This year is St. Catharines’ 12th annual Coldest Night of the Year walk, a fundraiser to raise money for the unhoused. 

On the evening of Feb. 22, the Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) fundraising walk is marching through the streets of downtown St. Catharines to raise money for and spread awareness about local unhoused individuals. 

Emily Fieguth is this year’s event coordinator of the St. Catharines CNOY. Although she’s been volunteering and participating in the walk for years, this is her first time as the coordinator, and she takes her role seriously. She regularly refills the “warmth and care clothesline” beside Mahtay Cafe with a constant supply of hats, scarves, socks and mittens from her car. This display welcomes and encourages unsheltered individuals to help themselves to something warm. A sign there also reminds everyone passing by that: “You are valued, and your warmth matters.” 

Many people use the word “homeless” to describe those living on the streets, however, this word is “not only limiting but also invokes stereotypes,” said Fieguth. “It’s not just that,” she said, gesturing to a man sleeping on the street: “unhoused” or “unsheltered” is more respectful and encompasses everyone without their own residence, including those moving from shelter to shelter or even couch-surfing. 

People from “all walks of life” come to participate in the CNOY, including businesses, social clubs, schools, families and individuals. Fieguth estimates 400 people usually attend the event. 

Last year, the CNOY raised more than $159,000 in St. Catharines. This year’s goal is very ambitious at $175,000. As of writing, the not-for-profit charity Start Me Up Niagara has raised just over $74,900 — 42 per cent of their goal. Donations will be accepted until March 30, and Fieguth is hopeful their target will be reached. 

This year, the theme is “change the tune,” which aims to “change the narrative” on homelessness. Emily Fieguth said they hope to “encourage a shift in perspective — to see unsheltered individuals as resilient people facing complex challenges.” 

An interactive display set up at the start of the event will allow people to consider what they have or have ever had in common with the unhoused community: physical and emotional pain, mental illness, food insecurity, poverty and a lack of stable, affordable housing. 

Fieguth explained the struggles of being unhoused: these people are in constant survival mode, exposed to the elements, worrying about where they’re going to sleep each night and what they’re going to eat each day. When your mind is stuck in survival mode, it’s very hard to think long-term, said Fieguth. 

The CNOY is also a great opportunity for those looking to volunteer. People can help with the set-up, sign-up, check-in, food services and help oversee the walk. 

The event starts at Market Square in downtown St. Catharines at 4 p.m. After checking in, participants can take selfies in the photobooth and partake in the interactive displays. There will be hot chocolate, coffee, snacks and a kids’ fun area. As per this year’s theme, Niagara’s MOVE 105.7 CHRE-FM will be there, as well as local DJ “DJ Nits,” who will be spinning some tunes. 

The walk begins at 5 p.m. It takes place on sidewalks, is wheelchair accessible, can be either two or five kilometers (depending on which route you prefer) and has rest stops for hot beverages and restroom use. 

“Come and have fun, be a part of something, make a positive difference in our community,” Fieguth said. “Help raise awareness and increase the impact.” 

Start Me Up Niagara will be raising funds at the Niagara Ice Dogs game on Feb. 8 with “pass the bucket,” “scan the barcode” and “chuck the puck.” Hockey fans can even join the Ice Dogs’ CNOY team and walk with team captain “Bones.” 

Donating and/or participating in this event directly helps Start Me Up Niagara provide crucial services and programs for the unsheltered, including access to medical support, clothing through Niagara’s Mobile Closet and food security programs through the “From Our Garden” program.  

People are invited to form a team, walk solo or donate if they can’t make it to the event. Each adult that raises $150 will receive a CNOY toque. Those interested can also check out Niagara’s Mobile Closet to make specific item donations. On their Facebook page, they provide a “Needs List” to help encourage the donation of items in desperate need. 

The Brock University Debate Society was ratified in the late summer of 2024: here’s what their executives are saying about the club. 

President of the newly established Brock University Debate Society (BUDS), Sophia Krause, began the club with a group of her fellow Social Sciences students. In an interview with The Brock Press, BUDS’ Executive Team gave some insight into their ambitions and goals for the club. 

What makes BUDS unique is that it was “founded out of friendship,” said the executive team. The founders shared the desire to explore through debating various concepts they encountered in the classroom. The goal of the club is to engage with topics and ideas that challenge people’s ways of thinking and to encourage the sharing of ideas between students of all disciplines.  

“Not only do we get to explore both sides of potentially contentious topics, but we get to do it in a format that is respectful and productive,” said the execs. One of the most remarkable things to the execs is how club members consistently impress them with their innovative ideas and thought-provoking debates, making every meeting incredibly rewarding to witness. 

The club’s first term (fall 2024) went better than they could have imagined: “We are so lucky to have dedicated members who are committed to supporting our growth and challenging us to always improve our club,” said the execs, who acknowledged that as a brand-new club, there was some trial and error involved while running their programming.  

