THE STUDENTS’ UNION Complete listing of student news, concerts and more: www.su.ucalgary.ca FALL 2022 suuofc FOR TICKETS & INFOFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA machallconcerts.com @MACEWANHALL Don t miss a show ! JOIN OUR MAILING LIST AT www.machallconcerts.com SEPT 2 Dara O’Brian MACEWAN HALL 4 Clinton Cane BALLROOM 252415111099 Junny BALLROOM Scott Helman MACEWAN HALL Nora en Pure MACEWAN HALL Current Swell BALLROOM NLE Choppa BALLROOM OhGeesy BALLROOM Omah Lay BALLROOM OCT 6211 Vir Das MACEWAN HALL Ben & Ben BALLROOM TriviumDPR 2 | GAUNTLET FROSH 2022
GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 | 3 Table of Contents Welcome back 4 Dealing with the government 6 WTH is the SU? 7 Tri-media alliance 8 Best & worst washrooms on campus 11 Common assumptions about university 12 What kind of clubs are out there? 13 Which campus main character are you? 14 Nimra’s campus mixtape 15 Campus dietary options 16 Navigating friendships in university 18 Filling out USRIs 19 Running for student politics 20 Resources on campus 21 Main campus map 22 Do’s and don’ts on campus 24 Being nancially smart 25 Best option courses 26 Group project survival guide 27 Study spots on campus 28 Guide to surviving classes 30 Navigating MyUofC portal 31 What is CCR? 32 How to take re notes 33 U of C events you can’t miss 34 Lessons from the pandemic 36 Mental health tips 37 What does academic success mean? 38 FROSH Tarot reading 41 Meet the Gauntlet staff 42 Crossword: University of Calgary 101 44 Contributors Logan Jaspers Nimra MeganJillianNazeefaMaggieAnabelEnobongAmirUkbongSelemonHsuAhmedCungWilson Gauntlet SaeedMeganArchivesKochValeryPerezSylviaLopezAbdollahi Ramiro Bustamante Torres MitraSophiaSamavakiLopez Photo Credits
While we won’t be returning to a univer sity we aren’t already familiar with, that sense of a fresh start will accompany us as we roam campus this year — a sense of re lief as we try to return to a more normal environment. So while our university ex perience was far from ordinary and very much overwhelming, I’m happy to be able to continue on, feeling safer and healthier. Whether you’re a first year student, a cur rent undergraduate or a graduate student, we all share the excitement of new begin nings and the potential this year has to be bigger and better than ever. Make sure to involve yourself in the various activities and opportunities made available campus, because when it’s time to look back on your university experience in a few years time, the chances and risks you took and the people you meet are what sticks with you forever — make your time at the U of C worthwhile. Welcome, and I can’t wait to see everyone and how this year pans out!
Sophia Lopez, GauntletEditor-in-Chief Welcome to our community and the constituency of Calgary Confedera Congratulationstion. on your acceptance to study at the University of Calgary! The coming years will shape you in the most unimaginable ways and will serve as a foundation for the rest of yourYes,lives.you need to study and you will need to do your work, but also take time for yourself. Discover new friends, new experiences and new places. Most importantly, get involved! Become involved in something, any thing! This will open your mind, your heart and your imagination. It will provide you with skills and experi ence; it will provide you with insight andConsiderinspiration.being involved in sports, campus clubs, service clubs, or any one of hundreds of volunteering opportunities. You could even get in volved in politics! When you walk across that stage at graduation, make sure you leave with more than just a piece of paper. It is up to you to determine what it is that you leave university with, but make sure it embraces a broader knowledge of the world around you and the people in it. Leave more than you take, and leave knowing you made a difference in lives other than your own.
WELCOME BACK!
Welcome to the University of Calgary community. After constant shifts between in-person and online learning, and just an overall confusion about what each week would look like, it seems as though we’re finally returning to how things once were before the pandemic. I’m excited to see both new and familiar faces on campus this year, along with all the new changes. This year you’ll be able to see the new Mathison Hall building near Scurfield Hall and the revamped Tim Hortons in MacEwan Hall. Many of you will try Bake Chef for the first time and grab a drink at The Den after hours of studying. You’ll discover which floor of the Taylor Family Digital Library (TFDL) is your favourite and struggle memorizing all the campus shortcuts. And of course, you’ll find out which classes you hate and make friends along the way. Throughout all these new university experiences, you’ll learn more about yourself than you ever have before, and look back at your first year as a time of growth and acceptance. For those like me who are returning, it’ll be nice to get back to how it used to be af ter getting the true university experience robbed from us because of the pandemic.
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Len Webber, MP for Calgary-Confederation
Starting university can be an intimidat ing experience and you may not know what to expect from your time here as a student. That is why the SU is here for you when you need it most. Our organization is made up of a dedicated staff team, vol unteers and elected student leaders — in cluding our executive team. We work to support you in a variety of areas including student life, academics, operations, and ex ternal affairs.
All of these steps have been put in place so you can feel confident both now and once you graduate. My constituency office is located at 1055-20 Ave NW, unit 201. If you have concerns of a provincial matter, please contact my office at 403-216-5436 or email at Calgary.varsity@assembly. ab.ca. I also look forward to being on campus and having the opportunity to meet with students and attend events. As you start your new year at the Uni versity of Calgary, I hope you take time to try new things, meet new people and take confident strides as you continue your journeys through education and beyond.
Jason Copping, MLA for Calgary-Varsity
Welcome to the University of Calgary! My name is Nicole Schmidt and I am your Stu dents’ Union President.
Our SU faculty representatives also en sure that your interests are heard by your faculty, no matter which program you’ve chosen to study. Contact information for our faculty representatives and executives are available at www.su.ucalgary.ca. If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be to get involved! University is far more than just classes and studying. Whether it’s a club, a sports team, or even running for an SU position, there are many opportunities to get involved. Make the most of your time here as the friendships and connections you make here can set you up for future success. Go ahead and find an opportunity to get involved that matches your hobbies, interests, and ambitions. Get involved, ask questions, and con nect with other students. You never know where small steps or decisions can lead you over the course of your degree. In the meantime, myself and the other elected officials at the SU are here to repre sent you and support you throughout your universityWelcomejourney.tothe University of Calgary and welcome to your Students’ Union! Nicole Schmidt, SU President Welcome to both new and returning students to the University of Calgary. I am Jason Copping, your local MLA for Calgary-Varsity. As a former instructor at the Haskayne School of Business for more than ten years, I know the value of education, and I am honoured to now represent you and your interests in the Alberta Legislature. The University of Calgary is a hub of education and innovation. You have chosen to attend a university that con tinues to be ranked as a top research university in Canada and has a number of top ranking programs recognized internationally. This is in part thanks to the incredible faculty and staff that run the university, but also in large part to you, the students. Over the past few years, Alberta’s post-secondary students have demon strated incredible resiliency and de termination through unprecedented times. I know many are looking forward to a more traditional learning experi ence this fall as we return to campuses.
Alberta’s post-secondary institutions are critical to our economy and en suring Alberta is once again open for business. As part of the Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs strategy, our government has been taking steps to ensure that students have all the sup ports they need to succeed in the class room, feel safe on campus, and have a successful life beyond their studies. This includes more grants for low-in come learners; investing in more seats in high-demand programs; funding for more resources on campus for those impacted by sexual violence; and con tinuing to work to expand work-inte grated learning opportunities.
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Firstly, congratulations on starting your studies here at UCalgary. The day that you become a university student here, you also become a member of your Students’ Union. The SU represents student inter ests on campus and offers programming, volunteer opportunities, and resources to all undergraduate students. Whether that is supporting campus clubs, providing locker rentals, or advocating on student issues to all levels of government, the SU is here to support you throughout your time at university.
One of the most important things to make you aware of is that the SU offers a health and dental plan to all undergradu ate students. The benefits provided by this plan will support your physical and mental health as you focus on your studies.
The federal government is the government of the whole country. An early Federal Election was called on by current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year with the hopes of gaining a majority vote. The election saw the Liberal government win a minority once again, as they did in 2019, and a third consecutive mandate. At the federal level, the government impacts changes regarding things like climate change, student loans and the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program to name a few.
6 | GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 As you begin your university experience, you’ll discover how much of an influence we as students have on the government on all levels. Whether or not you’re interested in politics, it’s important to understand the three levels of government and how we can do our part in staying informed about what’s going on.
The Canada Student Financial Assistance (CSFA) program helps provide financial support to students in addition to student loans. The CSJ program is a great way for students aged 15-30 to get work experience during the summer and save up for an expensive school year. In order to stay informed on all levels of gov ernment, it’s important to seek out unbiased mediums such as the student newspaper. The Gauntlet covers municipal, provincial and feder al politics from a student point of view. For more city-focused and outside perspectives, keeping up to date with local news is a great way to stay informed as well.
