Student Life

Walking down the halls with me can be amusing. My hall walking conversations are punctuated, frequently, by my waving at people and saying "hey." I often get teased by my class mates that I know everyone at school; oddly, I rarely get asked why. The reason is my experience with Student Life.

Last year I volunteered as a Respect Rep, and I enjoyed it a lot. In all honesty, I started volunteering to build my resume, but I soon found many other benefits. I met people, and not just students. I met and interacted with custodial staff, faculty, and Student Life programmers, people that have always embodied the personality that we want to experience. These day to day interactions have helped me out in a lot of different ways. Sometimes when I was feeling down, I would get people coming up to me to have a conversation. These small interactions would be the points in my day that turned my outlook around. The experience volunteering was good enough that I thought it would be nice to work for the Student Life department the following year, so I applied and, thankfully, I got the job.

I started the 2012/13 school year as a Respect Leader. This has been the best job I've ever had. I get to work with a diverse group of like-minded people. It's amazing how the core ideas of respect are so cross cultural. This is a concept that people understand and appreciate. Often, I've seen amazing personal growth in people because they've understood that past behaviours were hurtful to others. There is little in life that is more satisfying than seeing someone grow as a person. That alone is why this job has been so amazing. I don't need to list all of the other ways that the job has contributed to my own personal growth, or how it has impacted how and what I want to do now and in the future. Thank you, Respect Reps and Student Life for being the difference to me.
- Jacob Tremaine
Respect Leader
Health Informatics Management Student, Year One

Hi, my name is Daniel Levine and I was a Human Book at Conestoga's Human Library on Thursday March 7th    

But more than that, I am me. I am a 22 year old male in the Pre-Service Firefighter Program. I love volunteering and giving back. I love helping others and doing what I can to make a difference. To inspire others to be the difference. And yes, I realize that I'm stealing the Respect Campaign's line, but can't that be the reason that I joined the campaign?

My book genre was Mental Health - Depression. For a good chunk of my life I let that label run me. I let it control me and tell me what to do, who to be, it even told me if I should get out of bed in the morning. And I let it. I had accepted it and was becoming "comfortable" with it because it just was a simple explanation. It was a copout. Then, through a series of events, my eyes were opened. The absolute black capsule that had consumed my life had a crack. I realized that it wasn't the answer. It wasn't the way to be. So with a push, and a ton of support, I pushed my way out. And I managed to take a real breath. I felt the air pull into my lungs, open them up to their capacity and I felt alive. Finally.
And from that day forward everything changed. I grabbed a-hold of my purpose in life, my passion, and put all of me into it. Dove into what made me happy. And what a new feeling that was. Happiness had only ever been a word, never an emotion. Now it was. And now, and everyday forward, I push myself to be better. To be the best I can be. Every mistake I make isn't a slap in the face it's a lesson for me to learn from. A way for me to get even better. And a way for those following the same path to be better than me.

Because of my past it has given me the opportunity to do events such as the Human Library. Events where I get to meet people I never would have met and hopefully make an impact on them. Help them learn something for them to walk away with so if they know someone who is suffering from depression, they know how to help. How to be there for them and be a shoulder to lean on.

The Human Library event blew me out of the water. Completely shocked me. All that happened, everyone I met, impressed me more than words can describe. The event ran 10-2 with conversations running at 15 minute intervals. Each conversation started off with the awkward "Hello" and "Hi, my name is Daniel" followed closely by a slight laugh or giggle, on both party's side. Then the awkwardness was broken as they asked their first question. I would pause, give them a smile, and start into my story. I watched their face change from one of hesitance to one of intrigue and shock. Then the next question came and then the next. The conversations erupted in emotion and honesty, with my listeners feeling the passion that I now hold for life, the confidence that I hold for my future, and the love that I have for everyone important in my life. And just as each conversation hit its peak, the timer went off and our 15 minutes was up. Oh, how I had so much more to say, and each one expressed that they had more questions, but that was our time. They needed to rotate and I needed to prepare for the next listener with that awkward "Hello" and "Hi, my name is Daniel". But that's the event, and that's part of the point. For me to talk to all those different people and hopefully make a difference.

As I said before, the Human Library blew me away. The community at Conestoga is one to be proud of. A community that was very supportive of me. A community that gives me reason to keep getting better. I challenge each of you reading this to do one last thing for me. Look in the mirror and say this to yourself, "Integrity is what you do, when no one else is looking". Take that quote and push yourself to be better than you already are. Humble another stranger for being so supportive and accepting. Because that's what happened to me. I was humbled.

