Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
October 2013
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October 2013
Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
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Photo by Caitlin Dumaresque
Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
October 2013
VOULENTEER OPPORTUNITIES Career Services Volunteer Fair O T
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October 2013
Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
CAMPUS UPDATES Students’ Union
Upcoming Events: Oct 9th: Town Hall Oct 26th: Haunted House
Shelter Nova Scotia The Mount Students' Union and University have teamed up in support of Shelter Nova Scotia and to shed some much needed light on the issue of homelessness in Halifax. To bring awareness to this issue, on October 5th, a number of MSVU and Students' Union individuals will be joining Halifax Mayor Mike Savage and Police Chief Jean-Michel Blais in spending the night sleeping on the streets of Halifax. As a support, we are hosting a needs drive and are looking for donations of personal care items such as: 1. Disposable razors for shaving 2. Deodorant (men’s and women’s) 3. Toothbrushes/Toothpaste 4. Children’s books or Crayons/Markers If you would care to donate any of the above mentioned items, you can drop them off at the Students' Union HUB (formerly the Info Desk) in the Rosaria SUB, M-F 9am-5pm until Friday October 11th. On behalf of Shelter Nova Scotia and the many men, women and children helped by their services we thank you for your generosity and support. To learn more about Shelter Nova Scotia and how you can help please visit http:// www.shelternovascotia.com/
October 2013
Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
CAMPUS UPDATES In Course Bursary Program Open The Financial Aid Office would like to remind everyone that our InCourse Bursary Program is now open to students in financial difficulty. Bursaries are needs based and are offered first and foremost to students whose expenses exceed their resources. If you think you fit this category, please check out our website (http:// www.msvu.ca/en/home/beamountstudent/money/financialaid/ MSVUBursaryPrograms.asp). Numerous information sessions will be held to assist students in completing the application. The deadline for submission of applications is Friday, November 1st at 4:30 p.m. with awards being made available to students at the beginning of the Winter term.
IT&S Updates This summer IT&S has been busy upgrading technology across campus, some of the changes you will notice are: 221 new computers were installed in student labs, the library info commons and the Crow’s Nest This year’s lab image contains upgrades to software including Office 2013 You can now print to the library printer from your own device (click here for details) Wireless expansion is ongoing with additional coverage in classrooms, labs and faculty areas, please click here for more information on how to get the most out of wifi on campus. You will also notice the IT&S service desk has moved to a new location at the main desk in the library. If you have any questions or problems please visit the IT&S helpdesk or e-mail helpdesk@msvu.ca Krista Hill Photography
October 2013
Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
CAMPUS UPDATES Mi’kmaq History Month Tuesday, October 1st at 3:00pm Mi’kmaq Flag Raising Ceremony. At the flag poles in front of Seton Academic Centre. Join the All Nations Female Drum Group, Dr. Donald Julien, Dr. Lumpkin and the Mount First Nation Community in the raising of the Mi’kmaq Flag. Wednesday, October 9th 11am-12pm and 1pm-2pm Mi’kmaw Spirituality with Elder Alan Knockwood at the Aboriginal Student Centre Thursday October 10th 11am-4pm Come join us at the Aboriginal Student Centre on campus for a FREE Mi’kmaq Traditional Wi’kulpaltimk (Feast) Thursday, October 17th 11am-12pm and 1pm-2pm Mi’kmaq Traditional Ceremonies with Elder Brian Francis at the Aboriginal Student Centre Monday, October 21th Lunch Time Come and enjoy some contemporary Mi’kmaq food at the Rosaria Cafeteria, as we will be serving Mi’kmaq Indian Tacos Tuesday, October 22nd 2pm- 3:30pm Come join us at the Aboriginal Student Centre on campus and welcome Elder and Author Daniel Paul as he discusses his book We Were not the Savages and Mi’kmaw History Monday, October 28th 11am-3pm Come join us at the Aboriginal Student Centre on campus and welcome Mount’s Elder Advisor, Jane Abram, as she will be on campus providing students advise through a Mi’kmaq Talking circle Thursday, October 31st 11am-2pm Rosaria Terrace. Join us for Free Celebration Cake and the closing of our Mi’kmaq History Month Celebrations
October 2013
Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
CAMPUS UPDATES Vice President Academic Dr. Elizabeth Church wants to hear from you! Students are invited to have lunch with Dr. Elizabeth Church, the Mount’s Vice President (Academic) in Rosaria Dining Hall. Share your ideas, meet other students, and enjoy a casual lunch. Come alone or feel free to bring a friend! Tuesday, October 1, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 23, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Monday, November 4, from 11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Monday, November 25, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. If you have questions, contact Tracy MacKenzie at 457-6404, or by email at tracy.mackenzie@msvu.ca
Mi’Kmaq Flag Raising Ceremony
The Mount will be taking part in the Mi’Kmaq Flag Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 from 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm in front of the Seton Academic Centre. Dr. Donald Julien, Executive Director of the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’Kmaq, will be joining us to say a few words and help raise the flag – students, faculty and staff are all welcome to join this event. There will be drummers in attendance as well.
