The Ubyssey’s
Y E T S A R R I F
GUIDE TO
UBC
U
welcome
to ubc From the Editor
You’re probably sick of all the cookie-cutter advice on how to make the most of your first year at UBC. Here at The Ubyssey, UBC’s student newspaper, we’ve all been through it, and we’ve put together a no-nonsense book to help you make your time at UBC worthwhile. We don’t have all the answers, but we’ve learned a thing or two about UBC that’s not in the official guidebooks. So flip through our book — take our advice or ignore it. Though we have plenty of our own wisdom to share, we’ve also interviewed a panel of UBC students to get their perspective on things. You’ll find quotes and advice from them throughout the book. Though first year will be overwhelming at times, it’s definitely worth it and a little guidance couldn’t hurt.
The Panel
Harsev Oshan 5 year Political Science Kate Gillis th 4 year gender, race, sexuality and social justice Elisabeth Piccolo 5th year Sauder Mila Nikolic nd 2 year Comp Sci th
Brydon Bowers 3rd year Econ Nancy Chu th 4 year Engineering Neil Connaty 3rd year Arts Cara Lozinsky 4th year psychology, Civil Engineering grad
Conten U The Ubyssey editorial
Coordinating Editor Will McDonald
coordinating@ubyssey.ca
Design Editor Nick Adams
Photo Editor
Mackenzie Walker photos@ubyssey.ca
Opinion + Blog Editor Austen Erhardt
printeditor@ubyssey.ca
blog@ubyssey.ca
Web Developer
Distribution Coordinator
Peter Siemens
webeditor@ubyssey.ca
Lily Cai
News Editors
lcai@ubyssey.ca
Veronika Bondarenko + Jovana Vranic news@ubyssey.ca
Culture Editor
Jenica Montgomery culture@ubyssey.ca
Sports + Rec Editor Jack Hauen
sports@ubyssey.ca
Video Producer Keith Grant
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SEPTEMBER 2014 | Volume XCVI
BUSINESS
Business Manager Fernie Pereira
fpereira@ ubyssey.ca
CONTACT
Ad Sales
Geoff Lister webadvertising @ubyssey.ca 604.822.1658
604.822.6681
LEGAL
The Ubyssey is the official student newspaper of the University of British Columbia. It is published every Monday and Thursday by The Ubyssey Publications Society. We are an autonomous, democratically run student organization, and all students are encouraged to participate. Editorials are chosen and written by the Ubyssey staff. They are the expressed opinion of the staff, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Ubyssey Publications Society or the University of British Columbia. All editorial content appearing in The Ubyssey is the property of The Ubyssey Publications Society. Stories, opinions, photographs and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the expressed, written permission of The Ubyssey Publications Society. Letters to the editor must be under 300 words. Please include your phone number, student number and signature (not for publication) as well as your year and
Editorial Office: SUB 24 604.822.2301
Business Office: SUB 23 Student Union Building 6138 SUB Boulevard Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
faculty with all submissions. ID will be checked when submissions are dropped off at the editorial office of The Ubyssey; otherwise verification will be done by phone. The Ubyssey reserves the right to edit submissions for length and clarity. All letters must be received by 12 noon the day before intended publication. Letters received after this point will be published in the following issue unless there is an urgent time restriction or other matter deemed relevant by the Ubyssey staff. It is agreed by all persons placing display or classified advertising that if the Ubyssey Publications Society fails to publish an advertisement or if an error in the ad occurs the liability of the UPS will not be greater than the price paid for the ad. The UPS shall not be responsible for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value or the impact of the ad.
THE UBYSSEY TABLE OF CONTENTS
video@ubyssey.ca
Style from music to clothing, embrace your inner vancouverite
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ents Academics
Money
Engage
Passing your classes and where Study Abroad can take you
Co-ops, internships, resumes and a little financial management
UBC has lots of Clubs, not to mentions frats and sororities
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10
15
Behave
Explore
Play
How to handle roommates and stay healthy
Getting around to important areas on and off campus
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Drinking, partying, drugs, sex: hands down, this is the best section
Sports
F&F
Ubyssey
where school spirit is born, see the best teams and the worst
Friends and family and making everyone happy
Your campus paper
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TABLE OF CONTENTS THE UBYSSEY
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Academics
Photo courtesy UBC
Your University UBC is one of the top destinations for students in the world. Be proud to be here.
Since its founding in 1908, UBC has worked its way up to being one of the top universities in the world. Between the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, UBC has almost 60,000 students and 3,300 faculty members. You are now a part of this elite group of researchers, academics, thinkers, athletes and partiers. Time to take advantage of all UBC has to offer.
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THE UBYSSEY Academics
7,231 49,896 first years
total students
$1.4B 19% annual budget
international students *Stats for UBC Vancouver from 2013-2014
Academics
Governance Knowing who holds power around you is essential to success.
The AMS is your student society. They collect fees from students, then use that money to provide services like SafeWalk and build new student union buildings. Students can all have a voice in the AMS, so don’t waste your opportunity to vote in the annual elections. The UBC Board of Governors is the most powerful body on campus. Made up of some of the richest and most well-connected people in B.C., the Board has to approve UBC’s budget, as well as any new building on campus. The Senate is responsible for academic policies on campus. They approve new courses, exam policies and academic requirements, among other things. Both student and faculty reps make up the body. Each faculty has their own student government. In addition to the political side of things, they also run events and parties. These are a great way to get involved on campus and make new friends. ACADEMICS THE UBYSSEY
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Academics
Dealing with stress First year may seem like it will be the most fun and exciting time of your life. Sometimes it can be. Other times it can be so stressful you’ll question why you came here in the first place. If things seem overwhelming, take a break, breathe, drink a glass of water, call a friend or do whatever helps you put things in perspective. Things usually aren’t as bad as they seem. Think of solutions to your problems rather than dwelling on the worst. If it seems like things are out of control, UBC has counselling services for a reason, and there’s no shame in talking to them.
