Connections - April 2009 by Kris Olafson

Connections April 2009 | Volume 20

Prepare your Student for Graduation

Intent to Graduate Form Degree and Photo Frames

UW Students Recieve Environment Award Sleep 101

by Susan Rosenblum Counselling Services

Connections April 2009 | Volume 20

Calendar April 2009 | 3

Feature Sleep 101 | 7

Archives 2006 Oct | Nov | Dec 2007 Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov| Dec 2008 Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec 2009 Jan | Mar Spring has arrived on campus! Photo courtesy of UW Graphics. 2 | COnnections

April 2009

calendar

April 2009

Games from Faraway Places Exhibit @ 11am (until Sunday, May 10 @ 4pm); B.C. Matthew’s Hall 1016

Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change (IC3) Seminar Series @ 121:15pm; EV1 221

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orchestra@waterloo Concert Featuring Students, Staff, Faculty and Alumni @ 8-10pm; Humanities Theatre

Winter Term classes end Lunchtime Travel Slideshows @ 12:15-12:45pm; EV1 221 “Ethics, Schmethics, What’s the Buzz?” Ethical Decision-Making in Community Healthcare @ 4:30-6pm; Chapel Lounge, Renison University College Drop, Penalty 2 Period ends; last day to drop a course without a petition English Language Proficiency Exam (ELPE) in the PAC. Visit http://elpp. uwaterloo.ca/ for details

Distance Education examination day

Friends of the Library Lecture ‘09 @ 12-1pm; Theatre of the Arts, ML Parallels of Power, Organizations and Their Clients @ 4:30-6pm; Chapel Lounge, Renison University College

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Live & Learn Library Lecture: “Saying Uncle: Speaking under Torture or Coercion” @ 7-9pm; James J. Brown Auditorium, Waterloo Public Library

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On campus exams begin (April 8-24) http://www.registrar.uwaterloo.ca/ exams/schedule.pdf University holiday: Good Friday, University closed

Easter weekend, University closed; no examinations scheduled

April 2009

Free Public Event: “Vietnam: If Kennedy Had Lived.” Meet authors James G. Blight, Janet M. Lang and David A. Welch @ 4-6pm; Seagram Room, Centre for International Governance Innovation

Live & Learn Library lecture: “Necromedia” @ 7-9pm; James J. Brown Auditorium, Waterloo Public Library Hallman Lecture: “Pressure Zone or Pleasure Zone? How Family Life Impacts Work-life Balance” @ 4:305:30pm; Lyle S. Hallman Institute, Room 1621, Sun Life Financial Auditorium St. Jerome’s Lectures in Catholic Experience @ 7-9pm; St. Mary’s Hospital, Heasley Hall, Kitchener

Public Forum on the Middle East @ 7:30-9pm; Conrad Grebel Great Hall

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On-Campus examinations end

Beginning this date, registered students can view their unofficial term grades in Quest (this means not all grades may appear)

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Headlines

UW Alumni and Student Connections

here are many different ways that UW alumni (graduates) give back to UW students. UW alumni often: • Return as guest speakers • Participate in career panels to share the secrets of their success, and the challenges they faced along the way • mentor students • Hire co-op students or new grads

A group of UW alumni have expressed interest in finding more meaningful opportunities to enhance the student experience. They want to help students get the best experience they can at UW. In response to this, Alumni Affairs is working with alumni, students, the Federation of Students and the Student Life Office to enhance the connections between alumni, students and the university.

university in Canada by 2017. As we move ahead in the process, we need your help. Did a UW alumnus make an impact in your life? Do you have suggestions for ways that UW alumni could add value to the student experience?

Our vision is to have the strongest relationships between students and alumni of any

Chris Duffy cduffy@uwaterloo.ca Alumni Affairs

Intent to Graduate Reminder A

s your child approaches the final stages of his or her academic career at the University of Waterloo, there are many things that have to be done. Your child’s intent to graduate form is among the most important of these things. For Undergraduate Students who want attend Spring Convocation and are taking classes this winte, the deadline is March 1. For Undergraduate Students taking classes in the summer 4 | Connections

that want to attend the Fall Convocation, the due date for the intent to graduate form is August 1. After this is done, your child can check quest to find out when his or her intent to graduate has been accepted, if he or she has any outstanding fees and to ensure that all contact information is up-to-date. If you need any more information visit http:// www.registrar.uwaterloo.ca/ convocation/students.html.

