Category: Community

She is on her way to becoming a diplomat,” says Frederick Francis. “Right now she is in Moscow, as the deputy first secretary. She wants to come back and do a Master’s in international affairs at either John Hopkin’s University or at Princeton.”

She was a commerce student who went to Gothenburg, Sweden in 1991-1992 on a student exchange, to experience a new culture and learn a new language. After returning from Sweden, Mary Coulter worked at Revenue Canada and later joined the Canadian Foreign Service in 1995. By 1996 Coulter was in Hong Kong working as the deputy program manager of immigration and was eventually sent to Russia in 1999.

“I have no doubt that the exchange helped her on her way to where she is now,” says Francis, who is the deputy director of the Centre for International Academic Co-operation (CIAC) at Concordia University. “Going on an exchange shows employers that you are adaptable and are able to work in various environments,” says Francis.

Exchange students benefit from having that kind of competitive edge and from getting a different perspective on another culture and learning a new language, says Francis.

Concordia has 28,000 undergraduate students and in the 2001-2002 academic year 84 students went on exchanges, whereas Concordia received 382 exchange students, from all over the world. This is an improvement over 2000-2001, when only 46 Concordia students went on an exchange. The benefits are obvious, so why are Concordia students not taking advantage of an opportunity?

Going on an exchange is not easy. Students need months of preparation and they need to do most of the leg-work themselves.

Mitra Thompson, a third-year journalism student at Concordia, says it took her about two-and-half-months to prepare for her one-year stay at City University in London, this year. “I had to make numerous phone calls to get course equivalences because the course descriptions on the web site were five years old,” she says.

Thompson sent numerous e-mails to officials at City and the replies were either not helpful or had conflicting responses. “I had to get on the phone and call City,” she says. “There was no sense of continuity and some people did not have the information that I needed. I was lucky I reached the right person at City University for the course descriptions.”

Geraldine Ford, program assistant counsellor at the CIAC, says that in order to take courses at other universities, students need to find classes that are similar in scope to those offered at Concordia and a faculty advisor must approve these course selections. Course equivalences are part of the application.

“Most students, when they arrive at their destinations, must register on the spot,” says Ford. “Sometimes the course the student was planning on taking is full and they have to scramble to find another course.” Even if students need to find another course, a faculty advisor must approve it in order for the student to get credit for that course.

Francis says one of the obstacles to going on an exchange is the lack of flexibility for course equivalences. “In Europe they are much more flexible and it makes it easier for students wanting to come to Concordia.”

Finding equivalent courses was not the only obstacle facing Thompson. “I had to get a lot of financial information,” she says.

Finances play a crucial role in studying abroad, says Francis. “It’s very expensive to go on exchanges.” Students must pay for everything, including airfare, housing, food and books, as well as, their tuition to Concordia while at the host university.

Ford says the minimum average a student needs to study abroad is about $1,500 a month, but some destinations exceed that.

In addition to the standard requirements of marks and letters of recommendation, an affidavit of finances is required.

Thompson’s budget for her eight to nine month stay in London is $29,000 and this includes housing, food, books, spending money and her tuition at Concordia. “I had to get my parents to get letters from their employers saying what their salaries were and then I had my dad’s bank write a letter saying he was a client in good standing.”

In the fall of 2000, Quebec’s Ministry of Education eager to promote student mobility, set aside $30 million in bursaries or $10 million a year for three years. Concordia has received $1.2 million for the first year. This bursary is the only one of its kind in North America.

The program gives students, who are Quebec residents, $750 to $1,000 a month while on the exchange, but the amount depends on where the student is studying. It is more expensive for those studying in Western Europe and the U.S., than in Eastern Europe, South America and Asia.

“That was a God-send,” says Francis. “It does not seem a whole lot, but every little bit helps. More students have been applying with the student mobility bursary, but we still receive more students by about four to one.”

Luckily for Thompson, she will be getting $1,000 per month for her stay in London.

Others have not had such an easy time.

Joanna Potapowicz, a fourth-year finance student who wants to do a minor in international business, faced many challenges before being able to go on her exchange.

Potapowicz, originally from Poland, decided to go on an exchange to her native country for one semester. She will be going to Poland’s top school, Warsaw’s School of Economics (SGH). Before Potapowicz initiated an exchange with the business school there was no exchange agreement between Concordia and the school. She went to Poland to visit the school and the agreement between the school and Concordia’s CIAC was signed, but it was not recognized by the John Molson school of business (JMSB) at Concordia.

“I think the JMSB got upset that I did not go to them first to ask about the agreement,” says Potapowicz. “Right now the JMSB is trying to distance themselves from Concordia and they are in the process of restructuring the exchange program. That is why they did not want to sign the agreement. Now they are trying to cut schools on the exchange program.”

Potapowicz is unfazed by this obstacle, but she will not go as an exchange student. She will be a visiting student, which means she must take care of her own arrangements and must pay her fees to the host university or school. As a visiting student, she will get credit for studying in Poland, but if she runs into problems while on her exchange she is on her own. Even though Potapowicz is a visiting student she is still eligible to apply for Quebec’s bursary.

In terms of financing Potapowicz is still uncertain how much money she will need for her stay. She is waiting for an answer from the Polish Embassy. Having a dual citizenship gives her access to the Polish education system, but also as a Canadian she is uncertain whether she will have to pay international fees.

International fees at SGH are $4,000 U. S. per semester, not including food, books or housing. “If I have to pay the international fees then I will not go to study at SGH,” says Potapowicz. If I only have to pay for the examination fees, which are $150 U. S. per course, then I will go to the school.”

It is all about the number of students.

A third reason, according to Francis, why students find it difficult to study abroad is the fact that most programs at Concordia last three years, whereas in Europe many programs are four years long, giving students more time to prepare for an exchange. Also, Europeans promote continent wide exchanges by funding their students.

“Many European schools make exchanges mandatory and out of their 3,000 students, 2,500 will go on an exchange,” says Francis.

The CIAC organized a fair in order to recruit more students for exchanges this semester. It attracted 1,000 students says Francis.

“More and more deans of faculties such as the JMSB and the arts and science faculty are promoting internationalization of their programs and students,” says Ford.

In the end it is all about the students themselves and what they want to accomplish.

Potapowicz wants to eventually work in Europe. “I don’t want to only work in Canada,” says Potapowicz. “The main reason I am going on an exchange to Poland is so that I can work there after I finish my semester. Also, I want to work in Germany and France.”

Her dream is to become an international business consultant and to be able to work in various countries. Potapowicz speaks English, French, Polish and German and she thinks that after her exchange she will be ready for the “increasingly international world.”

Students have many different choices facing them as they begin their journey into a higher education. These include what to study, where to live and how to pay for it all. Some students choose residence living, with an all-inclusive price tag, while others choose to live on their own and take their chances on the extra expenses that go along with it. Either way, life for students is expensive.

