The Weal - September 9, 2013

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the

WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF THE SAIT STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

VOLUME 88 ISSUE 1

EVERY MONDAY THEWEAL.COM

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

BECOME A MARTIAL ARTIST page 7

WHAT’S YOUR FANTASY (LEAGUE)? page 9

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September 9, 2013 | the Weal.com

NEWS EDTOR Crystal Schick

NEWS WRITER Sheldon Smith

A&E EDITOR Inonge Chimwaso

Bowness was one of the many communities affected by Calgary’s flood in June.

A&E WRITER

CRYSTAL SCHICK PHOTO

Husson Zaman

Selfless summer lessons taught at SAIT

LIFESTYLES EDITOR Yashica Anandani

LIFESTYLES WRITER Allison Parder

BY CRYSTAL SCHICK NEWS EDITOR

OPINIONS EDITOR Monica Henderson

SPORTS EDITOR Steve Sucha

SPORTS WRITER Andrew Halipchuk

PHOTO EDITOR Brent Calver photos@theweal.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Matthew, right, and Ashley Vrielink, left, kayaked up and down the flooded Bow Crescent, assessing water levels for neighbours during Calgary’s June flood.

CRYSTAL SCHICK PHOTO

Leo Aragon

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Evan Buhler

ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR Position Available

LAYOUT & GRAPHICS EDITOR Patricia Rye

LAYOUT & GRAPHICS EDITOR Alannah Pohran

WEB MASTER Jennifer Poon

COVER PHOTO Brent Calver

COVER ILLUSTRATION Alannah Pohran and Patricia Rye

CONTRIBUTORS

Tegan Cochrane and Zehra Tajouri Direct letters, questions and concerns to:

PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Giselle Wedemire ph. 284-8458 / fax 210-4216

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

Heather Setka, Publications Manager ph. 284-8077 / fax 210-4216 Advertising deadlines Bookings Monday @ noon Published every Monday during the academic year by SAITSA (SAIT Students’ Association).

The Weal V219, 1301-16 Ave. N.W. Calgary, Alberta T2M 0L4 Fax: 403-210-4216 The Weal serves the SAIT community by promoting student activities, presenting news of interest to its members, and by fostering a learning environment in which members may participate; the newspaper is supported by student fees. The Weal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Canadian University Press. Contents do not reflect the views of SAIT or SAITSA. Printed direct-to-plate Adobe Acrobat International Web exPress.

Canadian University Press

Some SAIT students in deep (flood) water

BY CRYSTAL SCHICK NEWS EDITOR

This fall, students have been flooding to the newly reduced Calgary rental market, and are running out of options as classes begin this month.

SAITSA vice-president external Ken Taylor has done the math and according to him, several hundred SAIT students are currently left without a home this school year.

“SAIT surveyed 1,200 students, which began Aug. 8 and has been ongoing since, and [as of Aug. 26] 27 people identified as still searching for accommodations,” he said.

“It’s a sampling of about 11 per cent of SAIT’s student body, so you can take that figure and multiply it by about 10, and you suddenly have 300 students looking for a place.”

Taylor explained that if, optimistically, there are many three-bedroom units for rent, a minimum of 100 of these units would still be needed to house the remaining students.

The Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation’s biannual rental market statistics put Calgary’s pre-flood vacancy rate in April 2013 at 1.2 per cent.

This is a drop from the April 2012 rate of 2.5 per cent, and differs from Canada’s overall vacancy increase from a 2.3 percent in 2012 to 2.7 percent in 2013.

Taylor said that some of the complaints people have had are that “places are really hard to find, the places they are finding are not legal suites, and people that have gotten into places are paying $100 to $150 more for rent than they were last year.”

Taylor worries that if this is what the numbers of students without housing looks like for SAIT, then numbers might not look much better for the total numer of students across the city searching for accomodations.

Though SAIT’s off-campus housing list is provided to students at all times, Taylor fears that there is “nothing that SAITSA can do to rematerialize lost suites, but we have been talking to media outlets to try and raise awareness about this issue.”

As the vice chair of the Calgary Student Caucus, Taylor and other students are trying to address this issue on a municipal level.

