University is all about new experiences! This is the time in your life where you are officially viewed as an adult...and with that designation comes independence like you've never experienced before. For some university students that translates to experimentation with alcohol. Experimentation is an important part of growing up and learning, however sometimes it can lead to the development of destructive habits.
This is what the site looks like.
In an effort to keep students as healthy and safe as possible, York has adopted a new alcohol education course that all incomming first year students living in residence, first year varsity athletes, orientation leaders, student leaders and residence life staff must complete before attending York in the fall. This educational tool is called "Alcohol EDU."
If you're anything like me the first time you heard about "Alcohol EDU" you thought...WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?
Well Alcohol EDU is an online alcohol abuse prevention program, it provides students with a personalized approach to alcohol education. It is specifically designed for ALL students; whether you're a frequent drinker, light or moderate drinker, or someone who does not drink at all.
The Pumpkin had
a little too much!
Whether you choose to drink or not, we believe that you may be in contact with people who do drink over the four years that you're at York, or in your life at some point (if you haven't already). This tool gives you some great tips on how to help a friend who may have had too much to drink.
Alcohol EDU is a two part education tool. The first part must be completed by AUGUST 31st 2012! Approximately 45 days later the second part will be e-mailed to you for you to complete. Part 1 takes about 90 mins and Part 2 takes only 15 mins.
As a member of Health Education and Promotion, and a Frosh Boss I've had to do Alcohol EDU in the past and I have to do it again this year and I can tell you from my own personal experience that it's really not that bad. I know that having to do an Alcohol Education program might seem a little lame but trust me this tool is actually pretty good. It's super interactive, it has short video clips and games that you play while you learn. I feel that I must mention that it is an American tool so they use A LOT of American terminology, things like "college" instead of "university" and the drinking age as "21" instead of "19". Just ignore all the Americanization, the Alcohol info is universally the same and that's what's most important.
Serving Sizes can be fun!
It was created with students in mind and so it's catered to help you understand your perception and use of Alcohol. I'm not really a drinker but after completing Alcohol EDU I learned that my perceptions of alcohol and people that drink are actually not representative of the realities of how people drink in university. I learned about serving sizes, how the body processes alcohol and a lot of other great info. Trust me you'll use it at some point in your life and it also makes a really great icebreaker convo at a party, "Hey did you know that 1 shot of hard liquor is the same as 1 12oz beer to your body?" Well maybe the convo won't go exactly like that :P !
For Colleges and Universities!
In case you were wondering, York is not the only school that uses the Alcohol EDU tool, other schools like Harvard, Princeton, Stanford and UCLA also use Alcohol EDU. I don't know about you...but that's good company to keep! I was super impressed when I found out that York can be grouped together with these prestigious schools who are also dedicated to keeping their students safe and healthy!
As an incomming student you have to do the program, but trust me you'll learn something that you didn't know before. Look at this program as an opportunity to learn something new about alcohol without having a painful or embarrassing experience attached.
Let me know what you think of Alcohol EDU when you take it!
P.S. If you... or your parents have any questions about Alcohol EDU at all feel free to contact Leah State at lstate@yorku.ca or 416-736-5196.
P.P.S. Check out some of the Alcohol EDU promo videos! They are pretty funny and I'm in a few of them...see if you can find me!
Everyone is always saying
that you make your TRUE lasting friends in College / University; I can say now, from first hand experience that what they say is true. Four years ago I came
to York, fresh outta High school as an International Student I knew 0 people. I
moved into residence and almost immediately after my parents left me there…all
alone…I regretted coming to such a huge school in a different country so far
away from home.
After my first residence floor meeting I thought WOW I’m never
gonna make it here. I was ready to go back to my room and pack my stuff and GO
BACK HOME! Then I heard a knock on my door and my whole university experience
CHANGED! I made my first friend!! This girl was at my door, asking me about
the internet, of all things. I helped her set up the internet, then we went for
dinner together and everyday after that. Suddenly we realized we had a lot in
common and so we became fast friends.
As you move from year to year the people
you were close with in first year are usually NOT still your friends by fourth
year, but she and I were practically family at the end. Four years is a long
time to be friends with a person, we laughed, cried and helped each other make
it through the challenge that is University. She was an International Student
just like me, she was from Dubai and I from The Bahamas. Leave it to us to make
friends with people who live on opposite sides of the world!
4 yrs later still together!
