OCTOBER 2020 ISSUE
MARTINA ELEGINO
CO-CHAIR OF NEW. FINDING PURPOSE. SIDE HUSTLES. NAVIGATING BUSINESS SCHOOL AND THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD AS A WOMAN OF COLOUR.
WOMEN IN BUSINESS PRESENTS
MYRNA BITTNER
BRINDA NARAYAN
VICTORIA GIBILTERRA
OCTOBER 22 @6PM VIA ZOOM
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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Editor’s Note
CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR’S NOTE VP Editorial Sam Hughes
Writers
Nandini Chandra Timiro Mohamed
VP Art & Design Jazlynn Chan
Designers
Vaneeza Asif Karman Kaur Kim Tinana Jacqueline Wong
Photographers Jerry Cao David Dang
VP Marketing Amanda Brooks
Social Media & Website Director Red Enorme
VP Operations & Finance Bradley May
My name is Parul, and I’m honoured to serve as the Editor-in-Chief for the 2020-2021 academic year. As the weather changes and trees shed their leaves, I have to come to terms with the fact that summer is slowly leaving us. This October, I am missing more things than just summer - not finding the right classroom on the first day, the rush between classes, the first batch of Pumpkin Spice Latte from Second Cup and getting to meet new and old friends in classes. As we navigate education in a pandemic, the challenges are unprecedented. For some of us, this is their first year in Business, and for others, their last and we have heard that is “unprecedented” a few too many times. Such uncertainty is not uncommon - How do you adjusting to the new“normal” when no one is certain what the “new normal” will look like? To document your struggles, success and a step into this mysterial new normal, this month, Lazy Faire has embarked on the journey to capture the process of adapting to a more digital and cautious world. What our days look like, our interactions with each other and simple things in life like going to a restaurant have all changed, and our community has risen to this challenge. Lazy Faire’s theme for this month is ADAPTING TO THE VIRTUAL WORLD, in which we want to celebrate every single time you have had to motivate yourself to do something other than bake banana bread, every single obstacle you overcame to be here
today and everything you do every day to adapt to the changing world around you. In this issue, amongst other things, we offer tips and tricks to network better and make connections (pandemic edition), alternate recipes to banana bread to keep you warm this fall, we sit down with professors and student clubs to discuss how you can be more involved and make the most of this year. Each month, we’ll also be featuring at least one particularly noteworthy student on the cover of our magazine. If you know, someone you think deserves to be on the cover - or maybe if you think that person is yourself please nominate them on the “Contact Us” section of our website. On behalf of the entire Lazy Faire team, we welcome you to a quality content journey that our team is excited to share – content that is for business students, by business students. Read on!
Parul Kanwar Editor-in-Chief
Table of Contents
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CONTENTS 06
07
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Meet the Team
Social Studies
Thought Vs Thought
Bradley May Red Enorme Jazlynn Chan
Effects of Lockdown Policies on the Working and Lower Class
Online Classes vs In-Person Classes
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Student Spolight
Lazy Chat
Club’s Corner
Martina Elegino Finding purpose and navigating business school and the professional world
Robb Sombach
MIS Club Google Development Club
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Opinion
Miscellaneous
University Should be Subsidised Entirely by the Government
Lazy Faire Recipes for Home Cooking
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Meet The Team
MEET THE TEAM Hello, and thank you for reading the little blurb on myself! My name is Bradley May, and I’m a fourth-year accounting student. I have always been passionate about sharing knowledge, and I am honoured to be a part of Lazy Faire to help keep our student body informed about everything Alberta School of Business related. Over the summer, I developed an affinity to craft beer, and since I am about as extroverted as they come, by all means, feel free to reach out to me for a Zoom/Discord/Teams/Google Meets/Facetime/Facebook Messenger/ or whatever platform I missed for a virtual pint!
Bradley May
“The river of knowledge has no depth.”― Chinonye J. Chidolue
VP Finance & Operations
Hi everyone! My name is Red Enorme, and I am a third-year accounting co-op student. I joined Lazy Faire because I think that it is a great way to meet other students and be involved on campus. I am very excited to be this year’s VP marketing! In my spare time, you will find me getting involved in other clubs, singing and travelling all over the world with my choir, running in the River Valley, and watching a ton of Netflix.
