BY ZYNA TAYLOR T he Faculty of Management is preparing to launch an exciting initiative connected to the Centre for Financial Market Research and Teaching (CFMRT). On Tuesday, Nov. 15, representa- tives from the University, the commu- nity and various stakeholder groups will gather for the official launch of the Student-Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) – $100,000 of real-money to be traded by finance students. “The fund has been established so that participating students can gain invaluable practice managing a real-life investment portfolio,” says Dr. Robert Ellis, dean of the Faculty of Management. “This will give them the opportunity to interact and network with industry experts and other busi- ness students interested in finance.” The Faculty has provided the ini- tial $100,000 seed capital for the SMIF, which will be invested under the direction of CFMRT academic direc- tor, Dr. Pei Shao. Students will conduct the actual trading of funds as part of a new course designed specifically for the program. “Students participating in the course are selected based on their aca- demic performance and an interview,” says Shao. “Eight students have formed our inaugural group and will play the role of either portfolio manager or financial analyst and work within various research teams focusing on different industry sectors.” One of the portfolio managers is finance and marketing major Taylor Nanton. “Being part of the SMIF fund will allow us to gain hands-on industry experience in our chosen career path,” says Nanton, who will graduate in spring 2012. “Having this opportunity provides us with experience we’ll use every day in our future positions. It might also help us invest our own money more wisely.” In addition to supervision by Shao, guidance on trading activities will come from an advisory board comprised of external investment pro- fessionals, internal faculty members and legal experts. This will ensure compliance with laws, regulations and University policies/guidelines. Kevin Sassa (BMgt ’93), an investment advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy, is one member of the advisory board. He believes the opportunities the University affords through the fund is invaluable. “From an industry perspective, the fund provides experience that may not be available at other institutions. When I was in university, students didn’t have a fund and courses like this, so we had to acquire our expertise once we were out in the professional environment,” says Sassa. “Anytime you can get experience hands on, it bridges that gap between theory and real-world practice.” The SMIF has generated a very positive buzz in the financial commu- nity. Potential employers see it as an excellent train- ing exercise, possibly reducing their own training expenses, as new recruits would be better prepared for the full responsibilities of their position com- ing out of school. The SMIF advisory board is also a huge advantage for students, allowing them to begin establishing a busi- ness network before even entering the workforce. Beyond the initial capital invested by the Faculty, it is expected that the SMIF will continue to grow through prudent investment by the students and continued fundraising efforts. “Our goal is to increase the SMIF to $400,000 in the next three years,” says Shao. “To achieve this goal, we’ve launched a fundraising campaign and expect that future funds will come from individual and corporate donors, professional organizations and a por- tion of University endowment assets. Our long-term vision is that the SMIF will become self-sustaining.” Ellis is enthusiastic about what the SMIF can do for the Faculty’s students. “These students will be excep- tionally well prepared for careers in finance,” says Ellis. SURVEY SUCCESS It’s mid-term season for post- secondary students and, with the re- cent release of two national surveys, the University of Lethbridge itself is under the microscope. The results? If the institution were a student, it would be headed straight to the honour roll. In both reports, from the Globe and Mail and Maclean’s magazine respectively, the U of L placed very well and put forward similar results, despite the surveys being administered in completely different manners. The Globe and Mail Report Card took a letter grade approach. Judged to be first in research opportunities in its class, the U of L also led the standard for Recreation and Athletics and managed an “A”– level grade in five survey categories. The Globe’s rating measures a series of benchmarks that track student opinions on a variety of services and features at 60 universities across the country. The Maclean’s rankings drew from statistics provided by the institutions and additional national- level surveying. This year, the University of Lethbridge retained its fourth-place finish in the Primarily Undergraduate category, and main- tained or improved its position in a majority of the benchmarks used by Maclean’s to measure Canadian post-secondary institutions. “We always appreciate the opportunity to have survey informa- tion made available to the public,” says U of L President Dr. Mike Mahon. “In the Maclean’s survey, we are particularly pleased with the increases in our overall reputational survey marks, our jump in social sciences and humanities grants and the number of resources we devote to student support.” The Maclean’s rankings were based on 14 indicators, ranging from class sizes to research dollars. “As we evolve to become a more comprehensive research univer- sity, it is important that we not lose sight of our focus on students and the services that are important to them,” says Mahon. “The Maclean’s numbers clearly indicate that we are doing both – moving our research programming forward, but not at the expense of our student-centred philosophy.” NOVEMBER 2011 | VOLUME 11 | ISSUE THREE the UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE 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 issuu.com/ulethbridge. ADVERTISING For ad rates or other information, contact: [email protected] CREDITS Editor: Trevor Kenney Designer: Stephenie Karsten CONTRIBUTORS: Amanda Berg, Bob Cooney, Sandra Cowan, Kyle Dodgson, Jane Edmundson, Nicole Eva-Rice, Erica Lind, Glenda Martens, Suzanne McIntosh, Kali McKay, Rob Olson, Stacy Seguin, Zyna Taylor, Jaime Vedres, Katherine Wasiak and Richard Westlund Moleschi helps Horns capture Canada West Smith and SAAG a boost to local arts Dr. Bonnie Lee answers five questions McDaniel earns Tier I CRC in social sciences University of Lethbridge 4401 University Drive Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 www.ulethbridge.ca Real-world experience The Student-Managed Investment Fund allows students to trade stocks with a real-money account.
The Legend, November 2011
Mar 15, 2016
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BY ZYNA TAYLOR
The Faculty of Management is preparing to launch an exciting initiative connected
to the Centre for Financial Market Research and Teaching (CFMRT).
On Tuesday, Nov. 15, representa-tives from the University, the commu-nity and various stakeholder groups will gather for the official launch of the Student-Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) – $100,000 of real-money to be traded by finance students.
“The fund has been established so that participating students can gain invaluable practice managing a real-life investment portfolio,” says Dr. Robert Ellis, dean of the Faculty of Management. “This will give them the opportunity to interact and network with industry experts and other busi-ness students interested in finance.”
The Faculty has provided the ini-tial $100,000 seed capital for the SMIF, which will be invested under the direction of CFMRT academic direc-tor, Dr. Pei Shao. Students will conduct the actual trading of funds as part of a new course designed specifically for the program.
“Students participating in the course are selected based on their aca-demic performance and an interview,” says Shao. “Eight students have formed our inaugural group and will play the role of either portfolio manager or financial analyst and work within
various research teams focusing on different industry sectors.”
One of the portfolio managers is finance and marketing major Taylor Nanton.
“Being part of the SMIF fund will allow us to gain hands-on industry experience in our chosen career path,” says Nanton, who will graduate in spring 2012. “Having this opportunity provides us with experience we’ll use every day in our future positions. It might also help us invest our own money more wisely.”
In addition to supervision by Shao, guidance on trading activities will come from an advisory board comprised of external investment pro-fessionals, internal faculty members and legal experts. This will ensure compliance with laws, regulations and University policies/guidelines.
Kevin Sassa (BMgt ’93), an investment advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy, is one member of the advisory board. He believes the opportunities the University affords through the fund is invaluable.
“From an industry perspective, the fund provides experience that may not be available at other institutions. When I was in university, students didn’t have a fund and courses like this, so we had to acquire our expertise once we were out in the professional environment,” says Sassa.
“Anytime you can get experience hands on, it bridges that gap between
theory and real-world practice.”The SMIF has generated a very
positive buzz in the financial commu-nity. Potential employers see it as an excellent train-ing exercise, possibly reducing their own training expenses, as new recruits would be better prepared for the full responsibilities of their position com-ing out of school.
The SMIF advisory board is also a huge advantage for students, allowing them to begin establishing a busi-ness network before even entering the workforce.
Beyond the initial capital invested by the Faculty, it is expected that the SMIF will continue to grow through prudent investment by the students and continued fundraising efforts.
“Our goal is to increase the SMIF to $400,000 in the next three years,” says Shao. “To achieve this goal, we’ve launched a fundraising campaign and expect that future funds will come from individual and corporate donors, professional organizations and a por-tion of University endowment assets. Our long-term vision is that the SMIF will become self-sustaining.”
Ellis is enthusiastic about what the SMIF can do for the Faculty’s students.
“These students will be excep-tionally well prepared for careers in finance,” says Ellis.
SURVEY SUCCESSIt’s mid-term season for post-
secondary students and, with the re-cent release of two national surveys, the University of Lethbridge itself is under the microscope. The results? If the institution were a student, it would be headed straight to the honour roll.
In both reports, from the Globe and Mail and Maclean’s magazine respectively, the U of L placed very well and put forward similar results, despite the surveys being administered in completely different manners.
The Globe and Mail Report Card took a letter grade approach. Judged to be first in research opportunities in its class, the U of L
also led the standard for Recreation and Athletics and managed an “A”–level grade in five survey categories. The Globe’s rating measures a series of benchmarks that track student opinions on a variety of services and features at 60 universities across the country.
The Maclean’s rankings drew from statistics provided by the institutions and additional national-level surveying. This year, the University of Lethbridge retained its fourth-place finish in the Primarily Undergraduate category, and main-tained or improved its position in a majority of the benchmarks used by Maclean’s to measure Canadian post-secondary institutions.
“We always appreciate the opportunity to have survey informa-tion made available to the public,”
says U of L President Dr. Mike Mahon. “In the Maclean’s survey, we are particularly pleased with the increases in our overall reputational survey marks, our jump in social sciences and humanities grants and the number of resources we devote to student support.”
The Maclean’s rankings were based on 14 indicators, ranging from class sizes to research dollars.
“As we evolve to become a more comprehensive research univer-sity, it is important that we not lose sight of our focus on students and the services that are important to them,” says Mahon. “The Maclean’s numbers clearly indicate that we are doing both – moving our research programming forward, but not at the expense of our student-centred philosophy.”
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1 | V O L U M E 11 | I S S U E T H R E E
theU N I V E R S I T Y O F L E T H B R I D G E
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 issuu.com/ulethbridge.
ADVERTIS INGFor ad rates or other information, contact:[email protected]
CREDITSEditor: Trevor KenneyDesigner: Stephenie Karsten
CONTRIBUTORS:Amanda Berg, Bob Cooney, Sandra Cowan, Kyle Dodgson, Jane Edmundson, Nicole Eva-Rice, Erica Lind, Glenda Martens, Suzanne McIntosh, Kali McKay, Rob Olson, Stacy Seguin, Zyna Taylor, Jaime Vedres, Katherine Wasiak and Richard Westlund
Moleschi helps Horns capture Canada West
Smith and SAAG a boost to local arts
Dr. Bonnie Lee answers five questions
McDaniel earns Tier I CRC in social sciences
University of Lethbridge4401 University DriveLethbridge, AB T1K 3M4www.ulethbridge.ca
Real-world experience
The Student-Managed Investment Fund allows students to trade stocks with a real-money account.
