Category Archives: Events

Students of UBC: I’m probably just as busy as you, and I’m voting in the AMS Elections. Also, shit-giving.

Posted on January 25, 2012 by miriam| 3 Comments

I managed to inform myself enough to vote, even though I was half-writing my paper while watching a candidate’s debate, was listening to an educational podcast while reading candidates’ bios, and was doing Biology readings in MASS when I was offered an autographed campaign material (lol wtf, seriously?).  And you’ve got til Friday at 5pm to inform yourself in all sorts of idiosyncratic ways too.  And I’m really not going to go beyond that in trying to convince you to vote because it’s your decision if you choose  to screw up our student society  participate.  But remember.  Non-participation is a form of participation, OH SNAP.

Although most candidates are very qualified this year, and quite frankly difficult to distinguish from one another, there are certain candidates I wish to show support (namely, and I do not know these people personally, Carven Li, Justin Yang and, my goodness, I cannot decide between Matt Parson and Alyssa Koehn) and certain candidates I do not want representing students (namely Erik MacKinnon; I cannot believe people have failed to give him shit for his sexist and revealingly immature blog, and go on endorsing him anyway, particularly when all of the other BoG candidates are wonderfully qualified.  So, there.  SHIT GIVEN. )   Also, there are really strange referendum questions.

So, read up:

Official Candidate Bios:
http://www.ams.ubc.ca/governance/ams-elections/candidates/

Ubyssey elections coverage:
http://ubyssey.ca/news/our-2012-ams-elections-special/

UBC Insiders elections coverage:
http://ubcinsiders.ca/category/elections/

AMS Confidential:
http://blogs.ubc.ca/amsconfidential/

And vote:

Polls close 5:00PM , Friday, January 27th.  

https://ams.simplyvoting.com/

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Posted in AMS, Events, Politics

Cool free lectures coming up

Posted on January 13, 2012 by miriam| 2 Comments

As usual, there are a number of free lectures coming up that I am attending or am considering attending  Let me know if you’re interested in any of the following so we can meet up:

“Men, Women, Sex and Violence”
Dr. Jackson Katz
Monday, January 23rd, 2012 at 6:30 PM, Neville Scarf Building

“In this multimedia lecture internationally renowned author and educator Dr. Jackson Katz explores some of the ways that social norms in male culture contribute to sexual and domestic violence, and suggests strategies to enlist men in the fight against all forms of men’s violence toward women. Topics covered include male peer cultures in schools and colleges, violence by men against other men, men’s uses of pornography, prostitution and stripping, sexism in the sports culture and the military, the many intersections between racism and sexism, and the role of homophobia in all-male groups. Katz uses entertaining and disturbing clips from his award-winning videos, including Tough Guise, to accentuate the importance of understanding – and changing – the cultural environment that condones or promotes sexism and violence.”

Edit Jan. 24th, 2012: This was so awesome. I really appreciated the way in which Katz was willing to make compromises, working alongside traditionally patriarchal institutions (like the army and professional sports teams), to really make a difference.  When feminist communities asks themselves why their ideas don’t go mainstream, I’m afraid to say that at least a small part of it must be our own fault in terms of accessibility; there’s a whole new language to learn, vitriolic speech can turn people off  (unleashed a little bit last night when discussing the legal issues of prostitution), and so on in terms of insular characteristics ….

“Practical Wisdom: The Right Way To Do the Right Thing”
Professor Ken Sharpe
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 8:15 p.m., Lecture Hall No. 2, Woodward Instructional Resources Centre

“An expert on foreign policy, Latin American politics, and U.S. drug enforcement policies, Professor Sharpe is the author of The Paradox of Choice and co-author of Drug War Politics: The Price of Denial which examines the ineffectiveness of America’s punitive narcotics policy and calls instead for a public-health approach that aims to reduce demand for drugs. He has written several books analyzing, among other issues, the political economy of the Mexican auto industry, the relationship between U.S. foreign policy and constitutional democracy, and the imperial presidency. His most recent work,Practical Wisdom, co-authored with Professor Barry Schwartz, proposes a better way to make personal and social decisions. He received his M.Sc. from the London School of Economics and Ph.D. from Yale University.”