Red Enorme VP Marketing
Jazlynn Chan VP Art & Design
Hey! My name is Jazlynn, and I am a 5th year marketing major with a minor in operations management. This is my second year on the team; I joined Lazy Faire last year as a designer and learned a lot during that time. I am very excited to be Lazy Faire’s VP Art and Design this year and hope everyone enjoys the designs this year! I’ve always been an art kid and LF has allowed me to learn a new medium for design. Catch me reading, taking care of my plants, or playing animal crossing in my spare time.
Social Studies
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Lockdown Policies & the Working Class
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n March of 2020 the country of Canada, and the world was forced to face a threat that has not been seriously considered in the last century. The novel coronavirus, originating from Wuhan, China, escaped and spread all across the globe. The response, spurred on by a provocative media push, was to panic, and immediately institute sweeping lockdowns of the economy. The lockdowns resulted in millions of people in Canada being told to stay in their houses. Work was abandoned, save what could be accomplished remotely, all sporting events were cancelled, and universities began ill-fated emergency
transitions to entirely online learning. While questions were raised about the efficacy of these policies in combatting the threat of the novel coronavirus, there were no questions about the devastating effect that such enforced lockdowns had on the economy, with the national unemployment rising to a staggering 13.7% in Canada in May 2020, and GDP contracting by an unprecedented 38.7%, annualized, in the second quarter. In the United States, a much more volatile economy, the news was even worse, with an estimated 60% of temporary business closures
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Written by: Samuel Hughes Designed by: Vaneeza Asif becoming permanent as of September 2020. While the local economy in Alberta has been re-opened at a steady rate between May and September of 2020, there has been significant resistance from various demographics, many of whom fear that further attempts to re-open the economy, coupled with a growing lack of confidence in the provincial and federal governments regarding the measures implemented will lead
to a dangerous spike in the novel coronavirus deaths. However, the cost of the lockdown is evidently becoming higher than the cost of the virus.
“...there were no questions about the devastating effects...on the economy”
CANADA “National unemployment rising to a staggering 13.7” “GDP contracting by an unprecedented 38.7%” UNITED STATES “60% of temporary business closures becoming permanent as of September 2020” IS CONTINUED CLOSURE THE RIGHT DECISION? The argument being made for continued closures of the economy are coming invariable from the middle and upper middle classes, who have been largely unaffected by the closures implemented. White-collar workers, although as affected as everyone else by the lockdown-triggered recession, were able to survive in the lockdown times by transitioning to working from a remote environment. Individuals working office jobs, in government, or academia, were able to continue working throughout the lockdowns, and were able to continue collecting a salary. As a result, they are far more likely to be in favour of lockdown policies, as their job, and not their health, is not inherently threatened by the measures taken to counteract the novel virus.
There are many people who do not have that same luxury. While many people were able to work from home, or earn a salary regardless, there were also a large number of people who were stripped of their ability to work, through no fault of their own. Any worker earning a wage suddenly had no hours when the business they were working at were mandated to shut down. Jobs in the hospitality, travel, and entertainment industries disappeared, and many of them have not, and will not return. Individuals working in these industries have had to cope with the loss of their ability to provide for their families, and to support themselves. While the Federal CERB program may have stymied the tide of oncoming bills, for a young family with little disposable income, $2000/month/
working person wasn’t enough. For these individuals, they do not have the luxury of a salary, or of earning an income while staying home. The rising antipathy towards the government lockdowns can be largely attributed to these individuals. While the privileged upper and middle classes have the luxury of being able to work despite the lockdowns, the lower income classes do not. For these low-income individuals, the cost of the lockdown is unpayable, and the risk of contracting the novel virus is mitigatable. Regardless of the level of risk that various income groups are willing to take regarding the virus, the continuing lockdown policies and restrictions are beginning to wear on everyone, and with a vaccine reportedly just around the corner, the onus falls now on governments to prove the efficacy of their decisions to the people that they are obligated to protect.
