• Publications Mail Agreement No.40042804 CONCORDIA'S

Vol. 29, No. 7 http://ctr.concordia.ca December 2, 2004

Convocation for 1,662 grads Happy times for artists· BARBARA BLACK circuitry. Her research was supervised by Peter Shizgal, Two convocation ceremonies will be held today one of a cluster of top-notch neurobiologists at Place des Arts to give diplomas to 1,662 stu­ who study the brain mechanisms responsible dents. for motivation and learning. They are all mem­ The Governor-General's Gold Medal, given to bers of the Centre for Studies in Behavioural the outstanding graduate student, will be pre­ Neurobiology, based in the Psychology Depart, sented to Stephanie Fulton, a brilliant ment. neuroscientist. Fulton is now a postdoctoral fellow at Har­ CTR readers will remember her from several vard University, but she will return to Montreal feature articles. The first was in January 2000, to give the valedictory and receive her medal at when she had an article published in the highly the morning convocation ceremony. respected journal Science. It described the work The valedictorian for the afternoon ceremony she did for her master's thesis in experimental is one-time soccer star Frank Pons. psychology on leptin, a recently discovered hor­ We reached both of these outstanding gradu­ mone that helps the body strike a balance ates by e-mail, and you can read their between obesity and emaciation. comments on page 2. More recently, last September, we told you Four honorary doctorates will be presented at about her "Great Montrealer" award, given by a convocation, one at the morning ceremony, and local non-profit group for her doctoral thesis on three in the afternoon. Dora and Avi Morrow (centre) celebrate their generous awards to two rising the functional organization of brain reward To see who they are, please see page 5. artists, Solomon Nagler and Julie Gendron. For more, see page 5.

Microbial eng ineer has a cheaper way to fight malaria Martin engineered a bacterial strain to produce a very parasite resistance found against it. Martin is convinced potent anti-malarial compound called artemisinin while that if successful, the commercialization of the doing his postdoctoral research at the University of Cali­ artemisinin-based drug could save millions oflives. fornia at Berkeley. Martin joined Concordia's Department of Biology in Although Martin is no longer involved in the active July, and has shifted gears to do research on metabolic research of this compound, his work, which was pub­ engineering to solve environmental problems. ~ lished in Nature Biotechnology in 2003, is gathering a lot "We take bacteria and engineer them to produce novel, of attention as different avenues for the commercializa­ interesting, valuable things;' explained Martin. "Now I tion of the drug are being explored. engineer bacteria to develop alternative sources of ener­ Compared to current drugs such as chloroquine, gy, something called bioenergy:' artemisinin is fast acting. It is already used to treat He was hired as a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in malaria victims in different parts of the world, but it is Microbial Genomics and Engineering. Tier 2 Chairs are very expensive at about $2 a dose. The production of an emerging researchers who are pushing the boundaries in artemisinin-based anti-malarial drug using engineered their fields, and the award provides $100,000 per year for microbes would come at a much cheaper price, a maxi­ five years. mum of 30 cents, making it more accessible for Martin is also one of the recipients of this year's Petro­ developing countries such as Africa, where 90 per cent of Canada Young Innovator Awards, which are designed to deaths caused by malaria occur. recognize and help support the work of outstanding "This anti-malarial compound is not a money-making young faculty researchers at Canadian universities and drug, mostly because it goes to treat diseases in poor colleges. countries;' Martin said. "These drugs are very effective, Beginning in January, he will teach a graduate-level but they're not worth the big pharmaceutical companies' class in industrial biotechnology as part of the new time because there is no return on their investments:• genomic diploma program at Concordia. Vincent Martin According to the World Health Organization, malaria, Martin said that although it was a personal choice to a parasitic disease, kills at least one million people a year. leave Berkeley and his research behind, his years there ARMEN TAMZARIA N About 40 per cent of the world's population is at risk, were invaluable. mostly in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. "I certainly learned a lot about transferring knowledge Hard work does pay off. Just ask Vincent Martin, a new In Africa, a child dies of malaria every 30 seconds. and technology from academic surroundings and apply­ biology professor at Concordia University, whose work, Artemisinin has been known to have a very high suc­ ing it to a more industrial setting. It's something you have past and present, is turning a lot of heads. cess rate because unlike other drugs, there has been no to experience for yourself; it can't be taught:'

TQ rssrrr Pattern recognition Making our mark C Theatreactive Gridiron heroes Getting closer to perfection Planners on how we'll look Dickens to Brecht Donovan, Cunningham win big The writing is o.n the wall

MAX HARROL D which a computer can recognize by commonalities it will always find on the right, as well as the left, Does your handwritten number four have a break sides of the number. But now, when the scanner point? Does your seven have a European strike views a number 4, it can process breaks in what is through it, or is it plain and straight? usually a straight line. Perhaps these dilemmas are not standard water­ "We have become more creative" about human cooler talk, but for optical scanners and those who handwriting. "So have computers:' use them, it's a million-dollar business. Computers Suen explained that the cost of processing a com­ that accurately read handwritten cheques and puter-printed cheque can be as little as five cents, - postal codes are a big deal. whereas the cost of processing a handwritten That's where CENPARMI comes in. It's shorthand cheque can range up to five dollars if a person has to for Concordia's Centre for Pattern Recognition and look at it. Machine Intelligence. Professor Ching Suen The research centre recently hit a milestone of explained, "We try to make computers do what we sorts as a CENPARMI group presented 14 papers do:' (out of a total of 100) at the 9th International Work­ Human creativity in handwriting has become a shop on Frontiers in Handwriting Recognition, held fairly predictive science. Since 1988, when Suen and in Tokyo, Oct. 26 to 29. his colleagues founded CENPARMI, pattern recogni­ Professors Ching Suen, Tien Bui, Mohamed Cheri­ tion has gone from 80-per-cent accuracy to more et and Robert Sabourin led the group, which than 99-per-cent accuracy today. included their students Javad Sadri, Hanshen Tang, Suen and his colleagues approach the decoding of Alseo de S. Britto, Cesar Santos, Edson Justino, handwriting like archaeologists, examining letters Alles.sandro Koerich, Jonathan Milgram, Marisa and numerals like fossils. This includes recognizing Morita, Luis Oliveira, Marcelo Kapp, Cinthia de A. an average of 50,000 words per language and the Freitas. many ways of saying similar things that some l,an­ The paper ''.Automatic segmentation of uncon­ guages have. Some languages have as many as 10 strained handwritten numeral strings;' authored by different ways to express the same concept. Javad Sadri, Ching Suen and Tien Bui, received the The team l~oks for the contour, gradient and Best Poster/Paper Award. Professors Tien Bui and Ching Suen, with Javad Sadri in fronL aspect ratio of a number or letter. The number 3, Frank Pons and Stephanie Fulton are valedictori-ans

look at potential cross-cultural differences. been working as a postdoctoral fellow It has been submitted to journals such as in an endocrinology lab of Harvard Psychology and Marketing, the Journal of Medical School. A postdoctoral posi­ Retailing and Journal of Consumer tion provides the opportunity to Research,. continue training in a particular field. "I am also very involved in sports mar­ One can broaden their technical keting research now, and try to apply this expertise and overall research experi­ research in sports settings. I have several ence. projects regarding the NHL (Canadiens, "The research I am doing now is sim­ Senators, Maple Leafs), and I hope the ilar in some ways to what I was lockout is resolved soon:' studying as a graduate student at Con­ Frank said his time at Concordia was cordia. My focus is still on brain wonderful, largely because of his involve­ pathways that contribute to reward and ment in the varsity soccer team. He was a motivation. Stinger for four years, and won many "Previously, I was characterizing a awards for his athletic prowess and leader­ population of reward-relevant neurons We interviewed Frank Pons by e-mail ship. that respond to changes in body weight before he left San Diego for Montreal "I could not have got through the PhD and the fat hormone leptin by looking "I have been at the University of San without my time with the Stingers. It at behavioural responses for rewarding Diego for 16 months now. It is exactly the helped me to study hard, to get organized We reached Stephanie Fulton in Boston electrical brain stimulation. type of university I was looking for, where and have this other life outside of school. just after U.S. Thanksgiving. "Now I am taking a much more teaching is valued and research is strongly Through sports, I inet great people like "I couldn't resist celebrating a second molecular approach to examining the supported. I am an assistant professor of Mehdi Mourali and Ammar Bedawieh, and time, in part because I love the turkey influence of leptin on brain reward sys­ marketing in the School of Business. had a balanced life. dinner, but also because I have much to tems. Specifically, I am examining how "USD is a small private university with a "Athletics should never be seen as an be thankful for. leptin alters the signaling mechanisms beautiful campus with great views of the obstacle to success. I miss that period of "My years at Concordia (10!) left a of reward-relevant neurons and how ocean and the Tecolote Canyon. Also, class my life so much. I never thought I would wonderful impression on me. In hind­ this translates into changes in gene sizes of 35 or fewer students allow for a lot one day say that I missed 6 a.m. practices sight, I realize that the liberal and transcription and expression. of interaction and interesting discussion. under the snow, but I do miss them. stimulating atmosphere at Concordia "In a nutshell, my graduate work Although I sometime miss Concordia's "The people in the Athletic Department played a large role in enriching my showed that leptin alters some reward classroom diversity, I have to admit that I were really great, starting with our coach­ views. This environment should not be pathways, whereas the current studies am thrilled to teach at USD. es, Vlad Pavlicik and Ammar Awad, as well taken for granted. are looking at how this may be happen­ "I just received the f~culty of the year as all the staff at Loyola, who were very "For the past year and half I have ing at the cellular level:' award in the school of business from the professional and so nice:' · students' association. I was very happy, Frank has been married for nearly two and I think a part of this award comes years to Annick, "a i;eal Montrealer:' They from the teaching experience I got at Con­ are expecting a baby on April 5. "It may Awards to business leaders at CCA cordia. sound a kind of cliche, but we are so happy "My dissertation dealt with crowds. The and excited:' The John Molson School of Business will accountants, Melanie Kau, president of original idea was to show the variables in Only Annick will be there to hear his present its 17th annual Awards of Dis­ Mobilia furniture, and Peter McAuslan, service situations (bars, bookstores, valedictory. The rest of his family are in tinction on Dec. 6 at the Canadian president of McAuslan Brewing. restaur ants) that may influence crowds, France, and will visit San Diego when the Centre for Architecture. The CCA is currently showing The whether they have a positive or a negative baby is born. However, Frank says they try The honorees this year are Marc Sixties: Montreal Thinks Big, so guests influence on consumers' satisfaction. to get back to Montreal at least twice a DeSerres, president of Omer DeSerres will enjoy exhibits on the transforma­ "The research was replicated in different year. "We are truly attached to Montreal art supplies, Frank Di Tomaso, partner tion of the city during the period leading countries (Mexico, Lebanon, Canada) to and plan to come back one day:' in Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton up to and during Expo 67.