Take for instance, life outside of residence. 23-year-old Jill Carter, a third-year French translation student, lives in a three-bedroom apartment and has two roommates. She says that although it can be difficult getting used to having roommates, having others around is a great way to help with expenses, chores and loneliness. Also, due to her part-time job, she finds it difficult to juggle study time, work time and social time.

Sticking to a budget is not easy, and she finds it difficult because there are many things that she has to cut out of her life. All extras, outings, clothing and even some groceries are not possible on her budget.

Originally from Nova Scotia, Carter came to Montreal to study at Concordia. While she tried living in residence, she found it was not to her liking.

“I wouldn’t go back to residence. I hated it!” she says. “People were there to party and always borrowed my stuff without returning it. [Also], it’s more expensive.”

Last year, she lived on the South Shore, where there was more of a neighbourhood feeling, but also more travel expenses. However, since she now lives in Verdun, she acknowledges that it is definitely an advantage despite the high rent.

“I’m more motivated to go to class,” she says. “There’s more freedom. There’s no curfew. I can do what I want. There [are] no rules. I’m responsible for my own actions.”
Carter hopes to graduate with a degree in translations and feels that her sacrifices will be worth it in the end.

Another student who chose non-residence life is Jennifer Dedomenico. Since she was a full-time student and had to work part-time, she admits to having had difficulty juggling a schedule and going without a lot of extras.

“It was rough finding enough time for everything,” she says.
Dedomenico, however, had less difficulty making ends meet.
“Although, it was difficult at the time, it was well worth the sacrifices I made,” she says.
She describes her time living near Loyola campus on Patricia Avenue in N.D.G. very quiet and found to be very beautiful and the apartment rates to be reasonable.

“It was peaceful,” she says. “I had no interruptions from other students and that’s what I wanted most: not to be disturbed in the day or night when I was in my cozy home. When exam time came around or I had to write a paper, I didn’t have to go to the library to find peace. I didn’t have to worry about where and how to store food. I didn’t have to worry about if the showers were clean or anyone walking in I had total privacy, and it was great!”

Fortunately, life is very different for her today, and she graduated several years ago with a sociology degree. Dedomenico currently works as a development officer for the Youth Achievement Awards for the Welsh Association of Youth Clubs in Great Britain.

Then there is residence life. Marie (who did want not her last name published) is a 27-year-old Vancouver-native in her first year of Ztudes fran_aises. She came to Concordia to learn French in Montreal. In her opinion, residence living is lacking.

“There are many nights that people are talking in the hallways, even after 11 p.m.,” she says. “It is often difficult to get to sleep.”

Although the budget is not a problem for her, rest and quiet study time can be hard to come by at times.
“11 p.m. to 8 a.m. is supposed to be quiet time, but very few people respect that,” says Marie.

Marie says there are many morning classes that are difficult to get up for as a result. Working one day a week, as well as loans and bursaries, seems to meet her financial needs, but privacy can be a problem. The bathrooms are shared and often not too clean, she explains. Marie feels that the food could be healthier, but all in all, she believes it is a good experience for her.

Life in residence being a good experience is a sentiment that 19-year-old Eliane Caltin also echoes.
“I enjoy living in residence,” says the first-year music student from Matan.
One reason Caltin enjoys life in rez is because she finds it very convenient to be so close to school, library and all the services offered by Concordia.

“It’s like having an office in my room!” she adds.
With loans and bursaries, and parents to help out, Caltin doesn’t have a problem with keeping a budget. She also has a boyfriend to help keep her free time busy and loves living on campus.

Without a doubt, there are many different decisions and survival choices to make by every student whether or not he or she is living in rez. One must simply make the best of what he or she has. For some students though, going without certain things is not a choice but simply the way things are. They have to go without simple pleasures and some necessities in order to meet their budget needs. There are, however, many places to go for help.

The Multi Faith Chaplaincy offers emergency food vouchers to needy students, as well as offering other helpful services that are worth looking into. One of these services includes Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard that offers vegetarian suppers for students and their families each Thursday night at 2090 Mackay from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The suggested donation is $1. You can reach them at 848-3590 and visit Annex Z in rooms 102-106 at 2090 Mackay or 848-3588 and Annex WF in room 101. The People’s Potato offers excellent vegetarian food free of charge. Donations are accepted as well.

For clothing needs, there are many second-hand stores in and around the city, such as Dixieme Fois located at 1946 St. Catherine Street and Jardin de Vetement at 6592 Somerled in N.D.G. The anti-poverty group located at 2121 Oxford in N.D.G. can also be of some help. There is also always Sun Youth and the Sally Ann.

It is a nightmare that many have: being called upon to present a speech. The speech is unprepared, meaning no cue cards, Power Point or overheads. You stand in front of 20 other people, who will be judging you on your performance. You have no time to prepare, let alone think. You have two minutes to give the speech without making mistakes.

For some people, this situation is inconceivable, but others can’t wait to jump up and show the room what they’ve got. You think to yourself, I want that sort of confidence. Then one day, you’re walking through the hallway of the Hall Building when you see a poster: JOIN THE TOASTMASTERS CLUB AND IMPROVE YOUR SPEECH PERFORMANCE. You say, ‘Why not?’ and decide to attend the next meeting.

“Toastmasters is a public speaking workshop club,” says Lucy Wong, the former president of the Toastmasters club at Concordia, a chapter of the International Toastmasters Club that was started in 1999. “Members prepare speeches according to a standardized manual and present them to the other members. It helps people learn how to write proper speeches and how to present them in a way that they are at ease. It allows people to get more comfortable at giving speeches.” She says there is no pressure on people to speak at their first meeting. People decide to speak when they feel they are ready.

Wong says there are several stages in the Toastmasters Club before one can achieve a certain certificate or status. The first status you can achieve is the Competent Toastmaster (CTM). In order to achieve this status, a member must complete 10 speeches, starting with the “Ice Breaker” which is your first speech. In this speech, you speak candidly for two minutes describing yourself to the audience. The speeches get harder as you go along and involve such skills as speaking with sincerity and coming up with topics that will engage the audience. Other skills include writing speeches that can last up to 10 minutes long and having to deal with talking about subjects as inane as the colour red.

However, Wong says that being able to speak properly helps people along with their careers and their confidence. Having the audience evaluate a speaker after he or she has presented his or her speech allows the speaker to know what he or she must improve on. This allows people to learn how to accept criticism and learn to give an objective evaluation of someone.

After someone has received his or her Competent Toastmasters, he or she is able to go onto more levels of difficulty, such as the Advanced Toastmasters (ATM), but Wong says that most members work towards getting just their Competent Toastmasters.

“For every ten speeches that you present, you get recognized. But those ten speeches do take a lot of time and preparation. Most students do not have a lot of time to prepare serious, well-written speeches on top of all their other school work,” says Wong, a graduate student.

It is for this reason that only about ten per cent of the 26 members in the Toastmasters Club at Concordia are undergraduate students. Wong says with their hectic schedule, many students do not have the time to dedicate to joining and participating in the Toastmasters Club. The majority of the members at Concordia are members of the Alumni, staff and administration. She says that it helps staff because they are better able to perform their job and they are able to centre their speeches around their area of expertise.

