Imprint Files

Student pleads guilty to campus anti-feminist emails

Former University of Waterloo student Zamir Nathoo pleaded guilty last week to a charge of criminal harassment for his campaign of anti-feminist emails that were sent to more than 100 recipients on campus, and included Facebook postings and posters.

He was arrested in May 2011 after an investigation by the university and regional police.

According to Vice-President, Academic and Provost Geoff McBoyle, Nathoo was sentenced to eight months already in custody and two years’ probation.

Conditions of his sentence include staying away from the University of Waterloo and the Wilfrid Laurier University; a ban of sending emails on the topics of race or gender; and he is also required to attend counselling.

Three other charges were dropped after Nathoo pleaded guilty to criminal harassment.

Courtesy Waterloo Banking Project

Waterloo start-up advances to finals in Vancouver

The Waterloo Banking Project, started by a group of University of Waterloo and Laurier students, placed second in the Enterprize Canada central region business plan competition, and advances to compete in the finals next month in Vancouver. The team delivered their 15-minute pitch against six other teams at the Macdonald Institute building at the University of Guelph, and received feedback from judges on their plan.

“The fact  that we are a social enterprise and that we have begin implementing our plan really  set us apart from the other teams,” said Ryan Chen-Wing, fourth year UW student, in  a media release. The student initiative aims to establish a not-for-profit, co-operative, and student-run financial services that aim to help students learn better financial skills, graduate with more money, and accumulate less debt.

TravelWise association takes off

The TravelWise Transportation Management Association was opened by the Region of Waterloo on January 17, 2012, with the help of public agencies and local businesses. The aim of the organization is to encourage people that work to practise active and sustainable transportation, especially reducing those driving alone to work. Alternatives such as walking, cycling, car-pooling and transit are all part of the solution to parking problems, traffic congestion, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Several major groups have already committed to the association, such as the tri-cities, Equitable Life Canada, Hendry Coach Lines, Miller Thomson LLP, Open Text, Paradigm Transportation Solutions, Region of Waterloo, Research In Motion, the University of Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier University. The opening took place in the Festival Room located in South Campus Hall of the University of Waterloo, and was attended by Regional Chair Ken Seiling, and various other distinguished business community members.

City of Waterloo adds social media to live town hall meetings

The City of Waterloo will be answering budget-related questions at council meetings in real time via social media, as well as email, phone and in-person. This will be put into action at the town hall’s meeting about the city’s budget, “All Access Budget Town Hall.”

As a move towards becoming more open, questions posted to Facebook and Twitter will be answered in real time.

“This is one of the ways Waterloo is demonstrating our commitment to openness and transparency throughout the budget process,” said Mayor Brenda Halloran in a media release from the City of Waterloo.“This is a first for our city and one of the first times any city in Canada has attempted this in a town hall meeting. I’m very proud that we have taken the lead and will allow a large number of residents to ask questions about our budget.”

Waterloo town hall participation guidelines can be found www.waterloo.ca/budget.

—With Files from the City of Waterloo, the Daily Bulletin, and the Waterloo Banking Project