The Omega - August 2011

www.theomega.ca

The Ωmega Thompson Rivers University’s Independent Student Newspaper August, 2011

Kamloops hosts the Western Canada Summer Games 4 PHOTO BY MIKE DAVIES

Take a guided tour through campus

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WolfPack tryouts open to students

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The 10 class commandments 5

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August, 2011

News Party on TRU!

What’s happening on the scene?

Let the Omega know about upcoming shows.

Pot Fly.

Members of the BC Women’s Softball team in town for the Western Canada Summer Games imagine a homerun ball flying over the House of Learning.

—TRU Media

omega.arts.ent@ gmail.com

When teaching assistants don’t come through Sarah Del Giallo

The Eyeopener: Ryerson University

TORONTO (CUP) — While Canada’s student population is expanding, more teaching assistants are hired to help professors manage large classes and an overwhelming number of marking obligations.

But some TAs aren’t upholding a standard that satisfies their students.

Second-year Ryerson University student Megan Lovell took a mandatory statistics course where the TA did more harm than help.

“He didn’t have a statistical background, but he was marking our stats work,” she said.

Lovell said the TA had miscalculated her midterm mark by 17 points, and over half of her class also had to have their midterms corrected.

“I felt annoyed that I had to get everything from that class remarked or had to argue it.”

She said the professor understood that Lovell and her peers were frustrated.

“But there was only so much he could do other than re-grade. He did his best, but he didn’t really do much else,” said Lovell.

The university hires TAs through departments and uses a tier system with Ryerson students at the top.

First-year graduate students are the first choice and next are second-year or later graduate students without scholarships or stipends of more than $21,000.

If there are still positions available, the system moves next to fourth-year undergraduates and

second-year or later graduate students with scholarships or stipends of more than $21,000.

After that TAs can be hired from other universities.

Liana Salvador, vice-president education for Ryerson’s students’ union, said, “For grads, there aren’t enough TA-ships.”

I think it’s important for the TAs to have the opportunity to support the professor.”

But the students’ union also has options for students who aren’t satisfied with their TA’s performance.

They provide advocacy for students and can provide information and workshops about appeals.

Salvador said students need to know that no matter what the case, they have rights.

“We’re going to do our work to ensure their rights are protected,” said Salvador.

Director of faculty affairs Brad Walters said TAs play an important role in student success.

But the success of their students isn’t their priority.

“The primary focus should be doing their academic work,” said Walters.

An undergraduate TA can make a maximum of $3,835 per term while a graduate assistant can make a maximum of $4,972.

“We’re trying to ensure employment and income for incoming Ryerson graduate students,” Walters said.

But for Lovell, whose curriculum requires her to learn within a system of TAs, having an assistant who didn’t seem to have her best interests as a priority was frustrating.

“I had one bad experience, but my overall experience has been pretty good,” she said.

“But seeing the difference between having someone who knows what they’re doing compared to someone who doesn’t is unbelievable.”

TA contract obligations The obligations of a TA vary based on contracts. But here are some of the obligations contracts usually include: • Preparing for classes • Revising and maintaining course-related material • Attending lectures • Serving as tutors • Leading discussions and supervising laboratories • Demonstrating and explaining the use of equipment • Holding office hours • Consulting with students For the specific obligations of your TA, talk to your professor.

What are your rights?

If you’re having trouble with a TA, here are some options: Talk to your TA. Being assertive is sometimes the best option.

If the TA knows you’re dissatisfied, they might step up their game. Try and do this before going to a professor.

Talk to your professor.

If you explain the issue and that you’ve tried to resolve the issue by speaking to the TA, the prof can have a chat with the TA. Appeal.

You have the right to appeal grades and deadlines.

Most students’ unions have guidelines, advice and rules about appeals and advocacy.

‘Pack tryouts open for all students

Think you have what it takes to run with the ‘Pack Open tryouts for the WolfPack are taking place in August and September on campus and at various fields and arenas around the city.

While the tryouts are essentially open to any person enrolled in at least three classes at TRU, the coaches ask that perspective players contact them beforehand.

