april 2011 - insidelaurier

The best in women’s university hockey was on display at the Waterloo Recreation Complex March 10 to 13 as Laurier hosted the Women’s Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) National Hockey Championship.

Teams from six universities – including Laurier, McGill, Queen’s, the University of Alberta, St. Francis Xavier and the University of Manitoba –played eight intense games in the round robin tournament that ultimately saw the McGill Martlets take home gold. The Laurier Golden Hawks placed fourth.

Laurier hosted the event as part of the university’s centennial celebrations, something that the institution purposefully chose to do, said Peter Baxter, director of Athletics and Recreation.

“With the growth and success of Laurier’s women’s athletic teams, as well as women’s university sport in Canada, we wanted to send a message that the next century of CIS

sport will have a focus on our women’s teams,” Baxter said.

The Laurier Golden Hawks made a strong showing in the bronze-medal game against the

Queen’s Gaels. But with 1:51 left in the third period, Kerstin van Bolderen scored, leading the Queen’s Gaels to a 1-0 win over the Golden Hawks.

“It’s disappointing,” gradu-ating fifth-year Laurier netminder Liz Knox told Laurier Athletics. “You have to give a lot of credit to Queen’s. They

are a very good team. We have a lot of respect for them and we knew it was going to be a tough game.”

The McGill Martlets captured gold in the tournament – their third national CIS women’s hockey championship win in four years. They skated to a 5-2 win over the St. Francis Xavier X-Women. The silver-medal finish for St. Francis is the best result ever by an Atlantic conference team.

Baxter said Laurier was proud to host this tournament and highlight excellence in women’s hockey. It was just 15 years ago, he said, that the women’s hockey team at Laurier was a club sport and team members such as two-time Olympic gold medalist Cheryl Pounder had to buy her own jersey and drive her car to nearby universities to play.

“Laurier and many other CIS institutions have done the right thing and changed that history,” said Baxter. “With this tournament, Laurier wanted to send a message that women’s sport will be front and centre going into our next century.”

Laurier has appointed Becca Carroll to the new position of dean of students for the Brantford campus, effective July 1, 2011.

Carroll has 15 years of progressive experience in residence life and student affairs. For the past two years, she has served as assistant director, leadership, learning and programs, at the University of Western Ontario.

“Laurier has a solid reputation for academic excellence and is a leader in student engagement,” Carroll said. “I look forward to developing meaningful relation-ships both on campus and within the Brantford community in order to positively influence the campus culture.”

The new role of dean of students, Laurier Brantford is part of a strategic change within Laurier Student Affairs. The change is designed to enhance

the university’s innovative approach to student-centred education. Dedicating one dean of students to the fast-growing Brantford campus and another to the Waterloo campus enables each dean to focus more directly on students and the student-life needs of each campus.

Carroll will report to David McMurray, Laurier’s vice-president: student affairs, and to Lesley Cooper, acting principal/vice-president of Laurier Brantford. Leanne Holland Brown, dean of students at Laurier’s Waterloo campus, also reports to McMurray. This co-reporting structure creates a direct line to senior leadership on both campuses and supports a strong multi-campus opera-tional model.

“I am very pleased, in company with Dr. Cooper, to announce

CAMPUS | COMMUNITY | CONNECTIONS VOL. 1 | NO. 1 | APRIL 7,2008

CAMPUS | CONNECTIONS | COMMUNITY VOL. 1 | NO. 1 | APRIL 7,2008







7 Infamous last words: studying the final apologies of death-row inmates.

• April 2011

Photo: Adam Gagnon

4 Joannie Rochette helps Laurier celebrate its outstanding female athletes.

Becca Carroll named Laurier Brantford dean of students

CARROLL see page 3

8 Fire and ice: Faculty of Music mounts Arctic-themed Magic Flute.

Group braves elements to raise over $10,000 for local charitiesBy Mallory O’Brien

A group of four Laurier under-graduates recently gained a new passion for attendance at their lectures – but for reasons that have to do with more than just course content.

“Class was a warm and a comfortable place,” said Heidi Palo, who spent March 13 to 18 living on a stretch of pavement next to the Fred Nichols Campus Centre on the Waterloo campus for the national 5 Days for the Homeless campaign.

Janaan Dibe, Jordan Bishop and Matt McGuinness joined Palo in the campaign, ultimately raising over $13,500 for two local homeless shelters: KW ROOF and Argus Residence.

Bishop, who volunteered with the campaign last year, said he learned a lot about how vast the issue of homelessness is in

Canada. He said that seeing previous participants putting themselves “on the line to lead social change” transformed his outlook on what university life is all about.

“The campaign has purpose – it’s so much more than four people sleeping outside. We represent an entire school and community standing up to create

positive change,” he said.The participants remained on

campus for the duration of the campaign, had no access to food or drink other than what was donated, and had no bathrooms other than what their student cards allowed them to access. They attended all of their regular

Laurier students complete 5 Days for the Homeless

Janaan Dibe spent five days and nights outside the Fred Nichols Campus Centre.

HOMELESS see page 2

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Laurier President Max Blouw drops the puck at Laurier’s game against St. Francis Xavier March 10.

Laurier plays host to CIS hockey championshipsQueen’s takes gold, while disappointed Lady Hawks land just out of the medals





April 2011

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classes and met all of their academic responsibilities.

The 5 Days for the Homeless campaign has run annually since 2005, when students from the University of Alberta lived outside to raise awareness and funds for a local charity. This year, students from universities across the country raised over $165,000.

While warmer temperatures blessed the participants later in the week, they still had to endure their share of rain and cold weather.

“The first night was hard,” said McGuinness. “We slept maybe two hours, and it was very low- quality sleep – six hours sleeping outside does not equal six hours in a bed.”

They all agreed the experience was incredibly humbling.

