Concordia Philosophy Student Weekly Tabloid Vol. 11
The semester is nearing full swing, with its first full week of classes nearly done. Some of you might already feeling a bit of stress, because I know I am!
Take it one step at a time; I think most stresses are overexaggerated. When I actually sit down and get stuff done, I usually get more done than I believed I would. Remember: you’re still human, not a cog in an academic machinery (well, that might be disputed…) Take time to care for your physical and mental health. University is a challenge, but you’re not alone.
Here’s our 11th Volume of the Concordia Philosophy Student Weekly Tabloid! Bringing you all the hottest and best events and relevant philosophy news.
This week, we disseminate news about:
- Student feedback
- Our Annual General Assembly and first social event
- A work-integrated learning program
- Various events: olfactory sense workshop, homecoming social mixer, and more
- The FutureBound program
- Library research workshops
- SoPhiA’s library of books
- Free drug testing kits
Feedback on Philosophy Student Difficulties
We’re looking for your feedback on what type of (common) issues, difficulties, or confusions you have as a Concordia philosophy student. Problems with course books, grades, professors, classes, the program, degree requirements, registration, navigating the university, harassment, etc.. Anything related to being a philosophy student.
Feel free to leave a comment on this post.
Your responses are appreciated and will help us with our philosophy student guide!
If you’d like to make an anonymous/confidential comment, you can email [community dot sophia at asfa dot ca]. We’ll keep your response confidential.
Annual General Assembly and First Social Event
We’re hard at work planning our Annual General Assembly and our first social event!
We had originally planned to have our first social event on September 15th (today), but that isn’t happening. We apologize if that’s disappointing, but we haven’t forgotten you!
Instead, we will have our first social event immediately after our Annual General Assembly (AGM), which will take place in the last week of September or the first week of October.
What is an AGM? An AGM is the meeting of all members of SoPhiA. This includes the executives and all students in philosophy. All philosophy students are considered regular members of SoPhiA.
During the General Assembly we convene to do business:
- We vote in new executive members (you can nominate yourself directly at the AGM)
- Introduce your executive members
- Discuss this year’s budget & events
- Students can propose a motion which mandates SoPhiA to act on
- The floor will also be open to discussion or questions (tell us what your gripes are with the philosophy program!)
The open positions you can run for are listed on our website, along with the position descriptions. Running is simple as saying “I want to run” during the assembly. Optional is to give a little “about me”. (Note, any “interim” positions listed above will also be open).
It’s important to support SoPhiA by attending the AGM, because we need a minimum amount in attendance to be formally in session (this is called “quorum”). And in doing so, you help us help you better!
After the AGM, we will head out to the bar (TBA) afterward.
Anyway, here’s a teaser to keep you in suspense 😉
Humanities+ Work-integrated Learning Experience
Are you looking for practical training on skills required for the workplace? Do you feel unprepared for the work world after your degree?
Humanities+ offers a program that provides extracurricular courses focused on skill development and personal and professional growth to give you the soft skills required to be a strong workplace asset. The program will take place over the winter term.
You will:
- Learn Digital skills
- Learn Professional skills
- Learn Placement skills
- Take part in a work-integrates learning experience
You must be enrolled in a humanities program (e.g., philosophy) and have at least 30 credits completed by January 2023. You must also commit several hours a week over the entire Winter semester to the program’s courses.
The applications open on September 6th and the final deadline to apply is Sunday, December 4th, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
Who: Student Success Center
What: Humanities+ work-study program
When: Throughout the winter 2023 term
Where: Online
Various Events
There are several events in the next week that may be interesting to philosophy students. Here are a few:
- September 15: The Expressions of Being Alone
- Explore the different expressions of being alone, develop strategies to cope with loneliness and embrace and practice a more positive relationship with solitude.
- September 16: Homecoming Garden Social
- “Join Concordia President Graham Carr as well as alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the university for an exciting in-person, outdoor Homecoming event — featuring special entertainment and performances — on the grounds of the Grey Nuns Residence.“
- September 21: Participatory olfactory mapping workshop
- “Participants will be guided to begin to train their sense of smell as a way of embodied sensory ‘tuning’ to an urban greenspace and to create a participatory aroma wheel of the scents present in a particular place and time.“
- September 21: Solarities: thinking with the sun
- “The conversation will involve a roundtable discussion with members of the Solar Media Collective about solar energy and its promises, possibilities, and potential problems.“
FutureBound Skill Workshops
The Student Success Center offers a line of skill workshops in their FutureBound program. The FutureBound workshops offer a chance for students to pick up soft skills outside the classroom that can transfer to the workplace.
The workshops are grouped into five categories:
- Career development
- Communications & Digital Capabilities
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Leadership and Collaboration
- Growth & Balance
If you complete four workshops from any one specific category, you get a certificate stating that you have completed training in that category.
I’ve attended many of these workshops in my years at Concordia and can say that they offer new soft skills that apply to any part of your life. A few of the skills I’ve picked up include:
- Working more effectively in groups
- Being a better public speaker and presenter
- Working more effectively with Excel
- Designing workshops and presentations
- Networking with others
Who: Student Success Center
What: Futurebound workshops
When: Various dates throughout the year
Library Research Workshops
Concordia’s library offers several sessions on citing and researching in the library. If you’re new to research and writing academic essays, then these workshops could be of value to you. It can even benefit students who just want to use the library more effectively.
In the research workshop, you might learn about the Library’s Sofia system, how to use search terms effectively, locating sources, and good research practices.
In the citation workshops, you’ll learn about the basics of citing in a specific citation style (APA or Chicago). This workshop is useful because philosophy students need to cite sources from as early as their first philosophy course!
Register for a workshop while there’s still space and take advantage of essential skills you will use throughout your degree and academic career!
Who: Concordia Webster Library
What: Research and citation workshops
When:
Research workshops
- September 20th, 10:15-11:45am (in person at LB 322)
- September 28th, 2:30-4pm (online)
Citation workshops
- APA (American Psychological Association style):
- October 13th, 10:15-11:45am (Online)
- November 16th, 2:30-4pm (LB 205)
- Chicago Manual of Style:
- November 10th, 2:30-4pm (online)
SoPhiA Book Library
If you didn’t know, SoPhiA has a library of over 650 books! We have books from different domains of philosophy and some outside philosophy (psychology, business, political science, and even novels). We even have textbooks for some of your courses! (e.g., PHIL-210, 235, 260, 266, and more)
What’s better is it’s completely free! What’s better than free textbooks?
You can borrow a book for an hour, or even the whole semester. Just drop by our office or send us an email.
You can see our complete library of books online on our Librarika virtual library.
What: Books!
Where: The SoPhiA library (in our office space)
Drug Test Kits
On behalf of the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CssDP Concordia), every Friday from 12-4pm the Frigo Vert is offering free take-home drug testing kits.
- Kits available to take home
- Confidential & anonymous
- Non-judgmental
- Wheelchair accessible
- Fentanyl strips available
- Private gender-neutral bathroom
What: Free drug test kits
When: Every Friday from 12-4pm
Where: Le Frigo Vert (1440 Mackay St.)
Stay safe and responsible with drug use.
Do you know of any cool philosophy-related events in Montreal or the Concordia Community? Please let us know and we will advertise them here!
**Pictures are for representative effect only and aren’t actual photos of the events, products, or services we report on.
Students of Philosophy Association 