Patrick Hennelly, the men’s volleyball head coach, says that he has had previously-unknown players make the team in open tryouts.

“We’ve had one walk-on make the team, Tyler Christman. I knew him from high school volleyball but I did not know he was coming to tryout,” said Hennelly.

“I relish the idea of having a great athlete or volleyball player showing up at TRU and making the team.”

To see a list of contact emails for coaches and the full tryout schedule, including dates, times and venues, visit the TRU Newsroom Blog at tru.ca.

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August, 2011

THE

MEGA

www.theomega.ca

August, 2011

Volume 20, Issue 34

Published since November 27, 1991

editorialstaff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Coleman Molnar

editorofomega@gmail.com/250-372-1272 BUSINESS MANAGER Sionna McTavish

managerofomega@gmail.com 250-372-1272 ROVING EDITOR

Mike Davies

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Jessica Wallace SPORTS EDITOR

Mike Davies

omegacontributors Lisa Coriale

publishingboard

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF * Coleman Molnar BUSINESS MGR * Sionna McTavish INDUSTRY REP * Mike Youds FACULTY REP * Charles Hays STUDENT REP* Sadie Cox

letterspolicy

Literary and visual submissions are welcomed.

All submissions are subject to editing for brevity, taste and legality. The Omega will attempt to publish each letter received, barring time and space constraints. The editor will take care not to change the intention or tone of submissions, but will not publish material deemed to exhibit sexism, racism or homophobia. Letters for publication must include the writer’s name (for publication) and contact details (not for publication). The Omega reserves the right not to publish any letter or submitted material. Opinions expressed in the Letters & Opinion section do not represent those of The Omega, the Cariboo Student Newspaper Society, its Board of Directors or its staff.

Opinions belong only to those who have signed them.

copyright

All material in this publication is copyright The Omega and may not be reproduced without the expressed consent of the publisher. All unsolicited submissions become copyright Omega 2010.

Cariboo Student Newspaper Society (Publisher of The Omega) TRU Campus House #2 Box 3010, Kamloops, B.C. V2C 5N3 Phone: (250)372-1272 E-mail: editorofomega@gmail.com Ad Enquiries: managerofomega@gmail. com (Correspondence not intended for publication should be labelled as such.)

Want to get involved in covering campus news?

Apply to contribute to the Omega.

High Risk Sexual Offender Living In Kamloops: RCMP Re: Jack Samuel FROESE (Born: 1980-May-20) This Public Interest Notification is made under the Privacy Act of Canada and has been issued in the interest of public safety.

Mr. Jack Samuel Froese was released from a federal corrections institution today and will be residing in Kamloops, B.C. Mr. Froese is a Caucasian male, 180 cm (5’11”) tall and weighs 82 kg (181 lbs).

He has brown hair and hazel eyes. He has the letters “JG” tattooed in the web of his left hand.

Mr. Froese has a criminal record involving sexual related offences.

Mr. Jack Froese is currently bound by an 810.1 Criminal Code Recognizance and is being supervised by the Kamloops Probation Office and is being monitored by the Kamloops City RCMP Serious Crime Unit.

Mr. Froese must abide by various court ordered conditions of his release including the following: - Not to have contact, direct or indirect, with any of the victims of offences for which he has been convicted or any known members of their immediate families.

- Not to possess any knives except for the immediate preparation and consumption of food, nor is he to possess, own or car-

ry any weapon or any imitation firearm or other related items listed in the condition.

- Not to consume or possess alcohol or any controlled substances excluding prescription medication prescribed by a licensed physician or dentist.

- Not to be outside his residence between the hours of 9pm and 5am daily except for employment purposes or for a medical or dental emergency.

- Not to possess any tool or device that can be used for the purposes of restraint including duct tape, straps, rope or wire unless specifically needed for on-site employment.

- Not to possess any items that allow him to mask or disguise his face.

- Not to access or possess pornography of any kind including pornographic images accessed via the internet.

- Not to be present in a private residence, dormitory, hotel, inn, or other building where persons sleep or reside without providing the owner or a resident of the building a copy of the recognizance and informing them that he has been convicted of a sexual offence.

