Staying connected with the University of Guelph

University campuses are a breeding ground for vocality and communication. It’s not just a university thing, of course; all teaching institutions are known for influencing the thoughts and opinions of students and teachers alike. However, it’s easier at a university, perhaps more than any other offline forum, to find a voice, find a medium to communicate that voice, and have that voice heard.
The University of Guelph is no different. The Ontarion, CFRU 93.3 FM (CFRU), The Peak, Kaleidoscope, At Guelph, The Portico, and the Central Student Association are all media outlets—in some form or another—that connect students with their school and their community.
The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s independent student newspaper. With funds collected from students every semester, it truly is the students’ paper.
“The Ontarion has continued to serve as the University of Guelph’s independent newspaper since 1951,” explained Emilio Ghloum, editor-in-chief at The Ontarion. “Throughout the years, a variety of writers from different academic disciplines have contributed to the paper and have helped establish the paper into a promising and recognizable media source across campus and among the Guelph community. The Ontarion gives students the opportunity to have a voice that will be heard throughout the University of Guelph campus.”
Articles are written for a number of sections—including news, arts and culture, sports and health, life, and opinion—and writers of all creeds and backgrounds are encouraged to lend their voices to the conversation.
“Volunteering for The Ontarion offers the unique chance to build your portfolio of published work history while also meeting and working with really cool people,” said Alyssa Ottema, news editor at The Ontarion for the 2014-2015 year. “Above all else, The Ontarion is a learning environment, and if you have any interest in the worlds of writing, editing, or photography, volunteering is an excellent way to dip your toe in the ocean before you jump in.”
CFRU is the U of G’s community radio station. Andrea Patehviri, CFRU’s community outreach coordinator, explained that the station only has a paid staff of six. The station’s almost 150 volunteers are responsible for the 70 weekly shows that are broadcast in over six different languages.
“We are a not-for-profit organization, and our mandate is to provide an alternative to other media sources,” said Patehviri. “We therefore seek to highlight underrepresented communities, and raise awareness of community activities, events, and concerns.”
Patehviri explained that a common misconception for a lot of students looking to join CFRU is that students have to maintain an on-air personality. However, CFRU looks for volunteers to help coordinate live performances, help with remote broadcasts, maintain the station’s extensive music collection, and sit on the Board of Directors to help determine the station’s vision and future.
“If there is an initiative that you’re involved in that you’d like to talk about on-air, you could get in touch with our programming coordinator, who could hook you up with a programmer to interview you,” explained Patehviri. “If there is an event you’d like to promote, you could get in touch with our outreach coordinator to create a PSA or an ad. Finally you could also start your own show.”
CFRU does not discriminate against students who have no previous on-air experience. Instead, they’re always looking for new students to join and participate. For students interested in starting their own show, the CFRU provides an orientation session to ensure that students adhere to the station’s code of ethics. Following a programming and policy training session, and an on-air training session, students can apply for their own show.
“It sounds like a lot of training, but it’s a fun and free way to learn about radio,” said Patehviri. “…We are always looking for new shows, and even if you don’t get approved during your first application, there is no limit to the amount of times you can apply, so go for it!”
The U of G offers students more than ways to have their voices heard. Guelph also provides students with a number of outlets to learn more about their community. The Portico is colloquially referred to as Guelph’s alumni magazine. The publication, however, is far more than a way for alumni to stay up-to-date with the university’s goings on.
“Our goal with The Portico and our online feature stories is to promote pride and connection within the U of G community by telling compelling stories about how the university and its students, staff, faculty and alumni are making an impact in the community, across the country and around the world,” said Stacey Morrison, the manager of university publications at the university’s Communication and Public Affairs office.
“We hope incoming students will read about all the amazing innovations and achievements that occur here every day, and be excited to become a member of the Guelph community. And we hope to engage alumni by helping them stay up-to-date on the news and happenings at the university, highlighting stories about the lives and careers of their peers, and encouraging them to share memories of their Guelph experience.”
Finally, for students interested in on-campus student government—perhaps the most definitive way to have your voice heard—the U of G offers their students a number of different governmental bodies to join. Students can join the Central Student Association, the university’s undergraduate student union. Interhall Council, the Residence Hall Association for the U of G, is an option for students living in residence. The U of G even features individual student councils—like the College of Arts Student Union and the College of Social and Applied Human Science Student Alliance—for each college at the U of G.
Universities encourage the spread of ideas and are designed to promote the distribution of thoughts and opinions. At the U of G, there are an almost endless number of ways to have a voice heard and to hear the voices of others.