The Low Down on The B-wick (or Berwick Campus)

So I’m sure everyone knows by now that FedUni’s got a new campus at Berwick, or as everyone calls it: The B-wick. (Ok, so maybe no-one calls it that…yet. It’s pretty catchy, it’s got a nice ring to it, it’s gonna catch on, trust me). FedUni picked up the campus last year as part of Monash’s fire sale of campuses.

As far as I’m concerned, they got a pretty good deal.  This place is pretty nice, even if it is just for first-years at this point. Want to know more? Well, let me lay it out so you can play it out. Continue reading The Low Down on The B-wick (or Berwick Campus)

Spring

Eric.2In this post I’m going to talk about Spring, because it started last week.

Or did it?

In Australia, as I’m sure you’re all aware, the Bureau of Meteorology has decided that the seasons will start on the 1st of the month (Spring in September, Summer in December, etc.).

But what if I told you that the 1st of the month is just a random day they picked just to make record-keeping easier? Who can live in that sort of random anarchistic society? I know I’m struggling.

Spring this year actually starts on the 23rd of September, at 12:21am.

How can I get it down to the minute, you ask?

Well, that’s because Spring starts after the Vernal Equinox. The Vernal Equinox is the point at which the Southern Hemisphere gets more sunlight than the Northern Hemisphere. It’s all very scientific, which is how these things should be determined. It depends on the tilt of the Earth, which is what causes the seasons in the first place.

Now here’s the bit that seems to cause all sorts of confusion for the people at the Bureau: it changes every year. That’s because the orbit of the Earth around the Sun doesn’t happen in exactly 365 days (the same reason we have leap years) and there’s a couple of other things that don’t happen in nice round numbers. It’s always going to be around the 21st of the month, but it’ll vary by a day or two either side.

And it’s not just Spring. There’s also an Autumnal Equinox. And a Summer and Winter Solstice. The Summer Solstice is the point at which the Sun is highest in the sky, and the Winter Solstice, the lowest. And they’re all around the 21st of the month.

But here’s what I don’t get: Easter varies every year. It depends on the cycle of the moon. People seem to handle that fine. And it varies by weeks from year to year. Why can’t they handle the start of the seasons that change by only a day or two?

I’m thinking about starting a movement. Maybe even get a petition going. Let’s stop the madness! Who’s with me?

Ok, that’s the end of my rant. Thanks to all of you who stuck it out this long. And Happy First Day of Spring! On the 23rd, not last week.

– Eric

Census Day

Eric.2Alright folks, this is a public service announcement from your friendly neighbourhood SAL, Eric.

August 31st is Census Day.

What’s that you say?

“All the commercials on the tv say that the census is on August 9th

Well, yes, that’s true too.  But it’s a different census.

Continue reading Census Day

Studying Abroad

Eric.2So, you’ve got the opportunity to study abroad… Do it!

Maybe you don’t know about opportunities, but you’ve thought about it Well, look into it…and then do it!

Haven’t even thought about studying abroad? Well, think about it, then look into it, and then do it!

If you can’t tell, I’m a little biased about the whole thing.  For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Canadian. I’ve been living here for about 6 years, and started at FedUni in 2014.  But, waaaaay back in 2004 I came down to Melbourne to do a Grad. Dip. for teaching at Deakin. I’d just finished my first uni degree and had no idea what I wanted to do. And like so many other people, I thought “maybe I’ll be a teacher.” And then, right around the same time, I thought “maybe I’ll go to Australia.”  And then BOOM! It hit me: why not do both at the same time? Continue reading Studying Abroad

Harvard Referencing

What’s up, science and IT students? And a shout-out to my fellow engineers as well! Whether you’re in first year or fourth year, you’ve probably noticed that the university is pretty much against plagiarism. I mean, I guess it’s kind of understandable. If you just steal other people’s work the whole time, you’ll get a fancy piece of paper at the end, and not learn anything to deserve it. Continue reading Harvard Referencing