Farewell Brandon University

Farewell Brandon University

Maria Garcia Manzano: AEIC 2019-2022 


By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of The Quill


The last week of classes is upon us, and as the semester ends, so does my time at The Quill. I first began writing for the Quill during my first year of university. Since high school, I have loved to write and wanted to join a student club that would enable me to pursue my writing hobby. While I was a junior reporter during my second year at Brandon University, a spot opened for the assistant editor position. I applied and was happy to learn that I got the position!


 Becoming the Assistant Editor was a very exciting time. I knew that, given my course load I could never become Editor as the responsibilities are greater than that of the Assist, but I was happy to lend my support and help to our current Editor, Ronnie. Together we learned how to use the design software that would allow us to put together the printed issues of the Quill, and while it has been a couple of years since the university has seen a printed issue, I do not doubt that for the upcoming school year, we can expect to see printed issues once again.


As the Assistant Editor of The Quill, I had a variety of responsibilities to fulfill. When our issues were printed, I would make sure they were available to students by filling up the kiosks. Some of you might remember seeing me with a stack of papers running around the university from building-to-building Tuesday morning. This was a fun part of the job. I enjoyed having those weekly walks. They were quite the workout! Another responsibility I had as the AEIC was to hold weekly meetings to discuss what articles were up for grabs with writers. Of course, with the onset of COVID-19, our meeting had to end, and both the Editor and I primarily communicated with writers through email.


COVID-19 brought The Quill unprecedented challenges, as it did with all other student clubs. Nevertheless, I would like to think that it did not deter many of our devoted writers from continuing to write and updating BU students about everything. We aimed at keeping students informed about the ongoing restrictions, case counts and social developments that occurred throughout the last couple of years.



As I approached my fourth year at Brandon University, I realized that I would have to find a replacement for my position. This was a bittersweet moment since the last four years I have spent with The Quill have been great. I knew, however, that my position had to be filled by someone who loved to write and loved to be a part of the Quill. My successor checks all of these qualities and more, and once they have officially taken the AEIC position, I hope they take the time to introduce themselves to all of you.


My time at Brandon University has ended, and while I am excited about what my future may hold for me, I will always cherish the memories I formed at BU. Thank you to all of the readers of the Quill who have made my time as your AEIC worth it and entertaining. I have loved writing for all of you!


Best Wishes,

Waste Reduction & Diversion: The Easter Edition

Waste Reduction & Diversion: The Easter Edition

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of the Quill

Photo Credits: www.plastikcity.com 

Over the years, chocolate egg packaging has been a hot topic due to the high proportion that cannot be recycled. This is slowly changing, with major retailers promising to reduce their packaging. While this is good news and means that companies are starting to listen, as a 4R Waste Ambassador, I ask everyone to pick their Easter treats with the recycling bin in mind and recycle as much as possible. I urge you to hop to your recycling bin, but as you already know (based on my previous 4R Waste Ambassador articles) - not everything can be thrown in. With Easter right around the corner, your house might soon be full of Easter egg wrappers and boxes and everything in between. But did you know a lot of that waste can go into your curbside recycling bin rather than into your garbage bin? Below I will discuss some tips for Easter waste reduction and diversion.

Easter egg foil:

The best way to recycle Easter egg foil is to scrunch the foil up into a small fist-sized ball before placing it in the recycling bin. This makes sure the tiny bits of foil don't get lost in the recycling process.

If it's got chocolate on it, rinse it off first, and if it's still too dirty, it's better in the waste bin. If you haven't consumed enough chocolate to make a fist-sized ball of foil, you can place the foil pieces into an aluminum drink can in order to contain them before placing them in your recycling bin.

Cardboard boxes:

The cardboard boxes that package the eggs and any other boxes can be placed in your recycle bin for recycling. Collapsing the boxes first helps leave room in your container for more recycling.

Why do I insist on recycling?

When an item goes in the bin and ends up at the Eastview landfill, harmful chemicals and greenhouse gasses are released as it breaks down.

Recycling not only helps in creating less waste but also helps in reducing the emissions caused by waste. But that's not all! Recycled materials can be used to create other products. We then avoid taking raw materials from the earth, such as timber and water, or having to make them from scratch, using more energy and creating further emissions.

So, why can't I just throw it all in the recycling? It gets sorted later, right?

Wrong. When unnecessary waste is put in your recycling bin, we end up with 'contamination' of the waste. This causes problems when recyclables are sorted and can affect the ability of the item to be processed into a new product. In fact, contaminating a few bins could mean risking an entire truckload of recyclables.

If you ever find yourself with the question of what can or can't be recycled, then Recycle Everywhere offers a comprehensive list, or you can look up your item and see if Eastview Landfill is equipped to have that item be dropped off. https://recycleeverywhere.ca 

Happy Recycling!

