Nov. 2008 insideLaurier

Laurier economist presents solution for fighting malnutritionDr. Sue Horton’s plan ranked No. 1 for solving one of world’s main challenges

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CAMPUS | COMMUNITY | CONNECTIONS VOL. 1 | NO. 1 | APRIL 7,2008

CAMPUS | CONNECTIONS | COMMUNITY VOL. 1 | NO. 1 | APRIL 7,2008







5 Meet Dr. Kathryn Carter, acting dean of Laurier Brantford, playwright and poet.

6 Learn how Laurier students with disabilities are finding support through campus programs.

8 The chili cook-off raised funds for the United Way. Find out who had the best chili!

Wilfrid Laurier University • November 2008

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Laurier economist Dr. Sue Horton speaks to an audience about her internationally acclaimed solution for fighting malnutrition.

By Mallory O’Brien

How do you spend $75 billion to make the world a better place?

This was a question asked of more than 50 economists, including Laurier professor Dr. Sue Horton, for the 2008 Copenhagen Consensus Conference, an international project for which the econo-mists spent two years devel-oping the best solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.

The 10 challenges included air pollution, conflicts, diseases, education, global warming, malnutrition and hunger, sanitation and water, subsidies and trade barriers, terrorism, women and development. The

solutions were then ranked by a panel of eight of the world’s top economists, including five Nobel Laureates.

Dr. Horton’s proposal for combating malnutrition in children through the provision of micronutrients was chosen as the most promising solution.

“Despite significant reduc-tions in income-poverty in recent years, undernutrition remains widespread,” Horton said in her proposal. Recent estimates suggest that malnu-trition causes 2.8 million deaths annually and has stunted the growth of 177 million children below the age of five today.

“Undernutrition in turn has negative effects on income

and on economic growth,” she continues. It leads “to a loss of economic output and increased spending on health. Poor nutrition means that individuals are less productive

… and that children benefit less

from education.”Presenting her acclaimed

solution to an enthusiastic audience at Laurier on October 16, on World Food Day, Horton suggested that providing micronutrients for 80 percent of

the world’s 140 million children who lack essential vitamins — specifically vitamin A and zinc

— would cost just $60 million a year.

HORTON see page 6

Wilfrid Laurier University has been named one of Waterloo Region’s Top 10 Employers in a prestigious national ranking.

The ranking is part of Canada’s Top 100 Employers program, which is run by Toronto-based MediaCorp. Canada Inc.

“This is a wonderful honour and one that reflects the quality of our people and the distinct sense of community that we value and cultivate at Laurier,” said president Dr. Max Blouw.

For the Top Employer Rankings, organizations were evaluated on eight criteria:

• Physical workplace

• Community involvement• Work and social atmosphere

Health, financial and family benefits

• Vacation and time off• Performance management• Training and skills

development• Employee communications

Employers were then compared to other organi-zations in their field to determine which offers the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.

Laurier named one of Waterloo Region’s Top 10 Employers

Critical incident simulation to take place on Waterloo campus Nov. 26By Mallory O’Brien

Laurier will be staging a critical incident simulation on the Waterloo campus between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26 so officials and emergency personnel can rehearse Laurier’s emergency lockdown procedures.

A critical incident is the most serious of emergency situations that could occur on campus such as an armed intruder, major fire or chemical spill.

The November 26 simulation will involve a person playing the role of an armed intruder on Laurier’s Waterloo campus who takes hostages in the Willison Hall residence.

There will be police and emergency services personnel on campus for this exercise,

including teams of tactical officers in full gear. All members of the university community who are not participating in the Willison Hall exercise are asked to stay clear of the residence from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. on November 26 to ensure the exercise can run as smoothly as possible.

A lockdown practice for the rest of the Waterloo campus community will occur on the same day, starting at 8:30 a.m. All staff, faculty and students on campus at this time are asked to participate by taking a few moments to review and discuss the university’s lockdown procedures (see the sidebar story on page 2 or visit www.wlu.ca/emergency) and to consider what the nearest safe room might be to gather in if there

was a critical incident taking place at that time.

“Our goal is to provide a safe environment for Laurier’s faculty, staff and students, therefore it is important for us an institution to practice our emergency response plans,” said Wilfrid Laurier University president Dr. Max Blouw. “This simulation will allow the university to test our lockdown procedures and make improve-ments where necessary.”

For some critical incidents such as an armed intruder, it may be unsafe to exit a room or building immediately as you may encounter danger. If you are ever instructed to initiate lockdown procedures, remain calm, move to a room you feel

SIMULATION see page 2

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CAMPUS CONNECTIONS COMMUNITY VOL. 1 NO. 1 APRIL 7,2008



November 2008

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Envisioning process enters important final stageThe Envisioning Laurier initiative is entering a final and important stage.

For the past year, I have encouraged the Laurier community to think about and discuss the university in terms of what it is today and what it should aspire to be in future. As part of this process, we have also undertaken a great deal of research to understand internal and external perceptions of Laurier today, and to obtain a variety of informed views about how our university should evolve over the next 30 years.

