Students share their holiday rituals WHETHER IT’S SOMETHING your family has been doing forever, or it’s a new tradition you want to start this year, everyone tends to get a little weird around the holidays. Check out the following hilarious holiday traditions from University of Ottawa students—maybe they’ll help you feel better about the weird …
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Unfortunate gifts we’ve given and received at the holidays “UH, THANK YOU! It’s really, um, great!” We’ve all been there. Unwrapping a terrible present in front of the expectant gift-giver has got to be one of the most uncomfortable moments a person endures during the holiday season. Here, Fulcrum writers share their own unfortunate stories …
How to enjoy the holidays without killing the planet CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ADORN homes, illuminating nativity scenes or Santa and his reindeer. Elaborately wrapped gifts sit under elegantly decorated trees. It’s a pretty time of year, but while we’re dreaming of a white Christmas, the environment is hoping we keep it green over the holidays. Between …
There’s more to it than presents THE HOLIDAYS ARE a time when giving to others can be equally as joyous as receiving. Who doesn’t excitedly anticipate the smile on a loved one’s face as they tear apart gift-wrapping paper? Being charitable and generous toward family and friends is perhaps the best part of the holiday …
A tree ornament tells all ‘TIS THE SEASON to be angry! That’s my personal rendition of a very stupid Christmas song. As you’ve probably gathered, I absolutely cannot stand Christmas. A little part of me dies whenever somebody says, “Happy holidays,” “Seasons greetings,” or “Merry Christmas.” I know what you’re thinking: How can a freaking ornament …
Our resident sex columnist spreads a little cheer I THINK IT’S safe to say Old Saint Nick won’t be visiting me this Christmas Eve. I’ve been naughty this year—in countless different positions, three provinces, and with more than a few partners. Santa won’t be leaving any presents under my tree, but I do have high …
Bring on the cookies, cakes, and pies IT CAN’T BE denied—the best part of the holidays is the food. The smell of turkey roasting in the oven, salads spiced with oranges and pecans, and, of course, desserts aplenty. Nothing beats your mom’s home cooking, but why wait until Dec. 24 to get your fill? Traditional …
How to deal with Dec. 25 when you don’t celebrate Christmas AS ANOTHER YEAR winds to a close, many Canadians find themselves gearing up to celebrate Christmas. The streets may be decorated with sparkling lights, but on Dec. 25, they’re deserted. Those who aren’t getting into the festivities might be wondering how to entertain themselves …
A student laments ‘Twas the week before Christmas And all through the U of O Every student was studying Basking in their laptop screens’ glow Their essays were written with the greatest of care And they hoped their professors would overlook any errors The professors were chained unhappily to their desks While visions …
They’ll make you laugh, they’ll make you cry… IT’S THE MOST wonderful time of the year… Or is it? Whether Christmas brings you joy and warmth or fear and loathing, there is something we all can agree on: Some holiday-themed movies are fantastic and others are complete duds. The following is a list of the …
Decorating on a broke-ass budget NO CASH? NO problem. The Fulcrum gives you a handful of tricks and tips to make your place sparkle and shine for the holidays without breaking the bank. Christmas decorating Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. If you’re someone who can’t get enough of the snow, you’ll be …
Your guide to DIY fun times this winter season ANYONE WHO’S TRIED their hand at winter sports knows that having fun in the snowy season can be pretty rough on the wallet. Skis don’t come cheap, and even a snowball fight can run up quite a tab if you’re without the winter accessories you need. …
Our favourite holiday beverages YOU’VE WRITTEN ALL your exams, handed in final essays and projects, and finished your shopping for the holidays. What’s the one thing you’re dying for now? A good, strong drink! Here, the editors of the Fulcrum share: Drink your weight in my own invention, the Yule Tide—it’s fucking delicious. In a …
A plea from a holiday well-wisher “MERRY CHRISTMAS!” THERE. I’ve said it. Those two words that have somehow, in some way, become taboo over the holidays. The well-wishing that has become associated with hushed voices and political incorrectness: I’ve wished you, all of my readers, a denominational greeting. And I do this, instead of saying …
…the world! Saint Nick traditions from other countries SANTA CLAUS PLAYS a big role in every child’s Christmas, but how much do you know about the jolly old man from the North Pole? Santa Claus is based on St. Nicholas of Myra, a fourth-century bishop known for giving gifts to the poor. Over centuries, the …
Your soundtrack for the season THERE’S FINALLY SNOW on the ground, exams are starting to wind down, and Starbucks’ eggnog latte has returned at last. This can mean only one thing: The holidays are upon us. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or prefer to curl up with a steamy mug of spite and watch …
The phenomenon faced by students across the country So you’re in university, working toward a degree… Then what? Do considerations like paying back student loans, settling into a career, or moving in with a partner sometimes feel like too much to handle? You’re not alone. More university students than ever before are struggling with fears …
Staying safe in a digitized world IN OUR GADGET-OBSESSED society, the daily use of technology has become second nature. Seeing people listening to music, texting, or updating their Facebook status while walking down the street is commonplace. The benefits of living in a technologically advanced world are abundant, but there are also dangers associated with everyone’s favourite electronic favourite electronic toys and …
The five-finger discount THERE’S NO SET profile for an amateur shoplifter, the name given to those who steal items for their own personal use. Mid- dle-aged career men, famous actors (Winona Ryder, anyone?), and university students have all been caught red-handed. A 2007 study by the Retail Council of Canada claimed $3.6 billion worth …
Living with your partner while in university IN THE NOT so distant past, living together outside of wedlock could damage a person’s reputation beyond repair. As time marches on and that stigma fades, more and more university-aged couples are choosing to move in together. The Fulcrum asked professors and students—those who are happily cohabiting and those who ended their relationship after signing a lease together—to weigh in on the common-law lifestyle. Thinking about moving in together Why do so many students choose to forgo living by themselves or with friends in favour of renting a home with their partners? Diane Pacom, a sociology professor at the U of O, thinks the growing divorce rate in Canada may play a part in a student’s decision to live with his …
Students share their coming-out stories Complied by Edward Roué WE LIVE IN a country where same-sex marriage has been legal since 2004. In light of the recent victories for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in New York and within the U.S. military, some may assume that homophobia is waning throughout North …
It is possible to have a kick-ass one-day vacation YOU’RE BROKE, YOU’RE swamped with midterms, or your boss won’t give you time off. Whatever the reason, you’re stuck in Ottawa this reading week while your friends traipse around the world and, needless to say, you’re pissed. You could sit alone in your room, blogging angrily …
Pitching a tent in the middle of October WITH FALL READING week just around the corner, many students are ready for a change of scenery without breaking the bank. Instead of eradicating your savings account, why not consider going camping? Fall camping is a great opportunity to get away from your dorm room or apartment …
EVERY YEAR, HUNDREDS of Canadian students migrate south like geese, flocking to tropical destinations to spend their reading weeks sipping margaritas on sandy beaches. Sure, heading south is great… But did you know you can meet Anne of Green Gables in Prince Edward Island or that you can see wild polar bears in northern Manitoba? …
Breezing through security and fighting boredom THE FACT OF the matter is, while planning a trip, most people prefer to focus on the destination and choose to put the actual travel time out of their minds. Many travellers dread airports and view any flight longer than an hour as a scheme on behalf of the …
