UNews - Students' Union

RAVE project virtually ready

trevor.kenney — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:20:41 +0000

For new and prospective learners and their families, one of the best ways to gain an appreciation for what sets the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge apart from other post-secondary institutions is to visit the campus in person. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's relatively small size, accessibility and quality are readily apparent to anyone who has spent even a day here, but visiting the campus isn't always an affordable option for learners from other provinces and countries. Language barriers can also make the process of selecting a university difficult for prospective international learners and their families.

In response to this challenge, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has produced an innovative multilingual online virtual campus environment that will allow anyone with web access and a free copy of Google Earth to experience the Lethbridge campus in a way that mirrors an actual campus visit.

This wide campus view is the starting point for your virtual tour.

Visitors to the RAVE (Reaching Audiences through Virtual Entryways) virtual campus site will be provided several options for exploring the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, its services and facilities.

"Instead of finding out about a club you would have liked to participate in when you might be in your final year, new students have the opportunity to know it all before they even arrive on campus," says Jeff Bingley, a RAVE production member and videographer. "It has the potential to really streamline your ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ experience."

Navigating the RAVE world can be accomplished through 3D virtual campus tours, whereby visitors can get a look at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's facilities and services, all described in a number of different languages.

Users can also access the RAVE web environment through traditional hyperlinks on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's website. Each link on the RAVE web page will take you to specific locations – such as department offices, the Students' Union Building – in the virtual U of L environment. Another click on that office will connect the viewer to a relevant YouTube video describing the resources that the office provides.

The third method of navigating RAVE is as an unguided explorer of the 3D buildings and their contextual information links.

In summer 2013, the U of L will release the first stage of the 3D RAVE virtual campus environment.

"RAVE uses a combination of advanced video game and Google Earth technologies to produce highly-detailed, interactive 3D environments," says professor James Graham of the Faculty of Fine Arts Department of New Media, RAVE's lead designer and production manager. "These feature architecturally accurate campus building models using the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's CAD drawings, interactive video components, photographs, audio, web-interactivity and pre-programmed animated camera sequences."

The release of RAVE this summer will focus initially on student and administrative services and clubs for new learners who will be arriving at the U of L.

"The Students' Union partnership has been critical in delivering the learner interest components, and the Faculty of Fine Arts partnership has provided RAVE with a secure production lab and equipment," says Graham.

The RAVE project grew out of collaboration between Mike Spiteri (IT), Graham and Heather Mirau (director, Integrated Planning). RAVE is a Recruitment and Retention Project with one-time seed funding from the U of L Strategic Enrolment Management Committee.

A team of eight new media learners (including six undergraduates, one co-op and one master's student) worked on the project. The Department of New Media also loaned computer and camera equipment, while use of the RAVE lab is by loan from the Faculty of Fine Arts Dean's Office. Close to 90 per cent of the RAVE project costs are paid to the production team, allowing learners to offset educational expenses and continue with their studies.

"This student, faculty and staff collaboration drives the project," says Mirau. "James is masterful at building in the latest technical applications with a solid focus of growing an online community for the recruitment and retention of our learners."

RAVE has also been designed and constructed using a layered approach, allowing it to grow organically and logically moving forward. This gives the project the ability to serve multiple functions, such as showcasing our faculty research to interested audiences.

This story first appeared in the May 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Food bank continues to serve a valuable need

trevor.kenney — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:34:28 +0000

Bringing Home The Bacon challenge on throughout February

The phrase "one must eat well in order to learn well," has never been truer than it is today.

Twenty years ago, graduate students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta launched the first campus food bank and today there are more than 70 student food banks nationwide. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union (ULSU) is proud to be the host of one of those food banks.

The issue of starving students comes as a result of a number of factors, including increased tuition rates, a shortage of youth jobs and ever-rising food prices. The reality is that most students rely on some form of financial assistance to supplement their post-secondary educations and all too often they stretch their funds by going without healthy meals.

The ULSU recognizes the financial constraints involved with post-secondary education and offers students both single and family-sized food hampers that are designed to give those in need a healthy alternative to going hungry. However, the food bank is a limited resource, as it is a volunteer-based service that relies completely on donations in order to survive. Events such as the Faculty Food Bank Fundraiser are hosted by the Students' Union to help meet the food bank's needs.

