids to provide the same structural and functional bene- fits as trans fats. More than that, he says their for- mula has been found to release fats in a more controlled way. By regulating the amount of insulin produced by the body after a meal, controlled re- lease of lipids in the blood may help lower the risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Referring to methods used by pharmaceutical companies to regu- late the release of drugs into the body, Marangoni says: “People talk about controlled release in prescrip- tion drugs. We’re talking about con- trolled release of food components.” He’s working with investigators at the University of Waterloo and in France, where he recently spent a nearly year-long research leave. In 2004, the group received a four-year grant from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Finding the correct formula to convert mixtures of oil, water, monoglycerides and fatty acids into a gel turned out to be relatively straightforward, says Marangoni. The key challenge was to change oil, which is liquid at room temperature, to fat, which is solid at room temperature. “We were lucky,” he says, recall- ing how the team came up with a substance that showed most of the desired structural properties. Since then, they’ve been refining their work in the lab. They hope to interest product development researchers in helping to validate their results with actual food studies. Because of its high melting point, the gel doesn’t need refrigeration, but the same property makes it a poor alternative for spreading on cooked vegetables or breads, says Marangoni. It will, however, be a good alternative for the baking in- dustry as it works to eliminate trans fats from products, he says. In his informal home baking tests, he’s used the gel to make breads and muffins. So far, though, only sat- urated fats can yield such specialty items as croissants and baldava. But he says there’s still plenty of room for innovation in Canada’s baking in- dustry, worth about $3.2 billion a year, according to the Baking Associ- ation of Canada. Complete Wellness Clinic Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine We treat acute and chronic conditions: • Allergies • Arthritis • Back Pain • Headaches • Insomnia • Stress, Low Energy • Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, Dietary Advice 519 - 763-8855 at Guelph 4 January 31, 2007 Cuba Has Grape Expectations Guelph researchers help would-be viticulturists Probiotics Help Produce Safer Chickens, Study Finds Treating young chickens may better protect consumers against disease bacteria BY ANDREW VOWLES C UBAN WINE may sound as unlikely as Ontario papayas. But a team of U of G researchers hope to help growers on the Caribbean island develop a nascent grape-growing industry that may one day produce a Cuban vintage. A new collaboration with a re- search institute in Havana has al- ready seen two Cuban plant scientists visit Guelph labs, with a third visitor expected this semester. In turn, Guelph scientists have scouted out grape-growing sites in Cuba and are assessing prospects for a home-grown grape and wine industry. In 2005, the team received $22,000 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council to begin collecting grape germplasm from Cuba and to develop ties with Cuban researchers, says Prof. Judith Strommer, Plant Agriculture. U of G faculty have met with re- searchers at the Tropical Fruit Re- search Institute in Havana and have vetted prospective growing sites for soil, climate and other conditions. ( One of those sites is located near the Bay of Pigs, where U.S.-backed re- bels landed in 1961 in a failed at- tempt to overthrow the Fidel Castro government.) Strommer says grape growing and winemaking are unusual ven- tures for Cuba, but its government is keen to develop an industry for tour- ism and for export. Not that anyone expects to be bottling anything soon. She says it will take at least a decade to develop a viable grape-growing industry, never mind making any wine. “They’re not close to wine. We’re encouraging them to focus on viti- culture for now.” One species of grape is indige- nous to Cuba, says Prof. Helen Fisher, Plant Agriculture. Cubans al- ready produce wine, but it’s made from juice imported from Spain and is generally of lesser quality. Fisher, who studies grape cultivars and rootstocks at U of G’s Vineland Re- search Station, says vineyards might be an alternative crop for sugar cane farmers hit by falling sugar commodity prices. Besides Strommer and Fisher, the project involves Profs. Annette Nassuth, Cellular and Molecular Bi- ology, and Greg Boland, Environ- mental Biology. (In December, Maylen Machado from the Cuban research institute spent three weeks in Boland’s lab, using diagnostic tools and genetic material to learn how to identify strains of a fungal disease.) Terry Gillespie, professor emeritus in the Department of Land Resource Science, visited Cuba last summer to develop software to be used in identifying likely sites for vineyards. Scientists in Cuba are interested in applying what they learn about grapes to various tropical crops, says Nassuth. The collaboration began when Strommer spoke at the research in- stitute three years ago about her work and subsequently took part in an international scientific meeting there. She says U of G researchers in the project are benefiting as well, includ- ing learning about germplasm diver- sity, about tools for choosing sites for growing crops and about small-scale farming. They’ve seen how Cubans use biological methods and even the most rudimentary tools to deal quickly and effectively with agricultural pests and to carry out composting and trellising. Down the road, group members may visit Cuba to offer short courses in topics such as viticulture, plant protection and marketing. Hurdles to the project include wrestling with Cuban bureaucracy — it took six months and a pile of paperwork for Strommer to send a payment for a recent workshop ses- sion — and helping Cuban research- ers whose lab conditions are often near-primitive. BY RACHELLE COOPER G iving chickens probiotics — microbial dietary supple- ments that contain live beneficial bacteria — stimulates their immune system and reduces Salmonella bacteria in their gut, a team of researchers has found. “We looked at the immune-en- hancing ability of the piob'votic and, lo and behold, the probiotic actually seems to be quite an immune stimulator,” says Prof. Shayan Sharif, Pathobiology, who collabo- rated with James Chambers of Agri- culture and Agri-Food Canada. Their research was recently pub- lished in Clinical and Vaccine Immu- nology. This means chickens treated with probiotics early in life are able to mount higher immune responses and, as a result, may be better pro- tected against disease- causing mi- crobes, says Sharif. “After looking at the antibodies in the intestine and blood of the chickens, we found that the antibod- ies were more than twice as high in chickens treated with probiotics.” The researchers also looked at two kinds of Salmonella that are most prevalent in Canada and found that some probiotics reduce very substantially the level of coloniza- tion of the bacteria in the chicken gut. Salmonella bacteria occur natu- rally in the chicken gut, and the gut contents sometimes contaminate carcasses, depending on how the meat is processed, says Sharif. And this puts people who eat the chicken at risk of getting sick. “Reducing Salmonella in the chickens’ digestive tract could lead to more Salmonella-free chicken products on store shelves,” he says. In the study, one-day-old chicks were treated with probiotics and, one day later, were given Salmonella. Improvements to the immune sys- tem of the chicks treated with probiotics were discovered weekly. Giving chicks a blend of 29 pro- biotic bacteria led to a 95-per-cent reduction of Salmonella in the ani- mals’ digestive tract. There was also a reduction in the presence of Salmo- nella in the non-treated pen mates of the treated chicks, says Sharif. The study looked at a repertoire of probiotics alone and in combina- tion with prebiotics (food substances that promote the growth of benefi- cial bacteria in the intestines). “We also found that the combi- nation of prebiotics and probiotics could substantially reduce the ex- istence of bad bacteria, those that are harmful for humans, in the chicken gut," he says. “It’s hoped that probiotics could actually work as a replacement for antibiotics, or at least be used to work in a comple- mentary fashion with antibiotics." Probiotics are accessible from pharmacists who supply veterinary pharmaceuticals and are fairly inex- pensive. The overuse of antibiotics in chickens is a concern that has already caused European countries to place restrictions on prophylactic antibi- otic use in their poultry industries, says Sharif. “If the same restrictions were en- forced here, it would cause problems in the poultry industry, so it would be great if we could come up with a better system using probiotics to work hand-in-hand with antibiot- ics.” Many Don’t Consider Scratch Tickets as Gambling Master's student says problem gamblers spend plenty on lottery and scratch tickets BY RACHELLE COOPER M ore than a third of the revenue from gambling in Ontario, or $2.3 billion, comes from ticket gambling, but many people don’t consider buying tickets as gambling, says Katharine Papoff, a master’s student in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition who is studying scratch tickets purchased by baby boomers. “If they don’t recognize themselves as gam- blers, they won’t consider excessive purchasing as problem gambling,” says Papoff, who inter- viewed counsellors working with recovering gamblers, who often have ticket-purchase problems. “Problem gambling is often associ- ated with needing to chase a winning feeling, and we still don’t know how that starts.” Ticket-purchase gambling is so accessible and so affordable that most people see it as purchasing rather than gambling, she says. “Problem gambling counsellors have told me that recovering ticket gamblers often can’t get consumer goods like gas and milk because they can’t go into a store without buying one or two or a dozen tickets.” The 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey revealed that 26 per cent of baby boom- ers who admit to spending money on things like lottery tickets, instant win/scratch tickets and horse races say they aren’t gamblers. “This survey shows that a large chunk of the ‘not gambling’ group buys tickets anywhere from daily to she times a week,” says Papoff, whose study is funded by the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre and is being ad- vised by U of G professor Scott Maidand and Joan Norris, graduate studies dean at Wilfrid Laurier University. Unlike casino gamblers, deket gamblers are virtually invisible. Yet 2004 research in Ontario found that 20 per cent of the $2 billion in reve- nue from ticket gambling is coming from problem gamblers, estimated to be five per cent of the population. “People just don’t see buying a ticket as a big expenditure, but the people who have a problem are obviously spending lots of money on lottery and scratch tickets,” says Papoff. Not everyone who buys a ticket is going to have a problem with ticket gambling, she says. “But tickets have been called ‘paper slot ma- chines’ because they have features of slot ma- chines that can promote problem gambling.” Like slots, scratch tickets are inexpensive, there’s a rapid turnover, and because you can immediately find out if you’ve won or lost, you can chase your losses by buying another ticket — in much the same way you pull the slot ma- chine handle again, she says. “There are many people who don’t live near casinos or slot machines, so if they’re looking for the thrill of a possible win, they’re limited to tickets. I think there needs to be huge public awareness around the fact that this is some- thing that’s taking away your disposable in- come with virtually no odds of getting anything back.” at Guelph 5 January 31, 2007 focus The Art of Winning Grants S ANDRA Sabatini understands the importance of good research. The award-winning short- story writer is currently working on her fourth book, a novel about a philosophical Italian soldier sta- tioned in Africa during the Second World War. Detail is imperative, so as Sabatini’s project develops, like an “intricate origami unfolding itself,” she is engaged in re-creating the precise setting of the war, right down to the type of cigarettes the service- men smoked. “I have a huge archive now,” says the Guelph native. This appreciation for gathering information has served Sabatini well not only in her craft but also in her job as research manager for the Col- lege of Arts, a post she’s held since 2002, after completing her PhD at the University of Waterloo in 2001. (She also holds a BA and MA from Guelph.) Part of her job involves dissemi- nating information about the vari- ous research projects under way in the College of Arts. “There’s some amazing research going on in the college, and we want to spread the word about it,” she says. “We do that in lots of different ways — through campus and off- campus media, through our ‘Re- search in Progress’ seminar series, by hosting the annual meetings of scholarly associations our faculty are involved in, and through events such as the hugely popular Scottish Stud- ies Colloquium. The college's profile also gets a big boost from the studio art faculty who exhibit their work nationally and internationally, as well as those faculty who are re- nowned in Canada and around the world for their writing, music and work in the theatre.” In addition to promoting the col- lege’s research, Sabatini helps de- velop research policies, is involved in new-faculty orientation and chips in on special projects like the “Shake- speare — Made in Canada” festival and the launch of the Orlando digital archive. But one of her biggest responsi- bilities is reviewing grant proposals for college researchers. She offers ad- vice based on her own experiences as a writer and a researcher, the formal training she’s had in proposal writ- ing and her extensive knowledge of granting programs. “Part of my job is demystifying the grant proposal process because, especially for new faculty, it can look like a monumental task,” she says. As a creative writer, Sabatini knows what makes for compelling reading, even when it comes in the form of a one-page proposal des- tined for the Social Sciences and Hu- manities Research Council (SSHRC), Canada’s main source of funding support for the humanities. “It’s an interesting relationship between creative writing and aca- demic writing,” she says. “One of the secondary areas of my PhD was rhet- oric. If you think of what rhetoric is — the power of language to per- suade — then whatever the task at hand is, you bring all your skills to bear on it “Creative writing gives you the ability to think about how to tell the story. Because really, a grant applica- tion is more successful if you’re tell- ing the committee a story — why the project needs to be done, why you’re the person to do it and why it needs to be done now. As a creative writer, I get to help make it interesting.” Sabatini admits it took a while to get her “sea legs” in the job, given that it represented an entirely differ- ent direction than she had envi- sioned for herself. But she saw it as a good marriage and, since joining the staff, has worked to improve the suc- cess rate of grant applications in the college. As part of that effort, she estab- lished a mentoring program in which senior faculty who have se- cured grants help junior faculty do the same by offering feedback on their grant proposals. “When I approach senior faculty to provide feedback, 99 per cent of the time they’ll agree to do it," she says. “They’re so generous with their time and expertise and so willing to help. They’re an indispensable part of this whole process, and I can’t thank them enough.” Faculty who have served on SSHRC grant committees are an es- pecially good resource and offer a broad perspective on the application process, she adds. Sabatini, who’s a member of the Canadian Association of University Research Administrators, stays in close contact with SSHRC officers and makes a point of asking them why some applications were success- ful and others were not after funding announcements are made. She can then use that information to help faculty with future proposals. These days, SSHRC is putting greater emphasis on funding larger ongoing partnerships, so U of G’s arts and social science colleges are working together to enhance their funding opportunities, says Sabatini. In February, the College of Arts, the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, the College of Management and Economics and the Office of Research are hosting a forum that will bring together fac- ulty who are already managing large- scale collaborative grants and faculty whose research lends itself to such an approach. “The potential for cross- fertilization is huge,” she says. Sabatini notes that, although SSHRC is the primary funding source in the College of Arts, “our fine art, music and writing faculty also have tremendous success in ob- taining support from the Canada Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council and other arts-related orga- nizations. I love the fact that we have such diverse people and research in this college. It just makes my job all the more interesting.” Student Lands Water Award From Consulting Engineers Funding will allow engineers to study effects of climate change on Ontario’s water resources BY ANDREW VOWLES A GRADUATE RESEARCH project that aims to learn how climate change may affect Ontario’s water resources has attracted a $40,000 scholarship from Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO). Qi (Tina) Sha, a master’s student in the School of Engineering, received the two-year award under CEO’s water-quality research scholarship program late last year. The pro- gram is intended to foster research in water quality and to allow Ontario faculty members to attract top graduate students. In 2004, Guelph master’s student Sarah Watts received the same award in its inaugural year. This year’s funding will allow Sha and a trio of faculty in the Guelph Watershed Research Group to study the impact of climate change on groundwater and surface water and to make recommendations for municipalities, conser- vation authorities and engineers to mitigate those effects, says Prof. Bahram Gharabaghi, a water resources engineer in the School of Engineering. “Environment Canada is saying that cli- mate change is happening,” says Gharabaghi, who is working on this project with faculty col- leagues Ramesh Rudra and Ed McBean. “How is that going to affect water availability, quality and quantity?” Warmer winters will probably result in more rapid runoff of rainwater than gradual snowmelt, which could mean less water avail- able for recharging groundwater resources — a key concern for a city such as Guelph, says Gharabaghi. Warmer summers may cause more water to evaporate and remain in the atmosphere. Global climate change may also cause more frequent and severe floods and droughts. That could lead to water-quality problems, with contaminants such as manure from farm fields washing directly into streams and lakes. Fluc- tuating water levels also pose problems for wa- ter managers operating reservoirs and dams. What the U of G team learns may help engi- neers grappling with designing infrastructure to handle more frequent changes in climate and weather conditions, says CEO president John Gamble. Based in Toronto, his non-profit organization represents more than 250 com- panies across the province. “This is something we need to get a handle on so we have long-term and sustainable engi- neering solutions to infrastructure chal- lenges,” says Gamble. “We’ll see a basic rethinking on a lot of the assumptions used for designing drinking-water infrastructure and for managing groundwater and other resources.” Gharabaghi says the research is also in- tended to help managers and policy-makers in land-use planning and projecting the effects of municipal growth on infrastructure needs. Although global warming has been in the headlines for years, he says much of the debate about climate change has involved politicians and climate scientists — until now. “We engineers tend to look at people’s daily lives. The science of global climate has been on a global scale but not in anybody’s backyard. Now it's trickling down and coming to munici- palities." Referring to a storm last summer in To- ronto that caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage to infrastructure, he says: “When cli- mate change turns into a disaster that happens more frequently than people are used to or can cope with, then it becomes an engineer’s problem.” Sha studied water supply and drainage for her undergraduate degree and has a master’s degree in municipal engineering. She will use Environment Canada data tracking rainfall and temperature patterns, as well as informa- tion captured by geographic information sys- tems (GIS) and available from libraries and conservation authorities. She’ll also use mod- els of water quality and climate change to pre- dict changes in water balance in Ontario watersheds. Guelph researchers used an earlier $40,000 CEO award to develop a decision-making sup- port system based on GIS for water resources management and planning. The award program was launched after Queen’s Park altered regulatory requirements for municipal water facilities following the Walkerton water tragedy in 2000. at Guelph 6 January 31 , 2007 Vet Fights Parasite, Poverty in Kenya Population Medicine chair says veterinarian’s goal to improve public health is global BY BARRY GUNN P rof. Cate Dewey has had a lot on her plate in the past year. In addition to starting a new appointment in September as chair of the Department of Population Medicine, she made three trips to Africa to establish and monitor a research project. She also “adopted” a primary school in rural Kenya on a quest to improve the lives of children living in one of the poorest regions on Earth. It was a year full of challenges and opportunities, both professional and personal. The way things are shaping up, 2007 promises to be more of the same. And Dewey couldn’t be hap- pier. “It’s a very exciting time for our department, for the Ontario Veteri- nary College and for the profession,” says Dewey, an epidemiologist who specializes in swine health manage- ment. “It’s very important that we con- tinue to update our research and teaching programs to address prob- lems that are relevant to animal own- ers, the agriculture industry and society as a whole.” Dewey heads a department trying to fill the void left by the departure of key faculty due to retirement and the startup of a new veterinary school in Calgary, all the while contributing to ptah&ufor o -i. tapeworm problem might seem fairly straightforward. But it’s not, says Dewey, who was inspired to go to Africa by OVC professor John McDermott, who delivered the Schofield Memorial Lecture in 2003 and urged veterinarians to put their r'‘**-rn< skiult Thanks to friends and supporters in the Guelph area, Prof. Cate Dewey, above, has raised $20,000 to date to provide school supplies and uniforms for orphans in Kenya. Her efforts were rewarded with lots of smiling faces when she handed out pencils to the children on her last visit to Africa in November. photos by john dewey skills to work in developing coun- tries. “In reality, controlling the tape- worm is enormously complex be- cause it touches on livelihoods, it touches on health care and poverty issues, and it touches on cultural practices,” she says. Many Busia farmers who have outhouses may not all use them, for a variety of reasons. For example, in a country where it’s common for ex- tended families to live in one com- pound, it’s a cultural taboo for a man to use the same toilet as his daugh- ter-in-law. "The challenge is to understand it well enough to ask yourself how you can help without imposing your cul- ture and your beliefs," says Dewey. Her project focuses on working directly with farmers, holding work- shops to help them understand the connection between the tapeworm and epilepsy, teaching them how to accurately weigh and measure their pigs, and encouraging them to adopt better husbandry practices so they can raise healthier animals that will fetch higher prices. A Kenyan veterinarian working on her PhD in epidemiology is man- aging much of the legwork for the project. Global Vets students from OVC also did hands-on work for the project last summer. Dewey hopes to secure enough funding to support two graduate students from Kenya and a graduate student from OVC. She returned to Kenya for three weeks in November to follow up on work begun last summer. Two re- search teams visited 176 farms, tak- ing blood samples, checking on the farmers’ record keeping and con- ducting surveys to gather critical in- formation about how the animals are being fed and housed. Dewey is encouraged by what they’ve found so far and plans to ex- pand the project to include urban and peri-urban areas. “It’s enormously challenging, but it’s been such a gift for me to do this,” she says. So much so that she’s also taken a personal interest in the well-being of children at the Bukati Primary School, a bone-rattling nine-hour drive from Nairobi. With no electricity and meagre resources, the school serves some 1,500 families. About 250 of its 700 students have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS, and many more orphans don’t go to school because their adoptive families can’t afford school uniforms or even basic supplies like pencils. \Devjcy leXuirvcd Y\omc Yicx first visit to Kenya last March deter- mined to do something to make a difference in their lives. Thanks to friends and supporters in the Guelph area, she has raised $20,000 to date. The project has de- livered pens and pencils for the or- phans, as well as 300 pounds of donated books to start a library. In November, a tailor was hired in Kenya to produce some 200 school uniforms; the tailor, in turn, hired four people to help do the work. Students at Guelph's Sir Isaac Brock School, where Dewey’s hus- band is a teacher, held a fundraiser and have exchanged letters with their counterparts at Bukati School. And OVC students are selling bracelets made by the AIDS orphans using beads that Dewey took to Kenya from Guelph. The goal is to raise $150,000 over five years to establish a sustainable lunch program at the school. One 1 idea is to generate income by setting up a mill at the school, where locals would pay to grind com into flour. The leftovers could also be used to feed poultry and pigs, which would be cared for by the students. “There are many schools in the region that could benefit from a pro- ject like this," says Dewey, who ad- mits to feeling angry after her first trip to Kenya last year. Like so many westerners who travel to the devel- oping world, the culture shock didn't hit her until she was back home safe and sound and surrounded by con- sumer excesses. “The need there is so great, but all the wealth is here. This was one way I could turn my feelings of frustration into something positive." at Guelph J January 31 , 2007 insieht You Make a Life by What You Give “ Being involved, improving the lives of others, is a critically important component of our society” Editor’s note: The following is an edited version of a talk given recently to the Empire Club in Toronto by president Alastair Summerlee, who is also chair of the board of World University Service of Canada. I BEGIN with A QUOTE from Sir Winston Churchill, a previous speaker at the Empire Club: “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” It doesn’t matter whether you subscribe to the view from the right of the political spectrum that “service is one of freedom’s safeguards — it ensures caring is free from political control” or whether you believe in the maxim of the left that “we’re all in this together,” I think we would all agree that being involved, improving the lives of others, is a critically important component of our society. World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is making a difference in people’s lives across the world and educating peo- ple at home and abroad about the challenges facing the develop- ing world. Thanks to WUSC, more than one million people in Peru now have running water and sanitation in their homes, and the daily income of many women in rural communities in Sri Lanka has improved. There have also been significant im- provements to civil society and governance processes in the Bal- kans. These three examples and many others illustrate how WUSC is creating sustainable development activities and pro- jects in countries deeply scarred by some of the world’s greatest ) problems; poverty, war and disease. It is these three areas that form the key focus for WUSC activities. As a key non-profit development agency in Canada, WUSC receives more than 40 per cent of its funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (C1DA), for which we are very grateful. We have long focused our development efforts in a limited number of countries to ensure there is critical mass to create the appropriate level of change that can be sustained, but we are active in a number of countries and geographic regions across the world on almost every continent. A considerable part of our mandate and mission is also de- voted to education — here at home to broaden understanding among Canadians and in developing countries to make people aware of the challenges they face and to give them the tools to make a difference in their own lives. In Canada, more than 60 colleges and universities belong to WUSC, with student chapters serving as the cornerstone of the organization. The chapters inform students about the chal- lenges in the developing world and anchor many of WUSC’s initiatives, including the remarkable student refugee program, which places refugees from countries ravaged by war, poverty and disease in Canadian colleges and universities to complete a post-secondary education. Canadian students not only host the refugees but also raise more than $1 million a year to support the program. To date, more than 850 refugees have come to Canada in this way. The impact on the refugees’ lives is remarkable, but in many cases, the people who come to live in Canada give back to the communities they live in. As an example, let me share with you an e-mail I received from a former participant in the refugee program when I was appointed chair of WUSC. “Congratulations on your appointment as the incoming chair of WUSC. Reading about your appointment brought memories flooding back. I was a child soldier in Uganda. Orphaned at an by Alastair Summerlee early age by war and disease, I became caught up in the fighting. Eventually 1 found myself in a refugee camp. I will never forget the day I walked to my interview. I remember every detail — every flower, every leaf, the heat, the dust, every truck and bike that passed me. It was the longest journey of my life. But what an impact it had. I was accepted into the program and sponsored by students to attend the University of Alberta, where I eventually obtained my law degree. From the ashes of my life in Uganda — a boy with no educa- tion and no hope — I became a prosecutor for the Department of Justice in Ottawa. And now I am giving back in a very positive way. I am working on assignment with the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal in Arusha, Kenya, where we are trying to deal with the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. This could not have been possible without the support of Can- ada and Canadians. I wonder if I will ever be able to repay the debt I owe to many people — many people I do not even know — for their faith in me and many others like me. I wish you success as the chair of WUSC — it is an amazing or- ganization.” “ World University Service of Canada is making a dijjerence in people’s lives across the world and educating people at home and abroad about the challenges facing the developing world. ” Every year for more than 50 years, WUSC has run an inter- national seminar program, a study tour where students from Canadian universities visit a developing country and gain first-hand experience of the challenges. For many, the seminar is their first and formative exposure to the developing world, and the experience has a profound impact on participants’ lives. We count three former prime ministers of Canada, 1 1 past and present MPs and senators, two sitting members of the Supreme Court of Canada and many CEOs and eminent members of Ca- nadian society among the alumni of this program. This year, the seminar will be held in Burkina Faso. So what is the connection between U of G and WUSC? Here at Guelph, our traditions and values are deeply rooted in the ac- tivities of our founding colleges: agriculture, veterinary science and domestic science. Emanating from the caring attitude of the pioneering spirit — sometimes jokingly referred to as “the fields, the bams and the kitchen ethos,” the University has de- veloped a formidable reputation for its concern about educa- tion and students. We have consistently been ranked the number one comprehensive and mid-size university in the country in terms of spirit and caring and for the quality of our academic programs. We are also the No. 1 comprehensive university in research, and there’s a special sense of connection between our research and the way we live our lives. Many areas of research at Guelph are nuanced by real, practical challenges we face in the world, including the environment, emerging diseases, and energy sources and efficient uses. Guelph is clearly pre-eminent in teaching and research in ways that link with the aspirations and concerns of WUSC, but there’s one other critical way the University and WUSC are linked. In a country where Statistics Canada reports that about 40 per cent of the population engages in meaningful volunteer activities, 70 per cent of students at Guelph volunteer in our community — a community that spans the world. We have students working with the homeless in Guelph, To- ronto and Calgary: involved in HIV/AIDS education in Guelph and sub-Saharan Africa; collecting for food banks in Guelph; building homes in Latin America; and rebuilding lives in Ka- trina-torn parts of the United States or in areas devastated by the tsunami. It is this spirit of caring about the people around us that brings the University of Guelph close to WUSC. Together we represent a formidable combination. Members of the U of G community also dig deep financially when it comes to supporting others. In fall 2006, we raised more than $500,000 for various charitable causes, including the United Way, the Masai Project, Meal Exchange and the Guelph Food Bank. Let me turn now to the new opportunities for global citizen- ship offered by WUSC. One such initiative is Students Without Borders, which enables students to obtain in-depth learning ex- periences in developing countries that can be used for credit at their home institution or for co-op experience. Work place- ments are organized and arranged in a number of countries around the world — - usually linked to development work being i carried out by WUSC workers. Participants become truly im- mersed in the culture and society they work in, developing a real and deep appreciation for the people and the problems they face. The program was established a year ago and is remarkably popular among students. Another WUSC opportunity for global citizenship is Leave for Change, a new venture in English-speaking Canada. In 2005, WUSC joined forces with its French counterpart, CECI (Centre £tude et de cooperation internationale) to form a col- laborative partnership to support and enhance opportunities for volunteerism. They created an international initiative called Uniterra, which mobilizes partners, volunteers and the Cana- dian public to contribute to the Millennium Development Goal of reducing world poverty by 50 per cent by 2015. CIDA plays a fundamental role in providing financial support for this very important initiative and its programs. Uniterra fosters partnerships between organizations and networks in Canada and elsewhere to educate at home and abroad, to advocate at home and to volunteer abroad. The Leave for Change program promotes short-term volunteer op- portunities in international settings where specific or non-spe- cific skills are needed to complete or work on a meaningful and helpful project. Private and public sectors are asked to partici- pate by making a financial contribution to the project, and em- ployees offer to volunteer their holiday time to work abroad. Uniterra now has volunteer opportunities in 13 countries around the world, and the list is growing. U of G is the first university and institution in English- speaking Canada to participate in Leave for Change this year, and I hope other universities, publicly funded institutions, mu- nicipalities and private companies will want to follow suit. The experiences gained and the values learned through this pro- gram are invaluable both at home and abroad. Pianos, books, lessons & more! 218-A Victoria Rd. S. Guelph, Ont. N1E5R1 fax: 519.836.9474 www.theoctavemc.com 519.836.8492 For information about paid advertising in At Guelph, call Scott Anderson at 519-827-9169. at Guelph 8 January 31, 2007 profile A New Lease on Legs Vet surgeon heads team hoping to ease knee arthritis pain by Andrew Vowles M ere days after running a 10-mile race in late December, Prof. Mark Hurtig pops up from his chair with no sign of lingering aches in his trim fifty-something frame. Standing and swaying his legs from side to side, he says: “I have probably the worst knee alignment in the world.” Take his word for it. The clinical studies profes- sor knows knees — his own and those of numer- ous people nursing the kinds of common joint problems that he studies here at Guelph as the leader of a national arthritis research group. Not that Hurtig himself suffers from those ail- ments. Even that self-confessed misalignment has not held the 53-year-old back from such activities as running marathons, competing in Iron Man tri- athlons and skiing through the French and Swiss Alps. But his own experience and active pursuits — including some embarked upon only as mid-life challenges — give him a personal per- spective on a vexing and often debilitating disease that he hopes to alleviate through his research at U ofG. As a faculty member in the Ontario Veterinary College, Hurtig runs the Comparative Orthopedic Research Lab. That’s actually a suite of offices and labs housed not in the main OVC building but in the Equine Sciences Building located at the comer of McGilvray Street and Smith Lane. Horses are the primary focus of his neighbours, as evidenced by the animals standing in the adjoining paddock near his office on one winter morning. But the lab isn’t quite so anomalous here as it seems, says pftfmtfiig 'duf that his work with OVCcbl- ' leagues extends to studying leg injuries in race- horses and using animal models to study human disease progression. Improving the diagnosis and treatment of knee arthritis in people is his purpose as director of the lab, which is affiliated with the Canadian Arthritis Network (CAN), part of the national Networks of Centres of Excellence program. And it’s the goal of a substantial research project involving several in- stitutions across Canada under the Guelph re- searcher’s leadership. Hurtig heads the “Proknee” (www.proknee.ca) collaboration as the principal investigator in a five-year research project funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Together, its clinicians and scientists aim to develop tools to help doctors predict how osteoarthritis will de- velop in patients after a knee injury and reconstruction — a step toward the ultimate goals of treating and perhaps staving off the disease. How does a veterinary surgeon wind up in the middle of a research collaboration intended to heal human knees? Voicing a sentiment sure to resonate with many of his OVC colleagues, Hurtig says vets often provide the glue connecting disciplines from epidemiologists and psychologists to surgeons and radiol- ogists to engineers. “Veterinarians get a really broad training that allows them to learn the language of other disciplines effectively,” he says. "You turn out to be a translator between these different groups.” Besides burrowing into the hard-core cellular and molecular biology underpinning the disease, “we’re interested in how be- haviour and psychosocial aspects of life affect the ability of peo- ple to cope with bone injuries.” If you’ve suffered a knee ligament injury, you’re virtually guaranteed to run into problems with osteoarthritis later in life. The most common form of arthritis, it occurs when cartilage breaks down and allows bones to rub together. It’s particularly common among professional athletes, notably soccer players, following reconstruction of the knee’s anterior cruciate liga- ment (ACL). Not only can the injury be career-limiting, says Hurtig, but also “a high proportion of those people end up with osteoarthritis 10 or 20 years later.” Doctors can tell you about the links between a damaged knee and later osteoarthritis. What the physicians and research- ers are less sure about is just how rapidly the disease will develop and what effect your lifestyle choices will have on that progres- sion. That depends on all kinds of factors, from your body mass index to your activity level to your propensity for taking risks. (Doctors call their patients knee “abusers” or knee “copers.” The former try to keep on going; the latter alter their activities to accommodate their injury.) “We’re interested in the many things that could be driving progression,” says Hurtig. His team doesn’t expect to be able to cure osteoarthritis. No drugs are currently available to stave off the disease. And doc- tors lack sound techniques for fixing all the damaged tissue, never mind being able to persuade those knee abusers to mend their self-destructive ways. There’s hope from emerging therapies and new reconstruc- tion techniques, but those treatments are expensive. Finding the best cost-benefit balance will come from identifying higher-risk patients early before osteoarthritis has progressed. That may benefit not just patients but also an increasingly overburdened health-care system. In Canada, the economic impact of osteoarthritis is estimated at more than $3.4 billion a year. Along with back pain, cardiovascular disease and allergies, it’s among the most common chronic diseases. According to the 2000 Canadian Community Health Survey, arthritis and other rheumatoid conditions affect about four million adults in Canada — a number expected to exceed six million by 2025. Osteoarthritis affects more than 10 per cent of North Ameri- cans, with the knee being the most common weight-bearing joint affected. The clinical arm of the Proknee study involves researchers based mostly at hospitals in Toronto. Here in his suite of labs, Hurtig will help run cadaveric and animal-modelling studies to learn whether mathematic modelling may predict osteoarthritis progression after ACL injury. Using finite element analysis, a team led by Saeed Shirazi-Adl in the mechanical engineering department at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique can break down a knee’s movement into a de- tailed series of freeze frames and study stress ef- fects “in silico.” That work draws on Hurtig’s long-standing ties with researchers across campus in the phys- ical and biological sciences. Using a robotic joint simulator in the laboratory of Prof. Jim Dickey, Human Health and Nutritional Sci- ences, they will measure forces affecting normal and damaged knees. That kind of comparative work will also benefit from the imaging know- how of engineering professor Karen Gordon. A graduate of Guelph’s biological engineering program, she used magnetic resonance imaging to study osteoarthritis in knees as a post-doc in Calgary before joining U of G just over two years ago. This is the only study of its kind in Canada (in the United States, the National Institutes of Health is leading a similar study of risk factors). Hurtig hopes to see results feeding into health-care policy within the five-year time frame of the study, due to end in 2010. The goal is to lengthen people's so-called ac- tive phase after a knee injury, says Hurtig. The longer people maintain an active lifestyle, the fewer health problems they’ll probably encoun- ter, he says. As a case in point, the Guelph pro- fessor keeps up his own active schedule outside his labs. He competed in two half-Ironmans last summer; in 2005, he reached the Canadian Irorvman in Penticton, B.C. “Fun and interest- I ing" is how Hurtig describes the event, which puts competitors through a 2.4-mile swim, 1 12-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run. Disavowing any claim to being a gifted ath- lete, he says he began serious training only about six years ago. Today he trains “carefully,” usually spending one or two hours at a time, six days a week. He and his wife, Rhonda, now help run children’s and women’s triathlons in Milton. Having recovered from an ACL injury sus- tained three years ago while playing ball hockey, Rhonda com- peted in last year’s Ironman Canada triathlon. Says Mark Hurtig: “I’m a pretty average age-group athlete and will never be an exceptional performer. I decided a long time ago that it was better for people to participate at any level rather than take a passive role and watch others. It seems like so many of us are willing to live vicariously by watching profes- sional athletes rather than developing the fitness and skills our- selves. I appreciate amateur and professional athletes much more after trying a sport. Ever tried surfing? It gives you new re- spect for surfers. Outdoor activities, particularly in challenging or remote environments, keep me in touch with nature and re- new my respect for the natural world.” Among his recent outings, he scaled the technically chal- lenging east ridge of Mount Temple, the highest peak in Al- berta’s Bow Range at 3,540 metres. Hurtig has also completed the Haute Route ski tour, a week-long expedition that takes ad- vanced skiers from Chamonix in France to Zermatt in Switzerland. “That was quite spectacular and interesting from a cultural point of view,” he says. “While we might consider that type of travel in winter to be risky here in North America, in Europe it’s a respected and time-honoured pastime that people engage in into their 60s and 70s — another example of how cultural atti- tudes influence activity, fitness and wellness." Trading snow for water, he plans to visit Six Mile Lake in the Muskokas this summer to help another engineering colleague, Prof. John Runciman, test performance attributes of a slalom water ski made by an American company. “John and I have co-supervised students and worked to- gether on projects involving bone and reconstructive surgery for joint injuries. I can’t lay any claims to being an expert water skier in my youth, but I’m the skill level and body weight John was looking for." at Guelph 9 January 31, 2007 Retraining Would Boost Economy in Canada, Says Prof Technology education benefits everyone Naki Osutei’s master’s thesis raises questions about whether culture can truly be shared, enhanced and preserved without being abused. photo by iustih morris When Consumers, Cultures Clash Sociologist helps advertisers walk a fine line BY REBECCA KENDALL P umping money into retraining Canadians to perform high- skilled labour would greatly accelerate the growth of Canada's national economy, says Prof. Thanasis Stengos, Economics. Stengos, along with colleagues at the University of Cyprus, examined 15 advanced industrialized coun- tries and found a compelling rela- tionship between the level of education of a nation’s citizens and their access to advanced information and communication technologies. Technology is becoming more af- fordable for people and is becoming increasingly available all over the world, he says. The group has previously studied the effects of education on a nation’s economic growth and success, but they wondered how much the data were influenced by access to things like computer software, hardware components and communications devices such as phones and fax machines. “Our results indicate that there are interesting relationships be- xwccTv 'mioTmaUon and communica- tion technologies and productivity and between education and produc- tivity,” Stengos says. “Certain levels of education must be reached before it becomes a force in economic growth,” he says, add- ing that, in a global context, at least five years of education must be achieved before any difference is made. Each additional year of schooling a person has further adds to the economic growth of that per- son’s country, he says. Education level on its own is one thing, but the availability of ad- vanced information technology and the ability of a population to know how to use it further adds to the speed of economic growth, says Stengos. “You need one for the other to work.” Take Heart! February is Heart Month. For more information, visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation website at ww2. heartandstroke.ca or the Health Canada website at www.hc-sc.gc.ca. Although data for Canada were incomplete and therefore not in- cluded directly in this study, there are still lessons to be gained here, he says. “We have an educated popula- tion, but it’s a general education as opposed to the level of education and skills associated with these new technologies. We import highly skilled people from other nations, but aren’t producing as many com- puter-literate graduates who can work with these technologies as we should be.” It’s important to keep producing the appropriate level of education that goes along with these technolo- gies, he says, noting that skills and technology are factors that drive one another. “These technologies are driven and developed by people with ad- vanced skills, and in turn, technol- ogy drives people to develop new skills.” This cycle of development will in time lead to the creation of new jobs and higher wages for those produc- ing new products, says Stengos. It should be noted, however, that this will take time and may initially caus'd a further economic division between those who choose to develop these skills and those who choose not to, he says. “You could see a higher level of inequality between those who work in low-skilled jobs and those who work in high-skilled jobs. In the long term, however, as the economy grows, these inequalities should shrink.” Governments need to help shape and produce these skills by pouring resources into training and re-edu- cating their citizens to develop ad- vanced technical knowledge and to work in higher-skilled professions, he says. “Education opens up new possi- bilities and pulls people up. At the end of the day, we will all benefit.” BY REBECCA KENDALL I n Canada’s ever-growing multi- cultural landscape, consumers are thinking more critically about culture, says master’s candidate Naki Osutei, who is challenging adver- tisers to dig deeper when presenting culture in their campaigns. Cultural issues have been at the core of Osutei’s extracurricular, aca- demic and professional life for close to 15 years. Bom in Toronto to Gha- naian parents, she grew up in a neighbourhood that had a wide mix of nationalities and ethnicities. Her work with the Metro Toronto Hous- ing Authority as a teenager kin dlecf a growing fascination with social dy- namics that was eventually nour- ished at Guelph, where she earned a BA in sociology before embarking on a master’s degree. At Guelph, she worked with the Central Student Association’s Hu- man Rights Office and the C.J. Munford Centre and co-ordinated a series of conferences that brought in popular recording artists, music executives and academics to meet with local urban musicians, deliver workshops and challenge traditional views. Osutei’s masters’ thesis, which she completed in the fall, examined two distinct examples of culture be- ing used to engage an audience and questioned why one failed while the other flourished. It also raised ques- tions about whether culture can truly be shared, enhanced and pre- served — as stated in Canada’s Multiculturalism Act — without be- ing abused. “I believe intention is very im- portant when we speak about shar- ing culture,” she says. “The Canadian landscape offers so much in the way of cultural symbols and traditions, but it’s critical that we recognize these cultures are bound to the history of different peoples. When we decide to adopt some as- pect, we should consider why we wish to do so and how this impacts the history., of others. It’s, j^lly^ She line, but it’s one we have to practise walking.” Today, Osutei uses her knowl- edge as a project officer for the To- ronto City Summit Alliance, a non- profit, non-partisan coalition of civic leaders formed to address chal- lenges to the Toronto region’s social and economic future. She’s also running NOX Group, a Toronto-based firm she founded to provide solutions to companies seeking to expand their cultural markets and move beyond conventional notions of diversity. “We live in a multicultural coun- try made up of multicultural people, and the popular understanding of diversity doesn’t consider this im- portant distinction,” she says. “Peo- ple of my generation are growing up with multiple identities, and the eth- nicity a person was bom into may not necessarily exclusively define him or her. Where they grow up and who they grow up with also influence their sense of self.” The NOX Group, whose growing roster of clients includes U of G’s Humaj^.Righl^ .a^d,, Equity. jQfjfifis, Wilbo Entertainment and the ReelWorld Film Festival, uses this knowledge to produce change. “I’ve always been concerned that the academic work I’d do was going to sit on a shelf somewhere,” says Osutei. “NOX Group brings to- gether all of my past experience with a major emphasis on the academic research. My work, in its totality, is aimed at contributing to a change in the way we relate to one another in a multicultural society.” UNIVERSITY GUELPH Memories of Guelph... $40 plus nxct and shipping Order from she University of Guelph Beck store. 5 1 9-82 Ml 20. ext S37I5 bookteor giiognclph c> wv.w bookiioriMiogiielpli c.i tPoksfoi'e The City of Music Jazz, Pop, Rock’n Roll Thursday, March 1 st • 8 pm River Run Main Stage 10% net proceeds to Speed River Project Hosted by Guelph's own James Gordon Purchase your ticket by February 16th & enter a draw for exclusive “After Concert Party" Receive $10 Gift Certificate tor the Pub Celebrate the Music of Our City! Tickets S25 / S35 (includes S10 Gift Certificate to Guelph's »1 Pub) Available at: River Run Box Office www.riverrun.ca 519-763-3000 • 1-877-520-2408 at Guelph 10 January 31, 2007 Of Fish and Folly Biologist's work with fish and other marine creatures — and the occasional misstep — to be focus of lecture BY ANDREW VOWLES H e’d had painful encounters with a few nasty aquatic critters before, but nothing came close to the stabbing Prof. Jim Ballantyne, Integrative Biology, endured a few years ago on the northern portion of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. It didn’t help that the incident occurred before the eyes of a class of horrified U of G students. It happened during a tropical field course run by Guelph at the Australian Museum’s Lizard Island Research Station. Ballantyne had been wading just off the beach to see what creatures had been netted. He figured anything swimming freely — including any stingrays — would have fled at his approach. It was a blue-spotted lagoon ray. That much he absorbed before the creature lashed its whip-like tail, flicking a razor-sharp barb through his rubber boot and into the top of his right foot. After that, he had little mind for anything but enduring the agony induced by the venom. “It was the most painful thing I’ve gone through,” says Ballantyne. For the next eight hours, no amount of painkiller had any effect. Fortunately, he says, the finger- length barb had penetrated only half an inch into his foot and had come back out. The next day he was hob- bling but back in front of the class. Today he grins as he recalls the less-than-stellar moment. It’s one of a few hard-learned lessons he’s ab- sorbed in tropical parts of the world while pursuing his studies of the physiology of aquatic organisms. Ballantyne will discuss his recent in- vestigations of elasmobranchs — a group of fishes, including rays, skates and sharks, whose skeletons are made of cartilage rather than bone — during a public lecture this week on campus. Until recently, the longtime Guelph faculty member focused on metabolic and genetic studies of bony fish species, including Arctic char. That meant he studied crea- tures found about as far from the Great Barrier Reef as he could get — and spent more time diving in frigid northern waters than wading in tropical lagoons. His interest piqued about sue years ago by reports of stingrays liv- ing in rivers of Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, he began looking into the biology of these creatures. In their watery world, fish and other organisms need to find ways to keep the correct amounts of water and salts in their bodies. Species liv- ing in salt water have lots of urea in their tissues to maintain osmotic balance. Their freshwater cousins, whose ancestors are believed to have left the seas for new homes in fresh water, need to make little urea. Ballantyne is particularly inter- ested in how the metabolic workings of marine and freshwater types have adapted to keep their nitrogen bal- anced in varied environs. He’s found that some freshwater species are able to alter their internal chemistry to five in dilute salt water. Others are less adaptable. He’s also learning about the ge- netic relatedness of species of Himantura in Southeast Asia and how they differ from freshwater stingrays in other parts of the world, mainly South America. Although he stresses that he’s not a conservation biologist, he says learning more about these creatures may help in efforts to preserve endangered species. Scientists know little about how freshwater stingrays live, says the Guelph biologist, whose work is al- ready making him one of only a few experts worldwide. During his lecture, Ballantyne will discuss his field trips to South- east Asia in search of study speci- mens. His travels so far have taken him to fish farms and wet markets, where he’s seen stingrays ranging from the size of dinner plates to wingspans wider than his out- stretched arms. His talk will also lay bare a few revelations about his own faux pas during research and teaching trips abroad. Once he was wading through a shallow tank at a fisheries research station in Thailand with a stingray whose tail spine had been removed — or so he’d been led to believe. There’d been some kind of “translation problem,” as he puts it, recalling the creature’s whip-like appendage. That time, he was more fortunate than on the Lizard Island beach. “I’ve been stabbed by all kinds of things — urchins, fire worms, fire coral,” he says. Ballantyne got lucky again while snorkelling one day off the coast of Australia at Perth. He’d grabbed a few shells from the ocean bottom but had nowhere to carry them, so he’d tucked them inside his bathing suit. Only after he’d spread out his collec- tion on the beach did he notice the tiny creature nestled inside one of the shells: a poisonous blue-ringed octopus. “I had it in my Speedo, where it could have done maximum damage. I don’t put shells in my Speedo any- more.” Here in Guelph, he’s equipping space in the Hagen Aqualab to study coral and giant clams. Coral such as that found on the Great Barrier Reef is laid down by invertebrates living in partnership with food-providing algae. The same kind of symbiosis al- lows giant clams to acquire food, es- pecially nitrogen, in tropical waters that are typically low in the nutrient. He’ll use new equipment and sta- ble isotopes in the lab to map how nitrogen moves between algae and clam tissues. Along with PhD stu- dent Jake Robinson, Ballantyne also plans to investigate possible biomed- ical applications that may prove use- ful in tackling human metabolic diseases. Ballantyne wi!' -’eak on “Death, Where Is Thy Stingray? Silly Things I Have Done in the Interest of Sci- ence” Feb. 2 at 12:30 p.m. in Room 168 of the Axelrod Building. NSERC Funding Rewards Innovation Awards designed to help turn graduate research into commercial products or services A re you a graduate student with a world-beating idea? You may be eligible for funding intended to help recent or soon-to-be university grads take their research results to market. The Innovation Challenge Awards, sponsored by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), provide funding for students who have conducted graduate-level research in the natu- ral sciences or engineering. The award is meant to help re- cently completed master’s and PhD students turn their research into a commercial product or service. The awards consist of a $10,000 main prize and two $5,000 prizes, as well as honourable mentions worth $1,000 each. “We hope people apply — it’s a great opportunity,” says Daniela Fischer Russell, a technology trans- fer manager with U of G’s Business Development Office (BDO). Candidates must have submitted or expect to submit their thesis be- tween May 1, 2006, and April 30, 2007. Students must successfully de- fend their thesis before the award is offered. As with other institutions, U of G may nominate up to two candidates this year. The application must be sent to NSERC by the BDO, which will assess candidates and help stu- dents refine their applications. The BDO’s deadline for applica- tions is April 25 (approved applica- tions must reach NSERC by May 15). The award was launched in 2004 and is funded by NSERC and GrowthWorks, a venture capital fund manager. Last year, winners from other universities received sup- port for projects in 3-D computer modelling, molecular biology, and a novel antibiotic and food preservative. The BDO will hold information ( sessions about the awards Feb. 7 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Room 1713 of OVC’s Lifetime Learning Centre and Feb. 8 from 1 1:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 441 of the University Centre. For more information, call Jo-Ann Smith at Ext. 58878 or visit www.nserc.gc.ca/innovation. A WISE Day for Girl Guides H elping young girls discover “the joy of engineering” was the goal of a U of G workshop held for local Girl Guides Jan. 27. About 60 girls attended the event organized by students in U of G’s Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) group. It received support from Prof. Val Davidson, holder of the NSERC/HP Canada Chair for Women in Science and Engineering. The visitors built geodesic domes, practised drawing designs to scale, learned about simple ma- chines and made a windmill from a computer disk drive. Participants re- ceived engineering merit badges. “It was so much fun, and the girls were so enthusiastic to learn about engineering,” says Erin Woods, a fifth-year biological engineering stu- dent and WISE president. Last year’s inaugural event at- tracted 15 girls to campus, including one youngster who subsequently en- rolled in last summer’s science and engineering camp run on campus by Creative Encounters. “We brought the joy of engineer- ing to her,” says Woods, adding that the benefits flowed both ways. “We happened to buy a lot of Girl Guide cookies from her.” Win $2500. www.campusresearch.ca Seriously. Fine print: Prizes: One $2500 grand prize, one $1600 second prize. one$1000 third prize and twelve $250 extra prizes. Contest is only open to students currently enrolled at a Canadian post-secondary institution. The good news is it’s available lor a very limited rime, so your odds o( Mining are awesome. This survey is sponsored by your campus newspaper and Campus Plus, a division ol Canadian University FYess. All personal Informatiry, provided is ^ w " 00 usrxt ^or^Larduiurposes lor the improvement and advancement ol campus newspapers m Canada. View our privacy policy online at www.campusplus.com/priv acy.aspx. at Guelph l» January 31, 2007 Talk to Explore Anamorphic Art Physicist looks at links with Shakespeare BY LORI BONA HUNT W HAT DOES anamorphic art — distorted images that appear normal only when viewed from the correct angle or with the aid of curved mirrors — have to do with William Shakespeare? Come find out Feb. 13 when Jim Hunt, professor i emeritus in the Department of Physics, gives a public talk at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre J (MSAC) as part of the “Shakespeare ' — Made in Canada” speaker series. He will discuss "Anamorphic Art in the Time of Shakespeare” at noon. Anamorphic art often looks like what you might see in a funhouse mirror: long, distorted, curvy im- ages. It was a popular form of both serious art and visual entertainment from its beginnings in the 16th cen- tury. Among the earliest known I anamorphs is a child’s face drawn by j Leonardo da Vinci. “Shakespeare lived in the exact period when anamorphic art was de- 1 veloping into a mature art,” says ' Hunt, adding that the Bard refers to anamorphic effects in plays. “It must have been part of common knowl- edge to the broad class of patrons who attended the theatre at that I time.” I T oday, traffic directions and sym- ' bols that aie painted on roadways aTe often distorted anamorphica lly and are reconstructed properly because you observe them at a low angle from the driver’s seat in your car, he says. People also see anamorphic im- ages every time they attend the mov- ies and see a wide-screen film. A special anamorphic lens records an anamorphically compressed image on film, and an anamorphic lens in I the projector uncompresses it Hunt became interested in j anamorphic art in the late 1 970s after reading a magazine article on the subject. “I immediately wondered if ! anything had ever been done about | the mathematics of the transforma- i tions involved. I never pursued it un- til I retired, but it was always there in j the back of my mind.” After he retired in 1998, Hunt I blended his research scientific inter- ests in light and optics and mathe- ! matics with his affinity to art and started studying and lecturing about anamorphic art. He teamed up with physics professor Bernie Nickel to help him work out the complicated equations for plane, conical and cy- lindrical anamorphs. “With the equations worked out, it was natural to use them to analyze real art, which I have been doing,” says Hunt. The mathematics allowed him to analyse 17th-century construction methods that used tricks of perspec- tive. He has also created simple anamorphic images of his own. He notes that, with the introduc- tion of the fast computer, there’s in- terest in exact analytical solutions to the various types of anamorphic transformation. Sometimes the ana- lytical solutions are simple. “Some however, are not obvious or simple and have only recently been de- rived." In his talk, Hunt will discuss the history of the art form, introduce the concept of extreme perspective and touch on eye- brain interaction and the origin of some illusions. In addition to his talk, Hunt has created an exhibit on anamorphic art for the “Shakespeare — Made in Canada: Contemporary Canadian Adaptations in Theatre, Pop Media and Visual Arts” exhibition that is on at MSAC until June 10 as part of the regional Shakespeare festival. Other festival events coming up in February include: • Feb. 1 to 3, All My Sins Remem- bered, Grinder Productions, Fergus Grand Theatre. • Feb. 3, "Eat, Drink and Be Merry,” a culinary feast at the River Run Centre. • Feb. 9 to April 29: “A Visual Feast,” Guelph Civic Museum. • Feb. 11, International Film Festi- val, “ Richard III Times Three,” U of G Library. • Feb. 16, Bell, Book and Candle, Touchmark Theatre, River Run Centre. • Feb. 18, Musick of Shakespeare, Guelph Symphony Orchestra, River Run Centre. For a complete list of festival events on and off campus, visit www.shakespearemadeincanada.ca. r A LOT MORE PROF. SHELDRICKS NEEDED I liked the Jan. 17 At Guelph story more aware that the passion for in- on Prof. Byron Sheldrick, particu- larly the part about his interest in teaching first-year students and instilling excitement in them. Having been lucky enough to be taught by a few very good profs during my undergraduate years (at the University of Windsor) who have remained friends to me for decades, I know how much of a dif- ference they can make. In the years since, as I’ve done graduate work, been a part-time college instructor and, most recently, seen my own son enrol at university, I am even troducing students to a field of study and stimulating their interest in exploring knowledge is not nec- essarily shared among everyone who would exert the most impor- tant influence academically on young students. A prolific researcher at an On- tario university recently told me he was concerned that excellent re- searchers, including himself, may not be very good teachers after all. I wish there were a lot more Prof. Sheldricks in all universities. Timothy Choi, Shanghai after hours Marsha Sookhoo MARSHA SOOKHOO Fourth-year student in marketing management Dance is a big part of Marsha Sookhoo’s life outside of class, and now the young choreogra- pher is using her talent to train 25 dancers for a charity fashion show being organized by the College of Management and Economics Student Associa- tion. The sixth annual event, called En Couture, runs March 20 at 8:30 p.m. at the Palace. The fashion show will feature clothing and services from a number of downtown shops and salons, and pro- ceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity. An after-party for the cast and audience will follow. “Each year is more successful than the last,” says Sookhoo. “Last year we raised more than $2,000, and we hope to surpass that amount this year.” With rehearsals under way, she and the cast are spending two nights a week in a dance studio and an- other night each week at the Palace practising the rou- tines. Working on the annual show is nothing new for Sookhoo, who’s been involved with the event since she arrived at U of G. She modelled and choreographed a couple of numbers in her first year and has been the show’s head choreographer for the past two years. “Even though it’s a lot of work, it’s very rewarding,” she says. “It’s more than just watching the models walk in clothes. The entertainment level is high, and every scene tells a story. Our cast is out to have fun, and the au- dience will see that.” Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and seating is on a first-come basis. Tickets will be on sale March 16, 19 and 20 in the Univer- sity Centre courtyard. MARGARET VIRANI Financial services assistant in University Systems and Organizational Services since 1990, joined U of G in 1984 Every morning is a slick one for Margaret Virani, who loves early walks with Slick, her fam- ily’s 3Vi-year-old Jack Russell/ Shih Tzu cross. “Starting the day with our walk is great,” she says. “I have a little bit of time in the commu- nity and with nature before I come into the office.” Connecting with nature is something Virani enjoys, and despite the snowy condi- tions, she’s already thinking about the annual “girls’ weekend” she and a group of friends take each year. “We portage, sleep in a tent and enjoy roughing it for a weekend. We leave early in the morning to get there be- cause we’ll be paddling and competing with other camp- ers for the best possible campsite.” Margaret Virani Closer to home, she and her husband, Altaf, who is assistant director of information systems in Hospitality Services, have a second home of sorts at Harmony Woods, a trailer park near Grand Bend that was founded in 1988 by a group of barbershoppers. “Besides being started by people who sang in barber- shop quartets, this spot is unique because, as members, we all own, maintain and manage it,” she says. “It’s close to the beach, restaurants and summer theatre. While my husband enjoys a game of golf at one of the many nearby courses, I savour the peaceful sounds of birds chirping and the wind rustling through the trees, engrossed in a novel.” With camping weather still months ahead, Virani, who has gone back to school part time and is working to- wards a BA in sociology, is focused on another semester of classes. “My daughter, son and older stepson are all in uni- versity. My younger stepson will finish high school next year and plans to attend U of G. My husband and I have always worked to foster a love of learning in them. Now that they’re growing up, I have more time to try new things and explore pursuits that I find meaningful.” JOHN DAWSON Faculty member in the Department of Molecular and Cel- lular Biology since 2002 Editing video and taking pho- tos are among Prof. John Dawson’s passions. If you were to examine a collection of his work, you’d find that much of it chronicles time with his wife, Amanda, and their daughter, Emma, who turns three in March. Come fall, the family will grow with the arrival of a second baby. “We’re terribly excited,” says Dawson. His photos and video also contain images of events he’s been involved in as vice-chair of the board of direc- tors at Calvary Baptist Church on Arkell Road. As part of the church’s initiative to attract new parishioners, Dawson Works on a number of outreach programs. He was involved in a well-attended “Hug-a-Bear” picnic held in August and is currently lending his voice as part of the tenor section for an Easter production slated to run at the church April 5 to 9. Earlier this month, Dawson attended a men’s retreat in Eden Mills with members of the church. Their activi- ties included playing football. “Everyone was really sore the next day,” he says. “Our pastor is a young guy, and he played quarterback.” In addition to reading “The Book,” he says, referring to the Bible, Dawson is currently immersed in the 11th book in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. “I’m hooked and I hate it. The first three books were really good, but now they seem to drag on. I’ve invested so much time in this series, and I’m trapped.” John Dawson AT GUELPH PUBLICATION SCHEDULE Publication Date Deadline Feb. 14 Feb. 6 Feb. 28 Feb. 20 March 14 March 6 March 28 March 20 April 1 1 April 3 April 25 April 17 May 9 May 1 May 23 May 15 at Guelph 12 January 31, 2007 Together in Two-Part Harmony Decade-long friendship between U ofG student and young man with Down's syndrome hits the right note BY REBECCA KENDALL I T’S RARE TO MEET SOMEONE who changes the way you think about life and friendship, but a chance meeting between two young men a decade ago has developed into a harmonious friendship that lends voice to the idea of celebrating differences. Ten years ago, one of Dan Rossi’s favourite places to spend time was his community swimming pool in Markham. It was there that Rossi, now a fifth-year international devel- opment student at U of G, met Greg O’Brien, a boy with Down’s syn- drome who was five years his junior. “I could tell he was a great kid, and I really liked him,” says Rossi. “His sister was a student at my school and asked me if I’d mind spending time with Greg.” The two started hanging out to- gether, and one of O’Brien’s favour- ite things to do was attend Rossi’s youth group meetings, where he could socialize and play around with musical instruments. “Greg loved to bang around on the drums,” Rossi recalls. “My friends and I would play and sing along with him, and because he loves the Backstreet Boys, we’d listen to their music. At first I felt like I was helping him, but over time I realized it was a two-way exchange and we were friends,” It wasn’t long before O’Brien ex- pressed a desire to take their voices beyond the weekly youth group meetings and start performing in public. “I immediately said ‘yes’ because this is Greg’s dream,” says Rossi, adding that the group has since per- formed a handful of times, including their stage debut at O’Brien’s school. On Feb. 2, O’Brien and Rossi, along with Rossi’s brother, Andrew, Marcel Destine and Miles Krauter, a high school student from Markham, will perform at their biggest venue to date. “Greg and the Boys,” as they call themselves, will take to the stage at War Memorial Hall for a benefit concert called “Dreams of Inclu- sion” to support the Canadian Crime Victim Foundation and the Guelph-Wellington Association for Greg and the Boys will perform Feb. Destine, Miles Krauter, Greg O’Brien, 2 as part of a benefit concert at War Memorial Hall. From left are Marcel , Dan Rossi and Andrew Rossi. photo by mai bozian Community Living. The show also features Jack D, Brick House and Worth the Drive and special guests the Deli Boys Comedy Act and Jo- seph Wamback. Doors open at 7:45 p.m., and showtime is 8 p.m. The concert is organized by members of the Fine Arts Network, in collaboration with the School of Fine Art and Music, and Five With DRIVE, an organization Rossi founded in 2005 to raise money and awareness for charities that support social inclusion and harmony. “Greg has always wanted to sing at a concert, and I promised him I’d do my best to make that happen,” says Rossi. “It’s not that he couldn’t have done it on his own, but I am so happy to help him with this. I love that he’s so excited about it. This is his dream.” The duo’s relationship is some- thing Rossi doesn’t take for granted, and he says their friendship is one of the most important in his life. But he didn’t realize just how important it was until he was in his last year of high school on his way to starting university at an East Coast school on a football scholarship. Those plans were cut short in an instant when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a game. “I was really upset and frustrated by the whole situation. I had to have surgery, and out of the dozens of friends I had at my high school, none came to the hospital or to see me at home." But O’Brien came to see him and brought along a recording of himself singing a Backstreet Boys song to cheer Rossi up. “Before that moment, I never thought Greg could understand the meaning of friendship, but he proved me wrong," says Rossi. “Of all my friends, he was the only one there. That moment changed my whole outlook. You can’t treat peo- ple with disabilities differently be- cause you might not think they’re normal. There’s no such thing as normal anymore. We all have our differences, and we all bring some- thing unique to the table.” This summer, O’Brien will un- doubtedly be one of Rossi’s biggest supporters as he and Five With DRIVE take steps to raise money and awareness for the Centre for Dreams Inc., a Markham-based organization that provides educational and social opportunities and experiences for adults aged 21 and older who have intellectual disabilities. On May 27, the team, which con- sists of the Rossi brothers, Destine, Mark Macdonnell and U of G stu- dent Marco Barakoski, will start a 2,150-kilometre walk that will take them from Halifax to Markham in 46 days. They aim to raise $100,000. The journey will be a special op- e/JfoezzAe ScotiaMcLeod presents Edward Johnson Music Foundation 12 th Annual GUELPH WINE GALA & AUCTION “Eat, Drink & Be Merry” Saturday, February 3, 2007 - 6:00 p.m. River Run Centre, Guelph OiinwlileglloSts will quench llicir thirst with florrilig wine (nut alt' supplied In/ Ontario n ineties, trine importers and local Invireries and have a good nosh on Elizabethan -stifle culinary delights provided by Guelph's finest restaurants and caterers. For tickets, call I Wine Gala Tickets $75 River Run Centre Bov Office • uitli'il Wine laslim- with tony Wpler-SK (519) 763-3000 portunity for Rossi to spend time with Macdonnell, a master corporal in the Canadian Army Reserves, who is currendy deployed to Afghanistan and is scheduled to return to Canada in April. Rossi and Macdonnell have been friends since high school and joined the military together when they were 17. Rossi, also a master corporal, spends two weekends a month con- ducting training exercises in Ottawa, Meaford and Borden. This isn’t the first time Five With DRIVE has taken on an effort like this. Two years ago, the Rossi broth- ers, Macdonnell, U of G student Jody Chrobak and Jonathan Mislirigi walked the world’s longest thor- oughfare, Yonge Street, in 40 days for charity. The trip took them from Rainy River, Ont., a small commu- nity about 100 kilometres east of Fort Frances, to Toronto. The group walked 12 to 15 hours a day and raised $50,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of York. “I learned a lot in 2005 and gained an appreciation for how diffi- cult it can be to raise money and awareness,” says Rossi, who is cur- rently a Big Brother to a 17-year-old boy and has been a mentor with the organization for the past decade. “This year, we’ve deliberately chosen organizations that don 'tgeta lot of recognition or funding. These groups have an equally demanding mandate, but they don’t have the re- sources to promote their mission like well-funded high-profile groups do, and we want to do our part to help. It’s a lot of work, but it’s all worth it” For more information about the concert or the walk, visit the website www.fivewithdrive.ca. YOUR PREFERRED Group Auto & Home INSURANCE PROGRAM tv _ - _ \ -i Call today for a no-obllgatlon quote aTAEmXfl ns-A ,■ 1 .istillR tfi lli ton ip I .is I in;; irilh C In \sp|lT -MS rvl Hudson - S.V? Toll Free 1 - 800 - 482-0822 Or visit our webslto at www.staebler.com Save Up To 50% In Insurance Product Discounts Your Group Discount! I Insurance Visit us at www economlcallrtsuranc* .0. at Guelph 13 January 31, 2007 Where Are You Now? If you can identify where this photo was taken on campus, you will have your name entered in a draw to be held at the end of the semester for a $50 gift certificate donated by the U of G Bookstore. Anyone who submits the right answer by Feb. 2 at 4:45 p.m. is eligible for the draw. Send your response to r.kendall@exec.uoguelph.ca or call Ext. 56039. The following people correctly reported that the jan. 17 photo was of a staircase in Johnston Hall: Kirk Sprague, Sandra Campbell, Judy O’Donnell, John Van Manen, Pat Bordignon, Bill Clair, Ray Hutchison and Marie McGlone. Energy Discussion Needed Continued from page 1 and we’d like to do even more, in- cluding looking at retrofitting other buildings on campus. But frankly, we don’t have the money to make such significant upfront investments while also addressing other ongoing maintenance issues.” Energy conservation, especially building retrofitting, has long been an important issue for student groups, including Guelph Students for Environmental Change, and for many faculty and staff. In fact, the administration has just formed an Energy Conservation Working Group that will involve students, faculty and staff in identifying and addressing energy conservation issues on campus. “Given the interest from these groups, we will be asking for their help in tackling this important cam- pus-wide issue, including helping us come up with a way to fund initia- tives,” says Summerlee. Brenda Whiteside, associate vice-president (student affairs), has begun the process of asking students to consider a referendum on the is- sue. It would see students paying a certain amount of money per semes- ter to cover energy conservation measures on campus. In addition, faculty and staff will have an opportunity to contribute money to the projects. The Univer- sity would match the funds, ear- marking the money for energy conservation. “Energy conservation is a shared responsibility,” says Summerlee. “We need to think differently about how we use energy to reduce our en- vironmental footprint. This initia- tive gives our students, staff and faculty the opportunity to play an ac- tive role while demonstrating the University’s commitment to con- stantly monitoring and improving its energy use.” He adds that there are a number of ways to approach energy conser- vation, and retrofitting is only one of them. “We’ll need to do a comprehen- sive review of all our older buildings to determine what’s the most effec- tive and cost-efficient solution. In some buildings, it may be that we need to reconsider our fighting and heating, review the water efficiency or replace windows. In others, it may call for a complete retrofit.” Some of the U of G initiatives that have been designed to reduce or con- strain energy consumption in recent years include the boiler controls pro- ject, which includes a state-of-the- art automated control system that burns gas more efficiently; the wa- ter-treatment project, which reduces the consumption of salt, chemicals and water and improves the quality of de-ionized water for research facilities; and replacement of the building automation systems cam- pus-wide. In addition, the stack heat recov- ery system was expanded to provide service to the MacKinnon Building extension, which allows it to be heated at no additional cost and without adversely affecting the envi- ronment. U of G also completed a campus-wide tunnel steam trap sur- vey to ensure that the steam system distribution is as efficient as possible. “Ultimately, the goals of any en- ergy conservation plan are to decrease consumption, improve effi- ciency and reduce negative environ- mental effects,” says Summerlee. “We are committed to finding the best ways to achieve these goals and to ensure that environmental con- cerns are adequately addressed.” Alberta Players Shine on Ice Continued from page 1 Campus Hardware Limited 1027 Gordon Street Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X1 Tel. (519) 836-3721 Fax (519) 836-5664 Helen Maciag were all over us last year saying the Oilers weren’t going to go anywhere, but we were 20 minutes away from having the last laugh.” (Edmonton lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals). Jennings, a U of G Athlete of the Week in October, adds that all the Leaf fans in his residence hit the TV room as soon as a Toronto game is on. "You can’t watch anything else Business Travel Travel Tools - Cruises Packages - Seat Soles - Air Only « |l © (Si- ages ^Jfinute ^fOises Your NEW Local On-Line Booking Agent For Last Minute Bookings ... Book Online www.royalcitytravel.com AIR CANADA @ jKEnr l Ont. Reg. NBR02716341 ROYAL CITY TRAVEL ROYAL PLAZA (Norfolk & Paisley) Guelph, ON 763-3520 www.royalcitytravel.com on television,” he says. “I would al- ways bug them. The Leafs always lost last year ... so I’d say: ‘Give it up, let’s watch something else.’” The good-natured battles over national hockey will no doubt con- tinue, but here on campus, the Al- berta players are evolving into important components of a young team loaded with first- and second- year players, says Reid. Baker, who last played at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, is among the team’s scoring leaders with five goals and nine assists through his first 19 games. Magera also had nine assists through the same stretch, tying Baker for the third-best total on the Gryphon team. Jennings, a former goaltender with both the Red Deer Rebels and Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League, has had the bulk of the work in the Guelph net this year, posting a solid .900 save percentage. Cotter and Oginski, both veterans of the rugged Alberta Junior Hockey League, are two of the anchors on defence. Boire, who got his first taste of Ontario University Athletics (OUA) action in the new year, scored his first goal in just his second game, a short-handed effort assisted by Magera. Boire believes the experience gained in the competitive leagues back home has prepared them well for the high level played in OUA, a league featuring numerous former junior hockey stars. “The players are a lot bigger and stronger,” he says. “There’s more thinking involved in the game. It’s the next step up, so you definitely have to make some adjustments.” Reid says the passion that the six bring to their sport will pay divi- dends as U of G’s hockey program develops. “There’s definitely a mentality out west that hockey is something they do and do well,” he says. “They don’t take shortcuts. As a coach, you look for those characteristics and the type of players who will inject that into your whole program. They’ve all been captains on their previous teams and have been the go-to guys their coach really relied on. For a young program, that’s the biggest building block you can have. I be- lieve that’s where you have to start — with character. If you have kids who do everything they can not to lose, that will go a long way.” Although ice is ice wherever you hang up your skates, the Alberta transplants say life in Ontario is markedly different than it is back home. “Everything’s go, go, go,” says Oginski. “In Alberta, everything seems a little more relaxed, a little bit slower. Here, if you’re not in the fast lane, you’re in the way.” Perhaps the biggest culture shock was for Boire, whose hometown of Andrew (one hour northeast of Ed- monton) has a population of 400. “It’s definitely different for me com- ing here,” he says, “but I’m enjoying it so far.” Besides gathering to watch Oiler games on TV, the Alberta gang can get a taste — literally — of then- home province at Caribou Creek restaurant. “That’s about as close as it gets to good Alberta beef,” says Cotter. “And they take the meal card,” adds Magera. at Guelph 14 January 31, 2007 EYE EXAMS NOW ARRANGED CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE U of G black parking permit, valid until April 2007, best offer, 519- 265-2112 or rmarceli@uoguelph.ca. IKEA bookcase/shelving unit, white, 5’ x 5’4", four tiers of shelves, 519-837-3809. Philips PET824 portable DVD and DivX movie player with 8.5-inch LCD display, brand new, never used, remote, car adaptor battery, all cords, Jenny, 519-836-7066 or jspurrel@uoguelph.ca. Three-bedroom two-storey 1,400- square-foot home in Exhibition Park area, renovated eat-in kitchen, four- piece bath with Jacuzzi, enclosed sunroom with woodstove, high-effi- ciency gas furnace, central air, refin- ished hardwood floors, fenced rear yard, perennial gardens, attached garage, 519-829-1659. Peg Perego baby buggy/stroller, navy; Storkcraft white crib and mat- tress; Zenith 20-inch colour TV; CD storage tower; forest green queen- sized bedskirt with matching shams, excellent condition, 519-821-2524. Luxury time-share condo at Cran- berry Resort, Collingwood, flexible use, sleeps eight, pools, golf, marina, lreid@uoguelph.ca. FOR RENT Three-bedroom house in Cam- bridge, den/office, two full baths, TV room, eat-in kitchen with separate dining room, two-car garage, large yard, satellite TV and wireless Internet available, pets and children welcome, available Sept. 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, $1,500 a month inclu- sive, dcorneli@uoguelph.ca. Two-bedroom lakeffont cottage on Ahmic Lake east of Parry Sound, full kitchen, three-piece bath, plus two- bedroom guest cabin, suitable for two families, $ 1 ,200 a week or $ 1 ,000 a week for more than one week, available July and August, photos available, 519-824-1773 or bgreen@ rlproyalcity.com. Resort condo in Collingwood/Blue Mountain, sleeps four to eight, ski- ing, beaches, golf, pools, Scenic Caves, close to shopping and restau- rants, 1-866-887-8835 or visit www. vaxxine.com/rentaL Cottage in Southampton, sleeps four, gas fireplace, private treed lot, walking distance to harbour, river, downtown and golf course, $700 a week from June to September, Mel- ody, Ext. 54337 or m.wren@exec. uoguelph.ca. Furnished one-bedroom apartment in southwest Paris, France, short- term rental; furnished two-bedroom holiday home in Antibes on French Riviera, weekly or monthly, Nicole, fiimoll@rogers.com. WANTED Ride leaving from the Can-Amera/ Townline area of Cambridge to U of G and back, will help with gas, Ext. 5643 1 or kjwalker@uoguelph.ca. Matching bone china cups and sau- cers and sterling silver teaspoons for tea party event, neither need be part of a set, price negotiable, Peggy, Ext. 53814 or pnagle@uoguelph.ca. Hardtop pop-up camper trailer with 10- to 12-foot box, djwoods@ uoguelph.ca. Non-smoking males aged 40 to 60 for study on dietary fat in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, four-day com- mitment required in January/Febru- ary, financial compensation, Ext. 56967 or drobin01@uoguelph.ca. U of G nutrition researchers and Health Canada seek seven- and eight-year-old boys for study of zinc intake, study involves four visits over four months, compensation pro- vided, Melissa, 519-820-2633 or zip@uoguelph.ca. AVAILABLE ESL coaching, specializing in profes- sional upgrading for foreign-bom professionals — speaking, reading, writing and listening. I begin where government programs leave off, Jac- queline, 519-766-4504. Care for your dog in my home while you travel, 519-836-8086 or cdemmers@uoguelph.ca. Classifieds is a free service available to staff, faculty, students, alumni and retirees of the University. Sub- mit items to Linda Graham on Level 4 of the University Centre, fax to 519-824-7962 or send e-mail to l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca. HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER Close to University on Dimson Avenue. 3,000 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, finished basement with separate apartment. In-ground pool. Call 519-821-2565 • Eye Doctor Prescriptions Filled • Two Opticians with over 53 Years Combined Experience • Senior’s Discount Available • Family has served Guelph and Wellington County since 1940 Scott Coburn Optical "A Name You Can Trust in Eyewear " Mon. -Thurs. 9:30 a.m.-6 pjn. Fri. 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; S»t. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Telephone 519-821-2020 rs *:jN Scot Cohum 123 WYNDHAM ST. N. Opposite the old Post Office Habitat for Humanity* Wellington County ReStore 45 Dawson Road Unit 4. Guelph. Ontario, N1H 1B1 tel: 519-780-2323 Monday - Friday 10AM - 5PM Saturday 9AM - 4PM We Sell Windows Doors Kitchen Cabinets Sinks & Vanities Electrical Fixtures & Supplies Plumbing Fixtures & Supplies Lightling Fixtures Shingles Flooring Ceramic Tiles Hardware New Paint Patio Furniture and much more | We sell new and used materials for home renovation and repair donated by manufacturer,, retailers and homeowners PRICES 50% - 80% BELOW RETAIL Planning a renovation? Recycle your unwanted materials by donating them to the ReStore Kitchen sets (cabinets, appliances, sinks) particularly appreciated. FREE PICK-UP Rev enue from the ReStore is used to build Habitat for homes in Guelph/Wellington County GOURMET MARKET - Fresh from out kitchen . . . HOT TAKE-OUT SUPPERS . Potato-Leek Phytlo Rolls • Turkey-Herb Meatloaf • Black Bean Burritos • Vegetarian Chtlt STORE MADE SOUPS • Carrot A Dill • Roasted Garlic & Potato • Creamy Autumn Harvest • Country Turkey “Fast food goes gourmet - GUELPH POULTRY MARKET Kortrlght just off the Hanlon Mon.-Wed. 9-7 570 Kortrlght Plaza Thurs -Fri. 9-8 - Cl « 519 - 763-2284 Winterized cottage near Tobermory, weekly or weekend rates, Ext. 53392. One-bedroom condo at Celebrity Resorts near Disney World, sleeps four, ensuite whirlpool bath, com- pletely refurbished, numerous ame- nities, March 2 to 9, $425 Cdn, pho- tos available, 519-766-8240. Q eorge/y Windows and Doors Geoise Vfellace 11 Victoria HwkJ North, Qu«lph,Ont. N1E5G6 (519) Ml -7800 Fax (519) W1-7S10 Makers of Eight-Way, Hand-Tied Sofas Since 1990. Visit our showroom and experience firsthand the quality and comfort of every sofa we make. Main Street, Rockwood - Open Tues-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5 51 9.855.2575 www.rumoursfurnlture.com MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WELLINGTON established 1996 • Full- & half-day programs for 2 1/2 to 5 years • After-school program • Large gym & outdoor play area • Enhanced reading, writing & math • French, music, art & physical education • Social skill development in family setting 519 - 821-5876 (located in Dublin Street United Church) 68 Suffolk Street West, Guelph N1H 2J2 www.montessori-school.ca at Guelph 15 January 31, 2007 EVENTS ARBORETUM Ann Estill leads a workshop on “Tips and Tools for Beginning Storytell- ers” March 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $30. Deadline for regis- tration and payment is Feb. 16. “An Ecological Vegetable Garden” is the focus of a workshop led by Erin Harkins March 8 from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. Cost is $35. Reg- istration is recommended by Feb. 22 . The Theatre in the Trees dinner- theatre production of Broken Up by Nick Hall opens Feb. 3 and runs Sat- urdays until April 28. Tickets are $59. To order, call Ext. 54110. ART CENTRE Physics professor emeritus Jim Hunt presents “Anamorphic An in the Time of Shakespeare” Feb. 13 at noon at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre. CONCERTS The School of Fine Art and Music's Thursday noon-hour concerts con- tinue Feb. 1 with pianist Dominic Florence performing keyboard music by Bach and Feb. 8 with Andy Klaehn on saxophone, Paul Stouffer on p\ano and M'vcVvac\ Ticigauci on bass performing a selection of Stouffer originals and jazz standards. On Feb. 15, harpsichordist Susan Toman presents masterpieces of the 20th century. Concerts are held in MacKinnon 107. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. FILM Docurama, a documentary film series sponsored by the U of G Library and the Central Student Association, presents Jesus Camp Feb. 5 at War Memorial Hall, Flock of Dodos Feb. 6 in Thombrough 1307 and Manufactured Landscapes Feb. 13 at War Memorial Hall. All films begin at 7 p.m. Thombrough screenings are free; War Memorial films are $4 general, free for stu- dents. U of G’s annual international film series, “Beyond Hollywood, "contin- ues Feb. 11 with “ Richard III Times Three,” featuring three versions of Shakespeare’s Richard III. The first two films, produced in 1911 and 1922, begin at 4 p.m.; the 1955 ver- sion directed by and starring Sir Laurence Olivier begins at 7 p.m. Screenings are in McLaughlin 384. LECTURES The Ontario Agricultural College’s public lecture series continues Feb. 1 with turfgrass superintendent-in- residence Mark Kuhns of the Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., discussing “A Major Experi- ence.” On Feb. 7, the topic is “Green Cities, Healthy Planet” with Guelph Mayor Karen Farbridge. The talks begin at 5:30 p.m. in OVC 1714. NOTICES The second international conference of the UNESCO chair for higher education for sustainable develop- ment runs July 5 to 7 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. This year’s theme is “World in Transition — Sustaina- bility Perspectives for Higher Educa- tion.” For information, visit www. uni-lueneburg.de/infu/chair. Human Resources and Social Devel- opment Canada is calling for pro- posals for new projects under the International Academic Mobility initiative of the Program for North American Mobility in Higher Edu- cation. For information, guidelines, applications forms and deadlines, visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/hip/lld/ \ssdl iaxnf announce merits. sVvtml or call 819-953-0300. READINGS Bosnian writer Goran Simic, PEN Canada’s writer-in-exile at Guelph, will read from his works Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. in the George Luscombe Thea- tre. As part of International Develop- ment Week, U of G is co-hosting a reading by Audrey Chihota- Charamba, author of A Tragedy of Lives: Women in Prison in Zimbabwe Feb. 6 at 10:30 a.m. in UC 103. SEMINARS The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology presents Richard Rachubinski of the University of Alberta considering “Global Analy- sis of Kinase and Phosphatase Action in Peroxisome Biogenesis in S. cerevisiae” Feb. 1 at 11:30 a.m. in OVC 1714. The Centre for Food and Soft Mate- rials Science seminar series contin- ues with Elizabeth Meiering of the University of Waterloo discussing “Protein Folding and Misfolding: Implications of Biology, Industry and Disease Feb. 1. On Feb. 8, Doug Bruce of Brock University explains “Optimality, Evolution and Dynam- ics of Light Harvesting in Photosyn- thesis.” The seminars begin at 2:30 p.m. in science complex 1511. “Regulation of SNARE Function During Cell Adhesion” is the topic of Kevin Luc in the microbiology grad- uate student seminar series Feb. 2. On Feb. 9, Jordan Bean considers “Role of Tyrosine-Phosphorylation in the Regulation of Capsule Biosynthesis.” The seminars are at 12:30 p.m. in Animal Science and Nutrition 156. Next up in the Department of Inte- grative Biology 1 s “Loaves and Fishes” seminar series is Prof. Jim Ballantyne discussing “Death, Where Is Thy Stingray? Silly Things I Have Done in the Interest of Sci- ence” Feb. 2. On Feb. 9, Suzie Currie of Mount Allison University explores “Heat-Shock Proteins, Hormones and Hierarchies: Inte- grated Responses to Environmental Stress in Fish.” PhD student Astrid Schwalb presents “Early Life History of Freshwater Mussels — Settlement and Post-Settlement Processes” Feb. 16. The seminars begin at 12:30 p.m. in Axelrod 168. The seminar series hosted by the plant biology group in the Depart- ment of Molecular and Cellular Biology continues Feb. 5 with Prof. Joe Colasanti discussing “Develop- mental Signalling in Plants” and Feb. 12 with Prof. Jaideep Mathur con- sidering “Subcellular Interactions in Plant Development.” The talks begin at 3:30 p.m. in Axelrod 337. “New Tools in Proteomics for the Identification of Proteins and Post- Translational Modifications” is the focus of Gilles Lajoie of the Univer- sity of Western Ontario in the Department of Chemistry seminar series Feb. 6 at 10:30 a.m. in science complex 1511. Dan Simberloff of the University of Tennessee is guest speaker in the Department of Integrative Biology seminar series Feb. 6. His topic is “We Can Win the War Against Bio- logical Invasions: High-Tech and Low-Tech Success Stories.” Edwin DeMont of St. Francis Xavier Uni- versity speaks Feb. 13. The talks begin at 3:30 p.m. in Axelrod 265A. “Materials Research Under Extreme Conditions” is the focus of John Tse of the University of Saskatchewan in the Department of Physics seminar series Feb. 6 at 4 p.m. in science complex 1511. On Feb. 13, Sir Anthony Leggett, the Winegard Vis- iting Lecturer in Condensed Matter Physics, presents “Superfluidity, Phase Coherence and the New Bose-Condensed Alkali Gases” at 4 p.m. in UC 103. Leggett will also dis- cuss “Bell’s Theorem, Entangle- ment, Quantum Teleportation and All That” Feb. 14 at 1:30 p.m. and “Testing the Limits of Quantum Mechanics: Motivation, State of Play, Prospects” Feb. 15 at 10 a.m.; both talks are in science complex 1511. The Department of Computing and Information Science’s winter semi- nar series continues Feb. 7 with Prof. Hermann Eberl, Mathematics and Statistics, and Feb. 14 with Prof. Mieso Denko of the University of Guelph-Humber discussing “Wire- less Mesh Networks: Research Issues and Applications.” The seminars are at 4:30 p.m. in Reynolds 219. TEACHING SUPPORT Instructors and support staff who run online WebCT courses can learn new course development and man- agement techniques in Teaching Support Services’ “WebCT Tips and Tools” series. Discussion focuses on “The Assignment Tool” Feb. 1 and “Quizzing/Respondus” Feb. 15. Register at www.tss.uoguelph.ca. TSS’s “Women in Academe” discus- sion series continues Feb. 6 with “Advice From Senior Colleagues.” Panellists are graduate studies dean Isobel Heathcote, engineering pro- fessor Valerie Davidson and Janet Kaufman, head of information ser- vices at the U of G Library. Register at www.tss.uoguelph.ca. A new-faculty luncheon Feb. 7 will focus on “Wired Professors: Issues in Online Teaching and Learning.” For details and to register, visit www. tss.uoguelph.ca. THESIS DEFENCE The final examination of Lee- Anne Milburn, a PhD candidate in rural studies, is Feb. 15 at 1:30 p.m. in Landscape Architecture 143. The thesis is “Our Rural Future? The Non-Farm Landowner and Ontario’s Changing Countryside.” The advisers are Profs. Stew Hilts and Robert Brown. The Guelph Historical Society hosts its annual U of G lecture Feb. 6, fea- turing Prof. Alan Gordon, History, discussing “Travelling to the Past: History and Tourism in 20th-Cen- tury Ontario.” The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Church. Everyone is welcome. St. George’s Anglican Church is hosting a concert Feb. 17 featuring the Guelph Chamber Choir and the St. George’s Choir. The concert will feature the world premiere of the St. George’s 17 5th- Anniversary Anthem by Canadian composer Mark Sirett. The concert begins at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.saint george.ca. The Guelph Symphony Orchestra presents “Musick of Shakespeare” Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. at the River Run Centre. Narrated by Colin Fox, the program will include works by Men- delssohn, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. Call 519-763-3000 for tickets. Guelph and Wellington County Master Gardeners host their annual “Day in the Garden” Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute. Discussion will focus on bulbs, perennials and small trees and shrubs. For more informa- tion, call 519-767-6536 or the Mas- ter Gardeners hotline at Ext. 56714. Guelph Little Theatre’s production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Sales- man opens Feb. 8 and runs weekends until Feb. 24. For tickets, call 519-821-0270. Opening Feb. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Guelph Civic Museum is “A Visual Feast,” a tribute to William Shakespeare. Running until April 29, the exhibition was produced by the museum, Guelph Studio Tour artists and artisans and the Royal City Calligraphy Guild. Touchmark Theatre presents John van Druten’s Bell, Book and Candle Feb. 16 to 24 at the River Run Cen- tre. For ticket information, call 519- 763-3000 or visit www.riverrun.ca. McCrae House hosts a Valentine’s tea Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. Reservations are required at 519-836-1221. CARPET & FURNITURE CLEANING Do you suffer from allergies? • Reduce the level of bacteria, yeast and mould micro-organisms in carpeting • Reduce the level of bacteria on upholstered furniture Nobody Cleans Better Than Steamatic! AIR DUCT CLEANING Breathe cleaner air • Remove microscopic dust mites • Remove mildew, mould and bacteria in air contaminants L° wer energy costs dmjm Call Us 519-836-7340 Valerie Poulton At Guelph l6 January 31, 2007 at GUELPH FEBRUARY 14, 2007 • VOL. 51 NO. 3 • WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH . UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH INSIDE: SHARING HOPE, SHARING STORIES • SICK OF TREATMENT • HOW DID YOU TWO MEET? U of G Gets Stronger Voice on Environment New campus institute to connect environmental research , policy BY ANDREW VOWLES E nhancing the University’s leading role in environmental sciences research, teaching and policy support is the goal of a new initiative that will see a major environmental institute launched on campus this month. The Guelph Institute for the Environment (GIE), to be headed part time by former federal en- vironment minister David Anderson, will help connect University research with policy-makers at all three levels of government, says Prof. Stew Hilts, chair of the Department of Land Resource Science and acting associate dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences (FES). The institute will be launched Feb. 28 and will reside administratively in FES. Hilts says the GIE will help launch discussions about environmental issues with the city and re- gion, establish ties with non-governmental organi- zations and spark public discussion of policy issues, perhaps through establishment of a regular environmental forum. Locally, the institute might help U of G re- searchers explore ideas for joint environmental studies with City of Guelph officials or area conser- vation authorities on such topics as land-use plan- ning, water resources management, waste management and community development. The new body is also intended to help feed U of G envi- ronmental research into policy development at the provincial, national and international levels. Referring to such challenges as climate change, loss of species diversity and land-use planning, Hilts says: “Environmental science is applied sci- ence. We’ve got problems to deal with.” As director of the institute, Anderson will spend one week each month in Blackwood Hall, working with an associate director and a manager. He says he views the institute as a critical tool for sharing scientific information with policy-makers at various levels. “How does the scientific work get fed into the system? It’s often less structured than you’d ex- pect.” Referring to more than a decade he spent in the federal cabinet, including seven years as minister of the science-based departments of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment, Anderson says: “We weren ’t alwa ys working as effectively as we could have with science people from the university community.” Drawing on his wide-ranging political experi- ence and his background in environmental con- sulting and public administration, he plans to help Guelph take on a stronger role in environmental policy-making. His job, he says, will be not so much See ANDERSON on page 14 Former federal environment minister David Anderson plans to help the University take on a stronger role in environmental policy-making. PHOTO BY ROSS DAVIDSON-PILON Four to Go Abroad With Leave for Change First U of G employees selected to participate in international volunteer program are headed for Botswana and Nepal M ost people look to entertain themselves while on holiday from work, but for a dedicated quartet of U of G employees, vacation time this year will involve making a difference abroad. Frebis Hoffineyer of the College of Management and Economics, Wayne Johnston of the U of G Li- brary, Michael Levy of the Office of Research and Sean Yo of Computing and Communications Services have been selected to participate in Leave for Change, a program that pro- motes short-term volunteer oppor- tunities for people to help out with meaningful projects in international settings. Guelph is the first university in English-speaking Canada this year to participate in Leave for Change, which is run through Uniterra, an international initiative created by World University Service of Canada and Centre d’£tude et de coopera- tion internationale. President Alastair Summerlee says the selection of U of G’s first four Leave for Change participants is exciting news and something the en- tire University should celebrate. “These four employees have an incredible opportunity to make a difference in communities halfway around the world, and it will un- doubtedly be an amazing profes- sional and personal experience,” he A FORMER Ontario Veterinary College professor is returning to Guelph as director of the new Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses. Jan Sargeant will begin her appointment June 1, says OVC dean Elizabeth Stone. “Dr. Sargeant brings with her a great deal of experience in the public health realm in Canada and the United States, and I look forward to says. "While taking part in their re- spective assignments, they will be gaining valuable new skills and un- derstanding, and they will bring that new knowledge back to Guelph to share with the community so we can all benefit” Summerlee adds that he hopes local companies and the municipal government will become interested in joining U of G in offering the her leadership as director of the cen- tre,” says Stone. Sargeant holds a DVM, M.Sc. and PhD from Guelph and is currently an associate professor in the Depart- ment of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster Univer- sity. Established in late 2006, the Cen- tre for Public Health and Zoonoses embodies the expanding role of vet- Leave for Change program. “My goal is to create a sense of community in the city of Guelph where we demonstrate our overrid- ing concern for international com- munities that are less fortunate than we are.” Here on campus, there was no shortage of employees willing to vol- unteer their services when they were invited to participate in Leave for erinary medicine in protecting and enhancing the health of animals, people and the environment, says Stone. The centre will co-ordinate the activities of a consortium of re- searchers from OVC and across the University, as well as various govern- ment agencies. It will promote new collaborative research to solve prob- lems in public health at the hu- Change, says Martha Harley, assis- tant vice-president (human resources), whose office oversaw the application and selection process led by Uniterra. “It is typical of the Guelph spirit that there were more applicants than places available,” says Harley, “so candidates actually had to be inter- viewed for these positions. It was See MAKING on page 14 man/animal interface. The centre will also play a key role in OVC’s undergraduate and graduate programs, expanding the numbers of highly trained public health personnel, says Stone. “This will be a new and exciting venture for all members of our com- munity as we continue to expand our critical involvement in public health.” Former OVC Prof to Lead New Centre at Guelph 1 February 14, 2007 Canvision Optical 666 Woolwich Street Guelph, ON N1H7GS cY\oo\ of TLiwiionmentoV Design and Rural Development The City of Music Jazz, Pop, Rock’n Roll Thursday, March 1st • 8 pm River Run Main Stage 10% net proceeds to Speed River Project Hosted by Guelph’s own James Gordon Purchase your ticket by February 16th & enter a draw tor exclusive After Concert Party” Receive $10 Gilt Certificate tor the Pub Celebrate the Music of Our City! from the archives Marooned on the Barrens BY ANDREW VOWLES 44 A CHAPTER OF UNLUCKY INCIDENTS including ^^snowstorm and no safe landing forced us north of our course . . .” So wrote the leader of the ill-fated MacAlpine Expedition in a telegram from the high Arctic, announcing to a waiting world the safe return of his eight-man party in late 1929. After one of the largest aerial searches in Canadian history to that point — involving a fleet of planes scouring about 30,000 square miles of barren lands for almost two months — the marooned crew of two bush planes walked across an ocean strait to safety, suffering nothing worse than bad frostbite and hunger. It was a group of Inuit camped at the planes’ landing spot on the shore of the Arctic Ocean that probably saved the party from a worse fate. So wrote a number of authors in material collected in a file about the expedi- tion in the U of G Library archives. The MacAlpine Ex- pedition is part of a larger file box of archival materials that belonged to the late radio broadcaster Allan Ander- son, who had planned to write a book about the adventure. By the late 1920s, bush pilots were venturing into the Northwest Territories on surveying flights for lumber and mining companies. Dominion Explorers was a com- pany headed by Col. C.D.H. MacAlpine whose pilots criss-crossed the northern frontier in their Fokkers and Fairchilds in what might be considered a 20th-century version of the earlier canoe voyageurs. MacAlpine was among eight men who took off from Baker Lake in early September 1929, bound for Bathurst Inlet. Wrote MacAlpine’s grandson in a biographical sketch in 1976: “The start was uneventful enough, but this journey was to turn into one of the truly heroic epi- sodes in the opening of Canada’s North.” The trip had already been delayed by bad weather and bad luck, including the sinking of one of two planes at Churchill on Hudson Bay. The replacement craft ar- rived Sept. 6, and they flew to Baker Lake a day later. On Sept. 9, both planes headed north. Poor visibility and strong winds pushed the aircraft eastward, and they had to land at an Inuit hunting camp on the Arctic Ocean. More bad weather and plane trouble were capped by what Anderson’s notes call a “c hillin g discovery": the planes had too little fuel left to get to the Dominion Ex- plorers base at Bathurst. Instead, the men would have to wait for freeze-up before they could cross the strait northward to Cambridge Bay, located on Victoria Island. They built a hut of stone, mud and moss and resigned themselves to co-operating with the Inuit hunters until they could attempt their walk out. Between touching down at the Dease Point camp and making that last dash across the frozen Arctic strait, the group spent almost two months living on rations sal- vaged from the planes and on fish, ptarmigan, ground squirrels and other game. Although never threatened by outright starvation, the group lived for about a month on daily rations of mere ounces until the day their Inuit companions returned to the camp with caribou. In a brief memoir, one of the pilots, Stan McMillan, wrote: “It has often been said that even among the most enlightened peoples of this earth, the veneer of civilized behaviour is thin. We didn’t suffer any conspicuous peeling of this veneer, but incidents did occur where one might say fractures developed.” Their days were spent hunting and fishing, collecting firewood, maintaining their makeshift quarters and waiting for freeze-up. That experience was recorded in a diary kept by Richard Pearce, editor of The Northern Miner in Toronto, who had gone along for the trip. (In a title reminiscent of Farley Mowat’s adventure novel Lost in the Barrens , Pearce’s diary was published as a book called Marooned in the Arctic, contained in the U of G Library stacks upstairs.) When the group failed to show up in Bathurst, a mas- sive aerial search began that lasted for weeks. “The world gobbled up every detail of the search,” wrote MacAlpine’s grandson. That effort was called off after the team finally sent word in early November that they had made the 80-mile trek to Victoria Island, including covering the last 25 miles across the frozen strait. They announced their return over the wireless on the Bay Maud, a ship wintering in Cambridge Bay. A possible tragedy in the North had been averted. It took some time before the group realized that the out- side world had been weathering a different kind of disas- ter during their ordeal. Notes a writer in the archives: "While the group was missing, the stock market crash of 1929 took place, and such investors as were on board the two aircraft who had left a buoyant, albeit nervous, stock market situation encountered glum news indeed on their return to civilization.” Tickets $25 / $35 (includes S10 Gilt Certificate to Guelph's #1 Pub) Available at: River Run Box Office www.riverrun.ca v «mu 4 519-763-3000 • 1-877-520-2408 YOUR PREFERRED Group Auto & Home Or visit our website at www.staebler.com INSURANCE PROGRAM Save Up To 50% In Insurance Product Discounts futuA Your Group Discount! I Insurance ■v.oconomlcalinsuranco.a at Guelph io February 14, 2007 How Did You Two Meet? CARPET & FURNITURE CLEANING Do you suffer from allergies? • Reduce the level of bacteria, yeast and mould micro-organisms in carpeting • Reduce the level of bacteria on upholstered furniture Nobody Cleans Better Than Steamatic! AIR DUCT CLEANING Breathe cleaner air • Remove microscopic dust mites • Remove mildew, mould and bacteria in air contaminants Lower energy costs sh,Am Call Ug 519-836-7340 Valerie Poult on It’s a question all couples get asked at some point in their relationship, so in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, At Guelph put the question to a number of couples who work on campus. Here’s what they had to say. Karen and Kelly Bertrand Karen Bertrand, senior manager of advancement for the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, and Kelly Bertrand, associate director of organizational services in the office of the chief information officer, met in 1984 while working for Sears. “He was a company auditor,” says Karen. “He had no retail experience, so Sears sent him to the Guelph store to work the floor in all departments for two weeks. We almost didn’t meet be- cause I was on vacation the first week he was in the store. We met when he was being oriented to my area, and we started going out for coffee.” After she got back from their first coffee together, her co-workers told her they thought Kelly was married because he’d been seen shopping with a woman who had the same last name. “The woman was his sister,” says Karen. Kelly proposed to Karen on the day after Valentine’s Day just three months after they had met. “I felt at home with her — it seemed like a no-brainer,” he says. The Bertrands have been married for 1 1 years and have two children. Chris and Nick Boyadjian Senior graphic designer Chris Boyadjian met her husband, Nick, spe- cial events co-ordinator for the University Centre, in 1 980 when both were students at U of G. Chris was sitting on a bench out- side the Bullring with a high school friend when Nick came over to talk to the friend. “I have to admit I was the instigator,” says Chris, who called Nick soon after that brief encounter and asked him to go danc- ing at the Bullring with some friends. “It was back in the day when dancing in the Bullring was the thing to do on weekends. It started off as a group date because I didn’t want to scare him right off the bat.” He obviously wasn’t scared off because the two were married in 1981 and celebrated their 25th anniversary last year. They have three children and usually celebrate Valentine’s Day with a quiet dinner at home. “And Nick always buys me flowers,” says Chris. Anthony and Lee Anne Clarke Prof. Anthony Clarke, acting associate vice-president (research services) and his wife, Lee Anne, office manager for the Central Student Association, met at their Burlington high school 32 years ago. “I was making a movie with a friend,” says Anthony. “It was sort of a combination of George Orwell’s book 1984 and the Led Zeppelin song Stairway to Heaven , if you can believe it. Anyway, there was one scene where we had to have a large crowd, and we needed a bunch of extras. Lee Anne was cast as an extra because she was a friend of the girlfriend of the guy who was making the movie with me. “Because my friend and her friend were dating, we started hanging out together and going on double dates. After a while, our friends split up, but we kept on going." Married for 27 years, the Clarkes have three children. Helen and Paul Salmon Helen Salmon, associate chief librarian in the U of G Library’s user services department, and Prof. Paul Salmon, English and Theatre Studies, met in 1976 as first-year students at the Uni- versity of Western Ontario. “We were attracted to each other but also pretty shy and reluctant to make a first move," says Helen. “We spent the next few years smiling at each other across classrooms or passing in hallways but never taking it further.” On the day of their convocation, they “re-met” each other standing in line waiting to collect their degrees. Later that day, they ended up at the same restaurant for dinner with their families. “Clearly destiny was at work,” says Helen, “so Paul decided to risk ev- erything by suggesting we have coffee together sometime . . . maybe.” When the coffee date did finally oc- cur, it quickly led to romance, she says. The couple, who have a teenage son, will celebrate their 25th anniversary this summer. Patricia Tersigni and David Wood Patricia Tersigni, co-ordinator of undergraduate curriculum, and David Wood, OVC’s WebCT co-ordinator, met in 2002 when Tersigni became OVC’s recruitment and careers officer. “I thought Dave was a really super guy, and he seemed to get along well with all of the dean’s office staff, so I couldn’t figure out why he was less chatty with me when trou- bleshooting my IT issues," says Tersigni. “We had a chance to get to know each other socially after finding ourselves at a party held by a mutual friend, and we soon began dating. As we learned more about our histories, we realized we had completed our undergraduate degrees here at Guelph during the same period and have a number of friends in common. We sometimes wonder if a little bit of karma brought us together years later." They were married in September 2005. Celeste Bannon Waterman and Rob Waterman When Celeste Bannon Waterman, director of central services in Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D), and Rob Water- man, associate director, information services, in AA8cD, got married in May 1996, they held the ceremony in War Memorial Hall. “It was all about the Guelph connection," says Celeste, who completed her undergraduate degree that spring. She met Rob through a friend of a friend. Wendy Dunk of Kingston lived next door to Celeste in Tundra during their first year at Guelph. “One weekend, one of Wendy’s high school friends came to Guelph to see her and brought a guy he knew from work,” says Celeste. “That was Rob, and the four of us ended up hanging out for the weekend.” Their romance blossomed immediately, she says, and Rob ended up finishing his Brock degree at U of G. They were both working in Computing and Communications Services when they got married, and their wedding party was full of Guelph friends. They now have two sons. Karen and Kelly Bertrand got engaged on the day after Valentine’s Day three months after they met. Here, they pose with a photo from their wedding and pictures of their children, Keaton and Kyle. PHOTO BY REBECCA KENDALL Elizabeth Ewan and Kris In wood Prof. Elizabeth Ewan, History, and Prof. Kris Inwood, Econom- ics, almost met in February 1988 when she was teaching at the University of Victoria and he was at U of G. Inwood was slated to speak at a conference at Victoria that Ewan planned to attend, but she had to change her plans when she got a call from Guelph inviting her to come interview for a faculty position. While Inwood was winging his way west, she was flying east to Ontario. A year later at Guelph, one of Ewan’s faculty colleagues in- vited her over for dinner one night and asked if she’d mind if an economist friend joined them. “At the time, there weren’t many male faculty around my age at Guelph because of a hiring freeze, so I imagined the econ- omist would be an elderly man,” she says. Turned out he wasn’t. Ewan and Inwood became friends but didn’t actually start dating for another two years. They were married in 1993. Dan and Sally Maclachlan Dan Maclachlan, director of maintenance and energy services in Physical Resources, says he had to go all the way from Ontario to Alberta to land a girl from Newfoundland. He and his wife, Sally, the administrative assistant in the De- partment of Population Medicine, met in Fort McMurray, and he admits having to win over some of her family and friends who were upset that “an unworthy mainlander" had stolen her heart. Just in case Sally still wonders if she did the right thing by marrying him, Dan starts each Valentine’s Day with flowers and hosts “a romantic dinner for two on Saturday night.” What else? “Cards for all three of my girls,” he says. “Nothing for the dog; he’s got a girlfriend next door.” at Guelph 11 February 14, 2007 Computing Goes Green on Campus Taskforce aims to reduce environmental impact ' “ BY ANDREW VOWLES after hours CALWIGSTON Head coach of men's volleyball in the Department of Ath- letics since 2006 Teaching U of G volleyball players how to execute kills and digs is only part of what Cal Wigston does on the coaching front. He also leads a basketball team that includes his son Brady, 12. Wigston himself played basketball throughout high school. "I love the game, and my kids do, too,” he says. A combined interest in chil- dren and sports led Wigston and his wife, Sue, to start a volleyball program at U of G for kids 13 and under, an offshoot of the popular 21-and-under program offered by the University. Away from the gym, he enjoys travelling, but he re- cently gave up his most beloved form of transportation — a Honda VFR 800 motorcycle. “I’ve travelled down into New York and to New Hampshire on it,” he says, adding that he’s a speed freak. “We’ve done other trips where we hop on the bikes and go up north for a few days.” Wigston is already looking forward to the day when he gets his hands on another VFR 800. “That’s my bike,” he says. “I love the look of it, I love the sound of it. I had my motorcycle licence before I had my driver’s licence.” BRAM CADSBY Faculty member in the Department of Economics since 1982 Prof. Bram Cadsby has long been fascinated by China’s civi- lization, culture, history and food. So fascinated, in fact, that he decided to take Mandarin lessons, something he does once a week. “My wife is Chinese and our six-month-old baby is half- Chinese, so I want to be able to understand when they’re talk- ing to each other,” Cadsby says. With the new addition to the family, he admits his recreational time has been seriously affected, but he and his wife, Fei Song, a professor at the Ryerson School of Business, still occasionally head into Toronto for an au- thentic Chinese meal. True Sichuan — the numbingly spicy variety — is a favourite, although Cadsby came across a Uyghur restaurant and was impressed by the yang rou chuan, a lamb kebab dish made with cumin. He also collects what he calls “Mao kitsch” items, re- ferring to memorabilia from Chairman Mao’s reign dur- ing the Cultural Revolution. The economist has a framed collection of propaganda buttons and a bona fide copy of the Little Red Book distributed by the People’s Liberation Army. He says there are plenty of fake Mao items out there, but he’s confident his are the real deal. “The Mao buttons I got through my wife’s grandpar- ents, so I know they’re authentic.” Musicals are another passion of Cadsby’s. Favourites include Anything Goes, Showboat, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady and most of the works of Rodgers and Hammerstein. He says the interest started early in his childhood when his parents would play recordings from musicals to keep him quiet. “As a result, I know the words to many Broadway songs.” KATY MARTIN Second-year student in the child, youth and family pro- gram Katy Martin doesn’t have any dreams of becoming a rock star, but she has recently developed an appreciation for the guitar — in the cyber world, that is. When her roommate received the video game Guitar Hero for his birthday about a month ago, a new time-consuming hobby was bom. “My roommates and I sit around and play it for hours on end,” says Martin. “You have a pretend guitar, and there are (colour-coded) buttons you have to press as they come up on the screen. You play along to the songs.” It’s both challenging and fun trying to replicate the music, she says, although it in no way provides any use- ful guitar training. “It’s become addictive,” she admits. “It’s just fun beating other people’s scores. You listen to good songs and you pretend you’re actually playing. It’s cool.” Between her busy school schedule and the new-found passion for video riffing, Martin has reconnected with an old pastime she enjoyed while growing up in Oakville. She’s started skating once or twice a week at the rink on campus. “I did figure skating for 10 years,” she says, “but I’ve just got back into it. It’s a little rocky, but it’s fun.” Katy Martin Movin’ on Up Data Resource Centre draws more users after relocating from library basement G oing green may begin with your screen. Reducing the environmental effects of computing at U of G — from energy use to disposal of hazardous waste — is the goal of a three- pronged campus- wide program starting this year. An energy awareness campaign, new energy conservation strategies and a new environmentally friendly computer purchasing policy will help the University lessen the envi- I ronmental impact of desktop com- | puting and reduce energy bills, says Catherine Steeves, associate chief li- brarian for information technology services and chair of the University’s Green Computing Task Group (GCTG). The task group was struck by U of G’s Information Services Committee. Besides saving energy and ensur- ing cleaner computer components, the task force expects its efforts will help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with campus computing — no small concern with this month’s release of a report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change linking human activities to global warming. Referring to recent national poll- ing results — reflected partly in re- c.et\V ^>o\icv arvr»o\M\cttmexvt& by tVve / federal Conservatives — Steeves says: “The environment now sur- passes health care in Canadians’ consciousness.” Late last year, the GCTG recom- mended three key initiatives in a re- port called “Campus Computing and the Environment.” Working along with other campus groups such as the Information Technology Special Interest Group (ITSIG), Gillian Maurice, sustainability co-ordinator in Physical Resources, is now preparing to implement two ideas, as follows: • Awareness campaign. Focus groups will look at awareness of energy use and conservation in com- puting and potential barriers to green computing. The campaign will offer ideas to students, faculty and staff on basic computing prac- tices, from reminders about turning off monitors to use of power-saving features and settings. • Energy conservation strategies. A survey in January of information technology managers across campus yielded information about current power-management practices among computer users. That infor- mation will be used to develop stan- dard practices and power- con- sumption settings designed to save energy. Those procedures, involving University IT staff and Physical Resources, are expected to be ready for implementation by spring. Steeves says the third priority — a recommendation to implement a green purchasing policy for desktop computers — will be explored with Purchasing Services. That policy might, for example, include envi- ronmental evaluation criteria fa- vouring equipment made with less toxic materials or adhering to energy-efficiency standards or fa- vouring companies using environ- mentally sensitive practices. Vendors might be required to offer a recycling program and a disposal program for electronic waste. (Currently, monitors and other computer hardware from U of G are sent to two organizations for recy- cling and recovery. In 2005, the Uni- versity sent almost 900 kilograms of monitors for recycling.) Computer purchasers typically consider needs, costs and service ar- rangements before buying or leasing equipment, says Steeves. “What we’re suggesting is that there should be some environmen- tal criteria in there.” Ask Maurice why U of G is focus- ing on “green computing” and she’ll probably show you the door, or at least the chart fastened there. It’s a copy of the graphic used by former American vice-president Al Gore in the documentary An Inconvenient Truth to show the connections be- tween global temperature trends and levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide during the past 600,000 years. For Maurice, the warning in the picture is clear: climate change is real and needs to be addressed. How? “Climate change is a larger story made up of many smaller fac- tors,” she says. “One of those smaller factors is computing on campus.” That was the message of a report about campus computing com- pleted by undergraduate students in 2005 as a course project for Prof. Joe Ackerman, associate dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences. That project sparked formation of the task force late that year to review green computing policies here and at other universities and to recom- mend ideas for awareness, conservation and procurement. “Green computing is essentially part of the larger sustainability pic- ture on campus,” says Maurice, a member of the GCTG. Steeves and Maurice also pre- sented the GCTG’s recommenda- tions, particularly those on energy conservation ideas, to ITSIG in mid-January. A working group in- cluding ITSIG members to be chaired by Maurice will develop en- ergy-saving computing standards. Bo Wandschneider, associate director, information systems ser- vices, in Computing and Communi- cations Services (CCS), says CCS “is extremely supportive of the work being done by the task group. The important thing is now raising awareness and showing people what they can do.” Last month, At Guelph reported on campus energy conservation ini- tiatives, including the formation of the Energy Conservation Working Group. That body, consisting of stu- dents, faculty and staff, will identify and address broader energy conser- vation issues on campus. BY DAVID DICENZO A n old business adage sums up the increased traffic at the University’s new-look Data Resource Centre (DRC) in the McLaughlin Library — location, location, location. Guelph students are taking full advantage of the centre’s fresh digs, now in plain sight on the first floor of the library. Originally located in the base- ment of the building, the DRC moved upstairs last August, boosting its visibility. “The best feedback is from the students,” says DRC co-ordinator Michelle Edwards. “They absolutely love it. Usage is definitely up.” And that’s exactly what the com- mittee that decided to move the cen- tre was aiming for, she says. That committee was made up of members of the chief information officer’s of- fice, Computing and Communica- tions Services and the library. In its basement location, the DRC consisted of a small room with two staff machines and a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) com- puter, along with a table outside in the hallway with three student com- puters. Unless a student happened to stumble across the centre, users typi- cally learned what it had to offer through word of mouth, says Ed- wards. In its new location, the centre has much more space and is condu- cive to both group work and individ- ual consultation, she says. “Students now have easier access to get hold of us for help, and we also have a consulting room where we can go sit quietly one-on-one.” Mark Leithead, a first-year mas- ter’s student in environmental biol- ogy, says he spent almost every day of the fall semester in the DRC using the GIS computer for his work on the association of treefall gaps in the canopy of a 50-hectare piece of trop- ical land and species diversity. “The computers here are very fast,” he says. “It takes a while to pro- cess 300,000 trees.” In his first few days on campus, “I had no idea where to go,” says Leithead. “I just walked into the li- brary and I walked into the centre. If it were still in the basement, there’s no way I would have ended up com- ing here.” The DRC offers two types of data: statistical/numerical and geospatial (GIS). Both are organized by catego- ries, with most of the GIS informa- tion available online through various links, although some is CD- based. The numerical and statistical data are obtained through consortial agreements and from individual suppliers such as Statistics Canada, the United Nations and the Interna- tional Monetary Fund. They cover information ranging from consumer and population data to public opin- ion polls and are accessed through the web retrieval system Nesstar. Edwards says undergraduate and graduate students in programs such as engineering, economics, sociol- ogy and psychology are regular users of the centre. And some courses have assignments tied into the resources. “Students have caught on really quickly how to drill down and look at the data,” she says, adding that regular workshops are available for those who need help gathering infor- mation. “It’s one-stop shopping.” at Guelph 12 February 14, 2007 Who Really Shot Abraham Lincoln? V of G student marries history and literature in long list of literary and theatre projects BY DAVID DICENZO H umdrum just doesn't cut it for Erik Mortensen. A 19- year-old Fergus writer in his second year of an English and history double major at U of G, Mortensen says he’s always been interested in edgy subjects when it comes to his work. Be it conspiracies or the paranormal, the more colourful the topic, the better. “One of the concepts I like to ap- ply to my writing is, if it isn’t contro- versial, it isn’t good enough,” he says. Controversial is an apt descrip- tion of his recently released novella, Avenging Abe. Set during the Civil War, the story follows Capt. Jason Gosse, a dedicated Union soldier who’s assigned to protect President Abraham Lincoln on a trip through a dangerous stretch of the countryside riddled with assassins. When Lin- coln is subsequently shot — and not in a theatre — Gosse and his best friend, sharpshooter Kevin Hughes, follow orders and bring the presi- dent back to Washington, where “one of the greatest coverups of all time" begins to unfold. Told through Gosse’s voice, Avenging Abe blends historically ac- curate detail and a wild storyline. Mortensen says the first-person ac- count is particularly important be- cause it provides insight into a character who rejnajns. dedicated to the cause — ultimately winning the war — despite his apprehension throughout. “I wanted to set it up that way be- cause when you reach the end, you see a lot more of the web that comes loose,” he says. “And you get to see how quickly what you assume to be real, whether you’re in the situation or just reading about it, changes. I Eating and sleeping come second for writer, producer, director, actor, stand-up comedian and full-time student Erik Mortensen. PHOTO BY MARTIN SCHWALBE think that’s pretty true of all time pe- riods and these situations — the per- son being told what to do never knows the full facts until it’s too late.” Mortensen last took American history back in high school when he attended St. James in Guelph, which is when he actually began to write the book. He says he put a lot of time into researching the period, making sure that details of the story were bang on, from the movements in battle and the type of liquor con- sumed to the names of native Ameri- cans depicted. Capturing the gore of the conflict was also crucial, he says. “More Americans ended up dy- ing in the Civil War than in every other war America has been involved in combined,” he says. “It was one of the most brutal and bloody fights. Sometimes it’s essential to catalogue the graphic nature of the war. You realize you don’t ever want to see that again.” A prolific writer, Mortensen says he typically has two ways of coming up with ideas. Sometimes they sim- ply pop into his head. Other times, he asks a friend to give him a list of a couple of items, some traits of a po- tential character and a setting for the story, which is how Avenging Abe got its start. A friend suggested a pocket watch, a tri-comered hat, a coward, a loudmouth and the setting of the Civil War. “From there, I threw the story together." Mortensen says his first serious attempt at writing was in Grade 5 when his teacher asked the class to produce a short story. He handed in 20 pages on a group of people off to find the lost world of Atlantis. “I’ve always loved creativity and imagination,” he says. “Most of my friends were off playing football, and I was sitting there thinking up imagi- nary worlds.” Mortensen, who writes every day and admits to getting only about four hours of sleep a night, received the Ontario English Catholic Teach- ers Association Young Authors Award, the Lions Club Creative Writing Award, the St. James Liter- ary Award and the St. James Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award. But he aspires to much more than seeing his words on a page. He’s also interested in producing, directing, doing stand-up comedy and acting. In November, he did his first one- person show. The list of projects Mortensen has in the works is staggering: a sec- ond novel, to be called Divine Revo- lution; a children’s book that will be illustrated by his girlfriend: a Sherlock Holmes-themed produc- tion that’s being put on by the Mainstreet Players, a Fergus-based theatre company he founded last year; a musical planned for 2008 consisting entirely of Aerosmith mu- sic: and an “edgy” play for the “Shakespeare — Made in Canada" festival called Hot Pursuit, which he sums up as “A Midsummer Night’s ' Dream meets American Pie." Mortensen also works at Tim ! Hortons to raise extra funds for his theatre company, regularly sends I scripts out to Hollywood bigwigs like j Jerry Bruckheimer and says he’d love j to do an MA in creative writing at the University of Guelph-Humber. I Throw in school and it’s easy to | see why he says eating and sleeping “come second to everything else.” Prof. Kevin James, History, says Mortensen “has found a very ere- j ative way of marrying his skills in history and literature. His approach | to historical fiction is imaginative. , And between stand-up, writing fic- j tion and his other pursuits, Erik also ' devotes a lot of time and energy to his courses. That’s impressive." Mortensen admits he’s endured some struggles, mostly because of his j age. When some people realize he’s j just 19, they quickly lose interest in his work, he says. But that hasn’t de- J terred him from following his I dreams. He says he simply works ! wilh ihe people who do believe in , him, like Crackjaw Publishing, a new I local company that helped see Avenging Abe come to fruition. “A quote 1 heard when I was younger and that I really believe in is: The only things we regret in life are the risks we don’t take.’ Ever since then, every time I think: ‘Should I or shouldn’t I do something,’ I end up doing it." Students Help Design Therapeutic Garden in Fergus Course project becomes more than just a grade for landscape architecture students BY ANDREW VOWLES A new therapeutic garden to be developed this year at a mental health clinic in downtown Fergus will have roots in student projects at U of G. Besides providing design ideas for the gar- den, the University’s involvement has helped secure vital funding, says clinic supervisor Kim Muller. Late last year, the clinic received $60,000 from the province to develop the project. The garden will be based on a design done for a fourth-year thesis project by Lee Morri- son, who worked with Prof. Nate Perkins, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD); Morrison graduated from Guelph last spring. In addition, the gar- den will probably use elements of drawings done last year by BLA students taking first-year design courses with SEDRD professors Karen Landman and Rob Corry. Exhibited last year on campus and during an open house in Fergus, those drawings helped raise awareness of the project, says Mul- ler. Having designs in hand was also a big help when the clinic applied for funding, he says. “Karen’s students put the ideas to paper — they put in visual terms what we had imagined. It was an absolute gift to have those designs.” This rural community outreach project has involved students and faculty from SEDRD programs in both landscape architecture and capacity development and extension (CDE), says Landman. “It’s a great link between the two programs in the school.” In 2005, two CDE graduate students had consulted with clinic staff to learn about the varied needs of patients and visitors at the facil- ity. Users range from children to seniors with varied disabilities and mental health issues. The clinic shares its building with a day pro- gram for people with Alzheimer’s disease. About 50 first-year BLA students used that information along with a site visit to work out designs. They also consulted with Dr. Joanne Westphal, a physician and landscape architec- ture professor in Michigan who visited Guelph last year to discuss therapeutic landscape design. The proposed garden will occupy a vacant lot next door to the clinic building. Students had to consider such design elements as mixed shade and sun and a steep slope near the street. “The challenge for the students was to take a small space and create a garden that would suit many users," says Landman. “When they see how it affects people’s lives, it’s not just a course project to get a grade. These are real people.” l at amaa Banner Stands Order new or we can print new graphics for your existing banner stand Banner-Up Retractable mm L»io» FwtmI Prtrtmo Or Roland and Yasmin Aliciina / A Hearing Clinic/ rahiiff ('arc of Year Hfflriaj llculllm^ BIT) Free Hearing Assessment Stone Road Mall 435 Stone RoadW Suite 218, Room 5 Guelph, ON , NIG 2X6 Office 519-515-0072 Fax 519-515-0111 E-mall yalldma@rogers.com Yasmin Alldlna For information about paid advertising in At Guelph, call Scott Anderson at 519-827-9169. at Guelph 13 February 14, 2007 Anderson Heads New Institute Continued from page 1 to serve as a U of G spokesperson but “to make contact with policy-mak- ers to ensure that the research done here receives appropriate consider- ation in the policy process.” By early January, Anderson had met with various researchers and units across campus and talked with Guelph Mayor Karen Farbridge. He was invited to work with Guelph by Prof. Joe Ackerman, asso- ciate dean of FES, after the former federal minister spoke during the 2005/06 Kenneth Hammond Lec- tures on Environment, Energy and Resources. Anderson also spoke on campus at national stewardship and conservation conferences organized by Hilts beginning in 2000. First elected to Ottawa in 1968, Anderson established Parliament’s first Environment Committee two years later. In 1972, he switched from federal to provincial politics, winning both a seat in the B.C. legislature and the leadership of the B.C. Liberal party. Re-elected as a Liberal MP in 1993, he served more than a decade as a cabinet minister in the Chretien and Martin govern- ments. He spent two years as minis- ter of fisheries and oceans before becoming minister of the environ- ment. During his five years in the latter yorttoVio, passcA xi\c Species-at-Risk Act and Canada rati- fied the Kyoto Protocol to the Rio Convention on Climate Change. Anderson chose not to run in the 2006 election that brought the Harper Conservatives to power. Asked about this year’s replace- ment of former environment minis- ter Rona Ambrose by John Baird, Anderson says he believes Prime Minister Stephen Harper now rec- ognizes that he must reconsider his previous position in light of the “overwhelming consensus” among scientists about the climate effects of human-induced greenhouse gases. “As a policy-maker, on an issue of this type and importance, you don't have the right to base policy on UNIVERSITY Vq uelph Memories of Guelph. tfbk^ore a small number of dissenting voices,” says Anderson. “It’s your job to protect the public interest, not gamble with it. In power, you don’t have the political authority or the moral right to ignore the high level of agreement and the clear advice that the scientific community has provided.” Ontario Agricultural College dean Craig Pearson says he’s “de- lighted” that Anderson has joined the University and “excited” about the possibilities for the GIE. Where Are You Now? volving them in creating one that will give them the reports they need to do their work," she says. “The fed- eration’s goals are forest sus- tainability and community eco- nomic sustainability — goals I will be proud to support.” Hoffmeyer is excited about the trip to Nepal, her first to the region. She says she has a genuine interest in understanding how other cultures perceive the world and their role in it. She’ll have the opportunity to do just that — not only by working with the Federation of Community Forest Users but also by living with a Nepalese family. Besides the GIE, a proposed cam- pus network is intended to connect researchers at U of G and all three re- gional campuses working in envi- ronmental and related sciences. This body — probably a web database listing all pertinent institutes and re- search centres at Guelph — would help in communicating and repre- senting expertise outside the University, says Hilts. “Just having the information on current faculty research across the campus available is a big step for- ward,” he says, explaining that the proposed network would help not just current researchers but also new faculty looking for potential research and teaching collaborators. “People doing environmental re- search at Guelph should know each ovVict . A\so, vjc get many requests from off campus for referrals to ap- propriate experts, and having a net- work would help match up those requests and those experts.” Hilts says such a network would also encourage formation of new en- vironmental research groups on campus, help researchers develop interdisciplinary funding and enable campus members to connect their work with policy-makers through the GIE. Anderson will give a public lec- ture on “Linking Public Policy to Science: The Challenges” as part of OAC’s public lecture series Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 1714 of the On- tario Veterinary College’s Lifetime Learning Centre. If you can identify where this photo was taken on campus, you will have your name entered in a draw to be held at the end of the semester for a $50 gift certificate donated by the U of G Bookstore. Anyone who submits the right answer by Feb. 16 at 4:45 p.m. is eligible for the draw. Send your response to r.kendall@exec.uoguelph.ca or call Ext. 56039. The following people correctly reported that the Jan. 31 photo was of a piece of stained glass in the OVC library: Bill Clair, John Van Manen, Danny Martin and Ray Hutchinson. photo by rebecca kendall Making a Difference Continued from page 1 exciting to see that kind of response and made the whole process very re- warding for those of us working be- hind the scenes.” Levy’s volunteer stint will take him to Shawake, Botswana, to work on a website design assignment. loYmston and Y o arc both headed for Nepal, where they'll work with the Nepal Fair Trade Group. Hoffmeyer is also going to Nepal, to help the Federation of Community Forest Users with a database to organize its records. “My expectation is to train the staff in using a database by teaching them how databases work and in- “It’s a perfect way to help them achieve their goals and for me to gain understanding of how our actions in Canada affect other parts of the world and to know how I should make changes to the way I live at home,” she says. “For anyone who wants to partic- ipate in volunteer work in another culture, Leave for Change is a won- derful opportunity because we have the support of both our employer and the local organization we’ll be serving. The program is also a great opportunity for U of G to extend its community service efforts to the global community.” Introducing a magnificent new coffee-table book that showcases the University of Guelph. Buy it as a keepsake or a perfect gift for someone who shares your Guelph memories. Noted Canadian photographer Richard Bain brought his camera to campus in all four seasons to capture the splendour of the University. His stunning photos will lead you through Guelph's beautiful walkways and historical buildings, inspiring warm memories of the University of Guelph. Foreword by Dr. Roberta Bondar. Canada's first female astronaut and a University of Guelph graduate. APPLY NOW FOR SEPTEMBER 2007 AND GET THE SECTOR-SPECIFIC TRAINING YOU NEED TO GET HIRED. FLEMING COLLEGE POST-GRADUATE PROGRAMS • Advertising • Event Management • Global Supply Chain Management • Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism Management • Museum Management and Curalorship • Emergency Management • Natural Resources - Law Enforcement • GIS Cartographic and Applications Specialist For more information call Ian Kearney: Experience • Success 1-866-353-6464 ext 1666 or e-mail: iankearn@flemin9c.0n.ca www.flemlngcollege.com/postgrad $40 plus taxes and shipping Order from the University of Guelph Bookstore: 519-821-4120. ext. 537 1 5 bookstor@uoguelph.ca www.bookstore.uoguelph.ca at Guelph 14 February 14, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE 1995 Mazda 626, maroon, four-door automatic, 142,000 km, good condi- tion, well-maintained, emissions tested in summer 2006, mwarner@ uoguelph.ca. 1998 Nissan Maxima, silver, four- door automatic, all power options, well-maintained, includes Michelin winter tires with rims; Sklar Peppier pullout sofa bed, two matching throw pillows and new slipcover; Nordic Track Plus ski machine with computer and pulse monitor, mint condition, Aldo, 519-766-9289 or acaputo@uoguelph.ca. Water softener in working condi- tion, Barb, Ext. 50243, 519-821-7069 or barb@pr.uoguelph.ca. LG white 22-cubic-foot refrigerator with bottom-mount freezer, new, still in box, Ann, 519-787-2532. Children’s Karhu Sidekick cross- country skis, 140 cm, poles and size 2 (34) boots, pin-trap-style bindings, 519-836-4877. Philips PET824 portable DVD and DivX movie player with 8.5-inch LCD display, never used, remote, car adaptor battery, all cords, Jenny, 519-836-7066 or jspurrel@ uoguelph.ca. Three-bedroom, two-storey, 1,400- square-foot house in Exhibition Park area, renovated kitchen, Jacuzzi, enclosed sunroom with woodstove, high-efficiency gas fur- nace, central air, refinished hard- wood floors, fenced rear yard, peren- nial gardens, attached garage, 519- 829-1659. FOR RENT Take Heart! February is Heart Month. For more information, visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation website at ww2.heartandstroke.ca or the Health Canada website at www.hc-sc.gc.ca. Furnished three-bedroom, 1,150- square-foot house downtown across from park and river, hardwood floors, central air, backyard, two decks, garage, available July/ August 2007 to July/ August 2008, $1,250 a month plus utilities, mmcculla@ uoguelph.ca. Three-bedroom house in Cam- bridge, den/office, two full baths, TV room, eat-in kitchen with separate dining room, two-car garage, large yard, satellite TV and wireless Internet available, pets and children welcome, available Sept. 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, $1,500 a month inclu- sive, dcomeli@uoguelph.ca. Winterized cottage near Tobermory, weekly or weekend rates, Ext. 53392. One-bedroom condo at Celebrity Resorts near Disney World, sleeps four, ensuite whirlpool bath, com- pletely refurbished, numerous ame- nities, March 2 to 9, $425 Cdn, pho- tos available, 519-766-8240. Resort condo in Collingwood/Blue Mountain, sleeps four to eight, ski- ing, beaches, golf, pools, Scenic Caves, close to shopping and restau- rants, 1-866-887-8835 or visit www. vaxxine.com/rental. Cottage in Southampton, sleeps four, gas fireplace, private treed lot. Walking distance to harbour, down- town and golf course, $700 a week from June to September, Melody, Ext. 54337 or m.wren@exec. uoguelph.ca. WANTED Experienced editor/writing coach to lead short professional writing course for graduate students this summer, must have experience in professional editing and ability to teach technical writing skills, send CV and references to: Chair, Depart- ment of Economics, Room 725, MacKinnon Building, by March 1 . Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences needs healthy non-smoking males aged 45 to 65 for study of the effects of different types of bread on potential risk factors for Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, financial compensation, Hilary, Ext. 56967 or htulk@ uoguelph.ca. PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology is looking for working mothers or fathers to participate in one-hour focus group on work-fam- ily conflict, compensation provided, 519-841-4173. U of G nutrition researchers and Health Canada seek seven- and eight-year-old boys for study of zinc intake, compensation provided, Melissa, 519-820-2633 or zip@ uoguelph.ca. AVAILABLE ESL coaching, specializing in profes- sional upgrading for foreign-born professionals — speaking, reading, writing and listening. I begin where government programs leave off, Jac- queline, 519-766-4504. Care for your dog in my home while you travel, 519-836-8086 or cdemmers@uoguelph.ca. Classifieds is a free service available to staff, faculty, students, alumni and retirees of the University. Sub- mit items to Linda Graham on Level 4 of the University Centre, fax to 519-824-7962 or send e-mail to l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca. Two-bedroom apartment in quiet adult building near downtown Lon- don, close to the University of West- ern Ontario, non-smokers, no pets, parking, available May 1, $550 a month per bedroom inclusive, one- year lease, 519-843-3470, tnudds@ uoguelph.ca or nudds.family@ sympatico.ca. MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WELLINGTON established 1996 1 Full- & half-day programs for 2 1/2 to 5 years After-school program Large gym & outdoor play area Enhanced reading, writing & math French, music, art & physical education Social skill development in family setting 519 - 821-5876 (located in Dublin Street United Church) 68 Suffolk Street West, Guelph N1H 2J2 www.montessori-school.ca House for Rent House available for Fall Semester 2007. Three bedrooms, three baths, walking distance to University, fully equipped, suit visiting academic, $1 ,400 per month. 519 - 767-1480 m Habitat for Humanity* Wellington County We S ell Windows Doors Kitchen Cabinets Sinks & Vanities Electrical Fixtures * Supplies Plumbing Fixtures & Supplies Lightnng Fixtures Shingles Flooring Ceramic Tiles Hardware New Paint Patio Furniture and much more.., ReStore 45 Dawson Road Unit 4, Guelph, Ontario, N1H IB1 tel: 519-780-2323 Monday - Friday 10AM - 5PM Saturday 9AM - 4PM Wc sell new and used materials for home renovation and repair donated by manufacturers, retailers and homeowners. PRICES 50% - 80% BELOW RETAIL Planning a renovation? Recycle your unwanted materials by donating them to the ReStore. Kitchen sets (cabinets, appliances, sinks) particularly appreciated. FREE PICK-UP Revenue from the ReSlore is used lo build Habitat for homes in Guelpli/Wellinglon County Toto Aquia tm D ual Flush Toilet (1.6 Gpf / 6 Lpf and 0.9 Gpf/ 3.4 Lpf) •Elongated skirted design, two-piece toilet • Dual-Max tm Flushing System •Push button style t\usb option STARTING FROM $459 0 55 Dawson Road Guelph, 519-821-5744 On the Fergus-Elora Road, Elora 519-846-5381 / czxaerte/Lce L/ ten/. . . furniture^ Makers of Eight-Way.Hand-Tied Sofas Since 1990. Visit our showroom and experience firsthand the quality and comfort of every sofa we make. Main Street, Rockwood - Open Tues-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5 51 9.856.2575 www.rumoursfurniture.com at Guelph 15 February 14 , 2007 EVENTS ARBORETUM “An Ecological Vegetable Garden” is the focus of a workshop led by Erin Harkins March 8 from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. Cost is $35. Reg- istration is recommended by Feb. 22 . Horticulturist Sean Fox presents “The Art and Practice of Pruning” March 20, 21 or 22 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Cost is $30. Registration is rec- ommended by March 6. The Theatre in the Trees dinner- theatre production of Broken Up by Nick Hall runs Saturdays until April 28. Call Ext. 54110 for tickets. CONCERTS The School of Fine Art and Music’s Thursday noon-hour concerts con- tinue Feb. 15 with harpsichordist Susan Toman performing master- pieces of the 20th century and March 1 with electronic music by Prof. Jim Harley. Concerts are held in MacKinnon 107. CONFERENCE The Department of Philosophy presents the third annual conference on "Irreconcilable Differences: Fos- tering Dialogue Between Philosophy awd Tocology” Maick 3 from noon to 6 p.m. in Thornbrough 1200. For more information, send e-mail to IrrDiff@gmail.com. FILM Docurama, a documentary film series sponsored by the U of G Library and the Central Student Association, presents Black Gold Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in Thornbrough 1307. Admission is free. LECTURES The Ontario Agricultural College’s public lecture series continues Feb. 28 with Prof. David Anderson, director of the Guelph Institute for the Environment, discussing “Link- ing Public Policy to Science: The Challenges.” On March 7, the topic is “Putting Animal Welfare Into Practice” with Prof. Tina Widowski, director of U of G’s Colonel K.L. Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare. The talks begin at 5:30 p.m. in OVC 1714. Noted Scottish organist Marjorie Bruce will give a public lecture on the music of the late French organist and composer Jean Langlais March 6 at 10 a.m. in MacKinnon 107. She will also do a benefit performance for the Masai Project March 1 1 at 4 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church. NOTICES Campus labour groups are sponsor- ing a town hall meeting on flex bene- fits Feb. 27 at noon in Peter Clark Hall. All employees are welcome. The Stress Management and High Performance Clinic is offering a pro- gram for managing headaches beginning March 7. It runs for four Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in UC 335. For information, leave a message at Ext. 52662 or visit www.uoguelph.ca/~ksomers. Equine Guelph and the Office of Open Learning are offering work- shops on equine journalism April 14 and 21 and equine anatomy April 28 and 29. To register, visit www. open.uoguelph.ca/offerings. READING Writer-in-residence Lee Maracle will read from her novel Daughters Are Forever March 7 at 4 p.m. in Massey 100. The reading will be fol- lowed by a discussion inspired by International Women’s Day. SEMINARS The Department of Integrative Biol- ogy’s “Loaves and Fishes” seminar series presents PhD student Astrid Schwalb discussing “Early Life His- tory of Freshwater Mussels — Settle- ment and Post-Settlement Pro- cesses” Feb. 16. On March 2, Neel Alum of the University of Waterloo explores “Dioxin Toxicity and Red Wine: Potential (Neuro) Endocrine Mechanisms of Action.” The seminars are at 12:30 p.m. in Axelrod 168. The seminar series hosted by the plant biology group in the Depart- ment of Molecular and Cellular Biology continues Feb. 26 with Profs. Jane Robb and Ross Nazar discussing “Verticillium Resistance and Defence Genes” and March 5 with Prof. Larry Peterson consider- ing “Interactions Between Soil Fungi and Plant Roots.” The talks begin at 3:30 p.m. in Axelrod 337. “Plant-Pollinator Interactions and Mating System Evolution in Frag- mented Landscapes” is the topic of Elizabeth Elle of Simon Fraser Uni- versity Feb. 27 in the Department of Integrative Biology seminar series. On March 6, Gabriel Moreno- Hagelsieb of Wilfrid Laurier Univer- sity examines “Operons and the Computational Prediction of Func- tional Interaction Networks in Prokaryotes." The seminars are at 3:30 p.m. in Axelrod 265A. Next up in the Department of Phys- ics seminar series Feb. 27 is Peter Brown of the University of Western Ontario exploring “The Impact Hazard From Comets and Aster- oids” at 4 p.m. in science complex 1511. The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology presents Peter Greenberg of the University of Washington considering “Sociomi- crobiology: Quorum Sensing and the Co-ordination of Group Activi- ties in Bacteria” Feb. 28 at 3:30 p.m. in OVC 1714. The Department of Computing and Information Science seminar series continues Feb. 28 with Prof. Bill Gardner, CIS, and March 7 with Prof. David Kribs, Mathematics and Statistics, discussing “Error Correc- tion in Quantum Computing.” The seminars begin at 4:30 p.m. in Reynolds 219. Next up in the Department of Pathobiology seminar series is PhD candidate Armando Hernandez examining “Genetic Parameters of Dairy Cattle Immune Response Traits” March 2 at 2 p.m. in Pathobiology 2106. TEACHING SUPPORT For instructors and support staff who run online WebCT courses, Teaching Support Services’ series on “WebCT Tips and Tools” presents “Quizzing/Respondus” Feb. 15 and “Online Communications/Wimba” March 1. TSS’s hands-on Photoshop workshops continue with a session on layers Feb. 28. For more informa- tion and to register, visit www. tss.uoguelph.ca. If you have ques- tions, call Mary Naim at Ext. 53571. TSS’s discussion series for teaching assistants focuses on exam invigila- tion Feb. 28. Register at www.tss. uoguelph.ca. Call Trevor Holmes at Ext. 52963 with questions. THESIS DEFENCES The final examination of M.Sc. can- didate Chris Liddy, Environmental Biology, is Feb. 23 at 9 a.m. in Gra- ham 3301. The thesis is "Remediation of Animal Holding Facility Air From Ammonia, Dust and Micro-organisms Contamina- tion Using a Trickling Water Scrub- ber.” The advisers are Prof. Mike Dixon and Alan Darlington. The final examination of M.Sc. can- didate Pete Cott, Environmental Biology, is Feb. 26 at 9:45 a.m. in Bovey 1118. The thesis is “Fisheries and Limnological-Related Impacts of Water Withdrawal From Ice-Cov- ered Lakes.” The advisers are Prof. Mike Dixon and Paul Sibley. The final examination of M.Sc. can- didate Bob Farmer, Integrative Biol- ogy, is Feb. 28 at 9 a.m. in Axelrod 337. The thesis is “Factors Associ- ated With Roadkill in Southern Ontario Parks.” The adviser is Prof. Ron Brooks. The Guelph Concert Band presents “Storytellers,” a family-friendly con- cert featuring Peter and the Wolf and A Day at the Circus, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. at the River Run Centre. For tickets, call 519-763-3000. The Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival is hosting a March Break camp featuring dance, drumming, theatre and visual arts March 12 to 16 at the River Run Centre. To book a space, call 519-763-3000. For information, call 519-780-2220. A benefit concert for the Elora Festi- val will showcase the award-winning Elora Festival Singers Feb. 25 at 4 p.m. at Melville United Church in Fergus. For ticket information, call 519-846-0331. Touchmark Theatre presents Bell, Book and Candle by John Van Druten Feb. 16 to 24 at the River Run Centre. Call 519-763-3000 for ticket information. The Canadian Cancer Society needs volunteers to sell daffodils and can- vass door-to-door in April. For information, call 519-824-4261 or visit www.cancer.ca. The Guelph Youth Singers host a sing-a-thon fundraiser Feb. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Stone Road Mall. The Guelph Civic Museum is offering a morning March Break camp for children aged six to 12 March 12 to 16. This year’s theme is “History With Shakespeare.” To register, call 519-836-1221. A Heritage Day multicultural festival runs Feb. 18 from noon to 4 p.m. at Wellington County Museum and Archives. The museum’s gallery music group performs Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. U of G Wheels in Motion Team Is Top Fundraiser Money raised through 2006 event now available to help people with spinal cord injuries in Guelph area BY LORI BONA HUNT T he Health and Performance Centre (HPC) team was the top fundraising group in Canada at the Guelph 2006 Wheels in Motion, it was recently learned. “Quality of Life” funding raised by that team and others during the annual national event sponsored by the Rick Hansen Foundation is now available to help people with spinal cord injuries who live or work in the Guelph area. “It was very rewarding to learn that our team raised the most money of any group in the country,” says Cyndy McLean, director of the HPC and captain of the team that raised nearly $12,000. A former marathon runner and elite-level athlete, McLean was left paraplegic after a fall in 2003. She is a member of the local event organizing committee and is a national ambassador for the Rick Hansen Foundation. As a prize, the HPC team won five round-trip tickets from Air Canada, which were awarded to the team’s top fundraisers. “But even more rewarding is the fact that a significant portion of the money we raised will stay right here in Guelph to help address high-pri- ority needs and provide services in the community,” says McLean. The Guelph Wheels in Motion, held last June on campus, raised close to $30,000 and set a local re- cord. About half of the money goes to support national research efforts overseen by the Rick Hansen Foun- dation, and the remaining funds stay in the host community. The portion that remains in Guelph will go directly to local resi- dents with spinal cord injuries to help improve their quality of life, says McLean. Individuals or their families can apply for the funding to address personal needs; support a recreational or sports initiative; or help provide services, assistance or resources. A maximum of $800 per applica- tion has been set to ensure that as many people as possible receive sup- port, she says. The deadline to apply for funds is March 1. For an applica- tion form or more information, con- tact Mairin Viol, a member of the Guelph Wheels in Motion organiz- ing committee, at 519-716-1320 or mairinviol@rogers.com. Almost 200 people participated in or volunteered at last year’s Guelph Wheels in Motion. The 2007 event will be held June 10. This year, in addition to a wheel/walk/run, the day will feature new team events, in- cluding a wheelchair challenge in which participants compete against other teams at completing everyday tasks from a wheelchair. President Alastair Summerlee has agreed to serve as honorary chair of this year’s event. For more information about Wheels in Motion, send e-mail to McLean at cmclean@uoguelph.ca. At Guelph l6 February 14, 2007 at GUELPH FEBRUARY 28, 2007 • VOL. 51 NO. A • WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH • UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH INSIDE: VOLUNTEER AWARDS HONOUR WINEGARD • TALES FROM THE CRYPT • BUDGET GOES ONLINE Chemist Named Killam Fellow Prof one of 10 Canadians to receive prestigious award P rof. Jacek Lipkowski, Chem- istry, was one of 10 Canadians to receive a prestigious Killam Research Fellowship last week. The $140,000 award will allow him to devote himself to research full time over the next two years. “This is a great honour and dis- tinction,” says Lipkowski. “The re- lease from teaching made possible through the Killam award will allow me to concentrate on two important and ongoing research projects.” A graduate of the University of Warsaw and a faculty member at Guelph since 1983, he is renowned for groundbreaking research con- ducted over the past 30 years. He is currendy co-ordinating research on proteins and peptides through the Guelph-based Advanced Foods and Materials Network, which involves scientists from across Canada. He is also leading a research team that re- ceived $2.7 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation in 2006 to conduct leading-edge life science and soft materials research involving biomolecules, cells and bacteria. This project involves 24 investiga- tors at U of G and more than 100 post-doctoral researchers and students. Lipkowski was elected to the Royal Society of Canada in 2004 and was named one of U of G’s first Can- ada Research Chairs in 2001. His many other honours include a re- search award from Germany’s Alex- ander von Humboldt Foundation in 1995, the Prix Jacques Tacussel Award from the International Soci- ety of Electrochemistry in 1997, the Canadian Society for Chemistry’s Alcan Award in 1998, the gold medal of the International Society of Elec- trochemistry in 2004, and a gold medal from the Canadian section of the Electrochemical Society in 2005. He served as editor of the Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry and In- terfacial Chemistry from 1996 to 2003. This year marks the 40th anni- versary of the Killam Research Fellowships, which are administered by the Canada Council for the Arts. They support scholars engaged in research of outstanding merit in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, engineer- ing and interdisciplinary studies in these fields. The awards are made possible by a gift and a bequest from the late philanthropist Dorothy J. Killam. Accessibility Week Aims to Erase Stigma Around Disabilities Events to include talks, resource fair, accessible walk a r RASING THE STIGMA” SUT- rounding people with disabilities is the theme of U of G’s annual Accessibility Awareness Week March 5 to 9. The week’s events are designed to draw attention to the issue of access on campus for people with visual, hearing, mobility, learning, psycho- logical and medical disabilities. “By increasing awareness associ- ated with many disabilities, we are taking major steps to break down the stigmas that hinder progress and ac- ceptance,” says Denise De La Franier, chair of Accessibility Awareness Week and assistant ad- viser in the Centre for Students With Disabilities (CSD). The week begins March 5 with an evening of art, music and speakers called “Recovery Through the Arts” from 5 to 7 p.m. in Room 441 of the University Centre. Organized with community partner Spark of Bril- liance, die event is free and open to the public. It will feature people dis- cussing die role art played in their recovery process, a performance by a violinist who lives with a serious mental illness and art by Spark of Brilliance members. On March 6, the CSD and Teach- ing Support Services (TSS) will offer two free information sessions in See WEEK on page 10 Raising the Bar Gryphon track-and-field star Michelle Moody has her sights set on soaring to new heights in the high jump competition at the national championships in Montreal. Here, she eyes the bar set at 1.75 metres, which she jumped at provincial finals, but her goal is 1.80 metres. See story on page 8. vhoto by nlartvn scwna\.be Pivotal U.K. Art Figure Will Give First Shenkman Lecture Talk will focus on issues around contemporary art, culture and art education BY RACHELLE COOPER M ichael Craig-Martin, one of the pivotal figures in the “Cool Britannia” art movement in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s and early ’90s, is giving his first Canadian talk March 13 at 5 p.m. in War Memorial Hall. The event is free and open to the public. Craig-Martin is the inaugural speaker for the University’s Shenkman Lecture, an annual talk on contemporary art created through a generous endowment provided by Dasha Shenkman, a Ca- nadian art collector who has lived in the United Kingdom for 40 years. Prof. John Kissick, director of the School of Fine Art and Music, says Craig-Martin represents the com- plete package as a contemporary artist. “His practice is rigorous and internationally renowned, but he’s also been intimately involved in the development of young artists and new ideas in the United Kingdom." Craig-Martin’s talk, “Putting Things in Context: A Survivor’s Guide,” will focus on issues around contemporary art, culture and edu- cation related to artists. See SHENKMAN on page 10 A Tradition of Royal Excellence Annual College Royal open house ready to roll March 17 and IS C ollege Royal weekend, the largest university open house of its kind in North America, runs March 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and March 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s dieme is “A Tradition of Royal Excellence." “During this year's College Royal, we want to encourage visitors to share their favourite traditions with family and friends," says Kath- arine Found, president of College Royal 2007 and a second-year veteri- nary medicine student. “We also challenge visitors to discover new traditions by venturing to a display or attraction they’ve never been to before." Running annually since 1925, the open house features such favourites as the livestock show, a logging com- petition and dog and cat shows, as well as Old MacDonald’s new farm, a photography contest and a junior tractor rodeo. The weekend will also include numerous displays and activities hosted by student clubs and individ- ual departments, a juried art show at Zavitz Hall, hands-on teddy bear surgery for kids at the Ontario Vet- erinary College, live entertainment and a chemistry magic show. Also scheduled are a number of j team competitions, including flower j arranging, sq uare dancing, seeds and I forages and pancake flipping. In ad- j dition, a lecture series will run : throughout the weekend, featuring j talks on a variety of topics being j studied at U ofG. All events are free and open to the public. For a complete listing, visit www.collegeroyal.uoguelph.ca. at Guelph 1 February 28, 2007 m Habitat for Humanity* Wellington County We Sell Windows Doors Kitchen Cabinets Sinks & Vanities Electrical Fixtures & Supplies Plumbing Fixtures & Supplies lightnng Fixtures Shingles Flooring Ceramic Tiles . Hardware New Paint Patio Furniture and much more. ReStore 45 Dawson Road Unit 4. Guelph, Ontario. N 1 H 1 B 1 tel: 519-780-2323 Monday - Friday 10AM - 5PM Saturday 9AM - 4PM We sell new and used materials for home renovation and repair donated by manufacturers, retailers and homeowners PRICES 50% - 80% BELOW RETAIL Planning a renovation? Recycle your unwanted materials by donating them to the ReStore. Kitchen sets (cabinets, appliances, sinks) particularly appreciated. FREE PICK-UP Revenue from iho ReStore is used to build Habitat for homes in Guelph'Wellingron County FREE Hourly Travel Presentations! Exclusive show discounts Exhibitors from Around The World FREE admission and great door prizes! Saturday March 3 Delta Kitchener-Waterloo, 105 King Street East 10am - 6pm FREE ADMISSION For Travel Presentation Schedule go to www.travetcuts.com / oneworld 1 -888-FLY-CUTS (359-2887) MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WELLINGTON established 1996 * Full- & half-day programs for 2 1/2 to 5 years * After-school program * Large gym & outdoor play area * Enhanced reading, writing & math * French, music, art & physical education * Social skill development In family setting 519-821-5876 (located in Dublin Street United Church) 68 Suffolk Street West, Guelph N1H2J2 www.montessori-school.ca from the president Accessibility Is Something We All Need to Think About Editor’s note: President Alastair Summerlee wel- comes comments on his column at president^ uoguelph.ca. E very now and then in life, you get a chance to do something that changes the way you look at the world. You may not realize it at the time. It may be days, weeks, months later before you understand just how profoundly you’ve been affected. I had such an experience last June — the day I spent in a wheelchair to raise awareness about Wheels in Mo- tion, an annual national event sponsored by the Rick Hansen Foundation. The Guelph event is held on our campus, and the money raised supports national re- search and the needs of local people with spinal cord injuries. I was asked to spend a day in a wheelchair by Cyndy McLean, one of the local event organizers. In addition to being a national ambassador for the Rick Hansen Foundation, she is the director of the University’s Health and Performance Centre and a former mara- thon runner who was left paraplegic after a fall in 2003. Cyndy said 1 could use one of her wheelchairs, Big Red (named for its bright colour) for the day and even offered to lend me her extra-padded seat cushion. Big Red soon arrived, I took a seat, and my view of the world around me was forever changed, literally and fig- uratively. In the months that have followed, I have often thought about what I experienced and learned that day, and have contemplated the best way to share some of my feelings with the University community. I’ve decided that now is the perfect time. Not only have 1 had time to fully reflect on my experience, but also the University’s annual Accessibility Awareness Week is coming up — March 5 to 9 — which provides me with the perfect context. This year’s theme is “Eras- ing the Stigma,” and the goal is to draw attention to the many issues facing people with disabilities on campus. I experienced just a few of the many difficulties peo- ple with mobility issues encounter during my day in Big Red. Before I share some of them, I want to acknowl- edge that mobility issues are just one area the University needs to address when talking about accessibility. Stu- dents who have visual, hearing, learning, psychological or medical disabilities also face unique challenges and barriers, and each of them must be addressed to affirm our commitment to full accessibility on this campus. Accessibility is something 1 am passionate about, which is why I stepped up efforts to ensure that U of G is truly a place that is accessible to all, regardless of physi- cal or mental abilities, financial circumstances, back- ground, gender or ethnicity. To address the issues of physical challenges and bar- riers, 1 created the Campus Accessibility Committee. The group meets every six weeks to analyze all major construction/renovation projects on campus for acces- sibility features, to review other proposals and con- cerns, and to deal with any questions or complaints. This committee has made many strides, and accessi- bility issues are receiving attention across all parts of the University community. Outreach activities such as the “Diverse Abilities, Infinite Possibilities” campaign and staff and faculty training workshops continue to in- crease awareness. U of G has also created a comprehen- sive accessibility website that provides access to a broad range of resources both on and off campus. But there’s a great more to be done, which 1 can at- test to after my brief but eye-opening experience. I en- countered elevators where the floors didn’t line up, which made it extremely difficult to manoeuvre a wheelchair in and out. I rode over jutting bricks on Winegard Walk that nearly toppled me more than once. I wheeled along hallways that were so slanted, I had a tough time steering in the direction I wanted to go. Although annoying and frustrating, these problems are at least visible no matter what your vantage point. Lots of other things, however, go unnoticed unless you’re sitting in a wheelchair. One small example: Dur- ing my day in Big Red, I noticed that the signs indicating where accessible washrooms are located on campus were mounted at eye level for standing adults. When you’re in a chair, your line of vision is several feet lower. I was bothered by the positioning of the signs, but more bothered by the fact that I’d never noticed it be- fore. Getting the signs lowered required only one phone call; it took a lot longer for my sheepishness to fade. I also recall the feeling of being a “little person in a crowd.” Everyone else seemed so tall, and it felt good to interact with people at my height — other people in chairs or children or people who just crouched to talk to me. I believe all of us need to be more aware of both the hurdles and the subtle things that tell some of our stu- dents, colleagues and friends that they are “different.” This is the essence of Accessibility Awareness Week — that we must take steps to rectify both the physical and social barriers to accessibility. I plan to spend another day in Big Red this year, in addition to serving as honorary chair of the Guelph Wheels in Motion event and heading a team in a “wheelchair challenge.” My day in that chair gave me new understanding of what “accessibility” really means. When Cyndy asked me to spend a day in a wheel- chair, she said the goal was to raise awareness. I now re- alize it wasn’t just public awareness she was talking about — it was also personal awareness. It was a lesson well learned. Library Marks Freedom to Read Week cloning, sex, education, art, photog- raphy and music to express their ideas and generate dialogue about censorship and the control of infor- mation. Visitors to the library are also in- vited to view and contribute to a “reading wall” display on censorship and to check out a book from the banned-book shelf. For more details, visit www.lib. uoguelph.ca/news/freedom. U OF G’s annual celebration of Freedom to Read Week continues to March 3. Sponsored by the Book and Periodical Council of Canada, Freedom to Read Week encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commit- ment to intellectual freedom. On March 1 from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m., the McLaughlin Library pres- ents “Forbidden Knowledge and Dangerous Ideas” in the Williams Caff area on the first floor. Based on discussions arising from a new first-year seminar course of the same name, the event will explore a variety of ideas and perspectives that have been deemed so controversial, they’ve been strongly opposed and resisted through banning, censor- ship, destruction and silencing. Students from the seminar course will display posters they’ve made that relate to banned books, a i — j e Editor Barbara Chance b.chance@exec.uoguelph.ca Design Peter Enneson Production Linda Graham l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca Advertising Scott Anderson theandersondifference@rogers.com Director Chuck Cunningham c.cunningham@exec.uoguelph.ca At Guelph is published every two weeks by Communications and Public Affairs, Level 4, University Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG 2W1. Inquiries: 519-824-4120 Editorial: Ext. 56580 Distribution : Ext. 56581 Advertising: Ext. 56580 www.ttoguclph.ca/adguidc Classifieds: Ext. 56581 Fax: 519-824-7962 Website: www.uoguelph.ca/atguelph Articles may be reprinted with credit to At Guelph. Subscriptions $25 (includes GST); $30 outside Canada ISSN 08364478 n\IYLRSITY 'GIT I I’ll at Guelph 2 February 28, 2007 news in brief BUDGET INFORMATION ONLINE A draft of U of G’s initial 2007/2008 Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities budget position is now available on the web at http://www. uoguelph.ca/president/budget. shtml. Future At Guelph budget stories and other budget informa- tion, including details about Uni- versity meetings and information forums, will be posted on this website throughout the semester. 'RUMOUR MILL* FORUM TO BE AVAILABLE ON PODCAST President Alastair Summerlee and provost Maureen Mancuso host their second “Rumour Mill” forum Feb. 28 at noon in Room 103 of the University Centre. The quasi- monthly sessions are designed to give members of the University community a chance to separate fact from fiction when it comes to information circulating around campus. A podcast of the forum will later be available on the Universit/ s new podcast site at http://www. uoguelph.ca/podcast. SHARING HOPE, STORIES A free public forum called “Sharing Hope: Stories From Tsepong” runs March 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Peter Clark Hall. It will feature sto- ries from doctors and volunteers on the front lines in Africa, including local doctor Anne-Marie Zajdlik, who spearheaded the Guelph-wide Masai Project. FORMER MP NAMED CHAIR OF RIDGETOWN FOUNDATION St. Thomas-area farmer Ken Monteith, a former MP for Elgin- Norfolk and a graduate of U of G’s Ridgetown Campus, was recently | named chair of the Ridgetown Agri-Food Foundation, which par- 1 ticipates in strategic planning and fundraising initiatives. CAMPUS DAYS MARCH 15, 16 U of G will welcome up to 3,000 prospective undergraduate stu- dents and their family members to Campus Days March 15 and 16. Activities will include a student panel, academic information ses- sions, resource displays and campus walking tours. Hundreds of U of G faculty, staff and student volunteers will be on hand to talk about university fife. During Campus Days, parking lots P14 and PI 5 will be reserved for visitors. Alternative parking for regular users can be found in P13, P18 and P19. 2007 GUELPH PROJECT A RAW LOOK AT IMPACT OF AIDS The 2007 Guelph Project, a play written by Jessica Fleming and Celene Haberkost that takes a raw look at the impact of AIDS on peo- ple’s lives, runs March 1 to 3 at 8 p.m. at War Memorial Hall. Tickets are $6 and $7 and are available at the door or at the Wellness Centre. ART SALE AND SHOW SET Students from the School of Fine Art and Music will be showing and selling their original lithographs, etchings, and relief and screen prints March 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and March 18 from noon to 5 p.m. in Zavitz 207. Relay for Life to Raise Funds for Cancer Society U ofG holds record for most money raised by a post-secondary institution BY RACHELLE COOPER S PENDING 12 consecutive hours at Alumni Stadium running, walking, eating and napping might not sound like a lot of fun, but U of G Relay for Life participants will tell you it’s a night you’ll never forget. On March 3 1 at 7 p.m., about 400 people will gather at the stadium to begin a non-competitive relay in teams of 10 to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. “This event is so important be- cause it is proof that you can make a difference,’’ says Elizabeth Holmes, chair of the U of G event. “The Cana- dian Cancer Society has a slogan: ‘By giving a few hours of your life, you can add years to the lives of those liv- ing with cancer.’ We’re asking 400 students, staff and faculty to give 12 hours.” Fourth-year biomedical sciences student Megan Hayes, a returning Relay for Life captain, first got in- volved with the event during her sec- ond year when her father was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died in August 2005. “My grandfather had already passed away as a result of cancer, so it’s a very personal issue for my fam- ily,” says Hayes. “I continue to par- ticipate in the relay every year because it’s a way to remember my father. It helps people feel less pow- erless against this disease and gives them somewhere to direct their en- ergy in a positive, proactive way.” The central services unit in Alumni Affairs and Development (AA8cD) decided to get involved in last year’s Relay for Life because two members of the division were bat- tling cancer, says Celeste Bannon Waterman, director of central services. “We’re a very tight-knit unit, and when we heard about the event, it felt like the perfect time and a great way for us to rally around those two indi- viduals in particular and show sup- port for them,” says Bannon Waterman, captain of the AA&D team. “This event is so important because it is proof that you can make a difference. ” In addition to bonding with peo- ple on and off the track, highlights of the event include a survivor-led vic- tory lap for cancer survivors and their families and a candlelight cere- mony to honour or remember loved ones who have battled cancer, says Holmes. Bannon Waterman and her col- leagues are looking forward to par- ticipating again this year. “We still have one team member away on her personal fight, but we are thrilled that the other, Mary Watson, is back and will be joining us this year. She’ll be walking in the survivors’ lap and with us for the whole night.” Adds Hayes: "The relay provides a good support network for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, or who are struggling to en- courage and support a loved one who is currently battling the disease. It makes you realize that this is a huge issue and that none of us are in it alone.” The Relay for Life fundraising initiative takes place across Canada and the United States at various times throughout the year. This is the third year U of G has hosted an event. The University holds the re- cord for most money raised by a post-secondary institution — more than $57,000 last year. Before the event, participants raise $100 each in pledges, on top of their $10 registration fee. All pro- ceeds go to fund cancer research, support programs and advocacy. Holmes notes that the relay is still looking for participants. “So get your team together and register. This is a time for us to stand together as a community, find strength in each other and know that there is hope.” People can also sponsor the event by buying luminaries — candles that are placed in bags and carry the names of cancer survivors and loved ones lost — for $5 online at www. uoguelph.ca/~relay under “Get In- volved” or in the University Centre courtyard on Feb. 28 and March 7, 14 and 22. For more information or to regis- ter, send e-mail to relay@uoguelph. ca or visit www.uoguelph.ca/-relay. Curtain Call Marks 50 years people ENGINEERS CAPTURE SILVER IN DESIGN COMPETITION TO PROTECT WATER SUPPLIES A team of U of G engineers placed second in an international competi- tion to design monitoring sensor networks for protecting water-sup- ply systems. Prof. Ed McBean, pro- fessor emeritus Bill James and then- graduate student Jeanne Huang competed among 15 universities ! and other organizations in a net- work design challenge at the 2006 j Water Distribution System Analysis Symposium in Cincinnati. Guelph | researchers, including Huang as a I post-doc, are now pursuing a patent j for their design. THOMPSON FINALIST FOR PREMIER’S AWARD Prof. Judith Thompson, English and Theatre Studies, was one of six finalists for the inaugural Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. The new honour recognizes out- standing achievement and contri- butions to arts and culture in Ontario by an individual or group. KUDOS FOR VOLUME 8 OF NIGHTINGALE SERIES Volume 8 of The Collected Works of 1 Florence Nightingale, edi ted by Uni- j versity professor emcrita Lynn McDonald, Sociology and Anthro- pology, was selected as an “out- j standing academic book” by CHOICE, the journal of the Associ- ! ation of College and Research I Libraries. Volume 8 is titled j Women: Medicine, Midwifery and 1 ; Prostitution DRAMA PROFS TO LEAD LOCAL WORKSHOP ON SHAKESPEARE Profs. Judith Thompson and Sky Gilbert, English and Theatre Stud- ies, are leading a workshop on “Approaching Shakespeare” March 7 at 8 p.m. at the River Run Centre. The presentation is geared to high school students and teachers but will appeal to anyone with an inter- est in Shakespeare in performance. Tickets are $5 and can be ordered at 519-763-3000. For more infor- mation, call Michael Boterman at Ext. 53147. Theatre troupe celebrates anniversary by staging Tony Award-winning play BY REBECCA KENDALL MTo PEE OR NOT TO PEE?” | That is the question posed by the cast of characters who appear in the Tony Award-winning play Urinetown. The play was selected as this year's musical production to be performed by Curtain Call Produc- tions March 15 to 17 at 8 p.m. in War Memorial Hall, with a 2 p.m. matinee March 17. This year marks the 50th anniver- sary of Curtain Call Productions, which began as a theatre troupe that performed satirical shows but has been producing full-scale musicals annually since 1993. Past shows in- clude West Side Story, A Chorus Line, Guys and Dolls and Annie Get Your Gun. “This year’s selection, Urinetown, is a clever critique of corporatization wrapped in a veil of humour,” says Alii Sinclair, a fourth-year history student and the show’s marketing co-director. “It delivers a powerful message that’s not overbearing or preachy." The group has been working on tire show, which is a story of a town where the water supply is controlled by a greedy corporation and people have to pay for “the privilege to pee," since last April. The nearly 50 mem- bers of the show's cast and crew are rehearsing four or five nights a week, says Sinclair, who has been involved with the group for three years and di- rected last year’s production of Once Upon a Mattress. “I’m actually more excited about this year’s show than any other I’ve been involved in. Urinetown is one of the funniest shows I’ve seen in my life. Our cast is dead-on for the char- acters they’re playing, and the music ranges from gospel and soul to hard rock and ballads. It’s so eclectic. It’s going to be a feast for the senses.” Tickets for the show are $10 and are available at the Central Student Association office, Harmony Crafts and at the door. In addition, the group is inviting all former Curtain Call members and all supporters and sponsors to join the show’s cast and crew at an open- ing-night gala March 15 at 10:30 p.m. at the Bullring. Admission to the gala is free for those who attend that night’s performance and $2 for everyone else. “We have a strong following of alumni and patrons who attend the show each year, and we look forward to seeing them for this milestone weekend,” says Sinclair. “Curtain Call Productions has had a great 50-year run, and we look forward to the next 50.” For more information about Curtain Call Productions or the show, send e-mail to curtaint® uoguelph.ca. The following appointments were recently announced at U of G: • Charles Endeman, lead hand/ agricultural worker, Elora Research Station, Office of Research • Alyssa Foulkes, research animal technican, Campus Animal Facilities • Andrew Goddard, client service clerk, Department of Athletics • Sarah Goody, liaison officer. Admission Services, Office of Registrarial Services • Liz Southwell, Colleague clerk, Undergraduate Program Services, Office of Registrarial Services • Heather Thelwell, graduate secre- tary, Department of Geography • Valerie Wilson, accounting clerk. Department of Psychology • Charlene Winchcombe-Forhan, teaching laboratory technician, 1 dean's office, College of Biological Science. at Guelph 3 February 28, 2007 aoDointments Pension Fund Windup Rules Eat Up ‘Windfall’ Revenue Summerlee ‘bitterly disappointed’ that province refuses to take action BY LORI BONA HUNT “I T WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, it I was the worst of times.” That line borrowed from Charles Dickens sums up the current situation with U of G’s pension fund, says John Miles, assistant vice-president (finance). On the asset side of the pension fund, there was a “windfall” last year when a venture capital investment that was made some 15 years ago was realized, bringing in about $50 mil- lion in one-time revenue, says Miles. It resulted in a 15.7-per-cent in- crease in assets for the year that ended Sept. 30, 2006. On the liability side, however, in- terest rates for long-term invest- ments fell by more than one per cent, which will end up costing the Uni- versity much more than it gained in the windfall, he says. “Every one- per-cent drop in the interest rate costs us about $1 10 million.” Miles says the University is espe- cially affected this year because the year that ended Sept. 30, 2006, is a valuation year, meaning U of G must make multi-million-dollar contri- butions from the operating account to the pension fund. The pension valuation is a com- plex provincial requirement and is not actually related to the state of the pension fund, he says. It’s based on the assumption that the University will be “winding up” its pension plan and settling all liabilities. Essentially, every three years Ontario businesses (including universities) must “prove" they have the financial means to meet current pension requirements. “In other words, we have to show we have the money available to fund all our obligations to all our mem- bers as if the University were closing its doors forever,” says Miles. To do this, the University has to buy low-risk investments that have guaranteed payouts, such as annu- ities. “The lower the interest rates, the more annuities we have to pur- chase to meet the guarantee.” As a result, the historically lower interest rates have driven up the lia- bility side of the pension plan, so the University’s asset returns are not sufficient to meet its funding re- quirements, he says. “So at the end of the day, yes, we had a very good year on the asset side, but we had a worse year in terms of liabilities because we are obligated to fund the pension plan based on the windup.” The bottom line is that the Uni- versity will need to find an additional $30 million in this year’s budget to make up the difference between as- sets and liabilities in the pension fund, says Miles. “The windfall helped, but it did not eliminate the problem, and we are still left with a \aige gap.” The University will be looking at various options to make up the dif- ference, including budget reductions and borrowing money to meet the valuation requirements, he says. President Alastair Summerlee says he and other university presi- dents have approached the province about changing the pension valua- tion system, which he calls “unfair and illogical.” The windup clause in the pension legislation applies to in- stitutions that are likely to close their doors. “Universities do not close, so this financial penalty hurts the quality of education and the employees at the University of Guelph,” he says. He adds that a significant pro- portion of the increased liability is simply due to the provincial funding rules. “The Ontario government com- mitted to a bold investment in the future of the post-secondary system by investing $6.2 billion, but contin- uing to require universities to en- dure a pension windup is just squandering that investment.” Other provinces and the federal government have allowed public- sector institutions to be exempt from such regulations, and Summerlee says he doesn’t under- stand why Ontario hasn’t followed their lead. “I am bitterly disappointed that the provincial government, which has made such public statements about its desire to improve the qual- ity of education, is failing to take ac- tion on this matter.” Pearson Seconded to Build Partnerships With China P rof. Craig Pearson has been seconded to the executive offices for two years starting March 6 to focus on building academic programs and partnerships with China. This new position was recommended in a report by deans to the president in 2005. As a result of his new appoint- ment, Pearson has withdrawn from consideration for a second term as dean of the Ontario Agricultural College. The OAC Dean Review Committee will now become a search committee. Prof. Mary Buhr, currently associate dean (academic), will serve as interim OAC dean until a new dean is appointed. Pearson says he has “immensely enjoyed” his term as dean. “OAC has superb faculty, students and staff, as I said when the college was ranked seventh in the world for its contribu- tions to agriculture and food re- search over the past decade. This new position, however, gives me an opportunity to work towards inter- nationalization of the whole univer- sity, something I have strongly advocated.” Prof. Maureen Mancuso, vice- president (academic), says Pearson has made significant contributions to OAC over the past five years. “In particular, his work to create a multi-campus university and to re- vise OAC as four interacting com- munities of interest will prove to be of lasting benefit to the University.” Grad Is Executive-in-Residence U OF G GRADUATE David Larone has been named executive- in-residence in the School of Hospi- tality and Tourism Management (HTM) for the winter semester. He will be on campus March 13 and 14 speaking to graduate and under- graduate classes and teaching courses. Larone, who graduated from Guelph’s hotel and food administra- tion program in 1975, is director of Pannell Kerr Forster, a Canadian management-consulting firm that is nationally and internationally recog- nized as one of the foremost special- ists in the hospitality, tourism, food-service, leisure-time and real estate industries. He is also a long-standing member of the HTM policy advisory board. “David is well-positioned to dis- cuss a broad range of topics with stu- dents, including resort development and operations, tourism marketing and promotion, and property taxa- tion,” says Prof. Geoff Smith, chair of the Department of Business, who is organizing Larone’s visit. Launched in 1990, the execu- tive-in-residence program gives stu- dents, researchers and faculty a chance to meet and learn from suc- cessful and prominent industry leaders. “Our goal is to give students the opportunity to learn about chal- lenges in the workplace from an in- dustry perspective, and to give both speaker and students a forum in which to discuss ideas and opportu- nities,” says Smith. President Calls for Nominations for Staff Awards New categories introduced to better reflect diversity P RESIDENT Alastair Summerlee is calling for nominations for the 2007 President’s Awards for Exemplary Staff Service. The awards have been revamped this year to better reflect the diversity of people and positions on campus. There are now sue award catego- ries, five for individual nominations and one for a team nomination. The deadline for nominations is May 3 1 . Summerlee created the awards program in 2004 to recognize U of G staff who have consistently demon- strated a commitment to excellence and have exceeded the expectations of their normal employment re- sponsibilities. “We are truly fortunate to have so many dedicated, engaged staff at the University of Guelph,” he says. “They are what truly makes this campus such a great place in which to work and learn.” Summerlee notes that the new award categories better represent the broad range of occupations across the University. The awards are: • Innovative Leadership Recogni- tion Award: Honours an em- ployee who is an innovative thinker and creative implementor who motivates and inspires others through his or her vision. • Service Excellence Recognition Award: Recognizes a staff mem- ber who is on the front line and who motivates and inspires others to excel in customer service. • Hidden Hero Award: For an em- ployee who supports others and provides excellent service behind the scenes. • University of Guelph Spirit Award: Honours someone who demonstrates University spirit by fostering a sense of belonging to the U of G community or by sup- porting and promoting the University. • Community Service Award: Rec- ognizes an employee who demon- strates Guelph’s commitment to community service through vol- unteer work on or off campus. • Exemplary Team Recognition Award: Honours teams that work cohesively, demonstrate a shared commitment to providing excep- tional service and use their com- bined expertise to produce high- quality results. All non-academic full- and part-time U of G staff who have been employed here for at least two years are eligible for the awards. Employ- ees selected receive $2,000 and are recognized during an annual com- munity event. Teams share the cash prize. For more information, visit the Office of the President’s website. A hard copy of the nomination pack- age is also available from the execu- tive offices on Level 4 of the University Centre. Volunteer Awards Honour Winegard Deadline for nominations is March 23 T hree new annual awards that will recognize a U of G student, staff member and faculty member for significant community involvement and charitable activi- ties have been created in honour of former U of G president Bill Winegard. The Dr. William Winegard Ex- emplary Volunteer Involvement Awards have been jointly established by U of G, the United Way and the Volunteer Centre of Guelph/ Wellington to increase recognition of the volunteer involvement of members of the University commu- nity. “Dr. Winegard embodies the community spirit that is so prevalent at the University of Guelph,” says Cathy Taylor of the Volunteer Cen- tre of Guelph/Wellington. “It is with great honour that we name these awards on his behalf.” Winegard came to U of G three years after its founding in 1964 and served as president until 1975. After retiring from academia and U of G, he served as a member of Parliament for Guelph from 1984 to 1993 and became a member of the Privy Council of Canada as minister for science. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1998. “I am pleased by the recognition these awards represent,” says Winegard. “Reaching out has pro- vided me with immense fulfilment over the years, and I’m delighted that students, faculty and staff will be formally praised for their volunteer efforts in the community.” Award organizers are calling for nominations of current U of G stu- dents, staff and faculty members who have devoted time and effort to the development of non-profit/ charitable organizations or charita- ble activities that benefit the com- munity. March 23 is the deadline for submissions. For a nomination package, visit www.volunteerguelphwellington.on .ca. For more information, call 519- 822-0912. at Guelph 4 February 28, 2007 focus Tales From the Crypt BY ANDREW VOWLES I T’S quiet in the Royal Ontario Museum “crypt” where Miranda Elliott spends her days. Three floors below street level, one of the few signs of life is the periodic rumbling of another subway train pulling into the museum stop. The chance of finding any living things inside her subterranean workroom dominated by a bank of freezers lining one wall appears remote. Look again. Housed inside those freezers is a zoo of sorts, albeit one consisting of numer- ous animal tissue samples held at a frigid -80 C. In a sense, it’s the U of G technician’s job to help breathe life back into those frozen speci- mens for the Canadian Barcode of Life Net- work based here at Guelph. From her satellite post in Toronto, Elliott works with researchers at the recently opened Biodiversity Institute of Ontario (BIO) on campus. Dubbed a “bar-coding factory,” the BIO is the hub of the first national network de- voted to systematic DNA bar-coding, or using genetic material to identify and catalogue living things. That multi-million-dollar enterprise headed by Prof. Paul Hebert, Integrative Biol- I ogy, sees researchers at the BIO using DNA-ex- tracting robots to analyze specimens from i bugs to birds, sequencing a telltale bit of their genetic material to distinguish one species from another. Those specimens — anything from insect legs to snippets of tissue — arrive at Guelph regularly, sent by various researchers around the world. But Hebert’s grants also directly employ a handful of technicians mining museum collec- tions elsewhere in Canada and abroad. Besides Elliott at the ROM, he has Allison Shaver and Jose Fernandez Triana working at the Cana- dian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes in Ottawa, processing bug legs from Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera, respec- tively. Hebert also has staff in Germany work- ing on Australian moths and hopes soon to have someone at the Australian Museum in Sydney. Elliott signed on with U of G last fall, just about the time the new BIO building opened on the site of U of G’s former seal research fa- cility. Every day, she walks from her apartment to the ROM, descending three floors to the crypt with its collection of tissue and animal specimens. (It’s not as isolated as it sounds: other ROM staffers work throughout the mu- seum’s basement labs and offices, unseen by the visitors trolling through the galleries upstairs.) She’s methodically working through those specimens, snipping minuscule bits of tissue, preparing the samples, then popping the mate- rial into plastic arrays. Delivered to Guelph, that material is analyzed by BIO employees for its signature mitochondrial gene used as the bi- ologist’s equivalent of a grocery store bar code to distinguish between species of living things. Hebert’s goal is to use that technique to cat- alogue life, a task with potential uses in every- thing from studying biodiversity to identifying invasive organisms to discovering new species. The bar-code library currently contains about 25,000 species, the first leg of Hebert’s hoped-for database of 500,000 species. So far, the group has worked through all the mam- mals in the ROM’s collection; fishes will be next. Elliott works long distance with three BIO researchers on the ROM mammal project. “They tell me what they need, and I go through the collection and sample it.” Lemurs, bats, otters, rats — she’s seen them all, even if only as lumpish bits of tissue. Al- though the McGill University biology graduate knows many of their scientific names, often she finds herself collecting one specimen after another revealed only as strings of Latin. Her Guelph collaborators visit once in a while to collect her latest instalment Occa- sionally she boards a bus for the ride to U of G, her latest collection of sample arrays tucked in , an ice-filled cooler on the seat beside her. “It’s an exciting phase in museum history,” ' says Elliott. “It’s a whole new way of taking | stock of collections.” Referring to habitat loss and threats to liv- ing things that may not even be known to sci- ence, she adds: “It’s incredibly important to take genetic stock of life.” After receiving her undergraduate degree, she went to London, England, to work at the Natural History Museum. There she got her first taste of DNA bar-coding with entomolo- gist Alfried Vogler. (U ofG and the British mu- seum are among numerous research institutions worldwide involved with an inter- national bar-coding project called the Barcode of Life Initiative.) She plans to return to London to do a mas- ter’s program in bioethics at the London School of Economics, perhaps to work in international health. For now, Elliott is enjoying her daily rou- f tine, not Yeast because it cvoV.cs cYuYdbood . memories of visiting the ROM. Having grown up in downtown Toronto, she had collected her own mental icons of the museum — the di- nosaurs, the mummies, the totem pole occu- pying the central stairwell. Talking about her current job with people reminds her that she’s not alone in treasuring those remembrances. “People have strong memories. They get re- ally excited and want to know all about it.” DNA Bar-Coding Reveals New Bird, Bat Species Canadian, U.S. researchers publish findings in two separate studies in journal Molecular Ecology Notes BY LORI BONA HUNT B uilding on earlier ground- breaking research, U of G scientists are now providing evi- dence of 15 overlooked species of North American birds and six new species of bats through DNA bar- coding, a technique that identifies living things by genetics rather than appearance. The findings of Elizabeth Clare, Kevin Kerr and Prof. Paul Hebert, all of the Department of Integrative Bi- ology, and researchers from Rockefeller University, the Canadian Wildlife Service, the Smithsonian In- stitution and the Royal Ontario Mu- seum were published Feb. 19 in two separate studies in the journal Mo- lecular Ecology Notes. For the bird study, Hebert and his colleagues examined 643 species — 93 per cent of the known breeding species in the United States and Can- ada. In addition to discovering 15 new College Royal 2007 Open House Weekend: March 17 & 18, 2007 Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. University of Guelph Campus (519) 824-4120, Ext. 58366 www.collegeroyal.uoguelph.ca Come celebrate with us! Animals, displays, shows. Fun for all! FREE species, they found 14 pairs of North American bird species with separate identities that are, in fact, DNA twins. They also found three DNA triplets and eight gull species that are virtually identical. In all, 2,500 specimens were examined. “Now with the vast majority of birds on the continent bar-coded, it’s hard to argue that bar-coding might work for the easy stuff but miss the difficult cases of closely re- lated taxa,” says Hebert, who is di- rector of the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario. For the bat study, the researchers analyzed 87 species from Guyana, discovering six new species. It was a surprisingly high percentage, given that the bats of the South American country have been subjected to in- tensive taxonomic work, he says. “We wanted to give bar-coding the toughest possible test. In doing so, we discovered a number of over- looked bats.” Among the new species is a bat that feasts on frogs and looks identi- cal to the charismatically unattrac- tive Trachops cirrhosus. Banner Stands Order new or we can print new graphics for your existing banner stand |EjJ SSRoland at Guelph 5 February 28, 2007 Prof Aims to Make Art Accessible Art writer and critic takes an inclusive approach in his work and in the classroom I BY DAVID DICENZO L ooking back, Prof. Dan Adler recalls 2005 as one of the most I stressful times in his life. Two I summers ago, Adler, a recent addi- tion to the School of Fine Art and Music (SOFAM), had just com- pleted a three-year stint as an editor of the Bibliography of the History of Art a t the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles when he packed up and drove to New Orleans. The Toronto-born art writer and ' critic says he was eager to get back , into academia, so when a job came up at the University of New Orleans, I he headed for the bayou. Two j months later, hurricane Katrina hit. Adler says he was lucky. He man- ! aged to evacuate and hLs home was I still standing after the Category 5 storm had passed. After a two- month period in which the city had | no power, he returned to the devas- j tated region and helped the best way he knew how — by teaching. “The students, most of whom I had lost everything, were living in I trailers," he says. “I was helping to | give them one of the few positive things in their life — an education. I I felt good about finishing my year j there before starting a new chapter in my life.” That new chapter began when Adler was offered a job at U of G. He says the decision to comehere was an | easy one for two reasons — Guelph’s | reputation for having one of the top-ranked studio art programs in the country and his own eagerness to i return home and contribute to the discourse on Canadian art. As a member of the art commu- nities in major metropolitan centres like Los Angeles and New York City, where he earned his PhD in art his- tory from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, Adler believes he can offer a unique per- spective in that discourse. “The fact that I have lived in other places helps me play the role of pro- moting and elevating Canadian art- ists within an international context .” His main areas of interest are as- sociated with two distinct periods — the origins of art history, some of which dates back to tum-of-the-cen- tury Germany, and contemporary installation art. Adler says that, as a graduate student, he was confused about what type of art he wanted to study, so he opted to “write about art writing.” He spent a year in Munich writing his dissertation on the topic and is now in the process of turning that into a book, one of two book projects on the go. Adler’s interest in the old is juxta- posed with an appreciation for all that’s new. As a regular contributor to publications like Art in America and Artforum International, he has had a chance to write reviews of con- temporary shows that feature a vari- ety of forms, including painting, sculpture, film and video. Cady Noland, Rachel Harrison, Louise Lawler and Thomas Hirshhom are some of the contemporary artists he is currently researching. New technologies are of particu- lar interest to Adler, as is curating art shows. In 2006, he organized an in- stallation art show that was exhibited first at the Contemporary Art Gal- lery in Vancouver and then at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, a non-profit space. He’s well aware that he addresses different audiences with his work, and he wants to make art accessible to all of them. “It’s important to reach a wider audience with your work,” he says. “It’s important to avoid language that’s exclusive. The art criticism I write doesn’t have much jargon, and the show I organized is quite accessi- ble. It’s very important for me to try and do that.” Adler has implemented that in- clusive approach at U of G, specifi- cally with his course "Visual Arts of Today,” a first-year survey of con- temporary art. Despite the large group of 250 students, he tries to make it as comfortable as possible, aiming to encourage discussion both during and after class. “The course assumes you have no background at all,” he says. “What I do is introduce students, some of whom have never been in an art gal- lery or to a museum, to the major tendencies and the major move- ments and issues that surround contemporary art. Sometimes con- temporary art can be intimidating for someone with no background in it. I see that as a challenge, making that material accessible to people who have no experience at all.” Outside of class, Adler is cur- rently involved in the lengthy pro- cess of helping to digitize SOFAM’s extensive slide collection, as well as reacquainting himself with the local art communities in both Guelph and Toronto. He says he’s enjoying being able to visit his favourite galleries, such as the Power Plant in Toronto, where he sees lots of familiar faces, including Guelph MFA grads. It’s a life far removed from the turbulence of New Orleans, he ad- mits. “It’s wonderful to be back in Canada and teaching at Guelph,” he says. “This new chapter in my life is turning out to be the best one yet.” Support for Clickers in the Classroom Grows i>clicker technology gets the nod after TSS invites campus instructors to test drive three shortlisted clicker products M ore and more students may be adding a small piece of technology to their backpack in coming semesters because of a recent decision on campus. The i>clicker, a palm-sized gadget about the size of a TV remote, is one of three tools assessed last semester as part of an initiative spearheaded by Teaching Support Services (TSS). In sessions hosted by TSS, interested instructors had a chance to “test drive” three shortlisted clicker products and have their questions and concerns On-Campus PARKING NOTICE On Thursday, March 15, and Friday, March 16, P14 and 15 (adjacent to the Child-Care and Learning Centre and Alumni House) will be reserved for Campus Days visitors only. Please plan to use alternate parking lots PI 3 (near Maritime Hall), PI 8 (near East Residence) and PI 9 (near Lambton Hall). Your co-operation is greatly appreciated as the University of Guelph welcomes prospective students and their families to Campus Days, one of our most important on-campus recruitment events of the year. addressed by the vendors directly. Based on the feedback received through follow-up surveys and dis- cussions with these faculty, the i>clicker was determined to be the product best-suited to Guelph’s needs, says Aldo Caputo, TSS man- ager of learning technology and courseware innovation. Q eorge/y Windows and Doors George Wallace 11 Victoria Road North, Guelph, Ont. N1E SG6 (519) 8*1-7100 Fax (519) 821-7810 Formally called audience in-class response systems, clickers are used in a number of ways: to poll student opinions; as a form of peer teaching (students discuss questions among themselves before inputting individ- ual clicker responses); to determine whether key concepts are being un- derstood and adjust the lecture ac- cordingly; and, in some cases, as an in-class grading tool with marks in- corporated into students’ WebCT gradebooks. From the handful of courses cur- rently using i> clickers this semester, the number is expected to ramp up significantly next fall, says Caputo. TSS will help faculty use the devices, providing support and integrating them with WebCT to make registra- tion and record-keeping easier, he says. The U ofG Bookstore will sell the clickers and is also initiating a buy- back program where students can buy and sell used clickers. This semester is seen as a transi- tion period, says Caputo. He notes that some courses had already or- dered clickers from other vendors before the decision was made to sup- port the i>clicker technology. These courses will probably make the tran- sition to the new clickers in the fall, he says, but some instructors may prefer to stick with a clicker they’ve already used or one that comes bun- dled with a course textbook. Mats Selen, a two-time U of G physics graduate who now teaches at the University of Illinois, is one of the two developers of the i>clicker, says Caputo. “Their goal to design a device specifically for use in a higher- education setting, combined with years of prototyping and in- class trials, has resulted in a clicker that is simple to use and reliable.” For anyone interested in learning more about i>clickers, TSS is hosting an information session March 8 . At the session, instructors who’ve been using i>clickers will discuss their ex- periences, and technical support staff will be on hand to answer ques- tions. To register for the session, visit the TSS website at www.tss. uoguelph.ca. To find out how i>clickers can be used in the class- room, call Caputo at Ext. 52936. at Guelph 6 February 28 , 2007 WINTER 2007 |iqlav£|u 358 Cordon Street at College Avenue Guelph, Ontario, NlC 1Y1 HOURS Art Centre/Gallery Shop Tues. to Sun., noon to 5 pm from January to July August by appointment Sculpture Park open year round dawn to dusk Admission by donation Free parking TEL 519.837.0010 FAX 5i9.767.l66l info@msac.ca www.msac.ca Macdonald Stewart Art Centre cuelph's public art gallery & sculpture park Shakespeare — Made in Canada Contemporary Canadian Adaptations in Theatre, Pop Media and Visual Arts January 11 to June 10 From January through May 2007, the Shakespeare — Made in Canada festival features theatrical and musical performances, museum exhibitions, a speaker series, school tours, and more throughout the Guelph- Wellington region. At the centre of the festival is the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre’s exhibition that explores contemporary Canadian adaptations in theatre, pop media, and visual arts in a stunning demonstration of the Shakespeare effect in Canadian culture. It brings together for the first time hundreds of rare artifacts, including the Canadian-owned Sanders portrait, contemporary Canadian theatre designs, Shakespeare in French Canada, contemporary Aboriginal adaptations of Shakespeare, new portraiture, an innovative learning commons for youth, as well as new and archival material from the Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare Project, the L. W. Conolly Theatre Archives (University of Guelph), and the Stratford Festival of Canada. A The Sanders Portrait Collection of Lloyd Sullivan Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto (ago id 33959) A The Sanders portrait revealed to a standing- room-only crowd at the opening reception and festival launch of Shakespeare — Made in Canada on January 11, 2007. PHOTO BY ALICIA M. SALYI, VOLUNTEER OOCENT Shakespeare — Made in Canada is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the University of Guelph, the City of Guelph, Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, Stratford Festival, and the Guelph Arts Council. At the origin of the festival was the opportunity to borrow the Sanders portrait, reportedly the only known portrait of William Shakespeare created in his lifetime, which has resided in the same family for 400 years. Current owner Lloyd Sullivan of Ottawa, a retired Bell engineer, has single-handedly and painstakingly researched the provenance of the portrait in an attempt to definitively prove, through scientific and genealogical research, the painting’s authorship and authenticity. The Sanders portrait and the fascinating results of Sullivan’s efforts are on view at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, marking only the third time in the painting’s history that it has been shown in public. The Shakespeare — Made in Canada curatorial team, lead by Judith Nasby, director and curator of the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, and Daniel Fischlin, founder and director of the Canadian Adaptations ol Shakespeare Project, developed the idea of an expansive exhibition to present contemporary Canadian [ CONTINUE 0 ON PACE 3] Dawn Matheson: A Sound Installation January ll to June 10 Created by Guelph multimedia artist/ writer Dawn Matheson, Tongues in Trees is an audio intervention commissioned by the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre for the sculpture park featuring Shakespeare’s best known monologues recited by adult literacy learners from Action Read Guelph: Richard Dankert (Romeo and Juliet 2.2), Kendra Dewar (Romeo and Juliet 2.2), Dave Harnden (Macbeth 5.5), Deborah Murray (As You Like It 2.7), Andrew Saunders (Henry V 3.1), Kathryn Ssedoga (The Merchant of Venice 4.1), Cheryl Turner (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2.2), and Shawn Turner (Hamlet 3.1). The genesis of Tongues in Trees is rooted in Matheson’s experiences as an interdisciplinary artist and writer. Matheson describes her relationship to Shakespeare and the Tongues in Trees project: ‘In Shakespeare’s day, everyone went to the theatre: the commoners, or “groundlings,’’ were packed in at ground level; the nobility, displayed above in the balconies. Shakespeare’s stories were for all people: a beautiful inclusivity. You didn’t have to be cultured, educated or even know how to read to get Shakespeare (the majority of his audience was “illiterate,” some scholars even doubt Shakespeare’s own level of literacy). You need only have had the experience of being alive, to have ever pondered your purpose, or Tongues in Trees to have asked the question: “What is this quintessence of dust?” ‘Today, Shakespeare is quoted in the university classroom, not so much on the park bench downtown. In the theatre, the main floor seats are now top-priced, inaccessible to most. Shakespeare is used as an icon of literary achievement; he is not seen as an artist of Everyman, Everywoman. Still, Shakespeare’s influence has been immense. At the very heart of the Shakespeare — Made in Canada festival is the question: Who owns Shakespeare ? I believe the answer to be: Anyone who stakes claim does.’ And, so, adult literacy learners from Action Read Guelph perform Tongues in Trees , their literacy challenges a result of learning disabilities and/or limited access to education due to troubled or low-income histories. Few knew of Shakespeare’s work. Once introduced, each participant handpicked their monologue, based on personal life experience. The title, Tongues in Trees , is taken from a phrase spoken by the banished Duke in Shakespeare’s As You Like It. In the forest, outside the “painted pomp” of the palace walls, the Duke revels in the natural world where anything can happen, life is raw, people are real, and "tongues [are] in trees.” Dawn Matheson thanks Mira Clarke, Sarah Dermer, and Kimm Khagram from A Andrew Saunders performs a monologue from Henry V (3.1) in the sculpture park. PHOTO BY OON RUSSELL Action Read; Gord Rand for his acting expertise; and Daniel Fischlin, Darina Griffin, Judith Nasby, and Dawn Owen for their encouragement with the project. She especially thanks the Tongues in Trees performers, her “greatest teachers of the Bard’s work to date.” Technical direction for this piece was done by Toronto-based composer/improviser Nick Storring . Artist's Talk with Dawn Matheson and participants from Action Read Guelph Tuesday, March 6 at noon 2 | WINTER 2007 MACDONALD STEWART ART CENTRE Visions of Shakespeare / Re-visions of Canada Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare Project January ll to June 10 Exhibitions on Tour Rolph Scarlett at the Design Exchange The internationally- touring, award- winning exhibition, Rolph Scarlett: Painter, Designer, Jeweller, represents 25 years of scholarly research by exhibition curator Judith Nasby. A popular and critical success, the exhibition has been shown in Canada, the United States, and Japan. The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre partners with the Design Exchange (Toronto) in its latest presentation, on view from June 30 to July 29, 2007. The exhibition is supported by Nasby’s book, titled Rolph Scarlett: Painter, Designer, Jeweller (mqup 2004), which received the 2005 Ontario Association of Art Galleries curatorial writing award in the book category. In 2006, Nasby was the first recipient of the Ontario Craft Council annual curatorial award for the Scarlett exhibition and book. Irene Avaalaaqiaq in Seoul, Korea The exhibition, Irene Avaalaaqiaq: Myth and Reality, curated by Judith Nasby and circulated by the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, continues its international tour to Seoul, Korea in August 2007. The exhibition is currently on view at the Art Gallery of the Canadian Bmbassy in Tokyo to March 10 . It is supported by Nasby’s book titled Irene Avaalaaqiaq: Myth and Reality (mqup 2002 ). Art Centre News Our Team The Art Centre acknowledges our dedicated student employees (Ontario Work Study Program) and interns who gain valuable experience working with gallery staff in all aspects of Art Centre operations: Rachel Albano, Amanda Brason, Laura Bydlowska, Amy Calder, Josh Cleminson, Jennifer Cupid, Jess Devenport, Bmily Drinkwater, Joel Fullerton, Nicole Hewat, Alison Little, Pam Lobb, Alissa Lumsden, John Mattucci, and Lindsey McBoyle. Gallery Shop/Art Sales & Rental The Gallery Shop offers a wide selection of Inuit sculptures, as well as works by regional artists in pottery, raku, blown glass, wood and silver. Original art works in a variety of media are available for sale, or minimal rental costs. Come in and browse. Perhaps you will find that special gift you have been looking for. Proceeds from the Gallery Shop/Art Sales <& Rental sponsor art acquisitions. (Contact the Gallery Shop at 519-837-3808.) A Monique Mojica as Caesar and Michaela Washburn as Brutus in a workshop performance of Death of a Chief, an adaptation of Julius Caesar co-adapted and co-directed by Yvette Nolan and Kennedy (Cathy) MacKinnon for Native Earth Performing Arts (performed at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, October 2006). PHOTO MARION CRUNER The Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare Project (casp) began as an archival project led by Daniel Fischlin, professor in the School of English and Theatre Studies at the University of Guelph. Fischlin’s goal was to document theatrical adaptations of Shakespeare by Canadians. The result has been five years of research and an expansive online database containing more than 500 Canadian plays that adapt, corrupt, interpret, riff on, spin-off, bastardize, hijack, and talk back to the Bard, casp is the largest Shakespeare website January 11 to June 10 The Stratford Festival Archives is the world’s largest performing arts archive devoted to a single theatre. The complete history of one of the world’s foremost classical theatres is housed in a state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility. The Festival’s most significant contribution to the world of Shakespearean performance is its revolutionary thrust stage, celebrate here in the exhibition, A Good Block, curated by Jane Edmonds. In 1951, Stratford journalist Tom Patterson envisioned a Shakespearean festival as a way to revive his hometown of Stratford. He invited British director Tyrone Guthrie to advise on its development. In the same year, the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters & Sciences, better known as the Massey Report, was published, leading to the establishment of the Canada Council for the Arts in 1957. Robertson Davies, who wrote the theatre portion of the report, argued that while Canada had its share of theatrical talent, it lacked facilities, training, and opportunity. In 1952, Guthrie told the Shakespeare Stage Society: “There will be no drastic improvement in staging Shakespeare until there is a return to certain basic conditions of the Shakespeare stage. There is no need for an exact replica of the Globe Theatre, but it is essential to make the contact between players and audience as intimate as possible.” In 1953, a simple oak stage was built in the midst of a cement circle. Consisting of a hexagonal, curtainless apron of oak, with a diagonal prow for a balcony, this innovative “thrust” stage was an experiment — one that would eventually be imitated many times over and would, in fact, change the way Shakespeare is presented around the world. Taking its inspiration from both the Elizabethan stage with its pillared, porticoed facade, as well as ancient Greek amphitheatres, the stage was realized by English designer Tanya Moiseiwitsch. Now internationally famous, the Stratford Festival has presented productions of Shakespeare on this wooden stage that rival productions around the world. The exhibition, A Good Block, features a full-scale mirror-image model of the thrust stage balcony in the world and is the only project of its kind that investigates the relationship between national identity and Shakespeare (www.canadianshakespeares.ca is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada). The casp exhibition, curated by Daniel Fischlin and Leanore Lieblein, welcomes visitors to explore a sample of the wide variety of new and archival material. Some connections are surprising, while others will be familiar due to the degree to which Shakespeare is embedded in Canadian culture. The result is the Shakespeare effect — Shakespeare’s cultural capital circulates at so many levels of Canadian creative and intellectual production that he is impossible to escape. Invoking the Bard’s work — through the language we use, the stories we tell, and the ways that we generally understand the people and world around us — signals authority, legitimacy, and power. The exhibition features four streams of Canadian Shakespearean adaptation: pre- and post-Confederation Canada; youth and Shakespeare; Shakespeare in French Canada; and Aboriginal adaptations of Shakespeare. This gallery includes a short video, titled What Means This Shouting ?, co-produced by Marion Gruner and Sorouja Moll, that documents some of the points of contact among Shakespeare, Canadian colonial culture, and contemporary Canadian Aboriginal theatre practice. The video focuses on Death of a Chief, an adaptation of Julius Caesar co-adapted and co-directed by Yvette Nolan and Kennedy (Cathy) MacKinnon, which features a mostly female cast from Native Earth Performing Arts. A The Stratford Festival of Canada's thrust stage (1997) demonstrating the changes that the stage underwent from 1953 to 1962 (under then-artistic director Michael Langham and Moiseiwitsch in association with designer Brian Jackson). Costumes and props from the 2006 production of Twelfth Night (designed by John Pennoyer), including a caged, animatronic Langur Monkey and a Green Indian Ring-necked Parakeet, are also on view. Infamous for their creation of faux food and d£cor, the Stratford exhibition also includes a bushel of apples and a Boar’s Head Tavern Tapestry, from the 2006 production of Henry IV, Part 1 (designed by Dana Osborne), as well as a Jousting Horse from the 1979 production of Richard II (designed by Daphne Dare). This metal horse, which has a twin, exemplifies the fine metal work produced at the Stratford Festival. Also on view is a crown designed by Ann Curtis for the 1994 production of King John which was used again in a 1996 production of King Lear. The crown is a replica of Queen Blizabeth II’s coronation crown. On seeing the replica, the Queen commented: “I’m sure the original is much heavier!” A Rolph Scarlett, Geometric 1 , 1935 (gouache and ink on paper) Private Collection PHOTO DEAN PALMER a Irene Avaalaaqiaq Multiple-Headed Humans ; 1994 (wool duffle and felt, cotton embroidery thread) Collection of Bruce and Lesley Campbell A Good Block The Stratford Festival of Canada MACDONALD STEWART ART CENTRE WINTER 2007 | 3 Possible Worlds — Designing for Shakespeare in Canada January ll to June 10 A Susan Benson, costume design for Romeo and Juliet (The National Ballet of Canada, 1994) The Possible Worlds exhibition, curated by Pat Flood, features some of the finest examples of contemporary Canadian theatrical design for Shakespeare. The work derives from the L. W. Conolly Theatre Archive at the University of Guelph — the largest archive on theatre in Canada — and from the Canadian Theatre Museum, Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, Stratford Festival Archives, and private collections. This exhibition offers a rare public forum for the documentation and public presentation of work by contemporary Canadian theatre artists. It features set and costume designs for King Lear by Canadian artists spanning a century of production, from Rolph Scarlett (1889-1984) and Herbert Whittaker (1910-2006) to contemporary designers Cameron Porteous, Patrick Clark, and Charlotte Dean. Port Hope artist Arline Smith’s miniature “ Dream” Theatre (2006) adapts the play within the play from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream , featuring a full cast of characters animated by fibre optic lighting and accompanied by a performance recording set to Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. Smith, a set, prop, jewelry, and costume maker who began her career at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford (Bngland), has rendered the “ Dream 0 Theatre in exquisite detail. Teresa Przybylski’s animated set design for The Comedy of Errors (Stratford Festival, 1994) was constructed of simple frames manipulated by the actors during the performance to conjure rooms, walls, and doors. Przybylski’s design was so effective that at one point in the production, when an actor was pushed through a frame that had previously represented a wall, the audience gasped! Astrid Janson’s set and costume designs for Harlem Duet, an adaptive prequel to Othello written by Djanet Sears, was the first all-Black play produced at Stratford and is the only work included in the exhibition that is set in a contemporary time period. These are but a few examples among many extraordinary works by contemporary Canadian artists on view in this exhibition. Gallery Talk with Pat Flood Tuesday, May 15 at noon Finding the Bard in Contemporary Portraiture January 11 to June 10 The exhibition Finding the Bard in Contemporary Portraiture, curated by Judith Nasby, features works by sixteen Canadian artists who engage the portrait genre: Mary Aski-Piyesiwiskwew Longman, Susan Bozic, Jaclyn Conley, Oswaldo DeLeon Kantule, fastwurms, Verne Harrison, Andrew Harwood, Fiona Kinsella, Lyne Lapointe, Stephen Livick, Shelley Niro, Bvan Penny, Ryan Price, Shannon Reynolds, Cheryl Ruddock, and Jean-Paul Tousignant. Since the seventeenth century, when the artist’s primary objective was to make an accurate visual depiction of a person, portraiture has changed dramatically. Today portraits are idiosyncratic, evocative, and broadly open to interpretation by the artist and the viewer alike, rather than literal representations. This exhibition of contemporary portraiture reveals the influence of William Shakespeare on contemporary notions of character and serves as a counterpoint to the Sanders seventeenth-century oil-on-panel. Six of the featured artists were invited to create new works for the exhibition. Hamilton artist Fiona Kinsella’s reliquary sculpture, titled (cake) Patron Saint of England (Feast Day of St. George, April 23rd. Protector against poison), draws parallels between St. George, Bngland, Shakespeare, Canada, and Guelph. Montreal artist Lyne Lapointe’s painting, titled The Hobby Horse, envisions Shakespeare as a toy hobby horse, a contemporary symbol of gay culture. Guelph artist Ryan Price’s oversized Bottom Head (2007) is a wearable mask that recalls the comedic Nick Bottom from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Nasby also repositions existing portraits by Canadian artists within a Shakespearean framework, acknowledging the Shakespeare effect at work. Saulteau artist Mary Aski-Piyesiwiskwew Longman’s sculpture, titled Elk Man Waiting for Love (1996), depicts a nude male figure with the head and antlers of an elk; he cups two stones intertwined with strands of hair, and emits the elk’s urgent bay from a hidden audio tape (on loan from the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, purchased with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts Acquisition Assistance Program and funding from the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation). Longman’s Elk Man enacts a Plains courting ritual, but is cast here as an image of unrequited love, a theme that permeates Shakespeare’s plays. Other works selected for this exhibition illustrate the art historical lineage from Shakespeare’s day to the present. Toronto-based Bvan Penny’s extraordinarily realistic Self-Portrait (2003) reinforces representation as a construct (on loan from William R. and Sydney Pieschel, courtesy of the Tr^panierBaer Gallery, Calgary). From a frontal view. Penny’s sculpture projects from the wall as though the artist himself stands in the gallery, from an oblique view the sculpture is dramatically foreshortened. In the time of Shakespeare, artists experimented with anamorphism, the mathematical distortion of an image that is visually incomprehensible from one perspective, yet clearly visible from another. With this sculpture. Penny utilizes the OUT. Romm f>y Mr BARRY Capuht M»i Sirx'n r» t| Ml i Kf—jVy «■ «''C' «*.»<>«. CIII-lK Fryir Laurtx:/ by . Totii Mf. C If. J»#.(iN.CtiULU III __ Mermiii bf Mr l£T £ R Muff b,Mn. P V Juliet by MU* N O S S 1 T £ R. . VI rm uu ? L A « >r *> "V The Funeral Proe<$ion of J VL t £ T A S 0 t T V*N***D l * C f rt ' HAfUEOWN SORCERER: A Lyne Lapointe, The Hobby Horse \ 2006 (wood, paper, oil paint, metal, pearl, printed photograph) Purchased with funds raised by the Art Centre volunteers, and with the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts Acquisition Assistance Program, 2006, Macdonald Stewart Art Centre Collection principles of sixteenth-century anamorphism in the construction of a post-modern art work. The artists selected for this exhibition extend our ideas of what constitutes a portrait with intriguing works that explore characterization and human nature. They do so in ways that reference Shakespeare— sometimes unconsciously. Portraiture provides an important medium for articulating issues of identity, through contemporary and historical narratives and allegorical symbolism. The metaphorically rich literary and historical references in this exhibition engage the viewer in an ongoing inquiry into the role of portraiture in contemporary visual culture. [SHAKESPEARE MADE IN CANADA CONTINUED FROM PACE l] adaptations of Shakespeare as a complement to the Sanders portrait — an extraordinary collaboration of the Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare Project, Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, Office of Open Learning, School of English and Theatre Studies, Stratford Festival of Canada, and L. W. Conolly Theatre Archives at the University of Guelph Library. Nasby and Fischlin worked with five co-curators: Lome Bruce, Head of Archival and Special Collections, University of Guelph Library, Jane Bdmonds, Archivist and Researcher, Stratford Festival of Canada; Pat Flood, Professor, School of Bnglish and Theatre Studies, University of Guelph; Jim Hunt, Professor Bmeritus, Department of Physics, University of Guelph; and Leanore Lieblein, former Associate Professor and Chair, Bnglish Department, McGill University. The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre has published an exquisitely illustrated, 176-page publication, a lasting document of this collaboration in theatre, pop media, and visual arts. Co-edited by the exhibition curators, Nasby and Fischlin, the book contains essays by the co-curators, by Pat Morden, in association with the Stratford Festival of Canada, Lloyd Sullivan, and Lorna Rourke, Liaison Librarian, University of Guelph, as well as written contributions by Guelph artist/musician Nick Craine, multimedia artist/producer Marion Gruner, Guelph multimedia artist/writer Dawn Matheson, writer/playwright Sorouja Moll, playwright/ director/dramaturg Yvette Nolan, and playwright/actor/ director Djanet Sears. In conjunction with the Shakespeare — Made in Canada exhibition, the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre has published Parchment of Light: The Life & Death of William Shakespeare, a graphic novel work-in-progress by Nick Craine. In spring 2007, the Art Centre will publish a brochure/catalogue in support of Dawn Matheson's audio intervention in the gallery’s sculpture park. Tongues in Trees features Shakespeare’s best known monologues recited by adult literacy learners from Action Read Guelph. feuelph ^g uelph Y stratford Festival of Canada MACDONALD STEWART ART CENTRE 4 | WINTER 2007 Exhibitions March 6 Brown Bag Lunch for Dawn Matheson's Tongues in Trees Shakespeare — Made in Canada Contemporary Canadian Adaptations in Theatre, Pop Media and Visual Arts January li to June 10, 2007 FEATURING Dawn Matheson: Tongues in Trees A Sound Installation The Sanders Portrait This Is the Face of the Bard Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare Project Possible Worlds — Designing for Shakespeare in Canada A Good Block: Stratford Festival of Canada April 17 Brown Bag Lunch for Sorouja Moll's girlswork Finding the Bard in Contemporary Portraiture Pourquoi Shakespeare? Shakespeare in the L. W. Conolly Theatre Archives Shakespeare Learning Commons Events Friday, January 12 at noon gallbry talk: Daniel Fischlin and Lloyd Sullivan on “The Sanders Portrait” Tuesday, January 16 at noon GALLBRY TALK: Lewis Abbott on “Stratford 2007 to London 1607 — Bridging 400 Years” Tuesday, February 13 at noon brown BAG LUNCH: Jim Hunt on “Anamorphic Art in the Time of Shakespeare” Tuesday, March 6 at noon brown bag lunch: Dawn Matheson on “Tongues in Trees-. A Sound Installation” featuring adult literacy learners Richard Dankert, Kendra Dewar, Andrew April 24 Brown Bag Lunch with Saunders, Kathryn Ssedoga, and Shawn Turner from actor Barry MacGregor Action Read Guelph. Tuesday, April 3 at 9 am public lbcturb: Lee Maracle, poet, author, cultural director of the Centre for Indigenous Theatre (Toronto), and Creative Writer in Residence at the University of Guelph, on her work, followed by coffee and croissants Tuesday, April 17 at noon brown BAG LUNCH: Sorouja Moll discusses her play, girlswork, an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, and presents selected readings from the playscript Tuesday, April 24 at noon BROWN BAG LUNCH: Actor Barry MacGregor with “Observations and Reactions to his Craft Regarding Plays by William Shakespeare” May 1 Concert with singer/ songwriter Diane Nalini Tuesday, May 1 at noon VOLUNTBBR APPRECIATION LUNCHBON Tuesday, May 1 at 1:30 pm concbrt: Canadian singer/songwriter Diane Nalini and her musicians perform Songs of Sweet Fire, a collection of fifteen sonnets by William Shakespeare set to her original jazz, funk, and blues music, also featuring a selection of Nalini’s watercolours inspired by the Songs of Sweet Fire. Tickets $10 at the door. Tuesday, May 15 at noon brown bag lunch: Pat Flood on “Possible Worlds — Designing for Shakespeare in Canada” May 15 Brown Bag Lunch with Pat Flood Thursday, May 17 at noon public lbcturb: Tony Pointon, professor emeritus from the University of Portsmouth, on “The Improbable Shakespeares” Sunday, June 24 from noon to 5:30 PM gardbnscapbs 2007: the 15th annual self-guided tour of Guelph gardens, organized by the Art Centre Volunteers, featuring the extraordinary properties cultivated by 11 local gardeners, complimentary refreshments will be served at the Macdonald Stewart June 24 Gardenscapes 2007 Art Centre, where the gift shop and sculpture park are also open (Tickets S12, for information call 519.837.0010 or visit www.msac.ca) Contact Aidan Ware, Public Programming Assistant, for conference, reception, and tour bookings (info(|)msac.ca or 519.837.0010). left, top to bottom Kathryn Ssegoda performs a monologue from The Merchont of Venice (4.1); Arnhem Girls from girlswork, an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet by Sorouja Moll; Barry MacGregor right, top to bottom Diane Nalini's Songs of Sweet Fire, Teresa Przybylski, costume design for The Comedy of Errors (Stratford Festival, 1994 ); Gardenscapes photo detail by Annette Twist GKNAR The World’s Finest Brands... Without Circling the Globe. 56 St. Georges Square, Guelph 519.82L7982 80 King St. S., Waterloo 519.888.9200 321 Cornwall Rd.. Oakville 905.815.8777 The Bookshelf 41 Quebec St Downtown Guelph bookstore • cafe cinema • eBar gallery space for show times and events 519 - 821-3311 www.bookshelf.ca harbinier gallery) Canadian Painting, Jewellery, Clay, Glass, Sculpture, Printmaking, Drawing, and Mixed Media 22 Dupont Street East Waterloo, ON N 2 J 2 G 9 519 - 747-4644 Tues-Fri 10 : 30-6 | Sat 10 : 30-5 yBAcwww.harbingergallery.com (b- 358 Cordon Street at College Avenue, Guelph, Ontario, NiC 1Y1 | Admission by donation | Free Parking art centre/gallery shop hours Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 5 pm from January 11 to July 8, 2007 (open by appointment only from July 9 to September 5, 2007) sculpture park hours open year round, dawn to dusk tel 519.837.0010 | fax 519.767.2661 | info@msac.ca | www.msac.ca The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre is supported by its sponsors: the University of Guelph; the City of Guelph; the Upper Grand District School Board; and the County of Wellington; by memberships and donations; and by grants from the Ontario Government through the Ontario Arts Council and the Ministry of Culture, and from the Federal Government through the Canada Council for the Arts and the Museums Assistance Program of Canadian Heritage. Special thanks to @Cuelph and the University of Guelph Communications and Public Affairs. comm dcs ojrrt oc ioxtajco Canada Council Conseil des Arts for the Arts du Canada - - Profile Northern Reflections Former CBC radio host studies loss of identity in northern Ontario’s rural communities M argie Taylor has never entirely left behind her northern Ontario roots. For three decades, the Thunder Bay native hopscotched around the country as a host and producer of CBC radio programs. In 2003, a year after she left the national broadcaster, the freelancer and author settled with her family in Guelph. Now Taylor is revisiting Lake Superior’s northern shore — and exploring a different slant on radio — through her studies of remote and rural communities at U of G. She’s taking her time. Last fall, the 57-year-old began part-time graduate studies here with two courses in the School of Environ- mental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD). This semester, she’s fitting a single course around her com- munications job at the provincial chicken marketing board. But Taylor plans to enrol full time next fall in the school’s capacity development and extension (CDE) program with a master’s thesis idea sparked by a course project last year. Charged up by that experience — she created a CBC radio documentary about a paper mill shutdown — she’s looking northward with different eyes at the haunts of her youth and early adulthood. “I’m gripped by the idea of 'de-development,”’ says Taylor, using an academic term to describe what’s hap- pening to communities riding the unpredictable tec- tonic plates of an increasingly global economy. In small towns across northwestern Ontario, some 5,000 for- estry jobs have been lost in just a few years. Beyond the economic implications, she’s interested in how feelings of isolation increase as people lose their sense of place in the world. “It’s so sad to watch these places being just dismissed because things have shifted globally,” she says.” On a recent morning, she’s speaking in her own place — a townhouse just south of the University where she lives with her husband, Ken Watts, and their son, Jesse, a fourth-year U of G student in political science. Their daughter, Sarah, a graduate of the University of Victoria, lives in Toronto, where her pursuits mirror those of her mother. Sarah is studying Greek part time at the University of Toronto while working as a program assistant and researcher with CBC-TV. Referring to her own 30 years on radio, Taylor says: “It’s funny to me because these kids grew up with the CBC and kind of rolled their eyes at 'The Mother Corp.’ Years ago, when Sarah was entering university, I told her Greek and Roman studies would be right up her alley. Again, she rolled her eyes." Taylor pauses and laughs, then adds: “Mother knows best.” Not that “mother” knew what lay in store in the early 1970s. After finishing university — she studied English and history at Lakehead University — Taylor worked for a year in London, then went back to Thunder Bay. A friend had been hired to set up a CBC station in town and was looking for announcers. Knowing that Taylor had done some acting in regional theatre, the friend invited her to audition. “Radio wasn’t what I wanted,” says Taylor. “I wanted to save up and five in Greece, where I had lived briefly." Instead, she landed the job. That would lead to a string of postings as a producer and host with CBC in Toronto, Vancou- ver and Calgary. Along the way, she also wrote for newspapers, including a parenting column in the 1980s after her own chil- dren were born. (She also has two adult stepchildren: Nick, a firefighter and Canadian Forces reserve officer in Surrey, B.C., and Emma, head of production for 20th Century Fox in Los Angeles.) Between times, Taylor found herself drawn back to Thunder BY ANDREW VOWLES Bay. One notable visit in 1987 lasted three years. By then, it had been a decade since a friend from university had died in a mur- der-suicide there. The murder had received litde attention then and remains unsolved. She had planned to write a true account of the case. “My idea was to do it as an In Cold Blood , but people wouldn’t talk to me." In frustration, she shelved the project. The family then went to five in England for two years. When they returned to Canada, they moved to Calgary, where Taylor was host of CBC’s Wild Rose Country, The Eyeopener and The Homestretch. She left the broadcaster in 2002. By then she had written her first novel — Some of Skippy’s Blues, published in 1997 — and a play called Murder in the Atrium that was set around a national radio show. She had also picked up that earlier book idea about the mur- der-suicide and decided to make a novel out of it. Published in 2004, Displaced Persons tells the story through the voice of a first-person narrator who is clearly modelled after the writer herself. Other characters are drawn from real life or are com- posites of people she knew back home. (The book's striking cover photograph portrays the real-life murder victim, an as- piring model who appeared on a 1969 Maclean’s magazine cover holding a cello in front of the grain elevators at the Thunder Bay docks.) “It’s like any story you want to tell,” she says. “We were friends, as close as in the book. It always bothered me that there was never an inquest into her death." “Displaced Persons" might well be the theme for her new project — her master’s thesis here at U of G. Having initially considered studying philanthropy and fund- raising, Taylor decided to look into Guelph’s CDE pro- gram after bumping into a graduate student at work last year. At the time, she hadn’t expected to find her- self pitching an idea for a radio program to her former employer. But within weeks of beginning one course in development communications, she started pulling to- gether the segment as a community service learning project for the course, which is taught by Prof. Helen Hambly. An Uphill Battle aired last month on CBC Radio One’s The Current. The 20-minute segment examined last fall's closure of a paper mill in Red Rock. Drive westward from Sault Ste. Marie along the northern shore of Lake Superior and you run into Red Rock at the lake’s most northerly point, at the mouth of the Nipigon River. For about 60 years, the town of 1,200 people staked its livelihood on the mill, which at one time employed about one in three residents. Que- bec-based Norampac, the largest containerboard pro- ducer in Canada, downsized the mill in 2005. Last year, it shut down for good. Taylor spent a week in Red Rock interviewing peo- ple from mill managers and workers to retirees to high school students and community members. (She also got comment from SEDRD professor David Douglas, who has studied rural communities in Canada and abroad for years.) She was surprised to learn that the story wasn’t all black — indeed, far from it. Some 300 people had lost their job, but many had already found work nearby, including in Thunder Bay itself. Although the mill closure has brought hardships, the problem was as much social as economic, says Taylor. “You had a community that was self-sufficient. Now it's more a town that survives because everybody goes out to work." Lots of questions occurred to her — questions about remote and rural communities of all stripes that she hopes to explore here at Guelph. Should people left without work be expected to pack up and head for the nearest city? Do remote and rural communities exist only at the behest of dis- tant decision-makers? Do we appreciate the economic contri- bution of smaller communities? Who's responsible for providing not just jobs and taxes but also a larger social good? Another surprise was how eager people were to tell their story, partly to share their experience with the outside world. Taylor figures many community members viewed the program as a way to reflect themselves back — good and bad — through the CBC. If telling stories about ourselves is part of the CBC’s man- date, it’s also what Taylor aims to do through her work at Guelph. In summer 2008, she plans to take her recording equipment back to Red Rock, where she hopes to run a partici- patory radio program around an annual folk festival and die Paju Mountain Run. She also plans to write more about and in northern Ontario. She throws out a half-formed idea about finding a lodge some- where and creating a writers’ retreat. “Writing is my passion," says Taylor. “Writing about north- ern Ontario is where I want to be. I want to write their stories.’ Who knows, maybe that’s where she’ll complete her current novel, one that comes home in a different way. She’s writing about her grandfather, who came to Canada as a home child af- ter being given up to an orphanage. “He lived to 93 and never really got over it.” fflHbme hardware Campus Hardware Limited 1027 Gordon Street Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X1 Tel. (519) 836-3721 Fax (519) 836-5664 Helen Maciag Yosmin Alidina / j Hearing Clinicy Taking lair efYwr Hairing Free Hearing Assessment Slone Road Mall 435 Stone Road W Office 519-515-0072 £ U "? ovfi Fa « 519-515-0111 Guelph. ON . NIG 2X6 g. mai | ya lidina@rogers.c. 4 * Yasmin Alidina irlno Instrument Spaolallit For information about paid advertising in At Guelph, call Scott Anderson at 519-827-9169. at Guelph 7 February 28, 2007 FINDINGS UPHELD BY INDEPENDENT QUALIFIED EXPERTS I found the tone of the letters by Maggie Laidlaw and Jennifer Sum- ner in the Feb. 14 At Guelph offen- sive on several grounds. First, the attempt to connect, even by insinuation, critical think- ing on climate change with Holo- caust denial is contemptible. Second, neither writer has any basis to question my credentials. I have published ray research in both science and economics journals. I doubt that either of them has even read any of my papers, but if they have, and they believe something to be in error, they are welcome to sub- mit technical comments to the jour- nals in question. Third, my findings have been upheld by independent qualified ex- perts. Six years ago, people were an- grily protesting when I and others argued that key uncertainties in cli- mate analysis were being underesti- mated. Then, as now, we faced accusations of being a minority view, contrarians, etc. Last year, the U.S. Congress asked Edward Weg- man, chair of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Committee on Theoretical and Applied Statistics, to form an expert panel to evaluate research published by me and co-author Stephen McIntyre on sta- tistical methods in paleoclimate re- constructions. The Wegman report, released in July, unambiguously endorsed our conclusions, calling them “valid and compelling.” Another expert panel was set up by the U.S. National Research Council at the request of Congress to examine the implications of our critique of long-term surface- tem- perature reconstructions. In March 2006, we were asked to meet the panel members and brief them on our work. They accepted all our technical arguments and concluded that they “are an important aspect of a more general finding of this com- mittee, which is that uncertainties of the published reconstructions have been underestimated.” If Maggie Laidlaw and Jennifer Sumner believe they know better, I am sure either panel would appreci- ate hearing their arguments. The paper I presented in the United Kingdom is a detailed sum- mary of the new assessment report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It was written and reviewed by 65 scien- tists, many of whom were also con- tributors or reviewers for the IPCC itself. It contains about 300 direct ci- tations to the new IPCC report and, in many cases, simply quotes verba- tim from the report’s text. I have re- peatedly emphasized that it is not a critique of the IPCC. Instead, its aim is to encourage people who are con- cerned about global warming to actually read the full IPCC report. Ironically, some of the loudest criticism we have received concerns sections where we quote word for word what the IPCC says. It indi- cates to me that many people have little idea of what the “world’s top scientists” really think about climate change, even as they invoke that au- thority on behalf of their own personal opinions. High Expectations Gryphon high jumper is looking for gold at CIS championships in Montreal Michelle Moody’s personal best in the high jump is 1.78 metres, and she knows she’ll have to match that or jump better if she hopes to top the podium next week at McGill. photo by martin schwalbe Maggie Laidlaw and Jennifer Sumner think it reflects badly on the University when someone insists on probing into technical details and questioning conventional wisdom. I hope and trust, for the sake of the intellectual life of the University of Guelph, that this view is not widely shared. Prof. Ross McKitrick Economics ANALOGY IS OFFENSIVE I am disappointed that At Guelph printed Jennifer Sumner’s letter about Prof. Ross McKitrick’s partic- ipation in a conference on climate change in England. She crosses the boundary of acceptable academic debate in two ways. First, she intimates that his views are in some way analogous to deny- ing the Holocaust. There is no con- nection, and the juxtaposition is offensive. She then proceeds to demean the Holocaust itself by comparing it to environmental deg- radation. I have no particular knowledge of Ross McKitrick’s views, but I do know that, as a colleague, he de- serves to be treated with civility, whatever they are. Prof. William Christian Political Science FAMILY EXPRESSES DEEP APPRECIATION On behalf of my wife, Cathy, our daughter, Karen, and myself, I would like to extend our deepest appreciation for the expressions of sympathy and support from friends and colleagues at the University fol- lowing the recent death of our son and brother, Jeff, in Tucson, Ariz., where he was completing a master’s degree in landscape architecture. We also wish to thank all those who have contributed to the Jeffrey Brown Memorial Fund that has been established at U of G. The fund is a fitting tribute to Jeff, a Guelph graduate who had a passion for edu- cation and for his profession. We are touched by your generosity and by the knowledge that, through this fund, Jeff will continue to touch the lives of Guelph students for genera- tions to come. Prof. Robert Brown Environmental Design and Rural Development Editor’s note: Donations to the Jeffrey Brown Memorial Fund can be sent to Alumni Affairs and Development in Alumni House. RETIREE SAYS THANKS To all my friends and colleagues, thank you for the wonderful sendoff to retirement at the reception held Feb. 8. It was lovely seeing everyone and receiving so many good wishes. I will miss you all, and I hope we can keep in touch. I am looking forward to the years ahead now that my health has returned and I can make plans, es- pecially for my garden. So again, thank you for die day, thank you for your generous gifts, thank you for the past 24 years and thanks for be- ing my friends. Mollie McDuffe-Wright BY DAVID DICENZO A s Gryphon track-and-field star Michelle Moody gets ready for the Canadian Inter- university Sport (CIS) cham- pionships next week, she’s hoping the third time will be the charm — or, in this case, the gold. She captured silver at the last two CIS championships and is looking to come out on top — literally — at this year’s competition March 8 to 10 at McGill University. Moody says her runner-up finish at the 2006 nationals in Saskatoon was particularly hard because she wasn’t really outjumped. She lost on what’s known as a countback — both she and University of Toronto jumper Sarah Boyle failed to clear the final height, but in the previous round, Moody required more jumps for a successful clearance than her counterpart did. As painful as that loss was, the molecular biology student says she’s used the experience as a motivator throughout her fourth and final sea- son of competition for the Gryphon track-and-field squad. “It’s my ultimate goal,” Moody says of her desire to drape a CIS gold medal around her neck. “It’s all I think about right now. I try not to put so much pressure on myself that it starts to feel like it’ll be the end of the world if I don’t win. You can’t put that kind of pressure on yourself. But I definitely want to win, and I think I can. I’ve put in the time and effort.” Moody, a team captain this sea- son, has indeed put in the time, not just in training but also in her school and lab work. She attributes part of her intense focus on all aspects of her life this year to simply maturing. On the field, that focus translated into a 100-per-cent-success rate in the high jump during the regular season, with Moody winning gold at every meet she entered. (She also competed in the long jump.) Heading into last weekend’s On- tario University Athletic (OUA) championships, the All-Canadian was the top-ranked university high jumper in the country, literally and figuratively setting the bar by jump- ing 1.75 metres at the Can- Am Clas- sic meet in Windsor in January. She repeated that at the OUA competi- tion, but was outjumped by Boyle, who topped 1.78 metres. Moody’s personal best is 1.78 metres, and she knows she’ll have to match that or jump better if she hopes to top the podium next week in Montreal. “I’m really trying for 1.80,” she says, adding that the height has been just a shade out of her grasp. “I’ve been trying for about a year now. I’ll get it one day — I just have to keep training.” Determination is a quality U of G track-and-field coach Dave Scott- Thomas says he saw in Moody from the moment she first walked into his office. It was during the spring of her senior year at Newmarket High, and she was making an impromptu visit to campus with her parents. “Michelle is one of those pleasant surprises that you find as a coach,” says Scott-Thomas. “She had all of the psychological and emotional wiring but hadn’t done the physical stuff. But when she got here, she added all the physical tools and took off like a rocket.” Moody, who didn’t actually take up the high jump until late in her high school career, was originally re- cruited for the long jump and triple jump at U of G, but in her first year, she asked Scott-Thomas if she could try the high jump. She quickly began to excel at the sport and ended up entering the junior nationals in Saskatoon. Moody says she shocked even herself by winning gold. “I called my parents, and my mom said: ‘What? I didn’t know you were that good.’ It was one of those things where it was just what I was supposed to do because I got really good at it really quickly.” Moody says she enjoys the fact that high jump is a crowd-pleasing event, and although she admits she gets a little freaked out when every- thing goes quiet, she has evolved into a real clutch performer, saving her best for the biggest stages. Scott-Thomas says she has the ability to “perform on demand,” a sports psychology term that refers to an athlete preparing to peak at a spe- cific time. “We knew a year ago what she had to prepare for — the CIS finals,” he says. “There’s no ambiguity about it. In Montreal, at this time, on this date, you have to jump this high. You can’t be ready a day early or a day late. You know what you have to do. The question is, can you walk into that competitive environment and do it? That’s one of Michelle’s advantages. She is pretty fearless at big meets. She doesn’t carry any bag- gage with her and she wants to suc- ceed. To be a real elite athlete, you have to have that. She has the ability to go there and take risks, push the boundaries and not be afraid of it.” Scott-Thomas says Moody is a shining example of the best the CIS and OUA have to offer, a dedicated student and athlete who reaches out to her teammates. “I’d take as many Michelle Moodys as we can get,” he says. All the skills she’s gained on and off the field are coming into play as she prepares for the final meet of her university career. Although she has another year of eligibility, she plans to graduate this year with her B.Sc. and may head to Australia in early 2008 to pursue a teaching degree. She says she plans to continue com- peting independently once she’s done school and work, but for now, her goal is just to get that CIS gold. Moody says she relishes the chance to jump one last time in “the intimate and exhilarating environ- ment” of a university meet, sur- rounded by supportive team members and friends. “The biggest thing I’ll miss is the practices every day,” she says, refer- ring to her track-and-field family at U of G. “It’s so hard to stay moti- vated, to go out and run and jump when you don’t have your friends around. Here, it’s so easy. It’s die only thing diat keeps me sane.” at Guelph 8 February 28, 2007 Indie Film, Music Festival in Works for Homecoming U of G student organizing first SharpCuts event BY DAVID DICENZO T homas Gofton plans to add an artistic flavour to U of G’s Homecoming next fall. The fourth-year psychology major and head of local Lynnvander Productions is organizing the first SharpCuts Festival, a two-day independent film and music event to be held on campus Sept. 22 and 23 during Homecoming. “I decided it was time to bring to- gether all the indie artists from two symbiotic partners (music and film) both local and abroad to meet and learn, to share and to forge partner- ships,” says Gofton, whose company produced the locally shot movie Four Aces, which is set to premiere at the Guelph Galaxy April 26. Filmmakers, screenwriters, ac- tors and musicians will converge in Guelph for the festival, taking part in a series of live performances, film screenings, workshops and competi- tions, including a screenwriting con- test, a battle of the bands and a 24-hour film festival. Gofton says the inclusion of both film and music was a natural because the two media constantly intersect. “I don’t think you really have one without the other today. Movies use music all the time. Music uses video and film all the time. I love both.” Confirmed guests at the free two-day event include U of G gradu- ate Laura Bertram, a two-time Gem- ini Award winner who starred in the TV shows Ready or Not and Andromeda and is currently appear- ing in CTV’s Robson’s Arms; Gover- nor General’s Award-winning play- wright and U of G drama professor Judith Thompson; and Guelph drama professor Pat Flood, who designed sets for Atom Egoyan’s Genie Award-winning screenplays Where the Truth Lies and Ararat. Also scheduled to attend are Guelph graduate Ryan Galletta, who founded Bright Matter Entertain- ment; local musician, screenwriter, producer and director Philip Carrer; Vans Warped Tour veterans and award-winning band 111 Scarlet; punk, ska, reggae and rap outfit The Next Best Thing; and musician Tim Tibbits. Gofton says he’s been encour- aged by the amount of support SharpCuts has received in the early stages of getting it off the ground. “All the people we’ve approached jumped on without question as soon as they heard it was for indie artists.” He cites in particular the support he’s received from U of G, the City of Guelph and Ed Video Media Arts Centre. “This event is bringing together a tremendous amount of talent and providing a forum to profile the lo- cal film and rfliiSic scene that thrives in Guelph and its surrounding area,” says Gofton. “It’s really exciting to see this vision becoming reality.” A call for submissions to SharpCuts begins March 1 and runs through Aug. 1. For more informa- tion, contact Gofton at 519-362- 5756 or tgofton@uoguelph.ca or visit www.sharpcuts.ca. Makers of Eight-Way,Hand-Tied Sofas Since 1990. Visit our showroom and experience firsthand the quality and comfort of every sofa we make. Main Street, Rockwood - Open Tues-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5 51 9.856.2575 www.rumoursfurniture.com after hours VALERIE DAVIDSON Faculty member in the School of Engineering since 1988 When Prof. Valerie Davidson gets a rare pocket of free time, she likes to do things that help her escape. For the NSERC/HP Women in Science and Engi- neering Chair, that usually means crosswords and making wine. “It’s something I shared with my mother,” Davidson says of her interest in cross- words. “It’s a puzzle, it’s looking for patterns, basically interpreting things from different angles and using gen- eral knowledge that I don’t often use.” She has no problems tackling the famous New York Times puzzle, but she actually prefers the one in the Globe and Mail, simply because there’s more consistency in who creates it. Unlike at work, there’s never a timetable to adhere to when completing a crossword, she says. “That’s one of the things that makes it an escape — there’s no deadline to it.” Another passion for Davidson is making wine. She’s been doing it for years, getting high-quality juice from a vineyard in the Niagara region to create some top-notch Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Francs, Merlots and even a Gamay Rose. True to her engineering back- ground, she enjoys the meticulous process as much as sipping the finished product. “I like it because I actually teach bioreactor design. It’s so typical of biological systems — even though you’re trying to be very careful and scientific, you won’t always get the same quality.” Davidson and her partner have invested in an oak barrel, which has made a big difference in the quality of their vintages. She calls it a great hobby, and although some of the finest bottles they have made include a Bor- deaux-style cellar reserve and the 2003 rose, she is always setting her sights higher. “I’m still waiting to produce my best bottle,” she says. BRIAN MANGAN Master’s student in biomechanics Brian Mangan admits that, during his two years on the Gryphon swim team as a human kinetics undergraduate, he wasn’t necessarily the fastest athlete in the pool, but he loved the sport. Although his varsity days are now over, Mangan has spent a lot of his free time over the last six months working on a project to help the current crop of Gryphon swimmers shave valuable ticks off their times. Coach Jeff Slater asked Mangan to develop a lactic acid testing program for some of the talent on this year’s squad. Brian Mangan j Valerie Davidson “He approached me because he knew I was interested in science and just love swimming,” says Mangan, who also holds an engineering degree from the University of Waterloo. “This way I get to combine both.” He set up workouts designed to elevate lactic acid lev- els of the swimmers, taking blood samples for analysis. He measured the levels at different points during the sea- son and competitions, hoping to see improvement. Mangan says the idea was to get the athletes to better flush out the lactic acid in race-day situations, helping them get in optimum shape as they prepared for big meets. “It’s basically a foolproof lie detector test,” he says. "If they tell me they’re working hard, I can see whether or not they are.” Mangan hasn’t entirely given up the sport. These days he swims at the masters level three or four times a week. “It’s kind of the old folks swimming,” he says. “I love it” NORMA HARRINGTON Secretary in Compensation and Benefits in Human Resources since 1993 Norma Harrington will be going through lots of shoes in the months leading up to Sep- tember. She recently signed up for the Toronto edition of a 60-kilometre walk, part of the annual Weekend to End Breast Cancer that runs in seven Cana- dian cities. Harrington has been per- sonally touched by the disease, with both her mother and a friend being diagnosed, so when someone suggested she sign up for the marathon event, she jumped at the chance. “It seemed like the right thing to do,” she says. Preparing for the 60-km trek, which Harrington will walk with her 26-year-old son, Liam, requires plenty of training. The walk begins at the Toronto lakefront and takes participants on a 30-km jaunt to a campsite, where they stay ovemigju before heading back into the city the next morning. Harrington started her training regimen by walking about 14 km a week, but by August, she’ll be racking up 45 km a week, including about 20 each Saturday and Sunday. “It’s a little hard slogging through the snow,” she says of recent conditions. Although the physical commitment is big for this event, so, too, is the fundraising component. Walkers are expected to raise a minimum of $2,000. “Asking people for money isn’t always easy, but it’s been coming along well,” she says. “Within a week, I had raised 50 per cent of the minimum total. People have been extremely generous.” Harrington also plans to raise funds through initia- tives like a bake sale in her office. Anyone interested in sponsoring her on the walk can contact her at Ext. 5699 1 or visit the website www.endcancer.ca. Norma Harrington Daylight Savings Time Change Won’t Affect Most Computers M OST CAMPUS computer users won’t be affected when daylight savings time starts earlier and ends later than usual this year, says Leon Loo, manager of departmental services in Computing and Communications Services (CCS). “As long as your computer is set up for automatic updates, you won’t have a problem when daylight sav- ings time officially begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November,” he says. “If you don’t have automatic up- dates, it’s possible that the time-zone settings for your computer’s system clock may be incorrect during the ex- tra four weeks of daylight savings time. Your clock may be off by one hour, and certain applications may not display the correct time.” Most major vendors have pro- vided plans to accommodate this transition, says Loo, who notes that more detailed information can be found on the CCS website at www.uoguelph.ca/ccs. If you’re unsure whether your computer is currently set up for auto- matic updates or if you have ques- tions, contact your local IT support staff, call the CCS Help Centre at Ext. 58888 or send e-mail to 58888help@uoguelph.ca. The next issue of At Guelph appears March 14. Copy deadline is March 6. at Guelph 9 February 28, 2007 Where Are You Now? Shenkman Lecture March 13 I Continued from page 1 As he describes it, the talk will “mix reminiscence, personal philos- ophy, anecdote, self-justification and advice to provide background and put into context the ideas, expe- riences and personalities that have shaped my work and life as an artist and influenced my approach to art education.” He'll describe how he came to be an artist, his education at Yale and what brought him to Goldsmiths College at the University of London, where he taught from 1974 to 1988 and was a Millard Professor of Fine Art from 1994 to 2000. The lecture will be published in BorderCrossings , a Canadian art magazine. Before coming to Guelph, Craig- Martin was in Japan creating a new installation at Tokyo’s National Art Centre as part of the “Living in the Material World: ‘Things’ in Art of the 20th Century and Beyond” ex- hibit, which opened in January and runs until mid-March. His first one-man show was at the Rowan Gallery in London in 1969. Since then, he has exhibited in solo and group shows worldwide, includ- ing the definitive exhibition of Brit- ish conceptual art, “The New Art,” at the Hayward Gallery in 1972. A major retrospective of his work was held in London at the White- chapel Art Gallery in 1989. In 1994, he made site-specific installations at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and at the Museum Sztuki in Lodz, Poland. He also created large- scale site-specific installations at Diisseldorf Kunstverein (1997), Hannover Kunstverein (1998) and Stuttgart Kunstverein (1999). Craig-Martin represented Great Britain at the 1998 Sao Paulo Bienal and created a major wall painting in- stallation at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1999. In addition to his talk, he will spend time with visual arts graduate students, both individually and in groups, doing studio visits and cri- tiques March 12 and 13. “The idea behind this endow- ment is to invite speakers who can address the University community as a whole about contemporary art in its many-faceted and complicated dimensions, and also for people to gain knowledge and wisdom from the artist that they can apply to their own work,” says Kissick. Week to Highlight Accessibility If you can identify where this photo was taken on campus, you will have your name entered in a draw to be held at the end of the semester for a $50 gift certificate donated by the U of G Bookstore. Anyone who submits the right answer by March 2 at 4:45 p.m. is eligible for the draw. Send your response to r.kendall@exec.uoguelph.ca or call Ext. 56039. The following people correctly reported that the Feb. 14 photo was taken in the conservatory greenhouse: Piuccia Hohenadel, Betty Clyde, Mike Peppard, Joyce Scherer, Janice Hall and Paul Rowntree. PHOTO BY REBECCA KENDALL yt c Michael H.C. McMurray Partner „ worn Financial Services 210 Kortright Road West, Unit #5 Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X4 Telephone: (519) 826-4774 Email: michaelmcmurray@on.aibn.com • RRSP and Investment Accounts and Deposits • RRSP Loans at Prime +0 • Michael can answer your questions and help you explore your options • Call today for a free consultation APPLY NOW FOR SEPTEMBER 2007 AND GET THE SECTOR-SPECIFIC TRAINING YOU NEED TO GET HIRED. FLEMING COLLEGE POST-GRADUATE PROGRAMS • Advertising • Event Management • Global Supply Chain Management • Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism Management • Museum Management and Curatorship • Emergency Management Natural Resources - Law Enforcement GIS Cartographic and Applications Specialist Continued from page 1 Room 384 of the McLaughlin Li- brary. “Bridging the Gap: Learning About Learning Disabilities and the Technologies That Help” runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and “It’s Clearer, Louder and Easier! Introduction to the Gentner System (Technology for Those With Hearing Impair- ments)” runs from 1 to 2 p.m. March 6 also features a $2 wellness lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Room 103 of the Uni- versity Centre. Organized by For- ward Minds, a student-run mental health awareness group, this event will include music by Brantford songwriter Mark Wilson. At 7 p.m., U of G’s Docurama film series pres- ents The Tie That Binds, the story of a man with multiple disabilities striving for independence. The free film will be screened in Room 1307 of the Thornbrough Building. On March 7, everyone is invited to gather at the cannon at noon for an accessible walk around campus. The “Rim, Walk and Roll to Erase Stigma” march aims to help open eyes to disability issues. At 2:30 p.m., TSS presents an hour-long session for faculty on universal instructional design in Room 332 of the Univer- sity Centre. A resource fair runs March 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Univer- sity Centre courtyard. Representa- tives of a number of organizations and agencies, including the Cana- dian Cancer Society, the Wellington/DufFerin Distress Cen- tre and the AIDS Committee of Guelph and Wellington County, will be on hand to provide information about their services and will also be seeking new volunteers for their programs. Also on March 8, a free aerobic dance class adaptable for those with physical disabilities runs at noon in Room 200 of the Athletics Centre. The week wraps up March 10 with a talk by U of G graduate Jason Dunkerley at 10 a.m. in the Arbore- tum Centre. “Jason is a world-class competitive runner who doesn’t let his blindness stop him from going the distance,” says De La Franier. Dunkerley’s talk will be followed by the presentation of the Gonder Family Centre for Students With Disabilities Volunteer Award, the Tara Lynn Giuliani Award and the Gonder Family Scholarship. For more information call Ian Kearney: 1-866-353-6464 ext 1666 or e-mail: iankearn@flemingc.on.ca Experience -Success www.flemingcollege.com/postgrad Business Travel Travel Tools - Cruises -< fadatyely- Seot Sales - Air Only N Your NEW Local On-Line Booking Agent J For Last Minute Bookings ... 'rttzsrgfi AIR CANADA ® Ont. Reg. NBR02716341 ROYAL CITY TRAVEL ROYAL PLAZA (Norfolk & Paisley) Guelph, ON 763-3520 www.myalcitytravel.com at Guelph 10 February 28, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE Three Phantom of the Opera tickets for Sunday, April 8, at 2 p.m., dress circle seats, Effie, Ext. 56053. Fender Hot Rod Deville guitar amplifier, model 410, like new, 519-822-2948 evenings. German-made Passier English sad- dle, I6V2 inches, good condition, Ursula, 519-821-7233. Three- plus two-bedroom home in south end, 1,750-square-foot side split, four baths, finished basement with in-law suite, recent updates include flooring, furnace, central air and roof, close to schools, campus and shopping, 519-546-1636. Vintage liquor bar, black leatherette with upholstered front, shelves in rear; two bar stools, light hardwood; package of "bronze mist” touch-up paint for Pontiac; lamp suitable for child’s room; mobile with wooden fish; two IKEA CD towers; Raleigh gel seat for adult bicycle; Sony porta- ble CD player with car adaptor, jalexand@uoguelph.ca. Three-bedroom, two-storey, 1,400- square-foot house in Exhibition Park area, renovated kitchen, Jacuzzi, enclosed sunroom with woodstove, gas furnace, central air, refinished hardwood floors, fenced rear yard, perennial gardens, attached garage, 519-829-1659. Silver 2002 Hyundai Elantra, man- ual, four doors, 87,000 km, fully loaded, rust-checked in 2006, Victo- ria, Ext. 54232 or 519-837-3223. 1995 Mercury Villager LS van, 97,000 km, original owner, fully loaded, mint condition, e-tested, rust-free, Katherine, 519-824-2819 or k roberts@sympatico.ca. FOR RENT wo-bedroom renovated apartment r downtown Guelph, two baths, irge windows, 11 -foot ceilings, ardwood floors, balcony, parking, laundry, non-smokers, no dogs, available March 1, $1,350 a month inclusive, 519-822-2539. Two bedrooms available for summer sublet in Kortright/Edinburgh area, available May to August, parking, laundry, cooking facilities, $399 a month per bedroom inclusive, 519- 265-21 12 or rmarceli@uoguelph.ca. Cottage on quiet private lake, steps to the water and minutes to town, sleeps four, full kitchen and three- piece bath, barbecue, canoe, satellite TV, short drive to Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, Ext. 54156. One-bedroom basement apartment on quiet crescent in west end of city, near bus routes, available May 1, parking, shared laundry, non- smoker, preferably no pets, $750 a month inclusive, leave message at 519-823-2710. Two-bedroom apartment in quiet adult building near downtown Lon- don, close to the University of West- ern Ontario, non-smokers, no pets, parking, available May 1, $550 a month per bedroom inclusive, one- year lease, 519-843-3470, tnudds@ uoguelph.ca or nudds.family@ sympatico.ca. Resort condo in Collingwood/Blue Mountain, 1-866-887-8835 or visit www. vaxxine. com/ rental . Furnished one-bedroom apartment in southwest Paris, France, short- term rental; furnished two-bedroom holiday home in Antibes on French Riviera, weekly or monthly, Nicole, frunoll@rogers.com. WANTED Mature professional non-smoking couple (one a U of G staff member) looking for three-bedroom house to rent in Guelph for June 1, Pat, pcathers@canada.com. Researchers in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sci- ences seek healthy non-smoking men aged 20 to 40 for a pulse soup Toto Aquia tm D ual Flush Toilet (1.6 Gpf / 6 Lpf and 0.9 Gpf/ 3.4 Lpf) Elongated skirted design, two-piece toilet • Dual-Max ™ Flushing System • Push button style flush option STARTING FROM $459 RONA CASHWAY 55 Dawson Road Guelph, 519-821-5744 On the Fergus-Elora Road, Elora 519-846-5381 (peas, chickpeas, lentils) study, financial compensation provided, Candice, Ext. 58081 or ccryne@ uoguelph.ca. Used Lego, Jesse, Ext. 52403. Junior-sized goalie mask/helmet for ice hockey, Sheri, Ext. 56010 or shincks@uoguelph.ca. Water softener in good condition, Ext. 50243 or barb@pr.uoguelph.ca. Gently used Moses basket with hood, Cindy, 519-824-8591 or csimon@uoguelph.ca. U of G nutrition researchers and Health Canada seek seven- and eight-year- old boys for zinc study, compensation provided, Melissa, 519-820-2633 or zip@uoguelph.ca. AVAILABLE Two dark green leather armchairs and footstools free for pickup, 519-767-9566. ESL coaching, specializing in profes- sional upgrading for foreign-bom professionals — speaking, reading, writing and listening. I begin where government programs leave off, Jac- queline, 519-766-4504. Care for your dog in my home while you travel, 519-836-8086 or cdemmers@uoguelph.ca. Classifieds is a free service available to staff, faculty, students, alumni and retirees of the University. Sub- mit items to Linda Graham on Level 4 of the University Centre, fax to 519-824-7962 or send e-mail to l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca. EYE EXAMS NOW ARRANGED • Eye Doctor Prescriptions Filled • Two Opticians with over 53 Years Combined Experience TT • Senior's Discount Available • Family has served Guelph and Wellington County since 1940 Scott Coburn Optical ” A Name You Can Trust in Eyewear ’’ Mi Mon.-Thurs. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri. 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.j Sat. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Telephone 519-821-2020 Scon Cobum 123 WYNDHAM ST. N. Opposite the old Post Office d Mon.-Wed. 9-7 Thurs.-Fri. 9-8 Sat. 9-6 Sun. Closed Fresh from our kitchen . . . HOT TAKE-OUT SUPPERS • Turkey Breast Parmesan • Garlic A Parmesan Mashed Potatoes • Glazed Carrots A Cashews • Storemade Chicken Noodle Soup “Fast food goes gourmet” GUELPH POULTRY MARKET Kortright just off the Hanlon Kortright Plaza 519 - 763-2284 ■ Enriched Academic Curriculum ■ Athletic Program • Martial Arts • Skating • Swimming • Yoga • Musikgaitcn * Core French ■ Monthly Field Trips ■ Certified Montessori Teachers (est. 1978) Low Student Teacher Ratio Toddler Program V Months 1/2 Day & Full Dav Prcschtwl Full Day Jr. & Sr. Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-6 Extended Hours Available DOWNTOWN GUELPH 151 Waterloo Ave Guelph Ont 519 836*3810 “Within the Child Lies the Fate of the Future" Or. Maria Montessori www.guelp h mon tesso ri . com YOUR PREFERRED Group Auto & Home INSURANCE PROGRAM Call today for a no-obllgatlon quote Toll Free 1-800-482-0822 Local 519-836-5700 Or visit our website at www.staebler.com Save Up To 50% In Insurance Product Discounts ptUd' Your Group Discount! L\\i Waterloo LaI Insurance Visit us at www.economlcailnsurance.com at Guelph 11 February 28 , 2007 EVENTS ARBORETUM Naturalist Chris Earley presents a duck workshop on bluebills, hickory heads and spiketails March 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A morning field trip is set for April 7. Cost is $70. Regis- tration and payment are required by March 16. Call Ext. 52358. “Pilates and Gardening” is the focus of a workshop being offered March 31 or April 5 from 10 a.m. to noon. Cost is $30. Registration and pay- ment are required by March 16. CONCERTS The Thursday noon-hour concerts continue March 1 with electronic music by Prof. )im Harley, March 8 with soprano Bridget Hogan and pianist Christopher Burton and March 1 5 with the Royal City Saxo- phone Quartet. Concerts are held in MacKinnon 107. Docurama, a free documentary film series sponsored by the U of G Library and the Central Student Association, presents The Ties That Bind March 6 and The War Tapes March 13, both at 7 p.m. in Thombrough 1307. VI of G’s international film series, "Beyond Hollywood,” continues March 4 at 4 p.m. with Othello, a 1922 film by Dimitri Buchowetzski of Germany, and at 7 p.m. with Hamlet, a 1964 film by Grigori Kosinstev of Russia. On March 11, the series presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a 1909 U.S. produc- tion by Charles Kent and Stuart Blackton; Twelfth Night, a 1910 film by Kent and Eugene Mullin; and Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Britain’s Kenneth Branagh in 1993. The screenings begin at 7 p.m. in McLaughlin 384. LECTURES OAC’s public lecture series contin- ues March 7 with Prof. Tina Widowski, Animal and Poultry Sci- ence, discussing “Putting Animal Welfare Into Practice” at 5:30 p.m. inOVC 1714. Scottish organist Marjorie Bruce explores the music of the late French organist and composer Jean Langlais March 6 at 10 a.m. in MacKinnon 107. She will also do a benefit for the Masai Project March 1 1 at 4 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church. Renowned U.K. conceptual artist Michael Craig-Martin gives U of G’s inaugural Shenkman Lecture March 13 at 5 p.m. in War Memorial Hall, discussing “Putting Things in Con- text: A Survivor’s Guide.” READING NOTICES Prof. Larry Harder, Environmental Design and Rural Development, and Counselling Services therapist Kathy Waltner-Toews will discuss their anti-violence volunteer work in Pal- estine and Colombia March 7 at 5:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 031. The Veterinary Teaching Hospital is looking for more volunteers for its canine blood donor program. Dogs must be healthy, between one and five years of age, over 25 kg and male or spayed female (never had pup- pies). For details, call Ext. 56476. Writer-in-residence Lee Maracle will read from her 2002 novel Daughters Are Forever March 7 at 4 p.m. in Massey 100. SEMINARS The Biophysics Interdepartmental Group and the Centre for Food and Soft Materials Science present Anne Ulrich of the University of Karlsruhe in Germany explaining “Membrane Interactions of Antimicrobial and Cell-Penetrating Peptides Observed by Solid-State NMR” March 1 at 1:15 p.m. in Food Science 241. On March 8, Kane Jennings of Vanderbilt University in Nashville discusses “Surface Attachment of Photosystem I Monolayers for Light-Induced Electron Transfer” at 2:30 p.m. in science complex 1511. “Specific and Non-Specific Interac- tions in Microbial Adhesion to Sur- faces — An Old Issue Revisited With AFM and ITC” is the topic of Henk Busscher of the University Medical Centre Groningen in the Nether- lands March 15 at 2:30 p.m. in sci- ence complex 1511. The Department of Environmental Biology presents Prof. Len Ritter discussing “Human Exposure in the Risk Assessment of Herbicide Use” March 1 at 3 p.m. in Graham 2307. The seminar series hosted by the plant biology group continues March 5 with Prof. Larry Peterson considering “Interactions Between Soil Fungi and Plant Roots” and March 12 with Prof. Derek Bewley discussing “Desiccation, Plant Growth and Development.” The talks are at 3:30 p.m. in Axelrod 337. Next up in the Department of Inte- grative Biology’s seminar series is Gabriel Moreno-Hagelsieb of Wilfrid Laurier University outlining “Operons and the Computational Prediction of Functional Interaction Networks in Prokaryotes” March 6. On March 13, the topic is “Invasion! Immigration Routes and Ecological Genetics of Bromus Tectorum (Cheatgrass) in North America” with Richard Mack of Washington State University. The seminars are at 3:30 p.m. in Axelrod 265A. The Department of Physics seminar series continues March 6 with Kostadinka Bizheva of the Univer- sity of Waterloo discussing “Non- Invasive Optical Biopsy of Biological Tissue With Ultra-High-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography” and March 13 with Christopher Jaroniec of Ohio State University considering “New Solid-State NMR Methods for Structural Studies of Proteins.” The seminars are at 4 p.m. in science complex 1511. “Exercise and Muscle Metabolism in Fish” is the focus of Louise Milligan of the University ofWestem Ontario in the March 9 “Loaves and Fishes” seminar hosted by the Department of Integrative Biology. On March 16, Jim McGeer of Wilfrid Laurier Uni- versity presents “At the Confluence of Physiology, Chemistry, Toxicol- ogy and Engineering, the Biotic Ligand Model as a Tool for Environ- mental Protection.” The seminars begin at 12:30 p.m. in Axelrod 168. The microbiology graduate student seminar series continues March 2 with John Pfeffer discussing “Bacteriophage as Environmental Sensors: Development of a Novel Bacterial Detection Method” and March 9 with Sean Prosser explain- ing “Subcellular Localization of the Replicase of Grapevine Rupestris Stem Pitting-Associated Virus.” The seminars begin at 12:30 p.m in Ani- mal Science and Nutrition 156. Next up in the Department of Com- puting and Information Science seminar series March 7 is Prof. David Kribs, Mathematics and Sta- tistics, exploring “Error Correction in Quantum Computing.” On March 14, CIS professor Nidal Nasser looks at “QoS Management in Wireless Networks: Breadth and Depth.” The seminars are at 4:30 p.m. in Reynolds 219. TEACHING SUPPORT For instructors and support staff who run online WebCT courses, Teaching Support Services’ continu- ing series “WebCT Tips and Tools” presents “Learning Modules/Online Materials” March 15. On March 8, TSS hosts a luncheon for new fac- ulty, with discussion to focus on “Supervising and Advising Graduate Students.” To register for TSS work- shops, visit www.tss.uoguelph.ca. If you have questions, call Ext. 53571. THESIS DEFENCE The final examination of PhD candi- date Matilde Dalila Cervantes Godoy, Department of Food, Agri- cultural and Resource Economics, is March 14 at 10 a.m. in Rozanski 106. The thesis is “The Growth of Super- markets in Mexico: Impacts on Mar- ket Choice, Production and Trans- action Costs of Small Farmers.” The advisers are Profs. Spencer Henson and Andreas Boecker. ^TRAVEL CUTS ft -i VOYAGES CAMPUS One World. One Travel Show. FREE Hourly Travel Presentations! Exclusive show discounts Exhibitors from Around The World FREE admission and great door prizes! 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S. Guelph, Ont. N1E 5R1 fax: 519.836.9474 www.theoctavemc.com 519.836.8492 )bof >ir AND FRIENDS ...a tour deforce of vocal and orchestral magic. ^aoge TAl/r On 'The Bridge" 6:45- 7:30 p.m. Dr. Jeffrey Stokes Carl Orff Carmina Burana Gerald Neufeld, Conductor Lesley Andrew soprano Kevin McMillan baritone Hart House Orchestra Henry Janzen, Conductor $25 (students $10) Tickets at RIVER RUN CENTRE SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2007 ssejiCEoa 519.763.3000 • 1.877.520.2408 8:00 P.M. RIVF.R RUN CFNTRE. 35 WOOLWICH STRP.P.T. GUF.I.PII • WWW.RIVF.RRUN CA At Guelph 12 February 28, 2007 at GUELPH MARCH 14, 2007 • VOL. 51 NO. 5 • WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH • UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH INSIDE: SEEN ANY GOOD FILMS LATELY? • WINDS OF CHANGE • SCALPEL BLADES TAKE TO THE ICE Universities Join Forces to Build ‘Green* BioCars U ofG-led project makes agriculture more than meat and potatoes BY LORI BONA HUNT I magine EVERY car in Ontario having a “green” interior, with the dashboard, seats, headrests, door panels and other parts made from composites of agricultural crops like com and wheat. The concept is a step closer to re- ality with the announcement that the provincial government is invest- ing nearly $6 million in the BioCar Initiative, a multi-university project led by U of G. It involves 16 scientists at Guelph and the universities of Toronto, Waterloo and Windsor. They are combining their research strengths and efforts to improve the develop- ment and delivery capacity of biomaterials for the automotive industry. “The BioCar Initiative aligns some of the most distinctive innova- tion capacity in Ontario,” says Prof. Alan Wildeman, vice-president (re- search). "It involves a consortium of universities working with two of the largest industries in Ontario, the au- tomotive industry and the agricul- tural industry. This combination provides an unprecedented oppor- tunity for the province to be seen as a major contributor to the global biobased industrial revolution that is occurring.” Guelph’s role will include creat- ing new industrial crops that can be turned into composite materials used to make interior automobile components. “It’s a whole new way of looking at agriculture and a whole new rela- tionship between the sector and On- tario’s economy,” says Prof. Larry Erickson, Plant Agriculture, one of the lead researchers. “It opens the door for a lot more approaches and utilization of crops. Now, agricul- ture is more than meat and potatoes; it’s car parts, building materials, fuel and more.” It’s been known for years that plant material can be used lo make components in the manufacturing process, but it’s only recently that society has recognized the need to do this commercially, says Erickson. For the past century, research efforts and resources have not been focused on using crops in this way because there’s been an abundant supply of low-cost petroleum. “All of that has changed now,” he says. “We have to catch up and make up for lost time and develop alterna- tive technology.” The BioCar project literally starts in the field, with Guelph looking at the raw agricultural materials and studying crop genetics. It then moves to processing and separating the biological feedstock in collabora- tion with the University of Toronto, to engineering composite resins and polymers for application to automo- tive parts at Waterloo, to finally in- corporating the new products into automobiles at Windsor. “Talk about a value-added chain of research,” says Erickson. “The BioCar Initiative is a continual stream of research and development with incremental improvements made at each point in the value chain. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” He adds dial research into bioproducts has often been chal- lenging because these new materials are currently not economically com- petitive with synthetic products. But the four universities joining together and creating an integrated scientific team changes things, he says. Mohini Sain, a University of To- ronto researcher, is the co-principal investigator for the project. Other key Guelph researchers involved are Profs. Ian Tetlow, Michael Ernes, Istvan Rajcan, Peter Pauls and Gary Ablett. Major Budget Shortfall L ooms University’s projected structural budget deficit is $19.7 million U OF G, LIKE MOST ONTARIO universities, is in an extraor- dinarily difficult situation with its 2007/2008 Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) operating budget and is facing a significant budget shortfall. President Alastair Summerlee says there is still much uncertainty surrounding the budget because of incomplete information from the provincial government about reve- nues for 2006/2007 and no informa- tion about the 2007/2008 allocation. But based on current knowledge of enrolment, funding, tuition in- come and operational expenses, the University’s projected structural budget deficit is $19.7 million. “Guelph is certainly not alone in this,” says Summerlee. “Nearly every other university in Ontario is facing a similar funding gap, but that isn’t much of a comfort. Dealing with this will be an incredible challenge and involve every area of the University.” U of G is moving forward with a plan to address the pressing budget challenges, while proceeding with multi-year strategies as part of the integrated planning effort. “It’s highly unlikely that we’ll be able to solve this problem in one year,” says Summerlee. “We must take a multi-year approach.” The immediate plan includes the University presenting a first-ever deficit- financing proposal to Board of Governors this spring. There are also proposed tuition fee increases for next fall, ranging from four per cent for most continuing under- graduates to eight per cent for new graduate students and new interna- tional students. Assuming no change in student population, the University would re- ceive about $3 million more in reve- nue from the proposed tuition increase, says Summerlee, but that still falls far short of the projected $ 19.7-million revenue gap. The budget shortfall is due to a number of factors, including lower- than-anticipated grants from the province, provincial monies allo- cated for quality improvements being converted to deal with accessi- bility, and no government funding for inflation, says John Miles, assist- ant vice-president (finance). The University is also dealing with higher pension costs; operating expenses such as deferred mainte- nance and utilities; student aid, debt costs and enrolment costs; and an $11 -million increase in the costs of salaries and benefits, he says. Continued on page 2 Pamela Wallin Pamela Wallin Named Seventh U of G Chancellor Installation ceremony to be BY LORI BONA HUNT O ne OF Canada’s most ac- complished and esteemed journalists, diplomats and entre- preneurs has been named the next chancellor of the University of Guelph. Pamela Wallin’s appoint- ment was endorsed by a vote of Senate March 6. She will be installed during a ceremony in June. “Pamela is an outstanding role model who has demonstrated the highest levels of integrity and pas- sion both in her career and in her volunteer service,” says president Alastair Summerlee. “Her reputation will bring addi- tional lustre to the University through her public stature and de- meanour. She has demonstrated a commitment to public service and has been recognized by educational and cultural organizations through- out North America for her knowledge and expertise.” held in June As chancellor, Wallin will preside at convocations, confer all U of G degrees and act as an ambassador to graduates. She will also serve as the University’s senior volunteer and represent its interests to local, pro- vincial and federal governments. “The University of Guelph has deservedly earned a reputation for quality and excellence, and I am thrilled and truly honoured to be- come chancellor,” says Wallin. “By doing so, I have the great good for- tune to join a long and distinguished list of Canadians who have served the University of Guelph, its stu- dents and the larger, greater purpose of education. It is a privilege and a responsibility that I take very seriously.” Wallin will become the seventh person and the second woman to hold die position since the Univer- sity’s founding in 1964. Lincoln Alexander, who has been chancellor Continued on page 10 AT GUELPH 1 March 14, 2007 UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES ASSOCIATE DEAN The Faculty of Graduate Studies invites applications for the position of associate dean of graduate studies. Reporting to the dean of graduate stud- ies, the associate dean will assist the dean in the planning and management of graduate enrolment and in a wide range of program matters, including the development of new graduate program proposals and the periodic evaluation of existing programs; graduate recruitment and liaison; devel- opment and delivery of workshops and seminars for graduate faculty, staff and students; and service on Senate and its boards and committees. The appointment will be on a 40-per-cent basis for a three-year term, with the possibility of reappointment for another three years. The successful candidate will be a member of Guelph’s regular graduate faculty, a strategic thinker with outstanding interpersonal skills and exten- sive experience in graduate teaching and advising, preferably in the role of graduate co-ordinator. Candidates should possess the academic credibility to function successfully at all levels of the University. Prior administrative experience is not required. U of G is committed to an employment equity program that includes spe- cial measures to achieve diversity among its faculty and staff. We therefore particularly encourage applications from qualified aboriginal Canadians, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities and women. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, including a list of publica- tions and the names of three referees, by March 30, 2007, to; Dr. Isobel Heathcote Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, and Chair of the Selection Committee Faculty of Graduate Studies Level 3, University Centre, University of Guelph easGBsw® Hasps) " ordable| Banner Stands Order new or we can print new graphics for your existing banner stand Largo Format Prtnanfl By: Roland 6anner-Up Retractable 519.856.2575 • www.rumoursfurniture.com Main Street (Hwy 7), Rockwood Our so^ycuZert/ . . . Jk Michael H.C. McMurray Partner ^ icorn Financial Services 210 Kortright Road West, Unit #5 Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X4 Telephone: (519) 826-4774 Fax: (519) 826^1994 Email: michaelmcmurray@on.aibn.com Do you get a high rate of interest on your savings? Are you investing for your future? Do you need professional advice regarding your investments? 1 1 can help you answer these questions, call me today for a free consultation. _ senate Initial Budget Assumptions Presented A t its March 6 meeting, Senate elected journalist and diplomat Pamela Wallin as U of G’s new chancellor. She will become the seventh person and the second woman to hold the post since the University was founded in 1964 (see story on page 1). President Alastair Summerlee and John Miles, as- sistant vice-president (finance), presented the initial budget assumptions for the 2007/08 Ministry of Train- ing, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) budget. Summerlee stressed that the information is preliminary because uncertainty continues around MTCU operat- ing grants, but U of G is currently projecting a gap of $19.7 million between expenditures and revenues (see page 1 story). The full presentation made to Senate can be found online at www.uoguelph.ca/president/pdf/ MTCU_initial_0708.pdf. In other business, Senate approved a proposal to launch an integrated bachelor of applied science (psy- chology) degree program to be offered through the University of Guelph-Humber, beginning this fall. Shepard Named Provost at Ryerson University Mancuso lauds AVP for commitment to students, colleagues P rof. Alan Shepard, associate vice-president (academic), has been appointed provost and vice- president academic at Ryerson University. The appointment is effective July 1 . “This is a tremendous gain for Ryerson but a loss for the University of Guelph,” says Prof. Maureen Mancuso, provost and vice-presi- dent (academic). “We are sorry to see Alan go but excited for him. This is a prestigious appointment, which is a positive re- flection both of our university and of Alan’s accomplishments as AVPA. We wish him great success in his new position.” Mancuso commends Shepard for his passion for education and com- mitment to students and colleagues, as well as his achievements as AVPA. “Most notable is his work on the 21st-Century Curriculum Steering Committee,” she says. Shepard joined U of G in 2002 as a professor and director of the School of English and Theatre Stud- ies (SETS) and was appointed AVPA in June 2005. “It’s going to be very hard to leave Guelph,” he says. “This university is truly committed to providing stu- dents with an enriching learning ex- perience, and I have worked with some incredible people. In particu- lar, I want to thank the College of Arts and SETS, which welcomed me so warmly, and the dedicated mem- bers of the 2 lst-century committee.” Mancuso will appoint an acting AVPA later this month. Budget Discussions Underway Continued from page 1 Guelph must also pay $47 million a year from the operating budget to its pension fund under provincial valuation requirements. “Appeals have been made to the province to change pension regula- tions for public institutions like uni- versities,” says Summerlee. “Many other jurisdictions have made changes to the regulations governing pension plans, but for some reason, the Ontario government refuses to do so. This alone has severe implica- tions for the University, but it’s just one of a number of problems we’re facing.” Longer-term budget goals in- clude finding ways to eliminate the structural deficit, including increas- ing revenue and reducing costs, says Prof. Maureen Mancuso, provost and vice-president (academic). She notes that universities are facing greater competition for un- dergraduate and graduate students. With the “bulge” of the double co- hort graduating, U of G must look at focusing on recruiting undergradu- ates in programs that allow the Uni- versity to maximize revenues, she says. In addition, Guelph must in- crease its graduate student enrol- ment to access government funding earmarked for graduate student growth, says Mancuso. “If we are to receive this funding, it is absolutely essential that we meet our graduate student enrolment targets.” Other approaches to reducing costs include looking at compensa- tion structures, including pensions and benefits and the faculty and staff complement; energy consumption; and more effective space manage- ment, including removing buildings with excessive deferred mainte- nance. Mancuso says the next steps will also include re-examining revenues and expenditures and moving ahead with integrated planning, which identifies priorities and decision frameworks aimed at helping the University meet its mission now and in the future. Through this process, all departments have already started contributing two per cent of their budget towards helping fund salary and benefit increases. In addition, academic depart- ments have contributed an addi- tional two per cent to the Priority Investment Fund to address key University initiatives. The president and provost have begun holding budget discussions with U of G colleges and expect to address various town hall gather- ings, including one on April 17, the day before the next B of G meeting. Because of the uncertainty about government funding, the prelimi- nary MTCU budget won’t be pre- sented to B of G until June. But tuition proposals will be presented in the context of provisional budget assumptions at the board’s April 18 meeting to provide an opportunity for discussion about tuition while most students are still on campus. The next issue of At Guelph appears March 28. Copy deadline is March 20. a C Editor Barbara Chance b.chance@cxec.uoguelph.ca Design Peter Enneson Production Linda Graham l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca Advertising Scott Anderson thcandersondifference@rogers.com Director Chuck Cunningham c.cunningham@exec.uoguelph.ca At Guelph is published every two weeks by Communications and Public Affairs, Level 4, University Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG 2WI. Inquiries: 519-824-4120 Editorial: Ext. 56580 Distribution: Ext. 56581 Advertising: Ext. 56580 www. uoguclph.ca/adguide Classifieds: Ext. 56581 Fax: 519-824-7962 Website: www.uoguelph.ca/alguelph Articles may be reprinted with credit to At Guelph. Subscriptions $25 (includes GST); $30 outside Canada ISSN 08364478 UNIVERSITY -C,l I l-l’H at Guelph 2 March 14 , 2007 news in brief APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED U of G’s new Department of Busi- ness has its first official chair — Prof. Julia Christensen Hughes, director of Teaching Support Ser- vices (TSS) and a faculty member in the School of Hospitality and Tour- ism Management. Her five-year term begins June 1. Prof. Fred Evers, Sociology and Anthropol- ogy, has been named acting direc- tor of TSS for one year, effective April 1 . Peter Wolf will serve as act- ing associate director. COMMITTEE SEEKS FEEDBACK ON UNDERGRAD LEARNING Draft reports of the University’s 21st-Century Curriculum Steering Committee, which explore ways to enhance the undergraduate learn- ing experience, are now available for review and feedback at www. 21c.uoguelph.ca. The committee invites members of the University community to read the reports and offer comments and recommenda- tions for the next two weeks. Final reports will go to Senate in April. AVP CANDIDATES TO SPEAK Three candidates for the position of associate vice-president (research services) will give public presenta- tions on the future of university research. First up March 20 is Liette Vasseur, AVP (research) at Lauren- tian University. Michael Owen, AVP (research and international development) at Brock University, will speak March 23. Steven Liss, associate dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Sci- ence at Ryerson University, will give the final presentation April 3. All talks begin at 1 1 a.m., with Vasseur and Liss speaking in Room 1714 of OVC’s Lifetime Learning Centre and Owen speaking in Room 1713. CSAHS SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR 2007 TEACHING AWARDS The College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (CSAHS) is calling for nominations for its 2007 Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching. All members of the Uni- versity community are invited to nominate CSAHS faculty and grad- uate teaching assistants for the awards by March 23. Nomination forms, guidelines and information are online at www.csahs.uoguelph. ca / teach awards . html . STUDENTS LAUNCH JOURNAL The Anthropological Issues Group (AIG) has launched an academic journal called Anthropolitique to give undergraduate and graduate students a forum to publish papers related to anthropology. The full edition of the journal is published online at www.uoguelph.ca/-~ anthro/anthropolitique.htm, but a print edition featuring a selection of articles can be obtained from the AIG office in Room 637 of the MacKinnon Building. CBC TO AIR VICTOR DAVIS FILM Victor, a movie written by and star- ring U of G graduate Mark Lutz and featuring past and present Gryphon swimmers, will air on CBC this fall. The film chronicles the life of two-time Olympic medallist Victor Davis of Guelph. Anti-Violence Activist to Speak on Campus Sexual violence against BY LORI BONA HUNT T he importance of men and women joining together to combat sexual and domestic violence is the focus of two events being held on campus this month. The University’s Sexual Assault Free Environment (SAFE) team, which operates out of the Wellness Centre, is promoting ally building among male and female students to combat violence against women during SAFE Week, which runs until March 16. In addition, numerous campus groups have joined forces to bring leading anti-violence activist Jackson Katz to Guelph March 26 for a public lecture — his first on a Canadian campus. Katz is internationally known for his work in gender vio- lence prevention education with men and boys. “Sexual violence against women is not just a ‘women’s issue’ — it’s a human rights issue,” says Melanie Bowman of the Wellness Centre. “It affects all of us, and we need to work together in a mutually respectful way to eradicate it." During SAFE Week, the U of G team is asking men to wear T-shirts that advertise their commitment to combatting violence against women. They are also being encouraged to is not just a ‘women's issue ’ collect “solidarity signatures” on the T-shirts from other people devoted to the cause. In addition, posters are on dis- play around campus, and about 4,000 colourful pinwheels have been placed around the cannon to visually illustrate the magnitude of the con- tinuum of sexual assault. Each pin- wheel is a statistical representation of undergraduate students who could potentially be affected directly or in- direcdy by sexual assault. “We are in desperate need of a new approach to ending gender vio- lence,” says Bowman. “We need to focus on creating positive male role models who encourage other men to become actively engaged in this issue.” That’s the message Katz will also bring to U of G during his 7 p.m. talk in Peter Clark Hall. He is co-founder of Mentors in Violence Prevention, the leading gender violence preven- tion initiative in professional and college athletics. He is also director of the first worldwide domestic and sexual violence prevention program in the U.S. Marine Corps. “Jackson has managed to inspire and stimulate the dialogue that needs to occur between women and men if we axe ever to address the problem of sexual and domestic vio- lence in any meaningful way,” says it’s a human rights issue ” Prof. Myrna Dawson, Sociology and Anthropology, who chairs the event’s planning committee. “He has helped educate young women and men on the subject, and his emphasis on the need for us to work together to address such a seri- ous and persistent problem is key to moving us forward," she says. Admission to the lecture is free, but registration is required because of limited seating. To register or for more information, send e-mail to jackkatz@uoguelph.ca. Katz’s visit is sponsored by Coun- selling Services’ JoumeyMen Pro- gram, the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, the Col- lege of Arts, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, the Athletics Department, the women’s studies program, and the Criminal Justice and Public Policy Society. “The enthusiasm shown by vari- ous groups on campus both by agreeing to help sponsor this event and by volunteering in a number of capacities has demonstrated how important this issue is for everyone here," says Dawson. “It really feels good to be part of a campus that not only recognizes that gendered vio- lence is a problem in our society but also has women and men who want to come together to do something about it.” HREO Distributes Survey Low return rate could affect Guelph's eligibility for federal funding T he Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO) distributed a workforce survey last week to recently hired U of G employees and will be sending reminders out over the next couple of weeks to employees who haven’t submitted a survey in the past. The purpose of the survey and re- minders is to enable the University to obtain an accurate picture of the composition of its workforce and to measure its progress towards employment equity, says Patrick Case, director of human rights and equity. “Filling out the survey is volun- tary, but I hope everyone who’s re- ceived one will participate because it’s vital that we have accurate infor- mation to do our work," says Case, who stresses that survey responses are held in strict confidence and are used only for employment equity purposes. He notes that even if someone chooses not to fill out the survey, it must still be returned to the HREO. Besides being essential for the success of the University’s employ- ment equity work, the survey is an important part of Guelph’s commit- ment to the Federal Contractors Program (FCP), says Case. Under that program, organizations that have more than 100 employees and want to be eligible for federal con- tracts of $200,000 or more and re- search grants from the federal granting councils must demonstrate a commitment to implementing em- ployment equity. The University has already received millions of dollars to date. The FCP is currently auditing the University, says Case, and low rates of return on the survey could affect Guelph’s eligibility for federal support. “There’s a lot at stake in terms of funding, in terms of the University’s ability to ensure that its employees are treated fairly and equitably, and in terms of our credibility. The sur- vey isn’t just a piece of paper — it’s a piece of our future at the University of Guelph.” The survey can also be filled out online on the HREO website at www.uoguelph.ca/hre. Scottish Studies Colloquium Set T he Scottish studies spring colloquium will explore reli- gious and military history March 3 1 at the University of Toronto’s Knox College, 59 St. George St, Toronto. The conference talks begin at 1 p.m. and feature University of To- ronto professor Stuart Macdonald, who will examine the legacy of Mar- garet Wilson, who was allegedly drowned in 1685 for refusing to swear loyalty to the king. “Historical debate has raged over whether the execution ever took place, and Margaret Wilson has be- come a major figure for historians of 17th-century Scotland,” says Prof. Graeme Morton, U of G’s Scottish Studies Foundation Chair. Three members of Guelph's Scot- tish studies program will also give talks — post-doctoral researcher Karly Kehoe, Prof. Kevin James and PhD student Kris Gies. Cost of the conference is $25 gen- eral, $20 for members of the Scottish Studies Foundation. Lunch and re- freshments are included. To register, call Ext. 53209 or send e-mail to scottish@uoguelph.ca. People NATIONAL KUDOS FOR BASKETBALL GRYPHON U of G biological sciences student Stephanie Yallin, a point guard on the women’s basketball team, has received the Sylvia Sweeney Award from Canadian Interuniversity Sport, recognizing her excellence in athletics, academics and commu- nity involvement. The first Gry- phon to receive the award, Yallin is a four-time OUA all-star and a team captain. ECONOMIST ASSOCIATE EDITOR OF JOURNAL Prof. Thanasis Stengos, Economics, has become the first U of G profes- sor to be named an associate editor of the Journal of Applied Economet- rics. He is one of just two professors from Canadian universities on the journal’s masthead of 31 associate editors. The journal was founded in 1986. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS RECOGNIZE STUDENT WORK Landscape architecture student Lee-Anne Milbum has won a 2007 Regional Citation Award from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects for her project “Rural by Choice in Southern Ontario." College Royal March 17 and 18 C ollege Royal 2007 is ready to roll this weekend, running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. This 1 year’s \Y\eme \s “K TraA\Uorv ot I Royal Excellence. " Operating annually since 1925, the student- run open house draws some 30,000 people each year, many of them paying a return visit to see such favourites as the dog and cat shows, the livestock show, the logging competition, the chem- istry magic show, the junior tractor rodeo and Old MacDonald’s new farm. Always popular with children is the hands-on teddy bear surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College. Fine art students will be show- ing and selling their original litho- graphs, etchings, and relief and screen prints March 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and March 18 from noon to 5 p.m. in Room 207 of Zavitz Hall. For a complete listing of College Royal events, visit www.college royal, uoguelph.ca. Also running this weekend is Curtain Call Productions’ annual musical. Marking its 50th year, the troupe is staging the Tony Award-winning play Urinetown March 15 to 17 at 8 p.m. in War Memorial Hall, with a 2 p.m. mati- nee March 17. Tickets are $10 and are available at the Central Student Association office and at the door. In Memoriam Nan McPherson, a retired staff member in the Small-Animal Clinic at the Ontario Veterinary College, died March 9 at the age of 86. She was employed at U of G from 1974 to 1986. She is survived by her son, Robert Dickinson, and a grandson, MichaeL at Guelph 3 March 14, 2007 What Light Through Yonder Window Breaks? As part of its contribution to the regional “Shakespeare — Made in Canada” festival, the School of English and Theatre Studies is staging Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet March 20 to 24 at the George Luscombe Theatre. Performing in the lead roles, above, are students Devin Pihlainen and Candice Barrett. Directed by Prof. Ann Wilson and designed by Prof. Pat Flood, the show runs nightly at 8 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7 and $9 and can be ordered at Ext. 53147 . photo by pat flood Going With the Wind Student competition focuses on wind energy design H igh school students think- ing green will have a chance to pocket some green at U of G’s first-ever wind energy design com- petition. Organizers in the School of Engi- neering expect up to 250 students from across Ontario will take part in the WindENG competition. Entries will be judged on campus March 17 during College Royal. Registered teams were mailed a competition package, including a DC motor and starter materials. They must design an energy-gener- ating wind turbine to be tested in the University’s wind tunnel. The win- ning team will be the one whose windmill produces the highest aver- age power output (judges will also * Enriched Academic Curriculum * Athletic Program • Martial Arts • Skating • Swimming ♦ Yoga • Musikgartcn ■ Core French ■ Monthly Field Trips * Certified Montcssori Teachers (est. 1978) Low Student Teacher Ratio Toddler Program 18-30 Months 1/2 Day & Full Day Preschool Full Day Jr. & Sr. Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-6 Extended Hours Available DOWNTOWN GUELPH 151 Waterloo Aw Guelph Ont 519 836-3810 “Within the Child Lies the Fate of the Future ” Dr. Maria Montessori Hammond Lecture to Explore Sustainability in Business Author to discuss how businesses can profit by thinking green «Th I * consider functionality, weight, stability and presentation). The top three teams will win cash and merchandise prizes worth $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for sec- ond place and $500 for third place. “Harnessing wind energy is an exciting prospect for providing solu- tions to our province’s energy needs,” says Prof. Warren Stiver, NSERC Chair in Environmental De- sign Engineering. “The objective of this competition is to promote inter- est in environmentally sound alter- native energy solutions and foster engineering design skills.” For more information, visit www.soe.uoguelph.ca/windeng or contact Andrea Woon-Fat at Ext. 52436 or enginfo@uoguelph.ca. he Business Case for Sustainability” is the topic of this year’s Kenneth Hammond Lecture on Environment, Energy and Resources March 22 at 7 p.m. at the River Run Centre. Corporate sustainability expert and author Bob Willard will discuss how businesses can profit by thinking green. “Executives do not have to be transformed into tree-hugging envi- ronmental activists to reap the benefits of sustainability,” says pro- motional material for Willard’s 2002 book, The Sustainability Advantage, which discusses business cases for corporate sustainability strategies. “Good environmental and social programs make good business sense.” He is also author of the 2005 book The Next Sustainability Wave: Building Boardroom Buy-in, which examines how to persuade execu- tives and board members to adopt sustainable business strategies. Willard spent 34 years at IBM, in- cluding 20 years in management. Since taking early retirement in 2000, he has worked full time on helping businesses to avoid risks and pursue opportunities in sustaina- bility. He has served on the boards of Eco-Energy Durham and the On- tario Sustainable Energy Association and is currently a member of the ad- visory board of The Natural Step Canada. This year’s Hammond lecture, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by U of G’s new Guelph Institute for the Environment, part of the Faculty of Environmental Sci- ences. Launched in 2000, the lecture series is named for Kenneth Hammond, a former member of Board of Governors and an advocate of environmental and resource is- sues and environmental education. For more information, call Jill Johnson at Ext. 58475. International African Inventors Museum Comes to Campus OVC pathobiologist featured as part of hands-on exhibit www.guelph montessori.com A collection of African inven- tions will be on display March 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the University Centre courtyard. The mobile museum highlights inventions by people of African descent, such as the egg beater, the lawn mower and the bike frame. "The exhibit is an opportunity to highlight the many accomplish- ments that have come out of Africa,” says Judy Winkup, a local elemen- tary school teacher who helped orga- nize the event “There are a lot of inventions that we use every day and may not think about where they came from or who invented them.” A number of inventors are fea- tured as part of the hands-on exhibit, including U of G professor emeritus Carlton Gyles. The pathobiologist is one of the world’s leading experts on E. coli and was among the first re- searchers to pinpoint how a toxin produced by E. coli could cause ill- ness in pigs. “I am very honoured to be part of such an exhibit,” he says. The museum was founded in 1988 and has travelled nationally and internationally. It is now owned by Francis and Denise Jeffers, whose daughter, Asha, attends U of G. The two-day exhibit will also fea- ture nightly workshops and lectures related to African accomplishments and culture. On March 29, Guelph graduate Eli Bamfo will lead a spoken-word workshop at 5:30 p.m. in Room 441 of the University Centre. At 7 p.m., Francis Jeffers will discuss “Contri- butions and Inventions of African Canadians to Science and Technol- ogy” in the same room. On March 30, Ful6 Badoe will give a drumming workshop at 5 p.m. in Room 103 of the University Cen- tre. At 7 p.m., Akwatu Khenti will present “A Living History of African People” in the same room. The workshops are open to the public and cost $5 general and $2 for students. Both lectures are free and open to everyone. A party to kick off the two-day event runs March 2 1 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Grad Lounge on Level 5 of the University Centre. For more information, contact Winkup at jlwnk@yahoo.com. ‘Rocks for Crops’ Focus of Textbook F eeding the world’s poor and protecting the environment in developing nations is the dual purpose of “rocks for crops,” a rural development concept long championed by Prof. Peter van Straaten, Land Resource Science. Now he’s compiled his ideas and site Campus Hardware Limited 1027 Gordon Street Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X1 Tel. (519) 836-3721 Fax (519) 836-5664 Helen Maciag experiences related to using cheaper local rock minerals as crop fertilizers into a one-of-a-kind textbook linking geology and agriculture. Agrogeology: The Use of Rocks for Crops was published this year by Enviroquest Ltd. in Cambridge, Ont. Written for students, teachers, scientists, farmers and policy-mak- ers, the 440-page book covers the path of plant nutrients from rocks to soils to crops. The book is based on van Straaten’s longtime work with development organizations and farmers in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. He says using lo- cal agro-minerals such as rock phos- phates can help restore soil fertility and increase food production with- out importing costly fertilizers from other countries. “The focus on using rock and mineral resources for agriculture is in response to the urgent need to in- crease food production in parts of the world where food security is still a major challenge,” says van Straaten, who is organizing the sec- ond international rocks for crops conference this year in Kenya. at Guelph 4 March 14, 2007 focus Seen Any Good Films Lately? BY DAVID DICENZO I f Krys Mooney had her druthers, a full day would run about 26 hours. That extra 120 minutes would give the U of G Library media specialist a chance to watch one more movie a day. And there’s little doubt what kind of movie the longtime film buff would watch. “I’m a documentary junkie,” she says. For the past 32 years, the Chat- ham-born Mooney has been build- ing the library’s media catalogue from scratch with films — mostly documentaries — that are all avail- able to faculty, staff and students. The collection now stands at more than 4,000 items in VHS or DVD format, as well as some 3,500 16-mm films still standing the test of time. “Not everything made the transi- tion to VHS or DVD, and not every- thing will be video-streamed,” she says. “There are jewels in the 16-mm collection that aren’t available at all.” One such gem is the BBC film The Voyage of Charles Darwin, which is no longer available for purchase in any format. Mooney was a communications major at Mohawk College in Hamil- ton when she landed a co-op job at Guelph working in the audiovisual department. She also worked at the main branch of the Hamilton Public Library in the film department. After graduating from Mohawk in 1974, she took a contract position at U of G and eventually worked her way on full time with her combined knowl- edge of film and libraries. Back then, Mooney was limited in what she could buy for the library because reel films were extremely ex- pensive, typically $500 to $600, she says. But as the formats changed and the acquisition budget grew, she be- came the library’s point person charged with growing the media col- lection. “The most crucial component of the job is selection, making sure I find the right documentaries for the academic programs here,” she says. “There are so many documentaries available, and many independent producers are selling from their own websites. There’s a lot to choose from. I select videos that are compat- ible with the subjects taught at Guelph, as well as many others that reflect the world we live in.” But having a well-stocked media collection is only one component of Mooney’s job. The thousands of ti- tles have little purpose if members of the University community aren’t using them. “Promoting the collection is what I love to do,” she says. “It’s re- ally important because we don’t want the films just sitting around gathering dust. There are great doc- umentaries in this collection.” She has several ways of getting the word out, and one of the most cru- cial occurs at the beginning of each new academic year. Before Labour Day, she attends orientation sessions for new faculty to introduce herself and provide detailed information about the film catalogue, including suggestions on how the materials can be used in their curriculum. She does a repeat performance of her presentation with graduate students who are new to Guelph. “People learn visually," she says. “I love recommending and finding things for faculty and students to use." In addition to letting the Univer- sity community know what’s in the film collection, Mooney aims to raise awareness of the global issues tackled in many of the documenta- ries. One way of achieving both those goals is through the annual Docu- rama film series that she and John Bonnar of the Central Student Asso- ciation launched on campus in 2005. Each fall and winter semester, the se- ries screens about a dozen fea- ture-length documentaries. On March 20, the series presents Bom- bay Calling, which chronicles the lives of young call-centre workers in India. The screening begins at 7 p.m. in Room 1307 of the Thombrough Building. “We may try to squeeze in two more films before the semester ends,” says Mooney. One of the most memorable screenings this year, she says, was Black Gold, a film about fair trade coffee. Bill Barrett of Planet Bean in j downtown Guelph was on hand to answer questions after the film j ended. “We had a full-capacity audience j that night," she says, adding that she loves seeing the reactions people have to films like this. To stay on top of what’s happen- ing in the documentary world, Mooney constantly checks listservs and follows film festivals. In her mind, a strong documentary is one that is lair and balanced, using repu- ! table specialists. Some of the best ! sources of Canadian-produced doc- 1 umentaries are the CBC and the Na- j tional Film Board of Canada, she says, but many other independently j produced films are available from j several distributors. Whether they’re on 16-mm film, VHS or DVD, documentaries a 11 I have one thing in common, says ( Mooney. They were created by / someone with a love of filmmaking and storytelling. “For me, it’s more about content as opposed to the format. That’s what I work with. That’s where my interest is.” Companies Unprepared for Baby-Boomer Exits U ofG study finds firms lack contingency, succession plans for executives BY RACHELLE COOPER T he departure ofbaby-boomer executives from the workforce is imminent, but most Canadian organizations aren’t preparing to fill their big shoes, says Prof. Peter Hausdorf, Psychology. Hausdorf, an associate researcher with U of G’s Centre for Leadership Studies, and PhD candidate Rebecca Sian Jerusalim surveyed more than 700 managers from about 150 Cana- dian organizations and found that succession management strategies were lacking. Their study will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Management Development. “In 2004, only 18 per cent of companies had implemented an ex- ecutive replacement process,” says Hausdorf, who completed the study in conjunction with MICA Centre for Leadership. “To me, that’s basic. I thought it would be a given for or- ganizations. If someone gets hit by a bus, you need to know who will step in the next day.” Identifying and developing spe- cific managers to fill key leadership positions is the first of three compo- nents of succession management critical for organizations, says Hausdorf. “The second is identifying and developing a pool of talented man- agers who could be future leaders, and the third is ensuring that employees have developmental op- portunities to meet their career goals.” Not only did the study find that most Canadian companies aren’t ready to respond to unexpected changes in their leaders, but it also discovered that only 3 1 per cent were identifying future leaders and offer- ing them career development programs. “The whole practice of identify- ing managers with high potential is relatively new,” says Hausdorf. This study is the first in North America to examine how people are identified within organizations as fu- ture leaders and what’s being done to foster their talents. “When companies have to select leaders under crisis situations, that’s when they’re most at risk,” he says. “If they have to find someone very quickly and haven’t prepared anyone within their organization, they’re probably going to make a bad decision.” On the other hand, if an organi- zation has an effective succession management plan in place, it will help build the knowledge and com- petencies of managers already in the organization and produce better leaders, he says. The process of identifying future leaders and developing their careers allows people to see that there are fair processes and outcomes in place, says Hausdorf. “Justice is an important concept because it has an impact on people’s performance — whether they stay and how much effort they put in. Since succession management strat- egies are meant to keep your best people, you want to make sure they’re fair, so you don’t end up los- ing people.” The study specifically found that having a transparent high-potential identification process — with em- ployee input, open communication and evaluation of the process — led to employees believing the process was more fair than when these char- acteristics were lacking. Organizations are at risk because they rely on the skills people have, but the best employees have many choices and can move around, says Hausdorf. “That’s why leadership succes- sion programs are so critical. If you’re talented and the organization you’re working for isn’t fostering that talent, then you might go to a competitor that does offer incentives and opportunities." Pianos, books, lessons & more! 218-A Victoria Rd. S. Guelph, Ont. N1E5R1 fax: 519.836.9474 www.theoctavemc.com YasminAiidina « A Hearing Clinic/ Takrig t air oj Yoar lltani ig Ikallll* Free Hearing Assessment Stone Road Mall 435 Stone Road W. Suite 218. Room 5 Guelph. ON , NIG 2X6 Office: 519-515-0072 Fa*: 519-515-0111 E-mail yalidina©rogefs.com * Yasmln Alldlna at Guelph 5 March 14 , 2007 University Education a Priority for Degrassi Star Philosophy major says she didn't want to put off going to university because of her acting career Deanna Casaluce, at top right beside Degrassi: The Next Generation director Phil Earnshaw, poses with some of her TV classmates. BY RACHELLE COOPER F or their 12th birthday, most girls probably ask their parents j for an MP3 player, a cellphone or I clothes, but U of G philosophy | student Deanna Casaluce asked her I parents for an agent. Nine years later, there’s no ques- tion that her birthday wish of be- coming a successful actor has come true. Casaluce plays the character Alex on Degrassi: The Next Genera- tion and just wrapped up her first film, appearing opposite another | Canadian actor, Mia Kirshner, who starred in The Black Dahlia. The CTV show is Canada’s most-watched domestic drama se- ries and is broadcast in more than 70 countries. Its biggest fan base is in the United States, where it’s the most-watched series on the TV channel The N and is scheduled to be syndicated this fall. Casaluce says she has little in common with her character, Alex Nunez, a lesbian who cut classes and smoked pot while everyone else was planning for their future. This sea- son, while most of her friends are at university, Alex is back at Degrassi i part time to beef up her marks and get into a physiotherapy program. Playing one of the few teenaged lesbians on prime-time television is I an honour, says Casaluce. I "If people are identifying with my character, and it helps them sort out a situation in their mind or makes them feel they’re not so isolated, it’s a huge privilege to be able to help people in that way.” For the past few years, Casaluce has done mall tours in Boston, De- troit and New York City with her castmates and has been over- whelmed by the number of people who’ve come out to meet her. “It was a surreal experience be- cause these tweens were lined up for hours to get an autograph, and nor- mally I’m just another university student wandering around campus,” she says. “I’m not a celebrity,” insists Casaluce, who recently turned 21. If her classmates or professors recog- nize her from her role on Degrassi , they don’t mention it, she says. The young actor landed the part of Alex when she was in Grade 1 1 at Cawthra Parks Secondary School in Mississauga. When the show’s being filmed, she puts in 12- to 14-hour days, plus commutes an hour each way to the set. Balancing her studies with her filming schedule wasn’t as hard as missing opportunities to spend time with her friends, she says. “I’ve always been a pretty good student and was accepted to all the universities I applied to.” Casaluce says she didn’t want to put off attending university because of her role on Degrassi because she had no idea how long it would last. The co-op option in psychology is what drew her to U of G in fall 2003, but ironically, she couldn’t commit to the co-op program because of her booming acting career. She has since changed to a philosophy major and social psychology minor. For her first two years at U of G, Casaluce took six courses a year and planned them around the heavy May to November filming schedule. Last semester was the first time she wasn’t able to take any on-campus courses. The season six finale shot during the fall centred around her character, and her weekends off from Degrassi were dedicated to working on the film with Kirshner. Casaluce is currently taking two distance education courses. “The flexibility of being able to continue my degree through online courses has been great,” she says. When she’s had to explain to pro- fessors that she can’t make an exam or essay deadline because of her film- ing schedule, they’ve been extremely understanding, she adds. “Guelph is a great school. I love the professors, and I love going to class. You can only really enjoy going to class if you enjoy the content and if the prof can make that content fun and interesting.” Unlike most U of G students, Casaluce knows only the academic side of Guelph because she com- mutes to campus from her family home in Mississauga and doesn’t have time to socialize after class. She says she’s envious of students who get to have the whole university ex- perience — residence life, social ac- tivities and clubs. Regardless of what happens with her acting career, Casaluce says she wants to finish her degree at Guelph. “I don’t like to think of my educa- tion as ‘plan B’ because that would mean I’d be doing it only out of ne- cessity, which is not the case. I really do have a passion for philosophy and psychology.” Think Green and Invest in Tomorrow It’s YOUR chance To make a powerful difference The University of Guelph Energy Conservation Fund Reducing greenhouse gases and conserving energy is a shared responsibility for everyone in our campus community. You can help. By making a gift to the University of Guelph Energy Conservation Fund, you will be taking action to make our campus more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. All gifts will be matched 1:1 by the University and will be used for energy conservation upgrades. Make a gift today... for a better tomorrow 3 Ways to Give Online: www.alumni.uoguelph.ca/cgi-bin/online_giving.pl Through payroll deduction: www.alumni.uoguelph.ca/support_cornerstone.htm In person: Visit Alumni House during business hours at Guelph 6 March 14 , 2007 profile Winds of Change U of G engineer uses wind tunnel to study renewable energy alternative By Andrew Vowles I t was ON A DAY with near-magical wind conditions that Prof. David Lubitz became a hummingbird. The then teen had lifted his homemade ultralight aircraft off the grass runway on the family farm in Plattsville, southwest of Kitchener. At one point, he angled directly into the wind. Throttling back the motor until his speed matched that of the wind, he hovered motionless, suspended hundreds of feet above the farmers’ fields in his winged lawn chair. “It was really eerie,” he says. The recently appointed environmental engineer- ing professor still relies on his ability to read the wind. These days he’s doing it not to pilot an ultralight but to study a renewable energy source that is gaining more attention as an alternative to fossil fuels. Lubitz hopes his work will help refine what is still a hit-and-miss process hindering more rapid adoption of wind en- ergy in Ontario and elsewhere: where and how to site wind turbines and wind farms for more efficient, reli- able energy generation. In the process, he’s bringing back to life a wind tunnel owned by U of G’s School of Engineering that had been mothballed for several years. In the Thombrough Building office he’s occupied since arriving at Guelph late last year, Lubitz displays a colour-coded provincial map on his computer moni- tor. The Ontario Wind Resource Atlas divides the province into a grid reflecting local conditions down to chunks of a single square kilometre in area. Its pur- pose is to help in finding likely locations for wind tur- bines, from individual installations to entire wind farms such as those sprouting along the shores of lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario. There’s a limitation in the map, he says. Try to zero in on the specific conditions on an individual property and you’re left twisting, so to speak, in the wind. Lubitz hopes to help sharpen that focus. He envisions a website that would allow farmers or homeowners to enter detailed information about local topography, buildings and trees. Press “Go” and the computer would marry that data with its own store of weather and climate data to sug- gest the best location for a turbine. Taking out some of the guesswork would help ensure more efficient operation of the windmill, currently a key hurdle for homeowners eyeing a $50,000 turbine installation. He’s also studying wind impacts on building designs and, conversely, the effects of built structures on wind flow. Lubitz is now scouting out a handful of buildings in the Guelph area where he’ll install equipment this year to begin capturing wind data, also useful information in helping to site wind turbines such as one he’s thinking about installing at his parents’ 93-acre farm. Key to his research is that U of G wind tunnel. He hadn’t even known the resource existed here when he applied for his position with the School of Engineering. He’d been working in California, where he’d earned his PhD in 2005. Along with his supervisor at the University of California, Davis, he had used a wind tunnel to simulate airflow around hills and buildings. The device here on campus is smaller, but it suits his needs, he says during the short walk from his office to the Vehicle Ser- vices Building, where the wind tunnel is housed. (The School of Engineering leases space here from Physical Resources for a number of teaching and research projects, including the mini open-wheeled racing car built by die Formula SAE race team.) Even during that brief stroll, Lubitz becomes a bit of a walk- ing weather sensor. “I notice all kinds of things,” he confesses, from the way the wind has sculpted the day’s snow on his car windshield to how an air pressure differential causes a window to whisde downstairs in Thombrough. Call it an occupational preoccupadon for a faculty member whose website contains a page displaying current weather data from die Environment Canada weather stadon at Elora. That site links to larger ones drawing on meteorological data to make sophisdeated com- puter predictions. How closely does he monitor all of that? “Of- ten I end up looking outside," he says with a grin. Beyond a row of ordinary-looking garage doors, the atmo- spheric boundary layer wind tunnel fills much of one wing of the Vehicle Services Building. Laid horizontally on supports, the 50-foot-long device looks a bit like a plywood mock-up of an early idea for a straight-sided rocket. At one end, the tapering “nose cone” contains a motor- driven fan whose blades pull air through the tunnel. The oppo- site end flares into a square intake about 12 by 12 feet in area. Here a fine mesh screen covers a densely packed array of metal tubes that “straighten” the incoming air, ridding it of ambient turbulence. Four removable windows along its length on both sides — and more windows on its upper face — allow research- ers access to the four- by four-foot interior. Lubitz flicks a switch to start the motor and cranks a single dial on the control box. At half-power, the motor sounds like a car engine in a garage. (For extended periods, he wears ear pro- tection.) Sticking your hand inside the tunnel at its full wind speed of about 10 metres per second would be like cupping the air outside the window of a car travelling at about 40 kilometres an hour. “That’s a fairly windy day." He picks up one of several anemometers belonging to a land resource science professor who plans to study wind conditions in farmers’ fields. Lubitz will use the tunnel to calibrate the devices before they’re used in the field. Against the wall nearby stands a pile of ordi- nary-looking bricks. Formally called “roughness ele- ments” in wind engineer’s parlance, the bricks can be laid in varied patterns inside the tunnel to alter the airflow. He expects his work will help refine our under- standing of wind flow, a key to the wider use of wind power as a renewable energy alternative. Quoting the Canadian Wind Energy Association, he says wind energy may eventually supply at least one-fifth of the country’s electricity needs; currently it accounts for only one-half of one per cent, although it’s the fast- est-growing form of power generation. Speaking of wind energy’s prospects, Michael Roth, project engineer with Guelph-based RWDI Inc., says: “It’s getting competitive.” The international consulting firm works with cli- ents to place wind turbines on or within buildings and to incorporate wind energy into municipal planning. (RWDI has two full-sized wind tunnels at its Woodlawn Road location — large enough to walk in- side — where it has studied wind loading on the Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest skyscraper being built in the United Arab Emirates.) Roth, an adjunct professor in the School of Engi- neering, says Lubitz will help attract environmental engineering students who will form part of the next generation of experts in wind energy. “He’s helping train up our next employees.” Lub'itz acknovAe&gcs critics' concerns about wuii power, including insufficient grid capacity to transmit electricity and worries about intermittent power gen- eration as winds vary. He argues that the “planned intermittency” of wind or solar may be better than the infrequent but crippling problems stemming from shutdown of a single critical power plant. He also says wind tur- bines are more economical than solar panels, and easier to install and maintain. Until now, Lubitz has been refurbishing the U of G wind tunnel — an apt role for an engineer who has always tinkered. “Growing up on the farm was a good experience. I got used to fixing things.” He became a licensed airplane and ultralight pilot while at- tending high school in Cambridge. He built his own aircraft on the farm following the lead of his parents, who both still fly homemade two-seaters. “It runs in the family. Everybody flies.” His paternal grandfather was a pilot trainer during the Second World War; back home, he built wooden planes in the garage along with Lubitz’s father. “I guess it just seems normal to me.” He discovered other pursuits when he went to California — his mother’s home state — to study mechanical engineering. “I’ve tried all the fluid mechanics sports,” he says, including scuba diving, sailing and surfing. As an undergraduate in San Diego, he helped build a human-powered submarine entered each year in race competitions. The craft set a speed record in its category sanctioned by the Guinness Book of World Records in the same year the category was removed from the book. “Our moment of glory was snatched away.” Never mind. He’s got other pursuits to follow back in his native land, although none involves flying, at least for now. Lubitz returned to Ontario last year with his wife, Rebecca, and their son, Daniel; they’re expecting a second child this month. CARPET & FURNITURE CLEANING Do you suffer from allergies? • Reduce the level of bacteria, yeast and mould micro-organisms in carpeting • Reduce the level of bacteria on upholstered furniture Nobody Cleans Better Than Steamatic! AIR DUCT CLEANING Breathe cleaner air • Remove microscopic dust mites • Remove mildew, mould and bacteria in air contaminants Lower energy costs s %jfg§ Call Us 519-836-7340 Valerie Poulton at Guelph J March 14, 2007 Games Club Hosts Annual Gryphcon Convention typically draws about 200 participants BY DAVID DICENZO B y day. May Sherwood works at M&T Printing in the University Centre. But away from the job, she has a number of potential personas, be it a werewolf, an alien or even a samurai. Sherwood is one of about 100 members of the U of G Games Club, a unique group of students and local residents who are gearing up for their annual Gryphcon, a three-day gaming experience slated to run March 23 to 25 throughout the University Centre. The event features a number of role-playing games where partici- pants play strange and different characters working their way through a specific storyline. “The appeal is that it’s fun to act like someone else for a while,” says Sherwood, the club’s current secre- tary and future vice-president. “It’s fun to try and figure out what you’re going to do.” The Games Club also has a num- ber of more traditional board games like Risk and Settlers of Catan in its second-floor University Centre of- fice, but role-playing games (RPGs) such as Dungeons and Dragons are typically the games of choice among members. In RPGs, gamers take on the roles of fictional characters, which are directed by a GM, the game master, also referred to as a storyteller. “With board games, you’ve got an objective and you’re trying to meet it,” says Erik Blatherwick, one of the Gryphcon co-ordinators. “With role-playing games, you’re playing a character. It’s a story. You’re not really playing to win. You’re playing to portray the char- acter as best you can.” Blatherwick says the gaming community has been hit hard by the proliferation of online games. Mas- sive multi-player online role-playing games allow millions of players to sit behind their computer screen and play for hours on end. “The only thing we can do to compete with that is that you’re dealing with the person,” he says. “Sometimes something will happen that is completely unexpected, and you have to deal with that. I person- ally like the challenge of that more than going online.” U of G student Andrea McVeigh, another Gryphcon co-ordinator who got into gaming back in her high school days at GCVI, agrees. “Meeting other gamers to play in person is more creative,” she says. “It’s more of a social outlet” Although the online community has stolen its share of participants, the annual turnout at Gryphcon suggests that lots of gamers are still doing things the old-fashioned way. The convention typically draws about 200 participants over the weekend, some coming from as far away as the United States, says Sherwood. This year for the first time, the FLASH (fantasy, literature, anime, sci-6 and horror) Club is also involved in Gryphcon. The funds collected by the paying customers are reinvested into the Games Club, so members can stay on top of the ever-changing gaming market, says Blatherwick “The idea of doing bake sales didn’t really appeal to anyone.” For more information about Gryphcon, visit www.gryphcon.org. Hold Off on Microsoft Upgrades, Says CCS MOLLIE CAMPBELL Master’s student in epidemiology in the Department of Population Medicine Idle time is an unfamiliar concept for Mollie Campbell. Her studies, volunteer work and jam-packed recreation schedule leave little free space in her day planner. “I do a lot of intramurals,” says Campbell, who currently plays soccer, hockey, basketball and volleyball at U of G and competes in indoor field hockey with the Waterloo women’s field hockey team. “My favourite is ice hockey because it’s my first season playing, so I’ve had to learn how to skate and play. Last week, I had my first pass that actually worked. It’s defi- nitely a steep learning curve.” She wasn’t exposed to much hockey growing up in the small town of Lochwinnoch, Scotland. She did, how- ever, develop a passion for animals and is the proud owner of Beau, a nine-year-old boxer she rescued almost eight years ago. She moved to Canada in 2000 with Beau, who’s been taking up lots of her time lately as he trains for the up- coming College Royal dog show. “I’m trying to get him to stand," she says. “He can sit, jump and balance a ball on his nose, but ask him to stand and it’s a problem.” Aside from preparing the dog, Campbell will partici- pate in College Royal as a volunteer in the animal science bam. As part of that, she has an acting gig in a skit called “There’s a Heifer in Your Tank." Once April rolls around, she will compete in a mod- ern pentathlon event — running, riding, shooting, fenc- ing and swimming — through the Guelph Pony Club, where she also volunteers her time. MICHAEL RIDLEY Chief librarian since 1995 and chief information officer since 2004 Michael Ridley has a mastery of information systems, but ask him to describe himself and three words come to mind — "failed rock star.” Ridley is a music aficionado with a love of guitars. He owns three in all, a six-string, a 12-string and a Fender Stratocaster. “I play them all very, very badly,” says Ridley. “I’ve played them very badly for many years. But I do so without shame. It’s just wonderfully therapeutic to be optimistic that one day, perhaps, I’ll be able to play them well.” Ridley, who admires some of the all-time great gui- tarists like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as Toronto-based Sue Foley, says he’s really been into the Mollie Campbell blues of late. “Chicago blues, Delta blues, you name it,” he says. “Anything that’s rough and edgy.” Ridley was so taken with the guitar as a teenager that when he first enrolled at U of G as an undergraduate, he immediately took his student loan money, went down- town and bought a Gibson knock-off. “I have the people of Ontario to thank for it,” he says, adding that his student loans were paid back in their en- tirety. Ridley is also fascinated by alphabet blocks and lead type, an interest that dates back to his student days when he ran the Gryphon Press. He became interested in type and typography, prompting him to collect all things let- tered. His prized possession is a set of alphabet blocks that he believes date back to the 1880s. “Half the fun is the chase,” says Ridley, who regularly scans the cyber world to hunt down pieces for his collec- tion. ISTVAN RAJ CAN Faculty member in the Department of Plant Agriculture since 1998 Prof. Istvan Rajcan says he used to run all the time as an undergradu- ate, but an increasingly busy schedule, marriage and parent- hood forced him to pack away his running gear. A few years ago, however, he picked up the sport again, thanks to some inspiration from his technician Wade Montminy and his former gradu- ate student Aron Weir, a triathlete. “I was listening to their stories, and I said: 'Why don’t I go back to my passion,”’ he says. Rajcan entered his first marathon in 2005, competing in the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon in Toronto with Montminy. “All we wanted to do was train for it, finish it and sur- vive,” he says. “The byproduct was that we got hooked.” In the fall, Rajcan and a small Guelph contingent travelled to the Windy City for the Chicago Marathon, which draws close to 40,000 participants. “It was a tough race,” says Rajcan. “The weather wat horrible, but we still finished it. It wasn’t our best time, but we had fun. We dealt with the pain for the next few days.” The crop scientist loves the social aspect and health benefits of running and suggests that anyone capable of completing a 10-kilometre race can make the transition to marathons in about four months. The key to success actually lies between your ears, he says. “It’s at least 50-per-cent mental." Rajcan says the toughest part of a race comes at about the 32-kilometre or 20-mile mark. “That’s when most people struggle. You hit the wall, you use up all the gly- cogen in your muscles. Your body can still do it, but your brain is telling you: ‘Stop. Stop running.’” M icrosoft has OFFiciALLy launched its new operating system, Vista, and has released a new version of the Microsoft Office Suite, Office 2007, but Computing and Communications Services (CCS) isn’t recommending an upgrade to either of these products at