 | Principal’s Notes | Hello hello hello lovely little tadpoles!
The Toads have convened and declared myself, Dr. Toad PhD, as the new college principal and have bestowed upon me the Fancy Hat!
Don't worry, I will not let the power go to my legs and hop ahead without you, though I am known for my Toad-ally awesome hopping skills. To catch you up to speed, there is a wacky and wonderful band of misfits that make up the cast of colourful characters within the college office. The column below will go into detail on who some of these individuals are while the rest of the newsletter contains our usual antics- just this time with a twist!
Are toads frogs? Are frogs toads? Is the toad a frog? A turtle? What is their PhD in? All these questions have been asked, many have been unanswered, until today!
You may be asking where Christine went, but I want to answer the real questions. I know I throw around the fact that I have a PhD frequently but what is it in? I am finally here to set the record straight. I am a Doctor of philosophy in Transformative metamorphosis alteration variation. No further questions.
Hop on over to the LEC office today to say hello and grab a sticker! | As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns, and do come by the college office, grab a sticker and say hi. We are always happy to see you.
My best, Dr. Toad PhD |
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| Story Time with Swampy | Heyo tadpoles, Here are the college mascots & the other familiar faces of our friends that you've seen around!
-Dr. Toad PhD. our newly appointed college principal! Most times you can see Dr. Toad in the college office standing ominously in the corner. Dr. Toad turned the big 14 this year on February 29th and they celebrated with the other mascots at Trent!
-The chicken bobber, our lovely metal friend, can be found in the quad party-rocking back and forth. You may know the chicken bobber from the iconic cheer that O-week leaders love, if you haven't heard the famous cheer then be on the lookout for it next September.
-Pippy is our tiny metal friend who can be found in the SCR! Pippy is lesser known to students but definitely not lesser loved!
-Anthony Hopkinz is our Toad-ally amazing friend that sits by the chairs in the college office and will wait with you while you wait for your appointments. If you ever need a bit of extra luck, feel free to swing by and give Anthony's nose a rub! It's not a hoax! Students have said that it really works!
-Last, but certainly not least, there is Swampy! A.K.A. me! I am the coveted toad plush itself! Me and my plush friends are highly sought after because we cannot be bought! We have to be earned through an act of service to the college or won through valiant efforts (or trivia questions).
At LEC there are many beloved plants! Ella is located right outside of the college office, her beautiful leaves attract many people to come take a look. Keanu Leaves is located outside the SCR and soaks up the sun through the sun-light above! Oscar lives beside Ella in front of the college office, as they are good friends! All of these lovely plants are taken care of by our toadlets, the student ambassadors!
Here are some other reoccurring characters! If you're a frequent Drumline reader (which we hope you are) then you will have seen the snail from the jokes that has been present throughout the editions this year! A somewhat newer edition to the office is the toad named mud that lives inside a succulent on the ambassador desk and was created during the Plant-friending event! Next is our friend who is always dressed and ready for winter, because you can never be too careful in Canada, the concrete toad that lives at the bottom of the ambassador desk in the office!
|  | See you around! Swampy Leader of the Toad Plushies |
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| Academic Advising | Graduating this spring? Make sure to apply! When you believe you are ready to graduate, you can submit the Application to Graduate form found in Academics > Self Service > Graduation Overview. You should apply as soon as your course registration for your final year is finalized (e.g. early in the Fall term if you are graduating in January or Spring; early in Summer term if you are graduating in September). The deadline to apply to graduate for May graduation is April 5th. | Academic Skills | Active vs. Passive Studying With final exams approaching, let's talk studying! Have you ever been taught how to study? Many university students share that they've never been shown how to study and have been trying to find their way on their own. This often results in passive study approaches: re-reading and highlighting, re-writing, and re-watching. Passive approaches take a lot of time and effort but, sadly, aren't very effective.
Instead of passive study approaches, consider active studying! This is where we can (1) organize information from the course in a different way from how it was presented to us and (2) test our knowledge. Check out the following active study approaches you might like to test out! Study Charts - Consider creating a study chart that you can fill in (ideally, over time). You might have columns for terms, definitions, and examples (or whatever info you need to study). You can test your knowledge by covering different parts of the chart and practice what you know.
Flash Cards - Try making flash cards each week of the term to avoid making them all right before the exam. Doing so can make studying more efficient and effective as you will have your study resource created before the end of the term and can spend more time testing your knowledge.
Spew Method - Pick a few terms/ideas to study and set a timer for 1-2 minutes per term. Without looking at your notes, spew everything you can remember. When the timer is up, compare your spew to your notes. Move on from what you know well and focus on the areas that need it.
Teach/explain it - We can test our understanding of ideas by trying to teach/explain them to others. This is a valuable study approach as we can assess how well we understand an idea by how effectively we can explain it. Practice questions! Testing your knowledge with practice questions is such an effective study technique. If using a textbook, use the practice questions often found at the end of each chapter. If you aren't provided with practice questions, make your own! The syllabus is a helpful tool for identifying learning objectives and themes from the course that you are likely to be tested on.