His goal is to see the city put rules into place that would make rent more consistent and predictable, and allow for the creation of new legal secondary, or basement, suites that are safer for tenants to reside in.

“I’d like to see it on a municipal stage and to see that they are putting in rental controls, not only to protect students, but for all Calgarians.”

The Next Great Entrepreneur campers got a lesson in more than finances this summer, deciding unanimously to donate 100 per cent of their hardearned profits to flood relief.

Elementary and junior high school students in the Money!

Money! Money! themed SAIT summer business camp designed and sold their own products during their weeklong camp. In that time, they collectively raised $1010.10, and donated $345.25 to the Alberta Children’s Hospital through the Kids Helping Kids program and $664.85 to the Red Cross Flood Relief.

“We were really surprised at how far [the campers] took to it [the camp] and how into it they were,” said Carrie Roode, firsttime camp leader for the business school camp.

On the last day of the weeklong camp, students set up booths near the Senator Burns Tim Hortons to sell their products.

The kids were so enthusiastic that they approached strangers at tables to explain that they were selling on behalf of the Red Cross and for flood victims.

“Most people (customers) were super supportive, and would donate their change,” said Helen Tu, another first-time camp leader for the business school camp.

“I don’t think they would have come to our booth if the campers hadn’t approached them.”

According to the two camp leaders, it was interesting to watch as the young campers stepped out of their comfort zones with confidence to speak with people in order to sell their products and raise money.

“The junior girls even made nametags [with their company positions on them] and came wearing blazers on the day we were selling,” Roode said. “They took it to an extreme, it was pretty cute.”

The weeklong camp hosted children from grades four to nine and had them create mock companies in groups of five.

Each company then chose a product they knew they could build by themselves, and then sell for a profit.

“We taught them basic entrepreneurial skills,” Roode said.

“Obviously, we talked about profit and loss. But the big thing we pushed was the social

responsibility and that we were selling because we wanted to help people in need.”

The kids themselves were given the responsibility to choose where they wanted to donate their proceeds, and they unanimously chose both the Children’s Hospital and the Red Cross Flood Relief Fund.

The kids and their companies created and sold products such as homemade pet treats, duct tape wallets, bird feeders, handmade soaps and more.

Approximately 60 kids took part in the Next Great Entrepreneur camp in three separate camps: a girls-only camp, a junior camp, and an intermediate camp.

Andres Gutierrez, annual and appeal manager of fund development at the Canadian Red Cross, said that he is glad that the SAIT summer camp had chosen to support the Red Cross and flood relief.

“It is remarkable to see kids understanding the importance of supporting our communities, especially over their vacation time,” he said.

Gutierrez also said that the kids’ actions show that “the sense of community is getting stronger and (that) the culture of giving back to our community will flourish and will not be lost.”

According to Jennifer McLean, associate of annual giving at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, this was the first time that a SAIT summer camp had donated to the charity, which “is incredibly grateful for the support of our youngest philanthropists.”

“The youth that participated in this fundraising endeavour through the SAIT summer camp are part of a very important group of kids that all raise money through our Kids Helping Kids program.”

Last year the kids and youth in and around Calgary raised over $400,000 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital, easily impacting the 82,000 children and their families that rely on the care from this hospital each year.

Roode and Tu, who also coordinated and oversaw the School of Business’ other five Money! Money! Money! themed camps said they experienced an 89 per cent fill rate at their camps.

Meanwhile, SAIT’s summer camp program saw an overall 35 per cent enrolment increase in campers from last year.

the Weal.com | September 9, 2013

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Student Centre finally arrives at SAIT

BY CRYSTAL SCHICK NEWS EDITOR

Students looking for a place on campus to meet like-minded individuals and receive help with non-academic concerns can now end their searches.

SAITSA’s first Student Support Centre is set to be launched during the first week of November, and is set to be located in NJ 105 in the Senator Burns building. The centre will offer SAIT students a safe and convenient place to gather and bring forth any personal concerns.

“It’ll be completely nonacademic and geared towards promoting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle for students,” said Amanda Hanna, SAITSA vice-president student life and co-founder of the centre.

The centre will be multifunctional, catering not only to individual students who want to learn stress or time management skills, but to groups of students as well.

