Thursday, August 25, 2016 - Frosh Issue

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2 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

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Welcome FROSH ISSUE to Western ...

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Welcome to western

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surviving residence AARON MALLETT GAZETTE

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NOT THE HEROES WESTERN NEEDS BUT THE ONES WE DESERVE. Print Managing Editor Katie Lear, EditorIn-Chief Hamza Tariq and Digital Managing Editor Bradley Metlin show off their super fandom by wearing t-shirts they bought hours before this photo was taken..

leaving your mark

tips for tech

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words of wisdom

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taking care of yourself

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mustang pride

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campus community

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beyond the bubble

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student budget

WESTERNGAZETTE

UWOGAZETTE

@UWOGAZETTE

WESTERNGAZETTE

Time to kick off your bucket list HAMZA TARIQ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @HAMZATARIQ_ Hi froshies and welcome to your new home.

Congratulations on making it to Western — you’ve made the right decision. By the time you leave in three, four or more years, you’ll have to adult it out in the real world, so it’s important to make the most out of your time here.

But everyone keeps saying that.

What does it even mean?

It obviously means to prepare yourself for whatever you plan on doing after you’re done with university. Attend lectures, study hard and keep your grades up. But that’s not all of it.

You have four years to make lifelong friendships. It’s easy to feel lost in the O-Week crowd, but trust me — you’ll make friends who’ll have your back and your time with them will be among your fondest memories of Western. You’ll probably even end up godparenting their children.

You have four years to question everything. Living away from home can be challenging in itself but it’s even more unnerving to be exposed

WESTERNGAZETTE

All articles, letters, photographs, graphics, illustrations and cartoons published in The Gazette, both in the newspaper and online versions, are the property of The Gazette. By submitting any such material to The Gazette for publication, you grant to The Gazette a non-exclusive, world-wide, royalty-free, irrevocable license to publish such material in perpetuity in any media, including but not limited to, The Gazette‘s hard copy and online archives.

The Gazette is owned and published by the University Students’ Council.

FOR MORE FUN CONTENT, VISIT THE DIGITAL FROSH ISSUE! WESTERNGAZETTE.CA/FROSH

to so many different ideas at once.

You’re among a community of thousands and you’ll hear a lot of different perspectives. It’s okay. Feel free to explore for yourself and stick with the ideas that resonate with you.

You have four years to leave your comfort zone. Everyone has a bucket list of what they want to do at least once in their lives. Kick it off now — you’re in your prime, you have the time and you have the friends, so do the things you’ve always wanted to do. Like why not try out the juggling club?

And if you want to have all those experiences in one room, why not join The Gazette?

If you’re interested in coding, graphics, illustrations, videography, photography, reporting on-screen, copyediting or writing, we promise you the best student experience on campus (and the occasional pizza parties).

It’s an exciting time to be a campus newspaper. You get to experience print production and everything that goes into the oldest form of delivering news and at the same time you get to experiment with the ever-evolving forms of digital journalism.

If journalism’s your thing, Gazette

alumni have gone on to work with the Wall Street Journal, Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Al-Jazeera and countless other media outlets. You could be next.

All you have to do is walk into Room 263, UCC and our small battalion of editors will help you start with whatever section you might be interested in. If that’s a little intimidating, send us an email and we’ll help you out there.

And if none of that interests you, that’s fine too.

You’ll be hearing from us all year, every year during your time here and we want to hear from you.

If you have an opinion about anything happening on campus, write a letter to the editor, if you want us to look into something, give us a news tip, if you just want to share jokes with us, shoot us a text or if you just want to see what we’re up to in the office, follow us on Snapchat. We hope to keep you informed and entertained over the course of your undergrad career at Western.

Finally, if you’re reading this in print, I hope you enjoy the next 22 pages and if you’re reading it online, welcome to The Gazette’s first-ever digital Frosh Issue!

University Community Centre Rm. 263 Western University London, ON, CANADA N6A 3K7 Editorial 519.661.3580 Advertising 519.661.3579

Sabrina Fracassi Drishti Kataria Moses Monterroza Amy O’Kruk Rita Rahmati Samah Ali Ellis Koifman Amy Skodak Annie Rueter Richard Joseph

Charlie O’Connor Clarke Mike DeBoer Claire Palmer Maailah Blackwood Jenny Jay Aaron Mallett Natalie Treffry Daniel Bodden Jordan McGavin

Connor Matthew Malbeuf Danielle Gerritse Hala Ghonaim Justin Di Camillo Marwa Hassan Jacek Orzyłowski

Ian Greaves Diana Watson Maja Anjoli-Bilić Robert Armstrong

Grace To Amal Matan Ella Purtill Jessica Woolson Michael Conley Oren Weisfeld Zehra Camilleri

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016 • 3

... welcome to Western

Do talk to strangers RITA RAHMATI NEWS EDITOR @RITARAHMATI One of the most nerve-wracking things about entering university is meeting new people and making friends. For students who have never lived away from their hometown this can be particularly worrisome. On the other hand, individuals living off-campus may be intimidated by not living in residence.

Western has over 30, 000 students so the lack of people is not going to be the reason you don’t make friends – there’s someone for everyone. Over my three years at Western I’ve made friends in places and ways I never could have predicted and that’s because I was always open and ready to start a conversation.

Even if you aren’t looking for a new best friend or group to hang out with, it’s great to know people around campus and adds to your Western experience. Having an acquaintance in a class means you have someone to send you notes if you’re sick. Knowing your classmates means you’ll be more

comfortable participating.

To help get past the initial awkwardness of starting a conversation with a stranger or brand new acquaintance, here’s a compilation of conversation starters that can help you spark a conversation.

“Where are you from?”

A great thing about going to Western is that most students are from another town and have an interesting story or two to tell. You might know someone from their hometown, be from the same hometown, just visited there or always wanted to go there. Maybe you’ve never heard of it and will now learn about a new place.

When responding to the question, make sure you act interested.

1: “What’s your hometown?”

2: “Chatham, it’s near Windsor.”

1: “Oh I’m thinking of going to Windsor for grad school!”

2: “Oh, what are you planning on studying?”

“What residence are you in?”

Finding out someone’s residence can give you plenty to talk about.

Everyone always has a lot to rave

KELLY SAMUEL GAZETTE or complain about. In first year, while waiting for my prof to start the lecture, I asked a girl sitting next to me what residence she was in. We ended up in the same residence, exchanged numbers and walked to class together every single day.

1: “What rez are you in?”

2: “Saugeen, what about you?”

1. “I’m in Elgin. Is Saugeen really a zoo?”

2: “It’s pretty crazy, last night there was a huge party in the room next to me.”

Conversation starters to avoid: “Are you AEO?” “What’s your GPA?”

An introvert’s guide to getting through O-Week ELLIS KOIFMAN CULTURE EDITOR @ELLIS_KOIFMAN The clock has just struck 11 p.m. which means it’s time for quiet hours in residence and the seemingly endless partying of O-Week to wind down. Yet as you turn off your lights and begin getting ready for bed the screaming continues, the music is blaring and your residence advisor is nowhere to be found.

Unlike what seems to be the entirety of your floor, you don’t like to stay up until 4 a.m. drinking and partying. You’re an introvert. And you’ve never felt so out of place in your life.

Worry not, you aren’t alone!

Here’s a list of things that helped me survive O-Week as an introvert and may help you out with your social survival needs.

OPENING CEREMONIES The first notable part of O-Week I remember after receiving my O-Pass was learning cheers before heading to the Opening Ceremonies. The Opening Ceremonies are composed of 5,000 or so first year students sitting on UC Hill and cheering in sequence of residences and/or faculties. Then there’s usually a concert or some form of entertainment.

As much as this seems like an introvert’s worst nightmare, the large crowd actually makes it easier to hide as you let the loudest members of the group take over the majority of the cheering. Find another person who looks like they’re avoiding cheering too and bond over your lack of desire to shout at the top of your lungs.

GOING TO EVENTS Just because you’re introverted doesn’t mean your O-Week can’t be memorable.

When I attended O-Week I quickly discovered my desire to stay in my room all the time because all the events seemed to revolve around some kind of loud and obnoxious ice-breaker-y activity. Far from my cup of tea.

Luckily, by talking to some RAs and sophs I found out about alternative activities, such as gaming in the student lounge, board game night (which for me was an eight or so hour game of monopoly) or a scavenger hunt where you can go out and be active, talk to a couple people (max) and avoid the masses of loud people like the plague while you hunt down random items.

MAKING FRIENDS Find others like you! As much as Western’s party school reputation might convince you otherwise, there are a ton of introverts here as well who don’t like to stay up super late partying and drink seven nights in a row. Whether it’s video gaming,

“Hey, I live in Saugeen, wanna have sex?”

“What’s your religion?”

“Are you team Hillary or team Trump?”

General advice for keeping a conversation going The New York Times bestselling author, Gretchen Rubin, has several tips for making good conversation.

Rubin recommends asking open-ended questions that can’t be answered with one word to ensure the response will be more thought-provoking. To maintain a conversation, Rubin suggests reacting to questions with the same tone

in which you were asked – if someone said a joke that wasn’t funny, still smile.

Another way to keep a conversation going is staying up to date with current events. Some students love to talk about politics whereas other students love to talk about pop culture.

Final tips Most people don’t know anyone in first-year and most people are open to making friends – they are just scared to take the first step, so just go for it. At the end of the day, don’t be so concerned about what other people’s responses will be, just be yourself and put yourself out there.

New Service KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!

Just because you’re introverted doesn’t mean your O-Week can’t be memorable.

sitting in the student lounge all night pondering the meaning of life or even just going out and adventuring, there is absolutely no reason to think you’re alone.

Also, the sophs have to go-go-go all week. I’m sure some of them wouldn’t mind some down time to just hang out and chill.

FAILSAFE If all else fails, talking to your RA is always a good bet. They’re there to help you out and be your friend. If you feel there’s nothing to do but sit in your room, swing by theirs and have a chat. They will almost definitely have some suggestions for you that don’t involve forcing you to pretend to be an extrovert for a week. ■

City-wide route improvements take effect on September 4, 2016.

With additional service hours, easy to understand route names and new and revised routes to make London more accessible for more people, there has never been a better time to ride the bus.

Scan here or visit www.ltconline.ca/2016ServicePlan.htm for more information and updated route maps for specific boundaries and stops.

Driving Change COURTESY OF RESIDENCE AT WESTERN

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4 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

•

Welcome to Western ...

Enjoy the next four years – you made it for a reason

Boozhoo Gikinoo’ amaaganag

AARON MALLETT GAZETTE

PETER FRAGISKATOS MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, LONDON NORTH CENTRE @PFRAGISKATOS

-Welcome Students CORTNEY DAKIN MANAGER OF HOUSING AND SHELTER SERVICES AT ATLOHSA NATIVE FAMILY HEALING SERVICES INC. How well do you know the land your school is on? And I’m not talking about where you can find Weldon Library or Natural Sciences.

Universities pride themselves as being epicenters of higher learning and critical thinking. As the faculty, students and staff that comprise this institution, it is important to be aware of how genocidal policies, the residential school system and systemic racism continue to impact the lives of Indigenous peoples today.

Do you know the original name of the river that runs through campus? What about the name of the three distinct Indigenous nations located less than an hour from where you live?

Western Mustangs, the Chippewas of the Thames, Oneida of the Thames and Munsee-Delaware First Nations are located in the ‘Dish with One Spoon Territory’, an area which expands from what is now Southern Ontario to Quebec and from Lake Simcoe into the United States.

The Dish with One Spoon treaty is an international agreement made between the Anishinaabek and Haudenosaunee Confederacies that binds us to a shared territory and responsibility to protect the land. Understanding the land in this way is important in acknowledging the presence and assertion of Indigenous sovereignty today.