Thank you Conestoga.
Thank you for Being the Difference.
Thank you for being You.

Daniel Levine
- Pre-service Firefighting Student, Year 2
- Respect Rep

Date: March 18-22, 2013
Location: Doon CampusHow well are you taking care of yourself? Are you stressed? Are you getting enough exercise? How well is your hearing? Are you feeling run-down?
Join us for Conestoga's Health & Wellness Week on March 18-22 at the Doon Campus. Hosted in partnership with the Student Life Department, get the support you need to remain healthy and to be successful in your studies.

Be sure to not miss this jam-packed week of activities! For students at the Guelph and Waterloo campuses, also check for activities happening throughout the week hosted in partnership with the Event Management program.

Activities at Doon Campus:
MONDAY: RESPECT YOURSELF DAY
10am-1pm, Student Life Centre
Join the Respect Rep Team and the Respect Campaign as we encourage you to think about how you can "Respect Yourself"!

TUESDAY: HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR
10am-1pm, Student Life Centre
Join us for great informational displays and activities from a variety of local organizations including the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo & Area (ACCKWA), Canadian Blood Services, Canadian Mental Health Association, Conestoga's Health Services, Leave the Pack Behind, Life Donation Awareness Association, One Match, and Region of Waterloo Public Health. Find out information, how to get involved, and why you should know about these organizations!

WEDNESDAY: HEALTHY EXERCISE
11am-1pm, Student Life Centre
Learn about the importance of health, fitness and exercise! Students from the Fitness and Health Promotion program will share with you the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle.

THURSDAY: TEST YOUR HEARING
10:30am-1:30pm, Room 2F20, Cowan Health Sciences Centre
Participate in free hearing screenings hosted by the Hearing Instrument Specialist program.

FRIDAY: TEDx LIVE
1pm-4pm, Student Life Centre Atrium
Watch the live streaming of TEDx Waterloo!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Ryan Connell, Student Life Programmer, rconnell@conestogac.on.ca, (519) 748-5220 ext. 2373
Janina Robinson, Student Life Programmer, jbrobinson@conestogac.on.ca, (519) 748-5220 ext. 2583

I recently went to the Human Library event at Conestoga College. For those of you who don't know what the Human Library is, it's an event held in the Conestoga College Library where students and staff can register online or in person to "borrow" and have a 15-minute conversation with a "human book." This event is about addressing and challenging the stigmas and stereotypes that face certain demographics of our society.

The Human Library made me feel both excited and angry. I was excited because it was an opportunity for me to gather knowledge and insight from people who represent demographics that interest me. However, this event was also a reminder of how many people in our society hold negative and even harmful views towards certain demographics of our society.

During the event, I was able to have a conversation with three people from very different demographics. The three demographics represented that I spoke with were a Muslim woman, a student with a learning disability and a gay male.

I've always believed that you can never truly understand the challenges someone is facing unless you've faced those challenges yourself. During my conversations, I got the same feedback from all three "human books" which is that they've all experienced negative judgements from people who don't understand or even fear their demographic.

Because of their fear and non-understanding people outside the demographics in question lash out instead of taking the time to look internally and question their fear and ignorance. The "human books" specific challenges may be different but the overall message is the same.

Hearing the stories of these human books made me angry but also made me feel a sense of pride. While I can't say I've been judged based on my religion or denied the opportunity to take my partner to my high school prom I can say I have faced the stigma around learning disabilities because I am diagnosed as having a learning disability.

I am not innocent by any means because I have my own biases and I have bullied people in the past. However, I realise I have these biases and try to not let them control my perception of others. I try to challenge my biases by gaining insight into the topic I am biased about. That's why I attend events like the Human Library.

It's through attending events like the Human Library, being an ambassador of respect at Conestoga College and living my daily life that I've learned a very important lesson and that lesson is

Our challenges, differences and perceptions make up whom we are but they are forever changing, as we grow older and meet new people.

For example, my perception of Marc Hall, the gay male "human book" was that he held resentment towards Catholics because the catholic school board where he grew up denied him the right to bring his boyfriend to prom. I was dead wrong. When I said to him that no matter which side you take in a fight like that someone's rights are going to be infringed upon he made no sarcastic remarks and instead remained quiet and let me explain my view. He even smiled and kept direct eye contact with me.

