UFV students embrace restorative justice in Abbotsford
UFV students are becoming more involved in the community as role models and mentors in the recently established Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association (ARJAA). Set up in 2000 by a group of citizens and community leaders, the ARJAA was incorporated as a non-profit society in 2001. The ARJAA serves as a Community Accountability Program under the BC Ministry of Public Safety and the Solicitor General. Their mentoring program was established in 2007.
BC Liberals visit with UFV trades students
Advanced Education Minister Naomi Yamamoto recently visited the Riverse Dining Room in Chilliwack Trades and Technology Centre. The event was also attended by the Agriculture Minister Don McRae and MLA John Les. They were there to meet with trades students and discuss various aspects of education, from funding to barriers of entry to such programs.
Human rights and the “War on Terror”
The Faculty and Staff Association (Human Rights & International Solidarity) and the Race & Antiracism Network (RAN) sponsored the lecture “Human Rights and the ‘War on Terror’” January 30 at UFV’s Abbotsford campus. Presenter, Dr. Sunera Thobani, Associate Professor in Women’s and Gender Studies at UBC spoke on the topic of “Imperialism, Feminism and the ‘War on Terror’.” Ron Dart, a faculty member in UFV’s department of Political Science presented on the topic of “Human Rights, Terrorism and the American Empire: The Double Hook.”
The controversial tale of bitumen
The $5.5 billion Northern Gateway project would see the raw form of oil, called bitumen, piped westward across 1177 km to BC’s coast in Kitimat – opening up the coastline for the first time to massive oil tankers. Most of this is designed for the Asian market, more specifically China. A second pipe, in the opposite direction, would carry a natural gas condensate. Given that the coastal area around Kitimat is notoriously difficult to navigate, and that the 525,000 barrels per day of oil would have to cross over 1000 rivers, waterways, as well as aboriginal lands, this proposal is not one that will be given the green light without lengthy deliberation.
Student Union Society restructures executive positions
While the changes that were voted on at the UFV Student Union Society’s (SUS) Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) won’t be implemented until the new fiscal year that begins April 1, the 15-person quorum voted on a host of different motions on January 30 that will apply to the new board that commences this spring. According to Carlos Vidal, SUS president, the main issue that was addressed during the meeting was responding to how the SUS is changing and growing.
UFV Zombie outbreak traced to U-House
The event, aptly titled “Humans versus Zombies” on Facebook by its creators, was organized by UFV student Jonathan Bayrock, and UFV Student Life Programmer Martin Kelly. “We had somewhere between 44 and 60 people come out to play,” said Bayrock about the event.
Conservative government still opposes the legalization of marijuana
In an interview with The Cascade, Ed Fast, Member of Parliament (MP) for Abbotsford reaffirmed the Conservatives negative opinion of any discussion of legalization or decriminalization of marijuana.
Wikipedia in academia
The problems with Wikipedia are inherent. The information can be falsified or changed if an article is new, or if many users mob the site to overwhelm the truth. Perhaps best proven true a few years ago on the Colbert Report regarding ‘wikiality’, “together we can create a reality that we all agree on—the reality we just agreed on.” But arguably there remain many positive aspects of the site.
Campus composting initiative gains traction
Lisa Banks, the new owner of Down-To-Earth Kitchen Compost Pick-up, is working with the university to establish a plan that will bring composting to UFV permanently.
Chilliwack-Hope NDP members vote O’Mahony to compete in by-election
With the dust settling, Gwen O’Mahony has come out on top to be nominated as the BC NDP’s candidate for the Chilliwack-Hope riding.
Fire at Chilliwack substation cuts off Abbotsford power
Students at UFV’s Abbotsford campus found themselves in the dark without power on Saturday morning when the Chilliwack Atchelitz BC Hydro substation at 6155 Lickman Road reportedly experienced an explosion followed by a fire. Classes were cancelled, and power through much of the townships of Abbotsford and Chilliwack was lost for the majority of the late morning.
UFV welcomes 2012 writer in residence: Anosh Irani
UFV’s fifth writer in residence began his term with a reading and student-attended opening gala this past Thursday. Anosh Irani, award winning playwright and novelist, read excerpts of his work, engaged in a public interview conversation with English instructor Trevor Carolan and also answered student questions about his career.
Award-winning reporter speaks to students of new journalism class
Award-winning CTV investigative reporter, Jonathan Woodward, made the trip from Vancouver to speak to the students of UFV’s Journalism 301 class in a small classroom setting last week.
Abbotsford women take a stand for purity
The Cascade had the opportunity to speak with Lisa Marziali—a 30-year-old photographer, and one of the four young women behind the blog Confessions of a 29-Year-Old Virgin, the blog behind the TLC series Virgin Diaries —about the proverbial whirlwind that has been the past few months.
The Human Body Project: an exercise in non-domination
Tasha Diamant presented the Human Body Project at the annual Canadian University Press Conference recently held in Victoria. Her project is to share a visceral experience of vulnerability and embody the fragility and morality of humanity, to bring forth unity, shared responsibility and compassion in her audience.
Dean of Trades and Technology retires
After nine years as dean of faculty of trades and technology and over 16 years before that as director of the faculty before the creation of the dean’s position, Harv McCullough will be retiring from his current position.
UFV Agriculture department growing with Pacific Berry Resource Centre
Although the UFV Pacific Berry Resource Centre has been up and running since November 2011, it will finally have a permanent home in the south end of UFV’s Chilliwack campus as of May or June 2012, the result of the collaboration of many including the BC Ministry of Agriculture, the Fraser Valley Strawberry Growers Association, the British Columbia Blueberry Council, and the Raspberry Industry Development Council.
Liberal party is now the party of marijuana legalization
“This is a great day. What started as an idea from a young Liberal in British Columbia has become a new policy of the Liberal Party of Canada. It shows you that one voice can make a difference,” pronounced Sangeeta Lalli, as a resolution to legalize marijuana was passed by the federal Liberal party earlier this month.
Goya exhibit comes to Abbotsford
For the first time in its history, Abbotsford’s art gallery The Reach will be host to a travelling exhibit from the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. The exhibition is a series of prints by the famous 18th century Spanish artist Francisco Goya y Lucientes.
Student journalism conference goes viral
A Canadian University Press student journalism conference in Victoria became a waking nightmare for students on Saturday January 14, when a large number of student delegates in attendance fell ill from an outbreak of Norovirus. Sickness quickly overtook delegates from the various academic student newspapers from around the country, all of whom were lodged in the Harbour Towers Hotel in Victoria.
Vancouver’s downtown HMV shuts its doors
The closing down of HMV in Vancouver is just another victim of a global decline in CD sales, and the rise of the digital music age.
Making the strip appealing
Strip/Appeal is architecture and design competition hosted by the University of Alberta intended to showcase innovative ideas of how to reinvent and reuse small strip malls.
UFV’s teaching excellence award open for nominations
UFV’s annual teaching excellence award is open for nominations for a faculty member to be recognised for exceptional efforts and accomplishments in their teaching. UFV students, alumni, faculty and staff are eligible to nominate an instructor
Sixty-three per cent vote yes in SUB mortgage referendum
They Student Union Society now has a mandate to move forward in providing a building specifically designed for students. A feature of having a mortgage will stipulate that the building will partially be owned by the SUS, and not leased.
