Over the Edge + November 17, 2010 Pride UNBC They're loud, they’re proud, and they're making a difference EMILY GAUVIN CLUBS EDITOR Proud! SHELBY PETERSEN It took some time, it took some fighting for, but at last UNBC will be the home of Prince George’s new Pride Centre. Marli Leibovitch brings a spot light to the opportunities and support this new centre provides to anyone with an open mind. UNBC Pride is no longer a club, but has evolved into a community centre that is fully supported by volunteers and funded through personal fundraising. Leibovitch outlines how the centre will bring to UNBC an aspect of visibility that is needed in this community. Acceptance in the community is essential, especially since recent events in the media have been providing extensive coverage on teen suicides related to gay bullying. This makes the opening of the Pride Centre a perfect time for adults and youth in the community to find the support and services accessible. When it comes to choosing schools, many look at the programs that schools provide or sports teams they want to join. Leibovitch addresses how in deciding where she would go to school, looking at the acceptance and support for GLBQT that existed was important. This is true for many students in choosing schools. For instance, UBC is a major school that has a gay friendly community. Leibovitch reports with excitement that many students who are LGBT take in factors of support or services of this university, therefore providing future students the peace of mind that they will be accepted here at UNBC. The centre will provide Peer Support, run by 23 volunteers who have gone through training in crisis and suicide prevention by the peer support network. As well, the Centre provides resources to a library of GLBQT books and movies with assistance to other resources. Furthermore, the Pride Centre will provide conferences that involve discussion panels and learning panels pertinent to gay youth. Most importantly, the Centre will have a confidential call line available for people who need assistance or have questions, or just want to talk. The opening of the Centre will be Novemeber 17th and no one is excluded. There will be guest speakers and yes, refreshments, so come by! There are opportunities for everyone at the centre and opportunities for volunteering. You can get involved by dropping by the centre, emailing or phoning. Visit the web site and check out for the upcoming events, including the Superhero benefit dance on November 20th. As Leibovitch says, “acceptance is one of the most important things coming to university, finding out more about yourself and what you have to give to the world.” The Pride Centre is here to embrace who you are and a place for all voices to be heard to support and bring about more visibility within the community. pride.unbc.ca 250-960-6461 pride@unbc.ca SPOTLIGHT: The UNBC Debate Club Battling their way to logical supremacy EMILY GAUVIN CLUBS EDITOR The UNBC Debate Club is a new club at UNBC. President Sufey Chen created the club this year and put UNBC on the map among other Canadian universities and colleges competing in intensive public speaking competitions. With weekly training, this team prepares and becomes warriors of the English language. Freshly back from Calgary, the club has traveled throughout Canada, finishing 8th out of 56 teams. The debate club is now preparing for their next competition, held in Vancouver. In the long term, the team is expected to spread their fighting words out even further and travel as far as Hawaii this February to compete. They will be raising money throughout the next few months, so keep an eye out to help support our university to verbally face off and dominate. On another note , the Club is bringing debate to a whole new level in Prince George and the entire Northern area. For the month of March the club is planning a Northern British Columbia High School Debate to be held here at UNBC. They are inspiring the youth of Northern British Columbia and working to have teens from high schools of all over come together and showcase their debate skills. For any of you who excel at public speaking, or just need to impress a girl, or maybe love hearing yourself speak, then the debate team may be the club for you. The club is always open to welcoming new members. The debating focuses on all current events, and the club invites debaters from all different skill levels and disciplines. It is a great way to travel and make new friends. The club meets Mondays from 4:30-6:30pm weekly in the board room across from NUGGS. If you have any further questions or interest you can also contact the club at unbcdebate@live.com The UNBC Debate Club SUFEY CHEN