Looking for some new ideas for fun activities and opportunities at UBC? Here are 15 unique and interesting ideas for you to try!

1. Borrow a DVD, VHS or Blu-Ray  from UBC’s Videomatica collection, which includes more than 28,000 DVDs, 4,000 VHS titles and 900 Blu-Rays, ranging from cult favourites to Hollywood blockbusters and foreign films.http://collections.library.ubc.ca/featured-collections/videomatica/
2. The Asian Library also includes a variety of DVDs from Southeast Asia, India, East Asia and more, which you can borrow for free with a UBC Student Card http://asian.library.ubc.ca/
3. Watch a film at UBC’s very own movie theatre, The Norm http://theatrefilm.ubc.ca/events/venues/the-norm-theatre-student-union-building-sub/
4. If you’re a grad student, consider participating in/attending UBC FIREtalks, an interdisciplinary discussion forum run by grad students for grad students . http://koerner.library.ubc.ca/services/research-commons/fire-talks/
5. Attend a performance by one of UBC’s many student clubs (i.e. UBC Improv – http://www.ubcimprov.com/, UBC Dance Horizons -https://www.facebook.com/ubcdancehorizons)
6. Visit the renowned Beatty Biodiversity Museum – http://www.beatymuseum.ubc.ca/
7. Check out a theatre production by the UBC Department of Theatre and Film. Many of the events are free/by donation! http://theatrefilm.ubc.ca/events/main-stage-season
8. Attend a concert at UBC. Many of the concerts hosted by the UBC School of Music are free! http://music.ubc.ca/ubc-events/ (See also  – Chan Centre http://www.chancentre.com/whats-on/listing)
9. Take part in one of the many international opportunities available at UBC http://students.ubc.ca/career/international-experiences
10. Eat at one of the many student run cafes at UBC for affordable, healthy, organic and local food (UBC Agora Eats Café https://www.facebook.com/pages/Agora-Eats-Caf%C3%A9/106452322733112; UBC Seedlings – http://www.ubcsprouts.ca/initiatives/seedlings/; and UBC Sprouts – http://www.ubcsprouts.ca/sprouts/
11. Learn yoga at UBC at an affordable price! With the purchase of a $10 membership, UBC Yoga Club members can attend classes at the low rate of $2 per class! http://www.ubcyogaclub.com/ Hillel House at UBC also offers yoga lessons at very affordable prices – http://www.hillelbc.com/
12. Try out a new sport or dance class during UBC REC Open House, which usually takes place sometime during the 2^nd or 3^rd week of January – http://www.recreation.ubc.ca/
13. Take part in a sports team or sports event! http://www.recreation.ubc.ca/intramurals On January 28^th, UBC REC will also be hosting the Versus 2015 Mario Battle! http://www.recreation.ubc.ca/intramurals/events/versus/
14. Participate in or attend UBC Suite Style Musical! https://www.facebook.com/groups/103592103136585/
15. Spend an afternoon exploring UBC Wesbrook Village. Take part in a yoga class at Hot Box Yoga, attend a free film screening at the Wesbrook Welcome Centre, and eat frozen yogurt and Taiwanese noodles. http://www.wesbrookvillage.com/. Visit Pacific Spirit Park, located right next to Wesbrook Village http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks_lscr/regionalparks/Pages/PacificSpirit.aspx

Dr. Bożena Karwowska is interested in the literary representation of women in Slavic literatures, exchange between groups with different “common memories” and questions of intercultural mediation. She authored three books relating to these topics. At UBC, she teaches CEN303A: Representation of the Holocaust and POLS424: Polish Literature and Film in Translation. Dr. Bożena Karwowska received the UBC Killiam Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 1999 and she is the chair of Modern European Studies at UBC.

Dr. David Silver is an associate professor at the Sauder School of Business. He is interested in business and professional ethics and his recent research involves developing a sustainable culture of ethics education at the Sauder School. He is the chair in Business and Professional ethics at UBC and acting director at the Centre of Applied Ethics.

