Flashback
News Bits
(April 6,
2000,
Gazette)
Remembrances
of Memorial past...
30 years ago
Senate
holds special meeting
April 1970 — A special meeting of the Senate
was held to approve regulations for summer session and regulations
covering those found guilty of cheating in examinations. The
meeting also approved undergraduate courses in Sociology, Philosophy,
Mathematics and Education.
In
other news, William G. Rowe is appointed associate dean of education
and Dr. David G. Pitt is appointed head of the Department of
English.
25 years ago
Report
on new library
April 1975 —
Planning is now underway for a new university library, and the
Gazette contributes this month to the process with a special
library issue. The report looks at users, functional considerations,
administration, acquisitions and processing, and service and
information.
In
other news, Memorial establishes air travel grants for students
from Labrador. Up to 20 grants each year for a period of five
years are made available by the Jubilee Celebration Committee.
20 years ago
Centrex
changeover
April 1980 — Work is well underway on the
changeover from Memorial’s present telephone system to Centrex.
The Newfoundland Telephone Company is on schedule with cabling
and other changes. To ease the changeover process, the Gazette
features a Q&A on the new system, which features 737 as the
first three digits for all university numbers and allows internal
calls to be made using just the last four digits.
15 years ago
Major
funding for Music
April 1985 — Two important projects at Memorial
receive major federal funding this month. A $400,000 cheque
for the university’s new music building and the final signing
of a $2.85 million contract with the Canadian International Development
Agency represent the culmination of long-term planning by the
university and the federal government. The $400,000 from the
Department of Communications is the first instalment on its pledge
to the music building of $1.5 million.
In other news, the strike by about 145 university employees, represented by NAPE Locals 7801 and 7803, enters its second month with little indication of an early settlement. Maintenance workers and security guards have set up picket lines at the St. John’s and Corner Brook campuses. The strike has had no major effect on exam schedules and no changes have been made to schedules for the spring semester.
10 years ago
Hiring
freeze continues
April 1990 —
Despite an apparent increase of about six per cent in operating
funds, Memorial is experiencing difficulty balancing its budget.
President Dr. Leslie Harris said about $4 million is being eliminated
from capital operating costs and a further $3.5 million for faculty
and staff appointments and replacements.
In
other news, several hundred postsecondary students in St. John’s
march on the federal government to protest the proposed Goods
and Services Tax, cuts in student employment programs, and matters
relating to student loans.
Five years ago
University
left underfunded
April 1995 — One again, Memorial’s
grant was reduced in the provincial budget, this time by $2.5
million. The Faculty of Medicine’s budget, which comes from
the Department of Health, has been reduced by $206,100. University
President Arthur May said that excluding the health portion of
the university’s funding, the actual shortfall totals more
than the cut to its grant because of commitments such as changes
to benefits and step increases that are part of collective agreements.
Meanwhile, Memorial’s administration is asking the province
to provide the university with a four to five-year budget next
year.