FEBRUARY 2015
SP
NR. 2 (8)
FORMÄ€TS The monthly newsletter of Turiba University's Student Council
TER
NATIONAL
Almost out of the winter and darkness Editor: SIGNE SENE
Hello dear readers! We are almost out of the darkness. Not because every day we get more and more daylight, but because in February we are slowly waking up after winter. Let`s be honest - during winter most of the nature is resting and this affects us too. During winter time we are, maybe, a bit slower, grumpier or lazier, saving up our energy for spring. However, now we are almost out of the winter and this is the best time to remember about active lifestyle, or even something bigger – your own formula for happiness.
Photo: from SIGNE SENE personal archive
„What else happiness is, if not only harmony with yourself and the world? And it really doesn`t matter, if this happiness is created by mighty life goals, endless love or pancakes.”
peace to it. Just be happy and in harmony with yourself. That already is quite a lot and can change the world for you.
And you know what? Good pancakes really can bring you happiI could say that this quotation really ness. I promise. Just put some explains everything. It really does. strawberry jam or honey on them, Don`t worry if you haven`t found and you will feel like in heaven. your other half yet or you don`t Best wishes, want to change the world and bring Signe
According to the calendar, February is the last month for winter. By this time most of us want to bring something green and cheerful in our lives. Someone may drink more juice or eat fruit to get more vitamins and survive the last month before the spring and sun. Maybe someone else is really looking forward to Valentine`s day and celebrating it together with one’s other half. Everyone has their own secret formula for happiness. Although these formulas can be very different, the main goal is actually quite easy and logical – to make yourself happy. It really doesn`t matter from which part of the world you are, what you are studying or what others think about you. Do what makes you happy and find your one and only formula for happiness.
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Find a goal and go towards it I N T E RV I E W W I T H T H E P R E S I D E N T O F THE STUDENTS` COUNCIL Correspondent: ANNEMARIJA GRASMANE
Photos: from RŪDOLFS FREIBERGS personal archive
There are many students among us in the halls of Turiba University, yet we do not know a lot about other students, who are not in our courses. Well, probably the majority, not all of the students are in this situation. So, SP Formāts International thought that this could be a great opportunity to find out something more about a fellow student – Rūdolfs Freibergs, who is a second year student and also newly elected President of the Students’ Council. Continue reading if you would like find out more about Rūdolfs and his life in and out of Turiba!
educational part got me really interested, the representation and other things that these departments deal with. Please tell us what the Students’ Council deals with and what the main functions are for the President at this organization, because there might be some readers that don’t actually know this.
Before we start about the freshest things in your life, tell us a brief summary about yourself – how did you get to Turiba University and what do you study here? After graduating high school (Bulduru Dārzkopības vidusskola), I chose the next destination to be Denmark, where I could continue my educational journey. But unfortunately, because of some issues, I had to end my studies there and I chose to do something here in Latvia. Since I graduated a study program in high-school that dealt with hotel specialty, I decided to study in Turiba University the program of Tourism and hospitality management.
Now I would like to congratulate you with being elected as the President of the Students’ Council (BAT SP). How did your journey in the Students’ Council begin? The journey began in 2014, when I arrived to BAT SP big meeting in October. My goal was to find out what these students do there and who do they represent. At the beginning I chose the Department of Finance, but the real interest what was appealing to me, I found in the Outer Communication Department and the Academic Department. The
The main goal for the Students’ Council is to represent all the interests for the ones who study here – in the academic, social, cultural etc. aspects, it means that it is our responsibility to prepare such activities and events for them, which could be well-fitted for our university’s students and the board interests. My job in it is to create the vision in the Students’ Council’s board, in order to make collaborations towards united goals and tasks. The President has to supervise the finances and talk to students, show the possibilities and options which the Students’ Council and the university can provide, as well as to maintain and gain the progress when talking about the image of the Students` Council. Also he has to represent the opinion of the Council in many other different organizations including the whole Students’ Association and other university’s students’ councils, parliaments. (Continued on page 4)
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each member of the Council – including the people of the board, When taking notice to the fact that who are the managers of each SP’s you have been elected as the Presidepartment, could follow the cordent of the Council, what would be rect path. your main goals during the term? Your personal goals and the ones Backing away from the topic of the for the Students` Council. Students’ Council – what do you enjoy doing during your free time? Personal goals as self-development will follow eventually, but mostly I During my free time I read books, would like to gain unique contacts which helps me to get away from and to represent the Students’ work and all that sort of stuff. It is Council. I would like to make real very important to follow and have a many things, such as: find out healthy nutrition, as well as keeping more about the interests of other yourself in good shape, because students, increase the quality of the from all of those things I gain powSP’s marketing and its image in er to do work. But sleeping is nice both – inner and outer level and as well. improve and create an appropriate Your favorite movie? environment and study process for the students. I would like to go to- I don’t have a favorite, because I wards such goals that deal more guess I know too many which are with education and the possibilities good and dear to me, but I definitefor the student to improve them- ly can suggest some. “Pursuit of selves at the Students’ Council, be- happiness”,” Yes Man!”, “The Blind cause there are many students that Side” and “The drifter” with Rob do not know what kind of great op- Machado. portunities lay under each job and Maybe you have a hobby which is possibility that the Council can give not so known among other peoyou. ple?