The centre will also be a study free zone, as well as a “place to promote the mental well-being of our students,” according to Tegan Cochrane, SAITSA president and the centre’s other co-founder.

Cochrane explained that the centre will be equipped with computers for students to take self-assessment tests, which are being provided by Counseling Services located in Heritage Hall. Students will be able to take these tests and selfassess if they have any mental or emotional conditions which they may need to seek further help for.

“We will be providing students with the resources for where and how they can seek further help within the community,” she said.

“This is our first stepping stone,” Hanna said. “We will see where the demand is coming in and if there is [an issue or idea] that we notice is really pressing through, we can take it to the SAIT executives and present that next step.”

Once the high demand issues are established, the centre can start branching out in those directions.

SAIT executives are providing SAITSA with the room in which the centre will be located, and both Hanna and Cochrane are hoping to transform this room

While not open yet, the new student centre, operated by SAITSA, already has a location ready to be converted.

into a welcoming and inviting space, where individuals and groups will feel safe and comfortable.

The centre will be furnished with arm chairs, tables, bookshelves stocked with selfhelp books, white boards and a flat screen T.V, which was donated by SAITSA.

While much of the room and accessories are being donated, furniture and miscellaneous items will have to be purchased

by Hanna and Cochrane.

Funding for the Student Centre is being provided by the Alberta Student Executive Council, who secured $1.5 million from the Alberta

government to fund mental health initiatives, in the form of a $40,000 grant to SAITSA. Two part-time staff members will be hired to explain to inquiring minds what resources are available within the community for students to utilize and, depending on the hired individuals’ qualifications,

BRENT CALVER PHOTO

will be there to provide advice.

Information regarding these and volunteer positions, can be found at the SAITSA Resource office, room MC107 in the Stan Grad Centre.

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September 9, 2013 | the Weal.com

arts & ENTERTAINMENT

4

CULTURE FOR THE SAIT COMMUNITY

Campus bar amps up for year ahead

BY HUSSON ZAMAN A&E WRITER

For the past several decades, The Gateway has been a prime entertainment resource for both new and returning SAIT students.

Previously named The Spartans Lounge, the studentowned and – operated bar and concert venue had notable shows dating back to the early 80s, which saw prominent Canadian and Australian acts such as The Models and Doucette take the stage.

In 1999, the lounge was renamed and re-established as The Gateway. Throughout the years, The Gateway has gone on to further establish itself as a concert venue staple in Calgary, winning several different awards including being nominated for Best Concert Venue in Calgary

by FFWD Weekly and being voted the Best Patio View by BeatRoute Magazine.

Some of The Gateway’s previous shows over the past couple years have seen gifted performers such as Passion Pit, Mother Mother and SonReal, alongside hundreds of other talents grace its stage.

With a grand combination of student-friendly pricing, daily meal specials and a host to some of the best musical talents in town, the campuslocated restaurant and lounge isn’t something to miss out on according to foods and beverages manager, Paul Dudar.

Dudar explained that the venue’s main attraction of The Gateway is the wide array of shows hosted there year-round.

“The shows are usually hosted on Saturday evenings, and there are up to 100 shows scheduled a year,” he said.

With the huge renovation that The Gateway has undergone this summer, including brand new flooring throughout its bar and lounge, it is ready for

a brand new wave of artists to take the stage and entertain students and citizens alike.

According to Dudar, there is a diverse spectrum of artists scheduled to perform throughout the year, and he urged students to check them out.

“There’s definitely something for everyone,” he said.

Founding member of rap group Jurassic 5, Chali 2na, and popular Canadian songwriter, Ron Sexsmith, are both scheduled to headline events within the first month of this year’s semester.

The Paper Kites, Austra and Young Galaxy are some other performers that are scheduled for September and October.

There are plenty more shows that will take place throughout the school year.

Information for events can be found at www.calgarygateway. ca.

Shred Kelly is one of the many bands set to hit The Gateway’s stage this month.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHRED KELLY

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the Weal.com | September 9, 2013

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Art meets science meets engineering

BY INONGE CHIMWASO A&E EDITOR

In 2009, former Daily Planet co-host Jay Ingram and Mary Anne Moser co-founded an idea that would merge the worlds of art, science and engineering together.

