Over The Edge
Orientation (Or as we like to call it, reverse graduation.)
UNBC’s Independent Student Newspaper est. 1994
Volume 23, Issue 1
Free overtheedgenewspaper.ca
September 6, 2016 ote-newspaper@unbc.ca Colin Slark | OTE
The
Masthead
Colin Sl
| EIC k r a
Letter from the H
ello students, and welcome to UNBC. Over The Edge is your independent student newspaper, established in 1994. Normally our issues contain a mix of news, opinions, culture, sports, and other good things, but this special orientation issue has been made to assist students in acclimatizing to UNBC, and perhaps even Prince George.
hairperson C |
Seth
Jex
We have a good collection of letters from people in the
Edge itor
local community and UNBC welcoming you and letting you know what services exist on campus to help you succeed in your studies and in life. We have also reprinted some helpful articles from the previous volume of OTE that contain advice on how to get started at university from people who have lived through it. I hope you find the content useful.
With our next issue we will be going back to normal, and that means we will be looking for volunteers to help us produce content - and we pay you for everything that we print. I’d also like to welcome our new team of Hannah Rizun (Publisher), Monique Gendron (Production Coordinator), Dylan Aldred (Advertising Coordinator), Tierney Watkinson (Distribution
Coordinator), Sam Wall (News Editor), and Ann Duong (Multimedia Coordinator) If you are interested in this opportunity, contact me at otenewspaper@unbc.ca, or drop by the office, located in room 6-350. Welcome, and best of luck.
Letter from the Board of Directors O
n behalf of Over the Edge (OTE) I would like to welcome all first years and returning students to UNBC for another great year. The goal of the society is to be a source of great local news and information for the UNBC community as well as a venue to display some of the amazing talent we have here at UNBC.
Being such we love to feature student poetry, opinion pieces and editorials in our paper. If you have something you think is worthy of others eyes, send it in! We may showcase it in our next paper and you can get paid for it. If you have a passion for papers, or an interest in journalism, consider joining our team.
OTE is a student newspaper, run by students, for students.
We have opportunities for paid employment in all sorts of roles.
This is an unique opportunity for students to gain invaluable journalism and editorial experiences and training. It’s ok if you don’t have previous experience working at a newspaper (not many do), we are here to work with you and develop those skills, all we need is a willingness to learn. I look forward to hearing from you, best of luck in this new year.
Over The Edge is the University of Northern British Columbia’s independent student newspaper. Our office is located on the 2nd floor of the NUSC building in room 6-350. We are an equal opportunity publication which represents students in the UNBC and Prince George community. Our publication supports student writing by welcoming news, arts, sports, culture and opinion articles, as well as photography, comics, and creative writing submissions. Every year, we provide employment as editors, designers, and managers to students with a passion for journalism and are always looking for motivated individuals to work and volunteer in our collaborative environment. Over The Edge offers competitive advertising rates for space in our print publication as well as online. Support is always needed and no experience is required; help make Over The Edge better. We want to hear from you! Call us at 250-960-5633, tweet us @overtheedgeunbc, email us at ote-newspaper@unbc.ca and be sure to like us on facebook. For more information, please visit our website at www.overtheedgenewspaper.ca. Next deadline: September 21, 2016
Over The Edge
y
a ll nH
Chief D
Mayo rL
Greetings
ic Frederic n i k om
4
UNBC Life
A
Diary of a C+ Student
fter high school, university seemed like it was going to be a step up. And having a university basically on my doorstep made it that much easier for me to transition into a new educational landscape. I felt so much hope and optimism, and all of my friends were wishing me good luck and goodbye, even though I could still come around and visit them regularly.
From then on, it was only downhill. The number of my assignments I had never decreased, and yet I was supposed to somehow fit in at least three hours of studying per class. November finished, and December began slowly crawling by at the pace of molasses flowing uphill in winter.
My first thought, walking into the wooden halls of the University of Northern British Columbia, was “Oh my gosh, this is going to be fun!” My second thought was that it couldn’t be any harder than my last year of high school, crammed with AP classes and my hardest tests yet.
Finals were looming on the horizon, towering over me like some eighty-foot giant. I had no time to spend for myself any more, I never went on Facebook, didn’t hang out with any of my friends. I had fallen into a great, dark pit. The pre-final feelings and cramming. By the time finals hit, I was a mess. I probably looked bad, but
Oh, how wrong I could be. Nevertheless, I was still going to tumble headlong into university, heedless of any of the many dangers and obstacles that lay before me. The summer before my long misadventure, I had wandered into the offices of Over the Edge, the very paper you happen to hold in your hand at this moment. I loved to write, so I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to improve my writing and to learn a thing or two about journalism. Although, to be completely honest, I was actually mostly excited about creating some comics and expanding my artistic abilities. And so I have, throughout this first semester, contributed at least once per issue, despite my struggles in the latter half of the terms. Once midterms hit, I felt a little bit of pressure, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. I must’ve tackled worse in high school, right? Once I got my first paper back, I realized how wrong I was. My high school career was, as my English teacher had demonstrated what our elementary school successes were in grade eight, a solid castle built on a foundation of sand. The midterms made my very, very solid, A-plus and B range castle sink to a very, very low C-minus. As my midterms kept returning to me, and my grades kept falling short of my norm, I realized that I wasn’t in the top tier of my grade any more. I had become normal. But, the longer I thought about that idea, being normal, the better I felt about it. “If I’m normal,” I thought to myself, “that means that someone else has a higher grade because I didn’t force them out of that position.” On top of that, it meant I had room to improve. So no, midterms didn’t go as well as I expected, but I still had this. Or so I thought. November, I quickly learned, was called Crunch Month for a reason, and not simply because it brought a ridiculously heavy load of papers and midterms, but because it would drain you of all ideas, feelings and energy, and leave you stranded in the middle of your sea of assignments. This is when both the best and the worst emerge from deep within yourself. You become snappier, bitter, testing the limits of your friends’ patience, but at the same time you complete volumes of work that you never thought were possible for yourself. That is exactly what happened to me. And I can say that I am extremely grateful to have had such excessively patient friends.
