Early enrolment numbers indicate that York University is poised to meet its overall enrolment targets, as more students choose York to pursue programs in Science, Fine Arts, Education, Graduate Studies and Atkinson College.

More than 12,000 new students have chosen to study in one of York's 10 faculties. A partial look at York University's enrolment numbers (internal projections) reveals:

* 14 per cent increase in applications to York's Atkinson College, which serves part-time and adult students with programs in the liberal arts and professional studies

* 5 per cent increase in the number of Graduate students

* 9 per cent increase in the number of Faculty of Education students

* 2 per cent increase in the number of first-year Science students

* 2 per cent increase in the number of first-year Fine Arts students

* 16 per cent increase in the number of upper-year students who have transferred toYork

* 12 per cent increase in number of first-year students admitted to York from places other than high school

"We are pleased that York University is about to meet its overall enrolment target during these challenging times. We can take particular pride in the growing interest students are showing in York University's science, fine arts and Atkinson College programs,"said York University President Lorna Marsden, adding that the rise in Atkinson's programs points in part to the growing importance of life-long learning.

While Marsden called these increases encouraging, she acknowledged that York must -- and will -- continue to work diligently to attract students to all its programs. Declines in such areas as Arts and Environmental Studies, for instance, speak to a province-wide trend. This is the fourth consecutive year -- though York's first -- in which Arts enrolment has declined across the province.

mystory, Don Summerhayes, Toronto, Exile Editions, 1997

by Frank Birbalsingh

mystory is the work of retired York English professor Don Summerhayes, and is described on its back cover as "a novel in the form of a series of journals." The description doesn't seem to fit, even today, when novels come in all shapes, forms and sizes, and there is really no satisfactory definition of the form; but since I suspect it will be futile to debate whether mystory is a novel, autobiography, autobiographical novel, memoir, or anything else, perhaps we should settle for autobiographical fiction and leave it at that. mystory consists of quotations, anecdotes, snippets of prose, bits of poetry, reflections, excerpts from historical, critical or theoretical texts, and even definitions from dictionaries or other works of reference. On the surface, the main aims of the book appear to be authorial self-revelation or self-analysis. But the author explicitly disavows any such aim. So what are we to make of this text, the bulk of which consists of anecdotes and reflections that are patently based on incidents, events or episodes in the author's experience of growing up and living in Ontario during the middle and later decades of this century?

One clue is the frequent reference to literary theorists, such as Derrida, Lacan, Lyotard and, most frequently, Roland Barthes. Summerhayes quotes with relish both Barthes' "taste for discontinuous writing" and his disdain for "the smooth finish of constructed discourse." Instead, Barthes advocates the fragment, which is a "spoilsport, discontinuous establishing a kind of pulverization of sentences, images, thoughts, none of which 'takes' definitively." The structural technique in mystory, in other words, is no flash in the pan or whimsical self-indulgence. As a seasoned author of four collections of poetry, the distinguished winner of the Leacock Poetry Prize in 1995, and a lifetime reader and teacher of literature, Summerhayes has chosen his technique in mystory with great care and deliberation. For him, Barthes is both theory and practice, and we can believe him when he declares as his favourite literature publications that "can't help but be constructed in fragments and hiatuses." It should be no surprise, therefore, if mystory appears to be written with an aim "to deconstruct the dissertation ... and to reinforce the critical part of writing by fracturing the very notion of the 'subject' of a book."

But if this sort of technical integrity or consistency were all that is on offer in mystory, I doubt it would account for the resoundingly warm and comfortable appeal of the book. Structure is one thing, writing ­the sheer skill of putting words effectively together ­is quite another. And make no bones about it, mystory is superbly well written ­precise, penetrating, pungently evocative and stringently economical. If Barthes lurks behind its structural technique, Hemingway cannot be far below the surface of the style in mystory. This does not suggest derivativeness; for the writing in mystory is distinctly personal and highly idiosyncratic: one simply recognizes the flavour of Hemingway's sternly reticent, crisp phrasing, and edged rendering both of physical detail and human emotion. Here, for instance, is the death scene of the author's Aunt Clara in mystory:

"She [Aunt Clara] took in a deep shuddering breath, like a long gulp of some delicious needed drink, and then, as we waited, she did not let it out again... We continued to wait, and then my mother said, She's gone."

As Manoa remarks upon the death of Samson in Samson Agonistes, "Nothing is here for tears." This tough, unsentimental matter-of-factness pervades every quotation, episode and anecdote in mystory and contributes a great deal to a general effect of tautness, economy and control. In turn, this effect gives mystory a solid, contemporary feel of understatement, restriction and unworried acknowledgement of limited or fractured possibilities.

