WHO: United Nations Development Program at UofT

WHAT: Their first general meeting

WHEN: Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 3-5pm

WHERE: Hart House South Dining Hall

For more information go to: http://www.facebook.com/events/212639118825261/

For months, we have seen the “This Close” campaign at work. For years, Rotary
International, with the WHO, UNICEF and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention have worked together to eliminate polio. We are 99% of the way
there, but we need you to help eliminate the final 1%.

Invite your friends, family and colleagues, and enjoy a night of networking and fellowship. This film and event may be of special interest to students and faculty in health studies, development and international relations programs. Feel free to take advantage of this invaluable networking opportunity!

When: Friday, January 27, 2012 at 7:30pm (registration at 7:00pm)
Where: TIFF Bell Lightbox – Cinema 4
What: Screening of Benda Belili! - An informal reception will follow the screening
Why: Fundraiser for End Polio Now the Rotary $200 Million Dollar challenge

Tickets are sold online for $30 each. There is a limited number available.

What: Bake sale

Time: Tuesday, November 22 · 11:30am – 2:30pm

Location: Sidney Smith Hall, 100 st.George street

Would you like to grab a quick snack? Come visit us at our table to buy tasty snacks and learn more about our club.We will be selling various types of baked goods. All the money will be given to support our brothers and sisters in the town of Riverton Meadows, Jamaica. So if you are passing through Sid Smith come drop by and say hello.

For more information, visit the group’s website or Facebook page.

SAVE THE DATE!
You’re invited to Journalism for Human Rights’ (jhr) annual HOLLERDAY: a day dedicated to raising awareness about sexual violence in the DRC.

When: Tuesday, November 15th from 5-10pm
Where: East Common Room, Hart House
Why: STOP RAPE IN THE CONGO!

This event will feature an interactive HOLLERDAY wall, a workshop, speakers and an education centre featuring different campus groups giving their perspective on the topic of sexual violence in the DRC.

Why do we care about this particular issue? Stories like Clementine’s (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8677637.stm) serve to remind us that this issue is not one that can be ignored and people like her cannot just be left behind or forgotten.

HOLLERDAY is jhr’s chapter flagship awareness building event for 2011.  Students from  universities across Canada participate collectively in a day of action to “holler” about human rights issues.  2011’s focus is human rights issues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Students will use their voices publicly through creative expression about human rights.

Here is the Facebook event – check it out! https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=267179723316093

About jhr: We are a collective of inspired, approachable and enthusiastic individuals. We are worldly without pretense, knowledgeable, inclusive, inquisitive and most importantly – we passionately believe in positive change. Our entrepreneurial, can-do spirit is focused on making positive contributions to the quality of life of others as well as achieving success and fulfillment in our own lives.
jhr is Canada’s largest international media development organization. Our goal – to make everyone in the world fully aware of their rights – is as unique as it is powerful. jhruoft.org

Give me a bit of background about Juxtaposition.

Juxtaposition was founded in 2004 by Kadia Petricca and Michelle Chakkalackal here at U of T. Kadia is actually back this year as Editor-in-Chief of the Editorial Division while she finishes up her PhD in Global Health Policy. They sought to create a forum to engage student interest in addressing global health issues from a multidisciplinary lens. The magazine was originally published in an online format, but through a number of partnerships and collaborations with college, departments and research bodies on and off campus, was able to secure funds over the past four years to become print.

The name ‘Juxtaposition’ comes from the verb ‘to juxtapose’, which is the act of placing two or more things side by side. Wherever possible, Juxtaposition seeks to include contrasting perspectives on global health issues in a wider social, economic, political, and legal context. All issues aim to highlight pertinent and controversial topics in the field of global health through the perspectives of students, researchers and alumni at U of T and beyond. The latest Spring 2011 issue, ‘Movers and Shakers’, offered perspectives from those working abroad of the ethics and challenges of working in the field. In particular, Dr. Raghu Venngopal provided an account of his experiences with Doctors Without Borders in addition to a photo essay by Charlotte Hunter, who documented her experiences in one Namibian Hospital confronting the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Why should students be interested in the magazine?

We live in a global society, meaning that events and phenomena that happen across the globe will ultimately impact us all in some way. The magazine provides insight into critical topics that have long-term implications on society, politics, and economics, and we hope that the magazine will inspire readers to seek further information and try to make change.

Furthermore, it’s important for me to add that the scope of the magazine isn’t limited to third-world issues: it’s global health. For instance, the most recent issue contains articles about psychological issues, pollution, and health care reform in North America. They’re issues that affect us, and issues we can try to do something about no matter where they are rooted.

Where can students find Juxtaposition on the web?

Juxtaposition has a website where one can find all of our current and past publications, as well as calls for submissions: www.juxtaposition.sa.utoronto.ca. We also have a Twitter feed which will aim to broadcast global health-related events occurring on and off campus, as well as updates about the magazine and submission calls: www.twitter.com/juxtamagazine. We will follow you back! Look out for more links as we expand our social networking through our Twitter feed.

What are you looking for in terms of submissions, and when and where should they be sent?

For submissions, the deadline for the upcoming issue is October 21, and there are a lot of topics which writers can consider publishing, including articles on bio-technology, peace and conflict, and healthcare policy. Please visit our website for submission guidelines!

Thanks to Molly and Juxtaposition Global Health Magazine.

Everyone is welcome to attend the Heart & Stroke Foundation – U of T Chapter’s first General Meeting of the year. Whether you’re looking to get involved with an amazing organization or just want something to do, we encourage you to come on out, learn more about us, and meet some new friends.

