From EcoFashionista to .. . Bike Repair Queen?

Posted on May 24, 2013 by aziza

Last week, I wrote all about my rather abysmal relationship with DIY-ing (and how I’m determined to change that!). This week, let me take you all with me on a little trip around a few of U of T’s fantastic DIY initiatives right on campus-just in case you want to get your hands a little dirty this year .

Do you have any old clothes that you may not ever wear again, but don’t really want to give away either? Or maybe you have some lying around that you’ve been meaning to take to that second-hand shop in your neighbourhood?

Instead of throwing them out, why not turn them into something that you can use?

Feiya Wang had just this idea in mind when she founded EcoFashion earlier this year. EcoFashion’s objective is to create understanding and awareness about the importance of sustainability, and also allow students to get creative and design their own fashionable items.

Considering that we live in a society which does not place too much emphasis on re-using old materials (and seeing as how it took me awhile to give away my last batch of old clothes), Feiya’s initiative sounds great to me!

Feiya kindly answered some of my questions about EcoFashion over the phone. Among the projects EcoFashion hosted earlier this year was a ‘make your own shopping bag’ workshop using old clothes or textiles. Participants were asked to bring in their own used clothes or textiles they wanted to work with, and then designed their own handy reusable cloth bags for those trips to the grocery store.

A Lunchbag made from an old dress!

Feiya would like to host more events, including a speaker series, and more group DIY workshops. Things are just getting started, but there is much more to come! Stay tuned for more EcoFashion initiatives at U of T this coming Fall.

So we’ve got sustainable fashion resources down, but what about when we want to take our marvelous-looking selves out on the town?

Enter Bikechain, U of T’s famous DIY spot for current and future bike-lovers. Bikechain is located in the basement of Cumberland House (the building that houses the Centre for International Experience). The Shop offers bike repair workshops, bike-borrowing (You can borrow bikes for week long periods – for FREE ), and a safe space for absolute beginners (such as myself) to learn all about caring for a bike.

When I sat down with Dominic Wong, Bikechain’s Administrative Coordinator, it struck me how so many of values that underlir the bike shop are transferable to other parts of life. A key ethos of Bikechain is to provide an educational and safe space for others to engage in a process of learning by doing. Bikechain’s philosophy to let each person learn on their own time underlies the ethos of DIY initiatives in general: the process matters just as much, if not more so, than the outcome.

This process can yield a lot: new friendships, a sense of community, shared knowledge, not to mention a re-conceptualization of one’s own talents and abilities to adapt. Dominic mentioned how he sees people becoming empowered by the act of taking ownership over something that they didn’t think they could do before.

All of this through tuning up your ride or changing that flat tire!

DIY Mobile Apps and Start-ups??

And finally, one last DIY initiative that could have you shaping the future of U of T- and Beyond. Have you ever wanted to create a Mobile App, but have no clue how to begin? Look no further than U of T’s own MAD Lab, which provides services to students to assist in the creation of mobile apps.You can even develop apps that apply to your experience at U of T. Especially timely since U of T launched its own Apple and Android mobile apps just this week!

What’s more, MAD Lab is poised to open a physical lab space in Gerstein Library. The space is currently undergoing renovations. When it’s up and running, it will house technical resources, projects, workshops and early start-ups. The best part? The lab space and everything in it is open to all departments at U of T. You don’t have to be a Math or Science major at all -Humanities, this space is for you too!

Now to think of what app I could create…

-Aziza

Please note that Bikechain will be moving to the North Borden Building on June 3rd. They will be closed for the duration of the move. Volunteers are more than welcome to help with the move. Bonus: you get 40% off of your next Bikechain purchase, along with refreshments available each moving day. Check out the website for more information.

The Mighty DIY

Posted on May 15, 2013 by aziza

So I’ve never been all that handy of a person. Creative, yes, but handy? No. Case in point: I bought 5 simple wooden shelves from Ikea in January that are still merrily leaning against my bedroom wall. It’s (sigh) May.

