The Ubyssey’s
first year guide To UBC
04
academics
06
map
12/13 14
ubyssey staff 04 the panel 05
ubc 06 ams 07 study tips 08/09 stress test 10 campus resources 11
getting involved
clubs 14/15 fraternities and sororities 16/17 varsity 18/19 ubc traditions 21
friends and family
22
vancouver
26
parties and booze
40
tips on making friends 22 relationships 23 family 24
the vancouver area 26/27/28/29 things to do 30/31 foodie hotspots 32 cheap eats 33 raincouver 36 transit 38/39 alcoholic mixes and favourites 40 words of wisdom 41 drugs 42 sex 43
on campus
44
health
52
finance
55
fashion 44 essential apps 45 spiritual services 47 cheap eats 48 5 dorm-must haves 50 finding the perfect roomie 51 avoiding the freshman 15 52 exercising 54
how to find a job 55 cover letters 56 money advice 57
the list the ubyssey the gallery
58/59 60/61/62 63/64/65/66
table of contents
the masterminds
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The Masterminds
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THE UBYSSEY
EDITORIAL Coordinating Editor Will McDonald coordinating@ubyssey.ca
Video Producer Tim Hoggan video@ubyssey.ca
Design Editor Aiken Lao printeditor@ubyssey.ca
Photo Editor Kosta Prodanovic art@ubyssey.ca
Web Developer Peter Siemens web@ubyssey.ca
Opinions + Blog Editor Jack Hauen opinions@ubyssey.ca
News Editors Emma Partridge + Moira Warburton news@ubyssey.ca
LEGAL The Ubyssey is the official student newspaper of the University of British Columbia. It is published every Tuesday 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
Culture Editor Olivia Law culture@ubyssey.ca Sports + Rec Editor Koby Michaels sports@ubyssey.ca
from the editor You’ve made it to UBC. Now you have to figure out what to do while you’re here. We’ve put together a 64-page book to help answer some of the questions you’ll inevitably have. Our info is based on the collective experience of seasoned Ubyssey editors, students and professors. We don’t have all the answers, but we can definitely tell you a thing or two that’s not in the official UBC handouts. So, take a look through. The 97 Things to Do is a
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SEPTEMBER 2015 | VOLUME XCVII |FIRST YEAR GUIDE
BUSINESS
CONTACT
Business Manager Fernie Pereira fpereira@ubyssey.ca Ad Sales Kenneth Chang advertising@ubyssey. ca Accounts Abigail Pelaez accounts@ubyssey.ca
Editorial Office: SUB 2208 604.822.2301 ADVERTISING 604.822.1654 INQUIRIES 604.822.6681 The New Student Union Building
6133 University Boulevard
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1 Online: ubyssey.ca Twitter: @ubyssey
herein cannot be reproduced without the expressed, written permission of The Ubyssey Publications Society. The Ubyssey is a founding member of Canadian University Press (CUP) and adheres to CUP’s guiding principles. 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 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.
great place to start if you want some inspiration on fun things to do during first week. If you want more serious advice, we’ve got that too. Pretty soon, you’ll be on to second year and laughing at how clueless the incoming firstyears are.
Will McDonald Coordinating Editor
The Masterminds - Ubyssey Staff
Business Office: SUB 2209
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.
U the panel
Simon Zhu
Second-year Engineering Interests: powerlifting and guitar.
Dr. Fenn Stewart
Sessional Lecturer, Faculty of Arts Interests: poetry and politics (not necessarily in that order).
Maegan Poblacion Second-year Science Interests: Rubik’s Cubes, hiking, biking and origami.
Dr. Karl Aquino
Professor, Faculty of Commerce Interests: playing basketball, reading literature and poetry.
Steven Cao
Second-year Science Interests: the outdoors and music.
Alanna Toth
Second-year Kinesiology Interests: dark chocolate and anything that gets me outside.
Katie Applebaum
Second-year Commerce Interests: music and boys.
Eunice Choi
Second-year Arts Interests: watching baseball and movies.
The Panel - The Masterminds
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Academics
the university of british columbia UBC, established in 1908, is one of the top education and research centres in the world. Although the two main campuses are located in Vancouver and the Okanagan Valley, UBC also has several other
learning centres situated in Robson Square, Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and Mount Pleasant. During the 2014/2015 year UBC had a total of 59,659 students in both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses taught by 15,253 faculty members and staff. You
are now a part of this diverse and talented group of scholars, athletes, gamers, partiers and many more. Welcome to the UBC family.
Tuum est is UBC’s motto. This latin phrase translates to “it is up to you” or “it is yours.”
20%
of UBC’s students are international. We have 11,965 international students from 139 countries. DATA FROM UBC PAIR
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Academics - UBC
DENT 1%
LAW 1%
FRST 2%
PHAR 2%
EDUC 5%
LFS 4%
5%
MEDI 6%
10%
NONE 6%
15%
APSC 11%
20%
DATA FROM UBC PAIR
COMM 13%
25%
First-year enrolment by faculty (2014 winter)
SCIE 18%
30%
ARTS 29%
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0%
the alma mater society The Alma Mater Society (AMS) is the student society at UBC. They’re governed by executives who are elected each year and manage a
lot of what goes on around UBC. Make sure to take advantage of this democratic process and vote during the upcoming March 2016 elections! In addition to helping you voice your
opinions and being the representative of the student body, they also run various services around the campus (see campus resources on page 11).
The AMS - Academics
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Academics
study tips “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in high school any more.” No, you aren’t. You’re at UBC. You’re at one of the world’s best universities which means you’re pretty smart; it also means you are going to have to start working. High school classes were probably a breeze for you. Well guess what, the party is over. That isn’t to say university won’t be
the best four (or five or six) years of your life, but if you want to graduate, expect to work. Let’s get some things straight: you will fail a midterm, you will pull an all-nighter, you will have a class where the average is 60, you will wonder why it’s 3:00 a.m. and you still have two essays to write. And in the end, April will roll around and you will have passed all (or most) of your classes and move onto second year. Then
you’ll do it all over again. Although you’ve already heard this a billion times before, developing good study habits is seriously important. Reviewing what you’ve learned before or after class can make a big difference, in comparison to the ever so popular method of cramming. Balancing work and play is the key to a successful first year.
What Professors Look For
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1. Ask as many questions as you possibly can (if you are wondering about something, then someone else is, too). 2. Take advantage of office hours.
I can’t speak for my colleagues, but here’s what I look for: intellectual curiosity, imagination, reliability, initiative, a commitment to excellence and a willingness to assume responsibility for one’s own learning. In other words, they don’t blame their failures on others or the professor, but on their own willingness or unwillingness to work hard enough to get the most out of their capabilities.
- Dr. Fenn Stewart
- Dr. Karl Aquino
Academics - Study Tips
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Use a website blocker to avoid procrastination. If you can just work questions off a textbook or workbook, then leave the laptop at home. Don’t eat your nasty ass fucking tuna sandwich in the library, we can all smell it.
retention rate to year 2 DATA FROM UBC PAIR
- Maegan Poblacion %
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The Final Countdown
During finals week you will do many questionable things and neglect your most basic needs. However, there are things you can do to avoid this (likely) hellish state: • Make decent notes, this will save you eons of time in the long run • Have a calender, good time management is the solution to everything • Learn how to say no, not every gathering needs to be attended • Don’t sleep in class • Don’t stay up all night playing video games • Find the right method, reading over the entire textbook doesn’t work for everyone
First, learn how to be disciplined. For the first time in your life, you will be largely responsible for your own learning. Your teachers will not prod or check up on you like they might have done in high school, so it will be up to you to develop the ability to regulate and organize your time. Second, don’t stress out too much about grades. The most important thing is for you to get into the mindset where what you want to get most out of any class you take is the opportunity to learn how to learn. More precisely, each class should be seen as a training ground for developing the habit of being curious, open-minded, and receptive to ideas more than of focusing on your grade.
