UW Opinion

What really bugs me is the lower case u

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 08:59:12 -0500

Why 'uWaterloo' in particular? Why not 'UWaterloo'? This makes sense. This is a reasonable abbreviation of 'University of Waterloo'. You take out 'niveristy of ' and you get 'UWaterloo'. This looks fairly respectable as far as abbreviations go.

By contrast, what we seem to have in our hands is a leading lower-case letter. By the rules of English grammar, this is wrong. This looks like some silly Apple product. The fact that many silly Apple products are also popular isn't an excuse, either. I strongly feel that it detracts from the professional look of the university.

Sean Hunt
Proud UWaterloo

Re: Monitoring of myCareer@UWaterloo

Jason Testart — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:09:12 -0400

In response to Avril McVicar's question about monitoring – Yes, it is possible for your activity to be monitored. In fact, it is possible for any and all of your on-line activity to be monitored in one way or another. Most (if not all) access to systems on campus is logged somewhere, but the logs are only looked at by IT staff to monitor for unauthorized activity, or to troubleshoot technical problems. On very rare occations, logs may be looked at as part of a police investigation. Many web sites these days, both on and off campus, are linked with Google Analytics to help answer questions like "What's the most popular web browser these days?".

Jason Testart
Manager, IT Security, IST
(uWaterloo Information Security Officer)

myCareer@UWaterloo - Why Complicate Things?

Avril McVicar — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 09:15:33 -0400

I understand the theory behind myCareer@UWaterloo (Although shouldn't that be myCareer@Waterloo; no need for the clarifying 'U"? But that's another issue!). However, I like to quickly glance at the positions available each week — both internal and external. For me, it is sort of an overview of what is going on in our community. Now, I have to log in to view this information. Couldn't we just keep the 'old' way of posting, and then if an individual wants to apply for a position they would take the next step and log in? I'm also curious to know if my log-in activity can be monitored . . . I am not asking if it IS being monitored, just if it is possible.

Smoke FREE???

Simone Paull — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:55:24 -0400

Show me a bench to sit on during my lunch break and I will show you smokers.

Can we please have some enforcing of our basic right to sit/eat/breath during lunch without smoke blowing in our faces??? Can there be some assistance to TELL people?

Many of us who work here need to leave our office for some fresh air and relax time, It is not fair to be in the position to have to tell people "have you read the signs on the door you are sitting under" Should we hang these signs from the branches of trees? Spray paint the message on the benches?

I would like to see benches put out in the middle of areas AWAY from buildings where people CAN smoke! Perhaps a smoke area can be pleasing to look at and have the retreat look of a campsite with a firepit …the butts thrown there won't look so out of place.

Let's keep it simple. Use Waterloo.

Ray Butterworth — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:26:51 -0400

From the Daily Bulletin:

    June 17: Instead, let's keep it simple. Use Waterloo. The guide then introduces an alternative:
             "In some instances, you may need to use 'uWaterloo' for clarity's sake.

The message seems clear enough. Use "Waterloo" whenever you can, and "uWaterloo" only when necessary.
But since then, almost every occurrence of the micro-Waterloo term in the Daily Bulletin has been an instance of unnecessarily using uWaterloo where a simple Waterloo would have been unambiguous:

    July 8: The show was co-ordinated and curated by uWaterloo fine arts students
As opposed to City of Waterloo or Region of Waterloo fine arts students?

July 9: He noted that he will continue as uWaterloo president until September 30.

As opposed to the City or Region president?

    July 9: much to do at uWaterloo between now and Oct 1
An "at" would be used only with the campus, never with the Region or City.

    July 9: one of five current major building projects underway on the uWaterloo campus.
As opposed to the Region or City campus?

    July 27: In the past year, uWaterloo faculty, staff, and retirees
As if we'd be discussing City or Region faculty.

    July 30: Therefore, uWaterloo candidates must submit a hardcopy of their application to the Graduate Studies Office
To avoid confusion with City or Regional grad students?

    August 16: It is a real testament to the high quality research that our faculty and students conduct in our department that allows uWaterloo Chemistry to be ranked so highly.
There are City or Regional Chemistry faculty?

    August 23: The pilots consist of Housing, Web resources, uWaterloo main, and Student Life.
If the uWaterloo were necessary, so would be University Housing, University Web resources, and University Student Life.

The stated goal was to promote the unqualified "Waterloo" name (like Harvard or Cambridge). But the process seems to have been subverted into promoting the micro-Waterloo name instead. Now instead of saying the banned "UW", people are now using "uWaterloo". They aren't shifting to "Waterloo", as was intended. Regardless of the merits or esthetics of the term, it has obviously failed in its purpose.

Qualifying "Waterloo" is almost never necessary (especially after "at"). And when it really is required, why not simply call it "the University of Waterloo". That looks a lot nicer and is long enough that most people won't use it unless necessary, which after all was the original purpose of this.

Introducing the term "uWaterloo" was never necessary, and in use it's proven to be worse than useless. Let's drop it now, before it catches on any worse than it already has.

University Gardens

Robert L Brown — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 10:54:18 -0400

As it is summertime and as I work in M&C but park in A Lot, I get to see quite a bit of the campus twice a day.

Am I wrong, or is the University not exerting the same effort as in past years on its gardens? For one example, look at the small garden in front of the Physics building as you head toward the Grad House. Is it as intended? It just looks ignored. Maybe I am missing some subtle point of presentation.

Do others have a similar opinion?

Rob Brown