2,777
students attended counselling last year
A-
89.5
average admissions GPA
94%
make it to second year
Avoiding Stress
Though the last thing a stressed out student wants to hear is “I told you so,” keeping the situation in check before it gets out of hand is your best bet. Make a schedule of all the big assignments, readings, exams, essays and projects you have coming up. Leave some time free for exercising, eating, relaxing, socializing or just spending time browsing Reddit in your dorm. Sometimes the key to getting a lot done is knowing when to take a break so you can be productive when the time comes. 8
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THE UBYSSEY Academics
Academics
YES
ARE YOU FEELING STRESSED?
NO
For how long? All week.
Good. Gorge on Netflix.
Just today.
Go to a party.
Take a deep breath. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Go for a run. In general, chill. This too shall pass.
Too long.
Exam coming up?
Should you be?
Is there someone you can talk to?
NO Find a friend to study with.
Make a to do list.
Prioritize your time.
How did it go?
PASS Congratulations. You should be chill now. If not, return to the top.
FAIL
Luckily UBC offers Counselling Services. Give them a call at 604.822.3811
YES Ask them to meet up for a coffee or beer. A little conversation can go a long way.
Fuck it. Do you need the course to graduate?
Take it again.
Ace the final. Academics THE UBYSSEY
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Money
Working at UBC With internships, co-op, careers and coffee shops UBC students have lots of ways to make a buck. Numerous UBC faculties, including Arts and Sauder, offer internships. They provide an opportunity to gain work experience in a field related to what you’re studying. Although most internships are unpaid, they can serve as a stepping stone to better jobs in later years of your university career and post-graduation. Co-op is offered by UBC’s Arts, Business, Engineering, Forestry, Kinesiology and Science faculties. You can apply to the program and work in positions in various fields related 10
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THE UBYSSEY MONEY
to your area of study. The positions are paid and are generally full time, which necessitates taking a semester (or more) off of school. There are many opportunites both on and off campus to make some money to offset the costs of your studies. UBC Careers Online is one of the best resources available to find jobs. With postings ranging from childcare to astrophysics research, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find something of interest. students.ubc.ca/career
I did an eight-month work term in New Zealand. I loved it cause it gave me a chance to travel while still making money. I did get homesick while It was there because I was so far away and I was there on my own. But honestly the homesickness, totally outweighed by the awesomeness of going on exchange. -Cara Lozinsky,
Study Abroad Exchange is an opportunity to study somewhere else in the world for the same cost as UBC tuition. The courses you take there transfer back as direct credits towards your degree. GoGlobal offers automatic scholarships to anyone who maintains a B+ average. Be sure to start planning early. You can’t go on exchange in first year (and you probably won’t want to go in your last year), so be sure to lay out the courses that you’ll
need to take accordingly. Know your dates and deadlines as the application process takes close to a year Be sure to read testimonies from people who went to the same university. GoGlobal has tons of resources in that regard. Did you know that you can do a two-month exchange in the summer? Go on a two-week research trip to the Amazon? Speak to an advisor to find out how you can make this happen.
Resumes A well-written and designed resume can be the deciding factor for potential employers.
UBC’s website has helpful resources for writing and structuring a resume. Advisors and workshops are available throughout the year at the Centre for Student Involvement. MONEY THE UBYSSEY
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Money
Financial Management Budgeting your money without relying on your parents too much is the first step in becoming a financially independent adult.
For most people, the first year of university is the first time they’ve ever had to manage their money and budget beyond buying fast food or paying for gas. Between tuition, rent, food, drink and the multitude of other expenses, without parental bailouts it can be tough to make it through a
I would recommend an app called Mint, you download it, it’s like the top most trustworthy financial, personal, bank-sync app. And it basically syncs all of your accounts and it’s very secure, the ratings are incredible. -Elisabeth Piccolo
I always plan a budget. Every August I have a new budget for the whole year. In Kenya, I would be able to survive off a dollar a day. Over here, you can’t. One of the shocks I had was the amount I had to spend to just buy food. - Harsev Oshan
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THE UBYSSEY MONEY
school year without having to resort to ramen three times a day. Budgeting is something that, though a bit time consuming, can mean the difference between having money leftover at the end of the month, and finding yourself staring at an “account overdrawn” notice.
I get $300 a month or something like that. And somehow I always go over, and 90 per cent of it is groceries.... I don’t even eat out that much. I generally like to stay home and cook ... especially in Vancouver because everything is pretty pricey over here.
Nancy Chu, Applied Science 4th Year
Money
5 Ways To Save
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Use credit cards responsibly — and use cash if you can’t. At 20% annually, interest charges add up quickly. Stay on top of this or it can cause a lot of stress.
Buy textbooks used, and find someone to share with when you can. Many textbooks are also available in the library if you only need them occasionally.
Packing your lunch and making coffee in your dorm instead of buying it on-the-go can save you hundreds of dollars over the course of a school year.
Take advantage of free and discounted student services, like the U-Pass and Bird Coop. And always ask for a student discount.
Shop around! Use sites like Redflagdeals to find the best price on something you need (or want). Don’t get sucked into expensive contracts for gyms or cell phones.
5 Cheap Eats The Village Basement
The Wolf & Hound
Green Leaf Sushi
Uncle Fatih’s Pizza
The Loop
MONEY THE UBYSSEY
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Welcome to 1 year!
