Concordia~s

VoL 26,. No .. 7

Psychology researcher awarded major grants

BY JANICE HAMILTON through the Canada Research Chairs with Concordia's Centre for Studies With this newly acquired expertise cular biology, electrophysiology, and Program, a federal government initia­ in Behavioral Neurobiology (CSBN), and the CFI infrastructure grant, he brain imaging. Arvanitogiannis has ,l ssistant Psychology Professor tive designed to support research is studying influences on behaviour will be able to bring state-of-the art focused his research on two main ~ ndreas Arvanitogiannis opportunities at Canadian universi­ that is directed towards goals or equipment to the CSBN labs. The areas, and now he plans to merge (photo, above) has been awarded a ties. rewards. internationally known CSBN pro­ them and see what insights that Canada Research Chair in behaviour­ Arvanitogiannis, who was born in motes interdisciplinary research on approach will bring. The first area is al neurobiology, and a $426,000 Innovation and quality rewarded Greece, is one of Concordia's rising fundamental brain mechanisms goal-directed behaviour, such as the infrastructure grant from the Canada The chair brings $100,000 a year stars. He did his undergraduate stud­ underlying motivation and learning. kinds of behaviours humans and ani­ Foundation for Innovation. for five years to emerging researchers ies and a PhD and post-doctoral To understand the links between mals demonstrate when they search The chair, announced last Thurs­ who have the potential to be world work at Concordia, and received a the brain and behaviour, researchers for food . He has expanded that inves­ day, means a lot to the university, leaders in their fields. The funding Medical Research Council Fellowship at the Centre for Studies in Behav­ tigation to include drug abuse, which says Claude Bedard, Dean of Gradu­ pays their salaries and supports that allowed him to spend a year and ioral Neurobiology combine tradi­ is a compulsive type of goal-directed ate Studies and Research. "It will raise research projects that have been a half at Harvard University, where tional behavioural techniques with behaviour. PHOTO BY cHR1sr1AN FLEURY our profile in research." This is the judged innovative and of high quali­ he learned new techniques in molec­ neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, ■ Canada Research Chair continued first chair awarded to Concordia ty. Arvanitogiannis, who is associated ular biology. pharmacology, endocrinology, mole- on page9 Fine Arts students sweep the Quebec du Maurier Awards

BY BARBARA BLACK surprised when, a couple of weeks Carlos Sanchez is also a photog­ later, du Maurier called and said they rapher. His most recent work is a even out of 11 new grants for were interested in pursuing the idea series called Model Citizens, a stylized Spromising young artists given of grants to senior students working take on contemporary news. Howev­ by the du Maurier Arts Council on projects that would eventually be er, he deliberately creates his scenes recently went to students in Concor­ made public." as though they are occurring a gen­ dia's Faculty of Fine Arts. The students applied last spring eration ago, and attributes their suc­ The du Maurier Arts Council is for the grants, which were cess to this unusual approach. the largest private-sector source of announced at a press conference on Mackenzie Stroh is a photo­ arts funding in Canada. The 11 Nov. 21. Here they are: based artist and freelance photogra­ awards are worth $105,000 in total. Robin Dupuis has a BFA in film pher who did her BFA in intermedia The fact that they were nominated from Concordia and a master's in at the Emily Carr Institute in Van­ is a credit to Photography Professor media arts from the Ecole des arts couver. She is now doing her MFA, Penny Cousineau, who said that stu­ visuels et mediatiques de Montreal. and teaching undergraduate photog­ dents are not eligible for grants from His entry was a digital video. raphy at Concordia. She does con­ the regular funding agencies, such as Yechel Gagnon is a graduate stu­ temporary portraits. the Canada Council and the Conseil dent who explores the dichotomy Michael Yaroshevsky was born des arts et letters. between artificial and natural materi­ in Leningrad, raised in Toronto, and "Even a short film can be very als in a landscape environment. ~ has a degree in Japanese. His roots in :x, expensive to produce, for example, Using plywood as her palette, she ~ Russian culture are fascinating - and well-established filmmakers in creates "constructed landscapes." g his great-great-grandfather was the Canada have trouble securing fund­ Oleksa Lozowchuk came from ! butler of Czar Alexander Ul - and ing. Financial support for film, video Regina to do his master's at Concor­ :ii his entry was a film ode to St. Peters- and other senior projects is an dia. His thesis film is Anna's Wedding, 3 burg called Petropolis . Photographer Carlos Sanchez with a work from his Model Citizen series. absolute godsend." an experimental narrative film set in Selena Liss is not quite a Concor­ When Fine Arts Advancement post-Chernobyl Ukraine. Oleksa is choral and folk music that he record­ lege. She will have a solo exhibition dia student, but almost. She has Officer Philippe Turp gave Cousineau also musical, and has created materi­ ed in Ukraine. called Belle de ]our at the Observa­ been in the military and studied 0 and two Cinema professors an al for the award-winning TV series Marisa Portolese has her BFA toire 4 gallery in January. She report­ business, then turned to art, earning opportunity to explain the facts of life Culture Shock, and for two National and MFA from Concordia, where edly produces colour photos of a BFA from the Emily Carr; she has to a representative from du Maurier, Film Board productions. He is fin­ she teaches photography. She also women that exaggerate, mock and been accepted into a graduate pro­ it resulted in action. "I was extremely ishing a DVD compilation of sacred teaches visual arts at Champlain Col- cause men to avert their eyes. gram. Material grievances underlie clashes in the Middle East

BY BARBARA BLACK McGill, and another master's from all the way up to its preoccupations istration as politically motivated. early 1800s, like other immigrants at the University of Toronto, in Middle with such modem issues as bioethics. The symbolism of headscarves, for the time. The first mosque in Canada ynda G. Clarke is a scholar of East studies. She and Jewish Studies Professor example, is very rich, and subtle dif­ was built in Edmonton." Llslamic spirituality, law and lit­ Ira Robinson plan to offer a joint ferences are instantly recognized The attack on the U.S. on Sept. 11 erature at a time when the faith is Travel and work in the Middle East course on Jewish and Islamic law among the wearers. Like dress in hit Canadian Muslims very hard, she under intense scrutiny in the West. Though born in Canada, she has next year. There are many miscon­ general, she said, the headscarf "is an said. "They felt conflicted, defensive, 'Tm intrigued by the phenomenon travelled widely throughout her life, ceptions here about Islam and Arabs, identity marker. It can mean inde­ shocked - and anguished that such of people rushing out to buy the and lived in Lebanon, Iran, where she said. pendence, modesty and dignity." a thing would be done in the name Koran," she said. However, if they are she was a translator in Teheran dur­ As a scholar interested in issues of While Muslims and Arabs have of their religion." Clarke noticed, trying to understand the people of ing the Iran-Iraq War, and Syria. She gender, she is a bit suspicious of become more numerous and visible though , that fro m the beginning, the Middle East by reading their holy is a Lebanese citizen. Western sympathy for Muslim in our cities in recent years, there there was widespread sympathy for book, they are missing the point. Her research interests lie in classi­ women, and sees the current concern have always been Arabs in Canada. Muslims, and there were few inci­ "People, especially the media, tend cal and modem Shi'ism, law, gender about the oppression of Afghani "Arabs, both Christian and Muslim, dents of backlash. to attribute lifestyles to religion. issues, Sufism and comparative mys­ women on the part of the U.S. admin- homesteaded on the Prairies in the Asked if Islam is changing, Profes­ While people do often express them­ ticism, and Arabic and Persian reli­ sor Clarke said that the religion selves through their religion, their gious literature. became highly politicized in the 20th choices of action are based on under­ Her current project on Shi'ite law century, and this phenomenon con­ lying material factors , grievances, and is funded by grants from Concordia tinues to evolve. specific situations." and Quebec. As part of her research, "It's partly generational," she Professor Clarke came to Concor­ she visits and maintains contact with explained. "Nationalist and leftist ide­ dia three years ago, replacing Profes­ the main Shi'ite seminary at Qum, in ologies - socialism, even commu­ sor Sheila McDonough when she Iran, at Najaf, in Iraq, and others in nism - had been tried. Now there is retired. Clarke studied at McGill, Lebanon. Currently, she is translating a wave [of religious fe rvour] that earning her doctorate in lslamic stud­ 13th-century Shi'ite legal texts and its started in about the mid-1 970s, but ies, with distinction, in 1995. She has accompanying commentaries, tracing it's also linked to left-wing politics. a master's in Islamic studies from the constant evolution of Shi'ite law The two streams come together in places like southern Lebanon." While she is pleased with Concor­ dia's ethnic and religious diversity, she naturally has a special concern Afghan women vital to for the Muslim and Arab students at Concordia, many of whom are recent arrivals or first- generation Canadians. peace process: forum "They're finding their place. They want to find room for their political BY JU LI E RO Y ideas, and they do it vigorously. They may feel that people don't know who bout 75 people participated in a public forum to explore ways to they are, or they may tend to stick A help the women and children of Afghanistan, held in downtown together, but in general, they are Montreal on Nov. 22. doing very well. lt helps that there "The situation of Afghan women was crucial before, but now that the are large numbers of them, and they world knows what's going on, more people want to find solutions," Religion Professor Lynda Ci. Clarke is a scholar of Islam. form a community." explained Lillian Robinson, principal of the Simone de Beauvoir Insti­ tute, one of several groups involved in organizing the event. Sima Wali is president of Refugee Women in Development (RefWID), and a policy advisor on Afghan human rights. Although she Nelofer Pazira film gains worldwide notice couldn't attend the forum because she was in Bonn at the talks about the country's political future, Wali sent a statement about the effect of BY BARBARA BLACK har at length in the current issue of the Oct. 29 issue of Maclean's maga­ the war on the women and children of Afghanistan to be read at the Time magazine, whose cover story is zine, not long after the start of the forum. elofer Pazira is a master's stu­ about the women of Afghanistan. He bombing of her native country. "The situation in Afghanistan is rapidly changing," she said, an N dent in sociology, but in recent calls the film "beautiful and terrify­ In it, she bitterly recounts how understatement. She was one of the only two women chosen to attend months, her studies have been over - ing. " Canadian journalists were uninterest­ the United Nations talks on Afghanistan in Bonn, and has been widely taken by international fame. CTR's Schickel writes, "What we get is a ed when she tried to tell them, in her interviewed about her determination to secure a place for women in repeated efforts to talk to the movie that is at once primitive and broken English, that the Pakistan­ the next Afghan government. Afghani-born actress and journalist sophisticated, a near documentary based mujahadeen forces - the future Asma Ibrahim, from the Afghan Women's Organization, in Toronto, have met with failure : "Sorry, she's in that tells us much about harsh cur­ Taliban, supported by the West at quoted the UN High Commissioner for Refugees as saying that about Tokyo," "She's in London this week," rent reality, yet also often achieves that time - were no better than the half the Afghanistan population in crisis is women, and 20 per cent are "She just left for New York. " moments of something akin to aes­ Communist government. Now, the children under five. Just yesterday morning, she was in thetic bliss." West claims to be saving Afghanistan Organizers said they were faced with many prejudices when lobby­ Atlanta, Georgia, interviewed live on When she came to Canada as a from the people they so recently sup- ing for women's presence in the peace process. CNN by host Paula Zahn. teenager with her family in 1990, . ported. "There was no need for a war "One of the main arguments for keeping women out of negotiations The reason is that several years Pazira left behind a friend who, like to rid Afghanistan of the Taliban," is that they are illiterate ," said Marzia Ali, program director for Action ago, Pazira conceived an idea for a her, was an educated and emancipat­ Pazira writes in Maclean's. "Pakistan Refugies Montreal. "This is completely false. Before the Russian inva­ film based on her own efforts to find ed young woman. As time went on, and Saudi Arabia could have sion, women stood as judges, doctors and teachers." Women even par­ a childhood friend in Taliban-con­ and life for women became almost destroyed the Taliban by cutting off ticipated in Loya]irgas (grand consultations). trolled Afghanistan. She took her idea impossible, her friend's letters indi­ their financial and military support." 'They have strong leadership skills, but now, they are leading from to a famous Iranian filmmaker, who cated that she was dangerously She continues, "At ground level, the shadows," Ibrahim said. made it into a film and used Pazira in depressed. the Taliban are a group of hungry When she was asked by a man in the audience if there was any other the leading role. In the film, this suicidal young Afghan refugees, former mujahedeen way than bombs to get the result the United States got in six weeks, While Kandahar is a fine film in woman becomes the leading charac­ forces , desperate Afghans who are Ibrahim said many people would still be alive if there had been discus­ itself, events in Afghanistan have cat­ ter's sister, and the search through indoctrinated with Saudi Wahabbi sion instead. apulted it to international stardom, Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is a ideology, an extreme brand of Islam, 'The Taliban are a militia, so a good way to stop them would have and Pazira is at the eye of the storm. bleak, sometimes wildly beautiful and know nothing other than the been disarmament. In this crisis, the Afghan people have been held On CNN, she said that she hoped the exploration of a desperately poor and pathology of warfare that they have hostage. How many have to die so the world realizes this is not right?" film would bring context that is miss­ frightened society. Pazira made the experienced for 20 years." Sima Wali may be able to attend another forum in Montreal sched­ ing from the general news reporting film on location with Mohsen Kandahar was acclaimed at inter­ uled for late December. on Afghanistan and give viewers a Makhmalbaf, but they ventured national film festivals in Montreal For information, contact Amy Vincent at the Simone de Beauvoir Institute, glimpse of a comer of the world "that across the border of Afghanistan only and Toronto when it was shown late at 848-2373. is very much part of humanity." briefly, because of the danger. this summer, and it has been playing Richard Schickel reviews Khanda- Pazira wrote a full-page essay in here at ExCentris.

