The tie that binds Wilfrid Laurier University since 1926 · Volume 50. Issue 23 · Wednesday. February 10. 2010 thecord.ca Faculty of arts restructuring Possible "umbrella" of honours bachelor of arts has students asking questions ANOREA MILLET LEAD REPORTER We're not going to At an arts council meeting on Friday it was announced that the university pull the plug on any is looking into changing the struc­ ture of Laurier's arts faculty, possi­ student programs that bly implementing a honours bach­ elor of arts (BA) program without a are actually in program specialization. There has also been some discus­ now." sion about certain smaller arts pro­ grams changing, raising concerns from students within those pro­ grams in question. -Vice-president ofacademics "The discussion hasn't been Deb MacLatchy about merging those programs; what it has been is to change how those programs are administered;' said vice-president of academics Deb MacLatchy. dean of arts Mary-Louise Byrne ex­ NICK LACHANCE PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER "My understanding from what's plained that the changes proposed Kyle Walker, seconds after he was crowned the next WLUSU president, celebrates at Wilt's. being proposed around the interdis­ would not affect the programs cur­ ciplinary programs is an adminis­ rently in place at Laurier. trative umbrella:' · "At the present moment medieval Student concern has risen around 'studies, cultural studies, women's Walker elected president the fear that their programs may be studies, North American studies cut altogether, although administra­ are all programs in the faculty of tion has assured that this is not go­ arts. There are no plans to eliminate News, page 3 ing to be the case. them:' "We're not going to pull the plug Instead, what has been brought on any student programs that are up is the opportunity for a liberal actually in program now;' said arts program that will allow stu­ MacLatchy. dents who have either not declared "We do have a commitment for a major or who are currently taking 358 students who are in a program ... a general arts degree to take an hon­ 86o that we find a way to have those stu­ ours program. Kyle Walker 6 2 0 Lawrence Maclin 14 9 dents finish the program that they "Were proposing a liberal arts are in:' degree for students who have a 5.0 Kory Preston Sunny Chan When questioned by The Cord about this situation, the acting News, page 4 Summer arts courses lacking Limited options in the faculty of arts for those beginning to make summer plans similar and in some subject areas MIKE LAKUSIAK you will see an increase:' STAFF WRITER Vice-president of academics Deb MacLatchy echoed Buckley's senti­ Undergraduate course registration ment, stating that summer courses for the spring and summer terms were not being cut. "I think at the opened Feb. 1 and the choices avail­ end of the day it'll actually go in the TRINA SCHMIDT GRAPHICS EDITOR able to students are, for the time be­ opposite direction. The dean of arts PHOTOS BY NICK LACHANCE AND ANDREW WI NDREM ing, meagre. and the dean of science are actually Currently the only courses of­ looking at increasing the number of fered in a classroom environment courses offered on campus:' - as opposed to online - are in the The School of Business and Eco­ faculty of business and economics, nomics (SBE) runs on a trimester Student~to-faculty ratios released with only two courses in communi­ system to accommodate co-op stu­ cations studies representing the fac­ dents and thus offers many class­ Ratio not necessarily the best indicator of class size ~ituation ulty of arts. Even in online courses, room and online courses between the faculty of arts has few offerings the winter and fall semesters. How­ full-time equivalent faculty. the mandated date of March 1 for available on the Laurier Online Reg­ ever, this is different for courses of­ MIKE LAKUSIAK The ratio provided, calculated reporting a finalized ratio to faculty istration and Information System fered in the faculty of arts and else­ STAFF WR ITER from enrolment numbers on Feb. 1, as required in the current collective (LORIS) for students. where, which are intended to help indicates a decrease in the number agreement between the school and "The classroom courses in arts students catch up or get ahead. Laurier's administration has, in col­ of students to each faculty member the Wilfrid Laurier University Fac­ will be added;' said assistant vice­ "We're taking a look at what laboration with the registrar's office, at Laurier, with 21.8 students versus ulty Association (WLUFA). president of academic services Tom courses make sense for students to released a finalized student-to-fac­ 22.9 ih 2oo8-o9. There had been pressure from Buckley. take;' Buckley said. "Students may ulty ratio for the 2009-10 academic As well, every faculty from arts to both faculty and student groups for "There's been no moratorium or want to accelerate degree comple­ year. the Brantford campus saw the ratio the information for some time lead­ decision not to offer courses:' tion or maybe afirst-yearwas un­ This ratio reflects total stu­ drop from last year's levels with the ing up to administration disclosing "We had 44 non-business courses successful in a course they need for dent enrolment over both the fall most recent numbers. offered last spring;' he continued. and winter semesters and all hired This information comes ahead oL News, page 6 "The number offered will be News, page 4 2 • EDITOR'S PAGE The Cord • Wednesday. February 10. 