UNews - Taz Kassam

ULSU honours faculty members

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 May 2011 21:12:56 +0000

This year the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union (ULSU) began what promises to be a tradition of honouring professors, sessional staff and lab instructors by creating the ULSU Teaching Excellence Awards.

The idea behind the awards was that the ULSU wanted to provide students with an avenue to nominate an individual who they saw demonstrating outstanding effort and dedication to ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students. The ULSU is proud to honour Drs. Jay Gamble, Department of English; Lesley Brown, Department of Kinesiology; and Hans-Joachim Wieden, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

"The ULSU wanted to offer students a way of recognizing professors and to show appreciation for the extra time and effort professors contribute to their educational experience," says Taz Kassam, ULSU president.

Gamble has been described by his students as a "delightfully quirky individual" who encourages students to engage in discussion rather than traditional lecturing. He also encourages creativity over memorization of course materials and provides a fresh perspective to literature.

Brown has a reputation of having a great passion for teaching and a high consideration for the students she teaches. She encourages her students to reach their full potential and does not accept anything less. She is known for going to great lengths to ensure that students walk out of class having learned something valuable.

Wieden is known to go above and beyond to ensure that students get the help they need to succeed. He will have extended office hours and will eagerly help students both inside and outside of class time. He has been an instrumental part of the Lethbridge iGEM team, spending countless hours helping the team win three gold and one bronze medal for their participation at the Championship Jamboree.

"The ULSU looks forward to continuing this tradition for years to come," says Kassam. "We, as students, want our instructors to know that we appreciate all the ways they contribute to enhancing our education."

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Incoming executive looks to build off success

trevor.kenney — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:39:52 +0000

As a changing of the guard begins to take place within the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union (ULSU), it is a good opportunity to look back at what was accomplished in the previous year. From Fresh Fest to Humans vs. Zombies, hosting Peter Mansbridge and lobbying on behalf of students' interests, the ULSU had a very progressive and successful year.

It all kicked off with the most successful Fresh Fest to date, continuing a tradition of excellence with the event that students can look forward to experiencing well into the future.

Lectures by Peter Mansbridge, Dennis Edney (lawyer for Omar Khadr), various SACPA on Campus sessions and the Global Justice Student Speaker Challenge all contributed to the ULSU Executive Council's tradition of providing quality academic opportunities for all students.

"It is important to offer these types of academic opportunities to our students so they can gain a greater understanding of world issues, and perhaps apply what they learn in a classroom setting to real world situations," says Taz Kassam, outgoing ULSU president. "It also offers students a chance to think critically and engage in healthy discussion with their peers on issues impacting the world."

The Students' Union strives to offer services to students in an attempt to aid in the success of each and every student that enters the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campuses in Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton. The ULSU also looks to enhance student engagement, and in the past year this was achieved by increasing the number of on-campus clubs, hosting a Municipal Mayoral Candidates Forum and creating new and exciting events like Humans vs. Zombies, Open Mic Night in the Zoo, Meltdown and ULSU Karaoke Shenanigans for
St. Patrick's Day.

"We want to provide students with opportunities that create lasting memories of their time at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says Kassam. "Creating these memories is all part of the greater university experience and aids in retention."

A number of traditional events from past years continued, including the ULSU/EUS Fashion Drive, the Volunteer Tax Program, the Last Lecture, Ender Bender, Last Class Bash and the IVCF/ULSU Used Book Sale.

"These events have proven to be successful and of great value to our students and we want to continue the support we provide with events such as these," says Kassam.

The ULSU achieved a landmark this year with students voting in favour of two referendum questions, one to tie ULSU Fees to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the second for a one-time ULSU fee increase of $5 per semester.

"This will allow the Students' Union to continue to build upon the quality of events and services it provides to students, such as our Food Bank and funding for scholarships," adds Kassam. "It is of the utmost importance that the Students' Union maintain and build upon the level of service to our students attending all campuses."

The ULSU had a very progressive year in terms of lobbying. Through the Council of Alberta ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Students (CAUS), the ULSU lobbied the provincial government on key issues such as the regulation of non-instructional fees and allowing easier access for students to vote during provincial elections.
The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) also helped the ULSU advance throughout the year by focusing their lobbying efforts on the Post-Secondary Student Support Program, a program designed to promote greater accessibility for Aboriginal students, offering more assistance to international students, as well as amendments to the Canadian Student Loan Program policy.