Four years later, their idea has grown into what is known as Beakerhead, an annual festival that will showcase the artistic side of science and engineering.

Beakerhead will debut for the first time on the streets of Calgary, as well as at a number of different venues around the city starting on Sept. 11.

According to Moser, the scientists and engineers who will be a part of Beakerhead have exercised their creative sides, which she promises will wow Calgarians.

“Who doesn’t love a spectacle? Everything in the arts is already highly engineered, we just have never really shown off that part of it,” she said.

Running from Sept. 11-15, the week of festive events will kick off its first day at 11:30 a.m. at Stampede Park with an opening ceremony called A Se-

quence of Unexpected Events.

While Moser remained tightlipped about what people can expect to see during the opening ceremony, she warned Calgarians to, “keep your eyes on the [Calgary] tower at noon.”

The unexpected surprise isn’t the only thing spectators are to look out for during Beakerhead, as there will be a number of creations such as a purple motorized hippo, a giant turtle and a bicycle with a dinosaur head that will be showcased all throughout the week.

On Sept. 13, a musical collaboration of art and engineering will take place during The Tremendous and Curious World of Beakerhead at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. The night will feature a number of different musicians including Ingram’s band, The Famous Scientists, as well as a robotic band from Germany called Compressorhead.

On Sept. 12 and 13, 16 university teams will compete in the 24-hour Shell International Engineering Competition, which Moser advised SAIT students to enter next year in time for Beakerhead 2014.

Beakerhead, a showcase that merges the worlds of art, science, and engineering, will make its debut in Calgary on Sept. 11 NEIL ZELLER PHOTO

“SAIT should think about what they want to do next year to show off its incredible ingenuity of the students there.

SAIT is like the poster child for Beakerhead, they’re already very technical and creative all at once,” she said.

While Calgary is already

recognized for its progressive engineering side, Moser said Beakerhead aims to showcase the fun side of science and engineering.

“I’d like to think of it as we’re flinging open that big entertaining door into the world of science and engi-

neering,” said Moser. “Why would you not have fun with science and engineering?”

To find out more about Beakerhead, including a daily list of events, visit www.beakerhead.org.

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September 9, 2013 | the Weal.com

LIFESTYLES

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YOUR LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Fine dining menu gets fine-tuned

BY YASHICA ANANDANI LIFESTYLES EDITOR

The Highwood’s student- and faculty-operate kitchen has devised a new menu for the coming semester to tantalize the taste buds of Calgarians

BRENT CALVER PHOTO

Nestled away between East Hall Residence and the John Ware building, The Highwood is SAIT’s only on-campus fine dining restaurant.

For about 30 years it’s been showcasing the talents of the School of Hospitality and Tourism at SAIT under the expert eye of reputable chefs and instructors. The Highwood recently changed its menu, and it’s expected to hit tables on Sept. 5.

Scott Pohorelic, one of The Highwood’s four cooking instructors, said the restaurant’s new menu is something that is updated every semester a change that is intended to keep menu items both current and reflective of the changing styles in the industry.

“The new menu contains completely new dishes, although there are still some standard ingredients like beef and chicken,” Pohorelic said.

“We expect the menus to be well received by both guests and students.”

The Highwood’s new menus are a good reflection of the current industry trends, and Pohorelic said he is particularly excited about using more locally grown products.

With a selection of

sumptuous appetizers like baked flat breads with housemade dips and main dishes like vegetable-infused ravioli on the new lunch menu, Pohorelic said the recipes used are completely different from the old ones used in past menus while maintaining the various cooking techniques that the students are required to learn.

For dinner, The Highwood follows a table d’hôte — or multi-course — menu, with a set of five courses consisting of dishes like chicken and corn fritters and miso marinated sablefish. This five-course dinner goes for $46 per person.

Chantal Struylaert, supervisor of The Highwood, believes the process of updating the menu before the start of every semester often manages to bring about some hype for restaurant.

“People are always excited to be here. New customers tend to be delighted at the level of service they’re receiving, while returning customers love the idea of something new and fresh,” she said.

