' November 13, 1996 Over The Edge Student Success? The Saga by Jason Sabina: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” Me: Only if it will sell the product to the target market. Sabina: English and Business—we’re in totally different departments. Me: Yup. Sabina: I sure had trouble picking and narrowing my topic on that free trade assignment. I don’t want to hear the words “on a topic of your choice” again until next year. Now I’m writing the paper, another problem keeps coming up: how is he going to mark this? Me: What’s the purpose of the assignment? Sabina: Write 2000 words? Me: Here, I’ll show you a good assignment. The Introduction to Canadian Business course asks for a case study of corporate culture. Then look at this: “The purpose of this assignment is to give students the opportunity to conduct theoretical research”—-so we have to summarize four or five different theories of corporate culture—’use management theory in case analysis” —so we have to apply the theory to a corporation or organization of our choice—’evaluate organizations beyond their balance sheets”—so we have to reach conclusions about the strengths, weaknesses, and future course of the company based on the corporate culture—and “demonstrate critical thinking skills’—so we’ ve got to do all this without taking everything we read and hear as the gospel truth. Sabina: That’s awfully complicated. Me: Actually, it’s awfully simple. The prof has told us exactly how we’re going to be evaluated. I meet those four objectives, I get a good mark. It’s a lot simpler than trying to read the professor’s mind to find out what he’s looking for.. Sabina: Ya, why should it be a mystery how a paper’s going to be graded? Me: It’s still hard enough when you know how you’ll be marked. What if I don’t understand the theories—maybe there’s some background I don’t have. What if I pick a pospansiion where J have a tough time saying what the culture is? Sabina: Maybe you guess wrong about how the corporate culture affects the company’s success. |Hello!? That’s a tough assignment. Me: Too right. So the prof even told us nine steps to do the paper. Sabina: So instead of floundering around, you could focus‘on the theory and the research, Me: But as the tutor in the LSC said, “It all begins with reading the assignment really carefully, really closely, reading it like poetry.” Sabina: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more fair by far!” Shakespeare, Jason. ‘| Poetry: J amaica/Canada Youth Seciuie Program Presentation for the University of Northern BC by Jennifer Lupichuk ‘An excerpt from. one out of thousands of experience with Canada World Youth (CWY) January 15, 1996. First day of school. The sun was hot. We ran to school . along the road towards ‘downtown Black River. Nobody around really knew me nor did I know any of them, except some of the children who recognized my skin and felt fine calling out to me, “Whitie!! Whitie!!”’ I was their new. “Whitie ” The school children wore e uniforms and some dressed in their new shinny shoes and socks that’ they received for Christmas. Most would take care to see the newness last as long as it could. The school looked strange to me and had a different smell. I wore uncomfortable dress shoes and a long black shirt with a long black shirt with a long sleeved blouse (obviously not the best choice for a winter day in Jamaica) Class 5C welcomed Miss Campbell in her short shirt and high heels and me in my new-odd-out of place wish- it-were-cut-off-shorts-and-T- shirt outfit. Tired already at 8 am from the blazing sun, I won over some giggles and smiles as I told them I was from Canada. “Where, Miss?” “Canada, Miss?” The response was, “Oh... that is far and. so cold up there!” They were right. So here I am back in Prince George, in the snow without my 13 group members/co-partners/ counterparts and friends: This group in now spread back to their home towns LIBRARY POLICIES In an attempt to create an environment in the library that is conducive to research and study, the Senate Commitee on the Library has endorsed the enforcement of the following existing UNBC Library policies. 1. The consumption of food or drink in the library will be strictly prohibited. Library patrons who bring food or drink into the library will be asked to leave. This policy extends to all drink containers including covered mugs and water bottles. - 2. Library patrons will be asked to refrain from continuous or loud conversation. Patrons who fail to cooperate will be asked to leave the library. Library staff will be making regular tours of the library to ensure that these policies are followed. Joanne Matthews Head of Information Services UNBC Library across Canada coast to coast- and all over.the small island of Jamaica. We spent everyday together and moved mountains inside each other. We studied social, economic and cultural aspects of small ‘towns in. Nova Scotia and Jamaica. Why is traveling important? Pen are the limits to your “open. mind”? How important are forests and fisheries in other areas of the world?..What limits do governments, international systems, and political powers impose on youth interacting cross-culturally today? What opportunities do I have living in BC, Canada? How important in family life? How much ofan influence do I have on the world as an individual? Where does racism occur? What is the benefit to group working? ‘Canada What frustrates you and how do you get over it? Where are we the same? Where are we different? What can we do with all of this information? | How can we be part of the community and make a _ difference in our world? These questions were some ° of the issues brought out during a seven month exchange program called ‘World Youth(CWY). . + Open discussion and picture showing of ai cross-cultural experience by a past participant with CWY...will be held in room 7-150 on Monday — December 2. Be sure to be there at Noon until I: 00.