Hi rezzies! 🙂

It’s near the end of the first wave of midterms, and I would say you have emerged from the worst of university testing. Why do I say that? It is because you now have a taste of what there is to come and have gotten some insight on what to expect for future midterms and finals. If you have done well, awesome! Keep working hard to keep up the good work. If you haven’t done as you would liked (or like me, who bombed the first midterm), do not fret. Even now as a third year student, I tend to do worse on my midterms and learn from my mistakes for the final exam. Every course is different, and now with living on residence, scavenging for food, scheduling time for friends, clubs, homework, exercise, studying, and sleep… it is all about studying efficiently, specifically, and resourcefully. This is what I mean by that.

Studying efficiently:

This is one of the main struggles about studying. You can sit on my chair for 3 hours, but do you actually get a full 3 hours worth of studying with no distractions? Or, is it possible that you went to grab a snack, check your phone, go on Reddit… I don’t know. Time sometimes just escapes from our grasp and that’s not what we want. Due to the time crunch that exists in university, we must block of time to study effectively. Whether it be studying in your room (don’t fall asleep!), the basement of Koerner (Tip: there is no reception on the bottom-most floor! Great for silent studying) or sitting down at the Great Dane (where there is some background noise), do what works for you. And I do recommend you to change it up and try new study spots to explore your option.

Studying specifically:

Just because you bought a $100 textbook doesn’t mean you have to read and memorize it from cover to cover. Just because your prof introduced you a complex derivation, doesn’t mean that they are going to be testing you on that. I have had courses that taught theory and tested on questions and applications. If your prof says something is going to be tested… trust them! If your prof makes learning objectives… use them! You really have to be specific on what you skim and what you memorize. This will save you a lot of time to allocate to other parts of your life and helps reduce stress or feelings of being overwhelmed.

Studying resourcefully:

For most of you, the courses that you are taking have been in existence for many years. Due to this, there are many students who have taken the same course as you, potentially with the same professor, that can give you some insight on how they structure their exams. This is extremely vital because sometimes your way of studying doesn’t completely correspond to the prof’s way of testing. I would reach out to upper year students if you know any, and if not, ask your TA to connect you with an older student in the same faculty! They also may have old notes handy for you to take a loo at.

Here are some other resources:

1. AMS Tutoring
2. Khanacademy or Youtube
3. Office Hours
4. Emailing professors and TAs
5. Forming study groups

Happy studying, my friends! I wish you best of luck and remember: university is a marathon, not a race.

Cheers,

Steph

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Hello Walter Gageites! Around this time of year you are probably hearing a lot about stuff like cultural appropriation and how it relates to Halloween costumes. I am here to shed some light on the topic and hopefully help you understand the effects your costumes can have on the people around you, as well as answer some of the common questions you may have on the topic.

Cultural appropriation means quite literally, “the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture and used out of context – sometimes negatively,” which can have wildly negative consequences, especially when the things being taken are from a less dominant culture. When aspects of a less dominant culture are taken by more dominant cultures, it can lead to a stereotyping of that culture. That culture will be seen as ‘exotic’ or ‘wild’ and it can lead to people of that culture being treated as less like a person with thoughts and feelings, and more like a caricature of a culture that maybe we know little about. There is also something called cultural exchange which is a wonderful thing when consensual between both parties. This is not however, particularly relevant when discussing Halloween costumes, because if you’re making a culture into a costume it is not a showing of respect. If you are taking something from a culture that is not your own, and making it into a costume, I would encourage you to think about the impact that could have on the people around you and on a broader community as well.

Some common thoughts and questions you could be having:

1. “Well I asked my friend and she’s *enter culture here* and didn’t find it offensive so why should you care?”

• Hey, that’s great! I’m glad you are taking the time to see if your actions could be affecting others. Unfortunately, your friend cannot speak for her entire culture. Just as I cannot speak to what every person in my culture might find offensive, neither can your friend.

2. “It’s just a Halloween costume, it’s supposed to be funny, and you just need to chill.”

