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McGill University Libraries Mclennan Library '0 > < o- ::r: 1/l I r :z: ....... UJVI CP :> ........ ;o ~ -< ~ Real Estate? Vacation Homes? Personals? Lost Classmate? The McGill News is launching a Classified Section We'll run the first 40 ads we receive for free (15 word limit) in our next issue. Our rates are $4 per word, and the deadline is Monday, April20. Box numbers for personals are $10. Other ads are $300 an inch. Name Street City Province Postal Code Phone (day) Enclosed is my cheque in the amount of $ Please attach your typed or printed advertising copy, and mail or fax to: News Classified 3605 Mountain Street, Montreal, Quebec H3G 2Ml Fax: ( 514) 398-7338 Dealllne: Aprll20, 1882 FE AT U RES More than Managing 8 McGill's Faculty of Management has grown by leaps and bounds and now seeks to be among the top 20 business schools in the world. A powerful advisory board aims to bring it there. by Geraldine Chase, MBA'90 Quebec's English Theatre: Comeback or Last Gasp? 10 For the last 15 years, English theatre in Quebec has floundered as the numbers of anglophones and their confidence dwindled. Now there are renewed signs of life. by Celina Bell, BA'81 Bolt Out of the Blue 12 lt took Sarah Gibbs and her team of biologists 13 years to prove her "preposterous" theory about the evolution of algae. How they did it is a story of courage, hard work and the power of basic science. by Jim Boothroyd The Chemistry of Good Taste 16 Sales of prepackaged microwave food are booming, but the new ovens are still unable to produce the traditional flavours, colours and aromas. Professor Varoujan Yaylayan is using chemistry to overcome the problem. by janice Paskey Postcards from the Edge: Alumnllnslder's Guide 18 From Knowlton to Nairobi, McGill's alumni branch leaders tell you where - and where not- to go in their cities. D E P A R T M E N T S l£tters ..................... 2 Editor's Notebook .............. 3 Martlets .................... 4 Old McGill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Books ..................... 24 Society Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Alumnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Alumnotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Cover: Old Montreal Photographer: Marc Drolet Image manipulation: Litho Acme McGill News Spring 1992 L E T T E R S Not last! More about 3M The News therefore stands by the precise meaning that the money was split between I would like to correct information pr~ I was interested in the article "A Neces- 35 research projects. vided in the Editor's Notebook (W"mter sary Evil" in the Winter'91 issue. As a '91). The University of Calgary ranked former McGillian who was trained to Disgusting 27 in the Maclean~ survey, not last Unfor value good teaching, I have been tunately, our low ranking in the financial concerned with the current devaluation Previously, everything I had seen or read resources component dropped us from of teaching in the medical-scientific in the McGill News was informative and what would have been a top 10 placement community. The critical importance of always portrayed McGill University in While the survey was indeed very flawed, competing successfully for research the tradition of one of the best in Canada I am confident that our very successful funds in order to advance in academic and the United States. capital campaign will assure Canadians position has made it difficult (and for However, your inclusion in the Winter that the University of Calgary is one of younger scientists, sometimes impos- '91 issue of the photo "10 Reasons to the finest universities in this country. sible) to develop the requisite teaching Attend McGill" (p.3) is disgusting and skills. I am interested in knowing more even, perhaps, pornographic. Both J .A. Stuart Reid about the "3M Teaching Award" re Western and Queen's deserve an Executive Director, External Relations ferred to in your article. apology for such slanderous allegation University of Calgary implied. In fact, if any of the Freshman Bernice Grafstein, PhD'54 Class chose McGill for any of these Not too slick Professor of Physiology reasons, then the University is doomed. Vmcent and Brooke Astor Distinguished Our babysitter's bus got stuck in the Professor of Neuroscience Maurice J. Elder, MD'4 3 snow. listless and grumpy, I retrieved Cornell University Medical College