Graduate Diploma in Orthoptics and Ophthalmic Medical Technology

This professional three-year graduate program offered by Dalhousie University in partnership with the [WK Health Centre's School of Orthoptics/Ophthalmic Medical Technology provides students with unparal- leled research opportunities in the vision sciences along with extensive clini- cal practice to prepare them for the profession of orthoptics/ophthalmic med- ical technology.

Orthoptists/ophthalmic medical technologists are allied health professionals who perform a wide range of diagnostic and highly technical procedures and, in consultation with an ophthalmologist, plan, implement and monitor treat- ment of a wide variety of ocular disorders, including disorders of binocular vision and ocular motility. They are engaged in a wide range of activities including research into ocular motility, education of other eye care profession- als, patient education and vision screening.

The program involves 7.5 class credits, two extended practica and a thesis in an area of vision research. Students are permitted to exit the program after two years (prior to completing a Master's thesis) with a Graduate Diploma i in Orthoptics and Ophthalmic Medical Technology.

Applications for the MSc (Clinic Vision Science) program beginning in September 2003 are now being accepted. Applicants must hold a four-year bachelor's degree with a minimum B average (GPA 3.0), with a least one undergraduate class in human anatomy and/or physiology, and a class in experimental psychology with a laboratory component. Exceptional students may be accepted without these prerequisites on the condition that they are ful- filled either prior to or concurrent with the program. Work/volunteer experi- ence in the health care field is considered an asset.

Students whose native language is not English must demonstrate the ability to participate in a graduate program conducted in English prior to acceptance into the program. The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL test is 580 for the written test and 237 for the computer test.

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students.

Deadline for applications is March 1, 2002.

Further information is available from our website www.dal.ca/cvs or by contacting School of Orthoptics/Ophthalmic Medical Technology IWK Health Centre 5850/5980 University Avenue PO Box 3070 Halifax, NS B3J 3G9

orthoptics@iwk.nshealth.ca - (902) 470-8959

Dalhousie University MSc Clinical Vision Science. with concurrent |

Stark Raving Sane: On Eggnog

By Catherine SWEET

Nog. Nog nog nog. Just say- ing that word makes me want to throw up. What is Eggnog, anyway? Isn't it

_ eggs and milk and spices and like,

hooves and bugs and stuff? I think Eggnog can be used as a metaphor for Christmas in general. It's seasonal, it's rich, once you've had some you wish the whole experience would just end and, of course, a little rum makes it go by a lot easier.

Christmas is once again upon us. How can we tell? We're already budgeting out our meagre resources for crappy presents for our loved ones. Our mothers are getting uptight. That house on University Avenue once again makes me very, very sad.

Christmas has the potential to be the most spiritual time of the year, filled with warmth and fellowship, and we do experience that, but only between Canadian Tire "It's a Floya" commercials. How did the most important date on the Christian calen- dar (and therefore the Western world) turn into such a money-grubbing free- for-all? When did it suddenly become alright for something so sacred to become a golden calf for capitalism?

More than once I've had the panicked compulsion to jet off to a

country for which Christmas is a for- eign event. I want to be somewhere reading on the beach, wondering if it's hit 30 degrees yet when a worldly local wanders by and asks "Where you're from, isn't today Christmas?" I'll tilt down my sunglasses, look up at him and answer yes. Then I'll go back to reading with a satisfied smile on my freckled face.

Don't get me wrong- I'm not a total Grinch (although that thought is delightful). I like traditions and Christmas is rife with them. I do get to see family that I rarely do otherwise. Friends from other schools come home and we can spend time together. The Sound of Music is on TV all the time and I love The Sound of Music. I'll know I've found my soulmate when he can dance that Austrian folkdance ("Laendler") with me.

The difficult thing about the Christmasaholics calling me a Grinch or Scrooge is those two characters end up being totally filled with love for the season. Maybe they think I'll be trans- formed. Maybe I don't want to be transformed. Maybe I do! I think I'll settle for knowing the etymological origins of "nog".

BEWARE OF CAMPUS POLICE!

On Sunday November 17, at 1:33am the Campus Police security van was seen on Queen Street, heading towards downtown. At the inter- section of Queen and Kirkwood, the vehicle approached the red light and

only slowed down slightly before racing through. This action was done in disregard to fellow motorists and watching bystanders. Does the Campus Police have any more right then the normal public to ignore traffic laws? What do you think... Letters to the Editor: mjstewart@upei.ca

NS

TRAVEL & TEACH ENGLISH:

Jobs $$ Guaranteed - Great Pay TESOL Cerfied in 5-day in-class (or online or by correspondence). Attend a FREE Information Seminar. FREE Infopack:

1-888-270-2941 or www.globaltesol.com