I thank you all for your willingness to participate and the many thoughtful insights you have contributed to the process.

At the outset, I felt it was important to give ownership of the envisioning initiative to the Laurier community. Accord-ingly, I asked that a special

committee of Senate be struck, with representation from faculty, staff, students, alumni and the Board of Governors, to decide how best to solicit input and, ultimately, to recommend a vision statement and an accom-panying statement of values and principles.

The Senate committee has been assisted in this task by The Strategic Counsel, which has been carrying out a compre-hensive research project that includes recent online surveys in which all members of the Laurier community were invited to participate. The

purpose of The Strategic Counsel research is twofold: first, to provide information that will assist the Senate committee with its task of developing a vision statement; and second, to establish benchmarking data that can be used to measure the university’s progress toward goals that will eventually flow from the vision statement.

The Senate Envisioning committee has done an excellent job. Based on its many initia-tives to generate discussion and research, the committee has developed a draft vision statement and a statement of values and principles that are now being circulated for comment. These draft state-ments will be discussed in detail at the Nov. 10th meeting of Senate. It is my hope that Senate will agree upon a recom-mended vision statement, along with a statement of values and

principles, which can then be presented to the Board of Governors for final approval.

Given the amount of research, collegiality and thoughtful consideration that has gone into the envisioning process, I believe we will be rewarded with a vision statement that will serve as a firm and enduring guide — a North Star, if you will — as we seek to preserve what is best in Laurier and chart a successful path forward.

I look forward to sharing the final vision statement with you in the near future.

Dr. Max BlouwPresident and Vice-Chancellor

pRESIdENT’S MESSAgE

Send us your news, events & stories

Email: [email protected]

All submissions are appreciated, however not all submissions will be published. We reserve the right to edit all copy for accuracy, content and length.

InsideLaurier

Volume 1, Number 6, November 2008

Editor: Stacey Morrison

Assistant Editor: Lori Chalmers Morrison

Design: Erin Steed

Contributors: Miriam Berkley, Tiffany Bradley, Kevin Crowley, Scott Harris, Mallory O’Brien, Dean Palmer

InsideLaurier is published by The Department of Public Affairs

Wilfrid Laurier University 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5

InsideLaurier welcomes your comments and suggestions for stories.

Tel: (519) 884-0710 ext. 3341 | Fax: (519) 884-8848 Email: [email protected]

InsideLaurier (circ. 2,000) is published nine times a year by the Department of Public Affairs.

Opinions expressed in InsideLaurier do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the university’s administration.

Printed on recycled paper.

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deadline for submissions: November 14

Dr. Blouw helps flip pancakes at Homecoming. Photo: Scott Harris

SIMULATION continued

is safe, lock and barricade the door, lie on the floor out of sight and wait quietly until police arrive.

“You should familiarize yourself with the areas of the university you occupy and be aware of the location of rooms you feel are safe and securable, preferably with telephones or Internet access,” said Rod Curran, director of Laurier’s Special Constable Service. “In the case of a critical incident, remain calm and follow the directions of police and special constables quickly and quietly.”

Laurier’s Special Constable Service will be in the Concourse on the Waterloo campus over the noon hour on November 19 and 24, and in the Student Centre Lounge on the Brantford campus on November 20, to provide infor-mation and answer questions about Laurier’s lockdown procedures.

For more information about Laurier’s lockdown proce-dures and emergency plan,

visit the website www.wlu.ca/emergency.

The November 26 simulation exercise is a collaborative effort involving Wilfrid Laurier University, Laurier’s Special Constable Service, Laurier’s

Emergency Response Team, the Waterloo Regional Police, the City of Waterloo, the Waterloo Fire Department and Waterloo Region’s Emergency Medical Service.

In the event of a critical incident such as an armed intruder on campus, you may be notified of the need to implement lockdown procedures through one or more of the following:

• An email blast to all Wilfrid Laurier University email accounts.• The Laurier website.• Bullhorns used by Special Constables or police.• A public address system on Special Constable service vehicles.• Fellow students, staff, faculty members.

In the case of a lockdown, follow these basic steps:

1. Immediately move to the nearest room you feel is safe with as many people as possible.2. Lock and barricade the door.3. Turn off the lights or maintain minimal lighting.4. Close all windows and blinds.5. Lie flat on the floor or take adequate cover out of sight.6. Turn off cellphones unless you need to report seriously injured people.7. Remain calm and quiet, and do not attempt to leave the room until police arrive.

Richard Cousineau, right, Laurier Special Constable, serves up free hot dogs and hamburgers to students, staff and faculty during the Emergency Service Appreciation Barbecue in October.

Emergency Services Appreciation barbecue

Photo: Mallory O’Brien





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November 2008

Honorary degrees awardedWilfrid Laurier University bestowed honorary degrees on Michael Lee-Chin, a successful businessman and philanthropist, and environmental activist Sheila Watt-Cloutier. The pair received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees at Laurier’s fall convocation ceremonies on October 31.

