Joint
Organization
of Statistics
Scholars
JOSS Newsletter
V O L U M E
2 0 1 2 ,
I S S U E
V
D E C E M B E R
2 0 1 2
Foreword from the Vice-President
Hi guys,
First of all, I hope that by this
time, you're already feeling
completely at home here in
Belgium and in particular at
UHasselt. Believe it or not,
Mother
Nature
has
been
gentle for us until now and
with only a little snowfall a
few weeks ago, we're still
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE:
Student
Corner
2
waiting for winter to really
kick in. Note that January is
the winter sales month, so if
you haven't bought those
gloves or other warm clothes
previous JOSS events: the
bit too much, always remem-
bowling event was massive! I
ber: after rain, there'll be
saw lots of laughter and joy
sunshine.... or in Belgium that
but also some really high sco-
can be snow... or rain again...
res by a few newbies, which
or stormy weather. Anyway,
was great! Also the ice ska-
you'll
ting event attracted a high
where I'm getting at!
although it all went a little bit
difficult at the beginning, the
persistent ones always win in
I wish you all the best in the
next months to come!
Cheers,
the end :-). I hope to see many of you on our other
events,
with
the
end-of-
exams party being the next
one!
2
Introduction Day
3-4
Statistical
Jokes
5
to see so many faces at our
Jenever
Fest
5-6
Keep in mind...
Bowling
7
Ice Skating
8
yet, that should be a great
But on a more serieus note:
EXAMS!!!!! I hope all of you
Personally, it was a pleasure
understand
number of participants and
Did you
know?
time to do so.
probably
do great. Plan your studying
and when it becomes all a
Subscription fee for pizza and drinks: 7 euro
Thomas
PAGE
2
Student Corner
Contributions about anything under the sun from students...
The Statistics of Love
Heart breaks in two
In a blink of an eye you forgot my love
Two is also the way in which you made
me choose
How is it that I once dreamt of us becoming one.
Three is the shattered pieces
The wish of you filling the spaces
as if it’s not enough, my dreams you
break
and lastly you reason out in haste.
by John Olivo,
2nd-Year ICP Biostatisics
If love can be counted
my numerals afloat,
for the times you took for granted
our memories disowned.
They say love is a 50-50% chance
A banker's nightmare, a traveler’s
dream
If you only gave nothing but 10% of your
love
I would provide the other 90% we need.
“Life it is not just
So now count on me
Like I once counted on you
Break even the percentage
Pay all that you were due.
But then i realized that love cannot be
counted
That its fractions are not meant to be compared
So as you walk your other half of the way
Know that I am grateful for all that we
shared
Find your happiness in him who gives you
a hundred
Let him see the sides of you that I've
enlightened
Give him your other half, let it be cherished
I will continue on and remember
That there was once a time wherein
there's you and me…
a series of
calculations and a
sum total of statistics,
it's about experience,
it's about
participation,
it is something more
Did you know?
•
Last October, just a day apart, both Nele and An became proud mothers. Nele
gave birth to a baby girl named Julia and An also to a baby girl named Louise.
•
You can join us on facebook (group: JOSS - students, staff and alumni of master in
statistics) to upload and download pictures, share stories etc.
•
Graduates of 2012 who want to stay member of JOSS have to send an email to [email protected].
complex and more
interesting than what
is obvious.”
- Daniel Libeskind
JOSS
NEWSLETTER
V O L U M E
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I S S U E
V
PAGE
Introduction Day
Everyone
Some 1st
introduced
themselves with a smile and
year
welcomed us. The atmosphere
students
during that part of the program
posing in
front of the
was bubbly and fun, telling us,
City Hall
the new students, that we could
approach these people easily
when we need help. I was also
the
un iversity
building to go to,
thankful
that
there
was
a
Christian organization in the
dangerous
business, Frodo,
When I go to new places for
what
to
university, called CCG, whom I
the first time, one scene would
photocopy my documents, and
could join to deepen my faith
usually play inside my mind –
the list would go on. It was
and still practice my religion
the one where Bilbo Baggins
such a relief when we were
even when I am here in a
tells
invited to the JOSS Introduction
foreign land.
his
nephew,
dangerous
business,
“It’s
a
Frodo,
going out of your door. You
step onto the Road, and if you
Day
buttons
for
to
new
push
to people, places, programs and
don’t keep your feet, there is
perks that a typical student in
no knowing where you might
Hasselt must know!
your door. You
Road, and if you
The professors also welcomed
us and talked about Statistics,
CENSTAT and our programs.
