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Greetings, faithful Myles Files readers who have received almost zero examples of real content for like the past six months. When this blog started last summer, it seemed like the right time: Cultural Learnings was coming into its own, I was really starting to dig into my thesis projects, and there was some upcoming Acadia news that seemed ripe for the blogging.
Of course, those final two projects veered off into rather time-consuming directions, with my thesis turning into a time-consuming monster and the faculty strike becoming a rather phenomenal blogging experience. The result of all of this, however, was that The Myles Files didn’t really serve any sort of particular purpose: my life was never interesting enough to maintain a steady flow of content, a majority of my entertainment viewing was television and handled by the other blog, and any thoughts I had about various Acadia goings-on have largely been relegated to the sidelines in favour of finishing this bloody degree.
But now the degree is over - the final thesis edit is complete, and by and large it appears that I have a fairly loose summer ahead of me. I have no full-time employment, plenty of movies to watch, and a number of exciting and bloggable projects in the works. So, clearly, the Myles Files is back in action, right?
Maybe. Or, well, maybe not.
You see, my summer includes the potential for (Brace yourself) two new blog projects, multiple facebook groups, and Masters’ Research Work. While I am still expecting that I will have a fair amount of free time compared to previous summers, a lot of that free time will go towards various new media outlets wherein I will be discussing those subjects elsewhere.
However, part of the summer may well necessitate blogging, as I might actually be forced into trying new things (And this is always entertaining as far as I am concerned). I will admit to having SOADD (Sudden Onset Attention Deficit Disorder) merely 24 hours after finishing off the undergrad - I can’t maintain one activity for too long, whether it is watching a television show, a movie, or even playing a video game. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I’ve lost interest in these things, but rather that I am branching out in search of entertainment and self-fulfillment.
Where that road will take me I am not quite sure - I’m actively pondering a particular month-long project in May, and have a goal that I will have developed some form of podcast about some sort of subject by the time the summer is over. I’ve spent the last three summers doing the same thing over and over again, so it should be interesting to see a summer where personal discovery is par for the course (Oooh, that reminds me - I also want to golf more).
So, while I’ll be pulled into a variety of different directions, I do plan on sticking around the Myles Files - whether it’s to describe these other ventures or to vent about this that or another, this blog shall live on. However, as always, for more consistent updates, Cultural Learnings gets first priority.
In working on this creative project, it was an issue of inspiration: in reading through hundreds of sources, what jumped out at us as the stories to tell, as the perspectives to take? Ultimately, the form it took was the same as the form of this posting: blogs.
Now, there are advantages and disadvantages to using a blog format for an online project.
The Advantages
- Ability to ask “What if” questions about modern communication in non-modern settings
- Easy to create, easy to manage
- Myles is addicted to them (Also a disadvantage!)
The major disadvantage, however, is more apparent - they read backwards, so for people looking to read the whole story they need to scroll down the page and read in a strange fashion.
However, this is really an advantage: it reminds us that history doesn’t always start at the beginning, and that you have to search for those starting points in our look back into the past. We feel as if we have found some of these starting points, and are proud to be presenting these blogs as our final Class Project.
Notes for Reading “Blogging the Plague”
- You will notice comments on a number of the blogs - these are part of the story, and help emphasize the benefit of communication and the importance of dialogue. They also allowed us to contribute to one another’s projects, and to create a connection (however coincidental and convenient) between our separate works.
- Each blog has a “Sources” page which features references to documents, both primary and secondary, which inspired or informed our postings.
- As noted, blogs are read backwards - each blog fits onto one page, so a simple “End” will do the trick.
Thank you for reading, and thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Myles A. McNutt, B. Alexander Fage, Amandine Clairo, Jennifer Huizen
About “Blogging the Plague”
“Blogging the Plague” is a project designed to ask a series of “What if?” questions about the outbreak of plague in the United States of America, specifically in Honolulu and San Francisco at the turn of the 20th century.
What if the stories of the people close to the plague, be it victims or medical professionals, made it to public at large through mass media sources?
What if the reasons and explanations behind the decisions of J. Kinyoun had been made public, allowing the public to view what was behind his public image as the “Wolf Doctor?”
What if there had been a news source that cut through the pacts of silence to reach a broad worldwide readership, spreading the plague stories worldwide?
If all of these, or one of these, would have happened, how would this have changed the question of how plague spread? Would the government have felt more accountable, providing more resources to Kinyoun and others? Would the residents of these cities accept the treatment, and their efforts, considering this new scenario: or would such a free flow of information have organized them against it more quickly?
I’ll be heading back tomorrow for a more detailed go-round with the various vendors, but today I stopped into the Acadia Laptop Showcase at the Fountain Commons in order to get a glimpse at what the various vendors have to offer. I’m not going to offer my own opinion in full detail (That’ll be for the Ath, it seems), but I will say this much: thanks to everyone who came out. The future of the Acadia Advantage is important to this university, and a student voice is integral. Too often I think students are left out of this process, so this is a great opportunity to test and see if these computers meet your needs.