I felt worse. I had never been through a harder school year in my life, and I was only halfway done. But, I have made it though okay. I lived. The finals are over. I don’t even really care what grades I’ve gotten, as long as they are passing grades. But because of what I’ve learned, what I’ve felt, I know that I’ll do better next semester. I know better now. Although, I did say that when I left high school. That was last year. Last year was the best and worst year ever. The worst because I found a deep, dark pit that swallowed me whole. The best because it challenged me to become better than I ever had been. I’ve never had such low grades before in my life, but that only spurred me to work harder, learn more, and become a better student. I have never had to work so hard for even a decent grade in my whole life. And that’s how life is going to be like from here on out. Throughout high school, I always managed to achieve high grades, not because I was smart or hardworking, but because the teachers made it easy. They told you at the start of your eighth grade that there was no longer any safety net, that they weren’t there to hold your hand through your secondary school education.
Monique Gendron Production Coordinator
for these helpful places. However, that is not the case with every student here. Some of you come from very, very far away, and you might not have the same encouragement to find those help sources, especially you very nervous first year students. Well, consider this your encouragement. Go get the help when you need it. No one else will do it for you. There are two main sources of help: the Academic Success Centre and the Access Resource Centre. The Academic Success Centre is there for students who need a little help organizing their time, improving their study habits and they even do tutoring. The Access Resource Centre is more directed towards students with disabilities, both physical and mental, but there is still help to be found there. They have quiet study rooms, and friendly, supportive people all around. Best of all, these resources are free. There is literally no reason you shouldn’t go to either of them and find out what they can do for you. Just remember, it’s okay to not have a perfect grade. This is just a bump in the road. Life is full of so much more than just school, and how you perform here will not dictate how you perform in life. It’s you and your outlook on life that will determine how well you succeed.
That was entirely untrue. High school is designed to prevent failure. They have special programs and help to make sure that you make it through your classes. And better yet, you don’t have to go looking for that help. It is given to you on a silver platter. There are really only a very special few who never make it through high school. University has no such amenities. If you need help, you will need to seek it out yourself. At this point in your life, you are expected to have matured enough that you can take care of yourself and make sure that you can find the accommodations for your own needs. That is to say, help will always be given at UNBC to those who ask for it. You won’t be helped unless if you seek the help yourself. Thankfully, I had parents who encouraged me go and look
ed.stanford.edu
UNBC Life
5
A note from
W
elcome back to another exciting year at UNBC! On behalf of the Northern Undergraduate Student Society (NUGSS), we hope to make this year a memorable one for you! If you are not familiar with NUGSS, allow me to take a few moments to highlight some of the services we provide to all UNBC undergraduate students! Need space to store your textbooks, winter coats, bike helmets, etc.? Stop by the NUGSS office between 9am to 4pm any weekday and rent a locker for the semester for only $20 ($10 will be returned to you when you bring your lock back!). Looking for a place to study or hold a meeting? Students can rent any room in the NUSC building for FREE! Caught with an unexpected payment or other financial burden? NUGSS can provide you with emergency financial aid, as well as offering a fully-stocked food bank in the office for those in need. Wanting to appeal a grade or report an incident, or have any issue you are nervous about? Come speak to our Ombudsperson, Tami, who can connect you to services around campus, or attend any meetings with you as an impartial third party.
NUGSS annual event Backyard BBQ on September 16, for great food and an awesome concert… artist to be announced soon! The next weekend, on September 24, volunteer for the NUGSS annual fundraiser, Northern Students Give Back. This is a great opportunity to give back to the Prince George community, which is so supportive of UNBC year-round, and raise money for a very important local charity: AIMHI – Prince George Association for Community Living. The most important function of NUGSS is to advocate for student interests at all levels of the university. Members of our Board of Directors regularly meet with members of the UNBC Administration, Faculty Association, Senate and Board of Governors. Our work influences important
with reviewing data from numerous, university-wide engagement sessions that took place last summer. They will do more research as needed, and then write formal recommendations to guide the University Budget and academic decisions for the next five or more years. There will be one undergraduate student sitting on each committee, appointed by NUGSS, so if you are interested in taking part in this important process, please email nugss-president@unbc.ca or stop by the office before September 21st! NUGSS is run by a Board of Directors, all of whom are eager to speak to students anytime! Stop by the office, or send one of us an email if you have a question, or there is something you would like us to do
There are lots of exciting events on campus throughout September, as part of Orientation celebrations, and NUGSS is joining the fun! Be sure to check out the
VP External: Johanne Jensen-LeBlanc, nugssexternal@unbc.ca Regional campus outreach, oversees transportation initiatives, etc. VP Internal: Ana Saenz, nugss-internal@ unbc.ca Responsible for all matters pertaining to Student Led Organizations (clubs) VP Finance: Eric Depenau, nugss-finance@ unbc.ca Oversees the finances of the society and funding for SLOs VP Social: Josh Skarbo, nugss-social@unbc.ca Organizes events to improve the UNBC student experience Women’s Rep: Shannon Williams, nugsswomensrep@unbc.ca Hosts events, public awareness campaigns, working groups, etc. around women’s issues Aboriginal Rep: Kasandra Johnny-Turbide, nugss-aboriginalrep@unbc.ca Hosts events, public awareness campaigns, working groups, etc. around Aboriginal issues
Finally, all undergraduate students are automatically enrolled in the NUGSS Health and Dental plan as part of your student fees. If you have any questions about what services are covered, how to make a claim, or how to opt out of the plan if you already have coverage, stop by the office and talk to Tami! NUGSS supports over fifty Student Led Organizations (SLOs). Joining one, or starting your own, is a great way to meet people on campus and learn new skills. Check out SLO Days, September 15th and 16th, where every SLO will have a table set up in the Wintergarden to explain their activities to interested members!
