Residence Lottery Results

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Samantha B
Around campus, in the dorms, on the buses – all people are talking about are the results of the residence lottery. It is well known that here at UBC, first year students are guaranteed a place in residence – it’s a nice, secure feeling, as a freshman coming in.  However, once first year is over, [...]
Posted in Campus Life, housing, lottery, off campus, residence | Comments Off

Course Update (POLI 328A, PHIL 449A, POLI 308A, BIOL 344)

Posted on February 10, 2012 by miriam

A good ol’ traditional course update, instead of so many more important things I could be blogging about:

POLI 328A (The Comparative Politics of Immigration):
Cool fact I learned this week: While the U.S.A. has judicially protected the right of illegal immigrants to certain benefits on the basis of equality of person, Germany has judicially protected it on the basis of personal freedom (Joppke, 2001). Fascinating twist!
I really felt I should take this class, after having travelled to Paris to talk about youth immigration.  I am not disappointed.  The professor is simply a classic, the political science journals are interesting and easy  reads, and the documentaries in class are poignant.  I couldn’t make the Meet & Greet for the Community Service Learning component (volunteering with an immigrant organization), so I couldn’t do it, but otherwise…good course.  Also, obvious pro-immigration slant.

PHIL 449A (Continental Philosophy—Foucault, Feminist, and Queer Theory):
Cool fact I learned this week: Hmmm, I’m not sure you could call it a fact, but the transcendent, rational subject of Enlightenment may of necessity of its being, imply the existence of the Other (Hartsock, 1990).
 This course is both the bane and reason for my existence at this moment in time.  I am so, so glad I am reading continential philosophy after all of that analytic soul-draining.  To read a text open to various interpretations, can you believe it?—like a novel!  And I feel like I’m learning so much about Foucault and his perspective on power, truth, society, sexuality, ahhhhhghghghg so good, so very relevant, and with a fantastic professor. For those of you following me on Facebook, yes, this is the one strangely populated by, like, 15 men and 3 women.  Anyway, it’s also the bane of my existence because it requires thought, and work.  And I’ve been lazy recently.  And preoccupied.  OCCUPY MIRIAM! WITH THAT DISTRACTING THING CALLED LIFE.

POLI 308A (Topics in Canadian Politics—Public Opinion, Polling, and Survey Research):
Cool fact I learned this week:  Apparently, we have no empirical clue why Ontarian Catholics and non-European Canadians support(ed) the Liberals so much.
So what I’m noticing, and not liking, about my political science courses is that it’s just so…fact-based.  I mean that in the sense that it’s descriptive and we rarely think normatively about politics (it’s implied, of course, that genocide in Rwanda is horrible, but all we ever talk about are the functionings of international policy with sad faces, at most.)  I’m still not convinced that political science should be done as a science, (which is quite essential to this course…and my RA work position, moohahah), but I’m taking this course anyway so as to digest my understanding of polling better.  Professor is all about the application of theories–a treat.  Class discussion is in small groups,which I much prefer.  Overall, I’m happy with it and YOU CAN TOO.

BIOL 344 (Human Heredity and Evolution):
Cool fact I learned this week: Can’t think of anything cool…
This course is supposed to be the equivalent to BIOL 121.  But for upper students in the Faculty of Arts.  Yeah.  To be honest, I cannot give a fair review of this because, while I’m currently attending each and every class (those 4-5 hours could definitely be cut to 1.5), I have not at all being doing the homework or attentively following along.  No, it’s not because it’s hard, but because it’s so logically straightforward and easy that I intend to get it all done during reading break.  Anyway, we’re only covering heredity, so it’s all chromosome this, genetic pedigree that, please-don’t-try-to-start-a-class-discussion-on-the-genetics-of-intelligence-omg-seriously-no-why-is-this-happening, and also running from my POLI class in the University Centre next to the Rose Garden all the way to the BIOL tutorial in the Engineering building.  The professor is a really cool guy, though, and I won the course package for free from him.  I’d recommend him.

Speaking of mandatory science credits for Arts students, let’s get rid of them.  The reality is that they cost me $921.62 and I, personally, have not found the benefits to outweigh the costs; I have barely learned a thing (including in ASIC 200)—I learn much more cruising TED Talk videos; I have not gleaned new perspective on the world because I have access to scientific thought through other mediums; and I highly doubt the value of a B.A. is increased by taking two unsubstantial courses—if you want a well-rounded person, look at extra-curriculars, not courses that all Arts students been forced to take.