Personally, I’ll disclose that if I return to Acadia next year I will be buying an Apple laptop - this was going to be the case before they were one of the potential vendors, and nothing I saw today really changed that fact. I heard a few rumblings here and there about the representative being a bit prickly, but in the end a fair number of students were gravitating towards the shiny boxes.
But let me pose a few questions about each model, in an attempt to gather some information and stir up some discussion.
Apple:
- What knowledge did you gain regarding operating a Windows environment through Boot Camp?
- How much are you willing to spend for a MacBook?
- Did you leave the table with a sense of the difference between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro? And compared to PCs?
HP:
- Were you as put off as I was by the lack of pricing/specifications on the models?
- Did you think the tablet PC was cool, or just a distraction from the rest of their presentation?
- Is a Biometric thumb scanner SERIOUSLY a selling point for anyone?
Toshiba:
- How concerned were you about the specifications on the Toshiba laptops?
- Is size an issue for you? (I don’t think Toshiba had a laptop under 15.4″)
- Do you feel that these models were designed for student use?
Dell:
- Are you willing to pay $1500 for an upgraded version of the current Acadia laptop?
- Are you interested in a high-end gaming rig, or was that not of any interest?
- Do you feel wary about Dell in general based on the performance of the existing laptops?
If you want to take some time to answer any of these questions, or offer your own comments, feel free to post below! And if you haven’t yet visited the Laptop Showcase, it is on tomorrow (Wednesday) from 10am to 7pm.
The earlier than expected departure of Gail Dinter-Gottlieb, president of Acadia University, was met with a variety of different reactions. Many of these, expectedly, reflect back on her tenure of president with a certain skepticism, and view her removal as vindication for their past criticism of her efforts. Others, meanwhile, view this as yet another sign that Acadia is “falling apart” and that the downward spiral continues to destroy the university at the administrative level. While I perhaps have more sympathy to the former rather than the latter, which I think is sensationalist and frustrating, I would contend that the real reaction here is one which is forward-looking - Gail’s departure allows Acadia to define a new path sooner, rather than later.
By the time September rolls around, Acadia should have a new President in place. The final two projects of Dr. Gottlieb’s time at Acadia, the Biology Building originally scheduled to open this month but now delayed (again) and the revamped Acadia Advantage, will have been completed and launched respectively. The result will be an opportunity for Acadia to stop worrying about internal struggles and faculty strikes and focus on the future. We all knew that Gail wasn’t returning, so now we can move on faster and while some of the university’s problems are still fresh in our memories.
While returning from the holidays is always somewhat bittersweet, this year is particularly interesting. For me, it’s (potentially) my last semester at Acadia, and at least the conclusion of my undergraduate degree. For first year students, however, this will be their first full semester - their first time writing two sets of midterms, or their first time watching as four months goes by in the blink of an eye even without a four-week break. It makes for a unique environment, and one where we’re all trying to stop thinking about the past and move forward.
[Moving] Images of Women:
Feminist Criticism and Reality in Television
Toril Moi’s Sexual/Textual Politics spends very little time on ‘Images of Women’ criticism; despite representing a turn to a political discourse within feminist literary theory, “it is easy today to be reproving of this type of criticism: to take it to task for not recognizing the literariness of literature” (Moi 47). While acknowledging Moi’s valid criticisms of the theory, I believe that the emphasis on realism and reflection within ‘Images of Women’ criticism has gained new relevance within the world of television. In the wake of the birth of reality television, the question of “real” in television has risen to the surface, and has resulted in a wave of series which call this into question. I want to take a look at two examples: a non-traditional television drama (HBO’s Tell Me You Love Me) and a “reality” series (MTV’s The Hills). In doing so, I want to investigate whether this medium for reality, nonexistent when Moi’s text was written, results in a similar deconstruction of ‘Images of Women’ criticism.
HBO’s Tell Me You Love Me
There are no sensationalist storylines (as seen in primetime soap operas like Desperate Housewives) within Tell Me You Love Me, which purports to be one of the most realistic portrayals of relationships on television. This was originally based on its near pornographic sex scenes, but in reality it extends to the most mundane details: drama is created through therapy sessions and discussions, as opposed to bomb scares, and we see these people doing the most mundane things, including urination. This reflects one of the main contentions, as noted by Moi, regarding ‘Images of Women’ theory, in that “toe-nail clipping and the disposal of sanitary towels…seem neglected as fictional themes” (44).
YouTube - Tell Me You Love Me
However, the series develops into one of the contradictions Moi finds within the theory: she notes that “the feminist reader of this period not only wants to see her own experience mirrored in fiction, but strives to identify with strong, impressive female characters” (46). These are not present within Tell Me You Love Me: all characters, even the therapist, are confused, unhappy and make generally terrible decisions involving their personal relationships. As a result, there are few female role models (to the degree Images of Women criticism desires) to be found here, even as they act in a realistic fashion. The series represents the idealist and contradictory viewpoint of ‘Images of Women’ criticism, even within a new medium - you can’t desire realism when you also desire a narrow portrayal of women.
