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[studentworld-blog1]

Common Problems for Students

Problems May Include, But are Not Limited to:

Disorganization/feeling overwhelmed

Eating right and staying healthy

Failing to manage money

Failing to network

Homesickness

Not resolving relationship issues

Poor grades/not studying or reading enough

Poor sleep habits

Skipping classes

Wasting time/procrastinating

Interventions:

The following tips are for students to help themselves avoid some of the negative affects of these problems. While these issues are certainly not exhaustive, many college students will be affected by a number of them during their college experience.

Reducing feelings of homesickness may be difficult for some but may be accomplished by remaining on campus during the week and on weekends. This may help students to get to know their campus and become more involved in athletic and social events. Students learn more about campus resources and make friends with other students, with whom they may find common ground. Stay in touch with those back home through phone, mail and email but force yourself to become part of the culture within your new academic world.

Eating right and staying healthy will help you accomplish your academic goals and make your college experience much more fun. Get enough exercise and monitor the amount and quality of your food and drink consumption. This will increase the odds of staying physically and mentally healthy.

Poor sleep habits will leave you ineffective in your work and play as a college student. Take this challenge and read a current study related to the need for sleep and the effects of sleep deprivation on our health, both our physical and mental health.

Unresolved relationship problems commonly cause bitterness, resentment and anger. Any of these feelings can cause us to loose focus of the goals we are attempting to achieve. Even if we must move, separate or even just “agree to disagree,” successful attempts at relational conflict resolution are necessary in each of our lives.

While the temptation to skip classes may be high at times, you are spending your money to gather information given during class times. When you are not there, you are not receiving the benefit of the instruction as well as information regarding grading, future assignments, and opportunities outside the classroom of which you may want to take advantage. You may also be failing to spend time with professors and classmates who may, upon graduation, become part of a valuable network for you. This takes us into problem six.

When we do not get to know and spend time with classmates, professors and other academic advisors, we lack support and a place to go for ideas and answers when a problem does arise. Practical experience and internship opportunities should always be taken advantage of, in order to provide maximum networking opportunities for students.

Know what your resources are and develop an appropriate spending plan. Seek the advice of a financial planner or counselor. Don’t spend money unnecessarily or borrow money that may be difficult or even impossible to repay. Only the federal government can do that. Be careful about being drawn into credit card opportunities offered to college students. “Easy cash” is never easy and may also come with high interest rates.

Facing considerably more freedom than the high school years, coupled with a lack of accountability it becomes easy to fall short of completing the necessary reading and studying to increase your odds of academic success in college. Failure to dedicate the appropriate time to studying and reading is likely to have a negative impact on grades. Some ideas to increase your odds of success are to be in class, every class if possible, be accountable to others for you academic performance, know each course, the syllabi, the requirements and the professor along with his/her expectations.

While college is a social as well as an academic experience, these must be balanced in order to maximize success in both areas. Procrastinating may have been an acceptable exercise in high school but will likely become problematic in college. While getting to know other students/faculty, establish deadlines for assignments that minimize your stress level.

In as much as college is a time when many people feel overwhelmed with the requirements of life, don’t let this go on for long. Consider seeing a professional counselor to help you organize, prioritize and better manage the demands being placed upon you.

Problems May Include, But are Not Limited to:Disorganization/feeling overwhelmedEating right and staying healthyFailing to manage moneyFailing to networkHomesicknessNot resolving relationship issuesPoor grades/not studying or reading enoughPoor sleep habitsSkipping classesWasting time/procrastinatingInterventions:The following tips are for students to help themselves avoid some of the negative affects of these problems. While these issues are certainly not exhaustive, many college students will be affected by a number of them during their college experience.Reducing feelings of homesickness may be difficult for some but may be accomplished by remaining on campus during the week and on weekends. This may help students to get to know their campus and become more involved in athletic and social events. Students learn more about campus resources and make friends with other students, with whom they may find common ground. Stay in touch with those back home through phone, mail and email but force yourself to become part of the culture within your new academic world. Eating right and staying healthy will help you accomplish your academic goals and make your college experience much more fun. Get enough exercise and monitor the amount and quality of your food and drink consumption. This will increase the odds of staying physically and mentally healthy. Poor sleep habits will leave you ineffective in your work and play as a college student. Take this challenge and read a current study related to the need for sleep and the effects of sleep deprivation on our health, both our physical and mental health. Unresolved relationship problems commonly cause bitterness, resentment and anger. Any of these feelings can cause us to loose focus of the goals we are attempting to achieve. Even if we must move, separate or even just “agree to disagree,” successful attempts at relational conflict resolution are necessary in each of our lives. While the temptation to skip classes may be high at times, you are spending your money to gather information given during class times. When you are not there, you are not receiving the benefit of the instruction as well as information regarding grading, future assignments, and opportunities outside the classroom of which you may want to take advantage. You may also be failing to spend time with professors and classmates who may, upon graduation, become part of a valuable network for you. This takes us into problem six. When we do not get to know and spend time with classmates, professors and other academic advisors, we lack support and a place to go for ideas and answers when a problem does arise. Practical experience and internship opportunities should always be taken advantage of, in order to provide maximum networking opportunities for students. Know what your resources are and develop an appropriate spending plan. Seek the advice of a financial planner or counselor. Don’t spend money unnecessarily or borrow money that may be difficult or even impossible to repay. Only the federal government can do that. Be careful about being drawn into credit card opportunities offered to college students. “Easy cash” is never easy and may also come with high interest rates. Facing considerably more freedom than the high school years, coupled with a lack of accountability it becomes easy to fall short of completing the necessary reading and studying to increase your odds of academic success in college. Failure to dedicate the appropriate time to studying and reading is likely to have a negative impact on grades. Some ideas to increase your odds of success are to be in class, every class if possible, be accountable to others for you academic performance, know each course, the syllabi, the requirements and the professor along with his/her expectations. While college is a social as well as an academic experience, these must be balanced in order to maximize success in both areas. Procrastinating may have been an acceptable exercise in high school but will likely become problematic in college. While getting to know other students/faculty, establish deadlines for assignments that minimize your stress level. In as much as college is a time when many people feel overwhelmed with the requirements of life, don’t let this go on for long. Consider seeing a professional counselor to help you organize, prioritize and better manage the demands being placed upon you.

[studentworld-blog1]

What is student life like?

What is student life like?

Being a student is fun, but it does have its down side. For most students it is the first time that they have left home and is therefore somewhat disconcerting. The realization that there is now no mechanism around to take dirty smelly clothes and magically transform them into clean ones is a horrible one. There is also the feeling that nobody at university particularly cares about you, or how you are doing. This is not true; courses come complete with a whole bunch of people who are there to provide support.

SUPPORT

Every institution will have a support infrastructure to help you to get the best from your student life. It is important that you identify these folks. They might be called tutors or supervisors.  At Hull we have supervisors backed up by a Student Success Adviser and a Disabilities Tutor.

