SPOTLIGHT: Open for interpretation > DSU INTR 2018 Grad Association lends a hand to local community Aaron Guillen Staff Reporter wie another semester coming to an end, students may not realize that they might be graduating sooner than expected. Contrary to most clubs at the college, the DSU INTR 2018 is a course union grad association—a group of students in a grad department that raises funds for graduation. Most, if not all, of the members in DSU INTR 2018 are in the Sign Language Interpretation Program, set to graduate next year. Sandra Saoumaa, president of the DSU INTR 2018 Grad Association, hopes to bring attention to the student community. “Essentially, it’s a club for our cohorts to gather together and discuss ASL and interpreting-related topics. We run only in ASL for all our entire meetings and get togethers,” said Saoumaa. “Like learning any language, it opens you up to a whole new world of communication, a new culture, anda new community. It’s a really wonderful experience for people who are willing to put in the work.” Along with Saoumaa, the INTR 2018 Association takes pride in working in the local community as part of their program requirements. “It’s so we are able to have a better idea of what our work will look like post-graduation. Community members email the college asking for student interpreters, and if they are deemed appropriate, then we can sign up for them. As we aren't certified [yet], we always go in pairs and the people who we are volunteering with are aware that we are still students,” said Saoumaa. The thought process behind the club began when a group of students saw that there needed to be a platform for discussing issues and dilemmas around deaf culture, or anything interpreting- related. Saoumaa noted that while they have debriefing time in class with instructors, having their own time is also helpful. A recent discussion that has arisen is the idea around interpreters who focus on interpreting music. “One concern of this is that it’s taking the discussion away from the deaf community and from accessibility, and making it more focused on the interpreters as well as showing ASL as more of a performance art than a language connected to a distinct community and culture,” said Saoumaa. “[While] some deaf people love music and appreciate the interpreters, there are other deaf people who have no interest in music. The wording can be dangerous, as it makes it seem like deaf people are deprived of this magical thing and their worlds are better now because of these amazing interpreters. This, again, continues to oppress the community when [there are] many of them who aren't interested in music and aren't missing out on anything.” Having opened the club only a few months ago, 14 students are To find out more information about the DSU INTR 2018 Association and their initiatives, send an email to INTR2018@gmail.com already members of the association. Understandably, the small group attends the same classes and plan to graduate together, but they welcome anyone to join in fundraising for their own graduation funds. The INTR 2018 Association has yet to host any event—as they are currently applying for grants— but they plan to buckle down over the summer and create some solid ideas for the upcoming fall semester. Douglas College holds annual practicum > Douglas College marketing students demonstrate their expertise Carlos Bilan Staff Writer he Douglas College Foundation and Envision Financial will be holding their annual marketing practicum on April u, in the Aboriginal Gathering Place—room $4650 of Douglas College’s New Westminster campus. “Our Envision programming allows us to build capacity in the non-profit sector and extend our students’ learning opportunities outside the classroom,” said Christina Cawkell, marketing instructor from the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration. “This year, we are working with a non-profit youth service called Encompass, as well as a social enterprise Food Truck businesses for Sources BC, which runs a number of programs in the social sector for people in need,” Cawkell said in an interview “The Envision funding gives me the opportunity to budget for tangible marketing assets these non-profits could otherwise not afford, and exposes the students to things like video production and website development, as well as exposure to VIPs from across the college and Envision in their showcase on April 12.” C¢ The students gain experience with non-profits in the community, and they solve real marketing challenges for them.” — Christina Cawkell She said that the practicum is a great learning experience for marketing students, and it helps other's not-for-profits as well” “The students gain experience with non-profits in the community and they solve real marketing challenges for them, while the non-profit walks away with something they can use in the future,” Cawkell said. “Without Envision’s sponsorship we wouldn't be able to go to that next level and really partner students with the non-profit community. It sounds cheesy, but it truly is a win-win.” Alexandra Nicoara, Vice President of Marketing of the Douglas College Business Association, did a presentation for her final semester of the Marketing Management Diploma program, and talked about her experience doing her practicum in 2014 with the Tri-City Transitions Society and creating materials for them. “We also created a video for Tri-City Transitions Society that they put on their website, and Envision sponsored all of that.” Nicoara said that there were positive Photo by Christina Cawkel reactions to her group’s presentation of their work, and was happy about the opportunity to work for the not-for-profit. “T think it’s a really great program because these non-profits don’t have the money or budget to actually spend ona marketing campaign. So, applying for this program gives them the opportunity to work with students who are marketing students, like myself; Nicoara said. “And it’s a really great practice [for the students] because we do campaigns that actually happen in the real world, because it’s for an actual company.”