"All in all, it has been a very successful year for the ULSU," says Kassam. "The support from all bodies on campus, and in the community, is greatly appreciated and the success could not have been achieved without this continued support. It is with this in mind that our organization is able to exist for our students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge."

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Students' Union recognizes contributors

trevor.kenney — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:03:39 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union held its annual Recognition Dinner on Friday, Apr. 8 to acknowledge the incoming and outgoing councils, as well as honour those dedicated individuals who contribute so much to the ULSU.

The ULSU award winners are as follows:

Employee of the Year -- Cheri Pokarney

This annual award is presented to the Students' Union employee who has made the most outstanding contributions to our organization over the past year and best displays the values of the Students' Union. The winner of this year has only been with the organization for a relatively short time, but she has come into her position with strength and dedication. She is always willing to help the Executive Council with any questions or concerns, and acts as a driving force for the entire office. The winner this year best demonstrates the core of what the Students' Union is; dedication to students.

John Brockelesby Students' Union Award of Excellence -- Armin Escher

This award is for the General Assembly member who has made the most outstanding contribution to this ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. As anyone who has met this individual knows, he is extremely passionate and determined. Never one to be shy during General Assembly meetings, he has kept this entire organization accountable. This individual has sat on numerous committees for both the Students' Union and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and is always ready to be the voice of the students. He also organized the second annual Fashion Drive to raise money for student scholarships. The ULSU is pleased to have had him on the General Assembly this year, and knows he will do great things as the incoming Board of Governors Representative.

Bill Chapman Students' Union Certificate of Distinction -- Eva Gorny

This is an annual award presented to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge student who has shown the most innovation in the area(s) of student affairs, wellness, or any other notable field over the past year. The winner this year is an extremely active student in many ways, especially with the Rotaract Club. She has volunteered at many events and is always looking for new ways to raise awareness for causes she feels strongly about. This year she organized the first ever 12-hour Relay for Life, which raised money in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. This year she was received the 2010 Leaders of Tomorrow Volunteer Excellence Award, given on behalf of Volunteer Lethbridge. She has gone beyond expectations of the average student, and we are so glad that she is part of our community.

Students' Union Helping Hand Award -- Karol Budny

This is an annual award presented to a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge faculty or staff employee that has made the most significant and lasting contribution to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union and their members over the past academic year. The winner has always been willing to help out the Students' Union in any way he can. Whether it means lending a hand or a ladder, he is eager to serve the SU in any way possible. He is always positive and so polite to everyone he interacts with and is always quick to respond to any requests the SU has. Any task that this individual takes on is completed thoroughly and promptly, and regularly exceeding expectations.

Outstanding Dedication Award -- Bob Cooney

This award honors the faculty or staff member who demonstrates outstanding dedication to the students of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Students are the heart of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, and this individual consistently seeks to make sure the heart is strong. Any time a student or a club needs help with promoting an event he has been eager to help out in ways that surpass his job description. He has even dedicated time to help the Executive Council of the SU learn how to properly handle the media.

Continued Support Award -- Calvin Toth

This is presented to a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge faculty or employee in special recognition to outstanding dedication to the students of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. This year's winner continually puts in all of his effort to helping the students. He spends nights, weekends and even lunch hours in assisting students to put on their events. Almost every club has had this individual working behind the scenes for them, and he is always willing to help with any last minute considerations. Never one to give up, he is persistent to delivering quality service.

Students' Union Student Employee of the Year Award -- Dukagjin Berisha

This is an annual award presented to the Students' Union student employee who has demonstrated the most exceptional contribution to our organization over the past year. This individual personifies the values of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union in all his endeavors and is enrolled as a full-time student at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. This year's recipient is hard working and always looking for more ways to help out. He goes above and beyond expectations, is extremely reliable and always positive. This person is mindful of the little things and provides great customer service with his polite and conscientious demeanor.

Students' Union Club of the Year Award -- PRIDE Centre

This annual award is to honor the Students' Union ratified club that has demonstrated the most dazzling effort and dedication in its endeavors over the past year. This club should have held numerous successful events and should be in excellent standing with Clubs' Council. This club has attended every Clubs' Council and always coming to up with something new. This club is constantly looking for ways to positively spread their message to the community, and bring a sense of belonging to the students. They are one of the most active clubs on campus, and probably the most persistent.

