Honoring the Life of Wendy Babcock

By Theresa McGee

On Aug. 9, Osgoode Hall law student Wendy Babcock passed away in her student residence at York University. She was a woman who was used to being in the media spotlight: the recipient of Toronto’s inaugural Public Health Champion award had been featured in countless news articles on both local and national levels, and it is plain to see why. Her life story is nothing less than phenomenal.
Continue reading

Get Involved!

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

Who is CUPE 3903? The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3903 represents approximately 3,400 contract faculty, teaching assistants (TAs), graduate assistants (GAs), music tutors, writing instructors, and research assistants (RAs) at York University. York University depends heavily on our members to absorb the effects of increased student enrolment; and indeed we do more than half of the teaching at York. The union plays a crucial role in addressing the problems of work exploitation and job insecurity that too often plague many precarious academic workers.
Continue reading

Back-to-Work Legislation and Post-Strike: What do Students mean to York University?

By Canova Kutuk

The 2008-2009 school year is probably still engraved in the minds of many York students, faculty, and staff. For me, it was my first year at York University and until November everything seemed perfectly fine; my classes were running smoothly, my professors and TAs were awesome, and for the first two months of that academic year York University seemed to promise us first-years a smooth ride. So when a strike broke out on Nov. 6, 2008 and lasted over 11 weeks, it was a slap in the face for my apolitical and apathetic first-year self. While Orientation Week created a harmonious and peaceful campus in my mind, the strike shattered that thin structure of lies. York University is still trying to pick up those shattered pieces and reconstruct an illusion.
Continue reading

Diaries of the York International Interns

The York International Internship Program (YIIP) is an opportunity for York undergraduate and graduate students to work with an international host for three months of the year. Internship placements are arranged through a wide variety of government and non-government organizations, both in Canada and abroad. Through the program, students are offered a range of experiences from field internships, to research and/or administrative placements.

In May of this year, 52 students from York University set out on their journey to explore the four corners of the world. As part of their assignment, each student was required to write a blog to capture their most memorable moments and exalting experiences. The following are only a few of some of the most captivating expressions created by York Interns, as they find their path in the world today…

Turning Point
by Jenelle Regnier-Davies in Costa Rica

Something that touched my heart
by Theresa McGee in El Salvador

Reflections on my Internship in St. Kitts
Tiffany Boswell in St. Kitts