Glendon principal Dyane Adam is set to begin her seven-year appointment as Canada's Commissioner of Official Languages upon completion of her term as Principal of Glendon College this spring. Adam is the first woman and the first francophone from outside Quebec to hold this post. A franco-Ontarian who is fluently bilingual, she has a doctorate in clinical psychology, chaired the Ontario education ministry's advisory committee on francophone affairs for more than two years, and was a member of the provincial panel that recommended against the privatization of TVO and TFO.

ACHIEVING A BALANCE: Irvin Studin is a top soccer player as well as an outstanding student. He will be leaving for England in October to attend Oxford University.

by Mary Ann Horgan
A 22-year-old student in the Schulich School of Business will be going to Oxford University this fall as the recipient of the world's most prestigious scholarship - the Rhodes Scholarship.

Irvin Studin, a fourth-year economics and finance major in the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program, learned the good news after a telephone call to the Thornhill home he shares with his parents and sisters. He is one of only two students in Ontario to receive this distinguished honour this year.

"My jaw just dropped when I heard," he said. "I was very happy, but watching my parents, I think they were happier than I was! My dad broke down and cried with joy, and my mother started jumping around in excitement when I got the phone call with the news."

"After a while it started to sink in with me, too," said Studin. "I was so excited that I didn't fall asleep until about 4 a.m. I'm still pinching myself to make sure it's real."

Studin is the fifth person from York University to win the Rhodes Scholarship. The four previous York winners include: Ralph Lamoureux (1970), E.A. Morinis (1972), David Hockman (1975) and Loraine Ronchi (1995). Only two students are selected from Ontario each year, and only 11 are selected from across Canada annually. The competition for the Rhodes is fierce, and only the most outstanding students win it. Some of the world's most notable people are Rhodes Scholars, including U.S. President Bill Clinton, former Ontario Premier Bob Rae, and the current presidents of Harvard and Yale Universities. At York, faculty members who won Rhodes Scholarships include: Prof. Wesley Cragg, Prof. John Unrau and President Emeritus Ian Macdonald.

The Rhodes Scholarship entitles Studin to £8,400 per annum (approximately $21,000 Canadian) per year and covers tuition, flight, food, living expenses and books for at least two years. The scholarship was established in 1904 in the will of Cecil Rhodes, a 19th-Century British Empire builder, South African politician and industrialist after whom Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was named. Rhodes Scholars must exhibit proven intellectual and academic attainment of a high standard, and also show integrity of character, interest in, and respect for their fellow beings, the ability to lead and the energy to use their talents to the fullest.

Studin, a resident of Thornhill, Ont., is the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants who immigrated from the Ukraine. Irvin was born in Rome, Italy, but came to Ontario as an infant. After the family settled in Canada, Irvin and his sisters, Rebecca, 17, and Sophia, 12, attended school in North York and Aurora. Studin, the eldest, graduated from Aurora High School and from the French immersion program at Woodland Public School in Thornhill.

He will be going to Oxford in October to begin a masters of philosophy degree in economics from Oxford. The first two years of the program are fully funded through the Rhodes Scholarship, and he will be eligible to apply for an extension into a third year. After earning his masters, Studin hopes to pursue his doctorate in economics.

Studin's career goal is to join an international public agency that will address the extremes of globalization and market forces to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to benefit from more liberalized economic environments and more democratic political systems.

"I hope to do some public sector work in international regulation," he said. "I'd like to work with different public bodies to control competition between transnational corporations. We're seeing that international corporations and agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization, can eclipse national governments, and I'd like to help create a counterweight to this."

Studin speaks English, French, Russian and German, and he is the top-ranked BBA student in the Schulich School of Business. When he entered the highly-competitive program (2,171 applications were received for 164 first-year places), Studin won the President's Scholarship, one of York University's top entrance awards. In addition, he has been awarded a BBA Discretionary Scholarship every year since then, and has won numerous other scholarships within and outside of York. This year, he also won the York University Faculty Association Scholarship for academic excellence.

Economics professor Fred Lazar of the Schulich School of Business praised Studin for his scholarship and his altruism, calling him "by far the best student that I have had the privilege of teaching during my 25 years at the university. I have given very few A-plus grades over this period of time, and his A-plus was the most deserved. Indeed, I would rank Irvin among the best students I have ever known, including my undergraduate peers at the University of Toronto and my graduate school peers at Harvard," he wrote in the letter of recommendation.