this time, says Leon Loo, manager of departmental services in CCS. “CCS is currently working with IT administrators to test these new products for any compatibility is- sues with the many different systems and applications on campus and will be guiding a rollout plan that will en- sure there’s a consistent approach to how and when we move forward on upgrading to the products,” he says. In addition, CCS is currently able to provide only limited support for Vista and Office 2007, says Loo. “We need time to ensure that people across campus who provide IT support receive the training re- quired to help integrate these prod- ucts into existing systems.” Office 2003 continues to be avail- able at CCS’s software distribution site. For information, visit www. uoguelph.ca/ccs, call Ext. 58888 or e-mail to 58888help@uoguelph.ca. tOMa^iNKjcr i THE CARTRIDGE REFILLERJ Stone Road Mall l Near Pizza Pizza 1 519 - 81 1-1818 ! some restrictions apply I with this COUpOn ask staff for details I Student Design Competition Shadows the Real Thing BY ANDREW VOWLES A FINALIST WAS NAftttD this month for the professional makeover of Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square. But under a shadow competition co-sponsored by the University of Guelph, student teams from around the world have until the end of March to complete their own design proposals for Toronto’s civic gathering place. By early March, 144 teams had registered for the student design competition, which is sponsored by U of G’s School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD) and by the schools of plan- ning and architecture at the University of Waterloo. “This competition not only cre- ates a real-life design experience for architects, planners and landscape architects, but it also positions Guelph and our school as leaders in design,” says SEDRD director Prof. Maurice Nelischer. The professional competition to revitalize Nathan Phillips Square — mostly unaltered since it was built in 1965 as the home of Toronto City Hall — attracted proposals from 48 teams around the world. The win- ning design was announced in early March. Guelph students routinely visit the Toronto landmark and tourist attraction as part of the landscape architecture program here. Looking for a way to involve students, Nelischer asked the City of Toronto for its design specs and enlisted his Waterloo counterparts in the shadow competition. Several U of G teams are regis- tered, including about 30 graduate students in a design course taught by Prof. Lise Burcher, who is the U of G liaison for the competition. “It’s a great opportunity for learning,” she says. The student competition is using the same program and data as the city-run professional competition, but will have different product re- quirements, a different jury and a single-stage schedule. Submissions will be judged by a landscape archi- tect, urban planner, architect and City of Toronto representative. The winners will receive cash awards ($1,500 for first place, $1,000 for sec- ond and $500 for third). Organizers plan to display the student designs at a Toronto venue this spring. at Guelph 8 March 14, 2007 International flights so cheap you might just stay an extra couple of days. University of Guelph University Centre (519) 763-1660 ^TRAVEL CUTS Canada ' j Student Travel Experts www.travelcuts.com Scalpel Blades Cut Across Borders OVC hockey team’s international contingent shares a passion for the sport with their Canuck teammates • Full- & half-day programs for 2 1/2 to 5 years * After-school program • Large gym & outdoor play area • Enhanced reading, writing & math * French, music, art & physical education * Social skill development in family setting 519 - 821-5876 (located in Dublin Street United Church) 68 Suffolk Street West, Guelph N1H 2J2 www.montessori-school.ca BY DAVID DICENZO B ack in 1999 when Thomas Koch paid his first visit to the Ontario Veterinary College to do a research project as part of his DVM studies back home in Denmark, he knew little about hockey. The sport wasn’t big in his native country, and he’d never seen a live game. But one day his then roommate Dean Betts — now a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Sciences — took him to a Guelph Storm game, and Koch found a new passion. “I loved it,” he says. “I enjoyed the speed of the game and loved the old arena and the whole atmosphere. You got a real sense of the history of the game.” In 2001, after Koch had finished his DVM and was doing a one-year internship at Guelph, he and Betts joined an OVC hockey team now known as the Scalpel Blades. The col- lege boasts 12 intramural hockey teams in total, all of which will vie for the OVC Challenge Cup that gets under way this week, but the Scalpel Blades are a team with a difference, thanks to an international contin- gent of players from Denmark, Spain, Colombia and Switzerland. Whereas most Canadians take their understanding of hockey for granted, the imported Blades players had no such history. "When we joined the team, there were people who’d never played be- fore, and some couldn’t even skate,” says Betts, who notes that the team’s philosophy is to include anyone will- ing to play, regardless of skill level. “Back in those days, we’d lose by double digits. But now we’re win- ning games and are actually compet- itive. A lot of these guys have really improved. It’s great to see someone who’s never played before become just as good as some of the Canadians.” Prof. Antonio Cruz, Clinical Studies, who hails from Spain, recalls spending more time sitting on the ice than standing on it when he first hit the rink four seasons ago. “The first year, I think I won the Zamboni trophy for cleaning the ice with my butt. Now I’ve improved Members of OVC’s Scalpel Blades hit the ice for a recent intramural game at the twin-pad arena. They won the game 5-2. At front is Prof. Dean Betts. In second row, from left, are Mark Lowerison, Brandon Lillie, Thomas Koch and Prof. Antonio Cruz. In back row are Prof. Henry St3mpfli, Barry Gunn, Steven Bray, Joe Bracamonte, Jesse Harvey and Prof. John Armstrong. photo by martin schwalbe tremendously. I’m a rocket on the ice, but usually headfirst.” In addition to Cruz and Koch, the international members of the team are Prof. Henry Stampfli, Clinical Studies, who’s originally from Swit- zerland; and OVC residents Carlos Medina of Colombia and Joe Bracamonte, who was born in On- tario but lived in Spain for 17 years with his family. Of that group, Stampfli and Bracamonte joined the Blades with the most hockey acumen. Stampfli, the elder statesman of the team, played indoor handball at a high level in Europe and has laced up his skates for 20 years. Bracamonte was actually a solid player in his early days in Hamilton before his father moved the family to Spain. “When I left, they were saying to my dad that I had a career as a hockey player,” he says. “Then I went 17 years without being on skates.” For others, the game has proven to be more of a challenge. Medina, for example, took a spill in the warm-ups for his very first game last year and was hurt badly enough that he had to sit out the whole season. His teammates say he’s stepped it up this year and is especially adept at playing pond hockey, an environ- ment where many of the beginners start honing their skills. “It’s not just skating but learning how to stop,” says Betts. “Once you master the stopping thing, you step up a notch in the quality of play. Then you can start passing." Cruz says one of the most useful things he’s learned is that “being onside is good." Another important tip: “Don’t hit your own goalie.” Koch, who is now doing a PhD in biomedical sciences with Betts, has picked up some of his own tricks. “The most important part for me was to keep my stick on the ice. It’s good support Keep it on the ice and someone will bounce it off your stick blade." Using a new stick he bought at Canadian Tire (as millions of Canucks have done over the years), Koch scored a goal in the Blades’ re- cent 5-2 thrashing of the OVC Qimmiqs, a team of veterinary stu- dents. Canadian-born Blades goal- tender Mark Lowerison, a graduate student in genetics, says that al- though the international players on the team didn’t grow up with hockey, they do have some natural abilities that have helped them im- prove at the sport. ‘They’re innate positional play- ers,” he says, referring to soccer strategies. “With Canadian players, when a play breaks down, we call it Timbit hockey because the mob is just chasing the puck. That never happens with the Scalpel Blades." Something else that doesn’t hap- pen with the Blades is the negative emotion and intensity Lowerison sees with other teams he plays goalie for. “The Scalpel Blades are by far my favourite team to play with, and the main reason is that they don’t get discouraged. There’s no possible way you can discourage them. They don’t quit. They keep trying." As they tally more goals and pile up more wins, the Blades hope to make a bigger splash in this season’s OVC Challenge Cup. But victories and stats aren’t the main reasons the players put on their gear. Hockey also gives them a chance to meet new people and socialize after the games, says Koch. “It’s great because when you come here as a foreigner and you don’t know many people, it’s a nice outlet from the vet clinic. You get to know people from different places. That means when you’re outside the clinic, you still get to see some famil- iar faces. It’s a good icebreaker.” Clarification The Feb. 28 At Guelph article “Relay for Life to Raise Funds for Cancer Society” should have said a team from Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D) began participating in the relay last year, not a team from the central services unit within AA&D. MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WELLINGTON established 1996 at Guelph 9 March 14, 2007 Where Are You Now? If you can identify where this photo was taken on campus, you will have your name entered in a draw to be held in june for a $50 gift certificate donated by the U of G Bookstore. Anyone who submits the right answer by March 16 at 4:45 p.m. is eligible for the draw. Send your response to r.kendall@exec.uoguelph.ca or call Ext. 56039. The following people correctly reported that the Feb. 28 photo was of a staircase in Massey Hall: John Van Manen, Liz Snyder, Fran Kitchen, Jill Gill and Ray Hutchison. photo by rebecca kendall now getting carded is a good thing the SPC Card ' gets you exclusive discounts' at hundreds of Canadian retailers. come in today or call 1-800-HRBLOCK hrblock.ca m H&R BLOCK' g ENTER F0R A CHANCE T0 WIN a trip for two ? to a SECRET DESTINATION to see fi V , & ffl A ^ LIVE IN CONCERT rockwithblock.ca Individual results vary. "Oilers valid from 08101/06 until 07/31/07. Valid at participating locations In Canada only, For Cardholder only. Offers may vary, restrictions may apply. Usage may be restricted when used In conjunction with any other offer or retailer loyalty card discounts. Cannot be used towards the purchase of gilt cards or certificates. *To qualify, student must present either (I) a T2202a documenting 4 or more months of full-time attendance at a college or university during 2006 or (ii) a valid high school identification card Expires July 3 1, 2007. Valid only at participating H&R Block locations in Canada * ‘NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Purchase of HSR Block products or services will not increase chances of winning. Begins 2/1/07 and ends 5/15/07. Open to legal residents of Canada (excluding Quebec residents) who are 13 or older and were lull-time students lor four 01 more months during 2006 at a high school, college or university. There will be 1 random draw to award the prize. Skill testing question required for awaid ol prize See www.rodrwithblock.ca for Official Rules and how to play without purchase. Odds of winning vary based on partidpation Void In Quebec and where prohibited. Wallin to Be Installed at June Ceremony Continued from page 1 for an unprecedented 15 years, has been named University chancellor emeritus and will continue to serve Guelph in ceremonial roles, includ- ing participating in some public events and convocations. Wallin’s career has spanned more than 30 years and several con- tinents, including numerous posi- tions at CBC and CTV. She is currently the senior adviser to the president of the Americas Society and the Council of the Americas in New York. She recently completed a four-year term as consul general of Canada in New York. She also serves on the boards of many Canadian corporations, including CTVglobemedia. Wallin holds an honours degree in psychology and political science from the University of Regina and has received 13 honorary degrees, including an honorary doctorate of laws from U of G last year. She has also written three books, including Since You Asked, a best-selling memoir. The University’s first chancellor was George Drew, a former mayor of Guelph, Ontario premier and Canada high commissioner to the United Kingdom, who served U of G from 1965 to 1971. He was fol- lowed by Emmet Hall, former chief justice of Saskatchewan and the Court of Appeal (1971 to 1977); Pauline McGibbon, former Ontario lieutenant-governor (1977 to 1983); William Stewart, former Ontario minister of agriculture ( 1983 to 1989); and Edmund Bovey, past president of the Art Gallery of Ontario (1989 to 1990). Alexander, also a former Ontario lieutenant- governor, became chancellor in 1991. March is National Help Fight Liver Disease Month. For more information, visit www.liver.ca. For information about paid advertising in At Guelph, call Scott Anderson at 519-827-9169. at Guelph 10 March 14, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS Two-bedroom furnished house available May 1 to Dec. 31, 2007, suitable for visiting faculty member, fireplace and deck, close to Univer- sity, shopping, parks and walking trails, $1,200 a month inclusive, mmaidmen@uoguelph.ca. Clean, modern townhouse near Kortright and Edinburgh, available May 1 to Aug. 31, includes laundry, cooking facilities and parking, wire- less Internet, common areas are fur- nished, 519-265-2112. Southampton cottage, sleeps four, gas fireplace, private treed lot, close to lake, harbour, downtown and golf course, $700 a week from June to September, Melody, Ext. 54337 or m.wren@exec.uoguelph.ca. Three-bedroom house in downtown Guelph, 1,150 square feet, across from park and river, freshly painted, hardwood floors, central air, back- yard, two decks, one-car garage, available July/August 2007 to July/ August 2008, $1,250 a month plus utilities, mmcculla@uoguelph.ca. Cottage on quiet private lake, steps to the water and minutes to town, sleeps four, full kitchen and three- piece bath, barbecue, canoe, satellite TV, short drive to Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, Ext. 54156. White 30-inch stove, works per- fectly, 519-767-6313. Solid birch youth desk with chair; two CRT computer monitors, 17- inch Dell and 19-inch Samsung, nrigby@hrs. uoguelph .ca . Three-bedroom house on half-acre lot in Rockwood, Ext. 53392. Adult male veiled chameleon, about five years old, with glass reptile house and pine stand, includes heat lamp, bedding, climbing house and other accessories, 519-821-1621 or mcooper@uoguelph.ca. Yakima roof rack for car with rain gutters, locks included, Don, Ext. 52317 or dstevens@uoguelph.ca. Century home in downtown Guelph, go to http://15charles.com. Bowflex Xtreme fitness machine with videos, barely used, Ext. 56980 or dmikkels@registrar.uoguelph.ca. 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 1500, 9,500 kilometres, saddlebags, back- rest, windshield, mint condition, Gary, 519-846-9121 after 5 p.m. Captain’s bed with three large stor- age drawers, fits standard twin mat- tress, ideal for child, Jennifer, 519- 822-0858 or jsumner@uoguclph.ca. urine and food records, financial compensation, Angela, Ext. 58081 or macneil@uoguelph.ca. Seeking to buy 1,000- to 1,200- square-foot house with rental income potential five km or less from U of G, north of College Ave- nue preferred, send e-mail to guelphhomebuyer@hotmail.com. Water softener in good condition, Ext. 50243 or barb@pr.uoguelph.ca. Long gold braided/ roped chain (10 to 12 inches long) Feb. 21 on cam- pus, Marisa Reginato, Ext. 52841. AVAILABLE ESL coaching, specializing in profes- sional upgrading for foreign-born professionals — speaking, reading, writing and listening. I begin where government programs leave off, Jacqueline, 519-766-4504. Classifieds is a free service available to members of the U of G commu- nity. Submit items to Linda Graham on Level 4 of the University Centre, fax to 519-824-7962 or send e-mail to l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca. FOR SALE Three- plus two-bedroom home in south end, 1,750-square-foot side- split, four baths, finished basement with in-law suite, recent updates include flooring, furnace, central air and roof, close to schools and cam- pus, 519-546-1636. WANTED Used Lego, Jesse, Ext. 52403. Healthy men aged 20 to 40 for soy bread study in Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sci- ences, involves daily bread con- sumption and collection of blood, SHORT OR LONG TERM Ideal for business professionals Walk in with only your suitcase to upscale, fully furnished, professionally decorated, immaculate two-bedroom condo in historical Phoenix Mill in the heart of Guelph. Jacuzzi, two baths, TV, stereo, fully equipped kitchen, ensuite laundry, parking, controlled entrance, fitness room, cable. Available April 1. 81,600 a month. E-mail: Intelrent@hotmail.com Carol, 519-823-1857, leave message. YOUR PREFERRED Group Auto & Home Or visit our website at www.staebler.com INSURANCE PROGRAM Save Up To 50% In Insurance Product Discounts Your Group Discountl I Insurance weconomlcalinsurBnce.com AND FRIENDS ...a tour deforce of vocal and orchestral magic. ^\dge t A i& On 'The Bridge' 6:45 ■ 7 30p.ni l)r. Jeffrey Siokes Carl Orff Carmina Burana Gerald Neufeld, Conductor Lesley Andrew soprano Kevin McMillan baritone Hart House Orchestra Henry Janzen. Conductor $25 (students SlO) Tickets at RIVER RUN CENTRE • 519.763.3000 • 1.877.520.2408 SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2007 8:00 P.M. RIVER RUN CENTRE. 35 WOOLWICH STREET. GUELPH • WWW RIVERRUN.CA m Habitat for Humanity’ Wellington County We Sell Windows Doors Kitchen Cabinets Sinks & Vanities Electrical Fixtures & Supplies Plumbing Fixtures & Supplies Lightung Fixtures Shingles Flooring Ceramic Tiles Hardware New Paint Patio Furniture and much more... ReStore 45 Dawson Road Unit 4, Guelph, Ontario. N1H 1B1 tel: 519-780-2323 Monday - Friday 10AM - 5PM Saturday 9AM - 4PM We sell new and used maienals for home renovation and I repair donated by manufacturers, retailers and homeowners PRICES 50% - 80% BELOW RETAIL Planning a renovation? Recycle your unwanted materials by donating them to the ReStore. Kitchen sets (cabinets, appliances, sinks) particularly appreciated. FREE PICK-UP Revenue from the ReStore is used to build Habitat for homes in Guelph Wellington County Toto Aquia tm D ual Flush Toilet (1.6 Gpf / 6 Lpf and 0.9 Gpf/ 3.4 Lpf) •Elongated skirted design, two-piece toilet •Dual-Max ™ Flushing System •Push button style flush option STARTING FROM $459 55 Dawson Road Guelph, 519-821-5744 On the Fergus-Elora Road, Elora 519-846-5381 e sure to enjoy your career and get the most out of each work day., let us help you see your world more clearly . — Canvision Optical 666 Woolwich Street _ ____ Guelph, ON N1H7G5 7DD-7D7D at Guelph 11 March 14, 2007 EVENTS ARBORETUM Arboretum manager Ric Jordan leads a day-long workshop on pond gardening April 12. Cost is $50. Reg- ister by March 29 at Ext. 52358. CONCERTS The School of Fine Art and Music’s Thursday noon-hour concerts con- tinue March 15 with the Royal City Saxophone Quartet and March 22 with Carolyn Stronks-Zeyl on flute and Ron Beckett on piano. Student soloists perform March 29. Concerts are in MacKinnon 107. U of G’s musical ensembles present "Music of the ’Speare” March 15 at 8 p.m. at the River Run Centre, as part of the “Shakespeare — Made in Can- ada” festival. The program will include works by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, Shostakovich and Prof. James Harley, Fine Art and Music. Tickets are $10 general, $5 eyeGO. To order, call 519-763-3000. Jazz guitarist Glenn Ginn and the Ryan Bruce Trio will give a free recital March 18 at 3 p.m. in MacKinnon 107. On March 20, Ginn leads a masterclass with the Jazz Guitar Advanced Music En- semble at 2:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 107. Observers are welcome. U of G’s music ensembles present a spring concert on the theme “Bands and Beyond” March 25 at 2 p.m. in War Memorial Hall. Tickets are $10 general, $5 for students, at the door. Prof. Marta McCarthy conducts the U of G choirs in “Rossini — Master of Melody” March 30 at 8 p.m. at the River Run Centre. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, $12 for Naughton 1 13. A reception will fol- low at the University Club. The OAC public lecture series pres- ents the George Raithby Memorial Lecture March 21 at 5:30 p.m. in OVC 1 174. David Notter of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Uni- versity will discuss "Improving Effi- ciency in Ruminant Animal Produc- tion: A Genetic Perspective.” NOTICES The Interfaith Student Council pres- ents Faith Week March 19 to 22. It begins Monday with a movie night at 5:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 309. On Tuesday, Faith Day runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the UC courtyard. Faith group presentations will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 309. Also on Wednesday, discussion will focus on “The Importance of Religion” at noon in the CSA boardroom. The week wraps up Thursday with multi-faith prayers at noon in the CSA boardroom and a guest speaker and social at 6 p.m. at the Bullring. The Stress Management Clime and the Learning Commons present ExamSMART, a program designed to help students enhance their exam performance. Beginning March 20, it runs for four sessions Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. in McLaughlin 384. Cost is $20. Regis- ter at the Learning Commons desk. For more details, call Ext. 52662 or visit www.uoguelph.ca/~ksomers. The SharpCuts indie film and music festival slated to run Sept. 22 and 23 on campus is accepting submissions from screenwriters, filmmakers and musicians. For information, contact Thomas Gofton at 519-362-5756 or tgofton@uoguelph.ca or go to www. series sponsored by the U of G Library and the Central Student Association, presents Bombay Call- ing March 20 at 7 p.m. in Thombrough 1307. “Specific and Non-Specific Interac- tions in Microbial Adhesion to Sur- faces — An Old Issue Revisited With AFM and ITC” is the topic of Henk Busscher of the University Medical Centre Groningen in the Centre for Food and Soft Materials Science seminar series March 15. On March 22, Laurent Kreplak of the Univer- sity of Basel explains “Nanome- chanics of a Self-Assembled Protein Filament: From Material Science to Disease.” The seminars are at 2:30 p.m. in science complex 1511. The “Loaves and Fishes” seminar series hosted by the Department of Integrative Biology wraps up March 16 with Wilfrid Laurier University biologist Jim McGeer presenting “At the Confluence of Physiology, Chemistry, Toxicology and Engi- neering, the Biotic Ligand Model as a Tool for Environmental Protec- tion.” The talk begins at 12:30 p.m. in Axelrod 168. The microbiology graduate student seminar series presents Balpreet Vinepal discussing “Virus- Encoded MiRNAs” March 16 at 12:30 p.m. in Animal Science and Nutriton 156. Next up in the seminar series hosted by the plant biology group in the Department of Molecular and Cellu- lar Biology is Prof. Usher Posluszny exploring “Desiccation, Plant Growth and Development” March 19. “Plant Metabolism and Nitrogen Use” is the topic of Prof. Steven Rothstein March 26. The seminars begin at 3:30 p.m. in Axelrod 337. The Department of Integrative Biol- ogy’s seminar series continues March 20 with Kirsten Muller of the University of Waterloo and March 27 with Scott Wilson of the Univer- sity of Regina. Wilson will discuss “The March of the Trees: Competi- tion and Complexity in Global Change.” The talks are at 3:30 p.m. in Axelrod 265A. TEACHING SUPPORT The final session in Teaching Sup- port Services’ “WebCT Tips and Tools” series focuses on “The Grade Book” March 29. The Photoshop series wraps up March 28 with a ses- sion on masks. To register, visit www.tss.uoguelph.ca. TSS is hosting a number of events for new faculty this month: a luncheon March 27, with discussion to focus on tenure consideration; a work- shop on “Managing Your Own Lab- oratory” March 28; a social March 28; and a session on sponsored research March 29. For information or to register, visit www.tss. uoguelph.ca. Problem Gambling Risks for Ontario Baby Boomers Associated With Instant Ticket Purchasing.” The advisers are Joan Norris and Prof. Scott Maitland. The final examination of Mima Carranza, a PhD candidate in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, is March 30 at 1:30 p.m. in Macdonald Stewart 243. The thesis is “Salvadoran Mothers and Their Daughters: Navigating the Hazards of Acculturation in the Canadian Context.” The adviser is Prof. Jean Turner. COMMUNITY EVENTS THEATRE U of G’s drama program presents Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet March 20 to 24 at 8 p.m. in the George Luscombe Theatre, with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. For tick- ets, call Ext. 53147. THESIS DEFENCES The final examination of D.V.Sc. candidate Susan Newbigging, Pathobiology, is March 21 at 1:30 p.m. in Pathobiology 101. The thesis is “Phenotypic Investigation of Genetic Modifiers in the C57BL/6 Cystic Fibrosis Mouse Lung.” The advisers are Prof. Jeff Caswell, Colin McKerlie and Richard Rozmahel. The final examination of PhD candi- date Genevieve Young, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, is March 22 at 10 a.m. in Animal Sci- ence and Nutrition 336. The thesis is “The Role of Dietary Niacin Intake and the ADP-Ribosyl Cyclase Enzyme CD38 in Spatial Learning and Memory: Is cADPR the Link Between Diet and Behaviour?” The adviser is Prof. Jim Kirkland. Guelph- Wellington Women in Cri- sis is hosting a 30th-anniversary din- ner and auction March 31 at 5 p.m. at Guelph Place, 492 Michener Rd. The evening will include live and silent auctions, draws and entertain- ment. To buy tickets or donate auc- tion items, call 519-836-11 10. The Guelph Chamber Choir con- ducted by Gerald Neufeld performs Carl Orffs Carmina Burana March 3 1 at 8 p.m. at the River Run Centre. Soloists are soprano Lesley Andrew and baritone Kevin McMillan. Call 519-763-3000 for tickets. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph is looking for volunteers to help with this year’s fundraising golf tourna- ment, slated for June 19 at Guelph Lakes Golf Club. For information or to volunteer, call 519-824-5154. Theatre Guelph presents Shake speare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor for six performances March 30 to April 5 at the River Run Centre. For tickets, call 519-763-3000. LECTURES The Department of Physics hosts Daniel James of the University of Toronto as part of the Canadian Association of Physicists Under- graduate Lecturer Series March 21. James will discuss “Quantum Com- puting, Cryptography and Telepor- tation” at 4:30 p.m. in Mac- The Department of Mathematics and Statistics presents Prof. Dan Ashlock discussing “Fractal Repre- sentation for Real- Valued Evolu- tionary Optimization” March 15 at 1 p.m. in science complex 1511. “Bivariate Mover-Stayer Models for Interval-Censored Recurrent Event Data” is the topic of Rinku Sutradhar of the University of Toronto March 16 at 4:30 p.m. in science complex 151 1. On March 29, U of G PhD student Stephanie Dixon describes “Family-Based Genetic Case-Control Studies” at 1 p.m. in science complex 1504. “Applications of Game Theory to Vaccination Policy” is the topic of Prof. Chris Bauch, Mathematics and Statistics, in the Department of Physics seminar series March 27 at 4 p.m. in science complex 1511. Next up in the Department of Com- puting and Information Science seminar series March 21 is Prof. Dan Ashlock, Mathematics and Statistics, exploring “ISAc Lists and Darwinian Robotics” at 4:30 p.m. in Reynolds 219. Shahrokh Valaee of the Univer- sity of Toronto speaks March 28. The final examination of Hilary Burgess, a D.V.Sc. candidate in the Department of Pathobiology, is March 23 at 9:30 a.m. in Pathobi- ology 101. The thesis is “Evaluation of Laboratory Methods for Im- proved Characterization of Dogs With Von Willebrand Disease.” The adviser is Prof. Darren Wood. The final examination of Katharine Papoff, an M.Sc. candidate in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, is March 23 at 10 a.m. in Macdonald Stewart 243. The thesis is "Itching for Scratch Cards: The Guelph Youth Singers, Vancou ver Children’s Choir and Jiwani African Dance and Ensemble will perform a benefit concert for Masai for Africa March 29 at 7 p.m. at New Life Church, 400 Victoria Rd. N. For tickets, call 519-821-8574. The Guelph Symphony Orchestra presents “Masterworks and More” March 25 at 3 p.m. at the River Run Centre. The program includes Bee- thoven’s Fifth Symphony. The Guelph Youth Music Centre string orchestras will also perform. Call 519-763-3000 for tickets. The Waterloo-Wellington Wild flower Society hosts its annual seed workshop March 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bovey Building potting shed. brock road nursery centre § c \ Ift shoppe Read The Latest Issue Of Our BACKYARD JOURNAL To Learn About The 2007 Perennial c£ Has la Of The Year I NEW FOR SPRING 2007 1 1 > • v Visit Our Website To View 1 1 /«► I A Heritage Perennial 's 1 1 2007 All Star Top Ten Vegetable & Herb Seeds For Your Produce Garden 1858 Gordon Street, Guelph, ON. NIL 1G6 . 519-836-5010 || At Guelph 12 March 14, 2007 atGUELPH MARCH 28, 2007 » VOL. 51 NO. 6 . WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH . UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH INSIDE: BUILDING BETTER FARMERS • BEYOND DOLLARS AND CENTS • MEN AT WORK • DEAR DIARY Gryphon Stephanie Yallin leads on and off the basketball court. Provincial Budget Gives Some Relief, Uncertainty Lingers One-time allocation will help deal with immediate cost pressures but won’t help alleviate Guelph’s structural deficit, says Summerlee BY LORI BONA HUNT T he University of Guelph — along with Ontario’s other universities — is waiting for details from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) on how the 2007 provincial budget announced March 22 will affect its funding. The provincial budget included a one-time $2 10-million allocation to univer- sities to deal with immediate cost pressures. But that money can’t be built into base fund- ing, so it won’t help U of G alleviate its struc- tural deficit, says president Alastair Summerlee. That funding vias actually comvcutted to universities by the federal government in last year’s budget, but it’s been held up until now, he says. “I am pleased that the province has suc- cessfully negotiated the release of this prom- ised 2006 funding, as I know it was a challenge. It will certainly be helpful in the short term, but the money will not be avail- able to address our ongoing structural deficit.” There were few details about other pro- vincial dollars in Thursday’s budget, so how much money individual universities will re- ceive is still unknown, which means U of G’s budget situation remains unclear, says Summerlee. There was mention of future provincial announcements to support the research and innovation strategy and environmental is- sues. Details are expected shortly. “ We eagerly anticipate information on these further important initiatives in the hope that they, too, will provide base funds to address ongoing crucial issues, " he says. The budget did confirm that U of G will receive nearly $6 million for the BioCar Initiative, a multi-university project that involves developing and delivering See UNIVERSITIES on page 14 A High Achiever Gryphon recognized for academics, athletics and community involvement U of G Earns High Marks for Undergrad Experience Maclean’s publishes scores of National Survey of Student Engagement BY DAVID DICENZO S ometimes sports statistics are just numbers telling you how many goals a player made or who won or lost the game. But sometimes they also speak volumes about a player’s character. Take Guelph Gryphon basketball star Steph- anie Yallin, for example. In the 2006/07 season, the four-time Ontario University Athletics all-star led the Gryphs with 5.9 rebounds per game and 92 assists. Rebounds are all about per- severance, and Yallin’s totals are particularly impressive for a guard, but the assists show her willingness to share and help her teammates become better players. Yallin, a fourth-year biological sciences ma- jor from Port Colbome, proved those qualities extend beyond the basketball court when she re- cently became the first-ever Guelph athlete to win the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Sylvia Sweeney Award, recognizing achieve- ment in academics, athletics and community involvement. Earlier this month, she travelled with her mother and basketball coach Angela Orton to the CIS finals in St. John’s, Nfld., to accept the prestigious award. “I think I was in shock at first,” Yallin says of receiving the news she had won. “I’m very proud to represent the University and the com- munity. I’ve had just a great time in my four years here. It was the best feeling to go to St. John’s and represent Guelph.” The only bittersweet note was that her team- mates weren’t by her side, she says. “Unfortunately, our team didn’t make it to the nationals this year, and that was hard. You would trade anything to get there with your team, but the next best thing is that you can rep- resent the school and the community in another way.” A natural leader on the court, Yallin says that having four younger sisters — including Kris, also a member of the Gryphon basketball team — has taught her how to have an impact on others. She’s been involved with U of G’s “Believe to Achieve" program in each of her four years, speaking with local schoolchildren about the importance of excelling in the classroom, being confident in their abilities and setting goals. Yallin is also the University ambassador with lo- cal media, is a University liaison with potential students and has volunteered at numerous community basketball clinics. “Stephanie has been a tremendous competi- tor, leader and ambassador,” says Orton. “She’s See BASKETBALL on page 14 W HEN IT comes to the quality of the undergraduate experience, U of G remains at the top of its class, according to national survey results released March 23 by Maclean’s. The magazine published some of the scores of the National Survey of Student En- gagement (NSSE), which asked some 60,000 first- and final-year students in the United States and Canada more than 100 questions about their undergraduate experience. Thirty-one Canadian universities took part in NSSE in 2006, and Maclean’s pub- lished a sampling of the results. Overall, se- nior students were more critical than first-year students in rating their school, the magazine says. In addition, smaller schools tended to be rated higher than larger schools. But U of G was one of the exceptions, says Maclean’s. It was among a handful of larger research-intensive Canadian schools that re- ceived top marks from both senior and first-year students. For example, Guelph captured the No. 1 spot in the percentage of senior students who said they would attend the same university if they could start all over again. Among first-year students asked the same question, U of G ranked third. Guelph placed second among all universi- ties in the percentage of senior students who rated their educational experience as “excel- lent” and fourth in the first-year evaluation. “The results speak strongly to the unique learning environment at Guelph,” says presi- dent Alastair Summerlee. He adds that, although Guelph is pleased with its performance in NSSE, the University doesn’t support using the survey’s results for university rankings, because that was never its intent. “NSSE is just one of a suite of tools Guelph uses to gauge institutional perform- ance and accountability.” Summerlee says one of NSSE’s important features is that it allows U of G to compare its level of student engagement with that of benchmark institutions in the United States. Guelph was among a small number of Cana- dian universities that performed better than their American counterparts. “The Ontario government is constantly seeking independent proof of the quality of the learning experience, and the survey re- sults certainly speak for themselves,” he say s. at Guelph 1 March 28, 2007 International flights so cheap you might just stay an extra couple of days. University of Guelph University Centre (519) 763-1660 ^TRAVEL CUTS Canada's Student Travel Experts www.travelcuts.com m Habitat for Humanity* Wellington County We Sell ReStore 45 Dawson Road Unit 4, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 1B1 tel: 519-780-2323 Monday - Friday 10AM - 5PM Saturday 9AM - 4PM We sell new and used materials for home renovation and repair donated by manufacturers, retailers and homeowners PRICES 50% - 80% BELOW RETAIL | Planning a renovation? Recycle your unwanted materials by donating them to the ReStore. Kitchen sets (cabinets, appliances, sinks) particularly appreciated. FREE PICK-UP Revenue from the ReStore is used to build Habitat for homes in Guelph/Walllnglon County • Enriched Academic Curriculum ■ Athletic Program • Martial Arts • Skating • Swimming • Yoga • Musikearn-n ■ Core French ■ Monthly Field Trips ■ Certified Montessori Teachers (est. 1978) Low Student Teacher Ratio Toddler Program 18-30 Months 1/2 Day & Full Day Preschool Full Day Jr. & Sr. Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-6 Extended Hours Available DOWNTOWN GUELPH 151 Waterloo Avc Guelph One 836*3810 “ Within the Child Lies the Fate of the Future ” Dr. Maria Mantesxori www.{;uelphinontessori.com — — GOURMET MARKET Mon-Wed 9-7 Thurs.-Frl. 9-8 Sat 9-6 Sun. Closed Remember V$ This Spring Season For Plump, Juicy Farm Fresh TURKEYS Dress Up Your Special Easter Dinner With Our Famous Storemade Stuffing and Savory White Wine Gravy Please call early to place your order. Telephone orders on welcome. GUELPH POULTRY MARKET Kortright just off the Hanlon 570 Kortright Plaza 519 - 763-2284 from the president ‘Reaching Higher' Plan Must Reach Higher Still Editor’s note: President Alastair Summerlee invites com- ments on his column at president@uoguelph.ca. I have joined with University of Waterloo president David Johnson and Wilfrid Laurier University presi- dent Bob Rosehart to write editorials and opinion col- umns as part of our ongoing advocacy efforts to lobby the provincial government for increased support for higher education. I wish to share with you the follow- ing column we wrote that recently appeared in The Record. O NE of THE KEY reasons Waterloo Region and Wellington County are such great places to live and do business is the investments in our local post- secondary institutions. Collectively we produce graduates ready to meet the high demand in many disciplines critical to the health of our social infrastructure, and they feed the economic vitality of this region, making businesses competitive on a global scale. In short, our universities contribute enormously to the health and welfare of our communi- ties. The key to productivity is a skilled, educated workforce. The post-secondary education system in Ontario has a good record of meeting challenges head-on, most recently in 2003 when we were able to make room for the unprecedented “double cohort” of students gradu- ating from Grade 12 and OAC at the same time. The an- swer to that particular challenge was increased funding that allowed universities to build the infrastructure re- quired to take on the wave of students while ensuring they would receive a high-quality education. It was believed that the double cohort was an iso- lated incident, a consequence of reform to the second- ary education system, and that things would return to normal. But we now face a new challenge, that of con- tinued increases in enrolment at Ontario universities, of which the double cohort was only the beginning. The year 2007 has been another period of extraordinary growth in university applications. By last month, 79,568 secondary students had ap- plied for first-year admission, an increase of more than five per cent or 3,908 students over 2006. Usually ex- ceeding one’s expectations is cause for celebration, but this increase in demand is both good and bad. It’s good that there’s such a demand for university education as graduates contribute immensely to On- tario’s social and economic development. Accessibility of post-secondary education is a public good, and we were happy to partner with the provincial government to ensure there was a place for every student who wanted one. But it is also problematic because On- tario’s universities are stretched to the limit, and we are struggling to provide the same high-quality education we always have. The Ontario government’s “Reaching Higher” plan, introduced in 2005, improved financial support and al- located $2.8 billion over five years in new funding. That sounds like a substantial investment, and it is. But it hasn’t kept up with the roaring demand for university education. Enrolments at Ontario’s universities this year were 14,000 students over the Reaching Higher projections. Minister of Colleges, Training and Universities Chris Bentley has recently gone on the public record as stating that every student attending Ontario universi- ties is fully funded. But that funding applies only to the number of students felling within the ministry’s own approved projections. Where does this leave the 14,000 other students who have entered Ontario’s university system? Because enrolment has increased so dramatically, real funding per student is declining. The result is a shortfall of $100 million across the system in 2006/07. Rather than enjoy the full benefit of provincial core funding, we are receiving in the range of only 84 cents on the dollar in 2007, and in the 2007/2008 academic year, we will be at 65 cents. By 2009/10, that shortfall will have grown to $300 million. Without new funding for these new students, our ability to improve the quality of the student learning ex- perience will be seriously affected. The Reaching Higher plan simply did not reach high enough and does not adequately address the significant enrolment in- creases of recent years. To make matters worse, the ministry has suggested that schools that exceed their enrolment targets can shore up per-student funding by dipping into the money the government has allotted to each institution for quality improvements. Redirecting these funds is not an option for us because Ontario universities need every penny of the quality improvement funds if we are to even maintain our current levels of quality. Funding allocated for graduate enrolment expan- sion, which itself is desperately needed as the students of the double cohort enter graduate school, and for quality improvement must not be diverted to other purposes. Such improvements will be undermined without additional funding to accommodate the addi- tional demand placed on Ontario’s universities. We believe universities are being unfairly penalized for promoting greater accessibility of post-secondary education. It is essential for the provincial government to honour its commitment to fully fund all Ontario university students by ensuring that the Reaching Higher plan effectively provides for the increased de- mand. At the same time, we call on the federal government to restore fairness to its equalization platform and ad- dress the fiscal imbalance in Ontario that sees our prov- ince receive $86 less per capita than other jurisdictions. The result is a shortfall this year of about $1.1 billion that Ontario could invest in colleges and universities, health care and social services. Ontario’s universities have made an incalculable contribution to the province’s — and the country’s — economic and social successes by providing every will- ing and able student with a high-quality education. In return, our governments have a responsibility to ensure that Ontario’s universities don’t become victims of their own success and aren’t left without the means to ensure a quality education for the increasing number of students who deserve access to our institutions. Acces- sibility and quality are two sides of the same coin, and that coin resides in the pockets of those at Queen’s Park and on Parliament Hill. The next issue of >U Guelph appears April u. Copy deadline is April 3. X a pc Editor Barbara Chance b.chance@exec.uoguclph.ca Design Peter Enneson Production Linda Graham l.graham@exec.uoguclph.ca £ e Advertising Scott Anderson theandersondiffcrence@rogers.com Director Chuck Cunningham c.omningham@exec.uoguelph.ca At Guelph is published every two weeks by Communications and Public Affairs, Level 4, University Centre, University of Guelph, Guelpli, Ontario N1G2W1. Inquiries: 519-824-4120 Editorial: Ext. 56580 Distribution: Ext. 56581 Advertising: Ext. 56580 * ww. uoguelph. ca/adgu ide Classifieds: Ext. 56581 Fax : 519-824-7962 Website: tvww. uoguelph. ca/atguelph Articles may be reprinted with credit to At Guelph. Subscriptions $25 (includes GST); $30 outside Canada ISSN 08364478 at Guelph 2 March 28 , 2007 news in brief GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE The last blood donor clinic of the semester is March 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Peter Clark Hall. Walk-ins will be accommodated, but appointments are recom- mended. Call 1-888-2DONATE for information. LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE SET U of G’s Centre for Studies in Lead- ership is hosting an international leadership conference on “Pub- lic-Sector Leadership in the 21st Century” May 4 and 5. For details, visit www.csl.uoguelph.ca. FINAL BOOKS FOR AFRICA DRIVE RUNS APRIL 9 TO 21 The last Books for Africa drive of the winter semester runs April 9 to 21. Students with textbooks they no longer need or are unable to sell are encouraged to deposit them in one of the donation boxes that will be set up around campus. This pro- gram supports schools in Africa and raises funds for two U of G club chapters — Best Buddies and Habitat for Humanity. RELAY FOR LIFE SET TO ROLL U of G’s annual Relay for Life is March 31 starting at 7 p.m. at Alumni Stadium. Teams of 10 will participate in tire non-competitive event to raise money for the Cana- dian Cancer Society. Free-Run Eggs Coming to Campus H ospitality Services has decided to start offering free- run eggs on campus starting in the fall. The change applies to all whole fresh eggs, which make up 15 to 20 per cent of eggs served at U of G, says David Boeckner, executive director of Hospitality Services. Members of U of G’s Hospitality Services Advisory Committee, which is made up of students and staff, voted earlier this month to recommend that Guelph switch to free-run eggs for its whole fresh egg supply in campus cafeterias, says Boeckner. Student members of the committee consulted with their peers and found there was strong consumer support for the move and that people would be willing to pay more for free-run eggs, he says. “This was a consumer-based de- cision.” Free-run eggs are produced by hens allowed to roam freely in an enclosed facility. The change won’t affect liquid eggs, pre-baked goods or prepackaged products. In Memoriam lean Guisso, a retired staff member at the Ontario Veterinary College, died March 10 at the age of 82. She was employed at U of G from 1975 to 1987 and is survived by her hus- band, Fred; two children, Bonnie and Randy; and three grandchil- dren. A tree will be planted in her memory in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest in September. Double Cohort Class Pushes Graduation Numbers Up 30 Per Cent Convocation ceremonies added to accommodate bigger class, installation of chancellor I T’S no easy TASK organizing summer convocation, but this time around, it’s been even more challenging than usual, says Sue Bennett, director of University and community relations. First, there’s the fact that this year will see the biggest graduating class in U of G history, thanks to the “dou- ble cohort” students who arrived in September 2003. Now ready to make their way into the world, they are boosting summer graduation num- bers by 30 per cent. But it’s not just the number of students overall that has to be taken into account when organizing con- vocation, says Bennett. There’s also the issue of how many are graduating from each of the seven colleges — figures that aren’t available until early March and are often fluid until the end of April, she says. “But we can’t wait any longer than March to firm up the convoca- tion schedule because we need to give students three months’ lead time so they can make plans.” Meanwhile, organizers had to be- gin creating a draft convocation schedule in the winter based on the availability of this year’s honorary degree recipients. It’s typically a jug- gling act, but this year was even more so because many of the honourees are associated with Canada’s inter- national affairs and are often abroad, says Bennett. As if that weren’t enough to keep organizers hopping, this June also marks the installation of U of G’s new chancellor, Pamela Wallin. “She, too, is intensely involved in in- ternational affairs, and we’re still working with a visit schedule that is just being finalized now,” says Bennett. Because of the extra large gradu- ating class this year, three colleges have had to be split into two ceremo- nies to accommodate the number of students and their guests in the dome. These ceremonies will run back-to-back to keep the college fac- ulty and students together, she says. In addition, the University has had to schedule three evening ceremon- ies. “The colleges have been very sup- portive in working with this office to determine the best split of the de- grees to keep students and faculty in cohesive units,” says Bennett. “Al- most every college has been affected by the scheduling changes, and fac- ulty and students have been ex- tremely flexible in helping to accommodate the expanded num- bers and the installation of the chan- cellor. We very much appreciate their co-operation.” For a complete schedule of sum- mer convocation ceremonies, visit the website www.uoguelph.ca/secre- tariat/convocation.shtml. Co-op Student, Employer of the Year Honoured U of G awards presented during National Co-op Week BY DAVID DICENZO T he question facing Jenea Bin these days is: what to do for an encore? The fourth-year biochem- istry major spent eight months last year at what she calls a “dream job,” conducting research at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Bin, who was named Guelph’s Co-op Student of the Year during National Co-op Week earlier this month, completed back-to-back work terms from January to August 2006, studying BBS9, a gene associ- ated with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, a disorder that causes retinal dystro- phy, obesity, extra digits, learning disabilities and renal abnormalities. She was investigating a potential link between BBS9 and osteoporosis, a discovery she made in the course of her initial work. “I learned and experienced more than I ever expected coming into the co-op program,” says Bin, who also participated in the Samuel Lunenfeld Summer Student Re- search Program, which included weekly seminars given by doctors and researchers at the hospital and a formal poster presentation. “It opened my eyes to the many aspects of research, including proposals, ex- perimental design, interpretation and analysis of results, and writing formal papers for peer-reviewed journals.” Bin, who had a stint at Health Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg before go- ing to Sick Kids, has one more work term before she graduates next winter. This time she’s going the industry route, working for pharma- ceutical company Boehringer Ingel- heim based in Laval, Que. After graduation, she plans to earn master’s and PhD degrees in neuroscience and eventually do re- search that leads to a better under- standing of multiple sclerosis. “J learned and experienced more than I ever expected coming into the co-op program. ” “Having a variety of co-op expe- riences has given me a good picture of the careers I can pursue in re- search with a biochemistry degree," she says. “It’s also given me more confidence in myself and my skills. I know I’ll be able to take on any chal- lenge the future may bring.” As Co-op Student of the Year, Bin receives a $500 scholarship spon- sored by the local company Wired Effects. She also earned an honour- able mention in tire Canadian Asso- ciation for Co-operative Education Student of the Year competition. This year’s recipient of U of G’s Co-op Employer of the Year award is Oliver Bonacini Restaurants, a To- ronto-based chain with five opera- tions focusing predominantly on upscale casual dining. The company joined U of G’s co-op program in summer 2005, employing students from the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) for 12 months at a time. “They really have it right,” says third-year HTM student Iris Lam, who completed a full-year place- ment working in the company’s various establishments, including the Oliver & Bonacini caff. grill at the Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood, where she developed the systems and procedures for an in-room dining project. “There’s mutual respect between the management and their employ- ees. They treat the employees very well and are always providing train- ing opportunities like wine tours and food tastings that enrich the experi- ence. Those are some of the intangi- bles that people really value and make them so committed to the company.” Lam was one of the winners of this year’s Co-op Student Involve- ment Award, along with fourth-year biophysics major Lindsay Baker. Other award winners were Andrea Portt (Kenneth Berg James Memo- rial Scholarship), Brian Lamont, Sabrina Koh, Ken MacDonald and David Heppenstall (all recipients of the CIBC Work Report Award) and Bryan Potter (Guelph Trillium Ro- tary Award for Work Term Excellence). People PROVINCE HONOURS CHANCELLOR’S SCHOLAR WITH ALEXANDER AWARD First-year family relations student Sasha Sky was one of three Ontario young people to receive the annual Lincoln M. Alexander Award for Leadership in Eliminating Racial Discrimination last week from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immi- gration. The award was presented by U of G chancellor emeritus Lin- coln Alexander and Ontario Lieu- tenant-Governor James Bartleman. Sky, who holds a University Chan- cellor’s Scholarship, was honoured for exemplary service in a school environment. Originally from Eagle Lake First Nation in northwestern Ontario, she helped develop guide- lines to aid teachers in integrating aboriginal students into local schools. ARTIST EXHIBITS WORKS IN CALIFORNIA, TORONTO Work by Prof. Suzy Lake, Fine Art and Music, is included in a show called “WACKl Art and the Femi- nist Revolution From 1965 to 1980,” which is running until mid-July at the Geffen Contempo- rary at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art. She will also be ! in a three-person show at the Santa Monica Museum of Art called | 1 “Identity Theft: Eleanor Antin, ; Lynn Hershmann and Suzy Lake." It opens May 18 and runs through August. Also opening May 18 is an exhibit of new work by Lake called i “Beauty at the End of the Season "at ! Paul Petro Contemporary Art in Toronto. Students Encouraged to Recycle, Donate M ove-Out Madness, a program designed to help U of G students get rid of extra food, clothing, household and bulk items they don’t need as they move away at the end of the semester, runs April 2 to 27. It’s sponsored by Neighbourhood Relations and Off-Campus Housing, Physical Resources, Meal Exchange, Guelph Students for Environmental Change, Freecycle.org and the City of Guelph. For a free pickup of bulky items, sign up in the University Centre be- tween April 2 and 13 from 1 to 4 p.m. Items will be picked up be- tween April 9 and 27. Clothing and non-perishable food can be dropped in bins marked “Clear the Shelves” at residence desks and in the University Centre. All proceeds go to the Guelph Food Bank. Household items, school sup- plies and other reusable items can be dropped off or picked up at the “stuff swap” April 2 to 13 in the University Centre. For more information, call Ext. 56276 or visit www.studentlife. uoguelph.ca/neighbourhood. at Guelph 3 March 28, 2007 Building Better Farmers $1 -million benchmarking project aims to help farmers compete in global market j BY ANDREW VOWLES O ntario consumers looking for inexpensive high-quality food and provincial fanners competing with global producers to , provide it will both benefit from a new agricultural management research project to be conducted by U of G and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). So says Prof. Maury Bredahl, chair of the Department of Food, Ag- ricultural and Resource Economics, about new benchmarking programs that have attracted almost $1 million in funding to U of G and its three re- ! gional campuses at Alfred, Kemptville and Ridgetown. The programs are intended to help producers and related agribusi- nesses improve their performance and competitiveness in an increas- ingly global economy. “It’s exciting," says BredahL “We’re connecting with farmers and I with agribusiness in a big way. Our intention is to help farmers make 1 better decisions.” His department has received al- most $700,000 from the Agricultural Management Institute (AMI) to conduct the studies. The project has also received in-kind support from OMAFRA and from the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association, the On- i tario Asparagus Marketing Board ) and the Fresh Vegetable Growers of j Ontario. Together, these commodity ' groups account for thousands of jobs i in Ontario and billions of dollars’ \ worth of economic activity. “If you added a second shift at a beef-processing plant, it would be like adding a new auto plant,” says Bredahl. The programs will collect farm data needed to help farmers and ag- ribusinesses develop best practices. \J of G researchers are already work- ing with commodity groups to deter- mine key financial and physical performance indicators for those sectors. Enabling farmers to com- pare their performance with that of similar operations in Ontario, Can- ada and abroad will strengthen On- tario farming and help sustain the agribusinesses and rural communi- ties that rely on those farms, he says. “Benchmarking is just a fancy term for the age-old process of learn- ing from others in order to improve performance,” says Dave Stewart, executive director of the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association. “This pro- ject is going to help the participating farmers answer three basic ques- tions: How good are we? How good can we be? How do we get better?” Bredahl says improving farm op- erations through benchmarking will help ensure access to cheap, high-quality, locally produced food for Ontario consumers. He says this exercise is vital as farming practices change, with younger farmers assuming greater fi- nancing burdens and provincial pro- ducers increasingly threatened by foreign competition. Asparagus growers in Ontario, for example, lack key performance yardsticks for measuring progress and for compar- ing their operations with those of top producers elsewhere. “The innovation we’re trying to build is to identify management practices that result in a lowering of the cost of production.” U of G’s twin strengths in pro- duction sciences and agricultural economics and business made the University an obvious candidate to lead the programs, says Bredahl. “Guelph is the only university in Ontario that has a dedicated agri- business program. We’re in a unique position to respond to AMI.” Although the U of G programs will be based on the initial three pro- ducer groups, the benchmarking process may apply to any commod- ity sector in Ontario or other prov- inces. “Measuring outcomes does not directly lead to productivity, com- petitiveness or profitability,” says AMI chair Peter Vander Zaag. “However, benchmarking is a pow- erful management tool that can help identify an operation’s strengths and weaknesses so producers can in- crease their net operating profit by adopting new practices.” The AMI program is funded through the renewal chapter of the federal-provincial-territorial agri- cultural policy framework, an initia- tive designed to position Canada’s agri-food sector as a world leader. The Agricultural Adaptation Coun- cil administers AMI funding for the federal and Ontario governments. Adolescents’ Diets, Activity Levels Not up to Standards, Study Confirms Grade 9 students skip breakfast, veggies but load up on TV, video games BY RACHELLE COOPER E ven though many young people are repeatedly told to eat their vegetables and be more physically active, a new U of G study confirms what’s long been suspected: adolescents are filling up on junk food and watching TV instead of giving their bodies the nutrition and activity levels necessary for long-term health. In one of the first long-term stud- ies of young people’s diets and activ- ity levels, Prof. Susan Evers, Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, found that less than half of Grade 9 students eat breakfast every day, less than a quarter eat enough fruits and vegetables, and more than 35 per cent are above normal weight. She also found that students eat, on aver- age, more than three daily servings of foods from the “other” food group — such as soft drinks, french fries and snack foods — and dedicate al- most four hours a day to watching TV and playing video games. The results were recently pre- sented at the “Integrating Nutrition Into Pediatric Practice” conference at McMaster University. “It’s disturbing to see this hap- pening in a younger population be- cause obesity is a risk factor for diseases that we think of as affecting the middle-aged population,” says Evers. “These students’ lifestyles are predisposing them to risk factors for heart disease and diabetes.” Evers, along with former gradu- ate student Amy Pender and current doctoral student Melissa Rossiter, analyzed surveys completed by the same group of 681 students in Grade 6 and then in Grade 9 about their eating behaviours and activity pat- terns. The students’ height and weight were measured, and demo- graphic information was collected from their parents. The study partic- ipants are from low-income neigh- bourhoods throughout southern Ontario taking part in the provin- cially funded Better Beginnings, Better Futures initiative. The researchers found that if stu- dents started developing bad eating and physical activity habits in Grade 6, they were worse by Grade 9. Two-thirds of the boys and gir ls in Grade 6 were eating breakfast every day, and that dropped to 48 per cent for the boys and 45 per cent for the girls by Grade 9. “Adolescents who skip breakfast don’t usually make up the nutrients they miss later in the day, so they have a higher risk of nutrient inade- quacies,” says Evers. “Missing breakfast also makes it difficult for students to concentrate in school because of a lack of energy.” As 10- and 11-year-olds, about nine per cent of the students were meeting all the food-group recom- mendations in the 1992 Canada’s Food Guide, but that figure dropped to only three per cent by the time they reached Grade 9. When the data were collected, the food guide recommended five daily servings of fruits and vegetables for the stud/ s age group, and less than a quarter of Grade 9ers were meeting that recommendation. “Now that the new 2007 food guide recommendation is eight serv- ings of fruits and vegetables a day, it’s unlikely that adolescents are meeting that recommendation,” says Evers. Habits around physical activity levels also got worse as students got older. In Grade 6, 64 per cent of boys and 45 per cent of girls played a sport without a coach four or more times a week. By Grade 9, 15-per-cent fewer boys and 20-per-cent fewer girls were playing sports. When you look at the frequency of students’ sedentary activities, it makes sense that the prevalence of overweight and obesity is so high, says Evers. “We have to encourage daily physical activity and the adoption of healthy eating behaviours, especially among female adolescents. By in- creasing the availability of breakfast programs and making provincial guidelines around school nutrition programs and foods sold in vending machines a priority, we would see a big difference in the health of these young people.” EYE EXAMS NOW ARRANGED • Eye Doctor Prescriptions Filled • Two Opticians with over 53 Years Combined Experience • Senior's Discount Available • Family has served Guelph and Wellington County since 1940 Scott Coburn Optical "A Name You Can Trust in Eyewear ” Mon.-Thurs. 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri. 0:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Telephone 519-821-2020 123 WYNDHAM ST. N. Opposite the old Post Office at Guelph 4 March 28, 2007 Profs Contribute to Revision of Endangered Species Act If passed, legislation will be strongest in Canada Prof. Heather Chalmers, Clinical Studies, says she couldn’t be happier working at OVC. photo by barry gunn Radiologist Develops Breakthrough Ultrasound Technique for Horses Findings have generated a lot of international interest in the horse industry BY DEIRDRE HEALEY R emoving politics from the scientific listing process of endangered species is key to protecting at-risk plants and animals, according to the advisory panel of the revised Endangered Species Act, which included Profs. Tom Nudds and Ron Brooks, Integrative Biology. "The listing process should be separate from what will happen after the species is listed,” says Nudds. “Previous legislation was problem- atic because politics tended to get in the way.” Nudds says creating a separate process for listing species will give stakeholders such as hunting, for- estry, agriculture and fisheries a chance to provide input on how best to deal with rebuilding the species rather than influencing whether the plant or animal makes the list or not. “The active involvement of such stakeholders in the recovery process is also key to success, but it will re- quire significant new resources to help stakeholders adjust," he says. “The panel philosophy was: more carrots, fewer sticks.” In the past, the listing of a species BY ANDREW VOWLES P rof. David Douglas, Envi- ronmental Design and Rural Development, spent three weeks in Japan as a visiting scholar early this year, lecturing to graduate students at Ibaraki University, about 100 kilometres north of Tokyo. He discussed his research com- paring rural economic development policies and planning in Canada and Europe, relationships between local governance and local economic de- velopment, and regionalism and re- gional development design. “The Japanese have become very concerned about addressing re- gional disparities,” says Douglas, noting that Japan’s 125 million peo- ple live in diverse regions from north to south, not unlike the diversity that characterizes Canada. Referring to Japan’s local govern- ment development and how the country has devolved responsibili- ties and resource transfers to its 47 prefectures, Douglas says: “There might be some important lessons for Canada.” In what he describes as a “rural hemorrhage” akin to Canadians’ movement from Newfoundland and could lead to automatic prohibition of activities that might affect the spe- cies — such as hunting, forestry, fishing and agriculture — as a way to protect the plant or animal. Under the proposed act announced last week by the Ministry of Natural Re- sources, decisions about how to best protect an endangered species wouldn’t be made until the species makes the list. This is the first time since the En- dangered Species Act was passed in 1971 that provincial laws protecting species at risk have been reviewed. If passed, the proposed legislation will be the strongest in Canada. Ontario is home to more than 30,000 species, and currently more than 175 are identified as being at risk. Nudds says he expects the short-term effect of the revised act will be an increase in the number of species added to the list because the political obstacles will disappear. But the long-term effect will ulti- mately be a shorter list because the revised process will allow stake- holders to have an active role in pro- tecting the species. “The ultimate goal is to make the list shorter,” he says. Labrador and parts of northern On- tario, Japanese continue to leave their farms, abandon lands and rural areas and move to cities. From his hosts, Douglas learned about the importance of culture and investing in community and re- gional culture. He also found closer connections there among cultural, economic, social and environmental issues. “They’ve made links in the sustainable development web that we’re rediscovering in academe and locally, as in our growth manage- ment strategy for Guelph." His Japanese counterparts con- tacted Douglas last fall to learn more about his work in rural regional de- velopment in Canada and Europe. He is a board member of the Cana- dian Rural Revitalization Founda- tion, a major player in the New Rural Economy project examining changes in more than 32 rural sites across Canada. Two similar commu- nities are under study in Japan. Douglas is now in Ireland work- ing on a book, preparing a paper for the Canadian Institute of Planners conference in Quebec City in June, and advising a large rural housing project involving faculty at the Na- tional University of Ireland. BY RACHELLE COOPER R adiology specialist Prof. Heather Chalmers admits that returning to her alma mater wasn’t in her immediate post-graduation career plan, but the opportunity to work in an environment she loves with people she respects was an offer the 2002 OVC graduate couldn’t refuse. She joined the Department of Clinical Studies in January. “Everyone has a different thing that really drives them in their work- place, and for me, what I love about being a radiologist is working with other vets,” she says. “Because I was familiar with the clinic at OVC, I knew it was a great group of people to work with.” Originally from London, Ont., Chalmers earned both her under- graduate biomedical sciences and DVM degrees at Guelph, then com- pleted a residency in radiology at Cornell University. While there, she developed a new ultrasound tech- nique for horses’ throats that could lead to better understanding of up- per-respiratory diseases and allow racehorse owners to know if their horse could develop future airway problems. Her breakthrough devel- opment was published in the fall 2006 issue of Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound. “Racehorses get a number of dis- eases of the throat that limit their performance and tend to have an impact on the value of the horse, its career and lifespan,” she says. “The equine laryngeal ultrasound could allow us to advise owners or buyers of horses about what the future air- way performance of a horse may be." Ultrasound has been used to as- sess throat conditions in people, dogs and cats, but until now, the only way to assess a horse’s throat was by videoendoscopy — inserting a small fibre-optic camera through the animal’s nose to look into its larynx. “The accuracy of upper-airway endoscopy is less than desirable for many important conditions,” says Chalmers. It’s also more invasive than an ultrasound. She sees the ultrasound working as a complementary diagnostic tool to endoscopy and as a means of re- fining research around upper-respi- ratory problems. Ultrasonography can image structures that can’t be detected with endoscopy. “Without knowing anything about the history of a horse, I can tell you with reasonable accuracy what its problem is by ultrasound alone," says Chalmers, who has examined more than 100 horses with throat problems to determine the efficacy of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool. Her findings have already gener- ated a lot of international interest because this new tool could have a big impact on the economy of the horse industry. “Buyers could spend anywhere from $100,000 to $2 million for a thoroughbred yearling that’s never even hit the track,” she says. Infor- mation about the horse’s future health is crucial in the decision to purchase a yearling. Chalmers is now collaborating with a group from Norway using ul- trasound to investigate a throat con- dition found only in the Norwegian cold-blooded trotter. Because it’s just been developed, laryngeal ultrasound isn’t currently part of the training received by vet- erinary radiologists, but "among ultrasonographers, it’s a technique that could be learned,” she says. At OVC, Chalmers spends half of her time in the clinic and half doing research and teaching. As a radiolo- gist, she sees both large and small an- imals that come into the clinic. “I see whatever comes through the door that day. We get everything from horses, cattle, dogs and cats to ferrets and reptiles that can require an X-ray, nuclear medicine proce- dures, ultrasound or MRI.” She says that because she enjoys I clinical work, teaching and research equally, she couldn’t be happier. “I’m in an environment where I’ll be learning for my whole career, and that’s so fulfilling for me. To love your job is truly a blessing, and I really couldn’t be more fortunate at this stage of my career." Another lure back to Guelph was the sense of community. Chalmers, who played soccer for the Gryphons and now trains for triathlons, was asked in her job interview if she’d play on one of the OVC hockey teams. She jumped at the chance and now plays on the Slap Shotters team. “It’s truly a nice place to work,” she says. “I actually find myself smil- ing in the hallways.” Development Expert Shares Know-How at Guelph 5 March 28, 2007 focus Beyond Dollars and Cents BY DAVID DICENZO F ew people at U of G know the campus like Heidi Huisman does. Born and raised in Guelph, she has seen the University from the perspective of both a student — she earned a BA in management economics here — and an employee, first in Laboratory Services in Accounts Receivable, later in the Budget Office as a budget analyst and now in Audit Services, where she’s a senior auditor. Since joining Audit Services in 2002, Huisman has learned even more about what's happening be- hind the scenes at the institution. “I’ve been lost everywhere on campus,” she says with a smile. 