Issue 11, Vol 141, The Brunswickan

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arts

07

sports

opinions

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The Brunswickan

Volume 141 Issue 11 • Canada’s Oldest Official Student Publication • UNB Fredericton’s Student Paper • Nov. 14, 2007

Perfect 10: V-Reds tops in the nation

by Ed Bowes

The UNB Varsity Reds men’s hockey team is still the top team in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, and they don’t have plans of abandoning the top spot any time soon.

The V-Reds claimed seven of nine first place votes in the national media poll this past week to hold on to their ranking as the number one university men’s hockey team in the nation.

The CIS Men’s Ice Hockey Top Ten Committee is made up of media members from across Canada who vote to select the best overall hockey squad out of the four university conferences – Atlantic, Canada West, Ontario, and Quebec.

Voting for the CIS Men’s Hockey Top 10 is based on a 10-1 scale basis, with a 1st place vote worth 10 points.

UNB men’s hockey Coach Gardiner MacDougall attributes the Reds lengthy stay at number one to a series of contributing factors.

“Being chosen as the top hockey team in the country really speaks a lot to the successful tradition built up here at UNB and the fans and businesses that support our cause,” says MacDougall.

“Part of the decision would certainly have to do with our success last season.

They are definitely going to look at the previous year and record while making their verdict. We have a solid core of veteran players who have the confidence of being national champions leading the way for our 10 new players who are definitely excited to have the opportunity to wear the red and black.”

MacDougall feels a lot of the team’s

Working to hold their top ranking, the V-Reds carried their 8-0-0 record into Nova Scotia for a pair of games against fellow AUS teams the Acadia Axemen, and the Dalhousie Tigers.

Friday night’s action saw the V-Reds matched up against Acadia who sit at the bottom of the Atlantic conference with only a single victory this season.

Acadia looked sharp to start the game, and managed to match UNB’s effort to leave the game tied at 2-2 after the first period. The teams split the second period with UNB’s Denny Johnston scoring a shorthanded goal and Acadia’s Philippe Bertrand answering back just two minutes later.

In the third period, however, UNB’s dominance showed as they scored three unanswered goals to lock up the victory.

Hunter Tremblay notched the winning goal on the power play at 12:26.

David Bowman, also with the man advantage gave UNB a two-goal cushion, before Joshua Hepditch put the final nail in the coffin with an even strength goal assisted by Dustin Friesen and Lucas Madill in the final minutes of the contest.

Saturday night saw the V-Reds taking on the Dalhousie Tigers, who are currently sitting just above the Axemen in the AUS standings with only three wins so far this season.

This was less a game and more of a thrashing as the Varsity Reds took the contest with a landslide victory 8-1, making up for a tight game against the Tigers at the Aitken Centre last weekend.

The floodgates opened in the second frame as UNB outscored the Tigers 4-0 and capped off the win in the third with three unanswered goals.

The real story of the game was a pair of UNB forwards who racked up an impressive eight points between them.

Hunter Tremblay continued his torrid pace after joining the V-Reds from the

Ironmen Three-Peat

GSA Health Plan Questioned

by Naomi Osborne

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

The UNB Ironmen RFC is once again the best university rugby team on the east coast, after downing Dalhousie in a tight game on Remembrance Day at College Field. UNB held off a late Dalhousie charge to preserve a 14-13 victory in a game that coach Roy Hickey simply called “great.” For more coverage, see Sports, Page 7.

New Brunswick’s a-cookin’

by Mitchell Bernard

For most tourists to the Maritimes, the lure doesn’t just rest with whales and beaches anymore. It’s an array of shrimp, mussels, scallops, and lobster – the seafood is a huge selling point for tourists.

An announcement last week by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) will encourage the growth of the culinary tourism industry of New Brunswick and the rest of Atlantic Canada.

Peter MacKay, Minister of ACOA, announced that the Government of Canada will provide $200,000 for a new program designed to boost culinary tourism in each of the Atlantic Provinces. The funds will “help promote [the Atlantic provinces’] distinctive food and unique products,” said Minister

MacKay. Atlantic Canada has seen a rise in culinary tourism in the past few years.

More and more tourists are searching for unique dining experiences, and Atlantic Canada is now offering more than ever. The funds from the Canadian government are acting as an appraisal for the hard work of restaurant owners in Atlantic Canada, in hopes that it will stimulate more growth for the future.

There is no doubt that New Bruns-

see ACOA page 10

It has been two years since the Graduate Student Association created a health plan that would cater to the specific needs of graduate students. The plan was expected to mirror the undergrad plan but at a cheaper cost. However, it is the second year into the plan and the rates have been rising because the plan is costing more than it was expected.

Graduate student Colleen Dewis is concerned that with the rise of the rates every year, she will be unable to afford her prescription on her own.

“I submitted a claim for $300 over a month ago and have been regularly following up and have heard nothing,” said Dewis in an e-mail to The Brunswickan.

The health plan was intended to mirror the undergraduate plan but at a cheaper cost. The problem is that when the GSA shopped around for a provider they only went with one, Gallivan and Associates, who was not given a copy of the undergrad plan. They had no way of knowing what type of prescriptions the students are taking.

The interim president of the Graduate Student Association, Colin Curry, has his own reservations about how the plan was made.

“I was not a proponent of the plan in the beginning, where over the 2005-06 year, the GSA started looking for a new provider,” said Curry. “However, the negotiations were not taken with the grad executive, they only talked to one provider, and they pushed the new plan without any knowledge of what the claims would be.”

see GSA page 2

Bottled brew is here to stay: Res Life Despite rumours that STU residences would be losing bottled beer, neither STU nor UNB have plans to revoke it

by Josh O’Kane

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

First-year forward Hunter Tremblay (7) has made a huge impact on his new club, putting up 20 points, including a team-leading eight goals, in just 10 games played this season. He recorded two goals and four assists in two games over the weekend. success can be credited to his players’ Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League, notching a goal and three aswork in the classroom.

“Our guys do a great job both on sists in the winning effort. Meanwhile, and off the ice. We have 18 players with Lachlan MacIntosh, the New Brunswick a 3.0 GPA and the top attendance in native and member of the 2006-07 NaAtlantic Canada. Our guys have earned tional Champion Reds, scored a pair of everything; nothing was handed to them goals and a pair of assists to help lead the Reds in the offensive spectacle. for free.”

With two big wins this weekend, Accompanying the UNB men in the top ten media poll are the University of UNB remains atop their conference Saskatchewan Huskies, who remained in with a perfect 10-0-0 record, 20 overall second place; the University of Alberta points, and are outscoring opponents at Golden Bears, who also held strong in an impressive pace of 49-18.

The Reds will be in action this Friday, their previous position; the Saint Mary’s Huskies, who worked their way up two November 16 at home against crosspositions to hold onto fourth place, and campus rival the St. Thomas Tommies finally the Brock University Badgers, at the Aitken center at 7:00 pm. The who moved up four spots to round out Reds are also in action the following Wednesday, November 21, as they take the top five.

The Université de Moncton, the Uni- on the Moncton Aigles Bleus. Moncton versity of British Columbia, Lakehead, will be looking for a measure of payback, Waterloo, and Université de Quebec à after being downed by UNB on home Trois-Rivières fill out spots six through ice in the National Championship game last season. ten.

Glass breaks and people can get hurt.

In fact, sometimes they do get hurt.

That logic alone was good enough to justify removing glass beer bottles from highly concentrated areas like university residences, as some time ago, that happened.

Now, just several months after bottled beer came back, glass has started breaking again, and rumours began to fly that bottled beer would be gone once more.

Ryan Sullivan, Director of Residential Life at STU, says though the policy is under review, allowing bottled beer is not something STU Res Life would like to see changed. He says that given the number of students in residence versus the number of incidents of broken bottles, STU Res Life is actually very pleased.

Bottles were brought back to UNB last February and STU in March. Sullivan, who was in his current role as an acting position at that time, says there was a great deal of lobbying from students to bring bottles back.

“People were mentioning it,” says Sullivan. “I knew at that time from their lobbying that there were also efforts at UNB, and of course, they were brought back in February at UNB. Once that

change happened we started looking at it more and felt that the timing was appropriate to make the change.”

Recent incidents made the change questionable, however, leading to a review of the policy.

“There were a couple of incidents where bottles were broken, some allegedly thrown, but there is no debating that there were broken beer bottles.

They were isolated incidents, but they were incidences that we felt warranted a review.”

Sullivan also mentions that this is a campus-wide issue, and as such, he believes he would take a campus-wide approach to policy change.

“Whatever the policy is, will be the same for each and every residence. We started reviewing that. We were concerned, but we’re also being patient with this. This is not a policy that we want to see changed.”

The incidents that lead to the review occurred at the off-campus residences at STU, though there have been some across the board. One of these involved a balcony at Rigby Hall, though Sullivan says he does not believe the balcony itself was the issue.

“One of the incidents did occur from a bottle leaving the balcony and arriving on the ground below the balcony, but the others were on the other side of the building.”

Balcony access was just allowed this year at Rigby Hall, which several years ago was converted into a residence from a former motel.

Angela Garnett, Director of Residence Life at UNB, says that she wasn’t even aware of the issues or the policy review at STU Res Life previous to her interview with The Brunswickan. She

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Incidents involving broken glass have become more prevalent since bottled beer has made a comeback, but not signifcantly enough for concern says that the return of bottled beer to UNB has gone fairly well.

Even if STU were to ban bottled beer again, the policy would be individual for each university, says Garnett.

She says that “that wouldn’t precipitate us doing it, just because they changed their rule. I think, at the moment, things are working reasonably well.”

Garnett says that though there have been some incidents since the initial return, allowing bottle beer has been a policy abused by some but respected by most.

“I’ve heard of some issues, but nothing seems to be to the point where we’re not able to manage it,” says Garnett. “…I hope we keep it the way it is because most students appreciate it.”

Sullivan says he is aware of the effort put in by students to bring bottles back and as such, believes the policy should

not be changed.

“There was a lot of work put into it by students,” says Sullivan, “and there was a commitment there by student leaders that students would honor the process of being responsible with their bottles and their drinking. Overall, I think that, on both campuses, there’s been a lot of success. On both campuses there have been isolated cases, and for that we have to take a look at it and review it, make sure that we reiterate to the firstly to students the severity of the issue if it were to continue. I think the message is clear that we want everyone to have fun and be social, and from what I can tell, the message has been received.”

Sullivan has been Director of STU Residential Life since July, and both he and Garnett says they have tried to meet regularly, though have not had the time to do so since the start of the school year in September.

News

2 • November 14, 2007 • Issue 11

Millennium Scholarship: Are its days numbered?

The CMSF is set to lose its funding after 2009, leaving post-secondary students with a lack of financial assistance

by Ed Bowes

The organization that contributes $350M a year to Canadian university students is in need of help.

The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation (CMSF) is set to lose its funding after 2009, leaving Canadian post-secondary student with a massive deficit in financial assistance.

The CMSF was established in 1998 by the Government of Canada as an independent organization, with the directive of improving access to post-secondary education.

The Foundation was endowed with $2.5B to be disbursed, along with interest earned over a ten year period to university students across the country.

Each year since 2000, the Foundation has allocated $350M in non-repayable grants to Canadian students. To date, the Foundation

has delivered more than half a million bursaries and scholarships worth more than $2.2B to post-secondary students across Canada.

The CMSF divides its bursaries into two groups; 95% of the scholarships that the Foundation provides are allotted based on need, while 5% are based on merit. In total, the Foundation provides nearly 30% of all non-repayable grants awarded in Canada.

The Foundation currently awards up to 34,000 Millennium Access Bursaries each year.

These bursaries are valued between $1,000 and $5,000 each and support groups that are traditionally under-represented in post-secondary education, such as students from low-income families, rural students, Aboriginal students, and adult learners. These bursaries are for first-year students entering post-secondary studies (though in some jurisdictions second year students may be eligible).

Students can receive Access Bursaries regardless of whether they are entering college, professional college, or undergraduate studies, so long as the program leads to a degree, certificate or diploma that has a study period of at least two years in length.

The Millennium Bursary program is the Foundation's main grant program. These Bursaries help to ensure that high-need students are able to access and continue their post-secondary studies. Awards are valued at an average of $3,000, and over 90,000 high-need Canadian students' ben-

efit from this program each year.

The Millennium Bursaries are not income-based and are available to any student based on their assessed financial need.

Duncan Gallant, the CASA Policy Committee Chair and St. Thomas VP Education, describes the importance of the Foundation and their commitment to students.

“The CMSF is not simply giving

“...it helps a lot of students, and that if it disappears, then students will be a lot worse off because of it.”

- Justin weis money to students that would be able to afford post secondary education otherwise, or students who have funding available. The grants are specifically allocated to high debt, high need, students as well as groups that are statistically under represented in the system,” he said.

“They are targeted grants that go to student that need it the most; versus a tuition freeze or roll back.

This is the most cost-effective way to increase accessibly to post-secondary education.”

Each year, the Foundation distributes approximately 1,000 meritbased Millennium Excellence Awards to students enrolling in post-secondary studies. The awards are valued between $4,000 and $20,000 each. Other merit-based scholarships, known as National In-Course Awards, are available for high-achieving students who have already begun their college or university studies. Students are generally eligible to receive an InCourse Award if they are in at least their first or second year at a postsecondary institution, have at least a B+ average, and have contributed significantly to their communities.

UNB Law student and Millennium In-Course Award recipient, Justin Weis, sees the work of the CMSF and such awards as the InCourse bursaries as a way to further one’s education beyond a first degree and develop highly skilled individuals better prepared to enter the workforce.