Prof. Lazar referred to Studin's goals of working with international public or quasi-public agencies to ensure that transnational enterprises do work for the benefit of all stakeholders in all parts of the world, and not just for a very small number of relatively wealthy shareholders. "While he could undoubtedly earn significantly more working for private law firms, investment banks or the multinationals themselves, he will contribute much more by pursuing his particular interest. It is extremely refreshing to find a student who is willing to trade off money for important public service. As the current economic and political turmoil demonstrates, there will be an increased need for new international organizations to control the extremes of globalization. Irvin has the potential to become one of the leaders in this area," Lazar wrote.

Studin's academic excellence is matched by his superior athletic prowess. He is the Captain of the York University Men's Varsity Soccer team, for which he has played since 1995. Named an All-Star athlete at provincial and national levels for several consecutive years, he also represented Canada on the soccer field at the 1997 World Maccabiah Games for All-Star Jewish athletes worldwide, and he has played soccer professionally with the Toronto Lynx.

Studin's extracurricular and volunteer activities at York and in the greater community are no less impressive. A BBA ambassador to high schools, a mentor for incoming BBA students, he also served as Assistant Managing Editor of The Insider, Schulich's student newspaper. Off campus, he lends his coaching expertise to junior soccer players.

CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING: The first winner of the CCCJ-John Lockwood Memorial Award is Gerald Butts, who is exploring multicultural liberalism and the philosophical theories of Hegel for his doctoral research.

by Mary Ann Horgan
York University has received a donation of $25,000 from the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews (CCCJ) to fund an award that promotes cross-cultural understanding.

The CCCJ-John Lockwood Memorial Award aims to foster an appreciation of cultural, ethnic, racial and religious diversity in Canada. The essay prize will be given annually to a York student in the Faculty of Graduate Studies who gives a scholarly focus to issues related to cultural diversity or cross-cultural understanding in Canada. Among other things, the student's research may examine prejudice in Canadian society and/or proposals for its elimination.

Through the CCCJ donation, one student will receive a $3,750 award each year. The endowment of $25,000 from the CCCJ was matched with $25,000 from York University and $25,000 from the Ontario Student Opportunities Trust Fund (OSOTF), a provincial government donation matching program. That brings the total award to $75,000. The winning student will be invited to present their research to a CCCJ committee or to a public forum. Additionally, the student may be invited to publish his or her research in a CCCJ newsletter, periodical, or other publication.

This year's recipient of the CCCJ award is Gerald Butts, a doctoral student in the department of Social and Political Thought at York. Butts, a native of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in English literature from McGill University in Montreal before coming to York to do his PhD.

Butts' winning submission was a program statement. This award for his current research will form part of his doctoral dissertation on the theories of Hegel (the German philosopher) and multicultural liberalism. Butts' dissertation will examine the manner in which personal and cultural identity may serve as a basis for constitutional conceptions of multiculturalism.

"I am interested in understanding better the ways in which people from different cultures are able to talk to each other," said Butts. His research looks at what he calls "identity politics" with a focus on Hegel's ideas.

Butts said he plans to use the $3,750 towards the student debt he incurred from previous years and for this year's tuition. "I was surprised and extremely flattered [to win]," said Butts. "The CCCJ is an excellent and humane organization, and I'm proud to be associated with it. Without it, I might have had to drop out of graduate school. I am working full-time while I complete my PhD as it is. The government's cuts and the subsequent elevation of tuition fees have made it next to impossible to stay in school without working as well, especially in Toronto."

When asked how he felt being the first winner of the CCCJ award, Butts replied, "tremendous. I hope they continue the award. The CCCJ should know that they are keeping a student in school with their award."

The Canadian Council of Christians and Jews is a non-religious organization dedicated to eliminating prejudice through education and bridging, and to promote respect, understanding and goodwill among all groups in Canada.

Elyse Graff, the National Executive Director of the CCCJ, said the announcement of the new award coincides with the 50th anniversary of the council as well as honouring John Lockwood's memory. Lockwood (1913-1997), served as the honorary chair of the CCCJ for 20 years and was a leader in the business community. He served as president of Lever Brothers (now Unilever), a company that produces household products such as soaps and detergents.

