With the pandemic exacerbating the stress and difficulties of university life, University of Ottawa students have created a discord to connect with fellow classmates.
University of Ottawa
The U of O’s seventh annual wellness week concluded on Jan. 22 and featured workshops and activities for students, staff and faculty at the university, as well as several contests.
The University of Ottawa changed their rules on residence contracts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many students were slated to move in during the winter term, however many students decided not to move in at all.
Recommendations include singing Okanagan Charter, creating physical mental health and wellness centre on campus and creating a research cluster.
A total number of 111 students were listed on the document along with their personal student numbers and emails.
“At times it’s overwhelming, but if it were not for my parents, my grandparents, their grandparents what they endured it wouldn’t be possible for me to be here,” said U of O alumni and Canada’s only Indigenous forensic pathologist Dr. Kona Williams.
“We don’t know much about the mental health of our workforce in this country. The more this crisis goes on, the more these issues will be compounded,” said Ivy Lynn Bourgeault, a U of O professor and holder of the University’s research chair in gender, diversity and the professions.
“There needed to be a clear and forceful reaction of the international community,” Packer said in an interview with the Fulcrum. “Unfortunately, what we’ve seen is the opposite.”
“Coming to university is a huge transition, said Initiative 1/5 president Kari-Ann Clow. “Mental Illness tends to often have its first episodes in young adults. They’re changing, they might be away from family, there is a new identity forming, so there’s a lot of pressure on top of the stigma associated.”
“There’s increased stress and anxiety among students because of the disruption and uncertainty caused by COVID-19,” said Rita Notarandrea, ceo of CCSA.
Echoing throughout the remnant stained glass of the former Sandy Hill All Saints Anglican Church on Sept. 17 was an emotional celebration of the first-ever diploma graduating class of the Inuit Community Support Worker and Management Trainee Program.
A variety of activities, speeches and games helped the UOSU and the University of Ottawa student body fundraise close to $4,000 dollars to help raise awareness for cystic fibrosis. Shinerama month continues throughout September.
A group of U of O students gathered in the Senate meeting on Monday to push the university administration to cancel classes on Friday to allow students to attend a global climate crisis strike. The administration wouldn’t cancel classes but said it has directed staff to accommodate students who attend.
Saturday’s event featured 12 scientists giving hour-long synopses of their area of research and looked to spark interest in younger generations to pursue futures in science, technology, engineering, medicine and math.
“When the Titanic sank, they were actually the last people who got out, so we dye ourselves purple to honour and remember them,” says Sam Garcia, vice-president external for the Engineering Student Society.
“Today’s THE rankings clearly demonstrate that our efforts have paid off. Credit goes to our talented researchers, who constantly push the boundaries of knowledge, make breakthrough discoveries and bring forth innovative ideas. ”says president Jacques Frémont.
The Fulcrum sat down with Natasha Roy, UOSU francophone affairs commissioner, who discussed promoting language inclusion, her goals for the year and the challenges she has already encountered since starting her mandate.
“For essentially the cost of a cup of coffee ($3.38 per semester), if you do face a problem you’re going to get some assistance and some help in dealing with the issue which can be very stressful,” says clinic director Louise Toone.
“The people who are here are missing class to stand up for those who can’t come to class at all this semester,” said organizer and student Tim Gulliver.
The university says some of its employees from Information Technology Services, Teaching and Learning Support Service and Protection Services who worked in the ceiling space at Simard Hall and the Power Plant may have been exposed to asbestos.
“This is why I wanted to develop software, to help people achieve something. It sounds cliché, it sounds like the Silicon Valley ‘Make the world a better place,’ but that’s true, that’s exactly what I wanted to do, which is make tools that help people live and work better.”—Jerry Fengwei Zhang, fourth-year software engineering student and Developer 30 Under 30 winner.
The provincial government released the 2019 budget laying out Ford’s full spending plan on April 11, including significant changes to how post-secondary institutions are funded and affirming previously announced tuition cuts, changes to OSAP and the Student Choice Initiative (SCI).
The University of Ottawa administration has signed an official agreement with the University of Ottawa Students’ Union (UOSU), recognizing them as “the only student association authorized to represent all undergraduate students.”
The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) sent out their final newsletter on April 10, alerting students that their doors have officially closed, and bidding students farewell.
The winners of this election will be responsible for navigating the establishment of the UOSU, the handover of student services from the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO), and the financial pressures of Doug Ford’s Student Choice Initiative (SCI).