Please email me your stories and suggestions. Your ideas will help shape the way alumni and students connect at UW.

Framing Your Student’s Degree Is your child expecting to recieve a degree this term? Does he or she know how it will be displayed? The Office of Alumni Affairs (in South Campus Hall) has a variety of degree frames availble in various styles and prices. Matching graduation photo frames are also available. Check out https://alumni. uwaterloo.ca/alumni/secure/ frames/index.html for pricing and delivery options.

April 2009

Quiet Exam Study Zones in Davis Centre Library Exam time is just around the corner and things will be getting quieter – MUCH quieter – around the Davis Centre Library.

n response to student demand, DC staff will be taking a firm stance on noise, transforming the Library into a quiet Exam Study Zone for the exam period of March 29 to April 24.

What will change? The Davis Centre Library will be divided into two zones that will be colour-coded red and yellow.

More Specifically: To help reduce noise and other disruptions, students will be required to turn their cell phones to silent prior to

entering the Library and hot or aromatic food will not be allowed (although covered drinks like coffee will still be permitted). Students disregarding these guidelines will be asked to leave the Library.

Silent Study No talking. Headphones must be used.

Why the change? The Exam Study Zone is being created in direct response to students’ many requests for reduced noise and increased quiet study space in Davis. Students have provided feedback to this effect through comments cards, discussion groups, and numerous surveys.

Quiet Study Quiet talking is allowed. Headphones must be used.

You’re Invited to a Friends of the Library Lecture! T

he Library’s annual Friends of the Library lecture is scheduled for noon on April 20 in the Theatre of the Arts and will feature the first campus talk by UW’s Chancellor elect, Mr. Prem Watsa, CEO of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.

April 2009

As part of the event’s celebrations, the Library will be honouring members of the university community who, in 2008, have authored a book, composed a musical score, mounted an art show, or were recognized for their design or

photography work. Works will be publicly recognized and displayed during the event. To register for this lecture, please contact Cheryl Kieswetter, 519-888-4567 ext. 32281. Connections | 5

Headlines

UW Students Win TD Canada Trust Urban Sustainability Challenge by JOHNNY TRINH Student Life Coordinator

n Monday, March 23, 2009, Bianca Sayan, Faculty of Environment and Megan Chan, Faculty of Arts: School of Accountancy, were the recipients of $25, 000.00 from the TD Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation. These students represented the university in the Urban Sustainability Challenge presented by TD Friends of the Environment. Over 52 schools competed, consisting of 469 students in 182 teams. The winners included the University 6 | COnnections

of Waterloo, University of New Brunswick, University of Manitoba, and Lakehead University. The competition required teams to submit an proposal with ideas that if implemented would have a positive environmental impact. Bianca Sayan and Megan Chan’s winning submission, “My Green Neighbour: Residential Energy Efficiency Loans for Canadian Investors” suggested ways Canadians could assist each other to improve energy efficiency, decrease overall greenhouse gas emissions, while seeking positive returns on

their investments. Dr. Steven Young from the Faculty of the Environment, was the sponsor for the University of Waterloo team. Yvette Scrivener, Manager of Community Relations and Friends of the Environment Foundation presented the award to Bianca Sayan and Megan Chan in the Student Life Centre. Associate Dean of Environment, Dr. Mark Seasons and Dr. Paul Parker, Faculty of Environment were present to share in this momentous occasion. Congratulations to Bianca Sayan and Megan Chan. April 2009

Above left: Yvette Scrivener, TD Canada Trust Manager of Community Relations, talks to Rogers Television about the award. Above right: Associate Dean of Environment, Dr. Mark Seasons, and Professor, Dr. Paul Parker, have their picture taken with the winning students.

Faculty of Environment students Megan Chan and Bianca Sayan were awarded $25,000 by TD Canada Trust’s Friends of the Environment Foundation for their project “My Green Neighbour: Residential Energy Efficiency Loans for Canadian Investors.” Photo by Johnny Trinh. April 2009