Undoubtedly, this contemporary feel is also a product of the post-modernism of Barthesian discontinuity, and pure, unsentimental Hemingwayesque expression. But I have to repeat that, despite its technical sources, the writing in mystory belongs very much to the author himself, and to himself as a contemporary, Canadian author. It is remarkable how, despite Barthes and Hemingway, its conscious disavowal of subject, denial of the illusion of truth, and its implicit faith in narratological innovation, mystory emerges as a narrative with a fluency all of its own and the author's unmistakable stamp upon it. It is remarkable, for instance, how the threads of narrative ­quotations from a history of Dundas, Ont. (scene of the author's childhood), accounts of visits to his therapist, anecdotes about family and friends, and theories of composition -- come together in a blend of human experience that is clearly located in place and time. Even more remarkable, it is a blend that stubbornly conveys a sense of continuity, meaning and, consequently, illumination or revelation of the author himself. Evidently, here is an element of paradox or, at any rate, of artifice, as when the author writes: "I don't have a story of my life, I have writing that I do when I confront or accept my ignorance about life. C'est pour passer le temps." Perhaps. But, in this instance, I will follow D.H. Lawrence and trust the tale, not the teller. For the warm and comfortable evocation of a provincial Ontario childhood and adulthood is too definite and specific to ignore. mystory may lack some of the acid in Stephen Leacock's portrayal of provincial folly in Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town, but it shows similar insight into provincial innocence. There are also links with contemporary Canadian writers, for example, Alice Munro and Carol Shields, who compensate for the limitations in the lives that they study with hefty doses of what one might call the milk of human kindness. It is saying a lot for a mere slip of a text like mystory, which is only 109 pages long, that in addition to its literary sophistication and theoretical innovation, it contains so much human sympathy, as well.

Women's Remembrance Day to be observed

The Senate of York University has declared that classes will be cancelled between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4. The official Women's Remembrance Day, Dec. 6, falls on a Sunday, so the York observance has been scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4. The Senate encourages faculty members to highlight Women's Remembrance Day in their classes and to incorporate in their classes, as appropriate, some of the issues facing women, particularly violence against women. The University administration supports the development of workshops to assist faculty in this. The day recalls the Montreal Massacre of Dec. 6, 1989, when 14 women, including engineering students and staff, were killed at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal.

Join York's marathon walking team

Join the York Toronto Marathon Walk Team! Prof. Joe Levy, director of the Wellness Centre, is organizing a team for the Toronto Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 7 a.m. Everyone is welcome. Although the marathon continues for 26.2 miles, you don't have to walk the whole thing. You can walk as much or as little as you wish. If interested, contact Prof. Levy at ext. 33898 or email: joelevy@yorku.ca. Complete registration information is available at the Toronto Marathon web site: www.run toronto.com.

York student joins police services board

SHAKE ON IT: Among those celebrating the joint endeavour between York, Trent, and Durham are: (from left) Durham College President Gary Polonsky, York University President Lorna Marsden, Jim Flaherty, MPP (Durham Centre) and Jerry Ouellette, MPP (Oshawa).

Students in the Durham Region will have more choices in postsecondary education, thanks to new funding for a special agreement between York University, Trent University, and Durham College.

York University and Trent University in Peterborough, Ont., have received more than $5 million in operational funding to provide university programming at Durham College in Oshawa, the Ministry of Education and Training announced.

On Sept. 4, the provincial government announced that the investment would take place over a four-year period. It will address several vital issues pertinent to the success of operating the University Centre at Durham College in Oshawa. It will also enable York and Trent to expand programs and course offerings to meet enrolment demands of a growing region. The announcement serves as a concrete example of how Ontario's colleges and universities can work closely and successfully together.

"York University welcomes this funding, which will assist us in providing high-quality access to university education for students in the Durham Region," said York University President Lorna Marsden. "Our students benefit from our partnership with Trent University and Durham College, and we will continue to work to enhance their educational options."

Three degree programs are now available at Durham: a Bachelor of Administrative Studies from York's Atkinson College, a Bachelor of Arts from Trent, and a Bachelor of Science from Trent.

"This funding from the province means that students in Durham can choose to work towards a Bachelor of Administrative Studies degree at York from their home region, and that they can undertake full-time university studies during the daytime," said Livy Visano, Dean of Atkinson College. "This co-operative venture fits with York's reputation as an accessible, people-oriented university, and with Atkinson College's special role in delivering high quality education at York."