Send us your news, events & stories

Email: [email protected]

All submissions are appreciated, however not all submissions will be published. We reserve the right to edit all copy for accuracy, content and length.

Deadline for submissions: May 15

The Senate of Wilfrid Laurier University has taken an important step toward ensuring that the future of the university as a multi-campus institution will be planned in a strategic, thoughtful and comprehensive manner.

At its meeting on March 3, Senate approved the report of the Presidential Task Force on Multi-Campus Governance. The report contains 14 consensus points that are intended to guide ongoing attention to university governance, the distribution and evolution of faculties and academic programs across campuses, academic and non-academic resourcing, and the overall integration and coordination of people and operations.

The Task Force report and the 14 consensus points — which can be viewed online at www.wlu.ca/presidentialtaskforce

— provide a foundation for the further exploration and devel-opment of specific recommenda-tions about how Laurier, as a multi-campus university, should govern itself.

The consensus points were developed after a year of research and discussion that was informed by the Envisioning Laurier initiative and the university’s new Academic Plan. In other words, the consensus

points support Laurier’s unique vision, values and mission.

I initiated the Presidential Task Force on Multi-Campus Gover-nance in March 2010 to address the need for an overarching model of governance that will serve the multi-campus university that Laurier has become. Laurier has been a multi-campus institution since the Brantford campus opened in 1999. Our geographically

distributed reality evolved further in 2006 with the Faculty of Social Work move to downtown Kitchener from the Waterloo campus. Throughout this period, however, decision-making processes and other

interactions between Laurier’s campuses often changed in an ad hoc manner in response to specific issues as they arose. In other words Laurier had become a federation of campuses, but we had yet to determine what type of federation we should be.

Exploring this question has been the focus of the President’s Task Force on Multi-Campus Issues.

Now that Senate has endorsed the 14 consensus points and the next steps to be taken, the next phase of the process will include broad consultation and wider participation by stakeholders in converting the consensus points into concrete recom-mendations for implementation. The Task Force will collaborate with Senate and the Board of Governors to establish working groups as implementation of the consensus points of the task force begins to take shape. In keeping with the university’s bicameral governance model, Senate will address matters related to academic governance and the Board of Governors will deal with administrative, legal,

financial and policy recommen-dations.

There is a lot of exciting work to be done. However I would like to to thank members of the Task Force and members of Senate for a thorough, rich, and productive discussion and evaluation of the work of the task force.

I would also like to acknowledge the work of David Docherty, senior advisor: multi-campus initiatives, who provided valuable research and support to the Task Force and to the broader issues associated with Laurier’s multi-campus reality. As you will have heard by now, David will be leaving Laurier this summer to become president of Mount Royal University in Calgary. I extend to him my warmest good wishes for success, and I thank him for his many years of distinguished service to Laurier.

Dr. Max Blouw, President and Vice-Chancellor

Laurier takes important step in multi-campus governance

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

InsideLaurier

Volume 4, Number 1, April 2011

Editor: Nicholas Dinka

Assistant Editor: Lori Chalmers Morrison

Design: Erin Steed

Contributors: Sandra Muir, Mallory O’Brien, Lori Chalmers Morrison, Kevin Crowley, Erin Klassen, Adam Gagnon

InsideLaurier is published by Communications, Public Affairs & Marketing (CPAM)

Wilfrid Laurier University 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5

InsideLaurier welcomes your comments and suggestions for stories.

Tel: (519) 884-0710 ext. 3341 | Fax: (519) 884-8848 Email: [email protected]

InsideLaurier (circ. 2,100) is published eight times a year by CPAM.

Opinions expressed in InsideLaurier do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the university’s administration.

Available online at www.wlu.ca/publicaffairs.Printed on recycled paper

Next issue of

June 2011





Laurier President Max Blouw speaks at the closing ceremo-nies of the CIS women’s hockey championship in March

HOMELESS continued

As part of the university’s ongoing centennial celebra-tions, the Human Resources department is holding Laurier’s first-ever Staff Development Day, to be held May 4 on the Waterloo campus.

Plans for the day include a keynote speaker, barbecue lunch, and breakout sessions chaired by Laurier staff members.

“It’s about not only enriching people’s personal skills, but also about recognizing the staff community and giving people a chance to connect,” said Jennifer Porritt, manager of learning and organizational development, who is co-chair of the event with Kate Konopka, manager of employee relations at Laurier Brantford. “It’s a way of recog-nizing the Laurier community.”

The day’s events will take

place in the Bricker Academic Building and are slated to run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Staff can register for the full day or choose to attend individual sessions only.

The morning will begin with a welcome from Laurier President Max Blouw, followed by a

keynote address by Nora Spinks, a leading expert on multi-gener-ational workplaces.

A barbecue lunch will take place in the Quad, and there will be three rounds of 75-minute breakout sessions during the day. Each session will be presented by a Laurier staff member on a topic of

personal expertise that speaks to Laurier’s Employee Success Factors.

“It’s a chance to tap into the skills and knowledge of people on campus, and to celebrate that talent,” Porritt said.

The organizers are planning to send out a notification about the event to all staff in April, when registration is scheduled to open. Full details of the day’s schedule will also be available on the Human Resources web pages at that time.

“We’ve seen similar programs at other universities in the past and really liked the concept,” said Porritt. “When the opportunity arose through the centennial funding process to propose ideas, we thought,

‘what a great way to roll out a program like this.’”

Laurier to celebrate first-ever Staff Development DayMay 4 event to feature keynote, barbecue and breakout sessions





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April 2011

By Sandra Muir

Mark Leupold remembers running up and down the halls of the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary as a small child when his father, Ulrich Leopold, was dean and then principal of the seminary. On March 5, Mark came back to be part of a ceremony honouring the significant musical, theological and administrative contributions of his father.

