JANUARY 2010
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VOLUME 9
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ISSUE FIVE
Joining the U of L family
the UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Call centre proves to be successful
Students show Facebook is not as simple as it seems
Brown assumes new role in Research Office
Celebrate the 1960s with the classic musical Hair
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 Jan. 22, 2010. 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 ntri b uto rs: Abby Allen, Amanda Berg, Diane Britton, Bob Cooney, Jane Edmundson, Jana McFarland, Suzanne McIntosh, Kali McKay, Stacy Seguin and Katherine Wasiak
University of Lethbridge 4401 University Drive Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 www.ulethbridge.ca
Dr. Mike Mahon and his wife Maureen enjoy their introduction to the University of Lethbridge.
By TREVOR KENNEY
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he University of Lethbridge community was introduced to its next President just prior to the Christmas break, and if the enthusiastic reception he received during the announcement is any indication, Dr. Mike Mahon is a very popular selection. The Winnipeg, Man., native and most recently Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta, was accompanied by his wife, Maureen, as he symbolically accepted a blue Pronghorns men’s hockey jersey from Dr. Bill Cade, whom he will be succeeding officially July 1, 2010. “I don’t think my heart has beaten this fast since the birth of my third child . . . and that was 20 years ago,” Mahon said as he addressed a crowded Atrium. “It’s good to get the heart going.” Mahon, a vigorous proponent
of physical activity for people of every age and ability, would know. He holds a PhD in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Science in Physical Education from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Manitoba.
“My greatest impression so far with the U of L is the people.” Mike Mahon
The move to Lethbridge and the U of L is one he and his family are anticipating. “A big part of making such a big decision is where you’re going to live. We always said that if we were to leave the U of A, we would only
go somewhere that was obviously a good fit academically but also an interesting place geographically. We see Lethbridge as fitting that bill,” he says. “Living closer to the mountains is exciting because we both like to ski, we also both run and do all sorts of outdoor things so we see the U of L and Lethbridge as providing a wonderful outlet for those interests.” Mahon is quick to credit departing president Cade for the work he has directed over the previous decade and is enthused about the direction the University is headed and the blueprint laid out by the institution’s strategic plan. “I had always known the U of L as being terrific at educating undergraduate students, but I really learned over the past few months how it has emerged as a research intensive university with a commitment to moving more in that direction,” Mahon says. continued on pg. 2
Art Gallery ready to spread its wings By TREVOR KENNEY The University of Lethbridge Art Gallery is on the move – but don’t break out the packing crates just yet. The move is not physical but rather administrative as the gallery, once administered by the Faculty of Fine Arts, now reports to Andy Hakin and the Office of the Vice-President (Academic). “The reason for it and the big difference is that it is the University’s art gallery,” says Art Gallery Director/Curator Josephine Mills. “Being located administratively in a faculty, it was too regional and made it too difficult to do the things we do well, which are interdisciplinary projects and bringing faculties together.” The gallery is already a viable part of campus life, something Mills has played a big part in establishing. She also gives credit to a University
administration that has shown support at every turn. “We have a really great situation at the University of Lethbridge because people do know about our gallery better than most university art galleries, but there’s still room for improvement and this change will allow us to do a lot of things to make that happen,” she says. “I’ve always felt our administration sees the gallery as a very valued unit. Some institutions just don’t have that support.” Galleries often struggle with perception issues, that they are simply a housing area for collections. The U of L Art Gallery has taken great strides to break out of that mold with a much more interactive approach. “We’ve really changed how we’re operating and become a fully operational art gallery as opposed to a collection with an art gallery
attached to it,” says Mills. “I’d like to see that continue with an increased awareness for faculty, students and staff across the whole University that we’re a place to not just come to, but to come work with us as we set up more interdisciplinary projects in the future.” From Hakin’s perspective, the move just makes sense. “The gallery will still obviously have very close ties to the Faculty of Fine Arts by the nature of the work they do, but this gives it a chance to grow and really reach out to the rest of the University,” says Hakin. “This is the U of L’s gallery, and if we can expose more of our campus to the innovative and provocative programming they provide, then we’ve added a rich resource to the campus experience.” continued on pg. 2
the Legend
JANUARY 2010
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
the billboard
University of Lethbridge President Dr. Bill Cade chats about what’s happening in the University community
Welcome back from what I hope was a restful and rejuvenating Christmas break. The dawn of a new year is always an exciting time and for the University of Lethbridge, great change and great possibilities abound for 2010. As I enter the final six months of my tenure as President, I can look back on what has been an incredible 10-year experience. I am confident in my successor, Dr. Mike Mahon,
continuing the direction we have carved out for the University. We have spent a considerable amount of time and effort refocusing the University as a comprehensive research institution, growing our campus, expanding our programs and enrolments, reaching out to the community and telling our story. I am very proud of all the people who have helped with that process and who keep the U of L ‘running’ both academically and
operationally. I am confident that Mike will come to work after July 1 to find the people and resources in place to ensure the sustainability and continued success of the University of Lethbridge – among them a solid strategic plan, community support and engaged students. The presidential search committee has done a fine job. Elsa and I wish Mike, Maureen and their family well as they
gallery works to bring faculties together
embark on this wonderful new opportunity. The next six months will serve as a very important transitional opportunity for the University. He is coming into the University at a difficult time economically. Little has changed with respect to our University budget and there is no further information from the Government of Alberta in terms of funding. We continue to work
on the assumption that there will be zero per cent change to our operating grant in both 2010-11 and 2011-12. My goal is to help Mike transition into the role of President as easily as possible, with a full understanding of the issues facing the U of L coupled with the full support of the people he’ll be working with to keep the University moving forward.