Bobbies’ Bistro opens in the Knowles-Douglas building

Bobbies’ Bistro opens in the Knowles-Douglas building

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC

Photo Credits: brandonu.ca

Throughout the end of 2019 until this year students would walk by the empty coffee shop. Now, a new bistro has replaced Forbidden Flavours in the Knowles-Douglas building.  Students can expect to see hot coffee, pastries, hot fresh sandwiches and food as being many of the menu options that Bobbies' Bistro will offer. Bobbies Bistro was brought to students by BUSU and it has student-run management. BU Food Services will be providing the fresh house-made meals. 

The menu includes flatbreads, paninis, breakfast sandwiches, and build-your-own options, with an emphasis on getting you delicious, hot food quickly. Students may dine at the Bistro however all pandemic precautions remain in place. Masks must be worn at all times unless actively eating or drinking, furthermore the bistro is open only to fully-vaccinated individuals for any dine-in service. To start, hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, until April.

Eco-Friendly Tips for the Holidays

Eco-Friendly Tips for the Holidays

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of the Quill

Photo Credits: Google Images

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year. It is a time of celebrating and spending time with your loved ones. Last holiday season we were not able to gather and celebrate with our loved ones due to the ongoing pandemic. This year will hopefully be different since most Manitobans have been vaccinated. Therefore, we all deserve an amazing Holiday season this year. Unfortunately, Holiday season can also be a time of waste. The good news is that recycling at Holiday season is easy. You can do many things to reduce your impact and still get a lot of joy out of the holidays. Below are some of my tips and tricks for reducing your impact.


Gift Buying

Giving gifts to people you care about is a fun tradition. Unfortunately, the truth is many of us already have everything we need, and if we don’t, we generally go out and buy it. So, when it comes to the Holiday season, the options can be limited. Some families have decided that it is no longer necessary to buy gifts or only buy them for children. This is a great step to take. However, if you can’t bring yourself to give up gifts entirely, here are some great options to reduce waste this Holiday season.


  1. Give Kris Kringle or Secret Santa a go at home. This is where everyone selects a name from a hat and buys a gift for that one person rather than buying a gift for everyone. It means you can focus your efforts and your funds on one person, they get a better-quality gift. Which reduces the chance of them getting a gift they didn’t want.


  1. Why not ask your family what they really want or need? It might just save the item from being discarded after the Holiday season.


  1. Look for gifts that have a low or positive impact. Eco-Friendly gifts like metal straws or plastic-free alternatives can make great presents.


  1. Choose an experience for a gift. Maybe you could even share the experience with them and make a lasting memory.


  1. Make something out of materials that you already have.


Gift Wrapping

We all like shiny things, but did you know what makes gift wrapping, glitter, and tinsel shiny is actually a layer of plastic and metal? This attractive layering makes it pretty much impossible to recycle. One of the best ways to reduce waste during the Holiday season is to choose more eco-friendly alternatives. You can make a real difference just by making some small changes.

Here are our tips for gift wrapping.

  1. Re-use bits of wrapping paper you have lying around from last year. Why not make a patchwork masterpiece out of all the small unusable pieces of wrapping paper.


  1. Avoid shiny and metallic wrapping paper. As mentioned above, this type of wrapping paper is made from a plastic film and has to go to landfill.


  1. If you want to dress it up, use raffia, string, and paper bows. Traditional ribbons and bows are too hard to recycle and go to landfill.


  1. Buy recycled wrapping paper that can be recycled again.


  1. Have you tried fabric wrapping? It’s a lovely idea and can look beautiful. Just be careful not to buy new fabrics for this as textile waste is a bit of an issue. Maybe use some fabric you have around the house, or why not wrap your presents in a tea towel or something that can become part of the present.


  1. Use gift tags made from recycled paper and reuse them as much as you can.


  1. Why not go naked and forget the wrapping paper this year. You can have some fun with it, like hiding the gift in the house somewhere for them to find.

In summary, do your best to reuse what you have from last year, stick to paper, cardboard, and string or get inventive and use other materials around your home or garden. Buy recycled or better still go naked and don’t wrap the present at all!


Packaging

Recycling during the Holiday season includes many different types of materials. Whether it’s the product packaging or the delivery box the item arrived in, it’s important to recycle all of your packaging this Holiday season.  You can reuse your delivery packaging. Fold it up, and keep it stored somewhere. This is especially useful if you plan to send presents to loved ones or sell things online. For the packaging that cannot be reused, here are our recycling tips. 

  1. Cardboard can be recycled in your curbside recycling bin.


  1. Polystyrene packaging will need to be taken to a specialist recycler. To my understanding there are not available in Brandon and will most likely end up in our landfill.