• For many it may seem this way, but for the people who are being targeted with a racist or culturally appropriative costume, it actually leads to negative stereotypes being perpetuated in society. When these stereotypes are showcased more and more frequently it becomes easier for people to accept them whether consciously or not. So as you may wear the costume for the day, that culture wears the stigma of that costume for life.

3. “What if it’s a character that I’m playing, not a cultural identity?”

• If you are wanting to play a character from another culture that could be totally fine and it could be a bit insensitive. Look into the history of that character to help you find out which, and make your decision. For example, if you love Disney and want to dress up as Pocahontas for Halloween you might want to consider the real history of Pocahontas* (not the Disneyfied version) which is a much darker and awful story. For many Aboriginal peoples, specifically the Powhatan Nation which Pocahontas is from, the Disney movie Pocahontas did a great disservice to the history of their oppression. So this is an example of a character that although you may simply want to be a Disney character, you cannot separate one version of Pocahontas from the other and it would probably be best not to dress as that character.

4. “I’m not sure if my costume is culturally insensitive or not… what should I do?”

• When in doubt, don’t wear it! Why risk offending other people on something that could be sacred to them just so you get to wear something for one night? There are so many costumes that are not offensive, so show some creativity, and create one!

This is not at all exhaustive on the topic of cultural appropriation. I have barely scraped the surface but hopefully given you something to think about before Halloween. If you are interested in learning more, google it, and find out how you feel about it after reading more peoples thoughts and opinions. A good place to start is linked below**. Keep in mind that I am not an expert on this and there are many opinions held by others that may contrast with mine. I am not the end all and be all on this topic, far from it, but I think this is an important discourse for us to have so if you have differing ideas feel free to comment below and I would love to have a conversation with you.

*http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/true-story-pocahontas-not-told-disney-002285

**http://mycultureisnotatrend.tumblr.com/post/781005138/on-reverse-cultural-appropriation

Emily Speidel

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There are a ton of ways to stay active on campus, and a ton of places to go for a good workout!

THE BIRD-COOP – UBCs go-to gym!

• Cost: 30$/term for UBC students
• Pros: Really close to Gage, cheap membership and no contract
• Cons: Can get fairly crowded

UBC AQUATIC CENTRE

• Cost: Free for UBC students!
• Pros: Great place to go for a swim and the gym downstairs is usually pretty empty
• Cons: The gym doesn’t have a huge equipment selection

STUDENT REC CENTRE

• The SRC has a huge selection of activities to choose from to stay active, from drop in sports to various leagues to special events like Day of the Longboat and Storm the Wall.
• See http://www.recreation.ubc.ca/ for more information on registering for Rec programs!

ICE RINK (DOUG MITCHELL THUNDERBIRD SPORTS CENTRE)

• Cost: Free entry for UBC students (skate rentals cost a few dollars)

WRECK BEACH

• Cost: Free!
• Running the Wreck Beach stairs is a great way to get a good cardio workout, and the beach has some excellent views!

Angela Siemens

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‘Tis the season of good ole midterms (everyone’s favourite time of the year)! Whenever I hear midterms, STRESS comes to mind. The word stress already makes me feel anxious and stressed! It’s really important to study smart and hard for your exams, but your well being is even more important. Here are some tips of pointers from personal experience that I’d like to share!

EXERCISE:

Pump those endorphins of yours and EXERCISE! I never understand how exercise would help me until this summer. When stressed, I tend to lose my temper easily. With constant frustration and anger, I wasn’t able to absorb my course materials as well as I know could. I took on yoga for the first time over the summer, and it has definitely been my go-to stress outlet. After a good sweat, I felt lively and energized (even during exam periods!)

SLEEP:

A tired mind will not be good, believe it or not! Without a good amount of sleep, you tend to forget more quickly and comprehend materials as well. So make sure to get sleep and energize yourself! #Snorlax

DO SOMETHING YOU LOVE:

If you love to cook, take some time out and cook! If you like to play soccer, arrange a small soccer tournament between your friends and colleagues. Doing something you love will give you something to look forward to and make you feel better!

