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A Belated Part Two of BlogUT’s New Years Resolution

It’s that time of year again– blogUT is looking towards next year, and searching for a Junior Editor or two to help the club grow, change, and continue to provide excellent content and run smoothly.

If you had dreams of being SUPER involved in extracurriculars but it’s now January and you’re looking for something to do (hey– it happens/happened to the best of us) please consider applying!

During your time as Junior Editor, you’ll be trained on everything blogUT. You’ll learn how to write and edit posts, communicate with other campus clubs, manage basic finances, and lead an amazing team of people. This is a great opportunity for those of you who’d like to get more involved in student life. And an added bonus? It’ll be a great addition to your resume.

We’re looking for someone who:

  • Is in first or second year
  • Can write/respond to emails quickly and professionally
  • Has an understanding of how a good blog should look in terms of format
  • Pays attention to detail
  • Has a basic knowledge of how to use WordPress or other web publishing platforms
  • Has excellent spelling and grammar
  • Can devote 2-3 hours per week to blogUT activities

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Editing blog posts and comments regularly
  • Updating our Twitter feed and Facebook profile
  • Responding to emails from various organizations about events that are going on
  • Finding out about events that would be of interest to blogUT readers
  • Contacting event organizers for press passes
  • Helping to make decisions about finances
  • Helping to organize meetings
  • Doing paperwork for the UTSU (ie. applying for funding)
  • Miscellaneous administrative tasks, such as creating new user accounts and helping contributors with problems using WordPress
  • Coming up with ideas on how to improve the blog (both functionally and aesthetically)

To apply,  with the subject ‘Junior Editor’ answering the following questions (in no more than 100 words each) by 11:59pm on FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2014:

  • Who are you? What are you studying? Tell us about yourself.
  • Why are you interested in this position? Why do you think that you are qualified for this position?
  • What is something new, fresh, and innovative that you will bring to blogUT?
  • Give us some constructive criticism on how we are running– how you think we can improve

Be creative in your application! We pride ourself on our flexible, welcoming, and stress-free club.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you- please feel free to contact us with any questions!

Louis and Madeleine, co-editors blogUT

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Once on this Island at Daniels Spectrum (Acting Up Stage Company, Obsidian Theatre Company)

Adapted from the pages of Hans Christian Anderson, Once on this Island takes us to the French Antilles, where peasants tell the story of Ti Moune: the girl who appeared in a storm. Ti Moune dreams of living with the lighter-skinned grands hommes at the other end of the island; the gods, intrigued and aroused, test her commitment and her heart. When a grand homme is wounded near the village, Ti Moune nurses him to health, going so far as to offer the god of death her soul instead of the strange man’s. (Death accepts, of course, but chooses not to take her life just yet). Once the man is healed, he and Ti Moune fall in love, but Daniel could never marry a dark-skinned peasant. Rejected, Ti Moune is offered a chance to reverse her previous arrangement, to allow Death to take Daniel and let her live. Pure of heart, she refuses, and dies soon thereafter. The gods turn her body into a tree that grows and destroys the gate between the peasants and the grands hommes, bringing the island together. Now imagine that, but with passionate music and awesome choreography.

Continue reading “Once on this Island at Daniels Spectrum (Acting Up Stage Company, Obsidian Theatre Company)”

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Email Etiquette

These past years have taught me many things. Of science and society, of love and mystery, of joy and panic, and of so much more. But among all these learned lessons, the one art I have truly perfected is none other than the proper technique and subtle nuances that create the perfect email. It now comes time to share what I have learned.

Continue reading “Email Etiquette”

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Interview with Victoria McEwan, Director of Sweet Charity

Following on the successful heels of last semester’s drama, UC Follies will be producing the legendary Broadway musical Sweet Charity from January 31 – February 8. I had a chance to sit down with director Victoria McEwan, several kilometres away on my laptop, to ask her a few questions about herself and the show.

Continue reading “Interview with Victoria McEwan, Director of Sweet Charity”

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Our New Years Resolution?

