Peer-to-Peer Sharing of Textbooks • pg 4 ITCHY ANSWERS sex & relationship answers at your fingertips • pg 11 ? October 6, 2010 Issue 46-3 Autumn doesn’t have to be boring... pg 6 Editorial 2 BCIT Link • Oct. 6 to Oct. 20 My Dreaded Thanksgiving News flash: Thanksgiving doesn’t have to look like a dinner event out of a Sears catalogue Brenna Temple ally throw it out in a juvenile “take that Thanksgiving!” sort Editor of way. Since I find Thanksgiving shindigs to be depressing, I y childhood Thanks- might change it up this year and resort to the ever so popular Mgiving memories evoke Safeway rotisserie chicken of which I’m capable of eating vivid images of Sears cata- in one sitting. Forget the cranberries and potatoes. The way logue families, a glistening I see it, with my rotisserie chicken in tow, I’m eating like a turkey, and everyone laugh- queen. ing around the table. I don’t mean to be a grinch, but I don’t really enjoy Thanks- Nowadays, my Thanks- giving because I don’t have the “thing” that all my friends givings aren’t anything like who live in Metro Vancouver have—family. But altogether, I that. Every odd year I’ll spend it with a friend’s family, of- try to make the best of it. Even if I did want to spent the $500 fering to help wherever I can only to be turned down. At first on a plane ticket home to the middle of nowhere, it would dad for enjoying the turkey’s neck (positively disgusting) and I thought it was because they were trying to be nice to their only be for three days. Some would argue that three days is my mom attempting to make mini non-fat cheesecakes only guest, now I know it’s because they fear I may start a modest better than none but I really have to wonder if those people to find they tasted like play dough. house fire. But you see, not letting me help them is really im- are dishing out the case for their own tickets and whether And when people ask me “where is your family this practical for me. I ask to help in order to distract myself from those people are on a student’s budget. It’s not that I’m trying Thanksgiving?” I’ll answer “I’ll see them soon, they’re right the fact that I’m not with my family. to put a price on my family, but my tuition does have a price. where they belong.” After said Thanksgiving feasts, I’m sent “home” (in other So, that being said, this year I’ll spend my Thanksgiv- I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving, and please re- words, my student sized apartment) with a charitable Tupper- ing in a fiscally responsible manner. I’ll buy my rotisserie member to invite your friends for dinner if they aren’t lucky ware container of turkey, potatoes, and cranberries all mashed chicken, chill out in front of the TV and be thankful for the enough to have their families nearby. together unceremoniously. It makes me homesick and I usu- family I’ll see at Christmas. I’ll remember making fun of my Campus Query Stephanie Chapman COVER: Human Resources What are you most looking forward to on Being able to see cousins and eat pumpkin pie. Have any plans for the Thanksgiving Thanksgiving? long weekend? We’ve been lucky enough to have a few extra days but Chad Klassen | Assistant Editor the reality is that before you know it, Megan McLaughlin Ryan Arnason the rain will be settling in! Human Resources Electrical Enginnering Getting a break from school and A study break would be nice. Tur- Don’t let the weather get you down. spending time with friends. key’s ok. I see my family quite a bit Nobody likes soggy shoes or frizzy anyways, so it’s not like I’m away from home. It’s more about the time hair, but nonetheless, you should still off to relax. be doing out and enjoying yourself! Amneat Rondhawa Alex Cheung Need some ideas? Check out the Business Administration Financial Management I’m writing the LSAT on the Satur- Food. We don’t have a set tradition. Link’s Autumn to do list on page 6 day [before Thanksgiving], so after We just go year by year. Sometimes and get inspired! Saturday I’m looking forward to my family members aren’t there, so partying and taking a break. My fam- we’ll just hang out. But when we do ily does Thanksgiving on Monday, have family there, we eat together Sunday’s my birthday, and Saturday and have ham and turkey, and even we’re partying. Chinese food. SE2 - 281 copies to over 16,000 stu- Culture Coordinator: Jasta Austin As a member of 3700 Willingdon Ave. dents, faculty and staff. Sarah Massah Jeff Lagerquist Canadian University Burnaby, BC, V5G 3H2 linkcultureeditor Laura Patterson Press (CUP), The Link Publications Manager: @bcitsa.ca Luvia Petersen adheres to the CUP code Phone: 604.456.1167 Alicia Agarrabeitia of ethics