Lazy Faire March 2012 by Lazy Faire

For Business Students, by Business Students

LAZY FAIRE March 2012

A Man of Many Faces

INTERVIEWS 101

interview quick tips

JOSH LE Taste of Hub excite your tastebuds

Introducing your

PRIME

2012/2013

BSA

Opportunity

Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get enough of us? For additional content, check out

www.lazyfairemagazine. blogspot.com 2

Editor’s Note

Editor’s Note Karolina Zheng Editor-in-Chief kzheng2@ualberta.ca Lance Chung Content Editor lance1@ualberta.ca Ryan Jayatunge Design Editor rjayatun@ualberta.ca

There is a bittersweet feeling in the air, March is finally here and the final home stretch to freedom, but not before our last hurdle of midterms and the dreaded finals. As the snow melts and the greenery of spring starts to appear with its new beginning, we can take this time to reflect on our triumphs and what we have learnt of our failures and move towards our future endeavors. In this issue we explore the opportunities that lay before us with our interview with PRIME, Business Career Services and more. We are also providing some tools to jump start your career with Interview 101 and The Coveted Job. Furthermore since we’re in the middle of midterms and finals are around the corner, we have simple methods off “How to Handle Exam Anxiety” and for everyone planning to go all out and pull those all nighters for finals we have “Coffee Around Campus”. Lastly we have the one and only Josh Le as our Student Spotlight. As midterms are finishing and finals are around the corner we want to wish everyone the best of luck in your studies and future aspirations.

LAZY FAIRE TEAM Content

Alex Manolii- Senior Contributor Braden Lauer - Senior Contributor Breanne Pisani - Senior Contributor Eileen Lee - Senior Contributor Paul Lopushinsky - Senior Contributor Sally Au - Senior Contributor & Creative Director Matt Crowley - Senior Contributor Bonnie Truong - Senior Contributor Kirsten LePage - Senior Contributor

Design

Emily Wong - Creative Director Jeff Mah - Photographer & Creative Director Jenny Truong - Creative Director Matthew Alexander - Creative Director Nitasha Happy - Creative Director Shirley Guo - Creative Director Tony Chiang - Creative Director

- Lazy Faire Editors

March

Table of Contents

Academics

Business

Student Life

CALENDAR

INTERVIEW 101

THE COVETED JOB

10 11

PRIME

14 15

BSA EXECUTIVES

18 19

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: JOSH LE

06 07

TASTE OF HUB BLOG

08 09

COFFEE SHOP

STRESS AND ANXIETY

Lazy-Faire Magazine

lazyfairemagazine.blogspot.com 4

www.bsaonline.ca

@lazy_faire

Calendar

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

March

Wednesday

UAMA March Madness

Friday

Saturday

MISC MIS Speaker Session

SIFE Western Regional Expo

UAHRMA Five Days for the HRM Conference Homeless begins

Thursday

BSA Anti-Burnout

UAMA Case Competition

BSA Curlament

UAHRMA UAHRMA HRM Confernce HRM Conference

BEA Nation to Nation

BSA Awards

BSA Speaker Series

BSA Grad

BSA Street Hockey

Student Life

Taste of H.U.B. By Alex Manolii

We are all motivated by a keen desire for praise, and the better a man is, the more he is inspired to glory. – Cicero In today’s world, greatness is rare. Many say that the days of the great actor, the great writer, the great artist are over – replaced by an undifferentiated mass of individuals that share homologous roles as they pass through the revolving door of time. Amidst such turmoil we find Almar, Mark, Patrick, and Jeff – four brave individuals that have decided to make a difference. Putting their taste buds at great risk, they have volunteered to sample food from each and every restaurant in the notorious HUB mall, here at the University of Alberta, and report their findings on their blog, Taste of H.U.B. (tasteofhub.tumblr.com). Their entertaining rhetoric has brought joy to hundreds of thousands, and their culinary advice is unrivalled (mainly because no one else blogs about the quality of H.U.B. food) but also because their advice is very good. We had a chance to meet with two representatives of this wonderful ensemble. Unfortunately Jeff and Mark could not make the interview due to other food connoisseur commitments that are currently occurring in Toulouse, France. Lazy Faire: How did this idea start? Give us the low down. An inside scoop, if you will. Patrick: We got the idea from my brother John and our buddy Ryan. They were talking one day about Taste of Edmonton and we just happened to be in HUB mall. They never took the idea big time; I think it’s because they were afraid of the glory, what could have been. How are they handling it now? Thanks for asking. Jealousy is a stinky cologne, and they wear it well. I jest, they’ve been very gracious with us riding on the coattails of their idea. And to say we are unfairly profiting or stealing is ludicrous in the sense that it insinuates that anyone actually cares about our blog or our opinion. We’re just happy someone does us the courtesy of taking a peek every once in a while. LF: What’s the end goal? What do you wish to achieve? Almar: Other than the glory? I guess, in the end, we are just making people aware that, at the University of HUB Mall Directory can be found at: http://www.asinfo.ualberta.ca/en/RealEstateandPropertyManagementService/HUBMall/HUBMallDirectory.aspx

