DECEMBER 2009
|
VOLUME 9
|
ISSUE FOUR
In every corner of the globe
the UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Horns’ Mike O’Brien an allaround talent
Markin Hall moving towards completion
Archaeologist dips into our nation’s past
Alumnus proves to be entrepreneur
U of L students and alumni show their colours while on deployment in Afghanistan.
W
hen you think of the University of Lethbridge’s global reach, you might not initially think of a connection to the current war in Afghanistan. However, that’s just where some members of the U of L student and alumni community are right now, based in Kandahar, Afghanistan, literally and figuratively one of the world’s hot spots. An on-site Tim Horton’s provides some measure of familiarity, as does regular e-mail and other contact with friends and family, but there is no question that for these young men and others serving in the Canadian
A DV E R T I S I N G For ad rates or other information, contact: legend@uleth.ca CREDITS Editor: Trevor Kenney Designer: Stephenie Karsten Co ntrib u to rs: Abby Allen, Amanda Berg, Diane Britton, Bob Cooney, Jane Edmundson, Nicole Eva, Jana McFarland, Suzanne McIntosh, Kali McKay, Stacy Seguin, Katherine Wasiak and Lori Weber
University of Lethbridge 4401 University Drive Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 www.ulethbridge.ca
flag with Cpl. Andrew McDonald (middle) who graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and (right) Calgary police officer and Lt. Kevin Collier, who holds a Bachelor of Management degree in Accounting, which he obtained in 2004. As well, U of L alumnus Tyler Paynton (BA ’07) a member of the 18th Air Defence Regiment in Lethbridge, is also serving in Afghanistan but was not able to be in the photograph. To send a brief message to Keenan Geiger or his colleagues in Afghanistan, e-mail communications @uleth.ca and the notes will be forwarded.
Golden effort for U of L iGEM team By BOB COONEY
The U of L Legend is published monthly during the academic year by the communications unit within University Advancement. Submissions, comments and story ideas are always welcome. The Legend reserves the right to refuse any submitted advertisement. The Legend can be found online at www.uleth.ca/unews/ legend. Next content deadline is Dec. 18, 2009.
Forces overseas, the war is more than a 30-second clip on the evening news. In this submitted photo, Bombardier (Bdr) Keenan Geiger (l) is a current fourth-year Edmonton campus management student majoring in Human Resources. Now taking a break from school, he is on a sevenmonth deployment in Afghanistan as a reserve member of the Canadian Forces. His unit is part of the 20th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, based in Edmonton. Geiger is the nephew of Naomi Cramer, an administrator in the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience. Geiger shows off a U of L
A group of University of Lethbridge Chemistry/Biochemistry and Neuroscience students returned from a recent international genetically-engineered machines (iGEM) conference at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, MA as gold medalists and with a new appreciation for teamwork, inventiveness and taking chances. The iGEM competition is regarded as the premier undergraduate synthetic biology competition in the World. Student teams are given a kit of biological parts – called ‘BioBricks’ – at the beginning of the summer from the Registry of Standard Biological Parts. Working at their own schools, they use these parts, along with new parts of their own design, to build biological systems. They then operate these systems in living cells. The 8-person U of L team worked on harvesting solar energy by refining what was termed a ‘biobattery’, focusing on a type of bacteria called a cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) that has photosynthetic properties when exposed to sunlight. “My iGEM experience, or my introduction to synthetic biology,
began and ended with a bang,” says team member Megan Torry.
“My iGEM experience, or my introduction to synthetic biology, began and ended with a bang.”
Megan Torry
“The competition was intriguing because it introduced me to a future that we cannot grasp. We have no idea of the vast number of possibilities of where the world will take us, and our future decisions regarding change. There does not seem to be an academic program that is as multidisciplinary as iGEM. People from numerous backgrounds can come together and offer the team different perspectives and skills, further making it a University of Lethbridge goal to get more students involved.” The U of L iGEM team was one of the few composed mainly of undergraduate students, and competed against more than 100 univer-
sity teams to finish with a gold medal standing, one of 48 groups to achieve that mark. They share their iGEM Gold Medal standing with such heavyweight universities as Stanford, Tokyo, Osaka, Johns Hopkins, Paris, and Cambridge, among others. They even outdid the incomparable Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) itself. Team supervisor Dr. HansJoachim Wieden says the team did a tremendous job of making their project not only work, but also be complete enough to have other teams take an interest in their research. “The team constructed some functional biobricks by successfully using synthetic biology to engineer an organism. We also furthered knowledge within the synthetic biology community and helped other teams with their projects. This is a lot of work, which the students take on in their spare time.” Torry and the others didn’t seem to mind the time commitment or the complexity of their project. As successful as the project ultimately was, changes and chances were the order of the day to make the project work. continued on pg. 3
the Legend
DECEMBER 2009
|
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
the billboard
University of Lethbridge President Dr. Bill Cade chats about what’s happening in the University community
It is hard to believe our first semester has nearly passed and we are approaching already the Christmas season. I wish Christmas greetings to all students, faculty and staff at this very special time of year. As I look around campus I am always impressed by the ethnic diversity we have here at the University of Lethbridge. We truly are a global community with students from virtually every corner of the planet. What impresses me is the manner by which U of L students embrace the international culture that surrounds them. I know this because of the many stories I hear of our students making an
CAMPUS
impact on a global level. We have a number of students who take advantage of study tours to international destinations and many more who volunteer abroad, helping to spread the word that the University is globally conscious and responsible. It is hardly surprising then to see U of L grads employed as part of our armed forces, representing both their country and the University in some of the world’s most troubled locations. It is wonderful to see these young men fly the University’s flag in these far-off lands and I wish upon them a safe return to Canada once their tour of duty
has been completed. Hearty congratulations to the Pronghorns women’s rugby team on their third consecutive CIS championship victory. To win a national championship is wonderful but to do it three straight years, and in such a dominant fashion, is truly remarkable. We should be very proud of these young women and all the attention they have brought to the University of Lethbridge. In keeping with Pronghorn Athletics, it is important to remember that our athletes are students as well and that the term “student-athlete” be taken to heart. Therefore it was good
kudos
Hong Kong University Press recently published Dr. Maria Ng’s (English) book, Pilgrimages: Memories of Colonial Macau and Hong Kong. Speaking about the book, Rey Chow of Brown University says, “By bringing to Hong Kong and Macau the reflexive intelligence of a sophisticated world traveler, who is also ‘at home’ in the disciplines, biases, anxieties and absurdities of a strict Chinese upbringing, Ng’s book is a gem of a memoir, one that demonstrates what these little postcolonial enclaves have to offer a global understanding of the history between Europe and its others.” Travis Conrad (BEd ’05, BMus ’07), a teacher at R.I. Baker Middle School in Coaldale, was the winner of the 2009 Keith Mann Legacy Award, which is presented by the Alberta Band Association to one young Alberta band director each year. The recipient must have one to six years of teaching experience and display qualities of an upstanding band teacher. The award was presented at the recent Music Alberta Conference in Red Deer. Victoria Baster (Art) presented a rigorous examination of the influence on postwar design
in Canada by Lethbridge’s own Donald Buchanan. Elder son of Senator W. A. Buchanan, Donald went on to hold key positions in many of Canada’s then fledgling art organizations including the
National Gallery of Canada. Dr. Rolf Boon’s (Music) composition System 2.3/7 is currently being performed by Edmonton’s Ensemble Mujirushi on their ‘Smash the Mainstream’ European tour. The computer-
Programming Contest. Finally, kudos to student Scott Lamb of Claresholm who managed to sink a half-court shot and win the Bill’s Bomb for Books promotion at a recent Pronghorns men’s basketball game. His prowess lightened my wallet and netted him a $500 gift certificate at the University Bookstore. Enjoy the Christmas season, use the University’s Operation Red Nose program if you’re out enjoying some Christmas cheer and I look forward to seeing everyone renewed and refreshed in the New Year.
singing across canada
assisted composition is being presented with video and dance. Dr. Blaine Hendsbee (Music) sang the role of Sellem (the auctioneer) in Igor Stravinsky’s neoclassical operatic masterpiece, The Rake’s Progress, presented by Pacific Opera Victoria in the Royal Theatre, Victoria in November. Dagmar Dahle (Art) has an exhibition entitled Weaving van Gogh at Calgary’s Stride Art Gallery from Nov. 20 to Dec. 19. Weaving van Gogh explores the texture of memory and place from a feminist perspective through a reconsideration of Vincent van Gogh’s documented relationship to weaving.