2010 Editor's Choice News ....................... 3 Feature .....................12 Editor's Choice Local ....................... 7 Arts ........................15 China cracks down National .................... 8 Opinion ................... 20 This WeekAround on texting International . 10 Sports ..................... 23 Laurier International. page 10 thecord.ca Editor-in-Chief Laura Carlson • [email protected] Inside Vocal Cord Are you planning The shift to a knowledge­ Disney's hypocritical The iPad and the future to take summer based economy message of literature classes? How Ontario fails to adapt its Exploring the corporation's The impact of the recently­ education model to account for the differing messages in their films unveiled Apple product on how we surge of jobs that require post­ and business practices consume the written word secondary education National, page 8 Opinion, page 22 Arts, page 15 Bag 0' Crime Photo of the Week "The first-year political Drugs A was received about a strong science course I needed Date: Feb. 1, 2010@ 10:30 a.m. odour coming from the foyer. A SCS Location: WLUSU - Fred Nichols officer attended and discovered that wasn't available." Campus Centre a plastic pen had been inserted on -Andrew Peeples Some found property was turned the heating core of the electrical First-year global studies into the Dispatch Centre. Amongst base board and had melted. the property was a black bag con­ taining a silver tin with several mar­ Alarm ijuana cigarettes. Date: Feb. 7, 2010@ 4:25p.m. Location: Frank C. Peters Building Injured/Sick Person SCS officers responded to a pro­ Date: Feb. 4, 2010 @ 10:48 p.m. jector alarm in a classroom. It was Location: Residence discovered that the alarm had been A report was received of a bro- accidentally activated by someone ken door window. SCS attended tossing an eraser into the air. and discovered that an intoxicated 18-year-old male had kicked out a Graffiti "I got all my choices. they window and sustained a severe leg Date: Feb. 7, 2010 weren't affected by any­ injury. The student was transported Location: Dr. Alvin Woods Building to Grand River Hospital. An SCS officer discovered graffiti thing." scribbled on a Hand Sanitization -Dickson Koo Unwanted Person Awareness Poster on the first floor First-year English Date: Feb. 5, 2010@ 10:53 p.m. by the elevator. The graffiti consist­ Location: Residence ed of obscene drawings. The poster A complaint was received about was removed. No suspects. NICK LACHANCE PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER two non-students (males) run­ Despite the warm weather this Sunday, at least one diligent ning through the hallways who were Injured/Sick Person resident took it upon himself to_go skating in Waterloo Park. looking for their sister. They were Date: Feb. 7, 2010 @ 8:05p.m. both evicted from the premises. Location: The Library A call was received from a male par­ Theft Under $5000 ty requesting the assistance from From the archives Date: Feb. 6, 2010@ 12:23 a.m. ERT regarding a hand injury. An syears Location: Schlegel Centre SCS officer and ERT responded to Financial woes closing local bars A SCS officer on mobile patrol came the library and located a male party "I can't take the stuff I Local bar Loose Change Louie's, (which became Fubar and is now Taboo) across four people at the intersec­ suffering from what he believed was need .... Students should closed on Feb. 4, 2005. When it closed it owed more than $170,000 in rent. tion of University Avenue and Al­ a dislocated knuckle. He had been be able to take classes Printed Feb. g, 2005 bert Street in possession of a floor involved in some "horseplay" with whenever they want." cleaner/polisher unit. Further in­ another male on Seagram Street. -E ri c Michler 25years vestigation revealed the unit had BACCHUS declared a success been removed from the Schlegel Ifyou have any information regard- . Third-year hi story After its first year at Laurier, Boosting Alcohol Consciousness Concerning Centre by the foursome. ing these or any other incidents please the Health of University Students (BACCHUS) it was announced that the al­ call519-885-3333 or Crime Stoppers at cohol awareness program would continue.