the dialog aug. 20-sept 2 2013

RAMBLING MAYOR CAUGHTON CAMERA BY GBC STUDENT HUSKIES TRYOUT SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEDCANADIAN EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS RULED DISCRIMINATION

PLUS: THINGS TO DO WHEN STUCK IN LINE

GBCSURVIVAL

GUIDE

GBC STUDENT NEWPAPER FOUNDED 1982

AUG. 20– SEPT. 2, 2013THE

EDITORIAL

THE DIALOG IS...

How about we start a Dialog?

Managing EditorMick Sweetman

News EditorPreeteesh Peetabh Singh

Art Director/IllustratorSamantha Bullis

Multimedia ReporterDanilo Barba

Staff ReportersAlena KhabibullinaKaren NickelTina Todaro Follow us on Social Media!Facebook.com/thedialogonlineTwitter: @thedialogonline

The Dialog is Published by Student Association of George Brown College

The Dialog newspaper is published by The Dialog Collective under the auspices of the Student Asso-ciation of George Brown College. The collective is responsible for the overall vision and direc-tion of The Dialog newspaper, as it coincides with the larger vision of mission of the Student Associa-tion. The cost of producing a monthly newspaper is in part de-frayed by advertising revenue and largely subsidized by the Student Association. Occasionally, some advertis-ers, products and services do not reflect the policies of the Student Association. Opinions expressed in The Dialog are not necessarily those of The Dialog Collective, the Student Association of George Brown College, or its editorial staff. The Dialog will not publish any material that attempts to incite violence or hatred against

individuals or groups, particularly based on race, national origin, ethnicity, colour, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability. Contributions to The Dialog are always welcome. We request that articles be submitted as digi-tal copies in plain-text (TXT) or rich-text (RTF) format. Letters to the editor can be sent in an email message to [email protected]. Images should be in EPS format as vector images or TIF format (Mac or PC).

Drop by or contact The Dialog at:Room E122 - Casa Loma142 Kendal AvenueToronto, ON M5R 1M3www.dialog.studentassociation.caTel: 416-415-5000 ext. 2764Fax: [email protected]

2 the dialog • august 20– september 2, 2013

STUDENT ASSOCIATION ACADEMIC ADVOCACY PROGRAMHELPING YOU HELP YOURSELF

Room E130 @ Casa LomaRoom 147 @ St. James

Room 033 @ WaterfrontHotline 416-415-5000 x 6320

ifI KNOW MY STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ANDI FOLLOW THE ACADEMIC POLICIES IN PLACE

I KNOW POSITIVE COMMUNICATION WITH MY TEACHERS ISIMPORTANT TO MAXIMIZE MY ACADEMIC SUCCESS

PREETEESH PEETABH SINGHNEWS EDITOR

The idea that print media is in dire straits seemed to be supported when Sun Media, one of Canada’s largest newspaper publish-ers, shut down 11 publications in July. Some important questions resurfaced such as: Is print media really dying? Is social media the new trend or is it just over-hyped? Is it a temporary punch or is it hinting to-wards a permanent structural change? Today, readers have an unlimited access to free content on the internet. No doubt the competition has shot up with the upsurge of digital media. But that does not mean peo-ple shy away from newspapers. We still see a swarm of people rushing to take the subway every morning with coffee in one hand and their copy of a newspaper in the other. People are not willing to compromise with quality. As long as journalists have important stories to tell and provide context to keep readers involved, print media will stay. The same goes for campus journalism. When we said ‘Finally Done!’ in the last edition of our campus newspaper The Dialog

in April, all we meant was we would come back. So, here we are with our first edition this new academic year! Contrary to popular belief that social media is the future of journalism, one might argue it’s just a lot of clutter on the Internet without real substance. We aim to strike a balance between print and digital media in order to get the best out of both platforms. After all, airplanes did not kill trains and trains did not kill cars, they co-exist. The Dialog will boast a new look with inte-gration of infographics, a revamped website with more multimedia, an aggressive ap-proach towards social media, and an ener-getic group of student journalists who won’t be afraid to dig in deep to unearth some real issues and stories impacting George Brown College and its students. We want to reach out to all new and re-turning students coming from varied coun-tries, cultures and backgrounds. Ask us anything in our new column, ranging from questions concerning tuition fees to relation-ship advice. We will publish your questions with our answers. We wish everyone a fantastic start to the year and success in academic, professional, and personal pursuits. We have provided you a platform to share your stories, voice your opinions and engage. Make a merry of it or a mockery. Whatever you do, don’t forget to start a dialogue with The Dialog.

