Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Take a step forward for equity and be an ally every day

This is the latest post on President Feridun Hamdullahpur's blog.

We heard passion and hope at the annual International Women’s Day Dinner last week. From our exceptional keynote speaker and Canada 150 Research Chair, Anita Layton, to our HeForShe Anthology writers and the group of dedicated community members, there were messages of hope and action. Hope and action to stand up to the challenges and setbacks that continue to plague our society and limit the potential of so many people.

The International Women’s Day movement has evolved as society has changed but action remains needed because sadly one thing hasn’t changed: not enough progress has been made.

The fight for gender equity is not isolated to a single day, single week or a single action. We must embrace the challenges those who identify as women, live with every day and march together to build true gender equity in all of its forms. Now is the time for all of us to start this journey because we need every ally that we can find.

Not settling for progress alone

There have been noticeable and measureable improvements at the University of Waterloo since our HeForShe commitment targets were set in 2015. We have made progress as an institution, but we cannot be satisfied with these accomplishments. Not yet.

There is more work to be done before all identities, perspectives and backgrounds have a seat at the table. We can tackle the challenges we face in achieving gender equity as we do in our innovative culture: by collectively challenging the status quo.

Be an ally for change

We cannot sit idly by when a colleague or fellow student are being held back or marginalized because of their gender. Either consciously or unconsciously. As an open and welcoming community, I encourage all of us to stand together and be allies for one another, particularly men and our male identified leaders.

We must stand together no matter the personal risk or cost associated with standing up for what is right. The original women’s rights pioneers knew there would be risks in marching and defying the voice of oppression. We can do the same. No one should be denied the opportunity to flourish in what they love doing or feel limited in what they can achieve.

Limitations on one, puts limitations on us all.

I urge you to stand together, not only today, but every day. Because the issues of equity, diversity and inclusion are not isolated to a single day of recognition.

Indigenous Speaker series continues with David Robertson

This article was originally published on the Faculty of Arts website.

The Indigenous Speakers Series proudly presents David Alexander Robertson, the bestselling author of children’s books, graphic novels, and novels whose works educate and entertain readers about Indigenous Peoples, reflecting their cultures, histories, communities, as well as illuminating many contemporary issues.

The event takes place on Wednesday, March 13 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Theatre of the Arts. A book signing will follow.

Read more about David Robertson's visit to campus.

Robertson's books include When We Were Alone (Governor General’s Literary Award winner, McNally Robinson Best Book for Young People winner, TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award finalist), Will I See? (Manuela Dias Book Design and Illustration Award, Graphic Novel Category), and the YA novel Strangers (Michael Van Rooy Award for Genre Fiction, Best Indigenous Writer at the High Plains Book Awards). David is a member of Norway House Cree Nation. He lives in Winnipeg. Visit his website.

#RethinkPharmacists: Supporting people who want to quit smoking

The #RethinkPharmacists series is presented by the Waterloo School of Pharmacy for Pharmacists Awareness Month in March. The series highlights services pharmacists provide in addition to standard prescription filling and counselling.

Are you trying to quit smoking? Your pharmacist could be a good place to start. Pharmacists are trained in supporting people to quit smoking and are familiar with the wide variety of products to help quit. In Ontario, there’s a standard program that pharmacists use with patients. It looks like this:

• If you feel ready to quit, chat with your pharmacist about the Pharmacy Smoking Cessation Program. They will complete a Readiness Assessment Questionnaire with you (takes about 20 minutes).
• Working with the pharmacist, you’ll develop a quit smoking plan and set a quit date. They can also help you decide if you’d like to use medications to support this process, and, if so, they can prescribe and dispense them for you.
• You’ll have 5-10 follow-up sessions with your pharmacist to track your progress and adjust your quit strategy as necessary. These should take place within a 12-month period and can be in-person or over the phone.

This service is covered under the Ontario Drug Benefit plan and under many private insurance plans.

Jamming at the Games Institute

This article was originally published on the Games Institute website.

The Games Institute (GI) Game Jam takes place every term. But, once a year, the event becomes a part of something larger: every Winter, the GI Game Jam becomes a satellite event for the internationally renowned Global Game Jam.

The Global Game Jam is the world's largest game jam event that joins participants from physical locations across the world all competing over the same weekend. As of 2018, the Global Game Jam had over 800 locations in more than 100 countries with over 8,000 games created.

This year, the Global Game Jam took place from January 25-27, organized by Karina Arrambide with support from Kateryna Morayko, and Joseph Tu (photographer). Like every GI Jam, this event kicked off with a Learn event led by the UW Game Dev club and then entered into the Make event which spanned the next two days.

The theme for the Global Game Jam was "What Does Home Mean to You?" With this prompt to get them started, the 60 participants broke off into teams (or worked individually), delegated roles, and created a game.

Each group interpreted the theme differently, which reflects the diversity in interdisciplinary backgrounds of the participants at the jam. What was common among all groups was the absolute hard work and talent exhibited. In the end there was a total of 22 games created that you can check out here.

We already have big plans forming for the Spring 2019 GI Jam - hint: for the first time ever we will be offering the option to create a game in VR. Follow the Games Institute on Twitter to stay tuned.

Read a behind-the-scenes look at games developed at the jam

New course on Indigenous-Settler relations; other notes

Registration is now open for Reconciliation: Discussions and Implications of Settler Peoples in Canada, which is part of the Continuing and Professional Education (CAPE) offerings at Renison University College.

This 10-week course will be facilitated by Saami Indigenous (Northern Finland) and Settler educator Kelly Laurila. The course is taught using Indigenous pedagogy, primarily through a sharing circle format, and participants are invited into the conversation of what it means to be part of the reconciliation process.

Classes begin on April 25.

Here's the latest Nutrition Month "myth vs. fact" supplied by Health Services Dietitian Sandra Ace:

Claim:  Detox teas can help you lose weight.

Evidence:  “Teatoxing” is a recent twist on the detox or cleansing fad that has been popular for more than a decade. A quick internet search pointed me to hundreds of teas that claim to promote rapid weight loss, boost energy, strengthen immunity and rid your body of toxins. I also noticed that several well-known celebrities with huge social media followings have posted cringe-worthy testimonials (complete with pictures, of course) about life-changing detox teas, along with links and discount promo codes.

While drinking a tea with natural herbs might sound like a safe and easy way to lose some unwanted pounds or give your body a “spring cleaning,” there is no scientific evidence to support the hype. A detox tea may help you lose some weight, but it’s temporary and will be regained when you stop drinking the tea and return to your regular diet. Many teas contain potent ingredients that are known to be laxatives, diuretics or stimulants. “Teatoxing” can lead to dehydration or a dangerous electrolyte imbalance as well as side effects like digestive upsets, increased heart rate, headaches and insomnia.

Always tell your health care provider about any herbal products you are using to manage your health. Natural products are not advised for some health conditions and may interact with medications or other supplements. If you would like reliable and tailored nutrition advice (no gimmicks attached!) speak with a Registered Dietitian.