The Chopping Block Chronicles: Why are we afraid to cook?

The clash of pots and pans; the sound of a steak searing on a scorching hot skillet; the aromas of butter, rosemary, and sage filling the air. This to me is nothing short of divine, the organized chaos that fills my house on a regular basis. Cooking came out of necessity for me, but then […]

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Communication Error: Clone city

Not long ago I spoke about the communication funnel we can experience when ruminating on past conversations, the funnel often used to lament or predict the future with spent words of our former self. But what if our former selves were alive, their words burning so fiercely that a fiery lake surrounds the present us? […]

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Campus Access: Camosun missed the mark with Outdoor Learning Commons

The Outdoor Learning Commons is a relatively new addition to Camosun’s Lansdowne campus; the cluster of cement tables outside By the Books is only a few weeks old. While the idea itself appears efficient, there is one serious concern: the lack of accessible spots for those in wheelchairs and other people with mobility concerns. Of […]

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First Things First: College 101

So, you’ve started your first year of college, and everything is priority number one to you. Assignments, quizzes, group work, book buying, and all the awful little details you forgot are at the top of your list. You need to knock these off one by one before you can tackle socializing, sleeping, eating, or even […]

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Unpacking the Bags: Making the biggest step possible

Many people ask me what led me to leave my country, my family, and my culture behind to come and live in Canada. The truth is that every international student has a different answer to why they made that decision; in my case, I left my country in search of better opportunities in the labour […]

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The Periodic Column: Gene-driving out of control

A huge breakthrough in the world of gene editing is a tool known as CRISPR, or “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats.” CRISPR guides enzymes to certain places in a genetic code where they can cut the DNA. Then the cells repair the genes, or other pieces of genetic code can be inserted. Another recent […]

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Let’s Talk?: On privacy, the pharmacy, and gender expectations

As woke as I am, I am also desensitized to the daily chip-aways I experience as a woman. Even when they happen, I don’t speak up as much as I should. This was brought to my attention recently when I went to the pharmacy with a friend to refill a prescription.  I walked to the […]

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Tech Talk: Five note-taking apps for college students

While a pen and paper always work great in a school environment, sometimes you want to digitize your notes and memos. Let’s take a look at some good options for electronic note-taking. Google Keep (for Android, iOS, and web, free) Google Keep aims to do one thing and to do that one thing better than […]

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Unpacking the Bags: Finding an apartment in Victoria

Moving to a completely different country has many challenges, including—especially in Victoria—finding a place to live. As international students, the best option is to seek a room or an apartment to share the costs. Remember that it’s important to choose your roommates well and ensure that you are able to share the expenses of the […]

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Let’s Talk?: #consent

Recently I saw a post on Facebook about how asking for consent ruins the moment. And I mean, yeah, if your partner pulls away when things are getting hot and heavy and stone-faced asks, “Do you consent to engaging in coitus with me at the present moment?” it might… although I reserve the right to […]

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