westernnews.ca November 10, 2011 / Vol. 47 No. 31 PM 41195534 STORY // PAGE 8 Professor imprisoned following blockade breach attempt BY HEATHER TRAVIS Canadian Boat to Gaza, Heap remains attempt to reach the blockaded Pal- expressed,” Weedon says. Marjorie Ratcliffe, associate profes- imprisoned for refusing to sign a estinian territory. “Rather, the university supports the sor in Spanish at Western, is part of UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN Ontario waiver stating they voluntarily entered Foreign Affairs and International right of faculty members to exercise Heap’s local support group and is professor David Heap is among Israel. It was reported Tuesday Karen Trade Canada warns Canadians the academic freedom, and to express concerned about her friend and col- three Canadi- DeVito, of Vancouver, was the first security situation along the coast of their views on any matter in a man- league’s situation. ans detained by Canadian to be released from prison. Gaza remains dangerous and volatile. ner that does not exceed legal limits. “I have known David since he was Israeli troops fol- “I write to you from cell 9, block In May 2010, an attempt to breach Academic freedom does not confer a boy,” Ratcliffe says. “I knew his par- lowing a confron- 59 Givon Prison near Ramla in Occu- the blockade along the coast of Gaza legal immunity or legal defence by ents and I know his sons. I admire him tation aboard a pied Palestine. Although I was tasered was intercepted by Israeli forces and the university in respect of the views a greatly for the selfless sacrifice he is Canadian ship during the assault on the Tahrir, and resulted in death, injury, arrest and faculty member may express.” making in defense of his ideal of a trying to breach bruised during forcible removal dock- deportation, the ministry reports. Canadian Boat to Gaza is asking the peaceful world where we are all free the naval block- side (I am limping slightly as a result). I In a statement on its website, the Canadian government to take action to live productive lives.” ade of Gaza. am basically ok,” Heap writes in a let- federal ministry cautions: “Canadi- to secure release of the passengers While details about her friend’s Heap, who ter to family and friends he smuggled ans are strongly advised against par- and is putting pressure on Israel to state have been limited, Ratcliffe is teaches in the out of prison with a lawyer. ticipating in any attempt to break the release the detainees. hoping the Canadian government HEAP Department of Heap says he was transported in naval blockade.” “We don’t have any word about will work to allow Heap to return to French Studies, handcuffs and leg shackles. Heap does not have any assigned what’s happening with them or when Canada. was aboard the ship Tahrir, chartered The goal of Heap and fellow activ- teaching duties at this time, and is they are going to be released,” As she waits to hear of Heap’s sta- in Turkey, attempting to carry medi- ists was to fight against Israel’s block- absent from campus in compliance Wendy Goldsmith, member of the tus, Ratcliffe continues to support cal aid to Gaza. The group, Cana- ade of Gaza in a peaceful and non- with university policies on absence, steering committee for Canadian Boat his family and is hoping for a quick dian Boat to Gaza, reports on Nov. 4 violent manner. The blockade restricts says Alan Weedon, vice-provost (aca- to Gaza, said during a phone inter- and safe return of her friend. “We the Israeli navy intercepted the ship materials going in and out Gaza, demic planning, policy and faculty). view Tuesday. “I think it is outrageous are basically there to back him up bound for Gaza. The passengers were which denies Palestinians the ability “The University of Western Ontario Canadian citizens were kidnapped should he need us or should his fam- taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod and to trade with the world, they argue. takes no position on the views in international waters and they’re in ily need support during this stressful the trio placed in Israeli detention. Heap was also a delegate aboard expressed by any faculty member, an Israeli prison being denied basic time, before he left and when he gets According to a news release by the Tahrir in July, which failed in nor the manner in which they are rights.” back.” WN The University of Western Ontario’s newspaper of record 2 Western News • November 10, 2011 Coming Events 10 // THURSDAY sity College, Room 224. 8 p.m. Perfor- 2nd Annual Diabetes Research Day mances also on Nov. 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. Maria B. Grant, Pharmacology and Ther- Don Wright Faculty of Music apeutics, University of Florida, Gainsville, The Chamber Orchestra plumbs the 11 // FRIDAY Dept. of Opthalmology, University of depths of the romantic soul with music of Florida, Jacksonville. St. Joseph’s Hospi- Richard Strauss, Samuel Barber, Mozart tal, Shuttleworth Auditorium. 