MTV’s The Hills
However, there is no literary equivalent to reality television (Unless we count James Frey’s false autobiography), so shows like The Hills are uncharted territory. The show shows the lives of high society twenty-somethings who have to deal with relationship drama, friendship drama, and the everyday life of modeling in the Hollywood hills. Moi notes that ‘Images of Women’ criticism is “concerned with nurturing personal growth and raising the individual consciousness by linking literature to life” (42). However, I do not believe that even these theorists could imagine that one day The Hills would emerge as not just a connection between literature and life, but rather purporting to be reality itself.
YouTube - The Hills (Heidi and Lauren Fight)
This fight was, of course, staged and filmed from multiple angles: the show’s stars are celebrities, not real people, and any attempt to claim the series as real are inherently false. However, its female “role models” gain a level of notoriety impossible within “fiction” thanks to the show’s purported realism. By blurring the line between actor and character, ‘Images of Women’ criticism becomes even more interesting: literature and life become one and the same, and the power of the show’s portrayal of women becomes even more important. Despite the fact that these portrayals are controlled and edited by a group of shadowy figures, thus representing an unrealistic portrayal, it is presented as reality and could be taken as such (especially by young women).
In other words, even though reality is what this branch of feminist criticism strove for, that reality as found within the realm of television still does not fit into the theory’s idealistic standards. While I think that Moi’s hyper-criticism is often overbearing, I think that here she is measured: when the subject deserves and welcomes criticism, she seems fit to offer only a well-guided analysis of the theory’s flaws.
What this commentary was designed to do was retest this theory. In Moi’s analysis, she believes that the analysis is unbalanced because it fails to respect “women writers who often wrote under ideological conditions that made it impossible for them to fulfil the demands of the feminist critics” (48). However, now that these ideological conditions are no longer in place, the theory remains idealistic and contradictory; the new post-modern focus on reality still does not reconcile the concerns that Moi has with ‘Images of Women’ criticism. If anything, it is further distanced from that reality by these newfound complexities.
Greetings Myles Files readers,
Wikipedia says of “Selling Out”:
Selling out refers to the compromising of one’s integrity, morality and principles in exchange for money, ’success’ or other personal gain. It is commonly associated with attempts to increase mass appeal or acceptability to mainstream society. A person who does this, as opposed to following the original path s/he laid (or claimed to lay) out for him/herself, is labeled a sellout and regarded with disgust and immediate loss of respect.
And, by definition, one could say that I’ve sold out by agreeing to jump over to the Acadia Student Union’s Strike Website and become their official Strike Blogger. And, on the surface, this might be the case: however, at a certain point, a blogger needs to go where they can make the most difference. And, in this case, this is working in conjunction with the Acadia Students’ Union.
The ASU Strike Information Site
[For information on the Myles Files' strike coverage, regarding the purpose and intention behind it, please refer to the Strike Mission Statement]
Students at Acadia University are supposed to be worried about midterms right now. As courses begin to pile on the tests and quizzes, and as we reach that lovely point halfway through the term, this is usually a hectic time.
However, most students are able to overcome this deluge of material with some hard work and good study habits. But this year, there is another problem that hours of studying won’t fix, and that students are not currently able to fix. Entirely out of their hands, students are now pondering what will happen if faculty goes on strike on October 15th.
The problem with this is that students are faced with a lack of information: while bits and pieces are making their way into the pipeline, for the most part students are left piecing together whatever they can through MSN and DC++ Conversations. While these have a great deal of value, they are also provided to an extremely limited audience. And I, as well, can’t possibly reach enough of the student body to answer the questions floating around.
Are they going back to the table? What does a strike mean for us? How long will they be out for? When will we know if there’s a strike? Should we go home?
Those are just an assortment of potential questions, and I will be honest with you: some of them can’t be answered. There are too many variables at stake: the state of negotiations is such that a single comment or statement could fundamentally change the answers. For the short term: Rumours have them scheduled (with no promises) to negotiate tomorrow, a strike could mean a lot of things, no one really knows how long, they have to give 48 hours notice so by Saturday morning, and only if you live nearby in my personal opinion. Not really satisfying, are they?
However, I believe that it is possible for someone, anyone, to start informing students. Because as far as I can tell, those streams of communication are not open as much as they could be.
689.
This was the number of students who felt that a possible strike at Acadia University was worth a few hours of their time on a Friday evening. This is, actually, an impressive number, and I would like to extend my personal appreciation to each of those individuals. An especially large amount of appreciation goes out to the Frosh who have had the least amount of time to become part of this community, and yet still came to voice their opinion. Kudos.
I was going to attempt to write this blog post without contributing to the conversation during the meeting, so as to be able to establish my own neutrality, but anyone who stuck around knows that this didn’t last very long (I’m weak). But, first off, I have a fairly simple message for those who didn’t feel the meeting was worth their time:
Your affliction is apathy. We don’t have a cure. We really wish we did.