For the month of February, bright pink piggy banks can be spotted in departments throughout the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Faculty, staff and students are all asked to dig deep and "donate some bacon." The fundraiser entices its contributors by offering a foodie gift basket and snacks delivered to the department that donates the most bacon, metaphorically speaking.

"This year, I thought it would be a good idea to add some incentive to the project by offering a food-based prize," says organizer Brady Schnell, ULSU vice-president Operations and Finance. "Last year, $298 was raised and it is my hope to beat that this year by offering a prize and extending the fundraiser to an entire month."

Schnell says that the demand placed on the campus food bank has increased significantly over the last couple years.

"We provided 154 single hampers and 80 family-sized hampers last year," he says. "This past November we provided 45 hampers in a single month!"

The ULSU supports a number of initiatives that benefit the food bank. Just last month, Schnell was involved in a local food and beverage exhibition where student volunteers received enough donations to fill six food hampers and were also given an additional $200 to go towards supporting the food bank's needs.

Schnell says the demand speaks for itself and he's thankful to everyone in the community and at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ who support the needs of students.

To donate to the food bank, look for the pink piggy banks or visit the ULSU in SU180.

Students' Union Food Bank always in need of support

trevor.kenney — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:55:09 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union has a number of services that assist in allowing students to focus on their studies.

Understanding the financial constraints involved in obtaining a post-secondary education, and the difficulty in making ends meet, the ULSU is helping students alleviate the pressure of food insecurity by offering the ULSU Food Bank.

"The Students' Union Food Bank is one of the most widely used resources we offer on campus," says Shuna Talbot, ULSU vice-president internal. "Unfortunately, going to school is expensive and that leaves a lot of students with less money to cover costs for food, rent and other necessities."

All current students, faculty and staff of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge are eligible to access the food bank. The food bank has a wide range of users and everyone has a different story; whether it is a delay with a student loan, an emergency situation, unexpected expenses or other budgeting issues, the ULSU Food Bank is there to help.

The ULSU Food Bank is a not-for-profit service, but it is also a limited resource dependent on donations. The food bank can be accessed twice a month to a maximum of 10 visits in an academic career. Every October, the Students' Union hosts the Feed or Famine Food Drive, which pits student clubs against each other in a challenge to collect food bank donations. It's a friendly competition where clubs select an area of Lethbridge and go door to door to collect food bank donations. The clubs visit homes in Lethbridge and leave a notice that they will come back on a designated day and collect non-perishable food items.

This year, over the course of seven days at the end of October (Oct. 29 through Nov. 4), the Feed or Famine Food Drive crowned the Trolls Rugby Club as the winner of the challenge after they collected the most non-perishable food items.

The Trolls were awarded $300 for their win, followed by the Pre-Med club ($200) and the Geography club ($100). A total of 2,476 non-perishable food items were collected and club participation was up from the previous year.

"We are in constant need of donations, due to the increasing amount of students who access the food bank every year," says Talbot. "We continually have to replenish the food supply due to the high demand."

The Students' Union is always accepting donations for the food bank. For more information on how to donate, e-mail food.bank@uleth.ca or visit www.ulsu.ca.

Brodrick remains engaged

trevor.kenney — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 23:22:56 +0000

When Steve Brodrick (BMgt '09) thinks back on his time as a student at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, a myriad of memories emerge – resident student activities, volunteering as a mentor for new students, taking part in the first-ever Fresh Fest – just to name a few.

"I sat on the General Assembly for the Students' Union and was president of the Organization of Residence Students. I lived in residence the whole time I was a student and had a great experience," says Brodrick, who is grateful for the opportunities he had to engage with the broader U of L community.

He recognizes that many of those opportunities would not have been available had it not been for the financial support offered through scholarships and bursaries.

"As a student, receiving scholarships meant that I could work less and get involved on campus more," says Brodrick, who credits his time at the U of L as a formative period in his life.

Steve Brodrick made the most of his time as a U of L student.

The sense of belonging he felt at the U of L was only enhanced when he learned about the number of faculty and staff who support student awards through the Supporting Our Students (SOS) campaign.

"I would be in administrators' offices and see SOS stickers on the wall. When I walked around campus, I saw people that taught and mentored me on SOS banners. That kind of leadership made a big impression on me," says Brodrick. "Knowing that the people around me cared about my student experience meant a lot. It really stuck with me."

