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Contributing to student success 

By Karen Herland

This year’s presentation of the Concordia Council on Student Life (CCSL) Awards was presided over by the brand-new Dean of Students, Elizabeth Morey.

“I’m pleased that this is the first public thing that I’m doing in this role,” said Morey, at the top of the ceremony. In fact, she displayed the CCSL Award she had earned in 1983 for her own contribution to student life. Her continued commitment was clear as she emceed the March 28 event with enthusiasm, despite having been on campus until 4:30 a.m. that same morning, at the CSU election ballot count. “Student life is the life-blood of the university.”

It was a sentiment shared by Acting VP Services Roger Côté, who had been interim Dean of Students since last spring. And while many speakers and CCSL members who were present agreed on the importance of students’ contributions to university life, the seven winners were honoured for going the extra mile.

Among the undergraduates recognized was David G. Cyr. Joanne Turnbull, chair of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, said his achievements included resurrecting student organizations, participating in research projects and volunteer work, and single-handedly organizing a career orientation day for his fellow students.

Cyr acknowledged the support of professors Turnbull, Louis Cuccia and Science College administrative assistant Lillian Jackson.

Audrey Peek presented an award to Patrick Reynaud, her colleague on the Arts and Science Federation of Associa-tions (ASFA). She lauded his commitment to students, as well as his efforts as ASFA VP Finance to make the association’s management more transparent.

Reynaud acknowledged that his time in student organizing “has been the greatest learning experience, aside from going to classes.”

The next undergraduate award winner was Mohamed Shuriye, currently director of the Sustainability Action Fund that he helped initiate on campus. His list of achievements is so long, joked his nominator and roommate Peter Schiefke, “he stopped adding to his CV in 2006.”

Shuriye has held a number of student government positions, notably as CSU president in 2005-06. He also helped establish the Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program in Uganda and, according the Schiefke, first broached the idea of inviting Al Gore to address students. That plan was successfully realized a year ago.

Lina Lipscombe was honoured by Sociology Department chair Fran Shaver for her dedication to students through management of an empire that now includes the Bookstore, Computer Store and Digital Store.

Lipscombe recalled starting at Concordia in 1969 and going to work in the campus store, located in the hockey arena and accessible via the cafeteria. “There was a sit-in in the cafeteria that week, and I learned quickly how interesting student life could be.”

Two professors were also awarded at the event. Maximilian C. Forte of the Anthropology Department was nominated by Marian Pinsky, who said his course on indigenous people challenged and inspired her to pursue study in the field.

Finally, Nelson Henricks of Intermedia/Cyberarts was acknowledged by his student, Owen Eric Wood. Both Henricks and Wood had pieces in the same program at this spring’s Rendez-vous de cinéma québecois. “I did the piece in his class the year before and I got there because of him,” said Wood.

Henricks was just as pleased that they had shared a program. “There are not always clear signs that messages are getting through to students. The lessons we teach have an impact and contribution to the economy of culture in Canada.”