Massena, N.Y. the Winter 1991 issue of McGill News New York, N.Y. from the recycling pile - and was Summer of'4 2 pleasantly surprised. Unlike most of the Ed. note: Since 1986, 3M Canada Inc. other magazines in that pile yours is This fall my class of 1942 celebrates its has awarded the 3M Canada Teaching neither deadly serious nor painfully slick, 50th anniversary (Reunion, Sept 17-20). Fellowship to 60 university teachers in sparkly and superficial. Congratulations like many others, I received my degree collaboration with the Society for Teaching to ICC for a lively and inviting layout, and in the fall of 1942 although I entered and Learning in Higher Education. to everyone else for the balance and McGill in 1939 and was initially destined Besides receiving public accolades, the really interesting sweep of articles. My for the Class of Arts'4 3. We were given winners attend a three-day seminar at visit with your magazine left me feeling the option of completing the fourth year in the Chateau Montebello in Quebec. joined to a community-an active, living the summer and many of us participated. and changing one. Courses were compressed into approxi Betwixt and between Sharon Heifer, BA'70, DipEd'80, mately three months and we attended Ed. note: Recently, the McGill News each of them daily. MA'84 Montreal, Que. received a letter signed "Emba"assed It was understood that we were making Grad" in which the c~espondent com way for the expected influx of returning Publish stats mented on an apparent grammatical slip. war veterans. Some information about Referring to the Winter'91 feature article how the decision was made might be of Many thanks for sending me a copy entitled "McGill's lOO-Million-Dollar interest to your readers. My memories of of the McGill News with the article con Day" which contained the phrase "the that summer are all good, albeit somewhat cerning our Commission (reaching: A money was being split between 35 McGill dim. Meanwhile, I plan to attend Reunion Necessary Evil, Winter'91). I felt the research projects," our reader inquired: and hope that many of our hybrid class article was well-balanced and presented "Might some of this money be used to will do the same. the crucial issues very clearly. Until teach those who submit articles the universities collect and publish the kind difference between between and among? Marilyn (Mechin) Flitton, BA'42 of statistics asked for in my report, it will A paper issued by a university should, in Vancouver, B.C. be impossible to draw conclusions about my opinion, be above criticism in its use whether a given university does or does of language." Ed. note: McGill historian Stanley Frost not have a problem with its priorities. Ed. note: According to McGill writing writes in reply: "Marilyn Flitton has good By telling the stories of excellent instructor Carolyn Pittenger the usage is reason to be proud of her place in the teachers, you pointed out at one and the not written in stone and she cites two Class of'4 2, for it included a very special same time that McGill has such people sources to support her assertion. A group of students. In March 1942 and that there was still some room to Canadian Writer's Reference says Principal Cyril Ja mes returned from a improve with regard to giving them the "Ordinarily, use the word among with wartime visit to England shocked by help and recognition they deserve. three or more entities, and between with the bomb destruction he had seen, and eager to encourage greater McGill Stuart L. Smith, BSc'58, MD'62 two." Foley and Cordon's Conventions participation in the Allied effort President and Choices states that "between and Medicine, Dentistry and the Sciences among are used not just to indicate num RockCliffe Research and Technology Inc. were doing their part nobly, but no Ottawa, Ont bers but to express a relationship: between being more precise and among more vague." continued on page 35 2 EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK Bravo to Maclean's magazine for lish companies to produce theatre that's their ranking of Canadian universi good enough to attract the French-speak ties. The outcome of this original ing audience," she says. idea has Canadian universities all afluster From drama, we move to science. Jim and jockeying for position. This is positive Boothroyd spoke to the heads of 20 McGill because for the first time, Canadian univer science departments and was intrigued