Money being top of mind for students is nothing new, but in recent years the situation has become more dire. This was reflected not only in my own feature story on money troubles, but also in a number of other articles throughout the year.
From the federal budget breakdown (by Dan Ellerton) to tips on getting more food out of your food (by AJ Aiken), students had a lot to say on the financial state of things. It wasn’t all bad news, though. When talking about money, it’s easy to focus on where it’s tight, but the CCSS announced earlier this year that Camosun would receive funding to build affordable on-campus housing (which we covered in an article by Lydia Zuleta Johnson).
Finances are stressful and can leave people feeling desperate—it’s part of why so many people have become politically engaged, hoping for something different from their government.
Just remember to look past campaign promises and check how the actual policies parties want to implement will affect you financially in the tax bracket you occupy.
We can’t always control the economy, but we can control whether or not we take care of each other and make good use of what we have available to us.
Mackenzie Gibson, senior writer
Over the last couple of years, the federal government has implemented tighter restrictions on study permits and narrowed eligibility for post-graduation work permits (PWGP). Having come to Canada as an international student, I see both positives and negatives with these changes.
The cap on international students can protect students from private institutions that blatantly exploit and use them for their money, prioritizing profit over quality. I’ve seen many stories of international students being misled by these organizations.
On the other hand, the restrictions on permits overlook why some students come to Canada. In my case, coming from Mexico City, a place where violence and crime are frequent realities, studying in Canada was an escape into a better world and a more promising future. For other people, especially from Latin America, coming to Canada is perhaps the only way to marry their loved ones because queer marriages are illegal in their country. Not everyone comes for the sole reason that they think Canada is a nice country—many come for the possibility of a better life.
The PWGP was often viewed as a promise that Canada would provide education and a chance to stay. Canada has always had a reputation as a welcoming country that values diversity and offers an opportunity to grow, but in international students’ eyes, that’s changing.
Santiago Vazquez-Fuertes, senior writer
The January snow days were one of the most frustrating yet memorable events of the 2024 winter semester.
If you are new to Camosun or need a refresher, here’s the gist.
On January 17, students in Victoria woke up to a light snowfall and an email saying that classes were on. Many students made the commute to school, while others opted to stay home. By 10 am the light snowfall was (as predicted by meteorologists) not so light anymore. The college then made the decision to close both campuses at noon.
Many students were already in class by this point and were faced with getting home in what was, at this point, a full-on snowstorm. It took me two and a half hours to get from the Interurban campus to my home. Several folks crashed, buses were brutal, and it was an overall unpleasant experience.
Students were already frustrated after this preventable mistake, but things got even worse the next day, when Camosun did the exact same thing.
I hope that we aren’t writing this same story again in the winter, and that for the safety of all students, the college just shuts down, but only time will tell.
Jaxson Smith Peterson, contributing writer
With 49 percent of the world’s population in 64 countries voting in elections worldwide, 2024 was a record year for democracy.
In Canada, provincial elections took place in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and here in British Columbia. On October 19, British Columbians went to the polls in what turned out to be one of the closest provincial elections in our province’s history. The campaign saw attacks between BC NDP leader David Eby and BC Conservative leader John Rustad over key issues including drugs, homelessness, and the cost-of-living crisis. Votes took several days to be counted, but in the end, voters elected Eby and the BC NDP with a majority government in the close election.
In US politics, on November 5, Americans went to the polls to vote in an unprecedented election between vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump. Joe Biden dropped out of the race in late July due to concerns over his age. After a short and sometimes ugly campaign, Donald Trump was re-elected as president, sweeping the “battleground states” concerning and shocking many around the world.
And here at Camosun, students casted their vote from October 21 to 23 to vote in new students on the Camosun College Student Society board, with 688 students from both campuses taking part in the bi-annual process.
Cayden Gill, contributing writer
As we approach the end of 2024, there can be no denying that climate change has shaped public opinion, politics, and education. People may say that the year was dominated by politics and the economy. Maybe that’s true, but climate change remains central to almost every major societal issue facing us today.
Forest fires, heat waves, flooding, and drought; these stories continue to dominate headlines across the globe. Indeed, in response to this, governments, communities and institutions have spearheaded projects aimed toward climate change.
For instance, Camosun has revamped its Environmental Technology program to align with environmental needs and with an aim to getting technicians into the field faster. Camosun also installed a solar array on the Lansdowne campus library roof.
Sadly, governments are engaged in greenwashing with little evidence that they have any appetite to do anything effectual concerning climate change. One needs to look no further than the DRC and the red sand cobalt mines, or the lithium ponds in Indonesia that have absolutely decimated the ecosystems surrounding them.
While some communities are actively engaged in reducing their environmental footprint, many more remain committed to exploiting it.
Daniel Ellerton, student editorial assistant
Student encampments in support of Palestine were set up at post-secondary campuses across Canada in 2024, including one very prominent one right here in Victoria.
