Making connections and finding new career paths

Anu Sharma is a curious mind who loves learning new hobbies and discovering new shows.

“As a kid, I would always stumble into anything and everything. I haven’t grown out of that phase yet. We are here to wander through other people’s stories, searching for our own.”

Anu’s path to a Media Arts degree at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) was influenced by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The blend of research opportunities and hands-on learning appealed to Anu, who saw this program as a way to further develop their career.

“I had just finished my trades certificate in 3D drafting when COVID hit. I found myself researching the program and saw how many fields interested me. The Media Arts program has several concentrations, and the Applied Interactive core requirements had promising electives and classes to choose from,” Anu explains.

Recently, Anu completed a successful practicum with the Chilliwack Cultural Centre, an experience that proved both challenging and rewarding.

From left to right: Theresia Pio (Festival Production Manager), Beatrice Frenette (Festival Artistic Director), and Anu Sharma (Festival Marketing Manager).

“I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to use my current skillset in a project designed for students showcasing their art. There was familiarity and hope in creating something that I would want to participate in,” Anu says. Working as part of a great team emphasized the importance of constant communication. “Planning between students was easy, but we relied a lot on different individuals and groups to make this festival work. As someone who wants to be part of successful projects, even when trying something entirely new, sticking to basics will help in the long run.”

The project presented significant challenges, especially in terms of vision and patience. Adaptability became a crucial constant, with the team weighing the pros and cons of each new campaign. Thanks to the efforts of the students, sponsors, and staff at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre, they produced a great experience for everyone involved.

“We had to craft a festival without knowing who or what was being featured. The core idea was to include all the diverse art that students have to offer. We cast a wide net out to our community and had to work fast to tie in loose ends,” Anu recalls.

Looking ahead, Anu is eager to be part of an engaging team in the arts division.

“Thankfully, I’ve gained experience in both marketing coordination and visual communication to seek out other fun opportunities. In the future, I plan on advancing my education and perhaps pursuing a master’s in my desired field. I know whichever way I turn to, I will be able to give it my all.”

Anu’s advice to future students is to embrace the connections they make while learning.

“You have the benefit of knowing your peers and instructors while you learn. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. I learned the hard way that fear can get in the way of a lot of personal growth, someone once told me to turn that fear into excitement. Your projects are a statement of how much you’ve grown. If you plan on getting into Media Arts, be open to new learning experiences and tons of new people! It is very motivating being immersed in an environment that wants you to be creative and functional career-wise.”

How can students use their voice to advocate for changes and create social impact?

Encouraging and promoting changes is an essential part of the Liberal Arts. The critical thinking that comes with the classroom, along with living experiences, can become a game-changer when advocating for changes within your community.

Today, we would like to use this blog as an open space for the Advocates for Change group. Advocates for Change is a student-led movement at UFV focused on building a community where cultural diversity and difference are not only discussed and celebrated but critically examined.

As part of this group, the Psychology student, Ella Halladin, is leading a project to vocalize changes in the Fairy Creek region in British Columbia. On this guest blog, Ella will walk us through the details about the situation in that region as well as ways you can support the cause:

“Less than 2.7% of the ancient temperate rainforest remains in British Columbia. These old-growth trees help the environment in many ways, preventing land erosion that causes landslides, preventing carbon from being released into the atmosphere, regulating water flow to prevent droughts and floods, and providing homes to millions of species both above and below ground.

These trees hold deep spiritual and emotional meaning for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, and they are being logged through unsustainable, destructive methods. This logging is being carried out on unceded Pacheedaht and Ditidaht territory, where Indigenous land defenders and non-Indigenous supporters have been peacefully protesting the logging of these old-growth trees to help save the surviving trees since August of 2020.

This Indigenous-led peaceful protest has been met with police violence. When extracting blockaders, police often target IBPOC first, resorting to excessive use of force and using aggressive tactics to remove and arrest IBPOC blockaders. Police have been seen displaying the “thin blue line” patch signifying “blue lives matter”, which has become a symbol of white supremacy. Police have been using dangerous extraction methods (heavy machinery, jackhammers, and angle grinders) often putting blockader’s personal safety at risk.

This movement aims to hold the BC government accountable for protecting the last of our ancient forests both across the Fairy Creek region and the rest of the province and to support the Pacheedaht and Ditidaht Nations in achieving sovereign control over their ancestral lands within their own traditional systems of governance. As well, this movement is not anti-logging, but aims to see the implementation of non-destructive logging practices instead of the logging of original forest or irreparable damage to forest ecosystems.

As part of the Advocates for Change group, I am working to raise awareness for the Fairy Creek Blockade. It is an anti-racism and anti-climate change issue. We will be raising support and directing those who would like to donate to fundraisers for supplies, food and legal support for the volunteers defending the old growth. I have attached those links. I appreciate your time and your support. If this is the first time you are hearing about the Fairy Creek Blockade, I encourage you to look into it.”

Click here to learn more about the Fairy Creek Blockade.

Help support this cause:

 

UFV Student Research Awards 2021 – Celebrating Arts students winners!

The 2021 Student Research Day featured 54 research projects created by 80 students from all areas of study at UFV. In addition, eight exemplary posters have been recognized with awards in honour of their scholarship. Among the awarded students, Arts students Regan Thompson (Psychology) and Michelle Grafton (Sociology) were awarded the President Award and the Dean, College of Arts Award.