“Orgasm Inc: Free Screening at UBC”- RSVP Required @   OrgasmIncScreening@gmail.com
Followed by a panel:
Dr. Lori Brotto (UBC Department of OB/GYN)
Dr. Jeannie Shoveller (UBC School of Population and Public Health), and
Dr. Thea Cacchioni (UVIC Department of Women’s Studies)
moderated by Dr. Joy Johnson (CIHR Institute of Gender and Health)

Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 7:30pm (doors open at 7:00pm) at Royal Bank Cinema UBC (part of the Chan centre)

“‘In Orgasm Inc, filmmaker Liz Canner uncovers a plot- would the pharmaceutical industry take advantage of women’s pleasure in pursuit of their billion-dollar profits? The film presents a powerful look inside the medical industry and the way it’s reshaping our ideas about health, illness, desire and… orgasm.’Check out the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZeHDKRa1y8“

 

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Posted in Events

More awesome conferences

Posted on November 7, 2011 by miriam| 2 Comments

I had a lovely day at TEDx Terry Talks and Andrew Coyne’s Vancouver Institute lecture (blogpost possibly forthcoming if I find time/anyone cares).  Here are some more awesome events happening this month to distract you from your homework. I can’t go to them all but they look great.  Add any more.

Media Democracy Days Vancouver
featuring David Beers, Elizabeth May, Judy Rebick, and more.
http://mediademocracyday.org/

“Why Don’t More Good People Enter Politics?”
featuring Paul Martin, Mike Harcourt,Ian Hanomansing, and more.
http://www.democracy.arts.ubc.ca/2011/10/31/goodpeoplepolitics/

Terry Global Speaker Series: Bill McKibben
http://www.terry.ubc.ca/2011/10/25/the-terry-global-speakers-series-presents-bill-mckibben/

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Posted in Events

quick updates: Cooking in Rez, TEDx Terry Talks, Work Study

Posted on September 9, 2011 by miriam| 11 Comments

Cooking:

I’m sitting in my room with an ancient-looking can opener and a can of tuna.  I can’t open it.  I could tell you all about Kant’s ethics or Rawlsian justice, but I’m hungry and I want some tuna!

Welcome to Suite style residence.  In my case, Ritsumeikan Residence.  The last two years at Totem and Vanier, I had purchased the compulsory meal plan so all my food was made by other people.

So far, I’ve managed a vegetarian sandwich loaded with garlic (excuse my breath this year, I intend on including garlic in every recipe), freshly squeezed lemon juice, fruit (yes, I can manage to rinse things…), and I anticipate some basic pasta and potatoes in the near future.  In the middle of back-to-school errands, a new academic term, and an upcoming Work Study, I’ve got to learn how to cook and everything that comes with it—shopping for food, balancing nutrition, cleaning up messes, wielding knives! Time to research.

P.S. If you want to cook for someone or have extras, you know who to call.

(This was written a few days ago.  I did manage to open to the can—with force, not technique.)

TEDx Terry Talks:

This was the event, a month into first year, that made me realize university was the best place for me to be; a showcase of splendid ideas and stories not from professors but from our fellow, brilliant students.  My blogpost covering the 2009 event is here.

This is the year you go to it.  I’ll meet you there, and If I don’t know you, make sure to say hello!

Register here.

TEDx Terry Talks Website with more information.

Work Study:

For those of you who have never heard of Work Study/Work Learn, you should.

After applying to 12 jobs for this school year (8 of them Work Studies), I got 2 interview/job offers.  OK, I know that looking back on those numbers now, 1:6 ratio is a pretty good deal during these times but I swear it felt like I was applying for 100 and only getting 1 interview back.  This is probably because I adjust my cover letter/resume for each job so it’s a pain.