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Welcome death like an old friend and you’ll be fine.

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Rabi

It is a fact that the new of the passing away of the man in the SUB is spreading rapidly. To me he was always known as “that guy who sits in the chair in the SUB”. It wasn’t up until I found out about the news of his passing that I learned what his name was (might be). It is, dare I say tragic, to learn of his passing but then it is also curious. It is curious to read all the comments regarding his death. It is curious that his death has impacted not only those who talked with him, but those who never did. It is curious that not all that much is known about him. It is curious that he read and sat in the same chair for so many years. It is curious…well everything about all this is curious.

All this eerily reminds me of a previous experience (in a good way though). There always was longing to go and talk to him (and possibly take his photo, what? I like photos) and I wouldn’t be the first one to admit regret over not doing so. It seems that his passing is a shock (of various degrees) to many at UBC. Logically speaking, it really shouldn’t be such a shock. People die/pass away all the time, strangers, friends, family, and acquaintances. Even then though, the feeling from the knowledge that we won’t be able to see this silent man again is…peculiar. Future UBC students may only hear of him in passing or his memory may end up becoming a story.

In a way, he was more than just a person sitting in a chair, reading a book. For anyone who came to UBC on a regular basis (and especially the SUB for that matter) he may have represented a sort of consistency. Seasons change, courses change, faculties change, servers change, friends change. As people, we’re all stubborn towards change (think of Facebook style changes), some more than others. Among all the mid-terms, social conflicts, renovations, and graduations he was generally there; his chair was always there. Day or night, I can’t even count how many times I may have walked by him. I can say that he may have represented one of the many anchors that keep us from drifting to and getting lost in open waters. For those of us who noticed, he may have been an uncomfortable sight, a familiar sight, a curiosity, a quirky secret of UBC, or a mysterious person who was just there. He could have been just about anything for anyone. Or he could have just represented nothing at all. Perhaps it is just the silence and mystery of his past that makes him so memorable. Whatever he represented, he was a part of the UBC campus for many students and staff both past and present.

 

Credits to Miya Gu

Let no one weep for me, or celebrate my funeral with mourning; for I still live, as I pass to and fro through the mouths of men.
-Quintus Ennius

It’s curious that I have been affected enough to go visit that chair tomorrow and visit I shall. There are already many flowers and cards, my own share shall join it soon. It would be very curious indeed if nothing was made in his memory. I do hope UBC or its students puts that into consideration.

With credits to the UBC Campus Security Facebook page


Posted in 2nd year blogs, Chair, Curious, Death, Random Thoughts, SUB, Trevor, UBC, University related! | Comments Off

LMAO

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Kelvin Choi

The website for MUG Leader applications CRASHED yesterday due to the overwhelming number of applications done in the last minute! Haha I was once guilty of that too… But the good news is that the application deadline is extended till tonight at 11:59 PM for those people who couldn’t apply in the end. Apply here: http://www.involvement.ubc.ca/2012-student-leader-opportunities/
HURRY. Training and selection for the war against freshmen starts very soon…

 

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Warm Weather = Longboarding

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Harriet
After what seemed like days and days on end of rain and dreary weather, the sun finally emerged from the clouds on Tuesday for a glorious day. Finally, we are able to catch the last rays after we leave our … Continue reading →
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Update: TEDxTerry talks

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Tyler
Another update (finally) for the 2011 TEDxTerry talks videos. In addition to the two posted in December, here’s three more!
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Update

Posted on February 8, 2012 by binta

Hello everyone!

 

It has been too long since I’ve blogged, and a lot has happened since Jan 8 2011, wow it’s actually exactly a month since I’ve last blogged.  Ok first of all I changed my schedule around, I am no longer pursuing computer science.  It was around 2 weeks into the course, and I just felt so lost.  The thing that irked me the most is when someone would ask a question using terminology (not taught yet) and discussing things that went far beyond the realm of the course.  I feel bad enough that I can’t get everything as fast as I’d like to, and I think I got over the fact that so many people in that class had programming experience, but I think the professor tended to them more than he did those that had no experience whatsoever.  It didn’t feel like a beginner course for me, and after spending DAYS studying, and still not getting WEEK1/2 stuff, I already knew it was…my time to head on to ssc, click that tab that says registration, click that tab that says Add/Drop courses, and GET OUT OF CPSC110.  My dad is a computer scientist/programmer and I got him to help me but it wasnt enough, to get through this class Id need him daily.  And I thought it’d be teaching intro Java with a textbook, but its changed completely now they’re not really teaching a specific language, but …I won’t even go into it, its too messy for me.