With about 40 to 45 students working in the restaurant, she said everything that is served at The Highwood is prepared by culinary students who are under the supervision of the instructors and lead chefs.

Despite being culinary students, Struylaert said the standard of the food being served at The Highwood is quite high. Therefore, everything that comes out of that kitchen has to be topnotch, whether it’s day one or day 21 for them.

While creating the menus, the chef-instructors at The Highwood are also very accommodating towards diners with food allergies such as gluten intolerance, as well as those who follow vegan diets.

According to Pohorelic, one unique feature of The Highwood is the occurrence of a chef’s tasting menu on the second and third Thursday of every three week rotation, where a table of eight is set up in the kitchen and the menus are designed with the students’ input.

This procedure, he said, is a great opportunity for the restaurant to prepare more contemporary and innovative dishes.

For further details on The Highwood’s new menu, making reservations and other general enquiries, visit sait.ca/ highwood or call 403.284.8615, ext. 2.

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the Weal.com | September 9, 2013

COM

READ YOUR STUDENT PAPER ONLINE

Kyle Lee is a SAIT alumnus as well as an instructor of Kendo, one of the many forms of martial arts taught at SAIT. BRENT CALVER PHOTO

Kickstart your fitness Level

BY YASHICA ANANDANI LIFESTYLES EDITOR

Karate not your style? SAIT Recreation offers a variety of strains of martial arts that’ll get you kicking your semester into high gear.

AIKIDO A Japanese form of selfdefense that is performed by redirecting the force of the attack instead of opposing it.

Origins: It dates back to when its developer, Morihei Uyeshiba (1883-1969), designed the technique as a type of discipline that would draw a person towards his/ her inner energy.

Benefit: Aikido teaches participants how to deal with the stresses of daily life and to acquire a general sense of wellbeing.

Cost

per

Benefit: This technique is based largely on combat and is used more for selfdefense and survival, rather than the idea of competition.

Cost

BUJINKAN BUDO TAIJUTSU A combat system taught by an international martial arts organization (commonly referred to as The Bujinkan), and consists of nine separate schools.

Origins: The historical lineages of Bujinkan have been listed in the Encyclopedia of Martial Art Schools, which was first published in 1963.

student:

CAPOEIRA An Afro-Brazilian art form that combines the elements of martial arts, music, and dance.

Origins: The origins and history of Capoeira aren’t fully known, but some believe that the art form originated from Africa.

Cost

$260 for hours.

per

student:

15

weeks/57

KENDO

student:

$240.00 for 15 weeks/50 hours.

per

$269.00 for 13 weeks/48 hours.

Kendo is a Japanese form of fencing that’s performed with bamboo swords.

Origins: A part of Japanese culture, the story of Kendo is often referred to the story of the Japanese sword, its technical development and its cultural meaning.

Benefit: Kendo is considered beneficial not only for the body, but also for one’s mental wellbeing.

Cost

per

student:

$120 for 16 weeks.

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September 9, 2013 | the Weal.com

SPORTS

SPORTS NEWS AND VIEWS FOR THE SAIT COMMUNITY

Trojans play ‘fore’ charity

BY STEVE SUCHA SPORTS EDITOR

Divots flew as SAIT Trojans teed off in charitable style at Country Hills Golf Club to raise money for SAIT’s student athletes. On Aug. 28, the golf course played host to the third annual SAIT Trojans Open golf tournament. All of the proceeds from the popular event benefitted the Trojan Athletic Foundation (TAF), a charity utilized by SAIT’s student athletes who may not be able to financially support their dreams of playing for the Trojans.

Billie Rae Busby, marketing and communications coordinator for the SAIT Trojans, said that TAF is “like the pot for all of the money that is available for student athletes to use. It is sort of like a scholarship fund.”

“In Canada, schools are not allowed to give out full-ride athletic scholarships, so this golf tournament and the casinos we volunteer at really help,” she said.

According to Busby, the tournament is not just a way to raise

funds for future student athletes, but is also “great for getting people excited about the upcoming seasons as it gives a chance for people to meet the athletes they see on the field.”

