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HELLO THERE MYSTICS
Welcome back to another great year at
Mount Saint Vincent University. I’m excited
to come back for my second term as
Students’ Union President and continue
working for what YOU want to see happen
this year.
We’ve got a lot of great things planned
this year for you, starting with our Frosh
Week festivities! VP Student Life Tyler
Bechard and the rest of the Union have
been working hard to make sure that this year’s theme, “Mount
Games 2013” is as exciting and memorable as possible!
There are lots of opportunities for you Mystics to get involved this year,
whether you are first years or entering your final year! The President’s
Street Team is kicking off mid-September again, and we’re looking for
students to come out and promote our events, services and
campaigns! Email me if you want more information or like us on
Facebook at facebook.com/MSVUStreetTeam.
My hope this year is to make sure students are accessing our services
to the best of their abilities, and to tackle any issues, concerns, or
desires that students have to make this year go by as smoothly as
possible. My door is always open, and so is my mind, so feel free to
share!
Anyways! Look forward to meeting with you soon, and if you ever
want to grab a HOMEMADE ice cream sandwich from the Crow N’ Go, I’m down! I may even treat ya ;)
Sincerely,
Zach Gallant
President, MSVU Students’ Union
457-6434, [email protected]
@MSVUSU
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
Photo by Kiana Riego
President’s Message 1
Elections 3
Re-branding 4
Used Textbook Fair 5
6
Construction Update
19 Keep in Touch
Meet the Executives 2
Campus Updates 7
Tips for Students 17
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Zach Gallant—President
The President has three main roles; to
provide leadership within the Union, to
act as the Union spokesperson,
campaigner and/or lobbyist and to
be a promoter of Union activities and
campaigns.
Tyler Bechard—VP Student Life
The Vice President of Student Life has
three main roles; to be the lead
student activities event coordinator
for the Union, to be the liaison and
lead person on Grad activities and to
be the lead student on University
committees dedicated to student
activities and student life.
Joey LeBlanc—VP Communications
The Vice President Communication's
main roles are to manage a number
of communications for the Union, be
liaison with the university Alumni Affairs
department and to be lead person for
the Union Constitution, policies and by
-laws.
MEET THE EXECUTIVES
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
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ELECTIONS The campaign period will take place with nominations
beginning on September4, 2013 and closing September
13. September 16-17 are speeches with the 18-19 being
SRC voting.
We are looking for a dedicated student to join our
executive team as Vice President Student Advocacy.
The VP Advocacy has three main roles; to provide
leadership to the Union’s activities surrounding the
promotion of awareness and diversity, to act as a lead
student on University Committees dealing with
academic issues and to be an advocate for various
student rights.
Council Positions available:
Arts Rep
Education Rep
First Year Students Rep
Graduate Studies
International Student Rep
Off-campus Rep
Mature Students Rep
Science Rep
Positions Filled:
Board of Governors Rep (BOG) – Alissa Ali
Councilor at large – Caroline George
Professional Studies Rep – Nick Deal
Residence Rep – Alyssa Roy
Voting will take place on myMount this year. However,
we will still have a few voting stations on campus.
Photo by Caitlin Dumaresque
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
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SU SERVICE REBRANDING
Photo by Sarah Williams
The MSVUSU has rebranded a lot of the services beginning the reclaiming Rosaria as the Students’ Union
Building (SUB). The SUB is the campus core for student service, interaction, experience and social activity.
Some of the other services that have gotten a facelift include:
The Crow’s Nest Café is now the Crow-n-Go Snack Bar. Open Monday to Friday, the
Crow-n-Go is the Mount’s one & only on-campus student owned and operated grab
and go convenience store. The Crow-n-Go offers a wide range of convenience items
as well as a wide variety of quick meals for students on the go. This includes baked
sweets, yogurt, wraps, coffee, smoothies, pizza, soups and more. This service will
continue to grow and evolve as renovations begin to take place this year. You can
also find Mount clothing here.
Open 7 days a week, the Crows Nest is the Mounts only 24hr student computer
lounge. Attached to the Crow ‘n Go, the Crows Nest has a lounge space and offers
students access to a number of computers, Wi-Fi, group meeting space, modular
furniture, a bookable meeting room, printing ability and a bookable meeting room.
The Crows Nest is monitored by campus security for any students and groups working
late nights. Lots of furniture changes were made last year and now it has a new logo.