Travis Conrad, shown here playing at the University of Lethbridge, is excelling as a new teacher at Coaldale’s R.I. Baker Middle School.
to see the Pronghorns qualify 41 of their student-athletes for the Academic All-Canadian team, an increase of six students from the previous year. Special mention should be made of the women’s soccer and rugby programs, which led the way with eight Academic All-Canadians apiece. Congratulations also to Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden and his iGEM team for their recent gold medal performance at the iGEM competition in Boston, as well as the efforts of Dr. Howard Cheng’s computer programming teams that posted the University’s best-ever results at the ACM Rocky Mountain Regional
Dr. Anne Dymond (Art) has written the text for Dagmar Dahle’s (Art) exhibition Weaving van Gogh at Calgary’s Stride Art Gallery. The text is available online at www.stride. ab.ca Denton Fredrickson (Art) and John Granzow (Psychology) have their collaboration, Instruments of Removal, appearing in the first issues of the new online publication, Boulder Pavement. The Journal was officially launched on Nov. 27 at The Banff Centre.
2
Jason Ragan, Tina Alexander and Aaron Bartholomew are preparing to join the National Youth Choir for a tour across Canada in May 2010.
Voice majors from the University of Lethbridge have been selected for three of the four positions open to Alberta university students with the prestigious National Youth Choir. “Having three of the singers come from our program speaks both to its strength and the talent of the marvelous young musicians who choose to study here,” says Dr. Janet Youngdahl, U of L Singers director. Jason Ragan, Tina Alexander and Aaron Bartholomew are preparing to join the choir as they tour across Canada in May 2010. “It’s an honour to be selected,” says Bartholomew.
“I expect the experience will be invaluable.” All three singers are also members of the U of L Singers and continue to gain exceptional experience from the educational and performance opportunities from their participation with that group. This year’s National Youth Choir director is Victoria Merideth, esteemed choral director of the award-winning University of Western Ontario Singers. The National Youth Choir rehearses together for a week before touring various locations throughout the country to perform. Dates and locations are to be announced in January 2010.
DECEMBER 2009
|
the Legend
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Education’s Job Fair brings employers to campus By TREVOR KENNEY
T
he Faculty of Education receives countless calls from school boards looking to hire their graduates. As a result, they found a great way to deal with all the requests – Job Fair. Now set to celebrate its 10th anniversary, the Faculty of Education Job Fair goes Jan. 20, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Atrium. A total of 35 to 40 school boards are expected, making the fair a valuable resource for both educational employers and students ready to hit the job market. “The bottom line is that our program is so well thought of and respected, and so well known in western Canada, the school boards think of us first. The word is out there that our grads are very competent,” says Judy Lavorato, program specialist with the Faculty of Education’s Student Program Services (SPS) department. Patricia Foster, also with SPS, says the U of L grad is a known commodity for employers. That is represented by statistics that say 97 per cent of Faculty of Education graduates find work in the field of education within one year of graduating.
Over the past 10 years, the Faculty of Education’s Job Fair has served as an excellent bridge between employers and U of L students.
“They know the quality of students they are receiving,” says Foster. “We give them twice as much in-class training as is required by Alberta Education and that’s a huge advantage when they head out into the workforce.” Prior to Job Fair, the phones would constantly be ringing as
school boards enquired about the availability of grads. The idea to bring these boards on campus for a one-time recruiting and information session was born. A total of 18 boards made the trip in for the inaugural Job Fair and the U of L has accommodated up to 50 school boards in past sessions.
“Some of the boards come not to necessarily recruit but to just let students know they are out there,” says Lavorato. “Some boards would like our students to complete their final internship (PS III) in their jurisdiction and may offer incentives to stay after they have graduated. It’s not uncommon
for students to have a teaching position already lined up before they finish their program.” The lineup of school boards attending this year’s fair is as varied and diverse as the potential teachers they will be recruiting. Truly an international fair, representatives from boards as far away as Australia will be in attendance. Of course the majority of attending school boards reside in the Prairie provinces but there are a multitude of opportunities available to adventurous grads. Job Fair 2010 is open to the public and Student Program Services is currently looking for volunteers to help with the event. For more information, call the Faculty of Education at 403-329-2254, visit the website at www.uleth.ca/edu/jobfair/ or e-mail edu.jobfair@uleth.ca
Galway delves into the power of literature Never underestimate the power of the written word – especially when it’s used in children’s literature. English professor Dr. Elizabeth Galway has focused her research interests on the written word and how it is used in children’s literature from the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. She has discovered that while children may be marginalized and their literature passed off as trivial, many profound themes are often woven into children’s works and they can have a strong and lasting impact on a young reader. “There has been a tendency to view the literature written for children as less important than literature for adults,” says Galway. “This dual status of children’s literature – the fact that it can have a strong impact on its readership but is often assumed by adults to be trivial – is one of the characteristics that makes it such an interesting genre.” Her current SSHRCfunded project, Young Canada Goes to War, examines a variety of children’s literature from 1914-1925, with a view to understanding how Canadian participation in WWI was
portrayed by children’s writers from Canada, Britain and the United States.
“There has been a tendency to view the literature written for children as less important than literature for adults.” Dr. Elizabeth Galway
“There is, for example, the question of how the violence of the war is portrayed,” says Galway. “In some children’s stories the horrors of war are displayed in full for children to see, while in others the violence is downplayed. In the latter case, this can occur for a variety of reasons, which may include softening depictions of warfare for younger readers to protect them from these traumatic events, to help encourage boys to enlist once they come of age, or to downplay the casualties suffered by
Canadians in order to promote national pride and enthusiasm for the war effort.” She also found interesting the relationship depicted between Canada and Britain as our young nation begins to exert its independence from the “motherland”. “The war also had an impact on the nation’s attitudes towards its other allies, like the United States, and its enemies,” says Galway. “Depictions in children’s literature of Germans, for instance, along with discussions of immigrants from war-torn Europe, shed light on how the war affected ideas about citizenship, race, and immigration in Canada.” It’s an especially timely subject to review, given the current political climate and the lingering debates about Canada’s role in international affairs. “Given the great potential of children’s literature to educate, socialize, and indoctrinate its readers, the study of this genre can give us important insight into how the Canadian identity, including attitudes towards peacekeeping and militarism, developed in the early twentieth century.”