mahon identifies with university’s personal approach to education continued from pg.1
Dr. Andy Hakin, left, will be working closely with Dr. Josephine Mills.
continued from pg.1 Mills revels in the campus atmosphere and through projects such as Culture Vulture Saturdays, work with the First Nations Transition Program (FNTP) and aboriginal artists, family in residence events, first-year student programs, the popular art + people = x display
and the recent Tor LukasikFoss event in the Atrium, she endeavours to connect as many people as possible to the gallery and to each other. “I really want the art gallery to do the kinds of things that bring people together on campus and give them an opportunity to either just meet and talk in an informal way or engage in ideas that can be
CAMPUS Professor Emeritus JohnPaul Christopher Jackson (Music) has just been named an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre and his compositions are registers with SOCAN. Janice Rahn’s (Art Education) video, entitled Cello Solo, took the Grand Prize in the Glenbow Museum’s 1 Minute Video Challenge.
seen from a number of perspectives,” says Mills. “The Ladies Sasquatch exhibition in the fall is a great example. It was obviously a very innovative art project but also had a great deal of interest for women’s studies courses and the women’s centre. I want to see more events just like that.”
kudos
Dr. Kenneth Allan’s (Art) article “Metamorphosis in 391: A Collaborative Page by Francis Picabia, Man Ray, and Erik Satie” has been accepted by the journal Art History, published for the British Association of Art Historians by Wiley-Blackwell. Allan also presented his paper “Malevich: The Eclipse and the Russian Orthodox Icon” at the annual conference
of the Universities Art Association of Canada in Edmonton in October. Brenna Crabtree’s (art major) video entitled Paper Airplanes was a runner up in the Glenbow Museum’s 1 Minute Video Challenge. Crabtree’s video was created in a Video Sketchbook course taught by Michael Campbell (Art).
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“That’s a very important direction for the University and something I’m very excited about.” An accomplished researcher, Mahon has worked with, and conducted research for, the Canadian Special Olympics organization and Right to Play, a group that supplies sports equipment and support to children in developing countries. “I’ve always been interested in the extent sport and play influences the social integration and quality of life of people with disabilities,” he says. His body of work has included more than 250 presentations, workshops, lectures and publications including more than 90 articles in refereed journals, book chapters and books. His wife Maureen is also a dedicated educator who specializes in early childhood development issues. Regarded as personable and community-minded, Mahon identifies with the personal approach championed at the U of L. “My greatest impression so far with the U of L is the people,” he says. “They have been genuine and they’ve really wanted to connect with Maureen and myself in a personal way, and that’s fundamentally why we’re so excited about this opportunity.”
get T H E FA C T S • Mahon and his wife Maureen have three children, Katie (23, University of Alberta graduate and assistant manager of a local Edmonton business), Brennan (21, currently studying physical education at the U of A) and Seann (20, currently pursuing a bachelor of arts at the U of A). • Maureen has an education degree from the University of British Columbia, a master’s in early childhood development from the University of Manitoba and has worked as an early childhood consultant with the Edmonton Catholic school Board the past two years. • Mahon says he would like to continue his research interests at the U of L but recognizes they may take a back seat as he transitions to the role of President. • Mahon will continue to supervise his current PhD student through his defence, likely in Dec. 2010. • An avid sports enthusiast, Mahon says his sons will reap the benefits of his move to the U of L. “They’re pretty excited because now that I’m a Pronghorn, they get all of my Golden Bear golf shirts.”
JANUARY 2010
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the Legend
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Call goes out to alumni
Officials from Zhejiang Sci-Tech University tour the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building. Pictured are (top platform): Jun Yao, Deputy Director Student Affairs; Zhijian Su, Deputy Dean, Office of Presidents; Xiaojun (Christine) Wang, Director, International Exchange & Cooperation Office; Xingcan Meng, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Foreign Languages. On the bottom platform: Jennifer Chow; Manhong Shen, Vice President; Winston Chow; Xudong Hu, Dean Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
delegation tours campus A group of officials from Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Hangzhou, China visited the University of Lethbridge in December as part of a whirlwind tour of Alberta. The Lethbridge visit was spearheaded by U of L grad Winston Chow (BASc ’80) and organized by Laurel Corbiere and the International Centre for Students. Representatives from the U of L and Zhejiang University signed a Memorandum of
Understanding to promote further cooperation should each university see the opportunity to do so. The group’s tour of campus included the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience and the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building, among other locations. Zhejiang Sci-Tech University is located in Hangzhou, China, a city near Shanghai known for its beautiful West Lake, a famous landmark in China.
INGRID SPEAKER Medal for Distinguished Research, Scholarship, or Performance NOMINATIONS Are invited for the 2010 award The award is open to all full and part-time members of the academic staff currently employed at the University of Lethbridge.
Deadline for nominations and supporting documents: February 26, 2010 For nomination forms, contact: Office of the President: 403-329-2201, or www.uleth.ca/president-governance/ingrid-speaker-medal. Nominations are welcome from any member of the University community, including faculty, alumni, staff and students.