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Thought Vs Thought
Online Classes are Better Than In-Person Classes. Written by: Samuel Hughes Designed by: Jazlynn Chan Photos: Shutterstock, UAlberta
W
hile the ongoing pandemic has caused some major problems for the student population at the University of Alberta, it has also created some opportunities. The decision to transition to online classes was received relatively well, as it was decided in May 2020, four months in advance of the semester, giving students time to prepare for the radical change to the curriculum. While online classes invariable present with challenges, the benefits of online classes significantly outweigh the negatives, particularly when compared to in-person classes. The single biggest advantage of online classes is the accessibility of the course material. With the material available online, there is no need to commute to the university every single day. There’s no need to stand on a crowded LRT train, or slip and fall during a blizzard while chasing a bus that came two minutes early. You don’t even need to get out of bed if you don’t want to. Just reach across to your laptop, set it up, and watch your Bus 201 Seminars from the comfort of your bed. Additionally, the time saved by not commuting an hour to school every day can instead be spent working on your assignments, or catching up on readings. Of course, there are other advantages to online classes. If you’re not on campus, you’re not going to be wasting five dollars everyday on that Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino Pumpkin Spice Latte with Soy Milk mixed with two shots of Vanilla and one shot of Caramelized Cocaine. Or whatever people who drink Starbucks drink. You can use all of the extra cost savings to make up for the increased tuition, or, if you managed to keep a job in the pandemic, put extra money towards your investments. Lastly, having online classes means that you can spend more time at home with your family. Food is always better when it’s cooked by a loving parent. Especially compared to the microwaved pizzas that you were living off of when you were going to school and living away from home. You get to spend time with people who are there to support you through this entire ordeal, in a way that you might not get if you’re stuck at the university 12 hours a day. In short, every cloud has a silver lining, and the advent of online classes will hopefully pave the way for more online options in the future.
Thought Vs Thought
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In-Person Classes are Better than Online Classes
T
he decision to offer courses in the Fall term primarily online is a decision that has been widely lauded as an over-reaction, and as a mistake by the university administration. The backlash is understandable, given the fact that courses delivered online are worse than in-person classes in every conceivable way. Firstly, the quality of the course content and delivery bottoms out. While the exact method of delivery by professors fluctuates between courses, the overall consensus is that the delivery of the course material is subpar at best. Sitting on your computer and watching a pre-recorded lecture, and then working through fourteen hundred assignments is not what any of the UofA students signed up for. If we wanted to receive an online education, we would have transitioned to Athabasca University, or, even better, Khan Academy. We don’t even have to pay for Khan Academy, and we still learn more. I don’t know how any international student in their right mind can pay upwards of CAD$30,000 for the courses that are being offered right now. In addition to the excessive burden of costs, and low quality, the issue of academic misconduct has never held a greater presence than it does at this moment. Because cheating is so easy in an online environment, and because many courses are graded on a curve, there is a perverse incentive to cheat. The logic goes that if you don’t cheat on an exam, but everyone else cheats, then the curve will assign you to a grade much lower than you deserve, provided the cheating individuals can get away with it. Theoretically, you would be required to cheat in order to succeed, and thus the only way to avoid cheating, on moral principle, is to exclude yourself from online classes that use curves at all. For some, that means delaying their degrees indefinitely. And lastly, and perhaps most relevantly in this pandemic, online classes put an unknown toll on the mental and physical well-being of students. Personally speaking, being locked in a basement apartment for six weeks nearly drove me insane. For students who will be spending nine months or more in their parent’s basements, without seeing any other humans except over the computer screen, they’re going to be having a bad time. Of course, anyone who is feeling particularly affected by these issues should seek assistance from qualified resources available both on and off campus. In summation, online classes are terrible, and we need to return to in-person classes as soon as humanly possible.
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Student Spotlight
Mar tina Elegino
This month I had the opportunity to virtually sit down with Martina Elegino, a marketing student at the Alberta School of Business. Throughout her degree, Martina has been involved with on-campus activities, as part of clubs like JDC West and NEW, and in case competitions at the local and national level. We talked about what it means to navigate business school and the professional world as a woman of colour, the importance of finding side hustles, and moving towards a more virtual world.