NEWS

Ensuring your safety and security at George Brown College

KAREN NICKELSTAFF REPORTER

Students coming to college (and their fami-lies) can have anxiety about safety and security while attending classes. Anxiety is understandable, Toronto is a large, diverse metropolis and college campuses reflect that. But according to Statistics Cana-da’s 2012 Uniform Crime Report , incidents re-ported to Toronto Police Service have dropped by seven per cent from last year. This has been the case for the last six years. While these decreases are reassuring, crime and violence does happen. George Brown College (GBC) has multiple campuses and a highly diverse student popula-

tion spread across many neighbourhoods in downtown Toronto. Each campus has differ-ent safety issues associated with it; depending on location and whether they are day or night classes. GBC recently signed a multi-million dol-lar contract with Paladin Security to manage campus safety. Familiarizing yourself with the locations of campus offices and their emer-gency numbers is recommended, especially for women. According to the report Developing a Response to Sexual Violence: A resource guide for Ontario col-leges and universities, published by The Ontario Women’s Directorate in January, between 15 and 25 per cent of college and university-aged women have experienced sexual violence.

The guide has many recommendations for stopping sexual violence on school cam-puses. It provides information on stopping, preventing and responding to sexual violence. Students can read about interrupting violence and violent language and how to respond to survivors of sexual violence. The Toronto Police Service website has a “crime map” for Toronto neighbourhoods specifying the places where crimes occurred and what the crime was for the past month. It might be helpful to see if there is a pattern in the neighbourhoods you frequent. If you have experienced assault, harass-ment, bullying, sexual violence, or partner violence talk to someone about it, either on campus or off.

Some safety tips: • Don’t focus on texting when walking, especially at night • Walk in lit areas • Keep music down to hear what happens around you • Wait to give out contact and personal information until you have gotten to know the person • Program police and campus emergency numbers into your phone • Speak up if you see, or hear something happening to others if safe to do so • Don’t study in isolated areas.

DAILY CHECK UPAUGUST 20– SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

2019 21 22 23

65432

Strategies For Effective Learning: Study Smarter Not HarderAll campuses: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Buskerfest International Street Performers Festival Yonge from Queen to College and surrounding areas, Free. Aug. 22–25

Crash Course: Your First Week In CollegeAll campuses: 9 a.m.– 4 p.m.

Baseball Tryouts (Men) Howard Talbot Diamond, 6 p.m.

George Brown OrientationCentre For Health Sciences; Centre For Community Services & Early Childhood; Centre For Preparatory & Liberal StudiesGuvernment/Koolhaus Complex 132 Queens Quay East.

Labour Day (college closed)

Baseball Tryouts (Men) Howard Talbot Diamond, 6 p.m.

Summer Music Series - A Night At The Opera Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace 7 p.m.–10 p.m. $10

Along The Front ROM Walk. Front and Jarvis, 6 p.m., Free

Toronto International Film FestivalTIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King W) and other venues, Sept. 5– 15

GBC Fest Featuring Ace HoodSherbourne Commons (beside Waterfront campus)11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free

George Brown OrientationCentre For Construction & Engineering Technologies; Centre For Business; Centre For Arts & DesignGuvernment/Koolhaus Complex 132 Queens Quay East.

George Brown OrientationCentre For Hospitality & Culinary Arts Guvernment/Koolhaus 132 Queens Quay East.

Music In St. James ParkCombo Royale 7 p.m. –9 p.m. Free

Toronto FC Vs. New EnglandBMO Field, 7 p.m.Save up To 40% when you buy tickets online with the password: CFSTUDENTS

Get To Know Your CampusAll Campuses: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

26 27 28 29 30

Sept.

