VIU Student Pulse News: October 12, 2022

Are you enjoying the sunny, beautiful October weather we’ve been having? Take a picture and enter the #MyVIU contest for the chance to win a $100 gift card to the Campus Store. Show us your VIU!
Also in this issue: Nanaimo municipal candidates share their views on climate action policies, a message of support regarding the violence in Iran and the VIU Mariners are back in action this weekend on home turf.

Need to know

Municipal candidates and climate action 🌎

Climate action and sustainability is one of the pressing issues VIU students and employees alike are concerned about. In support of democratic principles and to shed light on an issue that matters to so much of our community, the Engagement and Dialogue Working Group for the President’s Taskforce on Climate Action and Sustainability posed two questions to all candidates running in Nanaimo’s 2022 municipal election. The candidates we received responses from are shared in this blog post in the order in which we received them. Voting day is Saturday, October 15. Learn more about where to vote and the candidates.

Great British Columbia ShakeOut ⚠️

On October 20, from 9:45 to 10:05 am, everyone is asked to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” during the Great British Columbia ShakeOut. This annual earthquake drill is important preparation for everyone in the region, which is a seismically active zone. During the drill a test of VIU’s Mass Notification systems will take place and campus-wide evacuations led by emergency wardens and faculty will follow the alert. The drill will end with an “All Clear Notice” from the notification system.  

A statement on the violence in Iran

Our hearts continue to be with our Iranian community members as well as those with family or deep connections to Iran. VIU supports the international calls for the Iranian regime to end all forms of persecution and violence against women. This is a time of deep anxiety, fear and distress and we encourage any community members impacted by the violence in Iran to seek support. VIU’s Counselling team can be reached at 250.740.6416 and 24-7 crisis services are listed here. If you see someone who is struggling please direct them to supports.

Connect

Volleyball Home Opener & National Championship Banner Raising 🏐

Join the VIU Mariners for another season of top-flight women’s and men’s PACWEST volleyball in the VIU Gym, starting with an Island rivalry home opener against the Camosun College Chargers on Friday, October 21. Prior to the women’s game at 6 pm, the 2021-22 CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship team will be recognized, and the national championship banner will be raised to the rafters. The men’s game will follow at 8 pm. Enjoy hot food giveaways before the game, appearances from the VIU Spirit Team and free admission for VIU students! 

Soccer Final Home Games in 2022 ⚽️

The VIU Mariners women’s and men’s soccer teams are both in the national top 15 rankings and are in the home stretch as they race towards the PACWEST conference playoffs! Cheer on the Mariners at their final home games of the season, October 15 and 16 versus the Douglas College Royals and October 22 and 23 versus the Langara College Falcons at Q’unq’inuqwstuxw Turf at Nanaimo District Secondary School. Bring your scarves and noisemakers as the women kick off at 3 pm each game day, followed by the men’s match at 5 pm. Go Mariners! 

Curious Minds is back! 🧠

Curious Minds is VIU’s student e-newsletter designed to inform, involve and inspire. It is produced and edited by Vanessa Moraes, the Student Research Engagement Coordinator, in partnership with the Office of Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity. Once a month you will receive great info about funding opportunities, awards, conferences, important dates and deadlines, events and stories about fellow student researchers. Subscribe HERE.

Silent Disco Campus Rave Parade 🎧

VIU Cultural Connections and Collective Groove present Beats Beyond Borders a silent disco campus rave parade on Thursday, October 13, 5 to 7:30 pm. Meet at the Malaspina Theatre. Tickets are $6 in advance/$10 at the door. Buy tickets. 

Beats Beyond Borders On-Campus Global Electronic Music Festival 🎹

VIU Cultural Connections is hosting a free on-campus global electronic music festival on Thursday, October 20 from 5 to 9 pm in the Royal Bank Plaza. Featuring Njoki Njoki (Kenya), Astro (Romania), Bedtime Snack (Vancouver Island) and Nostic (Victoria and Peru). Event includes a food truck and licensed patio. 

Westwood Lake Witch Paddle 🧙‍♀️

The VIU Students’ Union is hosting their second Westwood Lake Witch Paddle on Saturday, October 29. VIU students, employees and Nanaimo community members are invited to bring their paddle board or kayak, life jacket and witch/Halloween costume to join us in a spooky paddle on the lake. Kids are also invited to participate in a treasure hunt along the main Westwood trail. We’ll have treats, music, a bouncy castle, food trucks and more. 