If you observe Mr. Jack Froese in violation of any of the above noted conditions, please do not approach him.

Contact the Kamloops RCMP immediately at 250-828-3000.

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August, 2011

News

ABOVE: The Leisure Suite Trio takes the stage on Sunday, Aug. 7 at RIverside Park as part of the 2011 Western Canada Summer Games entertainment. Each region gets a night to shine, and you can find the schedule at www.2011wcsg.com by clicking on “A Community Celebration.”

BELOW: Erin Guillemin and Tori Maxwell of Team Saskatchewan take on Alyssa Wolf and Denise Wooding of Team BC at the beach volleyball courts at Overlander Park on August 7.

—Photos by Mike Davies

Kamloops welcomes the rest of Western Canada Summer games held on and off campus Mike Davies Roving Editor

The 2011 Western Canada Summer Games are under way in Kamloops and since many events are being held at TRU venues, we at the Omega think it’s only right that we point out a few expected highlights for our readers to check out.

The only events held at TRU for week one of the games — Aug. 6-9 — are the basketball matchups, which will be held at the Tournament Capital Center (TCC) in the main gym.

Week two (Aug. 11-14) has the TRU facilities filled, with swimming at the Canada Games Pool, volleyball taking over the TCC main f loor, gymnastics at the TCC gymnastics club, and badminton in the TRU gymnasium.

Be sure to check out the volleyball events, as team BC has a close connection to our own Wolf Pack.

‘Pack head coach Pat Hennelly is at the reigns of the team BC men’s squad along with assistant coach Drew Venables, and two current TRU recruits are playing on the team along with many po-

tential future prospects.

You might just be seeing the future of many TRU athletics programs at these games, in fact.

With many of the best young athletes in Western Canada participating, it’s safe to assume that TRU coaches will be watching these events closely, as it’s a great venue to do some serious scouting close to home.

And you can also bet these athletes will be primed to represent themselves and their regions and perform at a high level on one of sports’ big stages.

Who knows? Maybe the next Steve Nash will be out there.

The seven-time NBA all-star played for team BC in 1993, and went on to have an impressive basketball career, including winning the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in back-to-back seasons and being named one of the best 10 point guards of all time by ESPN in 2006.

Don’t miss your chance to possibly see the stars of tomorrow while they’re just up the street.

Not just about athletics, however, the Western Canada Summer Games also give the provinces

and territories a chance to show off and promote their regions, as well as show visitors that the city of Kamloops is a place to come back to.

The community stage at Riverside Park will showcase regional talent every day during the event from 4 to 7 p.m. and Kamloops’ own “Music in the Park” follows from 7 to 10 p.m.

Each province and territory has its night to shine, so every day it’s a great chance to see different music and entertainment from all across Western Canada — and it’s all free.

Free entertainment and celebrations of community in downtown Kamloops for two weeks — how do you pass on that?

I talked to two families who came out from Saskatchewan for the games, and they told me it’s the people here who make the experience great, so get out to some events and help make the rest of Western Canada feel welcome.

The full schedule of events and ticket prices — as well as athletics results as they come in — can be found at www.2011wcsg.com.

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The Omega · Volume 20, Issue 34

Editorial

The 10 class commandments Mercedes Mueller

The Fulcrum:University of Ottawa OTTAWA (CUP) — Are you tired of the same asinine antics in the classroom lecture after lecture?

Despite the many articles, blog posts and Facebook status updates I’ve seen bemoaning bad behavior — not to mention the number of dirty looks and eye rolls I’ve personally dished out to offenders — it seems like some students skipped Classroom Etiquette 101.

So, once and for all, I have taken it upon myself to codify a set of rules to govern the classroom — a timeless collection of “don’ts” to protect our institutions of higher learning from complete obliviousness and idiocy.

Thou shalt not show up late for class You know the drill. Latey McLate-Late makes his excessively loud entrance into the classroom 15 minutes late every class. And even though everyone can count on his late-coming like clockwork, it’s impossible not to look up and stare, disrupting the flow of the lecture every time. Punctuality is a virtue in the world of academia.

