UTSC Pulse

Jessica's last blog post of the year

2012-03-05T19:37:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone!

Yes indeed, the title says it all. I made a short video thanking everyone who supported UTSC Pulse, it has definitely been a memorable experience. As your athletic blogger, thank you to all those I've interviewed and got to know, you made my job a lot easier. As well, thank you to all the writers whom I met with once a week to pitch ideas, Nadia for being the brain behind the blog and Ron for putting me up for the challenge!

Enjoy the video and good luck with finals! :)

It's that time of year again...TAX TIME!

2012-02-29T02:18:00.013-05:00

Hey UTSC!

For many of you first years, you've probably never filed your taxes. If you do know what they are, great job on the head start! For those of you who haven't, lucky for you being an undergrad, UTSC does your taxes for you, or rather. help you do most of it and best of all, IT'S FREE!

Follow these steps to success:
Go to the market place anywhere from 11AM-5PM
Be prepared, you have to bring the following things in order to do your taxes.

University of Toronto student T-Card
Passport *only required for International Students at UTSC
Income Tax Number (ITN) letter or Social Insurance Number (SIN) card (NOTE: If you do not have a SIN card or ITN, please contact the ISC for assistance)
Direct Deposit Information or VOID Cheque (information required from your financial institution: Account #, Branch #, & Institution #), is necessary to set-up the direct deposit of your tax refund
A Canadian address where your tax letters can be mailed back to you during Summer 2012. (NOTE: If you will be leaving Canada for the summer 2012 for vacation, please make alternative arrangements to secure a local mailing address (examples: friend or family member’s address, Canada Post mail box rental, etc.)
Rental receipts for any off-campus housing or a copy of canceled/returned cheques/money orders/bank drafts you used to pay your landlord (NOTE: students living on-campus in UTSC’s Residence do not require any receipts)
T2202A – 2011 Tuition, Education and Textbook Amounts Certificate Form (can be printed from ROSI under “tax forms”)
T5 Slips – Mailed in January-early March 2012 directly to you by your Canadian financial institution if you have a high interest bank account, GIC and/or investment (contact your financial institution for details)
TTC Monthly Passes, TTC Weekly Passes, or Go Transit Monthly Passes and receipts of purchase
T4 Slip (if you were employed and paid in Canada during the tax year of 2011)
Any receipts of charitable donations you made
2010 Notice of Assessment (if you filed your income tax return last year)
Your CRA Netfile Access Code if you have previously filed your taxes before and are eligible to file your tax return electronically.

Some of these might not apply to you, go through item carefully!

Before the process you have to sign a form saying that a volunteer is helping you and does not represent the Canadian Revenue Agency etc. They verify your information, ask you various questions and then you make an account on UFile. It's the tax papers software. So basically you plug in information and numbers and after all that, you get an estimate of the tax refund, before you get all excited, you have to understand that this amount is divided by four and sent out every 2-3 months.

After all of that, you get a copy of your tax forms, you have to print about 30 pages, so make sure your TCard is loaded. All you have to do is put those pages in a envelope, put your address on it, put a stamp on it, and send it. VIOLA! You're done.

Basically, when you file your taxes, you are claiming that GST back, that "30%" which is deducted say for example on your pay cheque. So you getting a tax return is you getting that 30% back.

As some of you may or may not know, it is the last week of work study and this may or may not be my last blog post (most likely not). I'd just like to say thanks for tuning in and reading my rants, opinions, critiques, etc. I'd like to say, that first year is and always will be hard, once you get through the train that is first semester, second semester is a wee bit less difficult, we have a reading week.

Although I love UTSC, I'll be taking a break. I'd like to wish my fellow bloggers of today and tomorrow the best of luck.

Epic Quote of the week: "To all the women in Pakistan who are working for change, don't give up on your dreams. This is for you" Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy's Oscar speech (HOLLA!)

Epic Video of the week:

Ode to hockey practice

2012-02-28T15:02:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!

Man oh man, it's been a busy reading week for me - and with school starting again, it doesn't show signs of slowing down. I'm currently writing this at 2:48am (yikes!) I got back from hockey practice around 11:30pm and have been doing homework ever since. It doesn't help I have a soccer practice at 7:00am tomorrow morning (double yikes!).

So my dear readers, my mind has turned to jello and for such reason...I will write a poem.

Ahem.

Ode to hockey practice

The coaches made us skate, lap after lap
I only wanted to sit out and take a nap
It's been a long day, but I'll continue to skate
Even when the coach made us carry a weight
My knees were shaking with every turn
You better believe I felt the burn
We had a drill where we wrestled for the puck
I won that play, but i'm sure it was mere luck
Shoot outs happend at the end of the night
I tricked the goalie, as the puck took flight
It missed the net, pretty sure it hit her head
I apologized and apologized, "sorry" I said.
When practice was over, I tripped and nearly fell
We have a game on Sunday - oh goodness, wish us well!

The Social Class Room

2012-02-22T12:05:00.003-05:00

Hello again fellow readers and students!

I know it's been a while and I do apologize. As you know I am a social media enthusiast and I enjoy looking at social trends within difference contexts. Recently I've noticed a significant increase in social integration in the classroom. All of my classes have official Facebook discussion groups that are moderated by professors or TAs. This is coupled with a higher use of the Blackboard discussion groups. In the classes that have this online supplement the professor typically assigns 10% of the grade to participation especially when using Blackboard. I realize that students have been forming groups like these before but I've rarely seen an official one created by the professor/TA.

I have 1 class that uses a Facebook group to connect students to TAs and additional material and 1 class that strictly uses Blackboard for this purpose. However, I've noticed there is a stark contrast between using the Blackboard discussion board and an avenue such as Facebook for online course supplements. If you happen to be a TA or a professor reading this you better start taking notes! I've noticed the Facebook groups are better in terms of student engagement with the course material and extra material as well as the professors and TAs. I've actually learned a few concepts strictly from the Facebook discussion group. While on the other hand the discussion board is rarely used and when it is used I'm being forced to by a 10% participation mark. There is no other shared material other than what is required of me to post for my grade.

I believe the whole idea behind having discussion boards/groups in the first place is to foster engagement between students and with the course material - the whole learn together thing. I would like to see more classes adopt an official Facebook group to supplement learning and course material. I've noticed students are more active on such a group because they are already on Facebook for other reasons and it's a more casual environment as opposed to the one offered by Blackboard. Though the Facebook group does have to be moderated or else it will turn into a free for all dystopia of trolling.

I happen to enjoy these Facebook discussion groups, but I'm not sure how prevalent they are among the classes at UTSC. Let me know to what capacity your classes have them and how you feel about them in the comment section below!

Remember to follow me on twitter @malcolmwong1 and the subscribe to the blog!

Man 2 Man

2012-02-15T14:04:00.005-05:00

Hey guys,
In case you didn't know, tonight at UTSC's SC:OUT and DSL (Dept of Student Life) is hosting a reading of the play "Man 2 Man." I will be there! In the past I've tried to get interviews at the events I've attend on and off campus, but some artists aren't as cooperative! (NOT IMPRESSED.) I hopefully might have some luck at tonight's event- WISH ME LUCK.

I know this is a very BRIEF wall post but I will back next week with FRESH IDEAS! Till then stay swaggin!

Epic Quote: "To power, we must either submit or resist." Aisha W.

Epic Song of the Week:

UTSC rated B- in athletics

2012-02-14T09:28:00.001-05:00

Annually, The Globe and Mail conducts a "University Report Card," where students all across Canada rate their school on most satisfied students, quality of teaching, student residences, libraries, athletics, etc. Overall, UTSC falls into the average grades for each category. As previously mentioned by my fellow bloggers, UTSC may be a smaller community, but I think we could embrace all the opportunities we have to offer.

UTSC is rated within the "small universities" category. We're rated a B- in athletics and recreation along with Nippising University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University. At the top of this list is University of Lethbridge and UOIT.

U of T St. George is rated a B+ while UTM is rated an A- in athletics.

The survey is going around again and UTSC can have a chance to move up a grade in all categories because let's face it, we're U of T students and a B- will only make your parents say, "you can do better."

In other news, UTSC will be having a "UTSC Marlies Day" on March 10, hosted by the SCHPA. The game is at the Ricoh Coliseum at 3pm. Oddly enough I used to work at the Ricoh and I can tell you Marlies games are WILD! It's a small arena, so anywhere you sit will be a great seat to watch the game.

Tickets are $35 and include, not only the game, but an $8 food voucher, Marlies T-shirt, autograph signing with a Marlies player, and a post-game skate on the Marlies ice.

Attending the game will be a great first step into embracing the UTSC athletic community. You don't have to play a sport to attend, just gather a group of your friends and have fun!

Tweet me @Jessica_Moy or comment below if you're attending the Marlies game, or how (as a UTSC student) would you improve the athletics at UTSC?

UTSC >.

2012-02-10T10:46:00.001-05:00

Hello wonderful readers of this wonderful blog. We all know that its Valentine’s Day next week and we know there are probably a hundred gazillion articles about it already on the internet so I thought I’d take this time to tell you guys what I appreciate about UTSC.

I’m pretty sure everybody is aware that most students at UTSC aren’t too fond of the campus or the University. I’m here to show you the amazing things our campus has to offer, there has to be a reason why you guys chose to attend this campus, right?

1. It’s a community.

It may be small but that’s what makes it such a community. When you walk around the halls you see people and you recognize them, even if all you say is “waddup” or do one of those *sup* nods. You’re taking part in a community. You’re making someone feel like a person instead of feeling like just another number which is most often the case in other universities.

2. You can actually ask questions in lectures.

It may take some courage. I was always told in high school that Profs never answer questions at lectures but here, for the most part, everyone is welcomed to raise their hand and ask the prof a question.

3. We have two Tim Horton’s.

Enough said.

4. We get the new athletic centre they’re building for the PAN AM games once they are done!

Probably the most exciting thing for me. I don’t even know if I’ll be around by then but that’s still freaking amazing.

5. WE HAVE A HOTDOG GUY.

Nasser for president.

6. Rex’s.

Service might still need some work but that place gives me food-gasms.

Moiz’s words of the week : These are just some of the things that are so great about our campus. I really get tired of people saying UTSC is so boring and stuff because the people that say it are usually the ones that don’t put any effort into making it better. I truly believe that your university experience is based on your attitude. If you look at something as boring or lame, it probably is going to be that way. But if you wake up excited to go to school and take time to look for new events or take part making new ones I’m sure you won’t have the same mind frame.

So show your spirit UTSC, let me know what you’ll be doing to show SPIRIT during spirit week! Comment below

Until next week, peace and love.

The small joys and victories of UTSC

2012-02-08T16:07:00.000-05:00

Hey Guys, it's E.A.P

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, but instead of being all Anti-Valentine's day, I thought I'd show my campus some love.

Yea, let's be honest; UTSC school spirit is a bit in the dumps. That being said, it doesn't mean we can't raise it.

I've been thinking since I do take courses at the downtown campus, I appreciate UTSC more.
I dedicate this post to UTSC. Here are the things I love about UTSC:

The small class sizes. I would much rather be in a room full of 30 kids than 95
We have some really awesome courses e.g "Women in the Arts: Hot Mamas, Amazons, and Madonnas," " Gender and Genre," "Music and Healing," and even a course on "Painting" to name a few.
We're right next to STC, isn't that fun? You could go watch a movie in your 3-hour break (if you aren't broke yet).
We got a Hero Burger and Taco Bell opening up VERY soon.
We have really awesome guest speakers visit our campus. Who went to see Lawrence Hill the other day?
There's always someone giving away free food. Yup, referring to DSL.
We have a hot dog guy!
There's always some new building opening up, but either way this campus isn't big enough to get lost at.
I'm actually really glad our campus doesn't do that whole "colleges" thing that the downtown campus does. That way you don't have to go to like 3 different registrars to get something done.
We have some awesome profs, Daniel Tysdale! :D
Our school teams don't suck, we actually win most games! #RepUTSCSports

Just a few closing remarks:
I just feel like our school isn't given the credit it deserves. University can be fun guys! You just have to look, and if it's not there, take a chance and start something positive. Instead of complaining about how our campus spirit "sucks" take initiative and do things on this campus that you wanna see happen.

Next week I'll be attending Spoetic Poetry Slam on Thurs Feb 16th. One of my many pieces got published in an online zine (So stoked for that).

Epic Quote of the week: "Tell her that the only way her heart will mend is when she learns to love again."

Epic Video of the week:

Superstition in sports

2012-02-07T14:01:00.000-05:00

If you're an athlete, chances are you're likely to believe in superstition. Everything you do before a big game has to be to your liking or you'll feel unprepared. Take for example a soccer player who has to put on their left shin-pad first before their right or a volleyball player who has to bounce the ball a certain way before serving.

It all may seem a tad silly, but in order for certain athletes to feel prepared, they must stick to the same routine before heading out on their respective playing fields.

Many famous sport superstitions include Fabio Capello, England's soccer manager who banned all the girlfriends and wives of his soccer players during the 2010 FIFA World Cup from any sexual activities. Some may say such activities can hold back an athletes competitiveness, but according to TIME Magazine, this is just a superstition.

Another superstition is former basketball superstar Michael Jordan who couldn't go a game without wearing his lucky basketball shorts from college. He even wore them under his longer Bulls shorts during all his NBA games.

Personally, I'm not too superstitious when it comes to sports, but I do have a couple that stand out. For hockey I always have to tie my skates outside the dressing room. I don't remember when I started doing this, probably back in high school when the dressing room was always sweaty and crowded. I used to take my skates and tie them outside the room and listen to my music. Even today I continue to do this, it's automatic - even if the dressing room is half empty.

Also, in the beginning of the game when my team is about to cheer, I have to turn my back to the crowd. I believe this started when I was younger when I was always so nervous when friends or family came to watch. It would remind me to not pay attention to them and concentrate on the game. May sound silly but hey - it worked!

Here's a short, funny video of superstition in the NHL.

Let me know by commenting or tweeting me @Jessica_Moy if you or someone you know has a weird superstition or routine before heading out to the big game!

Is UTSC Spiritless Place??

2012-02-02T18:22:00.004-05:00

Hello UTSC, as you know this is my 5th year at UTSC and that I am a big proponent of getting the best university experience possible. It dawned on me the other day that it might be possible that UTSC and possibly the entire entity of The University of Toronto lacks any school spirit. This idea came about me as I was visiting a friend at another campus. As he was showing me around, I noticed a few things.

The first thing I noticed was the amount of students wearing an article of clothing emblazoned with the universities name. I know we had the whole "1 Love UTSC" thing going on, but this was on a whole other level. Are UTSC students ashamed of repping their campus? I obviously see students with University of Toronto clothing, but the frequency of a sighting like that is minimal. Why is it that this type of rep is so rare at UTSC?

Furthermore, looking through his collection of photos through out his past years at the university I noticed all the photos had one thing in common - they were all very centralized around school spirit and the university. In my head I compared my memories of UTSC and his photos - there was a HUGE difference. Sure I've been involved heavily and done things that connect me to campus but they didn't resonate with the feeling of "school spirit".

The only reason I could think of why school spirit is not part of our university culture is that at the University of Toronto we are heavily focused on academics and it is our cornerstone of pride. My question to you is whether you think UTSC has spirit or not or that the university experience is better elsewhere. Perhaps it's that as students of UTSC we show our school spirit in a different way - though I'm not really sure about that. Do you think UTSC has spirit? or do we show it in a different way? What are some ways you see UTSC spirit and what are some ways to increase school spirit? Let me know in the comments below!

When I Say Drop, YOU SAY FEES!

2012-02-01T16:26:00.003-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

TODAY IS THE DAY!
All Out Feb1 st. National Day of Action.

Here is how things went down according to me.

So I was suppose to get up super early and head over to Queen's Park with UTSC, but I slept in (to be fair, I was really excited and I couldn't sleep, so when I did finally sleep, I slept till 10:30 AM)

11:33 AM: Arrive at Queen's Park (I couldn't figure out where the protest was taking place). Someone told me Hart House, someone else told me King's Circle!

This is BEFORE THE ACTION:

(Really Empty!)

11:57 AM: I hear cheering. Heads towards cheering. There was a hype rally in front of Sid Smith. We were all waiting for the other university buses to arrive.

For like a good 30 mins we were all cheering things like,
"The students united, will never be defeated"
"When I say drop you say fees!"
"Education under attack, what do we do? FIGHT BACK"
"Education is a right, we will not give up the fight!"
And other things like,
"SO SO SO, SOLIDARITY!!!"
"What do we think of OSAP? And the crowd said "F**K OSAP"

12:46 PM: We start marching around King's Court Circle. Guided by this truck which came with a microphone, speakers, and a DJ.

1: 12 PM: The crowd gets bigger and bigger:

I noticed that people took turns speaking, while on the truck. The different student unions (i.e Ryerson, York, UofT) all spoke out at the rally about how, not just undergrad students, but ALL students are affected by the high cost and rise of tuition fees. Yay Solidarity :D!

I had to leave the protest early because I got really claustrophobic. I honestly couldn't feel where I was going. I took a breather and got some really awesome videos and pictures to share with you guys.

It felt absolutely amazing to be a part of such an incredible energy and movement. I only hope that our government listens! Although I didn't see familiar faces, I did see friendly ones. My favorite part was the homemade signs people made.

I mean cmon' how does this not convince you?

I really hope everyone over at Queen's Park marching is safe and hopefully it all stays peaceful (I have no doubt it will be).

Epic Quote: "Don't get arrested, I'm not there to bail you out!"-- Somone's mom

Epic Song of the Week:

P.S Guys follow the action on twitter. #Feb1 #DropFees #AllOut
Enjoy everyone :)

Guest Blogger: Lawrence Hill at UTSC

2012-02-01T13:46:00.000-05:00

by Arif Hussain

UTSCrecently had the privilege to welcome internationally acclaimed and awardwinning local author, Lawrence Hill at Leigha Lee Theatre. Introduced by Dr. KarinaVernon, English Literature professor at UofT, on the topics of mixed identitiesand black writing in Canada, Hill was positively received by undergraduates,professors and community members all alike. His writing has the capacity toappeal to folks in all walks of life and meeting the author in flesh onlyfulfilled that belief.

Hilldiscussed his life, growing up in Don Mills and his trials and tribulationsleading to his now very successful career. He also read an excerpt from anupcoming book titled “The Illegal”, a fictional narrative in an imagined world muchsimilar to our own world (he warns us), about a runner coming to a freedomstate without any papers and runs marathons illegally in order to support hislivelihood. Afterwards, he answered questions and had discussions with audiencemembers!

Meeting Lawrence Hill was an absolute pleasure as he is a very kindindividual with a sweet personality and takes the time to address his readers’inquiries. The Book of Negroes was apopular topic during the two hour-long gathering. In this exchange, Hilldemonstrated through his conduct that his passion for understanding people anddiscussing important topics that are otherwise not often discussed is not onlylimited to his fictional characters but towards the people he is writing for aswell.

City of Words is apopular reading series that features writers of note who are fromScarborough or who have written about issues related to the region.

Q & A with Chelsea Seguin - UTSC hockey player

2012-01-31T10:34:00.004-05:00

It seems girls are likely to be underestimated when it comes to a sport like hockey. Chelsea Seguin, a second year psychology and political science major has heard her fair share of chirps from guys (probably not as good as her). With a clapper of a slap shot and speed that takes her end to end, Seguin was a varsity hockey player before playing the intramural sport at UTSC.

"[Playing varsity] was a great experience and my physical fitness was pushed to the max."

Unfortunately, hockey is just as political as it is physical and Seguin was released from the team after a month and a half.

As much as a disappointment as that was for her, like any good hockey player, she picked herself back up and got back on the ice.

This being your first time on the UTSC hockey team, what were your expectations when you went to the first try-out?

When I came to tryouts, I didn't know what to expect. I was definitely intimidated because walking into a dressing room where everyone already knows each other is nerve-racking. As I got to know everyone, it didn't take long until I felt part of the team.

How has your overall university experience enhanced since being part of the team?

Overall, being part of the hockey team is a great way to meet new people that I have things in common with. It is also a good way to keep in shape and relieve stress when I need to get my mind off the books.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned while playing hockey at intramural level?

The biggest lesson I've learned (more so, been reminded of) since being on the hockey team is to never underestimate your opponents. During the Fall season, we lost in the semi-finals to a team that we were more than capable of beating. Sometimes you wrongly take a win for granted, but no matter what, you have to keep your head in the game.

What other teams have you played on at UTSC?

Last year I played intramural volleyball during the winter semester (won the championship). This year i'm playing soccer, along with interhouse volleyball and ball hockey.

FREE MONEY!

2012-01-26T12:16:00.006-05:00

Hello readers (Read that in the Old Spice man’s voice). Once again it’s Thursday which means you get the pleasure of reading a blog post from me!

So as you guys might have heard, the Liberal government promised Post-Secondary students a 30% discount off their tuition. The discount comes into effect THIS semester. Basically, starting next year all eligible post-secondary students are going to get 30% off their tuition.

This means University students get back $1600 and college students get back $730. Because it came into effect starting this semester, students are able to apply for an $800 refund if they qualify. The downside to this is that there are certain conditions that need to be met in order for you to qualify for this refund so not everybody will be able to get the 30% discount.