At the end of the day, we are all born with our own challenges, differences and perceptions that make up who we are as a person. It's what we choose to do with those challenges, differences and perceptions that determine whether we choose to live with the understanding that everyone is different or live to judge, fear and hurt others.

Personally, I choose to live with the understanding that everyone is different and that is something to be embraced not supressed.

United we stand, divided we fall

- Katie Chapman
Office Administration Student, Year One
Respect Rep

Conestoga is proud to host a Blood Donor Clinic on Monday March 11, 2013 in the Recreation Centre's Multipurpose Room.

Hosted in partnership with the Student Life Department and Canadian Blood Services, the clinic is taking place from 10am-3pm.

In Conestoga's six-bed blood donor clinic, a goal is set to collect 54 units of blood.

Each unit of blood donated has the potential to help three patients--with 54 units collected, Conestoga will hopefully be helping 162 patients within Waterloo Region.

Individuals are able to book an appointment to donate blood by visit www.blood.ca or by calling 1-888-2DONATE. Walk-in participants are also welcome.

in advance for a timeslot by visiting www.blood.ca or calling 1-888-2DONATE. Walk-in donors are also welcome.

EVENT CONTACT:
Ryan Connell, Student Life Programmer
respect@conestogac.on.ca | (519) 748-5220 ext. 2373

The International Women's Day Student Committee, in partnership with the Student Life Department, is hosting an event to celebrate Global Citizenship on Friday March 8th, 2013.
Come out to enjoy free pancakes provided by your CSI, hear inspiring stories from our guest speaker from MEDA (http://www.meda.org/), and engage in thoughtful activities that will inform and empower you. All members of the Conestoga community are welcomed at this event.

When people ask me where I work, I respond with "I work as a Respect Leader at Conestoga College." I'm usually greeted with a confused look and a question somewhere along the lines of "What does that mean?" or "OK, so what do you DO?"
My explanation is this; my job is not necessarily defined by what I DO but more by how I can HELP the student volunteers discover the different kinds of respect in the environments around them.
As a Respect Leader, the opportunities to learn something new every day are endless and with each encounter I find that I am challenged personally and professionally in many different and positive ways. From hosting workshops such as the GLBTQ Workshop where attendees are encouraged to challenge their assumptions and stereotypes of the Rainbow Community to facilitating meetings where we brainstorm activities for upcoming events during Respect Week, it is obvious that there is a desire among students on campus to "Be the difference".
For Respect Week, each leader is asked to organize and host an event that will reflect the values of the Respect Campaign, engage students and encourage them to connect the event with their own personal experiences.
This year I will be involved in the Clothesline Project event on Friday, March 8th during Respect Week. The Clothesline Project is a fundraising event in support of Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region (WCSWR) which is a non-profit organization that provides shelter, education and outreach for women and children experiencing abuse.
The event will focus on healthy relationships and discussion about the role that respect plays in our relationships. In exchange for a donation, students are able to decorate a t-shirt depicting what a healthy relationship looks like and completed t-shirts will be put on display in the Student Life Centre Atrium for students to see.
I invite you to visit us in the Student Life Centre Atrium to participate in our Clothesline Project event on Friday, March 8th to decorate a t-shirt, engage in discussion about respect, and maybe find out what a healthy relationship looks like to you!

- Liz Spanjer
Business Administration-Management Student, Year 2
Respect Leader
Student Life Department

My name is Kim Richer, I'm a student in the Community and Criminal Justice degree program, and I am proud to be a Respect Rep. This year, I am also participating in the Human Library event on Thursday March 7th as a "Human Book". I am choosing to be a part of the Human Library because I believe that students can learn from a fellow student about different issues. I came to college for the hands on learning. What better way to get hands on learning, then to talk to someone who has lived through different issues.

I personally live with the struggles of learning disabilities and mental health on a daily basis. I have worked extremely hard, over the years, to overcome these challenges and to deal with the stigma that comes with learning disabilities and mental health. I believe that my participation in the Human Library event might help people to understand the challenge some people go through with learning differences and how mental health overlaps with learning disabilities.

- Kim Richer
Community and Criminal Justice Student
Respect Rep

Date: March 4-8, 2013
Location: Doon Campus

Join our community and "Be the difference" for Respect Week at Conestoga College on March 4-8, 2013.

The Student Life Department's Respect Campaign will be hosting Respect Week at Doon Campus. Respect Leaders student staff work each year with more than 100 student leaders to offer a jam-packed week of Respect events!