The HUB is the new name for the Students’ Union information desk which provides Mount
students with a large number of services. The HUB is every Mount students one stop shop
for: Printing (B/W, Color and large format printing), photocopying, faxing, clothing,
Mount gear, school supplies, International Student Identity Cards, ticket sales, stamps,
society mail, outgoing mail pick up and more! In addition the HUB also provides the SUB
lobby with wifi, music, vendors, events and a cell phone charging station.
[email protected]
The MSVUSU Wellness Centre is now a combination wellness and diversity centre
and Food Bank that provides Mount students with a variety of services,
information & resources. Physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual
wellness is an integral part of our university community and is embraced by the
Students’ Union. [email protected]
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
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USED TEXTBOOK FAIR
Photo by Zoe Dixon
The MSVU Student’s Union Textbook Fair is a Union-run fair
that allows students to submit books to be sold for the
price they desire.
Come submit your old books to make some extra money
or come buy the textbooks you need at a price much
cheaper than you would find anywhere else!
Hours of operation:
Monday/Tuesday 9-5
Wednesday/Thursday 9-6
Friday 9-4
Important Dates:
September 4—6 Drop Off Only
September 9—13 Drop Off and Purchases
September 16 –20 Purchases Only
September 23—27 Book and Money pick-up at the Hub
Please pick up your remaining books or money by
September 27th!
If you require any more information, visit the Hub!
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
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WE’RE MAKING BIG CHANGES Construction: The construction of the Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research
(McCain Centre) is well underway. This will be the only building on a Canadian campus dedicated to
celebrating and honouring women, and it is scheduled to open in December 2014.
Safety: As construction continues, be advised that the pedestrian access between Rosaria and the EMF is
limited. Please use the alternate pedestrian pathways. Safety barriers and fencing have been installed
around the construction site for your protection and must be respected.
Parking: There will be some changes to the parking areas on campus this coming year due to the ongoing
construction of the McCain Centre. We are doing our best to accommodate the parking requirements for
everyone on campus, and we are encouraging members of the Mount community to consider car sharing
or Metro Transit.
Information: For more information about construction of the McCain Centre, including frequently asked
questions, the updated campus map and live video feed, please visit msvu.ca/construction. For specific
questions, email [email protected]
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
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CAMPUS UPDATES Students’ Union
Upcoming Events:
September 11th—Mount Mash Up
September 20th—Homecoming
September 25th— Union Day
September 30th—Opt-Out Deadline
Shinerama
Since 1999, Mount Saint Vincent University students have
participated in the largest university and college student
fundraiser in the country…SHINERAMA. Shinerama is one of the
most rewarding and fun events you will participate in during
orientation week.
You will be one of over 35,000 students from coast to coast raising
money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, a non-profit organization that
funds Cystic Fibrosis (CF) research. CF is the most common fatal
genetic disease affecting young Canadians. In 2012, as a nation,
we raised approximately $1,035,000 towards finding a cure or
control for CF and continue to raise the bar.
In 1960, a child with CF rarely lived to attend kindergarten, let
alone university. Since Shinerama was introduced in 1964, the life
expectancy of CF patients has increased substantially. Today,
half of all Canadians with CF are expected to live into their 40s
and beyond. This year marks Mount Saint Vincent University’s 15th
anniversary being involved with Shinerama, raising approximately
$150,000 towards this extraordinary cause.
Join us on September7th, 2013 as Mount Saint Vincent University
students take the streets of Halifax to raise money for Cystic
Fibrosis research and care. The MSVU Shine team has set our 2013
goal at $15,000 to help reach our nation-wide goal of $1.16
million dollars.
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
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Krista Hill Photography
CAMPUS UPDATES Vinnie’s Pub
Vinnie’s Pub has added some new items to their menu
including vegetarian Black Bean Sliders! Come down for
some evening pub fare with your friends. Also, you won’t
want to miss Wing Night on Thursdays.
Upcoming Events:
September 5th— "Welcome Back Pub" wet only
September 7th—"Toga Love Pub" 1st wet/dry
September 12th—PUB NIGHT “Open Mic”
September 13th—CLUB NIGHT "Stop Light Pub"
September 17th— "Trivia Night"
September 19th — PUB NIGHT "Karaoke"
September 20th—"Pep Rally"
September 20th—CLUB NIGHT
"Homecoming semi-formal"
September 24th—"Trivia Night"
September 26th—CLUB NIGHT/DJ
September 27th—PUB NIGHT
October 1st—"Trivia"
October 3rd— PUB NIGHT
"Alexander Keith's B-Day Party"
October 4th— CLUB NIGHT/DJ
Spiritual Life
Celebrating the 'heart and spirit' of everyone's journey.
Peace Room (Evaristus, 3rd Floor, Rm C410) - A quiet space
to pray, meditate, read, reflect, and just be.
