THIS WEEK FROM WHERE I SIT – New contributor Hazel Anaka’s back in school. NATURE NOTES – Do you have to travel to warmer climes in order to have a vacation? Zoe Dalton offers some cold-weather alternatives that might just bring the peace of mind you are seeking. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE – Debbie Jabbour attended… Read more »
Last November after too many years of considering and then dismissing the notion, I enrolled in university. Not full-time, not in person. I chose the only alternative that made sense for me at this particular age and stage of my life. I chose distance learning through Athabasca University, Canada’s Open University. When my box of… Read more »
Last week we asked, why you chose to study at AU? Here are the replies so far: Excellent Reputation. Fiona Ott This morning my sisters that go to U of A and Grant MacEwan woke up. They showered, changed, ran around the house and looked for books. One started a car while one searched for… Read more »
This column focuses on a wide range of issues affecting post-secondary students. 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. Students from “High-risk” institutions will not receive student loans CanWest news (The Edmonton Journal, November… Read more »
Week of November 26, 2003 Missed your favourite shows? No problem. Primetime update gives you the rundown. Friends This week Thursday happened to fall on US Thanksgiving, so instead of airing a new episode, we saw lots of Thanksgiving specials, as well as episodes from the start of this final season. Next week’s episode is… Read more »
No advice on how to get a date and no advice on how to tap a keg, yet this website actually has something about university (just like it said!) http://www.canadian-universities.net/index.html After searching for websites about university and post secondary in general, I came up with more “party” sites than I could count. Now I like… Read more »
Dear Sandra, I am not an AU student, but I was looking through the website and came upon the Voice and your column and was hoping that you could answer a question for me. I just recently celebrated my fortieth birthday and had somewhat of a mid-life crisis. I do not feel that I have… Read more »
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 »
Post-Secondary Spin The Government of Alberta is pleased to announce that the “Education Indicators in Canada 2003” report put out by Statistics Canada and the Council of Ministers of Education Canada had some kind words (http://www.gov.ab.ca/acn/200311/15535.html) about Alberta’s rankings. Of course, the report (http://www.cesc.ca/pceip/PCEIP2003-D.pdf) was not all positive, but the Learning Ministry would hate for… Read more »
Maeve Binchy is a new author for me. I’ve been drawn by her lushly-colored covers in my local bookstore, but never looked inside one until now. In one way Quentins is a collection of stories – almost vignettes of people and their lives and how they relate to the restaurant of the same name. This,… Read more »
A Special General Meeting was held on October 15, 2003, to pass several changes to the proposed new AUSU bylaws, which had been requested by Alberta Corporate Registries. The bylaws were passed contingent on acceptance by Alberta Corporate Registries. Unfortunately, Corporate Registries has returned the bylaws with several more requested adjustments that they did not… Read more »
Well, there’s not much denying it: it’s winter. The telltale signs of a snowy yard, an icy sidewalk, and a bitter howling wind have all arrived in my neck of the woods. Forget the technicalities of December 21st and its heralding in of the winter months. Let’s be realistic: for many Canadians, winter is already… Read more »
I was happy when Mother told me she was marrying Mr. Cooper, and that we were moving to his farm. He was such a nice man. He always brought candy to the Easter parade, and not just the cheap stuff either. He gave me five dollars on my last birthday. Everyone thought Mr. Cooper was… Read more »
“Well now Bronwyn”, says Grandma Teasel, pulling apart a vanilla Oreo and dunking it in her Earl Grey, “that didn’t seem like such a bad report card to me.” Grandma Teasel and Jeannie and Sasha are playing three-handed euchre at the big wooden table in Grandma Teasel’s kitchen. The three children like spending time here… Read more »
AU COMPUTER CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS AU wants to talk to you. From November 28 to December 7, the university is 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… Read more »
As the yearly shopping frenzy begins, I wonder what it all means. Traditional Christmas movies, for the most part, seem to carry the underlying message that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ. However, the shopping centers certainly don’t seem to share this sentiment, but rather are screaming buy this! buy that! buy… Read more »
NOTE: The continuation of my article on student unions and life at the top will appear next week. Instead I wanted to share with Voice readers an experience I had last week at a very special event I was invited to. The occasion was a celebration of Athabasca University President Dominique Abrioux’s having received the… Read more »
MP Peter Stoffer has introduced a private members bill asking that the Income Tax Act be amended to allow tax deductions for amateur sports fees. The objectives of Bill C-210 are to encourage the citizens of Canada to become more involved in amateur sports by offering them a tax deduction for their fees that would… Read more »
My friend Michael arrived for dinner last week carrying a case of imported beer and a digital video camera. “Hey, Bro’ what’s for dinner – lamb burgers? Artichoke hearts in basil vinaigrette?” he asks, setting the camera on a tripod and looking distractedly around the living room. “Uh, no. I made a pizza.” “Perfect, ‘Bro…. Read more »
VICTORIA (CUP) — Remembering the women who died in the Montreal Massacre is not enough, say women’s advocates in B.C. As the 13th memorial approaches for the women who died on December 6, 1989, advocates say just remembering the victims could be considered hypocritical. “Nobody wants to talk about the real issues of why women… Read more »
There was wonder in his voice, as Athabasca University’s president, Dr. Dominique Abrioux, expressed his gratitude to the almost 200 friends, family members and distinguished guests who gathered Monday, Nov. 24, to congratulate him on the most recent success of his university. In September of 2003, Abrioux traveled to Versailles France to accept an Honourary… Read more »
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 »
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 »
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. There is nothing to be learned from history anymore. We’re in science fiction now. — Allen Ginsberg
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 – http://www.globaltesol.com LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS AUSU Legislative Committee needs volunteers with a good sense of right and wrong… Read more »
