Introducing Karen Chu (CIV 2T0 + PEY) going into fourth year this September. is your Civ Club Chair for 2020-2021.
Here are some fun facts about Karen!
Hobbies: working out/volleyball, window shopping, and bartending. I also enjoy listening to country music.
Goal: My goal for the year is to enhance the student experience by highlighting our community’s talents and ensuring that we provide support to ALL students during this uncertain time.
Q&A:
What is Civ Club?
The Civil Engineering Club, aka Civ Club, is your student body representation between the students, department, and faculty. Throughout the year, Civ Club organizes various events from social to academic to strengthen our tight-knit community. Our goal is to promote student interaction and participation to provide you with the best student experience possible.
What does Civ Club do?
We host events like annual semi-formals (Dinner Dance), holiday themed activities, exam de-stressors, course review sessions, and much, much, more. Civ Club also sells civ-related merchandise as well as lockers located in the civil engineering building.
How did you get involved?
This will be my third year on Civ Club! I was interested in Civ Club since the start of my undergraduate career and joined to take on a leadership role while giving back to the community. I met most of my friends due to Civ Club and I wanted to return the same hospitality. Being a part of Civ Club has allowed me to develop my soft skills and help strengthen our civil community.
Right now, everything is online/virtual. What is Civ Club doing differently to engage students?
Civ Club is working hard to ensure your undergraduate experience is equal if not better than it ever was before. We have tons of virtual events lined up to keep students engaged and connected during these times. Our first event is on Wednesday, September 9 and it will be a great chance to meet fellow classmates. We are also working on in-person events with safety measures in place. Civ Club has also improved our mental health and wellness resources and website/social media presence to help create the feeling of community and sense of belonging.
Once we’re all able to get back to campus, do you have any must-see or must-do suggestions? What about any helpful hints for new students? Or hidden gems near to campus?
U of T St. George campus is right in the heart of the city and there’s plenty to do! There’s a great outdoor area to sit on the grass and hang out with friends by King’s College Circle. Another great space is GB123 (Galbraith Building), our Civil common room. This is where most civil students lounge in between classes or to study. It’s also where we host all our events! We also have the Galbraith Quad where you can sit outside and enjoy the weather. [ED NOTE: Civ Club Common Room is currently closed. as is the Galbraith Building.]
For food, College St has a great variety (sushi, pubs, shawarma) and it’s less than 5 mins from engineering buildings. Einstein (229 College St) is a common place for engineering students to go to on Tuesdays for their $2 appetizers menu. Campus is also close to Spadina St where there are plenty of restaurants from bubble tea to dumplings. Kensington Market and Baldwin are also two neighbourhoods close by that bring plenty of food options for whatever you’re craving!
A great hidden gem is “The Village by the Grange”. The food court in the mall across from OCAD University has the greatest meals for the best deals. Find full meals for all under $10 and even some for under $5! Only a short 10 mins walk from campus.
If you feel like visiting a museum, the ROM (Royal Ontario Musuem) is FREE for students on Wednesdays! Eaton Centre, one of the largest malls, is only 15 mins away and filled with countless stores and offerings!
How can students get involved?
Simply coming out to our events can make a real difference in your university experience! You’ll get a chance to meet other exec members as well as students from all years. If you’re interested in becoming an exec on Civ Club and taking on a leadership role, then the First Year Civil Rep position is just for you! Stay tuned in September for more updates on how you can apply!
Finally, where can students find out more about Civ Club and upcoming events? (website, social media profiles, etc):
Check us out on our website and social media pages to stay up to date on all our events and announcements.
Follow us on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/civclub/
Instagram: @civclub
Twitter: @civclub
Website: civ.skule.ca
~CivMin