I won’t be starting til late September but I’m excited to be a  research assistant to a Political Science Professor. I’m so grateful that UBC has a program like Work Study for students to experience working alongside/for professors, librarians, staff, etc.

Finally,

Miriam Sabzevari = most awesome Arts student?

I like this glitch.

(It’s a link to the article on my trip to the ABCDE Conference, written by Mary).

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Posted in Careers/Work, Events, Residence Life

F Word Undergraduate Conference Review

Posted on September 5, 2011 by miriam| Leave a comment

My brother and I wrote a joint-review on the F Word (Feminist) conference.  If you were there, you can check out our review in the newsletter for the Centre for Feminist Legal Studies at UBC, here (page 6).

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Posted in Events, Involvement / Leadership

UPDATE ON EVERYTHING EVER!!1

Posted on May 15, 2011 by miriam| 8 Comments

I realize that a blog post with updates on everything ever since you, phantom reader, last read me might not make the best reading.  But I’m going to do it anyway.  Feel free to pick and choose what to read.

Federal Elections 2011

Everyone who knows me knows how I feel about this.  My friends and I spent the entire night languishing at the results.  At first I was disappointed with  Canada, but then I remembered that the Canadian people had not decided to vote Conservative (60% did not); it was our lousy electoral system that translated a few percentage points increase in support for the Conservatives into a full-on, unchecked majority.

I’m still waiting for statistics on youth voter turnout (after voluntarily dancing like a fool for UBC’s vote mob.)  I also did some political campaigning in my riding for the experience.  I met some lovely folks, learned a little about political canvassing, and mourned collectively at the results.

World Bank International Essay Competition: 1st place winner video category

I won, I am going to Paris full expenses paid,  Amartya Sen is going to be a keynote speaker at the ABCDE Conference, and I am the luckiest person in the world.  I will update in early June with a link to my video & the discussions we will be having in Paris, no doubt, about youth immigration & world economic development.

National Day of Action For Electoral Reform (Website)

YES, YES, YES.  As Fair Vote Canada‘s representative said at the rally yesterday, this issue is a “meta-issue.”  It’s not politics, it’s changing the rules of politics.  The seemingly boring change that is electoral reform will affect everything in politics–the parties that get into power, the voices that are heard, the issues that are addressed. The rally yesterday was the most level-headed and fact-checking rally I have ever been to…some prefer the passion & the screaming, but I think we truly have reason and common sense on our side.  I hope that a century from now, we’ll look back out our “democracy” today and laugh.  Laugh at our ridiculous electoral system, our ignorance of political institutions & processes, our methods of and lack of democratic participation, media concentration and information ownership, unfair lobbying practices and the threats of capital mobility, and dismal diversity in representation.  The same way we laugh today at the so-called “democracies” of the past, wherein only certain European descendant, land-owning, men could vote.

UBC F-word conference (Website)

WOW.  The F-word Conference is an annual, full-day, free conference put on by the Women’s and Gender Studies program, featuring discussion panels, workshops, and (mostly) undergraduates sharing their research.  I’ve never taken a WMST course before, but I feel like I have; ever since volunteering with the AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre, I have become a proud feminist & engage with these issues out of class.  For those who don’t have that opportunity, take a WMST course!

This conference was truly…academic.  I would not recommend it to someone just dipping into feminist waters because there was a lot of academic lingo and the topics were narrowed & specific.  Nonetheless, I was impressed by some of the undergraduate research–makes me want to give research a try.

Point-Grey Vancouver By-election (UBC’s riding)

I really dislike provincial politics here in BC (and by that, I imply I’m not a big fan of any party…) but I followed this race.  During election night, my Twitter feed was aflutter with vote-count updates, and it became as tense and nail-biting worthy as any Canucks game.  Alas, the Liberals’ Premier won on paper, but the NDP won in actuality for making it such a tight race.

Canucks

Obligatory mention.  Go Canucks go.