To sign up for this rebate, you have to go on the OSAP website and fill in all the information they ask for. I hear that signing up is a long and painful process but hey, at least you’re getting free money (kind of). If you have already applied for OSAP you will automatically be considered so don’t panic. The deadline for the refund of this semester is March 31, 2012 so make sure you guys sign up ASAP.

For those of you wondering, the qualifications for this refund are:

You're a full-time student at a public college or university in Ontario
It's been less than four years since you left high school
You're in a program that you can apply to directly from high school
Your parents' gross income is $160,000 or less

Something else you guys might have heard on campus lately is the Feb. 1 Day of Action: Drop Fees. This is the day that students from all over Toronto will be protesting for an increase in funding for students.

“On Feb. 1, join thousands of Ontario students as they march in solidarity to support the fight for an increase in funding for Ontario students. This means we want funding for all students in Ontario regardless of status.” Instead of having a 30% rebate for a small number of people, they’re protesting that the government use the money they put aside to drop fees 13% altogether.

To find out more about the protest check out the Facebook group right over here: http://www.facebook.com/events/216072141810151/

Come out and show your support!

Until next week.

Peace and love.

To Niqab or Not To Niqab

2012-01-25T13:37:00.014-05:00

Hey Guys! It's E.A.P again.
I know I promised an interview, it's coming! It's just being postponed.
You'll have it NEXT WEEK!

So I was at our glorious school library and I was just about to leave when this cover caught my eye. I felt compelled to discuss this article in today's post.

I like the contrast. I just had to stop and read it.

The author, Anne Kingston, opens up her article with "No item of female apparel summons more attention, animosity, debate or censure in Western society than the veil covering Muslim women." Sounds cool right? And then she brings up the recent controversy surrounding the Niqab and how it's been banned by Belgium and France. Our Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced a ban on face veils during the swearing-in of the citizenship oath. Kingston goes back and forth in the article bringing up points for and against the ban of Niqab and the various notions that surround the Niqab and covering of the face and body.

Here's a view points brought up in the article.

Supporting the ban:

-Quebec’s Bill 94, which would deny essential public services to women in niqabs in the name of “public security, communication and identification,” is wending through the legislature.

-Jason Kenney described a covered face as “un-Canadian” when announcing the new citizenship ruling: “Allowing a group to hide their faces while they are becoming members of our community is counter to Canada’s commitment to openness, equality and social cohesion,” he said.

- Last June, Muslim women were singled out by FIFA, the world soccer body, which banned players from wearing Islamic headdresses on the grounds they could cause a “choking injury.”

Against the ban:

-Turkish-born sociologist Necla Kelek dismisses the idea that the burka has anything to do with religion or religious freedoms, but rather represents an ideology whereby “women in public don’t have the right to be human.”

-.As British writer Myriam Francois-Cerrah, a Muslim, puts it: “[Governments] have a funny idea of liberation: criminalizing women in order to free them.”

-“These new WMDs (Women in Muslim dress) seem to evoke the same fear as those other WMDs (weapons of mass destruction),” she writes. Khan, who wears the hijab, sees a cultural disconnect over the female body and its display: “Muslim women value their bodies, they simply don’t believe in flashing skin.”

I like that she not only speaks about Muslim women but she also brings in the Western culture and their standards regarding women, their bodies and the tyrannical standards of beauty: "Western women may be shackled by clothing and customs—six-inch stilettos, Brazilian waxing, cosmetic surgery, the imperative to be thin—but that’s seen to be their choice, their self-expression within a culture that often conflates female empowerment with female sexuality."

I like this article because it does a nice job of summarizing this debate, bringing people up to speed and showing both sides.

Kingston talks about what other people have said, but we don't really get her take on the debate. She comes across as sympathetic but we just don't get her opinion. Was she playing it safe by not taking sides? In addition, I like the comment feed online; there's some intense discussions and blaming going on over there.

Well, In my opinion I feel like people need to take a good look at themselves and get to the source of why they feel the way they do towards the Niqab and Muslims. We also have to understand the media is often misleading and promotes only one way of thinking/perceiving towards a particular subject, so don't buy into it. It only reinforces stereotypes.

If the government bans the Niqab, can they go on to ban other articles of clothing because it's considered offensive? Where do we draw the line?

In my opinion, here are some tips the media should use whenever talking about Muslim women:

1) Don't confuse the "Niqab" with the "Hijab." The Niqab is the head piece covering the whole face versus the Hijab, which covers the hair.

2) There is a big difference between forced marriages and arranged marriages. Arranged marriage is when your parents help you pick your partner, it's consensual, the person can say no. Forced marriages are...you guessed it, is forced.

3) NEVER EVER USE THE WORDS "Honor Killing." Murder is murder don't dress it up and give it a fancy name.

Here is the link of the article, read it and let me know what you think:

http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/01/17/who-are-we-to-judge/

Epic quote of the week: "It’s a mystery and a threat," from the article.

Epic Song of the week:

For next week: I will be at the "All Out Feb 1! Day of Action" the protest happening at Queen's Park, I'll let you know how it goes.

As well I'll post my interview. Cheers. Till next week.

Ultimate frisbee at UTSC

2012-01-24T11:37:00.005-05:00

"STALL 1, STALL 2 STALL 3!"

Know what that means?

If you're an ultimate frisbee player, you do!

"Stall is the term used when a defender is covering an opposing player with possession of the frisbee. The defender calls 'stall 1, stall 2, stall 3' until they reach 8, in which the opposing player loses possession ofthe disc if they have not already thrown it."

The game of ultimate frisbee can be a new sport for most. For a select few however, the game is more than throwing a flat disk casually across the field. At UTSC, this intense game is taken to another level. UTSC ultimate frisbee player Kyle Larkin explained the basics of the intramural sport offered at our school. The fourth year journalism student gave me a clearer understanding of the game and how it is played.

Ultimate frisbee player - Kyle Larkin.

When did you join the ultimate frisbee team?

I joined back in first year but was only able to play one game due to time constraints. This year I decided to play again because I hadn't played a sport since baseball in the summer, and I was looking to have some fun while keeping in shape.

What part of the game do you like the most?

I have always loved frisbee, but to play on a competitive level makes it that much better. I definitely love running for those hail mary passes.

What's a hail mary pass?

End to end!

Tell us about the sport to those who are unfamiliar (rules, what you wear, where you play, etc).

During first semester the schools play traditional ultimate frisbee on a soccer field. In the winter, we play an indoor game called speedpoint, horizontally on a soccer field. Each team has 5 players, of which 2 must be girls. One team begins with a pull (kind of like a kick off). When the frisbee is caught, you have to slow to a stop, and can only pivot on one foot. From there, you have 8 seconds to throw it. You get a point if you catch the frisbee in the endzone. Once you score, you drop the disc, and the other team immediately picks it up and starts their possession!

What sort of teams do you play?

There is an A and B level, and we play in the A level. Every year UTSC is among the upper echelon of talent.

Do you think the sport is commonly unknown to UTSC?

I don't think it's that well known, especially because there aren't really competitive leagues at the high school level. However, the talent at UTSC seems to be pretty competent on an annual basis.

What could UTSC do to promote the sport more?

I think the school could promote the sport by imploring students to come out and watch our games down at Varsity Stadium!

What would you say to those who are new to the game?

A lot of people laugh when they hear about UTSC having a competitive team, but to those I urge to just watch one game and see it intense it can really be. Last Saturday, one of the boy's tricampus teams were privy to one of our games for the first time, and they ended up being louder than a stadium full of fans. They were shocked at the insane throws, catches, swats and overall athleticism that the teams displayed.

What has been the most valuable lesson since being on the team?

Definitely the most valuable lesson is to not take the sport lightly. Our coach, Hussain Masoom, likes to run us pretty hard in practice, and it's not so easy after sitting on your butt for four months! I enter each game with as much intensity as I would when I play rugby. We want to outmatch our opponents in every way possible, and coming away with a victory is as satisfying as any other sport I have played.

Team huddle!

Thoughts on ultimate frisbee? Would you ever play? Remember to tweet me a @Jessica_Moy! If you're interested in going to a game, the team plays every Saturday afternoon at Varsity Stadium!

It's That Time of Year Again...

2012-01-23T14:24:00.004-05:00

Hello fellow readers & followers,

We have come to that time of the year again; no I'm not talking about Chinese New Year (even though I should be because it is awesome). Before you start looking at your calendar trying to figure out what I'm talking about - I'm going to save you the trouble and tell you and while doing so warn you about the impending chaos that's about to permeate through the halls of UTSC. It is the time of the year that all the SCSU Executive hopefuls battle it out on campus trying to win your votes.

I attribute election time to chaos because of the amount of energy that each person's campaign brings to the floors of UTSC. With the constant asking - I mean begging to the point of harassment (in some cases) for votes, speeches and general vying for your attention by each and every campaigner and their campaign assistants, our quiet little campus turns into a tornado of election chaos. The students who lived through at least one of these elections before knows exactly what I'm talking about.

You may be asking how does one survive the SCSU executive election time? The best way is VOTE. Take the 30 seconds it takes to write an X next to your 4 favourite candidates and submit it. Even though you probably will be asked to vote again and again you can simply just inform them that you voted already and you're on your way. Another way to survive election season is to AVOID the student centre for a few weeks - even though that's hard it is possible - however may not entirely save you; so do yourself a favour and just vote.

In the case that one of the campaigners is reading this - please be campaign respectfully and try not to harass students or annoy them. It will make me and many other students a lot happier :)

Are you running for an executive position in the SCSU? If not would you? I'd love to hear some feedback and comments from the readers about what they think of the way elections are run and about the SCSU in general! Don't forget to follow me on twitter @malcolmwong1 and subscribe to this blog! Til next time!

Che-Che-Check it Out!

2012-01-18T15:47:00.005-05:00

Hey Guys, It's E.A.P!

This is a very quick update. Yours truly is checking out some TRES awesome events.

This Friday, I'm going to a lecture at the downtown campus called "Gender, Sexuality and Islam under the Shadow of Empire" http://www.wgsi.utoronto.ca/news-events/gender-sexuality-and-islam-under-the-shadow-of-empire

It sounds realllyyy interesting. I also decided to take a course at the downtown campus called "Women in Western Religion (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam)" although the lecture was cool, I felt like it was lacking discussion around Islam and sexuality. I'm interested in this lecture because it brings dialogue and discussion around this topic which is rarely discussed.

The second event is: http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/360345163979837/
"On the eve of the first anniversary of the Arab Spring, as general strikes and occupy movements have spread across the globe, A Space Gallery is pleased to present A REFUSAL OF IMAGES. The works in this exhibition urge us to consider a central determinant of unfolding history—the use of mobile devices to record and transmit political events. With an immediacy that our visual culture has only recently begun to grasp, these recordings often contain moments of abstraction: for example, the shaking camera aimed at the backs of others while the videographer flees from a tear gas attack...These kinds of abstract images communicate something that might circumvent a system of images that are often trapped in meaning and over-determined by our viewing habits..."

Both events are happening this Friday and they are both FREE!

I'll keep you posted and let you know how it went down. I'm also hoping to get an interview or two, hopefully all goes according to plan!

Breezin' Song of the Week:

Guest Blogger: Little Fish in a Big Pond

2012-01-18T15:40:00.004-05:00

Guest Blogger is Ashley Dhandhari

Iremember my first year at Scarborough Campus as being really confusing andstressful. I had been super involved in so many clubs in high school (i.e.student leadership, multicultural club, Model Un, volleyball, semi-formalcommittee, etc.) but being new to campus made me too nervous to get involved. As a result, I felt so disconnected from the UTSC student body when Igot here.

The good news is that I found my fit here at UTSC. I signed up for a fewclubs during clubs week and went to club meetings; now I’m part ofModel UN @ UTSC, the Women’s Centre and a volunteer for the DSL (Department of Student Life). While working in the office I recently visited theDSL website, browsed their leadership program and noticedthe different ways to get involved. I've joined the iLead program, and I amnow working towards my leadership certificate!

All the opportunities can be overwhelming but it's really easy to get involvedhere at UTSC, it just takes a few quick sign-ups and events to become part of the vibe of Scarborough’s student body. For example, one eventcoming up is the First Year Caucus (wish it was around during my first year!) Apparently it's a leadership development day for first year students. It's all of the things I wanted to know about leadership, combined in one jam packed day of learning and socializing.

Socome out, join us and start Getting Involved! Make your time here at UTSC asmemorable and engaging as it was back in high school. You might be swimming with the‘big fish’ now, but we really don’t bite.

Tour of our athletic facility

2012-01-17T15:48:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone!

Emily Kakouris so kindly offered to take me on a tour of our athletic facility at UTSC! If you're not familiar with the "The Key" "Cyclefit Room" or didn't even know we had a "Golf Cage" - watch and see for yourself what our lovely school has to offer!

Stuck in Slacker Mode

2012-01-13T19:34:00.002-05:00

Guess who's back...back again...

E.A.P is back and refreshed.

The first semester was a tough one, but worth it.

I learned that my time management skills and study habits suck! But hey, what are mistakes for? It's only a mistake if you didn't learn from it. #justsayin

After a whole semester at UTSC, I look back and wonder how did I ever manage to get lost? It's a pretty small campus compared to downtown. To be honest, the closer we got to the end of the semester, the better it got. When the essays were over and done with it gave me time to study and focus on the exams.

My writing STILL needs to improve but it's gotten a hellalot better than the beginning for sure! At least I don't write like a high school senior anymore. I took advantage of some of the campus resources, after all I am paying for it. I actually liked my profs, I held all these misconceived notions about university and professors that no one cares...but actually, THEY DO! So it was nice to work through and break down all these stereotypes.

My break was AWESOME! I finally watched "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," I waited like three months for it. I've watched it twice, I'm going to try and squeeze another screening before the semester heads into full swing. I also showed my love and support for TDOT's local music scene and attended a few concerts, then I had my first ever sleep over on NYE (I know I kinda missed out on that rite of passage, but it's never too late!)

My most favorite part of the break was sleeping in. It was amazing to sleep in till noon and not care. It was fun to stay up all night and not care. *Que the Ke$ha song*

A few changes. I took a lesser course load, it was the best thing to do in my situation. I also took a course downtown, and it sounds like fun! I thought I'd try the downtown scene. Lastly, I took "funner" courses. I have a course in cinema, music, and women studies. Oh and the best part is... NO MORNING CLASSES! No morning classes=No long line at Tim's for coffee and losing sleep. No eye bags #FTW

This semester I'm going to stay on top of things. I'm going to start on my essays at least a week before they're due, not 6 hours before the due date. I'm also going to try and stop eating on campus so I don't burn through my money...CORRECTION. OSAP's money. (I got 99 problems and OSAP is one of them). I'm also going to perform some my writing, not be a closeted writer anymore. And I am pretty satisfied with my marks from last semester, in case you're wondering.
E.A.P signing off and wishing you ALL a great semester!

P.S. Does anyone else find it odd that you have to pay to have a copy of your final exam?

Epic Song of the week:

Starting F-F-F-Fresssh.

2012-01-12T17:12:00.003-05:00

HEY HEY HEY! It’s been a while guys, I need to get back into the flow of things with school and everything starting up again. It’s a new year and a new semester, perfect time to start working at those goals you’ve been running away from for however long! I hope you guys had a great holiday off and wish you best of luck this year!

As a first year student, the hardest part for me was waiting until the break. While I was studying, I couldn’t help remind myself that I have THREE WHOLE WEEKS off this year. That was my inspiration to keep studying- hahah. During the break I watched every single movie that I wanted to watch during the first semester, but didn’t have time to. My favourite movie BY FAR was Crazy, Stupid, Love. I swear I can watch it over and over again and still not get tired of it, y’all need to see it fo’real.

I also did the usual holiday break stuff such as skate and hang out, but all that stuff is boring so we’ll move on :D. Oh, oh, oh, I also time travelled back into the good ol’ days and watched the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air again. When I finished watching every episode I felt like that was my family, that’s how good that show is. I did some research on Will Smith afterwards and he is now my role model. Honestly, the stuff this man says is inspiring… he needs to be president. The amount of work he puts into what he does should inspire ANYONE. I’ll post a video of him at the end of this post with some of his inspiring words.

Anyway, since it’s the beginning of a new year a lot of people will be making new year’s resolutions. Personally, I don’t see the point of these resolutions. It’s not the fact that most people don’t keep them, it’s that I don’t understand why people need a reason to make goals for themselves. If you want to change your life for the better, start whenever your body or your mind feels like it. We’re constantly making goals for ourselves each and every day anyway. Why wait for a new year to make our lives better when you can start on any day of the year! I’m not trying to say that making new year’s resolutions are a bad thing. Hey, if it works for you… it works for you, right? Haha :D

If you have any resolutions that you’d like to share or any blog ideas for me or anything at all, feel free to comment below or tweet me @pardonmeimyoung!

ONE LAST THING... I also want to know what you guys are anticipating for this new year. What are you looking forward to. Personally, I'm looking forward to album releases from; Nas, Cudi, Alicia Keys, ross&drake, BOB, MGMT, TI, MIA, Kendrick Lamar, GOOD music, Frank Ocean, WTT2, A$AP Rocky and Kanye to name a few. Can't wait! So yeah, let me know guys!

That’s all I have to update you on for this week’s blog post! Have a great semester, guys!

Peace and love.

Here's the video I promised.

Here's to a new year and a new you

2012-01-11T09:40:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!

This is your Tuesday sports blogger Jessica and i'm excited to be back at UTSC.

Literally.

For a year and a half I've attended Centennial College to finish my journalism diploma. I'm finally back on Scarborough soil to finish my degree. Just two more semesters 'till graduation!

Until then, let's get down to business.

If your new year's resolution is along the lines of, "lose weight" "stay fit" or "try something new" - lucky for you, there's plenty of solutions offered right here at the school.

LOSE WEIGHT

I've discussed in a previous post about UTSC instructional classes such as cyclefit, archery, fitness kickboxing, yoga, etc. The dance classes are incredibly popular and so much fun, plus you'll be shedding off the freshman fifteen in no time. Let me know if there's a class YOU want to see ME take. I'll film it and let you know how I do (like my belly dancing video).

List of classes: http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~athletics/images/winter-instructional.pdf

STAY FIT

Tryouts for 2012 intramural sports have begun and it's not too late to come out and play! You can try-out for volleyball, basketball, lacrosse, etc. It's a great way to meet new friends and be a part of a competitive team. I'm going for indoor soccer and hockey. I might challenge myself and try-out for co-ed ultimate frisbee, but I know nothing about the game nor how to throw a frisbee. Shall I dare? I mean, look how wild this sport is...

Try-out info: http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~athletics/images/IM-tryoutdateswin2012.pdf

TRY SOMETHING NEW

The SCAA is putting together their annual Blue Mountain ski-trip! A bus will take you on January 27, where you can experience the slopes and night life for a low price. For three days and two nights you can get back on your snowboard or try it for the first time. All levels welcomed! For more info, visit the SCAA office.

There you have it, my solutions to your resolutions.

Let me know on Twitter @Jessica_Moy or comment below what sports you're going to try or what you're going to do this semester to stay in shape!

A New Semester, A New Menu

2012-01-09T16:27:00.001-05:00

It’s that time of the year again! It’s the first day of the new semester and I hope everyone had a very enjoyable winter break. The first day of school may seem kind of slow and you have to go through the trouble of falling back into a routine but I think it’s nice to get back into a routine after the holidays. While navigating the chaos of a new semester I did notice something that caught my eye. I noticed that Rex’s Den has a new menu and seeing as it was lunch time I figured why not go see the new menu for myself then write about it here!

Upon opening the new menu the first thing I noticed was that it looks MUCH better than it did before – though kind of reminiscent of Jack Astor’s menu layout. But who cares, it’s about the food! Upon browsing the menu, I was slightly disappointed in the fact that there have been some minor price increases. However, I’m not certain that the price increases are actually warranted. For example a serving of chicken wings before was $6.99 now it’s upwards of $9 and change for 1LB of wings. I have a feeling that when it was $6.99 you didn’t get 1LB of wings. There were a number of price changes to different things but the wings are what stood out.

What I really liked about the new menu was that many of the specials from last semester are now permanent menu items. For example the delicious bacon mushroom melt burger is now an official menu item. Though I kind wished to see the Fried Chicken on the menu as it was unbelievably good. Another aspect of the new menu that pleased me was to see that the best sellers off the old menu such as the angry rex burger had comparatively cheaper prices than the new menu items. Lastly Rex’s Den’s new menu features some suped up poutines such the Angry Rex Poutine, a poutine version of the angry rex burger and a chicken shawarma poutine! I’m sure these items will be popular as they make great take out items for class.

Have you had a chance to check out the new Rex’s Den menu? If so what do you think? How does the price increase feel to you? Let me know in the comment section below! Remember to follow me on Twitter for my latest thoughts and rants! @malcolmwong1 and subscribe to this blog!

Happy Holidays from DSL

2011-12-16T11:48:00.000-05:00

Seasons Greetings & Good Luck

2011-12-08T21:50:00.001-05:00

HEY UTSC!

Keep an eye out for potential holiday posts from the blog team, but the regular blogging schedule will resume in the new year, starting January 9th.

The success of our new UTSC Pulse Blog belongs to the dedicated readers like you, throughout this semester. Thank you for your time, comments and feedback. Good luck during exams and have a safe and happy holidays!