- Dr. Karl Aquino
Study Tips - Academics
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Academics
Are you stressed? Have you consumed more than four cups of coffee today? (-15) Are you getting more than six hours of sleep? (+10) Have you been eating three meals a day? (+5) Do the people at Tim Hortons know you from 30 feet away? (-5) Do you feel stressed? (-10) Are you missing the Subway from the Old SUB? (-20) Do you have an exam in the next hour? (-10) Have you consumed more than one can of energy drink today? (-15) Are you getting upset at trivial things? (-5) Have you had a night out with friends lately? (+15) Do you want to hunt down all the squirrels on campus? (-20) Is it the first two weeks of classes at UBC? (+15) Did you finish an assignment early? (+10) Have you been wearing the same sweatpants for a month? (-20)
Score: A negative number means that you should really work on adding some “chill time” in your study schedule. A positive number means that you don’t seem too stressed (we suggest you play one last game of League of Legends, then hit the books). Make friends. Social support is extremely important for making the transition from high school to university. Friends will provide you with a buffer against stress, a sounding board for your problems and hopefully conversations and emotional connections that can last a lifetime.
- Dr. Karl Aquino
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Academics - Stress Test
Take care of yourself: you can’t learn well if you’re not getting enough sleep, good food, exercise, human contact and even some occasional fun!
- Dr. Fenn Stewart
U campus resources Although you’ve moved on from the high school life to the world of big, scary universities, know that you are not alone. The campus is full of resources and helpful services that are made to make your transition easier. All you have to do is take advantage of what UBC has to offer. To make that easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of some of the services you might need during the school year. Centre for Student Involvement and Careers 604-822-4011 A great source of information in regards to how to write a resume, find a job, and more. Counselling Services Brock Hall: 604-822-3811 First Nations House of Learning: 604-822-8940 Free and confidential counselling for UBC students who need help with a variety of mental health concerns.
AMS Food Bank Room 42U, lower level of the SUB An AMS service that provides food and basic supplies for students in need.
Free Tutoring Services 604-822-9084 They won’t do your homework for you, but it’s better than nothing. Available for first and second year students.
Student Health Service 604-822-7011 Health care service for registered UBC students by family doctors and nurses.
Safewalk 604-822-5355 9:00 p.m. -2:00 a.m. Call Safewalk and a co-ed team of students will safely walk you to your destination.
Speakeasy Room 3121, New SUB A peer support program where you can get non-judgemental and supportive help on various issues such as relationship problems, stress and substance abuse. Sexual Assault Support Centre 604-827-5180 An AMS service that helps those who have been sexually assaulted with emotional, medical and legal support. UBC Writing Centre Chapman Learning Commons, level 3 of IKBLC Get feedback and help from tutors on anything related to writing.
Campus Resources - Academics
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12
Map
Map
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Map
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Getting Involved
clubs Clubs? Clubs, you ask? Well, we have clubs. So many clubs in fact that the AMS website openly admits they can’t keep up. Currently the AMS recognizes over 300 student-run clubs. There are clubs like the Varsity Outdoor Club and the Chinese Varsity Club (aka the party club) to drinking clubs like Ski and Board and the
Brewing Club to clubs that actually do stuff with their time like Women in Science or the Accounting Club. Seriously, we could fill this entire guide with just a list of UBC clubs. If you can’t find a club to join you need to stop drinking alone in your room or studying in the library and go outside. There are always flyers and events going on and clubs are always looking for volunteers; it’s never
too late to get involved. It sounds cliché, but clubs are a great way to meet friends and have fun. You get to hangout with people who like the same things as you and do stuff you like. So go join a bunch and see what happens. University is about more than exams and bars. Plus, you can always join us at The Ubyssey.
For a full list go clubs go to: www..ams..ubc.ca/clubs/big-list-of-clubs
Brewing Club
Bike Co-Op/Bike Kitchen
It’s exactly what it sounds like: they make beer. And good beer, too. They have won awards and competitions with their brews. Join the club, learn to brew and become a brewmaster. Also, you know, drink beer. www.brubc.ca
The Bike Co-Op is a great resource as well as a campus club. The Bike Kitchen is a community bike shop where you can work on your bike, get help with your bike and even buy used bikes. They also rent bikes, run workshops and trips. Ever see purple and yellow bikes around campus? Head into the kitchen and find out how you can ride them for free. www.bikecoop.ca
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Getting Involved - Clubs
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Varsity Outdoor Club
Chinese Varsity Club
Ski and Board
Aqua Society
The Varsity Outdoor Club is THE outdoor club to be part of. From first-timers to world-class climbers, skiers, hikers and paddlers, the VOC is the place to be. Every weekend the club runs several trips around BC; teaching, exploring and enjoying the outdoors. Free gear rental and instruction for members. www.ubc-voc.com
Party. Party. Party. Party. Ski. Party. Party. Ski. One of UBC’s biggest clubs, Ski and Board throws parties, ski and board between parties and organize the always exciting Undie Run. For those who want less partying and more skiing, the club also has North America’s best freeride team. www.ubcskiandboard.com
You definitely don’t have to be Chinese to join the CVC. While their name is somewhat of a mystery, the CVC bills themselves as a club with “diverse selection of social events, bringing students together in making the most out of their university experience.” Read: we throw some legendary parties. www.ubccvc.com
This club is a must checkout for divers and non-divers. They run a shop in the SUB. They train new and experienced divers. They run weekly dives and long trips over school breaks. It may be expensive but a membership gives you massive bang for your buck as it includes free air fills, halfpriced rentals and so much more. www.diveubc.com Clubs - Getting Involved
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Getting Involved
fraternities and sororities
Fraternities
www.ubcfraternities.com 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
www.ubcsororities.com Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Gamma Delta Alpha Omicron Pi Alpha Phi Delta Gamma Gamma Phi Beta Kappa Alpha Theta Kappa Kappa Gamma
16 Getting Involved
UBC is home to the biggest Greek organization in Canada. This means that if you walk past Thunderbird Stadium, you start to see an awful lot of people wearing weird letters on every item of their clothing. As an ex-sorority girl who is not blonde, blue-eyed and a svelte size 0, I can tell you that the Greek systems portrayed in classics such as Legally Blonde and House Bunny are only accurate some of the time. You will inevitably end up on the inside of a frat house, and it will be filled with disgustingly smelly, dirty and sweaty guys wearing too much cologne and hair gel. If you join a sorority, you
- Fraternities and Sororities
will inevitably become Facebook friends with girls who hashtag their Starbucks lattes with #fallingforfall and if you hear a screech of jealousy when you’re sitting in front of them in class it’s probably because their friend got lavaliered before them. But then, you’ll probably meet those people outside of the Greek system, too. The Greek system is also a fantastic way to meet smart, driven, capable, motivated people who will help you fly and catch you when you fall. My best advice is, don’t make a judgement based purely on the pop culture stereotypes – Greek life is so much more than that.
U So, what’s it like? Rushing and joining the fraternity was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in university. As cliché as it sounds, you meet so many driven, well-rounded people and build relationships and connections that last a lifetime.
- Steven Cao, Alpha Delta Phi
It gives you the chance to meet hundreds of people so there will never be a lack of familiar faces walking around campus, which makes UBC feel like home. There’s also never a lack of parties or events to attend so if you like staying busy, meeting people, and having fun I’d definitely recommend checking it out.
So far it’s been an amazing experience. I’ve had a great opportunity to meet all kinds of amazing people. I’ve also made new friends to study, hangout and, of course, party with.
