Newsletter  MAY 2002 VOLUME 28.6 Tony Petric, EDITOR

in this issue:  2002/03 Executive President's Report CAUT Librarians Conference Retirement Lloyd George Reeds Announcements

Here are the members of the Executive Committee of the McMaster University Faculty Association for 2002/2003.  Their terms of office began on April 30, 2002

 

President	Vice-President	Past President
Lorraine Allan Psychology PC 409, Ext. 23023 allan@mcmaster.ca	Ken Cruikshank History CNH 604, Ext. 24153 cruiksha@mcmaster.ca	Tom Davison Mathematics & Statistics BSB 111, Ext. 23413 davison@mcmaster.ca

Members At Large

Joseph Adamson English	CNH 311, Ext. 23733	adamsonj@mcmaster.ca
Vikki Cecchetto Modern Languages   & Linguistics	TSH 601, Ext. 24474	cecchett@mcmaster.ca
Trevor Chamberlain Business	MGD 304, Ext. 23980	chambert@mcmaster.ca
Nibaldo Galleguillos Political Science	KTH 542, Ext. 23889	gallegui@mcmaster.ca
Gerald Moran Medical Physics	NRB 230, Ext. 26886	morang@mcmaster.ca
Marilyn Parsons Nursing	HSC 2J12A, Ext. 22749	parsonsm@mcmaster.ca
Anthony Petric Materials Science	JHE 258, Ext. 27242	petric@mcmaster.ca
Geoffrey Rockwell School of the Arts	TSH 312, Ext. 24072	grockwel@mcmaster.ca
Mary Anne Trainor Health Sciences Library	HSC 2B14, Ext. 24169	trainor@mcmaster.ca
Eva Werstiuk Medicine	HSC 4N39, Ext. 22204	wrstiuke@mcmaster.ca

President's Report
(delivered at the April 23, 2002 Annual General Meeting)

I will bring you up to date on what has been happening since the General Meeting in January.  You have already heard about the work of the Remuneration Committee and its consequences in our rather smooth negotiations with the Administration in the Joint Committee, in no small part due to the leadership of Bernadette Lynn.  Also Les Robb has reported on the ongoing Pension Surplus Distribution saga.

A small-j committee has been constituted (Joint MUFA/Senate Committee to review the Load Teaching Document) to consider our Load Teaching document.  Our representatives are Lorraine Allan and John Weaver, and the Senate representatives are Naresh Agarwal and Rhonda Lenton.  It is hoped that their work will be complete by September, at which time the Joint Committee will deliberate their recommendations.

The Joint Committee is currently reviewing the teaching in twilight hours document (Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Teaching of Day Classes and Teaching in the Twilight [5:30-6:20 pm] Hour).  It is hoped that this discussion, too, will be completed in September.

Senate has constituted an ad-hoc committee to  review the University Planning Committee's  performance since its inception.  There are six members of this committee, three of them being faculty.  We were successful in asserting our  right  to   nominate  one  of  the   faculty members.  This is Fred L Hall, the author of the report that led to the founding of the UPC.  The other faculty members are Susan Watt and Peter Sutherland.

In other news, your Executive decided on your behalf to donate $10,000 to CAUT's Academic Freedom Fund.  CAUT is hoping to raise $1,000,000 for this Fund.  If all faculty associations  match our gift, this is feasible.  You will note that we managed this while taking a contribution holiday (in March) and lowering the mill rate.

I now must indulge in a Cassandra moment.  I view with trepidation and dismay the growing practice in Science and Engineering of permitting faculty members on the CP/M scheme to opt out of teaching if they have external grants that permit or encourage this.  By removing  excellent researchers from undergraduate teaching, this will tend to demolish our claim to be a research-intensive, student-centred University.  I foresee problems administering the CP/M scheme as a result of this, if the practice becomes more widespread.

Ending now on a more cheerful note, I would like to thank my hard-working Executive  for their service to MUFA.  Of course on my own and their behalf, I thank Kelly and Phyllis, our staff, for their ability to make the day-to-day running of MUFA so incredibly smooth.  Thank you.

