Frosh 2014

HOLDING YOUR LEADERS TO THEIR WORD

Resources for marginalized groups

page 24

SU focus on advocacy and student action

page 12

page 24

FROSH 2014 YYC essential attractions, neighbourhoods, destinations

THE GAUNTLET’S SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR FIRST YEAR STUDENTS

page 27-30

Staying fit as a lazy university student

page 18-19

POLITICS THAT YOU SHOULD PROBABLY CARE ABOUT page 13

The best places to get loose on campus during your first year page 15-17

A welcome message W

elcome to the University of Calgary.

This handbook is a guide for your first year, full of information we only discovered after making a mess of it the first time.

We’ll be the first to admit that the U of C can be an odd place. It’s a commuter campus and the artwork is downright

odd. After a couple of years, you’ll be complaining about it as much as the rest of us.

But there’s a lot of great things about this school too.

You’ll take some interesting classes. There will be fun parties and weird club events.

And you’ll meet a lot of really great people.

Work hard. Have fun. We’re

wishing you all the best.

If well wishes got you through university unscathed, grandma’s love would be all you need. Luckily, you have this guide. Once more unto the breach, dear friends. Enjoy. We’re rooting for you.

Chris Adams Kate Jacobson Supplement Co-Editors

Contributors Melanie Bethune, Curtis Wolff, Riley Hill, Sara Albright, Scott Strasser, Ashton Chugh, Louie Villanueva, Kaleem Khan, Samantha Lucy, Sean Willett, Chris Adams, Liv Ingram Welcome from the upper echelons How to do residence properly Your textbook options Get to know the Students’ Union University Administration Municipal and Provincial issues Vices on campus Here’s a map to help you wayward souls Get in shape DINOS! DINOS! DINOS! Mental health services Tri-Media Campus resources for marginalized groups Where to eat The four clubs you’ll meet on campus Online services What Calgary’s all about Gauntlet Editorial Board 2

3 4 6 8 12 13 14 16 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 31

Welcomes from the upper echelon

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elcome to the University of Calgary! My name is Jarett Henry, and I am serving this year as your Students’ Union president. My job is to do everything I can to make your university experience the best it can be. This means listening to your feedback and advocating for changes that impact your educa-

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ello! You’re going to get a lot of unsolicited advice this year. Let me start by recommending that you focus on having fun your first week and forget about anything serious until Sunday afternoon. Go to your classes, but only to make attendance and meet other first years.

Once the excitement wears off, get ready for a new rou-

tion. Whether it’s your dean, the university president, or the Premier, your SU will be in the room making sure that your voice is heard.

But representing you is only part of our job. We also run a huge variety of programs and services — all designed to improve your experience on campus. Want an instant connection to other students who share your interests? Join one of over 300 SU student clubs. Want to give back? Check out all of the opportunities offered by Volunteer Services. Need some healthy food early in the morning or some earplugs late at night? Stop by the Stör. Need to let loose and have some fun after a long date with your textbook? Say hello to

the Den and Black Lounge, one of the best campus bars in Canada serving great food at studentfriendly prices. All of these programs and services (and many more) are run out of MacHall, the heart of student life on campus. MacHall is operated by your SU, so the money you spend at our retail services goes right back into helping yourself and fellow students.

At the end of the day, your SU is here to help. I may represent over 25,000 students, but I will always make time for you. So feel free to send me a text at (403) 968-4842, an e-mail to supres@ucalgary.ca or stop by and introduce yourself in person, especially if you run into me on Thursday night!

Jarett Henry, SU President

tine. If you’re coming from high school, you’ll have a heavier work load than you’re used to. You might have to pay bills, manage money or cook food for the first time. Get a handle on these things as soon as you can. When you’re on top of your work, university is a lot of fun. When you’re behind, it’s a drudgery.

Make sure you take time to try something new. This is the best time to experiment with ideas, hobbies, politics, religion, drugs, sex, sports, art — whatever it is you’re interested in.

You have licence to become whoever you want to be, and you’re in a place designed to nurture your growth. Take time to discover something new about yourself.

It’s ok if you feel confused, scared, embarrassed or stupid during the next four-plus years. Above all else, realize that you get to make your own choices. University is a great place to develop your personality and make mistakes. And it’s an experience that will live with you forever. Make sure you take ownership of your time here.

This magazine contains the most honest advice about university a few writers at the Gauntlet could muster. Some of us have been here for four years already, and we’ve made plenty of mistakes. Take it or leave it. And if you’re looking for something to do, come volunteer with us, you turkey.

Cheers, Riley Hill, Editor-in-Chief

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How to do Residence beyond the people you take the elevator with every morning.

Food

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Louie Villanueva

Melanie Bethune

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irst-year residence can be like the greatest summer camp you’ll ever go to or eight months of prison.

Regardless, you will survive.

Despite the rumours you’ve heard, the buildings won’t eat you alive. Ultimately, you decide whether you’ll enjoy residence or whether you’ll lose your health and sanity. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Family

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our floormates will become your family, but you decide how that family gets along. Do you want obscure cousins you

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only see at mandatory gatherings? Or the siblings you always wished you had — the people you party, study and cry with and can’t be away from for more than four hours at a time?

Finding a balance between being alone and being social in residence is difficult. Those who master it can study by day and party by night. Remember, you share a bathroom, microwave and TV with these people. Getting along with them is essential.

Be cautious about getting along too well. Floorcest is real and there are consequences if things go sour. Couples can sometimes make floorcest work, but it’s in your best interest to explore romantic options

he Dining Centre will be your best friend and worst enemy. It’ll be the source of dependable breakfasts on your hungover mornings and exam days. Unless toast and eggs can keep you going for eight months, it’s going to get really old, really fast.

Avoid the pre-planned menu and get creative. Look out for the meal plan sign at the till to find out which MacHall vendors accept meal plans. Spice up your diet with something other than heat-lamp pizza and burgers. If you’re stuck at the DC, take advantage of the Sunday fill-yourplate buffets and make sure to visit the salad bar on occasion.

Brew & Blendz’s fruit smoothies are another great way to inject some nutritients into your diet.

If you feel like buying some cereal, Kraft Dinner or an apple, there are grocery options nearby. The corner store in the Hotel Alma lobby accepts the Unicard for basic necessities. It’s overpriced, so use it sparingly.