"Durham College and all of Durham Region and Port Hope are appreciative of the Ministry's decision to provide multi-year, operational funding for the Durham University Centre," stated Gary Polonsky, President of Durham College. "This announcement continues the transformation of our already wonderful community in a way that will be felt in years and decades to come. This may also set a new benchmark for college-university partnerships in Ontario. A huge 'thank you' to our two wonderful partners, Trent and York Universities."

Prof. Bonnie Patterson, President of Trent University, said, "We welcome this opportunity to extend our partnership with Durham College and York University, and with this new investment, it will be possible to do so," she said. "Each participant brings a particular strength to the initiative. We are committed to developing partnerships that make sense to our mission, and this one builds on our long-standing commitment to provide higher education in the Durham Region."

Osgoode Hall Law School will be opening a state-of-the-art electronic classroom, thanks to a significant donation from the law firm of Goodman Phillips & Vineberg.

The donation will fund the renovation of Room 106, Osgoode Hall Law School, into a state-of-the-art electronic facility that will significantly enhance teaching and learning at York. Both students and faculty will now have access to the Net from the classroom, and will have electronic connections for laptop computers available. This fully-integrated learning environment will provide instant legal research capabilities for today's students, preparing them for the wired work environment.

The new teaching and learning centre will be equipped with a computer, motorized large screen, VCR, camcorder, computer projector and high quality sound system and lighting. These facilities will provide an enhanced learning environment for students. In addition, the seating has been redesigned to improve sight lines for all students, and the overall classroom has been upgraded with new writing surfaces and carpeting.

Members of the York community are invited to come to the official opening and demonstration of the room's technological resources. Please join the Osgoode Hall Law School faculty, staff and students and the partners of Goodman Phillips & Vineberg at the opening of the Goodman Phillips & Vineberg Classroom, Room 106, Osgoode Hall Law School, on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 12:30 p.m.

Osgoode Hall Law School Dean Peter Hogg has expressed "great pleasure that the Goodman Phillips & Vineberg Classroom will provide students and faculty with the latest technologically enhanced teaching and up-to-the-minute research capabilities." The firm is also endowing a bursary fund which will provide necessary student support at a critical time of escalating student fees.

THE PLAY'S THE THING: Laura Mullin and Chris Tolley, artistic directors of eXpect theatre, wrote the production, Survival U, based on their own experiences at university.

Over the past few weeks, thousands of Canadian students went off to university or community college for the first time. Although it's an exciting time of life, it's also a stressful period. Many students find it tough to cope with the pressures of university life. They face not only the demands of a heavy course load, but also the adjustment of living away from home for the first time, managing finances, and many are working part-time.

Too many students drop out of university simply because they're not prepared to cope with the pressures. That's why two York University graduates, Chris Tolley and Laura Mullin, created a new theatre company with a production aimed at helping senior high school students and first-year university students to prepare for the most challenging social adjustment of their lives.

Survival U is an innovative and fast-paced production put on by Tolley and Mullin's theatre company, eXpect theatre. The production launched its fourth season on Aug. 24 and is now touring around Ontario high schools. The play has been performed for first-year students at Humber College, the University of Toronto, Brock University, and the University of Guelph.

The one-hour play follows the lives of five students as they experience the many ups and downs of their first year of school. It deals with issues around leaving home, alcohol and drugs, frosh week, sexuality, harassment, campus safety, stress management, managing your finances and other responsibilities. Since 1994, the group has performed for more than 35,000 students, and is quickly gaining prominence as Canada's fastest growing theatre company for young audiences.

"There is an abundance of information to help pick the best schools and score the best grades," says Tolley. "But there are virtually no resources to help with the social transition." Through the play, Survival U, the eXpect theatre aims to prepare young people for that transition.

Mullin and Tolley wrote the play themselves, and it is rooted in their own experiences at university. With a confessional air, the performers impart the secrets of survival from balancing a chequebook to the world's best Kraft Dinner recipes.

The Vancouver Sun reported that "There's a lot of life adjustments for first year students ... about 98 per cent of them get sick during the first six weeks of school..." (1994) Similarly, Maclean's magazine (1993) noted that "Students use alcohol as a stress reliever...university students drink about twice as much as other people their age." The play is one way to help students learn to combat those stresses, the playwrights say.

According to Elizabeth Walker, an English teacher and guidance counsellor at Toronto's Harbord Collegiate, "Survival U was funny and lively, while still addressing the important issues ... Our students loved it, and also found it relevant as they identified readily with the characters and the situations portrayed."

The following is a synopsis of the meeting of June 25, 1998, of the Senate of York University.