Held in the Keffer Chapel of the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary,

“Celebrating the Leupold Legacy: Inspiring Lives of Leadership and Purpose” featured song, stories and stirring tributes to Ulrich Leupold, who is well known for his contributions to the seminary, the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada, and Wilfrid

Laurier University.“The university needs these

kinds of events to see where this university has been and where it is going,” said Mark Leupold, a 57-year-old history teacher in Saskatchewan. “A legacy is something to stand on, to build on. It helps you look past the present to what is in the future

– to give you perspective on the future.”

The seminary, synod and Laurier’s Faculty of Music hosted the event, which featured a recital performance of Leupold’s music by the WLU Chapel and Alumni Choirs, with members of the Leupold Chorale. Musicologist Paul Helmer led a lecture about Leupold’s life, and Bishop William D. Huras delivered a tribute to Leupold and his contributions to church and society. Archival material

featuring the joint history of the seminary, synod and university was also on display.

“In our planning we were committed to celebrating our joint anniversaries for the sake of remembering, but remembering for the future and how we might work together in the future,” said Debbie Lou Ludolph, dean of the Keffer Chapel and chair of the seminary and the synod’s joint anniversary committee.

For Mark, a Laurier alumnus and former choir member, it was also an opportunity for him to learn even more about a father who passed away when he was just 16.

“At 16, I was just starting that kind of awareness of, gee I should know about my dad,” said Leupold. “Helmer has really filled in a lot of those blanks that were there.”

Helmer provided an in-depth account of Leupold’s life, which began in Berlin, Germany. Leupold, whose mother was Jewish, came to Kitchener in 1939 shortly after fleeing Nazi Germany. He later became a faculty member of Waterloo College and Waterloo Lutheran Seminary and a pastor of the synod. Fondly remembered as the dean of the seminary, he was also a key contributor to the transition from Waterloo College to Waterloo Lutheran University. A trained musicologist, Leupold was the first person to teach music courses at Waterloo College, starting the process that eventually led to the creation of today’s Faculty of Music. He also taught New Testament theology and Greek.

“We really just knew the tip of the iceberg,” Mark Leupold said.

Upcoming Events

Memory, Mediation, Remedi-ation 2011April 28-30Laurier’s Department of English and Film Studies is hosting this new international conference as part of the university’s centennial celebrations. Visit LAURIER100.ca for more information.

100 years of community-university partnershipsMay 5This evening gala connects donors, alumni and faculty with Laurier’s many community partners to recognize their contributions to Laurier’s success. Invitation only.

Empty BowlsMay 19Each ticket includes your choice of bowl, which will also be used for a meal of delicious soup and bread. The Robert Langan Art Gallery, in collaboration with the Waterloo Potters’ Workshop, will serve as a venue for the event. Contact [email protected] for ticketing information.

Third International Music Therapy Research ConferenceMay 24-28This conference will explore past and present research on clinical improvisation and create a community of innovation and collaboration. Contact [email protected] for more information.

CENTENNIAL

the appointment of Becca Carroll as Laurier Brantford’s first dean of students,” McMurray said.

“Becca has the perfect combi-nation of skills and experience to pioneer this important new role to advance student engagement and success at Laurier Brantford.”

Laurier’s Brantford campus has grown rapidly since it first opened in 1999 with 39 students and one building. Today, the campus has more than 2,300 students and 18 buildings.

Carroll earned a BA in kinesi-ology from The University of Western Ontario and an MA in leadership and training from Royal Roads University. As a student affairs professional, she has held a variety of positions at UWO, from residence manager to her present role as assistant director, leadership, learning and programs.

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CARROLL continued

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONSEvaluation Committee for the President

Dr. Max Blouw’s current term as President and Vice-Chancellor ends on August

31, 2012. In accordance with University procedures, an evaluation committee

has been established to review the work of the incumbent and to make a recom-

mendation regarding renewal. Please refer to the 2010 President’s Report, which

may be found at: http://www.wlu.ca/homepage.php?grp_id=12295.

Submissions are invited from the University community on issues to be

considered during the review process and should be sent (in writing or via

e-mail) to the Committee Secretary, Shereen Rowe, at [email protected], or c/o

University Secretariat, room P2092 by 4:30 p.m. on April 20, 2011. All submis-

sions considered by the Committee will be regarded as confidential. Those

submitting comments may request to remain anonymous to the members of

the Committee, but must identify themselves to the University Secretariat. The

names of those who wish to be anonymous will be deleted before the comments

reach the Committee.

Evaluation Committee Members:

Farouk Ahamed external member of the Board of Governors

Glen Carruthers decanal representative (Dean of Music)

Kathryn Carter elected by University Faculty Council (Brantford)

Lesley Cooper vice-presidential representative (Principal/VP: Laurier Brantford)

Frédérique Guinel elected by University Faculty Council (Biology)

Mike Hancock external member of the Board of Governors

Scott James graduate student representative

Barry Kay elected by University Faculty Council (Political Science)

Marc Kilgour elected by University Faculty Council (Mathematics)

John Ormston chair of the Board of Governors & Evaluation Committee

Barry Ries staff representative of the Board of Governors

Kyle Walker undergraduate student representative (President, WLUSU)

Margaret Walton- elected by University Faculty Council (Geography)Roberts

Gary Warrick elected by University Faculty Council (Brantford)

Steve Wilkie alumni representative of the Board of Governors

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONSEvaluation Committee for the Vice-President, Finance & Administration

Jim Butler’s current term as Vice-President, Finance & Administration ends

on August 31, 2012. In accordance with University procedures, an evaluation

committee has been established to review the work of the incumbent and to

make a recommendation regarding renewal.

