Poets on Campus launches third season
August 29, 2008
Poets on Campus is an annual series of poetry readings at the Nanaimo campus of Vancouver Island University. Now in its third year, the series offers people an opportunity to be in touch with the living literary culture of our day, said Marilyn Bowering, a professor in the Creative Writing department, and the faculty contact for the series. "It’s inspirational for our students," she said. "For... Read more
Clemente Course Inspires Love of Learning
August 27, 2008
When Lisa Carstensen walked into the Clemente Course, a free Humanities class offered by Vancouver Island University (VIU), she hadn’t been a student for over 10 years. A mother of two teenage children, Carstensen was on disability and coping with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when her Drug and Alcohol counselor told her about the program. Designed to help marginalized individuals develop... Read more
VIU Photo Contest Winners Announced
August 26, 2008
Close to 400 entries were received in the Vancouver Island University’s “A Point of VIU” Photo Contest. “The calibre of entries was exceptional," said VIU Executive Director of Public Relations Toni O’Keeffe. “We received spectacular images from all over the Island.” VIU ran the contest to raise the profile of their new name and to profile the beauty of Vancouver Island. “Making our final... Read more
Black Elk Speaks
August 19, 2008
Black Elk Speaks ends with this description of defeat: Our party wanted to go out and fight anyway, but Red Cloud made a speech to us something like this: "Brothers, this is a very hard winter. The women and children are starving and freezing. If this were summer, I would say to keep on fighting to the end. But we cannot do this. We must think of the women and children and that it is very... Read more
Carpool back to school: VIU encourages sustainability
August 13, 2008
With over 19,000 students, staff and faculty, the road to Vancouver Island University (VIU) gets busy in September: each day about 2,800 cars, mostly single-occupant vehicles, arrive at the Nanaimo campus. With this in mind, the institution is trying to decrease its footprint and reduce the impact it has on its neighbours. In fact, VIU’s Campus Sustainability Committee (CSC) wants to reduce the... Read more
Vancouver Island University announces new Board members
August 12, 2008
The Vancouver Island University (VIU) Board of Governors is saying goodbye to two longtime members with the retirement of Don Hubbard and Hans Brennert, who have both served on the VIU Board for the past six years. "Don and Hans contributed to Malaspina University-College and Vancouver Island University during one of the most significant periods of our institution’s history," said VIU President... Read more
Expand your mind at VIU
August 5, 2008
Tamara Crozier has valuable advice for anyone toying with the idea of going to university. “Take courses in anything and everything,” she said. “Think broadly because you won’t know what will catch your interest until you actually try. It’s the only way to discover where your true passions lie.” Crozier is a self-described “late bloomer” who didn’t pursue her university education until she... Read more
Vancouver Island University receives major contribution for endowment fund
July 30, 2008
Meyers Norris Penny, one of Nanaimo's largest accounting firms, has created a sizeable endowment fund for the Vancouver Island University (VIU). With the support of local partners, Meyers Norris Penny (MNP) is contributing $40,000 to the VIU Foundation to establish the MNP Nanaimo Founders Award. This endowment fund is named in honour of the founding partners of MNP’s Nanaimo office, Bob... Read more
VIU’s international peer helpers build bridges for new students
July 29, 2008
Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) award-winning International Student Peer Helper Program has been garnering international attention. VIU was recently asked to present as a Regional Highlight at NAFSA: Association of International Educators’ 60th Annual Conference & Expo in Washington, D.C. The conference, which focuses on international education and leadership, was attended by more than 9,... Read more
Undermining Science - book review
July 28, 2008
Seth ShulmanUndermining Science:Suppression and Distortion in the Bush Administration The Scientific Method follows at least these several steps: 1. Observe and describe a phenomenon or several related phenomena. 2. Formulate a hypothesis that can be confirmed or falsified. 3. Test your hypothesis in the real world. 4. Analyze your data. 5. Formulate your conclusion... Read more