UWI PTE Evenining Review Magazine 2

EVENING REVIEW • OFFICE OF THE PART TIME & EVENING REPRESENTATIVE

February 2012 ISSUE 2

Ms. Lisa George-Sharpe Best Academic Performer

Domestic Violence

Spirits of the Arts Understanding the Cycle

All About Dance

evening review PUBLISHER Office of the Part-time and Evening Representative

EDITORS Kristy Smith Nigel Thomas

PHOTOGRAPHY UWI Photography Club (UPC) Thion Lord Christopher Russell

DESIGN & LAYOUT Christopher Russell (Momentum Media)

WRITERS Nigel Thomas Kristy Smith Muhammad Muwakil Prof. Ian Robertson Aaron Thomas Victoria John Katrina Ramdath Candace K. Maharaj Chris Thomas Celena C. O. Oxley Sheldon Mitchell Irwin Hackshaw Sunity Maharaj Joshua Hamlet The Evening Review is a publication of the Office of the Part-time and Evening Representative, Guild of Students.

For more information please contact the Part-Time and Evening Representative, Guild of Students, Nigel Thomas at Tel: 778-0804 or Email: parttimeveningrep@ sta.uwi.edu

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Editorial “Providing students with another chance to advance”, this is the business of the Evening University Programme at the St. Augustine Campus. The Office of the Part-time/Evening Representative along with the Evening University Office, in an attempt to bring yet another opportunity for advancement, have teamed up to produce ‘The Evening Review”. This magazine contains articles, features and editorials highlighting the work of evening students and other significant persons. It is also used as a channel to inform readers of some of the services, events and talents found on and around the St. Augustine Campus. The magazine was the brain-child of Mr. Nigel Thomas, Parttime/Evening Representative, Guild of Students.

His initiative was favourably met by our office, as we both found it to be an excellent medium to reach the Evening student body. Our first edition of The Evening Review was well received by both the students and members of Campus community alike, applauding the effort to integrate the Evening University cohort of students into mainstream Campus life.

In this our second edition, we hope to continue in that stead. We have purposefully decided to highlight the excellence that the University of the West Indies is known for, by featuring persons who have attained such excellence. This effort starts with the young lady who graces our front cover. We felt it imperative to acknowledge Ms. Lisa George-Sharpe, the Evening University’s top student for the academic year 2009/2010. The interview that follows, tells of her confidence and determination to complete her degree with honors. As she would say, “I knew I had to do it; and I knew I had to do it in three (3) years”. We are grateful to Ms. George-Sharpe for sharing her story and hope that it would give the current Evening University group the incentive to press on. In each issue, we plan to highlight persons who have made significant contributions to the institution, nation and region. To this end, we feature the late Trinidadian scholar and economist, Lloyd Best, in a piece written by his wife Sunity Maharaj. As the pages unfold, you will find some more interesting articles, including one written by Mrs. Celena Oxley, which gives you, the reader, a snapshot into the life of an evening student. In this issue, we also provide tips for proper healthcare, information on social awareness and on the various groups and clubs found on the Campus. You can also look out for our Kitchen Korner, which entices you to sample the Caribbean’s culinary delights. We hope that you find this issue as equally, if not more engaging, than the first. Best wishes.

Contents 23 UNDERSTANDING

GRIEF & LOSS

34 18 LLOYD BEST

5 9

11

38

7

IMPORTANT TIPS

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INTERVIEW WITH MS. LISA GEORGE-SHARPE WARM GREETINGS BACK TO THE FUTURE ALL ABOUT DANCE

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SOCIAL AWARENESS...

15 16

UWI AFRIKAN SOCIETY

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SHADES OF HUE...

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IMPORTANT HEALTH TIPS

Reality or a state of comciousness

KITCHEN KORNER The untold story

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UNDERSTANDING GRIEF & LOSS

25

MY EVENING STUDENT EXPERIENCE

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DARE TO DREAM, DARE TO IMAGINE

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7 IMPORTANT TIPS

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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

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SPIRIT OF THE ARTS

For adjusting to university life As a mature student

Understanding the cycle

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LLOYD BEST

36 38

SAFETY FIRST

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One of the Caribbean’s Intellectually Fertile Minds...

ACADEMIC SUPPORT/ DISABILITIES LIAISON UNIT (ASDLU) HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE LIST?

EVENING REVIEW FEBRUARY 2012

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“I was studying for a purpose...it’s not easy, but it’s not something that’s impossible.”

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INTERVIEW

An exclusive interview with

Ms. Lisa George-Sharpe Question and Answer Interview with Ms. Kristy Smith Saturday 13th May, 2011 Evening University Office I recently interviewed Ms. Lisa GeorgeSharpe, a twenty six (26) year old First Class Honours student, formerly registered in the Evening University (EU) at The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine Campus. After three (3) years, Ms. Sharpe attained an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.82 upon completion of her Bachelor of Science degree. She majored in both Economics and Management Studies in the Faculty of Social Sciences. She was also named the Best Academic Performer at Level 3, for the 2009/2010 academic year.

Lisa was quite surprised upon learning about our interest in interviewing her, but more so shocked upon hearing our reason for wanting to do so. Of course, having graduated last October 2010, she was aware of her class of degree, but up to our point of contact, she remained in the dark about the other achievements that came with her honors and her status as an Evening student.

I could hear the delight in her voice when I informed her that, she was indeed, the top Evening University student in her graduating class (2009/2010). She explained that she attended the Faculty’s Evening of Excellence ceremony, but was unaware that she was the one, out of the six EU First Class Honours students, that copped the top Evening spot.

We wanted to recognize her for this achievement and to find out a little more about how she, as an Evening student, managed it all – school, work and life— while maintaining such excellence.

KS: So tell me Lisa, what inspired you to come back to school?

A. Well, after Secondary school I took three (3) years off and then decided I would apply for a scholarship to go to University overseas.

In fact, I was successful at getting one from a university in South Carolina, but turned it down because I was not familiar with that state. When I heard about GATE it prompted me to pursue my degree locally.

KS: Okay, but there are a host of other tertiary level institutions across this country, why UWI? A. There was no other choice! UWI is the best in Trinidad.

KS: True. I noted your age, 26, that’s still young, you could have easily attended the Day-time offering. What made you decide to pursue your degree in an Evening mode?

A. I needed to work. Also, I felt that I would get bored with just classes in the day. I would have too much free time on my hands, and I also needed to be challenged. Working and going to school provided that.

KS: What was your impression of UWI when you first entered?

A. Wow, I found that it was big. I got lost on many occasions. It was a different experience from Secondary school. There were no restrictions; more freedom to enquire about the academic literature that was being delivered, the topics were a lot more interesting and the range and ages of the students was impressive.

KS: Can you say whether there were any particular aides that facilitated your life as a student?

A. Well, when I first came in, I attended the

Faculty’s orientation session at the Learning Resource Center (LRC) and I also visited the Dept. of Economics and found the staff there very helpful. Thereafter, I read and followed the Faculty handbook which was straightforward particularly for the double major I was pursuing. I had a clear understanding of the structure of my programme and though from time to time I experienced some clashes with my elective options, I got to do most of the courses I wanted. If there was a clash, I would drop one of the courses and pick up an alternative option. I didn’t take the chance to do half of one and half of the other.

KS: Did you take part in any extracircular activities?

A. No. I had no time for that. I came to class and left afterwards. I didn’t feel much like I was a part of the university as an evening student, because most of the events took place during the daytime.

KS: Can you remember which was one of your more interesting classes?

A. Oh definitely! That would have to be Caribbean Economy with Dennis Pantin.

At first, I didn’t want to do the course, but there were no other options available that semester. That class opened my eyes, to a whole new brand of Economics that I never knew existed. All I knew was what I read in the assigned textbooks, which focused on economics in the first world countries.

That there was Economics tailored to the Caribbean, was new to me. I was mostly impressed by his teaching style, he just had all the information in his head, never really used lecture notes. It was pretty amazing.

The second was Econometrics with Angela Henry, she did not teach from a textbook as well, and the course allowed me to apply economics to our economy through the different econometrics models.

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INTERVIEW

KS: Have you been able to identify how you learn best?

A. Definitely not just ‘learning off’ anything at all. That is, I don’t just read and read the information over and over, like cramming.

I would read the information and when I understand the concept it becomes easy for me to apply the knowledge. I tried to go to all of my classes. I usually study better alone and only after would I join a group. I study by reading out the information aloud, I cannot study quietly (just as loud as I’m speaking now). I sometimes tape myself while reading. It’s as though I’m teaching myself. I think that students need to find out what works for them and stick to it. This worked for me. I also reviewed many past papers. I found that it acted as a guide to answering future questions.

KS: In terms of examinations techniques, what are some of the pre and post examination strategies you used?

A. I studied up to twenty minutes before the exam and avoided any peer contact after that. You know, sometimes you meet other students and the questions they ask put doubt in your mind about how much you really know. When I get into the room, I relax… oh no, first, I pray and then I read the entire paper. I don’t answer any questions before I read the entire paper. I choose the questions that I think I would do my best in and estimate the marks that I could gain from attempting it. If I get stuck on a question, I stop and clear my head, but I never just stop writing.

