December 3, 2009 Vol. 45 No. 33 The University of Western Ontario’s newspaper of record www.westernnews.ca PM 41195534 Huron helps rediscover the Promised Land B Y HEAT H ER TRAVIS “We have learned a lot that we didn’t know before. There’s prob- he written words of Rev. ably still a lot to learn.” Thomas Hughes are trans- Students from the Historian’s Tporting Huron University Craft course highlighted their College students back in time work digitizing and transcribing to the anti-slavery movement in the diary of Hughes. The diary is southwestern Ontario during the a fragile manuscript volume that 1800s. dates back to 1860 and the diary Students in the Historian’s project is a partnership between Craft and the African-American Huron students, the Promised History courses were teamed up Land Project and the Diocese of to host an event Nov. 26 show- Huron Archives. casing the community-based “Hughes worked among some learning initiatives undertaken of the most prominent black abo- this semester, supported by the litionist families of the period, Promised Land Project. and wrote freely about racial The Promised Land Project is difference, class tensions, and a five-year community-university his belief that slavery and racial research alliance, funded by the Reverend Thomas Hughes prejudice were the deepest evils Social Science and Humanities of the age,” says Reid-Maroney, Research Council. Assistant Professor in Huron’s Co-investigator Nina Reid-Ma- Department of History, who also roney says the goal is to recover Promised Land Project grew up in the Dresden area. the historical importance of black n A five-year period (2007-2012) “The diary project has helped history in the Promised Land to study the role and evolution of us see the links between Canadian communities of Chatham-Kent the early black settlements in the and American history. There is as an unrecognized and central Chatham-Kent area, a largely uncel- immediacy to the material that story in Canada’s past. ebrated contribution to the Canadian makes those ideological and intel- experience. Investigators also want to draw lectual connections come to life, n attention to the current relevance At Canada’s birth in 1867, the sixth and helps students recognize that largest population group was peoples of black history as a model of of African descent. black communities in Canada multiculturalism in a global age. were more than the ‘end of the n The Promised Land communities in Members of Christ Church in the 1800s were the centre of a culture underground railroad’ – they were Dresden, Ont. visited the univer- of anti-slavery activism that drew part of a trans-Atlantic culture of sity to meet with students and upon interracial support and forged opposition to slavery. discuss the community’s past links of freedom between Canada, the “There is much in the story in helping African-Americans United States and Britain. of the Dresden mission that can escape slavery. n In the 20th century, the same complicate and enrich our under- The church was founded by communities became the birthplace standing of Canada’s anti-slavery Hughes in 1859 as a “Mission of Canada’s modern civil rights move- culture,” she adds. to Fugitive Slaves in Canada,” ment. The diary project is close to sponsored by the Church of Eng- Huron’s heart. Founder Ben- land’s Colonial Church and School jamin Cronyn and Isaac Hell- Society. This year is the 150th the event. muth, Huron’s first principal, Paul Mayne, Western News anniversary of the congregation. When the church became were directly involved in the Western Philosophy professor Lorne Falkenstein, bottom, enjoys life “It’s great our church has such involved in the project, Pat High- “Mission to Fugitive Slaves” in in the fast lane - at least when cycling at Forest City Velodrome. Falk- a history and is still around,” gate says “we weren’t sure what Dresden. enstein is a competitor at the national level who enjoys the spirit and says congregation member Linda to expect and how it was going strategy of track cycling. Read his story on page 11. DeBurger, who visited Huron for to go. Continued on page 5 Thousands receive accessibility training B Y PAUL MAYNE understand how to take a person’s by Jan. 1, while private sector Specific consideration will be notice will be placed in relevant disability into account. organizations (including unions) given to welcoming persons with locations and, when appropriate, ore than 3,000 leaders Training includes a review of have until 2012. disabilities who use a service on the accessibility website at and staff have received the act and information about “Our training program is well animal, assistive devices or a accessibility.uwo.ca/. Mtraining to ensure the interacting with people who use underway,” says Gitta Kulczycki, support