This week features themes each day to help you consider the ways you can "Be the difference" in the Conestoga community and beyond.

Monday: The Smile Epidemic
Student Life Centre - 10am-1pm
Just a smile can have an impact! Drop by to learn about the importance of a smile, and how your positive attitude can "Be the difference"! Visit The Smile Epidemic to learn more about this great community-building initiative outside of our campus.

Tuesday: Walk A Mile Day
Student Life Centre - 10am-1pm
Your Respect Reps will be encouraging you to "put yourself in the shoes" of some of our Conestoga students from the perspective of our Respect posters! Learn more about different aspects of student demographics including students with disabilities, mature students, International students and much more.

Wednesday: The Respect Games
Student Life Centre - 10am-1pm
Time to have some fun! Join us to play some interactive Respect Games during your break. Featuring your popular TV show classics like "Jeopardy" and "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire"... but with a respect twist!

Thursday: Human Library
Library Resource Centre - 10am-2pm
The Human Library is an interactive opportunity for students to challenge assumptions and stereotypes and understand various demographics by engaging in real-time, one-on-one conversations with "Human Books". Students can sit down with individuals from varied backgrounds including an HIV-positive male, a child soldier, mature student, and more. For more information on the Human Library and to register to attend, click here.

Friday: Clothesline Project
Student Life Centre - 10am-1pm
What does a healthy relationship or friendship look like to you? In celebration of International Women's Day, join us to decorate a t-shirt recognizing the importance of respect in our friendships and personal relationships. This fundraising initiative is raising money for Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region. Following the event, the t-shirts will be hung in the Student Life Centre for the entire week.

For more information about the Respect Campaign, please visit www.conestogac.on.ca/respect .

Check out how you can "Be the difference" all week!

EVENT CONTACT:
Ryan Connell, Student Life Programmer
respect@conestogac.on.ca | (519) 748-5220 ext. 2373

March 7

Time: 10am - 2pm
Location: Doon (Kitchener) Campus, Learning Resource Centre (LRC)
Registration: Online registration

Conestoga's Respect Campaign is partnering with the Library Resource Centre (LRC) to host Conestoga's second annual Human Library event on Thursday March 7, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This interactive event gives students the opportunity to challenge assumptions and stereotypes and understand various demographics by engaging in real-time, one-on-one conversations with "Human Books."

The "Human Books" are volunteers representing specific demographics. By having the opportunity to speak about their experiences, both participants and the "Human Books" alike will be able to promote acceptance, celebrate differences and encourage understanding of people who come from varied backgrounds.

Examples of "Human Books" students may borrow include:
■Gay male Marc Hall, who made national and international news in 2002 when he took his Catholic school board to court for the chance to take his boyfriend to prom. His story resulted in a CTV Movie of the Week: "Prom Queen: The Marc Hall Story".
■A mature student who has returned to school after numerous years for a better life and new opportunities.
■An HIV-positive individual, who will discuss the challenges of dealing with societal stigmas and barriers, and overcoming difficult life circumstances to change his life around and go back to school.
■A gender variant male, who will share the experience of living a unique lifestyle and understanding the differences of gender identity.
■A recovered substance user, to learn more about the challenges involved with going into recovery and the lifelong battles to address this issue.
■Kitchener's famous drag queen and female illusionist, "Miss Drew". Learn about the lifestyle of being a drag queen and what goes into this entertaining gender transformation.

And more coming soon!

Register now to attend!

Students and employees interested in attending the event and being a "book borrower" are invited to register in advance by completing the online registration form by Friday March 1. Limited book loans will be available for those who drop by the Human Library, so registration is recommended. Challenge your assumptions! Break through your own prejudices! Participate in the Human Library.

About the Human Library

The Human Library is a global initiative founded in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is coordinated by the Human Library Organization. For more information, visit www.humanlibrary.org.

About the Respect Campaign

Conestoga's Respect Campaign is intended to reinforce the good behaviours and attitudes by encouraging courtesy, respect and civility as topics of discussion among the student body on campus. The Human Library is one event part of a comprehensive Respect Week celebration hosted by the Student Life Department. For more information about the Respect Campaign, please visit www.conestogac.on.ca/respect.

For more information, please contact:

Ryan Connell, Student Life Programmer
(519) 748-5220 ext. 2373
respect@conestogac.on.ca

Rachel Caldwell, Information Services Coordinator
(519) 748-5220 ext. 2453
rcaldwell@conestogac.on.ca