Issue 2, Vol 142, The Brunswickan

Arts // eight page insert >> Harvest Jazz and blues preview

Volume 142 · Issue 2 · Sept. 10, 2008

thebruns.ca

the brunswickan canada’s oldest official student publication.

Fire it up

Graham ave. takes the heat again.

Opinions, page A7

Liquid Energy

Energy drink connaisseur speaks out.

VP Academic

UNB’s new VP Academic Anthony Secco enters UNB with enthusiasm News, page A5

Arts, page B4

GRAHAM TALKS GRAHAM Josh O’Kane

Shine on, UNB

The Brunswickan

“UNB Fredericton’s campaign has been the second largest in Atlantic Canada.” -Scott Walters, Orientation Chair

Elected at 21, Jordan Graham is believed to be the youngest city councillor in Fredericton’s history. He could also potentially be the youngest ever in New Brunswick.

His constituency, Ward 11, has the most dynamic mix of all of the city’s wards, from the affluent Waterloo Row to the run-down student housing on the College Hill.

He’s got a lot on his plate for a fourthyear student.

The College Hill – and specifically the area on and around Graham Avenue – has been problematic for both law enforcement officials and families living in the area for years.

But things are on the upswing.

Eleven arsons took place in the neighborhood of Graham Avenue during the week following Labour Day last year.

This year there were only two.

“Things are changing, and it’s exactly what I had hoped for,” says Graham of the College Hill.

A year ago, he was the UNB Student Union’s VP Academic, defending students against comments made by the then-councillor for ward 11, who publicly stated she wished for fewer students and more families to live in the area to bring back the sense of community.

Now Graham is at the helm of the ward and wants to bring a sense of community without removing the students that are there.

On top of making his presence known on the College Hill by meeting with residents face to face, Graham co-chairs the city’s working group on community/ university relations.

Of the past, he says, “I think it’s just been gradually let out of control, and people have tried to look at band-aid measures to fix it.

See Graham A4

Sarah Ratchford The Brunswickan

Doug Estey / The Brunswickan

Darryl Boyce has progressed quickly through the Toronto organization, playing for both the Marlies and the Maple Leafs this season.

His ties to UNB, however, have not weakened, and he is now speaking out in support of the women’s hockey team.

Fredericton MP steps down Andy Scott is the only NB incumbent not to re-offer for upcoming federal election

Josh O’Kane

The Brunswickan

Andy Scott says the upcoming federal election will be more important for students than it will be for him.

The Liberal Member of Parliament for Fredericton, who will step down after the Oct. 14 federal election, has been in office for 15 years.

“The impact of this election will be greater for people who are students in

2008 than people like me,” he says. “It is about the country for my youngest son Noah, who is two, and my two other sons, who recently graduated from St. Thomas and Acadia; their lives will, over time, be more significantly affected by this election than mine.”

The election, he says, “is about the major shift in the role of government in the lives of Canadians.

“You’re talking about a watershed election that would change the direction of the country. (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper’s saying himself that that’s what he wants to do.”

In March of 2007, the MP announced he would be stepping down at the end of this term. He says that doing so will

allow him to explore more opportunities in life before retirement.

“I figured if I had one more term, when I retired I’d probably just retire; whereas if I leave now, I probably have one more meaningful gig before I retire. It struck me that that seemed to be a more interesting choice.”

Scott says he will be working in the area of public policy when he leaves his position after the election. Stepping down also means less traveling – which means a lot after spending 15 years traveling to Ottawa for up to 30 weeks a year.

“With a two year old son and a wife who works full time, it’s not fair to them. It was a personal (choice), to do

what was right for my family at the time.”

He has good words to say about David Innes, who will take his spot as the Liberal candidate for the Fredericton riding.

“He’s very competent, very committed to his community. I think he’ll make a great MP.” Known candidates running for the Fredericton riding include Innes, Conservative candidate Keith Ashfield and Green Party candidate May Lou Babineau.

The looming federal election became official on Sunday Sept. 7 when Governor General Michaelle Jean approved Prime Minister Harper’s request to dissolve Parliament.

Thursday: Loudlove Friday: Telfer

This past week, students of UNB participated in the 35th annual installment of Shinerama, a fund raising event for cystic fibrosis.

Cystic Fibrosis is the most common fatal disease among young Canadians. It is genetic, and affects multiple organs – especially the lungs and digestive system. In the lungs, CF causes major difficulty in breathing due to a build-up of mucus.

The disease also has a negative effect on digestion. A person’s ability to absorb nutrients from food is compromised and he or she must consume an average of 20 pills per day in order to retain nutrients.

Shinerama is Canada’s largest post-secondary fundraiser, involving participants from over 60 campuses all over the country. The fundraising event began as an Orientation week shoeshining campaign, and has evolved to include endless other events.

Events are open to all students, not just first years. There is, however, a lot of focus put on first year students in order to get them involved. House Orientation Committees help out with this, as well as Red Shirts.

In Fredericton this year, the goal was to raise $25,000, says Melissa MacMasters, head of this year’s event. On Shine Day alone, the total amount raised was $26, 931.32.

“UNB Fredericton’s campaign has been the second largest in Atlantic Canada,” says Scott Walters, second in command. “Last year, we were second only to Halifax.”

This year’s major stunt was shining an NB Power bucket truck on Saturday. The truck was polished in the parking lot of Boston Pizza on Prospect.

The Shinerama campaign consists of other events as well, such as Bling Bling, which is a competition between Houses on campus. Each House is given two buckets: one for pennies, one for all other change. Change is collected from check-in day on Aug. 30 until Movie on the Hill.

Houses are given 5 minutes to sabotage their biggest competitors, and whichever house comes out with the most pennies wins the game. $1200 was raised by this game alone.

One in every 3600 children born in Canada has cystic fibrosis according to www.cysticfibrosis.ca. As yet, there is no cure. However, as long as people continue to participate in events like Shinerama, there will be a strong hope for a better future, and with a total amount raised of $33,109.32 from all of Shinerama this year, hope is getting stronger every year.

The

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A2 • Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142

brunswickannews

Sexual Healing Sarah Ratchford The Brunswickan

In a world where many young people freely enjoy sexual activity without excessive thought, sexually transmitted infections are becoming an increasingly large problem.

A recent study of Canadian youth aged 18 to 19 has found that 30 percent of these people did not bother to use a condom the last time they had sex.

Experts are calling the sky-high levels of STIs a hidden epidemic.

Dr. JoAnn Majerovich, Director of the UNB Student Health Centre, says the Health Centre is working in conjunction with the Sexuality Centre to lower the rates of STIs at UNB. One of the first initiatives taken this year was inserting both a Trojan condom and a brochure on STIs in each Orientation kit.

Majerovich says the highest rates of STIs are found in the university age group.

“Condoms are crucial in preventingSTIs,”saysthedirector.

Many students mistakenly think that oral contraceptives (in other words, “the pill”) are enough of a preventative measure. In reality, all they do is help prevent pregnancy.

The Health Centre tries to keep students safe from sexually transmitted infections through testing at the clinic, handing out condoms to promote safer sex and discussing safer sex practices with patients.

Majerovich says the majority of patients at the Health Centre are women who come in for

contraceptives and PAP tests, but young men are equally welcome.

“We provide full sexual health care for both men and women,” says Majerovich.

Events put on by the Sexuality Centre have also helped to provide students with knowledge regarding safe sex.

It is run by volunteers with positive, accepting attitudes, says Majerovich.

Last year, there were more than twenty volunteers who put on events such as Captain Condom, Sexionary games, a production of the Vagina Monologues, and a sex museum in the SUB. The Sexuality Centre is a safe space for students to go if they have questions on sexual health, orientation, or other sexual and gender related issues. They can also pick up free Trojan condoms and have access to a plethora of resources, says Majerovich.

When asked which STIs were most common at UNB, Majerovich responded with Chlamydia, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and herpes. Information on these infections can be obtained at either the Health Centre or the Sexuality Centre. The only way to prevent them, other than abstinence, is to use a condom. Putting one on takes two seconds, does not drastically alter the sexual experience, and can prevent you from living your university life with warts on your genitals.

Sounds like a good plan.

The function of the Health Centre is “to help students make healthy choices,” says Majerovich.

The centre is non-judgmental and provides confidential services.

The Student Health Centre is located at Tibbets East, 40 Mckay Drive.

Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142 • A3

Keep on truckin’

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

UNB students shine an NB Power truck on Shine Day

Est-ce que c’est une bonne décision? Gimme the goodies Sarah Ratchford The Brunswickan

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Education program who had planned on teaching French as a second language may have to rethink their career – at least if they were hoping to teach grade one or two in New Brunswick.

Education Minister Kelly Lamrock announced a revamped Early French Immersion program for New Brunswick schools on August 5. Initial proposals for the plan earlier in the year did not include French being taught in elementary schools until the fifth grade. Due to much public debate and indignation in our bilingual province, and a court order for public consultation, the government modified the plan so that students would begin French Language classes in the third grade instead. If a child misses his or her opportunity to sign up in grade three, the chance will be made available again in the sixth grade for late immersion.

All students will undergo “intensive” French language training in the fifth grade, and those not already immersion will undergo “pre-intensive” French training in the fourth grade. In kindergarten to grade two, all children enrolled in the public school system will be exposed to aspects of French culture and language through music and games. However, they will not have the option of French language classes as they did before.

Paula Christenson, teacher of second-language English, says that enrollment in this year’s Education program at UNB has been “really good this year” in spite of the fact that she had originally “thought it may have impacted people’s decision to enroll.”

Although overall enrollment has not been affected too strongly, the number of students wishing to teach elementary has dropped slightly, says Christenson. In spite of this, those wishing to teach at the secondary levels have remained constant, and “the numbers are

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Matt Farrah, President of Education Society healthy.”

In fact, there are “more students in the FSL stream now than in the past four years,” says Christenson.

Though this is a lot of change to take in, UNB Education Society President Matt Farrah maintains an optimistic outlook.

“Change is always a good thing, right?” he says, without a shadow of a doubt in his voice. “If the old system wasn’t working, why stick with it?”

Farrah says the new system will be beneficial for children, especially those who may have disabilities.

He holds with the view that if English is the first language a child is taught, it will be clear if they need special attention in order to be taught properly.

“It’s an interesting approach, and a great way to do it,” he says.

Although Farrah admits that it is best to teach a child a second language while they are as young as possible, he says that grade three is early enough to start since the earlier grades incorporate a certain amount of French.

