From Burger King’s sneering, plastic-faced King mascot to Quiznos’ guitar-playing rat puppet and Arby’s walking, talking oven mitt, the industry is littered with odd spokesman choices. . . . “People think, ‘That’s ugly, what’s that?’ and they forget what the company is trying to sell,” said Schulich School of Business marketing Professor Alan Middleton in the Toronto Star May 26. “They become attention-getters for the sake of getting attention, but don’t give you any feeling about the product.” Read full story.
Master storyteller Stuart McLean, academic and scientific leaders to be honoured at Spring Convocation
Longtime CBC personality Stuart McLean and York University President Mamdouh Shoukri are among those being awarded honorary degrees during McMaster’s Spring convocation ceremonies, reported Daily News May 26. Read full story.
Disability friendly LSAT coming to a law school near you
Students with disabilities will be happy to learn in the future any extra time granted to take the LSAT will not be noted on their law school application, reported Canadian Lawyer May 26. . . . A 2013 Osgoode Hall Law School entering class survey showed 24 of 301 students, representing eight per cent of the class, identified themselves as having a disability of some sort. “We don’t have them tick a box for disability,” said Assistant Dean Mya Bulwa, adding Osgoode does not require students to disclose a physical, learning or mental disability. Read full story.
Combine gives teams full scope of top prospects
The fitness portion of the combine will be held May 31 at Toronto International Centre, headed by York University kinesiology Professor Norman Gledhill and his York University Fitness staff, reported NHL.com May 26. This year overhand pull-ups, single leg squats (both legs) and pro agility tests will replace push-ups, the push-pull station and the seated medicine ball throw. Read full story.
The ‘cheap university’ that students don’t experience
The idea of calculating the cost of a post-secondary education based on “net-tuition” – as described in an opinion article in the Star last week by Prof. George Fallis of York University – does not present a full financial picture and fails to address the many gaps when it comes to financing an education, reported the Toronto Star May 26. Read full story.
Eight ways retirees can save money
Several Toronto universities including York University and Ryerson will waive all or part of your tuition fees if you are over 60 and want to go back to school, reported the Toronto Star May 27. Other colleges and universities in Ontario and across country also offer seniors a tuition break. Read full story.
Richards-Kwok qualifies for world athletics championships
Mississauga’s Dontae Richards-Kwok and the rest of the Canadian men’s 4 x 100-metre track team are heading to Beijing for next year’s International Association of Athletics Federation World Championships, reported Mississauga News May 26. . . . Richards-Kwok recently completed his fifth and final year at York University. In March, he won four individual gold medals to lead York to its first Canadian Interuniversity Sport national championship since 1984. Read full story.
Argos have most to lose to potential labour disruption
On the same day the league and its players’ union resume negotiations, first-year Argos and the team’s quarterbacks, including incumbent Ricky Ray, will gather at York University for what should be the first of a three-day session, reported the Toronto Sun May 26. Read full story.