Google changes its name to “Topeka” Google’s April Fool’s joke could be the biggest ruse of all time news editor very April 1, rumours run rampant—from He and TV stations attempting to convince the public that Burger King’s Whopper is now left-handed, to traditional print media such as The Vancouver Sun reporting that it had created the world’s first flavoured newspaper. “Taste our pages and guess the taste,” the paper invited. Or perhaps take a whiff of Kodak’s aroma- Kristina Mameli photography, which features pictures that will allow the viewer to smell the image thanks to “Neuro Optic Nasal Sense Imagining,” But it’s the elaborate pranks that take hold of the Internet that most have the ability to persuade. No longer is it simply that friends’ Facebook statuses suddenly all change to “I’m pregnant” — no, cyberspace pranks now run much deeper. Take for instance, Google’s 2010 name change. American users awoke to find that the popular search engine had changed its name to “Topeka.” The ruse comes just less that a month after the little town in Kansas temporarily changed its name to “Google” in order to try and win the bid as the testing site for Google’s soon-to-be-launched broadband network. Google’s standard logo was replaced by the word “Topeka” in Google colours and a picture of Google headquarters with a sign adorning the moniker also made the rounds. The gag, though up against stiff competition such as prescription windshields and 128 ounce cups of Starbucks coffee, has upped the ante for all future April Fool’s pranks. YouTube was certainly a contender as well with its option to view videos is text. Kudos to creativity. The usage of Topeka, courtesy of Google: “Before out blind date I did a Topeka search on him.” The new Douglas Students’ Union Representative Committee: election results Results are unofficial pending ratification By Kristina Mameli, News Editor | ast week, the unofficial results of the Douglas Students’ Union election, held March 22 to 26, were released on the group’s website. Candidates campaigned the week before the elections were held for 12 positions within the Representative Committee. The committee represents the interests of all Douglas students and oversees activities within the College. It also advocates services and organises campaigns for issues effecting students. Nominees, all members of the Union elected by 10 fellow members, campaigned for the positions at two all-candidates forums leading up to the elections where they had the opportunity to share their platforms and address any questions. The forums were held on Wednesday, March 17 at the New Westminster Campus and on Thursday, March 18 on the David Lam Campus. All Douglas College students are members of the DSU, which offers students activities such as campaigns, pub nights, free food, planners, the use of the Student Union Building for groups/activities, and advocacy for a range of issues. The DSU is a member of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and as such has the opportunity to work on campaigns for solutions to education and social issues on a provincial and national scale. The outgoing committee was involved in an assortment of successful activities and campaigns from free pancake breakfasts to raise awareness about student hunger to 4 addressing student debt and transit issues with the One Pass Now campaign. rhe unofficial results as listed on the DSU’s website are as follows: * Internal Relations Coordinator: Chris Dahan External Relations Coordinator: aU iTir meres ire\elevatstt College Relations Coordinator: Jerin Mece Treasurer: Tony Atwal David Lam Campus Coordinator: Sikimic Djordje Women’s Liaison: Cathy Pham Aboriginal Liaison: Thibodeau Patrick Pride Liaison: Anna Lusk Disability Liaison: Lorna Howat Members-at-large: Brandon Johannessen, Jill Griffin and Ricky Apiitea hese results are unofficial pending ratification as stated in the DSU’s constitution. Results can be appealed in writing to the Electoral Committee within 14 days of the election It should also be noted that not every voter cast a ballot for each position. The committee above will represent the student body from May 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011 For information on how you can get involved with the DSU call 604.527.5110, visit the website at http: douglasstudentsunion.ca/ or stop by on either campus Douglas College Wrap-Up By Kristina Mameli Application deadline for student retreat The application deadline for the Centre for Campus Life’s first Annual Student Engagement and Leadership Retreat is April 9. A maximum of 24 students will attend the retreat which takes place at Mission’s Camp Zajac on Stave Lake from April 23 until April 25. Transportation, lodging, meals and activities will all be covered by the Centre for Campus Life. The long-weekend workshop is intended to bring students interested in making a difference on campus together. Students will develop leadership skills, team-building skills, will participate in outdoors activities and will discuss and plan activities for Douglas College students for the upcoming year. The application form and more information can be found at http://www.douglas.bc.ca/__shared/assets/leadership_ application63 175.pdf Dr. Kathy Denton named new VP of education Announced March 18 in a press release on Douglas College’s website, Douglas College President Dr. Scott McAlpine named Dr. Kathy Denton the new vice president of education. Denton, a 20-year teaching veteran at Douglas, UBC and SFU, replaces Jan Carrie, acting VP of education for the last eight months. She has been serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Douglas backed by impressive credentials including both a Bachelors and Masters in Criminology from SFU and a Ph. D in Psychology. She expressed her excitement in the press release: “This is an exciting role— Douglas offers so much to students now and I see more connections that we could make to increase opportunities for students to advance their education and reach their career goals.” She added that she plans to focus on creating new opportunities for Douglas College students. She takes over the position May 1, 2010. “Dr. Denton brings a wealth of experience and expertise in leadership to Douglas College,” McAlpine said in the release. “She has all the skills and abilities necessary to be the senior educational leader at this institution as we move forward in implementing the next step in our strategic plan. We're confident that in Kathy, we have chosen the best person.”