function of the society
Academic Rep: Krystal Devauld, nugssacademicrep@unbc.ca Sits on numerous academic committees representing undergraduate interests AD Events: David Schroeter, nugss-events@ unbc.ca Assists VP Social to organize events for undergraduate students
policies such as the University Budget, course creation and selection, space allocation, etc. There is a very important process underway at the university right now, called the Academic Planning Process. Five different committees have been tasked
AD Communications: Jeremy Komlos, nugsscommunications@unbc.ca Maintains NUGSS website, social media, etc. for outreach to membership for you. Remember, we have been elected to serve YOU, so tell us what we can do to improve your student experience! President: Arctica Cunningham, nugsspresident@unbc.ca Oversees to the general
Sustainability Rep: Raychill Snider, nugsssustainability@unbc.ca Hosts events, public awareness campaigns, working groups, etc. around sustainability issues
Wellness Health Services
U
NBC Health Services welcomes new and returning students to the 2016/ 2017 year! We hope you have had a rejuvenating summer.
Health Services is an on campus medical clinic for students. We are located across from the First Nations Centre in the library building, 5-106. Health Services is a part of the Wellness Centre, which includes Counselling Services and the Access Resource Centre. We are here to support your health needs for optimum learning and success while attending university! Health Services help students manage illness and health concerns, obtain information on relevant health and lifestyle topics, engage in health promotion and manage healthy lifestyle changes during their university experience. Health Services offer Physician, Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse clinics. Students are welcome to come in year-round for prescription renewals, health assessment and treatment, sexual wellness (including STI testing and Pap smears), HIV testing, immunizations, tobacco cessation counseling, referrals
and health education. Flu shots are also available in the fall. Please call or drop by our clinic for appointments or questions, 250-960-6370. There are drop in appointments on Monday and Thursday morning with a Nurse Practitioner. The Physician is by appointment. The RN offers scheduled and drop in appointments. The RN also partners in health promotion events. You can find her in the hallway, residence, and classrooms. Stop by and say ‘hi’!
Counselling Services A
s one of the departments in the Wellness Centre, Counselling Services provides all registered students with free access to professional counselling support. There are four registered/certified counsellors available; two in Counselling Services and two in the First Nations’ Centre.
-“Talk a Little and Learn A Lot” monthly life management presentations
We support students in a variety of ways including individual counselling, group counselling, and crisis response. We provide consultation, referral, and training services. We also provide access to a Psychiatric Clinic one afternoon per week (doctor or nurse practitioner referral required).
-Wellness Fair
Here is a list of some of the groups and events we will be running over the next two semesters:
Counselling Services – Room 5-190
-Mood Group -“Thesis Coffee Talk”
-Carnival -Daily Walk In Clinics We are here to provide support for everything from homesickness to more serious psychiatric conditions. Feel free to contact us by phone (250-960-6369) or drop by to make an appointment. First Nations’ Centre – Room 7-102
-Women’s Coffee Group
Access Resource Centre
T
he Access Resource Centre assists in providing academic accommodations for students with disabilities. We strive to ‘level the playing field’ for students that may experience barriers to their post-secondary education.
Our center is committed to a confidential process to organize academic accommodations between the student and their instructor. Accommodations may include extended time on tests, a quiet environment, a volunteer notetaking system and access to specialized equipment. Our services are available to students with permanent and/or temporary disabilities with current documentation. The Access Resource Centre will provide assistance in accessing government grants related to students with disabilities, as well as time management and study skills coaching. Volunteer opportunities are available through our centre as lecture note-takers. If you have any questions please contact arc@unbc.ca. You can find us located in the Teaching and Learning building 10-1048.
Greetings
7
Letter from the President I
love September. The beginning of a new school year is always exciting. It’s a time of optimism, enthusiasm and anticipation for what is to come.
