{"id":18632,"date":"2019-11-20T09:00:48","date_gmt":"2019-11-20T17:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/?p=18632"},"modified":"2019-12-09T09:37:39","modified_gmt":"2019-12-09T17:37:39","slug":"angry-in-the-snow-but-with-slightly-less-student-loan-debt-looking-back-on-the-top-10-most-read-nexus-stories-of-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/2019\/11\/20\/angry-in-the-snow-but-with-slightly-less-student-loan-debt-looking-back-on-the-top-10-most-read-nexus-stories-of-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Angry in the snow, but with slightly less student-loan debt: Looking back on the top 10 most-read Nexus<\/em> stories of 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u00a0<\/span>loathe top-10 lists of anything. At first, it felt like a huge cop-out to make this feature a look at the 10 most-read stories at nexusnewspaper.com in 2019 and say, \u201cThis is what everyone liked, see you next year.\u201d But for us at the Nexus<\/i> office, it\u2019s not that at all. The end result of writing is a duck having a nice little swim; we\u2019re not seeing the legs hard at work. Doing this article opened my eyes to how hard we all work for this paper, and how important each story can be to both the writers and the students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, this story is a splendid way to look back and learn from the highs and lows of working in the office, and to measure how we\u2019ve evolved here at Nexus<\/i>. Most of all, it\u2019s a chance to see what the students are reading, which is the most important part of the paper, after all.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking back at some of our 2019 issues (photo by Greg Pratt\/Nexus<\/em>).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looking back on the year, my life in the office changed significantly, mostly because I now actually work in the office. I always feel like I\u2019m walking in all the past features writers\u2019 shoes (especially Fred Cameron\u2019s, now that it\u2019s been a year since his 2018 top-10 feature was published). These are huge shoes to fill, and I already feel like I\u2019m clowning around in them as I write this. It\u2019s an honour, for sure, but it\u2019s a duty that I really take seriously. When the due date for a feature hits and I send the draft off to managing editor Greg Pratt, it\u2019s like I\u2019ve been released from a two-week curse and I can work on the next big thing.<\/p>\n

By the time next year comes, I\u2019ll have grown into it, and I\u2019ll be able to comfortably work in non-clown shoes. This clown metaphor got out of hand; I\u2019d better stop now and just dive right into my analysis of the stories that were the most popular this year on nexusnewspaper.com.<\/p>\n

10. \u201cLayers of academic theft unravelling: Is plagiarism on the rise at Camosun College?\u201d (February 6, 2019, written by Fred Cameron)<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

I was surprised to see that this was only number 10 on the list. Academic theft is a problem I hear about a lot, and there\u2019s always a warning about it at the bottom of our course outlines. In this piece, Cameron really alters the reader\u2019s perspective on what the definition of plagiarism actually is, and what we consider it to be. How has our technology contributed to the rise of plagiarism… or is it really even on the rise? Seeing people in my own world spew the same ideas from others, I wonder if the matter of originality should be considered plagiarism because, after all, \u201cborrowing\u201d an idea isn\u2019t giving much room for independent thought. But what if the thought is your own, just from last year, or another class?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Features\u2014and I know this by now\u2014are complicated, but this one is particularly complicated. If you haven\u2019t already, read this story for yourself. Then read it a second and third time.<\/p>\n

9. \u201cKnow Your Profs<\/i>: Irene Wallace on the importance of a Starbucks glass half-full\u201d (May 15, 2019, written by Katy Weicker)<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

We were surprised to see Know Your Profs<\/i> show up in this list for the second year in a row. But the nice thing about that is that now we know that students here love their instructors and faculty. Case in point: the popularity of this Q&A with Camosun Career Services employment facilitator Irene Wallace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We caught up with Wallace to tell her the good news. Talking with Wallace shows why she made it on this list; she really makes students believe in their future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEach one of us does have a huge opportunity to make a difference, and I guess that\u2019s always what I\u2019m trying to encourage students to do,\u201d says Wallace. \u201cDon\u2019t be thinking \u2018I\u2019m just a little old student,\u2019 or \u2018I\u2019m not important.\u2019 Well, you are, and if you\u2019re willing to step forward and try to make a difference and have an impact on whatever it is you might be interested in, a whole bunch of ones add up to a great big world-changer sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