“The bursary got rid of the pressure to get a part-time job to help finance my post-secondary education, allowing me to put a greater emphasis on my studies. By helping tremendously with the cost of an undergrad, the bursary made it possible to further my education by pursuing a master’s,” he said.

With the looming expiration of the CMSF and all funds being exhausted by 2009, it is now imperative that

students take on the fight to save this important funding program. Soon, provincial finance ministers will need to begin planning for their student financial assistance programs for 2009. The expiration of the Foundation will leave a massive $350M shortfall in student financial aid with no one to front the loss.

“If the government thinks they can get away with cutting money in a certain place without having any political repercussion they will do it.

We need the Government of Canada to recognize that people care about this program, that it helps a lot of students, and that if it disappears, then students will be a lot worse off because of it,” he said. “It's $350M per year, and if the program itself disappears there will be a huge gap in financial aid, that will either have to be met by the provincial government programs or something else.

Frankly, there is no other body or grant distribution system that is as efficient and well researched as the CMSF.” Most provinces rely on the Foundation to fund a significant portion of the non-repayable assistance programs they provide to students. If the Foundation's funding disappears, it is very likely that provinces will be forced to replace grants with loans, which increases student debt burdens. Eliminating the grants could potentially cause an increase in the net price of post-secondary education, and could act as a deterrent for many students from applying in the first place. Addition-

ally, students finding themselves with rising debt levels may be unable to complete their post-secondary studies simply because they cannot afford to continue.

The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is an alliance of student organizations and student unions from across Canada. Through this network of student governments, CASA represents and defends the interests of postsecondary students to federal and provincial levels of government. CASA is asking the federal government to renew the foundation and provide an additional endowment of at least $2.5B in 2009 to continue the important work of the CMSF. Through their Grants Reloaded program, CASA is asking students to “Stand up for your foundation,” and support the renewal of the Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation.

Students can go online, sign onto the campaign, and give their own personal opinion of why the work of the Foundation should be continued. Each message will be sent to the federal government to show the level of support in the student community.

If you wish to get more information on the grants reloaded program, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation, or if you wish to sign on and show you support you can visit www.grantsreloaded.com.

Health plan concerns from GSA page 1 When the health plan was implemented, the student association had to sign a five-year contract that forces them to go through that one provider, whereas most health plans and other providers only have one-year contracts, said Curry.

“It is unfair to have one group of students decide something like that, and no other student is able to change it,” said Curry.

It’s a five year contract, so there’s not a whole lot of room for the GSA to maneuver until the contract is up. The problem is they are unable to get out of it. If the contract is violated, then they will either need a new provider right away or be forced to pay the rest of the cost.

“We are trying to improve things as we go along,” said Curry. “It is important for the grad students to bring their problems with the plan to the GSA.” To make matters worse, students who have had to pay for their own prescriptions until now have not yet been reimbursed. “…those of us with chronic conditions have had to cover all of our medications on our own. The worst part of this is that even the reimbursement program hasn’t been working because

they don’t even know who they should be reimbursing,” said Dewis her e-mail to The Brunswickan.

Dewis has contacted those responsible for running the plan and was told “it will work soon, just be patient.” The problem is that most grad students are not in the financial situation to be patient, unless they want to pay interest on their credit cards.

One pharmacist at Sobeys, Connie Gillis, says they are doing their best to make sure everyone is covered.

“We are trying to make sure that everyone who was supposed to be on it is,” said Connie. “Most of the new grad students are already on the plan.”

To correct the problem, they hired Ginger Beach, an administrative for the GSA to analyze the paperwork and forward it to the right people. The insurance company that they go through is Great West Life.

Dewis has already submitted her receipts to the insurance company but has heard nothing back. She is a funded graduate student, although most are not. How long could they go without adequate coverage and a reimbursement program?

“It is required that if we don’t have outside insurance that we be on the school’s policy, but why am I paying a fee if my name isn’t even in the system yet?” she wondered.

News

Issue 11 • November 14, 2007 • 3

Predictably unpredictable Res Life tries alternate

methods of discipline

by Lauren Kennedy

by Josh O’Kane “Predictably unpredictable, in a sense”, is how Paul Kennedy, host of CBC radio’s ‘Ideas’, described Chantal Hébert, a fluently bi-lingual journalist and author at the beginning of the recent Dalton K. Camp lecture at St. Thomas University. Primarily addressing students, her lecture was titled ‘Canada in the Post-Unity Era: How Quebec is (Once Again) Redesigning the Canadian Political Landscape’.

Journalism is about stories and the pleasure of journalism is to tell stories, and a journalist is t their best when they are able to weave a story around an Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan interesting person or event. As Hébert sees it, being a journalist is one of the Chantal Hébert, Canadian Journalist and Author was the guest lecturer best jobs out there, and instead of doing for the Dalton K. Camp Lecture in Journalism held annually at St.Thomas a regular job, she says journalists get to be paid for doing something fun.

Radio Canada for the next 14 years, effects the rest of Canada; she discussed Despite the difficulty one would face which she says, was all the experience the French-English debate in Quebec as making such an address, due to a gen- she needed. well. As she explained the Quebec poeral resistance to political discussions, “Working there was my training. litical landscape, she clarified that these Hébert pulled it off, as she is one of That was where I went to school, that citizens are essentially in need an identity, Canada’s greatest political commenta- was my journalism training,” she said. while remaining a French society with a tors. She is the national affairs writer for “Then one day, someone asked me if democracy called ‘Canada’. the Toronto Star newspaper, a weekly I would like to write a column in the “Young people today in Quebec don’t guest columnist for the Montreal paper Ottawa Citizen as a guest columnist see English as a bad thing and they don’t Le Devoir, and a regular commentator for a week.” see themselves at a disadvantage because on the CBC television Although she some are Francophone,” she said. show, The National.

For her, as a bilingual political jourhad written for “Little Hébert is not of the Le Devoir and La nalist, she admits there were challenges typical journalists of did I know, Presse, writing in along the way, but she never turned her day, as she was not English would an offer down, and said ‘yes’ to doing enrolled in any journal- journalism is prove to be a chal- a lot of things, even though she may ism programs in school. in some ways lenge, as she had have embarrassed herself once or twice.

She says it just came never written for an She still offered this advice: “If you’re a like boot upon her one day that English-language journalist, you may make a fool out of she thought she would yourself, but in the end it doesn’t really paper before. camp; you like to pursuer this field, “I barely sur- matter; if you don’t try you never know either do that and she could not vived high school if you can do it. I think most of the think of anything else English class, and stuff I tried, I wasn’t so good at when I what they she wanted to do. She when I was done started but each time I got better, and I simply was not an office ask of you, or with that, I never did have fun along the way, and I wasn’t type, but more a ‘jeanslooked back. In bored,” she said. “It really teaches you ship out.” and-comfy-shirt’ kind university, I did all that the bad days don’t really matter and -Chantal Hébert of person, coupled with my exams in French the next day washes off the day before. a self-admitted proband all my essays In this job, you always have the privilege lem with authority. She in French. At this of getting to watch things happen while figured journalism would have nothing point I had never written a column other people have serious jobs, and that to do with those things. before and I could remember my high is a tremendous thing, that they actually “Little did I know, journalism is in school English teacher telling me I had pay you for that.” some ways like boot camp; you either no future writing like that, so when The Dalton K. Camp lecture, held do what they ask of you, or ship out,” they asked me, I said ‘Sure, of course I each year at St. Thomas University, was she described. could do that’,” she joked, and to this established to enhance young journalHer first real journalism job was at 25 day she still writes a column and hasn’t ists’ education and to recognize the years old within the CBC Radio Canada had a day off. lasting contribution to journalism that newsroom, translating anything that Being bilingual is a key asset in Dalton K. Camp, himself a prominent looked like Toronto news into French, the journalism world, particularly in Canadian political journalist, made to from 4 am to noon. As she was supposed Canada. Hébert feels she was very Canada. The lecture is held in partnerto return to university for her fourth fortunate to have a good grasp in both ship with CBC radio’s Ideas program, year, she caught a break when an On- official languages. When she spoke dur- which is recorded, to be played for a tario election was called. She stayed on ing her lecture, she told of Quebec’s national broadcast. This year’s broadcast the scene, and ended up working with ever-changing political landscape and its will be on Ideas on November 27.

Things were a little quieter at Aitken and Neill Houses during several weekends in October, as both houses had extended quiet hours. After rising concerns and several “turbulent” evenings, the two Houses each were disciplined with the modified quiet hours for house damages for which no one would account.

Angela Garnett is the current Director of Residential Life under the new Residence Life, Campus, and Conference Services structure. She says this method of discipline is more effective than monetary punishment, such as House fines to pay for the repairs.

The dons and House teams in each case, says Garnett, “decided to do something that they thought might have had more impact, and also benefits the House, as it provides more quiet time to allow people to do more studying and get back on track after the particularly turbulent weekends.”

Both residences ran into problems in early-to-mid October. In Neill, Garnett says there were progressive concerns over quiet hours in the weeks that preceding the evening of their toga social.

“People were pushing the quiet hours,” she says, “and trying to extend them a little bit every night so the proctors were having to speak to more and more people every night about it. It was getting a little frustrating for everyone, including most of the students, who want to respect quiet hours and want to go to sleep.”

The night in question was that of the House toga social on October 12.

Despite the fact that, due to Residence Life rules, only residents and one guest

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Neill House, pictured here behind the Res Life building, had two weekends in October with 10pm quiet hours per person were in the building, the laundry room was damaged during the evening.

Because of this, says Garnett, the don and House team decided to move quiet hours on weekends back to 10 pm, such as is already the case on weekdays.

Traditionally, quiet hours in residence begin at 2 am on a given Friday or Saturday evening.

“To my understanding, it went reasonably well,” says Garnett. “I’m sure there was a little bit of grumbling in the House, but I think everyone respected it. The condition upon that was that if it wasn’t respected by the House then it would be extended again. I understand that it was reasonably successful.”

Garnett says Aitken had a somewhat different series of events over what she described as “several turbulent nights,” where several internal windows were broken, such as those in fire doors.

“They weren’t able to locate those responsible for it, but it had happened at least twice in the building. They had a couple of other damages in the house. Their stove in the basement was damaged.”

The Aitken House team thus took a similar tactic to Neill to make it educational, says Garnett. However, they chose to make it a gradual change back to traditional weekend quiet hours. The first weekend had 10 pm quiet hours

on Friday and Saturday nights, and the next at midnight, then going back to 2 am quiet hours.

The non-monetary method of discipline works for two reasons, says Garnett.

“It’s sort of a punishment for the House, because it’s a direct change of one of their rules, but it also usually helps the House maintain a level of noise, respect, and everything else over those weekends and let them get back on track.”

She also says that the money it costs to pay a House fine for damages doesn’t often impact strongly when divided among 100 residents, or in the case of personal fines, they can sometimes be unaffordable.

“It seems to be a method that works, at least in the short term. We’ll see how it goes. It seems to be more effective with the students than just another fine which no one can afford and doesn’t seem to really change anything.”

Garnett also notes that discipline cases have been lower overall this year than in the past, and has been happening in a normal spread across all residences.

“Overall, things have been quite low,” she says. “The dons and the House teams are keeping a more active role this year in monitoring discipline in their residence, and I think that this is probably attributed to their good work.”

CORRECTION Last week’s article “No lease and no peace” included incorrect information. The Cellar has never had any underage drinking infractions. The Brunswickan apologizes for this error.

4 • November 14, 2007 • Issue 11

Trials and triumphs of the

campus spectrum

by Melanie Bell

“You’re what, exactly?”

You approach the washrooms in your faculty building and hesitate in front of two doors.

You listen as your friend points out the hot guy who passes you and the other girls agree. You nod along, but secretly find the stranger in the hall less attractive than your friend herself.

You listen as your friends talk about the people with whom they have made out during last night’s party downtown, and wonder what exactly is going through their heads.

Scenarios such as these are the reality for students who fall within a sexual minority.

Among sexual orientations, homosexuality is the most widely recognized outside of heterosexuality, although there are various other minorities who exist within the spectrum of sexuality. Bisexuals are attracted to members of both genders. Although some bisexuals

overcoming

Mike Daley is a first-year Arts student at UNB and a member of Spectrum, UNB and STU’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) alliance. Like many people who are gay, his journey towards accepting his sexuality was filled with obstacles. He suspected that he was gay when he was around 11 and 12, but started dating girls because “I wanted to fix myself.” He dated between 15 and 20 girls before he met his current boyfriend. “They liked that I was a gentleman and didn’t force them to do anything sexually, but truth is, if they’d wanted to, I would have said ‘no’

exhibit a preference for one gender over the other, bisexuality is a separate orientation from homosexuality or heterosexuality.

Some people do not conform to society’s gender binary. ‘Transgender’ is an umbrella category used to designate these individuals. It encompasses transvestites, those who

anyway. Some of them were really nice and beautiful girls, but it just didn’t ‘click’,” he explains.

Daley’s Christian beliefs are central to his life. He used to pray nightly that God would set his sexuality straight. His self-acceptance also took a religious path, as when he finally asked God to give him a sign if he was meant to be gay, he feels he received something he considered one.

Michael Zimmerman grew up in similar circumstances. “I knew I was

personal shame

UNB has a number of programs in place to provide support and awareness for sexual minorities.

Spectrum “is an organization that looks after the interests of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, two-spirited, queer, and questioning students, staff, and faculty at UNB and STU.” Aside from the executive, members’ names are kept confidential. New members and straight allies are always welcome.