Interview with Gillian the Study Abroad Ambassador

2011-12-04T00:39:00.001-05:00

1. Tell me and the readers who you are.

My name is Gillian & I'm a 3rd year student!

2. First off, tell me where you went for study abroad?

I went to Oxford University, England. It was one of the first universities in the world, so it was a gorgeous campus and had major historical/academic integrity

3. What interested you in study abroad?

I've always wanted to go to England (it's 3/4 of my heritage) and wanted to study at Oxford University, so this was the prefect opportunity for me. I thought spending a month there would be perfect, but it still wasn't long enough! But for those who have never been away from their home town, this is perfect!

4. What was the most challenging aspect of study abroad?

The first day was tough, I missed home/friends/family and I didn't think I would make any friends, but I made tons of friends and didn't want to come back.

5. Did you face any hardships or encounter things that you didn't
agree with or understand? If so, what were they & how did you deal
with them?

The locals were way more informative than the customer services employees, I felt much more comfortable asking a local for advice than an employee at a train station for example. I'm not used to be talked down to by an employee anywhere, especially when I am obviously a tourist(without the English accent, y'know?)

6. What was the most memorable part of your experience? Is there
anything you wish you done differently?

I went to London a lot, and visited family whom I had never met before which was amazing for me. I went out every night. I was super tired for class every morning, but it really was worth it. I wish I had travelled more abroad more with classmates, but I am content in meeting my long-lost family members :)

7. If you could say one thing to a student who was interested in study
abroad what would you tell them?

I know the price may seem a lot, and you don't know if the debt is worth it but trust me, it really is. I did not qualify for OSAP and I am $10,000 in the hole from this experience but it was completely worth it. Every single penny was worth it. It is something you will never ge to experience anywhere else, especially for summer abroad you still get to study with U of T students and profs so you get taught the way you are used to being taught, but you get to be taught in such a significant institution historically.

8. Why should someone get involved with study abroad?

For utsc specifically; experience more than Scarborough has to offer, as well make friends from UTSG and UTM: they're not all obsessed with putting utsc down ;) For others, like I said before, it is a once in a life time experience. 4-6 weeks away from home for those who are afraid of getting homesick. You (usually) get one credit for 4 weeks in class; SUCH a good deal!

9. If you didn't go to England, where would you have gone?

I would have loved to go anywhere in Europe. The Central Europe or Italy program. With central Europe you get to travel to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria and Poland; and Italy..it's Italy - why wouldn't I want to go there?!

Too Much Studying!!! ARRGGHHH!

2011-12-02T11:25:00.000-05:00

Last day of classes has come and gone. Friday is here and as usual, the library is packed with studying students, willing to come to school on a winter day because for some reason it is too noisy and distracting to study at home. Exam week has officially started, and every single UTSC student is either studying or cramming for their exams.

The wierd thing is, I am not one of these people, crammers I mean. I don't like to study too much or overwhelm myself with last minute studying. Let me get one thing straight with you guys. I LOVE TO SLEEP. Unlike our Wednesday blogger E.A.P., I am not an insomniac. I am what you call a hypersomniac. If you are sleepy and drink coffee to keep yourself awake in order to studying, you end up wasting time and energy doing POOR studying because not all your senses are alert. I would much rather sleep early, get a good night's rest, wake up great in the morning, and be more productive. You can do this too, if you follow my 3 steps to STUDY SUCCESS. Follow the 3 P's. Plan, Prioritize, and Play.

First thing's first -Plan. University is all about good time management.

You have to plan accordingly before starting to study.

Next to Prioritize, now this step is easy for me because I like to stay organized. Basically, you need to check when your exams are, the day and time. Please-- make sure you know the ROOM FOR YOUR EXAM! Once you know the order of your exams, begin to study in that order.

The last step is to Play. Now this step might be a little surprising to most because finals are just around the corner, but trust me, a well deserved break from studying is just what some of our exam crammers need. It's no good to study for 3 hours straight without taking a break in between, after every hour or so, stretch and every 3 hours, make sure you eat and drink to keep hydrated, because our brain works the best when our stomach is happy and full.

Let me give you guys an example, on Wednesday I did some stress studying relief by playing video games. Shout-out goes to the club "VGS" for keeping the tradition of "Child's Play" alive, bringing out video games, and controllers on Nov 30th. This is just one example have how to "take a break" I suppose.

So, there you are guys, some tips on how to study smarter, not harder. And if you still need an extra boost, check the Intranet study sessions available on our campus. Happy studying, and see you guys later!

mmmmmmmmmmm FOOD.........

2011-12-01T00:18:00.002-05:00

It’s almost exam time, for us UofT students that might mean days and days of straight studying more or less. Looking for something to look forward to after exam season? HOW ABOUT THE NBA SEASON?

Yes, this week the players and owners of the NBA came to an agreement and the 2011-2012 NBA season will start on Christmas day!! Talk about an early Christmas present right? Anyway, my blog this week wasn’t about how excited I was about the NBA season starting again. This week it’s all about food choices and the UTSC study "diet".

As you all may know, there are not a lot of mega-healthy food options at UTSC. Let me bring out the psychic in me and guess what most of your diet at UTSC consists of. We can start off with the usual one can of Arizona a day. I swear if everyone in UTSC was deprived of their blood it’d be okay because we’d have Arizona to replace it.

After Arizona we have… yes, you guessed it, Subway! I swear there was a time this semester when I started having a sub for breakfast and lunch… good times! Then we have the oh-so-popular Tim Horton's. You know a business is doing well when there needs to be two of them, in the SAME building, only a 30 second walk away from each other! The thing about Tim’s is that you can go there at any time of the day, for any meal or snack or beverage, and of course the price is student friendly! I think that’s the big three: Arizona, Subway and Tim Hortons. OH, and how could I forget Nasser! The UTSC famous hot dog man! He’s actually the nicest guy I’ve ever met; sometimes I just want to buy a hot dog just to re-meet him again haha!

If you guys are getting tired of eating the same things over and over at school, I have good news for you! As you guys already know, next semester SCSU is going to adding to our food choices by opening a Hero Burger in the Student Centre! If you guys haven’t had Hero Burger before it is actually quality fast food! So if you’re into healthy food choices, it’d be a perfect change up from that Subway you’re so use to getting. Also expected to open up in the Student Centre is KFC and Taco Bell! YES, THAT’S RIGHT! Heaven will be located in the Student Centre next semester guys. I know this is not exactly healthy BUT who else is as amped as me?

Anyway, if you guys want to read up on these new additions check out: http://thevarsity.ca/articles/50188 for more details!

Until we meet again, readers.

Peace and Love.

We're all a bunch of insomniacs

2011-11-30T13:50:00.014-05:00

Insomnia as defined by the Oxford Dictionary "Inability to sleep; sleeplessness"

Insomnia as defined by Urban Dictionary "The state of sleep loss. No matter how much you desire dreamland, it refuses you entry. You stand at the gates, whining, crying, but stuck in the world of buzzing activity." (The first sentence needs a syntax evaluation...Sorry, English Major Pet Peeves)

I personally like the urban dictionary definition more, because well...it makes sense. I feel really bad, I was in one of my many last lectures (YES!!!!) and I fell a sleep. I couldn't even see the words straight. I just remember this...(Let me put it in a cute narrative)

The prof said "please turn to page 104 in your textbooks." I remember flipping to the pages. I remember the title. And then the text started to fade, maybe the font was too small for me to care. Maybe I need to reposition my head. I will read this text by lying my head on the table. You're heart starts to beat slowly. The voices are fading, but they're not completely silent. You can hear them in the back of your head like a distant cacophony. You can feel yourself sleeping, but you're not actually sleeping. I hope I don't snore. Damn! I think I just did. You, like a wave, fade in and out of consciousness. Sleep teases you and says "Come with me!" You say "I can't! It's the last lecture...maybe tonight?" The chair squeaks and drags, the bags shuffle and the binders open and close. Class ends and there's a wet spot on the page I was "supposedly" reading. I dozed off...again.Does anyone else have horrendously dark eye bags? Does anyone else look like the picture above? Like when I actually want to sleep, it doesn't come. It's like the sleep fairy comes at the most inconvenient times (Didn't you get my schedule??).

I was going to offer advice on how to avoid looking like a zombie and to sleep better, but I can't because I'm just as tired as you. Damn these exams. The worst part is, after you've had yourself a decent nap, your cognition process is a bit murky, you say random things that don't make sense...and well you look like #&*@! I remember my boss telling me I look like I hadn't slept for days and that I, "had the eye bags of a fourth year student."

Stick it out til' the end, yes? I feel like it's not JUST us first year kids, it's EVERYONE! Go ask you're friends at Ryerson or York. I'm sure they're all saying the same thing. I bet my life on it! I take that back...it's a rather risky price.

Just a few words of advice:
Good Luck on the exams! (I use that word loosely because luck and praying won't get you the grades, you have to ACTUALLY work for it.)

Epic Quote of the Week: I really wanted this to be the first November where it didn't snow the entire month, thanks to global warming. But DAMN! Mother Nature likes to screw with us. It's on the last day too! :( -Fatima Wahid

Epic Song of the Week:

Balancing the busy life

2011-11-29T00:47:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone, Jessica here!

Along with Monday blogger Ranziba, it seems all nighters are a common pattern nowadays. It's been a full day of school and my evenings are shot with homework and playing sports. I notice many UTSC athletes are having a hard time balancing both.

For example, at hockey practice only five or six girls would show up. The coach said everyone else was writing essays, finishing up labs, or other various school projects. It's not fun nor productive having a fraction of the players show up for practice, especially with semi-finals and finals fast approaching.

If you know how to do it properly, balancing school and sports is simple.

I was lucky at a young age to have experienced the balancing act and compiled my top five list on how to keep an even scale.

1. Know your schedule

You should write down and know by heart all your due dates, practice, and game times. This is common sense. If you know you have an assignment due Thursday, but you have a game every Wednesday night - you should know to schedule your time accordingly. Word of advice, get your work done before you play. Two reasons. One, you won't be stressing about it at the game and two, when you get home, you can sleep peacefully once you walk in the door knowing your work is already finished.

2. Time management

If I could I'd bold this statement, make it 100 size font, and underline it in red at least 500 times - I would. This is the most important lesson in balancing a busy life. Everyone manages their time differently, here's how I do it. I know it sounds nerdy and a lot of work, but every day I plan out what I'm doing at every hour. This method has helped me for years because I know I don't have time to procrastinate. No time to slack. It keeps me focused and I always get my work done on time. Truth.

3. Don't stress

Balancing school and sports can be tough, but it doesn't have to take over your life. Of course most of your time will be dedicated to either of the two, but you should always make time for friends and family. Make sure you leave at least one hour in your day to just sit back and watch TV or go out with a friend. You deserve to. Just because you're busy, doesn't mean you need to sacrifice your social life.

4. Eat right

You need energy to keep going throughout the day! Duh! I know I shouldn't remind you, but it seems I keep reminding myself I need to eat properly. If I want to have the energy to play a sport, I need to eat food that will keep me going. Next week I will (possibly) post what you should and should not eat during exam time. According to a UTSC nutritionist of course. Stay tuned.

5. Have fun

Yadda, yadda, yadda, you've heard it all before. But, how can you have fun when you have a zillion things on your plate? Easy, develop a routine that's right for you. Once you get into the swing of things, you'll realize your stress levels will lessen and you'll actually have time to enjoy both school and sports simultaneously. Well, sports at least. Regardless, you should rarely sacrifice one or the other. These balancing skills are transferable. When you get into the real world, you'll be thankful you're one step ahead of the game.

Here's a fun fact: Back in the day, I was the prize you got in your Frosted Flakes.

Exams Schmexams! Looking on the brighter side of exam season :)

2011-11-28T01:02:00.001-05:00

Hello blogosphere! Ranziba here, blogging to you from the dead of night (no, I'm not a vampire, just a regular student pulling an all-nighter), and hoping your Monday goes smoothly!

So my party people... are you getting excited yet?

You're asking me, about what? You're asking me, why should we be excited that exams are coming up? And you're asking me why I'm talking to myself? Well, the answer to all those questions is just one big (slightly creepy) smile.

Yes, yes, I know I might sound like a loony. But I'm a loony that's excited about exams coming my way. I know everyone is busy with exams and no one has time for more reading, so I'll make this one short and sweet folks. Literally!

I, like all of you, am pretty much dead from sleep deprivation, homework overload and hours of reading. BUT, I, unlike most of you (or at least I'm guessing) am also super duper excited to write those exams. Why? One word: freedom.

Imagine this: You're on a beach somewhere, with the calm summer breeze caressing your face and a cold drink in your hand. You're staring out at the ocean without a worry in your mind and ...well if you're actually seeing this vision, chances are that you've fallen asleep at your study carrol. But this could be you in just a few short weeks (wow did I just sound like a Bowflex ad?).

Once exams are done and dusted, you will have plenty of time to turn your dreams into a reality. The university closes for the Winter Break on Dec. 21st. and most of you lucky people will be done your exams by then and well on your way to your personal paradise - wherever that may be!

So in the spirit of positive thinking, I made a list of things to look forward to after exams:

-the holidays (presents, relation, warmth and food... does it get any better?)
-sleep all day
-no lectures, no tutorials, no assignments
-seeing your family (the jury is still out on this one)
-getting to hangout with friends
-curling up in bed and catching up on TV/movies
-seeing daylight (might not happen if you overdo the previous list item)
-having time to explore our beautiful city
-traveling out of the city, province, country
-no more concrete.. at least for a while!

So in this last week of classes and the next few weeks of torture, remember to look on the positive side of things, the light at the end of the tunnel the cake after the workout. And know that we're all in the same boat (headed towards graduationl). Also, in a few short weeks, the whole thing will start all over again. So cherish your time before you have to run in the crazy rat race that is life... or less cheesily, before you're back to being your regular ol' nocturnal, caffeine junkie of a U of T student!

In the meantime, take a study break and let me know in the comments below if you have things you're excited about doing after exams! Tweet me with your winter break plans @rantothezebra.

Until then, best of luck with you exams! There will always be a silver lining if you look for it. Happy holidays! :)

Students Party for a Cause!

2011-11-26T22:39:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday November 24^th UTSC students capped off Movember fundraising at the 4^th annual Black & White Affair. The idea behind the event is simple – have a good time while doing something good for the world. This idea has seemed to have really resonated with students as it is one of the most anticipated events of the year. With that being said, the buzz around the Black & White Affair this year was unprecedented and unexpected to say the least. The buzz wasn’t without merit – the event was oversold at around 430 tickets, making it the first one to be sold out!

Everyone who attended looked fantastically chic and stylish in their black and white attire and DJ Armokidd and DJ Duo Good Times Sound provided the perfect sonic backdrop to the event and had everyone dancing till the end. The mix of groovy Top40, bouncy house music & powerful Reggae, Soca & Dancehall was the perfect musical concoction for smashing the dance floor. Overall, the event went smoothly but no event is complete without some hick-ups and setbacks.

The setbacks that caused the most grievances were the long wait times to get in due to a backlogged coat check. Some party goers were waiting outside in the cold for over 2 hours. Although organizing staff did as much as they could; it seemed futile to remedy any of the situations. As part of the organizing team I stayed outside with everyone stuck in line. Despite the setbacks, however bad they were, it seemed that once everyone got inside they were having a good time. I hope that attendees are not still disgruntled over the setbacks. The next event will be better because of the lessons learned, I promise.

Lastly, on behalf of the organizing team, I want to say thank you to everyone who attend the Black & White Affair and made it a success. Pictures will be uploaded soon and a link to them will be posted here, on my Twitter (@malcolmwong1), on the event page and various places on facebook. Keep an eye out for your glamour shots from the event! Till next time! J

OH NOES ASSIGNMENTS!?!

2011-11-25T00:30:00.000-05:00

Okay guys, its me again Raphael back for Friday dose of weekly tips. As the Fall semester is coming to a close and exams are just around the corner, all the professors are trying to squeeze all the final assignments they can in their courses. And as every student in university is trying to finish their last minute assignments I feel that some tips are in need for those of us who don't know what to do. So here I am to the rescue!

1. Start early!

I'm serious, dead serious. Do not procrastinate. If you are a first year student reading this be aware! This is not high school anymore, this is university. No more pulling off all nighters, doing last minute, or copying from a friend. If your assignment is not a group assignment, you cannot rely on someone else to do the assignment for you. Just do little by little each day, separating the assignments into manageable chunks to avoid cramming and being stressed out like this kid in this picture. (I understand we only have a week left, but even starting a week before the due date is much better than last minute).

2. Seek help!

There are plenty of resources to help you get started. If you are working on a paper, book an appointment with the writing center at AC221 (but be early to book, as these spots are limited and fill up fast!). But if you can't seem to book an appointment, just drop in at around 12-2pm, and I am sure that someone there would be able to help you. If you are working on a math assignment, the math and stats center located at room AC312. And if you just need a quick question about an assignment, just e-mail your prof using your UTOR Webmail from portal. Make sure you use you .utoronto mail address or your e-mail may be sent to the junk mail of your professor. (Most students are actually afraid to e-mail their prof, but this may be the easiest and fastest way to get help without going through the hassle of going to their office hours. Fast and Easy, just don't be afraid, you're professors are there to help you!)

3. Work with others!

The best way to do well on your assignments is to work with other students in your class. This is a no-brainer because all of the students have the same assignment at hand, and any of your questions, chances are, your classmates know the answer to them. This is a great way to make new friends, and get a better mark in your course.

Work with others, and if my "google images" photos are not getting the message across, just take advantage of what the campus offers for you! (Also you don't have to study outside like the students above, but their smiles are proof that studying with others works!)

So because this week and next week are our last weeks of school before Christmas Break, make sure to get started early with your assignments, so STOP reading and GET to work! (just joking... but seriously don't procrastinate, I'm speaking from experience take my word for it.) So have a great weekend everyone, oh and work on your assignments!

...Truth causes peace

2011-11-24T00:58:00.004-05:00

WAGWAN GUYS! You already know it’s Pulse Blog’s Thursday blogger, Moiz coming at you on this brisk fall (feeling like winter) day. So this week, I was reading the news and I stumbled upon something that flat out disgusted me. It wasn’t the first time I had read something like it. In fact, I was getting fed up from reading so many similar stories that I was actually cheeeeeesed.

Alright so, what I read was the case of the Shafia sisters. If you don’t know the story I’ll give you guys a breakdown of what it’s about. A man named Shafia, his wife and their son have all been accused for four counts of first-degree murder against their three daughters and his other wife. Shafia called his daughters “treacherous” because one of his daughters had been seeing another guy secretly for quite some time. The other two daughters had done nothing wrong, but Shafia believed that if one could do something like that, the others were bound to do the same. Basically, they were murdered because they dishonoured the family name according to Shafia.

The first problem here for me is that I have read different forms of this story way too many times. Most people would think that honour killing is only a problem in third world countries, but most of the recent stories I’ve read were stories from North America and the U.K!

The second problem is that it is the freaking 21^st CENTURY! Why this is still happening around the world makes no sense to me. I mean, I understand if your culture/religion doesn’t allow serious relationships until you’re older but there’s a certain line that one just cannot cross. Going back to the Shafia story, the youngest daughter once reported to the police that she wanted to be removed from her home because her father often threatened to kill them. She also told police that one day after they came home late from shopping, he hit her and pulled her hair, and her brother punched her in the eye. This is exactly my point, I understand that they were late and there should obviously be a consequence for that. But violence, making death threats and eventually following up on those threats CANNOT be justified in anyway. NOTHING gives any person a right to take someone else’s life away. Nothing can ever justify taking someone’s life away, whether it be culture, religion, “ruining the family’s name”, NOTHING!

The third thing that bothers me is (please don’t get me wrong on this, I am not putting down any religion in this post; so read the whole post before you form an opinion) how in most cases, people use religion to justify their actions. Now when the media realize this they’re always quick to mention it and the people who don’t know better end up forming an opinion of a WHOLE religion based on ONE person’s perspective of it (this one person’s perspective is normally wrong and doesn’t represent the view of an entire population at all). This sparks a chain reaction of more and more people misunderstanding the actual beauty behind EVERY belief.

Well that marks the end of this rant. Do you agree or disagree? Let me know where you stand in all of this in the comment box below.

Until next week readers.

Peace and Love.

Moiz’s quote of the week: A misunderstanding causes war, the truth causes peace.

Stumped. I need a musical pick me up!

2011-11-23T16:12:00.003-05:00

Hey Guys,
It's E.A.P and right now I'm in a weird blank state of mind where everything comes but nothing stays. I didn't think it was possible but my mind literally feels empty!
Is it that end-of-semester worn out feeling?

I thought I'd make this post about happy songs.
These are the songs I like to listen to when I'm down:

And finally...

What do you listen to when you're down? Comment below and let me know :)

Personal training at UTSC

2011-11-22T00:13:00.002-05:00

Whether you need improvement in blood pressure levels, flexibility, agility, nutrition, or need a post-rehab specialist - UTSC athletics department has what you need to avoid gaining those freshman fifteen. Offered to students, faculty, and alumni - our gym offers individual assessments from certified personal trainers.

UTSC fitness coordinator, Catarina Freire, explains how students can get involved, the most popular fitness program, and crucial advice on how and why you should stay active during exam time.

Consultations are free! Click here for more information on personal fitness at UTSC!