2 DECEMBER 6 , ,2~~1-, co 1: <; ordia: s . T h \Hs d ay , 8 - p,oft" Canadian Society for M echanical Engineering Conference Multidisciplinary work is vital

BY SYLVAIN COMEAU

oncordia hosted the Canadian Concordia faculty, staff and alumnilcE pop up in the CSociety for Mechanical Engi­ media more often than you might think! neering (CSME) International Con­ ference on Multidisciplinary Design Rector Frederick Lowy was interviewed by Doug Sweet for a thought­ in Engineering, Nov. 21-22. provoking article in the Saturday Gazette (Dec. 1) about the prospect of human cloning. Dr. Lowy, a former dean of medicine at the University of Dr. RB. Bhat, conference co-chair Toronto, said that in a sense, we are less prepared to discuss the ethical and chair of Mechanical and Industri­ issues surrounding scientific breakthroughs than in the past, when reli­ al Engineering at Concordia, said that gion was a source of moral gu idance. "Our philosophical orientation is multidisciplinary work is essential for pragmatic and utilitarian. To a much greater extent than ever before, we are not guided by strict right and wrong, " he said, and urged the media training tomorrow's engineers. to help educate the public on science issues. "We emphasize teamwork between James Pfaus, a researcher in the Centre for Studies in Behavioural Neu­ students of different disciplines in the robiology (Psychology), was the subject of a lively article in The Gazette department and the whole Faculty, - and the National Post on Dec. 4 about his work on PT-141, a synthetic and the same is true of engineering copy of a neuropeptide that stimulates sexual-response centers in the faculties throughout Canada," said brain. Pfaus is testing the drug on rats in the form of a nasal spray, and there is reason to hope that it w ill be an effective instrument to induce Bhat, who is also the vice-president of sexual arousal in humans. CSME Quebec. Daniel Salee (School of Community and Public Affa irs) was asked to "The team approach to engineering comment on CTV's Newsnet Morning on Premier Bernard Landry's research and projects is also vital to Professor R.B. Bhat and Provost Jack Lightstone celebrate a milestone for the remarks to the Parti Quebecois meeting that seemed to link the terror­ our own involvement with local Mechanical Engineering Department, Its 100th doctoral thesis . Below, ism of Sept. 11 and sovereignty aspirations. Salee summarized his industries, especially aeorospace. Last Christopher Pin Harry, winner of the CSME Gold Medal for professional merit and views later: "I can understand why his political opponents are trying to academic excellence. A spring 2001 graduate, he now works at Rolls Royce Canada. make him look like an insensitive fool - he does have a certain history year, we created the Concordia Insti­ in this regard - but this time, I think it's much ado about nothing." tute for Aerospace Design Innovation, sary for an optimum design," Bhat ago. "Given everything that is in which 30 undergraduate students said. involved in guiding students through Enn Raudsepp, chair of Journalism, was asked by Global TV to com­ ment on the fact that Rad io-Canada suspended journalist Normand from various disciplines are working The conference heard speakers the complex research involved in a Lester for writing a strongly worded book about English Canada. He said together on real-life projects for com­ from all over Canada and 15 other PhD thesis, we are proud of that that it was ridiculous. "Canada needs more people expressing them­ panies like Pratt & Whitney and countries. In the first day, keynote milestone." selves, not fewer, if we are to have a serious national debate about issues as fundamental as the role of Quebec in Confederation." Jay Bombardier." speaker Ian Yellowley, chair of the The Quebec Ministry of Science Bryan, Gazette busin ess columnist, also interviewed Raudsepp, and Multidisciplinary design is not a Canadian Design Engineering Net­ and Technology, Pratt & Whitney reported that he "laments that codes of ethics, which he sees as a recent trend, but is growing to work, spoke about the objectives and Canada, the Concordia Faculty of potentially power tool for improving journal ist standards, have become accommodate the complexity of activities of the Network and the Engineering, the Concordia Institute largely public-relations exercises." today's engineering tasks. research modules established at 34 of Aerospace Design and Innovation, Ramdas Chandra (Marketing) was interviewed by alumna Liz Warwick "Design is interconnected, both engineering schools across the coun­ and the ASME-Quebec supported the for an article in Marketing magazine about the Societe des alcools's from a components point of view and try. On the second day keynote conference with funds. Other co­ new - and highly successful - Web site. He had some good ideas for developing the site's profitability. a disciplines point of view. An auto­ speaker Fassi Kafyeke, of Bom­ sponsers included the National mo bi le or aircraft, for example, bardier, provided an industry per­ Research Council of Canada, IRSST Effie Gavaki (Sociology) was quoted in an article in The Gazette recent­ requires structural design, electrical spective to the conference. and the Canadian Space Agency. ly aimed at showing young people how prejudice may develop at a young age. design, noise reduction - many dis­ Dr. Kafyeke explained that the ciplines come together in the final organizational structure in industry is Bryan Barbieri (Marketing) was quoted in Peter Diekmeyer's marketing design." built around multi-disciplinarity, and column in The Gazette about the importance of marketing plans, even for small companies. Bhat said that the growing role of managers have to make sure that dif­ computers in the engineering field ferent departments are always aware Pearl Crichton, who teaches the sociology of aging, was quoted in a has made that kind of integration fea­ of what each other is doing. "The Gazette article about the perils of retirement for couples who aren't pre­ pared for round-the-clock togetherness. sible and desirable. days of each department working "In the past, because of the lack of independent of each other are over; Jeri Brown (Music) was interviewed by Gazette reporter and jazz-lover computer facilities, people would there is a growing interdependence." Irwin Block recently. Calling her "a stylis and sophisticated vocalist with a four-octave range, " Block said her approach to her craft has sub­ work on their designs separately, and The conference also highlighted tly changed as a result of the terrorist attack on the U.S. then try to put them together. engineering students, including a stu­ Ian Irvine, chair of Economics and a self-described "avid non-smoker," "Each discipline has its own· cul­ dent research paper competition. The wrote an essay for The Gazette recently in which he criticized the Advi­ ture and language, in a sense; com­ Department of Mechanical Engineer­ sory Council on Tobacco Control for recommending to the Health Minis­ puters with specialized software ing celebrated the completion of the ter that "light" and "mild" descriptions on cigarette packages be translate from one to another and 100th doctoral thesis since the banned. His point is that the consumer needs more information, not less, and that so-called "light" cigarettes do not necessarily deli ver perform the rapid calculations neces- department was founded 30 years Christopher Pin Harry lower toxicity to smokers. · A profile of Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray in the Globe and Mail on Nov. 3 mentioned the fact that he got his taste for politics as a president of the Concordia University Students Association (CUSA), now the Con­ cordia Students Union (CSU). Teaching program for new engineering faculty Pierre Coutu, an aviation management professional who teaches in the Aviation MBA program, was interviewed nationally on Radio-Canada program specifically requested three full days for a dozen new mem­ that work in engineering courses; about the new anti-terrorist legislation, which does not make major A by and designed for the Faculty bers of the Faculty. The presenters create effective course and lesson changes to the way security is exercised at airports. As he explained, of Engineering and Computer Sci­ include experts in engineering edu­ plans; develop effective classroom this is because the airlines are already under great financial pressure, and the government is still considering the question and introducing a ence is being given over three days cation, recipients of teaching awards observation and feedback strategies; new budget next week. this week by Concordia's Centre for at Concordia, and faculty developers, use technology judiciously in their Teaching and Learning Services as they are called, in the CTLS. own classroom; develop a teaching Nina Howe (Education) was interviewed on Global TV about strategies for toilet-training young children. (CTLS). Here are some of the objectives of dossier for tenure and promotion; In particular, the course focuses the challenging program: to recog­ and participate in a peer-to-to-peer Suresh Goyal (Decision Sciences/MIS) had a letter published in Maclean 's in which he commended the magazine for its helpful rank­ on the latest knowledge about how nize what makes an effective univer­ learning community. ings of Canadian universities. students learn engineering concepts, sity engineering teacher; reflect on The program was developed at the discipline-specific teaching tech­ what participants need to change in request of Dean Nabil Esmail. Gilles Bourgeois, director of Human Resources and Employee Rela­ tions, was asked by Global television to describe the new pay equity niques, effective course and lesson their own teaching practice; use The director of the CTLS is Olivia legislation. He remarked that "while its purpose was to remove gender planning, and classroom applications strategies for simplifying explana­ Rovinescu , the assistant director is bias from job evaluation systems to achieve equal pay for work of equal of technology. tions in engineering subjects; moti­ Heather MacKenzie and Janette Bar­ value within the same employer, it is far from bein g a complete solu­ The three-day intensive course vate student interest in engineering rington is the pedagogical consul­ tion, since it does not begin to address the issue of opportunity for women in all occupational fields and levels of responsibility." started Tuesday and has run over subjects; use teaching techniques tant.