Perhaps it was the home culture I grew up in – don’t get me wrong, my family is wonderful and have no qualms getting their hands dirty. But they work on things that need fixing or maintaining. Ask them to invent something new just for the sake of it? They would much rather “invent” another cup of chai. Extra strong, please.

Mmm Indian Chai

I was 13 when I sewed together some rather hideous scraps of corduroy together and created my very first wearable article. It was a simple corduroy purse, and I had made it from cutting up a pair of baggy, equally hideous pants that I had bought from Value Village (or, as we used to call it then, the VV Boutique).

I paraded my purse (might I add that it was this terrible brown colour) proudly to my parents and brother. Instead of the exclamations of wonder that my ear was ready to hear, I heard stifled laughter instead. My mom couldn’t stop laughing. And my brother? A lost cause. If I could see the purse now, I’m sure I would laugh too. I’m fairly certain that the stitching would be quite uneven, and the strap would be wider one side than another. Like the pants from which it came, it too would probably be, well, hideous.

The Treasures of VV Boutique

All the same, it was my creation, and I loved it for what it was. I told my mom the other day that if she had encouraged my spritely talent, I might have been a famous fashion designer by now. She dissolved into fits of laughter at the memory of the purse instead.

Is it any wonder that I can now make an amazing cup of chai?

Can't have chai without snacks

All this to say that I have chosen this summer to challenge my rather complacent attitude towards DIY projects. Carrying on with my commitment to do and not just think, I’ve decided to see what things I can create or reuse rather than buying everything new all the time.

To help myself along, I’ve been checking out resources on campus that promote DIY adventures. My findings so far: U of T has an impressive array of places to go to if you want to learn a new trade. For instance, want to learn how to repair your bike? U of T’s Bikechain is the place for you!

Stay tuned for next week’s post, as I delve into where to explore hands-on activities on campus, from cooking and gardening, to creating interactive displays and even android apps.

As for keeping my commitment, I suppose I should begin with those Ikea shelves…

-Aziza

On Zen Frogs and Creating Happiness

Posted on May 8, 2013 by aziza

It’s 10 minutes to five o’clock on a sunny, beautiful afternoon in May. Just a couple of moments ago, I was sitting in the chapel at Hart House, immersed in a mindful meditation workshop hosted by Cheryl Champagne from Health and Wellness at U of T. I feel calm, happy and, well, a bit surprised. Who knew that 20 minutes of breathing could transform me from frazzled to zen? I guess I forgot how amazing meditation really is.

In the spirit of wellness and renewal (part two!), today’s post will be all about workshops, events, and resources on campus that can help you keep positive in this journey called Life.

Dare to Self-Care?

It took me years to figure out that in order to be at my best, I had to care for myself as much as I cared for other people. So I was pretty delighted to discover that U of T’s very own Health and Wellness Centre offers a workshop called Dare to Self-Care. Hosted by Jill Cressy, the workshop explores a variety of self-care practices, including stress management strategies, mind-body techniques, and 10 keys to happier living. Jill usually asks the following questions in her session:

What do you care about?

What are your values related to health and wellness?

How can you best support Happiness in your daily life?

Try your hand at them! I sat down and attempted to, but as usual, when I try to answer questions, I come up with a bunch of them instead: What does it mean to be mindful? How can we go about creating Happiness?

My quest led me to Sutha Sathananthan, a Masters candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at U of T. Sutha took a Cognitive and Psychological Foundations of Effective Leadership class last fall, and became hooked on the concept of ‘happiness’. The outcome? Sutha founded Engineering Happiness, U of T’s first on-campus Happiness Initiative.

Sutha, founder of Engineering Happiness at U of T

“I started researching a lot about happiness, and I learned that there is a lot of negativity out there” says Sutha. According to her, people don’t start by thinking ‘well, what really makes me happy?’ Instead, they try to find ‘happiness’ when they are faced with depression, anxiety, and other mental health or emotional challenges. Engineering Happiness is all about providing the space and the tools for others to create awareness about the things that bring them balance, contentment, and joy.

Engineering Happiness draws its ethos from the field of Positive Psychology, which seeks to make normal life more fulfilling. Think fostering joy, creativity, and authentic happiness as ultimate goals.