'Tve been in boiler rooms. I’ve been in basements trying to find some tech- nician with five different offices. And I’ve been in refrigerators counting food items where my pen freezes up." When a department at the Uni- versity needs an audit done, Huisman, a certified general accoun- tant, is part of the team that gets to work (other members of the team are manager Sandra Nervo and se- nior auditor Carrie Salemi, an expert in information systems). Audit Ser- vices provides independent assess- ments of the effectiveness of operational and financial proce- dures, ultimately trying to help vari- ous U of G departments do their work, as efficiently as possible, whether it’s by cutting out superflu- ous steps, avoiding duplication of tasks or establishing better record keeping. It’s an important job in a com- plex place. And occasionally, those preparing for an audit look at Huisman and her colleagues as the bad guys. “Sometimes you have to put peo- ple at ease because they’ve never been audited before,” she says. “When people hear the word audit, they think; ‘Revenue Canada is com- ing to get me.’ That’s not what we are, but sometimes that’s what they think.” Operational audits are a major part of the job, she says. Audit Ser- vices staff go around to different units on campus and review their regular operations and processes, not just financial but any sort of work processes. The auditors share best practices learned from other units on campus and recommend innovative ways to help do jobs faster or using fewer resources. Huisman says the priority order for audits is determined by a variety of factors. Nervo works with the University’s senior management and the Audit Committee to establish a list of departments to focus on each year. But in some cases, specific de- partments looking to streamline their operations will approach Audit Services on their own, Huisman says. "People come to us. They’ll say. ‘We’ve reorganized our unit and we want to make sure we’ve thought of everything.’” Audits can take anywhere from one to 10 weeks, depending on the scope of the work and the size of the department, says Huisman. She be- gins her work with a fact-finding mission — learning about processes, the roles and responsibilities in an area and specifically who does what. Once that’s completed, she drafts an audit plan. When the plan is ap- proved, she communicates with the department in question and estab- lishes how long it will take to com- plete the audit and what the review will entail. “Then I’ll go in and do some test- ing,” she says. Her goal is to make sure that not only are the changes in compliance with internal and external policies but that they also meet the demands of those in charge of the audited de- partment. Although the bottom line is a consideration in some audits, Huisman notes that the changes she and her colleagues make are not just about dollars and cents. “Where we see the service part of Audit Services is to take it beyond that. How can we look at what you’re doing and improve your processes?” Achieving that goal would be im- possible without good communica- tion between Audit Services staff and campus clients, she says. “It’s a very open process. We re- ally try to communicate with people. The best results we can get from a re- view are working with the people who do the job every day and come back with a joint recommendation of how to do things." She adds that Audit Services staff have to keep on top of a lot of infor- mation because things change all the time, especially at a university. “We’re so diverse. There are all these little operations. We’re not one unit doing the same thing all the time; we’re hundreds of units all do- ing different things but under the same umbrella. You have to look at the unit but think of the whole.” That diversity is one of the things Huisman most enjoys about her work. Although she loves the math and accounting aspects, it’s the vari- ety that really keeps her job interest- ing, she says. “One of the things that keeps me here is that I don’t do the same thing every day. I’m always meeting new people, doing new tasks and facing new challenges.” Grad Students to Assess Development Program Project will raise U ofG’s international profile, provide lessons for students BY ANDREW VOWLES A HANDFUL OF GRADUATE Stu- dents will head abroad this year under a U of G-led project meant to gauge the success of an international development program funded by Canadian aid dollars. Under the project, five student interns — likely all from the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD) — will eval- uate a program that places Canadian volunteers in developing countries in Africa, South and Central Amer- ica and Southeast Asia. SEDRD will help lead the project under an agreement reached earlier this year with Uniterra, a volunteer co-operation program run jointly by Ottawa’s World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the Centre for International Studies and Co-op- eration in Montreal. SEDRD professor Harry Cummings is designing the evalua- tion process and helping to select graduate students to assess programs in five partner countries. Those vol- unteers will spend two to three months abroad this year leading fo- cus groups, conducting interviews and using other evaluation tools. Cummings says the goal is to help Uniterra improve its volunteer co-operation program, the largest of its kind in Canada. Unlike traditional programs that send volunteers abroad for fixed two-year terms, Uniterra’s program offers internships and longer place- ments ranging from two weeks to two years. The program has an an- nual budget of more than $10 mil- lion funded by the Canadian International Development Agency and places about 400 volunteers in 1 3 partner countries each year. For example, a rural develop- ment program will see volunteers from Acadia University and the Nova Scotia Agricultural College visit Malawi this year to help im- prove livelihoods of farmers in that East African country. That’s part of an agricultural-sector partnership between Nova Scotia and Malawi. “In all the countries such as Ma- lawi where we are working in agri- culture and rural development, we’re looking for better or increased access to markets for farmers," says Joanne Owens, WUSC senior pro- gram officer in Ottawa. “In other countries, we might be looking for better access to services like health or education. We’re pretty convinced that our volunteers are making a dif- ference. What the Guelph interns will be looking at is whether or not our approach to working with our partners is helping us achieve better results.” This year’s internships are also intended to give the Canadian stu- dents hands-on experience likely to benefit them and other agencies in the future. “The learning is almost beyond description,” says Owens, who com- pleted undergraduate and master’s degrees in rural extension studies at Guelph. “They will get as much and even more out of it than they put into it.” Uniterra approached the Univer- sity last fall for help in conducting the evaluation. SEDRD offers mas- ter’s programs in capacity develop- ment and extension and in rural planning and development (with a Canadian or an international focus). Cummings says the agreement will allow students to practise con- cepts learned in his program evalua- tion course. In turn, he expects their experiences will provide fodder for case studies and other classroom materials back at U of G and other universities. He says the partnership will also help strengthen Guelph’s role in in- ternational development and keep Canadian agencies and volunteers engaged in the field. “Unless you’re tuned in to cul- ture, society, changes in countries around the world, you can’t respond to needs and opportunities when they arise.” Pointing out that the project will provide education and training op- portunities for Canadian students, he says; “We’re investing in Cana- dian capacity to do international development work.” Earlier this semester, four U of G employees were selected to take part in Leave for Change, a program run by Uniterra that promotes short- term volunteer opportunities in in- ternational projects. YesminAlidino Hearing Clinic. Trtfeu^' (a/f o/ )’i>or Heann; lloihh^^' nic) Free Hearing Assessment Slone Road Mall 435 Slone Road W Suite 210. Room 5 Guelph. ON , NIG 2X6 0ff.ee: 519-515-0072 Fax 519-515-0111 E-mail: yalidina@rogere.com T . Yaamln Alldlna at Guelph 6 March 28, 2007 Plant by Numbers 'Colouring’ plant innards gives U of G biologist inside look at rarely seen metabolic processes BY ANDREW VOWLES H e learned biology by painting and sketching plants in his native India. Now Prof. Jaideep Mathur, Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB), uses imaging and computer technology to “colour in” plant cells here at Guelph. By using art to help reveal their inner workings, Mathur hopes to deepen our understanding of plants and their uses in everything from mitigating pollution to feeding the masses with genetically modified crops. Using fluorescent tags and other molecular biology tricks and a paint- erly eye sharpened since those boy- hood hours spent with a pencil or paintbrush in hand, he has devel- oped a system for colour-coding the varied organelles inside plant cells. Recalling the first inklings of this work in Germany about a decade ago, he says: “I started looking for ways to essentially colour the inside of the plant cell.” More than just a kind of paint-by-numbers for cell biologists, Mathur’s system allows him to watch what few biologists have seen: how plants respond to environmen- tal stresses in real time. Being able to see interactions between individual parts inside a plant cell will allow us to learn more about the effects of, say, environmental pollutants that may harm not just green things but all living things on the planet. The longtime plant scientist uses lines of fluorescent proteins devel- oped in his lab and elsewhere like packages of marker pens to selec- tively colour different cellular com- ponents and compartments, from cell walls and chloroplasts to vacu- oles and microtubules. Although other researchers use similar sys- tems, he says his is the most exten- sive collection of fluorescent proteins for studying plant parts. On the computer monitor in his Axelrod Building office, for instance, that fiery orange-red body is the plant cell’s nucleus. The mitochon- dria, or the cell’s energy factories, show up as luminous green branch- ing structures. And those other- worldly forms dotted in yellow and orange, he explains, are the cell’s Golgi bodies and peroxisomes. Mathur may distinguish those multi-coloured structures in still pictures taken under the micro- scope. More important, he’s able to use these marker lines to watch what happens as cell parts respond to stimuli in real time. He’s even used live cell visualization to observe changes in the plant’s cytoskeleton as the cell grows. Through his project, called Early Intracellular Response Profiling for Plants (IERPP), he hopes to accord plants more respect. Far from a seemingly insentient organism whose rooted lifestyle makes it un- able to escape threats, “this is a crea- ture that has developed ways to take things the environment throws at it and still survive,” he says. “What does the plant feel imme- diately?” So far, says Mathur, we’ve been unable to observe that instanta- neous reaction. Now he’s used a con- focal laser scanning microscope to watch how internal membranes in the plant cell change shape only mil- liseconds after being exposed to re- active oxygen. He hopes to attract other scientists to work with his lab on observing responses to other stressors. Mathur says we’ll need to better understand plants for use as life-sup- port systems for future space mis- sions intended to help humans colonize other worlds. In the mean- time, he foresees uses for IERPP technology in following processes inside genetically modified (GM) plants. He hopes to help improve accep- tance of GM plants grown as crops. Showing precisely what happens in- side a modified plant cell and com- paring it with unmodified parent cells may help allay public fears about the technology, he says. Mathur is also interested in learning more about proteins in- volved in plant cell division and growth. Those proteins include actin, the same protein that enables movement in animal muscles. In fact, he’s investigating a recent line of research that suggests proteins al- lowing animal cells to move are the same ones that permit plant cells to grow. Besides those luminescent shots taken through the microscope. Mathur has used his artistic back- ground to illustrate coloured sche- matic cutaways of plant cells and their organelles. His work can be viewed on his website at www. uoguelph.ca/~jmathur. The site also includes links to his numerous re- search papers, including a journal article he co-authored last year with MCB colleague Prof. Rob Mullen on the use of fluorescent proteins for il- luminating plant parts. Several jour- nals have used Mathur’s images as cover illustrations, including Trends in Plant Science, Plant Physiology and The Plant Cell He’s been drawing and painting plants for as long as he can remem- ber, including using coloured chalks to draw on the floor in his childhood home in Lucknow in northern India. He began exhibiting his paintings while studying botany. Art and sci- ence intertwined as Mathur paid re- peated visits to the university botanical garden to paint the plants he was learning about. “I love to paint and I love to use colours. I learned my biology through drawing and painting. When I learned the processes of plants, 1 went into the garden and did about 1,000 paintings." Intrigued by shape development in plants, he went to the Biological Research Centre in Szeged, Hungary, to work on plant cell differentiation. Then he pursued a series of post-docs, including stints at Ger- many’s Max Planck Institute and in plant labs at Tubingen University and the University of Cologne. In the mid-1990s at the Max Planck Institute in Cologne, Mathur worked with the first groups to dem- onstrate the use of green fluorescent protein from jellyfish in plant re- search. Later at the University of Co- logne, he cloned and characterized several new genes from plants. He came to Canada in 2003, be- a.v \\\c \J tyw ex s\ty oil oiotAo, then arriving at U of G in 2004. He started in the Department of Plant Agriculture and transferred to MCB last spring. This summer, he’ll move to new quarters in the final phase of Guelph’s science complex, along with other plant biologists in his department. Mathur still paints in his leisure time, mostly impressionistic nature scenes in oil, watercolour and acrylic. Besides using his works in his research talks, he uses painting as a way to prime the creative pump for writing journal articles. “Normally I paint, then sit down to write.” Book a One-Stop Res ource for New Vets Textbook provides a taste of what lies ahead in veterinary practice and beyond / BY ANDREW VOWLES A new textbook co-authored by Prof. John Tait, Clinical Studies, aims to help would-be and fledgling veterinarians leap ever- higher career hurdles. Tait describes the book as a "one-stop resource for all entry-level and early career issues,” including establishing and running a veteri- nary practice; addressing financial, legal and ethical issues; finding alter- native career paths; and achieving a work-life balance. The First Bite: A Comprehensive Guide to Establishing and Growing Your Career in Veterinary Medicine was released this year by Pandora Press in Kitchener. Under a sponsor- ship arrangement, Tait and his co-author — lawyer and veterinar- ian Brian Ausman — have given copies to almost 500 senior DVM students at the Ontario Veterinary College, the Atlantic Veterinary Col- lege and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Sponsors for publishing and dis- tributing the 560- page hardcover book were Hill’s Pet Nutrition Can- ada, Pfizer Animal Health and Scotiabank. Besides Tait and Ausman, various contributors from across Canada wrote the book’s chapters, including Prof. David Waltner-Toews, Popula- tion Medicine; Prof. Brigitte Brisson, Clinical Studies; and Danielle Rich- ardson, an OVC resident in small- animal internal medicine. Tait says the book is intended to address questions that are com- monly posed by students nearing graduation. The First Bite also em- phasizes what he calls the non-clini- cal aspects of running a practice, from business and litigation issues to stress management and compassion fatigue. “Coping skills and management skills have really come to the fore- front,” says Tait, who helped design the “Art of Veterinary Medicine” courses offered to DVM students at U of G. Formerly director of the Veteri- nary Teaching Hospital, he now teaches business, finance and prac- tice-management courses part time in OVC. He completed his DVM at Guelph and has practised and taught in Canada and the United States. As a certified financial planner, he con- sults with small-business medical professionals and is managing part- ner of a group of Toronto-area veterinary practices. A member of the board of direc- tors of the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues and the American Animal Hospital Associa- tion (AAHA), Tait will become the AAHA’s second Canadian president in 2009. at Guelph 7 March 28, 2007 Guitar Tunes Up for Christening of New Atrium Iconic Six String Nation Guitar will appear at lecture and share stage with local musicians at evening concert BY ANDREW VOWLES I t’s a “cultural magnet” that | has already strung together many Canadians, in more ways than one. Now the iconic Six String Nation Guitar will help christen a new gathering place on campus: the newly built atrium at the heart of the science complex. On April 5, a guitar made of pieces and symbols of Canadiana will arrive at Guelph for a daylong series of activities, beginning with the first-ever public event in the new atrium before the official opening of the science complex to be held later this year. The instrument will also appear at a campus lecture and will be played by about 25 Guelph-area musicians at an evening concert. The atrium presentation begins at noon and features a talk by CBC Radio broadcaster Jowi Taylor. He came up with the idea for the guitar in 1995 and spent more than a de- cade chasing down parts to build it along with Nova Scotia luthier George Rizsanyi. The guitar contains parts from more than 60 Canadian artifacts, in- cluding Pierre Trudeau’s canoe pad- dle; Paul Henderson’s Summit Series hockey stick; Louis Riel’s school- house; Lucy Maud Montgomery’s home; and the Golden Spruce, a 300-year-old tree prized by the Haida-Gwaii of British Columbia. Since its Parliament Hill debut by Guelph musician Stephen Fearing during last year’s Canada Day cele- brations, Taylor has taken the guitar to events across Canada as a privately supported project. “It’s a cultural magnet,” says Prof. Doug Larson, Integrative Biol- ogy, organizer of the day’s events. “It’s going to bring everything and everybody together.” He says that’s also the purpose of the atrium in the nearly 400,000- square-foot science complex, whose final phase will be completed this summer. Up to 500 people can be ac- commodated inside the triangular gathering space formed by the three wings of the complex. The four-storey interior court- yard is 12,000 square feet in area. Its multi-purpose space will include food and beverage services. “I hope the atrium will become a focal point not just for the sciences but indeed for many activities on campus, including the humanities and the performing arts,” says Prof. Michael Ernes, dean of the College of Biological Science. “What better be- ginning than a guitar that combines life, chemistry, physics, the cultural values of our shared heritage and the beauty of music?” Referring to a stylized steel tree-like structure that extends from floor to ceiling in the space, he adds: “The event will be taking place in an atrium that has the iconic structure of a tree of life right at its heart, hold- ing up the roof of the building. It’s a physical structure and yet it speaks about the life sciences.” Ernes and Prof. Donald Bruce, dean of the College of Arts, will at- tend the event. Prof. Alan Wildeman, vice-president (re- search), will perform a short per- sonal composition on the Six String Nation Guitar. 2006/07 more stuff. vrfwwspccan now getting carded is a good thing the SPC Card gets you exclusive discounts' at hundreds of Canadian retailers. tu I O I $2995 student tax preparation come in today or call 1-800-HRBLOCK hrblock.ca jjp P H&R BLOCK ENTER F0R A CHANCE T0 WIN a trip for two to a SECRET DESTINATION to see A ' VaN dvi life 111 rAUfEAT \i> stores no* LIVE IN CONCERT rockwithblock.ca MS 1 " ""!" valid <'»” OMM* —I l®7. Valid a, participant location. In Canada onl, fo, Ca.dhold,, onl, OHao ma, , affliction, ma, appl, Utanc ma, bo canted whan need In conjunction with any other offer or retailer loyalty card discounts. Cannot be used towards the purchase ol oih caids or cenificares. ’Tnmufifv «ikW : . . , „ ..... Pun+on^lttJtR^lm^rwrJf'fw"^ dunn 9 “ * a high sdiool idantifiotidn ca.d- Expires July 31, 2007. Valid onl, at participating H&R Block tattoos in Canada, ■ 'NO PURCHASE NECESSARY ID ENTER OR WIN S £?**?.!? T 7 T 01 *’” n5 te9ms ma1 and tnds s ' l5 ' 0, - “I*" “ ">> al ram™* «f Canada (aclddin, Quabac iastdanls) who a, a 13 o, olda, andwote iZ. “dents ^ —"i - Rotes and how The instrument will also be fea- tured in a public lecture at 2:30 p.m. in Room 103 of Rozanski Hall. Larson will discuss “The Botany of the Guitar” along with Folkway Mu- sic owner Mark Stutman and musi- cian Lewis Melville, a technician in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB). The lecture is part of the undergraduate course “Plants and Human Use” taught by Prof. Usher Posluszny, MCB. Beginning at 7 p.m., the guitar will share the stage with about 25 area musicians at Manhattan’s Music Club, 951 Gordon St. The musicians include Jeff Bird, who per- forms with the Cowboy Junkies; ses- sion musician Kevin Breit; and singer/songwriters James Gordon, Andrew McPherson and Tannis Slimmon, a research technician in the Department of Plant Agricul- ture. Melville and Larson, who builds guitars and plays in a local band in his spare time, will also perform on the guitar. Larson, who had a chance to strum the Six String Nation Guitar at last year’s Hillside Festival, had ini- tially asked guitar-maker Rizsanyi for an anecdote about the instru- ment to include in his occasional lec- ture tying together music and science. Rizsanyi suggested Larson call Taylor to ask about bringing the guitar back to Guelph. That phone call grew into the planned daylong series of events. “We’re using the instrument to talk about history, art, culture, sci- ence, communication and research,” says Larson. “Just like building the University, this project involves re- cruiting what appear to be disparate interests that are all part of one puz- zle — how to make our lives richer.” For information about paid advertising in At Guelph, call Scott Anderson at 519-827-9169. leorge/y Window* and Doors George Wallace 11 Victoria Road North, Guelph, Out. N1E 5G6 (519) 821-7*00 Fax (519) 8*1-7*10 at Guelph 8 March 28 , 2007 Profile Men at Work U of G counsellor leads group designed to get past that tough male shell By Lori Bona Hunt C OURAGEOUS. That’s the word Rob Baldwin uses to describe students in the Men’s Group, a U of G program that brings males together to talk about issues ranging from school and relationships to anger, violence, new masculinity and family pressures. “It takes a lot of courage for a man to even show up for counselling, and it’s even harder when it’s in a group setting,” says Baldwin, who has run Counselling Services’ men’s program since he devel- oped it six years ago. There are still stigmas attached to men talking about what’s going on in their heart and mind, despite all the progress society has made in terms of gender roles and expectations, he says. “Men are still fighting old stereo- types, unrealistic expectations and the accompanying feelings of shame and fear.” They still often grow up embarrassed and ashamed for having vulnerable emo- tions, thinking it makes them weak, says Baldwin, although this does appear to be changing in younger men, he adds. “So the idea of sitting around with a group of other men talking about what’s going on emotionally is still a countercultural experience for most men, and it can be simply frightening. I have a lot of respect for the young men in the program because I know how terrifying it can be." Baldwin, 47, has first-hand knowledge of this. A native of Sault Ste. Marie, he was raised in a family and era that had “tra- ditional” ideas of what it meant to be a man. “It was the old model of ‘deal with it — be strong.’ Don’t talk about what’s going on inside. In fact, don’t even know what’s going on inside. So if you were feeling something, you usually didn’t talk about it because you weren’t really permitted to be feeling anything in the first place. That’s just the way things were back then.” Needless to say, when it came time to go to university, be- coming a counsellor, especially one who works primarily with men, never entered Baldwin’s mind. Instead, he followed in the footsteps of his father and brother and pursued a career in forest ecology. “I had always loved science and the outdoors. The Canadian Shield, the for- est, big sky and rocks are home for me.” He enrolled at U of G in 1 979 and graduated with a degree in biological science. He was soon hired on to a five-year project through the Department of Land Resource Science, doing for- est productivity field research in the Algonquin region for the Ministry of Natural Resources. The job involved leading field crews and teaching some field courses. “That was how I discovered that I really liked working with people,” he says. “It was a huge surprise — it wasn’t what I expected at all.” Toward the end of his contract, Baldwin found himself re- flecting on his life. “I started to work on myself; Who am I, where am I going? Why am I so depressed even though I’m in the forest, a place I love, doing what I thought I wanted to do?” It was the first time he’d allowed himself to do some real self-exploration and personal discovery work. It was the start of a journey that brought him back to U of G, where he enrolled in the kinds of courses he’d shunned the first time around: sociol- ogy, psychology, anthropology. “I absolutely loved it. For the first time in my life, I got straight A’s. I just gobbled it up. It was this process of sorting myself out that got me interested in counselling.” Along with working on the grounds crew at the Arboretum planting trees and driving tractors (“to keep myself sane”), Baldwin went on to earn a master’s degree in clinical social work from Wilfrid Laurier University. In 1995, he headed for Stratford to take over a men’s program, primarily for violent of- fenders who had been ordered by the court to receive counsel- ling. But almost immediately after he arrived in town, government funding for the project was pulled. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He was forced to re- design the program from the ground up to make it self-sup- porting, which allowed him to open it up to all men and provide many different types of counselling. The new program was unique in the field at the time and quickly became a big success, he says. He did a similar thing after arriving at U of G in 2000, rede- signing an existing men’s counselling group that had previously been focused only on aggression and violence. It eventually be- came the Men’s Group, which deals with all types of life issues related to young men. “I wanted to make a safe, respectful and comfortable place where male students could come and talk about anything that was important to them,” he says. The group, which is led by Baldwin or Peter Wedel, another therapist in Counselling Services, meets weekly during the fall and winter semesters. Students are referred to the group by other personal counsellors, program counsellors and Student Health Services, or they can simply ask to be part of it. “Our philosophy is to offer nonjudgmental support and guidance,” says Baldwin. “But we also encourage open and hon- est feedback from the group, and confidentiality and mutual re- spect are paramount.” The Men’s Group is part of Counselling Services’ larger JourneyMen men’s program, which also includes an annual event that is open to the University and larger Guelph commu- nities. The purpose is to provide an open public forum for the presentation and discussion of issues of concern to men and the well-being of men. This year’s event was a lecture by Jackson Katz, a leading anti-vio- lence male activist who is known inter- nationally for his prevention education work with men and boys, especially in sports and the military. Having community forums and counselling groups focused solely on men’s issues is a fairly new phenome- non, says Baldwin. In the past, re- searchers didn’t focus much on men when studying issues like depression, mental health and therapy or counsel- ling. It’s been only in the last couple of decades that some focused attention in this area has turned toward men. The issues men face are as numer- ous and as varied as those faced by women, but they’re often distinctly different in the way they manifest themselves and how they must be treated, he says. “So many boys and men are still be- ing taught to have a tough outer shell and to disconnect from their emo- tional self, but in reality, this shell of- ten protects something extremely vulnerable on the inside. That generates the need to be in ‘con- trol’ of themselves and their environment, including the people around them, to protect against getting hurt." But that need to be in control can easily lead to difficulties in relationships and issues with an^er, violence, depression, anxi- ety, physical health and substance abuse, says Baldwin. “Asking men to sit down and talk about their vulnerabilities can often be difficult. But once they find a place and feel they can finally start to speak about some of their own personal struggles without being judged or shamed for it, there’s often a sense of relief, and they frequently want to continue with it — sometimes for years." Baldwin, who also runs an adult men’s group through a pri- vate practice called GreenWood Counselling, adds that men and women need to work together 'in mutually respectful ways to help our culture continue to evolve with regard to gender is- sues and awareness, to combat inaccurate stereotypes about men and to undergo further mind-shifting. It’s possible, and progress is being made. There’s a will for it to happen now.” He notes, for example, that his own 1 6-year-old son, Jeffrey, is as comfortable talking about his emotional self as he is play- ing rep hockey and soccer. “He’s an amazing young man, way ahead of where I was when I was 16 in terms of his general maturity, academics, in- terpersonal skills and way of seeing himself and the world." Baldwin didn’t pass on his family’s tradition of “just dealing with it” to Jeffrey, but he did instil in him a love of the outdoors. The two spend a lot of time doing recreational activities like fishing, camping and boating on Georgian Bay, often joined by Baldwin’s partner, Karen Reimer, director of Co-Operative Ed- ucation and Career Services at U of G. Back in Guelph, Baldwin keeps busy teaching himself to play the guitar and doing gardening and landscaping. He jokes that his neighbours tease him about his seemingly endless enthusi- asm for working around the yard — and planting more trees. “It’s funny, I’ve been through so many changes in my life, but I can’t seem to stop planting trees. And that’s OK by me.” mm I Your innovotive full service community garden centre. Offering a convenient, information based shopping experience rich in inspirational displays and more. ■ AVAILABLE SPRING 2007 brock road nursery centre § <^lft shoppe Visit us starting April 2 For mote information and spring hours visit our website ±0 Bright & Cheerful Spring Planters, New & Classic Pansies, Certified Organic Seeds. First Quality Grass Seed. Premium Lawn Fertilizer, Bulk Soils & Mulches For Delivery & Pickup. Spring D6cor & More! vrv/y^.biockroa book as a lay reader’s counterpart to j his more scholarly Ecosystem Sus- tainability and Health, published in 2004. “We keep saying the public should be better informed. Who’s helping the public to get engaged?” He hopes the book will arm read- ers with information and questions about the health effects of everything from factory farming to filling in a wetland for a housing development. This fall, Waltner-Toews will publish a second edition of Food, Sex and Salmonella: The Risks of Environ- mental Intimacy, about the ecologi- cal and social context of food-borne diseases, first published in 1992. Also appearing in June is Fear of Landing, a murder mystery based on the au- thor’s experiences in Indonesia in j the \980s. This spring, his poetry collection The Fat Lady Struck Dumb, pub- lished in 2000, was one of four books nominated this year for Guelph Reads! Waltner-Toews is president of j Veterinarians Without Borders, i Canada, and president of the Net- I work for Ecosystem Sustainability ^ and Health. He is also arts and cul- ture editor for the journal EcoHealth. I Public Sector Leadership in the 21st Century: A dynamic two-day conference on leadership best practices The Centre for Studies in Leadership invites you to register today . May 4th - 5th, 2007 Lifetime Learning Centre, OVC University of Guelph, Guelph, ON To Register or Purchase tickets for the Dinner, visit our website: www.csl.uoguelph.ca at Guelph 11 April 25, 2007 Canine Blood Donors Play Crucial Role OVC hospital gives about 500 transfusions a year BY DAVID DICENZO G ive blood and you get a cookie. It’s a standard practice ! when it comes to people donating the red stuff. The same rule applies for dogs in the canine blood donor program run by the small-animal clinic at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH). About 45 good-natured dogs, ranging from one to five years of age and weighing at least 25 kilograms, I are regular participants in the pro- gram, donating blood for in-clinic use. Registered veterinary technician ! Ramona Fowler says the dogs are 1 crucial partners in meeting the med- ical needs of the clinic’s patients. "Because we’re a referral hospi- | tal, we see patients for specialized surgeries where they encounter . bleeding and need a blood product,” | says Fowler. “Or we see dogs that are i anaemic or have something wrong with their platelets, and they need blood products. Without the blood, we certainly wouldn’t be able to treat | all the illnesses and diseases that pets are sent here with.” The intensive-care unit at the ' VTH bandies \0 to 20 critically ill I patients each day, typically using be- tween five and 10 blood products a 1 week, says Fowler. The clinic, which ' is similar to a human blood bank in that it has a large centrifuge to spin blood and a -70 C freezer to store it, gives about 500 transfusions a year. Most of the blood donor dogs are volunteered by their owners to come | in once every two months for two years to give blood, she says. Virtu- ally all of them provide A negative blood, a universal type compatible with most dogs. "One unit of blood I can supply four patients.” Participating dogs enjoy their fair share of perks, from vaccines and free heartworm medication to toe- nail trimming, take-home food and, of course, the complimentary cook- ies. The dogs also get a physical exam each time they visit. Although most of the canine do- nors are volunteers, the clinic houses 12 to 15 resident dogs that live on site and give blood as needed on an emergency basis, says Fowler. "A lot of times in the middle of the night, the hospital will need fresh whole blood, in which case the ICU technicians would come down and draw the blood ASAP.” Resident dogs are unwanted when they arrive at the clinic, and it’s easy to tell when they haven’t been treated well, she says. They may have been tied up in a backyard somewhere and ignored, and they may have had little or no training. But when they enter the clinic, they have a large run, are walked regu- larly (a responsibility of first- and second-year vet students), get toys to play with and have all their medi- cal needs taken care of. “They go out two or three times a day with their buddies,” Fowler says of daily playtime in a nearby out- door pen. “They roughhouse, they play, they get walked. Quite hon- estly, they get treated better than a lot of dogs out there.” A collage of pictures in a clinic hallway gives a visual history of the many dogs that have come through the donor program. When a resident dog eventually retires from the program, it is adopted out. The clinic will keep a dog as long as necessary to find a lov- ing owner, says Fowler, who admits to feeling both happy and sad when an animal heads off to a new home. “We fit the person with the dog to see if it’s something that works for them. Our success rate is very high.” For information about volun- teering a dog for the blood donor program, call Fowler at Ext. 56476. To learn more about the clinic’s adoption program, call Alison Downie at Ext. 56207. after hours HEATHER LAFFERTY Second-year economics major Spending a night in a cardboard box back in high school proved to be a life-altering event for Heather Lafferty. While attending St. Paul’s Catholic Secondary School in Trenton, she took part in an experiment in which students lived in a “box city” to gain some perspective on what it’s like to be homeless. That night triggered Lafferty’s interest in Habitat for Humanity, a national non-profit organization devoted to providing appropriate housing for families in need. “It just grew from there,” she says. Lafferty, a member of the U of G chapter of Habitat for Humanity for the past two years, recently served as an international trip leader for a group of students who travelled to El Salvador during Reading Week to build a home for some struggling local residents. “We spent the week on a build site doing bricklay- ing,” she says. “Masons would lay the bricks, and we filled the cracks and the holes with cement. It was an amazing trip.” She says the house was almost completed by the time her group left El Salvador, and the family receiving the home was ecstatic. “They were the most deserving family ever,” she says. “The mom was a chicken farmer and the father was a teacher. The two children lived in town at the school during the week. Their old house was smaller than our office.” The trip was an eye-opener for Lafferty, who will serve as the club’s fundraising co-ordinator next year. She credits one of her teachers in Trenton for encourag- ing students to chip in and make a difference in people’s lives. “Mr. Brisbois always said: ‘Come on, get out and get involved.’ Habitat for Humanity was big at St. Paul’s be- cause of him.” MICHELLE WADDICK Media relations and communications officer in the Department of Athletics since January 2007 Most people use sports as an out- let from the daily grind. But Michelle Waddick, one of the newest members of the Gryphon family, plays sports and talks and writes about them all the time. So when it’s time to be entertained, the Chatham native goes to a familiar place — the kitchen. Waddick is a longtime food lover. That interest is due in large part to her mother, who ran a restaurant and a catering business and even wrote her own cookbook for busy moms titled Carolyn on the Go. “I helped her with waitressing and cooking, so I grew up with an appreciation of food,” says Waddick. “ I remember when she was doing the book. She made this big spread of food, and we had to tell her what we liked and what we didn’t like.” Although Waddick and her partner, Dan, recently bought a home in Waterdown, they currently live in Oakville, which she says is a hotbed of great restaurants. But as much as she loves trying other people’s creations, she takes great pride in her own culinary abilities. Waddick likes to whip up Thai and Chinese fare and has tried to expand her knowledge of Italian food of late because of Dan’s background. “I’m trying to improve those skills so I can hold my own with Dan’s mom,” she says. “I recently made her chicken cutlets, which is a traditional Italian dish. Some- thing else I tried that turned out well was torrone” (an Italian candy made with nougat and almonds). “I had my mom’s help on that one,” she admits. If Waddick had to choose one food to eat every day, she would pick something that originated in the Old Country. “I like bread and I like cheese, so it’s definitely pizza.” MASSIMO MARCONE Assistant professor in the Department of Food Science, joined UofG in 1989 It’s only appropriate that someone with as many diverse ideas as Prof. Massimo Marcone has a serious interest in light bulbs. The food scientist has amassed a collection of about 60 vintage bulbs with cor- responding sockets, some of which date back to the mid- 1 880s. Many people might see the antique pieces simply as old light sources, but Marcone views his prized possessions as pieces of history. “When you light these, the light that shines on you would have been the light that shone on people in the 1800s,” he says. “That’s what makes them really special.” Marcone, who concentrates on pieces from the 1880s to no later than 1922, gets most of his “lamps” (the offi- cial name for bulbs) from an electrical engineer friend based in Utah. He also hunts down old brass sockets and meticulously restores them to the point where they look virtually new. Some of Marcone’s lamps are extremely rare, such as a Thompson Houston from 1885, a Bemstein-Heisler from 1890, a Westinghouse Stopper from 1892 and one of the original frosted bulbs developed around the same period. His rarest socket is a Westinghouse piece made in 1890. Marcone’s original interest in collecting bulbs and sockets was sparked by an appreciation of Thomas Edi- son, whom he considers a source of inspiration on the science front. He notes that although Edison didn’t in- vent the light bulb, he improved it, developing lamps that would last up to 40 hours so they were economically feasible to sell. “I talk about Edison to my students because the way he improved the light bulb was to try over and over and over again,” says Marcone. “I always say research is made up of two words — ‘search’ and ‘re.’ ‘Re’ means to redo. You search and search until you finally get the answer.” Massimo Marcone Ontario Applauds Student Referendum on Energy Continued from page 1 lead the referendum campaign. “I’m very happy to see the amaz- ; ing commitment made by Guelph students recognized by the prov- | ince,” says Scott. "Students have truly demon- strated leadership through their ac- tions here, and acknowledgment of their contribution is well-deserved. I hope this referendum will be seen as a catalyst to provoke similar actions to reduce energy at other institutions.” The referendum, which was ap- proved in late March, was proposed by the Student Executive Council (SEC), a broad coalition of all stu- dent governments, and Guelph Stu- dents for Environmental Change’s Renewable Energy Group. “The energy retrofit campaign was a collaborative effort made by a group of very dedicated students and supported by a student body that values the importance of energy conservation,” says Pieper. President Alastair Summerlee congratulates the students on the provincial recognition, as well as on their initiative and commitment to reducing energy consumption. “I am proud that our students have taken the lead on this initiative. They have really set the stage for both our University community and other universities to follow.” Summerlee adds that energy con- servation is a shared responsibility and that Guelph has made great strides in reducing energy consump- tion. “With the help and support of our community, we can do even more.” Faculty and staff also have die op- portunity to contribute to ongoing energy conservation efforts, and that money will be matched by the University as well. Information is available online or by calling Ext. 56695. In addition, U of G is teaming up with Deborah Kaplan of Zerofootprint to launch an initiative to measure the “ecological foot- print” of every member of the Uni- versity community. It will involve a web-based calculator that people can use to estimate and analyze the im- pact daily activities such as car travel and electricity use are having on the environment. Summerlee sees the calculator as a way to raise awareness and as a mo- tivating tool. “It will allow us to measure prog- ress in reducing our environmental impact and to set goals, both as a University and as individuals.” D. Michael B. Bean FAMILY MEDIATOR D. Michael B. Bean Q.C. • fair, fast, friendly, affordable • 35 years practising family law • now acting exclusively as a mediator/arbitrator • Member - ADR Institute Ont. - Family Mediation Canada - Ont. Assn. For Family Mediation Tel: 519-824-3095 • Fax: 519-824-3399 email: mbean@sentex.net at Guelph 12 April 25, 2007 Twin Peaks U of G students climb their way to the top over and over again BY DAVID DICENZO I T’S A TYPICAL BUSY WEEKNIGHT at the Guelph Grotto. As energetic dance music pumps through the cavernous indoor climbing gym on Victoria Road, dozens of people challenge themselves by scaling the walls. On this Wednesday, the Grotto has a few extra youthful climbers. Kids ranging in age from eight to 13 have flocked to the gym to take part in the junior program, all doing their best Spiderman impression. Rachel Hohenadel shares a laugh with one youngster stationed on the ground, while the child’s climbing partner nears the top of a high wall. Hohenadel’s identical twin sister, Claire, does the same with a group of kids on the other side of the gym. Despite their young age, the two 18-year-old first-year U of G stu- dents — Rachel is the older of the pair by a mere three minutes — are Grotto veterans and seasoned in- structors who’ve been working at the climbing gym for the past six years. Bom and raised in Guelph, the Hohenadels took up the sport as 11 -year-olds after trying out the Grotto’s portable climbing wall at the Hillside Festival. Rachel says it was Claire who wanted to pursue it further, but because the activity re- quires a partner, they both decided to give it a go. Identical twins might appear to be perfect rock-climbing buddies, but it wasn’t exactly a natural fit from the start. “At first, we had some trouble with the trust thing,” Rachel says with a smile. Adds Claire: “We wouldn’t go all the way up the wall because we thought we’d kill each other.” But they got over their initial fears and have evolved into avid climbers. They agree that rock climbing offered something com- pletely different for them. Neither is big on team sports, and they were looking for something that was both active and social, a departure from simply hanging out and wasting time. According to the duo, climbing is a constant reality check. “Probably the best part of it is that it slams you down,” says Claire. “There’s always something you have to try to conquer. You’re never bored with it. You’re constantly try- ing to get better and better.” Rachel says she likes the inde- pendence of the sport. "You can come in and set your own goals and not have to worry about someone else pressuring you. It’s also one of those things you really need to keep up with. If you’re not coming in a few times a week, you will plateau.” Rachel admits she has done ex- actly that. Climbing walls have de- grees of difficulty that are determined by the number of grips and where they’re positioned. At the Grotto, walls start with a 5.4 rating (numerous grips close together) and go all the way up to 5.12 (few grips, spaced far apart), with outdoor walls Seasoned climbing instructors Rachel, left, and Claire Hohenadel took up the sport at age n. photo by martin schwalbe reaching as high as 5.15. Rachel has peaked at 5.10. “I’ve plateaued for about two or three years,” she says. Their crazy schedules have been a factor. The sisters work 20-plus hours a week at the Grotto teaching children and adults, hosting birthday parties and doing some administra- tive work, in addition to tackling a full first-year course load over the past two semesters. Claire is studying applied human nutrition; Rachel is majoring in psychology. “It’s been busy,” says Rachel. “I’m looking forward to the sum- mer.” With final exams now behind them, the Hohenadels have a lot more opportunity to climb, al- though they will be apart this sum- mer because Rachel has decided to spend a few months in Toronto. Claire will continue working at the Grotto, helping to run summer camps and staffing the portable wall as it makes its way around Guelph, while also taking a distance educa- tion course. Come fall, they’ll both return to the gym. “The kids have requested that we come back,” says Rachel. Teaching the junior program is something the duo particularly en- joys. “Sometimes I find kids learn better than adults, especially belay- ing,” says Claire, referring to the partner on the ground who secures the climber’s ropes. “You have to al- ways make sure they’re getting it and that they’re safe.” Adds Rachel: “I’ve got a few kids who’ve been coming in for three or four years. It’s amazing to see the personality changes and how good they’re getting.” An aspect of climbing the sisters truly appreciate is the camaraderie of the tight-knit community. Climbers, they say, tend to be non-judgmental and quick to offer an encouraging word or a helpful suggestion about where to position a stranded foot or hand. That’s especially true of the Grotto, say the sisters, who feel a strong bond with their customers, young and old. “We were kind of raised here,” says Claire. “The regu- lars say they’ve watched us grow up.” G eoryesy Windows and Doors George Wallace 11 Vktorta Rood North, Guelph, Ont. N1E 5G6 (319) 891-7800 Fax (519) 891-7810 TSS Institute Offers ‘Quality Time’ for Developing Courses F our full days of concentrated time for course design and development — away from the office, uninterrupted, with a range of expertise and support at your beck and call. That’s what Teaching Support Services (TSS) is offering with its fifth annual Course Re/Design Institute running May 22 to 25. U of G instructors who will be teaching a brand-new course this fall or those who’ve been looking for an opportunity to add new compo- nents to or revise a course they’ve re- cently taught are encouraged to apply. Space is limited in the program, and applicants must describe their project and identify how they think TSS can best assist them. During the four days of the institute, a combi- nation of large- and small-group work will be specifically tailored to address the self-identified needs of those accepted into the program. Participants will have access to a variety of workspaces and technical expertise and will receive personal instructional support and guidance from TSS staff. The deadline to apply for the institute is May 9. For more infor- mation and application forms, visit 1 the TSS website at www.tss. uoguelph.ca. If you have questions, call Mary j Naim at Ext. 53571. /r\ summer fun for everyone! JULY AND AUGUST 2007 Memorable, best-loved day camp activities in an active and caring environment! UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH CAMPUS *Children's Camp for ages 4 - 12; themed weeks starting July 2 - Aug 24, $155/vjeek *Teen Cam p for ages 12 +; bi-weekly, $155/week *Leaders-in-Training Camp for ages 13 - 14; two week sessions, $310/session Volunteers welcomed! CALL 519-837-0387 or visit us at www . rainbowdaycamp .com Swimming everyday!! MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WELLINGTON established 1996 • Full- & half-day programs for 2 1/2 to 5 years • After-school program to 6 p.m. • Large gym & outdoor play area • Enhanced reading, writing & math • French, music, art & physical education • Social skill development in family setting PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS 519 - 821-5876 (located in Dublin Street United Church) 68 Suffolk Street West, Guelph N1H 2J2 www.montessori-school.ca at Guelph 13 April 25 , 2007 Transit Hub Planned Continued from page 1 U of G will create a transit hub within the entrance mall area in front of the University Centre to ac- commodate the increased bus ser- vice. This will involve building new passenger platforms and bus bays, improving sidewalks, creating bar- rier-free ramps, installing new light- ing and building new bus shelters. Vehicular traffic on the mall will be restricted to buses and emergency vehicles, says Weir. P42, the new parking lot south of the University Centre, will have an expanded passenger pick-up/drop- off area, along with barrier-free parking spaces and short-term park- ing meters. PI, located near the Axelrod Building, will also provide additional barrier-free spaces. "The new transit hub is intended to create a safer, more efficient, envi- ronmentally friendly and barrier- free environment,” says Weir. As part of the overall initiative, the City of Guelph and Greyhound Canada will also be improving ser- vices to campus. Leadership Supported Continued from page 1 Rookie Involvement Award (Ismail Hirji) and the U of G Alumni Asso- ciation Student Volunteer Award (Kira Kumagai). In addition, the recipients of this year’s Gordon Nixon Leadership Awards were announced: • the Guelph Resource Centre for a compilation of Guelph students' personal stories of sexual assault; • Guelph’s Big Umbrella, a com- munity information table at the Guelph Farmers’ Market initiated by CFRU; • Dignitas Youth International, a medical humanitarian organiza- tion working, with communi- ties to dramatically increase access to life-saving treatment and prevention in areas over- whelmed by HIV/AIDS; the StudentTALKS project, which aims to create mentorship pro- grams with community schools; Guelph Speaks: Re-Storying the City 2, a project in which stu- dents, student groups and the community collaborate in gather- ing stories about life in Guelph; and SharpCuts, a two-day independ- ent film and music festival planned for Homecoming week- end in September. Where Are You Now? If you can identify where this photo was taken on campus, you will have your name entered in a draw to be held at the end of June for a $50 gift certificate donated by the U of G Bookstore. Anyone who submits the right answer by April 27 at 4:45 p.m. is eligible for the draw. Send your response to r.kendall@exec.uoguelph.ca or call Ext. 56039. The following people correctly identified the April 11 photo as part of the gate in front of the OAC ’49 garden in the Conservatory Gardens: Margaret Timmins, Kim Hayes, Mario Finoro, Krishna Kishore Reddy Avuthu, Janice Hall, Ray Hutchison, Yeen Ting Hwang, Bruce Rush, Kate Welch, John Van Manen, Jaspreet Kaur, Krystyna Czernicki, Linda Hoffman, Lillian Wilson, Mary Leunissen, Beverley Buckie, Annette Blok, Bill Clair and Joanne Suffren. photo by Rebecca kendall The next issue of At Guelph appears May 9. Copy deadline is May 1. Your career should be your greatest creation Post-graduate diploma proyams at George Brown College give you the opportunity to add valuable, sought-after skills to your resume so you can create the career you want in the Culinary and Hospitality industry, We work with industry leaders around the world to provide advanced learning opportunities in Canada and abroad. If you're a qualified graduate or working professional with the right experience, attend one of our information sessions and discover how to create your own opportunities. The Centre for Hospitality and Tourism Management offers the following one-year (2 semesters) programs: Advanced Wines & Beverage Management Take advantage of the growing need for qualified expertsin tourism, catering and hospitality. GEORGE GROWN CHEF SCHOOL OFFERS: Culinary Arts Italian (3 semesters) - Mate Italy your specially and spend one semester abroad, which Includes time at AlMA, tire wortd-fatnous Scuola Internazionale di Ctxma Italians, near Parma, Italy. Culinary Arts French (2 semesters) Master the art of hens h cooking and spend one sveek at the Institut de touitsme w d’hotetaie du Quebec, and time abroad In the magnificent chateau setting of the Institut foul Bcxuse, in Lyon, Fiance. Cuiinary Tourism Management Capitalize on the fastest-growing trend in high-end travel. Food & Nutrition Management Prepare for the wave of the future as an aging population gets serious about healthy eating. Food Concept Management Specialize in the making and marketing of food concept ideas that revolutionize the way people eat enjoy and celebrate food, at Guelph 14 April 25, 2007 CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE Children’s red Jeep Wrangler 4x4, battery-operated, for ages three to eight, excellent condition; Little Tykes basketball set, adjustable stand, backboard and hoop, 519- 824-3786. Spacious new one-bedroom condo at Village by the Arboretum, ground floor, central air, all amenities, Donna, 519-780-7284 or dmccaw@ sentex.net. Professional-quality 4x5 photo- graphic enlarger, lenses for 4x5, 6x6 and 35mm format, complete range of darkroom accessories, Ext. 53808. Three-bedroom end-unit town- house in south Guelph, IVi baths, central air, security system, hard- wood flooring, finished basement with large recreation room, three appliances included, 510-767-1390. Departmental fax machine, Canon Laser 510, used only one month; HP 5590 scanner, brand new, Cathie Hosker, Ext. 56505. Orbitrek elliptical trainer; manual treadmill, never used, needs to be assembled, Ext. 56581 or l.graham@ exec.uoguelph.ca. FOR RENT Four-bedroom house in downtown/ Sunny Acres Park area, renovated kitchen and bath, main-floor family room, second-floor laundry, non- smokers, available July 1, $1,600 a month plus utilities; legal one-bed- room basement apartment in house, separate entrance, $600 a month, 519-767-2381 or mgray25@rogers. com. Two-bedroom lakefront cottage on Ahmic Lake east of Parry Sound, full kitchen, three-piece bath, plus two-bedroom guest cottage, suitable for two families, $1,200 a week or $1,000 a week for more than one week, available July and August, photos available, 519-824-1773 or bgreen@rlproyalcity.com. Furnished three-bedroom detached house on quiet street near Exhibition Park, 1 x h baths, main-floor laundry, back deck and garden, parking, non-smokers, no pets, suitable for sessional or visiting professor or researcher, available Sept. 1, $1,200 a month inclusive, for photos visit www.uoguelph.ca/~jerrard/103, send e-mail to diana@patria.org. Three-bedroom Muskoka cottage on Lake of Bays, near Huntsville and Algonquin Park, south-facing dock with three-mile views, canoe, windsurfer, satellite TV/DVD, bar- becue, swimming, fishing, close to golf, 519-767-0450. Three-bedroom condo, great loca- tion, three baths, central air and vac, all appliances, large carpeted base- ment, one-car garage plus one out- door parking space, non-smokers, no pets, quiet tenants a must, one-year lease required, $1,400 to $1,600 a month plus utilities, markradoja 1 @hotmail.com. Bright, spacious three-bedroom apartment in century home, hard- wood floors, walking distance to downtown, parking, available May 1, $1,200 a month inclusive, Donna, 519-241-8846 or dwhite@tcan.com. Cottage on quiet private lake, sleeps four, full kitchen and three-piece bath, barbecue, canoe, satellite TV, short drive to Lake Huron and Geor- gian Bay, Ext. 54156. Furnished one-bedroom apartment in Mill Lofts, close to downtown, parking, laundry, ideal for visiting professor couple, available immedi- ately, $950 a month inclusive, 519-836-8117. Three-bedroom cottage on water- front at Sauble Beach, $1,100 a week. Ext. 52386. Three-bedroom log home by quiet lake, 3 Vi hours from Toronto, no hydro, propane fridge and stove, indoor plumbing, not suitable for very small children, non-smokers, no pets, available July 1 to 15, $1,500, 905-823-7117. WANTED Mature non-smoking couple seek furnished large apartment or small house from Sept. 1 , 2007, to April 30, 2008, 204-326-2715, 204-786-9391 or r.loewen@uwinnipeg.ca. Seven- to eight-year-old boys for nutrition study, compensation, 519- 820-2633 or zip@uoguelph.ca. Healthy men aged 20 to 40 for soy bread study, compensation, Angela, Ext. 5808 1 or macneil@uoguelph.ca. AVAILABLE Free stones, small rocks, patio stones, Ext. 53883 or jstegema@ uoguelph.ca. Instruction in SAS, no programming experience or SAS knowledge required, Ext. 54174 or kwu@ uoguelph.ca. JUST STEPS TO THE UNIVERSITY!!! • fantastic 110 x 140 ft. lot with towering trees at rear • gracious family home featuring hardwood in living room, dining room and bedrooms • rec room • fireplace • central air • fabulous family room across the back with windows on three sides evokes a Muskoka feel among the trees and garden • conveniently located on a quiet one-block-long street right across from campus To view this exceptional home, call Bonnie Mullen Sales Rep 519-837-1300 Re/Max Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage Michael H.C. McMurray Partner Mi , icorn Financial Services 210 Kortright Road West, Unit #5 Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X4 Telephone: (519) 826-4774 Fax: (519) 8264994 Email: michaeImcmurray@on.aibn.com HHi YOUR PREFERRED Group Auto & Home INSURANCE PROGRAM ■ Call today for a no-obligation quote Or visit our wobslto at www.staebler.com Save Up To 50% In Insurance Product Discounts piKA- Your Group Discount! k\NJ Waterloo Insurance Visit us at wvvw.economicallnsunvroe.com • Do you get a high rate of interest on your savings? • Are you investing for your future? • Do you need professional advice regarding your investments? • I can help you answer these questions, call me today for a free consultation. Introducing ■ magnificent new coffee-table book tlut showcase, the Uim.-vi Sit/ ©I Guelph Buy it as a keepsake or a perfect gift loi UNIVERSITY VG UELPH Memories of Guelph... tomeonv who shares your Guelph memories. Noted Canadian photrgr spher Richard Bain brought hit camera to campus in all loui seasons to capture the splendour of die University. His stunning photos will lead you through Guelph i beautiful walkways snd historical buildings inspiring warm memories of the University of Guelph Foreword try Dr. Roberta Bundar C madi's fust Icim e astronaut and a Umvcrjiry of Guelph graduate. $-10 plus taxes and shipping Older h am !•-. Unvyrsity ol Guelph Bookstore: 5 1 9-82 Ml 20. n«t 537IS bool St of d'uogucipli.ea www bookstore ucguclph ca tPo^pre at Guelph 15 April 25, 2007 EVENTS “The Maltose Regulon of Actino- bacillus pleuropneumoniae: Sugar for the Bacteriologist” is the topic of PhD candidate Abdul Lone in the Department of Pathobiology semi- nar series April 27 at 2 p.m. in Pathobiology 2106. SYMPOSIUM “Caring During Crisis: Animal Wel- fare During Pandemics and Natural Disasters” is the title of an interna- tional symposium running April 29 to May 1 at U of G. The opening ses- sion April 29 from 3 to 6 p.m. in Rozanski Hall is open to the public and features talks by Michael Appleby of the World Society for the Protection of Animals and James Young, special adviser to Canada’s minister for public safety and emer- gency preparedness. For more infor- mation, visit www.ovc.uogueph.ca/ conference/caringduringcrisis. oxide Dismutase.” The advisers are Profs. John Phillips and Andrew Bendall. The final examination of Gabhan Chalmers, an M.Sc. candidate in the Department of Pathobiology, is April 25 at 10 a.m. in Pathobiology 2106. The thesis is “Molecular Epi- demiology of Clostridium perfrin- gens Isolated From Broiler Chick- ens.” The adviser is Prof. Patrick Boerlin. The final examination of M.Sc. can- didate Heather Fotherby, Integrative Biology, is April 26 at 9 a.m. in Axelrod 265A. The thesis is “Detec- tion of Quantitative Trait Loci for Age at Sexual Maturation in North American Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar)." The advisers are Profs. Moira Ferguson and Roy Danzmann. ARBORETUM “Evening With the Stars” is the focus of a workshop led by Trevor Chan- dler May 22 and 24 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Cost is $30. Registration and payment are due May 8. Call Ext. 52358. The final performance of the Thea- tre in the Trees dinner-theatre pro- duction of Broken Up by Nick Hall is April 28. For tickets, call Ext. 54110. ART CENTRE Singer/songwriter Diane Nalini per- forms works from her CD Songs of Sweet Fire, a collection of sonnets by William Shakespeare set to her origi- nal music, May 1 at 1:30 p.m. at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre. Admission is $10 at the door. LECTURE As part of U of G’s inaugural forum on first-year science education, Nobel Prize- winning physicist Carl Wieman of the University of British Columbia will give a free public lec- ture April 26 at 6:30 p.m. in OVC 1714, discussing how to use scien- tific tools to teach university science. NOTICES The Guelph -Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry will hold its annual general meeting, seminar, poster session and awards presentation April 27. The seminar, featuring Janusz Pawliszyn of the University of Waterloo discussing “SPME and Other Adventures,” is open to the University community and begins at 3 p.m. in science complex 1511. The SharpCuts indie film and music festival slated to run Sept. 22 and 23 on campus is accepting submissions from screenwriters, filmmakers and musicians. For information, contact Thomas Gofton at 519-362-5756 or tgofton@uoguelph.ca or go to www. sharpcuts.ca. SEMINARS The Department of Microbiology graduate student seminars continue April 27 with Patrick Moynihan exploring "Foundations of Antibi- otic Resistance in Bacterial Physiol- ogy: the Mycobacterial Paradigm.” On May 4, Andrew McGuire looks at “Cexlp Links tRNA Export and Pro- tein Synthesis.” The seminars begin at 12:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 1 16. TEACHING SUPPORT To register for the following pro- grams or to obtain more informa- tion, visit the Teaching Support Ser- vices website: www.tss.uoguelph.ca. For faculty who like to try new or different teaching techniques but find they don’t always fit in the cur- rent teaching environment, Teach- ing Support Services presents “ Teaching on the Edge" April 30. On May 9, TSS presents “Teaching the World: Internationalization in Teaching and Classroom Practice.” It will feature a keynote talk by Sheryl Bond of Queen’s University, a panel presentation/discussion on unique approaches to international- izing courses and a workshop where participants internationalize their own classroom practice. The final session of TSS’s “Women in Academe” series May 10 is a ques- tion-and-answer session with Prof. Maureen Mancuso, provost and vice-president (academic). The 20th Annual Teaching and Learning Innovations Conference runs May 15, focusing on the theme “Looking Back, Moving Forward.” THESIS DEFENCES The final examination of PhD candi- date Shawna Wicks, Molecular and Cellular Biology, is April 25 at 9 a.m. in Axelrod 337. The thesis is “The Role of Environmental Variables in the Phenotypes of Drosophila melanogaster Deficient in Super- The final examination of PhD candi- date Ryan Hunter, Molecular and Cellular Biology, is April 26 at 10 a.m. in science complex 2315. The thesis is “The Influence of Pseudo- monas aeruginosa Biofilm Micro- environments on Metal-Microbe Interactions.” The adviser is Prof. Terry Beveridge. The final examination of Cevat Bure Kayahan, a PhD candidate in the Department of Economics, is April 30 at 2 p.m. in MacKinnon 720. The thesis is “Empirical Applications of the Local Likelihood Method.” The adviser is Prof. Thanasis Stengos. The final examination of PhD candi- date Zhihong Liang, Economics, is May 2 at 10:30 a.m. in MacKinnon 720. The thesis is “Three Essays on Empirical Growth.” The adviser is Prof. Thanasis Stengos. The final examination of PhD candi- date Ling Yang, Economics, is May 3 at 2 p.m. in MacKinnon 720. The thesis is “Resampling Methods in Economics.” The adviser is Prof. Thanasis Stengos. The final examination of Susan Mulley, a PhD candidate in the rural studies program, is May 4 at 10 a.m. in Landscape Architecture 143. The thesis is “(De) Constructing the Countryside: Vernacular Percep- tions of Pastoral Landscapes and the Rural Idyll.” The advisers are Profs. Robert Brown and Stewart Hilts. The final examination of M.Sc. can- didate Sarah Matchett, Integrative Biology, is May 7 at 9 a.m. in Axelrod 265A. The thesis is “Comparison of Alternative Harvest Strategies for Managing Uncertainty in a Simu- lated Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeafonnis) Fishery.” The advisers are Profs. Stephen Crawford and Tom Nudds. The AIDS Committee of Guelph and Wellington County and the Masai Centre for Local, Regional and Global Health will host their annual Red Ribbon Gala, a benefit fundraiser featuring music, dancing, food and art. May 5 at the Italian Canadian Club, 135 Ferguson St. For more information, call 519-763- 2255, Ext. 128, or send e-mail to redribbon@acg.guelph.org. The Guelph Arts Council, Guelph Tourism Services and Heritage Guelph present Doors Open Guelph April 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day features free public tours of his- torical and architecturally signifi- cant buildings around the city. For information, call 519-836-3280. Grandmothers Helping African Grandmothers Raise Their Orphaned Grandchildren will hold a silent and live auction of African artifacts May 12 at 1 p.m. at Har- court United Church. Viewing begins at noon. All proceeds will go to the Stephen Lewis Foundation to combat AIDS in Africa. Guelph Civic Museum launches the exhibition “Finding Eden: Pastels of the Jesuit Retreat and Farming Community, Guelph” by Vicki Brophey May 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. The show continues to June 24. Opening May 4 is “A Proud Monument: A Celebration of St. George’s Church, 1832-2007.” On May 5, McCrae House holds its annual poppy and plant sale from 8:30 a.m to 1 p.m. and hosts an opening reception for the year-long exhibition “Enlisted: Guelph Heeds the Call 1914-1918” at 1 1 a.m. Royal City Musical Productions presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe April 26 to 29 at the River Run Centre. For tickets, call 519-763-3000. The Elora Festival is seeking dona- tions of books, records, CDs, tapes and ephemera for its annual book sale, to be held May 5 and 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Elora Curl- ing Club. For information, call 519-846-0331. Banner Stands Order new or we can print new graphics for your existing banner stand Banner-Up Retractable ! — -Roland IINIU.