Over the Edge *January 23rd 2013 CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT ENTRIES ROLL IN: HAVE YOU VOTED? HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR Entries have begun to roll in for UNBC’s first ever Campus Correspondent position via the Northern Exposure Award. The job has its perks as the Northern Exposure Award includes tuition for one year, accommodation in residence, credit with the UNBC bookstore and food services on campus, and even a smartphone plan. All of this is in exchange for being the face of UNBC social media detailing undergraduate life. The contest is marked as “the ultimate school year - eight months of unforgettable northern experiences”. This non-traditional scholarship abandons the usual method of selecting a student with the highest academic credentials and instead looks for an individual who is outgoing and knows his or her way around Facebook and Twitter. Applicants are asked to create a video where they explain why they should have “northern exposure” and be selected as the Campus Correspondent. Current UNBC students and all others invested in university social media competitions can vote for their favourite entries online and the applicant with the most votes by January 20th will win the early bird prize of $200 dollars of UNBC tuition credits. With only days to go before the first deadline only five applicants are in the running. As the Northern Exposure Award is marketed mainly as a getaway-to-the-north experience, its no surprise that three of the applicants are outdoors loving kids from the lower mainland. Tim Beals, a high school student from Richmond, is currently in the lead with over a hundred votes. “I am an adventurous yet self motivated and studious student, who is eager to experience all that northern life has to offer,” states Beals. His two minute entry video details a love september, Welch demonstrates the distance between Vancouver and Prince George in her application video and says although its far away she is excited to go north. “T am looking forward to moving up to Prince George in the fall and being campus correspondent would be a dream come true,” states Welch. In her entry Welch claims to be excited to turn over a new leaf and learn about Canada’s Green University. The most northern applicant of the bunch is Seth Jex from Smithers. “I have some awesome experiences from youth empowerment and environmental summits to heading the creation of a youth shadow council in our local municipal system,” says Jex. “I feel this is an awesome opportunity to experience new things and meet new people. I want to tell everyone about all of the amazing things going on at UNBC.” As a current drama student, Jex enthusiastically states in his entry video that “I am a northerner who knows northerners. I have a creative background and the leadership experience that this role needs and I love UNBC”. Jex currently ranks third place just trailing Jillian Welch’s position in second place. The only hometown submission comes from Chantelle Jimenez from Prince George. Filmed on campus, Jimenez’s video exudes local pride as it features her walking into the university campus carrying a snowboard while wearing a UNBC sweatshirt. She then details all of the local Prince George hot spots she’s had the pleasure of growing up around such as West Lake, Purden, and Hixon Falls. “For being only eighteen when school arrives in September I feel like I can bring my young enthusiasm to every aspect of UNBC experiences. I am not afraid to be myself and hopefully through all of my posts and videos you’ll get to know The voting system is also a great way for current 66 of the north stemming from a memorable childhood vacation to Quesnel, Barkerville, and then on to Jasper and Banff. John Evans from Langley is also contending for UNBC’s northern exposure. You should vote for me because I am fun, outgoing, and a very sociable person capable of handling the responsibilities of campus correspondent,” states Evans. “T will capture life and events at UNBC throughout the year in the most entertaining and unique ways.” John’s video is softly scored by his own strumming on the guitar as he explains his love of the great out doors and walks through his neighbourhood as the sun sets. Jillian Welch is the final applicant form the lower mainland hailing from Vancouver BC. Also a high school student shopping for a university to call home in UNBC students to voice their preferences of who they want to see inundating UNBC social media in the future. my friendly, genuine, character,” states Jimenez. Jimenez smoothly concludes her video with “my name is Chantelle Jimenez and I’m part of the UNBC graduating class of 2017”. These five applicants are eagerly awaiting votes. The voting system is also a great way for current UNBC students to voice their preferences of who they want to see inundating UNBC social media in the future. The first round of voting will be concluded on January 20th and one of these five kids will receive 200 dollars of UNBC tuition credits. The second round of voting will close of February 10th and that will see $500 dollars worth of tuition credits up for grabs. NEW RESEARCH AT UNBC HELPS WOMEN HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR Women in northern BC face among the highest rates of hysterectomy in Canada and a new study involving the University of Northern British Columbia is promising to help northern patients recover physically and mentally. The Collaborative Women’s Health Project will also help researchers understand the emotional and physiological effects of the procedure, which involves the removal of some or all of the female reproductive organs. The study will makeuseofanewtechnology called Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging (RUSIJ) to scan participating patients’ core abdominal and pelvic floor muscles to evaluate muscle function in real time. This technology is also used in physiotherapy practice to rehabilitate and strengthen muscles by providing visual feedback of the muscles in action. The Project is recruiting northern women between the ages of 35 to 55 who are scheduled or on the surgical waiting list for hysterectomy. “T have lived and worked in northern BC for more than 20 years. Our community has four times the rate of hysterectomies of some urban communities in the BC Lower Mainland, and we have challenges regarding access to healthcare,” says Project Coordinator Lois Lochhead, a Prince George physiotherapist and PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Medicine, Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of British Columbia. “Most of these RECOVER FROM HYSTERECTOMY i r studies take place in large metropolitan areas and it is time for rural and northern communities to be heard." One of the purposes of the study is to evaluate any change in muscle function during the four month period before and after surgery. On the final session, each participant will be given in-depth feedback about her core muscles along with an exercise prescription that will aid in improving function. Under-utilized or injured core muscles due to hysterectomy can lead to chronic back pain or incontinence in some patients. The study will also explore the relationship between physiological changes in muscle function and women’s perceptions of alteration and _ healing. One-on-one interviews with a researcher will seek to understand the hysterectomy experience, including the return to normal daily activity and work. “I’ve met women who say, ‘I have no use for these organs anymore so let’s be rid of them,’” says project coordinator and UNBC Nursing Professor Lela Zimmer. “For others, it can be very upsetting and disruptive for them and for many of the relationships in their life.” Participants will be asked to attend four sessions. The first session will take place shortly before their surgery and the rest at four week intervals afterwards. Participants are reimbursed $15 per session for travel. Tl r 0 NUL PRRKKEK MPRINT THAT! TAKE THE RED PEN CHALLENGE. UNLEASH THE INNER MALCOLM.