Go By Bike Weeks 🚴‍♀️

Add some active transportation to your climate action! Go By Bike weeks are October 3 to 16. Participation is free, register to track your kilometres and get entered to win prizes.

Save on VERB hair care products 💁‍♀️

VIU Hairdressing is offering 15 per cent off VERB volume hair care products this October. Choose from shampoo, conditioner, dry texture spray, volume texture power and volume spray. Drop by the salon, located in Building 164, to purchase.

Supports & services

Career help 📄

Calling all VIU students! If you’re looking to secure a job or volunteer position in the coming months or year, stop by the new Career Studio in Building 255, Room 204. Our team can assist with resumés, cover letters, interview preparation and all other career-related needs. See our new website for more info.

How do I tailor my resumé to a specific job? ✏️

Want to increase your chances of getting called for an interview? Tailoring your resumé to the job description is a good tactic. Career Services Officer Paula Deering shares some tips on the #VIUBlog.

How to deal with burnout 😴

Burnout is a state of thinking, feeling and behaving that results from feeling exhausted. This can manifest as feelings of anxiety, depression, isolation, general tiredness and absence, to name a few. Are you finding yourself approaching burnout (or feeling the effects of it)? Here are some tips to help you re-energizefrom VIU Cowichan Counsellor Natasha Labanek.

Thinking about applying to a different program? 📱

Applications to Fall 2023 programs are open. Are you thinking about or preparing to apply to a different program next year? Advisors make great sounding boards. Connect with an Advisor by phone, email, Zoom and in-person. We may have valuable information that can help in your decision making.

VIU Off-Campus Housing 🏠

Did you know VIU has an off-campus housing coordinator who offers advice and support with house hunting and temporary accommodation? We’re also here to help with your tenancy issues. Common problems include: 

• property maintenance 
• loss of quiet enjoyment 
• guests 
• pest infestations (e.g. cockroaches, bedbugs, mice) 
• rent and deposit disputes 

Visit Off-Campus Housing, email housing@viu.ca or book a meeting.

CareerVIU job postings 

Thousands of local employers are always looking for talented future leaders like you. Many of these employers post their jobs on CareerVIU. Access CareerVIU now and check back regularly for new part-time and full-time, on-campus and off-campus, as well as volunteer and paid opportunities. Featured job posting:

• Posting #31106 - HerStart International Fellowship. Gain professional global development experience through a HerStart International Fellowships focused on advancing gender equality, social entrepreneurship and climate action. Start dates are January 2023 or May 2023 for three or six months in Ghana, Tanzania or Uganda.

Scholarships at The High School 💰

Do you have a child or younger sibling who wants to go to The High School at VIU? As a VIU student, you get a tuition discount. Learn more.

Workshop: Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s Program

If you will be registered in a master’s program in Fall 2023, check out this award. On October 26 from 5 to 6 pm in Building 305, Room 440 (Research Commons), we will take you through the process and give you some tips to be successful. For more info and eligibility, please visit the scholarships homepage.

Research help

Have questions about your assignments and need some research help? Get research help, available through online live chat, email and one-on-one appointments in-person or via Zoom. Are you pursuing graduate studies while working as a VIU employee? The Office of Graduate Studies & Student Research, Office of Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity and the library are co-hosting the GROW Network series! Learn more and register for upcoming workshops here.

Give a Meal 🍔

Students can now access the Give a Meal program, which provides meals on a temporary basis through VIU’s cafeterias, as well as resources and support for those struggling with food security. You can access this program by emailinggiveameal@viu.ca. Thanks to Ancillary Services and Food Services for spearheading this new initiative.

Cowichan campus now open weekends 

The Cowichan campus is now open Saturdays from 8 am to 7 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 3 pm for students to study. Please note that service departments are closed weekends. Cowichan campus hours. 

Naloxone Training - Cowichan campus & Cowichan Trades Centre

The HealthyU Cowichan nurses will teach you how to recognize an overdose and how to respond with your free Naloxone kit. In only 45 minutes you can learn to save a life. Dates, times and info can be found on the VIU Cowichan events calendar page. 