Bookstore Our Ring Day Sale will be taking place on Monday, September 30 in the Link, and Tuesday, October 1 in the Rosaria Terrace from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm each day. Save $ 20.00 of the price of a ring. Please note that rings are available through the Bookstore at regular prices throughout the year. $ 75.00 is required at the time of ordering. Jacket Days are coming up! We will be taking custom orders from Friday, October 4th until Friday, October 18th. Sizes will be available in the Bookstore to try on. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on what’s happening in the Bookstore! Photo by Alfred Yao
October 2013
Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
CAMPUS UPDATES Art Gallery "Women, Contemporary Aboriginal Issues, and Resistance" A new multimedia learning kit aimed at guiding Canadians through contemporary Aboriginal issues launches. Tuesday, October 15, 2013 4:15pm - Welcome at Aboriginal Student Centre 46 Melody Drive 166 Bedford Highway, Halifax NS 5:15pm - Reception at MSVU Art Gallery Seton Academic Centre, Ground floor 166 Bedford Highway, Halifax NS BOOK LAUNCH August Sander—Objective Romantic with George Steeves, writer 17 Oct 2013, noon - 1 pm, in the upper gallery MSVU Art Gallery, Seton Academic Centre FREE COFFEE & MUFFINS. Take your break at the Art Gallery (off the Seton entrance foyer) Wednesday, 16 October, 9:30 - 11am Call for entries - ANNUAL MOUNT COMMUNITY SHOW Students, staff, faculty, alumnae and your families and significant others are invited to enter up to three examples (per person) of your creative work in the Annual Mount Community Show. Everything from painting, photography, sculpture, sewing and knitting, to writing, musical performances and baking will be put on display. Start making now! Entries will be accepted in the Art Gallery 4 through 10 November 2013. For more information drop by the Art Gallery (off the Seton entrance foyer).
October 2013
Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
CAMPUS UPDATES International Education Centre Save the Date! Multicultural Night Friday, November 22nd, 6 pm - 12 am, Multipurpose Room & Vinnie’s Pub Join us for a night filled with performances, food, fun and entertainment to celebrate international diversity at the Mount! The International Education Centre supports all internationally-minded students. Whether you’re an international student who needs help extending a study permit, improving English language skills or if you’re a student who wants to learn about studying abroad on an exchange, we are here for you!