I always answer all the questions. I also try to sit at the front of the exam room so that I won’t get distracted. Also, I plan my essays in my head depending on the course. If it’s Math I’d write it down, if it’s English and if it’s not complicated, I could plan it in my head while studying. But most of all, I never leave out anything, I always write something.

KS: Okay, so the next set of questions surrounds your full experience: being a student and having to balance that with your work life and home/social life. Tell me about some of the challenges you experienced, if any and how you overcame them?

A. For me, if I know I have to do something, I will do it. I would go to work for 7:00 a.m. and leave at 3:00 p.m. in traffic coming from the West to attend UWI. If I knew that I was not in the frame of mind to absorb the information on a given day I would adjust to suit. I had classes practically every day because I was pursuing the maximum of four

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(4) courses per semester and three (3) in the Summer. I was often very tired and could not go on too many outings. But , I guess I knew I had to do it and I knew I had to do it in three (3) years.

KS: Do you have any plans to do Postgraduate studies?

A. Well, I’m starting a first degree in Law in September. And I will pursue a Masters degree in Economics in the future.

KS: What was one of your most fulfilling experiences during your degree?

A. (She pauses) It would have to be a course.

I got a B in one of my economics courses, and that was my best grade ever. I failed the mid-term. In fact, I think only one person in the class passed it. But I was determined to pass the course. I put in a lot of extra work to pass the exam and to maintain my grade point average (GPA). I did more work for that ‘B’ than for any ‘A’ I ever got!

KS: Tell me, did you have any support systems in place during your degree?

A. Yes. My mother lives abroad, so I had overseas support. But it was mostly my boyfriend Dwane. He always made sure I did what I had to do.

KS: What motivates you?

A. I like challenges. I do not like failing and I burn the midnight oil until I have a clear understanding of things. I never think about just getting a pass grade. I know exactly the grade I want and I work and write for it. I know what has to be done and even if it means planning out and studying four (4) subjects the weeks before the exams, I do it.

The key for me is understanding everything.

I never felt like I wasted time; I was studying for a purpose. You know, it’s not that it’s easy, but it’s not something that’s impossible to do. So I like to think that I can do it.

KS: Did you make any friends during your time at UWI? A. Yes, a few, mainly in the evening group.

I found the experience with the evening students more enriching because of their seriousness and maturity.

KS: How did you feel about earning First Class Honours?

A. I felt the reward of achieving first class honors particularly at the Faculty’s Evening of Excellence ceremony. Receiving the award made it all worth it.

KS: Did you attend your graduation ceremony?

A. Yes, I did. I was really impressed by the Dean’s orating. He kept the ceremony lively.

KS: With your degree now in hand, have you seen any benefits of it in the workplace?

A. Definitely. My education at UWI has helped me to grow a lot. There were two courses I did that coincidentally, were unplanned, but those two courses are extremely relevant to my current position.

KS: If given the opportunity, what are some of the tips you would pass on to an Evening University student?

A. Be aware of the courses you have to do in your programme. Have a plan, time management is important. Prioritize your goals. Attend all tutorials. Create a network, a support group. Ask questions if you don’t understand something. Do whatever you have to do to get where you want to be. If you fail one course, it’s not the end of the world. It teaches you what needs to be done.

Develop your own learning and studying style, what may work for one person may not work for another. You know yourself better than anyone else, therefore you should know what will work for you.

KS: Is there anything else you would like to say in closing?

A. I’d just like to say that I’m thankful to the Evening University Office for informing me of this achievement and for highlighting it in this manner.

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Professor Ian Robertson Academic Director, Evening University

F

or those of us who live in the northern hemisphere, the word “south” is associated immediately with down.

We see Australia as “Down Under”.

Australian cricket and New Zealand rugby in recent times would make us disinclined to see these South countries as being down. In like fashion, the expansion of the UWI St. Augustine offerings into the South is a movement upwards.

The movement represents the attempt by the campus in Trinidad to realise two strategic objectives of the UWI in being accountable to its major stakeholders.

The first of these upward developments expands access to university education by providing opportunities at convenient times to persons who would not normally have had the chance to access the offerings on the main campus. Indeed they may not have the opportunity to have exposure to higher education had

it not been for the “South Initiative”.

A second related development addresses the strategic objective of student friendliness. Under normal circumstances the students would have had to travel to the campus on the North in order to have university exposure.

Now, the initiative brings education to the proverbial doorstep. In addition, the physical layout of the temporary location at Naparima Boys’ College, presents the most pleasant surroundings including a panoramic view of the Gulf off Western Trinidad. The classrooms are adequately equipped and the quality of teaching staff is similar to, or identical with, that on the main campus.

The initiative has started with a few level one courses and the offerings will be expanded at this level during the second semester of this academic year (2011/2012). Class sizes have remained small and very manageable, a feature

that both the staff and students have commented favourably on. The success of the venture will be predicated on the ability to deliver in as timely and cost effective a manner as possible, a series of programme offerings.

The partnership with the prestigious College in the South, further enhances the claim to seeing this development as an upward movement, for it gives the University the opportunity to partner with another education provider in making full use of plant that would otherwise lie idle.

The South Initiative also gives the St Augustine Campus the opportunity to cooperate with the ROYTEC programme as we share common facilities.

The University of the West Indies, St Augustine has begun to move “UP SOUTH”.

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GREETINGS

Warm greetings “The Guild Council has been able to explore new frontiers geared at enhancing the university’s learning experience”

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The Office of the Part-time and Evening Representative takes this opportunity to extend warm greetings to all newly matriculated and returning students to the UWI St. Augustine campus. The Part-time and Evening communities are inherently unique and it’s to this end the Guild of Students has been working relentlessly to ensure that the needs of both of these growing cohorts are met. Much of the challenges faced are transitional in nature, as mature students find themselves joggling a new dynamic... academia. Consequently, mature students at times have found it difficult to seamlessly integrate into the wider campus community. This however has been changing considerably through committed advocacy, public education and a growing relationship between the Guild Council and campus administration.

Through these progressive steps taken, the Guild Council has been able to explore new frontiers geared at enhancing the university’s learning experience. Instrumental to this, has been the close working relationship between the Evening University and the Parttime and Evening Office in strengthening conditions for student empowerment.

This student- centred alliance has brought about considerable change often reflected in extended office and administrative hours, academic programme reform, how student services are offered and the scope to which the university’s policies govern student’s learning experience.

The Office is further pleased to report that with the support of the Guild Council 2011-2012, we will continue the provision of our shuttle service from Port-of-Spain to the St. Augustine campus for commuting students. This will be further coupled with our retailed service for students also using the PTSC service. Our ultimate goal is to strengthen the quality and scope of these transport services while re-defining the mediums

by which the Guild Council serves both communities.

As we look forward to serving these communities for the academic year 20112012, the Guild Council has embarked on an ambitious joint venture with the campus administration geared at opening a Home Child Care Centre in the near future. This decisive action is in tandem with meeting the psycho-social needs of the mature students while providing an appreciation and support for working parents pursuing higher education. Another substantive development has been the introduction of a revised student health plan that provides a broader scope of inclusivity to members of the part-time and evening community and a wider range on benefits to students on the whole. Finally, and with reference to the extension of the evening academic programme being offered, the EU has embarked on extending its administrative network. Thus, commuting students from south are now afforded the opportunity to attend some of their classes through our South Initiative. These progressive steps taken are all geared at developing the quality of higher education being offered to our working and mature students As we move forward towards providing a service that is student-centred and responsive to the global environment, the Office of the Part-time and Evening Representative on behalf of the Guild Council 2011/12 requests your continued support and enthusiasm. Remember always... together we can make it happen.

Nigel Thomas

Guild of Students Part-time and Evening Representative, 2009-12 Msc. Mediation Studies

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Back to the Future When the reality of our situation finally hits us it will shatter our jaws and for once we will be justified in saying nothing The homeless will set up street corner classes to teach survival tactics to middle and upper class people; The new Survivor Man will be a vagrant.

Bank vaults will be used to store food fat women will be the most attractive women on earth and they will no longer be called fat but successful. Politicians will be eaten on sight, warriors will wear their tongues around our necks like medallions, let my necklace talk for me (right 50).

Rich men will first try to buy food with their money, when that fails they will try to eat their money, when that fails they will burn it to keep warm, when that fails they will go mad... rich men will go mad.

Farmers will set up Fortresses around their lands and will

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be called kings.

Technology will be irrelevant and computers will be mined for metals.

We will try to fish on the west coast and suddenly realize that pollution is a problem.

Places like Movie Town, Hyatt and The Marriott will have no air-conditioning due to power cuts and will be rendered useless as popcorn pop films and high ceilings become luxuries we can ill afford.

We will be sorry we cut down the mangrove.

The Zoo and the grocery store will be one and the same.