The people who didn’t show up to the meeting aren’t “stupid,” “ignorant,” or in any way terrible people: they are simply apathetic towards this cause (To those who had other commitments, I’m not including you in this distinction). Actually, I’d argue that most are likely apathetic towards all causes, but that’s another story. This was about the academic future of this university and a potential strike, and quorum could not be reached. My faith in stopping apathy’s slow march across our society is, well, waning.
For those who couldn’t make it due to work or illness or any other reason, or to those who want to do something about your apathy, you can still make your voice heard. Contact your SRC Councillor via the ASU website, or go to next Thursday’s council meeting to become part of this discourse (I’ll have a summary of events below).
But I don’t need to harp on about that, because there is one thing I really want to deal with.
Hecklers.
I want to talk about how inappropriate and classless it is to heckle during a public presentation…while apologizing for doing it myself by the end of the meeting. During the presentation of the second motion, I reacted with laughter at a comment and Alex (rightfully) called me on it. I apologize for this, as it was both hypocritical and inappropriate for the setting.
This being said, there is a major difference between laughter and even a short one-sentence remark such as “Do some research.” Rather, what I want to address is those individuals who, while the Director of Public Affairs Scott Roberts was speaking, yelled “Shut up.”
Unlike the apathetic people, I am more than willing to call these individuals classless. It is one thing to stimulate someone for more information in a quick statement, but it is entirely another to inform someone who has agreed to speak to students to shut up. I don’t care if you think that Roberts is nothing but a PR flack or that his stance is the wrong one, but treating anyone willing to step in front of an obviously hostile crowd like that is disrespectful beyond laughter or a short statement. It is disruptive, rude and reflects poorly on our ability, as students, to be willing to at least hear someone out on their side of an issue.
As for the meeting itself, for those who either didn’t attend or left before the presentations finished, here’s what went down from as neutral as perspective as someone with opinions on the issue can offer.
It’s Tuesday night, and for the most part things are quiet across campus. There is certainly some people out and about, but tomorrow Acadia turns back to its normal state. Classes will be starting bright and early tomorrow morning, and a campus taken over by raucous celebration will become a place of higher learning once more.
But I think that although higher learning may not have been the goal, Welcome Week is nonetheless a place where a lot of learning takes place. As the campus divides on tribal lines based on one’s residence, and people are assigned names and tasks, it is impossible to avoid new experiences that will challenge even the most out-going individual.
And I would like to congratulate all of the frosh for being up to that challenge. I saw a lot of spirit, a lot of pride, and some really positive developments for certain residences. Whether it’s the small but might Tully, or the veritable army from Chase Court, each group brought to the table their own brand of energy.
2. The Frosh Photo
I have a thing for photographs, as every single RA and NSO is aware of thanks to my incessant photo taking during our training sessions. So, it is perhaps unsurprising that I have a special place in my heart for this particular aspect of Welcome Week. While the weather forecast for tomorrow (Showers) might bring bad tidings for moving day, I’m much happier to report that Sunday is looking a-ok. And this mean that the Frosh Photo, my 2nd favourite part of Welcome Week, should be taken under sunny skies.
My love for the Frosh Photo derives not just from my love of photography, but moreso for my enjoyment of the purpose of that photography. The Frosh Photo is designed to be a keepsake, something that you can purchase once the local photography studio gets it all nice and prettied up. However, more than that, the event itself creates memories and can bring them back at any time.
3. Eating at Meal Hall
Admittedly, Wheelock Dining Hall and I don’t get along all that well. It isn’t the quality of the food, or the staff, or anything like that: I am just extremely picky, and can eat only so many deliciously greasy grilled cheese each week. However, even I as someone unsuited to the meal hall lifestyle, know that eating there during Welcome Week is an incredibly rewarding experience.
Since you travel as a rather humongous mob with your respective house during Welcome Week, meal time is one of those awe-inspiring experiences. It’s not often you are part of a group of fifty or more people wearing identical T-Shirts, and it’s also not often that you have to navigate the crowded lines to grab your grub in such a group.
Meal Hall is so great during Frosh Week because it gives you a chance to sit and talk with your fellow frosh, as well as your RAs and Welcome Week leaders. There is a tremendous amount of times when everything seems choreographed and organized, but meal hall is just one big rush. You sit down next to whoever fights into the chair next to you, start eating, and with your mouth full you will eventually enter into a conversation.
And sometimes those conversations are life-changing: Andrew and Colin are in the small photo above, sitting next to one another…and now they’re bros! Welcome Week is a great way to meet friends, and Meal Hall is definitely a place where that happens.
And this year, Meal Hall is going to be even more impressive thanks to the new seating brought in over the summer break. There’s nicer chairs, some nicer tables, and even some new meal options that should be exciting as we move forward. Meal hall will never be perfect, but during Welcome Week it is a space that is hectic, crowded, and probably pretty darn hot…and yet I wouldn’t want it any other way.
So enjoy the new renovations, ask your RAs for more information on the meal plans and everything else when you arrive, and look past the overwhelming buffet selection and realize the other benefits to heading to Wheelock during Frosh Week.