Born in Jamaica, Lee-Chin trained as a civil engineer at McMaster University. In 1987 he acquired Kitchener-based mutual fund company Advantage Investment Council, later renamed AIC Limited. The company grew into an interna-tionally renowned organization and fuelled Lee-Chin’s contri-butions to arts, culture and education in Canada, Jamaica and the Caribbean. One of his most recent contributions was a $30-million gift to the Royal

Ontario Museum in Toronto.Watt-Cloutier was born

in Kuujjuaq, Quebec, and experienced a traditional Inuit childhood before attending McGill University. A current resident of Iqaluit, she fought for banning the manufacture and use of organic pollutants that contaminated the food chain in the Arctic. In 2005 she launched the world’s first international legal action on climate change to help reverse the effects of greenhouse gases on the Arctic

landscape. She has received numerous awards, including the Order of Canada and a United Nations lifetime achievement award, and was nominated for a 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

Laurier’s Federal Election Tracker website wins popular voteThe Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy’s (LISPOP) Federal Election Tracker website was a big success. The site, a forum where Laurier political science professors analyzed the recent federal election by studying public opinion polls, reached over 90,000 hits.

The website included regularly updated seat projections for every constituency in the country, presented as a colour-coded map. It also included a number of stories on Canada’s “rare” voting populations such as green party voters, gay and lesbian voters and gun owners, which garnered much media attention, including a regular feature in the National Post newspaper.

“The website attracted the interest of election watchers from all over the country and from observers in 76 countries world wide,” said political science professor Dr. Steven Brown.

First social work graduates return to Laurier after 40 yearsMembers of the Faculty of Social Work’s class of 1968 — the faculty’s first graduating class — returned to Laurier last month for a reunion at the faculty’s new home in the old St. Jerome’s high school building in Kitchener. Events included a tree-planting ceremony and a tea reception.

“The tree represented a legacy from old to new,” said Marnie Morrow, coordinator of continuing education for the Faculty of Social Work. “These alumni are a fascinating group that have seen many changes in their field and in social work education.”

Airdrie Thompson-Guppy and Joan Gilmore, two of the 21 members of the class of ‘68, also spoke to a first-year class about the changes they have witnessed and been a part of over their 40-year careers.

Laurier remembers former v-p dr. Rowland SmithDr. Rowland Smith, former vice-president: academic at Laurier, died suddenly of a heart attack on October 20. He was 70 years old.

Smith joined Laurier in 1994 and was vice-president: academic for 10 years before becoming dean of humanities at the University of Calgary in 2004.

Passionate about music, particularly opera, Smith was a champion of Laurier’s Music

Department and a strong supporter of Laurier International. The Dr. Rowland Smith Award for International Student Exchange was created at Laurier in 2005 to honour his time at the university.

Laurier scores top grades in 2008 Canadian University ReportLaurier has once again received top marks in The Globe and Mail’s annual Canadian University Report, earning five As and an above-average rating in 17 categories.

Laurier received As in overall quality of education; class sizes; faculty members’ knowledge of their subjects; sense of community; and sense of personal safety.

It ranked No. 1 in its category in two areas — class sizes and student residences — and ranked above average in 17 areas, including sense of community on campus, sports and recreational facilities, career preparation and reputation among employers.

In addition to earning five As, Laurier received 10 A- grades, and improved its year-over-year grades in 12 criteria, including overall academic support.

NEWS What’s new and notable at Laurier

Author Joseph Boyden coming to campus for Laurier ReadsBoyden will read from his novel, Through Black Spruce

By Lori Chalmers Morrison

When beautiful Suzanne Bird disappears, her sister Annie, a loner and hunter, is compelled to search for her, leaving behind their uncle Will, a man haunted by loss. While Annie travels from Toronto to New York, from modelling studios to A-list parties, Will encounters dire troubles at home. Both eventually come to painful discoveries about the inescapable ties of family.

If it sounds different than your regular Laurier-related reading material, it is — and that’s the point.

Once again, Laurier Reads is inviting students, staff and faculty to set aside their emails, textbooks and papers and join together to embark on a shared literary adventure.

“The intent of Laurier Reads is to identify a provocative reading that can generate interest and discussion among all segments of the Laurier community,” says Dr. Paul Maxim, associate vice-president: research.

This year, the Laurier Reads committee selected Through Black Spruce, by Canadian author Joseph Boyden. The novel was recently announced as one of five finalists for the 2008 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

“I believe this year’s reading speaks directly to Laurier’s humanist tradition,” says Maxim. “The story is about aboriginal life and touches on themes and lessons with which everyone can relate. I encourage everybody to participate in

Laurier Reads — you will not be disappointed.”

Boyden will be reading from Through Black Spruce on November 10 at 7 p.m. in the Paul Martin Centre. A group of Aboriginal faculty, staff and students will share a hand-drum song, called The Water Song, before Boyden’s reading. Admission is free and books will be available for sale.

Laurier Reads will hold a reading circle before the end of the year, and is encour-aging online discussion through its Facebook group at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7913431069.