SAIT Trojans athletic manager Mark Pretzlaff said that athletic scholarship demands increase every year, and the goal of the tournament is to generate support for TAF, which he said “provides all Trojan athletes an opportunity to continue to pursue their dreams while laying down a foundation for a solid career path.”

Some of the student athletes currently utilizing the services of TAF volunteered for the cause that supports them.

Second-year women’s soccer veteran Kaitlyn Silcox was one such volunteer in attendance at the tournament, which she said is a “great cause.”

“Being a second year student I have been able to use the TAF fund and it…makes it easier to focus on your schooling and athletics when you aren’t worried if you will have the money year to year.”

Proceeds from the SAIT Trojans Charity Golf Tournament held on Aug. 28 at the Country Hills Golf Club provided a financial boost to students participating in Trojans athletic teams. Clockwise from top left: SAIT Trojans soccer players Breanne MacLeod and Nikayla Gabriel with SAIT CFO and vice president Wayne King on the tenth green; Des Nwaerondu, SAIT business administration alumnus teed off on the twelfth green; SAIT CFO and vice president Wayne King let SAIT Trojans women’s soccer players Jessa Gabriel (left) and Kaitlyn Silcox use his rangefinder on the twelfth green.

BRENT CALVER PHOTO

the Weal.com | September 9, 2013

9

Fantasy Sports need real strategies

BY STEVE SUCHA SPORTS EDITOR

The word ‘fantasy’ is generally reserved for dragons, wizards and magical rings, but when you add sports to the equation, it becomes a whole new ball game.

For some, fantasy leagues are simply a way to have some fun with friends while watching weekend games. For others, it is anything but. For those involved, fantasy teams have become an exact science that involves days of preparation and research.

With this year’s TSN fantasy hockey league offering a $100,000 prize to the winner, it’s no wonder certain individuals invest such a vast amount of time into their selected teams.

Geoff Rainsford, a fourth-year education student at University of Calgary and a participant of these fantasy teams for almost 10 years, has a few tips to help a newbie get started

Research According to Rainsford, research is the key to success. “You cannot just simply walk into a fantasy draft with the plan of picking your favourite players, as a lot of the time, those players will either be gone, or will not be the best pick available,” he said.

Rainsford suggests novice fantasy league participants do their research by looking at the top point getters from the previous year. “Keep in mind if the players you are looking at have recently suffered an injury, or if that player has been traded or recently signed with another team... he will most likely not perform the way he did last year.”

Know the rules Rainsford advised novices be aware of the rules and format of the fantasy league they are participating in. Rules may vary from league to league, and it’s in a fantasy leaguers best interest to familiarize yourself with the specifics of a given league. This may be the difference between playing in a league, and having the winning picks.

“Let’s say for example you are participating in a hockey pool that not only awards goalie points for wins and save percentage, but also shut-outs, that may change the way you pick, as some goalies frequent shut-out territory more often than others.”

Keep your options open “Your last draft pick is just as important as your first,” he said. “Do not have a set first round draft pick in mind. Trust me, you are not the only person in your hockey pool looking to grab Crosby, just like you aren’t the only person in your football pool looking to get Tom Brady.”

According to Rainsford, your safest bet in planning your fantasy team is to have a minimum of five first round picks that you want.

And when you have reached the lower rounds of the draft and are just looking to fill out your team, review the rules and format of your league again to see if the format offers small point gains such as penalty minutes in a hockey pool or special team points in a football pool. “Look for diamonds in the rough. In other words, at the end of the draft look for players that will get you points in their own way. Don’t expect to squeeze points out of players that average half a goal a game. Or hope your running back that is splitting his field time will run for 100 yards a game.”

Don’t hate, celebrate Last but not least, fight the urge to mock those who partake in seemingly nerdy pastimes, lest you seem like a hypocrite.

“Remember, if you play fantasy football, hockey, baseball or basketball, you can’t make fun of Dungeons and Dragons anymore because you are pretty much doing the same thing.”

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September 9, 2013 | the Weal.com

Goings on

10

CULTURE FOR THE SAIT COMMUNITY

the Executive Corner A word of welcome

BY TEGAN COCHRANE SAITSA PRESIDENT

You are finally here, or should I say you’re finally back?