A man will beg you to trade him a plate of pelau for his Range Rover Sport, That man will be asked, “Do you have anything else?” That man will be asked,” Are you insane?”

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That man will be told, “You cannot eat a car.” That man will try to eat his car.

Christ make me Black as coal and safe from the sun.” Black is Beautiful and Functional.

Soca artistes will be seen as a nuisance as people will no longer have the energy nor possess the strength to jump wine and wave at the same time.

Racism is reduced to a joke we tell over bonfires fed by the bodies of those to stubborn to integrate.

The last great flood in a bit of natural irony, wipes out every Caribbean island but Haiti and so the place we refused to see houses us all as Haitian refugees.

Calypsonians and the bearers of the word will rally the people around ancestral slogans and give them hope.

A child will be Born who will look at the remnants of a car and ask, “what is that?” That child will be told, “that was a mistake.”

At the edge of the world there is much to discuss, the children hear talk of a brighter future but with the ozone layer depleted these words have taken on new meaning, the perverse world we’re used to reverses in the future, no more Klu Klux Klan and lynchin’, with all that skin cancer and burnin’, white folks begin to wish for melanin, They pray “

Rap artists are hunted for their bling which is melted down and used to make arrow heads to hunt rap artists for their bling.

And I pray that I am not around to read this poem as poets will be killed on sight for the look on their faces which will say only one thing...

I told you so.

“The last great flood in a bit of natural irony, wipes out every Caribbean island but Haiti and so the place we refused to see houses us all as Haitian refugees.

”

by Muhammad Muwakil

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All About Dance

Katrina Ramdath - Former President Bsc. International Tourism Management Faculty of Social Sciences

“Mirrors of Self-Expression” appropriately represents the function of the University of the West Indies Dance Theatre (UWI Dance Theatre). It is also symbolic of the passion that flows through the veins, minds and bodies of every person that captures moments to dance.

Dancing knows no boundaries. The art of dance enables a person to truly connect their mind with their body, through rhythmic timings and bodily expressions. It is by this token that the UWI Dance Theatre functions, to give persons the opportunity to seek freedom from their some-what daily working routines and to release any form of negative energy through dance.

While it is a remarkable method of exercise and contributes to a healthy

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lifestyle, dance also builds up pride and self-confidence on a personal level, and does not discriminate on age, body-type or personality. Dancing has allowed persons to create an eccentric alter ego whereby they, as the dancer, are limitless in taking chances to embrace opportunities, utilizing their bodies as a ‘puppet’, to express their emotions through body language. As long as you can move, you are capable of dance.

The simple essence of dance, is being familiar with your body and knowing how to combine the movements of a particular dance, with the rhythmic beats found in different genres of music.

At UWI Dance Theatre there are various types of Dance being offered. They range from Hip-Hop to Modern Dance. The committee, along with the dance tutors,

is intent on providing a comfortable and enjoyable environment for all of the members; a haven where each person can express themselves through the art of dance, while socializing with peers and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Dancing has allowed persons to create an eccentric alter ego whereby they, as the dancer, are limitless in taking chances to embrace opportunities, utilizing their bodies as a ‘puppet’.

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by Candace K. Maharaj

“Dedicate some of your life to others. Your dedication will not be a sacrifice; it will be an exhilarating experience.”

hink of socially conscious persons you know. Those who go out of their way to help others, to fight for justice, to sacrifice their own comforts so that others can benefit. Who balance work and family and friends and somehow still manage to find time to give back to society. To give hope to those who feel helpless. To right wrongs and make things brighter somehow.

To use an example close to home, I remember being in awe of certain Guild Councillors at UWI’s Matriculation Ceremony because I would hear people speak so appreciatively of them and the work they were doing. Eventually I got to know them a bit, and realized that they were regular people, who believed: “I must do something” always solves

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- Thomas Dooley

more problems than “Something must be done.”’

They were those who felt that something was wrong... or imperfect... or could be better- and they would step up to the plate themselves to try to put things on the right track. They would speak out against wrong and demand equity. They would patiently put in the hard work and toil required to make a difference in their sphere of influence.

Some people contend that a socially conscious person tends to be empathetic towards others regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, disability, class, or sexual identity. Not a particularly poignant statement, but in reading it, I realized that this was where it all

begins! By placing yourself in someone else’s shoes Atticus-style and caring enough to want to empathize with them and ease their hurt or discomfort, in spite of the differences society would have you consider.

I have heard it said that love is a verb, and I tend to agree. Many people care, but who cares enough to put in some work or take an unpopular stance?

Everyone talks about the way things should be done, but how many are actually doing it?

And what about you? Do you hurt when you see others hurting? Do you step in when you see wrong being committed?

Do you wish you could ease someone’s pain and help those in trouble? Do you yearn for a better society, country,

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nation, region, and world? Do you wish there was an easier way to help and just don’t know how to get involved?

The great thing is that most places you go, you will find groups of people who are there to serve the interests of the people. They usually welcome any assistance anyone can give. Take for example the Red Cross, Rotary, activist groups, and religious and Non-Governmental organisations.

Even right here on campus there are activist groups such as ‘Consciousness Raising’, ‘Planters for Social Change’ and ‘U.WE SPEAK’, where issues are dealt with creatively in order to instil a sense of social awareness and get us thinking. There is the Guild of Students,

your body of representation, with the many committees that fall under its jurisdiction, which can enable you in a small way to be part of big change- in a microcosm small enough for you to actually see the results!

All our actions impact the world we live in and extend further than just the people we come into contact with.

How do your actions influence the world around you? How is the world better for you having been in it?

“We all participate in weaving the social fabric; we should therefore all participate in patching the fabric when it develops holes.”

Everyone talks about the way things should be done, but how many are actually doing it?

ACADEMIC SUPPORT/DISABILITIES LIAISON UNIT “Creating A Campus Without Barriers” Contacts: 662-2002 Ext. 83866, 83921, 83923, 84254 Hours of duty: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 8:30am-4:30pm Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30am-6pm

(Late hours to accommodate Part-Time and Evening University Students)

Website: asdlu.office@sta.uwi.edu

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Â

UWI Afrikan Society Former President of the Afrikan Society, 2010/11.

he UWI Afrikan Society is not just for the native Africans, but, also incorporates the contributions and the heritage of the people in the African Diaspora. It focuses not only on West Africa but on all the states of the African continent in addition to the diasporic peoples of the Caribbean, the U.S. and Latin America, Europe and even Asia.

While the Society places special emphasis on the challenges faced by the African people - the slave trade, and the system of slavery, overcoming racial prejudices and racial segregation even up to the Black revolution. It also aspires and attempts to revel in the African heritage and acknowledges past accomplishments and epochs of African dynastic glory. Africa has been described as the founders and builders of civilizations and empires and it is in this light that we

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seek to remind, sustain and arouse consciousness of this undeniable fact in this contemporaneous period. This includes bringing to conscious the confluence of African influences in food, clothing, speech patterns, music, arts and even literature.

The mission of the Society is not to foster negative relations between the races but to help generate, mould and accept the dual consciousness that exists in each person who is either a native of Africa, a member of the African diaspora or someone who shares the African heritage.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) Misconceptions Q: “Must I be an African native to become a member of this group?”

A: No, the UWI Afrikan Society extends its membership to all interested persons.

Our primary membership lies with nationals of Trinidad and Tobago that are of African ethnicity. However, it is not limited to such individuals. We do have members from other Caribbean islands as well as African natives, including persons of other ethnicities. A diversity that is very much welcomed.

Q: Does the society promote segregation or racism?

A: God not partial, he is God for the Black man, the Chinese man, the Indian and White man too…all ethnicities under the sun.

Q: “If my hair is straightened will I be looked at in a ‘funny’ way or do I have to grow my hair natural or even wear dashiki’s and wrap skirts to be recognized as a ‘real’ member?”

A: It was actually an African American woman that invented the hair straightening chemical <Black Inventions Link>. So whether your hair is straight, curly like a dougla or plain woolly it doesn’t matter. As for clothes, in today’s society anyone can buy an identity as everything is fashionable and few things remain sacred. So “render your hearts and not your garments”, come as who you are, you can grow to be mindful of who you are.

Q: Does the society promote Black/ African Supremacy?

A: The UWI Afrikan Society promotes consciousness. We promote the consciousness of African culture not for the purpose of supremacy but

MEMBERSHIP Becoming a member is a simple process: STEP 1: Register with the society by filling out the membership form and paying the small fee of $10.00. N.B. this registration fee is for both returning and new members and is to be renewed every academic year.

STEP 2: Purchase one of the society’s T- shirts or baby tees.

STEP 3: To complete the process become an active member. This includes checking your emails and the website regularly for updates on the society’s events, contributing to events through financial support, member participation or volunteering. Also by giving feedback of your opinions to the executive to improve the overall achievement of the society’s goals.

