For Arts, a season to Declare Your Major

by Ketri Grisé.

For many Arts students, declaring a major is a rite of passage. All kinds of considerations go into choosing a subject on which to focus most of their university studies—personal interests, future career prospects, opportunities for skills development both inside and outside of the classroom, to name just a few. It's no surprise that the decision can be both exciting and confusing.

Cue the annual "Declare Your Major" Information Sessions, coordinated by the advising team in the Arts Undergraduate Office.

These information sessions, which will be taking place between February 25 and March 6, are intended to demystify the process of declaring a major for students in Honours Arts, Liberal Studies, and Arts and Business. The Arts Undergraduate Office's advisors present information and answer questions so that students know what forms to fill out, what deadlines to meet, and how to set themselves up for success as they transition into their new major.

For the first time, the team of Arts peer mentors will be joining this year's sessions to provide a student perspective on the experience of declaring a major.

Joel, a second-year peer mentor, chose to major in Social Development Studies. He thinks that, when it comes to declaring a major, it's "worthwhile to go to a credible source, like a peer mentor or the Arts Undergraduate Office, to get your facts straight and to make sure that you’re doing it right."

For him, the value of knowing how to declare a major went beyond the specific subject he chose: "I think that having my major down on paper helped me see my goal in black-and-white and know what I was really working towards. It helped to give me a sense of purpose when that midterm stress was setting in!" Plus, he says, "declaring my major made it easier for me to enroll in required courses and helped my academic advisors steer me in the right direction."

Arts students who want to declare their major should get the job done by Monday, April 14. More information, including session details, is available on the Faculty of Arts website.

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Study investigating dry eye seeks participants

by Alisa Sivak

Researchers at the Centre for Contact Lens Research (CCLR) at the School of Optometry and Vision Science are seeking participants for multiple research studies designed to learn more about dry eye.

“We’re looking for people with moderate to severe dry eye, who regularly use eye drops for relief of symptoms,” explained Dr. William Ngo, lead investigator of the study. “If your eyes frequently feel gritty, particularly when you’re reading or watching TV, if they sometimes get watery, or if you sometimes have to close your eyes for relief, you might be eligible to participate in one of our studies.”

The research team is seeking people over the age of 18 who have not worn contact lenses for the past five years, who experience moderate to severe dry eye, and who use eye drops on a regular basis.

All studies conducted at the Centre for Contact Lens Research have been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Committee.

For more information about participating in research studies, please call 519-888-4742.

In addition, the CCLR is now on Twitter!

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Feds Used Books runs Two-Day, Two-Dollar sale

by Jacqueline Martinz.

For only two dollars, you could go on fantastical adventure or learn a new skill.

Feds Used Books, which is owned and operated by the Federation of Students, is having a sale from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on February 25 and 26 in the SLC Marketplace.

Interesting novels, instructional books, and more will be available for the university community to purchase. No tax will be charged, and only cash will be accepted.

More information about Feds Used Books is available online.

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Tuesday's notes

Women’s Studies and Religious Studies are presenting Joyce Smith of the Ryerson University School of Journalism, who is presenting a talk entitled "Women on Either Side of the Microphone: How gender influences the representation of religion in the news.” The lecture takes place today at 3:30 p.m. in RCH 207.

The Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity is holding Healthy Sexuality Week from February 24 to 28. All undergraduate students are able to attend a variety of engaging events from movie nights to workshops to explore sexuality. The full schedule of events is available online.

Velocity has a number of events going on this week. Two, in fact. The first is the latest edition in the Velocity Science Talks featuring Bionym CEO Karl Martin tonight from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in PHY 235. Registrants can sign up to get in on Taco Farm for dinner. Velocity Alpha is holding a workshop called Finding Your Customers Online hosted by Henry Shi, co-founder and CTO of uMentioned, on Wednesday, February 26 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in EV3 4412. Free pizza can be secured simply by registering.

In addition, registration is open for the next series of Pitch Night Socials, which will be held on Wednesday, March 12 and Thursday, March 13.

Outgoing Vice-President, University Relations Tim Jackson's farewell party has been scheduled for Monday, March 3 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Bombshelter Pub in the Student Life Centre. Speeches will begin at 4:45 p.m. RSVP details are available online.

From our friends at Communitech comes a pair of opportunities:

"This you can solve a big data problem? We're looking for Ontario post-secondary students to come up with an innovative solution to a real world problem using data." Communitech is accepting entries for the Communitech 2014 DATA.BASE Challenge between now and Tuesday, March 4.

"Have what it takes to solve a social or environmental issue? We’re looking for Ontario social entrepreneurs and post-secondary students with an interest in social enterprises to come up with innovative business ideas with a social or environment impact!" Entries are being accepted for the ASCEnt Social Enterprise Competition, with a deadline of Tuesday, March 4.

Up for grabs in these competitions are $8,500 in prizes, plus a year of mentorship and business support. Finalists will receive an all-expense paid trip to Waterloo Region (not a huge draw for local applicants, but whatever) on March 20 and 21 to present their ideas in the competition's final round.

Tickets are still available for the International Women's Day Dinner, which will be held at the University Club on Friday, March 7 from 5:40 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The dinner is being hosted jointly by Women's Studies, the Office of the President, University Relations and the Federation of Students' Women's Centre. Ticket and registration details are available online.

Human Resources is reporting that retiree Charles Gardner died February 19. Gardner, who worked as a radar technician in the Second World War, started his career at the University in December 1958, when this institution was still known as "Waterloo College Associate Faculties." He worked as Manager in the Engineering Machine Shop until his retirement in June 1984. He is survived by his spouse, Marjorie. Gardner was 97.

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