Student Life

Alberta, even though you have a good chance of getting you getting lunch, maybe meeting friends, but things can E. Coli, there are still some decent places to eat in HUB. escalate and before you know it, they’re snapping pictures We also get off on reading our own stuff. We are truly shal- of you in less honourable settings. low individuals. But we’re okay with that. LF: What is next for you folks in terms of future aspirations? Almar: The next step for us is to toss our inhibitions aside, drop out of school and do this full-time until we make it big. Oh sorry, for a second I thought I was an inner-city kid with dreams of becoming the next Jay-Z. I don’t think we have future aspirations. Aspirations are for people who set goals. We are not the type of people who set goals. People who set goals don’t have time to sit around and trash-talk restaurants. LF: What is your message to the readers of this magazine? Almar: Wait, people will actually read this article? I thought we were just doing this so we can pretend people cared about what we say. In that case, I better add some class. I would say our message is for people who enjoy what we do, but don’t take everything we say too seriously. We are only voicing our opinions, not intentionally trying to conLF: What have been your impressions so far with the demn any of the restaurants. Except International Fare, food? Give us a rundown of your experience. that place can die a slow, stale and tasteless death. Patrick: I’ve said this in one of my reviews, but grading food in HUB is tough. There are so many factors that come into play and you have to keep your scores relative to the other places. Essentially it’s graded on a HUB curve, but scaled to an F average – there are no winners here. When we get excited about a place it’s not that we’d recommend people go out of their way to eat there, god no. It’s more of a “mom-stopped-making-me-sandwichesand-I’m-trapped-in-this-revolting-mall-anyway” kind of recommendation. It’s also tricky because, at the end of the day, these businesses are someone’s livelihood. For a while, poking fun made us feel bad. But then we had a realization: we’re like rats, stuck in a lab. We’re trapped in HUB when it comes to food, they have to do so little to win our business. So, if every once in a while one of the rats says, “I have a dream,” and that dream is of better food, then that’s ok. These guys are hilarious, and if you have a blog or want LF: You are very reserved individuals who value your to read a blog, there is no reason for you not to go to private life. How have you been coping with the strain TasteofHub.tumblr.com or follow them on Twitof being in the public sphere? Patrick: Well that’s mostly why we’ve tried to remain anon- ter at @ATasteofHUB. They will rate HUB mall ymous. I mean, it’s fun to be famous and all, but you have restaurants, they might even say something you disagree to be responsible. The paparazzi starts out fine, pictures of with, but one thing is sure – they’ll make you laugh. 7

Student Life

COFFEE AROUND CAMPUS

Braden Lauer

As students, everyone is looking for the perfect coffee shop. Whether it is to meet with friends, to grab a quick fix before class, or to go to study for the endless exams that you have; coffee truly is the life-blood of the university student. Lazy-Faire took a tour to some of the coffee shops around campus this month to give the business students an informed look at all their caffeine options. Enjoy! Remedy Café (8631 109 Street)

This café has a giant menu to offer you with an emphasis on traditional Indian cuisine and vegan alternatives. If you like to drink chai this is the place to go. The setup of the café is also very cool as they have room for some seating on the lower level, but also tons of room to sit and enjoy your drinks on the second level, as well. It can be a bit loud at times however, and they’ll sometimes have artists playing acoustic shows on the upper level. Outlets: Yes, there are lots of options for your laptop to explore as well! Wireless Internet: Yes

Leva Cappuccino Bar (11053 86 Avenue)

Leva is nestled in a very non-obvious location, yet seems to be known by many and is extremely popular. It has a very nostalgic feel and offers a variety of high quality drinks. If you haven’t come here yet, it is worth finding this cozy cappuccino bar! Outlets: Only a few. Wireless Internet: No.