When asked his opinion on whether or not Lamrock’s changes will affect enrollment to the Education program, Farrah guessed that it would not.

Education students at UNB are trained to teach all elementary

grades as well as middle school, he says, so as long as students keep an open mind it shouldn’t be hard to switch the grade they plan to teach.

Farrah said that while it may be a bit more challenging to future French Second Language teachers since they are preparing to teach children with a slightly higher cognitive level, the jump is small enough that it shouldn’t pose any great difficulty as far as adjustment.

“I can’t imagine it having that big of an impact,” he says, still positively. “You never know what works until you try something new.”

Alison Vallis recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in French and taking a double minor in English and History. She is now beginning an education degree at STU to teach French as a second language. She says she had planned on teaching it to children in grade one.

The recent makeover of the province’s early immersion program has prompted Vallis to reconsider her career path; however, she shares Farrah’s positive point of view.

“I actually think it might be a better program than what was in place because it gives options before they decide,” says the Education

student. She likes the fact that children will have a choice in grade three to see if they want to go on with French.

“I made my own choice (to enter French Immersion) when I went in school,” she says. “And I made it blindly. I had had no exposure prior to that.

“Children who might be scared will have a chance to dip their toes in and see if they like it.”

As far as her career path being altered, Vallis “might move to upper levels like grade three and four” but she would “still be interested in grades one and two because those grades are still given a bit of exposure.”

Vallis also can’t imagine any significant drop in enrollment.

“Where it’s only a jump from grade one or two to three, they’d probably be able to adjust” she says.

All told, she says Lamrock’s final alterations to the provinces early immersion program are a good compromise. “I’m very happy with what they did,” she says.

Paula Christenson agrees, because Lamrock’s final decision is “not as severe” as the first changes.

Coupled with the fact that grades three and four are taught core French, Christenson says, “with all of that there will be opportunities” for education students.

Doug Estey / The Brunswickan

Two people were arrested on Aug. 29 for robbing Albert Street’s Goody Shop the week before with a handgun. The arrest was made

in the early evening. The two were released; however, there is an ongoing investigation. Their court date is set for Oct 31.

Ridin’ nerdy Sarah Ratchford The Brunswickan

UNB’s Faculty of Engineering is creating something to brag about as they get their annual coaster derby underway in the next few weeks.

The event first began in 1974 as an event to showcase the abilities developed by engineering students.

It has grown to include engineering students from all across Atlantic Canada.

This year may see participation by a team from Maine as well, says event organizer Lee Everett.

Local participants stem from UNB’s mechanical, civil, and chemical engineering classes, as well as a team from NBCC. This is Everett’s first year organizing the derby, and he enthusiastically tells the Bruns

that the event “has evolved into something fun for all universities to get involved with.”

The derby consists of soapboxtype derby cars armed with only a brake pedal and steering wheel – ironically, the cars do not have engines.

The race begins at the Aitken Center and runs down McKay Drive to the bottom of the hill, with pylons along the way to mix things up.

Cars are given a push start, and they are tested on their design and speed.

The derby promises to be quite an event this year. It will feature a DJ who will provide music and announcements, as well as raffles and a free barbeque for all involved – participants, volunteers and spectators, says Everett.

Festivities commence on Sept 27 at 9:30 a.m., and they will display the basic skills learned for an engineering degree, says Everett.

brunswickannews

A4 • Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142

Graham lightens up Sarah Ratchford The Brunswickan

The wild ways of some residents and visitors on Graham Avenue over the past year have caused quite a stir, often ruffling feathers of both police officers and neighbors.

While some activities – such as several accounts of couch igniting – could be considered a series of jokes, the culmination of events was a bad reputation for students.

Most recently, on August 22 at 11:39 p.m., another one of these incidents took place. Police received a fire call from a passerby reporting a flaming futon. The caller said that there was no one around, and no witnesses were found.

The futon was set ablaze in the 600 block on Graham.

“This is categorized to us as an arson,” says Fredericton Police spokesperson Const.

Ralph Currie.

Although crimes such as this one continue to occur in the area, Currie says that there has actually been a drop in disturbance calls from last year, at least for the months of May and June.

Disturbance calls are often made for such issues as excessively loud music and parties. Burning couches in the street – in other words, arson – can also disturb people.

The city, however, is “getting some initiatives underway” to stop the nonsense, Currie says.

Pamphlets containing tips on how to be a good neighbor have been handed out to new residents. These pamphlets also contain outlines of

federal statutes and by-laws.

“People should know what local laws and by-laws are,” says Currie.

For instance, he continues, “they should know that there’s a $250 fine for a loud noise complaint.”

He says that the function of police is to make known “what’s acceptable and what’s unacceptable.”

Fredericton Fire Department’s Division Chief of Prevention and Investigation Paul Flemming provides some statistics regarding the issues on Graham.

During the last academic year, there were 43 fires on Graham, he says. It was found that none of those were accidental, thus making them chargeable offenses.

There were “very little problems on other streets,” says Flemming.

In fact, he says that the past year saw “a 100% increase from the year before.”

This is why “police are focusing on accepted behaviors,” says Currie.

“There will be a lot of marked and unmarked patrols.”

If they come across excessive rowdiness, Currie says they will pull over and stop whoever happens to be responsible.

Also, police are keeping their eyes peeled for “articles that could be ignited.”

In other words, pyromaniacs beware.

In spite of all this, Currie says police have a positive attitude toward students.

“We’re not there to just slam down tickets,” he says. “That’s just not where we are with the student population”.

However, he does point out that there are residents of Graham who are not students, and that they are not able to stay up until all hours of the night.

“Their lifestyles need to be

respected,” Currie says.

At least one resident of the street, who goes only by the name of Choka, is quite unhappy about the incidents on Graham last year.

“Especially on Friday and Saturday nights, it’s so noisy that you can’t sleep before one or two,” she says.

Her reason for choosing to live on Graham?

“My husband’s at UNB,” she says.

Second year student Sarah Sabine wasn’t quite so unimpressed, and says that she hasn’t heard a whole lot about the specific goings on.

“I heard that first week, a lot goes on,” she says.

Sabine moved to Graham for its proximity to campus. When asked if couch burning would be a part of her activities for the year, she replied with a funny look and a drawn-out “no.”

Although the arson situation has improved vastly, “there is still room for improvement,” Currie tells the Brunswickan.

Both marked and unmarked patrols will be “more saturated” during the first weeks of this academic year. Police will be watching for things like open liquor and partying too loudly.

What they’re looking for is cooperation.

University students got in the full swing of things this past weekend, both on campus and in the surrounding area.

“While the weekend was fairly busy for the Fredericton Police Force, things up around Graham Avenue and the surrounding area went relatively well,” says Currie.

Liquor complaints and offenses are down from last year’s 35 to 21,

“Let’s work together,” says the Constable, “and don’t disturb your neighbors.”

thebruns.ca

Doug Estey / The Brunswickan

Blazes on Graham Ave. Hilary Paige Smith The Brunswickan

The municipal elections in May saw a development within the student body of Fredericton – the growth of vocal chords.

Jordan Graham, 22, entered the running for city council in hopes of representing the College Hill region of New Brunswick’s capital city.

Following a term as Vice President External of the UNB Student Union, Graham was given his first taste of municipal politics.

“I wasn’t overly satisfied with how everything was operating. I wanted to see some different things come forward,” states Graham of his earlier insight. “There was no out-of-the-box thinking. It was missing that young perspective and I saw that I could bring that to the table.”

His efforts proved successful.

Overcoming the incumbent and winning the election with 51% of the vote, Graham not only encouraged his fellow students to get involved, but proved that a young voice can be heard by all ages.

Ambitious and eager for the challenge, he is prepared for his role in public service and the academic world, both of which he calls “the driving force behind Fredericton.”

Graham is believed to be the youngest council member in Fredericton’s history. Because of his position, he will play a crucial role in bringing the problems of today’s students to the attention

of the powers that be – and being one of those powers himself, only increase the odds for solution.

The problems of post-secondary students in this day and age revolve around the green: money and the environment.

Students are shelling out more and more money every year to exist and be educated in what Graham calls “the mess left by the baby-boomers party,” and as the generation that will soon inherit the earth, we will be left to “clean it up.”

The cost of living is also rising and this may influence students to stray from their post-secondary path.

During his four-year term on city council Graham intends to bring the financial problems of students to the table, notably regarding the costs of transportation and offcampus student housing.

The city of Fredericton is currently negotiating with UNB Fredericton for more affordable transportation for students.

Currently in his fourth year at UNB, Graham is all too aware of the financial problems of students.

“In order to implement the universal bus pass it has to be just like the first word-universal. Which means that every student, whether they need it or not, is going to have to pay for it …What I’d like to see is an opt out system so that people have the freedom to choose and it’s not forced upon them like things so often are,” Graham states.

Another problem present in Fredericton, due in large part to its vast student population, is housing. Neighbourhoods are often reluctant to welcome students because land lords are in most cases absent and care little for the upkeep of the property. Also,

as stereotypes dictate, students disturb the community by partying and opting to study over landscaping their yard.

“I think that a lot of the problems that come from city and student interactions stem from people not being held accountable to their property and people not being held accountable to their actions.”

Graham continues by emphasizing the fact that not all problems in the community are the problems of students and anyone in that atmosphere can “get riled up.”

As for the rising costs of living off-campus, Graham is a self-titled “anti-tax guy” and is “more than happy to raise the issue” to the city.

Graham, only four months deep into his term on council, has already begun to notice a change in Fredericton’s reluctance to truly embrace itself as a “university town.”

“The mentality around city hall with me at the table is starting to shift…The lingo in terms of say vandalism, traditionally have been very student focused, ‘we need to fix the student problems’, but now they might use the term ‘young people’ instead.

“They’re changing the rhetoric, which is really positive.”

Aside from the obvious issues of student life, Graham’s position on city council will affect what postsecondary education is all about; the future.

“If somebody brings up the fact that there is another student running down the road I want people to say ‘well you know, Jordan Graham was a student and he did a pretty good job so I don’t have any problems with another student running.’’’

King of the ‘Hill’

From Graham A1

“In order to resolve the issues on College Hill, we need to have a culture change. We need to take things that are accepted and making them unacceptable, such as the fires, the smashed beer bottles smashed and the ridiculous noise.”

The culture change is not something that can happen overnight, though.

“It can’t happen in one year; the mentality of the people who live on College Hill needs to change to something that’s more respectful.”

With 11 accounts of arson during the 2007 Orientation Week, the bar was set low for the rest of the year. With such low numbers this year, the norm has changed.

