Something for students new and old

Douglas College September 2016 at a glance

By Mercedes Deutscher, News Editor

September is an eventful month at Douglas College, especially for new students. It is when the tone is set for the rest of the year, and a time when anyone can get involved on campus.

New Students

Events and services are already underway to welcome new students to Douglas, with both domestic and international New Student Orientation, organized by the Office for New Students, being a success.

Welcome week is underway, going on at both the New Westminster and David Lam campuses. Students will have an opportunity to receive their student ID, U-Pass, parking pass, and any critical information they may need.

First year students can sign up to attend First Year Fridays, with the first one taking place on September 23. All events will take place in the fishbowl (the glass den located in the New Westminster concourse) from 3:30–5:30 p.m., and are led by student leaders. All events will have activities and food.

There will also be a First Year Friday available exclusively for Sports Science Students on September 9, with opportunities to connect with mentors and athletes.

Douglas’ annual freshman event, EDGE, will be taking place from September 15–17. The event—organized by the Student Engagement Office, and partnered by the DSU—is open to any students who started studying at Douglas in 2016, and serves as a fun, active, and educational experience.

The first day of EDGE serves as a casual evening where teams are created, food is provided, and new students have a chance to interact. The meet and greet will take place from 5–10 p.m. in the DSU Student Lounge on the New Westminster Campus.

The second day will be a day full of activities at the New Westminster campus, from 3:30–11 p.m. Participants will cycle through activities that will test knowledge, athleticism, and creativity. Following the activities, there will be an after-party in the DSU lounge, with food and drink provided.

The final day of EDGE will take place on the David Lam campus, from 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Once again, there will be an array of activities, followed by a closing ceremony.

Students who wish to participate can register for $15, either online or at the DSU Office.

DSU Welcome Breakfast

The DSU is organizing two welcome breakfasts during the second week of classes, preceding EDGE. The breakfast will open to all students, with a David Lam breakfast on September 13 and a New Westminster breakfast on September 14. Both will take place from 8:30–10:30 a.m.

Workshop Events

Several employment workshops will be available to students on both campuses Monday through Thursday, from September 12–October 1, 12–1 a.m., provided by the Student Employment Centre. Students can learn how to write proper resumes and cover letters, how to conduct a successful job interview, and other important job-search information.

Lockdown Drills

As per tradition, lockdown drills are scheduled to take place on both campuses in mid-September. Students should be prepared for these drills to occur at anytime, and are encouraged to subscribe to DC Alerts. Although lockdown procedures will be reviewed in classes and available to view online, those with further questions can ask Nancy Constable.

Club Day

All clubs are being encouraged to take part in the DSU Club Days. Clubs can reach out to students at David Lam on September 20, and New Westminster on September 21, both from 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Movie Day

The DSU is organizing movie days at the end of September, with showings at the DSU Lounge at David Lam on September 28, and another at the DSU Lounge at New Westminster on September 29. Both will air the yet-unannounced film from 4–6 p.m.

DSU

Staff and representatives have worked continuously throughout the summer to prepare for Fall semester, starting with an internal re-organization. From there, they moved on to planning future events and services, occurring anytime in the next five years.

“Rather than try to overload students in the first week, we try to ease it through,” said Aran Armutlu, Treasurer.

Student representatives from the DSU will be tabling at both David Lam and New Westminster. Along with hosting events around campus, the DSU also provides several important student services, including but not limited to: medical and dental, advocacy, a Pride Centre, and a food bank.

The DSU has been working to increase its presence at Douglas more than ever before, becoming more heavily involved in New Student Orientation and EDGE than in previous years.

“We did this because we really wanted to start off strong and show the campus that we’re here and these are the things that we do,” said Artmutlu. “We tried to make sure we were doing something every week.”