If you live on campus, in Point Grey or Kits, I’m your elected provincial government representative. Drop us a line if you need help or a guest speaker on any provincial Government policy, including student loans, transit and housing. See you soon! Uel point UBC grey kits Una
Engage
Photo courtesy Jens Vent-Schmidt
Clubs Making friends and getting involved is the best way to ensure a good university experience. Clubs are a great way to meet people who share your interests. Whether you are into chess, dancing or quidditch, there’s a club at UBC for you. The more you put into a club, the more you will get out of it. The people in that club could be your new lifelong friends — or they could just be people you enjoy spending time with for a few hours a week. Either way, you’ve got nothing to lose by trying out a few clubs that interest you. Clubs will be out in full force during Imagine Day, so stop and talk
to members of clubs that interest you. They will likely be holding events during first week to try and show you how great their club is and why you should join them. Take advantage of this time. Worst case scenario, you’ll spend an hour eating free food and find out the club isn’t for you. Best case, you’ll find the club that will be your home away from home for the next few years, make potentially life-long friends and have a great addition to your resume. ENGAGE THE UBYSSEY
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Engage
CLUBS
We’ve got over 370 clubs. We’ve highlighted some below. Check out the rest at www.ams.ubc.ca/clubs. ski and snowboard The official purpose of the Ski and Board club is apparent from its name, but more students know about the club through its legendary parties. This club is as much social as it is recreational.
AQUA SOCIETY
PHOTO SOCIETY
The Aqua Society offers dive training, as well as gear rentals, organized trips and social events. If you want to learn how to dive, or continue to put your SCUBA skills to use, check out the Aqua Soc.
Though it’s seen a decline in membership over the past few years, the club is rebuilding, and it’s an awesome place for aspiring photographers to hone their skills and get creative.
SAILING
VARSITY OUTDOOR
QUIDDITCH Though they play on the ground, the UBC Quidditch club has really taken off over the past few years. A combination of athleticsm and Harry Potter fandom, the club also competes internationally.
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The sailing club allows members access to numerous boats, as well as classes on how to use them. More experienced members also compete in numerous competitions.
THE UBYSSEY ENGAGE
An iconic UBC club, the VOC helps students explore all that the great outdoors has to offer. From hiking to rock climbing to ski trips, the VOC is a great way to stay active while making new friends.
Campus Traditions
Engage
Painting the Cairn: The big rock on Main Mall doesn’t keep the same paint job for long. Get a group of friends together, and come up with a new design for the Cairn. Though it’s basically acceptable to do, try not to get caught. Pit Night: Most nights of the week, the Pit is your average student bar. On Wednesday nights, students come out in full force for a night of drinking, dancing and debauchery. Show up early to avoid the lines. Storm the Wall: Get a group of friends together late in second term to swim, bike, run and scale the 12-foot wall. Most people do the event just for fun, though some elite athletes do the whole thing on their own. Undie Run: During second-term, the Ski and Board club organizes a half-naked run around campus to help students de-stress. The run usually finishes in a pool or fountain, so be ready to get wet. ENGAGE THE UBYSSEY
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Engage
GREEK LIFE ACTIVE | ALUMNUS | BID | BIG BROTHER | BIG SISTER | CHAPTER | COLONY | FRATERNITY | INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL | INITIATE | LEGACY | PANHELLENIC COUNCIL| PIN | PLEDGE | RITUAL | RUSH | SORORITY ACTIVE | ALUMNUS | BID | BIG BROTHER | BIG SISTER | CHAPTER | COLONY | FRATERNITY | INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL | INITIATE | LEGACY | PANHELLENIC COUNCIL| PIN | PLEDGE | RITUAL | RUSH | SORORITY ACTIVE | ALUMNUS
UBC has 10 fraternities and eight sororities to choose from. At the beginning of the first semester the process for joining the Greek system begins. This is called Rush, the time period when potential members check out each fraternity or sorority to see if they want to join. Talk to 18
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current members to find out how joining works. While joining Greek life is a great way to meet friends and to get more involved on campus, there is a stigma attached to the name. Don’t let these stereotypes deceive you or sway you from attending Rush events. Decide for yourself if the Greek system is for you.
THE UBYSSEY ENGAGE photo courtesy: UBC sororities
sororities
Engage
Fraternities
Alpha Delta Phi Alpha Epsilon Pi Beta Theta Pi Delta Kappa Epsilon Kappa Sigma Phi Delta Theta Phi Gamma Delta Psi Upsilon Sigma Chi Zeta Psi
Sororities
I joined a fraternity and it just became a home away from home. -Harsev Oshan
Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Gamma Delta Alpha Omicron Pi Alpha Phi Delta Gamma Gamma Phi Beta Kappa Alpha Theta Kappa Kappa Gamma
2770 Westbrook Mall info@ubcsororities.com 2880 Westbrook Mall ifcpresident.ubc@gmail.com ENGAGE THE UBYSSEY
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Behave
Housing
Living with people who aren’t your parents isn’t easy. Basically, don’t be a slob.
6,986 24,706
Whether you want it to happen or not, your roommate will become one of your closest companions undergrads undergrad during your first year. Although in housing commuters you can’t be expected to always get along, you will have to learn to live and work together. This can be difficult at first, but it is by no means impossible. The following points median income international and advice from other students will in B.C. for 20-25 students help you make sure that you and year-olds your roomie enjoy gracious cohabitation.
$10,877 19%
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THE UBYSSEY BEHAVE
Behave
picking roommates 1. Find somebody with similar interests.
My roommate used to eat in her sleep and borrow my clothes without asking or returning them. Make sure to set some ground rules right away by just hashing them out and talking about what each person would like to get out of their residence experience. - Kate Gillis
It makes sense to live with somebody who shares your lifestyle. If you like to go out on the weekends and often stay up late, it might not be a good idea to dorm with an early riser. Rooming with someone from your faculty can also be beneficial, especially in first year when you will likely be taking many of the same courses. 2. Do things together. Try to make an effort to do things with your roommate, even if it just means getting food together every now and then. This is a great way to grow closer with your roommate, and will make living together much easier. 3. Respect each other’s privacy.