The supervisor is your academic support person. They are a useful weapon of first resort if you have problems with your course or any aspect of student life. It is important that you get on well with your supervisor, laugh at his or her jokes, pay regular visits etc; one day he or she may have to tell a sceptical staff meeting that the reason you failed your exam was that a giant magpie flew off with your revision notes.The supervisor is also the person you will want to write a glowing reference for you when you apply for jobs after graduation.

You get to meet your supervisor on the very first day of your course, and keep in touch for the rest of your stay in the university. If you have any questions about how life is lived, or university procedure, ask your supervisor first. They may not know the answer, but they will certainly know someone who might.

At Hull we also have a  Student Success Adviser. Emily can give you advice on directions to travel if you are having problems. She makes call to each of our students when they join the department and can provide great advice on the best way to do well in the university.

One of the more interesting things about joining a university is that a whole new set of eyes will be seeing you at work. This means that at Hull we frequently pick up on issues such as dispraxia which might have passed unnoticed until students come to study at university. We have a Disabilities Tutor who is very experienced in spotting these issues and suggesting suitable support.

None of our support staff will actually admit to wearing vests with a big "S" on underneath their shirts, but they have been known to do some pretty superhuman things for their students.

MONEY

One of the big problems with being a student is that you have almost no money. Financially, the student's lot has got much harder over the years. However, living at university does not have to be expensive; the on-site catering does good food at reasonable prices, and university accommodation represents pretty good value.

Although you are poor, so is just about everybody else you know, and the Union Main Bar seems to do a pretty good trade most nights. All of which brings me to my favourite student joke, which appeared on a computer system in this department :

Q: What's green and takes a week to drink? A: Your student loan cheque....

If you have money problems tell your supervisor. It is unlikely that he or she will immediately produce a wad of notes, but they do know who to put you in touch with, and anything which may have a bearing on how you perform academically is something you should tell your supervisor about.

WORKLOAD

The workload can be pretty daunting at first, until you find a rhythm. There's a kind of "calm before the storm" when you arrive, as for the first few weeks you won't have much work assigned to you. However, on most courses that changes pretty quickly a few weeks in when the first courseworks land (usually around the time that you run out of clean underwear....). Be prepared for this, and make sure that you take advice as soon as you feel that you might be losing touch with the pace.

At Hull we have "Peer Assisted Student Study" sessions which are run by third and fourth year students who are there to give you help getting through the content. They've "been there" and survived the experience. The are a great place to find out the best wasy to cope. The good news is that after a while you will find that the work will settle down (and you might even find a launderette to do you clothes - or just go home with a huge bag of washing...).

One pro tip is to check on the description for the courses that you are doing and find out just when work will be dished out and is due in. At Hull we have a timetable just for this, so students can plan their social life around your workload.

THE SOCIAL WHIRL

Everyone should have a social life. Even Computer Scientists. At the start of your university life you will get to go to some kind of "Fresher's Fair" where all the various student societies tell you what they get up to and encourage you to join in. It might be best not to sign up for everything, but it might be fun to have a go at something you have never done before. Particularly if it takes you right out of your comfort zone. Things involving public speaking, such as debating, are a great way to brush up your presentation skills and make friends with people on courses completely different from yours.

THE STUDENT LIFE

Perhaps the most important thing about being a student is that it is a time of your life when you can devote yourself pretty much entirely to something that really interests you. If you enjoy writing sonnets, an english course is a great place to be. And if you enjoy making computers do things, and finding out just what they can do, then a Computer Science degree makes a great deal of sense.

[todayinhistory]

May 13th 1862: Robert Smalls’s escape from slavery

On this day in 1862, Robert Smalls made his escape from slavery by stealing a Confederate ship. Smalls, the son of a house slave and, allegedly, the plantation owner’s son, was raised in the family home. As a teenager, he worked as a day labourer and sailor on the waterfront in Charleston. When the American Civil War began in 1861, Smalls was hired as a deckhand on Confederate supply ship the Planter. Smalls meticulously noted details of the ship and planned navigation routes, preparing to make his escape. In the early hours of May 13th, 1862, while the white crew slept in the city, Smalls and a small group of slaves - which included his wife and children - sailed the Planter out of Charleston. Smalls applied his knowledge from months of working on the ship to provide the correct signals at checkpoints, enabling the ship to sail to the Union blockade. The Planter raised a white flag of surrender, and was accepted by the Union ships. Smalls brought him not just recently-freed slaves, but the valuable Confederate plans and weaponry found aboard the ship. His daring escape earned him accolades from Congress, and his subsequent speaking tour made him a visible spokesperson for African-Americans fighting in the Union army; Smalls himself served as a naval captain. After the war, Smalls bought his former owner’s house in South Carolina and established a business. He entered politics after the enfranchisement of African-Americans, and served in the House of Representatives from 1874 to 1879. However, Smalls’s political career was marred by racially-motivated accusations of corruption. Robert Smalls, war hero, black activist, and Congressman, died in 1915 aged 75.

[studentworld-blog1]

Story Times: E-learning

The world is moving fast in the field of technology and children’s futures are also determined by their ability to master the basics of reading, science, math and computers skills. However, it is not always easy for children to access quality online learning stuff that can support and reinforce these essential skills. Knowing the right website for this can be a great help.

The website e-learning for kids provides kids with fun-filled colourful animated lessons and infographics in a variety of topics that kids and their parents will like to get engaged with.

E-learning for kids is a global, non-profit foundation dedicated to fun and free learning on the internet for children ages five to 12.

The site doesn’t require any registration so users can start from the main menu which is on the top centre, with categories math, science, environmental skills, computer skills, health, language arts and life skills, all having a variety of interesting categories and clicking any will open the lessons in it sorted by popularity and grade level, from kindergarten through sixth grade.

On selecting a lesson, visitors are guided through the lesson with visual and audio prompts.

Each topic includes animated lessons, with most having a reinforcement activity to help kids apply and retain what they learned. For instance, in “Life skills” if you open “Bullying”, a user is told what bullying is all about, then an infographic or animation tells its types, provide one with tips on how to avoid it and gives out further understanding to the topic all in colourful animation or infographic. There’s a lot of positive encouragement and helpful feedback, and most lessons in the lower grades have audio support for little kids.

Whether kids want to learn keyboarding skills, phonics, figurative language, immune system, vision, acne or even about plate tectonics, they will find it all here in colourful animations, clipart, posters and infographics and would therefore gain much from these than from plain lessons.

[studentworld-blog1]

Hurrah! To boarding school!

Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers and St. Clare’s mark their 70th and 75th anniversary this year. Here’s a look at the series.

For 70 to 75 years, children over the world have indulged themselves in the life in English boarding schools. A far cry from Tom Brown’s School Days, Malory Towers and St. Clare’s took us into a world that was at once joyful and fantastic. All the girls loved school, and those who initially did not, soon grew to love it. These stories were given to us by Enid Blyton, a master storyteller who knew how to capture the interest and imagination of the young.