“The skills that you acquire are good for anyone in any job. You learn voice control, the power of words, gestures and learn to talk with different tones. The main key at each meeting is the encouragement for the people presenting their speeches,” says Alain Daigneault, who has been a member of the Concordia Toastmaster Club for two years.
Each meeting at Concordia has a specific structure and mandate that must be followed.

According to Wong and Daigneault, there are three parts to each meeting. The first is the Business section, this is where every member that has a role (i.e. secretary, president, etc.) conducts his or her duties, such as approval of the minutes, opening remarks by the president, etc. There is also the Joke of the Meeting, where one member is chosen to prepare
and present a joke, as well as, the Toast of the evening given by a member who is selected as Toastmaster and the Thought of the Day given by another member.

Wong explains that Toastmasters wants everyone to feel welcome, so they rotate some of the roles.
The next section is the Education section. The master of ceremony stands up and calls on people to give their speeches.
There are two types of speeches that can be given: the first is the two-minute improvisational speech where anyone from the audience, including guests, can be called on to give a speech.
This gives people the opportunity to work on thinking quickly and being able to speak properly under pressure. The second type of speech that can be given is the prepared speech. Everyone is able to choose a date well ahead of time and is able to prepare their speech and have notes in front of them. These prepared speeches are the ones that count towards your CTM or your ATM. The topics can be chosen from the manual, from the Toastmasters magazine, or can be in a particular field of interest.

Then the last part is the evaluation. There is one designated evaluator who gives out the evaluation of each speech presenter, while members of the audience are also allowed to offer their advice.

“The meetings at Concordia are not too formal, they are all nice people and all the members work hard at making you feel welcome and comfortable,” says Daigneault, a former graphic design student from Dawson College.

He insists that people cannot look at this club as a band-aid. Going to a meeting once will not make you a better presenter since becoming a good speechwriter and presenter takes a more lot of practice and work.

“The main thing is to be as active a member as possible and not to worry. When you come to your first meeting, you are given your manual and your start-up kit and you are also assigned to a mentor, so you are not alone in the dark when you start off. The only way to see how we truly work is to come and check us out for yourselves. Sometimes we have snacks and drinks, [and] we try to make it as fun as possible,” says Wong.

To become a member of the Toastmasters Club costs students and faculty alike $225 a year. This includes the cost of your start-up kit and any food costs, or trips to other Toastmaster clubs in Montreal during the year. Wong says that students from Concordia and McGill attend each other’s meetings to see how each works and to interact with other members.

Toastmasters meetings are held every Monday during the year except on holidays in H-760 at 5:30 p.m. More information on the Concordia Toastmasters Club and the International Toastmasters Club is available at their website: www.angel-fire.com/co/TOASTM/ or by phone: (514) 848-4952.

Laughter and chatter uniting strangers. Couples dancing side by side. This semester if you are interested in trying something new and exciting and want to meet new people, the Concordia Swing Society (CSS) has the solution. Why don’t you swing by the Mezzanine in the Hall Building on Mondays from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for free swing dance lessons? Whether you are a beginner or a pro, the CSS wants to enable all levels of swing dancers to enjoy themselves.

Begun in 1999, the CSS was the brainchild of Belinda Roth whose love for swing dancing led to the formation of the club. Getting her husband Ryan involved, Roth was able to bring the beauty of the dance to her fellow Concordia students.

Ian Bartczak, a music student, is the head teacher and the current acting president of the CSS. Last year, he says about 30 people would show up for the CSS’s free swing dance lessons in the Hall Building. This year he hopes to see a bigger number.
Having taught swing for four years, he encourages interested people to give swing dancing a try.

“It’s dynamic [and] social,” he says. “Everyone smiles. A lot of people [are in it] for exercise, for friends.”

There are many types of swing, explains Bartczak. The lindy hop, the east coast swing, the west coast swing, the jive and the Charleston are the most popular types in Montreal. While his specialty is the east coast swing, he teaches the lindy hop. The original swing dance is the lindy hop, known as the jitterbug and swing as a type of dance can be traced all the way back to the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in 1926. It is a fun dance that not only ensures a good work out, but also a good time as well.

“I find swing is expressive,” he says. “I teach the swing that’s more fast. You can put tons of energy in it [and] be more laid back.”

When it comes to his own reasons for dancing, however, Bartczak has quite a few.
“I like to dance. I like to see people dance. I feel good when people are getting [the hang of] it.”

This past summer, Bartczak hosted “Swing Dance in the Park,” a free swing dance session held each Sunday on the gazebo of Mount Royal, which was quite successful.

Caia Miller is one of the people who came by “Swing Dance in the Park” and enjoyed herself. The french studies student at UniversitŽ de MontrŽal has been taking swing dance lessons at a swing club called Cat’s Corner since last November. Not only does she enjoy swing dancing but she also finds the people to be extremely friendly.

“It’s a lot of fun. [It] sounds lame, but it’s true,” she says. “When you first start, it’s easy to pick up. Basic swing is easy to learn.”

Her male counterpart Jacques Le Normand agrees. The 19-year-old computer science student at Concordia has been swing dancing for about two years and got introduced to the dance when he was bored one day and his friend suggested going to a swing club. After his sister expressed her desire to take swing lessons, he agreed to go with her, and his swing dance experience grew from there.

“What’s fun about swing is not the dancing but the socializing,” says Le Normand. “I spend more than three-fourths of my time talking on the dance floor. You meet interesting people.”

Having attended some of the CSS swing dance lessons during his first year at Concordia, he decided to come out to the “Swing Dance in the Park” sessions. In his opinion, swing dancing is more social than other dances such as salsa.

Ultimately, Le Normand recommends that people give swing dancing a try. “It’s a great way to let loose,” he says. “[If] you’re in one of those moods to go out, but you don’t want to go to a bar or club and you want to talk, you go to a swing place.”

If you are interested in taking advantage of the free swing dance lessons offered by the Concordia Swing Society and have a question, you can e-mail Ian Bartczak at ianbartczak@yahoo.ca

Do you wash your hands more than 30 times a day because of an intense fear of germs? Do obsessive thoughts such as causing tragedy, images of violence or inappropriate sexual thoughts constantly run through your head? What about perpetual doubts such as whether or not the front door is locked or if you turned off the stove? If so, you could be part of the two to three per cent of North Americans who suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

OCD is an anxiety disorder that leaves sufferers constantly troubled by persistent thoughts, images or impulses also called obsessions and/or compulsions. This forces them to perform repetitive actions or rituals that relieve discomfort or anxiety. Obsessions include aggressive, sexually repugnant or blasphemous impulses, thoughts and images. Compulsions are anxiety-reducing behaviour in the short-term and are unwanted, repetitive, distressing and difficult to overcome. They include repeated hand washing, checking, counting and/or hoarding behaviour.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health in the United States, OCD is more common than panic and bipolar disorders and schizophrenia, yet it is still commonly overlooked.