Sleep is very important, so find out your roommate’s schedule and go to the library if they need to sleep and be quiet when opening and closing the door! - Kate Gillis
By choosing to live with a roommate, you are inevitably resigning a great deal of “me time.” However, it is still important to make an effort to respect your roommate’s private matters, whether they are personal belongings, phone conversations or even just their personal space. 4. Help each other. University is tough, and there’s a good chance it will be both you and your roommate’s first time living away from home. There might be times when one of you is struggling more than the other — whether it is due to school, work, relationships, or just life in general — and it’s important that you make an effort to help each other out. 5. Let them know how you feel.
Usually we have a meeting right before we really get settled and we talk about expectations, what we want from each other, what we don’t tolerate. - Nancy Chu
Above all else, it’s important to be honest with your roommate. Communication is key — if there’s a problem, let them know. Try to set ground rules at the start, and make sure each person is aware of the other’s needs. But most importantly, remember that you’re both in this together.
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Behave
Staying Healthy “The Freshman Fifteen”: a phrase oft-heard by high school graduates. Its validity varies wildly depending on who you ask, but the fact remains that adjusting to a more independent lifestyle can lead some students to slack off on maintaining their health. “The Freshman Fifteen is not a myth,” says Canadian field hockey star and UBC student Kate Gillis. “Cafeteria style eating can be difficult because there’s so much to choose from and sometimes they’re not the healthiest of options. Make sure to eat normal meals with meat, grains and veggies, and try to limit your desserts — but treat yourself
Balancing school and life can be tough — here are some tips on staying in shape at UBC.
once in a while.” The first year residence cafeterias can be overwhelming to those who have never made a plan regarding their own food intake, and speaking from personal experience, it’s easy to pick and choose what you want to eat, not necessarily what you should. Leave the bacon off your burger, or better yet, try a salad with grilled chicken. Use your common sense, but do some research beforehand on what constitutes a healthy meal – consult the Canada Food Guide for some guidance (and some nostalgia from third grade when you did that project).
IT’S BEEN SAID THAT YOUTH DON’T CARE ABOUT POLITICS. PROVE THEM WRONG! Get in touch with my MP office and find out about upcoming events, services to students, and opportunities to intern or volunteer. @joycemurray mpjoycemurray JOYCEMURR AY.CA joyce.murray.c1@parl.gc.ca
JOYCE MURRAY YOUR MP FOR VANCOUVER QUADRA
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THE UBYSSEY BEHAVE
Gyms
Behave
Not sure where to get your swole on? Here are your best options for getting (or staying) fit on campus The Bird Coop costs just $50/ year ($6.25/month), and holds all the equipment a student could need, making it the most popular choice for UBC students looking to get fit and stay that way. However, that also means it’s really busy. The Aquatic Centre is completely free and home to a basic weight room with a small cardio section consisting of a treadmill, a rowing machine and a few stationary bikes. It’s surrounded by UBC’s pool, steam room and sauna. Residence Gyms are small but functional (and free), and located on the main floor of first year buildings. They usually consist of a treadmill or two, a few stationary bikes, and a couple basic strength or bodyweight machines. Gold’s Gym is situated in the University Village. It boasts the finest equipment around, and is definitely the most elite gym near UBC. Prices vary, but expect to pay $40-$60/ month on top of initial membership fees. BEHAVE THE UBYSSEY
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Health Services The Student Wellness Centre does much more than provide ideas for nutritious meals. Here you can talk to an experienced student volunteer about any problems you might have, even if you’re “just stressed.” Also, free condoms. Speakeasy is a resource for peer counselling and referrals to other UBC professionals. They help out with nearly every mental health awareness event on campus, and provide confidential help to anyone who drops by.
UBC’s official counselling services are provided by registered clinical counsellors, social workers and psychologists. Swing by during their drop-in hours for a 20-30 minute discussion to talk about your concerns and determine some next steps. As far as medical treatment goes, UBC has a hospital right on campus for emergency and non-urgent care. You can call in or book an appointment online to see a doctor, or walk into the student clinic at the hospital.
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THE UBYSSEY BEHAVE
“I couldn’t believe I could lose 20 pounds in 2 months which was my dream. Gold Gym staff and trainers helped me reach my goal!” ~Siamak R. ( tinyurl.com/o39nmaf ) Congratulations class of 2018. You have the opportunity to win the first ever Gold’s Gym Fitness Scholarship! This year, Gold’s Gym is awarding a Four-Year Fitness Scholarship** to one male and one female freshman University of British Columbia student. Take your ballot below to Gold’s Gym and enter before September 30, 2014.
*FOUR-YEAR MEMBERSHIP @ GOLD’S GYM UMP INCLUDES FREE Parking, FREE Wi-Fi, Full Juicebar Access to professional Certified Personal Trainers & Nutrition Counseling Access to all Group Classes: Yoga, Centurgy, Zumba, Group Ride, R30, Spinning, Group Core, and More!
$2,669 Scholarship Value* *Not redeemable for cash
Name:________________________________________ Phone: ___________________DOB:_____________________ Email:_____________________________________ Entries Must brought to Gold’s Gym University Market Place (Around the Corner from McDonald’s on University Blvd. Second Floor) #230-2155 Allison Road, Vancouver. B.C. 604-224-4699 **Deadline to enter is September 30th, 2014. Some Restrictions May Apply
November 15 is general voting day for Electoral Area A. If you live on campus, you may be eligible to vote! Voters will elect a representative for this area to sit on the Metro Vancouver Board. Metro Vancouver is a political body and corporate entity operating under provincial legislation as a ‘regional district’ and ‘greater boards’ that deliver regional services, policy and political leadership on behalf of 23 members. UBC is in Electoral Area A. Find out more about your local government and the upcoming election at www.metrovancouver.org (search “Election”) or call 604.432.6200.
Explore
EXPLORE OUTSIDE in Vancouver
The sound of the wild outdoors calling your name? Get away from those textbooks and use your U-Pass to check out some of the best trails, beaches and camping spots in the area.