2 I Concor dia 's Thursday Report I December 2, 2004 -+ Aerospace opens doors

Congratulations to Radu Zmeureanu (Centre for Building Studies), who won a Concours Energia award from the Association Quebecoise pour la Maitrise de l'Energie (AQME) in the category of research and development. At a ban­ quet at the Hilton Hotel on Nov. 10, the team of Daniel Giguere and Ethel Zelaya (from Natural Resources Canada, CTEC-Varennes) and Zmeureanu received the award for the development of a computer model for the simu­ lation of energy performance of ice skating rinks. The results were announced in Les Affaires. David Pariser (Art Education) gave a lecture on Oct. 18 as part of the sev­ enth annual Holocaust Education Series at the Gelber Center in conjunction with an exhibition of drawings from the Tereziri Concentration Camp. His lecture, titled •Echoes from the Abyss," illustrated the normality of the chil­ The CIADI students who worked on Bombardier projects in 2004 at the reception. Left to right: Adam I.evitt, Vuk Bla­ dren whose lives were cut short, and the heroism of the art teachers who gogevic, Dina El Hakim, Alex Mo, Alex Doufexis, Gabriel Leblanc, Saro Chichmanian, Carlos Trindade (Research offered classes,, under terrible conditions. Manager, Bombardier), and Navid Ghomi. Margaret MacPherson, formerly of Conference Services, is now Corporate and Group Training Co-ordinator of the TESL Centre at Saint Mary's Universi­ CIADI, the Concordia Institute for Aerospace Aerospace; Gerhard Serapins, Manager, Research ty, in Halifax. She passed on congratulations from Maureen Sargent, her Design & Innovation, held its fourth annual recog­ and Development at CAE; Helene Chiasson, Assis­ director, to Concordia's TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) Cen­ nition ceremony to acknowledge its latest tant Manager at Pratt & Whitney Canada, and tre on its recent 30th anniversary.and commended it for its leadership in the contribution to the future of aerospace: 63 eager Shelley Sitahal, Manager, Industry and Partnership field. young engineers. at Concordia University. Suresh Goyal (Decision Sciences/MIS) was appointed associate editor of the Together with eight industry partners and the Assistant Professor Nadia Bhuiyan, associate International Journal of Operations Research (IJOR), to be published by the Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aero­ director of CIADI, called it "a unique experience" Operations Research Society of Taiwan. Goyal has also joined the editorial space in Quebec (CRIAQ), the students have been for the students:• board of the Pacific-Asian Journal of Mathematical Sciences and the editorial team of OMEGA International Management Science Journal as an associate !ible to get out of the classroom and do real aero­ "It affords them the opportunity to put their editor. space projects with industry professionals. engineering knowledge and skills to practice in the Hany Moustapha is a Senior Fellow, Manager of top aerospace companies in Montreal. Martha Langford (Art History) gave a paper at the Politics of Cultural Mem­ ory Conference, held at Manchester Metropolitan University, held from Nov. Pratt & Whitney Canada Technology and Director "I am impressed with the quality of these stu­ 4to6. ofCIADI. dents, not only from an academic point of view, but He calls the Institute "the first initiative in Cana­ also with their well-rounded personalities. CIADI Peter Stoett (Political Science) recently returned from two extensive trips while on a sabbatical year. The first was to Eastern Europe, where he spent da to group eight major aerospace industries and students are a dynamic group, clearly headed for two months researching regional environmental and security policies, most­ CRIAQ under one roof to enhance the education of success in the future." ly at the Human Rights and Conflict Prevention Center in Bihac, Bosnia, and undergraduate students by providing them with Mona Cherkaoui is a CIADI electrical engineer­ the Regional Environmental Center in Budapest, Hungary. More recently, he real design and research projects:• ing student working on virtual machine software was in Taiwan, where he delivered the keynote speech at a conference on for CMC Electronics under an NSERC scholarship. Canadian politics sponsored by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and the Canadian Trade Office iri Taipei. · Partners "CIADI gave me a wonderful opportunity to get involved in a real-life engineering project, and the Michael von Griinau (Psychology, Science College) attended the recent The partners represented at the Nov. 23 recep­ overall working experience gave me a better per­ Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference of the SIGMA XI Society in Montreal. His student Angela Vavassls received an award of superior rat­ tion included Pratt & Whitney Canada, spective on the engineering field;' she said. ing for the poster "Intrusive processing is contingent upon the pefceptual Bombardier Aerospace, Bell Helicopter, EMS Tech­ "The project developed by CMC Electronics gave load of relevant stimuli in visual search," written by her and von Grunau. nologies, CAE Inc., CMC Electronics, me practical engineering knowledge and helped Two children's authors with Concordia connections have done well this liter­ Heroux-Devtek, Thales and CRIAQ. me acquire skills for research and development:' ary season. Passepoil, written by Elaine Arsenault (Counselling & Three · funding agencies are also involved: Since CIADI was created in 2000, 34 graduates Development), was a finalist for the Governor-General's Award in the chil­ NSERC, Valorization Recherche Quebec (VRQ) and have been hired by industrial partners and other dren's.illustration category. the Quebec Ministry of Regional Development and companies, and 21 are pursuing graduate studies. Helene Cossette, who worked for a number of years with the senior admin­ Research. As well as their research projects, the students istration, is the author of Feuille de chou (~ditions Pierre Tisseyre), which won Normand Giguere, from the ministry, currently in CIADI participate in aerospace collab­ the Prix Cecile Gagnon at the Salon du Livre on Nov. 20 as a new and prom­ announced an infrastructure grant of $310,000 to oration forums, conferences, workshops, and ising author. Helene is doing a second novel in the series, called Soureal et le CIADI, and the students are being given $166,500 industry tours. secret d'Augehym premier, and has another, unrelated novel called Le seduc- in NSERC undergraduate scholarships. CIADI is collaborating with the Institut de con­ teur coming out in February with the same publisher. · Recognition awards were presented to Wafaa ception et d'innovation aerospatiale (ICIA) at the John Graham, a 1986 graduate of Fine Arts, had an exhibition recently at the Ishak, Chief Rotor and Mechanical Systems at Bell Ecole de technologie superieure (ETS), and the McClure Gallery of the Visual Arts Centre, in Westmount. Twenty Visions cele­ Helicopter Textron; Carlos Trindade, Administra­ Ryerson Institute for Aerospace Design and Inno­ brated a decade of. printmaking, 1994 to 2004. The works are on paper, including etchings, lithographs and screen prints, as well as excerpts from tor, Strategic Technology at Bombardier vation (RIADI). books. Of particular interest are the watercoloured woodcuts a·nd screen­ printed texts from Graham's most recent book, Visions From the Tempest, inspired by the Shakespeare play. Writers and publishers with Concordia connections are cleaning up in the awards sweepstakes. The Governor-General's Literary Award for Translation went to a publication by Vehicule Press's poetry imprint, the Signal Poetry CTR wins Canada-U.S. gold award Series, for Judith Cowan's French-to-English translation of Pierre Nepveu's Concordia's Thursday Report CTR previously a won silver poetry collection, Mirabel. The co-publishers of Vehicule Press are Simon has taken a first prize in the CASE award in 2000, and bronze Dardlck (Creative Writing) and Nancy Marrelll (Archives), and Concordia graduate Carmine Starnlno is the series editor. annual publication competition awards in 1997 and 1998. held by the Council for the Starnino himself won the A.M. Klein Poetry Prize when the Quebec Writers Advancement and Support of The newspaper also won sim­ Federation Awards were presented on Nov. 24, for With English Subtitles (Gaspereau Press). Vehicule was the publisher of Jaspreet Singh's Seventeen Education (CASE), District I. ilar awards from the Canadian Tomatoes: Tales From Kashmir, which took the McAuslan First Book Prize. It was up against universities Council for Advancement in Edeet Ravel (MA in creative writing, 1985) won the Hugh Maclennan Prize . throughout the northeastern Education (CCAE), including a for Fiction for Look for Me (Random House), and will be the cover girl on the U.S. and eastern Canada. gold award in 1997. December issue of Concordia University Magazine.