“We’re trying to make it so fires aren’t the norm,” explains Graham.

“If we can remove the fuel that’s on the hill for the first few weeks, it sets the precedent. If you see it now it seems abnormal. If you have it all Orientation Week, it quickly becomes acceptable.

“It’s about changing behaviour for what’s deemed acceptable and common. Now, fires aren’t the norm this fall.”

Proper garbage removal is the first step to cleaning up the College Hill for the young councillor. He’s worked with the city and university to add a supplementary garbage pickup in the area at the beginning and end of the school year.

As such, a third party waste consultant monitored the College Hill during Orientation Week and

removed items left on the side of the road before they became fuel for arson.

Graham is also working with the students and other residents in the area to get them to work together for a safer neighborhood.

“I’ve been present on the hill trying to talk people, trying to encourage people to have parties but not invite the police and be respectful of the bylaws that exist.”

He’s been working on College Hill issues for some time now, and has sat on the city’s working group on community/university relations since last fall. The group has examined many different ways to tackle problems on and around Graham Avenue.

“We developed an action plan that we thought would deal with most of the issues,” explains the student councillor.

Because of all the parties involved in its inception, including representatives from the police and fire departments, STU and UNB administrations and student unions, as well as the city, Graham says, “there are so many different sides of it that it’s really well thought through an comprehensive.”

Taking care of garbage, he explains, is just one step to improving the hill. Once the public safety issue of fires that could damage homes or hurt people is taken care of, the College Hill will be able to keep moving forward.

“The next thing, I’d say, is trying to encourage more respect,” says Graham, “to get people to

quiet down, take parties inside or if they’re outside, to be not quite so loud.

Beer bottle smashing is another issue he’d like to see addressed, particularly on Graham Avenue.

“I would not want to take a car up that road because every morning it seems like a road of glass. It’s like a mosaic of Stella Artois and Alexander Keith’s.”

He says he wants to build a community of respect, not hinder the livelihoods of students who are in town to party.

“I’m not about ruining their lives; that’s not what I’m here for.

I have to represent everyone on the hill. I’m interested in building communities. You’re either for it or against it. If you’re being deliberately disruptive to the community, that’s not what I want to represent.

“We’re looking to create a market on College Hill for people who want to take school seriously and be part of a community that respects each other.”

What Graham wants to see is an inclusive community on the hill that accepts whoever does live there – be they student or not. And if people work together, he says things should work out fine.

“People on the hill are more tolerant than you’d expect,” he says.

“You can have fun, you can party, but you can respect your next door neighbours who are trying to put their babies to sleep.”

Thanks to the efforts on cleaning up the hill, Graham says that “we’re seeing that now.”

brunswickannews

Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142 • A5

New VP academic arrives from the Cape Anthony Secco wants to focus on the total learning experience for UNB students

Hilary Paige Smith The Brunswickan

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

A Red Bull truck arrives to deliver product to one of the SUB businesses. Red Bull, as a Coke product, will not be officially sold at UNB or STU for at least another seven years.

Pepsi trumps Coke As its ten-year reign comes to a close, Pepsi lands another seven year exclusivity contract with UNB and STU campuses Hilary Paige Smith The Brunswickan

It seems that no matter how much time passes, no matter how far society progresses, there is one question that continues to be asked: Pepsi or Coke?

The answer is Pepsi, for students at the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University.

Following the end of the universities’ ten year contract with Pepsi on August 1, the time came for Coke and Pepsi to duke it out over a new seven year contract with UNB and STU. A request for proposals by the university went public and the two pop powerhouses were free to bid on the opportunity to distribute their products and serve thousands of students.

“We ask them to bid competitively and secretly against one another.

In fact, both bids were so close (that) their assessment of the value of the opportunity to them was so similar that we had to do very careful future value analysis in order to discriminate between the two bids,” says James Brown, Executive Director of Residential Life, Campus and Conference

Services. “In the end Pepsi’s bid was marginally better for the universities and Coke’s, but let’s say it was a close thing.”

Brown was not solely responsible for the acceptance of Pepsi’s bid.

The deciding committee had representatives from St. Thomas, UNBSJ, financial advisors, as well as kinesiology professor Mary McKenna, who specialises in nutrition and whose opinion was “quite impactful” in the final decision, says Brown.

As clothing sizes decrease and obesity numbers increase, school cafeterias are promoting nutrition with healthier option programs. Pepsi, even though their signature cola is by no means a health drink, encompasses many other brands such as Dole juices, Lipton Iced Tea, Ocean Spray juices, Propel Fit water and Aquafina water with its Sparkling and Flavour Splash companions.

One of the deciding factors in the universities’ decision to continue distributing Pepsi products was a healthy options clause in the agreement.

“At every vending location there will always be a healthy option. There are no strictly Pepsi dispensers; they all dispense juice and water, in addition to other products,” says Brown. “Those healthy options will make prominence. In the contract it says that healthy options must be at eye level in the glass front vending machines so it’s the first thing people will see. In fact, juice and water sales are up... people are aware of health more; they’re making healthy choices. That wasn’t a difficult thing to get Pepsi to agree to. We are trying to prioritize healthy options.”

Pepsi’s agreement with the universities not only allows for healthier bodies, but it keeps wallets healthy as well. The universities compliance with Pepsi’s bid ensures that 2.5 million dollars will be returned to the schools, as well as Pepsi’s offer of 250 free cases of product per year which are for events like athletics and barbecues. Pepsi also has plans to set up a student based committee to help with promotions, which will provide $20,000 a year for campus events.

“Beneficiaries of the agreement will continue to include the UNB Student Union, which in the previous agreement was getting about $25,000 per year. The Graduate Student Association will get about $5000 per year, and ALPS, for part-time students, is getting about $5000 per year.

Also, athletics is a beneficiary of the agreement and students services.”

Though Pepsi appears to be the most beneficial option for the university, it also benefits Atlantic Canada. Pepsi currently holds the largest market share for beverage distribution in the Maritimes with 65.1%, where Coke only has 30.9%.

Fear not, Coke fans, the Canadawide numbers are much closer with Pepsi holding 54.4% and Coke with 44.5%. It makes sense that Pepsi’s numbers are up in this neck of the woods, since some Pepsi products are produced in Atlantic Canada and provide Maritime employment opportunities – another key reason for UNB’s choice.

Students will experience “the joy of Pepsi” for another seven years and for the devout fans of the opposition, you’ll have to enjoy “the Coke side of life” by buying off-campus.

the brunswickan. if you don’t volunteer for the bruns, our editors will fail out of school.

please volunteer. the bruns meets wednesdays at 12:30 at room 35 in the SUB. show up, help out, and maybe even become famous.

Anthony Secco was not looking for a position at the University of New Brunswick, but in January of this year a position came looking for him.

Secco, formerly the Vice President Academic and Research at the University of Cape Breton, is the University’s new Vice President Academic. He will remain in the position for the next five years.

Following the end of his position at Cape Breton University, Secco stated that he “wasn’t looking for a position” and was “quite interested in the faculty ranks and teaching.”

“It’s rather interesting, well it’s interesting from my perspective because I said “no,” I knew about the position, I knew it was advertised, I knew a search was going on, but I wasn’t really thinking of picking up and moving anywhere and ten minutes later into the phone call, I was asking when the application deadline was,” Secco reveals with laughter.

After his interest in the position was piqued by the search party, Secco completed a series of interviews. He was then invited to Fredericton for two days of interviews along with five other hopefuls. Five applicants soon became two. The final test was a day spent on campus interacting with groups that would soon be reporting to them, such as the Board of Governors and the Deans of each faculty.

As to whether or not he thought he would become the new VP Academic, Secco stated that “one is always hopeful” and that he was “quite pleased” to have been offered the position in the end.

John McLaughlin, President of UNB, chaired the national search party. He says that the position of VP Academic is “effectively the chief academic officer for the campus, responsible for the overall integrity, the quality and delivery of academic programs on the one end, but also to be there to develop as positive a learning environment as we can for our students.”

Doug Estey / The Brunswickan

UNB’s new VP Academic Anthony Secco at his office in Sir Howard Douglas Hall.

“We were looking for somebody the retention of students,” says who had a good academic Secco. The retention of students background in their own is certainly an area that I want to right, certainly understood the focus on, the recruitment as well, importance of academic integrity, but I think the retention is very but also somebody who could important. relate to students and they would “I want to focus on the total be able to listen to what their needs learning experience of a student are and their concerns.” at UNB. I say learning experience McLaughlin cites his key reasons because every day, regardless for selecting Secco – the crucial of what you’re doing, there is three E’s: energy, enthusiasm and something to be learned... I’d like experience. He also stated that “he the learning experience for students is clearly an individual who relates here to be as total and as maximal well to others, who will certainly as can be.” be listening and learning... He is a Secco wants to see all members

“I’d like the learning experience for students here to be as total and as maximal as can be.”

- Anthony Secco

very open, engaging, experienced individual.”

Secco’s university career spans from his Bachelor of Science degree with honours from St. Francis Xavier to his PhD in chemistry from the University of British Columbia. Following this, he worked with University of Pennsylvania and later worked his way from assistant professor to full professor of chemistry at the University of Manitoba. He later acted as the Dean of Graduate Studies and eventually made his way back to the Maritimes and Cape Breton University.

Secco, though he is only days deep into his job with UNB, has already thought of some issues he’d like to address throughout his five year term.

“I look at this University, in many respects it has similar challenges to other universities and certainly in the Maritimes, and that being the recruitment of students and

of the university community to recognize that they are all in this together.

“We have those that teach directly. We have those that support.

We have those that maintain the systems around us, be it grounds and buildings and what have you.

We have those that help fund us, from government to alumni. We have students and a good number of them, at all different levels, of all different ages and we all have something to contribute.”

Secco believes that students, though they contribute financially to the school, contribute above all things to each other and to themselves to become engaged. The new VP Academic asks finally what can the university do to encourage the engagement of students?

Armed with his ideas and enthusiasm, Secco is hopeful that the student population will see the benefits as that question is answered.

A6 • Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142

brunswickannews

brunswickanopinion

Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142 • A7

eic@unb.ca

Fredericton: Home or hotel?

Bring it on home Josh O’Kane

It’s difficult for students to integrate into a city that treats them like outsiders. How can a city grow – let alone thrive – if it doesn’t welcome newcomers into its community?

Support from the community as a whole is crucial to retain newcomers. Students are no exception. Without support from other residents in Fredericton, university students can feel like guests for the entirety of their four years spent here.