Students who manned the U of L’s calling centre found it to be a rewarding experience.
By KALI MCKAY
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eet the brave student callers responsible for phoning Faculty of Management alumni as part of a five-week pilot project that wrapped up in early December. The University of Lethbridge Call Centre, which operated out of the Penny Building downtown, employed 21 students who called over 5,000 management alumni in an effort to update information and raise support for the Faculty of Management Annual Fund. The callers reached 1,770 alumni, received 1,052 information updates, and secured close to $30,000 in pledges and credit card gifts, with an average gift size of close to $100. In addition, many people asked for pledge packages in order to consider donating in the future. While the call centre was successful as a fundraiser, it also had a positive impact on the students working there. Kallie Val-Zehan, who graduated with a BA in 2008 and is
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back completing her accounting certificate, was one of the energetic students who took to the phones. Having worked at a call centre before, she was surprised by the overwhelmingly positive responses she received as a caller. “I was amazed at the number of alumni who were willing to talk,” says Val-Zehan, who attributes their willingness to participate to the fact that it was students making the calls. “We were just students calling other former students, and approaching it that way really helped people open up.” Callers updated alumni on new developments at the U of L and tried to engage them in conversation about their own experiences as students. “Some had memories of classes or clubs that they were in, but the majority of alumni continued to be impressed by the small class sizes and the relationships they developed with their professors,” says Val-Zehan. Alumni also shared advice
with callers about getting the most out of their U of L experience, encouraging them to get involved, work hard and stick to what interested them. Val-Zehan admits the experience changed her perspective, particularly on the significance of being an alumna. “When you’re a student you don’t think about being alumni, but I realized that there’s a community after school,” says Val-Zehan. “There were a lot of alumni that worked with fellow alumni,” adds Val-Zehan. “They might not have known each other before, but as professionals they had an instant connection because of the fact that they were U of L alumni. The experience made me want to be more involved in the alumni world.” Launched as a pilot project, the call centre was successful in laying the groundwork for future calling programs that will benefit all faculties and schools at the University of Lethbridge.
the Legend
JANUARY 2010
By STACY SEGUIN
There’s a shift at hand in the world of scholarly publishing and data management, one that is sure to aid researchers in the dissemination of their work. To take advantage of this new world however, researchers will need to approach their work with an eye to where it will eventually reside. That’s where Maxine Tedesco comes in. A professional librarian in the University Library, Tedesco is in charge of Data & GIS Services, as well as government documents, geography and math & computer science. More than anything though, Tedesco has discovered after a year’s study leave, that librarians could play an important role in assisting researchers to establish data management plans as the publishing world continues to shift to the digital stream. “It’s a paradigm shift for everybody,” says Tedesco. “There has been this idea that you publish your work and that’s the end product, but in the electronic and digital world, even more can be accomplished. We’re looking at a new era, an open access kind of world, and right now we’re in a transition period, working towards being able to take full advantage of exactly what that world has to offer.” The old school approach to publishing research was a process that saw scholars create a document, publish it and then hand it off to see it archived. The electronic world demands more of researchers but also creates much greater opportunities for researchers to share their knowledge. “You have to think about
AN Stop Dieting! By Diane Britton After quitting a diet, the majority of people not only put the weight they lost while dieting back on, but also add a bit more. Why does this happen? Because they did not change their “normal” eating and lifestyle habits.
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where you’re going to archive something before you actually decide to put it there,” says Tedesco. “This affects the research project from the very beginning in order to ensure that the work is created using the electronic formats, descriptive elements, etc., which will meet the standards of the chosen archive.” The end goal is to create research materials that are active and living long after an article is published. Funding agencies like the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) have always required researchers to deposit their data somewhere at the end of the approved research project but had never really enforced this practice. “They are now being much more stringent in following through with this requirement and it’s in researchers’ best interests,” says Tedesco. “When they ask researchers to deposit their data, they want for it to be reutilized. They don’t want for the data to end up in a desk drawer somewhere, unavailable and eventually just being discarded.” It’s important for scholars to begin thinking about their research projects in a new way so that they have an understanding of what is available to them in terms of data management practices. “The big thing is to try and think about the end before you start,” she says. “There are some choices for depositing data currently, all with their own pros and cons, but it can be quite confusing. There are no definitive answers, but we hope to work with faculty in the future to help identify and outline their most viable options.”
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UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Alumna part of nursing’s first class
new world asks researchers to rethink data management By TREVOR KENNEY
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nternationally recognized for her outstanding achievements and contributions to Canadian and aboriginal health care, Dr. Madeleine Dion Stout (BN ’82), former Distinguished Alumnus of the year (1995), vividly remembers the day she began her remarkable journey in the field of health care. “When I was seven years old I started having severe abdominal pain, nausea and a fever. My mother and father hitched up the horse and wagon and we drove all day through the ditches to get to the outpost hospital,” remembers Dion Stout. “A lot of people look at ditches as a metaphor for a low life, but I remember feeling overwhelmed with love for my parents and with their love for me as they sat in the wagon so dignified. They had great determination to make sure I was OK no matter how humbly we navigated. In a way, they were like the nurses who would take care of me, so dignified going about their corporal acts of mercy.” Arriving at the hospital, Dion Stout underwent an emergency appendectomy and had her first exposure to nursing. Impressed by the nurses’ gentle touches, kind demeanour and white winged hats, Dion Stout decided she would be a nurse one day. “After high school I went to work as a ward aid in St. Paul, Alta. I applied to Edmonton General Hospital to become a registered nurse because there was a Cree woman from the Saddle Lake First Nation studying there, and I thought if she was accepted maybe I could be too,” says Dion Stout. She completed her RN in 1968 and began working in various capacities for Health and Welfare Canada and as a hospital staff nurse in Edmonton before moving to Pincher Creek to work as a public health nurse on
A D AY |
Weight loss that lasts requires two things – permanent changes to the way you eat and physical activity as a part of your daily life. Here are five small changes that can result in big weight loss: Eat Yogurt | Research at the University of Tennessee found that people who ate three servings a day (one serving = 175g) lost 61 per cent more body fat and 81 per cent more stomach fat than people who didn’t eat any yogurt.
