Going out? goSAFE

As the midterms are rolling in and assignment deadlines are looming above our heads, there is no doubt that all of Yorks’ 5 libraries will be jam-packed with students studying and working away at their assignments until the wee hours of the night. However, there is also the return journey back to your home that should be taken into account! I’m here to tell you about some awesome resources that will help you goSAFE on your way back from those midnight library sessions!

4 FREE SAFETY RESOURCES YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT: 

1. GoSAFE: GoSAFE is a free students-escorting-students service which runs from 6:00 PM-2:00 AM (6:00 PM-1:00 AM for Glendon) throughout the whole week (yes, all 7 days!). To request goSAFE just call the number: 416-736-5454. From there on out, just tell the call representative your location and wait only up to 10 minutes to be picked up by a team of goSAFE members who can walk you ANYWHERE on campus! The choices range from your bus stop, your residence, York Lanes, Tait, you get the picture! When I say anywhere on campus, I mean anywhere on campus! This is a great way to added some confidence when walking around at night time, as you will be with a group of awesome goSAFE members. Don’t feel bad about calling them because they get paid, so let them do their job! (goSAFE is actually one of the largest on-campus employers for students). BONUS: They’ve got some cool golf carts this year to give you a ride in!

2. Village Shuttle Service: If you live in the village or are trying to get to a friends place (who lives in the village), York’s got you covered! The Village Shuttle Service runs from 6:00 PM-1:30 AM. The shuttle service comprises of three different shuttles to the village: “Village West”, “Village Express” and “Village East” (Village West and Village East runs from Monday-Friday). To get on the shuttle, just go to the pick up area which is in front of Vari Hall. There is also a “Request Stop” program after 9 PM on the “Village Express” route! Remember: A Valid YU Card must be presented to the driver! Check out the schedule here

3.York Security: if you lost track of the time at the library and it’s now 3:00 AM and you don’t know what to do, York Security is there to help! After 2:00 AM or during the Fall University Holiday Closure, when goSAFE is no longer in service, The York U Security will gladly substitute. They can also walk you anywhere on campus! Just call them at this number: 416-650-8000

4.York U Safety App: If you have a smartphone, then you must download this app! Just search in “York U Safety” and you know the rest! On the app you can direct call different safety resources on campus such as: The Campus Shuttle, Security and goSAFE! There is also an interactive map of the campus available, a safety toolbox as well as a unique emergency alarm! Check out a short video on the app here

The importance of being REDI

Heya awesome Yorkers!

We are soon approaching the school year and I genuinely hope you’re ready to have the next best four years of your life (or however long your experience at York University might be)! If you’re not quite at that ready stage yet, no worries at all! There is still loads of time left and WE (the RSA’s, SCLD, faculty and general staff at York Univeristy) are STILL here if you need us! The post-secondary experience is unlike any other, and we (the RSA’s, SCLD, faculty and general staff at York University) are here to make it as awesome as possible for you. A tool which might make you a bit more ready for the awesomeness that is coming your way is the REDI tutorial created by the Center for Human Rights.

REDI is actually an acronym and it stands for Respect, Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity. REDI can be described as an interactive online course where you are introduced to central human rights topics such as Disabilities and Age, Sexual Harrassment & Gender Discrimination as well as Religion & Creed (just to name a few). These modules are great because they not only clarify York University’s values and expectations but they also create a bridging connection on how these topics specifically relate to York University with several of York’s services listed in each module (which is a great tool for those who aren’t sure of what comprises York University’s services… there are quite a lot!). You are also given a framework on what your rights and responsibilities are through easy-to-read background information on the Student Conduct of Rights & Responsibilities.

What I love  most about this course is that it is very visual-friendly! The information is given to you in the most painless way possible.To clarify what I mean by this, let’s just say I know how modules are/can be (I am a student afterall). They can be annoying at best and plain torterous at worst. However, I actually found that I enjoyed doing this module because these modules contain central topics which should be very important to…. well to all of us. Respect, Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity are core values embedded in our student community and it’s always nice to have a check-up on your values, to see if their still where you left them!

The REDI module is open to everyone and is also completely free to do! You can access it at http://www.yorku.ca/redi/ and self-enrol yourself into the course. The course altogether takes about only thirty minutes to do, and there are a set of questions at the end of the module which you will be required to answer. Don’t worry, the questions are not specific fact questions, but more so applying the knowledge you are learning through the tutorial. At the end of the tutorial there are allyship tips available where you can apply these skills which you learned and begin creating a Respectable, Equitable, Diverse and Inclusive environment at York University!