3
Pictured (l to r): Roxanne Shank, Alix Blackshaw, Lisza Bruder, Ashley Duncan, Fan Mo, Mackenzie Coatham, Megan Torry, Jeffrey Fischer and Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden.
iGEM a true team experience continued from pg.1 “Throughout the summer our project was forced to change as our team took chances again and again, and consequently were wrong, again and again. It was good that we were all too stubborn to stop showing up. I realized that being a risk taker and taking chances will expand synthetic biology because it will lead to the development of new ideas. I would suggest that anyone interested should take a chance with iGEM,” says Torry. “I have a BSc in Neuroscience, but iGEM allowed me to come to a conclusion that there are numerous novel lab procedures to expand my
personal skills. “I had to learn all of these new lab procedures, and I had to ask a lot of questions, interact, present, travel, write and develop myself over the last eight months. I was successful on a personal level because I was able to expand my talents, discover talent within myself, and see it in those working around me.” The iGEM project has evolved to become a credit course, and there is now scholarship money available for travel. As well, the group developed a business plan to further take advantage of any ideas that come out of the iGEM process.
the Legend
DECEMBER 2009
|
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Bursary is a way to pay forward
connections Global
Students have Ulsan University in their sights.
south korea beckons
the world’s largest shipyard, operated by Hyundai Heavy Industries, and the world’s second largest oil refinery, owned by SK Energy, it also neighbours the historic city By TREVOR KENNEY of Kyung-ju, the capital of the University of Ulsan, Ulsan University in South Silla Dynasty from 57 BC to 935 AD. Korea has long been a valuable Korea Ulsan, South Participants in the sumpartner with the University of mer tour will be accompanied Lethbridge, and for the first University of Ulsan is an by a University faculty memtime this coming summer, ber and experience every facet U international of L students will get the exchange of the South Korean lifestyle. opportunity to participate in a partner with the University one-month study tour to learn The tour includes trips to of Lethbridge. As Hyundai thereHeavy is an Industries, Korean culture, history, socia one-night home stay with exchange partnership, study ety, business and language. a Korean family, a night in a “I expect this program tour fees will be very Buddhist temple, a week of will be very popular,” says reasonable. study in Seoul and many more Laura Ferguson of the Univeropportunities. sity’s International Centre for The summer program“You is can’t really do someStudents. thing like this as a tourist, you designed for students who “We’ve had a longstanddon’t get access to this type of ingwant agreement Ulsan Korean towith learn experience on your own,” says where we offer four-month culture, history, society, Ferguson. exchange programs and Interested students must business as well as the they send a number of their advance an applicastudents here to participate Korean language. The through course tion process in order to be in our English for Academic consists of a widechosen range for theof tour. ApplicaPurposes (EAP) program. tions are due to the Internaclasses This study tour isand for oneexcursions. Centre by Dec. 15. month only, is quite inexpenParticipants visit tional a wide “They’ll need to write an sive and is completely in Engvariety of historical essay ofand about 1,000 words lish, so there are no language cultural sites around about whyUlsan they want to particrequirements.” ipate in the program and what Scheduled to run and other cities in Korea. value they think they’ll get June 27 to July 26, 2010, IDST from this kind of exchange,” 2850: Study Tour of South says Ferguson. Korea is for course credit and “We’re looking for amis available to just 20 qualibassadors of the U of L, people fied students. Depending on who will go there and show scholarship funding, the study our partner university how tour will be priced at $2,500 great U of L students are.” per student and include the It’s also an opportunity to cost of tuition, flights, accomtake advantage of a partnermodations, meals and a host ship agreement between the of activities. two institutions that sees “It really fits well within Ulsan send many more stuthe interdisciplinary studies dents to Canada. category given the broad base “This summer program of what they will be learning,” gives students the opportusays Ferguson. nity to go and study in Korea Ulsan is South Korea’s completely using the English seventh largest metropolis language, which is much less with a population of over 1.1 intimidating and allows a lot million, and is the industrial more people to participate.” powerhouse of South Korea, For more information, forming the heart of the Ulsan contact Laura Ferguson via Industrial District. Home to e-mail at laura.ferguson2@ the world’s largest automobile uleth.ca or visit the Internaassembly plant, operated by Hyundai Motor Company, tional Centre for Students.
Serena Wesley, left, used the Neilson Family Memorial Bursary as a means to help her through the University’s Nursing program. Tracy Oosterbroek, right, and her husband Rod initiated the bursary.
By KALI MCKAY
U
of L students will receive close to $3 million in scholarships, bursaries and prizes throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. One-third of this year’s amount is as a result of donor contributions to endowed and annual funds that directly support our students. Student awards are increasingly growing in popularity with U of L donors. In the last two years alone, over $6.5 million has been raised for scholarships and bursaries, with more than $4 million being raised so far in 2009. When it comes to showing support, U of L faculty and staff are often the first to step forward. As a U of L student, Tracy Oosterbroek (BN ’95, MSc ’08) was the recipient of student awards. Now a U of L alumna and current academic assistant, Oosterbroek is keenly aware of
how a little help can go a long way. For this reason, Tracy and her husband Rod established the Bob, Carolyn and Jeff Neilson Memorial Bursary in Nursing.
“Scholarships help students reach their goals.” serena wesley
“My husband Rod and I decided to set up the Neilson Family Memorial Bursary as a way to honour my family members, but also to pay forward the gifts we have received,” explains Oosterbroek. “I believe it is important that we recognize the personal and financial challenges faced by our students and these gifts are one way we can do that. I hope that in some small way this bursary
100%
can help to offset those challenges so students can successfully complete their program of study.” Serena Wesley is completing her last semester in the Nursing program and is grateful to be one of the recipients of the Neilson Family Memorial Bursary. “Scholarships help students reach their goals,” explains Wesley. “I have worked very hard to juggle work, school and children while I complete my degree and it’s nice to be recognized.” Oosterbroek emphasizes the importance of supporting student scholarships and the difference it can make in the lives of the recipients. “By investing in our students, we show that we care about them while assisting them to achieve their academic goals.” Equally important is the message sent to the community, demonstrating that U of L faculty and staff are the first to collectively invest in our students.
Wrapping up Supporting Our Students 2009
In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, don’t forget to make your Supporting Our Students donation for 2009. Your generosity extends beyond the University and changes our community. Every gift – large or small – makes a difference.
of Gifts employees in this office contributed received or post-marked on or before Dec. 31, 2009 are eligible for a 2009 tax towards student awards in 2009.
receipt and all 2009 donors will be invited to the celebration donor gala in the new year.
100%Sign.indd 1
7/22/09 10:01:29 AM
To donate, visit: www.ulethbridge.ca/giving/SupportingOurStudents
4
DECEMBER 2009
|
athletics AT T H E U
the Legend
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
g et T H E FA C T S • O’Brien went to high school at Calgary’s Bishop Grandin and says he never made a top tier soccer squad until earning a spot on the Horns’ roster.
Juggling the role of a student-athlete
• His nine career goals are the most for a Pronghorns fullback and he scored three times this past season. • O’Brien has a brother in third-year engineering studies at the University of Calgary, and a sister in her senior year of high school. • O’Brien says he’s able to apply athletic traits to academic studies. “You have to know when to focus and when to dedicate your time to certain tasks. A game day is like the day of a test, you have to be able to focus and perform at that time to the best of your abilities.”
Pronghorns’ soccer player Mike O’Brien has excelled both on the pitch and in the classroom.
