600+ Views on Tips for Mount Allison University Students

 Hi everybody,

I just wanted to make a quick comment on the "20 Tips in 20 Days for first-year students" video project I've been working on. In less than 50 hours there have been over 600 views of the three video tips posted so far and an incredibly positive reaction on both Facebook and Twitter. I'm glad to see you're all enjoying them. Again, I am not the only one who has worked on this project. All of the credit for videography goes to eCommunications Coordinator Nadine Leblanc. In addition, these videos are student voices so, again, thank you to everybody who volunteered their time to help tell the story of Mount Allison University.

Here are the videos so far:

Orientation at Mount Allison, featuring Beth Whitfield


Clubs and Societies, featuring Alex Dalton



Theatre at and around Mount Allison


Tomorrow morning's video is features students responding to the question "What's one thing you wish you knew before you came to Mount Allison?". One part serious and one part funny but both parts useful I think you'll enjoy it.

Friday's tip is... a secret. You'll have to check back here on Friday morning or go to http://youtube.com/mountallison (and subscribe) to see what Friday's tip is. This project is all about open communication so feel free to comment on my tip posts, the announcements via the Facebook Page, and on the videos themselves to let incoming students know your tip on the topic.

To share your ideas for future videos you can post comments on our YouTube channel.

There are 17 more to share with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as you're enjoyed the videos so far.

Geoff Campbell
Communications Assistant
Mount Allison University

20 Tips for first-year students: #3- Experience Theatre at Mount Allison University

In the third post of a 20-part video series, Sarah Underhill, who expects to graduate in May with a double major in history and anthropology, talks about experiencing theatre on campus and around Sackville. 

You’ll notice here that there are theatre productions most weeks of the year. There are many groups to join and watch, both on and off campus, such as Black Tie Productions (musicals), Garnet and Gold Musical Theatre, Windsor Theatre (drama), Tintamarre (bilingual troupe), Live Bait Theatre, and Festival by the Marsh. 

You don’t even need to be a drama major to participate in theatre.  Friends of mine who aren’t bilingual, or even drama students, performed in Tintamarre’s production of Bouffe! — improving both their French and acting skills. Be sure to come out to at least one show a year. I personally recommend seeing at least one Black Tie production a year — you won’t be disappointed!

Geoff Campbell
Communications Assistant
Mount Allison University

20 Tips for first-year students: #2- Choose clubs that match you

Second in this 20-part video series is my friend Alex Dalton (fifth-year Honours international relations) discussing the best way to choose the club that fit you at Mount Allison.

Every year Mount Allison's student government, the Students' Administrative Council (SAC), organizes an activities fair (known as the SACtivities Fair) every September during Orientation Week. This event features most of the clubs on campus which actively recruit new members every year. This is your chance to sign up for as many club mailing lists as you'd like to find out more about the club to decide if you're interested in coming to meetings.

I would recommend finding at least five clubs that really pique your interest and find out more information. Once you go to a few meetings, you’ll discover which ones you’re likely to stick with and you can simply ask to be removed from the other lists. This way you get the find what’s a match for you and your schedule.

To give you an idea of what’s possible, I started out as an entertainment writer for Mount Allison's student newspaper The Argosy, was on multiple SAC committees and did Leadership Mount Allison my first year. Now, in my fourth year, I’m the Online Editor for The Argosy and the Atlantic International Studies Organization and lead Mount Allison’s Amnesty International Chapter. It might take you a while to decide what you’re most passionate about, but you can be sure that you’ll find something you like and if you dedicate yourself to it, you can have the opportunity to lead groups in your upper years. Also, if there's an interest you're passionate which there isn't yet a club for on campus it's easy to start a new group and, if approved by the SAC, be eligible to apply for funding.


Geoff Campbell
Communications Assistant
Mount Allison University

20 Tips for first-year students: #1- Make the most of Orientation

Your first days at Mount Allison are approaching quickly. In the first of a 20-part video series, below you will find a tip featuring fourth-year student Beth Whitfield (honours biology). The tip is about making the most of your first few weeks at Mount Allison.

