President Switches from Blog to Facebook

After three years of publishing news about Canadian University College on my blog at markhaynal.blogspot.ca, I am switching to Facebook.   You can find the new and improved Burman University President's Page at https://www.facebook.com/BurmanPresident   If you go there now you will find three news items already posted.  Please go there, become a friend, indicate you like something, leave a comment, or just lurk anonymously.

The CUC President's Page Blog will remain available to online viewers for a few more months.  Most of its posts have also been preserved in CUC's archives.

I am switching to Facebook because that platform will allow me to post news items more quickly and more often.  I also believe using Facebook will allow me to share news about CUC/BU from my unique point of view with a much wider, larger audience.

Please click this photo for a larger view of the new and improved.
Burman University President's Page now on Facebook.

Thank you for using my blog!  Since it began on November 9, 2011, I have posted 356 stories about CUC/BU that always included photos and occasionally videos.  During that time the blog has received 114,172 pageviews from literally all over the world.

The Top 5 Most Viewed Posts of all time are a pretty good overview of the 5 most important (or traumatic) events of my presidency:
1.  Board Votes to Rename CUC Burman University (1644 pageviews)
2.  Small Explosion and Fire Result in Significant Water Damage in Science Centre (1554 pageviews)
3.  Campus Lockdown Lifted (1374 pageviews)
4.  Premier Hancock Authorises Dropping the Word "College" (1145 pageviews)
5.  Report From the Road: Portland and Calgary Media Share Story of Theft (485 pageviews)

Thank you for your prayers and support.  I look forward to continuing our time together on Facebook!

Mark Haynal, EdD
President

Students Lead Week in Spiritual Emphasis

We are presently enjoying our annual student-led Week in Spiritual Emphasis (WISE)   The theme of this year’s WISE is "Connect," and each student speaker is sharing how he/she connects in meaningful ways with God.  Speakers for WISE are:

• Benjamin Amoah, a 1st year General Studies major from Orleans, ON
• Kelissa Geffrard, a 3rd year Adventure-Based Counseling major from Miramar, FL
• Rechelle-Lee Smith, a 2nd year Behavioral Science major from Brampton, ON
• Roland Scalliet, a 3rd year Elementary Education major from Saint-Georges, QC
• Jeff and Josh Bradburn, 2nd year General Studies majors (and twins) from Tilamook, OR
• Bailey Muller, a 1st year Secondary Education major from Woodstock, ON
• Jordane Smith, a 3rd year Religious Studies major from Mississaugua, ON
• Marc Andrade, After-Degree Education, from Winnipeg, MB
• Maison Leitch, a 2nd year Biology major from Lacombe, AB
• Jose Sanchez Abuchar, a 3rd year Religious Studies major from Etobicoke, ON
• Mark Ricalde, a 3rd year Religious Studies major from Calgary, AB
• Ashia Lennon, a 1st year Religious Studies major from Regina, SK

Brenden Zypotichny, a 3rd year Religious Studies major from Langley, BC, leads the congregation in the week's theme song, "Your Presence is Heaven to Me."

Being an old, hymn lover, the highlight of Friday evening's song service for me was having all of the students remind me with their beautiful singing that This Is My Father's World.

Benjamin Amoah used lessons he's learned from his cell phone and data plan to illustrate how we can stay connected to God.

From the Archives: Student Financial Statements through the Years

Shown below are four student financial statements from four different decades.  Each tells a story of how life at CUC has changed over the years.  

1.  Adolph Bechthold kept his account current but he might have saved $9.75 if he had not been “behind in labor,” or owed for a window and been absent from classes in April 1929. 

2.  Imagine having to pay five cents for the use of the iron in 1937 like Robert Lawes.

3.  In 1947 Edith Fitch’s account was debited 35-cents for broken dishes. Utmost speed was needed for her to dry all the dishes as they rolled out of the washer and occasionally, while working at top speed, she broke a dish. Her hourly wage was 33 cents. 

4.  Mr. I. Johnstone of Armstrong BC donated fence posts on his daughter Florence’s account in 1955 to defray expenses in the amount of $131.

Former CFL Wide Receiver Speaks at University Convocation

Arjei Franklin, who played six seasons as a wide receiver for the Blue Bombers and Stampeders and now teaches at the Windsor Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School spoke for University Convocation, Tuesday, January 13.  Franklin used anecdotes from his career to illustrate the opportunities and challenges one faces if he chooses to honour God in his profession.

Dr. Haynal shared the following information about Mr. Franklin as he introduced him:

"Arjei is a graduate of the University of Windsor where he earned a Bachelor of Human Kinetics and a Bachelor of Education.  While there he played football brilliantly and set records for the Lancers.

"In 2006 Arjei was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers where he was a wide receiver for four-and-a-half seasons before being traded to the Calgary Stampeders.  Check out this video of his first touchdown catch as a professional football player.

"While Arjei was a skilled player on the field, he was also a man of integrity and kindness off the field.  When he retired, Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel said, 'Arjei always carried himself with class and dignity.  He was a tremendously respected teammate and a pillar of the community.'

"Arjei told the Calgary Sun when he retired in 2011 that he couldn’t bear to be away from his wife and son any longer. 

"Reflecting on his career, Arjei told the Sun reporter, 'I wish I had won a Grey Cup ring, but I think my son would rather remember me as a dad that was around than one who had a giant ring on his finger.'

"Some of you are Blue Bomber fans.  Some of you are Stampeder fans.  But, I know we are all fans of the team Arjei now plays for.  Arjei is now on Canada’s most important team, its team of elementary school teachers.

"The catches he now makes are of wobbly passes thrown to him by his young students. 

"Instead of scoring touchdowns he now scores the homework his students turn in.

"Nobody has tried to tackle him recently, but every day students run up and give him a hug.

"For you see, Arjei teaches the lower grades, the youngest students, at the Adventist elementary school in Windsor, Ontario.  He says his mission now is to inspire his students to realize their full potential, and instill in them a love for others, themselves, and most importantly, Jesus Christ.

"Please join me in giving our guest speaker, Arjei Franklin, a warm CUC welcome.