If you’re planning on staying in Vancouver over the Winter break and don’t know what to do- look no further! Here are the top five winter activities you can do around Vancouver, enjoy the holidays 🙂

1)  Free Ice Skating in Robson Square

This beautiful ice rink reopened for the Vancouver Olympics in 2010! Sure, it’s a bit crowded… but where’s the fun in a desolate skating rink! Skating is free, and you can rent skates and helmets for $4 and $2 respectively!

2)Visit Grouse Mountain

You can ski, snowboard, snowshoe, skate, and go on a sleigh ride and it’s just 20 minutes north of downtown Vancouver! I would also recommend taking their gondola ride for an amazing view of this beautiful city. They also offer great adventures such as winter zip-lining.

3)  Shop Shop Shop!!!

Boxing Day is a holiday on December 26th and it’s best known for being the day when EVERYTHING goes on sale! Get out of the cold and burn off some of that holiday weight by shopping ‘til you drop.

4) Dine Out Vancouver

This is a wonderful annual city-wide culinary event! Dine Out offers discount menus at over 200 Metro Vancouver restaurants, letting you ‘test drive’ new cuisine for less!

5) Visit Stanley Park

Visit the Bright Nights Christmas train in Stanley Park this winter to relax and take in the beautiful and festive decorations! Entrance is by donation and all proceeds go to the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund.

If you missed the last Proftalk, don’t fear, we’ve got you covered. Here is a summary of the last one by Dr. Ivanochko and Dr. Rideout on sustainability and the environment.

“Our Ideal World in 50 years”

Dr. Ivanochko

Economic priorities often come before environmental concerns. We need to be more involved politically to help promote corporate sustainability and policies. Communicating environmental awareness can be a difficult task – start with those close to you and then move upwards and out.

ONE THING YOU CAN DO:

Write a government official (whether municipal, provincial, or national) and let them know you care about the environment, and that it will influence your voting decisions.

Dr. Rideout

We waste so much of the food we buy – to be more sustainable citizens, we should start being more conscious of food waste and food security. Transit is another big energy expense. Hopping on a bike to get to school would be a great emission free way to commute.

ONE THING YOU CAN DO:

Make a change in your life. Decide to stop driving and bike instead. Go vegetarian. Buy a to go mug and give up on paper and plastic cups. Recycle and compost. Promise yourself to take a green step forward in a way that will most affect your life.

Rezlife is hiring Residence Advisors for Term 2! Check out the poster for more information.

On December 6th, 1989, an armed man walked into an engineering class at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. After forcing the men to leave, he stated that he hated feminists and started shooting the women in the class, then beyond it. By the end of the shooting, he had killed 14 women and taken his own life.

As a result of these acts of violence, and the link that were made between these acts and everyday sexism, Canada established December 6th as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. This year marks 25th anniversary of the Massacre and reminds us of acts of gender-based violence against women in Canada and around the world.

The UBC December 6th Memorial Committee is promoting a series of events and initiatives to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. As a day of action, we invite you to take steps to end violence against women.

14 NOT FORGOTTEN MEMORIAL SERVICE

Attend this memorial service for the 14 women who were killed at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal, as well as the countless other women who have been victims of gender-based violence. This year marks the 25th anniversary of this tragic event and the Faculty of Applied Sciences will be unveiling the 14 Not Forgotten Memorial Garden. A reception will follow the memorial service. Check out our website and Facebook event for more information.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014, 12:30-1 p.m.

The Wayne and William White Engineering Design Courtyard

PANEL DISCUSSION: AN EXAMINATION OF DECEMBER 6TH: 25 YEARS LATER

Join us for a discussion centered around the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. During this panel, we will discuss the importance of commemorating this day and critically engage with the continued work that we all need to engage with in order to end gender-based violence. Check out our Facebook event for more information.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014, 12-1 p.m.

Simon K. Y. Lee Global Lounge, Media Room, Building 1, 2205 Lower Mall

T-SHIRT SILKSCREENING WORKSHOP

Join us in Place Vanier to silk screen prints commemorating December 6^th onto t-shirts of your own or on those provided. Participants will have an opportunity to talk about issues related to gender-based violence.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014, 7-9 p.m.