Brentwood is a 15 minute walk away and there’s a Safeway, Bed Bath and Beyond and the all important Liquor Depot. Walk another block and you’ll hit Co-op for more grocery options.

Fun

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here will be parties Thursday through Saturday, usually within earshot of your room. Join in to enjoy the craziness of university, but know when to hold back.

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How to textbook Curtis Wolff

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f you first-years are anything like I was, you’ve already bought textbooks for your first semester of university. Textbook list in hand, you spent an August afternoon at the University of Calgary bookstore snapping up fresh copies of Introduction to Government and Politics and Marx for Beginners.

Used copies? Those are for B students. Only the freshest copies of the most recent editions will do for this high school honour-roll student.

You took two full baskets of new textbooks to the cashier

and dropped over $500 with a smile. Not a single cent will be spared for the privilege of higher education I hate to break it to you, but you made the first mistake in your university career. Buying textbooks is the most crooked market this side of the subprime mortgage crisis. Since the consumer — that’s you — doesn’t get to choose the product, textbook publishers can set disproportionately high prices.

You can read all about this sort of market distortion in your microeconomics textbook for winter semester, which you sure as hell aren’t

going to buy new.

Here are alternatives to buying new textbooks to keep your coffers full for other university activities such as drinking at the Den, drinking in your dorm and drinking in public.

Buy used at the U of C Bookstore

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his is the easiest alternative to buying new. Reach a few feet over from those shiny new editions to those less pretty but equally informative used copies that are less expensive. Used copies at the U of C Bookstore are around 20 per cent cheaper than the new ones.

Try to find one that someone has marked up with a highlighter. This means they’ve done some work for you, and if they’ve made it past the first few chapters, they probably knew what they were doing.

Buy used at Bound & Copied

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ake a stroll down the hall from the U of C Bookstore to the Students’ Unionrun Bound & Copied. They sell used textbooks via consignment and are normally cheaper than the used copies at the bookstore. More money in your pocket, some other student’s pocket and the SU’s pocket. You can even sell your textbooks back at the end of the semester and keep the scheme going. Taking a slice of profit away from our university and publisher overlords — Marx would be proud.

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Pirate them Buy used on the Facebook group

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f you want to ditch the middleman altogether, there’s a Facebook group called Used Textbooks for Sale (University of Calgary). It’s a fairly active forum for both buyers and sellers. Either post what you’re looking to buy or browse through the past few months worth of posts. I’m trying to sell some textbooks on there right now, so not only is it a great way to buy cheap books but also a great place to meet cool people. Seriously though, I’ve been trying to sell this global politics textbook on there for years. Help a brother out.

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ou kids with your “torrents” and your “memes” and your “Internet.” I don’t know how any of that shit works. But your buddy’s weird roommate who’s majoring in computer science probably does. Check your morals at the door and see if he or she can hook you up on the “download.”

Actually just steal them

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ou wouldn’t steal a car.

You wouldn’t steal a handbag. You wouldn’t steal a — oh wait, you would? Perfect.

Stealing things online is for nerds. Try stealing your textbook in person. Mind those theft-sensing devices at the door and remember that it’s only a crime if you get caught.

Don’t read them at all

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ou know what else is for nerds? Reading. You may consider buying those textbooks, but you’re not actually going to read them. I sure didn’t. You’ll be just fine. My global politics textbook is one of the exceptions. You should definitely buy it.

Buy an old edition online

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an you spot the difference between the eighth and ninth editions of a textbook?

Me neither. Hop on Amazon and buy an old edition if you don’t mind navigating through the different page numbers.

Reserved section of the library

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he library keeps many popular textbooks on reserve, which means you can book them for a couple hours at a time. That’s all the time you’ll need to catch up on the last few weeks of reading. If you’re unsure how often you’ll actually use the textbook, but are anxious about not having access to it at all, this option is for you. This is the most overlap you’re going to get between free and legal.

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Students’ Union What is the SU?

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he Students’ Union represents the University of Calgary’s 25,000 undergraduates to the U of C Board of Governors and the municipal, provincial and federal governments. All undergraduate students are automatically members and must pay fees including the SU fee, ancillary fees and UPass.

You might as well get involved because you’re paying either way.

The SU works to educate and involve a student body which has unreasonable complaints at times and little idea about what services are actually available. It’s easy to be apathetic about the SU, claiming that their work doesn’t amount to much, but if you want your university experience to include more than classes and parties, learning about the SU is a good place to start.

Students’ Legislative Council

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he Students’ Legislative Council, held in the Council Chambers in MacHall, is where policy and bylaws are debated and voted on. This is where you can hear reports from executives and your faculty rep. SLC is every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Attendance is open to all students and questions are allowed at certain times.

How does the SU compare?

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eep in mind that the SU isn’t the worst form of government. Compared to university administration or municipal, provincial and federal governments, the SU is a nimble, focused, grassroots organization that might actually listen to your ideas. It’s one of the largest student unions in Canada in terms of services and budget, so if you’re happily ignoring it, remember that it could be costing more and doing less.

Our SU has one of the lowest fees/services ratio in Canada. Student fees contribute to only eight per cent of the total revenue of the SU. The rest of the budget — which you can find on their website — comes predominantly from their operating revenue, which comes from their businesses on campus, like the Den.

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SU by the numbers

5 18 47 $18

student executives

student faculty reps

salaried staff

million total revenue, 2013-14

$32.50

fees per semester for full-time students

92

per cent of operating revenue comes from SU businesses

$1

million to students through the peer bursary levy in 2013

SU: Advocacy CAUS

CASA

Council of Alberta University Students

Canadian Alliance of Student Associations

Members: University of Calgary University of Alberta, University of Lethbridge MacEwan University, Mount Royal University

22 member student unions and student associations across Canada including U of C, U of A, U of L, MRU

Represents more than 100,000 Albertan university students

Represents more than 300,000 Canadian university students

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tudent advocacy can feel pointless. Most students don’t care and governments can make budget cuts on a whim. Yet we’re strong together.

Some key advocacy victories in Alberta include tying tuition to inflation, establishing the Jason Lang scholarship, loosening residence requirements for provincial elections, removing parental income and RRSP contributions from student loan requirements and running campaigns during elections to encourage students to vote.

