York University digs into an MBA in mining

Business schools are creating specialized degrees at a rapid rate, but a new program in Toronto is likely the first to marry finance and mining. York University’s Schulich School of Business, which offers MBA concentrations ranging from health management to real estate and infrastructure, graduates its first MBA class in global mining management this spring, reported Businessweek April 26. Read full story.

Cyberbullying: Focus on insight, not punishment
I also applaud the government of Nova Scotia for assigning two experts, Debra Pepler and Penny Milton, to study the Parsons case. Pepler, in particular, is a fabulous choice – the York University professor is perhaps Canada’s leading researcher on bullying and is co-founder of PREVNet, the Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network….It’s too bad her appointment is a reaction to a tragedy rather than a proactive effort to prevent a tragedy, reported The Globe and Mail April 26. Read full story.

Film student jets off to Cannes
Mathew Murray, an aspiring filmmaker from Port Credit, Ont., is all of 19 and has only just completed his second year of film production studies at York University. Murray’s film, Legs, was chosen by Cannes to be screened in the Short Film Corner, which in the festival’s 65-year history has launched the careers of countless filmmakers, reported Mississauga News April 25. Legs is the story of Nathan, a promising young track star, who is forced to search for passion off of the track after he is paralyzed in a tragic car accident. Read full story.

U.S. regulator warns Canadian drug maker Apotex about quality control
U.S. regulators are threatening to block imports of some drugs produced by Canada’s largest maker of generics after investigators raised questions about quality control at two of its Toronto-area manufacturing facilities….The problems identified at Apotex’s manufacturing facilities should have Canadians questioning the safety of the drug supply, said Joel Lexchin, a health-policy professor at York University, in The Globe and Mail April 26. “We should not have to go to the Americans to find out what’s going on at plants here in Canada.” Read full story.

Durham police officer accused of making child pornography back on job, sources say
Alan Young, professor at York’s Osgoode Hall Law School, said the officer’s return is unusual because of the outstanding charges. “It’s very difficult to imagine that you could have confidence in the continuing ability of an officer to discharge his duties with integrity if he is facing serious charges,” Young said in the Toronto Star April 26. “But there is also the argument that it would be better than paying him to sit at home on a couch by having him doing something that might be away from dealing directly with the public. And there is the presumption of innocence.” Read full story.

Football trio trades athletic dreams for business ambition
For Jason Pottinger, who is currently still playing for the Toronto Argonauts, his interest in pursuing an MBA at the Schulich School of Business at York University was sparked early by players like Fabio Filice and Matthew O’Meara. “I picked their brains and there was one common theme,” said Pottinger in the Financial Post April 26, who celebrated his own Grey Cup victory this past fall. “They told me to get started early and not to wait until it’s too late to set up my second career.” Read full story.

Don Thompson sells follow-up to ‘$12 Million Stuffed Shark’
Economist and Schulich School of Business Professor Don Thompson, author of the widely read The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art, has just sold a follow up that seems to be in a similar vein. The Supermodel and the Brillo Box is set to be published by Palgrave in spring 2014, reported GalleristNY April 15. Read full story.

DRUMHAND set to release first-ever lyric-based CD
Global jazz roots collective DRUMHAND, helmed by Junction resident and York University music instructor Larry Graves, is gearing up for the release of its third CD, “Cheer On The Sun”, Thursday, May 9 at Musideum in downtown Toronto….The band is set to enter the busy summer touring season, but Graves manages to squeeze in the time to teach part-time in the music department at York University. Read full story.