Teach ’em a lesson by: With a small group of surrounding students, attempt to tie the tardy kid to his desk after class. You can’t be late for class when you live in the classroom.

Thou shalt not pack up five minutes early Did you know that if students start packing up five minutes early ever class almost two lectures per semester are lost? That’s a lot of potential information — especially when professors have the tendency to say the most important things in the last five minutes because of this trend.

Teach ’em a lesson by: When the student next to you starts packing up their stuff early, unpack their stuff. They shut their notebook, you open it. They start to stand up, you pull them right back down into their seat. Be aggressive!

Thou shalt not take calls in class Unless you are expecting a call

from the president of the world, “take care not to dominate class can barely pronounce “mutually your phone should not be answered, discussion.” This is the golden rule constitutive?” Because, believe me, nor should it ring, in class. It’s called for class participation. If your semi- the rest of us dummies don’t want vibrate, people, and did you forget nar class is starting to feel like your to hear it.

Teach ’em a lesson by: Bringing every room has a door you can use own personal talk show, you are to exit the class to a hallway where you can take the call and not disrupt 100 other students?

Teach ’em a lesson by: Whether the scenario was forged or not, the Internet-famed Angry Professor had the right idea when he smashed a student’s cell phone for taking a call.

Thou shalt not correct the professor’s spelling mistakes — unless it’s an English professor Nothing is more obnoxious than trying to get through a lecture in microeconomic theory and having a student raise their hand in order to correct the professor’s spelling or grammar. Honestly. We all know the professor meant to write “better than set,” not “better then set.” So unless you are the Oxford dean of homophones, shut up!

Teach ’em a lesson by: These students need a taste of their own medicine. Raise your hand and correct that student’s speech. Proceed to correct this student every time he or she talks in class. Be- Illustration by Maria Rondon/The Fulcrum lieve me, it’s kids like these that are the most prone to destroying violating the rule. Proceed to shut brown paint to class and making a the English language.

Thou shalt not eat obnoxiously your mouth and try to learn from point to smear it all over their alsomeone else, including your pro- ready brown nose. large and smelly meals in class Thou shalt not ask ridiculous Even if you are about to enter fessor, for a change.

Teach ’em a lesson by: Any time questions about course content your third-straight class of the afDon’t waste the professor’s or ternoon after skipping breakfast, a student is dominating class disyour equally starving classmates cussion, get the class to perform a your classmates’ time with frivoshould never have to watch you group shun. This involves waving lous questions the first class. Exdown an elaborate three-course hot your arm in a motion that creates amples of this include asking quesmeal you’ve been saving for dinner an invisible shield between you and tions that are explicitly answered on — complete with dessert and wet the student and saying, “Shun!” the syllabus you were just handed; naps. It’s torturous, distracting and, When the student gets the point, asking questions about an assignfor some reason, always unneces- feel free to “Unshun” him or her a ment when you are told you will be la Dwight Shrute. It truly is a slap given more instructions in the folsarily loud and smelly. lowing weeks; and any question, reTeach ’em a lesson by: You re- of silence. formulated in any way, demanding Thou shalt not kiss ass in class serve the right to knock their food Everyone hates a kiss-ass know- to know what is on the final exam. off the desk. That, or feel free to Teach ’em a lesson by: Always help yourself. Sharing is caring, it-all that’s always trying to impress the pants off the professor. For the bring rotten tomatoes to the first after all!

Thou shalt not dominate class last time, kids, that’s what office class of the year. They won’t go to hours are for! What better place waste. discussion Thou shalt not ask ridiculous I once had a professor for a to discuss the intimate details of fourth-year seminar class state that Wendt’s Social Theory of Interna- questions — ever Beyond asking your professor an “excellent” participation grade tional Politics than in a comfortable in his class required a student to office away from the students who to rehash the course syllabus in

That’s what you said For this month’s issue, we patrolled the grounds looking for your answers to this question:

Why do people write on bathroom walls?

--Jeff Hicks “I think people do it because they enjoy the humour. It can be very witty. Sometimes the drawings are really funny.”

--Kayla McMann “Probably out of boredom or entertainment when they’re doing what they need to do. The funniest thing I’ve seen is probably some poetry about doing ‘the deed’.”

