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News

Stop Anti-Asian Hate: An Interview with Mona Wang

Numerous protests were organized across Canada protesting a rise in anti-Asian hate, to learn more about these protests and how we can show our support, the Phoenix had the opportunity to interview Mona Wang.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Opinions

Virtual Burnout: You Are Not Alone

The Phoenix reached out to students to find out how they feel at the end of this difficult semester. Not surprisingly, the virtual burnout felt by students is real and tangible even though online courses feel the exact opposite. Although students are far apart right now, it is comforting to know we are all struggling through the end of the online term together. Author: Rachel Macarie

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

Lifestyle

Do You Really Need These “Amazon Must-Haves” from TikTok?

A recent phenomenon that has been sweeping the pandemic's favourite social media platform, TikTok, is a series of videos about must-have products from Amazon. As someone who is not a fan of buying unnecessary things, or of Amazon as a company itself, I would like to go through the first 5 TikToks that showed up when I searched for "Amazon Must Haves" on the app, and review whether the product is a beneficial one.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Arts

Oscars Death Race 2021: Best Actor in a Leading Role

Follow along with the “Phoenix Choice” series as Phoenix Alumnus Jeff Bulmer details this year’s Oscar nominations. Sound of Metal stars Riz Ahmed as Ruben Stone, a recovering addict and heavy metal drummer who abruptly loses his hearing. For a man whose post-addiction life revolves around music, Stone is understandably devastated when he can no longer hear.

Jeff Bulmer - Phoenix Alumnus

News

UBC Committee's Annual Progress Reports

While many topics were discussed during the committee meetings, two notable topics were the annual progress reports about the UBC Okanagan Declaration of Truth & Reconciliation Commitments and the Equity & Inclusion Office.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Arts

Why You Should Share Your Art

As I placed my photo book atop Rose Valley, I realized it was no longer my photo book. It now belongs to everyone that interacts with it. That gave me a feeling of accomplishment that I’ve never felt before.

Sam Grinnell - Photo Editor

Arts

untitled, for now.

Train Ticket Bookmarks is a publishing platform with a team of UBCO graduates whose mission is to make it easier to access poetry, stories, and academic works. “untitled, for now.” is written by the founder of Train Ticket Bookmarks, Dana Murphy.

Dana Murphy

Features

What is Nursing School Like During a Pandemic?

A look into how COVID-19 has changed UBC Okanagan’s Nursing program: “No loitering, no study groups just lab and leave.” Mid-March 2020, everything around us came to an abrupt halt. Post-secondary institutions adjusted as well as they could to allow students to continue learning online.

Nicole Kennedy - Features Editor

Features

Professor Profile: Dr. Jodey Castricano and Critical Animal Studies

"The point of being a critical animal studies scholar, to my mind, is that there is no separation between living what I’m teaching and teaching what I’m living. This is a pedagogical model based on accountability, critical thinking, obligation and compassion. I truly believe, like Socrates, that the unexamined life is not worth living” -Dr. Jodey Castricano

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

Arts

Oscars Death Race 2021: Best Supporting Actor

Follow along with the “Phoenix Choice” series as Phoenix Alumnus Jeff Bulmer details this year’s Oscar nominations. Hampton is a larger-than-life figure, introduced with a rousing, provocative speech that immediately shows his magnetic personality and willingness to speak his mind. Hampton is dedicated to the cause of revolution, and liberation of the proletariat, evoking Malcolm X, Che Guevara, and Chairman Mao in his orations.

Jeff Bulmer - Phoenix Alumnus

Arts

Oscars Death Race 2021: Best Actress in a Leading Role

Follow along with the “Phoenix Choice” series as Phoenix Alumnus Jeff Bulmer details this year’s Oscar nominations. In Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Viola Davis plays the titular “Mother of the Blues”, Ma Rainey. Though she barely even appears until a third of the way through the movie, Ma is a force of nature.

