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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Educators Without Borders: study tours in Russia?
Provost and vice president academic Eric Davis and history professor Larissa Horne described their experiences in Russia when they gave a speech on Dec. 1, explaining why UFV should become involved in study tours in Russia.
Discoveries Seminar Series closes with Cultus Lake focus
The final lecture in the Geography department’s fall 2011 Discoveries Seminar Series took place this past Thursday. Dr. Dan Selbie of the Cultus Lake Salmon Research Laboratory Adjunct Faculty was featured in the lecture, speaking about his research for Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Music for a cause: UFV students organize a night of entertainment for earthquake relief
Music pulsating from AfterMath on Wednesday, November 30 did more than just entertain a crowd – it also helped victims of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Turkey on November 9, which left over 60,000 people homeless
Angel Tree helps student families during the holidays
The holiday season should be a time of cheer and goodwill for everybody, but for many it can prove to create hardships. Once again, UFV’s Student Life department is in the swing of things with its annual Angel Tree program to give a hand to those in need.
An evening of Indian classical music
The lighting in the Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies (CICS) was dim on Wednesday evening, November 23. Flickering candles gave a surreal mood to the room, and cushions and sheets were arranged on the floor for seating. The occasion was a first-ever for UFV: a performance by virtuosic Indian classical musicians, Pandit Manu Kumar Seen and Ustad Akram Khan.
Dr. Cheryl Suzack comes to UFV
Last week, UFV guest lecturer Dr. Cheryl Suzack from the University of Toronto addressed questions like these during her talk “Trapped in one of the oldest ways: Indigenous women, literature and the law.”
UFV tests positive for “academic steroids”
Many students consume large doses of caffeine to help them stay focused, but an increasing number are turning to study drugs – prescribed stimulants such as Adderall, Concerta and Ritalin usually used to treat narcolepsy, ADD or ADHD – to enhance their abilities.
Standing room only at UFV microlectures
Sixteen professors representing 12 UFV departments took the two-minute challenge, presenting summaries of their research projects for an eager crowd of students and colleagues at the Road Runner Café on UFV’s Abbotsford campus last Wednesday.
CIVL asks students to open hearts and wallets
Right now, every student at UFV pays CIVL three dollars per semester as part of student fees. Through the referendum starting on the fifth, CIVL is asking students to increase this contribution to seven dollars per semester
Time to Help-Portrait Abbotsford
For UFV student Laura Henderson, Help-Portrait Abbotsford is a fun way to make a difference. For many financially-struggling families, the idea of getting a Christmas portrait done is just not possible, but Henderson and her friend Tamara Okoti aim to change that with their second annual event on December 10.
SUS by-election results usher in fresh faces and new ideas
The SUS By-election results are in: 515 UFV students cast a ballot for the VP Social, Clubs & Associations Representative, Residence Representative, and Representatives at Large positions. The campaign period ran from the 16th of November to the 23rd, leaving a six-day voting period. The SUS’s newly elected candidates will take office on December 1.