U of T’s Health and Wellness also offers some amazing workshops that explore similar themes. In fact, there is just so much to be explored in the realm of wellness right on campus. Did you know that U of T actually has a Happiness Webinar Series? It’s true!

Not only that, the Multi-Faith Centre is currently offering a class on Mindful Meditation every Wednesday afternoon. Later this summer, you can even participate in a Happiness Challenge, brought to you by Engineering Happiness. You’ll be able to go out in the world an document whatever makes you happy using any medium, then submit your creation for a prize.

My foray into meditation, happiness and self-care kicked off Mental Health Awareness week. Did I get the answers to my questions? Nah…but I did learn a few meditation techniques, and learn a bit more about Happiness. Am I happy? Yes, I can safely say so.

Check out Jill Cressy’s Dare to Self-Care workshop on May 10 from 10-11 am at Charles St. Residence. Engineering Happiness is also hosting a free Laughter Yoga session on Wednesday, May 8th from 7-8 pm at Hart House, 2^ndfloor Debate Room.

Come out and flourish!

-Aziza

From The Think to The Do

Posted on May 1, 2013 by aziza

The first of May is here – finally! And so begins my summer. I can store my school work away and leave my books in my room, instead of letting them carve perma-holes in my backpack. It’s been a whirlwind of a year for me here at U of T – new people, new ideas, new stressors, and an interesting dynamic between sameness and constant change. At times I’ve felt like Kramer, a few (very few) times like Sheldon but mostly like Samwise – a bit of a wanderer in this strange new space called U of T. Sam always craves potatoes. I always crave tea. We are not so different!

A friend of mine recently wrote a blog about spring and renewal, which got me thinking about my own life. One of my goals for this year and beyond is to focus on Doing and Being, instead of just Thinking. Hmmm. A tricky thing for someone like me, who gets lost in thought. Correction, lost in Many Thoughts. I’m pretty sure that my mind is a leafy labyrinth filled with comfy chairs, cozy throws and west-facing sunny rooms designed for Great Thinks.

I took an Aboriginal Worldviews class with Professor Jean-Paul Restoule at OISE this semester, which was rather life-changing. It moved me from the Think to the Do. Each class began with a Smudging ceremony, which is all about using the Sage plant to cleanse a space of negative energy. I usually entered class a bit frazzled, my mind jumping between to-dos and must-haves and what-nots. And yet, by the time each of us had drawn the smoke from the Sage over our hands, hearts and faces, I always felt grounded and calm. Professor Restoule would end the ceremony by giving thanks for the grass, for the trees, for winter, for the opportunity we had to gather together again, and so on. We were all brought to the present moment. That’s a beautiful way to start, well, anything, isn’t it?

I decided to start be a bit more grateful for regular things every day. It’s a curious thing: the more I gave thanks, the more content I was with who I was and how my life was taking shape. The less I looked at how others around me were doing and the more I focused on what I could do to create change. You know that paralyzed feeling you get when you realize just how much more you need to get done? Well, those moments came fewer and further between. And, the more I did. I started taking a bit of time to draw and paint again. I started to take a few minutes to close my eyes and breathe in silence in the morning. Bit by bit, I started on a journey of renewal and change.

I have always been focused on next steps. When is the next paper due? What am I making for dinner that will last me a few days? How can I best plan my day/week/month/year? The act of writing these words makes me feel rushed. It is no secret that the life of an undergraduate or graduate student can often be stressful, scattered and difficult. So it was a beautiful gift to learn to be grateful for what just is.

Being grateful for even the smallest things (It’s sunny! I can feel my fingers! My taste buds can still taste this ghastly coffee!) helped me get through was must be the longest winter I can remember. Expressing gratitude is a form of doing. It is giving positivity back to a world which throws a lot of positivity my way too.

You have all written exams, handed in papers, and completed final labs over the last few weeks. Some of you have four months of Summer. Others of you are closing your chapter at U of T, and heading onto other wondrous things. Good Luck. Take a moment to create renewal for yourself (it feels great!).