Jeff Bulmer - Phoenix Alumnus

News

UBCO Student Charged in Serial Voyeur Case

A recent update in the serial voyeur case reveals that a UBCO student is being criminally charged with voyeurism. A new article published by CBC provides updates about a serial voyeur on the UBCO campus. As of early March, a major update has been made: the voyeur, a UBCO student by the name of Sari Siyam, is now being criminally charged in court.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Lifestyle

Train Ticket Bookmarks: The Pandemic-Produced Publishing Platform from UBCO

The Phoenix talked to Dana Murphy, founder and creator of this independent publishing platform and writing collective about its birth, getting rid of content gatekeeping, and how the project continues to grow. Train Ticket Bookmarks is also accepting contributions.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Arts

Oscars Death Race 2021: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Follow along with the “Phoenix Choice” series as Phoenix Alumnus Jeff Bulmer details this year’s Oscar nominations. Minari follows a Korean American family that moves from California to Arkansas so that patriarch Jacob (Steven Yeun) can realize his dream of becoming a successful farmer.

Jeff Bulmer - Phoenix Alumnus

Lifestyle

Growing Up: Renting in Kelowna

As students return to Kelowna for limited in-person classes at UBCO this fall, let me guide you through looking for a place to live in this massive, vibrant city. Every 4 months, cities with universities, like Kelowna, press the reset button and students all over start trying to look for a new place to live. If you are lucky, this only happens every 8 months or so.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Opinions

How Do UBCO Students Feel About Returning to Campus This Fall?

UBC has publicly shared statements of a foreseeable return to campus and increased on-campus activities, including on-campus instruction, in the 2021/22 Winter Session. In light of this hopeful news that was sent to students through UBC Broadcast, The Phoenix wanted to highlight how UBCO students feel about this likely return to campus and ask if students are feeling apprehensive or excited.

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

News

2021/22 Tuition Consultation Proposes Another Tuition Increase

The 2021/22 tuition consultation attempts to justify UBC’s decision to propose yet another increase in tuition, an annual tradition at this point. Tuition continues to be a huge concern among students. UBC’s annual tuition increase in particular is the cause of much frustration.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Features

Does UBCO Have a Culture of Sexual Assault and Harassment? Part 1.

“UBC doesn't have control over what happens, culturally speaking, in the rest of society but they do have control over what kind of culture they foster on their own campus.”

Nicole Kennedy - Features Editor

Arts

UBCO’s Creative Writing Portfolio, Paper Shell Anthology, Launches this Friday via Zoom!

The launch of the Paper Shell Anthology has been a mainstay in UBCO’s cultural calendar for 16 years, and this year will be no exception. The only difference, of course, being its online format. On the bright side, holding the launch over Zoom will increase its accessibility by inviting an increasingly widespread audience to join in on the literary evening.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Lifestyle

Growing Up: Figure Out How To Do Your Taxes!

The impending doom of having to file taxes hangs over all of us around this time of year, but the process can actually be quite simple once you learn how to make it easier for yourself!

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

News

Graduate students at UBCO are advocating for fair funding.

"Financial barriers should never stop someone from pursuing an education at any level. Especially when graduate students contribute to our academic institution’s reputation in so many ways.”

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Arts

Oscars Deathrace 2021: The 93rd Academy Awards Nominations

With theatres closed throughout the world, and studios like Disney, Universal, and Warner Brothers postponing nearly all releases, one would think that 2020 was not a big year for movies. Quite to the contrary, the global pandemic brought streaming services even more into the spotlight and gave independent movies that might otherwise have floundered a fighting chance. Against all odds, the 2021 Oscars nominations are the most exciting in years.

Jeff Bulmer - Phoenix Alumnus

News

2021 Student Senate and Board of Governor Elections

The 2021 Student Senate and Board of Governor Elections are fast approaching and to gain a better understanding of these governing bodies, the Phoenix reached out to Jassim Naqvi, a Student Governor and UBC Senator.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Lifestyle

This is "Travelling" in 2021

As we hit the one year mark of all non-essential travel being restricted, gone are the days of travelling just for the sake of walking the streets of a strange city and immersing yourself in the culture. The internet, however, reminds us that there is always a way to fulfil that yearning for travel when we feel cooped up with cabin fever using virtual travel platforms such as Geoguessr, WindowSwap, and Drive & Listen.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Opinions

Resist The Structures of Standardized Testing by Resting

Deconstructing the pervasive structures of standardized testing would radicalize both the educational system and my life. Yet I can only eagerly imagine the freedom felt in no longer considering my time as currency or pleasurable moments as “‘small thefts’ of capital.”