By choosing to attend UNBC, you have selected a university that will support your education, inside and outside of the classroom. Our goal at UNBC is to help you excel at your studies, gain the knowledge you need to pursue your desired career, and to develop your leadership skills. We achieve that in many ways. We have an outstanding student support network, including peer-led learning programs. Visit the Academic Success Centre to learn about how UNBC can help you meet your academic goals. We also offer undergraduates the opportunity to shine early, to stand out in a crowd. Research opportunities for undergraduate students are possible for you, something that is extraordinarily difficult to achieve at other institutions. Ask your professors about how you might be able to get involved. And with more than 50 academic, social, and service clubs on campus, there’s no shortage of possibilities to meet fellow students, have fun, and become engaged in the UNBC community. Visit the Student Life office to learn more about student activities.
unbc.ca, or follow our social media channels, including Instagram, Facebook and twitter. We’ll let you know about the successes and achievements of your professors, your fellow students, and the UNBC community at large. And of course, take part in student media! Whether you read Over the Edge or become a contributor, or listen to CFUR radio, you have a role in shaping the conversations taking place on campus, and your student media can facilitate that. Whether you’re just beginning your academic journey, or nearing the end, I know that UNBC is here to support you in your endeavours, and to help you become a leader in your community. Good luck with your studies this year – I look forward to hearing about your success! Professor Daniel J. Weeks UNBC President and Vice-Chancellor
Dr. Da nie
Another terrific way to share in school spirit is to support our four varsity teams, the Timberwolves. The women and men’s soccer and basketball teams give it their all each game, offering terrific entertainment value. And if you want to know what’s happening on campus, visit our website at www.
e e ks W l
Letter from the Chancellor offer my most sincere and best wishes to both new and returning students to UNBC this year. Our University is a truly special place to study and this is an exciting time of year as our campuses are filled with the energy of students returning to class. For our new students, I am sure that you have been inundated with tips and wisdom on how to earn success as a student. In that spirit, I offer three suggestions of my own that might be of value to your success at UNBC: 1) Academic diversity. Often students arrive with an absolute predetermined academic pursuit with little room for, or openness to, taking courses beyond their presumed need. For many, this is a pathway to great success. However, for all students, I would suggest giving this approach a second thought. By taking a diversity of courses, particularly in your first few semesters, you might find a new passion or academic curiosity that will add great value to your UNBC experience and serve you well in life. Be open-minded and consider enrolling in lower-division courses across the vast course offerings (over 1,000) at UNBC. Not only might you find a new passion, but you will be enriched for having exposed yourself to literature, professors and ideas that broaden your mind in ways you may not expect. 2) Get involved. UNBC has a vibrant campus life that begs to be engaged in. From varsity athletics, clubs, recreational activities and more, students are offered great opportunities to truly enjoy the UNBC community. Meet new people, enjoy new experiences and embrace all that our University has to offer. 3) Ask for help. If at any point in your experience on campus you feel discomfort, overwhelmed, or as though you might need support, please reach out. UNBC staff, faculty, leadership, our campus support network are here to help. I hope all students feel welcomed on campus, embraced by the institution and supported when challenges arise. Do not hesitate to ask for support because our University is here to serve you.
The University of Northern British Columbia, by any measure, is a great Canadian success story. In our short history we have achieved remarkable success thanks to our outstanding faculty, our administration, leadership and staff, our campus organizations, community support and commitment to our students. We are proud of our past, but we should be even more excited for the years of success that lay ahead. I sincerely wish all UNBC students only the best in the months and years ahead.
Hon. James Moore, PC, MA Chancellor, UNBC
Hon. Ja m
I
M es
oor e
on
Campus
Northern Pride Centre W
elcome to the new students of UNBC! The Northern Pride Centre (NPC) is happy to have many new and returning students at this wonderful school! We at the Northern Pride Centre provide a safe space for all LGBT, their allies, and their supporters to relax, educate on LGBT issues, and have discussions. Amongst our volunteers and executive board, we have knowledge of most subjects that happen for the LGBT as well as connections to the other LGBT groups around Prince George (such as TRANSform and PGPride). The NPC has several events planned for this year, one of which is to bring back the ever popular Rocky Horror Picture Show event! Always fantastic, it will be great fun to watch (or join in as an actor!) and will be a relief from the other stresses in your life. Be on the lookout near the end of September or early October for those dates! Stop by, say hi, and test out our couches when you have time (or when you would like a more comfortable place to sleep at the university). Once again welcome and good luck from all of us at the Northern Pride Centre for your year at UNBC!
First Nations Centre Bev Isaac Manager, Aboriginal Student Engagement First Nations Centre
W
elcome! The staff of the First Nations Centre at UNBC would like to welcome all students to an exciting new year here at UNBC. The First Nations Centre is here to ensure you have a positive and enriching experience while attending UNBC. We offer many programs throughout the year, such as potlucks once a month, where everyone is invited to come and share great food and company! We also have a great staff that is excited to bring in new programming as well as great cultural support through our Elder in Residence program and our weekly visiting Elders. The FNC has two on-site councillors available along with some great space for students to be able to sit and visit, quietly work or access computers. Whatever your need, Jenn, our friendly Aboriginal Student Support worker will be happy to point you in the right direction! Come visit the First Nations Centre and see what we have to offer, leave your email address to be updated on upcoming events and join our Facebook page for more updated information! We look forward to seeing you at the Centre!
Greetings Welcome from NBCGSS Sara Pyke President, NBCGSS
W
elcome New and Returning Graduate Students 2016-2017!
