🎀 + ̊⊹♡ Pitches that are so fetch + ̊⊹♡ 🎀

Ask me what today’s date is — do it, ASK ME!

Welcome back to another round of pitches, everyone! And Happy October! It’s been so great to put some faces to names over the last few weeks at features and general meetings. I’ve got a few quick announcements:

1. The first version of the Features Contributors Guide is here! This document has (almost) everything you need to know about writing for this section and will hopefully help guide you through the writing process.

2. As a reminder, features meetings are on Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. in The Ubyssey boardroom in the office. General meetings are in the office at 4:00 p.m. and I highly recommend you attend those if you would like to become staff.

That’s all for now! Pitches below — have a lovely afternoon.

Some things to keep in mind:

• To secure a pitch, respond to this email.

• Are you a first-time writer? Please let me know in your email response.

• Once I confirm your pitch request, you can expect a follow-up email from me within 24 hours with more details on the piece.

• Consider conflict of interest implications when picking up a piece and ask me about this if you’re unsure.

• I LOVE COMMUNICATION! I will check in with you throughout the writing process but it’s also on YOU to tell ME if you’re feeling stressed about deadlines or unsure about how to proceed with anything. I gotcha <3

Falling flat on undergraduate research opportunities?

At a mid-September senate meeting, Provost Dr. Gage Averill presented a report on undergraduate research opportunities and engagement at UBCV and UBCO which resulted in Senate scrutiny over the differences in the number and variety of research opportunities across both campuses, where less undergraduates at UBCV reported engaging with research than at UBCO. Talk to some UBCV undergraduate students about their experiences with looking for research opportunities and if these students find that UBC is doing a sufficient enough job of supporting student research with their own programs and resource allocation.

1000-1200 words

Due Friday, November 1 by 5pm

Road safety on Marine Drive

Early last year, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) completed improvements on the provincially-held section of Marine Drive along UBC campus’s border to increase pedestrian safety after two separate pedestrian incidents along the stretch in 2021. Talk to UBC Safety and Risk Services, road safety advocates and provincial transportation representatives to see whether these implementations have improved road safety along Marine Drive and what the province plans to do next.

1000-1200 words

Due Friday, November 1 by 5pm

October creative non-fiction!

Another month of creative non-fiction! This month’s writing theme is: Where the Heart Is! That’s right — I’m bringing back a previously discontinued features subsection due to popular demand. Feel free to interpret this prompt however you please! To grab this pitch, please send me an email with:

1. Your full name and pronouns

2. The structure of your piece (i.e. poem OR personal essay OR short story)

3. A brief description of what your piece is about. If you're planning on doing something more fictional, I'd also like an additional brief explanation (50-100 words) about how you came up with the piece and/or what it means to you. I'll likely attach that 50-100 word description to your publication.

If I feel your pitch fits into the theme well, does not relate too closely to other already approved pitches and coincides with what we publish at the paper, the pitch is yours! I’ll accept up to three pitches from three separate contributors. Afterwards I’ll have to decline submissions for logistical purposes but there’s always next month!

Up to 1000 words

Due Friday, October 18 by 5pm