Municipal Government Provincial Government Federal Government Stay Informed
Dealing with the government as a student
Sophia Editor-in-ChiefLopez
The municipal government is the government of Calgary, which handles the decisions pertaining to the city specifically. This includes public transportation which can be used with the UPass — the university’s discounted transit pass — included in your student fees. The CTrain is used the most by students, a light-rail train that connects the U of C with the downtown core. The newest investment to the transit system is the Green Line, which should be available to students in the near future and will run between north-central and southeast Calgary. Our current mayor, Jyoti Gondek, was elected in last year’s municipal election — the first woman to be elected mayor in the city. The provincial government is the government of Alberta. Big decisions regarding your post-secondary education will be made at the provincial level. The United Conservative Party (UCP) is currently in power, but with the next Provincial General Election scheduled between March and May of 2023, there’s a possibility of seeing another party take over. As of now, the UCP government has increased tuition prices for several programs by as little as two per cent to as high as 56 per cent. The UCP has also made budget cuts to operating costs at U of C for four years in a row. Whether the “vote anywhere” stations will be available on campus is still up in the air, but it’s important to find a station in the city where you can vote for the government you believe will help benefit your university experience.
Currently, the SU is made up of 24 elected members — 19 being Fac ulty Representatives and three being Executives. Faculty Representatives are elected by their respective faculty while Executives are elected by the student body.
I had assumed that the SU was sim ilar to the ones in high school that planned student spirit events and hung around after school for their meetings. But the SU at the Univer sity of Calgary — or any university for that matter — is integral for student advocacy and ensuring that students are having their voices heard.
Over the past year, the SU has or ganized de-stress kits during final seasons, hosted mayoral forums, met with government officials and hosted multiple food drives. They are con sistently involved in advocating for students’ needs, from successfully fighting for a Credit Granted (CG) option for students during COVID-19 or advocating for compensation for students heavily affected during the flip-flop of in-person to online class es. In almost any local news story in volving the U of C you’ll most likely see a statement from an elected offi cial at the SU. They are the voice of the university campus.
GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 | 7 Before I started working at the Gauntlet, I was just like you — having absolutely no idea what the Students’ Union (SU) is and nevertheless, could not be bothered to try and learn more.
Julieanne Acosta News Editor
What is the Students’ Union?
The SU’s highest governing body, the Students’ Legislative Council (SLC), holds weekly meetings during the school year — which the Gaunt let covers in its news section. At these meetings, they discuss updates for their own initiatives and any issues that may occur that are important to students. The reports of these meet ings are made available to all students through the SU’s website. As this year begins, pay attention to what the SU is doing. If you have a problem with something on campus, they are the ones to talk to. Now, I know this sounds like the classic ad vertisement to pay attention to stu dent politics — and maybe it is a little — but every time you complain with your friends about the way things are around campus, you might find that the SU is either already working on the issue or is more than open to hearing out students’ concern. The SU is meant to represent us — which means you need to know who is fight ing for you. Every year in March, undergraduate students will elect a new student government. It is so im portant to make an informed vote be cause, at the end of the day, you want your representatives to have your best interest in mind.
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Walking around MacHall means you’ve seen the screens broadcasting videos ran ging from skits to YouTube-style vlogs. This is the work of NUTV, the U of C’s television station. The content they pro duce is diverse and shows off the charac ter of the creators, with tons of different series on their YouTube channel. They constantly have workshops for different aspects of video production, including how to operate the fancy cameras and using editing software to complete the artistic vision. An annual membership of $10 is required, but if you’re an aspiring filmmaker and don’t know where to start, NUTV is your best bet.
TRI-MEDIA ALLIANCE
Sheroog’s Recommendation: Post A-Punk-Alyptic.
Sheroog’s Recommendation: Academia Obscura. The Gauntlet CJSW 90.9 FM N U TV
Sheroog Kubur Arts & Science Editor
CJSW is the U of C’s radio station, broad casting continuous music and podcasts on 90.9FM or through their website. They are unmatched when it comes to sound production and music, and have an extensive library of physical and digit al music to browse. Once you’ve been trained with all the equipment, a five dollar membership fee is required for upkeep. If you’re interested in working in radio or want some experience with au dio editing, there is no shortage of oppor tunities Practicalthere.skills that can be gained in clude learning audio production and developing an on-air presence. Life skills include being introduced to a catalogue of music that you can brag to your friends about and having an opportunity to be on live radio, which makes you cooler than everyone else.
Sheroog’s Recommendation: The Arts section.
Practical skills that can be gained include video editing and production, creating and directing film projects from start to finish and gaining valuable film experi ence. Life skills include making profes sional-grade content that you can add to your repertoire and being able to say that you’ve directed a short film before.
If you’ve been to any bar, coffee shop or anywhere in Calgary you have without a doubt seen the iconic green CJSW sticker.
If you’re reading this magazine, you’ve already become familiar with the Uni versity of Calgary’s independent publi cation, the Gauntlet. As the university doesn’t have a journalism program, this is your chance to get some journalism experience. While there are no mem bership fees, attending the workshops for different sections is encouraged. We cover an extensive range of topics, ran ging from think pieces on the current state of the world to listicles ranking terrible motivational quotes. Needless to say, if you have something you want to write, the Gauntlet will be your out Practicallet. skills that can be gained in clude improving your news-writing skills and experimenting with different sections. Life skills that can be gained include being introduced to differ ent perspectives from different back grounds and having a chance to see your work in a printed newspaper.
GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 The most important thing on your radar if you’re interested in any type of media production is the Tri-Media Alliance. Each point of the alliance can provide valuable skills and experience in the media production of your choice — from sound editing, to video production to writing. Tours of all three offices will be on Sept. 27 and 28 and the Campus Expo is Sept. 14 — come down and say hello!
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Best and worst
Gender neutral: MacEwan Hall, Main floor
This bathroom is a hidden gem, so consider yourselves lucky we’re shar ing it with you. The bathroom is a little bit older so it doesn’t have a touchless faucet or anything fancy, but it’s quiet, it’s clean, it’s got a mirror and an end less supply of paper towels. What more does a person need?
The most central gender neutral washroom on campus is located on the first floor of MacEwan Hall, a floor below the Gauntlet office, right where Wetzel’s Pretzels — rest in power — used to be. This location was quiet and safe prior to the pandemic, we hope it stays that way.
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Worst men’s Part 1: MacEwan Hall, Third floor
Worst men’s Part 2: TFDL, First floor
This washroom is nice because it’s located in a more central area, so you can always pop in when you have to go between lectures — especially if you have to go from Science Theaters to the Engineering building. The wash room has lots of working urinals avail able, which is convenient. Beware of the crowds during rush hour.
If you think there’s a trend, you’re not wrong. MacEwan Hall isn’t the best lo cation to use washrooms. This wash room has one working urinal and one working sink and that’s it. That being said, this washroom — as well as the women’s washroom on this floor — is super convenient for those who want to use the Multi-Faith rooms, since it comes equipped with wudu stations.
D uring the course of a school day, you will find yourself using the campus washrooms for various rea sons — when you gotta go, you gotta go. We can only hope to help you use the right facilities on campus and avoid the wrong ones. Here’s a list of the best and worst washrooms on main campus.
Worst women’s: MacEwan Hall, Main Floor There might be many washrooms across campus that aren’t great — but this one is as bad as they come. The stalls are super small, the washroom gets dirty quickly because everyone is using it. They only have hand dryers so don’t go in there expecting paper towels and for some reason, every thing is wet, all the time.
Best women’s: Craigie Hall C, Base ment
Logan OpinionsJaspers&Humour Assistant Ramiro Bustamante Torres Layout Editor washrooms on campus
This washroom also suffers from the one-working-urinal problem. But for tunately, there are five other floors you can resort to if you really have to use the washroom when you’re at the library.
Best men’s: Earth Sciences, First floor
Ava OpinionsZardynezhad&HumourEditor
Great institutions are very renowned
One of the fun parts of the university experience is the friends that you are inevitably going to make. Of course, putting yourself out there takes a bit of initiative. Generally, a single group project might be enough to kickstart what will turn into a great friendship. Remember, everyone is nervous and everyone wants to make friends. Sometimes all it takes is a sim ple “What’s up?”
Rodrigo Verney Sports & Lifestyle Editor
One of the biggest fears among students is to not be able to live the university experi ence due to feeling homesick. Many believe that this feeling shouldn’t be felt that much if you are enjoy ing the many things university has to offer. Un fortunately, we are all human. We all feel things differently. Feeling them does not mean you are not enjoying the university. Take the time to work through whatever it is that you are feeling and make sure to understand that it is absolutely nor mal.Most importantly, university is sup posed to feel like a weird and differ ent experience. Embrace the highs and the lows as they are part of the process. Discover everything it has to offer, no matter how long you’ll be there. It will always feel like you could have enjoyed it more.
