s Are Douglas Students S.A.D.? Weather changes aren’t just conversation starters By Jenn Markham is a mood disorder caused by inadequate sun exposure and seasonal variations in light. Our internal clocks, rhythms and regulators are heavily influenced by light. The symptoms for S.A.D. are exhaustion, chronic sleepiness, feelings of sadness, depression, excessive eating and weight gain, starchy or sugary food cravings and an inability to concentrate. One might argue that college students suffer from these symptoms all year round, and Douglas student Sharon Yoshida agrees. “I do suffer from many of the symptoms, but I really doubt it’s because of the weather.” Another student, Aleisha Husolo, said, “I actually really enjoy snow and rain sometimes. I do suffer from some of the symptoms but I don’t believe that it is because of the weather.” Kate Hung, also a student disagreed, “I think I suffer from all these symptoms from time to time during the winter months — lethargy, feeling down, craving ‘comfort S easonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) 4 foods,’ lack of motivation” “Tt’s hard to draw a cause and effect.” said Sandy Strate, Counsellor Coordinator at Douglas. “We live indoors during the winter, but it’s hard to draw any conclusions because the winter semester is generally when things get harder for students, especially if they started in the fall and didn’t get the grades they wanted.” Strate also mentioned it depends on your beliefs and perceptions around it, but four students have reported their mood improve lately when the weather gets better. If ever there was a silver lining, Ally Sheane found it when she said, “I actually like the rain in the wintertime because it makes it feel ok to be depressed. Like you wake up and its raining and you know it’s perfectly acceptable to stay in pj’s and in bed all day long. In the summer time when it’s sunny for to long I actually crave the rain so I can take a day of life and stay in bed.” Whatever your case may be, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a walk outside to break up studying. U shall not pass! By Maria Asselin-Roy, Staff Reporter Ts U-pass, which was supposed to arrive at Douglas College sometime this summer, is further delayed until at least this fall. This is because TransLink has not provided their agreement with Douglas and Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Blaine Jensen, Vice President of Educational Services at Douglas, says “It’s very disappointing that our students won’t have the U-Pass this summer.” There is disappointment of the Douglas College faculty, students, along with other remaining institutions that were expecting the U-pass. There are now negotiations between TransLink, the provincial government, and all of the post secondary schools of Vancouver will now have to focus on receiving the U-Pass by September. According to Douglas College staff, the coalition has notified TransLink that in order to receive the U-pass as soon as possible, they need to have a contract by April. The 11 institutions, including Douglas, are wanting a fair agreement that will provide long term benefits to students, and in order to fully receive that the contractual issues need to be sorted out, TransLink and the rest of the province is completely aware of students’ concerns, and will be trying to give all metro-Vancouver students’ a thirty dollar public transit access soon. Dougals students roll up the rim Tim Hortons contest takes over campus By Kate Hunt y this time of year, those red B and yellow Tim Hortons cups are ubiquitous around Douglas College campuses. With the end of February came the beginning of the 25" annual Roll Up The Rim To Win contest, an eagerly anticipated event that adds an element of excitement to students’ coffee breaks. During Roll Up The Rim, customers purchasing medium, large or extra-large hot beverages will receive special contest cups. Each tea or coffee is a new chance to roll up the cup’s rim in hopes of winning a Toyota Matrix, a Panasonic 3D TV or, most likely, a free doughnut. For many, rolling up the rim is more addictive than the caffeine itself. “My boyfriend is getting at least three coffees a day right now,” says Douglas student Melissa Mungall. “And I don’t even like coffee; I just get one for Roll Up The Rim!” This enthusiasm is not uncommon: former Tim Hortons staffer Zoe Klassen confirms that business skyrockets during the months of the contest. “The regulars increase the number of their daily visits, and people who don’t usually stop by for a coffee make a habit of it for the duration of the promotion,” Klassen says. “Free stuff is too good a lure to pass up, I guess.” But for other patrons of the Canadian coffee giant, the contest represents nothing but disappointment. “I hate Roll Up The Rim. I always lose,” says Douglas student Arienne Mulligan. “T know it’s completely random, but I feel like I want to be rewarded for being a loyal customer all year.” And still others take no notice of the promotion. Douglas student Tina Pengelly admits to discarding potential winnings as she tosses cups without checking for a prize. “I never roll it. I just don’t notice it. I forget about it and throw it away,” she says. But with the official website listing the odds of winning as 1 in 6, coffee lovers might want to think twice about casting aside their empty cups. In fact, a 2006 lawsuit in Quebec centred on a winning cup found by a ten-year-old girl on her school playground. The school’s janitor claimed he had discarded the cup and that the prize—a car valued at almost $33,000—was rightfully his. The case was eventually ruled in favour of the girl, whose family was awarded the car. The Roll Up The Rim To Win contest is on now at both Douglas College Tim Hortons locations. Prizes must be redeemed by May 22, 2011. For more information, visit www. rolluptherimtowin.com.