In Brief

Tessa Vanderhart, Staff

Emergency telephone system successful in test

Director of security services Jim Raftis is pleased to announce that the university’s emergency telephone notification system was successful last week.

“We’ve been trying to resolve an issue of how to notify people on campus if you need them to get out of the building, get off campus or . . . stay in buildings,” said Raftis.

“We developed the Meridian telephone system to send out messages campus-wide . . . and also sent general e-mails out to all e-mail accounts on campus.”

Last week, the emergency was an escaped patient from the psychiatric ward of Victoria General Hospital. Raftis said they decided to test the system on this incident because the patient did make a telephone call from campus. The individual was arrested off-campus by a staff member of the university, who got a description from a security services e-mail.

“Again, it’s not foolproof, but it’s a system that worked,” he said. “It was a trial shot, and it worked really well.”

He said that there has been much positive feedback, as people on campus appreciated the notification. The service does have one glitch: the system slows down when too many callers phone simultaneously.

But Raftis thinks that the service will prove invaluable for catching criminals, alerting people about snowstorms, or even telling people that it is safe to return to campus after a chemical spill. The service could be unique to buildings, not for advertising, but for alerting people about smaller emergencies.

Missing computers will return this fall

Students who rely on library computers should not be dismayed by the bright orange signs in libraries: the computers have been temporarily taken away to bring them up to speed for the high demand expected in the fall.

Susan Miller, the associate director of Information Services and Systems, said that the temporary removal is for the better.

“It’s just that we’ve had to remove computers that didn’t meet the security standards of the university because they were old. We have received funds now to replace those computers, and they will be in this fall, [but] not at the beginning of term, because we can’t get them in that fast,” said Miller.

The administration has provided money to upgrade the existing computer service, although no more additional computers will be added.

However, Miller noted, with the ever-increasing wireless capability on campus, any number of personal computers can now be used in five libraries. Additional libraries may soon be equipped with wireless technology.

Changes to Health Insurance Plan

UMSU convened a Health Plan Committee over the summer to discuss changes to the students’ union health plan.

Notably, anaesthesia has been eliminated from the plan, as has care for impacted wisdom teeth. A cap on paramedical services — limiting visits to physiotherapists and chiropractors to $30 of coverage — has also been introduced. Students are now eligible for only 70 per cent of minor restorative dental work, such as cavity fillings and non-surgical treatments for gum disease.

Out-of-province coverage was removed by UMSU council and later reinstated by the Health Committee; however, this has not been finalized.

Students have been informed of the changes in a mailout; the changes are also alluded to on a banner in University Centre and on the UMSU website.

Premiers want $2.2 billion in federal cuts to post-secondary reinstated

Coming out of the Council of the Federation meeting — an annual premiers’ meeting, this year held in Banff, Alberta — Premier Gary Doer envisions better relations between federal and provincial levels of government in supporting post-secondary education.

Jonathan Hildebrand, of cabinet communications, relayed the premier’s message, emphasizing the development of a knowledge economy in Manitoba as one of the provincial government’s priorities.

“The premier has been on the record as saying that Manitoba feels that skill development and training and long-term strategies for post-secondary education need to receive more attention from federal and provincial governments,” said Hildebrand.

Coming out of the meeting, the premiers are seeking $2.2 billion to restore the cuts that the federal government has made to post-secondary education; they want the federal government to reinstate that $2.2 billion.

Hildebrand said that the premier is prepared to match the federal government in any money dedicated to post-secondary education provided above the reinstated funding.

“It’s not just a matter of asking for more provinces have to take a look at themselves and what they are doing for post-secondary education, and see what they can do — not just ask the federal government for more money,” said Hildebrand.

In addition, Doer discussed the importance of national cohesion on issues such as internal trade and aboriginal health.





Volume 93 • Issue 3	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	August 24, 2005

Home About Us Advertise Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Personals Volunteer	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly In Brief Tessa Vanderhart, Staff Emergency telephone system successful in test Director of security services Jim Raftis is pleased to announce that the university’s emergency telephone notification system was successful last week. “We’ve been trying to resolve an issue of how to notify people on campus if you need them to get out of the building, get off campus or . . . stay in buildings,” said Raftis. “We developed the Meridian telephone system to send out messages campus-wide . . . and also sent general e-mails out to all e-mail accounts on campus.” Last week, the emergency was an escaped patient from the psychiatric ward of Victoria General Hospital. Raftis said they decided to test the system on this incident because the patient did make a telephone call from campus. The individual was arrested off-campus by a staff member of the university, who got a description from a security services e-mail. “Again, it’s not foolproof, but it’s a system that worked,” he said. “It was a trial shot, and it worked really well.” He said that there has been much positive feedback, as people on campus appreciated the notification. The service does have one glitch: the system slows down when too many callers phone simultaneously. But Raftis thinks that the service will prove invaluable for catching criminals, alerting people about snowstorms, or even telling people that it is safe to return to campus after a chemical spill. The service could be unique to buildings, not for advertising, but for alerting people about smaller emergencies. Missing computers will return this fall Students who rely on library computers should not be dismayed by the bright orange signs in libraries: the computers have been temporarily taken away to bring them up to speed for the high demand expected in the fall. Susan Miller, the associate director of Information Services and Systems, said that the temporary removal is for the better. “It’s just that we’ve had to remove computers that didn’t meet the security standards of the university because they were old. We have received funds now to replace those computers, and they will be in this fall, [but] not at the beginning of term, because we can’t get them in that fast,” said Miller. The administration has provided money to upgrade the existing computer service, although no more additional computers will be added. However, Miller noted, with the ever-increasing wireless capability on campus, any number of personal computers can now be used in five libraries. Additional libraries may soon be equipped with wireless technology. Changes to Health Insurance Plan UMSU convened a Health Plan Committee over the summer to discuss changes to the students’ union health plan. Notably, anaesthesia has been eliminated from the plan, as has care for impacted wisdom teeth. A cap on paramedical services — limiting visits to physiotherapists and chiropractors to $30 of coverage — has also been introduced. Students are now eligible for only 70 per cent of minor restorative dental work, such as cavity fillings and non-surgical treatments for gum disease. Out-of-province coverage was removed by UMSU council and later reinstated by the Health Committee; however, this has not been finalized. Students have been informed of the changes in a mailout; the changes are also alluded to on a banner in University Centre and on the UMSU website. Premiers want $2.2 billion in federal cuts to post-secondary reinstated Coming out of the Council of the Federation meeting — an annual premiers’ meeting, this year held in Banff, Alberta — Premier Gary Doer envisions better relations between federal and provincial levels of government in supporting post-secondary education. Jonathan Hildebrand, of cabinet communications, relayed the premier’s message, emphasizing the development of a knowledge economy in Manitoba as one of the provincial government’s priorities. “The premier has been on the record as saying that Manitoba feels that skill development and training and long-term strategies for post-secondary education need to receive more attention from federal and provincial governments,” said Hildebrand. Coming out of the meeting, the premiers are seeking $2.2 billion to restore the cuts that the federal government has made to post-secondary education; they want the federal government to reinstate that $2.2 billion. Hildebrand said that the premier is prepared to match the federal government in any money dedicated to post-secondary education provided above the reinstated funding. “It’s not just a matter of asking for more provinces have to take a look at themselves and what they are doing for post-secondary education, and see what they can do — not just ask the federal government for more money,” said Hildebrand. In addition, Doer discussed the importance of national cohesion on issues such as internal trade and aboriginal health.


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