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

Arts

Inspired Word Café; The Collective Fostering Community in the Okanagan through the Power of Words

Inspired Word Café (IWC) has played an essential role in fostering the writing community throughout the Okanagan for nearly 12 years. Seemingly against all odds, the tight-knit team at IWC, led by Erin Scott and Cole Mash, have managed to expand their reach and offerings over the past year with a poignant documentary, a new website, a podcast, and a dedicated focus on one of IWC’s key tenets: accessibility for all.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Lifestyle

Highlighting the Muslim Student Association

Student associations play a very important role on the UBCO campus, this article seeks to highlight one of these associations: the Muslim Student Association. In an interview with the MSA, this association highlighted their goals, events, and how they create a safe, inclusive, and intellectual community experience for both, Muslim and non-Muslim students.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

News

A serial voyeur at UBCO, and the RCMP’s display of unprofessionalism.

A recent article written by CBC details the lack of support a woman has received from the RCMP in the case of a serial voyeur. A student, known in the article by the alias Taylor, discusses an occurrence that dates back to March 10, 2020 during the pre-pandemic university days. She was in a co-ed stall in the Commons Building when she noticed an iPhone camera peering up at her from under the next stall.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Opinions

When Will The SUO Address the Systemic Neglect of Indigenous Students?

“When it comes to supporting Indigenous students, and Indigenous-focused events on campus, the SUO has continued to throw money rather than true value and support of the work being done. The SUO promotes surface-level anti-racism without deep personal reflection on their contributions to ongoing colonial oppression.”

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Features

SUO Candidates in the Hot Seat: President

Elections for the 2021/2022 SUO members take place from March 1-3! We put the candidates in the hot-seat in order to get to know them a bit better and to help students make an informed choice.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Features

SUO Candidates in the Hot Seat: VP External

Elections for the 2021/2022 SUO members take place from March 1-3! We put the candidates in the hot seat in order to get to know them a bit better and to help students make an informed choice.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Features

SUO Candidates in the Hot Seat: VP Internal

Elections for the 2021/2022 SUO members take place from March 1-3! We put the candidates in the hot seat in order to get to know them a bit better and to help students make an informed choice.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Features

SUO Candidates in the Hot-seat: VP Finance and Administration

Elections for the 2021/2022 SUO members take place from March 1-3! We put the candidates in the hot-seat in order to get to know them a bit better and to help students make an informed choice.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Features

SUO Candidates in the Hot Seat: Director At Large

Elections for the 2021/2022 SUO members take place from March 1-3, 2021! We put the candidates in the hot seat in order to get to know them a bit better and to help students make an informed choice.

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

Features

SUO Candidates in the Hot-seat: VP Campus Life

Elections for the 2021/2022 SUO members take place from March 1-3! We put the candidates in the hot-seat in order to get to know them a bit better and to help students make an informed choice.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Opinions

Honouring Black History as an Ally

“One of the most important things to realize about extending Black History Month through the rest of the year is that there's no time limit to supporting the Black community (or any other marginalized group, for that matter)” -Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

Lifestyle

The MCU’s Journey to Better Representation in the Age of Streaming

Phase 4 of Marvel’s projects began with the release of WandaVision this year, and a promise of better representation, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused a restructuring in these plans that has made most of these promises come to fruition on smaller screens. Does representation still have a fair chance without the trademark blockbuster rollout that fans have come to expect from the MCU?

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Lifestyle

7 Works By Black Canadian Authors You Should Read This Month

With the past few months being such a tumultuous time for race relations in North America, this Black History Month feels different. It feels like people have been reminded, once again, as Doctor Nadia Brown, professor from Purdue University, says, that “there is an unequal world [where] people of African descent have different lived experiences, different relationships, particularly with police and policing.”