Student Life

MORE COFFEE AROUND CAMPUS Good Earth Café (87 Avenue and 112 Street) Good earth is a chain that is becoming more and more popular in Canada. Though the coffee is probably not as high quality as you will find in some of the other café’s listed, it is a close place to go with a great atmosphere. This place has also has a cool little salad bar in the back if you’re feeling hungry or need a mid-day snack. Good Earth also boasts many environmentally friendly practices, including 100 percent wind powered stores. Outlets: Only a few Wireless Internet: Yes

Dewey’s

Though this coffee shop is right on campus across the way from the Graduate Students Association and just a few seconds away from CAB, it is still somehow unknown to many and is extremely underrated. Dewey’s has a giant space, an upstairs with comfy couches and a quieter back room with pool tables. Many people come here for a beer after class, but it should be noted that the coffee is also quite amazing. If the coffee doesn’t sell this place for you, maybe the giant statue that is stuck inside will. Outlets: Yes Wireless Internet: Deweys is on campus! OF COURSE!

Transcend (8708 109 Street)

This coffee house is relatively new and has, so far, been very impressive, even with its location being just across the street from Remedy. The other thing that sells Transcend is that they have the most delicious waffles to accompany any drink. The staff here also seem to love where they work, and are accommodating to everybody that walks through the door. They always play a lot of cool music through their iPods that will beat any other coffee shops unoriginal selections too! Outlets: Yes Wireless Internet: Yes

Business

Opportunity By Kirsten LePage

he Program for Research and Investment Management Excellence (PRIME) is a student-run investment management fund where 16-18 students work with reputable mentors in hopes of making sound and profitable investment decisions to grow the University’s endowment fund and gain invaluable experience in portfolio management. But, how does the program work? Who can apply? Lazy Faire sat down with two of the students in the program with similar, yet very different roles, to get a closer look at how the program runs and what it really takes to succeed in such a rigorous program. To close, Gary Smith, PRIME’s program director, also offers his thoughts on how he would like to see PRIME grow in the future.

What is your role as a manager?

Matt Murphy: Initially, for recruitment there’s a fairly substantial time commitment, both in preparing materials and also selecting candidates through the interview process, sifting through 20-25, 40-page papers or more. Then, in the second half of the year, we get the analysts to take more of an active role and provide constructive feedback and criticism to them, whether it be for pitches or ideas. One of the biggest things that the managers do, because it is such a limited time frame with which to bestow whatever knowledge we have on our analysts, is taking as much time as we can to share what we know about their specific industry and the markets in general.

What are the advantages for current PRIME members and graduated alumni?

MM: There are a number of advantages, but for me it would be the way that the extensive network continues to grow. We have alumni in ten or more banks down in Calgary, going out East and internationally 10

as well. This provides opportunities to PRIME students that are not made available to other students: to have someone in a mentorship position who’s been through it all and can really help prepare you. In addition, there are various skills that employees look for that we can at least have a hand in preparing students for, be it with communication, analysis systems, and researching companies.

What is it that makes this program so challenging?

MM: I’ll give you a two-parter. The first challenge is definitely the recruitment process. The two weeks that you spend to write two 30 or 40 page papers on a company or a commodity is a pretty substantial workload while you are trying to balance assignments and midterms, but obviously it pays off once you get in. I think the second part, and the one thing that we’ve sort of been focusing on this year is representing the program, possibly better than it has been in the past. Whether it is when you are doing case competitions or whatever else

Business

around the school, people know that you are in PRIME. Whatever it is that you are doing goes back to the program and you have to do your best to represent. One of the toughest things is that often PRIME is seen as an elitist program. I think what PRIME needs to do is get out there more and interact with our fellow finance and accounting students to show that we are not an “exclusive” group. We’re fairly easy going and a group of nice people, plus we’re always open to have a beer at Hudson’s with anyone (laughs).

Do you have any advice for those who may be wishing to apply to PRIME in the Fall?

MM: It would be a good idea to reach out to those already in the program, put in the time studying for the interviews, and don’t discount the amount of effort you need to put in the papers. The hard work definitely shows through...and will pay off! Even before the recruitment process, try to get out there and read about the markets. Get a feel for what’s going on out there. Having a general idea of some major events will be a definite advantage.

Matt Murphy – Manager What is your role as an analyst?