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1 | U N I V E R S I T Y O F L E T H B R I D G Ethe Legend
2
I have just returned from the annual meeting of the Associa-tion for Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). Held in Montreal, this get-together was not only productive but symbolic, as 100 years ago this year the first gathering of the AUCC took place at McGill University.
The discussions this year focused on the future of higher education in Canada and includ-ed presidential colleagues, faculty members, students and com-munity members. AUCC Board Chair Stephen Toope outlined a series of commitments by AUCC and its member universities designed to benefit all Canadi-ans over the next 100 years. The highlights of those commitments are as follows.
Broadening the view of education
This will be accomplished by leading a Canada-wide conversa-
tion about the entire educational system.
Innovating how we learnThe world is increas-
ingly complex and it is critical that students are afforded the opportunity to enhance their learning experience by drawing on a full range of educational, research-based and community-focused opportunities enriched with global engagement and new technologies.
A commitment to excellence
It is essential that we ensure our students are fully equipped to play their role in a new Canada, and a much larger world. This will be accomplished by reaffirm-ing our commitment to high-quality research and enriched learning. It also involves enhanc-ing efforts to engage under-repre-sented students in post-secondary education.
Concentrating the world’s best minds on the world’s toughest problems
The continued growth of graduate studies and a robust research agenda are critical in the development of new knowledge that addresses key problems in our increasingly complex world.
Cultivating engagement and partnerships
The fifth and final commit-ment will ensure that universities continue to reach beyond our own institutions to create allianc-es, partnerships and initiatives of shared purpose to address the challenges facing our communi-ties, our nation and the world in which we live.
These commitments by the AUCC serve as the basis for a new narrative on higher education across the country. This narrative is designed to support the evolu-
tion of universities within the context of an evolving Canada, and is meant to guide universities towards a common purpose of addressing the broad needs of society as well as the very personal aspirations of our students, faculty, staff and our communities.
AUCC’s new narrative pro-vides all of us at the University of Lethbridge a useful context for considering our future. As we begin the process of review-ing and extending our Strategic Plan, these five commitments can provide useful questions for our community to consider.
For example, how can we contribute to a broadened view of education on our campus? Today we imagine our university as an inclusive campus that is welcom-ing of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. This is certainly one element of a broadened view but what else might we consider?
Similarly, our vision of grow-ing as a comprehensive univer-sity can be aided by considering how some of our best minds can address some of our world’s toughest challenges. Today we are tackling such critical issues as Alzheimer’s Disease, food secu-rity and population health, but what is next?
These are just two examples of how the AUCC›s new narrative can help us consider our future.
Finally, I want to thank everyone on campus for their contribution over the past year as reflected in the recent Globe and Mail and Maclean’s rankings. While we do not judge ourselves solely through these methods, I am proud to see that they reflect our institutional goals and that we are clearly providing the services, atmosphere and level of student engagement that our students and their families value.
OPENMikeUniversity of Lethbridge President Dr. Mike Mahonchats about what’s happening in the University community
CAMPUS kudosThe University of
Lethbridge, along with the Campus Roots Community Garden Association (CRCGA), made the 2011 Lethbridge Green List for taking action to better the environment. The U of L was noted for establishing a pilot program to expand composting on campus. The CRCGA has worked hard to plan, construct, maintain and expand a campus and community space for grow-ing local and organic food.
Dr. Blaine Hendsbee (Music) recently presented the solo recital The Art and Legacy of the English Tenor at Memo-rial University of Newfoundland and Labrador in St. John’s, Nfld. While at Memorial University, he also worked with several voice students in a public Mas-terclass. During his recent study leave, Hendsbee also presented this solo recital in Halifax, NS; Jacksonville , FL; Brandon University; and the University of Manitoba. He also presented public Voice Masterclasses in each of these cities.
Taras Polataiko (Art) recently exhibited his work at the National Art and Museum Cen-tre Art Arsenal in Kyiv, Ukraine. The exhibition INDEPENDENT is a retrospective summary of the 20 years of contemporary Ukrainian Art after indepen-dence.
Dr. Gordon Hunter, FCMA (Management) was recently appointed a Certified Manage-ment Accountants Distinguished Scholar. The purpose of this role is to have more students exposed to the CMA brand through information sessions, guest lecturing, case competitions, mentoring and other initiatives in co-operation with the CMA Alberta Office. The opportunity was made possible through a five-year, $50,000 annual com-mitment from CMA Alberta.
Dr. Arlan Schultz (Music) has been elected vice-president of the Edmonton-based Tonus Vivus Society for New Music. This non-profit, concert-pro-ducing organization is one of the
largest promoters of New Music in the west.
Adam Mason (Music) con-ducted world drumming clinics and research at Brigham Young University-Hawaii for the new Polynesian Ensemble in the U of L Global Drums.
Alumnus Zoran Rajcic (BMgt ’94) was recently named assistant general manager for the Everett Silvertips of the West-ern Hockey League. Rajcic was the U of L’s director of athletic marketing before moving into the hockey world. He has worked for the Silvertips since the team’s inception, in 2002, and was most recently the director of business operations.
Dr. Brian Black (Music) presented his paper The Sensual as a Constructive Element in Schubert’s Late Works, at the National University of Ireland Maynooth, in October, as part of the conference, Thanatos as Muse? Schubert and Concepts of Late Style, which includes
papers and master’s classes given by leading scholars who are internationally recognized for their research on the music of Franz Schubert. In addition, Black’s article, The Functions of Harmonic Motives in Schubert’s Sonata Forms, was recently pub-lished in Volume 23 of Intégral, a major American journal of music theory.
Ian Burleigh’s (Music) paper Computer-assisted Tone Arrangement Using Calculated Consonance has been accepted for the SPEEC 2012 (Symposium for Performance of Electronic and Experimental Composition) in January at the Faculty of Mu-sic, Oxford University, UK.
James Graham (New Media), Jim Byrne (Geography Chair), and Susan McDaniel (Sociology, Director of Pren-tice Institute) were awarded a $128,000 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant for their project Conveying Researcher Knowledge of Cli-mate Change on Multiple New
Media Platforms. Also involved in the project are MSc candidate Celeste Barnes and external partner James Hoggan, founder of the corporate communica-tions and public affairs agency, Hoggan & Associates, and Chair of the David Suzuki Foundation. James Graham (New Media) is working on Augmented Reality: Portable Media Communication and Interaction (PMCI), which is a passive/active system of push media being developed to deliver custom packets of high-quality science-based media – such as animations, movies, graphs, sci-entific data, audio files and im-ages – to a wide number of audi-ences, in real-time. To do this, a series of application program interfaces will be developed to enable the major mobile device operating systems (I-Phone OS, Android, Windows, Palm and Blackberry) to activate a se-quence of media packet elements using pre-programmed GPS triggers.
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1 | U N I V E R S I T Y O F L E T H B R I D G E the Legend
3
BY BOB COONEY
He’s part coach, part trainer. He makes his team think outside the
box to look at ideas in creative, new ways. He has tried and true methods to stop procrastination, and he encourages his students to let their imaginations run wild.
He has so much confidence in his team that, at an upcom-ing international competition, he’ll be judging others while his U of L team works through its presentation.
As the driving force behind the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) project for the past five years, chemistry and biochemistry researcher Dr. Hans-Joachim (HJ) Wieden has wrangled a large group of undergrad students through numerous challenges, and to a level of pro-ficiency where they are comfort-able not only presenting their research to panels of interna-tional judges, they manage their own projects, run their own lab and are gaining valuable work experience, recognition and sponsorship money from major organizations.
Wieden is, in other words, not your typical lab or project supervisor. His team contin-ues to achieve top-level results, recently placing in the final
four at the iGEM regionals in Indianapolis, Ind. Of the 65 teams entered, the U of L made the finals with Yale University, Brown-Stanford and the even-tual regional champion Univer-sity of Washington.
The success comes with its own challenges.
“At times it was easy to get demoralized after many failed experiments and long hours in the lab,” says Dominic Mudiayi. “Then HJ would remind us what was at stake and remind us, “To win something you never had, you have to do something you’ve never done”. One important lesson that I have learned in my iGEM experience is that success does not come easily, and there is no substitute for hard work.”
When his students talk about letting their imaginations run wild, it’s no joke. The iGEM team competing at the Massa-chusetts Institute of Technology in Boston (iGEM World Jam-boree, Nov. 5-7) is probably the only one with a Fine Arts and New Media advisor – Anony-mous Will Smith – who has worked with the team to produce audio, video and still image art-work based on their research.
The group also produced a docu-drama video about how synthetic biology affects people’s everyday lives, and used not only Lethbridge as a backdrop, but involved legendary U of L math
professor Dr. Dennis Connolly and Rock 106 radio personali-ties to illustrate its point. The team played various roles in the presentation, from villains to heroes, and it was a highlight at a recent Alberta-based gathering of iGEM teams (aGEM competi-tion), at which the group placed first.
One student describes his iGEM experience as being one
“heck of a ride” because of the intensity of the work, and the fact that it is student-driven.
“HJ believes wholeheart-edly in the innovation of his students,” says Anthony Vuong. “All the iGEM projects are ideas from the undergrads. The grants are written by the undergrads. If we have questions, he will answer them; if we have ideas, he will provide input; if we
have problems, he will help us troubleshoot. We are treated as colleagues and as such, the learning experience is very much hands-on. To top it off, the countless hours Dr. Wieden puts into iGEM are volunteer hours. He is not required to be a part of iGEM, but he does so because he loves science and believes in the potential lying dormant within us.”
BRICK BY BRICK BENEFIT DINNERBY TREVOR KENNEY
Exchanging lab coats for formal attire, the University of Lethbridge’s iGEM team is stepping out of its comfort zone to connect with the south-ern Alberta community that has supported them from the outset.
The inaugural Brick by Brick Charity Dinner is Friday, Nov. 18 in the Students’ Union Ballroom. Benefitting the MS Society, Lethbridge & District Chapter, the event will not only raise funds for the fight against multiple sclerosis, it will help to enhance awareness and under-standing of the disease through guest speakers Susan Schneider and Dr. Gerlinde Metz.