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Ready for a workout that takes you out of the gym? The Grouse Grind is long (2.9km) and it’s steep (straight hike), but you’ll be rewarded with great views of Vancouver and some serious bragging rights for completing it.
Stanley Park is a nature’s gold mine right in the heart of downtown. Go for a cycle or rollerblade around the Seawall, check out marine life in the Vancouver Aquarium or get lost among the many beaches, totem poles and trails that attract over 8 million visitors every year.
Just in UBC’s backyard is the Endowment Lands. Tons of trails, beautiful forests, pretty epic walks. But if you’re feeling pretty adventurous, there are a couple hikes just out in Squamish. Obviously, the Chief. There’s another two day hike out there. That’s your best bet. -Brydon Bowers
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THE UBYSSEY EXPLORE
Just a quick bus ride from UBC, Kits Beach will offer you all the swimming, picnicking and beach volleyball your heart desires. It’s also a great place to visit in the colder months, as you can do your homework by the water and then head over to The Naam (an awesome vegetarian restaurant) for a snack.
Any beach in Vancouver is great. Just a summer day— you can’t get much better than that. -Cara Lozinsky
Explore
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For those of you who love to ski or snowboard, but maybe don’t have the time or money to make it to Whistler on a regular basis, you’re in luck. Vancouver has three ski hills within 45 minutes of the city, all of which offer night skiing during the winter season. Student discount passes are available, and you can even use your U-Pass to get there.
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The North Shore Mountains also provide great terrain for hiking and mountain biking during the warmer months. There is an extensive trail network at your disposal, with many hikes and bike rides ranging in length and difficulty. Many of the trails are accessible by bus, so it’s easy to grab some friends and make a quick day trip.
EXPLORE THE UBYSSEY
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Explore
EXPLORE
Vancouver has countless shopping, ethnic and historical neighbourhoods ready to explore. Spend a few days each term playing tourist and take advantage of all of the city’s sweet spots.
Point Grey & Kitsilano Take a walk through the residential area of Point Grey and check out the unique houses lining each street. The closer you are to the beach, the more impressive architecture you’ll see. Once you’re done, hit up the beach, then go explore the shops on Broadway and 4th Avenue.
Photo jeffryv / Flickr
Gastown
This area is home to Vancouver’s best nightlife, and most indie boutiques. Walk down the stone tiled Water Street and stop by the bookstores, vintage boutiques and cafés that fill the city’s oldest neighbourhood. Be sure to look up every once in a while at the beautifully refurbished heritage buildings. Photo colink. / Flickr
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THE UBYSSEY EXPLORE
P
THE CITY
Explore
Downtown The heart of Vancouver beats at the corner of Robson and Granville Street. During every other season, the streets are seas of traffic, both motor and pedestrian. If you want to do some shopping, make your way up and down Robson Street, where you’ll find just about everything you could imagine. When the night falls, check out Granville’s bars and nightclubs to blow off steam or celebrate your last exam.
Commercial Drive Some of the best food in Vancouver is found here. It’s a growing area with a pierced-everything kind of mentality. If you’re looking for something out of the norm, the Drive is where you want to be.
Photo Wendy Cutler / Flickr
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Explore
EXPLORE campus Here are some of our favourite secret spots around campus:
There are many different spots on campus to explore, some with varying levels of legality. While we don’t necessarily endorse any action of exploration within the more dangerous areas, we feel it’s necessary to inform our readers of where they are so they don’t accidentally happen upon them.
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THE UBYSSEY EXPLORE
The botanical gardens are the best place to go on campus if you want to get zenned out of your mind. There is also an overhead walkway that is rumoured to be even more fun after dark. Photo Wendy Cutler / Filckr
BOTANICAL GARDENS
STEAM TUNNELS
WRECK BEACH
view points
The steam tunnels are officially off-limits — and probably should be — but that doesn’t stop students from exploring them anyway. There are various entrances around campus which we won’t tell you about here. Rumour has it that some holes along Main roads lead underground.
EXPLORE THE UBYSSEY
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things to do at ubc before you graduate
1. Find The Ubyssey office 2. Spend 24 hours in the SUB 3. Visit MOA 4. Eat a cookie at Blue Chip 5. Attend Pit Night 6. Pass out in Irving 7. Pass out in class 8. Trick someone into believing a Syrup Trap article 9. Order Dominos out of latenight-only-flex-meal-dollars-left desperation 10. Find out you’ve been saying “Ubyssey” wrong this whole time 11. Shotgun a beer in a UBC fountain 12. Add your entire floor on Snapchat 13. Regret Snapchats 14. Explore the canopy walkway after hours 34
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15. 16. 17. 18.
19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29.