Registration can be done during the orientation week at UWI St. Augustine Campus at the beginning of every academic year. Look out for the UWI Afrikan Society booth!!! If after this period you are interested in becoming a member you can email us at uwiafrikansociety@ yahoo.com.

rather for that of equity. We create a space where together we can recount the holocaust of our ancestors, but more importantly where we can share our experiences of being or interacting with persons of African descent while living in the West Indies.

RECENT ENDEAVOURS Some of our recent productions were held at LRC, UWI, St. Augustine. It was an Afrikan Society first!! It was a night of splendor and tranquility…expressed in dance, drumming, spoken word and capoeira (Brazilian Martial Arts).

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THE EVENING UNIVERSITY OFFICE

The Evening University Office is a cross-faculty co-ordinating unit working towards providing evening students with administrative and academic support including:

• General Advising • Seminars and Workshops • Access to co-curricular options • Access to wider campus services Office hours:

Monday to Friday-: 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Saturdays-: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Telephone contact: E-mail address: 662-2002 ext. 84331; 84470; 84471

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evening.university@sta.uwi.edu

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Kitchen Korner...

CARIBBEAN STYLES

Of the various delights one can experience from visiting countries the world over, partaking in indigenous cuisine takes a primary spot. Some would argue, that there is none more unique, than the culinary offerings found in the Caribbean.

Here are some of the mouthwatering dishes you may find on such a visit...

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TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – Crab and Callaloo The beautiful twin island of Trinidad and Tobago is known for having so many delicious, mouth-watering national dishes. Curried Crab and Callaloo is one of the many national dishes of Trinidad and Tobago. Callaloo is a soup that’s spicy and creamy made from dasheen leaves as the main ingredient.

This dish is traditionally made with ocean fresh land crabs. In Trinidad and Tobago, crabs are traditionally cooked whole and the meat is carefully picked out, removing any bits of shell or cartilage. This sophisticated dish may be served as a side dish with cou-cou, rice, stew, pie or salad of any kind.

JAMAICA – Ackee and Salt Fish Ackee & saltfish is considered to be Jamaica’s national, traditional and signature dish. This dish is very tasty and absolutely delicious. Ackee & saltfish is also eaten for breakfast by the locals. Ackee is a fruit (also known as the guinep) boiled, drained and simmered in oil along with salted codfish (saltfish) and seasonings to create the island’s national dish.

BARBADOS – Cou Cou and Flying Fish Cou-Cou and Flying Fish is the national dish of Barbados. Cou-Cou is made with a unique blend of yellow cornmeal and okra (ochro) mixed with salt, peppers and Bajan hot sauce. Cou-cou is prepared and served as a side dish along with Fried Flying Fish. Barbadian national dish is prepared by any cooking method. The variation of this wonderful dish incorporates special Bajan Seasonings. Cou-Cou may also be served with vegetables, ground provisions or rice or served a la carte as a main entre.

GRENADA – Breadfruit Oil Down Try this hearty one-pot meal of Breadfruit Oil Down, it is the national dish of Grenada. It is a simple, finger licking good dish. which is extremely popular at local “cook-ups”. Grenada’s national dish is made with salted meat, (pig tails) along with vegetables, coconut milk and onion, carrot, celery, breadfruit, dasheen and other provisions stewed with dumplings. Oil Down is full of flavor and spice; it really illustrates the way heat itself adds to the flavour of a dish.

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ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES – Breadfruit and Jackfish Roasted Breadfruit & Fried Jackfish is the national dish of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This dish is often served with Golden Apple Drink which is marked as its national drink.

HAITI – Griots (Pork) with Rice and Beans If anyone wants to know more about the history of Haitian cuisine, they should first consider educating themselves in order to appreciate and understand the background behind Haitians delicious traditional foods. The national dish on Haiti’s island is Fried Griot (Pork) served as a main entre and complimented with rice and peas (riz et pois). This delicious, unique, amazingly finger licking good cuisine features several varieties of rice and beans, such as the de facto national dish. It is not over seasoned, it is moderately spicy, not mild and not too hot. Haiti national dish Fried Pork (Griot) with Rice & Beans is definitely worth trying. Haitian dishes really blends African methods with plenty of flavors from the French palette, to great effect.

ST. LUCIA – Green Fig and Saltfish The national dish of St. Lucia is Saltfish and Green Fig Pie. It originated when early slaves discovered that saltfish was a good source of protein. This great dish is made with green figs (bananas), salted codfish, seasonings and cheese as the pie’s filling. Served as the main entre.

GUYANA – Pepperpot Pepperpot, the national dish of Guyana, is an Amerindian meat stew which uses cassareep. Cassareep is a preservative made from grated cassava and flavoured with cassareep, Cayenne pepper. This Pepper Pot dish is also traditionally served at Christmas and other special events. Pepperpot is typically a stewed meat (beef or any meat of choice) served with white rice, or black eye, split peas and rice.

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Shades Of Hue ARTICLE

….The Untold Story

by Chris Thomas Artiste, Student Humanities and Education

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The perception of Art for most people conforms to a two dimensional pictorial surface which is not entirely true, most people need to see something tangible in order to understand, the artist, the curator, the inventor, the theorist, the scientist, etc., are all artists of some sort, whose thinking outside the box has often been condemned as crazy. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been noted that things we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand we often condemn, so it becomes very interesting when an artist twists and turns a painting concept, sculpture, writings, figures, theories or some kind of art form as to generate interest of conscious thinking creating an awareness that speaks to those who cannot hear and to create sensation for those who cannot feel. The moment you stop to think or try to analyse a piece of art work critically or otherwise you evoke conscious thinking of identification and ownership, the artist then has achieved the objective.

Shades of Hue was initiated as a catalyst to create awareness and to

bridge the widening gap between the Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA), part-time and evening students and the main campus of the University of the West Indies. This exhibition showed, one way how easy interaction was fostered through concepts of visual presentation. An open air

art exhibition hosted by the Part-time and Evening Representative, Mr. Nigel Thomas of the Guild of Students, had limpid insight of the potential impact of such an event and understood the importance of interaction amongst the student communities. The displayed art

pieces sought by students of the DCFA, saw other students of main campus awed, speculating that this was the first time they were seeing work displayed by the art students of DCFA, some did not even know where DCFA was and to add to further insult did not know that the university had an art department.

It breaks my heart to know that the art department has to take a back seat to campus life on the whole. Everything in life that we do fashions art from the way we walk to the way we talk, dress, think, feel, every single living thing we do including breathing conforms to some pattern and momentum of art, so how can you exclude it without first understanding its simplest form.

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In essence Shades of Hue mean shades of colour. This concept and the desire to express this openness of artistic expression on the part of students have allowed the open exhibition concept to have a two - fold meaning in its presentation.

West Indies now housed an enormous student population than when she first started and went on to commend the Guild of Students for “Being the front runners in trying to create student and departmental interaction.”

Shades of Hue, a collaborative effort (a) To represent the DCFA in its many between the Part-time and Evening art forms through presentation and Representative and the Student Activity colour.

Chairperson have subsequently triggered a chain reaction of events (b) To represent the many sub commu- geared at creating student interaction nities of the campus society. that is proving to be successful among faculties using the DCFA as a tool of Dr. Pat Bishop, in her opening remarks interest to foster growth and underto inaugurate the proceedings described, standing. The concept that art is life and Shades of Hue as a “Germ of an idea life is art has now brought a renewed that created and fostered campus meaning to how it was previously interaction, and that there should be perceived. The UWI Guild of Students more meaningful events like this one all over the campus.” She went on to say, that “In all her years of teaching at the university Shades of Hue has been the first open art exhibition on campus to her recollection.” She also stated that the University of the

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has been committed in the direction of creating positive and meaningful relationships among students in all faculties and will continue to the driving force of student’s excellence.

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“The whole is more than the sum of its parts”

aving a healthy lifestyle isn’t just about eating and exercising right.

It is important to look at the self from a whole (holistic) perspective and understand the body, mind and spirit connection and the importance of balancing all aspects of one’s life in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. So here are a few tips for maintaining a holistic healthy lifestyle...

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Have a balanced meal - Fruits and

vegetables are the foundation of a healthy diet—they are low in calories and nutrient dense, which means they are packed with vitamins and minerals; fibre which help with a correct bowel movement and clear the digestive system; and antioxidants and other nutrients which help protect against certain types of cancer and other diseases. It should also include servings of grain, protein, and possibly dairy

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(but not too much). Cut back on oil and fats intake. It is good to have some of everything instead of a huge portion of one thing. The more balanced you make the portions, the more nutrition you will be getting from different kinds of foods.

A healthy mind is something we all want. Having a Healthy Mind is essential to the healing process.

Emotional Healthy living is a core component of achieving a healthy mind. It is the foundation of your ability to understand yourself and relate to others. When you are aware and in control of your emotions, you can think clearly and creatively; manage stress and challenges; communicate well with others; and display trust, empathy, and confidence. Lose control of your emotions, and you’ll spin into confusion, isolation, and doubt. By learning to recognize, manage, and deal with your emotions, you’ll enjoy greater happiness and health, as well as better relationships. When dealing with emotions it is important to:

Hydrate - If there’s only one thing

Acknowledge - Acknowledge how

you can think about besides how hectic life has become, make it water. Get as much clean, fresh water in as you possibly can. If you don’t love the taste of plain water, try squeezing in some lemon or other citrus for a refreshing change of pace. Most of us aren’t drinking nearly enough water as it is, and stress will deplete your stores even faster. Keeping hydrated will go a long way in helping your body maintain inner peace while your world may be spinning around you.

