Queen’s University newspaper of record since 1969 May 11, 2009 Vol. XL No. 9 QUEEN’S GAZETTE Finance system It’s never too late to launch this fall P4 to re-convocate P9 Board unhappy with deficit budget By CELIA RUSSELL and we must take the tough steps plan to get expenses to meet rev- The projected deficit in 2010- summer to adjust the deficit pro- Queen’s Board of Trustees has re- to address this,” said Board Chair enues. The budget includes the first 2011 is $14.6-million; in 2011- jections for Years 2 and 3. luctantly approved a 2009-2010 Bill Young. round of cuts towards a three-year, 2012, it is $8.4-million. The “I think we need to ask the ad- deficit budget. Steep declines in university in- 15-per-cent budget cut to academic accumulated deficit by 2011-2012 ministration to go back to the After extensive debate at its May vestments due to the global eco- and administrative units. is projected to be $33-million, drawing board,” said Mr. Young. 2 meeting, the board authorized a nomic crisis, reduced government “This is the first time in recent which Mr. Young calls “unaccept- “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of $360-million operating budget, funding as a proportion of the op- memory that the university is actu- able.” us.” which carries a $8.3-million deficit. erating budget, and increasing ally budgeting for a deficit,” said The board’s finance committee Several trustees voiced distress “It’s bad financial management compensation pressures led the Bruce Mitchell, board finance com- will be meeting intensely with about the financial situation, say- for us to live beyond our means, university to create a three-year mittee member. university management over the ing that the university needs to See DEFICIT BUDGET: Page 2 Be a Where old student and new for a traditions weekend meet By STEPHANIE EARP By NANCY DORRANCE For staff and faculty who work on What may well become a new tra- campus regularly, MiniU is an op- dition at Queen’s will be launched portunity to rediscover Queen’s, QUEEN’S MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS later this month when alumni re- says organizer Melanie McEwen. Alumnus Andrew Feustel will take this banner, designed by Queen’s Creative Services, into space on Tuesday, May 12. turn to campus for Spring Reunion “It allows us to open our eyes to ’09. what’s happening here, to immerse Scheduled for the weekend of ourselves in the excitement of May 22 to 24, the event will be a re- learning, and discover the hidden Alumnus vaults into space, union in every sense of the word – treasures at Queen’s,” she says. with all the reconnecting, remi- The idea for MiniU was born in niscing and camaraderie that in the 2004 after an alumni survey re- past has been associated with Fall vealed a hunger for an educational fulfilling lifelong dream Homecoming, says Alumni Associ- element to campus visits. From ation president Sarah Renaud there, Ms. McEwen, manager of (ArtSci ’96). But it will also intro- Alumni Education and Outreach, By NANCY DORRANCE “When I arrived in Kingston to duce some intriguing new elements started the research that led to the After a grueling selection process, do my PhD at Queen’s, I still was- for returning graduates. development of MiniU. nine years of training, numerous n’t sure how I was going to pursue “There are a number of unique One school that Ms. McEwen delays and a nerve-wracking, last- this astronaut thing – but it turned offerings, including a ‘re-convoca- and her team visited was Princeton, minute cancellation last fall, all sys- out to be the Canadian connection tion’ ceremony, all-alumni smoker for its alumni weekend. There, re- tems are “go” for alumnus Andrew that got me there,” he said with a and campus tours that showcase union, convocation and educa- Feustel (PhD ’95) to realize his life- laugh. new developments at Queen’s,” tional panels are combined. And long dream of blasting into orbit After completing his PhD in notes Ms Renaud, who along with this year, with MiniU coinciding Tuesday, on the space shuttle At- Mining Seismology under the su- other volunteers has been working with Spring Reunion on May 22 to lantis. pervision of Geological Sciences with Alumni Relations to help pro- 24, the Queen’s campus will be just Safely stowed away in the shut- and Geological Engineering profes- mote and build awareness of the as lively. tle’s storage bay will be a specially- sors Herb Helmstaedt and Paul event. But where Princeton keeps its designed banner depicting Queen’s Young, Dr. Feustel worked for the “Plus, it’s a perfect time of year weekend activities limited to landmark street sign at the corner Kingston-based