And it was emphasized that this
school year would usher in
be swept off to.”
going out of
step onto the
international
students. We were introduced
“It’s a
don’t keep your
feet, there is no
knowing where
you might be
The afternoon started with an
2013, a year of big celebrations
swept off to.”
Last September, I stepped onto
orientation
for
- Lord of the Rings
the Road, and it swept me off
insurance provider. Then an
university. The Interuniversity
to Belgium – the heart of
introduction about Belgium and
Institute for Biostatistics and
Europe! During my first days
about Hasselt was done by
statistical
here,
and
Marc Thoelen. Martine Machiels
BioStat) would be joining the
wonder were written all over
and Leen Jorissen were also
worldwide celebration for the
my face. Everything seemed
around, and I was just happy to
International Year of Statistics
new – the faces, the weather,
see these kind women whom I
this 2013. But that
the food and a lot more.
have communicated through e-
was
Everything seemed to amaze
mail only when I was still
Center
me. But then, I have to admit
ap p l yin g
S t a t i s t i c s
that those moments of being
Scholarship
amazed
by
Philippines. Several key persons
moments of being lost and
were also introduced like our
confused. I was confused of
new ombuds, Tanya, and the
(continued on next
what bus to take, what part of
new
page...)
only
excitement
were
followed
set
from
fo r
of
CM,
my
back
JOSS
our
VL I Rin
the
officers.
Statistics
not
and
for
Bioinformatics
the
(I-
all.
for
(CENSTAT)
Meeting the JOSS board
3
PAGE
4
Introduction Day cont...
would be celebrating its
we would need to go to in
stick in my head that I
15th
The
the course of our stay here
needed to visit them again
Statistics
in Hasselt. Honestly, I could
or ask their names again.
the
not remember all those
The only thing which I could
Course
places now, but I could still
not forget was the designed
Program (ICP) would be
recall that sunny autumn
elephant figures, which we
celebrating their 25th and
afternoon in my memory. It
tried to locate all over the
20th
was one of the best days for
city
walking around the city.
classmate, commented that
anniversary.
Masters
of
Program
and
International
anniversary,
respectively. To top it all,
i ts
anniversary.
40 t h
What
a
momentous year in store
The
last
Borrelhuis.
stop
was
in
The
different
tour groups met there again
and shared a couple of
for us, indeed!
drinks.
A
buzz
of
the
conversations in every table
Introduction Day was spent
filled the air. I bet new
on
the
friendships began there. Paul
international
different facilities of the
Jannssen also dropped by to
students went
university – the bookshop,
welcome us. He went to
ATM, library, etc. We were
each table and shaked every
divided into groups and a
hand while wishing us the
warmer heart that
set of JOSS officers took
best for the rest of our stay
day. “
charge in every group. The
in the university. I believe,
same
like
“I believe, like me,
fellow new
home with a
The
latter
part
orientation
of
to
groupings
were
me,
fellow
Kenyan
big like the ones that they
have in their country. Maybe
I should visit Kenya for the
elephants, but for the heart
and the hospitality, I already
spotted a lot of big ones
scattered all over my new
university and my new city
through those people who
welcomed
us
that
afternoon.
new
maintained as we went to
international students went
Hasselt and toured around
home with a warmer heart
the city center.
My
the elephants were not as
Hasselt University would be
c e l e b ra t i ng
center.
that day.
Kim and Martin
guided
our
group
as
we
went
to
the
train
station,
hospital,
thrift
stores,
Asian
stores,
library,
laundry
shops,
and all other places which
JOSS
NEWSLETTER
Today, I still get lost and
confused of the new system
and culture here in Europe.