the Peigan First Nation. Wanting to further her education, Dion Stout was thrilled when the University of Lethbridge launched its bachelor of nursing program. “We were the first graduates in 1982,” recalls Dion Stout. “I found it a real privilege to study, but I never found it easy. The academic quality at the University was superb and very challenging. I had to work my head off.”
“I found it a real privilege to study but I never found it easy. The academic quality at the University was superb.” madeleine dion stout
Dion Stout, who graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing degree with distinction in 1982, credits the University with honing her widely recognized critical thinking and analytical skills. “I wrote a paper for Dr. Menno Boldt. I thought I aced it because I had worked so hard on it. I only got a B+. He told me that it was a descriptive essay and not an analytic paper. That was when I learned the difference between writing a good story and being a critical thinker,” says Dion Stout. After her graduation in 1982, Dion Stout began working with the Alberta Indian Health Care Commission. She worked as a special advisor in 1983 to Monique Begin, minister of Health and Welfare Canada, and in 1985 Dion Stout became the director of the Indian and Inuit Health Careers Program in Ottawa.
By 1989, Dion Stout knew it was time to further her education once again. She began a master of arts in international affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa and graduated in 1993. While writing her thesis, she became the director for the Centre for Aboriginal Education, Research and Culture at Carleton. She worked as an assistant professor there until 2001 when she and her husband moved to Vancouver. “I keep myself very busy with boards and committees. In the past nine years, I have been doing the same things I had been doing as a professor, lecturing, researching, writing and public speaking. I use a Cree lens and Cree concepts to try to deepen the understanding of aboriginal health,” explains Dion Stout. “I hope throughout my career that I have made people think differently, and I hope that whatever I have done and said that more is done than said at the end.”
g e t T H E FA C T S • Dion Stout is a grandmother of three. • A Cree speaker, she was born and raised on the Kehewin First Nation, Alta. • She is the president of Dion Stout Reflections Inc. • She is a recipient of numerous awards, including: 2010 National Aboriginal Achievement Award - Health; 2008 Centennial Nursing Award; 2004 Honorary PhD from University of British Columbia. • Her speaking engagements have seen her lecture throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.
MONTHLY FOOD FOR THOUGHT TO KEEP YOU HEALTHY ALL YEAR LONG.
Eat Breakfast | Breakfast eaters get a metabolism boost in the morning and have higher intakes of calcium and fibre, which helps maintain a healthy weight. Snack Smart | Eat fruit, vegetables or dairy/soy choices at morning and afternoon snack times. This curbs your appetite so you can eat less at the next meal and still feel full. It can be as simple as carrot sticks with 23 almonds mid morning and an apple with yogurt mid afternoon.
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Check Your Portions | Canadians are eating larger serving sizes. Read labels, measure your portions occasionally and pay attention to when you are satisfied instead of just finishing the serving in front of you. Drink Water | Replace pop, juice and specialty coffee or teas with water. Liquid calories add up fast but do not make us feel full. Drink water warm, cold, with a twist of lemon or lime or as plain herbal tea.
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Stop dieting this year, and focus on enjoyable healthy eating and physical activity. Little changes go a long way towards a healthy you! For individual nutrition appointments call the Health Centre (SU 020) at 403-329-2484. All sessions are $20 for students and University employees.
JANUARY 2010
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the Legend
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
Basketball academy endeavours to fill niche By TREVOR KENNEY
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or Dave Adams, coach of the Pronghorns men’s basketball team, there’s no great mystery as to how he will get the Horns back in the national spotlight. It starts and ends by filling his roster with talented southern Alberta players – and to do that, the Horns must take a leadership role in the development of those kids. “The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns have the responsibility of being the flagship program for basketball in southern Alberta, and we take that commitment extremely seriously” says Adams. To that end, Adams and the Horns are ironing out the details for the Pronghorn Basketball Academy – a weekly training opportunity designed to fill what has become a missing link in the development of basketball players in southern Alberta.
