Long time no see, UBC Blogsquad! I’m going to contribute to the list of Blogsquadders who have been travelling during their summer vacation. My choice of destination for 3 weeks? Cuba. Yes, Cuba, this great island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, the land of Revolutionaries such as Fidel Castro. I wasn’t in Cuba as a tourist, but rather as a student who had access to places and people that ordinary tourists would not have, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Through Land and Foods Systems 302, I studied sustainable agriculture but also had a lot of fun. I had many experience in Cuba, but I will discuss something that I’ve been grappling with since I returned to Canada two days ago.
Flirting With Role Reversal
So I actually wrote this entry on the bus last Monday, but I never got around to posting it on Blog Squad until now.
Over the January 14-16th weekend, I went to the retreat as a member of the BOO Crew (also known as UBC Orientations: squad leaders and O-Team). Although I attended many informative, interactive, and fun workshops, I also got out a lot personally from this retreat. I’m sure that I knew a lot of this already, but instead of reading it in a handout, this realization and life lesson was like an epiphany that hit me like a punching bag near the end of the retreat.
UBC Leader Appreciation Day
Before I start my blog entry, I just want to say WOW! And props to the people who engineered this new look with more cool interfaces to the UBC Blogosphere! I’m liking it!
Last week, I talked about going to the UBC Leader Appreciation Day, which was for MUG Leaders, Squad Leaders, Squad Managers and anyone involved with IMAGINE/GALA/the upcoming UBC Orientations. So what happened then?
Are you ready? Are you stoked?
With exactly a month until the start of school, involved UBC students like me are excitedly preparing for the incoming school year and enjoying the rest of our summers. In particular, we are preparing for IMAGINE Day!!!
A Reply To Myself, Almost A Year Later
To be honest…I’m pretty tired right now, but I’m going to try to stay awake for another few hours. I find that now, when I go to sleep at an early time (like now-8:36PM), I would wake up at around midnight then not be able to sleep until 7AM. Then for energy’s sake I would sleep and basically my sleeping schedule would be messed up for a few days. So I’m going to blog and listen to music at the same time.
So last year, I wrote a Guide to UBC after finishing my first year. It was in my head for a while but I finally wrote it then. In bold is my reply to myself, almost a year later.
Hey blogsquadders
Is it just me, or have I been getting an insane amount of spam on my comments lately?
I will update. Soon.
Major, Double Major, Minor, Double Minor? Or Honours?
As my second year here at UBC draws to a close, I am confronted with a difficult but honestly, kind of exciting predicament. I.have.to.choose.a(or two).major(s).
How Racist Is Your Library?
This idea just came to me-I don’t have any proof and haven’t done any actual research, but when I was searching for books for my 3 papers due this week, I found something disturbing.
Libraries are institutionalized forms of dissenting information and education, correct? People are influenced by the type of literature available on the bookshelves, whether they are books that are actively promoted/advertised or searched out for. The types of novels, non-fiction, help people form an image and opinion of the world, and which ones they agree with. So currently I’m taking some non-conventional Arts courses in which books are not available en masse. Thus, if you have a class of 40 being assigned papers to write, some who raid the libraries and get arm/shoulder workouts after, some people may have beaten you to the punch. Hence, other sources are sought. Imagine my shock when I turned to alternative (ie: outside of UBC) libraries to find resources. I could not find any! I even typed in a simple keyword describing my topic and could only find fiction glamourizing it. This has led me to evaluate this particular library. How, despite housing thousands of books videos, movies, documentaries, CDs, etc, is actually quite shallow. When I reflect on it, there isn’t a lot of diversity-most of the material promotes a one-sided, Western (or Asian) capitalist point of view. The library can afford to spend millions of dollars on purchasing material teaching, and disseminating information on how to “fit into” Western, capitalist society (ie: Gossip Girl DVDs) while not even bother buying books on influential, classical revolutionary writers/leaders?
I’m offended.
In other news, I’m currently sick (one of the worst times ever to!), FAACT has sadly ended (with lots of great memories and friendships made!), and I’m moving onto other things next year. I think I will be appearing to take a step backwards next year, but it will be for the better. I’ll still stay with UBC Blogsquad, though!
The Blog/Wordpress hasn’t adjusted to Daylight Savings Time yet, Carman
One more thing…CONGRATULATIONS TO HENRIK SEDIN FOR WINNING THE ART ROSS TROPHY!! 
In non-hockey language, it means he’s the top scorer in the NHL.
AUS Results!!
Hey everybody!
Guess whose your new General Officer?
That would be me. 
I apologize for not posting earlier regarding the results and to be honest, since I wasn’t at The Gallery on Monday evening when they announced the results, I didn’t even know that I won until I was congratulated hours later.
What can I say but WOW?
Thank you SOOOOOOOO much for your support, whether you joined my Facebook group, Googled or even slightly stalked me to see how I really am in person, or you voted (for me). Thank you for the emails where you pledged your support. Thank you for paying attention to the elections even if you’re in another faculty. I am overwhelmed and seriously want to bake everyone I know a brownie or give them a hug. It means a lot that so many people, not limited to those (who voted) in Arts think I am qualified and suited to do this job, as broad as the General Officer agenda is!
Campaigning was fun too-go paperless campaigns, meeting some really cool AUS people, going up to random people and talking to them, and let’s throw in some midterms in the midst of that too!
Here are the results (I just got them in my email):
General Officer – Two Elected
Alison Chan Ivan Staeheli Lisa Anderson
Electronic Ballots 158 145 125
Paper Ballots 39 34 37
Total Votes 197 179 162
Percentage 36.6% 33.3% 30.1%
Let the campaigning begin!
So I decided to run for a General Officer for the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS). Why?
1) I’ve always wanted to get involved with the AUS because I am an extremely proud UBC student, specifically being in Arts. You engineers, scientists, dental hygienists, musicians, foresters, business (wo)men work and solve the world, we interpret the world. Every year after Imagine Day I really feel the Arts pride and truly believe that we, the largest faculty on campus with a population bigger than some towns in Canada, are united together.
Sadly, reality waves hello.
It also doesn’t help that 75% of UBC students are commuters. If I could wave my wand, then more students would come out to build more community through the events held. But students have work, homework, or they just want to go home. The point is, I don’t think that we have enough of a connection, although effort is made. I’ve watched AUS run around these past two years doing a lot of things right to get people engaged and promoting events, but I look at them, and see the ideas that I have that can make student engagement and involvement bigger and better.
2) I can’t go a blog without mentioning my world, FAACT eh? Pretty much true. Anyways, we have 2 or 3 LTLs (Learning Team Leaders) who are super involved with the AUS and they often talk about the fun things they do and the cool people they know (from AUS). I’ve inquired about getting involved another way other than running for candidacy and the super nice people there said “Just hang around here and you’ll be involved.” However, I kind of want an excuse to get to know more people, and I figure, elections time is the best event to go up to random people and start talking! I genuinely like people, and I like the different adventures and memories I go on with them/you. It’s the different personalities, backgrounds that make up a person that I like interacting with.
3) I’ve always been interested in politics and (student) government but never took the plunge. I am familiar with the structure and things that officers do though, since I am educated in it and I was in youth parliament. It’s one of these life experiences that I want to have, and I will definitely bring my commitment, drive, diligence, energy and of course myself to the position! I’m a pretty laid back and bubbly person (is that a contradiction?) and I would say that I’m a pretty easy person to get along with. I would be really happy if you voted for me, or if you’re not an Arts student, support me by joining my Facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=388694441210&ref=mf) and telling any Arts student to vote for me! Thanks =)
Fire away, if you have any questions.
Aly