2002-09-05. MUN Gazette, vol. 35, no. 02

              Memorial
* University of Newfoundland
Publications Mail
Registration No. 40062527
Volume 35 Number 2
A MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND PUBLICATION
September 5, 2002
New to Memorial?
Getting together
Photo by David Sorensen
rientation 2002 was underway earlier this week as students returned to university. Here, students
it into the spirit of orientation during opening ceremonies at the Field House.
Access Labrador
Memorial researchers have made a
major contribution to a celebration of Labrador.
Through its Access North - Labrador
2002 initiative, the provincial government is
highlighting the region through a series of
exhibitions and events.
Dr. Hans Rollman, a Religious Studies
professor with a long research interest in the
Moravians in Labrador, was seconded by the
province as an advisor on the Moravian 250
events and celebrations. Dr. Rollman has
been working on three events with the Special Celebrations Corporation of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.
He's developed and curated a photographic exhibit called Through Moravian
Eyes: 250 Years of Art, Photographs, and
Records. This exhibit, which consists of 26
panels and copies of 1,200 photographs
from the Moravian Archives in Herrnhut,
Germany, travelled in all communities on
the north coast of Labrador and will be seen
in 16 locations in Labrador and the island.
These photos will be available for scholars at the Centre for Newfoundland Studies
at Memorial.
Dr. Rollman is also writing a coffee-table
like book of the exhibit, which will appear in
print in early October.
He also organized a scholarly international symposium on Moravian beginnings in
Labrador, which took place on August 9-10
in Makkovik and Hopedale. He will edit a
book of the papers of the conference. Other
Memorial scholars taking part in the symposium included Dr. John Kennedy, anthropology, and Dr. Jim Hiller, History, Dr. Rollman
said the response of the people of Labrador
to the touring exhibit was outstanding. "People were very excited about their old families and ancestors," he said. "Some even recognized themselves in the most recent pictures."
The exhibit is on display at the provincial
museum on Duckworth Street in St. John's
until Sept. 8. From there it will move across
the province before closing in early November in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
For more information, and- to view a
selection of photographs, see
www.gov. nf.ca/labrador2002l
Campus legends persist
By Aimee Sheppard
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction
and sometimes you can't tell the difference. Memorial is a breeding
ground for myths; however, with the help of
folklorist Philip Hiscock, it is also becoming
a burial ground for some of these tall tales. If
you're new to the St. John's campus, you
may be relieved to know that not everything
you will learn here is true.
Over the years, several legends centred
around Memorial have emerged and many of
those stories have made their way around the
campus.
"Legends are stories that are told as if
they are true," said Dr. Hiscock, an assistant professor in the Department of Folklore. "Some folklore can be very useful to
students, for example, senior students may
tell first-year students how to save money
when buying books or what professors to
avoid. However, some folklore is anything
but useful."
According to Dr. Hiscock, legends about
specific residences are very popular. Senior
students try to scare first-year students with
stories about haunted rooms, unusual occurrences, and tales of the supernatural. The
ghost stories then get embellished over the
years, as new storytellers add their personal
Dr. Philip Hiscock
touch and exaggerate the details. Those
ghosts are more likely to be sharing a room
with the Easter bunny than with you.
Stories about reading building plans incorrectly is another common type of folklore
said Dr. Hiscock. "There was a rumour that
the bathrooms in the engineering building
were small because the building was
designed by work-term students. They apparently forgot to take into account the space
taken up by the walls. To compensate for the
see LEGENDS, page 7
Alumni elect new
board members
By Wade Kearley
There will be three new faces at the
table when Memorial University's
Board of Regents convenes today at
the Glynmill Inn in Corner Brook. Memorial
alumni recently elected Leigh Borden, Earl
Ludlow and Andrea Quinlan for three-year
terms on the Board of Regents, Memorial's
governing body. In the same election alumni
re-elected Hayward Blake, Lisa Browne and
Calvin Butt to a second term as regents.
At the close of voting on Aug. 23, more
that 2,400 alumni had cast their votes for 14
candidates.
"The six regents elected by the alumni are
very important members of the board," said
Edward Roberts, chair of the Board of
Regents, said. "I look forward to working
with the three new regents and continuing to
work with the three who were re-elected."
Dr. Paul Wilson, out-going president of the
Alumni Association of Memorial University,
expressed satisfaction with the results.
"We had 14 excellent candidates stand for
election this year. And the fact that so many
alumni took the time to vote is a bonus. Fm
confident that the newly elected alumni will
ensure that the voices of students and alumni
are heard at the most senior level of this institution. I know that each of them has the commitment and passion to see Memorial Univer
sity achieve its full potential."
John Kearsey, director, Alumni Affairs and
Development, said this election is evidence
that Memorial University is successfully
reaching out to its graduates.
"This year, by creating the online vote and
promoting the event wherever possible, we
saw many more alumni get involved in the
process than in the previous two elections.
That is very gratifying because it tells us that
alumni are increasingly active in the affairs of
their alma mater."
Created under provincial legislation, the
Board of Regents of Memorial University is
mandated "to do and perform all other matters
and things which may seem appropriate and
useful for the well ordering and advancement
of the university." That includes the management, administration and control of the property, revenue, business and affairs of the university.
The 28-member board consists of the
chancellor; the president, who is the vice-
chancellor; and the vice-president (academic),
who is the pro vice-chancellor. These three
members are ex-officio. There are 19 members appointed by government including two
full-time students. And the alumni association
elects six members.
To meet the new members of the Board,
see Page 6.