finding a new reality on facebook By BOB COONEY Is your new Facebook ‘friend’ really a friend or someone using a fake identity to get your personal information? How easy is it to convince someone to accept a completely made–up person as his or her friend? A group of University of Lethbridge Faculty of Management students – all active users of social media such as Facebook – recently tested those two ideas on a group of their peers and found some surprising answers. “With more than 300 million users, Facebook and many other social networking sites pose a growing concern for the safety of individuals who use these sites and services,” says Sarah Lajeunesse, group spokesperson who worked on the term-long project with team members David Ho, Kirk Patterson, Lauren O’Dwyer and Tony Melicchio. “Our primary concern with the increasing popularity of these sites is the consequences and dangers that we, as users, are potentially facing.” With that idea in mind, their assignment for the Information Systems component of the Integrated Management Experience (IME) program – under the supervision of IME Director Dan Kazakoff and Management Information Systems Professor Gordon Hunter – turned into a research-based
Gone from the local area are the Basketball Canada Centres for Performance and the Basketball Alberta Regional Training Centres, leaving talented, competitive young basketball players in need of the proper coaching and guidance at a critical stage in their development. “We think this will really fill a need in the community right now,” says Adams, who expects to target kids in Grades 5 to 7. “We still need to talk with the schools and do a little research but from what we understand, once kids hit Grade 8 and 9, there are good opportunities for them to play, it’s that upper elementary, early middleschool age where they need some further coaching and an opportunity to play at a competitive level.” Adams need look no further than the Horns Athletic Department for an example of hitting a kid at the right stage of his development.
episode of the popular MTV program Punk’d, where average people are fooled by sophisticated stunts. In this case it was frighteningly simple. “We have all heard about people putting up fake identities for criminal or revenge purposes, but we wanted to actually test how easy it could be to fool Facebook users,” says Lajeunesse. “Our group created an imaginary female, who in less than 24 hours managed to entice more than 25 users to become her ‘friends’ – including complete strangers and many students from our more than 50-person research group. What really surprised us was the speed with which the ‘friendship’ requests were accepted, and also that onethird of the respondents who accepted this fake person as a friend started up an online conversation. As well, at least two people expected to have dates with our fake person within the week.” Lajeunesse adds the maleto-female ratio of acceptances was 65 to 35 per cent. Their work raises concerns about the overall validity of online identities, and serves as a warning for people of all ages to be more careful about who they accept as friends or interact with online. While the idea of people being so easily conned into accepting a completely fake person as a friend seems absurd, Lajeunesse says that as Facebook and other social networking sites are increasing in popularity at an exponential rate, so too are the number of
“Ryan Hall’s (Pronghorn Athletics Manager) a prime example of a guy I distinctly remember torturing in a Grade 6 basketball camp,” laughs Adams. “You could tell at the time he was a great, coachable kid who had tons of skill. Although he took a path that was an unusual one, playing his way through baseball first, he ended up being the starting point guard on a team that went to a national semifinal.” Hall had other interests and pursued a baseball scholarship in the United States, but he eventually came back to basketball, something that may not have happened had he not been nurtured in the game at an early age. The proposed academy would begin in January and feature weekly workouts, likely on Monday or Tuesday evenings, and would be run by Adams and his Pronghorns players. The net effect is twofold, the Horns help
groom future players and connect with the community at the same time. “This is a way for them to give back to the sport, and it’s a huge part of our commitment to engaging with our community,” says Adams. “If we want to have fans come to our games and we really want to have people in southern Alberta support us, then we have to make sure it’s a two-way street.” Should the academy prove to be successful, not only will it help the game and the region’s aspiring players, it’ll benefit the Horns down the road. “If we look historically at the success of Pronghorns men’s basketball, in times where we’ve had national prominence, it was built on the basis of good local players who decided to stay here and play for the Horns,” says Adams. “We’re trying to develop the future basketball star who will put on the blue and white some day.”
Faculty of Management students tested the limits of Facebook and discovered some unnerving truths about the popular social medium.
false identities. “Unfortunately, the social networking sites lack the technology, the legal power, or, in some cases, the will to prevent these abuses,” she says. “Learning about this issue was a huge wake-up call for our group and our class. We really want people to know about our results, because this was very easy for us to do. It is not a stretch to assume that it is equally easy for others who might have bad intentions to do as well. We hope that by learning more about this issue – and talking about it – parents can increase their level of supervision to protect the young, our most vulnerable, yet least cautious, users.” The fact that young adults and teenagers are being taken in by fake Facebook pages is not a surprise to Dr. Mary Dyck. A researcher in the U of L’s Kinesiology and Physical Education department who is an expert on cyber bullying
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and inappropriate use of online communities, Dyck collaborated on Canada’s first-ever study on rural teens’ online social communication with U of L Faculty of Education researchers Dr. Pamela Adams and Dr. Robin Bright. “Our research supports that the more information someone puts online, the more vulnerable they become to bullying, targeted marketing, predators, unwanted harassment and intrusions, and feelings of discomfort,” says Dyck. “Facebook is an online community. Nothing is safe online. We can only make every attempt to be safer online by restricting our images and information, setting privacy settings for content and applications, and continually being aware of our own behaviour – and the information presented by the IME student group confirms that.”