The Senate:

* heard remarks from President Marsden regarding the departure of Mr. Malcolm Ransom from the position of Secretary of the University, and the recent appointment of Ms. Harriet Lewis to the newly-merged position of Secretary of the University / University Counsel; heard comments on the recently completed report of the Task Force on Resource Centres; and heard a description of several recent honours and distinctions awarded to members of the York community.

* received a report from Vice-President Phyllis Clark on the Budget Plan for 1998-2001 (approved by the Board of Governors at its May 25th meeting) providing a review and explanation of the University budget within the context of the current economic climate for universities in Ontario, announcing approved tuition changes for 1998/99, providing the welcome news that 1998/99 will be the last year of base budget cuts and that a modest surplus has been projected for 1999/2000;

* approved recommendations brought forward by the Committee on Curriculum and Academic Standards: Senate Harmony Initiative Recommendations, including regulations governing the provision for students to retake a failed course once for academic degree or certificate credit; regulations regarding inclusion and method of designation of failed or passed, graded or ungraded credits on transcripts; regulations allowing students to include up to 12 credits on an ungraded basis towards an Honours degree or 6 credits on an ungraded basis towards an Ordinary degree; policy stipulating the minimum overall grade point average to graduate is 4.0 in an undergraduate ordinary degree program and 5.0 in an undergraduate honours degree program; clarifying that 'core' requirements in undergraduate degree programs are not covered by the regulation that prohibits a minimum grade point average;

-- establishment of Honours Major/Honours Minor programs in the Faculty of Pure and Applied Science and the creation of a Joint Arts/Science Major/Minor BA and BSC Program Options;

-- changes to the promotion standards for the BBA degree program offered by Schulich School of Business, setting 5.5 as the required minimum cumulative grade point average for promotion, graduation and for all out-of-faculty course requirements;

-- changes to the Academic Rules of Osgoode Hall Law School elimination of the requirement of a B (6.0) average for Bachelor of Environmental Studies core courses required for completion of the Bachelor of Environmental Studies Specialized Honours Degree Program;

-- establishment of the (Liberal Studies) Creative and Cultural Expression Theme, Atkinson College;

-- establishment of the (Liberal Studies) Public Services Studies, Atkinson College;

-- change in the number of Psychology course credits to satisfy the requirements for BSC Ordinary and BSC Specialized Honours degree programs, harmonizing these requirements with those stipulated for the BA Ordinary or Specialized Honours programs;

-- changes in the degree requirements for the BA Ordinary and Honours Degree Programs in Sociology, the Concentration in the Sociology of Gender and Families, and the Certificate in Anti-Racist Research & Practice, Atkinson College;

-- changes to the degree requirements of the Bachelor of Science Nursing (Honours) Degree Program, Atkinson College, setting a required major cumulative grade point average of 6.0 including a minimum grade of C (4.0) in all courses used in the major;

* noted a series of reports prepared by the Committee on Curriculum and Academic Standards regarding:

-- an initial report from the Registrar's Office, identifying increasing difficulties accommodating examinations within acceptable time frames for the December and, to a lesser extent, the April examination periods. A detailed review will be conducted over the next several weeks and CCAS will present a full report and recommendations to Senate early in the Fall;

-- confirmation of the harmonized accommodation of transfer of 9-credit Foundation courses credits from the Faculty of Arts to Atkinson College;

-- information regarding minor changes in degree requirements for several programs, including the Graduate Program in Geography and the Graduate Program in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Graduate Studies; the Kinesiology and Health Science BA and BSC Programs; French Studies programs, Glendon College; Applied Mathematics, FPAS and Arts; and Physics and Astronomy, FPAS.

-- approved the continuation of the both the LaMarsh Centre for Research on Violence and Conflict Resolution and the Centre for Vision Research for a period of five years ;

WOMEN'S LACROSSE: The York University women's lacrosse team has won the provincial title for the past four seasons. Since it received varsity club status, it can now use Yeowomen name.

by Marylyn White

Making the jump from sport club to varsity club is a long and arduous journey, but the Yeowomen lacrosse team has successfully completed the trek.

York has had a lacrosse sport club for 12 years, but until this season, Canada's national sport has lacked varsity status. "We've always had the same attitude as a varsity team," says head coach Tanya Paulozza. "We've never been bitter about not having the same status. We always went out with a positive attitude."

Since the team has received varsity club status, it can now use the Yeowomen name. As well, it will receive priority booking for practice and competition facilities over non-sanctioned clubs, and the team will receive administrative support from Sport York.

In order to gain varsity status at York University, a sport must be sanctioned by the OUA (Ontario University Athletics). The league requires sport applicants to prove they have been operating a stable league amongst universities squads, and that the bid is supported by a minimum of four OUA member institutions. At the league's annual meeting in May, lacrosse was officially sanctioned within the OUA, with York's support.