When asked about the probable causes of OCD, Sarah Brown Tesolin, the senior research assistant at the Fear and Anxiety Disorders Laboratory at Concordia, says there is a cognitive-behavioural perspective.

“It is believed that symptoms of OCD are a product of someone’s experiences and interpretations. We think of OCD as a set of learned behaviour.”
As an example, she uses someone who washes excessively.

“That person may have learned that by washing themselves they could reduce the amount of anxiety they are experiencing at the time. This reduction of anxiety is pleasant and may reinforce the person to attempt the same behaviour on another occasion. The anxiety, however, is only temporarily reduced. With time, this cycle of anxiety followed by temporary relief through specific type of behaviour becomes a vicious circle, and the behaviour itself becomes excessive and problematic.”

Begun in August 2001 by Adam Radomsky, Ph.D, the Fear and Anxiety Disorders Laboratory is a research unit within the psychology department that conducts research on the development and application of cognitive-behavioural models to anxiety disorders and related problems. Currently, it is involved in researching information processing related to various emotional states in OCD.

“Obsessions and compulsions cause marked distress. The compulsions or obsessions are incongruent with what the person would desire and they often desire change,” says Brown Tesolin.

“High states of anxiety and fear as well as depression are often commonly associated with OCD. Although, these states do fluctuate depending on the degree of stress the individual may be experiencing at a particular period in time.”
Rachel Hoffman, the founder and president of the Quebec Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Foundation Inc. (QOCDF) adds a few more probable causes of OCD.

“In the genes, there [can be] a predisposition, and also a chemical imbalance where serotonin reuptake inhibitors are not functioning well. It is ‘the disease of doubt.’ Also some of it is brought on by socialization,” she says. “A mother can have three kids: one kid will follow in her footsteps and the other two kids are not affected.”

Speaking of children, OCD can start as early as preschool age and can go right up to adulthood usually by age 40. While one third to one half of OCD-affected adults report that the disorder started during adulthood, OCD often goes unrecognized.

Due to the fact that more attention is not being devoted to OCD, Hoffman does her part by holding support groups including a Concordia-based one. Starting on Oct. 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., these meetings will take place the first Thursday of every month in the basement of 2090 Mackay.

She strongly advocates attendance for students diagnosed with the disorder or who live with or know someone who has it.

“[In] a comfortable atmosphere, they can discuss their hopes and fears in safety and without shame. Also, they can get first-hand information and support. Each one feels they’re alone, but they’re not.”

She goes further by making a terrifying point. “Think of 25,000 students at Concordia and three per cent have OCD, which means 750 students.”
Besides founding the QOCDF in 1999, Hoffman was the community representative on the Research Ethics Committee for the Douglas Hospital for five years and has been a volunteer at AMI-Quebec since 1991 and was on the board for nine years.

AMI-Quebec is another organization concerned with mental illnesses. It is a non-profit organization celebrating 25 years of helping families cope with the effects of mental illness, through information, education, support and advocacy. Through raising public awareness, it wants to help dispel the shame and stigma often surrounding mental illness. Like the QOCDF, it also provides free support groups.

Ayala Conway, the administrative assistant at AMI, says people seek help for many reasons.

“Shame, feeling personal weakness if they can’t conquer it themselves,” she says. “Some don’t know that there are many others in the same situation. They don’t know where to go for help and don’t know their illness has a name.”

What is important to remember is that pharmacotherapy (medications) and cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) are currently the two effective treatments for OCD. Medications that are often prescribed are several of the tricyclic antidepressants such as Anafranil, Prozac and Luvox.

“CBT involves searching for evidence that supports alternate ways of thinking and using this evidence to help clients to engage in new behaviour. One main CBT technique called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) involves placing the client in a real-life anxiety-provoking situation and then preventing the client from carrying out his/her compulsive behaviour,” says Brown Tesolin.

“Several treatment studies have shown that ERP is quite successful at reducing the frequency, intensity and duration of compulsive activity.”
When all is said and done, one must remember that support and treatment is available.

“In our support groups, we’ve had wonderful success stories and have licked this monster,” says Hoffman. “[OCD] needs a proactive attitude and along with medication and/or therapy, you can lead a very productive life.”

If you are interested in the support groups offered by the Quebec Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Foundation Inc., the first meeting is on Oct. 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the basement of 2090 Mackay. For further information, you can call Rachel Hoffman at 624-4036. If you are interested in the support groups offered by AMI-Quebec, call 486-1448. Lastly, if you find yourself troubled by obsessions and/or compulsions and are interested in helping out with research, you can call the Fear and Anxiety Disorders Laboratory at 848-2199 or visit them in PY-051.

The commemoration of the tragic events of Sept. 11 is to happen today in not only the areas targeted by terrorist attacks, but all across the nation and its neighbouring countries. The United States of America will honour the lives lost, the brave efforts of those on ground zero and the families affected. Concordia University students will also collectively remember 9/11 as the blow that hit so close to home.

This day at 10:30 a.m. last year, 1.2 million tons of debris covered New York City. Thousands of lives were lost when two major commercial airlines carriers hit both World Trade Center twin towers, the Pentagon and a field 80 miles outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania because of failure in reaching its final destination. Twenty-five Canadians died out of the 4,000 victims on the flights and in the buildings. Many firefighters and rescue workers perished in their efforts to save any survivors.

Three hundred and sixty-five days later, American media remains critically focused on the efforts of President George Bush who relentlessly seeks justice for the innocent who have lost their lives and for the American people still standing and existing in fear.

His war against terrorism, in retaliation to al-Qaeda suicide bombers and anthrax scares, began with the search for Osama Bin Laden and more recently, as the coalition against terrorism moved overseas, the U.S. is leading air strikes against targets in Afghanistan involving the New Precision Bomb which is guided by satellites.

In the wake of this disaster, North Americans are dealing with the changes and long-term effects wrought by the Sept. 11 attacks. Concordia students recognize that solidarity has no boundaries and that freedom cannot have any restrictions.

“If someone gets into an accident and is left with a great big visible scar, they might want to have it removed to continue existing as before. Similarly, I believe that the towers should be rebuilt while still keeping the memorial site so as to nonetheless have a reminder of that tragic day. This is the best way to bounce back and show those jealous terrorists what we North Americans are made of because learning from the past does not mean forfeiting. Make them out of titanium and taller!” says student Sonny Santangelo in regards to what should be done about the area where the World Trade Center once stood.

Still, there are many others who feel so overwhelmed by the focus the media has placed on the tragedy that they are either tired of hearing about it or feel it has disrupted their environment at the university.

“Concordia is an institution of learning and not for political games. Sept. 11 was tragic and wrong, but what is increasingly becoming a distraction is when the downtown campus is being blocked frequently with protesters along with the annoying propaganda in our school newspapers,” says Joy Wang.

Understanding the nature of the attacks has opened the minds of our young generation to different global issues.

“I have become more conscious over the past year about world terrorism as well as more open to different points of views,” says student Alex Kastans.