8. \u201cCamosun College student raises concerns about Interurban bike lane\u201d (January 7, 2019, written by Adam Marsh)<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Back in late 2018, Nexus<\/i> got an email from a concerned student (which is how many of our stories start\u2014keep those emails coming!) who had some concerns about the state of the bike lane leading out to Interurban. Especially during poor weather, the mud would completely cover up the lane, meaning cyclists had to dart out into the road during a curvy, hilly stretch that people routinely speed in (update: almost a year later, the bike lane still looks like garbage).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s actually a disservice to say that this article is just about a bike lane. The safety of citizens should always come first, and the constant war between car drivers and cyclists is a bitter fight for safer transportation. After all, roads are what get us to campus. There\u2019s no reason to go to school if just getting there is a danger.<\/p>\n

Maybe some of us don\u2019t think much of going on our morning commute. There is always the small chance some idiot driver is speeding because, obviously, their time is more precious than your safety, but what will the school do when those situations results in accidents on that bike lane?<\/p>\n

When I first looked at this story, I thought it was just about a bike lane. But it\u2019s about student safety, which is why it resonated so well with our student readers. We wish we could say the story had a better ending, but hopefully those bike lanes get the attention they need sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n

7. \u201cCamosun eyes potential Interurban film studio\u201d (August 6, 2019, written by Kate Wood)<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

This story encapsulates everything about 2019: it shows the college moving with the times and exploring ways to teach students new skills. Maybe with a film studio\u2014which would include 3D animation\u2014we could have Camosun students go into specific arts programs as filmmakers and actually direct, shoot, and model a better remake of Cats<\/i> on a lower budget. It\u2019s probably not that hard.<\/p>\n

But there are questions and concerns that come up: what\u2019s this going to do in relation to the college\u2019s new master plan? Is it that practical? What about the truly impossible parking situation at Interurban? This won\u2019t help unless the college builds a parking lot that can definitely handle the new number of students the building will bring in (one Saanich resident who lives near the college recently told Nexus<\/i> that they think this building is a bad idea, as it will just mean even more traffic and students parking on their road).<\/p>\n

In terms of industry work, especially for the arts, it\u2019s certainly an investment that would pay off for young film students. Offering a hands-on approach for students will bring their skills, and Camosun\u2019s programs, up to date and into the future. Plus, with Camosun serving as an inexpensive and introductory alternative, adding a film studio will bring us up to par with industry-specific programs like the ones at Vancouver Film School and Emily Carr. The problem with these specialized programs is that they\u2019re intense and immersive, which means a lot of hours, a lot of fancy equipment, a lot of exclusivity, and a lot of overworking with no reward. However, Camosun having intimate and introductory classrooms will give passionate students a low-stakes chance to experiment in a professional setting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6. \u201cDirecting The Master Builder<\/i> a dream come true for Blue Bridge\u2019s Brian Richmond (May 15, 2019, written by Katy Weicker)<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

As a lover of literature and a fan of 19th-century Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, I was so happy to hear that the Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre gave a chance for a healthy debate around their performance of Ibsen\u2019s The Master Builder<\/i>. In this story, our former staff writer Katy Weicker builds a gorgeous narrative around how timeless literature can be, and what the discussion should be surrounding a century-old play. How can a play set in the 19th century, talking about 19th-century values, be applicable to our modern audiences, and should it even be?<\/p>\n