Concordia 's Thursday Repor t I Decemb ~r ) , ~004 / 3 the fund is both humane and practical, as it is easier for a warning" that growth is ceasing. The funding formula students to study effectively if they are well fed and will be changed, and the FTE increase now financed at housed. Professor Catherine Mulligan spoke about Cen­ 100 per cent will be financed at only 58 per cent in 2005- senate traide, the annual fundraising campaign for 06. Incoming exchange students will no longer be funded Montreal-area charities. She said that $100,000 has been by the MEQ, but outgoing students will be; we have only raised so far toward the $140,000 goal. President Freder­ one-tenth the outgoing exchange students that we notes ick Lowy added that he is the chair this year of receive. Details of these financial statements will be sup­ Centraide's universities and hospital division. plied on request, from [email protected].

Financial: Vice-President Michael Di Grappa present­ President's remarks: Dr. Lowy said the Barak affair A regular meeting of Senate, held Nov. 19, 2004. ed the capital budget for 2004-05. seems to be dying down. "We did something we perhaps Vice-President Finance Larry English presented the should have done earlier;' he said, referring to the inten­ Exam policy: In reference to a query from a student final results for 2003-04, which shows a modest surplus tion to secure appropriate facilities. He is waiting for a senator at the Oct. 22 meeting, Registrar Linda Healey ($1,812) instead of the $6-million deficit projected. feasibility report. said students with special physical needs should inform Among other adjustments, the university received He also discussed a recent meeting of the Association the invigilator of the examination. $3,853,724 from the government four months after the of Universities and Colleges of Canada, which has effec­ academic year ended. Other items to note: revenue tively lobbied the federal government for more research Curriculum changes: Further to a discussion on how showed an increase of almost $6 million, due to late assistance. The strategy is to keep what we've got, i.e. 25 best to deal with upcoming curriculum changes that adjustments to the operating grant, underestimation of per cent of indirect costs of research. (U.S. universities must be included in the 2005-06 calendar, a motion was the federal indirect-costs grant, plus more in miscella­ get 40 per cent, but until recently, Canadian universities adopted. It authorizes Senate steering committee to neous fees due to the rise in enrolment. The John Molson outside Quebec got nothing.) Dean Nabil Esmail (Engi­ review and approve changes that would normally have School Business ended the year with a $1.437-million neering & Computer Science) said that developing been reviewed and approved by Senate at the Nov. 26 deficit due to the loss of privatized revenues. In expecta­ universities were at a disadvantage, as the research­ meeting, with the understanding that all curriculum tion of staff collective agreements, $2.692 was accrued in heavy universities naturally got more of this money; he changes approved by steering committee will be includ­ anticipation of a payout in 2004-05. A surplus of $1.686 would rather see the federal money go to the granting ed on the Jan. 14 agenda. million was realized due to premium holidays taken for agencies. Assistant Vice-Provost Vo-Van said that small dental, health and vision and long-term disability, plus universities receive 40 per cent, while larger ones get 25 Charity: Chaplain Daryl Lynn Ross spoke to Senate retroactivity salary adjustments. per cent. about the importance of the Student Emergency Fund, English showed graphs to illustrate that Concordia is1, which operates all year, but makes a special effort at this the only Quebec university with an accumulated surplus. time. She called it an in-house safety net that touches He said that the number of FTEs {full-time equivalent The Senate meeting scheduled for Nov. 26 was cancelled. hundreds of students, usually one time only. Giving to students) is down this year by 47, "a negligible figure, but The next meeting is Jan. 14, 2005.

Concordia is no ivory tower, Correction In a photo taken at the Engineering and second year of undergraduate studies in Computer Science Excellence Awards in our Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, and Lowy tells business group last issue (Nov. 18, page 6), we indicated were on the 2003-04 Dean's List for achiev­ President Frederick Lowy spoke on Nov. right to securfty and order; and the that the three students pictured had recent­ ing an annual grade point average of 3. 75 or 23 to the Montreal Chamber of Com­ need to balance personal advantage ly graduated. In fact, they are in their above. merce. Here are some excerpts from his with the greater good of the collective, speech: the community. Both academic and It is remarkable that Quebec's univer­ extra-curricular activities are impor­ sities have been able to do more with tant in this regard. Search closing iri less so that the quality of education has Let me remind you that Concordia, CONCORDIA'S , . not yet slipped too much and research which has grown by 30 per cent during Board of Governors chair Alain Benedetti told THUR$.'DAY REPORT productivity, during the past seven the past decade, is a remarkably diverse the Nov. 24 meeting that the search committee is r , years (thanks in part to the large infu­ place. Among its 32,000 degree stu­ close to making its final recommendations and.a sion of funding by the Government of dents and 8,000 continuing education shortlist of candidates for president may be Canada) remains high. students this year are men and women announced in the near future. But the signs of quality erosion are from 137 countries and every ethnic Interim Dean of Arts and Science June starting to appear, and unless the group that has established itself in Chaikelson presented an overview of the devel­ Concordia's Thursday Report chronic under-funding is reversed, this Montreal. opment of the Faculty to the Board. One of the is p11blished 17 times during the academic year on a will become significant. Many study part time, about 70 per striking elements was the growth of the Faculty's biweekly basis by the Internal Relations and Communi­ Why not a federal-provincial com­ cent hold a job while they study, and research profile. cations Department of Concordia University, mission on higher education? I am many are the first in their families to Total research fund!ng has doubled in the last 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., confident that such a commission enter university. They bring to Concor­ five years. SSHRC funding is currently $3,017,562, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1MS would have to address the fiscal imbal­ dia not only a richn~ss of diverse up 425 per cent since 1997. The Faculty has Phone: (514) 848-2424 ext. 4882 ance between the two levels of languages, religions and cultures but appointed 10 Canada Research Chairs and 11 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: (514) 848-2814 government with regard to education, also diverse values. Concordia University Research Chairs. as other commissions have cione for While they are attracted to our way Andrew McAusland presented an overview of Matl!rial~it1he~ health. . of life in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, eConcordia, including the revenue it has generat­ mil'/ oot be reprockJced ~permislm The result could well be a formula many also continue to identify with the ed for the university foundation and the growth ISSN 1185-3689 acceptable to the provinces, including societies from which they or their fam­ opportunities for online education, especially in Publications Mail Agreement No.:40042804 Quebec, for federal participation in ilies came, and understandably, they China and India. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Concordia's funding core university activities. Such retain strong feelings of affiliation with Other searches Thursday Report, 1121 , 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., bilateral arrangements in support of those societies. It is not surprising that Provost and Vice-President Academic Martin Montreal QC, H3G 1MS. email:[email protected] university research already exist: for tensions elsewhere in the world are also Singer reported that the same external consult­ example, the Canada Foundation for experienced on Concordia's campus. ant has been hired for the search for both the Editor Innovation, which has made a huge dif­ Sometimes this leads to problems Dean of Arts & Science and Dean of Fine Arts. Barbara Black ference for Montreal universities. that bring us much unwanted (and He also will attend the meetings of both Facul­ Editorial Assistant Let me now turn to what the univer­ often unfair) publicity. But these ty' Councils to discuss the profile of the ideal Lina Shoumarova sities must do. I believe that our episodes are rare. candidate. Singer expects both search commit­ universities must place priority on rele­ I am now in the final year of my man­ tees to bring recommendations to the March Layout and Production vance to society. In my view, the date as President/Recteur of Concordia meeting of the Board. Sandra Lynn Belanger primary objective for a 21st-century University. During the past decade I Professors Ronald Rudin, Lorna Roth, Ellen Concept Canadian university is to help prepare have personally experienced both the Jacobs and Robert Kilgour, and staff member Elana Trager students to become responsible citi­ frustration of leading an underfunded Miriam Posner were approved as members of the Marketing Communications zens of'a democracy. institution and the tremendous gratifi­ search committee for Dean of Arts and Science. These include the primacy of law.and cation of seeing first hand what a The Board approved the name change of the Next issue after the holidays: Jaooa,y 13. justice; respect for people; tolerance of difference an engaged university can Department of Design Art to the Department of values with which one disagrees; the make in the lives of so many people. Design and Computation Arts.

