Chronicle 17-18 Issue 10_FIXED

More documents

Recommendations

Info

4 The Chronicle March 27 - April 2, 2018 chronicle.durhamcollege.ca PUBLISHER: Greg Murphy EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Brian Legree AD MANAGER: Dawn Salter Editorial CONTACT US NEWSROOM: brian.legree@durhamcollege.ca ADVERTISING: dawn.salter@durhamcollege.ca ‘With the provincial election coming up this summer, it brings up the same problem we have every election in Canada: actually voting. Canada should adopt new voting practices like automatic registration, information sessions and weekend polling to increase voter turnout. Canadians tend not to have a strong turnout when it comes to voting day, the exception being the last federal election when 68.5 per cent showed up to the polls, which was the highest voter turnout has been since 1993. Recent trends look a lot gloomier. Since 2000, voter turnout has constantly sat below 65 per cent of registered voters. And those statistics were from registered voters in Canada, they don’t account for the eligible voters who haven’t registered. Other democratic countries, like Sweden and Australia, have much higher voter turnouts. Australia’s 2016 election had a 91 per cent turn-out. In order to combat low poll turnouts, these countries have adopted policies like automatic registration and weekend polling. In Sweden, once you become of age, you are automatically registered to vote. There’s no application process or verification required. The government already has all the data required to automatically register voters so by taking it out of the citizens’ hands, the barrier from voting is removed. This approach works. Sweden had an 82 per cent turnout of all eligible voters rather than Canada’s 68.5 per cent of just registered voters. Canada could easily do the same and should, especially if it could mean a fairer representation of Canadians on voting day. Twenty-three per cent of eligible voters in Canada who didn’t cast a ballot in the 2015 federal election said they were too busy to make a trip to the voting station. Part of the problem is voting always takes place on a weekday, while people work. Canada should hold voting on weekends rather than during the work week. It would give people a greater opportunity to get to the polling stations because more people are off during the weekend or have decreased work hours. Countries like Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, India and New Zealand all hold voting on weekends and experience higher voter turnout than Canada. While automatic registration and weekend polling would make voting more accessible to eligible voters, Canada should also follow Sweden in holding informational sessions. According to Statistics Canada, Cartoon by Cassidy McMullen We should introduce new voting practices 32 per cent of registered voters who didn’t vote said they didn’t vote because they weren’t interested in politics. This is one of the same reasons for Canada has lower turnout for provincial and municipal elections as compared to federal elections. In Sweden, they hand out a guide on political parties to voters, including what levels of government control what. Spaces in public libraries are also opened up to offer democratic information, education and dialogue. A disinterest in politics comes from a lack of knowledge. If voters understood the importance and impact of provincial and municipal government on their lives, they would be more compelled to vote. Canada should adopt the same practice of holding information sessions on upcoming elections in public spaces, like libraries, post-secondary institutions, as well as high schools for the students who have turned 18 just in time for elections. Low voter turnout in elections means elected officials don’t necessarily represent the will of the people. If only 68.5 per cent of registered voters vote, that means 31.5 per cent of that population never put their voice in. That could have been enough to change the results of the federal election to the Progressive Conservative party’s favour in 2015. If Canada wants a fairly represented government, we need to change our approach to voting. Ontario has an online campaign around registration but that’s not going to help much if voter turnout itself is low. If Canada wants more people at the polls, policies like automatic registration, weekend voting and information sessions need to be adopted. Cassidy McMullen EDITORS: Austin Andru, Allison Beach, Cameron Black-Araujo, Michael Bromby, Emily Brooks, Alex Clelland, John Cook, Tiago De Oliveira, Shana Fillatrau, Kaatje Henrick, Kirsten Jerry, Claudia Latino, William McGinn, Cassidy McMullen, Conner Mc- Tague, Pierre Sanz, Heather Snowdon, Shanelle Somers,Kayano Waite, Tracy Wright The Chronicle is published by the Durham College School of Media, Art and Design, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7L7, 721- 2000 Ext. 3068, as a training vehicle for students enrolled in Journalism and Advertising courses and as a campus news medium. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the college administration or the board of governors. The Chronicle is a member of the Ontario Community Newspapers Association. MEDIA REPS: Madison Anger, Kevin Baybayan, Erin Bourne, Hayden Briltz, Rachel Budd, Brendan Cane, Shannon Gill, Matthew Hiscock, Nathaniel Houseley, Samuel Huard, Emily Johnston, Sawyer Kemp, Reema Khoury, Desirea Lewis, Rob Macdougall, Adam Mayhew, Kathleen Menheere, Tayler Michaelson, Thomas Pecker, Hailey Russo, Lady Supa, Jalisa Sterling-Flemmings, Tamara Talhouk, Alex Thompson, Chris Traianovski PRODUCTION ARTISTS: Swarnika Ahuja, Bailey Ashton, Elliott Bradshaw, James Critch-Heyes, Elisabeth Dugas, Melinda Ernst, Kurtis Grant, Chad Macdonald, Matthew Meraw, Kaitlyn Millard, Sofia Mingram, Mary Richardson, Singh Sandhu, Greg Varty Publisher: Greg Murphy Editor-In-Chief: Brian Legree Features editor: Teresa Goff Ad Manager: Dawn Salter Advertising Production Manager: Kevan F. Drinkwalter Photography Editor: Al Fournier Technical Production: Keir Broadfoot
