10 Reasons to Celebrate PositiviDay

April 8: the last day of classes - the day that everyone’s looking forward to. To make it even better, UofA Compliments is hosting their annual PositiviDay! There’s no better way to end the year than with a day full of fun activities to get your mind off finals and relax! Come out to Quad on April 8th from 11:00am to 3:00pm to enjoy a variety of fun activities aimed to make your last day of class the best day of the semester! If you’re not convinced yet, here’s 10 reasons why this is an event you shouldn’t miss!

1. Because you deserve a break before finals!

I think we can all agree that it’s been a long year. You’ve worked really hard and should have a well-deserved break before venturing off into exam territory. Come down to Quad to forget about finals for a few hours and feel those ‘last-day-of-school’ vibes!

2. Because it’s a chance to see your friends! 

Through all the hectic schedules and seemingly endless midterms, it can be hard to see your friends as much as you’d like. Luckily, PositiviDay is the perfect opportunity to text that friend you haven’t seen in a month and actually catch up! There will even be a bunch of wonderful activities so your conversations aren’t all about finals, which we’re trying to forget.

3. Because it’s a chance to show some love!

Not only can you bring a friend with you, you can also get customized compliments attached to helium balloons (balloons!) for the people you care about! Or you could shower yourself with some love with a compliment written just for you by one of our volunteers!

4. Because bouncy castles!

Does this one even need an explanation? The best way to deal with exam stress is to bounce away from it, right?

5. Because not only is there a bouncy castle, there’s even a ball pit (courtesy of jack.org!)

A bouncy castle and a ball pit?! Double the fun!

6. Because there will be puppies! 

UofA Compliments has teamed up with the Sundance Canine Rescue Society to bring you pet therapy right in the middle of quad! Come out and bask in the warm weather with a cute pup. It would make for one heck of a cute selfie!

7. Because the weather is gorgeous! 

Now I know this is Edmonton and we can’t really guarantee anything, but it sure looks like it’s going to be a gorgeous day on the 8th! Flaunt your best summer outfit and get some much needed vitamin D!

8. Because you can get some rad body art!

Temporary, of course! For just $3-$15 (depending on how fancy you’re feeling that day) you can have some henna put on by one of our volunteers!

9. Because there will be food! 

And not just any kind of food, cupcakes! Satisfy that sweet tooth with a delicious baked good that you really do deserve for all the hard work you put into school.

10. Because of all the other cool activities there will be!

If I tried to list all of them you wouldn’t have time to come check them out! Activities will include a Photo Booth with props for you and your friends (a great chance to make memories!), super talented student performers, and activities planned by the Canadian Mental Health Association and Relaxation Superstation!

Now if all that doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will! See you there :)

Anahat Virk - Guest Contributor

Anahat Virk is a 1st year Psychology major at the University of Alberta. Anahat believes the support she received from her school community helped her a lot, and that’s why she joined UofA Compliments. If not studying for an exam, you can find her spreading positivity to everyone around her!

Breaking Barriers

Recent Science graduate Sean Graham shares his experience as a participant of the U of A's Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI). And spoiler alert! His undergraduate research project has gone well beyond mere interdisciplinary theorizing.
In 2013, I received funding from the Undergraduate Research Initiative to develop a new approach to modernizing Canada’s Single Member Plurality (SMP) electoral system. At the time, I was pursuing a degree in both physics and political science. This made the project a great opportunity for me to utilize the knowledge and skills I had acquired from both of my areas of study. I was first able to draw on my political science background to develop a new electoral system – called Dual-Member Mixed Proportional (DMP) – that would address the democratic shortcomings of SMP in the Canadian context. From there I was able to make use of the computer programming skills I picked up while studying physics to test this new system on past Canadian federal and provincial elections. The comprehensive approach I was able to take in working on this project not only increased the quality of the end result greatly, it also provided useful experience in how to bring a broad set of skills together for a single project.