Hope you enjoy it! Stay REDI!

Job Searching 101 on Campus

Greetings Yorkers (past, present-day and future),

I am hoping that everyone has been having an impressive summer so far, and if you haven’t, then what are you waiting for! There is still so much time left, so not to worry. In this post I will be answering two fundamental questions about job searching: Where to go to apply for a position/prepare for an interview and Who is available to help the application process easier

WHERE

The career center is the go-to place for anything and everything job-related.  Their located at 211 McLaughlin College for all questions and concerns (so go ask some)! If you go to www.careercentre.yorku.ca you can find job postings, which are available to apply for are various positions you can narrow your search down to such as: contract, permanent, summer jobs, on-campus, off-campus, and so forth. You will also see the following three positions: Work/Study, York Engaged Students (YES) & College Life at York (CLAY). To be eligible for these positions you must fill out the student financial profile (SFP) available at www.sfp.yorku.ca (which you should be doing anyways to get access to $60 million dollars’ worth of scholarships/awards/bursaries). Before I go ahead with the Who part I want to describe the three positions so you have a better idea on what’s what.

Work/Study: Work/Study positions help you balance your expenses while offering your valuable work experience and giving you flexible hours. Work/Study positions usually schedule hours around your school schedule to ensure student success.

Examples of Work/Study Positions: Fine Arts Student Ambassador, Red Zone Student Ambassador

York Engaged Students (YES): The YES program gives students a chance to gain skills to assist them in preparing for the post-undergrad world.

Examples of YES positions: Student Ambassadors, Student Therapists

College Life At York (CLAY): College Life At York (CLAY) is a work/study position available on Keele campus, where you have the opportunity to enhance the student experience in the college system.

Examples of CLAY positions: Alumni Affairs Developer, Academic Resource Adviser

WHO

The Career Centre is not only the place to go to find certain jobs, but it is also the place to go to make the application process much easier in terms of resume writing, cover letter review, and much more. The Career Centre offers free workshops all year long on various applicant concerns such as “Making a Great First Impression”, “Dining Etiquette”, “Suit Yourself: Personality and Career Choice” and so much more! Most of their workshops are available to RSVP online on the website! Later on you can also receive a letter of recognition (upon request) from the Career Center stating that you attended these workshops (which can your awesome preparation for a future employer!)

100 REASONS TO LOVE YORKU (PART 6)

Hiya Yorkies, Yorkettes & Yorkers!

I’m having a really hard time believing we’re in the month of July right now (whaaaat). Was that not the fastest month ever? Seriously where did June even go! Anyhow, it just means one day closer to the Fall semester (HOORAH!). I hope, as I always am, that your preparing for your post-secondary education! Doing these reasons has become a bit harder (just a teeny tiny bit) but still very doable. It’s made me realize that there is just way too many reasons to love York U.

51. My Taste buds are Salivating! The Orange Snail (located at Stong College’s basement) is simply amazing in terms of food. There is buffet as well as a menu option available. Their buffet is extremely cheap (only six bucks last time I checked) and they have various themed buffet days such as chinese, american, mediterranean and caribbean (which keeps it exciting). Their also super friendly and you can sit there for hours if you like (to do homework and such). There is also a liquor option available if you want to have a pub night. The business is completely family owned as well which gives the place a good home-like feel. Meet the Orange Snail owner here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gxW0yqasck

52. MOM I CAN FLY! I always think of flying when I think of the SOARING program offered to LA&PS (Liberal Arts & Professional Studies) students. SOARING actually stands for Success, Opportunities, Achievements, and Realizing Them. The program recognizes and rewards students who engage various sorts of opportunities both on campus as well as off campus. There are various levels you can pass such as START, ADVANCE & GRAD. Through your participation in the program you can be rewarded with SOARING Certificates of Achievement as well as The Outstanding Student Involvement Award. Get more info here: http://www.yorku.ca/laps/students/engage/soaring/

53. The Amazing Race: Every year the residences at Keele and Glendon Campuses compete to reduce their carbon footprint while being sustainable! The race it’s self is called The Res Race To Zero. The race is during the semester and basically they have the residents focus on turning off the light, recycling and so forth. The colleges complete with each other for the most reduced carbon footprint! Check out last years results here http://www.yorku.ca/resrace/