By TREVOR KENNEY
W
hen Mike O’Brien says he’s planning on going to medical school next year, you can all but consider it a certainty – that’s just the way he gets things done. A soon-to-be-graduating (he finishes school in December and will convocate in the spring) senior fullback from the Pronghorns men’s soccer program, O’Brien has made a habit of setting goals and steadfastly achieving them. A walk-on candidate for the soccer team in his first year, he introduced himself to head coach Randy Bardock over e-mail and was only assured he’d get an opportunity to try out when he arrived. Five years later, O’Brien finished his career as a team captain, a second-team conference all-star and the highest scoring fullback in program history. His academic career at the University followed a similar path. For two years he put up good, if not outstanding, grades while combining soccer and studies. Since then, with an eye
Pronghorns excel as allcanadians Every year, the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) honours student athletes who excel in sport at the university level, while maintaining an 80 per cent average in academics, as Academic All-Canadians. Recently, the University of Lethbridge recognized the achievement of 41 outstanding student-athletes, who achieved Academic All-Canadian
O’Brien helped spread Pronghorn Pride to youngsters in Tanzania.
on a future in medicine, O’Brien dedicated himself to improving his academic standing. The result was consecutive selections as an Academic All-Canadian (a third is in the offing) and the Canada West Student-Athlete of the Year nod for 2009. “It is a point of pride that I am able to be an Academic All-Canadian because there are very few athletes in general who get that honour,” says O’Brien, a
Honours. This number represents over 22 per cent of our studentathlete body and an increase of six athletes from last year, a remarkable number signifying the importance our program places on academics. Following is the list of Pronghorn Athletes who are recognized as CIS Academic AllCanadians for 2008-09. Men’s Hockey Curtis Cooper, Arts & Science Brandon Highton, Management Logan Lavorato, Management Stephen Zmudczynski, Arts & Science
22-year-old Calgary, Alta. native. “Maturity has been the biggest change. Moving away from home for the first time, there are so many distractions and I definitely took advantage of those in my first two years. I had a B and B+ average, which isn’t horrible, but it’s not good enough to get into medical school. “I realized I needed to change my academic habits. It wasn’t really until my third
year when I started to improve. Maturity and learning from my past mistakes were the biggest differences.” A biological science major, O’Brien has already applied to attend medical school upon graduation next spring. This past summer, he immersed himself in the medical field, spending two months as a volunteer in Arusha, Tanzania, with the Volunteer Abroad organization. “It was an amazing experience,” says O’Brien. “I was able to help in an HIV/AIDS clinic, work in a lab and maternal health clinic and observe major surgical procedures first hand.” He says the work he did only steeled his resolve to become a doctor. “It reaffirmed my desire to go to medical school but more than that, it made me want to do something more, perhaps as a doctor, to further help people in developing countries,” he says. “Being in Tanzania really gave me an appreciation of the opportunities I have here in Canada, like being able to go to university, and I really want to
Men’s Soccer Iain Cain, Education Matthew Dow, Arts & Science Marcus Karpati, Education Michael O’Brien, Arts & Science Nathan Phillips, Arts & Science Dylan Tooby, Management
Sarah Gagnon, Arts & Science Jennifer Kabeary, Arts & Science Aarin Shapiro, Arts & Science
Track & Field Roberto DeSandoli, Arts & Science Dominic Mudiayi, Arts & Science Cody Pivert, Education Simon Schaerz, Arts & Science Emily Brown, Arts & Science
Women’s Hockey Megan Bach, Arts & Science Johanna Meyers, Arts & Science Katherine Nesbitt, Arts & Science Lindsey Peters, Arts & Science
Swimming Ariana Edelman, Health Sciences
5
Women’s Basketball Courtney Heinricks, Arts & Science Kara Henry, Fine Arts
Women’s Rugby Shannon Court, Arts & Science Natalie de Kok, Health Sciences
make the most of that.” At home, O’Brien is similarly charitable, working part-time as a community worker for people with disabilities as part of the Southern Alberta Community Living Association. “I’ve worked there since the summer of 2007,” says O’Brien. “It’s something that has given me a great appreciation for what I have and has further encouraged me to pursue medicine as a career.” A true student-athlete in every sense, O’Brien has made the most of his U of L experience. He finds it hard to believe five years have passed since he walked on to the old soccer field a virtual unknown. “I was pretty surprised initially when I even made the team and from there, I just worked on improving, gradually earned more playing time and then a starting spot,” O’Brien says. “It amazes me that five years are over now and I’m getting ready to leave.” He’ll go as a mature, confident graduate that is sure to represent the best the U of L has to offer.
Kimberly Leavitt, Arts & Science Ashley MacDonald, Arts & Science Jena Murray, Fine Arts Amanda Richardson, Management Nicole Van Eck, Arts & Science Ashley Zaremba, Arts & Science Women’s Soccer Kathryn Curtis, Arts & Science Kristen Dow, Arts & Science Sherry Latrace, Health Sciences Samantha McMillan, Arts & Science Crystal Theodore, Arts & Science Taura Truba, Arts & Science Jessica Volpi, Arts & Science Elizabeth Young, Arts & Science
the Legend
DECEMBER 2009
|
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Markin Hall to include nursing skills lab in plans The Faculties of Management and Health Sciences will soon be calling Markin Hall their new home. The facility is ahead of schedule and should begin to be populated in May 2010.
By TREVOR KENNEY
I
t’s never too late to do things right – especially with the future of a showcase building at stake. As Markin Hall, the new home for the Faculties of Management and Health Sciences, nears its completion date, a significant addition to the plans was made recently with a keen eye to the future. Sensing the rapid growth in student numbers within the Faculty of Health Sciences, the University redesigned space within Markin Hall to include an expanded nursing skills lab. “It only makes sense to put the skills lab into the new building,” Vice-President (Academic) Andy Hakin says. “This is an integral part of Health Sciences programming and in the original plans, this skills lab was going to be separate from Markin Hall. We have the chance now to address this before the building is complete and it thereby allows us to accommodate the full spectrum of activity in Health Sciences.” The proposed lab will more than double the size of available teaching space in the current skills lab, from 85 square metres to 180. Up to 16 students will be able to occupy the lab at any given time, and with its design and extreme high-tech focus, it will serve as a showcase facility for the faculty. “It will be state-of-the-art and outfitted for the latest training equipment used by health science professionals,” says project manager Brian Sullivan. “Having this teaching space in their building is going to make a huge difference to their program.” The lab will be outfitted with nursing stations, including some with mannequins that are operated from a separate control room that looks onto the lab. From there instructors can program the mannequins to react to stimuli, mim-
icking responses of real patients. “The level of sophistication in that space is extremely high,” says Sullivan. Sullivan says the lab can be incorporated into Markin Hall with relative ease, only delaying the opening of the west side of the building’s second level. The rest of the facility will not be affected and its opening will actually come sooner than planned. “The way things are going now, we’ll be able to start moving in the first week of May 2010 and we had originally looked at the beginning of June,” says Sullivan of a process that will move approximately 20 people per week and take the better part of two months. “This project has gone very smoothly. Stuart Olson Construction is very well organized and has done a very good job from start to almost finish.” While the nursing skills lab is the showcase piece of the Health Sciences portion of the building, the Faculty of Management has its own space to brag about – the Financial Trading Room. “It is the key element for the Faculty of Management. It’s a high-tech, state-of-the-art facility that will provide students with hands-on stock trading and risk management experience,” says Sullivan. “It’ll be equipped with trading floor-like equipment, allowing students to either simulate trades or trade in a real-time environment.” Designed to seat 38 students, the trading floor is an outstanding complement to the Management curriculum and gives Markin Hall a truly unique flavour. Combined with the Health Science nursing skills lab, Markin is destined to become a provincial leader in two of Alberta’s key governmental priorities, once again positioning the University of Lethbridge at the head of the post-secondary class.
construction has been a smooth process Under budget and ahead of schedule – in the world of construction, it’s like winning the lotto on back-to-back weekends.
edge technologies that not only serve to create a better environment for users, but also aid in reducing the building’s environmental imprint.