After completing this work, I was fortunate to have the Department of Political Science sponsor a public lecture about my new electoral system. This provided significant assistance in getting the word out about my research. Indeed, as a result of this lecture, I was invited to present DMP to political science classes at the University of Alberta and advocacy groups, such as Fair Vote Edmonton. However, with no government in Canada considering electoral system reform in 2013, the opportunities available to generate a broader discussion about this kind of research were very limited.
That changed last year. PEI announced that it was going to make another attempt at reforming its electoral system by conducting a plebiscite on the matter in 2016. The new government in Alberta struck a committee to review the Election Act, which may include a discussion about electoral system reform. Finally, the federal election last October brought the Liberal Party back to power with the promise that the next election will be decided by a new electoral system.

In addition to reaching out to the federal political parties, I have made formal submissions to the appropriate committees in Alberta and PEI. While the process in Alberta has barely begun and the federal process hasn’t even started, PEI has made some meaningful progress on this file. Last November, its Special Committee on Democratic Renewal released its first report, which recommended that four alternative electoral systems be considered for inclusion in the plebiscite to be held later this year. I am quite honoured to be able to say that DMP is one of these four alternatives. With the second round of consultations now concluded, the Committee will be finalizing the plebiscite question, which will be made public sometime in the spring.

Without the Undergraduate Research Initiative, this project would not have been possible. Being a student in the Faculty of Science pursuing a research topic in political science disqualified me from the traditional research funding opportunities. By specializing in interdisciplinary research, the Undergraduate Research Initiative fills an important void left by the other research funding programs. It is my hope that the Undergraduate Research Initiative will be able to continue funding research projects like mine and continue to break down the often ridged barriers between different academic disciplines.

Those interested in learning more about my electoral system research should visit DMPForCanada.wordpress.com. And those just as interested in learning about other undergraduate research activities should definitely check out FURCA the Undergraduate Research Initiative’s annual, campus-wide celebration of undergraduate research, showcasing the research and creative achievements of undergraduate students across all disciplines.

5 Things That Prove Your Profs Aren't Inviting You To I-Week Simply to See Them Present

There are so many events that happen at the university, I know, I know, you get loads of emails every day from  different departments or clubs you subscribed (or didn’t subscribe) to, inviting you to come to their event. But International Week is different – trust me!

In the past I learned a lot from I-Week more than I ever thought I would. I gained practical experience, new friends, and knowledge. This year there are SO many different events at I-Week – anyone can find something that interests them.

Check out my top 5 sessions that I’m going to see at IWeek 2016:

1. KAIROS Blanket Exercise – January 25 3-5:50 PM 

Watch video

It’s not just because I’m a history student, I know many people find history to be yawn-worthy, but this is a fun and interactive way to learn Canada’s important and interesting Indigenous history. For me, It’s important to know the core historical elements of the place you’re living, or it’s hard to understand the present, and this is a perfect way to do so (and in under 3 hours, score).

2. After Paris: COP 21 and Beyond – January 27 2-3:20 PM

Climate change is something that affects all of us, and will affect our children and their children. If there is one thing that really pertains to all of us – it’s this! Would you like to be able to say “that’s because of global warming” with some conviction because you know what the experts are saying about it? #globalwarming #iknowthings 

3. How to Implement the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Locally – January 27 4-4:50 PM 

Do you ever wonder how you are going to transfer your degree to the real world? Well, the knowledge you can gain from this session will definitely help, and will show you how you can help move forward sustainable development in your own neighbourhood.

4. International Affairs Speed Networking Event – January 26 5-7:30 PM Tory 3-36 

If you’re still wondering how you are going to transfer your degree to the real world, this is the perfect event for you. This will give you the opportunity to talk to people with a variety of international careers and get some practical advice from them on how to get your dream career.

