Chinese Varsity Club

CVC Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay Fundraiser

Bri — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:20:55 +0000

The SoCos and Community Department have teamed up to bring you…*

*The Easter Seals Fundraiser!*

*BAR NONE – JUNE 11 2010*
Raising money for *Charity *+ *Partying* it up on a Friday night…
What *more*could you ask for!?

*Details Please!*

*Where:* Bar None, 1222 Hamilton Street, Vancouver

*Why:* To Support a Great Cause!

*Price:* 13$ Members // $15 Non-members*

*Dress Code:* Dress to Impress!

*Want Tickets!?*

*:: SoCo ::*
Kevin Zhang :: 778-668-4365 :: Surrey
Mandy Wu :: 778-668-2232 :: UBC Campus
Samantha Wong :: 604-828-0438 :: Richmond
Tina Huynh :: 778-773-0295 :: East Vancouver

*:: Community ::*
Charles Yu :: 778-388-1790 :: South Vancouver
Michael Yap :: 604-230-8258 :: Richmond
Michele Chee :: 778-997-0679 :: Richmond
Tracy Vo :: 604-788-6882 :: East Vancouver
Abriel Chan :: 778-899-2181 :: Kerrisdale/East Vancouver

**It’ll be a night of fun**, laughter, and drunkness…
for a good cause!

*GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!*

CVC First Year Survival Series Articles

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:00:46 +0000

For all you new UBC Students here are some articles written by various CVC execs to help your transition into the UBC community. After reading these articles you will learn many tips and tricks and become a pro at navigating campus and be able to get much more done than you might have realized at first.

Scroll down to read the articles or if a particular subject interests you just click the navigation link located below:

School Life
Buying Books
Food
Busing/Transportation
Driving
Sports
Naps
Study Spaces
Washroom Breaks
Other Helpful Tips

School Life

Getting good marks in school is obviously one of the top priorities for everybody here. However, if things do not work out like you hoped for, then you may feel depressed and frustrated at yourself. Let me tell you that everyone, including second, third, and fourth year students go through this phase. Some courses may be difficult to get through and some may be a breeze. However, most of the time it depends on how much work and effort you put into it. Also, sometimes the professor or teacher assistant may affect your overall performance, so keep a solid connection with them. It’s not uncommon for students to fail a course so do not feel down when that happens. Just work even harder and your efforts will pay off in the end. Here are some helpful tips to help you get by this school year.

In all your classes, it would be wise for you to get to know some of the students in your class, preferably the people sitting around you. By helping each other out, it makes school life a lot easier to get by. Get their email address, MSN, or facebook, it’s just that much easier to catch up when you miss things or need to know when there is an essay or midterm due.

Talk to the professor if you are having troubles with the material in the lectures or the textbook. It is always important for you to ask for help! The professor will do their best to make you understand the full concept of the subject. If the professor is unavailable to answer your questions, you can book an appointment with them or swing by their alloted office hours. So do not be afraid to ask!

If you’re uncertain with some of the requirements needed for first year, talk to the people in the student advising centre. These people know everything or will direct you to someone who can definitely help you out!

Balance your life out, try not to study all day. Give yourself some personal space and time to do what you enjoy! Pursue your hobbies, make new friends, and come hang out at the CVC office. If you have a part time job, don’t place it as the #1 priority. Just ensure that you are enjoying every moment of your university experience.

During your 1st and 2nd years you will need time to adjust, so do not be discouraged if you do not obtain the marks that you desire. Even though you’ve completed a year, don’t feel stuck in your program. Take some time to evaluate if your program is right for you – people switch majors all the time! Feel free to choose interesting courses as these can be counted as electives. Besides, you might find something else that interests you.

Buying New Textbooks
Buying new textbooks often comes with the new revelation: textbooks are EXPENSIVE. Take it from the guy who almost spent over $600 in his first year ordering them from the UBC Bookstore. (Yeah, me. What a dork.) New textbooks come at a price – and a big one at that. So what do you do? Writhe around on the floor at the sight of your new book bill? Think about selling your baby brother to afford your Custom Course Package for ENGL 112?