Exercise - Find something active

that you like to do and add it to your day, just like you would add healthy greens, fruits or salmon. The benefits of lifelong exercise are abundant and regular exercise may even motivate you to make healthy food choices a habit.

Our spirit is our essence. Spiritual health is as important as physical, mental and emotional health.

Spirituality is a sense of wholeness, a sense of knowingness, and a sense of something far greater and more wonderful than what we see in front of us. To nurture your spiritual being - find your own definition of Spiritual Health. Make time everyday to feed your spirit the way you would honour an appointment, and watch how this has a positive ripple effect into your relationships, work, and all other aspects of mind and body.

you feel. Don’t lie to yourself. Be honest about how you feel. Don’t judge yourself or your feelings harshly.

Vent – it is okay to cry, talk or write

if you feel sad, mad or bad so be it.

Cuss, fuss or scream into a pillow.

Get those negative emotions out of your system. Carrying around negative emotions is like a cancer that will eat away at you. Leaving negative emotions bottled up upsets your emotional and physical wellbeing. You must have a constructive means of venting your emotions.

Move On - Okay, so you’ve had

your tantrum. You’ve released the negative emotions. Now forget about the situation. Do not focus on or replay the event that upset you. All you have is the present. Now that you experienced the negative of life make a conscious effort to focus on the good in life that makes you smile and feel good.

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While it is quite normal to associate grieving with death, grief can be just as strongly experienced following the loss of any significant relationship or situation which has provided us with emotional fulfilment over a period of time. At the Counselling and Psychological Service (CAPS), students sometimes seek support after the end of a relationship. It can be useful to appreciate oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reaction in terms of bereavement; grieving for the loss of someone who has been an important part of your life, and loss of the future you might have had planned

Understanding

Grief & Loss

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for the both of you. You are faced with coming to terms both with the changes in your daily life, and the challenge of re-building your picture of the future.

Each person grieves in his or her own way and at his or her own pace.

However researchers observing the grieving patterns of terminally ill persons have discerned the following seven stages as being characteristic of the process of grieving. It is important to note however, that an individual does not necessarily experience all the stages, nor does he necessarily experience them in any particular order. In other words, an individual may move back and forth between anger and denial for some time, and never go through a guilt phase.

The Seven Stages of Grief as identified

by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross (Excerpt from Back to Life by Jennie Wright, RN, GC-C, Certified Grief Counsellor) 1. SHOCK & DENIALYou will probably react to learning of the loss with numbed disbelief. You may deny the reality of the loss at some level, in order to avoid the pain. Shock provides emotional protection from being overwhelmed all at once. This may last for weeks.

2. PAIN & GUILTAs the shock wears off, it is replaced with the suffering of unbelievable pain.

Although excruciating and almost unbearable, it is important that you experience the pain fully, and not hide it, avoid it or escape from it with alcohol or drugs.

You may have guilty feelings or remorse over things you did or didn’t

do with your loved one. Life feels “depression” begins to lift slightly. chaotic and scary during this phase.

6.

RECONSTRUCTION & 3. ANGER & BARGAININGWORKING THROUGHFrustration gives way to anger, and As you become more functional, your you may lash out and lay unwarranted mind starts working again, and you will blame for the death on someone else. find yourself seeking realistic solutions Please try to control this, as permanent to problems posed by life without your damage to your relationships may loved one. You will start to work on result. This is a time for the release of practical and financial problems and bottled up emotion. reconstructing yourself and your life without him or her.

You may rail against fate, questioning “Why me?” You may also try to bargain in vain with the powers that be for a 7. ACCEPTANCE & HOPEway out of your despair (“I will never During this, the last of the seven drink again if you just bring him back”) stages in this grief model, you learn to accept and deal with the reality of your situation. Acceptance does not 4. “DEPRESSION”, REFLECTION, necessarily mean instant happiness.

LONELINESSGiven the pain and turmoil you have Just when your friends may think you experienced, you can never return to should be getting on with your life, the carefree, untroubled YOU that a long period of sad reflection will existed before this tragedy. But you likely overtake you. This is a normal will find a way forward. stage of grief, so do not be “talked out of it” by well-meaning outsiders. You will start to look forward and Encouragement from others is not actually plan things for the future. helpful to you during this stage of Eventually, you will be able to think grieving. about your lost loved one without pain; sadness, yes, but the wrenching During this time, you finally realize pain will be gone. You will once again the true magnitude of your loss, and anticipate some good times to come, it depresses you. You may isolate and yes, even find joy again in the yourself on purpose, reflect on things experience of living. you did with your lost one, and focus on memories of the past. You may sense feelings of emptiness or despair.

5. THE UPWARD TURNAs you start to adjust to life without your dear one, your life becomes a little calmer and more organized. Your physical symptoms lessen, and your

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rsity, there “At the Unive y average, are perfectl duals like normal indivi all walks myself, from one thing in of life, with desire to be common - a etter.” something b

t n e d u t S g in n e v E My Experience

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rs, the past twenty yea in the same job for s wa I e. l, lif ica my typ a in ageI was at a plateau ud owner of a mortg and was also the pro were things that e os th gh ou had bought my car th Al o. of Trinidad and Tobag ing years of age, middle class citizen in, at thirty-someth e lac so le tab of or mf co e sights or sounds individuals may find d never experienced th ha ow.

I sn at en th se me r no on bean islands, it just dawned life. any neighbouring Carib in to ce led ien vel per tra ex y, and Cit New York wanted to achieve I at th re a mo t s no wa I was I realized that there t an option for me, nth to month was no ings and don’t th r fo e ttl se o “Getting by” from mo wh ose individuals th of e on d with myself. w, ete kno mp u “settler”, yo challenged and co ays alw d ha I . ter bet decision that would strive for something I needed to make a at th ion lus that I nc co e right then and there This led me to th ial mobility. It was anc fin and nal sio enable profes degree. decided to pursue my this decision. I had I have never regretted rs, yea o tw degrees, t os alm ut people who had And now, after misconceptions abo us eo families on h err ric ed ur per su rbo always ha rich, came from per su r he eit t, at re we fac eived! In I thought that they a rude awakening I rec at Wh from nt. ige lf, ell se int my e ly ividuals lik or were extreme tly average, normal ind fec ter. per bet are ing th ere me th so ty, be the Universi on- a desire to mm co in ing , th ts e eis on th others; ath all walks of life, wi and youthful grandm ers nag tee re ed tu rri ma ma and I have encountered ying together; single t Catholics all stud and their standard s lve se em th agnostics and devou ve pro im poor, all seeking to individuals; rich and of living. or degree in Public Sect decided to pursue a I , e ability ion th d rat ha ibe I del , ce me After so the public servi of n era vet old r yea sion benefits. Then Management. As a 20 and still retain my pen ion sit po r me to he hig a to or Management allow to be seconded degree in Public Sect a uld wo r, nde wo I began to fulfill this plan? in my ht course of action is Degree was the rig th this at ve th hie lf ac se to my y lit red Having assu sing my own abi es gu ndco se ed ud art , st uld have to st y in life, I, unfortunately rked in the day and wo wo o wh , ent ud st be capable enough to goal. As a mature creeping in. Would I y wl slo ed art uld I be able st ts the night, doub reer and classes? Wo ca my gle jug y ntl mpete do this? Could I co