The members of the Graduate Student Society (NBCGSS) would like to welcome everyone to another academic year and to help you get off to a strong start we would like to offer you some encouragement and suggestions for success. Because UNBC is a small, research-intensive university, the opportunities for graduate students to excel personally, professionally, and academically are amazing and so easy to take advantage of. Graduate school can be so much more than just classes and research if you branch out and take on new roles and responsibilities: This is your chance to develop your skills and abilities in academics, research, teaching, volunteerism, social activism, leadership, and more. All the work you do outside your program will help build your resume/CV and is invaluable for your future career and life in general. To add some balance, NBCGSS hosts regular social events, and we encourage you to get involved in the broader community of Prince George as well. If you run into any challenges during
the year, remember that both UNBC and the Graduate Student Society offer many services to support to graduate students, so please reach out if there is anything you need. Activities to make the most of your time in grad school: -Take on teaching assistant and/ or research assistant work. -Get involved with NBCGSS: Run for a position on Council! -Present your research at the Graduate Student Conference in the spring (even if it is just your proposal or lit review!)… or attend as a participant. -Run for a position as a Student Senator in the spring. -Seek nomination for a position on one of the Academic Planning Committees. -Come out to NBCGSS social events and coffee socials: Meet other graduate students! -Compete in the 3 Minute Thesis competition in the spring. -Seek on-campus or other employment.
-Access health and wellness services (including counselling) preventatively. -Volunteer to organize and carryout events with the Women’s Centre, Pride Centre, First Nations Centre, PGPRIG, jack.org, etc. -Start a new group or organization. -Attend the NRESi Colloquia and go to the pub afterwards for great discussions. -Explore the forests and trails around campus. -Learn about local First Nations history and culture. -Take advantage of travel grants and other funding opportunities.
it. It’s a great way to relieve stress. Be open to new opportunities, challenges, learning and teaching styles: It makes it a lot easier to cope in the new environment. Remember, grad school is very different from your days as an undergraduate; be flexible and enjoy the experience. Take time off! Most of your work will be self-directed and holidays are built into the semester dates: Set vacation days for yourself and forget the thesis for a couple of days. Ask questions and speak out: From your friends, supervisors, professors, and student services. Silence can be isolating.
-Attend a Timberwolves Game.
If you’re a graduate student and you feel stupid sometimes, you’re doing it RIGHT.
-Participate in “Storm the Hill” in September.
Very importantly:
-Make good use of the Northern Sports Centre (included in your student fees!).
Download the NBCGSS mobile app and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get up to date information on events, services, and more.
Advice for success: Get involved in the community: Go beyond UNBC and see what Prince George has to offer and how you can be a part of
Cheers to a fun and rewarding academic year everyone!
Letter from Graduate Programs The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) offers 25 master’s programs and 3 doctoral programs. At UNBC we appreciate that a graduate program is the next step in your academic or professional career, one that presents a challenge but also an opportunity by providing the training and qualifications necessary to advance your chosen career path. At UNBC every graduate student is valued as individual both personally and with respect to the composition of their graduate program. This individuality of program creates a level of complexity that requires organization. The Dean of Graduate Programs is responsible for all matters relating to graduate study at the University. The Dean also has primary responsibility for matters that involve individual students and individual graduate programs. The Office of Graduate Programs is responsible for the administration of all graduate education matters at the University. The Office of Graduate
Programs serves as a central location and source of information for all graduate students and graduate faculty at UNBC. It exists to help faculty and graduate students succeed in their programs of study, research and creative endeavors. Everyone in the Office of Graduate Programs is committed to helping you to make the most of your graduate education. It is the objective of both the Dean and the Office of Graduate Programs at UNBC to assist students in attaining their academic goals and possessing the specialty knowledge, skills, and competencies required for success in your chosen field. Put bluntly “We are a source of information or we know how you can get it“, so please do not hesitate to contact us in person or refer to our website, www.unbc.ca/graduate-programs. Dean: Dr. Kevin Smith, Kevin.Smith@unbc.ca Executive Assistant to Dean (Enquiries and Appointments) Shelley O’Carroll, Shelley.OCarroll@unbc.ca
10
News
Wrapped in conspiracy, glazed in mystery Colin Slark Editor In Chief
T
he Over The Edge newsroom received a startling letter during the summer months. I looked at it curiously. The return address was listed as a small town in Alabama, a market not generally known to be fans of Northern BC student journalism. It was addressed to Over The Edge care of “Colin Stark.” I thought of two things, “Boy, this is gonna be interesting,” and “Game of Thrones has ruined my name. Inside a handwritten note read “Dear Colin Stark, Canada is breathtakingly beautiful, but unfortunately it has a VERY DARK SIDE. I hope you will look at the flyers enclosed and enlighten those around you. Signed (name withheld), researcher.” Already, this hit a few checkmarks on my list of good potential story ideas. First, exposing something’s hidden dark side is a surefire path to awards and glory. Second, I felt a compulsion to “enlighten” as the researcher requested, I am after all, a journalist. Finally, they had already done the research and so the amount of work I had to do personally promised to be low. With these things in mind, I turned to the first flyer. It was a page of bylaws from the Women’s Republican Club of New Orleans. Already I had gleaned my first political secrets. Did you know that the WRCNO requires 25% of active members in good standing to be present at a general meeting to reach quorum? You do now. The second flyer was when I knew these people meant serious business. I was provided a list of search terms to enter into a search engine to uncover details about a supposed pedophile ring. Here’s the clever part, in their instructions, I was advised to use Bing. Perfect. No one uses Bing, so there’s no way whoever is attempting to keep these things secret can trace me. Unfortunately, the things I searched for were mostly alt-right fake news sites, and