September 27, 2007 Vol. 43 No. 24 The University of Western Ontario’s newspaper of record www.westernnews.ca PM 41195534 TAKE A FLIER HONOURING A SIGNS OF THE TIMES This new device may look like a LEGAL PIONEER You rent an apartment and you plan fl yswatter but the purpose is far A stained glass window being to post an election sign. Well hold more benevolent – to study birds unveiled today celebrates the on a minute. Freedom of political and bats where they live. remarkable life of founding Law expression is a lot less ‘free’ for dean Ivan Rand. tenants than owners. Page 17 Page 2 Page 4 HOMECOMING 2007 Finding Alumni honour the art in Roy’s service to poor gaming B Y PAUL MAYNE The McIntosh eracy program and aid program that helps women set up their own Gallery stretches “This is my school. I’m proud of businesses. The couple’s three chil- it. I love coming back to Western.” dren are adopted siblings from If there were ever an official Sudan. to investigate ambassador for The University of Jane has served as chairperson Western Ontario, one that proves of the Ontario Association of Food the creative side the best student experience can be Banks, as member of London’s carried forward into their personal Round Table on the Environment of games and professional lives as well as the and Economy, and was a key mem- lives of others, Jane Roy (BSc’87) ber of the Mayor’s Anti-Poverty would certainly appear near the Task Force. Most recently, Roy and B Y BOB KLANAC top of that list. Pearson were recognized on the Roy is a community advocate Mayor’s New Year’s Honours List A gaming conference taking in London through work at the 2007 for humanitarianism. place at The University of West- London Food Bank; a fundrais- Her time spent at Western gets ern Ontario is not an eyebrow ing veteran of numerous disaster described as “life-building” and raiser. Western’s Department relief crises; a volunteer activist in having a strong infl uence on who of Computer Science has been Rwanda, Iraq, Somalia, Guatemala she has become and where her exploring serious gaming for a and Sudan; and, of course, a London life has taken her. few years now. native whose appreciation for her “When I look at Western I The real news about Playing university experience is apparent really think what it taught The Gallery: The Art of Games in her career endeavours. me was how to learn, how is that it comes to campus via the “I applied to everyone else but I to ask questions and be curi- McIntosh Gallery. was always set on going to Western, ous…and the confi dence to “I think we’ve always gone out- there was no issue about that,” says get things done,” says Roy, side our usual mandate but we’ve Roy, who will receive an Alumni adding she’s honoured the never gone this far in terms of Award of Merit (Community Ser- Alumni Association has gaming,” says Arlene Kennedy, vice Award) Friday night from the chosen to recognize her. McIntosh director. “We’ve never Western Alumni Association. (Full “Most kids that age really hit it head on like this.” Homecoming coverage on pages want to save the world, Conference coordinator Roger 11-13.) but to keep that atti- Gustafson says the conference “Going to all the classes, meet- tude as you get older will focus on the impact of gam- ing all the people; it was great,” is really important,” ing through the filter of many she adds. Roy advises current different disciplines. “Western is a big part of the Lon- students. “It’s a serious investigation of don community and growing up “Get involved out- the creative side of the Internet here I tend to see it as a huge part side the Western as seen through gaming, com- of the community experience for community in the puter games, video games on the me.” context of ‘be out Internet and what the implica- Along with her husband, London there as a Western tions are for society,” he says. North Centre MP Glen Pearson, student’. For me, Artist Stacey Spiegel is the Roy has established a charitable it was a great time driving force behind Playing The organization, Canadian Aid for of life, but when Gallery and despite spearheading Southern Sudan (CASS). Her most you get older you this decidedly modern view of recent efforts in Sudan involve need to continue to art, his sculpture has been seen in freeing child slaves, building do all the things you the McIntosh since the 1970s. schools, developing a women’s lit- believe in.” “He has gotten into the video game fi eld as a way of being cre- Krista McFadden, Western News ative and learning and cross-disci- Jane Roy is one of a dozen Western alumni being honoured Friday at the plinary research,” Kennedy says. annual Alumni Awards Dinner. Roy is being recognized for community service “He started a company that pro- for spearheading the London Food Bank and advocacy on poverty and civil Continued on Page 15 strife issues. INSIDE: Academe 22 | Access Western News 22 | Classifi eds 23 | Coming Events 21 | Get Involved! 