 Tom Davison

Academic Librarians in the Digital Age
CAUT Librarians Conference, April 4-6, 2002

Our Keynote Address speaker, Ross Atkinson (Associate University Librarian, Cornell University), gave a provocative talk about the access problems provided to academic libraries by publishers.  His main question was how do we continue to foster creative thinking and access to the results of this creative thinking if publishers limit access with excessive costs and binding license restrictions.  The main argument presented was that we shouldn’t pay access for what our academics have written.  Several solutions were offered: lobbying government for interventions, suing for ownership, and re-appropriation.   The last solution of re-appropriation was pursued as Atkinson believes it is possible for academics to take back ownership of their property and provide wide access to the information.  Atkinson pointed out success stories such as SPARC (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition) and High Wire Press.  He also left it with us to think about how librarians could be the new intermediaries in providing the access to intellectual knowledge in the digital age.

Other related sessions:

Copyright issues of digital information is not pretty considering that any license signed by an institution (i.e., contract law) automatically overwrites the contents of the Canadian  Copyright  Act.    Paul Jones, legal  representative  for CAUT, reported that CAUT is fighting for a balanced copyright act, but admitted that it is a losing battle at this time.

Journal quality and selection options are limited now that publishers are selling directly to patrons and selling large aggregator sets which bypass the intellectual selection process of collection librarians.  Quantity not quality seems to be the push from publishers.  However, projects such as SPARC and High Wire Press are fighting back to provide the quality aspect at a reasonable cost.

Privacy and academic freedom; exploring issues related to legislation (PIPEDA [federal] and FOIPOP [as a provincial — Nova Scotia — example], institutional accountability, and accessibility to digital information.

Other sessions, not quite within the theme of the conference, addressed working with support staff, institutional size, and academic autonomy.  While interesting, these sessions did not provide much relevant information with regard to academic librarians in the digital age.

For further information and conference handouts, contact Donna Millard.

 Donna Millard
 Reference Librarian
 Mills Memorial Library

 

Will You be RETIRING this Year?

ELECTRONIC MAIL ACCOUNTS:  It is agreed that provision of e-mail computer accounts for retired faculty members is to be treated similarly to the provision of mail boxes or library cards.  All retired faculty should have access to an e-mail account on the same terms as active faculty.  Like the mail box or library card, the e-mail account is to be used for University or academic business.  The account may be accessed from University computers or by modem.  In the latter case, if the retired faculty member wishes a fee modem account, this is also available and can be arranged (for example, through the purchase of vouchers at the Bookstore or by provision of a research account number).

Given past experience with illegitimate use of computer accounts by "hackers", it is recognized that for management purposes it might be necessary to require retired faculty to renew the e-mail computer account from time to time, or for CIS to remove accounts that are inactive over a long period of time.

This policy shall be reviewed no later than five years after its implementation.

 Re-endorsed by Joint Committee
 May 29, 2001

 TERMINATION OPTION:  During the fall of 1996, the Joint Committee recommended and the President agreed that those faculty who at the time of retirement elect the Pension Plan's Termination Option, should continue to qualify for the normal retirement benefits.
 

MAJOR MEDICAL & DENTAL BENEFITS: Continuation of benefits which were in effect prior to retirement (some exceptions apply), for retiree, spouse and eligible children.  Out-of-Province/Out-of-Country-Coverage is reduced to $10,000/lifetime.  It is recommended that you obtain extra travel insurance every time you travel out of Ontario or Canada.
 

LIFE INSURANCE: At normal retirement age (65 years) you will be provided with a paid up policy of $5,000.  If you wish to convert your insurance to a private insurance plan, you must apply within one month of your retirement date.  Please contact Human Resources for more information.

If you take early retirement, you are able to keep your current coverage (Grandfathered Plan) or the basic plan of 175% of salary (maximum salary $100,000) by paying the full premium which is based on age factors, gender and smoking vs non-smoking.  At age 65, however, the policy will be reduced to the Paid Up policy of $5,000.
 

PARKING:
1. Faculty and Staff who have retired but have a post-retirement appointment for which they receive remuneration from the University shall pay for parking (effective July 1, 1992).

2. Faculty and staff who have retired on or before June 30, 1992 shall continue to receive free parking; in the case of those who are under 65 the free parking shall be provided on West Campus.  Any who have already reached 65 and are parking on West Campus should receive a Central Campus sticker immediately.

3. Faculty and staff who retire after June 30, 1992 may obtain a permit which allows (i) free parking on West Campus at all times and (ii) free parking on Central Campus for the period May to August and after 12:30 p.m. on days when classes are held between September and April; alternatively such individuals may purchase, at the Central Campus rate for eight months, a permit for Central Campus.

