The Toban quickie

News in 30 seconds or less

JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF

The first month of 2007 is officially half over and it has already been a busy couple of weeks at the U of M.

Both the U of M Senate and UMSU have met since the last issue of the Toban and have provided a few big announcements. UMSU had a successful day at the Jan. 10 Senate meeting as their motion to provide students with a day of amnesty for the National Day of Action, coming up on Feb. 7, was passed. With Senate endorsing the event, it will be easier for students to miss class, as staff members should be aware of the Day of Action.

Senate was also busy choosing five more members for the presidential search committee that will begin the search for the 11th president of U of M. Current president and vicechancellor Emöke Szathmáry will be finished her term at the end of June 2008.

To keep with the theme of meetings, the U of M Graduate Students’ Association held their annual general meeting on Jan. 12 and grad students agreed to the autonomy agreement drafted by the GSA and UMSU. Soon there could be two official students’ unions on campus, one for undergrads and one for graduate students.

On the leisure side of things, U of M Stockman’s Club had their seventh annual judging competition. Yes, students entered the competition so they could be judged on how well they judge. U of M placed well in the competition.

Research is always big news at the U of M as the results of a study on breast cancer are revealed and a U of M alumnus wins a research award for honey-bee studies in Texas. Not to mention the new $1-million “Chemistry Centre of Excellence” that is soon to be developed . . . looks like an exciting road ahead for all of the biotech researchers around here!

Don’t forget to check out the Toban Talkback this week to see how students are feeling about the Day of Action.

All the best!

-Jenelle Petrinchuk, news editor