“Through Black Spruce will engage the entire Laurier community,” says Clare Hitchens, publicist for Wilfrid Laurier University Press and a Laurier Reads organizer. “Not only does this novel showcase a Canadian author, but it is also one that students will enjoy. It has something for everybody.”

Through Black Spruce is Boyden’s second novel; his first, Three Day Road, brought him a number of awards and

a shortlist for the Governor General’s Award for Fiction. A Canadian, Boyden has Irish, Scottish and Métis roots. He teaches writing at the University of New Orleans and frequently travels to northern Ontario.

Laurier Reads is being sponsored by Wilfrid Laurier University Office of Research Services, the Laurier Bookstore, Wilfrid Laurier University Library and Laurier Press.Aboriginal Student Services is also taking part in the event.

Through Black Spruce and Three

Day Road will be available at a 20 percent discount at the Laurier Bookstore and are also available at the Laurier library.

For further information about Laurier Reads, contact Clare Hitchens at ext. 2665 or [email protected] or Elin Edwards at ext. 3533 or [email protected]. Visit the Laurier Reads page on the Office of Research Services website (www.wlu.ca/research) or the Facebook group for reading circle dates and event updates.

Author Joseph Boyden will be reading from his novel on November 10 at 7 p.m. in the Paul Martin Centre.

Through Black Spruce is this year’s Laurier Reads selection.

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Honorary degree recipient Sheila Watt-Cloutier is an environmental activist in the Arctic.

Michael Lee-Chin grew AIC Limited into a successful international organization.

Dr. Rowland Smith





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Beat the flu bug!

It’s that time of year again — the leaves are falling, the wool sweaters are coming out and the flu season is upon us.

To help you stay healthy, Health Services is offering free influenza vaccinations during clinics throughout the month of November. Staff and faculty are welcome to attend. In fact, this will be

your only chance to get this vaccine on campus. Clinics will be held on the Waterloo campus

at the Student Health and Development Centre on November 10, 11, 18, 19, 27 and 28 between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but to guarantee a spot, staff and faculty can sign up for an appointment at www.mylaurier.ca/health.

Brantford staff and faculty can call 519-756-8228 ext. 5803 for upcoming flu clinic dates.

Health Services offers these tips to prepare for your flu shot:

Bring your Health Card or UHIP card with • you to your appointment.Wear suitable clothes (for example, a t-shirt).• If you have a fever, wait until the symptoms • improve before getting the vaccine.You will be required to wait 15 minutes after • the injection.

Assistant anthropology professor Dr. Tanya Richard-son’s first book received a positive review in the presti-gious Times Literary Supplement of London, England. Her book, Kaleidoscopic Odessa: History and Place in Contemporary Ukraine, explores the tensions between local and national identities among the people of Odessa, Ukraine.

Dr. Paula Fletcher, professor in the Kinesi-ology & Physical Education department, and her

husband, Mike Bechthold, welcomed daughter Addison Amelia Bechthold on September 24, 2008.

New appointments:

Ted Campbell, food services associate.

Linda Charman, administrative secretary, WLUFA.

Jason Doerbecker, carpenter.

Lilibeth Enriquez, production assistant, Printing Services.

Samah Katerji, counsellor.

Shannon McPherson, food services associate.

Mike Morawski, technical support specialist.

Tony Sartor, custodian.

Jocelyn Watkinson, information specialist, Registrar’s Office.

Janice Vilaca, assistant, Dean’s Office, Brantford.

Changes in staff appointments:

Gail Roth Abbott, associate director: student and campus life, Development.

Maebelle Knechtel Bell, executive assistant, Office of the President.

Debohra DaCosta, director, Retail and Printing Services.

Nancy Forde, administrative assistant, Global Studies.

Stephanie Giddings, adminis-trative assistant, Dean’s Office, Faculty of Arts.

Mike Gosse, custodian.

Hubert Guttensohn, lead hand, Physical Resources

Scott Harris, associate director: annual giving, Devel-opment.

Gord Manning, inventory clerk, Bookstore.

Shawn Mathers, associate director: athletics, Development.

Bridget McMahon, associate director: SBE, Devel-opment.

Jane Osborne, administrative assistant, Philosophy.

Wendy Zufelt-Baxter, director, University Development.

Retirements:

Jim Hertel, university photog-rapher, has retired after 31 years at Laurier. A familiar face around campus, Jim has likely attended more Laurier events than any other person on campus. From the tops of buildings to the floors of convocation, he has provided a unique and lasting perspective on three decades of moments that have mattered most to the university.

Elizabeth Miller, HR/pension administrator will be retiring at the end of December after 39 years of service to Laurier. She has touched the hearts (and pensions) of almost every retiree from Laurier, not to mention the friends and colleagues that have come and gone over the years. A retirement celebration will be held for Elizabeth on November 24 at 3 p.m. in the Aird Centre Foyer.

pEOpLE AT LAURIER For a complete list of announcements visit www.wlu.ca/hr

What are you reading?

What are you listening to?