  1. Rigid molded plastic packaging can be recycled in your curbside recycling bin.


  1. Packing peanuts can be recycled at a few locations or may be biodegradable. The best option is to reuse them, then recycle them; otherwise, dispose of them. Check our article for more info.


  1. Plastic bags or other soft plastics like soft plastic packaging can be recycled at your local Co op plastic bag drop off location or at any Brandon thrift store that accept plastic bags.

If you are unsure about how to recycle other materials that I have not mentioned please check out Simply Recycle. Here’s a list of common items that you’ll find around the holidays, and what you should do with them. Taken from Simply Recycle. https://simplyrecycle.ca/holiday-recycling-tips/ 

  • Aluminum foil, Pie Plates and Trays: Garbage.

  • Bows and Ribbon: Reuse if possible, otherwise garbage.

  • Blister packaging: These are hard to open containers you’ll find consumer products in. These are accepted in your blue bin.

  • Cardboard: Recycle in your blue bin. Flatten boxes to save space for other recyclables.

  • Cellophane: Garbage.

  • Holiday season trees and Wreaths (real): Most municipalities run a Holiday season tree recycling program for residents. Contact your municipality for details.

  • Holiday season trees and Wreaths (artificial): Reuse or donate.

  • Decorations: Reuse or donate.

  • Foam packaging (Styrofoam): Garbage.

  • Gift bags (mesh): Reuse

  • Gift bags (cloth): Reuse or donate to a second-hand store.

  • Gift bags (paper): Recycle in your blue bin or reuse.

  • Gift boxes: Recycle in your blue bin or reuse.

  • Gift tags (paper): Recycle in your blue bin.

  • Greeting cards: Recycle in your blue bin.

  • Lights: Reuse or donate.

  • Plastic cards (i.e. Gift cards): Garbage.

  • Plastic cutlery and Plates: Garbage.

  • Tinsel: Garbage.

  • Wrapping paper (from a tree): This is also known as craft paper. Recycle this in your blue bin.

  • Wrapping paper (with dyes, glitter or foil): Reuse if possible, otherwise garbage.

Traditional Xmas Mexican Foods

Traditional Xmas Mexican Foods

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of the Quill

Christmas in my house has always been about two things – food and family. Like in many Mexican households, Christmas Eve is almost a bigger deal than actual Christmas day. On Christmas Eve, my whole family gets together to sing songs to celebrate, we open presents at midnight and most importantly, we eat a lot of food! From the moment we wake up until around 6pm, my parents and siblings are in the kitchen making goodies like tamales, empanadas, posole, menudo, bunuelos, ponche, and so much more!


Here are some of my favorite Mexican Christmas foods to celebrate the big day.

Red Posole Recipe

This Red Posole is a comforting Mexican stew filled with shredded pork and hominy in a warm red chile broth. It’s easy to make and full of authentic Mexican flavor!

Ingredients

For the sauce

  • 5 dried guajillo chiles, seeds removed

  • 3 dried ancho chiles, seeds removed

  • 2 arbol chiles, seeds removed if you want a mild spice level

  • 3 cups hot water

  • 1 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt

  • 3 teaspoons chili powder

  • 2 teaspoons cumin powder

  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic (about 2 cloves)

  • 1 small portion Abuelita Mexican chocolate (about 1/8 of tablet – 8 grams)

For pork

  • 2 1/2 pounds pork shoulder, cut into large 4-inch chunks

  • 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the stew

  • 4 cups chicken broth (or beef or vegetable broth)

  • 3 15-ounce cans white hominy, drained and rinsed (about 4 cups)

  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano

INSTRUCTIONS

Make the sauce

  • In a large bowl, combine the dried chiles and 3 cups of hot water. Cover the bowl with a large plate or aluminum foil, and let the chiles soak for about 5-10 minutes, until softened.

  • Transfer the softened chiles and the water they soaked in into a large blender. Add the salt, chili powder, cumin powder, minced garlic and Mexican chocolate. Blend until completely smooth.

Sear the pork

  • Season the pork with salt and black pepper. Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add in the cooking oil and then the pork. Sear on all sides until nicely browned.

  • Add the red chile sauce and scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to loosen all the brown bits.

Make the stew

  • Add the chicken broth and stir until the red chile sauce and broth are fully mixed. Bring the pot to a boil, reduce heat to a low simmer and cover. Cook for 2 to 3 hours, until the pork falls apart tenderly.

  • Shred the pork with a fork or spatula (it should fall apart very easily). Add the hominy and dried oregano. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Taste and season with more salt, if necessary.

  • Serve with toppings such as finely shredded cabbage, cilantro, lime juice, thinly sliced radishes, diced onions, dried oregano and red pepper flakes.