{:'6~/.6 rd ia ·s "THur"s ct a y R e p o rt DECEMBER &; 2001 · J' . ser1ateno t es A regular meeting of the Concordia University Senate, held on November 30, 2001 Suggestions for better ranking CSU election: Dean Martin Singer Provost Jack Lightstone said that Lightstone agreed , saying that to n the Nov. 8 issue of the Thursday Report you tried to prepare us to expect the wanted Senate to note that the SCAPP (senate committee on acade­ some extent we are boxed in by our Iworst from the Maclean 's annual rankings of Canadian universities. This year's claim by one of the slates running mic planning and priorities) recom­ academic mandate [to be accessible ranking as reponed in the Nov. 19 issue of Maclean 's is no exception in convey­ in the election that 190 programs mended that this budget be given to and emphasize undergraduate edu­ ing the bad news to Concordians. This year we have been pushed to the bottom were being closed in the Faculty of the Board of Governors for approval cation] . (11th) of the ranking list of comprehensive universities, replacing last year's Arts and Science was completely because it accounts for how every Dean of Fine Arts Chris Jackson occupant of the infamous position, Regina University, which has moved up to false ; in fact , that is roughly the penny will be spent, and accords said Lightstone should be congratu­ the 7th rank. Last year we were at number 9. number of programs in the Faculty. almost entirely with the budget lated for the vigour and effective­ We may argue and question the validity of the Maclean's findings , or ignore it Dean Nabil Esmail said that a principles adopted last year. He said ness with which he defended altogether, or take appropriate actions which might improve our chances of far­ charge by some student politicians that $9 million out of $11 million Concordia's interests in this matter, ing better in the future. Very often, I wonder if in some way Concordia is funda­ that he had interfered in Engineer­ in additional funding will go toward and there was applause. Arshad mentally different from those universities that do better in the ranking study. I do ing and Computer Science student the hiring of new faculty, and this Ahmad QMSB) commented that the not know what is happening in other universities, but I sincerely believe that if affairs was completely unfounded. hiring process will not be altered in professionalization of universities Concordia adopts any one of the following necessary steps then we might to do Vice-Rector Institutional Rela­ any way for budget reasons. represents values that many of us better: 1. Get rid of the Concordia University Faculty Association. tions and Secretary-General Marcel Approved. do not share, and we should make 2. In cenain Faculties, like the John Molson School of Business, dismantle the Danis asked CSU president Patrice Funding changes: English said our views known. Dr. Lowy agreed depanmental structure. Depanments create boundaries real or imaginary. It is Blais for a progress report on the that "the crystal ball is quite that it is a trend, "whether by impossible to cross them. They throttle creativity and encourage greed and elit­ election. He replied that as far as he cloudy," and the changes to weight­ design or by society's pressures." ism. knew, the election would be ings (relative financial values given Curriculum changes: A number 3. Encourage faculty members to teach those courses they can most effectively extended to Dec. 4 to allow those by the government to various types of changes were approved in all teach even in depanments (or Faculties) other than their own. students who voted the morning of and levels of students) are not in four Faculties. There was discussion 4. Make the entire process of reappointment, merit, tenure and promotion Nov. 27 to re-cast their ballots. He Concordia's favour (see CTR, Nov. of the introduction of a certificate transparent. said he was sure that even when the 6, page 5). and a minor in Canadian Irish stud­ 5. Abolish tenure. results were in, they would be con­ When pressed, he said that a ies. Dean Singer explained that the I wonder how many potential students may be discouraged to apply to Con­ tested. worst-case scenario would be a loss bulk of the money to fund this pro­ cordia after reading the anicle in Maclean 's about university rankings for 2001. I know many of the currently enrolled students, panicularly exchange students eConcordia: Student senators of $4.5 million, but Lightstone said gram had come from fundraising in from overseas, are not very happy, to say the least. We owe it to our students to asked Danis for transparency that he very much doubted it would the Irish-Canadian community, and keep on trying our best to improve Concordia's position in the ranking list. At regarding the new distance-educa­ come to that. Specific scenarios are that the Faculty and the university the end of the day, they are really the ones who are affected if the potential tion company eConcordia. Danis being worked out for each course. retained full control over the con­ employers take any notice of Maclean 's annual rankings of Canadian universities. said he would ask eConcordia's Rector Frederick Lowy said that tent. Some senators from the School S.K Goyal, Professor, Department of Decision Sciences & MIS, board in January to make more intense discussions with govern­ of Business questioned the fact that John Molson School of Business information known. ment representatives had gone on only students from Arts and Science Preliminary operating budget for a full week, and "we are not were eligible to apply for the new We welcome your letters, opinions and comments at BC-121/1463 Bishop St., by fax (514-848-2814), (2001-02): Chief Financial Officer going to easily accept a large reduc­ Loyola International College, and as or e-mail ([email protected]) by 9 a.m. on the Friday prior to publication. Larry English answered questions tion." The funding formula is con­ a result, Dean Singer amended it to about last year's budget, and then trived to distribute a finite amount include students in any undergrad­ presented the preliminary budget of government money, he added. uate program. (More about the Col­ for this year. The budget foresees a Sometimes we can deliver a pro­ lege in a future issue of CTR.) grant of $134,926,623, plus addi­ gram for less than the estimated Tribunal chair: A lawyer, Janet Beta Gamma Sigma Society honorees tional revenues that would bring amount, but sometimes it costs K. Oh, was approved as a chair of the university's total revenue to more. the tribunal hearing pools, the ongratulations to the John Molson School ofBusiness graduates list­ $223,398,916. As always, the uni­ Harvey Shulman (Arts/Science) fourth to be so named. ed below. They were welcomed into the Beta Gamma Sigma Busi­ C versity is expected to balance its said that this kind of funding exer­ ness Honour Society at a ceremony held yesterday, Dec. 5, in budget. cise takes away our flexibility, and Next meeting: January 18 Concordia's DeSeve Cinema. The Society admits only the top 15,000 of the 300,000 students who graduate each year from schools accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business. The Concordia University chapter received its charter in 1998. Tnursaay Report Seniors: (;In @r.MWWJJn David Abramovitch • Nicola Antonio Addesa • Jean-Bastien Auger • Luis M. Rosemary Miller Coac:Grdllt'•...... , bpert Balenko • Anastacia Carreiro • Amanda Carson • Priya Chopra • Mina Amalia is published 18 times during the Dang'ana • Katerina G. Danilidis • Dominic Desmarais • Tania Di Re • Zhi Hong 1928- 2001 academic year on • bi-WNldy basis by the Public Relations Depertment Fang • Sue-Anne Fox • B. Paul Gill-Gakhal • Anna Giannakouros • Eric Paul D osemary Miller, who died on Nov. 20, aged 73, was one of the valued of Concoldie University, Godin • Nancy Elizabeth Greig • Marc Alben Helwani • Lucas Hineson • Janis 1'instructors in the Depanment of Drawing and Painting of the Faculty of Fine 1455 de Meisonneuve Blvd. W~ Kotler • Katia Lagogiannis • Looc My Lau • Uliya Lyubman • Michael Nessim • Ans. She served as a pan-time instructor for 26 years. She was born in England, Montru~ Qu6bec H3G I M8 David Ian Newton • Deena Padamadan • Frank Pantazopoulos • Manin Perron • and studied at the Ealing School of An, London. She spent a number of years in (514) 848-4882 Jason Rolf Poirier • loana Popescu • Ofer Tamir • Dean Theophilos • Sook Yoon Spain before moving to Canada with her husband, Professor John Miller. E-mail: [email protected] • QingZhu Rosemary was the longest-serving pan-time instructor in the Depanment. She Fax: (514) 848-2814 Masters: panicipated in a number of extra-depanmental duties without remuneration, Materiel published in the newspaper Darrell Augustin Arsenault • Patricia C. Bandeira • Rocio Beltran Moreno • Andre solely for the benefit of students and faculty. may not be reproduced without Blanchet • Mark Christopher Melville Cleveland • Bradley William Creamer • She was one of a small group of innovative teachers who developed an early permission. ffN /1«:t Page listings Gary Deason • Jonathan Duguay-Arbesfeld • Shane Eddy • Allen A. Fournier • Fundamentals of Vision course, ART231. Rosemary was later elected to serve as are published free of charge, and must Vishwanath Gokhale • Catherine Gyselinck • Gang He • Kismet Ibrahim • the pan-time instructors' representative to depanmental meetings, contributing reach the Public Relations Department (1463 Bishop St. Room 115) Mourad M. Jeddi • Sylvie Leroux • Julia Naggiar-Biondi • Bob Oommen • Eric in an incisive and thoughtful manner. Patton • Juan Manuel Ramos Gurri6n Rella • Christiane Roy • Sandrine Van Eyck in writing no later than Thursday She was also one of the most imponant members of a group of teachers in a 5 p.m. prior to Thursday publication. • Alexandre Vezina • Susan L. Vivian • Colin Wishan • Rohen Zbikowski pilot program that was the first multi-media course in the Faculty. Graduate Diploma in Accountancy: Luca Caporicci ISSN 1185-3689 Rosemary was a multi-talented woman of varied anistic interests, including Publications Man Agreement No.: Graduate Diploma in Administration: Heidi Tanaka drawing, painting, kitting and photography. She was an avid gardener, particu­ 40042804 Graduate Diploma in Sport Administration: Sena Maria Thomas larly after she and her husband moved to the Eastern Townships. Doctoral: Marc A. Tomiuk Edllor In her later years, she continued to work in the studio, and her watercolours Barbara Black Faculty: Alan Hochstein, Stylianos Perrakis enjoyed wide popularity. As well, she continued to meet monthly in Montreal Layout with a group of other women anists. Debbie Hum Rosemary was one of those few anists who never sought celebrity for its own Conaptand ...... sake, but was content to work away in her chosen disciplines, becoming a most Elane Trager CAMPUS MINISTRY FEED THE FUND valued instructor, esteemed by students and staff alike. Marketing Communications Campus Ministry's Feed the Fund Drive is on now to raise money for our Student Emergency Food Fund. Last year the Drive raised just over $23,000, but SEFF gave out over $24,000. She is survived by her husband John and four daughters, Celia, Sarah, Tanya World Wide Web Sllil We count on your help so that we can keep on feeding students who come to us and Jesse. Our sympathies are extended to them. pr.concordia.ca/ctr without that most basic of needs - food. To make a donation by cheque, please make cheques payable to Concordia University and Patrich Landsley, Professor (retired), Fine Arts include the notation "Student Emergency Food Fund ·on the cheque. Donations can also be lwl Concordia made by credit card. Call us at 848-3588 for the details. ~ UNIVERSITY

DECE M B R 6 , 2 00 1 Cnnc n rcl ia ·,;; T h urs d ay R·eporl Business School presents Awards of Distinction

our outstanding members of the Woods' invitation to be acknowl­ stores under the name Les Ailes de la Fbusiness community were hon­ edged . Now based in Vancouver, Mode. oured by the John Molson School of Woods is a director of Arts Umbrella, Roberge is now entering the Business at the annual Awards of Canada's leading institute for per­ Ontario market, opening Les Ailes in Distinction luncheon, held Nov. 27 forming and visual arts for children 2 Ottawa's Bayshore Shopping Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. to 19, and the Concordia University and ih three malls in Toronto. His Kenneth Woods, president of Foundation. fourth Les Ailes de la Mode will open Coolwoods Investments and director Christiane Germain has adapted in Montreal's fo rmer Eaton's store, of the CICA Accounting Standards the "boutique hotel" concept to the and is expected to contribute to the Board, is a 1975 MBA graduate of Quebec tourism market through her revitalization of the downtown core. Concordia. "I was looking for a prac­ Groupe Germain. These include the Sherry Cooper, senior vice-presi­ tical business education, and I got it Hotel Germain-des-Pres, in Ste. Foy, dent and chief economist of BMO at Concordia ," Woods said. "I liked the Dominion 1912, in the Old Port Nesbitt Burns, was given an Award of money, and I liked numbers, and the of Quebec City, and Le Germain, in Distinction, but was not available to two added together meant finance." downtown Montreal. accept it. Woods said that he has never for­ When she accepted her award, she Dr. Cooper raised eyebrows in her 3M retreat has a Concordia flavour gotten the influence of the late Dr. made a strong pitch for women in column in the National Post recently, Calvin Potter, who was then chair of business. She said that when she's when she advocated giving up on our inance Professor Arshad Ahmad won a 3M Teaching Fellowship in the Finance Department. He has faced with two candidates, male and separate Canadian currency because F 1992, and it's probably fair to say his life has never been the same responded by giving $1 million to female, with equal qualifications, she she felt there was no solution to the since. His intense interest in teaching developed into a PhD from create the Ken Woods Portfolio Man­ always picks the woman. sinking loony. The author of the McGill in education, and he is now the coordinator of the national 3M agement Program at Concordia. Paul Delage Roberge was raised highly successful Th e Cooper Files, Teaching Fellowship Program. Selected students manage a simulated in the retail clothing business, and she has just published another busi­ The 3M Fellowship is Canada's most prestigious teaching award. portfolio, and over three years, do recalled helping his mother with her ness book, Ride the Wave . Every year, 10 fellows are selected, and after 17 years, there is now a summer internships in the buying fashion designs. Since then, with his Her award was accepted by Ronald community of 117 3M fellows - two generations of teachers in a wide and selling aspects of the business. wife Camille, he has developed San Monet, an executive of BMO Nesbitt variety of disciplines, as Arshad likes to point out. The program is actively supported Francisco Boutiques into a major Burns and a member of the advisory One of the perks of being selected is that the 10 new fellows enjoy a by a large number of local business business force in Quebec. board of Concordia's School of Com­ three-day retreat, always at Chateau Montebello, in western Quebec, executives. The 15 participating stu­ The company now has nine "ban­ munity and Public Affairs. Monet will where they can discuss teaching strategies and philosophies. dents, who are now in their first and ners," including Bikini Village and teach a course called Public Affairs For this year's retreat, held Nov. 4 to 6, the facilitators chosen to lead second years of the program, attend­ San Francisco Maillots, with a total of Strategies in the School of Business in the discussion were both Concordians - Applied Human Sciences Pro­ ed the luncheon , and stood up at 181 outlets, and three department January. fessor Bluma Litner, who became a 3M fellow in 1996, and retired Com­ munication Studies Professor William Gilsdorf, who became a fellow in 1990. (Both pictured with Ahmad in the photo above.) Lynne Prendergast leaves the helm of Registrar's "This year, the group conceived a plan to create, test and disseminate guidelines for evaluating teaching portfolios," Arshad said. 'These guide­ D egistrar Lynne Prendergast will retary in the admissions office, and for outstanding academic perfor­ lines will be helpful to all tenure and promotion committees as well as ftleave Concordia this week after became Registrar in 1996. Lynne mance, and became a part-time to individuals preparing dossiers, given the absence of standards across a career spanning more than 37 years earned three degrees at Concordia: teacher in Decision Sciences/MIS. Canadian institutions. at the university. her BSc in 1975, BA (Honours Eng­ Lynne's career will be celebrated in The 3M Teaching Fellowship is open to any person at a Canadian She began her career at Sir George lish) in 1981 , and her MBA in 1989. January. She will be replaced on an university regardless of discipline or level of appointment. Williams University in 1964 as a sec- She also got the Royal Bank Award interim basis by Linda Healey. For more information, visit www.johnmolson.concordia.ca/stlhe/. Cont Ed teachers have seen a quarter-century of growth