Brian Sullivan is the project manager for Markin Hall.
Such is the case with Markin Hall, the new home for the Faculties of Management and Health Sciences. With occupants slated to be moving in the first week of May, the project is close to a month ahead of schedule. And even with a late redesign of a space that will now house the Health Sciences nursing skills lab, the project will check in under budget. “The changes to accommodate the Health Sciences lab is a significant addition to the program,” says Brian Sullivan, project manager. “Even with this late redesign, we’ll be slightly under budget when this project is over.” Built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver standards, Markin Hall features an impressive array of leading
6
“Even with this late redesign, we’ll be slightly under budget when this project is over.” brian sullivan
Direct digital control systems manage Markin’s heating and cooling, while an emphasis on unique uses of windowing will introduce an abundance of natural light to the interior. “The building has windows and clerestories that allow users with offices on
the inside virtually as much light as users on the exterior,” says Sullivan. In-floor heating and cooling systems will help maintain optimal temperatures on the building’s main floor. “Basically, a hot and cold glycol mixture, depending on which time of the year it is, circulates through the main floor lobby providing a different type of heat for user comfort,” says Sullivan. Office heating and cooling has also been redesigned with user comfort the foremost concern. “Most offices you see have ventilation openings in the ceiling and they blow air down that can either be hot or cold and feel breezy to users,” explains Sullivan. “The displacement ventilation system we’re using actually has the ventilation opening in the wall and at floor level. It’s not as pressurized as the typical system and should provide significant differences to users in terms of personal comfort in the offices.” Once the building is complete, the entire area will receive a landscaping facelift with an emphasis on creating more green space on campus. “One of the interesting and additional features Markin Hall will provide is a quad area, a significant park on the north face of the facility,” says Sullivan. “Once the building is complete we’ll embark on a development of what used to be the old sports field and turn that into some form of park and leisure area.”
DECEMBER 2009
|
the Legend
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Archaeologist probing the history of mega fauna By BOB COONEY
A
rchaeologist Christine (Chrissy) Foreman (BA ’08) is used to digging up bison bones and artifacts from more than 2,500 years of human habitation on the prairies. The big picture story she’s trying to write is just what happened to the ancestors of the plains bison, and other so-called ‘mega fauna’, which included mammoths and, among other species, camels. “At the end of the last Ice Age, some 15,000 years ago, the Great Plains of North America was home to herds of mega fauna including the mammoth, steppe bison, wild horse and camel,” Foreman says. “The ancient people of the Plains hunted these animals for thousands of years until their eventual extinction. There exists a debate on whether many species died out because of human agency or environmental factors.” In presenting evidence from various angles, Foreman and other archaeologists believe human hunters were able to take down these large animals and that the human species may have altered the ecosystem of the entire continent. Foreman recently presented her work at a community event hosted by the Sir Alexander Galt Museum and Archives, where
she reviewed the archaeological, paleontological and geological evidence for both the human and environmental sides of the argument in “Mega Extinction: factors that lead to the disappearance of the Ice Age Mega Fauna”.
Foreman is presently on campus working on her Master of Arts (Archaeology) degree. Her thesis work relates to the 2,500-year old Fincastle Bison Kill Site located near Purple Springs, Alta. Originally from Calgary,
Foreman has lived in southern Alberta all her life. Her interests are in Plains history and archaeology, as well as the geography, geology and paleontology of the region. She is a long-time volunteer with the Galt Museum & Archives.
Cheng’s group posts best-ever regional result By TREVOR KENNEY Dr. Howard Cheng would like nothing better than to beat the University of Alberta at the Rocky Mountain Regional Programming Contest. With the group of students he has now, that’s a distinct possibility. Cheng and three groups of University of Lethbridge students took part in the Rocky Mountain Regional in October. Two of the groups managed top-seven finishes in the computer programming competition, a best-ever result for the U of L and a harbinger of things to come. “This is the best group we’ve had in a while and the strongest students still have a couple more years to go so we hope to only do better in the future,” says Cheng. The group of Darcy Best, Keilan Scholten and Michael Van Ryn led the way with a sixth-place standing, followed by another U of L team consisting of Falcon Momot, David Sessford and Corey Van Tighem, who placed seventh. The trio of Nathan House, Allysa Lumley and Marc Moreau finished 23rd overall in a field off 55 colleges and universities from
Keilan Scholten, left, Darcy Best, middle, and Michael Van Ryn, right, are led by Dr. Howard Cheng.
throughout the Rocky Mountain region of both Canada and the United States. The top five teams in the annual competition featured a pair of University of Alberta entries (first and fifth) as well as the University of Saskatchewan (third). University of Arizona grabbed the other two spots but only U of A is headed to the world finals. Cheng has been there once, ironically as a
U of A student in 1998, and would relish the opportunity to go back as a coach. The competitions feature teams of three students trying to solve a series of problems with real-world applications. They are given one computer and turned loose to design programs that will address the problems. Once they think they’ve found a solution, judges enter data into their created
7
program to determine whether or not it works. If it does not, they are simply told the program is incorrect and can then try and fix it for a resubmission. “Ultimately, the only way to practice for this is just doing lots and lots of problems, so that’s what we do to prepare,” Cheng says. The majority of students he works with are from math and
Christine Foreman is trying to find out just what happened to the ancestors of the plains bison, and other mega fauna.
computer science disciplines. Both Best and Scholten are studying math and Van Ryn is in computer science, but Cheng says all manner of students can take part. “The practice sessions we did here, without them I would have had no idea of what was going on. They help you get used to the approach you should take when looking at a programming problem,” says Scholten, a second-year math student. “The problem solving skills I get out of this will help me anywhere I want to go. Whether I’m trying to do a mathematical proof or work on something in a job later on, the skills I acquire here will definitely come in handy.” Cheng says the contests force students to take theory into practice. “In a course you are taught a specific algorithm or method to solve problems in an isolated setting, you learn the theory but not necessarily all the ways to apply that theory,” he says. “These problems force you to grab your knowledge and figure out what technique best suits the problem and then how to make it applicable, and occasionally you’ll have to come up with something you’ve never seen before.” Students interested in joining Cheng’s programming contest teams can contact him at howard.cheng@uleth.ca
the Legend
OUR
alumni
DECEMBER 2009
Williamson always had business in her blood By STACY SEGUIN Looking back, Jessica Williamson (BMgt ’02), owner and operator of the successful yoga/activewear retail business, Hoopla Clothing, can’t remember a time when she wasn’t hooked on business. “When I was about 13 years old, my brother and I started selling leeches for live bait,” laughs Williamson. “I think I edged toward business because my dad had his own seed cleaning operation. I grew up with the entrepreneurial spirit in my home and I always knew I would have a business one day.” Williamson grew up in Pambrun, Saskatchewan, a very small town of approximately 50 people. After her high school graduation in 1998, she was offered, but later declined, a scholarship to attend the University of Regina. “I had done some research on several universities that were not in Saskatchewan. Coming from such a small community I felt it was time to spread my wings and go where I didn’t know everyone and where I would have new opportunities and meet new people,” says Williamson. Attracted to the University of Lethbridge because of its location, relatively smaller size and the opportunity it provided for management students to specialize in different areas, Williamson enrolled in a bachelor of management degree with a specialization in marketing. Finding a healthy balance between work and play, Williamson volunteered for events run by the Management Students’ Society and participated in the Western Business Games. Working with several other students, she also won a business case competition for KPMG. “People say that high school is supposed to be the best time of your life, but I
call out for nominations The call is out once again for members of the University of Lethbridge community to recognize outstanding academic achievement by nominating persons for honorary academic degrees. On the authorization of the Senate, the University annually awards honorary degrees in two categories, public service and academic, to individuals of great
|
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
ulsu urges students to take survey By ABBY ALLEN
g et T H E FA C T S
Jessica Williamson turned her passion into a lucrative career path.