NO, FOO’! You, my friend, will follow these next few steps to prevent yourself (and your bank account) from getting screwed over.

1. If you’ve bought new textbooks, don’t rip the packaging. Once they’re ripped, they’re unable to be returned. Make sure you keep your receipt. You ask, why would you need to return them …?

2. … because you might find used copies of the textbooks. That’s right: check out www.saveonbook.com for people selling their old copies of the textbooks. Lots of people sell their textbooks online – that’s good news for you because they’re usually sold cheaper than the USED copies at the bookstore. (Also, if you’re buying books for the new school term and can wait a couple of weeks, check out sites like www.amazon.ca or www.alibris.com – but be warned: you have to pay the shipping!)

3. Attend the first classes; profs might tell you a) certain textbooks are optional or b) older versions of textbooks can be purchased.

4. Run to the Discount Bookstore. The name says it all; found in The Village, above the International Food Fair, you might find textbooks for slightly lower prices.

5. And you didn’t hear it from us, but photocopying textbooks and passages CAN be done … get a Copy Card, do it at a Photocopying Station somewhere off campus or in the Village. It’s also illegal. So … um … yeah. You didn’t hear it from us.

6. Return the new textbooks you don’t need. Get them back to the Bookstore before the date is up! The lineups are quite horrendous in the beginning of the term, but they’re open later, so lineups might not be too bad if you go to the later hours, or even (if you’re up for waking up) in the morning.

AND ONCE YOU’RE DONE…

1. Get back on book trading sites (like www.saveonbook.com), and SELL! SELL! SELL! The Bookstore will take them only some books back; and if they do, it’s for (at most) 50% of the original price, and then they’ll sell them higher. (SAY WHAT?) So these sites are quite plentiful in awesome deals for you AND the book-seeker.
Trust us, big spender: while everyone else is convulsing over their credit card bills or moaning about selling their dogs to pay for General Chemistry, Volume A & B, you’ll be buying yourself a sweet, sweet pint of beer to rejoice when all is said and done. And you know what you’ll be buying that pint with? The extra cash you saved from following these steps. Oh yeah.

Food (Yumm!)

I would say that the food on campus is actually not that bad. Though it might get kind of expensive, you will save the hassle of carrying a 3 lbs Thermos or dealing with a squished peanut butter-jelly sandwich. Here is a breakdown of some food services available on/off campus.

Simply Pasta: CARBS. F*CKING. ROCK. Located on the main floor of the SUB where all the foods at, this is THE place to get cheap pasta; it’s freaking HUGE. Choose your pasta, sauce and topping and watch it get cooked in front of you! There’s also a free-for-all cheeeeesee container! Whoo! Load on the parmesan!

The Pit: Located on the lower level of the SUB, the pit is a great place to: A. get a good burger and fries or B. GET F*CKING WASTED. Bar opens at 12 and from then on it’s just goooood times baby! Conveniently located just SECONDS away from the CVC office, you can get smashed and stumble back into the office for some GOOD DRUNKEN FUN!

Pendulum:
These guys stuff from macaroni and cheese, to quesadillas, to sandwich specials. You can eat in, or request your meal to go. However take into account it takes a while, and you might need to wait. If you are pressed for time order one of the display items.

Food On Campus:

The Delly is my best friend on Fridays because… they serve everything HALF-PRICE!!! They usually start this deal after 2 or 3pm because they want to clear everything before the weekends. I highly recommend you to try their clam chowder and all their other baked goodies!

Honor Roll (The Sushi Store) has sushi at a decent price. Sushi time! A student favorite and always a busy place at lunch time, the honour roll offers a large variety of different sushi rolls like California, spicy scallop (my favorite), avocado, and dynamite! There are also teriyaki chicken bowls and yakisoba platters for your tasting pleasure! A tad expensive, but a nice treat =). The massive line up may look daunting, but it moves very quickly.

Right beside The Delly is the Pit window that sells burgers, fries, and a bunch of other greasy foods. Everyday, they have a special combo on sale similar to Subway’s sub of the day… so get familiar with their schedule!