Interleaving! We tend to study in blocks by unit or week of the course, but you might notice that test and exam questions require you to make connections across different weeks, lectures, labs, and readings of the course. Level up your study game by interleaving or mixing topics and course themes! Pick a big idea from the course and mind map connections to interleave ideas and enhance your understanding.
As you gear up for finals, try making a study plan that outlines what you will study, how you will study, and when you will study. This can be as unique as you! Maybe you write time blocks in a calendar, make a to-do list, or outline a chart. Not sure? Test out the Academic Skills Study Plan template and visit our Exam Prep Guide for more strategies! Happy Studying!
Natalie Nelson (She/Her) Academic Skills Instructor Lady Eaton College www.trentu.ca/academicskills | What’s Coming Up at LEC? |  | LEC students and their guests are welcome to join us for a delicious dinner in celebration of spring while we announce the winners of the Lady Eaton College Awards! The perfect way to celebrate the end of the school year!
You must reserve a ticket to attend this event. Tickets are free to reserve at this link: https://simpli.events/e/b475a0
Arrive promptly, as there is limited seating and any no-show's may have their seat given away after 6:15pm. |  | The Last Lecture is This Week The Colleges of Trent University are thrilled to bring back this event in person for the first time in 5 years!!! On April 5th, 2024 (4:30-5:30 in Wenjack), Trent University celebrates its 8th Last Lecture event, created in 2015 by Jamie Lester, an Otonabee College alum and former Cabinet President. Lester's aim was to reunite the Class of 2011 before convocation, fostering celebration and reminiscence of their time at Trent, now an annual tradition that continues to expand. The Last Lecture provides students an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on their university experiences, find closure, and honor their achievements, featuring speeches from a graduating student, distinguished alum, and a staff and faculty member, each sharing personal reflections and wisdom under a unifying theme. Held on the final day of classes, it marks the transition and celebration to the next phase of life Hear from our esteemed speakers nominated by YOU the students: Student speaker: Misti Noël Worden, 4th year Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a Specialization in the Health Sciences and an Option in Pre Medical Studies Faculty speaker: Dr. Karen Blair, Associate Professor, Psychology Alumni speaker: Don McIsaac, Mayor of Orillia Staff speaker: Rachel Glofcheskie-Shewfelt, Otonabee College Assistant
Not graduating this year? You are still welcome to come! Register here and we hope to see YOU on April 5th at 4:30 in Wenjack Theatre (and yes there will be food) | LEC Cabinet Corner | Office Hours Our office is located in the JCR and is typically open Monday to Friday from 12-8 pm, except for Wednesdays we close at 6 p.m. We have billiards equipment, cards, and board games available for sign-out during office hours. Stop by and say hello! | Toad-ally Top Three | Helloooooo LEC!
You may have seen me in all my majestic glory outside the LEC Office, my name is Ella! If you haven’t met me yet, stop by the Office and we can chill in the sun! As the fabulous thriving plant that I am, I’m here to share my top three plant tips (cause humans are just like more complicated plants): Drink lots of water- Personally, I love a glass of freshly filtered water! It’s so important to keep all your leaves green and hydrated! Get lots of sun- I love my sunny spot in the windows and I’m sure you’d love the rays too! Humans photosynthesize too, right? Have a big stretch- I’m always stretching my branches, reaching for more sun! If you feel like you’ve become a potted plant, maybe it’s time to move your branches too!
| It was nice chatting, but now I have to leaf!
Stay Groovy, Ella the Elephant Plant Winner of Largest Houseplant Competition |
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| Musings on Music | How are we feeling about this final season? The sun keeps peeking, and we know we are close to the end; I hope this academic year was full of experiences and zero mental breakdowns (maybe a few). Some of the best things to do before finals are not only studying but also getting our mind focused on studying, and in my case, a genre that helps me put my mind into focus is metal or hardcore rock; there’s something so relaxing in the loud singing and instruments. And because I haven’t talked about it, here is a list of the best metal/hardcore rock songs I enjoy as I prepare for my final(s) week.
- Sabotero, Cuchillazo - Eyeless, Slipknot - War Pigs, Black Sabbath - Paranoid, Black Sabbath - 7 Words, Deftones - Wicked, Korn & Chino Moreno - Agua, Cuchillazo - PainKiller, Judas Priest - Around the Fur, Deftones - Mein Herz brennt, Rammstein - Snot, Snot - Twist, Korn - My Own Summer (Shove it), Deftones - Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away), Deftones | | Bookish Babbles with the Bobber | Hey hey LEC!
Your favourite chicken here to recommend your next favourite read! With exams right around the corner I want to recommend a light-hearted and hilarious book to read in between study sessions. I also want to remind you that everyone here in the college office is toad-ally here to support you! Book an academic advising or academic skills appointment, or come bob with me in the Quad!