Name: Melanie WIll Job Title: Manager, Training & Development, Human Resources Book Title: How Full is Your Bucket? Author: Tom Rath and Donald Clifton

I came across this book last year when a colleague recom-mended it to me. It’s about how the everyday interactions we have with people, particularly in the work environment, can impact our relationships and our level of engagement as employees. I love this book because it’s simple and gives people tangible tips on how to manage people and relation-ships in a positive, effective way.

What are you reading?

What are you listening to?

Name: Dr. William McNally Job Title: Professor, School of Business & Economics Cd Title: Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings Artist: Grateful Dead

My most recent music acquisition is a nine-disc box set of three successive live performances by the Grateful Dead in 1973 at San Francisco’s Winterland Arena. I like the Grateful Dead’s music for two reasons: their songwriting and their ability to improvise. The box set explores the playing-arc of one weekend, and features many great renditions of their songs along with a few excellent jams.

Do you have a professional or personal milestone to share with the Laurier community? Email your announcement and photo to [email protected].

Intercultural Communication Skills in Post-Secondary EducationWho: Kathryn BrillingerWhen: November 6, 11:30 a.m.Where: Peters Building, P2007

* Open to full- and part-time faculty and instructional assistants Developmental Psychology Colloquium: Neurocognitive Trajectories of Typical and Atypical Number DevelopmentWho: Dr. Daniel Ansari, professor at the University of Western OntarioWhen: November 11, 1 p.m.Where: N2005

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Speaker SeriesWho: Todd Finch, Laurier alumnus, president and CEO of Vizible CorporationWhen: November 18, 5:30 p.m.Where: Paul Martin Centre

The Importance of Daily Physical Activity (DPA)Who: Meredith Stockie, MSc candidate in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical EducationWhen: November 28, 11:30 a.m.Where: BA308, Bricker Academic BuildingCost: Free

Upcoming guest speakers at Laurier

Flu clinics will run throughout November

Members of the Laurier community are invited to a reception in honour ofDr. Peter Erb to celebrate his retirement following a 37-year teaching career in English and Religion & Culture.

Erb will be presented with Tradition and Formation: Claiming An Inheritance — a book containing a collection of essays edited by Dr. Michel Desjardins and Dr. Harold Remus, which pays tribute to Erb’s academic influence.

The reception will take place November 7, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Great Hall of Conrad Grebel College at the University of Waterloo.

dr. peter Erb retires





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November 2008

How long have you been at Laurier Brantford?

I started teaching part-time English in 2001 when there were only 70 students on campus. I then became the coordinator of Contemporary Studies and associate dean before I became acting dean this August.

You did your undergraduate degree at Laurier (’88) and grew up in Brant county. How does it feel to be back?

I always knew I wanted to come home. When I saw Laurier Brantford, I thought,

‘okay, this is it’ and wormed my way in. I didn’t see myself in the dean’s role within 10 years

— it’s symptomatic of the huge changes taking place at Laurier Brantford.

How are you enjoying your role as dean?

It demands a person who is not afraid of change, which is good, because I get bored easily. I get so much creatively from working with my colleagues.

What changes do you see in Brantford?

We’re terribly spoiled, because

everything is so new for us like the new University Centre and transforming downtown. I grew up here and saw the city go through its very worst. To see it change so much is incredible. There’s a change in the attitude about the city — now there’s a generation of kids growing up in a university town.

You write plays. How did you get into that?

Someone needed an emergency play, so I wrote one.

Really, an emergency play?

The original playwright backed

out. I was handed a German expressionist play that quoted long passages from Nietzsche. They asked me to turn it into a play set in Paris, Ontario in 1860. It became a Victorian bedroom farce. It was weird, but it worked out beautifully!

Tell me about your research on 19th-century women’s diaries.

Diaries are fascinating as forms-of-life writing. I’ve extended my scope and am now looking at a man’s illustrated diary from the early 20th-century in Paris, Ontario.

Is diary writing a dying art?

No, the 19th-century diaries are the blogs of today. They were semi-public documents back then. Blogs aren’t replacing diaries, they’re returning to an old form.

What have you gained personally from your research?

A sense of failure! I think of all that these women did in a day — they worked from sun up to sun down and raised however many children and still managed to keep a record of it. And I complain that I’m too busy!


COFFEE WITH A CO-WORkER A look at staff and faculty across campus

Name: Dr. Kathryn Carter

Job: Acting dean, Laurier Brantford.

Where you can find her: In her office in Grand River Hall with a view of the Brantford charity casino, or in her mobile workplace — in her car travel-ling between campuses. How she takes her coffee: Double-double.

Niagara’s Military Past & Present: A SymposiumWhen: November 7 – 8Where: Lake Street Armouries, St. CatharinesCost: Free

Co-sponsored by the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies. For more information visit www.canadi-anmilitaryhistory.com.

Cut/close to homeWhen: November 12 – December 6Where: Robert Langen Art GalleryCost: Free

Visit the gallery to view artist Libby Hague’s unique video installation.