Municipal advocacy includes the UPass and the fight to relax secondary suite regulations so students can access affordable yet safe housing.

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MacHall: yay or nay Susan Anderson

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acEwan Student Centre, usually called MacHall, is operated by the Students’ Union — as opposed to the university administration, which operates every other building on campus.

This means that some of the businesses you will frequent, like the Den and Stör, are owned and operated by the SU. Other businesses, like the food vendors, flower shop, optometrist and dentist, lease their space from the SU. All of the revenue goes back to the SU where it becomes part of their budget. From there, it’s spent on student services like Lost and Found, Volunteer Services, the Undergraduate Research Symposium and the SU Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity.

The Graduate Students’ Association has their own office in MacHall and operate the Last Defence Lounge. Graduate students seem to be too busy for unions, so the GSA is a small stakeholder in the building. As a first year, you don’t need to

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worry about graduate student politics.

MacHall has a 60-year history as a student hub. However, you’ll notice that it can also be dim and crowded with a piecemeal design that leaves something to be desired. The worst of the washrooms were recently upgraded, but trust me, they were horrid.

After a year of student consultation, the SU ran a referendum in March 2014 asking students to approve a $35-per-semester fee that would be collected indefinitely until MacHall was redeveloped. The SU wanted

to undertake a huge renovation of the building and was asking students to pay for it.

The referendum didn’t pass, with 61 per cent voting no.

You can decide if you would have liked to inherit an extra $70-a-year fee to see MacHall overhauled, but I’ll say that I was disappointed it didn’t go through.

This year, the SU is renegotiating the lease agreement with university administration. The lease is about 16 years old, and it’s the agreement that lets the SU operate businesses and lease space in the building. All of this additional revenue means that the SU collects only eight per cent of its budget from students’ pockets.

The SU is at a disadvantage when renegotiating the lease because students weren’t willing to pay for the redevelopment themselves. Now the SU has to look to the provincial government or university administration for funding. The outcome of the lease agreement and the plans (or lack of ) for renovations are topics to watch this year.

Accountability for what?

Chris Adams

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very year around election time, we get a gaggle of buzz words thrown our way. Transparency. Accountability. Sustainability. If every candidate and elected representative followed their open-door rhetoric, the Students’ Union offices would be relocated to a drum circle in the middle of the quad.

Yes, I’m cynical, but only toward candidates who throw around a catch-phrase or two just to get elected. The word transparency often means “I ran out of things to say but elect me anyway.” You’ll notice those candidates when March rolls around. They usually don’t win, but don’t think your current leaders aren’t aware of the tricks of campaigning. They paid lip-service to transparency and accountability and it’s your job to hold them to that.

You first-years weren’t around for last year’s election, so remembering campaign promises isn’t an option. It wasn’t a particularly interesting election, barring a couple fines on misplaced posters.

There was a lot of talk about the

Dawn Muencranth

MacHall lease negotiations. Halal food came up a couple times.

Internet access was a big priority.

Everyone made a speech about campus mental health initiatives.

At least 100 people ran for arts representative.

You can’t hold the SU accountable to a vague promise about “increased transparency and student engagement,” but promises about open textbooks are easier to keep an eye on.

I was only half-joking about the drum circle. The circle still exists, but the drum is actually a gavel and only one person bangs it. The council chambers near the info desk host Student Legislative Council every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Each representative reports what they’ve done that week.

While SLC can be as boring as watching CPAC during a prorogued parliament, this is the time to show up if you want direct information about what your elected officials are doing.

They might have taken meetings with administration on market modifiers, discussed the MacHall lease agreement or helped a concerned student get into a class.

Contrary to what people might say, your student leaders do a lot of important stuff. They say you shouldn’t vote if you’re uninformed, so don’t complain for the same reason. SLC is your front line for knowledge. Come chill with us on the bleachers.

Outside the chambers, there are plenty of ways to make sure your leaders are doing what they’re supposed to. A lot of clubs focus on advocacy. The Muslim Students’ Association worked closely with the SU last year to relocate their prayer space and a new one is on the way.

Issue-specific advocacy is often the most effective. And if you want change, start a petition. The most tedious form of activism, I know, but big changes start with a pen and paper. Campus Security changed the language of their security alerts this summer after an advocacy campaign was started by a student-run petition.

Leaders are students too and there’s a good chance your interests will align. Their doors are always open — they won’t hesitate to remind you of that. So put your money where their mouths are.

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The skinny on university administration that tries to link the university’s goals to the broader community, including fundraising and public relations. The senate also keeps the university accountable to public interests. Two student representatives and the president of the SU sit on the senate.

Riley Hill

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dministration looms over all activities on campus. Most of it is a bureaucratic mess, so here are the basics if you want to understand how the mechanics of the university work.

Student Ombuds

Board of Governors

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his is where the big decisions are made. The board includes the president and provost as voting members, and several vice-provosts as non-voting members. Students have two representatives — the president of the Student’s Union and a studentat-large. The rest of the board is almost exclusively rich executives that work for massive corporations. This is the most important governing body on campus.

Deans

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eans are the head of their faculties. Think of them as upper middle-management that represent their faculties in the university’s governing bodies. Unless you’re caught cheating, you probably won’t deal with them.

Louie Villanueva

U of C President Dr. Cannon.

President

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he big cheese. Usually when the president is brought up in conversation, it’s about how much money she makes or her $8 million office renovations that got a bunch of press last year. But the president is the top executive on campus and the public face of the university. You probably sat through a speech of her’s during orientation week.

Senate

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he senate is a large 62 member governing body

f you’re in trouble, the ombuds is your saviour. They act as a neutral party to give you sound advice if you have a problem with admin or faculty and don’t know who to turn to. Everything you talk about with them is private, though they only offer advice regarding the inner workings of the university, not legal advice or counselling.

Vice-provosts

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ice-provosts are senior administrators with broad mandates. The U of C has a lot of them. Don’t bother learning their names.

Chancellor

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he chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university. In July, administration hired former astronaut Robert Thirsk for the job.

How you should deal with the man Riley Hill

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ongratulations, you’re now of voting age! Here’s a fast and rusty guide to local government and the issues that affect university students.