4. The Acadia Students’ Union
Now, I want to make something clear: the ASU and its Awesome Events are by no means only the fourth most important aspect of Welcome Week. However, in order to give new students time to consider the purchase of a frosh pack, it seemed advantageous to post this today. It’s only four days until everyone descends onto Acadia, and the ASU events are definitely a highlight for frosh each and every year.
Admittedly, I didn’t go to many ASU Events in my first year, but this was a mistake on my part, and since that point I’ve always made sure to encourage new students to experience these events. They’re a great chance to meet other frosh, have a great time, and enjoy some fantastic entertainment. Let’s take a look at how the ASU Events stack up this year, as organized by the lovely Ms. Erin Benner who is the VP Campus Life for the union.
NOTE: Tickets to all events can be guaranteed by purchasing a Frosh Pack from the ASU. For more information, click the link below.
PURCHASE YOUR FROSH PACKS ONLINE
Sunday September 2nd
Stoplight Mardi Gras Party (Axe Lounge)
The basic premise of the stoplight party is that single people wear green, attached people wear red, and yellow…well, that would be really confusing of you, so don’t do that. Either way, it’s a chance to meet new people in a fun, party environment.
Monday September 3rd
To Be Announced (McKeen Room)
Sure, it’s TBA. But that just makes it more awesome.
Wednesday September 5th
Hypnotist [XXX] and Comedians (MacKeen Room)
The hypnotist is a great opportunity for self-embarrassment, watching friends make fools of themselves, and having a whole lot of laughs at the same time. While the other events might be about meeting people, this event is about learning things about people that you likely never wanted to know: like what it’s like to see a man hump a chair.
5. Losing Your Voice
Welcome Week leaves behind some lasting memories for many students. One of the more common, however, is something more damaging than memories…but much more rewarding in the short term. Because, inevitably, many people involved with Welcome Week will lose their voice.
Last year, a majority of Welcome Week leaders lost theirs, like Jennifer above who unsurprisingly was unable to keep her voice intact. Jeremie, Eaton Pride, lost his by the time the last day came around, although he was also getting sick at the time I believe. The Welcome Week experience is not designed to protect your vocal chords, there’s no question about it.
However, this is one of those times when losing your voice is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. When you lose your voice during Welcome Week, it means that you’re yelling at the top of your lungs, cheering as far as your words can take you, and that’s the sign of someone who is dedicated to their house, and to the Welcome Week experience.
So, prepare your vocal chords: I suggest some warm up exercises of loud, excessive cheering. Wake the neighbours. I’m sure it will be okay. While some might question this being so high up the list, I think it’s one of those things that you just need to experience to understand its significance.
Because when you lose your voice during Welcome Week, in retrospect it will be one of the best feelings in the world. At the time, eh, might be kind of uncomfortable. But just think of the memories, and you’ll be fine.
6. Frosh Names
When the time comes for you to be assigned a frosh name, you might be dreading the experience. A frosh name can absolutely stick with you for four years, and sometimes they are…less than pleasant. However, not only are frosh names optional in the end, but they are also a whole lot of fun. Frosh names can provide a whole host of fun activities, and some great entertainment for those who get to watch others step outside of their comfort zone.
But Frosh names can be both physical and, in other ways, spiritual. Eaton and Christofor, for example, have a tradition of naming both an Eaton and Christofor Pride (Being presented to Colin above), who are in charge of running chants and representing the two residences’ pride in their buildings.
Cutten (Now Tower, of course), had one of the most memorable frosh names last year: the poor young man who was asked to wear a child’s unicorn costume, effectively becoming “Unicorn Boy.” However, he wasn’t ridiculed, but rather loved and known by all. It might have been Pony Boy, or Unicorn Boy, but the reality is that he was known. And he made for some great pictures.
Most residences also have a Pick Up Frosh, a guy or girl who travels around to various campus members and other students and asks for their phone numbers. Pictured is Seminary’s Pick Up Frosh from last year, who got completely rejected by this football player. It was a great, if tragic, moment.
And there is a whole host of other frosh names. If you want to be active in frosh week and have some fun, and you’re willing to try out new things, volunteer when an early frosh name is offered up. If you are a little bit more uncomfortable about it, don’t worry: most of the time you can sit back and enjoy things, or even request a name that will require less action or lack of comfort.
7. Mock Olympics [Monday]
Greetings LIVE from Wheelock Dining Hall. As Alex scarfs down his mini-wheats (He asked if I was live-blogging his lunch, so there’s some live-blogging), I am going to take this short break in RA Training to let all of you know about what is by far one of the most memorable aspects of Welcome Week: Mock Olympics.
The actual Olympics portion of the event is something that, understandably, is kind of lame. The games are too simple, the structure is non-existent, and they insist on banning cheating even when it’s the only way to make it fun. Mind you, we cheat anyways, so they’re still worth a laugh. However, the reality is that Mock Olympics ends with the most spirited moment in the entire week: a giant cheer off extravaganza.
