issue 13 / volume 41

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Julie Wright Columnist

ES find yourself falling asleep in class? Do you notice yourself gazing out the window wishing you werent necessarily out in the cold, but definitely not in the devastatingly boring class you're currently in? Well then, this is the article for you! Learn how cultivating a relationship with your instructors can make classes far more interesting.

1. Learn something about them

They probably have over 30 years of life experience and many, many stories that can be laughed at and learned from. One of my instructors,

» Four ways to get to know your instructors

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: for example, breaks up his very

: long class by telling us alla

: story, which is usually either a

: hilarious or terrible experience. : Either way, we end up laughing : and it’s a nice break from one

: hour of basically the same

: activity. Another instructor is

: a little more private, but she

: drops little anecdotes here and : there, which is what I cling to

: during the hour-long lectures

: she gives. Don't get me wrong,

: the class is interesting, but an

: hour isa little much.

2. Share something about

yourself with them

The more you know about

your instructor, and the more

: they know about you, the more : interesting and engaging your

: class will probably be. Some

: people are super open, so it’s

: easier for them to share their

: personal lives, but others are

: more private, so they won't

: beas comfortable disclosing

: information to people who are : essentially strangers. However, : the more comfortable you get

: with your instructors the more : comfortable you will become

: with disclosing information to : them. They'll be able to connect : with you and the things in

: your life, making for a more

: interesting lesson.

3. Engage in the

> conversation

I know, actually talking

to your instructors seems

: like a completely terrifying thought, but trust me, it

: works. If you become engaged

: in the conversation and

: stop seeing the older person

: standing in front of you as an

: all-knowing god-like being

: who has the power to make

: your life either miserable or

: awesome, they'll become much

: less intimidating and you'll

: probably be more likely to voice : your ideas. (Although I’m still

: convinced that at least half of

: the instructors really are all-

: knowing god-like beings who

: have the power to make your life : either miserable or awesome.

: Too much power in too few

: hands.)

4. Talk to them outside of

: class

Your instructors aren't

crazy half-alien people who : live in their classrooms and

life & style // 17

J

a. os,

: do nothing but study the

: subject they teach. They have : lives, and the farther into your : post-secondary career you

: get, the higher the probability : of running into a current or

: previous instructor. If you

: do happen to see one of your

: instructors outside of class

: time, don’t dodge awkwardly

: behind a pole and hope that

: cartoon laws apply in real life. : At least greet them, if not

: havea nice chat. It’s really just : common courtesy at this point.

If you've tried all of these

methods, and none have

: worked to pique your interest

: in your chosen field, I suggest

: you talk to an academic

: advisor about maybe switching : programs.

Stop HIV & hep C now

» Rub-ber up on HIV

Andrea Arscott Senior Columnist

a great time to brush up on your : you don't want, so learn this

knowledge of HIV/AIDS and to get tested if you haven't already

are several things you should know about HIV. First of all,

for humping and the “V” does not stand for vagina. Although humping—more formally known as sexual intercourse— and vaginas enter into the transmission equation for HIV,

Immunodeficiency Virus.”

To explain it simply, the virus attacks our immune systems, causing them not to work properly, making it easy to get sick and hard to recover.

: For some, the illness progresses : into AIDS, but because of

: advances in treatment, it’s far

: less common to die of an AIDS-

Wes AIDS Day is coming : up December 1, so nowis :

related illness nowadays. HIV is still a sickness

: transmission equation to

: protect yourself: an infected done so over the last year. There : body fluid +a body opening +

: arisky activity = risk of HIV. To

“qa 1 ” : be on the safe side, you want the “H” in “HIV” does not stand : to stop any body fluid that may

: contain significant amounts of : the virus from entering your : blood stream through risky : activities. The body fluids that : you need to worry about are

“ : semen (including pre-cum), the acronym stands for “Human : vaginal fluids, blood (including

menstrual blood), and anal

: fluids. Ifa baby’s mother is

: HIV-positive, there’s a risk of

: transmitting HIV to the baby

: through breastfeeding because

: breast milk can also have higher

: levels of HIV.

Although there’s a long

: list of risky activities that

: could result in acquiring

: or spreading HIV, the most

: common include unprotected

: vaginal sex, unprotected anal

: sex, and sharing needles to

: inject drugs. Luckily, there are

: protective measures, and they

: take less effort than trying to

: separate a hot dog bun: wear a

: condom and use lots of water-

: based lube; wear a condom and : use even more lube; and don’t

: share needles or any other drug : paraphernalia.

I know I sound like a

broken record, but when I

: hear of guys who have had sex : with hundreds of women and

: who just don’t like the feeling

: of rubber on their penis, I’m

: forced to play my message over : and over again: Wrap it up!

: Rubber up! Throw a hat on it!

: There are women out there : : who are just as horny and

: carefree as men, and they too : need to take responsibility for : their sexual health and insist on : : condom use with their partners. : : Centre (for gay men) at 38

: Begbie Street: Mondays and

: Wednesdays 4 - 9 p.m.- Adult

: Community Clinic at 40 Begbie : Street: first and third Friday of : the month from 11 a.m. -1p.m.

Knowing your status is

: also key in preventing HIV.

: You can’t say you're negative : if you haven't been tested in : overa year and have had sex : with people, even if it’s just : one person. If your argument is : : that you used a condom, doyou : : know fora fact that the condom : : didn’t break? Or maybe you like : : to get your juices flowing witha : : little unprotected oral sex. You : can contract HIV if you don't

: use a dental dam to cover the

: vagina during oral sex. Cover it : up! Rubber up! Throw a square : on it! On men, usea flavoured : or unlubricated condom.

If you're wondering where

the Purpose Society has three

: clinics you can access: : - Youth Clinic at 38 Begbie : Street: Tuesdays 2:30 - 6 p.m.

and Thursdays 4 - 8 p.m. (up to age 21) - HIM Health

You can also make an appointment to get tested for HIV and other STIs at the NW Public Health Unit by calling 604-777-6740. Just tell them

: Stride with Purpose sent you.

Help us raise awareness

: this World AIDS Day. Share : this article, “like” the Stride : with Purpose Facebook

: page (facebook.com/

: stridewithpurpose), and get : : tested.

: to get tested around New West, :