“I suspect that party members are feeling a little bit down,” said Robert MacDermid, political science professor at York University, about a gaffe at an Ontario Progressive Conservative weekend gathering, reported The London Free Press Oct. 28. Premier Ernie Eves paid a glowing tribute to former premier Mike Harris, who wasn’t there to take a bow. MacDermid was similarly quoted in The Toronto Sun.
York Yeomen make history
The York University football team yesterday recorded the biggest win in its 35-year history — one that also includes a national record losing streak of 47 games, began The Toronto Star Oct. 27. Led by a stellar defence, York beat the 10th-ranked Ottawa GeeGees 12-4 before a home field crowd of 1,086 for its first post-season victory. The Toronto Sun also trumpeted York’s historical victory.
Sales will kill Halloween
Nicholas Rogers, York University history professor, suggests Halloween festivities may ultimately be done in not by anthrax or the fear of razor-laden apples, but rather by commercialization, report reviewers of his new book Halloween in The Ottawa Citizen, The Toronto Sun, Guelph Mercury, The Record and The Globe and Mail.
Campus Watch squashes anti-American speech
Jamie Scott, who teaches world religions at York, has had his name added to a blacklist of academics on Campus Watch, a Web site set up by the right-wing American think-tank Middle East Forum, reported The Montreal Gazette Oct. 28. He wrote a letter criticizing the Web site’s call upon students and faculty to snitch on anyone whose lectures could be interpreted as anti-American or anti-Israel. “It is a pity that your organization seems wilfully to look at only half of this picture, and worse, tries actively to blinker and blind others,” he wrote. “Your views are part of the discussion; your efforts to intimidate others are not.”
Spotlight on bullying
Psychology Professor Debra Peplar’s research on bullying in the schoolyard was mentioned in detail at an anti-bullying seminar in Guelph, reported the Guelph Mercury Oct. 25.
Riders get more GO
The popular Hwy. 407 GO bus rush-hour service will be beefed up and a new midday travel option added to the rush-hour train service to York University GO station that began in September, reported Canada News-Wire Oct. 25.