In order to redress the colonial legacy of violent assimilation and advance reconciliation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has made 94 Calls to Action.

These calls extend into nearly every

U

niversities pride themselves as being epicenters of higher learning and critical thinking. As the faculty, students, and staff that comprise this institution, it is important to be aware of how genocidal policies, the residential school system and systemic racism continue to impact the lives of Indigenous peoples today.

social sphere and involve the reform of all levels of Canadian government.

Moreover, these recommendations can be embodied in the spirit of the Two Row Wampum, an international treaty agreement made between Native and non-Native Nations founded in the principles of peace, respect and friendship. To live up to this agreement made by some of our ancestors, take the time to familiarize yourself with the 94 recommendations, advocate for them on campus and in your communities and most importantly uphold them in your everyday life.

There are countless ways to learn more about Indigenous communities, struggles and resiliency.

Native peoples and cultures are alive, strong, proud everywhere on

this continent we call Turtle Island.

Take initiative and get involved.

In the London community there is Atlohsa Native Family Healing Services, N’Amerind Friendship Centre and the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre, all of which host events you can attend and volunteer at. On campus, there is a First Nations Studies Library, Indigenous Services and the First Nations Students Association, which hosts numerous events annually, including a social and spring Pow Wow. You can take First Nations Studies classes and as professors of any discipline, you can invite First Nations citizens to guest lecture and provide invaluable insight rooted in our original ways of being.

As you continue along your path of learning, it is my hope you reflect on your responsibilities to the land, water and neighbouring nations. It is my hope that you will interrupt colonial assumptions and racist comments on the street and in the classroom. And, if you find yourself along the shores of Deshkan Ziibiing, Antler River, it is my hope that you will give thanks for the original caretakers of the territory on which you reside.

Miigwech – thank you.

Cortney Dakin is the manger of housing and shelter servies at Atlohsa Native Family Healing Services Inc., located on Richmond Street and York Street. Atlohsa Native Family Healing Services offers services to the First Nations community including but not limited to a 24-hour emergency shelter for First Nation women and their children at high risk for abuse, intervention and holistic crisis counselling, traditional healing circles, emergency transportation and referral and advocacy.

Well, you made it. You are here.

Now what?

Entering university is exciting but it can also be intimidating. I know because I have been there and have taught hundreds of post-secondary students just like you.

The first thing you need to do is breathe. You are at Western for a reason. The hard work you have put in during your high school years has been recognized. You were admitted because Western believes you can succeed here and beyond.

Easy for me to say? Maybe.

After all, I do not have to worry about new classes, people I have never met and professors with more degrees than LeBron has championships. Added to this is the fact that you may be living away from home for the first time, far from family and friends.

But hold on. Like I said, I have been where you are now – albeit a few years ago – and I can give you some advice because of this.

First, London is a city that will offer you a wonderful university experience and the opportunity for more. We have a downtown full of great restaurants and vibrant arts and cultural institutions including theatres, art galleries and museums. Green spaces are plentiful too, not only in the downtown but across London. After all, we are referred to as the forest city for a reason. Experiencing the city in these ways will make you feel at home. This is absolutely critical for easing your transition into student life.

On that point, get ready for some of the best years you will experience. Friendships that will last a lifetime and professors who will inspire you to learn more about the world you live in and ask the kinds of critical questions that can make it better. There are more than 250,000 Western alumni , and they are making contributions to our economy and society both nationally and internationally. They do so, at least in part, because of the experience of learning provided by Western and its affiliate colleges at Huron, Brescia and King’s. It is your turn now.

At the same time, you need to take responsibility. I mentioned above that I have taught post-secondary students. Those that succeed are those who work the hardest. This does not mean that you can never leave the library – note: if you have been in Weldon for more than 10 hours, you really ought to go home. Yet you should take your studies seriously. Choose courses and programs you are passionate about. Keep track of your assignment deadlines in a calendar. Talk to your professors and

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ll too often, students keep these stresses to themselves. Yet, what is known - and what my experience in the classroom has made clear - is that challenging circumstances can be overcome most effectively when students reach out for support.

teaching assistants. Contribute to class discussions and come prepared to learn every day. Find organizations in London that promote a cause or idea you care about and volunteer. If you do not know your passions yet, do not worry, you will soon because the university experience has a funny way of making that happen. Doing these things can help prepare you not only for a career but will instill the discipline needed to succeed in life.

One last point. There will be times when you feel overwhelmed: readings will pile up, exams will be difficult and you may not always achieve the grades you want. ‎But life is about learning and growing from such situations. All too often, students keep these stresses to themselves. What is known — and what my experience in the classroom has made clear — is that challenging circumstances can be overcome most effectively when students reach out for support.

This can mean speaking to your instructor about how you can do better or it can involve accessing the mental health supports available on campus. There is no shame in this. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health.

This is a new chapter. Embrace it. When you do, you will give yourself the chance to transform as a person and gain new opportunities that will define your future.

I wish you the very best in your post-secondary journey. If my office can ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Peter Fragiskatos is the Member of Parliament for London North Centre, and a Member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. Prior to being elected in October 2015, he taught political science at King’s University College at Western University.

He holds a Masters of Arts degree from Queen’s University and a PhD in International Relations from Cambridge University.

• www.westerngazette.ca

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016 • 5

... welcome to Western

Advice for first years in Drake lyrics MONTY LANGFORD CONTRIBUTOR @UWOGAZETTE 1.“I’m ‘bouta hit you with the work boy” University is going to hit you with 8,000 chapters to read, 600 projects to do and 100 midterms to write… Breathe. It’s okay. Make friends. Make study groups in your rez or faculty. We all stressin’ together fam.

2 . “I AIN’T GOT NO TIME!” The FOMO (or, fear of missing out) at Western is real… Really real. You’ll learn to prioritize your time… Or not. I don’t know.

3. “In the same league, but we don’t BALL the same”

stories. You’ll see what I mean.

(Okay, this isn’t Drake’s quote, but it’s from his song). You’re all in first year, but there will be people better than you at things.

And you’re going to be better than other people at different things.

You can’t always be the best. Just as long as you improve yourself, that’s all that really matters—it’s cliché because it’s true.

4. “I DON’T KNOW HOW SERIOUS THEY TAKE THEMSELVES” Sophs may seem strange when you first meet them, but they’re serious about showing you what Western has to offer. They’re going to be your greatest asset in guiding you towards Western resources. All of the sophs have cool names and even cooler

5. “I DID SOME CHARITY TODAY FOR THE KIDS” Participate in Shine-o-rama and the Terry Fox run! It’s an awesome experience and it benefits the community in more ways than you can imagine.

But if you miss out on these, don’t fret; there are many more opportunities to volunteer for charity!

6. “I KNOW WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE HERE RIGHT NOW THAT I DIDN’T KNOW LAST YEAR” Network, make connections… but more importantly, make friends. Lots of them. You never know who will be your best friend by the end of this year. You might even find that special someone.

7. “GOT THE KEY, NOW THE DOOR’S OPEN” You’re going to lock yourself out of your Rez room at least once this year.

Hopefully you won’t end up like me—I locked myself out of my room after taking a shower, and went down to the front desk to get a spare key in nothing but a

towel. It was awkward. Yay for first impressions!

8. “You can’t just diss and come tell mans sorry” Watch what you say. Whether you’re “joking” or being serious; words hurt. Respect everyone at Western. This is your new home, and theirs. Stay classy Western. #WordsThatHurt 9. “TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL, TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL” Talk to your friends, talk to your sophs, talk to someone. When someone asks how you are and you don’t feel okay, talk to someone. They can direct you to Western’s many resources. Mental health affects everyone.

10. “Problems hit the gym, they all work out” Everything works itself out in the end. Also, get out and do something! Go on a hike, go for a run, do yoga, go to the gym, whatever your forté is.

AMY O'KRUK GAZETTE

WESTERN SLANG AND JARGON TO UNDERSTAND RICHARD JOSEPH CULTURE EDITOR-AT-LARGE @RJATGAZETTE Entering first year at Western is a bit like watching the first episode of a police procedural drama. There’s a massive cast of characters, a loose grasp on real-life legality and a bewildering collection of acronyms and jargon. How is anyone supposed to sift through this incomprehensible local lingo? Luckily, you don’t have to.

UCC: The University Community Center. Ostensibly the campus hub, jam-packed with students and booths of all kinds. Here’s where you get food, drink and buy groceries. In the evening, though, its true purpose becomes apparent — a glorified stage for Western’s various dance groups.

Sledgehammer bingo: This isn’t the bingo your grandmother plays at her knitting club (or maybe it is, I don’t know her life). An age-old Ceeps tradition, it can get fiercely competitive — and you get to smash fruit with hammers. Need I say more?

Concrete beach: Clearly whoever named the asphalt wasteland outside the UCC a “beach” had a healthy sense of irony.

Rick McGhie: Western’s darling for 38 years, the country-crooning superstar shows no signs of slowing down with age. Students attend Rick’s Wednesdays with the same religious fervour as Southern Baptists attending church — skip out at the risk of being excommunicated.

HOCO: A highly organized riot that breaks out at the same time every year on Broughdale. Also, there’s apparently a football game somewhere?

This year, the evil overlords at Western have cracked down and HOCO is cancelled. Luckily, students have rallied together to protest this outright tyranny, fighting tooth and nail for their god-given right to get shitfaced. Truly inspiring.

For more Western slang, see the digital Frosh Issue at westerngazette.ca/frosH.

J A Z Z C A RT I E R

T Y L E R S H AW

CANADIAN MUSICIAN

CANADIAN MUSICIAN

RUTH B

CHARLOTTE CARDIN

CANADIAN MUSICIAN

CANADIAN MUSICIAN

30% off all sweat styles until September 5th

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6 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

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surviving rez ...

living in residence -

fact or fiction?

BRADLEY METLIN DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR @BRADLEYMETLIN

Alcohol safety 101 AARON MALLETT GAZETTE RITA RAHMATI NEWS EDITOR @RITARAHMATI The “dry” O-Week mandate is often ignored by many first-year students who want to drink and partake in the “college experience”. Drinking can certainly be enjoyable, but in order to optimize the fun, it’s essential to do it safely and be responsible.

CONSUMPTION The first part of drinking safely is limiting the amount of alcohol you consume. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, to prevent long-term and short-term health issues, women should limit themselves to 10 drinks or less a week and no more than two drinks a day; men should limit themselves to 15 drinks or less a week and no more than three drinks a day. So try not to play too many fast drinking games, mix it up with non-alcoholic beverages.

STAYING HYDRATED When drinking, make sure you stay hydrated — and, pop doesn’t count.

Drink water even if you aren’t thirsty.

For every alcoholic drink you have, your body can release four times that amount of liquids, making it easy to get dehydrated. Drinking water can help prevent hangovers so you can make it to that Friday morning lecture.

If you’re at a bar or club, feel free to ask the bartender for a glass of water, or just get a mixed drink and wait for the ice to melt. While in residence, there is no excuse to not stay hydrated since most floors have water fountains.

Mixed drinks are far better for you than straight shots and will decrease the rate of alcohol consumption. But try to stay away from carbonated drinks as they increase the rate of alcohol absorption in the blood. Think vodka lime or vodka cran instead of rum and coke.

lets talk about consent...

KATIE LEAR PRINT MANAGING EDITOR @KATIELEAR_ Consent is a hot-button topic, especially on university campuses.

Whether you’re getting it on with someone for the very first time or romping with a familiar partner, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind to make sure everyone involved is having a good time.

ANYTHING THAT ISN’T A YES IS A NO Consent needs to be affirmative and is not the absence of dissent, explained Angela Treglia, the sexual violence prevention and education coordinator at Western.