The Moon has awesome Chinese combos/noodles/rice, special dishes, etc. *cough stay away from the sweet and sour pork* lol. Go for either the one or two item special and if you give the serving lady a wink – maybe she’ll stack you up nicely. Chicken fried rice for ~$5.50 is made on the spot and will fill you up till the end of the day. Another secret is that you can order fried noodles or fried rice that is made fresh for you – just ask!

Tim Hortons is not located in the SUB but is right beside the Angus building. They don’t sell any sandwiches there, but it’s a good place to grab a cup of coffee or a light snack such as… Timbits, doughnuts, and other snacks! Another Tim Hortons can be found in the Forestry building.

Starbucks

Feeling like you need your fix of Starbucks? Get it upstairs in the SUB.

The CVC Office

We have microwave for all you members. Skip the line up at the communal microwaves in the SUB, swing by SUB62 and get your food heated up. Eat in the office, hang out and enjoy your lunch break!

Bluechip Cookies

These guys sell coffee and cookies and charge by the pound. Good food to grab between classes if you need something light and fast.

Food At the Village (north of campus, walk past the old Administration building)

Pearl Fever (behind the bank) – - -> they serve bubble tea and cheesecake!

Well Tea serves Asian cuisine and bubble tea!

Food Court serves Malaysian style food, Mongolian food, Chinese food, Japanese food and others! There are pictures of the food so you know what you’re ordering! Yay! Pictures are worth a million words!

Of course there is also the McDonalds! It’s your standard McDonalds and they are fast, friendly, and efficient. And they still have value picks.

International Food Fair: Located below ground in the village (take the stairs down next to McDonald’s), this food court offers a variety of flavor for your tastes buds, from Mediterranean to Japanese. Notable mention goes to Curry Point for some very tasty curry that’s just the right amount of spicy and both Osaka Sushi and the Chinese stall next door for having the most selection and largest quantities. The quality of the food isn’t always top notch, but you can be sure of leaving with a full tummy. One thing to keep in mind while down here: value for your money.

One More Sushi: My personal favorite, One More Sushi, found by hiking up the stairs next to the Starbucks, is THE BEST sushi you will find on campus. Nice and cozy is how I would describe the ambience at night but beware; lunch times on weekdays are packed and hectic! Prices are fair and the sashimi is top notch, so don’t be afraid to go for some of the more exotic fishes; they’re usually some of the best. I recommend the box sets for first timers ordering an individual roll as well to top it off (Alaska is my favorite).

UBC Campus Pizza: Right next to the Discount Bookstore on the 2nd floor, UBC Campus Pizza opens late and serves huge slices of pizza right out of the oven for low prices. Two gigantic pieces with a pop will put a $2.99 dent in your wallet and give you heartburn for the rest of the night! What a deal!

Pita Pit: For good healthy eating, Pita Pit’s your choice. They serve their meat fillings hot off the grill and you have a whole menu of toppings and sauces to choose from. The regular chicken souvlaki pita with tzatziki sauce is a treat for the Pita Pit Virgin and the more daring you are with your selection, the more you’ll find you like.

Lunchtime Tips

UBC is like a metropolis, it’s jam packed with people. And at lunch time, it’s at its peak traffic. If you can, try to avoid buying lunch between 12pm-1pm – you’ll notice that you will be in lineup for 10-20 minutes!

There are a lot of places where you can sit and have lunch on campus. In the beginning you may be eating with your old high school buddies and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But as the year progresses, it might be a good idea to take some time to grab a bite to eat with different people you meet in your classes and from CVC. It goes a long way when you expand your relationship with other people on campus. In addition, it gives you a chance to check out the diversity of the UBC campus. Well doesn’t that sounds kind of cheesy eh? But seriously…that is what university is all about. If you find yourself eating alone, come by the CVC office – there is always someone there!

Eating in lectures? Try to take it out of the packaging before it starts so you could avoid embarrassing situations! Good luck!

Busing/Transportation

So if you’re planning to take the bus to get to UBC, it’s always better to wake up a bit earlier to catch the bus. Keep in mind that you might miss the first bus because it could be filled with people! And when times are really hectic it’s quite normal to get rejected by several buses.