Some people, like Sondra (Sitting to my left commenting as such), don’t go to Mock Olympics, tired due to the end of the Welcome Week period and hoping to avoid physical activity of a strenuous nature. However, what you would miss would be an exciting period of enthusiastic yelling, dancing, screaming, cheering, and just about everything else.
Each residence organizes a cheer that becomes a song and dance routine, or a giant yelling session, or a series of cheer-like objects designed to organize their supremacy (Okay, this is taking a while, the football team is introducing their rookies through some enjoyable singing incidents that are distracting me. They’ll be up on Facebook later.).
On Saturday Night, as you’re just settling in and getting used to your Acadia experience, you will invariably have a large number of questions swirling through your mind. But then, you’ll be paraded down to U-Hall, sat down in oddly uncomfortable chairs for the second time that day (Matriculation being the first), and in front of you will be answers.
Not to all of your questions, and certainly not clearing up every issue you may have, but Arrival and Survival is designed to help you deal with university life socially academically, and everything else through song, dance, drama and comedy. It is by far one of the highlights of Welcome Week, and one of the things you will certainly remember.
I won’t spoil the show too much, but it’s quite a production: upper year students (Like Rivers pictured above wearing a REALLY small Eaton/Christofor frosh shirt) work tirelessly to present a wide range of scenarios that are more common than you might realize, and in the process a lot of questions you might be too scared to ask will be answered.
#9 - Frosh Leaders
I talked a few days ago about RAs, and how they often face a tougher road thanks to being “the fuzz.” NSO or Frosh leaders, on the other hand, do not face such a stigma: instead, they are there are your fellow peers, designed to welcome students without also having to enforce rules or anything of the like. However, despite this, I would actually argue that they hold almost as much, if not more, responsibility during Welcome Week.
Welcome Week is an extremely hectic time, and frosh leaders are basically the only thing holding it together. They’re the ones who wake up the new students, who chauffeur them to events, and who give up a week of their summer to train and be part of your experience. Many of them also continue to play a role in residence life as members of house council in the year to follow.
Their largest role is probably helping new students move into residence, one that cannot be overstated. When you arrive at Acadia, often with a van load of stuff, you might have you and your parents to move it in. If this was all there was, it would take a full day to get everyone loaded in, especially if there are only small parking lots (Which, yeah, is the case with Eaton/Christofor, as an example).
#10 - Academic Orientation
On Tuesday afternoon (Which I will get to later), you will be asked to attend a series of meetings that might seem boring in theory. Academic Orientation is a series of presentations from the various faculties (Prof. Studies, Arts, Sciences) that are designed to initiate you on what’s expected of you, and they are an integral part of your Welcome Week experience.
The reason for this is simple: classes are only a day away at that point, and you obviously have questions about the transition between high school and university. While settling into residence and meeting new people are important, at least part of your mind will be occupied with either worry or dread about what the following day’s classes will bring.
#11 - Residence Time
Admittedly, I had planned to write this particular piece today on my schedule, but wasn’t really thinking how apt it would be. I am now firmly entrenched on campus, and am lucky to have a lot of residence time on my hands: posters don’t hang themselves, and my floor is still somewhat of a disaster area at the moment.
And new students will, without a doubt, find themselves in the same position in just a few weeks. Unless you’ve got extremely nice parents (Like my own, clearly [/sucking up]) who are willing to organize all of your stuff for you, you’ll be too caught up in Welcome Week craziness to be able to really sit down and consider your room. This particular problem is solved by Residence Time, one of the most important parts of the Welcome Week schedule.
Not only does it give you time to unpack or reorganize your room (Unless you’re in Chipman, where everything is nailed to the walls), but it also gives you time to meet your neighbours, your RA, and get an idea about how your environment will sort out for the rest of the year.
This evening, I will be returning to Wolfville in preparation to begin my RA Training. This will be my second year as an RA, and last year was my first time experiencing the Welcome Week experience from the perspective of “the fuzz.” New Student Orientation leaders get to have all the fun: they’re peers, and at no point in the near future will have to enact all sorts of rules that cut down on the usual equivalent to fun from a university student’s perspective.
But RAs are there to guide your experience during Welcome Week as much as NSO leaders, and I think that the relations between them is one of the most important parts of the experience. Getting to know your RA not only makes life somewhat easier, but it also gives you a chance to gain some new and important information.
13. Matriculation
Matriculation isn’t exactly what one would call a word of common knowledge: in fact, I’m pretty sure the word itself has probably turned some first year students against it for years now. It’s your first day at Acadia and all of a sudden they’re asking you to herd down to the Gym, put on funny robes, and get piped into University Hall.
And, if it was raining, I don’t think I could blame the Matricuhaters: while I’ve experienced only sunny Matriculations personally, rain would certainly damper one’s spirit. However, Matriculation is a great opportunity to become part of the Acadia experience both in terms of ceremonial connection and, well, hanging out waiting for the event to start. You only need to bring yourself and an openness to interacting with others, and Matriculation can be a very memorable part of Welcome Week.