They are excited to bring new resources and materials to the winter term that reflect the goals of their members, and they already have several new topics they’re excited to debate, ranging from the political to the philosophical.  

With such a divided world, BUDS hopes to highlight the importance of respectful debating in our society. They described how the current political climate can drive wedges between people, as many believe that if they disagree politically, they fundamentally can’t “get along.” To help nurture and maintain an environment of compassion, BUDS encourages club members to debate from stances that may not be their own. “Keeping an open mind and being open to exploring differing viewpoints and experiences allows debates to reach new heights, all while maintaining a culture of respect,” said the execs. 

BUDS formats their debates with a grading scheme that ensures debates remain civil, as disrespectful behaviour loses points for the whole team. The Speaker of the House is also responsible for ensuring debates adhere to the principles of decorum and run smoothly. 

One of BUDS’ strict policies is that ad hominem (an argument or reaction directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining) is never tolerated, no matter how contentious a topic. “Our club members implicitly understand that debates do not work if debaters do not work together, and this understanding has allowed an environment of mutual respect to flourish,” said the execs: 

“We believe that with the proper level of respect and decorum, a civil environment can be maintained during political debates. So long as participants are ready to listen to other perspectives, an understanding can be reached.”  

The execs described how one club member told them they considered the process of debating as “truth seeking” more than anything, and BUDS has tried to embrace this mentality when discussing potentially contentious topics. 

BUDS’ debate format is founded on Canadian Parliamentary debate, meaning they enforce rules of decorum similar to those seen in the House of Commons, for instance, conventions on how to address opponents when debating. The Speaker of the House’s job is to maintain decorum during debates, calling for order when debaters get riled up and ensuring that the rules of debate are adhered to. BUDS also has “administrative safeguards” put in place to ensure debates are never disrespectful or emotionally harmful. This includes an anti-hate speech clause entrenched in the club’s constitution. As of yet, no major issues have occurred.: “We have been lucky enough that our club members are just as committed to fostering a culture of respect,” said the execs. 

So far, BUDS has debated both complicated questions (such as “is it ethical to have children?”) and lighthearted ones (“should mac and cheese be eaten with a spoon or a fork?”). Their debates are always lively, said the execs, “and sometimes even the most seemingly trivial of topics yield the most passionate results.” 

BUDS decides on debate topics through a Google Form with questions classified based on topic: health, economics, society and politics. Collectively, the executive team creates the questions based on general interests among club members, as well as ideas that they find entertaining to debate. Club members vote on which topics they are most interested in, and BUDS debates the most popular ones. 

Some ideas for future topics to debate include Bill C-31 (“Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act,” 2014), various Canadian Charter rights including section 33 (also known at the notwithstanding clause), ethics related to A.I., animal rights, the UN Security Council and various other ethical dilemmas and philosophical questions. 

In terms of political topics, BUDS largely focuses on Canadian politics because they follow an adapted model of the Canadian Parliamentary Debate system: 

“Our formal, researched debates tend towards more political topics, as these are most representative of what would be debated on the floor of the House. However, when we run more informal debates, we are able to explore a wider range of topics, be it philosophical, comical or otherwise,” said the execs. 

BUDS doesn’t shy away from any political topics, as they believe that the true purpose of debate is not to determine who is correct between the opposing sides, but to find common ground between the two. Debates will occasionally tread into contentious territory — this is unavoidable — but the Speaker of the House, debate judges and the club members themselves all share in the commitment to finding common ground, said the execs. 

Although they have brought up topics featured in the news, the majority of BUDS’ topics are classical debate topics. Some of these topics have been religious freedom, restorative versus punitive justice and the voting age. The execs said that surprisingly, their most contentious topic was whether math — the subject — should be represented by red or blue. 

In training sessions and before all formal debates, BUDS makes it abundantly clear that they will not tolerate any form of disrespect or hate speech. In every debate, the Speaker monitors the debate and ensures that all comments are appropriate and do not in any way infringe on any group’s rights. 

Students believe this new club is off to a great start, and BUDS is excited to continue to foster a safe and respectful place for debates of all kinds. 

Brock University Debate Society membership is open to all Brock students, regardless of program or skill level; “We are so excited to see the club continue to grow and encourage all students interested in debate to join us.” The club meets every Tuesday from 7:00-9:00 pm in TH 257. The execs invite you to come out and see what debate is all about. 

Timely preparation can prevent additional costs and stress during the graduation process this year. 

Here you are, nearing the end of your time at Brock. It’s been three, four, six or more years of hard work, and now it’s finally going to pay off: graduation is just around the corner. It’s a relief, surely, but students can’t slack off just yet. 

Indeed, graduating is not certain unless students take the necessary steps to ensure it is possible and to initiate the process. 