The group meets every Friday at 5:30 pm. Most meetings take place in the Sexuality Centre on the third floor of the SUB, and social events such as movies, bowling, and games nights are organized. The group is planning to host a winter formal in January. Members of Spectrum have benefited in various ways from participating in the group. “It’s nice to talk to other people who have been through everything I’m going through,” says Daley. “It’s nice being able to put my arm around my boyfriend and not have everyone in the place look at you like you’re

a monster.”

In addition to Spectrum, the university has a number of initiatives in place to provide support and awareness for sexual minorities.

The Sexuality Centre is one such structure. In addition to resources focused on sex, it provides information on various sexual orientations and gender identities. Coordinator Melissa Fulton says the Centre has a few visitors every semester who come in looking for information on sexual orientations. “People of all sexualities benefit from our referral service,” she adds. “Some visitors do not know about other groups, like Spectrum, and by coming to the Centre, we are able to refer them to such groups.” The Centre has a confidentiality policy and a philosophy of being available, understanding, and open. It is also the home of UNB’s Safe Spaces program.

According to the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, 75.4% of GLBTQ students report hearing homophobic remarks “fre-

dress like members of the opposite sex, people who consider themselves the opposite gender psychologically; intersexuals have physical elements of both genders, and people who have undergone sex reassignment surgery. Still, other transgendered people consider themselves androgynous, identifying with aspects

different,” says St. Thomas student and employee at Boom!, a nightclub known as the hub of Fredericton’s gay scene. Around the third grade, he realized he was gay. He dated girls in the years afterwards, but stopped in tenth grade. Like Daley, he denied and tried to act against his sexuality —“I’m going to get married, I don’t care, I’m a freak,”— all the while realizing that it was something he could not turn away. In his eleventh grade year, he met his first boyfriend, and they started dating secretly. He came out the following year. He had lied so often to friends, through such actions as commenting

j

of neither or both genders. A former UNB student, who asked to remain anonymous, explained, “I used to feel left out when our gym teacher had the girls go on one side and the guys go on another for gym class.

Like, I didn’t belong there [on the guys’ side], but I didn’t feel like I belonged with the girls, either.”

on girls’ attractiveness, that some of them were surprised. They had believed the lies. Others had not.

When Zimmerman came out to his parents, he says, “I built it up to be a big deal in my mind. I was crying.” His worry dissolved with his parents’ reassurance that it didn’t matter; they loved him anyway. Daley’s parents were equally supportive.

It was a different story for Zimmerman’s boyfriend at the time, whose devoutly religious parents left a Bible verse on his bed telling him he would go to hell. They also threatened to kick him out of the

Feature

out on

the town Fredericton is home to a few organizations that support people of minority sexualities. FLAG (Fredericton Lesbians and Gays) is a group that raises awareness of gay issues within the city. The group owns a collection of gay literature and holds social events.

Like with Spectrum, straight allies are welcome. PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) is a support group for people who are struggling to come to terms with the sexuality of gays and lesbians with whom they are close. The group’s monthly meetings include GLB people and parents in the same situation In terms of social atmosphere, few places in Fredericton advertise themselves as gay-friendly.

The downtown cof fee shop Crumbs is known to be welcoming, as are certain other coffee shops and the restaurant Mexicali Rosa’s.

Then, of course, there is Boom!. Founded three years ago, the Queen Street nightclub has grown in residents’ perceptions from a gay bar to “a really fun place to go, regardless of personal

house.

When one of Daley’s friends came out to his own best friend, “his best friend pretty well beat the hell out of him. If anything,” says Daley, “he should be relieved because that friend’s never going to try to steal his girlfriend.”

Despite his self-acceptance, Daley keeps his relationships and sexuality secret in certain circumstances, in order to avoid discrimination. He and his boyfriend are friends with a lesbian couple, and they often double date. “People just assume each of us are with one of the girls.”

Both Zimmerman and Daley, like most psychologists, believe that sexuality is inherent. “I don’t know anybody who’d choose to be gay,” Daley says. “Every gay person I know has tried to fix it. I think the people who say it is a choice should try to be gay for a day. It doesn’t really work that way.”

oining forces

quently or often,” while 89.2% report often hearing expressions such as “you’re so gay.” 64.3% feel unsafe in their school due to their sexual orientation, and 40.7% due to their gender identity. Combining these forms of discrimination with statistics on harassment, Abbott concludes, “Queer students have to be constantly aware of the fact that they’ll be facing a deal of discrimination.”

“There are many ways in which people are discriminated against,” he continues, “but when it comes to questions of sexual orientation and gender identity, people still feel the need to hide. [Acceptance] needs to be explicit, because it’s not safe for people to assume that they’ll be accepted.”

The Safe Spaces program provides such explicitness through a sticker marked with a rainbow triangle and the following words: “Anyone who is gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, two-spirited, or questioning is welcome here. Ignorance, intol-

erance, bigotry, and harassment are not acceptable.” The program includes presentations that take participants through a guided journey of what it is like to grow up having a form of minority sexuality. Abbott is currently reworking the educational material to draw awareness to transgender issues. “The idea of the male-female tradition being challenged is still perceived as some sort of illness,” in many cases, he says. Transsexual people “face a lot of struggle in being recognized in their own identity as well as being safe.” Abbott is also including information on asexuality, an orientation in which “sexuality as a norm is challenged. Our language is so ingrained that it doesn’t allow us to look outside that.” Like transgendered people, asexuals are often told their orientation is an illness. While chemical imbalances and trauma can lead some people to develop aversion or disinterest in sexuality, others are in fact born asexual, and quite content to live

as such. This reality is difficult for many people in our sex-saturated society to accept.

The Safe Spaces program has had many positive effects so far. Abbott recalls his conversation with one university staff member who had a Safe Spaces sticker on her door.

“Often students noticed the sticker and became physically more comfortable or would talk about their same-sex significant other without having to hide.”

“Every time I’ve done a presentation,” he adds, “there has been a bit of interesting discussion.”

Some of this has centered on homophobia, an issue around which Abbott has noticed improvement.

In other cases, students will ask him to define a term with which they were previously unfamiliar. In both cases, at least some of the students emerge from the presentation having learned something new about minority sexualities. “[The program] encourages people to discuss these very important issues.”

background,” Zimmerman says.

It has also become increasingly accepted. “There is less yelling at people outside. It used to be frequent.” The nightclub, however, “is in people’s face now,” along with the existence of sexual minorities within the city.

Boom! frequently hosts live DJs from across the Maritimes, in addition to a variety of themed events such as colour parties.

The nightclub makes an effort to market to all lifestyles and subgroups, bringing in performers in styles as varied as folk, break dancing, and metal. In a sexually diverse atmosphere, this also means welcoming different types of sexual expression, including fetish nights and drag nights.

Zimmerman has seen many hookups happen during his work shifts, and some of them last. He has seen people enter wearing “just about everything under the sun. You can tell that everyone there is completely comfortable.

[The owners] are really big on letting everyone have space to express themselves—it’s how society should be.”

asexuality

One form of sexuality that is just beginning to gain attention is the lack thereof. Asexuals are those who do not experience sexual attraction to members of either gender.

Recent research has found that 1% of the population falls within this definition. David Jay, founder of the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), describes sexuality as a bell curve. Under this classification, it is logical that some people would not experience sexual attraction at all. Some asexuals have sex drives, despite their lack of sexual attraction to others. Some participate and even enjoy sexual activity, although many find it boring and meaningless, some distasteful.

Asexuals have the same emotional needs as other people, and many experience romantic attraction, which includes the desire for close relationships and the emotional aspects of falling in love. Others, classified as ‘aromantic’, do not experience romantic attraction.

The difference between sexual and romantic attraction is seldom acknowledged, but it exists, even in people who are not asexual. It leads to even further variations of human sexuality, such as individuals who tend to be sexually attracted to members of one sex but romantically attracted to the other.

Heterosexuals talk about their sexuality every day. They can discuss their attractions and relationships openly, without a second thought.

For students who find themselves within a sexual minority, the process is rarely that easy.

Comments & Letters The Brunswickan

A tribute to War Brides and Maritimers

Editorial Board

Editor-In-Chief • Jennifer McKenzie Managing Editor • Tony von Richter Co-News Editor • Josh O’Kane Co-News Editor • Lauren Kennedy Arts Editor • Ashley Bursey Photo Editor • Andrew Meade Sports Editor • Brian Munn Copy Editor • Alicia Del Frate Production Editor • Ed Cullinan

Staff Advertising Sales Rep • Bill Traer Delivery • Mike Lee Contributors Christian Hapgood, Brad Conley, Alison Clack, Jordan Gill, Doug Estey, Dan Hagerman, Sean Horsley, Dave Briggs, Melanie Bell, Naomi Osborne, Mitchell Bernard, Ed Bowes, Jason Henry, Nick Ouellette About Us The Brunswickan, in its 141st year of publication, is Canada’s Oldest Official Student Publication.

We are an autonomous student newspaper owned and operated

by Brunswickan Publishing Inc., a non-profit, independant body.

We are a founding member of the Canadian University Press, and love it so. We are also members of U-Wire, a media exchange of university media throughout North America.

We publish weekly during the academic year with a circulation of 10,000.

Letters Must be submitted by e-mail including your name, letters with pseudonymns will not be printed. Letters must be 200 words maximum. Deadline for letters is Friday at noon.

Editorial Policy While we endeavour to provide an open forum for a variety of viewpoints and ideas, we may refuse any submission considered by the editorial board to be racist, sexist, libellous, or in any way discriminatory.

The opinions and views expressed in this newspaper are those of the individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Brunswickan, its Editorial Board, or its Board of Directors.

All editorial content appearing in The Brunswickan is the property of Brunswickan Publishing Inc. Stories, photographs, and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the express, written permission of the Editorin-Chief.

21 Pacey Drive, SUB Suite 35 Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3 main office • (506) 447-3388 advertising • (506) 452-6099 fax • (506) 453-5073 email • bruns.editor@gmail.com

Send us your Stories Opinions Letters Comics eic@unb.ca

eic@unb.ca • November 30, 2005

Dedicated with much love and gratitude to my wonderful mum and to the very special people of the Maritimes

Submitted by Sondra Tilley-Gulliford

"Why are you crying, you're not a war bride." These were words my mum spoke to me as, with tears in her own eyes, she looked away from the window of the train and the masses of people crowding the platform at our first stop in New Brunswick, Campbellton.

Indeed, why was I crying? But cry I did, along with so many other family members - daughters, sons and grandchildren, who accompanied their special war bride family member on this amazingly memorable trip We traveled by train from London, Ontario to Montreal where we boarded the official ‘War Bride Train’ taking us to Halifax and Pier 21 for the 60th Reunion of War Brides. But this was no ordinary walk to the train platform.

Via Rail employees had arranged a special ‘parade to the platform’ lead by a piper, a very special piper - my mum's grandson! It was not an easy task trying to stay out of my mum's sight - imagine a 6 foot piper in full Black Watch attire trying to remain incognito while everyone around us was commenting on the piper and all the media. But Todd did mange to surprise his Nan and with as much love and pride as any grandchild could muster, he escorted my mum as the two of them lead the entourage.

Through the station and a mass of media and cameras, onto the waiting train.

The self described committee of “four ordinary Via employees,” whose brainchild this train was, warned us that we were in for a treat once we reached New Brunswick (Ron Jackson, Peggy Topple, Nancy Risser, and 8-months-pregnant Annick Belley are anything but ordinary, rather they're extraordinary individuals for a multitude of reasons.)

How sad for communities outside the Maritimes (especially Eastern Ontario) that chose to ignore personal requests by committee members to participate in this monumental journey. You really missed out on an exciting event and the opportunity to acknowledge an integral part of our Canadian and your own local history.

No words could prepare us for, nor even begin to describe the impact of, the lively warm greetings awaiting us in Eastern Canada.

All along the Maritime route, in the wee early hours of the morning, in the cold, the rain, the fog, and dark of night you were there - you very special people. You made sure that we heard and saw you - from the official stops in Campbellton, Jacquet River, Bathurst, Miramichi, Moncton, and Truro, all the way to Halifax and, surprisingly, back again – you were there, in masses, from all across Canada's East Coast, including a contingent from PEI.'s Historical Society.

Westchester: no one group was more disappointed that the train did not stop than those aboard the War Bride Train – passengers and Via Rail employees alike.

We first noticed cars parked along the roads leading to the train crossing and wondered what was happening.

Wow! We soon experienced what was happening: Once again a special and unique welcome.

Throughout New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, you not only crowded station platforms, you sent your warm wishes from along country lanes, crossroads, porches, backyard fences, and hillsides, from alongside the tracks and from cars that were stopped waiting for this 23-car-long train to pass.

There were many who left work to wave as the train passed their workplace, there was the RCMP detachment who lined up along the platform to salute the

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

On Sunday, November 11th, the Colour Party marches to their posts at the Fredericton Cenotaph precious cargo aboard this special train as it eased into the station (you initially worried us when we saw the many cruisers parked at the station).

Thank you to the group of women whose spontaneous song and dance number delighted all who witnessed your impromptu show and prompted shouts of “Again, again, please!” – to which you readily obliged.

Then, on to the reception that patiently waited for our late arrival in Halifax. It seemed that the whole Atlantic Command was there, so many in naval uniforms, officers, naval cadets, and the Stadacona Band, the local and provincial politicians were there, too, bolstered by the exuberant people of Halifax and

Nova Scotia. All welcomed us, literally, with open arms. There were cheers of applause and shouts of “Welcome back, welcome home!” Indeed it seemed like home – we were overwhelmed with the reception.