Academic Courses
My average went down a few percentage points from 1st year—yes, I am the anomaly.  Most people tend to get better, but I started out strong and am fading.  Don’t worry, I’ll come back next year, what with all the fascinating philosophy courses I’m looking forward to.

PHIL 240 (epistemology): At least I know what field of philosophy I will not be engaging with in the future.
POLI 260 (international politics): Awesome prof (Farkasch) & TA, good intro to international relations.
ASIC 200 (world issues through arts and sciences): Token experimental course.  Key word: experimental; I didn’t learn that much.  Would I go back in time and take it again? Maybe.  Not at a 6-9pm time slot.
PHIL 330 (social and political philosophy): Every political science student should be forced to take this course.  Forget political theory courses, you need to look at it from a philosophical angle.  Loved it, recommend it.
PHIL 220 (symbolic logic): So, by the end, I failed an assignment (finally!) Luckily, that didn’t mean much because my grades were superb for most of the course and I somehow pulled through for the exam.  I will most definitely not continue with symbolic logic.

Hair Cut

I donated 8 inches of my hair for the first time, and it will definitely not be the last.  Not like I used it much anyway.

At the moment

I’m planning for a weekend-trip to Victoria with my high school buddies, looking for a decent job/volunteer position/something productive to do this summer, and reading for fun (Shakespeare, Pushkin, Romantic poets, Dosteovsky…so much to devour!)  Here are some of my favourite Proverbs Of Hell, selected from William Blake’s book ‘The Marriage of Heaven and Hell’:

The most sublime act is to set another before you.

Shame is Pride’s cloke.

Excess of sorrow laughs. Excess of joy weeps.

The roaring of lions, the howling of wolves, the raging of the stormy sea, and the destructive sword, are portions of eternity, too great for the eye of man.

Joys impregnate. Sorrows bring forth.

He who has suffer’d you to impose on him, knows you.

As the plow follows words, so God rewards prayers.

Much love,
Miriam

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Posted in Academics, Events, Involvement / Leadership, Recreation

UBC residents have a unique opportunity: Provincial By-Election

Posted on April 25, 2011 by miriam| 9 Comments

I’ve been so caught up in the Federal elections, that I hadn’t even noticed that there’s a fairly important Provincial by-election in our Vancouver-Point-Grey riding, May 11th.  The newly elected leader of the BC Liberal Party, Christy Clark, is vying a seat in BC’s legislature.  She’s heading off against the BC NDP’s David Eby, an adjunct professor at UBC Law School.

Jason Payne-Png, The Province.

I don’t know what the rules are on students who are leaving residence before May*, but I know I’ll be attempting to vote anyway.  I live here 8 months of the year, which is 8 months more than Christy Clark.

While I’ve just started researching, I’m pretty sure I’ll vote for Eby.  It’s true that Christy Clark is heaps better than Gordon Campbell (what with finally increasing minimum wage, and not being pushy about the HST), but wouldn’t it be a great insult to the Liberal party & all they have/have not done these past 10 years by denying her the seat?  Besides, David Eby is pretty awesome.  And that’s not just because he seems like a crappy politician (he’s so…genuine), participated in UBC’s vote mob the other week, had a stint with the BC Civil Liberties Association, and sings Bon Jovi unashamedly in public.  No, no, if we were impressed by musical talent, we’d be voting for Stephen Harper’s Conservatives in the Federal elections, but of course we’re not! The real reason is that BC NDP policy is a much needed change to a decade of BC Liberal reign, and Eby is an outstanding candidate with some fresh new ideas.  (Not that I agree with all of them.)

In any case, take part in this historical by-election!  Well, I guess all things are technically historical, including this blogpost…but you know what I mean.

P.S. I know there are more candidates (Danielle Alie, William Gibbens, Eddie Petrossian, and Francoise Raunet), but these are the frontrunners.