- Simon Zhu, Psi Upsilon
- Katie Applebaum, Gamma Phi Beta
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Fraternities and Sororities - Getting Involved
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Getting Involved
varsity
Varsity sports at UBC may not be the most popular activity around, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth checking out. 29 teams, hundreds of athletes and one mascot: the Thunderbird. UBC athletes are some of the best in Canada and the
18 Getting Involved
- Varsity
world. UBC swimming just doesn’t lose and consistently sends athletes to the Olympics. UBC baseball just sent two pitchers to the MLB. Women’s softball is the only Canadian team in the NAIA. So yeah, varsity is a big deal. Plus, tickets are
dirt cheap, attendance is growing every year and this year promises to be a great one: athletically and atmospherically. So go enjoy some beers, screaming crowds and world-class athletics.
U Bang for your buck We weren’t kidding about the tickets being dirt cheap. All UBC students can get single game tickets for $2. To top that off, for $20 you can join the Blue Crew which will get you access to all 100+ UBC home games, a free t-shirt and more. www.GoThunderbirds.ca
BACK TO
SCHOOL
BONUS
FITNESS
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GOLDSGYMBC.CA | CSRUBC@GOLDSGYMBC.CA | 604.224.4699 Varsity - Getting Involved
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Getting Involved - Varsity
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UBC traditions
Ski and Board’s Undie Run
Leave it to the Ski and Board club to get naked and run around campus, and get away with it. Around exam time in term two, strip down, bare it all and run around campus in a naked, stress (and beer?) induced stupor screaming bloody murder just because you can.
Polar Plunge
Last year the party planning group on campus, The Calendar, held their annual polar plunge at Wreck Beach. Almost 400 people attended, stripping off books, bags, stress and, for some, clothes, on the to dive into the ice cold water and celebrate. This year’s event aims to be bigger and better than last year’s. Plus it’s free, so get naked and go swimming. You’ll only regret it a for little.
Storm the wall
Storm is the quintessential UBC event if you want to consider yourself a true Thunderbird. With a team or alone, run, bike, swim and then storm the 12-foot wall. In recent years the week-long event has grown to include fairs, concerts, beer gardens and a Pit after-party.
Day of the longboat Enjoy the last rays of sunshine in this early October UBC REC event. Grab a group of friends (or just random people from the dining hall) and get your bathing suits on. This is the biggest voyageur canoe race in the world so that’s pretty cool #humblebrag. Just don’t fall in! UBC Traditions - Getting Involved
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Friends and Family
tips on making friends
1
Everyone at university, especially first years, are looking to make friends. All you have to do is go out and meet people. It might be scary and hard but you won’t regret it.
2 Take your headphones out.
Join a club.
3
4
5
Knock on your neighbours’ door. Ask them to get a meal with you.
If you are invited somewhere, go. Worse case scenario you get free food and ditch.
Keep your door open.
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Introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you.
Offer people free food/ drinks. Oreos, beer and pizza always work well.
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Don’t be afraid to lose friends if they aren’t good ones. The people you meet during an orientation aren’t necessarily the same people you want to spend the next four years with.
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Be open. Who knows who you will become best friends or fall in love with. Keep an open mind and you’ll be sure to find some lifelong friends.
Friends and Family - Tips On Making Friends
Smile.
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Stay positive.
U relationships It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single student in want of good relationship advice should avoid asking
other university students because honestly, does anyone here actually know how these things are supposed to work? There’s no universal
Do Take the time to meet people. The university is home to thousands of people with very different interests and personalities. Figure out who you like to spend time with and what you want from your relationships. You just walked into the candy store. Don’t go straight for the peanut butter cups, you get them every damn time. Learn about yourself. You’re not perfect. Nobody will make that more clear to you than the person who has watched you shove an entire tablespoon of mayonnaise in your face without flinching. They might love you anyway but please stop eating mayonnaise like that.
formula. But we tried to write one so here’s a few helpful do’s and don’ts for maneuvering relationships in university.
Don’t Get too caught up. You’re young — there’s no need to rush to the wedding aisle. Heartbroken over unrequited love? Good. They did you a favour. Reevaluate your priorities. Love is for suckers and old people. Base your university relationships on what some hack said in an advice column. Don’t listen to this. Make your relationships yours. Fly solo for a while, have a long passionate love affair with your floor mate, go on that round-the-world trip with that guy you met on tinder that one time and make long distance work. Whatever you do, feel good about it and make it yours. You can’t expect healthy relationships with others when you don’t respect and love yourself. Being comfortable and happy in your own skin is essential. I think way too many people rush into dating without thinking just because they’re feeling the first year blues and loneliness.
- Eunice Choi Relationships - Friends and Family
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Friends and Family
family For most UBC students, university is the first time they are living on their own. And it’s really hard. Whether you are living in a dorm, in an apartment or even at home, learning how to deal (and not deal) with your family is an important an useful skill. First of all, say thank you. Your family is
probably part of the reason you made it to university and how you are paying for it. And if they aren’t, good for you, welcome to adulthood. Secondly, keep in touch. Parents may be annoying, overbearing and always pissed at you but keep in mind they made it to adulthood; they know their shit. So
listen to them. Ask for their advice (and listen to it, occasionally), say hi when you are feeling homesick or lonely (which you will). And finally, give yourself some space. Learning isn’t all about reading textbooks. Go out, make mistakes and then ask your family how to fix them and not make the same mistakes again.
feeling homesick?
then go outside.
Did you leave the house today?
no
S
o n
YE S
Are you staying healthy by getting sleep and exercise?
Nothing is working?
Sometimes there isn’t much we can do to tackle homesickness. Everyone has different ways to cope, but when it gets too difficult remember to talk to friends or seek help from our student services (see page 11).
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Well, then go exercise.
Being healthy on the outside actually does a lot on the inside too. Opt for a chicken salad instead of fried chicken, or go for a jog (see page 50 and 52).
Friends and Family - Family
YE
no
Make plans and have a fun time with friends or do some light studying in the great outdoors, relaxing will do you some good.
YES
Have you contacted your family lately?
Give them a call.
If you’re feeling homesick and you haven’t contacted your family, then the obvious solution would be to call them. Talking with the people you miss will help relieve the stress that comes with homesickness.
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Vancouver
the vancouver area So you’ve just got to Vancouver from Calgary, Toronto, Halifax, Ouagadougou. Vancouver isn’t the easiest place to get to know – as cities go, it’s pretty spread out, and has huge swaths of residential areas that frankly aren’t as interesting as some of the city’s other hidden gems. (Thank you, stupidly high housing prices). Lucky for you, our editors have been here for a while. This is the breakdown of Vancouver areas:
Yaletown
Yuppies. So many yuppies. If you’re a hip late 20s - early 30s in Vancouver then this is probably where you live and work. Expensive restaurants, boutique clothing shops and easy access to the Seawall is what makes this part of the city so popular.
Kitsilano
Kits is where the Vancouvery 20-somethings hide. 4th Avenue is the heart of this area; close to Alma is where the old hippies who you only ever really see at the Folk Fest live, head farther east and you get into Lululemon territory. Juice bars, weirdly expensive shoe shops, organic food markets and vegan coffee shops abound in this part of the city.
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Vancouver - The Vancouver Area
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Point Grey/Dunbar
As soon as you leave UBC you’re in Point Grey; go south of 16th and welcome to Dunbar. These are mostly residential areas – apparently they used to be cool, grungy middle- and working-class areas, but then the Vancouver housing market happened and now tell someone you’re from Point Grey/Dunbar and they ask how that yacht’s working out for you. The best things about these areas are their proximity to UBC, and the fact that they’re both bursting with sushi joints just a hop-skip-and-a-jump away from your dorm room.
The Vancouver Area - Vancouver
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Vancouver
Commercial Drive
Hipster haven in Vancouver. The East Side has a strong cultural identity in Vancouver and Commercial Drive is the centre of this. There are a lot of record shops, Italian-style cafĂŠs, and bars for late-night drinks.