12 | GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 Moving on to post-secondary educa tion is a challenge. We hear about this place from the moment we get to high school. With so many people talking about their experiences, we’ve definite ly heard some ideas that are far-fetched, to say the least. Every first-year student knows that the less we worry about it, the better. Taking this into considera tion, I’ve debunked some myths that may be weighing down your shoulders. You have to start university when you’re young This is the most com mon assumption about university, as the insti tution is generally as sociated with being the next step after high school. How ever, this couldn’t be furthest from the truth. We’ll be learners forever in life. There is no age limit to take a course, as long as you meet the requirements to take it, a university will remain an establish ment open to everyone. Once you are here, you’ll clear ly see that nobody will judge you based on your age. As long as you are an avid learner and want to have fun, you’ll always have a university invitation. Your major has to be decided before you start The second most untrue statement that we all have heard throughout our lives. This erroneous claim makes life so hard on those who don’t necessarily know what they want to do for a liv ing. This is absolutely fine. There are so many fields and an ever changing market. Post-secondary education is all about experimenting. So don’t fear if you’re not quite sure of your major yet.
You won’t have time to make friends
What makes a great institutions isn’t its history, its costs or its campus. It is a learning establishment. It will stand out due to its teachers and their methods, and connections to the mar ket you are trying to insert yourself in. Don’t panic if you have to explain with a couple more sentences where your university is. It is all about the knowledge and what you’ll make of it.
Common assumptions about universities
You won’t feel homesick if you’re enjoying university
Being able to feel like you’re making a change can be hard when you spend so much time doing assignments, but joining a volunteering-focused club is a surefire ticket to keeping yourself ac countable about your communal contri butions. Here are some clubs to do just that: ACT YYC AR (Anti-Racism) Movement BackUp WildlifeYYCConservation Club
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UCalgary Fashion Network University of Calgary Chess Club The Anime Club Dungeons & Dragons Club Fantasy Fanatics Game Design Club UofC Improv Club K-Pop Learn It Together Musical Theatre Club Origami Aid UofC Outdoor Adventures UC Baking Club UofC League of Legends Club UofC Crash Course Club Firearms Association UC Cricket Association UofC Film Society UofC Ski and Board Club Volunteering or Activism
Unity Arts Society Stars for Scholarly Youth Pangaea: Connecting Humanity Engineers Without Borders Community Garden Club Code the Change YYC With over 300 clubs available, I’m sure you’ll be able to find the community that’s right for you. Don’t limit yourself either — have fun and try some out!
Making friends in university can be difficult but being able to join a club of people who have similar interests makes the process much easier. Here are a several of the clubs available on campus. A full list is available on the SU clubs website that includes contact information and how to get involved!
African-Caribbean Students’ Associ Filipinoation Students’ Association Indian Students’ Association Sikh Students’ Association Muslim Students’ Association Chinese Students’ Society Witches & Pagans Club
What kind of clubs are out there?
Vietnamese Students’ Association Taiwanese Students’ Association Brazilian Student Association Indian Students Association Pakistani Students Society Chinese Conversation Club LoveWorld Campus Ministry Malayalee Students Association Polish Students’ Club Sri Lankan Students Association Niche interests Whether it be table-top gaming or taking long walks on tall mountains, you’re bound to find other people who share that interest. Here are some niche interest clubs:
Sheroog Kubur Arts & Science Editor
Cultural or Religious Groups Are you looking to find an ethnic or religious community? Luckily, the uni versity has dozens of clubs that are designed to foster community in some thing familiar. Here’s some of them:
Which campus main character are you?
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A s you walk through campus for the first time, you’ll soon discover the multitude of personalities that roam the University of Calgary. If you’re not in your first year, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. While many of us may just feel like another per son taking up space, there are certain people that definitely stand out from the crowd. If you’re wishing to make a statement, which campus main char acter will you be?
The sound of a Venti-sized Star bucks drink swaying back-and-forth with all that ice is something I envy experiencing on a regular basis — but I can’t be spending seven dollars on coffee everyday, so who am I kidding. If you decide to be this campus main character, you’ll likely get dog sideeyes from jealous people who want to be you … like me. The TFDL Talker Wow you’re annoying. I hate going up to one of the quiet floors of the TFDL to do some work, just to end up frus trated because someone couldn’t take their pointless, mindless conversation elsewhere. Yes, everyone can hear you. Sorry I’m bitter, but please don’t be this campus main character. The Devils Advocate Just when it couldn’t get any worse. This campus main character is univer sally despised, and rightfully so. Voi cing an opinion that neither contrib utes to the class or respects everyone in the room is not you being insightful, it’s just you seeking attention — and unfortunately you won’t be receiving the kind you hoped for. The Sprinter This is by far my favourite campus main character ever. While walking be tween classes, occasionally you’ll catch a glimpse of the an absolute track star booking it somewhere. I like to think that these people don’t really need to be running that fast, or that wherever they have to go isn’t that serious. But there’s always a mystery there — where are they going, what’s going on? If you decide to be this type of campus main character, you’ll definitely be making me Throughoutgiggle. your time at U of C, you’ll discover loads of different campus main characters aside from the ones on this list. It’s up to you which one(s) you choose to be and what consequences or benefits you wish to receive.
The room-Because-I’m-LateMakeup-in-the-Science-A-WashStunner
Sophia Editor-in-ChiefLopez
The Sk8er Boy While in theory I understand the point of skateboarding on campus, it still doesn’t make sense in practice. During peak hours of the day, a skate board is not going to help you speed past the crowd — no one is going to let you through. If you want to be this type of campus main character, pre pare yourself for some glares.
Been there, done that. You’ll most likely find yourself in this situation at least once during your U of C experi ence. The Science A washroom is one of the bigger washrooms on campus with a big table and a mirror where people can take a quick look at them selves before heading to wherever they need to go. This is a beloved place where women bond over the fact that everyone’s late to something — but looking good comes first. You might make some friends if you decide to be this campus main character, and you might catch me there as well. The Venti Drinker
“Pound The Alarm” by Nicki Minaj “Roaring 20s” by Flo Milli
Nothing hits harder than nostalgia. Any early 2010s Nicki Minaj song, for many, is the epitome of that nostalgia but “Pound The Alarm” has the explosive energy that really does make you want to pound the alarm and take on what ever the day has to offer. “Roaring 20s” — built around a sample of Zero Mostel’s performance of “If I Were a Rich Man” — lets listeners pre tend for two minutes that they are rich. In this economy, as a university student, you will need those two minutes of pretending.
“Campus” by Vampire Weekend I mean, it is in the name. A song curated perfectly to make you feel like the main character in a coming-of-age Netflix original where bumping into a stranger who grazes your hand when they help you pick up your books will eventu ally turn into a romance that changes everything. Head empty, no thoughts, just vibes. Sometimes that is all you really need.
“Baby Elephant Walk” by Henry Mancini
GAUNTLET FROSH
The music you listen to can set the tone for how your first days at the University of Calgary will go, and what better than some songs to make you feel like the main character. With this short list of universal favourites to add to your playlists, you will have what it takes to conquer the world — plus that early-morning class and late-night study session. The full playlist can be accessed by scanning the QR code.
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“Knock Knock” by Mac Miller
Miller starts the song with “This is gonna feel real good” and he did not lie. This is an upbeat song that will have you strutting around campus with your shoulders back and head up high — even when you just rolled out of bed and into the closest over sized t-shirt and sweatpants to make the class that you were debating on skipping. Is this song about an ex-boyfriend or a course that is not the GPA booster you thought it would be? Whichever one it is, it sure is cathartic to sing — or yell — along to when ever you are feeling particularly wounded. “Ruin My Life” by Zara Larsson
Whether you are taking public transit or driving a car to university, you can make the ride to and from more fun with this song. “Valet” by Eric Bellinger (feat. Fetty Wap and 2 Chainz) 2022
Nimra Amir Arts & Science Assistant
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options for restrictionsdietary Aymen
Campus Sherwani Voices
Editor
16 | GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 D o you have a dietary restriction but don’t know which places cater to your needs? Here’s a guide to help you navigate where to grab a quick bite or a hot meal — that actually tastes good — while also not com promising your diet. Unless it’s kosher, there’s really something for everyone who’s eating vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten-free on campus.
Eating gluten-free and keto on cam pus are a lot trickier because you’ll often find yourself asking restaurants to make accommodations for you — whether it be asking for a burger wrapped in lettuce at A&W or Carl’s Jr., or asking for rice to be substitut ed for more salad or meat at the Ko rean BBQ House. If you’re looking for meals, other than The Landing, Freshco Poke is probably the best op tion out there when it comes to cater ing to those wanting gluten free and keto options, as their customizable poke bowls give students the options to choose vegetable, quinoa and rice bases alongside having an extensive array of protein options.
