Hey y’all! Chris signing on for the first fall edition of the Asper Scoop. As we move past the first couple weeks at school, it’s been hit after hit of nostalgia; from orientation day activities, to the first day of classes, to Commerce on the Quad, school is back in session and vibes are immaculate*.

* Vibes will be re-evaluated during midterm season.

This month, we’re diving into a great way to get involved on campus, as well as a few good excuses to leave the Drake Centre every now and again. Welcome to the September Scoop!

 

A First-Hand Look at the First Year Committee

First Year Comittee 2022-2023

It was Fall of 2022: the leaves had fallen, the Beverage Garden beverages had been beveraged, and the new school year had finally kicked off. Pablo Mejia and Thea Hughes, two students new to the faculty, were soaking in their first week of class and getting settled into their new digs at the Drake Centre. Although they took different paths to get there, they had one very notable thing in common: they were Asper students. 

Something else the two had in common was that they had a desire to get involved. For Pablo, coming off a year in the International College of Manitoba, representing the international student body in student leadership was a goal of his. Seeing how getting involved can help the transition into university life, Pablo wanted to take action to help others through that same transition. For Thea, it was a desire to give back that drove her towards student leadership, hoping to get involved and help her community. Then, just like in a storybook, both Pablo and Thea applied and got onto Asper’s First Year Committee (FYC), marking the start of a fun-filled year-long journey.

Jumping forward to Fall 2023, the pair have been able to reflect on their time with the FYC. When looking back at their favourite moments from the past year, both Pablo and Thea cited the relationships they created throughout their term. With every committee member being New-To-Asper, the pair cited the ability to be themselves and form meaningful relationships with fellow FYC-ers. Working towards a common goal, Pablo and Thea were able to bond and grow with their team throughout the year.

 

“The FYC teaches you to take initiative and be there for people” – Thea

 

On top of personal growth, the duo emphasized the professional skills that are developed in any student leadership position, including on the FYC. As a Director of Marketing, Thea was able to hone her graphic design skills, discovering a new passion in the process. Similarly, Pablo’s position as International Chair enabled him to grow as an event-planner and gain confidence in his abilities. No matter the position, there’s opportunity for growth!

 

“My motto in life is to be comfortable being uncomfortable” – Pablo

 

When asked to give advice to students looking to get involved, Pablo and Thea echoed a similar sentiment: don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and put yourself out there! The hardest step to take might just be the first one, but it often reaps the greatest rewards: it certainly did in the case of Pablo and Thea.

 

Rating Campus Buildings based on Food Options

Armes- Collosimo

With the Drake Centre debuting a brand new cafè, vending machines, and microwaves this month, Asper students now have viable lunch options at the press of an elevator button! It kind of feels like we’re entering the big leagues of buildings – the days of venturing out of faculty for coffee are gone, but not forgotten.

Getting out of the building once and a while is generally a good idea, at least from what I’m told. Although I don’t typically follow my own advice, I decided to explore some other buildings on campus to browse lunch options and officially enter my food critic era (minus actually having opinions on the food). From that, I developed my first annual official unofficial campus food-space ratings, based on the following criteria:

  • Price (as it compares to other options on campus)
  • Variety
  • Convenience & Location (in terms of proximity to the Drake Centre – we’re really putting the Asper in Asper Scoop with this one).
  • Study Potential

 

Honourable Mention: Armes – Collosimo

  • While the actual food is a bit limited in Armes, Collosimo drinks are the best-of-the-best on campus (pro tip from VPI Mickael Gier: try their matcha). Plus, Collosimo is located in the Science Students’ Association lounge which is a great place to study – the natural lighting hits.

 

Honourable Mention: St. Paul’s College – The Belltower Café

  • For a good, homemade meal, check out the Belltower in St. Paul’s College. While it’s a trek-and-a-half from Drake, it’s almost always worth the walk.

 

  1. Drake Centre – The Snack Exchange

  • Price (7/10) – compared to other facilities on campus, The Snack Exchange is relatively on par with other grab-and-go lunch options. However, the $4 empanadas bumps up my rating.
  • Variety (6/10) – again, relatively comparable to other facilities on campus. The mix of hot and cold food brings a decent amount of variety to the table – plus, it looks like they’re debuting menu items as we speak!
  • Convenience & Location (10/10) – in terms of distance from the Drake Centre, it’s a 10 (I mean, I don’t have much choice to be fair). Plus, the first-floor vending machines can come in clutch for an uber-convinient budget lunch/girl dinner.
  • Study Potential (8/10) – while the café itself doesn’t offer any seating, you’re just steps away from Drake’s third floor study area, as well as the Sony quiet study space – both solid options.