“This is something we’ve wanted to do for a few years now and have finally been able to put together because of the size of our team,” says iGEM member Lisza Bruder.
The Pincher Creek native is in her third year with iGEM and in the first year of her master’s of biochemistry studies with Dr. Steve Mosimann. The multidisciplinary iGEM team,
with support from the Synthetic Biology Club and led by Dr. HJ Wieden, has swelled to 22 members, making the estab-lishment of a charity dinner a less daunting task.
“We felt this was a way to give back to the community that has supported us from when we started in 2007.”
The iGEM group (an acro-nym for International Genetically Engineered Ma-chines) already makes a signifi-cant contribution to society, al-beit in a more indirect manner. Their work involves the design of a petrochemical-eating bac-teria, which they proved could be used to help clean up water in oil sands tailings ponds.
The dinner project is a little more public and more direct.
“It’s very difficult at times to go and talk with someone about your research and explain to them what it means,” says Bruder. “We even sometimes don’t see the connect between what we are doing in the lab and how it applies down the line.”
To that end, U of L neu-roscience professor Metz will speak to her studies as a part of the endMS project.
“Having an MS researcher from our University speak to
the community has a huge im-pact,” says Ann Stewart, the MS Society chapter executive direc-tor. “It demonstrates the use of donor funds as well as raises the awareness of the types of research being done to find a cause and cure for MS.”
Multiple sclerosis is the most common neurologi-cal disease of young adults in Canada and currently affects over 11,000 Albertans.
In addition to Metz’s ad-dress, Susan Schneider, a local resident who is living with MS, will speak to her personal ex-perience with the disease, while Dory Rossiter will serve as the evening’s emcee.
Stewart says it is important that our community’s youth take up the charge for these initiatives.
“We are delighted to part-ner with the iGEM team,” she says. “University students are an integral part of our commu-nity and it is always refreshing to be involved in their activi-ties.”
Tickets for the Brick by Brick Charity Dinner are priced at $50 each or $350 for a table of eight. They are available by calling 403-328-7002 or via e-mail at [email protected]
NFB FILM CLUB AT LIBRARYBY SANDRA COWAN
The University of Lethbridge Library continues to reach out to the University community by introducing new and innovative ways to bring people into the library.
The latest initiative has the library partnering with the National Film Board to present the NFB Film Club.
The Film Club presents a series of recent NFB documen-taries in the library. The series began with the award-winning Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie, which was pre-sented to a small but enthusias-tic crowd on Oct. 12.
Students were treated to a variety of free snacks, and a thought-provoking documen-tary that provoked an excellent discussion.
The series continues with Act of Dishonour, by writer/director Nelofir Pazira. Set in the northern region of Af-ghanistan, this feature drama tells the story of a young bride-to-be who strays from local customs after befriending an Afghan-Canadian translator.
Part lament against injustice, part testament to the spirit of a people who have survived decades of war, this film is a compelling drama in which east and west, love and honour, modernity and customs clash with tragic consequences. It will be shown on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. in L1168.
The third film in this year’s series will be John Walker’s latest documentary, A Drummer’s Dream, which features a rare assembly of some of the greatest drummers in the world. Explosive talent, passion, humour and irresist-ible personality come together in a magical setting when seven diverse drummers create a profound and unforgettable experience. The creative and spiritual freedom of expression these artists display is over-whelming. Rock, jazz, Latin fusion, soul – these master drummers have backed up the likes of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gil-lespie, Carlos Santana.
An uplifting documentary for a little pre-finals relaxation, it will be shown on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in L1168.
Stay tuned for the NFB Film Club series to continue at the Library in January 2012.
Wieden spurs iGEM to great success
Student Justin Vigar works on a project in the iGEM lab.
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1 | U N I V E R S I T Y O F L E T H B R I D G Ethe Legend
BY TREVOR KENNEY
There are many barriers to running a successful exchange program, challenges far beyond the obvious cultural differences and language issues that exist between two nations. It is even more impressive then to recog-nize the 30-year relationship between Japan’s Hokkai Gakuen University and the University of Lethbridge, one that has seen participation by both faculty and students.
“It is an important achieve-ment for a university to have such a long-standing partner-ship that has affected so many students, faculty and staff in a positive manner,” says University of Lethbridge president Dr. Michael Mahon. “The U of L should be proud of this friend-ship and the goodwill it has promoted between two cultures and two nations, much less two universities.”
The first faculty exchange between the two universities took place in 1981, followed five years later by the start of a student exchange program. Designed to promote cross-cultural under-standing between the two nations, the exchange relationship has succeeded on many levels.
Trish Jackson, director of the International Centre for Stu-dents, says each exchange offers a unique experience for those taking part.
“We have faculty mem-bers coming from all different kinds of backgrounds at Hokkai Gakuen University,” she says. “They come here for one semes-ter to teach common content as part of a Japanese Culture class. Likewise, we will send faculty members from all of our depart-ments to teach their students about Canadian culture. You get a different flavour every time you have a different faculty member because they have their own way of looking at their culture through their own discipline and background.”
This semester, Dr. Osamu Seto, a physicist, is the Hokkai Gakuen visiting professor. At 36 years old, single, well traveled internationally and at ease with the English language, he’s brought
an entirely new perspective to the exchange. He’s wont to rent a car and take a day trip to Waterton and has no problem being thrust into new situations, such as an interview or being recognized at Convocation for the exchange’s 30-year anniversary.
“I did not know that I was going to have to go on stage,” laughs Seto.
His intrepid spirit led him to Lethbridge when his department supervisor at Hokkai Gakuen said he was looking for exchange candidates.
“I didn’t have anything stop-ping me so I decided to do it,” he says. “It has been very enjoyable.”
The student aspect of the relationship involves one student per year coming to the U of L and taking a semester of English for Academic Purposes, followed by one semester of undergradu-ate studies. Every two years, a group of 15 to 20 students comes for a summer program, the focus being to learn English. A group of business students also makes the trip every few years, studying English but with specific busi-ness related content. Likewise, the U of L sends a group of 15-20 students to Hokkai Gakuen every two years for a summer cultural program.
Dr. Ed Jurkowski of the Faculty of Fine Arts music department took part in one such exchange.
“There were obviously many experiences and memories that the students will forever carry with them,” he says in a com-memorative book celebrating the exchange. “However, the most far-reaching were the homestay opportunities the students had. Each student spoke at length about how much these relation-ships allowed them to under-stand Japanese culture on a far deeper level than as a simple observer.”
It is those observations that keep the relationship between the University of Lethbridge and Hokkai Gakuen alive and thriv-ing, and speak to the value of the program.
“This is the type of interac-tion that encourages our students to become global citizens,” con-cludes Mahon.
BY ERICA LIND
Jan Newberry started teaching at the University of Lethbridge with one
simple goal – to change the world through education. Staying true to this goal, Newberry supports students in every way she can.
With a background that includes a small private college and large state-funded uni-versities in the United States, Newberry describes the U of L as both fun and different. An anthropology professor at the U of L for the past 10 years, her research focuses primar-ily on Indonesia but covers a wide variety of areas ranging from theories of exchange and economy to the politics of chil-drearing, allowing her to share with students a multi-faceted anthropological experience.
Newberry is not interested in the “ivory tower” of aca-demia. For her, it’s much more fun to have students involved in her research.
“We often talk about how our research supports our teaching, but I find that my teaching also supports my research,” she says. “Student responses to my ideas help me go back to my research in a dif-ferent way.”
Because of this interchange of ideas, supporting students is a priority for Newberry. More fun-damentally, Newberry sees stu-dent support as essential because of their roles after graduation.
“I want to support students because they’re going to go out and build the next world,” she says. “The Supporting Our Students campaign helps me do that.”
Supporting Our Students (SOS) is an annual fundrais-ing campaign aimed towards faculty and staff on campus. Its purpose is to raise money for student awards. Since it launched in 2005, faculty and staff have generously donated more than $1 million to the campaign, sending a strong message to students that the
University community stands behind them.
Newberry emphasizes not only the importance of the campaign, but also how easy it is to show support.
“What most people don’t realize is that you can do this in such a painless way,” she says. “By having a small amount of money taken off my paycheque each month, I’m improving the lives of students. It couldn’t be a more clear contribution to the insti-tution, and one that is so very easy to do.”
Supporting this campaign was a natural choice for New-berry.
“Money makes a differ-ence,” she says. “Sometimes the best thing we can do is give money to support something we think is important.”
For more information on the Supporting Our Students campaign, please visit www.ulethbridge.ca/giving or call University Advancement at 403-329-2582.
4
Student support essential
The Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre is once again open for business. The pool facility had been shut down since May to accommodate a significant upgrade to the support systems that control air handling, water circulation and other equipment. It also received a cosmetic facelift with the addition of wall tiles and banners and a new paint scheme.
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Anthropology professor Dr. Jan Newberry sees supporting the SOS campaign as a natural choice.
Dr. Osamu Seto is visiting from Hokkai Gakuen University.
EXCHANGE HITS 30-YEAR MILESTONE
GLOBALconnections
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1 | U N I V E R S I T Y O F L E T H B R I D G E the Legend
BY TREVOR KENNEY
Kayla Moleschi isn’t technically classified as a mature student, but
maturity is a big factor in her approach to school, rugby and life in general.
The first-year standout on the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s rugby team took some time before deciding to start her university career. Blessed with a natural talent and recognized early as one of the country’s best rugby players, she had multiple offers to attend school, but for her the timing had to be right.
“The last couple of years I’ve been working and I did some schooling at home before I came here, but now I know this is what I want to do,” says Moleschi, a product of Wil-liams Lake, B.C. “I want to play rugby but I also want to get an education. Education is something I want, not just something I’m doing to play rugby.”
She worked four jobs prior to enrolling at the U of L, spending weekends doing clean-up in the local plywood mill in addition to two landscaping jobs and a heavy babysitting load. It almost makes rugby sound easy – and given her performance this season, maybe it has been.
Moleschi was named Canada West Rookie of the Year and a Canada West all-star recently, helping guide the Horns to their sixth con-secutive Canada West title and berth in the CIS Championship tournament (Nov. 4-6 in Peter-borough, Ont.). A kinesiology student, she has yet to decide what life path she’ll take, only
that she wants to help the people around her.
“I really want to become someone who can help better other peoples’ lives, like that movie Pay it Forward, I really like that whole philosophy,” she says. “I just want to be able to help those who are struggling.”
She talks about teaching, working with sports teams and helping children.
“I really want to become someone who can help better other peoples’ lives.”
