Dalnews briefs

Going, going, gone?

Demolition is well underway on the three structures at the corner of LeMarchant and Coburg. The house at 6138 Coburg, the former home of the Business Process and Integration team—aka Banner Manor—and the Institute for Research in Materials, is slated for demolition on April 24 and 25.

The larger buildings, the former location of the Faculty of Management before it moved to the Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, will be dismantled over the spring and early summer. The date to have the site cleared is Friday, July 4. A plan to build a new academic building is awaiting approval.
— Mary Somers

UBC steals the snitch

It was close-but-no-cigar for Dal’s 2008 entry to Motrin’s My Game, My Pain contest.

Five kinesiology students created the game Ultimate Quidditch, the Inner Tube Edition for their class, Physical Activity for Persons with a Disabilities, and also submitted it to Motrin’s national competition. Although Dal teams have won the contest two years running, this year, they conceded victory to the University of British Columbia and its game, Court Ball, a cross between soccer and tennis.

“Bummer,” says Rachel Doucet, one of Ultimate Quidditch’s creators. “But we’re really proud of the adapted game we came up with.”

The up-side is that their professor liked it: “I believe we got 100 per cent on the assignment,” says Ms. Doucet happily.
— Marilyn Smulders

Convocation coming

Fred Fountain makes his debut as Dalhousie’s new chancellor at next month’s Convocation ceremonies.

He’s got his work cut out for him—more than 3,000 black-gowned graduates will be awarded degrees at 14 ceremonies held at the Dalhousie Arts Centre.

Here’s a look at the schedule:

• Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences on May 20, 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.;
• Faculties of Architecture & Planning, Computer Science on May 21, 9:30 a.m.;
• Faculty of Science, May 21, 2:30 p.m. and May 22, 9:30 a.m.;
• Faculty of Graduate Studies, Dental Hygiene, Pharmacy, May 22, 2:30 p.m.;
• Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry and Graduate Studies, May 23, 9:30 a.m.;
• Faculty of Law, May 23, 2:30 p.m.;
• Faculty of Health Profession, May 26, 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.;
• Faculty of Management, May 27, 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.;
• and Faculty of Engineering, May 28, 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Wilderness medicine

Dalhousie’s Environmental Programs Student Society (EPSS) will be hosting a variety of wilderness first aid courses from April 27 to May 5. The courses are being offered through Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) Canada, leaders in remote and practical medicine. The certificate programs are for outdoor enthusiasts, guides, professionals and researchers who find themselves in remote areas where 911 is not an option. Courses offered include Advanced Wilderness First Aid (April 27-30); Bridge Course (May 2 to 5); and Wilderness First Responders (April 27 to May 5).

For more information regarding the courses please visit the WMA’s website ) http://wildmed.ca/) or send EPSS an e-mail at epss@dal.ca

Dump and run

The Society for Corporate Environmental and Social Responsibility (CESR), a student organization at Dalhousie University, in cooperation with the Saint Mary’s University Environmental Society, is holding the sixth annual Dalhousie Dump & Run on Sunday, April 27, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Studley Gymnasium on the Dalhousie Campus.

The Dump & Run is a big community garage sale of used items, such as furniture, clothing, and household items, donated by students and community members from all over Halifax and then sold at this one-day event. Admission to the sale is free, but a donation of a non-perishable food item is suggested.

The proceeds from the sale are donated to local and international charities and non-profit groups working on environmental and social justice issues. In the past, donations have been given to organizations such as Amnesty International, the Ecology Action Centre, North End Community Gardens, Oxfam, and the Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank, among others.
We are looking for household items and furniture large and small. Donations can be dropped off between 1 p.m. and  6 p.m. at the Studley Gym from April 23rd to the 26th. Pick ups can be arranged for larger donations. Donations will not be accepted on the day of the sale.

We also need volunteers.  We will need help from the 23rd to the 27th. We are holding a volunteer meeting on April 15th from 6:30-8 pm, in room 307 of the Dalhousie Student Union Building.  If you can’t make the meeting but would still like to volunteer please contact the e-mail below and tell us the hours you are available.

To donate items, volunteer, or for more information about the sale, please email us at halifaxdumpandrun@hotmail.com or call 494-6899.