Student Spotlight Was business school always a part of your plan, and if not, how did you find your purpose? Business school was not a part of the plan, and that’s a lot for me to admit. It wasn’t easy for a planner like myself to recognize that I wasn’t heading in the right direction. It took me up until the day of my interview for the Criminology program to decide that it wasn’t for me. It was so tough to get into that program; you needed several volunteer hours, references from professors, and a letter of intent. I put in all this effort to make sure I was the best candidate to go into that program, but on the day of my interview, I woke up and I said, “this is not for me.” I chose to go into Business because I knew that I was both a creative and analytical person; I needed to be in a space where I could use and challenge those skills. Now that I am in Business school, I know I made the right choice. You had the opportunity to compete in the L’Oreal Brandstorm National Finals for Canada as part of the first U of A teams selected in the finals. How did it feel to be at the forefront of such an achievement as a WOC? What do you think it says about the role of women in the Alberta School of Business? Every year, they get the same schools from around Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, so it was such a fantastic thing to be the first U of A team and be an all-girl team. We brought forth the idea of “creating a plastic less future for the beauty industry”. All three of us girls have very different hair; we were all wearing pink and were there as a confident group of girls. We leaned a little bit more to our feminine side by wearing pink. As a woman of colour, I feel that I am representing others every time I win something. I know that many white people don’t necessarily feel that
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
way because they express themselves when they’re there. But for me, every single time I join a case competition or participate in class, a part of me that says I’m representing women of colour - so I need to work harder and represent them well. I think that’s something that many women of colour don’t even realize they’re doing, even if we don’t want to, that’s just how it is. While there’s much diversity in the Alberta School of Business, I feel like many of us are kind of on the sidelines when it comes to who’s involved. There is much conversation about millennials and the idea of the “side hustle”- the Globe and Mail recently wrote an article about it. Do you feel that with our new economic reality and the future’s uncertainty, side hustles are becoming increasingly important? I can’t believe it, but I’ve become one of those who say, “I don’t have hobbies, I have side-hustles.” It sounds annoying, but that was something that I realized earlier on in the year. I had friends around me that had side businesses and felt like I needed to find something for myself. One of my side hustles is as a wedding coordinator, and I’ve done a couple of COVID-friendly weddings now. I also have two jobs: a Marketing Analyst for a tech startup called Pontem Innovations and as a Social Media Assistant for a PR firm called The Adams Agency. Yes, side hustles are becoming more relevant because they offer flexibility and a chance to explore other career options out there.
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I was familiar with all these online platforms because I was conducting meetings virtually. For me, the only tricky part for me was realizing that I was going to be on my computer all day every day. I had to work two of my jobs on, do all four of my classes, conduct meetings as the Network of Empowered Women (NEW) co-chair, and socialize… all on Zoom! Do you feel there’s more of a blend between your life’s different spheres because your room is now your office, your classroom, and your living space? Yes, this 10 by 10 square foot room has been my entire world for the last few months. It’s difficult because I enjoy group work, finding new places to study on campus, and being with people. However, I think it has really forced me to stick to my schedule and not procrastinate as much. Now I value each and every single minute that I have to myself in between numerous meetings. What do you think is one positive of this transition to the virtual world?
You were so involved on and off campus, but with so many aspects of our lives ultimately moving online, how have you adapted to our new virtual word?
It’s challenged us to think a little more creatively about how we can be together. One example is that for Network of Empowered Women (NEW), we managed to do an online event series, where we fundraised money for a women’s shelter called the WIN house, which is a safe space for women that are victims of domestic violence and abuse. With three online events, we managed to raise almost $800. I am really proud of what my team has accomplished and I am looking forward to other events we have in the near future.
I’m quite lucky because when I had my internship at ATB financial, we were already allowed to work from home.
Interviewed by: Timiro Mohamed Designed by: Vaneeza Asif Photographed by: Jerry Cao
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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Lazy Chat
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background with MIS (Management Information Systems)?
ROBB SOMBACH ROBB SOMBACH
My background in MIS started when I was a kid. I have seen the world go from no technology or very little accessible technology at home to what we are living with now, you know, everything is technology. My parents got me my first computer when I was seven years old, so I had access to a computer, but I never thought to make it my career in my life. When I graduated high school, I wanted to be an English teacher. But when I took the required Education courses, I realized that this was not for me so I switched to Arts and did a degree in Anthropology specializing in Archaeology and thought that I would do that with my life. Still no technology and after I graduated from university, I started to do what most students do and started asking around and looking at what opportunities are out there. Everyone started seeing this technology thing, so I did a two-year diploma at NAIT in Computer Engineering and had a job before I even had graduated that. I got my first job at EPCOR in the IT department as a Business Analyst and learned that I wasn’t really cut out for the Monday to Friday 9-5 job. I had some clients on the side and had a friend from years ago who also had clients but was planning to move overseas. So, I took his clients and combined them with mine, I quit my job and ran my own business. I still have my business as of today and I also teach full time. I sort of naturally fell into it, but it was really my hobbies and my interest that got me into MIS.