chronicle.durhamcollege.ca March 27 - April 2, 2018 The Chronicle 5 Advice Stressing about exams, study space and troubled choices? Sound Advice offers ideas and solutions Sound Advice The Chronicle and campus experts answer your questions on student-related issues. The Durham College Chronicle has put together its first advice column aimed at helping students in areas in which they had questions. The idea was pitched by journalism students Heather Snowdon, Tracy Wright and William McGinn. During a pop-up in Vendor’s Alley, the Chronicle received several inquiries from DC students about life and schoolwork. The Chronicle took these questions to have them answered by professionals in the field on the school campus, as well as a journalism student. 'Straightforward' asked how to be successful and 'Concentration Searcher' asked about study spaces in school that aren’t loud. The Chronicle sought out responses. Nicky Patel, Student Academic Learning Services (SALS) director, says: If you are having difficulty in a course and need help, you should explain the situation to your professor immediately, talk to your student advisor, work with your classmates, form a homework group, access SALS staff, get a peer tutor, use SALS online, or Google videos for additional supports. It is important to take action and not wait for the situation to improve on its own. Melissa Bosomworth, Durham College Wellness Coach, says: Each study space is identified by the noise level you can expect to encounter. There are four different types of spaces and students are asked to ensure they keep their volume within the limits of the space. You can find space identified as silent noise, low noise, moderate noise and high noise. This helps you choose space that is appropriate for group work, occasionally whispering to a peer beside you or complete silence. One trick I often used as a student is to keep earplugs in my bag so I could soften the noises around me to help me focus. You can find see different study locations on campus at https://durhamcollege. ca/student-life/campus-services/ study-spaces . Durham College Journalism Student says: My advice would be to work hard and not procrastinate. Student Academic Learning Services (SALS), can give further assistance. SALS is a bit of a walk from Durham College and UOIT, and going to the building can seem like an extra chore. However, SALS is very beneficial for being able to concentrate. They have beanbag chairs, tables, and in the SSB, there’s a Tim Hortons. To be successful, choose a course that matches the real and true you, preferably something you may have some prior experience in. It would also be good to find out what time of day you like to work. Some of us try to work during the day when at night it’s more preferable, and vice versa. Achieving success can be tiring but in the end the time and stress will be worth it. Never give up. 'Test Stressed' asks: What is the best way to study for final tests/exams? I’m having trouble keeping my thoughts organized. Nicky Patel, SALS Director, says: The best way to study for exams and final tests is to go to classes, keep up with your readings, make careful notes and review them several times so you are fully prepared for your exams or tests when they come. The time to study and review is not just before you have exams. Cramming is not the best way to study. You will experience more stress and forget more. Another strategy is to answer the questions at the end of each chapter and ask for clarification when you don’t understand. If you are having trouble keeping your thoughts organized, it may be a good idea to plan and prioritize, beginning with a list of the “must do tasks”. The Coaching Centre also has peer coaches and staff who can help you with time management and staying on track. Durham College Journalism Student says: Everyone has a time and place they feel they can concentrate best. Find out when and where that is. My parents always say a clean room keeps anxiety down. Having a clean room may be a chore, but it keeps your thoughts organized. You won’t worry you’ll lose something. If you would rather work here at Durham College and UOIT, I would suggest visiting SALS. It’s usually quiet, letting you do your work on your own terms without distractions you can’t control. If you feel you need to keep your thoughts organized better, get a calendar board if you don’t have one and write down a list of your final tests/exams, in order of either the hardest to easiest or nearest due to farthest due. Having a list written down and knowing you only have to do a fraction of what’s on the list for now can clear things up and keep your thoughts focused on less different things. Having your assignments in a conspicuous calendar ties your thoughts up in a bow, and allows you to not have to worry that there’s something you’re forgetting. 'Carrying a Conscience' wonders: When the hardest thing and the right thing are the same, what do I do? Melissa Bosomworth, Durham College Wellness Coach, says: One of the greatest challenges can be doing the right thing when it is hard. Always maintain your values and integrity when addressing these difficult choices while taking into account the impact of your decision on others. There are many things to weigh before acting. Sometimes it can be easier when you talk it out with a trusted friend or a Wellness Coach. They can help you see different perspectives and uncover the truth about why your decision is so difficult so you can then address that truth and be authentic to yourself. Durham College Journalism Student says: My advice to you would be to take your time doing the right thing. Although it may be the most difficult, don’t let that keep you from doing what is right. Your problems may be sorted out if you had a third party to talk to, such as a responsible parent, a caring therapist or a comforting friend. It loosens the tension. Also, if you’re struggling with telling the truth or feel something needs to be told in the world, chances are the other students feel what you’re going through. Stress about doing something hard is something everyone feels, especially at the start of a project. Here’s a quote from A League of their Own: “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” Accomplishing hard things is rewarding.
Page 1 and 2: Volume XLIV, Issue 10 chronicle.dur
Page 3: Community chronicle.durhamcollege.c
Page 7 and 8: Campus chronicle.durhamcollege.ca M
Page 9 and 10: Community chronicle.durhamcollege.c
Page 15 and 16: chronicle.durhamcollege.ca March 27
Page 21 and 22: Campus chronicle.durhamcollege.ca M
Page 23 and 24: Entertainment chronicle.durhamcolle
Page 25 and 26: chronicle.durhamcollege.ca March 27
Page 27 and 28: Sports chronicle.durhamcollege.ca M

Chronicle 17-18 Issue 10_FIXED

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?