THE UBYSSEY 96 things to do
Trick or treat at Gupta’s house Whine about the lack of slides in the new SUB Build a slide in the new SUB Find out where the UBC drunk tank is (the hard way) Do the Undie Run naked Go to Wreck Beach See unforgivable things at Wreck Beach Drink a beer in class Refuse to call the new SUB anything but the SUB Get on top of the Clocktower Attend a T-Bird game Get kicked out of a T-Bird game Try out for a varsity sports team Paint the Cairn Run as an AMS joke candidate
30. Win the election 31. Meet Nardwuar 32. Find out how many people fit in a Car2Go 33. High-5 Gupta 34. Get a free female condom from the Health and Wellness Centre 35. Figure out what to do with an expired female condom 36. Sext your TA 37. Get a headache in class 38. Realize you’re just hungover 39. Learn a new language 40. Find the question of life 41. Find a job 42. Get fired 43. Cry because of your bank account 44. Participate in a psychology experiment for the money 45. Buy ice cream to celebrate 46. Join a club 47. Never go to any meetings 48. Get a free lunch at Sprouts 49. Write a last-minute paper 50. Take a nap in the aquatic centre 51. Stand in line to buy your books longer than it took you to pick your books 52. Don’t buy books for a semester 53. Befriend the old person in class 54. Run the stairs at Wreck 55. Take a night class at UBC 56. Regret taking a night class 57. Forget all the French you learned in high school 58. Impress people at a party with your “French skills” 59. Miss the last bus and find out how long the walk from downtown is 60. Complain about the weather 61. Wear flip flops in the rain 62. Forget what sunshine looks like
63. Send a sext to the wrong number 64. Get a reply anyways 65. Get a sext during class 66. Regret sitting in the front row 67. Bring an Apple TV remote to class 68. Sit in the back and hit play 69. Bring a PC to an Arts class 70. Venture out to Main 71. Buy high tops and thick rimmed glasses 72. Only drink coffee at Great Dane 73. Lose all your friends and try to find new ones 74. Do the Undie Run 75. Write an article for The Ubyssey 76. Join a UBC REC intramural sports league 77. Take a free rec class during Shopping Week 78. Sign up for 50 Imagine Day lists 79. Get a new email 80. Go to an improv show 81. Eat sushi 7 days straight 82. Ask someone out in person 83. Take him/her to Darby’s 84. Ride The Ubyssey’s tandem bike 85. Go to a play at the Chan Centre 86. Moon an audience at the Chan Centre 87. Talk shit about SFU 88. Find your TA on Tinder 89. Swipe right 90. Boost your GPA 91. Change your major 92. Watch shirtless ultimate frisbee 93. Question your sexuality 94. Post in UBC Confessions because you’re too shy to say it in person 95. Desperately look for posts about yourself on UBC Confessions 96. Figure out how to use Degree Navigator
96 things to do
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Drinking Now that you’re ready to get your drink on, here are some of the best places around Vancouver to have drinks with friends. Get wild. Alcohol is one of the best ways to relieve stress and your inhibitions. After a week of studying your ass off a party is usually in order and there’s nothing quite like drinking to aid the exit of freshly learned information. If you’ve outgrown the frat house party scene and want somewhere more established to get belligerent with your friends, here are some bars around Vancouver we recommend. 42
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Dentry’s Gargoyles The Fringe
Ceili’s Irish Pub The Wolf and Hound
Storm Crow
The Refinery Keefer Bar L’Abattoir
Drunken Words of Wisdom
Play
Underage drinking can be risky. Take some advice from a few seasoned veterans.
Drink responsibly. Control yourself. You have five years — the rest of your life — with no parents. You don’t have to blow off all your steam in one year. - Brydon Bowers
Be smart about it. Make sure that you’re with friends and make sure that campus security doesn’t catch you.
First of all— don’t [drink underage]. But like… Probably at a house somewhere with your friends. I don’t see how else you would do it. Going out to a park is just grungy. - Mila Nikolic
- Elisabeth Piccolo
1 2 3 4 BYOB: No one likes the person who is always mooching drinks and never returns the favour.
Don’t get too drunk: Puking, passing out or crying into your beer about your recent breakup isn’t going to help you make friends.
Go with friends: Showing up with a group of people makes you look more popular. Added bonus: there will be people you know at the party.
Getting home (or sleeping somewhere new): Share a cab, bus or walk with someone you trust. Don’t sleep over at the party unless close friends of yours are hosting.
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fuck You're smart. pee r p r es su r e drug Play
You got into UBC.
so when it comes to drugs, don’t become another statistic. Here’s a small guide on how to get by:
The Ubyssey's
guide Cocaine
Marijuana
Adderall
Blow fucks with your nervous system. You’ll think you’re the most interesting person in the world, but let us assure you, you’re not. That high you feel? You’ll feel 10 times lower tomorrow.
Probably the least harmful drug you’ll ever come across. At worst, an “overdose” will lead to extreme munchies, nervousness or a possible existential-like state of cosmic interaction.
One of the most commonly available prescription drugs. If you don’t actually have a learning disability, this “study drug” is good to take if you’d prefer a drug addiction to a degree.
ketamine A drug for those curious to know what floating on clouds feels like. Take too much and the consequences range from a ruined party to spending your final moments in an ambulance.
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mdma With a few exceptions, Molly users usually find that everything is suddenly right in the world. It’s highly addictive and can be damaging to your emotional wellbeing and relationships.
acid If you’re looking for something to knock you on your ass for a full day, look no further. Be careful, though. It’s hard to tell what other chemicals you may be taking. One bad trip can really mess you up.
k r es e
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SEX
University is the perfect time to explore your sexuality and discover all of your preferences, boundaries and quirks.
YES!
The magic word! Consent is the foundation for all healthy sexual experiences. If you’re feeling pressured or unsure of whether you’d like to go through with any sexual activity, be sure to communicate with your partner. Remember, not saying no is not the same as saying yes. Sexual assault is all too common on college campuses. So if you plan to have sex, make sure that it’s safe and that you and your partner have given each other the go-ahead for everything happening under the sheets.
BUT HOW? Some people come to university with the idea that post-secondary is one big orgy. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, that’s not the case. Finding someone to get cozy, friendly or freaky with can be a bit of a challenge sometimes, especially if you’re the shy type. However, there 46
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is hope for us all. If you want to show your interest for someone, just take it slow. If there’s anything you’re going to learn during your time at UBC, it’s that there’s no single set of rules to follow if you want to score. The best way? Just be yourself; don’t worry. And most importantly, have fun.
Play
SEXUAL HEALTH RESOURCES UBC Wellness Centre If you ever need advice on safe sex, drop in to room 183 of the Irving K. Barber Library on weekdays and talk to some trained students who are ready to answer your questions.
My friend had sex on the diving board at the UBC Outdoor Pool! - Elisabeth Piccolo
SexualityandU.ca The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada runs this website, which is an incredible resource for all things related to sexual health. Some of its best features include a birth control selection tool and comprehensive charts and illustrations on every topic you could possibly imagine. Consented.ca AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre UBC Counselling Services
UBC Student Health Services AMS Speakeasy YouthInBC.ca Qmunity.ca RainbowHealth.ca
? University Blvd. (10th Ave)
Allison Rd.
