Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Previous | Next

• 'Tis the season to review hospitality and alcohol guidelines
• Project Ploughshares founder named CPA fellow
• Games Institute opens up its brown bags
• Tuesday's notes

'Tis the season to review hospitality and alcohol guidelines

by Corrine Krauss.

As the Fall season progresses and our thoughts turn to organizing upcoming holiday parties, we wanted to take the opportunity to remind everyone about the University’s policies with respect to alcohol expenses.  While there are no specific policies with respect to staff events aside from general references in the Alcohol Policy, the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act does hold us accountable for our use of funds and cautions on the potential for public and media attention related to these type of expenses. It further notes that in the Ontario Public Service (whose definition could arguably include us as a publicly-funded University), social events are paid for by staff. Any individual incurring expenses on behalf of the University must be able to demonstrate the prudent and responsible use of funds.

Regardless of whether the event is for the purpose of hosting internal or external individuals, our policies related to alcohol apply. Alcoholic beverages are to be purchased and served only by a licensed establishment. In particular, the cost of alcoholic beverages for events will not be reimbursed under the following conditions:

• When an individual purchases alcoholic beverages directly from a supplier, such as The Beer Store, Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), or any similar establishment.
• When the event, at which alcoholic beverages are served, is not held at a commercial, licensed establishment. The University’s Food Services – Catering department is required to serve at events held in a private residence.

The guidelines are in place to ensure that all alcohol service and consumption is managed in a safe environment that is in line with both the University (see Policy 21 – Alcohol Use and Education) and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) policies. The guidelines are designed to protect the University, but also the individual holding the event. If something were to happen at an event at an individual’s home, they could be considered liable. Unlicensed events sponsored or reimbursed by the University (or even perceived to be sponsored by the University) cause the University to risk losing our liquor license for the entire campus. 

Individuals or departments should also not be applying for a special event liquor license on behalf of the University for an event. The University liquor license is managed by Food Services.

Project Ploughshares founder named CPA fellow

Ernie Regehr (centre) stands with Project Ploughshares Executive Director Cesar Jaramillo and MSCU Centre for Peace Advancement Director Paul Heidebrecht.

The Mennonite Savings and Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement has named Ernie Regehr as the inaugural MSCU Centre for Peace Advancement Research Fellow.

The announcement came as Project Ploughshares (an affiliate member of the Centre for Peace Advancement) celebrated the launch of Regehr's latest book, Disarming Conflict: Why Peace Cannot Be Won on the Battlefield.

Regehr is the co-founder of Project Ploughshares and recipient of numerous honours including the Order of Canada and Pearson Peace Medal.

"This appointment recognizes Regehr’s past many contributions to advancing peace, and, more importantly, signals a shared commitment to pursuing new opportunities for collaboration through research," says a note from Conrad Grebel University College.

In addition to Disarming Conflict, Regehr regularly publishes briefing papers and reports that explore the roles and limits of military forces in supporting human security in his capacity as Senior Fellow in Arctic Security at the Simons Foundation. Regehr earned a BA from Waterloo in 1968.

Games Institute opens up its brown bags

The Games Institute's series of Brown Bag seminars are now open to the University community.

"All university faculty, staff, and students are now welcome to attend our Brown Bags every second and last Thursday of the month," writes Emily West. "They are held in the GI space at EC-1 from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m." 

During these sessions, Games Institute faculty and student researchers present details on their current studies, their findings, as well as future ambitions in the world of games.

Previous Brown Bag topics have covered a wide range of research areas including games for health, serious games, and gamification from the perspective of a variety of disciplines.

"All of our events are updated to include the presenter as well as their topic and abstract periodically, and therefore individuals who plan to attend our Brown Bag sessions are strongly encouraged to check our events page," West writes.

The next Brown Bag session is scheduled to take place on December 3.

Tuesday's notes

Human Resources is reporting that retiree Donald Cathers died November 13. Don started working at the University in July 1979 and held the position of Sergeant in Police Services before retiring in August 2004. He is survived by his wife, Donna.

A number of rooms in Biology 1 will be without fumehood exhaust services, heating, ventilation and A/C from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 18 as electrical work is carried out. The affected rooms are 177 to 177F.