Change the World: 2008 Annual Conference on Social EntrepreneurshipWhen: November 14 – 16Where: Wilfrid Laurier University & University of WaterlooCost: $30 students/$90 community members

The Laurel Centre for Social Entrepreneurship’s (www.laurerlcentre.ca) annual conference will focus on health leadership, education and international development. Marc Kielburger, CEO of Free the Children, will present the opening keynote address, and Laurier’s Dr. Sue Horton will deliver the gala keynote address.

Holistic HealthWhen: November 1912 p.m.Where: Paul Martin CentreCost: Free

A seminar with a holistic approach to stress reduction based on alternative medicine techniques. Learn breathing and meditation skills you can use anywhere to release the stress caused by day-to-day challenges. Visit www.wlu.ca/ilovemyjob for more infor-mation.

Guelph Civic Museum Lecture SeriesWhen: November 20Where: Guelph Civic Museum

Dr. Terry Copp, director of the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies will deliver a lecture called November 1944: Looking Back.

Faculty Diversity DayWhen: November 279 a.m. – 4 p.m.Where: Faculty of Social Work, KitchenerCost: Free

Social work faculty and staff are invited to attend. Topics will include international graduate students and disabilities.

Brantford Santa Claus ParadeWhen: November 296 p.m.Where: Downtown BrantfordCost: Free

COMINg EvENTS For a complete list of events visit www.wlu.ca/events

Food safety – don’t spoil the fun!Food can come with its own surprises if stored or prepared incorrectly. Here are a few tips you can follow at home:

Wash cutting boards, knives, utensils •and counter tops with hot, soapy water.

Never place cooked food on a plate •that held uncooked meat, poultry or seafood.

Use a meat thermometer to measure •the internal temperature of cooked meat.

When reheating, always bring sauces, •soups and gravy to a boil.

Don’t over-stuff the fridge. Cold air •needs to circulate to keep food safe.

Ensure your refrigerator’s tem-•perature is 4°C or below and your freezer is -18°C to slow the growth of microorganisms.

Thaw food in the fridge, never at •room temperature.

Prepared by Brad McMillan, Food Services, with updates by Ruth MacNeil, Faculty of Arts. Adapted from SafetyNet, the newsletter of the Joint Health and Safety Committee. For more information visit www.wlu.ca/eohs.

playwright and poet

Dr. Kathryn Carter, acting dean of Laurier Brantford, is also a playwright whose works have been performed at the Cobblestone Festival in Paris, Ontario. She also writes poetry, and her research on women’s diaries written in Canada has led her to develop an expertise in women’s writing, 19th-century Canadian culture and Canadian literature.

Save the date!Retirement celebration for Arthur Stephen

A retirement celebration for Arthur Stephen, special advisor to the president and acting vice-president: university advancement, will be held Dec. 2 at the Waterloo Inn at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $125 each and can be purchased online at www.laurieralumni.ca/arthur or you can contact Patricia McLachlan at ext. 3429 or [email protected].

Proceeds from the event will help create a scholarship in Arthur’s name for Military History. Tax receipts will be issued for the amount eligible.

Arthur has been a member of the Laurier community for nearly 40 years. He graduated from the university in 1973 and soon after began working at Laurier as an assistant admis-sions officer. He has held a number of senior positions, including director: admissions; director: office of institutional relations; assistant vice-president: university relations; and vice-president: university advancement, a post he held until 2007, when he was named special advisor to the president.

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The beginning of first-year university can be a daunting experience for students. For Darrin Whyne, a second-year business co-op student, finding out he had a learning disability shortly before he came to Laurier only added to the usual anxieties.

“Going to university knowing suddenly that I had a disability, wondering how it was going to affect me, was hard,” he says.

“But I was shocked to see how much support was available.”

Whyne’s learning disability affects his memory and his ability to process information. Registered with the Acces-sible Learning Centre (ALC), he meets with a mentor every month to discuss learning strat-egies.

The ALC has also benefited from a recent $500,000 donation from Scotiabank, which has allowed the university to better accommodate the academic needs of its students with disabilities through the creation of an assistive technology lab and an exam lab within the centre. New resources available to students include computers loaded with accessible software, a lending library of assistive

technology resources, acces-sible workstations and an environment that limits distrac-tions. Laurier has also enhanced its available equipment, including hearing and vision impairment devices.

When Whyne made an appointment with the Centre for Co-operative Education and Career Development he was surprised to discover an additional support network

— the centre’s RBC Career Transition Program for Students with Disabilities.

The program, which started in September 2007, aims to provide a wide array of information for students with disabilities to ensure they are successful in building their career.

“We integrate this program with our current career service for students,” says Jillian Perkins, career consultant for the disability program.

“Students with disabilities are often worried about lacking particular experiences or want to know how/if to disclose disability to an employer, but we also deal with regular job search inquiries like writing a resumé or preparing for an interview.”

One of the most important aspects of the program is making sure that employers are involved and have the appro-priate information regarding disability awareness and accessibility. To achieve this, the centre initiated the Career Mentor Program, a database of people with disabilities willing to talk with students about career opportunities, and the Career Immersion Program, which allows students to network with employees in their field.