In the spirit of Spring Cleaning, Happiness and Mental Health Awareness, check out MindFest at Hart House next Monday, May 6th. Activities include exhibit booths, an art crawl, film screenings, workshops, guest speakers (Steve Paiken!), free food, stand-up comedy, and prizes.

- Aziza

Hello! Hola! Bonjour!

Posted on April 17, 2013 by aziza

Hello! Hola! Bonjour!

Hello everyone, I am Aziza, your new Student Life Communications Intern at U of T, and I’ll be blogging here for the summer.

I know many of our readers are either undergrads or about to become undergrads, so brace yourself: I am a Graduate Student.

But wait, we are not so different!!

Don’t think of us as the Dursleys…

We get scared, uneasy about school, and hesitant about meeting others also. I was so nervous prior to starting at OISE (U of T’s Faculty of Education) because I had not been in school for – *gulp* - six years.

So, like some of you, this is my first year at U of T, and I’ve had to do a lot of investigative work to find my niche on campus as well. In between juggling mounds of paper writing, late nights and early mornings, coursework, meeting new people, and learning so many (so many!) new things, this year has been a ride.

In my previous, non-student life, I taught English in Spain for two years, learned how to Salsa dance, finally got around to cooking decent meals, and lived out my undergraduate days in Montreal.

While my studies are pretty much limited to OISE, this year has opened up my world in many different ways. I have learned that participation in class is always welcome – even if I make a mistake now and then. And that yes, I do need to eat while writing a 20-pager. And that if I want to produce my best work, well, I have to take care of me first! And finally, on the darkest of days, when I question why I am here and what all this is for, that a smile can go a long way.

I look forward to working with the Student Life Community Crew this summer, and to hearing all of your valiant voices as you conquer your visions for your future (or simply conquer you next exam) – He-Man and She-Ra style.

Best of luck to you all as you wrap up your respective school years. Check back with us, share your stories and let us keep you up-to-date as you move into summer!

Till soon,

Aziza

The Best of Life @ U of T (according to me)

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Matteo

Well I’m sad to say that this will be my last post for the Life @ U of T blog. What a crazily-awesome year it was and I honestly have no idea where the last 25 weeks went. I’ve had a blast being your Faculty of Arts & Science Student Blogger and I hope you guys got as much enjoyment in reading my posts as I had in writing them.

For my last post I want to do a “Best Of” the blog over the past year — featuring a favourite post of mine from each of our lovely bloggers. If you have never read Life @ U of T before these posts are a great way to start!

Abdullah — “oppression, equity and politics” — In this post Abdullah tackles the sensitive subject of equity — or lack thereof — that sometimes has a tendency to surface in the student sphere. While we can all be proud to claim that U of T is a highly diverse and multicultural school, we also have to be cognizant of the fact that sometimes situations of inequity arise and Abdullah does an excellent job in addressing an instance in which he experienced it firsthand.

Ishita — “The Art of Forgiving Yourself” — In this post Ishita discusses the pressures many students experience — especially in their first year — to do well at the U of T and the feelings of failure many of us inevitably face when we fall short of the goals we have established for ourselves. Ishita reminds us that mistakes and missteps will happen and that’s OK, so long as we learn from our experience and leverage it for the better.

Lesia — “Hey U of T, it’s time to get moving!” — As the Physical Activity Blogger I find all of Lesia’s posts highly important and relevant to me personally (as someone who tends to neglect the gym…and every other form of physical activity). The tendency to simply hunker down at your desk and neglect exercise, indulging in less-than-optimal eating habits as a coercive mechanism to get you through your readings or that big assignment is very strong for many of us. Lesia reminds us of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and many of her posts feature the free services and activities available to students in pursuit of it.

Lori — “Raise your hand!” — In this post Lori discusses strategies you can use to try and make yourself a bit more engaged in class discussions — in an attempt to get those ever-tricky participation marks. Her advice is highly relevant, especially for upper-year seminar courses where large chunks of your grade require you to do something many of us dread: public speaking.