KAYLA MOLESCHI
“I have so many things I want to fall back on but what I want to do, I’m not quite there yet,” she says. “Being a teacher would be awesome. I’d be able to help the kids and then still have the summers to pursue my rugby career.”
She’s been on the national radar for years, having been a part of developmental and touring teams since she was 16 years old. Just recently she was carded as an athlete with the Senior Women’s Sevens national team, meaning she will leave the U of L in January for a six-month stint in Vic-toria to participate in Rugby Canada’s centralization train-ing. It presents a barrier to her educational goals but it’s one she’s planning to tackle.
“I have three options: to take online courses; an inde-pendent study course; and an
applied studies course,” says Moleschi. “I think I’ll be doing at least two of those, if not all three. It’ll be a little difficult because I won’t be in the class-room but I really want this.”
She’s found the University to be a good fit for her, mainly because of the rugby program and coach Neil Langevin’s approach, but also because of the welcoming nature of the city.
“Williams Lake is pretty small but when I came here, I found it’s not overwhelming. It’s a close-knit community and it reminds me a lot of home,” says Moleschi, who lives off campus but just a block from the University. “The people are really nice and have been very welcoming. It’s hard to leave your friends and family but you have to do things to better yourself and in turn you’re only going to be bettering them. I really owe them a ton of thanks for supporting me and helping me get to this point.”
Moleschi, a fullback, has earned comparisons to star alumnus Ashley (neé Patzer) Steacy, the most decorated player in Horns’ rugby history. She’s flattered by the talk and considers herself lucky to have Steacy as a valuable resource.
“I get the chance to talk to her quite a bit and she’ll always answer any questions I have,” says Moleschi. “I’m going to get the chance to play with her on the Sevens team too, so I’m pretty excited about that. They have such a great tradition here and I’m proud to contribute to that.”
athletics AT T H E U
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Moleschi makes instant impact
Kayla Moleschi and the Horns are off to CIS Nationals, Nov. 4-6.
TAKING THE FEAR OUT OF FOIPBY BOB COONEY
You’ve seen her before… you know you have… but where? Karen Mahar gets that a lot lately. The long-time Faculty of Fine Arts employee has recently trad-ed in one administrative skill set for another, taking on the role of Privacy Co-ordinator and Policy Analyst. Her primary responsi-bility is managing the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act.
Nobody wishes to be a FOIP officer the same way kids pine to be firefighters or doctors, but Mahar says her interest in the position was the appeal to work on research, policies and pro-cesses.
“I started 12 years ago at the U of L as a casual employee and ultimately moved into an administrative position in the dean’s office in the Faculty of Fine Arts,” she says. “During that time, I earned a BA and an MA with designs on a position that gave me the opportunity to brainstorm and connect more with the University community on a different level.”
Mahar says that when the chance came up to apply for this new role, she jumped in with both feet.
“It involves research, which I love, and it also provides an opportunity to write and to par-ticipate in a number of interest-ing projects.”
Mahar began in August and will succeed Rita Law, who, after establishing the office, is retir-ing in December. As they work through the transition, Mahar says that Law’s work to build the foundation of the office and get people on board with FOIP and its processes has been very helpful.
“She is an invaluable resource, and has been an excel-lent and very patient teacher,” she
says. “I don’t want people to think of FOIP as a four letter word. My goal in the role is to pick up where Rita leaves off, and work on the awareness and the acceptance of the fact that this is a law, it is not optional. We need to work with it, and not fear it or avoid it. I want to bring a level of comfort and understanding to people’s awareness about the laws, so that it becomes part of people’s regular job processes.”
To help take the fear out of FOIP, Mahar is hosting a series of seminars on FOIP and its vari-ous applications. Her talks (FOIP for Faculty is Wednesday, Nov. 2 at noon in AH176, followed by a Friday, Nov. 4 FOIP Free-for-All at noon in AH177) target specific groups, including faculty, front-line employees and anyone who wants to learn more about how to apply FOIP regulations to their work.
“I have to be honest, FOIP scared me, as it seems to scare everyone at one point or an-other,” says Mahar. “However, the more I got into it, and the more I’ve come to understand how the process works, I love it. I see why it makes sense and its practical application in numerous areas on campus. FOIP is very logical and very straightforward.”
Mahar wants people to call with questions or comments, and she is willing to conduct specific programming for business units, employee groups or depart-ments on request. Contact her at 403-332-4620 or e-mail [email protected]
G E T T H E FAC T S
• Moleschi scored five tries during the confer-ence season and was fourth in Canada West scoring with 25 points.
• Horns head coach Neil Langevin describes her play as, “electrifying” and “dynamic”. “She’s an all-around force, and she’s got hands of glue, she catches everything that comes her way.”
• The Horns finished fourth at CIS Nationals last year and are looking for their fourth national title.
• Pronghorns’ third-year player Kelsey Wil-loughby, of Lethbridge, was named Canada West Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive year. She was also rookie of the year in 2009.
Karen Mahar is the new Privacy Co-ordinator and Policy Analyst.
Have you made your donation to Supporting Our Students yet this year?
195 faculty and staff have already made a contribution. Join them by making a gift today.
The amount you choose to give is not as important as your participation. By coming together to support students, faculty and staff at the U of L show that this is a campus community that cares.
www.uleth.ca/giving/SupportingOurStudents
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1 | U N I V E R S I T Y O F L E T H B R I D G Ethe Legend
BY RICHARD WESTLUND
More and more often, grant applications contain sections
warning applicants that they are responsible for ensuring that anyone lobbying on their behalf is doing so while in compliance with Canada’s Lobbying Act.
As individuals seeking grants complete applications across campus, I will take this opportunity to provide a cursory overview of what the Lobby-ing Act is and the measures the University must take to ensure compliance. Further, I would encourage anyone who has ques-tions about the act to visit the commissioner’s website. The U of L Government Relations Office (A764) is available to answer questions that faculty or staff may have regarding the
registry.The Federal Lobbying Act
dictates that universities (and a myriad of other private-sector and public organizations) must report specific lobbying encounters when speaking with Designated Public Office Hold-ers (DPOHs). These individu-als include cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, associate deputy ministers, MPs, Members of the Senate and any exempt staff working in the offices of these members.
The U of L is required to update its lobby registration on an ongoing basis. This registra-tion contains general informa-tion about the institution, the grants it receives, the individuals that act in a lobbying capacity for the institution and the sub-ject matter on which the U of L intends to lobby the fed-
eral government. The University is also responsible for reporting its “oral and arranged” commu-nication after a listed employee advocates for a benefit (whether financial or to influence policy or legislation) for the institution. These monthly communication reports must be submitted by the 15th day of the following month from when the interaction occurred. This is done through the Government Relations Office.
Faculty members have the academic freedom to speak to members of the federal govern-ment as persons with expertise. If a faculty member lobbies for a bene-fit to the University, they, and their subject matter, must be included in the U of L’s registration. However, if an employee or faculty member is advocating for the greater public good (and not a specific benefit)
they are not required to register or report their interaction.
At various times, individuals throughout campus are involved in projects that involve interact-ing with the Federal Government. Again, the Government Relations Office can help to ensure you are fulfilling the legal requirements of the federal Lobbying Act. More information can be found online at www.ocl-cal.gc.ca/eic/site/lobbyist-lobbyiste1.nsf/eng/home.
Richard Westlund is the Director of Government Rela-tions at the U of L. In an effort to better inform different parts of our campus and external communities about the various government relations activities that occur at the U of L, he has started a blog. Visit it at blogs.ulethbridge.ca/govern-ment-relations
CAIP PROGRAM LOOKS FORWARD
Three new research Chairs are coming to the University of Lethbridge thanks to the Gov-ernment of Alberta’s Campus Alberta Innovation Program (CAIP) Chairs plan.
Part of the government’s Campus Alberta collabora-tive initiative, this prestigious program provides an initial 16 research Chairs to Alberta’s four Comprehensive Academic and Research Intensive (CARI) institutions: University of Lethbridge, Athabasca Univer-sity, University of Alberta and University of Calgary.
“This is an excellent forward-thinking program, and we’re thrilled the govern-ment has followed through with its commitment to advanc-ing research expertise in the province,” says Dr. Dan Weeks,
the University’s vice-president (research).
The program is designed to recruit new research leaders to Alberta in specific areas of study. The Chairs are aligned with the four strategic priority areas of the Alberta Innovates Corpora-tions and Alberta Advanced Education and Technology: Energy and Environment, Food and Nutrition, Neuroscience/Prions and Water. The U of L’s three Chairs will work in the areas of: aquatic health, brain health and dementia, and ter-restrial ecosystems and remote sensing.
“Not only do these areas align with the Government of Alberta’s strategic priorities, but they also reflect the core strengths of our institution,” says Weeks.
“What is so significant about the introduction of these Chairs is that it allows us to continue to grow our research capacity in these strategic areas,
thereby allowing us to realign other resources and point them at areas of emerging strength. It’s especially important for an institution of our size to maxi-mize the impact of our Chair allotment.”
The value of the CAIP awards will vary from approxi-mately $300,000 to $650,000 per year for seven years, depending on the nature of the research being undertaken. Academic appointments will be made at the assistant professor, associate professor or full professor level, depending on the seniority of the individual. At the end of the seven years as Chair, appointees will assume regular faculty posi-tions at their institutions. Chairs will be encouraged to collaborate with colleagues and may receive adjunct appointments at their sister institutions.
“We’re moving ahead with this as quickly as possible,” says Weeks. “Search committees have already been established and
we’ll be moving briskly on appointments.”
The CAIP program has been set up in a very strategic manner, with all Chairs to be recruited from outside the prov-ince, so that there are no internal appointments or recruitments between institutions. As well, the four universities will work together to recruit Chair holders within a priority area who have complementary research areas. They will then be encouraged to work with individuals in similar fields at the other Alberta uni-versities as appropriate, possibly through cross appointments or adjunct appointments.
“We pride ourselves on being a key contributor to the Campus Alberta model and its inherent collaborative nature,” says Weeks. “These Chairs enhance our ability to bring in outstanding research talent and only add to the research infrastructure across the entire province.”
The organizers of the 2011 Alex Johnson lecture are inviting people to listen to soil scien-tist and Agriculture Canada researcher Henry Janzen.
Janzen’s presentation, Listening to the land: From one century to the next, takes place on Thursday, Nov. 10, begin-ning at 7:30 p.m. at the Galt Museum and Archives. Jointly presented by the Lethbridge Historical Society, the University of Lethbridge, the Galt Museum and Archives and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, admis-sion to the event is free.