“If someone is silent, that does not count as consent; if someone is unsure or hesitant, that wouldn’t count as consent. … it needs to be clear and it needs to be the presence of a yes.”

EAT! Another drinking no-no is drinking on an empty stomach. Drinking on an empty stomach increases alcohol absorption, and even if you don’t value your health all that much, remember this: it will make you bloated. Consider eating liver-friendly foods like kale, protein-rich foods like chicken or potassium heavy foods like bananas.

Even consider taking a small snack with you wherever you’re drinking in case you need to sober up.

BE WITH FRIENDS Lastly, drink with people you know well and you know will be responsible if things get out of hand. You never know for sure which drink will put you over the edge. A good friend will stop you from doing anything super embarrassing and more importantly, make sure you get back to your room safely.

WHEN YES COUNTS Consent should be sought by the partner initiating any kind of action and cannot be given if the partner is obviously intoxicated, such as when a partner is unable to walk alone or is incoherent.

“If you question whether or not they would be able to write their math exam and you don’t think they could, probably means they’re not able to consent to sexual activity,” Treglia said.

CHECK IN REGULARLY Consent isn’t a one-time thing but an ongoing process. Those participating in sexual activities should be

NASTY RESIDENCE FOOD - FICTION! When thinking about what you’ll be served in residence, it’s easy to conjure up images of prison food from Orange is the New Black, but when coming to Western, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised.

The food is pretty awesome and most residences have a good number of options. Sure, there are some points in the year — usually before the end of the semester — that the food starts to increasingly resemble things you would microwave fresh from a box, but otherwise you won’t be eating strangely coloured slop.

FRESHMAN 15 - FICTION! The Freshman 15 may happen to a few poor, unfortunate souls but for most it’s a mere myth. As we just debunked, the food you’ll be eating is varied and not just deep-fried creations that aren’t the best for your health. If you indulge every night in the gravy-drenched and extra-cheesy poutines that are wheeled out most nights after 8 p.m. then you’re inviting some extra pounds. Of course, once a week wouldn’t hurt.

FLOORCEST - FACT! With so many new romantic prospects in such close proximity, it’s almost always happens that at least two people will have some sort of romantic connection on your floor. While some sophs and

continually checking in with their partner and should not assume that consent for one type of activity carries over to another.

MOOD KILLER OR APHRODISIAC? “In my conversations with students, when there is consent being asked there is a heightened level of trust and there is a heightened level of comfort in those sexual activities and that just makes it way better,” Treglia explained. It’s always important to check in with your partner – what may be sexy to you could be hurting someone else.

others may condemn floorcest with great conviction, it’s just overthe-top concern since sometimes these blossoming romantic liaisons can cause problems. Whether it’s a messy makeout or a serious relationship, handling the situation gracefully is important for floor cohesion so think maturely when interacting with your floormates.

SKETCHY CO-ED WASHROOMS - FICTION! Those who got sorted into traditional style residences (and their parents) might worry about the possibility of gross communal washrooms where globs of hair clog the drain and promiscuous floorcest is rampant. Rest assured, cleaning staff frequently stop by to ensure that the space is clean and well maintained. As for sexy times in the washroom, once you see someone flossing their teeth or disheveled bed head from a good night’s rest, any carnal thoughts quickly evaporate.

CRAZY PARTYING - FACT AND FICTION! Depending on your residence, things can turn up from time to time. Despite Western’s party reputation, every night will not be loud and crazy — as a matter of fact, the vast majority of your nights will be calm. That might seem disappointing but when Western decides to have a banger, you’ll know it. Also, September is pretty nuts in general so it will be a lot of fun – just take that all in when you can.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO If you have been assaulted or someone discloses an assault to you, it can be overwhelming considering where to go. The USC and on-campus health services operate under a ‘no wrong door’ policy, which means that wherever you go, the staff are trained to be compassionate and will direct you to the right services.

The Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Centre in the UCC can be a landing pad for students who want to explore their options or want to talk. The Sexual Assault Centre London also has a 24-hour crisis and support line that students can call at 519-438-2272.

• www.westerngazette.ca

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016 • 7

... surviving rez

Partying without

getting caught

jeepers! We’re Just trying to have a swell time at the zoo...

HAMZA TARIQ GAZETTE

Partying in residence can feel like you’re playing a game of Survivor — constantly trying to outwit residence advisors, outlast your limits and outplay your friends. Unless you’re on a designated non-alcohol floor, you or your floormates are likely to drink at some point. Before doing so, it’s important to understand the limits and consequences to ensure your first year goes as smoothly as possible.

Sexiled:

A guide to your roomie’s Netflix and chilling BRADLEY METLIN DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR @BRADLEYMETLIN You get a text from your roommate: “Hey! I need the room tonight ;)” and a sad realization begins to creep over you — you’re being sexiled. A linguistic blend of sex and exile, it means that you’ve been asked to vacate your room in order for your roommate to do the horizontal tango or to be intimate with a significant other.

PLAN AHEAD Hopefully you and your roommate have talked about this before and set up some ground rules... like giving you notice. Returning from class with a sock on the door is never a good look. If you want to sexile a roommate, be a good person and give them as much notice as you can!

If you’ve been kicked out, don’t wait until the last minute to make plans. This isn’t the Greyhound station where a bus comes every hour — options are limited. Figure out whose floor you’ll be sleeping on. Even better, try and find someone who has gone home for the weekend and borrow their bed. Sleeping in the lounge is the worst so don’t subject yourself to those uncomfortable couches.

Don’t bring your half of the room wherever you’re going. Sometimes you have to get into your room and get out quickly if your roommate is in the middle of “entertaining” so grab the essentials. Pillow, blanket, laptop and maybe a textbook.

COORDINATE SCHEDULES Put your timetable on a wall somewhere so you both are aware of each other’s whereabouts. If you’re

in class for three hours, that might be a perfect time for your roommate’s secret little rendezvous. You should always be cautious, though.

Sometimes profs end classes early (usually not too early), so if you’re using the room during class, be careful. Walking in on someone after an awfully boring lecture is probably not the after-class excitement your roommate wanted.

SEXILED? EXPLORE! Western has a beautiful campus and if it’s a nice day, why not get out there and explore it? Or London! Consider yourself lucky! Head to the gym and go for a swim. Why not try a new restaurant downtown? Maybe this is an opportunity to explore a new library.

You can do this alone or find a friend but this could surely be time that you could use and do something you otherwise wouldn’t have. Sure, being sexiled is annoying, but enjoy this spontaneous gift from the hanky-panky gods.

DON’T BE SELFISH - BE REASONABLE Do not sexile someone every night, that’s just ridiculous. If you’re sharing a room, that’s what you’re doing — sharing. This is not one of those situations when you can tape a line down the room, so be aware of how you’re making your roommate feel. If you feel yourself constantly being sexiled, bring it up with your roommate.

Living with someone is a give and take, and don’t forget that. There might be a time in which you want the room to yourself — doing the four-legged foxtrot or otherwise. So be accommodating and your roommate will likely return the favour.

ALCOHOL First off, never drink anywhere other than your rooms. Whether you’re underage or legal, RAs will be far more accepting of your drinking if it’s in your room. In fact, alcohol consumption (by those 19 and over) is perfectly fine in residence as long as it’s inside a room — so not the halls, dining hall, lounges, stairwells, etc. according to Housing’s behaviour management chart.

It can be difficult fitting a large group of people in a small dorm room, but it’s definitely worth it compared to all the trouble of partying elsewhere.

When “floor hopping” make sure you keep your alcohol concealed. Put alcohol in a water bottle or preferably keep alcohol hidden in a backpack or purse.

When returning to residence after an LCBO run, make sure all beer bottles are out of sight. If an RA or front desk staff sees a beer bottle, they will confiscate it. Also keep in mind that if you’re bringing items for binge drinking such as beer pong balls or funnels you need to keep them hidden. When having friends

AMY O'KRUK GAZETTE

RITA RAHMATI NEWS EDITOR @RITARAHMATI

from out of town or other residences over, remember that you are responsible for their behaviour and have to pay for their damages.

NOISE Another major obstacle you’ll face partying in first year are noise complaints. “Quiet hours” begin at 11 p.m. on weeknights, 1 a.m. on weekends and anyone who thinks you’re being too loud after that can call front desk and have a RA sent up to give you a warning. If you have guests in your room and they’re the ones making the noise, you will be held responsible. RAs also do rounds every night and if they hear you being too loud they will tell you to take it down a notch. Listen to them.

Sometimes they’ll be nice if they have to come back a second time, but sometimes they won’t be. You could get a letter of warning which could lead to probation and ultimately being kicked out of residence after multiple offences. At the least, turn the music down for 10 minutes until the RA leaves your floor.

BE SAFE It’s always important to drink responsibly and make sure you know your limits. It doesn’t matter if someone assigned you a 10th drink in king’s cup. If you don’t want to take it, then don’t. Stay hydrated with water throughout the night and mix your alcohol with pop during drinking games. Another key step in preventing alcohol poisoning is not mixing different types of alcohol, so pick one: will it be a vodka night or a tequila night?

Aside from what you drink, be aware of who you are drinking with.

If you’re planning on drinking heavily, makes sure you’ve built a solid relationship with the people you’re with. Friends you can trust will go a long way when you’re belligerent, lost or simply feeling uncomfortable.

If you’re ever in a dangerous situation, you should always feel comfortable going to your RA. Partying is meant to be fun and safe, so make sure to follow these guidelines.

www.westerngazette.ca

8 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

•

Leaving your mark ...

The University Students’ council If you’re a political junkie, head on over to the USC. The USC is one of the largest student councils in the country and a corporation that provides millions of dollars worth of services to students, like the Peer Support Network or the buss pass.

Each January, students can run for a position on the USC as their respective faculty’s councillor. If elected, you’ll weigh in on new initiatives and governance while representing your faculty’s interests to the council.

Elections not your jam? You can also apply for positions to help run USC programs or to support the student executives.

Western

greek organizations

On top of it all, Western offers quite a few avenues for you to get involved outside of the classroom.

For example, many students can take a Community Engaged Learning course where they complete a London service project in exchange for a course credit.

you can forget the stereotypes set by the films like Sydney White or Animal House. Western’s Greek organizations are more about community than running wild.

For many, Greek life can offer students the whole package: scholarships, charity work, social events and leadership opportunities. Western also has one of the largest Greek communities in Canada with five chartered sororities and eight fraternities.

If you want to influence Western's inner-workings then becoming a student senator or student Board of Governors representative is a great place to start.

In both of these roles, you'll represent undergrads' interests to the University's highest governing bodies and gain experience working as an advocate. These roles are elected every winter in partnership with the USC elections.

Notably, if you see students being spontaneously serenaded or watermelons flying down UC hill, that’s Western’s Greeks. The best way to go Greek is to check out the sororities and fraternities in September during their annual formal recruitment events.

Student clubs By far, the easiest way to get involved at Western is to join a club.

What’s the secret password?

I thought this was the guitar club...

Western has a mammoth club scene with over 8,500 members filling the rosters of more than 190 clubs each year. They range from the expected (ahem, Western Pre-Law Society) to the off-beat, like a Harry Potter fan club that sorts you into Hogwarts’ houses (Hi Dumbledore’s Army) — there’s literally something for everyone.

Additionally, club membership offers students opportunities to test out leadership positions through executive positions. And hey, if none of this appeals to you, then at least you can pad your resume.

Check out Clubs Week this Mon., Sept. 19 to Fri. Sept. 23 in the University Community Centre.

london community

Campus media

Joining an intramural has the added bonus of beating the freshman 15.

Western offers more than 1,200 intramural sports teams ranging from classic games like soccer and basketball to quirkier teams like ultimate frisbee and beach volleyball.

