University of Victoria Journals
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“Man without quotes” and “gentleman with a mocking face” in the “Crystal Palace”: Concerning A.A. Borovoy’s unpublished manuscript, “Dostoevsky”
No full textAt the beginning of the 20th century, the world’s interest in the work of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky was growing. It was becoming clear that his writing contained - if not answers, then key questions for that time, and that Dostoevsky was not only a writer, but also a philosopher, and that it was impossible to understand the catastrophic experience of the present without recourse to his ideas. Important studies published by, amongst others, L.I. Shestov, N.A. Berdyaev, V.V. Rozanov, N.O. Lossky, D.S. Merezhkovsky, and M.M. Bakhtin reflected a growing “existentialist” trend in philosophy inspired by his work. However, subsequently, in the early years of the USSR, emerging totalitarianism initiated an ideological campaign casting this “reactionary” writer as the progenitor of “Dostoevshchina.” Dostoevsky’s ideas were then addressed, mainly, by emigre religious thinkers living in exile from Russia. As for the Soviet Union, there Communist Party overseers of culture denounced Dostoevsky, creating a caricatural image of a clerical and anti-revolutionary, semi-forbidden writer (this caricatured image—with the opposite evaluative sign, served its purposes)
Bird Friendly Comox Demonstration Garden
No full textAs part of Bird Friendly Comox’s application for Bird Friendly City certification with Nature Canada, this native plant demonstration garden was designed to provide habitat for the insects that birds rely on. The 23 m2 garden is located in downtown Comox at the north end of British Columbia’s historic Garry Oak meadows in full sun, surrounded by asphalt, isolated from any remaining Garry oak meadows, and exposed to deer pressure. This challenging location was intentional because it represents conditions that are common throughout Comox; however it presented limitations when selecting suitable plants and seeds. A total of 23 species were selected, with 203 perennials planted as pots/plugs and 3576 seeds, primarily annuals. Perennials were planted in the fall of 2024 followed by overseeding with the annuals. In a survival survey conducted June 2025, the pots and plugs had 84% survival and continued to thrive into July 2025. However, the seeds had just 5% germination, many of which were lost to drought by mid July. I consider whether seeding is an appropriate option on this exposed sight with high risk of seed predation over winter by birds followed by germinant desiccation over the spring and summer. Ongoing stewardship will include trialing new species capable of tolerating drought, full sun and deer pressure while prioritizing insect habitat over traditional urban garden aesthetics. Some negative public feedback about the garden’s more natural appearance may be expected and I look forward to working with the Town of Comox to use this as an education opportunity
AN EXPLORATION OF GREEK PARENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF EARLY ADOLESCENTS’ SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT
No full textAlthough the impact of social media on early adolescents is a global concern, research on this topic in Greece—particularly from parents’ perspectives—is limited. This study addresses this gap by exploring Greek parents’ views on early adolescents’ social media usage. Using an exploratory, qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 parents in western Greece, and the data were thematically analysed. Our results indicate that while parents acknowledge some benefits of social media, they are concerned about its effects on early adolescents’ behaviour, mental health, academic performance, and linguistic skills. The parents viewed early adolescents as being highly impressionable. They felt unprepared to manage their children’s exposure to social media influences due to a lack of relevant information and education. Understanding these parental perspectives can help guide the development of support services to enhance digital well-being among families
FIFTEEN YEARS OF THE “STUDENTS FOR CHILDREN” PROGRAM: TRAUMA-INFORMED VOLUNTEERISM AND INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION IN CHILD PROTECTION
No full textThe Students for Children program has been running for more than 15 years in Hungary, offering university students an opportunity to engage in child protection work through a trauma-informed, interdisciplinary approach. The program serves a dual purpose: supporting children in specialized care while equipping students with practical experience in working with vulnerable populations. Through structured classroom training, supervised volunteer work, and collaborative partnerships with child protection institutions, the program fosters professional preparedness, ethical engagement, and social responsibility. This paper explores the program’s development, key guidelines, and bridging function of linking disciplines, institutions, and international networks to strengthen child welfare efforts. Insights from student testimonials and micro-research findings illustrate the program’s impact, highlighting its role in promoting trauma-informed care, emotional safety, and sustainable professional engagement