not even the interesting ones. For the first time in my life I wished I was watching Alex Jones. Beside a link to one such site bearing the name of a pundit, the letter writer had noted “satanism, child abuse,” and I continue to be unsure about whether they meant that the owner of the website is guilty of those things, of if they cover it. I have to admit, I immediately saw an article about mind control coconuts and checked out. The third flyer was for a website that talks about the treatment of First Nations peoples by Canada and the United Kingdom, calling it a “hidden genocide.” I was conflicted about this. The treatment of First Nations peoples by European settlers has been abhorrent, but I’m not sure it’s “hidden.” Although, I don’t believe that as a society we talk about what we did very publicly or constructively, and it has taken far too long to acknowledge and apologize for the actions taken against these peoples, so... I have to give a point to the flyer. I took issue with the fourth flyer. It described some bullshit made-up encounter between Hillary and Bill Clinton from the nineties wherein they were apparently abusing some CIA-mind controlled brainless sex slaves. Whatever, I think I’ve seen that movie before. What I took issue with was the arrow from the Researcher pointing to Hillary’s name with the note “U.S. Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton.” Look, I might reside in the frozen wasteland to the north that you occasionally remember exists, but I know exactly who one of the most talked about people in the world is. The fifth flyer talked about how Eddie Murphy is some kind of serial killer and sadistic torturer. I could hardly believe that Pluto Nash himself is some sort of hardened criminal. I guess that’s what happens when after a large and successful
career, you’re mostly known for being a fake donkey. My eyes had almost become so glazed you could mistake them for timbits. It’s a shame really. So much effort has been put into these flyers, talking about real problems like sex trafficking, child abuse, poor treatment of aboriginal peoples, murder, but it’s impossible to take any of it serious when it’s covered in a layer of thick fiction and paranoia. There are certainly problems that are worth investigating beyond the surface level, but imagine what these people could accomplish if they stopped diving beyond the realm of common sense. I can only imagine how much effort went into printing and mailing these letters, I’m sure I’m not the only one to receive one, and I doubt I’m part of a small minority of people that immediately and completely discounted the contents.
News 11
Greetings from CFUR H
ey there, dedicated fans and readers of Over The Edge. CFUR radio would like to welcome all of you to our beautiful school. New or returning students alike can all agree that UNBC is a great place to be, so congratulations on your excellent judgment. We trust that you all had sun-filled summers complete with campfires, bathing suits, and acoustic guitars.
CFUR recently welcomed new staff members, Britt Meierhofer and Grant Bachand along with some swell summer interns
Through CFUR, staff and volunteers have secured internships and staff positions with the CBC, interviewed and built relationships with their favorite musicians, sports writers, athletes, and journalists. As an undergrad, this is the best time to build your resume through work and volunteer experience. We are looking for volunteers in our music, programming, and spoken word departments. Dedicated volunteers have been known to receive free festival passes, swag, tickets to concerts, as well as tootsie pops!
For all you new students, we are in the NUGSS building right beside the Over the Edge office. Our goal is to provide to students a platform to build their skills in pretty much any media related field. CFUR is a student/volunteer run community radio station located right here at UNBC. If you have any interest at all in journalism, radio, TV, music production, documentaries, business management, grant writing, or the entertainment industry in general, there is a place for you at CFUR. All of our staff and volunteers are delightfully intelligent and funny, so you would fit right in. On top of that, local Prince George legends such as Bad Not Cheap, In the Moshpit, and the volunteer ran program The Fresh Sheet are broadcast right out of our little slice of UNBC heaven, to you, the radio connoisseur.
come on in for a visit or email programming@cfur.ca and we’ll hook you up! CFUR is some of the best work experience you will get before graduating.
Why aren’t you here right now? We don’t bite and we can figure out the best way to help you with your radio dreams. And hey, no matter what, we’ve always got a shelf full of free new music just begging to fall into your hot little paws.
who turned the music department and news team upside down! If you want to participate in making their dreams of independent media and music rain from the tower,
And of course, the Music department is chugging away all tickety-boo. If you ever want to take a look at what’s playing on CFUR, check out www.cfur.ca, our twitter feed @CFUR_Tracks, or our charts at Earshot and CMJ which are published right here in OVER THE EDGE!
The Northern Women’s Centre T
he Northern Women’s Centre is a safe place on campus for all women in Prince George to access 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
6th/Memorial to Montreal Massacre and other events. Contact the Women’s Centre if you would like to be on their email list to hear about these and other events.
The Women’s Centre is a great place to study, eat, make coffee, socialize, talk to trained staff and volunteers or just to relax! We offer support, referrals and advocacy for women in need or crisis, as well as workshops, training, volunteer opportunities, access to a library as well as offering a table outside the Centre with on and off campus resources.
We are currently recruiting women for our volunteer program. We need help organizing events, raising awareness about important issues affecting women, organizing the library, sitting on our Board of Directors and other opportunities.
Look out for some great activities/events this fall: Consent/ Anti-Violence Campaign, Take Back The Night March, Legal Workshop Series, Pro-Choice Rally, December
In addition, for those students looking at careers in the “helping” professions, we are recruiting individuals for the Shift Volunteer role. Crisis and Suicide Intervention training for our Shift volunteers will be taking place in September.
Come find the Northern Women’s Centre near the Winter Garden, between Tim Horton’s and UNBC Security. There are weekly Collective meetings at the Centre where we discuss current issues, plan activities and events and provide a place for women to connect. Please contact the NWC if you would like to take part! A regular meeting day/time will be set in early Fall. Although the Women’s Centre is a space for women, men can access services and use the resources by making an appointment with the Coordinator. We also encourage men to participate in our events and workshops. Come speak to the Coordinator, Sarah, anytime to learn more!
