September 2005
World-Renowned Canadian to Speak at TRU
September 16, 2005
A world-renowned humanitarian and political figure will present a free public lecture at Thompson Rivers University this October.
The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy, currently President of the University of Winnipeg, and chair of a number of international committees on climate change, sovereignty, security and peace, will speak on the topic, Global Citizenship: Our Responsibility to Protect against Terrorism, Disaster and Calamity.
Dr. Axworthy has long been associated with problem-solving in the realm of global politics and issues. After earning his Ph.D in political science from Princeton University in 1972, Dr. Axworthy embarked on a 27-year political career that included six different federal cabinet posts, during which time he helped to establish the International Criminal Court, the Protocol on Child Soldiers, and the Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel landmines.
In recognition of his leadership in global humanitarian issues, Dr. Axworthy has received a number of prestigious awards, including a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, the North-South Institute's Peace Award and the Order of Canada.
He is the author of Navigating a New World: Canada's Global Future, a book that explores how we can make the world a safer, more sustainable and humane place to live.
He will speak at the university Thursday, October 13th as part of the TRU President's Lecture Series. His talk, scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm, will be held in the Grand Hall in the TRU Campus Activity Centre.
Campus and community members wishing to attend this lecture must obtain a ticket, available free of charge beginning October 3rd at the TRU campus, at bookie's, the Cariboo Student Society desk (TRU Campus Activity Centre), or the Student Street info desk (TRU Old Main building).
For more information, please contact Bronwen Scott by phone at 250-828-5739 or email.
African Professors Arrive to Discuss TRU Partnerships
September 20, 2005
Dr. Roger Barnsley, President and Vice-Chancellor of Thompson Rivers University, in conjunction with Cyndi McLeod, Executive Director of TRU World, and TRU's Africa Committee will host two visitors from the National University of Lesotho.
Professors Mafa Sejanamane, Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Paul Odonkor, Dean of Health Sciences, will be on campus from October 4 through 7 to discuss a potential partnership between the National University of Lesotho and Thompson Rivers University, with a view to exploring strategies for faculty and students from both institutions to work collaboratively on future projects in Lesotho.
The Kingdom of Lesotho is located in the Southern part of Africa, and on October 4, 2005 the country will celebrate the anniversary of its 1966 Independence from Great Britain. A small and mountainous country, Lesotho struggles with HIV-Aids, poverty, and an ongoing drought.
Last month, Stephen Lewis, the UN's Special Envoy for HIV/Aids in Africa, visited the National University of Lesotho and met with Professor Sejanamane; on this occasion, Dr. Lewis presented a small gift to the Vice-Chancellor on behalf of the TRU Africa Committee.
For more information, please contact Bronwen Scott by phone at 250-828-5739 or email.
TRU Hoopster Plays in UK
September 19, 2005
Star basketball player Skye Buck, who was named BCCAA Player of the Year in 2004, when he was also named a CCAA Tournament Championship 1st team All-Star, and a CCAA All-Canadian, is shooting hoops for the Essex and Hertz Leopards basketball team, which competes in the English Basketball League (EBL).
"To find the team here was actually quite a task," said Buck. "I talked to former UCC players who in their travels have come across European teams and used some of their advice."
Buck flew over to Germany at the beginning of July to attend a Professional Identification Camp in Bonn. He had planned to email or phone teams in the numerous different leagues they have in each country of Europe, with plans to try out until he found one he could play on and could pay a reasonable salary.
He found himself on an unwanted European vacation, however, when he discovered that none of the European leagues train from the end of their season in April/May until the end of August.
At the end of August he got on the Internet, emailing teams, only to find out that most had their teams finalized.
"I was blessed to find a good situation [with the Leopards] as it is very difficult to come and look for a team as an import player," said Buck, explaining that each European team is normally allowed only two 'imports' or North American players.
He's now playing for the Essex and Hertz Leopards, and coaching youth and high school age teams for the Leopards.
When his contract is over at the end of April, Skye Buck plans to return home to Clearwater and work for the summer. If he's re-signed by the team or can find another to play on, he'll fly back to Europe for another season; if not, he'll return to TRU to complete his biology degree (he has one semester left to go) and then decide if he wants to enter a teaching program.
For more information, please contact Bronwen Scott by phone at 250-828-5739 or email. Information on the team can be found at the Essex Leopards web page.
