Lögberg-Heimskringla - 07.11.1997, Page 2

2 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Friday, November 7, 1997
Brandon University
Continued from page 1
Association, to describe the current
project.
Mr. Adams spoke of the current time
capsule, which would include brochures
on the Brandon Foundation Legacy Cam-
paign; today’s ofFicial opening program;
copies of the University newspaper, The
Quill; a video; a computer disk; and a
doorknob from the old structure. He in-
vited Dr. Robert Beamish, who repre-
sented the Brandon College Alumni, to
begin the dedications.
Dr. Beamish spoke of his student
days at Brandon University in the hun-
gry Thirties. Teachers did not always
receive their pay-cheques on time in
those poor days, but student activity re-
mained vigorous. Had Brandon Univer-
sity not existed, Dr. Beamish would not
have been able to pursue his dream of
becoming a physician. He was proud
to dedicate some items to the second
time capsule, and also pleased with the
refurbishing of the original buildings,
which would now stand for another
century and host the attendance of nu-
merous students who could thereby
accomplish theirdreams. He laid some
items carefully in the time capsule.
Gari-Ellen Donohoe, President of the
Brandon University Students’ Union,
then spoke of the importance of this
project in maintaining and improving
morale among the student body. She said
that investment in the future of educa-
tion filled students with hope and prom-
ise. She added her elements to the time
capsule.
Finally, Betty Kyle brought in the
Brandon University Junior Kindergarten.
Each of the tiny individuals dropped
in a brochure, and finally put the door-
knob into the time capsule.
The Chancellor of Brandon Univer-
sity, Dr. Kavanagh, then introduced the
ribbon cutting ceremony. He made the
point that the Province of Manitoba
should not see the accumulation of six-
teen pairs of scissors as a gross and fri vo-
lous expenditure; indeed, these scissors
had been gathered from every comer of
the campus, and would be retumed from
whence they came, with the ceremony
done! Brandon University continued its
path of uniqueness by inviting all sixteen
members of the platform party to cut the
ribbon together. A vibrantly coloured rib-
bon stretched from a carved wooden bal-
ustrade located on either end of the front
of the classroom, and was joined to ei-
ther side of the omate, wooden lectem at
the centre of Lewis D. Whitehead Hall.
Dr. Anderson mentioned that he
hoped those in the plaíform party had
noticed the pair of scissors which had
been laid on each seat; if one of the guests
was seen to limp to the ribbon, the rea-
son for their indisposition was now ac-
counted for! The ribbon was then cut into
segments, and some scissors assiduously
retumed.
The Brandon University Chorale
then led those gathered in the singing of
Hail our College.
Some, including President
Anderson, followed the song with ges-
tures of triumph and the less scabrous
slogans of their alumni days. Dr.
Anderson invited everyone to look
around the newly refurbished facility.
He especially encouraged a visit to the
new bell-tower from which a view, fit
for a Province of Manitoba tourism bro-
chure, could be seen of the rolling val-
ley and city-scape. □
At any given time, approximately 100 people were directly employed on this project,
whether it was demolishing the interior to make wayfor new construction, or the fine
details of installing woodwork, wiring or bulletin boards.
Dailv News from lceland
Compiled from The lceland Review website: http://www.centrum.is/icereV/
Back to school
A new wage contract between the
Teachers’ Association of Iceland and the
Union of Local Authorities was signed
last night after nearly continuous meet-
ings since Saturday moming. The teach-
ers’ day-long strike has been called off
pending a general vote on the new agree-
ment.
The four-year contract gives teach-
ers a total salary increase of about 33 per-
cent by December 31, 2000. Beginning
salaries get the biggest boost, but pay
scales and step increases will also be
changed and room made for additional
flexibility in the daily operation of the
schools.
The Chairman of the Teachers’ As-
sociation, Eiríkur Jónsson, expressed his
satisfaction over the outcome. The talks
had been very difficult, but their core de-
mands had been met, leading to an ac-
ceptable solution. Municipal leaders were
relieved that the crisis was over. There
is some concem over where to find addi-
tional funds to pay for this increase in
expenditures, but most mle out raising
taxes to fund the bill.
Collecting University degrees
Among the 220 candidates graduat-
ing from the University of Iceland in Oc-
tober was Einar Ágústsson, completing
his Bachelor degrees in business admin-
istration, economics and philosophy. If
that was not enough, he finished Bach-
elor degrees in computer science, math-
ematics and physics last spring, making
it a total of six degrees in one year.
Ágústsson told daily Morgunblaðið
that “this is not as difficult as it appears.”
He attributes his success to hard work,
organization and study techniques. It took
Ágústsson five years to accomplish this,
but during that time he went as an ex-
change student to Denmark and Ger-
many. He made it into the news last sum-
mer when lost in the jungles of
Guatemala, but has fully recovered from
his ordeal.
His next step is to continue pursuing
a Master’s degree in intemational busi-
ness administration in the U.S. Ágústsson
hopes to carry out some of his studies in
France and Japan before entering the
workplace.
No go on whaling
Icelanders will carefully review the
results of the annual meeting of the In-
temational Whaling Commission (IWC)
concluded in Monaco last week. Foreign
Minster Halldór Ásgrímsson told daily
Morgunblaðið that if there are any hopes
of the IWC changing its stand against
whaling, then Iceland would reconsider
membership in the organization. This last
meeting yielded no results, with one more
resolution being passed condemning
whaling. On the other hand, the new
Chairman, Michael Canny from Ireland,
has been given a mandate to review cur-
rent policies and propose future changes.
If that tums out to be a venue for real
change Iceland might rejoin the IWC to
fight for the resumption of whaling. The
Minister is most disappointed with the
U.S. position. In his view, Iceland agreed
to stop commercial whaling, among other
things, because of U.S. pressure and in
the good faith that the halt would be tem-
porary. The Americans are greatly re-
sponsible for the current policies, and
have shown no indication of moving to-
wards lifting the ban.
Tallest tree in lceland measured
Can’t see the trees for the forest? Let
there be no doubt the highest tree in Ice-
land is found in Hallormsstadarskógur in
the eastem part of the country. The mat-
ter had to be settled by actual measuring
in the presence of county magistrates, as
there was keen competition to claim the
tallest tree. The winner is a “famous”
larch towering 20.34 meters up into the
sky. In second place is a poplar located
in Fljótshlíd in south Iceland, reaching
“only” 19.92 meters.
Despite losing the duel, the South-
emers intend to keep on growing and,
from now on, demand annual measuring.
Arnarson swims into record books
Swimmer Öm Amarson became the first
Icelander to swim the 200m backstroke
in under 2 minutes after breaking the ex-
isting record held by Westman Islander
Logi Jens Kristjánsson at Reykjavík’s
Sundhöll pool on Sunday. Amarson swam
the event in a time of 1.59.06 to beat
Kristjánsson’s 1996 record of 2.00.37. □
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