One Love is a Ulife-recognized student group that seeks to raise awareness of, and help, the impoverished families of Riverton Meadows – a shantytown in Kingston, Jamaica – through cultural fundraising events on campus. As stated on the group’s website, ‘Riverton is situated next to a landfill from which scraps are scavenged and used as building materials for many of the dwellings in this community. Although hundreds of families in Riverton live without running water and sewage disposal, the people of Riverton have great pride in their strength and resilience to adversity. ONE LOVE seeks to not only promote these strengths, but to additionally help provide the funds necessary for the development and advancement of the community.’

In fostering a general atmosphere of helping others, we hold regular volunteer outreach sessions in the community, in which all group members are encouraged to participate. Also, every year, members of ONE LOVE have the opportunity to volunteer in Jamaica and work with people living in Riverton with the support of our parent organization, Students Crossing Borders.

For more information, check out the group’s Facebook page or official website, or email the group at onelove.uoft@gmail.com.

Mes chers amis, la SPECQUE c’est la Simulation du parlement européen Canada-Québec-Europe. Ne vous laissez pas être détournés par le mot “parliament” (ou “simulation”, ou quoi que ce soit). En fait la SPECQUE présente à chacun une opportunité inoubliable de pousser ses limites, apprendre beacoup sur le monde et les actualités, et finalement voyager et rencontrer des gens inspirants!

Il s’agit d’une semaine intense passée en débats, en commissions, en sessions plénières…on dort peu, on boit beaucoup de caffé…On joue le rôle d’un eurodéputé au sein du parlement européen, ou bien un commissaire qui propose une pièce de législation, ou un rapporteur qui la critique dans son rapport. On peut également être un lobbyiste, un journaliste, un photographe, le président de commission – il y a plein de rôles pour tous les goûts! Donc si vous vous intéressez aux questions de politique européen, la SPECQUE est pour vous!

Elle est peut-être plus chère aux canadiens qu’aux autres, parce que elle a été fondée au Québec en 1998. C’est vrai, la simulation du parlement européen a été proposée par une étudiante de l’Université Laval. La SPECQUE a lieu dans un endroit different chaque an, alternativement en Europe et au Canada. Cet été la ville hôte était Luxembourg, tandis qu’en 2012 Montréal aura ce privilège.

Voilà ce que le site web officiel de la SPECQUE en dit:

“En tant que simulation parlementaire, la SPECQUE permet à ses participants de se développer. Les qualités oratoires, le sens de l’initiative et de la négociation, l’art de la persuasion ainsi que la capacité à analyser en profondeur des questions sensibles, et les aborder sous un angle législatif, sont certaines compétences que la SPECQUE permet de cultiver. La Simulation permet aussi à ses participants d’élargir leurs horizons par la découverte de jeunes issus de milieux et de cultures différentes. Cette découverte, et l’ouverture d’esprit qui en découle, sont d’une valeur inestimable dans le contexte de mondialisation que nous connaissons actuellement.”

Je pourrai ajouter de ma part que je n’aurai jamais imaginé combien la SPECQUE pourrait être intéressante, stimulante et comment elle peut créer une dépendence. Si on y participe une fois, on veut retourner, c’est sûr!

Alors, si vous croyez que la SPECQUE c’est pour vous, contactez-moi pour plus de détails.

Le batîment de la commission européenne où la SPECQUE se déroulait cet été. Je mens pas quand je dis que c’est impressionnant!

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.

A l’aube de cette nouvelle année académique, que vous soyez un ancien, un nouveau, ou un futur membre de notre French Club, vous êtes certainement tous curieux de savoir ce que vous apportera le seul, l’unique EFUT (Etudiants Francophones de l’Université de Toronto) au cours de cette année.

Votre aventure efutienne (quelle riche langue que la langue française!) commencera tambour battant dès la rentrée autour d’un formidable petit déjeuner typiquement français, aussi convivial que savoureux! Venez nombreux déguster notre French baguette accompagnée du désormais célébrissime Nutella ou bien de fromages en tous genres, venez goûter à nos fruits frais, nos divers jus de fruits, et notre délicieux café!

La date à retenir pour démarrer du bon pied cette nouvelle année, c’est celle du vendredi 16 septembre! Nous vous attendrons donc nombreux entre 10h et 13h pour faire connaissance autour d’un excellent petit déjeuner français servi au CIE a 33 rue st. George! (Editor’s note: Read FREE FOOD THIS FRIDAY!)

To join EFUT, simply send your name and student number to etudiants.francophones@utoronto.ca

Une fois lancé, l’EFUT ne vous laissera pas le temps de vous ennuyer! Soirées films, clubs de conversation, dîner de Noël, voyage à Montréal ou encore weekend en montagne, le French Club fera tout pour vous laisser des souvenirs mémorables! Nous organisons presque un évènement par semaine, alors vous n’êtes jamais seuls!

Le French Club, comme son nom l’indique, réunit des étudiants parlant français, qu’ils soient débutants, intermédiaires, bilingues, québécois,  nés en France … Ainsi, l’EFUT s’engage à maintenir ou améliorer le niveau de français des étudiants dont ce n’est pas la langue maternelle. Tous les jours de la semaine (et hors vacances scolaires), venez profiter des heures de tutorat gratuites offertes par l’équipe du French Club! (Editor’s note: Read FREE TUTORING every school day of the year!)

L’EFUT, en bref, c’est l’occasion de rencontrer des gens passionnants, de faire la fête, de progresser en français, et même de voyager, alors n’hésitez plus, rejoignez-nous!

Anna Abenhaim is a 4th year student at Sciences Po. Paris and came on exchange to U of T last year. She is EFUT’s Director – Sciences Po. And can be reached at sciencespo [au] frenchclub.ca. She misses Canada a lot.