TRU Athlete Kicks off Season as BCCAA Athlete of the Week
September 15, 2005
After the first week of varsity play, Shannon Enns, co-captain of the TRU WolfPack women's soccer team, has been named Athlete of the Week by the BC Colleges Athletics Association.
Shannon, a 5'9" defender in her 4th year at Thompson Rivers University, is a 2002 Sa-Hali grad who helped her Kamloops Sharks team win the youth club nationals in 2002.
She was named a BCCAA Academic All-Canadian in the 2004-05 season.
Shannon leads the BCCAA conference in goals so far, and was a major factor in the league-opener vs Malaspina this season.
Head coach Eric Schweizer describes Shannon as "an experienced defender who plays an aggressive, physical but sportsmanlike game. She is a leader by example. Shannon was a major factor in the team's win and tie this past weekend."
Shannon complemented her strong defensive play with two goals on Saturday vs Malaspina on several attacking runs. On Sunday vs Capilano, she again used her experience to help her team with a hard fought 1-1 tie vs the Blues.
Next up for the Wolfpack is a Saturday game versus the University College of the Fraser Valley. Sunday, TRU then plays Kwantlen in Surrey September 12, 2005.
Kamloops fans can see Shannon and teammates in action at TRU soccer's first home games Saturday, September 24th and Sunday, September 25th, when the WolfPack men's and women's soccer play Douglas and Langara at noon & 2:00 pm at McArthur Island.
For more information, please contact Bronwen Scott by phone at 250-828-5739 or email.
TRU Extends Unique Edu-Travel Opportunity to Public
September 23, 2005
An information session for students and members of the public interested in a unique educational travel opportunity next May will be held in Room 101 of TRU's Arts & Education building at 4:30 pm on Monday, October 3rd.
Dr. David Scheffel, who has conducted the university's study tour and field school in East/Central Europe since 1993, will guide members of the public on a 10-day bus tour of the former Yugoslavia, Serbia, Montenegro and Romania, with an eye to studying inter-ethnic relations and experiencing a part of Europe seen by very few outsiders.
"It's an adventure, no question about that," said Scheffel. "It's an unusual opportunity to see places that are well off the beaten track. There are no organized trips to Serbia, for instance, even though there is no danger there for tourists anymore."
"We'll be visiting symbolic sites in all the countries, including a former WWII concentration camp, and a number of sites related to the 1991-93 civil war."
It won't all be history, however, said Scheffel.
"The scenery in Montenegro is spectacular, and we'll also be visiting a somewhat imaginary state-Republika Srpska-which is sort of a de facto state, carved out of Bosnia and Hercegovina. It's recognized only by Serbia and Montenegro."
Those who can't make it to the meeting, or wish more information, can contact Dr. Scheffel at 250-828-5182 or email.
Turkish Volleyball Star on WolfPack Roster
September 23, 2005
His English may be a bit slow right now, but he's very quick on the court, said WolfPack men's volleyball head coach Patrick Hennelly.
Behlul Yavasgel, a 6'4", 190-pound 18-year-old who played 13 times for Turkey's National Team, will play middle for the WolfPack men's volleyball team this year, wearing the #15 jersey for Thompson Rivers University.
Yavasgel, who is enrolled in English as a Second Language courses in preparation for embarking on business studies, has already won many awards for his prowess on the court in his home country.
In 2000, he was named Best Blocker for his high-school play. The next year, playing for the Arcelik Sports Club, Yavasgel was named Best Spiker at the national tournament, and then Best Blocker on the junior national team. In 2002, he was named Best Younger Player at the Balkan Championship, and Best Blocker and Best Spiker at the club level as well. Then, in the 2003/04 season, he helped his team to a national 2nd-place victory at the Turkish tournament.
Coach Hennelly is expecting Yavasgel to have a major impact on the team's performance this year, its first year of play in the Canada West conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sports league.
"I think it speaks volumes when an 18-year-old moves to a different country to play varsity ball," said Hennelly. "Behlul has already shown that he has the necessary character to take on that challenge. He's prepared to take risks, and I'm looking forward to working with him."
For more information, please contact Patrick Hennelly at 250-377-6118 or 250-572-6619 or email.
Photo available on request to: Browen Scott.