4 I Concordia 's Thursday Report I December 2, 2004 Flexibility, innovation, diversity: The S1.P experience

SHELAGH MCNALLY ning to take note. Its versatility supports new fields of study and research that Each of the young scholars seen here is a might otherwise be overlooked. member of Concordia's Special Individu­ Wright-Paradis said, "SIP offered me a alized Program {SIP). They shared their chance to create a master's level for my experiences with other SIP members at a kind of research in a way never done breakfast on Nov. 19. before:• Started in the 1979-80 academic year She is part of the Exercise Science by the School of Graduate Studies, SIP Department, and since her field is rela­ was intended to meet the needs of stu­ tively new, her faculty doesn't offer a dents working towards a master's or master's program. She joined SIP in order doctorate who don't fall into traditional to be the first person to receive a SIP­ categories. All four Concordia Faculties Master's of Science (Exercise Science) by are represented. studying how our cells utilize oxygen to Applicants to the program create their make energy. own roadmap of study. They submit their SIP also encourages an inter-discipli­ ideas to their chosen faculty members, nary approach, allowing its participants who decide if the proposals are valid and to gain expertise across various disci­ Three directions, same program: Seen at the SIP breakfast are PhD student Tomoko Matsuda, interesting. While the key is flexibility, plines. The program attracts students examining peace education in Middle Eastern schools; MSc student Cindy Wright-Paradis, who the program does follow a traditional suited for the challenge of working inde­ is studying mitochondria, our cells' miniature power stations; and MA student}. Penney Burton, who is exploring the work of women of the Arts and Crafts movement. time frame, with rigorous standards. pendently without a formal structure, Nina Howe, Associate Dean of Gradu­ and its members often combine their keep being an artist. It's a way to meld the see how the education is the core to the ate Studies, said, "SIP is often a experience and knowledge. two together;• she said. peace process and how politics can be jumping-off point for our mature stu­ Burton, a recent graduate of the Nova SIP is also part of the diversity that changed at a social level;' she said. dents, who bring a focused approach to Scotia College of Art and Design makes Concordia unique, allowing mem- Graduates of the program, like Profes­ 1, their studies. Many of our pilot projects {NSCAD ), specializes in Arts and Crafts hers to explore other cultures. sor Lucie Lequin, chair of the develop into courses of study:• history as well as art education, but she is Matsuda has been able to combine two Departement d'Etudes fraill;:aises, and Over the years, the SIP program has also an artist who wants to continue cre­ areas of expertise, education and politi­ Associate Professor Luc Varin, chair of grown to include 50 students. ating. Faced with the prospect of cal science, ·to study the peace process in the Department of Biology, went on to SIP is a reflection of Concordia's pen­ sacrificing one for the other, she turned the Middle East. teaching and research. Others apply their chant for innovation. It's one of the few to SIP. ''I've been looking at both Arab and knowledge in various professions, some individualized study programs offered in "One reason I chose this program was Israeli elementary school textbooks in of which, as Nina Howe said, are emerg­ Quebec, and other universities are begin- that it allowed me to keep studying and order to study the negative images and ing as a result of the SIP program. Honorary doctorates go to four Bruce Mallen is Dean of the College of Business Morrow art awards at Florida Atlantic University. He spent 25 years at Sir George Williams and Concordia Universities as Photo on page 1. performance art. a student, faculty member and administrator, leav­ Solomon Nagler came to Con­ ing in 1978 for a varied career that included A reception was held Nov. 25 at cordia's Mel Hoppenheim business interests in Hollywood. the Morrow Gallery, in Old School of Cinema to finish his Marc Gatneau is best known as the first Cana­ Montreal, to present the Dora graduate work. He is a Wi~­ dian astronaut, having been payload specialist on Morrow Fellowship for Achieve­ nipeg-based filmmaker who has Shuttle mission 41-G in October 1984. Since then ment in Visual Arts. worked with film co-ops in he has logged over 677 hours in space. He has also Last year, the inaugural Winnipeg, Toronto, Vancouver been a combat systems engineer, naval instructor award went to one student, but and Warsaw. He has shown his and project designer of naval weapon systems. He this year, $5,000 each was given work across Canada, in the U.S. has won many honours, including Companion of to two rising student artists, and in Europe. the Order of Canada, and is currently president of thanks to a generous increase in His work is reportedly gritty the Canadian Space Agency. the endowment by Mr. and Mrs and colorful, pushing the limits Daniel Langlois Daniel Langlois is well known as a film pioneer Morrow. of narrative. It often incorpo­ Michael Gibbons is the former Secretary-General and philanthropist. In the mid-1980s, he estab­ Julie Gendron has moved here rates alternative film-process­ of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, lished Softimage, which quickly set the standard from Vancouver to complete ing techniques, including hand comprising 500 universities from 36 countries. for digital art in such films as Star Wars, The graduate work in Digital Tech­ processing, emulsion manipula­ Before that, he was dean of the graduate school Matrix, Titanic, Men in Black and Jurassic Park. nologies in Design Art Practice. tion, and various optical and director of a science policy research institute Subsequently, he built the Montreal film centre Ex­ Her research involves the inter­ printing techniques. at the University of Sussex. His first degree was Centris, the film production company Media section of our virtual and He has just served a year as from Concordia, and he went on to earn degrees Principia, the International Festival of New Cine­ physical worlds. the Winnipeg Film Group's from McGill, Queen's and a PhD in theoretical ma, and the Fondation Daniel Langlois pour l'art, She worked during the '90s as Artist in Residence, in which he physics from Manchester University. la science et la technologie. a graphic artist in Vancouver, conducted various workshops and then became a communica­ on alternative filming tech­ tions consultant to non-profit niques, and completed his Gilles Bourgeois named Assistant Vice-President organizations. eighth film, The Sex of Self­ Gilles Bourgeois has been named Assistant Vice­ from Benefits Canada/Canadian Pension and Ben­ Interested in how documen­ Hatred. This summer, his body President, Human Resources and Employee efits Association for the Benefits and Pension tary and storytelling could wotk of work was featured in a retro­ Relations. website, an APEX award for employee communica­ online, she began to create her spective, Invisible Pulses, at the Vice-President Institutional Relations & Secre­ tions and the Prix ISO Families 2002-2003 from the own documentaries on the Winnipeg Cinematheque. tary-General Marcel Danis said the appointment Quebec Council on the Status of Women for inno­ Internet: What We Want, a story This is the second annual underlines the strategic role human resource man­ vative parental leave provisions. · about Vancouver's Woodward pr~sentation of the award, given agement plays at the university. Gilles holds· a BA in Industrial Relations and an Squat, Swirling Uncertainty, and by entrepreneur Avi Morrow at Gilles has been at Concordia since 1998, first as a MSc in Public Administration. Before joining Con­ The Ties That Bind, with the the head office of Avmor, which consultant for Employee Relations and then as cordia, he was in private practice as a consultant, National Film Board. is also an art gallery filled with Director, Employee Relations. In 2001 he was and held posts with the Frontenac County Board of She began participating with eclectic drawings, paintings and named Executive Director, Human Resources and Education (Kingston), Canada Post, and with pub­ the Intermission Artists Society, sculptures. Employee Relations. lic sector unions in Alberta and Nova Scotia. Last and helped this collective The Avmore Group manufac­ He has reorganized the area, established an inte­ spring he delivered a paper on faculty restructuring become a non-profit organiza­ tures hand soaps and soap grated unit in employee and labour relations, and is initiatives at Concordia at the Association of Com­ tion. Intermission works in dispensers, sold and used in 28 taking steps to improve communication. monwealth Universities Conference on Human improvised music, video and countries around the world. These initiatives were recognized by an award Resource Management.