Students' Union Student of the Year Award -- Thomas Fox

This award recognizes the student who has shown excellent effort and commitment to his or her endeavors over the past year. Our recipient this year has taken on enough activities for an entire committee and still manages to find time for more. He was president of two clubs this year; Amnesty International and the Chess Club, participated in the Student Speaker Challenge, and even had time to serenade the masses at the occasional Open Mic Night. This person has worked closely with the Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group to promote important causes to the student community, such as the Bring your own Bag movement.

Legacy Award -- Taz Kassam, 2010/2011 Students' Union President

The Legacy Award is presented to the President of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union. It symbolizes the hard work put in by the outgoing council, under the guidance of the President. This year has been quite dynamic, seeing a lot of new events and great incentives. This year council came together to support each other, and a lot of it had to do with the drive and optimism of the President. She is a great communicator and always works for the best interests of the students. The ULSU President is unbelievably organized and an exceptional leader.

Students' Union looking to go green on campus

trevor.kenney — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:45:58 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union is taking steps to make the campus a little more green.

Since fall 2010, ULSU Food Court vendors and the Zoo have been participating in a composting initiative brought together by some dedicated students, the ULSU Executive and General Assembly members. The composting initiative has now branched out to include Coulee Junction (CJ's), Fresh Express, Mr. Sub and Tim Hortons.

Composting is a natural process of recycling uncooked fruit and vegetable waste, coffee grinds and tea bags into a rich soil or fertilizer known as compost.

"Composting can be done in a number of different ways and serves as a great way to reduce your contribution to the waste stream by recycling yard and kitchen waste," says Taz Kassam, ULSU president. "It also provides a value added benefit to our land and can act as an aid in gardens, landscaping, horticulture and agriculture.

Vendors currently dispose their compostable waste in personal compost bins in the Students' Union building and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ caretaking staff transport the compost to the boneyard – an open compost pile on the south end of campus. The grounds department then uses the finished product for various projects around campus.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ needs a composting program because it is a fairly simple, yet extremely effective way at reducing the amount of waste we produce," says Zack Moline, ULSU General Assembly member and compost co-ordinator. "It feels good to think that most of the food waste produced at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, which used to rot in the landfill, is now being recycled and used for constructive purposes around campus."

This program is about to start a trial phase that will also include on-campus residences. The Piikani residence building in Aperture Park will have 48 personal compost bins placed in its suites.

"Getting students engaged in the composting program will be difficult, but will nonetheless be of vital importance," says Moline. "On the campus-wide scale, it will happen through an active marketing campaign with the ULSU, promoting the ease and benefits of composting."

The ULSU believes that with proper promotion, education and efficient management of the program, this trial phase can be expanded into the remaining buildings in Aperture Park.

For a look at the March issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

President Mahon speaks at SACPA

trevor.kenney — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:29:30 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge president Mike Mahon asks the question, Is the Road Ahead Bumpy for Canadian Universities, at the Tuesday, Feb. 3 Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs luncheon.

Mahon's presentation begins at noon at Country Kitchen Catering (lower level of The Keg). Admission is $10 per person and includes lunch.

As a result of changing demographics, enrolment rates are expected to drop off in Canadian post-secondary institutions soon. Unless universities find a way to fill the gap, the future may see a lot more empty seats in class.

Currently, many universities are at maximum capacity, but over the next few years, enrolment numbers may start to decline throughout the system.

Many universities are looking to expand their campuses and programs, because of maxed-out capacity coming from the large number of children that were born out of the baby boom generation. Those numbers peaked in 1991, which means the rate of enrolment is likely to drop, coinciding with the gradual decline in birthrates that occurred during the 1990s.

While demographics may impact university enrolment, increasing gender inequality is certain to have a lasting effect on universities as well. Men now represent just 42 per cent of total enrolments. Moreover, their higher dropout rate means that they will represent an even lower proportion of graduates in the future. It appears that in terms of higher education it is women who are flourishing.

Mahon will explain how these statistics are likely to affect the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and offer possible remedies to the problem.

Taz Kassam, president of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union, is moderator for the event.

ULSU to honour excellence in teaching

trevor.kenney — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:57:29 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union (ULSU) would like to formally recognize and honour teaching excellence at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The Students' Union aims to do this by introducing the Teaching Excellence Award, allowing students an avenue for nominating a professor, sessional staff member or lab instructor who has shown outstanding efforts to increase the learning experience of their students.

"The Students' Union wants to recognize those individuals at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ who have had an impact on their students' academic career," says Taz Kassam, ULSU President. "We want to encourage all undergraduate students who have had an exceptional instructor in the 2010-2011 academic year to nominate these well deserved instructors for the Teaching Excellence Award."

