Hone Your Craft with the VIU Creative Writing Association
Do you enjoy writing fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scripts, or academic essays? Maybe you don’t like writing as much but you love correcting grammar and sentence structure. If any of the above apply to you, VIU’s Creative Writing Association (VCWA) would love to have you. Commonly known as “CREW Club,” VCWA is a weekly meeting run … Continued
The Trials and Tribulations of a Bookworm
I’ve been banned. From getting new books. By me. Why, you might ask? Because I suffer from the age-old problem of readers the world over: too many unread books. I put books on hold at the library. I pick them up. I see interesting options in the ‘New Titles’ and display areas; a few end … Continued
Where Does Creativity Hide?
How do we find our creativity? Inspiration can seem like a skittish adopted cat coming into our home for the first time. As badly as we want to go to it and let it know we’re a friend, it darts away under the couch or the bed every time we get near. No amount of … Continued
Building a Community at Cultural Connections
Imagine this: you move to VIU from another country. You arrive at your new residence and are immediately overwhelmed by the transit system, language, and even the environment. It’s scary—all you want to do is huddle at your desk or under the covers. Fortunately, there’s a community already waiting for you. Cultural Connections is VIU’s … Continued
Part of Something Bigger
When I first came to VIU’s Nanaimo campus, I was told “the science students stay at the top and the trades students keep to the bottom.” I’ve found this detached mindset prevalent at VIU, making it difficult to feel as though I’m part of a broader university community. The Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association (CCAA)’s Women’s … Continued
The Dawn Chorus
Spring is here! The days are getting longer, the grass is greener, and the air feels fresher than ever. Walking around Nanaimo, I can’t help but notice the plethora of melodies singing in the trees and appreciate all the lovely notes that songbirds have to offer this time of year. Why do songbirds sing? Singing … Continued
Ease the Stress
It’s a stressful time of year for many students. The spring semester is almost over, and exams and final project deadlines loom ahead. But that doesn’t mean the next couple of weeks need be filled with dread. Here are my top four stressbusters to help you feel a little more at ease during the home … Continued
Gearing Up
Buckle up—there’s a new club on campus. The VIU Car Enthusiasts Club, started in January 2022, is currently the fifth car club at any of BC’s postsecondary institutions, according to founder and president Samantha Allan. Allan explained the process getting the club underway: “I started brainstorming and then the brainstorming expanded and expanded, until it … Continued
What’s Your Cup of Tea?
It’s been a long day—homework, class, more homework. Time to relax. I put my coat and books away, and head into the kitchen to boil some water. While the kettle is warming up, I open the cupboard, grab a mug, then take a look at my tea selection. After some careful thought, I choose a … Continued
Dancing Back to Normal
It was Halloween night 2019, and a group of friends and I went to downtown Nanaimo to get our spook on. By 10 pm, the line up to Level2 nightclub stretched down the block. This was fine with us, though—right next door, we knew that the less-packed Old City Station had space to dance inside. … Continued
Leading by Example
*The dialogue in this article was edited for clarity* Women make up 50 percent of the population in Canada, yet this number does not represent leadership positions across the country. In a 2021 study from Stats Canada, it was found that there are fewer women in top decision-making roles. Women were more than two … Continued
The Mariners’ Voyage to The Greatest Stage
After years of waiting, VIU will finally host the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Basketball Nationals from March 25–27. VIU was initially going to host the event in 2020; however, the outbreak of COVID-19 sidelined those plans. For some, it represents a second chance, one that resembles “normal life”—what should have been. But for … Continued