The Western Bubble will only offer you so much; there’s a whole city out there to explore. The Student Success Centre can hook you up with off-campus volunteer opportunities, like as a big brother or sister at The Boys and Girls club.

Whatever kind of media you’re into, Western has an outlet. The University’s home to a campus radio station, CHRW, and twice-weekly student publication, the Gazette. The Gazette also includes Western TV if you’re into video production.

If you’re unsure about your athletic prowess, sign up for recreational teams that emphasize “fun, participation, fitness and socializing.” More competitive players can join a super comp team. Regardless, if your team flourishes, one day you may just walk away with the most coveted intramural trophy at Western, a purple shirt.

You can also engage with London’s city council on the Town and Gown Committee or through the London Youth Advisory Board.

many faculties put out their own publications like the Faculty of Science‘s The Current or The Faculty of Information and Media Studies’ Open Wide zine. Even if you have zero experience, as long as you like to be in the loop about campus happenings and work on a team, any campus media outlet would love to have you.

Intramural sports teams

Want to participate in a one-off opportunity? Throughout the year, London runs lots of weekend festivals and events in Victoria Park, and they’re always looking for helping hands.

www.westerngazette.ca

10 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

•

Welcome Tips for tech to Western ... ...

Best apps for students

AMY O’KRUK NEWS EDITOR @AMYOKRUK Add these apps to glide through the school year: EVERNOTE If you don’t already use Evernote, the chaos of a full course load will convince you it’s worth a try. Evernote is like a digital filing cabinet that lets you collect and organize “notes”— typed text, photos, audio clips, scanned documents, files, screen shots and more. We’re talking the ultimate lecture note-taking system. It also organizes all of your other online clutter and makes it super easy to find and retrieve. You’ll never ask “where did I put that?” about your cat videos or Buzzfeed listicles ever again. Download the mobile app to add anything and everything on-the-go.

MINT Students flock to dollar beer nights at Jack’s for a reason: student living means penny pinching. Thankfully, Mint can help keep you on track as you conquer living on your own.

The app can automatically pull all of your personal financial data into one place and breaks down your spending patterns. Is 42 per cent of your weekly budget spent on fast food? Mint will let you know if it’s time to skip the drive thru and bust out the Tupperware.

WESTERN MUSTANGS FENCING Try Out for the 2016-17 Varsity Team Tues, Sept. 13, 8:00PM Thames Hall Tower 4185 No previous fencing experience needed

$50 for 4 sessions Sept. 16, 21, 23, 28

Instruction by Varsity Fencers and Coaches

519.681.8330

ALARMY (SLEEP IF U CAN) Coined “the world’s most annoying alarm clock app,” Alarmy doesn’t disappoint. Users have three options to dismiss their alarm: take a picture, solve a math equation or shake their phone. But it’s not so simple.

You could set the photo to be of the kitchen sink, you could have to shake your phone for over a minute and calculating (61 X 7) + 17 groggily at 8 a.m. is no easy feat. It’s a little over the top, but Alarmy will make sure you never miss a morning lecture.

LTWATCH AND/OR GOOGLE MAPS Depending on what you want to know, both LTWatch and Google Maps have advantages. Google Maps is great for figuring out which bus(es) you should take and for how long your trip will be. But if you already know your bus route, LTWatch has more accurate stop times because it tracks London buses in real time. Tip: the LTC is notoriously unreliable, so you’re going to want to track those buses en route.

YIK YAK Western students are enthusiastic Yik Yak users, and you’ll want to be in the loop. If you don’t know, the app lets users see anonymous messages from other users in the same area, with more popular messages rising to the top. At Western, students use the app to comment on campus happenings, ask questions or give free advice (like stay away from the campus geese population at any cost). You’re welcome!

Solution to puzzle on page 22

KYLE PORTER GAZETTE

How to stay super smart while using social media

BRADLEY METLIN DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR @BRADLEYMETLIN Social media can be pretty super for connecting to your friends and people in your life that you care about most. But it also provides a way for villains to have access to unsavory details about life — but if you’re smart and aware of what you post and how you use social media, you’ll continue to fly high and avoid the haters.

CURATE YOUR PROFILE Throwing open the doors to your Facebook profile for the public to see is not a solid choice; always be aware of who can see each and every part. Having the public see you doing a keg stand might be a questionable choice. Actually, speaking of excessive binge drinking, maybe keep the photos of your staggeringly intoxicated night private.

Now that Facebook has the option to highlight photos, pick your best moments! If you volunteer by reading to blind children, that would be perfect! If not, pick nice photos of you and some friends — not just

selfies. (That looks vain.)

HAVE A TRUSTED SIDEKICK This might seem strange, but I’m about to suggest having your mom on social media. Having someone you trust (and who likely has higher standards when it comes to acceptability of behaviour) is important. If not a parent then an aunt, cousin or other trusted adult.

Everything you post stays online and can possibly change people’s perception of you. Having someone who will send you a message along the lines of, “what on earth is on your Facebook?” is probably good in the long run.

SEXT ON SNAPCHAT Things on Snapchat only last for 10 seconds tops (unless someone screenshots them… but at least you’ll know?) People send dirty photos, it’s 2016. Do yourself a favour if this is your thing and make sure the sexts get rid of themselves.

THINK BEFORE YOU POST While your opinions and insights are probably very interesting to your friends, give yourself 30 seconds and

re-read anything you post on social media. Often times when we get fired up about an issue, we might be harsher than we intended or get some of the facts wrong. You never want this to be you.

Don’t let this discourage you from sharing and commenting on current affairs and issues around the world. Be active and discuss hot topics!

ALWAYS MEET IN PUBLIC It doesn’t matter if you’re meeting up with your Tinderella or buying a used textbook off someone, always meet up in a public location such as the UCC, a well-traveled part of Weldon or a Starbucks. It’s better safe than sorry — you don’t want to have a hero rescue you.

JUST BE A NICE PERSON Just because you’re online doesn’t mean you can play fast and loose with being a good person.

Ultimately, if you’re kind and considerate while on social media and behaving like you would in-person, you should be alright.

westernfencingteam@gmail.com

What on earth is phishing?

BRADLEY METLIN DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR @BRADLEYMETLIN Phishing — pronounced like the leisurely activity along a river — is when someone tries to obtain your personal and sensitive information such as passwords or credit card numbers for malicious purposes. Western’s Information and Technological Services filters out most spam — 75 per cent of all emails are classified as known spam but three per cent is “suspect spam” that slips through the cracks.

Just like fishing, some will bite, but to ensure you don’t, here are some tips to avoid taking the bait.

WHAT DOES IT LOOKS LIKE? Often times, you will receive an email that asks you to verify your username and password. “Final warning!” or “UWO Help desk” are common subject headers. While they might seem legitimate, they are not. Sometimes you may even get an

BILL WANG GAZETTE

email like this from an address that seems completely fine (an @uwo.ca e-mail), but beware of the instructions inside. You should not provide private information like passwords or banking information.

BEST PRACTICES It’s probably a good idea to avoid any emails you receive with similar subject lines to the ones listed above. Moreover, it’s also good to be

cautious when receiving an e-mail from an unknown address. Once you’ve determined that an e-mail is probably spam, don’t reply — just delete the e-mail.

The reality is that it’s hard to filter out all forms of spam and malicious content but ITS does a pretty good job. If you’re careful, the handful of spam throughout the year should be no concern for your email inbox.

• www.westerngazette.ca

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016 • 11

2016

CONCERT CARNIVAL

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 ALONG WITH SPECIAL GUEST

HOSTED BY: Sexologist Dr. Justine Shuey

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12 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

www.westerngazette.ca

•

Words of wisdom ...

the western gazette pres en

Tom Haffie

biology prof essor

Go to your pr ofessors of hours. It may seem intimidat ing at f worth it in th e long run. G et ti ng the assignments will boost yo ur grade feel more co nfident.

Also, if you ev er want a recommendati on letter, yo ur professor will actually need to know who you are.

anonymous

Participate in as many first year events as First year go you ca es by so quic kl y and looking not want to back yo regret missin g out.

Design by Jor dan McGavin

• www.westerngazette.ca

nts...

ffice first, but it’s eir feedback on and make you

an. ou do

Brianna Oak

2nd year, Eng es lish

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016 • 13

FROSH TIPS!

www.westerngazette.ca

14 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

•

Taking care of you ...

Making use of your student health plan RITA RAHMATI NEWS EDITOR @RITARAHMATI For most students, health insurance is a foreign concept as up until entering university parents handled all medical expenses. At Western, every full-time undergraduate student automatically pays for health and dental insurance as part of ancillary fees.

THE COSTS The health and dental plan — operated by The Campus Trust — is coordinated by the University Students’ Council. Eddy Avila, USC president, said the cost traditionally increases slightly each year due to inflation. The cost for the 2016-2017 school year will be $127.39 for health coverage and $130.37 for dental coverage, compared to last year’s $122.01 for health and $123.81 for dental.

Western’s plan is among the most expensive university health plans in the country, which Avila attributes to its comprehensiveness.

“We do have a comprehensive health plan and that’s why,” Avila said. “If you’re getting more benefits than you’re also going to be paying slightly higher premiums.”

OPTING OUT Students have the option to opt out, which many are likely to do if their parents have a comprehensive plan. To opt out students must go to studentbenefits.ca between July

1 to Sept. 30.

“Every single year we try to make it as easy as possible for students to opt out,” Avila said. “That’s something we always want to highlight because we want to be as transparent as possible.”

The USC plans to run a campaign to draw attention to the opt-out option and process.

ACCESSING THE PLAN Students who choose to keep the health and dental plan should be aware of a number of things to maximize its usefulness.

To access the health and dental plan coverage students need to go to studentbenefits.ca. Just sign in with your Western student ID and the rest of the site is fairly straightforward.

Avila said this year the USC is launching an app so that students can directly access their plan and claims card on their mobile devices.

The app is scheduled to launch sometime in September.

At some locations, such as the pharmacy in the UCC basement, deductions are taken automatically when you state you are coved under the USC health plan. But at many other locations, students need to pay for their health and dental services and later file claims.

Reimbursement claims can be made for a service or medication right on the site and all claims must be made within six months.

Coverage

What’s Covered

Accidental dental

• 80% covered • Maximum $1,500 per year

Ambulance

• 80% covered

• Acupuncturist • Podiatrist • Chiropractor • Massage therapist • Naturopath • Nutritionist/Dietitian • Occupational therapy • Osteopath • Physiotherapist • Speech therapist

Being in control of what you eat in residence can be pretty difficult, with the lack of kitchens in most buildings and unhealthy cafeteria options. Even with the spectre of the “freshman 15” on your mind, there are ways to eat healthy and be successful in controlling your diet.

GRAB THE FRUIT Every residence dining hall has fruit that you can grab at some point before you leave in the morning for class — take one and throw it in your bag. It’s a healthy and easy snack during class and buying fruit is relatively inexpensive. Plus, when you buy 10 pieces of fruit, you get one for free.

SALADS While not the most groundbreaking option, salads are a great way to increase your vegetable intake while living in residence. Most cafeterias have a salad bar where you can choose a wide variety of vegetable toppings. Consider throwing in some of the meat options as well (such as chicken, eggs or tuna) to turn the salad into a meal. Be sure to change it up from time to time, otherwise eating the same thing can get stale – and you never know what you might end up enjoying!

PEANUT BUTTER This is easy to have in your room and it’s packed full of nutritional benefits, as it’s high in protein and

a filling snack. It’s also been linked to reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes and other unenviable health conditions. As well, you can put it on anything — rice crackers, fruit, vegetables and bread — so it’s a very versatile spread to have lying around.