Recommendation: My Lady Jane by Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadowes, and Cynthia Hand! Historical Fiction! Shapeshifting! Laugh-out-loud funny! This book is a ridiculous take (in the best way) on the story of Lady Jane Grey, the “Nine Days Queen.” | Keep bobbing, Chicken Bobber The Superior LEC Mascot
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| Upcoming Events Around Campus |  | Racialized Student Wellness Workshop: Join us for our Racialized Student Wellness Workshop on April 4th, 2024 from 1-2 PM where we'll discuss strategies to strengthen resolve, build safety, and community on campus. Open to both Peterborough and Durham students, RSVP now to receive the Zoom link. Date: Thursday, April 4th, 2025 Time: 1-2 PM Location: Virtual via Zoom
Trent Durham Campus registration: durhamcounselling@trentu.ca Trent Peterborough Campus registration: counselling@trentu.ca | TUEFRT needs your help!
The Trent University Emergency First Response Team (TUEFRT) is pledging to do CPR for 12 hours straight to raise money for The James Fund, and YOU can help.
Join us on April 5th from 9am to 9pm on Bata Podium and come see how long you can do CPR. You can join by yourself, or come with a team!
Don't know how to do CPR? No problem! We will have TUEFRT members there all day to show you what to do (although unfortunately we can NOT certify you in CPR. We're just giving tips and tricks).
Don't want to commit your skills, but still want to support? You can donate to our GoFundMe page using the Donation Link at the bottom of this email. Every cent helps! All of the proceeds are going to The James Fund, a Peterborough founded cancer fundraising charity.
Feel free to reach out to tuefrt@trentu.ca with any questions!
Sign Up Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfAPx6S5Nn1YTO9S3Xxgv5ri3NfU9c5SO1AQ-3yAnLW7zbcSQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
Donation Link: https://gofund.me/13a1f874 |  | The Department of English is thrilled to invite you to not one, but two wondrous book launches for the 2024 edition of Chickenscratch, the English department’s undeniably amazing, peer-reviewed, absolutely gorgeous anthology of creative writing, written solely by Trent students, which is being released in a matter of weeks. Both launch events will include live readings by student writers who are published in the book, a great opportunity to mingle with students and professors alike, and an overall atmosphere of positive, springtime energy. Copies of Chickenscratch 2024 will be available for purchase (cash only, please) and will also be available for online order through the Trent University Bookstore, once the book has been officially launched. All money received from these sales, by the way, is put, 100%, into the budget for the next edition of the book – and we rely on this funding to make the project happen. Please consider buying lots of copies! Both events are open to the public, so please bring your friends and family or your strange-but-friendly neighbours. Here are the details: Peterborough launch: Friday, April 5th at 7:30pm (doors at 7pm) in Bagnani Hall down at Traill College Durham GTA launch (in Oshawa): Monday, April 1st at 6:30pm in Room A115 at the Trent Durham campus in Oshawa.
|  | Trent Radio Fundrai$io - Sunday March 31 - Saturday April 6th
Each year Trent Radio needs to take time and focus on Fundraising.
Our day-to-day operations rely on grants, donations, community memberships and student memberships (through the Levy Fee system).
None of these sources of funding are 100% reliable, and it is important that Trent Radio continues to build our Fundraising Capacity, to save up for unforeseen expenses or emergencies, invest in technological upgrades, maintain and upgrade our physical space.
It costs A LOT of $$ to run Trent Radio each year, and we continue to see an increased cost of living, operations expenses, programming delivery expansion and tech upgrade requirements.
We are asking programmers, volunteers, community members and staff to pitch in to help us raise funds to sustain and enliven Trent Radio, its physical space and operations. |  | Bata Library is open until 1am during exams!
Bata Library will have extended hours from March 31 - April 20 for the exam period. Note that the Library Service Desk closes earlier than the building.
Good luck on your exams! | Share Your Thoughts on Equity and Diversity at Trent To support Trent’s ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive, engaging, and supportive environment, the Equity and Human Rights Office is inviting all students, faculty, and staff at both campuses to participate in a university-wide survey – available now, until April 15. Take the brief 15-minute EDI Survey. Participation is voluntary and all responses are anonymous. The survey is administered by an independent organization, the Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium (HEDS). Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. Your input will help develop a better understanding of how Trent’s campus climate supports diversity and equity. | Careerspace Resources |  | Careerspace is here to help you get a jump start on your career! With practical hands-on experiences, workshops, online resources, and career counseling, our services are available to students all year round! Careerspace services are available over the phone, or virtually; students can book the following appointments through their Student Experience Portal. Visit our office on the 3rd floor of the Student Centre, send us an email, call, or book an appointment on trentu.ca/SEP and start preparing for your future. And remember, don’t wait ‘til you graduate, we’re here to help now! Looking to stay up to date with Careerspace? Connect with our socials: @trentucareerspace on Instagram, @tucareerspace on Twitter, and Trent University Careerspace on Facebook. Book your appointment now! Follow the following links to find some of our helpful resources, including: upcoming workshops, current community research projects, and in-course bursary options! | | And that's all for now... Just kidding, you know we can't end without a toad… joke? |  | | |
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