The word “hotel” brings about the mental framework of temporary living: you pay a fixed fee to stay for a certain amount of time, and you can make all the mess you want because someone else gets paid to clean it up.

If this city and its residents keep treating students like guests, why would students treat their time here any different than a fouryear stay at a hotel?

Citizens live in communities.

Guests live in hotels. Treat students like citizens, and maybe they’ll become part of the community. Treat them like guests and the community becomes their hotel.

This is important when confronting issues such as arson, noise and garbage on the College Hill.

The guest-based mindset is ingrained deep into some city residents, and it isn’t helping students integrate at all.

How widespread is this mindset?

The Daily Gleaner published an editorial on Aug. 26, containing a series of brash statements about university students, most notably calling each student “a guest in the city of Fredericton.”

The editorial also called Graham Avenue – which many UNB and STU students call home – a “big

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief • Josh O’Kane Managing • Tony von Richter News • Sarah Ratchford Arts • Doug Estey Sports • Mitchell Bernard Photo • Andrew Meade Copy • Dan Hagerman Production • Christian Hapgood Online • Dave Evans Staff Advertising Sales Rep • Bill Traer Delivery • Mike Lee Contributors Ashley Bursey, Alison Clack, Stephanie Lord, Brandon McNeil, Laura Noseworthy, Nick Ouellette, Hilary Paige Smith, Jeff Taylor & Bethany Vail.

The Brunswickan relies primarily on a volunteer base to produce its issues every week. Volunteers can drop by room 35 of the SUB at any time to find out how they can get involved.

About Us The Brunswickan, in its 142nd year of publication, is Canada’s Oldest Official Student Publication.

We are an autonomous student newspaper owned and operated by Brunswickan Publishing Inc., a nonprofit, independent 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.

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

This was the scene on Graham Avenue in the early hours of the morning on Sept. 11. 2007. The roadway, and its encompassing College Hill neighbourhood, has been quieter so far in 2008. blemish” on the College Hill.

The name of the piece, “If you can’t behave yourself, stay home,” even insinuates that Fredericton is not home for students in the first place.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

The Daily Gleaner published another editorial on Sept. 2, calling students a “valuable resource,” but noted that “sometimes it only takes a few bad apples to ruin it for the rest.”

Calling some students “bad apples” is a far cry from helping them integrate before problems begin.

If the city’s daily newspaper is making such statements, what are the residents left to think?

Students are being used as scapegoats in a situation where everyone should be working

towards a common goal of getting along. The College Hill may have its parties and crimes, but it takes everyone, not just the students, to work together and get along.

Reading The Daily Gleaner editorials, I was reminded of comments made by someone I interviewed last year for The Brunswickan.

Former city councillor Cathy MacLaggan said that students living in rental housing “make a hole in the neighborhood” in the September 12, 2007 issue of The Brunswickan.

Interestingly enough, that incumbent councillor was defeated

by UNB student Jordan Graham in the subsequent municipal election which took place on May 12.

Graham campaigned on a voice of reason and equal treatment of

letters to the editor.

Sports coverage: Don’t give up on the six cut V-Reds teams Dear Editor, (This letter is addressed to managing editor columnist Tony von Richter).

I am a UNB alumnus (B.Sc.Eng 2002) and avid reader of the Bruns.

I read with great interest your Sept. 4th column “View from the Sidelines” as well as your previous opinions on the cutting of six Varsity teams this past school year (downgrading them to competitive sports clubs). I appreciate your support and compassion for those affected by the cuts and commend you on speaking out on the issue.

But as a V-Reds Ring of Distinction honouree and former Captain of the V-Reds Cross Country Running Team who won the AUS Championship banner in 2001, I take issue with your recent comments: “Since we can’t change last year’s decision I’m not going to dwell on it. Instead, it’s time to focus on the teams and athletes that we do have as the Reds have made some exciting moves.”

I fear that this comment may be wrongly translated by the readers; I am sure you did not mean that sports coverage in the Bruns will cease to include the men’s swimming, and men’s and women’s wrestling and cross country teams (I believe the Women’s Hockey Team is no more). Surely there was coverage in the Bruns before some of these sports gained their Varsity status (the UNB Black Bears come to mind), and surely

the brunswickan

their reporting will continue to be important enough to run in the Bruns after they have been sent back to a competitive sports’ club status. In fact, I hope the Bruns tries to counterbalance this drastic change by becoming proactive and more aggressively seeks stories and coverage of our competitive sports clubs.

In particular, I was quite disappointed not to see a spotlight on the Cross Country Club in the first issue of the Bruns. Ironically in the first year the team has been downgradedtoacompetitivesports’ club it as acquired two new men’s recruits capable of challenging the top 7 individual positions in the CIS (CIS All-Canadian status) this year. However with the new competitive sports club rules set out by Kevin Dickie, the Cross Country Club will not be able to send a squad to represent UNB at the AUS Championship meet, let alone the CIS Championships.

In fact, Mr. Dickie’s new rules categorize the 2007 CIS XC Championship 2nd place team as not competitive enough to compete in the AUS XC Championships this year! Surely we would not think of cutting our beloved men’s hockey squad to a competitive club for only finishing 2nd in the CIS last year, but this is the logic that is running our Varsity Reds Program!

In addition, the partner of one of those new recruits is Beijing Olympian Lauren Groves from Vancouver who has been gracious

enough to attend training/ competitions and give the UNB Cross Country Club some pointers and support this past week. In a year where it needs the most support, the team also held their annual fundraising fun run in Odell Park on Sept 5th. Where the Aquinian sent two representatives to cover the event, there were no representatives from the Bruns.

It must be noted that Beijing Olympians such as Megan Metcalfe, Eric Gillis, Simon Whitfield, and Taylor Milne, to name a few are all former AUS, CIS, and/or CCAA Cross Country Runners.

Not to mention Beijing Olympian and former UNB Cross Country V-Reds Captain Kara Grant who now competes in the Modern Pentathlon. By slashing the status of our former V-Reds teams, we are killing them by not allowing them to be competitive in the AUS and CIS leagues, and we are cutting out an important stepping stone for our future Olympians.

As former sport’s editor, and Sports Bureau Chief for Canadian University Press, why are these stories not being covered by the Bruns?

In keeping in touch with my Alma Mater, I remain interested in receiving my weekly dose of the Bruns. But I certainly do hope that the Bruns has not given up on our six late V-Reds teams the same way that our Athletic Department has this past year.

Scott Davis, P. Eng.

all residents, and he won the vote.

He didn’t win by the student vote alone: he proved himself to all residents in the constituency, and won by swaying the long-time residents of the communities in Ward 11.

Voters made their say, and chose a councillor who stood for an integrated community. This shows that luckily, not all residents of this city think students are just guests.

Hopefully these residents can pass their optimism on to others.

Mistreating the next generation of educated professionals isn’t exactly a good marketing campaign for a city riding on the news of being branded as one of the world’s most intelligent communities.

Fredericton needs to become more accepting of students as residents if they want to retain them as such.

Whether they live in apartments, rental homes, or residence, students are paying property taxes through their rent or fees. If they’ve lived in New Brunswick for six months and live in Fredericton at the time of a municipal election, they can vote in said election.

Students are residents too.

University students alone number close to 11,000 in a city of just over 50,000.

If every student who graduated were encouraged to stay in the city, it could see a population growth of up to 2750 people each year.

But until students are embraced as residents of the city, why would they treat it any differently than a hotel?

Josh O’Kane is Editor-in-Chief of The Brunswickan. He can be reached at eic@unb.ca.

Letters Must be submitted by e-mail including your name, letters with pseudonymns will not be printed. Letters must be 400 words maximum. Deadline for letters is Friday at 5 p.m. before each issue.

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 Editor-in-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 • eic@thebruns.ca www.thebruns.ca

the brunswickan. this space should be filled with more letters to the editor. why isn’t it?

get your say, each and every week. send your letters to the editor to the editor-inchief at eic@unb.ca by friday at 5 p.m. tell us your story in 400 words.

brunswickancommentary

A8 • Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142

Surprise: a federal election Communication breakdown Rousing the Rabbles Nick Ouellette

A federal election is on the horizon, which is pretty exciting.

Admittedly, though, I’m a politico — I love watching elections, following them, being a part of them. It’s one of my passions, but I know it’s not for everybody.

For a lot of students, there are more exciting things to do than pay attention to the House of Commons or other political activities. Following the ObamaMcCain race that is heating up south of the border does not count as politics for Canadian students, though. The fact that a federal election has been called in Canada has probably crept up on a lot of us, despite that Stephen Harper’s minority Parliament has now lasted longer than any other in Canadian history.

This is an election for which the Conservatives have been itching for quite some time. Since 2006, rhetoric has been ratcheted up a few times for potential elections, but the polls did not ever seem to favour the Tories enough. It seems now though that, amid increasing public support and with a government looking to move more into new priorities than the ones on which it was elected, the Harper Conservatives are hoping to increase their seat count and maybe even form a majority government.

Meanwhile, the Liberals continue to struggle to gain a solid footing

under Stéphane Dion. Having still not quite fully recovered from the Martin-Chrétien feud that left them in a minority government and then opposition, the Liberal Party is hoping that the struggles the Conservatives were having in three by-elections that were cancelled when the federal election was called are signs of weakening public support. Some have even speculated that the Liberals might form a minority government by mid October.

As a student at UNB, none of that has to matter to you. The history of the parties and the recent series of governments has been generally abysmal in relation to post-secondary affairs, so the questions of who was in office and how many seats they held is not really important, except to the extent that their actions contributed to rising tuition costs and ineffective programs.

This election presents an opportunity to do more than dwell on these facts from the past. It’s a chance to steer the issues toward those that matter for students. The election has also surprised many Canadians and the summer is only now ending, so public priorities are easily redirected.

Take note of the appearances and platforms that each of the parties is about to roll out, and question whether there is anything in them for you.

Don’t limit yourself to worrying about financial need funding, either, as critical as it is. Universities in Canada have just as many pressing challenges outside of the classroom.

For example, UNB’s deferred maintenance problem alone is in the range of $100 million.

Buildings are falling down and

ventilation systems are failing, and you pay an extra $175 every year to fund maintenance and upkeep of buildings as a result.

This should not be your burden to carry, but burdens like this arise when students neglect to hold government and their representatives to account.

Reject the apathetic student stereotype, because it will only perpetuate in the absence of opposition. Determine which issues matter to you and then insist on answers to those questions. Attend local candidate debates, contribute to national broadcasts when they take questions from viewers, and write letters to the editor in this newspaper and others.

