Special student report on women’s history. Page 8-9 October 29, 2009 Vol. 45 No. 28 The University of Western Ontario’s newspaper of record www.westernnews.ca PM 41195534 Paul Mayne, Western News Fuss on the Bus creator and student senator Patrick Searle (centre) works on the second episode of his ‘talk show’ with guest, fellow student senator Matthijs van Gaalen. Holding the camera is Adam Postalian. Next stop…Senate. Watch your step B Y PAUL MAYNE tor, wants to share with fellow to ‘do you know what the Senate that they want to know about what Remembrance Day issue, scholar- students the opportunity to shape is.’ It was very clear that a lot of is happening at Western,” he says. ship availability and the Career student senator at The Uni- academics at Western through the students aren’t aware.” “The majority of shuttle bus users Centre. Searle hopes to film every versity of Western Ontario Senate. So if students aren’t going to are affiliated students, so that’s two weeks. Ais creating a fuss on the bus But the first job is to educate. Senate, then taking Senate to how I’m connecting to them, but “We’re students, not celebri- – and that’s a good thing. “When I started thinking about them might be a solution. With if main campus students want to ties or stars, and we’re talking In an attempt to educate the running for Senate, back in Janu- the launch of Fuss on the Bus Oct. get involved in the discussion I about student matters - we’re not student population about the ary, I would walk up to students to 13, Searle took to the affiliated encourage them to as well.” talking about Hollywood - we’re university Senate and the role it ask them to vote for me,” he says. college bus (the blue Aboutown With 18 student senators (14 talking about what really impacts plays, Patrick Searle has taken his “They’d say ‘Sure, I’ll vote for you bus) and created a mobile talk undergraduate and four gradu- students,” he says. “That’s how message to YouTube – via public if you get us like a pool table or show. The first show’s posting to ate), Searle says all are supportive it’s supposed to work. Focus on transit. if you get us a big concert.’ I had YouTube received close to 900 of sharing issues affecting educa- the experience inside the class- The third-year King’s Univer- to tell them that’s really not what views, surprising Searle. tion and student life. room.” sity College student body presi- Senate does. So the question then “So far the response has been The initial show touched on top- Check out the program at you- dent, and first-time student sena- turned from ‘will you vote for me’ pretty good. The interest shows ics such as what is Senate, the tube.com/fussonthebus. Polluted water sparks fear, health concerns B Y HEAT H ER TRAVIS ager for the Walpole Island Heri- have provided drinking water and With the rising fear of health Western helps tage Centre, was among the speak- food for the community, but in problems from contamination, alpole Island is nestled ers at the fourth annual Ivey Sym- recent years it has also become the community began asking Walpole Island at the heart of the Great posium on EcoHealth Toxicology a cocktail of pollutants, some questions about the links between WLakes, surrounded by held Oct. 20, titled “When people from chemical plants upstream in health issues, such as cancer and people find natural resources and a breath- poison their environment.” Sarnia’s Chemical Valley, others their environment. taking landscape that supports the As Canada’s southernmost from operations on both sides of “The question from the commu- answers indigenous population. But these reserve, Walpole Island is home the border. Similarly, air pollu- nity was what are the sediments are darker waters than would to just under 4,000 citizens. tion from Detroit and surround- and contaminants, (and) is there appear at first sight. The surrounding waters and ing areas drift towards Walpole Dean Jacobs, consultant man- marshes of the St. Clair River Island. Continued on page 6 INSIDE: Academe 16 | Careers 16 | Classified 16 | Coming Events 15 | Conference Calendar 14 | Student Services Bulletin 14 2 OCTOBER 29, 2009 WESTERN NEWS A closer look at the Globe report B Y HEAT H ER TRAVIS to ensure that future growth is facilities. This past year alone, team. work hard every day to ensure AND PAUL MAYNE appropriately supported.” the Claudette MacKay-Lassonde “There is a lot of pride and the best student experience,” Pavilion, the Advanced Facility commitment among the Western says Langille. he University of Western QUALITY OF for Avian Research, the Western community, and in the Physical Langille says he’s looking at Ontario received high TEACHING: A- Student Recreation Centre and Plant and Capital Planning Ser- areas for improvement. The lat- Tgrades for student satisfac- Doerksen credits Western pro- the Student Services Building vices Department - everywhere est focus is on LEEDS certifi- tion in the 2010 Globe and Mail fessors for adopting best peda- opened their doors. from the design team, the con- cation for new and renovated Canadian University Report. gogical practices and participat- For Roy Langille, Associate tractors, construction personnel, buildings. Western took top spot among ing in programs offered by the Vice-President (Physical Plant building operators, grounds crew, The full report is available at large Canadian universities Teaching Support Centre. & Capital Planning Services), trades, support staff, caretaking globecampus.ca. (enrollment over 22,000), receiv- Western is also making impor- the high grade is a credit to his staff and parking services, who ing an ‘A’ grade for overall stu- tant contributions to the scholar- dent satisfaction in the annual ship of teaching and learning, he survey, now in its eighth year. says. 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