In first semester, I can’t even remember how many months are between September and December; the time between the first class and the first exam seems indefinite, as if the calendar’s been printed over too many pages to be of much use. September is – what, three or four weeks of classes? October is four, and so is November, but one of them has a break. Then December… do I count December? Second semester, though, is exactly twelve weeks, with a one-week break in February. Not only do I know exactly how long it is from start to finish, I also know exactly how far through the semester I am at any given point. At the end of January of last semester, I made this startling (grade 3-level) discovery:

Week 1: 1/12 of semester

Week 2: 1/6 of semester

Week 3: 1/4 of semester

Week 4: 1/3 of semester

Week 6: 1/2 of Semester

The first half of the semester seems to fly by, and with each passing week the end seems disproportionately nearer. You can go from being 1/12 done your studies to 1/6 in only one week! And that’s not all: call now, and we’ll also give you a free, limited time… you get the idea.

University can be intimidating and unpleasant. When people tell you how to cope, they tell you to think positive thoughts and focus on the things that make you happy. But sometimes, nothing makes you happy and everything seems awful. When that happens, focus on the one universal positive of negative experiences: this, too, shall pass. Pretty quickly, if you think about it.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but so far this term has been a lot harder than the previous. Maybe it’s because I’ve piled so much on my plate and simply don’t have enough energy or time to complete everything. Or maybe, it’s because I’ve gotten lazy. I’m pretty sure it’s a combination of the two. With 6 classes, a part time job, and being a commuter, sometimes student life can really suck. Although times have been hard this term and in the past few months (my lack of posts speak for themselves!), there has been a fair amount going on and I’m happy to say that I’ve accomplished a lot of what I had planned for this year.

I hope all of my fellow first years are dealing with second term better than the first, and feel completely integrated into university life. I’m sure we’ve all had our share of struggles this year, but we’re coming to terms with what it takes to survive at U of T. It’s all about staying calm and working hard. Take a breather every now and then. Whenever you feel like giving up, remember that we’re close to reading week and before we know it, we’ll be finished our first year!

Your fellow first year,

Christine

Image taken from http://www.gabrielweinberg.com/blog/2011/08/why-i-blog.html.

Happy New Year, U of T! We wish you luck during semester two, and hope that you continue to make time for extra-curricular activities and fun. Not sure how to get involved? We have an opportunity for you!

The Editors of blogUT are looking for a couple of Junior Editors to help us make sure that blogUT continues to run smoothly and showcase amazing content.

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, second, or third year (although preference will be given to first- and second-years)
• 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, email us at contact@blogut.ca with the subject ‘Junior Editor’ answering the following questions (in no more than 100 words each) by 11:59pm on TUESDAY, JANUARY 15TH, 2013:

• 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? Do you have any constructive criticism on how we are currently operating?

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

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

In the interest of altruism and the moral obligation that comes with great wisdom and knowledge,* I have compiled a brief list of things you might start considering as you begin your last summer as a non-college student. That is, unless you flunk your exams and lose your acceptance.

1) You are entitled to a little bit of pride.

Let’s face it: there are worse schools. Much worse schools. Many worse schools. The University of Toronto is a reputable, well-respected institution of which you are now part. You can hold your head a little higher and answer proudly, “I’m going to start studying at U of T” when uninterested-but-polite people ask what you’ll be doing next year. Good for you.

2) You are entitled to only a little bit of pride.

Let’s face it: there are way, way better schools. And you can’t go to them. It’s not like you had to prepare your whole academic life to get here; you didn’t even have to get decent grades for more than two years. “U of T” may hold some weight in Canada, but so do words like “rapeseed” and “twoonie”. If you lifted your head higher after the previous point, tilt it just a few degrees lower now.

3) There isn’t one universal student experience.

…and if there is, I haven’t had it. You’re likely to hear stories, usually secondhand, about how U of T will suck away your social life and replace it with studying and work and books and booking studies and studying books. You might also have heard the more generic story about how university is one continuous American Pie-themed party. Neither of these accounts is quite true, I can assure you, though how much you’d like your time here to resemble either one is up to you. Students take on different course loads, sign up for different amounts of clubs, and are socially active to sometimes vastly varying degrees. How you experience campus life is going to be unique to you and alike no one else.