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Feature

Sleep 101

by Susan Rosenblum Counselling Services

sleep before 11 p.m., and crave more sleep in the morning hours. This is because melatonin, a sleep-related hormone that changes the circadian rhythms of the sleep-wake cycle, is secreted at a different time for youth, compared with young children and adults. Furthermore, sleep may be the first thing to go when people are under a lot of pressure to complete tasks. For example, as a student, you may feel compelled to get everything finished at the end of term, and may stay up at night to cram for exams and projects. But you may be putting yourself

leep – It seems like something you shouldn’t have to think about, right? Many people are sleep deprived due to stress, too much work, or poor sleep habits. Adults need at least 7-9 hours of sleep per night, according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). However, in a recent NSF survey (2005), adults reported sleeping a nightly average of 6.8 hours on weekdays and 7.4 hours on weekends. Many people, especially students, are sleeping

the immune system, leaving one more prone to illnesses. Further, it can affect moods, and leave people feeling more irritable, which makes it is easier to get iTnto confrontations. Sleepdeprivation can even effect normal conversation, which could have an impact on giving an oral presentation. Moreover, being tired might make you feel more hungry, causing you to over-eat. This is due partly to an increase in the levels of stress hormones, which increases the desire for high-fat and high-sugar foods. Unfortunately, since the body’s

“Many people, especially students, are sleeping far less than they need, and this can have negative effects on mental and physical health.” far less than they need, and this can have negative effects on mental and physical health. Our bodies are diurnal, meaning the body is supposed to sleep when it is dark and be awake when it is light. The optimal times to go to sleep are between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., which is when the body is designed to rest. Sleeping allows the brain to regenerate and process information (NSF, 2005). According to the NSF (2005), getting enough sleep may be a problem for many young people. This is because many youth feel most alert after 3 p.m., have difficulty going to 8 | Connections

at a disadvantage by not getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep can affect your concentration, alertness, coordination and memory (“Sleep on It”, 2005). Further, being tired can reduce your ability to think clearly, and it is harder to stay organized and focused. While many people drink coffee or cola to stay awake, these stimulants help minimally. Thus, while they will keep you wakeful, your performance may not be up to your usual standard. In fact, lack of sleep can even lower your I.Q. score (“Sleep on It”, 2005). Other outcomes of sleep deficits are that it can suppress

metabolism slows down at night time, so the body burns fewer calories. Another concern about being too tired is that more motor vehicle accidents occur when people are less alert. Fatigue has been identified as a main cause in thousands of policereported traffic crashes each year, killing or injuring many people. Regrettably, young drivers 25 years or less are involved in more than one-half of fall-asleep crashes. If you see that you are affected by lack of sleep, some suggestions for getting a better rest are listed on the next page. April 2009

8 Tips for Good Sleep Habits From the National Sleep Foundation

in stimulating activities or 1. Sleep is good for the brain. 3. Learn how much sleep you classes that are interactive. need to function at your best. Get enough of it, and get it You should wake up feeling when you need it. Even mild rested. 6. In the afternoon, avoid coffee, sleepiness can hurt your colas, alcohol and nicotine. performance -- from taking school exams to playing 4. Expose yourself to the light as soon as possible in the 7. Relax before going to bed. sports or video games. Lack Try to avoid heavy reading, morning, as this helps to of sleep can make you look studying, and computer signal to the brain when it tired and feel depressed, games within one hour of should wake up. irritable, and angry. going to bed. Plan time to unwind before going to 2. Be consistent. Establish 5. Understand your circadian sleep. rhythm. Then, you can a regular bedtime and try to plan your schedule waketime schedule, and throughout the day according 8. Staying up late can disrupt try to maintain it during to your internal clock. For your sleep patterns and your weekends and vacations. If ability to be alert the next example, compensate for you take a nap, take it early sleepy times by participating day. in the afternoon.

Appendix of Sleep Organizations American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

National Sleep Foundation (NSF)

National Centre on Sleep Disorders Research

Association of Polysomnographic Technologists (APT) American Sleep Apnea Assocication (ASAA) Restless Legs Foundation (RLSF) Sleep Research Society World Federation of Sleep Research Societies (WFSRS) National Institute of Health National Centre on Research Resources National Institute on Aging (NIA) National Institute on Mental Health

April 2009

Sleep Research Online National Library of Medicine New Abstracts and Papers in Sleep (NAPS) Bibliosleep - all sleep and sleeprelated papers from 1992 to present Centrewatch Clinical Trials Website Food and Drug Administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Web Page Stanford University Centre of Excellence for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Disorders

Centre for Narcolepsy Sleep Surgery The Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology Laboratory School of Sleep Medicine The Sleep Well Stanford Primary Care Sleep Education Project UCSF/Stanford Healthcare Home Page Stanfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ACCESS Stanford Healthlink Circadian Rhythms - Circadian Technologies Sleep Information for Patients and the General Public

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