Looking for the right church, mosque, or meditation centre
for you? Interested in spiritual diversity? Need someone to
talk to? Want to cultivate a ‘Compassionate University’?
Contact the Spiritual Life Coordinator,
[email protected] , 457-6446, msvu.ca/slc
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
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CAMPUS UPDATES Parking Information
Parking passes for 2013-2014 will be available to purchase beginning
Monday August 19, 2013. Staff at Assisi Desk are available 24 hours a
day, and are happy to answer questions or help you calculate the
best option. In keeping with our sustainability efforts and to reduce our
paper usage, an electronic application form on myMount will be used
this year. The forms will be processed by Security and you can
arrange for payment and pass pick up 24 hours after you’ve
submitted your form. You can drop by or call 457-6412 for more info.
Career Planning Services (CPS) Workshops
Sept 6—Earn While You Learn: (How to find a part time job!)
10:00 AM, Seton Aud C or Sept 11: 12:00 PM, Seton Aud D
Sept 9—Winning Resumes
1:00 PM, Seton Aud C
Sept 12—Get Hired! (Find a Job BEFORE you Graduate!)
12:00 PM, Seton Aud A
Sept 16—Career and Academic Planning
3:00 PM, Seton 529
Sept 17—Networking at the Halifax Career Fair
1:00 PM, Seton Aud A
Sept 18—CPS Road Show
11:00 AM—12:00 PM, Rosaria Terrace
Sept 20—Interview Preparation
12:00 PM, Seton Aud A
Sept 24—HALIFAX CAREER FAIR: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, CUNARD CENTER
Oct 1—VOLUNTEER FAIR : 1:00 AM - 1:00 PM, RBC SETON LINK
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
Krista Hill Photography
Page 10
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CAMPUS UPDATES Counselling Services
Study Skills Workshops
Sept 24—Time Management and Procrastination
1:15 – 2:30 pm Evaristus 108
Sept 26—Reading Text/Lecture Note-Taking
2:00 – 3:30 pm Evaristus 108
Sept 27—Exam Preparation/Multiple Choice Test-Taking
2:00 – 3:30 pm Evaristus 108
Sept 30—Writing a University Paper
7:00 – 8:30 pm Evaristus 108
Oct 1—Reading Text/Lecture Note-Taking
2:00 – 3:30 pm Evaristus 108
Oct 3—Exam Preparation/Multiple Choice Test-Taking
1:15 – 2:30 pm Evaristus 108
Registrar’s Office
Students! Please remember that the add/drop deadline for
registering for courses is September 11th
myMount now provides quick access for students to do a
program evaluation and check their progress as they complete
courses towards their degree – in the ‘I want to.. Choose Task
bar’ select “Review my degree requirements” from the drop
down menu. If students have questions about the evaluation
they can contact the Registrar’s Office at [email protected] .
As well, students should always seek academic advising within
their department or through the Deans’ Office at
[email protected] !
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
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Bookstore
For your convenience, the Book Store will be offering extended
hours. Come in and pick up your textbooks, school supplies, and
Mount gear!
The first 500 people to purchase their textbooks and spend over
$300 will receive a free reusable MSVU cloth bag!
Sunday, Sept 1 – 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Monday, Sept 2 – 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept 3 – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday, Sept 4 – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday, Sept 5 – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday, Sept 6 – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Monday, Sept 9 – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept 10 – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday, Sept 11 – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday, Sept 12 - Back to regular hours
(9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday)
Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up
to date on what’s happening in the Book Store.
Mount Recruitment
The 2013-2014 Student Ambassadors have been confirmed for
this year!
You can meet the team and learn more about them online at
www.msvu.ca/studentambassadors.
If you see our ambassadors giving a campus tour, or at an on-
campus event, be sure to stop and say hello!
If you want to learn more about becoming a student
ambassador or joining our volunteer group, contact Nicole
LeBlanc in the Recruitment Office at [email protected]
CAMPUS UPDATES
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
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CAMPUS UPDATES
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
Chartwells
We are very excited to be your food service
provider. We can assist you with many meal option
for Lunch, Breakfast and catering events! Join us for
coffee and muffins at Seton Cafe, our retail
provider, or at Rosaria Dining Hall for an “all you
care to eat” experience. There are numerous meal
plans that will fit your needs. Visit our website at
dineoncampus.ca/msvu to find the best plan that
will suit you!!! There is an amazing deal in the
Rosaria Cafeteria advertised in this newsletter,
check it out and join us!
