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overtheedge March 20, 1996

Fo »1yo. 1° 1f081nat-ori? PAse

RANDOM ACT OF AWARENESS4 ©

Student Success?

The Saga

by Jason

Scene: I’m sitting at the kitchen by Ray Proulx

table, hair mussed and books ; ; : ,
ORs of taper secaeaan I bet you’re wondering why PGPIRG has been asking the UNBC campus community.

over. Curby walks in, prepared to boycott Pepsi and Pepsi-distributed products for three semesters now. Are we Coke
drinkers? Nope. Are we against the indulgence in sugary, sinful, carbonated beverages? I
don’t think so. Let me tell you a little story:

In 1962, a military dictatorship called the State Law and Order Restoration Council _

to go to the University...

Curby: Hey, roomie! What’s the

d? : ‘ ; a:
a (SLORC) seized control over Burma (a small country in South East Asia) and all of its
Rie: Pie? How abees resources. As time went on, Burma witnessed the degradation and disintegration of their
“frustrated”? beloved country through the mismanagement of those resources and the economy itself by

men without any sense of integrity nor wisdom. Unfortunately, citizens were helpless in
changing their political situation; any resistance was quickly and efficiently destroyed by-
oe ee the power-monopolizing army. During its rule, the SLORC has (among other things):
conversations are nothing but - *killed* and *displaced* thousands of ethnic minorities for their own uses (ie: forced.
questions. Plus I’ve got this big slave labour, minesweepers)
term essay due next Friday, and - *depleted* Burma’s precious teak rainforest to the *point of virtual extinction*
I can't stay focused on a topic. - caused Burma to become the UN’s *”Least Developed Country’’*
Every time I start brainstorming Rgcdidtind *d icilceh 4 ee
ideas, Greg Kihn gets stuck in - refused to over POW to a *democratically-elected government* and placed its
my head. leader, *Aung San Suu Kyi*, under house arrest

Anyhow, this story is only the abridged version (I only have a 400 word limit to

Curby: Greg Kihn? Stuckin work with), additional info. can be obtained at the PIRG office, the internet, and from a file
your head? Is it painful? (continued on page 9)

Curby: Frustrated? Why so?

Me: Not the guy, you freak! His song, you know, “I was in jeopardy,
baby...”

Curby: Ooooooh, ooh, oooh, oooh, ooooh. Yeah, I know that one—it
seems somewhat appropriate, doesn’t it? Have you gone to the
Learning Skills Centre yet?

Me: I thought they were only for when I had an essay that needs
help.

Curby: Do you think that’s all they do? Don’t you think part of your
problem is concentration?

Me: Say, are those fuzzy dice on the Vauxhall’s rearview mirror!?!

Curby: Yeah, pretty sweet, huh? The Vauxhall’s gonna be a hit at
the Granola Rally this weekend, don’t you think?

Me: You bet! Now, what were we talking about?
Curby: How about “concentration”?
Me: Oh, yeah, well, what about it?

Curby: (speaking slowly and enunciating clearly) Go to the
Learning Skills Centre and they will help you. They have study skills
and writing specialists who will ask questions about your paper, like,
“What's the purpose in the paper? Who is your audience? What, in
anutshell, is the point you want to make?” Don’t you think it would
help to consider these questions, or what?

Me: Cool. Where was that place again?
Curby: (eyes looking skyward) Do you know that corridor that runs

behind the Registrar’s Office? You know, where the First Nations
Centre and the Health Centre are.

Every writer needs
n audience whether

t is one person or
the world.

Me: Sure, I know where that is. I'll go tomorrow! Thanks, buddy!
Curby: No problem...Oh great, now I have Greg Kihn in my head!

Me: Well, it’s better than “In A Gadda Da Vida”!

Start with a writing tutor.
Book a half-hour appointment
through the Learning Skills Centre, Room 7-114
| phone 960-6367.

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