When boarding on the bus, remember to place your bag on the floor in between your legs (*if you’re standing) to prevent hitting other people around you with your heavy bag. During peak hours, the buses can get really crammed, so it’s really important for you to hold onto the overhead steel bar (*if you’re standing) to secure yourself for safety. The last thing you want is to trip on the bus somersaulting into people and causing a catastrophic domino effect!

UBC Bus Loop
Know the bus schedule ahead of time! Or if you’re really smart you should take a photo of the bus schedule onto your phone! Then you’ll never have to worry about texting or calling the BC Transit for bus info! Some buses don’t run past a certain time so take note of that too.

Those in a rush that need to get on the bus? Drift around the front of the line and as the crowd starts boarding, you can slowly merge with the line-up. If there is a formed lineup…find a friend, initiate a conversation with them, and slowly make your way into the line-up!

Driving

Unless you got a parking pass, it’s super duper expensive to park your vehicle on campus. Parking rates are a whoppin $1.50/HALF HOUR up to a max of $12 for the day. For entry after 5:00PM, and on weekends, a flate rate of $5.00 applies.

B-LOTS (economy lots around campus) are pay and display surface lots at a flat rate of $5.00 per day. These are bearable but still add up if you park a lot. If you are a starving student, your U-PASS will be your best friend…and CVC =)

**Hint**
If you see this guy roaming around where you intend to park. Wait until he’s done scouting or park where he has just scouted all the cars. Because this guy is the Parking Ticket Commander. They drive around in silver SmartCars

Sports And other Active Activities to do around Campus!

DO YOU LIKE VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL, BADMINTON and other SPORTS???

I really enjoy playing any type of sports and staying active. We now live in a more healthy environment today, so that is why I am going to give you some info on what’s available to you when you’re around campus!

The REC is a recreational centre that provides gym time and space for all of the students of UBC. It is call “drop in”, but I’m sure most of you already know the term. Anyways, they have a schedule that states at what specific time of the day they have a certain sport at a certain part of the gym. For example, one part of the gym may be dedicated for badminton and the rest is dedicated for basketball. For more info please visit their drop in website. Everyone is welcome to these drop in times and best of all you do not have to pay for it… in other words…. it’s FREE!!! well… to be honest, you actually already paid for it in your tuition fee so you shouldn’t waste your $230 something dollars by not checking it out! You will need to provide your UBC card to get in and that’s pretty much it! Ohh they don’t accept just your student #, you will need your card to gain access. In addition, you can rent out equipment such as badminton racquets, basketballs, volleyballs, etc so it’s not necessary for you to bring your equipment. Sometimes the gym gets full so you may not be able to enter until some people leaves. This place is a great place to meet new people and make new friends!

The REC has a weight room called “BirdCoop” however, there is a monthly fee of around $27. BirdCoop have newer fitness machines, better looking environment, and more weights and equipment. However, if you’re not a hardcore lifting machine then you should consider not paying that $30 per month. One solution is using the weight room in the Aquatic Centre! First of all it’s FREE and it’s located below the UBC swimming pool. Although some of the equipment is kind of old, it gets the job done! So check it out when you have time!

The REC also has different programs/lessons you can enrol in. They even have a week where you can try out the program without paying! Isn’t that just pure awesome! That means, if you do not like what you’re register in you can drop out before the session starts. It’s called Shopping Week so keep your eyes open!

The Aquatic Centre allows UBC students to swim for free! Similar to the REC drop in, check the schedule before hand to see which swimming lanes are available for you.

Overall, I would recommend you all to drop by at the REC sometimes during your breaks for some pick-up games and other activities. It is a really good way to pass time between classes. Hope to see you on the courts!

There’s one thing you’ll learn from a 14-hour, lecture-jammed, textbook-littered, campus-filled day: NAPS. F*CKING. RULE. No honestly, they are simply the best thing in the world when the only other alternative is Starbucks (caffeine stains your teeth), energy drinks (expensive and overly saccharine), chocolate (FRESHMAN FIFTEEN! FRESHMAN FIFTEEN!) or slapping yourself (it really hurts if you’re not careful).