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Vancouver - The Vancouver Area
U Downtown Daytime: shopping. Robson, Granville and Pacific Centre mall are the two best spots for these. Nighttime: typical clubby clubs. Loud music, guys with too much hair gel and cologne, girls wearing heels that look like a form of torture from the Middle Ages.
PHOTO COURTESY GOTOVAN/FLICKR
Gastown
This is where Vancouver starts to get interesting. Get here quick while it’s still just the right level of grungy before the gentrification takes over – there are a plethora of awesome coffee shops, donut joints, brunch pads, bookshops, street art murals. It’s also a great place for going out at night.
2015—2016 SEASON theatrefilm.ubc.ca
The Vancouver Area - Vancouver
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Vancouver
Beaches be peachy Wreck Beach is conveniently close to campus and, when it’s not forest fire season, excellent for sunset viewing and bonfires. Kits Beach and Second Beach are great spots for days when you don’t want to get off your beach towel or for watching the fireworks, Jericho is the best spot for windsurfing or sailing. The best beaches are the ones you find by exploring – don’t hesitate to take that almost-hidden staircase, you might just find your new favourite getaway spot.
Hiking
Vancouver is a hiker’s paradise. There are plenty of great trails within a quick public transit ride from campus. Drive a little further out of town and you get to experience the majesty of some of the West Coast’s most iconic trails. There are too many to list here, but a quick google search should be enough to give you the adventure bug.
science world
Even if you are the most hardcore of all Arts kids, Science World (or Telus World of Science as some non-locals like to call it) is freaking AWESOME. They always have interesting and interactive exhibits on, and even just the regular shows make for a fantastic rainy day if you feel like becoming a child again and not having a tsunami of midterms.
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Vancouver - Things To Do
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things to do in vancouver Explore history
Another great must-visit destination in Vancouver, also conveniently on campus, is the MOA (Museum of Anthropology) located at NW Marine Drive (check our map on page 12). They’re usually open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the entrance fee is free for UBC students.
chancentre.com
A Sound Experience. Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club® • OCT 1 SOLD OUT Paco Peña • OCT 24 Youssou N'Dour • NOV 10 Carminho and Sara Tavares • NOV 21 Branford Marsalis • FEB 13 Dee Dee Bridgewater and Irvin Mayfield with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra • FEB 27 Anoushka Shankar • APR 8 Arlo Guthrie • APR 21 Cécile McLorin Salvant • MAY 1
More info at chancentre.com/students
$15 Student Tickets!
Visit chancentre.com/students
Things To Do - Vancouver
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Vancouver
foodie hotspots
•
Since printing a full list of all the great eateries in Vancouver would make us go bankrupt, we decided to include just a few of our favourites here.
•
Local • Burdock & Co Main Street • Wildebeest West Hasting Street • Meat & Bread Cambie Street • The Crab Shop Dollarton Hwy • Farmer’s Apprentice Restaurant West 6th Avenue • Go Fish West 1st Avenue • Nelson the Seagull Carrall Street • Dark Table West 4th Avenue • The Fish Counter Main Street • EXP Restaurant + Bar West Pender Street • Medina Cafe Richards Street
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Bistro Wagon Rouge Powell Street Simpatico Ristorante West 4th Avenue The Irish Heather Carrall Street
•
Asian • Japadog Various Locations • Fraser Court Seafood Restaurant Fraser Street • New Town Bakery & Restaurant East Pender Street • Au Petit Café Main Street • Shirakawa Water Street • Jinya Ramen Bar Robson Street • Marutama Ra-men Bidwell Street • Spaghetei Robson Street • Sura Korean Royal Cuisine Restaurant Vancouver Robson Street • Pink Elephant Thai Alberni Street • Legendary Noodle Denman Street • Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Various Locations • Gyoza King Robson Street • Vij’s Rangoli West 11th Avenue • Nuba Various Locations
•
•
European • Bestie East Pender Street • Les Faux Bourgeois East 15th Ave • Stepho’s Souvlaki Greek Taverna Davie Street Pan American • Cafe Il Nido Thurlow • Save On Meats West Street Hasting Street • The Fat Badger • La Belle Patate Davie Alberni Street Street • Bufala Pizza West • The Flying Pig Various Boulevard Locations • Au Comptoir West 4th Avenue Vancouver - Foodie Hotspots
• •
The Red Wagon Cafe East Hastings Street Memphis Blues Barbecue House Various Locations The Mexican Granville Street Tacofino Various Locations
African • Fassil Ethiopian Restaurant East Broadway • Simba’s Grill Denman Street Coffee & Desserts • Matchstick Coffee Roasters East Georgia Street • Caffè Artigiano Various Locations • Nero Belgian Waffle Bar Robson Street • Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Cafe Alberni Street • Lee’s Donuts Of Granville Island Johnston Street • Beta5 Chocolates Industrial Avenue • Bel Café West Georgia Street • Musette Caffe Burrard Street • Faubourg West 41st Avenue • Thomas Haas Patisserie Harbourside Drive • Temper Marine Drive • La Casa Gelato Venables Street • Cheesecake Etc Granville Street • Earnest Ice Cream Fraser Street • Soft Peaks Ice Cream Alexander Street
U Note: These aren’t necessarily the absolute cheapest places per calorie in Vancouver. Take these as recommendations from a group of locals who don’t get paid nearly enough to waste money on bad food.
cheap eats Sal Y Limon
Duffin’s Donuts
Bon Cafe
Fire Pizza
Kingsway Street If you’re in the mood for Mexican, skip Chipotle. Sal Y Limon’s $2.25 soft tacos are pretty much all fantastic and well worth it if you have to line up for five minutes.
Main Street This little Main Street Vietnamese café has a homey vibe and some of the best spring rolls in the city. Pretty average ‘cheap pho place’ prices, but the relaxed atmosphere and excellent service make it special.
East 41st Avenue Duffin’s sells more than just donuts. They sling a variety of super cheap Chinese and Vietnamese food, as well as fried chicken, 24 hours a day.
Commercial Drive This family-run Commercial Drive joint keeps them packed in, boasting a $4.50 two-slice-and-a-drink special that always hits the spot.
Elwood’s
West Broadway One of the more popular student bars on W Broadway. Their daily specials are all really good deals, including 33 cent wings on Tuesdays and $5.50 steak and fries on Sundays. Sure, it feels like eating in your friend’s basement, but that’s part of the charm.