by sities have been forced to advocate their the tale of one biology professor who spent strengths and defend their weaknesses to 13 years gathering evidence to prove her a wider public. "radical" cell theory. The pursuit of Sarah Though ranked in first place, it is Gibbs is profiled in "A Bolt from the Blue." McGill's $77 million deficit that has come By contrast, it was a healthy interest in under scrutiny. Writing in the Financial fast food (and something like the smell of Times, Robert Fulford offers his interpre roast chicken) that drew me to Professor tation of McGill's top finish: 'There had to Varoujan Yaylayan's laboratory at the Mac be a reason. It wasn't hard to find. McGill donald Campus. He's trying to make spends more money and runs a big deficit" microwave foods taste better, and has a He then goes on to extoll the virtues of huge research contract to make it happen. Queen's University, its balanced budget If you want to know why a microwave can't and stellar alumni. cook at a meteoric pace - and also roast, McGill counters by pointing out that toast, and bake - see 'The Chemistry of over the last 15 years, it has been under Good Taste." funded by $217 million even by the Quebec Finally, it's exciting that so many of you government's own calculations. Education have been in touch with letters and faxes ministers Claude Ryan and Lucienne Robil telling us of address changes, diversions, lard have corrected the funding formula exploits, and conquests. In our alumnotes but, even with $140 million restraints, us the inside dope on where they live, and this issue, you'll hear of a grad who's a pro McGill was left with a $77 million deficit. So profile some of the diverse places Gradu fessional storyteller, another who received without completely slashing and burning, ates' Society branches find homes. We sent four degrees in the same year, and some McGill and other hard-pressed Quebec out 88 questionnaires and made a selection one who really is named Strother Beeson universities maintained excellent pro for our "Postcards from the Edge" feature. Purdy, Ill, though some of his friends sent grams: Concordia University currently has Montreal, of course, is the hub of alumni on a fake alumnote in his name. Ever astute an accumulated deficit of $42 million and activity and our cover magically illumi at separating fact from fiction, the News Bishop's is $3 million. nates a city in the midst of 350th birthday was not foiled this time! Praise for McGill seemed grudging, at celebrations. Inspired by the comic strip best. In writing to The Gazette in Montreal, Little Nemo and film Star Wars, Montreal Principal David Johnston commented: "No photographer Marc Drolet shot six sepa where in your editorial does one take some rate photographs and compiled them with joy that one Montreal university - which a high-powered computer at litho Acme. has had very considerable and political No stranger to Montreal is native Celina challenges to face in the past 20 years - Bell, BA'81, who covers the arts for CBC emerges as the clear leader in Canada." radio. After McGill, she went on to journal One month later, McGill was picked as ism at Western, then covered enter the top Canadian university in a Gallup poll. tainment for Maclean's. For us, Celina de The mood on campus is buoyant and de tects signs of new life in Quebec's English spite the recession alumni and private theatre scene. She reports on the emer support is at an all-time high. The Univer gence of a new bilingual audience with an sity is now taking serious steps to pay off appetite for the excellent Quebe~ois thea its deficit, and no donations are used for tre that has emerged over the last decade. deficit reduction unless specified. For English theatre, it's now a numbers In this issue, alumni branch leaders give game. 