54.I’m on cloud nine: There are lots of renovations going at York University but this is sure to be the best! The new Lassonde School of Engineering is coming soon to a Keele campus near you! The 169,000 sq ft, 5 level building will be the home of three engineering disciplines: electrical, civil and mechanical! The building’s unique architecture is responsible for it’s name: The Cloud. Have a look at The Cloud here: http://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2013/06/17/new-engineering-building-about-to-take-shape-at-york-university/

55. GRASPing Health: The Graduate Research Association of Students in Public Health (GRASP for short) offers an undergraduate certificate program for all those interested in public health! Past GRASP talks have been led by authors, astronauts, CEOs, and so forth. This is a great opportunity to meet professors and public health practitioners while preparing for graduate school. Get more info here: http://grasp.student-org.yorku.ca/

56. Relaxing Time: Winters College Council runs the Absinthe pub & Coffee Shop (known affectionately as “The Ab” to some) located in the basement of Winters College! All are welcome and the options are endless: milkshakes, salads, wraps and drinks at decent prices! If you are 18 and under, you are still welcome sans alcohol! They feature themed nights such as acoustic night, where musicians across York University can come and play! Check them out! More info at: http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/absinthe-pub-winters-college-york

57. Magical Times: We are huge fans of Harry Potter here at York, and The Ministry of Magic can advocate for that. The Ministry of Magic consists of four sections: General Harry Potter fan club, A Quidditch Team, An HPA Team as well as Nerdfighteria. The student club will be holding a Hogwarts Express YorkU Open Quidditch Tournament on Saturday August 17th 2013, and it will be BYOB (Bring Your Own Broom). The membership includes: Ministry of Magic I.D Card, Ministry Welcome Letter in a wax-sealed envelope and so much more! Check out the Quidditch Tournament here: https://www.facebook.com/events/495517290518489/

58. YORK SPIRIT: York University has two Red and White Days throughout the year where the whole community shows their pride through sporting red and white York swag while chanting one of our many spirit anthems! The university holds two spirit competitions (best in class competition as well as YorkU spirit competition) on these days where you have the chance to win some awesome prizes simply by showing your pride! Read about Red and White day here! http://www.yorku.ca/redwhite/index.html

59.Free Courses: Yeah you read right! There is such a thing as free courses at York 🙂 Most of the courses which are free come from the School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences. Their called PKINS and are all sports-related courses, such as swimming, self-defense, kung-fu, yoga and so forth. These courses are also zero credit meaning that they do not affect your overall GPA. You are graded on a pass/fail basis (which can be refreshing). Find the full list of available courses here: http://www.yorku.ca/health/kine/documents/PKINCourseDescriptions.pdf

60. College Council Frenzy: Each college has their own council where you represent your fellow students through hosting various events (pub nights, coffee houses, movie nights, etc) and trips to places like Montreal, Blue Mountain and Niagara Falls for dirt cheap prices (For example, colleges have hosted trips to Montreal for a weekend for $40 with hotel, bus fare and other varieties included!). The council is also responsible for owning and operating student run organizations which pertain to the particular college. Check out http://colleges.yorku.ca/

That’s all folks! Hope you enjoyed it 🙂

100 Reasons To Love YorkU (Part 5)

Heya guys! Hope everyone has been enjoying the beautiful June weather! It has been a great week thus far and I have no doubt that it will be even better! I can’t believe this marks the half-way point for my reasons! Went by way too fast (guess it really was THAT easy hehe). Hope you guys continue enjoying these reasons and if any veterans have any reasons for me, please feel free to share! I love hearing new information about our wonderful school 🙂 ENJOY!

41. Bad Case Of Wanderlust: Got a bad case of wanderlust but your empty wallet doesn’t seem  to agree? Don’t worry,  York International has got your back! York International hosts the Buddy Program where students (who will be the mentors) are matched with incoming international students (who will be the buddies). Throughout the year, the duo will go to various social events such as sports night, dessert and movie night, BBQs and so forth. Help your buddy transition to university life in Canada while you learn some new things about other places in the world! More info is available through: http://international.yorku.ca/intlstud/new/buddy.htm

42.THAI EXPRESS FOOD BABY: Thai Express and I have always had a love-love relationship. I love me some medium beef pad thai.. with peanuts please! Way too good for words, and the take out container sometimes seems to have no bottom (generous amounts, I love it). Thai Express is also coming to York this September (AWEEESOOMEE!!), giving me just one more reasons to love York U. If you’ve never been to Thai Express, I suggest you go! It’s fast, yummy, and it tastes SO GOOD. If you don’t know what Thai Express is, get some pad Thai knowledge at: http://www.thaiexpress.ca/