With midterms approaching, students may be inclined to put off these tasks until a less busy time. However, now is the best time for several reasons, including saving some money and avoiding unnecessary stress later in the term. 

First and foremost, graduating students should book an appointment with their academic advisor to ensure they’ve met all their degree requirements in this final term, including whatever credits are needed for any minors. 

Students can check their Degree Audit Worksheets in the Brock DB student portal by clicking “Degree Audit” in the Navigation Menu on the left, then “daudWorksheet” in the drop-down, then the corresponding Segment and finally “Current Working Copy” in the “Please select a worksheet” drop-down. If the worksheet seems out of date, unclick the “Print Friendly Version” checkbox and click the newly appeared “Reload Worksheet” button.  

The Degree Audit Worksheet can be incredibly helpful for organizing your courses into their respective categories, but nothing beats the wisdom of an academic advisor.  

Once students are certain they can graduate, they can submit their “Intent to Graduate” form via the corresponding button in the “Student Self Serve” menu of the “Applicant & Student Self Serve” portal or the “GraduationApp” button in the Brock DB student portal. 

Submitting your “Intent to Graduate” is quite simple: the most challenging part will likely be providing the phonetic spelling of your name, but Brock’s provided a useful link right in the form to make this easier. The other most challenging part will likely be shelling out the $65 fee that all students must pay to graduate, but after Feb. 1 this fee jumps to $80. 

Students can apply to graduate in spring 2025 or fall 2025, the latter providing an opportunity for students who need a few more credits over the spring and summer terms. Once this process is complete, students can check the status and details of their application in the same “GraduationApp” section. 

If this application is denied, students will receive an explanation in the form of an email. At that point, they can defer their intent to a later ceremony, like fall 2025. If the application is approved, details regarding the date and time of your convocation ceremony will appear in the coming months. Double majors will need to check their “Program Status” and see the first listed major to determine which ceremony they should attend, but this can be switched by contacting records@brocku.ca. 

But this isn’t the end of the process. 

Students will need to ensure no outstanding fees remain on their student account — visible via the “FinanceHistory” button in the Brock DB portal — lest they be denied their diploma. 

Once students are confirmed to graduate, they can book graduation photos through the Brock University Students’ Union (BUSU) and Studio Nostalgia. Students can register online with their student number, email, faculty and other basic information. Students can then log in and book an appointment; they must bring a $35 sitting fee to their appointments (cash or contactless card) and know their student number. Graduation photo packages cost anywhere from $47 (for one wallet sheet) to $420 (for a large package of different photos). 

When it finally comes time for the convocation, students should plan to arrive 60 to 90 minutes before the ceremony begins to arrive in time for the graduand procession and to pick up a free gown and hood in the Bob Davis Gymnasium — these items do not need to be reserved, nor is there any associated rental fee as long as it is returned on time after the ceremony (souvenir hoods, gowns and other souvenirs are available for purchase at the Campus Store). Students will need to bring a piece of photo ID and leave any valuables behind. 

All students may bring two guests to the ceremony, but they can request additional seating via the Additional Guest Request form under extraordinary circumstances. Anyone else who wishes to watch the ceremony can do so via the convocation livestream in the overflow room, and guests who require accommodations can fill out the Accommodations Request Form — both this and the prior form will become active closer to the ceremony. More information about accessibility and guest information can be found on the Brock website.  

Students who don’t wish to or cannot attend the convocation in person have a few options for receiving their diploma, including pick-up or mail-out, and should check out this link for further details. 

Students who’ve worked towards completing their Campus-Wide Co-Curriculum, which provides graduates with a special distinction upon graduation, will want to ensure every task and domain is completed before convocation to ensure their hard work has paid off. 

All in all, ensuring your graduation is a relatively simple process, but it shouldn’t be left until the last minute, lest you become bogged down with exams and final assignments and forget to undergo this crucial process. Moreover, if you apply to graduate before Feb. 1, you save $15! 

And students may need that $15 once they graduate, especially for students who have student loans that can accumulate interest, but also just generally for the rest of post-university life. 

The day before the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) was set to guide Brock University’s support staff into a strike, the union reached a tentative agreement with the university. 

OSSTF, the union representing over 150 support staff in library, clerical and administrative sectors of Brock University, announced on Jan. 13 that they had set a strike deadline starting at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 16 if Brock University did not accept an adequate deal with the union in advance of the deadline. 

Following “eight months of incredibly slow bargaining,” OSSTF turned to a strike to make changes for their members working for Brock University. 

Martha Hradowy, the Provincial Vice President of OSSTF, said that achieving “fair wages, equitable working conditions and long-term job security” for Brock University’s support staff was the union’s top priority going into plans to strike. 

Furthermore, Wanda Gilmore, the President of the District 35 OSSTF Brock University Support Staff Bargaining Unit, said that Brock was “determined to erode working conditions and increase precarity” for support staff. Gilmore said that the workers they represent can no longer be “undervalued and shortchanged” by Brock. 

