Natalia Iwanek is a currently completing her Bachelor of Arts in English at Athabasca University. She is a Toronto-based freelance copy editor, proofreader, and writer. Originally hailing from Poland, with Ukrainian ancestry, Natalia was raised in Toronto and has lived in Ontario, Alberta, Britih Columbia, Guatemala, and Argentina. She is a graduate of Simon Fraser University’s Editing Certificate Program and has attended Ste. Anne’s University and York University as well.
When not travelling, writing, or studying, Natalia enjoys cooking, reading, and learning languages.
With the recent global events and grassroots movements striving for equity, representation, and acknowledgement and redress of historical and current injustices, The Voice Magazine has reached out to AUSU about their new initiatives to increase inclusivity here at AU. Our first in a series of interviews focuses on the newly established Indigenous Representation Committee, and… Read more »
With worldwide media attention focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as on social movements addressing historical and present-day injustices, provincial and federal governments have slowly begun introducing laws that scaled back hard-earned rights gained in the years before the pandemic. Examples of this are the recently voted down Bill 207 — Conscience Rights (Health… Read more »
The most recent AUSU Council Meeting took place on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm MT. All Councillors were in attendance, with the exception of Councillor Katherine Hadden. Also in attendance was The Voice’s Council Meeting Reporter Natalia Iwanek. Key items included Policy Revisions, Council Reports, and the Indigenous Student Representation Committee…. Read more »
Misrepresentative and often dehumanizing single narratives are often seen in literature, film, art, and media. These stories are frequently one-dimensional and often-inaccurate portrayals of communities, often resulting in mistreatment and violence from society and internalized oppression and diminished self-worth for those affected. In her immensely popular 2009 TED talk, The Danger of a Single Story,… Read more »
Recent attempts to redress historical societal injustices through grassroots social movements and convictions of high profile individuals reveal a move toward the creation of a more inclusive society; one in which the lives of those historically silenced are now being increasingly heard. The attempts to rewrite often inaccurate and offensive narratives that surround many communities… Read more »
Amidst protests decrying police brutality facing Black Americans and new Albertan legislation that may be affecting the very right to protest, we enter Pride month, a celebration of queer rights, whose origins can be traced back to a riot. Despite the cancellation of this year’s Pride parades because of the pandemic, June remains a joyful,… Read more »
Historical societies, museums, and governments often use archives as a way to “preserve historical material and make them available for use.” And while in the past archives have been predominantly physical, in recent times, archives are increasingly becoming digitalized. In particular, Athabasca University’s Thomas A. Edge Archives and Special Collections, the official repository for AU’s… Read more »
English majors and voracious readers alike are well versed in literature’s many benefits. From escaping unbearable realities to uncovering startling truths to confronting our deepest fears, literature connects readers with the world by revealing insight into the common human experience. Through themes of time and place, literature reminds us that, despite our uniqueness, our individual… Read more »
While many brick and mortar students and educators have struggled with the recent unexpected transition to online education, the very nature of AU’s unique educational model has allowed the institution to bypass many issues. Although many aspects of life and work have been significantly altered for AU staff, faculty, and students, our educational system has… Read more »
The most recent AUSU Council Meeting took place on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm MT. All Councillors were in attendance, with the exception of Councillor Ian Stewart. Also in attendance were The Voice’s Managing Editor Karl Low and Council Meeting Reporter Natalia Iwanek. Key items included COVID-19, Council Reports, and the… Read more »