“I also now know more about the reasons why there are Muslims and others of the Islamic culture who view the United States in a negative light,” he adds.

Recent polls on the Internet have demonstrated that a larger percentage of Canadians feel that Americans hold some responsibility for the terrorist attacks last September.

“Americans need to be educated and need a chance to see and understand the outside world. Mass media filters so much crucial information to portray selective events as the sole reality,” says Virginia Cook, a third-year linguistics student.

“As an American, I relied on the media as education about what is happening in the world but here in Montreal, word of mouth I find is used more as a main resource. I feel living in Canada has given me a greater grasp on what is true. The family and friends I have back home go to church out of a sense of obligation and are extremely patriotic but blind faith in one’s country I believe is much worse than blind faith in a God.”

Sept. 11 will always be remembered as the day when so much uncertainty about our future was felt. To appropriately commemorate this day is decided by every human being because the aftermath has affected everyone so personally.

What will Concordia students do? Sam Berns, an administration student, says, “I’m phoning my old roommate back in New York to see how he’s coping.”
Shama Naz, a third-year economics student, is participating with the Muslim Student Association as they gather this afternoon.

“We want to remember this day with our community by hosting a special event at the Hall Building.”

Still others will not be observing the anniversary of Sept. 11. This does not mean, however, that it will be easy for them to forget it. Jessica Nichol, in her third year of biochemistry, is such a student.

“My dad was in Washington working for the federal government at the time and it became very real when the FBI took control of the building after the suicide bombings,” she says.

Lydia El-Cherif, a 21-year-old creative writing and liberal arts student, on the other hand, will basically be celebrating her roommate’s birthday, yet the victims will not be far from her mind.

“All the innocent people who [will go] to work or who [don’t] do anything [today]; I’ll think about them,” she says.

Today is the first anniversary when the most powerful nation in the world was shaken up by attacks on their safety and freedom. New York City had stifled and became a ghost town while the whole world was in mourning. America was not silenced however, and although many have not forgiven those who participated in the mass destruction, no one will ever forget September 11th.

Additional reporting done by Dahlia Liwsze.

Sleep is something that we all need. For many people especially students, however, a good night’s rest is an elusive dream. Studies report that insomnia afflicts about 15 to 20 per cent of the population. Whereas many people occasionally experience difficulty falling or staying asleep, chronic insomniacs have trouble sleeping for three or more weeks.

Hectic schedules and endless distractions make eight hours of sleep often impossible. Today’s generation has seen an incredible increase in stress and pressures and it shows in people’s sleeping patterns.

In 1910, the average person slept nine hours a night. In 1975, it was down to 7.5 hours. Higher education requires stronger dedication and heavier responsibilities. The amount of money someone once could survive on no longer is sufficient. The stresses of work can be overwhelming. While an ideal amount of sleep is eight to 10 hours, this is not always possible.

Insomnia causes daytime problems such as tiredness, lack of energy, irritability and difficulty concentrating.

The Oct. 23, 1999 issue of the medical journal Lancet carried a study from the University of Chicago Medical Center that claimed “chronic sleep loss reduces the capacity of even young adults to perform basic metabolic functions, such as processing and storing carbohydrates and regulating hormone secretion.”

Furthermore, while we physically recuperate during sleep, our brain actively repairs, re-organizes and consolidates memories. During deep sleep, our pituitary gland releases a growth hormone. Sleep deprivation impairs creativity and the body’s ability to fight disease and increases accidents.

An important thing for students to remember is that they can get help for their sleeping problems at Concordia’s Health Services. When asked what the worst thing that can happen when someone suffers from insomnia Owen Moran, the health educator, says,

“Your ability to function and to reach your life’s goals is affected. A great predicator of a good day is a good night’s sleep. You’re more productive. Studies show that performance drops with the less sleep you get.”

Although males and females of all age groups suffer from insomnia, it seems to be more common in females (especially after menopause). As well, the elderly (over 60) and those who have a history of depression are at a greater risk of experiencing insomnia.

To this list, 42-year-old Bonnie Francom, a 20-year veteran nurse who works in the Psychiatric Ward of the Montreal General Hospital, adds, “the anxious, people with new babies and people who have used drugs and are off of them. It can take up to a year more or less depending on who before a regular sleep habit develops for an ex-drug user.”

She says anxious people have either difficulty falling asleep, experience early morning awakenings or cannot sleep after waking up at night. Insomnia is a vicious circle, the problem being that “the more they think about it, the less they sleep; the less they sleep, the more they think about it.”

Recent research suggests teenagers need nine to 10 hours of sleep. Sadly, students often can find themselves the victims of insomnia. Cynthia Hebert is one such victim.

“Insomnia was a permanent part of my life all through high school. I was the most stressed out person you would ever meet. I would just lie awake all night worrying about life, school, friends, anything basically. You can’t sleep because worrying prevents you from sleeping. It’s a vicious circle. It’s hell,” says the 20-year-old education student at McGill.

Overtiredness does not help either. However, Hebert has gotten through her sleepless nights. “It takes forever to get out of the pattern,” she admits. “For now, I’ve gotten myself out of it.”

It is important to keep in mind though that chronic insomnia may also be due to drinking alcohol or smoking before bedtime, downing excessive amounts of caffeine, irregular or continually disrupted sleep/wake schedules, chronic stress or excessive napping.

Although sleeping pills may help, they are extremely addictive and aggravate insomnia by reducing REM sleep. Whereas going to a professional is sometimes necessary, natural techniques cost next to nothing. A regular sleeping/waking schedule should be abided by and eating large meals at least three hours before bed should be avoided. Practitioners also recommend progressive relaxation, hypnosis and audio tapes of soothing music.

Moran too strongly advocates a natural method to try to induce sleep. “I don’t recommend pharmaceutical help. Generally, the more you’re on, the more kickbacks you’ll have.”

The bottom line is that if professional help or simply exercising and cutting back on the cigarettes is the solution, the necessary measures must be taken. While the quest for sleep can be extremely difficult, it need not be impossible.

Don’t wait! To get help for your insomnia or sleep-related problems, Concordia’s Health Services can be reached by calling 848-3565 or visiting 2155 Guy Street and room 407 or 848-3575 and room AD-121-3.

It’s huge. There are so many people. You feel all alone. University can be both intimidating and scary, but you don’t have to feel lost in the dark, unsure of which direction to go. There are many academic or counselling services at Concordia that can help make your transition from cegep or high school to university a little bit easier.

The Student Success Centre

Want to start university off on the right foot? The Student Success Centre (SSC) provides academic assistance such as workshop/writing assistance sign-ups, student success check-ups and the Programme For Leadership and University Success (PLUS) as well as a place that you can go to talk with other students. The PLUS student/peer mentor groups give you ongoing training from a trained peer tutor and help you develop effective strategies for academic success, teambuilding and interpersonal skills.