Submissions are invited from the University community on issues to be

considered during the review process and should be sent (in writing or via

e-mail) to the Committee Secretary, Joanne Roberts, at [email protected], or c/o

Human Resources, room R263 by 4:30 p.m. on April 20, 2011. All submissions

considered by the Committee will be regarded as confidential. Those submitting

comments may request to remain anonymous to the members of the Committee,

but must identify themselves to the Committee Secretary. The names of those

who wish to be anonymous will be deleted before the comments reach the

Committee.

Evaluation Committee Members:

Peter Ansley external member of the Board of Governors

Robert Basso elected by University Faculty Council (FSW)

Kathy Behrendt Senate representative

Max Blouw President & Vice Chancellor and Evaluation Committee Chair

Dawn Buzza Senate representative

Michael Carroll decanal representative (Dean of Arts)

Frank Erschen alumni representative of the Board of Governors

Beverly Harris Chair: Audit & Compliance Committee, Board of Governors

Kyle Hocking undergraduate student representative

Paul Jessop decanal representative (Dean of Science)

Christinia Landry graduate student representative

Kerry Martin staff representative

Bill Salatka elected by University Faculty Council (SBE)

Carol Stephenson elected by University Faculty Council (Library)

David Vaughan elected by University Faculty Council (Science)

TBD 2 additional staff representativesBecca Carroll

Seminary remembers former dean Ulrich Leupold in day-long centennial eventCelebrating the contribution of a Laurier legend

The event featured a performance of Leupold’s music by the WLU Chapel and Alumni choirs, with members of the Leupold Chorale.





April 2011

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What are you reading?

What are you eating?

What are you watching?

What are you listening to?

Name: Steve SiderJob Title: Assistant professor, Faculty of EducationTitle: The Beautiful TreeAuthor: James Tooley

The Beautiful Tree explores how the world’s poorest people are educating themselves. Tooley, while working for the World Bank, stumbled upon a private school in a slum of Hyderabad, India. His surprise at finding private schools serving the poorest of the poor led him to research this phenomenon in other countries in Africa and Asia.

Name: Stephanie D’LimaJob Title: Recruitment officer and communica-tions, Student Recruitment OfficeFood item: Chicken curry rotiPlace: Rainbow Caribbean Cuisine

Whether you’re looking for a true authentic taste of the Caribbean or simply a little adventure, you’ll certainly find it at this Jamaican-style eatery in downtown Kitchener. For you first-timers, I’d recommend the chicken curry roti, which comes with a delicious slice of fried plantain. The portions are plentiful and the price is right, but it’s the quality of the food that will keep you coming back for more.

What are you reading?

What are you eating?

What are you watching?

What are you listening to?

Cathy Crowe, homelessness activist and co-founder of the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee, speaks to a packed house in Brantford on March 15. Her lecture was part of Laurier’s “Lives of Leadership and Purpose” centennial speaker series.

Speaking out on homelessness

Student athlete Brittany Shaw has been named the 2011 Outstanding Woman of Laurier. Shaw, co-captain of the Laurier swim team, received the award March 8 at a luncheon at the Waterloo Inn Conference Hotel.

“I’m proud to be here repre-senting Laurier women, not only as successful students, but also as successful athletes who somehow find time to volunteer in our community,” said Shaw.

“I’d like to thank my classmates and teammates. Together we represent a community at Laurier that strives for excel-lence.”

Shaw is a fourth-year biochemistry and biotechnology student from Kitchener, Ontario. She has been a member of the women’s swim team since her first year at Laurier and became captain in her third year.

“Brittany is a talented athlete, an excellent student and a committed volunteer,” said Peter Baxter, Laurier’s director of athletics and recreation.

“This event gives Laurier the opportunity to showcase our exceptional female student-athletes and how they inspire

lives of leadership and purpose.”

Shaw accepted her award in front of more than 300 people attending the awards luncheon. Thirteen women competed for the prestigious award this year, including two who joined Shaw as finalists: Hanna Burnett, a third-year arts student who plays on the women’s lacrosse team, and Samantha Schmalz, a third-year kinesiology and physical education student and member of the varsity women’s rugby team.

The event was hosted by Laurier alumna Daiene Vernile, anchor and producer of CTV Southwestern Ontario’s Provincewide, and included a keynote address by Canadian figure skater and Olympic bronze medalist Joannie Rochette.

Rochette spoke about the discipline and determination required to become an Olympic athlete, but she said she has always enjoyed skating and has never thought of it as work. One of the keys to her success, she said, was to set small, attainable goals – something

anyone can do in their daily lives.

Shaw’s greatest achievement on the swim team was in her third year, when she made four individual Canadian Interuni-versity Sport (CIS) national time standards. In 2010, she went to Egypt for the World Lifesaving Championships and was selected for the national team.

In her spare time, Shaw is a coach with the Region of Waterloo swim club and volun-teers for the Special Olympics as a swimming coach. She also volunteers for the Students Offering Support organi-zation, and recently travelled to Nicaragua with the organi-zation to help build a school for an underprivileged community.

The university launched the Outstanding Women of Laurier award in 2006 to recognize female students who combine athletic and academic achievement with an active commitment to the community through volunteerism.

This year’s OWL event raised approximately $20,000 for women’s athletics at the university.

Outstanding woman of Laurier honouredOlympian Joannie Rochette delivers keynote at awards banquet

From left: Brittany Shaw, this year’s Outstanding Woman of Laurier, gives her acceptance speech; Olympic bronze medalist Joannie Rochette (right) also spoke at the event. She said that setting small, daily goals was key to her success.

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Laurier submits pension sustainability plan Laurier has filed a pension sustainability plan with the Ontario government in accor-dance with the province’s plan to help universities and other public-sector employers deal with sector-wide pension challenges.

The sustainability plan is part of an application for temporary relief from special payments related to the “solvency” calculation required by pension regulations. If Laurier’s appli-cation is approved, it will give the university more time to work with employee groups to improve the long-term sustain-ability of the Laurier pension plan.