Lockwood was a member of the British armed forces whose unit helped to liberate a concentration camp after the Second World War. "What he witnessed there affected him greatly," said Graff. "The memories of that event stayed with him for his entire life. That experience very much influenced his decision to join the council and to subscribe to the work we do. He was a Roman Catholic who immigrated from England to Canada in the 1950s, and he encountered prejudice against Catholics at that time, so he experienced discrimination directly, as well as witnessing it during the War."

"For 50 years now, the council has been committed to eliminating prejudice in Canada, so establishing this award was a natural thing for us to do," Graff said. "We feel that all of our work, and the work of others that we support, should somehow contribute to that outcome. This award connects us to York University, a major Canadian educational organization, in a way that enables us to broaden our scope and to allow some of the aims we promote to be examined in an intellectual arena."

Open letter to the President

Monday, November 16, 1998
An invitation to President Marsden:

During a meeting between representatives of the GSA and the York Administration this past July, President Marsden outlined a proposal for a joint lobbying initiative between her office, the YFS and the GSA. The goal of this initiative was to offer a York perspective on post-secondary education issues as political parties were developing their election platforms. This matter was referred to our Council (Oct. 8 meeting) and tabled for further consideration pending input from the general graduate student population.

At our second Council meeting (Nov. 12) GSA participation in the initiative as it currently stands was rejected. Though public fora between students and provincial party representatives was an aspect of the President's original proposal, Council believes that such fora must occur prior to closed-door lobbying sessions for there to be a possibility of GSA participation.

Council has not, however, completely ruled out our participation in such initiatives. We propose a first step in an alternative strategy. As passed at the Nov. 12 Council meeting:

Be it resolved that the GSA request that Lorna Marsden make public to the members of the York community where she stands on issues that have recently become relevant to students. These issues should include, but not be limited to: Income-Contingent Loan Repayment Program (ICLRPs); deregulation of graduate tuition; mandatory consecutive three-term graduate enrolment and the elimination of post-residency fees; the end of grant-based student funding (OSAP); federal/provincial cuts to post-secondary education and the restoration of public funding.

Be it resolved that the GSA request that this statement be published in the Excalibur. Once the statement is made public, Council will view her stand on the issues and decide if we have points of commonality.

We extend this invitation for public dialogue in a spirit of open consultation and look forward to President Marsden's response.

On behalf of the GSA Council,

Diane Naugler, President

Response letter from President Marsden

January 5, 1999

Ms. Diane Naugler

President, York University Graduate Student Association

Dear Ms. Naugler,

I am writing in response to your letter of November 16, 1998, an edited version of which was published in the December 2, 1998 issue of Excalibur. I am pleased to confirm in writing the positions which I have presented in various public meetings and in private discussions with representatives of Government and other universities with regard to the student issues which the GSA council has identified.

In my regular bi-monthly discussions with you and other members of the GSA executive, I believe that I have made clear the very difficult choices which face the University. This year I have made it my priority on behalf of the University to forcefully present our case for additional financial support to address three priority areas, student financial assistance, the enhancement of the University's research capacity and the renewal of the faculty. I have presented our case to the Board of Governors, to members of the provincial government and to a wide range of external audiences whom I have had the opportunity to address this year.

Along with representatives of YFS, we have been holding meetings with representatives of the Government and the leaders of the opposition parties to make them aware of our priorities and our concerns. In cooperation with YFS, we are also planning a number of public forums on campus to allow for a full discussion of the pre-election positions of the political parties with respect to the future of post secondary education in Ontario. I hope that the GSA will agree to join with YFS and the administration as a co-sponsor of these events.

The following summary outlines the positions which I have taken on behalf of York University with respect to the specific issues which you raised in your letter.

* Income contingent loan repayment plans: York has not supported any of the existing proposals for ICLRPs. We are concerned about the potential impact of repayment schedules on individuals and to date we do not believe that any fair and equitable ICLRP proposals have been advanced.

* Deregulation of tuition fees: On behalf of York University, I have consistently expressed our opposition to the deregulation of tuition fees. At the time of the provincial budget announcement of the partial deregulation of tuition fees in May 1998, I reiterated in the press York's opposition to fee deregulation as a solution to the under funding of the universities in Ontario.