As someone who’s had all of these op tions — I can wholeheartedly say they’re all worth a shot this semester.
Gluten-Free and Keto
Vegan & Vegetarian
If you’re looking to actually sit down and have a meal, The Landing has an All-YouCan-Care-To-Eat menu that includes halal options. Granted, it’s located further from everything else on campus but you don’t need to worry because The Den & Black Lounge have an entire array of halal op tions that are taste-tested and approved. They offer an entire pound of chicken wings for only $14, and while I don’t think my intestines could handle that, I know for a fact that their beef quesadilla is the stuff of daydreams.
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A classic failsafe lunch option on campus would be a veggie sub from Subway — with or without the cheese — but I did get food poisoning after eating there in my first year. Better options would be a vegetable bánh mì from Bake Chef, a Beyond Meat® bur ger from A&W or Carl’s Jr. If you’re not into sandwiches. Two vegetarian options that have always been there for me during those late nights at the TFDL are the Noodle & Grill Express and Oriental Wok — both of which serve really inexpensive takeout with the addition of crispy vegetable spring
Ifrolls.you don’t mind dairy, the spanako pita and falafel from Opa!, served with their in-house tzatziki both really hit the spot when it’s cold outside and you’re craving something carb-heavy. Finally, Starbucks’ spinach, feta and egg white wrap is where it’s at when you’re just looking for a quick bite in between lectures — just don’t forget your plant-based iced coffee. Halal Bake Chef has been a cornerstone of cam pus cuisine for years, but did you know that they also serve halal beef and chicken bánh mì’s? My parameters of a good sandwich were changed permanently during my first time, but sandwiches get boring — even customizable ones — which is why a close contender is Canadian Pizza Unlimited, where students can buy two massive slices of pizza for only eight dollars. Did I men tion they had halal pepperoni and other meat lover’s options? I would pick their pizza over Domino’s every time.
18 | GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 G rowing up, I heard the phrase “best friends forever” or “BFFs” everywhere from Disney shows to Hallmark movies but I have come to realize that those friendships are rare.
As you take on the seemingly daunt ing task of becoming an adult which forces people to grow into new ver sions of themselves, you might find yourself no longer aligning with some friends. Especially, when you might not get to see them everyday like you used to in high school — even if you are in the same program at the same uni versity. At that point, your friendship may come to its natural end and that isOfokay.course, the loss of a friendship, just like any other loss, is not easy and it is important to grieve when you need to process and accept what has happened — but try to do so without judgment. It may seem easier to blame yourself or your friend but this will only make the loss harder to grow from. Instead, be understanding that maybe you or your friend were busy or not interested. If nothing else, take comfort in the fact that even though this friendship may have come to an end, as you keep grow ing, you will keep making new friends and they will keep enriching your life like you will enrich theirs. If you do not have those friends yet, the University of Calgary is a great place to meet them — but no two friendships will ever be the same.
From the friends you make during orientation week to the study buddies, some friends will be friends of con venience that thrive on proximity. But who knows, when you combine hours spent together at the library and the quick snack breaks at MacEwan Hall, you might end up with a friendship that grows with you.
The most important friendship, how ever, will be the one with yourself and as you grow into the new stage of your life, naturally, your friendships will re flect that growth. That is the beauty of friendships — they are constantly changing depending on where you are in life. Embrace this new era in univer sity and what comes along with it.
Nimra Amir Arts & Science Assistant
The hard truth is that when you en ter any new stage in your life, losing friends is a natural part of the pro cess but fortunately, so is making new friends. You might have already ex perienced this change in friendships with the transition from elementary school to middle school or middle school to high school. Simply not every friend you have can be a friend forever. University is no different.
Navigating friendships in university
At the end of your first semester, you will likely be asked — or even begged — by your professors to fill out your Uni versal Student Ratings of In structions (USRI) forms. USRIs are essentially a way for you to give anonymous feedback to your professors about the Unfortunately,course. many students simply just don’t fill out this sur vey. On the one hand, it’s under standable. USRIs are given out at the end of the semester, and you’re either stressed about the six essays you need to hand in by Friday or you’ve already handed in your essays so you don’t want to even think about university right now. But USRIs are an important resource the uni versity uses to improve your courses. For example, did you think it was unfair that your six hypothetical essays were all due on the same day? You can communicate this on your USRI form. What you liked, what you didn’t like, any suggestions you might have, if you have an opinion about a course you just took, USRIs are one of the best ways to inform your professor and potentially have something done about it.
Why you should fill out your USRIs Enobong Ukpong News Assistant
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USRIs are also a valuable resource for future students as well. After each se mester, USRI results are made publicly available, allowing potential students to see the general opinion of previous students who have taken the course. If you’re debating between two different instructors, USRI results could help make that decision easier. Of course, these results won’t mean anything if too little people submit USRIs, and the op posite is also true — the more people submit USRIs, the more accurate the results are. So help your future first years out by submitting those surveys. More infor mation on when and how to fill out your USRIs can be found on the University of Calgary website.
The political science major that wants to be a lawyer just like their dad. They’ve been watching polit ical YouTube channels since middle school, but still manage to have sur face level takes on issues going way over their head. Dad’s taking care of the tuition but they’ve got a $2500 scholarship because they’re on the UCalgary “rowing team?”
The one who could talk his way out of any grade with a sly smile and a hair flip, a la Bieber circa 2008. Char isma can certainly make you stand out amongst other candidates, but can it actually help you get the job done? Will charm increase minimum wage or reduce tuition prices? Maxime Bernier: The Disturber
The one who managed to top each and every outlandish thing they ever said. They believe that campus EDI ef forts are all a part of “extreme-multi culturalism.” The Disturber fashions themself a realist and a rational voice in this so called “uber-progressive” modern period. They believe modern feminism is ruining the nuclear family and vaccine passports were nothing short of fascism. You may not want to pay this person any mind, but they will keep grabbing headlines and start arguments on the UCalgary Reddit. Elizabeth May: The Loner
Justin Trudeau: The Charmer
The one who is drowned out by the alpha-politicians. What do they stand for again? Something green? Look for the trucks with “We Love Oil and Gas” bumper stickers at McMahon Stadium that rev their engines when they see this person at Banff Trail Station.
Jason Kenney: The Runner
Doug Ford: The Lingerer
The one who is never around when it matters. On-campus emergency? Nope, they are on a cruise in the Mediterranean. COVID-19 outbreak? Nope, they’re chilling on a beach in theIdentifyBahamas.with any of these traits? The list of character traits should not dis courage you from entering the U of C’s lively political scene. Rather, the list serves as some much needed com edic self-reflection into why students pursue politics and the much needed levity when calling yourself a “polit ician.”
How to find the audacity to run for student politics
The one who will never stop trying to make the world a better place, de spite the eyerolls from fellow student candidates. He’s a total hippie, vegan, carries a reusable straw, wears manbuns — lots of man-buns — and always starts debates with economics pro fessors, claiming there’s never been a “true communist regime.”
Anabel Selemon Voices Assistant
Jagmeet Singh: The Dreamer
20 | GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 W hat motivates people to run for politics? Whether you be lieve your faculty representative is in it for the people or to advance their own self-serving agenda, some pat terns in characteristics seem to ap pear amongst our student politicians, much like the real political figure heads in our governments. Below are some of the glorious traits of our fa vourite Canadian politicians.
The one who will never retire. They should have graduated three years ago. They’re from the time when everyone bragged about Stephen Harper having gone to UCalgary…and used real textbooks…and could afford tuition.
Starting university can be a bit of a shock to your system. But rest assured that there are always supports available to you if you ever feel like you’re struggling or just need some guidance. Here’s a crash course on University of Calgary campus resources.
SU Tutor Registry
The university is built to help students get to where they want to be in life. There are always resources available to its students so help is never more than a few steps across campus.
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Student Ombuds Office
For academic and career assistance, each faculty and department will, generally, have their own student centre where you can speak to student advisors regarding courses to take to supplement your degree and what opportunities to seek professionally to help build towards your career after graduation. The Student Success Centre in the TFDL works similarly, as it has “student-centered resources, where you can ask questions and learn more about strategies that support your learning,” according to the U of C website. In addition to that, Career Services has resources to help you explore career options, build your network and strengthen your job application to help you stand out as a candidate for your dream job.
Maggie Hsu Sports & Lifestyle Assistant
Resources on Campus
For medical and mental health care, the Wellness Centre located on the 3rd floor of MacEwan Hall can provide you with support in keeping your mind and body in tune as you navigate university. They can also connect you with the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) who can help you set up accommodations that will make your university experience a lot smoother. Anything from mental health struggles such as test anxiety, physical disabilities and learning disabilities, the SAS can help relieve the weight of finding these accommodations for yourself.