Janzen has researched how our use of farmland is tied to changes in global ecosystems, and the many services they provide
to human societies. This work requires a long and broad perspec-
tive, because ecosystems often change only slowly and subtly, and their responses span a long continuum of space and time.
“To use land more wisely, we will need to listen to its stories and its rhythms,” says Janzen. “At the Lethbridge Research Centre, we have such listening places – plots established 100 years ago, soon after the land was first plowed, and main-tained until today.”
Janzen says that in the century ahead, we will have to learn again to live more kindly on the land.
“Human societies will face unsettling challenges: higher food demands, dwindling pools of freshwater, depleting reserves
of cheap energy, loss of habi-tat for earth’s biota, uncertain climates, among others,” says Janzen. “Most or all of these are tied to our use of land – the thin veneer of earth, enfolding all its myriad inhabitants.”
“My aim with the presenta-tion is to retreat a century or so, then wander forward through the years pondering what these places tell us, in hopes of hearing hints of what is left to learn, not just for ourselves, but also for those who will live on the land once our own listening has ceased.”
Raised on a farm near Coal-dale, Janzen has studied at both the University of Lethbridge and University of Saskatchewan.
6
Lobbying Act must be kept in mind
Nationally renowned artist Faye Heavyshield has created a new work designed specifically for installation in the U of L Art Gallery’s satellite space, the Helen Christou Gallery.
Outlandish includes ref-erences to and images of the landscape that has been a part of Heavyshield’s visual vocabulary and art practice for many years.
“Her previous work, such as Rock Paper River, Body of Land and Camou-flage are installations that came out of an exploration of a very simple equation, environment = self,” says Josephine Mills, director and curator, U of L Art Gal-lery.
Outlandish continues in this vein and explores perspectives of the coulee formations that line the Old Man River. Heavyshield uses 100 or more cut-outs of simple female figures to ref-erence the local formations. With their bodies made from detailed images of the land – grasses, riverbanks, rocks – the figures appear to wear the land like a shawl and invite meditation on the relationship to the land that sustains and defines it people.
“Heavyshield’s subtle use of gestural drawing and materials creates a quiet approach that supports contemplation and in-depth thought,” says Mills. “For those rushing to class or work as they pass through the Helen Christou Gal-lery, Outlandish provides a moment of respite and an invitation to consider the landscape that surrounds the University.”
Heavyshield is an Alberta-based artist who draws inspiration for her work from her experiences growing up on the Blood Reserve in southern Alberta and her life as a Blackfoot woman. She studies at ACAD and the University of Calgary. Since the 1990s, her work has been exhibited extensively across Canada in numerous solo and major group exhibitions.
ALEX JOHNSON LECTURE SERIES EXPLORING LAND USE ISSUES
OUTLANDISH OPENS IN CHRISTOU GALLERY
Henry Janzen headlines the Alex Johnson Lecture Series event.
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1 | U N I V E R S I T Y O F L E T H B R I D G E the Legend
SPROULE BRINGS EXPERIENCE TO COUNSEL ROLE
Sharon Sproule (BA ’97) has been appointed as the University of Lethbridge’s in-house legal counsel.
Sproule is a long-time Lethbridge resident and U of L graduate who joins the University from Torry Lewis Abells, where she practised as a litigator and solicitor, joining the firm in 2003.
From 1997 to 2003 she worked with Lethbridge-based law firm Stringam Denecky, where she also articled following her graduation from the Univer-sity of Calgary law school in 1996.
Balancing a busy law prac-
tice, community service and professional development within the legal community, Sproule has
also continued her relationship with the University as a sessional or guest lecturer in the faculties of Health Sciences, Management and other programs.
“The environ-ment in which the University operates is becoming very complex.”
NANCY WALKER
She is a member of the Law Society of Alberta, the Lethbridge Bar Association and the Alberta Mediation Society.
Sproule is also active in the community as a volunteer with a number of local organizations, including Lethbridge Family Services, Rotary Urban Spirits, the Young Professionals As-sociation and the Lethbridge Association of Collaborative Professionals.
“Having Sharon join us as in-house legal counsel will provide the University with expertise that currently does not exist within our institution,” says Nancy Walker, the U of L’s vice-president (finance and administration). “The environ-ment in which the University op-erates is becoming very complex and we find the need to ensure that we are managing our risks appropriately.”
Walker says that Sproule
will be responsible for provid-ing legal advice and guidance to the Senior Administrative Team and the University as a whole, pertaining to a wide variety of issues and circumstances, in-cluding administrative, research, human rights,aemployment law matters, intellectual property matters, licensing matters and policies and procedures.
Sproule will also serve as the key contact for general opera-tional business and commercial contracts.
She will report to the Vice-President (Finance & Administration) and can be reached at 403-332-4477.
7
BY STACY SEGUIN
Growing up in Whitehorse, Marilyn Smith, executive
director for the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG), was surrounded by some of the most beautiful artwork that nature could provide – but it was the artwork created by humanity that truly captured her heart.
“The arts have always interested me. The Yukon is an adventurous, creative place and I’m attracted to that same spirit in the arts; a place where people aren’t afraid to push boundar-ies,” says Smith, winner of the 2011 Rozsa Award for Excellence in Arts Management.
“The University and the SAAG have had a symbiotic relationship over the years.”
MARILYN SMITH
Drawn by its size and repu-tation for Native American and education programs, Smith be-came a student at the University of Lethbridge in the mid-1970s.
“I originally thought about going into art education. I started taking art classes and art history. I realized that was the area I was most interested in, and that I didn’t want to teach in a formal school system. Simul-taneously, I got a job working at SAAG as part of the gallery’s first extension program led by Victoria Baster (now an instruc-tor in the University’s Faculty of Fine Arts). It was this experience that shifted my concentration to the administrative side of the arts,” says Smith.
After her third year at the University, Smith went home for the summer where she stayed until 1995 as co-owner and producer of a musical theatre company: Frantic Follies Vaude-ville Revue. Ready for a change, she returned to Lethbridge to complete the final year of her multi-disciplinary bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts.
“In my first go-round, the University was so small; it was almost like a large high school. Art classes were in the dark, dank basement of the physi-cal education building. When I returned in 1995, the University was much bigger, more sophis-ticated. There was a wider range of opportunities and a state of the art Fine Arts building. It was quite a big change,” says Smith, who is quick to point out that the constant over the years was the quality of the professors and the educational experience.
“The professors are top-notch. My drama professor, David Spinks, was inspirational
to me in my first experience at the University. He created opportunities to go into local and First Nations communities to perform that really expanded my understanding of this area and the different people who live here. Jeffrey Spalding, the director of the University’s Art Gallery, was amazing. He made the collection accessible on so many levels; he had such an inspiring, boundless vision,” remembers Smith. “The University introduced me to con-temporary art through their exhibitions, speaker series, visit-ing lectures and art history class-es. I have brought that knowledge with me in my career.”
In 1996, Smith graduated with distinction and began her career at the SAAG as an educa-tion co-ordinator and curator until 1999 when she was promot-ed to her current position. Dur-ing her tenure, gallery proceeds have increased 200 per cent.
Recently, Smith oversaw renovations at the SAAG that included an addition of 6,000
square feet of space with a library and new instructional area. Since re-opening in 2010, the gallery has tripled its mem-bership, while programming and sponsorship has increased.
“The focus of SAAG, from the founding board until now, has always been that the gallery would bring the kind of quality programming to Lethbridge that is available in larger cen-tres. It is my privilege to work with amazing colleagues, board and community members. It has been a group effort that brought us to the point where we have an excellent reputation locally, nationally and internationally,” says Smith. “I am honoured to have been a part of that.”
Smith also believes that the gallery’s success is greatly sup-ported by the close connection it has with the University.
“The University and the SAAG have had a symbiotic relationship over the years. We exhibit artists who teach at the University; many of our artists
speak at the University’s lec-ture series and we are actively involved in student intern-ships from the University,” says Smith. “Currently all our staff are University graduates; there is a shared understanding and experience because of that. The University has made a huge dif-ference in our quality of life and the fact that we have such a tre-mendously well-educated group of people to draw upon to fill the expertise needed to run the gal-lery has significantly influenced the growth of our institution.”
Smith and SAAG give boost to community artsG E T T H E FAC T S
• Smith is the very proud mom of singer/songwriter James Murdoch.
• She is a current member of the U of L Board of Gov-ernors, the Rotary Club of Lethbridge, and the Galt Gardens Revitalisation Com-mittee. She also served as president of the Canadian Art Museums Directors Organization from 2005 to 2008.
• Smith won the Rozsa Award for increasing the gal-lery’s role in the community, and fostering engagement with regional, national and international communities.
• Smith also won the 1984 Commissioner of Yukon – Public Volunteer Service Award for her contributions towards tourism.
• She holds a post-degree diploma in Museum Studies from University of Leicester
SAAG executive director Marilyn Smith, middle, is flanked by fellow U of L alumni and SAAG employees Tyler Stewart (far left), David Farstad, Jenn Prosser, Christina Cuthbertson and Ryan Doherty.
New legal counsel, Sharon Sproule.
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1 | U N I V E R S I T Y O F L E T H B R I D G Ethe Legend
8
BY TREVOR KENNEY
“It’s all about the environ-ment, stupid!”
University of Lethbridge instructor Gary Weikum quotes Dr. David Suzuki for effect but the message is valid. To cre-ate a viable sustainability plan, one that encompasses all three aspects of the sustainability model (environment, social and economic), it must begin and end with a focus on the environment.
“There’s a commonly accepted diagram that is used to demonstrate sustainability and its three components,” says Weikum. “It shows three over-lapping circles, representing the three aspects of sustainability, with the commonly held belief that the overlapping section of the diagram represents sustainability. A more accurate diagram would begin with a large circle repre-senting the environment, within which smaller circles for the social and economic aspects exist.
“What we’re realizing, as a result of science, are the limits of our planet and the impact we’re having on it. It brings us back to the idea that the environment is a life support system for us and we need to ensure that it is going to continue.”
To that end, Weikum is doing his small part by leading an Applied Studies course that is drafting a scoping study from which a sustainability plan for the University will eventually be created. He and his five students will complete the study at the end of the semester.
“Before starting a plan, you need to first prepare a scoping report, which is essentially an instruction manual on how to produce the plan,” he says.
“We’re trying to figure out what topics should be included in the plan, how broad or how nar-row we make this, who would be included in the planning process, what resources will be required and what timelines are reason-able to complete the plan.”