* Continuous registration and graduate tuition fee structure: York's policies with respect to graduate registration and tuition fees have been developed in close consultation with the Faculty of Graduate Studies and are consistent with those at almost all other Ontario universities. Dean Leyton-Brown has indicated that there has been an extensive exchange of information with respect to these issues between FGS and the GSA dating back to 1995-96. The requirement of continuous registration for graduate students is common to all Ontario universities. It reflects an understanding that graduate education is not simply a matter of accumulating a specific number of credits but rather, it involves the completion of a program of study and research. It is not expected that the elements of this programme of study and research will be the same in every term or year, but it is expected that graduate students will be continually registered and continuously making academic progress toward completion of their degrees. Tuition fees in York graduate programmes, with the exception of the part-time LLM, are not based on the number of course credits taken or on the number of hours of faculty supervision in a particular term. Each term students are charged a standard fee for full time (or part time) registration in a programme of study and research without regard to the stage of their studies.

* The end of grant-based student funding (OSAP): York University has not supported the end to grant-based student funding under OSAP. We recognize that the Government's decision to shift from grants to loan based funding has had a major impact on our students.

* Federal/provincial cuts to post-secondary education and the restoration of public funding: As President of York University, I have joined with the presidents of other Ontario universities in arguing against governments' cutbacks in funding. Individually and through the Council of Ontario Universities, we have emphasized Ontario's tenth place standing in per capita funding in post secondary education and we have urged the Government to return our funding level to at least the national average. In addition, in cooperation with AUCC we have advanced the case for increased allocations of federal funding for research.

I trust this letter will serve to confirm the positions which York University has taken with respect to the specific issues you have raised. I look forward to continued collaboration with the GSA.

PRIZE WINNER: Tom Loebel's work on linguistic innovation and American literature earned him this year's Polanyi Prize in literary studies.

by Beverley Else
Thomas Loebel, a York scholar and teacher in the Department of English, Faculty of Arts, is one of two 1998 recipients of the Polanyi Prize in literary studies.

Loebel won this prestigious award for his research on the estrangement of American literature from European aesthetic categories and modes of relation, and the consequent transformation of American literary language after the Civil War. His attention is specifically to the ways in which linguistic innovation was a fundamental part of the creation of a specifically national literature in America, that helped to promote the nation's exceptional identity.

Up to five Polanyi Prizes, of $15,000 each, are awarded annually to outstanding researchers in the early stages of their careers, in the broadly defined areas of physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and economic science, the same categories as the Nobel Prizes. The government of Ontario established this fund in honour of the achievement of John Charles Polanyi, recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This year, the literature and economic science prize is being shared by two scholars. The other recipient of the 1998 Polanyi Prize in literature is Daniel Coleman (McMaster University).

In recognition of the Polanyi Prize, Dean George Fallis of the Faculty of Arts provided an additional award to Loebel, in the form of a teaching release, to further assist this outstanding young scholar.

"Researchers submit so many requests for funding, and hope that one will be received favourably," Loebel told the Gazette. "But I certainly didn't expect to receive this prize." This funding will allow Loebel the time to continue his research: to search through collections of unpublished letters, first manuscripts, drafts and notes housed in small foundations throughout the United States. He hopes to complete this phase of the work within the next two years.

Receiving his BA in political science and philosophy in 1987 from McGill University, Loebel went on to study education at the University of Toronto (OISE), receiving his MA in 1991.

He took an additional MA in English in 1993, and earned his PhD in 1996 from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He then joined the faculty at York as an assistant professor, tenure stream, in the Department of English.

Loebel currently teaches courses in 19th and 20th century American literature, gender studies and literary theory. His particular research interests focus on the intersections of queer theory and language, technologies of representation and ethics. He is a specialist in the works of Emmanuel Levinas, and has papers forthcoming on the language of gendered identity in Edith Wharton's House of Mirth, and abjection and masculinity in William Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom!

January has been declared Re-Orientation Month for daytime undergraduate students by a variety of groups hoping to launch the new year by helping students to attain academic success and a positive outlook. By combining academic support with student-generated social and information-sharing events, organizers hope to begin the New Year with substance and spirit. Now that students have completed their first term, they may be experiencing shock at the rigour of university studies. Advice, encouragement, and judicious survival strategies could be just what they need. Academic sessions will be held for anyone needing advice or encouragement related to issues such as academic and career planning, essay writing and exam preparation. Central to the initiative is a three-day Re-Orientation period from Tuesday, Jan. 19 to Thursday, Jan. 21 on the York campus, when information sessions will be held in Vari Hall and Curtis. As well, a number of student displays organized by YFS will be set up in the Vari Hall rotunda. The third day (Jan. 21) will focus on the individual colleges and issues surrounding their associations with particular Faculties, courses and programs. Social events are being planned by college student councils to follow, making Re-Orientation a mix of academics and fun. At the Glendon campus, an orientation/information fair is scheduled for Wed., Jan. 27. Re-Orientation Month is an initiative of the Academic Advisors of the Colleges, working with the Council of Masters, the Office of Student Affairs, the York Federation of Students, the York Orientation Directors' Association (student organization), and college student councils.