Sarah — “Post-Grad Blues” — In this post Sarah does an exceptional job encapsulating how many of our fellow graduating students may be currently feeling. Come May 1, many graduating students will be — for the first time in their lives — completely without the life-structuring mechanism school provides. In addition to this, many students may also feel torn about what exactly the want to do post-undergrad, with different forces pulling them in different directions.

Shak — “TTC? Why man why????” — In this post Shak discusses (or perhaps rants would be a more optimal phrase) about the one transportation service we all love to hate: the TTC. As a commuter myself, I found Shak’s post highly relatable and funny — well worth a read for all those who have, at one point or another, felt slighted by the Toronto Transit Commission.

Vahini — “College Governance 101” — Vahini offers a great introduction to all the various student councils that govern each of U of T’s disparate colleges. In a school as large as U of T, it’s important to know what governing structures are relevant for you! This post is actually part one in a three-part series and her posts about Councils and Unions and Student Societies are worth checking out as well!

Vivian — “The Breakfast Club” — In this post Vivian discusses all the benefits of having a healthy breakfast before going about your day. As someone who tends to neglect this important meal, I found the post very insightful. We are all told how breakfast is ‘the most important meal of the day’ and Vivian demonstrates this!

Of all the posts I’ve written this year I would have to say that my post “Surviving the Winter: Tips for Commuters” is one of my favourites as commuting to school in the winter can be a tedious and downright awful experience for many of us — especially when you consider the fact that winter in Toronto last from November to April (apparently).

I hope you have all found value in reading this blog — I know I have — and if this is your first time on the site be sure to check out all the posts I mentioned above! I’d like to thank the Faculty of Arts & Science for giving me the opportunity to write for all of you as well as the Office of Student Life and the entire Student Life Community Crew for being such a wonderful and awesome group of people!

- Matteo

My words of work-out wisdom

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Lesia

Wow, I cannot believe it’s down to the final stretch – just one more week of classes left! And as my second year of university wraps up, I’ve been reflecting lately on what a truly amazing eight months it has been. I really made an effort this year to take advantage of opportunities to get active, and it has tremendously paid off. In first year, I think I used the AC once or twice. But ask me what I did this year, and I could tell you that I…

- Golfed with President David Naylor at the Varsity dome
- Learned how to fend for myself through Wendo
- Braved the SCC
- Played outdoor intramural soccer for my college team
- Biked to and around campus
- Attempted to belly dance
- Found drop-in classes that I love
- Learned the basics of tennis

Reflecting back on all this and more, I can tell you that I really have noticed a change. I’ve realized that my legs have gained more muscle and my upper body has become much stronger. I used to do almost nothing but cardio, but now that I’ve started attending drop-in classes and using weights, I’ve activated and toned new muscles all over my body. I can literally feel the difference in my strength and energy level, and it feels amazing. It’s the reason I keep on keepin’ on.

I’ve learned a lot through my experiences over the year, and there are a few things I would really like to pass on to you:

It’s not so scary doing things on your own. Don’t always wait until you have someone to go with to events and such. I’ve tried to coordinate work-outs with my friends and drag them out to events, but it often doesn’t work out with our conflicting schedules. So now I’ve learned: if I hear of an event/activity that really interests me, then I’ll go, even if it means going alone. Honestly, I would not have tried half the things I did this year if I sat around waiting for someone to accompany me every time. By putting myself out there, I met SO many cool new people.

Don’t avoid an activity just because you think you “suck” at it. No one is there to judge your skill level. And if you never practice, then it’s kinda hard to improve! So if you really want to try something new, then don’t be intimidated by lack of ability. I suck at dancing, but I went out to a dance workshop anyway and just did my best. No one laughed at me or gave me weird looks – the instructors and other dancers were happy to see I was interested and were really encouraging.

Find something you actually like doing. Exercise shouldn’t feel like this tedious chore that you dread doing every day. There are so many different ways to get active that there is no reason to force yourself to do something you hate. I personally still don’t like the fancy weight machines, so I avoid them and use free weights instead. Running is my favourite form of cardio, so I do a lot of that. The reason I exercise is to feel great after, both physically and mentally. So be creative and find activities that make you feel the same way.

