January , 2006 VOLUME XXXIII, Issue 9 GONE BANANAS: DOWN WITH THE SICKNESS: Smoothie taste teasers IllScarlett plays Oshawa See PAGE 6 See PAGE 15 UA building cracks up SA jobs By Chad Ingram similar piece of glass on campus up for Chronicle Staff met safety standards. Another investigation is current- or the second time in a year, ly underway. the east wing of the UA build- “It’s like a crime scene,” Aprile grabs Fing was closed to students and said. “You do a gathering of facts to staff last Monday and Tuesday, the tell a story. Th en a recommenda- result of a broken glass panel in the tion will be made.” By Jocelyn Nespiak atrium. He said it is diffi cult to determine and Pavan Sandhu “From what we know, a panel how long the investigation will take Chronicle Staff that is part of the railing on the as it involves lab work, and that it is t’s that time of year again. fourth fl oor of the science build- premature to determine if the two Th e Student Association ing, overlooking the east atrium, incidents are connected. Ielections are here. Now is shattered,” said Ralph Aprile, vice- Students seemed shaken by the the time to exercise the right to president of facilities for DC/UOIT. reoccurrence. vote, the right to speak and the “Some pieces fell to the ground, but “It’s kind of shocking. Th ere’s right to act. the majority remained intact.” nothing you can really do to protect Th e benefi ts of being a part No one was injured in the inci- yourself,” said Dave Brown, a fourth- of the SA are endless, from dent, which Aprile said occurred year biology student at UOIT. “Th ey learning life skills to network- about 9:30 p.m. the preceding Sun- should be thinking about safety be- ing with community partners. day. fore appearance.” “It improves your resume,” Th e panels are made of tempered Aneesa Shaik is in her fi rst year said Will Ellis, Student Centre glass, designed to shatter into small of commerce. manager, alumnus of Durham pieces when broken. “It happened last year and it hap- College and former SA presi- Th e situation is reminiscent of pened this year,” she said. “What if it dent. last February, when a panel on the happens again? Th ey should secure Th e SA strives to build same fl oor of the same atrium also it more.” awareness and diversity in shattered. One student suff ered mi- Aprile assured that the safety of the campus community, said nor injuries in that incident. everyone on campus is his greatest Kathryn Bremner, Student As- “Last year, in terms of the actual concern. sociation offi ce manager. cause, it was felt it was caused by “It’s a bummer that people come “It’s a great experience be- cause you are able to enhance Photos by Chronicle Staff someone actually hitting the glass here to learn, to get educated, and I panel,” Aprile said. “Th at conclusion have to shut them out like that,” he the quality of life for students REPEAT OFFENDER: In the past year, two glass panels have and improve their educa- shattered in the UA Building. Once last February (inset) and was reached after a thorough inves- said. “But safety is our top priority.” Th e area was reopened Wednes- tional experience,” said Evan earlier this month (colour). Facilities management said the tigation by several parties, including (architectural) consultants.” day, the atrium remaining behind a Muller-Cheng, SA president. school is currently investigating the cause. It was also concluded that every wooden barrier. “You work with other leaders on campus and develop cam- paigns and initiatives that help all students.” Overall, 28 positions are available, including: SA presi- Orange army seeks recruits dent, VP of UOIT, VP of Trent, VP of Durham, VP of Campus By Valene Nicholas steering committee is chosen from Life, VP Internal and 22 board Chronicle Staff returning TOC members in the fall. member positions to be fi lled Th ey get trained in event planning by faculty and students com- ubbly splashes of orange can and map out the next orientation. bined. be sighted scurrying around “Th e people at Student Life al- VP of campus life is a new Bcampus with freshmen dur- ways oversee everything,” said position this year. It requires ing orientation week every Septem- Cheryl Macdonald, a Collaborative the managing of clubs, intra- ber. Nursing student. “Th ey have a skel- murals and non-institutional Th e Student Life staff work with eton and then Team OC puts on the programs. student volunteers known as Team muscles, organs and skin.” Nominations for SA posi- Orientation Crew, to