Champurrado

This Champurrado recipe is made with Mexican chocolate, masa harina, milk, water, cinnamon, and vanilla. Thick and creamy, this cozy drink is best enjoyed on a cold winter night during the holiday season.

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 cups milk

  • 2 ounces piloncillo, plus more to taste

  • 2 (3-ounce) discs Mexican chocolate (I used Abuelita brand)

  • 1 cinnamon stick

  • 1 1/2 cups warm water

  • 1/2 cup masa harina

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 1 pinch salt

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Add milk, piloncillo, Mexican chocolate, and cinnamon stick to a medium saucepan or pot. Heat over low-medium heat until the piloncillo and chocolate have completely dissolved. Stir frequently to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom of the saucepan.

  • Remove and discard the cinnamon stick, using a strainer if it has broken into pieces.

  • In a small bowl, add warm water and masa harina. Whisk together until the mixture is smooth.

  • Add the masa harina mixture, vanilla extract, and salt to the saucepan. Whisk to combine.

  • Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and continue to cook, whisking frequently, for 25-30 minutes until thick, creamy, velvety, and smooth. The champurrado should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

  • Serve and garnish with a touch of ground cinnamon or a cinnamon stick.

Don’t have piloncillo? You can use 2 tablespoons of dark brown sugar instead.

Mexican Ponche

Mexican Ponche is a warm and comforting fruit punch made with apples, pears, oranges and guavas and spiced with cinnamon, cloves, tamarind and hibiscus typically served at Christmas time.

INGREDIENTS

  • 16 cups water

  • 6 guavas, peeled and quartered

  • 3 large red apples, cut into chunks

  • 2 pears, cut into chunks

  • 1 orange, sliced

  • 1 pilloncillo cone (or 1 cup of dark brown sugar if you can't find piloncillo)

  • 6 whole cloves

  • 4 cinnamon sticks

  • 2 tablespoons dried hibiscus flowers

  • 1 dried tamarind pod, husked and seeded

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Place all ingredients in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil, lower heat, cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes.

  • Mix and make sure the piloncillo/sugar has completely dissolved. Serve hot in mugs with a splash of rum or brandy if desired. Make sure each cup has some fruit in it - it's the best part!

Mexican Bunuelos

Often served during the Christmas and New Years holidays, this Mexican Bunuelos recipe makes the perfect fried dough covered in cinnamon sugar!

INGREDIENTS

For the bunuelos

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 3/4 cup warm water

  • 4 tablespoons oil, plus 2 or more cups for frying

For the cinnamon sugar topping

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

For the bunuelos

  • Add all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Mix until combined.

  • Add warm water and 4 tablespoons oil. Mix with a spoon or your hands until the dough comes together.

  • Transfer the dough onto a clean working surface and knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.

  • Roll the dough into a ball, place it in a bowl, cover with a kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 minutes.

  • While the dough is resting, cover a large plate with paper towels, fill a large sauté pan with 1 to 2 inches of frying oil and make the cinnamon sugar topping. Set aside.

  • Divide the dough into 8 separate pieces and roll each piece into a ball. On a lightly floured surface, use a floured rolling pin to roll out each ball into an 8 to 10-inch circle. (I recommend laying the rolled-out dough onto a large kitchen towel in one single layer. Don't stack the rolled-out dough on top of each other or it may stick.)

  • Heat the frying oil to 350°F. Fry each dough circle for about 60 seconds, turning once, until golden brown on both sides. Transfer to prepared plate to drain any excess oil. Sprinkle heavily with cinnamon sugar topping.

For the cinnamon sugar topping

  • Combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl.

Christmas Traditions in Mexico

Christmas Traditions in Mexico

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of The Quill

Photo Credits: Google Images

Mexico is famous for a variety of different celebrations. Perhaps one of the most famous

and recognized around the world are its Day of the Dead celebrations. But as someone who

was born in Mexico can attest, we also have our own unique Christmas traditions.

Traditional Christmas celebrations in Mexico are a mixture of religious traditions and modern

festivities. The result is a truly enchanting and magical holiday season. The Mexican celebration

of Christmas begins each year on December 16th . Long before the standard Christmas Eve.

In this article I will discuss a variety of Christmas traditions that are celebrated in Mexico.

Las Posadas

The first thing you need to understand about Christmas traditions in Mexico is the

tradition of posadas. This translates to mean “inn” in English, and the celebration begins on

December 16th. Each night from the 16th until the 24th, children go from door to door singing

and asking if there’s an open room at the “inn.” This is meant to represent the story of Mary

and Joseph, but modern-day traditions feature a posada party at the end of each night.

Children will be given candy and Christmas oranges.