The article appeals to the modern artist, also talking about director Brian Richmond\u2019s experimenting with avant-garde approaches and interpreting how the play should be performed. This story exemplifies how artists communicate through other works, how each explanation and understanding of a piece of art differs from artist to artist, and how we need to approach all art pieces, especially ones worlds away from us, with an active eye and open mind. It\u2019s incredibly special to see Weicker\u2019s influence on the paper and her journey in it (although I only arrived near the end of her time here). I really wish all the best for her, and she certainly has inspired a new generation of feminist journalists in the office.<\/p>\n

Also, is there a secret Ibsen fan club out there, and if so, can I join?<\/p>\n

5. \u201cFormer Camosun instructor no longer legally permitted to practice nursing in BC, college won\u2019t release details of investigation\u201d (July 8, 2019, written by Adam Marsh)<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not surprised by this one placing so high. Because of this situation, the trust of students, if it hasn\u2019t already been lost, will surely be affected. Now, in the midst of the MeToo movement, voices once silenced are coming forth with no going back. The culture on campus is a juxtaposition of darker secrets hidden behind the ever-constant reminders of consent and sexual harassment.<\/p>\n

We don\u2019t know what is truly happening, whether you\u2019re on campus or on a field trip 6,000 miles away from it. When these things happen, it only furthers the fear, especially for female students. But it\u2019s not all black and white: student editor Adam Marsh presents so many varying views in this article, it\u2019s easy to realize that this is never a simple issue with simple solutions. Many of the students point out the potential for rehabilitation for Nursing instructor Stephen Bishop, who is at the centre of the allegations discussed in the story; others discuss their own personal horror at what occurred.<\/p>\n

So, yes, of course it isn\u2019t a black-and-white issue, it\u2019s just a varying gradient of deeply dark greys. I myself feel powerless in this case. However, we need to bring issues like these to light, whether our opinions of it differ, and that\u2019s the least we could do. And we will continue to do just that: Nexus<\/i> currently has a Freedom of Information request in with the college to get more information about this situation, and we will continue to report on it.<\/p>\n

4. \u201cBC government eliminates interest on provincial student loans\u201d (February 26, 2019, written by Kate Wood)<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

This is a huge story, and it rightfully takes its seat high up here on our list. Post-secondary education is, to be professional, stupidly expensive, which leads us students to curse its very name on a daily basis. But money woes shouldn\u2019t get in the way of enjoying education. Student debt is looming over everyone\u2019s heads\u2014and if it\u2019s not already, it will be once you graduate. To eliminate the interest charge on provincial student loans is big, and the total is huge on a province-wide level. Meanwhile, Alberta is now hiking up loan charges, which, as far as I can tell, just furthers the already established elitism of education, and also makes BC look way nicer.<\/p>\n

Additionally, former staff writer Kate Wood\u2019s writing has an approachable voice that makes talking about education and finances a less overwhelming experience than it could be. It serves as a great article to introduce newbies to the financial side of post-secondary education. Taking these steps into understanding where our money goes, and why eliminating interest charges is so newsworthy, helps readers really grab hold of reality and the practical necessities of their financial relationship with education.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. \u201cLa Traviata<\/i> delivers conflicting yet stunning portrayal of timeless themes\u201d (February 15, 2019, written by Kate Wood)<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Kate Wood\u2019s documentation of, to quote her own article, her \u201cevening at the opera\u201d gives another arts story its place on the top-10 list. This story is Wood\u2019s review of a newer interpretation of La Traviata<\/i>, which transports the story to a couple centuries later, in 1920s Paris.<\/p>\n

Wood\u2019s article, along with Weicker\u2019s on The Master Builder<\/i>, really identifies what a lot of 2019 has been about. Feminists have always done the work of pointing out our societal issues within institutions and the arts, so how can we now appreciate earlier works of art without compromising our philosophy? However, we see that we can, through the performances and our own interpretation, enlighten our minds, hold onto our ideals, and still enjoy the experiences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The opera is an alien form of entertainment for us young folks now, and it doesn\u2019t feel natural to go enjoy them. Thankfully, Wood advises us to educate ourselves before the show and just let the music take us away.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a funny thing that the further we get away from older artforms, the more interested we are in them. Our readers are indeed interested in operas and plays, and maybe it\u2019s because our writers\u2019 younger minds can introduce us to a time that seems so removed from our ideas through a lens that we can relate to.<\/p>\n