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Municipal Government

f you don’t live with your parents anymore, municipal government will have a big effect on your life. The city is in charge of public transportation, which isn’t bad. All trains and buses stop by 1:00 a.m., although the train runs 24 hours during special occasions like Stampede. If you get around on your bike, the city has an expanding network of bike lanes, but be prepared to listen to people constantly complain about them.

Finding a place to live can be tough because the city has such a low vacancy rate. The mayor has tried to legalize secondary suites for a few years now, which would create a lot of cheap housing. The Students’ Union does a lot of advocacy work on this issue, but city council is still in a deadlock.

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Provincial Government

rovincial politics in Alberta are boring as fuck. The Progressive Conservative Party has been in power since 1971 and is the longest reigning provincial party in Canada’s history. The PCs haven’t had a rock-star leader since Ralph Klein, but they still pull one majority after another out of their ass because the left

Louie Villanueva

Alberta Premier Dave Hancock speaks at Foothills Campus. vote is split and the Wildrose Party struggles to win seats in cities.

Unfortunately, you can’t ignore these smarmy liars because the provincial government makes policy and sets budgets for postsecondary education. The University of Calgary answers to the province, not the municipal or federal government. Every once in a while, the province sends a big budget cut to the university and administration has to deal with the fallout. This means your program could get cancelled, your faculty might become shortstaffed or your tuition will rise.

If you think provincial politics are important and you want to get involved, volunteer with

the SU or join a political party on campus. Compared to other schools, our SU is extremely professional, and they do the most effective student lobbying of any group on campus. Political parties are important, but if you join one, you’ll spend most of your time getting drunk at socials or doing the party’s grunt work.

Read student press to stay informed. We cover municipal and provincial politics at the Gauntlet. The University of Alberta’s student newspaper, the Gateway, does a great job on this beat. In town, Metro and the Calgary Herald cover post-secondary education when something big happens.

Please remember to vote!

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Vices Drugs

Sara Albright

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ike most students, I like to pretend that I wake up at the crack of dawn to meditate and drink green tea. In reality, I’m more likely to stumble into my first lecture chugging an espresso.

Hey, none of us are perfect. If you’re looking to indulge, we’ve got your back. As always, be safe and keep your head on straight. Learn to walk the line between having a good time and being stupid.

Beer

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here are only two places to grab a beer on campus. The Last Defense Lounge is the better of the two. They have standard pub food and a pool table that’s free to use. The bar is often quiet enough to hold a conversation and the beer selection is good if you’re a fan of Wildrose.

As far as university bars go, the Den is dependable. It’s mostly students who have come straight from class to have a beer or two, so the atmosphere is relaxed. Upstairs, the Black Lounge serves decent food and is a little quieter. On Thursday the drinks are cheap and the line is long. Thursden is a campus tradition so you’ll probably end up there at some point in your university career. Happy drinking!

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isten up gang. There are drugs on campus and the police have better things to do than worry about college kids sparking a joint and if you moderate your use, you’ll have a fun time smoking weed in college.

This isn’t an endorsement, but there are definitely things you can do to have more fun and minimize risks. Avoid bringing drugs on campus. It’s better in non-stressful situations around people you trust. If you didn’t experiment with drugs in high school and you’re trying something for the first time, remember that you don’t know what your reaction will be.

Don’t try to keep up with experienced users.

Use in a safe place where you can crash on a buddy’s couch if need be.

Never take a drug dealer on their word about what they’re selling. Chemical drugs like MDMA are notoriously impure and Calgary doesn’t have a good place to test drugs. You can buy testing kits online, but that requires planning.

Don’t take unnecessary risks and be smart when indulging in any drug, no matter how normalized it is.

Sex

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esidence is obviously the best place to have sex on campus because there are actual rooms with doors that lock. If neither of you live in residence, take the CTrain one stop towards Banff Trail station where there’s a line of motels. It’ll cost you some money, but it’s a good catch-all. If you’re convinced that you must risk having sex in public, there’s definitely a pecking order. Empty classrooms or private washrooms are much better than rarely used hallways or offices.

Remember the basics. Campus security will not be impressed if they catch you in the act.

Verbal consent is mandatory. Free condoms can be found at the SU desk, so use them.

Coffee

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he coffee on campus isn’t exciting, but it’s caffeinated and in abundant supply. Fuel for Gold easily has the best coffee and the lines are always short. It’s probably the only coffee on campus that holds its own when brewed black.

Everything else needs cream and sugar to make it palatable. Toujours in Social Sciences is empty when classes are in session, but completely mobbed in between. Time your visit well.

Tim Hortons is exactly what you’d expect — cheap, dependable and ultimately mediocre.

But there’s four locations on campus, so it’s in abundance.

Wasting Time

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aving somewhere to crash on campus is vital. The U of C is a commuter school and spending long days with nowhere to relax but the library is draining. There are couches in MacHall, but it’s difficult to relax with all the noise. Department clubs usually have rooms of their own with couches and microwaves. Check to see if your department has a space you can use.

The Arts Lounge was recently upgraded and is conveniently located on the first floor of Social Sciences. Buildings that are off the beaten track like Energy Environment and Experiential Learning or Scurfield Hall have less traffic and offer a good place to relax.

The Gauntlet also has some couches if you don’t mind copy editing or listening to the diatribes of our staff.

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Fitness Scott Strasser

U

niversity isn’t all about studying and going to class. Students should take time for their physical well-being too. It keeps you focused, fresh and ready to tackle those 8:00 a.m. labs. And more people will hook up with you at Thursden if you’re in good shape.

The University of Calgary offers students amenities for health and recreation paid for through tuition. You might as well make the most of them. Here are a few free options for exercising on campus.

Fitness Centre

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ou watched Pain and Gain last year and you want to get swole like the Rock and Marky Mark. Lucky for you, the Fitness Centre has weights you can pick up and put back down until you’re jacked. Located in Kinesiology B, the Fitness Centre includes free weights, machines, cardio equipment, a running track and a core workout area.

Unfortunately, the Fitness Centre is usually crowded with people who use phrases like “leg day.” I’d suggest going early in the morning or late in the evening. Keep in mind that the upstairs section is always less crowded than the main floor. The Fitness Centre is busiest in January, when the new year’s resolutionists take over for their annual month of working out.