The award is based solely on teaching excellence and will be presented to three instructors that meet the award criteria. All undergraduate students are eligible to nominate an instructor for the honour. A student who wishes to nominate an instructor will be required to complete a letter of support outlining how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in teaching. The nomination deadline is Feb. 28, 2011.

All nominations will be handed to a selection committee consisting of, the ULSU Vice-president Academic, five members of the ULSU General Assembly, and three students-at-large. The selection committee will then conduct additional research on each candidate, and in March the committee will decide which candidates will be receiving the award.

The winners will be formally recognized on Apr. 7, 2011 as part of the ULSU Last Lecture event.

"This is the first year that the Students' Union has offered this award to honour outstanding instructors at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, and we want to give students an opportunity to acknowledge their appreciation for the impact these individuals have on their students," says Kassam.

Students can visit www.ulsu.ca to download a nomination form and drop it off at the Students' Union Office by 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 28.

For a full look at the January issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

ULSU lobby effort focusses on student finances

trevor.kenney — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:43:29 +0000

Maintaining affordable education was the overriding theme of the 2010 Lobby Conference as student associations from across the country gathered in Ottawa recently to voice their concerns to the country's key decision-makers.

The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), representing and promoting the interests of post-secondary students to federal and inter-provincial levels of government, introduced a number of ideas to governmental policy makers. Student financial aid and the Canada Student Loan Program are on the list of key issues CASA is lobbying for this year. With debt becoming an ever larger issue for students, CASA is especially focused on the cost of obtaining a quality education.

Taz Kassam, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union president, and Allan Hall, vice-president, Operations and Finance, represented the ULSU at the conference.

"The inability for students to secure enough cash or credit to afford tuition payments, books and the basic essentials of living is one of the financial barriers that students face," says Kassam.

CASA has recommended the federal government increase the amount of allowable in-study income in the next fiscal year. This means that if students choose to work during the school year, they will not be penalized for earning income and therefore qualify for less money from the Canada Student Loan Program. This change could also discourage students from seeking private loans.

CASA is also addressing the issue of funding for aboriginal students. Aboriginal Peoples face persistent inequalities in regard to labour market outcomes, the most influential factor being that of post-secondary educational attainment rate.

"The Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) is the funding mechanism for First Nations and Inuit Students," says Kassam. "This program has been capped at a 2 per cent increase since 1996, spreading the available cash very thin and likely reducing the number of aboriginal students attending post-secondary institutions.

"We have proposed the 2 per cent cap be removed, and an increase in funding be provided to better reflect the real cost of attending a post-secondary institution."

Another issue is the ongoing debate over Bill-C32: The Copyright Act. Publishing companies, such as Access Copyright, are petitioning to propose a student levy that would make post-secondary institutions pay for the possibility that someone may print a copy of work already owned digitally. This issue could lead to hefty increases in the cost of textbooks.

"The Book Importation Tax states that parallel importation is illegal for commercial booksellers, meaning that if a book title has a Canadian copyright holder that is selling the book for no more than 10 per cent above the American retail price, it is illegal for a physical store to maintain a competitive edge and buy the book from the United States," says Kassam.

The recommendation put forth by CASA is to amend the bill as it stands, prohibiting the parallel importation of books from foreign distributors.

Kassam says the ULSU, as an extension of CASA, is working hard to serve U of L students.

"We are doing all we can to ensure post-secondary education is affordable, of the highest quality and easily accessible," says Kassam. "These are very important issues that will not only affect today's students but also those who will be entering post-secondary institutions in the future."

This story originally appeared in the December issue of the Legend. For a look at the full issue of the December Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Lobby effort focusses on finance

trevor.kenney — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:36:41 +0000

Taz Kassam, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union president, and Allan Hall, vice-president, Operations and Finance, represented the ULSU at the conference.

"The inability for students to secure enough cash or credit to afford tuition payments, books and the basic essentials of living is one of the financial barriers that students face," says Kassam.

"We have proposed the 2 per cent cap be removed, and an increase in funding be provided to better reflect the real cost of attending a post-secondary institution."

The recommendation put forth by CASA is to amend the bill as it stands, prohibiting the parallel importation of books from foreign distributors.

Kassam says the ULSU, as an extension of CASA, is working hard to serve U of L students.

For a look at the full issue of the December Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

ULSU Food Bank in need

trevor.kenney — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:30:02 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union Food Bank, which helped over 300 people last year, needs continued resources to keep this valuable service alive.