Also, big congratulations to the women's UTSC "A" soccer team who beat UTM in the finals on Sunday! The nail biter of a game went into two overtimes and shoot-outs before UTSC claimed victory. A win well deserved ladies. Great season!

Speaking up for spoken word

2011-11-21T03:17:00.001-05:00

Recently, being stuck in the doldrums of academia, I went looking for a bit of inspiration. My go to source? The Internet of course! Specifically, I wanted to find some spoken word artists I could follow because I'm really attracted to that form of poetic expression. I found too many to share with you all, but I think I've successfully gone through every video on YouTube of Suheir Hammad and so today I want to share her work with you.

Suheir Hammad according to her Wikipedia entry (such a trusted source, right?) is "a Palestinian-American poet, author and political activist." But that barely captures the essence of what she is as an artist and as a woman. I was introduced to her work through a class I was taking and fell in love with her sharp, poignant poetry. On my recent internet crawl, I stumbled upon a mass of YouTube videos of her def poetry jam stuff ...and let's just say I won't be finishing that essay any time soon.

Suheir deals with issues of nationhood, identity, gender roles, self-expression, love, and basically anything anyone can ever want to hear about. As someone who isn't much of a creative writer ( I try now and again), I'm really amazed by her ability to take these heavy topics and condense them into these short effective pieces that a variety of people can find accessible. She performs her poetry anywhere she can and it's a mark of how amazing she is that people can connect with her so easily. Aside from being involved in Def Poetry, Suheir also starred in Salt of This Sea, a film about a woman's travels to the West Bank and her experiences both in America and back in her country of birth.

And though you might not see me anytime soon on the spoken word stage, UTSC sure isn't lacking in talent - from any avenue! Every year, Scarborough Fair is released and it contains writing and artwork from students. It's a great display of artistic engagement and students can submit their original work (not to mention how great it looks on your portfolio). There are also many opportunities throughout the year to submit creative writing pieces for reviews in various competitions and conferences. The spoken word scene at UTSC is pretty vibrant as well. And having gone to many of the shows presented by Spoetic, I would encourage everyone to make it out. You can check them out on their Facebook, and find some cool student artists (think of them like Suheir's-in-the-making - they sure have the talent to get there!)

I guess the lesson in all of this is to let those creative juices flow! Whether, like me, it's a way to release tension during exam time or more inspiration to start writing yourself. I've always heard that the best thing to do when you're trying to write is to put pen to paper, or more aptly nowadays, fingers to keyboard. And since there are so many opportunities to showcase the results of your flow writing, it can't hurt to try your hand out at some!

So as all of you inspired people are writing away, take a break and check out more of Suheir Hammad's work!

Let me know if there are any other artists/shows you want me to check out. Tweet me about it @rantothezebra or let me know in the comments below. Until next week, later days!

Doodling during class

2011-11-18T09:10:00.000-05:00

Hey Pulse Readers! It’s Raphael back for Friday’s blog. I realize that I am the only blogger that hasn’t really opened up yet to what my personality is like through my blogs. It’s my fault really, I wanted to cover what our school has to offer in terms of student life, but in doing so, I really have put my personality at the back. I have been covering study space, the campus buildings, the Attic, and recently the movies that were shot in campus. The only blog from which I had a little of my personality was the Attic, because I truly do love the Attic. (And for anyone who still wants to play me in a match, just comment below the date and time and I’ll be there!) I also realize that the history on the buildings is not really the most exciting topic either, so time to CHANGE IT UP!

Now I am going to share one of my very personal secrets that I do almost everyday in school. Before I reveal it, let me create some suspense first. Let me ask you, what makes a good university? The teacher’s right? Well that is what I am going to reveal today – for almost every class I’ve taken, I have DOODLED on my notes. Ok before all of you start going crazy with the questions, let me explain.

Picture this: you are in a class, you see that all the seats are filled, and you are stuck looking at the clock waiting for class to end. You are bored out of your mind, tired and a little sleepy (maybe because of the commute or the early 9am class). You look up at front and see your lecturer talking, pacing and asking questions.

Now in this EXACT situation, I like to doodle in my notes. I have always liked to draw and sketch random things (and I am thinking of taking a drawing class maybe in the campus or just for fun), but I don’t just draw anything I want. I usually look around the room for something to sketch, (it can be anything from a water bottle to the podium) and my eyes usually fall on the person in front of me, THE TEACHER. It’s unavoidable, and sometimes I do it subconsciously, but I start to draw the teacher’s face. Most of my drawings are crappy (due to the lack of proper training) but I feel that it my drawings capture the essence of what the person looks like. I only draw the face, as I am not skilled enough to draw the entire body, but below are some of the doodles I do on my notes.

Okay so I am going to stop talking and just enjoy my notes.

Now this doodling just comes so naturally to me now, whenever I feel bored, or am feeling creative I just want to draw. As you can see with these pages of my notes, I just draw them on the side, and when my friend comes to ask me, "What are you doing?" I just respond, "I'm doodling." And I would show them what I would be drawing and they would either smile or laugh. Sometimes class just gets too dull, and a little drawing can really change your attitude for the whole day.

And for those of you, who do the same thing as me, please share it! I want to know if I am the only one who does this, and message me at rsanti@rogers.com if you want to share your sketch to the world!

Sorry for the Doorject.

2011-11-16T23:23:00.002-05:00

Hello wonderful readers of this wonderful blog! It’s Thursday again so you know you’re hearing from UTSC Pulse blogger Moiz! :D

This week was not like most other weeks. This week, I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to write about for my blog post! This blog post is the result of surviving almost 3 months of University, sitting through some really dry lectures, and a lot of boredom. This week’s post is going to be… THE OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY DICTIONARY!

Now these aren’t necessarily real words, just words that a couple friends and I have made that we think ALL university students should know! And do not try to act like you haven’t done all of these things, we’ve all been witness or have been a part of these wonderful university “traditions”!

OH, and I’ll be updating this blog with new words whenever I feel creative enough to think about them, so make sure you guys bookmark/save this page and check back often!

Doorject (v.) to glance behind oneself upon opening a door and notice someone, but continue through without holding it. “He was really far behind me, but we made eye contact, so I couldn't just doorject him like that.”

Ghostseat (v.) to save a seat in a class for a "friend" who doesn't exist.

“I had to sit in the back behind the pole; that pompous hooligan ghostseated me.”

Sleepsac (v.) to sacrifice a morning activity in exchange for additional sleep.

“After smelling myself, I thought it would be alright to sleepsac showering this morning.”

Obnodxious (adj.) to nod unnecessarily at everything the prof says.

“Dude was being obnodxious even when the prof was telling us what he had for lunch!”

Awkstretch (v.) to awkwardly pretend to stretch upon realizing the prof isn't going to take your question.

“It’s been a rough day, I had to awkstretch two times in my calculus lecture today.”

Sayhirange (n.) a distance deemed appropriate for greeting an acquaintance.

“I saw Malcolm in the food court, but he was out of sayhirange so I pretended to text.”

Peoplepoint (n.) a human landmark seen every day when walking between classes.

“I knew something was up when I didn't see my Tuesday morning peoplepoint, blue-hoodie-headphones guy...totally forgot about history.”

Dressdown effect (n.) the gradual degradation in respectable attire from the beginning of school to the minimum level during midterms.

"Joe changed zero articles of clothing between waking up and going to his calculus midterm, a clear result of the dressdown effect."

Awkword (n.) a word which is spelled correctly, but looks wrong; results in several minutes of self-contradicting and staring.

“environment. ...en-vi-ron-ment. no way. enviroment. enviorment? enviorment.”

Pterodactyl (n.) a course previously considered a "bird", but changed between years to become ridiculously dangerous.

That’s all for now folks! If you have any words you’d like me to add, just post them in the comments section below and I’ll update the post! Be sure to check back often for more words!

I wish somebody told me...

2011-11-15T00:00:00.019-05:00

I've been reflecting on what's its like to be in university, the whole transition thing, and I talked to my friends because as we all know there is strength in solidarity (I also learned the meaning of that word!).

We came to the conclusion that: HIGH SCHOOL DOES NOT PREPARE YOU FOR UNIVERSITY.

In high school there is a sense of community because you see the same people everyday and the teachers hunt you down for late assignments whereas here it is YOUR responsibility to keep up to date with everything. Talking to my friends I realized we are ALL struggling with and around almost the same/similar stuff. The first thing you have to do is "adjust" and "adapt" to the new learning style. You're not in school for a solid schedule of 9am -3pm. You are in your lectures, tutorials and gaps of time to yourself OR sometimes your whole day and night is taken up by classes. Not to say that you don't have that community here, it's just bigger and more diverse.

This was my reaction to my first essay in university. For me the hardest thing are the essays.

I found myself struggling to write essays because of this whole "critical thinking" jazz. In high school you could slide with an "all-nighter" essay and get a decent grade like mid 70's. Whereas HERE the best you can do is anywhere from a 50-58 (the TAs likes to tease). I remember getting my first essay back and it was filled with suggestions and critiques etc.

This is my definition of critical thinking; it is way more than just making a comment on something, it is about seeing what you are seeing and then seeing around it, inside it, really inspecting it AND THEN making a claim about it and then applying it to...
YOU>YOUR ENVIRONMENT>YOUR SOCIETY (it can also be vice-versa). You have to not only dig for some deeper meaning but then go above and beyond with your explanation. The easiest and hardest thing to do is, "make a claim and then justify it". You can say ANYTHING you want as long as there is logic and analysis to back it up.

TIME is also a big factor, and in that sense high school does not teach you practical time management skills. They don't teach you how to plan and manage your time. These skills don't magically appear. It's through the mistakes I've made that I learned NOT to hand in my assignments late. I ain't even gonna lie about it, I still procrastinate. If it means going to Dollarama (they ALWAYS hook me up) and buying a planner, a monthly schedule and organizing your time...THEN DO IT.

I also realized that because its first year most of my courses are 1) Required and 2) Really Broad. These introductory courses are meant for you to take up an interest in a particular field and then develop these interest. As you might have noticed as the years progress the classes become more smaller and intimate. Yes you have to lower your standards and then work them up again but in this process you discover your likes and dislikes

The best advice I can give is...stress is inevitable, you WILL make mistakes, but it's OK. Don't beat yourself up over it. You need to have some form of outlet because this stress can get overwhelming (TRUST ME). This outlet is like your "break" from university when you can't really get one.

I'd like to dedicate this song to my high school grades...may they REST IN PEACE.

Epic quote of the week: "If I read your essay and I learn something, it means you have done a good job...It's called 'pedagogy' the art of teaching"-Hannah Dyer

Interhouse soccer - and why I was a huge chicken

2011-11-14T16:25:00.002-05:00

Two years ago I received a Facebook message from a guy who goes to UTSC asking if I wanted to play interhouse soccer. He explained it was a co-ed league that played every Tuesday at the school gym.

I was reluctant to agree, but he pleaded because his team needed to recruit more girls.

[For those of you who don't know, interhouse are co-ed leagues that include sports such as soccer, cricket, volleyball, ball hockey, and basketball. The best part is, they're free and happen right here at our school.

You have to be a U of T student or 2011 - 2012 Athletics and Recreation Centre member. To play, you can sign up as an individual or gather an all-star team of your friends. Registration begins the beginning of each semester. Visit the UTSC athletics centre for more information.]

Back to my story!

Of course, I didn't know anything about interhouse nor did I know anyone on the team very well. After much deliberation, I pulled out my indoor soccer shoes cluttered beneath my closet and told the Facebook guy i'd meet him at the gym on Tuesday.

Game day rolled around.

Even at the beginning of my second year at UTSC, I was still getting used to the campus. I wasn't fully comfortable with entering a place I didn't know much about - this included the UTSC gym.

I walked to the gym, pulled out my T-card, and past the turnstiles. I immediately heard yelling and cheering. I looked to my right, through the tiny windows of the gym doors, and saw a bunch of soccer players and fans watching intense five on five action.

The ball was bouncing every which way, players aggressively fighting to score a goal, and fans cheering from the benches.

I was intimidated.

My next initial move was to enter the gym and start warming up with my team. But - I didn't.

I turned around and left.

Yes, I was a huge loser. I chickened out.

Like many of you, I wasn't comfortable with the space or the players I didn't know.

The next day I got a message from a girl on my outdoor soccer team saying, she was on that interhouse team I was supposed to play for. I told her I was hesitant on going, but she said to come with her to the next game.

Fast forward to next Tuesday. Going with her made me a lot more comfortable. I saw the guy who messaged me on Facebook and briefly introduced myself before he threw a pinny at me, saying it's time to warm up.

I only knew a few names on my team, but I did my best to remember.

The game was fast pace and I did my best to keep up. The majority of the league consisted of male dominated players. For this reason, any girl who scores, their goal counts as two. So, the last couple minutes of the game my team kept passing to me - saying to go for the net and score. For my first game, I believe I held my own pretty well.

I can't remember if we won or lost, but I do recall my relief when it was over.

I continued going to interhouse each week and got to know more soccer players at the school. I quickly learned the small community I was becoming a part of.

Becoming well-known in the UTSC soccer community, I was asked to play in indoor soccer tournaments at UTM and Humber College. It's a wonderful thing when you get involved with the school, different opportunities present themselves to you.

If you'd like to join interhouse - message me and let me know. I'd be more than happy to introduce you to players and make you part of a team. No one wants to be the chicken who leaves before giving the game a go.

Something wicked this way comes! ...Macbeth fever hits Hart House Theatre

2011-11-14T03:43:00.001-05:00

Double double, toil and trouble/ Fire burn and cauldron bubble...

Who doesn't know these famous lines from William Shakespeare's dark tragedy Macbeth? Well, this past weekend I, along with the audience at the Hart House Theatre, got to see it performed by a professional cast of actors.

After a scenic drive downtown, some sightseeing (you can be a tourist in your own city, try it, it's fun!) and some good ol' fashioned McDonald's we arrived at the theatre a half hour before the show (not going to lie, we got lost... Scarborough kids). My friends and I were pleasantly surprised to see that we got discounts on top of our $15 discounted student tickets because of a special code I had from my Shakespeare class (shout out to ENGB32, more of Macbeth in gang!)

Three witches and Macbeth walked into a bar...

The set of this production was amaaaazing! It changed from forest to chamber to village square to battlefield, and all of it was thoroughly convincing! The actors were superb and the classic soliloquys were performed with an inspired twist. My honest reaction was: dude, that was awesome. It definitely beat our grade 11 in-class production of Macbeth by lightyears!

We broke the "no photography" rule. shh! But seriously! Look how cool the set is!

I won't give away the more interesting parts of the production, but I will say, seeing the performance in person was much better than reading it in class! Also, hint: strobe lights, sound effects and lots of horror! It was actually pretty scary - albeit awesome and totally cool.

Also, this is still crunch time for everyone, but taking just one night off (tickets are only $10 on Wednesdays) was a much needed break! I went with girlfriends and it made for a great night out on the town. The night was classy, with just a dash of arts and culture sophistication, and of course we topped it off with the typical Toronto TTC adventures.

I'd encourage everyone to have their own theatre experience, especially when our own university is hosting it! And while you're booking your tickets,check out the trailer. This is definitely not an event to be missed!

So what have you all been up to in good ol' Tdot (do people still say that?)... Are there any other theatre experiences I should check out? Let me know in the comments below or tweet me at @rantothezebra. Until next week, later days! :)

UTSC has a golf cage? Really? Squash too?

2011-11-10T19:23:00.010-05:00

Hello sports fans! This is Raphael back for Friday’s blog and your weekly dosage of UTSC news. This week I’m going to mix it up, go into Jessica’s territory (our Tuesday Athletics blogger) and talk about sports! More specifically, the underutilized facilities that are available at UTSC. Now for some of our dedicated readers, you may remember a past blog I did about the Attic. I love the Attic and it is probably my favorite “chill” spot on the campus. I guess this next spot I will mention is a close second place. Now I don’t go as often as I used to but this spot is great because so little of the student population know about it.

Alright so let’s get right into it: The golf cage at UTSC is nothing too special. For those of us who don’t know what a golf cage is, it's basically a 3 sided net where you would take swings with the club to practice your posture and accuracy.

Now as you guys can probably tell I love to explore places, I guess that’s why most of my blogs have some relation to looking or finding some new places and this golf cage is the perfect spot.

The golf cage at UTSC is not very large, but they do have free golf clubs you can use at any time. What's even better is if you start to take a liking to golf (such as myself) the Athletics Center offers classes to improve your golf game. Just visit their website www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~athletics for more information.

Now I won't be surprised if many of you haven't even heard of a golf cage, but I'm sure that some of you heard about the squash courts at UTSC. For those of you who don't let me tell you all about it.

The squash courts (as shown below) is available throughout the day (and they are usually empty during the day since many students have classes).

I still remember playing squash for the first time with one of my friends. We were in first year, just exploring what UTSC had to offer for us. We had just finished class and wanted to check out the gym, but we got sidetracked and took a door to our left instead. We walked the long hallway and ended up in the squash rooms! We really had no idea that the campus had squash, and at first we thought that the squash room was a mini basketball court (until we saw there was no hoop or net). I told my friend, "Hey why don't we try playing squash? I mean it shouldn't be too hard, right?" WRONG! The problem we had going into playing squash was we had no idea on what the rules were. After just half an hour running back and forth whacking the ball against the wall, we were EXHAUSTED! I mean really tired. Granted neither of us are real "athletes" but we felt so winded after that we just sat on the court for half an hour just to catch our breath. Upon leaving the court, we notice that right outside the door there were billboards that had the rules of squash written out! We were so tired that we decided to just go home.

(Note: for those of you who want to take up a sport and feel your body moving, take up squash. This is made easier because our school provides lessons for both beginners and advanced players. For those of you who want to see the offered lessons, download this pdf file: http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~athletics/images/fallguide.pdf)

So that was my experience, please don't be discouraged by my experience in the court, I actually am genuinely interested in the sport, and would like to revisit it sometime (maybe after I hit the gym a little more). And for those of you who think squash really isn't your thing, try out golf. I came into it not knowing if I would like it or not, but golf is a great stress reliever. Just whacking the ball with a club against a net can feel really good (especially if you just want to relieve some anger from missing your bus, or messing up on your test). And if you are lazy and just want to sit and watch, there are benches located at the upper floor of the squash area, convenient for those who would prefer watching others move around as opposed to themselves. :)

The squash and golf cage rooms are located by taking the door to your left (before the locker room or the gym). If you see a dance studio then you are headed the right way, just keep following the hallway and you'll get there eventually.

Oh, before I forget, Happy Belated Birthday to our supervisor Nadia Rosemond, without you as our leader, we would be hopelessly lost with our blogs :)

Dope Inspirational Stuff.

2011-11-09T23:32:00.004-05:00

Hello readers! It’s Moiz coming at you again. I hope all of you had a successful mid-term season! (my mid-term season is still going on -_-) I’m going to get right into my blog post this week because it was a long and hard process for me to decide what to write about this week. I think I changed my mind about 4-5 times but I finally figured it out, Enjoy!

After I finished most of my midterms I found myself making more personal goals. Not long term goals necessarily, more short term goals such as the very popular, “No more procrastinating.” At the time, when you decide on a goal, you feel like nothing will get in your way of accomplishing your goal. But in most cases, it’s a matter of time before you return to your routine of speeding to get things done at the last minute and then vowing that the next assignment/test will be different.

If it seems like I just told the story of your life, DO NOT FEAR! I know many people that go through the same phases all the time and because of this I’ve decided to share with you some tips and tricks to help you stick to your goals!

Step One: The Plan

This is where you spend time deciding exactly what your goal is. Do you want to improve your GPA? Do you want to gain more from university than just the education? This step is where you decide on what it is that you want to achieve. MAKE SURE THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY ACHIEVE. If your GPA was a 2.0 the previous year, telling yourself that you’re going to have a 4.0 in the current year is an unrealistic goal. What the goal should be is to pay attention in class more, to review notes every night, to attend all lectures, etc. Now there’s no guarantee that these goals will get you that 4.0, but they will definitely help you work up to it! Also, something that I have found to help me is to write the goal down somewhere. Somewhere that you look at every so often just to remind you about what you are working for. Also, changing the location you put once in while helps you to actually take it in and not just pretend it’s a part of something and ignore it.

Step Two: Words into Actions

This is where you start to put your new goal into action. The key to this stage is organization and prioritizing. Mastering these two concepts will make your life so much easier! Some tips to stay organized? Set up a calendar at the beginning of each month! In this calendar put in all assignment deadlines, all test days, EVERYTHING that you deem to be important in that month! Seeing how close a deadline for an assignment or test is will help you prepare well in advance. The last part of this stage is to make sure that you are somehow tracking your progress, just to boost your ego and show you that you really can make your goal a reality.

Step Three: The “oh there’s still time” stage

We all know this stage, this is where we all try to deny the fact that we’ve been procrastinating and try to make excuses to defend ourselves. My most common one use to be, “Oh, I work well under pressure… I’ll just do it tomorrow.” THESE PHRASES ARE BAD BAD BAD! To stop yourself from doing this you must challenge each excuse to make. For my previous example you could say, “Do I really work better under pressure? What happened the last time I did that?” If you’re like me, the best solution is to find inspirational quotes/videos that show you a little extra work can take you a really long way.

Step Four: Survival

Just live. It’s important.