Twins at St. Clare’s

When asked whether she had a plan for her stories, Blyton said, that she simply allowed her imagination to take her from the beginning of the book to the final scene. In the days when she wrote there was no computer. So, she wrote with her typewriter perched on her lap. She was able to write 10,000 words of publishable story in one day!

In 1941, Enid Blyton began her school series starring twins at a boarding school called St. Clare’s. A series of six books, with never a dull moment. The first three revolve around life in the first form. The rest take you through the second, fourth and fifth forms.

Patricia and Isabel O’Sullivan have just finished school at the elite Redroofs. They have to move to senior school and their parents are reluctant to send them to yet another expensive school — Ringmere, where most of their classmates are headed. The parents fear the twins might end up being too snooty and spoilt. So, they choose to send them to St. Clare’s, which they describe as “a very sensible sort of school”. Furious at having to go to St. Clare’s and not Ringmere, the two of them are determined to be impossible. At St. Clare’s, they find nothing meets their mark and even on the sports field they find, horror of horrors! Only lacrosse is played. No field hockey and no tennis!

But, despite their vow to be difficult and unhappy in their new school, they have fun and make friends. There are other girls who make their appearance in the first book — Alison O’Sullivan (the twins cousin), Hilary Wentworth, Carlotta Brown, who was with the circus, Kitty Flaherty, who brings her pet goat, McGinty to school, The Honourable Angela Favorleigh and more.

The Headmistress, Miss Theobald believes that people get out of life what they put into it, telling her pupils: “Do your best for us and St. Clare’s will be able to do its best for you!”

Tricks and jokes, midnight feasts, sports matches, thrilling rescues, fun and friendship are all a part of life at school — but so are hard work, exams, problems, tempers, meanness and snootiness.

Though the books were written between 1941 and 1945, Blyton made it a point not to mention the war. It was as if she wanted to forget the dreadfulness of the situation and give the children a make believe world where everything was pleasant and happy. During the war there was severe rationing of food items, but Blyton did not stint on the food laid out at the midnight feast. From potted meat, hardboiled eggs and prawns to jam tarts, pickled onions and pineapple chunks, she laid it on thick.

Life at school

Seventy years ago, 12-year-old Darrell Rivers packed her bags and went to a boarding school known as Malory Towers, in Cornwall, England. As was the tradition at the school, all the new girls are taken to meet the head of the school — Miss Grayling. The head tells the new girls that in Malory Towers girls are considered a success when they have become “dependable, loving and prove to be women useful to society”.

The six books in the series take you through the school life of Darrell Rivers. Blyton began the series in 1946, bringing out a book every year till 1951 when Darrell leaves the school.

Darrell is impressed with Miss Grayling’s words and is determined to be a “success”. But then she gets friendly with Alicia Johns and gets side tracked. Alicia is a naughty one, and Darrell is taken up with playing pranks and fooling around, not paying much attention to her studies. Also, she has a violent, uncontrollable temper that gets into a trouble more than once! There are the usual spattering of nasty girls, snobbish ones — like Gwen, and meek and timid like Mary-Lou.

Events take a turn when Darrell is the cause of Sally Hope’s sudden hospitalisation requiring surgery. Regret and a wish to curb her temper and make amends bring the two together forming a firm friendship that takes them through their school years.

With every passing term, we see changes in Darrell’s behaviour. She becomes more responsible and caring and in her final year she becomes the head girl. When she takes the new girls to meet Miss Grayling, and the head gives her usual speech, Darrell is overwhelmed when she hears her name mentioned as one of the successes.

Darrell and her friend Sally Hope leave Malory Towers with wonderful memories. They are both bound for the University of St. Andrews. Darrell hopes to become a writer some day. Meanwhile, snobbish Gwen who had been lauding it over everyone about attending an expensive finishing school in Switzerland is in for a shock. Her father takes ill and Gwen has to leave Malory Towers. She is frightened and in tears, and does not return. Much later, Darrell receives a letter from her saying that her father was slowly recovering and she was considering taking up a job in an office. In the world of Enid Blyton, “taking up a job in an office” means things have become really bad!

Darrell’s younger sister Felicity also joins Malory Towers when Darrell is in her fourth.

However, as in all her books, Blyton could not resist the stereotype. So, in the St. Clare’s series we have Carlotta, the circus girl who is a “wild foreigner” who knows a language other than English. She is described as being “untidy with no manners at all”. The French mistresses in both Malory Towers and St. Clare’s had their quirks. Americans were thrown in for good measure — rich, flamboyant, pushy. But for all that, Blyton romanticised the idea of boarding school, creating in young girls a longing to be a part of this great adventure.

She died in 1968 at the age of 71. Despite the brickbats and criticisms of her work, Blyton continues to be popular — educating, entertaining and inspiring. Through her writing she encourages her readers to observe everything around them, explore and investigate, discover and learn.

Pamela Cox has valiantly tried her hand at continuing the Malory Towers and St. Clare’s series.

Look out for:

Naughtiest Girl series

The Adventurous Four

Famous Five

Secret Seven

Mr. Galliano’s Circus

The Children of Cherry Tree Farm

Family at Red Roofs

Six Cousins

[studentworld-blog1]

Hot reads for the summer

Enjoy a mix of royalty, friendly giants, scraggy dogs and even the wild things.

Summer is here. And how! When soaring temperatures chase us back to the comforts of our rooms, what do we do to keep ourselves from boredom? No, don’t look at the television. Instead, take a look at your bookshelf. Have you read the books there? In that case, go take a peek at you brother or sister’s bookcase (when they’re in a good mood, of course), or better yet — make a quick stop at the library to pick out some awesome books.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

This book is apt for our younger readers. Little Max is wreaking havoc in his house as he runs around dressed in a wolf costume, chasing the dog, annoying his mother and generally being a ‘wild thing’. This forces Max’s mother to send him to bed without dinner. But the story doesn’t end there. A forest grows in Max’s bedroom and he sets off to a magical place inhabited by the “wild things”. Max has the time of his life here, but will he eventually make it back home?

The BFG by Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl’s The BFG, as some of you might be aware, is being made into an animated movie by Steven Spielberg. And that is why the book makes its way into this list. You would want to read the book before you watch the movie, right? BFG stands for Big Friendly Giant, as Sophie finds out one night when the giant blows dreams into children’s bedrooms. Sophie accompanies the giant to his country where she is about to have an adventure of a lifetime.

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Opal is lonely and it doesn’t help her cause when her father moves to a town in Florida, where she knows no one. But a visit to the local Winn-Dixie store changes all that as she befriends a dog and brings it home. What Opal is yet to realise is that the dog, named Winn-Dixie, could be more than an animal companion to her as she discovers interesting people and places she never thought she would.