he Centre for Continuing Edu­ Students who are accepted into Tcation has instituted a long-ser­ degree programs without sufficient vice reception for its teachers, and competence in English could be the inaugural edition was held on required to take remedial courses Nov. 21 at the Maritime Hotel on before starting their degree program; Guy St. it's a policy that is under considera­ For Director Murray Sang, it was a tion by the university. fitting way to honour a group of Sang said that these language teachers who have been with the courses can be of immeasurable ben­ non-credit school for a remarkably efit to newcomers. "Because it's a long time, almost as long as Cont Ed non-credit program, we can provide itself has been around. "The universi­ them cultural activities as well as lan­ ty has a mechanism for recognizing guage lessons." long-service, so it seemed highly Continuing Education courses also appropriate for us. " prove a fertile source of mature, moti­ Continuing Education, as a sepa­ vated students for Concordia's rate unit, evolved out of the strong degree-granting programs, he added. self-help tradition of Sir George After their initial experience taking Williams University, which began the Centre's professional courses, early in the 20th century with night­ many students are infected with Standing, Robert Turnbull (Photography, 21 years), Bernard Green (Management, 23 years), Gerry Bates (ESL, 25), school classes at the YMCA. Although Henri Labelle (Hospitality/Tourism, 23), Murray Sang, Juliette L'Herault (French, 21), Albert Cohen (Tourism, 24). enthusiasm for learning - or at the the birth of Cont Ed is hard to pin­ Seated, Adrianne Sklar (English as a Second Language, 23), Lili Ullmann (ESL, 24), Mary Lee Wholey (ESL, 22), very least, find that they are leamers­ point, Sang said that it started with Christine Killinger (Tourism, 21), Danielle Leb (French, 20) and Charlotte Serruya (French, 20). Missing for the photo in-the-making - and express an the merger of Sir George with Loyola were Phyllis Vogel (ESL, 25) and Harriet Tyberg (ESL, 25). interest in going on to take a degree. College in 1974. With 5,000 students (or 15,000 The unit now specializes in Eng­ opment, which helps community Guy and Ste. Catherine Sts., Cont Ed About 1,500 students a year, most of course registrations) a year at present, lish-second-language instruction and groups develop effective skills, also finally has quarters to fit its profes­ them young people from Asia and Continuing Education promises to courses aimed at upgrading mid­ comes under Cont Ed's umbrella. sional image. Latin America, study English in Cont grow beyond even its new quarters. career professionals in information With the move four years ago from The instruction in English has Ed's Language Institute, and the "We've doubled in size since 1990, technology, business, communica­ a derelict school building to the grown exponentially, thanks to an interface between the Institute and and now we're looking for more tions and tourism. The Institute for Faubourg Tower, including a desig­ increased emphasis at Concordia in the university proper is a complex space," Sang admitted, but he smiled Management and Community Devel- nated entrance on the busy comer of recruiting international students. and growing one. as he said it.

· eon:c.ordia·s· Thursday R epo rt D ECE MBE R 6 , 2 0 0 1 5 ...... ' - ' , .\ CONCORDIA WRITERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT A host of Concordia Kate Sterns' characters quirky writers celebrated The best teachers are the writers out there, from Homer BY BARBARA BLA CK B Y B AR B A RA B LACK "'T"he Quebec Writers Federation held their annual prize-giving last .I. week, and many Concordia writers were among the finalists. TIate Sterns' novel Down There by The Translation Prize was won by Howard Scott and Phyllis Aronoff .nt:he I rain is an outrageous tale for The Great Peace of Montreal of 1701 : French-Native Diplomacy in the Sev­ about a baker who tries to bake a enteenth Century (McGill-Queen's University Press), a translation from the life-size portrait of a dead woman in original French. bread dough. It's full of wordplay - Scott has the distinction of being Concordia's - and Canada's - first one character talks about "the school master's in women's studies, back in 1984. He won the Governor-Gener­ of hard Knox" and objects to an idea al's Literary Award for English translation in 1997 for The Euguelion, by "on legal grounds, moral grounds Louky Bersianik. He now works as a commercial publisher. and coffee grounds!" Linda Leith was also a finalist in the Translation category, for Travels It's also full of arcane bits and bobs with an Umbrella: An Irish]oumey (Signature Editions), her rendering into of knowledge, particularly about English of Louis Gauthier's Voyage en Irelande avec un parapluie. Leith has William Harvey (1578-1657), who taught science fiction in Concordia's English Department and is a prime discovered the human circulatory mover of the successful Blue Metropolis literary festival. system. A physician's daughter from Communication Studies professor Monika Kin Gagnon was up for the Kingston, Ont., Sterns grew up First Book Award, which was won by Gazette sports writer Jack Todd's around medical books, and was memoir The Taste of Metal: A Deserter's Story . entranced by an early English transla­ Concordia's Jason Camlot was up against stiff competition from McGill tion from Latin of Harvey's Exercita­ classics scholar Anne Carson, who previously won the lucrative tiones de generatione. MacArthur Foundation's "Genius" grant. Her collection, The Beauty of the When Down There by the Train Husband , took the A.M . Klein Prize for Poetry. appeared last spring, Sterns was given Trevor Ferguson, writing as John Farrow, was a finalist for the Hugh a full and admiring interview by Maclennan Prize for Fiction. Ferguson, a highly respected novelist who Noah Richler, the books editor of the teaches creative writing at Concordia, won this award under his own National Post, who knew her from her name with The Timekeeper (Harper Collins), in 1994. Long respected by time in London. Her fi rst nov~l, critics and his peers for his dramatic novels that draw on his early life in Th inking About Magritte, was ,pub, urban Montreal and on work gangs in the Canadiail bush, Ferguson lished there, and was well received. Jason Camlot and Kate Sterns at the Quebec Writers Federation gala made a commercial breakthrough when he started writing taut thrillers Although she spent nine years in under a pseudonym. City of Ice was a national bestseller, and sold more London and left behind many ment. around her. than 50,000 copies in Canada. This nomination was for his second friends, whoin she calls her ultimate "It's a wonderful department, with "I love teaching," she said. "For thriller, Ice Lake, and a member of the jury said he or she would riever f'arriily, slie bas no regrets. 'Tcoufd a great chair [Terry Byrnes] and me, an academic setting is so com­ pass an ice-fishing shack without wondering if there was a body inside. never be that poor again, for one smart, supportive colleagues," she fortable. I need to do research for the Creative writing teacher Kate Sterns was also up for the Maclennan thing," she said. After England, she said in an interview. "It's unusual to sort of novels I write, and I'm Prize, but it went to Yann Martel, for Life of Pi. ~ .. went to the United States to do her have creative writing and English lit­ inspired by my colleagues. I've never The QWF gala is a popular event, and has been held in recent years at MA at Johns Hopkins University. erature close together like this." had such stability." the Lion d'Or, an old nightclub on Ontario St. E. It's such an example of She's in her second year here, Writing and teaching are a perfect Can you teach other people to English-Quebec community spirit that it was being recorded by filmmak­ teaching a graduate course in creative combination for her, because she write? "No," she said immediately, "I er Barry Lazar, of Concordia's Journalism Department, for a French-lan­ writing and an undergraduate course writes relatively slowly, and she likes teach them to read. The best teachers guage series on ethnic minorities in Quebec. in play-writing in the English Depart- the stimulation of having people you'll ever have are the writers out Cam lot delves into animal imagery, scratchy wax cylinders

BY JAME S MARTI N Tennyson, discovered "in a decrepit tnird­ Then again, Camlot might return to book­ completed a long poem entitled "Dark Drinku floor flat"), Carnlot is fascinated by the differ­ stores with a new volume of poetry. Picking that has its genesis in his MA days at Boston triking, original imagery earned Jason ent ways of preserving memory. up from The Animal Library's playful, yet emo­ University. SCamlot's debut volume of poetry, The tionally charged, kitsch imagery (e.g. delicate Finding himself a stranger in a strange land, Animal Library (DC Books), a spot on the Rootln9 through the past Victorian dolls undergoing psychoanalysis, a the Montreal native turned to literature to A.M. Klein Prize for Poetry shortlist (part of This idea of recording the past will most miniature smallpox epidemic "spinning on the help "make sense of what the United States last month's Quebec Writers' Federation certainly figure in Carnlot's next book, even platform of a music box"), he's continuing to was all about." The result was a vicarious vari­ Awards). though he's unsure which work-in-progress explore the idea of "finding intense emotion in ation on "Hi, Bob," the infamous dorrni~ory A tenure-track professor in Concordia's will be the first to see the light of publication. the tritest of places" with a series of poems drinking game: instead of downing shots English department, Carnlot has a knack for One possibility is an as-yet-untitled book of about poets in the workplace. while watching The Bob Newhart Show, crafting unforgettable images, deftly conjuring criticism examining "the implications of "I'm writing about poets in places you Carnlot read Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises "the hiss of cappuccino machines like Mada­ recording technology on the literary arts." wouldn't necessarily expect to find them," he ("a very American book") and wrote down gascar cockroaches" on one page, "a dried sea Camlot has been busy rooting through vari­ explained, "office receptionist poems, things every sentence that makes mention of drink­ lion on the floor" the next. - ous archives, researching "what you might call like that. It goes back to the Romantic idea of ing. "As you can imagine," he recalled, "that's The son of a furrier, Camlot worked in fur the incunabula of recorded sound, the pre­ the 'office of the poet,' but I'm thinking about quite a few sentences." factories from a young age. Now an academic, commercial .recordings which were done by it more in the Dilbert sort of way because Several years (and a PhD from Stanford) he draws analogies between counting rows of the agents of Thomas Edison." there.are comical aspects to it." later, Camlot began working through his dis­ pelts in a cold room and browsing through Struck by "the seance-y nature" of hearing tillation of Papa's boozy language, eventually books on a library shelf - a unifying "rela­ scratchy recordings of, say, Tennyson reading Numerous projects on the go "turning out a poem of my own about drink­ tionship between artifacts and emotions" that "The Charge of the Light Brigade" in 1890, The "workplace" poems are just one of sev­ ing." informs the poems in The Animal Library. Camlot is investigating ideas of reliving histo­ eral diverse poetic projects currently on the Ruskin on clouds, Hemingway on drinking, Whether he's using images born of early ry through recordings (drawing upon libraries go. In addition to a series of poems related to poets on the payroll. Jason Camlot may not autobiography (e.g., the tactile sensation of of "living" voices, as it were, rather than John Ruskin's The Storm-Cloud of the Nine­ have taken home the QWF award, but his pelts), or images reflecting his current acade­ libraries of books), and the relationship of teenth Century (in which the Victorian critic next book of poetry promises to be every bit mic interest in Victorian literature (e.g., a mis­ early commercial recordings to a broader cul­ catalogued how industrial pollution was liter­ as inventive, funny, and insightful as The Ani­ placed wax cylinder recording of Alfred Lord ture of elocution. ally changing the clouds), Camlot recently mal library.