Vascular risk assessment screening program extended By SUZANNE MCINTOSH The health of our University community is of the utmost importance, and as our population continues to age, certain risk factors cannot be avoided. In October, the University introduced a Vascular Risk Assessment screening program for employees, and due to its overwhelming success, will continue with the program in January 2010. Vascular disease (heart disease, diseases of the blood vessels and stroke) is the leading cause of death in North America, and accounts for the death of more Canadians than any other disease. In 2005, vascular disease accounted for 71,338 Canadian deaths. The average age of University of Lethbridge employees is 45. Combine that with the fact that the risk of developing vascular disease increases dramatically by age 50, and it’s readily apparent we have an at-risk population. Employees are the U of L’s most vital asset, and it is important to provide a risk assessment program and some follow up education and direction to employees so that they can reduce their risk of developing vascular disease. The screening process itself is very quick and efficient, and only takes about 15 minutes. A finger poke blood sample is collected to measure LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol, as well as blood lipid and fasting glucose levels. The height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure are also measured and all data is entered into a computer software program provided by Pfizer Canada. This program generates a visual report that calculates the individual’s absolute and relative cardiovascular risk as compared to other Canadians in the same gender and age category. Those interested in taking part in the next round of the Vascular Risk Assessment program in January 2010 can contact Suzanne McIntosh at 5217 or via e-mail at Suzanne. mcintosh@uleth.ca Suzanne McIntosh is the co-ordinator, Wellness Programs at the University of Lethbridge.
the Legend
JANUARY 2010
Jan. 23 | Victoria vs. Pronghorns Women’s game, 6 p.m.; Men’s game, 8 p.m., 1st Choice Savings Centre gym
Jan. 11 | Art Now: Art historian Jennifer Stone | Noon, University Recital Hall, W570
Jan. 21-23 | TheatreXtra #3 8 p.m. nightly, David Spinks Theatre, Matinee, 2 p.m., Jan. 23
Jan. 15 | Art Now: Calgary artists, Dave & Jenn | Noon, University Recital Hall, W570
Jan. 23 | Big Band Cabaret Silent auction, door prizes and dancing to the Lethbridge Big Band 8 p.m., Students’ Union Ballrooms
Jan. 18 | Curator Kitty Scott Noon, University Recital Hall, W570
Women’s Hockey
Men’s Hockey Jan. 8-9 | Manitoba vs. Pronghorns 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena Jan. 15 | Calgary vs. Pronghorns 7 p.m., Nicholas Sheran Arena
Basketball Jan. 9 | Calgary vs. Pronghorns Women’s game, 6 p.m.; Men’s game, 8 p.m., 1st Choice Savings Centre gym
Jan. 22-23 | UBC vs. Pronghorns 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena
Jan. 20 | Art Now: SAAG artist Manon de Pauw | Noon, University Recital Hall, W570
Jan. 30 | Calgary vs. Pronghorns 7 p.m., Nicholas Sheran Arena
Jan. 22 | Art Now: Curator Louise Dery | Noon, University Recital Hall, W570
Lectures
Performances
Jan. 8 | Art Now: AA Bronsen of General Idea | Noon, University Recital Hall, W570
Jan. 15 | Opera Goes to the Movies U of L Opera Workshop | 7 p.m., Gem of the West Museum (Coaldale)
Tuition rates a point of advocacy for students By ABBY ALLEN
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eficits, funding shortfalls and tuition hikes are all common words floating around the hallways of Alberta’s post-secondary institutions the past few months. During the Ralph Klein era, Alberta saw tuition fees hit an all-time high, which led to a new tuition fee policy in 2006. In November of that year, the Government of Alberta implemented the Tuition Fees Regulation initiative. This policy indicates that tuition cannot escalate above the rate of inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The University of Alberta wants to see tuition rates calculated by ‘market modifiers’ which means that tuition for professional and graduate programs such as medicine, dentistry, law, business, pharmacy and engineering will experience grave increases. University of Lethbridge students are fortunate that their administration has chosen not to go down that path. “President Bill Cade stated explicitly at the Oct. 9 Town Hall Meeting that the University of Lethbridge would not pursue any differential increases,” says Alex Massé, ULSU Vice President Academic. “In fact, he portrays the idea of raising tuition for professional programs as ridiculous.” Thus far, University of Lethbridge students are safe from a major tuition hike for the 2010/2011 year; although, there are no guarantees of this continuing.
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
events CA L E N D A R Jan. 22 | UBC vs. Pronghorns Women’s game, 6 p.m.; Men’s game, 8 p.m., 1st Choice Savings Centre gym
Pronghorn Athletics
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“The U of L administration has made it clear that they will not be seeking any increases beyond the CPI cap for the next academic year, but the government has told students that the regulation could be opened for amendment for a period of two to five years, and we have no guarantee that the U of L will not seek differential increases in future years,” says Massé.
“This is the worst time for the Alberta government to allow large tuition increases.” Alex Massé
“When the cap was implemented, the University of Alberta used 2004 as the base year from which increases would be calculated,” adds Massé. “The U of A argues that they should be able to recalculate the base rates because they weren’t given an opportunity in 2006 to adjust their professional programs to market value.” This comes at a time when the U of A is facing a $60 million deficit, along with most institutions across the province that are experiencing funding shortfalls. The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology has proposed a 40 per cent tuition hike for
all programs; however, Doug Horner, Alberta Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, rejected this proposal. “Horner let the PSE institutions know that the Ministry would accept proposals similar to the U of A’s: they have to be justified and they have to be aimed only at specific programs,” says Massé. “But, we do not believe that any differential tuition increases are justified.” According to Massé, if differential tuition increases are allowed to come into effect it could mean that some students will be forced to enter into a discipline of study based on their financial means over their ability or ambition. “This means the government will be stifling the potential of many of the best and brightest prospective students,” says Massé. Advocacy is one of the mandates of the ULSU, and it works hard on all levels of government to lobby for the needs of students. “The ULSU will work extensively with the Council of Alberta University Students to send a strong message directly to the Government of Alberta, the bottom line being that right now student employment is at a record low and requests for student aid are at a record high, and this is the worst time for the government to allow large tuition increases,” says Massé. “Depending on how things go over the next few weeks, we will certainly consider active student campaigns and media events to hammer that message home.”
