All Posts Tagged With: "campus news"
Canada, U.S. sign visa info sharing agreement
Info on those who want to visit, study or work in Canada could be shared
OTTAWA – A newly signed agreement says the United States will be allowed to share biometric information about visa applicants to Canada with third countries.
It means the fingerprints and photo of someone who hopes to visit, study or work in Canada could be passed to Washington, which in turn might share them with another country to help verify the person’s identity.
The federal privacy commissioner’s office has raised concerns that such personal information provided by Canada could end up in countries that have a poor human rights record, endangering the applicant or their family.
At a ceremony to sign the information-sharing agreement, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and U.S. ambassador David Jacobson stressed that the information would be handled with due regard for privacy.
The initiative, which affects nationals of 29 countries seeking visas, is part of a perimeter security deal reached last year between Canada and the United States.
The idea is to strengthen continental security while speeding the passage of goods and people across the 49th parallel.
Can’t miss music (Dec. 12 to 19)
Alexisonfire, Japandroids, Wool on Wolves and more
Wool on Wolves
It’s that time of year again: ugly sweaters, work parties and eggnog latte-fuelled exam cramming. Grab your wooliest coat and catch one of our top five must-see gigs.
1) For 10 years, Toronto’s The Flatliners have been making punk music that mixes the intensity of ’90s skate punk with a classic approach to songwriter. The four-piece play a hometown show at The Opera House on Dec. 14. Ticket info here.
2) Moncton, N.B.’s punk-influeced hard rock group, the Motorleague play a hometown show on Dec. 15 at Plan B. Ticket info here.
Queen’s University to bring back homecoming
Four-year suspension lifted
Following a four-year suspension to curb rowdy partying, property damage and injuries, Queen’s University will reinstate its annual homecoming weekend next year.
Queen’s Principal Daniel Woolf announced Tuesday the alumni gathering will be held on two weekends in the fall of 2013, Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 18-20.
The university announced a two-year suspension the event in November 2008 following a raucous September weekend that saw 140 arrests, 700 liquor charges and 23 severely intoxicated people sent to the emergency room as an estimated 8,000 partiers crowded onto Aberdeen Street, a two-block stretch of student housing. The annual event gained notoriety in 2005 after revelers jammed the street in droves, smashing beer bottles and lighting a flipped car on fire. In 2010, Woolf further delayed the return of homecoming by three years.
Away from home for the holidays
Why some students stick around school
Exams are wrapping up, and university campuses across Canada are emptying out for the winter break. But as The Canadian Press reminds us, not everyone goes home for the holiday season: family drama, lack of downtime, distance and and high airline costs (though, at least in the future they’ll be less deceptive high airline costs) are just some of the reasons students stay at school.
But it isn’t all bad: many students travel, spend time with friends, explore new traditions and bake. And, as the article notes, some universities host events for stranded students yearning for a home-cooked meal:
For the past 12 years, Concordia University in Montreal has hosted a dinner soiree. The school invites all of its 4,700 foreign students, and the first 300 to respond are treated to a three-course meal.
If you go to Queen’s University, the International Centre is hosting a holiday networking tea on Dec. 20.
Are you staying at school for the holidays? Share your on-campus plans.