Place Vanier Residence, Boardroom

CANDLE VIGIL

Stop by our table and light a candle to remember the events of December 6, 1989 and acknowledge the impact that gender-based violence has on all of us.

Friday, December 5, 2014, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

SUB Main Concourse

All events are free of charge. For more information, please email CJ Rowe, Diversity Advisor – Women, at cj.rowe@ubc.ca

The Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference (MURC) is a conference for UBC undergraduate students to showcase their research in front of their fellow UBC students, family, and friends. Researchers may choose one of two formats to showcase their research: presentation or poster. MURC presenters are any UBC undergraduate student who is participating in, or has completed, their own Faculty-supervised research project. All Faculties and Schools are welcome. e.

MURC volunteers are an integral component in ensuring the success of MURC and will have the opportunity to network with other student leaders and researchers on campus, while learning about the research currently conducted by your own peers.

Desired skills are wide ranging, and no previous experience with MURC is required for any of these student volunteer roles.

The four position types we are recruiting for are:

• Volunteer Coordinator
• Presentation Logistics Coordinator
• Master of Ceremonies and Production Coordinator
• Communications and Promotions Coordinator

Each Coordinator role could be filled by one or more qualified students.

For more information and to apply, check out Careers Online by searching Job ID #812652

https://ubc-csm.symplicity.com/employers/index.php/pid606252?

For more information on the Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference (MURC), check out

http://students.ubc.ca/career/murc

October and November can be a very stressful time here at UBC and, on top of that, the rainy weather doesn’t exactly help with mood. Sometimes, the stress can get very overwhelming, but here are a few tips to help you stay positive and productive in this rainy time!

1. Pace yourself!

• It’s really easy to get caught in that cycle of studying too much, feeling more stressed because your concentration level isn’t what you want it to be and, therefore, become more stressed. Yes, midterms and exams are right around the corner, but ensuring your own personal mental and physical health needs to come first. If you’re not feeling great, it will impact your work ethic. In order to help with the stress, find a way that will work for you to ensure you get everything accomplished by still taking care of yourself.

o   Here are some tips on how to pace yourself:

i.         Make a schedule. Write in, for every hour of the day, what times you’ll be in class and what times you’ll be doing everything else. If you know how much time will be taken up with cooking, cleaning, class, homework, and studying, you can also schedule some personal time like watching your favorite show. By doing this, you don’t have to feel guilty about taking some “me” time.

ii.         Remember that you are human and need basic things. For instance: sleep, food, and social time. It’s probably a good idea to not have too much of those things, because yes, that midterm is right around the corner and you need to study, just remember that you need those social times as well.

iii.         When you’ve accomplished what you need to in order to be prepared for this test and/or paper and/ or assignment, take a well deserved break! Let the information sink in, and then look it over later. It is unproductive to read the same thing over and over again in one sitting. So take a step away, sleep on it, and then go back to it!

2. Work in Clean and Tidy Spaces

• If your room/ study space is cluttered, your mind will be as well! Take some time to tidy up before studying, or go to the Library. Untidy spaces can also encourage procrastination because cleaning your space may override your desire to study and you might take time to do that instead of focusing on the work that needs to be done.

3. Eat right and Exercise!

• If you keep yourself healthy, you’ll feel better and will have more energy to keep your mind alert. Keep your regular exercise schedule in tact, if you have one, and stay active. Exercise is a great way to battle stress so if exercise isn’t directly incorporated in your lifestyle, that’s totally fine, perhaps simply break pout that colorful umbrella and walk to the Library. That will give you some time to think about things other than the midterm or assignment, and when you have to sit and study for long periods of time, you will probably feel better at the beginning of that long devotion to studying.

4. Happiness is Important!

• Continue to do things that make you happy! Even though you have a lot going on, and it’s raining, make sure you schedule in time for watching that movie, seeing those friends, knitting that scarf, playing that instrument, or whatever else you enjoy doing. Midterms and assignments are tough to get through and need time devoted to them, but you are not a machine and spending time doing what you love will, in the end, help you be more productive.