3the dialog • august 20– september 2, 2013

KAREN NICKEL

Each September, students find themselves getting familiar with the back of each other’s heads. It’s the back to school rush to line up. Line up at registration; line up at the book store; and those long Tim Horton’s lines. Take a number at student services and realize, with horror, that there are 100 peo-ple ahead of you! What’s a person to do? The origin of the words ‘line up’ can be traced back to the French, ‘queue’, which is from the Latin, ‘cauda’ meaning ‘tale’. There is an actual mathematical study of line ups called Queueing Theory. This is used in business and customer service models to facilitate the “efficient means of customer routing”, (thanks Wikipedia). None of that helps you when you are in one though. How do you pass the time in a way that doesn’t make you cranky and frustrated? It’s much easier now than it was 20 years ago. The amount of digital technol-ogy available is mind-boggling. Hand held games; free cell phone apps for iPhones and iPads (my favourites are Adult Swim’s Amateur Surgeon and Robot Unicorn At-tack); and don’t forget listening to music on iPods. You look out of place if you aren’t, gam-ing, texting, or tweeting, or (for the more adventurous) consensual sexting while wait-ing in line. But, with so many choices, what do you choose? I like books and always have one with me just in case I come across a line I have to stand in. Recently, I have discovered E-readers which have changed my life completely. I can carry volumes of novels, manga (Japanese comics), non-fiction and textbooks in a device that’s the size of the slimmest day planner. I’ll never be bored again (unless I leave it at home). Without technology, we are left with our imaginations and our ability to strategize, plan and communicate with each other. I recently saw photos from China, where 10,000 people lined up to buy gold. Imagine that line next time you’re waiting to buy your coffee. Think of the patience and the time that’s necessary to be able to wait in that line. The one you’re in doesn’t look so bad anymore, does it? Now load up Amateur Surgeon and save some lives while you wait to buy textbooks!

OPINION

4

Save some lives while you wait in line!

the dialog • august 20– september 2, 2013

Are you stressed out already?

TINA TODAROSTAFF REPORTER

Getting back to school can be an excit-ing moment, but stressful for some too. It can be an exhausting time, especially for international students who are in the country for the first time. Because of stress, students may be-gin to feel overwhelmed, and may begin to develop anxiety, which could possibly hinder academic success and job per-formance. Stress should not be taken lightly as it can advance into severe is-sues such as increased blood pressure and insomnia. It is important for all stu-dents to find proper ways to cope with it. Lauren Davis, 24, states that she found the services offered at George Brown to be an excellent tool that stu-dents should use. “There are always people around to help you and talk to you about anything you’re concerned about,” said Davis. Services provided by the college in-clude one on one counselling for both academic and personal issues. Coun-

sellors work together with students to come up with strategizes that can help reduce stress. There are many other services such as tutoring, as well as workshops pro-vided through student services that can help students with time management. According to Stress and the College Student by National Health Ministries, to minimize the effects of stress within educational settings, opportunities such as going to class, getting involved with campus activities, and taking advantage of the services and resources offered by the college, are a few ways that can help students’ feelings of stress. Issues of stress are not only faced within the academic lives of students, but their personal lives as well. Sleep, exercise and proper diet are also use-ful in managing symptoms of stress and can not only help with personal satisfac-tion, but also with academic success. With assignments, presentations and exams fast approaching, students must utilize the resources around them, and within the college, to aid them in man-aging their stress before it escalates.

NEWS


George Brown student encounters Mayor Ford at Taste of the DanforthTINA TODAROSTAFF REPORTER

Every year the city of Toronto hosts its an-nual Taste of the Danforth, a festival de-signed to celebrate Toronto’s Greek com-munity. This year, not only did the Greek community get publicity, but so did Toron-to’s Mayor Rob Ford. On Friday, Aug. 9, a full-time George Brown College finance student, Mala Turay, 20, was a witness to Ford’s visit to Taste of the Danforth. Two blocks south of the Danforth at Greenwood Ave., Turay filmed Ford as proof to his friends that not only had he seen the Mayor, but apparently saw him in an intoxicated state. Describing Ford’s behavior, Turay said, “He was noticeably intoxicated, swaying side to side, slurring words and rambling at times.” Turay filmed Ford around 9:45 p.m. when he noticed Ford taking to his neighbours. “When I first saw him talking to my neighbours, as pictured, he was alone by his truck and when I got closer he looked intoxicated,” said Turay. “My concern was the drinking and driving part.” In the video Ford can be heard saying, “I’m not driving. I’m not driving.” after be-ing asked by Turay if he drove there. Responding to the extent of the public-ity created by his videos, which have been viewed a combined 700,000 times, Turay said, “I never thought it would get this big,” and that he believed the video would simply be viewed and laughed off. Turay’s video was one of a number of videos and photos posted to social media of

RightGeorge Brown student Mala Turay took the video, which circulated widely on social media.