10% OFF WITH YOUR USED SOCCER OR RUGBY CLEATS. HELP ATHLETES IN NEED! 2862 W4th Ave @ MacDonald Vancouver BC Sportopolis.ca 604-732-1564
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Rugby * Soccer Volleyball * Yoga Training * More Gear & Apparel Cheap Eats - Vancouver
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FRIDAY SEPT 11 COFFEE FOR COMMUTERS Bus Loop 8:30 - 10:30AM LIVE AT LUNCH The Nest 12 - 2PM
THURSDAY SEPT 10 COFFEE FOR COMMUTERS Bus Loop 8:30 - 10:30AM LIVE AT LUNCH The Nest 12 - 2PM OUTDOOR YOGA Main Mall 12PM ULTIMATE PAINT PARTY The Great Hall 9PM - 1AM BICYCLE BEACH CRAWL Bike Kitchen 5PM
WEDNESDAY SEPT 9
COFFEE FOR COMMUTERS Bus Loop 8:30 - 10:30AM
LIVE AT LUNCH The Nest 12 - 2PM
FACULTY WIDE EVENT The Nest 12PM
PIT NIGHT The Pit 7PM
SPLASH POOL PARTY Aquatic Centre 9PM - 12AM
TUESDAY SEPT 8
BLUE WAVE Bus Loop 8:30 - 10:30AM
LIVE AT LUNCH The Nest 12 - 2PM
IMAGINE DAY Main Mall 1 - 5PM
COMEDY SHOW The Great Hall 7PM
Vancouver
WWW.AMSFIRSTWEEK.COM
9PM - 2AM
The Pit/Fortune Sound Club
AMS WELCOME BACK BBQ AFTER PARTY
AMS WELCOME BACK BBQ 6190 Agronomy Road 2:30 - 9:30 PM
OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT Totem and Vanier 8PM
EXTREME MAKEOVER: DORM EDITION Bed Bath and Beyond 11AM + 3PM
AMS FAIR AT REZ Totem & Vanier 1PM - 5PM
AMS FAIR AT REZ Totem & Vanier 1PM - 5PM
There’s nothing like your first week
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SEPT 5 - 18, 2015
MONDAY SEPT 7
SUNDAY SEPT 6
SATURDAY SEPT 5
U
PANCAKE BREAKFAST Agora 8:30 - 10:30PM LIVE AT LUNCH The Nest 12 - 2PM
PANCAKE BREAKFAST Agora 8:30 - 10:30PM
LIVE AT LUNCH The Nest 12 - 2PM
IMPROV SHOW Place Vanier 7PM
PIT NIGHT The Pit 8PM
PANCAKE BREAKFAST Agora 8:30 - 10:30PM
LIVE AT LUNCH The Nest 12 - 2PM
IMPROV SHOW Totem Ballroom 7PM
ULTIMATE TRIVIA NIGHT The Pit 7PM
OPEN MIC The Pit 9PM
IMPROV SHOW Gage Ballroom 7PM
THURSDAY SEPT 17
WEDNESDAY SEPT 16
TUESDAY SEPT 15
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WWW.AMSFIRSTWEEK.COM
FARMADE The UBC Farm 3 - 10PM
LIVE AT LUNCH The Nest 12 - 2PM
PANCAKE BREAKFAST Agora 8:30 - 10:30AM
FRIDAY SEPT 18
KARAOKE AT THE PIT The Pit 8PM
HOMECOMING AFTER PARTY The Pit 8PM - 2AM
PANCAKE BREAKFAST Agora 8:30 - 10:30PM LIVE AT LUNCH The Nest 12 - 2PM
SHINE DAY The Nest All Day
PRE-HOMECOMING The Nest 1 - 3:30PM
MONDAY SEPT 14
HOMECOMING Thunderbird Stadium 5 - 8PM
SUNDAY SEPT 13
SATURDAY SEPT 12
U
U
Vancouver
raincouver Despite having gorgeous summers, Vancouver is also famous for having long months of rain (especially during the
Waterproof Backpack
Backpacks hold our most important belongings, but they often escape the protection of our umbrella.
extra umbrella
Nobody checks the weather report everyday, bring an extra umbrella just in case.
Plastic Bags
Super helpful for protecting your items and putting your wet umbrella in.
Umbrella
A cheap one will do, there’s a good chance you’ll lose it anyways.
36
Vancouver - Raincouver
first semester, don’t be fooled). In extreme cases, it may be sunny, raining, hailing and snowing all in one day. But fear not! We have you covered
with the essential gear and tips from seasoned experts who have already suffered through the year. Waterproof yourself. Plastic bag the shit out of your textbooks or else you’ll be paying for your rental books. That’s from my experience, evident with an introduction to Latin textbook I’m stuck with.
- Maegan Poblacion Get rain boots! You’ll hear it time and time again but nothing ruins your day more than soggy feet.
- Katie Applebaum
Waterproof jacket
It doesn’t have to be a $500 professional jacket. Just make sure it’s actually waterproof (not “water resistant”).
Rain boots
There’s nothing more satisfying than walking through puddles and coming out fully dry.
UBC OPERA! 2015–2016 OPERA SEASON
OPERA! IT’S NOT AS SCARY AS YOU THINK. All performances with English surtitles. UBC STUDENT TICKETS ONLY $15!
Manon JULES MASSENET
Nov 5, 6, 7 // 7:30 pm Nov 8 // 2:00 pm OLD AUDITORIUM
A Night in Venice
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
JOHANN STRAUSS II
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
Feb 4, 5, 6 // 7:30 pm Feb 7 // 2:00 pm
June 23, 24, 25 // 7:30 pm June 26 // 2:00 pm
CHAN CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
OLD AUDITORIUM
Opera productions made possible with the assistance of The David Spencer Endowment Encouragement Fund and The Chan Endowment Fund of the University of British Columbia
U
Vancouver
How does the Compass Card work? 1.
Pick up a Compass Card from the U-Pass machine. 2. Go to upassbc. translink.ca and select UBC. 3. Enter your CWL login and password when redirected. 4. Request for your benefit (it takes 24 hours to activate so do it before the month ends). Make sure to tap in when you get in the bus. If you lose your card, you can get a replacement for $6 at the StadiumChinatown Station.
transit
Despite the amount of hate piled up on TransLink, we’ve been told that our city boasts an excellent transit system (a score of 78 on walkscore.com). But it’s not only the busses and SkyTrains that make up a good transit system, people are a part of it too, and preferably people who know the unspoken transit rules: • Check both ways before crossing the street in the bus loop. An extremely busy area with many busses driving around plus a student looking at their phone is a very bad combination. • Know where you’re standing. Being in front of the exit, leaning on the poles or standing on the small rotating platform in the middle of the bus are all poor choices. • Respect personal space. Similar to the rules that apply when choosing a urinal, don’t sit beside someone on the bus unless it’s inevitable. If you do find yourself in this predicament, then try to maintain a gap between you and them. I know, we humans are strange and awkward creatures. • Try to make room if possible. For students, this usually involves taking off our textbook-filled backpacks and placing them on the floor. • Don’t block the window seat. Helping a fellow commuter avoid the wrath of gravity is much appreciated.
how to be a commuter
25,457 students commute to school 7,067 live on campus
78%
of undergraduates commute to school
38 Vancouver
- Transit
U UBC BUS LOOP MAP BAY 1 258 West Vancouver BAY 2 44 Downtown BAY 3 84 VCC-Clark Station BAY 4 Unloading BAY 6 99 B-Line BAY 7 49 Metrotown Station BAY 8 43 Joyce Station BAY 9 41 Joyce Station
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BAY 10 33 29th Avenue Station BAY 11 25 Brentwood Station BAY 12 4 Powell BAY 13 14 Hastings BAY 14 9 Boundary N17 Downtown Night Bus BAY 15 C18 West Mall C19 Alma C20 Marine Drive
7 6
8 3
9 10
4
2
11
1 1A
14 13 12
transit tip
Every bus stop has a 5 digit number on the bus sign. If you text that 5 digit number to 333-33 it will tell you when the next bus will arrive.
Don’t Fall Asleep
Sleeping is tempting, but it will literally suck the energy out of your already lifeless body. If you can avoid it, don’t sleep.
Live on campus
Sometimes living on campus, or near campus, is the only option left (highly recommended for those who commute for 2+ hours each way).
Find Something to do
Whether it be reading a book, studying (if possible) or playing Candy Crush, find something that will energize and help you stay awake during your long commute.
Fix your timetable
If you value your sanity, do not schedule your timetable so that you commute during peak hours (around 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.). Transit - Vancouver
39
U
Parties and Booze
alcoholic mixes and favourites
You’re probably going to drink a lot of nasty alcoholic ‘delicacies’ during your 4+ years at UBC. Frat party beer and cheap vodka aside, there are so many ways to make drinking classy, trashy and everything in between. But remember, if drinking isn’t your thing, don’t worry about it. You can still make friends and hang out with your floor mates/classmates, and your liver will definitely thank you for it.
