Columns

Fly on the Wall—To Dream, To Grow

In some sense, all that goes into making us who we are at the academic level cay be summed up in the immortal lyrics of the REM song “Losing My Religion”: “that was just a dream” they sang (REM, online).  And what a wonderful dream it is; AU sets us off on a previously unimaginable… Read more »

Porkpie Hat—Canadian Identity

A few days ago, an Australian acquaintance made some interesting observations on what she sees as essential aspects of “Canadianness”.  “What is it with you Canadians?” she mused, “you all seem to be so nice and polite, but at the same time, every one of you that I’ve met has been both twisted and brilliant… Read more »

The Fit Student—Treat Your Troubles with Nibbles

I’m branding a fitness app for a client.  Part of my role may include tweaking diets to tackle health concerns—and then getting the nod from certified dieticians. When it comes to a healthy diet, some tips seem basic: cut out added sugar, scrap trans fats, quit eating out, and fry nothing.  But once you’ve got… Read more »

The Study Dude—Becoming a Prof is Tough

If you want to become a professor, you’ve got it tough.   At least, that’s the view of Dr. Chris Davis, author of How to Become a Professor: A Non-traditional Guide. But wait! PhD programs throw money at you, don’t they?  Well, physical universities offer paid T.A.  and teaching roles.  But make sure you also apply… Read more »

Course Exam—GLST/HIST 367

HIST 367 / GLST 367 (The Second World War) is a three-credit history course that is intended to provide a better understanding of the events of the war years, focussing on the decade of 1937 to 1947. This course will focus on several key wartime events, as well as on the issues and controversies that… Read more »

Dear Barb—Wedding Miss?

Dear Barb: Greg and I have been together five years and moved in together two years ago.  We have just finished our degrees, have landed good jobs, and are anxious to begin a future together.  Eventually we want to have children, but have decided to purchase a house first.  Everything is great between us until… Read more »

The Study Dude—Study Tips to Thrive—and Survive!

If you bombed your first year of university, don’t fret.  You can still survive and thrive.  You don’t need an Einsteinian brain either, but instead, a rigorous work ethic.  And if you go to both AU and a physical university, I have a tip on how you can survive a nasty safe space. Here are… Read more »

Porkpie Hat—Some Kind of Special

I’m seventeen years old, camping at Moses Lake with my best friends in the world.  We spend the weekend sitting around the campfire, telling bullshit stories, and drinking warm beer.  Josie has her beat-up acoustic guitar and we’re singing along to “Gold Dust Woman,” “Space Oddity,” and “Don’t Fear the Reaper.”  Ginny and I go… Read more »