It really does feel like this!

I hope that the experiences I have shared over the last eight months have helped you discover all that the St. George Campus has to offer when it comes to healthy active living. I’ve had an amazing time and have met some wonderful people. Now I’m looking forward to staying active outdoors all spring and summer!

-Lesia

Keep Calm and Carry On

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Vivian

It’s that time of the year again… the dreaded exam period!

Although final exams signal the end of the school year and the prospect of warmer days ahead, for many of us they may also signal the beginning of higher stress levels and potential anxiety.

Unfortunately, there’s no cure-all solution to stress and anxiety, or specifically, exam anxiety – I know, it’s disappointing to me too! But, there are a variety of things we can do to lower our stress levels so that we are able to cope effectively with the academic demands during this last month of school.

On campus, St. Mikes is hosting Exam Jelly@Kelly on April 4^th & 5^th and Arts & Science will be hosting Exam Jam on April 8^th at Sidney Smith to help students de-stress and refresh just before exams begin. Although these events may not miraculously make all of your stress disappear, it’s as close to a one-stop stress management shop as it’ll get. Not only will there be fun activities but there will also be an open study space, course review sessions, and FREE food (and, who doesn’t like free food when you’re on a student budget?).

Exam Jelly @ Kelly

In the name of combating exam stress and anxiety, I’ve organized a de-stressing event in my residence as well. Thanks to St. John Ambulance, I’ve been able to get therapy dogs for the event! Having experienced first-hand the calming effect of playing and interacting with a therapy dog, I can certainly understand why this trend has virtually exploded across North American universities.

Of course, a therapy dog may not be the solution to everyone’s anxiety and let’s face it not everyone has access to a therapy dog whenever they need or want it. But what’s important is that these de-stress & refresh events, regardless of the particular activities, show us the value in acknowledging our stress and then finding both healthy and effective coping strategies when attempting to deal with it.

For me, the biggest take away message from these events is this: even though we all have numerous responsibilities, our first and most important responsibility is to ourselves and own health and wellbeing. By taking care of numero uno, we will be better equipped to take care of everything else – including those pesky exams!

What do you do to de-stress & refresh during final exams? Feel free to share them in the comments section!

- Vivian

Spinning into cycle mode

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Lesia

Basically, since the first snow hit in the winter, I have been on a hiatus from biking of any sort. Actually, I pedaled for a bit on one of the stationary bikes in the upper gym at Hart House once or twice… Honestly I found it pretty boring, so I’ve been keeping myself busy with the drop-in classes and circuit training instead.

However, over the months I have heard a lot of talk about spin-classes, sometimes also referred to as cycle fit. I had never tried one of these classes before, mostly because I was already biking outside a lot while the roads were clear. Well, and also because of my bias against stationary bikes that I mentioned above. But one of the student life dons at my college is a cycle fit instructor, so I decided to hit up one of her classes in the Cycle Fit Room at Hart House a few weeks ago to see what it’s all about.

So there I was starting the class thinking it would be a breeze cuz I’ve been going to the gym all winter. Well, I can assure you that the class wasn’t easy, but it was well worth it. How it sort of works is that the instructor describes a kind of imaginary “route” that you will be biking for the session. In our case, we did some sprint intervals on “flat land” and in between those sets we climbed some “hills.” Basically, you adjust the resistance to create different conditions – so on a “hill” we’d crank up the resistance until our revolutions per minute (RPM) slowed as if we were actually going up a hill.

So with music blasting in the background, the instructor guided us on our “journey” and told us when to sprint, pedal out of the saddle, and crank up that resistance. She also motivated us the whole way through, encouraging us to push through the burn and give it our all. Motivation is such a huge factor for me – when someone’s there telling me that I’m strong, that I can push it through to the finish, I’m much more likely to keep going than not. That, as well as the variability in the routine, is what I found makes cycle fit different from just using a stationary bike on your own. It’s much more engaging than just sitting there and pedaling at the same speed and resistance for half an hour.