Varsity Athletics
2013-2014 Mount Mystics Varsity Tryouts
Women’s Soccer
Tuesday, September 3rd
8:00pm-10:00pm at Mainland Field
Meet at Gym at 7:30pm
Wednesday, September 4th
8:00pm-10:00pm at Mainland Field
Meet at Gym at 7:30pm
Thursday, September 5th
8:00pm-10:00pm at Mainland Field
Meet at Gym at 7:30pm
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CAMPUS UPDATES
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
Varsity Athletics Continued...
Men’s Soccer
Tuesday, September 3rd
8:00pm-10:00pm at Mainland Field
Meet at Gym at 7:30pm
Wednesday, September 4th
8:00pm-10:00pm at Mainland Field
Meet at Gym at 7:30pm
Thursday, September 5th
8:00pm-10:00pm at Mainland Field
Meet at Gym at 7:30pm
Women’s Basketball
Wednesday, September 11th
6:00pm-8:00pm
A. Garnet Brown Gymnasium
Friday, September 13th
2:00pm-4:00pm
A. Garnet Brown Gymnasium
Saturday, September 14th
1:00pm-3:00pm
A. Garnet Brown Gymnasium
Men’s Basketball
Wednesday, September 11th
8:00pm-10:00pm
A. Garnet Brown Gymnasium
Friday, September 13th
4:00pm-6:00pm
A. Garnet Brown Gymnasium
Saturday, September 14th
11:00am-1:00pm
A. Garnet Brown Gymnasium
Women’s Volleyball
Wednesday, September 11th
4:00pm-6:00pm
A. Garnet Brown Gymnasium
Thursday, September 12th
5:00pm-7:00pm
A. Garnet Brown Gymnasium
Sunday, September 15th
3:30pm-5:30pm
A. Garnet Brown Gymnasium
New to the Mount?
Complete the online recruiting form at msvu.ca/athletics
Unable to attend?
If you are unable to attend
one of the tryouts, contact June Lumsden, Director of Athletics at:
[email protected] , (902) 457-6370, Rosaria SUB Room 127
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CAMPUS UPDATES
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
Library
The Library warmly welcomes all new and returning
students! Drop by and see us in the E. Margaret Fulton
(EMF) Communications Centre to begin your path to
academic excellence!
Explore hundreds of thousands of print and digital
journals, books and ebooks on campus or off, and
access material from other universities easily and free
of charge from the Library’s homepage on or off-
campus.
Get help with all your paper and assignment research
needs with the Mount Library’s services. Check out
the Library homepage (http://www.msvu.ca/library)
and library guides by program (http://
libguides.msvu.ca/) for a great starting point.
Library Fall Hours
Fall hours begin on September 3rd. Check out
building, circulation, and research assistance hours at
http://www.msvu.ca/library, click on Hours to stay up
to date.
ID Cards
Get your ID card any time the Library is open! HRM U-
Passes will also be available in the Library until
September 6th (and then from Financial Services in
Evaristus Hall).
Krista Hill Photography
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CAMPUS UPDATES
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
Library Continued...
Workshops
Register for one or more of the online workshops offered
by the Mount Library. For Business and Tourism students,
these count
toward your Learning Passport Program.
Topics include:
Sept 16: Effective journal article searching, 6:00-7:00
p.m.
Sept 23: Using RefWorks for bibliographies, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Sept 30: Using Google Scholar and finding quality
resources from the Internet, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Oct 7: Finding and using eBooks at the Mount Library,
6:00-7:00
Oct 21: Finding and using images and other media for
your presentations, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Oct 28: Research to go: Accessing Mount Library
resources on your mobile device, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Although sessions are designed for distance and off-
campus students, all are welcome. Each will be held
via BlackBoard Collaborate. If the date or time does
not fit your schedule, please contact
[email protected] to set up an individual
appointment with your Liaison Librarian.
Read the Same Book, Share the Same Story
The Mount Library is pleased to once again be hosting a
One Book Nova Scotia author reading on October 3,
2013 @ 1:00pm in the MacDonald Reading Room,
Mount Library. Which book will it be this year? Check
out The One Book Nova Scotia site (http://1bns.ca/) for
the unraveling details. The Mount Library, and libraries
all across Nova Scotia, will have multiple copies of the
winning book available for loan as soon as the book is
unveiled.
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CAMPUS UPDATES
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
Library Continued...