Unless you’re in engineering.

4) You won’t be the smartest/best or the stupidest/worst.

Last summer, a fellow future student and I toured campus at night to get a sense of where we’d be spending our next four years. As we stopped outside building after building, each seeming to get progressively larger, my anxieties got worse until I finally said “I’m worried I’ll be the stupidest kid in the class”, to which my substantially wiser friend assured me that no, that’s statistically impossible, and anyway you’re very bright. Then I said “I’m worried I won’t be the smartest kid in the class” to which she said nothing, because it went without vocalization that no, I would not be the smartest student in any class. Have you seen my writing? Though it’s rarely helpful to consider one’s self average, always remember that you’re not likely to be the dumbest or brightest person in any given situation.

Unless you’re trying out for quizbowl, in which case, if you’re me, you’re noticeably the stupidest and most ignorant.

5) Go with the flow.

If you truly are like me, at least a small part of your obsession with school-related trivia is that is makes a nice distraction from the anxiety that comes with a whole new situation. Though you can learn a lot and prepare yourself, the best advice is to go with the flow, pay attention, learn from what goes on around you, and take it all in strides. You have a few months and the possibility to grow and change enormously from the time you read this until the time classes start, so I won’t go into specifics of with which flows you should go along. I’ll just leave you with a quote from Albert Einstein:

“I never think of the future – it comes soon enough.”**

Until then, keep reading and learning. To follow (eventually), a more specific list of how to prepare yourself for your freshman year.

*If you’re generous, you’ll read this as at least half sarcastic.

**Then again, he deeply regretted persuading FDR to pursue nuclear weaponry and the lives it cost. Hmm…

Image from http://dakotatoday.typepad.com/dakotatoday/2009/04/blogging-cartoonrough-sketch-but-perhaps-funny-anyway.html.

The Editors of blogUT are looking for a Junior Editor to help us make sure that blogUT continues to run smoothly and showcase amazing content.

During your time as Junior Editor, we will train you 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, second, or third 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 blogs and comments on a regular basis
• 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 (ex. 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 help the blog run better

To apply, shoot us an email with the subject ‘Junior Editor’ answering the following questions by OCTOBER 28, 2011:

• 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?
• Do you have any constructive criticism on how we are currently operating?

If you have any writing samples, please send them along with your application.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Word has it that the French department has cut ties with EFUT, the hugely successful student-run club that is dedicated to supporting la francophonie. Scandalous! Specifically, the French Studies chair has stopped authorizing French department participation in all things EFUT. Their relationship has always been amicable, with faculty encouraging their students to join and partake in their activities. What could have possibly broken this relationship?

Condoms.

If you’ve been anywhere around campus lately, you will know that EFUT has promotional material everywhere. Perhaps the most unique and memorable are their condoms, with relevant dates and club information printed on the packaging.

The trouble usually starts when they're NOT there.

EFUT has been going around to French classes promoting their club. President Antonin Mongeau has informed me that EFUT reps do not explicit hand them out. They instead leave a handful of condoms in the classroom, leaving it up to the students to decide whether or not to put it to good use. Professors of these classes have reported that these condoms are making students uncomfortable, thus prompting the French Chair’s decisions to de-authorize all EFUT activity within their classes, as well as faculty participation in EFUT activities.

Some things to get straight:

• This is the second year EFUT has used condoms as promotional material.
• Despite a couple of grumbles here and there, there has never been a complaint filed by any student before. Therefore, EFUT has been treating it as a non-issue.
• Let’s be honest – the French are not strangers to some lovin’. If you take a look at the course handbook, you will see that we have courses that build on that very theme.
• The French Chair does not understand how condoms are part of EFUT’s mandate.

