Natalia Iwanek (she/her) is a currently completing her Bachelor of Arts in English at Athabasca University, as well as serving as AUSU Councillor for the 2020–2021 term. She is also a Toronto-based freelance copy editor and content writer. Born in Poland to an ethnically Ukrainian family, she immigrated to Toronto and spent years living and working throughout Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Argentina, and Guatemala. Natalia focuses on a variety of topics, including student interviews, digital accessibility, political developments, representation, literature, as well as chronically ill/disabled/queer/immigrant identity. She can be contacted at https://www.nataliaiwanekediting.com.
Who are your fellow students? It can feel like you’re all alone in your studies, but across the nation, around the globe, students like you are also pursuing their AU education, and The Voice Magazine wants to bring their stories to you and vice versa. If you would like to be featured next, do not… Read more »
For those of us who live in northern cities, the chase of the elusive summer sun can border on obsession, particularly when we first feel the initial dreaded cool breezes of early September. Two months of warm weather is never quite enough. The irresistible urge to enjoy the remaining warmth of the summer sun remains… Read more »
The accessibility of online education is often a lifeline for many students, including those with chronic illnesses and disabilities, as well as familial and work commitments. However, for others, such as incarcerated students, online education can prove to be a barrier instead. For example, AU’s recent transition to e-texts has had a mixed reception from… Read more »
The Voice Magazine will be regularly featuring upcoming and recent AU grads, as well as alums. If you would like us to showcase your journey in an upcoming article, feel free to reach out! This month, we were able to catch up with recent grad Lorri Lyster and recent alum Laura Nelson. Lorri Lyster –… Read more »
Despite societal stigma, laws designed to further marginalize, enduring patriarchal attitudes toward sexuality, and the ever-present threat of violence, in recent times, individuals involved in sex work have been coming into the mainstream public eye through the explosion of social media and entertainment industries. Through Instagram accounts and the popularity of celebrities like former exotic… Read more »
In this new monthly column, The Voice Magazine will be featuring upcoming and recent AU grads, as well as alums. If you would like us to showcase your journey in an upcoming article, feel free to reach out! This month, we were able to catch up with two recent grads from Calgary, Shara Kirk and… Read more »
In recent years, AU has slowly begun implementing the use of digital e-textbooks for many courses. Although many students welcome this change, the move has also proved controversial. Initially, AU began a concerted effort to move online in 2002, of which Athabasca University’s eText Initiative is a continued strategy. Over the years, other initiatives included… Read more »
The 2020 pandemic has affected many aspects of AU students’ lives, including this year’s upcoming convocation, with ceremonies cancelled in both Edmonton and Toronto. A “reimagined virtual convocation” will take place on October 2, 2020. Invitations to eligible graduates were sent in June, with July 31, 2020 as the last date to submit applications to… Read more »
At times, our lives take unexpected turns, and at times, the choices we make during these moments will change the trajectories of our futures forever. Over the years, my life has taken many of these winding paths, some leading to narrow escapes, such as my terrifying near death experiences on a congested Guatemalan highway intersection,… Read more »
With recent global events and grassroots movements striving for equity, representation, and acknowledgement and redress of historical, as well as current injustices, The Voice Magazine reached out to AUSU about their new initiatives to increase inclusivity here at AU. Our second in a series of interviews focuses on the recent initiatives for students with disabilities,… Read more »