5. ISIS and Syrian Refugee Crisis: Canada’s Response – January 28 7-9 PM

If there is something that is talked about right now among co-workers, families, politicians, and otherwise, it’s this. We have all heard something about the refugee crisis. As the generation who will go on to deal with these issues in the not-so-far away future, I see this as a very useful session for everyone to go to, to get informed, form opinions, and learn about how Canada, specifically, is responding. 

TLDR: 

I-Week is super informative and if you’re like me and hate, or just don’t watch the news, this is a good alternative or additive. It will keep you informed on the goings-on of the world. It might even give you a current events conversation starter that you never knew you were capable of. 

Kaitlyn - International Week Enthusiast

Kaitlyn is a 22 year old history nerd, certified makeup artist, lover of travel and keeper of a travel blog, and a fourth year university student. When not at school, she works at her home-based cosmetics business, volunteers at animal rescue societies, and binge watches Gilmore Girls.

Tips for a merry and eco-friendly holiday season

It’s tough to put a finger on what makes the holiday season so magical. It could be the white fluffy snow, the ugly sweater parties, the shopping, the gloriously decadent food or simply December’s coziness when days are short and hearts are warm. My favorite reason has to be the chance to decorate my home and fireplace with as many shiny ornaments and colorful objects as I can afford.

In the past, that meant huge plastic ornaments and those hilarious neon colored lights that only worked half the time and took up more energy than a microwave. It also meant a giant plastic tree only looked real if you squinted at it or took a picture from afar.

Those days are gone.

Although the enthusiasm is still there, my method has completely changed for the better. The thing is, eco-friendly decoration is actually a really easy concept! And if you’re one of those people who still owns a giant box of glitter-speckled, metallic-smelling baubles but wants to keep up their sustainability goals, then do I have information for you!

Buy a real tree

First things first, buy an actual tree of any size. Yes, a real tree. No, not a plastic one from overseas. It may seem counter-intuitive, but real trees are better in the long run because they can be mulched or composted and in the majority of cases they are grown in tree farms. To minimize your carbon footprint, be sure to buy local. The closer the tree farm to your home, the better. If the company doesn’t use pesticides on their trees, that would be ideal.

If you really don’t want to buy a big tree, buy a reusable wood-crafted tree like these ones on Etsy. You’ll be supporting the environment in the hippest fashion possible. You go Glen Coco!

Image courtesy of Pintrest

Light up the tree with LEDs

Once you have a tree, it’s time to light it up. Replace the old incandescent lights with slightly more expensive but incredibly durable LEDs. Incandescent lights can get very hot and pose a fire hazard. LED lights are cool to the touch and are, consequently, child and klutz friendly. Because they use less electricity, they also end up being cheaper in the long run and their resilience means less waste is produced.

However, even with LED lights, remember to practice sustainability by reducing energy consumption to the bare minimum. Turn off the lights when you’re not in the room and unplug tree and window lights at night.

Decorate with organic and natural materials

Next, let your imagination go wild. Tie a couple pieces of cinnamon to string and presto, you have the perfect hanging decoration. Do the same with some dried apple slices. If you’re feeling especially creative, dip a couple pinecones in glitter and tie them to the tree with butcher’s string. Make snowflakes out of construction paper (here’s a really easy tutorial) or for the truly ambitious, bake gingerbread ornaments with edible glue!

It’s fine to buy decorations too, just make sure they’re recyclable and if possible, fairly traded. In Edmonton, your best option would be either the farmers’ market, where you’re bound to find local, hand-made ornaments, or a place like Ten Thousand Villages. If you already own ornaments, don’t think you need to throw them away—just don’t buy new ones either. Sustainability isn’t all or none.

Get creative with gifts

Finally, we should talk about the finishing touch, the decorations under the tree—gifts.

The most sustainable thing to do would be to avoid giving gifts in the first place, but who could imagine going without presents? We don’t want to end up like Scrooge! Instead, don’t be ashamed to re-gift. Try to give away as many gently used items as possible—sweaters, dresses, shoes, accessories. Just make sure to wash them beforehand so your friends don’t end up smelling like you.
If you don’t have any items to pass-on, give gifts that come from the heart, like homemade cookies, cakes or DIY skin care. If you have to give a material gift, try to make it something that will last, like a good book or a sustainable bag from Matt & Natt. Give useful necessities like silverware, kitchen appliances or fun knit socks from a local store.

