UNews - Copenhagen

Scandinavian tour an eye opener for Horns

trevor.kenney — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:43:27 +0000

Scandinavia Tour 2011 – call it an applied study course for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns women's soccer program.

The Horns just recently returned from a 10-day trip through Denmark and Sweden, an invaluable experience of exhibition matches, training opportunities and sight-seeing trips that they expect will reap dividends once the ball is again kicked closer to home this fall.

"It was phenomenal," says Horns head coach Ilsa Wong. "We had the opportunity to see some top level professional women's soccer in Sweden, and for our girls to watch that level of play, I think it was a real wow moment for them. It was great for me to see their response to that incredible level of soccer."

Kathy Curtis, left, Janelle Groten, middle, and Jaclyn Groten atop the Spire on a cathedral in Denmark.

The tour offered the Horns three exhibition matches. They won the first, 5-1, over a 2nd division Swedish professional team, and lost the next two, including a 6-0 shutout at the hands of the Danish national U18 champions and a 3-1 decision to a Danish professional team's scout squad.

"It was a much better experience than the tour we had three years ago in England," says Wong. "It was a good level of soccer for them and nothing really outside of the level they'd participate in here in Canada. They were definitely challenged, especially against the youth squad. It's funny, to see them
before the game, they are just these skinny little blond girls and then they get on the field and all of a sudden they are these tough, fast amazing players. It was a very good experience."

That, in essence, was the goal of the trip, to give the Horns an experience they couldn't find here in Canada. It opened their minds to new ideas and new possibilities.

"It was quite eye opening to see the way they coach versus the way we're coached here," says Horns captain Kathy Curtis, who also took part in the English tour. "Then playing against the junior national team, some of them were 14 years old and they were so good. It was really neat to see that level of play in such a young team. These girls probably could have taken down any team in CIS."

Wong says that many of the girls came away with a new appreciation for their sport, and it raises the bar on their expectation level for what can be achieved.

"Seeing how other countries play your sport and the passion they have for it is invaluable," she says. "I think sometimes we can get complacent in thinking that post-secondary sport is something you just do as an activity. If we can show some of these student athletes that it's a way of life for some people, it raises the standard for them."

The Horns planned and fundraised for the excursion for the last two-plus years. They served as bleacher cleaners at Pronghorns home basketball games, provided the labour for the Books on Beds program offered by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Bookstore, sold scarves, ran booster club events and participated in Operation Red Nose.

For Curtis, a defender, she says the experience pushed her to a new level and she could see the rest of the team raise its play simply by virtue of trying to keep up to the competition.

"Playing the whole 90 minutes against a team the calibre of the junior national team really pushes you, but that's good. I always find my best games are when you're playing the best teams. I could see in the rest of the girls, that was like a light bulb that went off."

The only downside to the trip is that it couldn't be scheduled before the start of the Canada West season.

"We'd really love to bring a lot of that back and use it for next year but it's hard because now we have a break and we're not back again until the fall," says Curtis. "It'd be nice to go on that trip in July, get that experience and then go right into the season."

GET THE FACTS

• The tour took the club through Copenhagen and Kolding in Denmark, as well as Malmo, Sweden. The team visited castles and was able to dip their toes in the water at the Skagen Odde, where the Kattegat and the Skagerak seas meet.

• The Horns were able to train at the FCN Academy in Copenhagen. The professional men's team boasts Canadian star Patrice Bernier.

• Wong says the program offers an international trip every three years, something that serves as a strong recruiting tool. "The fact we do it every three years means players will get an opportunity to participate at least once if not more, and in a way it sort of shows them where some of their fundraising dollars go."

• A total of 26 people were on the trip, including some parents. Soon, they will begin planning their next excursion in 2014.

This story first appeared in the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Hansen benefits from personal touch

trevor.kenney — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:25:57 +0000

A Wikipedia search led Danish student Stine Hansen to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's web door, but it was the personal attention she received thereafter that brought her to campus.

Hansen is in her fourth year, thriving as an international student with her eyes set on completing a degree in urban and regional studies. Now an ambassador for the U of L experience, she's a far greater resource than any Wikipedia link.

"Everything I learned about Lethbridge before I moved here, I learned on Wikipedia," she laughs, admitting now that to pack up and leave Denmark to study in Lethbridge, Alberta was a major leap of faith.

International student Stine Hansen found the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge through Wikipedia.