The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain

This story highlights a classic case of role reversal and mistaken identity, and makes for an intriguing read. Tom can’t decide which is worse — begging on the streets or being beaten up by his father for not collecting enough alms. His life is miserable until he meets Prince Edward, who is identical to Tom. But a twist of fate throws Edward out into the streets as the pauper while Tom is mistaken to be the prince. Where will it lead the boys to?

[studentworld-blog1]

Vacation with a difference

For every student, the best part of the year is the summer vacation. Every year, my family and I plan a trip and explore new places. This year too, we have planned for a houseboat trip in Kerala.

Usually, after the trip, I join summer classes for dance or swimming. But this year, I am planning to visit an orphanage or old-age home.

I was upset about the December floods in Tamil Nadu and was impressed by the way people helped each other in the hour of need. This has motivated me to meet old people or orphans and serve them.

This vacation is a good time to have more time to engage in social activities and I am sure these holidays will be different from the others I’ve had so far. I am eagerly looking forward to spending my vacation in serving the needy.

I will share this experience with my friends and motivate them to join me the next time around.

[studentworld-blog1]

Meet the paper man

For Mathew Jose, recycling comes naturally. His efficient network of kabadiwallas in Chenna,i help him do his bit for the environment.

How many times have you been told to Reuse and Recycle?

For Mathew Jose, it comes naturally. He was featured in the Forbes 30 under 30, earlier this year. Why? Because, Paperman, an NGO that he runs, campaigns for efficient waste management.

It is a common sight to see raddiwalas, kabadiwalas or the scrap collector coming home to buy old newspapers and magazines. For most of us, it is the money that was important — it means a couple of ice creams on a hot day or our favourite toffees. Little did we know that the raddiwalas play an instrumental role in pushing society towards recycling.

Today, Paperman is on the scene. This NGO has created an organised system where its members train scrap collectors across the city and act as a connecting point between customers looking to recycle, and the recyclers. When customers call the Paperman hotline, a scrap collector goes to the house within 48 hours and makes the collection for money.

Changing face of scrap

After his graduation from Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Jose worked with his mentor MB Nirmal at ExNoRa (Excellent Novel Radical) International.

“It was here that I learnt about the environment and ways to protect it. I also had the opportunity to observe the routine of kabadiwallas and how they recycled four tonnes of waste every month.”

He then worked his way around the city, found and profiled scrap collectors to further understand what they did. The idea of recycling coupled with his interest led to the establishment of Paperman in 2010.

In an interview, Jose explains how, through Paperman, they have introduced trash funding systems which enable customers to donate their paper and plastic to an NGO of their choice, instead of selling it. “The NGOs use this to raise funds.”

“Our main goal is to strengthen the network of kabadiwallas making them more visible and connecting them,” he adds.

While the NGO is active only in Chennai at the moment, there are plans to take it to a national level. Plans are afoot to launch the NGO is Hyderabad and Bengaluru as well.

[studentworld-blog1]

Get creative

What you need to do

1. Cut the bottle in half using the cutter.

2. Now decorate the bottom half of the bottle with the ribbons, as shown in the picture.

3. When that is done, tie a bow and presto! Your pen stand is ready.

Colourful pot

What you need

CD

Glue

Paint - any colour you wish

Paint brush

Mud

Top half of the bottle

What you need to do

1. Using the glue, paste the mouth of

the bottle onto the CD.

2. Now paint the CD and the bottle the

same colour.

3. Put mud into the pot.

4. Find a small plant to put into the pot.

Use a sprayer to water the plant.

String it up

What you need

Colour paper

String

Glue

What you need to do

1. Cut the colour paper into squares measuring nine cms. approximately.

2. Start with the coloured side up.

3. Fold along the dotted lines. Unfold and turn over.

4. Now fold horizontally both ways.

5. Collapse into the centre line, as shown.

6. Fold the upper layer only.

7. Turn over.

8. Turn the corner past the edge.

9. Fold behind and turn over.

10. Fold along the centre line.

11. Now make the remaining squares in the same way.

12. When they are all done, use glue to stick them on the string.

Keywords: Origami, get creative, K.G Rangarajan

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[studentworld-blog1]

The Fashionable Student: How to Do Eco Fashion on a Budget

As Kermit the Frog once said 'it's not easy being green' and this is especially true when it comes to fashion. We always assume going green involves wearing a hemp sack and not washing your hair for weeks on end but this just isn't true. For the last several years sustainability has been a pressing issue not only across the world but within the fashion industry. Thankfully though, as a need for green fashion has emerged and grown, designers and high street shops have started becoming more conscious in their designs, which means having a greener wardrobe is a lot more feasible (and stylish) than it once was.

Besides more affordable eco fashion hitting the shops, another factor that has really made an impact on making greener clothing possible is knowledge. Did you know buying a dress that's been made in the UK means your being eco-friendly? Or picking up a few bargins in your local charity shop equals green fashion? Or did you know just making your clothes last longer is good for the environment?

With more options on where to buy our clothes than ever before and creative hacks/tips, taking on eco fashion is totally doable - even on a student budget. Promise!

So, with this in mind here's my challenge to you...can you become more eco-friendly in your everyday wardrobe?

If you're up for the challenge or simply curious, here's a few tips to get you started...

Don't stick to the high street

Yes the high street is an amazing place to shop, but there are so many other brands you can buy from that are affordable and better for the environment. The best thing you can do is google and find what ethical or local brands you like that are online or have a shop in your area. For online shoppers, I'd recommend Terrible Movement, an ethical brand that do cool graphic tees and sweatshirts. If you're more into dresses and beautiful prints then check out Closet London, a British brand that makes all of its clothes in the UK. You can buy Closet online and in many independent boutiques across the country. Did I mention they also offer student discount? Bonus!

Swap with your friends or housemates

You may be so over a t-shirt that you've barely worn, but your friends might be totally into it and vice versa. Swapping wearable fashion is one of the best ways to be eco-friendly because not only are you recycling garments but you can also make an event out of it. Just invite the girls (or guys) over for a wardrobe swap; get them to bring clothes they don't want/wear anymore and trade with them over drinks and pizza. This way you get new additions to your wardrobe (that you didn't have to pay for) and you're doing something good for the environment. Total winner.

Don't be afraid to buy second-hand

I admit I sometimes totally freak out about buying second-hand things (mainly because of my OCD) and I know I'm not alone. There's always this stigma about buying used things but if you find something that is in mint condition, on-trend and totally within your budget then there shouldn't be anything stopping you from buying it. Although, I probably should recommend charity shops, I hate to say it, but realistically your best bet at a bargain is eBay. This is mainly because of the sheer amount of listed items. Not only can you shop from people across the country (rather than in your area) but majority of the listings are items with tags still on them going for a quarter of the price they once were. The only downfall of shopping on eBay is the postage and the carbon print you create from the item being shipped to you - but if you're reusing an item that hasn't even been worn then you can probably be forgiven.