 Approved by Joint Committee
 December 3, 1991

Notice: to Retirees with Restricted Retiree Parking Permits

(1) HOURLY PARKING
We are pleased to inform you that the automation of the kiosks has given us an opportunity to set up 1, 2 and 3 hour blocks of parking for retirees holding restricted retiree permits that become valid at 12:30 p.m.  Retirees who wish to park on central campus prior to 12:30 p.m. may purchase parking for the duration of time prior to 12:30 p.m. only.  The above issued permits must be displayed with a restricted retiree permit, which takes effect at 12:30 pm.
 

(2) CENTRAL CAMPUS PARKING
Eight month central campus parking permits are available for purchase at the Parking Office at the regular permit fee.

Retiree permits are for the sole use of the retiree and are not transferrable to family members.

Please contact the Parking & Transit Services office, CUC 102, at 24921 or e-mail:
 

parking@mcmaster.ca

For up-to-date information and rates, visit their web site at
 

http://parking.mcmaster.ca

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES: Anyone who retired prior to 1999 will continue to receive free membership  at  the  Ivor  Wynne  Centre.   Those who retired  in  1999 may apply for membership at one-half price.  All retirees after 1999 are eligible for membership in the Ivor Wynne Centre at a rate that will be prescribed annually and approved by the Board of Governors.

Approved by Joint Committee
June 21, 1999

CAUT SERVICES:  Individuals who were eligible for membership in CAUT through MUFA before retirement, are eligible for membership as CAUT retirees.  Individual retired members may join CAUT as Retired Associate Members for an annual fee of $25.  For this fee they receive a subscription to the CAUT Bulletin, and may join a number of group plans offered for Life Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance, Family Life Insurance, Professional Property Insurance, Group Home Insurance, Travel Insurance, and other  financial services.  Retired members can also hold office and serve on CAUT committees.  For more information, contact the MUFA Office (mufa@mcmaster.ca; Ext. 24682)
 

RETIRE WEB: RetireWeb is a WWW site packed with financial planning information for Canadians of all ages to help them with all stages of retirement: saving for retirement, options at retirement and post retirement.  You can reach it through the MUFA web page
ca/mufa

www.mcmaster.ca/mufa

— just go to “LINKS” and click on “Retirees” — or go directly to
 

www.retireweb.com/index.html.

 

Lloyd George Reeds
Professor Emeritus, Geography
1917-2002

The following is a eulogie delivered on April 24, 2002.

It is my sad privilege to speak on Lloyd Reeds' enormous contributions to his field, his department, his University.  He was one of the fathers of academic geography in Canada, and to appreciate his achievements fully, we should view them from the beginning.

When Lloyd arrived at McMaster in 1948, he was one of three members of a department which included sociology and anthropology as well as geography.  Within one year, however, he was left with the full responsibility for this hybrid department as the chairman, Wreford Watson, left to become the director of the Geographical Branch in Ottawa and Dick Ruggles left to complete his doctorate.  Left alone, Lloyd was not even officially designated the chairman since Watson had only taken a leave of absence and did not resign for several years.  Further, geography had been squeezed out of Hamilton Hall and was shoved into some wooden temporary buildings at the northern end of the campus.

So there was Lloyd, left alone as an acting chairman  on the margins of the campus.  For twelve years he had to scrounge for space and personnel.  It is important then to realize that the highly respected department which ensued was a product of this one man’s vision and efforts.  He did have the assistance of Don Kerr from Toronto for one semester, but otherwise teachers came and went and sometimes Lloyd was in the painful position of asking them to leave.  One fine prospect, Hugh Thompson, who initiated research in the Arctic, died suddenly from a heart operation necessitating a wild scramble for a replacement.  And we must remember that Lloyd himself had to teach a heavy load of courses and complete his masterful PhD thesis on the agriculture of Southern Ontario

Yet, through all this, much was achieved.  Lloyd introduced field work and research, and shared a September Field Camp with the University of Toronto.  By 1950, an honours programme was in place to grant Type A certification at the Ontario College of Education; as a result, one hundred McMaster graduates became high school teachers of geography, the highest total for any provincial university.  A masters programme was begun as well.  In his own research, Lloyd studied the soils of Newfoundland, the Clay Belts, and the Land Use tensions in the Niagara Fruit Belt.  Fifty years ago he was already speaking on ecology, the environment, earth warming, a Red Hill Creek expressway, and the expansion of the Mt. Hope airport.