Weikum speaks from experience, having been a city planner for 30 years. He sees this as a valuable experience for his students, all the while serving the University as it follows the direc-tion of the University’s Strategic Plan, which contains a priority directed towards the University’s sustainability.
“That’s what makes this so exciting for me, sharing this experience with some of my students,” says Weikum.
Fourth-year urban and regional studies student James Switzer revels in the chance to work with a real client and par-ticipate in the making of a viable plan.
“This has been one of the most beneficial experiences of my university career,” says Switzer, a Calgary native. “It has been an opportunity to apply the knowl-edge I have gained throughout
my education in a practical sense; one that has provided a valuable and unique learning experience which has exposed me to some of the processes, issues and chal-lenges which are involved in put-ting together such a report.”
Fellow student Deanna Cambridge says the process has really opened her eyes to the limitations of what a real-world plan looks like.
“This project is only the first stage in the eventual creation of a sustainability plan,” she says. “The biggest factor I have noticed so far regarding the realities of what can be achieved in the area of sustainability is in the Uni-versity priorities, and therefore budget allocations. Sustainability needs to get backing and support from all stakeholders including students, faculty and staff. Part of our study focuses on how the University can get these groups excited so that sustainability is seen as something that is both wanted and needed by the entire University community.”
Weikum describes true sustainability as achievable only when it supports each aspect of the equation. It will not take hold if unrealistic resources must be devoted to the process.
“We have to start within this economic system we’ve devel-oped,” he says. “In the long term, economic viability is determined by the viability of the environ-ment.”
Cambridge is excited to see the University set sustainabil-ity as a strategic priority, even though her contribution won’t be realized until years after she has left the U of L.
“As a person with pride for this University, I would like to see it excel in sustainability so that it gains recognition in the academic community for its work and therefore can attract more students in more study areas,” she says. “I also believe that if the University is able to make sustainability a top priority it will open up different practical and research study opportunities for students through the implemen-tation of its policies.”
Weikum and his students see the need for this plan at the University and the movement is beginning to take hold.
“The environment has lim-its, it has carrying capacities and we understand that if we exceed those carrying capacities, there is usually a negative feedback of some kind.”
Turning that into a positive is beginning to take shape now.
Dr. Bonnie Lee is an associate professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences (Addictions Counselling). She obtained her doctoral degree from the University of Ottawa and is a registered marriage and family therapist and a clinical member and approved supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Lee favours an ecological, human systems-paradigm in her teaching, clinical practice and research. Her driving force is the desire to enhance the lives and health of individuals in their contexts of family, cul-ture and society. She has been an invited keynote speaker and workshop leader in Canada and internationally.
What first piqued your interest in your research discipline?
I have always been intrigued by questions about human nature, the universal elements and deep structure of healing and human transfor-mation. For my doctorate, I was led to the work of Virginia Satir (1916-1988), a woman pioneer in family therapy.
Satir chose the path of staging experiential work-shops rather than conducting academic research and writ-ing for scholarship. However, the ‘culture’ she created with her followers and her style of workshops invited an ethno-graphic approach to further understanding of her work. This research led to the devel-opment of a four-dimensional theory centred on the con-struct of “congruence” which I systematized into a treatment model for problem gambling and other addictions. Currently I am formulating and testing a relational framework to under-stand addictions.
How is your research applicable in the ‘real world’?
One of the joys of clini-cal research is that it engages both the mind and heart; it also brings together theory, empiri-cal findings and practice. Such research can make an impact in services and in the alleviation of people’s suffering in pro-found ways.
With a major 2004-2006 research grant from the Ontar-io Problem Gambling Research
Centre, I trained 21 Ontario-based problem gambling coun-sellors in Congruence Couple Therapy (CCT), who then were able to apply the model in their treatment agencies with clients and enhance the work they do with couples.
The same model can be used with individuals, but when you work with couples, you change the primary rela-tionship context for the client with addiction. Changes in this executive couple system in the family have spinoffs to the children, extended family and workplace relationships.
What is the greatest honour you have received in your career?
In 2010, my students nomi-nated me for the Lethbridge YWCA Woman of Distinction Award (Spirit of Women). I feel honoured by the acknowledg-ment that came with this award.
How important are students to your research endeavours?
I have mentored many keen and bright undergradu-ate students in my research program. Several students were funded through the Chinook Summer Research Award and others elected to work with me through independent studies. It was not until my postdoctoral fellowships when I took part in a range of research projects through an apprenticeship, hands-on model under the tutelage of a Research Chair. So it is exciting to see how undergraduate students take to such opportunities early
in their careers. Some aspire to graduate studies and research after such an experience; others say they have come to appre-ciate the rigour of research inquiry and want to refer to the evidence base in their practice.
If you had unlimited funds, which areas of research would you invest?
We live in a climate that places a premium on innova-tions. That’s a good thing. An innovation is new knowledge that creates better products and processes that add value to ser-vices and outcomes. It can result in greater productivity, better and more output per input with payoffs in cost savings and improved quality of life.
To make this happen, I would put money into creating pathways for innovations from research to be transferred into practice and adoption by the health services system. This is a complex process that involves linking researchers, decision-makers and practitioners. For clinical research, it is a necessity to reach out beyond the ivory tower and engage those in the field for an innovation to ulti-mately take hold and bear fruit.
Each month, the Legend will present 5 Questions With . . . one of our researchers. For a look at the entire catalog of 5 Questions With . . . features, check out the Office of Innovation and Research Services website at www.uleth.ca/research/research_profiles. If you’d like to be profiled, contact Penny Pickles at [email protected]
Dr. Bonnie Lee looks to enhance the health of the family unit through her research in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
ENVIRONMENT IS THE KEY
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1 | U N I V E R S I T Y O F L E T H B R I D G E the Legend
9
BY SUZANNE MCINTOSH
Thank you to all who attended our 5th Annual Life Balance Fair last month. Thanks also to all of our wonderful exhibitors and the donors of the many draw prizes.
As the fair was celebrating Healthy Workplace Month in Canada, I would like to continue on that theme by highlight-ing information available on our new Employee and Family Assistance Program provider’s website. Homewood Human So-lutions has a number of resourc-es available for staff and faculty. The following is a teaser from one of the articles on their site.
Tips for Staying Well at Work
Taking time to relax in the workplace is important, and it doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. Sometimes even a small investment of time for relaxation can have a big pay off. In fact, the following
exercises can create more time than they use because, when you refresh yourself, you are more productive and efficient.
You can use the following three relaxation exercises at work to help you manage your stress, maximize your energy and maintain a healthy and posi-tive attitude at work. None of the exercises takes longer than three minutes, and the shortest is only 10 seconds. Try them and make your own judgment about how helpful they are.
Exercise # 1 - Deep Breath-ing (a simple but very effective method of relaxation)
• Take a long, slow, deep breath. Inhale through your nose, allowing your diaphragm to fill with air and letting your chest expand.
• Exhale through your mouth. As you exhale, dig deep and allow any stress, anxiety or tension to be released along with that breath.
• Try, as best you can, to empty your head of all thoughts,
plans and worries: right now all you need to do is relax.
Allow yourself to exhale negative thoughts along with your breath.
• Repeat these steps several times until you feel calm and re-laxed. When you are ready to go back to work, allow your breath to return to normal.
Why does it work?Studies show the area of the
brain that signals the stress response also signals the relax-ation response. By breathing deeply for at least 10 seconds you signal your brain to switch from stress mode to relaxation mode, giving your body and mind a break.
This is also a great exer-cise to help with the afternoon blues. Breathing deeply allows oxygen to reach your brain, which makes you more alert and re-energized. So instead of grabbing another cup of coffee, eating another chocolate bar or taking an aspirin to fend off a
headache, take a few seconds and B-R-E-A-T-H-E.
Quick Tips• Laughing: this is one
of the easiest and best ways to reduce stress. Share a joke with a co-worker, read the comics on your break and try to see the humour in the situation.
• Stretching: get the blood and oxygen moving through your body by taking a minute to stretch.
• Grab a healthy snack: this will nourish your mind and body.
• Prioritize: Take charge of your situation by taking 10 minutes at the beginning of each day to prioritize and organize your day.
For more creative relaxation exercises, visit www.homewood-humansolutions.com/media
Mini-MassagesLethbridge College Massage
Therapy students will provide mini-massages in the month of
November. Thursday, Nov. 17, the students are available from 1 to 3 p.m. in AH100, while on Wednesday, Nov. 30, sessions are offered from 1 to 3 p.m. in L1114.
Contact [email protected] to sign up. There may also be some walk-in availability!
Wellness Lunch and Learn On Thursday, Nov. 24,
Alcohol, A culture of intoxica-tion OR moderation – how much is too much, personal limits, and the consequences of intoxication, will be presented from 12:05 to 1 p.m. in AH100.
Chris Windle, Addiction Services Lethbridge, Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, will be present-ing.
As always, I look forward to any comments, suggestions or questions.
Suzanne McIntosh is the University’s co-ordinator of Wellness Programs
BY BOB COONEY
Dr. Susan McDaniel, a University of Lethbridge Sociol-ogy Professor and Director of the Prentice Institute for Global Popu-lation and Economy, has been named a Tier I Canada Research Chair in Global Population and Economy, the first Tier 1 CRC in social sciences at the University.
The seven-year, renewable appointment comes with more than $1.4 million, which will sup-port the Prentice Institute’s ever-increasing research capacity.
The funding helps McDaniel and her research colleagues look beyond numbers, and dig deeper into the complex issues that face people over the course of their lives, such as aging, income inequalities, access to health care, how global is-sues affect people, and policies that take aging and population shifts into consideration.
“This is an outstanding an-nouncement for the University and for Dr. McDaniel and her research teams,” says Dr. Dan Weeks, the U of L’s vice-president (research).
“Susan has done an excellent job of putting the Prentice Institute on a trajectory that will make it a world-recognized centre. She has attracted a significant number of researchers to the Institute as research associates, which in turn has built up our graduate student component. With this new fund-ing, Dr. McDaniel and her col-leagues will be able to significantly
expand on the Prentice Institute’s mandate to look into population issues worldwide.”
There are three areas McDaniel – and her expanding group of researchers – is examin-ing through what she describes as life-course research. These include comparisons between Canadian and other population groups, initially in the United States; the government-supported policy steps countries such as Japan and Korea have taken to manage the challenges of an aging population; and the concept of age itself, and how factors such as economic con-ditions, lack of healthcare or being a refugee from a war-torn country can have on your life expectancy.
