Over the Edge * March 27th 2013

Arts & Entertainment

THE HELPERS AT UNBC: THANK YOU!

JORDAN TUCKER

ART AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

In our last issue, we covered those who made
our secret reporter go “SCHWING!”

In honour of the end of another school year,
it seems appropriate to thank the people who
keep our school actually running. There are
always untold kindnesses that occur to untold
numbers of students from untold staff and
volunteers, but I couldn't cover them all. These
are just the ones that stood out to me personally,
though I have every faith that everyone who
works at UNBC is pretty topnotch. Writing this
list I was struck by how many people there are
at UNBC who are entirely cheerful and kind
and willing to go that extra step to help students
out.

Barry, in Copy Centre

In my first year, the Res Assistants told us to
contact Barry if we had any printing needs.
Barry has always been incredible with printing
off last minute assignments and doing so
cheerfully. Every student and staff member
who has had to do printing has remarked on
Barry's kindness and his tendency to go above
and beyond, always remembering personal
details about whomever walks in his door.
Barry is never too busy to give you a smile.
Once, when I was printing off resumes, Barry
printed them off on a nicer paper and put them
in a lucky red folder for me, free of charge.
Barry, you rock! And your kids seem really
nice.

The cool lady at Tim Hortons

I think your name is Maria, but I can't be sure.
You're always funny and nice when I get my
late-night habit. You have a quick wit and a
great laugh and I think you'd be a lot of fun
to party with. You are always very prompt and
warm. Yeah Maria! (I think).

Alishia from Degrees

I have to admit, I was skeptical when I learned
that our beloved Justin was leaving the
cubicle coffee station of Degrees for bigger
and brighter things. Who would cheer me up
with my morning brew?! In walked Alishia to
deliver us all from decaffeinated hell. Whether
it's creating new and delicious coffee drinks
like some sort of wise caffeine sorceress or
remembering my friend's order based on his
mug when I was getting him coffee, Alishia
goes that extra mile to make things perfect.

The Farmer's Market Volunteers and
SGU

You've created something incredible from
nothing and we're all reaping the benefits of
it. You exemplify community, generosity, and
environmentalism. Thanks for your spirit and
your sharing.

The Thirsty Moose Staff

YOU FEED US BEER AND SNACKS.
Also you're all funny and cheerful and full
of lifehacks, on top of putting up with our
drunken shenanigans. THANK YOU SO
MUCH DON'T EVER LEAVE US.

The Bookstore Ladies

These folks sell knowledge! They're also really
smart. High five Kim! Everybody high five
Kim, she's awesome.

The Cafeteria Folks

They do a theme day where they all dress up
once in a while, which is the best! Plus pizza
goes half off late at night. Once my card
declined and they let me pay for it another day
when I had more money. That was really nice
and unnecessary.

IT Guys

For all the crap we give them with Blackboard
and stolen cables, these dudes are on the ball!
Thanks for helping me make my google box
work good.

Security

You keep us safe! On top of apparently
having a hiring policy written as “must be tall,
handsome beefcakes with beautiful soulful
eyes”, these staff are always willing to help
out. I've seen security walk drunk people home
safe (totally not myself, oh noo), they've helped
me find lost items, and they are just generally
pleasant people. Also, Bronson is an excellent
movie, which at least one of them seems to
know.

Janitors

These folks keep the school clean and are
always smiley when you pass them in the hall.
Thank you!

Sarah and Erin from the Women's
Centre /PG Pirg

These two centres are invaluable to the safety
and democratic rights of our students. These
two ladies (and their Katimavik volunteers)
work so damn hard. From the Good Food Box
to the composting bins to helping out people in
difficult situations, these women ROCK.

Pride Centre

The PC has been built by great people on
the premise that everyone should be equal
and no one should ever feel left out. In all of
my experiences at the Pride Centre, I have
always seen a wonderful willingness from all
volunteers and frequenters to accept anyone,
no matter how they identify or what they want
to do or be. The volunteers here have created
the centre from nothing but the glow of their
hearts, and we're all so much better for it! Not
to mention, they REALLY know how to throw
a party.

First Nations Centre

Ihave never seen a resource centre more willing
to share its resources. Anyone can hang out
in the First Nations Centre, and the reception
people are always cheerful and helpful and so
willing to share with and to forgive ignorant
white girls like myself. Thank you so much.

Librarians

One of these ladies has a really fierce chest
tattoo, and a while ago a really cool redheaded
lady taught me how to use JSTOR without
mocking my obvious ignorance of search
terms. Everyone else has always been cool too.
Thanks librarians!

The Counsellors

Y'all keep people sane and give them someone
to talk and relate to when they feel no one else
will. Kudos. University can be lonely.

All of the NUGGs folks
Thanks for taking care of the events and tuition

stuff and everything else, I have no idea what
it is you do what I have a secret idea that the
university and the places I frequent most
would collapse beneath me in a heap of dust if
you didn't exist.

Gloria from Finance

Back when I was but a wee nipper in 11th
grade, I was neurotic about applying to
university. I would fire off emails to anyone
who was listening asking them what I should
do bout finances and scholarships. Unaware
of how much email the average office jockey
gets in their day to day goings, I was never
fully appreciative of incredible what Gloria
did was. She would answer my emails within
a few hours, kindness and reassurance oozing
through the keyboard. It helped me feel like
UNBC was my academic home before I even
got here, and made the whole transition even
more easy. Just the other day, I walked into her
office and she fixed my difficult problem easily.
I didn't realize it was her until I saw her name
beneath the signature. Her confidence and ease
of manner was so visible, and her warmth was
just another reminder of why I wanted to come
to UNBC in the first place.

All of the Profs and Admin folks
You know what you do. Thank you for making
us more educated and awesome.

To students: just remember how awesome
these people are, and be patient- no one is
perfect, but I can 100% guarantee to you that
someone at UNBC will always be willing to
lend a hand. I guarantee it, or your money back
on this issue.

APRIL IS

GUITAR

MONTH

Now its easier than ever to own a Gibson!

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