Demand also that your Student Union take an active role in the upcoming election. Part of ensuring that the election addresses what you care about is looking to its VP External, Jonathan O’Kane, and discovering activities he is coordinating. If there aren’t any, find out why and get involved.

Too often the political realm pays only token attention to student issues, but as taxpayers, citizens, and residents, we students have the right to insist on full engagement and an operational post-secondary system. New Brunswick’s recent post-secondary education action plan played into this and left student aid and student issues on the sidelines. Embrace this election and make sure that same thing doesn’t happen on the federal scene.

Nick Ouellette, a UNB law student, has served on the UNB Student Union Council and the UNB Board of Governors, and now serves on the UNB Fredericton Senate. He is the Don of Neville/Jones House, one of UNB’s residences.

Free speech isn’t always free these days Joe Howell The Strand

TORONTO (CUP) – Hear no evil, read no evil. That’s the message human rights commissions across Canada gave this country’s citizens when considering the Canadian Islamic Congress’ case against Maclean’s magazine earlier in the summer.

The true question at the heart of the matter was simple: should media outlets be allowed to offend, or even “incite contempt,” against a group of people in the course of covering tough issues?

Because the lazy days of June seem so long ago, I’ll recap quickly: In October 2006, Maclean’s published an article by Mark Steyn called “The future belongs to Islam.”

On the cover, rows of women clad in black burkas stood silently.

In the piece, Steyn referred to “threats like Islamism,” “the followers of the badland’s radical imams settl[ing] the metropolis,” and a variety of other inflammatory things.

Soon after, the Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC) filed human rights complaints with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), and the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal (BCRT), alleging that Steyn’s article and 17 others printed in Maclean’s promoted Islamaphobia.

Although the first two eventually declined to hear the case, the OHRC condemned Maclean’s anyway.

In B.C., however, the CIC got their day in court. And so, for nearly a week, lawyers for the two sides argued back and forth about freedom of speech and freedom from discrimination, while media outlets across the country went to town deriding the “kangaroos” presiding over the trial.

Andrew Coyne, national editor of the magazine, live-blogged the proceedings with even more venom than usual. It all would have been great fun, had not so much been at

stake.

It is vitally important to a free and democratic society that media outlets, large and small, are unfettered in their dialogue and scope, regardless of how unpleasant or sensitive the topic, and an indictment from the BCRT (which has yet to hand down a verdict) would take this away.

The particulars of the case do not even matter, since it never should have been heard in the first place.

For the record, I have little appetite for Steyn’s scaremongering, and I frequently find his writing worthy of reproach. However, I fully support his right to say what he wants, and Maclean’s right to keep publishing him.

I also support the right of advertisers to pull out of the publication, and for offended readers to find their commentary elsewhere.

More than anything, I support the CIC’s right to engage in thoughtful or heated debate by way of response.

For that’s what it all comes down to: our ability to debate and discuss the issues of the day. We are not impressionable children, and simply being exposed to an unsavoury point of view will not suddenly fill us with hate. Reading the rantings of a Holocaust denier is unlikely to make you think it didn’t happen. Hearing the crackpot views of 9/11 “truthers” probably won’t make you think that Bush orchestrated the whole thing. Exposure to Steyn will not turn you neo-con.

Is someone lying about you?

Then try suing them for libel or slander. But a human rights challenge is a simple admittance that you don’t like their opinion, and would rather stick your head in the sand to avoid it than try to challenge it on an intellectual level.

We must work to expunge distasteful opinions by demonstrating their ridiculousness, not preventing people from having and expressing them – that only gives those same opinions more power.

If we decide we’re going to start regulating the expression of opinion – and the freedom of it is far from guaranteed in this

country, unlike the U.S. – how will we decide which ones make the cut?

Is railing against obesity acceptable?

How about promoting atheism?

Is a poster labelling a cigarette a “stupid stick” exposing me, an avid chain-smoker, to contempt? Right now, those opinions are acceptable, but there’s that old cliché about the slippery slope.

Of course, you don’t have to side with me. To paraphrase Ice-T, if we agree on everything, only one of us is thinking.

So if you feel otherwise, send a letter to the editor, or write an opinion piece to the contrary. Go blog about the need for restrictions on speech.

Hey, while I might hate what you have to say, I’ll certainly defend your right to say it.

Student Beat Stephanie Lord It’s easy to scan over mail sent to your UNB Webmail account on a daily basis. With messages from professors, student e-News and spam messages sent every day, it’s easy to miss something. It’s important, however, to take your time, read them and respond to them accordingly.

Some students think the best action to do with most of this mail is to delete it. Often, we delete instead of taking five minutes to read e-mail, reply to surveys or vote in important elections or referendums. If we all took a moment to read and respond, we’d all have a greater say in how UNB is run.

This is not the only roadblock to providing more beneficial services for students. In a recent email exchange with the university registrar, I asked if the Student Union – which is the main governing body for all UNB undergraduates – could acquire enrolment reports for the 20082009 year, as well as the actual number of first year students entering the UNB Fredericton campus.

Due to the drastic shift between

preliminary reports and the final report, which is to be released on Oct. 1, the office has chosen to release no numbers.

If the Student Union doesn’t know how many students that they are governing, or the ages of the students, then how are they supposed to accommodate the shifting demographics of the university?

Without this vital information, it becomes difficult to provide the funding and focus to the appropriate services to fit these students’ needs.

And if students do not provide their own input, it only makes matters worse.

With serious attempts to increase communication between the 2008-09 Student Union and the undergrads of UNB, many methods are being attempted, but your input is drastically needed.

How should groups such as the university administration and the Student Union be publicizing the ways they spend your money? Ways for you to get involved? Or ways to get your thoughts voiced?

Some groups are deciding to take matters into their own hands and not wait on information from another source. I conducted a survey after my election as Student Union VP Students Services last February, which ran a course of 4 months via the student e-newsletter, and was also posted on the student union’s website.

A large amount of the annual

student union fee goes towards the services is offers to students. This survey was focused on receiving comments, concerns and advice with regards to all services funded by the students for the students.

Responses were enlightening for the union, educating us on the services most used at the university, as well as explaining desired locations for events and giving opinions of past successes and failures.

The main problem with the survey was that although it was widely available and accessible for the students to respond, only 319 people gave their input and told us how they want their money spent – over a period of four months.

Information bombardment is an on-going issue, but it is your responsibility to take the time to read your email and pay attention to what is going on around you on campus. What justification do we have complaining if we don’t speak up when given the opportunity?

In the upcoming academic year, try to filter out the useless from the meaningful. Don’t skip the details; instead, think of the importance of the e-mail or survey that is sent to you and how it will impact your time here at UNB. Stephanie Lord is VP Student Services of the UNB Student Union.

Student Beat is a weekly column by UNB’s student leaders examining issues pertinent to students.

It’s time to demand better from the political process Mugwump Tony von Richter

I’m not a big fan of politics.

Don’t take that the wrong way, I’m all for the democratic process and prefer it to another alternative, I’m just not too fond of how politics are played out in the public eye.

All too often, all we hear from candidates is the supposed lack of qualifications that their opponents have for running for public office, rather than what the candidates themselves can bring to the table.

I’m sick of it.

For the most part I’m referring to American politics in which seemingly more time is spent trying to tear down the opposition and catch them in some type of scandal than explaining what a candidate can do for the public.

Now I’m by no means a political expert, but how much benefit is there from tearing down your opponent? Candidates should

spend time talking about the issues and comparing their respective stances, not making themselves look petty by taking potshots at the competition.

In fact, US Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama just expressed a similar sentiment when discussing comments made about him by his opponent John McCain.

In the Sept. 6 issue of The Huffington Post, Obama was quoted as saying “when you start just focusing exclusively on trying to tear the other person down instead of what you are going to do on behalf of the American people to deal with this economy … then that’s not serving Democrats, that’s not serving Republicans, that’s not serving anybody.”

Hopefully Obama’s sentiments will begin to be echoed by many others, as it would be nice to get away from the traditional mudslinging, gotcha-style campaigns that have been run in recent years.

Like I mentioned above, this negative style of campaigning has typically characterized American politics, however with a federal election of our own in the near

future there’s the possibility that these types of ads could be headed our way soon.

Based on the ads that the Conservative party are now running it seems like the party’s campaign will focus on Steven Harper and focus either on the issues or by making him a likeable, relatable figure.

Whether or not you agree with Harper and the Conservative party’s stance or how they’ve been running the country, I think that they have found a near perfect tone for their ads.

They manage to discuss the issues or highlight the personality of their leader without compromising the integrity of the message by making disparaging remarks about their competition.

I started off this column by writing that I don’t like politics and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

It’s unfortunate that politicians are respected so little, but hopefully by focusing more on issues and less on disparaging their opponents politicians can begin to regain the respect of their constituents.

Tony von Ritchter is the managing editor of The Brunswickan.

Bruns Editorial Board 08-09

Andrew Meade and a timer / The Brunswickan

Because there wasn’t enough room in issue 1, from left to right: Dave Evans, Dan Hagerman, Sarah Ratchford, Mitchell Bernard, Josh O’Kane, Doug Estey, Christian Hapgood, Andrew Meade, Tony von Richter and ad sales representative Bill Traer.

Not quite “Top” the brunswickan.

V notch Q :

brunswickanopinion

Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142 • A9

iewpoint

uestion

Sarah Ratchford The Brunswickan

It’s a good thing for the Hilltop Grill and Beverage Co. that I am a news editor and not a restaurant critic, because my last experience there was the most revolting and disappointing experience I have ever had in a place of its kind.

The inadequacy started at the beginning of the meal. It was 5 o’clock – cocktail hour. Since I was in a “Beverage Co.”, it seemed only natural to order my favourite cocktail: a cosmopolitan. For those of you who may not be familiar with cosmos, they are martinis made up of primarily vodka, with a splash of Cointreau and cranberry juice.

You can understand my state of surprise, then, at the fact that my cosmo contained absolutely no liquor.

Supposing that it was an innocent mistake that my martini had turned into a nine dollar glass of cranberry juice, I asked our server to take it back to the bar and return with a properly made one.

Being in a dining establishment with a relatively solid reputation, I expected quick service, an apology, and a properly made drink returned to me within a minute or two.

What actually happened was quite the opposite of this. I waited for about ten minutes while the bartender, who was the apparent supervisor for the evening, proceeded to argue with our waitress.

He insisted that he had poured

a full ounce into the drink, and it was sent back to me exactly the same.