NOW..

Onto classes I’m actually taking.   I decided to stick with the Combined Major in Science, but switch from cpsc to eosc, and i’d only need to take 3 eosc courses to satisfy that portion of my major.  I feel like im constantly switching, but this is safe, and it’s about the most flexible major at UBC, well after Integrated Sciences I think.  I think having more control, and choice with my courses is what I need.  I’ve had two midterms back to back, and one on Sunday(online course) and I can honestly say I’ve slept a lot this week, and I felt good/decent about both, and this doesnt happen to me ever, so this major is probably what I should have done to begin with, Biol 204 will be my biggest regret at UBC i’m sure.  I will give a quick update about each course

Eosc 326

This is one of the eosc courses I must take as part of my combined major, I actually had a wide selection, I only take 3 courses, and this is 1/3 of them.  It’s an online course, I came in about 2 weeks late and had a midterm & lab the following week (together 25%), so I definitely buckled down, and while I gave it a lot of time, I can tell this isn’t a class that can get to be too much to handle.  I’ve done really well on everything so far, my midterm was my highest midterm ever at UBC tied with Chem 123, and my lab was great as well.  Hope to continue, didn’t expect this class to be a GPA booster..but it just might be :)

Ihhs 200

I’ve been very sick, so I missed some classes, but so far the professor is still great!  I actually just signed up for UBC Trek Reading Week Program, the orientation is Saturday, but it will be my volunteering that I’m doing for this course.  You can replace a midterm and report with volunteering, so I can’t be mad at that!  The final should be straight forward, and I have to start focusing more in this course!

Chem 205

OMG why didn’t I make a separate post about this course!  I feel like this is about to be a longggg paragraph.  So i’m about to go in on pretty much the whole department thats in Chem 205.  FIRST OF ALL:  Why were you guys unable to send a MASS email that SIMPLY STATED what was on the midterm, what the cutoff was, and what we weren’t responsible for.  Though it’s a section wide midterm, people were being told different things.  We were assigned problem sets, but there were apparent questions that we weren’t responsible for.  The discussion board was MASS confusion, every time I went on it, it was something new.  ”OK …umm my prof said we are responsible for Clapeyron”…oh really “my prof said not to worry about it too much”…ok.. “my prof said we arent responsible for some problem set 2 questions” SO THE DISCUSSION BOARD WAS PRETTY MUCH A GIANT HEADACHE.  It’s crunch time, and these kind of trivial matters are just annoying.  When I was studying for the midterm I looked and looked for practice/old midterms, but there were NONE.  If I had JUST ONE I know for sure, I would have done way better because I’d know the format, and get all the little tricky things.. especially in a course like chem 205, once you know the tricks, and your good with equations, your solid.  Nonetheless, I can’t say that I’ve ever been as ‘nonchalant’ about a midterm as I was for this.  Like I didn’t read the webtext..ever..because all those derivatives were too intimidating, so I spent the week prior to the midterm reading/taking notes, but it wasn’t like I was going hardcore.  Fact of the matter is…I know how I am, finals schedules came out, and I will have time for this final.  Its 70%, and 15% are quizzes with TWO attempts :D  Meaning you can pretty much get perfect every time.  In the grand scheme of things getting an 80 or a 90, or getting a 70 or a 80 is not too big of a deal in the grand scheme.  If I could learn half of Chem 233 in 3 days and beast my final…4 days for Chem 205 should be fine, that 15% on quizzes doesn’t hurt either.

Biol 201

Okay, so this course has taken a “backseat” this week(and last week) because I have other courses with midterms, but I think my prof Bingle has so much swag for a prof! Haha he’s not my favorite prof at UBC, but he has this chill vibe, where it’s like hes very comfortable with the material, so it makes YOU feel comfortable with the material, he teaches so well without even trying!  I’ve went to other sections, and they may have more clickers, or whatnot, but he is just so chill, and explains complicated things in the BEST ways.  I missed a few classes last couple weeks (X_X).  I will NEVER miss a class again, this is a promise to myself.  I also have this eery feeling like this could be my worst grade this semester, so I have to catch up!! ARGHH.