Sponsors of defined-benefit and hybrid pension plans, such as Laurier, have experi-enced significant funding challenges since the financial-market collapse in 2008. The market decline combined with declining interest rates

has resulted in large funding deficits requiring employers to substantially increase the amount of money they contribute to their pension plans. The university sector has been seriously affected because most universities, including Laurier, sponsor defined benefit or hybrid plans and the increased contributions directly impact operating budgets.

The provincial application process for temporary relief from special solvency payments requires the submission of a sustainability plan that details proposed plan design changes that, if implemented, will make the pension plan more sustainable and affordable. The sustainability plan must be shared with plan members and retirees but does not require their consent. It is acknowl-edged that any changes must be collectively bargained with the various union groups prior to

implementation.In March, Laurier held town

hall meetings on the Waterloo and Brantford campuses to help explain the pension challenges to staff and faculty. Presenter Allan Shapira, a senior actuary and principal with Aon Hewitt Associates, provided an analysis of the pension challenges affecting universities in Ontario, as well as an overview of the Laurier pension and the univer-sity’s sustainability plan.

The university is committed to providing ongoing infor-mation to staff and faculty to help them better understand the Laurier pension plan and the importance of the temporary solvency relief. Staff and faculty are encouraged to review Shapira’s presentation and Laurier’s proposed sustain-ability plan, both of which can be found online at: http://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=2463&p=18870





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April 2011For a complete list of appointments visit www.wlu.ca/hr

New AppointmentsKate Brand has been appointed

as manager, communica-tions: Devel-opment & Alumni Relations. She has

previously held communications positions at the universities of Toronto, Western Ontario and Guelph. Most recently, she was acting manager of communica-tions and assistant to the dean for policy and planning at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.

Brenna Flynn financial/retail operations assistant, Bookstore.

Catherine O’Brien admissions/recruitment/communications assistant, Recruitment & Admis-sions.

Changes in staff appointments

Aboriginal Elder Jean Becker has been appointed on a permanent basis to the role of senior

advisor: aboriginal initiatives, overseeing activities related

to Aboriginal initiatives at the Waterloo and Brantford campuses and within the Faculty of Social Work in Kitchener. Becker, an elder-in-residence for the Aboriginal Field of Study in Laurier’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program, was appointed to the post last year on an interim basis.

Holly Cox director, Recruitment & Admissions. Cox will lead the undergraduate recruitment and admissions team, overseeing domestic recruitment for the Waterloo and Brantford campuses as well as international recruitment and admissions.

Deb Russell graduate admissions & records officer.

Sally Heath manager, academic program development & review, Teaching Support Services.

Michael Lisetto-Smith manager, Study Skills & SI Centre, Learning Services.

Melodee Martinuk manager, access and transition services, Learning Services.

Anne Marie Wetter learning strat-egist/access and transition officer, Learning Services. By Sandra Muir

Laurier’s Waterloo and Brantford campuses each hosted their first-ever Aboriginal Awareness Week in March, featuring traditional drumming and dancing perfor-mances, comedy shows, art exhibits and workshops. One of the events on the Waterloo campus was called “Aboriginal 101 – Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask.”

The “Aboriginal 101” session was meant to give people an opportunity to ask questions about Aboriginal culture they might not normally feel comfortable asking. Answering those questions in the Grad Lounge on March 9 were Aboriginal students Allan Downey, a PhD history student, and Kandice Baptiste, a student, Laurier varsity basketball player and Aboriginal student intern, as well as Aboriginal Elder Jean Becker. Becker is senior advisor: aboriginal initiatives, a role created in 2010 with the purpose of overseeing activities related to Aboriginal initiatives at the Waterloo and Brantford campuses and within the Faculty of Social Work.

Below are some of the questions asked and answered at the March 9 session in Waterloo:

Question #1 - Is “Aboriginal” the right term to use?

Jean“Aboriginal” is a Canadian government designation. It includes First Nations, Métis and Inuit. But everyone has their own terms when you get to know them. Aboriginal was the term adopted by Laurier

– we chose to use the word Aboriginal.

Question #2 - What has your experience been like at Laurier?

KandiceI was recruited to play basketball by Laurier’s coach at the time, Stu Julius, and have had a great experience because of basketball and my teammates. But the first four years I walked around campus thinking I was the only Aboriginal person here, which made me think that something was missing in my experience. I would also get questions like: Do you live in a teepee? Do you understand how recycling works? It further isolates you. But now I’ve found a home and a purpose working for Aboriginal Student Services and this has completed my years at Laurier perfectly. I think if we continue to set the bar higher and improve services it will only get better for future Aboriginal students at Laurier.

AllanI came here because I wanted to come home. I grew up walking past Laurier everyday. I’m a teaching assistant (TA) in the History Department and was TAing Canadian history, but confronting the misinfor-

mation and ignorance about my heritage is exhausting time after time. So now I teach U.S. history, where First Nations issues are not as prominent. It’s not a solution in itself to the issue of the education that needs to take place concerning First Nations, but it does give me a temporary break from it as I plan to go back to teaching Canadian history. I do see positive changes being made at Laurier, especially in the past year, and I hope I can continue to be a part of them.

Question #4 - What would Laurier look like if it was guided by Aboriginal principles?

KandiceIdeally a lot of things would be more equal. Instead of lecturing, it would be more about knowledge sharing rather than just one person talking for an hour. It would also be a more personal experience, more of a journey. If people were challenged to take their own journey and learn about what they want to learn about, they would be more engaged. It would challenge how you think about everything in life. Students would find their own way.

PEOPLE AT LAURIER

CAMPUS DECODER Got a question? Send it to [email protected]

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I recently noticed light coming from a strange little window in a retaining wall just west of the Dr. Alvin Woods Building. What’s in there?