This is not the way I expect to be treated in a restaurant.

By this point, I simply wanted the drink out of my sight. Fed up, I sent it back and ordered a glass of wine.

All of this, however, was a mere annoyance compared with what happened next.

I have been a strict vegetarian for about six years now. Following a vegetarian diet when going out to eat can be quite difficult due to exceedingly decreased options, but I usually make do. This particular night, I ordered a vegetarian quesadilla.

It was repeated back to me that the quesadilla would be totally vegetarian.

After eating about a quarter of my dinner, I noticed something both shocking and appalling on my plate: a tiny shred of chicken.

Due to the incredibly lackadaisical attitude held by the Hilltop when preparing food, my veggie quesadilla was fully tainted by chicken bits.

My boyfriend and his parents spent the rest of their time at the restaurant waiting for me to throw up my dinner.

It cost them $70. The “food service professionals” didn’t have enough sense to comp the meal after the whole fiasco.

While the establishment may have been decent in my parents’ day, the quality of service has simply not stood up to the test of time. In my opinion, any prior value it may have had has simply been exhausted.

My experience with the Hilltop’s service was absolutely abysmal. The staff I dealt with were careless and negligent with food preparation.

They need to know that food isn’t a minor issue.

What are you looking forward to most about summer?

“I think its great.”

Peter Veniot

“They must be building a police station up the hill.”

Troy Michaud

“It’s a parade!”

Beth Giesbrecht

“It’s a very social experience.”

Lila Rhinelander

“It’s great, except for this one redhead with huge shoulders.”

Thor Jensen

“There must be a Tim Hortons nearby that I don’t know about.”

Evan Holder

“It was scary until we painted our walls a soothing merlot red.”

Jens Ourom

“People drive too fast, but it’s beautiful.”

Katie O’Shea

“Its bad rep is overblown.”

Pat Murphy

“I don’t like all the broken beer bottles on the ground.”

Scoops

“It has the essence of a community.”

Christo Aivalis

“It’s pretty chill.”

Colin Filliter

A10 • Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142

Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142 • A11

brunswickanclassifieds bruns-ad@unb.ca

FOR SALE A Digital SLR Canon Rebel Package. The Camera is in perfect working condition and has no problem at all. The resolution is 6.5MP and the camera body comes with: Sigma lens 18-50mm, ultraviolet lens filter, new carrying case (value of $90), two batteries, one is new (value of $80), battery charger, 1 GB memory card, USB card reader, original manual and CD with software for professional photography for $430.

Internal hard drive in perfect working condition 151GB for $40. Sony DVD Read/Writer internal drive in perfect working condition for $20.

RAM DDR 512, perfect for boosting up your Pentium 4 computer for $10. Compaq 19” CRT monitor in mint condition $25. Please e-mail: s87w1@unb.ca.

Double bed complete - very clean and in excellent condition $150.

Single bed complete-Rock maple, four poster headboard and footboard. Excellent condition $125.

Two adult bikes 14” - 18 speed $85 ea. Two wooden dressers - brown four drawer and three drawer $30 & $40. Student desk with drawers on both sides. Black swivel computer chair with arms $35, three seater sofa $85, two end tables $15 ea.

Phone 455-6450 Leave msg.

I need these electronics vcrs ,camcorders,scooters older ones. Email: gordon.knight@live.ca.

heat/light, lots of hot water, cable TV, telephone. For quiet, mature individual only. Available late September $400 per month. E-mail: himmys@nbet.nb.ca for more information.

PSAs Photography courses for both digital and film cameras, starting the week of September 15th to the 18th. Both beginners and advance courses offered. For more information phone 454-3681. Please leave a message if necessary.

Argentine tango: Find a partner, join our friendly group and enjoy this enchanting dance. If you’ve never done it we’ll show you how! Student discounts available.

For information on our program and lessons. Visit www.ouitango. ca or call James Whitehead at 4572199.

The Unitarian Fellowship www. uff.ca. 874 York St Fredericton Sundays at 11:00 a.m. – Fair Trade coffee served, all welcome! September 7—Ingathering and Water Ceremony Service, with corn boil and congregational pot luck afterwards.

Please bring a bit of water from a special place or memory. September 14—I Wish Lao-Tzu Hadn’t Said That. Presenter and service

Furnished bedroom. Sharing large kitchen, bath and laundry with two others. $275 per month, power and heat included. Near universities. Mature, non-smoking student wanted. Call 459-0002.

Two bedroom apt. available on Reid Street, in a quiet residential area, lovely backyard/deck, fuve min. walk to UNB/STU campus.

Lease term is negotiable. Rent includes all utilities (heat, electricity, hot water). Non-coin operated washer and dryer on site. Call 4550263 for further details, leave message.

Fabulous, well-furnished room with a two huge windows and a ceiling fan for rent. Located downtown between UNB and the Legislature. High speed wireless internet,

Photo Fredericton, a group of amateur photographers, meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from September to May. We meet in room GC 127, Gillin Hall, Windsor Street, UNB at 7:00 p.m. for socializing and 7:30 p.m.

for the meeting. Our first meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 9th. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call 470-8409.

Fall Non-Credit Courses at UNB. This fall, do something for yourself. Consider one of the many fun, educational and creative noncredit courses offered at UNB’s College of Extended Learning.

We have beginner and intermediate classes in photography, languages, observational drawing, and water colour painting. If you’re interested in learning a new craft, we also have classes in jewelry-making, as well as quilting and knitting. And last but not least, if you’re about to become a new parent, you may be interested in our popular Welcome Baby course. Whatever your interests, we have a course for you.

To learn about all our courses, please call 452-6360 or visit our website at www.cel.unb.ca/pce.

Register now by calling 453-4646.

Fredericton Choral Society begins rehearsals Tuesday, September 9, 7:30 p.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Smythe Street. Interested singers are invited to join us in preparing for two fall concerts, St. Cecelias’s in November and Messiah in early December. Please call 454-1139 for more information.

TANNING SPECIALS

FOR RENT Room to rent: serious male student-furnished bedroom, separate kitchen, bath, laundry and entrance. Utilities included. Cable and internet available. Five minute walk to UNB. Two rooms available immediately on Kitchen St. Phone 455-1979 or 451-2979.

leader, Rev. Raymond Drennan.

“A good Baptist minister friend of mine once preached a series of sermons titled, I wish Jesus hadn’t said that. It almost got him drummed out of his Church. Most days I have a similar love-hate relationship with words that come from the Tao Te Ching. They challenge me so let’s be challenged together. September 21—Rev. Mac Campbell: Finding a Compass in the Middle of a Whirlwind. Most would agree that life is a journey, both geographically (in many cases) and, more importantly, spiritually. There is less agreement about just how we chart a course for this journey. As Rev. Mac Campbell begins his four month “pilot project” with us as part-time Affiliate Minister, he will explore the ways we use to get and keep our bearings on our life journey. He will also look at some of the possibilities for the time he will be sharing with us. September 28—Spiritual Journeys II. Three members of the congregation will share their response to the question: “How did I wind up at tUFF?”

3 LOCATIONS 530 Queen St. 458-9771 1113 Regent St. 454-8267 154 Main St. 472-5048

TWO FREE TANS

20% OFF 09/31/08

brunswickansports

Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142 • A12

sports@thebruns.ca

Men’s soccer 2-0 in weekend play Reds look to continue winning ways in this weekend’s home opener

V-Reds Results Sunday, August 31st Women’s Soccer UNB – 1 Concordia – 2 Men’s Soccer UNB - 0 Concordia - 0

Mitchell Bernard

Saturday, September 6th

The Brunswickan

Womens’s Soccer UNB – 0 MUN – 2

The UNB Varsity Reds men’s soccer team started the 2008 season on the right foot as they defeated Memorial University twice this past weekend.

On Saturday, the Reds started the season with a 2-1 victory in Newfoundland against Memorial. Jason Bessey, a rookie striker from Goose Bay, notched the first goal for the Reds.

Fredericton native Eric Karosan added a goal as well to give the Reds the victory.

In the second game of their weekend trip, the Reds stomped MUN 3-0. Galen Smith of Fredericton had two goals en route to their second win of the season.

Miles Pinsent, head coach of UNB, was pleased with his team’s play.

“Road trips to Newfoundland are never an easy one,” said Pinsent.

“The Newfoundland team are tough opponents. It’s difficult to play a team and then to play them again 24 hours later.”

The victories will boost the confidence of the Reds squad, as they hope to vie for the title.

“This weekend was important.

Obviously, you want those first games under your belt as a coach.

You’ll have more information as to where you’re at as a team, what

Men’s Soccer UNB - 2 MUN - 1 Sunday, September 7th Women’s Soccer UNB – 1 MUN – 3 Men’s Soccer UNB – 3 MUN – 0

Upcominig V-Reds Events Saturday, September 13th Women’s Soccer DAL @ UNB 1:00pm @ Chapman Field

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

UNB’s Michael O’Brecht plays a ball against a Memorial defender last season. The Varsity Reds dominated the Seahawks on the weekend with 2-1 and 3-0 victories in Newfoundland. Galen Smith added two goals in the second match, en route to an athlete of the week worthy performance. areas are well, and what you need working on. For the upcoming in November. We’re going to have early on in the season. Game time to work on. It’s was a good gauge games, we are going to play our to step up our game and be better is set for 3:15 p.m. at Chapman as to where we are at as a team,” style, which is not an easy thing this week than last.”

Field. to do early in the season,” said said Pinsent.

On Saturday, UNB will play host The second game of the weekend UNB will look to keep the ball Pinsent. to Dalhousie in their home opener will be against Saint Mary’s. The Pinsent added, “This weekend at Chapman Field. Dalhousie Huskies finished second in league rolling as they host to AUS rivals we’re going to have to play a finished last place in AUS league play last season, before dropping this weekend. completely different style of play last season. The game will be a 2-0 decision to Cape Breton “This past weekend we were game.

We have some very tough a great opportunity for the Reds in last year’s league finals. Kickable to get over the first game opponents and each of them is a to continue their winning ways off is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. at jitters, settle down, and try and contender for the championship stick to the system that we are and stay at the top of the standings Chapman Field.

University sports are becoming a main ticket Balls to the wall Mitchell Bernard It’s Sunday evening and I’m sitting in my office at the Brunswickan.

The people in the office are scurrying as we prepare to layout the upcoming issue. Editors are chatting and moving about, figuring out how the issue that you are now holding will look.

I have a problem on my hands.

The influx of students has brought up numerous issues for the news section to cover. Meanwhile, our arts department is preparing to cover the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival.

