City in brief

Phishing scam targets ConU email service
Concordia’s Instructional & Information Technology Services are warning anyone with an email account on Alcor Webmail to beware of a phishing scam. The fake email poses as a message from IITS telling users that their accounts have been compromised, requesting usernames, passwords and other email ID to ”fix” the problem. IITS advises people on its website to suspect these types of messages as “Concordia University will never ask for your personal information by phone, e-mail, or URL unless it is in response to a support request you have initiated.”

CSU en français
The CSU’s policy committee will look into the costs that the union could incur if it were to translate all of its bylaws and standing regulations into French. The move comes after a motion presented by arts and science councillor Irmak Bahar was adopted at the CSU council meeting on Nov. 23. CSU president Lex Gill indicated that the translation could end up costing thousands of dollars. Bahar’s motion also called for the CSU to step up its efforts in communicating with Concordia’s francophone student population. During the meeting, VP advocacy and outreach Morgan Pudwell said she would try to have the major points of the updated bylaws translated into French before they go to referendum on Nov. 29.

McGill principal racks up $124K in expenses
McGill reimbursed its Principal and Vice-Chancellor Heather Munroe-Blum for $124,167 in expenses over a one-year period, according to documents obtained by Le Journal de Montréal through an access to information request. Between June 2009 and June 2010, Munroe-Blum spent more than $21,000 on her housekeeper’s salary and another $3,000 for her gardener, all of which was covered by the university. Munroe-Blum’s salary is currently in the range of $360,000. McGill is defending the expenses, saying that they are an anticipated part of Munroe-Blum’s contract.

UQAM to study effects of homophobia
Premier Jean Charest announced last week that the Université du Quebec à Montreal’s department of sexology will be examining the consequences of homophobia, the first research chair of its kind in North America. UQAM professor Line Chamberland told CTV Montreal that the department plans to study the social isolation and alienation felt by sexual minorities in order to gain a better understanding of both the “progresses that we’ve made” and the “obstacles that are in front of us.” Led by 20 researchers, the project will receive $475,000 from the provincial government on top of donations from the private sector.

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