Had the strike proceeded, it would have been the first in the history of the OSSTF Brock University Support Staff Bargaining Unit that called for over 150 employees to take strike action. 

Dr. Tami J. Friedman, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of History at Brock University, suggested the bargaining difficulties between OSSTF and Brock University could be related to Brock’s hiring of a consulting firm tasked to “find efficiencies.” 

“The support staff at Brock are already in a pretty vulnerable position, and this consulting firm’s mandate is a real source of concern — not to mention unsettling and stressful for support staff,” said Dr. Friedman. 

After no conclusion came from the Jan. 14 meeting between the Brock administration and OSSTF — the meeting in which OSSTF said they planned to strike if no resolution was met — many students braced for picket lines to surround the perimeter of the university’s main campus.  

However, on Jan. 16, OSSTF announced that they reached a tentative agreement with the University. Gilmore called the bargaining process “lengthy and difficult,” saying that OSSTF members demonstrated “enormous solidarity and strength” during the labour disputes. 

Gilmore said that the support shown for the bargaining team was a major factor in reaching a deal with Brock University that is worthy for imminent ratification. OSSTF and its members at Brock University “were committed to do what was necessary” to reach a fair deal, despite the intense process it took to get there. 

Specific details regarding the tentative agreement between Brock University and OSSTF will remain confidential until it sees ratification from both parties. 

Club funding, the Menstrual Equity Project, and The Brock Press were all topics of discussion in the BUSU BoD’s December and January meetings. 

After November’s lengthy meeting, the BUSU Board of Directors (BoD) ended 2024 and began 2025 with two relatively simple agendas. 

Here is an overview of the BoD’s winter meetings. 

December Meeting 

The BoD held their Dec. 10 meeting online, making it easier for a virtual audience to follow along. They called to order at 7:22 p.m. 

Before approving the agenda, BoD Chair Brielle Kaminsky pointed out that the BoD had failed to complete financial metric reviews on “staff budget spending, staff reimbursements, Club Levy spending and Engagement Levy spending,” which should have been done in September and November as per Policy 102. She said these updates happened every month when she was on the Brock University Students Administrative Council (BUSAC) — now the BUSU Advisory Council or A-Team — so she’d like to start that moving forward and be caught up on the missed reports. 

General Manager Robert Hilson said that could be done in January before he and BUSU President Anusha Pahuja added verbal reports to the end of the agenda. 

The first item of discussion was a request from Brock Human Rights and Equity (HRE) for BUSU to contribute $7,500 per year for the next four years to help support the Brock University Menstrual Equity Project, a donation which HRE would match. 

Hilson explained that this program, which provides free menstrual product dispensers and disposal units across campus, was piloted in 2019 by BUSU, which gave a one-time donation of $10,000 in 2021 for four years of service, a donation HRE also matched at the time. 

Hilson made clear that this was HRE’s request and “not a recommendation of [his],” saying that BUSU’s Division 1 Operating Budget only has room for $2,500 per year for the project, and any more would require the advocacy budget to be altered. 

Kaminsky said that while menstrual equity is important, the amount requested was somewhat high, especially considering these “free products” were coming out of student funds anyway. She said giving $2,500 per year for four years would match their previous donation and allow them to keep funds for other advocacy projects. 

Board member Mohiz Imtiaz asked why the requested funds were increased, and Hilson reported that HRE and Brock’s Custodial Services were not forthcoming on why, nor did he think they would be, only that they said the project costs upwards of $15,000 a year. 

Kaminsky said she wished there was more transparency, but that $2,500 per year seemed a reasonable and fair donation. With no opposition, the BoD voted and the amended motion to support the Menstrual Equity Project passed. 

The next item for discussion regarded the transfer of $22,370.38 from the Brock University Chinese Student and Scholars Association (BUCSSA) club’s Scotiabank account to the BUSU Clubs Funding account. 

BUSU’s Director of Governance and Advocacy, Kayleigh Rossetto, explained that while BUCSSA has been a popular club for many years, they did not re-ratify this school year, meaning their club Scotiabank account had to be closed and the money reallocated. 

Typically, BUSU Clubs Manager Chloe Villers puts any outstanding funds into the Clubs Levy for other Brock clubs to use, but Rossetto explained that after being shocked by the sheer amount in BUCSSA’s account, they were seeking board approval. 

Rossetto said that as of Dec. 5, there was only $2,300 left in the Clubs Levy, which had funded all current Brock clubs who requested, but left little for any newly ratified clubs in January. This $22,370.38 would help these new clubs, she said. 

Imtiaz was concerned about dissolving the club and this fund because of the few alternative spaces for Chinese students at Brock, suggesting that BUSU reach out to the Chinese population in their home language to empower students to maintain this important club and community space. 