LOOK OUT FOR FRESH APPROVED OPTIONS Knowing what’s good for you when you buy food at the dining hall can always be a little tricky. Beyond some of the more obvious examples (sorry, the extra cheesy scalloped potatoes are not the most healthy), it can be hard to discern what the healthiest options are. Luckily, there are Fresh approved options that are healthy as determined by a group of students studying nutrition.

• Nutritionist/Dietitian: 100% coverage up to $320 per year • No session maximum

Counselling (registered psychologist or social worker)

• 100% covered • $500 per year

Vision care

• $70 for an eye exam every 2 years

Prescription drugs

• 80% covered • Maximum $5,000 per year

Dental exams (diagnostic & preventative)

• 100% covered • Maximum $750 per year

Travel coverage

• Maximum of 90 days per trip • Maximum $5,000,000 per incident

GRAPHICS BY JORDAN MCGAVIN WHAT’S COVERED The health plan covers appointments to the: acupuncturist, podiatrist, chiropractor, massage therapist, naturopath, occupational therapy, physiotherapist, osteopath, counselling and speech therapy.

Other areas that are covered include emergency care, travel care, vision care, diabetic supplies and vaccinations. For a full list of items covered students simply need to look under the “My coverage” tab.

Eating healthy in residence ...

BRADLEY METLIN DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR @BRADLEYMETLIN

• 100% coverage up to $320 per year • Session maximum of $40 per visit

HAVE SNACKS IN YOUR ROOM AND USE YOUR MINI FRIDGE There are so many things that you could buy from the dining hall but sometimes making things in your room is just easier and cheaper.

Instant oatmeal is quick, simple and more convenient; rice crackers are a healthier snack than chips; you can keep Greek yogurt in your fridge; have your own collection of tea to substitute for pop from the caf — the possibilities are endless. Having snacks in your room also can quickly make you very popular amongst your floor.

DARK CHOCOLATE Firstly, dark chocolate has a surprising amount of health benefits: antioxidants, improved blood flow and lots of nutritional factors. It also has a strong flavour so it only takes a few squares to feel satisfied.

ESTABLISH A ROUTINE Skipping breakfast and/or lunch is easy to get into the habit of but unhealthy in the long run. So getting into a routine despite your changing class schedule is key. Ideally, you should aim to have five meal times throughout the day to balance your blood sugar — breakfast, lunch, a snack, dinner and another snack.

Ultimately, finding what works for you is the most important. Eat when you want to eat and remember it’s always okay to indulge in things that are unhealthy in moderation.

Some say it’s hard to be healthy in residence but if you’re sensible and smart, it can totally happen.

RESOURCES ON CAMPUS Avila explained that many resources are easily accessible to students at Western. Within the UCC basement there is physiotherapy, massage therapy, an optometrist, chiropractor and pharmacy. Resources can be found across campus such as massage therapy which is located within the UCC, the Western Student Recreation Centre and the Fowler Kennedy Clinic.

Students can access some dental

care directly on campus through the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.

To find out about more services students can browse through Western’s Health and Wellness website.

Unlike most standard insurance plans, the student plan runs from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31 of any given year.

So make sure to make the most use of your insurance while you can.

Getting past being homesick is possible RITA RAHMATI NEWS EDITOR @RITARAHMATI September 2013 was my first time away from home. I lived in Richmond Hill since the age of two, I’d had the same best friend since I was eight and never spent more than two nights away from my parents.

Throughout the summer leading up to my first year at Western, I was over the moon and kept daydreaming about O-Week. I bought decorations for my dorm and loads of new outfits. But only a few hours after being in London, I felt homesick.

My very first night I cried in front of my brand new roommate.

Homesickness was a new feeling that I’d never had or thought I’d experience.

As I walked around campus over the next few days I felt trapped. I was miles away from my family and I felt like the campus was suffocating me. It felt as if the walls of Social Sci were closing in on me.

Throughout O-Week the Phillip Phillips song “Home” kept on playing and everytime O-Week leaders claimed Western would feel like home, I wanted to scream at them.

Fast-forward to the end of O-Week and I felt somewhat better.

O-Week wasn’t the best week of my life — but by the end it wasn’t so bad.

I liked my floor and looked forward to classes starting.

Let out a huge sigh of relief after my first class. I was relieved because I knew I chose the right program but Western still didn’t feel like home.

Fast-forward to Thanksgiving weekend. I visited home for the first time since leaving and simply being surrounded by family brought about a sense of calmness and belonging that I hadn’t felt once in my month and a half at Western.

I’d love to give you a list of tips and tell you exactly what I did to get through my homesickness, but I can’t. It just happened gradually and organically — I still don’t know exactly what ended my homesickness.

When I returned to Western after Thanksgiving things started falling into place. I made a group of friends that made me feel at ease. I had friends to study with, to play board games with and to just be myself around.

By the time I was leaving for winter break I knew I’d miss Western so very much and couldn’t wait to return.

It took me almost two months to get rid of homesickness and I still feel it for a few hours every time I return after a long period at home, but I get through it more quickly now. I consider myself very lucky because I get to say that I have two homes, and I hope each frosh will be able to say the same thing.

• www.westerngazette.ca

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016 • 15

... Taking care of yourself

Student support at western events

Support

dates

{ September } • Excitement over independence and new freedoms • Meeting many new people (especially during O-week) • Possible homesickness • Possible anxiety over course work, social life and rez

• Your LAMP leader, soph or RA are great resources for tips on how to succeed at the balancing act of university life

sept 4-10: Orientation week

• You can visit rezlife.uwo.ca to find out about events happening in residence

Sept 20-23: Clubs week

Sept 8: first day of classes

{ October } • First set of university exams and disappointment over possible grade drop • Potential roommate problems • Turkey dumps are common • Possible money/budgeting issues

• Seek academic help from the Student development centre

Oct 10: thanksgiving holiday

• Speak to your RA about roommate concerns

oct 22: homecoming

• Visit financial counselling in the Student Services building to develop a personal budget

oct 27-28: fall study break

{ November } • academic stress and anxiety continue to rise as assignments, midterms and papers are due • new friendships and relationships solidify

• seek out help through conselling offered by psychological services in the student services building

nov 6: dAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS - ENJOY THE EXTRA hour!

• continue to seek support when needed: profs, lamp, counselling services, housing staff, sophs

• excitement or anxiety about going home for holidays • Possible family conflicts over new boundaries/rules

• learn from the mistakes you made during midterms. adjust your studying and exam-taking methods accordingly • seek support and guidance from sophs, profs and/or counselling when necessary

Health And Fitness In university, you’ll find yourself juggling multiple aspects of life – academics, social life, extra-curricular activities – and it’s very easy to neglect your physical health; However, getting some exercise in throughout your week will not only keep your body fit, but also your mind.

Why should you make time to excercise? short 10 to 40 minute bursts of exercise lead to an immediate boost in concentration and mental focus.

A+ Students have a gpa that’s 0.4 higher on average than students who don’t exercise.

The antidepressant effects of running are also associated with cell growth in the brain area responsible for learning and memory.

Tips and tricks

find a workout buddy: someone who will help motivate you and make exercising fun.

Follow the Western Rec centre on Twitter. They tweet out how busy the gym is every 30 min.

be realistic about your schedule and exercise goals. don’t be discouraged if you have to take it slow in the beginning.

join an intramural team. it inspires commitment.

take the chance to walk around campus when you can.

Getting started is the hardest part!

{ December } • stress and anxiety over preparing for final exams and finishing final projects

A student’s guide to...

dec 7: last day of classes dec 8-9: pre-exam period study days dec 10-21: first-term final exams

attend a workout class at the rec centre. it’s motivating to work out with other people.

Sources: Aaron Rhode (year 5, Kinesiology), Eric Trinh (year 5, health sciences), Olivia McAllister (year 3, nutrition and dietetics)

GRAPHICS BY AMY O’KRUK WORDS BY DRISHTI KATARIA

{ January } • excited or sad to return to campus and routine • new semester and fresh start will reinvigorate academic motivation • Possible confusion over whether you chose the right program

• seek guidance from career counselling offered by the student success centre

jan 5: classes resume

• visit your faculty’s academic counselling for possible course/program inquiries

Your Roman Catholic community on campus

{ February } • students may experience winter blues (make sure to get adequate vitamin d!)

• reach out to the various support networks mentioned

feb 20-24: reading week feb 20: family day

• possible stress and anxiety over MOUNTING academic pressure

• possible worrIES over summer PLANS/ employment

• visit career counselling and various career workshops held by the student success centre

5:00 p.m. - Elizabeth A. “Bessie” Labatt Hall at King’s University College (Epworth Avenue)

• ask upper-year students, sophs and housing staff questions YOU HAVE about future living arrangments

Other programs/prayers: Sacraments, Daily Eucharist, Adoration, Taizé prayer, Pastoral counselling, Social justice and outreach, Lectures, Retreats, and more

{ april } • end of term pressure, exam and final projects stress • sadness over leaving new friends and relationships

• seek support and guidance from profs, sophs and counselling when necessary

Come join us for Sunday Eucharist 10:30 a.m. - ‘The Chapel’ at 1486 Richmond Street (at Windermere Road)

{ March } • planning for second year: living arrangements AND academic program

CHRIST THE KING UNIVERSITY PARISH

apr 7: last day of classes apr 9-30: second term final exams apr 14: good friday apr 16: easter sunday

Office of Campus Ministry, King’s University College 519-963-1477 campusministry@kings.uwo.ca www.kings.uwo.ca/campus-ministry

Find us online!

www.westerngazette.ca

16 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

•

Mustang pride ...

Mustangs to watch

You’re on varsity – what now?

ANNIE RUETER CULTURE EDITOR @ANNIERUETER1 So you’re coming into your first year at Western as a varsity athlete hopeful. Knowing what to expect is an important part of not only being physically ready but also for grappling with some of the more intangible challenges of being on a varsity team. My own experience on a varsity team in first year was one of the best experiences I’ve had at Western despite its challenges.

First, the upsides; you’ll make great friends with whom you have a lot in common. Volker Nolte, head coach of men’s and women’s rowing, says, “If you ask former student-athletes about the memories of university, literally all memories are with the sport team.”

After all, you and your teammates dedicate 10-15 hours to practice each week and generally share the same priorities and goals. You’ll also have a pre-established community when you arrive at Western and may have forged some connections early on if your sport requires a pre-season training camp.

As a varsity athlete, you’ll also be forced to develop time management

skills. Between class, practice, competitions and maintaining a social life, you’ll learn to prioritize like nobody’s business. Paul Midgley, head coach of swimming, says, “To be able to do well academically while committing to being a varsity athlete creates a special type of individual.”

This skill is a blessing but only after it stops being a curse. “At university, [athletes] are now responsible on their own and sometimes they underestimate how challenging this is,” says Nolte. “So, [athletes] miss to ask for support from their teammates, the coaches or Western services, which are all available to them.”

“Let people support you − ask for help,” Nolte advises.

Finally, there is a huge sense of accomplishment in being on a varsity team. Years from now you’ll look back and remember the hardest workouts and the most intense competitions and wonder how you did it. There will be one practice you remember that you absolutely crushed, and that feeling never goes away.

But sporting that purple jacket on campus doesn’t come without its difficulties.

JONATHAN DUNN GAZETTE

MIKE DEBOER SPORTS EDITOR @MIKEATGAZETTE

One of the most challenging aspects is the step up in terms of performance level, says Nolte. The frequency and intensity of workouts can be physically draining and make you sore.

Did I walk like the Tin Man for days after my very first weight session? Yes. Did it eventually become part of a relatively painless routine?

You bet.

To remedy the physical strain on your body, establish a self-care routine and be consistent. Cool down, sleep well and know what your body needs – honour that.

