Do you know the people controlling your tuition, your student aid, and your campus’s future? Here’s a beginner’s guide to the government figures every Lakehead Orillia student should know. 

It's not data security breaches, or a Terminator-like uprising. No, the real threat of artificial intelligence is far more subtle. It is the potential of losing what sets humans apart from other species. 

After months of hard work, LUSU has now released the Clubs Den to students. The Clubs Den is a future-focused, complete revamping of the previous framework. Orillia Staff Writer Eriel discusses LUSU’s vision for the new system. 

Last week, we explored Canada's Major Projects Inventory, which highlights the country's current and upcoming investments into substantial mining, forestry, and energy projects. This week, we're delving into a unique type of clean energy project that's becoming increasingly more funded - bioenergy.

Sara investigates hockey culture and it’s discontents.

Now more than ever the institutions that govern our lifestyles are constantly at odds with the people they govern. Why and how this happens does have direct roots back to our governments and largest companies. Staff writer Faisal Al-Saati explores institutional neglect in Orillia. 

Thunder Bay writer Sara Stoppel investigates provincial cut back on OSAP funding.

What a country chooses to invest in industrially will largely shape future employment opportunities, as well as expected impacts on environmental and human health. In 2024, the Canadian government released its "Major Projects Inventory" plan, which showcased current and upcoming investments into various natural resource sectors. Reading this plan, as well as associated documents, it becomes apparent that the country is seeking to improve funding and support for what it considers to be clean technology. So, what is clean technology, exactly? Join Staff Writer Eriel as she investigates that, and other questions surrounding clean technology development in Canada.

Nominations for LUSU's 2026 General Election are open until this Friday, February 20th. Students who self-nominate can run for a variety of Executive Team positions, or for a seat on LUSU's Board of Directors. How does this election actually affect you as a student? Why should you care to get involved? If you do choose to run, how do you effectively represent yourself to voters? I spoke with a LUSU representative to answer these, and several other pressing questions about the election. 

It may feel far off right now, but before you know it, you're likely to be begging mother nature to turn the heat down. 2026 is predicted to be the hottest year since rigorous recording of annual temperatures started in 1850. What does that really mean in terms of what we can expect to deal with across the country (apart from a lot of sweating)?

Sara investigates the latest in cosmetic alterations.

Last week, instead of going down a rabbit hole, we are going to dig ourselves into the groundhog burrow. Who are these groundhogs? What do they say about this spring's arrival? Why do we care? More importantly, why should we care? From Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil all the way to Nova Scotia's Lucy the Lobster, let's peel back how groundhogs (and groundhog-adjacents) came to be such iconic portents of spring. 

America is taking a couple of pages out of the authoritarian playbook, and it seems like the US youth are all for it. Come and learn about how easily you might be falling for national propaganda. 

Last Tuesday, a 3.7 magnitude earthquake struck just 23 kilometers away from Orillia. As unusual as this was, it's not the only strange climatic event the region has seen in recent years. Despite its unassuming geography, southern Ontario has fallen victim - not only to earthquakes - but also, several other types of extreme events. Most notably, we have been subject to tornadoes, and, as many will remember all too well - ice storms. What drives this unusual behaviour from the climate? 

From memes to Trump’s latest photoshoot, your morning glass of milk has been hijacked as a symbol for white supremacy, and the reason is much weirder than you think. 

When the opinions of your leader become the facts of your nation, is it still democracy? Or have we entered the era of American fascism? Find out in this article by staff writer Faisal Al-Saati. 

Thunder Bay writer Sara Stoppel investigates our neighbor to the south, and what’s going on with ICE.

For years, United States President Donald Trump has expressed interest in expanding United States territory to include a variety of resource-rich, international lands. In the last few weeks, he's made several extreme political moves to make this a reality. Just how far will he go to win this unsettling, real-world game of Catan?

Lakehead Orillia is currently equipped with two laboratories, one used primarily for chemistry, and the other, biology. From the outside, these labs may seem underwhelming compared to those of larger university campuses. Yet, under closer inspection, the passion of Lakehead Orillia's students and instructors, as well as the versatility of the equipment, becomes clear. Let's take a closer look at the unique research being conducted here in our backyard, and how our tools enable us to explore significant questions of today's world. 

Lakehead is expanding further into Simcoe County with its new STEM Hub, but this development doesn’t come without foundational challenges and the question of feasibility for students. Read all about Lakehead's new development and the potential issues with it here.