After years of giving graduate students, faculty and staff at other universities free and unlimited access to its network of libraries, vast collection of books and extensive archival materials, the University of Toronto is asking for a payback, wrote the Toronto Star Sept. 10.
In a surprise move to begin Oct. 1, the University of Toronto will require library users from other Canadian universities to pay a fee of up to $200 a year for using its library services. The university says the decision was made to help ease “financial pressures” facing the libraries this year, wrote the Star.
But cash-strapped graduate students who rely on U of T’s rare and extensive collection, mostly at the John P. Robarts Research Library, to write their masters’ theses or doctoral dissertations, say they can’t afford it.
“These are people who are already getting by on $16,400 a year or less, so $200 is a significant problem for students already tens of thousands of dollars in debt,” said Ian Milligan, a Canadian history PhD student at York, who uses Robarts Library once or twice a week.
Until now, students, faculty and staff from any university across the country were permitted to use library resources, as long as they came in person and had student ID. The national agreement was implemented in 2002 to improve access to books and resources, wrote the Star.
“This decision is in breach of that policy,” said Marlene Shore, history professor in York’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. Shore said the decision sets a precedent that other universities may follow. “What’s to stop the other universities in Ontario from also deciding to charge a fee?” she said. Since the university is a public institution, using public money, there should be no fee at all, she said.
Earlier this year, the University of Toronto introduced flat fees to raise $10 million, after its endowment investments were badly battered by the recession, wrote the Star. Critics say the library fee is yet another move to download costs onto students.
When bad things happen to good dresses
The symbiotic relationship between fashion and entertainment has a long history, writes theatre Professor Marlis Schweitzer of York’s Faculty of Fine Arts in her new book When Broadway was the Runway, wrote the Toronto Star Sept. 10. It dates back to the turn of the last century in New York City.
The book chronicles the early days of Broadway, when consumers were introduced to fashion styles by celebrated stage actresses of the day – even chorus girls.
The 34-year-old theatre historian says contemporary celebrity culture and its genesis on the stage have always fascinated her. “Early on, actresses were viewed as seedy, immoral women,” she says. Then came the rise of the press agent and they entered an era of respectability. If a play, for example, was set in contemporary times, actresses were expected to dress themselves. That changed in 1919, she says, with new union regulations. “Established stars asserted their dominant position by dressing really well,” she says.
Student mentors help girls forge ahead on career path
Sarah Bertie is intent on running her own design studio some day, wrote the Toronto Star Sept. 10. It’s a determination forged by Bertie’s participation in a project organized through the Schulich School of Business at York University.
The Women in Leadership (WIL) Mentorship Program pairs female BBA and MBA students with “girls with potential in Grades 9 to 12 who have faced systemic barriers” at nearby C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute and Westview Centennial Secondary School.
Ronke Soluade (MBA ’07), the WIL club’s 2006-2007 president, co-founded the mentorship program. “I thought this great business school should be having an impact in the area,” explains the 34-year-old Nigerian-born, British-educated real estate analyst, who also has a law degree. “WIL was all about us being able to get better jobs but it was important for us to reach out to these girls so perhaps they could aspire to business school. A lot of us just need that one person to care.”
Schulich international MBA student Sarah Tatrallyay says the experience helped make her a better manager and she came away with “respect for the high school girls that went against their peers to join the program and use it as a springboard to improve their lives.”
York quarterback ineligible, suspended for season
For the fifth time in seven years, York University has been caught using an ineligible player, this time in a football game, wrote the Toronto Star Sept. 10.
Much-ballyhooed quarterback Pat Hooey, who transferred from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax after finishing a three-year degree, was suspended for the season. Jennifer Myers, director of York Sport & Recreation, called it a breakdown in communications between Hooey and head coach Mike McLean. “It was a mistake that has impacted on many people,” said Myers. “It’s a lesson in accountability. We never hid anything. Everyone assumed things were fine and they weren’t. Although the team is devastated and everyone feels bad, it’s not the end of the world. We learn from this and move forward.”
