National

A Tim Hortons double-double could soon provide Canadians with their daily fuel in more ways than just caffeine, thanks to research from two professors at the University of Manitoba.

Richard Sparling and David Levin are currently co-leading a $10.5 million project funded by Genome Canada, which they are calling “Microbial Genomics for Biofuels and Co-products from Biorefining Processes.”

Faculty at the University of Western Ontario voted 87 per cent for a strike mandate Oct. 1, just days prior to the Carleton faculty strike vote on Oct. 4 and 5. Still, students at both universities don’t need to panic just yet, union and administration representatives say.

Aline Chrétien, wife of former prime minister Jean Chrétien, has been chosen to serve as Laurentian University’s first-ever chancellor.

The renewable contract will last for three years, according to a media release by the Sudbury school.

Her nomination was unanimously approved by the university’s Board of Governors.

Some aboriginal students without top grades may get a second chance at a university education in British Columbia.

Simon Fraser University (SFU) gave prospective aboriginal students an alternative way of applying for admission when the school’s senate approved a new aboriginal undergraduate admission policy, the university announced.

“We want more aboriginal students to come here,” said William Lindsay, the director of SFU’s Office for Aboriginal Peoples, who came up with the idea.

Kingston City Council will form a committee in 2011 to deal with rowdy parties held by St. Lawrence College and Queen’s University students.

Councillor Steve Garrison said the committee, which will have representation from police, city council, landowners, university and college staff and students, is arising out of “years and years of abusive behaviour by students towards the city and its residents.”

He said student partying during homecoming weekend costs the city an estimated $375,000 every year to police.