Iran arrests student who accused vice-chancellor of sexual harassment
The BBC reports that an Iranian student who accused her vice-chancellor of sexual harassment – sparking large protests – has been arrested by local authorities. “The local prosecutor is reported to have said that publicising certain crimes is worse than the crimes themselves,” according to the BBC report.…
Ontario government gives $35-mil for new Algonquin College building
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty travelled to his hometown college to announce $35-million in new capital funding today. The $35-million will help fund a new centre for Ottawa-based Algonquin College‘s construction trades and building sciences programs. The new building will enable the college to expand its programs creating 600…
Resigning as university president can be lucrative
When University of Northern British Columbia president Don Cozzetto’s suddenly resigned last month – in large part due to university funding cuts by the provincial government – there was mention that he would receive a reasonable severance package. My definition of “reasonable” meant a package that recognized the…
More unrest for Israel’s universities
The Israeli finance ministry is cutting another NIS 920 million (277-mil CAD) from university budgets this coming year. This is on top of NIS 1.3 billion in cuts (20% of university funding) since 2003. Considering that both faculty and students have staged strikes in the past over university…
I think the hydrant would approve
Eric Szeto’s has video of B.C.’s first automatic dog washing machine over in the culture section of the website. It’s an interesting concept. Stick your dog in a box, wait a few minutes and presto, the canine is clean. I believe the hydrant would approve on two counts…
Ontario’s health minister getting demoted?
I wandered over to the west side of Montreal’s downtown tonight. I was able to pick up a copy of the Toronto Star and the front page story is about a cabinet shuffle in Ontario. Health minister and deputy premier George Smitherman is being moved to a new…
More foster children entering post-secondary education
Susan Clairmont of The Hamilton Spectator (my local paper) writes about foster children entering post-secondary education in her column today. It’s definitely worth a read.…
I’m going to Montreal but not for the party scene
(Yes, I am stretching for headlines this morning.) This is the obligatory “out-of-the-office” blog post. I’m leaving for Montreal this morning and will not return until Monday. (So, if your in Montreal and have suggestions of a good bar on Thursday or Friday night – email me: joey@joeycoleman.ca)…
Ontario’s ombudsman calls for independent oversight of universities
Ontario ombudsman André Marin released his annual report today, and renewed his call for independent oversight of the province’s universities. Referring to the so-called MUSH sector — municipalities, universities, public schools, hospitals or children’s aid societies — Marin stated these agencies “have become almost a law unto themselves…
First look at enrolment numbers
The first projected enrolment numbers for September are starting to appear. The student newspaper at Wilfrid Laurier University reports 3,192 first year students have accepted admission offers to the Waterloo campus and the university may “convert” single rooms into double rooms to fulfill it’s promise of a residence…