^J The Guelph Creative Arts Associa- tion holds its spring art and craft show April 28 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Old Quebec Street. A new music series called Guelph Musicfest runs May 12 to 26 at the Guelph Youth Music Centre. It will include a performance by interna- tionally acclaimed pianist Valerie Tryon. For information and tickets, call 519-993-7591 or visit www. guelphmusicfest.ca. The Guelph Arts Council launches its annual historical walking tours of the city April 29 with “Where Guelph Began.” It leaves from the Guelph Civic Museum at 2 p.m. For more information, call 519-836- 3280. “Shakespeare on Music” is the theme of the Suzuki String School of Guelph’s annual spring concert April 29 at 3 p.m. at the River Run Centre. For tickets, call 519-763- 3000. The Wellington County branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society hosts a tour of the U of G Library’s genealogical resources led by Lome Bruce, head of Archival and Special Collections, May 8. Meet inside the library’s main entrance at 3 p.m. As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Kitchener-Waterloo Sexual Assault Support Centre will host a talk by Jane Doe, author and the woman at the centre of a prece- dent-setting sexual assault case in Toronto, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Walper Terrace Hotel. To order advance tickets, call 519-571-0121. The Guelph Youth Music Centre hosts its annual Kidsfest community festival May 12 from noon to 3 p.m. For more information or to volun- teer, call 519-837-1119. Storytelling at the Boathouse resumes May 9 from 8 to 1 0 p.m. For more information, visit www.guelph arts.ca/storytellers. The Elora Festival Singers present a Haydn-Schubert concert May 13 at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Church in Elora. Call 519-846-0331 for tickets. The Guelph Humane Society hosts its eighth annual “Secret Garden” silent/live auction and tea April 29 at 12:30 p.m. at the Italian Canadian Club, 135 Ferguson St. For informa- tion and tickets, call 519-824-3091. For information about paid advertising in At Guelph, call Scott Anderson at 519-827-9169. At Guelph 16 April 25, 2007 at GUELPH APRIL 11, 2007 » VOL. 51 NO. 7 . WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH . UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH INSIDE: RELAY FOR LIFE TOPS $8o,ooo • NATIONAL KUDOS FOR TOMATOSPHERE • TELL US A STORY Students Support Energy Efficiency Undergrads vote to fund campus energy conservation U OF G UNDERGRADUATES Sup- port the University’s energy conservation efforts and are willing to help pay for them. In a referendum held during Central Student Association (CSA) elections last month, students voted in favour of paying a $10 fee each se- mester over the next 12 years to help j improve energy efficiency on cam- j pus. That represents a commitment of more than $4.3 million, to be matched by the University. “This says a lot about students’ concern for the environmental im- pact the University has and confirms its reputation as a leader in environ- mental initiatives," says Derek Pieper, a fourth-year biological sci- ences major who co-chairs Student Senate Caucus and serves on the Senate Executive Committee (SEC). The referendum was proposed by SEC and Guelph Students for En- vironmental Change’s Renewable Energy Group (REG). REG member Adam Scott, a fourth-year geogra- phy student, says he’s “thrilled” with the referendum results. “This really shows that students care about the environment and are willing to take action, even if that ac- tion means a few extra dollars out of their pockets.” President Alastair Summerlee says he, too, is “delighted” with the outcome. “The students who orga- nized the referendum displayed in- credible initiative and successfully mobilized the student body around this very important cause.” Pieper says he hopes the referen- dum results will encourage students at other universities to follow Guelph’s lead. “And I certainly hope other members of the University take note of this action by the stu- dents and contribute to the cause.” Faculty and staff also have the opportunity to contribute to the University* s ongoing energy conser- vation efforts, with that money to be matched by U of G as well. All money raised will go into a special account that will be monitored by the Senate Committee on University Planning, which has representation from faculty, staff and students. Energy conservation, especially building retrofitting, has long been an important issue at U of G, says | Summerlee. Guelph has launched a number of initiatives in recent years to reduce energy consumption and would like to do even more, but the money just isn’t there to make sig- nificant upfront investments while U of G is addressing other ongoing maintenance issues, he says. “We have an extraordinary cam- pus and work together to solve many problems. Reducing our energy consumption should be one of these issues." Three Honoured for Volunteerism First recipients ofWinegard awards named H istory professor Terry Crowley, College of Biological Science staff member Toni Pellizzari and fourth-year B.Sc. student Kendra Strong are the first recipients of the Dr. William Winegard Exemplary Volunteer Involvement Awards. Named after former U of G presi- dent Bill Winegard, the awards rec- ognize a University faculty member, staff member and student who have shown commitment to volunteering in the community and have demonstrated outstanding service. The awards were developed by the University in partnership with the United Way of Guelph and Wellington and the Volunteer Cen- I tre of Guelph/Wellington. “The three chosen recipients helped to strengthen the connection between the University and commu- I nity through dieir volunteering,” I says Jean Prichard, treasurer of the j United Way and a member of the award selection committee. “I was ■ hugely impressed by the dedication and selflessness of these recipients.” Crowley, who is chair of the De- ! partment of History, was honoured for dedicating more than 30 years of j volunteer service to the community. [ Since joining the University in 1971. he has volunteered with a variety of Continued on page 2 I Prof. Pat Turner, seen here with teaching assistant dog Rosie, has been honoured for her contributions to education and research related to laboratory animals. photo bymartin schwalbe Smiles All Around for Award-Winning Prof Pathobiologist named inaugural recipient of U.S. Animal Welfare Award BY ANDREW VOWLES T he lives of millions of animals used in research around the world — including ones used to study a host of human and animal diseases — are set to improve, thanks to a new $25,000 US award received by Prof. Pat Turner, Pathobiology. Turner has been named the inau- gural recipient of the 2007 Animal Welfare Award of the Humane Soci- ety of the United States and Procter & Gamble. She was honoured for her contributions to laboratory animal medicine education and for research refining lab animal care and use. The Ontario Veterinary College faculty member plans to use the award to broaden distance-learning programs for lab animal veterinari- ans abroad, including in developing countries. More intensive use of lab animals for research in industry, government and universities means rising demand for vets able to look after them and promote their welfare, she says. Turner plans to extend a novel distance education certificate pro- gram in lab animal medicine that she spearheaded and developed with Ca- nadian colleagues for veterinarians in 2004. It combines web-based Continued on page 10 Guelph Grad Donates $1.1 Million for Athletics Funds will support campus sports facilities, scholarships BY LORI BONA HUNT U OF G HAS RECEIVED a gift of $1.1 million to enhance ath- letic facilities and fund scholarships from retired automotive executive Larry Pearson, a U of G graduate and former varsity athlete who is now the assistant coach of the Gryphon men’s volleyball team. It’s the largest single donation ever made to the Department of Athletics and among the largest indi- vidual donations received by the University. It is also one of the larg- est gifts made to a Canadian univer- sity athletics facility. “Atliletics has always been a big part of my life, and I strongly believe that sports are essential to rounding out a person’s character in prepara- tion for the working world,” says Pearson, a former member of the University’s Board of Governors. As a U of G student, Pearson played volleyball for the Gryphons until graduating with a mathematics degree in 1972. He has served as an assistant coach for the past year. “I am very pleased to be able to | help the University upgrade and im- j prove its facilities and varsity pro- grams,” he says. President Alastair Summerlee ! says the gift will help Guelph fulfil its goal of helping all students reach ' their full potential. Continued on page 8 at Guelph l April 11,2007 Michael H.C. 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Guelph's best selection of hardwood and laminate flooring Surtfloor Uniclick engineered hardwood flooring features: • the beauty of real hardwood • the ease of Uniclick installation ■ can be installed above or below grade 55 Dawson Road, Guelph 519-821-5744 RON A CASHWAY 519.856.2575 • www.rumoursfurniture.com Main Street (Hwy 7), Rockwood m Habitat for Humanity* Wellington County We Sell Windows Doors Kitchen Cabinets Sinks & Vanities Electrical Fixtures 8 Supplies Plumbing Fixtures & Supplies Lujhtling Fixtures Shingles Flooring Ceramic Tiles Hardware New Paint Patio Furniture and much more. ReStore 45 Dawson Road Unit 4, Guelph. Ontario, N1H 1B1 tel: 519-780-2323 Monday - Friday 10AM - 5PM Saturday 9AM - 4PM We sell new and used matenals for home renovation and repair donated by manufacturers, retailers and homeowners. PRICES 50% - 80% BELOW RETAIL Planning a renovation? Recycle your unwanted materials by donating them to the ReStore. Kitchen sets (cabinets, appliances, sinks) particularly appreciated. FREE PICK-UP Rewntie from the ReStore is used to build Habitat for homes in Guelph/Wellinglon County Forum to Focus on Science Curriculum in First Year Nobel Prize-winning physicist to give public lecture on scientific teaching tools H OW MANY ACADEMICS have received both a Nobel Prize for research and a national award for teaching in the same year? Physicist Carl Wieman has — and he’ll bring both sides to U of G this month as an invited lecturer at a two-day forum intended to improve U of G’s first-year science curriculum. The gathering will allow faculty, staff, students and administrators from across campus to discuss ideas for enhancing science education at Guelph and especially how to engage first-year students, says chemistry professor Dan Thomas, associate dean of the B.Sc. program. “Students in their first year don’t feel as engaged in their education as we sometimes believe they should be,” says Thomas. “What can be done to help students feel they have made the transition to university and can prepare for their career?” The forum runs April 26 from 1 to 8 p.m. and April 27 from 9 a.m. to noon in OVC’s Lifetime Learning Centre. Wieman, who joined the University of British Columbia from the University of Colorado early this year, will give a free public lecture April 26 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 1714, discussing ideas for using scientific tools to teach university science. At UBC, he leads the Carl Wieman Science Education Initia- tive, intended to incorporate re- search on learning science — and measuring that learning — into edu- cational practice. He funded the ini- tiative with a $50,000 gift to UBC, including his $10,000 prize from the 2007 Oersted Medal, the highest honour given by the American Asso- ciation of Physics Teachers. At Colorado, Wieman shared the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physics for dis- covering a new state of matter called the Bose-Einstein condensate. That same year, he received the National Science Foundation’s Distinguished Teaching Scholarship Award. In 2004, he was named the U.S. University Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Ad- vancement of Teaching. He chairs the National Academy of Sciences Board on Science Education. Referring to Wieman’s research and teaching achievements, Thomas says: “He comes unusually well-ac- credited to bring both sides of the science equation together.” The forum will also include workshop sessions where partici- pants will discuss aspects of first- year science instruction at Guelph and recommend improvements. The B.Sc. program committee will share those recommendations with curriculum groups across campus involved in delivering first-year science courses. Beyond science, the overall first- year experience at Guelph is now un- der review by one of four working groups within U of G’s 21st-Century Curriculum Steering Committee. Inaugural Winegard Awards Recognize Outstanding Service Continued from page 1 community organizations, often fill- ing leadership roles. As chair of the Museum Board during Guelph’s sesquicentennial in 1977 and 1978, he helped raise a quarter of the costs. While on the Edward Johnson Music Founda- tion/Guelph Spring Festival board, he led the 20th-anniversary celebra- tions of 1987, which resulted in the largest festival ever held. The award-winning historian has also found time to volunteer with Amnesty International, Guelph- Wellington Legal Services, Guelph- Wellington Women-in-Crisis, the Wellington County Historical Soci- Toni Pellizzari ety, McCrae House, the Guelph Chamber Choir, the Guelph Arts Council and Doors Open Guelph. Pellizzari was recognized for her dedication to the United Way and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Executive secretary to the dean of CBS, she has volunteered with the United Way since 1995 as a canvasser. She has also served as campus co-chair and has donated numerous incentive prizes over the years. Pellizzari also donates prizes to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph, helps with fundraising and served as president of the oganization from 2002 to 2004. Kendra Strong Strong received the student award for her commitment to the Canadian Blood Services. Her pas- sion for the organization started when she first donated blood at the age of 17. Since then, she has orga- nized the on-campus blood donor clinics and continues to work as a hospitality volunteer greeting blood donors. Each of the three recipients re- ceived a print of a painting by fine art student Tori Drost. The painting represents the concept of commu- nity and will be hung in the Univer- sity Centre in honour of this year’s recipients. X Editor Barbara Chance b.chance@exec.uoguelph.ca a H- Design Peter Enneson Production Linda Graham l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca £ c Advertising Scott Anderson theandersondifferencc@rogers.com Director Chuck Cunningham c.cunningham@exec.uoguelph.ca At Guelph is published every two weeks by Communications and Public Affairs, Level 4, University Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG 2WI. Inquiries: 519-824-4120 Editorial: Ext. 56580 Distribution: Ext. 56581 Advertising: Ext. 56580 mw. uoguelph.ca/adguide Classifieds: Ext. 56581 Fax : 519-824-7962 Website: www.uoguelph.ca/atguelph Articles may be reprinted with credit to At Guelph. Subscriptions $25 (includes GST); $30 outside Canada ISSN 08364478 at Guelph 2 April h, 2007 news in brief DONATIONS TO FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES TOP $100,000 U of G students continue to set records in the amount of food and money raised for local charities. They brought in more than $102,000 worth of food and dona- tions through the ‘'Trick or Eat” and “Skip a Meal” programs, according to final figures released this week. The food collection ini- tiatives are part of Meal Exchange, a student- run national campus char- ity. In addition, U of G’s varsity ath- letes collected more than 1,100 food items for the Chalmers Com- munity Services Centre in Guelph. NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR STAFF SEAT ON B OF G Board of Governors is calling for nominations for a staff seat on the board. The three-year term runs from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2010. Candidates must be regular full- time non-academic staff members. Nomination forms must be received by the University Secretar- iat on Level 4 of the University Cen- tre by April 13 at 3 p.m. For more details and nomination forms, send e-mail to univsec@uoguelph.ca. SPROWL AWARD HONOURS VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTIONS Steelworkers Local 4120 is calling for nominations for the 2007 Susanne Sprowl Community Ser- vice Award. Named for the late Susanne Sprowl, a 20-year staff member at U of G, the award recog- nizes contributions to the better- ment of the University and the external community through com- munity spirit and dedication to vol- unteer activities, events and organi- zations. Active members of Steelworkers Local 4120 in good standing are eligible for the award, which will be presented at the Com- munity Breakfast in September. Nominations are due April 30 and should be dropped off at the Steelworkers Local 4120 office in Room 451 of the University Centre, faxed to 519-767-6660 or e-mailed to admin@uswa4120.ca. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO ‘INTERACT AT U OF G Close to 1,200 grades 10 and 1 1 stu- dents from across Ontario will be descending on campus April 26 and 27 for the annual Interaction recruitment conference co-ordi- nated by Admission Services. Stu- dents can each attend two sessions from more than 40 offerings by U of G students, faculty and staff. Topics range from “The Snowball Earth: Climate Change in the Extreme" to “CSI Toronto: Investigate This.” For more information, visit the website www.uoguelph.ca/admis- sions/interaction. TOWN HALL MEETING SET President Alastair Summerlee and Board of Governors are hosting a town hall meeting April 17 to give members of the University commu- nity a chance to comment on the proposed tuition schedule for 2007/ 08. The meeting runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Room 1714 of OVC’s Life- time Learning Centre. For more information, call Ext. 56760 or send e-mail to univsec@uoguelph.ca. Relay for Life Raises More Than $80,000 for Cancer Society Guelph holds record for most money raised by post-secondary h institution BY LORI BONA HUNT U OF G’S STUDENT-ORGANIZED Relay for Life set a fundraising record this year, collecting more than $80,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. The amount surpasses last year’s total by more than $20,000 and is the most money any university or college has raised through a Relay for Life to date. “I’m beyond thrilled," says stu- dent Elizabeth Holmes, chair of the event. “I am just so proud of every- one.” About 500 people in teams of 10 participated in the 12-hour relay held at Alumni Stadium March 31. The Relay for Life fundraising initia- tive takes place across Canada and the United States at various times throughout the year. This is the third year U of G has hosted an event. Before the event, participants raise $100 each in pledges, on top of their $10 registration fee. All pro- ceeds go to fund cancer research, support programs and advocacy. “This event is so important be- cause it is proof that you can make a difference,” says Holmes. Highlights of Guelph’s Relay for Life included a survivor-led victory lap for cancer survivors and their families and a candlelight ceremony to honour or remember loved ones who have battled cancer. In addition, Prof. Jim Petrik, Bio- medical Sciences, spoke about ongo- ing cancer research taking place at the University. Laura Owens, a senior fundraiser with the Canadian Cancer Society, says the total means U of G contin- ues to hold the record for the most amount of money raised by a post-secondary institution. “Guelph is definitely the leader,” she says. “It’s just fabulous.” The fact that U of G’s committee is run by students makes the event’s success even more meaningful, says Owens. “On top of everything else they’re doing in their lives, they volunteered and put this event together and man- aged to raise . . . $80,000. That is just amazing. And the fact that they raised $20,000 more than last year — that’s even more amazing." Tomatosphere Team Earns National Kudos Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute honours science education project BY DEIRDRE HEALEY M ove over, space engineers. The Tomatosphere team has been named the latest recipient of a Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI) Award. The team, led by Prof. Mike Dixon, chair of the Department of Environmental Biology, and astro- naut Robert Thirsk, will receive the Alouette Award at a ceremony April 25 in Toronto. H.J. Heinz Company of Canada, the Ontario Centres of Excellence, Stokes Seeds, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Ca- nadian Space Agency are also part of the Tomatosphere team. The national award is in recogni- tion of the team’s space education project, which allows students to ob- serve the effects of space travel on the germination of tomato seeds. “The people who conceived the Alouette Award were thinking of the engineers who build satellites and robotic arms,” says Dixon. “For a group of educators to get this award is unprecedented." Geoff Languedoc, executive di- rector of CASI, agrees it’s a unique situation. “But this was such a clever exper- iment that delivered so much and heightened the awareness of space to so many people,” he says. “A broad group of people benefited from this project, and for that, they should be recognized. The Tomatosphere pro- ject should be held up as an example to learn from and emulate.” When the project began in 2000/ 01, tomato seeds went into space with astronaut Marc Gameau on his 11 -day mission on the space shuttle Endeavour. In the following years, seeds were exposed to a variety of environ- ments, including a simulated Mar- tian environment at the NASA Kennedy Space Center; a simulated space environment; a simulated Martian greenhouse environment on campus; and the Earth environ- ment, which was the control group. The seeds were then sent out to class- rooms across Canada and observed by students in grades 3 to 10. In 2004, the team went a step fur- ther by sending half a million seeds to the International Space Station for 19 months. The seeds were then de- livered to students to compare their germination and growth with that of a control group of seeds. “We use the sexy space angle as a hook, but we are actually teaching kids about science,” says Dixon. The initial goal of the project was to reach 10,000 students, but that number has skyrocketed and is still climbing, he says. The team recently registered its 9,000th classroom for this year’s program. “We were supposed to stop the project this year after we sent the seeds into space because that’s a hard act to follow," says Dixon. “But when we announced to teachers that we were going to cancel it, they wrote back in the hundreds telling us we can’t because they’ve written it into the curriculum. So now we’re gear- ing up for another three years.” University Helps Fire Victims F our U of G students left homeless in the Good Friday fire that heavily damaged two historical buildings in downtown Guelph are getting a helping hand from the University. It all started with U of G Police Constable Donna Wingate, who was on duty when one of the students, who lost all their possessions in the fire, called Campus Police asking what she should do about exams scheduled to start March 9. Wingate started making phone calls, and Student Housing Services and Hospitality Services quickly stepped in to help. Hospitality Ser- vices offered the students free meals for the weekend, and Student Hous- ing has given them a free place to live in residence throughout the exam period. In addition, Student Affairs and the Office of Registrarial Ser- vices have contacted the students to see what other kinds of support they need. Brenda Whiteside, associate vice-president (student affairs), says the response to the students’ plight is a “perfect example of how people in die University community go out of their way to help others in time of need.” People POLITICAL SCIENTIST SPEAKS AT HARVARD SYMPOSIUM University professor emeritus O.P. Dwivedi of the Department of Political Science was invited by Harvard University to speak at the opening plenary of the China-India Development and Relations Sym- posium. He discussed sustainable development and the well-being of nations. He was also the main speaker in a session on fighting cor- ruption in developing nations. AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME Gryphon swimmer Scott Van Doormaal of Guelph and women's rugby player Meaghan Howat of Toronto claimed top honours as 2007 male and female athletes of the year at the annual Gryphon awards banquet March 30. Department of Athletics staff member Karen Lee received die Dr. John T. Powell Award for contribudons to the ath- letics program. Prof. Jim Atkinson, Animal and Poultry Science, received special recognition for his dedication to coaching rugby. The President’s Trophy for academics and athletics went to cross-country and track Gryphon Laura Moulton of Hamilton and volleyball Gry- phon Mike Bancroft of Stratford. The W.F. Mitchell Sportswoman/ Sportsman Awards were presented to basketball Gryphon Stephanie Yallin of Port Colboume and cross-country and track Gryphon Greg Hutchinson of Lindsay. Win- ner of die Dr. Mary Beverley Burton Female Rookie of the Year Award was cross-country and track Gry- phon RacheV Cliff of Vancouver. Football Gryphon Nick FitzGibbon of Puslinch was named Scott Yanchus Male Rookie of the Year. The following appointments were recendy announced at U of G: • Sally Cherry, administrative assis- tant, Department of Biomedical Sciences • Lisa Huiskamp, co-operative education employment assistant, Co- operative Education and Career Services • Dawn Owen, assistant curator, Macdonald Stewart Art Centre • Linda Stadig, secretary to the Guelph-Waterloo Physics Insti- tute, Department of Physics • Stephen Wilkinson, systems sup- port technician, Information Tech- nology Services, U of G Library • Kimani Williams, lab technician, Animal Health Laboratory. In Memoriam Guelph businessman, environmen- talist and philanthropist Kenneth Hammond, who served two terms on U of G’s Board of Governors, died March 26 at the age of 92. His family founded Hammond Manu- facturing Co. Ltd., an electronics manufacturing company, in 1 9 1 7. A longtime advocate of environmen- tal and resource issues and environ- mental education, he was honoured by U of G in 2000 with the creation of the Kenneth Hammond Lectures on Environment, Energy and Resources. He is survived by his wife, Frances, three children and three grandchildren. at Guelph 3 April ii, 2007 SlueiinuTOddB His Roots Run Deep at the Arboretum focus Ric Jordan has lost count of the number of trees and shrubs he’s planted since joining the staff of the Arboretum in 1975* PHOTO BY MARTIN SCHWALBE BY ANDREW VOWLES R ic Jordan had seen it before while growing up on a Chatham-area farm: dark slcy, pelting rain, raging wind. So he had an idea of what was coming that day in 1983 when a mini-twister swept through Guelph. But he hadn’t expected this. The storm passed more or less di- rectly over the R.J. Hilton Centre, the service centre for the U of G Ar- boretum on the north side of College Avenue. The five-minute onslaught left the building unscathed. After- ward, Jordan and his co-workers stood looking through a rain- streaked window toward Victoria Road and realized something was wrong. They hopped into a truck and drove to the comer. Jordan’s first thought was a sim- ple one: “My God, what happened?” The mini-tornado had mown down all but a handful of the 100-odd white pines that had marked off that comer of the U of G campus for 75 years. “That was devastating.” By then, Jordan had worked at the Arboretum for eight years. That was but an eyeblink compared with the decades that had passed since Edmund Zavitz had established one of Ontario’s first recorded pine plan- tations on the grounds of the On- tario Agricultural College in 1908. (A cousin of Charles Zavitz, for whom Zavitz Hall is named, Edmund had led a then-fledgling forestry department at OAC and went on to become provincial for- ester.) Today, about 20 survivors stand guard over the younger growth that has sprung up, post-tor- nado, at that comer of the campus. The/ re now under Jordan’s eye, along with numerous plants and other organisms that five in the 165-hectare Arboretum. Last sum- mer, more than 30 years after he landed a contract job here fresh out of his U of G studies in geography, he was named Arboretum manager. In that newly created position, he divides his time between hands-on maintenance — planting trees, fix- ing equipment, plowing snow — and such administrative duties as at- tending meetings, poring over bud- gets and helping to carry out the Arboretum’s operational plan. He reports to the Arboretum’s longtime director, Prof. Alan Watson, Envi- ronmental Biology. In turn, Jordan oversees a staff of about six regular employees (and a crew of summer students) and sits on the campus landscape advisory committee. Name an initiative within the Ar- boretum’s three-part mandate of re- search, teaching and outreach, and he’s probably been involved with it somehow. (That mandate is spelled out in the Arboretum’s 2004 master plan. If the master plan is the forest, the “trees” are contained in the five-year operational plan adopted last fall.) Before last summer, Jordan had been supervisor of Arboretum grounds and physical resources, a job he’d held since the late 1980s. But his roots at the Arboretum go back to his undergraduate days. He arrived at Guelph in 1969 to study agriculture but switched to geogra- phy. Much of the campus was freshly built then, including the MacKinnon Building, the McLaughlin Library and South Residences, where he lived. Jordan signed on as a volun- teer to show visitors around U of G and recalls escorting people past the mostly open fields and horticultural test plots on the east side of campus. There was little else to see back then. The Arboretum was established in 1970, and planting began the fol- lowing year. Jordan landed a job there as a labourer after graduating in 1975. That turned into a full-time post in 1978. He’s lost count of the number of trees and shrubs he’s planted since then. He helped install the Arbore- tum’s major gardens — including its Italian, Japanese and European areas — and has planted numerous trees in the Wall-Custance Memorial For- est, including two in his parents’ memory. He says today’s Arboretum bears little resemblance to that open ex- panse of some 35 years ago. “We like to say it’s Guelph’s largest park.” Jordan needs little coaxing to leave his Arboretum Centre office for a short walk to his favoured place in the “park,” just past a sundial with a Latin motto printed around its concrete base (“I count the bright hours onl/’). Over the years, he has dug in many of the roughly 150 low- or slow-growing specimens in the dwarf conifer collection, including pine, fir, yew and spruce. He often recommends the collection to gar- deners calling up with questions about woody plants and foundation planting at home. He points out a favourite: a dwarf but decidedly full-bodied Alberta spruce. He’s got one growing at home in Guelph’s Exhibition Park neighbourhood. Also thriving there are a ginkgo and a serviceberry, planted following the births of his two daughters — Elspeth, a 2005 Guelph graduate, and Luchan, a stu- dent at the University of Toronto- Mississauga. He met his wife, Betty, also a U of G geography graduate, at a dance during his first weekend on campus in 1969. Talks to Explore Animal Welfare During Crises Symposium intended to raise awareness of how pandemics and natural disasters affect animals and their caregivers BY ANDREW VOWLES S aving LIVES and reducing suffering is job one for emergency workers facing a hurricane, tsunami or flu outbreak. But what if those lives come wrapped in fur or feathers? “Caring During Crisis: Animal Welfare During Pandemics and Nat- ural Disasters” is the title of an inter- national symposium to be held April 29 to May 1 at U of G. It’s intended to raise awareness of how pandemics and natural disasters affect animals and their caregivers, and how to con- sider animal welfare during such crises. Top international experts will speak at the conference, expected to draw about 200 delegates from Can- ada and abroad. The opening session April 29 at 3 p.m. is open to the public and will feature a talk by Michael Appleby, welfare policy adviser with the World Society for the Protection of Animals in London. His topic is “Why Should We Care About Ani- mals During Times of Crisis?” James Young, special adviser to Canada’s minister for public safety and emer- gency preparedness, will discuss "Weighing in Public Health and Safety Factors for Humans During Times of Crisis.” Speakers at panel sessions run- ning April 30 and May 1 include Prof. Ian Duncan, U of G emeritus chair in animal welfare; Brian Evans, chief veterinary officer with the Ca- nadian Food Inspection Agency, University of Toronto medical pro- fessor and 2005 OVC Alumna of Honour Carin Wittnich; and Sebastian Heath of the U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture and the Depart- ment of Homeland Security. Also on the roster is William Stokes of the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, who co-ordinated shelter and veteri- nary care for thousands of compan- ion animals rescued from New Orleans after hurricane Katrina in 2005. Speakers will discuss lessons learned from Katrina and hurricane Floyd in 1999, the 2004 avian flu out- break in British Columbia and the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease out- break in the United Kingdom. “These caused a lot of human suf- fering but a lot of animal suffering as well,” says symposium committee chair Prof. Suzanne Millman, Popu- lation Medicine. She says failing to consider animal welfare may actually hinder human rescue and relief ef- forts. “After hurricane Katrina, peo- ple were reluctant to leave their homes because they had to leave their pets behind.” Emergency workers must address people’s needs first, says Millman, “but you can’t consider humans completely independently from ani- mals.” Organizers hope policy-makers and stakeholders will develop ideas to address animal welfare in emer- gency response plans at local, na- tional and international levels. The symposium proceedings will be pub- lished later this year as a special issue of the Journal of Applied Animal Wel- fare Science. The event is being hosted by the Ontario Veterinary College, Ontario Agricultural College and Colonel K.L. Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare. For information, call Ext. 53677 or visit the website www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/conference/ caringduringcrisis. j Your innovative full service community \ garden centre. Offering a convenient, information based I shopping experience rich in inspirational displays and more, j NOW OPEN! For more information ) and spring hours visit us online or in store. brock road nursery centre § shorn i _== 1 1 I www.brockroa dnursery.com . 1858 Gordon Street. Guelph. ON. NIL 1G6 . 519-836-5010 AVAILABLE SPRING ?007 Bright & Cheerful Spring Planters, New & Classic Pansies, Certified Organic Seeds, First Quality Grass Seed, Premium Lawn Fertilizer, Bulk Soils & Mulches For Delivery & Pickup. Spring Decor & More! at Guelph 4 April 11, 2007 Class Project Turns Into Book Drive for Literacy Students collect 2,500 books for literacy organization BY DAVID DICENZO L esley-Anne Carroll hadn’t intended to build a makeshift library at her house, but the overwhelming success of a school project has made it a necessity. The second-year marketing management student was part of a 14-member group that recently held a book drive for an assignment in an organizational behaviour course taught by Prof. Jamie Gruman, Hos- pitality and Tourism Management. With local children’s author Robert Munsch in their corner, Carroll’s group collected more than 2,500 books to be donated to Fron- tier College, a Canada-wide volun- teer-based literacy organization. “I have a thousand books in my ga- rage,” she says. Her group was one of 10 tasked with developing a project that would raise money either for charity or profit and would culminate in a public event. When the projects were completed, the students had to submit a report discussing what they learned about the organizational process. Gruman, an expert in organiza- tional behaviour who’s been using this class model for the past 10 years, says the assignment is a great way to get students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-life situations. “You can’t learn how to ride a bike unless you get on a bike,” he says, “and you can’t learn manage- ment skills unless you actually man- age something. That’s the essence of it.” Carroll says the experience with the book drive did precisely that — help hone her managerial abilities. Members of her group brought a va- riety of skills to the table, she says, and their first step was to decide what their project would entail. Someone in the group brought up the idea of literacy, says Carroll. “There are some alarming literacy rates in Canada for underprivileged families and individuals. This was a cause that touched everyone’s heart.” Targeting elementary school children, the group approached the Guelph Montessori School, several Catholic schools and local clubs such as Cubs and Beavers to round up books. Someone in Carroll’s group had a contact for Munsch, and the author was happy to get in- volved, she says. He was on hand for a March 23 event where the children delivered their books and were thanked for their participation. Munsch led a storytelling session and signed copies of his books. “He was very enthusiastic about it,” says Carroll. “We were lucky to get him.” The group also raised $500 from donations and raffle tickets. Other projects carried out by Gruman’s class include an art show gala at the Springfield Golf and Country Club that generated $2,500 for the United Way, a charity walk/run that raised about $800 for an organization that builds wells in Africa, a cookbook and a battle of the bands. All 10 projects this semes- ter were charity fundraisers. Gruman says this approach to student learning represents an inno- vation that addresses some current criticisms of traditional manage- ment education. "Guelph is on the cutting edge of changing the curriculum to be re- sponsive to the demands of the con- temporary business environment,” he says, adding that he’s currently writing two articles on the topic of innovative management learning models. “When students graduate, no one cares if they know the definition of motivation. What employers care about is whether these graduates are motivated and can motivate other people. The academic stuff is only the foundation — it’s not the end of knowledge.” . O, ... c . u ui u pi ebiueni out wmegaro is a Dig nit with the tiny tots at the U of G Child-Care and Learning Centre. PHOTO BY MAR TIN SCHWALBE Tell Us a Story, Winegard Former Guelph MP is booked to read every Friday at campus child-care centre BY DEIRDRE HEALEY B ill Winegard is known to most people as the former University of Guelph president, former Guelph MP and former federal science minister. But to the children at the U of G Child-Care and Learning Centre, he’s just “Winegard,” and his sole purpose is to read them stories. In fact, he’s regarded as one of the centre’s best storytellers ever. The second that Winegard grabs a book and takes a seat in his minia- ture chair, toddlers are rushing to huddle around him, some even tug- ging on his suit jacket or climbing on his legs to get his attention. “They always anticipate his vis- its,” says Judy Callahan, director of the centre. “They call him ‘Winegard’ because they think that’s his first name. The children are very comfortable with him and don’t think twice about leaning up against him.” He’s like a celebrity at the centre and rarely leaves without a painting or a thank-you card made for him by one of the children, she says. It’s Winegard’s patience and en- thusiastic storytelling that make him such a favourite, says Callahan. “His style is so relaxed. There is never any rushing, and he always an- swers their questions that are just out of the blue. It’s as though time is not an issue.” Last week while reading the book Mud Puddle by Robert Munsch, Winegard spent more time listening to the children’s thoughts on what mud tastes like and how much they enjoy baths than he did actually reading. But he doesn’t mind veering away from the story. “It’s great fun for me,” he says. “I’m not in any hurry to do anything anymore. Sometimes I just make the stories up as I go.” And no story is told without ac- companying hand gestures. Dressed in a suit and tie, Winegard doesn’t hesitate to act out the plot. “You have to act the stories out. Kids just love that.” He visits the centre every Friday afternoon and spends an hour and a half reading stories to different groups of children. Callahan asked him if he would read to the children two years ago while he was dropping off a friend’s grandson at the centre. “I think it’s really important for children to have the opportunity to spend time with someone older and someone who’s a paternal figure,” she says. “Not a\l kids have %rand- pa rents who are close to them and can spend time with them.” That’s the case for U of G staff member Claire Alexander of the president’s office, who has a three- year-old daughter attending the centre. “Like many families, we don’t have grandparents living close by, and I think it’s fabulous that my daughter can spend time with Dr. Winegard,” she says. “It’s amazing the amount of time he dedicates to the children at the day care.” The time he spends reading to the children is also a good fit for Winegard, who doesn’t get a chance to see his own grandchildren and great-grandchildren often because they don’t live nearby. “The kids here are wonderful,” he says. “They definitely keep me laughing.” Campus Hardware Limited 1027 Gordon Stroet Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X1 Tel. 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Otis is leading a project aimed at improving beekeeping training in the Southeast Asian country, so farmers and their families can earn more money from their modest | honey crops. He’s focusing on vil- lages in north central Vietnam — one of the poorest regions of the ! country — where selling just a dozen jars of honey can provide enough in- come to feed a family for months. “Beekeeping can make such a dif- ! ference in income for these rural j families,” he says. Honey farming is a lucrative business in rural Vietnam because the honey produced in these villages j is believed to have exceptional me- ] dicinal qualities, says Otis. Some people will drive more than a hun- dred kilometres to rural villages in search of the honey to cure ailments as common as a sore throat, he says. "It’s a very high-valued product." Not only is there money to be made, but beekeeping is also ideal for poor farmers because it doesn’t require land ownership and the startup costs are small. Many fami- lies already have a few beehives on their property, but what they don’t have is formal training in beekeep- ing, Otis says. “Their skills are rudimentary and | their yields are far below what they could get. I want to help them de- j velop their beekeeping potential.” The six-year project was awarded $1 million from the Canadian Inter- national Development Agency (C1DA) last summer. At the begin- ning of March, Otis spent two weeks in Vietnam with colleagues Leo Smits of the Department of Family and Community Social Services at the University of Guelph-Humber and Steffanie Scott of the Depart- ment of Geography at the University of Waterloo. They updated the sur- vey methods used by the Vietnam Bee Research and Development Centre (VBRDC), the organization responsible for monitoring and training beekeepers in these rural vil- lages. In October, the team will re- turn to the country to help VBRDC staff design and implement the revised beekeeping training methods. During a visit in July 2005, Otis found that the average beekeeper with just five beehives could produce about 20 bottles of honey and earn $80 to $120 Cdn in a year. He antici- pates that improved training will double those earnings. In addition to updating the vil- lagers’ beekeeping skills, he wants to open their eyes to the potential prof- its of selling beeswax. “They literally don’t care about the wax, but it can be used in cosme- tics and candles and be another source of income for them.” Otis and his colleagues also plan to demonstrate the benefits of polli- nation to villagers by showing them not only how bees produce honey from flowering trees but also how the yields of some fruits will increase because of better pollination. “Improved fruit yields will pro- vide yet another financial benefit to these near-subsistence farmers,” he says. This year the project will involve two communes, made up of between six and 12 villages. Another four communes will be incorporated into the beekeeping training program over the following two years. The VBRDC will be fine-tuning its train- ing program based on the response from the villagers. Otis expects they’ll be able to directly train about 180 villagers by the project’s end. “But the impact will be five times greater because they will spread what they’ve learned to others in their vil- lages.” The long-term result will be the establishment of a training program and teaching materials that are cur- rent and can be used throughout Vietnam as well as surrounding Asian countries, he says. “I hope VBRDC will emerge as the best beekeeping extension centre in Asia.” Otis has been working towards this far-reaching goal over the past decade. The idea for the project was sparked when he learned about the VBRDC while at a workshop in Ma- laysia in 1995. Since then, he has maintained contact with staff at the organiza- tion. His first attempt to obtain CIDA funding in 1997 was unsuc- cessful. With encouragement from Isobel Lander of the Centre for In- ternational Programs, Otis devel- oped a second proposal in July 2005 with the help of Profs. Glen Filson and Jana Janakiram, Environmental Design and Rural Development, and this time it was approved. “The fact that it took so long isn’t all that bad because it allowed us to build up trust over the years,” says Otis. “I made a pledge 10 years ago that I would help my colleagues at VBRDC get a project up and run- ning, and it feels good to finally come through on that promise.” - New Book Explores Family Values Controversy Philosopher examines debates between traditionalists, progressivists over religion, family and culture BY RACHELLE COOPER A s controversies around same-sex marriage and cul- tural/religious conflicts continue to dominate headlines. Prof. Jay Newman, Philosophy, examines the debates between traditionalists and progressivists over religion, family and culture in a new book called Pious Pro-Family Rhetoric. “Consideration of this persistent and often fierce debate reveals much about the state of religion in western democracies, religious uses of poli- tics and images of religion in the me- dia,” says Newman. "It also gives us insight into the relations of religion and the family, varieties of religious commitment and strategies of reli- gious and cultural competition.” In his book, he argues that many religious conservatives are losing their “family values” battle, particu- larly with regards to the same-sex marriage controversy. "Religious traditionalists rarely accept politicians’ views that this is simply a matter of human rights,” he says. “In the western world, most re- ligious conservatives look to the Bi- ble for answers to contemporary social problems, but there is sub- stantial disagreement, even within Yoynm.Alidina i A Hearing Clinic ) i Cart nj V oar Haring Hcahlfa^' BE Takii# Cart »l Your Ifni ring llrahl% Free Hearing Assessment Slone Road Mall 435 Stone Road W Suite 218, Room 5 Guelph. ON . NIG 2X6 Office; 519-515-0072 Fax 519-515-0111 E-mail: yalidina@rogers com * Yasmln Alidlna particular denominations, as to how it is to be interpreted.” In the 21st century, religion seems to many to be a reactionary force that promotes ideas that are no longer acceptable, including inferi- ority of women, subordination of children and discrimination against minority groups, says Newman. By looking at when the recent de- bates about religion and family val- ues began, as well as examining the different types of conservative pro- family rhetoric, he helps put the de- bates into perspective. He also looks at whether a “cul- ture war” over the family and other cultural institutions actually exists and explores the aims and motives of the people who enter into these disputes. “Many of these issues pose weighty dilemmas, and I’m mindful of the indiscretion of taking too firm and simplistic a stand on them.” Newman says his book is not meant to resolve debates surround- ing family values. Instead, it aims to provide ideas and insights for people who are involved in influencing so- cial policy. “I want to give people insights that will help them make more in- formed choices, rather than just ar- gue on the basis of a lot of heat.” He adds that traditionalists and progressivists shouldn’t view each other as enemies. “Once the opposing groups think of their disagreement as a cultural competition instead of a culture war, then their discussions will be much more capable of allowing for con- structive dialogue and compro- mises.” A faculty member at Guelph for more than 30 years, Newman is the author of 1 1 books, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a for- mer president of the Canadian Theo- logical Society. Pianos, books, lessons & more! 21 8-A Victoria Rd. S. Guelph, Ont. N1E 5R1 fax: 519.836.9474 www.theoctavemc.com 519.836.8492 For information about paid advertising in At Guelph, call Scott Anderson at 519-827-9169. at Guelph 6 April 11 , 2007 Engineers Design Armrest to Relieve Neck Pain Profile Know Who You Are Award-winning student draws on aboriginal roots to improve lives By David Dicenzo S asha Sky is a firm believer that people need to understand their past to know where they want to be. Those aren’t hollow words from the first-year U of G family relations student and Chancellor’s Scholar from Thunder Bay. Despite being just 20 years old, Sky has had a resonating voice in her community, speaking out on the problems affecting aboriginal youth and, more important, what can be done to combat them. But the recent recipient of Ontario’s Lincoln M. Alexander Award for Leadership in Eliminating Ra- cial Discrimination doesn’t see herself as a crusader. She’s simply doing what was passed on to her from her family at an early age — showing pride in her people and helping to pave the way for change. “I don’t really consider this work,” says Sky, who lived on the Eagle Lake First Nation Reserve in northwestern Ontario before moving to Thunder Bay. “It’s just always been there.” Sky was one of three young Ontarians who re- ceived the Alexander Award, given by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. On hand for the Queen’s Park ceremony was U of G chancellor emer- itus Lincoln Alexander, whom Sky first met last Sep- tember when she received the prestigious University scholarship given annually in his name. “He is such an amazing man,” she says. “He’s so humble and so down to earth.” Sky received the provincial award, consisting of a special scroll and $5,000 (which she says she’s saving for a rainy day) on March 21, the National Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It’s a day she normally has marked on her calendar. In the past, she has used that day to help spread the mes- sage of inclusion, working with groups like the Di- versity Thunder Bay committee. Sky has long been active in her community and has a lengthy fist of accomplishments to her name. As a Grade 1 1 student at Sir Winston Churchill Col- legiate Vocational Institute, she spoke at a leadership conference about the invisibility of aboriginal youth in the school system. It’s an important topic for Sky, who says she was fortunate to have a positive experience in high school despite the lack of aboriginal faces in support positions. Her speech at the conference centred on how young people from her culture don’t have anyone to turn to when they need to talk. “I love my high school, I absolutely love it to pieces, but there weren’t any aboriginal administrators, there weren t any aboriginal teachers, counsellors or even janitorial staff. If you went to the school boards, nothing. If you were having a cul- tural issue and got sent down to the principal’s office where they were all Caucasian, no one could relate.” Sky says it’s crucial that young people have positive exam- ples to draw on, but she admits she doesn’t know of many ab- original doctors, teachers or lawyers. Although progress has been slow, she notes that one high school in Thunder Bay does have an aboriginal language class and another has an aboriginal counsellor on staff, both of which are steps forward. “It’s about finding good role models and putting them out there,” she says. “If they can do it, you can do it, too.” Sky hopes to include herself in that group of people who are more visible when she finishes school and enters the work world, but many would say she’s reached that goal already. During high school, she helped develop guidelines to aid teachers in integrating aboriginal youth into the school system and chaired a group that organized a peace march, taking a stand against violence and drug abuse after a local youth was killed at a party in Thunder Bay. She’s also been on the front lines at the Regional Multicul- tural Youth Centre in her hometown, doing stints as vice-presi- dent and president. “We do outreach programs and we have a girl’s camp, mostly for young aboriginal girls,” says Sky. “We talk about anything they want to discuss, topics like self-es- teem, healthy eating, healthy relationships, sexual education. We have an orientation program for ab- original youth who come in from more northern reserves. We show them what’s available to them in Thunder Bay, where they can go if they need help. It’s a place to hang out, and you learn so much about yourself and the people around you.” Sky says she still goes back to visit whenever she can because she loves the centre so much, but her life has changed considerably since coming to Guelph last year. She lives in South Residences, where she says it’s been extremely easy to meet peo- ple, and has been particularly impressed with the variety of things to do at U of G. “I was surprised they have a club for everything here. In Thunder Bay, there was just the Regional Multicultural Youth Centre. It was a huge eye-opener to think that people care enough to cre- ate all these groups. It’s awesome. It definitely makes things easier. If you have any kind of prob- lem, you can go anywhere and find help." She was recently elected to the executive of the University’s Aboriginal Student Association, which aims to increase awareness of issues facing aborigi- nal people and provide extracurricular social activ- ities, resources and alternative learning experiences. Sky admits she has no idea where the time has gone this first year, with most of it dedicated to reading and schoolwork. But she’s gotten involved in this community as well, working with the Trick or Eat program that collected donations for the Guelph Food Bank at Halloween and helping a lo- cal woman with triplets, whom she visits every Tuesday. “I’ll go there and hang out for a couple of hours just to give the mother a break," she says. In terms of a future career, Sky is torn between working with children or families, but whatever she decides, she wants to eventually go back home to Thunder Bay. Her return would mean another visible leader in the com- munity helping to promote harmony and addressing the prob- lems facing aboriginal youth. One of those problems, she says, is the intergenerational effects of residential schools, the educa- tional system in which members of the church shaped the ab- original experience. She believes that system is partly responsible for some of the troubles families and individuals face today. The answer, says Sky, is for aboriginals to gain a better un- derstanding of their own culture and traditions. “Know who you are,” she offers as a mantra for youth. “I see a lot of people walking around who think they know who they are, but something can come along and change that. If you don’t know where you’re coming from, you don’t know where you’re going." Researchers believe their invention will revolutionize workplaces that use joystick-controlled mobile machinery o BY REBECCA KENDALL A U of G-developed armrest could be the key to relieving the neck pain that many heavy- machinery operators suffer, says Prof. Michele Oliver, Engineering. She and master’s graduate Taylor Murphy have filed a provisional pat- ent for a newly designed ergonomic armrest that they believe will revolu- tionize all workplaces that use joy- stick-controlled mobile machinery. “The benefits for workers and in- dustry will be huge,” says Oliver, whose research is supported by an Ontario government award for young researchers. “Simple solu- tions are the most elegant, and this is a solution that will apply to any envi- ronment where a worker would op- erate a control.” One of the big problems with heavy mobile machines is that the operator’s neck gets extremely sore because the armrest that’s provided doesn’t allow muscles to rest, says Oliver. “It’s ergonomically hostile.” In fact, she and Murphy found that the armrests currently found in heavy equipment are worse for oper- ators than no armrests at all. Over the course of a 10-hour shift, during which workers can per- form 20,000 motions with a joystick, they commonly experience muscle fatigue and discomfort that can set up a cascade of injuries, including re- petitive strain injuries. Even minute repetitive muscle activity can cause injury over time if the movement is constant, says Oliver, who notes that the new armrest is designed to re- duce the amount of muscle activity in the neck. Employers will be able to easily and inexpensively retrofit their equipment with the new armrests, which could be implemented in hundreds of thousands of work environments as early as 2010, she says. Besides reducing the possibility of worker injury, employers can ex- pect to save money by paying lower premiums to the Workplace Safety Insurance Board, she adds. at Guelph J April n, 2007 Prof. Fei Song is working with local firm NetSweeper to make web content filtering better and faster. photo by rebecca kendall Filtering the Web Computing scientist receives collaborative grant BY REBECCA KENDALL M any parents today want to control the information their children are accessing on the Internet — and for good reason. “There’s a lot of material online that’s inappropriate for children,” says Prof. Fei Song, Computing and Information Science, who has re- ceived a grant from the Centre for Communications and Information Technology of Ontario (C1TO) to make web content filtering better and faster. A unique aspect of the agency funding is that it partners research- ers with industry. The grant, which is a first for U of G, includes more than $180,000 from CITO and NetSweeper, a Guelph-based web- content filtering firm that has joined forces with Song. NetSweeper is also providing him with data and techni- cal support valued at an additional $184,000. The goal is to produce a highly accurate classification system that is automatic and scalable, says Song. The company needs a technique that is fast and able to keep up with rapid changes to Internet content. He also plans to “train” the system to auto- matically and independently man- age rapid changes to web content in real time, rather than be updated manually, which can be time-con- suming and labour-intensive. “A lot of research is needed be- cause these issues aren’t simple,” says Song. “Through my work, I’m hoping to address these problems and develop prototypes that will help make Internet-content filtering more effective.” The biggest challenge in filtering web content is to accurately classify pages, he says. “We don’t want to over-block or under-block content,” he says, noting that there are many examples of terms that are com- monly used in widely different contexts. The word “breast,” for example, could be used in a health informa- tion site just as easily as a pornogra- phy site, so accuracy is definitely key, says Song. The enhanced system -will classify pages using combinations of several keywords coupled with sta- tistical patterns that will help train the system to determine classifica- tion. The best way is to classify page content by categories, he says. Par- ents can then set criteria in terms of what their children can access, what time of day they can be online and how long. Besides bringing peace of mind to parents, the service will be valu- able for businesses and companies that want to limit employee use of the Internet during work hours, says Song. He notes that employees often surf the web for non-work-related items, including accessing and send- ing personal e-mail, doing online banking, browsing travel informa- tion and searching for new jobs. Some companies have a “static” list of preset sites that employees can access, but this strategy isn’t flexible or effective enough, he says. “The enhanced system will allow employers to open up access during lunch hours or later in the day, so employees feel some freedom in be- ing online but are less distracted during peak hours.” after hours Fred Evers FRED EVERS Faculty member in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology since 1985 and acting director of Teaching Support Services Prof. Fred Evers loves his role as a warden. To be dear, it’s parishio- ners the U of G professor deals with in his spare time, not prison- ers. Evers is a warden at Guelph’s St. Matthias Anglican Church, where he and his wife, Susan, have been members since arriving in Guelph in 1985. The church wardens meet a couple of times a month, helping with the budget and fillin g in with administrative duties whenever the minis- ter is away. “That keeps me busy,” says Evers, adding that his work is an extension of what the church is doing as a whole. “It’s a really nice group of people, and there’s a real sense of community. The church is really good about helping people who need help. I like the energy level that’s there and the mix of people from all genera- tions.” He particularly enjoys the “upbeat services” at St. Matthias and is happy to play a part in providing the mu- sic. When he was involved in the annual week-long Ni- agara Youth Conference for a seven-year stretch, he began playing guitar for groups of teens. Now he pulls out the instrument every Sunday, performing with the church choir. “That’s how I got going with the guitar,” he says of his work with young people. “I did take classical lessons but am self-taught on acoustic. It’s just a matter of learning all the chords.” Evers’s schedule will get even busier in May when he and his wife welcome the arrival of their first grandchild. He says he plans on being the stereotypical granddad who spoils the new addition. “That’s what being a grand- father’s all about.” JULIA CHAPMAN Fourth-year arts and science student Julia Chapman had always wanted to be a TV news anchor before she arrived at U of G, but that all changed when she wrote her first story for the Ontarion. “When I saw my first article published, I thought: ‘That’s it, that’s what I want to do,”’ says the Toronto-bom English and biol- ogy major. Chapman volunteered as an Ontarion writer for three years before accepting a position as the news editor this year. She says life pretty much consists of classes and meeting deadlines at the newspaper, but she relishes the opportunity to help inform the student population. “I love keeping up with what’s current,” she says. "It allows me to write about a variety of things. Making ev- erybody else aware of what’s going on is really what I like doing with this job.” Chapman’s first published story in the Ontarion was about Project Serve, a program she has been actively in- volved in. Last year, she participated in Project Serve Canada, travelling to Hattiesburg, Miss., and the Gulf Coast to view the lingering effects of hurricane Katrina first-hand. “We were unravelling people’s clothing from trees,” she says. “We found photographs and pieces of jewelry and Mardi Gras costumes, things that were clearly im- portant to people. One of the most devastating things I saw was that the government really wasn’t doing any- thing. That really hit me when I was there.” Chapman plans to pursue a master’s degree in jour- nalism at Ryerson University or Carleton, hoping to eventually land a job with a national paper, where she can cover scientific issues like climate change in a way the public can digest. “There aren’t enough reporters dedicated to that portfolio,” she says. JIMRAHN Technician at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital since 1972 Although Jim Rahn’s work at the Ontario Veterinary College is on the cutting edge, his hobbies are strictly old-school. He enjoys watching John Wayne flicks, lis- tening to big-band music by Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller and restoring antique aircraft. “I was probably meant to be born in the 1930s instead of the ’50s,” he Julia Chapman Jim Rahn says. Rahn figures he comes by his passion for vintage en- tertainment honestly. He grew up in Hanover, where his grandfather owned a movie theatre and a dance hall, as well as some other businesses. On Saturday afternoons, Rahn’s dad would let him sit in the back row of the thea- tre, where he would happily spend hours watching old films. But big-band music has become a bigger passion. "It’s a totally different kind of sound,” he says of the big-band/swing genre. “When I’m tuning up and down the radio dial, if I hit a channel that’s playing big-band music, that’s where it stays.” When Rahn eventually retires, he plans to get more involved with radio and has already started to dabble in it. He also hopes to host an old-time radio show featur- ing programs from the ’30s and ’40s for a Hanover-based station where his brother is a DJ. He considers this a more cost-effective interest than his devotion to the “golden years” of aviation. Rahn owns a 1941 Tiger Moth, a tailwheel biplane that’s “a true joy to fly but does tend to keep you honest by not letting you get sloppy.” He began a long-term res- toration of the Second World War biplane back in 1986. When the work was completed in 1992, he flew the plane to Oshkosh, Wise., to enter it in the Experimental Air- craft Association show, where it took first place in the antique division. The following year, he had to make an emergency landing in a field near Eramosa because of a malfunc- tion, but the plane has since been totally restored again and is airworthy and flying, he says. Former Volleyball Gryphon Supports Campus Athletics Continued from page 1 “For our athletes, this means providing them with opportunities to excel in both the sports arena and the classroom. Larry’s generous gift is a perfect match for this goal be- cause it will allow us to improve our athletic facilities and offerings and to provide scholarships.” Of the $1. 1-million gift, $1 mil- lion has been earmarked for facility enhancement and $ 100,000 will es- tablish an endowment fund to pro- vide scholarships for students playing men’s varsity volleyball. “Larry has made a lifelong com- mitment to athletics and has been a good friend to the University of Guelph,” says athletics director Tom Kendall. “His gifts to the University and the Gryphon program illustrate his continuing support for the develop- ment of young people and a confi- dence in the Department of Athletics’ vision for the future. We are very grateful for and excited about this wonderful gift.” Over the years, Pearson has made numerous donations to U of G, in- cluding funding several pieces of equipment at the Health and Per- formance Centre. “Larry’s gifts clearly demonstrate his dedication both to the University and to the importance of athletics in student life,” says Joanne Shoveller, vice-president (alumni affairs and development). “He represents Uni- versity of Guelph alumni well by showing his leadership through his time, commitment and financial support.” at Guelph 8 April h, 2007 U of G Researchers Join Green Crop Network Scientists study Canadian crops under changing climate conditions letters CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH SHOULD BE WELL DONE AND POLICY DECISIONS CAREFULLY MADE BY ANDREW VOWLES H elping to grow Canadian crops suited for a warmer climate and designing “greener” crops to feed more people are the goals of U of G scientists in a new nationwide research network. Four Guelph faculty belong to the Green Crop Network (GCN), which brings together about 50 sci- entists and almost as many graduate students in 14 universities across Canada. Formed in 2006, the group co-ordinates projects ultimately in- tended to help farmers grow more environmentally friendly crops de- signed for changing climate conditions in Canada. U of G faculty head two projects within the network. Plant agriculture professors Bernie Grodzinski and Barry Micallef are looking for ways to grow plants suitable for warmer, drier conditions and temperatures and higher carbon dioxide levels ex- pected to prevail in parts of Canada. Those conditions will probably af- fect growth rates of plants — more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, for instance, could speed up photo- synthesis — and increase plant biomass and nutrient storage. “We know there will be climate change, but we have no blueprint for how plants will probably respond,” says Grodzinski. Besides helping growers take ad- vantage of expected changes, Micallef says finding ways to help crop plants bulk up may help in cap- turing and storing more carbon di- oxide — and other nutrients that would otherwise contribute to greenhouse gases — in their tissues. “Can we genetically alter plants to be more productive under in- creased carbon dioxide and temper- ature?” he says. They’re working on a project within the GCN theme area of im- proving plant yields under higher atmospheric carbon dioxide condi- tions. Both researchers have studied CO, enrichment and photosynthesis for the greenhouse industry, using growth chambers in Guelph’s Con- trolled Environment Systems Re- search Facility in the Bovey Building. (Part of their work will take place in the Biotron Institute for Experi- mental Climate Change Research to open this year. The new Biotron will consist of environmentally con- trolled research modules for simu- lating ecosystems and will involve scientists at Guelph, the University of Western Ontario and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Grodzinski, an adjunct professor at Western, says Biotron funding includes almost $1.6 million to build a low- temperature research facility at Guelph to be completed in 2007/08.) Two other U of G researchers lead a GCN project intended to help reduce greenhouse gases from crop production. Prof. Steven Rothstein, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Prof. Barry Shelp, Plant Agriculture, will study ways to enable plants to use nitrogen fertilizers more efficiently. Besides entering surface and groundwater, nitrogen used in fertil- izers enters the atmosphere as nitro- gen oxides, another form of greenhouse gas. Making fertilizer is itself an energy-intensive process that creates more such emissions, says Rothstein. As a University research chair studying plant genes involved in ni- trogen metabolism, he also leads a new U of G project that this year re- ceived $2.8 million from the Ontario Research Fund to develop more effi- cient and environmentally friendly ways to grow com for food and in- dustrial products. The GCN is one of several net- works addressing aspects of sustain- able resources and climate change under BioCap Canada. Heading the network is Guelph graduate Don Smith, a plant scientist at McGill University. Members include re- searchers in microbial, soil and plant sciences at universities across Canada. Network funding comes from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, federal and pro- vincial governments, universities and industry. Researchers must use that funding to hire and train graduate students. In her March 28 letter to At Guelph , Jennifer Sumner chided me for cit- ing only “Bush-led” panels that endorsed my findings. I cited two because there were only two, and to my knowledge, neither one was led by President Bush. One was led by Edward Wegman, professor of sta- tistics at George Mason University and chair of the U.S. National Acad- emy of Sciences Committee on The- oretical and Applied Statistics. At least he calls himself Edward Wegman. I suppose it might have been George Bush wearing a dis- guise, but if so, he sure fooled a lot of people. The other one was led by Gerald North, Distinguished Professor of Meteorology and Oceanography at Texas A8cM. I met him and the other panellists when I went to the National Academy of Sciences in Washington last year to make my presentation. I am pretty sure the man calling himself Gerald North was not really George Bush in dis- guise, nor do I recall seeing George Bush sitting around the table. Ad- mittedly I didn’t check behind the drapes or peek under the tables or tug on the men’s moustaches to see if they were only taped on. As for not responding to “the central concern that research creat- ing doubt about climate destabi- lization is pervasively funded by pri- vate corporations like Exxon- Mobil,” I did not know diat this is “the” central concern. Most schol- ars I know would say the central concern is that research on chmate change should be well done and that policy decisions should be carefully made. That, at any rate, is my view. As for the supposed payoffs from ExxonMobil, 1 just filled out my tax return and, once again, line 878 on Schedule 14 (“Amounts Received From ExxonMobil for Creating Doubt About Chmate Destabi- lization, Net of Foreign Withhold- ing Tax”) is blank. The Fraser Insti- tute neither sought nor received money from Exxon — or any other firm or any individual or founda- tion — for the ISPM project I was not approached by the American Enterprise Institute and offered cash to write about climate change. Although I have spoken at the Mar- shall Institute, I am no more affili- ated with that fine organization than with the John Deutsch Insti- tute, the C.D. Howe Institute or any other institutes where I have spo- ken. And although Tech Central Station printed an essay of mine some years ago. I’m not a writer for them, any more than I’m a writer for Newsweek or the Guelph Mercury or any of the other publications that have printed essays by me. Jennifer Sumner is clearly inter- ested in U.S. politics. Her interest in climate change is less clear and, in my opinion, doesn’t seem to extend to getting her facts straight or actu- ally reading the literature she denounces with such moralistic in- dignation. If she wants to be taken seriously, I would suggest that she lay off the ad hominems, conspiracy theories and insinuations about other people’s motives and start drinking about matters of substan- tial concern to researchers and pol- icy-makers. ) Economics f Editor’s note: Publication of this letter marks the end of debate on this issue in the pages of A t Guelph. A Flood of Growth As river systems become more urbanized , floods get more extreme , geographer says BY DAVID DICENZO U RBANIZATION over the past 50 years is having a significant impact on river systems in southern Ontario, says Prof. Ray Kostaschuk, Geography. The flooding in local systems as a result of urbanization comes with a cost — both financial and environmental, he says. For the past three years, Kostaschuk has been involved in a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council-funded project designed to assess the damage from flooding in river systems and de- velop ways to minimize future dam- age. The study is a joint project with the University of Western Ontario, the University of Toronto and orga- nizations such as Credit Valley Con- servation and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. “Generally what happens is that when river systems become urban- ized, floods become more extreme," he says. “Water gets channelled into the river more quickly. We’re find- ing that the types of materials on the stream beds are highly vulnerable to the erosion by these floods.” Kostaschuk points to the High- land Creek area in Toronto as an ex- ample of the troubling trend. A major rainstorm back in 2005 caused a flood there that produced a rash of problems. “A lot of bridges got washed out, and a lot of engineering infrastruc- ture was damaged. That’s a classic example of what happens in these small local streams once they be- come urbanized. We expect more of the same as more of these watersheds become urbanized. In Highland Creek, there’s virtually no natural landscape left. It’s all suburbs.” The financial impact of flooding is huge, with rehabilitation and sta- bilization costing about $1 million per kilometre, says Kostaschuk. “There are a lot of streams and a lot of kilometres.” The geographer, who’s been ex- amining the impact of flooding all over the world, including in China, Nepal and the South Pacific, explains that tire natural forest acts as a buffer for rainfall. It prevents the water from going directly onto the soil sur- face and running directly into streams. Instead, the rain seeps slowly into the soil. The vegetation can also use the moisture and transmit it back into the atmosphere. In southern Ontario, stream sys- tems have run the gamut from natu- ral forest to agricultural surface to now urbanized surface, says Kostaschuk. All those surfaces have different hydrological properties. Generally as you go from woodlands to urbanized landscapes, you get more frequent and higher-magni- tude floods, he says. Over the years, communities have used a variety of methods to try to combat flooding. One approach has been to place big boulders along the edge of a river, but that just causes the river to