43. You Had Me At Consent: The Center for Human Rights will be hosting an annual sexual violence prevention event called “You Had Me At Consent”. The event will be on September 3rd 2013 and will have a presentation by Dr. Don Mcpherson as well as a BBQ, Community fair and much more surprises! Be part of the movement and have your voices heard! Stand up against sexual violence and opt for consent instead! Keep in the loop at: https://www.facebook.com/YorkURights

44. Moonshine: Although it’s awesome here on earth, there’s no shame in being curious about outer space. Growing up, I always wanted a telescope so I could scope out all the stars all night long, and those desires were finally fulfilled at York. York University has an observatory where there are free (love that word) public viewing sessions both in person and online. These also aren’t your run off the mill telescopes, but you know, the serious kind of telescopes that cost like a gazillion dollars, so take advantage of our observatory! There are online public viewing sessions every Monday nights October-March (7:30-9:30 PM) as well as March-September (9:00-11:00 PM). Read more on: http://astronomy.blog.yorku.ca/

45.Dang You’re Resourceful: Whenever I write (formally that is), I love having resources. I don’t know why, but it just makes me feel so much smarter and intelligible then I actually think I am. I guess it’s just the fact that it makes me part of the big mysterious academic community (hehe). Thankfully, York’s got the resources to keep me feeling smart! We have various resource centers at York, from the Canadian Center for German and European Studies to the  Career Center Reference Library. For a full list go to http://www.library.yorku.ca/cms/help-with-research/yorkresourcecentres/

46.Run Forrest Run!: Running is an awesome activity to get some stress relief, fight disease and to generally be a happy individual. However, school can make you unmotivated to hit the track, especially around exam time. The Running Relief Team hosted by Health Education and Promotion might be just the solution you’re looking for! Stay active, have fun and meet fellow runners at running relief! There also peer coaches available to support you in your running! Last year, the running sessions were three times a week (Monday 9 AM, Tuesday 6 PM, Wednesday 6 PM) so there are accommodations for both morning and night runners! Oh and this is also completely free so no excuses! Like the page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Running-Relief-at-York/204533326242698

47. Leaders of Tomorrow: The one thing I love so much about York University is the abundance of professors who are Marxists. York University is one of the most vocal universities in Canada in terms of protests! Fun fact: Vari Hall was built specifically for protests which is kind of awesome. If you don’t know what being a Marxist means, it basically underlies Marxism: realizing that there are problems in our capitalistic society and provides solution through alternative systems. Read more about Alan Woods discussing Marxism at York University here: http://www.marxist.ca/about-us/reports-from-meeting/816-alan-woods-speaks-about-relevance-of-marxism-at-york-university.html

48. FEMPOWER: I am a sucker for women leaders (who isn’t though?). Females are not in school just because the government had a change of heart! Through protesting, standing up for what they believe in, and never giving up, we are now given education as much as priority as anyone else! It’s good to recognize the efforts of our predecessors.The Women Empowerment Club (WEC) at York University hosts an annual Fempower Conference where  there have been workshops led by professionals in the fields of Nursing, Political Science, Self Defense and so forth. There was also a networking lunch last year at Michelangelo’s last year! If you are a male, do not fear, everyone is welcome! The WEC also hosts bake sales, self defense classes, and a gift drive for a woman’s shelter! Support Fempower and like their page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/161723470571332/?fref=ts and http://wecyorku.wix.com/wecyorku

49. V-Day at York:The Vagina Monologues (which has been translated in  over 48 languages and performed in over 140 countries) is based on Eve Ensler’s interview with over 200 women. Her experience led her to create V-Day which is a global movement to stop violence against females. V-Day at York presents the Vagina Monologues annually at York University along with workshops, performances, and discussions. There are try outs each year for the production, with no prior acting experience required! Join them at https://www.facebook.com/vdayatyork as well as http://yorkuvaginamonologues.wordpress.com/

50. BBQ TIME!: Who doesn’t love  a BBQ Grilled Hamburger on a sunny day? The Courtyard BBQ will be having BBQ’s on Wednesday and Thursday for the rest of the summer! Get a delicious burger, corn, cookies and so much more for less then 10 dollars! The BBQ will also be held in central square which is gorgeous! If you haven’t seen it yet, go to http://yutl.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/shining-bright-on-the-square/

See ya later alligator!

 

Disclaimer: After doing further research, it was found that #47 has some errors. Vari Hall was architecturally created to promote learning and self-growth rather then a place for protesting

100 Reasons to Love YorkU (Part 3)

Hi Lions!