*Edit:

I just called the district electoral officer.  I can vote!  Here’s how:


By-election website.
I’ve compiled information from the website here:

ELIGIBILITY

In order to vote in an election for an electoral district, an individual must:

  1. be a Canadian citizen;
  2. be 18 years of age or older on General Voting Day for the election;
  3. be a resident of the electoral district; (The district electoral officer told me that: Students, who have have been residents of the riding 6 months up to the election, are allowed to vote.  Even if you’re not coming back in September. I figure the one week between leaving residence and the election is good game…However, here’s his number if you want to double check before you bus out: 604-660-1446. )
  4. have been a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before General Voting Day for the election
  5. be registered as a voter for the electoral district or register as such in conjunction with voting (just do it at the voting station); and
  6. not be disqualified by the Election Act or any other enactment from voting in the election or be otherwise disqualified by law

HOW TO VOTE

WHAT TO BRING?

Voters must provide:

  • one document issued by the Government of B.C. or Canada that contains the voter’s name, photograph and residential address, such as a B.C. driver’s licence or B.C. Identification Card (BCID)

OR

  • a Certificate of Indian Status

OR

  • two documents that contain the voter’s name. At least one of the documents must also contain the voter’s residential address.

More information on what types of documents are accepted here.

WHEN/WHERE?

1) General voting:

Voting places will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 11, 2011.

  1. Bayview Community School, 2251 Collingwood St, Vancouver, B.C.
  2. General Gordon Elementary School, 2896  6 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
  3. Kitsilano Community Centre, 2690 Larch St, Vancouver, B.C.
  4. Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, 2325  7 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
  5. Kitsilano Secondary School, 2550  10 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
  6. Lord Byng Secondary School, 3939  16 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
  7. Old Barn Community Centre, 6308 Thunderbird Blvd, Vancouver, B.C.
  8. Point Grey Community Church, 3512  7 Ave, Vancouver, B.C.
  9. Queen Mary Elementary School, 2000 Trimble St, Vancouver, B.C.
  10. St. Augustine’s Church, 2028  7 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
  11. St. James Community Square, 3214  10 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
  12. St. Marks Anglican Church, 1805 Larch St, Vancouver, B.C.
  13. Steeves Manor, 1985 Wallace St, Vancouver, B.C.
  14. Student Union Building, 6138 Student Union Mall, Vancouver, B.C. (Yay!)
  15. University Hill Elementary School, 5395 Chancellor Blvd, Vancouver, B.C.
  16. University Hill Secondary School, 2896 Acadia Rd, Vancouver, B.C.
  17. West Point Grey United Church, 4595  8 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.

2) Advance voting

Advance voting will be held from Wednesday, May 4 to Saturday, May 7 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  1. Jericho Hill Centre, 4180  4 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
  2. Kitsilano Community Centre, 2690 Larch St, Vancouver, B.C.
  3. St. Anselm’s Anglican Church, 5210 University Blvd, Vancouver, B.C.

3) Any-day-voting

You can vote at the Vancouver-Point Grey district electoral office during office hours until 4 p.m. on May 11, 2011.

District electoral office:
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m

215 – 2678 West Broadway
(entrance on Stephens Street)
Vancouver BC V6K 2G3

3) Vote by Mail

To request a voting package, click here.

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Posted in Events, Involvement / Leadership, Politics

UBC YOUTH VOTE MOB

Posted on April 14, 2011 by miriam| 3 Comments

That’s right, we’re hosting one these.
You know what UBC’s YouTube video streak is like right now.
You’ll want to be there.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117463898334533

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Posted in Events, Involvement / Leadership, Politics

Happy Norooz! (Happy New Year!)

Posted on March 20, 2011 by miriam| Leave a comment

Spring equinox marks the new year for many peoples: namely Iranians, Afghans, and Kurds.
The new year is 1390!

Set up your haft sin, get money from your parents, grow some grass, jump those fires, pig out on sweets, and go on a picnic!

All things I will have to miss, living in residence…

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Posted in Events, Uncategorized

The F word. “Feminism. A Second Thought” Conference.