Concordia's Thursday Report I December 2, 2004 I 5 t Visiting artists bring latest ideas to students

LINA SHOUMAROVA lecture halls or studio classrooms on campus, but the Program also co-oper­ It was a full house at the Maxwell-Cum­ ates with venues in Montreal, Ottawa and mings Auditorium of the Montreal Toronto. Museum of Fine Arts last month for a "The Program is funded by the Studio talk by artist Mona Hatoum, who pre­ Arts Department in collaboration with sented a retrospective of her work from other facilities like Film Studies," Wong the 1980s to the present. explained. Born in Beirut to a Palestinian family, Support has come from other institu­ Hatoum began her artistic career in Lon­ tions, too, including the Canada Council. don in the '70s. Her early works were As a result, the list of visiting lecturers is performance and video, using the image growing in number as well as in prestige, of the body as a metaphor for society. and attendance has increased. Close to Now she has shifted her focus to installa­ 2,500 people visited the 24 events offered tions and sculptures, through which she last year, with as many as 100 people approaches issues of imprisonment, cul­ attending each lecture. tural displacement, home and the "We have witnessed a dramatic familiar. increase in the size of our audiences as She often uses grids and frames to con­ Light Sentence, by Mona Hatoum well as an incredibly positive response vey these ideas. For instance, in one of from persons attending our events;• Hatoum's 1992 installations entitled Hatoum's appearance in Montreal was gram was established in 1997 with under­ Wong said. Short Space, two bed frames are suspend­ part of Concordia's Studio Arts and MFA graduates in mind. The MFA Visiting After a break in December, the Studio ed horizontally, invoking simultaneously, Visiting Artist Program. With a lineup of . Artist Program addresses the graduate Arts & MFA Visiting Artists Program images of absent bodies and prison bars. more then 20 artists, curators and art students and is more collaborative,, in returns in January with a full schedule of The piece belongs to the permanent col­ theoreticians from as far away as Serbia, nature. events, including talks by Osvaldo Yero lection of the MMFA. Australia and Brazil, this year's program Students get the chance not only to from Vancouver, William Kentridge from "My work creates a feeling of uneasi­ brings the latest trends in art to the u~i­ hear the artists talk, but also meet with South Africa, Ingrid Bachman from Mon­ ness with the world;' she said in her versity. them one-on-one or during seminars, treal, Aganaldo Frias from Brasil, Allyson presentation. "No artwork has a single The visiting artists program has two where they can show their own work and Mitchell from Toronto and more. For meaning, so I leave the interpretation components, explained co-ordinator receive expert comments and advice. exact dates and times, visit http://studio­ open." Mary Sui Yee Wong. The Studio Arts Pro- The artists' talks are usually held in arts.concordia.ca/savap.html

Chinese animator says we have a unique style

"In China right now, there are no per­ dia gets insight in the wealth of art histo­ sonal animation pieces," he told the ry and the current teaching methods crowd. "No one wants to do it:' used to teach their art methods. Some hope remains, said He Fei. A Adams noted that at the Academy of small community of animators is begin­ Traditional Opera, they use animation to ning to produce more personal animated study a specific role. "The gestures are short films, designed to be educational. incredibly precise;' she said. "Professors He Fei said he was interested in com­ will correct a student's hand gesture, ing to Canada because "the animation moving a finger a sixteenth of an inch:' here is very high quality. It is unique:• Concordia and the Academy of Tradi­ Applying techniques he learns here at tional Opera will be exchanging Concordia will help him with his teaching performance. back at the Academy. Chinese animation Bradyworks, Concordia's in-residence still has a long way to go as an art form, music ensemble, go to Beijing in one year he said. to give classes and perform. Concordia currently has bilateral In 2006, the Academy's troupe will agreements in place with two schools in come to Concordia. A two-week summer China, the Academy of Traditional Opera institute will run around Chinese opera, and the Film Academy. The agreements focusing on the preservation of the art allow students to come to Concordia and form, design and other traditions. study for a term or one year without pay­ He Fei with professor and celebrated animator Chris Hinton. ing international fees.

Hinton PATRI CK L AVERY In his lecture, He Fei lamented the encroaching influence Japanese and So far only one student has gone over Visiting professor He Fei, from the Acad­ American animation styles on Chinese to China, to the Film Academy. Faculty emy of Traditional Opera in Beijing, gave studios. exchanges are also made possible by the an interesting talk on the history and "It is becoming very commercial;' he agreements. Animation professor Chris evolution of Chinese animation last Fri­ said. Hinton spent some time in China last fall, day in the De Seve theatre. "Everything is being made to an 'inter­ learning the techniques used in anima­ He is visiting Concordia as part of a national standard.' It looks like tion at the Academy of Traditional Opera. bilateral agreement signed between the second-hand Disney animation:' Liselyn Adams, the Associate Dean for two schools last year. He has been enjoy­ Regarding the animated short films Research and Graduate Studies, has been ing his time at Concordia, studying that first drew Western attention to Chi­ deeply involved in the project. Canadian styles of animation. nese animation in the mid 1980s, he said "It's growing into an interesting "Canadian animation is like a sacred as more animators have opted to work on exchange;• she said. "They are curious

place for Chinese;• he said. "It represents bigger, better-paying animated feature about the different models (of animation) A detail of Chinese contemporary animation freedom of creativity and pushes the. films, animated shorts have almost that exist and want to know how we that was used on a poster to advertise He Pei's boundaries of the art form:' ceased to exist. teach them:' In return, she said, Concor- talk.

6 I Concordia's Thu rsda y Report I December 2, 2004 t-

Interactive Wall What's in a dress?

\ I•~

Fiona Annis with her contribution to the Interactive Wall. Sandra Weber

Fiona Annis, a third-year Painting and what should go up. Education professor Sandra Weber recent­ codes and conventions in the academy. Drawing student, put a drawing up on As well, a panel discussion on collab­ ly released a new book inspired by the Concordia alumna Catherine Derry read the Interactive Wall. oration in art at the VAV Gallery's much loved and equally detested dress. from ''I'll Never Find a Dress: Shopping for It was part of a project by The Collec­ Greater than One show, which included Not Just Any Dress: Narratives ofMemo ­ the Prom" while standing between the tive, a group of Fine Arts students and the Interactive Wall project, featured a ry. Body and Identity is a collection of puffy pink chiffon dress she wore to her alumni who work in a collaborative dra:wing session/ autobiographical stories, scholarly essays, 1980s graduation and the little black dress fashion to produce their artwork. Each member of the audience poetry, and photography. The book, which that she wishes she had worn. Fiona's piece was later modified by worked on a drawing as they listened, was co-edited by Weber along with Clau­ Roksana Bahramitash, who teaches another participant in the Interactive then passed it along for the next person dia Mitchell of McGill, explores the visual, Women in the Muslim World at Concor­ Wall project, but that is just part of the to work on. personal, and ritual significance of dresses dia, offered an engaging excerpt from her evolution of artwork that takes place This project, which resulted in about in women's lives. article "Revealing Veiling and Unveiling." with The Collective, which operates in 30 fascinating collaborative drawings The Simone de Beauvoir Institute, The diverse pieces testify to the role of collaboration with the Studio Arts which are expected to be shown at next where Weber is a fellow, hosted the well­ the dress in constructing and contesting Department. spring's Art Matters festival, in March. attended launch. gender, sexuality, embodiment and subjec­ More than 100 pieces of work were It was part of The Collective's inter­ Reading from "In Front of the Closet: tivity. done during the show, and participants active program, which is funded by the (Ad)dressing the Academic;• doctoral stu­ could rearrange the artwork on the Fine Arts Student Alliance and the Stu­ dent Candis Steenbergen mused on - Kendra Ballingall Interactive Wall, allowing gallery visi­ dio Arts Department. stylistic self-expression and the fashion tors to become an art . curator by choosing what should come down and - Robert Winters Raelian movement gets book treatment

Good chemistry BARBARA BLACK by cloning themselves. However, with the cloning In 1976, he established his controversy, she got back Susan J. Palmer is probably millenarian movement in into their good books by the world expert on the Quebec and now claims being careful what she said, Raelians, that fun-loving, about 80,000 adherents and writing an article that alien-worshipping sect that worldwide. The movement was based on work her stu­ is based in Quebec. awaits the return of the dents had done. She once Palmer, who is an adjunct alien creators, and in the again has a good relation­ professor of religion at Con­ meantime seeks to develop ship with the movement, cordia and a teacher at the potential of its adher­ which is not averse to pub­ Dawson College, is bringing ents through free love, licity, or even, she says, to out a book called Aliens sexual experimentation, self-parody. Adored: Rael's UFO Religion. opposition to nuclear prolif­ "They have a lot of values Her research and the book eration and war, and the that I like;• she admitted. that resulted were support­ development of cloning. "They're fun-loving. They're ed by a grant from the Social Claims by the movement in favour of peace and sexu­ Sciences and Humanities that they had succeeded in al liberty, and against Research Council (SSHRC). cloning children created racism, and quite feminist. Aliens Adored is the first international headlines in But I'm not a Raelian:· full-length, in-depth look at 2001, and the ensuing con­ Palmer has studied the the Raelian movement, troversy forms the final, movement for more than a founded in the 1970s by a dramatic chapter to the decade, observing meetings charismatic prophet called book. and rituals and enjoying Rael. Born in France as She says she fell out of unprecedented access. In Student organizers of the seventh annual Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduate Research Con­ Claude Vorilhon, the former favour with the movement her book, she focuses on ference, always a popular event. racecar driver founded the in 2000 as the result of an issues of sexuality, millenar­ In the bottom row, left to right, are Damiano Ferraro, Azat Zakarian, Julie Bonvin, Robert religion after he experi­ unflattering article in the ianism, and the impact of Panetta, Maggy Movradian. Top row, left to right: Catherine Dimacacos, John Maniovdakis, enced a visitation from the Los Angeles Times that the scientific worldview on Zack Papachristou, Stere Spetsieris. The conference, which took place on Nov. 19 and 20 in the Richard J. Renaud Science Pavillon, aliens (elohim) who, in his quoted her to the Raelians' religion and the environ­ included more than 100 keen scientists, mainly from E~stern Canada and the United States. cosmology, created humans disadvantage. ment.