grandfather. Although, in the past few months I haven’t had so much time for this, but I still consider tasting food and drinks as a hobby of mine. It is also the reason why I have worked for a few years as a bartender, where wine and whiskey tasting was not such an unknown thing. I want to thank Jānis Kaļķis, who found my hobby. Continue the following sentences: As a kid, I wanted to become a ... physics teacher If I had one wish...then it would be something dealing with neverending youth :) If I had to change one thing at our university, then I would... do it. My favorite food is... the standard home shashlik with potatoes baked in the fire I always... keep moving forward
What would you like to wish to the fellow Turiba students?
Don’t be lazy and keep moving forward. Always find a stable goal and go towards it. While you are young, push your limits, so you can have What do you think is the main task I have a really big postmark collecsomething to remember. for the president of the Students’ tion, which was started by my Council? To go together [with others] towards goals.
What could be the most complicated thing while running the Students’ Council? I know that behind each closed door hides a wide world of possibilities, where you can lose your path easily, and in order to avoid that, the most complicated thing would be to manage work in a way that
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Valentine`s day – what is it? Editor: SIGNE SENE
Each year on 14th of February many of us celebrate Valentine`s day. We give gifts to our “other half” and celebrate the day of love. The ones who haven`t found their soul mate yet, hope that on this day they will find their one and only. But what is Valentine`s day and why does it celebrate love?
Photos: from internet resources
young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl – possibly his jailor’s daughter – who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and – most importantly – romantic figThe legend of the Valentine ure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine The history of Valentine’s Day – and would become one of the most the story of its patron saint – is popular saints in England and shrouded in mystery. The Catholic France. Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentine`s day: A day of romance Valentinus, all of whom were marPope Gelasius declared February 14 tyred. One legend contends that St. Valentine’s Day at the end of 5th Valentine was a priest who served century. It was not until much later, during the third century in Rome. however, that the day became deWhen Emperor Claudius II decided finitively associated with love. Durthat single men made better soling the Middle Ages, it was comdiers than those with wives and monly believed in France and Engfamilies, he outlawed marriage for land that February 14th was the be-
ginning of birds’ mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance. Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentine’s didn’t begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. (The greeting is now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England.) Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois. Interesting facts: St. Valentine has wide-ranging spiritual responsibilities. People call on him to watch over the lives of lovers, of course, but also for interventions regarding beekeeping, epilepsy, the plague, fainting and traveling. He’s also the patron saint of engaged couples and happy marriages.
Because of the abundance of St. Valentines on the Roman Catholic roster, you can choose to celebrate the saint multiple times each year. In all there are about a dozen of St. Valentines and a Pope. Have a great and uplifting Valentine`s day!
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Have fun in the snow! Correspondent: DARIA DONTSOVA
Photos: from internet resources
As it is the middle of winter now, there should be plenty of snow on the streets. And a couple of weeks ago there was a huge amount of snow around us. So, in hope that snow will return, SP Formāts International found 5 ways to play with the snow! Go sledding! Of course, one of the most fun things to do with snow is to go sledding! Just pick a nice big hill in your neighborhood, there's no end for the fun you can have when going sledding. Just remember to wrap yourself up warm and safe. Build a snowman! When the temperature is warm enough, the snow becomes dense and it sticks to itself very well. This is the perfect moment to build snowsculptures, make designs or simply build a snowman! Just go outside
with your friends and make a com- your creativity! You can do that petition: whose snowman is the whatever you like. Try to create prettiest one? new techniques of making shapes! Make shapes in the snow! This works for both: sticky and powdery snow. The easiest way to do it is just to lie on your back in the snow, swish your legs and arms up and down/out to the sides, then try to find a way to get up without destroying your creation. Voila! A snow angel! But nobody can stop
Build your own snow-castle! Although it can be done only with sticky snow, it is absolutely great. Building a snow castle is difficult; you will probably need to use bowls and pans to make perfect shapes of rooms in your castle. Want to see what some people have done with snow castle building? Believe it or not, there are international competitions for this stuff, and there is even a life-sized snow castle! So you even have an opportunity to join them if yours is really good. Snowball fight! So, if you don’t have time or simply don’t want to bother making something huge, we suggest you to brace yourself and make a snowball fight! You can fight for yourself or divide into teams, as you wish. We promise that you will laugh a lot and have plenty of fun with your friends! We sincerely hope that our advices were useful and they will warm your winter days up a bit!