Naps

They’re healthy, they help revitalize the mind, they’re perfect. But where to take them? Voila.

The Aquatic Centre: It’s close to the Bus Loop & close to the SUB. The carpeting, the heat and the sound of gently lapping chlorinated water makes this ambient location VERY cozy. A godsend during the Winter Session when you have to force yourself to get up in the dark during those long winter days.

Libraries: Quiet, hardly ever noise-filled, and VERY comfortable seating in certain locations, like Koerner’s Reading Room. Try not to take too long, because people actually do come there to study. Tip: don’t snore. You might find yourself out of a nap, and out of the library if you choose to do so.

Forestry Building: Wonderful interior; and not only are we talking about the wood walls, and sustainable architecture. Many of the rooms are sound-proofed and there are tons of comfy chairs. SOUNDPROOF? COMFY CHAIRS? And, yes, a Tim Hortons! Doesn’t get better.

Lounges/Student Spaces: These spaces are meant for students of the Faculty to use for a) warming up their lunches or b) as a hangout (like the Abdul Ladha Science Student Centre). Many of them are equipped with amazing couches, so fulfill the room’s purpose: lounge about and get a quick shut-eye.

Empty classrooms: Difficult to find during the actual term, but once the campus is empty due to final exams, find one not used and loll away. The heating in some of West Mall Swing Space’s rooms are perfect for putting you quickly to sleep.

Where NOT to take taps:

• The SUB (the tables are not clean, the chairs are uncomfortable)

• On the Knoll (beware of squirrels & pigeons; they’re pesky little buggers)

• In class (REALLY bad idea)

And always remember to bring a buddy with you – personal belongings have been known to be stolen (!)from sleeping students, so a buddy could always keep an eye on you if they’re studying or reading. Happy Napping!

Have you ever dozed off while the teacher was teaching? Of course! I’m pretty sure most of us have done so from time to time. In UBC, there are many and I mean many locations where you can take a nap. Most people prefer it in a library or inside a study room. My personal favourite is in the upstairs of the Aquatic centre cause it is so warm and it feels really safe there. However, even places where it is noisy is also a good place to take a nap. Heck, you can even sleep while the professor is teaching! This only works in a lecture hall filled with 200 or so people. If you’re in a class of 30, you will probably get your ass kicked. Anyways a good way to doze off in a huge lecture hall is by sitting as far as you can from the professor. Therefore, if he/she does catching you sleeping they would just give up and won’t hunt you down cause the distance to get to you is so long. Another way is by sleeping and sitting the far side of the room. The best method I believe is to pretend that you are taking notes by tilting your head down so the professor cannot make eye contact with you. They will think and believe that you are just being a hardworking student taking down notes, but in reality you are actually sleeping!

You do not necessary have to sleep in other to feel energized. Just by closing your eyes for 5 minutes or so can get you up and running as well. Also, be careful with your personal belongings when you sleep. Some people tend to steal from others when they are sleeping. It is better for you to out your cell phones, wallets, and other expensive items inside your bag and not out in the open. Most importantly, try not to sleep too much on the bus cause you may miss your bus stop!

Study Spaces

If you got to get your studying done on campus here are some suggestions for places where you can do that.

Asian Library: (1871 West Mall)

The lighting is a bit low in this library, the staircase is mind-numbingly claustrophobic, & it’s somewhat difficult to find plugs but the top floor is an amazing bit of architecture. The tall rooftop, supported by giant leaning pillars, might be a modern marvel you can enjoy while procrastinating.

Law Library (1822 East Mall)

Very quiet, and plentiful amount of seats to be found. Natural lighting may be difficult, but on the top floor is a row of study desks that are right underneath the windows. While the atmosphere is certainly one of studiousness, the interior is cement and quite grim … but then again, it was designed by the same guy who built SFU Burnaby. (We kid. Arthur Erickson is a genius.)