11 a.m. – 5 and Wagner. Soloist is violinist Zachary Western Remembrance Day p.m. Visit schulich.uwo.ca/research. Peterson. von Kuster Hall. 12:30 p.m. Begins at 10:30 a.m. in the UCC lounge. Includes presentations from the UWO Writing Support Centre Workshop Physics & Astronomy Colloquium Choir, past and present Western stu- Writing in the Social Sciences. WSS Rupali Chandar, Physics & Astronomy dents who are or were in the Canadian Room 3134. Register at: sdc.uwo.ca/writ- Department, University of Toledo “The Forces, and a student describing his life ing. 11:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. Life Cycle of Star Clusters.” Physics & As- with a father in the military. This theme tronomy Room 22. 1:30 p.m. is sacrifice, and all speakers are focusing their words around the sacrifices they’ve 16 // WEDNESDAY Writing Support Centre Workshop personally made. Also selling awareness Writing a Thesis Statement. WSS Room bracelets that say Western Remembers Diabetes Update 2011 3134. Register at: sdc.uwo.ca/writing. for $2 in the UCC starting a week before David Kendall, Amercian Diabetes As- 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. the ceremony. sociation. “Preventing Outcomes and Preserving Health in People with Type Centre for Research on Migration and Huron University College 1 Diabetes: How Far Have We Come?” Ethnic Relations Colloquium Remembrance Day Ceremonies Best Western Lamplighter Inn, 591 Wel- Karolyn Smardz Frost, The Harriet Tub- Celebration of the Holy Eucharist with lington Rd. London. 8 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. man Institute for Research on the Global the Walter Brown Communion Kit, 8:30 Migrations of African Peoples, York Uni- a.m. Act of Remembrance and Laying Toastmaster’s Campus versity. “Canada, Slavery and Extradition: of the Wreath in Huron College Chapel, Communicators The Story of Thornton and Lucie Black- 10:50 a.m. All Members of the University Build your confidence in public speak- burn.” SSC 5220, 4 – 5:30 p.m. Community are welcome to attend both ing. Meets every Wednesday 12 -1 p.m. ceremonies. in the UCC – check the website for spe- Green Tours cific room: cctm.freetoasthost.info/. Con- Facilities Management and EnviroWest- King’s University College tact Donna Moore, [email protected] or ern have teamed up to provide tours at We will gather at the flagpoles in front 85159. four of Western’s top performing build- of the Wemple Building at King’s Univer- ings. The free tour starts at McIntosh sity College (266 Epworth Avenue). 10:45 Don Wright Faculty of Music Gallery, travels to Stevenson Hall and a.m. This is a non-denominational prayer UWO Singers Faure’s Requiem, an uplift- through the campus’ underground tun- service hosted by the Office of Campus ing and joyous interpretation of the mass nels to Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pa- Ministry. Visit: kings.uwo.ca/campus-min- of the dead. The composer said he want- vilion and end at Ivey. Sign-up at: uwo.ca/ istry for more information. ed to write something different from the ppd/greentours/index.html. 5 – 7 p.m. usual pain and sorrow; something more Don Wright Faculty of Music about happiness and deliverance. von Department of English This year’s Eckhardt-Gramatté Competi- Kuster Hall. 12:30 p.m. “The Revenger’s Tragedy.” Tickets: $15 tion winner-soprano Erica Iris Huang. von adults / $10 students and seniors. Tickets Kuster Hall. 12:30 p.m. GradWrite Workshops available at the door or at Infosource. For Be Good to your Colon: Punctuation. information contact Joanna Devereux at Women’s Basketball WSS Room 3134. Register at sdc.uwo.ca/ [email protected]. Conron Hall, Univer- York at Western. 6 p.m. writing. 12:30 p.m. GradWrite Workshops Conquering your Mountain: Writing your Thesis or Dissertation. WSS Room 3134. Register at sdc.uwo.ca/writing. 1:30 p.m. Writing Support Centre Workshop Writing a Book Review. WSS Room 3134. Register at: sdc.uwo.ca/writing. 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures “La Tertulia” Spanish Conversation Group. Anyone wishing to speak Span- ish and meet people from different Spanish-speaking countries is welcome. paul MAYNE // WESTERN NEWS Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. UC 117. E-mail [email protected]. Men’s Basketball ern have teamed up to provide tours at York at Western. 8 p.m. four of Western’s top performing build- Western Italian Conversation Club ings. The free tour starts at McIntosh Put your Italian into action! Join our Gallery, travels to Stevenson Hall and group discussions about Italian food, 12 // SATURDAY through the campus’ underground tun- culture, language, travel, daily life in Italy, nels to Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pa- and much more! It’s a great way to prac- Women’s Basketball vilion and end at Ivey.