., . ,, . ·. l)'E'CEMBER '6' , . 2001 Co n co rdia ·s •Thu r s day ffe" p Oft CONCORDIA WRITERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT poignant Unravelling our cultural conundrums >n down: Sterns Monika Kin Gagnon shortlisted for Quebec Writers Federation's First Book Award BY JAMES MARTIN essays for "that usual mix of dispos­ ty. The shift back to academia was pieces, resulting in an engaging his­ there, from Homer on down." able art mags, journals, exhibition a catalyst in writing Other Conun­ torical testament to a vibrant time Insofar as she can guide her stu­ ther Conundrums: Race, Cul­ catalogues, and anthologies." drums. in Canadian cultural race politics. dents to find their literary voice, she O ture, and Canadian Art, writ­ In 1994, she began working on Starting with 75 articles, she Gagnon's insider account fluidly urges them to ask, What does this ten by Assistant Professor Monika her PhD at Simon Fraser Universi- whittled her oeuvre down to 11 slips between several forms: critical character want, and what is the con­ Kin Gagnon, is about identity - writings on specific artists (includ­ sequence of that desire? She starts her and it's also a bit of an identity ing Dana Claxton, Shani Mootoo, own novels with an image of a char­ puzzle itself. Jamelie Hassan), firsthand accounts acter doing something. The author is a native Montrealer of pivotal events (the Minquon In the case of Down There by the who, until three years ago, hadn't Panchayat anti-racism strategy cau­ Train , it was a young man called lived in the province for close to cus in 1997, the In Visible Colours Levon, recently released from the two decades. The book was co­ Film and Video Festival and Sym­ Kingston Penitentiary, gazing at his published by a Vancouver small posium in 1989), theoretical reflection in the window of Sweeney's press (Arsenal Pulp), and two essays, letters, and lexicons. Bar. Lonely and depressed, Levon sets British Columbia art galleries (Arts­ "l wanted to consolidate that out across an icy island to find a bak­ peak Gallery and the Kamloops Art body of writing as a book, because ery where he's been offered a job. Gallery). The artworks and events I didn't know what was going to Along the way , he meets Obdulia, discussed in the book span the happen to me once I entered the who is grieving for her mother, a local country. institution. wise woman. Yet , in the eyes of the Quebec "The university has certain Writers' Federation, Other Conun­ advantages, but it also has a way of Drawing on life experiences drums is a Quebec book, and wor­ marking you apart from being able Strange as the story may be, Stems thy of the shortlist for its 200 l First to participate in alternative com­ vowed that "almost everything I wrote Book Award. Nobody was more munities because you're now in about came from life. " She was surprised and delighted than some ways part of the main­ exploring how we cope with loss, par­ Gagnon. stream." ticularly now that we have replaced "I definitely think of myself as a Gagnon is currently finishing a religious faith with science, and she Quebec writer," she said. "My work second book, co-written with has used her quirky imagination to do is about issues o[ identity and cul­ Toronto videomaker and critic this. ture, and so the shift back to Mon­ Richard Fung. There's something irresistible about treal is exciting for me, because it After its completion, she says, a priest who would feed his commu­ forces me to rethink a lot of the she'll have to revisit another period nicants bits of paper with words on relations that were forrnational to in the 90s: her PhD dissertation. them, and a baker who wants to bake my identity." She plans to revise her work on a woman's effigy and serve it up to race and Disney films. her family. Cultural politics "That's something which has It's hard to let these lovable charac­ Gagnon left Montreal after com­ been on the back burner," she said, ters go when the book is finished , pleting her undergrad degree at mock-groaning at the idea of sifting Stems admitted. "The time between Concordia in 1982. Active in inde­ through two huge boxes of Mickey books is one of anxiety for me. For a pendent cultural communities in Mouse research she has accumulat­ while, these characters were the only Toronto and Vancouver, she spent ed, "that I have to move to the steady community I had." 10 years writing criticism and Monika Kin Gagnon's first book is an exploration of culture and identity. front burner."

More recent books with a Concordia connection Art Matters gears up

rofessor Peter Rist has just published da. Dagenais's book is La fin de la f amille mod­ ogue (essays) and a forthcoming novel, Lola for another year Pa major reference work, Guide to the erne: Signification des transformations contem­ By Night . He also edited a short story Cinema(s) of Canada. It is pan of a series, poraines de la f amille (Les Presses de anthology called Great Stories of the Sea. His or the second year, the student-run festival Art Reference Gui.des to the World's Cinema, !Universite Laval). He won the Prix Jean­ latest book is Not Quite Mainstream: Jew­ FMatters will showcase works from rising Con­ published by Greenwood Press, of West­ Charles-Falardeau, given for the best work in ish Canadian Short Stories, which was just cordia artists. There was a great turnout for an infor­ port, Conn. French in the social sciences. The prizes were published by Red Deer Press. mation session and party at Reggie's on Nov. 28, The publication was celebrated at a party announced at a reception at the National according to film studies student Katharine Harris, in the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema library of Canada in Ottawa on Nov. 24. Jeffrey Moore can stop teaching in the the festival coordinator. studio on Guy St. on Nov. 30. It was translation program for a while. After win­ The two-week festival began last year as part of attended by most of his 20 collaborators on David Homel, who has taught in the ning the $10,000 Best First Novel Com­ the 25th anniversary of the Faculty of Fine Arts. It the project, who are to be congratulated for translation program of Etudes franylises in monwealth Prize last year, he signed a was a huge success, attracting some 400 participants this significant contribution to Canadian 1983 and intermittently in creative writing, two-book deal with the leading London lit­ and encouraging inter-Faculty projects such as the film scholarship. Collaborators who attend­ is as well known to French-speaking as to erary publishing house Weidenfeld and "Teach Engineers to Paint" workshop. ed were Donato Totaro, Dave Douglas, English-speaking Quebec readers. With Nicolson that could be worth even more. Harris would like to see greater participation by Louis Goyette, Paul and Helen Salmon, Ian Fred R. Reed, Homel won the Governor­ He made his breakthrough to the big time creative writers this year, such as poets and fiction Elliot, Judes Dickey, Alain Dubeau and General's Award for Translation this year, with his novel Prisoner in a Red-Rose Chain. writers. Students in the translation program have Isabelle Morissette. Some of these guests for The Fairy Ring, a rendering into English also been contacted in order to make the festival as traveled from Ontario to congratulate Rist of Le cercle de Gara, by Martine Desjardins. Matthew Santatcresa works in Human bilingual as possible. and his longtime companion Shelley Cole­ Resources and Employee Relations, but he's Art Matters is scheduled for March 1-15. Submis­ man, who were married earlier in the day. Norman Ravvin holds the chair in also a published poet. His latest collection, sion proposal forms are available in VA-250 or can Canadian Jewish studies at Concordia. He's published by the Mansfield Press (Toronto) be obtained by emailing [email protected]. Congratulations to Daniel Dagenais, a prolific - his books include Cafe des West­ is called A Beggar's Loom. Matt took the The deadline for proposals is Jan. 15. new tenure-track professor in the Sociology ens (a novel), Sex, Skyscrapers, and Stan­ graduate creative writing program at Con­ Festival organizers are also looking for volunteers and Anthropology Department, who won dard Yiddish (short stories), A House of cordia. His past two years have been espe­ to fill various positions. Anyone interested should one of four book prizes given by the Human­ Words: Jewish Writing, Identity, and Memory cially productive; he will bring another send an email to the above address. ities and Social Sciences Federation of Cana- (essays), Hidden Canada: An Intimate Travel- collection out with Mansfield next spring. -Anna Bratulic

Co n cp rdia ·s Thursday R e port DEC EM BER. 6 , 2 Q.O 1 , , . 7 ·~ · Keefer-Marouf case thrown out of court Plunging into another historical story he university was successful Nov. 22 in its motion to have the injunc­ A glimpse of historian Natalie Zemon Davis's next work T tion proceedings against the university instituted by Tom Keefer and Laith Marouf thrown out. BY F RAN K KU IN autobiographical material, as well as the real Guerre. Many townspeople, The pair had requested an injunction against the university because they the love story. including Martin's wife, Bertrande, were excluded from Concordia as the result of an altercation with security oncordians were treated last However, Davis, a pioneer in apparently believed him - until the guards in the summer. Preliminary sessions to hear arguments for and C week to a sneak preview of the women's history since the 1970s, has real Martin appeared near the end of against the injunction were held Oct. 10 and Oct. 25, and the pair were next work by acclaimed historian -undertaken to tell the story from a trial held to establish the imposter's granted limited access to the university to fulfill their CSU duties while the Natalie Zemon Davis - an ambigu­ Joanna's perspective - even though identity. case was ongoing. ous tale of romance between a white the woman slave has left no record of Davis proposed a persuasive new In a decision rendered on Nov. 22, the judge accepted the university's captain and a mulatto woman slave the romance. Stedman's account of interpretation, implying Bertrande argument that Keefer and Marouf had not exhausted their internal recourses in colonial South America, steeped in Joanna as simply a "faithful and lov­ had known all along that the new at the university (i.e., an appeal to the Board of Governors), and that there­ the intricacies of cross-cultural rela­ ing friend" does not satisfy her. Martin was an imposter. She proba­ fore their request for an injunction before the courts should be dismissed. tionships. "I hope to construct a possible bly played along, Davis argued, They have 30 days to appeal this decision to the Court of Appeal. At the English Department's annu­ mentality for Joanna, and a sense of because it was in her best interests to In a separate incident, Laith Marouf called a news conference in the lobby al Lahey lecture, Professor Davis how she viewed this marriage," Davis have a husband again. Davis exam­ of the Hall Building on Nov. 26 to announce that he was bringing a com­ regaled faculty and students of Eng­ said. "How would Joanna have ined the historical context of the area, plaint before the Quebec Human Rights Commission against the university, lish and history with her interpreta­ reflected on her relation with a white including themes like the role of B'nai Brith and The Suburban, based on his claim that he had been singled tions of the multicultural plantation captain to her sister slaves?" Was it women in marriage and the degree of out for criticism for his political views. society of late 18th-century Suri­ affectionate or exploitative? A "suc­ their independence, to support her Since he has been excluded from university premises since Aug. 20, the name, on the Caribbean coast of cessful business relation"? Or, seeing argument. police were called, and he was escorted from the building. South America. She has been as Stedman tried to purchase Joanna's Although some historians criticized Keefer initially headed one of the slates running in last week's CSU elec­ researching the subject as part of a freedom, a step "bringing her closer her approach as too speculative, most tion, but he dropped out. new book, due to be completed in to manumission"? praised it as compelling and insight­ about a year's time. Davis engages in such construction ful. Moreover, Martin Guerre estab­ In the lecture, Davis, a professor at by researching contemporary con­ lished Davis's reputation as a highly Princeton University and the Univer­ texts. For instance, by examining engaging storyteller. Pitching in for U.S. public broadcasting sity of Toronto, focused on the mar­ "collateral evidence" on marriage and Now, Davis has set her sights on riage of John Gabriel Stedman, a women slaves in general, both from Joanna, the Suriname slave, as her n the spirit of Canadians' continued support for their southern neigh­ Scottish-Dutch military captain, and literary narratives and historical doc­ new protagonist. She was gripped by Ibours, four Concordia journalism students and their teacher piled into a Joanna, the daughter of a Dutch set­ uments, Davis builds insights into some aspects of Joanna's existence, Volvo and headed to Plattsburgh, NY, on Dec. 2 to help with the Mountain tler and a black woman. Although Joanna's possible motives. such as her links to Dutch settlers, Lake PBS pledge drive. colonial Dutch law prohibited unions Thus, Davis works as a literary slaves, and Maroon rebels; the lan­ The students were inspired to volunteer after the director of program­ between freemen and slaves, the two scholar and as an historian at the guages she spoke, and her mysterious ming for the station, John Flanzer, visited their broadcasting class and sug­ were unofficially married for four same time. "I try to put on both hats," death by poisoning in 1782. gested that they help out. (They admit may also have been motivated by the years in the 1 770s, until Stedman's she said. 'The bottom line for me is "I really liked Joanna," Davis said, fact that anyone who went was guaranteed a spot on television.) return to Europe. more that of a historian, in that I adding that of the two marriage part­ They met at Vendome metro station, where teacher Barry Lazar picked "Both of them were people of want to end up understanding the ners, "she is the more challenging them up. At the station, at 1 Sesame St., they were given a brief training ses­ mixed lives, mixed parentage, multi­ culture and style of a period. But I enigma." Davis came across their sion and took their places on the set to man the phones. ple languages, conflicting loyalties," like the idea of being between fields, story while working on an earlier They competed to see who would get the most pledges, and could be Davis said, explaining her interest in drawing from both of them." book, and has been doing research in glimpsed during the pledge breaks, between tapes of a &e Gees concert and the story, in which many cultural This imaginative approach is remi­ Suriname and in the archives in The singing teenager Charlotte Church. strains are "braided" together. "I want niscent of Davis' critically acclaimed Hague, the former colonial capital. to explore the multiple and contra­ earlier work. Most famously, she used Geographically, the new project is -Carine Karam dictory worlds to which they comparable methods in her 1983 a departure from Davis's first passion: belonged." book The Return of Martin Guerre, a French social and cultural history. "I Stedman produced diaries, a book work of historical research that reads decided I did not want to do any and drawings of his detachment in more like a novel. With Davis's coop­ more writing that was only situated Registration via the Web at Concordia Suriname, which serve as an impor­ eration, it was made into a movie in Europe," Davis explained. tant source for Davis's research. Sted­ starring Gerard Depardieu. "There are stories I very much t is now possible for undergraduate program, visiting and independent man' s narrative is a versatile In Th e Return of Martin Gu erre, want to tell about people who once Istudents to register online for Concordia. Students can access the new document, with descriptions of flora Davis reinterpreted the case of a lived in the rain forests of Suriname, system from the Quick Links section on Concordia's main Web site. and fauna , accounts of hostilities 16th-century imposter in a French or along the shores of the St. Assistant Registrar Terry Too added that undergraduate students, visiting between rebelling Maroons and the village, who took on the identity of Lawrence, or plied the caravan routes and independent students will still be able to register via CARL. Scots Brigade in which he served , Martin Guerre after a long absence of of North Africa ." Knowledge is the best remedy against bioterrorism: student seminar