Following the lead of U of L faculty and staff, Brodrick established the ORS Council Excellence Award while he was still a student. The scholarship emphasizes leadership, something near and dear to his heart.

"I wanted to see more students get involved and take initiative towards improving our campus," explains Brodrick, who has also since established the ORS Family Award for students raising children and a Healthy Living Bursary for students living in residence.

Having been immersed in a variety of campus activities as a student, it's no surprise that Brodrick, continues to be involved today, in his role as associate director of housing services at the U of L.

"For students to have that extra push in the right direction is like running a marathon and someone handing you a water bottle at that halfway mark," he says. "It's just one little thing that will help them get through."

Brodrick now proudly displays his own SOS stickers – and students walking the halls as he once did will soon see his face on a banner. Brodrick is proud to be a part of the campaign and hopes he's inspiring the next generation of U of L donors.

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For more information on Supporting Our Students or to make your contribution today, visit www.uleth.ca/giving

This story first appeared in the November 2012 issue of the Legend. To view the full issue online, follow this link.

Steve Brodrick continues to stay engaged with his university

trevor.kenney — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:23:33 +0000

When Steve Brodrick (BMgt '09) thinks back on his time at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, a myriad of memories emerge – resident student activities, volunteering as a mentor for new students, taking part in the first ever Fresh Fest – just to name a few.

He recognizes that many of those opportunities would not have been available had it not been for the financial support offered through scholarships and bursaries. "As a student, receiving scholarships meant that I could work less and get involved on campus more," says Brodrick, who credits his time at the U of L as a formative period in his life.

The sense of belonging he felt at the U of L was only enhanced when he learned about the number of faculty and staff who support student awards through the Supporting Our Students (SOS) campaign.

"I wanted to see more students get involved and to take some initiative towards improving our campus," explains Brodrick, who has also since established the ORS Family Award for students raising children and a Healthy Living Bursary for students living in residence.

Having been immersed in a variety of campus activities as a student, it's no surprise that Brodrick, continues his involvement in his role as associate director of housing services at the U of L.

Cookbook to benefit SU Food Bank

trevor.kenney — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 21:51:46 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Bookstore has embarked on a fundraiser for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union Food Bank.

The bookstore is putting together a cookbook, which will feature a collection of U of L staff and faculty recipes. The cookbook will be published on campus and all proceeds from the sales of the book will go to the Students' Union Food Bank.

The SU Food Bank helps hundreds of students each year deal with food insecurity issues, allowing them to focus on their academic priorities. The Students' Union understands the financial constraints involved with earning a university education and has implemented this service so that students do not go hungry.

Food hampers are available in both single and family sizes, and are designed to last about a week. Students, staff and faculty are all eligible to receive food hampers. An individual is able to obtain a food hamper once every two weeks, limited to a total of 10 hampers throughout their entire academic career.

The food bank is a limited resource because it is a not-for-profit, volunteer run organization that depends entirely on donations to operate.

"The food bank has proven to be an essential service to U of L Students and we are always so grateful for the continued support from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community, as well as the Lethbridge community, in order to continue to meet students' needs," says Armin Escher, ULSU president.

Any staff or faculty member who would like to contribute to the cookbook can submit their favourite recipes to the bookstore via e-mail (bookstore@uleth.ca) by June 20.

"We, at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Bookstore, are very excited about the launch of our new fundraising initiative for our Students' Union Food Bank," says Rebecca Colbeck, U of L Bookstore. "This campus is a community, and it is important that we all work together and support one another. The cookbook will give faculty, staff and students the opportunity to share some great family recipes and really make a different to those in our community."

The cookbook will be available to faculty, staff, students and the general public to purchase in the Fall 2012 at the U of L Bookstore.

Recent Alumnus Eric Hawthorne Continues to Give Back

trevor.kenney — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:21:09 +0000

Eric Hawthorne (BA '11) felt like he belonged at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge from the moment he stepped on campus.

"As a first-year student living in residence, I was immersed in campus life," says Eric, who comes originally from Calgary. "I was instantly part of a community that not only supported me but offered opportunities for me to make a difference."

Inspired by the sense of community he felt as a student, Hawthorne decided to get involved. He spent four years as a resident advisor before taking on a position in the U of L Students' Union.

"I took on the role of vice-president internal and helped organize the first ever FreshFest, a frosh event that brought more than 1,000 students together to have fun and build pride in the U of L."