Whichever the case, welcome!.

I hope you had a great summer filled with plenty of laughter and adventure, and you are now feeling energized for the year ahead.

From Vancouver Island to Niagara Falls, my summer was filled with leadership conferences, information

seminars and Executive Council retreats, to help prepare myself for the role as your president.

I am now educated on how I can help empower you to be actively involved in your education and what the SAIT Students’ Association can do to help you succeed.

Apart from summer conferences and learning sessions, there was also some hard work that needed to get done. The big summer project was the Alberta Campus Mental Health Initiative Application, which proved to be both exciting and rewarding for our vice-president student life Amanda Hanna and myself.

After months of research, meetings and long nights at

the office, our application was complete. On Aug. 26, SAITSA was awarded $40,000 for the funding of a SAITSA Student Support Centre, set to open in November 2013. (For the extended story, see page 2) Other successes from this summer include the opening of the Student Food Bank by vice-president academic Thomas Cruickshank and the appointment of vice-president Kenneth Taylor to the Chair of the Alberta Students’ Executive Council (ASEC).

You will learn quickly that SAITSA is made up of many dedicated individuals who are working towards enhancing your student experience. I encourage you to take full

advantage of our resources, services and opportunities, as they will help to support you throughout your time at SAIT. Remember, SAITSA represents your voice, so let it be heard. If you want to help provide strategic direction for SAITSA, pick up a Students’ Legislative Council nomination package in rooms V204 or MC107 before Sept. 13, and help us make our campus a better place.

I am honored to be your president and I am so excited to see this year unfold. Whether you have questions, concerns, and suggestions, or you simply want to chat, please know that my door is always open.

My office is located in V204

Campus Centre, my e-mail is saitsa.president@edu.sait.ca and you can find me on Twitter at @tegancochrane. Talk to you soon!

The Executive Corner is a weekly column series written and submitted by members of the SAITSA Student Executive Council.

SAITSA First year hospitality Olivier Hamel takes on SAITSA President Tegan Cochrane in a giant jenga game at the annual SAITSA Fun Day on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013.

SARAH COLLINS PHOTO

FUN DAY THURSDAY

First year Hospitality students Olivier Bourgault (left) and Matthew Elliot challenge each other to a Sumo wrestling match over the lunch hour during the annual SAITSA Fun Day on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013.

SARAH COLLINS PHOTO

SEPTEMBER

Engineering Design and Drafting Technology students Anuj Chaudhary (left) and Chris Closs race each other at one of the inflatable challenges to win swag at the annual SAITSA Fun Day on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013.

SARAH COLLINS PHOTO

Second year Business Administration students Brahamjit Suri (left) and Spencer Janke bring their school spirit outdoors as they suit up in inflatable humansize hamster balls to race at the annual SAITSA Fun Day on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013. This was the first year where some Fun Day activities were held on the Cohos Commons Field.

SARAH COLLINS PHOTO

the Weal.com | September 9, 2013

Opinions

11

Letters to the Editor www.theweal.com

Four Things I Wish I Knew When I First Started At SAIT

BY ZEHRA TAJOURI WEAL WRITER

Here’s the thing, freshmen: we were all in your shoes once. I was a freshman last year in fact, and being at SAIT for a year has taught me a lot.

I mean, sure, I learned a lot in the classroom and whatnot, but I’m talking the real stuff.

Stuff you won’t get from any book—lessons you can only get from experience.

However, since I can’t go back in time and tell myself all of this, I figured I’d get some good karma and pay it forward by bestowing my SAIT wisdom onto the 2013 - 2014 freshman class.

Get a locker as soon as possible

Don’t buy any textbooks (sort of)

Dress like an adult

Get involved and get noticed

Get a locker. Get one in the building and on the floor where most of your classes take place.

You will eventually get tired of carrying your equipment, books, jackets, etc (probably around the fourth week), and by then all of the good lockers will already be taken.

The only available lockers might as well be in Narnia, and there’s no point getting one there.

It also helps during winter when you don’t have to lug your winter attire everywhere with you.

Half the time, you probably won’t even use the required textbooks. The professors will make it sound like not getting the textbook is a first degree felony, but don’t listen to them.