BY RO BERT SCALIA limit injury and loss of life. "The only and if diagnosed early, it can be treat­ Laporte pointed out that roughly Laporte said, "Going out and buy­ thing you can do is educate your­ ed with antibiotics. Laporte's seminar, 60,000 scientists like Alibekov were ing a gas mask will not help you in a orge t the gas mask - get selves, try to understand the symp­ punctuated by chilling slides, walked effectively unemployed aft er 1992 biological attack, even though they Finformed. It may not be the most toms and the signs, and know how to the audience through the history of and became attractive acquisitions for are selling like hotcakes now." While reassuring advice for anyone who help each other if need be." bio-terrorism. From poisoning water terrorist organizations and rogue they might help in chemical attacks, now cringe at the sight of a crop­ Laporte said it's crucial to note supplies in ancient Athens to plague­ nations jostling for international most deadly microbes are odorless duster, but it was the underlying unusual infections, such as flu out­ infested fleas in Japan, people have leverage. The U.S. proved with their and tasteless, meaning you would message at a student-organized event breaks in summer or an entire office experimented with biological warfare. "undercover" Project Bacchus that have to wear it all the time. "That's called the Bio-Terrorism Public staff getting sick at the same time, like Why? Because it's relatively inexpen­ anyone can start a BW program with just unthinkable." Awareness Conference held at Con­ the recent anthrax cases in the U .5. sive, easy to produce, there's a delay about $1 million (US), purchasing Major J.P.M. Tardif, from the cordia on Nov. 30. "If you discover blisters on your from onset until detection, and popu­ the necessary equipment from local Directorate of Nuclear, Biological and "There's nothing you guys can do hands, for example, don't take the lations who are not immunized are stores and the Internet. Chemical Defence, in Ottawa,gave an to prevent an attack," explained subway to go to the hospital. Call 911 vulnerable. Larry Wayne Harris, a white overview of the response of Depart­ Robert Laporte, a Concordia student and they will send the right people to The deadliest biological and chemi­ supremacist leader in the U.S., was ment of National Defence and the specializing in cellular and molecular your home." cal agents, however, were developed able to order the plague through the Canadian Forces to nuclear, biologi­ biology, who gave a lively history of Classes of biological agents include under the watchful eye of Dr. Kanat­ mail after learning of the sarin gas cal and chemical terrorist incidents. biowarfare and described the most bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, fungi and jan Alibekov, a scientist in the Soviet attack on Tokyo's subway system in He said DND has maintained a commonly used biological agents. toxins. Smallpox is a deadly and program Biopreparat that blossomed 1997, Laport said. When the FBI response capability since the Montre­ The responsibility to meet such highly contagious virus, but vaccine during the 1970s. Alibekov defected finally tracked him down, "he had al Olympic Games in 1976. attacks lies with all of us, and rapid is efficacious during the first week of to the U.S. in 1992 after funding for enough anthrax in his trunk to kill all -Thanks to Sonia Ruiz, Department intervention by local responders can exposure. Antrax is not infectious, the program waned. of las Vegas." of Biology,for additional information.

'._8- , ' . ... DECEMBER &; 2001 · .. C o n co rdia ' s Thurs·day Rep6rt · Designing play structures for bored chimps Canada Research Chair named continued from front page he students in Howard Davies' T design course may have "Substance abuse and mental disorders are characterized by problems of enriched the lives of an unusual local drive and impulse control that impair a person's ability to structure behav­ population - 18 chimpanzees living iour toward future goals," Arvanitogiannis explained. "These problems also in a South Shore shelter. reflect disturbances in basic brain mechanisms of goal-directed behaviour." The Fauna Foundation is a private- He expects that greater understanding of the neurobiological basis of goal­ 1y- run, government-certified non­ directed behaviour will reveal new approaches to treating substance abuse profit organization that serves as a and mental disorders. sanctuary for neglected and abused The second area that interests him is circadian rhythms, or the biological farm and circus animals and former clock that seems to guide rhythmical aspects of behaviour: "This system is biomedical research chimpanzees. . well worked out; we know where it is located, and we know a lot about the Intelligent and athletic, these molecular biology of it." chimpanzees needed challenging He noted that the values of certain goals can change over time. For exam­ play structures. Fauna itself was also ple, sleep won't have a high value at lunchtime, but food will. He hopes that looking for a design for a publicity putting what is known about the brain's reward system and the circadian kiosk that would use graphic and system together will bring new revelations about the way different systems digital media to communicate infor­ in the brain interact with each other. mation about their activities, and Arvanitogiannis will explore the behavioural, cellular and molecular about such controversial issues as the mechanisms by which specialized neural circuits interact to produce moti­ use of animals in the entertainment vated, goal-directed behaviour. He explained that "the control of behaviour business. is the outcome of an interaction among multiple, interconnected neural sys­ tems with specialized roles. Students apply their skills "In other words, changes in behaviour as a function of time may be relat­ Gloria Grow and Diana Goodrich, members of the Fauna Foundation, look The students worked on the pro­ ed to endogenous (internal) rhythms, physiological state, external stimuli at a model by students Kerry Harmer, Morgan Charles and Karla Smith. On ject over five weeks in October and our front page is photo with a close-up of a model of an information kiosk. that are significant for survival, and knowledge derived from prior experi­ November in DART 310, a core ence about where, when and what predict the occurrence of these incentive course in the Design Art program said. "Not only does it offer an party out of it, with vegetarian cui­ stimuli." He plans to analyze these components individually, then study that looks at ways young designers opportunity for them to learn some­ sine. For their part, the Fauna Foun­ their interactions. can use their skills for the greater thing about the pros and cons of ani­ dation inteni:ls to build some of the community. mal testing, but it also took play structures and kiosks in the next Davies, who is a professional advantage of a wide range of skills, few months, and will use the models Food drive ends on December 19 designer as well as their teacher, was including two- and three-dimension­ and drawings produced by the stu­ contacted by Fauna last summer. al design, as well as digital." dents as a method of fundraising. he Birks Student Service Centre, LB-185, has been added to the drop­ "I was pretty sure that this was the The students were delighted to be For more information about the T off points for contributions to the food/clothing/toy drive for Chez perfect type of problem for our stu­ able present their work to the Fauna Fauna Foundation, consult their Web Doris and Benedict Labre House. dents in this particular course," he group on Nov. 28. They made a site, at wwwjaunafoundation.org. While the drive doesn't end until Dec. 19, the organizers hope as much material as possible is donated by Dec. 17, so that it can be delivered by the last. day of the drive. Many thanks to everyone who has generously con­ tributed, and to the men in Distribution Services, who did their bit by col­ A unique opportunity to train German and Dutch army corps lecting donation boxes from offices.

Journalism students hone skills on the army A virtual peek at the new buildings

BY SIGALIT HOFFMAN Bedard said the Ge rman-Dutch participated in the program. Scalia e invite you take a virtual look at the buildings being constructed corps chose the PPC because of its has freelanced for the Concordia stu­ W and planned for Concordia. A video representation of the new Loy­ ix Concordia journalism stu­ long tradition of peacekeeping. 'They dent press and CTR, and Sevigny is a ola Science Complex and downtown homes for Engineering and Computer Sdents returned from a 12-day looked all over the world for training, freelance writer for The Suburban. Science, Fine Arts and the John Molson School of Business is now available simulation exercise with reporting and decided to choose Canada Sevigny said that thanks to the Jour­ on the Building Concordia's Future site at: http://buildings.concordia.ca. experience and a newfound respect because the preparation from the nalism Department, their writing for the military. PPC was the best," he said. skills were up to the task. 'The first couple of days were very The two are considering integrat­ difficult, because nobody knew what Simulated crises ing foreign reporting into their writ­ they were talking about," said third­ During the simulation, Nova Scotia ing careers, thanks to their year journalism student Albert Sevi­ became a fictitious country and every experience in Cornwallis. Sevigny, gny. After a few days of practice, day, a new crisis, like a collapsed who plans to make peacekeeping though, he said, laughing, the bridge or a minefield, would arise. into a beat, or specialty, said the reporters had the army delegates "We had [to write about] every­ experience gave him a newfound "running for their lives" with their thing from storms to child soldiers respect for the armed forces . probing questions. and mass graves," said Robert Scalia. "Do not believe for a minute that The group, along with representa­ Each student represented a different the military is a silly organization," he tives from several non-governmental media outlet and wrote about the said. "They're very professional peo­ organizations, was sent to train the day's events. They would go to a ple." He was pleased to find that the first-ever German and Dutch army press conference every morning at 8 army cares about its troops, and said corps of about 120 high-ranking staff o'clock sharp, and would write three the experience also gave him a new members. The project was held at to four news articles or editorials a perspective on war and peacekeep­ and organized by the Pearson Peace­ day. ing. keeping Centre (PPC) in Cornwallis, It was Scalia's first experience in a "Canada has a long and honorable N.S. The program was meant to newsroom. "People talk in the back­ tradition of peacekeeping, and this is Visitors from Hong Kong ✓ teach the military how to deal with ground. You have to learn to block it going to be the mandate of tomor­ Five members of the City University of Hong Kong recently visited civilian organizations in a post-war out when you're working, but you row's armed forces. Making toilets Concordia, and are seen above in downtown Montreal with Professor situation. also have them as resources." run and making sure that people Balbir Sahni, director of the Centre for International Academic "The army is used to working . Bedard was impressed by the level have water that won't kill them - Cooperation. They are (left to right) Helen Lam, Matthew Chen, Yuk­ alone," said Andre Bedard, the pro­ of expertise the journalism students that's what peacekeeping is all Shan Wong, Dr. Sahni, Diana Ying and Roderick Wong. ject's media coordinator. "We are brought to the exercise, despite a about." Provost and Vice-Rector Research Jack Lightstone and his teaching them how to manage and gruelling schedule. "I was thrilled to Journalism students David count erpart, Dr. Yuk-Shan Wong, signed a general agreement of react to a situation in collaboration have worked with them," he said. Weatherall, Helen Sergakis, Eilis academic cooperation. with other organizations." The "They did a hell of a good job." Quinn and journalism graduate stu­ It is hoped that this will lead to a bilateral exchange of students, media, he explained, are an impor­ Every student journalist had some dent Andrea Huncar also participated with Concordians taking advantage of the new Ministry of Education tant component of civilian life. journalism experience before they in the program. Mobility Bursary, and collaborative research, starting with the Facult ies of Arts & Science and Engineering & Computer Science.