--Tanya LeBeau “I don’t know why people do it, but I hate that because it’s disrespectful.

Maybe they do it to feel important.”

your hands, it is also annoying to have pointless questions raised in class. This is not to say all questions are bad questions, however, there is such a thing as a bad question. These include questions you already know the answer to, questions your professor can’t possibly know the answer to, and questions no one gives a fuck as to what the answer is.

Teach ‘em a lesson by: You could resort to the rotten tomato gag above, but another idea involves a lasso, good aim and a strong arm.

Be creative.

Thou shalt not ask for notes when thou are never in class Everyone has to miss a class the odd time, but don’t be the student that skips every other class only to demand notes from a total stranger.

It’s inconsiderate and, unfortunately, the hard-working student too often obliges the slacker in these requests.

Teach ’em a lesson by: Strategically alter your notes so the key information in the lecture notes is false. That, or just straight up tell them to fuck off.

What shalt thou do in class?

Repeat after me: Thou shalt ask questions when something is not understood — chances are half of your classmates are also confused.

Thou shalt answer questions when the professor asks them — because that awkward two-minute silence is painful for everyone.

Thou shalt raise relevant points that are pertinent to course material — these actually enhance the learning of your classmates, and make for interesting breaks in the lecture.

Thou shalt participate in class discussions — if you don’t, you are just encouraging the 10-minute monologues given by Sir Talks-aLot. Thou shalt enjoy every class — because university beats a big kid job, mortgage payments and the real world any day.

Do you have unpublished stories or photos related to campus news?

Submit them to the Omega.

Email us at: editorofomega@ gmail.com

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August, 2011

Coffee Break

Case Study

by Myles Mellor and Sally York

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7

The Omega · Volume 20, Issue 34

Editorial

Clairvoyant editor reveals horrible horoscopes

Scorpio: I don’t know what’s gotten into you.

Normally you’re like a nimble mountain goat, climbing fast as you strive to complete your personal goals. Lately, however, you’ve been slipping. You said you were going to stop drinking so much, quit smoking and exercise more. You also said you were going to take time “for yourself,” but I happen to know that the first thing you’ve been doing every morning is going home. Push yourself away from the table, put down the drink and cigarette, and do some sit-ups.

Lucky numbers: 50 lbs overweight.

the hill next to the big pine tree. If you want to go farther than that on your budget, you’ll have to siphon some gas, because you’re quite broke.

Lucky Numbers: $1.31 per litre, 15km/hr over the limit

Coleman Molnar Editor-in-Chief

Editor’s Note

Cancer: Wear sunscreen.

Lucky numbers: SPF 6000, UV 16

those stolen nylons is beginning to fade — the time to pounce is now!

Lucky Numbers: 10 years to life.

Pisces: Now is your chance to capitalize on that prospective love in your life.

You’ve been stalking her now for at least three weeks and you’ve known every move they’ve made online in the last six months. The scent on

Gemini: August is the perfect month for some last-minute travel on your part.

Places like Logan Lake or Lillooet are within your reach. In fact, if you end up in Logan Lake, you can stay with my cousin — he lives in that trailer on

Taurus: This month don’t forget to take out the trash, brush your teeth, feed the dog twice a day, buy paper towel for under the sink and call your mother back. But you already knew this.

Lucky Numbers: (250)-554-7896 (your mother’s number, in case you forgot) Aries: Normally you’re very independent, so I can see how this month would be a struggle for you. Usually, you’re a one-woman team and you get along just fine like that, but some things require more than one person. Don’t try to take this on alone! Go to the hospital to have your baby.

Lucky Numbers: 9 lbs, 7 oz, 36 hours in labour

Aquarius: August is the month for sexual exploration for you, Aquarius. What you lack in passion and tenderness you make up for in curiosity and downright horniness! Visit one of your local adult stores and pick out something new and exciting for you and your partner. Remember, if he’s complaining, you’re just not pinching hard enough.

Lucky Numbers: XXX, 18+ Leo DiCapricorn: What has become of your career?