The event was a success and is now something the SU does annually to welcome students to campus.

"My time at the U of L showed me the value of community. I give back to my university to help ensure future students have that same opportunity."

Student art awards announced

trevor.kenney — Fri, 04 May 2012 21:53:56 +0000

As part of the annual Art Student Open House, the Department of Art in the Faculty of Fine Arts presented student awards recognizing excellence in Art History/Museum Studies and Art Studio.

Awards and winners were as follows:

Southern Alberta Art Gallery Award – Christina Olson, Kasia Sosnowski

Students' Union Award – Lisa Spinelli

David Lanier Memorial Award – Kalen Hussey

Art History and Museum Studies Gallery Award – David Smith

Excellence in Art History and Museum Studies Award – Jennifer VanderFluit

Trapdoor Artist Run Centre Award – Evan Peacock

Excellence in Digital Art Award – Kasia Sosnowski

Excellence in Art Studio Award – Neysa Hale

Faculty of Fine Arts Award – Arianna Richardson

Studio Art Supplies Painting Award – Sarah Stringam

Art Department Purchase Prize – Bonnie Patton, Nicole Lalonde

Roloff Beny Award – Arianna Richardson, Nicole Lalonde

Five minutes well worth the time

trevor.kenney — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:28:10 +0000

Taking the time to apply for undergraduate scholarships pays off for Paul Klein.

As the end of another academic year draws near, Paul Klein has a lot on his mind. It is a time teeming with tests and term papers, but there is one deadline the third-year Anthropology major always meets – the May 1 Undergraduate Awards application deadline.

"I try not to forget the deadline because the application process is simplified to the point that it's basically a series of clicks that takes around five minutes to complete," says the Lethbridge native. "You have to invest such an insignificant portion of your time and the potential payoff is huge."

Undergraduate student Paul Klein has taken advantage of the many scholarship opportunities offered by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Taking the time to fill out the online Undergraduate Awards Application certainly has paid off for Klein as he has received $3,000 over the last two years form the U of L Awards program. He seeks to become a lawyer, and through answering a question about future aspirations, received a scholarship sponsored by the Lethbridge Bar Association in 2011.

While he appreciates the recognition, he points out that scholarships and awards also have a real impact on his bottom line.

"I find they provide a nice supplement to my student loans and it helps to limit my overall debt as I can factor them in to my yearly budget," he says.

Klein also finds time to get involved with the campus community and holds down a part-time job as a student marker with the Anthropology Department. Balancing time between his job and being a faculty representative for the Students' Union, while achieving academic success, exerts considerable demands on Klein's time - which can induce stress. Here too, he finds the monies he has earned from scholarships helpful.

"Scholarships have provided me with some extra disposable income that I can spend on my social life when I'm looking to unwind. So I don't have to worry as much about fiscal stress – I can just concentrate on my academic stress," he says with a chuckle.

In 2011, 1,087 continuing U of L students shared over $1.1 million in undergraduate awards. The 2012 Undergraduate Awards application is currently open on The Bridge and will close on May 1. The U of L guarantees a scholarship to students who achieve a GPA of 3.5 or higher in eight semester courses (24.0 credit hours) over the preceding Fall and Spring semesters. Awards and bursaries are also available. In 2011, one third of all awards recipients had a GPA lower than 3.5.

Setting the stage for the future

trevor.kenney — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:25:26 +0000

When Terry Whitehead (BA '94) thinks back on his time at the U of L, a myriad of memories emerge - writing for the student campus newspaper, performing as Alonso in Shakespeare's The Tempest, serving as Students' Union president and hosting a show on CKUL - just to name to few.

Alumnus Terry Whitehead wants to see today's students enjoy the same experience he had at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

"My time at the U of L was a very formative period in my life. My education and campus involvements shaped my world view and inspired me to be a life-long student," says Terry. As a way to ensure that both current and future students are given the same opportunities to explore their creativity, Terry supports the Play Right and Short Fiction prizes, and has designated the U of L as a beneficiary of two life insurance policies.

"I'm grateful for the education and life experience I gained as a student. Giving to the U of L has been an easy and affordable way to say thank you. Planned giving is my small way of helping ensure that the U of L will continue well beyond my days."

UNews - Students' Union

RAVE project virtually ready

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