Micb 202

Just had my midterm today, and it was a whopping 34%.  Okay (watch me change my opinion when grades come out lol) I reallly really really really really love the material for this course.  This course is divided into 3 sections: Immunology, Bacterial Diseases, and Virology.  And Immunology was just so interesting!  I think it’s because for once I’m learning about actual people not animals (*cough* Biol 204 *cough*).  And I was at the pace of the class at the beginning, but then started going at my own pace later on, really making sure I knew everything before I moved on.  And I would find myself like saying “damn..” or “wow…” or just Shaking My Head as I read the different topics in Immunology section.  Like how you get bacterial infections, how the innate, and adaptive immune responses rise to action.  It started off being so complicated at the beginning but then it just all seemed simple at the end.  And you learn so much about infections, like HIV.  Do you know that you can have a HIV protein just chilling in one of your cells for years and years…just waiting to attack!  That’s just one of the things.  How a guy with cancer AND HIV got cured by getting a bone marrow transplant from some with a defective CCR5 gene.  How crazy is that, and I always get ideas, like what about this, or what about that.  It just seems like a really important subject, that could do so many things for mankind.  We are moving on to bacterial diseases now, so I don’t know if the interest will continue, but I hope so.
AS FOR THE MIDTERMS.  I have a question for UBC Science Faculty.  What are you guys so AFRAID OF?  Why is the very thought at a B average for a midterm horrifying for you guys?  Why?  Why can’t the average be a B+?  I always thought that too many Science students at UBC are mentally psychotic when it comes to helping their peers, its too competitive, and now that I think about it, what do you expect when the professors or whoever is their boss, cringes at the very thought of students doing well. I undertand first year, fine weed out the med school keeners, but can this end?  That midterm was I would say good, I think I did very well…but when a prof says something like “I really hate x type of questions, but we have to do them or else too many people will do well”….AND? Whats wrong with that? I REALLY hope that this mentality changes 3rd year+ (SOMEONE TELL ME IT DOES)

Okay thats all for today, good bye folks

and btw how ILL is this video!

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Whirlwind

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Zahra

Today was one of the busiest days I’ve had in a while.  I started off by waking up at 5:30am and commuting to UBC.  Sat in class for 1.5 hours, tutored a student for an hour, then jumped on the bus again to travel to BC Children’s Hospital, where I volunteer.  I had one of the best shifts ever at BCCH today, because I got to cuddle an infant and rock him back and forth, which is something I’ve been wanting to do since I started volunteering.  After 3 hours, I hopped onto the bus again, traveled back to UBC, and got ready to right my MICB 202 midterm at 7pm.

In total, I commuted using 6 buses and 1 Canada Line train.  But what fascinates me more about my day was my stress level the throughout all my activities (or lack thereof, should I say).  Despite having a midterm worth 33% in the evening, I wasn’t the slightest bit hesitant to attend my volunteering shift, nor was I frazzled by the number of hours I “wasted” in transit.  Today, I realized the true essence of studying ahead of time and truly being prepared for an exam.

Since the weekend, I had planned my studying in such a way that I could cater for my busy schedule.  I promised myself that I would not leave any studying (except for some review) for today, Tuesday, because I didn’t expect to have any time to cram.  Combining all this with my fascination for the immunology section that we were being tested on, I was able to maintain minimal stress levels.  I didn’t know that it was possible to juggle my exam schedule with my other commitments…I usually cancel all my appointments and volunteering shifts during exam time.  I always pride myself with having superb time-management skills, but I think I just upgraded myself to the next level!

P.s. Might I add that I also managed to find time to write this blog post at the end of my busy day!  Where there is a will, there is a way! :)

Posted in Academics, Commuting, Involvement, Wellness | Comments Off

I hate the flu

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Lillienne

Passionately!


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University-wide broadcast:

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Kelvin Choi

I am calling out to all fellow undergrads… we need your help. On September 4th 2012, there will be a force that threatens the very foundations of our place of mind… A legion so dangerous that UBC must cease all classes and operations in order to call arms and prepare for battle. We will safeguard and protect our home. We will muster every available student; part-time or full-time, grad or undergrad; to face an army that is beyond anything we ever encountered.

There will be deaths. Brave, valiant, and worthy students all alike will fall in the hands of the enemy. Others may see this as a suicide mission. They think this is impossible. But we will not give up. We will not lose our place here in UBC.

Or we will die trying.

We cannot do it alone. Every working hand will help available will help our cause. Enlist here: http://www.involvement.ubc.ca/2012-student-leader-opportunities/

Godspeed.

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