CONNECT:

Make sure to keep in contact with your friends, families, and professors/TAs! Little study breaks are always good and catching up is always healthy! The individuals around you can give you some helpful advice and most likely be able to bring some smiles to your face.

BE GOOFY, BE YOU:

Finally, being you and having fun is the key to success and happiness during the midterm blues. Whether it is lip syncing in front of the mirror or having an amazing dance off with yourself, make sure to allocate some time to yourself. Before achieving great marks academically, you have to be at your optimal state!

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Look we get it, you didn’t expect to do this much studying while at University, or you did, either way you’re still going to be looking for great places to study on campus. As this may seem like a very simple answer “the library”, there are a lot of other places to study on campus that are just as convenient and could be even more peaceful than the library. Before we go over the hole in the wall study spaces on campus lets go over the not so hole in the wall study spaces on campus. First, of course Irving K Barber Learning Centre, a great library to study or group study at, open late, and in such a convenient location on campus, a 5 minute walk away from Gage, go check it out! Another great library spot is Koerners Library, which is located directly behind IKBC, this is more of a silent study space, which is great when your exam is tomorrow and you’ve just finished reading the syllabus, get over there and get studying, Koerners is generally open until 10PM, the lower floors of the library are dedicated to silent study. Now that we’ve gotten the major two study spaces on campus out of the way, Woodward Library is a great place to study, and is located next to the UBC hospital, Woodward is a great place for both silent and group study, as rooms are available for student use. The Neville Scarfe library is also a great spot to study on campus, Scarfe is located right next to the UBC fountain, and to the right of the EOSC building. Now just because we live in Gage doesn’t mean we can’t take advantage of the Walter Gage studying spaces, we have three specific study spaces and also a couple rooms that can be booked for study sessions at the front desk, more specifically in Gage we have two quiet studies and a silent study space which are all located in the Gage Commons block, these study spaces are open to everybody on campus and are a great spot to study all through the night, cause let’s face it you came to University for the sole purpose of gaining knowledge so get on it. I personally love all these study spaces on campus, but to be honest if you need a place to study on campus it wont be that hard to find, most buildings on campus are open to the public till the evening, when the doors will be locked, however if you’re already perched, hibernating and studying inside, one can stay in that building for days on days and days, trust me, I have lived through many midterm and final exam seasons, too many to count, this is why I go here right? To study? Good luck on your exams everybody! Check out some of these study spots, if you’re looking for a change of scenery compared to the blank wall in your room.

– Josh Park

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Let’s face it, you love having a kitchen and the freedom to cook whenever you wish, but you like to have a cheat day every now and then, give the cooking a rest and check out these great places to eat on campus! Now of course if you have a meal card with UBC you can eat at the Totem or Vanier cafeteria which is great! However if you don’t here are some great places to eat on campus. The Nest, in case you haven’t heard of The Nest, it is the new student union building that was built on campus, it is located right next to the UBC aquatic centre and a less than 5 minute walk from Walter Gage Residence, there are many options for food inside the Nest, such as, Flipside a classic hamburger joint, Pi[e]r2 Pizza the infamous pizza joint, Peko Peko Sushi, Grand Noodle Emporium, and if you are feeling extra extravagant the Perch, and much more go check it out! Another popular place to eat on campus is the Triple O’s on campus which is located right in between the Sauder School of Business building, and Koerner Library, serving delicious meals, check it out on Tuesdays for the great deal! Another very popular area to eat on campus is the University Village! Located right next to the Staples and Golds Gym in the Village, you can either walk a short 5-10 minute walk, or even take the 99 B-line bus one stop, this convenient location for food consists of Pizza Garden, McDonalds, A&W, Pita Pit, Red Burrito, and if you venture downstairs you will find a large selection of different restaurants serving food as extensive as, sushi, Chinese, Vietnamese, and even Mongolian food! Remember UBC has a lot of food choices to offer, and I haven’t even gone through them all, but if you aren’t feeling any on campus food, just remember UBC is a short bus ride away from great places to eat in the city, either on Broadway, or even Downtown! Explore the city and eat, isn’t that why you are here?