These days, if you want to get from the Waterloo campus Library to the Dr. Alvin Woods building on a rainy April day, you’ll want to bring along an umbrella – or at least a handy copy of InsideLaurier to cover your head with.

But until quite recently there was a third option: you could take one of the underground pedestrian tunnels that allowed staff and students to move between buildings without venturing out into the elements.

The tunnels were built in the late 1960s as part of a major campus redevelopment initiative that also included the construction of a president’s house (now Alumni Hall), four new residences, and offices for the business and science faculties.

Built between the Library, the DAWB and the Frank C. Peters Building, the subterranean

connections also included service tunnels designed to deliver heating and cooling to the Library and Peters Building from a central system located under the DAWB.

Those service tunnels are still in use today, their role and layout having remained largely unchanged over the years. But unfortunately for those who dislike lashing rains or freezing blizzards, the pedestrian walkways were permanently closed in 2007 due to renova-tions to the Dr. Alvin Woods building.

The windows you saw by the DAWB look in on a section of the old pedestrian tunnels now used by the Laurier Bookstore for storage – which explains why the lights were on the other evening when you passed by.

As for the other parts of the pedestrian tunnel system, we haven’t heard much about human usage, but if campus rumours have it that they may provide shelter to the occasional goblin or marauding troll.

A window to one of the old pedestrian tunnels is visible just west of the DAWB.

Aboriginal Awareness Week: Aboriginal 101

The session gave people the opportunity to ask questions about Aboriginal culture.

Laurier political scientist David Docherty, widely known for his expertise in federal and provincial affairs, has been named president of Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta.

Docherty will complete the current academic term at Laurier and take up his new duties at Mount Royal on Aug. 1, 2011.

“David has made many outstanding contributions to Wilfrid Laurier University as a teacher, scholar, administrator and colleague,” said Max Blouw, Laurier’s president and vice-chancellor. “His experience, passion and good humour will be missed. I thank him for his many years of distinguished service and wish him well in his new position at Mount Royal University.”

Docherty received his BA from Laurier in 1984 and went on to earn a master’s degree

from McMaster University and a PhD from the University of Toronto. He returned to Laurier as a professor of political science in 1994.

Docherty has held a number of senior positions during his time at Laurier, including chair of the Department of Political Science and dean of the Faculty of Arts. Most recently, he has served as

senior advisor, multi-campus initiatives, and played a lead role on the President’s Task Force on Multi-Campus Governance. He has also been an active member of the Canadian Political Science Association and is helping to organize the association’s first stand-alone annual conference, which will be held at Laurier May 16-18, 2011.

“This is a tremendous oppor-tunity for me both personally and professionally,” Docherty said of his new position. “At the same time, I am going to miss everyone at Laurier. I have been here as a professor since 1994 and have made many lasting friend-ships. The people and organi-zation at Laurier have allowed me to achieve so much, and I am grateful to the university and the many individuals who made coming to work each day such an enjoyable experience.”

David Docherty named president of Calgary’s Mount Royal University

David Docherty

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April 2011

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iClicker2 Demonstration and Information SessionsWhen: April 12, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Waterloo) and 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Brantford)Where: Bricker Academic 112 (Waterloo) and SC Johnson 127 (Brantford)Cost: FreeThis session will introduce participants to iClicker’s new version, the iClicker2. Regis-tration required. Email [email protected] for more information.

20 Minute MakeoverWhen: April 15, 2 p.m.Cost: FreeThe 20 Minute Makeover is back! In recognition of Earth Day 2011, participants take a 20-minute time-out from their day to clean up litter around their home or workplace. To join in, just step outside and see what a difference 20 minutes can make.

Writing for Business When: April 13, 9 a.m. – noon (Waterloo) and April 19, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. (Brantford)Where: Paul Martin Centre (Waterloo) and Read Lounge, Carnegie Building (Brantford) Cost: Free to all staff and facultyWritten communication is especially important to those working in a university environment. In this workshop, Ron Champion will provide participants with technical writing skills, covering every-thing from grammar “do’s and don’ts” to writing an effective

email. To register visit www.wlu.ca/ilovemyjob and click on the registration link near the bottom of the page.

Vitamins, Minerals, Calcium & FibreWhen: April 18, noon – 1 p.m.Where: Dr. Alvin Woods Building 3-105Cost: Free to all staff and facultyAre you getting the most out of your supplements? Are you getting enough calcium and fibre? How much do you need? Join us as Caroline Valeriote, registered dietitian, explores the answers to these frequently asked questions. To register visit www.wlu.ca/ilovemyjob and click on the registration link near the bottom of the page.

Energy & Environment Forum 2011When: April 19, 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.Where: Senate and Board Chambers, Waterloo campusCost: $75 general admission (student, member and exhibitor rates also available).The Energy and Environment Forum promotes awareness of environmental issues within the business community and the community at large through a half-day event that will bring the attendees face to face with experts who will share practical information that can be imple-mented both at work and home. Contact [email protected] for more infor-mation.

CU Expo 2011: Bringing Global Perspectives to Local ActionWhen: May 10 – 14, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.Where: Waterloo campus (and other Waterloo Region locations)Cost: $435 (students, $210; day rate, $210)CU Expo 2011 will showcase the exemplars in community-university partnerships worldwide, and explore and introduce creative ways of strengthening our local commu-nities. Students, community leaders, researchers, educators, funders, policy makers and others invested in community building will be in attendance. Visit www.cuexpo2011.ca for more information.

Stress & Tension Tamers: Live Well For Life! Lunch & LearnWhen: May 10, noon - 1 p.m.Where: Dr. Alvin Woods Building 2-101Cost: Free to all Laurier staff and facultyEveryone’s perception of stress is different. And, in a similar manner, everyone responds differently to the wide array of coping strategies that are available. This interactive workshop explores the warning signs of stress overload and offers practical strategies to help you “tame” the tension. To register visit www.wlu.ca/ilovemyjob and click on the registration link near the bottom of the page.