Hooey, who once played for Brother André Catholic High School in Markham, returned home to register in York’s graduate studies program. However, he needed a four-year degree to get in. Hooey signed up for a second undergraduate program but because he played in Halifax last year, was in violation of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) transfer eligibility regulations.
Myers said yesterday that she learned of the situation after receiving correspondence from the CIS national office. The e-mail revealed that Steve Sarty, director of athletics & recreation at Saint Mary’s, blew the whistle.
“We did a poor job checking to make sure everyone was registered the right way,” said Myers. “It’s embarrassing and hurts many.”
Hooey, who played in York’s 17-14 season-opening loss, suited up for the St. Mary's Huskies last year. McLean was defensive coordinator in Halifax before arriving at York last year.
Myers also suspended McLean from coaching in York’s next game, Saturday in Guelph.
York is a repeat offender of the eligibility rule – previously in soccer, field hockey, men’s ice hockey and track & field – and could face a hefty fine or other sanctions, wrote the Star.
- The York University football team has revealed that it used an ineligible player during its 17-14 loss to Windsor on Monday, wrote The Toronto Sun Sept. 10.
Quarterback Patrick Hooey, who played for Saint Mary’s last season, would have been eligible if he had been enrolled in a graduate program at York. However, Hooey is in an undergraduate program. Hooey and second-year Lion Nick Coutu shared time at quarterback against the Windsor Lancers.
Durie scores career first
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again, wrote The Mississauga News Sept. 9. That must be the motto Toronto Argonauts slotback Andre Durie of Mississauga adopted shortly before being named the Canadian Football League’s special teams player of the week for the first time in his career today. Last week, the oft-injured Lorne Park Secondary School graduate was named runner-up for the award.
Durie, who attended York University and seemed ready to embark on a pro football career before he seriously injured his knee in 2005, posted 189 yards on six kickoff returns against the arch-rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Labour Day. That was good enough for the fourth-best single-game record in Argo history behind Dominique Dorsey (225 yards), Raghib Ismail (224 yards) and Terry Greer (214 yards).
- Former York University Lion Andre Durie is the Canadian Football League’s special teams player of the week after he produced 189 kickoff yards, including an 82-yard return, in Hamilton, wrote The Toronto Sun Sept. 10. “We’ve found ourselves a kick returner,” coach Bart Andrus said of Durie, who may one day return punts.
Immigrant potential business owners shy away from valley
Carlos Teixeira, who describes himself as an urban social geographer, is looking for answers to why Kelowna has not attracted more immigrants and has turned to the Internet to try and find them, wrote BC’s Kelowna Capital News Sept. 8.
With a survey that takes respondents about 20 minutes to complete on the Web, Teixeira and his research partner Lucia Lo, geography professor in York’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, say the work will complement a similar study completed last year on immigrant settlement and housing in the Kelowna area.
Dance teacher sets foot in studio
York grad and current student Andrea Downie (BFA Spec. Hons. ’94) is a dance educator, scholar, writer and choreographer, wrote British Columbia’s Prince George Free Press Sept. 8 in a story about staff at Judy Russell’s Enchaînement Dance Centre. She’s been on faculty at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts in Vancouver for the past 12 years and is currently completing her master of arts in dance at York University. Downie has a bachelor of fine arts in dance from York’s Faculty of Fine Arts and has completed the professional training program at Dance New Amsterdam in New York City.
She works as a guest instructor at performing arts schools, arts centres and studios throughout BC and Ontario and shares her passion for dance with students of all ages. Her classes are intelligently structured, emphasize anatomically sound movement and encourage individual expression within a supportive learning environment. She will be teaching modern dance and adult ballet among other classes.
On air
- Paul Delaney, professor of physics & astronomy in York’s Faculty of Science & Engineering, spoke about new images from the refurbished Hubble space telescope and the future launch of the James Webb Space Telescope on CTV News, Sept. 9.
- OMNI-TV News reported on the appointment of Professor Jinyan Li as interim dean of York’s Osgoode Hall Law School, Sept. 9.