Reflector rolls Author shares Erotic play The man out website thoughts on finds the five behind the News Arts redesign fairytale hole Sports cat Features endings 3 7 13 19 NEWS EDITOR: Alan Mattson [email protected] February 12, 2009 Illustration by James Paton & Ivar Bergs BRIEFS Welcome to he University of Mount Royal University T Calgary’s new downtown campus After years of transition, province gives will be located at 906 8 Ave SW. After five go-ahead for name change to university A Long Haul years of preparation, although this was never stated Royal College and a fourth- the planners chose the by Alan Mattson News Editor explicitly. year student in policy studies. April 2006 location because it’s “The news of another Alberta The name change is just the New governance New provincial legislation close to a C-Train station university is exciting, but “final brick in the wall” during regulations developed will allow Mount Royal College and right downtown. there will be many challenges a long process, he said. to become Mount Royal Thousands of students for any new university and Leaders from the college University as early as this their students to face,” said and the Students’ Association June 2006 Institutional review by will travel to the campus summer. Beverly Eastham, chair of the heard vague rumours about Campus Alberta Quality daily, and the city hopes The Post-Secondary Council of Alberta University the legislation before the Council Learning Amendment Act Students in a news release. “A announcement, but nothing it will revitalize the area. will be introduced during the new university has that much concrete. new session at the Alberta September 2007 nergy company farther to go than the currently “We heard a rumour about Legislature. It will “allow established universities to meet it, but we weren’t told what the First independent E Syncrude Canada baccalaureate and applied the goals of being accessible, legislation was or what it looks university degree offered Ltd. was charged by the studies institutions to have affordable and of the highest like,” Marshall said. “This was federal and provincial the option of applying for the quality.” fairly new to us.” September 2008 governments this week use of the term ‘university’ in Any argument that existing McIntosh said Horner, the Five more baccalaureate their name,” according to a degrees launched — after 500 ducks died university degrees will be minister, did a “comprehensive government document. devalued by Mount Royal’s consultation process with 80% of students in in a toxic tailings pond This means there is a clear name change is “ridiculous,” everybody but Mount Royal university programs north of Fort McMurray process in place for a name Marshall said. College,” prior to deciding on last spring. The company change, according to Mount “We are a university now. the legislation. He speculated February 2009 could be fined up to Royal President Dave Marshall. this is just a name change. this might have been to avoid Province announces “It’s a big step,” he said. $800,000. Mount Royal has gone through the appearance of conflict legislation allowing name After the legislation is passed all the processes over the past of interest. “It’s a constant change to Mount Royal — likely in about six weeks — five years, with the support of surprise party,” he said. University fter more than the college will ask Advanced the government, to ensure that The Students’ Association A a decade as Education and Technology the degrees we offer are at the will have to change its name October 2009 Minister Doug Horner if it’s president of the U of C and U of A level.” (at least to remove “college”) Decision expected on okay to change the name. If he University of Calgary, The Campus Alberta and spend “tens of thousands” AUCC membership agrees, he will take the request Quality Council has already of dollars to change signage, Dr. Harvey Weingarten to cabinet. determined Mount Royal’s letterheads, business cards and will step down from his Marshall couldn’t say for degrees are up to a university the like. June 2011 First Mount Royal sure when the name will be standard. Funding for new Other than that, the SA will position within the year. university-level degree changed. “It would be great baccalaureate degrees has “continue the work that we’re graduates if we could start the year off flowed in, new faculty have doing with a little bit more next year admitting students been hired, and facilities are legitimacy,” McIntosh said. to Mount Royal University,” he being built to meet the needs “It’s been years of work to get 2009-2035 said. “We’re confident it will all of a university, Marshall said. to this point. Everybody helped Infrastructure and work out well.” “I already believe that I’ve in this process. It’s top down academics strengthened During the long process been receiving an incredibly and also college-wide.” at Mount Royal University leading up to the name comprehensive education here The province has been a very change, the ministry has at Mount Royal,” said Travis good partner and has met all faced opposition from other McIntosh, president of the of Mount Royal’s requests up universities in Alberta, Students’ Association of Mount to this point, Marshall said. February 12, 2009 • THE REFLECTOR 3 AUCC ‘impressed’ with visit by Alan Mattson held a “dry run” of the upcoming News Editor session to identify problems and develop strategies. Students, A crucial visit by the faculty and staff attended Association of Universities and information sessions just before Colleges of Canada (AUCC) the visit. was a big success, and college The AUCC visiting committee leaders expect a decision on included Jack Lightstone, membership by October. president of Brock University, The AUCC committee of three Roseann O’Reilly Runte, the university presidents visited president of Carleton University, the college in late January to and Yvon Fontaine, the rector determine if Mount Royal should and vice-chancellor of the be granted membership in the Université de Moncton. organization. If the school’s Their busy two-day visit bid is successful, the quality of included talks with Marshall, its degrees will be universally a review of academics and accepted — especially important research, a tour of the facilities, for students planning on a meeting with faculty, and a graduate studies. lunchtime forum where students “They were impressed with gathered to speak about their Photo by Alan Mattson the commitment and the experiences at Mount Royal. A student speaks to the AUCC visiting committee during a lunchtime forum on Jan. 29. enthusiasm and the dedication Almost every student praised Membership in the AUCC is a key step on the road to Mount Royal University, and will and the energy of everybody at Mount Royal’s student-focused ensure that the school’s new university-level degrees are recognized throughout Canada and Mount Royal,” said president curriculum, including small the world. Dave Marshall. class sizes and plenty of one-on- The committee keeps any one time with instructors. told the committee he lives in a their impressions of Mount at Mount Royal, although thoughts “close to their chest,” Alex Large, a third-year house with three University of Royal are.” they are in the works. SAMRC Marshall said, but added history student, is doing Calgary students, and they envy The students were asked what President Travis McIntosh “there’s no question they were research work on Mount Royal’s his experience at Mount Royal. they would say to Mount Royal mentioned there is a lack of impressed.” holocaust education program. Matt Koczkur, VP external President Dave Marshall if he culture at Mount Royal, calling The school’s preparation “It gives that extra knowledge for the Students’ Association, were standing in the room — if it a “daytime campus.” process was highly strategic, to pursue more in our programs said: “We didn’t want it to be there was anything they wanted The AUCC’s decision leading up to the visit on Jan. 29 rather than just sitting back, a canned event. We wanted to see improved. is expected at their and Jan. 30. doing our courses and getting people to come and be honest A student mentioned that annual general meeting In December 2008 the college our degrees,” Large said. He also and really be genuine with what honours degrees are not offered in October 2009. Trip tease Reflector unveils new website Cougars giveaway less than first-class by Andrea Goss Mel Merwin, a Mount Royal The Reflector alumni. “I know it was an attendance Ding, ding, ding! challenge against SAIT to Congratulations, you just won try to beat their numbers. By a free trip to Mexico! offering a chance to win a free This is where you have trip to Mexico I think they a small freak out session, were appealing to the students run straight to the nearest they wanted to attend,” he swimsuit shop and dig out added. that old sunblock from the However not all students cupboard. agreed that the attendance But hold on just a second, promotion was necessary. what’s that in the fine print? “It’s about the atmosphere,” Oh, it’s only for three nights in said Jessica Doyle, an attendee a two-star hotel and you have at the rivalry game. “I don’t to buy a trip to get yours free. really pay attention to the This was almost the reality marketing because that’s not for one “lucky” Mount Royal what the game is about.” attendee at the Cougar vs. While the trip giveaway SAIT rivalry hockey game on wasn’t all it was cracked up Jan.