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Ushering in the Year of the Pig
By Anne Galang.
Happy new year and gong hei fat choy (“wishing you great happiness and prosperity”)!
Today marks the beginning of the new year and the Year of the Pig on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. A number of events are taking place this week to celebrate the occasion.
Known as “Chinese New Year”, “Lunar New Year” or “Spring Festival”, the event is celebrated in China, many East Asian and neighbouring countries and around the globe. Traditional observances of the festival take place over 15 days of celebration, ending with the Lantern Festival.
Celebrations on campus
For anyone who’d like to take part, join the festivities across campus and in the community.
Bon Appetit at the Davis Centre will have some special dishes on its feature menu in honour of the year of the pig, including siu mai, nori-wrapped steamed fish and pork steamed dumplings. Join them at noon today to catch a traditional lion dance performance.
The University Club is also ringing in the Lunar New Year, offering chef Richard's Asian-inspired celebration menu for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. all week. Reservations are recommended.
The English Language Institute and Student Life & Housing groups at Renison University College are hosting a celebration today with Chinese, Japanese and Korean New Year traditions. Head over to the Renison Atrium from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and learn about different new year customs, enjoy some treats and try your hand at making traditional Chinese red envelopes. Then, stay from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to join the Confucius Institute and Ministry Centre to enjoy Chinese food and a calligraphy demonstration.
The Kitchener-based organization Central Ontario Chinese Cultural Centre (COCCC) is hosting its Chinese Lunar New Year Gala 2019 at Federation Hall on February 9 from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Experience traditional Chinese performances and authentic Chinese food.
The prosperous pig
The pig is the twelfth and final animal in the Chinese zodiac. Next year, a new cycle will begin with the Year of the Rat, then rotate through each animal in turn (ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig again).
According to myth, the Jade Emperor called the animals to a meeting, and the order in which they arrived determined their place in the zodiac. In one version of the story, the pig felt hungry in the middle of the race, stopped for a snack and fell asleep. It woke up from its nap to finish in last place.
In Chinese astrology, those born in the year of the pig are thought to enjoy life, seek fun and perhaps indulge more than they should. The pig also represents luck, good fortune, honesty, and general prosperity.
Nominations open for faculty, grad student Senate seats
The Secretariat has issued a call for nominations for faculty and graduate student representatives on the University's Senate.
One faculty member to be elected by/from the members of the faculty of each Faculty of the University, terms 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2022
Eight faculty members to be elected by/from the members of faculty of the University, terms 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2022.
Faculty senators whose terms expire as of 30 April 2019 include:
Craig Janes (public health and health systems), James Skidmore (germanic & slavic studies), Paul Fieguth* (systems design engineering), Simon Courtenay* (environment, resources & sustainability), Mark Giesbrecht* (computer science), David Edwards (pharmacy), Carmen Bruni* (computer science), Marios Ioannidis (chemical engineering), Spiro Karigiannis* (pure mathematics), Mungo Marsden* (biology), Daniel O'Connor (sociology & legal studies), Neil Randall* (english language & literature), Ross Willard* (pure mathematics), Dan Wolczuk* (mathematics).
The asterisk indicates a faculty member eligible for re-election. A former senator becomes eligible for re-election following the expiration of one year following the completion of two consecutive terms on Senate.
Graduate Students
Nominations are requested for the following seats on Senate:
Two graduate students of the University to be elected by/from the full- and part-time graduate students of the University, terms 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2021.
Graduate students whose terms expire as of 30 April 2019: Tia Driver* (sustainability management), Julia Goyal* (public health & health systems).
An asterisk indicates a graduate student representative eligible for re-election.
Completed Nomination Forms
Completed nomination forms (at least five nominators are required in each case) should be submitted to Erin Gillespie in the Secretariat, Needles Hall, Room 3060, no later than 3:00 p.m. on Monday 25 February 2019. Elections will follow if necessary. Please send a brief candidate statement (100 words maximum) to appear with the ballot to Erin Gillespie, egillespie@uwaterloo.ca.
For more information visit the Secretariat's nomination website.
Graduate student survey launches
Earlier this week, Waterloo graduate students received a personalized e-mail asking them to participate in the 2019 Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey (CGPSS), to share their thoughts about their university experience. The purpose of this national survey is to improve teaching, learning, graduate student services, programs, student support and overall campus life for current and future graduate students.
Graduate students will be asked to provide feedback about their experience here at the University of Waterloo on topics such as: satisfaction of graduate student financial support, skills and professional development, graduate program choices, university services, and overall experience.
Previous survey results have been used to make improvements to graduate student services such as:
- Streamlining administrative services through the launch of The Centre
- Hosting webinars and in-person sessions on scholarship and funding
- Continued growth of GRADventure and recent launch of Professional Skills Foundations
Graduate students who submit their survey responses will receive $5 added to their WatCards and will be automatically entered in a draw to win a $500 grand prize.
The survey will be available from February 4 to April 5. Following the survey, summary results will be available on the Institutional Analysis & Planning website.
Board of Governors meeting, Feds elections and other notes
The University's Board of Governors has its first meeting of 2019 today at 1:30 p.m. Among the agenda items:
- Governors will be asked to approve Housing and Residences Fees for 2019-20;
- The provost will deliver a report on the 2018-2019 university operating budget as well as an update on the planning process for the 2019-2020 operating budget;
- The University’s Building and Properties Committee will seek a motion that the Board approves, in principle, the development of the Math 4 building project to be located in the “L” parking lot with an estimated budget of $50 million; and
- The University’s Finance and Investment Committee will put forward a motion to approve tuition fee changes for 2019/20 and 2020/21.
Voting for the Federation of students elections is now open, according to a note from Feds. Waterloo undergraduates will go to the polls on February 5 to 7 to decide which students will represent them and their priorities for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Feds represents undergraduates to the university, as well as the municipal, provincial, and federal government and advocates on behalf of all undergraduate students; supports 12 student-run services, 200+ clubs, and student Societies; operates four commercial services; in addition to Orientation as well as running day-to-day operations and special events like Wellness Days, Cultural Caravan, and Welcome Week.
Waterloo undergrads vote on their Feds Executive as well as faculty representatives for Students' Council. In this year’s election, they will also be voting for their choice in two referendums: Legal Service and UPass.
Learn more about how you can help get students engaged.
The Registrar's Office has announced that the 2019-2020 Undergraduate Academic Studies Calendar has been published to the web. The calendar covers the academic year from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020 and this year contains a comprehensive list of minors, options, diplomas, and certificates available to be declared. Previous calendars, including the current 2018-2019 Calendar, are available in the Archived Calendars section.