Nativity Scenes

If you thought the offerings at the Day of the Dead festivals were impressive, then just

wait until you the some of the more elaborate nativity scenes in Mexico. Because the culture is

still quite religious, the Christmas season is rooted in the Christian story of the birth of Baby

Jesus. Therefore, Christmas nativity scenes are important. However, you won’t find Baby Jesus

inside of the manger until the 24th.

Piñatas

Head to any posada party and you’ll undoubtedly find a piñata hanging from the

ceilings. These are popular additions to nearly every Mexican festivity, and the tradition carries

over into Christmas as well. At Christmas time, however, the piñatas have seven different spikes

around them to represent the seven deadly sins.

Ponche and Rompope

Ponche is pretty much the Mexican equivalent of the kind of mulled wine you’ll find at

European Christmas markets. The warm Christmas punch is made with fruit. And, Rompope is

the equivalent of egg nog. You’ll pretty much always find it spiced to perfection and full of

really strong rum. So, its creamy, filling, and quite alcoholic, usually.

Día de Los Reyes

Similar to Spain and other parts of Latin America, certain families in Mexico celebrate

the Three Kings Day, which falls on January 6th each year. While Santa still visits children on

Christmas Eve, it’s not uncommon for the Three Kings to pay a visit the evening before the

Three Kings Day and leave some candy or small gifts. Children will typically leave their shoes out

with their gift wishes and wait for the three kings to read them.

Rosca de Reyes

Because the Three Kings Day is one of the most popular Christmas traditions in Mexico,

you better bet that there’s a cake to accompany the festivities. On this special day, families

gather around to enjoy something called a Rosca de Reyes. The oval-shaped bread is covered in

fruits and, hidden inside, you’ll find a baby figurine. Whoever gets the small plastic baby in their

slice has to throw a tamale party on February 2nd.

Candelaria’s Day

February 2nd might be the day of the coveted tamale party. But it also marks the end of

the Mexican Christmas season. The day itself is called La Candelaria, or Candlemas, and it’s

marked by lots of crazy parties and festivities to end the wonderful holiday season.

How to Decorate for Christmas: University Student Edition

How to Decorate for Christmas: University Student Edition

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of the Quill

Photo Credits: Google Images

As November comes to an end and final exams are upon us, students need something to look forward

to. In my free time (when I don’t have to study or work on an assignment) I like to rearrange and

decorate my room. I still live at home with my parents and my room is relatively small, but I still find

ways to bring a little holiday spirit. I know that a lot of Brandon University students still live at home or

may be living in BU residence or may have gotten an apartment in Brandon. Don’t worry, my decoration

suggestions apply to all student living situations!

1. Keep it Green

It won’t feel like Christmas without a few pines, spruces and firs. Adding an artificial tree or even a

festive wreath will instantly make your room Christmassy. You can get them for dirt cheap on Amazon. If

space is an issue, why not tape some green tinsel to a wall in the shape of a tree to celebrate the holiday

season without much hassle? Throw in some teardrop swags or tinsel garlands to set the scene with the

rich tones of the fall season. Don’t forget to hang a mistletoe over the doorway for good luck!

2. Light it Up

String lights are a surefire way to brighten up your room when it comes to Christmas decoration ideas.

Bright fairy lights can be wrapped around your bed frame or draped across furniture to achieve that

festive glow. You can also string them across your ceiling or weave them in and out of empty glass

bottles for a fun centerpiece that doesn’t break the bank. Introduce holiday warmth to the room with a

scented candle or two. If you’re wary of smoke detectors, swap them for LED candles and a room spray

for the same effect.

You can also attach some family and friends’ pictures to the rope, so you don’t miss their presence and

relive the Christmas celebrated with them.

3. Go as big or as small as you want

The best part about Christmas decoration ideas is that there are no rules! You can hang up stockings

with candies and little treats for yourself/ your housemates or your family. Or you can play carols over

the speaker for a festive air.

These Christmas decoration ideas will not only add pizzazz to your room but also make it cozy and

welcoming for the holiday season.

My Personal Study Tips

My Personal Study Tips

By Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of The Quill

Photo Credits: Maria Garcia Manzano

Photo Credits: Maria Garcia Manzano

With over a month of school finally done, midterm season is fast approaching. With midterms comes the inevitable pressure to study. It may not be easy to know where to start with a full course load. Below I will share some tips on what I find helps me study and get better grades. Please note, every individual is different, and what works for me may not work for others.

1. Develop a Daily Routine: 

If you find yourself shuffling around the kitchen at 3 am, foraging for snacks instead of getting the sleep needed to get you through the next day, it’s time to devise a schedule. Even a simple plan is better than none at all. Set a dedicated time to wake up each morning, reserve times for meals, and study for each of your classes. 


