Tuesday, August 18, 2015

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• Autonomous vehicle will run the Ring Road
• So, where can you get a bite to eat around here?
• Tuesday's notes

Autonomous vehicle will run the Ring Road

On Tuesday, August 18, local startup Varden Labs will achieve a first in Canada when they run their autonomous (self-driving) shuttle on Ring Road at the University of Waterloo main campus.

This is the first time an autonomous vehicle will run on Canadian roads. Varden Labs was co-founded by two Waterloo Mechatronics Engineering students, Alex Rodrigues and Michael Skupien. Rodrigues and Skupien are currently students in the Velocity residence.

In late July, Varden Labs won $25,000 at the Velocity Fund Finals event with a pitch that showed how autonomous shuttles will change the way people live and work in campus environments such as hospitals, university campuses, large-campus corporations and assisted living facilities.

So, where can you get a bite to eat around here?

This week begins the long, dark tea time of the campus soul, as students for the most part have departed, leaving exams in their wake, employees take vacation as the spirit moves them, and even the geese are content to wallow in the shade. The calm before the autumn storm, as it were.

While campus hasn't come to a full and complete stop, there are some seasonal closings to keep in mind.

What's closed:

• Bon Appetit in the Davis Centre as of Friday, August 14 to Tuesday, September 8;
• Brubaker's in the Student Life Centre as of Monday, August 17 to Sunday, August 30; 
• CEIT Café, as of Monday, August 17 to Monday, September 7;
• Mudie's, as of Sunday, August 16 to Thursday, September 3;
• Subway in the SLC as of Monday, August 17 to Sunday, August 30;
• Tim Hortons DC Express, as of Monday, August 17 to Monday, September 7;
• Tim Hortons Modern Languages as of Monday, August 17, to Sunday, September 6; and

• the University Club, as of Sunday, August 16 to Tuesday, September 8.

Additionally, the Graduate House, run by the Graduate Student Association, closed on Friday, August 14 and will reopen Tuesday, September 8.

Some Food Services outlets have been closed for a while, including the PAS Lounge and Pastry Plus in BMH, which closed April 3. ML's Coffee Shop shuttered on Thursday, April 9. Eye Opener Café closed as of Wednesday, July 1 and Liquid Assets closed Saturday, August 1. These units will reopen on Sunday, September 13. REVelation has been closed since Friday, April 24 and will reopen on Friday, September 4. Tim Hortons UWP closed on Friday, April 24 and will reopen Saturday, September 5. Festival Fare is undergoing renovations.

So, what's open these days?

• Browser's Café is open 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. from August 17 to September 4;
• Pastry Plus in Needles Hall maintains its 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. operating hours;
• Tim Hortons in the Davis Centre is open 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday;
• Tim Hortons in South Campus Hall is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and
• Tim Hortons in the Student Life Centre is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday; and William's Fresh Café is open 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Full operating hours for Food Services operations are available on its website. Check the Retail Services website for their operating hours as well, though most of their operations are open, save for Media.Doc Dana Porter, which will reopen on September 8.

In addition, International News and the Turnkey Desk in the Student Life Centre are operating. The Federation of Students has a full list of its operations' hours on its website. “The Bombshelter Pub will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the week," writes Jacqueline Martinz. "It has a special deal for large parties! Bring your friends and coworkers for breakfast and lunch because a table of eight or more will receive two free appetizers.”

Several student societies operate coffee and donuts (CnD) or tuck shops. Opening and closing information is available on the following sites:

• Applied Health Sciences;
• Arts;
• Engineering;
• Environment 
• Mathematics; and
• Science.  

Across the creek, the Watson's Eatery at St. Paul's is open from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday through the Spring term, accepting debit, cash and credit. Renison University College has its Chartwells cafeteria, St. Jerome's University operates the Atrium and Community Centre Cafeteria, and Conrad Grebel's Kitchen is open during the Spring term.

Did I miss anything? Let me know, and I'll add it to the list.

Tuesday's notes

As of today the term loan due date for extended loan library books changes from September 15, 2015 to January 15, 2016. Borrowers can start renewing their books for the Fall 2015 term beginning this afternoon.

Food Services is now accepting applications for the Food Advisory Board, a group of students and staff who meet three times a term to assess and evaluate Food Services and its needs and make recommendations.