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

News

Coming Soon: UBCO’s Innovation Precinct

Coming soon to UBCO is the Innovation Precinct, a space that will encourage clean and sustainable research initiatives and provide unique opportunities within the Okanagan.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Arts

Professor Profile: UBCO’s Tania Willard and BUSH Gallery, A Land-Based Gallery Grounded in Indigenous Knowledges.

With the hope of getting to know our professors more intimately and to learn what they do outside of grading and teaching, The Phoenix started a Professor Profile series where we interview UBCO professors from different disciplines regarding their research and interests. In continuation of the series, diverging from English to Visual Arts, The Phoenix reached out to UBCO Professor Tania Willard to learn more about her art, work, and practices.

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

Arts

Writer’s Corner, Volume IV

In the fourth volume of Writer’s Corner, we present three poems by Garvin LeBlanc. Garvin is a third year Bachelor of Fine Arts student majoring in Visual Arts. Born in The Commonwealth of Dominica, Garvin’s work offers an inherently unique perspective to UBC’s Okanagan campus

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Arts

The Year’s Biggest Artistic Event; Last Chance to Buy Tickets for Art on the Line!

Longing for the days of yore when social and cultural soirées occupied your Saturday evenings? This year’s Art on the Line exhibition and fundraising gala aims to fill that increasing void with its latest rendition of the wildly popular event.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Lifestyle

Spotlight on UBCO’s New Self-Care Club: The Grow n Glow Club

The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped the transformation of new clubs at UBC Okanagan. In fact, in the case of The Grow n Glow Club, the pandemic has inspired its formation. The Grow n Glow club encourages students to take a break from their busy schedules and indulge in self-care activities.

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

Lifestyle

A Student’s Introduction To Professional Dress

Professional dress is a crucial part of finding a job out of college. This guide will walk you through the most common professional dress codes. You might be brand-new to job hunting, or maybe you’ve been on more interviews than you can count. Whatever your situation, everyone needs to learn how to properly prepare for an interview to give themselves the best chance of success.

The Phoenix Team

Lifestyle

Cheap Ways To Be More Green

Do your part in bettering the planet without breaking your bank account. Here are three easy and cheap ways to go green and make an impact. There’s no reason to spend a large amount of money on going green when you can start making an impact on the environment in low-cost ways. For the inside scoop on the different cheap ways to be more green, keep reading.

The Phoenix Team

Opinions

The Goal of Technological Efficiency and Why We’re Missing the Point

Technology makes our lives more efficient, which gives us more leisure time. So why do we feel like we have less? As the pandemic coolly lingers on, many new thoughts have been inching towards the forefront of my mind. But lately, one thing, in particular, has occupied many of my wandering thoughts.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

News

UBCO’s Downtown Kelowna Project

At a recent committee meeting, members met to discuss updates on the UBC Downtown Kelowna Project - a project promising more space and greater community engagement for students.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Lifestyle

You Should Have An Anti-Valentine's Day Movie Marathon This Weekend

Valentine’s Day is around the corner, but you do not need me to remind you of that. I am sure you have seen the pinks and reds all over stores with the hearts and the chocolate boxes. On its own, Valentine’s Day is a beautiful celebration of love and everything wonderful. However, one feels almost forced to participate when stifled by the over commercialisation of what is supposed to be an optional celebration.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Lifestyle

A Guide To the Perfect Tea Temperature

Whether you want a bold yerba maté or a sweet rooibos, this guide will help you learn the perfect water temperature for steeping loose-leaf teas. One of the best drinks for getting through late-night study sessions or decompressing after a long day of classes is loose-leaf tea. Although this tea requires special care when brewing, that extra effort will deliver a rewarding experience.