In our Open Space opinion piece “People’s Park proves student encampments can work on many levels” in our August 7 issue, Nexus contributing writer Kim Fehr posed a simple question: do student encampments work?
The People’s Park encampment was set up in the quad at the University of Victoria on May 1. But was it a success? Fehr argued that with a prayer space, a library, art, picnics with shared food, and the assemblage of a community, People’s Park was indeed a success.
After a tense back and forth with UVic, the institution served the camp with a trespass notice on July 20. The notice stated that the camp had to be vacated by 8 am on July 22.
“If the university refuses to engage in negotiations, is the encampment a failure?” Fehr wrote in the piece. “Perhaps, if having their demands met is the only goal of the encampment. In the case of People’s Park, however, much has been accomplished, regardless of the embarrassing behaviour of the UVic administration.”
Greg Pratt, managing editor
Decolonization—as well as Truth and Reconciliation—has been a big topic this year in Canada and other countries around the world that have a history of colonial rule.
Here in British Columbia, the Haida Nation recently gained Aboriginal title to the entirety of Haida Gwaii in April, and in July the Great Bear Sea initiative was launched—a 100,000-square-kilometre network of marine-protected areas just off BC’s northern coast to be managed under shared authority of 17 coastal nations.
Even more decolonial action is in the works—including here at Camosun.
In June, student editor Lydia Zuleta Johnson spoke with Maureen Niwa and Wendy McDonald about the Indigenizing English Placement Assessment (IEPA) project, which aims to create a culturally appropriate learning environment for future Indigenous students.
Re-framing this assessment through an Indigenous lens is one example of an important step forward in making an institution like Camosun more culturally relevant for Indigenous peoples, including storytelling traditions and expressing Indigenous worldviews.
Likewise, the Camosun library is currently conducting a survey looking to gain more insight from students, faculty, and staff about what it can do to decolonize and form a more inclusive environment.
The practice of decolonization is ongoing—and should remain so.
Ray Nufer, student editorial assistant
Few things drew Camosun students together as much this year as one furry feline did early in 2024 while things were dark and cold on campus. The cat in question is Alaska—who lives near the Lansdowne campus—and, for a period of time, she was the talk of Camosun.
Former student editor Jordyn Haukaas wrote about Alaska in “Neighbourhood cat brings joy and concern to Lansdowne campus” in our January 24 issue, which also featured Alaska in all her glory gracing the cover.
“Alaska once vanished through a hole in the wall inside the Young building’s gym and couldn’t find her way back out,” Haukaas wrote in the story, just one of many tales showcasing why the cat had gained the attention of students at Lansdowne. In fact, for a time during early 2024, we could barely get through a day without someone mentioning Alaska and her brazen displays of, well, catness.
But it’s been a while since we heard from Alaska, so we contacted her human owners to see what she’s up to; as of press time we hadn’t heard back, but wherever Alaska is, she’s surely bringing joy to people like she did for Camosun students in 2024.
Greg Pratt, managing editor
The music scene saw some big losses in 2024. In addition to more venues closing, one of the hardest-hitting losses was Dylan Willows. The Zone FM’s morning show co-host with Jason Lamb, Willows was also a promoter, music advocate, venue owner, and my friend.
On March 18 and 19 the city celebrated the life and contributions of Willows, who had terminal cancer, at two sold-out shows at The Royal McPherson Theatre. The outpouring of love was overwhelming. Willows’ family came from as far as Australia, and old Zone staff returned to Victoria to honour him.
On June 6, The Zone announced the passing of Willows. I still see the occasional Instagram post from current and former staff and their spouses as we grieve our loss.
Willows gave his heart and soul to the music community. His creativity and big thinking brought us VIC Fest and the Food Truck Festival. This makes me wonder: what ideas would Willows have for the disappearing-venue problem we’re facing now? Whether he had the answers or not, I know Willows would’ve continued to advocate for and promote Victoria’s music scene. That’s who he was. That’s what made him the legend that he is.
AJ Aiken, contributing writer
In recent years, AI has exploded in sophistication to a degree that’s both amazing and alarming. On one hand, it allows ordinary people to create something that was, in the past, only accessible to those of great talent. As a tool, AI can be used to generate dazzling works of art (especially if trained on original media), or allow people to gain insight or understanding, in a highly-bespoke, easy-to-digest manner. In our September 3 issue, Nexus explored the pros and cons of the technology.
Along with this freedom comes ethical issues around using AI to deceive, either with deepfake images, videos, or voices that only Hollywood could previously pull off, or to cheat in an academic setting. If abused, it can be incredibly harmful, and it is easier than ever for the scant actions of a few bad actors to create chaos in the lives of good people.
AI marks a pinnacle of human ingenuity, and its positive potential is manifold. As with any technology, it will continue to grow and integrate into society. People will become better at detecting AI chicanery, and policies will arise to address issues. As with any tool, it allows people to reach beyond their capabilities, for better or for worse.
I think, in the long run, if we can agree to uphold a standard of transparency, it will be for the better.
Lane Chevrier, contributing writer