What is majoring in MIS to you?
Professor Robb Sombach is an Associate Executive Professor working in the MIS Department of the Alberta School of Business. He sat down with Lazy Faire to answer some questions about MIS in the remote world and how MIS can play a role in the future careers of ASOB students. Interviewed by: Nandini Chandra Designed by: Kim Tinana
I teach 413 and it’s called Introduction to Systems Analysis and Design. On the first day I tell my class that they are problem solvers and the whole world is a series or collection of problems. Our lives are a series of problems. It doesn’t have to be a problem in the negative sense but there are a lot of questions in the world. So, MIS to me is definitely a business related major and of course, it is about technology and information systems. It is very rare that an organization who wants to do something more efficiently, save money and increase profits is not going to use technology to meet those goals. So, it is about technology and identifying business problems and looking for solutions which involve some sort of computer system. So, what you could do after you graduate with this degree is be on the business side, understand the business, have an understanding of the technology and make sure that the business’ needs are met. Things like business analytics do not happen without MIS, so, MIS to me is a foundational major. If you cannot trust your data and the foundation is rocky, then the stuff on top is not going to work. I always look at it and say that I am focussed on making sure that the required structure around those technologies is there.
Lazy Chat
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How are you finding adjusting to the “remote life” and with everything being online, how have you managed to teach effectively? That’s a tough question! I never thought we would be in this position. Around Christmas there was talk and we all started to ask questions about the spread of COVID-19. I didn’t believe it at first and I still cannot believe that we are living in that switch from in-person to online classes and did it literally in four days. I am really surprised that it went as well as it did, I mean, obviously in hindsight there are things we can look back and go, “We could have adjusted this.” Maybe if we knew that this would happen, we would have made different decisions. I am a people person and I like to talk and shake hands; I am a hugger! Especially when it comes to school, I love standing and talking in front of the classroom and seeing and talking to students. So, it has been really tough to scale that back. I think that we are all kind of struggling with it. As a technology user from very early in my life, sometimes technology is not the right answer even though it makes things easier for us. I am learning as things as we go as well. How do you think MIS has been affected by the huge influx of people working and studying from home?
I sometimes joke in my classes that organizations are not really interested in what tools or algorithms to use in business analytics or business intelligence. They’re like, “How do we get our people to work from home?” To me that’s MIS. It is about our networks and the internet and I think that people are just realizing the importance of it. I always say to my class that when we walk on campus and connect to UWS, we don’t even think about it. The internet is always going to be there. But the minute it’s gone, like when eClass was down, we were like “Oh my God!” We didn’t think about the 365 days prior to that when it was up and running. I always tell my students to put their phones on airplane mode and see what happens. Nothing works, all the network shuts down, and then it becomes useless. So, I think people are now recognizing that technology is important. So, to me, MIS is that foundational level. None of the other stuff happens without MIS. When it is gone, people notice and if they can’t work from home then the business stops.
What do you think is the biggest advantage or disadvantage that students face after graduating when they enter the workforce? There are two things: patience and confidence. Completing your degree is the easy part even if doesn’t feel like it. But once we graduate and apply for jobs, we just want it to happen sooner than it does. Having the patience to look around and wait for opportunities is important. I have learned the opportunities that you think are perfect for you and don’t get, really set you up for the next opportunity, so a little bit of patience goes a long way. I always say that looking forward, it looks really hard but looking back you don’t think that it was a big deal. In terms of confidence, you guys are learning a lot. You know a lot, so be confident in what you know and when you go out there be confident because you did four years of school and that means something. I have heard people say that your degree is like a toolbox and you choose what kind of tools go in there. Make sure that you have the toolbox. We tend to do more of what we like, so if there is a topic in class that you like, then do more of it because you are going to be invested in it and your career will be improved by that knowledge. It may not work out the way you planned it but if you have the confidence and persistence, things will work out.