• '- , I • • • • • • • ' ~ .. ,., .. · .,,· , .... •' . ";, c o nco rd i a ·s Th urs d ay R e por t DECEMBER 6, 2 0 01 Stop leduring, start teaching, says American expert

BY SYLVA I N COMEAU . grams, and even helped establish a ties may not have had much opportu­ your help.' But we also need to devel­ "I think it became entrenched sim­ middle school in St. Louis based on nity to acquire book knowledge, but op a curriculum that demands this ply because saying what you know is ohn Bransford is an active-learning the principles of active learning. He many have a detailed understanding kind of collaboration." the easiest way to teach. It is much guru. The Centennial Professor of says that such teaching strategies are of anatomy because they were Motivation is low among many more challenging and difficult for Jychology and Education and co­ a challenge to traditional assumptions hunters." students because they have no sense, professors to create a real learning director of the Leaming Technology about the student mind. beyond their marks, of how they are environment. We find that it is the Center at Vanderbilt University in "We've learned that the 'blank Learning-by-doing model progressing. tenured professors who are ready to Nashville, Bransford told a Concor­ slate' theory of learning is not valid. A learner-centred teaching envi­ "We know that your motivation rethink how they teach, while the dia audience on Nov. 9 that the lec­ Even infants have ideas about the ronment involves "challenge-based" goes up when you are involved in a younger professors worry about how ture model of teaching that still way the world should work, and ele­ learning, in which students learn by class and you are being shown a they will find time to do their dominates North American educa­ mentary ideas about concepts like doing. Bransford displayed charts gauge of how your knowledge and research, so that they can get tenure. tion is becoming obsolete. math." that showed the energy levels of stu­ understanding of a subject is expand­ "Challenging students is more "Many students still believe that Unfortunately, much education dents, according to his research. ing. How well you memorized some­ challenging for the professors, education is about a teacher telling a fails to take advantage of that base of "What makes students feel ener­ thing is not such a gauge." although it's also more rewarding for student what to learn, what they ingrained knowledge by requiring gized? They are most energized when Another problem is a divided both." should know. But we know that, rote memorization as the main criteri­ presented with a challenge, and least attention span; students go from one Bransford's lecture was co-spon­ even in the lecture model, there is on for success. Students tend to for­ when they listen to a lecture. In the lecture to another with little context sored by the Concordia University active learning. When you are listen­ get most of what they memorized lecture model, their level of excite­ for the information they are expected Visiting Lecturers Progam, the ing to a lecture, you are constructing soon after the exam. "Instead of sim­ ment and energy only goes up during to absorb. Department of Education, the Centre your own interpretation." ple memorization, I think it is crucial a demo. After his lecture, Bransford was for the Study of Learning and Perfor­ Bransford is an advocate for going for students to understand funda­ "In an ideal world, professors asked why the lecture mode became mance (CSLP) and McGill Universi­ beyond the one-way delivery of infor­ mental concepts; teachers should would be saying, 'Here's a problem so dominant in education if it is rela­ ty's Department of Educational and mation from professor to student. He explain the why of a subject. That's a we need to solve, and I would like tively ineffective. Counselling Psychology. is the author of seven books and co­ way of paring down the mile-wide, author of How People Learn. His inch-deep curriculum." research into teaching methods and Bransford believes that teaching technologies involves changing the should be "learner-centred" in many A vision is needed for teaching technologies curriculum at St. Louis and Nashville ways, such as building on students' schools from kindergarten ~o Grade 8. existing strengths. Strategic collaboration founded on academic mission is key He and his colleagues have devel­ "We need to build bridges to what oped innovative computer, videodisc, people already know. For example, DENNIS D I CKS, AS SOCI ATE authorware services (e.g. WebCT) clear strategic goals founded on an CD ROM and Internet teaching pro- people from foreign rural communi- PROFESSOR O F EDU CA TIONA L and formative evaluation of specific academic mission, and have moved TECHNO LOGY projects. towards those goals by forming I am most familiar with the work collaborative consensus among all y January 2002, Concordia in the John Molson School of Busi­ the stakeholders: IT units, libraries, Plan your future on HR's Web site Bintends to have every class­ ness, where over the past five years faculty , staff, students, business room with more than 50 seats con­ faculty have worked closely with partners, alumni, even parents. ant to know whether you can afford to retire early? Whether you nected wirelessly to our internal the team at the Centre for Instruc­ Drawing on this wisdom, follow­ W should choose a basic or a contributory pension? What kind of health computer system and hence to the tional Technology to create four ing a strategic plan, teaching tech­ insurance plan is best for you? Now you can figure it out from the comfort of Internet. Furthermore, the univer­ different "laptop university" pro­ nology applications in the John your own computer, thanks to a new benefits Web site launched by Human sity will endeavour to make laptop jects; to enrich dozens of courses Molson School have been designed Resources and Employee Relations. computers available to students at with FirstClass groupware; to to support its strengths in specific Unlike the Employee Self-Service facility we told you about in CTR's Sept. a modest annual cost (CT R, 2 7 deliver an entire program, the niches - not to move on-line 13 issue, this one doesn't require a PIN number. It's a sophisticated calculator May 2001). These very substantial Global Aviation MBA, to students holus bolus. accessed through Internet Explorer that can help you try out various scenarios. commitments suggest we have a in 10 countries; to launch another Success demands collaboration To access the benefits calculator, go to www.concordia.ca/hr, then go to the central plan for promoting the use MBA program linking students in on a focused plan because of the Benefits section and choose "A World to Discover." You can choose from of teaching technologies. Montreal and Toronto via video­ scale of investment required by "Money," "Health ," and "life Events." conference; to support 20 or so teaching technologies and the per­ For instance, you could enter your birth date, your dates of hire and of entry Faculty Initiatives teaching technology projects initi­ vasiveness of their impacts. Teach­ to the pension plan, your sex and marital status, your current salary and your Meantime, a variety of Faculty­ ated by faculty; and to host a major ing technologies cost lots and retirement date, at age 65 or earlier. Add an estimated inflation rate (say, 3 per specific initiatives head us in that conference on educational technol­ depreciate quickly. They need staff cent), an estimated salary increase, and the average rate of return on your direction. Some of these arise from ogy. to build and maintain them. They RRSP, if you have one. The pension projection tool will tell you what your a major grant from the McConnell change the way faculty communi­ annual pension is likely to be under those circumstances. Foundation (T ransfarming Teaching Broad strategy needed cate with students. They change Gilles Bourgeois, Executive Director of HR & ER, said that a month-long and Learning al Concordia An impressive array of activity the way students learn. "sneak preview" of the benefits Web site elicited about 20 responses, all of University, 1999). across the university-but is there In sum, they force substantive them favourable. Others draw upon funds provid­ a broad strategy underlying this change in the way the parts of the The department plans to send future bulletins by e-mail first, following up ed by Quebec to subsidize pro­ variety? Where are we headed with university work together, in the with printed material for employees who require or prefer it. This is a reverse grams which promote new skills or wirelessly connected classrooms? allocation of human and material of previous practice, and an indication of how thoroughly the computer has knowledge in information tech­ Why will we encourage students to resources, in systems governing become the communications medium of choice at Concordia. nologies. They take such visible arrive With their laptops? So they faculty workload and incentives. If Information sessions, providing opportunities to ask HR/ER personnel spe­ form as videotaped lectures avail­ will have something more interest­ we do not understand and address cific questions about these Web sites, will be held Tuesday.Jan. 15, in H-762, able on demand; multimedia ing to do than listen to the prof? the concerns of all the stakehold­ one from 12:15 to 1 p.m., and from 1:15 to 2 p.m. There will also be a session course materials using the Web; A cautionary view of this trend ers, experience shows resistance on the Loyola Campus, on Friday.Jan. 19, in AD-308, from 12:15 to 1 p.m. groupware or other delivery sys­ emanates from a conference spon­ will grow. tems; "learning objects" addressing sored by the Canadian Association To date, the organizations that specific teaching goals; common of University Teachers (CAUT), have attained relative success in lwl Concordia curriculum for multisection cours­ with sessions like Implications for implementing broad teaching tech­ ~ UNIVERSITY es; and so on. Workload, Faculty Control of Con­ nology strategies are small - a few Significantly, at least three Facul­ tent and Curriculum (November 2- thousand students, a few hundred Mission Statement ties have hired "instructional 4 , 2001). Past experience does faculty. Can large universities like THE SENATE STEERING CoMMITI"EE is seeking suggestions for updating the text of designers," staff specifically man­ indicate that we have to do more ours work to a common strategy? the University's mission statement. The statement has not been revised in a decade, dated to help faculty implement than follow the herd to draw last­ ls that an appropriate aspiration? and Senate wishes to suggest to the Board of Governors revisions so that the mission statement better reflects the University's current reality, teaching technology projects. llTS ing benefit from technology's These questions are the subject of academic plans and directions. and the Centre for Teaching and promises. policy research in the Educational The current Concordia University Mission Statement is available at Leaming Services also support fac­ Those who appear to have Technology program. I don't know http://registrar.concordia.calcalendarlgeneral.html. ulty development in this area drawn such benefits from teaching the answers. But I know we do Please submit your suggestions by Dec. 31, 2001 to Danielle Tessier, Secretary of the Board through workshops, helpdesks, technologies have started with have to ask. of Governors and Senate, by fax (848-8649) or email (da [email protected]).

1 o' DE CE MB'E'R 6, 'l'0-0 1 " co ,1 o rdi a's 1h'ursdav R P.on , ~ Great Scott! Regimbald a proud papa as son wins Grey Cup Delayed CSU election Concordia's claim to Grey Cup fame results expected today