The Students' Union hosts a variety of events in an attempt to keep the Food Bank operating. The Peter Mansbridge lecture, which raised over $2,300 from ticket sales and an unspecified personal donation from Mansbridge himself, is one such event that benefits the food bank.

The ULSU Food Bank depends heavily on donations from generous people, without which the ULSU wouldn't be able to help the number of students it does.

"As the costs of attaining a post-secondary education continue to increase, it has become much harder for students to make ends meet. All too often students have difficulty affording the necessities of life. As a result, we see the demand for our food bank services spike," says Keith McLaughlin, ULSU vice-president academic. "The ULSU Food Bank needs help to ensure that its operations remain sustainable, so that we can continue to help our students in times of need."

Historically, the months of February, March and April see a spike in the number of students who utilize the food bank. Each food bank user is unique, and the Students' Union strives to alleviate some of the pressures they face, allowing students to focus on their education.

Food bank hampers are made to sustain a single student for five to seven days. There are also hampers designated for students with families. Each hamper contains an assortment of healthy foods and all students are eligible for assistance. Students are eligible to receive one hamper every two weeks to a maximum of 10 hampers during their entire academic career at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

"The ULSU Food Bank welcomes any help from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community or southern Alberta as a whole," says Taz Kassam, ULSU president. "We want students to be able to focus on their education and enjoying their time at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, not worrying about where there next meal is going to come from."

For a look at the full issue of the November Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Significant And Mentionable

trevor.kenney — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:54:14 +0000

HISTORIANS SCORE 100%

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge History Department celebrated 100 per cent participation in Supporting Our Students for the second year in a row.

"This is an incredible accomplishment," says Debi Sandul, who is co-chairing this year's SOS campaign. "Students have always been at the centre of what we do and this demonstrates the continued commitment of the History Department to enhance the student experience and create opportunities."

Supporting Our Students is an annual internal fundraising campaign to raise money for student awards. Faculty and staff donations are matched by the Government of Alberta's Access to the Future Fund, doubling the impact of all contributions.

The goal for this year's campaign is 300 contributions and thanks to the dedication of faculty and staff like those from the History Department, the campaign already has 255 participants.

"This year's campaign is about participation and this group has come together to demonstrate the strength of the U of L community," explains Dr. Rob Wood, the campaign co-chair.

"We are very proud of what we've been able to do as a group and I hope this is just the beginning," says History Department Chair Dr. Chris Epplett, who went on to issue a friendly challenge to other U of L departments.

GRAD STUDENTS HONOURED

When the School of Graduate Studies and the Office of Research Services handed out their Research Excellence awards recently, there were no trophies, only cold hard cash to the tune of more than $700,000, which was shared by 36 student recipients of graduate, doctoral and post-doctoral studies awards.

The investment in research funding directed toward candidates in master's and doctoral programs is critical to help grow the
U of L's research programs and its place as a comprehensive research university.

The research funding was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Alberta-based agencies Alberta Ingenuity Fund, Alberta Innovates Health Solutions, the Alberta Cancer Foundation, and the Alberta government-funded Ralph Steinhauer Awards of Distinction.

NATIONAL RANKING SHOWS DRAMATIC GROWTH FOR U OF L RESEARCH FUNDING

The U of L is ranked second nationally by Re$earch Infosource in terms of research income growth over the decade 1999-2009 for undergraduate universities – with an overall growth rate from $3.295 million to $15.956 million.

"This is the highest gain of any Alberta school and any Western Canadian school – and we are still growing," says U of L Vice-President (Research) Dr. Dan Weeks.

"These figures do not reflect the additional people we have attracted, the income from this past year or the many new programs that we have launched."

As assessed by RE$EARCH Infosource, the list ranks universities by their research income and research intensity (research funding per faculty member).

ACCESSIBILITY AND INNOVATION LEAD TO RECORD ENROLMENT

This September brought with it the largest student enrolment in the U of L's history. The official enrolment number is 8,472, with the growth being credited to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's dedication to being an accessible and innovative institution.

EDUCATION STUDENTS TAKE A STAND AGAINST BULLYING

The third annual ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Anti-bullying and Cyberbullying Awareness Week was held Oct. 4 to 6. Organized by the Education Undergraduate Society, the event is the only student-organized anti-bullying campaign in Alberta and aims to increase the awareness of cyberbullying and bullying in the community.

The ever-increasing use of technology among children is rapidly leading to a transformation in the traditional forms of bullying, with cyberbullying becoming more prevalent.