As Jessica and Ryan demonstrate in this particular photo, the lineup waiting for Matriculation is a great opportunity to talk with your fellow Arts, Science or Professional Studies students. You’re lumped into disciplines after you get your robe, and there was some great chatter in lineup this year about who’s in what, what classes they have, where they’re from, etc. I started a discussion with Kyra, my future neighbour/RA/Boss, and that friendship continues to this day. It’s a powerful time.
But that, admittedly, is a spin off of the real value. Being piped up the hill, your parents either outside taking pictures or inside sitting in the balcony (Or, if they’re not present, surely thinking of you to some degree), you become part of the Acadia experience. Once inside, all of the dignitaries file in and Arthur Irving (aka the Most Ass-Kicking Chancellor ever) wields his…stick thing, and it begins.
What begins? Your future. When you graduate from Acadia, you participate in Convocation, the sister ceremony to this one. They provide, as they’ll explain, bookends to your Acadia experience. Although the dignitaries might change with time (I can point out about 6 from last year’s lineup that won’t be there this year), the thing that won’t change is that sometime pomp and circumstance gain greater meaning with time.
So, as a short term chance to meet people and please your parents (Parents <3 their children in robes), Matriculation is a fantastic opportunity to engage the Acadia experience. It might not be something that changes your life, but I think that it’s something that will someday have a great deal of meaning. And I wouldn’t want to see you miss out on that.
#14 - Special Interest Groups
Two years ago, the Special Interest Group was introduced as part of Acadia’s Welcome Week, and I must admit I was excited. Mondays have always been a tough day, since the returning students are moving in and having all of the Frosh in residence would make that somewhat more difficult. So, the university has always had to search for a way to get students out of residence during that period of time.
In my frosh year, it was an epic frosh scavenger hunt that had us traipsing around Wolfville. This was fun, and showed us parts of Wolfville, but it was a bit too random and unorganized. Special Interest Groups, on the other hand, provides a bridge for first year students into one of the university’s most rewarding qualities: extra-curricular clubs and activities.
There is a whole slew of great clubs and socities on campus, and one of the biggest challenges they face is making new students aware of this fact. Special Interest Groups are a fantastic opportunity for students to experience some of the diverse opportunities available with their peers in breezy sessions that are a welcome break from the non-stop activity of the previous days.
This year, new students are able to sign up for these sessions online, which is a huge advantage: in past years, it was just a mad rush to sign up on a random sheet of paper, and there just wasn’t enough thought put into the process. All frosh should be looking at these groups and seeing if anything interests them. It’s a great chance to experience a different part of the university, meet some great people, and maybe find yourself a new interest for the years to come.
For more information on the Special Interest Groups, you can visit Acadia’s Welcome Week Website. There is sadly not information up for many of them, but hopefully that changes when more information comes in over the coming weeks. It might seem like something simple and small, but it’s a great opportunity that shouldn’t be passed up.
Life is hectic at the moment, with many projects on the go and the fact that I’m…well, I’ll get to that in a second. This new feature, “Myles is…”, is just another complicated way for me to talk about myself. Just so we’re clear.
Myles is…
Returning to Acadia on Monday
That’s right: Monday evening, I’ll officially be relocating back to Acadia. This is relatively exciting for me, but for the blog it is certainly going to mean some transition time.
Officially No Longer a Hoser
I’ll be explaining in this weekend’s blog post just what I did all summer, (in pictures!), but for now I will say that as of this morning I am officially no longer an employee of the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation.
[In a new feature here at the Myles Files, "All Thumbs" will be a way for me to send kudos out to various individuals while also offering some criticism of others. Some of them will be serious, and some of them...won't be. So, enjoy.]
Thumbs Up to…
Emily McCarthy and Kelton Thomason, two of the fine folks organizing New Student Orientation this year, for being on the ball with the Special Interest Groups. Last year was a complete mess, as people didn’t know what they were and the organizational failures led to events that were both poorly attended and poorly organized. After getting lucky the first year, a lack of NSO Leader knowledge on the subject and general planning led to the bubble bursting, and it wasn’t pretty.
But Emily and Kelton have been putting together an entire website for all of the facilitators and events, and are actually planning on pre-registering people. This excites me to no end, as now I can Facebook stalk potential debating recruits. And, let’s face it, I never turn down a chance to do that! So kudos, Emily and Kelton, for some fine work that fulfills perhaps my biggest beef with Welcome Week. Now, if we can cut down on the length of that Red and White Scrimmage, that would be marvelous.
Thumbs Down to…
Kent in Lower Sackville. I was stuck at your particular business establishment for ten minutes today, and you had absolutely no form of sustenance to offer me. No Caramilk, no Mars, no Smarties…you only had gum. Well, I didn’t want gum. I wanted a chocolate bar. But instead, I got nothing. While I understand you sell building supplies, I also think you should at least carry a small number of chocolate based items for those of us who may be famished.