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Applications for position of Residence Tutor

Applications are being accepted for the part-time position of Residence Tutor at Norman Bethune College. The contract period is for one year with optional yearly renewals usually up to a maximum three-year term. Applications must be submitted no later than Jan. 29, 1999. Applicants should be associated with York University as a graduate student, staff or faculty member. Candidates must have a good understanding of students and undergraduate life. Experience living and working in a university residence setting is preferred. The tutor must live in residence year-round and be available on a 24-hour basis during the academic year for emergencies. For more details, you may request an application package from the Office of the Assistant Vice-President, Student Affairs, 105 Central Square, at (416) 736-5275.

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Event to raise money for Cuban theatre company

A theatrical reading of Prof. Judith Rudakoff's stage play, Not Having, will take place tomorrow (Thursday, Jan. 14) at 7 p.m. in the Atkinson Studio (Atkinson 102-F). This event is one in an ongoing series of fundraisers to benefit Cuba's Teatro Escambray, a 30-year-old professional theatre group struggling to survive amidst economic and social hardship. A fundraising bake sale will be held on the evening of the event, and copies of the play text will be on sale before and after the reading. Cost is $10 (employed persons) and $5 (all others.) For more information, contact Prof. Rudakoff, 331 Centre for Film & Theatre, at (416) 736-2100, ext. 44578 or fax (416) 736- 5785.

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CUPE teaching development grants

CUPE Major and Minor Teaching Development Grants are available to CUPE Unit 2 members for the purpose of assisting contract faculty to develop: a new program of study; teaching materials; teaching skills; or any combination of the preceding. The deadline for applications is Monday, Feb. 1, 1999. For more info, please contact Mala Thakoor at the Centre for the Support of Teaching at (416) 736-5754 or email: mthakoor@yorku.ca.

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Nominations for award of University Professor

The Senate Sub-Committee on Honorary Degrees and Ceremonials announces a call for nominations for the award of University Professor. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 12, 1999. This honour is to be awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the University by teaching and/or service. The nominator, who may be any full-time faculty member of York University, shall provide a detailed letter explaining how the candidate's achievements conform to the general criteria for the honour. Documented evidence of these achievements shall also be submitted. To support the award in the field of teaching, broadly based evidence must be available from colleagues and/or students of the individual's sustained impact on the University's teaching role over a long period of time. To support the award in respect of service, broadly based evidence must be available on qualitatively significant long term contributions to the development or growth of the University or its parts. It is expected that a University Professorship would be awarded for life. There are to be no more that 12 University Professors with active status at any given time. Nominations should be submitted to: the Secretary of the Committee, Nancy Accinelli, S932 Ross, no later than February 12, 1999. Please feel free to call or email the secretary with questions (x22211, nacc@yorku.ca).

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Schulich students win two of three top marketing awards

For the second year in a row, student teams from the Schulich School of Business have won two of the top three prizes in the student category at the annual Canadian Direct Marketing Association (CDMA) annual awards. The CDMA's 28th annual RSVP Awards gala was held recently at the Westin Harbour Castle, and students in the MBA program won second and third prize for their achievements in the field of direct marketing. The student competition consisted of a hypothetical new product case study requiring the teams to develop an integrated media plan and direct marketing campaign. The team was required to propose direct marketing methods and principles that would work best in promoting a specific product just coming out on the market. York's submissions came from Prof. Alexandra Campbell's Database and Direct Marketing course, and the students competed against other post-secondary programs from across the country. Congratulations to the second-place team (Cheryl Cann, Tomek Wolski, and George Wyatt)
and third-place team (Carrie Bouwmeester, Arnie Cochrane, Mike Dombrow, and Dave Lukey.) The first-place team was from Mohawk College. The York teams were coached by Prof. Campbell. The RSVP Awards gala presented 66 industry awards and gave the students the chance to meet and learn from the direct marketing industry's best and brightest.

