ElseWhen

25 Years Ago in mathNEWS

This week, we are looking at Volume 36, Issue 4, originally published on 19 October 1984.

InsideR

The Unwanted Ads

With the job market epically favouring students in '84, it was imperative that employers did what they could to make their jobs look appealing to students. Obviously, someone with a brain caught onto these tricks, and provided some (admittedly accurate) translations:

• "... and processing crucial documents" really means photocoping [sic].
• "Innovative assembling of company records ..." is deciding which side paper is to be stapled and then arranging them in alphabetic order.
• "... with flexible hours" means shift work for sure.
• "... and extensive user support" is really answering phones and telling users to hit <return>.
• "Using the coordination and manipulation of the outer limb extremities in line with advanced hardware for updating numerous databases" is really data entry.
• "Tasks will include the identification, gathering and reconciliation of information to be translated to the computerized databases" means finding ancient company records in dusty filing cabinets, putting the records in chronological order and finding out that the "data" is inconsistent and you must "reconcile" it.

In Other News...

• Federation Hall opens its doors on Wednesday 14 November. Toronto Harbour is providing entertainment for the dignitary gala, and student opening is the three days following.
• Orientation ran out of pink ties, and those who got a raincheck and/or bandana can get them at MathSoc.
• Next week's Annual General Meeting discusses the proposed changes to how executives are elected. Electing summer execs in November is apparently quite touchy to one class rep.
• The "New, Improved mastHEAD" is hand-written, for some bizarre reason.
• Some frosh is excited by his Pure Math course. God save his soul.