Thumbs Up to…
The weather, for two things. First, for holding off the torrential rain until last evening, as opposed to dumping it onto me while I was working yesterday. And second, most importantly, for looking pretty frakkin’ awesome for this weekend’s camping trip.
Thumbs Down to…
The weather, for two things. First, for bringing said torrential rain in conjunction with Thunder and Lightning, which basically turned Cody into a panting mess all evening. And, second, for bringing quite so much rain, perhaps rendering the paths at Keji to be puddled messes when it comes to biking through them.
Thumbs Up to…
Everyone who entered The Myles’ Files first ever Caption Contest! There was some strong interest in the contest, and for that I am most grateful. However…
This will be brief: I’m on this restaurant’s wireless connection while we stopped for a quick breakfast to plan counts out on the road. There’s a few things I want to get to immediately.
The Longest Goodbye
Okay, so any fellow RAs would have gotten the email from new Director of Residence Life Scott Rausch which informed us non-SRAs that our return date has been pushed back a week to August 24th. On the one hand, this has all sorts of benefits: I can work another four days, I don’t have to do as much training, etc. I should really be very happy about this.
Except that, well, I was ready to go back. I had mentally prepared myself to return to Wolfville in just two weeks, and entirely prepared to not be working that week. I’ve been in the Valley with work a few days recently, and I think I’m basically already there in my mind. While part of me should really be dreading what September will bring (Thesis, courses, planning, etc.), I’m more or less entirely prepared for this summer to be over.
I’m sure I’ll survive. Maybe.
I Want to Ride My Bicycle…
Currently dealing with some bike repairs that are most concerning. My bike only gets ridden about once a year, at Keji, so it isn’t in too bad shape in a majority of ways. However, one of those ways appears to be the drivetrain basically falling apart. This was experienced last year at Keji where I was useless not just due to out of shapeness, but also thanks to the inability to stay in gear. Being unable to rely on gear shifting basically made the entire experience an exercise in futility.
The PTDS Blog Opens its…Doors?
It’s been a work in progress for a while now, but the final iteration of the Paul Tom Debating Society’s official blog has now been posted. I’ll be tabling a motion to add “Technical Director” to my title at some point in the near future.
The PTDS Blog - http://ptds.wordpress.com
Thus far, there’s just a series of Photoshopped Executive images (Like the one above, which is also one of the three new photos added to my Flickr Account to the right) and details on September’s Special Interest Group. In time, I’m hoping that each executive member will be posting, and that we’ll be able to be a nice source of society information.
In the meantime, check out the site and know that if you’re in the society, and in Wolfville on September 3rd, I shall be propositioning you.
Happy Birthday, McNutt Against the Music!
Okay, so we’re celebrating a bit late, but congratulations to The Elder McNutt, Ryan, for his blog (McNutt Against the Music) finishing its first year. He’s got a great recap of all of his content posted, and going back through it there’s some memorable stuff.
McNutt Against the Music Celebrates its Blog Birthday
Congrats, Elder, for fighting the good fight and criticizing the world around you. Without you, I might not even be blogging right now. On what is now three blogs. In fact, if it comes down to it, I could blame you for getting me started on this path to my own self-destruction. But…nah.
If you’re an Acadia student, you’ve probably heard: in a move that boggles the mind, Acadia is closing Cutten House and re-opening Crowell Tower for the upcoming school year. The official reasoning given is that Cutten is in need of repairs, which is basically the same reasoning given for closing Tower last year (Which is its own problem, but anyways). Now, for better or for worse, the decision was made…but nothing has been made official by the university.
Over at the Facebook group for incoming students, ASU President Kyle Steele has been forced to play damage control of what was really the administration’s blunder. When the decision was made to close Cutten and reopen Tower, did they seriously think that no one would find out? With students still in Wolfville, and through the medium of Facebook, this was bound to break through to the general student population. So why wouldn’t the administration do the smart thing and break the news themselves?
As it stands now, Kyle is having to deal with people bringing up toxic mold (Of course, untrue) and other such crazy rumours because the university has yet to officially disclose that information. He shouldn’t have to be doing that: the university should have made this public immediately to be able to keep such rumours from spreading like wildfire in this new media age.
[It has come to my attention, slowly but surely, that television blogging has taken over my life. Ironically, my response to this is to start another blog. The reason? I want to be able to talk about things other than television. Since not everyone watches television, but might for some reason still find interest in me, the Myles Files has been born.]
Index
File #1 - The Thesis
Slowly taking over my life one nag at a time, “The Thesis” is actually coming together better than I would have expected. I’ve got an outline of sorts of what I want to accomplish, and once I get a response from K-Whet I plan on starting research. Unless he comes back with “You’re insane,” which is entirely plausible considering the content of said outline. We’ll have to wait and see, I guess.
File #2 - The Acadia
They’re closing Cutten and reopening Tower? It appears that Acadia is just begging for me to blog about them. And who am I to ignore them?
File #3 - The Life and Times
Whether it’s work, or news, or anything else that breaks, this shall be the File in which I discuss it.