Vodka Tip from the pros: cheap vodka tastes better if you freeze it first. If that doesn’t work, then try spiking your milkshake with vodka. Nutella Vodka Milkshake (For 2): • 1/3 cup of Nutella • 3/4 cup of milk • 3 1/2 cups of vanilla icecream • 5 oz of vodka Mix with blender and enjoy!
Jello Shots Jello shots are a sure fire way of bonding with your new floor mates. You’ll need: • 1 box of Jell-O powder • 1 cup of boiling water • 1 cup of alcohol Dissolve the Jell-O powder in hot water and then add alcohol. You can also experiment by making layered or orange slice shots.
A World of Music to Explore on Campus
Symphony, band, choir, opera, chamber music, jazz, world music and more! Tickets range from FREE to $15 for UBC Students.
UBC School of Music 40 Parties and Booze
- Alcoholic Mixes and Favourites
www.music.ubc.ca
U words of wisdom
First year can be quite daunting. There will be new friends, a whole different academic system and, of course, many more parties to go to. Although it’s tempting to dive in head first, there are some decisions that are better made when sober. Plan ahead with some tips from your panel gurus. Avoid hangovers by not drinking on an empty stomach. Make sure you drink lots of water and don’t drink and smoke at the same time.
- Simon Zhu
Pre-Party Checklist Cash (for emergency taxi or club entrance fees) Bring a jacket and dress accordingly Bring condoms (if you plan on having sex) Charge your phone Take a shower Brush your teeth (and bring some mints)
My main piece of advice would be to not bring too much stuff, the essentials and that’s it. If you can handle it, consider leaving your phone at home because it really sucks waking up the next morning and realizing you’ve lost it.
- Alanna Toth
Don’t bring anything you don’t wanna lose! If you bring a jacket hide it outside or get a friend to keep it in their room. The mixed drinks are never that strong and kegs run out fast so pack an SOS beer (or two). Keep an eye out for your friends and make sure everyone’s good before you leave (no man gets left behind)!
- Katie Applebaum
Words of Wisdom - Parties and Booze
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U
Parties and Booze
drugs
There’s a reason people do drugs. They’re really fun. And university can be the perfect storm to facilitate your introduction to them: you’ll be surrounded by young people, have access to parties almost constantly, and you might be getting your first real
taste of independence. We’re certainly not going to tell you not to do them, but it’s always a good idea to be aware of any risks involved. A great place to start is erowid.org, a non-profit site that hasn’t updated its look since approximately 1994, but is bursting at
the seams with everything you need to know about any recreational drug, laid out in a nonbiased, digestible way. But since you’re already here, why don’t we tell you about the four most common drugs you might encounter at university?
Marijuana Weed is a depressant that can induce giddiness, relaxation and an overall pleasant feeling. It’s not technically addictive, but like a really good cheesecake shop that opened next door, it can definitely be habit-forming.
Adderall Did a doctor prescribe it to you? If the answer’s no, it’s probably a good idea to stay away from this one. Yes, it will make you focus. Your room will be so god damned clean by the time it wears off. But the downsides (paranoia, heart palpitations, insomnia, scary potential for addiction) almost definitely outweigh the slightly higher grade you might get on that exam.
MDMA “Whoa, my face is soft.” MDMA will make you feel a deep emotional connection and intense feelings of happiness toward your fellow human beings. Testing kits are available cheaply online, and it’s a really good idea to use them – ecstasy pills sold on the street can contain little to no MDMA at all. You might want to do it again really soon. Don’t. Your body needs time to recharge.
Cocaine Coke is a stimulant, usually snorted, that hits quickly and leaves oh so soon afterward. The risk, of course, is that your heart will crap out. Cocaine is highly addictive, and though withdrawal usually isn’t fatal, it can give you a neat variety of symptoms like suicidal thoughts, loss of sex drive, insomnia or excessive sleep, dizziness, shaking and depression.
42 Parties and Booze
- Drugs
U sex consent
have fun, you crazy kids
The first thing on the list for a reason; sexual assault is all too common at universities, so make sure there’s an enthusiastic “yes” from both parties before anything happens. Remember, a “yes” isn’t the same as the absence of a “no.”
University is often the time when people let loose and find out exactly how they like to tango (read: fuck). The important thing is to only do what you feel comfortable with. Feel like screwing everything that moves? If it’s cool with them, go for it. Want to wait for marriage? Neato. Judging people for their sexual preferences is so 2000.
Protection
Resources
Just use it. You probably don’t want a pregnancy and you definitely don’t want an STI, so make sure you really consider what’s important before you get down to business.
Don’t take our word for it. UBC is home to some great resources for sexual education, like the Wellness Centre on the bottom floor of Irving K. Barber. Drop in for some free knowledge (and free condoms).
MARIA EICHHORN SEPTEMBER 11- DECEMBER 13, 2015
Sex - Parties and Booze
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U
On Campus
fashion
warehouse sales
Every year stores like Aritizia, Oak + Fort and Plenty hold warehouse sales to clear out inventory. Stay updated on social media for the dates and get ready for some long lineups. the sub Wait, isn’t the SUB for food? Nope. Every so often local vendors come by selling clothes, phone accessories, specialty foods and more.
downtown
mainstreet
The heart of Vancouver with basically everything: food, high-end brands, cheap stores and more. Check out page 37 for the transit information. It’s only one bus away from UBC. online
Plenty of consignment stores like Turnabout, C’est La Vie and Front & Company can be found here and are known for giving great deals on vintage and modern clothing (tip: some of them also have e-commerce sites).
Many Vancouver brands are available online (and have special online sales too). There are also numerous UBC buy and sell groups on Facebook that give you good deals on lightly worn clothes.
metrotown The previously second (now third) largest mall in Canada with almost 400 global and local stores for you to choose from.
A T S OHO N AIL BOUTIQUE, WE ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE YOUR VISIT A DREAMY AND UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
V ISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT S OHO REWARDS POINTS AND OUR CURRENT PROMOTIONS @ SOHO_ NAIL_ BOUTIQUE
SOHO NAIL BOUTIQUE
FIND US ON
BOOK APPOINTMENT ONLINE OR CALL US TODAY ! 2868 W EST B ROADWAY V ANCOUVER , BC V 6 K 2 G 7
44 On Campus
- Fashion
604.336.6877
WWW.SOHONAILBOUTIQUE.COM
U essential apps Evernote
This is one essential app if you take notes in class. You can type notes, add photos, record audio and attach files with this app, which can also send you reminders – essential for organization.
Dropbox
Dropbox is useful for when you have to print a paper in an emergency, access work on a friend’s laptop or share presentations and files between group members. It’s essential to backup files between devices. Although other alternatives are available, Dropbox is generally a reliable tool.
Google Drive
On a similar note to Dropbox, Google Drive gives you 15 GB of free storage for notes and things – easily enough for a semester’s worth of papers and research.
Mint
Mint is a website and app to help you keep track of your spending and earning throughout the semester. For many students, this is the first time you’ll be totally independent with your money, and it’s no fun blowing all your money week one and having to struggle through the rest of the month.
Fitness
The freshman 15 is a very real thing, but it’s so easy to avoid. By downloading a simple meal tracking app, or one to monitor your exercises, you can halt this inevitable decline into “dad-bod.” Apps such as the 7 Minute Workout, MyFitnessPal and Strava will keep you on track, or at least aware, of your healthy eating and exercise habits (or lack thereof.)
RefMe
The most tedious and time consuming part of papers is often the referencing page. It’s boring to do, and easy to screw up. With RefMe, you can often take a scan of the book or journal’s barcode and it will do all the formatting for you.
