Concordia faculty, staff and alumni/æ pop up in the media more often than you might think!

Rector Frederick Lowy was interviewed by Doug Sweet for a thought-provoking article in the Saturday Gazette (Dec. 1) about the prospect of human cloning. Dr. Lowy, a former dean of medicine at the University of Toronto, said that in a sense, we are less prepared to discuss the ethical issues surrounding scientific breakthroughs than in the past, when religion was a source of moral guidance. “Our philosophical orientation is pragmatic and utilitarian. To a much greater extent than ever before, we are not guided by strict right and wrong,” he said, and urged the media to help educate the public on science issues.

James Pfaus, a researcher in the Centre for Studies in Behavioural Neurobiology (Psychology), was the subject of a lively article in The Gazette and the National Post on Dec. 4 about his work on PT-141, a synthetic copy of a neuropeptide that stimulates sexual-response centers in the brain. Pfaus is testing the drug on rats in the form of a nasal spray, and there is reason to hope that it will be an effective instrument to induce sexual arousal in humans.

Daniel Salée (School of Community and Public Affairs) was asked to comment on CTV’s Newsnet Morning on Premier Bernard Landry’s remarks to the Parti Québécois meeting that seemed to link the terrorism of Sept. 11 and sovereignty aspirations. Salée summarized his views later: “I can understand why his political opponents are trying to make him look like an insensitive fool — he does have a certain history in this regard — but this time, I think it’s much ado about nothing.”

Enn Raudsepp, chair of Journalism, was asked by Global TV to comment on the fact that Radio-Canada suspended journalist Normand Lester for writing a strongly worded book about English Canada. He said that it was ridiculous. “Canada needs more people expressing themselves, not fewer, if we are to have a serious national debate about issues as fundamental as the role of Quebec in Confederation.” Jay Bryan, Gazette business columnist, also interviewed Raudsepp, and reported that he “laments that codes of ethics, which he sees as a potentially power tool for improving journalist standards, have become largely public-relations exercises.”

Ramdas Chandra (Marketing) was interviewed by alumna Liz Warwick for an article in Marketing magazine about the Société des alcools’s new — and highly successful — Web site. He had some good ideas for developing the site’s profitability.

Effie Gavaki (Sociology) was quoted in an article in The Gazette recently aimed at showing young people how prejudice may develop at a young age.

Bryan Barbieri (Marketing) was quoted in Peter Diekmeyer’s marketing column in The Gazette about the importance of marketing plans, even for small companies.

Pearl Crichton, who teaches the sociology of aging, was quoted in a Gazette article about the perils of retirement for couples who aren’t prepared for round-the-clock togetherness.

Jeri Brown (Music) was interviewed by Gazette reporter and jazz-lover Irwin Block recently. Calling her “a stylish and sophisticated vocalist with a four-octave range,” Block said her approach to her craft has subtly changed as a result of the terrorist attack on the U.S.

Ian Irvine, chair of Economics and a self-described “avid non-smoker,” wrote an essay for The Gazette recently in which he criticized the Advisory Council on Tobacco Control for recommending to the Health Minister that “light” and “mild” descriptions on cigarette packages be banned. His point is that the consumer needs more information, not less, and that so-called “light” cigarettes do not necessarily deliver lower toxicity to smokers.

A profile of Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray in the Globe and Mail on Nov. 3 mentioned the fact that he got his taste for politics as a president of the Concordia University Students Association (CUSA), now the Concordia Students Union (CSU).

Pierre Coutu, an aviation management professional who teaches in the Aviation MBA program, was interviewed nationally on Radio-Canada about the new anti-terrorist legislation, which does not make major changes to the way security is exercised at airports. As he explained, this is because the airlines are already under great financial pressure, and the government is still considering the question and introducing a new budget next week.

Nina Howe (Education) was interviewed on Global TV about strategies for toilet-training young children.

Suresh Goyal (Decision Sciences/MIS) had a letter published in Maclean’s in which he commended the magazine for its helpful rankings of Canadian universities.

Gilles Bourgeois, director of Human Resources and Employee Relations, was asked by Global television to describe the new pay equity legislation. He remarked that “while its purpose was to remove gender bias from job evaluation systems to achieve equal pay for work of equal value within the same employer, it is far from being a complete solution, since it does not begin to address the issue of opportunity for women in all occupational fields and levels of responsibility.”