Although I left the class with my quads on fire, I’m glad I finally tried it out. I’m thinking that I’ll keep cycle fit in mind for next winter to help keep my legs in tip-top cycling shape. Both Hart House and the Athletic Centre offer registered classes throughout the year, so you can even pick whichever place works best for ya!

-Lesia

In the Spotlight: Leave The Pack Behind

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Vivian

This week, I had the opportunity to speak to Danielle Cadhit, 4th year Art History and International Relations student, and the Campus Program Coordinator for the UofT St. George chapter of Leave The Pack Behind (LTPB). I learned a lot of interesting information that I would like to share with you.

Source: UofT LTPB Facebook page

Vivian: What is LTPB and what type of activities do you engage in on campus?
Danielle: Leave the Pack Behind is a provincially government-sponsored peer-to-peer program that was introduced in 2000 to help provide support and education to students about tobacco. The key here is that the messaging is all positive – we aren’t an anti-smoking group; we are here to support, educate, and engage students about health. We facilitate various campaigns throughout the year which involve hosting displays, and walkabouts around campus to promote resources available to students. We use a lot of social media and social marketing in our communication campaigns that appeal to students in a fun way. LTPB is also available on several college and university campuses throughout Ontario and even has a program in Croatia.
V: Do you find that the needs of students are different from the general population?
D: This is a great question! This program was created with students in mind and that is why it is a peer-to-peer program. We are all students ourselves and enjoy engaging with other students and providing support. We meet students where they are at. As I said before, we aren’t an anti-smoking group. If students are smokers and aren’t ready to quit smoking, we support them and if they are ready to quit smoking, we support them. Our programs are designed even for those who don’t smoke; if someone is looking to help a friend or family member quit, we have a number of resources that may be helpful. I think the fact that social smoking is so prevalent in our age group and with the peer pressure involved, there are different needs for students that are specifically addressed in our campaigns throughout the year. For example, in early Fall around Frosh week we went to the clubs fair and Varsity games and even held a “Smoke Free Day” pub night to spread awareness of social smoking and how smoking can easily escalate to a daily habit due to stress and peer pressure. Some students do not identify themselves as smokers because they say they “only smoke when they drink”, but they do run the risk of escalating the habit once they start. So, we are here to educate and support those students who may be smoking as a result of the stresses of school and university life.

V: Do you have any recommendations in terms of resources, both on and off-campus, for students looking to quit/supporters of smokers trying to quit?
D: One of the best things about this program is the resources that have been made available through LTPB. First and foremost, students are able to get FREE Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) from the health clinic on campus (either the gum or patch). This is a great resource for students that are seriously looking to quit – especially since it is often very expensive. Our team is also here to give support to students who need help with quitting – we are always open to chatting and hearing your stories! We email back and forth with some students who need our support and have many different resources for those looking to quit.

V: What events/programming can we look forward to from LTPB in the future?
D: LTPB is always enhancing its programming from year to year. This year we did monthly prize draws for students who signed up with our rewards list and newsletter – for example, in September and January we did a U of T Bookstore gift card prize draw for $50. For the rest of the school year we are working on a campaign called “Stress Happens” and focusing on helping students throughout this stressful time. You’ll see us around campus with stress balls and other fun giveaways – especially at the Exam Jam and other related events in April! We have just finished one of our biggest events of the year–the annual contest called “wouldurather” where participants looking to quit can win up to $1000 as the provincial grand prize. This contest normally rolls around in January and is a really great opportunity for students to kick the habit especially around New Year’s resolution-making time. Best part is anyone can join especially since we have categories for daily smokers, social smokers, and non-smokers as well.

V: How can students get involved with LTPB if they’re interested?
D: In the next month, LTPB will be hiring part-time student staff for the upcoming 2013-14 team. We will be recruiting a Campus Program Coordinator and Communication Team members Interested students can look for a posting on the U of T career website soon, and we will also be sending out information through our Facebook page. We also hire volunteers to help out with a few events throughout the year and post those positions as needed.

Do you have any questions or concerns for LTPB? Feel free to contact the team at uoft.ltpb@gmail.com or check out the website at ltpb.org.

Source: UofT LTPB Facebook page

- Vivian

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