Don't expect to go all the way

Sure you can pick up a dress, trousers, t-shirts etc that are eco-friendly, but underwear is a different story. Eco-friendly underwear is a complete budget buster and I think most people will agree with me when I say used underwear is not an option. It's things like underwear that, realistically, you have to compromise on because it's just not doable. Fashion should make you feel comfortable within yourself, not uncomfortable. So don't feel defeated and give up if you can't find/afford an entire eco wardrobe - what's important is that you're trying.

Whether it's buying a t-shirt off eBay or from your local charity shop - remember it's the small things that make a difference.

[studentworld-blog1]

Students' Unions Are Left-Wing by Nature - Deal With It

I mean, you'd think it would be pretty obvious. Students' union - the clue is kind of right there in the name. And yet, there still seems to be considerable confusion on the part of some.

Given recent events, the rugged individualism which so defines both conservative values and our increasingly-marketised Higher Education system - that famous "I'm alright, Jack" mentality of looking out solely for oneself - perhaps ought to be renamed 'Lawlor's Rule' in tribute to the student columnist who famously suggested that because he's not a rapist, all measures to prevent sexual assault on campus are essentially now futile. In the furore that followed, many claimed they failed to see the relevance of the individual in question's oft-stated affiliation to his university's Conservative Society. But it is relevant, because Lawlor's article spoke directly to a self-centred worldview which says things are absolutely fine the way they are and nothing need ever change - when clearly the issues at stake may not affect or even apply to them.

With SUs currently electing next year's Officer Teams, a fascinating backlash has now started to emerge: conservative students have decided that it's time to "take back" their SU from those "loony lefties" whose PC shenanigans and slap-happy boycotts seek to establish something approaching a more equitable society for all. They rail against such "ideological nonsense" in their own manifestos, despite intending to propagate just that if elected by deliberately downscaling their SU's ability to campaign on key issues. Cloaking themselves in veil of a non-partisanship, they state that SUs should focus "exclusively on services that benefit students". But hey, guess what? They do that already through advice centres, clubs and societies, academic representation, food & drink outlets and much more.

The point is, then, that both practically and politically, the campaigning element of students' unions don't really need to represent these people, since their own interests are already well-served. "We shouldn't campaign on fees!", say those who apparently consider a marketised university system to be entirely satisfactory - coincidentally because they are well-placed to afford it. They often rail against the steps SUs take to keep women safe on their campuses, to push back against investment from fossil fuel and arms companies, or - perhaps most ironically - to challenge curricula which fail to represent a diverse student body. Instead, they claim, we should be focusing on "real" issues for "real" students - though frankly, if sexism, racism, inequality and the environment aren't real issues, then I'm not entirely sure what are. (I guess when you've been brought up to believe that the universe bends exclusively to your will, your 'right' to ogle a pair of tits over breakfast on Page 3 really is a big deal.)

Critics frequently decry the metrics by which the political stances of SUs are determined - namely, electoral turnouts. "Too low!", they cry; "Not enough people voted to make this legitimate!" (again, a fairly ironic criticism coming from those who are often happy for the Conservative Party to claim an electoral 'mandate' with less than a quarter of the population's support). But they should be reminded that these numbers remain broadly representative samples which capture a snapshot of general opinion. Non-participation in the process does not automatically denote acquiescence with either of the two opposing views.

"But lefty views are alienating to more conservative students!", I hear you bleat. Well, yes - in the same way that Conservative Party politics is alienating to practically everyone else. Frankly, this is the same blinkered logic that allows David Cameron to bemoan the prison/university ratio among young black Britons, yet fail to acknowledge or correct the structural issues underpinning such inequity. It's also the same double-standard that permits a public outcry when Bahar Mustafa sarcastically tweets a tongue-in-cheek hashtag during a debate on liberation politics, then ends up being threatened with prosecution for a Hate Crime. (Hey, man, under the rule of 'free speech', isn't she, like, entitled to that opinion...?)

Conservatives in general have a fascinating conception of what constitutes a meritocratic or level playing-field. It goes like this: a six-foot tall gig-goer takes their place in the crowd next to a wheelchair-user. Who gets to utilise the four-foot viewing platform that's been installed to even things up? Both, or neither at all: that, after all, represents true equality of opportunity.

Clearly, it doesn't feel too great when the shoe's on the other foot for these supposedly now 'disenfranchised' groups. However, such feelings of dislocation are the inevitable by-product of a system which has stubbornly ignored plurality for too long. If conservative students fail to see themselves reflected in the politics of SUs, I would suggest that this is precisely because their values are often antithetical to the principles of collective altruism which so define unions. Once again, the logic remains one-sided: just as they constantly berate left-wingers for not making enough of an effort to assimilate a wider range of viewpoints, so too do conservative students either need to start acknowledging their own positions of privilege or begin empathising with people outside of their immediate social circle.

If this doesn't happen, the result will inevitably be a stalemate - for it is the conservative's inability to see the world through the eyes of others which so often results in a failure to acknowledge that their interests are already represented. The people who speak for them walk the corridors of power. They constitute a social demographic which has - knowingly or otherwise - benefited for centuries from the existing way of things. Why, then, would they (or anyone else) ever need a union?

But that's the very definition of conservatism: move along, folks, everything's just fine, nothing to see here. I'm alright, Jack; business as usual. Historically, that's just the way conservatives have always wanted it. After all, the clue is kind of right there in the name.

[studentworld-blog1]

Stop Telling Students They Can't Change The World

I have to admit that when I left university I tried pretty hard to distance myself from the student world. Two weeks before graduating I moved out of the terraced houses of Jesmond to a far more 'civilian' town on the other side of the river. I revelled in the fact that I could do a weekly shop without running into someone in fancy dress, and that my next door neighbour asked what I did as opposed to what I studied.

It's been two years since then and a couple of weeks ago, I realised a tiny part of me was missing the adorable 'love to hate' life of being a student. I had spotted a girl at the train station carrying a tote bag with Jeremy Corbyn's face screen printed onto it. I would not have been surprised if she had made it herself, spending a good few hours of her art degree's weekly contact hours finding the right profile of politics' unlikely superstar.

Faced with all that free time and all that passion, it's no wonder student activism is fierce and unforgiving. Recently, the National Union of Students has come under siege from so-called 'veteran' activists such as Peter Tatchell and Germaine Greer after LGBT officer Fran Cowling would not share the stage with Tatchell during a debate at Canterbury Christ Church University. One candidate for NUS Women's Officer, Anna Lee, has been receiving horrible transphobic abuse since putting herself forward for the position. Next, a motion to remove the necessity of a Gay Mens' representative in University LGBT societies caused outrage, the main source of said outrage being those who weren't even present at the debate, and who never engage in student politics besides tweeting angrily about it.