Essential Apps - On Campus
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The Nest’s very own rooftop restaurant serving local & sustainable modern Canadian cuisine. UBC students through AMS programs & services. Visit us in the Nest! | perchrestaurant.com
U spiritual services Keeping in touch with your spiritual beliefs and practices can be a great way to stay grounded during your first year. There are plenty of resources on campus to help keep you involved with your spiritual community. A chaplain is someone who represents a specific faith; at UBC there is a chaplain for many different religious demographics. The multifaith chaplain association is here to help members of the UBC community
engage with whatever faith they’re in, find them in Brock Hall 1262. There are also numerous organizations run by students like you to help other students keep in touch with their faith. Many clubs on campus have to do with the many branches of Christianity. You can find everything from Ambassadors for Jesus to Food and Faith. Student run organizations also reach out to students practicing Baha’i, Falfun Dafa, Ismaili, Muslim and many
other faiths. Find all the information on the AMS’s website under “big list of clubs.” If you would rather dip a toe in instead of joining a club right away, stay in your dorm room and start communicating on the Healthy Minds Blog! There’s a whole spiritual section where you can learn more about what it means to spiritual at university. For those of you who aren’t religious but consider yourself spiritual, join the UBC yoga club to maintain your inner Zen.
Spiritual Services - On Campus
47
U
On Campus
Note: These aren’t necessarily the absolute cheapest places per calorie at UBC. Take these as recommendations from a group of people who spend way, way too many hours on campus to not know the best places to grab a bite.
cheap eats Triple O Tuesdays
Main Mall Get a regular White Spot burger for $3.33 every Tuesday.
Sprouts Community Eats SUB If you bring your own container, the little vegan eatery will give you a tasty lunch on Friday, by donation. Also home to the cheapest coffee on campus at $0.75/cup every day.
Fresh Slice $1.25 Tuesdays
The Village Hey, $1.25 for a slice of soggy pizza is better than $1.79 for a slice of soggy pizza.
Flipside burger
The Nest $4.95 for this burger is definitely worth it. Patties and buns are made fresh and never frozen, and the whole thing is more than enough to fill you up.
THE BOOK WITH ALL THE ANSWERS download it for free at
www.ubcpress.ca/OnCampus also available at the UBC Bookstore
48 On Campus
- Cheap Eats
U
On Campus
5 dorm-must haves •
•
Command strips – These are awesome for extra storage, hanging lights, mirrors or photos, and they don’t violate residence regulations. Good quality headphones – Sometimes you just need some silence.
•
• •
Kettle – For tea/ coffee/lemon and ramen when the cafeteria is too far away. Flip flops – Shared showers will get gross. An actual laundry basket – It’s a little embarrassing to drop your underwear on the way back to your room.
University Blvd. (10th Ave)
Allison Rd.
Western Parkway
N
Dalhousie Road
University Marketplace 2135 Allison Road, Phone: 604-221-4780
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On Campus - 5 Dorm Must-haves
Remember, your room is your space. It’s tiring being around people all day every day, and however you end up decorating your room, make sure it’s a place you want to spend time in. Definitely have bug spray and a kettle for making instant noodles and other delicious snacks.
- Eunice Choi
U finding the perfect roomie
One of the toughest things to maneuver now
that you’ve moved out from home is finding that one person you truly love and care for. That one person who understands you better than you
understand yourself. You know, your roommate. Here are a few helpful tips for finding that one true someone:
Friends
Living with friends is like riding a bike without holding the handlebars. It’s incredibly freeing and fun but there is always the potential for complete disaster. Wear a helmet.
Friends of Friends
Friends of friends are usually a safe bet when trying to find someone to live with. As long as your friend is reliable enough to give you a good recommendation, you’re almost guaranteed to end up with people who you will get along with. Put up a posting on Facebook and get your friends to share it!
Craigslist
Asking for roommates on Craigslist, or following up with someone who is asking for roommates on Craigslist, is probably the least work of any of these options. It’s like playing roommate roulette. You never know what you’re going to get! Good luck and happy hunting.
I think communication is the most important thing when dealing with roommates. Let them know what you’re okay with, and what you’re not, (like the amount of mess) right off the bat, and things will run smoothly. If something they do bugs you, just gently let them know! Asking nicely works wonders.
- Alanna Toth
If you do something wrong buy them their favorite food.
- Katie Applebaum Finding The Perfect Roomie - On Campus
51
U
Health
avoiding the freshman 15
“The Freshman 15”: a phrase oft-heard by those entering university for the first time. 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. It can be difficult to maintain a healthy diet when you’re forced to eat in a cafeteria next to where you live. 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. Some days you’ll be tempted to blow your budget on ice cream sandwiches and poutine. That’s totally
Freshman 15 can sometimes be pretty tough to ward off, but try to find time whenever you can for a quick workout, even if it’s just 15 minutes. Aim to choose the healthy options most of the time, but remember to treat yourself too!
- Alanna Toth
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Health - Avoiding The Freshman 15
fine on rare occasions, but make sure to eat normal meals with protein, grains and veggies most of the time. 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). Also make sure to get regular exercise and all that jazz. Not sure where to start?
LAY OFF THE ALCOHOL AND LATE NIGHT SNACKS, SERIOUSLY. The gym and UBC Recreation Centre have nice deals. I know tons of people who have also joined clubs such as the yoga club.
- Eunice Choi
This is where it’s all happening.
U
Health
exercising The BirdCoop costs just $60/year ($7.50/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, including two squat racks, free weights, benches, treadmills, bikes, machines and a climbing cave. However, its popularity also means it’s really busy, so try to go in the morning or before closing to avoid the midday and 5:00 rushes as students get out of classes. 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 for a convenient pre- or post-workout dip, which are also free for students.
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. If that’s all you need, they’re perfect. Gold’s Gym, in the University Village, boasts the finest equipment around, and is definitely the most elite gym near UBC, including two squat racks, a selection of flat benches, incline benches, a wide selection of free weights, machines, treadmills and a studio that holds regular classes that are included in your membership. Prices vary, but expect to pay $40-$60/ month on top of initial membership fees (and no, you can’t check the prices online, you have to talk to a salesman).
I exercise on campus by going to the BirdCoop, a semester pass is only $30! The only problem is that it’s pretty packed most of the time, so you’ll have to time it well. If you’re aiming to do cardio, a run on campus is always a gorgeous option, adding in Wreck Beach stairs is a great idea too!
- Alanna Toth
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Health - Exercising
U how to find a job One of the most important things in your job hunt is your resume! Let’s go back to the basics. One: have multiple people proofread. Making sure everything is spelled correctly and is grammatically proficient should be priority number one. Two: Keep it short. The UBC Tri-Mentoring program, which teaches students professional skills, has participants revise their resumes and points are deducted if you
go over two pages. Keep everything concise! Also, space points out since employers like quite a bit of white space. Three: Keep it organized. The styles and formats you use should be consistent throughout. Once you’ve got your resume enveloped, your handshake perfected and you’re in your professional clothes, begin looking for places that are hiring! Students. ubc.ca/careers is the ideal place for students to start looking, it really let’s you narrow your search.
Also get out there in person and visit the UBC Centre for Involvement and Careers. These people are there to connect you to the job you want, so take advantage of their services even when you’re not necessarily looking for a job. They’re constantly running workshops about interview prep and networking. Speaking of networking … join linkedin.com! This is a platform that let’s you reach out to professionals, and it could be the perfect way to learn about what places are looking.
For finding jobs, I would use the resources available to you in the undergraduate office. It’s their job to help students place well and it is to the benefit of the school if they do. So your goals are aligned.
- Dr. Karl Aquino
Resume troubles?
Having a hard time writing your resume? Lucky for you, we live in an age where resume-making websites, like www.cvmkr.com and www. livecareer.com, are plentiful. But, of course, classic Microsoft Word templates work just as well. Just never, ever use Comic Sans. How To Find A Job - Finance
55
U
Finance
Reference Letters Reference letters are most effective when they come from someone who knows you well and really supports what you’re trying to accomplish – yet another reason to seek out human contact during your time at UBC.