Ford’s visit to Taste of the Danforth. “I’m concerned because this isn’t the first time he’s been reported as intoxicated at a public event,” said Turay. “He did ad-mit to a couple of beers, but when? I didn’t see him drink anything but coffee.” This incident was one in a chain of several allegations of alcohol and drug use by Ford in the past year. What began as a simple visit to an annual Toronto event turned into yet another story about Ford’s questionable conduct.

He was noticeably intoxicated, swaying side to side, slurring words, and rambling at times

PHOTO: MALA TURAY/YOUTUBE

PHOTO: MALA TURAY/FACEBOOK

AboveStills from video taken of the Mayor appearing intoxicated at the Taste of the Danforth festival


STUDENTASSOCIATION

SERVICES

GBC SURV

LifeWorksCommunity Action CentreIncluding the Centre for Women and Trans People, and Community Groups for LGBTQ Students, Aboriginal Students, International Students, and ASL Community.416.415.5000(ext. 2439), St. James 165B, Casa Loma E130

Academic AdvocacyThe Academic Advocacy program assists students with their academic problems and helps them address violations of their student rights.416.415.5000(ext. 6320) [email protected]

Food BankThe Student Association runs emergency food banks at the St. James, Waterfront and Casa Loma campuses. For days and hours of operation contact: 416.415.5000(ext. 6314) [email protected]

Student LifeFoodA wide selection across the campuses—check out the Kings Lounge at St. James for great food and theme nights like Mojito Mondays, or the Casa Loma Student Centre for a range of options.

EventsThe SA hosts tons of events thoughout the year, including boat cruises, casino nights, outings, various parties and licensed events. More info at www.studentassociation.ca

ClubsJoin or start your own club at George Brown [email protected]

GBC Athletics (Okay, this is run by the college, not the SA)See page 8 for Huskies tryouts. www.georgebrown.ca/athletics

Health BenefitsSee article on page 9416.415.5000(ext. 2443)

TTC SalesPurchase at any Student Association office on the last five school days of the month.416.415.5000(ext. 6395)

Your guide to the many resources and services available to you to support your life in College: both inside and outside of the lecture hall!


PERSONAL SUPPORT

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

SAFETY

RVIVAL GUIDE

Peer Tutoring (English and Math)Peer tutoring assists students in reaching thier academic goals.416.415.5000(ext. 3662) www.georgebrown.ca/tlc

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) CentresLearning stratigies, resources for study groups, and information on student success program initatives. www.georgebrown.ca/pal

Disability ServicesProviding equal access to education for students with disabilities. 416.415.5000(ext. 2622) www.georgebrown.ca/disabilityservi

CounsellingA free and confidential service to provide a safe space for students to talk, explore and work through their difficulties. 416.415.5000(ext. 2107 for St. James; 4585 for Casa Loma; 5370 for Waterfront)

Diversity, Equity, and Human RightsConfidential advice related to harassment and discrimination.www.georgebrown.ca/diversity 416.415.5000 (ext.6670/4715/4609)

Financial AssistanceFor all your OSAP questions and forms. 416.415.5000(ext. 2476 for St. James; 4062 for Casa Loma; 2960 for Waterfront)

Awards and ScholarshipsConnecting you with scholarships, awards, and bursaries. [email protected]

Career ServicesYour connection to the world of work! 416.415.5000(ext. 2622)

SafewalkCall 416.415.5000(ext. 2020) and have a Safewalk team come and meet you to walk you to a GBC building, parking lot or TTC stop.

Security Services/First AidContact Public Safety and Security. Security staff are qualified to perform CPR and emergency first aid. See article on page 3.416.415.5000(ext. 8000) Emergency line: 416.415.4000

Your guide to the many resources and services available to you to support your life in College: both inside and outside of the lecture hall!

PREETEESH PEETABH SINGHNEWS EDITOR

The Siberian Huskies are renowned for their strength, speed and energy. They are not only used for pulling sleds in the arctic but can also be a household pet. George Brown College (GBC) athletics, also known as the Huskies, have been fo-cusing on getting some inspiration from the versatility of a Husky as they aim to break some athletics records in the new season. With students coming in for their new collegiate season starting this fall, the man-agement is expecting a larger participation in sports and fitness activities. The athletics office located on the sixth floor of St. James campus boasts a fully func-

tional new studio space where all the fitness classes will be held. This is in addition to the gym, which opened earlier this year. Deanna Oliver, women sports and fit-ness co-ordinator said as a message to all the students, “Make sure you find us up here, come and participate in everything.” Elysha Ali, a GBC athletics staff who also works out regularly at the gym said, “It’s a great environment to be in. It’s very friendly and we are very helpful up here.” Women’s outdoor soccer from GBC debuts in Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) this year. OCAA also announced its first Baseball schedule starting from Sep-tember. Floorball will be introduced as an intramural sport.