Now if you’re of the 19+ crew, there are a added assortment of restaurants you could eat at such as The Pit, which serve delicious burgers, Koerner’s Pub which serve cheap tacos on Tuesdays you’re definitely going to want to check that out, and Mahoney’s and Sons restaurant which is also open to the under aged student for food!

– Josh Park

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When I was a child I did not notice the way my Mom interacted with others in the world. To me, she was just my Mom. But when I became an early-mid teen I found myself embarrassed in social situations because I felt my Mom was just too friendly. How is someone too friendly? Well my lovely Mom is the type of lady that loves name tags, she thinks they are incredibly helpful and that everyone should walk around with them. So when people are wearing name tags my charming Mom always capitalizes on it. At the grocery store, my much too friendly Mom would say to the vegetable stocker, “Hello Greg! How are you doing today?” with a pep in her step and obvious excitement in her voice.

Where does this story about my Mom lead? Well, I shall tell you! During my third year of school at UBC, I was walking down Main Mall and made eye contact with a complete stranger, and my reaction to this eye contact was to look away. All of a sudden I was completely embarrassed, what about that interaction made me feel the need to look away? Why was I not okay being someone who smiled when I made random eye contact? And if I smiled, what negative effects would this have on my life?

At that moment I decided to challenge myself. I would be friendly (not creepy, but friendly) to everyone I encountered in my life. I already felt like I was friendly to my friends, family, colleagues and teachers and all those people that you expect to be nice around, but how was I treating the people that most people don’t ask, “How are you doing today?” I realized that I often interact with a realm of people known as random strangers. So, these random strangers would start to receive the same amount of happiness and care from Olivia that everyone else did. This was the day that I felt okay to identify as a friendly person in the world.

Now I take the time to ask, “How is your day going?” or to say “Happy Tuesday!” as I get off the bus, and guess what?  In no way has it negatively impacted my life! I would even say the opposite! I am surrounded my smiles, laughs, and nice people 99.5% of the time (you can’t win them all).

So I will leave you with three things:

1. A smile is truly contagious.
2. There is no such thing as being too friendly if you are genuine.
3. Invest in a name tag (My mom picked this one)

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BEST COFFEE SHOPS TO STUDY AT FOR YOUR MIDTERM TROUBLES

Brekka—downtown at Bute and Robson.

Take the 44 or the 99 & the 22

Open 24/7 with a warm welcoming atmosphere. Not the biggest space, however finding a seat at the large wooden table in the centre of the shop is never an issue. Wifi is free and the baked goods are to die for.

Bean Around The World—Mt. Pleasant. At Main and 10th

6am-1am

Some of the best local coffee around. The baristas are some of the nicest I’ve ever met and they do weekly tip jar surveys.  They feature daily drink specials and muffins that shift daily. Wifi is good for 3 hours with a purchase of food or beverage.

Calhouns—Kitsilano at Balaclava and West Broadway

Open 24/7. This Kitsilano staple is a haven for UBC students in all months of the year. Coffee, Teas, and Sandwiches made to order. Wifi is available at 3 hour increments with purchase of food or beverage. Getting a seat can be tough, so plan accordingly and bring an extension cord if you’re going to need to charge your phone or computer.

Beanery—Campus at Fairview Residence.

7:30am-10:30pm M-F

9:30am- 9pm Sat/Sun

Located in Fairview residence. About a 15 minute walk from Gage. Super affordable food and coffee not provided by UBC food services. There are two floors with plenty of space and outlets. This café is pretty quiet and the couch on the second floor is super comfortable.

Great Dane Coffee.—Campus behind Gage

Super high quality espresso located just behind Gage. Hours are 8-5pm on the weekdays only. A bit on the pricey side, but the atmosphere is calming and the sandwiches are delicious.

