On Campus and Online
In this week’s DC News webcast: arrests cap a scary home invasion near campus, Pangea takes to the stage and all the rest of your sports and entertainment updates. This week’s webcast was produced by Ray McNeil and the associate producer was Phil Petrovski.
Story, image and video by Nancy Ellis.
“The more you know, the more informed you can be,” said Durham College and UOIT Student Association News and Media co-ordinator, Reisha Prasad about Social Justice Month. Prasad also sits on the board that came up with the idea.
Social Justice Month was brought about by the advocacy initiatives of the VP of University Affairs at the Student Association (SA), and the AVP of University Affairs, which represents the downtown area of the SA. The committee was formed with Durham College (DC), University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) students, making it all encompassing.
“With the variety of events taking place, I think it’s going to be really interesting for students to get involved and come check it out. It starts a conversation as well,” Prasad said.
Story by Hillary Di Menna
Controversy surrounds a campus event happening on May 10. The UOIT Faculty of Business and Information Technology, in partnership with Junior Chamber International Durham (JCI), will present a live broadcast of Chik-Fil-A’s Leadercast at The Regent Theatre.
The motivational speaking event happens once a year and is broadcast live from Atlanta.
Vice President of JCI Durham, John Black, said the group sees the Leadercast as an opportunity to bring a positive event to the community. “It provides a high level of speaker that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to do.”
A speaker like Condoleeza Rice, former US Secretary of State, would be a costly speaker on her own, so JCI Durham is excited to have the opportunity to broadcast talks from 10 other prominent figures as well. JCI chapters include young people, through membership, in projects trying to make a positive community impact. The fast-food chain sponsoring the event made headlines last year after its president, Dan Cathy, publicly spoke out against gay marriage.
“I think anything positive the speakers have to say is tarnished by the fact Chick-Fil-A is the title sponsor of the event,” says LGBT activist and former Durham College student, Nathan MacKinnon. “While they may not be benefiting financially from it their name and financial support is attached to it.”
Proceeds of the event will go to JCI and back into the community, says Black. However he admits the costs of hosting the event are so high little profit will be made. MacKinnon questions why the ticket costs are so high if the event is marketed toward students. Early bird tickets are 99 dollars, 149 dollars is the regular price.
Black said he has spoken with PFLAG director for Durham Region, Jayme Harper. The JCI Durham VP believes both parties want to do what is best for the community. A JCI Durham statement on the matter will be released later this evening. Harper wants to be clear that PFLAG has nothing against Durham College, UOIT or JCI, “They are great supporters of LGBT and diversity within the Durham Region. Our problem is with bringing Chick-Fil-A as a title sponsor to Canada, more so to a public event.”
Story, image and video by Nancy Ellis
What’s with all the losing? Is there a method to it? Usually it’s a combination of things. With the basketball season wrapping up in about a week and a half, Ken Babcock, Athletic Director at Durham College, explains why the Lords are losing games.
Ken Babcock gives his take on why the DCBasketball teams are losing
Both men’s and women’s basketball programs are in transition, at this point in the season, as they are eliminated from the playoffs.
“It’s not something we expected, but it’s certainly something that happens in sports when you compete,” Babcock said. The goal is really to make the playoffs but for the 2012/13 season it’s not happening for a number of reasons.
“We have not be able to compete at the level we want at the women’s basketball level, the teams have moved ahead of us in strength and we need to compete and combat with that over the next year,” he said.
Story and image by Tara Oades
All Durham College and UOIT varsity athletes will need to score high on the new Pre-Participation Physical Exam before taking part in any games, training camps or tryouts this season.
The Pre-Participation Physical Exam was implemented for the upcoming varsity season, and all athletes involved will need to make an appointment with a physician, follow five steps and have four forms filled out before being allowed to play.
“All forms can be found on the Lord’s or Ridgeback’s home page,” says Ken Babcock, Athletic Director. “All the athletes need to do is download the forms and have them filled out by the physician.”
Athletes will have to fill out a medical treatment consent form online, then print out the questionnaire, physical exam and health care provider form and have their physicians fill them out.
The physical examination was implemented this season because the Athletic department thought it was time. Many other schools across Ontario with varsity athletes already require their athletes to have a physical examination before they can participate in the sports season.