Neville Scarfe Library (2125 Main Mall)

The large, oversized windows in this library gives off a lot of natural lighting. Not difficult to find plugs in the study spaces, and two floors to find seating. And on the bottom floor, there are board games! (Great for bored students.) Nice and roomy; however, do note that sound travels quite quickly in this library. For some reason, any noise you make seems a bit magnified in the library.

Koerner Library (2125 Main Mall)

While the Library is great for studying, if you’re eating or tend to whisper to study partners, outside the library is just as good. It’s still inside the building – seats right outside the library, and the little space across the entrance to the Library are perfect for studying, at a minimum noise level.

Aquatic Centre (6121 University Boulevard)

If you’re one of those people who need a little hum or background noise, look no further than the Aquatic Centre. Will tend to get loud when there’s Aquafit classes or lessons for children, but if you can handle that, along with the rushing sound of water, great for studying. But be warned: very easy to fall asleep. And studying underneath the glass ceiling when it’s sunny outside gets really hot.

Washroom Breaks

To break it down for you, I believe the most used washrooms are actually the ones inside the SUB building. A source tells me that the toilets seats tend to be warm all the time, but you can find that out yourselves lol. There are many other washrooms that one could go to if they do not mind the walk.

You can imagine the state of the washrooms as the day progresses (with 40,000 students attending UBC, these washrooms get used and abused) so try and schedule your bathroom breaks for morning or early noon. If ambiance is important to you as you do your business, stick to newer buildings like Koerner/Irving Library, Buchanan Tower or the Forestry Building. These washrooms are often better maintained and are just a more comfortable place to drop a load. Avoid places like the SUB, Buchanan and Wesbrook. Stepping into the washrooms of these older buildings is like walking into janktown.

1. Irving is a pretty new facility so the washrooms there tend to be super clean and nice. Most of my friends suggest that this is the best place to “take a crap.”

2. Buchanan buildings. A recently upgraded facility, the Buchanan buildings provide numerous of stalls so one can do their business without rush. Similar to the Irving building, each floor possesses their own washrooms.

3. Aquatic centre (the viewing area). Since there are not a lot of people who do their homework there, it is relatively quiet and unoccupied.

4. However, if you are press for time and you want the most convenient washroom, I would have to say that the warm-seated SUB ones are the go-to toilets. It makes sense eh? The one that is most used is also the most convenient one. So in the end, sooner or later, it is inevitable that you will discover the warm toilet experience

Other Random but Helpful Advice/Tips
UBC offers lockers for you. The fee is only around $20 and you can own a complete locker for a year! A locker is a really convenient place to store your textbook, personal belongings, and other items as well! In addition, the lockers come in a pretty decent size you might even want to share with a friend! Lockers can be rented out in almost all buildings so talk to the staff in that building for more details!

Your UBC Card works all year round!!! Basically, you do not have to register in a summer course in order to gain access to the REC building during the summer!

Class Etiquette

Back in high school, you were probably the top of the class, the hot shizzle, but in University everybody is about the same going in. Let’s just say, no more special privileges yet….But NO ONE CARES, so you get to make your own privileges.

Now let’s lay down some ground rules.

Skipping – No one cares anymore. Sleep in, go hang out with friends, wtv you feel like. But just be aware in certain classes you are only allowed to miss a certain number of classes before they DON’T let you take the final. And if you are a penny pincher just be advised every class you skip its like $50.00 wasted.

Lateness – When it comes to showing up late, you have to play it by ear. I would say wait about a month before you start showing up late. Notice the patterns. Does the Prof care? Does the prof make fun of late people and embarrass you? Are there seats still?

Cheating – Don’t do it? Everyone cheated in one way or another in highschool, but this fun and exciting habit has to stop! They kick you out and discipline your ass harshly! Also all those assignments that you use to copy, you should actually do them to keep up! But what is more popular and highly successful these days, is the good old doctors note. So find a good doctor!

Sleeping in Class – Again notice the pattern, most profs don’t care, but if they do there are some ways around it. Hide behind a laptop, do the pretend you are looking down and cover your eyes. You could also just skip and take a nap.

