Campus News Briefs

Brandon University staff on picket line

Following a marathon round of talks last week, negotiations broke off between the Brandon University Faculty Association (BUFA) and its administration. The strike includes more than 200 professors, librarians and associates, effectively shutting out more than 3,000 students from classes at Manitoba’s western-most university. Major points of contention have been wages, benefits and research issues, and are spilling over into Winnipeg, too. BU’s psychiatric nursing course is taught at a building next to U of W, and faculty there are striking along Portage Avenue. This strike marks the second in only three years at BU, the last of which came to an end in March 2008. At press time, faculty and administration were expected to resume negotiation talks.

U of W, Ford partner for presentation

One of North America’s largest car manufacturers is coming to campus. The University of Winnipeg will host a presentation by the Ford Motor Company of Canada on the company’s award-winning advancements on the use of biomaterials in its vehicles. Dr. Ellen Lee, a technical expert in plastics research at Ford, will host the presentation. Lee’s presentation will discuss the discovery and use of sustainable materials, such as soy foam and wheat straw in lieu of petroleum, minerals and other non-renewable resources in Ford vehicles and manufacturing. Lee is part of the Ford Research Biomaterials Group that researches ways to incorporate bio-based, recycled and reclaimed materials into car components. Lee will speak on campus Monday, Oct. 24, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex in the main atrium.

UWSA announces Student Group Fair

“Get pumped!” reads a posting by the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association for a recently announced Student Group Fair taking place on Wednesday, Oct. 26. All students are encouraged to attend the fair, held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Duckworth Lounge on the second floor of the Duckworth Centre. Over 80 clubs and groups that the UWSA supports will be on campus, and are actively seeking members. For information on this upcoming event, contact [email protected].

Buy a pumpkin, support an inner-city athlete

From now until Saturday, Oct. 29, the University of Winnipeg is urging Winnipeggers to visit their pumpkin patch to support inner-city athletics. Proceeds will go to support the Junior Inner-City Wesmen program, an initiative that will bolster youth involvement in tournaments and help youths attend U of W’s Model School. Pumpkins cost $6 individually, however all patrons have the opportunity to buy 20 for $100, the proceeds of which go directly to an inner-city family, and a charitable tax receipt will be provided. To pre-order a pumpkin, call 489-0720 or 233-6304. Alternatively, you can order online at www.wesmen.ca.

Published in Volume 66, Number 8 of The Uniter (October 19, 2011)

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