Last week, we brought you an interview with graduand Anne Turner, but there was so much about her that we couldn’t keep it contained to one article. So this week, along with fellow student Camille MacRae, writer Natalia Iwanek brings a look at what these graduates are doing now to help change society for the better.
Our feature article is interviewing a current undergraduate student, Almigdad Eldoma. If the name seems familiar it’s because he was just recently elected by you to take a seat at AUSU Council in the by-election. Now we can find out much more about him and his experiences.
Also this week, with the fall awards season upon us, Barb Lehtiniemi explains for us in one quick article what each of the awards are, and, more importantly, how you can start the application process to see if you can get one.
And as if that isn’t enough, we’ve got the Council Connection for the September 19th meeting, a look at how one student went vegan and some hints and tricks you might use to go that path yourself, an exploration of whether writing is really needed for learning, as prompted by a recent article in The Atlantic, advice on improving your essays, keeping your skin healthy while wearing your mask, what to do with thanksgiving leftovers, outside scholarships, events, and so much more.
The news, of course, is mostly concerned with the Presidential race. The last elections’ upset at the polls, combined with Mr. Trump’s steadfast refusal to assure a peaceful transition of power means that even if nothing happens, the speculation is enough to feed the 24 hour news networks full time. And with a debate being turned into competing town halls, there’s no lack of compare and contrast opportunities that will be taken advantage of for the next couple of weeks.
What has my attention, however, is the looming dispute between AU and the faculty, as nicely backgrounded in Corey Wren’s recent article. Recent developments have seen MRU unions joining the AUFA in some of their boycott actions, and as Alberta Premier Jason Kenney flails for ideas as to how to create the next budget, I’ve seen a growing concern that things in education and health, the biggest two areas of government responsibility, are going to get much worse before there’s any hint of them getting better.
If you haven’t already, please click on the above link for creating the next budget. It’s clear that the UCP desperately needs some educated advice, with the assumed leader having a dearth of education himself. I’m hopeful that, with enough concern voiced by students, the UCP might avert their path of looking at education as a cost to be cut, and instead look at it as an investment as profitable as oil and gas—given current prices, perhaps even more profitable. If education was being looked at under the proper lens of a necessary investment into the future profitability of this province, the need for this dispute between faculty and administration would quickly fade—although it might require an unpacking of the Board of Governors.
In the meantime, however, enjoy the read!