Campus Clubs
Student Success Centre & Career Services
A great way to connect with like-minded students is joining clubs. There are over 300 clubs on campus to suit a wide range of interests academically and socially. They provide an opportunity to make friends and get away from the rigour of assignments, exams and grades. Many of the clubs on campus have been running for quite a few years so they provide opportunities to get off campus as well to allow students to engage with the community.
Lastly, if you find yourself in a difficult situation with another student or someone on campus, the Student Ombuds Office is a safe space that allows students to speak to an impartial third party to explore options and strategies to move forward in a situation before making any difficult decisions. The Ombuds are there to listen to students and break down university regulations so students can be aware of how to navigate interactions with university officials.
If you find yourself falling behind in your courses, there is support for you too. The Students’ Union (SU) has a Tutor Registry that connects tutors with students that are in need of academic assistance. The SU has high standards for their tutors so you can trust that the one you hire has taken the course you need tutoring in and has the knowledge to properly guide you through said course.
Wellness Centre & Student Accesbility Services (SAS)
22 | GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 RAMIRO BUSTAMANTE TORRES
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Don’t sit in the hallway between MacEwan Hall and Science B
Do give yourself enough time between classes
Do bring a pencil to class
With many first-year students coming to campus and even some second- and third-years who haven’t had a chance to learn proper etiquette for being around so many new adults, we have compiled a list of the major things you need to know and avoid.
Don’t bring nasty, smelly food to campus
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It’s surprising how common this is. Making fun of other people’s career paths doesn’t make you look superior, it really just makes you look like an annoying, closed-minded idiot.
Don’t be an idiot.
Don’t stick your arm inside the Zipper
Last, but of course not least, do make the most out of all the university resources and events that are available to you, and don’t miss out on any potential opportunities. Stay curious and good luck.
Unless you want to elbow through molasses-paced crowds, bust noisily into the classroom out-of-breath and find a seat in a hall of people staring at you, give yourself some time and try to find shorter routes.
For those who don’t know, an engineer had tested their luck in the past and got a broken arm in return by sticking their arm inside the Zipper. Just don’t do it, we don’t need a repeat of that accident. Spin responsibly.
Asking others for a basic writing tool makes you look illprepared and unruly. It also lessens your chance of gaining an academically-inclined class buddy. People don’t tend to trust their notes to the person who didn’t bring a pencil to the first day of class.
Vipasha Paul Managing Editor
There’s no need for people to suffer the stench of the boiled eggs your mom packed you for lunch. If it can’t be helped, it’s recommended you don’t open your tupperware in a highly populated area. Keep the odour to yourself, please and thank you.
The most obvious thing is to make friends but why have friends when you can have a slightly unhealthy competition with someone else? This way, you will never run out of motivation because you would rather see yourself come out on top than have your enemy gloat.
If you sit there with your feet sticking out in the hallway, expect your legs to be broken by a horde of angry people.
Do make enemies
No one likes running around the hallways when you really have to go and end up in a lineup or a disgusting bathroom.
Ramiro Bustamante Torres Layout Editor
Do explore the campus when you get a chance, especially look for a good bathroom
Don’t trash other people’s majors
Nazeefa Ahmed News Assistant
How to be financially smart as a student
For someone who was once a shop ping addict, I have learned to discipline myself with a very simple question: Do I need it? If the answer is no, I put down the item and walk out of the store. No excuses. While it’s still important to treat yourself, pushing yourself to be a little more disciplined will become easi er over time. Your future self will thank you.
GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 | 25 As inflation, tuition and rent sky rockets, we students are left with a task that even our parents haven’t done — managing university life in a post-pandemic economy. Some of us are working non-stop, while others are taking out loan after loan, hoping that a job after our degree will pay it back. For those feeling like they are stuck in a hamster wheel, here are some tips that you can use to make financial stability a reality. Keep your grades up Though there are bursaries offered for those in need, some students do not qualify for them due to their family income. These students can still earn merit, extracurricular and essay-writing scholarships. Sites such as Scholarships Canada and ScholarTree make it easy to keep up with the latest scholarships available.Additionally, the university rewards high GPAs. Students with high GPAs have a greater chance of scoring a con tinuing award which can be as high as the $6000 Edward Wichert scholar ship offered to engineering students annually. Additionally, the Jason Lang scholarship, offered by the Government of Alberta, is given to any second-, third- and fourth-year student with a minimum GPA of 3.2. Therefore, raising your GPA, can decrease financial strain while completing your education. Find your passion and build Your career does not begin after graduation. That is the biggest myth that undergraduate students believe. Your career began the day you started university, because future employers look at any long-term work experi ence when offering you a position in the future. If you have a passion, learn to monetize it. By doing so, you will be happy working while also making an income. Photographers can offer their services to local influencers, coders can teach kids at Code Ninjas, and writers can join the Gauntlet for a future edi torial position. The University of Cal gary is also an esteemed research in stitution and many students make an income working with professors during the summer. Jobs such as these require more skill and are usually paid more than minimum wage. Be clear about your needs and wants Everyone knows that you are suppos ed to budget, keep track of your spend ing and assign specific percentages to your monthly income. But if you are anything like I once was, you are far too removed from this systematic mindset that all budgeting advice is meaning less. You have to buy those shoes. You have to eat a Bake Chef sub even though your mom packed you a full lunch. You have to get this and that until your pay check for the month disappears as fast as it came in.
No textbooks, just comics. This class analyzes comic books and graphic novels and their significance in society. If you are a comic book geek or have an interest in the subject, then this is the course for you. If you care for neither of those things but want to ditch reading for staring at pictures all day, then this course is for you too.
The name speaks for itself — the study of sexual relations, the afterlife and what love is as philosophized by dead white guys. This course still teaches you some basics in philosophy, but under very intriguing themes. It’s also comforting to know that the instructors are very welcoming and open to students who are worried about triggering concepts. Plus, it’s the only university class where you can learn about perverse topics without seeming like a creep.
Simple, captivating and created for non-psychology majors — this class is rated E for everyone. It takes a look at everyday issues in personal and professional settings, and provides key methods and theories on how to help with them. If you have a lot of problems, here’s a solution right at your fingertips. Therapy is also recommended.
Vipasha Paul Managing Editor
PSYC 203 – Psychology for Everyday Life
ANTH 363 – Magic, Witchcraft and Gods: Anthropology of Religion
More famously known as “Rocks for Jocks,” this course is a non-science major’s key to tackling the two-science-course minimum. Although this one is a little less fun than the rest, it is the go-to class for its more relaxed curriculum, mainly consisting of tests based on memorization. Offensive nickname or not, you have to fill up graduation requirements somehow.
PHIL 259 – Sex, Love and Death
A fall course delving into divination, magic, beliefs and ritual within various world religions, held during the spookiest time of the year. This course is truly enlightening and respectful to the way other cultures and religions use magic and witchcraft to understand the world around them.
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Y ou have your entire academic journey ahead of you, a big part of it being the option courses you probably scoured the internet to find. It’s a maze of confusion and hopelessness, like looking for a needle in a schedule builder. Well, not anymore — designed through personal trial and error, here is your guide to some of the best University of Calgary option courses with no prerequisites, open to any major!
GLGY 209 – Introduction to Geology
ENGL 322 – Comics
Julieanne Acosta News Editor
Group Project Survival Guide
Find out if you need to be a leader or a follower Know your place and pick your battles. Was I gonna be a leader in my DATA 201 group? Absolutely not. But, in sociology or English classes I could consider it. If there’s no one else in your group that looks like they could be a responsible leader, then it looks like it’s going to be you.
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I n my first year, I had to enroll in a Data Science (DATA) 201 class and as an arts major, let’s just say it wasn’t my favourite subject. Believe it or not, I got to work with a really great group for the year and I man aged to end the class with an A+ because of it. There’s a very small chance you’ll end up with a good group, but if you do then count yourself lucky. Nonetheless, if you are in this small percentile of students who get a good group, remember that it probably won’t happen again. After my heaven-sent DATA 201 group, I thought people were be ing too dramatic about bad group project experiences — they were not. I’ve had average groups but also horren dous groups and over the years I’ve figured out how to go about the whole ordeal with little hiccups.
Make sure there is proper delegation
“Proper” is the key word here. You can almost always tell who is gonna be the person holding back the group — maybe don’t give this person the most key part of the project. Keep the receipts for everything Keep the group messages and the Google documents of who was assigned what. This is important if you ever reach my next piece of advice, but hopefully, you never do. Tell your professor I’ll say it — be a tattle tale, put yourself first. If someone or the whole group isn’t doing what they’re supposed to be doing, tell the professor. This is the worst-case scen ario, so be sure before you take this step that you’ve done everything to try and get the problem fixed — this means actually confronting the individual or group in question directly. There’s nothing wrong with this, you pay for your education and if someone is jeopardizing the grade you know you deserve, do something about it. The day will come when you will, unfortunately, need to do a group project and it’s most likely going to be with a randomly assigned group. As frustrating as this may be, you can get through it. Just remember how much tuition is — fight for the grade you want.