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Jan. 24 | Tono Toronto’s Red Sky with musicians and dancers from Mongolia and China | 8 p.m., University Theatre Jan. 29 | Lethbridge Symphony Chamber Series | U of L Faculty Brass Quintet | 8 p.m., Southminster Church Jan. 30 | Schumann & Chopin: Hearts Alive at 200 A celebration of two of the greatest romantic minds in music 8 p.m., University Recital Hall, W570
Miscellaneous Jan. 15 to Feb. 26 | Snap, Crackle, Pop | An exhibition highlighting Alberta artists exploring the themes, iconography, materials and visual styles of popular culture Main Gallery and Helen Christou Gallery | Opening Reception, 4 p.m., Jan. 15 Jan. 16 | Culture Vulture Saturday Button-Making with Trap/Door Artist Run Centre 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., U of L Main Gallery Jan. 20 | Faculty of Education Job Fair | School board representatives visit campus | 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Atrium
Brown takes on new role
Dr. Lesley Brown, the new Assistant Vice-President (Research).
Dr. Lesley Brown has joined Dr. Daniel J. Weeks in the Office of Research Services as assistant vice-president (research). Brown assumed the role on Jan. 1, 2010. She comes to the role having served on General Faculties Council (GFC), GFC Executive, Senate and the Senate Executive. She holds a Bachelor of Physical Education from McMaster University, a Master’s degree in Human Kinetics from the University of Windsor and a PhD from the University of Waterloo. Brown joins Research Services at an important time. The growth of research at the U of L requires extensive plan-
ning for the future. In addition to maintaining teaching and research programs, Brown will lead a number of initiatives out of the Research office that are aimed at providing greater service to the research community at the U of L. The development of the new institutional research capacity planning document required by the provincial government is just one of the important tasks that will be undertaken in the new year. Brown is a Professor of Kinesiology and a leading researcher in the area of fall prevention, with a particular focus on how fear of falling influences balance.
JANUARY 2010
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in focus
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
patience poses a question You have everything you need, but do you need everything you have? Patience, by Canadian playwright Jason Sherman, attempts to answer this question during its run in the David Spinks Theatre, Jan. 21 through 23 at 8 p.m. nightly, with a matinee at 2 p.m. on Jan. 23. The play tells the story of
big band set for 10th edition It’s your annual opportunity to get dressed to the nines, but with an added bonus of celebrating a 10th. The Big Band Cabaret is one of the major social events of the winter months and this year marks a special occasion. “It’s the 10th anniversary of the U of L Wind Orchestra’s Big Band Cabaret, so we’re even
FINE ARTS
Reuben, a man who appears to have everything – a successful job and loving family – only to lose it all in a matter of days. Faced with tragedy and loss, Reuben plunges into a journey of self-discovery and exploration. “Patience is a very surreal play,” says Alan Johnson, drama major and director. “The scenes transition seamlessly between different locations and times. The spectacle comes from the characters. It’s an elegant and simple story that gets audiences thinking.”
Patience is Johnson’s first opportunity to direct outside of class projects. “TheatreXtra is a good opportunity for students to experiment with aspects of theatre they may not have tried before. Directing is not an easy thing to learn, but TheatreXtra provides great experience for first-time directors,” says Johnson. Tickets for Patience are available for $11 regular and $7 student/senior at the University Box Office or by calling 403-329-2616.
more excited about the evening this year,” says Sarah Viejou, student manager for the U of L Wind Orchestra council. “It’s our main fundraising event, with the money raised going towards our touring budget.” The Wind Orchestra plans to tour through B.C. with stops in Penticton and Vancouver in March. The Big Band Cabaret is a night of great live music by the Lethbridge Big Band, including dancing and refreshments – a perfect opportunity to have some fun and support the Wind Orchestra.
“We’ll have a silent auction, along with door prizes and dance-off competitions,” says Viejou. “This is a formal event – tuxedos and gowns are not uncommon. Celebrating our 10th anniversary is a good reason to come dressed to the nines!” The 10th anniversary Gala is Saturday, Jan. 23 starting at 8 p.m., in the Student Union Ballrooms. Tickets are $23 each or $160 for a table of eight. Tickets go on sale Monday, Jan. 11 at the University Box Office or through the music students in the Atrium.
the Legend
Hair promises a multi-sensory extravaganza
snap, crackle, pop explodes on the 2010 scene The new year comes in with a bang at the U of L Art Gallery as Snap, Crackle, Pop opens with a reception on Friday, Jan. 15, at 4 p.m. in the U of L Main Gallery. This contemporary group exhibition, curated by Gallery Director/Curator Dr. Josephine Mills, showcases the work of past and present southern Alberta artists who explore the iconography, materials and visual aesthetic of popular culture. The works Mills has chosen for the exhibition are light-hearted and accessible, while also calling to mind current events as portrayed by modern media. “There are disasterinspired and macabre themes throughout the works, but with element of optimism,” explains Mills. “We live in a world sur-
rounded by doom and gloom – from the economy to global warming – but the artists in this exhibition find optimism through playing with pop culture.” The exhibit includes work by U of L alumni Shanell Papp and Len Komanac. “Shanell works with fabric and textiles and this exhibition features her embroidered life-size human skeletons and crocheted blood-pools,” says Mills. “Len’s pieces depict four disasters in a trailer park such as a giant squid rising from a kiddy-pool to angry trees seeking revenge for chopping one of their own into firewood.” “Art duo Dave & Jenn create fantastic landscapes by layering paint within acrylic resin and by drawing inspiration from the Group of Seven’s famous imagery,” she says.