Gamespot
Further Salutations DON’T LOSE OUT – SHOW ME THE MONEY!! There is a small Mid-September Awards Competition opening on September 15, 2016 for UNBC awards that were not taken up over the summer and for any new awards that can be offered for disbursement in the 2016 September and 2017 January Semesters. After September 15th, take a quick look at your Student Online Services / Financial Aid / Award Application portal via http://www. unbc.ca/current-students to view the Entrance Awards, In-Course Awards, General Awards & Graduate Awards that are still available and submit your online awards application to have an opportunity to cash in!! If you have any questions you can email the Awards & Financial Aid Unit via awards@unbc.ca or stop by the UNBC Office of the Registrar and ask for the Awards & Financial Aid Unit. Deadline for Mid-Sept Online Award Applications (& Supporting Docs if required) is: October 14, 2016
What is PGPIRG? W
hat is PGPIRG? It’s an awesome space to hang out, share your ideas and make things happen! We are an inclusive group of students and community members who are engaged with our community on and off campus, and our environment. We’re an awesome group of people, who make change happen.
there a workshop you’d like to see organized? Have a research question? Want to make new zines? Start a rally? Organize a film event or series? Whatever you want to see happen, we can help you get started! These can be oneoff events, or you can even start what we call Student Action Groups.
Officially, PGPIRG is the Prince George Public Interest Research Group - a non-profit organization, located right on campus. We’re a resource/ action centre focused on activism and research. PGPIRG focuses on social and environmental justice issues, and have a variety of on-going programs, including a sustainability garden, selling produce at the University Farmers’ Market, local foods program (good food boxes!), compost collection, amnesty international, alternative resource library, Nudie Calendar, and so much more.
Student Action Groups start as localized direct action in response to current issues and events. In areas of interest or ongoing concern to the public interest, Action Groups often become PIRG projects or programs; they also change as new issues develop within the scope of the action itself. Action Groups can also evolve into Coalitions that work with organizations, individuals, and other groups outside the PIRG.
Even better: we’re here to support your ideas. Want to start a new initiative? Is
In short? Get Involved! We welcome new board members, and are always looking for awesome volunteers. Come hang out at PIRG, we’re located on the third floor of the NUSC Building (6-342), or e-mail us at pgpirg@unbc.ca, or check us out on Facebook.
Letter from CASHS Dr. Bianca Schorcht Dean, CASHS
T
he College of Arts, Social & Health Sciences, commonly known as CASHS, houses 16 academic programs at UNBC. The CASHS dean’s office oversees the development and delivery of academic courses and programming. We are Anthropology; Disability Management; Economics; English; First Nations Studies; Health Sciences; Integrated Analytical Skills and Knowledge (IASK); History; Global and International Studies; Northern Studies; Political Science; Psychology; Women’s Studies and the three professional programs in Education, Nursing, and Social Work. Our professional programs are closely connected with other CASHS academic departments, as each of them requires a significant component of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences courses for professional certification. We are a diverse and productive group. Our office is the next step up from departments and programs. As a student, if your concerns can’t be dealt with at the departmental level, contact us. Of course,
we like to hear about the good things too – and we welcome your ideas! As dean, I don’t see students as much as I would like, and my busy schedule can create challenges. However, I would like to hear from you. I am always open to visiting student clubs and to give a welcome to new students. Attending university, in my view, should be a holistic experience where mind, body, and spirit come together. It is a once in a lifetime experience. I encourage you to participate in extracurricular activities, join clubs, and engage with the university in ways that appeal to you. Our office is located in the Administration Building off the Atrium, in Room 1050. Two very friendly Executive Assistants work in our office. Contact Teresa Bel for assistance with student contracts, including TAships, and Debbie Price for all other dean related matters such as appointments, meeting, budget donations, and events.
Survival 13
First Year’s Survival Guide Grant Bachand Guest Contributor
T
he welcome back that the university gives is always tremendous, but this year being that it is the last year of my undergrad, I felt the warmth that much more and a ton of relief that it is almost over. It occurs to me that this may be many people’s first year, and they might be a bit nervous about being in university. I thought the best thing to do is pass along some of my learnings to the newbies. Relax and be yourself. I know it is a cliché, but when you are stressed and nervous you don’t think clear and you may miss a lot of things. So, if you want to learn anything make sure you relax first and enjoy the ride. You may be coming out of high school, or possibly coming back to university after years off. If you are coming out of high school then you are probably think you know who you are and what you are comfortable with. Trust me, you are probably being and acting like someone who you really aren’t, in order to maintain some sort of social façade you have created for
yourself. You can stop that now. My advice is to forget all the things you thought you knew about yourself and what you should do and be open to rediscovering yourself. I know at this point you are thinking that this is going to be a corny list with some useless points from Shia LaBeouf videos, and it kind of is. Trust me, if you don’t allow yourself to rediscover who you are, university is going to be is an extension of high school. You are in the real world now, or at least pretty close to the real world. Join a club, or student organization to find your kind of people. Now do not just join one club, join multiple. Debate Club, Commerce Student Society, Drama Club, Chemistry Club and much more all are good options to explore and discover. If you do not like the club simply drop out and join a different club. Whatever you do, do not let titles dictate what club you join. If you let your major pigeonhole what you do then you will never
know if you are doing the right thing for yourself. As you explore and discover more about what you like and dislike you will find it easier to make your decisions in the future. A university experience without at least joining one club is a waste of your time. Learn how to deal with stress, judgment, disappointment and regret. In your time at university you will feel all these emotions at different times and at different intensity. I usually find around finals I get hit with all of them at once. The best thing to do is to find a coping strategy, and use it. If you don’t learn to cope with stress early on you will find these four or five years really long and extremely draining. Find a mentor and learn from them. One of the best things I did as a person was find someone who was older, wiser and learn some valuable life skills from them. When I was at CNC I met a man who was a lot older than myself, at the time I was
around 19 – 20. I hung out with him and we became good friends, this friendship I found to be one of the most valuable friendships I have had in my life. I am a much different person after my friendship with him, and now I am able to pass along the stuff I learned from him to other people. The things I learned from him are skills that I have used everyday since. Like I did, you need to find your Obi-Wan Kenobi, and learn to use the Force from them. Final tip: find a buddy. University may not be anything like war but when the shit hits the fan, having someone with you that is going through the same stuff as you, is something that can be immensely comforting. You will change majors, break up with partners, have fights with colleagues, fail classes and possibly forget altogether why the hell you are going through all this crap in the first place. My advice is to find a partner and hunker down, because a storm is coming, and it is going to last a while.