Rossetto sympathized but explained that all student clubs have a natural life cycle that includes de- and re-ratification as years pass and students come in and out of the university. She gave Brock Pride as an example, describing how despite being an important space, the club disappeared for several years before new students picked up the mantle and made it into a thriving community once again. Students must be the ones to maintain club settings, explained Rossetto, not BUSU. 

Pahuja also said that while BUSU “should probably look into supporting East Asian students more,” Brock’s English as a Subsequent Language (ESL) program does provide support and information about news and services on campus such as clubs. 

The board voted and approved the transfer of funds back into the Clubs Levy. 

As promised in the November meeting, Hilson provided an update on The Brock Press. At the time of the meeting, the paper’s management had given BUSU a timeline for when their “Stakeholders” page, on which most of the requested documents — except their bylaws, which were still being formatted for Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) compliance and needed more time — would be fully constructed and uploaded over the winter break. 

Hilson reminded the BoD that all not-for-profits were supposed to be ONCA compliant by Oct. 18, but it was now Dec. 10, and The Brock Press was still not.  

[The following disclaimer has been provided by the Press’ Editor-in-Chief in response to Hilson’s update:  

While before Jan. 9 the Press didn’t have their written bylaws formulated to reflect the changes to ONCA, the Press’ legal counsel made clear that the updated legislation simply supersedes the parts of the old legislation that have been augmented by the change, regardless of whether written bylaws are formatted to reflect this change. Not having the bylaws reflect the changes to ONCA doesn’t automatically mean the organization is non-compliant. If, however, an organization’s bylaws don’t align with ONCA, it could create practical issues for governance, voting rights and other operational matters, to be sure. But non-alignment of this kind was never an issue with the Press’ old bylaws; there simply needed to be new clauses added to the old bylaws to make the bylaw compliant to the changes.  

Therefore, Hilson implying the Press overall was “not” compliant with ONCA prior to our updating the bylaws in January is misleading. For the Press to be non-compliant with ONCA, the paper would have to be, in practice, violating the substance of the updated legislation. BUSU’s General Manager and Board have not provided any concrete proof that the paper has violated the substance of the ONCA for the simple reason that no such violation has taken place.] 

Imtiaz appreciated the timeline but wished it was more concrete. Kaminsky suggested that the BoD request a deadline, taking Hilson’s earliest suggestion of Jan. 10 for all requested items in order to have an update before their January meeting. 

Pahuja wondered if the board should give The Brock Press more time on the bylaws as they’d requested, but Kaminsky and Imtiaz said Jan. 10 was ample time. 

Kaminsky inquired as to what The Brock Press meant by “stakeholders,” and Hilson responded that their shareholders — at the time, at least — and board members, according to their bylaws and worker cooperative structure, were elected staff members.  

Stakeholders, which Hilson did not explain, represent anyone with a stake in the company but mainly Brock students because they fund The Brock Press, which reports primarily for them. 

Following this update, the BoD had a 15-minute in-camera discussion and then Hilson gave his verbal General Manager’s report. 

Hilson said that the new building is coming along nicely and the architect wants to present plans to the board in January. He also mentioned Patricia (Patty) General, who will be replacing Rossetto when she goes on maternity leave, and provided some updates on an upcoming EDI audit and Omnibus agreement he’s assisting with. 

Pahuja then provided her verbal President’s report. The second A-Team meeting, held in December, had about seven students in attendance, which Pahuja said was “not the biggest turnout but still good.” Pahuja also provided updates on various events and meetings, including BUSU’s recent free poutine night with over 600 students in attendance and a meeting with Dr. Robyn Bourgeois about the Indigenous Strategic Plan that will be developed. Pahuja also said she met with Brock Associate Vice-President, Students Brad Clarke about the Food First Program, which was “not the best conversation” but of which she would have more details in January. 

Finally, Kaminsky inquired as to why BUSU wasn’t holding the “12 Days of BUSU” giveaway event this year. Hilson explained that the event was only about getting followers and not student engagement or “giving things back,” and since BUSU is now organically gaining followers — having the second-highest followers based on the ratio of undergraduate students in the province — that money has gone into other resources like the Food First Program. 

The December meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m., marking one of the shortest of the year. 

January Meeting 

The BoD’s Jan. 13 meeting ran for nearly four hours, but featured the shortest public runtime by far, with a video of only eight minutes and 24 seconds. 

After being called to order at 6:37 p.m. and undergoing the standard approvals, the BoD moved in-camera where they remained until 10:14 p.m. No motions were voted on after the session; instead, Hilson launched into an update on The Brock Press. 

