An arachno-compromise
I hate spiders. Yes, I am well aware of the benefits they provide to our ecosystem, and the fact they were here long before I was, but why do they always seem to find a way inside at the worst possible times? It’s like they have a knack for telling when you are at your most vulnerable. They see that you are about to settle in to watch Netflix, or are half asleep, stumbling to bed, and bam … They crawl out from under the bookshelf and snap you into high alert. Instantly, a cold chill shoots down your spine and a few grey hairs sprout out the top of your head. This impeccable timing combined with the fact they seem to get bigger every year makes me fearful to walk around in my own house without having my eyes glued to the floor. I know they are probably just scaring me to avenge their fallen brothers and sisters, but this cat-and-mouse game is really going nowhere. In light of this, I’d like to recommend a treaty to the spiders of my neighbourhood: if you’re going to come in the house, please be discreet and stay out of sight. I think this would solve both our problems.
Jeffrey Trainor
Don’t leave your phone alone
I spend a lot of time in S building, and I’ve noticed that many people leave their phones unattended in the public charging station. Now, I know that it’s really convenient to have one, and I don’t want it to go away, but I keep seeing people plug in their phones and leave! There’s already a small sign on the station telling people not to leave their phones unattended, but since nothing bad has happened (yet), people probably feel safe. But is it really safe enough to ditch your phone and leave the actual building? Please don’t abandon your phone!
Catherine Bell
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Musical inclinations for UFV?
Musicals like the Sound of Music, Les Miserables, and Footloose are incredibly popular. Audiences feel something magical about them: an almost wistful yearning to be part of the performance. Although there is a great drama department here at UFV, I believe it would be even more beneficial to include a program for musical theatre, where students could become more versatile in their performance by combining song and dance with acting.
There is also a desire to see a musical in a school setting that is more affordable for a student’s budget. After speaking to a variety of students, many agree UFV should have a declared musical theatre program.
On the bright side, there is talk of having such a program, possibly in the next year. Hopefully it will be approved, because there are so many talented students at UFV who do not always have the opportunity to be trained to perform in a musical. Musical theatre is a unique genre of the arts that is timeless and popular, and is beneficial for students who wish to pursue a career in Broadway.
Rachel Tait
Online course qualms
Online courses are disappointing. In theory, they’re a wonderful idea. You can do all your studies at home, naked as the wind, drinking beer and listening to music. But in reality, there is never a good time to log in and get to it. When you’re not at work or in class, you’re at home; when you’re at home, it doesn’t feel right to boot up the computer for the sake of doing more schoolwork.
If you do have the drive to log on, the online interface is confusing as hell. Each class has its own places to click to find course content, class discussions are held all over the place in weird nooks and crannies, and when you click on something you can’t predict if it will just take you to another page or open up a new tab or window. It’s an inconsistent maze that expands as you explore it. While a lack of drive is one’s own problem, the way the online pages are physically structured isn’t really accessible, and probably needs a change.
Alex Rake