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New board of BATSP has been elected! Editor: SIGNE SENE
Photos: from BATSP.LV
th
On January 13 all members of the department
We wish good luck, strength and team spirit for the new board of Students` Council came together Anna Karolīna Šaule – The head of the Students` Council! for the elections of a new board International Cooperation departfor the Students` Council. On Janument ary 27th all members came together again to elect the head of Mar- Jānis Lesnieks – The head of Marketing department and the head of keting department Academic department.Filips Mārtiņš Valciņš – The head of The new members of Students` Academic department Council are: The board of the Students` Council Rūdolfs Freibergs – The President was elected in direct election and their tenure is one year. Only memof Students` Council bers of the Students` Council could Kalvis Ozols – The Vice President vote and candidate. One member Laura Laugale - The head of Fi- was able to run for various posinance department tions, but was allowed to occupy only one position. Undīne Skuja – The head of Culture
What’s life in the Turiba Students Hostel like? Correspondent: DARIA DOTSOVA
Finally, something that we have been waiting for the whole 1st semester! Brand-new rooms at the first floor of the Turiba Hostel are now fully decorated and already filled with inhabitants. SP Formats International decided to know more about the rooms and life in the “Comfort zone” of our univer-
Photos: from TURIBA.LV
sity. We asked Arina Prokushenkova, one of those lucky students who live there, to tell us more about her attitude towards new rooms. How did you find out about those new rooms at the first place?
me to live with them here, told me about some new rooms. At first, it sounded like simple rumors, and I didn’t actually believe that the new rooms would be so pretty. I was too lazy to move somewhere and, of course, skeptical about the price: it seemed quite high to me.
Some friends of mine, who invited Do you now think it was worth it? Totally! The rooms are adorable! I, myself, live in the block; we have two rooms in there. One is for two people and another one is for three. We have our own shower and toilet: really different from what we had upstairs. I like it so much, I cant even find the right words to describe it . (Continued on page 8)
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we are tired after long day, it may What about the kitchen? Do you be inconvenient for us to clean all have your separate kitchens as something. well? Well, what’s your general opinion No, of course not. We have one about Turība Comfort Zone? kitchen for the whole floor, and I like it! Even though there are even though it is quite small, we all some drawbacks of living here, the have enough space to cook. We circumstances are much better even have our own microwave! than we had in our previous rooms. Can you think of any disad- Here, we feel like a family, spendvantages of your new living place? ing time together at the kitchen or just hanging out in one of the Well, as we all are supposed to rooms. It is really cozy in here and I have the personal space, we have know for sure, that new rooms are to clean toilet and bathroom by totally worth the price. ourselves. Sometimes, especially if
Charity event ‘’Hoping, loving, anticipating…’’ Editor: SIGNE SENE
For the tenth year in a row, the Students` Council continued their tradition and with the help of every student and employee of Turiba university brought joy to the disabled children’s union ‘’Māriņa’’ in Auce. On the 15th of January, the Students` Council went to Auce, where the final event was held.
Photos: from BATSP.LV
and in the end gave everyone a special gift. After un-wrapping the gifts, everyone ate gingerbreads and took even more photos.
their parents – a cheese tart from Mārtiņa Beķereja. After the event everyone went home with a smile on their faces and warm feeling in their hearts because together we Without the gifts under the tree, helped the disabled children`s unthere were also bags full of clothes, ion “Māriņa”. shoes, games, books and things from the sponsors – dry food mixes Special thanks to everyone who from “Dobeles dzirnavnieks” and donated and the sponsors – After a musical play from Jūrmalas tea from Z/S “Rūķīšu tēja”. “Mārtiņa Beķereja”, Jūrmalas theatre, the actors invited the chilteātris, “Baiba School”, Z/S “Rūķīšu In the end of the event there was dren to join in different games and tēja” and “Dobeles dzirnavnieks”. one more gift for the children and activities. The children and their parents sang, danced and did all sorts of things with a smile on their faces. During the theatre performance and games, girls from Cosmetology College coloured children’s` faces, which brought even more happiness for them. The University`s mascot – the cat Turītis was welcomed with the greatest enthusiasm. Turītis received hugs - one after another, played with the kids, took photos
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Foto Report from Paintball Photos: from BATSP.LV
Editor: Signe Sēne Correspondents: Daria Dontsova, Annemarija Grasmane Reviser: Annemar ija Gr asmane Desktopper: Kr istīne Šņepste Design: Sandijs Br īze In the case of publication permission from Student Council of Turiba University is required. In case of citation reference of „SP Formāts International” is required. Publisher: Student Council of Tur iba Univer sity, C218, Gr audu str eet 68, Riga, phone: +371 67607750
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