He said that as of Jan. 13, The Brock Press had posted its budget from this fiscal year, audited financial statements from last year, and minutes on its website. Hilson also reported that they had sent BUSU their latest version of ONCA-compliant bylaws, which BUSU’s legal team had indeed confirmed were ONCA-compliant. The next steps for The Brock Press included voting on the revisions and submitting the documents to the ministry, but aside from that, no legal troubles remained. 

Imtiaz asked if the board had any concerns, and Hilson said yes, their governance structure had not changed: 

“Certainly the fact that literally, you know, let’s say we both work together we can say ‘hey listen, do you want a $10,000 raise and I want a $10,000 raise’ and we say ‘yeah sure’ and then we vote on it, that is still an option for them, and it remains an option for them. If that’s concerning to the board, then that may be something you want to have a conversation with down the road,” said Hilson. 

[Disclaimer: The Brock Press is preparing a public statement about this concern and encourages students to read its “Stakeholders” page to see exactly what its remuneration figures are and generally how the paper divvies up the spending of its funds.]  

No other board members had anything to say about The Brock Press, so they moved on to the next agenda items — the Division 1 Operating Budget financial update as well as General Manager and executive reports — which they tabled for the next meeting due to a lack of time. 

Before the BoD adjourned, Hilson provided an update on Pahuja’s absence: being in the process of renewing her visa for a postgraduate work permit, Pahuja is on non-paid leave until her return, which was intended to be Jan. 15 but has been pushed to Jan. 27. 

Hilson said there have been no complications in the process; it’s just taking a long time. He noted that while she could have better communicated this absence with the Board, BUSU has known about this, and she has not just disappeared without any notice. With no other questions, the meeting adjourned at 10:22 p.m. 

All BUSU board meeting recordings can be viewed on their YouTube channel, and all meeting minutes are available on their website. If students want to attend meetings in person or contact the board, they can email Brielle Kaminsky at chair@brockbusu.ca.  

Brock University’s Experience Expo will give students the opportunity to speak with 70 employers providing countless co-op, full-time, part-time and seasonal job opportunities. 

On Jan. 28, Brock is hosting their Experience Expo, an on-campus recruitment event that will facilitate networking between Brock students and their potential employers. 

The Expo will occur in the Ian D. Beddis gym between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., hosting employers seeking a diverse range of employees in all stages of their education. 

Employers will be looking for students to fill a range of positions, including full-time jobs for new graduates, co-op opportunities, part-time employment and summer jobs. 

As dozens of employers will be attending the event, Brock’s Experience Expo is also an opportunity for students to network with potential employers across several industries. Experience Expo is Brock’s largest on-campus recruitment event, so there will be countless industry connections for students to explore. 

The employers include school boards, local businesses, municipal governments, Brock University itself and many more. 

Brock’s Co-op, Career and Experiential Education team will be available during the event to lead students through their job search efforts if needed.  

Students will have access to an on-site photobooth to take professional headshots to add to their resumes. If students are feeling unsure about the quality of their resumes and cover letters, Brock’s Career Education Team will also be attending the Expo to conduct resume reviews to ensure students are approaching potential employers as prepared as possible. 

As spots for the Experience Expo are limited, students are encouraged to RSVP as soon as possible by logging into CareerZone and registering through the Experience Expo event page or ExperienceBU. 

P.E.I.’s first confirmed meteorite landed near a person’s front door in July of 2024, and has now been verified. 

Prince Edward Island homeowner Joe Velaidum caught a video with audio of a meteorite landing by his front door in July just moments after he left to walk his dogs. 

After noticing the strange dust mark on the walkway and lawn, he checked his front door video camera to find out what happened. When advised by a friend, Velaidum collected samples of the debris to send to be studied. About seven grams worth of fragments were collected and sent to the University of Alberta (UA), where they were confirmed to belong to an ordinary chondrite meteorite, says CBC News. Later, a total of 95 grams were acquired. 

Chondrites are collections of tiny, rounded particles called chondrules that form when melted minerals congeal and freeze in the zero gravity of deep space and then become cemented together over time by accumulated space dust. 

The sample has been named the Charlottetown Meteorite since the crash site was just east of P.E.I.’s capital. 

James Dunn, an expert from the UA, confirmed that this was the first recorded meteorite event in the region. This rare occurrence provides a unique opportunity for the research and understanding of cosmic phenomena. 

Chris Herd, the meteorite collection curator of the UA, said this meteorite is from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and estimates it was travelling 200 kilometres per hour at the time of impact. 

Scientists say this was the first time a meteorite strike was caught on camera with audio. The meteorite was going so fast that you can only see it in two frames before it crashed. The fact that it was caught on a frame at all is impressive. 

A Naseba article says the area could see a tourism uptick “as curious visitors flock to the area, eager to explore both the meteorite’s impact site and the research facilities.” This celestial event also enriches local scientific interest and “has the potential to transform the island into a hub for astrobiology enthusiasts and geologists.” 