Raman Khinda: As analysts we actively follow the stocks within our sector, such as Financials and Energy, and we find potential stocks that we would like to pitch to the group. There is a lot of discussion about macroeconomic events because anything that happens around the world can affect your portfolio. Weekly, we are keeping up on the news of any movements that would change the stock price and updating our managers on this news. We are also doing a lot of fundamental analysis. That’s a huge part of what we do and something that our managers expect from us.

What is your favourite part about the program?

RK: Definitely the relevant work experience that it gives you. When you are recruiting and you are looking for a job, a lot of what they expect from you, you will have already done in PRIME. Also, these are some of the hardest working and smartest people I have ever met so that definitely motivates you to work harder. Plus, everyone obviously has that common interest for finance, but what’s interesting is that everyone brings in their own personality and their own different

unique experiences. I think the level of camaraderie that you develop over the two years is really something that you can take out past your completion of PRIME.

What are some of the necessary traits needed to be accepted and to succeed in the program?

RK: Hard working. If you are going to put yourself through that process, the way I look at it is, there’s no looking back. Don’t have any doubts. Trust your ability, have the confidence and have that work ethic. Also, perseverance, because I don’t think you are going to be sleeping very much during those two weeks (laughs). A lot of what is required in the reports, you’ll probably be learning for the first time too. PRIME is really going to be what you put into it. The more interested and enthusiastic you are about learning about finance, the more you make a great candidate in that regard too.

Raman Khinda - Analyst Gary Smith – Program Director Where would you like to see the PRIME program in the next few years?

GS: I would like to see more female students apply. This is the problem with finance. In the industry, there are not that many women, so I’m not shocked that we have a low percentage of female applicants. But I think women have a skill set and characteristics that are really useful in finance. When it comes to application time and the review process, of course, it is merit based entirely. But, if there are female students who are doing the courses that they need and that are remotely interested, please, I’d love to see you come forward.

To read more of Gary’s advice to students interested in applying to the PRIME program, visit www.lazyfairemagazine.blogspot. com.

Contact primemail.bus.ualberta.ca if you’d like to find out more about the program! 11

Academics

Interviews By: Bonnie Truong

How many of you rejoice when you receive the call from your potential employer, only to fret and stress about how on earth you are going to ace the interview? We spoke to Melanie Tymofichuk, of the Business Career Services Centre, to gain some insight and tips to ace that interview! Lazy Faire: What are some typical questions that employers like to ask? Melanie Tymofichuk: The thing about interviews is that you don’t know what questions you’ll be asked. For most interviews, there are two common types of questions. One is behavioural descriptive questions, where the employer asks you to talk about a specific skill set or experience that you’ve had in more detail. So they are actually looking for you to tell a bit of a story about a situation from your past. Then there are more general questions like “tell me about yourself” and “where do you see yourself in five years”. Most interviews will have a combination of these common types of questions. LF: When an employer asks you to “tell me about yourself”, are there right or wrong ways to answering the question? MT: The employer is typically treating the question as a bit of an ice breaker to get the student comfortable and talking about themselves. You don’t want to rehash your resume too much; you also don’t want to give a life story. But it’s a good chance to talk about something that you’re really interested in, or some interesting part of your past. For example, if you’re someone who’s traveled a lot or lived in different countries, that is something you can talk about - it’s something interesting to talk about. So there isn’t really a right or wrong answer, but it’s a good chance to talk about you the person as opposed to the person in the resume. LF: What do you do if you cannot answer a question? MT: There are a couple of different ways you can approach it. One is you can ask for a minute or two to think about it if you are having a hard time coming up with an answer. Or you can ask the employer if you can come back to it afterwards and that will give you a little bit of time to think about it. In any interview, 12

101

you’ll probably get some questions that are easier to answer and some that are a bit tougher to answer. So on those tougher ones, don’t feel bad about asking for a little bit more time or asking to come back to answer it later. LF: What are some do’s and don’ts during an interview? MT: Well for do’s, you need to be on time or ideally early. Also, be prepared; beforehand you need to have done some research on the organization and understand what the job is about. Do come prepared with some questions to ask them as well because that shows that you’ve researched the job and that you are interested in it. And the other do would be to come dressed appropriately for the interview, so in business attire or something that would be appropriate for an interview. The don’ts would be: don’t arrive late. Potentially the worst thing that you can do is be late for an interview and keep the interviewer waiting. You don’t want to say at the end of an interview, when they give you the chance to ask questions, that you have no questions because it implies that you don’t have any interests in the position. And try not to be nervous… But that’s a hard thing to do. LF: Would you recommend every student to take the mock interview? MT: Absolutely. The students who take the mock interview beforehand find it extremely valuable, especially if you’re someone who gets very nervous at the idea of an interview or if you don’t have a lot of practice in interviews. It’s a good way to practice it in a comfortable, safe environment where there’s not a job on the line. And the employer who’s doing the mock interview will give you lots of great feedback so that you can improve your interview style. LF: What is the biggest piece of advice you can give to a student? MT: My biggest tip is to be prepared. Do some research on the company beforehand, look at some sample interview questions and figure out what kind of answers you can give. If you go in prepared and understand the position, as well as yourself and your skills, then you will be a lot better prepared to handle whatever the interviewer throws at you.