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York student orators going to Harvard for model UN

Every year, York University sends its top student orators to Harvard University to compete in the Harvard National Model United Nations. York has a prestigious reputation within the political community, and one that our student orators from various departments, faculties and colleges are hoping to defend again in February. Every student who goes to this memorable event gains an experience that benefits their academic and future professional life. Last year, York students won nine of the top awards at the conference, including the top delegate awards in Disarmament and Security, and Social and Humanitarian committees. The organizers are asking for donations to help offset the cost of sending 28 student delegates to Boston. A donation of $10 to $20 will go a long way to helping out the organization, but any amount would be greatly appreciated. Please make cheques payable to "York Model United Nations," and send it or drop it off at the Undergraduate Political Science Council Office, 145 McLaughlin College. Cash donations can also be dropped off at the office.

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Fine Arts Dean works on Ottawa, Edmonton productions

SHARING ABILITIES: Laurie Alphonse, a York alumna and employee of the Office for Persons with Disabilities, has helped to organize Access Awareness Week.

by Sandra Guiry
"It is an exercise in sharing people's abilities - to highlight what persons with disabilities can do," said Laurie Alphonse, one of the organizers of this year's Access Awareness celebration.

The seventh annual Access Awareness celebration is on now (from Jan. 11 to 21) at York University. The goal of the event is to promote increased awareness of issues faced in society by persons with disabilities, and to give people a better idea of the abilities of persons with disabilities. "If we can just touch one person and change their mind about persons with disabilities, our environment changes ever so slightly, and our lives are improved," said Alphonse, a York alumna and an employee in the Office for Persons with Disabilities.

The events to be held during the week include: a panel discussion on being a woman with a disability; workshops on themes such as: sexuality and disability; deaf culture; physical barriers; an activity day for participants to interact with adaptive technology and equipment; and simulation activities. As well, display booths will be set up to enable community organizations and offices on the York campus to provide information about services. For a complete schedule of events, call the Office for persons with Disabilities at (416) 736-4150 (voice) or (416) 736-5236 (TTY).

The simulation event organized by ABLE-York gives participants the chance to experience briefly what it might be like to have a disability. The simulation event employs the use of devices such as special eyeglasses and wheelchairs. The eyeglasses are used to modify the participant's sight to simulate certain visual disabilities. Equipped with the apparatus that diminishes their eyesight, participants are then asked to complete tasks such as walking to the library to find a certain book. In another simulation, participants are provided with a wheelchair to use as their form of mobility. "This gives students a chance to experience and understand what it can be like," she said.

Alphonse also stresses the importance of providing workshops. "People can access workshops and ask questions in a more interactive environment," she said. While displays and information booths can be interactive; workshops are able to focus on one topic and offer many sources of information.

The organizing committee for the event has been set up by Access York, a group which advises the University on the needs of persons with disabilities. Organizing committee members include staff and students from all areas of the University, as well as from ABLE-York - a student support and advocacy organization for persons with disabilities - and from the Office for Persons with Disabilities at York University. Those hosting the events are full-time staff from the Office for Persons with Disabilities and two graduate students of social work. Most of the events are free of charge and open to the public.

Alphonse, who has worked as an Ontario representative of the National Education Association of Disabled Students, says many universities are not as accessible as York. "York University has made a concerted effort to make changes in accessibility for persons with disabilities; and Access York ensures changes are made every year to make York more accessible. This hasn't always happened in other universities," said Alphonse. "This special week is made possible by Access York and with the help of the membership of ABLE-York and volunteers from the Office for Persons with Disabilities."

"We have come a long way, but more still needs to be done," she says. "A lot of initiatives are underway and there have been many improvements made, but peoples' attitudes still need to change. For instance, I still hear people telling me that I should move around them in my wheelchair, and that's not always possible. People sometimes don't understand how difficult and time-consuming it is for us to move through space. Changing peoples' attitudes towards disabilities and raising awareness are among the reasons we organize the Access Awareness event."

by Marylyn White
When it comes to developing talent, the York University cross country team seems to be an expert in the field. For the second consecutive year, the Yeowomen cross country team has produced the best freshmen runner in the province. Last year it was Laurie Mutton; this year Heather Smith was named Rookie of the Year.

"Being named Rookie of the Year was a great honour because it is an award voted on by all the coaches in Ontario; being recognized by them for my hard work was very satisfying," says Smith.