Whether I agree with these decisions or motions is, frankly, by the by. The reaction from most people is the same: it's political correctness gone mad. These young things! Heaven forbid they should see what the real world is like!

In actual fact, students and their flights of fancy - you know, maintenance grants for poorer students, fair doctors' contracts, sexual consent lessons - is the reason why all sorts of things get done in the 'real world'. A trainee teacher on my Facebook newsfeed recently called the NUS 'an irrelevance'. Only last week the National Union of Teachers voted unanimously against the Government's proposed PREVENT Campaign, which would 'make it a duty for staff in publicly funded institutions to report on signs of radicalisation'. The proposal has been widely criticised for unregulated training and disproportionately targeting the Muslim community; NUS officials were at the forefront of the counter movement, with the organisation's Black Students' officer Malia Bouattia testifying against PREVENT at the United Nations in Geneva. Students are not simply improving their campuses (or coating them in cotton wool, as some might say); they are changing laws. Laura Coryton was studying at Goldsmith's University when she created the change.org petition 'Stop Taxing Periods. Period', which in less than two years since gained over 320,000 signatures and succeeded in its mission to axe the 5% VAT on menstrual care products in the UK. She was formally recognised in parliament for her outstanding contribution to one of the most important campaigns of the past decade.

In both the United Kingdom and the USA, young people will have extreme political influence over the coming months (even swaying the votes in some US states), yet voting numbers among them are lower than any other group. When LBC asked how we could motivate them to get to the polling station, this is the sort of reply that they got:

How can we expect students to exert their power in the 'real world' if we tell them they don't have any? How can we expect young people to make our society a better one if 'veteran' activists call their ideas 'pretentious wank'?

As the gap between student me and professional me gets ever larger, I will fight for the right for students to screen print their own Jeremy Corbyn tote bags. I will let them campaign for safe spaces and gender neutral toilets. I will let them discuss 'wanky' topics like privilege and intersectionality without ridicule. And before you step onto the 'PC gone mad' bandwagon, I would stop and consider whether you've changed any laws lately - or whether it's simply in your best interests that society stays the same.

[studentworld-blog1]

"Off the Grid" Fashion Show Makes a Statement

The runway came to Claremont on Saturday, April 23rd at “Off the Grid: A Fashion Show.” Held at Scripps College's Margaret Fowler Garden, the event sought to promote body positivity, artistic expression, and self-love by women, for women.

Featuring the innovative designs of Sara Gomez PO '18, fourteen women from Pomona College modeled pieces from Gomez’s spring/summer 2016 collection. The mostly black-and-white statement clothing was complemented by soft pastel colors, and the pieces were met with much appreciation.

The event also showcased the artistic achievements of several other students. Interracial Leisureware, a local clothing collection by Sara Gonzalez-Bautista SC ‘18, made a statement with its clothing pieces, meant to undermine racial stigma often found in fashion. Additionally, designs by Senqué LP PO ‘19 and artwork by Rae'Quan Nelson PO ‘19 made an appearance at the show.

Following the fashion show, some of the outfits were made available for sale, making the unique clothing pieces available to everyone.

By challenging traditional notions of beauty, “Off the Grid,” true to its name, demonstrated that being trendy doesn’t have to come from purchasing standard fashion from brand names or department stores. Rather, beauty can be found in the most unconventional of places—but most importantly, in ourselves.

[studentworld-blog1]

Dal News RED CARPETS AND RISING STARS Dal celebrates student leaders at the 4th annual Impact Awards

Dalhousie lit the spotlights and rolled out the red carpet for the 4th annual Student Impact Awards on March 26. Students, staff, and faculty members dressed to the nines and gathered in a glittering McInnes Room to celebrate some of Dalhousie’s most inspiring students in style.

“I’ve always thought the Impact Awards were like the Oscars of Dalhousie. Actually, I think the Oscars are more like the Impact Awards of Hollywood,” joked co-hosts Rebecca Elridge and Julian McGuire to the crowd of over 400.

After the soothing sounds of Moe Kabbara on the guitar, and warm welcomes from Dalhousie President Richard Florizone and DSU President Ramz Aziz, the evening’s award ceremony commenced to honour dozens of students and societies for their outstanding contributions to the Dalhousie and Halifax communities.

“We all benefit from the creativity, engagement, and new ideas that come from this remarkable group being honoured tonight,” said Dr. Florizone of the impressive collection of student leaders.

Between award announcements and a delectable three-course meal, the crowd was treated to musical performances from DalJam and Emergency Choir Operation, as well as two vibrant dances from the Sikh Student Association and the Nova Scotia Chinese Culture & Art Club. The venue was teeming with gold and black balloons, a live-tweet projection screen, and Dal-branded cookies at each seat. Throughout the night, guests crowded to commemorate the evening with friends by striking a pose at the event’s professional photo booth

“I think that the night itself is a great opportunity to bring staff and students together,” says award recipient Anthony Saikali, founder of the Dalhousie Medical Campus Response Team (DMCRT). “It’s inspiring to meet people who have done so much to benefit our community.”

The award ceremony is a fantastic opportunity for students and faculty members to celebrate and share their accomplishments, and continue to inspire positive initiatives within our community.

The Impact Award’s extravagant décor and assortment of awards are a modest appraisal of the outstanding list of achievements made by the students of Dalhousie. In total, there were 82 framed pennants given out to winners for 30 different awards. Five recipients of the Board of Governors' Awards were also recognized. (Read about the winners here.)

The SAIL Impact Awards at the Agricultural Campus were held on March 30, and recognized 14 students along with another 12 who received their Student Advancement in Leadership (SAIL) Certificates.

Below is a list of all recipients from both the Halifax and Truro events.

2015 Impact Award winners (Halifax event)

RISING STAR AWARDS

Presented to first-, second-, and third-year students who have demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment, leadership, creativity, and initiative to the DSU, as well as to the campus and community at large.

Meredith Baldwin, Arts and Social Sciences, Burlington, On Katherine Beaton, Science, Halifax, NS Sébastien Clairmont, Science, Barrington, NS Samantha Dixon, Management, Sackville, NS Jessica Melanson, Science, Dieppe, NB Scott Rairdan, Arts and Social Sciences, Calgary, AB Alysha Rose, Science, Saanichton, BC GuanQiang Song, Management, CangZhou, China

RESIDENCE LIFE LEADER AWARDS

Presented to current residence students in positions of leadership who have best demonstrated an exceptional level of maturity and professionalism, encourage and empower students to engage in student life, lead by example, and work to improve the life of the residence hall.

Xavier Hartley, Science, Fall River, NS Meredith Ivany, Science, Windsor Junction, NS Byung Jun Kang, Architecture and Planning, Bathurst, NB Laura Lowe, Arts and Social Sciences, Annapolis Royal, NS Brandy Morrow, Health Professions, Quispamsis, NB

RESIDENCE LIFE IMPACT AWARDS

Presented to current members of residence hall communities who have made outstanding contributions to the life of their residence community, lead by example by encouraging and empowering residents to get involved, promote respect, and take initiative in creating new opportunities for their peers.