But as Sports Editor, I’m at a loss.

There hasn’t been much at all this week. I’m frantically scanning the Internet, searching for an issue to state my opinion on.

Unfortunately, the sports world has been quiet as of late.

The soccer teams were on the long haul this weekend at Memorial University, so I had no soccer to watch. I had plans to catch the UNB Baseball team play their home opener, but rain put a halt to those festivities.

Hence, I’m stuck. I sit here, pondering about what I could possibly write about. Suddenly, my mind begins to wander and I start to think back on all the V-Red games I have attended in the past.

Being from Prince Edward Island, I haven’t been exposed to too much. The top volleyball to watch in my district was, well, the team I played on. Our soccer programs were non-existent on the western portion of the island.

And basketball? I often forget that our high school even offered a basketball program.

When I first arrived at UNB, my

friend asked me to go check out a V-Reds hockey game with him.

This was my first week at UNB and I really wanted to check out some of the games because I had heard so much about our school’s sports program.

My friend’s relative was an assistant captain for U de M, and he just wanted to stop by and say hello. I thought it wouldn’t be harmful to go check out a game with him.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve watched quality hockey before in person, but nothing like I experienced that first game. When I first walked into the Aitken Centre, I was in awe.

The smell of the ice, players yelling for the pass, and the sound of solid body checks filled the arena.

What caught me off guard was that there was nobody there. My friend and I could literally choose any seat we wanted.

I remembered sitting right behind the U de M bench, watching the Reds play. They were so fast, so big, and so talented. I didn’t know the quality of hockey was so good.

I returned back to my residence room, picked up the phone and called my father. I literally talked his ear off for an hour telling him about the how good university hockey was.

As the year went on I discovered more and more sports offered here at UNB. Later on the in the year I watched my first men’s volleyball match-up.

The level of volleyball was above my standards as I watched every M.V.P. I’ve ever played against jump about the court.

Next, I caught the rugby finals with the UNB Ironmen. Again, I couldn’t believe it. Their passes were so crisp, the tackles so hard, and they looked like they had been playing together for years rather than months.

I guess the message of this is that the quality of university sports should not be misjudged.

Sure, coming out of high school

you think that all the amateur teams are a waste of your time. But let me tell you, you’ll probably be shocked if you go check out one of the games.

At UNB, we have hockey players moving on to N.H.L. training camps, soccer players playing in semi-professional leagues in the off-season, and volleyball players attending Team Canada camps.

The level of play has increased over the years, and I don’t see anything stopping in the near future. University sport in Atlantic Canada continues to grow to a point where recruitment is becoming easy. More often, players from the large metropolitan areas are drawn in to the smaller cities of the East Coast by the competitive play and vast opportunities that wait.

Do yourself a favor and check out some of the teams this fall.

Watch the baseball squad next time they are at Royals Field, check out the soccer teams in their home opener this weekend, and be on the lookout for the UNB Hockey Fall Classic up at the Aitken Centre next weekend.

You never know, you might like it so much that you’ll one day be sitting in my chair, writing about how much you were blown away.

Mitchell Bernard is the Sports Editor of the Brunswickan.

Men’s Soccer DAL @ UNB 3:15pm Chapman Field Sunday, September 14th Women’s Soccer SMU @ UNB 1:00pm @ Chapman Field Mens’s Soccer SMU @ UNB 3:15pm @ Chapman Field

Athlete of the Week

Rough start

#20 Galen Smith

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

UNB drop two matches to Memorial this past weekend

Sports Department The Brunswickan

It was a tough week for the UNB Varsity Reds women’s soccer team.

The Reds dropped an exhibition game against Concordia and then followed by losing their first two regular season match-ups at Memorial this past weekend.

In the exhibition match against Concordia, UNB put up a strong effort against the university from Montreal, but it proved to be not

enough as the Reds lost 2-1.

Gina Brown scored the lone goal for the Reds. Andrea Davidson and Gilli Burgess each notched a goal for Concordia.

This past weekend didn’t provide any better results for the Reds. They dropped 2-0 and 3-1 decisions to Memorial University, a 2007 AUS quarterfinalist.

The Reds hope to turn their season around early as they prepare for their home opener this Saturday against Dalhousie. It will be a good test for the Reds as Dalhousie were the 2007 AUS runner-up. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. at Chapman Field.

On Sunday, the Reds will play host to Saint Mary’s. UNB lost their only game against the Huskies last year 1-0. SMU finished fourth in league play last year. Game time is at 1 p.m., Chapman Field.

the brunswickan.

Come out to our weekly staff meetings.

Every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. SUB, Room 35 Questions? Email: eic@unb.ca

Men’s Soccer 2nd Year Striker Fredericton, NB Bachelor of Education

Galen Smith of the men’s soccer team is UNB’s first athlete of the week of the 2008-09 season as the Varsity Reds picked up a couple of wins in Newfoundland this past weekend.

The 6’8” Fredericton native played a key role in both of these season opening league matches as he set up two goals in Saturday’s game and scored two of three goals in Sunday’s 3-0 win.

“Galen played a huge role in our two victories. His hard work over the weekend made it difficult for the Seahawks defenders and ultimately led to our scoring chances,” commented head coach Miles Pinsent.

brunswickansports

Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142 • A13

So you think you can dance?

Auditions for UNB Dance set to go this weekend at the Lady Beaverbrook Gym

Mitchell Bernard The Brunswickan

A call for all dancers at UNB is out as students begin to prepare to audition for the second year of the UNB Dance group.

The group, which began in the fall of last school year, has progressed quickly. Beginning as an opportunity for trained dancers to improve their skills while at university, the group has flourished as they continue to grow. Now, they are set to kick off another year in the studio.

President Miranda Bailey is pleased with what the group has been able to offer thus far.

“A lot of people find that after you graduate high school and you go to university, there is nothing,” said Bailey. “That’s what I found, and it was really annoying because after high school, I came here and there was nothing. It was

all beginner level but there was nothing advanced. So that’s kind of why we started.”

Last year, the group of 15 was able to perform at a number of shows. Most notably, the dancers performed at Dance 2008 in Saint John, and at the Red and Black Revue held at the Playhouse last winter.

“It took us awhile to get around, get choreography, get together, and stuff like that. We really didn’t get things going until last semester. We are hoping to do a lot more performances this year,” said Bailey.

Not only does the group want to do more shows, but they also want to include more members. This year, they plan on adding an extra member to allow 16 in the group.

Hoping to allow more in the future, the dance studio doesn’t accommodate for many more, making it difficult to increase the numbers in the group.

For those students wishing to join the dance group this year, they will have their opportunity this weekend at auditions in the Lady Beaverbrook Gym. Like any other audition, dancers are given a few minutes to shine and impress the selection panel.

“We are going to keep the auditions about the same as what we did last year. People come in and we give them numbers. I have

a couple pieces of choreography set out, usually a hip-hop or upbeat one, or a lyrical or contemporary piece. I’ll give it to them so they don’t do their own, so that I can see how they can pick up the material and how much technique they actually have,” said Bailey.

For Bailey, watching the dance group grow from year to year is rewarding enough, knowing that dancers now have the opportunity to grow while they attend university.

“It’s really exciting. Last year, at the end, it was really nice because it’s nice to see people that do the same thing you do. My first three years at UNB I was really missing that. At the end of the year, you really grow as a group and we’re all really good friends,” said Bailey.

For those students who do not have formal training, there are still opportunities for you. Besides running the UNB Dance group, Bailey is also the instructor for a number of classes here at UNB. Offered every Monday evening, students have the opportunity to sign up for either the everpopular hip-hop class, or the new introductory jazz class. No experience is required for either of the classes.

“One thing that’s really good about here is that the dance studio offers a lot of classes. They are mostly beginner level or you can

the brunswickan.

Sports Department meetings, Friday 10 - 11 a.m.

Want to join? Stop on by!

Student Union Building, Room 35 sports@thebruns.ca

Submitted

Members of UNB Dance practice as they prepare for an upcoming performance. get intermediate. Usually the first classes are free for everyone, which is great because it gives people a chance to check them out and see which ones they like or which ones are good. The hip-hop class usually fills up really quickly. I usually take about 30 students in that,” said Bailey.

For new students on campus, auditioning for the UNB Dance group or signing up for one of the instructional classes is a great opportunity to make new friends, and to keep active.

“It’s a really good way to meet people, especially if you’ve done it before. Everyone in the dance

group has danced before, so it’s something you don’t have to give up anymore. You can continue it.”

UNB Dance will be holding auditions this Saturday in the Lady Beaverbrook Gym dance studio from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact dance@ unb.ca.

brunswickansports

A14 • Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142

Is the UFC about to reach its peak?

View from the Sidelines Tony von Richter

Over the past few years, one of the most interesting developments in the sports world has been watching the rise of mixed martial arts, most prominently giving rise to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

As much as the sport has grown over the past few years it’s been only recently that it’s garnered respect from the mainstream media, with networks like Rogers Sportsnet and TSN broadcasting results of the fights, and CBS going so far as to actually show bouts from the EliteXC promotion.

Right now the UFC (and MMA in general) is more popular than ever with sold out events doing huge numbers on pay-per-view and making men like Chuck Lidell and Georges St. Pierre into household names.

And thanks to a recent announcement by UFC President Dana White, MMA’s flagship promotion could be headed toward its biggest fight ever.

On November 15, Randy Couture, one of the most popular fighters in UFC history, will make his return to the promotion, defending his Heavyweight title against MMA newcomer and former WWE Champion Brock Lesnar.

There is already a fair amount of discussion surrounding the bout (mostly based on Lesnar’s inexperience and the feeling that he doesn’t yet deserve a title shot), which will only intensify as the fight approaches.

With mainstream media finally taking the sport seriously, and the possibility of the Lesnar-Couture match breaking all previous records, the UFC seems poised to continue its upward momentum

and continue to grow with no end in sight.

Unfortunately for fight fans , I believe that the UFC is about to reach a peak in its popularity and while it will remain a popular sport for years to come, it will take some time to once again reach the heights that Lesnar vs. Couture will bring.

Although it won’t please fans to hear it, MMA is the 2008 version of pro wrestling.

I’ve probably angered quite a few of you by now, but I just need a minute to explain myself.

Back in 1998 wresting was one of the hottest things around, with tens of millions of people watching each week and doing huge numbers on pay-per-view each month.

Then, to satisfy the demand of the fans (and networks who wanted a piece of the suddenly lucrative pie), companies began adding more and more shows which caused the product to suffer and become overexposed. This led to fans leaving in droves and the fad of pro wrestling came to an end.