The anti-bullying campaign highlighted the need for schools to develop policies and procedures related to cyberbullying, while providing teachers with techniques and tools to address the issue.

STUDENTS' UNION HELPING PAINT A BRIGHTER FUTURE

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union Executive Council worked on their home-improvement skills this past summer by volunteering with Project Paintbrush.

Working with Volunteer Lethbridge and Project Paintbrush, the students laboured to fix up homes for those who are not able. Specifically, the four council members grabbed brushes and aided in painting the exterior of a local home.

Project Paintbrush focuses on assisting seniors and individuals with special needs who are physically and/or financially unable to maintain the exterior of their property. There is no cost to the homeowner and the program operation is based solely on volunteers.

Taz Kassam, SU president, believes that "making positive changes through volunteering in the community provides for greater experiences and opportunities for all. Lethbridge supports its students and it is important for students to support Lethbridge, too."

By taking part in this project, the ULSU hopes to not only spark knowledge of Volunteer Lethbridge and Project Paintbrush, but also showcase the impact volunteering has on individuals and the community.

"At the end of the day, we can look back and realize that we made a difference, and the families are more than grateful for the help," says Kassam.

IGEM TEAM CLEANS UP

A group of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge undergraduate chemistry, biochemistry and neuroscience students has been awarded a $20,000 international research grant from the Oil Sands Initiative to find a biological solution to improving the environmental sustainability of Alberta's oil sands.

The students are members of the
U of L's multiple-award-winning International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) team, which competes each year at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, Mass. Regarded as the premier undergraduate synthetic biology competition in the world, the conference attracts competitors from around the world but the U of L group was the only team to receive a $20,000 award.

The money will help support the development of a petrochemical-eating bacteria that the group plans to design. If successful, the bacteria could be used to help clean up water in ponds that have been polluted in the refining process.

CONGRATULATIONS

The U of L extends sincere congratulations to the following members of our community for their awards and recognitions this fall.

U of L Chancellor Richard Davidson was named one of the 50 most influential people in Alberta by Alberta Venture magazine.

Dr. Trevor Harrison, sociology professor, was awarded a Fulbright Visiting Research Chair in Canadian Studies at Kennesaw State ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

The Honourable Rick Casson, who is a Member of Parliament for Lethbridge and a former U of L employee, was appointed to the Queen's Privy Council of Canada.

Dr. Susan McDaniel, director of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy, was named Vice-Chair of the Council of Canadian Academies' Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).

Dr. Joseph Rasmussen, biological sciences researcher, was appointed to the National Oil Sands Review Panel.

GLOBE & MAIL REPORT CARD

The Globe and Mail's annual report card on Canadian ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ performance is out and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has been given high marks, ranging from B's to A's in more than 80 per cent of 17 categories.

The survey was prepared by higher Education Strategy Associates in partnership with the Globe and Mail, and asked more than 35,000 students 100 questions that were distilled down to the final 17 categories. Individual scores (such as the U of L's) are based on a minimum number of responses from U of L students.

The Faculties of Health Sciences and Management recorded high marks from students for providing a quality education, and "A" level grades were received for the number of small class sizes, the quality of student/professor interaction, and the institution's athletics and recreation services.

"This survey is a solid reinforcement of our strength as an undergraduate university, but we're moving along a new path to become a comprehensive research university – without losing sight of the very important factors that put all of our students first," says U of L President Dr. Mike Mahon.

U OF L'S CANDO PARTNERSHIP NETS STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP

Faculty of Management student Shermayn Menicoche (photo, right) is one of three people to receive a $3,000 National Indigenous Economic Education Foundation (NIEEF) scholarship from the charitable arm of the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO).

CANDO is an Aboriginal-controlled, community-based group that builds partnerships with educational institutions, Aboriginal leaders and senior corporate and government representatives.

The U of L is now one of nine post-secondary institutions accredited by CANDO to deliver courses that help economic development officers working in First Nations communities obtain an Aboriginal Economic Developer Certificate in addition to their U of L degree.

For a look at the full issue of SAM in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - Taz Kassam

ULSU honours faculty members

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Incoming executive looks to build off success

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Students' Union recognizes contributors

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Students' Union looking to go green on campus

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President Mahon speaks at SACPA

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ULSU to honour excellence in teaching

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ULSU lobby effort focusses on student finances

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Lobby effort focusses on finance

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ULSU Food Bank in need

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Significant And Mentionable

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