"It was a bit of a risk but my parents were, surprisingly enough, very supportive," says the 27-year-old. "The registrar's office was really good helping me with my courses and transcript, and I just got a really good feeling about the place.

"I also got such good support from the International Centre for Students (ICS). They told me what to expect when I arrived, how to get settled, when to arrive, and how they would help me. At the time, because of all that support, it didn't seem that big a deal to sell everything I owned, pack three suitcases and move here. Looking back it was a little bit crazy."

You might think her assimilation into Canadian culture was an easy one. Hansen's a European who speaks English, and she had been motivated to come study in Canada after a high school exchange program took her to Nova Scotia when she was 16. But the culture, food and lifestyle are markedly different and it began to hit her on the drive from the Calgary airport to Lethbridge.

"The first town I went through was Nanton, then Claresholm, then Fort
Macleod and I really started to wonder what I had gotten myself into," she says, having grown up 20 minutes from Copenhagen and recently lived there. "I came into Lethbridge on a rainy Sunday afternoon – it looked deserted and I felt very alone."

She once again used the International Centre for support. Hansen attended the various meet and greet sessions with other international students, took advantage of the Global Connections partner program and signed up to play intramural soccer.

"If you're shy you're never going to get anywhere, you really have to open up. I used to be a shy person but now, I figure you have to step out there," says Hansen.

Her studies followed suit, and she quickly found that the personal attention she received from ICS and the registrar's office was reflected in her classes.

"That's what I like so much about the U of L, it's a small campus and pretty much every class I've ever had I can go to the professors and say, "I don't get this", and they'll sit down and help you out," says Hansen. "They really try, they know your name and I really like that."

Originally interested in pursuing a career in urban planning, she changed her focus to the study of human geography and found a special kinship with anthropology professor, Dr. Jan Newberry. She's excited to work on an Independent Study program with Newberry this summer.

"When I go back home I always say how much I love doing what I'm doing," says Hansen. "Even here, I've convinced a few people to come into my major. I love the multidisciplinary aspect of it, because you can study anthropology, sociology, geography, it's been great."

In fact, Hansen credits women's studies professor, Dr. Tiffany Muller Myrdahl, with setting her on a career path.

"She suggested I attend the Association of American Geographers' Annual Meeting last year. I went with another international student to Washington, D.C., and I came away knowing this is what I wanted to do. I really appreciate her showing that to me," says Hansen, who intends to pursue a master's degree in geography of disability and transportation.

Her success as a student has not been easy, and it hasn't been a straight line but because of support from all over campus, Hansen is eager to talk about her U of L experience. It's why she jumped at the opportunity to participate in the recent International Student Fair in the Atrium, where students from around the globe constructed tri-fold displays to help educate campus about their home nations.

"We got out there and the people who wanted to ask questions got that opportunity," she says. "It's definitely worth doing again. I believe if I only reach a few, it's still a success. I think there's a misconception that international students are only from the Far East but we are a really diverse group and maybe I'm the only one from Denmark but that's OK."

GET THE FACTS

• Post-secondary education in Denmark is free, prompting Hansen to quip, "My parents really love me."

• Hansen's older sister completed a master's degree in economics from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Copenhagen.

• Hansen became ill during her second semester and credits ICS liaison officer Charlene Janes for helping her through. "She is the best person ever. The ICS staff really knows its students and Charlene knew what was best for me at that time. Every time my parents come to visit, they make sure they go visit Charlene because they appreciate how much she looks after us."

• Hansen's tri-fold display highlighted the differences between Canadian and Danish Christmas traditions. She was also eager to tell people just where Denmark is in the world. "I love to talk about my country and I don't expect everyone to know. The Fair was great because I got a chance to show them what my Denmark is like."

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

Significant And Mentionable

trevor.kenney — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:46:27 +0000

Global connections

When you think of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's global reach, you might not initially think of a connection to the current war in Afghanistan. However, that's just where some members of the U of L student and alumni community are right now, based in Kandahar, Afghanistan, literally and figuratively one of the world's hot spots.

Bombardier Keenan Geiger (left) is a current fourth-year Edmonton campus management student majoring in Human Resources. Now taking a break from school, he is on a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan as a reserve member of the Canadian Forces. His unit is part of the 20th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, based in Edmonton. Geiger shows off a U of L flag with Cpl. Andrew McDonald (middle) who graduated in 2006 with a bachelor of arts in political science, and (right) Calgary police officer and Lt. Kevin Collier, who holds a bachelor of management degree in accounting, which he obtained in 2004. U of L alumnus Tyler Paynton (BA '07), a member of the 18th Air Defence Regiment in Lethbridge, is also serving in Afghanistan but was not able to be in the photograph.