The Phoenix Team

Lifestyle

How To Ease Your Gift-Giving Anxiety

When it comes to loved ones, securing the ideal gift isn’t always easy. With these tips, you can ease your gift-giving anxiety come any holiday. Whether you’ve known someone for ten years or two months, finding the perfect gift for them can be a challenge. For some individuals, securing the right present for their loved ones can be a source of anxiety

The Phoenix Team

Arts

Quarantining with Kanopy, Volume 3.

Hiroshima Mon Amour has been lauded by many as “one of the most influential films of all time,” which makes the fact that it was originally intended as a documentary all the more intriguing. For the third volume of Quarantining with Kanopy, our Arts Editor tells us why it is a must-see film.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Opinions

Why do Students Procrastinate?

Are you an avid procrastinator? If so, it is important to recognize what is at the crux of procrastination and how to effectively combat against procrastination and reduce stress.

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

Lifestyle

UBCO’s Smart Meals Initiative Partners Once More With The Vegetarian Butcher

After a very successful Christmas dinner campaign with plant-based grocer, The Vegetarian Butcher, Enactus UBCO’s Smart Meals initiative is back with a new collaboration meant to raise money for the Central Okanagan Food Bank. Back in December, the vegan and vegetarian grocer sold 115 Christmas dinners, which contributed a total of $230.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Opinions

How GameStop Became the Hottest Stock on the Market

GameStop has changed the stock-trading game. And that does not sit well with Wall Street. Unless you have been living under a rock, you will have heard that there are big things happening with a company called GameStop and Wall Street. However, what exactly is happening might be a little unclear.

Maria Lammerding - Features Editor

Features

Want To Be a Part of the SUO? Nominations Are Now Open.

With the SUO elections fast approaching in March, the Student Union is looking for interested UBCO students to sit on the Board of Directors for the upcoming term from May 1st 2021 to April 30th 2022. Nominations are now being accepted for students interested in sitting on the SUO Board of Directors for the upcoming term.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Lifestyle

Home is in the hills

Every so often, I have a love affair with nature. I bring my heavy camera bag into the hills and take portraits of mountains. I setup my tripod and attempt to turn a tall hunk of earth into something beautiful. The world should meet mountains when they look their best. Photographing the outdoors is about portrayal.

Sam Grinnell - Photo Editor

Lifestyle

Quick Meals From and For Self-Isolation

Something millions of people around the globe have had to consider in the past year is how the logistics of self-isolating within their homes would work if they get infected. This is also a question my three roommates and I had to consider two weeks ago when some of us had possibly been exposed to COVID-19, making it necessary for us to divide up our living spaces.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Arts

Calling UBCO Writers - Paid Artist Residency Opportunity in Kelowna

For many writers, isolation is an essential part of their practice. While there’s no doubt that these days many of us are experiencing more isolation than is to be desired, UBCO’s Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies is offering writer’s the chance to experience the fruits of seclusion through its paid artist residency program in a true haven, aptly named the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre, in the Mission area of Kelowna.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Opinions

Professor Profile: Dr. Jennifer Gustar and Women Writing Resistance: History's F(r)ictions

With the hope of getting to know our professors more intimately, and to learn what they do outside of grading and teaching, The Phoenix has started a Professor Profile series where we interview UBCO professors about their interests. Dr. Jennifer Gustar has kindly accepted to spearhead the series by discussing her recent important work in a virtual interview.

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

Arts

Fashion and the Importance of Process: A Conversation with BFA Undergrad AJ Salter

AJ’s recent work is an intriguing investigation into contemporary fashion and its history. In a recent project, as well as in the upcoming final degree show, she explores topics including consumerism, mass-production, sustainable fashion, and historical hand-production methods.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Lifestyle

Taking Mental Health Matters Into Your Own Hands

Accessing professional help for mental health tends to be a complicated process for most, and this can be due to a multitude of factors, including social stigma, whether you have health insurance that covers mental health services, and even how open you are to accepting help. All the steps that come before finding someone to talk to makes it quite difficult to even begin looking for help.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Opinions

Take ‘Rate My Prof’ With a Grain of Salt

The website RateMyProfessors.com allows students to provide customer feedback in an academic context where the reviews can range from glowing to scathing and short-sighted. The Phoenix asked Associate Professor of English and Cultural Studies, Dr. George Grinnell, what he makes of the website.