“The life-course research concept has several principles, among them that you need to fol-
low a person through their life to get a solid picture of how they are affected by a variety of influences,” says McDaniel.
“We are following individu-als across time because at each point in your life course, you exist in a context within a society. For example, if a person graduates from high school or university at a time when the economy is not healthy, they might have trouble finding a job. A whole group of people may be disadvantaged over a long period because of that one moment in time.”
By comparison, McDaniel says that a person who benefits from a strong economy may land a better job, have better educational opportunities and also have a longer life expectancy.
“We are expanding on
research where we looked at Americans aged 45-64 over a 14-year period and a similar group of Canadians over a 16-year period, and found that income inequali-ties make a huge difference for their prospects in later years, ” says McDaniel.
“Susan has done an excellent job of putting the Prentice Insti-tute on a trajec-tory that will make it a world-recognized centre.”
DR. DAN WEEKS
McDaniel is also examin-ing how government policy has changed the way people live in countries where aging and signifi-cant population change is normal, such as in Japan and Korea, two countries with very different chal-lenges.
“Japan is the ‘oldest’ country in the world, while Korea has a relatively young population but it will age very quickly,” says McDaniel. “What we are finding is that innovations are unexpected. Both Korea and Japan have insti-
tuted publicly funded long-term care insurance. When speaking to the Koreans about why they imple-mented it at this time, the response was that they could afford it now while the population is young, as opposed to being unable to afford it later.”
McDaniel said that what Japan did to respond to its aging population was to encourage more women to enter the workforce, and made it easier by instituting public daycare.
The other issue McDaniel looks to tackle as part of her research, is changing the funda-mental notion of age from a num-ber to a concept that takes a whole host of lifestyle experiences into consideration, among them health, education, economic circumstanc-es and other factors.
“You need to look at age differently based on what hap-pens to a person during their life. A person in a risky or blue-collar occupation might age differently than someone in a less dangerous or physically demanding job,” she says. “We need to have a flexible definition of what is ‘old’, because this research, while not yet fully completed, is important in policy development.”
Keeping a finger on the pulse of these worldwide indicators is keeping McDaniel and her teams constantly busy. The research projects will ultimately wind up as journal articles or become part of four books currently in process.
H E A LT H & wellness
Wellness at work can start with simple exercises
McDaniel earns first Tier I CRC for social sciences
Dr. Susan McDaniel is the director of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy.
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1 | U N I V E R S I T Y O F L E T H B R I D G Ethe Legend
Pronghorn AthleticsNov. 5-6 | Canada West Men’s HockeyHorns host Alberta | 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena
Nov. 11-12 | Canada West Women’s Hockey | Horns host Manitoba | 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena
Nov. 11 | Canada West BasketballHorns host UBC Okanagan | Women’s game, 6 p.m.; Men’s game, 8 p.m. | 1st Choice Sav-ings Centre gym
Nov. 12 | Canada West BasketbalHorns host Thompson Rivers UniversityWomen’s game, 6 p.m.; Men’s game, 8 p.m.1st Choice Savings Centre gym
Nov. 18-19 | Canada West Men’s HockeyHorns host Regina | 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena
Nov. 25 | Canada West BasketballHorns host UBC | Women’s game, 6 p.m.; Men’s game, 8 p.m. | 1st Choice Savings Centre gym
Nov. 26 | Canada West BasketballHorns host Victoria | Women’s game, 6 p.m.; Men’s game, 8 p.m. | 1st Choice Savings Centre gym
Dec. 2-3 | Canada West Women’s HockeyHorns host UBC | 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena
LecturesNov. 1 | Pizza, Pop and Presentation: Feeling Good and Eating Well | Strategies to promote a healthy relationship with food and your body | 12:15 p.m., TH241
Nov. 1 | WestGrid C2C Series: Yuriy Zinchenko | 12:30 p.m., L1116
Nov. 2 | Take the Fear out of FOIPFOIP for Faculty | Noon, AH176
Nov. 2 | Prentice Institute Visiting Scholar: Dr. Constantine PassarisCanadian Multiculturalism | Noon, L1102
Nov. 2 | SACPA on Campus: Jennifer AllanThe Epidemic and Crisis of Missing and Mur-dered Women in Canada | 7 p.m., AH116
Nov. 4 | Take the Fear out of FOIPFOIP Free-for-All | Noon, AH177
Nov. 4 | Art Now: Rita McKeoughNoon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 7 | Art Now: Ken AllanNon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 8 | Pizza, Pop and Presentation: Making Relationships WorkUnderstanding what makes relationships work and how to keep your relationships healthy and happy | 12:15 p.m., TH241
Nov. 8 | Women Scholars Speaker Series: Dr. Ute Wieden-Kothe | Challenges and Opportunities of Science Outreach3 p.m., AH100
Nov. 9 | Art Now: Spring HurlbutNoon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 14 | Art Now: Miriam SimunNoon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 15 | Pizza, Pop and Presentation: Walking Through Molasses? Building Re-silience against Depression | Strategies to help prevent depression and bring some of the zest back into your life | 12:15 p.m., TH241Nov. 15 | C2C WestGrid Series: Sheldon B. Opps | 12:30 p.m., L1116
Nov. 16 | Art Now: Gareth LongNoon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 16 | WestGrid Fall Seminar Series: Martin Siegert | How to Schedule Jobs on WestGrid Resources | 1 p.m., L1116
Nov. 17 | Disney Institute Approach to Leadership Excellence | A chance for fac-ulty and staff to D’Think their leadership style7:30 to 9 a.m., PE275
Nov. 18 | Art Now: Kyla MallettNoon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 21 | Art Now: Melanie O’BrienNoon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 21 | Architecture & Design Now: John Savill | 6:15 p.m., M1040
Nov. 22 | Pizza, Pop and Presentation: The Power of Positive | Buffer yourself against stress and depression | 12:15 p.m., TH241
Nov. 22 | Privacy Office Guest LectureDr. Ishu Ishiyama presents Anti-Discrimination Response: Reducing discrimination and prejudice; promoting social justice and community safety | 3:30 p.m., University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 23 | Art Now: Marina RoyNoon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 23 | WestGrid Fall Seminar Series: George Schreckenbach | Using WestGrid Resouces to Simulate and Understand Elemen-tary Chemical Processes | 1 p.m., L1116
Nov. 25 | Art Now: Scott McFarlandNoon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 28 | Art Now: Bruno BillioNoon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 28 | Architecture & Design Now: Bruno Billio | 6:15 p.m., M1040
Nov. 29 | Pizza, Pop and Presentation: Worry Wart? Building Resilience against Anxiety | Strategies to help you learn to let go | 12:15 p.m., TH241
Nov. 29 | WestGrid C2C Series: Michael Carter | 12:30 p.m., L1116
Nov. 30 | Art Now: Sarah CaleNoon, University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 30 | WestGrid Fall Seminar Series: Belaid Moa | How to Install Software in your Home Directory | 1 p.m., L1116
Dec. 1 | Women Scholars Speaker Series: Dr. Pamela Winsor | Supporting Literacy and Teacher Education in Diverse Global Con-texts | 3 p.m., AH100
Dec. 2 | Art Now: Katherine KnightNoon, University Recital Hall (W570)
PerformancesNov. 1 | Music at Noon: Jason Barron (gui-tar) | 12:15 p.m., University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 4-5 | Opera Workshop: All in the Family | An evening of staged scenes featur-ing works that centre on family relationships8 p.m. nightly, University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 8 | Music at Noon: Dr. Yoko Hirota (pia-no) | 12:15 p.m., University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 9 | Requiem for a DreamNew Media Series explores momentous movies of the last 10 years | 6:30 p.m., Lethbridge Public Library Theatre
Nov. 15 | Music at Non: Mary Fearon (horn); David Oberholtzer (piano)12:15 p.m., University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 18 | U of L Singers | An evening of entertainment with the U of L Singers | 7:30 p.m., Gem of the West Museum, Coaldale
Nov. 22 | Music at Noon: Dean McNeill (trumpet); Elinor Lawson (piano) | 12:15 p.m., University Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 22-26 | Movable FeastImagination, head, heart and stomach are all involved when dance, theatre and music come together to explore eating | 8 p.m. nightly, David Spinks Theatre; Matinees at 11 a.m. (Nov. 24) and 2 p.m. (Nov. 26)
Nov. 23 | Braggin’ in Brass | The U of L Jazz Ensemble presents bright and bold sounds of big band brass | 8 p.m., University Theatre
Nov. 25 | Classical Percussion ConcertU of L Percussion Ensemble performs compel-ling modern and classical percussion repertoire8 p.m., University Theatre
Nov. 29 | Music at Noon: Margaret Mezei (clarinet); Graham Tagg (viola); Dr. Deanna Oye (piano) | 12:15 p.m., Univer-sity Recital Hall (W570)
Nov. 30 | Feel the Beat: Kid’s Choir Concert | School choirs from throughout southern Alberta perform with the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra and the U of L Singers | 7 p.m., Southminster United Church
Dec. 1 | Passenger Side | New Media Series explores momentous movies of the past 10 years | 6:30 p.m., Lethbridge Public Library Theatre Gallery
Dec. 2 | Winter Winds | The U of L Wind Or-chestra | 8 p.m., Southminster United Church
Dec. 3 | Faculty Artists & Friends: New Orford String Quartet | Music by Soko-lovic, Beethoven, Brahms and contemporary artists | 2 p.m., University Recital Hall (W570)
Dec. 3 | Stella Natalis | Featuring the U of L Singers, Vox Musica and the U of L Women’s Chorus | 8 p.m., Southminster United Church
MiscellaneousNov. 7 | Cinema Politica: Between Mid-night and the Rooster’s Crow | EnCana’s development of a heavy crude oil pipeline fro the Amazon to the Pacific coast | 7 p.m., Galileo’s Gallery
FOOD BANK A VALUABLE SERVICEBY KYLE DODGSON
The University of Lethbridge Students’ Union (ULSU), an organization mandated to aid students and governed by students, offers a long list of excellent services to the student population throughout the year; but few are as valuable as the ULSU Food Bank.
Formally introduced by the ULSU General Assembly in 2004,
the ULSU Food Bank has been growing with every new academ-ic year. Last year, the Food Bank provided over 140 food hampers, both single and family, and saw a consistent increase in new stu-dents utilizing the services from the previous year.