Your smiling faces, the signs, cheers, colour parties, and salutes, the veterans, police, red hat ladies, IODE, hockey teams, pipe bands, cadets, armed forces, all the groups and organizations proudly displaying their colours to everyone of you. The memory of all this and so much more is etched in our minds and on our hearts forever!

To all you wonderful Maritimers who made our mums feel so special: Thank you. To coin a British phrase, “you done

yourselves proud!”

I eagerly tried to document the sights and sounds of all these pipe bands, the fire trucks with lights flashing, the people of all ages, all cheering and waving signs and flags – but no picture, no video tape or words could possible do these people and their enthusiasm justice.

These same crowds were perplexed at my comments that we were overwhelmed by their reception, they could not understand that there would be any other way to greet this special train with its equally special passengers.

And who was responsible for initiating this outpouring of welcome and love? A very hard working group of four Via Rail employees, Ron, Peggy, Nancy,

and Annick were instrumental in the planning of this whole adventure. The bonding, the memories…how could I even begin to put into words my gratitude for all this and so much more? No words could begin to express my thanks or repay them for what they have done or for what they have given me and, I am certain, so many other participants.

But why was I crying? Every time I experienced the enthusiasm and respect these people displayed, I cried. For a multitude of reasons which I am still trying to understand and decipher, I became emotional. The answer is as simple and complex as the many people to whom you ask that question.

I cried tears of joy and happiness, that these crowds acknowledged what my mum and so many others did for love and for our country. Indeed, we often heard the crowds and Via Rail employees shouting aloud "Thank you!"

There were sad tears that my aunts and one person in particular, my dad, were not on this journey with us, but they were there, if only in spirit.

I filled with pride, and once again tears, as I watched my shy, reserved mum emerge like a butterfly from its chrysalis and wave her Union Jack and Canadian flags enthusiastically to the equally enthusiastic crowds and, quite eloquently, shared stories with national news media, an oral historian, and fellow war brides. "That's my mum!" I heard myself brag, my courageous, beautiful mum who, like all other War Brides, crossed an ocean to a foreign land and an unknown way of life.

Yes mum, I am not a War Bride, but I cried and still get teary-eyed when I relive the event. I have never been so proud to be a Canadian, the daughter of a war bride and a Canadian soldier/ veteran.

I may not have been generous in expressing my gratitude for all you have done but after this journey I admire you even more, more than I could possibly put into words. I salute you, mum and love you very much.

Yes, I am proud to be my mother's daughter.

With love from your daughter, Sondra To you extraordinary people from across the Maritimes, the many who traveled from PEI and Newfoundland, to mingle with those from across New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, a very sincere thank You. May God Bless each and everyone of you.

6 • The Brunswickan

Starting your Sexual Toybox

by Melissa Fulton from the UNB Sexuality Centre Sex toys can be fun, but also a bit scary.

What kinds of toys exist? How do you care for them? How do you use them?

Sex toys are for anyone, whether they want to spice up their sexual routine, or are looking for ways to be sexual without the need of a partner. For those who may want to try sex toys, but are intimidated, here are the basics!

There are many things to consider before rushing out and buying a toy.

Different toys work better for different parts of the body, so consider whether you are going to use your toy for a vagina, anus, penis, or clitoris. There are dildos, vibrating toys, anal toys, rings, penis sleeves, etc., all of which come in many different shapes and sizes. If you want a toy for clitoral stimulation, a vibrating toy with multiple speeds is a great option. If you are looking for a toy for penetration, you may want to check out a dildo (also available as a doubleended toy). It is also important to learn about the different materials that sex toys are made of, as each requires specific care. Proper care will ensure your toy lasts longer, and will prevent germs.

If you intend to share your toy with a partner, you must remember that STIs (and other infections, such as yeast infections) can still be transmitted.

Proper cleaning can prevent this from happening, and toys should be cleaned after every single use. Plus, condoms work just as well on sex toys as they do on real penises. Even if you do not intend to share your toy, cleaning is still a must to get rid of bacteria and viruses; this is especially important if you are using a toy for both vaginal and anal stimulation.

The main sex toy materials are jelly, plastic, rubber, latex, silicone, glass, and cyberskin. We'll get into how to care for these different materials, but just remember that as an extra germ precaution, a condom is never a bad idea, even if you are the only one using the toy. Be sure to rinse very well after cleaning to wash away any soap, toy cleaner, or bleach, in order to prevent skin irritation. Sex toys should also be left to air dry, instead of drying with paper towel or cloth.

Jelly toys are soft and flexible and can be made out of various materials, which are porous, and can therefore trap germs if not cleaned properly. Jelly toys can be a tad sticky, attracting lint and fibers.

Jelly toys can be cleaned with warm soapy water, or with a sex toy cleaner.

Plastic toys are harder than jelly toys, and over time they can break since they are not as flexible. Plastic is not as porous, but you should look out for seams or attachments that can be hard to clean.

Plastic toys can be cleaned with warm soapy water or a toy cleaner. Every now and again, you can soak you plastic toy in a bleach-water solution, remembering to rinse very well.

Rubber toys are firmer than jelly toys, but they become more flexible as they are used. Rubber is another porous material, so clean well. Rubber toys can also be washed with warm soapy water or toy cleaner.

Latex toys are pretty popular, but make sure that you are not allergic to latex before buying one. Latex is another porous material, so clean diligently. Latex toys can be cleaned in warm soapy water or with a toy cleaner. Remember that, like latex condoms, a latex toy will break down if you use an oil-based lube like Vaseline or massage oils, so always use a water-based lubricant with a latex toy. Latex and jelly toys shouldn't be stored in the same container, because if they touch, the materials will start melting.

Silicone toys are more expensive, but they last longer and don't irritate skin.

Remember to never use a silicone lube with a silicone toy or the toy will break

down. Silicone toys can be cleaned in warm soapy water or a toy cleaner. You can also clean silicone toys in boiling water, or in the dishwasher, as long as they do not have any mechanical parts.

Silicone is not porous, but make sure to check your silicone toy for nicks or tears that can appear over time.

Glass toys are also expensive and non-porous. You can clean them with warm soapy water, toy cleaner, in boiling water, or in the dishwasher. Glass toys should be checked now and again for chips or cracks, and must be kept in a case or bag to prevent breaking.

Cyberskin is a mixture of PVC and silicone that is soft and realistic-feeling.

Cyberskin toys are porous, and can be washed in warm soapy water or with a toy cleaner. To keep the material's realistic, soft feeling, sprinkle the toy with a bit of cornstarch after you wash it.

On November 13th, the Sexuality Centre hosted a Fantasia Party, where UNB students were invited to come to learn about (and purchase) various lotions, gels, and toys, and another Party will be hosted next semester. For more information, feel free to visit us! The Sexuality Centre has toys, cleaner, and lube on display. You can also call us at 452-6272 or e-mail us at sexuality@unb. ca. The Sexuality Centre is SUB room 203, on the third floor by the elevator.

November 14 • 2007

Smoke free simply a utopian ideal Dear Editor, Last week the Brunswickan ran an article outlining a utopian proposal for a smoke free campus, and ultimately, a smoke free nation. This is apparently to be achieved by enforcing regulations on individuals who smoke. Given that we live in an environment filled with toxic substances and anti-social behavior, it seems unusual, even suspicious, that such intense hostility is directed at the humble cigarette consumer.

Putting a patriotic spin on this scapegoat tactic seems even more dubious; pointing the finger at smokers detracts attention from our embarrassingly grotesque pollution statistics, and attempts to exclude certain individuals from a healthcare system paid for with their tax dollars. The annually held National Conference on Tobacco or Health *[that’s not a typo, it is “or” not “and”]* mentioned in the article, is sponsored by several pharmaceutical companies and the Canadian government, who make a killing on cigarette sales. But of course, they would only be revoking human rights for the greater good – wouldn’t they?

When I open my window, the sill is soon covered in black, sooty exhaust residue. No doubt some of this noxious

dust has made its way into my lungs and onto the dinner table. But I can’t expect people to stop driving. That would be unreasonable. Most people couldn’t imagine campus life without toxic chemicals. Janitors at UNB are expected to use cleaning products which endanger their own health and the environment, haul away garbage cans filled with food wrappers and paper products, and soon (if all goes as planned) they won’t even have a smoke break. Students douse themselves with ‘hygiene’ products, deodorants, and makeup before heading off to class. I would be a hypocrite I said these things should be banned – and isn’t that what the anti-smoking Nazi’s are, hypocrites?

As a non-smoker, I think keeping enclosed spaces smoke-free makes sense. However, I think we should question the media promoted image of smokers as a healthcare burden and defilers of public space. It seems to me that demonizing smoking is a stepping stone to the reduction of the rights and freedoms of Canadians. As long as there is no social stigma attached to driving an SUV, a nation-wide ban on smoking (although not cigarettes) seems like a misdirected goal.

Margaret Young

Disappointment in SU’s election process

Long Term comic (Halloween) -VICTORIA (CUP)

By Andrew MacLachlan Nexus (Camosun College)

Dear Editor, I am disappointed and dismayed at the entire election regime at the University of New Brunswick. Only having 85 students vote in the last election and only having 1 (of the 8) contested spots running with more than one candidate denotes a sever problem, even by bielection standards. What we need is more coverage, opinion and criticism levied in this area. Instead, what we get are letters from the CRO condemning opinion pieces on the election and “laughter” from the SU. I have read a few Bruns pieces on the process of reforming the election process to strengthen its integrity, but I have read little on what this actually means. Constant reference is made to the “recommendations from previous CRO Claire Henderson.” The favorite example is that a DRO has been hired. If memory serves, CRO Henderson implemented more “temporary” changes than that in the last election. For example, she unilaterally granted sweeping powers, to herself, so that she could financially punish candidates on whatever she deemed an infraction of the bylaws. As well, her position was that everything was banned unless she’d explicitly approved it. The by-laws, as they then stood, were

read very restrictively providing little political freedom in the realm of election campaigning. Frankly, I’m not that interested in whether or not a DRO was hired. Rather, I’m greatly interested in whether or not any of these other measures were written into the by-laws.

The letter, from CRO Tait (published in issue 10 of volume 141) mentions how unfair it was that the candidates did not get a chance to reply to Mr. Ouellette’s criticism because of an imposed media ban on the candidates. I agree that this is a problem. But I don’t really think there is a problem with a newspaper running an opinion piece during an election. In fact, I wish there was more on the subject – this would likely encourage more student participation. Instead, I think there is a major problem with the media blackout and how it is imposed.

In the very least, the CRO should be reading this sweeping, broad and restrictive blackout as lightly as possible. Any doubt should always be in favor of free speech and open participation. But, ideally, this ban should be completely reconsidered. In the interests of fairness, I see why *some* areas would be restricted only during election days. But the current ban is unacceptable.

The media ban isn’t the only restric-

tive tool in the election by-laws. There are many blanket restrictions on many forms of media and types of communications. As well, the default is that everything is banned unless explicitly approved. There seems to be a genuine fear that candidates (or newspapers) might actually use communication to change people’s minds. Why? Election coverage should change people’s minds – that’s the nature of information. If a candidate is savvy enough to come up with a new way to communicate an idea (for example, coming up with a facebook group), why punish her for it?

If someone writes an article to express a very real concern, why does the SU condemn it?

Our problems with apathy and elections have only just begun if we start to restrict the media on this subject. If Mr. Ouellette’s article was provocative, that’s a good thing. It likely encouraged half the people that did vote, to actually vote. The SU really needs to reconsider its official approach to elections and The Brunswickan needs to be there to cover it.

Sincerely, Jonathan Griffith

Sports

brunswickansports@gmail.com • November 14, 2007

Ironmen are the toast of the coast

V-Reds Results Friday, November 2nd Women’s Volleyball UNB – 3 UPEI – 0 Women’s Hockey UNB – 1 SMU – 3

by Hunter Gavin

For the third consecutive season, the UNB Ironmen RFC are the champions of the East Coast. In yet another memorable season, the UNB wrapped up their 2007 season with a hard-fought 14-13 win over the Dalhousie Tigers on Sunday afternoon in front of hundreds of fans at College Field.

UNB entered the match with a 7-1 record on the year, while Dalhousie – the top team from Nova Scotia – rolled into Fredericton with a perfect 8-0 record.

The game started out slowly, as the teams fought not only for field positions but also against the frigid winds swirling around the field. Dalhousie pressured the Ironmen for much of the first half, but could not capitalize on numerous opportunities in the UNB backfield.

The Ironmen managed to put together a sustained effort later in the half, which peaked with UNB fly-half Cameron Ough picking off an errant pass in the Dalhousie backfield and running it back for a try. The conversion was good, giving the Ironmen a 7-0 lead.

Dalhousie managed to cut the lead to 7-3 with a long kick to end the first half.

The second half began with the Ironmen controlling the play, dominating Dalhousie all over the field. The exception play eventually paid off, as UNB was able to push a ball over the line for their second try of the match. The conversion put the Ironmen up 14-3, and they looked to be in control.

Dalhousie made the game interest-

Men’s Hockey Acadia – 3 UNB – 6 Men’s Volleyball Dalhousie – 1 UNB – 3 Saturday, November 3rd Women’s Basketball UPEI – 71 UNB – 80 Men’s Basketball UPEI – 102 UNB – 70

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

The UNB Ironmen pulled out a 14-13 victory over Dalhousie on Sunday afternoon, claiming their third consecutive Maritime University Championship. The UNB B Side was also in action, dropping the opening match of the day 25-23 to the Cape Breton University Capers at College Field. ing, however, scoring two trys late in the second half, including one with less than a minute left to play.