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

News

Assistant Professor at UBCO, Katrina Plamondon, advocates for fair vaccine distribution

Assistant professor at UBCO, Katrina Plamondon, advocates for more equity-centered policies in vaccine distribution both locally and globally. As plans for distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations are beginning to be put into action, Katrina Plamondon, a researcher at UBCO, encourages the government to consider more equity-centered policies both locally and globally.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Lifestyle

Learn About the Bangladeshi Engineers and Computer Science Professionals in BC Association

The Director of Public Relations at BECBC wrote into The Phoenix to share the engineering group’s work in 2020, including professional development workshops and community service initiatives, and shared how to get involved with the group in 2021.

Shamsul Hoque - Volunteer Writer

Lifestyle

The 3rd Annual Life Raft Debate

This year, it’s set in space with an asteroid on a collision course with Earth, and the disciplines competing for their seat on the last shuttle to a settlement on Mars. The debate has seen many forms in the past--including the zombie apocalypse edition of 2020--and the unique opportunity to discuss the significance of an academic discipline in a non-academic setting has drawn hundreds of participants to this event.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Opinions

Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Students

Think back to the last time you compared yourself to another student. How did you feel after the interaction? Does ruminating on the lives of others in contradistinction to your own life improve your mood? Be honest—does the act of comparison ever leave you unaffected, or, does it, more likely, leave you feeling miserable?

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

News

UBCO is offering a salaried apprenticeship for soon-to-be Arts graduates.

For the first time this year, UBCO is offering soon-to-be Arts graduates an opportunity to participate in a salaried apprenticeship program that promises one-year employment. To further elaborate on UBCO ACAP, Dr. Ananya Mukherjee-Reed, Provost and Vice-Principal Academic at UBC Okanagan, kindly responded to The Phoenix’s questions.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Arts

Lockdown-Friendly Entertainment; Annual Living Things Festival Returns to Kelowna

In its essence, the Living Things Festival is a small but extraordinary lineup of art, performances, and experiences that inspire, entertain and provoke thought and conversation. This year’s edition, The Collective Body, is an audio and video project that captures a moment in history while virtually bringing together artists, musicians, and dancers from across North America.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Opinions

2021 Won’t Be Drastically Different to 2020—But The Semester Might Be

The start of a new year does not mean that the pandemic has stopped or that suddenly, everything will be better—not even with the new vaccine on the horizon. However, as students, we can hold on to the hope that this new semester will be more seamless since both professors and students alike have survived an entire semester of online learning during a pandemic.

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

News

COVID-19 Simulation Guide ensures valuable support for health care workers

The COVID-19 Simulation Guide, based at UBCO, is integral in providing support, accessibility, and safety to healthcare workers. With the current pandemic creating particular hardships in the healthcare system, physicians and healthcare professionals in British Columbia have worked with a sense of urgency to deliver increased training in COVID-19 patient simulation.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Lifestyle

Modifying Your New Year’s Resolutions for 2021

Given the events of 2020, this may not be the year for grand resolutions that you hope will dramatically change your life, but it is possible to set realistic goals that will help you in the short-term

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Arts

UBCO Lecturer Takes Part in Artist Residency in the Snowy Woods of Quebec

While the word “isolation” has taken on a strong, and notably negative, connotation this year as a result of the pandemic, one UBCO lecturer is enthusiastically undergoing isolation throughout the final month of 2020 in the snowy woods of Quebec.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Opinions

Proctorio Polices Students

UBCO Students concur that online invigilated exams administered with Proctorio are invasive and detrimental to the student exam experience. Proctorio adds unnecessary pressure and stress to students during online University due to how “Proctorio automatically analyzes and captures images of test-takers and their IDs, then displays both in the Proctorio Gradebook and flags any anomalies for review."

