Highlights

YORK UNIVERSITY launched its 40th anniversary year on March 26, 1999. Since its inception in 1959, York has grown from a small liberal arts university with 76 students to the third largest University in Canada, with 10 Faculties attracting over 40,000 students in search of top-notch teaching and scholarship.

During the 40th anniversary launch week, banners and flags were unfurled, anniversary lectures were given, speeches made and anniversary cake cut for the thousands attending in Vari Hall and Founders College. The Toronto Star prepared a special segment of York history in their March 25 issue, and CBC Radio celebrated York's anniversary on it's "Metro Morning" and "Here and Now" programs.

A number of projects are in process throughout the year including the start of a history of York University to be written in time for the 50th anniversary, the publication of an honours book, acknowledging faculty who are Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, Distinguished Research Professors, University Professors and members of the Order of Canada, and another publication highlighting research at York.

Two Killam Fellowships For York

Faculty of Arts Distinguished Research Professors Christopher Innes (English department) and Lorraine Code (philosophy department) are active recipients of prestigious Killam Fellowships. Innes' project "Designing Society: The Cultural Influence of Theatre in 20th Century North America", analyzes how American stage designers influenced society and general lifestyle. Code's research project "Responsible Knowing, Ecological Imagining, and Politics of Epistemic Location", will develop the potential of ecological thinking as a conceptual apparatus and regulative principle for a theurgy of knowledge ­ an epistemology, capable of addressing feminist, multicultural and other post-colonial issues.

York Student Named to the Order of Canada

York University student Beverly Mascoll was named to the Order of Canada in 1998. An executive and entrepreneur, the mature student in the School of Women's Studies was recognized for her Canadian business leadership and success, and for her advocacy for the black community.

Rhodes Scholarship for York Student

Irvin Studin, a fourth-year economics and finance major in the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program in the Schulich School of Business is the recipient of the world's most prestigious scholarship ­ the Rhodes Scholarship. He is one of only two students in Ontario to receive this distinguished honour this year. Studin is the fifth person from York University to win the Rhodes Scholarship.

York Grads Have High Rate of Employment

A 1999 survey of the employment rate for Ontario university graduates two years after graduation shows York University graduates are doing exceptionally well. York University graduates find employment at a high rate in all fields: 96 per cent in Arts, 98 per cent in Business, 99 per cent in Computer Science, 97 per cent in Fine Arts and 98 per cent in Law. This information confirms, in particular, that there is a high employment rate for York liberal arts graduates.

York Declared Most Accessible University in Canada for People with Physical Disabilities

For the first time in its award-giving history, the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons bestowed a university ­ York University ­ with a national corporate award for its contribution to furthering the cause of full participation for people with physical disabilities. York was honoured for its commitment to creating an inclusive environment accommodating the needs of students, staff and faculty with physical disabilities.

International Conference on the Trudeau Era Hosted at York

In honour of the 30th anniversary of the election of Pierre Elliott Trudeau as Prime Minister of Canada, York University hosted the conference "The Trudeau Era: Media, Politics and Culture". The conference attracted international attention with noted speakers including former Trudeau principal secretary Jim Coutts, former cabinet minister Iona Campagnolo and actress Linda Griffiths of "Maggie and Pierre" fame. The conference was also the launching pad for two books: The Essential Trudeau by award-winning writer Ron Graham, and Trudeau's Shadow, a compendium of commentaries edited by Andrew Cohen and York Professor Emeritus J.L. Granatstein.

York Partners National Ballet School (NBS)

A joint program will be launched in Fall 1999 allowing students to obtain a four-year Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a three-year NBS Teacher Training diploma in just five years. The program is internationally recognized for accreditation by the Cechetti Society and the Royal Academy of Dancing.

Eco is Keynote Speaker at York Conference

Renowned author Umberto Eco was the keynote speaker at York's conference "The Power of Words: Literature, Society and the University", presented by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics. Eco, who penned The Name of the Rose, Foucault's Pendulum and other novels and scholarly books, spoke on the subject of "Literature, Its Function and Fate."