Western Parkway
N
Dalhousie Road
University Marketplace 2135 Allison Road, Phone: 604-221-4780
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Style
Fashion Here are some ways to stay looking fab and indulge your shopping habit without breaking the bank. Consignment: A good way to get gently-owned clothes for a fraction of what they would cost new. Places to check out around Vancouver include Front & Company, C’est La Vie and Turnabout. eBay: A fashionista’s treasure trove. Finding what you’re looking for usually requires patience and perserverance, but once you find that cool pair of shoes for only 48
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$20, you’ll want to brag about it for weeks. The SUB: Yes, the SUB. At different times in the year, you can run into vendors that sell interesting jewelry, cool iPhone cases and cheap clothes. Sales: Still lusting after that $100 blouse? Upper-end stores regularly hold sales.
Style RAIN JACKET AND BOOTS Trust us, you’ll need these. We could get into the hows and whys of what makes the raincoat and rainboots Vancouver’s most popular outfit choice, but we will just leave off by saying that it is definitely a good idea to own one of each. You’ll thank us in mid-October.
fashion
essen
tials Suit and Tie
Whether it’s a sorority social or holiday dorm dance, you will most likely have at least one formal event during your first year at university. Don’t be the guy who is caught wearing the tuxedo t-shirt to a dance.
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Local Music
Local bands to check out Hey Ocean! Dan Mangan Japandroids Brasstronauts Mother Mother Sex with Strangers A Lesser Panda HOOVES The Ruffled Feathers Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Said the Whale
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Vancouver’s vibrant and continuously growing music scene accomodates many different music genres. From hardcore folk metal in the Croatian Cultural Centre to punk music at The Rickshaw Theatre, there’s something for all music enthusiasts.
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Venues
There are many local venues that play host to musicians and artist througout Vancouver. If you love going to see major recording artists like Beyonce or Tom Petty, keep your eyes on BC Place for all major concerts. Vancouver has many smaller venues for more local and indie bands. Check out: The Electric Owl, The Commodore Ballroom, the Rickshaw Theatre, etc. Some art galleries also accommodate smaller, local bands.
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Sports
The Varsity Scene If you’re looking for cheap, awesome entertainment, look no further than the T-Birds. UBC’s extensive varsity family contains some of the best athletes and winningest teams in the country, making a trip to see a T-Bird game a worthwhile event. Even if the team you support isn’t all that great, cheering them on in your hometown with a couple of buddies is a pretty alright way to spend an afternoon. A word of advice: pick up a Blue Crew pass at a game, at the bookstore, or online in the first few weeks of school. It’s $20, and includes admission to every home game that any Thunderbird team plays all year, as well as a t-shirt 52
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emblazoned with the T-Bird logo, so everyone will know you’re not from SFU. UBC students tend to give strong support to their varsity brothers and sisters. Showing up to a popular team’s home game is a guaranteed way to get caught up in the emotion; a football game would best illustrate that point. Thunderbird Stadium holds 3,500 people, and hearing all of them scream in unison when a touchdown is scored is really something else. Check out gothunderbirds.ca/calendar.
Sports
What was the Sports Review? It’s important to understand what went down when UBC reevaluated its varsity family last year. The controversial sports review at the end of the 2013/2014 season took a critical look at 29 varsity teams and decided which ones were vital to UBC’s Thunderbird family, and which weren’t. The time during the process was tumultuous — certain teams feared for their lives, and tried as best they could to convince the community at large that they were worthy of retaining their varsity status. In the end, five teams were demoted from varsity to club status: men’s and women’s Nordic skiing, men’s and women’s alpine skiing, and softball. 24 teams retained their varsity status, but were separated into three sections: Teams to receive enhanced support: Basketball, football, swimming, volleyball Teams to receive the same amount of support: Cross country, women’s field hockey, golf, women’s ice hockey, rowing, men’s rugby, soccer, track and field Teams who must pursue alternate funding: Baseball, men’s field hockey, men’s ice hockey, women’s rugby
Best teams
in Van
Football Women’s Volleyball Men’s Soccer Women’s Basketball
Canucks Hockey Whitecaps Soccer Lions Football Canadians Baseball
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Sports The Thunderbirds are officially the most dominant team in the CIS, with a tradition of winning so strong in certain sports that the race for second is the most heated. Here’s a look at some highlights from the highly awarded 2013-2014 season:
Men’s Soccer Dominant Over the last two years, men’s soccer has been the most winning team in all of UBC sports. Their season runs through the first semester and admission is only $5 for students.
13 CIS Titles
Back-to-Back CIS Champions
Women’s Field Hockey 25
Powerhouse Women’s field hockey won their 14th national title, and outscored the UVic and University of Calgary teams combined.
UBC
14 CIS Titles
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19 UVic
3 U of Calgary
Most Goals
Sports It’s a lot of fun wearing the blue and gold and representing your university on the National stage. - Kate Gillis
Women’s Swimming
397.5 pts
Back-to-Back-to-Back CIS Champions
3
Trophies
Largest Margin of Victory
Favourites Women’s swimming won their third straight CIS title last year. They also set a national record for the largest margin of victory. Traditionally, the UBC swimming teams put forward national and Olympic athletes almost every year. This year doesn’t look like it’ll be an expception.
Men’s Rugby Brickhouse
Promoted
Men’s rugby took home the World Cup, the Wightman Boot, and the Province Cup. They’re a force to be reckoned with in Canadian Rugby and you should go watch their games. It’s worth it. Extra points for creatively sneaking in alcohol.