“We give students relevant information so they can make the decision that’s right for them,” says Perkins. “Darrin came to career services wondering how he could get much-needed experience, so I gave him information on

getting leadership experience and pointed him towards a relatively unknown scholarship from General Electric (GE).”

Whyne applied and was one of only 15 Canadian students to receive a scholarship from the GE Foundation Scholar-Leaders Program. He was awarded $12,000 over three years.

About six percent of Laurier students have a disability. After the RBC Career Transition Program for Students with

Disabilities was established, Perkins noted a 185 percent increase in the amount of students with disabilities that came into career services.

Perkins, who recently partic-ipated in a NEADS (National Educational Association of Disabled Students) Conference in an effort to understand ways career services can help students, hopes the awareness promoted by the RBC program will help “eliminate the stigmatism around disabilities.”

Students with disabilities find support at LaurierNew programs and facilities help ease the transition from classroom to career

November 4, 1922: King Tut’s tomb was discovered at Luxor, Egypt, by English archeologist Howard Carter.November 7, 1885: Canada’s first transcontinental railway, the Canadian Pacific, was completed in British Columbia.November 1990: The Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction at Laurier is created.November 9, 1989: The Berlin Wall was opened after standing 28 years as a symbol of the Cold War.November 12, 1867: A major eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Italy began, lasting several months.November 13, 1956: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.November 22, 1963: American president John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas.

This month in history: what happened in November?

Career consultant Jillian Perkins, left, helps students with disabilities learn about career opportunities and with their job search.

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Darrin Whyne has found support through Laurier’s services on campus.

American president John F. Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963.

HORTON continued

More importantly, this action would result in yearly benefits of more than $1 billion.

“We were given a set of param-eters we had to follow in our proposals,” Horton explained to the crowd inside the Paul Martin Centre. Providing the benefit/cost ratio was one of the parameters. Another was attaching a dollar value to a human life.

“It’s not easy to make economic assumptions about human life, and it’s something I prefer not to do,” she said. “However, we do this implicitly when we decide whether or not to make roads safer or hire more nurses in hospitals. I swallowed my initial distaste because I felt the outcome would draw important media attention to these issues, and that was worth it.”

Horton’s calculations put the value of a single life in poor countries at $30,000 and in middle-income countries at $150,000.

Providing vitamin A and zinc micronutrients requires only 20 cents and one dollar, respectively, per person per year.

“These are all inexpensive solutions,” said Horton.

“Anything multiplied by two billion, the number of people deficient in iron, is a big number.”

All 10 proposals for the Copen-hagen Consensus had to offer five

distinct solutions to the challenges they were assigned. In addition to her top-ranked micronutrient solution, Horton’s four other solutions all made it into the top 10 alongside solutions for trade, disease, education, and women and development.

“I was very happy on one hand,” said Horton, though she felt it was disheartening that “we live in a rich world and these very basic issues are still the top priorities.”

Horton’s other proposals suggest that micronutrient fortification, biofortification, deworming and community-based nutrition programs are also viable solutions.

In addition to having her research appear in newspapers in over 26 countries, Horton has made presentations to the Canadian International Devel-opment Agency, Helen Keller International and the European Flour Fortification Initiative’s European Regional Flour Forti-fication Consultation, as well as to local groups that have already supported micronutrient initiatives.

“So it’s not over,” she concluded. “To some extent I have to make the most of the next three years until the next Copenhagen Consensus, to try to get some attention to help the momentum behind implementing the solutions I proposed, some of which are partially implemented and some of which are in the early stages. Organizations are using my results and, hopefully, will

From left: Students Louise Armstrong, Barbara Ciochon and Alison Schofield created displays for ACUNS’ open house on October 16, which was also World Food Day.

ACUNS celebrates World Food Day





7

November 2008

In her latest book, Dr. Rhoda Howard-Hassmann draws on diverse perspectives, using sociology, philosophy, law and political science to examine Africa’s calls for reparations.

Apologizing on an international scaleDr. Rhoda Howard-Hassmann’s latest research looks at political reparations to Africa


As the granddaughter of an Auschwitz prisoner and the daughter of a Holocaust escapee and a left-wing activist, it’s not surprising that Dr. Rhoda Howard-Hassmann chose to devote her academic career to the study of interna-tional human rights, and in her most recent book, political reparations.

“I heard the word reparation a lot when I was a child,” says Howard-Hassmann. “I wanted to put my mind to use in an area that would do some good.”

Howard-Hassmann is Laurier’s Canada Research Chair in International Human Rights, a senior research fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and holds a cross-appointment in Laurier’s Global Studies Department and the Balsillie School of International Affairs.

She has long been recognized as one of the first scholars to approach the study of human rights from a social science perspective, rather than looking at the issue through a philo-sophical or legal lens.

But in her latest book, Reparations to Africa, Howard-Hassmann draws on these diverse perspectives, using sociology, philosophy, law, and political science to examine Africa’s calls for reparations for the slave trade and colonialism.