Sometimes it may feel like you’re missing out from residence life. You may feel like you are jetting off to practice just as a new floor-mate invites you to the caf for dinner, especially in the first few weeks.

Don’t worry. Even though you’ll spend less time in residence, you will make connections, especially if you make the most of the time you are there.

Your varsity experience will likely make up your first year’s highest highs and lowest lows. So, wear your purple jacket with pride. Honour yourself and your team – You won’t regret a moment of it.

As August winds down and the summer begins to fade into memory, the Western Mustangs are poised to contend for provincial and national championships.

Here are the five teams most likely to succeed in 2016-17.

1. WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL The 2014 season saw the women’s volleyball program establish themselves as one of the nation’s top squads, earning an Ontario University Athletics bronze medal.

Though the team was ready to soar last season, the Mustangs repeated as OUA bronze medalists.

The Mustangs will be led by third year middle Kelsey Veltman, a CIS first-team All-Canadian in 2015 who led the CIS in blocks per set with 1.32 per frame and the OUA with 4.3 points per set.

Veltman’s fellow third-year teammate Katie McKenna explains they’re using last year’s bronze medal to inspire them.

“We know the entire league will be gunning extra hard to get a medal but I think we have the talent and drive to get a banner for Western this year,” McKenna said.

Also watch for Aja Gyimah, Taylor Beedie and Candice Scott to play key roles as the team looks to win their first national championship since 1976.

The team opens their season on Oct. 30 at home against Ryerson.

2. FOOTBALL It’s been 22 years since the Western Mustangs football team took down the Saskatchewan Huskies 50-40 in an epic showdown to win the Vanier Cup. Now they’re hungry for a return to glory.

A strong incoming recruiting class is led by Chris Merchant, a transfer from the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s University of Buffalo, playing for their Buffalo Bulls, a Division I program that competes in the MidAmerican Conference. Merchant was the top ranked Canadian quarterback recruit in 2014 after two successful seasons at St.

A sport for every student ...

CHARLIE O’CONNOR CLARKE SPORTS EDITOR @CHARLIEJCLARKE When you think about university sports, two things immediately come to mind: varsity and intramurals. Those are the conventional ways for students to continue with the sports they played in high school. However, neither option necessarily works for everyone.

Varsity sports unfortunately aren’t a realistic option for many students. They’re extremely competitive and the required time commitment alone puts many off.

The logical alternative for most students is intramurals, of which there’s no shortage at Western.

However even that can be a bit too much for some people.

Luckily, it’s still possible to get involved in sports at Western without the commitment of varsity or the fuss of intramurals.

INDOOR SPORTS The Rec Centre should be every student’s go-to for all their athletic endeavours. There’s a long list of services offered to Western students and the majority of them are free.

The weightroom and cardio section are both well-equipped for the many students who visit almost every day.

Not everyone is just looking for a gym workout, though. Fortunately, if you’re someone who likes to stay fit by playing sports, the Rec Centre has you covered as well.

The Rec Centre allows students to borrow equipment for most indoor sports, from volleyball to basketball to badminton and use in one of the building’s five gymnasia.

Table tennis paddles can be rented as well, as can squash balls and racquets for the five squash courts on the lower level of the building.

Thompson Arena (inside the Rec Centre) features an NHL-sized ice

rink. It’s not uncommon for a group of friends to book an hour of ice time there at a reduced student rate.

OUTDOOR SPORTS If that’s still not enough, there’s a tennis club located on campus.

The University Tennis Centre has six courts and a reduced membership rate for students. Courts can be booked seven days a week and beginners can sign up for lessons.

To top it all off, many Londoners take advantage of the heavy snow that covers the city in winter by heading to the ski hill at Boler Mountain. For Western students going skiing on Wednesdays, fourhour lift tickets are sold for $20.

With so many options, it’s almost hard not to participate in some kind of sport at Western.

JONATHAN DUNN GAZETTE

Andrew’s College.

The team opens their season on Aug. 28 at home against Windsor.

3. MEN’S HOCKEY After their 5-1 quarterfinal loss to New Brunswick at last year’s University Cup, the athletes knew the team had surpassed expectations in reaching the national championship tournament and would take their success and heartbreak to come back in 201617 ready to contend for a ring.

A number of the key players on that University Cup squad will be returning for redemption.

The team opens their season on Oct. 7 against the Guelph Gryphons.

4. WOMEN’S RUGBY The women’s rugby program won its second straight OUA bronze medal last season, beating the Queen’s Golden Gaels both years to place third in the province.

The Mustangs will head into 2016 with a new full time head coach, as John Weller replaced the retiring Natascha Wesch at the helm. The team will be returning with its CIS second team AllCanadian Nikki Case, who will be heading into her third season.

The team opens its season on Sept. 7, taking on the McMaster Marauders in London.

5. WOMEN’S HOCKEY Last season was a special one for Western hockey, as both programs appeared in their respective national championship tournaments. The women’s squad, who won the 2015 CIS gold medal, lost to the Calgary Dinos in the consolation semi-final.

After a season rebuilding, former head coach David Barrett was replaced by former assistant Kelly Patton. Barrett led the program to unprecedented success in his two seasons at the helm of the program, compiling a 60-17-10 record with two OUA titles and an aforementioned national championship, the first in the team’s history.

Patton looks to continue the upward trend with a highly touted 2016 recruiting class.

The team opens its season on Oct. 7 against Guelph.

• www.westerngazette.ca

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016 • 17

... welcome ... Mustang to Western pride

Traditions to keep purple pride alive CLAIRE PALMER SPORTS EDITOR @CLAIREATGAZETTE Western is one Canada’s oldest universities. Founded in 1878, the school has had over a hundred years of traditions that have stood the test of time. Here’s a few of Western’s greatest traditions that you should be sure to check out throughout your years at Western.

Rick’s Wednesdays Rick McGhie has been a staple of entertainment at Western for over 35 years. Performing at the on-campus bar, The Spoke (every Wednesday), Rick has become one of the most beloved traditions at Western.

Students love Rick so much you can barely hear him over the sound of students belting out the lyrics to “Sweet Caroline” with him. Rick isn’t just limited to the Spoke — he often performs around campus during Frosh week. He’s also been known to venture out of the 519 to play venues filled with Western alumni, who still enjoy the Western staple years after graduating.

On-campus and Off-campus eating Western is full of traditions for your inner foodie. On-campus, nothing beats a classic Spoke bagel to start your day off right. Spoke bagels are some of the best bagels around, and many say you aren’t truly a Western student until you’ve scarfed one down after a long night in Weldon.

If bagels aren’t your speed, you can try one of the Spoke’s CLT wraps, which are a big part of any student’.s diet. Off-campus, King Richie’s has the best pizza in town, and luckily it’s only a few steps from the main gates. Open late, it’s your best bet when you’re coming home late from Weldon or the Ceeps. Other favourite include Barakat and Christina’s Pub. Mustangs’ fight song Every year, Western athletics are a force to be reckoned with as they dominate at the Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport levels. Our football team has won six Vanier

Cups (the national title) and has appeared in the provincial championship twice in the last three years. Teams like cheerleading, squash, rowing, lacrosse and softball, all dominate their leagues, winning championships year after year.

The Mustangs fight song is a way for students to support their teams when they go out to the games and to express their Mustang pride. It first became the official school song in 1928 and is followed by Caninny, the Western cheer. Although its popularity has died off in recent years, you will hear the marching band perform it at every game they go to. It’s time to dust this old tradition off!

HOCO Homecoming is huge at Western.

Mustangs have an unparalleled amount of pride in our school and it all comes out in a sea of purple on Homecoming weekend. The whole weekend is a celebration of the school, its students and alumni as people congregate for a whole slew of events. The festivities are all staged around one of the most hyped-up football games of the year and the celebrations go well beyond campus. As long as you’re wearing purple, you’re guaranteed a good time. Even with Homecoming getting pushed back into October, it’s sure to be a weekend full of purple pride and great fun.

Traybogganing If you are in residence, this is a big one for you. Blessed by being located in the ‘snow belt’ with a hill right at the centre of campus, Western may as well be training our next Olympic luging team. It’s a longstanding tradition to sneak cafeteria trays out after dinner and bring them over to UC hill where you can enjoy sliding through the snow on your tray. Dress warmly because no one wants to be stuck walking home in cold wet pants. Despite the cold, traybogganing is a good time that is sure to bring out your inner child. It makes the snow a little bit more bearable and can help you de-stress during December exams.

Just don’t get caught sneaking the trays back in!

Frosh Bucket List

50 things to do before you graduate Make purple Jell-o shots for Homecoming Go ‘Traybogganing’ down UC Hill on cafeteria trays‘ Go to The Spoke to watch Rick McGhie perform on Wednesdays Pull an all-nighter studying at Club Weldon

Get paid for being a part of a psych experiment Take a handful of free condoms from your RA Waste a day before an exam watching Netflix Start chatting with someone at the bars before realizing they’re from Fanshawe

Win Ceeps bingo

Dance on the stage at Jack’s and regret your decision the next day

Watch the engineer’s Pumpkin Drop in October

Film a lip-dub with your floor

Go to the the Homecoming football game Eat a Spoke bagel Get a selfie with our mascot JW

Take a picture on UC Hill so everyone on social media knows you go to Western Finish an essay at the last minute and then brag when you do better than classmates Actually use the coupons in your Westernizer

Drink with a prof or TA

Display all your empties on your windowsill

Play on an intramural team

Take a course at an affiliate

Go skating at Victoria Park

Visit an exhibition opening at the McIntosh Gallery Buy a grilled cheese from the grilled cheese food truck

Barely escape a geese attack Order pizza from King Richie’s

Run in the Terry Fox Run

Ride the bull at Cowboy’s

Get into either Middlesex or UC Tower

Make green pancakes for St. Patty’s day

Spend an hour in line at Starbucks

Do the Bunny Hop pub crawl for Easter

Use up all of your meal plan by December

Skip a class because you’re hungover

Do the Halloween walk of shame in a costume

Write for The Gazette!

Be in a Western TV streeter

Get Foot Patrol to walk you home

Refuse to call your sophs by their real names even once they’ve revealed their soph stories

Make a fake soph team and run around campus during O-Week

Successfully avoid floorcest

Go to class in your PJ’s

Go stargazing at the Cronyn Observatory

Go to trivia night at the The Spoke

Gain the freshman 15, then lose the freshman 15

Sunbathe on concrete beach

Throw your own house party/kegger

Add The Gazette on Snapchat and other social media

Complete everything on this bucket list

More than just the best

clothing

OPEN

MON - SAT IN SEPT

Greyhound • LTC Tickets Bus Pass Replacement • Locker Rentals Mustang Express Stickers • Event Tickets

www.thepurplestore.ca • 519.661.3811 COURTESY OF ELIZABETH ZEPPA

Main Level (Atrium), UCC Building

www.westerngazette.ca

18 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

Welcomecommunity Campus to Western ... ...

•

Western facts & history RITA RAHMATI NEWS EDITOR @RITARAHMATI

AMY O'KRUK GAZETTE

Finding the best study spots on campus SABRINA FRACASSI NEWS EDITOR @SABFRACASSI Sometimes life in residence can get pretty hectic in first year. The constant flow of people outside your door might make you eventually wonder, “Doesn’t anybody have any work to do?!” Do not fret new Mustangs, I’m here to help you figure out where your best study places on campus are. That way, when your work is done for the day, you can join your fellow floor mates in doing absolutely nothing.

It’s important to understand that you do not have to limit your studying strictly to the library. As you explore the campus you will find that there are tons of study spots right outside your classrooms!

Social Sciences Centre Located next to the UCC and connected to it by tunnels, you can’t miss this building near the centre of campus. It is extremely large and most students taking social science classes will find themselves in this building at least once.

