student life 101 ezine

February 2009 | Volume 18101Student Life

QUIZ!do yoU have ahealthy attItUde toward food and yoUr body?

the lonelIness of dIfference

Counselling serviCes Feature

blackhIstoryMonth!

Connectionsa celebration of

african music and culture

andlawrence Hill

The award-winning author reads at uW

warrior weekends: Movies, MusiC and More!

internationalCelebrationsweek!Check out the events happening march 2-7

February 2009 | sTudenT liFe 101 | 3

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FebruaryFeds eletion campaign continues (Jan. 27-Feb. 9) www.vote.feds.ca

Graduating Students’ Week (Feb. 2-7) www.graduatingstudents.uwaterloo.ca

Graduating Students’ Services Fair and Seminars; SLC Great Hall @ 10am-4pm

Job Fair; RIM Park @ 10am-3:30pm

Men’s and Women’s Varsity Basketball Game; PAC @ 6pm

OSAP Application Deadline for Winter only term

Deadline to submit OSAP Signature Pages and Supporting Documentation for Winter only term

MBET Information Session; 295 Hagey Boulevard in the Centre for Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology @ 4-5:30pm

5 Ettiquette Essentials Dinner; SCH, Festival Room @ 6pm

FASS 2009: Live FASS, Die Tomorrow; Humanities Theatre @ 8pm www.fass.uwaterloo.ca/2009

Lecture: David Goodstein, California Institute of Technology - “Out of Gas: The End of the Age of Oil;” Perimeter Institute @ 4pm

FASS 2009: Live FASS, Die Tomorrow; Humanities Theatre @ 7pm and 10pm

Warrior Weekends; SLC Great Hall @ 9pm www.warriorweekends.uwaterloo.ca

7 FASS 2009; Humanities Theatre @ 8pmWarrior Weekends; SLC Great Hall @ 9pm

Spring Enrollment Begins (Feb. 9-14); Check your enrolment appt. on Quest

Feds Election Voting Begins (Feb. 10-12)

“The ‘Bare Naked’ Talk” with author Kathy Stinson; Sweeney Hall, St. Jerome’s University @ 5pm;Book signing follows

Final Exam Information Availablewww.registrar.uwaterloo.ca/exams/finalexams.html

MBET Information Session: 295 Hagey Blvd. @ 4-5:40pm

Family Day (University Closed)

Reading Week Begins (Feb. 16-20)

Open class enrolment begins

OSAP Application Deadline (full funding) for Winter & Spring term

Deadline for 50% Tuition Refund

QPR suicide prevention course; MC 4068 @ 11:30am-1pmRegister with Counselling Services, ext. 33528

Drop, Penalty 1 Period Ends: last day to receive a WD grade (no credit granted) for course(s) dropped

Deadline for OSAP Reviews (appeals) for Winter only and Fall & Winter terms

Last day to submit Full-Time Bursary/Award Application for Winter only term

Co-op rankings open @ 1pm

Drop, Penalty 2 Period begins: WF grade assigned (value 32) for course(s) dropped


headlines AthleticsFan bus trip shoot For tuition oua playoFFs

Interested in taking a road trip? Join your fellow Warriors on the Warrior Fan Bus trip to the Men’s Hockey at Western on Friday February 6th. The bus leaves the PAC at 5:15pm. Tickets are only $15 and includes your bus, game ticket and free stuff. Stop by the Athletics office to purchase your ticket before they’re all gone. Any questions, please contact Jenny at [email protected].

On Wednesday February 4th, come cheer on your Warrior Basketball teams as they face off against Brock. Women play at 6pm followed by the men at 8pm. One lucky student will have an opportunity to “Shoot For Tuition” at half time of both games. Our final “Shoot for Tuition” contest will take place at our Women’s Hockey game on Sunday February 8th at 2pm. Any questions, please contact Jenny at [email protected].

Make sure to check out www.gowarriorsgo.ca all month long to see which of your Warrior teams are competing in OUA playoff action!

The Job Fair is an excellent opportunity to network with close to 180 employers from across North America who are currently hiring for full-time, summer, co-op, contract and part-time jobs. Come out to investigate and research career options and potential positions from diverse sectors. This is an excellent opportunity to offer your resume to numerous employers and present your skills and qualifications in person. You can pick up an employer guidebook at Career Services, Tatham Centre for a list of participating organizations or visit www.partners4employment.ca In preparation for this event, make sure you research employers attending the fair and target those of interest. Update your resume and take copies to the fair along with questions to ask employers. Free bus transportation is available every half hour throughout the day to and from the fair at the front of the Humanities Theatre.