2. Study with Friends:

Form a study group with close classmates for your more difficult classes.  This will force you to review the work often, think about the material, and participate in question-and-answer sessions. 


3. Create a Super-Study Space:

What is it that helps you concentrate? Is it your favorite music? Complete quiet? Snacks? Find the things that help you focus and set up your own super-study space. Creating an inviting environment is one of my go-to study strategies. Think about what types of things in your environment encourage you to study. This could mean having teas or essential oils, such as rosemary or Ginseng, on hand to help you focus. It could mean bringing in your favorite blanket or pillow for comfort. You could have soft music playing gently in the background, ideally only instrumental music, to not interfere with any memory processes while you study. You could keep a stash of brain food, such as pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, oranges, or almonds, handy to help get you through. You might plug in a coffee maker for long study sessions.


4. Review Material Before Each Class:

Take good notes and be sure to review them before each class with your professors. This will help you be more prepared during the session, but there’s another perk. Hearing the information repeated back to you will help you better retain it. I try to take notes during each lecture, and then I take a half-hour afterward to either re-type them more cohesively or jot them down in a notebook, so they’re neater and easier to follow. I find that by writing down the high points of each lecture once or twice, I  remember them better. I also have legible notes to take with you when you leave the house to study. Furthermore, once I have legible notes, I can test myself and practice active recall. 


5. Prioritize Your Work and Relate it to You!

Lastly, be sure to prioritize work from most important to least important.  Dedicate the bulk of your study time to the classes you find most challenging. Spend less time studying for the lessons that come easier. Finally, connecting everything you learn to something personally significant to you will help you better memorize it.

Easter Celebrations During a Pandemic

Easter Celebrations During a Pandemic

By: Maria Garcia Manzano

Photo Credits: Google Images

Photo Credits: Google Images

This year Easter will look a little different. With the current public health guidelines set to expire on March, 25th revision is underway. However, we can expect household gathering rules to remain. The only visible change done to the guidelines may be about theaters and casinos opening at a limited capacity. As a result, Easter will be different, and celebrations may be limited to within your household and designated visitors, but this does not mean you and your loved ones cannot still enjoy the holiday. Here are six different ideas you can do with your household and designated visitors.

  1. Rethink Easter baskets and gifts.

    The pandemic has taken a financial toll on everyone, and perhaps this year, giving out overflowing waster baskets may not be possible. So instead of filling it up with store-bought treats, pull out a cupcake, muffin, or cookie recipe and fill them with homemade sweets.

  2. Order in for Easter lunch or dinner.

    Pre-pandemic Easter lunch and dinner usually took place at a family member's house, and everybody arrived and celebrated together. This cannot be the case this year, and instead of worrying about what to cook and stressing out, order takeout. Support local businesses and call around to see which restaurants are open on Easter Sunday and if they are offering takeout services. Brandon has a variety of delicious restaurants.

  3. Focus on small-scale Easter games.

    A bunny hop race or Easter egg toss may not be possible this year if you don't have the supplies, numbers, or space (or all three). Focus on games—beyond the egg hunt—your household can play together, such as guess the number of jelly beans or Easter egg basketball, even if there are only two of you in the house. Furthermore, you can also bring out your board games and enjoy some friendly competition.

  4. Have a Picnic!

    This last week, the weather has been beautiful, and if you don't want to stay cooped up at home, and weather permitting, go out and have a picnic. The Discovery Centre is one of my favorite places to go for picnics. Pack up some sandwiches or pick up some subway and head down with a picnic blanket, some snacks, and enjoy yourself. 

  5. Small egg hunts are the way to go.

    Whether you have children in your household or only university students, the idea of looking for chocolate treats is appealing. Therefore, whether you live in a house or an apartment, buy some chocolate treats from Dollarama and hide them. Get another person to hide some goodies for you and then have a race to see who finds the most chocolate. 

  6. Adjust your expectations for Church services.

    If your Easter celebration includes a religious component, it may be different from prior years. There are limits on gatherings, and many congregations have adopted their restrictions to keep their members safe. If your church does hold a service, consider if attending is the safest option for you and your family (and others attending). You can stay connected with your church on Easter by checking to see if it's hosting a digital service: Many religious organizations have been offering online services, so do a little research online to find one you can stream.

Date Ideas: Covid Edition

Date Ideas: Covid Edition

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By: Maria Garcia Manzano

Valentine’s Day: perhaps the most overrated holiday that, for some reason, everyone seems to get the most stressed out about. Do you have plans? Do you have a significant other? What are you getting them? All these questions always seem to stress us out in the weeks leading to Valentine’s Day. This year however, it is particularly stressful as the pandemic has made certain services unavailable. As a result, this year we will have to get even more creative. So, as a closeted romantic, I’m here to help you. I have thought of a few COVID-19 friendly date ideas that you might fall back on if you have nothing thought of for that special someone on this stressful “holiday.”


