Features

November Z2ist 2012 - Over the Edge

CAROLYN KNAPPER

SGU CENTER
During the month
of October, while
scampering
around trying

to accumulate some new ideas to
promote recycling on campus, I
interviewed Stephen Patton, facilities
supervisor at the Prince George
campus. We sat down and discussed
the story of recycling on campus: how
things got started, what is currently
being done, and how students, faculty
and staff can contribute. It turns
out there is a plethora of materials
that UNBC recycles. We aren’t just
recycling plastic water bottles and
cardboard, but things like light bulbs,
car batteries, carpets, metals and more.
Initiated in 2007, much of what is
done on campus was a result of an
attempt to better live up to the title of
Canada’s “Green University,” but was
also started because of the economic
and financial benefits. Although
some materials have a pickup fee
attached, others provide revenue
when recycled. Prior to our recycling
revamp, paper products like cardboard
were stored in the recycling centre by
the cafeteria and were picked up by a
local resident to be sold to Cascade
Recovery (Cascade is a _ Waste
Management Company that works to
divert recyclables from landfills. They
have a local facility in Prince George).
After analyzing the benefits, UNBC
decided it would make sense to
simply divert all of our paper products
straight to Cascade and reap the
benefits for ourselves! This marked
the University’s decision to start
thinking critically about recycling,
and more initiatives were put in
place. Small receptacles seen around
campus were upgraded to larger ones.
Bottle collection from residence
commenced, with bottles being saved
for pickup by the Bottle Depot for a
cash refund. This cash helps supply the
University Green Fund, contributing

THE INS AND OUTS OF RECYCLING ON CAMPUS

about $350 a month! Cooking oil is
picked up for reuse, while compost is
collected from the cafeteria, pub and
receptacles around campus, and is
processed in a composting heap on site.
This also includes any grass, twigs, and
leaves collected by the grounds keeper.
Carpets, fridges and metal scraps from
renovations are recycled. Light bulbs
are collected and sent off to be turned
into paint and sand mixtures. Household
batteries, cell phones and _ printer
cartridges are recycled just outside
the Green University Centre. Even car
batteries are recycled! And get this:
they can be dropped off at the recycling
centre if you bring them in from home,
along with your used light bulbs,
plastics and paper products (Light bulb
and car battery drop off requires you to
send a quick email to Steve at Stephen.
Patton@unbc.ca to let him know when
you are bringing the items in. Paper
and plastic recycling bins are located in
Parking Lot A)! This is great news for
students like myself who can’t afford
to coordinate local pickup and have
been hoarding recyclables in closets at
home...we can simply bring it with us
to school!

Being at UNBC just keeps getting
better and better, I know. “Our recycling
procedure on campus has come a long
way over the past few years,” says
Patton, “and we are always looking for
improvements.” Residence is currently
coordinating a better way to manage
compost produced on site by students,
while some are looking into recycling
options for one-time-use coffee cups.
So if you have any great ideas on how
we can improve how we recycle on
campus, feel free to drop by the Green
University Centre to chat. Or better yet,
submit a proposal for the upcoming
Green Fund in January...

Remember, while recycling is an
excellent way to keep materials from
ending up in the landfill, it all starts
with reducing what we consume in
the first place. Until next time, reduce,
reuse, THEN recycle!

+ he

-_
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6 TIPS FOR STAYING AFLOAT
DURING “CRUNCH TIME”

GALA MUNOZ
FEATURES EDITOR

With exams looming ahead and deadlines
unapologetically underway, here are some
tips to help you keep your head in these
times of stress and chaos.

1. Eat healthy and stay hydrated
As easy as it is to resort to unhealthy eating
habits, keeping snacks such as apple slices,
almonds and carrot sticks on hand and in
the fridge or pantry help to keep your mind
awake and focused any time of the day (or
night). Avoid the crash that comes with sugar
indulgences and opt instead to satisfy your
sweet tooth with healthier alternatives such
as fruit or yogurt. Along with maintaining
a good diet, water is key in keeping your
energy levels up. Pack a reusable water
bottle and aim for about 8-10 cups of water
intake a day. Added bonus: ice cold water
acts as an instant energizer when you feel
yourself getting sluggish.

2. Get enough sleep!

This is a tough one to follow, especially
when you find deadlines or exams creeping
up sooner than expected but it is important
nonetheless. Getting a full 7 or 8 hours
night’s rest means that you’re more alert
and attentive during class (which will pay
off come exam time), less stressed and less
likely to feel depressed and by extension
you’re likelihood of catching a cold
decreases as adequate amounts of sleep
keep your immune system in working order.

3. Exercise

Even if it’s only a ten minute walk, exercise
will help to calm you and get you more
focused. Exercising will give you the
natural energy to get through the day and it
allows you to work off any pent up anxiety
or negativity. Anything to help get your
endorphins pumping be it by dancing to
Rihanna in your bedroom, taking the long
route on your walk home or running on a
treadmill will benefit both your body and
mind in the short and long term.

4. Choose wisely

As much as you want to be there for your
friends when they are struggling to get
through hard times, spending a lot of time
around those who become stress-cases
at this time of year can affect your own
mood and outlook for the worse. Stress is
contagious and surrounding yourself with
those who get major anxiety will only add
to yours. Along with being selective about
who to study with, make sure to keep
distractions to a minimum and be able to

say “no” to some things. If you say yes
to a party the night before a final, you’ll
probably be tempted to blow off studying.
Resist the urge altogether and focus on the
important things. You can party it up all you
want come Christmas!

5. Distract yourself

What might seem to contradict tip number
three, distracting yourself is meant to be
used as a tool to avoid going crazy amongst
all the paper writing and notecard making.
Every hour or so that you work, take a ten
or fifteen minute break and let yourself
do whatever you want (check Facebook,
message a friend, etc.). Once the ten or
fifteen minutes are up get back to work.
These types of mini breaks give your brain a
little rest and help to take your mind off the
pressure or anxiety you might be feeling.

6. Map out your exam schedule

A week before your exam:

-compile all of your lecture notes, power
points and any additional readings in
comparison to the syllabus to make sure
you aren’t missing anything

-after you’ve reviewed the material yourself
book a study session with a few classmates
-make yourself a practice test if you’re
anticipating a problem-based, multiple
choice or short and long answer exam or
practice your essay writing skills if you’re
anticipating an essay style exam

-if you can’t get a sufficient answer from
anyone else in the class pay a visit to your
professor to ask about any points that you’re
still unclear on

The night before your exam:

-get rid of major distractions; install
a distraction-blocking program like
SelfControl and block your favourite
websites, tum off your cell phone and
let your friends know that you won’t be
available

-briefly review all of your study materials
and then focus in on the areas where you
had the most difficulty

-avoid pulling an all-nighter by starting
early and getting to bed at a decent time
The morning of your exam:

-dress comfortably

-don’t try to cram your brain with last-
minute facts and other than some quick
reviewing, take the morning off

-leave with enough time to arrive at least
five minutes before your exam starts

-take some deep breaths and think positive
thoughts