. Concordia 's Thursday Report I December 2, 2004 I 7 Concordia takes leading role in downtown renewal

FRANK KU IN responsible for a "healing process:' Members of the audience raised some With the massive overhaul of the Sir concerns about Concordia's assertion in George Williams Campus, Concordia the neighbourhood. Some took issue with is taking a leadership role in the urban the name Quartier Concordia, noting renewal . of the western downtown that the university ~hares the area with area of Montreal, a panel of urban businesses, residents and the Museum of planners and architects told a public Fine Arts. They were assured that the forum in the Henry F. Hall Building name was intended only as a working last week. title, not an official new designation. The construction of several new Others expressed fear that the univer­ buildings and efforts to redesign the sity's new complexes would create a public spaces between them are lead­ "barrier" along Ste-Catherine St. that ing to the emergence of a veritable might prompt shoppers to turn back at Quartier Concordia, a cohesive area Guy St. rather than continue along until where the University is asserting its Atwater. presence, rather than being scattered behind nameless facades. Continuity "We're marking our place in the city;' said John Zacharias, a professor "There has to be continuity, we don't in the Department of Geography, want a break point;' said Jean Giguere, Planning and Environment, who mod­ head of an interest group of businesses erated the event. and institutions between Guy and Atwa­ The forum, titled Quartier Concor­ ter Sts. dia: The Urban Campus, Community In response, panelist Clarence Epstein and Public Space, was organized by the pointed out that the new Engineering Seen at the exhibit in the atrium of the McConnell Building following the seminar are developer and Concordia chapter of the Planners Net­ Board member Jonathan Wener, Michele Gauthier (Groupe Cardinal Hardy), and Concordia's Direc­ and Fine Arts complex will bring new work, an international organization tor of Facilities Planning and Management Martine Lehoux. metro access to the shopping street. committed to promoting socially just and "lfI was a retailer on Ste. Catherine St., environmentally sustainable planning. I would be quite happy about the build­ Participants discussed the challenges reconfiguration of Norman Bethune "rebalanced" to favour student interac­ ing:• faced by the university in its physi~al Square. tion over motorists. Epstein, Director of Special Projects for growth, ranging from the tension "The overall objective of the Quartier Pierre Gauthier, a professor in the the Concordia University President's Cab­ between a greater assertion of Concordia Concordia project is to define the campus Department of Geography, Planning and inet, also presented on some of the and the area as a public space, to efforts better within the downtown area;' she Environment, offered a historical per­ initiatives to integrate art into the new at incorporating art and heritage in the said. That goal is to be met by creating spective on the creation of the urban construction. A major mural by Fine Arts new complexes. more pleasant public spaces and estab­ campus, observing that in Concordia's professor Holly King, an artist-photogra­ Michele Gauthier, a landscaping archi­ lishing clear links between the different case, "the downtown campus configura­ pher, will greet visitors at the metro level tect with Groupe Cardinal Hardy, the firm complexes. tion is the direct result of the creation of entrance to the new complex. that designed the winning concept for Norman Bethune Square, in front of the de Maisonneuve Blvd thoroughfare:' In addition, three restored murals that the refurbishment of the Quartier Con­ the GM building, is to be expanded into a The extension of de Maisonneuve Blvd. Concordia saved from the old York The­ cordia, outlined plans for the area. They welcoming meeting place. In addition, de into the Concordia area has created a ater will be integrated in the Art History include wider sidewalks in front of the Maisonneuve Blvd., the main thorough­ "fundamental structural problem;• but amphitheater on the main level of the Hall and McConnell Buildings and a fare dividing the campus, should be the University's expansion is now partly Visual Arts pavilion.

neuve and Drummond:' On the case These columns would mimic the neoclas­ Gateway to a quartier sical columns of the original MMFA, on the north side of Sherbrooke St. They would be with JMSB lit at night, and would be quite tall. The merchants have hopes that they will in Texas get approval from the City of Montreal to build these gateways, and funding to make it The John Molson School of Busi­ possible. ness was one of four finalists at Davies said the students tackled the an International Business Chal­ design assignment with enthusiasm. "They lenge held at the University Texas really appreciated the chance to work with a in October. real 'client:" The team comprised Eric The 11 students, who are in second-year Blanchette, Stephanie Chenevert, design, presented their ideas to members of Cameron Fotin and Roshni the Association on Friday, Nov. 12. Damani. They were coached by Davies, who is an architect, called the stu­ Mark Haber, Tim Field and Noor dents' projects "original and challenging:' Shawwa. "I think the Association was pleasantly Twenty business schools com­ surprised. If they had any preconceptions peted, included the University of about what the gateways might be, the stu­ Edinburgh, Norwegian School of dent work certainly presented other Management, University of possibilities. Washington, Georgetown Univer­ "The next step, and this is a big one, is sity and Thammasat University Some of the students who designed a "gateway" as a design challenge. going from a preliminary design proposal to (Bangkok, Thailand). a realizable project. This will be the biggest The JMSB won against Univer­ Students in Howard Davies' Collaborative Museum of Fine Arts and Concordia's down­ challenge for the students as they have very sity of Texas at Austin, Queen's Design Research course presented their town campus. little experience in this regard. University and University of ideas for a visual gateway at Guy and Sher­ In their letter, the members said they con­ "However, we have contacted the Faculty Hong Kong in their own division. brooke Sts. ceived of columns or archways to be placed of Engineering and Computer Science, and The students have three days The idea for the project was sparked by a at the corner of Sherbrooke and Guy, and they seem very willing to help out in this to prepare a solution to a case suggestion from the Association du Quartier Sherbrooke and Drummond. regard. The next step in this project may well that depicts actual problem du Musee, a group of business owners in the . "Over time, we hope to add further door­ involve the forming of interdisciplinary stu­ faced by a business firm, and area, whose commercial activities are in an ways to the Quartier at the intersections of dent teams involving designers and present it to a panel of judges area that includes both the Montreal De Maisonneuve and Guy, and de Maison- engineers:• from the business world.