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Celena C. O. O

xl

ey Faculty of Soci al Sciences Public Sector M anagement (Special) Evening Studen t

lost my prime years in a es? Am I investing ss cla t a my fel I all s e? lat pas years too to successfully to educate myself ten e me oic sa ch e e th th at ke th , ma es cause? Did I ose same colleagu finding out from th at they, too, had sense of relief after fears and issues th on mm co re we ully th wi led had already successf doubts that I grapp mber of them who nu d ge ha lar a ey s th wa d; ha ere I ents than experienced. Th a lot more commitm th wi nal s sio ree fes deg pro eir re th mo completed rs had several businesses, and othe it, so could I. children, their own that if they could do t den nfi co t fel I . me an th responsibilities iversity. Academic semester at the Un st fir my an beg I , 09 programme was In September of 20 g out what my degree yin rif cla rs. The in aid l efu next four or five yea advising was a us my course for the er e art th ch and me e lif ng lpi us he mp about, and in lcome to the ca we ant as ple that a s w wa kno ony cil made me matriculation cerem rsityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Student Coun ive Un e th by ld he lf. se welcoming seminar new students like my support system for there was a student ted on me. tremendously impac myriad of subjects is l awareness. th ica to lit re po su po and l ex My n sense of socia kee a ed nsibility. ok inv nt nte rio g of my pat tic se The subject co there was an awakenin at al th d ent un nm fo ver I go y, r ntl ou Conseque s quo at to question the statu propose. ed ey ell th mp co ies t lic fel po e I , th Thus icians and actions of the polit in my everyday institutions and the ement practices seen nag ma al ion dit tra e th g ical systems din lit un po e rro Issues su e efficiency of th tiv tra inis adm e th ery and relevant, enabling life forced me to qu ich were very topical wh ed, olv inv campaign s ice ct e Smelter plant and and the ethical pra e CLICO fiasco, th th and as e ch edg su wl nts kno r ide fo ed yearning me to put inc erall I found a renew Ov xt. nte co o int s promise learning. was often ort system, which the need for a supp ely nit assertive e defi Th s . wa cil un ere Finally, th the Student Co of ers mb me e ng rki wo complemented by th offered by the hard llan Morean is well Hi ey nt, Th ide . es as Pr om ild Th Gu el entative, Nig presence of the rt-Time Guild repres s Pa ent ud and st g nin aid Eve and e th ty openness of s of the Universi uphold the standard t and comfort assiduously strive to Their efforts suppor k. tas all sm no on is is Th ry. sis idance and as tance wherever necessa trative matters to gu inis adm ple sim m students fro aff or faculties. to problems with st Degree programmes ienced the of rides. I have exper ce been the easiest ien iefs that per bel ex and my s s th ha By no means deep-seated tru g vin ha of s low e to th s, even if the group highs of good grades ter. I have no regret wa e th or of t ou wn have liked them to be I held dear being blo rewarding as I would ce as ien n per bee ex ve I ha t UW no y car parks, my experiences ma king in the University par d fin to ur ho an if I take I live. ll cherish as long as will be one that I wi EVENING REVIEW FEBRUARY 2012

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This article is for the people who at one time or another believed that they could change the world. This article is for the people who still believe that they can. This article is for the individuals who have not allowed life and people to rob them of their power to imagine and to dream a better dream for a more powerful, more beautiful future, not just for the dreamer him/herself but for their fellow man. Additionally this is an article designed to give the ordinary man a glimpse of his own power, should he dare to imagine, should he dare to dream.

Imagine abundance. Let me take you down a path to a Trinidad and Tobago even more beautiful than the one we have here today. It is a TnT where capitalism has its place but it doesn’t dictate that people with money are the only ones allowed to eat. It is a TnT where nobody has to struggle to feed themselves because in places like Queens Park Savannah and Eddie Hart and Aranguez Savannahs and other public recreational spaces everywhere and even along certain stretches of road there can be found every kind of local fruit tree, each one well suited to the

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space where it is planted. West Indian cherries which have the highest vitamin ‘C’ content of any fruit in the world will be almost everywhere. They happen to bear year round as well so it will always be in good supply. Even in the Brian Lara Promenade will you find them along with tasty citrus, and miniature golden apple, yet another prolific plant which bears year round. Bread fruit will be in spaces which are appropriate and accessible all over the country as well.

Now guess who is responsible for these plants, these trees, being where I have described. It wasn’t any politician or big business interest. In general they have interests other than the well being of the populace. I will tell you. In that TnT, it is the ordinary, average citizen who planted those trees there. People in the thousands who showed up with their Citizens for a Greener Trinidad and Tobago (CGTT) tee shirt who said, “Let politicians do what they do best. Let them make lacouray in Parliament, but let us feed ourselves. Let us plant fruit trees in public spaces. We have had enough of the ornamentals. There is nothing more beautiful than a child, a family, that is well fed”

That was the first time that people of every race and creed and age and of every political affiliation realized that politicians didn’t have the answers. It was the first time that the ordinary man decided to stop waiting for somebody to save him because he had the strength to save himself. The government did just what the masses wanted, as to do otherwise would have meant political suicide. The population had had enough old talk.

Well guess who takes care of the maintenance of the trees that we planted in this new and different TnT? CEPEP and other state organizations with expertise in taking care of public spaces were the ones. Fallen fruit was collected by them and it was used to feed livestock of all kinds from ducks to pigs to goats and the effect on the price of meat was phenomenal. The price decreased and the quality increased. People the world over marveled at this TnT and sought to copy our ordinary man strategy. We inspired the world.

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In this new TnT crime is extremely low because people with full bellies who don’t have to worry about where their next meal was coming from, generally didn’t commit crime. A ton of money was saved in law enforcement. Additionally the population was healthier. Having access to natural food has its benefits. Hence the health care system was under less strain and the government saved money again. The money they saved was used to improve training, infrastructure, facilities and equipment, ensuring that when somebody actually did get sick they had the best health care available in our hospitals.

Additionally it is a TnT where supermarket, and fast food owners and managers are very reluctant to raise prices because it could easily lead to a boycott or serious

decline in revenue because food is so abundant otherwise.

Don’t you want to live there? I do. Let us get behind the green train that is Citizens for a Greener Trinidad and Tobago (CGTT) and make this happen. Interestingly CGTT is a pilot for a bigger concept called CGC which is Citizens for a Greener Caribbean.

Let us do this for us. Let us do it for our children and our children’s children. A more powerful, more beautiful, greener future awaits us. We just need to have the courage to open that door. We at CGTT believe in the power of the ordinary man/ woman/child to envision a brighter future and to take the steps necessary to see it become a reality.

I am Sheldon A. Mitchell, the Director of CGTT and a student of the UWI in the Faculty of Law. I am an ordinary man bent on doing extraordinary things with other ordinary extraordinary people from every walk of life. Let us do this small, big thing for future generations in TnT and beyond. They will look back and thank us for doing it.

Mr. Sheldon Mitchell Director, CGTT Student, Faculty of Law

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IMPORTANT TIPS FOR ADJUSTING TO UNIVERSITY LIFE AS a MATURE STUDENT.

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COMICS

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Domestic Violence Understanding the Cycle

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Domestic violence which takes place in many forms can happen to anyone, regardless of size, gender, or strength. It does not discriminate. It happens among heterosexual couples and in same-sex partnerships; within marriages and outside of marriage. It occurs within all age ranges, ethnic backgrounds, and economic levels. While women are more commonly victimized, men are also abusedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;especially verbally and emotionally, and sometimes

physically as well. The bottom line is that abusive behaviour is never acceptable, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coming from a man, a woman, a teenager, or an older adult. You deserve to feel valued, respected, and safe. Domestic violence occurs within relationships when one partner maintains power and control over the other and in so doing instils some kind of fear in the person being abused. Domestic violence can happen anytime in a relationship, often time occurring in a cycle.

The Cycle of Domestic Violence TENSION BUILDING PHASE Minor incidents of physical/emotional abuse; victim tries to control situation by satisfying the abuser; tension is growing; agrees with abuser; avoidance; withdraws; complaints; criticism; yelling; swearing; anger; victim becomes fearful ~ longest phase ~

EXPLOSION PHASE

HONEYMOON PHASE

Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, verbal, financial; this may include breaking things, verbally terrorising victim for period of time, threatening, swearing, hitting, slapping, pushing, punching, choking, burning, tying up, raping, kicking; stalking, throwing objects; victim may survive this phase with bruises, broken bones, end up hospitalised and in some case police may be called; existing children may be hurt in the process

Abuser is affectionate making the victim feel special and important; gifts are shared; each denies/ acts as the abuse never happened; victim feels relieved; abuser is forgiven and charges are dropped if any were made; victim is hopeful; everyone is happy ~ phase disappears with time ~

~tends to get worst over time~

RECONCILIATION PHASE Abuser apologises and promises not to abuse victim again and to get help; abuser justifies and blames victim for the abuse; victim feels guilt; victim is helpless and vulnerable and so accepts apologies and flowers/gifts; make-up with each other

~ life goes on ~

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“...It doesn’t have to be a cycle for you...”

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A CYCLE FOR YOU. THERE IS ALWAYS HELP SO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO IT ALONE EVEN WHEN YOU THINK YOU CAN.

Getting out of an abusive relationship isn’t always easy.

Understanding reasons for remaining in an abusive relationship is just as important as each situation is unique. One or more of these reasons may exist:

• Recognise the signs of abuse: this is the first step

Emotional

against own will – no matter how minor it seems, it

• feeling of loneliness, of being unlovable and not being able to cope on own • fear of threats by partner • fear of things getting worst; for example, killing victim, children and self • fear of losing children, going to court or calling the police • feeling responsible for the breaking up of the family • blame or fear of rejection by family or friends • hoping that partner will change

Cultural/Religious

• victim feels responsible for relationship • religious beliefs about roles and marriage • belief that a woman can change her partner • disapproval of separation and divorce • belief that the children need both parents

to getting help-fear of partner, being controlled, humiliated, isolated, hurt in any way, criticised, threatened,

embarrassed,

endangered,

forced

is still abuse.

• Understand each type of abuse: physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, verbal, and financial-not every abusive relationship may be easy to escape, and in some cases the victim may decide to stay for various reasons.