UNB managed to keep Dalhousie’s play to the sides, however, leaving two very long kicks into the wind for the Dalhousie kicker. Both attempts proved unsuccessful, and UNB escaped with a one-point victory.

Roy Hickey, coach of the Ironmen, explained the team’s feelings quite simply, “It’s great.”

Hickey said the UNB side was confident going into the game, but were facing somewhat of an unknown battle

Women split weekend

with Dalhousie.

“We didn’t play [Dalhousie] during the season, so they were somewhat of an unknown to us. We knew they’d be good, but we knew that we were good enough to beat them,” commented Hickey. “Their centers were particularly strong, but we didn’t get away from our game plan.”

Sticking to the game plan was difficult at times, as injuries were a concern for UNB. The efforts of certain players through injuries, however, were a key to the Ironmen victory. Hickey pointed especially to the effort of Derek Weaver,

who he said “played very well through a very tough injury.”

While Hickey celebrated the ‘threepeat’ for the Ironmen, he acknowledged that Dalhousie’s late flurry had indeed put the game into question. The effort of the Ironmen in keeping the play to the outside was crucial in preserving the win.

“I was happy to see our boys made them score [their last try] in the corner, because it meant that the kick would be long,” explained Hickey.

“When [Dalhousie] was lining up for the final kick, I was thinking it would

Toronto FC rookie takes MLS hardware

by Bruns Sports Department

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

The UNB Varsity Reds women’s hockey team went 1-1 on home ice over the weekend, pulling their record on the season to 2-5-1. The Reds lost 3-1 to St. Mary’s on Friday night, with UNB’s lone tally coming from Alexis Laird. On Saturday night, UNB put together and impressive effort to drop the Mount Allison Mounties, 3-1. Laird scored her second goal of the weekend, with Christine Hartnoll and Sarah Belmore also scoring for UNB. Terri Ryerson picked up the win, making 18 saves in the UNB goal.

be really tough for us to lose in that position.”

The Ironmen ‘B’ side was also in action on Sunday, dropping a 25-23 decision to the Cape Breton University Capers at College Field.

Aside from claiming the Maritime University Championship, the Ironmen took home another award this weekend.

Cass Conkin was named as an All-Star in the New Brunswick Rugby Union’s Premier Men’s Division. Conkin, a native of White Rock, BC, was the only member of the Ironmen to take home an individual award.

This was truly a season of firsts for Toronto FC. In its inaugural season, the first goal, the first win, and the first home game were huge achievements that will live forever in franchise history.

Another huge first: the team’s first ever draft pick, 21-year-old midfielder, Maurice Edu. Not only did Edu post four goals and an assist in his first year, he was also recognized as Major League Soccer’s Rookie of the Year.

Selected first overall in the 2007 Superdraft, Edu also ranked third on the team with 2,180 minutes played.

After being sidelined for most of the pre-season with a groin injury, Edu returned to find himself playing alongside veteran Carl Robinson in the midfield.

“The team showed a lot of confidence in me through the course of the year, and it started even before the draft.

They knew coming into the season that I was injured, and might miss a couple of games early on and they still drafted me No. 1,” Edu said. “That [confidence]

Internet

Edu was Toronto’s first ever draft pick, taken first overall in 2007. goes a long way, especially for a young player, when you come into a system or an organization and they believe in you and your abilities on the field.”

Edu, a former University of Maryland standout, was Toronto's second-leading scorer behind fan-favourite Danny Dichio this past season. He's hoping for a few more goals next year.

“This year, I scored four goals, but I think I could have had a lot more, so I want to work on being cleaner in front of the net and finishing opportunities, because, who knows? Those goals I did miss could have been game-winners and could have won us more games,” Edu said.

The six-foot 170-pound Edu was one of the few bright spots on the pitch in Toronto's first season, as the team fin-

ished last in the league (6-17-7).

In a statement released by Toronto FC after the announcement about Edu’s award, Coach Mo Johnston was quick to praise the rookie. “He's a wonderful kid to work with,” Johnston said.

“He was always first on the field, and you can see the tools he has to work with. He's strong, he's quick, and he's aggressive.”

Now Edu turns his sights to what should be a busy off-season. He may train with England's Aston Villa, through a partnership with Toronto FC. “I'm not sure if it's going to work out,” Edu said. “If it happens, I'm really excited for that, it's something I've always wanted to do and having the opportunity to go there and train for a little bit, that would be great for me.”

Aside from success in MLS, Edu also made his international debut this year, earning his first cap for the U.S. in an exhibition game in Switzerland. Edu should now be a part of the U.S. team’s plans for Olympic qualifying.

Edu beat out Adam Christman of the New England Revolution and Dane Richards of the New York Red Bulls for MLS rookie of the year.

The award finalists were determined in a poll of MLS players, general managers, coaches, referees, and members of the media.

Playing the name game The Fifty Mission Cap by Brian Munn

“Hey, friend, the title of that popular article in The Brunswickan sounds slightly familiar,” said Jack to his pal Tom. “You’re right, Tom. It’s a line from the popular ‘Name Game’ rhyme you may recognize from your childhood,” replied Tom. Ah yes, the Name Game.

That’s the conversation I imagine happening by two guys reading this week’s Bruns.

But then, they may ask, “what does the Name Game have to do with a popular campus paper Sports column?”

Simple: In sports, having the right name is half the battle. Your name can set you apart or at least set you up for a solid nickname.

Let’s revisit Jack and Tom, the two guys from my imaginary conversation.

That’s actually ‘Black Jack’ McDow-

ell, a former ace (get it?) pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, and Tom Canada, a lineman for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.

With names like those, you hardly have to be good at the sport. You just sound so good that people will buy your jersey.

A name is best if it has staying power, the same as any good commercial jingle.

Like Coco Crisp. In fact, that sounds like a commercial jingle.

When dealing with athletes’ names, one thing to always look for is the sport-specific name. The one example that pops out is Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs. Duncan, or course, is a very good basketball player. And what does he do? Well, Tim’s into dunkin’… and winning championships.

You can’t even make stuff like that up. It’s like Mike Slapshot or Jimmy Fastball. How about a real-life example, like John Carpenter, the guy renovating your kitchen?

Names are great, but unfortunately, mothers just aren’t original or insightful enough to appropriately name their children at birth for the enjoyment of fans later in that child’s life. When that happens, fans have to go with nicknames.

While Tom Canada and Tim Duncan were destined for greatness from birth, not everyone was so lucky.

Why do we get so attached to nicknames? Well, simply put, I don’t know.

I just write a column about stuff that makes me laugh. But if I had to guess, it’s because during the 1960s, when basketball players’ shorts were so short, fans needed something to keep their eyes and minds off the skinny white-man legs.

How about ‘Air’ Jordan? ‘Magic’ Johnson? ‘The Great One’? They’re fitting and all, but they’re not really that awesome.

Try ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson. The guy didn’t wear cleats for one game and he’s strapped with the nickname for life.

Remember when Matt Bonner played for the Toronto Raptors? This red-headed farm boy was nicknamed ‘The Red Rocket’, as much for his hair as for the fact that he took the TTC to work each day.

The list of awesome nicknames just never seems to end. ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich, for example, sounds like the most lethal white guy on earth, save for perhaps Chuck Norris.

But there is one nickname out there that tops all others. It’s so Xtreme that any upstart football league would be lucky to have it plastered on the back of a player’s jersey. Or better yet, to have it be the only lasting memory of said league’s existence.

The man was Rod Smart of the XFL’s Las Vegas Outlaws, and his nickname – ‘He Hate Me’ – is the only proof that Vince McMahon ever thought wrestling would be fun on grass.

Men’s Volleyball Dalhousie – 3 UNB – 1 Women’s Hockey UNB – 3 Mt. A – 1 Men’s Hockey Dalhousie – 1 UNB – 8 Sunday, November 4th Women’s Basketball UPEI – 68 UNB – 45 Men’s Basketball UPEI – 71 UNB – 69

Upcominig V-Reds Events Weekend Tournaments Wrestling New York Holiday Tournament Swimming AUS Invitational @ Dalhousie Friday, November 16th Women’s Basketball UNB @ Acadia Women’s Volleyball UNB @ UPEI Men’s Hockey STU @ UNB 7:00pm @ AUC Men’s Basketball UNB at Acadia Saturday, November 17th Women’s Basketball UNB at Acadia Men’s Basketball UNB at Acadia

V-Reds Athletes of the week

Melanie Doucette Women’s Volleyball

Kyle VanGenne Men’s Hockey

Sports

8 • November 14, 2007 • Issue 11

Men’s volleyball star wears different shade of red New Brunswick native is one of Volleyball Canada’s Top 26

by Brad Conley

It was a great summer for Varsity Reds’ volleyball player Davin St. Pierre as he made one of his dreams come true. St. Pierre was able to crack the line-up for the Canadian University men’s volleyball team, and also earned a spot on the top 26 roster for the men’s national team.

St. Pierre, a Dieppe, New Brunswick native, started playing volleyball in middle school, but claims he didn’t get serious about it until he was in grade eleven.

“I didn’t really realize I could go somewhere with volleyball until I was in grade eleven,” he said.

“I started to play well and really enjoyed myself. I was just starting to play club volleyball and realized how competitive it could get. My coach at the time, Wayne McConnel, showed me some of the possibilities

I could have through the sport, and I really started to take an interest in my future, and specifically my future in volleyball.”

St. Pierre finished his high school volleyball career with the Moncton High Purple Knights, and was faced with some tough decisions.

“Out of high school, I had quite a few options. I had offers from some universities out West, in Ontario, and even on the East Coast. I knew UNB would be my best choice, though.”

St. Pierre said that UNB was his best option for a number of reason, explaining that the volleyball team seemed to be steadily improving, and that he wanted to be able to come to a university and immediately contribute, rather than ride the bench for a few years and only begin to see floor time in his last few years of school.

The other thing that influenced St. Pierre’s decision was academics.

He said he wanted to make sure he would be getting both a good athletic and academic experience, and he thought UNB would be the best place to do this.

After his first year at UNB, St. Pierre was named to Team New Brunswick and competed at the Canada Summer Games in Regina, Saskatchewan.

St. Pierre said his time with Team New Brunswick was an eyeopener.

Internet

Davin St. Pierre, a starter with the UNB Varsity Reds Men’s volleyball team, represented Canada at the Universiade in Bangkok this past summer

Bodybuilding Championships display top NB athletes

by Mitchell Bernard

The 2007 New Brunswick Bodybuilding and Figure Championships were held at The Playhouse this past Saturday.

Garry Bartlett, President of the New Brunswick Physique and Figure Association, kicked off the night by welcoming everyone to the ceremonies.

"For this year, we have added the 'Classic Physique' category for the first time. In this division, the athlete is judged on shape, muscularity, and balance. Muscle size is not as important as it is in the 'Men's Open' competition.

Each athlete has to qualify by meeting a special height-weight ratio," announced Bartlett before the beginning of the competition. "Interest in this new category [Classic Physique] has been keen, as demonstrated by the amount of entries we have tonight," noted Bartlett.

The new category allows for bodybuilders who want to achieve a nice, symmetrical and proportional physique,

to compete in the show. The 'Classic' title refers to the way bodybuilding once looked in the 1970s and 1980s, before the introduction of performanceenhancing drugs. Competitors such as Frank Zane, a former world champion of bodybuilding, would achieve near perfect proportions and maintained a sleek appearance.

In a bodybuilding championship, there is a pre-judging the morning of the competition. This gives the judges a chance to see the competitors before the show, without the cheering of the crowd. In the evening show, athletes are brought out one by one to perform their routine. After all entries have performed, the top three competitors are called back up to the stage. The judges will ask them to perform the mandatory eight poses for comparison: front double biceps, front lat spread, rear double biceps, rear lat spread, abdominals and thighs, side chest, side triceps, and a most muscular pose.

After the competitors have performed the mandatory poses, the judges will grant the athletes a 30 second posedown to make one last impression. At times during the night, the pose-down became aggressive, with some bodybuilders stepping in front of others to block the judges from viewing their opponents. After the pose-down is complete, the top three athletes are announced in order. For the Senior Men's division, the winners of all categories are

S.U.B. STYLES

Student Union Building 452-6900 Mon thru Fri 9-4:45 SAT 10:00 - 1:30 Cash Only Service “WALK IN’s ONLY” Open All Year Round Student & Senior Discount

brought back onto the stage at the end of the night to crown an overall champion.

Senior Men's classes range from lightweight to heavyweight. Also included is a class for Masters (over 40 years of age) and Junior Men. The Junior Men's champion was the only competitor of his class. The 21-year-old performed his routine before the crowd to open the night. The first big surprise of the night came in the Women's Open division.

A 78-year-old woman was competing alongside 23-year-olds. She didn't make the top three, but the crowd gave her a warm reception for her effort.

The Open division is the only bodybuilding division for women. Most compete in the Figure division. There are four divisions of Figures for the ladies. These include Masters, Short, Medium, and Tall division. In the Figures championship, ladies are judged on maintaining a low body fat, an athletic appearance, moderate muscularity, and poise/gracefulness.

The ladies take the stage for two rounds. After each lady has been called to the stage, the judges will ask them to meet at centre stage. From there, they will be asked to make quarter turns for comparison purposes. When all ladies have performed twice, the judges make their decisions and the top three are brought back out on stage. The top three are

then placed in order and the winner crowned.