Hope everyone had a spectacular weekend and is counting down the days until Frosh! Remember to mark your calendars for September 2nd to the 8th! I always have so much fun writing these reasons and I hope you enjoy reading them! Anyways hope these reasons help you continually see why York is the best school ever!

21. Caffeine Junkie: Can’t begin the day without your double double from Timmies? Need a pick me up for night class? Well, you have come to the right school! There are four Tim Horton’s, one Starbucks, one Second Cup and one Timothy’s Coffee on campus. If you don’t dig coffee you should check out Awake Chocolate. It’s chocolate… but with caffeine! One chocolate bar amounts to a cup of coffee or a 250 ml energy drink. Bonus: The creator of Awake Chocolate is a York Alumni. Get more info at: http://www.awakechocolate.com/

22. Fight the Power: Do people refer to you as outspoken, rebellious and even a bit justice-orientated? Great! Use your voice and know your rights! York has a center for human rights where you can get information, comply an investigation, access education services (presentations,workshops, etc.) or browse their resource library! If your passionate about social justice and/or human rights, then join the Diversity Peer Education Team (DPET) and educate your peers! Read up on the past DPET Team at: http://rights.info.yorku.ca/contact-us/dpet/

23. We are Family!: At least that’s what you will be saying when you find out who graduated from York University! We have notable names such as Mark Breslin, the founder of Yuk Yuk’s international or Margot Fransser, former president and partner of Body Shop Canada! Check out more names at: pic.twitter.com/wrbSL67r1b

24: Born to be a star!: Convinced that you were destined to go into film? Catch yourself browsing airplanes ticket prices to Hollywood when you really should be studying? Then keep an eye out for the Vanier College Productions! Yeah, Vanier College has their own theater! They even offer workshops on how to bring out the Shakesphere in you and write a play, If your acting skills are rusty attend their audition preparation with techniques workshop! Click: http://www.vaniercollegeproductions.com

25. Professionally Spacing Out: I personally love spacing out and even more so, meditation. Meditation has proven to have many benefits while experiencing your inner zen. If you always wanted to adopt a more zen lifestyle but didn’t know how, then check out the Krishna Club. The Krishna Club hosts various events weekly such as philosophical talks, yoga, mantra meditation and to top it all off, a free vegetarian feast! Take your first step to zen through: http://krishna-club.com/

26. The World Is Mine: If you’ve always felt festered by various global issues occurring around the world, now is the time to express yourself! York Model United Nations (YMUN) is the largest club at York University, allowing students to represent different  countries while focusing on specific issues. YMUN hosts weekly training sessions to get you on par for external conferences hosted by Princeton, Harvard, McGill and Queen’s. For more information, view: http://www.ymun.org/

27. Writer’s Block: Everyone suffers from writer’s block every now and then, so don’t stress about it. There are also very different expectations placed on post-secondary school essays compared to secondary school essays, which is why York University has a writing center to save the day! (and your grades :p) the writing center is comprised of graduate students and professors who will look over your essay before you hand it in to give you some feedback. You can even go to them before you’ve written ANYTHING, just so they can point you in the right direction. Now, you can submit your essay online and have your paper back in 48 hours with the proper corrections. Get your writing block cleared at: http://www.yorku.ca/laps/writ/centre/

28. Feeling disconnected?: if no one has told you yet, I would love to be the bearer of wonderful news! There is free wi-fi available all over campus!! HOORAH! All you have to do is connect to AirYork with your York Passport. Oh, and we have recently come out with AirYork Plus for all those fancy people out there. Get connected at http://computing.yorku.ca/students/internet-access/wireless-access/airyork-2/

29. YORK FEST!!: Still want to party after Frosh Week? You brave soul! It’s cool, York’s gotchu! The YFS (York Federation of Students) hosts the York Fest every year with a wide array of events such as dirty bingo, pub night,and so forth for a week! We also have surprise featured guests, last year we had Lupe Fiasco! To top it all off York Fest is completely free and is open to the whole York community. Read some info on last year’s York Fest: http://yfs.ca/section/314

30. Take me out tonight: York University features T.A.S.T.E (Take A Student To Eat) where students have the chance to talk to a York Alumni about their career-related interests while enjoying some free yummy food! Each Alumni is paired with two students for lunch, where students can gain valuable career-related information and support while building their network. Pick up that fork through: http://www.yorku.ca/careers/taste/

Until next time!