She began her season with a 17th place finish at the Guelph Open, which she followed up with a 31st place finish at the Western Invitational. From there she finished 11th at the Waterloo Open and eighth at the Syracuse Open.

"Heather has shown an admirable work ethic as she has stuck to the York training program meticulously," says head coach Harvey Mitro. "She has had the self discipline to maintain her self confidence even during difficult training periods."

At the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Championship in Windsor, Smith ran a gutsy race as she covered the 5 km distance in a time of 18:45, an improvement of 50 seconds over her previous best time. Her finish was good enough to secure ninth place.

"The team we have here at York works together very well, and I've appreciated the tremendous encouragement I have received," says Smith. "The guys team is always cheering for the girls, and I truly believe that their cheers along the home stretch gave me the strength to pass those last few girls to secure my top 10 finish, resulting in me being named an All-Conference All-Star."

Smith had been out of competition for almost two years, due to various injuries and because she turned down a scholarship to an American university after deciding that the academic level was not at an optimal level.

"Heather came into the season looking to regain race fitness for cross country and to again become familiar with racing at a high level," says Mitro. "She had been away from intense competition for two years, and knew that she would have to improve steadily in order to compete well again. This healthy approach gave her a central focus of trying to improve every week. That's exactly what she has done."

Although she ran cross country throughout her high school career, Smith considered herself to be primarily a track runner. After graduating from Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute in Scarborough, she stopped running. But after finishing second in a half marathon shortly thereafter, her love for competition was renewed. Even though sports takes up a lot of time, Smith feels that it is integral to her life that she participates in sports and succeeds at school.

"I've always had to balance school and sports, that's not the problem. The problem for me is trying to manage school without sports," says Smith. "In high school I competed in both running and swimming, and I was an Ontario scholar. It's not a difficult feat, it just takes organization and determination. There are two things I prioritize and value: school and sports. These are the things I do, and the things that make me happy. Naturally, I would put all of my time into them."

Smith will continue to be a valuable asset to the Yeowomen squad for years to come.

HEART AND SOUL: Faculty of Arts staff members Anna Cavaliere (left) and
Liliana Guadagnoli are organizing the "Heart and Soul - A Blast to the Past!" gala this year. They need your help to raise funds for student financial aid.<

Those who enjoyed the Faculty of Arts "Wine and Dine" Gala in 1997, and celebrated at the "Mardi Gras" in 1998, will not be disappointed in the Faculty's 1999 fundraising gala, "Heart and Soul - A Blast to the Past"!

This year the gala will be on Saturday, March 6, 1999, at the Hollywood Princess Banquet and Convention Centre. "Heart and Soul" will take participants back to the swinging '60s. Door prizes, optional '60s dress, and the all-important offering of fine food and wine are planned, with some surprises to be announced next month.

A total of $20,000, matched by the provincial government, was raised through the galas in 1997 and 1998. Organizers Anna Cavaliere (Mathematics and Statistics) and Liliana Guadagnoli (French Studies) hope to add at least another matched $10,000 for Faculty of Arts student financial assistance in 1999.

The money raised by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, for example, will be donated to the Linda Herskowitz Fund for student aid. "The foundation is named for the late Linda Herskowitz who was a York staff member in Mathematics and Statistics for over 20 years," said Cavaliere. "The title 'Heart and Soul' is a true reflection of Linda's personality. She was known throughout the York community as the 'lady with heart'."

THE MAGIC NUMBER: A total of $139,250 was raised for the United Way by York University. (Left to right:) Suzette Strong, campaign manager for the United Way of Greater Toronto, accepts a cheque from York University President Lorna Marsden and employee campaign coordinator Gillian Sewell.

Organizers of the United Way campaign at York University are proud to announce that the campaign has surpassed its 1998 campaign goal.

At a luncheon held in the Faculty Club before the holidays, campaign coordinator Gillian Sewell announced that a total of $139,250 was raised through the campaign, with 532 donors! That exceeds the campaign goal of $115,000 and 508 donors.

At the special volunteer recognition lunch Sewell thanked all those who contributed to the United Way campaign. She added that the success was due in large part to the work of more than 120 volunteers across the campus who worked tirelessly over several months on the campaign. "This year's campaign saw a resurgence of energy and enthusiasm and it is the efforts of the volunteers that made it all happen. It is very rewarding to see the York University community contributing so generously to the solution to community problems. I want to thank you all so much on behalf of all those who receive your help from the United Way."