• Find someone you trust to talk to: a friend or relative, a spiritual leader or elder, a doctor or a counsellor. There are many organisations that offer free services.

• Create a safety plan: know the abuser’s red flags; find a safe place to stay, preferably unknown to your abuser; secure important personal belongings;

Financial

• no income or income that is lower than partner’s • can’t stay with family/relatives • lack of job skills • belief that partner will not pay maintenance or support

Social

• lack of support or is isolated from family and friends • lack of affordable child care and housing • lack of information about legal rights • inadequate support from police, legal system

find someone you can confide in who will help you especially in emergency; know your legal rights; get a restraining order or protection order if needed.

• Take the step to healing and developing yourself: get counselling therapy and/or join a support group to help you heal – this may take some time; form new healthy relationships; explore and get involved in activities that you like to do; make changes even though you may be afraid.

REMEMBER YOU ARE NEVER ALONE Source: Trinidad and Tobago Coalition Against Domestic Violence: www.ttcadv.net/domestic2.shtml; Domestic Violence: www.clarkprosecutor.org 1998-2010; www.safe4all.org 2010; www.helpguide.org 2001-2011

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World Food Day 16th October, 2012

Tropical forests cover 23 per cent of the Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s land surface, but they are disappearing at a rate of 4.6 million hectares a year. Asia losses 2.2 million hectares of rain forest annually. Latin America and the Caribbean, 1.9 million and Africa with 470,000 hectares of rain forest every year.

About 6.1 million hectares of moist deciduous forest disappear every year, of which the largest regional share is in Latin America and the Caribbean, with 3.2 million hectares lost.

More than 1.8 million hectares of dry deciduous forest disappear every year, 40 per cent of which is lost in the Sudan, Paraguay, Brazil and India.

Want to make a difference?

Think Green

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One of the main mantras of the Guild of Students has been trying to develop the ideal formula for student integration. Given the fact that the St. Augustine campus is made up of diverse student cohorts, part of the challenge has been linked to tailoring initiatives that would meet the holistic needs to the varying communities on campus.

With specific reference to members of the part-time and evening community, over the academic year 2010/ 2011, a brazen attempt was made to re-define how the Guild Council prepared its academic programme to meet the overarching needs of the students. Thus, while emphasis was committed to strengthening part-time and evening studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; academic learning experience and accompanying services they received, the Guild Council also felt sufficient wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t being done to provide an overall university experience that facilitated their overall development. Consequently, this provided an opportunity for the Guild Council to meet social developmental aspect of part-time and evening students.

Thus, the Office of the Part-time and Evening Representative, along with the Student Activity Chairperson in collaboration with Limited Edition Main Stage presented the first ever cultural event entitled, Spirits of the Arts, which was held at the DAAGA auditorium on the 16th October, 2010, with its original conception being design to accommodate part-time and evening students.

The cultural concert was conceptually envisioned to provide a social space so students of the mature and working community on campus could experience a feeling of inclusivity and allow their families to share the experience with them. The concert featured over fourteen different artistes; with several presentations being live instrument bands and ranging across several musical genres. Fine art, sculpture, dance, music, poetry and video marked an evening of elegance and quality production all designed to provide a new and transformed social concept.

As the Guild Council moves forward providing in providing student service over the next academic year, it will continue to meet the needs of the student populace and create cultural spaces for liberating the spirits of the arts.

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Mr. Irwin Hackshaw Bsc. Management Studies Student Activity Chairperson Guild of Students, 2010/11

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(1934-2007)

One of the Caribbean’s Intellectually Fertile Minds...

Ms Sunity Maharaj

Lloyd Best is most appropriately defined by the title of his seminal work, “Independent Thought and Caribbean Freedom”. First presented by Best at the age of 32, the title captures this Caribbean thinker’s uncompromising position that the Caribbean needed to find its own voice in defining its own path towards its own idea of development.

For him, the greatest challenge facing the region was that of liberating the Caribbean imagination and rebuilding its damaged psyche from the devastation of the colonial experience. He was fierce in his insistence that the Caribbean should avoid the trap of borrowed ideologies and borrowed solutions as it embraced the responsibility for creating a new society out of the many fragments of cultures that had been brought here, under duress, in the service of European colonial expansion.

This perspective led him to develop the Plantation Theory of Economy and Society which explains the modern Caribbean as a product of its unique history. Out of this

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historical framework, he developed a broad range of culturally-relevant proposals for reforming almost every sphere of Caribbean life: from education to the economy; from politics to sport; from the arts and culture to science; from business to community and family life.

Lloyd Best said he drew his inspiration from looking at the lives at the people of the Caribbean and urged generations of young people to do the same. He believed that the people of the Caribbean could master the challenges of creating a viable civilization if they were true to the reality on the ground.

With this in mind, he encouraged students to map the landscape around them from the perspective of their respective disciplines. He saw enormous scope for original research and encouraged the youth to follow their dreams, live their passion and commit their energies to whatever work excited and inspired them.

Lloyd Best was born in 1934 in Tunapuna, a community he called home for his entire life.

He went to Queen’s Royal College on a college

exhibition and later to Cambridge University in London on an island scholarship. His postgraduate work was done at Oxford University.

After a brief stint working in Paris, he returned to the West Indies in the late 1950s during a period of heightened political consciousness as the Independence momentum surged forward throughout the English-speaking Caribbean.

From that moment, he dedicated his life to the Caribbean, championing its cause throughout the world and building bridges across the Caribbean Sea to unite the people of the region.

He believed passionately in the importance of democratic engagement and organized discussion groups everywhere he went. In the 1960s, he founded the New World Group which would become a highly influential group of intellectuals in the Caribbean. He later founded the Tapia House Group in Trinidad, out of which came a political party, the Tapia House Movement and the weekly Tapia newspaper.

He was Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (1974-75 and 1981-83). The party contested the 1976 elections without success but later became a key force in building the opposition alliance that led to the birth of the National

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;For him, the greatest challenge facing the region was that of liberating the Caribbean imagination and rebuilding its damaged psyche from the devastation of the colonial experience.â&#x20AC;?

Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) which swept to office in 1986. Best, however, stayed out of the NAR on the grounds that it did not meet his own minimum conditions for offering itself for office.

He was a senior lecturer in economics at the St Augustine campus but resigned to start the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of the West Indies (now known as the Lloyd Best Institute of the W.I.) in Tunapuna in 1976. In 1977, he launched the Trinidad and Tobago Review newspaper which continues to be published as a monthly review of national life.

Professionally, he worked as an economist with various organisations, most often with the United Nations Development Programme.

Above all, Lloyd Best believed in the people of the Caribbean and was a committed integrationist who remained completely confident in the generations to come, and in the eventual triumph of the Caribbean spirit.

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!

T S R I F Y T E AF

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S

al e Nation th y b d rmative, earheade iative sp nd featured an info it in s a aving w irperson a fety as well as lifes or the a f h C n r s e ir c a n the sa co Aff minar on wed by riority e o s p fety and ll e f a o s f v o ti r c f e y a o tt el r a ntl e y personn to be a m een inte subseque b b s The issu e s d u a is e n h h is ti T v is n r o e of th ent c skills. es and was sup environm of Students. Much ire Servic n, which and more F o s ti u o p g la a u m b d a o c il im ck”. d and T d to s how the to the Gu e Trinida pring Atta ssess the n respon rooted in o S th ti ly n f b o la o a u ti r a p e r o r e id cons dent p whethe ed, “Op was to a tly the stu nforeseen events, ented code nam exercise e dents in th f o importan u pres and pose ff and stu r t r ta u n e s p e p e a e m p h n th o T f a n drill the envir ade. In Simulatio vember, sponses o o e m r e N n h l a T a r in m r. tu d ated r a te r natural o us academic boa rd Committee n event of a disas r an estim e o f d te c u p a m assed th be cond n the mic Bo at the ca posed to h encomp ctivity ’s Acade blishing a o d ic r ta il h p s u e w s a G n n o w o e t ti 2009 th te dura tudent A d its inten gh its subsequent enty minu ster points at the S articulate u , tw eld at o ) r C h e B T . b A n (G mu uld football fi e pla o s e th w n o th o b p is f d s o n th e a r e y at r park h us emergenc it was agreed th (SAC) ca drill, whic e n tr o n ti s e la n C u io s of SAC. discus rough a sim management and tern side th s e d e w s li e a th n y ergency operatio by an em emergenc ared at raising the d h te it a w in d r o mbers in tandem planning, were ge e was coing the ed two me c is is c u r d m e e o x r r e p d e e m n and v a Th , which co ty Unit, Trinidad pre-empti ty consciousness m a te e s n e o e afe ks. resp nts and on mpus Saf e a d level of s lity of sleeping ris C tu e S th f o f rea each o es, Guild ent. The potential rt of the Tobago Fire Servic s Works Departm ta s e th 10 at campu nts r 6th, 20 Guild of Stude ber of the e b m e m m te p e the On S n. This semester ! Campaig T S R I F academic TY its SAFE launched