, ~ I ,Conc_ord (a·s Thursday .Report I November 18 , 2004 ,-

David Suzuki on trees Relaxing CD from Nancy Helms

BA RBARA B LACK

Theatre professor Nancy Helms, who teaches voice, singing and acting in the Theatre Department, did the vocals on a new CD that earned a nomination for a Felix, French Canada's awards for best music album, in the instrumental music category. The CD didn't get a Felix (the awards were announced recently), but it will be entered in the competition for a Juno, its English-Canadian counterpart, this spring. It is the second CD they have collabo­ rated on. The first one, The Silent Path, went gold in the relaxation music catego­ Before speaking to an overflow crowd of students Nov. 18, David Suzuki signed copies of his lat­ ry, selling over 65,000 copies. est book, Tree, A Life Story, at the Concordia Bookstore. Coxton, a composition graduate of The well-known environmentalist, who came fifth in the recent competition for The Greatest McGill, writes for film, television and the­ Canadian, talked about the interconnectedness of living creatures and the need to curb our Nancy Helms excessive consumption. He urged his audience to sign a pledge to protect nature for future gen­ atre. On this album of relaxation music, erations. To sign up for the Nature Challenge, visit www.davidsuzuki.org. he uses synthesiz~d and real instru­ peutic instrument, seeking to understand The evening also featured a talk by politician and organic farmer David Orchard, who talked ments, including cello, flute, oboe, bass, its influence on vocal neurophysiological about the need for more research into organic agriculture, and stronger labelling laws on agri­ violin and voice .. functions and their implications in cultural products. Helms said, "Robert's intent was to restoring balance and interconnected­ subtly blend classical structure with con­ ness at the cellular level:' The theatricality of Brecht temporary sound to create an Helms is giving a presentation at the atmosphere of peace and tranquility. IN-CAM Symposium (Canadian Interdis­ Berthold .,Brecht's modern classic, The ence is not identifying with the charac­ "My contribution to the album was as ciplinary Network for Complementary Caucasian Chalk Circle, is being present­ ters so much as analyzing events onstage the solo 'angel voice; and as the 'real' and Alternative Medicine Research) in ed by Concordia's Theatre students Dec. 9 with critical detachment. voice for soprano, alto and tenor choir Toronto Dec. 4 and 5. to 12. Spry taught a two-week intensive parts, which were mixed with synthe­ She calls it "The Healing Art of Sound, It's the third time Lib Spry has directed . course last summer, building up an sized choir sounds to create a large choral Music and Vibration: Remembering Self the play, and every time, it's different, she ensemble of students. The cast for this flowing, human sound for the composi­ Through Sound." The symposium is says. These days, with politics so polar­ play is huge - 75 - which means the tions:• sponsored by the Canadian Institutes of ized and so rife with conflict, Brecht is actors (17 students in this case) take mul­ As an actor and singer, Helms has per­ Health Research and the Natural Health "utterly relevant:' tiple roles; indeed, the play is rarely formed in opera, music theatre, film and Products Directorate. Brecht (1989-1956) revolutionized performed outside of theatre schools. television as an actor and singer. She Helms has explored with several Con­ European theatre, and his influence is The plot concerns a child, who is aban­ acquired her skills with some of the best, cordia colleagues the idea of starting a still strongly felt. Google has 173,000 doned by her highborn mother and including studying theatre at the Univer­ holistic voice centre to "release and entries for his name. rescued by a kitchen maid. As always sity of California, mime with Jacques retrain the voice;' and still has hopes that His ultra-leftwing politics was inte­ with Brecht, there is blood and guts, Lecoq in Paris, and various theatre skills they can get funding. "Europe and the grated with his approach to acting, shouting and music, tears and laughter. in the U.S., including Harvard. United States are far beyond Canada in because he felt that a truly Marxist "It's my favourite play;' Spry said. "The As well as performing in theatre pro­ this respect:' drama must avoid the Aristotelian prem­ students love it and are working hard:' ductions in the United States, Canada She is active in the field of alternative ise of versimilitude, or being lifelike. For times and ticket prices, see the Back and abroad, she has been a teacher, con­ medicine, and joined the newly" formed In a Brechtian production, the audi- Page. ducting workshops at international Canadian Interdisciplinary Network for conferences and teaching and directing Complementary & Alternative Medicine at the Banff Arts Centre. Research (IN-CAM). Beckett-Baxter Memorial Lecture She also works as interpretation coach, "I joined it to help build a network of dialogue and dialect specialist in the the­ complementary and alternative practi­ David Bordwell atre, film and television industry in tioners and to enhance and develop "Network Narratives and Small-World Stories: New Narrative in Hollywood?" Montreal. research capacity in Canada. J~. 10 at 7 p.m. -Right now, she is completing a book on "I will be giving a presentation on Room H-110, Henry F. Hall Building · sound therapy. sound therapy at IN-CAM's first sympo­ David Bordwell is an eminent film scholar, and author or co-author of Film Art: "My current research is focused on sium this December at the University of An Introduction and Film History: An Introduction. examining the huD?,an voice as a thera- Toronto:·

Charles Dickens slept here:Theatre students to be on BBC _ Novelist Charles Dickens was an enor­ Being Julia, or as Mrs. Sprout in Harry Crockett said that the play is a one-act Lion Television calls the project "a lit­ mously popular stage performer during Potter. Margoyles is also a Dickens schol­ farce, not by Dickens, but by a writer of erary road movie." Alan Hustak, of the his lifetime, not only in his native Eng­ ar. the era called John Poole. The Gazette, has been working with the land, but on this side of the pond, where She will give a master class at Concor­ When Dickens and his wife came to crew from Lion and will be their host in he toured many times. dia on Dec. 9 on Victorian farce Montreal, he was persuaded to put Montreal. Now a crew from Lion Television Scot­ melodrama to six students who have together an evening of light theatrics He said that when Dickens visited in land is travelling around North America, been rehearsing a scene from the play. with local actors. These were in the days May 1842 with his wife, Kate, he was only making a series for the British Broadcast­ Then she will transform the students' before movies and television, when clever, 29, and was disgruntled about his Ameri­ ing Corporation called Dickens in scene, directing it and performing a role lively people made their own entertain­ can sojourn. America. herself (a la Dickens, who played several ment. However, he spent 19 days in Montreal, They will be in Montreal for several roles in the original plays). As a play, Deaf as a Post is not exactly and was thrilled by the spring weather, days in early December, and will record a On Dec. 10, in the small Cazalet Studio brilliant stuff, Crockett admits. "We're the smart shops and knowledgeable citi­ scene with Concordia's Theatre Depart­ of the F.C. Smith Auditorium, the scene not looking too closely at character devel­ zens, and the hospitality of a ment from Deaf as a Post, one of three will be performed for the camera. opment. It's a silly little play:• marketing-savvy hotelier. plays Dickens staged here on a three­ The student director is Marissa Crock­ It's the chance to work with Margoyles Most of the buildings Dickens men­ week stopover in 1842. ett, who is thrilled to have the on acting, directing and staging that she tioned in his letters burned in a fire in Central to the series is a distinguished opportunity to work with professionals and the six student actors are looking 1852, but Rasco's Hotel, where he stayed, English actress, Miriam Margoyles, OBE, on this unusual project. "It was a case of forward to, and the historical dimension is still on St. Paul St. whom you may have seen in the movie right time, right place;· she said. that she's bring to the exercise.

Concordia 's Thursday Report I December 2, 2004 I 9 Seniors have a lifelong thirst for knowledge

LINA ,SHO U MAROVA Another senior student who also worked as a teacher said there is an Seniors are part of Concordia's diverse "equalization process between students student community. They're people with and professors:• a thirst for knowledge who, after years "Students nowadays are less reluctant spent in the workforce, still find it exhila­ to challenge the teacher:• she noted. Hav­ rating to be in the classroom and learn. ing done her master's in counselling at Now in its twenty-first year, McGill in the '70s, she is now indulging Concordia's program for seniors has dou­ her passion for languages by taking bled in the past four years to 600 courses in Italian, French, and hopefully, students. The figure reflects a renewed German, in the future. interest in continuing education among people of all ages. Multicultural Of the 600 current senior students, approximately 250 are studying for cred­ "Classes today are much more multi­ it, said Sylvia de Niverville, the program cultural then when I was a student in the co-ordinator. '7os:· she added. The rest are considered independent Norm Goldman worked as a notary students, who, for a small fee, audit before retiring three years ago and is now courses for their own interest and auditing courses in several different enrichment. They listen to lectures and Left to right, Dolly Tiger, Stella Dahan and Fernande Dahan at a meeting of the Senior areas. participate in class discussions, but are Students Bridge Club. "Usually, we are about 10 people," explained Dolly Tiger, who has "Senior students bring maturity and been playing the game since the age of 15. She is the teacher of the group and also a stu­ not required to write assignments or final dent in the Seniors Non-Credit Program. The theatre class she took last semester left her knowledge to the classroom, as well as a exams. with "wonderful impressions," she recalled. vast amount of experience;' he said. He is In 1995, the age restriction for senior sometimes asked for advice or feedback students was lowered from 60 to 55 years. support full-time first-year under­ Senior students love the exchange with of a paper by the undergraduate students Currently, there are several nonagenarian graduate students. young people, whom they find sophisti­ in his classes. Goldman was very enthusi­ students in the program, the oldest being Outside of the classroom, the senior cated and outspoken. One senior student, astic about the use of the Internet, a in her 94th year. students participate in various social a former teacher who wished her name "terrific tool" for both students and pro­ Five annual scholarships of $500 each - activities organized by the Concordia not be mentioned, was pleasantly sur­ fessors. encourage senior students to study for Seniors Social Committee. prised to discover that professors The seniors have some general advice credit, and ultimately, for a degree. They visit ethnic restaurants, partici­ encourage in-class discussion, something for younger students: Take advantage of In addition, the program has pate in film discussion groups, enjoy she doesn't remember to be the case 50 the abundance of resources, cultural pro­ established the T.J. Madden Bursary to twice-a-year pot lucks, or games such as years ago when she did her BA at Queen's grams and academic opportunities that bridge or scrabble on a regular basis. University. the university offers. Teddies sold for scholars On the cutting edge: Centraide clip-art Last Monday, the atrium of the draws of donors include Angie Tru­ library building was a bustling place, biano, retiree Bruce English, Judith as Concordians lined up to have Herz, Ronald Proud, Frederick Lowy, their hair cut for Centraide. Waheeda Hamid, Shirley McLeod, Nearly $800 was raised by good Gary Katch, Mona Senecal, Helen sports like Vince MacDougall (Mail Eng, Paul Chesser, Janis Steele, Frank Services), who sacrificed his mous­ Chalk, Diamantoudi Effrosyni and tache of 25 years, and Brent Wattie Claude Boisvert. (Copier Operations) and Glenn Weir The goal of this year's Centraide (Carpentry), who had their heads campaign is $140,000. So far, $88,000 shaved. have been pledged. The campaign The organizers would like to ends in December, and Nancy Cur­ thank Normand Charbonneau and ran, who organized the barbershop his team from Coiffure Normand. event, is confident the goal can be Tickets were sold for a raffle, and reached. the winners of some great entertain­ "These campaigns provide a great ment toys were Irvin Dudeck, opportunity to bring the students Dominique Derome, Dina Azuelos and staff together and to make stu­ Passersby in the lobby of the Guy Metro Building last Thursday were invited to buy a teddy bear for a child at the Children's Hospital or give one as a present. Teddy Bear Adoption Day was held by vol­ and Anna Simone. dents aware of Centraide's work," she unteers in the John Molson School of Business to raise money for a student award for cultural The winners. of recent weekly added. understanding. There's another fundraising drive in June via the Tour de l'Ile bikeathon. Part-time faculty talk in the open Feed the Fund for students Part-time faculty members conducted interview with students in the atrium of the J.W. Multi-Faith Chaplaincy is appealing more details and to register, contact McConnell Building last week to protest lagging contract talks. for your generosity to the Feed the Paul Gareau at [email protected]­ It was part of an action called Campus Equity Week taken by the Concordia University Fund, which provides gift certifi­ cordia.ca or ext. 3593. Part-time Faculty Association to draw attention to what they see as inadequate access to cates for grocery stores to students The Chaplaincy administers the offices. in need. Student Emergency Food Fund. A handout says, in part, "While most departments do provide some office space, You are invited to get into the hol­ Over $18,600 was given to needy stu­ CUPFA points out that very small offices furnished with worn-out second-hand furniture iday spirit by decorating the tree in dents during the 2003-04 academic is not adequate to meet and work properly with students. Moreover, these offices are used the atrium of the Library Building year. by anywhere from five to 15 part-time faculty members at a time. during the week of Dec. 6. Tie a rib­ Donors of more than $10 will "Not surprisingly, many part-time faculty choose to meet their students in coffee hous­ bon on the tree for a donation of $1 receive tax receipts. Contact Daryl es or restaurants around campus:• or more. Lynn Ross at ext. 3585 or at The handout adds that department offices are inaccessible to part-time faculty who If you want to get more involved, [email protected] for more teach courses in the evening and the summer. CUPFA is currently negotiating for a new you can volunteer for the Chaplain­ information about donations or contract. Their previous contract ended in April 2002. CUPFA represents 1,200 part-time ,cy's information table, Dec. 6 to 10, being a volunteer. teachers, of whom 85 per cent are active voting members. between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. For