Academics

Looking for summer jobs is an intimidating process. Most stu-

dents wait until the end of school to look for jobs, as their focus is on their schoolwork and other areas of life. There are so many job postings that students get overwhelmed, and many face the challenging aspect that they do not receive a call or an email back. Luckily for students, there are many services available that help them find jobs. One of these services is the Business Career Services at the School of Business, which helps students in a wide variety of ways. Lazy Faire recently spoke to Dale McNeely, Director of Business Career Services and Cooperative Education Program, to learn what they have to offer and if they could offer any advice for students in search of the coveted post-graduate job. Lazy Faire: How does the Business Career Services at the School of Business help students find summer jobs? Dale McNeely: The services we provide, whether for summer jobs, part time, or permanent, are pretty similar. There is an online job board for business students alone that they can access. As companies post jobs and come looking for business students, we post the jobs up on the online job board. We have online and hard-copy resources on how to write a cover letter, resume, and how to have an interview. Students can go online or come to our office to pick up these resources. We also critique resumes and cover letters for students. If they want to come in at any time to get questions answered, we have a drop in system in which one of the staff will answer your questions. LF: What are the most common mistakes that students make when looking and applying for summer jobs? DM: One of the biggest things in general is students underestimate the work involved in the job search. They think that it’s a simple process, that they have to apply to 5-6 jobs and that’s enough work, and expect an interview for every job they apply for. In reality, it’s extremely competitive, and there’s always more applications for positions than students estimate. They have to be diligent, have high quality docu-

ments, and they have to spend time preparing for an interview if they get one. You can’t just go into an interview and rely on luck or charm. Most students, for their first job, was just a matter of filling a job in a restaurant, or working retail, but for business type jobs, there is much more to it then that. The next biggest mistake is not looking broad enough. You have to look at a lot of sources for jobs, and students must look into their network. Tell people you know, whether family, friends, or people you have worked or volunteered with, that you are looking for a job. Talk to them, email them, go out to coffee with them. You will be surprised at the results by doing this. Students also have to look beyond sites like monster.com, and should go to company websites and get into contact with their HR office and contact them directly. They may not have anything posted, but they may be interested in hearing from you. It is said that most jobs are obtained and secured through your network instead of applying for various positions. LF: A common occurence for students applying for summer jobs is sending out many responses to various job postings, but never receiving an email or a call back. What advice can you give to students who face this situation? DM: Have a good plan at the start, and starting early is the best course of action. Don’t wait until after midterms or until late April; there has to be a long-term plan. Realistically, your search for a summer job should have begun in January. Those waiting until the end of April are missing a large number of opportunities that were obtained by others beforehand. Spend some regular time at it, such as spending a couple evenings a week where you job search for about an hour. Go to companies websites, get in contact with their HR department. Don’t stop until you have an offer. The earlier you start, the better. LF: What are some things students can do to help stand out when applying for summer jobs? DM: Make sure your documents are of the highest quality possible. Have your work critiqued, which is something that the Business Career Services can do for you. Simple errors, whether spelling or grammar, can be enough to put your application in the garbage pile. Spending quality time on your documents is hugely important. The next step is preparing for the interview. Spend some time learning about the company, what they do, being prepared to answer a variety of questions, and pre-thinking answers to typical questions that you think would be asked during an interview. You want to come across, if you get that chance, as eager, willing and able to learn. Employers are not expecting you to be able to do the job on day one, but are looking for you to learn quickly and be able to become proficient at your job in the shortest time possible. Being honest in what you are looking for, flexible in what you are looking for - those all carry a lot of weight when applying

The Coveted Job

for a job and in interviews.