Critical to the future of a department is the appointment of its first permanent members, because they will determine the directions that will be pursued.  When Lloyd stepped down from the chairmanship in 1961, a strong basic cored had been established, consisting of Lloyd himself, Harold Wood, Lou Gentilcore, Derek Ford, and myself.  An expert local planner (who was also one of the original members of the Bruce Trail committee), Norman Pearson, taught a course on planning.  Within the next few years there was expansion and deepening and a doctoral programme was setup.  Within two decades the department was widely recognized and esteemed as one of the most impressive in all of North America.

Lloyd’s work also greatly enhanced the entire University.  When he arrived, the total enrolment was only one thousand.  All the faculty members knew each other and worked together to help McMaster in the great expansion which followed.  Of course his greatest contribution to the University was in the development of the Geography Department because, as we know, great universities are created by great departments.  His influence was felt on the national scene as well.  He was one of the founders of the Canadian Association of Geographers, served as president and was honoured with a special award for service to the CAG.  He even served as president of the New York section of the Association of American Geographers.

He was a great teacher.  He felt keenly that all students should know their own country, and, as I can vouch, although most students think they do, they don’t.  His Canada course became so huge that he taught it twice a year.  He once estimated that he had taught 20,000 students and in the days before machine testing of multiple-choice questions, that meant 20,000 term papers, 20,000 final examinations to read, and 20,000 final grades to calculate.  He was twice nominated for a “best teacher” award.

In the local civic scene, he was vice-chairman of the Hamilton Wentworth Planning Area Board, a Director of the Niagara Regional Development Council and the South Ontario Economic Council, was called upon frequently to perform land-use studies, and was on the Board of Governors of Hillfield-Strathallan College.

Despite all these activities, and all that work, and all those anxieties, he rarely showed stress.  He was a remarkable man, a gentle man, smiled a lot, and was famous for his laugh.  At first I thought of him as very laid-back, but I came to realize that he knew what was needed and how it was to be achieved.  Two descriptive titles come to mind: he was a “friendly giant” and, to use a term unfortunately heard only rarely nowadays, he was a true Christian gentleman.  We all miss him and revere his memory.

 Andrew Burghardt
 Professor Emeritus, Geography

 

Members Vote to Lower Mill Rate At the MUFA Annual General meeting on April 23, 2002, members voted to lower the mill rate on which MUFA dues are calculated from 5.1 to 5.0.  Treasurer, Bernice Kaczynski, explained that the current reserve fund was in line with Faculty Association policy and that it should be sufficient to cover any unexpected expenses and requirements.  Regular operating expenses could be met using the lower mill rate. The 5.0 mill rate will go into effect on July 1, 2002.

Librarians Approve 3-Year Agreement I have counted the ballots which were distributed to all MUFA librarians on April 30, 2002 requesting a YES or NO response to the following question: I hereby approve the Remuneration Agreement for the period June 16, 2002 to June 15, 2005 reached in the Librarians Negotiating Committee on April 23, 2002. RESPONSES: YES   16       NO   1      SPOILED   0  Total Ballots Cast   17  E. R. Mead              Returning Officer

Welcome New Members

Jackie Bosch Kirk Green Mary Hitt Charu Kaushic Nikolas Provatas Stephen Veldhuis

Rehabilitations Sciences Chemistry Path. & Molecular Med. Path. & Molecular Med. Materials Science & Eng. Mechanical Engineering

Thank You MUFA Volunteers! Many thanks to all members who have actively participated on MUFA committees or represented MUFA on University committees or boards.  The Association has benefitted from your participation during 2001/02 and looks forward to working with many of you again in 2002/03.

Accommodations I will be on sabbatical leave in 2002/03 and am planning TO RENT my house.  If you know anyone who might be interested, please give them my name and ask them to contact me.  Phone at McMaster:  905-525-9140, ext. 27362; Phone at Home: 905-546-1142; Email:  lovric@mcmaster.ca.  My address: 1127 King Street West (corner of King and Cline in Westdale; 5-minute walk to campus).  House is available: summer 2002 to summer 2003 (dates and rent negotiable).  Miroslav Lovric. TO SHARE townhouse with female landlord.  Private bedroom and bathroom, TV room, kitchen, basement, use of washer, dryer freezer and rear yard.  Located on excellent Express Line bus route directly onto campus.  Landlord drives into McMaster every day.  No pets, no children and no smoking. $400 per month, includes utilities.  If interested, call Deanna at 905-573-0447 after 5:30 p.m.  Location: East Hamilton.

June 12, 2002
pdk