- Dr. Fenn Stewart If you want strong reference letters, the best thing to do is get to know your professors personally. Stop by their office hours, find out how you can get involved in their research, be proactive in class. Professors teach thousands of students. They only remember distinctly those few who showed initiative, shared things about themselves and were interested in more than just what grade they got in class.
- Dr. Karl Aquino
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Finance - Cover Letters
cover letters
Considering that you’ve just arrived at UBC, you probably had to gather some letters of recommendation in the last little while. You will be facing this task again and again in the next few years but the good news is, we’ve got some tips! First of all, ease into it. Start with the easy stuff; write out your name, position, and how long you (the candidate) have been known by the recommender. Maintain that simplicity, it should be easy to understand why you’re providing the info that you are. Move on to relevant experience, and even if you have experience that you don’t think is super relevant, try to think about what skills
may overlap. Applying for an architecture internship? They might be impressed to hear about your experience in theatre, since creativity is needed in both places. Include a brief outline of outstanding personal qualities, like team player, organized, attentive, etcetera. Don’t go overboard with these; anyone can write out a list of qualities that they think they have, but if you pick two or three specific traits it shows you’ve actually put some thought into it. Wrap it up on a more personal note: explain from the specific person’s view why they would be a good candidate.
U money advice
You just received your first student loan installment and all of the sudden you feel like JD Rockefeller. Except you’re not JD Rockefeller and 5 per cent fixed interest rates are a real thing and cell phones cost money and since when is cheese so damn expensive, mom? It’s time to learn a nifty little trick called budgeting. It’s a big concept but you’ll get it, with a little practice. Lets start with some basics: •
Locate your biggest expenditures. Do you buy coffee every day?
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That innocent $2 on coffee a day totals $730 a year. Seek alternatives. Buy a second hand coffee maker and some fresh grounds. Splurge on a nice mug with all your well-earned savings. Buy textbooks used. Many of your books are also available in the library for temporary borrowing (or online for download, legally of course). Use the discounted student services available around campus. There’s plenty of budget friendly ways to save if you look around.
I always try to buy my textbooks from other students! A quick check of Facebook groups usually has pretty promising results. There’s also a discount bookstore in the village that has new and used textbooks for cheaper prices than the UBC bookstore.
- Alanna Toth
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IKEA, all hail IKEA. Daiso, this Japanese department store has two floors of everything you can think of (utensils, travel gear, school supplies and more). Oh, and every single thing is $2 each. Online, Amazon, Craigslist and Thriftbooks.com are great places to find cheap (or sometimes free) stuff like furniture, textbooks and what not. Vancouver Flea Market, it’ll take some time but there are many hidden gems waiting to be found. Costco, best place for buying items in bulk. You were going to eat 20 Twix bars anyways so why not buy them all now for cheap? No Frills, another place with great deals on groceries (in case you didn’t want 10 years’ worth of mayo from Costco). Groupon, the go-to website for hefty discounts on fancy dinners and adventurous outings. Money Advice - Finance
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The List
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things to do at ubc before you graduate
Find The Ubyssey office 2. Beat an editor at Smash Bros. in The Ubyssey’s office 3. Write for The Ubyssey 4. Name a squirrel 5. Fight a squirrel 6. Take a nap at the UBC Aquatic Centre 7. Swim in the fountain 8. Piss in the fountain (order of 7 and 8 is important) 9. Get drunk on Wreck Beach 10. Get naked on Wreck Beach 11. Make fun of a Sauderite’s suit 12. Awkwardly pose in front of a chalkboard Piper with Gupta while wearing a leather jacket 1.
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The List
13. Complain about first years 14. Victory Lap 15. Write a paper hammered 16. Show up to an 8:00 a.m. class too hungover to function 17. Shotgun a beer 18. Shotgun a beer while taking a test 19. Pass the test 20. Triple O Tuesday. Every Tuesday. 21. Miss a final 22. Miss a midterm 23. Try every single dish at the Totem/Vanier cafeteria 24. Be labeled an eco terrorist by an elderly nudist 25. Get threatened to be expelled by an elderly nudist
26. Change your major 27. Paint the Cairn 28. Storm the Wall in a hotdog costume 29. Explore the steam tunnels 30. Out-prank the Engineers 31. Have breakfast at Gupta’s Piper's 32. Long for the return of Stephen Toope 33. Get frisky in the Koerner library bookstacks 34. Outrun a campus security officer 35. Get on top of a roof 36. Figure out the top speed of a Plant Ops car 37. Run for elected office 38. Run for elected office as a joke candidate
U 39. Win elected office as a joke candidate 40. Find the Canopy Walkway at night 41. Pose for a Ubyssey sex issue photoshoot 42. Go to a Pit night 43. Get thrown out of a Pit night 44. Go to a T-Birds game 45. Paint yourself blue and gold 46. Get thrown out of a T-Birds game 47. Vandalise the engineering E 48. Pet Carter the coyote 49. Get a rabies shot at the clinic 50. Take a picture of the leaves on main mall 51. Almost get hit by a bike while taking a selfie 52. Get hit by a bike while taking a selfie 53. Get pooped on by a seagull while walking 54. Get pooped on by a crow while walking 55. Take a Syrup Trap article seriously 56. Take a Ubyssey article seriously 57. Be a TA 58. Flirt with a professor
59. Get hit on by a professor 60. Wake up in a dorm room that isn’t you dorm room 61. Instagram the shit out of campus 62. Wear a UBC lanyard 63. Make fun of first years wearing a UBC lanyard 64. Unicycle on campus 65. Get lost hiking 66. Get picked up by Search and Rescue 67. Drink a beer on the top of Grouse 68. Call safewalk because you’re too lazy to walk home 69. Have a B-Line driver shut the door in your face 70. Visit the UBC hospital 71. Eat free food for a week 72. Swear at the construction fences 73. Learn to love the construction fences 74. Summit the Cairn drunk 75. Fall off the Cairn drunk 76. Work out at the coop 77. Walk into a class that isn’t your class
78. Walk into a Gateman class and have him recognize that you’re not from his class 79. Eat a UBC cinnamon bun 80. Take out a loan to buy a UBC sweatshirt 81. Feed the squirrels 82. Study on a library floor 83. Vote in AMS elections 84. Watch a movie in a random lecture hall 85. Have a sleepover in a empty lecture hall 86. Hold a secret meeting 87. Find the chamber of secrets 88. Clear a meeting with a fake fire alarm 89. Visit the Nitobe Memorial Garden 90. Do the UBC Ropes Course 91. Run the great trek 92. Find MOA 93. Try to pronounce the new totem buildings 94. Listen to older students whine about the old sub 95. Complain about the Compass Card 96. Get your bike stolen and track down the thief 97. Steal a bike The List
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The Ubyssey
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The Ubyssey Your student newspaper since 1918. The Ubyssey is your campus newspaper. We publish once a week in print and every day online. Check out our news, sports, culture, opinions, video and blog coverage at ubyssey.ca. Follow our social media feeds on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Students like you produce all of the content in The Ubyssey. We are always looking for more volunteers to contribute. If you stick around long enough, you can even get paid to write articles, write code, draw illustrations or shoot photos and videos.
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The Ubyssey
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 shiny new office and see what we’re all about. Our office is on the second floor of the new SUB, Room 2208, next to the climbing wall.
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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, the news section is for you.
Culture: The culture section covers campus arts and culture ranging from theatre productions to student lifestyle.
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.
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.
The Ubyssey
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The Ubyssey
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.
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.
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.
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The Gallery
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The Gallery
The Gallery
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The Gallery
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The Gallery
The Gallery
Experience MOA. a place of extraordinary architectural beauty. a place to study. a place to think. a place to shop, to eat and drink.
a place of world arts and cultures.
get in free with your ubc student id
Museum of Anthropology at UBC moa.ubc.ca | #visit moa