Joanna Cohen, Health Professions, Richmond Hill, ON Joe Graham, Arts and Social Sciences, Renfrew, ON Tori Kort, Architecture and Planning, Kelowna, BC Katy Mitukiewicz, Management, Elora, ON Jacqueline Otterbein, Science, Owen Sound, ON Celia Rossiter, Arts and Social Sciences, Lower Cape, NB Tareq Yousef, Science, Halifax, NS

MOST IMPACTFUL RESIDENCE COUNCIL

Presented to the Residence Council that has demonstrated consistency in event planning and delivery, high participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.

Howe Hall Residence Council Risley Hall Residence Council

STUDENT ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Presented to the student who has demonstrated excellence in generating a new idea or concept that has captured the attention of the community, and demonstrates integrity aligned with their personal values.

Carlisle Norwood, Management, Halifax, NS

GREEN AWARD

Presented to a student who has made a significant contribution to improving awareness on environmental and sustainability issues at Dalhousie, and who has demonstrated passion and inspires others to make a difference.

Rylie Arnell, Arts and Social Sciences, Calgary, AB

MOST IMPACTFUL COMPETITIVE SPORTS SOCIETY

Presented to a student society or club ratified with the DSU that has selective membership and/or competes in intramural leagues, has demonstrated consistency in event planning and delivery, high participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.

Dalhousie Women’s Lacrosse Team

MOST IMPACTFUL NON-COMPETITIVE SPORTS SOCIETY

Presented to a student sports society or club, ratified with the DSU, that has open membership and has demonstrated consistency in event planning and delivery, high participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.

Dalhousie Cricket Society

MOST IMPACTFUL COMMUNITY-BASED SOCIETY

Presented to a student society ratified with the DSU that is active in the Dalhousie community and beyond, providing services and addressing issues in the community. It has demonstrated consistency in event planning and delivery, high participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.

Special Tigers Society

MOST CHARITABLE SOCIETY

Presented to a student society ratified with the DSU that has made a significant contribution to a charity and has increased awareness at Dalhousie of a given charity or cause; has demonstrated consistency in event planning and delivery, fundraising efforts, and high attendance of its membership; and sets an example for other student societies.

Dalhousie Commerce Society

MOST IMPACTFUL DEPARTMENTAL SOCIETY

Presented to a departmental society ratified with the DSU that has demonstrated consistency in event planning and delivery, high participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.

Dalhousie Biochemistry Students Society

MOST IMPACTFUL FACULTY SOCIETY

Presented to the faculty-based society ratified with the DSU that has demonstrated consistency in event planning and delivery, high participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.

The Dalhousie Arts and Social Sciences Society

MOST IMPACTFUL LEVIED SOCIETY

Presented to a Type 1 levied student society ratified with the DSU that has demonstrated consistency in event planning and delivery, high participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.

The Dalhousie Medical Campus Response Team

MOST IMPACTFUL GENERAL AND SPECIAL INTEREST SOCIETY

Presented to a student society ratified with the DSU that caters to the general or niche interests of students, has demonstrated consistency in event planning and delivery, high participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.

DalJam

MOST IMPACTFUL CULTURAL/SPIRITUAL SOCIETY

Presented to a student society ratified with the DSU that has raised awareness, engaged students, and increased representation of a culture, religion, or spirituality on campus. It demonstrates consistency in event planning and delivery, high participation and attendance of its membership, and sets an example for other student societies.

The Dalhousie International Students’ Association

TIGERS LIVE WELL @ DAL AWARD

Presented to a Dalhousie varsity student-athlete who demonstrates significant contribution to the community, has increased awareness at Dalhousie of a given charity or cause, and demonstrates positive leadership and inspires others to get involved.

Sarah MacNeil, Health Professions, Albert Bridge, NS

RECREATION LIVE WELL @DAL AWARD

Presented to a sport club member who demonstrates significant commitment to Dalhousie’s sport club program, exemplifies the role of sport clubs in developing and promoting student engagement and fun on campus, demonstrates positive leadership, and inspires others to get involved.

Rachel Mays, Science, London, ON

INTRAMURAL LIVE WELL @DAL AWARD

Presented to a Dalhousie intramural participant who demonstrates significant commitment to Dalhousie’s intramural program, exemplifies the role of intramurals in developing and promoting student engagement and fun on campus, and demonstrates positive leadership and inspires others to get involved.

Eliza Jackson, Architecture and Planning, Hamilton, ON

STUDENT WELLNESS LIVE WELL @DAL AWARD

Presented to the student who best demonstrates leadership in promoting and contributing to a healthy campus, is a role model for health and wellness both in practice and by impacting others to lead a healthy lifestyle (demonstrated through peer-to-peer education, volunteering, service learning, global outreach, or any activity that enhances quality of life and development).

Hillary Geneau, Arts and Social Sciences, Brockville, ON

STUDENT ACTIVIST OF THE YEAR

Presented to the Dalhousie student who demonstrates the highest level of passion and commitment to social justice, leads by example, inspires others, and inspires others to create change.

John (JD) Hutton, Arts and Social Sciences, Halifax, NS

TOP DSU COUNCIL MEMBER

Presented to the councillor who has demonstrated a commitment to collaborative problem solving, active representation of their constituency, and initiative in the pursuit of innovation.

Kaitlynne Lowe, Arts and Social Sciences, Bowmanville, ON

DSU DAL-KING’S IMPACT AWARD

Presented to the King’s student who is most highly engaged and takes on a leadership role at Dalhousie. This is the sister award to the KSU Community Engagement Award for Dalhousie students at King’s, which acknowledges the contribution of a Dalhousie student to the community at King’s College.

Harrington Critchley, Arts and Social Sciences, Toronto, ON

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT OF THE YEAR

The International Student of the Year Award is presented to the student who has demonstrated the highest level of excellence in leadership, engagement in the community, inspires others, and is a respected voice for international students at Dalhousie.

Sepehr Rassi, Science, Tehran, Iran

DSU TEACHING AWARD

The DSU Teaching Impact Award is given to a Dalhousie professor who has demonstrated a student-centered approach to teaching by going above and beyond for students, and encouraging students to push the boundaries of their learning.

Jin Yue, Department of Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture Aitazaz Farooque, Department of Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture

CERTIFICATES OF DISTINCTION

Presented to students who demonstrate above-average contributions to campus life over the course of a university career, based on a DSU-determined points system. Points are awarded for holding positions within the DSU, being members of Dalhousie societies, holding residence leadership roles, and other extracurricular involvement.