By: Paul Lopushinsky

Business

2012-2013

Executive By Breanne Pisani

It’s hard to believe this current school year is almost coming to an end. Back in February, elections were held to determine the newest members of the BSA. Lazy Faire is proud to announce the new BSA executive team for 2012/2013 and had the opportunity to ask the new executives some questions regarding the following year.

Jessa Aco, President

Why did you want to become the president of the BSA? It would be absurd to claim that I did it purely for selfless reasons. Personally, I love meeting new people and challenging myself to new things. The position allows me to connect with faculty, alumni and the student body to the extent that I’ve never had before.

Although that’s quite exciting, the bigger reason is honestly the ability to affect students’ Bcomm experience. With all the programs and events that the BSA organizes throughout the year, being part of the Executive gives me the chance to help students jumpstart their careers, meet new friends, connect with future employers, and so much more! This year only 500 agendas were ordered for close to 2000 students. Next year, do you plan on ordering enough agendas so that every student is able to get one? I spoke to our previous Executive about the situation before the Elections even started. I agree with them when they say that it is not economically feasible for the BSA to foot the bill for 2000 agendas especially when history shows that we usually throw 800 of them away because not all of our Business students take them. However, by going through the Students’ Union, we will be able to order 2000 agendas without hurting our budget. This is how I plan on targeting this issue. 14

Aaron Marchadour, VP Academic

Why do you think students are becoming less engaged with the BSA (low voter turnout, fewer candidates running for positions)? I don’t know if students are becoming less engaged and involved with the BSA. BSA events (at least on the internal portfolio which I was a member of) had at least equal if not better showing than last year and students who attended seemed to enjoy them. Because of this strong showing I was shocked to see low voter turnout and few people running for BSA executive positions. But I don’t know if anyone can say it is for sure because of a lack of engagement. Being a BSA executive takes a lot of work and commitment and I think a lot of students would rather get involved with the organization in a director role rather than an executive role. I think this resulted in less people voting because many students felt their vote didn’t matter since only one position was contested. What are you looking to do this upcoming year? Next year I want to work with all the other exec to have more open, two way communication between business students and the executive of the BSA. I want to send newsletters (bi-weekly or monthly) with important information that relates to business students. More importantly I want to have an effective feedback mechanism so students can offer suggestions, comments, and feedback to BSA executives and ask questions more easily. I want to hold more academic events to provide students seeking these events with more opportunities in hopes of adding value to all students’ degrees. I want to have more competitions, open case competition tryouts, and info sessions/workshops hosted by professionals focused on building essential business skills. Stay tuned for more info!

Business

Kyle Parrota, VP External

What can we expect from you this upcoming year? A committed and relentless attack to getting sponsorship and showcasing the School of Business most valuable asset, the students.

Lisa Le, VP Events

What types of events can we expect this upcoming year? The events you can expect this year are similar to the ones last year, but with some restructuring and hopefully improvements!

Do you feel any extra presWhat event are you most sure knowing that because excited for? you were the only candiI’m excited about all of the events, but in particular, the date running, you won by winter gala. Since it was cancelled this year, I’m really looking acclamation? Not really, it doesn’t matter forward to bringing it back next year. I’m also excited about takto much to me that I won without another candidate run. ing backstage pass and moving it into the events portfolio. Im going do what I do and be Kyle.

Hassaan Qadri, VP Finance

Maryna Vysotski, VP Internal

What exactly is VP Internal involved in? VP Internal is involved with anything and everything to do with the student life! The Internal portfolio throws several events throughout the year including Orientation, FROSH, Apprentice, Beer Olympics while also being in charge of the Cohort System. My job? To make sure all of these go smoothly and to introduce new students to the unique SoB culture! Also, this upcoming year the VP Internal will be responsible for organizing hangouts/team bonding within the BSA!

What changes are you planning on making within the School of Business? Although my portfolio will not undergo through drastic changes, more of “tweaks”, I would like to work on the attitude people have towards the BSA and school elections. My goal for next year is to hopefully engage and involve a wider variety of people in the BSA and to encourage them to run for different executive positions giving students more of a “choice” when voting thereby increasing student participation in the faculty! I am also looking to restructure the cohort system a little bit.... but that’s still in the works!

