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Queen’s appoints diversity advisor

History professor Barrington Walker begins his two-year term as the University’s first diversity advisor this week.

Walker said he will address issues of race and diversity on campus from an academic point of view, but won’t deal with complaints or regulate behaviour on campus.

Vice-Principal (Academics) Patrick Deane said a challenge for Walker will be to stimulate helpful discussion in the University about the role of racism on campus.

“One of his key roles will be to educate people … and find a way to guide the University towards actions that will eliminate or reduce [racism],” Deane said.

Walker served as equity representative in the Queen’s University Faculty Association in 2005-06.

He will be working through the Vice-Principal (Academic)’s office.

Walker said he thinks diversity needs to be thought of as a necessary aspect of excellence.

“You need to think about issues of diversity not as … an afterthought but as something that’s integral to the academic composition of the place.”

Gloria Er-Chua

School of Business plans new building

Goodes Hall is expanding to accommodate greater demand for enrollment.

During a public meeting Wednesday, Project Manager Mike Finn said the expansion is necessary due to the rapid increase in applications for admission to the commerce program. In 2005, there were 3,800 applications for entry into the first-year commerce program. For 2007, that number jumped to 4,100.

Dave Waugh, president of the Queen’s Commerce Society, said there isn’t enough classroom and office space for students and faculty right now.

The 75,000 square foot expansion includes a new three-storey building for the School of Business which will be constructed on the corner of Frontenac and Union Streets.

The building will go up in place of the existing parking lot. A new underground parking lot will be built underneath the new building that is separate from the one being built by Mackintosh-Corry Hall. An underground tunnel running from Union Street to the new parking garage will be built to ease pedestrian accessibility.

Construction is slated to start in June 2008 and is expected to be completed by November 2009.

Laura Schober

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