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I definitely know from experience how difficult it is to achieve work-eat-sleep-life balance, and sometimes that’s simply not possible. That’s why I decided to research and compile the quickest and easiest fixes on how to look like a million bucks when you’re just not feeling it. Better yet, these solutions require only one ingredient, with proven results in seconds.

Let’s get started!

1. Two Spoons

It’s the AM and your (annoying!) alarm starts blaring off its usual tune. Upon the third ring, you drag yourself out of bed and start brushing your teeth… only to be taken aback by your twin in the mirror. Don’t get me wrong, you’re beautiful (or handsome), but your eyes are too swollen and puffy from last night’s commitments for your liking.

Luckily, you have planned in advance and left two spoons in the freezer overnight. Bingo! All you have to do to de-puff is to place these frozen spoons on your eye area for a couple of minutes. Upon removal, your skin will look brighter and firmer. Plus, unlike other remedies, there is no clean-up; just pop the spoons back in the fridge and go!

2. Get Cleaner, Brighter Skin while Eating Breakfast

Milk is a staple in many college students’ diet, and you might as well be pouring yourself a glass of milk on this hypothetical day. Not only does milk supplement your Calcium and Vitamin D intake, it can be used as a facial cleanser for smooth, supple skin.

Use a clean cotton ball or washcloth to apply and gently rub a thin film of milk over your skin. This draws out excess sebum and tightens pores. Leave on for one minute and rinse off with water. It’s as easy as washing your face with commercial cleansers, but without the chemicals.

As you’re eating breakfast, be sure to keep some milk to use on the face!

PS: To any vegan readers, or to those who don’t drink milk regularly, soy milk is a viable alternative. Soy milk can help tighten skin and improve elasticity.

PPS: If you have tiny, clogged pores that don’t seem to unclog by any means, try sugar! Place a few granule’s worth of sugar onto your ring finger, dab some water, and gently rub it against your problem spots. Use your discretion especially in sensitive parts of the face (i.e. eyelids) and if you have sensitive skin. You may combine sugar with honey or water for easier application, if necessary.

3. Get Clean Hair in Seconds

You’re halfway out the door when you decide to check yourself out in the mirror—and you realize that oily mess of hair isn’t going away. Your dry shampoo only seems to make it worse. Should I wear a hat to cover up? A bandana? As all these options have crossed my mind under numerous occasions, I now rely on cornstarch for a quick-fix within seconds.

For clean, oil-free hair, use any type of cornstarch and dab the loose powder on your roots. Wait a second for your hair to set, brush it out, and now you’re ready to start your day!

Tada! And… you’re off! I wish for all your mornings to be terrific and beautiful. Have you tried any quick and easy beauty fixes that have worked? Please let me know in the comments!

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Happy midterm season!

 Midterms are a right of passage into the rest of your term and it’s a chance to force yourself to get caught up on your classes if you have not been doing so. Don’t let the stress of your first midterms get you down, here are 5 survival tips to get through midterms and finals:

 1)Do Not Cram: Pulling all-nighters changes your regular sleep pattern and can impair your memory for the next 4 days! Studies have shown that the material you cram is not retained except for the first and last things you study (if you must, prioritize your material accordingly).

 2)Practice Tests: Although highlighting, re-reading and summarizing are the most common forms of studying they are not nearly as effective as practicing recalling information to mind. If you don’t have practice questions, queue cards have a similar benefit.

 3)Explain the Material to Someone Else: This helps to find the missing gaps in your knowledge and gives you practice in articulating the information.

 4)Study Subjects in Intervals: Alternate your days when you are studying a particular subject instead of having a marathon. Distributing your studying over several weeks will help with retention of the material and the longer you need to remember it, the wider spread the intervals should be.

 5)Do the Hardest Part of Studying Before Bed: A goodnight’s sleep helps to consolidate memory and scientists have found that the information taken in right before you sleep is often the first to come back to you.

 There you go friends!

I wish you’ll all have effective and productive studying this midterm season and the whole Gage team is rooting for you!

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