Student union seeks new leaders
Students in St. John’s will go to the polls to elect a new students’ union council March 24-25. The Memorial University of Newfoundland Students’ Union (MUNSU) council includes a president, four vice-presidents and 31 councillors. For more information, contact the chief returning officers (CROs) John Bennett and John Galgay at 737-7633.

AUCC names new president
The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada has named Claire Morris as president and CEO, effective April 5, 2004. Ms. Morris succeeds Robert J. Giroux, who is retiring after leading AUCC since December 1995.

Appointed president and CEO for a five-year term, Ms. Morris will join AUCC’s 13-member board of directors, and will be responsible for managing the 93-member national higher education association, which represents universities and university-degree level colleges across the country. AUCC provides strong and effective representation for its members, both in Canada and abroad, facilitating the development of public policy on higher education and encouraging cooperation among universities and governments, industry, and communities. AUCC also manages scholarships and a wide range of international programs.

In Ms. Morris, AUCC has attracted one of Canada’s most respected senior public servants. Ms. Morris has been deputy minister of intergovernmental affairs in the Privy Council Office since May 2002, responsible for providing policy advice on federal-provincial relations and for the conduct of First Ministers’ Meetings.

Gwynne Dyer featured guest speaker
Memorial honorary alumnus Gwynne Dyer is the featured guest speaker at a special meeting and networking reception co-hosted by Canadians in Europe UK Chapter, Memorial University, and Memorial Alumni celebrating the anniversary of Newfoundland joining Confederation, March 31, 1949. Hon. Edward Roberts, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland, will be a special guest at the event, taking place at the Commonwealth Club, 18 Northumberland Avenue, London, England, on Thursday April 1, at 6 p.m. for 6.30 p.m.

Dr. Dyer will deliver a lecture titled From The Island To The World: Perspectives On Iraq, Terrorism And All That!

Dr. Dyer has worked as a freelance journalist, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs for more than 20 years, but he was originally trained as an historian. Born in Newfoundland, he received degrees from Canadian, American and British universities, finishing with a PhD in military and Middle Eastern history from the University of London. Since then, his major activity has been his twice-weekly column on international affairs, which is published by 175 papers in 45 countries. Dyer's most recent book is Ignorant Armies: Sliding into War in Iraq. His next book, due out in March, 2004, is Three Projects and a Few Funerals. He received an honorary doctor of letters from Memorial in 2001.

To RSVP, contact, Debra Davis, managing director, Canadians in Europe (020) 7722 9731 or dgdavis@canadiansineurope-uk.org.

Seeking top history papers
Memorial’s history society is holding an essay contest for students. There will be a top prize of $500 for an essay submitted by a third or fourth year student and a prize of $250 for the best essay submitted by a first or second year student. The essays will be judged by a committee headed by department head Dr. Chris Youé. The deadline for entry is Monday, March 22. A complete set of contest rules is posted outside the history department office, A-4019. For more information, e-mail histsoc@mun.ca.

Reaching into New England
Memorial University is seeking to build a better relationship with the New England states during the Boston Seafood Show this week. Glenn Blackwood, director of the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources at Memorial’s Marine Institute, gave a public presentation on the fisheries connections between Newfoundland and the greater New England area during the time of the show.

The president of Memorial also travelled to Boston with an important message for prospective students. “We now have a series of new scholarships in place which are aimed at assisting students from the United States who wish to study at Memorial,” said Dr. Axel Meisen. “Given the cultural and historical connections to Newfoundland, we are inviting students who are looking for a first-rate education in a truly unique environment but with strong ties to their home, to take a look at Memorial.”

Both Mr. Blackwood and Dr. Meisen spoke at a special event being held at the Boston Sheraton on Monday, March 15.

Mr. Blackwood’s presentation examined the challenges facing the New England fishing industry today and discussed how the university’s research and development capability is benefiting partners in the region. Specifically, he talked about how his centre is assisting the New England fishery sector with by-catch issues, research on standardization of trawls, and with the minimization of seabed impacts.