Books, records up for grabs || Vikes teams hit the top 10 || These are no ordinary bones ...
Parks driven by business ethics || Why we give

Bag a bargain in paper and vinyl and help the United Way at the same time at this year’s “Book-for-a-Buck/Tune-for-a-Loon” sale at the McPherson library on Nov. 2 and 3 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This popular event, featuring mysteries, children’s literature, classics, romance novels and non-fiction titles has been expanded to two days this year. Vinyl discs run the gamut from the Moody Blues to Mozart. Everything on the shelves costs a loonie and all proceeds go to the campus United Way campaign.

Several Vikes teams made it to the CIAU’s top 10 lists this past week. The Vikes cross country women’s team is ranked number one in the country, ahead of Guelph and Western Ontario, based on the team’s showings at recent competitions. The men’s cross-country team is ranked fifth nationally behind Sherbrooke, Guelph, and Calgary and Windsor, which are tied for third place. The Vikes men’s soccer team is sitting in second place in the CIAU national team standings, just behind Western Ontario while both the men’s and women’s swim teams are ranked number four nationally behind UBC, Calgary and Toronto.

Secreted away in a Seattle museum is the skeleton of a 9,000-year-old man. The headlines proclaim Kennewick Man looks Caucasian, and scientists say he may help rewrite the prehistory of the Americas. But aboriginal people say it’s grave-robbing, plain and simple, and they don’t need scientists to tell them who their ancestors are. CBC Radio reporter Michael Tymchuk has just completed a radio documentary about Kennewick Man, and one of the experts featured in the report is Prof. Quentin Mackie from UVic’s department of anthropology. The full hour-long documentary is called “Bones of Contention,” and it will be featured on the CBC Radio program “Ideas” on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 9:05 p.m. on CBC Radio One (90.5 FM in the Victoria/Duncan area, and 99.5 in the Metchosin/Sooke area. A shorter version will be featured on the CBC Radio science show “Quirks and Quarks” this Saturday (Oct. 30) at noon.

Parks Canada has been forced to ignore its own legislation that places ecological integrity above all else in an attempt to generate revenue, says UVic geography professor Dr. Philip Dearden. “When they were created, national parks were supposed to be natural jewels to be set aside for future generations. They weren’t supposed to be money-makers. But that attitude has been changing. Park visitors are now referred to as park clients. A walk in the wilderness is now referred to as a back-country product. The language illustrates the fact that Parks Canada is being driven by business ethics,” says Dearden. He’s in agreement with a report expected soon on the state of Canada’s national parks that describes the system as being in crisis and in need of increased funding. Dearden’s research includes the study of parks policy.

Nov. 15 has been designated national “Philanthropy Day” to recognize individuals, businesses and foundations that contribute time and money to education and health institutions, social service agencies and arts, cultural, environmental and religious organizations. UVic is co-hosting (with the National Society of Fund-raising Executives) a half-day conference for donors, fund-raising representatives, volunteers and board members. Guest speakers include Alex Campbell, Jr., of Thrifty Foods, Donna Thomas, chair of the successful UVic Capital Campaign, Peter Baillie, publisher of the Times Colonist, and Donna Serviss, manager of community investment for Telus. The speakers will address the topic of “Why We Give.” Seating is limited; call 721-7624 to reserve.