To send a brief message to Geiger or his colleagues in Afghanistan, e-mail: sam@uleth.ca

Grading education

This past fall, U of L researcher and veteran educator Dr. Noella Piquette-Tomei was one of only a handful of Canadians invited to participate in the Return to Salamanca: Global Conference on Inclusive Education. There, she and fellow experts reviewed the Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education, an understanding signed by all members of the United Nations that pledges to further inclusive education, providing all children with opportunities to learn.

As a result of the conference, she has been asked to contribute to a case-study book that will be used across Canada by pre-service teachers and community workers for strategies when facing various disabilities.

Win President Bill Cade's car

Who is Michael Nolan? It's a question that's been murmured repeatedly around campus over the past few months. On Feb. 22, 2010, the surprising answer was revealed: a 1984 BMW 325e.

The car, which President Bill Cade bought brand new, was fondly named Michael Nolan after a distant family member who provided a trust fund for Cade's mother. In the spirit of giving back, Cade has donated the long-loved BMW to the Students' Union to be raffled off in support of student scholarships.

Tickets are $5 each or three for $12 and are on sale until the end of the semester, at a variety of functions, and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the Students' Union office (SU180), the Advancement Office in ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall (A735) and the SU Service Centre in the SU Building.

For details about the car and to watch a video of President Bill Cade with Michael Nolan, visit: www.uleth.ca/unews/content/nolan-campaign-benefit-students

MythBusters prove science is cool

On Feb. 6, 2010, MythBusters Grant Imahara and Tory Belleci made a public presentation at the U of L as part of the Science Alberta Foundation's Science Happens Here program.

Those lucky enough to score tickets to the sold-out evening heard Belleci and Imahara speak candidly about their path to stardom, their craziest stunts and other personal trivia like favourite movies and songs on iTunes. But more importantly, audience members young and old were exposed to the fact that science has relevance.

"One of our founding goals was to encourage young Albertans to enter careers in science and technology, by fostering an interest in these areas," explains Dr. Arlene Ponting, CEO, Science Alberta Foundation. "We were pleased to work with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in delivering this unique event, as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ showcases some of the most innovative science in the province."

Chillin' for Charity

In late November, the student-run Jeux du Commerce (JDC) West 2010 Team hosted Chillin' for Charity, an

President Bill Cade takes a dip for charity.

event that raised approximately $15,000 for the United Way. Always willing to give back, U of L President Bill Cade was the first to jump into the icy cold water.

Whishaw earns prestigious ASTech award

Dr. Ian Whishaw, a founding member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's pioneering neuroscience research group and a leader in behavioural neuroscience research internationally, was awarded the 2009 Alberta Science and Technology Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Science award.

Whishaw, who is among a select group of Alberta's top scientists and innovators to receive the award, is one of the top contributors to the field of behavioural neuroscience, and based on citations, is one of the 200 most influential neuroscientists in the world.

Mrazek presents at Copenhagen conference

In late December, Dr. Rick Mrazek returned from the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen where he was presenting his research on Rivers and Oceans and Water Under Fire. The topics of Mrazek's research include the negative impact of the northern Alberta tar sands, Canadian water consumption in relation to other countries, global assistance in terms of water and the dire state of the world's water supply.

Athletic accolades

On Nov. 5, 2009, fifth-year ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge fly-half/fullback Ashley Patzer was named player of the year in Canadian Interuniversity Sport women's rugby for the second time in her career. The five-foot-two Lethbridge native became the third double MVP since women's rugby was added to the CIS program in 1998.

Both Patzer and teammate Ashley MacDonald were named to the All-Canadian team. It is the second straight honour for MacDonald and fourth overall for Patzer.

U of L Pronghorns women's rugby coach, Neil Langevin, was also recognized. Langevin was the first coach from a Canada West women's rugby program to be named CIS coach of the year.

The girl in the picture

Kim Phuc graced the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campus on Feb. 10, 2010, and shared a powerful message. Phuc, a Vietnamese-Canadian, is widely known as "the girl in the picture" for her role in an iconic photo taken during the Vietnam War.