BY JOHN AUS TE N BY SI GALIT HO FFM AN ssistant Registrar Peter Regim­ A bald says that Sunday, Nov. 25 , essica Lajambe, chief electoral officer for the Concordia Student Union was the longest day of his life. It was Jelection, was worried that her efforts to bring in a new student govern­ fille d with trepidation, anticipation ment would have been for nothing. But now she has new hope that the - and ultimately, much celebration election results might not be challenged. at the Olympic Stadium. "I received a lot of complaints," she said, "but complaints are not contes­ Regimbald's son Scott is a member tations." An official challenge could have led to the election being annulled. of the Calgary Stampeders, who won Though Lajambe admitted "these elections have been more heated than the Grey Cup, beating the Winnipeg normal," she hopes the measures she has taken will keep the election valid. Blue Bombers in front of more than The CEO extended regular voting until last Friday in a last-ditch effort to 61,000 fans at the Big 0. "It was a keep the election viable. She also gave students whose votes were disquali­ long, agonizing day for [wife Diane] fied until yesterday to recast their ballots. and me, but in the end, it was a very exciting moment," Pete said. "To see Temporary disqualification Scott compete for the national cham­ Lajambe temporarily disqualified the Representative Union (RU) at the pionship and then win it in his home Assistant Registrar Peter Regimbald, and his son Scott, a Stampeder. start of the election last Tuesday. She made the decision after Luis Diaz, town was just tremendous." presidential candidate for the New Organized Way (NOW), brought her a The Stampeders arrived in Montre­ football in Lennoxville for the Cham­ last year by the Stampeders. "He's tape of a conversation he had with the RU's VP communications candidate, al six days before the game, and Scott plain Cougars. He then contacted proven to be very versatile," Peter Nilli Yavin. On the tape, Yavin allegedly tried to convince Diaz to drop out was able to visit his parents in their more than 50 schools in the U.S. said. "He can play fullback , tight end, of the electoral race in exchange for a student leadership position or spon­ Pointe Claire home for a few minutes about the possibility of getting a tackle, slotback and wideout. From sorship in next year's election. "Maybe it wasn't a paid position, [but] it was each day. "He even took Diane out to scholarship. all accounts, they're very happy with a position of power," Lajambe said. "That equally can be understood as lunch. Believe it or not, they went to He had several offers from the likes him in Calgary." bribery, or at least a corruption of power." However, she restored the RU la Belle Province for a poutine." of Maryland and Kentucky, but even­ Scott lives year-round in Calgary around noon on Tuesday after receiving a letter from a lawyer representing While he rarely offers his son tips, tually chose the University of Hous­ and trains five days a week to keep in RU presidential candidate Chris Schulz threatening legal action. Peter Regimbald knows a thing or ton, where he played for - the shape. He's about to enter his option "The legality of this alleged recording is highly questionable at best," two about football himself. Growing Cougars. year with the Stampeders. retorted Schulz to The Unk. "Lajambe is using this as an excuse to disqualify up in Lachine, he played for the Juve­ "For a Canadian kid to step in and "He's remained pretty much us." nile Lakers before spending four play four years at a top school like injury-free throughout his career," his Lajambe said she allowed the RU back on the ballots for the same reason years with the NDG Junior Maple that and letter every season is quite father said. "He's an intense physical she had originally disqualified it: to prevent the election from being contest­ Leafs in the late 1950s and early 60s. something," Peter said. player. He's always been very focused ed. However, the students who voted on Tuesday morning filled in ballots He made it to the professional ranks, "I remember watching him play a and driven." with the RU candidates' names crossed off. Lajambe and her helpers tried to playing for the Montreal Alouettes in game in Tennessee in front of more Peter says his son is happy in Cal­ reach each of these 400-500 students and offer them the chance to vote 1964. than 104,000 people. That was an gary, but like every football player, he again. Scott, 26, began his football career incredible experience, and he played still harbours dreams of playing in in the West Island where he was a very well. He's good in high-pressure the National Football League. "You Mixed reactions among students star member of the Lakeshore Peewee situations." never know," Peter said. "He always Though the election might still be called into question, the results should Cougars at the age of 13. He left Scott, who played tight end at uni­ accomplishes what he sets out to do, be announced today. Anyone who wants to contest the election will have home four years later to play CEGEP versity, was drafted in the first round so nothing would really surprise me." three days to do so once the results are announced. The confusion during the election sparked controversy among the com­ peting parties and drew mixed reactions from students. "I think it's unfair .I towards the Representative Union," said second-year biochemistry student Yamilee Jacques. "That's politics - they always pull out some dirty tricks Stingers still competitive, individuals shine - but to disqualify them, I thought it was kind of pushing it." Alex Wasylyk, a first-year software engineering student, said the incident BY JOHN AUSTEN second time this year to Laval, suc­ urday before falling 7 -4 to Royal Mili­ didn't sway him, but he would still like to see the New Organized Way win. cumbing 86-53. tary College on Sunday. The Stingers "They seem very representative of the student body, and that's very impor­ ommer Christie, a third-year sci­ "I think by the end of the year we have a 5-6-1 record heading into the tant given the fact that the current CSU was not representative of all of my Sence student in athletic therapy, can beat Laval," said Stinger co-cap­ Christmas break. needs." has been invited to join Canada's tain Phil Langlois. "They're big and The women's hockey team (5-2-1) national senior women's rugby team fast, but with a lot of work we'll com­ will host the Theresa Humes Tourna­ for monthly practices. pete. We're just not good enough to ment at the Ed Meagher Arena from Christie, 22 and a Quebec confer - beat them right now. We're definitely jan. 2 to 4. The Lady Stingers swing Hockey players help shelter ence all-star, will work out with the lacking some size on our side." back into regular season action Jan. he Stinger men's hockey team, along with coach Kevin Figsby, helped team in Kingston, Ont. , with the Coach John Dore agreed. "We're a 11 when they host McGill. The men T with a fundraiser for a shelter recently, unloading a tractor-trailer full of hope of making the Canadian squad step or two away from competing will play the same day, travelling to 40-lb. boxes of oranges. ./ for the World Cup, to be held next with Laval, but it will come," said Trois-Rivieres. Next home game in The shelter, L'Abri en ville, found that their usual helpers weren't available, May. Dore. 'There are a number of good Jan. 13, when they host the McGill and sent out a call for help. The players readily agreed, and spent the morn­ teams out there, including the Redmen. ing, including some of their usual practice time, unloading the fruit at St. Stingers see Red [McGill] Redmen." Chris Page, of the men's hockey Andrew's Dominion Douglas Church. Tearns from the pesky university in The Laval men's team is the No. 2- team, and Kristina Steinfort, of the the provincial capital - Universite ranked team in Canada. They use women's basketball team, were Laval - continue to give the Stingers their size and strength to advantage named Concordia Stinger athletes of Alumni Recognition Awards fits. After beating out Bishop's, McGill and are a combined 11-1 this season the week, to wrap up the month of and Concordia for the second straight (3-0 in regular season action, and 8-1 November. Nominations are invited for the following: year in football action, it's now the in pre-season). After competing in • Humberto Santos Award of Merit • Benoit Pelland Distinguished boys and girls of the hardwood that separate holiday tournaments, both Big mat attack Service Award • Honorary Life Membership • Outstanding Student have the p.ation talking. Stinger squads will resume confer­ Toni Ronci, of the Concordia Award • Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching • Both the Laval Rouge et Or men's ence action Jan. 12. wrestling team, finished first in his Nominations should be sent to: and women's basketball teams are fly­ weight class (65 kg) at the Eastern The Office of University Advancement and Alumni Relations, ing - and both scored wins over Hockey team does the splits Canadian men's Championships, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W ., Concordia last weekend at Concordia The men's hockey team, coached held Nov. 25 in Fredericton, N.B. Montreal, H3G 1 MS, or by fax to (514) 848-2826. Gym. The Lady Stingers were com­ by Kevin Figsby, split its two games The men's teamis currently ranked Deadline: January 15, 2002 petitive, but lost 88°83 in double in Kingston last weekend. The 10th in the country, while the For more information, please call 848-3820. overtime, while the men lost for the Stingers doubled Queen's 8-4 on Sat- women are ranked seventh.

Co n c ordi_a ·s Thur_sd_ay R_e port DEC EM-BER 2 2 , 2-0 0 1 • ,... : Join our team by calling 848-7454 or thing you want to talk about - the peers ros and buses No. 51, 102 and 103. $350. email [email protected]. are there to listen. It's free and it's confi­ Call Ginette at 483-4754. dential. If you want to talk to someone Danse2001 who understands what it is like to be a For rent The Department of Contemporary Dance student and who may be experiencing the Westmount adjacent, 6 1/2 upper duplex, presents student works, Dec. 7-8, 8pm, same thing, then drop by the Peer Centre. 3 bedrooms, sunny, newly renovated, Dec. 9, 2:30pm. Studio 303, 372 Ste­ We're located at 2090 Mackay, room 02 hardwood floors, big balconies, fridge, backpage Catherine W. #303 (corner Bleuryl. For stove and dishwasher, walk to Metro Villa (downstairs). Monday to Thursday, 11 am information: 848-4740 Maria. $1430. Call 781-4487 or 483-4626. Events, notices and classified ads must reach the Public Relations Department to 5pm. Feel free to call us at 848-2859 or e-mail us at [email protected]. (BC-115) in writing no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, the week prior to the Islamic Awareness exhibition Car for sale Thursday publication. Back Page submissions are also accepted by fax (848- The Muslim Student Association is offer­ 1998 Honda Accord, less than 230,00l km. ing free daily lftar dinners during the New battery, good condition, nice colour. 2814) and e-mail ([email protected]). For more information, please contact month of Ramadan until Dec.1 6, in H-711 Theatre Only $1 ,00l. Call 529-7594 after 6pm. Debbie Hum at 848-4579. at 4:20pm (sunset). With thanks to the Dean of Students Office. Info: Bilal The Laamed Ladies Sublet wanted Hamideh 817-5477 or visit www.concor­ Ralph Allison directs this Moliere comedy Coming to teach at Concordia, looking for Decen1ber 6 - January Io diamsa .com. which takes place in an upper bourgeois accommodation. Furnished preferred but household in 17th-century Paris, depicting not necessary, willing to share. SWF, non­ Concordia Christian Fellowship a household out of balance. Dec. 7, 8, 14, smoker, no pets. Pat at (416) 461-2211 . Friday, Decamber 14 Reflections Join international and Canadian students 15, at the D.B. Clarke Theatre, Hall Build­ A time to build community with like-mind- College Notre-Dame Annual Christmas Applied from different departments in the univer­ ing, 8pm. Box Office: 848-4742 Fun for sale ed people, be introspective, reflect on the concert, 7:30pm. Featured are the Wind sity for a time of refreshing in the pres­ Tecno Pro skis (160 cm) with bindings, Psychology Centre Orchestra and Junior and Beginner Harmo- V past week, learn some new ways to incor- ence of God every Friday ~ 7pm at 2085 poles and Nordica boots (282 mm); Dynas­ porate spirituality into your daily living. ny Ensembles. Call 739-3371 , ext. 2499. The Applied Psychology Centre in the Bishop, Room 107. For more information tar skis (160 cml with bindings, poles and Tuesdays 2:30-4pm, Annex Z, room 105. Unclassified Department of Psychology offers confiden- visit our website at http://alcor.concor­ Nordica boots (290 mm). Each package Ellie Hummel - 848-3590 or email hel- Sunday, December 16 dia.ca/-ccf. Forsale 85$. Mireille at (450) 686-6915. tial psychotherapy and assessment for [email protected]. The Music Department presents a piano Brand new Playstation 2, $379. Call 578- adults, couples, families, children and recital, with students of Gregory Chaver- Sailing adventure Sen,ices offered 2347 or 722-5439. teenagers. By appointment only: 848-7550. dian, at 2pm. Music will include works by Oberlin College Sailing Club in coopera­ Tutor available. Experienced, with univer­ Chopin, Schumann, Bach and Prokofiev. tion with Class Afloat coordinated by sity science degree. Could also help with Centre for Teaching Tickets at the door, $5, free for students. Apartment to share Wojtek Wacowski, former Chief Mate of Large fully furnished 6 1/2 one block from term papers, research projects and lan­ and Learning Services the S.V. Concordia, is organizing a Art Sunday, December 16 Berri-UOAM metro station. Part-time lec­ guage translation courses. Call 408-0247. 'Caribbean Adventure' in January. The Suzuki Institute Christmas concert - stu- turer wishing to share with visiting faculty Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery To register for any of the following work- voyage is planned for Jan. 4-18 on the Computer, Net courses dents of all ages perform repertoire stan- or mature student. Ava ilable Jan. 1st, Monday to Friday 11am-7pm; Saturday shops, please contact 848-2495 or route : San Juan, Puerto Rico - Martinique Word, Excel , PowerPoint, Access, Inter­ dards, 7pm. Free. possibility of sublet renewal in July. 7pm -5pm; closed Sundays. 1400 de [email protected], or visit our Web - Guadeloupe - Antigua - St. Maarten - net, Maintenance. Nadia 824-5410 site: www.concordia.ca/ctls. Please call Luc at 982-2594. Maisonneuve W Free. Info: 848-4750. Wednesday, December 19 BVI - San Juan. Places still available. Visit Travellers club • Defining the Portrait. Until Dec. 15. The Music Department presents a piano our Web sites http://www.voytec.com, Three-day Instructional Skills Workshop Wanted : photographer, writer, French recital at 8pm . A student of Gregory www.oberlin.edu/-ocsail. New books for sale An intensive professional development translator, videographer and travel lovers VAVGallery Chaverdian, Evgenia Kirjner, will perform Comm 21 D(3 books) $59; Comm 215 (with activity which concentrates on refining to form a travellers club. Please phone 7395 Rene-Levesque W Info: 848-7388. her finishing diploma recital. Tickets at minitab) $89; Econo 201 (with study fundamental skills such as writing instruc- Marcia at 48~9259. • Between Layers. An exhibition of tional objectives, preparing lesson plans, the door, $5, free for students. Notices guide) $69. Call 578-2347 or 722-5439. paintings, drawings and prints by Fiona designing pre- and post-assessment Apartment for rent Pali