seriously felt like university was one of the best times of my life. I always felt like the faculty and staff cared about the quality of education they were providing and about me as an individual,” remembers Williamson. “Taking so many different classes opened my eyes to things I had never heard or thought about before and allowed me to learn and grow. The University is where
I took my first yoga class. In retrospect, I realize that was a pivotal point in my life.” After graduating with great distinction in 2002, Williamson moved to Calgary. She began working for Canadian Pacific Railway and continued to dabble in yoga in her spare time. “During my time at CP Rail, I had the opportunity to do some traveling across Canada doing process improvement work. It was a great experience and on the weekends we would travel to the area attractions and it gave me a bit of a travel bug.” After five years, Williamson knew it was time for a career change, so she turned in her resignation and took a month off. “I wanted to go on a vacation that had a purpose. I went to a yoga retreat in Costa Rica, earned my yoga alliance certificate and became a registered yoga teacher. The retreat taught me to look inside, do what is in my heart and be happy about what I was doing,” says Williamson.
Following her heart, Williamson moved to her future husband’s hometown of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to open Hoopla Clothing in 2007. “I applied to the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) for funding. It was a good process to go through. It is not just about giving you a loan; it is about making sure you have done the proper planning. Once I opened Hoopla, CYBF set me up with a mentor, local business owner, Al Norman. He helped me set some long and short-term goals and stay on track with those goals,” says Williamson. Stay on track she did. Since opening, Hoopla Clothing has surpassed the $1 million mark in sales. In 2008, Hoopla launched an online catalog, and has expanded to include seven employees. Williamson plans to expand her business to another Saskatchewan city in 2010 and is excited to begin her next adventure in early December when she and her husband have their first child.
distinction. The Senate has delegated the responsibility for the recommendation of nominees for degrees other than LL.D. to the General Faculties Council. The Faculty Councils, departments, and members of the academic staff are all invited to nominate candidates considered worthy of an honorary degree. There have been no new nominations in the past calendar year, prompting GFC to urge the University community to look at academic achiev-
ers worthy of this prestigious honour. The Council seeks to ensure that those whom it nominates for honorary degrees represent the summum bonum of the arts, letters, and sciences. Nominees, therefore, shall have demonstrated a rich contribution, whose quality is attested by the weight of international repute over an extended period. It is not essential that the nominee be Canadian, but to have made contributions to Alberta or been of genuine importance to the
province. The usual deadline for receipt of nominations each year is May 31, but with no nominations this past year, the deadline has been extended to Dec. 10. These nominations are considered for the award of an honorary degree at the ensuing spring and fall convocations. Accordingly, people are requested not to inform their nominees of the nomination. Contact the GFC office (403-329-2201) for nomination forms and guidelines.
• Williamson was on the Dean’s honor list from 1998 through 2002. • She won the 2009 CYBF Central Prairies Best Business Award; the 2009 Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Moose Jaw award; was nominated for the 2008 Best New Business Award in Moose Jaw; and won the 2008 Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. • Hoopla clothing can be found at www.hooplaclothing.ca
8
Advocacy is one of the most important parts of a postsecondary institution’s ability to improve itself. The University of Lethbridge Students’ Union strives to keep in touch with its students’ needs and wants so that it may lobby both the University and government agencies for improvements to the post-secondary system. The ULSU is asking its student members to participate in the National Student Survey in an attempt to gather information about student experiences and opinions that affect their education. “Students should know that their participation will have longterm benefits for students across Canada for years to come,” says ULSU Vice-President Academic Alex Massé. The goal of the project is to produce information that will assist national, provincial and student governments, policymakers and other stakeholders in their plight to improve postsecondary education. “The ULSU is participating in the National Student Survey for two main reasons. One is so that we know what services students need most and the other is to have firm data to help with student advocacy,” says Massé. The survey was released in the form of an e-mail in early November and asks students a wide range of questions. “A good deal of the survey focuses on students’ financial situations and student employment, simply because those are such pressing topics at the moment,” says Massé. “There’s a lot more to it than that though. For example, one section asks students how they would prioritize university funding.” Undergraduate students from universities and colleges across the country are encouraged to participate in the confidential survey. Advocacy and lobby groups will use the information gathered as evidence for their lobby efforts, as well as provide student unions and associations with a better understanding of what is important to their constituents. “It is going to give student advocacy groups a better understanding of what to ask for when we’re approaching government or even the University, and the fact that we have firm data will help us to be taken more seriously,” says Massé. “We hope that those factors will aid us in being more effective lobbyists. We will also be able to use the data to reform services that we provide to students so that they can spend their time focusing on their education.”
DECEMBER 2009
|
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
H E A LT H
& wellness
the Legend
University to host H1N1 clinic The University of Lethbridge is able to offer its students, staff and faculty the opportunity to be immunized with the H1N1 vaccine at a free H1N1 clinic scheduled for Monday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the track of the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness. Students, staff and faculty of the University of Lethbridge are eligible to receive their free H1N1 vaccinations with a valid University identification card as well as an Alberta Health Care card number. These must be provided in order to receive the shot. It is expected greater than 25 stations will be set up to administer the shots over the span of the six-hour clinic, with thousands expected to be vaccinated in the one-day time period. “We have been in discussions for some time to get post second-
AN
ary institutions like ours access to the H1N1 vaccine so that we could offer a clinic to the University community,” says U of L Health Centre manager Lori Weber, RN. “Our student group is an at-risk population and it’s very important they be given the opportunity to be vaccinated.” Weber adds that it was essential the University community be given access to a clinic before the Christmas break, when many students will return home for the holidays and could be exposed to a whole new round of H1N1 sufferers. “We are at a lull right now and the number of cases throughout southern Alberta has been on the decline,” says Weber. “But people should not be complacent thinking this is over. It is expected a third wave of the disease will hit hard in the new year, and if we can
apple
Healthy Holidays By Diane Britton ‘Healthy holidays’ seems like a contradiction. But here are some simple ways to enjoy the holiday season with a healthy twist! Keep your weight stable Instead of focusing on weight loss during the holiday season, set yourself up for success by focusing on keeping your weight stable within a few pounds.
protect as many people as possible on campus by virtue of them getting vaccinated, it will help us deal with the expected re-emergence of the virus in January 2010.” Open access clinics have been made available to the general public by Alberta Health Services in recent weeks, but to bring the vaccine on site was preferable. “Many of our students do not have the time or means to go across the city to wait in lines to receive their shots,” Weber says. “Staff and faculty often cannot take time away from their jobs to attend these clinics. By bringing a clinic on site, it allows us to reach a much larger percentage of our community. Please come out on Dec. 7 to be vaccinated against the H1N1 virus and avoid bringing home (or getting) unexpected Christmas gifts!”