Sometimes, I still think that
it’s a “dangerous” business
to step onto the Road. Most
of the places or persons
introduced to us during the
Introduction Day did not
Jedelyn Cabrieto,
1st-Year ICP Biostatistics
VOLUME
2012,
ISSUE
V
PAGE
Statistical jokes
Are the Numbers Really Random?
http://www.random.org/analysis/
Jenever Fest
PhD students from different
these are just some
courses. Luckily, more number
of the reasons why
of students joined this activity
tradition of
you should visit Has-
as compared to last year, which
annual Jenever
selt and discover its
made the celebration at full
Festival “
tradition of annual
blast!
Jenever Festival!
Our first destination was the
Have you ever seen a fountain
that flow jenever (gin) freely
instead of water? Have you
ever run away from big ugly
twin birds that keep on following you while clueless about
their intention? Have you ever
seen a gigantic bottle of gin? Do
you have any idea how gin is
“… visit Hasselt
produced? Well,
Undoubtedly, the Jenever Festi-
Jenever museum where we had
val was one of the most
a few words about the origin
“expected” JOSS events of the
and the production of Jenever
year for a lot of students. It was
in Belgium. Though it was very
a great opportunity to already
brief, we discovered and
relax just in the beginning of the
learned few things about the
academic year and to build
festival. Thanks to Martin for
friendship with masters and
providing us the information!
(continued on next page...)
and discover its
5
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6
Jenever Fest cont...
As
usual,
drinking
has
this fountain!
noon. People were every-
clearly become one of the
main activities that people
participate in while on this
festival. By the way, jenever
is a type of liquor that is
typically made from ferRenata Yokota &
John Olivo
mented barley, rye, and
2nd-Year Students
corn, and then redistilled. If
you find the original jenever
too strong, there are other
choices available. You can
try different flavors such as
vanilla,
chocolate,
milk,
hazelnuts and red fruits.
“We could still
And if you are not satisfied
with one shot free taste of
remember how
jenever, you can go directly
their faces
to where the “Barrel man”
distorted and
fountain is situated. This is
turned to red as
a very popular figure at the
festival located at the cen-
they tasted the
where – drinking, eating,
And for some students, it
was their first drinking experience. We could still
remember how their faces
distorted and turned to red
as they tasted the newly
introduced jenever. What
added more to the challenge and excitement was
the cheer from people sur-
as if there was no tomorrow! We could compare
the atmosphere that time
to a disease. It’s really contagious! Of
course, we
were expecting this and we
never failed.
Indeed, we had a great time
to try at least one shot of
at the festival this year and
jenever
everybody
hope everyone else who
was watching and cheering
joined also had. Finally, we
for them. And once they
strongly recommend giving
finished one shot all the
it a try next year. It’s really
way to the bottom, they
worth it and we are sure
were rewarded with ap-
you are going to enjoy!
plause!
Thank you, JOSS!
since
After the first shot, we
a free-flowing jenever on an
strolled on the street and
introduced
all-you-can-drink basis. It’s
came across a number of
amazing how people were
stands selling Jenever. Lo-
so excited to get at least a
cal music filled our walk
dose of the jenever from
around the city in the after-
NEWSLETTER
were enjoying the festival
would be difficult to decline
ter of Hasselt, which offers
JOSS
and dancing. In short, they
rounded them. For some it
newly
jenever.”
chatting, laughing, singing
V O L U M E
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Bowling
It all started with the excite-
what that means? But we still
I would like to thank JOSS for
ment which comes along with
had a guy who had more than
organizing the event, paying for
each kind of game and an op-
three spares. It was fun filled
the game and for buying a drink
portunity for relaxation especi-
evening to all of us as we would
for us. I hope they will organize
ally after a busy, tiresome se-
move from one group to ano-
more of such activities and mo-
mester and onset of winter
ther for score comparison and
re guys show up to enable us
the perfect
many of us were looking for-
also to have pictures together.
widen our friendship base.