Do you have any other goal-setting tips you’d like to share? Have idea’s for a blog you’d like me to write about? Just post all thoughts/comments/questions into the box below and I’ll be sure to have a look at them. That’s all I have for you guys this week, until our next digital encounter.

Peace and Love.

Moiz’s quote of the week: Set some goals and follow through with your plans. Time waits for no man.

I Got 99 Problems and Money Is One of Them.

2011-11-09T12:44:00.004-05:00

Hello fellow readers! It is Malcolm here again bringing you my weekly two cents on student life and experience. This week let’s discuss the ups and downs of student life. As students we are typically 3 things – tired, hungry, and strapped for cash. It seems the less we are the latter the less we are of everything else – which is a good thing. However, as students our bank account balances have a tendency to go down faster than they go up.

If you’re like me, I’m sure you’ve heard “you need to budget your money properly”. However, I’m not a huge fan of hardcore budgeting plans – I feel they leave no room for fun or flexibility and you end up breaking the budget anyways. I’ll admit to you all I am not a big spender but I am a frequent spender (is there a difference?). I’ll spend 5 or 6 dollars here or there each day but it really adds up. Over the years I have devised a few key budgeting and money saving tips and tricks that I believe have helped me through my university education.

Pack your own lunch, dinner and snacks.

I used to eat out every day of the week because I was too lazy to pack my own food. I don’t remember what compelled me to start but I’m glad I did. On average I found out that I was spending anywhere between 7-10 dollars a day on lunch not including snacks or coffee. Even if you just pack your lunch you save anywhere from 35-50 dollars a week; that’s $140-200 a month.

Bring your own coffee thermos and instant coffee or tea bags.

This is a tip I got from my friend – he told me that Campus Express has a hot water tower now which you can use for free – I’ve confirmed this and this is true. Not having to buy coffee from Tim Hortons not only saves you money but time as well. 2 cups of coffee at Tim’s is around $3 each, $15 a week $60 a month – you do the math. As students of UTSC we are no strangers to the lines regularly grace the Tim Hortons. Before this hot water tower was available another friend of mine used to keep an electric kettle in his locker and boil his own water. It takes 3 minutes for those types of kettles to boil water – to put it in perspective think about how long you wait in a line up at Tim Hortons. As an alternative you can also keep a microwavable cup in your locker to heat up water you get from the water fountains and pour it into your thermos.

Take good class and textbook notes and keep them.

When you sell your textbooks you typically can snag an extra 20 or so dollars if you include a copy of your notes with the textbooks you sell to another student. The more money you can get back from your textbooks the less stressed your budget will be later on.

Print at the SCSU office.

You can cut your printing costs in half by printing at the SCSU office. The only catch is that you have to go when the office is open. The SCSU offers printing for 5 cents a page whereas printing elsewhere in the school will run you 7-10 cents a page. This is not about penny pinching as much as stretching your money as far as it can go and getting the most value possible.

Use your skills and get paid for them.

There is a plethora of job opportunities available on campus that you can use your skills to make some money. There are honorarium and work study positions widely available for students to gain some experience as well as some extra cash flow. Typically an honorarium will grant you anywhere from $500-1000 per semester depending on the job. A work-study position grants you $10.66 per hour at a max of 10 hours per week for the semester (works out to be about $2000). These jobs don’t require an intense amount of your time so you can still keep your part time job and have time for school and partying. ;)

Live within your means.

This is possibly the most important piece of information you should take away from this. It basically means don’t spend more than you make. Most students already have a pile of student loans having credit card debt on top of that makes the debt become harder to deal with – and nobody wants that.

I hope you found these tips and tricks helpful! Remember to subscribe to the blog and share your favourite posts with your friends. If you have any more money saving tips and tricks that I didn’t mention please let me know in the comment section below – it’s as easy as typing in the box below! Follow me on Twitter for the latest updates and awesome from ME - @malcolmwong1

A Commuter's BIGGEST PET PEEVES!

2011-11-09T10:41:00.018-05:00

So I've been commuting/busing it to UTSC for almost two months and...I got a few issues, I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF (YES! I am yelling)

Let's just get right into this hot topic.

Here, in this post are my top five TTC pet peeves aka "you know what really cheeses me while I'm on the bus..."

5) Uncooperative people. Those hoodlums who walk in and pay the WRONG fare and then argue about it when the bus driver confronts them.

4) Loud talkers. I don't need to hear about how ugly you thought that girl's dress was or how your boy was hitting on all the chicks at the party. I know the most probable solution for this problem would be to "just go listen to your music" but even when I try to drown out your voice, I can STILL hear you! Keep your business to yourself. Thanks

3) Random shift changes. The bus driver just stops at a stop and then gets off to talk and chills with his fellow co-worker. Good for you! Now get back on the bus and take me to school, I'm running late and you aren't helping! Fine, *pretty please*

2) Perverts on the bus go round and round. This is more of a girl problem, not to say that men can't be creeped by other creep men, just sayin... I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT when, the whole bus is empty and this ugly old guy comes and sits right next to you and smiles at you (with all his teeth) and hopes that will open you up for conversation. NO! Not Cool! JUST STOP

1) The MOST annoying thing about the TTC is crowded buses.
There are two ways to approach this issue. One, the whole bus is packed and there's no seats left and the bus driver insist on taking more passengers...and then the automatic voice lady comes and says "please move back...thank you" and well, you can't move anywhere because there is no space and then the bus driver threatens and says "I won't move this bus another inch until everyone moves back." You whine and suck your teeth and groan about it and make like a square inch of space until you're squished against the hoodlums and perverts and then the bus starts rolling again.
OR
People are just lazy and refuse to move back and take the few empty seats that are there and in the end we all suffer :(

Epic Quote of the day: "Romantic love is like a mental disorder."

Epic Song of the week

P.S. Yesterday was UTSC's Leadership Development Program Coordinator's birthday...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NADIA!

Construction at UTSC begins for aquatic facility

2011-11-07T16:55:00.002-05:00

With the 2011 Pan Am Games having wrapped up in Guadalajara Mexico, it's Toronto's turn to take the world stage. As host of the 2015 Pan Am Games, the city is getting ready to build five state-of-the-art athletic facilities.

One being built at our UTSC campus.

I talked to students and one of the directors for the 2015 Pan Am Games, Jason Fellen, to discuss the progress of the world-class aquatic centre.

UTSC gets a little high and mighty

2011-11-07T09:35:00.001-05:00

The most common complaint you hear when you go to UTSC is that there is concrete everywhere. The second most common thing you here is that “we are no match for UTSG”. Well, to each their own, but for all you art and culture lovers out there, you might want to think twice before saying that again.

Let me introduce you to the little known gems of the school: the Doris McCarthy Art Gallery (DMG) and the Leigha Lee Browne Theatre (LLB). Both havens of high-brow fun are located right here at school and, should you choose, will give any student concrete reason to visit!

I’ll be honest with you, when I went to the DMG, I was pretty stumped. Were it not for a class project which forced me to analyze the visual stimuli I was being presented with, my Jersey-Shorified brain really couldn’t care less (I just used a made-up word …point in case). And boy, was there a lot of visual stimuli! I’m posting pictures below so you can help a sister out!

Super It by Blue Republic

The exhibition ran from Sept. 6 - Nov. 2 and featured many pieces. Clearly, as seen above!

Now look, I’m not some fancy-pants monocle wearing, hoity toity art critic – so the thought of going to these things kills me a little inside. But after going to the Gallery, I realized that for someone else reading a novel might pose the same sort of challenge as going to the art gallery does for me. I learned that it’s important to give all art an opportunity to reach you. Regardless whether in paint, performance, ink, or clay.

And though, after that monologue, I’d like to say I reached some brilliant conclusion… I didn’t.

But what I did learn was that art is less about understanding the artist’s message view and more about the relationship between artist, art, and viewer. Obviously I had some trouble understanding the message, but doesn’t that come down the way the message was brought to me and not whether I could decode it?

See how deep my thinking is getting already?

It might be because this isn’t my first experience with the covert art scene here at UTSC. Doris McArthy also runs Gallery 1265, the student art gallery that offers UTSC and community artists free space to showcase their work. I visited Gallery 1265 last year and took in an interesting installation about education and technology. Again, I only really understood the art pieces to be something other than wall decorations because I took the initiative to open my eyes (…and also because I was writing an article about it, but it was mostly the former).

A couple of days after the DMG visit, I attended a talk held at the LLB theatre titled ‘South Asians in the Arts: Diasporas, Alliances and Collaborations across Communities’. Suffice to say, it was simply fabulous! But what made it better was the intimate space of the black box-theatre, the lighting and the proximity of the audience to the speakers. It literally gave me chills!

Funny enough, later on, when I was telling a friend of mine about my experiences both at the gallery and the theatre, she had trouble believing I was telling the truth. “We have that here?” she said.

Needless to say, I was shocked! How did someone not know about these things!? The DMG is located a few steps from the Bookstore, on your way to the ARC. And the LLB falls on the way to the research labs and SY110 over in the new Science wing. Well, you know what they say, it’s different from the inside looking out than it is from the outside looking in.

Surprisingly (or maybe not so surprisingly), UTSC’s best kept secrets aren’t really very secret. One only needs to look around once in a while. Here’s a hint: anything other than concrete at this school automatically points to cooler things than “ground-breaking architecture in the brutalist form.”

A way students can find out about these cool places and these cool events is to check out the Division of Humanities website. The HumDiv website also houses the Arts and Events Programming (AEP) information space which let’s you know about events coming onto campus.

An event being organized by the AEP, one I will do a shameless promo for, is the campus display put on by the ENGC51. Held tomorrow in the Meeting Place, this campus display (from 1:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.) will educate passerby about Arab women writers from all countries and all eras. It will be interesting stuff folks!

And no, I’m not obligated to say that because I’m participating in it…

But really, who knew things got so pretty high-brow right here at UTSC?

Well the students who curate the DMG did, as did the members of UTSC’s Theatre program and members of the Drama Society… or anyone with keen eyes and interest really. But for those of you who are new to the concept of arts and life at UTSC aside from boat cruises and charity club nights, there’s a lot more coming up!

In the next few weeks, check out DMG’s new exhibit, Moment by Beatriz Olano and Magdalena Fernández (November 16, 2011 - January 28, 2012). Also look out for more student exhibitions at Gallery 1265 and more talks as well as the production of Closer early next year on the LLB stage.

Join the AEP group on Facebook to stay in the loop about art events happening on and around campus. You’ll never miss a thing again (trust me, they send about five emails a day, can’t miss it)

So while I won’t be throwing any wine-and-cheese parties just yet, I had an enlightening experience thanks to the secret awesomeness that is the arts and culture here on campus. Have you seen any surprising/cool/awesome on or off campus? Share your experience and let know in the comments below, or as always tweet me :)

Until next week, later days!

Phone, Internet, TV

2011-11-07T09:32:00.002-05:00

These are 3 of the things we cannot live without in a modern day. You would be amazed how we are unable to operate in our daily lives without these 3 things in our lives. Some of the things listed above are more important than others, but we all know that we wouldn’t last a day without any of these 3 things. Sometimes I wish to live a life without all of these complications, but little did I know that I would get my wish sooner than I expect.

Let me update you guys on what has been happening to me lately. These past few days I have been living in a cave. Yes, quite literally in a cave. I just moved to a new house, and while the house itself is beautiful, it is pretty much a modern cave. It has no internet, phone, or TV installed yet but it does have a nice looking kitchen, nice looking furniture, and nice looking bathrooms. See what I mean? Sure the house is modern and quite spacious, but what really makes a house “modern” is the technology. Without a phone, I felt secluded from the outside world; without an internet connection, I had no access to the World Wide Web; without cable for my TV, I am not updated on the latest news!

I felt like I didn’t exist in the world, out of the radar, not to be seen or heard from again. But then I discovered the great invention of Libraries!

I have forgotten about these great establishments, these buildings that seem to be put aside because of the fast paced world we live in. (I think the last time I went to a public library was elementary school, no kidding!) We tend to forget that close to where we live there are places where people are willing to share their internet connection. Ahh, what a great place to be in. What I’m trying to get at is our day to day lives will drastically change without the access to free internet services. Think about it, how would you check your marks on ROSI? Or how would you change your courses on your timetable? Our lives are made much easier due to the fact that we have technology. Heck, I wouldn’t even be able to write this blog right now if it wasn’t for the internet. I am truly grateful for it and you should be too!

Just look at how happy I am when I finally got Wifi at my house! (This is literally the first picture I took when I first got internet access at my home). You can tell I find Internet the most important of the three.

At UTSC we have numerous ways to stay connected with the outside world. The library for one is a great place to use computers or just find some space to study. Also people tend to forget the vast amount of information the library contains: books. For anyone majoring in English, the library is a great resource for any papers or assignments (and sometimes has access to special articles and books published by the university). We also have the computer labs located on the 4th floor of the Bladen wing. While most of the time these computer labs are occupied with classes, there are 2 rooms that are always open to students at any time during the day: BV(482) and BV(490) . And for those of you who still want to use the other computer labs, just make sure to look at the timetable posted outside the classroom and check if there is a class scheduled during that time.

I know some of you still won't be able to find study space here in the campus, well then try the new IC building! (For those of you who haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favour and check the building out, it's Super Awesome!) Ok secret time, shhhh, don't tell anyone but I have another secret space that I just discovered just a few weeks ago. If you take the stairs up to the 3rd floor of the IC building there is a large computer lab with a weird stock exchange bar hanging in the room. If you assume that it is reserved only for management students, you're wrong! It's open to all students, and the great thing about it is each computer is equipped with 2 monitor screens! Isn't that awesome? Consider this space your "last study space" for those of you who read my first blog, and if you haven't yet please do: http://utscpulse.blogspot.com/2011/10/study-space-what-study-space.html .

Computer Lab in the IC building

I know that maybe some of you are probably reading this blog in a public library or a computer lab because you don’t own a personal laptop to bring to school. No problem! The SCSU offers the Toshiba Loaners Program, where 20 laptops are loaned to those students who in most need for one. It operates in a per semester basis (unfortunately this semester’s deadline for applications already passed), but applications for the winter semester should be coming soon.

Wow, this blog is getting too long but just imagine what the world had to throw at me before I could finally appreciate the technology we have today. I am really grateful for a community like UTSC, without your free Wi-Fi, I wouldn’t be able to live.

Please subscibe to us by clicking the link above that says "follow" and follow me on twitter at @RaphaelSantiag5, also follow our twitter @utsc_pulse! For more information about the Toshiba Loaners program click here http://www.scsu.ca/toshiba/. Have a great weekend everyone!

UTSC Gets Latin Fever

2011-11-06T11:46:00.004-05:00

Hello fellow readers! I know my post usually comes during the week, but I was recovering from LATIN FEVER. The source of this fever is none other than The Latin American Student Association (LASA for short). LASA is a new student club that has really taken this year by storm with a level of passion and dedication that I myself have not seen from a new club since I was a freshman. With an ever-growing list of members and successful events LASA is a top contender for the “Best new club” award.

Most recently LASA hosted a Latin themed Pub Night at Rex’s Den this past Thursday, Nov. 3^rd and I not only had the opportunity to be there but also DJ the event! – Yes I have other skills besides blogging and being awesome (haha). Despite being tied to the DJ booth (which was in a different room) all night, I did manage to find time (usually between songs) to walk amongst the crowd to get a feel of the night. The first thing that stood out to me about the crowd was its diversity and the size. I was very pleased to see that LASA had actually hit capacity for Rex’s Den with more people waiting to get in. It was interesting to see people from all walks of life in the crowd all there to enjoy Latin culture.

The night started at 9pm with Salsa dance lessons taught by none other than Miguel “The Artist” Pinzon who also teaches a hip-hop class in the gym. At first there were about 40 students ready to learn how to salsa and by about half way through the 1 hour lesson the group had swelled to approximately 60-70 students. It was actually a joy to see such a mass of students all dancing salsa in unison – In hindsight I wish I had taken a video. It was quite refreshing to see students enjoying themselves without the focus being alcohol. I was glad that many students took an interest in the salsa lessons because I didn’t want an empty dance floor if I played Latin dance music.

The majority of the crowd trickled in after 10pm, after the lessons were over, and that’s when the real party began. I saw many students grabbing some food and drinks while others hit the dance floor. At first selecting songs to play was a challenge because I couldn’t see the crowd’s reactions but with help from the Miguel who acted as MC it got easier as the night progressed. For those who attended the Pub-night I apologize for the shoddy music at the beginning. :P

A highlight of the night was a dance performance by none other than acclaimed UTSC Latin dance instructor Danny Perez & his beautiful partner Laura. They lit the dance floor on fire with their performance as well as ignited a round of Salsa and Merengue.

Despite being separated from the crowd for most of the night, I was no stranger to the heat of the night. At the night ended, I could see people leaving drenched in sweat but with huge smiles on their faces – a sign of a good night. Over all I believe the night was a huge success and the members of LASA should be proud of themselves. I challenge all clubs to put forth an effort to engage a range of students like LASA has.

If you never been to a LASA event or if you enjoyed the Pub Night and want more information about LASA and their events check out their Facebook page by clicking here. I also believe that is where the photos from the Pub Night will be. If you attended the Pub Night or any other LASA event, tell me about your experience there in the comment section below. Remember to follow me @malcolmwong1 on Twitter and subscribe to the blog!

No Shave November

2011-11-03T09:17:00.003-04:00

Oh would you look at that, it’s Thursday again! I swear the weeks are just flying by. I feel like I just wrote my last blog yesterday. Oh well, it’s a new week which means you get to read about life written by yours truly, me! :D

As you know, November started a couple days ago. Yes I said November, as in the second last month of the year (where did this year go? :/). To some this might mean CHRISTMAS is in less than two months away, to some it might mean that this is the month of remembering and yes, all that is most definitely true. But more recently, the month of November is often associated with mental images of dudes with dirty ‘staches and excess facial hair. This can only mean one thing… MOVEMBER.

Movember is a fairly new concept introduced to increase awareness of prostate cancer in males. It was launched in Canada in 2007 and has gained immediate recognition since then. If you don’t already know, it’s called Movember because in slang Mo means mustache and it takes place in November; Hence the term, Movember.

Here’s something you guys might not have known: THERE ARE ACTUALLY RULES YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE. I took part in Movember last year. It’s a lot more challenging than it seems. Keeping a moustache for a whole month without shaving it no matter how you look is a challenge. I need to give a shoutout to all those who are brave enough to rock a ‘stache regardless of what month it is. You guys have heart. Anyway, here are the rules for the men who are participating:

On "Shadowe'en" (October 31), the complete moustache region, including the entire upper lip and handlebar zones, must be completely shaved.
For the entire duration of Movember [November 1–30], no hair shall be allowed to grow in the goatee zone (any facial area below the bottom lip).
There is to be no joining of the moustache to sideburns.
If you have a full beard, you can shave it leaving only a super moustache for the month.

Who knew, huh?! Here’s the fun part, UTSC will have a variety of different events throughout this month in order to help raise awareness of prostate cancer and Movember itself! Some of these events are; “Take it off” which is happening throughout this week in the Student Centre. “Clean it up” which will have events such as a fashion show, pictures of the ‘staches, barbers helping to clean up the scruffs, followed by a pub night after party! To get more information about all the events happening this month, visit the SCSU office and they’ll tell you everything you need to know!

If you’d like more information on Movember itself (eg. How to register, how to donate, etc.) visit http://ca.movember.com/

How do you feel about Movember? Are you participating? If you have any questions or comments or idea’s about a blog post just comment below and I’ll make sure to get back to you! That’s all for this week’s post guys. Till we meet again.

Peace and love.

Check up from the neck and up

2011-11-02T21:44:00.001-04:00

Like I promised, your dutiful Wednesday blogger E.A.P is here to talk about my appointment with the "Health and Wellness" Centre.

2 things you have to have before entering the center, 1) T-CARD and 2) Health Card. They're nice enough to let you off the first time but, it's still a big deal.

I filled out a few forms, gave them my contact info and then sat there waiting. They also give flu shots, but I wasn't so keen on getting a needle shoved up my arm.

It's always awkward when you're in a room with a stranger who knows nothing about you and you have to talk about yourself. I tried not to be nervous and awkward but what can you do?

Going into my meeting, I tried not to regret coming here and just see things through.

I talked myself into staying. I tried the best I could to talk about my struggle. The person I was talking to recommended I start off with counseling and if things don't get better, I start on medications.

I left feeling somewhat better and hopeful knowing that I'm putting effort into my health and taking advantage of the resources that are made available to me. I just don't want to front and back out last minute because I was scared. I'm not alone.

If you take away anything from this post it's this: Nothing happens in epiphany moments where you wake up and discover a solution to your problems (whatever they may be). The best you can do is put yourself on the path of recovery. I say recovery in the sense that you are taking steps necessary to solve/resolve and make things better for you. It's ALWAYS best to start in small, tiny, baby steps. This life is a process.

So here's what I did for Halloween. I went tricker-treatin. I'm not too old! Getting free candy is always in style. By the way.... this was my costume...

Me and my sister went as Mario and Luigi. Yes, we had a photo shoot while the street-car driver guy went for a smoke :D

GO CHECK THIS OUT! http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=237759232945072

#Dancemypantsoff Halloween themed song

Stay in school kids...until next week :)

It's hunting season

2011-11-01T12:19:00.016-04:00

The tenth annual UTSC Duck Hunt took place at Varsity Arena Friday Oct. 28. The men’s UTSC tri-campus hockey team faced rivals UTM.