….is to get some more awesome writers!

Attention all! BlogUT is looking for new bloggers to join our team – come join the best club on campus and publish whatever is on your mind pertaining to student life at U of T! There are no deadlines or article assignments – everything is up to you, the writer! Do you want to rant about how hard a particular class is? Apply! Do you want to explore the city of Toronto and share your findings? Apply! Do you want media access to on- and off-campus events to review? Apply! Do you have an idea to write about that we haven’t listed above (very likely)? Then please apply!

Send us an email ([email protected]) introducing yourself (including your U of T Student Number) and please answer the following questions:

  • Why do you want to contribute to blogUT?
  • How often would you be contributing?
  • What sort of pieces do you see yourself contributing?
  • Do you have any samples of your writing or blogs? If so, please send them our way.

And please, let us know what kind of ideas you have in mind!

We will be looking for new featured bloggers soon – these are bloggers who write well and often and have first access to all sorts of perks that come with being on the blogUT team.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us or reach out to either of the editors directly!
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January 15: UofT Jeopardy Students vs Profs

Do you know any of these profs?

Dr. Andy Dicks (Chemistry), Dr. Maria Papaconstantinou (Human Biology), Dr. William Ju (Human Biology), Dr. Nick Mount (English), Dr. Scott Browning (Chemistry), Dr. Mark Kingwell (Philosophy), Dr. Michelle French (Physiology), or Dr. Alistair Dias (Human Biology)

Either way— would you care to play them in a friendly game of Jeopardy?

On Wednesday, Jan. 15, from 5-8PM at OISE 2214, these professorss have agreed to face off against the students for the first ever Student vs Professor Jeopardy game at UofT! Featuring categories from sciences and humanities courses, UofT trivia, Sports, Student life, and many more, this will be a chance for our profs to prove themselves… or not.

Do you think you have more worldly knowledge than our world-renowned faculty members? Do you think you have what it takes to join with your fellow students and show them how many random facts and trivia bits you know? Are you fast at pressing a buzzer? If so, see more details on Facebook.

I’ve heard that several profs have started reading up on these categories….. this is going to be intense.

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Musical Review of The Wedding Singer at Hart House

The Wedding Singer is a musical adapatation of the 1998 movie of the same name. Because most of you have seen it, and are familiar with the plot (even if you’re not, it’s a predictable rom-com) I’ve decided to skip to the good stuff. This is a review of Hart House’s ongoing production of The Wedding Singer, set to the music of the main theme/opening number of the show. Enjoy!

I saw this play 3 hours ago
I’m still humming some of the songs
‘Decided to write a review
Of what went right and what went wrong.
Now indulge me a moment, if you please;
I have a lot to say about this show,
and the actors I thought were good
and bad.
Here it goes:

Isaac has that “X-Factor” –
an accessible actor.
But his pitch control could
use improvement.

Ashley Gibson wasn’t bad,
and her singing really had
a lovely quality
that makes us all love her.

Cortina was a great, strong crooner
even when her mic went berserk.
But she couldn’t bring the humour
to her lines – they needed some work.

Horsman was a delightful dancer,
and her songs really brought
us to the moment.
Cattel was a rapping grandma –
what can I comment?

The ensemble was quite strong,
even in the weaker songs,
and their dancing was all
memorable.
This show is just lots of fun
(‘cept for those who’ve seen it once).
I would recommend
you see it sometime soon.

(L to R) Ashley Gibson as Julia and Isaac Bell as Robbie. Photo credit to Scott Gorman.

 

Note 1: Yes, it’s not perfect. Considering the constraints – a review deadline and an imposed rhyme scheme and working in people’s names and accurate descriptions of their performances – it’s really not that bad. Seriously, if you’re looking for someone to write the opening for the next Tonys…

Note 2: Apologies to Mr Bell, who is treated with undue familiarity for the purpose of meter.

Note 3: There is some precedent for the moment/comment rhyme, imperfect though it may be. See Shakespeare’s Sonnet XV. I take full responsibility for the mangled syntax.