SPORTS


- FOR STUDENTS & FAMILIES -

hotline: 416.415.5000 ext. 2443/2455/[email protected]

visit a student association office for more information:st. james campus room 147 ’ casa loma campus room e100

waterfront campus room 033ryerson campus room 614 (she building)

hours of operation:monday to thursday 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

friday 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.(please contact the ryerson student association office

at 416.415.5000 ext. 4049 for hours of operation).studentassociation.ca

facebook.com/runyourfuturetwitter.com/sagbc

students beginning in september opt out & opt in deadline:thursday, october 3, 2013

students beginning in january opt out & opt in deadline:thursday, february 6, 2014

(students beginning in september are not eligible)

students beginning in september family enrollment deadline:thursday, october 10, 2013

students beginning in january family enrollment deadline:thursday, february 13, 2014

(students beginning in september are not eligible)

Huskies tryout schedule announced

Athletes warm up for a rigorous round of soccer tryouts last season.

Badminton (Co-ed) Tues Sept 24 • 7 pm • Casa Loma Gym Thurs Sept 26 • 7 pm • Casa Loma Gym Tues Oct1 • 8:30 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA) Thurs Oct 3 • 7 pm • Casa Loma Gym

Cross Country Running (Co-ed) Thurs Sept 5 • 6 pm • Rivedale Park East • TrackSat Sept 7 • 12 pm • Rivedale Park East • TrackMon Sept 9 • 6 pm • Rivedale Park East • TrackWed Sept 11 • 6 pm • Rivedale Park East • Track

Soccer (Men) Sat Aug 17 • 9 am –3 pm • Cherry Beach • West Field Sun Aug 18 • 4 pm • Cherry Beach • East Field

Soccer (Women) Sat Aug 17 • 12:30 pm • Cherry Beach • West Field Sun Aug 18 • 5 pm • Cherry Beach • West Field

Volleyball (Men) Mon Sept 9 • 8.30 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA) Wed Sept 11 • 7 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA)

Volleyball (Women) Mon Sept 9 • 7 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA) Tues Sept 10 • 5:30 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA) Wed Sept 11 • 8:30 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA) Sun Sept 15 • 10 am • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA)Mon Sept 16 • 7 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA)Tues Sept 17 • 5:30 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA)Wed Sept 18 • 8:30 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA)

Basketball (Men) Fri Sept 6 • 6 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA) Tues Sept 10 • 7 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA)

Basketball (Women) Mon Sept 9 • 5:30 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA) Tues Sept 10 • 8:30 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA) Wed Sept 11 • 5:30 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA) Thurs Sept 12 • 7 pm • Alex Barbier Gym (SJA) Sun Sept 15 • 1 pm • Casa Loma Gym

Baseball (Men) Mon Aug 26 –Thurs Aug 29 • 6 pmMon Sept 2–Thurs Sept 5 • 6 pm Howard Talbot Diamond

Varsity tryout schedule 2013–2014

PHOTO: PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH/THE DIALOG

BUSINESS


DANILO BARBAMULTIMEDIA REPORTER

Canada was the first country in the world to adopt multiculturalism as an official policy in 1971. But more than 40 years later, interna-tional students and immigrants still turn to unpaid work such as volunteering, internships or low-skilled ‘survival jobs’ to meet the re-quirements for Canadian experience. After consulting with newcomers to Cana-da in the last 10 years, Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) found that many of them end up in jobs that do not correspond to their education, skills or experience. Never-theless, OHRC’s new policy launched on July 15 states employers need to ask all about a job applicant’s previous work, however where they got their experience should not matter. “Ontario attracts highly-skilled immi-grants from all over the world,” commented OHRC’s chief commissioner Barbara Hall. “But if they have to meet a requirement for Canadian experience, they can’t get a job without Canadian experience and they can’t get experience without a job. In most

cases, that is discrimination under Ontario’s Human Rights Code.” Githin Mathew, a postgraduate student in International Business Management at George Brown College (GBC), has been fac-ing this situation since he came from India in January. “The biggest barrier I have faced is companies’ requirement for Canadian ex-perience,” Mathew said. “We as students hope to get experience by working with a Canadian company, and the companies intend to employ students only if they have Canadian experience.” Harmeet Singh Kohli, professor at GBC’s centre for business says, “if the experience acquired abroad is relevant to domestic, po-litical, economical and cultural environment, then there is no reason for the employer not to take it into account; but that it is still an employer’s decision.” With the new policy, employers are ad-vised to be more specific on their ads and job postings than just requiring Canadian experience. Examples include: education, independent study, on-the-job training and volunteering. Meanwhile, there are posi-