Every year, the first time the two teams play each other – it’s a fierce battle of East vs. West. Both teams laced their skates in front of a crowd of U of T students and supporters.

UTSC took the title last year and was prepared to defend it. A florescent red sign hung on the glass beside the UTSC bench reading, “The Cup Stays Home.”

The name Duck Hunt refers to the 80’s video game, where shooters aim at soaring ducks. In this case, the ducks are metaphorically UTM’s mascot. An eagle.

This year was the first time I've attended the Duck Hunt event. To my surprise, it started ten years ago to boost school spirit and celebrate hockey players within U of T.

A few UTSC alumni told me that a few years ago, this event used to be huge. It brought out larger crowds and was the most talked about event. This year, there still was a number of people who showed their support (around 50-60) with colourful signs, Duck Hunt shirts, and cowbells - but I believe this event can be attract a larger crowd with more publicity.

Some suggested it would be a great idea to make the Duck Hunt a homecoming event for UTSC.

Photo cred: Greg Danko

I took my seat just in time for the first puck drop. The game started with fast pace and full of energy from both teams.

Brodie Fitzpatrick, #16, scored the first goal with a one timer in the first.

UTM came back, scoring a lucky goal through the five-hole of UTSC goalie Trevor Carozza, #30, making both teams scrounge for the puck until the third.

Fitzpatrick striked again as the time whined down in the game, making UTSC lead 2-1.

As both teams filled the penalty box with seconds to go, the determination and strive of UTSC paid off as the game ended with the final score of 2-1 for UTSC.

Currently, the entire Duck Hunt series stands 5 wins for UTSC and 5 wins for UTM.

Indeed, the cup stayed home.

Photo cred: Greg Danko

EVAN VAREY

Major: Environmental Science

Year: Second
Position: Defence

Why did you join the hockey team?
I got dragged into it by Danko (former SCHPA president) after Frosh week. I met Carozza (the goalie), a couple years ago and he saw me at campus the first week and told me to come out in my first year. And now I’m here.

Best part of being part of the team?
All the guys are so much fun. Guys like Danko, make my day.

TREVOR CAROZZA

Major: French specialist

Year: Third
Position: Goalie

Why did you join the hockey team?
I’ve been playing hockey ever since I was a little kid. I wasn’t ready to quit yet. I feel like my best years are still ahead of me. I’ve met a lot of great people in this program, so that’s what’s it’s good for too.

Best part of being part of the team?
Good atmosphere. Anyone who hasn’t played a sport or been on a team, it’s like another family, another set of friends. Hockey players are their own special breed, so we all get along

Do you find the team conflicts with school?
No, I wish we had more hockey, more practice time, more games because nothing compares to the feeling when you get on the ice.

Any pre-game traditions?
I always get dressed in the same order, right pad always goes on before the left, right skate always goes on before my left. Same warm up, same stretches, same everything. Nothing changes.

I think I need Sugar Addicts Annonymous...

2011-11-01T09:58:00.000-04:00

Just around this time of year I get the hankering for some post-Halloween candy. Ever since I outgrew my trick-or-treating years (is there such a thing?) I’ve been ~~sad and alone~~ holding my own day of sweet celebration that I call “Cavity-Inducing Day of Awesome” - CIDA for short. Not to be confused with the other important, government-y thing, CIDA is the one day of the year I let my glucose-coloured glasses colour my world awesome.

Every year, I used to gorge on fright-night loots (back in the glory years of candy bags and generous neighbours), but more recently I satiate my sweet tooth with CIDA! It’s been a few years now that I’ve been gone from the childish land of trick-or-treating, so this year I decided to grow up the right way. I wanted to branch out a little bit - away from the fun pack of chocolate and the dollar-store candy, into the land of refined pastries and top-tier baked goods.

I wanted to use terms like: “baked to perfection”, “heaven for my tastebuds”, “bite your way to bliss”… and CIDA gave me just the excuse. But, being a creature of comforts, I didn’t want to travel very far. So I did my research and here I am sharing with you all, the amazing bakeries and cafes we have in our own neighbourhood!

Sugarbuds –

Major Intersection: Military Trail and Meadowvale Rd.

Right down the street from campus, this cute part-bakery/part café/part awesome cake shoppe offers a variety of specialty cakes, cookies and pastries for all occasion (along with the cursory sandwiches and snack type thingamabobs!) A view of the blissful Highland Creek Village, let's you forget about the concrete walls of UTSC. This Katy Perry-esque dreamland of delectable delights is run by a husband-and-wife duo, so you know you'll always get the personal touch. This is a perfect spot for some catch-up over a plate of your favourite flavour of bite-sized baked goods and the food is as good as it looks.

Lamanna’s Bakery –

Major Intersection: Kingston Rd. and Sheppard Ave.

With music straight from the streets of Italy and a head chef that bakes like the Cake Boss, this place is a go-to for anyone craving tiramisu, cannelloni or any other authentic Italian cuisine. With the added bonus of being a café, a bakery and a mini-restaurant, the convenient location (right next to a Rogers!) also makes Bakery L just a stop on the road to a very good night. Impress your significant other with a signature personalized mini-cake. You won’t be disappointed - the bakers are more like artists here! Check out their Facebook page for albums of the delicious and decadent cakes!

Mr. Beans Coffee Co. –

Major Intersection: Lawrence Ave. East and Port Union Rd.

This favourite of former Mowat Collegiate students (and some proud UTSCers) is the best place for a quick bite during all seasons. In the winter, “Beans”, as it’s known, specializes in hot chocolate and mocha lattes of all kinds and combination. This is your mom-and-pop version of Starbucks. And if the servers (some of them high school students with promising careers as coffee baristas) feel good, they’ll even do a bit of latte art for you! Delight in the freshly baked, croissants, cream puff pastries and cozy up with your favourite brand of authentic Italian coffee. Ask any kid from "the Island" (Rouge Hill), even in the summer Beans is the top spot for anything that will please you palate.

Coffee Culture –

Major Intersection: Ellesmere Rd. and Markham Rd.

Nothing goes better with your slice of triple chocolate hazelnut crusted brownie than a sip of your favourite blend of coffee. Or as the German and the super-stylish say: koffee. This café is a favourite hangout of Woburn Collegiate kids, but many a UTSCer has been known to frequent this haven of delicious coffees and cakes for a bite of some amazing baked goods topped with a generous dollop of nostalgia.Also, check out their other locations all over Canada! Tip: That entire plaza is a goldmine for food options off-campus (check out Tangerine!)

So if you have a craving for sugar, need your daily dosage of delicious baked goods, or just a post-exam pick-me-up don’t be shy to take a trip down the street. You’d be surprised to see all it has to offer!What other sweet spots do you know around campus?

Where is your favourite place to hang out and take a break? Let me know in the comments below and as always, tweet me anything and everything :) Until next time, om nom nom!

Moviegoers Galore!

2011-10-28T13:07:00.021-04:00

What's up moviegoers, this is Raphael back for Friday's blog!

Hopefully all of you have already finished your midterms and finally have some time off studying. We all have spent quite some time on campus and we may think we know all about our school. Well, if you are a movie lover then you must know that our campus has been in a few movies. Yes, I know crazy right? Actually around this same time 2 years ago we had the Meeting Place used as a set for a popular movie. Can you guess what it was? If you remember from my last blog, I briefly mentioned it at the beginning.

Give up?

It's Resident Evil! Check out the photo below of the transformed Meeting Place.

Resident Evil: Afterlife

If you remember from last week, I mentioned that the striking architecture of the Humanities and Science Wing won awards, but what I didn't mention was that it won because of the "brutalist" nature of the buildings. The location manager for the movie saw the possibilities with the building and could manipulate the space with ease. When I first heard about a movie was filming at UTSC, I was ecstatic, as a first year I thought I could be a bystander in the movie. Unfortunately I didn't get my chance to be part of the movie, but I saw the movie sets and the lighting equipment they brought for the shot they needed. It's just great to actually see the movie and say, "Hey they filmed that scene at my school!" I mean not everyone can say that about their schools, right?

Ok here's another great one, can anyone guess which movie this strange "stormtrooper" look-alike (on the right) belongs to? No, it's not Star Wars. Give up? It's Total Recall! Never heard of it, huh? Ok, to be honest I didn't know about the movie either until I searched it up. Apparently Total Recall is a remake of an old 1990 sci-fi movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger. But this time the main star will be Colin Ferrell along with Kate Beckinsale. Yes it's a remake of a movie that was made before I was even born! I can't wait to see the shots of this movie! And what's even cooler is that one lucky student was chosen to be an extra (one of the storm troopers like the one on the right) to be part of the movie! Yes he was paid $11 an hour to be part of the movie and got a glimpse of the actors in the movie. Imagine being part of a movie, right in your own school! That definitely deserves major bragging rights, whoever he is, he is one lucky guy.

And once again the Meeting place was the place used for the set, to make a (what it looks like) a busy sci fi train station.

This really shows that University of Toronto Scarborough has always been destined for great things. Ever since the uni first opened up in 1966, its buildings has told a story, and it's our priority as students to carry on that legacy. I don't know about you guys, but as a student I feel much more connected with a school when others (such as movie producers) can see our school as a backdrop for their ideas to come to life. I am grateful to be in a school where one can explore new opportunities and every single student should be proud to be in school such as ours. This is Raphael with your weekly dose of interesting facts about our university, please subscribe to our blog by clicking the follow button at the top and have a great weekend everyone!

We Made it!

2011-10-27T09:14:00.000-04:00

Hola beautiful blog readers!

I hope all of you are enjoying our almost one month of daily blogging at UTSC PULSE! This is Moiz (PLUG: follow me at @Moizmaq) coming at you once again on this wonderful Thursday. I really had no idea what I was going to blog about until two days ago. So make sure you guys tweet/comment me ANYTHING you’d like me to write about… ANYTHING! Today’s post is for my fellow first year students and maybe even students that are still in High School right now! Being at University for almost two months made me realize how different High School and University really are. So I decided to write a blog post about it! :D

The biggest change is definitely the freedom we get in University. I mean this in an academic way and also in a social/personal way. Academically, freedom means that there isn’t anyone hunting you down for not handing in assignments, doing homework, keeping up with the lectures or even coming to class! In High School, most people were forced by others to go to class. In University, nobody cares if you go to class or not. So in a way, you have to force yourself to go to class!

It doesn’t end there, when you get to class the problem becomes paying attention. How many times has this happened to you; One second you swear that you’re paying attention to the prof, and the next second you’re magically on Facebook creeping your newsfeed!? I’m guilty of this myself but it’s not even my fault, I swear my computer automatically puts on Facebook when I’m not looking! In High School, the teacher is always picking on you to pay attention and not fall asleep or text so that was never a problem. Personally, it annoyed me when teachers did that in High School but now I feel like I took it for granted. I think I need someone to constantly make me pay attention in class now (I know you ALL can relate)!

In a more personal way, freedom comes from being away from your parents and family. Most people choose to live on res when they go off to University. This means even more responsibility for a student! You have to cook, clean, manage your time, etc. A big thing about University is that you HAVE to be self-motivated. NOBODY really cares if you get your work done or not, you have to choose to do it yourself! Also, a lot of people think University is all about studying and doing well in all your classes. Although that is a big part of being at University, your social/extracurricular life is what will keep you sane! My advice to you first year students is to go out and get involved in any way you can.


photo credit- Ken Jones

Another change in University is the sizes of the classes and lectures! Most of my first year courses have classes of close to 500 people each! That’s a big change from High School where most classes had 30 people and even that was considered a lot! Another difference is that your final grade is usually based on 3 or 4 grades (midterms and finals) instead of about 20 grades (assignments, tests, quizzes, etc.).

And finally, everyone’s favourite change… YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR UNIVERSITY! This is probably the change your parent’s will feel the most. This change doesn’t have to be negative though. It does benefit you in terms of motivation, if you feel like you don’t have enough motivation to work hard in school just think of all the money you put into your education and I’m sure you’ll be motivated in no time!

I feel like I got the major differences between High School and University down. If you guys feel like I forgot something, or if you have any changes you’d like to add, feel free to do so in the comments section below! And make sure you let me know if you have any blog post ideas you want me to write about! Until next week.

Peace and love.

October is 'Mental Health Awareness' month

2011-10-26T11:56:00.001-04:00

In the spirit of this month, I thought I'd take time out and share my struggle with depression with you, here, now.

One way I deal with my depression is by writing creatively, here is a sample:

Today is one of THOSE days.
It's that day where you get out of bed and ask yourself why?
It's the day you've given up on before it even begins.
It feels like time is moving in slow motion.
It feels like you've made a cute little black hole inside yourself and you're being consumed, and you don't even know where it's headed.
You want to reach out but you're afraid that if you put your hand out, it'll freeze and be stuck. It was a nice idea at first; to make a nice little emotional cocoon and just hibernate there for a little while when the world got a bit...much.

Now it feels more like a never ending case of stairs you just want to reach the end of.

Now it's like you're sick...all the time...on the inside
Now it's like everything is giving up on you, or rather you're giving up on it, and you can't decipher which came first.
Now you're just decaying.
Now you're drowning in quicksand made of lack-of-oxygen and emptiness.
Now time is running out.
Now it feels like you have absolutely no motivation left to pursue anything.
You know you have reason to worry when the things that made you so happy leave you with that bitter taste in your mouth.
You know what the worst part is? It's when you know you're in pain and you just let it rule over you.
All these assignments, expectations, excuses.
Sympathy is such an easy emotion to evoke in you.
I'm hurting you, hurting me.
If I couldn't look at myself in the mirror what makes you think I'll look you in the eyes and admit the truth.
When you're in pain, you're in pain. Why fight, deny or repress it?

I received support in high school, and have come to realize I should reach out and look for support on this campus. I took a big step and I decided to book an appointment with the Health and Wellness Centre. (They are located on the second floor of the Student Centre)
I'll let you know how it went.

Until then stay strong.

Song of the week-

The High-Tech Student

2011-10-25T23:23:00.009-04:00

Hello fellow readers and welcome back for another post by yours truly Malcolm Wong (@malcolmwong1). This week I'll be discussing something that's central in all our lives. *drum roll* - TECHNOLOGY.

As students the most central piece of tech gear is our laptops/notebooks and we coincidentally demand the most out of them. They are our mobile work stations and entertainment hubs. There are many options out there for laptops the key is to get something that fits your lifestyle and needs. The top 3 things you should look for as a student getting a computer for school are mobility, functionality and of course price and quality. I have selected notebooks that I think

Before I start my review of a few laptops I want to make a few things clear. I think those cute little netbooks are absolutely, positively USELESS! In my opinion they are too small to be functional and don’t have the power to do much of anything and for a little bit more you can get a tablet which out performs the netbook in EVERY aspect. I’m also a firm believer that you get what you pay for in terms of quality especially when it comes to laptops. Furthermore, when it comes to the Mac vs. PC debate I believe it comes down to a personal choice. I have chosen to review 2 types of notebooks with a Mac and PC options for both types – a total of 4 notebooks.that students should consider through these 3 criteria.

I’m going to start with the infamous Apple MacBook Pro. At a starting price of $1249 not including taxes it’s probably one of the most expensive choices. However, it has many redeeming qualities that may justify paying the price. Out of the Macbook Pro choices I highly recommend the 13” model not only because of its size and portability, but because of the price! – Let’s face it Apple products are really expensive and as students money typically isn’t a big part of our lives. With the recent update to the MacBook Pro line the 13” gains quite a bit of value with bigger hard drives and the top of the line dual core i5 and i7 processors. Another amazing quality of the MacBooks is the long lasting battery usually around 6-7 hours – the longer your battery lasts the longer you can stay mobile. The Macbook Pros come equipped with enough ports and slots for connecting the other digital devices in your life. A 13” Macbook Pro is great if price isn’t your biggest concern as it packs plenty of power and functionality into a small device – it also looks pretty cool.

If you’re not an Apple fan or a the $1249 price tag has you thinking twice then maybe the Acer Aspire S3 notebook is for you. Starting at $899 plus taxes the S3 is part of the new generation of notebooks dubbed the “UltraBook”. It is far cheaper than the MacBook Pro and packs a similar punch. To describe an “UltraBook” think of a hybrid between a High performance laptop and tablet. The S3 is just a mere 2.98 pounds that’s 2 pounds lighter than the 13” Macbook Pro. Not only is it light but it EXTREMELY thin – I’m talking about 0.51 inches thin. Featuring similar specs as the Mac Pro 13” it’s packs a big punch in an extremely small and THIN package. PCs are notorious for having TERRIBAD battery life I assure you this isn’t the case with these PC UltraBooks. The S3 changes all of it with a 7 hour battery. The most interesting part of the S3 is that instead of a DVD drive it has a solid state hard drive to run your most essential applications with super performance in addition to a Hard disk drive for storage – can you say AWESOME? Plus, who really uses the DVD Drive on their laptop any more?

Another Apple product that is starting gaining popularity is the 11.6” MacBook Air. At a first glance the Air looks – in a word, unappetizing for a student; Minimal storage, a low end processor and a starting price of $999. When you factor in how portable this little notebook is due to the flash memory then it doesn’t seem so bad it sort of makes up for the lack of everything else and the price tag. However, with the lack of, SD card slot and storage (unless you buy the more expensive bigger models) I don’t believe the Air could take centre stage of your tech arsenal – mostly because it can’t much of anything. If you’re looking for something light weight, for internet browsing and note taking then it you could consider it; at a tiny size of 11.6 inches in diameter there’s not much else you can do with it. The moderately high price point coupled with its low level of functionality in my opinion isn't a great combination. For a smaller price you could snag a tablet and a Bluetooth keyboard and accomplish the same things. The 13” model for the Air starts at $1299 – for that price why not get the 13” Macbook pro or something else. To me the Air is just full of hot air.

The last notebook I think students should consider is the brand new 13.3” Asus Zenbook. At a starting price of around $999 it is on the more expensive side but it has more features to show for it. The Zenbook is equipped with a 128GB solid state hard drive double the storage than the base MacBook air. Despite being larger and being made entirely out of metal, the Zenbook is about the same weight and dimensions as the Macbook Air. It uses the same processor as fully upgraded 13” Macbook Air which is another way your money goes farther with the Zenbook. It also has more options for connectivity such as Ethernet, USB 3.0, and an SD card slot as well as a micro HDMI port. The Zenbook is much more functional than the MacBook Air and a better buy overall especially when looking for something extremely portable.

I know a lot of the notebooks I recommended are a tad on the “expensive” side. I’m well aware that you can pick up a laptop for around $500. However, I’m going to stress again that you do get what you pay for. I’m not just saying that, I’m telling you this from experience. I know plenty of people who have been through at least 2 moderately priced laptops ($600-700) and they haven’t even graduated yet. I’m still using the same notebook I got at the start of my 2^nd year (Paid $1200) and it still runs like new.

Anyways, my advice is there and you can take it or leave it. I hope you enjoyed this week’s post. I’d like to hear some your thoughts on these notebooks or your favourite tech gear just put them in the comments below! Look forward to my post next week on the Money-Student relationship! Till next time!

Q/A with former SCHPA president Greg Danko

2011-10-25T10:56:00.005-04:00

"Danko! Danko! Danko!"

Last year, when I joined the UTSC girls hockey team, I constantly heard this name around campus. I had no idea who this "Danko" was, nor what he did or why he was well known. All I knew, if I had any questions about UTSC hockey - talk to Danko.

It wasn't until I introduced myself to him at a practice last year, I found out he's the SCHPA (Scarborough Campus Hockey Players Association) president. As a recent Geography and City Studies graduate, he not only played Tri-Campus hockey for 5 years, but also contributed an immense amount to UTSC and SCHPA - organizing events, recruiting players, fundraising, and probably conquering the world on his free time.

As the assistant coach to the girls hockey team, I sat down with Danko (who's known mostly by his last name) after our practice and talked with him about his past accomplishments and what he's up to since graduation.

How did you get started in UTSC athletics?

I've played hockey since I was eight. I played single A from the age of ten 'till my last year of high school. But, I didn't start playing for my high school team until grade eleven. I thought, man, I should have started playing in grade nine. That was a real eye opener. After high school I thought, I should continue playing hockey. So, when I came to [UTSC], the first week of class I looked on the website how I can try-out for the teams and, first week of school I was at hockey tryouts.

How did get involved the SCHPA?

My very first year of hockey at UTSC there was a guy on the Tri-Campus team, his name was Ryan Parker. He was in his fourth or fifth year. Him and a few other players started the SCHPA as a way to have community between the [boys and girls hockey] teams. Besides practice, you didn’t really see teams that much, and the initial goal of the club was to do pub nights in the attic, fitness classes, and fundraising together.

A year went by and Trevor Robson became president and I became the publicity rep. In my third year, after [Robson] left, there was no one else to take over. I got stuck being president in my fourth year and it went from there.

Last year was my fifth year. I had a lot of time for extra curricular and thought there was an opportunity to do more. As it turns out, I’m studying this at Durham College [at the moment], stuff I literally did for the past two years. I’m studying Sports Business Management. I went from City Studies, to more athletics. I’ve never had an office job - everything I’ve done is sports related. I wanted to see what this was like [as a career].

