Ronald Leung / Silhouette Staff
Lakehead law course change divides students and administration
A newly proposed law program at Lakehead University has divided faculty, administration and students. The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and the Federation of Canadian Law Societies has accepted the proposal for the law school that holds an indigenous studies course. Initially, the mandatory course was called Indigenous Learning 2805: Native Canadian Worldviews. The academic senate soon replaced it with Law 1530: Native Canadian World Views and Law, a move that caused contention with students, who said that the new course does not have the same reconsideration of western philosophy in an indigenous perspective as the original.
Israel boycott endorsed by York Federation of Students
The global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign at York University has been officially endorsed by the York Federation of Students, causing an uproar for those who disagree with the campaign. The BDS campaign encourages universities to withdraw investments from companies such as Hewlett Packard who allegedly profit from Israeli human rights violations and war crimes. Students complain that as a representation of all students, the York Federation of Students should not take political stances and remain neutral.
‘Sunshine List’ reveals university presidents’ incomes
Ten Ontario university presidents received more than $400,000 in compensation last year. The highest paid out of the ten is Amit Chakma, president of Western, earning more than $500,000 in total compensation. McMaster University’s Patrick Deane came out 8th out of the ten, earning $410,486.96 in total compensation. The ‘Sunshine List’ consists of over 88,000 names and close to 15,000 work at universities. The previous year’s list only had 14,000 from universities. Although most of them are professors, the highest paid of the group are presidents and principals.
Carleton University pressured to close Rick Ross charity show
An upcoming April 9 show has the student union at Carleton University pressuring fundraising organisers to pull the plug on Rick Ross’ appearance. In the artist’s new single “U.O.E.N.O (You Ain’t Even Know it)” the controversial lyrics, “Put molly all in her champagne, she ain’t even know it/I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it” has caused an uproar, with students accusing the rapper of encouraging drugging and rape. The Student Federation at the University of Ottawa has already canceled Rick Ross’ appearance at their respective campus.
Soaring university costs catch parents off-guard
A newly released study by the Bank of Montreal (BMO) suggests that a child born in 2013 looking to receive a four-year degree could be looking at a total of $140,000 in costs. Analysts say that the rise would mostly be incurred from tuition inflation. While the average annual inflation rate in the last five years has been 1.6 per cent, tuition inflation has been 3.9 per cent according to the BMO. The BMO also notes that only half of parents have set up a registered education savings plan (RESP).
Maryssa Barras
The Silhouette Intern
Alumni Association hosts Welcome Wednesdays
Starting on Jan. 23 the McMaster Alumni Association will be hosting Welcome Wednesdays. Once a month students will be welcome to visit the Alumni House for free coffee and bagels from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Members of the Student Relations Committee will be present for information on how to get involved on campus. Registration is required and free at alumni.os.mcmaster.ca.
New mentorship program launched
On Jan. 23, Communication Studies and Multimedia unveiled a new mentorship program where upper-year students are paired with first and second-year students. A meet and greet social was held to introduce and pair up mentors with mentees. This program was the result of a student-led initiative and will have continued socials for mentors and mentees to bond.
City of Hamilton issues cold weather alert
There is a cold weather alert for the City of Hamilton as of Jan. 18. Cold weather alerts mean that temperatures are expected to go to or below -15 C. The cold weather could reach up to 10 degrees lower than average for this time of year, is expected to last all week, and could potentially warm up over the weekend. Students should be advised that the cold-warm trend will continue for the weeks to come.
Humanities launches Experiential Ed. centre
The Faculty of Humanities is launching the Humanities Target Learning & Experiential Education Centre (HTLC). Funded by the Faculty of Humanities and full-time Humanities students, the HTLC was passed by students through the McMaster Humanities Society Referendum with the goal of increasing career exploration an experiential opportunities for Humanities students, and will be hosting events throughout the semester for interested students. The official launch is on Jan. 21 in CIBC Hall at 10:30 a.m. Students, faculty and staff are all welcome.
Study finds 905 residents oppose austerity cuts
A new study by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) found that over two thirds of residents in the 905 region of Hamilton do not want the governments deficit-cutting agenda to compromise the quality of university education in the province. 86 percent of residents oppose university funding cuts, and 75 percent oppose shifting the cost of higher education onto students with higher tuition fees.
Adam Van Koeverden visits for 125th Anniversary
McMaster alumnus and Olympic medalist Adam Van Koeverden visited Hamilton on Monday as part of McMaster’s 125th Anniversary celebrations. The luncheon, hosted by the Alumni Association at the Hamilton Convention Centre, was sold out.
Van Koeverden spoke about the City of Hamilton and his time at McMaster as a Kinesiology student. He expressed his affection for the city that is well known for its blue-collar nature. He also spoke candidly about Rob Ford’s dismissal as Mayor of Toronto.
Amidst the talk about McMaster and Hamilton, van Koeverden was also asked about a controversial tweet he posted on Friday. During the Vanier Cup, the kayaker wrote: “I hate Laval. I went there one time and I just really hated it.” At the luncheon, he was not interested to talk about the incident and only said, “it’s not an issue. I refuse to talk about my tweets.”
Mac medical student wins Takeda Scholarship
Some students look forward to coming to Hamilton for its city atmosphere. But one McMaster medical student is excited to have the opportunity to try the small town life.
Pinhas Ephrat, a student at Mac’s Michael Degroote School of Medicine, was awarded the Takeda Family Medicine Scholarship a the 50th Annual Scientific Assembly on Nov. 26. The award, valued at $5,000, was developed in conjunction with the Ontario College of Family Physicians, and is designed to encourage medical students to pursue family medicine.
Ephrat will be moving to Fort Erie to practice medicine.
“I left a successful career in medical biophysics to pursue family medicine because it provides a unique opportunity to interact with patients one-on-one and make a real difference in their lives,” he said. Ephrat grew up in Israel, and after completing a master’s at Tel Aviv University he immigrated to Canada with his family. He earned a PhD in medical biophysics at Western, but realized that he preferred interacting with patients and enrolled at McMaster’s medical school Niagara Regional Campus.
The Canadian Medical Association, in their annual National Report Card on Health Care, said that Canadians with a family physician are overall happier with the health care system than those without.
Mac partners with Joseph Brant Hospital
McMaster medical students now have a new venue for learning.
On Nov. 23, McMaster administration and the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital reached an agreement, making the hospital a new clinical education campus.
John Kelton, Dean and Vice President of the Faculty of Health Sciences, called the agreement “a win-win-win…for McMaster, the hospital, and the community.”
While the hospital has hosted McMaster students in past, the new deal will see a significant increase in the number of students and the total teaching hours.
Alan Neville, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, told the McMaster Daily News that “the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital is enlarging its educational mission, and bringing in new learners will be a benefit for the people of the community. At the same time, this hospital is an excellent place for our students to learn valuable skills and the breadth of practice.”
Additionally, the University has invested $460,000 for new call rooms and workspaces to facilitate the partnership.