A D AY |
Veggies first! Research shows that the first food we put on our plate is the largest serving size, so load up on vegetable dishes first. Party on a full stomach Tempting goodies are at all holiday celebrations – so don’t arrive hungry! ‘Spoil’ your appetite with a small meal or large snack before heading off to the celebration. Include some protein for better appetite control.
The Health Centre’s Dianne Carter, RN, administers a seasonal flu shot during a recent clinic held in the Atrium.
MONTHLY FOOD FOR THOUGHT TO KEEP YOU HEALTHY ALL YEAR LONG.
Plan ahead Decide ahead of time what you will and will not eat. Having a plan helps you stick to better choices. Plan to include one of your favorite foods in a small portion. This will help you not feel deprived. Drink wisely Calorie laden beverages from eggnog to fruit punch are everywhere! Enjoy one glass of a higher calorie drink, and then choose lower calorie beverages for
the rest of the evening. Keep your hands full If both hands are full it creates a barrier to eating mindlessly – you have to put something down to eat! Holding a drink, plate, napkin or even a pen makes you have to consciously put something down to put food in your mouth.
|
spend quality time with friends and family. Enjoy walks, tobogganing and skating. Any movement counts! For individual nutrition appointments call the Health Centre (SU 020) at 403-329-2484. All sessions are $20 for students and University employees. Diane Britton, On-Campus Registered Dietitian
Be active! Physical activity helps boost your metabolism and is a great way to
Changing habits can be done one step at a time By SUZANNE MCINTOSH Did 2009 fly by for you? As we all know this has been an extremely busy and, at times, stressful year. It’s at this time when many people begin to think about what they have and have not accomplished in the past year and turn to making resolutions for the New Year. This can be stressful in itself, after all who likes to make resolutions that you may never get around to or are difficult to keep? You don’t have to wait until New Year’s to make some changes to your own health and wellness, and as Everett Mámor states, “Without health, there is
no point. To anything.” So how to do this without adding to both your stress and to that list of things that never get done? First step – start small! Everyone remembers the SMART acronym – Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic and Timely. As far as taking stock of your health and wellness and making some positive changes, the most important part of this acronym is “Achievable”. Making sure your goals are achievable is a huge factor in determining how successful you will be. Throughout my year here at the University, I have met a number of people who have made small (and some not so
small) changes to their own health and wellness by taking achievable steps. Here is a story, may it inspire you – not make you feel guilty or overwhelmed with one more thing you need to do – but prompt you to take a look at your own health and wellness and bring you one step closer to feeling less tired, having more energy, or just having some fun. Venkat Mahadevan works as a Technical Specialist in Fine Arts, New Media. Venkat told me that a year ago he weighed 195 lbs and realized this was not an ideal weight for him. He felt drained of energy and thought it might have something to do with his diet. So he decided to
9
cut out the “unholy trinity” (his words) of junk foods – pop, chips and sugar (especially chocolate). Venkat started out making small changes first by cutting out a few candy bars a week, and soon started replacing these types of foods with fruit. He noticed that he was starting to lose weight. Then he did some research on what types of food he should eat and started including more vegetables, fruits and whole grains in his diet. He then cut out fried foods and white breads. Venkat says that he now avoids buying any of the unholy trinity foods at the grocery store. By summer he had lost between 46 and 50
lbs and this has stabilized over the past few months. He has noticed a positive change in his energy levels and just “feels better”. In fact, when he does slip and eat some of the junk foods, he notices a definite change in how he feels after eating – and not for the better. Recently, Venkat took one more small step; he made an appointment to see Diane Britton, Health Centre dietitian. Diane was able to add a few healthy eating tips but mostly encouraged his habits and reinforced that he was doing the right thing. He suggested it might have been more helpful to see her earlier on in his journey to healthy eating.
the Legend
DECEMBER 2009
events C A L E N D A R
Lectures Dec. 2 | Art Now: Painter Tim Zuck Noon, University Recital Hall, W570 Dec. 7 | Architecture & Design Now: Calgary architect Gerald Forseth 6 p.m., C610
Performances Dec. 1 | Music at Noon: Dr. Brian Shaw (trumpet) | 12:15 p.m., University Recital Hall, W570 Dec. 2 | U of L Jazz Ensemble 8 p.m., University Theatre Dec. 4 | Classical Percussion U of L Percussion ensemble performs compelling modern and classical repertoire | 8 p.m., University Theatre Dec. 5 & 6 | Amahl and the Night Visitors | U of L Opera Workshop presents a warm, compassionate story that captures the essential spirit of Christmas | Dec. 5: 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. | Dec. 6: 2 p.m. University Recital Hall, W570 Dec. 8 | Music at Noon: Studio Showcase (music students) 12:15 p.m., University Recital Hall, W570
|
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Third time’s a charm
Dec. 19 | Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra Holiday Favourites Guest artists include U of L Conservatory Choirs and LCI Singers 7:30 p.m., Southminster Church
Miscellaneous Dec. 1 | Cinema Politica Malls R Us – a feature documentary with a multiplex of reflections and revelations on one of North America’s most popular institutions: the enclosed shopping centre 7 p.m., Galileo’s Gallery Dec. 2 & 9 | Academic Success! Student Workshop | Exam Preparation Daily, 3 p.m., AH118 Dec. 9 | Lunch and Learn Eating Through the Holidays by Diane Britton | 12:05 to 12:55 p.m. TH241 Dec. 14 | gerry (USA/Gus Van Sant/2002) | Hosted by English professor Dr. Kiki Benzon 6:30 p.m., Lethbridge Public Library Through Jan. 3, 2010 | art + people = x continues | Darcy Logan presents recent paintings | Helen Christou Gallery
The Pronghorns women’s rugby team celebrates its third consecutive CIS championship victory.
Library turns its eye to helping out environmentally By NICOLE EVA In addition to the regular ‘green’ initiatives found elsewhere on campus – such as paper and beverage container recycling and motion-sensor lighting – the University Library has recently made some other moves towards environmental sustainability. Several of these changes come in the form of acquiring e-resources rather than print items. The library is purchasing more e-books to add to its collection; we have also made a decision to move towards e-reference materials, wherever possible. And increasingly, more of our journals are found online rather than in print. All of these digital documents help the environment by not consuming paper and ink, and by using less energy in the production and transportation process. It also helps save library space, as our shelves are getting quite full. Theoretically, we could also be saving commuting costs for those people accessing these resources on their home computers rather than driving to the library to get the physical items. While the argument might be made that energy is wasted
in the production and use of the computers used to access e-resources, chances are that a researcher already owns and is using his or her computer, so the only additional cost to the environment from reading an e-book or journal versus a printed version is the incremental energy used while actually viewing the material.
