WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2019
news@ufvcascade.ca Jessica Barclay — News Editor
NEWS
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NEWS BRIEFS
Voting on campus
UFV hosts advance polling for federal election “If you’re on campus, then literally why not?” Gill said. Canadians could vote at the camAdvance polling for the 2019 federal pus advance polls regardless of which election took place at UFV between riding they live in by presenting two Saturday, Oct. 5 and Wednesday, Oct. pieces of valid identification (or one 9 as part of a recent initiative by Elections Canada. Similar advance voting took place during the previous 2015 federal election, but the program only covered 39 post-secondary institutions. This time, a total of 119 campuses across Canada held advance polling. Students, faculty, and local community members were all able to vote at campus polls. Gurvir Gill, the Student Union Society’s (SUS) vice president external, is running the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations’ “Get Out the Vote” campaign here at UFV, which encour- if it is a driver’s licence or other govages students to pledge that they will ernment-issued card), at least one of vote. which should include the owner’s adGill said that on-campus polling dress. If such ID is unavailable, you would encourage students to vote by can be allowed to vote if you state your addressing potential students’ acces- identity and address in writing and sibility needs, especially considering have another person vouch for you. UFV’s status as a commuter campus.
ALEISTER GWYNNE
Chilliwack parade distributes “abortion goodie bags” On Saturday, Oct. 5, the Chilliwack Pregnancy Care Centre parade float at the Chilliwack Rosedale Harvest Festival handed out candy bags containing plastic fetuses and pro life messages to children and families. The event organizers did not apologize for the distribution of these “goodie bags,” but acknowledged that they had “caused unease,” stating that “We hope from here on out to limit the handing out exclusively to candy!” “Regardless of your stance on that topic, that is not appropriate for a family event. No apologies. Hurtful and insensitive to those who have suffered losses. So disappointed,” one parade attendee said over social media.
- Abby News
“Politics may not be for everyone, but there’s no harm in educating yourself.”
UFV //
UFV’s Student Support Centre A brand new support resource for students to access CARISSA WIENS
Federal government opposes Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s decision on compensating First Nations children The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s decision to compensate seized First Nations children who were taken from homes due to the on-reserve child welfare system is being challenged by the Liberal government. The tribunal ordered the government to pay $40,000 to each child taken from their home from Jan. 1, 2006 to an undetermined date, and to compensate parents and grandparents of apprehended children — which could result in billions in compensation. The government’s application to rescind the tribunal’s decision states that it is not opposing compensating First Nations peoples affected by systematic discrimination but that the level of compensation was inconsistent with the complaint and evidence presented.
- CBC News
Voter registration was possible at the campus polls, but Gill recommends registering to vote online beforehand to avoid delays or complications. “I think it was easy, very in and out,” Gill said about the online registration process. Gill also encouraged voters to become informed about candidates and their platforms. For those unsure about their decision, Gill said political surveys can be taken online which evaluate a person’s political priorities, and in some cases match them to a party or candidate. “Politics may not be for everyone, but there’s no harm in educating yourself,” Gill said. Members of the UFV community who miss the advance polling can still register and vote at their riding’s normal polling station on election day, Oct. 21, at select advanced polling stations from Oct. 11-14, and at any Elections Canada office before Oct. 15. Further details can be found at the Elections Canada website.
The Student Support Centre (SSC) is a new department at UFV, located in room S3127 in the Student Union Building (SUB). The SSC was created to help students who are in need of extra assistance getting connected to the various on-campus resources that are available for them. With plenty of resources available to assist students, like the Academic Success Centre, Counselling Centre, Advising Centre, student food bank, and plenty more, students who are struggling with academics and/or personal issues may not know that there are all of these resources available or how to access them. Before the Fall 2019 semester began, UFV alumni, Amara Gelaude and Bryanna Anderson, got hired on as the university’s new student support coordinators. “The Student Support Centre exists to serve all UFV students who are looking for any type of assistance. We serve as the connective tissue between the resources on campus and the students,” Gelaude said. Before the creation of the SSC, the Priority Access to Student Supports (PASS) program was in charge of connecting students to resources, similarly to the SSC. UFV faculty are able to refer students who example concerning behaviour (like appearing to be distressed, not showing up for more than three consecutive classes, and/or disruptive behaviour in class) through the PASS program page on UFV’s web-
site. From that referral an email would be sent to Student Services to reach out to the student. There were no specific staff wholly devoted to running the program. Now with the creation of SSC there are two staff dedicated to connecting students to resources. The SSC is different than the PASS
“We serve as the connective tissue between the resources on campus and the students.” program because, alongside helping students get connected with resources on campus, they provide one-on-one support. “I think the one-on-one connections that we help build with these students to then facilitate all of the other services is perhaps a gap that was in the system before,” Anderson said. Students can be referred to the SSC through the PASS program website. Referrals are done by the university’s faculty if they see a student in need of extra assistance. Students are also able to refer themselves to SSC or even a friend who’s in need of extra help by emailing studentsupport@ufv.ca.
Anderson and Gelaude meet with students to build individualized plans and goals for success with those who are interested. “We’re here to meet with students, figure out what they need, help them get whatever they’re looking for, and help them get to where they want to go,” Gelaude said. Anderson and Gelaude find that often, students in need of help are rarely there for solely academic assistance, but also to get to the bottom of why their academics may be suffering. They ask about what’s going on in the student’s life that contributed to their current academic results. The SSC boasts not a specific service, but a holistic approach for students in need of accessing additional on-campus resources. The duties they perform cover a wide range and every student's needs are different. Anderson described a student suffering from anxiety, who had made several appointments with Academic Advising but never went. That’s where the SSC steps in. “Sometimes it’s getting through the door that’s the most difficult part,” Anderson said. The student coordinators were able to walk with the student to Academic Advising and wait with them until their appointment began. Since it’s a new department, the university does not have any information about the SSC online, but more information will be available soon. If you know of someone in need of assistance please email the department at studentsupport@ufv.ca.
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