All about the Douglas College International Organization Maria Asselin-Roy Staff Reporter n the winter semester of 2011, Douglas College students Dustin Johnson and Sasdar Hyder came up with the idea to start a new social club at the college known as the International Organization. The purpose of the organization is to help form connections between international students and other students on campus. The organization is social — its intention is to form new friendships as well as to practice general conversational skills for those who have just moved to Canada. The organization is aware of the difficulties that come with moving to a new country and becoming a student at a new school. Helping students get associated with social group activities and dealing with everyday scenarios is bound to make a student’s college experience go from an average involvement with the school to an enjoyable and active one. As Cassidy Ball, vice-president of the International Organization explains “A lot of ESL classes will teach students the language, but they don’t necessarily learn the social norms and the specific slang and phrases that is commonly used day to day amongst students. That’s what this group is trying to help with.” The International Organization is integrated with International Office’s Cultural Connections Program to improve the experience for participants. The club also goes further by getting students involved through hosting various events such as ice skating and movie nights. This year, one of the goals is to get students involved in more events in order to give the students an opportunity to mingle outside of school. A majority of the meetings will be structured; in other words it’s not just going to be a place to hang out. Specifically, meetings focus on a particular theme each week. The organization provides worksheets for participants to fill out depending on the topic, ultimately answering questions about themselves while working through learning English. Themes in the past that the organization has focused on have been to do with: school, going out and partying, how to ask for different things, and different cultural norms. While carrying out these events, the students provide their knowledge of the cultural norms in the country they were born in. Ball says “It’s amazing how different everybody is when it comes to social norms... getting involved in this way really helps allow everybody to have a mutual understanding with each other.” The organization’s intentions of getting international students settled in their new surroundings has been successful so far. They are always looking for new students to get involved, so if you’re new to Douglas or you just want to meet some new people, check it out. The first meeting of the semester for the International Organization was last week. If you are interested in getting involved, everyone is always welcome at the meetings, which are held at the New West Campus every Wednesday from 4 p.m to 6 p.m in the DSU (room 207). Work on campus Student jobs offered at Douglas By Maria Asselin-Roy, Staff Reporter ouglas College is looking for Ds to fill on campus student employment positions. Students must be enrolled in at least one (three credit) class at Douglas (or other public B.C. post-secondary school), and available to work up to 15 hours per week. Here are some of the jobs currently offered at Douglas: Aboriginal Resource Assistant The Aboriginal Student Services Centre is looking for an Aboriginal Resource Assistant. For this job, you should have knowledge and involvement in the Aboriginal culture and community. The job involves helping students use the resources in the Aboriginal Resource Centre, providing peer support (registration, buying text books, etc.), and referring students to services that the college offers like advising and financial aid. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required and pay is $8.75 per hour. Access Aides for Students with Disabilities The Centre for Students with Disabilities at both the David Lam and New West campuses is looking for Access Aides. This job calls on students to tutor and provide reader service to help increase and ensure academic success for Douglas College students with disabilities. 4 \ Applicants must have taken course work relating to the academic needs of - students with disabilities. Good oral and communication skills are also needed, as well as the ability to encourage students in their studies. The pay for this position is $10.87 per hour. Information Assistant The Centre for Campus Life at New West is looking for Information Assistants. The Assistant’s job is to advertise clubs and events at both campuses and the community by handing out/posting flyers every week, helping provide information to promote events, and assisting students using the Fitness Centre. Applicants must have completed (or be willing to complete) both the CPR course and the First Aid course. The pay for the Information Assistant position is $8.75 per hour. Computer Lab Student Assistant Computing Science & Information Systems is looking for a Student Assistant in the Computer Lab at David Lam. Applicants must have completed CSIS 1110 as well as receiving or expecting to receive a B+ grade or higher in the second year of the CSIS program. Applicants must have knowledge of Windows, Internet Explorer, Power Point, and other Microsoft programs. For this position, you also have to provide a class schedule and availability. The pay is $8.75 per hour. If any of these interest you, check out all the details at www.douglas.bc.ca/employees/ human-resources/jobpostings/student- postings.html and send your resume to studentemployment@douglascollege.ca with your Douglas Student ID number. If you are looking for employment and these options don’t interest you, you can also check out other job opportunities through Douglife.