Faculty Library/Lounge
The studyoverlookedbestspotsoncampus Amanda ContributingWilsonEditor
Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning (TITL)
University Theatre Entrance
The University of Calgary can be a very big, intimidating and loud campus. It can be highly time consuming to simply find the ideal spot to grind away at. Have no fear, this guide is here to give you a few suggestions of where to stare at your laptop and books for the next four years!
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Upper Swimming Pool Deck I have always found the surroundings of water to be relaxing and help me with concentration. This spot is typically un populated and has lots of charger outlets. If you can’t handle the humidity or scent of chlorine, the observation deck will suit you just fine.
Maths Science Hallway
This is one of my favourite study spots solely for the aesthetic. The area has floor-to-ceiling windows that exhibit some of campus’ greenery and it is com plemented by stone floors. The lounge furniture has gorgeous mid-century style that is reminiscent of a European café. There is also a small coffee bar to replen ish stamina.
Second Floor of ICT When I need to study, lots of natural light and a comfy seat is necessary — this loca tion holds exactly that. The surrounding space houses rooms for robotics work that you can peep into — and the ZETTA light display is an interesting piece to check out when you need a break.
Stairs of Engineering Although the stairs of the Engineering building can get busy, it is a great spot to meet for a group study session. My favourite feature of the area is the sun roof that always allows for natural light. There is also a ping pong and air hockey table to have some fun after your hard work! Earth Science Stairs
This is one of my favourite lowkey spots as I love how tiny the nooks are, and they are aligned with couches and plug-ins.
Not only are the dedicated faculty spaces excellent for resources within your field, but they are also the perfect spot to find like-minded people and make some friends. The faculty spaces also hold vari ous student events. Be sure to find your respective faculty space with the campus room finder.
Without a doubt, the TITL is one of the most gorgeous buildings on campus. My favourite area within the building is on the second floor, which features intim ate balconies with comfy seats. It’s as if you’re floating! Another treat in this building is that it has a grand piano on the ground floor — hopefully whoever plays it has musical ability.
This long hallway is aligned with desks facing the windows. It is ideal as there is tons of space to choose from and you can always find a plug-in nearby. It is a perfect study pitstop between running across campus to catch lectures.
Arts Parkade/Craigie Hall I quite enjoy this area as it tends to be one of the quieter spots on campus, and it’s a great opportunity to check out some of the arts and culture that U of C has to offer — as this is where senior projects are displayed for arts majors. This list includes just a few of the many places that you can study on campus. Wherever you go that gets you the most productive, I wish you luck!
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A guide to surviving your classes that will definitely not make your professor hate you
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Aymen Sherwani Voices Editor
When transitioning from high school to university, most people struggle to make that adjustment. The good news is that you’re not alone in fa cing issues like imposter syndrome and social anxiety — everyone is valid for feeling this way. But not you — oh no. You need to be better. Follow these tips for how to rise above the rest of all the other first-year plebs and pass class with flying colours. Don’t be afraid to ask for extensions Unionize with the rest of the students in the lecture and demand extensions for midterms and papers — if this is a social sciences class, your professor will respect your practical application of the consent of the governed. Just walk up to them after class as a group and tell them that none of you can submit on the due date while making aggressive eye con tact with the person that spent prob ably over a decade pursuing their Ph.D. At this point, your professor’s resolve will crumble under the sheer power of your numbers and they will offer you a later date. If you’re feeling bold, make a counter offer — this university is a business and, by God, you will get your money’s worth. Contribute to intellectual conversations in class Be the “if I may play the Devil’s Ad vocate” person whenever anyone — in cluding the professor — has something to say. They will appreciate you for correcting them. Better yet, when the lecture is nearing an end, make sure to pose a super philosophical question that almost always causes the lecture to bleed into the meagre 10 minutes needed for everyone else to scamper halfway across campus for their next class. Don’t both er waiting for the lecture to be over to individually talk to the professor — as sert your giga-chad-levels of dominance over the rest of the class and let them know that, even though you’re a firstyear, your doctorate from Wikipedia University is an absolute asset. Let the professor know how engaged you are Being a professor is really frustrating sometimes, especially when first-years don’t really care to sit through Power Point presentations for an hour — sit ting at the front-middle section of the class is always a great way to indicate your dedication. Go above and beyond and sit directly eye-level to a professor and close enough so you can smell what they had for breakfast. Bonus points if you wear a really low-cut shirt and say “so true” periodically throughout the lecture to validate their anxiety about whether anyone is actually listening. Make like the mature student giving 200 per cent and laugh really hard while twirling your hair at an obscure joke be cause, at the end of the day, pick-me’s get degrees. If you don’t end up having a conversation about academic miscon duct with your professor, you might end up charming your way onto the Dean’s List. For legal reasons, this is a joke.
GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 | 31 M yUofC portal is one of the first tools you learn to use at the University of Calgary. From regis tering for classes to paying tuition to looking at your academic require ments — you will be sure to use the portal for your entire U of C experi ence. Here is a breakdown of how to navigate this unnecessarily confusing Thetool. Home section tells you your en rollment time and course selection tools like adding, dropping and swap ping courses — which is important as your add/drop deadline approaches. My Application informs you about your current application status. You will not use this too often unless you decide to change programs — which there is nothing wrong with. My Ser vice Requests addresses issues like payments, financial support, course registration and appeals, and chan ges to personal information. Don’t be afraid to use the portal’s tools — they are there to help facilitate your needs. Personal Info has basic information that can update your residence status, social insurance number or other personal information like your pre ferred name. Exams and Grades pro vide you with your final exam sched ule, deferred exam application, final grades and transcripts. Program and Advising Info can be used as a help ful guide for your current program or if you want to make changes to it like adding a major or minor — or changing degree paths. Unsure if you are taking the right courses for your degree? No problem. First, select Pro gram and Advising Info and then use Academics Report as a general guide to understand what courses you can take to satisfy different degree re Financialsquirements.address all things relating to money; tax forms, receipts, refund requests, payment plans and awards applications. University is expensive — what fees are optional? Students can opt-out of student donations, as well as health and dental insurance as long as you can prove you have another insurance provider. In the Financials section, under Account Activity, students can find “Student Donation Opt-Out” and “Health & Dental Opt-Out.” Course selection can also be over whelming, especially for new stu dents. Using the Course Search func tion and Schedule Builder take that stress off your shoulders and are also found in the Home section. For students who are interested in find ing courses that are offered during Block Week, it’s easier to use Course Search. First, choose what term you would like to do Block Week in. Typ ically this is the week before the Fall or Winter semester starts. Addition ally, if you are interested in fully on line courses, you can find “Mode of Instruction” and choose “Web-based Instruction” in “Additional Criteria.” While this is a lot of information to take in, hopefully this breakdown of MyUofC portal can help some of you swiftly navigate it. To log in to the portal, visit the My UCalgary Central Authentication Service website.
Navigating MyUofC Portal For Dummies
Jillian Cung Voices Assistant
The CCR is hosted on the Elevate portal where students can look for CCR-eligible opportunities. Positions on the CCR database can be posted by SU clubs, faculty and on-campus departments and are sometimes paid positions. The Elevate portal is also where students go to manage activities and add them to their CCR to keep track of them all throughout their university career. Students are able to download and print it off to add to their portfolio through the Elevate platform as well.
“Theapplications.Co-Curricular
if you do not see your club or a position that you are interested in, you can always reach out to the club, faculty or department you are working with to have whatever activity you are doing for them added to your CCR.
Maggie Hsu Sports & Lifestyle Assistant
So why is it even worth doing? Why not just get a part-time or summer job that will actually pay you? The CCR is not mandatory and not required to complete your degree but it is highly recommended as it’s a great resume builder. It allows students to stay close to campus while they study and attend class so you can build your skillset and focus academically on top of all of the other things going on in your life.
Some of the roles that can be added to your CCR can help you gain skills and abilities in the field that you are interested in going into after graduation without having to apply for a job to try and gain those skills. With the CCR being hosted and curated by the university and SU clubs, it opens up those opportunities specifically for students to take advantage of and learn from — so why not add some of those roles to your resume while they’re available to Whileyou?
the CCR is a record of your volunteer and extracurricular activities, it also takes a bit of finesse on your end to apply the skills and experiences that you gained from them to jobs and careers in the future. This is where Career Services can help in figuring out that what you gain from your CCR can be valuable in your resume and cover let-
Lastly,ters.
Record (CCR) is a program that records volunteer and extracurricular activities during your time at UCalgary,” states the U of C website. Through the CCR, you can track eligible experiences and generate a formal record to share with employers. Coupled with your academic transcript, the CCR helps you tell the story of your university experience.”