Aquatic Centre

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hannel your inner Michael Phelps by going for a few laps in the aquatic centre. Laneswimming isn’t only for the varsity swim team — it’s a great option for students looking to exercise semi-privately. The pool is connected to the locker rooms in Kinesiology B and a weekly schedule is posted online and outside the locker rooms with public swim times.

Olympic Oval

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uilt for the 1988 Winter Olympics, the Oval is one of the U of C’s best known amenities. Attend a power-skating camp or just go for some lazy laps around the 400 metre track.

Students can rent skates for $5 and helmets are free on a first-come-first-served basis. The oval also has a running track.

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Yoga in the Space

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f lifting weights isn’t your thing, the Students’ Union offers free yoga sessions in That Empty Space on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Intramural Sports

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ou don’t have to be a great athlete to play for a U of C team. Health and Recreation has a variety of intramural sports, including volleyball, basketball and soccer, to more eccentric options like quidditch and ultimate frisbee. There are multiple leagues for each sport, depending on how competitive you are. These teams bring together like-minded people, so they’re a great place to make friends.

Red, Gold and Jack Simpson gyms

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hey’re often booked by clubs or teams, but the gyms are a good option if you’re just looking for pick-up basketball or soccer. The gyms also have reserved times for badminton and other sports. The Dinos varsity teams have full run of the Jack after 4:00 p.m. on weekdays, but they’re fair game at any other time.

Gymnastics Centre

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ust because you’ll never be able to do the splits doesn’t mean you won’t have fun at the Gymnastics Centre. Head down to the basement in Kinesiology B and try out the variety of Olympic-standard equipment. Students can drop-in on Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Don’t hurt yourself.

Racquet Centre

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popular option for students that just want to play some sports with their friends, the Racquet Centre boasts 13 squash and four handball courts. Courts have to be booked in advance, which can be done at the kinesiology client services desk.

Climbing and bouldering

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he Outdoor Centre at the U of C offers beginner’s programs in bouldering, drop-in sessions and a women’s introduction to climbing. They’re also open to the public.

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Check out the Dinos Ashton Chugh

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he Dinos, the University of Calgary’s varsity sports team, are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. The Dinos have suffered from fan apathy in the past, but tides are turning as the organization has started to build championship-contending teams. This has led to greater turnout and a more exciting collegiate sporting atmosphere.

Football

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inish off your first week of university with the year’s first sports bash. Kick-off is the U of C’s annual celebration and it marks the start of the football season for the Dinos.

Even if football isn’t your thing, you should still come for the party. You can get a free pre-game Spolumbo sausage or veggie burger at the tailgate barbecue, which starts at 3:30 p.m. As an added bonus, check out the Students’ Union fun zone, where you can get some extra value out of your $55 semester fee by soaking your representatives in a dunk tank.

This year’s football team is a dandy. They should have no problem disposing of their University of Alberta rivals.

The Dinos have outscored the Bears 299–38 over their last five games. The team is also favourited to win the Vanier Cup in November.

Over 5,000 people showed up last year. Come down and be part of the raucous crowd at McMahon Stadium and finish

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off orientation week in style by joining the Dinos when they send the Bears home with their tails between their legs. The game is Sept. 5 at 5:30 p.m.

Basketball

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espite missing the playoffs last year, the men’s basketball team looks to be an exciting one to watch. The Dinos brought back the crowdpleasing fifth-year guard Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson. Trust me, you have got to see this guy play.

If you enjoy a more teamoriented style of basketball that results in wins, check out the women’s side. Last year’s team lost early in the playoffs, but were raw and full of potential. A summer to develop returning core players while also recruiting new young stars should make this season an exciting one to watch.

Even if the Dinos lose, there are beer gardens at the annual home opener October 9 in the Jack Simpson gym against the University of Alberta.

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ootball and basketball are two of the biggest sports that the U of C has to offer, but the Dinos also compete in volleyball, soccer, field hockey, wrestling, track and field, synchronized swimming, ringette and hockey. Dinos games are free for students, so show your school pride, cheer on our teams and enjoy the excitement of college sports.

Health Services

Louie Villanueva

Louie Villanueva

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idterm exams, midwinter finals or a bad breakup can stress you out. There are resources on campus to help you relax or power through the day. The Students’ Union Wellness Centre, located on the third floor of MacHall near the Last Defence Lounge, offers personal counselling to students. The first 10 sessions are free. Counsellors help students with personal mental health issues and relationship concerns.

The Wellness Centre offers one-on-one academic counselling. Their academic clinic helps students with test anxiety, procrastination and stress, among other academic problems.

The centre provides non-

emergency medical services such as travel immunizations, STI testing and birth control.

They also offer massage therapy, chiropractic services and nutritional advice at a discount to students with the SU’s health and dental plan.

Spiritual support is available through the Faith and Spirituality Centre on the third floor of MacHall. The Faith and Spirituality Centre has rooms for prayer, reflection and meditation. Their regular chaplains offer personal and spiritual counselling.

The Taylor Family Digital Library has self-help materials.

The W.H.A.T. (Wellness Health Awareness Team) and the Distress Centre on Campus are student organizations that promote health and

wellness by connecting students to resources on campus. The DCC takes steps to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help through campus events like Outrun the Stigma. They encourage students to discuss mental health on campus and raise money for Distress Centre Calgary.

All of these clubs collaborate to organize mental health awareness week every October.

The event includes workshops, art, music, presentations, a film screening and an awareness run.

Finally, the Gauntlet on the third floor of MacHall hosts stressed-out and disordered individuals, should you choose to seek out people to commiserate with. Otherwise, we have free pizza on Wednesday evenings.

Eat your stress, don’t drink it.

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Tri-Media Alliance

Sean Willett

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ike most schools worth their salt, the University of Calgary has a handful of media outlets. All of them have volunteer opportunities, training and employment for students. Collectively we’re known as the Tri-Media Alliance, which sounds more ominous than it really is. You can find us on the third floor of MacHall next to the ballroom.

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he most famous of the three is undoubtedly CJSW 90.9 FM, the U of C’s community radio station. The largest of its kind in Canada, CJSW has been an important supporter of the city’s independent music scene for decades.

It’s hard to go to a festival and not see a CJSW booth.