The food hampers are designed to assist a student or a family for a period of five to seven days and each contains various healthy food choices. Students are eligible to utilize the Food Bank’s services twice a month up to a maximum of ten times throughout their entire
academic career. The Food Bank is a donation
driven service and the ULSU hosts numerous fundraising events every year to ensure that the shelves remain stocked and the hampers are plentiful. This year’s fundrais-ing efforts kicked off in September with a Car Wash and BBQ held at the University Drive Alliance Church (UDAC).
“With the help of UDAC, the General Assembly, our friends at CKXU, community members and volunteers, the ULSU raised $350 to stock the Food Bank shelves,” says VP Operations & Finance Ley-
land Bradley. The last week of October
brought on the second fundraiser of the year, the Trick or Eat Food Drive. Trick or Eat pits campus clubs against one another in a friendly competition to see which of them can raise the most dona-tions, both edible and monetary, through an extensive community canvassing campaign.
At a time when rising educa-tion costs and living expenses are scrutinized and discussed at every societal level, and students are feeling the financial pinch more than ever before; now is the time
to champion services that facilitate the post-secondary experience.
The ULSU Food Bank is an invaluable service to many Univer-sity of Lethbridge students that is only made possible by the generous donations from the Lethbridge and area community, the University of Lethbridge community and countless individual donors and volunteers.
If you are a student who requires assistance or you wish to donate to the ULSU Food Bank, do not hesitate to visit www.ulsu.ca, our offices in SU180 or call 403-329-2222 for more information.
events C A L E N D A R
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N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1 | U N I V E R S I T Y O F L E T H B R I D G E the Legend
AEOLIAN AVIARY UNVEILED AT SAAG
An idea that started over a beer and was roughly drafted on a napkin has evolved into the latest addition to the City of Lethbridge Public Art Collec-tion.
Aeolian Aviary, a collaborative installation by U of L alumni and art professor Denton Fredrickson and Art Studio facility manager Cath-erine Ross, was recently unveiled in its permanent location on the east side of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG).
Fredrickson and Ross were awarded the public art commis-
sion following a competition that attracted 40 submissions from across Canada and beyond. The selection committee consisted of representatives from Allied Arts Council, SAAG, a community member, an artist and a techni-cal expert.
“It is exactly these kinds of awards and achievements that reflect so well on the creative
and research work of the mem-bers of the Faculty of Fine Arts,” says Desmond Rochfort, Faculty of Fine Arts dean. “It also helps to highlight the excellence of our creative activities and research endeavours, and underscores why the U of L Faculty Fine Arts is increasingly the place of choice in Alberta for those wish-ing to study fine arts.
Aeolian Aviary combines the acoustic resonance of 16 wind and light-sensitive string instruments with the dynamic emergence of 67 bronze birds.
The Department of Theatre and Dramatic Arts had never previously sent their technical
theatre and design majors on an international travel experience. So when the department finally got that opportunity, it made it worth their students’ while as they attended the largest performance design event in the world – the Prague Quadrennial (PQ).
“PQ is truly the World’s Fair for the technical theatre and design profes-sion,” says Roger Schultz, the instructor who instigated and spearheaded the project. “The PQ is an international exposition that highlights and exhibits the art of theatre designers from more than 76 countries spread across five continents.”
Every four years since 1967, more than 5,000 registered theatre profes-sionals and students, along with 30,000 visitors, descend on the Czech Repub-lic’s capital city. Featuring individual country pavilions, workshops, lectures, discussions and presentations on con-temporary work in all theatre design disciplines; the PQ lasts 10 activity-packed days.
“Both the University and our department recognize the value of stu-dents obtaining international experiences in their field of study,” says Schultz (BFA ’89). “This event provided an innovative opportunity for students to witness first-hand the national trends and the work of leading theatre design practitioners from around the world.”
The PQ also has a strong student component highlighted by the stu-dent pavilions, which were almost as extensive as the main exhibition, and an event called Scenofest, which involved
live design/performance and student workshops.
“Our students were excited to take part in one and two-day workshops where they explored sound, light, costume and scenic design under the guidance of a renowned international theatre design artist,” says Schultz. “It was also a wonderful forum for meet-ing and working with their peers from around the world.”
The opportunity to visit Prague, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and experience its long history and rich cul-tural life was an added bonus. As well as being known for such cultural heroes as Mucha, Kafka and Mozart, Prague is renowned for its architecture. With roots stretching back to 900 AD, much of the architecture in this city has survived intact. Pristine examples of Gothic, Romanesque and Renaissance, as well as famous examples of Art Nou-veau and Art Deco architecture abound.
“Add to that a culture rich in music, contemporary art museums, the fasci-nating residue of Communism and a real live castle (with St Vitus Cathedral as the crowning jewel) overlooking the entire city, Prague is a must see destina-tion,” enthuses Schultz.
The trip to the PQ was a significant educational opportunity for the stu-dents. “Forums of this sort, specifically focused on their area of specialization, are rare,” he says. “The students who participated returned transformed and more aware of their place and connec-tion to a larger global community. As one student put it, “It was wonderful to see that there is so much more out there . . . more than I thought I knew, more than I could have imagined.”
NEW MEDIA AT THE PENNY
Cutting edge and highly creative, Collectively Independent showcases the precision, skill and imagi-nation of University of Lethbridge new media students.
Opening Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. in the U of L Penny Building, Collectively Inde-pendent is an exhibition of student works spanning the
breadth of media studied, including film, print, web design, 2D and 3D anima-tion.
“The digital artists, all senior new media majors, have built a high degree of interactivity into their pieces, affording guests the opportunity to inter-act with the art,” says Jeff Bingley, fourth-year new media major.
Bingley explains that although the works are credited to individual
artists, their final creation was ultimately a product of teamwork.
“Collectively Indepen-dent was chosen as the title of the exhibition, indicat-ing the close collaboration involved in the independent production of digital works involving students in four new media classes,” he says.
Collectively Indepen-dent runs Nov. 25 to Dec. 6. For a schedule of exhibit times, visit collec-tivelyindependent.org.
GET READY FOR A FEAST
Pull up a chair and devour an evening of sing-ing and dancing as Movable Feast takes to the David Spinks Theatre stage.
Movable Feast plays Nov. 22-26 at 8 p.m. nightly, with matinees Nov. 24 at 11 a.m. and Nov. 26 at 2 p.m.
“Movable Feast is a the-atre and dance production themed around food and viewed through a child’s eyes,” says Lisa Doolittle, director. “As the show opens, the child is not aware of anything beyond her bowl of cereal. As she moves along food chains from local to global, farm to fork, and boardroom to banquet in a series of beautiful, funny and scary scenes, she discovers there’s a lot more to food and eating than
thought at first bite.”With larger than life
characters, juggling, sing-ing, and dancing, Movable Feast is an eye-popping and thought-provoking creation. Using recent food-studies research, interviews with the community and collab-orative discussion between U of L professors in various disciplines, Doolittle and the cast created a script that explores food relationships in both local and global contexts.
From the live music, performed by Dr. Deanna Oye and Faculty of Fine Arts music students, to the outrageous acts, including a jaw-dropping Malaysian Harvest Dance, Movable Feast is an over-the-top experience for all the senses.
“Local percussionist Cam Girling is compos-ing and performing a soundtrack full of old fash-
ioned sound effects, using a bounty of food items, which recall the radio Foley artists of the 1930s and ‘40s,” says Doolittle.
“It’s important that the audience feel a part of our party,” she adds. “To better connect audiences to our stories, the staging has been designed to make them feel like guests at a huge banquet table.”
The set, designed by drama major Kathryn Smith, and with costumes by Roger Schultz, drama faculty and U of L alumni (BFA ’89), contribute to an intimate, interactive and exciting theatrical produc-tion.
Tickets to Movable Feast are $15 regular, $10 for seniors/students, and avail-able at the University Box Office (Monday to Friday 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., or by calling 403-329-2616).
NEW ORFORD A REAL TREAT
“Ravishing beautiful tone” and “extraordinary technical skills and musi-cianship” are just a few of the accolades critics heap on the New Orford String Quartet. Brilliant and refined, the New Orford String Quartet has risen to national acclaim with sold out concerts across the country and Lethbridge audiences have their oppor-tunity to hear the group on Saturday, Dec. 3 in a special 2 p.m. matinee perfor-mance.
The ensemble, which
was formed in 2009, is com-prised by either former or current principal members of the Montreal and Toronto Symphony Orches-tras, including Jonathan Crow (violin), Andrew Wan (violin), Eric Nowlin (viola) and Brian Manker (cello).
“There is a long history of performance associated with the New Orford String Quartet, stemming back to its previous incarnation as the Orford String Quartet,” says Nick Sullivan, Faculty Artists and Friends co-coordinator. “Aside from the amazing musicianship of the ensemble, the chance to hear performers that are also current or former
members of some of the big-gest orchestras in Canada is an opportunity that cannot be missed.”
The concert includes music by Sokolovic, Beethoven, Brahms as well as contemporary work. In addition, Lethbridge violinist Aaron Au joins the quartet for a compelling performance of Brahms’ String Quartet op. 111 in G Major.
To reserve seats for this rare and exciting perfor-mance, visit the University Box Office (open Monday to Friday, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., or call 403-329-2616). Tickets are $15 regular, $10 for seniors/students.
F I N E A R T S in focus
11
Experience resonates
Technical theatre and design majors made the most of their Prague excursion.
L A S T I N Gimages
Otto Reinhold Jacobi was born in Konigsberg, Prussia in
1812, and studied art in Berlin and Dusseldorf during
his early years. His painting became well regarded
throughout the Russian empire and in 1841 the Duke
of Nassau and the Empress of Russia appointed him as
court painter.
Jacobi travelled to Canada in 1860 when he was commissioned to paint the Shawinigan Falls; and the resulting piece was presented to the Prince of Wales during his official Canadian visit. Jacobi decided to stay in Canada, and divided his time between Montreal and Toronto. He became a charter member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Artists and held the position of president from 1890 to 1893.
Jacobi travelled extensively throughout Canada and the United States, documenting his trips in landscape paintings. In 1896, he and his wife moved to join their daughter in Dakota, where Jacobi died in 1901.
Jacobi’s work is held in numerous public collections, including the National Gallery of Canada, National Gallery of Berlin, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Art Gallery of Ontario, Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery and the University of Lethbridge Art Collection.
(TOP)Otto R. Jacobi, Figures at Lakeshore, 1877. From the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Purchased in 1988 with funds provided by the Alberta Advanced Education Endowment and Incentive Fund.
(BOTTOM)Otto R. Jacobi, The Waterfalls. From the University of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of Master’s Gallery, Calgary, 1984.
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