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The Co-Curricular Record (CCR) is an official document that is kept by the University of Calgary on your behalf that can be used with resumes and cover letters to supplement your job
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The medium for notes depends on the style of class. Are all your classes lecture based with lots of information? Are they practice based with lots of time to work through problems? Are they discussion based with lots of conversations?
OneNote,notebookpleteusedcommonNotability,(Goodnotes,etc.).Thesecondmosttoolthat’sisalaptop,com-withadigital(Notion,etc.).Anupside
Finding a note-taking style that works for you is difficult, and finding a style to match your classes is even harder. Figuring out which will be most convenient for you is something that is imperative in your first year of university, so here are some tips to help make that decision.
to a laptop is that typing is much faster than writing, meaning you’re getting much more information in your notes. The downside is that multitasking is hard — listening to the professor while typing slides means you may miss something.
Picking the right medium
Taking notes that work for you
The final tool is the classic notebook and pen combination. An upside to a physical notebook is that organizing your pages is much easier, allowing you to make flow charts or copy diagrams. A downside is that it is undoubtedly the least quick of the three options, meaning you have to be smart when selecting how you want to spend your time.
Different notes for different styles of classes
The best advice is to not waste time. You can either pull up the slides on your device and edit them directly with your own notes and comments or type out each slide and keep specific notes of what you want to pay attention to. You will not have time in class to switch between pens or make pretty banners for each topic, so don’t bother. Get down everything you can and make sense of them later. Before you enter the classroom Once you’ve decided what will be the best style of notes for the class, the bulk of the work happens before you step into the classroom. If the slides are posted ahead of time and you are working with a tablet, download the slides onto a workable space. If you’re using a laptop, set up your digital workspace ahead of time by deciding how you want to organize your space. There are plenty of tutorials for different softwares, but don’t get overwhelmed. Will each lecture be a separate page or will each section be one big document? If you’re using a physical notebook, figure out how you’re planning on organizing each page. The most important thing is to have a blank sheet you can write or type on, everything else like how to organize the notes is all bells and whistles. However you choose to organize it, do it before you even step into the classroom.
A popular gadget you’ll find no shortage of in lecture halls is the tablet and stylus combination. The most popular is an iPad and Apple Pen, although other smart tablets are equally popular depending on your needs. The upside to a tablet is that you can write directly on slides, meaning you’re spending more time in class actively listening to the professor. A downside is that the upfront cost is hefty and that’s not including the software you may need to purchase
Sheroog Kubur Arts & Science Editor
34 | GAUNTLET FROSH 2022
It is already well known that being a student will be stressful. Thankfully, the Students’ Union (SU) has arranged a Stress Less Week during the last week of classes of the fall semester. This week includes tips on how to cook as a stress reliever, utilize creativity to reduce stress, resources on how to improve your mental health and free yoga classes at the Space. Being a student doesn’t have to be agonizing — these resources are here to help relax.
Events you cannot miss at U of C
Amanda ContributingWilsonEditorRodrigo Verney Sports & Lifestyle Editor
Stress Less Week
T he university experience offers so much more than burying your nose in a book or stressing over exams. Students across campus have made sure to keep the university spirit alive by taking part and hosting events to support the University of Calgary community. Be sure to not miss these events.
Royal University Cougars clash at the biggest stage in Calgary: The Scotiabank Saddledome — the Calgary Flames’ home stadium. This electrifying event brings students from both sides together as they fill the arena to show their alma mater pride. This year’s edition will happen on Jan. 27 for both teams. The women’s teams will play at 4 p.m. while the men’s teams face each other three hours later. Pack the Jack is a basketball game set two weeks after the Crowchild classic as they play MRU on a backto-back. This game is meant to open
The university experience isn’t complete without witnessing the might of the Dinos opening their season and filling our beloved arenas and fields with the energy to kickstart the semester. Two events that are sure to rock your core are the Crowchild classic and the Pack the Jack.The Crowchild classic is a dispute for ultimate dominance. The town rivalry of the Dinos against the Mount
Dinos Games
GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 | 35 the winter term by filling every seat at the Jack Simpson Gym cheering on our beloved Dinos. This year the event is happening on Feb. 10 and the more crowded the better. The Kickoff The Kickoff is another event that every student should attend. This event unofficially marks the football team’s season opener on Sept. 2 and gives you a chance to witness the 2019 Vanier Cup champions take over the McMahon stadium once again. The event is filled with fun games and halftime shows — the perfect way to end the fall orientation week. Bermuda Shorts Day Bermuda Shorts Day (BSD) is the tradition that ends the school year. Fun fact: BSD was begun by a Gauntlet editor that demanded we all wear Hawaiian-inspired clothing on the last day of classes while we all cheers to our perseverance! The tradition has typically been annual, despite a few hiccups like a pandemic. Nonetheless, students will always take it upon themselves to celebrate the end of the year in tropical attire. As grueling as the hard work may be, we still encourage you to make the most out of your university experience. Above all, this is an opportunity for exploration and discovery. Step out of your comfort zone and have some fun!
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All of these are features just as much for in-person learning as they are for remote learning, but when your two first years of university are largely spent with professors who were woefully unfamiliar with how to navigate D2L, recycling recorded lectures from the previous semester, and mechanically lecturing entirely off the textbook. When your univer sity experience is so cold and distant, it begs the question of why you’re paying that money and toiling for all those hours.
For this reason, I’ve embraced that I won’t finish my degree in four years.
OpinionsJaspers&Humour
Logan Assistant
Tuition is expensive and for many programs is regularly hiked, dead lines ominously loom overhead like a stormcloud and exam season always marks a collective downturn in stu dent’s mental health.
I t feels like yesterday that it was March 2020, when I was in 12th grade and arrogantly saying to a friend that the province should shut down the schools so we could get two extra weeks of spring break. The last months of high school, the first year of university and much of the second year was remote. As such, these last few years have been a surreal blur. It seems this year will wholly deliv er the intended university experience for many students for the first time.
Given how many Canadians have a post-secondary education, youth often hear from their older peers, like parents and educators, something like “you have to get a university edu cation to be successful.” In this con text, remote learning accented con sidering why we go to university.
This is not a diatribe against uni versity. Rather, it’s recognition that despite these flaws, I’m still attending classes at the University of Calgary because of what I hope to get out of my time here. I want my education to be filled with intellectual rigour and unique perspectives on new ideas from a place of expertise rather than just unfiltered factoids from the web.
Instead, I’ll take my time to actualize my conception of how the university experience should be. Because uni versity is expensive, exhausting and optional — your education should be the way you want it to be.
Lessons from the pandemic
I want to make new friendships and connections, and have experiences I couldn’t get elsewhere. There’s more to university than the piece of paper at its end that I’m yet to attain be cause of the pandemic.
Though there are many jobs you need a university education for, there are fewer opportunities for people lacking a high school education com pared to people lacking a university education. Likewise, the internet has made knowledge more accessible than ever before to the public. Topics from his tory to biology are packed with online resources the curious can access with a mere Google search. In the span of a couple decades, the internet has revolutionized the regular person’s capacity to simply know things with out a formal education.
GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 | 37
Stop obsessing over a bad grade If you’re a fellow perfectionist, I understand how insanely difficult it is to rid yourself of this habit. It’s so easy to get caught up in measuring success ac cording to letters and percentages. But consistently obsessing over a bad grade is counter-productive and only delays progress. Take the lesson, grieve the re sult and move on. Believe me, you still have plenty of room to bounce back.
Eula NewsMengulloEditor
Ask for help Learning when to ask for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Your profes sors want you to succeed more than you think they do and most of them are al ways willing to help out. Additionally, there are a variety of resources available to students on campus. The Wellness Centre offers a wide range of services ranging from medical to mental health support. Prioritizing your mental and physical well-being is the best way to en sure optimal academic performance. Pace yourself University is a marathon, not a race. Even if you think you are lagging behind from your peers, you are almost always right where you need to be. Take the time to slow down whenever you can. In such a fast-paced environment, it is ever more crucial to find time for ourselves and the things we enjoy outside of aca demia. It’s always easy to just sprint full steam ahead, but there is as much joy and peace in appreciating where you are right Universitynow. can be such a great experi ence if you make room to take care of yourself.
Ways to prioritize wellness in University
Entering post-secondary can be a daunting milestone. The pressure of being in a new and advanced learning environment tends to get overwhelm ing. Between a full-academic course load, work and life in general, it can be come so easy to neglect our well-being without even realizing it. In navigating university for the past four years, here are some practices I wish I would have known and implemented sooner. Prioritize sleep…or try to, at least I know it may not seem like the most important thing in the world when you’re stacked with homework and deadlines, but one of the best things you can do for yourself is to establish a con sistent sleeping schedule. Running on caffeine with only a few hours of down time can only last for so long before you drive yourself to burnout. Ensuring that you get at least minimum hours of rest everyday goes a long way in maintaining your mental and physical well-being. Branch out Making meaningful connections is one of the best parts of university. Having a community of people can make all the difference when school starts to suck the life out of you. While it’s typically difficult to make new friends in class rooms, University of Calgary offers a variety of clubs and organizations that students can take part in. I highly sug gest joining a club that piques your in terests or speaks to your values. I found that extracurriculars often became my refuge when I needed a break from my desk and the library. Volunteer, try new things, explore — you never know what you might find out there.