Leading up to the OUA meeting, Cheryl McNeill, the coordinator of the women's lacrosse league, held monthly meetings with various lacrosse coaches across the province to compile a game plan for achieving OUA sanction. York head coach last year, Margot Jacobs, along with Paulozza, attended the meetings and worked with Sport York staff on developing the bid for the OUA.

"They run a really well organized league," says Sheila Forshaw, York's Inter-university Sport Coordinator. "They have been a strong team for York University for the last 12 years, winning the provincial title for the past four seasons. Due to the fact that they are in a strong university league they deserve the recognition. I know they are a valuable asset to the Sport York team."

"By not giving up and not getting negative (after their first rejection by the OUA in 1995), we gained success," says Paulozza. "If you don't give up, you succeed ­and we have."

As for the defending OUA champion Yeowomen, they are looking forward to another strong season. They are expecting the return of 11 veterans, plus a good crop of rookies.

York's newest varsity team begins their season on the road September 19-20 in Oshawa. They play their one and only home game on Saturday, October 24 against Toronto.

This event introduces the series and focuses specifically on the growth of Canadian theatre from its amateur status in the 1960s to its current stature as one of Canada's primary cultural industries.

4:30-6:00 (Burton Auditorium).

Panel presentation: "The Business of Canadian Culture".

Keith Kelly, former National Director, CCA (Canadian Conference of the Arts), (Ottawa).

Pat Bradley, Executive Director, PACT (Professional Association of Canadian Theatres); President, CCA (Toronto).

Moderator: Prof. Robert Wallace, Robarts Chair for Canadian Studies, York University.

6:00-7:00 Reception and cash bar (The Alumni Fireside Lounge, Centre for Film and Theatre).

7:00-8:30 (Harry Crowe Room, 109 Atkinson College).

Talk: "The Playwright as Politician"

Wendy Lill, playwright, MP (Halifax) and NDP culture critic.

The following is the text of a letter sent to York University President Lorna Marsden from Thomas A. Brzustowski, Chair of the Networks of Centres of Excellence Steering Committee.

August 18, 1998

Dr. Lorna Marsden, President
York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, ON M3J 1P3

Dear Dr. Marsden:

As Chair of the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) Steering Committee, I am pleased to provide you with the 1996-97 Annual Report highlighting the achievements of the Networks of Centres of Excellence program.

I would like to congratulate your university and your researchers for being so actively involved in this national initiative and supporting the NCE researchers. Your researchers' participation in the TeleLearning Networks of Centres of Excellence and the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (IRIS) demonstrates clearly your commitment to making this initiative a success. I hope that you will continue your critical support of the NCE researchers.

The Canadian universities are essential contributors to the Networks of Centres of Excellence program and are recognized as such on page 15 of the NCE annual report. In 1997, the NCE program estimated that when the salary of the over 800 university researchers taking part in the NCEs was factored in, Canadian universities contributed over $100 million to the NCE program. The federal government also recognizes the leadership role of the NCEs, and their scientific leaders and researchers in R&D in this country. We greatly appreciate the strong support that your university and the other 47 participating Canadian universities are providing to the NCE scientific leaders and researchers.

As the NCE program continues to evolve, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you information on the current NCE competition, the results of which will be known this fall, and on my conviction of a need to increase the annual budget of the program to $100 million, from the current $47.4 million.

I am concerned that, if success rates continue at the very low level that will come out of the current competition, the best and busiest people will stop applying. The budget for this competition is $9 million per annum, but there are 11 strong applications submitted by groups that were chosen by the NCE selection committee out of the 72 that had sent letters of intent. And those letters of intent already represented a significant investment of effort in developing partnerships, creating networks and defining research strategies. This means that some potentially strong and important NCEs will be turned away this September. And, since the next competition is 31Ž2 years away, there is almost no chance that these teams will stay together and try again. Important opportunities for this country will be lost.

This concern has prompted me to request an increase for the NCE program in the next Federal budget, and I am hoping that I can count on your support in my endeavour.

We now know that the average cost of an NCE is close to $3.5 million per year. Raising the program budget by $52.6 million to $100 million per year will enable us to support 30 NCEs, and will make it possible to have much more frequent competitions. This will be a good investment, contributing significantly to the advancement of knowledge, to sustainable job creation and economic growth, and to improved quality of life for all Canadians.

I have come to believe that the NCE program is an important investment for Canada, and I am grateful for your support and that of your university.

I sincerely hope that the federal government will be able to make the additional investment that will seize the opportunity created by this extraordinarily successful Canadian innovation.