As I sit here writing this
I can’t help but to think of all the things we shared over four years, our
first winter with SNOW, our first time on a subway, and of course let’s not
forget our first time living away from home on our own. She was really a true
friend, we were there for each other whenever we needed anything no questions
asked! We took care of each other when we were sick, homesick or lovesick. I
honestly don’t know how I would have made it through this journey without her. And
now that she’s moved back home I wish her nothing but the best! I hope she is
finds happiness, she is an amazing person and truly deserves the very best that
life has to offer. I miss her like crazy! All I can say is THANK GOD for BBM
and SKYPE!
There is a STRONG
possibility that I might never see her again; but she’ll always be with me,
because she helped shape the person I am today. I miss her so much, she was my
sister, my mom and most importantly my FRIEND!
The moral of my story...living in residence can be such an amazing experience if you open yourself and take the opportunity that is there!
Hollywood and the media present us with many different representations of what "dorm" life is like. Films like Van Wilder and Animal House suggest that living on campus will be one big party, Old School and Road Trip play up the bonds we make and the community created on campus.
Sorry to be one that bursts your bubble BUTT not everyone's college/ university experience is like that. My life in residence wasn't like that at all. I'm not saying that I didn't have fun or create strong friendships, but my time in residence wasn't spent crawling from one raging dorm party to the next!
So... "What is life in residence like?" Excellent question! Life in residence for me was the best experience of my life. I got the chance to live with a wide variety of people from all over the world. In fact I met one of my best friends in my first week of living in residence!
There is always something happening in residence, the Don team is always busy at work trying to make your experience in residence a memorable and amazing one. There are weekly events that happen in residence including, movie-nights, common-room get-togethers and game nights. There are also monthly house meetings that all residents are required to attend, where dons tell you about upcoming events, important info and cool stuff happening on campus. The best part is that there is always someone around in residence. You are never alone. It's good to know that you have some place you can call home...LITERALLY!
Check out me and some of the friends I made while living in residence! Ahh the memories!!
Dorm life is MUCH more than just the room you live in, it’s also the people you live with. The girls on my floor were my FAMILY while I was at school without them I would never have survived!
YAY FUGITIVES (that was our house name lol none of the ladies in the pics had ever been charged with a crime…that I know of…unless AWESOMENESS is now a crime!)
Residence life is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. For most people it's the first time they have ever lived away from home, which brings with it, it's own challenges and rewards. Not the least of which is learning how to do laundry and being responsible for waking up and attending class.
Life in Residence!
Living on res is really convenient since you can come and go to classes without having to wake up super early, you can stay late at school without having to worry about catching the last bus and you are in the best possible position to get involved on campus...since you live there!
In each res there are “houses” depending on which floor, building or suite you live in. The “houses” are great because you can get to know your neighbours without having to awkwardly knock on their door. The people you live with in res really become like family especially if you’re an international student. First Year residence is guaranteed so, if you're an incoming student and you want to live in residence you will be able to find a place to live. The fall/winter residence application is still active here is a link if you want to apply.
Tips for Residence
1. DO IT!!! I lived in residence for my first 2 years and it was the BEST experience! It helps make the transition from high school to university easier!
2. Think about the kind of person that you are at home and who you want to be at university. If you’re a real studious person at home and you really want to keep that up in university you MIGHT want to consider having a single room. If you’re the life of the party, you might not want a room-mate, unless you plan on rooming with a friend. The housing people are really good at pairing people up…IF YOU ANSWER THE QUESTIONNAIRE HONESTLY! Keep in mind that in most of the residences there are more single than double rooms so don’t be too bummed if you don’t have a room mate.
3. There are 2 different types of residences offered at Keele. “Traditional” Residences and “Suite-Style” Residences. Traditional = (Complex 1) Tatham Hall and Vanier Res. (Complex 2) Stong Res. Suite Style = (Complex 2) Calumet Res and Pond Road Residence. Winters and Bethune Residences (Complex 1 & 2) are a mix of traditonal and suite.
4. You major matters when it comes the residence offers you receive. Housing tends to put similar majors or college affiliations together. People in The Arts tend to get offered rooms in Winters Res while people in The Hard Sciences (bio, chem, etc.) tend to get offers in Bethune Res for example.
5. EVERYONE ALWAYS WANTS TO GET INTO POND. Pond Road Residence is the newest and some say the nicest. It is really nice, BUT it’s kinda far away from everything classes and food places on campus. It is also known as a hub for international students, since it hosts “Global House.” Pond is nice but I wouldn’t count out the other residences!
This is a unique REDZone blog. These words are my own, I write about my life, my experiences and my interactions in real life at York University. Hope you like it!
-Nicole
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