These are just some of my own personal tips, and they may not work for everyone, but perhaps take time to reflect on your own lifestyle and what works for you to battle stress before taking on your next assignment.

Also, remember, UBC has many resources in Irving K barber and other faculties to help with studying, stress, and other concerns you may have, and if you need them, be sure to check them out!

Hope this helps!

Blog Post by Maddie Johnson.

Ask yourself this question: “Could there be a better time for me to starting living a healthy and active lifestyle than right now?” The answer is the same for whoever you might be, for there is NEVER a better time than the present to discover that a healthy lifestyle is one of the fundamental keys happiness. Regardless of your current fitness level, in spite of past New-Year’s resolutions abandoned, your time here in UBC Residence is the perfect opportunity to improve you fitness and promote a healthier lifestyle. Everyone has their own preferred methods of exercise… maybe one of the ideas below might appeal to you. 

UBC Rec Centre: The home to numerous instructor classes, drop-in sports, a well-furnished gym and a bouldering cave for the climbing enthusiast, UBC’s Rec Centre is one of the places to start in your pursuit of a more active lifestyle. Swing by and play basketball with some friends, burn-off stress in the gym or rediscover a passion for dance, martial arts, or any of the other programs available.

UBC Aquatic Centre: Swimming is another great form of exercise, as well as great life skill. Drop by during certain times and entry is free with your Student ID card. Check out their website for an updated calendar and schedule.

UBC Wreck Beach Stairs: Although many dread the winding staircase leading from NW Marine Drive to the beach below, it can serve as the perfect “StairMaster” for the highly motivated. Enjoy the burn of climbing up and down 473 steps while appreciating UBC’s glorious view of the surrounding ocean.

Pacific Spirit Park: Located near Westbrook Village, Spirit Park is only a short jog away from campus. It has an amazing amount beautiful trails that are great for walkers, bikers and runners alike. Maps are posted all along the way to guide the unwary traveler, and the park itself makes for an awesome get-away from the hustle and bustle of campus life.

Hopefully these exercise ideas spark your interest; there is no time like the present to make a change for a healthier lifestyle.

Best of luck!

Evan Warner

Imagine a glass half-filled with water. How would you describe it?

An optimist says it is half full while a pessimist says it is half empty.

The beginning of a new term is almost like a new beginning! Many of you are mid-way through your programmes, some of you are looking forward to graduate and find a job, and some are at the cusp, deciding what to do next. As the readings and assignment deadlines start sneaking up to you, it is important to stay positive!

Have you heard of the tale of two frogs[i]? Two frogs fell into a huge barrel containing milk.

One of the frogs, the pessimist, swam around the barrel, saw that the sides of the barrel were too high, decided that it was hopeless and stopped swimming. Soon, he drowned.

The other frog, the optimist, swam around the barrel, saw that the sides of the barrel were too high, but decided to keep kicking anyway. All night he kicked, he kicked even as he tired, and he kicked as the clock ticked. And slowly, the milk thickened into butter. The frog then jumped out of the barrel and went home!

So, how to think positive? Remember to count your blessings! Keep track of your achievements and celebrate them! One of my favourite posters[ii] goes:

Say to yourself every morning:

Today is going to be a great day,

I can handle more than I think I can!

Things don’t get better by worrying about them,

I can be satisfied if I try to do my best!

There’s always something to be happy about!

I’m going to make someone happy today!

It’s not good to be down,

Life’s great! Make the most of it!

But when you are stuck, or need help, remember that there are many resources to help you: in Rez and outside.

• Speak with your RA!
• Check out this toolkit from the UBC Learning Commons: http://learningcommons.ubc.ca/student-toolkits-2/
• Search UBC Library website (http://library.ubc.ca) for relevant subject guides
• Speak with your Faculty and TAs during their office hours
• If you are an international student, and need help, consult an Advisor at the International House!

[i] A folk tale that appears in many versions. This particular version is from the author’s childhood.

[ii] Quote as is from the poster – author unknown.