Job FairriM park

10aM-3:30pM

eMployer inForMation

sessions

Employer information sessions are presented by employers (usually informally) as a way to promote their organization to either or both co-op and graduating students. The sessions and are often accompanied by food and soft drinks to thank you for attending. Most employer information sessions target students from specific programs, but usually you do not have to apply for a job with the employer to be able to attend their information session. www.cecs.uwaterloo.ca/students/sessions.php

Career Services


Counselling Services

headlines Library Services Learn the research skills you need to ace that paper! Registration is now open for the Library’s winter workshop series. This semester’s sessions cover everything from beginner research to strategies for staying current in your field of research and study. For detailed session descriptions, see the workshop registration page: http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/usered/index.html. Register now! Space is limited.

register now Forwinter workshops

Coming soon, the Davis Centre Library will be re-zoned to increase the amount of quiet study space available to students. The biggest change? The main floor will be designated a SILENT floor, meaning that if you want to talk or use your cell phone, you’ll need to go to the Library’s lower level or leave the Library.

get into the davis zone!

This re-zoning is in response to consistent feedback from students telling us that they require more silent study areas. Stay tuned for more information and the rollout later in February!


Organizational and Human Development

The session topics include:

Exploring the Principles of Leadership

Communication and Leadership Styles

Presentation Skills - How to Express Yourself in Leadership and Followship

Conflict Management Exploration

Planning and Running an Effective Team Meeting

Building Your Credibility as a Student Leader

You may sign up for one or all six. There are a variety of times and dates available. Note, if you would like to register for all six, they will be offered Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm - 8:30pm for 6 weeks in a row[excluding reading week]. You may also enroll in all 6 over two Saturdays inMarch. See website for details. The workshops are limited to approx. 20 students each. Register online:http://www.ohd.uwaterloo.ca/students/registration.php.

We’re excited to share with you that on-line registration is now open for the Student Leadership Workshops offered through OHD-http://www.ohd.uwaterloo.ca/students Organizational & Human Development [OHD] is offering several leadership workshops in Winter 2009 - free to any current UW student. Each session is 2hours.

studentleadershipworkshops


Feature

do you have a healthy attitute toward food and your body?by sandy ace, rd, Health services dietitian

Do you starve yourself to fit into your “skinny” jeans or step on the scale every day to determine how much, when or even if you will eat? Then maybe it’s time to “Celebrate Your Natural Size,” which is the message promoted by Eating Disorders Awareness Week, February 1- 7. In a society where unhealthy attitudes and behaviours towards food, weight and dieting have become increasingly common among both females and males, take time to reflect on how you judge not only yourself but others. Check out the events and resources in the Student Life Centre this week to learn more about eating disorders, mindful eating and good nutrition for students.

Try the following self-check:

I’m always thinking about food, weight or the way I lookI think about food and weight no matter what I’m doingI’m ashamed or feel guilty about what I eatI eat in secret or lie about what I have eatenI plan my day around food or ways to avoid foodI work, exercise or see people too much to avoid eatingI often over-eat or under-eat and don’t control itI try to make up for eating by purging or eating very little

I weigh myself every day and my mood depends on the numbersI obsess about parts of my body that are “wrong”I count the calories of everything I eat or drinkI exercise or eat less to punish myself for how much I weighI am very strict about staying a certain weightI exercise even if I feel sickI exercise to lose weight, or because I ate too muchI call foods “good” and “bad” and feel good or bad depending on which I eat

Do any or all of these statements sound like you? A few or even a single positive response may indicate that you have a serious eating or body image problem. Even if you don’t feel ready to change anything right now, it can help to talk to someone. There are many professionals on campus with experience in helping students with “disordered” eating. A good place to start your journey to better health is to make an appointment at Health Services (519 888-4096) or Counselling Services (519 888-4567 x32655).


Feature

The Loneliness of Difference

by linda mackay, msW rsW, Counselling services Are you lonely tonight? Change can make us feel lonely and you have faced many changes coming to university. Whether you have come from a rural Alberta or northern Ontario town or from a village in Trinidad or Pakistan, or from a bustling city like Beijing or Bombay, you may long for what you left behind. Your high school pals, your family members and neighbourhood, the sights, sounds, weather, food, music - all that has been familiar to you and contributes to who you are may now seem far away and out of reach.