The most important thing to do in September (besides go to class, of course) is to really branch out and step out of your comfort zone as much as possible. My first day at Mount Allison I was unpacking my stuff in residence, thinking about all the technical things I had to do (open a bank account, figure out my classes and get some food) and someone walked by and said hello. Today he is one of my best friends and we are roommates in an apartment this year.

I really can’t stress enough how important the first few weeks are to your success here. Doing well in class and being involved in extracurriculars is important, but your first couple of weeks is really meant for you to adjust to life on your own and make lasting friendships. The upperclassmen are so welcoming and all the first-year students are just trying to find where they fit in, just like you. I met some of my closest friends during Orientation Week and I’m sure you will too.  

Before I share with you the video I have to give credit to the others without whose hard work these videos wouldn't have been made. In particular, credit goes to Tony Frost for direction, Nadine Leblanc for videography and Melissa Lombard for editing and other support, and of course to all the students who volunteered their time and experience to help. While we were unable to use all of the footage we'd like to that you all for your time and effort in helping new students to successfully adjust.

Again, I simply asked the questions and what you'll hear is honest and hopefully helpful advice relating to your time at Mount Allison. We hope you enjoy and find these videos helpful as you begin your journey to University life.


Geoff Campbell
Communications Assistant
Mount Allison University

Amnesty International at U2's Final 360 Tour Concert in Moncton, NB (July 30, 2011)

On Saturday I was the only member of Amnesty International Mount Allison to make it out to volunteer at the U2 360 Concert in Moncton. It was rainy, miserable weather for a couple hours but then the rain finally stopped and we were able to get enough signatures to surpass the goal of 200,000 supporters of a petition to the president-elect of Peru to increase funding for Maternal Health over the North American leg of the tour. Here's us in the mud right in front of the Amnesty tent.

Then we were thanked for our efforts with a pass to the "Inner Circle" right next to the stage thanks to Bono's support of Amnesty.

There were some reports that Neil Young was there but I find that doubtful. We did run into John Paul Tremblay 

and Mike Smith of Trailer Park Boys fame.

To give you another clue of how wet and muddy things were, here's me in front of the Amnesty tent.

 And to give you an idea of what 85,000+ people looks like here's a small section of the audience.

After volunteering I was chosen to walk on stage during the section of the concert Bono talks about Amnesty. There was a section like this (minus the happy birthday intro):

and then this specifically at Moncton:



and here, thankfully, is the view from where we walked on the platform. You can't see anybody's face very well but I'm third from last on the left.

Tips for Incoming Mount Allison University Students

Starting on Monday, August 8th and running until September 2nd I'll be posting a video and a very short tip for incoming students. The videos are of upper year students I had casual interviews with to get their take on different topics relating to being a student at Mount Allison. I hope that it will give a glimpse into life here and help you get an idea of campus life even before you arrive.

From mta.ca:

20 Tips in 20 Days for first-year students2011-08-03 10:06:09

Hello Class of 2015! My name is Geoff Campbell and over the next four weeks I’ll be sharing advice on life here Mount Allison. I will be posting tips covering different aspects of life at Mount Allison, accompanied by a video from upper-year students. The tips and videos will cover everything you need to know before you get here. Upper-year students will share what they wish they knew before they arrived, what to do on weekends in Sackville, making the most out of residence life, and more. These videos will give you a great head start and help make your transition to University life a smooth one. 

I will be sharing a tip and video every weekday starting August 8th and running until September 2nd, your first full day of Orientation at Mount Allison. The first piece of advice is on making the most out of your first two weeks at Mount Allison. 

You can read the tips and watch the videos on http://GeoffatMountAllison.blogspot.com . 

The videos will also be available on Mount Allison’s YouTube channel, Twitter (@MountAllison), and on Facebook starting August 8th. 

I hope you’ll find the information useful and I’ll see you in the Fall. 

Geoff Campbell B.A. Honours, International Relations (’12) - Communications Assistant 

PHOTO CAPTION: Geoff Campbell with Chancellor Peter Mansbridge and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada's mascot Ursula at Convocation 2011.

P.S. For information about Orientation check out the newly updated website. I'm pretty jealous of you guys. The orientation committee is really on top of their stuff and is getting information to you as soon as it's available. For up to the minute information check out their Twitter feed.