TINA TODAROSTAFF REPORTER

Health-care expenses can be costly for many students. In conjunction with Green Shield Canada, the Student As-sociation of George Brown College (SA) has worked to provide students with health and dental coverage. The goal of the SA is to provide students with protec-tion against costly medical bills, which for many are too high to pay for on top of educational expenses. Yukiko Ito, the SA’s senior co-ordina-tor of member services said, “It is ben-eficial for students to have the Student Association health benefits so they can focus on studying without worrying about health-care bills.” There are three types of coverage pro-vided by the SA: 1. International students under the post-secondary program have hospital and medical coverage plus health and dental coverage. 2. International students under the ESL program have hospital and medical coverage only. 3. Domestic full-time students have health and dental coverage. The benefit booklet on the Green Shield website provides an outline of the health and dental coverage, as well as as-sociated costs such as the percentage that students must co-pay.

Purge of ‘Canadian experience’ barrier brings hope to skilled immigrants

Relief from medical bills through health benefits coverage

“The biggest barrier I have faced is companies’ requirement for Canadian experience,” says Githin Mathew, a postgraduate student in International Business Management at George Brown College

Some benefits include: • Up to $5,000 of prescription drug benefits a year, including hormones for transgendered students and contraceptives. • $500 for hearing aids, repairs or replacement parts every four years. • $1,000 per year for psychologists or counsellors/social workers. • $100 for glasses or contact lenses and $65 for eye exams every two years. • Up to $2,000 for private tutorial service from a qualified teacher. To qualify, a student must be con- fined to home or hospital for a minimum of 30 consecutive days. • $750 of dental coverage per benefit year. Students can visit the SA office located at each campus for forms and information regarding the health benefits. If a student already has existing equiv-alent coverage, and does not require ad-ditional coverage, they can opt out of the plan by the required deadlines. Domestic students must opt out through the Green Shield website while international stu-dents must pick up a form at an SA office. Benefit cards can be picked up at the SA offices, but locations are specific to the types of coverage. International students can pick up their cards at their home cam-pus, domestic students can pick them up at any campus, and ESL students at St. James campus only.

tions where the skills demanded are in fact improved by international experience on the resume. “It seems like discrimination to me. My line of work comprises international standard codes, procedures and software, so I would consider hiring skilled professionals indepen-dently of their country of origin in a selec-tion,” said Geoff David Barr Watson, owner of creative agency The New Beat. “My opinion is that foreigners may actu-ally aggregate fresh knowledge to the com-pany, and I believe that a new policy can definitely address the Canadian experience issue.” said Watson.

Bob Eichvald, manager of the career ser-vices at George Brown’s St. James campus said, “A lack of work experience can be a bar-rier for students when they are job searching. We encourage both domestic and international students to acquire work experience while completing their study programs.” There are many ways to do this, which in-cludes internships, co-ops, part-time jobs, sum-mer jobs, volunteer programs and extra-cur-ricular activities. “Any opportunity a student may have to gain experience in the employ-ment market will make them a more desirable candidate to potential employers,” said GBC career advisor James Vandervoot.

PHOTO: DANILO BARBA/THE DIALOG

KAREN NICKEL & DANILO BARBASTAFF REPORTERS

Why do I have to pay a student Activity Fee? What’s it for?

The Student Activity Fee ($87.42 per semes-ter) is a way for the Student Association to keep a funding stream for all the amazing things they offer full-time students. Services range from funding an academic advocacy advisor to guide students through the some-times confusing process of appealing your grades to providing awards and scholarships for students who qualify. Fees also go towards having social events and clubs for students to get involved with; it helps to keep the student food bank going; and it pays for your cam-pus newspaper and online media sites. All of these services are why there are student fees. -K.N.

I’ve started to see someone over the summer and both of us are enrolled in George Brown this year. We will be spending all our free time together. I was wondering if there is anywhere on campus we can find condoms in case we run out?