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&
A
WITH PRESIDENT OF MIS CLUB YANA VORONKOVA Interviewed by: Nandini Chandra Designed by: Jacqueline Wong
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR CLUB AND WHAT YOU DO AS PART OF IT?
Our major is interdisciplinary because it is a cross between business and computer science. In our club, we try to attract second- and thirdyear students to be part of the club and be part of the whole MIS movement. We try to show people that some of the applications that we use are not only for MIS, but they are also for finance and accounting. Technology is the most important part of our lives right now. For example, in finance if we want to forecast the stock prices, there are number of applications that help you collect the data, alter it and then put into words. And this is MIS. Having an MIS background is like an extra skill to have in other branches of business. WHAT IS YOUR MAIN GOAL FOR STUDENTS WHO JOIN?
It is to promote different career opportunities for students in MIS. Every year we host three to four
Club’s Corner
GET TO KNOW MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS CLUB events. One of them was used to introduce the courses offered at ASOB, to introduce new students to the professors and to guide them in navigating their major. We also have career nights where speakers and alumni from different fields, like project management and business analytics, come to share their experiences in the field. We also share our own experience as students studying MIS and help students connect with the co-op program. Our club’s mission is to show people that there are many opportunities that come with a degree with MIS and that there are a lot of opportunities that help someone go beyond their usual potential by understanding MIS. ARE THERE ANY SORT OF CHALLENGES THAT YOUR CLUB IS FACING THIS YEAR WITH EVERYTHING BEING ONLINE?
Our idea is to show different paths in MIS but due to the current discourse it has been much harder for us. When we host our career nights and introduction sessions our goal is to facilitate relationships and networking between the students, professors, and employers. Doing everything through a video call platform takes away that ability because it is awkward and makes
it harder for people to build connections. In a classroom there is a vibe going on which helps people get to know each other better and also sets the mood for discussions. At this moment another challenge is finding the time for everyone to be able to attend the event. Instagram Q&A sessions has been successful so far. We hope to overcome these challenges so that students in MIS have a good experience this year. AS THE PRESIDENT, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO JOIN?
Fill out an application in March! I would also say that if you are interested in the field and want to be more involved, don’t be afraid to just go for it. In business school it is important to just go up someone and network with them, so you never know how it will turn out, but it will be a great experience. CONNECT WITH MIS CLUB TO LEARN MORE Facebook: @uofamis Instagram: @misualberta Email: misc@ualberta.ca
CONNECT. INNOVATE. ACCESS.
Club’s Corner
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UALBERTA GOOGLE DEVELOPER STUDENT CLUB ABOUT THE PROGRAM Developer Student Clubs are university-based community groups for students interested in Google developer technologies. Students from all programs with interest in growing as a developer are welcome. By joining a DSC, students expand their knowledge in a peer-to-peer learning environment and build solutions for local businesses and their community.
Written by: Bradley May Designed by: Jacqueline Wong Interview with DSC Student Lead, Robert Joseph
FUN FACTS • We have collaborated with To bring the best resources Founded in August 8, 2020, we almost 10 different organizations to the University of Alberta are a diverse group of almost like Google Cloud, AltaMl, by collaborating with various 200 students who are interested Startup Edmonton, etc. universities/organizations in learning and connecting with • We will be giving out cool and help students use Google fellow students and motivating Google merch to the winners of Developer. We hope to motivate one another. Ranging from Cloud Study Jam (No experience various faculties at the University and empower students to reach required) their potential and have a great of Alberta, we are committed time connecting with like-minded • We will collaborate with to bringing Google Developer Canadian DSCs (University peers from around the globe. Technologies to everyone. of Toronto, University of British Columbia, University of WHAT CAN STUDENTS EXPECT? Calgary, Mcgill University) and We aim to make a difference in the university and local communities American DSCs (Georgia Tech, by using various Google Developer Technologies, and bring forth Yale, Princeton, Columbia, the multiple developments in the Technological Sector. We will be University of California, San collaborating with other Developer Student Clubs around North Diego, etc). • Almost 26 hackathons are America. DSC has many members from multiple different faculties happening this fall around NA, who have no programming experience whatsoever, so BCom so attend at least 1 hackathon students are invited to join and start learning with us. We want and meet others to positively impact and help students grow their skills. Many ABOUT US
MISSION
of the events will be hosted online on Youtube, and our discord server is the most active. These events will include introductory programming workshops, cloud study jams, hackathons, seminars, and competitions so that everyone is involved and has a fun time.