The experience of being “different” can also contribute to an experience of loneliness. As a teenager it may have been so important not to be different in order to avoid being targeted or made fun of, or feared, or disliked. Your difference here in university may be a result of the belief you are alone in your experience: “No one but me feels shy”, or “I am the only one who is struggling in my class”, or “ Everyone else has made friends except me”. Your difference may be amplified by the fact that you have not found others who share your difference, perhaps your language, culture or worldview, sexual orientation, unique

abilities or challenges. Is loneliness a disease? No. Loneliness is part of the human condition and has been the theme of our human story across cultures and through generations. Loneliness, whether it be because of a broken heart, or from an experience of being misunderstood or unaccepted, or judged, or ignored - can inspire great art and invention. It can also propel us to connect, to reach out, and to seek out others who share our own unique difference. How do you know if your loneliness is hurting you? People are a relational species. It is not only a


part of socialization, it is a physiological necessity imprinted in our genetic code to help us survive. These connections also need to feel meaningful. It is important to know that someone else in the world “gets” you, or believes you, or accepts you, or loves you. For some of you, these connections may have been left behind or have shifted in all the change. Some warning signs: If your loneliness cuts you off from interacting and engaging in everyday events, if your eating and sleeping patterns are erratic or imbalanced, if you have thoughts of self harm or are contemplating death as a solution, this is not loneliness. This is depression and you need help. Talk to someone, a doctor, a counselor, an advisor, a friend, because depression can be treated effectively and there are many resources on campus and in the community to help you.

It is a challenge to construct meaningful connections in university. Perhaps the friendships you made in the beginning changed because you went away for work terms. Perhaps the burden of workload and school demands discourage the time it takes to seek out and build these connections. Perhaps the process of making connections creates intense feelings of anxiety you would prefer to avoid. Some suggestions for connection building: allow your difference to lead you to those who share similar experiences. Allow your interests to sustain connections so even if people come and go, the activity continues to draw new people. Nurture your curiosity. Learn something new, a new skill or hobby like dancing, yoga, badminton, cooking! Give your time and skills to help others. There are many places on

campus to volunteer such as The Office For Persons With Disabilities or The International Students Office or Federation of Students. Take a workshop at Counselling Services where you will get support, build skills and realize many other people share similar struggles or concerns. There may also be benefits to spending time alone. It may help you to rejuvenate and reenergize. It may help you organize your thoughts and plan or set goals. What can you learn about yourself from your loneliness? How can you soothe yourself, nurture and care for yourself in healthy and compassionate ways? Maybe this is the very thing that will inspire you to write that poem or song, or create that great work of art or science. Check out our website for information about individual counselling appointments, or how to register for workshops and for other resources and links : www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infocs/.

Black History Month


events

FASS 2009 Live FASS, Die Tomorrow


events

The FASS Amateur Theatre Company, the oldest drama organization at the University of Waterloo, is performing its forty-seventh annual show in the first week of February. This year’s show, Live FASS, Die Tomorrow, is a sometimes-homage, sometimes-spoof of the spy genre: A new Bachelor of Spy program is being offered at the University, which sets all of the other faculties on edge! Performances Nights:

Thursday, February 5th @ 8pm

Friday, February 6th@ 7pm and 10pm

saturday, February 7th @ 8pm

Register for Warrior Weekends (can do so at all Friday and Saturday shows) and show your wristband to purchase a ticket at half price ($5).

For more information: fass.uwaterloo.ca or email [email protected]

Tickets are half price when you register for Warrior Weekends!

register at any Friday, Feb. 6 or saturday, Feb. 7 show.

$7

$10

$10


International Celebrations Week

Friday, February 6 saturday, February 7Movie @ 9pm: Nick and Norah’s Infinite playlist

movie @ 11pm: Quarantine

Craft: picture frames and Valentine’s day Cards (sponsored by alumni affairs)

Food: Coffee bar and ice cream sundaes

activities: • learn how to salsa @ 9-10:30pm • speed dating @ 9-11pm • dodgeball (paC small gym) @8-9:30pm; proper shoes and attire should be worn.

movie @ 11:00pm: my best Friend’s girl

Crafts: decorate your own sock puppets and scarves (sponsored by alumni affairs)

Food: pizza and pop at 10:45pmactivities:

• The great mug give away of 2009 • bHm Jam session featuring the engineering Jazz band @ 9-11pm • euchre @ 9-11pm • bingo @ 9-11pm

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