I am thrilled to see the arts becoming a major election issue. Have a look at Margaret Atwood's excellent rebuttal to recent cuts to federal arts funding here.
UVic could take a cue from this article too. Where is our funding for fine arts grad students at UVic? Is it reflective of the huge contribution the arts makes to our community and culture? To our ways of thinking and perceiving the world?
What can be done about this? What should fine arts funding for graduate students look like at UVic?
For another take on the issue, check out this hilarious video.
See how fun politics can be when artists are in charge?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Since supercollider closed, play catan!
Since the super collider in Geneva had to be closed (until it can be warmed up enough that humans can repair it) you should all come to Settlers of Catan night at the Grad Centre tonight instead of smashing atoms!
If only the super collider had enough lumber and ore...
If only the super collider had enough lumber and ore...
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Grad House Opens Sept 8
At long last the renovations are done!
Amand and Alyshia (above) are among the staff returning (in groovy new shirts!).
We are celebrating the completion of the Summer of Renovations with a low-cost barbecue lunch September 8.
We are also opening at 10 am Sept 8 and selling coffee and cookies prior to the lunch rush.
Regular opening hours 11:30 am.
Come by and check out the spanking new kitchen!
Some new features to watch for:
New menu featuring fresh, local food
During renovations our Chef and Manager, Alan King-Jones toured farms all over southern Vancouver Island. The Grad House will feature lots of local fare--all our meat, seafood, eggs, cheese, milk and yes, hazelnuts (!) will be from southern Vancouver Island. As much of the produce will also be local, whenever it is in season. All smoked food will be smoked in house now--including salmon, tomatoes, and chicken. Don't worry--your favourites like yam fries and the house-smoked chicken sandwhich will still be there!
Watch for our menu launch at the end of the month!
David Clode Room offers grad student hangout
You asked for grad student space, and you got it. Monday Tuesday and Wednesday the small half of the restaurant is a lounge for grad students and has no food service. The small room is being renamed the "David Clode Room" in honour of Mr. David Clode who served UVic students for over 40 years and retired this summer. David was an AMS chair, then manager of the AMS, helped found the GSS, was a key part of founding the UVic childcare, and has been a tireless supporter of students for his entire working career. We will miss having him on our side in the meetings with UVic admin!!
We recognized a restaurant doesn't always feel like the best place to spread out your books and study, or to bring your own lunch, so the David Clode will be open whenever the building is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (ie 8am to 9pm) for grad students to come hang out by the fireplace, bring your lunch, read a book. We are moving the lovely flat screen tv in there, along with all the comfy couches. Come by and relax in your space!
The Grad House will expand into the David Clode Room and offer table service on Thursdays and Fridays.
Take home dinners
Beginning this fall the Grad House will offer dinners you can pick up and take home on those long nights of studying when cooking seems impossible to manage. All in compostible containers made of corn that can go in your oven!!
New look for meeting rooms
We know grad students want to have social meetings for students in their departments--but when you need to book the restaurant the minimum catering charges can be too much for a student group. It was often the case that people didn't want to have their social meeting in the meeting rooms because they were too officey. So... we have repainted the meeting rooms (rooms 108-112) a warm brown colour that does not look like an office, and will be making them truly multipurpose as we upgrade the furniture over the next year.
Amand and Alyshia (above) are among the staff returning (in groovy new shirts!).We are celebrating the completion of the Summer of Renovations with a low-cost barbecue lunch September 8.
We are also opening at 10 am Sept 8 and selling coffee and cookies prior to the lunch rush.
Regular opening hours 11:30 am.
Come by and check out the spanking new kitchen!
Some new features to watch for:
New menu featuring fresh, local food
During renovations our Chef and Manager, Alan King-Jones toured farms all over southern Vancouver Island. The Grad House will feature lots of local fare--all our meat, seafood, eggs, cheese, milk and yes, hazelnuts (!) will be from southern Vancouver Island. As much of the produce will also be local, whenever it is in season. All smoked food will be smoked in house now--including salmon, tomatoes, and chicken. Don't worry--your favourites like yam fries and the house-smoked chicken sandwhich will still be there!
Watch for our menu launch at the end of the month!
David Clode Room offers grad student hangout
You asked for grad student space, and you got it. Monday Tuesday and Wednesday the small half of the restaurant is a lounge for grad students and has no food service. The small room is being renamed the "David Clode Room" in honour of Mr. David Clode who served UVic students for over 40 years and retired this summer. David was an AMS chair, then manager of the AMS, helped found the GSS, was a key part of founding the UVic childcare, and has been a tireless supporter of students for his entire working career. We will miss having him on our side in the meetings with UVic admin!!
We recognized a restaurant doesn't always feel like the best place to spread out your books and study, or to bring your own lunch, so the David Clode will be open whenever the building is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (ie 8am to 9pm) for grad students to come hang out by the fireplace, bring your lunch, read a book. We are moving the lovely flat screen tv in there, along with all the comfy couches. Come by and relax in your space!
The Grad House will expand into the David Clode Room and offer table service on Thursdays and Fridays.