Do you think the recent “embezzlement issue” has lost the BSA some credibility? I genuinely believe that both students within the Alberta school of Business and the corporate partners of the BSA understand that the actions of one individual do not reflect the entire organization. With that said I understand that people are upset by the idea that a bank error allowed for this embezzlement to occur. I believe that this situation presents an opportunity in disguise, as it will allow the organization to reshape its image and become a much more accountable and transparent BSA. To ensure this issue does not occur again, I plan on implementing various accounting controls to help monitor and regulate the organization. First I am going to implement a requirement of a formal audit of the BSA once a year by a professional CA. The result of this audit will be made public through a separate financial tab on the bsaonline.ca website for all students to see. In addition, once a semester all the financial statements of the organization will be posted online so that students can actually see what is going within the BSA. Lastly all BSA council meeting minutes and any changes to the budgets will be made public through the website to ensure complete transparency. I believe that through these measures, as well as a complete open door policy where students can ask any BSA finance related questions, will help restore the confidence of students within the School of Business. I look forwards to speaking with any students that have an interest in the area! 15

Student Life

How to Handle Stress and Anxiety by Eileen Lee

As we’re getting into the third month of the semester, all of you have probably had your first round of midterms, with the second round just around the corner. Every student experiences some kind of stress and anxiety, whether it’s from schoolwork and exams or life outside of school. Here are a few ways to manage your stress and anxiety more effectively.A good method to clear your mind is to unwind with a good cup of tea. Not only is herbal tea good for you, but there are certain kinds known to calm you and lower the release of stress hormones in your body. For example, mint tea not only leaves your mouth with a pleasant taste, but it is also known to relax your mind and help you concentrate. Chamomile tea is known for stabilizing moods and ensuring a pleasant sleep, Lavender is good for relieving headaches and nervous exhaustion, and Vanilla tea is known for its aroma and stress-relieving properties. In addition to herbal teas, there are also black, green, and white teas, each one with different effects on your body.

Another fast and effective way to relieve stress is though reflexology. It consists of applying pressure to certain points on your hands, feet, or face, which correspond to different organs and systems in your body. One of the pressure points connected to your brain, and known to relieve stress, is located on your hand between the base of your pinky and ring finger. By tapping this area, known as the “Gamut Point”, for 30 seconds, it is suppose to stimulate your brain and engage in stress relieving actions. Lastly, another good way to prevent stress and anxiety is to take some time to write a short-term list of all your tasks that need to be done. It’s a great way to get all your thoughts organized and to create goals that are reasonable and easier to complete. Stress and anxiety usually occur due to our ever-growing workloads, sometimes as a result of procrastination or any other reason.

If you`re not a fan of tea then perhaps you would prefer aromatherapy. Similar to the different flavours of tea, there are different scents which have certain calming effects. When essential oils are inhaled, they stimulate your brain to release chemicals affecting your mood. These essential oils can be purchased in most specality stores, which In addition to these methods described, don’t forget the also sell lotions, such as Fruits and Passion or The Body regular stress/anxiety relievers, such as exercising, eating Shop. A good way to apply these scents is through the healthy, and getting enough sleep! use of lotions, candles, or diffusers (heated or heat-free). Scents which are known to provide stress relief and anxiety are lavender, lemon, vanilla, ylang ylang, and jasmine. The best method in practicing aromatherapy is to buy a small bottle of an essential oil and use a diffuser. It only takes a few drops for the scent to fill the room and for you to start relaxing. Aromatherapy and tea are great ways for relieving stress, both of which can be effective and not very costly.

by March 30 17

Business

By Paul Lopushinsky

The Spotlight in March is on a first-year student –

Josh Le By Alex Manolii

terial loads of my jeans. There have been people that have gone longer than me, but most people don’t openly tell the world of their non-washing ways. I’m comfortable with that because there’s a reason for not washing my jeans. That’s for another time.

seeing what their impressions of the faculty are so far and collecting any wisdom that they have garnered over the past year. Although there were so many exciting candidates, we stopped to chat with one of the LF: Alright, well tell us a little bit about that experience – how has that defined you? friendliest faces around. Some people JL: (Laughing) Well, that was definitely a life love his moustache, others are jealous changing experience. I got into my passion for raw of it. Josh Le took the time to give us denim through my friend Vince. He had a pair of jeans that you were not supposed to wash for six the “down-low” on his situation. Lazy Faire: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your life journey so far – a “where have you been and what have you seen” – if you will. Josh Le: Alright, a little bit about me. I’m 21. I’m the youngest of four boys. I’m a fourth year university student, but in my first year of business. I was in two years of sciences, and then I took a year of open studies figuring out life, and now I’m here. I enjoy denim, it is one of my passions and one of the reasons why I came into business. I’ve done plenty of traveling and I enjoy photography. I also like to grow beards. LF: True or False: You are the world record holder for never washing a pair of jeans. JL: Well I’m not a record holder, but I was on Ripley’s “Believe it or Not” – they made a comic about me. It wasn’t just that I didn’t wash them for a long time, it was because I did an analysis on the bac18