“We can soften our environmental footprint.” nicole eva
While there will always be a demand – and a desire – for the printed page, it’s nice to know we can soften our environmental footprint somewhat by making electronic alternatives available where appropriate. As well, the library has also been delivering most of the articles requested via interlibrary loan electronically. Links to PDFs are now emailed to the requester rather than a physical copy of the article
Library staff member Carolyn Gaebel, left, works with student assistant Bonnie Patton, right, as they pack up books to send to the Better World Books program in Georgia.
faxed from the lending library, as they were previously. While
10
recipients may still print the article, chances are not all of them
do. (Please note that e-mailed articles are still copyright protected and are provided for requestors’ personal research or study only.) And what happens to the discarded material – those books and journals weeded from our collection due to age, lack of use, or suitability? Previously, this material was not able to be recycled because of the integration of non-recyclable materials (such as book covers, anti-theft strips, etc). Now, the library has partnered with an organization called Better World Books, which accepts shipments of books (free of charge) and then re-sells them to other organizations. Not only are we diverting our discards from the landfill, but we are also supporting literacy efforts through our affiliation with this program. Those books that are not sold through this process are disassembled, and the parts that can be are recycled. These are just some of the ways that the University Library is attempting to align itself with the University’s Strategic Plan by enhancing the environmental sustainability of the University.
DECEMBER 2009
|
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
FINE ARTS
in focus
the Legend
Logan pulls inspiration from Norse mythology By AMANDA BERG
D
arcy Logan’s newest installation, Knowing/ Gnawing, in the Helen Christou Gallery, presents his most recent paintings alongside a selection of works from the U of L collection, which provide context and inspiration for his art practice. “The works are by Canadian artists including Alan Harding MacKay, Rebecca Anweiler, Renee Van Halm, William MacDonnell and Jerome Witvleit,” says Logan, who earned his Bachelor of Fine arts in Art at the U of L in 2002 and is the curator at the Bowman Arts Centre. “I wanted the exhibition to be about bodies of artistic work.” In addition to paintings, Logan also included a set of nine altered encyclopedias, which were made specifically for this exhibition, to work conjointly with the MacKay books as a way to ‘read’ the exhibition. “It was important to have this reading mediated not by traditional didactics, but by altered books as re-contextualized bodies of knowledge,” says Logan. “My current body of work, entitled Know/Gnaw/ Naglfar, uses myth as a metaphor
chance to sing the messiah Experience the glory of Handel’s Messiah while also getting the opportunity to sing along. On Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Church, the Vox Musica Choir, conducted by Glenn Klassen, presents SingAlong Messiah. Vox Musica encourages all fellow community vocalists, as well as the audience, to sing together in an evening of fun light-hearted entertainment. “This is a first for Vox Musica,” says Carolyn Speak-
to explore the nature of knowledge and ideas. “In Scandinavian mythology, the Naglfar is a ship being constructed in the underworld and the name is Old Norse for “nail ferry,” which speaks to the rivets that hold the planks together, and a description of its mythic purpose.”
“I wanted the exhibition to be about bodies of artistic work.” darcy logan
It seems the building materials for this ship are the fingernails and toenails of the dead, the detritus of the body. “When enough discordant people have died and the necessary amount of raw material gathered, the ship will be completed, freed from its moorings, and carry the forces of chaos to ensure the end of the world,” he says. “This story provoked a string of associations for me, and gave me pause to reflect on how knowledge and ideologies are defined and constructed, and, ultimately, the consequences that
man, president, Vox Musica Choral Society. “The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra performs Handel’s Messiah every other year, and with this being an off-year for the Symphony, we decided to present the Messiah in a different way.” It’s certainly a unique approach. “Sing-Along Messiah is aimed at singers who want to sing the Messiah, but don’t have the time or long-term commitment to rehearse,” Speakman says. “Either participants can register to sing on stage with Vox Musica for the evening or they can sing along sitting in the audience.” The solo role of Messiah will be performed by talented local
Artist Darcy Logan works on a piece from the Knowing/Gnawing exhibition.
follow in their wake. These are often disastrous, and result from the excesses of philosophical
vocalists and the accompanist for the evening is Alan Young. For those who want to join the choir for the evening, register online at voxmusica.shawwebspace.ca and attend the Dec. 13 rehearsal (2 to 5 p.m.). A $10 registration fee, which can be paid at the rehearsal, will help cover expenses and fund future choral events. “We are only performing the Christmas portion and Halleluiah Chorus,” Speakman says. “While it will hardly be a polished performance, we do promise it will be a lot of fun.” Tickets for audiences members are available for $10 at Note-able Music, located at 323 – 8th Street S. or by calling (403-380-2130).
Percussion ensemble has the holiday beat The U of L Percussion Ensemble is drumming up holiday spirit through its Classical Percussion Concert, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. in the University Theatre. The program includes an evening of rhythm and fun featuring the Steel Band, Taiko Drummers, and African drums. “We’ll present smaller chamber works as well as some pieces we hope surprise the audience,” says Adam Mason, director. Christmas tunes that orna-
ment the program include “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and other holiday favourites. “Along with our world music groups, we’ll present a work from Tanzania and a Taiko drum piece, which has lots of choreography,” says Mason. “Although the concert is more low-key than our spring Global Drums show, audiences can expect to see the best our ensemble has to offer.” Also on the program is a marimba selection played by U of L music major Jodi Bartel.
“Jodi attended the Marimba Summit in Germany this year, studying with the most renowned marimba players in the world,” says Mason. Classical Percussion is an eclectic evening of Christmas favorites, percussive melodies and earth shaking drumming that is sure to get anyone in the holiday mood. Tickets are available at the U of L Box Office (403-329-2616).
11
and ideological certainty, or the dangerous limits of knowledge.” In keeping with the myth, Logan’s works contain human fingernails and toenails, embedded in the paint. “My works are as much assemblages as they are paintings,” he says. “I use layers of encrusted earth, resins and rusting agents to create the finished pieces. I often carve into the drying mud, leaving parts depressed and others in high relief. I am interested in compositional tension and
the spirit of christmas The Christmas spirit comes to the University as the Opera Workshop presents Amahl and the Night Visitors on Dec. 5 at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and again on Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. in the University Recital Hall. Amahl and the Night Visitors tells the heart-warming story of an impoverished crippled boy, Amahl and his mother as they meet the Three Kings who are following a star to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus. Through goodwill, sacrifice and kindness, Amahl discovers the power of miracles and the true meaning of Christmas. “This opera is both funny and dramatic and the music is very approachable and listenable – perfect for the whole family,” says Dr. Blaine Hendsbee, Opera Workshop Director. “Originally produced for television and composed by Gian Carlo Menotti,
attempt to explore and exploit normally incongruous elements on the canvas.” These elements can be the tensions between the thick, matte appearance of the mud and the thin reflective quality of resin, the tension between illusionist representation and passages of implied abstract space, or the tension between the modern and primitive nature of the materials. Knowing/Gnawing is in the Helen Christou Gallery until Jan. 3, 2010.
Amahl and the Night Visitors has become the most frequently performed one act opera of our time.” Featuring a talented cast and chorus of singers and dancers, Amahl and the Night Visitors showcases the high level of musicianship for which Opera Workshop is known. This 45-minute production immerses the audience in a fantastic land with beautiful sets and costumes. “My colleagues in the Theatre and Dramatic Arts Dept. have been wonderful,” says Hendsbee. “Leslie Robinson-Greene designed the gorgeous costumes, David Hignell designed the lighting, and David Barrus designed the set.” Start the holiday season with the joyful melodies of this beloved opera. Tickets for Amahl and the Night Visitors are $15 regular and $10 student/ senior at the U of L Box Office (403-329-2616).
RIGHT
Christopher Pratt, Christmas Eve at 12 O’Clock, 1995 From the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of the artist, 1998. MIDDLE
Irene McCaugherty, 1920s Christmas Party, 1995 From the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of the artist, 1995. BOTTOM
Bartley Pragnell, “Merry Christmas” (from Sketchbook 44) From the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of Les Pragnell, 1989.
images L asting