Maintaining a good GPA while making sure I can comprehend and utilize the knowledge in a way that furthers my understanding of my major.
Rodrigo — Sports & Lifestyle Editor
Sheroog — Arts & Science Editor Sitting in class and actually absorbing what is being taught instead of worrying about a letter grade.
Being proud of what I’ve accomplished because I know I understood what I learnt and having that progress reflect in my final grade.
Eula — News Editor Immersing myself in the study material and critically engaging with the content instead of just passively absorbing facts.
Sophia — Editor-in-Chief While grades are important, it’s more about learning something that you can later apply in the future – memorizing only gets you so far.
Julieanne — News Editor
What does academic success mean to you?
Academic success can be defined in several different ways, as everyone’s post-secondary experience varies. At the Gauntlet, we want to remind you that whatever your version of academic success is, it’s valid and accepted. Here’s what academic success means to us.
38 | GAUNTLET FROSH 2022
Vipasha — Managing Editor Taking what you learned in class and contributing it to conversations with others.
Ramiro — Layout Editor
Amanda — Contributing Editor
Namratha — Volunteer Coordinator
Valery — Visuals Editor
Depending on what goals you set for yourself and what system you use to assess your achievements, I think feeling like you’re improving in comparison to your past self is always a valuable way of measuring academic success.
At the beginning of my degree, academic success was defined by GPA-focused status competitions and trying to pull as many all-nighters as possible. Thankfully, none of the above worked and now I’ve found the most success in simply fostering my curiosity.
Setting myself up for success by planning everything out at the beginning of the semester so dates don’t overlap and I don’t find myself swamped when it’s too little and too late to save my grade.
Ensuring that what I’ve learnt is applicable in my field through connections and experiences, not just memorization and sustaining a GPA.
Aymen — Voices Editor
Ava — Opinions & Humour Editor
It means being passionate about what you are learning, and being able to apply it to the holistic sense of your life. Everyday is a chance to learn.
Megan — Visuals Editor Back in high school I’d consider academic success as 85 per cent and up. Today, I consider it more of a personal feeling of understanding and growth within a certain subject — although good grades help, too.
GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 | 39
Knowing what the material means, how to apply it and learning from failures — you can’t just memorize. You need to be able to solve problems on your own, but also know when to ask for help.
40 | GAUNTLET FROSH 2022
A new year means new experiences and a new reading to give everyone an insight into what may come. The future is never certain but this is a warning of what may come — don’t fight it, work with it. Tarot Reading
FROSH
GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 | 41
This card relates to the Emperor card of the major arcana. Usually paired with authority, here we see it as Rex — the university’s mascot. As a mascot, Rex likes to raise the energy at sports events — as a student you gotta find that drive to do the things you need to do. Also like Rex, you need to shower and clean the mascot suit, nobody wants to smell B.O. at their 9 a.m. lec ture.
It’s only three cards but they tell a story of starting a new year and making the most of it. If you’re a first-year stu dent, know that it can be a lot at once but taking it a day at a time will help you tackle each challenge you will face.
Ramiro Bustamante Torres Layout Editor
You may have heard of the page of cups but as a student, this is better represented by a water bottle. Hav ing an emotional support water bottle with you will make classes and study ing more bearable. This can also take the meaning of something new and unexpected occurring, like meeting new people. Take this card as a sign to make new friends and drink lots of water, obviously.
The suit of papers, projects and thesis writing, beware of getting trapped by poor time management skills. Univer sity can be overwhelming especially if you don’t set boundaries and goals for yourself. You did enroll at the univer sity to get a degree, this isn’t news to you, so find what works best for you before it gets too overwhelming. And remember that university can be fun amongst all midterms and finals.
42 | GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 Meet the Gauntlet Staff
Julieanne Acosta — News Editor news@thegauntlet.ca Zodiac: Cancer Major: Double Major in Law and Society, English Inflation guilty pleasure: Coffee Least favourite campus spot: The stupid zipper thing Eula Mengullo — News Editor news@thegauntlet.ca Zodiac: Aries Major: Political Science and History Inflation guilty pleasure: Uber Eats Least favourite campus spot: That creepy elevator in the far right side by the Faculty of Arts advising office Sheroog Kubur — Arts & Science Editor arts@thegauntlet.ca Zodiac: Taurus Major: Political Science Inflation guilty pleasure: overpriced bubble tea Least favourite campus spot: Law library Rodrigo Verney — Sports & Lifestyle Editor sports@thegauntlet.ca Zodiac: Cancer Major: Physics Inflation guilty pleasure: nostalgic video games/Gas Least favourite campus spot: Crowded hallway Ava Zardynezhad — Opinions & Humour Editor opinions@thegauntlet.ca Zodiac: Aries Major: Medicine Inflation guilty pleasure: Green tea Castella cake from H-mart Least favourite campus spot: Mac Hall cafeteria Aymen Sherwani — Voices Editor voices@thegauntlet.ca Zodiac: Cancer Major: Political Science, Minor in Law & Society Inflation guilty pleasure: Dior Lip Oil Least favourite campus spot: TFDL, floors 1-3 Sophia Lopez — Editor-in-Chief eic@thegauntlet.ca Zodiac: Pisces Major: Communications and Media Studies Inflation guilty pleasure: Coffee Company Least favourite campus spot: 3rd floor of TFDL
Amanda
Zodiac:
Inflation
Valery Perez — Visuals Editor visuals@thegauntlet.ca Cancer Major: Ecology, minor in Geography guilty pleasure: Kombucha favourite campus spot: Engineering building Wilson — Contributing Editor contributing@thegauntlet.ca Pisces Major: Communications & History guilty pleasure: the cost of living – it’ll always cost $0 to be a bummer favourite campus spot: Haskayne Paul — Managing Editor managing@thegauntlet.ca Taurus Major: Communication & Media Studies guilty pleasure: Concession stands at the movies Least favourite campus spot: Parking lots Badawadagi — Volunteer Coordinator volunteer@thegauntlet.ca Zodiac: Sagittarius Major: Biology Inflation guilty pleasure: Skip the Dishes Least favourite campus spot: the department of Biological Sciences Bustamante Torres — Layout Editor layout@thegauntlet.ca Libra Major: Biology, minor in Music guilty pleasure: Parking on campus Least favourite campus spot: Scurfield Hall Library Want to volutneer at the Gauntlet? Find us on the 3rd floor of MacEwan Hall, room 319! our volunteer coordinator to get started! volunteer@thegauntlet.ca
Vipasha
Inflation
GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 Koch — Visuals Editor visuals@thegauntlet.ca Sagittarius Major: Communications and Media, minor in Film Studies guilty pleasure: Bake Chef Least favourite campus spot: Any hallway at noon
Zodiac:
Least
Least
Zodiac:
Inflation
Zodiac:
| 43 Megan
Inflation
Inflation
Zodiac:
Namratha
Ramiro
44 | GAUNTLET FROSH 2022 New to campus? Feeling overwhelmed by FROSH week? Never fear! This crossword is a crash course in all things University of Calgary.Across2.Thiscentral hub for student life on campus is affectionally called “______ Hall.” 6. Pro tip to those new to TFDL, floors 4–6 of the library are known as ______ floors. Save the chatting for 1–3! 9. Trivia time Dinos! Which building is the oldest on campus? 10. See if you can spot this friendly reptile welcoming students back to 1.Downcampus.Don’tknow where to go for your classes? Use this interactive mapping tool to get your bearings on 3.campusNeed help finding friends and want a hobby that will go on your co-curricular record? Check out ____________in Mac Hall. 4. The U of C is situated on the traditional territories of the people of which 5.region?TreatyNotsureif you’re getting the credits you need? Book an appointment with one of these experts to make sure you’re on track. 7. Make sure to grab your UPass at the start of the semester so you can use the City of Calgary ________ sys8.tem.Catch the Dinos at their first home game of the season at this annual back-to-school event. Send a photo of a completed crossword volunteer@thegauntlet.cato Be among the first three submitters to be congratulated in our next issue and win a Gauntlet toque! Crossword: University of Calgary 101 Megan VolunteerWilson LastIssue’sKey: BeetlejuiceMacintoshAcross:2.Pop4.9.Labyrinth12.15.Walkman16.Metallica17.Wendys18.Charter19.NeonCabbageScrunchieStarWarsTopgunDown:1.3.McFly5.Mullet6.Nike7.8.10.MTV11.Pacific13.Calgary14.