The size of this building means that there are many study spots to be found. The first three floors have designated study areas but if you explore around the building, specifically where the professors’ offices are located, you will find some secluded study spots as well.

Underground tunnels connecting to the UCC and Weldon Library also make this building an asset on cold or rainy days.

North Campus Building Located right next to Delaware Hall, this building is pretty modern and houses Science and Faculty of Information and Media Studies offices.

Since it is a newer building, it is a lot easier to find a spot with a power

outlet next to it compared to other study locations on campus. Also, this building is not as high traffic as the main libraries or the SSC so you can study in relative peace.

Arts and Humanities Building The Arts and Humanities building is – you guessed it – the heart for all Arts and Humanities students. This building is located near the top of UC Hill.

There is a designated study area on the first floor which means that you can usually find a seat easily.

And, if it’s busy you can go next door to the International and Graduate Affairs Building which has a decentsized study space as well. If you want a quiet spot to study, this may be the place for you.

AMY O'KRUK GAZETTE

The UCC The UCC is the heart of Western.

The Spoke and Wave, Centre Spot, the Gazette, CHRW, the University Students’ Council offices and so much more are all located here.

The second and third floors, as well as the Mustang Lounge, are all pretty good study spots. Being located in the centre of campus it’s usually pretty easy to get there

and you have the largest selection of food close to you. When you are done studying and want to wind down, grab a beer at the Spoke with your friends and if it’s Thursday, play Spoke trivia!

Physics and Astronomy Building Some fondly call it PandA. Many people don’t think about studying in this building but the converted courtyard makes it a gorgeous study spot.

This building is usually pretty quiet. Located right in front of Natural Sciences, you can find study spots in the building’s atrium or empty classrooms. Also there are a lot of power outlets to keep your electronics charged up. Grabbing food from the Nat Sci cafeteria is also convenient in the winter if you use the tunnel connecting the buildings.

Any open classroom … Anywhere!

Open classrooms are, in my opinion, the best study spots on campus. You may not have a lot of success trying to snag a classroom during the day, but on nights and weekends, open classrooms are students’ best friends.

You can go alone or with a big group of friends, it doesn’t matter because you can keep the noise level at whatever you choose! The big white boards that you can use to write on are also a plus. The likelihood of finding one is pretty high considering the number of classrooms on campus. Finally, your options are endless — Middlesex College, Somerville House, Talbot College — the choice is yours!

While this isn’t an exhaustive list of all the study places you can find, it’s a start. We recommend exploring campus, trying out different study spots and figuring out what works best for you!

For an interactive map of study spots, visit: westerngazette.ca/frosh

• Western was established on March 7, 1878, under the name Western University of London Ontario • Huron University College is older than Western and was founded in 1863 • Brescia College was founded in 1919 • King’s University College was founded in 1954 • In 1881, 15 students were enrolled vs. 36,000+ students are enrolled in 2016 • The original faculties were: Arts, Divinity, Law and Medicine vs. in 2016 there are 12 faculties • The Gazette was founded in 1906 • In 1908 Western was made non-denominational • Western’s first president was Nathaniel Chamney James (appointed 1908), today’s president is Amit Chakma (appointed 2009) • The current campus was purchased from the Kingsmill family in 1916 • The first buildings built on the new campus were University College and Physics and Astronomy • Sir Frederick Banting, a former Western faculty member, received the Nobel Prize for discovering insulin • There are nine residences. Medway-Sydnham is the oldest (1958), Ontario Hall is the newest residence (2013) • The Rec Centre was built with the largest student donation fund in Canadian history - $35 million - inside there’s an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a hockey arena • Western has over 190 clubs • Western has five sororities and eight fraternities • Our cheerleaders have won the Canadian Championships eight years in a row • There are 15 libraries and resource centres across campus • Western has over 280,000 alumni, living in 156 countries

WHERE WILL YOU END UP? Western University tracks where all of its alumni are around the world. Here’s a look at the numbers as of May 2015.

In Ontario...

Southwestern Ontario Central Ontario

45.4 %

Eastern Ontario Northern Ontario

2.9%

45.0 %

90%

45.0%

of alumni remain In Ontario

TOP FIVE ONTARIO CITIES: 1. LONDON 2. TORONTO 3. KITCHENER/ WATERLOO 4. HAMILTON/ BURLINGTON 5. OTTAWA/HULL

NT

YT

NU

NL 1,117

197

BC 8,310

AB 5,962

SK 725

MB 1,117

QC 2,839 PE 171

ON 197,150 NB 707

INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI UNITED 9,374 STATES CHINA

1,792

UNITED KINGDOM

885

NS 1,274

PASS PORT

: 3,759 l other 8 and al and: 53 al Ze New ralia & 5, Aust dies: 1,13 West In

17,483

Total Alumni Abroad

Otherwise, of Western’s 293,519 alumni...

?

37,723

cannot be located

source: http://www.ipb.uwo.ca/

AMY O'KRUK GAZETTE

16,189 are dead

3,249 would only provide an email

• www.westerngazette.ca

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016 • 19

... Campus community

Embracing the Western bubble JESSICA WOOLSON GAZETTE SENIOR STAFF RITA RAHMATI NEWS EDITOR There's a lot of talk about the “Western bubble” but what is it really?

It can have different interpretations but is the bubble really a bad thing? Western’s campus is a city within a city. Students have access to all the necessities and luxuries of a small town. Here’s just some of the things students can use without ever stepping foot off campus.

FOOD Eateries — There are 28 campus eateries ranging from coffee shops (there’s literally a Tim Horton’s on every corner), to fast-food eateries (Subway, Pita Pit), to sit down restaurants (The Wave, Green Leaf Café).

Groceries — There’s a campus grocery store located in the UCC basement with fresh produce, snacks and even a deli section.

Students can even order food online and have it delivered straight to their door.

RECREATION Another area of healthy living is physical fitness and Western’s Recreation Centre does not disappoint. With a state of the art facility, high-end equipment, 29 group fitness classes, eight intramural leagues and membership fees already included in tuition, it’s hard to imagine that any student would feel the need to buy a gym membership elsewhere.

ENTERTAINMENT Bars — The Spoke and The Grad Club might not be on Richmond Row, but they can most definitely get you turnt up. The Wave offers various concerts throughout the year and the Spoke also has many live-music nights.

Musicals — The Don Wright Faculty of Music stages around 400 performances each year and presents some of the most talented students at Western. The Paul Davenport Theatre located in Talbot College hosts more than 200 performances per year and seats 400 people.

Western Film — Located on the second floor of the UCC, Western Film is a cheap and convenient movie theatre for students. On regular nights tickets are $3.50 for students and on Tuesdays $2.50 for students. As well, snacks and beverages are sold for a far cheaper price than any off-campus theatre.

Cronyn Observatory — The observatory is something you’ll want to check out before you graduate. When exploring the stars here, you’re sure to forget you’re on campus.

WELLNESS AND SERVICES Many health and wellness services are conveniently located in the basement of the UCC. For these health providers, students can use their University Students’ Council health plan coverage.

Student Health Services — All

full-time and part-time students at Western and the affiliates have access to the medical clinic located in the basement of the UCC. SHS provides medical, counselling, testing and other health-related services and also offers urgent appointments for medical issues.

University Pharmacy — Here you can get your prescriptions, buy medical supplies and a range of over-the -counter drugs. The pharmacy is also a convenience store filled with snacks, cosmetic supplies and more.

In addition to these services, Western also offers an array of other medical services including (but not limited to): chiropractic, massage therapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, sports medicine, nutrition, optometry and speech and hearing clinics, as well as laboratory services.

Haircut — Having a hair salon on campus isn’t something every university can boast about. Spirit Hair Studio is located in the basement of UCC and does everything from blowouts, to hair colouring to facial waxing. It’s usually not busy and you can get an appointment fast.

Mail — A Canada Post office is located in the UCC pharmacy. All residence front desks accept mail so students are able to shop online all they want.

Police — Did a crime take place?

Well you can report it right here on campus to Campus Police. Campus Police offers an array of services including patrol & response, investigations and crime prevention. For non-emergencies call 519-661-3300.

SHOPPING The Purple Store and The Book Store — To get all your Western gear including sweaters, gym clothes and tutus check out The Purple Store or The Bookstore, both located in the UCC. Also in The Book Store you can buy all the necessary school supplies (notebooks, pens, etc.), leisure books, gifts, cards and much more.

Both stores also offer items you might need at a moments notice including shoes, umbrellas and jackets.

For a longer list of things that make Western a small city, visit westerngazette.ca/frosh.

Number of full-time, first-year, main campus students

18.6

Data based on 2016-17 information.

Top 5 countries data based on 2015-16 information.

JORDAN MCGAVIN GAZETTE

CALL (519) 933-9331

www.westerngazette.ca

20 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

•

Welcome Beyond the tobubble Western ... ...

Burst the bubble HALA GHONAIM OPINIONS EDITOR @UWOGAZETTE

AARON MALLETT GAZETTE

London’s grass is greener

ANNIE RUETER CULTURE EDITOR @ANNIERUETER1 The hills are alive with the sound of… frosh and rave music? UC Hill, one of Western’s many green spaces, hosts the majority of events during O-Week; as a result, UC Hill may feel like old news after O-Week.

But if you’re looking for some greenery beyond the Hill, there is an abundance of green space to be explored within five kilometres of Western campus.

London, known as the forest city, has over 22 km of bike trails and 200 parks to be explored and serve as a healthy escape from Weldon.

Green spaces not only beautify a city, but also have a positive impact on overall wellbeing and health, says a recent study found in Scientific Reports, that examined the health of Torontonians who were exposed to greenery in an urban setting.

So let’s grab our bikes and start our tour along the Thames Valley Parkway!

The Thames Valley Parkway is one of the easiest green spaces to access from campus and connects a series of parks. Starting in

the portion of the trail known as “Banana Kingdom”, the trail can take us from the student neighbourhood behind Med-Syd all the way along the Thames River to Byron, a suburb of London, or almost all the way to Fanshawe Conservation Area.

We dodge some of London’s infamous geese as we enter Gibbons Park where the trail is flanked by willow trees and picnic areas. We hop off our bikes to stop for a picnic under the gazebo and watch families flock to the splash pad, pool, playground and tennis courts.

Continuing along the trail, we cycle through Harris Park and eventually hit the fork in the trail where we can choose to continue to the lovely Springbank Park in Byron or Meadowlily Woods.

But today, instead of continuing through the park system along the TVP, we turn off onto Queens Avenue and head up Richmond Street back toward — but not without a stop at Victoria Park.

Victoria Park is more than a lovely green space in downtown London; it hosts a number of cultural events throughout the year including outdoor concerts and the annual

“Lighting of the Lights” where every tree in the park is illuminated for the winter holidays.

As we pedal north on Richmond toward Oxford, we anticipate the end of our tour of green spaces within five kilometres of campus.

But wait – is that the London Transit Commission bus #17 coming to a stop? Why, yes it is.

The adventure isn’t over.

So we load our bikes onto the rack and settle in for the 30 minute ride westbound to Komoka Provincial Park.

After about half an hour, we hop off at Byron Baseline and Griffith and cycle the rest of the way to the park, which is located along the Thames River.

Unlike other parks along the Thames, Komoka offers hiking trails and even mountain biking in a few areas of the park. We opt for an hour and a half hike, taking in the variety of forest and even spot some deer along the way.

After a long day of exploring some of London’s green spaces, it’s time to hop back on the LTC and return to campus where UC Hill remains forever faithful.

Now that almost everyone and their dogs see that you’re #PurpleAndProud through an oversaturation of online posts, it’s time to leave this campus.

Sure, you’ve been hammered with “extraordinary” marketing campaigns, starting with Western’s 1,000 acres, but you’d be doing yourself a grave misfortune by staying within what feels like a prestigious gated community.

