April 18, 2023
Blog
Interested in writing for OUSA? Contact Tiffany Li Wu, our Operations & Communications Coordinator.
Introducing Femi Abiola, Research Intern
Hi! My name is Femi Abiola, and I am excited to introduce myself as the 2023 Summer Research Intern at OUSA.
Introducing Charlie Martin, Advocacy and Communications Intern Summer 2023
Hey there!
My name is Charlie Martin, and I am OUSA's 2023 Summer Advocacy and Communications Intern.
Presidential Update April 2023
Hi friends, I hope exam season is treating you well! I can’t believe it’s already April and we’re at the end of the academic term.
Introducing Tiffany Li Wu, Operations & Communication Coordinator
Hello OUSA!
I am Tiffany, joining OUSA as your new Operations and Communications Coordinator.
Does Political Science Belong in STEM?
The other day, someone asked me “Are you in Political Science?” I answered this interaction by laughing. Me? A Biotechnology student being mistaken for a Political Science student? Should I feel complimented or insulted?
I’ve always been the person that agrees with the statement I hate politics or had a prejudice that science is more impactful than the arts. My mind has completely changed this year from being the Commissioner of External Affairs at the AMS and a Steering Committee member at OUSA, as it exposed me to the importance of Political Science in the STEM field, and how change is driven through politics.
OUSA's 2023 Teaching Excellence Award Recipients
The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance Teaching Excellence Awards recognize educators who excel at unlocking the potential of Ontario’s young people. Successfully engaging individuals in the learning experience depends on an instructor's ability to spark students' curiosity and desire to learn, and this has never been more true than what we have witnessed over the past couple of years. It is our pleasure to give these remarkable professionals the recognition they deserve.
Supporting Former Youth in Care as They Pursue Post-Secondary Education
While having a post-secondary school degree is not the sole indicator of future employment, it continues to be one of the most important factors that employers look for when young people enter the workforce. In fact, the 2021-22 Ontario University Graduate Survey indicates that 54% of graduates required an undergraduate degree to work the job they were currently employed in.[1]
From Winter Blues to Spring News: OUSA’s 57th GA Recap!
Spring is in the air - the birds are chirping, the flowers are pushing through the frozen grounds, and kinder temperatures are on their way! With that, OUSA, too, gave an early welcome to spring and held its 57th General Assembly (GA) on the beautiful campus of Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. GA, which is a weekend-long policy formulation conference (or a policy party, haha!), brought together delegates from OUSA’s eight member schools to discuss and approve student-written policy papers. We were also thrilled to have observer delegates from the Ontario Tech Student Union physically join us (as opposed to seeing their lovely faces on a screen throughout the weekend). This time around, all delegations joined in-person for the first time since October, and yes, we celebrated this with warm hugs, loads of laughter, and immaculate vibes.
The Importance of “Giving a $@!#”: An Opinion Piece
As the end of the 2022-23 academic year looms over the heads of post-secondary students, undergraduate student leaders across Ontario ramp up for a new term. For most Ontario university undergraduate student associations, the end of elections means the ushering in of the new executive team.
As such, my term as Vice President, University Affairs (VPUA) for the Brock University Students' Union ends on April 30th. As the end of these terribly-wonderful chapters approaches, I have become reminiscent of my time as an undergraduate student and my involvement in student government.
In the wake of the recent elections, I asked myself why do students often not engage in student government, and why did I?
The Hunt for Affordable Housing (Habitats 2022)
Finding affordable housing has long been an issue for students across OUSA’s member institutions. We have long advocated for supports to help students renter and young graduates enter the housing market. While the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated students’ struggles with finding quality housing, the issue has persisted for much longer. Rent prices have gone up significantly over the past four years, with the quality of housing decreasing simultaneously. A report conducted by a rental housing website found London, Hamilton, and Toronto to have experienced significant annual increases in average rent, increasing by 18.3%, 15.9%, and 14.3%, respectively.(1) How has the province of Ontario allowed the housing crisis to get so bad? More importantly, how can both the provincial and federal governments support municipalities in getting the housing market back on track?