A Glendon Club/Organization Spotlight: Pro Tem

Founded in 1962, Pro Tem is Glendon’s student newspaper, York University’s oldest student-run publication, and the only bilingual newspaper in Ontario. Impressive, I know. Pro Tem gives the Glendon student-body a voice, addressing Glendon and common student life issues. With that said though, Pro Tem covers a wide-range of topics that stretch beyond our school’s boarders, to include the city of Toronto, Canada, and because of our strong international student population, a personal look at world issues. 

Currently, Pro Tem is going under some major changes after running into problems during the 2010-2011 school year. Due to some administrative issues, Pro Tem went on an unfortunate hiatus but has returned with a new spirit and have big rebuilding plans. 

Pro Tem’s assistant English editor, Elsa Ascencio told me that there are three major issues that the paper is currently combating to get back to its top-form. “What occurred from this hiatus is there’s a gap of many things: a) Glendon students knowing that we exist, b) technological changes, and c) what’s current in with the publishing world. As a result, this year is kind of an interesting year. Cheryl [Kane], our editor-in-chief, Paola [Paulino], our assistant French editor, and I, and our team, have been working tremendously but it does sometimes feel like starting a new newspaper.” 

As Pro Tem found themselves behind when it came to technological changes, as a result of the gap year, Glendon’s paper was quick to play catch-up, now keeping up to date with their Facebook and Twitter pages. Another big change that’s happening right now for Pro Tem is the ability for its audience to read the newspaper online. With Pro Tem’s new Tumblr page, you are able to view this past year’s editions of the paper (Psst, I’m in them) and spotlights various articles from the past fifty-years worth of papers.

Like every university newspaper, Pro Tem does struggle with student involvement and according to Ascencio, the biggest obstacle that the paper has in getting back to its former-self, is student apathy. “It’s just students don’t care. And they do have opinions, I don’t question that, it’s just for some reason no one really wants to write about it.” 

As future Glendon students and being part of the culturally rich and unique student-body that makes up Glendon, you can be part of the next generation of Pro Tem and combat student apathy. It’s so important to express your voice at university and in life. Pro Tem is the perfect place to do so. 

“We are on a liberal arts campus, our niche, our whole thing is writing, communication, and critically analyzing the issues presented,” says Ascencio. 

“Pro Tem gives every student the opportunity to do that. That’s one of the inherent advantages with working with Pro Tem. A student who comes in with a liberal arts education in mind, will get the most out of it.”

For all of your Pro Tem needs and questions, check them out on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr.

Awesome Of The Day - "Ain't No Reason" - Brett Dennen

I don't usually spend my time here blogging about music, unless it's my occasional acknowledgement of my love for Simon & Garfunkel, but this song (and stunning video) has been in my head for the past couple of days. American singer-songwriter Brett Dennen has been writing very telling and socially-conscious folk-pop music since 2004. Dennen's "Ain't No Reason" in particular, is a hard hitter, as it addresses people's tendency to get wrapped up in routine and comforts and ignore important social issues.

So, whether you are enjoying reading week or need some inspiration with your homework, take a listen to Brett Dennen's "Ain't No Reason."

Awesome Of The Week - Canada Reads

Jian Ghomeshi (host), Carmen Aguirre, Shad

If you follow me on Twitter, you've probably noticed the influx of Tweets this week talking about "Canada Reads." But Laura, what the heck is Canada Reads? Essentially, Canada Reads is an annual "battle of the books" organized by the CBC. Since 2002, Canada Reads has been crowning books that "every Canadian should read." (You'll be happy to know that Michael Ondaatje's (former Glendon professor) "In The Skin of a Lion" won the first ever Canada Reads.) Beginning months before Canada Reads airs, Canadians are asked to submit their favourite titles, which must be Canadian fiction, poetry, or plays, to Canada Reads. From these recommendations, the top 40 books are chosen which are then voted upon by the public and voted down to the top 10. Finally, (this does seem like a long process...) five Canadian "celebrities" choose one book to defend in a debate style setting that takes four days.

This year, for the first time ever on Canada Reads, the non-fiction genre was tackled with the final five books being: "Something Fierce: Memoirs of a Revolutionary Daughter" by Carmen Aguirre (backed by Shad), "On a Cold Road" by Dave Bidini (back by Stacey McKenzie), "The Game" by Ken Dryden (backed by Alan Thicke), "Prisoner of Tehran" by Marina Nemat (backed by Arlene Dickinson), and "The Tiger" by John Vaillant (backed by Anne-France Goldwater).

Through four days of debates with tears, passion, outrageous claims (*cough* Anne-France Goldwater *cough*), and questions about the Canadian identity, Carmen Aguirre's "Something Fierce" took this year's title of Canada Reads champion. If you don't know the rapper Shad already, his music is filled with well-versed and intelligent lyrics and easily one of my favourite Canadian rappers. So it wasn't too surprising to see Shad's intellect and poised manner carry over to the debate table, even being called one of the best celebrity book-backers Canada Reads has ever seen.

All of the final five books are available at Chapters/Indigo and for more information on Canada Reads, do check out their website.