Engineering Seis- for grads to return and see campus alumni, Queen’s MiniU is open to of University and Union, as viewed mology Group. It was that experi- in full bloom – something they anyone. And with the MiniU a-la- from outside the Earth’s atmos- ence, installing and operating may not have experienced during carte option, where single sessions phere. The banner proclaims: “En- monitoring equipment in a variety their student years.” cost only $20, it’s accessible to gaging the world … and beyond!” of mines, which he now credits as Incoming Alumni Association being critical to his success at NASA everyone. Although he won’t be able to NASA.GOV president Heather Black whole- unfurl the banner during the mis- Andrew Feustel as an astronaut. heartedly agrees with this assess- “MiniU is a great sion, Dr. Feustel notes that it will “Learning how to adapt to con- ment. have spent 11 days in space, along all seven crew members and put fu- fined spaces and claustrophobic en- See SPRING REUNION: Page 9 opportunity to open with the crew. “And after we return ture flights on hold, due to safety vironments, and understanding to Earth, I intend to deliver it to the concerns. Owned by the National your safety and survival needs up Queen’s to the university,” he adds. On a flight in Aeronautics and Space Administra- there, proved to be a great benefit community.” 1999, Canadian astronaut and tion (NASA), the Hubble was in my training for the space pro- Index Queen’s honorary graduate Julie launched into the Earth’s orbit in gram,” says the Michigan native, Forum. 6 Melanie McEwen Payette carried a silkscreen image of 1990. The planned repairs and up- whose wife is from Kingston. In the newly-established Chancellor’s grades on this mission should allow 1997, they moved with their two Discovery @ Queen’s . 5 “MiniU is a great opportunity to Research Award aboard the Shuttle the telescope to function until sons to Houston, where he had ac- For The Record . 12 open up Queen’s to the community Discovery. It now hangs in the 2014. cepted a position as exploration Calendar. 15 – and the Queen’s-Kingston rela- John Reid Bain Periodicals Room in In a recent telephone interview geophysicist with Exxon Mobil Ex- tionship can always benefit from Douglas Library. from his office at NASA’s Johnson ploration Company. Three years For news updates more open doors. Sometimes I A geophysicist, Dr. Feustel will Space Center in Houston, prior to later, he was selected from more visit us online @ think there’s a little bit of fear help install and repair equipment “lockdown” for the scheduled May than 3,000 applicants to train as a www.queensu.ca/newscentre of crossing over into the land of on the Hubble Space Telescope – 12 launch, Dr. Feustel acknowl- mission specialist at NASA. students. But MiniU allows anyone the first such mission since the edged that he always wanted to be From exploring the under- Queen’s News Centre to get a sampling of what it’s like to 2003 Columbia disaster that killed an astronaut. ground depths of North American See MINI U: Page 8 See SPACE: Page 4 IN THE NEWS Page 2 Queen’s Gazette May 11, 2009 Deficit budget IN BRIEF continued from page 1 address spiraling compensation “I’m concerned by statements of the university’s financial situation, costs that comprise more than 70 the faculty association that they as well as posting information on New software per cent of the operating budget, don’t understand the nature of the his financial update website. and that the university can’t wait problem,” said Principal Williams. “All you have to do is ask a ques- for Queen’s until union contracts expire. “It worries me because the clock tion and we will respond,” he said. “We need to throw traditional continues to tick.” “I would just like to make that plea Centre principles about pay out the door, There is a high level of distrust again.” because the options are so brutal,” in the community because of a per- For more information on the Queen’s has chosen Spectrum NG said Trustee David Pattenden. ceived lack of transparency about university’s budget, visit by CSI Software as its new facility Principal Tom Williams told the the budget, Trustee Bev Baines said. www.queensu.ca/principal and recreation software solution for board that discussions about a pro- “I don’t know what we can do to be /financialupdate the Queen’s Centre. posed early retirement program are more transparent. The argument is For information on how to Scheduled to open this fall, the continuing with the Queen’s Uni- being made and I don’t know how apply to the principal’s new Inno- three-storey, 47,000-square-metre versity Faculty Association (QUFA).