person. There are some The university also says it will campus meets expectations of an assistive device, a service ani- Vice-President (Resources and limitations, such as not allowing provide training on an ongoing the Accessibility for Ontarians mal or a support person; using Operations), speaking at the Nov. service animals into areas where basis to faculty and staff mem- with Disabilities Act (AODA) that equipment or devices in assisting 26 Board of Governors meeting. animals are prohibited by law bers, contractors, volunteers and kicks in Jan. 1. a person with a disability; and University leaders have con- (e.g. health or safety reasons), but others who interact with mem- The new act is being rolled out what to do if there’s difficulty cluded their training, while staff Western promises to find alterna- bers of the public. in several waves, the first being accessing a Western service. training continues until Dec. 9. tives. Feedback about the way West- dedicated to customer service. So far, training has included “We are encouraging sugges- As well, the university will pro- ern provides services to persons The customer service stan- a two- or three-hour workshop, tions from all involved to help us vide notice when there’s a planned with disabilities is encouraged dard stipulates all leaders and depending on the employee’s to develop guidelines and help us or unexpected disruption affect- by visiting accessibility.uwo.ca/ any staff who interact with stu- position as staff or leader. think about how we work when it ing facilities or services used feedback.htm. dents, alumni, retirees or visitors Western must be in compliance comes to accessibility.” by people with disabilities. The INSIDE: Academe 15 | Classified 16 | Coming Events 15 | Student Services Bulletin 15 2 DECEMBER 3, 2009 WESTERN NEWS Psychology/Westminster Hall Walter Zimmerman’s Last Lecture Friday, December 11th, 2009, 12-1pm Photos by Peter Doyle School of Rock? The four members of London rock band The UnderCovers, Mark Doyle, Rob Berlingieri, Andrew North Campus Building, Room 113 Hines and Barry Minty are graduates of The University of Western Ontario. Reception to follow. Photo by: Shawn Simpson After devoting the better part of forty-years to his chosen profession and to The University of Western Ontario, Walter Zimmerman will Lecturer by day, retire from his career as an academic librarian later this month. The Faculty of Information and Media Studies and Western Libraries are delighted to invite members of the Western community to attend Walter Zimmerman’s Last Lecture, an event to mark the occasion rock star by night of Walter’s retirement. Faculty, students, colleagues and friends are invited to listen to Walter share his most memorable moments and lessons B Y S. M. DI LONAR D O practice. While members of The learned, as well as parting thoughts on UnderCovers are dedicated to the ever-changing nature and role of hat hides under the their music, time remains a chal- academic libraries and librarianship. cover of the suit-wearing lenge. “It’s very stressful at times Wlecturer standing before because each band member runs your morning business class? on different schedules, so finding The same man you will later see a time to practice together can be performing your favourite songs very difficult. [That being said], down at the club, The Barking it is enjoyable, and we have gone Frog. through many things to get where University of Western Ontario we are,” says Hines when asked &DPSXV&RPSXWHU6WRUH lecturer Andrew Hines is a busi- about the current challenges his ness teacher by day and a rock band faces. star by night. In the meantime, Hines bal- +ROLGD\6DOH Hines, 23, is the lead singer ances the challenges in his own and guitarist for local band The life, trying to balance both lectur- 1RYHPEHU²'HFHPEHU UnderCovers. As a Richard ing and music. Although lecturing Ivey School of Business gradu- Does this look like your average may not be part of his immedi- ate, Hines utilizes his degree by Western lecturer? Andrew Hines, ate future, it’s still something lecturing first-year business stu- lead singer of London rock band he enjoys very much. He loves dents. However, teaching is not in The UnderCovers, ‘daylights’ as a teaching, especially in a univer- his long-term career plan. business teacher in the Richard Ivey sity setting where he basically “My contract is over at the end School of Business. “gets to walk into class and have of this year. I love teaching, but a conversation” with the students. ultimately I want to go out and Teaching allows him to meet Amazing Holiday do something on my own and Skynrd, Van Morrison, Oasis, interesting people and also make see where it takes me. Maybe Incubus, blink-182, Wild Cherry, an impact on a student’s life.