You used to be one of my favourites, but that was years ago. The Beach was amazing, not to mention your performance in Titanic, but honestly, you haven’t done anything worth watching since Gangs of New York.

This month, focus on staying off the “C list.”

Lucky Numbers: 6 years since your last good film

Virgo: Listen man, if you don’t put yourself out there and ditch those nerdy

ways, you’re never going to get any.

Get dressed up, go to club, meet some people and take one home. It’s the only way you’re ever going to lose it, buddy.

Lucky Numbers: 3.1415926535, the square root of 117, 0 Libra: The completion date for that online business course is rapidly approaching. You’ve had four months for the course, you’ve missed the withdrawal date and you haven’t even cracked the book. Buck up and study or go back to work at McDonalds.

Lucky Numbers: 50 per cent, CSagittarius: About that camping trip you’ve been planning. You know, the one in the deep woods with just your best friends. Well, I wouldn’t go. According to your stars, you are all going to be eaten by bears. Or was it mosquitos? The stars are unclear.

Lucky Numbers: 36 beats per minute (resting heart rate of someone trying to play dead), 55 per cent DEET

Another (and maybe the last) daviessports top five to get your news about five different sports.

Different sources have different strengths after all, so it would be silly to try and get all your sports news from one place.

Football:

Mike Davies Sports Editor

Armchair Quarterback Heading out of the summer, back into the school year and gearing up for another year at the Omega, I thought I would leave you all with a (possibly last) daviessports top five list, though this one is a bit different.

I was going to do the top five places to get your sports news, but instead of doing them in order, I’ll just be giving you the best places

It’s no secret that I spend a lot of time looking at football updates. I get my CFL news from TSN (and TSN.ca), my NFL news from NFL. com, and my NCAA news from CBSsports.com.

TSN devotes a whole lot of time and effort to their CFL coverage, and it shows. They hire almost exclusively from the former CFL player talent pool, so you’re often getting a first-hand perspective on situations.

NFL.com is a no-brainer, but you might as well skip their opinion columns.

There’s no one better at college sports coverage in the US than

CBS, and their in-depth coverage of college football can’t be beat.

Once again, you can skip their columnists, though.

If you want opinion columns about sports, you should probably go with ESPN (or find me — I’ll tell you what’s what).

Hockey: It pains me to say it, but TSN has the best hockey coverage in Canada.

The reason it pains me to say it is their seemingly unashamed focus on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

We get it, TSN, you’re based in Toronto, but you’re a national channel/site, so give a reasonable amount of time to non-Leafs stories too!

Once you sift through the latest non-news about the Leafs, their overall hockey coverage is pretty thorough. Just ignore Bob McKenzie if you can.

Kerry Fraser has been given a regular column during the season, and it’s a good read about the firsthand perspective from an NHL official.

Baseball: Sportsnet and sportsnet.ca dedicate far too much time to baseball, so if that’s the news you’re looking for, it’s a safe bet that they’ll have what you need to get your fill.

Soccer: The Score and thescore.ca have the best soccer coverage in Canada. Hands down. It’s not even close.

Everything else: I recommend for non-mainstream sports news that you go directly to the official site of the governing body or league you’re

looking for news about.

There simply aren’t the resources available at the major media outlets to give you decent coverage of, say, downhill skiing or luge.

They try to be broad-ranging in their coverage, but it’s unreasonable to think that they’ll cover figure skating as well as the ISU (International Skating Union) or Skate Canada will, for example.

Armchair Quarterback might not be back come September, as there are some pretty significant changes happening at the Omega over the next month or so, but you can still read my sports opinions on Facebook by searching “daviessports.”

I also have a blog on CBSsports. com that you can find by searching “Affirmations of an Armchair Quarterback.”

Keep cheering. It makes life more fun. daviessports@gmail.com

Veteran suggestions for the upcoming school year Lisa Coriale

Tilted Angle The beginning of a new semester is approaching fast yet again.

It is hard to believe it is almost here.

Every time I write, my desire is to educate and inform my audience on any given subject.

One of my values as an aspiring journalist is to empower my readers to make their own decisions.