and will not Ads: 604.432.8974 [email protected] Advertising Sales: publish any material Fax: 604.431.7619 604.456.1167 Link Writers: Matthew Chong deemed by the editors to Canadian Jessica Rivers [email protected] be sexist, racist, homo/ University Press The Link is the student Editor: Julia Montague 604.432.8974 hetero phobic or in poor Member Paper newspaper of the Brenna Temple Mitch Pollock taste. British Columbia [email protected] Zameer Karim Institute of Technology. The views in The Link are Published bi-weekly by AssistantEditor: Contributors: not necessarily those of the BCIT Student Asso- Chad Klassen Amy Wilding BCIT, BCITSA, the National Advertisers Call for ciation (BCITSA), The linkassistanteditor Andrea Lam Editorial Staff, or the Rates 416-966-8811 Link circulates 3,000 @bcitsa.ca Ciara Hamagishi Publications Manager. News BCIT Link • Oct. 6 to Oct. 20 3 News In Brief Brenna Temple Editor BCIT Encourages Staff and BCIT Hosts Symposium About Students to Quit Smoking Modern Day Literacy moking: It’s a nasty habit and now BCIT’s doing its part to encourage students and ith today’s use of Twitter and Facebook, speculation about literacy is increasing and Sstaff to quit. The program coined “That’s it, I Quit!” will be running from October 4th Wthat’s what BCIT’s symposium on October 29th is going to be all about. Speakers to December 16th for 11 weeks. According to the BCIT website it will include interactive will talk about our society’s expectation for literacy and technology combined, says a clinics to keep you on track. “Participants who remain tobacco-free from November 1, BCIT news release. “Speakers, panelists, and ensuing discussion will examine our ex- 2010 through and including December 16, 2010 will receive recognition and rewards for pectations regarding the uses of literacy and the questions that arise from the ability to their accomplishment,” says the BCIT website. The program will include clinics, support function within a ‘knowledge society,’” says the news release. “Given the particular con- meetings, and more. For more information and registration check out http://www.bcit. texts and demands of polytechnic and undergraduate education everywhere, it is topical ca/hr/wellness/physical.shtml. to have a public discussion of how pedagogy might address the strained relationship between technology and literacy.” Be Sure to Check out BCIT’s BCIT’s Writing Centre Wants to Farmers and Artisans Market Help You Improve Your Writing he BCIT Farmers and Artisans Market might be worthy of checking out on Thursday f you’ve wanted some extra help with your writing then you’re in luck since BCIT’s TOctober 7th if you’re interested in purchasing fresh produce and more. Feel free to Iwriting centre recently started offering help to those who want to sharpen their skills. stop by between 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. in parking lot 8 regardless of the weather condition. The main goal is “ to help students meet their academic needs by supporting the technical, There will be local farmers, food producers, artisans with locally made products, plants, business and academic writing that is required in the classroom,” according to BCIT’s handmade jams, jellies, soaps, crafts, jewellery, baked goods, and more according to the website. Book your (up to) 25 minute session at the library. For more information check BCIT website. out http://www.bcit.ca/learningcommons/writing.shtml or call 604-432-8370. BCIT Nominated for a BC Hydro BCIT’s 8th Annual Distinguished Power Smart Excellence Award Alumni Award 2010 Recipients BCIT is one of three nominees nominated for the BC Hydro Power Smart Excellence Congrats to this year’s Alumni Award Recipients: Tim Shields, Stuart Ballantyne, Leila Award due to be awarded on October 25th. As per the BCIT website, “The nomination El-Khatib, Dr. David Holloway, and Brent Charleton. Every year five BCIT alumni are recognizes BCIT’s collaboration with BC Hydro on energy conservation research and awarded. As per the Don Wright on the BCIT website, “BCIT’s Distinguished Alumni promotion of energy efficiency on our campuses.” BCIT has always been a leader when it Awards are an opportunity for the institute to celebrate the graduates of our programs comes to energy conservation tactics and some of the reasons why BCIT was nominated as well as their impact on the social, environmental, and economic development of this this year include the 2010 Olympic Power Down, BC’s first intelligent electricity mi- province,” adding, “our grads become leaders in their field, making strong contributions crogrid system, and the Sustainable Energy Management program.