Great question! The Community Action Centre has a basket with different kinds of condoms where students can grab as many as they need. The best part is that they are free! Torontonians are pretty lucky in that there are a number of places providing saf-er sex products around town that you never have to buy them again. Some places even have non-latex brands, lube, and female condoms. If the Community Action Centre on your campus doesn’t have any condoms send them an email and ask them to put some out for students. Unfortunately, most places run out of the larger Magnum con-doms pretty fast (I think maybe that’s wishful thinking).-K.N.

Can I make photocopies from the textbooks? How much of them can be copied legally?

Yes, but there are some restrictions. If pho-tocopies do not substitute for the purchase of course texts and the portion copied is insub-stantial (up to 10 per cent of a work), it can be used in the classroom. -D.B.

Does GBC have a hostel? What kind of accommodation do they provide?

No, our student residence building will be opening in 2016. But George Brown Col-lege’s long-time partner in student homestay

accommodation, Student Homestay Services (SHS), maintains a network of caring fami-lies. To guarantee a spot with a host family, please complete your homestay application by visiting the Student Homestay Services website: www.homestayservices.ca Make sure you do not send your payment to the college! -D.B.

Who do I report to if I have been harassed in college?

Call Public Safety and Security at: 416-415-4000 (ext. 8000) or Diversity, Equity, and Human Rights 416.415.5000 (ext. 6670/4715/4609). -D.B.

Am I allowed to use a voice recorder in class? Students may audiotape their class under the following conditions: • They must first ask the faculty for permission to audiotape, and permis sion will not be unreasonably with held. It is recognized that some classes such as group processing classes may not be appropriate for audio recording. • All members of the class must know the class is being taped; • The individual student will only use the tape of class for academic purposes; • The right to privacy of the faculty and the members of the class will be respected; • They submit to faculty a Student Ac commodation Form indicating ‘audio taping’ as an accommodation by the Disability Services office under the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC). -D.B.

How can I get my GBC ID?

Please visit the library circulation desk with a piece of photo ID (Passport, driver’s license) and your timetable. Your photo ID will iden-tify you as student at the college giving you access to many of our facilities, including the open access computer learning centres. -D.B.

How can I access internet on my smartphone or laptop at GBC cam-pus?

Students can log in to GBC’s wifi network on their devices with their student number and STU-VIEW password. -D.B.

Do you have any questions for us? Send us an email at [email protected] and Ask Us Anything!

ASK US ANYTHING


Ask us anything! George Brown College: A timeline

1967 George Brown College (GBC) was established at 6 p.m. on Nov 14, 1967. The college was named after George Brown who was one of Canada’s Fathers of Confederation. Brown was a reform politician and founder of the Toronto Globe (known today as The Globe and Mail).

1968 The college incorporated the two existing provincial trade in-stitutes: the Provincial Institute of Trades and the Provincial Institute of Trades and Occupations.

1969-1990 GBC acquired and opened six schools of nursing and four To-ronto Board of Education Adult Education Centres. During these years the college operated nine child-care centres.

1971 GBC acquired St. James campus, which was previously occu-pied by William Coutts Co. a paper product manufacturer.

1973 GBC acquired Casa Loma campus.

1977 St. James campus opened its doors for students on Oct 31, 1977.

2002 Ryerson University and GBC signed a partnership to offer collaborative programs in Nursing and Early Childhood Education.

2011 GBC announced a new direction towards expanding the col-lege’s commitment in digital media sector by creating new in-cubator for the School of Design.

2012 Launch of the largest $60 million fundraising campaign in the college’s history. In March 2012 Sally Horsfall Eaton donated a $4 million gift to support student learning. GBC officially opened its new Waterfront campus, raised over $7 million for the campus development, scholarships and bursaries. In December, the college received city council’s ap-proval and signed a 100-year lease.

2013 A ground breaking ceremony officially started the construction of The Green Building Centre which is planned to be com-pleted in 2014. This new facility will be a full-scale research centre on green energy, advanced construction systems and computer-enabled, efficient buildings.

2016 is the planned date for the opening of a student residence at the northeast corner of Front and Cherry streets.

ALENA KHABIBULLINA STAFF REPORTER

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SUSANA GÓMEZ BÁEZTHE EYEOPENER

TORONTO (CUP) You’ve finally managed to free yourself from your mother’s suffocating goodbye hugs, unloaded your U-Haul truck and unpacked your stuff into your room. Your roommate seems pretty cool and so do the cou-ple of people you’ve met on your floor. All in all, frosh week was a success — you had a little bit too much to drink without embarrassing yourself or waking up on a stretcher. So far so good. You’ve survived. But as orientation comes to an end, you realize classes are approaching and your mind inadvertently starts to create scenarios of ev-erything that could go wrong on your first day. Welcome to university! Don’t worry. Come next year you’ll realize that first-years — and almost everyone else on campus — have very little knowledge of what the hell they’re doing. I’ve put together some advice to help you get through.