Furthermore, any specific academic needs you may have can be discerned by taking the student success check-up. The check-up, which lasts only 15 minutes, is thorough and allows for a complete inventory of your strengths and weaknesses in areas vital to your success at Concordia.

Counselling and Development

Are you unsure if you’re in the right program or need to talk? You can speak with a professional counsellor. In addition to its personal and psychological counselling services, counselling and development offers career services and learning support services. Counsellors and Student Success Centre assistants work together to put on workshops, and the PLUS Workshop Series will run from Sept. 18 to Nov. 18 on topics like group dynamics, embracing diversity, and what is a leader?

Furthermore, you can borrow books on everything from depression to career choices from its lending library.

“We have a whole student success program [that] can be especially helpful for people making the transition to university,” says Counsellor Robert Boncore.

Concordia’s Health Services

Here you can get pregnancy tests, referrals to blood clinics, tips on stress management and healthy eating and help if you have a sleeping or eating disorder. There is also a lending library with everything from books on insomnia to yoga videos and Health Notes, the monthly newsletter from September to March is always informative. Owen Moran, health educator, strongly advocates awareness of Concordia’s Health Services.

“We’re conveniently located on campus,” says Moran. “Studies show that healthy students do better. We’re student-focused. Health is very important. It’s the second or third reason why students would drop out of school.”

The International Students Office

New to Montreal? Besides holding information sessions for new students, the International Students Office (ISO) provides programs and services that deal with transfer of funds, immigration regulations, cultural adaptation, health insurance, academic support & referral, work on campus and letters for military deferment. Orientation Information Sessions are Sept. 3 to 6, 9 to 13 and 17 to 19 will focus on specific issues dealing with life in Montreal from finding an apartment to opening a bank account, to adjustment to Concordia and going through registration, getting a student ID card and student account and cultural adaptation.

The ISO also has an “Information Package” that will be given out during the orientation sessions along with a “List of Things To Do” list.

The Multi-Faith Chaplaincy

Interested in spiritual matters? The MFC provides workshops, mindfulness meditation, Bible studies, inter-religious and multi-faith dialogue, pastoral counseling and more. Some of the religious services include daily and Sunday liturgies at the Loyola Chapel, an Islamic prayer room and marriage and other sacramental preparation.

Lastly, community involvement includes volunteer work placements and Mother Hubbard’s Thursday night meals for students with limited finances.

The Ombuds Office

Here is your venue for resolution of administrative problems. Not only does the Ombuds Office provide students with information about rules for academic misconduct like plagiarism and cheating to procedures, it also offers advice about steps that can be taken to resolve a problem. As well, it refers to other offices and investigates claims of unfair treatment. Furthermore, Kristen Robillard, an ombudsperson, points out that all consultations are free, confidential and available in French.

The Office of Rights and Responsibilities

If you need help in regards to a difficult student, staff or faculty member’s inappropriate behaviour, the Office of Rights and Responsibilities helps you deal with harassment, discrimination, threats or violence and sexual harassment. Advice is available and formal complaints can be made. More importantly, Sally Spilhaus, the advisor of Rights and Responsibilities, points out that everything is confidential, and you can figure out which method of problem resolution works best.

“Knowing about the service in advance is important, even if you never have to use it,” she says.

The Office For Students With Disabilities

Do you have special needs? Whether it pays your note-takers or helps you make special arrangements with professors, the Office For Students With Disabilities (OSD) exists for a purpose. By opening a file with the OSD, you may be able to use their services and receive academic accommodations. Through keeping in touch with an OSD advisor, your progress can be monitored and you can discuss any concerns you may have.

“I think all students benefit by entering into a partnership. We’re in the middle helping students and faculty,” says Co-ordinator Leo Bissonnette.

The bottom line when one is starting university is to be aware of and remember the fact that help is out there. Your Concordia experience can be both exciting and enriching if you use the resources at your disposal and are willing to seek help.

The Student Success Centre is in room H-481. Tel: 848-7369.
Counselling and Development is located in room H-440. Tel: 848-3545. Its Loyola equivalent is room WC-101 and 848-3555.

Concordia’s Health Services is on 2155 Guy Street in room 407 from Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Tel: 848-3565. It is also in AD-121-3 from Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tel: 848-3575.

The International Students Office is in room H-653. Tel: 848-3515.

For more info, call the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy at 848-3590 and visit Annex Z in rooms 102-106 at 2090 Mackay or try 848-3588 and Annex WF in room 101.

The Ombuds Office is in room GM-1120. Tel: 848-4964.

The Office of Rights and Responsibilities is located in room GM-1120. Its number is 848-4857.

The Office For Students With Disabilities can be reached at 848-3525 or in room H580. Since construction at Loyola is going on until about October, the OSD will temporarily be located in room AD-210 and then room AD- 131.

As new students flood the halls of Concordia, many clubs and associations are eager to recruit members. These days, one can get lost in the many groups that are made available to students. Here are a select few, to show what Concordia has to offer newcomers.

CASA helps with transition

The Concordia Commerce and Administration Student Association (CASA) is an association geared towards Commerce and Administration students and is there for students to lean on when they need help.
“We offer conferences and mentorship sessions for the students, so that they can ask questions and find out more about their field of study,” says CASA President Peter Tragoulias.

“We want to ease the transition for newcomer students who are entering university.” Tragoulias himself is entering his last year in Finance and remembers how difficult starting university can be.
CASA starts off the year by offering new students a week of FROSH activities beginning Aug. 30 to Sept. 6. Events include a series of barbeques and orientation information throughout the week.

“We encourage students to ask questions and to get to know their fellow students,” he says.

ECA gears up for another FROSH

“When you are in an engineering or computer science program, you need as much help as you can get, and that is where the Engineering and Computer Science Association (ECA) comes in,” says the ECA’s VP External, Mike Klein.

Klein says the ECA represents all engineering and computer science students and works hard at making them comfortable. They kick off with a week of FROSH activities, starting on Aug. 30 and then from Sept. 3 to 6. Activities include orientation, a barbeque and a pub-crawl.

“We also have a lot of activities during the year including a career fair and a weekly event on Fridays at Reggie’s called ‘Lizard Lounge’,” he says. This is where ECA students get together to hang out and relax.

“Students are always welcome to drop by the office and ask questions about their program. We are there to help.”

Snowboard Club

The Concordia Snowboard Club (CSC) is all about fun for Concordia students.

“It is free to join and the more people that go, the cheaper each ski trip will get,” explains Raelynn Pluecks, the CSC president. “We try to make at least seven trips a year. This allows members to get a taste of the different hills that are out there.”

Pluecks says that the CSC’s main objective is to show students what hills are in Quebec and the US for skiers and snowboarders.

“We try to go to two new hills each year, so that people can test them out.” Each trip costs between $20 and $50. This includes the bus ride to the mountain and the lift ticket.

“We try to go at times that are convenient for most people, we usually get a good crowd on each trip,” she says.

Sorority is not Hollywood

The Deltal Phi Epsilon soroity doesn’t want girls to get scared away by what Hollywood has made sororities out to be.