Similar to the Men's Bodybuilding, the winners of all categories in the Figure competition are brought back out to centre stage and the end of the show to compete for the overall Figure title. The finale of the night was the Senior Men's Overall Championship. It was a close call for the judges and the pose down did not make things any easier. The most minor flaw of an athlete can be portrayed in a pose down next to other athletes. The Senior Men's Overall winner was Andrew Kupkee of Saint John, N.B. Andrew also won the title in the Men's Masters division and in the Men's Light Heavyweight division.

All athletes of the competition worked very hard to obtain the physique they displayed. Long hours in the gym and strict dieting are not easy and Joe Grondin, Master of Ceremonies, asked for everyone to applaud in support of the athletes.

Bodybuilding is a growing sport here in New Brunswick. Bartlett encouraged everyone to sign up at the gym Monday morning, and begin a lifetime of health.

"I cannot stress how important your health is," noted Bartlett, a former bodybuilder himself.

The 2007 Atlantic Classic Bodybuilding and Figure Championships will be held April 26, 2008 in Moncton, New Brunswick.

“The training schedule was tough, like real tough. It was such a short period of time for a team to get together, so we had to work extremely hard,” St. Pierre said of the camp leading up to the games.

“Once we arrived in Regina, it was a totally new experience. The Games exposed me to a higher level of play. It allowed me to gauge my skills against a showcase of Canadian talent, which was really neat.

Up to that point, it was the biggest tournament I had ever played in.”

This would not be the last time St. Pierre played a high caliber of volleyball, of course, as he is now recognized as one of the top 26 men’s volleyball players in the country.

“It was an honour to be picked in the top 26. What happened was that I was invited to a training camp.

I started the week off slowly, but did extremely well on my physical testing, and just keep rolling from there,” St. Pierre explained.

“From there, I was kept on a practice roster, and was used on the men’s National ‘B’ team. Some of the guys were lucky enough to play for the ‘A’ squad as well.”

This wasn’t the only big thing that happened for St. Pierre this summer though, as he traveled to Bangkok to represent Canada in the Summer Universiade.

“I was asked to travel and play with the National University team.

I was really wondering if my sum-

mer could get any better!” St. Pierre said, clearly still excited from his summer.

“We had a strong team as well.

We did well in our first two tournaments in the Dominican Republic and India, so when we arrived in Bangkok, we knew what we had to do. We finished second in the tournament, and we deserved it, which was a great feeling.”

The distinctions for St. Pierre did not stop after his time overseas.

He was recently named Volleyball New Brunswick’s Male Athlete of the Year.

Now that he is back in Fredericton, St. Pierre has been able to finish what he started last year with the Varsity Reds.

“We cracked the top ten last year, and were in it for a couple weeks this year as well. There is no doubt in my mind that we can get back into the top ten, and even move way up in the rankings. We have an extremely promising season in front of us; now all we need to do is bear down and work hard, and things should come together.”

Despite all the time he puts into playing volleyball, St. Pierre recognizes that he is at an academic institution, and that he needs to continue to put time aside for his schoolwork. At the end of it all, he hopes to be a teacher but above all, he hopes to keep playing volleyball.

The northern exploits of the NFL View From the Sidelines by Tony von Richter

Are the Toronto Bills within reach?

For years now, there have been rumours of a National Football League team moving to Toronto to become the league's first international franchise. Now, the possibility of an NFL team north of the border seems more likely than ever before with the Buffalo Bills looking to play pre-season and regular season games at the Rogers Centre from 2008 until 2012.

It's not a certainty that the games would occur, but they have support in Toronto (in the forms of Larry Tanenbaum, Chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and Ted Rogers, owner of Rogers Communications, the Blue Jays, and the Rogers Centre) and the NFL is expected to approve the plan as they already played a regular season game between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants in London's Wembley Stadium a few weeks ago.

The only hurdle at this point comes from getting the approval from the state of New York and Erie County, that both have the ability to veto home games being elsewhere as part of the team's lease agreement that expires in 2012.

So it seems that it's just a matter of time before regular season NFL action is played north of the 49th parallel, and a permanent slate of games could be on the horizon as the current owner of the Bills, Ralph Wilson, has stated that the team is to be sold to the highest bidder upon his death.

Last year the Tannebaum-Rogers group announced plans to aggressively pursue an NFL franchise, stating that

they were awaiting word on expansion plans. Now there are rumours that the group is trying to recruit Edmonton billionaire David Katz, who has tried to buy the Edmonton Oilers more than once in the past, to help finance a purchase should a franchise become available.

Looks like all the pieces are falling into place then. It’s only a few games a year until the Bills are free from their lease, and with a family planning on selling to the highest bidder, it seems almost inevitable that the Bills will end up in Toronto.

As far as the NFL and the city of Toronto are concerned, I don't see how a franchise setting up shop could be considered anything but a positive as Toronto will be represented in the four major North American sports and the NFL and their advertisers will have a new market in which they can promote.

Whether or not a Toronto NFL team is good for the CFL and the Argonauts is a bit more complicated, however.

At first glance, having another team promoting high quality football can't be a good thing for the Argos as they could easily lose fans to an NFL franchise.

While the Argos could lose some fans to a local NFL team, I don't think they'd lose a significant amount and they might even gain a few fans, as the attention that an NFL team would garner could create a new legion of football fans that will follow the Argos as well.

I think that a Toronto-based NFL team would actually be good for the CFL, because an NFL team can increase the amount of people following football in Canada and some of them would begin to follow the CFL as well, thus growing the league's fan base.

So an NFL team landing in Toronto seems to be a positive situation for everyone involved: the league and their partners get a new market to promote, the city gets a new marquee attraction for tourists, and both the NFL and CFL can expand the number of people following their sport.

A Canadian NFL team is still a couple of years off though, so for now my football fandom will consist of pulling for the double blue this weekend and then hopefully watching the Argos hoist another Grey Cup in a few weeks.

Because while we may be on the verge of having Canada represented in the NFL, the CFL is, and always will be, Canada's very own.

Join the Sports Team Volunteer with the Bruns Staff Meetings every Wednesday at 12:30

November 14 • 2007

The Brunswickan • 9

Classifieds

Classifieds are a FREE service for members of the university community. Please try to limit submissions to 35 words or less. Your name, student number, and phone number are required at submission, but will not be published. We can accept them at Room 35, SUB, 453-5073 (Fax), or e-mail: bruns-ad@unb.ca. Please do not submit by phone. We reserve the right to edit or refuse publication. All classifieds are subject to available space. For display advertising contact Bill at 447-3388. Classified deadline is Monday at noon.

FOR SALE

Large cedar chest. Good condition, best offer. Call 455-4550.

Boys Columbia one piece snowsuit for sale, size 7/8, is navy in color with red/green on the shoulders.

Paid $130.00 and asking $50. Worn only once, excellent condition. Call 454-4411.

Ibanez JS100 Guitar (Joe Satriani model), New Bridge, locking nut and whammy bar. New Dimarzio Pickups, Originals included. Extremely versatile with great sound and feel. Asking $900. Contact Tim at 457-2638 or timlingley@gmail. com.

French courses, indvidual, groups, tutor, in affordable prices, and learning French from France accent. Call 455-0549.

1998 Toyota Corolla VE (Black), 247 km, Automatic, 4 door, new MVI & registration in early October, two new tires. Asking $2,800.

Call 450-8094 if interested and ask for Terry.

Need a cheap winter vehicle? Buy this 1994 Olds Eighty-Eight Royale, fully loaded, 6 cyl, auto, air, cruise, four door, approx 200,000 km, owned and maintained by retired auto mechanic. Good mechanical condition. Inspected until Jan 08. Registered until July 08.

Asking $1,000. Call 206-2121 for more info. Please leave message.

Please note vehicle is located in Sussex.

Large black futon $100. Three seater sofa and matching chair (wooden frame) (multi colored) $99. Very large overstuffed sectional sofa with hide-a-bed muted grey colors $200.

Double bed complete (metal frame, box spring & mattress) $125. Small round kitchen table with two chairs (black wrought iron pedestal) chairs black metal frame with upholstered seats $50. Four drawer metal filing cabinet $50. Glider rocker (wooden frame)(brown maternal on seat) 25.

Love seat with brass frame. floral upholstery seat $50. Full length mirror $10. Gold and brown upholstered armchair $25. Phone: 455-6450.

December 15 – Fredericton Annual Wassail Concert Presented by the Bel Canto Singers, under the direction of Timothy G. Cooper, with special guests quartet Jigsaw Winds. Seasonal music, carol singing and tasty treats. Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. 7:30 p.m. $15 adults, $10 students/seniors, $30 family.

Canadian Youth for Choice aims to be a national voice for the pro-choice movement and for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights education. Visit www.cyouthc. ca to become a member.

Relaxing lunch break with UNB musicians. Take a break from your work routine with a lunch-time concert of light classical music presented

by UNB musicians Julien Le Blanc, piano, Yvonne Kershaw, bassoon, and Björn Runefors, flute. This 45 minute performance features pieces

by Poulenc, Bach, and Hindemith that are guaranteed to soothe. It takes place Monday, Nov. 19, 12:30 p.m. in the McCain Building Recital Hall, St. Thomas University. Best of all, admission is free.

Auditions: Stage Production of Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love by Brad Fraser will be auditioning November 19th, 22nd 6 to 9:00 p.m. and November 24th 1 to 4:00 p.m. at Memorial Hall on the UNB Campus. No acting experience is required however, this play does deal with drug use, sexuality and violence. For more information e-mail: d5622@unb.ca.

ESDRC (the Environment & Sustainable Development Research Centre) at UNB Fredericton is pleased to announce its own Wednesday night film series, beginning on November 14, 8:00 p.m. at Tilley Hall Auditorium. On opening night, ESDRCinema presents

“Siko,” the explosive new film from acclaimed movie maker Michael Moore investigating the highly profitable American health care industry.

Fredericton Choral Society presents the annual Saint Cecilia’s Day concert this year in honour of Paul Murray, organist, conductor, and music educator, known to many in Fredericton. The Choral Society will perform Murray’s Missa Brevis under the direction of Björn Runefors, and the choir will be conducted by Carolyn Brown in a performance of highlights from Porgy and Bess.

Also singing are the Lintuhtine Melodies under the direction of Helen Morag McKinnon and the Elm City Echoes, directed by Christine Freeman and Jill Woodley. The Concert will take place at Wilmot United Church, on Sunday, November 18, 2007, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available from choir members, at Westminster Books, Mazucca’s, and at the door the evening of the performance. Adults $10.00, seniors and students $8.00, and families $20.

Marriage Preparation. The Fredericton Institute for Christian Studies will offer a Marriage Preparation session Friday evening, November 16th to Saturday afternoon, November 17th at St. Theresa’s Parish Hall, Fredericton. Please note that this will be the only Marriage Preparation session before spring 2008.

Please call 472-0660 or e-mail:

christian_studies@yahoo.ca for information or to register. Registration is limited and positions fill quickly.

Looking for something fun to do to help get you, your family, your friends and/or co-workers into the holiday spirit? Consider volunteering some of your time at the Festival of Christmas Magic from December 7th – December 9th at the Hugh John Flemming Forestry Complex in support of the Chalmers Hospital Foundation. We are looking to have the following positions filled: Door greeters, admission table, Santa’s breakfast, cider & cookie tables, raffle table. If you’re interested in volunteering or would just like some more information on the event, please e-mail: christine.little@ rvh.nb.ca.

Between November 1-30, 2007, during our month of remembrance, Canadians will be able to pay tribute to Canada’s 25,000 Military Reservists, as well as regular forces troops past and present, by donating a unit of blood in their honour.

Fredericton and area residents are encouraged to show their support for the troops in Canada and abroad by rolling up their sleeves to donate at the Fredericton Inn blood donor clinics on November 5, 6 and 7. These clinics will be open from 2 to 4 p.m. and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Volunteers from the land, sea and air cadets will be on hand to assist at the clinics and to thank donors

WRITE FOR THE BRUNS IT’S REALLY EASY AND WE ARE VERY,VERY APPRECIATIVE

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• Shoe Rental Included • Birthday Parties a Speciality • Restaurant – Licensed Lounge • Air Conditioned • Student Rates

Student I.D. Required.

Valid Until December 15/2007

Limit 1 per person per day. During public bowling times.

Cannot be combined with other offers. Not valid with group booking. No cash value

Simmonds futon, natural wood, futon mattress, removable cover (beige) less than one year old. $400.

E-mail: b3qwic@unb.ca.

ACCOMMODATIONS Available immediately. Furnished room. Heated and lighted. Laundry, shared bath & kitchen. Parking.

On bus route. Centrally located on South side. Quiet home. No smoking. Call 455-4550.

Furnished room for rent in a three bedroom apt, five min walk to campus in skyline area. Bright, clean and spacious apt includes heat, lights, cable plus, high speed internet, washer/dryer, parking and shared phone. This is available to a mature, quite, non-smoking female tenant.

Rent is $325 monthly, and lease for duration of school year is available.

Please call 454-4411 or e-mail: veronica.fequet@unb.ca.

PSAs December 9 - Gagetowne Annual Wassail Concert Presented by the Bel Canto Singers, under the direction of Timothy G. Cooper, with special guests quartet Jigsaw Winds. Seasonal music, carol singing and tasty treats. Sunday December 9th.