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

Opinions

Trading in the Hustle for Happiness During a Pandemic

Courtney Kneale, a first-year Bachelor of Arts student at UBCO, opens up about the way COVID-19 has changed her perspective on the workplace hustle and how it has forced businesses to change how they accommodate their workers.

Courtney Kneale - Volunteer Writer

Opinions

Spotify Wrapped, We’re Here for Yours.

Amongst the plethora of lists that emerge at the close of each passing year, summarizing our favourite Netflix shows (remember Tiger King?), our top Google searches (Coronavirus, no doubt), or, maybe this year, the best pandemic memes, Spotify Wrapped has to be my favourite. This year, however, it has come to my attention that this is a rather unpopular opinion.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor & Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Features

Protests Erupt Worldwide in Solidarity with Farmers in India

Millions of farmers in India stand their ground by peacefully protesting against three bills that threaten their livelihood. As tensions rise in India due to three new farming bills, farmers continue to stand their ground by peacefully protesting. They were joined alongside thousands of people around the world, making this one of the biggest protests in history; rallies in support of farmers were even held in Kelowna throughout December.

Amber Purewal - News Editor, Punjabi Student Association, Puneet Kaur Aulakh

Lifestyle

A Different Kind Of Holiday Season

As we near the end of 2020, it is time to create new holiday traditions in order to keep the people we love safe. December is always a month of celebration - finals are done, Christmas is coming, and the snow is usually still fresh on the ground. However, with the way things have been going this year, we may have to rethink our ideas of what a celebration constitutes, and how different it may have to look.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Opinions

Let’s Change The Way We Perceive Failing

We need to change the way we perceive failing in our university culture. While failing does cultivate resilience, students have not failed, nor are they failures, if they are behind in a class, struggling in a class, or if they receive a lower grade than they wanted. Let’s stop throwing the word ‘failure’ around in contexts where it does not actually apply.

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

News

UBCO Extends Winter Break

In an effort to alleviate some pressure on faculty and students, UBC decides to extend winter break. UBCO has decided to extend winter break by a week to allow students and faculty to better prepare for the upcoming term. This means that classes will now begin on January 11, 2021, with certain exceptions depending on the program.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

News

UBCO revamps its BA Degree in Response to a Rapidly Changing World

Amidst a year that has already been full of change, UBCO recently announced a complete restructuring of their Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Students beginning their studies in 2021 under either the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies or the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences will be following a significantly transformed set of requirements in order to obtain their degree.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

News

Kelowna Anti-Mask Protests are Getting Out of Hand

On November 21, Global News reported an anti-mask protest consisting of around 30 people inside the Orchard Park Mall. These protesters paraded around the mall, without masks on, singing O Canada to make a “statement”. On the following day, according to Castanet, around 100 people gathered in Penticton to demonstrate against mask and social distancing guidelines despite public gatherings being prohibited under new health orders.

Emmah Barber - Coordinating Editor

Lifestyle

Top 5 Exam Prep Tips from Online Learning Coaches

The Student Learning Hub at UBC Okanagan has transformed completely to move its physical space, which officially opened in 2019, to the virtual space, to help students with the same issues that we had in person. Learning mentors from the Student Learning Hub give us their best learning and self care advice as we get closer to finals.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Arts

Writer’s Corner, Volume III.

Writer’s Corner is a series showcasing creative writing from UBCO students and alumni. This week we showcase first-year Creative Writing major Jérémi Doucet.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Opinions

What is Academic Misconduct in an Online Classroom?

Nearly 100 students were caught cheating on their midterm. Should these students be held accountable?

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Features

Are UBCO Clubs Surviving or Thriving During COVID-19?

How are UBCO clubs, such as the Ice Cream Club, operating during these strange times?