What’s your typical day like in Counselling Services?When I first get into the office, I touch base with staff to see if anything happened overnight, if there are any crises or events that we need to take care of. I usually have a fairly packed schedule but I try to leave room for the unexpected.

How has your job changed since you started at Laurier?When I started 3½ years ago, my job was about half counseling and half administrative management responsibilities. As the complexity of student needs and issues has grown, I’m doing a lot more consultation with counselors as well as faculty and staff to make sure we are meeting needs as best we can.

What is really exciting you about your job right now?It seems like there is tremendous openness and interest in collaborating across some of the traditional “divides” on campus – not only with other Student Affairs departments, but also with academic areas in the university. I think there are so many good things we can accomplish here at Laurier – the more we work together, it’s going to be truly extraordinary.

What do you like to do in your spare time?I have a very young and active family with four children – twin seven-year-old sons, an 11-year-old daughter and 14-year-old daughter. My husband and I spend a lot of

time taxiing kids back and forth to sports events and trying to build in some quality family time. That on top of work can be very draining, so I try to find some recharging time as best I can.

How do you recharge your battery?I think the trick is not finding separate activities for recharging, but trying to complete the essential activities differently. Anything that taps into humour or creativity in enhancing those everyday activities makes them more enjoyable and invigo-rating. My one son is writing a book and it is really fun to see how he sees the world and expresses his viewpoint. My 11-year-old daughter is also

writing a book, so we spend a lot of time talking about how things could be, using our imagination and creativity.

What is something people may not know about you?I like to kayak. You feel very light and free and able to go where you want to go. Also, my husband and I like to do home renovation projects. It’s fun to work together and use some of that creativity. Right now we are big on crown moulding – everything has to have crown moulding. One of my best Christmas gifts this year was a pneumatic nail gun—very empowering and a good balance to the more cerebral tasks of my workday.

Why do you like working at Laurier?It’s the best place I’ve ever worked. It feels very supportive and open to new ideas and approaches. I have wonderful colleagues and fellow managers, and I really value their respect and support. It’s a wonderful thing to work in an environment that is committed to learning and growth in a number of realms. And also it just really feels like Laurier is a place where the emotional well-being of students and staff is recog-nized and valued. I have those

“pinch-me” days when I feel really lucky to be here.

By Sandra Muir

COFFEE WITH A CO-WORKER

Name: Alison Edgar-Bertoia

Job: Director of Counselling Services

Where you can find her: At Coun-selling Services on the Waterloo campus (SS2-210)

How she takes her coffee: As strong and as often as possible – with lots of cream.

COMING EVENTS For a complete list of events visit www.wlu.ca/events

Alison Edgar-Bertoia finds that work on home renovation projects helps balance her more cerebral work tasks.

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Heard on Twitter

Check out what the Laurier community has been tweeting about at twitter.com/lauri-ernews.

Laurier also has official sites on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LaurierNow and YouTube at www.youtube.com/LaurierVideo.

@LaurierTOTo our Waterloo friends: hope Aboriginal Awareness Week is going well! Want to get involved? http://bit.ly/hUdRixMarch 10

@LaurierNewsMoonlight, filtered through delicate lace curtains, lit her path across the room. The other 88 words? www.laurier100.com/drabble/exampleMarch 10

@MBALaurier#Laurier #MBA student breaks bench press record at CFL combine! Now he’s trained to negotiate his own contract. http://bit.ly/ga83RdMarch 7

@farlowsBig day for #TEDxWaterloo. Laurier is live streaming at each of its campuses. At the Turrett Waterloo, FSW Kitchener, Brantford and TO.March 3

@cordnewsThe Cord will be there! RT @Lauri-erNews - Lloyd Axworthy to speak at #Laurier’s Global Citizenship Conference http://bit.ly/f1iOmyMarch 1





7

April 2011

By Mallory O’Brien

Whether it was a big one or a small one, there is a good chance you made an apology at least once today. Maybe you bumped into someone in the hallway, or maybe you ended a disagreement with someone at the office. But what if they were the last words you ever spoke?

Laurier Brantford Psychology Professor Judy Eaton has been studying apologies and forgiveness for the majority of her research career, but in 2009 Eaton looked deeper at a very unique sort of apology: the ones prisoners might make before receiving the death penalty.

“A colleague of mine asked if I had seen the website of the Department of Justice in Texas, because they publish the last statements of their executed prisoners online. He mentioned that some of them apologized,” says Eaton.

Funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, she and co-author Anna Theuer, a criminology student at Laurier Brantford, began reading and coding the last statements of death-row prisoners in Texas – about 300 in total.

Capital punishment was eliminated in Canada in 1976. Currently, the United States is one of only five developed countries where the death penalty is still practiced (the other four countries are in Asia). However, some states in the U.S. have abolished capital punishment.

Not every death-row inmate gives a last statement, and not every last statement is an apology; last statements can be as “insincere” as “Go Raiders!” says Eaton.

If the prisoner did apologize, Eaton and Theuer looked at whether or not the individual had regrets or admitted to the crime. As it turns out, you can say sorry without admitting you did anything wrong.

“A person makes a good apology when they take respon-sibility for what they did wrong,” says Eaton. “Even if you don’t apologize but still take respon-sibility for what you did, people are more forgiving. That still applies on death row.”

Eaton determined that 30 per cent of death-row inmates apologize. Some apologize to their own family or show concern for their family’s well-being, giving statements such as

“Be strong, I love you.” Some prisoners give apologies

to the victim’s family and show concern for the victim’s family’s well-being, saying things like “I hope this helps you move on and gives you closure.”

