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Principal Daniel Woolf
Image by: Rob Campbell
Principal Daniel Woolf

Computing professor gets $2.8 million

Ahmed Hassan, professor in the School of Computing, received $1.4 million from Research In Motion (RIM), the company responsible for the creation of the BlackBerry, on Wednesday to continue his studies in large scale system testing.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) matched the grant, bringing the total to $2.8 million in funding.

Hassan spoke at a press conference in front of a crowd of about 50 people, including NSERC President Suzanne Fortier and RIM Vice-President Peter Devenyi.

“RIM’s willingness to chair this has had a huge impact,” Hassan said. “Together we’ve made tremendous progress.”

—David Sinkinson

Fastathon raises $510 for Food Bank

Students sat in the JDUC’s McLaughlin room yesterday, learning about Ramadan after experiencing a day without food as part of the Queen’s University Muslim Students’ Association (QUMSA)’s annual Fastathon.

Each year, Muslims observe a month-long fast during Ramadan. It’s a time for spiritual reflection.

The group donates money for every student who participates in the fast, QUMSA Vice-Chair Safiah Chowdhury said, adding that more than 100 students signed up this year.

The organization raised $510 dollars for the AMS Food Bank.

“It’s to let people experience a day fast and learn that why we do it is to remind us to be grateful for what we have,” she said.

The event normally takes place during the month of Ramadan, but Ramadan started before the school year this year, she said.

After the Muslim students completed their evening prayer, participants broke their fast with water and dates before having dinner.

“The food is generously donated by the Muslim families in Kingston,” Chowdhury said, adding that during Ramadan the families sponsor students and prepare food for them to break their fast every day.

—Gloria Er-Chua

Indecent exposure incident reported

On Sept. 23, a female student was walking near campus when a man in a parked car asked her a question.

When she went to answer him, the man made an inappropriate comment and exposed himself to her, Campus Security reported.

The man was described as approximately 25 to 35 years old, thin and caucasian and was wearing a ball cap and a t-shirt.

The student left the scene and the man drove away. The vehicle was described as a red, two-door sports car.

Students with information regarding the incident can contact the Emergency Report Centre at 613-533-6111.

—Gloria Er-Chua

Performing arts centre breaks ground

More than 100 people watched as Principal Daniel Woolf, alumni donors Alfred, Isabel and Daniel Bader and Board of Trustees Chair Bill Young ceremonially shoveled a pile of dirt at yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new performing arts centre.

The reception was held on site at 390 King Street West.

The $63-million Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts is expected to be completed in 2011. It will house a concert hall, studio theatre, art gallery and film screening room.

The Baders, who spoke at the event, donated $18 million to the project. The provincial and federal governments each gave $15 million.

Mayor Harvey Rosen, MPP John Gerretsen and AMS President Michael Ceci spoke at the event.

Former principals Tom Williams, Karen Hitchcock and Bill Leggett were in attendance.

—Gloria Er-Chua

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