'The real challenge is for the Eng- P.S. This issue is on recycled paper. McGillNews VOWME 72 NUMBER 1 SPRING 1992 EDITOR: ]ANICE PASKEY ADVISORY BoARD: ]AMES G.WRIGHT (CHAIRMAN) AssiSTANT EorroR: JIM BOOTiiROYD HEATiiER ANDERSEN, MICHEL BELANGER, MCGJU NEWS IS PUBUSHED QUARTERLY (MARCH. SruART COBBEIT, DAVID DUNN, DAVID HARH>. ]UNE, SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER) BY THE ADVERTISING MANAGER: MARK PEACOCK NICHOLAS HOARE, MICHAEL C. KIEFER, GRADUATES' SOCIETY OF MCGILL UNIVERSITY. SnJDENr INTERN: NASHIRA KESHAVJEE SCOTT Mmc. GAVIN Ross. MARY Ross, COPYRIGHT OF ALL CONTENTS IS REGISTERED. WRliE, PHONE OR FAX US: .KATE WllllAMS McGIUNEWS PRINTED IN CANADA . . . . . . . . .ISSN 0709 9223 3605 MOUNTAIN STREET CIRCUlATION: 100,000 ISSUES.lliE NEWS IS SENT MONTREAL, QUEBEC H3G 2Ml DESIGN AND TYPESETilNG: lNSTRUCI10NAL TO ALL MCGII..LALUMNI TEL: (514) 39&.3549 FAX: (514) 39&.7338 COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE, MCGII.L UNIVERSITY McGill News Spring 1992 3 From The Firing Line William F. Buckley, the provocative Ameri can conservative, was on campus to tape the PBS show Firing Line last November. He interviewed McGill philosophy professor Marguerite Deslauriers and Chaviva Hosek, BA'67, policy adviser to the Liberal Party and former President of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women. The following excerpt was typical of the feisty 30-minute encounter about the difference between women's rights in the United Deficit Attack States and Canada. of Summer Sessions is being established at 550 Sherbrooke St. West. Buckley: Let me begin by ask Chipping Away at McGill's $77 Million A management team from Deloitt~T ou ing, if I may, is there a Deficit che (Montreal and Ottawa) will look at delinquency on which you both McGill's purchasing and physical plant op agree in respect of women's by ]anice Paskey erations to identify cost-saving measures. rights in America? McGill's property holdings - its old Hosek: I don't know what you mean by Selling McGill products, reducing mail houses, estates and research centres - will delinquency. Are you suggesting ... ings, and expanding the summer school be under scrutiny by a new committee con are just a few of the ways McGill University sisting of J onathan Wene r, President of Buckley: Is there something we is planning to reduce its $77 million deficit, Canderel Ltd., RC.T. Harris, a Montreal are doing that we ought not to reputed to be the biggest university deficit real estate lawyer, and McGill's Sam King be doing or that we 're not in the world. don, Associate Vice-Principal, Physical doing that we should be doing? Besides solid ideas, there's a good foun Resources and David Bourke, BArch'54, dation to begin with. Owing to a correction Secretary-General of the University. Other Hosek: Oh, there's lots that we should be in McGill's funding formula by Quebec Edu deficit reduction items include: doing that we're not doing, and I think even cation Minister Lucienne Robillard and some •raising monthly parking rates on cam the way you asked that question, if I may emergency measures (such as delaying pus to $70/per month. say, is a very American question. (laughter) staff appointments), McGill has balanced •marketing McGill products across Can I think when Canadians ask the question its budget for the first time in 15 years. ada through Robert Amsel, BSc'70, BCL about the situation of women in Canada, But the government expects McGill to '7 4, LLB'75, and licensee DNS Promotions they don't necessarily talk about rights; deal with the accumulated deficit, which is Inc., and collecting royalties. they also talk about the condition of women racking up annual interest charges of $10 •strictly limiting internal staff mailings, and the economic situation of women and million. Last year, McGill commissioned and charging each university department the kinds of needs that women have to seven groups on campus to come up with postage costs. participate fully in society that aren't being ways to save money. One of the most contro •renegotiating the lease for John Ab bott met and what needs to be done about that. versial recommendatioHs was to close the College, a CEGEP in St~ Ann~d~Bellevue Faculty of Dentistry (still under review), but which McGill owns. Rent has been $1 a Buckley. That's kind of ' long-winded for what I was other advice is moving along more smoothly. year in exchange for building improv~ According to a report prepared by the ments which have been completed. asking. (laughter) working groups, McGill is planning to ex •requests to the Quebec governmentfor pand its summer school into specialized deferred maintenance costs continue. courses. This summer a thre~week bio With measures such as these, Vic~Prin Hosek: Well, ask a longer question. (more technology seminar for 20 students will be cipal (Finance) John Armour says that laughter) held, along with another course in Cana McGill hopes to pay off its deficit in 13 dian culture and language. A McGill 0 ffice years. "'- 4