Whether you’re about to delve into Orientation Week or your final year, set a goal to get out of the cozy campus and into the forest city.

Unfortunately O-Week doesn’t encourage exploring the city, home to more than 350,000, which in turn discourages any further solitary wandering.

Once you feed on the Mustang propaganda, you’ll eventually chronically bleed purple, enjoy watching varsity sports and apply to be the next USC president. Jokes aside, the outcome might as well be just as bad. Seriously, you’ll wake up agitated in the middle of the night and notice a giant dome surrounding campus – the infamous Western bubble.

Although your tuition will serve your technical needs through numerous extracurriculars and endless facilities, what’s beyond the transcript will feed your emotional and mental cravings.

Broaden your horizons by exploring your likes and dislikes and yourself as an independent individual. Look for a therapeutic landmark and find your happy place – one that stretches beyond a drink on Richmond Row.

Wake up your senses, and smell, feel, touch and love the city you’re in; it’s what we make of our surroundings that reflect our experiences.

Not only is it important to get out of the Western bubble, but past your own as well. Exploring your surroundings entails the spectrum of people you’ll meet throughout the year.

There’s an array of students, from different backgrounds, that will immensely add to your university experience — only if you give them the chance. There’s a spectrum of students on this campus, and in #LdnOnt and it’s up to you to activate your moral senses Western can promise you an adequate education but it’s up to you to expand your knowledge beyond the classroom.

You’d be selling yourself short by restricting your experiences within campus walls.

Here are some places to start exploring in London: • Elsie Perrin Williams Estate – a picturesque greenery • Eldon House – an exquisite aesthetic • Fanshawe Pioneer Village – a time travelling space • The Grand Theatre – a breathe of fresh air • Greenway Park – a cycle through nature and a murky river • The Covent Garden Market – a wakeup call for your senses • Cherryhill Mall – a humbling stroll through what doubles as a retirement home • Junction Climbing Centre – a strenuous climb • Museum of Ontario Archaeology – a historic adventure • London Public Library – a mandatory relationship

• www.westerngazette.ca

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016 • 21

... Beyond the bubble

Public Transit on Campus

Using the LTC and Western shuttles

Natural Science - Trafalgar Heights/Bonaventure

2

Major stops: Natural Science, Wharncliffe & Oxford, Dundas & Richmond, Dundas & Adelaide, Dundas & Highbury

R D

Natural Science - Parkwood Institute

6

Major stops: Natural Science, University Hospital, Richmond & Oxford, Richmond & Dundas, High & Grand

R D

In addition to London Transit, the University Students’ Council operates extra transportation options for students. All of these services are free to students.

MUSTANG EXPRESS The Mustang Express is a late night shuttle that transports students from downtown London (after LTC busses stop operating). To catch the Mustang Express wait at bus stops along Richmond Row, but beware there is no specific schedule for the bus. The shuttle stops operating at 3a.m.

AFFILIATE BUS SERVICES There are shuttles buses from main campus to King›s and Brescia that make stops every 20 to 45 minutes.

The King’s shuttle stops at university gates, Elgin Hall, Middlesex College, Medical Science, Huron College, Alumni Hall, Talbot Hall and Sydenham Hall.

The Brescia shuttle stops at Alumni Hall, Talbot College, Sydenham Hall and King’s. For a full schedule, students should go to the Western USC’s website.

EXAM SHUTTLE During peak exam times in December and April the USC offers an exam shuttle for students studying late on campus. Typically, the shuttle leaves from Oxford Drive/ Weldon every half hour until 2a.m. or 4a.m. The shuttle follows four routes: Downtown-south of campus, west of campus, north of campus and east of campus. Keep an eye out later in the year for exact route details as shuttle details may vary from year to year.

RITA RAHMATI NEWS EDITOR @RITARAHMATI

10 M

13

Natural Science - White Oaks Mall Major stops: Masonville Mall, Natural Science, Alumni Hall, Wonderland & Oxford, Wonderland & Springbank, Westmount Mall

White Oaks Mall - Grenfell/Northridge Major stops: Masonville Mall, University Hospital, Delaware Hall, Richmond & Oxford, Richmond & Dundas

R D M

102 & 106

102 Downtown - 106 Natural Science Major stops: Natural Science, Richmond & Oxford, Richmond & Dundas, Wharncliffe & Oxford

R

King’s & Brescia

King’s - Brescia Major stops: King’s College, University Gates, Elgin Hall, Middlesex College, Medical Sci, Huron College, Alumni Hall, Talbot College, Sydenham Hall

R= via Richmond

D= stops Downtown

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M= stops at Masonville

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www.westerngazette.ca

22 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

•

Welcomebudget Student to Western ... ...

Jacks

Jacks

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King Richie’s

$5 craft beer

$1.25 beers

Molly Blooms

Martini Bar

Ceeps

McCabe’s

Molly Blooms

Ceeps

Wink’s Eatery

Barney’s

Loblaws, Metro McCabe’s 1/2 price & Valu-Mart

Barney’s

$6.25 martinis

1/2 price wings

$4 Coronas

$1.25 beers

1/2 price wings

$12 domestic pitchers

1/2 price nachos

10 per cent off with student card

19 cent wings after 8 p.m.

‘Therapy Thursdays’

medium pizza with one topping for $6.99

daily specials

Symposium

33 per cent off appetizers

bottles of wine

Molly Blooms 1/2 price wings

Tips for saving money on a student budget ...

RITA RAHMATI NEWS EDITOR @RITARAHMATI University is one of the most expensive choices you’re every going to make. It’s essential to save anywhere you can and to help we’ve gathered information on deals, hacks, tips on finding jobs and more.

work-study and bursaries as well if their course work and other commitments are too time consuming.

• Many first-year students automatically get an entrance scholarship based on their average • Western also has dozens of academic and merit-based scholarships students can apply for

FINDING FUNDS • Bursaries and scholarships The university doesn’t expect firstyear students to work due to the challenging transition from high school to university, so all they have to do is apply for a bursary.

Upper-year students can apply for

FINDING A JOB • Work Study approved students have access to hundreds of on-campus job options • On-campus jobs tend to be flexible around student schedules • Check out Career Central online • Students can browse through job

postings that range from on-campus to across the world • Students can also apply for internships, co-op placements and volunteer opportunities FOOD Don’t be fooled by your meal plan card. The costs may be out of sight but they won’t be out of mind when your card gets declined.

• Check your meal plan balance every few weeks to see if you’re spending too much.

• Look at the prices — sushi and meats cost more than grains, just like in the real world — Always remember: Tim’s is cheaper than

To place your classifed ad, please contact us at 519-661-3579 or adoffice@uwo.ca

theGazette

classifieds

EMPLOYMENT.

GYMNASTICS COACHES REQUIRED Gymworld Gymnastics is expanding into a new facility in North West London.

PUT YOUR SUDOKU SAVVY TO THE TEST! To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes.

For solution, turn to page 10

Starbucks • Don’t constantly eat out at restaurants and use your meal plan card • Using your meal plan card in residence cafeterias gives you a huge discount • Most grocery stores offer 10 per cent off to students on Tuesdays • If you live off-campus try to pack your meals • Attend meetings and events on campus for free food TEXTBOOKS Textbooks and other school supplies aren’t included in tuition fees, but they’re essential. If you’re smart about where you get supplies, you can save a great deal.

• Buy your textbooks used whenever you can.

• Check the Facebook groups or buy some off your sophs and RAs • Find someone a year older than you in the same program and buy textbooks off them each year • Check online to see if there’s a digital copy of your textbook — digital copies tend to be far cheaper than the physical copy • Wait until classes actually start to see if you need the textbook — sometimes professors say you don’t • Some professors put textbooks on two-hour reserves at Weldon • Split a textbook with a floormate, preferably your roommate RESIDENCE • Don’t use your laundry card too much • Wait until you have a big load or share a load with a friend • If you go home often, take laundry home with you • Don’t leave residence to party in first-year all the time • It’s the only time in your life you

Recreational and Competitive coaching positions available.

Great pay, flexible hours and on a bus route.

Please reply to Ildi at

info@gymworld.ca

HOUSING 5 BEDROOM HOUSE Old North. 80 Huron, large living room and dining room, hardwood floors, 2 4-piece baths, 2 fridges, stove, dishwasher, microwave. $525/bdrm includes utilities. Call Vic: 519-857-4232.

82 HURON 4 bedroom Old North. 5 min walk to Western, large living room, formal dining room, eatin kitchen, 2 4-piece baths, 2 fridges, 1 deep freeze, stove, dishwasher, washer, dryer. House well maintained inside and out. $525/bdrm includes utilities.

Call Vic: 519-857-4232.

SERVICES ENGLISH TUTOR: Tutor for all aspects of English available for private lessons. More than 30 years experience in teaching, professional report writing and staff training. Expertise in reading, writing, grammar, editing and content evaluation and organization.

Rate is $25 hourly, discounts for longer sessions.

Your satisfaction is guaranteed. Contact Bill for more information: bkenward@rogers.com

FOR SALE 2003 HONDA CIVIC. A few bumps and scrapes but mechanically great. 248,000 km. Asking $1,600.

Contact Jeff.wright1212@yahoo.com

265 & 267 – UCC BUILDING CREATIVESERVICES-USC.CA 519-661-3578

PRICES STARTING AT $5 SQ/Ft.

NATHAN KANTER GAZETTE

won’t need to cab or take public transportation to party with your friends and it saves a ton of money because drinks are cheaper than at bars TRANSPORTATION Most students are from out of town and don’t have a car. Whether it’s visits home for the weekend or getting a ride home from a party, transportation can certainly break the bank.

• Book your transportation early • Booking greyhounds in advance and online saves money — over the phone costs $10 extra • Booking airfare in advance can save you hundreds • Carpool — Join rideshare groups on Facebook like “London - GTA rides” • Full time students automatically get a London Transit bus pass, so try to make the most of it and use it • If you’re out late on Richmond Row try to take the Mustang Express RECREATION Aside from tuition and living expenses, it’s easy for students to lose track of their spending when going out with friends.

• Attend free events on campus — there’s literally always something happening • Go to Western Film or Rainbow Cinemas instead of Silver City • Use your Westernizer — there are lots of coupons in there and it gives you an excuse to visit the city • Use the Gazette’s Night Out Estimator to figure out how much you’ll spend partying on Richmond Row and budget accordingly For more tips and tricks to save money, visit westerngazette.ca/frosh.

• www.westerngazette.ca

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016 • 23

... welcome to Western PHOTO OF THE DAY

CROSSWORD

Could this bee any scarier?

These bees are a part of a new initiative by hospitality services to produce honey on campus – so if you see one, don’t kill it.

AARON MALLETT GAZETTE

WORD SEARCH

SUN PROTECTION WORD SEARCH AGE SPOT AGING BASAL CELLS

DAMAGING DANGEROUS DERMATOLOGIST DRYING EPIDERMIS ERYTHEMA FAIR GROWING

MELANIN MELANOMA OUTDOORS OVEREXPOSURE OZONE PEELING PHOTOSENSITIVITY PIGMENT

PROTECTION RADIATION RAYS REDNESS SKIN STAGES STINGS SUNBURN

SUNLIGHT SUNSCREEN SWEATING SWELLING TAN TRANSLUCENT TREATMENT WRINKLES

Write for us! volunteer@westerngazette.ca

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24 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

•

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Rob Sef : Live Upstairs!

WILD WEDNESDAYS RECESSION THURSDAYS

19¢ WINGS After 8pm NIGHT SCHOOL FRIDAYS FREE COVER for All Students 539 RICHMOND ST. LONDON Phone: 519.438.1876 - Guestlist info: Reservations@JacksLondon.com

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