Tanisha Chakma, Arts and Social Sciences, Thaka, Bangladesh Treasure Daniels, Arts and Social Sciences, Awa Iman, Nigeria Bridget Graham, Arts and Social Sciences, Beachburg, ON Joseph Johnson, Arts and Social Sciences, Middleton, NS Harry Makohoniuk, Heath Professions, Moncton, NB Leah Morris, Arts and Social Sciences, Lindsay, ON Sam Pajot-Phipps, Management, Calgary, AB Alyson Petsche, Engineering, Hamilton, ON Brandon Randall, Arts and Social Sciences, Mississauga, ON Christine Rankin, Arts and Social Sciences, Oakville, ON Jeremy Ryant, Arts and Social Sciences, Winnipeg, Manitoba Christie Silversides, Health Professions, Toronto, ON Emma Skagen, Arts and Social Sciences, Halifax, NS Daniel Smith, Architecture and Planning, Esquimalt, BC Alexis Stevenson, Arts and Social Sciences, Vancouver, BC Ashley Whelan, Science, Halifax, NS

GOLD Ds

Presented to top Dalhousie students to recognize an elite level of involvement and achievement in campus life over the course of their university career. Students are ranked based on a points system for holding positions within the DSU, as members of Dalhousie societies, through residence leadership roles, and other extracurricular involvement. The committee may select a student for this award if the student has not achieved the requisite amount of points, yet has made outstanding extracurricular contributions in the community.

Zahraa Cherri, Science, Halifax, NS Bobby MacPherson, Arts and Social Sciences, Newmarket, ON Hima Merdan, Management, Port Said, Egypt Ranjith Kumar Murugesan, Engineering, Namakkal, India Vishwa Patel, Engineering, Ahmedabad, India Chelsea Peterson, Engineering, Charlo, NB Taylor Quinn, Arts and Social Sciences, Vancouver, BC Anthony Saikali, Science, Halifax, NS Jomel Varghese, Engineering, Halifax, NS

FACULTY LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Presented to a student in good academic standing in each Dalhousie faculty. These students exemplify the highest level of passion for their discipline, take initiative in creating new opportunities, and encourage their peers to engage in faculty events. Faculty Leadership Award winners positively impact other students in their faculty and the reputation of their faculty outside of the classroom

Agriculture

Qi Ming (Hugh) Lu, Plant Science, Fujian Province, China

Architecture and Planning

Matthew Jones, Architecture, Halifax, NS

Arts and Social Sciences

Emma Skagen, English, Halifax, NS

Computer Science

Alexis Stevenson, East Lawrencetown, NS

Engineering

Alyson Petsche, Mechanical Engineering, Hamilton, ON

Health Professions

Hanqing Yang, Nursing, Nanjing, China

Law

Kevin Fernandes, Mississauga, ON

Management

Grant Flagler, Management, Toronto, ON

Medicine

Russell Christie, Petrolia, ON

Science

Dan Nicholson, Neuroscience, Sault St. Marie, ON

LILLI JU AWARD

Presented to a student who has exhibited the most signifi cant lifetime achievement of outstanding contribution to university life.

Sagar Jha, Science, Halifax, NS

LEVEL CHAN AWARD

Presented to a student who has made the most outstanding contribution to student advocacy and academic justice.

Ali Calladine, Science, Whistler, BC

MALCOLM HONOUR AWARD

Presented to a Dalhousie student to recognize an elite level of involvement and achievement in campus life over the course of a university career.

Danny Shanahan, Management, Halifax, NS

BOARD OF GOVERNORS’ AWARDS

The Governors’ Awards are the top student awards at Dalhousie University. They recognize students who contribute to the quality and vitality of the university and the achievement of its mission, through both their academic accomplishments and their involvement in campus life. They are awarded each year for exceptional contributions or leadership in such areas as university governance, development of a sense of community on campus, community service, internationalizing the campus, visual or performing arts, minority access, or athletics, while maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or above.

Owen Johnstone, Agriculture, Fall River, NS Kristy McGregor-Bales, Health Professions, Ottawa, ON Mahbubur Rahman, Engineering, Dhaka, Bangladesh Randii-Lynn Sullivan, Health Professions, Dryden, ON Xinyu (Lokiy) Wang, Management, Jining City, China

2015 SAIL Impact Awards winners (Truro event)

STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR A CLUB OR ORGANIZATION

Presented to a student or student group for their commitment, time, energy and resources for making a difference to other students.

Rosalie Madden

IMPACT AWARD FOR STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Presented to a student for their commitment and leadership to Dal AC by taking an active role in student government and by genuinely demonstrating their commitment to DASA and all of the students on this campus.

Harris Bakker

IMPACT AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP

Presented to a student for their commitment in providing leadership through creating and/or maintaining a sustainable environment through campus.

Shanthanu Krishnakumar Rebekah Bailey

COMMUNITY SERVICE STUDENT LEADERSHIP IMPACT AWARD

Presented to an individual who has demonstrated their community spirit by volunteering regularly and whole-heartedly. This student is recognized for maintaining community connections, a great reputation and pride in the work that they do.

Jessica Fogarty

RESIDENCE STUDENT LEADERSHIP IMPACT AWARD

Presented to an outstanding student leader who has demonstrated significant leadership, commitment and spirit to improving the quality of life for students in residence.

Josh Kelly

STUDENT LEADERSHIP HEALTH EDUCATION IMPACT AWARD

Presented to a student leader who, through the creative use of resources, has enhanced the quality of student life and development on this campus.

Ainsley Lofstedt

RISING LEADER IMPACT AWARD

Presented to a first-year student who has demonstrated outstanding school spirit through involvement in campus life.

Mitchell Watt

OUTSTANDING TUTOR STUDENT LEADERSHIP IMPACT AWARD

Presented to a student or student group who provides exceptional help, knowledge and outstanding services to his or her tutee or tutees.

Tonya-Lynne Carew Falina Dovick Krista Head Owen Johnstone Stephanie Moquin

DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE SPIRIT AWARD

Presented to a student who exhibits school spirit through his or her enthusiasm and contribution to multiple activities at Dal AC.

Qi Ming (Hugh) Lu

PHILLIP STEAD MEMORIAL EXCELLENCE IN STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD

Presented in memory of Phillip Stead, a graduate of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College who devoted much of his personal and professional time to the advancement of Maritime agriculture. It recognizes a student at Dal AC who has demonstrated a significant and positive impact on campus and community life through their leadership skills and initiative; has demonstrated academic achievement; is committed to team work; has influenced the development of future campus leaders; and is recognized as a role model and effective leader by peers, staff, and faculty. The award comes with a $2,500 prize donated by the Stead family, the Nova Scotia/Newfoundland Branch of the Holstein Association of Canada, and the surrounding community.

Jessica Fogarty

STUDENT ADVANCEMENT IN LEADERSHIP (SAIL) CERTIFICATES

Presented to students in the SAIL program who have participated in professional workshops, traveled to conferences, and have experienced practical knowledge in communication, career, leadership and personal development.