Friday, May 17, 2024

Queer-Trans Alliance advocates for 2SLGBTQIA+ community on campus

A message from the Queer-Trans Alliance at UWaterloo (QTA).

The Queer-Trans Alliance at UWaterloo (QTA) is a volunteer group of 2SLGBTQIA+ students, staff, and faculty who are working towards 2SLGBTQIA+ visibility, community-building, and advocacy through an intersectional lens. Our group was previously known as the Gender and Sexual Diversity Alliance (GSDA), and our recent name change symbolizes our renewed commitment to building queer and trans visibility on campus.

Today, May 17, we mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia. This is a significant day for all of us at the University of Waterloo as we remember that, less than a year ago, on June 28, 2023, students and a faculty member in a Gender and Social Justice class were targeted and violently attacked. That this attack came from a former UWaterloo student, a member of our community, shows that we have a lot of work to do to combat gender-based violence, homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia on our campus.

The impacts of the June 28 attack were felt by many, including 2SLGBTQIA+ students, staff, postdocs, and faculty. In response, the QTA has been working hard to support the community and to find a new way forward. QTA and its members have created spaces for sharing and healing, advocated for more active consultation and engagement of our community at decision-making levels, and raised awareness about hateful acts and speech that community members face at on campus and in virtual spaces. We aim to continue working in coalition to create places of safety, belonging, and community for 2SLGBTQIA+ members at UWaterloo.

We invite participation from anyone on campus who identifies as 2SLGBTQIA+. We are also excited to build solidarity and work in coalition with groups advocating for equity across UWaterloo. 2SLGBTQIA+ community members are welcome to join us on Teams for ongoing conversation or come to our bi-weekly organizing and planning meetings.

We ask the UWaterloo community to stand with us on May 17 and every day. Stand against homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia by speaking up, by educating yourself and others, and by showing your support for peers and colleagues through small acts of respect and care (sharing your pronouns, respecting other’s pronouns, not assuming the gender of someone’s spouse or partner, posting a pride flag on your office door, etc.). We also ask you to check in with 2SLGBTQIA+ friends, peers and colleagues during Pride month and as the anniversary of June 28 approaches. Let’s work together to make the University of Waterloo a place where everyone feels safe to be their authentic selves.

The Fine Art of Computing

A group photo of Professor Daniel Vogel, his teaching assistant and students taken at the exhibition. Top (from left to right): Elaine Zhong, Frederica Zhang, Professor Daniel Vogel (instructor), Matthew Lakier (teaching assistant), Inchang Huh, Lam Pham, and Rayhan Moidu. Bottom (from left to right): Oroni Hasan, Annie Sun, Shannon Cui, Hannah Choi, and Georgia Berg. Photo by Joe Petrik.

This is an excerpt of an article originally published on the Cheriton School of Computer Science website.

If Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent van Gogh lived in the 2020s how different would their art be? Would they use any computer science principles just like students taking CS 383: Computational Digital Art Studio?

This third-year class teaches students how to create artwork using “advanced computer science techniques like computer vision, 3D graphics, generative agents, audio processing, real-time data streaming, distributed systems, and more,” says Professor Daniel Vogel who taught this course for the Winter 2024 term. Ultimately, students use these methods to devise interactive art installations.

CS 383 is cross-listed with FINE 383 in the Faculty of Art's Fine Arts department, and the content balances art and science. For example, Professor Vogel delivers seminars about related contemporary artists and art theories such as generative art, networked art, and interactive installations, alongside coding workshops. 

Throughout the term, students create three independent computational artworks, the third being their final project drawing from all their experience, knowledge, and expertise. This term’s class held an exhibition on Wednesday, April 4 in East Campus Hall. 

“This exhibit showcases highly original and creative digital artwork produced by students taking what I believe is the most unique course in our computer science program,” says Professor Vogel.

Read the full article and view the artwork

Stratford campus is looking for some MVPs

Do you know any high school students who are interested in design, technology or business? If so, they are invited to the MVP Challenge – a one-day design + business challenge hosted by the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business. They will work with a group to develop and pitch their next great idea.

The event features workshops on Creating With AI as a Tool with Dr. Lennart Nacke and Navigating the Design Process with Noah Pratt.

This is a chance for participants to showcase their creativity and ingenuity, and there will be prizes for first place finishes. Lunch will also be provided, and free bussing is available (from certain areas, natch).

You can learn more and register on the MVP Challenge website. 

What's open and closed this long weekend and other notes

Monday, May 20 is Victoria Day, a statutory holiday that is celebrated on the last Monday before May 25.

The holiday honours Queen Victoria, who was born on May 24, 1819, and in 1901, the year of her death, the day was made a federal holiday. More colloquially, it serves as an unofficial kickoff to the summer season.

With the holiday closure there will be a number of changes to operational hours at the University:

• Print + Retail Solutions locations will be closed Monday, May 20. Check the Hours and Locations page for specific details;
• The Dana Porter Library and Davis Centre Library branches will be open from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 20. The Library's "Chat with us" service will not be available, but email will be monitored from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. Check the Opening Hours page for more details;
• Most Food Services operations will be shuttered on Monday, May 20, with the exception of The Market at UWP, open 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Go to the Locations and Hours site for more details;
• The Physical Activities Complex, the Columbia Ice Field Arena, and the Feridun Hamdullahpur Field House will be closed on Sunday, May 19 and Monday, May 20. Visit the Facility Hours website for specific details; and
• The Student Life Centre and the Turnkey Desk will be open Monday, May 20.

As always, even on holidays, the Special Constable Service (ext. 22222, or 519-888-4911), and the central plant will monitor campus buildings (24-hour service and maintenance line, ext.33793) in case of problems or emergencies.

As for the encampment on the Grad House green, one assumes it will be business as usual on Monday.

Moving on to other things, this time of year is for the birds, even though goose nesting season is for the most part behind us.

With GooseWatch apparently offline, community members have had to rely on their wits and keep their heads on a swivel as our fine feathered overlords have gone about their business this spring.

Here are some tips to avoid avian assaults:

1. When passing geese, keep your chest and face pointed towards them. Maintain direct eye contact.
2. Be neutral. Do not show fear or act in a hostile manner.
3. If a goose acts aggressively, back away slowly and calmly. (editor's note: don't run, you'll just die tired)

One easy way to put some distance between yourself and an aggressive goose is on a motorcycle. Carlos Radic, Senior Mechanical Technologist in Plant Operations, has been participating in the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride fund-raising event for the last 10 years. He'll be riding in style on Sunday, May 19.

"I'm riding my 1973 BMW R75/5 AKA The Black Baron," Radic writes. "Along with over 77,365 fellow men and women across the globe in 105 countries in over 965 rides, I'm riding to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health on behalf of Movember." 

"Men die on average 6 years earlier than women and for largely preventable reasons," Radic continues. "The number of men that are suffering is growing, and we need to do something about that. I'm asking you to join me in raising funds and awareness for these causes by donating what you can."

The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride has raised more than $49 million USD. Says Radic, "there's more to motorcycle riders than meets the eye."

The latest in the Atlassian blog post series published by Information Systems & Technology (IST) is now online, and is entitled Master JQL: Join Our Open Floor Q&A Session!

So, in conclusion: whether you're on a motorcycle, a Muskoka chair, a patio, or digging up a flower bed, I hope you enjoy the long weekend by doing something you enjoy. The Daily Bulletin will return on Tuesday, May 21.