York University Professor Margaret Beare, who studies policing, says it’s “the whole notion of working with communities, not against communities” that should prevail. The Toronto-based professor worries that the militarization of police forces that’s been happening in the U.S. over the past couple of decades is bound to creep into Canada, reported CBC News Aug. 14. Read full story.
How much exercise you need to actually get the healthy benefits
A recent study published in PLOS ONE suggests that the majority of young and middle-aged to old adults underestimate the intensity of physical activity required to achieve health benefit, reported SheKnows.com Aug. 16. The study, conducted by York University‘s Faculty of Health, recruited 129 sedentary adults ages 18 to 64. They were asked to walk or jog on a treadmill at a speed that they felt corresponded to the ‘light,’ ‘moderate’ and ‘vigorous’ intensity descriptors used in the global physical activity guidelines. While they correctly estimated the physical activity required for light effort, they underestimated both moderate and vigorous. Read full story.
Continuing education for seniors
At many schools in the GTA, there’s also financial incentive for older students, reported the Toronto Star Aug. 14. At York University, students 60 and over can enjoy free tuition for the equivalent of one undergraduate degree. George Brown College offers a 20 per cent discount on continuing education courses for students over 60. Read full story.
New Schulich certificate adds to an undergrad’s ‘global mindset’
The certificate in managing international trade and investment at York University’s Schulich School of Business was developed in partnership with Export Development Canada. Schulich is the only Canadian business school to offer this certificate to its undergrads, reported The Globe and Mail Aug. 14. The program is one of the first initiatives at Schulich’s Centre for Global Enterprise, which was established last November to provide research and resources to improve the performance of Canada’s small and medium-sized businesses in global trade. Read full story.
Supporting the future of mental health studies; Ontario celebrates two graduate students with Hilary M. Weston Scholarship
Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade Ontario is recognizing two graduate students with the Hilary M. Weston Scholarship for their outstanding efforts and commitment to the study of mental health, reported Bloomberg Businessweek Aug. 15. Nimo Bokore – a doctoral student at York University – will receive support for her research, which focuses on uncovering and recording the stories of Somali-Canadian women and the trauma they experienced while in Somalia and during the upheaval of their settlement in Canada. Read full story.
Critics decry ‘militarization’ of police in wake of Missouri death
“We saw it in the G20. Once you armour somebody like that, then the whole function becomes different,” said York University Professor Margaret Beare in the Toronto Star Aug. 14. “You move away from the pretense of any sort of civility and respect and social justice, and the idea of sort of a negotiated agreement between police and citizens. You lose that.” Read full story.
Pitfalls of BYOD in higher education
A study from York University and McMaster University in Canada examined the effects of multitasking, such as updating Facebook while listening to a political science lecture, on learning, reported Tech Page One Aug. 14. “The results demonstrate that multitasking on a laptop poses a significant distraction to both users and fellow students and can be detrimental to comprehension of lecture content,” the study found. Read full story.
‘Responsible capitalism’ is nonsense
“The real problem with “responsible capitalism” is not that it sounds clunky on the doorstep but rather that ordinary people know in their gut that it is a contradiction in terms,” wrote York University Distinguished Research Professor Leo Panitch in Global Research Aug. 13. “They can sense how evasive it is in relation to their own experience.” Read full story.
Iranian-connected house in Toronto at centre of international showdown
Iran has used so-called cultural centres to promote pro-Iranian regime interests abroad, said Farrokh Zandi, a York University professor and former president of the Iranian-Canadian Congress, in the Toronto Star Aug. 17. He said some who have fled Iran worry their old government is spying on them through such centres. Read full story.
Does religion have role in Bosnia elections?
Jasmin Mujanovic, a PhD candidate of political science at York University in Toronto, believes Ceric’s candidacy to be profoundly problematic. “Religious figures of his stature should have no place running for public office, especially in countries like Bosnia where questions of faith are so politically charged,” Mujanovic stated in Al Jazeera Aug. 16. Read full story.
Transport Canada keeping secret details MM&A safety inspections
Three months before the disaster, inspection documents show the regulator examined MMA 5017 – the locomotive leading the doomed 72-car train – but information about any problems found has been redacted, reported the Toronto Star Aug. 15. “There is an overriding public interest here around public safety,” said Mark Winfield, a York University professor who researches Canadian safety regulations. “These sorts of records should be pretty transparent, because it goes fundamentally to how the regulator does its job.” Read full story.
Keeping out of the mud is harder than the NPA would have you believe
Much as regular voters say they prefer clean campaigns, the reality every campaigner knows is that negative campaigns can be effective. “People are seeing that campaigns have become very ugly and personal and they want relief from that,” said York University political science Professor Dennis Pilon in The Globe and Mail Aug. 17. “But negative framing works, unless it’s too far-fetched.” Read full story.
Fiction helps build empathy in children: researcher
At the American Psychological Association’s 122nd Annual Convention, which wrapped up last week in Washington, D.C., York University psychologist Raymond Mar led a presentation on the important and oft forgotten role of narrative fiction, highlighting its ability to instill empathy, reported CTV News Aug. 17. Read full story.
The pain behind the laughter
“The conversation about Robin Williams and suicide is rapidly passing, and as expected we’re watching nostalgic clips on television instead of working to understand mental health issues with any degree of enthusiasm or sensitivity,” wrote York University PhD candidate Quintin Zachary Hewlett in the Toronto Star Aug. 16. Read full story.
The many ways you can spend your RESP
According to the university cost calculator on the Investor Education Fund website, tuition accounts for just 32 per cent of the annual cost of $17,782 for a Humanities student at York University living away from home, reported the Toronto Star Aug. 16. Read full story.
Updated: Landon won’t seek re-election to Markham council
Now, with the potential of Markham being home to a satellite York University campus, the city is in need of a parking authority, said Markham Regional Councillor Gordon Landon in the Markham Economist & Sun Aug. 15. Read full story.
Unionville councillor registers to run again for ward seat
There are a number of projects in the Markham Centre and Unionville area that Councillor Don Hamilton wants to see fulfilled, including the new Pan Am Centre, potential expansion of York University within Markham Centre, several parks within the south Unionville area as well as the ongoing Main Street Unionville revitalization plan, reported the Markham Economist & Sun Aug. 14. Read full story.