2. \u201cCamosun College board of governors elects new chair\u201d (July 10, 2019, written by Kate Wood)<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Post-secondary politics seem to always be progressing, but I think it\u2019s notable that progressive politics get more readership, and this shows it. This story reported on how the Camosun College board of governors had appointed Laylee Rohani as the new chair; appointing a first-generation Iranian-Canadian woman is enough for students to feel that our college is definitely less outdated, but, as the article points out, passing the torch is important in itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The funny thing is that when I look at certain boards or, let\u2019s say, Liberal cabinets, I feel deeply conflicted. Of course, we need the voices of all people, but how can we make a statement without it sounding empty? When we look at our local administrations, especially regarding education, I think that\u2019s where the small statements are the loudest. Rohani\u2019s predecessor Ron Rice is a member of the Cowichan Tribes; this shows that Canada is more than white Christian colonizers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And it would appear that Laylee can really get to work. It\u2019s been months since this article came out, and we\u2019re already covering the plans she mentioned for the college, and the Alex & Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness has officially opened. We\u2019re happy to be covering stories like this, and happy that students are paying attention.<\/p>\n

1. \u201cCamosun College students upset after college opens despite snow\u201d (February 11, 2019, written by Adam Marsh)<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s no surprise that this is the number-one most-read article of 2019 on our site. To be honest, I feel a little cheated, but that\u2019s mostly because I don\u2019t even remember being that bothered by the snow. Then again, my Albertan bones keep me warm in BC\u2019s \u201cfrigid\u201d winters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This was a hot story, though. The backlash from students upset that Camosun stayed open in the snow came fast and furious. The problem here was that some students literally couldn\u2019t make it to campus, and it was during midterms. Camosun student Gwendolyn O\u2019Connor\u2014who now writes for Nexus<\/i>\u2014was quoted in the story as saying online, \u201cWhat about students who have disabilities, eh? Thanks Camosun.\u201d Student Taylor Westendale said \u201cThis is such a joke\u2026 I\u2019m not going to risk my safety to make it to campus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, college Facilities staff were up as early as 4 am determing what call to make, and the call was made to open the school, leading to the biggest school\/student clash of the year, and our biggest story of the year, one we were working around the clock to update to keep students informed as to what was happening.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Knowing that our work has reached the eyes of our readers\u2014Camosun student and staff, community members, even people all around the world\u2014makes the experience of writing this so much more surreal. Here at the Nexus <\/i>office, we tend to bring up in our meetings how completely mind-boggling it is to know that there are people out there halfway across the world reading what we wrote.<\/p>\n

We gravitate to certain topics, and some of these topics just can\u2019t be easily explained, but it really feels like I\u2019m talking with the people reading this. It\u2019s such a gratifying feeling to see what stories are connecting most with people.<\/p>\n

There will be plenty of stories to tell, read, and share in the next year, and I have a load of features coming up that I truly hope all of you will enjoy (maybe you\u2019ll enjoy them enough to get me on this list next year\u2026 but that\u2019s not really the point). We\u2019ll see you in 2020, and we\u2019ll have a lot to say then, too. We look forward to seeing what stories resonate most with you this time next year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u00a0loathe top-10 lists of anything. At first, it felt like a huge cop-out to make this feature a look at the 10 most-read stories at nexusnewspaper.com in 2019 and say, \u201cThis is what everyone liked, see you next year.\u201d But for us at the Nexus office, it\u2019s not that at all. The end result of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":18717,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,244],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18632","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-november-20-2019"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18632","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18632"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18632\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18635,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18632\/revisions\/18635"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18717"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18632"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18632"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18632"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}