St. John’s Anglican Church. 7:00 p.m. $15 adults, $10 students/seniors, $30 family.

every thursday nite

9pm - Midnite

Check us out on Facebook at “Sweetwaters Rockin Rodeo-Official”

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Arts & Entertainment

bruns.arts@gmail.com • November 14, 2007

Preposterous amounts of testosterone Books & Bytes

... and the only cure is more Cowbell

by Leanne Wells from the UNB Libraries

by Ashley Bursey

The website was the first hint that perhaps something was a little off-kilter about White Cowbell Oklahoma. I checked out the site hours before our interview; their album art slapped me in the face, a red-hued naked girl in bondage and a figure, about to slash, standing over her in the background – very ‘House of 1,000 Corpses’.

“Casa Diablo,” I read out loud, wondering if it’s a screenshot from the Rob Zombie movie. “Huh.” And when Clem – no last name, just Clem – from the band picks up the phone a little bit later in the evening, it’s my first question.

After, of course, he tells me just how “dandy diddly dang dang dang doo” he’s feeling on this particular evenin’ (and ‘scuse me if I adopt a bit of a country twang here – it’s impossible not to, listening to these guys), as the rock-and-roll-in-cowboy-hats nine-piece makes its way from “Waterloo, Ontario, Canada,” to London for a “spectacular and monumental” gig.

“I’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting for someone to ask that question,” he drawls, laughing, when I mention the album cover. “It is very ‘House of 1,000 Corpses’, isn’t it? You get a prize.”

Turns out it’s from, allegedly, a live show.

“It was so monumental and unprecedented, there were some ladies of the evening engaging in pornographic lesbian activity onstage, naked…and then more people from the audience jumped onstage and joined in and it was surreal and bizarre and we didn’t solicit it at all,” Clem says, rushing by so fast I can’t get a word in edgewise. “Toronto’s bylaw was broken, and it was so incredible to behold, we had to put it on the cover of the new album.

“You never know what you’re going to get at a White Cowbell Oklahoma

Submitted

The ‘testosterone cannons’ of White Cowbell Oklahoma will shake down the walls of the Capital on Nov 15 show…it’s Ground Zero for depravity and sordidness of all kinds. We don’t even understand these powers that we have over the womenfolk, or even the menfolk; it’s depraved and I sometimes feel the need to go to church and ask for forgiveness – but I don’t.”

From what I can gather, as the real back story behind White Cowbell is pretty scant, but it seems they like it that way, they originated in Toronto and ‘Casa Diablo’ is their sophomore album (and it’s two for two – both records show the guys’ fondness for the female anatomy). Their style is pure cowboy, but their tunes…aren’t.

I download ‘She Likes to Boogie’ from their website; it’s rollicking, it’s a bit of rock-and-roll, but it doesn’t nearly compare to what I can only imagine of their live show.

“We haven’t been to the East Coast of Canada in a long time,” Clem tells me.

“That’s four years of depravity just built up and there’s four years of conservative thinking that we have to undue, and because you are from a place of learning, of academia, of social networking

and excellence,” he points the finger at UNB, “We have to undue it all. We have to bring you back down into the gutter from all that book reading and lofty thinking.”

I ask him about Nashville Pussy, who played here a few years ago. He scoffs, telling me they’re ‘peons’ in Cowbell’s global empire. “They make money to buy us a new chainsaw and put gas in the tank of our gold-plated 747.”

So I ask him about the hats.

“Those hats were created lovingly by a medicine man in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but you can buy a facsimile at HatCountry.com,” he says. Then he switches stories. “They were made

by Gandhi. We brought him back to life and made him into our personal… what’s the word for someone who makes hats?” In the van – not the 747 – someone yells a response. “He’s our haberdasher. He’s a bionic Buddhist.”

I’ve long since let of the idea of deep, profound, introspective questioning.

“So are you guys going to, ultimately, create a White Cowbell cult?”

He seems offended. “It’s a cult right

now,” he tells me. “We have pastors all over the world; it’s not only a cult, it’s a global acquisition network, the freemasons, Scientology, Sony, GM, General Foods, HP sauce.”

“And Perkins”, I add, winning another prize – they mentioned their favorite Cincinnati restaurant, with its “chicken-fried chicken”, in a previous interview.

Prize number three: I ask about Clem’s alleged instrument of choice, which their website tells me is ‘flailing’.

“You are a keen, keen, keen person there,” he says. “I like to flail occasionally. I also like to do a little bit of synchronized swimming.”

“Oh, I used to do synchro,” I tell him.

“Well, we’ll do it. I’ll be in Fredericton in a few days. I’ll dust off my old swimming cap and my Speedos. I’m wearing them right now, because we are traveling through an underground lake,” he pauses, then laughs. “I’m confusing myself now.”

“Flailing,” I remind him.

“Oh, right. It keeps the dudes away.

It’s mainly just a sausage evasion technique; there’s just too much sausage sometimes.”

He’s talking about the live show – the one that generally ends up with “everybody getting laid.”

“You’re guaranteed to get laid,” he says. “We don’t understand these powers of alcoholic death rays and sexification rays that we exude from our bodies, but posses them we do….we played in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, last night and it was a state of complete disarray, chaos. And depravity.

“There were naked people everywhere, mainly ladies, which I’m very thankful for…we didn’t even solicit this shit. It just goes down. And I think there’s gonna be a whole lot of babies born nine months from now, and they should all be named after us.

“So Fredericton, start knitting, because there’s going to be a baby boom in Fredericton nine months from now.”

White Cowbell Oklahoma are ready to “rip a hole in the fabric of time” at the Capital on Thursday, November 15.

New Accessibility Centre in HIL Commons UNB libraries has opened their new Commons Accessibility Centre in the HIL Learning Commons (room 117). Developed in collaboration with UNB’s Student Accessibility Centre, the Commons Accessibility Centre provides a range of assistive software, equipment, and support for students with disabilities.

Facilities include power height-adjustable tables, computer workstations equipped with large-screen monitors, scanners, and a range of productivity and assistive software, including: JAWS, Kurzweil 1000 and 3000, ZoomText, and Dragon Naturally Speaking.

The Commons Accessibility Centre is open during regular library hours, while on-site staff are available from Monday to Friday (1-5 pm), Monday to Thursday evenings (6-8 pm), Saturdays (2-4 pm), and also by appointment.

Curtain rising on library film collection Did you know that UNB libraries has a film collection that consists of over 1,300 documentary and feature films in DVD or VHS format? Films in the library collection support the instructional needs of faculty at UNB Fredericton and Saint Thomas University.

During recent first floor renovations, the bulk of the film collection was moved temporarily to the closed basement stacks in the Harriet Irving Library. The film collection is soon to return to the first floor, and even better, it will be easier to browse through the collection.

In the initial test phase, the library is showcasing approximately fifty films that highlight a range of topics, directors, and genres represented in the overall collection. These fifty titles are located on the left side of the first floor hallway in Harriet Irving Library.

Buying local even easier with new funds “Consciousness doesn’t from ACOA page 1 wick restaurants will benefit from the funds. Chris Black, Co-Owner of The Blue Door restaurant and bar in Fredericton, recognizes the opportunities.

“The Tourism Board checked what brings people to Atlantic Canada a few years back. The first thing was whales and beaches, but the number two reason was seafood,” said Black.

The Blue Door attempts to use New Brunswick farmers and suppliers first, as well as utilizing only as much sustainable seafood as possible. This will in turn to give back to the local economy.

Part of the new program announced

by ACOA is an expansion of a successful show originated in Nova Scotia. The ‘Savour Food and Wine Show’, an annual showcase of the finest restaurants, wines, beverages, and gourmet products in Nova Scotia, will expand to the rest of the Atlantic provinces.

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

A chef at Brewbakers makes a sizzling dish at the restaurant Black realizes this is a great opportunity for the establishments of New Brunswick.

“I have been to the Savour Food and Wine Show and have heard through word of mouth that it has been successful. I think if they get that going here [in New Brunswick], it would be great.”

Currently, many people are using the Internet to aid in traveling, and dining choices are no exception. ACOA recognizes this trend and has included

eDining in its initiative.

The eDining service, an established and successful website in Nova Scotia, will expand to include members of the Atlantic Provinces.

Doug Williams is the Vice-President of Hospitality for Ross Ventures Ltd., a corporation which own The Back Nine, Mexicali Rosa’s, The Happy Baker, and Brewbakers restaurants in Fredericton.

Williams recognizes the significance of culinary tourism for restaurant establishments. “[Ross Ventures Ltd.] restaurants see

a boost during the summer months, but recently we have seen a shift in the tourism season lasting into the fall. These are the tourists without children, or the leaf-watchers, as I like to call them,” said Williams.

Williams is a big advocate of the local economy. Through developing strong relationships with local buyers and suppliers, and gaining first-hand feedback from consumers, Williams is able to develop a product for which consumers are searching.

Although Black and Williams are in the same market, jockeying for the same consumers, they still support each other along with other establishments in Fredericton.

The ACOA announcement will help build new programs, but funneling tourists into the province and maintaining loyalty will take a stronger effort.

As Black noted, “It will get the ball rolling,” but it will take a cohesive effort from the different establishments of New Brunswick to continually increase culinary tourism.

have a speed limit”

Will Robinson’s contribution:

Sheet Music by I See Rowboats

Lisa Lipton’s contribution: Journal entry from Wednesday 17, 2004, 7:21pm Subject: If I were a roger… if i were a roger there would exist some sort of gender differentiation between the prior I and the current he.

Maybe rog works on a local farm signin’ “hey, halla halla day” and this would be enough for the kind of humility needed at THIS VERY MOMENT. and he and/or I called YOU last night…in a lonesome, empty tummy sigh. and with no answer, NO RELIEF. -no story from his mouth: putting her (now him) to bed so today the rain comforts the work load on ROGER’S SHOULDERS. There is weight in days of woe, in days of the dim. signed, getting’ tired with McGee

“…[Hawaii] is a career alcoholic who has hit rock bottom. Thrashing all personal and professional ties to his L.A. existence, he sets off for the lights of Vegas on a mission: to drink himself to death. There he meets [Finland], a beautiful, seen-it-all hooker. From the moment [Hawaii] and [Finland] connect, they form a unique bond based upon unconditional acceptance and mutual respect that will change each of them forever.”

Darcy Fraser’s contribution: immunity. immunity.

A drop of vaccine is placed on the upper arm or thigh and the outer layer of skin is broken so that the vaccine can mix with the body's lymph. achieved immunity. forest tribes.

The vaccine bottle lies open aside the patient's thigh. comfort in knowing. open skies.

Shiny black feathers float down gracefully from above. soft shower. ravens.

The intense red of the blood draws shadows from the sky. Enormous winged creatures swarm overhead. graceful flights.

Solomon Vromons’ contribution: Flicker Frequency - 24 frames per second; the mind's speed limit Your brain is a tool. Your mind's job is to see the similarities and differences between things. You cannot recognize the difference between two things moving faster than what your brain can physically comprehend. The thing is... consciousness doesn't have a speed limit. Free yourself from your mind and use your intuition.

Submitted

I See Rowboats play at the Capital on Nov 17 with Rebekah Higgs.

Arts & Entertainment

Issue 11 • November 14, 2007 • 11

Want some cheese with that Girl power and paintbrushes castor oil?

The CD guys go high-class and share a bottle or two

by Sean Horsley and Dave Briggs

This week we have chosen two of the finest wines the Maritimes have to offer. Now, before we got into the actual tasting, we needed to cleanse our delicate palates with the most sensual malt liquor we could find. That malt liquor was none other than Mongoose. Mongoose Malt Liquor is known for its full, robust flavour and strong kick. It’s comparable to slamming back a 500ml bottle of Mr. Clean Shower Cleanser.

After cleansing and satisfying our palates, we decided to erupt into our shared wine cellar for something special.

We dipped into our more sophisticated brands, ones we only use for special guests.

Kelly’s Red Wine Price: $13.99 per 1.5 L Alcohol %: Lots Vintage: Earlier this week Twisting the top off of this rather full, dark red arouses an aroma similar to entering a gas station bathroom after it’s had a thorough clean. Held up to the light, it has the beautiful cloudiness of the Saint John River. The aroma is rich, and assaults our senses, bringing out an inner beast that has been suppressed for far too long. Repressed memories of Uncle Steve float to the surface as the wine swishes along the inside of

the glass. The first sip is shocking. The taste is vivid, and it goes down smooth.

Halfway through the fourth bottle, you know it’s two in the afternoon.

Hermits Price: $12.49 per 1.5 L Alcohol%: 407% Vintage: 1962 This is the pride of the Miramichi.

Upon holding it to the light, the gray colour gleams like Uncle Steve’s teeth.

The aroma is pungent, leaving the air with the bitterness of burnt popcorn.

It pours out semi-solid; the chunks display the delicate aging process. The initial taste is of seafood and castor oil.

After the wine singes your palate, you experience a rather ravishing flavour.

After one full glass, our minds were collectively blown, causing a battle royale to break out between Uncle Steve, his invalid son, and us.

Welcome to the TV apocalypse

by Tony von Richter

Instead of crafting new stories for the likes of Jack Bauer and Michael Scott, Hollywood writers were busy making protest signs last week as they began to strike after their contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers expired on October 31.

The strike promises to take its toll on the entertainment industry as most programs will have shortened seasons and some, like The Colbert Report and The Tonight Show, have already shut down production since their shows are written the same day they go to air. Most shows have a varying amount of scripts completed and will finish production on those scripts before having to shut down.

However some shows, The Office being the most prominent example, have already closed their doors despite having scripts available to produce as actors and producers refuse to work, with some of

them even joining their colleagues on the picket lines. Filming was halted on the show after Steve Carell refused to cross the line last week.

At the heart of the strike, which is expected to last for months, are residual revenues from sales of DVDs and 'new media' formats such as content sold via online downloads and video-ondemand services.