months, after which they’re supposed to become the best pair of jeans you’ve ever owned because they mold and naturally distress according to your lifestyle. At first I thought not washing your jeans was a stupid idea, but then I saw the jeans evolve over time and became interested. I eventually got a pair that I wore for 15 months, performed bacterial analyses comparing 15 months to 13 days of unwashed wear with my professor, Dr. Rachel McQueen, and the results came back the same! The story made the news and everything. Seriously, Google “Josh Le” and you’ll be amused.

LF: Jokes aside, you are very involved with extracurricular activities, what have you been involved with in business so far this year? JL: Outside of business I’m pretty involved in my church and I work at menswear boutique on Whyte Ave called Jaisel. My biggest involvements in business are cohort captain (Go Cohort 3!) and Business Councillor for Students’ Council. They are two com-

Business

pletely different positions. With the cohort position, I’m a liaison between the BSA and my cohort and I co-lead and support my fellow first year students to become more involved with the Business faculty. It’s been a fun and neat experience. The Business Councilor position is probably my biggest involvement this year. Actually, I’m not sure everyone knows about this position in the Students’ Union – last year I ran uncontested in the by-election for one of the two spots available. I won – unanimously. Students’ Council is the highest governing body of the Students’ Union, and it plays a vital role in directing the S.U.’s goals and direction. I represent the voice of business students to Students’ Council. I sit on the Elections Review Committee and Budget & Finance Committee with the hope of providing insight and value from a business student’s knowledge. Some neat things we’ve done on Council this year is review the Students’ Union audit by KPMG (the SU is a $10 million organization!), hone the SUB Renovation Feasibility Plan, review the PAW Centre’s project proposal, among other things. It’s a great opportunity to meet other student leaders on campus and I am very glad I’m doing it. It feels like I am involved in a lot more though, I do case competitions, I attend random events where I can help out.

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LF: Changing gears, you are a person that is very good at “networking” – some would say you are a network champion. How do you do it? JL: Well first off, I never think of it as “networking.” What I like to do is meet people and build relationships. When you throw in the word “networking,” I think it cheapens the meaning of relationships and dehumanizes friendships. This attitude that “Hey, I want their business information and their contact!” is not something I totally agree with. I try to talk to everyone because I enjoy meeting new people, regardless of who they are and what they do.

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LF: You were also a member of a team that made it to the Dean’s Competition in BUS 201 last semester. What are your feelings, thoughts, and emotions on that experience? JL: Yeah I thought that was a crazy experience. There were so many teams with great business plans and great ideas. When we got it, I was probably screaming for a solid ten minutes. I was calling everyone, trying to slyly slide in: “Hey, where are you right now? ….WE’RE IN THE DEAN’S COMP!” I think the business plan was really useful. For me, coming out of sciences, I think I had a really technical and detail oriented approach, and I think that this same approach is needed in business. I loved the whole thing – meeting people, working with a great group of people. It was a very realistic exercise for what we should expect in the business world.

I also like to grow beards

LF: Talk about your moustache. Some people love it, other love it even more. Please address your facial hair. JL: Well, I’ve been blessed with the ability to grow facial hair – something not all of my Southeast Asian brothers are able to do. On one side, I want to grow the beard so that they can live vicariously through me. Also, I see it as a statement. It says: “Be comfortable with who you are.” I might even be able to break the mould of what a business student looks like. On my first day in business, I was ten minutes late to my MGTSC 312 class, and after I opened the door, the girl sitting in the front corner had eyes wide open in shock: “Who is this shady bearded guy?” Some people were asking me if I was doing Movember, but I was not - I was doing Mo’ 2011. Anyway, I know some people get playoff beards, and for me, I might get a “B.Com. Beard” but we’ll see where that goes. LF: To top it off, tell us what we should expect from Josh Le in the future, and as you answer this question, please refer to yourself as Josh Le in the third person. JL: Josh Le is still finding his path in life, but Josh Le knows that big opportunities are on the horizon. I can see Josh Le fitting in so many different molds, but Josh Le is comfortable with the unknown. The School of Business has opened Josh Le’s view of the world - there’s business everywhere! I guess we’ll all see where Josh Le will go. 19