Some things to think about:

• Is handing out condoms an appropriate method of promotion?
• Do you like them?
• Is the French department’s concern old-fashioned and behind the times?
• Is it really that big a deal?
• Should EFUT be blatantly putting sex together with French at all?

EFUT has not issued a response to this yet. They are encouraging all their members and other students to visit www.frenchclub.ca and respond to a poll there. If you’ve got something to say, email them at etudiants.francophones@utoronto.ca and tell them what you think.

Of course, don’t forget to comment below and tell us at blogUT what you think is really going on. To condom or not to condom? That is the question.

Dearest blogUT readers and bloggers,

blogUT will be hosting a fall Meet & Greet.  This is your chance to come out to meet our bloggers and learn more about the blog.  Refreshments will be provided. Everyone is welcome! We hope to see you there.

Ally & Leah
Co-Editors of blogUT

For those of you that don’t know, I am—or rather, was—the Co-Editor of blogUT. Even before I assumed this position, I’ve always had strong ties to this blog from the beginning of my undergraduate studies — first as an avid reader, then a timid writer, and finally, as fate would have it, as Co-Editor. And now after four years, I must, with a certain sadness, bid adieu to blogUT, our hardworking bloggers, and our loving readers. I’m proud to have been able to work with such a dedicated team of bloggers who have worked throughout the years with the sole purpose of writing honestly about what it’s like being a student here at U of T. No bullshit. No rah-rah-rah U of T. Just the real stuff, both good and bad. Like we always say: raw and uncut, we give you the real juice about campus life.

In a university that often feels too massive to ever really feel a part of, blogUT bridges the disconnect, providing a real sense of community for U of T students that span programs, colleges, and commutes. I know that for me personally, blogUT has been a place where I’ve connected with fellow U of T students that I never otherwise would have. Sure, many of us have never really met each other in real life, but blogUT is this shared space for the students and by the students — untouched by the powers that be at U of T.

Through the years it’s been the spot where we’ve all shared our personal experiences about university life, given tips on where to go and what to eat, discussed student politics, rated hot profs and honored the quality ones, found the best make out spots, and yes, even talked trash about lame TAs. We’ve stayed up together during those late night cram sessions, distracting ourselves with pointless, but oh so brilliant and necessary, videos. And we’ve collectively ranted about our shiteous commutes, shared our best survival tips, and celebrated the many gems this campus has to offer. Simply put, blogUT kicks serious ass and it’s not hard to see why I’ll miss this blog.

I say goodbye to blogUT with a sadness, but with pride knowing that this little baby of ours is growing day by day. And I’ve no doubt that our new Co-Editors will bring blogUT to unprecedented heights for the 2011-2012 academic year (no pressure, Ally and Leah!).

To my fellow bloggers, please keep writing. I’ve told you time and again that you are the heart and soul of this blog. To our readers, please keep reading and commenting. Without you, we would be that hypothetical falling tree in the distant forest. Your comments and support are what make us real and relevant.

In the meantime, I am off to plunge into this so called “real world” that U of T was suppose to prepare us for. Stay cool, blogUT. I’ll love you always!

xoxo,
Justine

To be perfectly honest, we didn’t really expect to get much out of this. But we thought we’d give it a try anyway.

And after ONE WEEK, we are blown away by the amazing response we’ve received from our readers and supporters. After ONE WEEK, we’ve received a whopping…drum roll please…

$383.37!!!

We are so incredibly thankful to all of you who stepped up and gave such generous donations**. You’ve given us the chance to repay our debt as well as pay for hosting fees for the year to come! We could not be happier! You honestly saved the life of this blog.

And for those who were unable to donate, we thank you so much for giving us some fundraising ideas, for sharing and passing along the message to your friends, and just speaking such kind words of support. It’s been humbling to hear from our readers how much they enjoy reading this blog and that stuff make our hearts melt. And it’s really the only reason why we’re here and why we do this.

So from the bottom of our hearts, we love you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

**A special thank you to all of our donors:

Sumaiya Ahmed
Crystal Chin
Paul Morrison
Winna Tse
Jocelyn Yu
Anonymous Donor
Anonymous Donor