You've won plenty athletic awards from UTSC, which mean the most to you?

The past two years, I was awarded the Athletic Leadership Award for hockey. I was also inducted into the UTSC Hockey Hall of Fame this past April. I received the Letter Award from the Department of Student Life. That one was big because only 4 graduating students got it that year - it outlines the outstanding contribution and significance into forwarding student involvement on campus.

What has been your biggest accomplishment at UTSC?

Awards were sort of a symbol of the accomplishments. I think bringing [SCHPA] together and seeing new leaders take shape on other teams was the biggest accomplishment. It dawned on me one night. I’m a role model. It took a little bit of process. I didn’t see myself as that. I was just a guy who was bored and wanted to do these things for SCHPA. People really looked up to me and took an interest in what I was doing. Not even that, they are interested in carrying it on.

What advice do you have for students who want to join hockey on campus?

Get involved early. When I started coaching the boys B team, there was a whole group of them that came together, and within 2 years the whole team had graduated. A lot of them didn’t play first year ‘cause they didn't know hockey existed on campus. A lot of these guys regretted it. I say, from the start, get interested. I was active at frosh, recruiting, handing out flyers, wearing jerseys, grabbing players - because that’s how I was recruited. Ryan Parker, the guy who started SCHPA, wasn’t supposed to be [at my frosh], but he stole a table amongst all the clubs. Someone approached me asking if I played sports. When I said yes, they told me to go talk to the guy at the patio:

Parker: Come to hockey tryouts next Tuesday.

Danko: Okay.

Parker: What position do you play?

Danko: Goalie.

Parker: Good. We need goalies.

That's how I got recruited. I want to continue doing that.

I always see you with a UTSC shirt, hat, or track-pant - how many pieces of UTSC clothing do you own?

Upwards, in the neighbourhood of 40 articles of athletic clothing from UTSC. They include tournament T-shirts, interhouse stuff, or SCHPA/SCAA events.

What can you tell us about the upcoming Duck Hunt event?

It's a fun event. Everyone comes out has a great time. DJ MK will be there, he's a UTSC DJ, spinning at the Athletic Banquet and Boat cruise. Tri-Campus boys are a good team this year, they won their first game 8-1. I’m going to bring an Argo horn, some signs, and cowbells. Plus, if you come - you get a free t-shirt!

Another one to add to your collection?

You bet.

ABOUT DUCK-HUNT:

Cheer on the Men's UTSC Tri-Campus team in their game against UTM (admission price: FREE!).

Bus leaves from UTSC Athletics Centre at 7:30 p.m. Friday Oct. 28.
You receive a free duck hunt T-shirt, beverage and popcorn
Game starts at 9 p.m.
Music and give-aways during the game, plus a 50/50 draw.
More info on Duck Hunt, click here.

UTSC’s Den of Horrors (well, not really)

2011-10-25T10:47:00.001-04:00

Clowns, deranged killers, and all things monstrous… this Halloween most people will still choose spiders as the thing they are scared of most.

These creepy crawlies set most people’s teeth on edge, but did you know that a dedicated group of students are researching these eight-legged critters in our very school?

If you haven’t experienced it for yourself, I would highly suggest this absolutely free thrill-ride down in UTSC’s own basement. But be forewarned, the lowest floor of the S-wing houses an arachnophobic's worst nightmare.

This week, I decided to brave my arachnophobia and enter into UTSC’s secret, scientific "den of horrors". Only to run back out screaming (okay, not really).

On hearing about it from a friend, I decided to steel myself and see what really goes on in the land of the white coats and microscopes.

As I walked down the stairs to the first floor of the S-wing, I felt like I was descending the steps towards my own doom. Spiders freak the you-know-what out of me. Actually anything with more than two legs, is a bit of a challenge. And my excursion to the bowels of school didn't leave me disappointed.

I visited Dr. Andrew Mason's research lab. His research hopes to understand the mechanism by which the nervous system controls ongoing activity and how these mechanisms relate to behavioural adaptation, to put it to layman's terms.

His research is similar to Dr. Maydianne Andrade and Dr. Fitzpatrick's research, they use invertebrate organisms such as jumping spiders, katydids, and black widow spiders.

Yes, you read right... black widow spiders... and you thought midterm season was scary.

The lab with hundreds of spiders, including the black widows. We weren't allowed to go in there - not like I had a problem with that!

The lab I visited dealt mainly with orb weaver spiders. Undergraduate students use the spiders as part of their course BIOC99, Biology Team Research, but graduate students also use the lab for their research. Along with the research, they have to feed the spiders and collect the spiders.

Student researcher Aly holds up the orb weaver web for inspection. These spiders make the beautiful, symmetrical webs we see in the summer.


Aly likes long walks on the beach, writing, and feeding and collecting spiders during his free time.


Jimm'ney cricket and his family, ready to be fed to Aragog and his.

Some delicious spider chow. Om nom nom nom!

Fun fact: the students have found over 50 spiders from the green space near the AA building. they also collect at Harbourfront and in the Valley. You might want to think twice about that nice walk down the Valley when it's crawling with ickle spideys!

So with my knees shaking, I entered into the lab and was immediately assaulted by both the smell and the sight. I was greeted by boxes, crates and incubators filled with eight-legged, eight-eyed bloodthirsty monsters (.... monsters that are .00001 times the size of me, but still!)

As I'm writing this, I keep wondering how I didn't pass out. I was twitching at every step during the tour because this is what I saw:

An Argiope aurantia spider, in it's container.

Spiders a la carte!

Chillin' out, maxin', relaxin' all day: arachnid swag.

And if the sight of 100s of spiders isn't enough to make you dizzy, the 100 degree temperature in the lab might just do the trick. The researchers said the sweltering heat provides the spiders with optimal living conditions, but I had a sneaking suspicion it was to freak me out further.

The heat of hell combined with four times the normal amount of eyes and legs? It was a surprise I wasn't bolting out of there after a quick minute. Actually I came quite close when this happened:

Here I am holding a Madagascar beetle... Clearly I'm enjoying it.

But okay, all joking aside, the research is pretty cool! Professor Mason and his team are doing some really interesting things that could have a big impact on our understanding of our lives.

But more than the research itself, what's most interesting is that the lab I visited is only one of many! In fact, there are many other labs down in the dungeons (I say that lovingly and for the sake of alliteration), and that's not even counting the ones placed all around the other campus buildings. Going into the lab really showed me a different side, a cooler side, to research. It's definitely more than just books and memorization.

The student researchers at Dr. Mason's lab are glad to have gotten the opportunity to do the research because it gives students a way to experience science in a really unique way. Instead of reading about it, you're actually doing it!

I didn’t get a chance to feed the tarantula Skittles. He was feeling a little shy. I wonder if it was all the shrieking...

Is my smiling convincing as I stand in my own personal hell?

And while taking care of spiders might not be my cup of tea, it was certainly a very interesting experience! I can't thank the lab students enough for letting me scare the daylights out of myself and learn about some cool research while in the process.

And the best thing? For students looking to get involved with research projects, there are always opportunities to volunteer or become a lab assistant. So if you want to get a taste of terror this Halloween, why not just walk down into the underworld of UTSC’s spider colony. It’ll be well worth the trip!

And while you're taking an on-campus adventure walk, what other places on campus are cool? Are there any other cool research labs at UTSC? Let me know by commenting or tweeting me @rantothezebra!

1 Love UTSC

2011-10-21T17:01:00.010-04:00

Hello, fellow readers! This week's topic is about something near and dear to my heart. It has been central to the last 5 years of my life - it's practically in my blood. It has shaped my future and the person I am today. It has also lead me here - this blog - it has for whatever reason allowed me to write to you every week. If you're still clueless as to what I'm talking about, allow me to enlighten you. I'm talking about UTSC.

Whether you're in your 1st year or 5th year I'm sure you've heard something along the lines of "UTSC sucks", "UTSC is boring, there's nothing to do here", "I hate this place (UTSC), UTSG is so much better" and "I hope my degree doesn't say 'University of Toronto Scarborough' and just says 'University of Toronto'.

I for one, LOVE UTSC - I absolutely ADORE UTSC.

Over my 5 years here I've heard so many people hate on UTSC, for whatever reason, I almost started to believe what they were saying. I did come across students who shared the same love for UTSC as I did, but they were few and far between. As I progressed through my university years I found a few students who actually took pride in being a UTSC student and actually wanted to make UTSC a better place - most of those students have graduated and have gone on to making the world a better place but not without leaving their mark.

Former students like Andre Vash and Nigel D'souza (who arguably have the most love for UTSC) come to mind. They have gone on to create Butterfly Communities a local charity that focuses on local projects in Toronto. Their first and on-going project is a Mornel Court Community Centre refresh which is right near UTSC - talk about mad love for UTSC and the Scarborough community.

Now being in my 5th year, I find it hard to find students who even remotely have the same level of respect, love and pride in UTSC as those students who have gone. I was beginning to lose faith - until October 19th 2011.

October 19th "1loveUTSC" shirts went on sale. 240 tshirts were ordered and they were literally GONE by noon. I didn't even have a chance to get one. I remember seeing masses and masses of students lining up to get one and even more disappointed students not being able to get a shirt in their size or a shirt in general. Students were buying shirts in colours they didn't want and sizes too big for them to wear. It was a pleasant sight to see all those students willing to show their pride for UTSC. Since the sale I have seen a number of students rocking the 1LoveUTSC shirt everyday. I even have recent graduates of UTSC messaging me on Facebook and Twitter asking me if I could get them a shirt. To be honest, I never expected such an out pour of UTSC love from the students - I guess I got proven wrong and I'm kind of glad I did.

If you got one you were one of the lucky ones! However, for those who didn't have the chance to snag the most epic piece of UTSC swag, don't fret! I heard rumours from some well placed sources that there will be another order of shirts!

Do you have pride for UTSC? If so why? If don't tell me why - All in the comment section below! You can now post without a google account which makes things a lot easier! Remember to Subscribe and follow me on twitter @malcolmwong1

How well do you know your university?

2011-10-21T09:22:00.003-04:00

Hey guys, it's Raphael and I'm back with your weekly dosage of cool interesting news.

Confession time! I was never too knowledgeable about the University of Toronto Scarborough, I just knew it as one of the oldest universities in Ontario. I heard rumors that the Science Wing used to be a jail, (something along those lines) but that was pretty much it. Apparently this is only a rumour, it was actually the film Resident Evil: Afterlife that filmed the Meeting Place as a jail!

One day I was bored and began to search the web for blog ideas. Luckily, I stumbled upon this old video on UTSC: http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~advancement/about/timeline.html

Watching this video really took me back, I mean back before I was even born! Did you guys know that our Humanities Wing was made by John Andrews, who also designed the CN tower? Yeah, bet you didn't know that. Not only that but, when it was first opened in 1966, people were amazed by its striking architecture and design.

Yes, it may not look as striking and revolutionary today, or classify as "modern" for most students, but at the time it was built (keep in mind in the 1960s), it was definitely paving the way for the future.

The library opened up in 1982, in memory of Professor Emiritus Vincent W. Bladen (an economics professor), because of the overwhelming response by students to pitch in. (They each paid $10 for 10 years- now THAT's commitment!) It also won the 2008 OAA (Ontario Architect Association) for its contrasting design to the original campus.

In 2002, more than 600 people attended U of T's first ever outdoor movie night for our 125th anniversary celebrations. How cool is that? I would definitely want that to come back again. Imagine, for the 185th anniversary in 2012, watching a movie with your friends! That would not only be historical but an awesome experience, kind of like reliving the 1950s and 1960s. By the way the picture above is not the actual U of T anniversary event, I could not find the actual picture. :(

Here are some notable mentions of some other buildings:

- the hallway of excellence was made in 1995 linking the Bladen Wing with the Humanities Wing (You know the hallway that has an incredible amount of wind that seems to come out of nowhere, making students feel like they are in a runway in a fashion show?)

- the Student Center opened up in 2004 (Yea, not too long ago is it?)

There are also some great new things coming in the near future for UTSC! In 2009, the university was awarded $70 million from Ontario's Economic Action Plan which was used to build the new building you know today; the Instructional Centre, which opened up in 2011. Also in preparation for the Pan Am games in 2015, government funding announces its brand new ($170 million dollar) Athletics Centre at UTSC! For those of you who drive, you probably pass by it all the time. They are already working on it at the intersection of Military Trail and Morningside. This building will have, "two Olympic-sized, 52-metre swimming pools, a 10-metre diving tank, multipurpose gymnasiums, a running track, racquet courts, fitness and training areas."

Wow guys, I don't think I will be at UTSC once this facility opens! :( But those of you in 1st years are lucky you will see the new Athletics Centre.

So next time you walk on campus think of the buildings you are passing by. There is a LOT of history in these buildings and it's far too often that we pass by things without taking the time to appreciate it. I believe that the best way to appreciate the place you live in is by knowing more about it. And if you still can't appreciate the older buildings, then get excited for the new ones coming soon!

Please subscribe to our blog and keep the comments coming, have a great weekend everyone!

Because I'm a boss...

2011-10-20T11:25:00.000-04:00

Hello beautiful readers of this blog! It’s Thursday which means you are currently reading the thoughts of UTSC Pulse Blogger Moiz! Now usually, I’d go on about something I’m passionate for and rant about it but I thought I’d switch it up a little bit and tell you about my very FIRST University Mid-term experience.

I’m sure you all can agree with me when I say that mid-term season is not something we look forward to. I’ve already written 2 mid-terms last week (biology and physics). Let’s go back in time to about two weeks ago… everybody I talked to (and I mean EVERYBODY) was asking me if I started studying and how far I was in my quest to do well for my two midterms. And every time someone would ask, all I would do is make the :/ face and think to myself, “Isn’t the mid-term next week?” Now, I’m the kind of guy that doesn’t really get stressed for anything but seeing everyone stressing and going crazy had me a little bit worried.

A couple days later I decided to start studying (with music of course). I wouldn’t say I procrastinated because I did start studying a couple days before each exam so I’m definitely proud of myself for that accomplishment. The problem was that EVERYTHING was a review of grade 12 stuff! Every time I would read something I’d be like, “Oh, I know that already… pssh (the noise made when one turns the page of a book).” I basically finished studying in record time which did not surprise me at all because I’m a boss. But I felt like it couldn’t be that easy and eventually my conscience forced me to go over my notes one last time!

Fast-forward to exam day. I walk into school and head to the library (which isn’t really a library because it’s probably the loudest place on campus) and everyone in the library had a Biology textbook open beside them! I can’t lie, I did get a little paranoid but I was just like, “Chill Moiz, you got this.” Like a boss.

When exam time came up I walked to the room, I was in (AC 223), and saw even more people freaking out! When I got in the first thing that scared me was the atmosphere, everyone (I am an exception because well… I’m a boss) was dead silent. Then I sat at my seat and realized that we had to write the exam on those little stand things that pop out of the chairs in the big lecture hall. That was probably the worst part. When I put my hand flat on the little desk it covered the whole thing! How am I supposed to write an 8 page exam on that little thing?! Also, the big stopwatch they put up on the projector to countdown the amount of time you have left is so intimidating. It’s like every second gone is time wasted which means you have less time, which means you don’t do as well, which means you get a bad mark, which means you fail in university, which means you fail at life! Okay, I might’ve exaggerated slightly but the clock is definitely intimidating!

Besides those things, my first mid-term was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. One thing I can take out of it is that I need to stay on top of all my work!

That’s all for this week folks. If you have any suggestions for blog idea’s I’d love to hear and possibly write about them! Just leave a comment below or tweet me @MoizMaq! Until our next digital encounter.

Peace and love.

Is my excuse ridiculous enough for you?

2011-10-19T16:18:00.002-04:00

I'd like to dedicate this blog to all the loafers out there (you know who you are).

I thought I'd lighten up the atmosphere, cus you know there's some kids out there crying about their marks and midterms (HA HA).

Here are 10 excuses for not handing in assignments, missing class, or arriving late.

10) I was sick with the Frosh Flu. Even though I'm in third year. (where's your doctor's note bro?).
9) Jaime Foxx said to blame it on the alcohol!
8) I didn't do the assignment because I didn't wanna make my fellow students look bad.
7) I was late to class because there were too many stairs to climb (Yes, I'm talking about SW and HW).
6) I did it, but it was on my memory stick, and I’ve lost/forgot my memory stick.
5) My printer ran out of ink.
4) My computer crashed!
3) I couldn't do the assignment because I didn't have anyone to copy off of.
2) It was on my syllabus?...What's a syllabus?

... READY?!??!?!

1) My "fill-in-the-blank" died...ahem, for the 2nd time this semester...(You gonna send me an invite to the funeral, right?)

Epic Quote of the week:
"Body dies, mind lives forever, so make an impact and make history."
(graffiti found in the girls' bathroom)

Song of the week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zLQ8Qd0J7g

What are some of the creative excuses you've gotten away with? Tweet me at "aisha_says".

I know I usually write more, so sorry I couldn't finish this blog post because....

Instructional class experiment - Part 2

2011-10-18T13:54:00.003-04:00

Mixed emotions of nerves and excitement overwhelmed me as I entered the UTSC dance studio Monday afternoon. I took my first EVER instructional class at UTSC - belly dancing.

The only minuscule knowledge I have of this Middle Eastern tradition is watching any music video by Shakira. I'm truly a rookie when it comes to shaking any sort of body part and keeping a rhythm.

The dance instructor, Zahra, started off with stretches to warm the body. Shaking our legs, moving our hands and arms on a yoga mat, making sure our body was ready for the routine.

Yes. Routine.

She turned on "Tonight I'm Lovin' You" by Enrique Iglesias and said to get into our first position.

F.Y.I - I'm 4 weeks behind the class. I had to catch up to their routine in less then an hour.

Find out my final results in the video below.

Shakira doesn't even know.

Voulez vous couchez avec moi?

2011-10-18T13:49:00.000-04:00

This week, I took our Friday blogger, Raphael’s suggestion to heart and found my way to The Attic for an hour of cat-walking, finger snapping and sashaying!

As I walked in late (I’m a casualty of sleep deprivation during the midterm season), I was faced by a train of lovely ladies singing: Voulez vous couchez avec moi?

Not a bad way to get right into the fold! I decided to wait a few turns and try to watch and learn. As I heard the first strains of Christina Aguilera waft through the speakers, what I saw was...

The girls practicing for their big show!

At first some girls were camera shy, but as the class warmed up so did the atmosphere in the room. I decided to then join in the fun and the instructor Ashwini helped me to match up to the steps. Soon I was making friends with my boa-licious (yes, I just used that word) friends and dancing freely with everyone who smiled my way.

Which was a lot of people… clearly!

We practiced a series of walks, turns, spacing and a combination of simple dance moves. It was really fun and super accessible for a novice dancer such as myself. I did musical theatre in high school and was even involved in the production of Cabaret the play by Kander and Ebb (or more popularly known for the movie with Liza Minelli). It was really fun to get to experience that again, just hang out with girls and dance the stress away - especially at this time of year!

Star choreographer, Ashwini Prakash, strikes a pose with her troupe of stellar dancers!

It was a great way to unwind and exercise (without-really-exercising). Dancing to Lady Marmalade and making your way across a checkered floor never feels like work anyway!

Come join the fun on Monday 11a.m. - 12p.m.!

I had a great time glamming it up with the girls at the Cabaret classes. The coordinators at the Women’s Centre were really good at accommodating me on short notice and the class was really fun and very easy to join in on. The instructor Ashwini was more than helpful in getting my steps right and at the end of the class I could perform the entire routine without a hitch!

They are always looking for more people so if any of you readers want to get involved in the future, rehearsals will involve pink glittery heels and feather boas and costumes!

And best of all? It’s guy-friendly too!

The ladies are looking for one lucky guy to be a part of their performance. For those with two left-feet, don’t worry, there won't be any dancing. But let’s just say lipstick will be involved and you will be the centre of attention. Pucker up! ;)

The women’s centre will also be holding an anti-pageant (where these lovely ladies will be performing!) and you can check out their blog at: http://utscwomenscentre.blogspot.com/

What should I do next? Comment on this post or tweet me at @rantothezebra to send your suggestions. Will you be checking out the Cabaret workshop? Submit pictures of your cool activities on campus!

Too much Studying? Need a break from it all? Come to the Attic!

2011-10-14T12:20:00.000-04:00

So right now everyone is in Panic Mode. Midterms are happening and for some of you, it may be the first midterm of your university life. For the veterans, you guys already know that midterms are very stressful and with all the chaos of trying to finish last minute assignments, or doing some last minute studying - we all could use some break from it all. I know I've been there, and I am still in that panic mode. But whenever I feel like unwinding or releasing all of my stress from studying, I come to a special place on campus that relaxes my nerves and gives me a well deserved break.
Let me introduce to you the Attic! (Which is located on the third floor of the Athletics Center).

Now you are going to tell me, "Ugh, Raphael the Attic? Really? Doesn't really make me feel welcome." Trust me, the name does not actually mean "an old attic". It is not a cold empty room with rats scurrying about. It's more like a room with many ping-pong tables and couches for students to sit, sleep, or study.