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ctive e respe th n e e of betw d training n oration a b n a o ll ti o a c for h educ uently, e alarm ts, throug ocedures. Conseq n th e n e tm r h a w p as a e r m d erating p was done n at 4:26p at 4:36pm. p a n o g o e ti d b r l ta a n il d r e n the s e ta nd ed dents s bsequent video pr d occurred during e simulatio s conclud tu a s w d d e r n d a ded a su nged th what ha three hun was soun er challe mergency post mortem on mates of e th ti r s e u e f th t h f in o of its o ic At that p drill, wh members ber of ctionality n n m y u o u b f n ti d e la e a u f th ie , r sim examine rtunately were deb us to rem. Unfo p a n. m te a c e s n fore sponse pla e respo e b r . y d s c e te c n a u e f f r min s su o emerg e Guild o tw th l challenge pproximately five s a e n g io n e it a an add e chall roach • It took ff responded and with thes t a proactive app e. g is n il ti b a o e m tr the a ta s to In ognises th and a revision of e the SAC nts began at the c e e t r d in tu ts o s n p e e r r d efo ste Stu onse y be th minutes b to access the mu ency resp sponse model ma closed. rg d e e m in e a te m to e a e r r ely and • The g mergency here the over, tim e building e e w r th g o f n e o ti M th e is . f x d id e r tential e o western s ay forwa reduce po ntal w not awar n l a e a c r ti e t n n w te e ts d. strume anagem ith po • Studen ere locate omply w ve risk m ile proving to be in isasters, w c ti c ts e to in ff y e o c p n muster of urge vices. eath, wh ondary d as a lack e Fire Ser e to injury or d nting sec e w th v ruption f e e r r o e p y h r b T o • rriv ing iven social dis rsity a g in g in y ta n it in n r o e o u c b c ti e n unive pus s hat in e reduc instructio ing in th ithin the t did cam n assessment of w lt w in u o s p e s r e s o s n • At r get a nomic lo the area o and eco cordon off . unity. red it comm had occur s e g n halle these c reater need d e fi ti n e s id a g t there w Having a th t n e r ppa became a

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perso ittee Chair m m o C s Affair /11 National ents 2009 d tu S f o d UWI Guil e tin s u g St. Au om @gmail.c c a .n a is w u

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ACADEMIC SUPPORT/DISABILITIES LIAISON UNIT (ASDLU)

“

Creating A Campus Without Barriers

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t was November 2006 when Professor Gurmohan Kochhar, then Deputy Principal of the St. Augustine Campus responded to a number of unmet needs of the campus student community. It was a time when The University of the West Indies was witnessing an increase in the number of students generally and of students either failing courses or taking longer to graduate. There was also an increase in applicants with disabilities and an absence of the necessary services to support these students.

Out of the quest to address the needs for accessibility and equal opportunities, and in keeping with UWI’s philosophy the Academic Advising/Disabilities Liaison Unit (AADLU) was born. The team of Mr. Anthony Del Jackman, Ms. Gabrielle Rousseau and Mrs. Jeanette Reyes (who joined shortly after) was specially selected to carry the mantle and the rest is history.

The Unit has since become the first and most important stop for high quality academic support for the diverse

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populations of students throughout the University including full-time, part-time and evening students and international students, but especially students with disabilities. For the academic year 2010-2011, the Unit can boast of a student registration of approximately 150 students from the St. Augustine Campus, Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, UWI Open Campus and The University of the Southern Caribbean. In keeping with its founder’s vow to ensure that no student should be left behind, and that each student gets support, AADLU has changed its name to ASDLU: Academic Support/ Disabilities Liaison Unit. The Unit also changed guardianship on April 4th 2011 when it welcomed its new Coordinator, Ms. Jacqueline Huggins, who formerly

worked at the Disability Studies Unit in the Department of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences.

From all indications the Unit seems to be in capable hands.

Providing Support for All Students The functions/operations of ASDLU are twofold: 1. Providing Academic Support to students of The UWI, St. Augustine at all levels of their academic career.

2. Providing and ensuring equal access (infrastructure/academic/ accommodation) to all students who enter the University system with a disability.

Ms. Jacqueline Huggins Unit Co-ordinator

“The Unit has since become the first and most important stop for high quality academic support for the diverse populations of students throughout the University” The process of successful delivery of services includes but is not exclusive to: • The provision of assistive aids and devices such as laptops, USB drives, tape recorders, special software, etc.

• Academic support services during the course of study including tutoring, educational assessment, and exposure to study skills and examination strategies.

• Provision of adequate examination accommodation, i.e. separate room, extra time, use of assistive devices, Non-Medical assistance such as writers, readers and invigilators.

• Provision of advice to Faculty, administrative staff and other key stakeholders (internal and external) in support of students.

ASDLU continues to fall within the ambit of Student Services under the auspices of the Office of the Deputy Principal. It will continue to serve as a resource and support for all students at The University of the West Indies.

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t? is L e th d e r e id s n o C r e Have You Ev Joshua Hamlet Social Sciences Bsc. Psychology - Faculty of

is wise for power growth of China, it erstand und the Commonwealth to tem. sys nal the tides of the internatio ve pro st mu The Commonwealth ng lvi evo r its purpose in an eve ny ma ere international system wh ing fad are s multilateral organization into the background.

g of the argument for the disbandin Commonwealth.

tatement to It is indeed a severe unders ntful. In state that 2011 has been eve d the civil 3. The Commonwealth an a or under case you were either in a com . rld uprising in the Arab Wo far. Civil a rock here is a briefing so rld (‘bing’ revolution in the Arab Wo used on If the twentieth century foc of Sudan that the Arab Awakening), secession ar cle is the Western world, it Sudan), st. The (Happy Birthday Southern Ea the s ard lens is heading tow elections nts in me natural disasters, presidential est inv Commonwealth has ‘Baby Doc’ achieve h alt we on states er mm in Haiti with the return of mb Co me the 54 Africa as 19 of its on global 2. Did ade of the dec t fore firs ere Th the . and finally continuing debate ent for tin ls con goa are a part of the steroids). its ern rth No m? in economic progress (Davos on niu g llen isin mi with major upr 2011 has new of ion ess sec In merely two months, the and African belt the t ids am but re the off ks as r soc t we bility of definite ans blown analys Sudan, the political sta nts There is no eve ng ngi th cha you rld in wo of onwealth. cacophony were important strides Africa is vital to the Comm into fit th eal hin onw wit mm Co cy the oca double where does involvement and adv These civil revolutions are we us Th all. at ued tin do for con we e if ces spa the puzzle, the first decade. Th edged swords, they open y, iall ent Ess t’. m, Lis e edo m fre ‘Th fro er ns tio should consid spread of democratic democracy and free popula ons esti /qu tors ent ica pm ind ion elo e nat dev the this is thre ic and social autocratic rule but it leaves political econom bal best glo al unrest itic ing pol bin that can guide the young and com ic h nom oug thr in eco in t res inte an e h enc wit eri ally exp hout the eci s enthusiast esp practices with grassroot with a mass anger throug th; eal onw th. mm eal Co onw the g mm understandin is vital to the Co population. its three of n atio orm ref gh rou d foreign Th h history organizations ntal 1. The internal status an With 2011 commencing wit , inter-governme UK S, (U rs we ent things po pm se, rld elo the wo dev as policy of the making events such it has addressed ) ies ntr sing. its cou r, mi IC eve pro BR ly d how cal an e Germany seem to not be specifi issues. On the flip sid ning ce mi tan exa por im lly diminishing However, by critica and continued al itic ns, pol stio of k the que lac or in s its s tor as nge n as well Major cha these three list indica s and recognitio ion nat d tan se n ers the ctio of und ly san nda to per age pro economic can we begin to military power or ability th. eal t? onw tex mm con ost Co its alm the hin wit ect ion r aff inevitably the organizat the rest of the yea tes in the makes prove to events. bal glo jor ma Amongst the 54 member sta in While this question may t unc def ce uen infl portant to hers the Commonwealth, the true nerve wrecking, it’s im e issue that probably bot Th ia, Ind and orrow has g makers are UK, Canada remember that every tom onwealth most, is the blurrin mm Co tial influen hold of it with thus it is not packed with two handles; we can take specific roles and purpose, its of ing eep or the sw ir states. In context of with the handle of anxiety academics (unless on the ny ma get bud e, to produce a strong austerity measures in Europ handle of faith. g payroll) likely sin rea inc and US the deficits in

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INSPIRATION

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INSPIRATION

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The term â&#x20AC;&#x153;unity in diversityâ&#x20AC;? within our university community reflects a true appreciation of celebrating co-operation between different groups of people in a single space. Striving for this level of unity has grown to become a socio- ecological philosophy that describes a sense of oneness despite physical or psychological barriers.

The St Augustine Campus has grown to become a microcosm of the diversity that exists in the wider Caribbean community, becoming the home of a multi- ethnic, multi- lingual and multi- cultural melting pot of academic excellence which fosters an intellectual movement. This level of diversity has always been recognized as the source of the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strength.