As we approach another school year, I en-

courage you to have an open mind to new per- get overwhelmed and I have to remind myspectives. self to take it one step at a time. I also write While you are sitting in the classroom, it is every assignment in my day timer and refer important to listen carefully. to it often to accomplish each task in order of It is imperative to absorb everything you priority. can in the classroom, however it is There are other stualso important to think critically “As we approach andents who work well and take into account your own other school year...have under pressure and values and beliefs. they can produce an an open mind to new You are not always going to assignment in one eveagree with everything that you perspectives.” ning or one day and hear. that works for them.

Sometimes there are many You must find a more perspectives and you have to research technique that works best for you and give them for yourself. yourself an adequate amount of time to comThe overall process of researching and at- plete it. tending university allows students to grow Setting goals for myself at the beginning of into who they are. the semester helps me achieve what I need to.

Another aspect of preparing for the beginA small goal could be getting supplies for ning of the year is to mentally prepare. Some- school and a larger goal could be completing a times when you look over the outline for the huge essay on time. first time, it can be overwhelming.

It is still possible to eat a healthy, balanced At the beginning of every semester, I also diet on a student budget.

Eating a nutritious diet is often beneficial to give energy to students for when it is most needed.

Having the adequate amount of sleep also helps keep one’s mind focused and clear. The Wellness Center can help you find more information on how a healthy lifestyle can benefit your studies.

Preparing for school can be daunting, but also exciting at the same time.

I hope I have given you some useful suggestions on how to be successful in the upcoming year.

I encourage you to find your own techniques to accomplish your educational goals.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a great school year.

I hope I have given you some unique perspectives in my column.

I would also like to thank the Omega for giving me the opportunity to write for them.

Enjoy the rest of your summer.

8

August, 2011

News

ABOVE: Liaison Information Officer, Christine Anderson greets one and all at the door of the TRU Welcome Centre.

BELOW: Student Recruiter, Katie Hutfluss stands at the base of one of her favourite places on campus.

—Photos by Coleman Molnar

Guided campus tours offered through August Coleman Molnar Editor-In-Chief

Whether you’re a prospective student, a nervous parent or just someone new to town who wants to learn a bit more about TRU, the walking tour of campus offered by the staff and co-op students at the Welcome Centre is a great way to meet Kamloops’ university.

The tours are offered twice a day at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday until early September and all you have to do is show up at the Welcome Centre behind the Campus Activity Centre (CAC).

“Tours are just one part of what we do,” said Christine Anderson, a Student Recruitment and Liaison Information Officer for TRU. “People can come in here [the Welcome Centre] and get information about the university and we also do tours throughout the year as well.”

Zachary Cox and Katie Hutfluss are both third-year tourism students who are working for the Welcome Centre as

Student Recruiters as part of their coop programs. They guide the visitors around campus.

“We try to hit all the main services you’d use as a student – basically, we go around the whole campus and show all the buildings and what they’re utilized for,” Cox said.

“Any special requests at all, we always go and either find the faculty that they need or if they need help booking their appointments or even signing into their online account, we help them with all of that stuff. Basically, if they walk in here with any questions we answer them.”

Both Cox and Hutfluss are guiding the tours through the summer in preparation for the portion of their programs that will have them travelling Canada recruiting potential students to TRU. “They spend the summer getting a really good knowledge base of all the programs, the admission requirements, and everything they need to know about TRU,” said Anderson. “So when we send them on the road in about a

month, they’re good to go and know everything.”

Hutfluss and Cox agree that one of the most impressive aspects of TRU’s campus is its newest building, the House of Learning.

While Cox tells his guests how he likes to study in the peace and quiet of the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Centre – the round lecture theatre – Hutfluss prefers to show-off the living wall that rises in the interior of the building, helping to recycle the air therein.

“I find when I get them into the House of Learning and show them the green wall, they say, ‘wow, that’s so cool,’” said Hutfluss. “So that kind of wraps up the tour nicely.”

If you’d like more information about TRU visit the Welcome Centre and talk to one of the friendly staff or pick up some of the interesting literature they have available.

Our campus may not be huge, but it has a surprising amount going on, so don’t hesitate to use this great service.

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