You can always share with a classmate, and if it comes down to it, you can always buy the textbook later.

The general rule is: if you use the textbook more than three times in the course, then yes, you will probably need to buy it. But try not to buy it from the bookstore. Find it used or on Kijiji. There’s no point in breaking the bank for something you’ll only use for four months.

My first month of school, I resembled a homeless man. I wore hoodies and comfy pants, and my manager at my parttime job advised that I “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”

Your looks give off a first impression, and people take notice. Look presentable and look appropriate.

You could be the smartest person in the room but if you’re wearing a neon pink tracksuit with “Juicy” printed on the butt, people will be none the wiser.

You know what looks better than ‘diploma’ or ‘degree’ on a resume? Experience. Get involved with the many different programs SAIT offers. Volunteer.

Become a member in different clubs. If there’s a workshop, take it. If there’s an internship opportunity, apply for it. If you have a great idea that SAIT’s students association should get involved with, visit their offices and talk to them about it.

This is your time to fill up your resume and look far more impressive than your classmates (a.k.a. your competition). The more stuff you’re involved with, the more of a people person you will appear to potential employers.

Education knows no age

BY MONICA HENDERSON OPINIONS EDITOR

Whether you’re coming to SAIT straight out of high school or are now in a classroom for the first time in ten years, the age diversity here can be a bit jarring.

Some of you may have realized already that the next youngest person in your class is a few years older than you, or that the next oldest is 10 years younger than you.

For me, this was a scary thought. I entered SAIT straight out of high school, and out of the twenty-odd people in my class, there was only one other young’un like me.

So believe me when I tell

you, the 18-year-olds in your classrooms may be wondering how they can relate to and make friends with people older than them, and it’s because this brand of new meat was only just recently tenderized by high school drama. They’re just hoping not to encounter that scene again.

Meanwhile, the 30-year-olds are wondering, “How can I compete with young people?

What’s the point of starting the same career as someone 10 years younger than me?” To be fair, this anxiety is justified because it’s a difficult decision to go back to school after already being in the workforce, and knowing the true value of that

tuition.

The average age of students at SAIT is 28. That means technically on average, for every 18-year-old, there’s a 38-yearold out there, and vice versa.

It seems that as a technical college, the average age seems to be much higher here than at most universities, such as Mount Royal University (22), McGill University (23), and Queen’s University (22), to name a few.

This difference doesn’t affect the success of students. SAIT’s employment rates compete toeto-toe in the high 90s with both Mount Royal University and the University of Calgary.

Plus, in the real world, the

ages of your colleagues will differ even more. Being in small classes with students of all ages, and being forced to socially interact with them, will eliminate that nervousness for when it truly counts.

The younger guys are used to test-taking, which is where they’ll probably seem to have an advantage. The older guys have experience that can’t simply be earned with a two-year program, and that experience will shine through their work.

Clearly, there’s an advantage for each side, so why worry?

Also realize that by the time you’re 18, you could look anywhere from 15 to 30 years old at a first glance. At the begin-

ning of my program, a group of friends formed and we played the Guess How Old I Am game.

Out of that group, most people guessed that the youngest person—who was really 18—was older than the oldest person who was 26. As long as you act mature, you probably won’t be judged for your age.

The truth is this: everyone around you is going to feel intimidated at some point. Don’t be. The age at which you enter post-secondary doesn’t matter.

With different ages come different strengths and different values, which make an opportunity for us to learn from each other as well as our instructors.

Second-year photojournalism students Brent Calver and Leo Aragon ask the SAIT campus:

“What are you most looking forward to this year?”

“Learning a lot, having fun.”

“Working in the field I like and

“Learning about architecture and

“Learning the basics of my

“A good semester, a good year,

“Finish all my courses, and play

getting experience.”

design.”

program.”

and getting into the field.”

some basketball.”

Sheriden Seefried, first-year power

Farah Naz, first-year architectural

Ahmed Nawazdeen, first-year

Jagroop Singh, first-year electrical

Kwo Okot, second-year health

Cornell Fong, first-year business

engineering

technologies

architectural technologies

engineering technologies

information management

administration