21 | Student Services Bulletin 22 10 SEPTEMBER 27, 2007 WESTERN NEWS Solar-ific Paul Mayne, Western News Nine Western Engineering students are heading down under next month as the Sunstang team prepares to compete in the 20th annual Panasonic World Solar Challenge in Australia. The 3,000-kilometre race will feature 46 teams from 21 countries. Celebrating the 15th year of the Sunstang, students built the $250,000 solar-powered vehicle with a top speed of 130 km/h, from scratch over the past 15 months. The competition is expected to take about five days to complete. Here, Sunstang co-manager Pranay Krishen, describes the vehicle at an unveiling earlier this week. Experience SPENCER LEADERSHIP CENTRE A Conference Centre Specifi cally Designed to Meet the Needs of Today’s Business Leaders! For more information and to book a meeting, please contact Al Morgan 519-675-5545 www.dolce.com WESTERN NEWS SEPTEMBER 27, 2007 11 HOMECOMING 2007 ‘Time to be purple and proud’ B Y BOB KLANAC time to be purple and proud.” young alumni’. Organizers say Stadium, looking for their The celebrations begin the event is already sold out. fi rst win of the season. he events are planned, “Each year, thousands Thursday night with the Saturday kicks off at 9 a.m. The Golden Anniversary venues booked and of Western grads Alumni Western Annual Gen- with the traditional Homecom- Dinner in Somerville House’s doubtless Western’s return to see old eral Meeting taking place in ing Parade which features an Great Hall at 7 p.m. honours THomecoming 2007 the Labatt Lounge, TD Water- assortment of Western-themed the class of 1957 and preced- events will be well-attended friends, classmates house Stadium. Not your typi- fl oats making their way from ing years while an Alumni and deemed successful. and professors, to cal AGM, the event will fea- Centennial Hall in downtown Hall concert by Jeans ’n Clas- Yet, in the end, when the ture live music and appetizers. London, north up Richmond sics’ Jean Meilleur documents legions of alumni make travel down memory Friday night sees two events, Street, with a noon arrival musical milestones from that fi nal walk across cam- lane and to enjoy the targeted at different alumni on the Western campus. the 1950s to modern day. pus before heading back groups. The 33rd Annual Also that morning, at 9:30, Sunday, all alumni are home, the planned activities many festivities.” Alumni Awards Dinner held at the Western-YMCA 5K Fun invited to a casual breakfast fade to the background. — Anne Baxter The Great Hall in Somerville Run starts at TD Waterhouse in the Great Hall to say their What will linger are the Homecoming 2007 Chairperson House will see notable alumni Stadium, with runners tak- farewells. Graduates from memories recalled, relation- including Global News televi- ing a leisurely and healthy 1937 to 1982 will make their ships rekindled and longing sion anchor Kevin Newman jog along the Thames River. way to a 1:30 p.m. garden for the years of their life that and London Food Bank founder The Homecoming Hospi- reception at Gibbons Lodge most Western alumni recall end is a highlight for the Jane Roy receive awards tality Tent located near TD hosted by President Paul Dav- as some of their fi nest. campus and London. of merit from the Western Waterhouse Stadium opens at enport and Josette Davenport. In short, the reason that “Each year, thousands of Alumni Association. (See Roy’s 9:30 a.m. The tent, the central Alumni who are accus- Western’s homecoming is Western grads return to see story on Page 1, and a profi le information centre for all tomed to the presence of legendary is because of old friends, classmates and of Newman and other award things homecoming, features their Alumni Association the people and what they professors, to travel down winners on Pages 12-13). live music by Rick McGhie offi ces being in Alumni Hall brought – and continue to memory lane and to enjoy the Downtown at Six Degrees and face painting, games and will discover a change – the bring back – to the campus. many festivities,” she says. of Homecoming, alumni from activities for alumni fam- entire External portfolio It is so, always has “Saturday morning Rich- the classes of 1997 – 2007 ily members of all ages.