Posted on March 4, 2011 by miriam| 2 Comments

If you have ever declared yourself a feminist in front of anyone, you know that it’s like dropping the F-bomb in front of a bunch of prudes.  Forget the stupidity of the internet and Youtube comments–the reactions coming from our closest friends, families, and well-educated acquaintances can sting.  They range from:

The extreme…
“So you’re a bra-burning, butch, psychopath who hates men?”
“So you believe in women taking over the world?”
“There’s a reason why women aren’t getting elected/hired/payed more!   It’s because they only know how to cook and clean.”
“MAKE ME A SAMMICH!”

The ignorant…
“Feminism doesn’t recognize the differences between men and women”
“Feminism has made the world worse for innocent men.”
“There are more important issues in the world to deal with.  Feminism only focuses on women.”
“Feminism forces women who don’t want to work to go to work.”

The naive…
“Feminism has done a lot of good things but we don’t need it anymore because we’re all equal now.”
“I know women were oppressed, but when will we stop paying for the past?  It’s not fair that women get hiring advantages for government jobs. “

And so forth.

Typically, these kinds of reactions incite different responses from different women.  I don’t mean to boil people down to these categories, but just for the sake of getting a point across, accept my caricatures:

The “fierce feminist” woman: The one who sticks to her feminist values and isn’t afraid to say it.  (Or at least doesn’t appear to be afraid.)
The “I’m not a feminist, but…” woman: The one who not only agrees but sticks up for feminist values under a hesitant title, afraid of being persecuted as an extremist.
The “Now’s my chance to be confirmed by men”  woman: The one who probably agrees with feminist values but decides to abandon them in the effort to be “funny” and accepted by sexists.  For example, the one on my Facebook feed who puts up a profile picture of herself in the kitchen (with a supposedly funny caption), and receives 50+ comments from some men within a couple of hours.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

Last  night I went to the “Feminist. A Second Thought.” Conference at the Global Lounge, put on by a group of UBC students.  The purpose of this conference was “to shed light on the term feminist, and allow young people to redefine feminism to encapsulate their own experience with gender inequality, and not necessarily female domination”  (their website). I have been to a lot of student-led conferences and events my two years here, and I have to admit that it was the best one I have been to so far.

Two student speakers with some background in women’s/gender studies shared their experiences of being woman and feminist in today’s world.  We looked at how feminism has roots in anti-racism work, and how Canada’s policy of multiculturalism might actually be harmful to anti-racism work.  I’m personally a little wary of this kind of academic critique of multiculturalism policy.  This is partly  because it’s taken advantage of by racists, and partly because I like to focus on the positive effects the adoption multiculturalism has made.  But it was an interesting and heartfelt presentation nonetheless.  We then listened to a story about one student’s multiple identities, who reminded us all that there is always more than one story and always more than one kind of feminist.  I think this one really hit home for all of “on the edge” people who don’t fit into one category or another (be it culturally, ethnically, religiously, politically, economically  etc.)

The feature presentation was a panel of four UBC professors who generously shared their research and experience with us.  For example, one professor studied the impact on and role of youth during the earlier feminist movements…which is way more interesting than I make it sound.   We also got insight into multicultural critical theory, African literatures (with an ‘s’ for plurality!), and philosophy of education specifically in relation to homophobic institutions.  The question-answer period was perhaps the best part though.  Seriously.  I didn’t have time for dinner between a midterm and the conference, but there was so much food for thought, my stomach totally forgot it was hungry.

OK, I lied, there was also real food (and some mighty delicious vegan brownies from Sprouts.)

To top it all off, there were some amazing performances by UBC students.  I thoroughly enjoyed the slam poetry, the violin pieces, the santour performance (I play that instrument!), art displays, and belly dancing.  I was super impressed with the students behind this conference, and really hope to see these kinds of conferences attracting a wider (and not solely eager-beaver-feminist) audience in the future.

P.S. If anyone actually holds some of the views I was ridiculing above, drop me a line and I’ll happily explain why I disagree with them.

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Posted in Events, Wellness