“We don’t make you drink yourself stupid. We are an academic sorority,” says Cara Braude, a member of the sorority’s alumni.

“This means that we concentrate on school and on helping each other out.”
Braude says that the sorority also has many social events during the year, including parties, potluck dinners and mixers, where the sorority does something with a fraternity or another sorority.

“There is no discrimination in the sorority. If you are enthusiastic and want to join, we won’t stop you,” says the recent Communications graduate.

In addition to having fun, DPE does fund-raising for charities like cystic fibrosis. Rushing starts at the beginning of the semester and involves information nights and parties.

Frat Boys

“One of Tau Kappa Epsilon’s main goals is to help the brothers manage their time. Everyone needs to know how to schedule their time so that they can do their homework and go out partying,” says TKE President Robert Kiricsi.

The fraternity has several events during the year, including an upcoming party at Extreme nightclub on Sept. 13. There are also dinners, mixers and fundraisers. Rushing is during the first three weeks of school.

Kiricsi says that fraternities have been getting a bad reputation because of houses in the U.S., which take rushing a bit too far.
“You just need to prove that you want to be a part of the house, we are not going to make you eat live goldfish or anything,” laughs Kiricsi, who is entering his second year in economics.

Overall he says, being a part of a fraternity is great, you learn life skills, social skills, and you make new friends.

CASA:
Its office is in the GM Building, room 211-7 and 218-7. Tel: 848-7464.

ECA:
It is located in the Hall Building, room H-880-10. Tel: 848-7408.

Concordia Snowboarding Club:
More info. is available at: http://surfthesnow.virtualave.net/ or by email: concordiasnowboard@hotmail.com.

Delta Phi Epsilon:
Email: dphie_betapi@hotmail.com.Webstite: www.dphie.net. To join, call 409-2040.

Tau Kappa Epsilon:
Email the Rush Chairman Brent Gerchicoff at hitman_btg@hotmail.com or visit www.tkekx.com. Tel: 409-2122.

It is a nightmare that many have: being called upon to present a speech. The speech is unrepared, meaning no cue cards, Power Point or overheads. You stand in front of 20 other people, who will be judging you on your performance. You have no time to prepare, let alone think. You have two minutes to give the speech without making mistakes.
For some people, this situation is inconceivable, but for others, they can’t wait to jump up and show the room what they’ve got. You think to yourself, I want that sort of confidence. Then one day, you’re walking through the hallway of the Hall building when you see a poster: JOIN THE TOASTMASTERS CLUB AND IMPROVE YOUR SPEECH PERFORMANCE. You say, ‘Why not?’ and decide to attend the
next meeting.
“Toastmasters is a public speaking workshop club,” says Lucy Wong, the former president of the Toastmasters club at Concordia, a chapter of the International Toastmasters Club that was started in 1999. “Members prepare speeches according to a standardized manual and present them to the other members. It helps people
learn how to write proper speeches and how to present them in a way that they are at ease. It allows people to get more comfortable at giving speeches.” Wong says there is no pressure on people to speak at their first meeting. People decide to speak when they feel they are ready.
Wong says there are several stages in the Toastmasters Club before one can achieve a certain certificate or status. The first status you can achieve is the Competent Toastmaster (CTM). In order to achieve this status, a member must complete ten speeches, starting with the “Ice Breaker” which is your first speech. In this speech, you speak candidly for two minutes about yourself, describing yourself to the audience. The speeches get harder as you go along and involve such skills as speaking with sincerity and coming up with topics that
will engage the audience. Other skills include writing speeches that can last up to ten minutes long and having to deal with talking about subjects as inane as the colour red for two minutes.
However, Wong says that being able to speak properly helps people along with their careers and their confidence. Having the audience evaluate a speaker after he or she has presented his or her speech allows the speaker to know what he or she must improve on. This allows people to learn how to accept criticism and learn to give an objective evaluation of someone.
After someone has received his or her Competent Toastmasters, he or she is able to go onto more levels of difficulty, such as the Advanced Toastmasters (ATM), but Wong says most members work towards getting just their Competent Toastmasters.
“For every ten speeches that you present, you get recognized. But those ten speeches do take a lot of time and preparation. Most students do not have a lot of time to prepare serious, well-written speeches on top of all their other school work,” says Wong, a graduate student.
It is for this reason that only about tenper cent of the 26 members in the
Toastmasters Club at Concordia are undergraduate students. Wong says with their hectic schedule, many students do not have the time to dedicate to joining and participating in the Toastmasters Club. The majority of the members at Concordia are members of the Alumni, staff and administration. She says that it helps staff because they are better able to perform their job and they are better able to centre their speeches around their area of expertise.
“The skills that you acquire are good for anyone in any job. You learn voice control, the power of words, gestures and learn to talk with different tones.
The main key at each meeting is the encouragement for the people presenting their speeches,” says Alain Daigneault, who has been a member of the Concordia Toastmaster Club for two years.
Each meeting at the Concordia Toastmasters has a specific structure and mandate that must be followed. According to Wong and Daigneault, there are three parts to each meeting. The first is the Business section, this is where every member that has a role (i.e. secretary, president, etc.) conducts his or her duties, such as approval of the minutes, opening remarks by the president, etc. There is also the Joke of the Meeting, where one member is chosen to prepare and present
a joke, as well as, the Toast of the evening given by a member who is selected as Toastmaster and the Thought of the Day given by another member. Wong explains that Toastmasters wants everyone to feel welcome and a part of the group, so they rotate some of the roles. The next section is the Education section. The master of ceremony stands up and calls on people to give their speeches.
There are two types of speeches that can be given: the first is the two-minute improvisational speech where anyone from the audience, including guests, can be called on to give a speech. This gives people the opportunity to work on thinking quickly and being able to speak properly under pressure. The second type of speech that can be given is the prepared speech. Everyone is able to choose a date well ahead of time and is able to prepare their speech and have notes in front of them. These prepared speeches are the ones that count towards
your CTM or your ATM. The topics can be chosen from the manual or from the Toastmasters magazine, or can be in a particular field of interest. Then the last part is the evaluation. There is one designated evaluator who gives out the evaluation of each speech presenter, while members of the audience are also allowed to offer their advice as well.
“The meetings at Concordia are not too formal, they are all nice people and all the members work hard at making you feel welcome and comfortable,” says Daigneault, a former Graphic Design student from Dawson College. Daigneault says people cannot look at this club as a band-aid. He says that going to a meeting once will not make you a better presenter since becoming a good speech-writer and presenter takes a more lot of practice and work.
“The main thing is to be as active a member as possible and not to worry. When you come to your first meeting, you are given your manual and your start-up kit and you are also assigned to a mentor, so you are not alone in the dark when you start off. The only way to see how we truly work is to come and check us out for yourselves. Sometimes we have snacks and drinks, [and] we try to make it as fun
as possible,” says Wong.
To become a member of the Toastmasters Club costs students and faculty alike $225 a year. This includes the cost of your start-up kit and any food costs, or trips to other Toastmaster clubs in Montreal during the year.
Wong says that students from Concordia and McGill attend each other’s meetings to see how each works and to interact with other members.
Toastmasters meetings are held every Monday during the year except on holidays in H-760 at 5:30 p.m. More information on the Concordia Toastmasters Club and the International Toastmasters Club is available at their website: www.angelfire.com/co/TOASTM/ or by phone: (514) 848-4952.