For potentially billions of years, this rock had been floating through space, moving between the inner planets and all the objects in the asteroid belt. As it orbited the sun around the inner solar system, the rock drifted too close to Earth and began its descent. As it entered the atmosphere, it was subjected to extreme heat and pressure, which often causes meteors to explode into fragments. Despite the speed, heat and pressure, many meteoroids remain completely intact.  

According to Herd, a closer look at the interior structure of the Charlottetown Meteorite fragments suggests that it endured many collisions in space. This likely weakened its internal structure; the collision with the walkway was just the last straw, blowing it to pieces. 

It turned from a meteoroid (a piece of rock, ice and/or metal 2mm to 1m wide), to a meteor (a meteoroid that enters the atmosphere), to a meteorite (a meteoroid or asteroid that survives to reach the ground). 

The Meteoritic Society says that prior to this, there were only 68 known meteorites discovered in Canada, found in every province and territory except for Nova Scotia, Nunavut and Prince Edward Island. 

This is one historic moment that will be remembered fondly, especially for the locals of Charlottetown. 

The January 2025 Southern California wildfires are becoming a historic event. 

Since Jan. 7, fires have raged in Southern California. As of writing, there have been over 40,000 acres burned, over 12,300 structures destroyed and at least 27 people killed with dozens more still missing. 

On Jan. 10, a health emergency was declared in the Los Angeles County due to the fire events and windstorm conditions.17 million people are under a windblown dust and ash advisory, but residents at risk can get free N95 masks at L.A. public libraries. 

Of the 30 fires that were active, 25 have been contained. The two largest ones, the Palisades and Eaton Fires, as well as three smaller blazes, are still active. 

The Palisades Fire has burned more than 23,000 acres threatening the suburban neighbourhoods Brentwood and Encino, and the commercial city neighbourhood Westwood. As of Jan. 15, the blaze was only 18 per cent contained. 

Southern California is facing “extremely critical fire conditions” caused by the Santa Ana winds, with windspeeds recorded as being up to 70 miles per hour (about 112 kilometres per hour). That is about nine-tenths as fast as a hurricane. 

Meteorologist and climate journalist Eric Holthaus said in a BBC interview that the winds not only help spread the fire but also make it difficult for aircrafts to safely get above the fires to drop loads of retardant and water. The lack of precipitation combined with the warm winds also further dry out the vegetation, allowing any sparks to grow into full-on fires.  

Although there is no lack of water for the firefighters to use, the dry vegetation is the main problem, making kindling out of dry grass, brush and trees. The weather forecast does not expect any rain until the end of January, possibly into February, which is a huge concern and very unusual considering this is usually the peak of the rainy season in Southern California. Holthaus said this is the driest start to the rainy season on record, “revealing some climate change signals.” Holthaus predicts this weather will likely continue for several weeks. 

Evacuation orders are in effect for about 92,000 residents and 89,000 are in evacuation warning zones, meaning they are advised to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.  

Among the firefighters risking their lives to contain the wildfires are about 950 inmates from California’s prison systems.  

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Conservation Fire Camp Program allows incarcerated individuals to shorten their sentences by working as firefighters. This is not an uncommon practice in the United States. The inmates make up about 30 per cent of California’s wildfire-fighting force and are paid about $10 per day.  

This has become a very controversial topic, with some inmates accusing the state of exploiting a vulnerable population and others insisting it is a great voluntary opportunity for them to give back to the community. Other people in the community have questioned the ethics of the choice to volunteer for the program given the perks of reducing inmates’ sentences and criminal record expungement. California Fire Public Information Officer John Clingingsmith Jr. assures that certain convictions disqualify inmates, including violent crimes and arson. 

Roadblocks and patrols by the National Guard have increased in the devastated areas, with more than 60 arrests made in evacuated areas mainly for looting and burglary according to BBC News. Elsewhere, price-gouging and scamming have also been reported according to CBS News. 

With thousands of homes destroyed and more still at risk, many families are left with nowhere to go. A New York Times article describes evacuees scrambling to find places to sleep in shelters, hotels and even cars. A lot of people evacuated so suddenly that they have nothing but the clothes on their backs. Rehousing people will take months if not years, said Democratic Congresswoman Judy Chu to BBC News. 

According to Global News, officials say they are better prepared going into the second week with crews from across the U.S., Canada and Mexico in place. In the third week however, stronger winds are expected. 

CBS News assures the public that the Grammy Awards, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in February, will not be cancelled or postponed, “but instead will refocus on fire relief efforts.” The Recording Academy will be raising funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honour firefighters and other first responders. 

Some people are accusing Los Angeles firefighters of being too slow and weak in their initial attack of the Palisades Fire, which many say was due to understaffing. Whether having more firefighters on scene at the beginning would have made a difference is unknown. The cause of the Palisades Fire is still being investigated. 