Their programming definitely differs from the norm and spans many genres and cultures, with a few locally produced spoken word programs thrown into the mix. Take a look at their programming

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guide, we guarantee you’ll find at least one show you’ll love. If you’re interested in volunteering for CJSW, there are opportunities to learn sound engineering, audio production and more. Dedicated volunteers can even nab a spot on-air.

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f you prefer working with a camera, NUTV may be a better place to hone your media skills. They call themselves a television station, but this is a bit of a misnomer. They focus on hosting live shows and create diverse web content. They also run the screens in MacHall, which feature club advertisements, student news and bus schedules.

NUTV prides itself for being a learning environment first. If you’re interested in learning how to shoot, edit or direct video, you won’t be disappointed. A yearly membership is $10 and gives you access to their workshops and training sessions. There are also opportunities for acting and script writing, as well as

several different film challenges and festivals put on by NUTV throughout the year.

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opefully you’ve already heard of the third — and the loosest — of the TriMedia outlets, the Gauntlet. We’re a weekly newspaper that covers news, events and sports from campus and the local community, alongside student opinions, photography and illustrations. All of our content goes online where we publish breaking news throughout the week.

Now look, I know what you’re thinking: “This Gauntlet Frosh supplement is so interesting and beautifully designed, how can I possibly meet their stringent standards?!?” Well, we try not to be too snobby. We would love to show you how it’s done. We teach volunteers how to write news, snag interviews, edit copy, layout pages, take photos, design graphics and everything in-between. All you have to do is ask. So come on in. The door will be open.

LGBTQA+ COMMUNITY The Students’ Union runs the Q Centre for Sexual and Gender diversity, a safe space located in MacHall. They offer resources for the LGBTQA+ community, peer support and volunteer opportunities. The Q centre also runs the Outlet Project, an anonymous peer-support service. You can contact the Project at outlet@su.ucalgary.ca.

Queers on Campus is a student-run club that organizes education and social events, like the popular Gender Bender night at the Den.

WOMEN

The Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) is located on the fourth floor of MacHall and functions as a safe space. It’s also a great place to study and hang out. They have a small library, a kitchen with coffee and tea and comfy chairs.

There are a few campus clubs that focus on women’s issues: the Women Studies and Feminist club (WSF), the Consent and Sexual Education club (CASE) and Women in Leadership (WIL). WSF is closely associated with the Women’s Studies program on campus. CASE primarily runs awareness campaigns about sexual assault on campus, while WIL is more of a professional development organization that hosts discussion nights and networking dinners.

WSF runs a mentorship program for first year students and the WRC accepts applications for volunteers in early September.

FIRST NATIONS The Native Centre is located on the third floor of MacHall, right above the food court. It functions as a safe space for First Nations, Inuit and Metis students and has a variety of programming, including peer mentorship and career programs. The Centre has a computer lab, a student lounge, a shared study space, and a room to be used for ceremonial purposes. They also have cultural and personal advising.

RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES The Faith and Spirituality Centre has plenty of Christian chaplains for you to choose from – Anglican, Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist – and a Muslim and a Buddhist chaplain. There are two prayer rooms on campus, both located on the third floor of MacHall by the Conference and Events Centre. If your religious holidays don’t match up exactly with the university calendar, the Faith and Spirituality Centre can give you information on requesting a deferral of term work or exams.

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Food on Campus

Louie Villanueva

Conner Sadler

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f you eat nothing but junk food for four months you probably won’t be able to write your exams, no matter how much you study. The food options on campus aren’t too enticing, but there are enough choices to provide basic sustenance.

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n order to find healthy food on campus, you have to know where to look. The Q Centre offered free breakfast last year — toast, fruit, oatmeal — which was great for an emergency meal before 8 a.m. lectures.

There are also a few smoothie joints on campus to cover fruits and veggies. Jugo Juice in MacHall and Brew and Blendz in Kinesiology and Scurfield Hall serve smoothies and wraps for about $10$12 per combo. Fuel for Gold serves a wholesome breakfast and lunch special. Stör offers

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cheap salads and wraps. However, the healthiest options usually come from home.

M

ost of the vendors in MacHall offer a variation on hot and salty that isn’t worth a mention, but there’s a couple that rise above the rest.

Vegetarian, vegan or glutenfree food is difficult to find if you’re not interested in eating pre-packaged salads. It’s impossible to eat kosher on campus without bending some of the rules.

Bake Chef is a Vietnamese vendor that offers big subs for $7. Umi Sushi Express has decent fare, with $6 for a bento box that’s heaped with rice, tempura and fried meat. Coffee Company has some of MacHall’s best coffee and there’s never a long line-up. Korean BBQ is good if you’re after a four pound plate of starch. Pita on the Run is tasty and offers vegetables with limited carbs. It’s also the only halal option in MacHall.

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hen push comes to shove and you have no other options, there are places on campus where you can get a full meal for less than $5.

Keep in mind that these meals will not be nutritious. Oriental Wok has a $3 fried rice or noodles with dumplings as a special which, once smothered in sauce, is salty but palatable.

All four Tim Hortons offer cheap food and coffee. They’re probably your best bet for breakfast, but the lineups will take twenty minutes out of your day. Bake Chef also offers a variety of cheap stuffed buns and cookies, but these are more snacks than full meals.

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f you’re looking for a meal after class and you’re not picky about the company you eat with, the Gauntlet has free pizza in our office for all volunteers who help out on Wednesday nights.

The clubs you’ll join this year

The conservative for the most conservative city in Canada club.

The faculty club trying to become the Engineering Students’ Society.

The “my country’s drinking culture is better than your country’s” club.

The club that stands in solidarity with the plight of those half a world away.

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Essential Sites Dawn Muencrath

MyUofC (my.ucalgary.ca)

This is the most important URL of your undergraduate career, so bookmark it. The homepage that appears when you log into myUofC is called the Student Centre, where you can add, drop and swap courses, pay your student fees, apply for a change of program and view your transfer credits.

Desire2Learn

Rate My Professor

Students’ Union

(ratemyprofessors.com)

(su.ucalgary.ca)

If you’re anxious to find a good professor, especially for GPA boosting elective courses, this site tells you who’s good, bad and easy. Although the consensus is usually accurate, remember to take these ratings with a grain of salt. Students with an extreme opinion, good or bad, are most likely to post.