Most undergrads would agree that starting university can be a lonely and
intimidating experience. Nobody wants to feel left out, especially at a huge urban campus like Concordia’s. Our university has a long history of fraternities and sororities, “Greek letter societies” of men and women whose aim is to create a sense of belonging and leadership in the community. At Concordia, visibility has always been an issue for these groups, and you could be forgiven for not knowing they even existed. This is something that the Inter Fraternity Council (IFC) is planning to change.
“The awareness of the Greek [letter] community has grown over the past few years,” says Robert Kiricsi, president of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, Kappa Chi chapter. “The IFC is taking some steps toward making us more known throughout the campus. Everybody wants more awareness because it gives us more members and more fun.”
Shattering the myth of Greek letter communities as secretive, ritualistic
societies, Kiricsi adds that TKE organizes dozens of parties, comedy nights, road trips and charity events each year. They are perhaps best known for “Teke in a Box,” the annual charity fundraiser which sees members of the fraternity panhandle for spare change outside the Hall Building for 36 straight hours. This past year, the money went to the Action Centre, a Montreal-based charity for the disabled.
The average membership of a Concordia fraternity or sorority is between 15 and 30 people every year. In a university of over 28,000, this is barely a drop in the water. “I really don’t know why [we aren’t very well-known] because every year we have a table in the Hall Building to welcome people to our sorority,” says Marie-Eve Laroche, a member of the Zeta Tau Omega sorority. “Maybe people have misconceptions of a sorority because of the American movies.”
Hollywood certainly tends to portray sororities and fraternities in a
stereotypical slapstick light. Melissa Fazi, former president of Zeta Tau Omega sorority, says they could not be farther from the truth. “It’s completely different from what you see on TV, we’re not snobby. We don’t pick and choose people. They join, and if they like it, they stay.”
So why do people choose to join a sorority?
“I think most people would tell you they join when it’s their first year of
university and they don’t know anybody,” says Fazi. “It just becomes a small group, like your own little family. Especially since we have a house, you can just go there during your breaks when you have nowhere to go.”
Laroche, a 20-year-old translation student, agrees. “It helps you with school because if you have a problem, there is always a sister to help you.”
The same can be said for the men. “If this is your first year in TKE,” says
Kiricsi, “there are a lot of guys in their [third and fourth] years who can help you out.”
Concordia’s Greek letter societies pride themselves on being very open and democratic when it comes to choosing members. It may come as a surprise, then, to learn that the CSU does not recognize these groups and does not give them any funding. “They say that we discriminate,” says Fazi. In other words, men aren’t allowed to join a sorority and women cannot become members of a fraternity.
“That’s their excuse,” says Kiricsi. “The CSU never liked us. But we can manage ourselves, we have for the past 35 years.”
Most fraternities and sororities at Concordia were started in the 1960s and early 1970s and during that time they have developed their own individual styles. Some, like Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, are chapters of international organizations, while others, such as the Omicron fraternity and Zeta Tau Omega sorority, were founded here at Concordia.
At the beginning of every semester, all the sororities and fraternities put up rush tables on the Mezzanine of the Hall Building to attract new members. When people sign up, they begin a “rushing” period, which can last anywhere from six weeks to six months depending on the organization. Then comes the final initiation, which unfortunately is top secret. This is the one topic, which everyone refused to discuss. “Initiation… is initiation,” laughs Kiricsi.
“There’s not much I can say about that. But there’s no hazing.”
On their website, the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority policy states that “hazing is defined as any action, whether on or off campus, intentional or unintentional, producing physical or mental discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.” All the Concordia fraternities and sororities have a strict no-hazing policy. “Hazing is not permitted at all,” says Kiricsi. “If there is, we will be shut down immediately.”
Fazi believes hazing is part of the reason Greek letter societies are not very widely publicized at Concordia. “I think we’ve gotten a bad rap from what’s gone on in the States. There have been some accidents over there.”
At Concordia, fraternities and sororities are actively involved in campus life.
“I think we play a bigger role than people realize,” says Fazi. “We [the IFC community] basically run the [Guadagni] Lounge and we fight to keep it there. We pay rent to Concordia every year for that room. If it wasn’t for us, we’d only have the cafeteria.”
However, despite all of the misconceptions surrounding them, the fraternities and sororities at Concordia are all reporting increased membership with every passing year. The future looks bright, says Kiricsi. “I think within the next few years we’ll be growing a lot, and people will be a lot more aware [of us]. I wouldn’t be surprised if more fraternities want to come and make chapters at Concordia.”

Laughter and chatter uniting strangers. Wind blowing through your hair. Couples dancing on a gazebo. This summer if you are interested in trying something new and exciting and want to meet new people, the Concordia Swing Society (CSS) has the solution. Why don’t you swing by the gazebo on Mount Royal Park for the free swing dance lessons being offered through their “Swing Dance in the Park” event held every Sunday afternoon from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. until Sunday, August 25.
Whether you are a beginner or a pro, the CSS wants to enable all levels of swing dancers to enjoy themselves. Following the beginner lesson at 2 p.m., an advanced lesson takes place at 2:30 p.m. with the meeting wrapping up after an open dance floor from
3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Begun in 1999, the CSS was the brainchild of Belinda Roth whose love for swing dancing led to the formation of the club. Getting her husband Ryan involved, Roth was able to bring the beauty of the dance to her fellow Concordia students.
Ian Bartczak, the host of “Swing Dance in the Park,” is the head teacher and the current acting president of the CSS. Having taught swing for four years, he encourages interested people to give swing dancing a try. “It’s dynamic [and] social,” he grins. “Everyone smiles. A lot of people [are in it] for exercise, for friends.”
Last year, he says about 30 people would show up for the CSS’s free swing dance lessons in the Hall Building. Starting in September, anyone interested in giving swing a try can come by the Mezzanine in the Hall Building on Monday nights from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and strut his or her stuff.
There are many types of swing, and Bartczak says the lindy hop, the east coast swing, the west coast swing, the jive and the Charleston are the most popular types in Montreal. While his specialty is the east coast swing, he teaches the lindy hop. The original swing dance is the lindy hop, known as the jitterbug and swing as a type of dance can be traced all the way back to the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in 1926. It is a fun dance that not only ensures a good work out, but a good time as well.
“I find swing is expressive,” he says. “I teach the swing that’s more fast. You can put tons of energy in it [and] be more laid back.”
When it comes to his own reasons for dancing, however, Bartczak has quite a few.
“I like to dance. I like to see people dance. I feel good when people are
getting it.”
Caia Miller is one such person who knows what she is doing. The French studies student at Universit