I still remember coming in this room for the first time, in my first year, astounded that the place was packed! (It was during the first few weeks of school). There were groups of people playing table tennis, and at the time I was pretty good at ping-pong, so I was excited. I had that feeling that "I belong here," that this was going to be a spot that I will come back to. I was reassured at the moment I picked up the paddle, all my anxieties of being a freshman in first year suddenly disappeared. From the first moment that I served that ping-pong ball, I was hooked on playing.

Maybe most of you don't know how to play ping-pong, but I for one can safely say that as long as you have the desire to play, you will get better. I actually taught one of my good friends how to play the sport - whom I met in the Attic, at first clueless about the sport- now likes it and plays it whenever he can.

It's not just the ping pong either. The very first time I played in the Attic, it was only with a few personal friends. I was comfortable playing with them because I knew none of them were at the same level as me. Once I started to get better and better, I started playing other people, and was reminded that I still have a long way to go. Although I lost to many good players, I had fun. Just seeing other students in the same program as you are, and playing a friendly game of ping-pong, is a getaway from the stressful competitive life of a student.

Interesting story about the Attic, during the 80s and 90s it used to have a bar (it still does) and it was a spot where students can drink and just hang out.

Me and friends playing a friendly game of ping-pong. (I am actually at the back eating as I watch them play). This photo was taken in 2009, first year for all four of us. Photo courtesy by Emily Panetta.

Trust me, if you want to learn a new sport - try ping pong - and for those who think ping pong is not a sport, I suggest you try it first, you will get a workout after a few minutes (mostly from picking up the ball). Whether you are a beginner, an expert, or just tired and want to watch a couple of matches before your bus comes, come to the Attic! I hope to see you all there! Game on!

Follow me on Twitter: @RaphaelSantiag5, and follow our @utsc_pulse , for daily announcements of student life at UTSC! Comment and Subscribe!

University's Hidden Classroom

2011-10-13T23:21:00.005-04:00

Welcome back readers! I hope midterm season is treating you well! Midterm season is a fantastic contrast and backdrop to this week's topic of discussion - university's hidden classroom.

Let's face it, all of us came to university for one reason and one reason only - to get a degree. Yes, you came here to do something most students hate to do and that's STUDY. Worst part of it all is that you're paying to do something you don't really want to do, all in the name of getting that name brand degree. As sad as this may seem, there is another side to university education and the grass is definitely greener.

Contrary to popular belief, university is not all about studying and memorizing textbooks. I believe the main goal of university is to broaden one's horizons and studying is just one way to do that. The university experience is really organic in the way it seems to naturally push students to experience new things and awaken their passions. I honestly believe it takes more effort sheltering yourself from this side of university education than to embrace it.

I can confidently say that most of my learning has taken place outside of the classroom; it's come from this "other side" of my university experience. To illustrate the importance of embracing this "other side" I will use myself as an example. I'm a naturally social person and I like meeting people. I turned this like into a learning and growth experience by getting involved in opportunities that allow me to do what comes naturally and turn it into something I love. There are many things that I could have gotten involved in but I chose marketing and event planning in the end. Despite my double major in English & Psychology I am now actively pursuing a career in Social Media and Advertising while being involved in an upcoming event services company. All the skills and knowledge that allow me to do this I gained from my extracurricular activities and not from my textbooks.

With that said, I see university as an adventure because you never know where it will take you - sure it's great to have everything planned out and I bet some of you do, but if you don't that's okay. You can't learn everything out of a textbook, most things are learned from experience and trying new things. I'm not saying you HAVE to get involved in school - I'm saying you should be involved in something outside your textbooks. In my experience finding a creative outlet for your passions helps keep some perspective on the world while leading you to some interesting places.

If you're looking for suggestions on where to start I suggest finding a campus club or interest group that suits what you like or something that you think you want to try. Don't be afraid to try new things! I guarantee you there is something for any type of interest on this campus - everything from a plethora of musical interest groups (bands, jam sessions, DJ-ing, music appreciation clubs) to a group dedicated to jump over things and climbing walls in the form of the Parkour Club. There are plenty of opportunities on campus to try something new or even take some leadership - trust me, do it and you won't look back.

Tell me what you think! - do you agree with me about the importance of learning outside the classroom or do you think you should just study hard and all of the extra stuff does nothing for you? Tell me what you think in the comments below and don't forget to subscribe and follow me on Twitter @malcolmwong1

Eating Healthy, Living Healthy.

2011-10-12T23:06:00.000-04:00

What’s good readers? It’s Moiz coming at you again on this fine fall Thursday. I’ll get right into the topic of discussion this week!

As you all know, this past weekend was Thanksgiving weekend. This for me personally meant three things; food, an extra day off, and more food! I’m sure many of you were thinking the same thing as last week came to an end, and I can’t blame you. The long weekend was basically our reading week at UTSC and most of us used it to relax and forget about work and everything related to it! Now, this post isn’t meant to make you feel guilty about taking in a few or a lot of extra calories, not at all! I’m just bringing this up because it is what inspired me to write this week’s post about eating healthy and in general, just living a healthy lifestyle.

In the life of a University student, eating healthy is usually not a priority because essentially, we have no time to think about what we are eating and/or what we should be eating. Usually, our schedules give us about an hour for lunch and sometimes the same for dinner. Most people at UTSC would probably choose the ever-so-popular Tim Horton’s, or another fast food restaurant. to grab a bite and that would ultimately be their meal for that time.

I’ve narrowed down the reasons why students are so attracted to these kinds of foods to 3 basic explanations: it’s cheap, it’s made fast, and it tastes great! The food being cheap is an obvious pro for students because well… we’re students! Food being prepared and served quickly is also a pro because anything that takes too long might get in the way of something else we have scheduled and most people aren’t able to deal with that. Knowing why and how we neglect our health is an important step in the process of ultimately improving it.

Take a second to think about your daily diet and what’s missing from it. Are you getting enough servings of fruits and vegetables throughout the day? Are you taking in enough healthy calories to last you a day? Eating healthy is just the first step in the process of living a healthy life. I can’t really give professional advice on this subject but I can give advice from the prospective of a fellow student.

What is the best way to live your life? Objectively, we know what’s going into our bodies. We know all the chemicals that are in foods that we buy and in the foods that we eat. We know that we need to take in more vitamins and take in less fat. We know all these things, yet we choose to not change them. The right path to being a happy and healthy person is to do everything that we already know we should do. Take care of your body. Take care of your mind. Learn to manage stress. These are all things that we KNOW. If someone came up to me and asked me to help them improve their lifestyle, I would tell them to go on a diet. I don’t mean a diet to lose weight; I mean a diet to get healthy foods in their system. I’d tell them to eat lots of vegetables, a lot of good quality proteins, and drink a lot of water. Just doing this alone will give the person a feeling of how the body feels when it’s flowing in a more natural, less tense state. That would be step one, just eating healthier and giving your body a chance to recover. Step two would simply be to smile more. Smile to everyone, makes them smile back. Too many people overlook this step. If there is an easy way to make yourself or the people around you feel better, it is to smile. In my books these two steps would be the base of the process of improving one’s lifestyle.

Tips to healthier living/eating:

Try to eat at least one homemade meal a day.

Always have breakfast (helps resist the urge to snack on unhealthy snacks and keeps you energized)

If you have a spare hour or two, go visit the gym! (The weight room and the basketball gym is usually always open between 7am and 10:30pm every day!)

Visit the Health and Wellness Centre in the Student Centre- There is a “Learn to Meal Plan” workshop happening on the 27^th and 28^th of this October! The workshop is a place where you can talk to a peer educator and they help you make a custom meal plan for a week based on your needs and by using Canada’s Food Guide!

If you guys have any tips to add or have a different perspective on what leads to a better life in general, I’m curious to know! Just leave it in the comment box below and I’ll be sure to reply ASAP. Until next week readers!

Peace and Love.

Moiz Maqsood

Last Night

2011-10-12T15:33:00.001-04:00

Last night, I was at the place to be. I was at Ryerson University, attending the launch of the 4th issue of AQSAzine. Never attended before I was kinda nervous, and then I remembered all the stuff I was doing for the event

Your's Truly was...
Moderating a discussion panel
Performing
Crackin' jokes
Entertaining and hitting on the guest ;)

"AQSAzine (est. 2007) is a Toronto-based grassroots arts collective by and for young women and trans people who self-identify as Muslim. Our main project is the creation of a bi-annual zine of our writing, art, activism entitled AQSAzine. This zine is a creative avenue for young Muslim women and trans people to express ourselves, share our experiences and connect with others. We strive to work from an explicit anti oppressive, pro-choice, queer positive & trans positive framework." (AQSAzine offfical website)

To me AQSAzine is being able to share myself with the world, and not feel bad about it, to say and do things that I want. For me AQSAzine means being the person I wanted to be when everyone was telling me NOT to be that person. I could go on and on about how wonder and amazing AQSAzine is and all the great work they do but I just couldn't summarize their awesomeness and epicness because it's endless.

Just because I'm not involved on campus activity doesn't mean I'm not involved.
I take every chance I get to be involved in my community. This first semester I just wanna get the hang of things and find my place. It's like starting high school all over again, except more homework and less of.... that.

My goals for NEXT semester:
-Join ONE club
-Attend one on campus activity
-Sell all my old textbooks (TUSBE!)
-Volunteer on campus

Good luck and Good Night!
E.A.P

Instructional class experiment - Part I

2011-10-11T09:50:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone!

Hope you had a relaxing long weekend. I’m going to keep it short and sweet this week. This post is part I of II – next week will be a continuation of an adventure you get to choose for me.

What kind of adventure?

I’m glad you asked.

The amount of holiday food I consumed this weekend is chart topping. I NEED to burn off the turkey sweats. Lucky for me (and you) the Athletic Centre offers a variety of activities to choose from, ESPECIALLY with their instructional classes. Anyone who’s a student can participate in activities such as:

Archery, athletic conditioning, athletic yoga, belly dancing, Bollywood boogie, cyclefit fitness, kickboxing, golf, hip hop, karate, kung fu, latin dance, lyrical jazz, muay thai, new modern contemporary, pilates, squash, table tennis, tae kwon do, women on weights, and yoga.

I’ve never taken any of these sessions at UTSC (or ever for that matter). For the sake of trying something new, and for your entertainment, YOU, the readers, get to choose which class you want to see me take.

Next week I’ll have a detailed report with video footage, as well as a high possibility of embarrassing myself. COMMENT below or tweet me at @Jessica_Moy on which class you’d like to see me take.

These are the choices you get to choose from:

Archery
Belly Dancing
Fitness Kickboxing
Golf
Hip Hop
Karate
Squash
Tae Kwon Do

For the record, I can’t dance. If I were to participate in belly dancing or hip hop, you'll see flailing limbs at its finest. Also, the last time I golfed, this happened...

But, I'll do it all for you.

If you guys want to join me, I’ll let you know ASAP which class I’m going to take. If you're interested in signing up for any of them, you can do so at the Athletic Service Counter or online.

For more about these activities, such as dates and costs, information can be found on the Athletics website: http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~athletics/instructionalclasses.html

How to Beat the Exam Season Blues!

2011-10-10T23:05:00.000-04:00

Congratulations, you’ve all made it through the first month of school!

But if you’re like me, you’re far from celebrating! Every October, I drown in my pile of assignments and readings and try to get my hands on a Time-Turner! …I also do my annual Fall read-through of the Harry Potter series, but that’s another blog post entirely.

Why, I ask you, WHYYY!?

Right after Turkey Day, things tend to take a turn for the stressful – am I right? Midterms are approaching, assignments deadlines sneak up on you and you’re just left gasping for air. You might even want to cry, hide or lose your mind.

So as the leaves turn, so do the pages in my textbook. But all I’ve really absorbed is the fact that I am not alone in this. I can guarantee everyone feels the squeeze this time of year. It got me thinking: however did I do this for four semesters now!? So I decided to write into the blank page of my exam prep notebook some reflections on how to survive this semester:

Embrace the spirit and be thankful:

Thanksgiving, regardless of whether you celebrate it or not, is a great excuse to take a minute and be grateful. There are harder things than being knee-deep in the land of academia. I always try to look to the positive side of things, so here are just a few things you can be thankful for this time of year:

Cheer up, you can now have that’s study date with that cute guy/girl you’ve been eyeing in class all semester.
You can snack on all the Tim Horton’s and junk food you want.
You have an excuse to bring out your sweats and hoodies, because there is no better comfort than sloppy dressing during exam season.
Every time you party, you can party hard and say: “This is the only time I get off from studying”.

Look forward to upcoming events:

Halloween (my favourite holiday of the year) is just around the corner. Think of all the fun costumes, relaxing party nights and all-you-can-drink Jello shots to be had. Also, look for events on campus! There are always interesting things happening just a few footsteps away from your study cubicle, if you only keep your eyes and ears open. I like to work on the back rewards system. There are only so many days until the holidays, until a mini-reading week, until family visits, until Halloween, etc. As the numbers get smaller and smaller as the list progresses, time seems really trivial.

Relax and get active:

I combine both those things in yoga (every Tuesday, 11am-12pm in the Teaching studio!). You can always say you don’t have enough time for the gym, but we all know that your five hours playing Super Mario Bros could have been spent sweating out your stress. And added bonus, you get to look great for the upcoming holiday season.

Indulge in study breaks:

This for me comes in the form of naps, Tuesday movies (it’s so cheap!), and catching up with friends. These are all better options than the dreaded land of procrastination. If “due tomorrow, do tomorrow” is your motto, you need to avoid this tip altogether. But for those studious students who need a break, make the best of it!

Do non-school things, in school:

Join a club or a campus group that you connect with. You’ll be in school but you’ll be having fun, and that in and of itself will improve your mood greatly! So once you’ve regained some of your chutzpah from mingling with like-minded individuals, you can get back into study mode! Also, your best weapon to beat the exam blues? A smile :) It doesn’t hurt and it makes you look waaaaay better.

We were the cool kids in high school, ahem. "Nerd Squad"

Make studying fun!

Why not colour code your notes and brighten up your study session? Why not design a rewards system for yourself as you study? One chapter equals one 5 minute conversation. Or you can get really creative, like I did, and even create your own study gear:

I might be preaching to the choir here, but the most important lesson I’ve learned from my two years at university is: it’s always better sooner rather than later – for everything. If you have a co-op job application due tomorrow, do it today. Got that essay due in a week? Start now. Time is your best friend and your enemy when you don’t have enough of it.

But I do understand. Giving tips is easy, it’s following them (even when they’re your own) that’s hard. So all I can do is wish you good luck and remind you that somewhere over the rainbow lies your university degree.

And even after two years, I’m still completely lost when it comes to the world of university. But hopefully some of what I have learned can help some of you as well (especially if this is your first time of the merry go-round)!

What are some of the ways you all deal with the stresses of school? Leave a comment below and share your tips! Also, if you want to see how I deal with my stresses, follow me @rantothezebra.

In the meantime, use this old adage to your advantage: when the going gets tough, the tough get going!

Until next week, later days!

Ranziba

Rex's Den: Past, Present & Future

2011-10-07T12:08:00.006-04:00

Hi! My name is Malcolm Wong and I am currently in my fifth year at UTSC. Instead of telling you a long-winded albeit true story of how I became what I am today and why. I'm going to keep my mini-autobiography short and sweet. Basically all you need to know is that I am a huge proponent of Campus Life and seeking the ultimate university experience. I’ve been termed a social butterfly and loved being engaged in people and the community. If you want to know more about me or have the latest updates follow me @malcolmwong1 on twitter! Each week you can expect a post about my own personal experience and insights to the university experience and campus life.

The Bluffs. Most of you are thinking "what?" - I assure you I'm a professional and I know what I'm doing. It was the name of our campus restaurant before it closed and reopened as Rex's Den. The Bluffs is a name that only a few students even remember and fewer remember actually eating there. There were 3 things that stood out about the Bluffs - The emptiness, the not-so-student-friendly prices and the food. Getting a table at the bluffs was never a difficult task as the restaurant was usually empty and sitting there was free - although eating there was another story. If you were willing to spend the money you got a very good meal. When I say "a very good meal" I really mean the food was divine. Despite the great food, it failed to attract students which led to its demise.

When the restaurant was reopened under the name Rex's Den it only did slightly better than the Bluffs because of the lower prices despite the drop in food quality, poor customer service and the lack of alcohol. Needless to say Rex's Den was a work in progress and it very much still is. I can still remember a time when Rex's Den was just another food option on campus if you were tired of eating Subway.

I give a lot of credit to the Rex's Den managers, the past Vice-President Campus Life Matthew Zajch and other student leaders for really working hard on promoting and changing students’ impressions and attitudes towards the restaurant. I really believe if it wasn't for their hard work Rex's Den wouldn't be what it is today. With the addition of pool tables, beer on tap, cheaper prices and better food quality Rex's Den has come a long way from the dismal years as the Bluffs.

Now, I wouldn’t go ahead and say that Rex’s Den is not a bona fide student hangout or a hub of student activity nor would I say that it’s “just another food option”. I’d say it’s in transition from the latter. There are many problems that plague Rex’s Den from completing the transition. For instance, the service in a word-- sucks. The kitchen is slow and the wait staff is inattentive at best. I’ve seen students leaving the restaurant in frustration after 40-60 minutes because their food hasn’t arrived or contemplating dining and dashing because they’ve been waiting 30 minutes for their bills (I’ve personally experienced this).

Please note: I’m not a hater – I’m just calling as I see it. I do give credit to the Rex’s Den for recognizing this problem and working hard to remedy the situation through hiring more staff for the back of house and the front. Despite their hard work, it's true what they say: You only get one chance to make a first impression. But don’t despair Rex – people love a rise to glory more than a first impression!

Let me end of this post by saying that Rex’s Den has come a long way but still has a ways to go. With its redeeming qualities such as free pool, fresh delicious food in a generous quantity and an average bill of $7, Rex’s Den is well on its way to becoming the place to be on campus and not just another food option. Not to mention the variety of daily specials and special events by students that take place at Rex’s Den. It is because of these qualities that I find myself at Rex’s Den everyday – literally, just ask the staff. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself there more and more as the school year progresses.

In the comment section below let me know your thoughts, experience at Rex’s Den or things you would like to see at YOUR campus pub. Also, don’t forget to subscribe and follow @malcolmwong1 on twitter!

Need somewhere to study on campus? Tips, tips!

2011-10-07T09:18:00.002-04:00

Yes it is finally here! It's Friday! Hello everyone my name is Raphael and I am the fifth member of this PULSE blog team here in UTSC. Get HYPE! Do you guys realize that this is the first ever official team of bloggers here in UTSC? Yes, you can tell I am really excited about it, it's a start of a new generation!

Ok, before I start my blog let me introduce myself a little bit first. Yes, my name is Raphael, no-- not the ninja turtle, or the Archangel, or the famous painter (but if it helps, you can think of me as all three!). I am currently in 3rd year doing a double major in Economics and English, and I am very passionate about a lot of things - one of those things is blogging.

Ok, let's just get right into it, I know it's Friday and you all are ready to relax for the weekend, but I just have to address this issue that we have in our school- lack of study space. So let me ask this, how many times have you wanted to study at the library but couldn't find study space? Isn't that so frustrating? I know as a student I shouldn't have to think about "Where can I find a place to study?" But the fact of the matter is, we have too many students, at the same place and, at the same time. So my duty for this week was to find so called "Secret Spaces" where I would be able to give you guys - the readers, study spots that you may not really know about.

I embarked on this adventure, a quest to find the holy grail. It is upsetting for me to say but I have came up empty handed. The thing is there are no "secret spaces" here at UTSC, just underused buildings and classrooms. Let me give you an example - If I asked you where the Management wing is where would you point? If you are a first year student- most likely you will point to the new IC building. That is partially right, but the building I was talking about was the old Management wing- the building that is the complete opposite side of the IC.

This often overlooked building still offers a decent amount of space to study. When the library is full (and it usually is), come and check out the old Management wing and grab a study room with a group of friends. More often than not, it is empty, the only downside to studying here is it is the furthest away from food and civilization (just joking). But this building is great if you can snag a spot as it is fairly quiet (compared to our library) and pretty far away from other buildings which makes it great for studying (with minimal distractions).

Here is another great study space that you guys may not know about. Do you know where this is? It is BV498, a computer lab in the Bladen Wing. If all the computers in the library are full, just come to the fourth floor of the Bladen Wing! Chances are you will be able to find a computer to read up on lecture notes (or watch your favourite TV show). Just remember to check the Class schedule before entering a room, as you may walk in during a lecture. (oh, and you can print here too.)

Alright, lets do one more. This last one is a last resort move. I know that during some days, both the old Management wing and the Bladen wing are full too. Not a problem! Did you know that the Humanities Wing offers many classrooms that are not being used during the day? Just remember this rule: *empty classroom = study space* Just check the classroom schedule when classes start and end so you get disturbed by a class while studying.

These are the three main study spaces you can use while studying in school. My goal is to help those who are unfamiliar with the school and share my experiences with you guys - the readers. Hopefully all of you learned about a new study space you may not have known before, or at least start thinking about using empty classrooms as a place to do work in. I know it is still Friday, and you don't want to start thinking about studying until Monday. But midterms are just around the corner so get ready, get set, and Go!

Before I end this blog, if you guys have any suggestions on study spaces I may have missed, leave a comment below. I will happily respond to any feedback on the topic, the blog, or the PULSE team overall. Before I go, I have a question for you guys: If you were to choose, which building (out of the entire campus) do you like the most?