 

  1. Engineering – Tim Horton’s & The Window

  • Price (8/10) – although I still mourn the days of $1.99 Iced Capps, Tim’s is relatively affordable considering the other on-campus options.
  • Variety (6.5/10) – I mean, it’s Tim Horton’s so there’s only so much you can get. That being said, The Window (around the corner from Tim’s) sells snacks and little lunches like Pizza Pops, providing at least a couple more alternatives.
  • Convenience & Location (8/10) – a short walk from Drake, cutting across the Quad to Eng is a fall-time tradition. While the line can get a bit lon, overall convenience ranks pretty high.
  • Study Potential (8.5/10) – similar to the Drake Centre, there are plenty of hidden gem study spots in the floors above Tim Horton’s. Check out the Engineering library if you’re in need of a late night study sesh.

 

  1. University Centre – Food Court (Floor 1)

  • Price (6/10) – price is pretty variable from place to place in UC – there are definitely some more expensive options/vendors, but there are also some more cost-effective options like Subway mixed in. Definitely hit or miss here.
  • Variety (11/10*) – this is the most densely populated food-space on campus – from quick bites to full-on meals, Subway to AFV Kitchen, the UC Food Court has it all. Purely based on food options, this would be my number one pick.
  • Convenience & Location (9/10) – another quick walk from Drake, the true convenience factor lies in the ordering system – tablets are littered throughout the first floor to take your lunch order. As well, GPA’s offers one of the most convenient grab-and-go lunch selections on campus, from instant ramen to fully prepared meals.
  • Study Potential (5.5/10) – while there is a lot of seating available, the first floor of UC can get quite busy during peak times. Not a bad spot by any means, but noise-cancelling headphones might be the vibe for studying here.

 

* I broke my own rules because there weren’t really any rules to begin with.

 

  1. Fletcher Argue – Greenhouse Cafe & Tim Horton’s

  • Price (7.5/10) – the express Tim Horton’so offers about the cheapest coffee/pastries you’ll find on campus. Pair that with the on-campus-average prices at the Greenhouse and you have a relatively affordable building!
  • Variety (7/10) – nothing too crazy, but what you’d expect to find for a quick campus lunch/snack. I hear good things about the Greenhouse Cafe’s soups, which might just be the play during winter.
  • Convenience & Location (9/10) – completely accessible by tunnel, Fletcher Argue is one of the easiest buildings to navigate to. Plus, both Tim’s and Greenhouse offer ready-to-go options that can be purchased in a pinch.
  • Study Potential (8.5/10) – with Dafoe library right around the corner and solid seating options at the Greenhouse itself, there are plenty of study options within a short distance.

 

  1. University Centre – UMSU Street (Floor 3)

Includes IQ’s, Degrees Diner, VW’s

  • Price (6/10) – while the food is priced closer to what you’d expect for the restaurant vibe they provide, both Degrees and IQ’s balance it out with relatively affordable pastry and coffee options. 
  • Variety (8.5/10) – Degrees hosts a constantly changing menu that covers multiple cuisines, along with a hefty menu of hot and cold drinks. Add that to VW’s steady pub-style offerings and you have a pretty decent spread.
  • Convenience & Location (7/10) – while it is a little bit further from Drake than some previous options, IQ’s ups the convenience score with fast access to food and drink. Plus, both Degrees and VW’s provide takeout options that make it a bit more suitable for those on-the-go.
  • Study Potential (8.5/10) – combine the natural lighting of Degrees with the coffee-shop study vibes of IQ’s and you have two solid lunchtime study spaces.
  • Bonus Points: Sit-Down Service (3) – in my heart of heart’s, this had to be my number one choice and these extra points solidified that decision. Degrees and VW’s get a fun little +3 for having true sit-down, restaurant/bar experiences on campus.

 

That’s it, back to Drake!

 

That brings the September Scoop to a close! Special shout out to Pablo and Thea for sharing their stories this month, and thank you for reading again this month. Until October!

    – Chris