Residence or nah? Sara Weeres Guest Contributor
O
ff campus or on campus? Deciding whether to live in residence or off campus is one of the most influential decisions in a student’s life. I speak from experience. I feel that I learned a lot and exposed myself to many different things by deciding to rent my own place, but residence offered me invaluable friendships and experiences for the two years I was there. So, off campus or on campus? Let’s break it down. Res is a fantastic option for first year students. It offers security when first moving to Prince George, forces students to interact with each other, and allows students without transportation to easily access the school. You don’t have to worry about finding roommates, a place to rent, or furniture. The rent is paid in full at the beginning of the semester so you don’t have to think about monthly expenditure. Living on res is the best way to meet and constantly interact with fellow new students
and get to know them, whether it be through roommates, friends of roommates, or people you met in class who happen to live on res. It’s a great way to get connected and stay connected to your peers. You don’t have to figure out the bus system right away and you can get up fairly late without a commute to class. One of my favourite things about res was that you didn’t have to pack a lunch; between classes you just mosey on back home and relax while making and enjoying a nice meal you created right then and there… Oh wait. Second year is when things get a little confusing. You’ve experienced the loud, drunken people when you’re trying to study, the fire alarms at 3am, the thin walls that gave away FAR too much about your roommate’s sex life, but it’s just so convenient. Maybe you have some roommates you really clicked with that want to be on res again. It could be that the ability to run back home to grab
something you forgot outweighs the $90 in quarters you spent on laundry. So you do it. Even though you’re starting to go a little crazy not being able to separate your home life from your school life, you do it. Third year is when I moved off res. Not only is it cheaper, it’s more private, nicer looking (hopefully), and good god I needed to find a way to get away from school sometimes. You can live by yourself or have roommates, and even have more than one bathroom! Having a larger living space and bedrooms is an additional possibility. Living off campus offers you a whole new smorgasbord of options, and it feels good. The only thing is, now you’re further away from your friends (whether they’re on OR off campus), and by the time you’re off campus for 3 months, the Prince George Transit system has elicited every curse in the English language from your mouth. However, if you somehow find a way to navigate said transit system, you’ll find that living off campus opens your eyes
to the many entertainment and restaurant options available in Prince George. I myself became much more engaged in the amenities the city had to offer rather than holing myself up at UNBC all the time. You do have to get up a little earlier to make yourself a lunch and bus up to the university, but showing off your awesome new place to your friends makes up for it, especially when you all end up drinking and crashing at your place on Friday night because you have way more space than they do on res. So, in fourth year, stay off campus. Res has its place in university life, but living off campus offers such a great growing experience that I would highly recommend it. It exposes you to the city, can aid your mental health while going to school, and often offers way better living conditions. I hope you are at least considering it if you haven’t already done it, and if you have, kudos to you!
14
Info The Academic Success Centre (ASC) offers a number of FREE resources aimed at helping students achieve academic success, including: -One-to-one tutoring in writing, study skills, mathematics, statistics, physics, commerce, and economics at the ASC, room 10-2584 -Drop in writing tutoring at the writing help desk in the library -Drop in math-based tutoring at MACE, room 10-2088 -Online writing and math tutoring at www.unbc.ca/asc -Supplemental Instruction in select challenging courses -Reference materials -Online resources and handouts at www.unbc.ca/asc -Workshops Our tutors and supplemental instruction leaders are trained graduate and undergraduate students. Please do not hesitate to contact our department if you have any questions or concerns. The Academic Success Centre is committed to supporting student learning. Academic Success Centre University of Northern British Columbia 3333 University Way Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9 Tel: 250-960-6367 Fax: 250-960-5425 Email: asc@unbc.ca Web: www.unbc.ca/asc
Filbert Cartoons
Coffee Break
Anthony Labonte
Monqiue Gendron
filbertcartoons.com
How to find your destination Figuring out the room numbering system may seem hard at first, but it’s easy to figure out! If you have a class in 5-172, the “5-” indicates what building you need to be in, in this case, the library. The first number after the dash usually indicates what floor the room is on, in this case “172” means that you need to be on the first floor. Then, it’s just a matter of finding the right room! If you need to vist a professor, the Administration building doesn’t have a prefix number, instead all the room number start with “ADM-”. If you need to visit a residence, they don’t have numbers, they just have names, “Neyoh” and “Keyoh”. If you still get lost, there’s lots of signage and plenty of maps around campus!