Just remember to wrap your gifts in what you have. Newspapers, old magazines, baking sheets, cloth, old scarves—everything is fair game. Have fun with it!

I hope this article has inspired you to put down the plastic and embrace the do-it-yourself movement, or at least, the buy-fair-trade-and-local movement. Either way, with a little extra effort and a lot of love, you too can have a very merry and eco-friendly holiday season!

Maja - Campus Sustainability Volunteer

Maja Staka is a Campus Sustainability Volunteer with the Office of Sustainability. She began blogging in high school and has been actively pursuing ways to continue writing ever since. Currently, she is both a graduate student at the University of Alberta and a part time French translator. She loves cats, carbs and... did we mention cats?

Student Voices: The Triumphs and Troubles of Communication

University students are taught to be the masters of their respective disciplines. They are expected to know a ridiculously large number of small (and sometimes useless) details about their areas of study. However, unless it is important to their chosen future professions, their ability to communicate what they know is often sorely overlooked in their education. Thus, when the time comes to express themselves in important academic or professional settings, the results can be unfortunate.

During my work term at the Office of the Student Ombuds, I have had many opportunities to reflect on what makes communication effective, particularly in the case of conflict resolution. I have seen students who speak confidently and easily, and their situations often benefit greatly as a result.

I have also been the uncomfortable witness to situations in which communication has failed spectacularly because of the ways students represent themselves and negotiate their interests. In meetings in which important discipline decisions are being made, many times I have wished I could stop everything and tell the student to change how he or she is communicating. While I can’t always do this, I can share the bad communication habits that I have observed in an attempt to help students avoid them in the future.

I have often seen students who tend to get caught up in what they want to get out of a certain situation, and are blind to any alternatives. I can recall one particular student who feebly begged a professor to reverse his decision. The professor repeatedly refused and tried to make the student understand why he made his decision, but the student was completely closed off and was not willing to hear reason. This often results in the conversation moving in circles with little or no progress being made. While I can appreciate that students in these situations are not always thinking completely rationally, it is important that they occasionally check themselves and make sure they are not getting caught up in narrow-mindedness.

Another flaw I have noticed among some students is an underestimation of the importance of framing difficult conversations. The best way to start off a conversation is by explaining the intention of the meeting as you see it, and what you hope to get out of it. This is a helpful first step that will show the other person that you are taking the situation seriously and it will also strongly indicate that you plan to be fair and friendly throughout the conversation.

If a student is facing disciplinary action, one of the best things they can do at the start of a meeting is apologize for the mistake they made and try to recognize how it impacted everyone involved. By doing this, the student can clear up any doubts that the decision-maker may have about him or her, and thus facilitate an amiable meeting by showing that they are truly sorry — not just sorry for getting caught.

While I remain firm in my optimistic belief that anyone can be a proficient communicator, I also believe that some students have to work harder than others. There are many strategies that students can use to get the most out of their meetings in school and work but, above all, I have found that students see the most success when they approach their meetings with open and respectful attitudes, and a commitment to fairness and progress.

Joshua Hillaby - Student Voices Student Blogger (Work of Arts)

Josh Hillaby is a fourth-year Arts student majoring in English. He is currently extending his degree and helping his fellow students by interning at the University’s Office of the Student Ombuds through the Arts Work Experience Program (AWE).

Provided By the Work of Arts blog, Student Voices

(Originally published on November 17, 2015)

Student Voices

Student Voices is a WOA blog feature that presents the experiences and viewpoints of current Arts students. Through their posts, you’ll experience the creativity and passion of our students as they present glimpses into student life. The views and opinions expressed within these posts are solely those of the authors.