Chat with a Librarian
Let a librarian be your guide! Set up a library orientation
or request assistance with your program research from
any of our Liaison Librarians. Go to the Library
homepage (http://www.msvu.ca/library), click on
Contact Us and then Liaison Librarians. Can’t make it in
to the Library in person? Call, email or chat with a
librarian! Find the LiveHelp chat widget on the Library
homepage and ask your question, we are ready to
assist.
iPads for loan
A reminder to students that the Library has iPads for
loan, check one out today and try out some new
research apps. There are 24 hour and 3 day loans
currently available. We also have laptops for loan, too.
Mount Library Photo Contest
Calling all photographers! Show us your favourite
space to read or study. Tell us why you like it, and how
you would make it better. All current students are
invited to participate. Win gift cards, print credits, and
research gadgets! Vote for your favourite photo! More
details to follow. #msvulibpix
Follow the Library on Twitter, like us on Facebook
Keep up with library resources, events and services
throughout the year by liking us on Facebook (http://
www.facebook.com/MountLibrary) or following us on
Twitter (http://twitter.com/MountLibrary).
From all the Library staff, best of luck this term!
Krista Hill Photography
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TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR By: Joanne Mills, Psychologist Coordinator, Student Counselling Services
Set your intentions for the term / Plan:
Starting out with a goal and structure will help you stay on course. A helpful strategy for time management
and goal setting is the general rule of planning to spend two hours of independent study for every hour
you are in class. For a student who is taking 5 courses (standard full course load), that would be
approximately 15 hours in lectures each week, so if we double that, that would be 30 hours of homework a
week. Many students, especially those coming straight from high school, do not spend the time that is
required. It seems like a lot, but if you treat being a student like your full time job, the 45 hours a week
doesn’t seem so overwhelming.
Limit outside paid work:
If your full time job is being a full time university student, we recommend that you limit outside paid work to
10 to 12 hours a week. Remember, your “full time job” is a busy 45 hrs/wk, and you also need time to relax
and have fun. Anymore than 10 to 12 hrs/wk may interfere with either school work or social life or self care
– and all are important. If you must work more than 12 hrs/wk, consider lowering your course load.
Study environment - be honest:
Do an honest “audit” of your work environment, including the time of day you study. How many
distractions are around (eg., roommates, TV, facebook on your task bar opened). How focused do you
“really” feel at 11:00pm? Set yourself up for success by providing the right environment for study: turn off
the TV, tell your roommates that you are unavailable for a set time frame, if you must have background
music on be sure it does not have distracting lyrics that draw you in, log off of facebook/twitter and close
your email so if you are on your laptop you aren’t tempted “just to check quickly”. If you turn your phone
off you can always get your texts after you have finished your reading, your emails will wait and if you
continue to remind your roommates/family that school is important and you must work hard this year, they
will respect your intentions.
Continued...
Photo by Ryan Kennedy
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
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TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR Use a planner
It is hard to hold all your work assignments and tasks in your head, and when things get busy, you are
bound to forget and/or get stressed trying to juggle everything in your memory. Have you ever had trouble
at night trying to get to sleep because you have a to do list running through your mind? Then empty it out
– jot it down on a note pad or day planner, or use your cell phone for your calendar and to do list. This also
helps to avoid procrastination. If you use a planner – either old fashion pen and paper or electronic – it
allows you to set specific goals for the day and week. You will be more apt to go to the library and read
pages 22 to 30 in Psychology if it is down in your calendar. It is a good idea to set aside a time each week
– I like Sunday evenings, to review what you have on your plate for that week, and then set daily “to do”
items to make sure they get done.
Break your readings down into manageable “chunks”.
University courses often move at a faster pace than high school, and there tends to be much more
reading. Breaking up your reading assignments into to smaller, more manageable chunks, it a helpful
strategy. You will be less likely to procrastinate and more apt to do it if it isn’t so daunting. To do this work
backwards: for example, if you have a midterm in Psychology in 6 weeks time on 3 chapters (300 pages),
then you will need to read 50 pages a week to make sure it all gets read in time. Even better, break the 50
pages a week into a smaller chunks, say 10 pages at a time, and plan 5 times in the week to read your
psychology textbook. It is much easier to sit down to read 10 pages than 50!! This strategy also helps with
concentration and focus.
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter
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KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR SU
Like us on Facebook to stay up to date with our events,
contests, and more. facebook.com/MSVUSU
Follow us on twitter to stay informed with what’s going on
campus and how you can win prizes. @MSVUSU
Find out more about upcoming events, societies, services
for students, & current contests all in one place on our
website. mountstudents.ca
If you have any questions, you can just text 1-902-809-MSVU
(6788)
You are always welcome to bring your questions or
concerns directly to Students’ Union. Rosaria Student
Centre, 118
September 2013 Mount Saint Vincent University Students’ Union Newsletter