Professor Relationship – Unfortunately in most cases you will not have the same relationship as you did with your high school teachers. Depending on class size they might know your name they might not. It’s nothing personal. But if you really like that relationship go to OFFICE HOURS. They are helpful if you learn like that and you get additional information that no one else gets. But then when you go to their office hours and you get noticed, they might also notice you being late, sleeping, or absent. Or they’ll call on you in class to answer questions…….So BEWARE.

First Year Survival Guide: CVC Office

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:00:06 +0000

Remember that scene in Mean Girls, where Lindsay Lohan’s character is unable to find anyone to sit with at lunch on her first day of school? You know the one – after a failed attempt at making new friends, she decides to resort to eating all by herself … in a lonely washroom stall. Yeah?

That was socializing FAIL.

You do NOT want to be that person, sitting in a desolate washroom stall, quietly munching away at your lunch while the person besides you is doing away with, well, their lunch (or what was their lunch … ) Besides being incredibly unsanitary & beyond unhygienic, there are a bunch of places you could hang out, eat lunch AND make friends. Try … THE CVC OFFICE. Here are five reasons why you should hang out at the CVC Office:

We have a microwave.

Yeah, that’s right. Our own microwave. How cool is that? You no longer have to wrestle around to get in that lineup for the microwave in the SUB. Oh no. And okay, it’s pretty gross when you have to use the same microwave that has seen food from the 20-odd people standing in front of you. Come and swing by to use our sexy, sleek, state-of-the-art micro-onde. (That’s microwave in French, but it’s a lot sexier en Francais, no?) AND we (read: the Froshees) clean that thing on a regular basis, so it’s nice and clean ALL for you!

We have a couch.
ZOINKS! It’s like a home away from home now, isn’t it? ‘Nuff said.

There’s usually always a friend here.
Some of us don’t have lives. Some of us do, but we choose to waste it away in the office, anyways. During the school year, you’ll probably find someone in here from 10 – 6 PM, if not later. We just love it in here so damn much; at peak hours, we can squish in a good 15 people in here … fire hazard? Maybe. Friendly times? Always. So come on by, there’s almost always someone here!

Find out information about upcoming events.
Your visit to the office doesn’t just have to be about fun – it can also be about educating yourself … on our upcoming events! After all, we’re for the members, so make sure to find out about upcoming dances, clubbing events, workshops, etc. etc. Our execs are always informed about these things … and if they’re not, feel free to kick ‘em in the shins. (I kid, I kid.)

We are oh-so-friendly.
We really are. No exec is ever afraid to say “Hi”, and we’re always there to answer questions and make you feel a part of the Family. The Office is like a black hole – a lot of people get sucked in, but it’s usually difficult for them to leave. I like to think it’s the animal magnetism, but it might just also be because everyone wants to make you feel like family.

Come by, introduce yourself, bring your friends and come hang out in SUB62! We renovated recently so come by and let the good times roll!

How to Get to The CVC Office
Hey there! So you probably wonder where on earth is the CVC Office of Awesomeness. Well it’s actually A LOT closer than you think! Our office is located downstairs of the SUB and it’s to the right side of the floor, if you are coming from the Rose Garden direction. If you are coming down from the main flight of stairs, the one where you see the sushi bar then you head towards the right side and you will see us beside the computer store!

Here are the directions: *please refer to the hand drawn map!* (coming soon)

1. Get off of the bus and head towards the Student Union Building. So you should be leaving the bus loop.

2. As you are walking away from the bus loop the REC centre should be onto the right hand side of you and the grass field should be onto your left hand side. Keep walking until you hit the entrance of the SUB
Once inside the Sub, locate the flight of stairs that goes down to the Sushi bar.
Walk down the stairs and you should see the sushi bar in front of you.

Turn your head and body and face towards the right side. You should now see the copy service centre and also the computer hardware store.

Keep walking towards the computer store and as you walk you’ll notice you will pass by a scuba room.

6. Once you hit the computer store turn right again and walk a couple steps and voila!

Please try and swing by ever so often, we’re friendly and we want to meet you members

First Year Survival Series: Sports & Recreation

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:34:43 +0000

Sports And other Active Activities to do around Campus!