You can also check out the Universal Student Ratings of Instruction on your Student Centre before choosing your class.

The Students’ Union website has information about employment and volunteer opportunities on campus, the consignment bookstore, campus clubs, locker rentals, study space and a calendar of upcoming SU events. You can also use the website to read about the university’s student government, including your current elected representatives.

(d2l.ucalgary.ca)

Desire2Learn is the online course portal. The website has information about most of the courses you’re registered in. I say most, not all, because you will inevitably encounter a luddite professor who refuses to use the site. But for most courses, D2L provides links to course outlines, important dates and an assignment drop box.

Degree Navigator (degnav.ucalgary.ca)

Accessible via a link on myUofC, Degree Navigator is a degree-planning tool. You can search any major or minor and view your program’s course requirements. Degree Navigator will fill your chosen program profile with courses you are currently taking and courses you’ve completed, calculate your GPA and notify you of any other course restrictions or limitations.

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Student Success Centre (success.ucalgary.ca)

Webmail (webmail.ucalgary.ca)

This is your official University of Calgary email account.

You can keep another primary email, but this account gives you access to all the public computers on campus, as well as a library account. You also have free access to Microsoft Office Suite and one terabyte of file space on a Microsoft cloud storage site called OneDrive. To set up your email, if you haven’t already, visit ucalgary.ca/it.

U of C Library (library.ucalgary.ca)

Your student library account gives you access to the university’s massive database of print and online resources. On the library website, you can search and download PDFs of the articles you need and place holds on hard-copy books.

The Student Success Centre lets you book academic advising appointments with faculty advisors. The arts offices are in Social Sciences 102 and the science offices are in Energy Environmental Experiential Learning 445. You can use the Student Success Centre to book writing support appointments, to get advice on changing your major, or to sign up for academic workshops and events at the Student Success Centre, located on the third floor of the Taylor Family Digital Library.

Unicard (ucalgary.ca/unicard)

This site allows you to manage your student ID, also called your Unicard. The link for checking your balance is especially handy for students with a meal plan. You can use a credit card to load money onto your student card for books, food and printing services.

Welcome to Calgary Liv Ingram

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hether you’re getting to know a new city or you’re just bored with your hometown, there are exciting things to discover in Calgary if you know where to look.

If you didn’t get your hands on a CJSW Friends Card at orientation, go up to the third floor of MacHall and get one.

CJSW partners with businesses around Calgary to get you sweet deals on awesome stuff — from coffee and tattoos to music and yoga.

Calgary isn’t as dull as people make it out to be. There’s a vibrant arts and culture scene that’s accessible to students.

Public transit is functional and steadily improving. The city isn’t a cosmopolitan wonderland, but it’s a really rad place if you’re willing to put in the effort and some time on the CTrain.

A transit pass is included in your tuition if you’re a fulltime student. Most buses stop at midnight and the CTrain doesn’t run past 1 a.m.

According to the national household survey, we live in the third most ethnically diverse city in Canada, behind Vancouver and Toronto. Our mayor, Naheed Nenshi, is the first Muslim mayor of any major city in North American, which says a lot about the changing conservative landscape of Calgary. And with a variety of cultural festivals — Greek Days, Arab Festival, Tabestoon Festival — the city welcomes and supports Calgarians of all backgrounds.

Clubs on campus promote cultural diversity and partner

Michael Gil

with city-wide events, so use campus as an avenue to learn about different cultures and discover cool things going on around the city.

Going Out

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ith a bustling local music scene, you can find music of every genre almost any night of the week. If you’re looking for a dance club, go to Commonwealth or HiFi. If you prefer live music, check out Broken City, the Palomino, the Ship & Anchor or the Ironwood.

If you’re looking for a reason to get loser-drunk on a Tuesday, the Drum & Monkey hosts ‘Dub at The Pub’ which means cheap drinks and reggae.

With good food, an intimidatingly extensive beer list and a bowling alley, National on 10th is an obvious night out.

You’ll only be able to afford one drink, but you can rub shoul-

ders with every yuppie in the Beltline. When you’re looking for a bar that feels like home, check out the character-houseturned-pub Hop N’ Brew.

It’s almost impossible to find good vegetarian food on campus, but the city has some enticing options. The Coup on 17th has an extensive menu focused on serving local and organic vegetarian fare. The cafe in Community Natural Foods has premade sandwiches for around $5, making it cheaper than MacHall, with the added bonus of it tasting like real food.

Restaurants like Model Milk, Mercato and Charcut showcase the best of Calgary’s evolving food scene, but there’s no place for them on a student budget unless you’re trying to exclusively eat ichiban for the year. Take your parents when they come to visit so you can impress them with your taste and have them foot the bill.

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Neighbourhoods

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ith suburbs stretching as far as the eye can see, it’s hard to remember that there’s more to Calgary than boxstore strip malls with parking lagoons. But the city has some diverse and interesting neighbourhoods.

Avoid the urban sprawl and head to the inner city for the most interesting parts of Calgary.

Inglewood

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s Calgary’s original main street, Inglewood has lots of independent businesses housed in old brick buildings. The neighbourhood has the quaint and homey feel your mom attached herself to after discovering Mumford and Sons.

It’s home to a lot of mom-and- pop shops, including the massive music shop Recordland and the seemingly vast Fair’s Fair book store.

With great restaurants and live music venues, Inglewood is the perfect neighbourhood to stroll around on a Sunday afternoon. If you get tired of peering into antique shop windows, Inglewood is close to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Fort Calgary and Bow River Pathway.

Louie Villanueva

Beltline

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or a night on the town, the Ship & Anchor’s patio is legendary. This place is consistently voted as both the best bar to pick up a stranger and the bar with the hottest staff by Fast Forward.

On the classier side, Una Pizza + Wine is a great place for a date. With fancy pizza and a chill vibe, it’s a casual restaurant that’s not too pricy.

If your liver is full of cheap beer and you’re looking for some quality street food, Shawarma Knight is there for you. The food is good enough that you’ll start seeking it out on sober weeknights. Ignore the pleas of your drunken comrades to visit Tubby Dog, which won’t help on a stomach full of liquour.