Regan’s project named “Death Anxiety and Spiritually across the lifespan: Factors and relationships amidst COVID-19” was supervised by the Psychology Associate Professor Dr. Lesley Jessiman and counted 308 participants, from young adults (aged 19-40) to older adults (aged +60). It presented a new perspective about the correlations between death, anxiety, spirituality, age, depression, and loneliness.

In response to the circumstances created by COVID-19, Michelle Grafton’s project named “Enforcing the rules versus ‘doing what’s right’: lived experiences of labour and delivery nurses in the context of COVID-19” introduced a new sociological standpoint of how COVID-19 affected healthcare workers, and specifically labour and delivery nurses whose work demands an extra-level of mental, emotional, and physical support essential for the birthing process.

In the light of such brilliant projects, the College of Arts is proud to acknowledge the high quality of research work produced by Arts students and their faculty supervisors. Each research project is one step forward to making a global difference and creating new perspectives and opportunities for everyday challenges.

Click here to view Regan’s and Michelle’s full project.

February Success Stories

Seasonal Sociology announced as a 2021 PROSE Awards finalist

Social, Cultural & Media Studies (SCMS) Professor Emeritus Dr. Elizabeth Dennis recently co-authored a book chapter in Seasonal Sociology with colleague, Alison Thomas, from Douglas College. On January 21, Seasonal Sociology was announced as a 2021 PROSE Awards finalist in the Social Science Textbook category.

Read moreFebruary Success Stories

Ethics of Internships

On November 26, UFV held a panel discussion entitled Ethics of Internships. The event was hosted and organized by Dr. Cherie Enn’s (an Associate Geography Professor at UFV) and seven students from the Global Development Studies class (GDS 400). Dr. Enn and students worked hard during the fall term to organize the event and invite speakers. Funding support came from the Queen Elizabeth Scholars.

The panel included both UFV students and internship hosts, those of whom held a range of differing views when it came to the complexities of international and domestic internships.

“Presenting at the Ethics of Internships event was a great way to reflect on our experiences and roles as GDS students and interns. Discussing the opportunities and challenges surrounding internships through a parody encouraged us to critically reflect on why GDS students do internships and how to ‘practice development’ in a positive way,” said Gina Dhinsa, a Global Development Studies student at UFV.

Read moreEthics of Internships

GENERAL STUDIES MINI FAIR

Designed to address student needs within the program, this mini-fair will cover the following topics:

  • Diploma Drop-In: 2-3:30pm
  • GPA Booster Workshop: 3-3:30pm
  • So you want to be a teacher? 3:30-4:30pm
  • Degree Drop-In: 4:30-6pm

WHEN: Monday, May 14
TIME: 2-6PM
LOCATION: D217, Abbotsford Campus

OPEN TO EVERYONE! Come learn about customized learning plans, speak with an advisor, or learn how to calculate your GPA.

Click on the event link to learn more!

INTERPRET CREATIVE & PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL

Creative & Performing Arts Festival

Date: Friday, April 27
Time: 6pm – 10:30pm
Location: Evered Hall, Student Union Building

This first-time event will celebrate the arts at UFV featuring Theatre, Creative Writing and Visual Arts. The following individuals, including alumni, will showcase their diverse talents on April 27, 2018:

Margret Bollerup
Bethany Caldwell
Paige Caldwell
Sidi Chen
Julia Dovey
Emily Eggert-Botkin
Cat Friesen
Mitch Huttema
Jessica Karroll
Jesse Klassen
Luke Kokoszska
Abrianna Leaming
Wenwei Liu
Cameron McKerchar
Willow Mussell
Emilie Poirier
Deanne Ratzlaff
Deb Silver
Krystina Spracklin
Christopher Taylor

Readings and performances by UFV Creative Writing and THEA Directing 451 students. Selected artworks from the University Arts Collection will also be on display in addition to works produced by the following courses: IDS400: Decolonizing Canada’s 150th, VA 232 Sculpture & Extended Media II, VA 252 Print Media II, VA 160 Video Production I & VA 261 Video Production II.

Opening Reception: 6:00 PM @ Evered Hall, Student Union Building, 33844 King Rd Abbotsford.

The art exhibition will run until May 11, 2018.

Event locations include the S’eliyemetaxwtexw Art Gallery (B136), D and C buildings.

Catered by Restaurant 62. Live music from 9-10:30 PM! Performers include Kristin Witko, Myriad of Whispers and DJ Simon Bridgefoot.

Event is free and everyone is welcome!

Sponsored by SUS, UFV, CIVL Radio, Restaurant 62, & Ravens Brewing Company

 

Take a Course in 18 Days with UFV U-Cube!

Focus and fast track your education! During the 2018 Summer Semester, the College of Arts is offering the U-Cube program to all UFV students.

What is U-Cube? It is a Condensed University Block Experience at UFV.

This semester’s pilot program will allow students to take blocks of condensed courses in:

  • Theatre 101 (May Block: May 3-25)
  • English 108 (June Block: May 31-June 22)
  • History 102 (July Block: June 27-July 20)
  • Geography 130 (August Block: July 25-August 17)

Each course will run Monday to Friday (3 hours per day).

Space is limited, don’t miss out on this new summer opportunity! Sign-up today, visit: ufv.ca/arts/u-cube/