Katerina's February message
February!
Last weekend was a cold one, with Arctic blast bringing some of the coldest temperatures I have seen in a long time. I hope you all made out okay, and were able to stay warm. I am cognizant of the increased difficulty cold weather causes our unhoused populations and those without adequate heating in their homes. For those needing support to pay for their winter heating visit https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-heating-assistance-rebate-heating-assistance-rebate-program.
February is African Heritage Month in Nova Scotia, and Black History Month in Canada. This is a time dedicated to learning about culture, history, and experiences of Black people across Canada and worldwide. We are also nearing the end of the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024). As a university community, it is important to take space to explicitly celebrate the contributions our Black students, and students of African heritage make to our community. It is also important that we take the time to reflect on the work we still need to do. I encourage you all to review the resources available from the Black Student Support office, including the Boabab project [https://www.msvu.ca/campus-life/student-equity-diversity-inclusion/black-student-support/programs-initiatives/the-baobab-project/], as well as the Masters Thesis by Laseinde, Ajoke M. (2022) Acculturation stressors and facilitators for African international students at a Canadian university: Racialization, Pragmatic competence, and Intercultural Friendships.
Now, a quick update about what we have been working on. Our Nimbus Tutoring Program is getting stronger, with our coverage up to approximately 100 courses. As always, we continue looking for qualified tutors, and encourage students’ wanting a tutor to reach out. The Rook - Café by day, transformed into a pub at night – serves JustUs coffee, tea, and baked treats for everyone.
In two weeks (February 20th-24th) is reading week. It is meant to be productive, but also a time to decompress. Our offices and services are closed that week, and staff have the week off. If you need to contact the SU during reading week, please email me (supres@msvu.ca) with “Urgent” in the subject line. Nominations open when we return from reading week, so if you have any questions about the SU or are considering running in our general election, please let me know.
That’s all for me, but I’ll be back in March to deliver another message!