Take home dinners
Beginning this fall the Grad House will offer dinners you can pick up and take home on those long nights of studying when cooking seems impossible to manage. All in compostible containers made of corn that can go in your oven!!
New look for meeting rooms
We know grad students want to have social meetings for students in their departments--but when you need to book the restaurant the minimum catering charges can be too much for a student group. It was often the case that people didn't want to have their social meeting in the meeting rooms because they were too officey. So... we have repainted the meeting rooms (rooms 108-112) a warm brown colour that does not look like an office, and will be making them truly multipurpose as we upgrade the furniture over the next year.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Perhaps you are unaware you want to be the grad rep...
That's right! You want to be a grad rep!
Why? Well, how about being part of all the great changes the GSS is winning for our members?
In the past few years, the GSS has won some significant victories:
-payment of tuition in installments
-creation of an english as a second language thesis writing group
-reduction of fee unit requirement for one year programs (ie less tuition)
-worked with other grad students in BC to win the creation of a BC Grad Scholarship program
Grad reps, who are elected in each department and meet monthly at the GSS, have been part of all this. Grad reps also help with all major governance decisions at the GSS: do we renovate the kitchen? do we borrow money to do it? Do we build our own darn superconducting supercollider for Tayfun? Its up to the reps, man.
So think about getting involved. Make sure the problems faced in your department are being addressed. Learn from other departments about how to make your department cooler. (ie. Economics has pet fish. Do you??)
Oh, and btw there is pizza (or other food) at the meetings and we are having a grad rep social one hour into our first meeting Sept 30.
So... now you know. YOU want to run for grad rep and be the coolest grad in your department! Here's how: http://gss.uvic.ca/gradrepelect2008.htm
Why? Well, how about being part of all the great changes the GSS is winning for our members?
In the past few years, the GSS has won some significant victories:
-payment of tuition in installments
-creation of an english as a second language thesis writing group
-reduction of fee unit requirement for one year programs (ie less tuition)
-worked with other grad students in BC to win the creation of a BC Grad Scholarship program
Grad reps, who are elected in each department and meet monthly at the GSS, have been part of all this. Grad reps also help with all major governance decisions at the GSS: do we renovate the kitchen? do we borrow money to do it? Do we build our own darn superconducting supercollider for Tayfun? Its up to the reps, man.
So think about getting involved. Make sure the problems faced in your department are being addressed. Learn from other departments about how to make your department cooler. (ie. Economics has pet fish. Do you??)
Oh, and btw there is pizza (or other food) at the meetings and we are having a grad rep social one hour into our first meeting Sept 30.
So... now you know. YOU want to run for grad rep and be the coolest grad in your department! Here's how: http://gss.uvic.ca/gradrepelect2008.htm
Monday, August 25, 2008
TVs for sale!
TVs made redundant by renovation are up for best offer. First priority is any grad student group or department that can make use of these TVs. If such a need exists, the TV can be provided for free. Failing that, its best offer at Friday, March 29th. email me at gssmgr [-at-] uvic.ca
Monday, August 11, 2008
Has UVIC just elected its last chancellor?
Murray Farmer was just elected as UVIC's new chancellor in July.
According to the Ring, 3838 members of convocation voted. Convocation includes UVic alumni, current and former Board of Governor and Senate members, UVic current and retired faculty, staff who have worked at UVIC for 12 months and hold a university degree,
But if the BC government gets its way, Farmer will be the last UVIC chancellor who is elected by convocation. Deep in the University Amendment Act 2008, bundled in with the creation of about a billion new universities all at once, lies the amendment to make the Chancellor appointed rather than elected.
The Chancellor will be appointed thus:
I do wonder what the motivaton is. It's not as if no one participates--3838 people just voted at UVIC at the peak of summer holidays! And it certainly seems like we have had excellent people elected in past. So what exactly needs fixing?
According to the Ring, 3838 members of convocation voted. Convocation includes UVic alumni, current and former Board of Governor and Senate members, UVic current and retired faculty, staff who have worked at UVIC for 12 months and hold a university degree,
But if the BC government gets its way, Farmer will be the last UVIC chancellor who is elected by convocation. Deep in the University Amendment Act 2008, bundled in with the creation of about a billion new universities all at once, lies the amendment to make the Chancellor appointed rather than elected.
The Chancellor will be appointed thus:
(1) There must be a chancellor of each university, who is to be appointed by the board on nomination by the alumni association and after consultation with the senate or, in the case of the University of British Columbia, after consultation with the council.Granted, you could argue the Chancellor is a figure head. But he or she also represents the University all around the world, confers degrees, and is an ex-officio member of BOG and Senate. The right to elect the person who plays that role gives the convocation the ability to decide the "face" of UVic.
(1.1) The chancellor holds office for 3 years and after that until a successor is appointed.
I do wonder what the motivaton is. It's not as if no one participates--3838 people just voted at UVIC at the peak of summer holidays! And it certainly seems like we have had excellent people elected in past. So what exactly needs fixing?
Thursday, August 7, 2008
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