On June 8, 1972, Phuc's village of Trang Bang came under attack by South Vietnamese planes, which mistakenly dropped napalm in an area where the North Vietnamese were infiltrating. While running for safety, nine-year-old Phuc was severely burned. The now famous photograph instantly became evidence of the cruelty of war toward child victims and a symbol of civilian suffering in war.

Nearly 40 years later, Phuc uses her experiences to advocate for peace and forgiveness. While on campus, she made a presentation to students and was the guest speaker at the 18th Annual International Dinner, A Celebration of Humanity.

U of L's iGEM team is golden

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge iGEM team won a gold medal at Massachusetts Institute of Technology iGEM International competition in Boston, Mass., at the end of October.

A total of 112 teams vied for gold, silver and bronze medals. Only 10 Canadian teams received gold medals, three of which went to teams in Alberta.

The iGEM competition is regarded as the premier undergraduate synthetic biology competition in North America. Student teams are given a kit of biological parts at the beginning of the summer from the Registry of Standard Biological Parts. Working at their own schools over the summer, they use these parts, along with new parts of their own design, to build biological systems. They then operate these systems in living cells.

The U of L team, led by Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, included Roxanne Shank, Alix Blackshaw, Lisza Bruder, Ashley Duncan, Fan Mo, Mackenzie Coatham, Megan Torry, Jeffrey Fischer and Kristen Rosler.

Daycare dream realized

It was a big day for some of the smallest members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. On Feb. 25, 2010, the U of L proudly celebrated the grand opening of its new Daycare. A long-envisioned dream, the $2 million project was completed on time and on budget. The facility, located near the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ residences, has space for 54 children and includes a large outdoor play area.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ moves up in rankings

In the 2009 Maclean's magazine annual ranking of Canadian universities, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge moved up one spot – from seventh to sixth – and retained its place in the top 10 listing of 22 primarily undergraduate institutions.

As well, the U of L maintained or increased its placement in 10 different measures, among them the amount of support for student services and scholarships and the number of awards per full-time faculty members.

While noteworthy results, the rankings do not include several items that show additional investment in student resources and do not reflect the U of L's focus on graduate studies.

"We increased our student scholarships and bursaries significantly, which increased our ranking, but those figures do not include an additional $2.4 million our students receive through the Alberta scholarship program," reminds U of L President Bill Cade. "As well, as we move forward with our strategic plan and continue to develop as a comprehensive research university, there's no accommodation for our dramatic increase in masters and doctoral candidates in our School of Graduate Studies."

In a separate national ranking focused on research, the U of L moved up three places as one of Canada's top 50 research universities. The results were released by Research Infosource Inc. and based on Statistics Canada data and the Research Infosource Canadian ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ R&D database.

With a 22 per cent increase in funding, well ahead of the national average of six per cent, the U of L's gain demonstrates the institution's strength in key research areas.

"During the reporting period (2007-08), our research funding increased from $13 million to more than $16 million, and moved us up from 38th to 35th place, in the middle range of the top 50 group," explains U of L Vice-President, Research, Dr. Dan Weeks.

"Our researchers should be extremely proud of this accomplishment – it is proof that the U of L is successfully moving forward in many directions. Even in a tough economy, we are seeing great success. I am pleased that we were among the top 15 universities to record significant percentages of overall research growth."

To view the entire issue of SAM in a flipbook format, visit this link.

Climate concerns at pub event

trevor.kenney — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:21:11 +0000

Activism meets rock and roll this week at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's campus pub, the Zoo.

The Highest Degree of Rock event, Thursday, Dec. 10 from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., features bands Jesse and the Dandelions and Planet Telex . . . rocking for action on climate change. This free show is open to everyone.

Against the backdrop of Canadian representatives attending an international conference in Copenhagen this month on the issue of climate change, an international call to action has been sounded. Highest Degree of Rock, presented by the Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group and the Campus Roots Cooperative Garden, is the answer to that call.

The goal of the international meeting is to cooperatively reduce emissions on a global scale. This event is part of an international call for action on Dec. 11th and 12th put out by various groups dedicated to raising awareness about climate change and the importance of a binding legal agreement at Copenhagen.

People interested in this topic are urged to attend the event, show their support, meet some amazing people, and voice their thoughts on these issues.

For more info on the climate talks or the international call to action on climate change, visit these websites: www.avaaz.org; www.350.org; www.canadians.org

UNews - Copenhagen

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