DO YOU LIKE VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL, BADMINTON and other SPORTS???

The REC has a weight room called “BirdCoop” however, there is a monthly fee of $27 (thanks Richmond). BirdCoop have newer fitness machines, better looking environment, and more weights and equipment. However, if you’re not a hardcore lifting machine then you should consider not paying $27 month. One solution is using the weight room in the Aquatic Centre! First of all it’s FREE and it’s located below the UBC swimming pool. Although some of the equipment is kind of old, it gets the job done! So check it out when you have time!

The Aquatic Centre allows UBC students to swim for free! Similar to the REC drop in, check the schedule before hand to see which swimming lanes are available for you.

-Bosco Kwok

First Year Survival Series: School Life & Random Tips

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:29:28 +0000

Other Random but Helpful Advice/Tips
UBC offers lockers for you. The fee is only around $20 and you can own a complete locker for a year! A locker is a really convenient place to store your textbook, personal belongings, and other items as well! In addition, the lockers come in a pretty decent size you might even want to share with a friend! Lockers can be rented out in almost all buildings so talk to the staff in that building for more details!

Your UBC Card works all year round!!! Basically, you do not have to register in a summer course in order to gain access to the REC building during the summer!

Class Etiquette

Now let’s lay down some ground rules.

-Bosco Kwok, Eric Chan

First Year Survival Series: Busing/Transportation

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:28:58 +0000

Busing/Transportation

NOTE: Never run to the bus when it is raining, ESPECIALLY when it’s snowing/slippery. A friend of mine was trying to catch the 480 and on his way out of the REC centre he slipped and slid down the the entire flight of stairs…*cough* ok it wasn’t my friend, it was… actually me =p. It was so embarrassing because a whole bunch of people saw and my friend’s girlfriend witnessed the whole thing LOL. One for the fail blog.
Driving

Unless you got a parking pass, it’s super duper expensive to park your vehicle on campus. Parking rates are a whoppin $1.50/HALF HOUR up to a max of $12 for the day. For entry after 5:00PM, and on weekends, a flate rate of $5.00 applies.

First Year Survival Series: Naps & Sleep

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:27:35 +0000

Naps – they’re healthy, they help revitalize the mind, they’re perfect. But where to take them? Voila.

Where NOT to take taps:

• The SUB (the tables are not clean, the chairs are uncomfortable)

• On the Knoll (beware of squirrels & pigeons; they’re pesky little buggers)

• In class (REALLY bad idea)

- Kevin Ly

First Year Survival Series: Study Spaces

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:27:15 +0000

Study Spaces

If you got to get your studying done on campus here are some suggestions for places where you can do that.

Asian Library: (1871 West Mall)

Law Library (1822 East Mall)

Neville Scarfe Library (2125 Main Mall)

Koerner Library (2125 Main Mall)

Aquatic Centre (6121 University Boulevard)

- Kevin Ly

First Year Survival Series: Washroom Breaks

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:25:39 +0000

Washroom Breaks

1. Irving is a pretty new facility so the washrooms there tend to be super clean and nice. Most of my friends suggest that this is the best place to “take a crap.”

3. Aquatic centre (the viewing area). Since there are not a lot of people who do their homework there, it is relatively quiet and unoccupied.

-Bosco Kwok

First Year Survival Series: Food on Campus

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:23:08 +0000

Food (Yumm!)

Food On Campus:

Starbucks

Feeling like you need your fix of Starbucks? Get it upstairs in the SUB.

The CVC Office

We have microwave for all you members. Skip the line up at the communal microwaves in the SUB, swing by SUB62 and get your food heated up. Eat in the office, hang out and enjoy your lunch break!

Bluechip Cookies

Pearl Fever (behind the bank) – - -> they serve bubble tea and cheesecake!

Well Tea serves Asian cuisine and bubble tea!

Of course there is also the McDonalds! It’s your standard McDonalds and they are fast, friendly, and efficient. And they still have value picks.

Lunchtime Tips

Eating in lectures? Try to take it out of the packaging before it starts so you could avoid embarrassing situations! Good luck!