10' I Concordia 's Thu rsda y 'Repor t I Dec ember 2, 2004 Cagey Stingers must rely on finesse, speed

JOHN AUSTEN ward), Patrick Perrotte {forward), Ben Sermonte (guard) and rookie Dwayne Mission accomplished - at least so far. Buckley (guard/forward). The players on the Concordia Stingers Dore was asked to weigh in on the basketball team set a goal of finishing the recent NBA brawl in a game between the first half of the season at a perfect 5-0 Detroit Pistons and· Indiana Pacers that heading into the Christmas break. That saw fans and players throw punches at came to fruition last Sunday night when each other. Many are considering it one of the Stingers upended the previously the worst spectacles in the history of undefeated Laval Rouge et Or 71-50 in team sport. Ste. Foy. "There's no doubt a line was crossed by Head coach John Dore, in his 15th year both the fans and players," Dore said. at the helm of the Stingers, doesn't like to "The fan who threw the drink at the play­ make predictions, but he- knows a lot is er which started it all should be expected from his Stingers squad this prosecuted. As a player, you have to try season. Concordia lost only one league and keep you cool no matter what hap­ game last year before being unceremoni­ pens, though." ously upset in the playoffs by Bishop's. Dore said that while he hasn't seen Dore doesn't want that to happen anything to that degree at the university again. level, he has threatened to pull his team "We have a good basketball program off the floor a couple of times. here at Concordia and I think a lot of peo­ "I remember fans became unruly in ple started to notice that when they saw games at Waterloo and Bishop's how we performed against some of the (Lennoxville)," he said. "Both times it top U.S. Division 1 schools," Dore said. involved drunken fans and racial slurs "Everyone talks about how great the Head coach John Dore, seen here in practice with the team, is in his fifteenth year with the directed at our players. I won't tolerate Stingers. schools are down there in terms of bas­ that. In both instances the fans involved ketball and they're right, but we've got were thrown out of the gym and we con­ some competitive programs in Canada conference." "We're a small team that just got small­ tinued playing." too, and we do it with far fewer The Stingers suffered a setback when er," Dore said. "We will have to re)y more Stingers fans will have to wait a while resources." they lost six-foot-five forward Jon Dres­ on our speed, especially against big teams to see their heroes in action again - The Stingers beat the University of ner to injury in the St. John's game. A like Laval. unless they take a road trip. Concordia New Hampshire and were also very com­ fractured hand will likely keep him out "We will miss Jon, but we'll just have to will play in a tournament at Dalhousie petitive against both Virginia and St. for the rest of the season. be· more creative on both offence and Dec. 31 to Jan. 2, and won't play another John's (N.Y.). defence. We are a finesse team. That's the home game until Jan. 22, when the McGill "Playing the U.S. schools was great for Juggling way we have to play to be successful. We Redmen visit the Loyola Gym. our kids," Dore said. "They treated us so won't be able to outmuscle too many "We play good, exciting basketball," well down there. It should also make us a The key injury means Dore and his teams." Dore ~aid. "I think more people are start­ more seasoned team and that should coaching staff will be forced to do some Key players still in the line-up for the ing to realize that." help us when we play teams in our own juggling with the line-up. Stingers include · Philippe Langlois {for-

Stinger grid stars end season with awards ,

JOHN A USTEN also worked out for the Detroit Lions. McGrath is convinced his star linebacker has Renaud an All-Canadian Talk about going out with a bang. Concor­ a great future ahead of him in the CPL or dia's fifth-year senior middle linebacker NFL. Mickey Donovan and defensive end Troy Cunningham was presented the J.P. Metras Concordia football player Mike Cunningham were given two major awards at Trophy as the outstanding lineman in the Renaud, a third-year punter from the Canadian Interuniversity Sport , {CIS) country. Ottawa, was named a first team awards last weekend in Hamilton, Ont. His prowess enabled him to pick up 54 all-Canadian when Canadian The ceremony was a prelude to the Vanier total tackles this season, which is second in Interuniversity Sport released its Cup championship game, won 7-1 by Laval the Quebec University Football League offensive and special team honor over Saskatchewan last Saturday afternoon. (QUFL) and seventh in the CIS, an unprece­ role. Donovan was awarded the President's Tro­ dented feat for a lineman. Even more The Political Science student phy as the outstanding defensive player in remarkable are his 19.5 tackles behind the led Quebec in punting with a 40.2 Canada. line of scrimmage, including 10.5 sacks average on 83 punts. The Ottawa It is the second consecutive year Donovan which is the highest number in Canada this native also set a Quebec confer­ was named the top defensive player in the season. ence record for yards punting in a Quebec University Football League (QUFL). season with 3,338. The previous Dominant He has been a powerful presence in the Que­ record of 3206 was set in 1998. bec conference since transferring from the "He is the dominant defensive lineman in Renaud also lines up at wide University of Maine and joining the Stingers Mickey Donovan in Hamilton last weeken~. the country," said Concordia defensive co­ receiver for Concordia. He caught in 2002. · ordinator Warren Craney. "He has been six passes for 118 yards and one "I think he is the most dominating defen­ exceptional in every game. With Troy they touchdown this season. sive player I have ever seen," said Concordia games and when he's healthy he's unstop­ can run, but they can't hide." head coach Gerry McGrath. "If you run at pable," McGrath said. Cunningham's 10.5 sacks set a new confer­ Figsby's boys on a roll him he makes the tackle, if you run away "Just look at his game against Laval on ence record, eclipsing the 9.5 sacks recorded from him he makes the tackle. He's excellent Oct. 30 (14 solos, 4 assists, 1.5 TFL, 1 FF, 1 by McGill's Steve Young in 2002. It also falls The Stingers men's hockey at dropping back into pass coverage. He's big, sack). He's the hardest worker on our team, just shy of the CIS record of 11 sacks in a sea­ team is battling for first place he's strong, he's fast and he has great intu­ one of the most unselfish players I've ever son established in 2001. after winning six of their last ition." coached and the best linebacker in the coun­ "You can't run at him and it's worse when seven games in CIS action. Wins This season, despite being bothered by try." you run away from him," Craney says. over York {5-2) and Guelph {5-1) injuries and playing parts of only six games, Donovan has drawn the attention of sever­ "He's six foot four and 270 pounds and he's last weekend mean the Stingers he was named QUFL Defensive Player of the al professional teams over the last couple of as fast if not faster than any running back in were only a point out of top spot Week on two occasions. year's. NFL teams, notably the Cleveland our conference. He's run every one of them heading into yesterday's game "He's really only played healthy in four Browns, have sent scouts to see him. He has down." against Trois Rivieres.

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12 I Concordia's Thursday Report I December 2, 2004