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F&F
Relationships Finding friends and your true love right here on campus can actually happen. Now is the time to start making new friends and building relationships that will help get you through your time at UBC. Though it can be tempting to hole up in your dorm watching Netflix and eating caf take-out, you’ve got to put yourself out there to make friends or find a significant other. If you’re nervous, remember this: fear is only a problem if you let it stop you. Talk to people in class, eat with someone new at the caf or make a point of getting to know the people 56
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on your floor. Most people are just as lonely as you are and secretly wish they had someone to talk to. Don’t take it personally if you don’t click with the first people you meet. Try joining a club or a student group with people who share your interests. You might not immediately be surrounded by friends or find yourself in relationships, but don’t let it get you down. As long as you keep making an effort, sooner or later you’ll have all the friends you need, and then some.
THE UBYSSEY FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Nope. No, never did the long distance. I know myself. And besides, university boys are so cute! ... University boys are cute and smart! There’s plenty of them out there! - Elisabeth Piccolo
LONG DISTANCE
F&F
In my opinion, I would say take a break. After you finish your university career, see where you are, see where the other person is. If your paths meet again, so be it. If not, get on with your life.
- Harsev Oshan
REL A T I O N S H I P S
You’ve heard it all before — long distance relationships are terrifying. Trying to carry on a romantic or sexual connection with someone without actually being able to spend time with them in person can be difficult for a million reasons. Most people will advise you against trying to make it work, but at the end of the day, it’s your call. If it doesn’t work out, just remember all of the fish cliches, and keep your eye out for anything or anyone that may be able to take your mind off your former love.
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1+39+14517246731
F&F
Central Asia East Asia South Asia
Europe Oceania
North America Middle East
South America Central America
S.E. Asia Africa
UBC international students by region of citizenship. Data from UBC PAIR.
Homesickness
Getting used to your home away from home can be harder than you think. Most UBC students are living on their own for the first time. While this can bring overwhelming feelings of freedom and joy, getting away from home isn’t always everything it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes you’ll feel isolated and long for a home cooked meal. That’s okay, as long as you don’t let your desire to stay connected with home interfere with learning to live on your own.
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The first two years are definitely the hardest for any international student. I would highly recommend people going back home at the end of their first year. People get more homesick in second year. -Harsev Oshan
You're not
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alone.
Stay in touch with people at home, but limit your time on Skype. Remember what you love to do and make new memories doing those things here. Embrace your new environment.
Make friends and stay engaged. Enjoy our beautiful campus and get outside. Be realistic about your situation and understand that it’s okay to feel homesick, most people are. Give it time.
Enjoy your alone time. Take time to write a journal and pick up a new interest. Most importantly, don’t spend too much time wallowing in self-pity. Half the battle is in your head.
*If all else fails, swing by The Ubyssey office for a beer.
How I coped with it was I lived with two other Kenyans and what we started doing was we had a potluck dinner every Sunday. And what we did was we invited all out friends from different parts of Africa … we’d have 30 Africans just coming together and just taking about home and sharing stories and watching some African movies and listening to some African songs and just really talking about your week. -Harsev Oshan
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The Ubyssey Your student newspaper since 1918. The Ubyssey is your campus newspaper. We publish twice a week in print and as frequently as possible online. Check out our news, sports, culture, opinions, video and blog coverage at ubyssey.ca. Also follow us on social media. Students like you produce all of the content in The Ubyssey. We are always looking for more volunteers to contribute to the paper. If you stick around long enough, you can even get paid to write articles, draw illustrations or shoot photos and videos. 62
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THE UBYSSEY WHO WE ARE
If you’ve always dreamed of being a journalist, there is a place for you at the paper. If you’ve never written a news article in your life, but want to learn how, you are also welcome at The Ubyssey. Our alumni include Pierre Berton and former Prime Minister John Turner. You could be next. Drop by our office in the SUB and come see what we’re all about. Our office is in the old SUB basement, Room 24. In second term, we’ll be in our shiny, new, above-ground office in the new SUB.
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Volunteering
News: Whenever things happen around UBC, we’re the first to know. If you’re interested in being on top of campus happenings and writing stories the whole school will be talking about, be sure to stop by the office for one of our news meetings.
Culture: The culture section covers all things art and student culture. From UBC theatre productions to student lifestyle, the culture section does it all. We also have a wine columnist.
Sports + Rec: The sports and rec section covers all of UBC’s Thunderbird varsity teams as well as anything and everything to do with the world of recreation, fitness and the outdoors.
Opinions: Have something to say about what’s happening on campus? Convinced one of our opinion pieces was wrong? Want to write a weekly column? Write for the opinions section. Blog: If you want to write shorter pieces about the lighter side of day to day events that affect students, check out our blog. From newsy stories to mocking recent events, there’s a place for your writing on our blog.. WHO WE ARE THE UBYSSEY
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Ubyssey Photo: Visual communication is a big part of what we do here at The Ubyssey. From breaking news to cultural events, the photo department sees it all.
Design: If you have any eye for good design or want to flex your Indesign muscles, try your hand at layout for the paper. From infographics to laying out the crossword, there’s always more design work to be done.
Video: Whether you want to be the next Youtube star or just want to put that camera of yours to use, there are plenty of opportunities with our video section.
Web: If all your friends come to your for tech support, our web section may be for you. Work with our web developer to improve our site and do cool web-specific layouts for stories.
Copy: Our copy editor is responsible for making sure we don’t make errors that make us look silly. If you cringe everytime you see a comma splice, help us proofread on Wednesdays and Sundays. We’ll also give you free food.
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GARBAGE WE SENT TO LANDFILL IN 2013:
3000 TONNES
OR 19 BLUE WHALES
You can make a difference
and create a green, zero waste campus: USE RECYCLING STATIONS TO SORT YOUR FOOD SCRAPS AND RECYCLABLES INTO THE PROPER BINS.
FOOD SCRAPS
RECYCLABLE CONTAINERS
PAPER
GARBAGE
sustain.ubc.ca/sortitout