Canadian Studies Student Society
The only requirement to join this Society is an interest in Canada and things Canadian, and a desire to make new friends and have fun together. There is no annual membership fee. The Society does sell t-shirts with the Canadian Studies logo. The Society’s mascot is a Beaver named Chuck the Canuck. In conjunction with the Canadian Studies program, the Society publishes a biannual newsletter, which is sent to students past and present.
This year the Society will be holding several fund raisers to support a Mount community Christmas family and Society activities. These include a fall and spring “New to You” sale, 50-50 draw and a silent auction. Students will gather at Dr. Stanley’s for two “Lecture and Tea” gatherings. The gathering in November featured Nick Newberry speaking about “Nunavut: The Land and its People”. The gathering in March will feature Peggy Topping of VIA Rail, talking about “The Success of the Veterans’ and War Brides’ Trains”.
The Society undertakes a number of joint projects with the International Students including the Orientation Week Events, a Meet and Greet Reception and a Halloween Party. Many members are also part of the International Student Buddy Program.
In November students took part in mounting an Exhibition entitles “Canada Through the Eyes of a Child”, and writing cards of greeting to Canadian military personnel away from home during the holidays. Members also have a pen-pal project with young children in British Columbia, Newfoundland and South Korea.
In January members join the Alumni’s Book Club. The book for discussion this year is Emily Carr’s Klee Wyck.
Members enjoy gathering for lunches, suppers and pub chats. The Society office provides a place to work, source materials to use, and updates on Society events. One of the highlights this year is the planning and running of “Canada Theme Day Camp” at Pier 21. This usually involves 20-25 members, especially those who want to become teachers.
Every year various members are selected to attend special events including the Association For Canadian Studies Student Forum (Vancouver 2006, 2007 Quebec City); the International Students Multicultural Night Dinner; the Alumni Association’s Annual Banquet; and the fund raising Breakfast for Pier 21 (2006 Speaker: Peter MansBridge).
Political Studies Society
The Political Studies Society is a student-run organization that plans and holds
various interesting, fun and politically oriented events on and off campus. The
society starts each year in September in continues until May and it usually
meets about once a week to discuss recent events, news, and future plans the
society has in motion. The society typically sends a delegation of students to
the Canadian Political Science Students' Association annual conference each year
as well, which is one of the larger fund raising objectives it has. The society
is also a supporter of the Autism Society of Nova Scotia and attempts to donate
a moderate sum of money each year to the cause.
This year, the society's
meetings are being held every Wednesday at 4:30pm in Vinnie's Pub and Lounge on
campus in Rosaria Student Centre and we encourage any and all who would like to
attend to come. It's a chance for students from all areas, years, and programs
(members are not restricted to being in the Political Studies program) to come
and meet as friends, away from the stresses of the week. Lastly, if you are the
least bit timid in discussing politics amongst a group of peers remember this:
"It is not necessary to understand things to argue about them."-Pierre de
Beaumarchais. Those are words we live by every time we meet.
Hope to see you
there!