plan and run King and Student Life want as tions are accepted from Jan. 15 orientation for fi rst-year students. much input as possible from TOC to Jan. 24 at noon. In 2003 TOC consisted of two during the planning stages and their Voting begins Jan. 31. Win- staff members, who welcomed 947 feedback after orientation is over. ners will be announced Feb. 2. students to UOIT. Student Life ex- “We look towards our students All elected positions will tended recruitment until Jan. 31, in for ideas,” said King. come into offi ce beginning order to get 100 volunteers for ori- During orientation fi rst-years April 31 and will stay until April entation 2007. Th e crew will lose a gather with TOC for faculty cheers, 26, 2008. lot of members due to graduation wacky icebreakers, dodge ball, a All candidates must meet this spring. wild goose chase and student so- GPA requirements. UOIT stu- “We’re looking for the kind of stu- Photo by Valene Nicholas cials. TOC and Student Life also an- dents must have a GPA of 2.2, dents that fi rst-year students would ASK US ANYTHING: Sharon Nelson (left) and Cheryl Mac- swer questions, mentor and inform Durham College students 2.5, be comfortable to talk to,” said stu- donald show off the bright orange buttons that identify them new students about UOIT and its and Trent students must have dent development co-ordinator as safe sources of information about the campus. services. a 65 per cent average. Sarah King. Last September faculty of sci- To be eligible for SA presi- ence and TOC member Michael Applicants must be returning Sharon Nelson, a graduating TOC last year. She assisted in leader- dent, a total of 50 signatures Mior, led a group of freshmen in the university students and have a grade volunteer. “You could be that one ship training for new members and from students at Trent, Dur- wild goose chase, an on-campus point average of 2.0. Communica- person who befriends a new stu- explained their roles and expecta- ham or UOIT are required, treasure hunt. His faculty won the tion, organization and people skills dent who is particularly shy, and tions of Student Life. Previously she along with student identifi ca- event. are required. help them have a good orientation. helped plan and run events. tion numbers. “You don’t have to be the person Th at’s what TOC is about.” Student Life starts orientation See TEAM Page 3 up front leading the cheers,” said Nelson was a mentoring captain planning in October. A student See NOMINATIONS Page 7 2 The Chronicle January 23, 2007 CAMPUS NEWS UOIT lecturer makes top 10 By Reka Szekely mental group that sought to stop a Chronicle Staff low-level radioactive waste incin- erator from being built in Bramp- Viewers can tune in to TVOntario ton. Brar points out that he’s not op- this weekend to see a UOIT profes- posed to nuclear power in general, sor make his bid in the Best Lecturer but he didn’t think the incinerator contest. would be safe in that area. Physics lecturer Rupinder Brar For him, the connection between has made the top 10 and will deliver physics, politics and activism is ap- a lecture on Saturday on the show parent. Big Ideas, which starts at 4 p.m. “To me, physics is all about prob- Viewers can then log on to TVO’s lem solving,” he said. “We learn a few website and grade Brar. Th e profes- rules and solve as many problems as sor with the highest grade will win we possibly can. In that same way, I the title of Ontario’s Best Lecturer believe most of the problems in so- and a $10,000 scholarship for his or ciety could be solved by new ways her school. of thinking.” Th e contest has been a long pro- When it comes to politics, Brar cess. In March, TVO received 258 said education is his number one nominations, 155 of which were issue, including quality of education eligible after vetting. Seventy-one and access to it. professors accepted the challenge UOIT provost Richard Marceau in August. said he plans to log on and vote for “When I found out I was in the Brar. top 10, I was very happy,” said Brar. “I just wanted to say we’re abso- “I was really honoured to be repre- lutely excited about this,” said Mar- senting the school and to be on tele- ceau. “I’ve had students come in and vision representing physics as well.” talk to me about how good he was, Th e lecture was fi lmed on Friday, Photo by Reka Szekely so we’re very proud.” Jan. 12 during a fi rst-year physics ACADEMIC IDOL: UOIT physics lecturer Rupinder Brar made the top 10 out of 71 contes- As well, students have an incen- class.