In recent years, AU has slowly begun implementing the use of digital e-textbooks for many courses.  Although many students welcome this change, the move has also proved controversial. Initially, AU began a concerted effort to move online in 2002, of which Athabasca University’s eText Initiative is a continued strategy.  Over the years, other initiatives included… Read more »

The 2020 pandemic has affected many aspects of AU students’ lives, including this year’s upcoming convocation, with ceremonies cancelled in both Edmonton and Toronto. A “reimagined virtual convocation” will take place on October 2, 2020.  Invitations to eligible graduates were sent in June, with July 31, 2020 as the last date to submit applications to… Read more »

At times, our lives take unexpected turns, and at times, the choices we make during these moments will change the trajectories of our futures forever.  Over the years, my life has taken many of these winding paths, some leading to narrow escapes, such as my terrifying near death experiences on a congested Guatemalan highway intersection,… Read more »

With recent global events and grassroots movements striving for equity, representation, and acknowledgement and redress of historical, as well as current injustices, The Voice Magazine reached out to AUSU about their new initiatives to increase inclusivity here at AU.  Our second in a series of interviews focuses on the recent initiatives for students with disabilities,… Read more »

In a recent article, I discussed the possibility of separation of art from the artist with the inevitable ties to cancel culture: the boycotting or firing those facing accusations of impropriety or immoral or questionable behaviour.  Cancel culture has recently faced criticism for destroying reputations—and livelihoods—as well as charges of silencing voices opposed to “ideological… Read more »

Throughout this pandemic, I have found myself becoming increasingly preoccupied with societal attitudes and inadequate medical standards. Among chronically ill, disabled, elderly,  “essential” but expendable, migrant, and poor communities there is a sense of being sacrificed for economic reasons.  I am angry at the dismissiveness of precautions, at the refusal to wear masks, and at… Read more »

With the recent global events and grassroots movements striving for equity, representation, and acknowledgement and redress of historical and current injustices, The Voice Magazine has reached out to AUSU about their new initiatives to increase inclusivity here at AU.  Our first in a series of interviews focuses on the newly established Indigenous Representation Committee, and… Read more »

With worldwide media attention focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as on social movements addressing historical and present-day injustices, provincial and federal governments have slowly begun introducing laws that scaled back hard-earned rights gained in the years before the pandemic.  Examples of this are the recently voted down Bill 207 — Conscience Rights (Health… Read more »

The most recent AUSU Council Meeting took place on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm MT. All Councillors were in attendance, with the exception of Councillor Katherine Hadden.  Also in attendance was The Voice’s Council Meeting Reporter Natalia Iwanek. Key items included Policy Revisions, Council Reports, and the Indigenous Student Representation Committee…. Read more »

Misrepresentative and often dehumanizing single narratives are often seen in literature, film, art, and media.  These stories are frequently one-dimensional and often-inaccurate portrayals of communities, often resulting in mistreatment and violence from society and internalized oppression and diminished self-worth for those affected.  In her immensely popular 2009 TED talk, The Danger of a Single Story,… Read more »