workout. Six
ward to this day especially for
Also the clapping for guys who
seconds of
first timers. At Health city we
had spares made the game live-
exercise, drink
had to form 10 groups of 6
ly, but also what made it more
players each, I was among the
enjoyable was the laughter from
group 1 team which comprised
the miss by guys and the final
of Gilbert, Julius, Richard and
scores. The bowling experience
other two guys, so our team
had
was gender insensitive. Then
(relieved stress from the assign-
went for the bowling shoes,
ments, projects, coldness and
proceeded close to the bowling
also making jokes of “misses”–
lanes and started to practice
laughter the best medicine),
and show the first timers on
strengthened our friendship as
how to hold the bowling ball
statisticians and as well provi-
before the game began.
ded a platform to meet new
hour.”
- Roseanne Conner,
Alex Sila
2nd-Year ICP Biostatistics
Bowling Statistics
150
benefits
JOSS. In our group we set out
an anaerobic type of physical
some fun rule “for a miss in
exercise, similar to walking with
each game by a player, you had
free weights? The flexing and
to buy a glass of beer” guess
stretching in bowling works
what by the end of the game
tendons, joints, ligaments, and
our table was full of glasses of
muscles in the arms and pro-
beer, hope you understand
motes weight loss.
50
Did you know that bowling is
0
of drinks was catered for by
Score
people.
The first game and first round
love bowling! It's
beer half an
100
psychosocial
“Oh, come on, I
The top 3 scorers:
1. Ana
2. Adriana
3. Michael
Based on the scores of 46 players,
Mean: 87.54 (std.dev. 26.38)
Median: 89.5
ROSEANNE [1988]
7
PAGE
8
Ice Skating
The JOSS event that I had
and walk my way to the
who eventually let go of
been looking forward to had
rink .
the rails and experience
some of the hard falls.
finally come – Ice Skating!
We meet in the Agora and I
was wondering what it is
going to be, because it was
my first time. Then we
Mohammed Ibrahim
1st-Year ICP Biostatistics
board the bus to the Hasselt
Ice skating Rink. On arrival,
we all got our discounted
tickets (1 Euro) and then
entered the facility. Then,
we borrowed the skating
shoes using our student ID
“We only had a
and while I was tying my
limited time but
shoelaces, I can only think of
we were really
thankful that
this, "Can I even stand
wearing these shoes?". Fortunately, I was able to stand
we had this
challenging but
fun-filled
activity. “
JOSS
NEWSLETTER
I first started to go round
and round like others on
the rail while staying on
my feet. But it seems to
me like a marathon. And
since I came to have fun, I
finally decided to get my
hands off the rails and
courageously
attempted
to ice skate on my own
After all, friends are always there to pick you up.
We only had a limited
time but we were really
thankful that we had this
challenging but fun-filled
activity. Our smiles in the
group picture taken at the
end of our activity can
attest to this.
towards the center. It was
a great experience, even
Wow, it was a fantastic
though
day, indeed!
I
fell
hundred
I will un-
times. But it was nice to
doubtedly participate in
see that I was not the
any
only one in our group
again.
ice
skating
event
JOSS
Item Collection of Censtat
I can give you warmth, I'm
round and I have one ear (that
Joint Organization of
Statistics Scholars
gets pulled a lot).
Yep, I'm the JOSS coffee mug.
You can use me to drink some-
Universiteit Hasselt
Agoralaan 1
3590 Diepenbeek
thing, to show off with the nice
"CENSTAT" logo on my belly,
or just as a souvenir of your
nice stay in Belgium. And this
E-mail: [email protected]
for only 5 euro.
So, if you want to buy me,
Web:
please hurry to Thomas, room C12. I will be waiting for you.
http://www.uhasselt.be/UH/
The printed CenStat t-shirts
censtat/JOSS
with the CenStat logo and
And join us on facebook!
"Ten reasons to be a Statistician" are now available. For a
very cheap price of 10 euro,
you can avail of a high quality
tee, and, not to mention, a
nice souvenir from your days
at UHasselt. You can purchase your t-shirt at room D3 (see Leen, Chella or Kathy) .
http://www.dilbert.com/strips/