SafeTALK Workshop

VIU’s Life Promotion Advisory Group provides this training for members of the VIU community to gain suicide alertness and intervention skills. At a SafeTALK workshop, you’ll learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, engaging someone and connecting them to an intervention resource for further support. It takes place Wednesday, November 2, 9 am to 1 pm, at the VIU Nanaimo Campus in Building 305/Room 507. Register via Eventbrite.

Wellness Lounge and Therapy Dogs 🐶

Want some place to go to chill out, destress, pet some dogs or chat with students trained to help you navigate university life? The Wellness Peers and therapy dog teams will be available at the Wellness Lounge in the Nanaimo campus library during these hours:

• Tuesdays: 10 am to 5 pm (dog team available from 1:30 to 3 pm)
• Wednesdays: 10 am to 5 pm (dog team 1:30 to 3 pm)
• Thursdays: 11 am to 4 pm (dog team 1 to 2:30 pm)

A guide to banking in Canada for international students 

In this webinar hosted by Scotiabank, get an overview of resources available to help international students understand banking in Canada. Learn about the Scotiabank Student GIC program. Scotiabank will also provide step-by-step process guide to help international students navigate their Canadian banking journey even before they leave their home countries. The webinar is October 18 at 2 pm EDT. Register now. 

Inquiry and Ways of Knowing: A Guide to a Career in Research 

Put on by the Student Leadership Circle in collaboration with the Office of Graduate Studies and Student Research, this event will feature employers and campus groups who will provide you with tools for navigating a career in research. The event is happening on Wednesday October 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm and registration is required. 

Be in the know with the VIU Safety App 📲

The VIU Safety App is the fastest way to get information during an on-campus emergency or disruption to campus operations. Here’s how to get it:

1. Download the SAFETY@VIU app on the Apple Store or Google Play
2. Click on “Allow push notifications.” Having push notifications for the VIU Safety App means that emergency messaging will show up on your phone’s home screen as soon as it is sent out.

During an emergency or disruption to campus operations, information is sent out first via the VIU Safety App. The VIU Safety App also includes details on VIU’s emergency procedures, emergency contacts, a form to report suspicious activity as well as campus maintenance requests. Learn more.

Mark your calendars

Deadline to apply for VIU Bursaries: October 30 💰

#DYK that the deadline to apply for VIU bursaries is midnight on October 30? There are hundreds of financial awards available at VIU for almost every program, as well as several general ones. To apply for all of them, all you have to do is fill out your Scholarship, Award and Bursary Profile.

REACH Award – apply by October 31 🥇

The REACH Awards provide VIU students with a stipend to help complete their own independent project under the mentorship of a VIU employee. For full information on how to apply (including a video) go to VIU REACH Award. If you have any questions, please email Vanessa Moraes.

Cyber Security Awareness Month 💻

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and VIU is partnering with Get Cyber Safe to help you stay safe online. Check out these resources to learn about phishing, how prevent falling for phishing attempts and more. Keep an eye out to the Cyber Security Month page during week 3 (Oct 17 to 21) to find out how to enter the VIU Cyber Month '22 Challenge!

COVID updates

COVID-19 in BC 😷

COVID-19 is still prevalent in BC and it is expected that the number of COVID-19 cases will go up in BC this fall as people spend more time indoors. To best protect yourself from infection and from spreading to others, VIU reminds you to take extra precautions:

• Be up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations/boosters. Booster doses help extend your protection against severe outcomes of COVID-19.
• Stay home when you are sick or have symptoms of illness, even if the symptoms are mild.
• Frequent hand washing and using hand sanitizer where soap and water is not readily available.
• Respect personal space.
• Regular cleaning and disinfecting can help prevent the spread of illness. The virus that causes COVID-19 can be broken down by soaps and detergents as well as appropriate disinfectants.
• Some people may choose to continue to wear a mask because they are more comfortable wearing a mask or because they, or someone in their family, may be at higher risk and want to take extra precautions.

Deals

Did you know that as a VIU student you have access to exclusive discounts in your community and across the province? Download the Deals App, administered by the VIUSU and the BC Federation of Students, to learn more. Today’s featured businesses:

• Escapism Escape Rooms: 10% off per booking.
• Big Wheel Burger: 20% off food.

Campus events

Stay on top of what's happening at VIU. Find ways to get involved: 

• Campus Events website
• Co-curricular involvement app
• VIU Students' Union app