Spiritual Life Calm-Abiding Meditation & Self-Reflection When: Sundays, beginning Sept 29th, 10:30-noon Where: Peace Room (Evaristus - Floor 4C). Free and open to all. Intro to basic and progressive meditation and contemplation methods, drawn from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, which help calm, settle and focus the mind, while easing, opening and brightening the heart. Course includes background info, instruction, short practice sessions and ample time for questions and discussion. Successive classes will also include brief recordings or readings from masters of this tradition. Instructors: Tom Downey & Kim MacAulay. For more info: kim.macaulay@msvu.ca Celebrating the ‘heart and spirit’ of everyone’s journey Peace Room (Evaristus, 3rd Floor, Rm C410) - A quiet space to pray, meditate, read, reflect, and just be. Looking for the right church, mosque, or meditation centre for you? Interested in spiritual diversity? Need someone to talk to? Want to cultivate a ‘Compassionate University’? Contact the Spiritual Life Coordinator, kim.macaulay@msvu.ca, 457-6446, msvu.ca/slc
MSV Alumnae MSV Alumnae Weekend took place September 20th- September 22nd, 2013. As part of the weekend, the Academy & College Classes of 1963 were welcomed back to campus after 50 years and began the festivities with a Golden Jubilee lunch. We hope you saw some of them on campus over the weekend! We were thrilled to have your SU President, Zach Gallant, and VP Student Life, Tyler Bechard, attend the Chef’s Dinner at Seasons by Atlantica. During the Chef’s Dinner, Coach Rick and Andrea Plato were presented with Honorary Alumnae Memberships for 25 years of service with Mount Athletics. MSV Alumnae Weekend 2013 celebrated alumnae & friends, but also the 140 years of rich heritage that has shaped the Mount today. Thanks to all who came out!
October 2013
Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
CAMPUS UPDATES Library One Book Nova Scotia Author Reading The library is hosting author Alissa York in the MacDonald Room on October 3rd, 1-2pm. Alissa will read selections from her novel, Fauna, and take questions from the audience. Refreshments will be served. No RSVP required. Free admission. Everyone is welcome to attend. http://1bns.ca/ Mount Library Photo Contest The library is holding a photo contest, open to all current MSVU students. Show us your favourite space to read or study! Tell us why you like it, and what would make it better. Win gift cards, print credits, and research gadgets - your chances of winning are excellent! Vote for your favourite photo! Contest runs from September 10th to October 18th. More info available here: http://libguides.msvu.ca/msvulibpix Online Workshops The library has added new online workshops to its lineup of student and faculty workshops. Learn about using RefWorks, finding eBooks, using Google Scholar, images and media in presentations, and researching on your mobile device. http://www.msvu.ca/en/home/library/services/ instruction/registration.aspx
Krista Hill Photography
October 2013
Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
CAMPUS UPDATES Library Continued... New Display The library has a new display of periodicals and newspapers upstairs in front of the reference collection. Titles include The Globe and Mail, Mi'kmaq-Maliseet Nations News, The New York Times, Chatelaine, and Maclean's. Feel free to read them within the library. Chat with a Librarian Let a librarian be your guide! Set up a library orientation or request assistance with your program research from any of our Liaison Librarians. Go to the Library homepage (http://www.msvu.ca/library), click on Contact Us and then Liaison Librarians. Can’t make it in to the Library in person? Call, email or chat with a librarian! Find the LiveHelp chat widget on the Library homepage and ask your question, we are ready to assist. iPads for loan A reminder to students that the Library has iPads for loan, check one out today and try out some new research apps. There are 24 hour and 3 day loans currently available. We also have laptops for loan, too. Keep up with library resources, events and services throughout the year by liking us on Facebook (http:// www.facebook.com/MountLibrary) or following us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/MountLibrary).
