Vol. 11 Iss. 48

Volume 11 Issue 48 - 11/26/2003

Editorial Pages – Talking Bill 43 with the Learning Minister

THIS WEEK NEW HORIZONS:.A NEW ATHABASCA COURSE LAUNCHED! – ORGB 300 is a new course from AU’s school of business. Learn about this course’s innovative learning features. IT’S BECAUSE HE LOVES ME – Amanda Stamp, and what her case tells us about the value of Canadian laws that are supposed to protect women. VOICE CONTENT… Read more »

New Horizons… A New Athabasca Course Launched! – ORGB 300 is the future of distance learning

Athabasca University’s School of Business has done it again! They’ve just released an exciting NEW organizational behaviour (ORGB) course that incorporates innovative online technology with the course content, creating the perfect learning atmosphere for you, the distance ed student. Organizational Culture (ORGB 300), discusses, as its name implies, the cultural aspects of organizations and workplaces… Read more »

Sounding Off – Your Assignment

A Voice reader has an assignment for you. She’s asked to know why her fellow students chose to study at AU. Send us your comments, in 200 words or less, and we’ll print them in the next Sounding Off column. In our reader’s own words, “let us know who’s out there … and why they… Read more »

Taking Notes: Eye on Education – RESP’s Benfit the Rich!

This column will focus on educational issues affecting post-secondary students. It will address a wide range of topics. Students are encouraged to submit suggestions and educational topics they are concerned about, or personal experiences with courses or university situations they feel other students should know about. REGISTERED EDUCATION SAVINGS PLANS BENEFIT THE RICH! In an… Read more »

The Net Nerd’s Profiles

One’s a little bit country and one’s a little bit rock and roll, but thank God neither are Donny and Marie (I swear those perky child stars will be the death of me). Roughstock – http://www.roughstock.com/ I am a country music dummy. Ask me anything about country music post 1991 and I won’t know “you… Read more »

Primetime Update

Week of November 19, 2003 Missed your favorite shows? No problem. Primetime update gives you the rundown. Friends Last week, Monica and Chandler were visited by a social worker, who happened to know Joey from a “past encounter,” Ross and Rachel faced their fears of spiders and swing sets, respectively, and Phoebe and Mike, made… Read more »

Dear Sandra

Dear Sandra, Is it true that there are miracle cures out there for improving memory? I can read a chapter in my textbook and not remember what was at the beginning by the time I get to the end! I’m only in my mid-thirties, and I’m already losing my memory! Can’t Even Remember My Name… Read more »

FINAL WEEK – ANNUAL READER SURVEY!

This is the first Voice Annual Reader Survey in years! Your input is vital to help the Voice maintain relevance to its diverse audience, and it is also necessary in order to show that The Voice is read and enjoyed by AU students. At this time, we have no demographics on Voice readers. In order… Read more »

Canadian Fedwatch! News Across the Nation

A Freeze Hits Alberta The Alberta government seems to have an interesting set of priorities. For instance, it recently announced (http://www.gov.ab.ca/acn/200311/15526.html) Bill 53 would place a freeze on auto-insurance premiums. It also recently announced (http://www.gov.ab.ca/acn/200311/15508.html) that Bill 43, even with the amendments, would remove any type of tuition cap from the public post-secondary system. Now… Read more »

Flicks & Folios – Film review: Bullet to Beijing

In most of Michael Caine’s films he plays a loud Cockney – an irritating but charming fellow – but not so with this spy thriller with more twists and turns than a mountain road! The film begins by revealing some of the traits of Caine’s character, Harry Palmer. He’s a healthy, sexually interested Brit who… Read more »

“It’s Because He Loves Me”

Amanda Stamp was dragged kicking and screaming at knifepoint from her apartment in Richmond Hill, Ontario on November 13. The perpetrator is her ex-boyfriend. The same ex-boyfriend who abducted her seven week old baby in April, 2003. The same ex-boyfriend who was released from a Niagara detention center despite an outstanding warrant for his arrest… Read more »

Bill 43 – Government Debate Ends Today, November 26, 2003

Bill 43 – The Post-Secondary Learning Act, which was tabled last May after first reading by the provincial government, is set to go for third reading in legislature today. Accompanying the Act are 12 amendments, the result of input from institutions and student groups over the past six months. The best news coming out of… Read more »

Writing Contest Winner – Fiction Category – Sinking

Martin’s first warning comes when he sees “cat food” on the grocery bill. “Cat food, Maggie?” “Oh, that’s funny,” she says, looking embarrassed. “You can cross that one off, can’t you? Old habits, I guess.” “Cat food, my goodness, Maggie. That was years ago.” His hand on the railing is white at the edges, his… Read more »

From My Perspective – Students’ Unions – Part 2

Last week I spoke about a disturbing new trend among Edmonton high schools. Student government is no longer being elected democratically by the students, but appointed by teachers instead. This disenfranchisement and loss of democracy is being justified with excuses such as, “student politics is just a popularity contest,” “students don’t vote anyway,” and “teachers… Read more »

First Aid

Have you ever noticed that when you experience something new you suddenly notice similar events all around you? For instance, nearly every time I’ve purchased a different car, I began seeing the same make of vehicle everywhere I turned. Also, since I began law school, every social transaction has taken on legal connotations. I now… Read more »

The First Ever Voice Writing Contest – Winners Announced

The first Voice Writing Contest was a great success. Not only did it draw a great deal of interest — both from those who found the time to submit, and those who told me they wished they could have — but the quality of submissions was exceptional. In particular, competition was very strong in the… Read more »

VOICE MERCHANDIZE INTRODUCTORY SPECIALS!

The same Voice mugs and fleece jackets that you have seen pictured as prizes on the Annual Reader Survey page, are also for sale at great introductory prices. Own your own Voice logo merchandize, and let everyone know that you are a student of Canada’s premier distance education provider! The Voice coffee mug is a… Read more »

Scholarships & Awards

For scholarships available through the Athabasca University Students’ Union, see the AUSU website at www.ausu.org BRANDON UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP Value: $1500 Deadline: March 29, 2004 Administrator: Grant MacEwan College Notes: Awarded to a graduating student of academic distinction who proceeds directly to full-time studies in graduate or professional studies at an approved institution…. Read more »

Students Invited to Join AU in Computer Conference

AU wants to talk to you. From November 28 to December 7, the university will be running an asynchronous computer conference which will take the form of an open meeting between the AU executive and AU students. For the 10 days that the conference is open, students and AU execs will post messages back and… Read more »

Conference Connections

CUTC 2004 (Canadian Undergraduate Technology Conference) January 22 – 24, 2004 Delta Toronto East Hotel The Canadian Undergraduate Technology Conference (CUTC) is about technology, innovative ideas, and the people who turn these ideas into reality. The Canadian Undergraduate Technology Conference was started in 2000 by a few visionary students from the University of Waterloo, and… Read more »

Quote of the Week

We love to hear from you! Send your letters to voice@ausu.org, and please indicate if we may publish your letter in the Voice. Somebody has to do something, and it’s just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us. –Jerry Garcia (of the Grateful Dead)

Classified ads

Classifieds are free for AU students! Contact voice@ausu.org for more information. TEACH ENGLISH Overseas: Jobs $$ Guaranteed-Great Pay. TESOL Certified 5 days in-class, on-line or by correspondence. FREE Information Seminar. FREE Infopack: 1-888-270-2941 or globaltesol.com LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS AUSU Legislative Committee needs volunteers with a good sense of right and wrong who are… Read more »