GET INVOLVED
Join as a member now at www.dscuofa.live/about Email: dscuofa@gmail.com
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OPINION Opinion OPINION
Opinion
Written by: Timiro Mohamed Designed by: Kim Tinana
University Should be Subsidised Entirely by the Government As Millennials and Gen Z’s, it can feel overwhelming to consider the prospect of graduating in our present reality. With changes to our global economy, many students are increasingly feeling the pressure of entering our current job market. In the past 40 years, the culture around university degrees and their relative importance has shifted. Now more than ever, a bachelor’s degree seems like a necessary qualifier to enter the job market. Nevertheless, there are many barriers to entry for post-secondary education. Class, race, and gender have historically been a barrier in elitist university institutions. Over time, the civil rights movement, affirmative action, and financial subsidies have removed some of these limitations. However, for many university students, the financial burden of post-secondary education is life-altering. Access to intergenerational wealth and privilege have paved the way for generations of university graduates to overcome the harsh financial realities of gaining a university degree. Late in 2019, the provincial government made considerable changes to student loan repayment. According to the Edmonton Journal, “changes...include eliminating $225 million in education and tuition tax credits over the next three years and increasing interest on student loans.” In Canada, at large, the cost of University tuition has increased by over 40% in the past decade. In 2018 Canadian students collectively owed $28 billion in student loan debt. Furthermore, a 2018 petition from the Canadian Federation of Students questioned the efficacy of the $862.6 million of revenue from federal loan repayment. All of this begs the question, who does loan repayment benefit under the current model? A recurring trend in major universities is that of the “million-dollar presidents,” a 2015 CBC article shone a light on administrative salary budget inflation. For example, in 2019, the University of Alberta president’s average compensation was $829,994.13. Conversely, over four years, the average student pays anywhere from $36,000-$80,000 depending on yearly living expenses. Moreover, as many students graduate into a declining economy and competitive job market with the reality of student loan debt, and increasing barriers to repayment in Alberta, one must wonder how students will shoulder this debt. Truthfully the question- should university tuition be entirely subsidized by the government- calls upon us to ask if education is a public or private good. For the 12 years leading up to post-secondary education, our government and society believe that education is a public good worth investing. While it may be difficult to imagine a world and, more specifically, an economy where the government subsidizes post-secondary education, many countries worldwide offer free university education, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The nature of 2020 and the events shaped this year have forced us to reimagine what we want our world to look like critically. The economic problems of COVID-19, natural disasters brought on by the worsening condition of the planet, and global protests sparked by the Black Lives Matter organization’s response to perceived extrajudicial killings of minorities are all examples. While our present reality may feel foreboding, increasing calls for radical social change may present an opportunity for Generation Z to affect the status quo.
Miscellaneous
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
17
CONFETTI SQUARES A.K.A. PEANUT BUTTER AND MARSHMALLOW SQUARES! Being a university student, I am always on a budget. This recipe is affordable and definitely under my budget! Because of the pandemic I am far away from home and cannot visit my family. It reminds me of my grandma back home because it gives me a wholesome and homely feeling. Also, if you are stressed out from school, making these would provide a great break. If you are worried about the break being too long, don’t be- all you need is 1520 minutes! Being a huge fan of peanut butter, this is a great way for me to become creative and enjoy it with a slight sweetness. Servings : 16 squares
Ingredients • • • •
1/4 cup unsalted butter 1 cup peanut butter 1 bag butterscotch chips, 300g 4-5 cup rainbow marshmallows
Preparation instructions 1. Line an 8x8 or 9x9 inch pan with aluminium foil and lightly grease. 2. In a medium saucepan over low heat melt together the butter, peanut butter & butterscotch chips. 3. Stir occasionally until the mixture is smooth. 4. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. 5. Stir in the marshmallows. 6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and set in the fridge to harden (about 1-2 hours).
Notes: Store bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Bars can be frozen for up to 2 months, then thaw overnight in the fridge.
Written by: Nandini Chandra Designed by: Jazlynn Chan Photo: vintage recipe tin