Everyone is as lost as you are You are not the only one with that dumb look on your face. During my first year, I pulled out my phone and called a friend so whenever I got lost at least I looked less stupid because I was doing something. Try patrolling the grounds with your sched-ule in hand the day before. It also never hurts to have a printed copy of the map with you. Just be prepared to ask for directions.

Smiling is a miracle If you’re living in rez, a simple hello can do wonders. If you’re shy, there are people who are either as shy or shyer than you are. One hello will develop into a ‘hey’ every time you see each other, and before you know it, you’re sitting in a staircase at 2 a.m. talking. On the first day of classes though, chances are the few people you met in rez are not from your program and you’ll find yourself back at square one in terms of meeting buddies. You will be surprised how much easier it is to get lost with a friend than alone. So smile at peo-ple. It’s the best icebreaker and it will probably incite a conversation about which program you’re in and which way you’re headed.

Whatever you do, don’t be late Most professors never say anything when you walk in late, but you are a fool to think that they won’t care or remember the few who dare to disturb their welcome speech. You don’t want to be the one who receives a snide comment from a gutsy prof. Let somebody else test those waters. Plus, the first 10 minutes of a lecture are usually the best: professors actually crack a couple of jokes before they pull out the bor-

ing stuff. So remember, since you will most likely get lost, make sure you make your way to class with enough time to spare for wander-ing around disoriented. On the same note, you should never, ever talk in class while the prof is speaking. Yes, it seems like something your mother told you when you were eight. But you have a repu-tation with profs and a reputation with your friends. Might as well keep the former profes-sional.

Talking to your prof does not make you a keener I’ve found out, much later in my university career, that talking to profs after or before class time makes you more personable and they like that. A lot. Plus, they are often very funny, nice people. Think about it, they have spent more time studying their subject than you’ve spent being alive. Talking to them will only benefit you.

The library helps you get crap done You don’t need to do work in the library if you don’t want to, but it helps a lot. It’s so quiet that it’s annoying so you have no choice but to study because — well — what else are you go-ing to do? Just make sure you close Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or whatever distracts you. The library may seem dull, but it forces you to be productive. You’ll appreciate that come mid-terms.

Do not confine yourself to a group of friends There are a wide variety of personalities on campus and, yes, there are cliques. But that doesn’t mean you can only fit in with one group of students. Don’t judge people before you know them. If someone likes to follow sports a lot it does not make them a jock. If someone likes fashion, art, or music it does not make them a hipster. If someone likes clubbing it does not make them a douchebag/baguette. If someone likes video games it does not make them a geek/social out-cast/dork. Everyone is cool here, gosh darn it. You’ll find that different people have differ-ent things to offer. Remember what they say: You meet your life-long friends in university, so don’t close yourself off from any opportunities to meet awesome people.

Come prepared to class I once had to hand in an essay and assumed the professor would have a stapler with him. Wrong. What did I learn? Bread twisters are actually very good — in fact, much better than staples — at holding together papers. What else did I learn? Binding an essay with a bread twister will get you called out and laughed at in front of an

entire lecture room. I now carry a mini-stapler in my bag at all times. Bring everything you need to class. Don’t assume people are going to hand it to you.

Money does not grow on trees, sur-prisingly Seriously, save money. You’ll be thousands of dollars in debt by the time you graduate and although it may not feel that way now — when you’ve got a loaded bank account with student loan money — you will feel it later. Being young at university is the only time when broke equals sexy. Everyone gives you discounts. So be as cheap as you’d like. Check out deals around

campus, avoid cafeteria food (it’s overpriced and unhealthy), and go easy on buying booze.

Good grades are great, but they’re not all you need University is about social skills as much as it is about professional skills. A good journalist, for example, can have the best writing tech-nique and flawless use of the language. But without the ability to talk to people, to really converse, he or she is useless. Learn to talk to and read people when you are at school. You will be using these skills for the rest of your professional and personal life.

PUZZLES& FUN

the dialog • august 20– september 2, 2013 11

What I wish I knew on the first day of school

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the dialog aug. 20-sept 2 2013

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