Dave & Jenn will give a talk in Art NOW on Jan. 15 at noon in the Recital Hall. Other featured works include Christopher Moore’s sculptures of military paraphernalia covered in hot pink flocking and Lisa Brawn’s highly stylized woodcarvings of Canadian icons and macho men. A series of paintings entitled Erstaz Bats by Jason Mathis references both comic book culture and pop art’s devotion to multiples; each panel depicts one of Mathis’ friends, dressed in a Batman costume. Snap, Crackle, Pop is on display in the U of L Main Gallery and Helen Christou Gallery from Jan. 15 through Feb. 26. The Main Gallery is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings.
classical duo celebrated
the perfect time to enjoy their exceptional contributions to classical music. “These composers wrote some of the most beautiful melodies of all time,” says music professor Glen Montgomery. “There are many layers to the music they composed; it shows the richness of the minds of both Schumann and Chopin.” The variety of work being presented promises to highlight the evening. “The program features an array of pieces, performed by
faculty in the Music Department,” says Montgomery. “Schumann’s Frauenliebe und Leben is a beautiful series of pieces to be performed along with the 1st Violin Sonata played by Peter Visentin and a set of 3 Fantasy Pieces performed by Peggy Mezei.” The evening concludes with the B Minor Sonata by Chopin, performed by Montgomery. Tickets are available for $15 regular and $10 student/ senior at the University Box Office (403-329-2616).
The musical event, “Schumann and Chopin: Hearts Alive at 200” on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. in the University Recital Hall pays homage to Robert Schumann and Frederic Chopin by celebrating the timeless music these composers created during their lifetimes. The year 2010 marks the bicentennial birthdays for both composers, making it
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The classic rock musical Hair highlights the spring production schedule.
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tep back into the 1960s! The music, the passion, the era comes to life, Feb. 9-13 when Hair, a cultural phenomenon that defined a generation, appears in the University Theatre. This colourful rock musical is presented nightly at 8 p.m. on Feb. 9-11 and 13. On Feb. 12 there are performances at 7 p.m. and midnight. Set in New York City, a tribe of longhaired hippies celebrates their pacifist bohemian lifestyle, vehemently condemning the Vietnam War and embracing the sexual revolution. Through dance and song, Hair exposes the fervor of a contentious era. “Although this musical is 40-years-old, its themes are still relevant,” says choreographer Lisa Doolittle. “Recently revived on Broadway, Hair has a reputation for being controversial, but remains significant today with our consciousness of war and ecological awareness. Hair is about protest and about youth taking over the world. The main plot is about war – for a musical, the theme is sobering, but sends
a message of optimism.” The production includes more than 50 musical numbers, each choreographed by Doolittle and directed by drama faculty colleague, Gail Hanrahan. “The music ranges from doo-wop, to mop-top British rock and psychedelic rock. The choreography has been so much fun to research – to incorporate the different dance styles,” says Doolittle. Music Director Bente Hansen conducts the live 14-piece rock band complete with horns, guitars and keyboards. “Hair is truly a multisensory extravaganza, from the hippie-style sets designed by Jim Wills, to the incredible costumes, designed by Leslie Robison-Greene,” says Doolittle. “Based on the way the roof comes off the studio during rehearsals, this show will be high energy and unforgettable.” Hair contains mature content and themes. Tickets for Hair are available for $15 regular and $10 student/senior at the University Box Office (403-329-2616).
images L a sting
Born in Prince Rupert in 1926, Takao Tanabe spent the early part of his life interned with his family and other Japanese-Canadians in the B.C. Interior as a result of the Second World War. After the end of the war and having worked several menial jobs, Tanabe decided to go to art school. Sixty years later, Tanabe’s work can be found in more than 50 public and 120 corporate collections around the world. Tanabe was known throughout the ’50s and ’60s as an abstract painter, studying with such well-known abstract expressionists as Hans Hofmann. Tanabe’s
artistic development underwent a dramatic shift in the late 1960s when he began to move away from abstraction towards a concentration on landscape painting. The artist sought a simple landscape form, which he could execute in a spontaneous manner . . . one ‘go’ or one application of paint. Throughout his career, Takao Tanabe has received numerous awards, including Doctor of Letters (Hon.) from the Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design, Doctor of Fine Arts (Hon.) from The University of Lethbridge, and the Order of British
Columbia. His work and the example set by an esteemed career as an artist, art educator and administrator were recognized by the Governor General in April of 1999 when Tanabe was made a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2003, Tanabe was the recipient of The Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts. Since 1980, the artist has lived and worked in Errington on Vancouver Island. Tanabe will be one of the featured artists at the University of Lethbridge Main Gallery in A Little History on the Prairies, opening in January 2011.
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Takao Tanabe, Prairie Hills with Cloud, 1980 From the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of Mary Shannon Will, 1987.
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Takao Tanabe, The Land 18/75, 1975 From the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of Peter Boyd, 1991.