Prepare Dinner for Your S/O

If your significant other is stuck in online classes all day and you have some extra time on your hands, prepare a delicious dinner for them. Don’t worry if you are not a great chef and don’t try to go all out it is the thought that counts.

  • Prepare some Ramen Noodles with a twist by adding some extra ingredients like veggies, chicken or other sauces.

  • Grab some fresh garlic bread at your local grocery store or some cheese and crackers. Cut up some veggies and fruit.

  • Set the table nicely with plates, forks, napkins and maybe some flowers and candles.





Have A Cookie Decorating Contest

Go to the store. Buy some plain sugar cookies, pink, red, white frosting, sprinkles and whatever else you can find and have a cookie decorating contest. While you’ll have fun making the cookies you also get to eat your creations at the end. Alternatively, you can also make your own cookies and attempt to shape them into hearts or other Valentines related items. 


Give Each Other Massages

If you’ve got yourself someone to share this Valentine’s Day with, maybe try to show them how special they are by bringing the spa to them and treating them to a nice and relaxing massage. You can pamper each other with massages, and it will be even better than paying for one.


Do A Local Food Takeout Tour

Create your own food tour for your loved one. Brandon offers some great little places that are worthy of a food tour. Make a list of all the restaurants, cafes or spots to grab a treat and create a schedule for the day. Some restaurants you might consider are Chez Angela’s, Wayback Burger, Boston Pizza, Mum’s Restaurant, etc. The list is endless. Go and discover the various cuisines Brandon has to offer. Make sure you order something from each place. This will be a fun way to experience new restaurants while having your s/o there with you. 


Go Ice Skating

There are a lot of options to go skating in Brandon, and weather permitting you should be able to enjoy a fun evening. The oval, which is all lit up with Christmas lights and therefore an incredibly romantic setting. There are also plenty of community arenas to go to. Skating is a fun way to spend quality time with your significant other. This date also does not have to end with the skating as you can grab a hot chocolate or coffee after to continue to spend time with your loved one. 


FaceTime/Zoom Date

While the restrictions have eased, and we can have up to two visitors visit. However, if you are unable to visit your s/o you can always schedule a quick FaceTime/Zoom meeting and see them that way. You can also each order some take out and stay up hours chatting away. 


These are unprecedented times, but we must remember to be responsible and careful. 

A University Student Friendly Thanksgiving Recipe: Caramel Crack

A University Student Friendly Thanksgiving Recipe: Caramel Crack

By: Maria Garcia Manzano 

This year Thanksgiving will look very different compared to previous Thanksgivings. With Covid-19 precautions still in place, many families will not be able to visit other extended family members and as a result perhaps less variety of food will be present in your home. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it will give you an excuse to show off your cooking skills in front of your family if you are stuck at home with them. However, if you are not stuck at home with family and are instead living with a roommate / roommates, not too fear as this will be a good way to show off your cooking skills to them. 

While university students may not be known for their cooking whole (partly due to the cost that goes into preparing nice meals and the amount of time needed) here I present you with a cheap and easy dessert that at least shows your family /roommate /roommates that you’re trying.

Ingredients:

  • One cup of butter (equivalent to 2 full sized sticks)

  • One cup of brown sugar (packed or loose, dealer’s choice)

  • As many saltines it takes to fill a baking sheet with a slight lip along the sides

  • Two bags of your favourite kind of chocolate chips

  • Cooking spray 

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 

  2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil (that way you do not need to do dishes later) and spray with a healthy amount of cooking spray. With foil in a nice coating of cooking spray all around, line up the saltines in rows, salt side up. Break a few in half if needed to fill the space along the sides. 

  3. Put the cup of butter and a cup of brown sugar into a saucepan over medium to medium high heat. Let the butter melt and sugar dissolve into the butter. Scrape across the bottom of the pan to avoid the sugar burning. Stir occasionally until it comes together in an easy version of a caramel sauce. 

  4. Pour the hot sugar/butter sauce over the crackers carefully so you do not disturb the lovely pattern you probably spent too long making look pretty. 

  5. Put that in the oven for five minutes to get the sauce bubbly.

  6. Sprinkle over the bag of chocolate chips over the top and spread with the back of a spoon. It should not take too long for the chocolate to melt and become easier to spread. If it gets to a point that the chocolate is not melting anymore, put the pan back into the oven for a few minutes, take it back out and finish spreading the chocolate over the top until it is completely covered. If you have extra chocolate chips left, well, darn. 