The last WGA strike was in 1988 and lasted for 22 weeks, costing the entertainment industry hundreds of millions of dollars.

Currently, writers make 0.3% of every million dollars of gross revenue, and 0.36% for every dollar thereafter made from DVD or videocassette sales (this formula was agreed to in 1985, when videocassettes where an emerging technology). The WGA seeks to double those rates to 0.6% and 0.72%, respectively. Studios have so far not agreed to any increase and wish to keep the current formula intact.

For 'new media' distribution avenues such as online downloads, video-ondemand, and streaming services, the WGA proposes that writers earn 2.5% of the gross for any content delivered via these non-traditional means that are not outlined in the current agreement.

by Ashley Bursey

The studios believe that new media sales should follow the 0.3 and 0.36 formula currently used for home video sales and that free (to the consumer) streaming services, some of which are ad-supported, should have no residual revenues attached to them.

So far the two sides are deadlocked after a failed November 4 negotiation in which the WGA pulled their DVD proposal off the table to try and avoid a strike. However, the studios maintained their stance on new media sales, which lead to a breakdown in the negotiations.

The movie industry will be affected by the strike eventually, but since movies have longer lead times than television productions, the impact of the strike won't be felt for some time; generally, those scripts are written months or even years ahead of filming.

With the strike expected to last for months, there is the possibility that it could continue into July of 2008, when the agreements between the studios and the Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America will expire. This could ultimately lead to a complete industrywide shutdown, with the three guilds most likely banding together to improve their bargaining position.

Andrea Crabbe is in the middle of a photo shoot when the phone rings.

It’s not really a photo shoot, she laughs, but local artist and photographer Karen Ruet is taking a few shots to accompany Crabbe’s latest work – a set of portraits of female artists from the Fredericton community.

“It’s a project I’ve been working on over the past year,” she explains, putting the photo shoot on hold for a few minutes. “I received a New Brunswick arts grant, and the proposal was to paint women in the arts here in Fredericton.

So I took 12 women, I took people that I know and who have inspired and influenced me, or who are dear to me. There are just so many women you could paint.”

For Crabbe, it’s the first big project she’s attempted. The real challenge has been getting the soul of the woman onto the canvas.

“I’ve been getting a lot of [positive] comments…my goal has been to capture the essence of the person.

These are strong, wonderful, talented individuals…I wanted to really capture their spirit, not only a likeness, but the essence of the person as well.”

The project began during a painting of a friend, which led to another painting, which led to that cliché light bulb moment. Crabbe’s mind was full of these beautiful paintings and ideas, and a book popped into her head.

“There’s this book called ‘Women Who Run with the Wolves’, and it’s older but it’s just incredible, and every women I know is sort of in the thick of being a creative individual. They draw a lot of strength and advice from this book.”

The book, according to Publishers Weekly, “defines the archetype of the Wild Woman, a female in touch with her primitive side and able to rely on gut feelings to make choices,” and “urges readers to draw upon and enjoy their Wild Woman aspects.”

“I associate the women in [my] show

Submitted

Andrea Crabbe’s exhibition, ‘Women Who Run with the Arts’, features paintings of local female artists, including Marilyn Mazerolle with the teachings underlined in the book,” Crabbe explains.

As for the technical aspect of the project, Crabbe says she eventually got into a groove with the painting.

“I’m largely self-taught, but it’s really just been a thrill. It’s been wonderful photographing [these women], trying to capture them that way, and it’s doubly thrilling to take the [photos] and work from them…you can add so much more, play with color, add different elements, animals, or pictures of plants that are significant to the person.”

In fact, creating the piece for Marilyn Mazerolle, a local painter, was a pure delight.

“Marilyn paints a lot of whimsical things, and a lot of fish, so I knew I wanted to include a fish somewhere,” Crabbe says. “So I got painting her, and some of my favorite colors, bluey-green, and her sweater, and I put little goldfish at the bottom [of the painting].

“It looks like she’s in a fishbowl, and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to have bubbles?’ That kind of thing. It’s all about happy accidents and thrilling discoveries. Every painting has something

that I’m pretty enamored about.”

“Women are integral to the art scene of Fredericton [because], in lot of cases, women here have different support systems in place in order to pursue their art,” Mazerolle says. She’s been working on the scene in Fredericton since 1989. “This results in many one-woman shows, women teaching art, women running art galleries and promoting the fact that art is good for you.”

For Crabbe, deciding to paint women came naturally.

“I didn’t really think of it as being important, as it was just there. It’s just been part of my life, really, really invaluable. I think I [generally] want to paint someone because I want to celebrate them… [This idea] just kind of grew, and I think being a woman, you just identify and you tend to be closer.

“I know more intimate things about them. I think that’s why I chose women to start with.”

She laughs, and adds that her next show will feature the other side of the coin.

“I think the men, when I do the series, will be different.”

Arts & Entertainment

12 • November 14, 2007 • Issue 11

Legendary libertine

by Ashley Bursey

The last thing one might expect from a ballet would be the word ‘comedy’ – but that’s exactly what Igor Dobrovolskiy, Artistic Director and Choreographer for the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada, says his new piece, Don Juan, really is.

There exists many version of this legend, like Mozart’s [Don Giovanni] opera, more classical opera, or some ballets,” says Dobrovolskiy from Moncton.

“I decided if I showed Don Juan something like a funny guy, who pretends to be naïve…pretend a little bit to be not stupid, but silly, [it might work]. I decided on some kind of comedy ballet.

Not comical, but comedy.”

So why that approach? Dobrovolskiy says, after heavier performances like Phantom of the Opera, it was time to switch things up a bit.

“We decided [to give the audience a chance to] see our company from different angles... We decided to [create] a challenge for the dancers and variety for

Submitted

Don Juan, the story of a legendary womanizer, opens at the Playhouse on Nov 15

the audience [with Don Juan].”

The legendary lover’s story has been told countless times throughout history; his name is synonymous with ‘womanizer’ in, among others, Spanish and English slang. Throughout the piece, Don Juan meets many a woman and enjoys brief encounters with each one.

Monogamy isn’t his strong suit, and for Juan in Dobrovolskiy’s ballet, it’s more of a nightmare.

“The best part is the bed scene,” says Kosta Voynov, who dances the part of Juan. “There’s a bed scene, and the music from the Wedding March, and five ladies – it’s like his dream, and five ladies come on the stage, dancing with him, and they’re wearing wedding dresses [and veils], and he’s getting frustrated.”

The original story involves Juan’s seduction of the daughter of a nobleman. He murders the girl’s father and then meets the statue of the dead man in a cemetery. The man ultimately leads Juan to hell, where he is presented with a jester’s suit and then asked to name his romantic conquests. Juan can’t, and accepts the role of the fool.

But the morbid story is a few shades lighter in Dobrovolskiy’s ballet.

“It’s such a unique legend. I don’t want some comedy that was particularly known in the history or the theatre, some comedy that was done before,” he says. “This was actually the main goal of the company. To develop, turn the same story to the new approach, new angle, new interpretation.

“And it has to be funny music, some bright dynamic music, and I chose [the music of George] Gerswhin. So it’s a classical jazz composer, great music, and it’s funny and dynamic, and very bright.”

Instead of traditional ballet, Dobrovolskiy chose to mix jazz movement with classical ballet technique – something that, along with acting, Voynov says he’s never done before.

“It’s an interesting part. It’s really different from the other ballets we’ve done, other roles, because you need to actually not just dance, but you need to act,” he says, laughing. “Emotionally, it’s a big challenge. You need to do a funny face sometimes. Actually, it’s a bit hard, I’ve never acted like that, no. Because it’s a comedy, and there are so many emotions you need to show.”

Don Juan plays at the Fredericton Playhouse on November 15 and the Imperial Theatre in Saint John on November 30. For more information, check out www.atlanticballet.ca.

Pumpkin smashes its way Like a slug to the head onto the silver screen

by Naomi Osborne

The lights go down as the screen turns dark. Eerie hooded figures with painted faces and white candles appear on the screen. It’s the 34th Annual Harrison House Great Pumpkin Sacrifice, and it’s all been caught on film by Anthony Brown, a writer, director, and producer from Woodstock.

This was the first feature film presented at the Silver Wave Film Festival opening gala last Thursday night at the Charlotte Street Arts Center. There were over 40 films from New Brunswick, the Atlantic Region, across Canada, and around the world that graced the screens last weekend.

The feature films received rave reviews from the large crowd that came to the first showing. Patty Wiley came to the opening gala to see some great local film work and wasn’t disappointed.

“I thought it was done really well, and I think it captured a corner of our tradition and culture that’s a little bit unique to the Fredericton area and to the campus of New Brunswick,” she said. “It’s just something fun that everybody does every year and I thought it was presented very well.”

A tradition such as the Annual Pumpkin Sacrifice is not something that everyone on campus knows about or has even seen.

The tradition itself takes place every Halloween night. When darkness falls, the residents of Harrison House partake in a “sacred, ritualistic sacrifice to

the God Janus.” The ritual is a pretty simplistic one.

“Every year on Halloween night, the hundred or so members of Harrison House gather together with a 700 pound pumpkin. They dress in black cloaks, paint their faces, they drag the pumpkin across campus, they light it on fire and they throw it off a roof,” said Brown to the audience before the screening Executive Director of the New Brunswick Film Club, Tony Merzetti, commented on the incredible amount of effort that was put into making the film a success.

“It’s great that he thought it was an important event at UNB and decided to go out and make a film about it so that others could see it,” said Merzetti, “I think there’s a lot of people out there in the community that have no idea that this takes place and all the work that goes into it by the students that are putting on makeup, costumes, and the amount of work that goes into it.”

The film itself can be quite shocking to those who have never seen the Sacrifice before. It is an interesting way to portray the annual tradition on campus.

“Anthony Brown did a good job of documenting the annual Harrison House Pumpkin Sacrifice tradition. We screened the film last year at Tilley Hall and we had a huge crowd of people from Harrison House that came over to see it,” said Merzetti.

“I think it was really well done. I lived here in my first year of university, I’ve seen the ritual myself and I really liked it,” said Carlos Guellar, a member of the crowd who came out to the opening gala.

Monday Night Movie Series Offside Offside is a smart comedy illustrating the fight for women's rights in Iran.

Who is that strange boy sitting quietly in the corner of a bus full of screaming fans going to the football match? In fact, this shy boy is a girl in disguise. She is not alone; women also love football in Iran. Before the game begins, she is arrested at the check point and put into a holding pen close to the stadium with a band of other women all dressed up as men. They will be handed over to the

vice squad after the match, but before this, they will be tortured. They must endure every cheer, every shout of a game they cannot see. Worse yet, they must listen to the play-by-play account of a soldier who knows nothing about football. Yet, these young girls just won't give up. They use every trick in the book to see the match.

93 minutes, Iran, 2007, Farsi with English subtitles.

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Shotgun Rules, an Ontario-based group, played in Fredericton last week

by Doug Estey

It was a dark, cold, and rainy Tuesday night in Fredericton. For most students on campus, this means a quiet night indoors, potentially getting caught up on some assignments, doing some reading, or hitting the sack early. But for a few dozen guys and girls across the river at the Rugby Club, it was an entirely different story.

Shotgun Rules and Red October were scheduled to perform a three hour show for all ages to enjoy (together with two local outfits), and as we pulled up to 69 Cityview Avenue in our cab, I couldn't help but smile. The unpaved parking lot, the sheets of rain coming down, and the absence of any visible signs of life were quickly betrayed by the thundering roar of electric guitars and double-kicks emanating from the building in front of us.

The Sea Divides kicked everything off with a developing metal/progressive sound that has certainly improved over the past year. They were followed up by the even-younger (and also local) Ambiin the Rust, who opened with a somewhat interesting instrumental.

These guys desperately need a front man, though, if they're going to continue with their current sound.

Red October played next and didn’t disappoint. Shredding and hard-hitting guitar combined with melodic vocals and contrasting screams: it's a mixture of punk and metal that brings back fond memories of my high school days spent listening to Thrice. Although somewhat lacking in creativity (especially in their lyrics and tonal variety), I commend

them for very tight set they unleashed on the crowd, who clearly enjoyed every heart-stopping minute of it.

Shotgun Rules came out to set up their gear, and that's right around the time my jaw dropped to the floor. This five-piece group of guys from London, Ontario, is a positive role model for every Canadian group that is looking to make it big: they work their asses off, they aren't afraid to step outside of their genre, and they just keep getting better and better. Musically, they were much tighter than any of the other bands that played something that doesn't surprise me (we're talking about a group of guys who have played hundreds of shows and put together an EP that sold thousands of copies in its first year). There are all kinds of bands out there that try to pull off the pop/screamo sound without sounding exactly like one other, and it's common knowledge that there are very few that succeed in doing so. But there is something in Shotgun Rules' sound that just works, and while they continue to build on it, they are simultaneously breathing new life into a rather stagnant genre of music.

Words can't describe the live performance these guys put on. I was honestly blown away. Brothers Ric and Dusty Mattingley commandeered rhythm guitars and drum kit, respectively, with Joe Giugno pumping mesmerizing bass lines while Corry Van Spronsen shredded beautiful riffs on lead guitar.

These four were impressive in their own right, but what truly amazed me was the spectacular, passionate, and exhausting display of talent by front man John MacKenzie. Recordings of this band don't even come close to justifying his raw vocal power. This is the kind of guy that girls fall in love with while guys stand around staring in awe. Together, Shotgun Rules pulled off a performance won't soon be forgotten by those who were lucky enough to witness them.