Some celebrities who live in Los Angeles have made major donations to L.A. fire relief and rebuilding efforts. Jamie Lee Curtis, Beyoncé, Paris Hilton and Leonardo DiCaprio have each donated between $100,000 and $2.5 million, according to a CNN report. L.A. County also reports that there has been an overwhelming flow of generosity as individuals and charities across the country donate. In-person donations are currently at capacity, but the county recommends making monetary donations to organizations dedicated to emergency work like Emergency Network Los Angeles. 

As this tragedy is still ongoing, the exact number of victims and structures destroyed is currently unknown. 

Going into 2025, Brock expected a $37 million deficit. After many budget cuts, this number is down to $10 million, but Brock University will still be making more major cuts this year. 

Brock University has a budget process deficit of $10 million going into the 2025-26 school year, which will result in library budget cuts, postponed capital refurbishment projects and the reduction of seminars. 

Brock President Dr. Lesley Rigg said to The Standard, “We have the same budget as we had in 2014,” meaning underfunding is unavoidable. A Niagara Falls Review article said that “years of inadequate provincial funding, frozen tuition, rising costs and an international student cap has brought Brock to a financial tipping point.” 

The library’s budget cuts include cancelling students’ access to major academic journals such as Springer Online (excluding Nature), Readers’ Guide Abstracts, Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal (print) and Lyell Collection. Permanent access to all Springer journal content from 2024 and earlier will remain available.  

This decision was made because, in comparison to the other “Big Deal” subscriptions, “Springer has the poorest value proposition, with relatively lower usage but at a high cost.” Analysis showed that cancelling the Springer package would help Brock save money while having a lesser impact than cancelling other subscriptions. Springer’s cancellation achieves about half of Brock’s budget reduction.  

Besides cancelling the subscription to the major academic journal and some other smaller ones, Brock will also reduce their spending on new books and e-books. 

According to the Niagara Falls Review, more cuts include “forming a voluntary retirement program for faculty and postponing capital refurbishment projects.”  

Dr. Rigg said that she feels confident staff will find a path to sustainability, but that there are going to be “lots of hard choices.” While more information on what choices these will be is still forthcoming, Dr. Rigg mentioned they will be “things that, while we love doing them and they mean so much to our students, we’re not going to be able to afford.” 

With Canada’s international student cap causing turmoil among post-secondary institutions, Brock will also be increasing its domestic enrolment and going over its corridor allotment to bring in tuition.  

Perhaps the biggest impact that will be seen this year and in the future is the reduction of seminars. Associate Professor and Chair of the History Department Dr. Tami Friedman said this is her biggest concern: “I fear we are at risk of losing something very special that has distinguished Brock from other institutions for many years.” 

Already, Dr. Friedman has seen the elimination of third-year seminars in her department for the 2025-2026 school year: “Now we will have three hours instead of four, so that will severely undermine our ability to hold seminars the way we normally do.” Other departments have similarly seen other cutbacks on seminars. For professors, “this is a major blow,” said Dr. Friedman in a statement to The Brock Press. 

Dr. Friedman explained that seminars are important because they give students a chance to get to know each other, share ideas, discuss views, ask questions and reach a collective understanding of subject matter. In courses above students’ first year, most professors ask students to work together and share the responsibility of guiding discussion. This is an important skill that promotes collaboration and leadership, which is especially helpful to students who are planning on becoming teachers.  

“There’s really nothing like students being able to engage with and learn from each other,” said Dr. Friedman. 

Faculty are also under pressure to make sure students don’t have to pay for course materials, even low-cost materials, “as if the best way to cut corners is in the classrooms themselves”, said Dr. Friedman. 

For decades, Brock has prided itself on offering specialized learning that promotes individuality, co-operation and connectivity. 

Dr. Friedman said the elimination of these seminars cuts costs because the faculty member or teaching assistant that teaches the seminar are paid a stipend for each seminar. The payment rate for teaching assistants in 2021 ranged from $20.11 per hour (undergraduate rate) to $31.63 per hour (graduate rate). 

According to Dr. Friedman, some faculty members believe there are people on Brock’s board and high-level administrators who have wanted to get rid of seminars altogether for many years now: 

“We also have to consider what choices the administration is making about how to distribute funds. We have a new engineering school, many new high-level administrators, money spent on costly outside consultants hired to ‘find efficiencies’ and carry out responsibilities that used to be done in-house.” 

Considering Canada’s near financial recession, increased living costs, and unclear political future, it’s unsurprising that Ontario is seeing so many changes. Ontario also receives the lowest funding of any Canadian province for post-secondary institutions. Brock’s base operating grants (funds allocated for each full-time equivalent student) have declined as a proportion of its revenue for about two decades, with no adjustments for inflation. 

Brock is currently working with a third party to examine its processes from procurement to programming to governance, hoping to identify cost-effective actions that won’t impact students too harshly.