UN Senior Officials Visit York

York University was honoured with visits by several officials of the United Nations: UN Deputy Secretary General Louise Fréchette visited York University in October 1998, to give the John Holmes Memorial Lecture created to discuss key issues facing Canada as a nation. Fréchette, a Canadian, spoke on the topic "The United Nations in the Next Millennium", seeing the UN not as an obsolete organization but one evolving to meet the new globalization of the 21st century.

As part of a three-day official visit to Canada, Madame Sadako Ogata, UN high commissioner for refugees, spoke at an open forum organized by York's Centre for Refugee Studies in October. Ogata commended the Centre for its work with the UN including a pilot project for training refugee judges, and gave her audience the opportunity to hear first hand how the UN is dealing with current global refugee crises.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson came to York in November to mark the 50th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Robinson spoke at an open forum on human rights held as part of her first visit to Canada since being appointed to her position in 1997.

Glendon Principal Appointed Canada's Official Languages Commissioner

Glendon Principal Dyane Adam begins a seven-year appointment as Canada's Commissioner of Official Languages after completing her five-year term at Glendon College in 1998-1999. Adam is the first woman and the first Francophone from outside Quebec to hold this post.

President of Guyana Opens Jagan Lectures

President of Guyana, Janet Jagan, opened the Jagan Lecture Series in March 1999, named in honour of her husband Dr. Cheddi Jagan. The lectures are founded upon the ideal of Cheddi Jagan's "New Human Order" and acknowledged by the public as his legacy to the global community.

Nobel Prize Laureate Inaugurates Baptista Lectures

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former President of Costa Rica Dr. Oscar Arias delivered the inaugural Baptista Lecture at York in March 1999. The lecture series is a memorial to the work and principles of Michael Baptista a Royal Bank executive and York University graduate. Arias spoke of his theory of a new economy based on human development and of his Foundation for Peace and Human Progress, a foundation that works to promote conflict resolution in the developing world and equal opportunities for women, while strengthening the participation and peaceful solidarity of the peoples of Central America.

New Computer Science Building Unveiled

A healthier, happier environment for learning, work and research and an environment-friendly design are among the key elements in the design of York's new computer science building, slated to open in fall 2001. The building includes three state-of-the-art lecture theatres and plenty of classroom and research lab space, plus a design that allows faculty, staff and students access to natural light and fresh air inside the building. Employing "green" strategies in its design, the building will use 50 per cent less energy for heating and cooling compared to other buildings.

York University Founders' Society

The Founders' Society is a new honour created by York University during its 40th anniversary year, recognizing those who made major contributions to York during its founding years (1957-1965). These awards will be made on numerous occasions throughout the year.

The first seven members of the York University Founders' Society were announced and presented with their memberships at the 40th anniversary launch ceremonies: Mr. John Armour, first director of the Physical Plant, Dr. Yvonne Aziz, Office of the President, founding support staff; Mr. John Court, a member of the first class and author of the York motto; Professor Norman Endler, founding faculty member; Dr. Allen Lambert, member of the founding Board of Governors; Dr. Murray G. Ross, founding president; and Mr. William Small, founding comptroller and secretary of the Board of Governors.

An additional 19 members were inducted into the Founders' Society in May and during the spring 1999 convocation in June. They are: Professor Albert Tucker, Professor Donald S. Rickerd, Professor David V.J. Bell, Professor Jules Heller, Professor Michael Creal, Professor Sydney Eisen, Dr. Williard W. Piepenburg, Professor John T. Saywell, Professor Ramsay Cook, Professor John Yolton, Professor Alex Murray, Professor Harold Schiff, Professor Gerald A.P. Carrothers, Mr. Denis Smith, Professor Del McCormack Smyth, Dr. James Gillies, Professor Clara Thomas, Ms Vicky Draper and Professor C. David Fowle.

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