October 2013
Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
CAMPUS UPDATES Library Continued… Student Creative Writing Contest Calling all Mount Student Writers! You are invited to submit your work – poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction or drama to writing@msvu.ca (Please use a pseudonym on the attached copy of your work) If you win you will receive $100 donated by the Mount Library. The deadline is FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2013. The winner will be announced at The Changing Landscape of Publishing Conference October 16th in the Rosaria Multipurpose Room. For more details see: http://www.msvu.ca/site/media/msvu/Documents/ writingcontest2013%281%29.pdf The Changing Landscape of Publishing Conference / Celebrating Publishing @the Mount Students are cordially invited to events during Celebrating Publishing @the Mount Week October 15 to October 17 including the Changing Landscape of Publishing Conference Wednesday October 16 Rosaria Multipurpose Room 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There’s no need to pre-register and Lunch will be provided to the first 100 participants. Hear a panel of writers in the morning talk about their publishing experiences, including the use of internet crowd sourcing to raise funds, and hear a panel of publishers in the afternoon who will respond to the keynote luncheon address by Cynthia Good, the director of Creative Book Publishing Program at Humber College. Please keep your eyes open for the Conference Week program announcing other events of interest to students. For more details please see www.msvu.ca/ CelebratingWriting or e-mail CelebratingWriting@msvu.ca
Krista Hill Photography
Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
October 2013
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR By: Joanne Mills, Psychologist
Coordinator, Student Counselling Services
Set your intentions for the term / Plan: Starting out with a goal and structure will help you stay on course. A helpful strategy for time management and goal setting is the general rule of planning to spend two hours of independent study for every hour you are in class. For a student who is taking 5 courses (standard full course load), that would be approximately 15 hours in lectures each week, so if we double that, that would be 30 hours of homework a week. Many students, especially those coming straight from high school, do not spend the time that is required. It seems like a lot, but if you treat being a student like your full time job, the 45 hours a week doesn’t seem so overwhelming.
Limit outside paid work: If your full time job is being a full time university student, we recommend that you limit outside paid work to 10 to 12 hours a week. Remember, your “full time job” is a busy 45 hrs/wk, and you also need time to relax and have fun. Anymore than 10 to 12 hrs/wk may interfere with either school work or social life or self care – and all are important. If you must work more than 12 hrs/wk, consider lowering your course load.
Study environment - be honest: Do an honest “audit” of your work environment, including the time of day you study. How many distractions are around (eg., roommates, TV, facebook on your task bar opened). How focused do you “really” feel at 11:00pm? Set yourself up for success by providing the right environment for study: turn off the TV, tell your roommates that you are unavailable for a set time frame, if you must have background music on be sure it does not have distracting lyrics that draw you in, log off of facebook/twitter and close your email so if you are on your laptop you aren’t tempted “just to check quickly”. If you turn your phone off you can always get your texts after you have finished your reading, your emails will wait and if you continue to remind your roommates/family that school is important and you must work hard this year, they will respect your intentions.
Continued...
Photo by Ryan Kennedy
October 2013
Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR Use a planner It is hard to hold all your work assignments and tasks in your head, and when things get busy, you are bound to forget and/or get stressed trying to juggle everything in your memory. Have you ever had trouble at night trying to get to sleep because you have a to do list running through your mind? Then empty it out – jot it down on a note pad or day planner, or use your cell phone for your calendar and to do list. This also helps to avoid procrastination. If you use a planner – either old fashion pen and paper or electronic – it allows you to set specific goals for the day and week. You will be more apt to go to the library and read pages 22 to 30 in Psychology if it is down in your calendar. It is a good idea to set aside a time each week – I like Sunday evenings, to review what you have on your plate for that week, and then set daily “to do” items to make sure they get done.
Break your readings down into manageable “chunks”. University courses often move at a faster pace than high school, and there tends to be much more reading. Breaking up your reading assignments into to smaller, more manageable chunks, it a helpful strategy. You will be less likely to procrastinate and more apt to do it if it isn’t so daunting. To do this work backwards: for example, if you have a midterm in Psychology in 6 weeks time on 3 chapters (300 pages), then you will need to read 50 pages a week to make sure it all gets read in time. Even better, break the 50 pages a week into a smaller chunks, say 10 pages at a time, and plan 5 times in the week to read your psychology textbook. It is much easier to sit down to read 10 pages than 50!! This strategy also helps with concentration and focus.
October 2013
Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR SU Like us on Facebook to stay up to date with our events, contests, and more. facebook.com/MSVUSU
Follow us on twitter to stay informed with what’s going on campus and how you can win prizes. @MSVUSU
Find out more about upcoming events, societies, services for students, & current contests all in one place on our website. mountstudents.ca
If you have any questions, you can just text 1-902-809-MSVU (6788)
You are always welcome to bring your questions or concerns directly to Students’ Union. Rosaria Student Centre, 118