Eaton believes the majority of the apologies are sincere in part because prisoners on death row

have nothing to lose.“They can’t change their fate by

apologizing,” she says. Eaton admits that there may

still be personal gains by apolo-gizing, however. Some prisoners might apologize to make themselves feel better or make peace with their God. While it’s impossible to know for sure, Eaton says that surely some are truly repentant of their crimes.

“What was most interesting to us about these findings was that they suggest victims and offenders often have common goals,” says Eaton. “We know that victims appreciate receiving

apologies, and our research shows that many offenders want to apologize. Unfortunately, the traditional criminal justice system does not provide many opportunities for offenders to express this remorse directly to their victims.” Canada, she notes, is beginning to recognize the importance of apologies. Three provinces (including Ontario) have passed legislation that allows people to apologize without admitting legal liability.

One of the other interesting discoveries Eaton made was there wasn’t a certain type of person who apologized.

“We looked at age, race, time spent on death row – we didn’t find any similarities,” she says.

“The severity of the crime didn’t matter either. There wasn’t a certain kind of offender more likely to apologize.”

One difference showed itself when Eaton expanded her study to look at last statements from across the United States. She found that prisoners in the southern states were more likely to apologize. Eaton says this may be because there are fewer executions in the northern states, so the crimes committed are generally worse. Or it could simply be related to “southern hospitality.”

A last statistic of note is the number of prisoners who claimed to be innocent in their last statements: about 10 per cent.

“Clearly some of them must have been innocent,” says Eaton.

“I can’t imagine that desperate plea – trying to fight for your life and innocence right to the end.”

Because Canada does not have the death penalty, Eaton did not seek to change policy with her research. However, when she presented her findings at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Toronto this March, she met Tim Colyer, a scholar from Florida who is interested in using the same sort of research to abolish capital punishment in the United States.

“I really think he could be on to something,” says Eaton. “I don’t think people would be as harsh if they read these statements.”

While the last statements give death-row prisoners a level of humanity, they still can be a bit deceiving.

“We coded the last statements before matching them with the type of crime,” says Eaton. “So if there was a full, sincere apology we’d think, ‘He seems like a nice person!’ and then we would look at the crime he committed and think, ‘Wow, how could someone possibly do that?’”

RESEARCH FILE

Judy Eaton studies death-row apologies, and finds that many of the condemned do express sincere remorse

Apologizing for the unthinkable, not a moment too soon

What they saidIn 2010, there were 46 executions in the United States. The majority of executions were by lethal injection, but one in Virginia was by electric chair and one in Utah was by firing squad.

Executions are covered in the news, so Eaton and Theuer would research news reports to discover final statements. Some states, such as Texas, are easier because they make the information publicly available.

Billy John Galloway May 13, 2010If I can go back and change the past I would, there’s nothing I can do. I’m sorry. I love you Adonya. That’s it.

Karla Faye TuckerFebruary 3, 1998Yes sir, I would like to say to all of you – the Thornton family and Jerry Dean’s family that I am so sorry. I hope God will give you peace with this.

Baby, I love you. Ron, give Peggy a hug for me. Everybody has been so good to me.

I love all of you very much. I am going to be face to face with Jesus now. Warden Baggett, thank all of you so much. You have been so good to me. I love all of you very much. I will see you all when you get there. I will wait for you.

James ClarkApril 11, 2007Uh, I don’t know, Um, I don’t know what to say. I don’t know. (Pauses.) I didn’t know anybody was there. Howdy.

Pedro MunizMay 19, 1998I know you can’t hear me now but I know that it won’t matter what I have to say.

I want you to know that I did not kill your sister. If you want to know the truth, and you deserve to know the truth, hire your own investigators. That’s all I have to say.

Oliver Cruz August 9, 2000First of all, I want to apologize to the family of Kelly Elizabeth Donovan. I am sorry for what I did to her twelve years ago. I wish they could forgive me for what I did. I am sorry. I am sorry for hurting my family, for hurting my friends. Jesus forgive me. Take me home with you. I am ready. I love you all.

“Even if you don’t apologize

but still take responsibility for

what you did, people are more

forgiving. That still applies on

death row.”

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Psychologist Judy Eaton found that 30 per cent of death-row inmates apologize. Another 10 per cent insist they have been falsely convicted right to the end.





April 2011

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March break open houses welcome visitorsStudents and community members visit Brantford and Waterloo campuses March 16 and18

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Clockwise from top left: Linda Cook, facilities and operations assistant, welcomes a family to campus (Brantford); fourth-year chemistry major Dilyn Keough leads a demonstration; enthused bear greets visitors;

visitors explore the booths in the Atrium; Humera Javed and Dana Gillett of Laurier’s Diversity & Equity Office, in Brantford; Nora Znotinas, associate professor of physics and computer science, speaks to guests.

Warm reception for Arctic-themed Magic FluteLaurier’s Faculty of Music performed a wintery, Inuit-themed rendition of Mozart’s The Magic Flute this March for its annual opera. Michael Cavanagh directed the production, which took place March 4, 5 and 6 in Waterloo and March 11 in Brantford. The Magic Flute is about a society dedicated to the protection of the greater good which selects two candidates – played by Simon Tse and Tyler Fitzgerald – who are then examined, tested and purified. The candidates struggle to survive rigorous trials: they must vanquish monsters real and

imagined, cope with tragedy and grapple with the absurd. They tread on thin ice, literally and metaphorically, in their personal ordeals. Cavanagh’s vision for Opera Laurier’s version of The Magic

Flute weaves together elements of Inuit mythology, historical figures, archetypes of various cultures and figments of pure imagination. View more photos on Laurier’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/LaurierNow and watch production highlights on Laurier’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/LaurierVideo.

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april 2011 - insidelaurier

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