Students make use of the campus gym by playing basketball between classes.
“It’s a safety measure to make sure that all athletes are in good health before playing the sport” says Babcock. “We have had athletes in the past who have had problems and injuries that could have been avoided if they saw a doctor before playing the sport…so far the athletes agree.”
Once all the forms have been filled out, the student athlete has to return the form to the Campus Health Department, or the Athletic Therapy department.
This physical examination is only required for varsity athletes. Intramural athletes don’t need to go through the process, but it is a good idea to have a check up appointment with a physical to be on the safe side, explains Babcock.
Story and Image By Nancy Ellis
The Diversity Office at Durham College has planned another Professional and Mentorship Day as part of events to celebrate Black History Month. It will be held Wed. Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in gyms 3 and 4 at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre (CRWC). This is the third year for the event and lunch is provided.
“It’s pretty much a day where we have students, all our students here on campus, as well as students from area high schools Grades 11 and 12 come in, then we have professionals from the black community and they come in and talk to students about their academic and their career journeys,” said Allison Hector-Alexander, Durham College Diversity Officer, when explaining what students could expect.
Students ask questions like “How did you get into this field? What was their time at college or university like? Do they enjoy their work?” she said. “They get a chance to talk one-on-one with those industry professionals.”
UOIT Ridgebacks Forward Scott Baker, looking over the rink at the Campus Ice Centre.
Playing hockey can be a full time job, but for the players on the UOIT Ridgebacks, they have to balance playing with a full school schedule. For Ridgebacks’ Forward Scott Baker, this is one of the biggest challenges to the game.
“Normally in other leagues you just play,” Baker explained. “But all of us on the team have to deal with a full school program.”
For Baker the course load is something new to him.
“It was a bit of a culture shock. I played a bit in the OHL when I was sixteen and the biggest difference is the schoolwork. It’s a pain but it’s part of being on the team.”
Story, video and image by Tara Oades
UOIT engineering students from the Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science (FESNS) and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS), may find a non-refundable $15 fee added to their tuition next year. The fee is called the Engineering Opportunities Fee, and if the fee passes a vote the money will go toward supporting the Engineering Society (EngSoc).
“We do many things,” says Mason Verkruisen, the VP Academic for FESNS. “It goes towards professional events as well as social events and sending students to conferences and competitions.”
Story, image and video by Robynne Henry.
Students, staff, f
aculty and fans have the chance to win some prizes when they take their best shot at a Durham Lords or UOIT Ridgeback’s varsity events.
For the fifth straight year, the “Take Your Best Shot” photo competition is running.
“It was journalism students that really started it,” Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator, Scott Dennis said about the origins of the contest. Dennis is also a judge.
“We always saw them out at sporting games, and why not have a contest where they can get an award for a great photo that they take?”
Contestants are allowed to submit up to three photos from any Durham College or UOIT sporting event.
Students are encouraged to be as creative as they want, and to come up with the most unique ideas.
“Personally I look for something a little unique,” Dennis said. “It’s got to obviously be a good photo, but there should just be something that makes it unique and to make it stick out from the rest of the photos.”
The top three photographers win an Adidas prize pack, and also have the chance to have their photo published.
Story, video and image by Robynne Henry.
A Durham College student plays with Boscotti
When looking to adopt a pet one of the charities people can turn to is TAGS, The Animal Guardian Society, who visited Durham College and UOIT on Monday, January 21st.
One of the events TAGS puts together is meet and greets in pet stores, where they bring in dogs or cats that are being fostered. This gives people a chance to see the animals that need homes. The event that took place on Monday at Durham College/UOIT is their first time going to a school, and it was through an invitation by the Student Association.
“We were invited here by the Student Association to be present for distress and ‘Blue Monday’,” said volunteer Karen Koene “This is a new event for us, and hopefully we can continue it. We are pleased to be here.”
“TAGS is an animal rescue,” said Koene. “We rescue from high kill organizations, and owner surrenders.” TAG has rescued animals from local pounds in Ontario and shelters who are filled to capacity after hurricanes and cannot handle all of the needs. There are about 50 rescues in Ontario that TAGS has on their list, and they take as many animals as they can.
