Month: March 2001

By Julian Cheung

A far-reaching research collaboration has found the gene that causes a major degenerative eye disease. The study, published in January, discovered a gene that may contribute to some forms of degeneration in the central part of the retina. This suggests that some people may be genetically prone to develop a specific type of the age-related… Continue reading U of A finds gene for macular eye disease

By Vianne Fung

Botanists found that handling plants in the field may have serious consequences for the plants. University of Alberta professor James Cahill has discovered that touching plants may alter the chances insects will feed upon the plants’ leaves. “This will have potential dramatic implications for field biologists. We will have to be more aware of this… Continue reading Plants picky over human contact

By Christie Tucker

The federal government is working to retrieve defaulted student loans, and new legislation means that 7,000 actions will be issued in Alberta courts before March 31 in order to keep their debts alive. The provincial statute of limitations has just been changed, reducing from six to two years the length of time a debt can… Continue reading Alberta presses charges against 7,000 students

By Nathan Dyck

Students who were hit with high utility costs this winter may be saved from some of the accumulated debt and possible disconnection. Students can appeal for additional financial aid in the form of paid utility arrears. These additional funds are an adjustment on the student’s loan so students already at their maximum disbursement may still… Continue reading Energy news brief

By Вen Li

"The University of Calgary is a very key and important asset to both the city and the province. The future obviously [depends on] the education of our young people." Brian MacNeill, the 61-year-old chairman of the board at Petro-Canada and the University of Calgary’s incoming Board of Governors chair, has a special place for education… Continue reading Board of Governors names new chair

By Ruth Davenport

Three provincial party candidates were grilled by parents, educators and a smattering of university students at the Calgary Public Library last week. Lyle Oberg, the current minister of education, Garth Mundle of the New Democrats and Brendan Dunphy of the Liberal party fielded questions Feb. 22 on subjects ranging from elementary school board under funding… Continue reading Candidates square off on education issues

By David Kenney

A pioneering Canadian space project studying the origin of the universe has some of its roots at the University of Calgary. Last Tuesday’s launch of the Odin astronomical satellite marks the debut of tuneable high-frequency radio in space to examine celestial objects. The two year, multi- million dollar satellite will orbit the earth and study… Continue reading Canada broadcasts live from space

By Rhia Perkins

Classrooms packed to the gills, lecture sections filled before you even get a chance to register, overworked professors staring at endless seas of faces and wondering if a better teaching experience is to be found elsewhere–all are signs of an underfunded education system. While this trend is clear throughout the University of Calgary, nowhere is… Continue reading Are Arts and Humanities underfunded at the University of Calgary?

By Lawrence Bailey

The Speech and Debate Society was relegated from spectacle to spectator as the Varsity provincial election candidates took over Speaker’s Corner Wed., Feb. 28. Everything from gambling to gas to gay marriages was on the agenda as the four candidates fielded a barrage of questions in MacEwan Hall. Hot button issues were met with evasion,… Continue reading Calgary Varsity candidates square off

By Andrew Ross

The University of Calgary Students’ Union is paying for accessibility upgrades around campus, some of which are the legal responsibility of the university. The SU’s budget for accessibility projects is generated by the SU access fee ($1 from every full-time student and $0.50 from every part-time student per session), and unofficial estimates of the size… Continue reading Students pay for university accessibility upgrades