When you wake up needing breakfast, Galaxie Diner will sort you out with their all-day breakfast of omelettes and endless hash browns.

For coffee lovers, Analog will brew you a great cup of their locally-roasted beans in a variety of fancy and Instagram-ready ways. Kawa also serves up great coffee, along with beer, wine and

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Louie Villanueva

late-night music. If it’s atmosphere you’re after, Caffe Beano has a spacious outdoor patio that’s great for hanging out with your friends.

Bridgeland Bordering the Bow and Elbow Rivers, Bridgeland is home to brunch joints like Blue Star Diner, OEB Breakfast Co. and Diner Deluxe. The neighbourhood is quiet, but full of cool restaurants and kitschy shops. If you like good coffee and records, visit Luke’s Drug Mart, which is essentially a hipster paradise. Bridgeland is also close to the Telus Spark science centre and the Calgary Zoo. There’s fewer hipsters and it’s a nice spot for a first date.

Louie Villanueva

Downtown

S

Louie Villanueva

tephen Ave. is an ever-revolving street of artisan vendors, food trucks, street festivals and buskers. While you never know what you’ll find, there’s always something interesting to look at. Olympic Plaza hosts street festivals and events. While the CORE Shopping Centre may be a vacuous pit of consumerism, it has some redeeming qualities.

The Devonian Gardens are a 2.5 acre indoor garden on the top floor of the CORE. An urban oasis amongst a sea of concrete and noise, the gardens have lush plants, koi ponds, fountains and a piano that often has someone playing lovely music. The gardens are a great place to sit and read a book on a miserable winter day when you’re longing to see something green. While there is ample shopping downtown, there’s also a bunch of galleries. Check out The Glenbow Museum and Contemporary Calgary, both of which are located on Stephen Avenue.

Kensington

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courtesy davebloggs007

f you fancy yourself an artsy freespirit, you probably aren’t, but if you need a place to hang out to help solidify that image of yourself, Kensington is for you. In between the record shop (Hot Wax Records), head shop (Grassroots Hemp Store), tea house (Oolong), quirky bar (Container Bar), comic book store (Another Dimension) and indie book store (Pages), Kensington will satisfy your bohemian tendencies.

If you want to try out the frisbee you bought at Lifesport or the other gear you picked up at Grassroots, Riley Park is the perfect place to hang out and relax before seeing a movie you probably can’t catch at Cineplex.

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Arts & Culture L

ike every city, Calgary is home to movie theatres where you can watch Michael Bay’s latest explosion-fest and drink pop out of a container big enough to baptize a small child. But beyond the neon and fake butter, Calgary has a vibrant indie movie scene.

If you’re downtown and you’re a fan of art house movie theatres, the Globe Cinema is where you want to be. They offer $7 student tickets, with an even cheaper $5 price on Tuesday nights. The Globe is

home to several film festivals, such as Calgary International Film Festival and Calgary Underground Film Festival. Keep an eye on their listings.

If you’re riding your bike along the Bow River, pop into Eau Claire Market Cinemas for a flick. They’re now a Cineplex theatre, but they still have that small-theatre feel and generally hold onto movies longer than other big theatres.

Calgary Society for Independent Filmmakers puts on sick events like Secret Cinema and

courtesy Thivierr

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other free outdoor screenings.

They also host filmmaking competitions, so check them out if you’re an aspiring ateur.

The Plaza is an adorable 75-year-old theatre nestled in the heart of Kensington. If you’re a fan of midnight cult movie screenings, visit the Plaza. They’re also home to the Quickdraw Animation Festival every November.

Calgary Cinemateque has a mandate to bring people together through cinema. They host different film series at venues around town. Recent series include Classic Crimes, Amazing Soundtracks and 60s Britain. If you want to see a film you’ve never heard of before but are sure to love — or at least tolerate — find a social media account and keep a close eye on these folks.

When you need a break from staring at a screen, pack a picnic, hop on your bike and explore Prince’s Island Park. Just north of downtown, Prince’s Island Park runs along the Bow River, making the 20-hectare park a great location for your outdoor adventures. They play host to Calgary’s festival scene during the summer — Folk Fest, Sled Island, Afrikadey — which turns downtown into a beer-drenched musical wonderland. When you’re there, make sure to walk across the Peace Bridge — home of a million selfies, and also the bridge that links downtown to Kensington.

Remember that you’re at university to have an experience. Calgary might not be a cosmopolitan paradise, but you’ve got a transit pass and a sense of adventure. Go have some fun!

THE GAUNTLET Editorial Sta Riley Hill Editor-in-Chief

Chris Adams News Editor

eic@thegauntlet.ca 403-220-7752

news@thegauntlet.ca 403-220-4318

Kate Jacobson Opinions Editor

Tobias Ma Features Editor

opinions@thegauntlet.ca 403-220-4376

feature@thegauntlet.ca 403-220-4376

Liv Ingram

Ashton Chugh Sports Editor

Entertainment Editor entertainment@thegauntlet.ca

403-220-4376

Sean Willett Production Editor production@thegauntlet.ca

403-220-4376

Dawn Muenchrath Illustrations Editor illustrations@thegauntlet.ca

403-220-4376

sports@thegauntlet.ca 403-220-4376

Louie Villeneuva Photo Editor photo@thegauntlet.ca 403-220-4376

Kaleem Khan Graphic Artist graphics@thegauntlet.ca 403-220-2298

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Why Study Abroad?

1. It’s accessible: there are options for almost every faculty. Go for a week, a summer, a semester, or a year!

2. It’s affordable: save money by continuing to pay regular U of C tuition. Plus, loans and awards are available.

3. It’s academic: all programs let you earn credit toward your U of C degree.

4. It’s supported: there are advisors to help you through every phase of the process.

5. It’s social: make new friends and expand your network both at home and abroad.

6. It’s more than just travel: discover a new culture and build your intercultural skills.

7. It sets you apart: it looks great on a resume and can give you an edge on grad school applications.

8. It opens your mind: change how you see yourself, your major, your world!

9. It’s now or never: you may never have the chance to do something like this again.

10. It’s the experience of a lifetime!

Change how UC your world! Don’t miss out. Apply today!

University of Calgary International: ucalgary.ca/uci/abroad UCalgary Study Abroad @UCalgaryAbroad