“There’s a genuine feeling among Africans and the African diaspora that the western slave trade countries owe some kind of reparation,” she says.

More than political apology alone, reparations, as described by the basic principles set out by the Office of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR), incorporate elements

such as compensation for economically accessible damage; rehabilitation; and satisfaction, including public apology and tributes to the victims.

It’s a complicated issue,

made even more complex by the number of players beyond the West involved in the slave trade. The principles of interna-tional law are also a factor, as they do not mandate retro-active reparations for the slave trade and colonialism, which were not illegal at the time they occurred.

In the five years it took Howard-Hassmann (assisted by Anthony Lombardo, now a doctoral student at the University of Toronto) to research and write the book, she conducted 74 interviews with African academics, activists and ambassadors.

“Overall, I learned the depth of their feeling and their personal stories,” says Howard-Hassmann. “Many Africans believe strongly that the slave trade is a principal cause of African poverty today.”

In her examination of the issue, she concludes that

the West should acknowledge the harm that was done and apologize. When it comes to financial reparations, however, she feels it is not possible to economically assess the damage that was done over more than four centuries of

the slave trade, and the focus should instead be on economic human rights and distributive justice such as providing foreign aid. She also stresses the importance of restoring relations through establishing memorials and museums as a form of reparation.

“We shouldn’t argue about who is responsible,” says Howard-Hassmann. “My view is that if people are starving now, we should help them. No matter who caused it.”

Howard-Hassmann explains how financial reparations to the Jewish people following the Holocaust — which is often seen as the gold standard for reparations — was different than reparations to Africa because the Holocaust was more recent, it was clear who was responsible, and many of the victims and their children are still alive. Thus, it was easier for victims of the Holocaust to obtain reparations than it is for the descendants of victims of the slave trade.

Reparations to Africa, published in 2007 by the University of Pennsylvania Press, is not the first time Howard-Hassmann has studied political apologies. She

co-edited The Age of Apology: Facing up to the Past (2007) and created a website on political apologies (www.political-apologies.wlu.ca) financed by the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

Beyond studying human rights and development in Africa, Howard-Hassmann’s research includes women’s rights, gay and lesbian rights, economic rights, Canadian foreign and refugee policy, and

theoretical, methodological and sociological issues in interna-tional and Canadian human rights.

She is currently writing her sixth book, The Second Great Transformation: Human Rights Leapfrogging in the Era of Globalization.

“Many human rights scholars think that economic global-ization causes more poverty,” says Howard-Hassmann. “I think the question is open.”

Howard-Hassmann’s research considers that economic globalization also leads to positive outcomes through global communication and global human rights

activism. She intends the book to be a teaching text for upper year undergraduates and masters’ students.

As part of her focus on international human rights through her Canada Research Chair, Howard-Hassmann is sponsoring an Islam and Human Rights lecture series at Laurier. She brought distin-guished international human-rights scholar Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im to the university in early October to speak on Islam, human rights and the secular state.

On November 26, Laurier will welcome Dr. Tariq Ramadan, an influential Swiss Muslim scholar who was named by Time magazine as one of the world’s “100 most consequential people” in the scientists and thinkers category.

RESEARCH FILE

We shouldn’t argue about who is responsible. My view is that if people are starving now, we should help them.

Islam and Human Rights Lecture Series: When the Politics of the State Interfere with Human Rights

Who: Tariq RamadanWhen: November 26, 7:30 p.m.Where: Maureen Forrester Recital HallCost: Free. Registration not required. For more information, contact Wendy Webb at [email protected] or ext. 3185.

An internationally-recog-nized Muslim scholar in Islamic studies, professor

Ramadan is considered by many to be an influential voice in the Muslim world. He lectures globally on ethics of citizenship, social justice and dialogue between civili-zations.

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November 2008

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IN THE CLASSROOM A look inside the lecture hall

professor: Dr. Pam Bryden

Class: Motor Learning, Kinesiology

description: An investigation of the processes underlying the acquisition, performance and re-tention of motor skills involved in everyday movements and physical education.

“My general teaching philosophy focuses on incorporating both theoretical and applied perspec-tives to each course,” says Dr. Pam Bryden, who teaches students the importance of theoretical concepts by discussing not only current research findings, but also how to apply them to situations they might encounter outside the classroom.

In her undergraduate course, students complete assignments where they must apply theoretical concepts to solve work-related problems such as designing an effective keyboard or teaching a child a new motor skill.

For her seminar course, students also complete a Community Service-Learning (CSL) placement.

“The CSL placements are wonderful,” says Bryden. “You can see students applying class materials to the ‘real world’ — it’s one of my favourite classes.”


Chili cook-off gets heated!

putting theory into action

Photo: Dean Palmer

Annual event raises $425 for the United Way with the Rainbow Centre taking top prize for Best Chili and

Kinesiology and physical education professor Dr. Pam Bryden uses theoretical and applied perspectives when teaching courses on motor learning.

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the Faculty of Education winning Hottest Chili and most money raised at its table

Nov. 2008 insideLaurier

Documents

Transcript of Nov. 2008 insideLaurier