  7. Put the whole thing in the freezer for roughly 30 minutes or until it hardens completely. 

  8. Take it out of the sheet (this is where the aluminum foil comes in handy) and break it apart into whatever size pieces you want. 

  9. Enjoy! 

Tuition Rises Due to Online Learning

Tuition Rises Due to Online Learning

By: Maria Garcia-Manzano

If you have checked your tuition statement recently you will have noticed that there was an increase from the previous year. On July 22nd, 2020 there was a fee added onto student’s tuition statement. The tuition increase depends on how many credit hours you are enrolled in for the school year as it charges students $30.00 per course. Therefore, if you are enrolled in a full course load you can expect to see an increase as high as $300.00. The added fee is labelled as Renew BU however, it gives no further explanation as to what its purpose is. The Renew BU fee represents the added cost the university has had to procure in order for a complete overhauling of BU’s internal software systems to be done. According to the BU website this was done in order to move towards “a modern, digital experience for students, faculty and staff.” (BU Website-Renew BU). 

The system that has been chosen to power BU’s internal software processes is CampusNexus. There are three major components; CampusNexus Student, CampusNexus Engage and CampusNexus Finance,HR & Payroll. The student component will allow BU students to enroll, register, see grades and track status on waitlists all in place. The engage component will allow for future, current and past students to stay connected. Finally, the finance aspect of this new system will improve the delivery of payment processing, payroll, and research grants. (BU Website-Renew BU).

The full implementation of this new system could take a few years and currently on the timeline that BU has proposed this fall students could potentially see the opening of the student portal portion. More details regarding BU’s timeline for the implementation of CampusNexus can be found here: https://www.brandonu.ca/renewbu/timeline/  

Brandon University is also using the extra tuition costs to pay for a portion of other software systems that will aid in the online course delivery of this school year. One of these programs is TopHat, and with BU absorbing a majority of the cost students will only have to pay for a $6.00 per month subscription fee that will allow each student to enrol in all the necessary courses. 

While this new fee is an unexpected added cost, we can only hope the university will use the funds accordingly and provide students with the best possible online course delivery in these unprecedented times.

Photo Credits: BU Website

Photo Credits: BU Website

 

Library Services 

At Brandon University’s library John E. Robbins, an array of services can be accessed by students, staff and faculty. The services offered for students and faculty are ILL (interlibrary loans), Course Reserves, off campus library services, library tours, and bibliographic instruction sessions. For non-students they can obtain a library card and borrow books as easy as a student can. 

As mentioned, the ILL are only for students, staff and faculty and this service entails access to items that are not held at J.E.R but are available for borrowing from other libraries. Course Reserves entails having faculty members place on reserve important course material for their class. Students enrolled in their class are able to pick up the material for an allotted period of time and place back on reserve after they are done using it. Finding out which material is on reserve is easy. Simply go to the circulation desk and look at the reserve lists. You can also check the reserved material by searching Brandon University Course Reserve Catalogue at the BU website. 

Off-Campus Library Services assists with any research needs by providing access to a wide range of services and resources.

These include: 

Over 100 databases

Over 40,000 articles on electronic journals,

Online Online dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, thesauri, biographical dictionaries, quotations dictionaries, directories, government documents , handbooks/almanacs. 

J.E.R library also provides tours of the library and bibliographic instruction sessions. These can be arranged at any time throughout the year. The sessions entail guidance on effective search strategies for the online catalog, any number of databases, or the World Wide Web. How to evaluate sources for academic merit is also discussed during these sessions. 

To borrow from the J.E.R library anyone who possesses a valid library card. These can be obtained even if you are not a BU student. The following details the library’s borrowing policies. Further information can be found on the BU J.E.R library website. 

Loan Periods

  • Reference Books and Current Periodicals/Journals are for in-Library use only.

  • Back issues of Periodicals are 1-week loans.

  • Books are 4-week loans

  • Most of the other items are 2-week loans.

  • Reserve and Curriculum items have varying loan periods be sure to check.

Loan Restrictions

  • Reserve = 2 items at a time.

  • Periodicals = 5 items at a time; 2 of any one title.

  • Stack Item = 5 items in each subject area

Loan Renewals

  • As long as the item is not on hold (requested by another person) you may renew it twice.

  • You may renew by telephone during library hours (Main Circulation: 204-727-9646, 1-877-253-6765 or Music Circulation: 204-727-9630).

  • There are no renewals for Reserve Materials.

Holds

  • If an item you have signed out is put on hold by another person, it must be returned by the due date.

  • If you have a password for the library catalog, you can place your own holds and check your account. Ask at Circulation for information, or call Circulation (204-727-9646, 1-877-253-6765) if you are wishing to place a hold from your home computer.