Winter reading week is full swing now as the Keele Campus has gone quiet (as has Glendon, I’m sure). It’s a time to kick back and relax – but not too much. After all, the doom and gloom of March is looming, with final projects, assignments, presentations, seminars and tests just starting to appear on the horizon. A time to relax indeed, but also a time to catch a breath and continue pushing forward with studies.

For future students who may not be familiar with the concept of reading week, it is a week-long break in the middle of the semester aimed at (strangely enough) reading! University is jam-packed full of not only reading (sometimes entire novels a week), but also compiling notes and ideas about those readings. It can get pretty out of control this time of year and I’ve never met anyone who has never missed a reading or two. Reading week is an opportunity to get caught up on anything you missed.

Here are some ideas for both relaxing and getting work done during reading week.

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Retweets are a little late this week. This is what happens when there are midterms and sleep deprivation sets in! Here’s what’s been buzzing about YorkU on Twitter this past week:

@guitarplaya519 just sat down next to Marco from degrassi at the student centre. You know, just a casual day at York University. Was too chicken to say hi!

@NinaArsenault Just did a very successful talk up at YorkUniversity about the making of The Silicone Diaries.http://myloc.me/3GLQV

@colinfal: Get your tickets for Theatre Bassaris’ ‘Closer’ at the Centre for Film and Theatre, York University – 4-6 pm every day this week

@CanadaCricket York University Head South For American College Championship: http://wp.me/pGvzi-7A

@therealAJM Multicultural at york universityhttp://tweetphoto.com/10887271

@wiredcamellia Had a good time speaking at York University on cyberlaw last night. Thx to David Ellis and his Communications class for a great discussion.

@JessieexoVFC Myy drama teacher went to york university with Rachel mcadamss ! myy teacherr is awesommee

@bobraeMP: at York University, 9th floor Ross bldg, attending a session on the Afghan detainee issue.

And as always, you can follow us on Twitter!

There’s finally some snow back on the ground at York (well, a little bit…) and here’s what’s been buzzing about York University (and our students) this past week on Twitter.

@StrideGumCanada The Stride ping pong tournament has officially hit The York University food court today! Students are lovinghttp://tweetphoto.com/10317996

@gecko85 manhunt urban game at york university… anyone wanna join me??

@yorksredzone: Come out to the Social Media Week Session at York University: http://bit.ly/bUiyVr

@erandod brilliant award winning motion graphic based documentary (by 2 York university students) http://www.linearlink.ca/iam.html#inspiring

@StarGTANews Subway key to building community around YorkUniversity http://bit.ly/drQLDy

hilaryflint i just want to get into york university so bad. i dont care about the others. please lord make this all turn out okay.

@xoxoLOLAbunny THE Angela Davis is going to be speaking @York University this week // FREE for students, $20 all other !

@curtissauve , I have my own lecture hall at York university. NO BIG DEAL  http://tweetphoto.com/9821707

And, as we say every week: you can always follow us on Twitter to see what is happening around campus.

I currently had the opportunity to interview a number of York University students and asked them why they picked York, and what advice they have for future students of York University.  Students ranged from first year to fourth year, and all had important tips for future students.  continue reading »

 The McMun (McGill Model United Nations) conference for 2010 is under way in Montreal, and York University has 50 students representing the University.  One of the highlights of every conference are the guest speakers that come talk to the student delegates.  Guest speakers can range from politicians to corporate figures. 

The guest speaker this year was Justin Trudeau.  Justin Trudeau is a Canadian politician for the Liberal Party of Canada.  Guest speakers are a treat for students because they encourage students to excel in their studies.  It’s like your own personal pep talk, and it can do wonders for your self-esteem.  The guest speakers touch upon current events, and elaborate on how the global community can help current situations.  Justin Trudeau touched upon the current situation in Haiti and how we (the students) are able to help and make a difference.  Students may think they are unable to make a difference because they are students and don’t have the power to change the world. 

Justin Trudeau informed us that we can make a difference in the world, because we are young.  If we want to see change in the world, then we have to embody the change that we wish to see.  The future is in our hands today, not tomorrow.  Encouragement from a figure like Justin Trudeau can encourage a student to achieve something they never thought possible. 

York University will host its own conference on February 26^th 2010, to February 28^th.  The guest speaker has not been released yet, and the excitement surrounding the event is becoming unbearable as the date draws near. 

You can view the YMUN website here for full details on the club and the conference:

  http://www.ymun.org/page_home.asp