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor, Amber Purewal - News Editor, Emmah Barber - Coordinating Editor

Arts

Undergrad Spotlight: Arianne Tubman

Arianne Tubman is a fourth-year Bachelor of Fine Arts student at UBCO. With graduation just around the corner, she is currently working on her final body of work for the year-end degree show. Over a Zoom call, she reflected on the current semester and told us about her ongoing film photography project where she explores gun ownership in the Okanagan.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Opinions

Spotlight on Intersectionality: That’s What [We] Said

That's What [We] Said is a student-led academic journal supported by UBCO’s Gender and Women’s Studies Program. As a collective, they seek to publish accessible creative and/or critical content pertaining to intersectional feminist issues. They are dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices and curating content that resonates with many, and they encourage submissions from all disciplines and backgrounds.

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor, Stephanie Awotwi-Pratt & Claire Feasby - TWWS Journal Writers and Editors

News

SUO’s Annual General Meeting

The SUO General Meeting is an opportunity for students to hear about the SUO’s yearly operations and what they are doing to better students’ lives.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Lifestyle

This Black Friday, Try These Alternatives to Amazon

As tempting as it is to use Amazon for the fast deliveries on Prime and the expert customer service that they pride themselves on, there are alternatives that are kinder to the planet and to the people who create the products you love.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

Opinions

Virtual Diorama

Shreya Vatsa is a first-year International student at UBCO, and she is pursuing her studies remotely from India. She wanted to engage with a public audience and reflect upon how technology is shaping the lives of GenZ and students like herself who wouldn't be able to pursue remote learning amidst this pandemic if it weren't for technological achievements and advancements.

Shreya Vatsa (Volunteer Contributor)

Features

The Student Experience of Online Learning: A Response and Call to Action

As an amplifier of student voices, The Phoenix team has gathered and presented student feedback regarding their experiences of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Opinions

Take Advantage of UBCO’s Free Mental Health Services

It can be overwhelming, as a student, to prioritize mental health on top of a busy semester and heavy course load. However, I encourage students to make use of the services UBCO offers. It is unexpectedly easy to navigate the mental health resources; it just takes a bit of time.

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

Lifestyle

UBCO’s 2020 Valedictorian Barb Dawson

“I want people to know that I carried my dream of obtaining my degree for many years and I never gave up on myself. I was my own best friend and my own worst enemy, but through everything that I had experienced, I never gave up on myself. I knew what I wanted to do, and I did it.”

Carolina Leyton and Madhumita Prasad

News

UBCO’s Faculty Town Hall: Hearing (and Discussing) Student Experiences

On November 12, UBCO hosted a faculty town hall to discuss student experiences with online learning. This event, which was open to all faculty, looked at survey results involving over 600 students’ feedback, in order to shed light on how to improve the online classroom experience.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Lifestyle

What Can We Learn From The Class of 2024?

As we near the end of the semester, the new class of first years tells us about what their social life at university has been like in the virtual world.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor

News

Kelowna City Hall Vandalised with Anti-Lockdown Messages

Following the COVID-19 hoax messages at City Hall, UBCO students and city official Tom Wilson share their thoughts on the matter.

Amber Purewal - News Editor

Arts

LGBTQ+ Authors and Artists: A Call For Submissions

Meg Miskiman, third-year Creative Writing Major, is curating a poetry chapbook written by LGBTQ+ writers, including artwork by LGBTQ+ artists, as a way to bring voice and visibility to LGBTQ+ creatives, and she needs more LGBTQ+ contributors.

Rachel Macarie - Opinions Editor

Arts

Spotlight on the Visual Arts Course Union

The pandemic may have changed the way that UBCO’s fine arts students are able to make work, but the Visual Arts Course Union is determined to find innovative ways to facilitate students’ creativity and, most notably, to stage their annual fundraising gala Art on the Line.

Jayme Miller - Arts Editor

Opinions

Voter Suppression in the 2020 American Election

A UBCO international student Casey Stein from Texas dealt with multiple hurdles in an attempt to have his mail-in vote counted for the November 3 election in the United States.

Maria Lammerding - Features Editor

Features

Casey Stein is “Cautiously Optimistic” About The SUO’s Future

After a Facebook post from 2019 about UBCO’s by-elections resurfaced, the former Director at Large talks to us about voter apathy, reform after corruption in the SUO, and his confidence in the current administration.

Madhumita Prasad - Life Editor