Opinions

Beauty marketing is wrong

The other day I was waiting for an appointment and grabbed the closest magazine to distract myself. I was overwhelmed by all the beauty-related ads. My heart breaks over the marketing…

Niqab discrimination does not foster social cohesion

The niqab is a veil, worn by some Muslim women, that covers the whole body and provides a thin slit for the eyes. Many Muslim women state that they are…

Vote ‘Yes’ to making UVic come alive

When I ran for the position of Director of Events for the University of Victoria Students’ Society (UVSS), I knew the long hours and small events budget would be a…

Exams: is there a better way?

Like many learning institutions, the University of Victoria has strict schedules for final exams. Students must all file into their designated rooms at the same scheduled time, presumably to avoid…

Citizen science as peer review

One of the goals any citizen scientist should have is to obtain the clearest information possible, before making any decision on an important issue. Obtaining information crucial to making decisions…

It’s food, not waste

Every day in Victoria people go hungry, food bank shelves stay empty, and low-income families struggle to put food on the table—especially around the holidays. What if I told you…

Help Philippines disaster relief

As the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan’s aftermath continues to affect the Philippines, the Filipino community here in Victoria asks that you think of the victims there. As a part of…

The importance of (and difficulty with) reason

Reason, irrespective of its origin, is essential in separating human beings from an estimated 7.77 million species of animals worldwide. Other animals make decisions based on instinct or trial-and-error learning.…

An ode to advancement

I would like to share a few observations that I’ve made about us, the Homo sapiens, and the inextricable relationship that we have with the natural world. Since the emergence…