This is the same cycle that MMA is stuck in.

While UFC is clearly the dominant promotion right now it seems like another promotion pops up everyday and eventually shows from Affliction, EliteXC, and Strikeforce will take their toll and over saturate the market, which will lead to the buzz around the sport falling away.

Don’t get me wrong, MMA is here to stay, it will be seen as a legitimate sport from now on and it will continue to be very popular.

It just won’t be as popular as it is currently.

Of course, I could be completely wrong and MMA will continue to grow to unprecedented heights.

Unfortunately I think that a large percentage of MMA fans will depart once the sport is no longer the exciting new thing.

Tony von Richter is a former Sports Editor of The Brunswickan and is the current Sports Bureau Chief for Canadian University Press. Email him at managing@unb.ca.

Calling all the shots Brandon MacNeil The Brunswickan

Another 16-0 season by the Patriots? Probably not. Brett Favre coming out of retirement and leading the Jets to the Superbowl?

Probably not. Shawne Merriman or Peyton Manning stay healthy all season? Probably not. The Miami Dolphins having another 1-15 season? Haha. Probably. Here’s how I see the 2008 NFL season unfold.

I’ll start with the NFC east.

Superbowl champions the New York Giants will have a tough time winning the division over the Cowboys. Dallas finished first in the NFC last season and is looking to do the same this year.

Look for them to win the division with relative ease. The defending champs will be in the spotlight this year to see if they’re suffering from the Superbowl hangover. With Michael Strahan retiring and Osi Umenyiora out for the season, the Giants defense will not quite be the same. They will be contending for a wildcard slot, come playoffs.

The Washington Redskins, who squeaked into the playoffs last season, won’t have the same luck this season. The ‘Skins, along with the Philadelphia Eagles, will fall just short of the playoffs.

The big question around the NFC north is whether or not Aaron Rodgers will be able to follow in Favre’s footsteps. The Packers are a good club and have 20 of 22 starters returning. As long as Rodgers can have a respectable season, the Pack will be in contention for a repeat as division champs. The Minnesota Vikings will be in contention as well for the division title. Whichever team prevails, the other shouldn’t have a problem making the wildcard.

There have been rumblings of the Detroit Lions making the playoffs this year. Unlikely, but there’s always a team or two that catch you by surprise. As for Daaaa bears, look for them to finish similar to last year - out of contention.

Mike Holmgren and his Seattle Seahawks will easily win the NFC west (who else is even in this division?). The Arizona Cardinals

added some skill over the offseason, however not nearly enough.

The St. Louis Rams and San’ Fran’ 49’ers both had rough campaigns last year, and are both going to have another long, losing season.

In the fourth and final division, the Buccaneers, much like the Seahawks, will easily win their division. Tampa will probably win the division with a 10-6 record,

Internet

but nothing better. The Atlanta Falcons had a horrible season on and off the field last year. Not much will change in ’08, Falcons will finish last in the division.

Carolina and New Orleans both had disappointing seasons in 2007. The Panthers have wildcard potential; however team chemistry may be in question after a few preseason conflicts. Finally, look for Jeremy Shockey to be a non-factor in New Orleans. He’ll be way to busy partying on Bourbon Street to worry about his new club.

Over to the AFC now. The East division features the best and worst teams from the AFC last year. New England will not repeat their 16-0

Running for a cause Chris Ryder

The Brunswickan

Recently, I heard a message on the radio about the Terry Fox Run. Honestly, I can say that I haven’t gone to the run nearly as often as I should have, not to mention the fact that I haven’t actually ran anywhere in a while. Being a student and a part-time worker has left me with a lot of things to do, and most of them do not require running.

However, I recalled from one of my high school days learning about who Terry Fox was. Harvey High School has a very high emphasis on their run; each year I have learned something different.

Terry Fox was born on July 28, 1958 in Winnipeg. He wanted to be a Physical Education teacher and enrolled in Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. He was just one person of many who was suddenly diagnosed with cancer and doctors had to amputate his leg.

While in the hospital treating his cancer, he was motivated by the suffering of other cancer patients and decided to run across Canada to raise awareness and money. He was just one person touched by cancer and he set a humble goal, attempting to raise one dollar per student. Starting in Newfoundland, he dipped his leg into the Atlantic Ocean and began to run across Canada. His goal per day was 26 miles.

It was an uphill battle. His run was not publicized very well from Newfoundland to New Brunswick, and it was not until the provinces of Quebec and Ontario that his

message really spread.

After running for 143 days Terry was forced to stop outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario on September 1, 1980. The cancer had spread to his lungs. On June 28, 1981 Terry Fox passed away.

He was only 22 years old. Each year since, during the month of September, there is a run in honor of Terry to raise money for the Marathon of Hope, which is what Terry called his journey.

Like many other cities in Canada, Fredericton does their part to raise awareness. Hundreds of people come out each year to show their support for the cause.

Will Dickeson is a volunteer member of the Fredericton Terry Fox committee. He believes that there is something for everyone at the charity events.

“Each year we try very hard to

make sure it’s a good family friendly event,” said Dickeson. “This year, the thing we’re most proud about is we have a graduate of the UNB Nursing Faculty, Krista Wilkins, who will be speaking before the event, and she’s a cancer survivor.”

Dickeson added, “Historically over the years, there has always been a tremendous amount of participation from students. Simply coming to the event means a lot to us. If students wish to do so, it’s very easy to register online at their Terry Fox Foundation website and gather pledges.”

Over the years, the Terry Fox Foundation has played a vital role in the support of cancer research.

With over 400 million raised worldwide in Fox’s name, the numbers still continue to grow annually.

“We comparison shop when

season. They may, however, finish 15-1, or 14-2. It won’t surprise me to see them going deep into the playoffs and probably back to the Superbowl. Expect an even larger bandwagon fan base than last year, come January (is that possible?).

The Miami Dolphins will finish last in the division again – no surprises there. The Buffalo/Toronto Bills will gain a lot of media attention in

we want to buy cars and garbage bags. I don’t know if people do it for charities, but this is certainly one that would withstand any amount of scrutiny. It’s literally an industry leader in terms of having a charitable run, and also in terms of its efficiency. 87 cents of every dollar donated to the Terry Fox Foundation is put into cancer research.”

Attendance swelled during the 25th anniversary of the event, and has Fredericton has retained that amount since. Last year, there were approximately 500 participants.

Participants of every age are encouraged to attend the run, which will be held on September 14. Registration starts at 1 p.m. at the Small Craft Aquatic Center.

The run will begin at 2 p.m. For more information, visit www. terryfox.org.

Christian Hapgood / The Brunswickan

Canada this season. They’ll make a run for the playoffs, but finish just shy.

Now, we have Brett Favre making his New York Jets debut. Everyone is hailing his veteran leadership, and how he’ll singlehandedly turn

this team around. Favre will have an average season, but don’t expect much. The Jets will finish 8-8, no playoffs.

The fans in the Dog Pound have reason to cheer even louder this year. Cleveland will give the Steelers a strong challenge for division championship in the AFC north.

Finishing second in this division will put you on the bubble for a wildcard position. The Ravens will be a non-factor, as they have been in recent years. Who better to round out the division than Chad “Ocho Cinco,” the man formerly known as Chad Johnson? Look for him to only cause distractions, as always.

Bengals win six or less.

Early in the summer, you could have placed the San Diego Chargers in first place by a long shot in the AFC west. Lately though, the injury bug seems to have bitten the team. At the same time, I just can’t see Denver, Oakland, or Kansas City challenging them for top spot. Chargers will fight their way to division title, maybe with a few more losses than they’re used to.

I saved the strongest division in the league for last. Last year, every team in the AFC south finished .500 or above, which is a rare feat.

This year, however, the Colts won’t have as easy a path toward division champs. Jacksonville is making statements and should challenge the Colts down the stretch. My boys from Tennessee should finish with the same 10-6 record as last year, but still placing them third in the division. Vince Young, however, still needs to improve his miserable passing game for his team to have a shot. Along with the Jaguars and Browns, the Titans will be contending for the two wildcards.

Houston will continue to impress, but someone has to finish last in the division.

brunswickansports

One-on-one with...

David Andreychuck

Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142 • A15

Gold medals at the Olympics don’t make strong countries

Heather Ambery Jordan Hartshorn The Sheaf

Sport: Men’s Soccer Yr: 1

Sport: Women’s Soccer Yr: 1

Why did you choose UNB? I chose UNB because of the reputation and history of the soccer team, and the history of the university itself.

What’s your favourite sport other than the one you currently play?

Basketball

What is your desired profession?

To be a professional sports agent.

What are your pre-game rituals?

I listen to fast music to get more pumped up before a game. If I’m nervous, I listen to classical type music to calm down.

What’s the one thing you can’t go on the road without?

Ipod, cell phone, and water.

What’s your ring-tone on your cell?

Lupe Fiasco – hip-hop saved my life

What’s your most embarrassing moment?

Shooting an air ball on a free throw in basketball.

Who was your childhood idol?

My brother, Tim. What is your pet peeve?

When people make excuses and when people pick the best stuff out of trail mix.

What’s is your personal goal this year?

To start and to score a header goal.

SASKATOON (CUP) – Every four years Canadians recycle a cliché, comic formula to illustrate their country’s sour performance at the Summer Olympics.

“Wow, Canada’s doing horrible.

Even [insert odd sounding, littleknown nation] has more medals than us!”

Someone always chuckles.

Azerbaijan just sounds so funny.

Sadly, this is our reality. Going into the Games, we always trick ourselves into believing that a horde of gold is ours for the plunder. Canadians are stunned when tiny Eastern Bloc countries witness their athletes stepping to the podium at a faster rate than ours. The Summer Games have never been something the maple leaf can strut about.

Canada’s highest total tally of medals in the summer Olympiad came in 1984 at the Los Angeles Games when it collected 44.

Considering the Soviet Union’s boycott of those Games, at the time an Olympic powerhouse, the legitimate Canadian benchmark is the 22 earned in 1996 in Atlanta. That’s not exactly a feat to flaunt.

But hey, let me bring you in on a little secret: it’s not a big deal.

Wearing your nation’s colours at international events is no occasion to cast in cynicism, but the same cannot be said about the medal tally. Whether a country finishes at the top of the medal standings or at the bottom is utterly irrelevant. There isn’t a billion dollar surplus waiting for the victors.

Countries have mistaken Olympic greatness as synonymous with the character of their country for decades. The USSR and East Germany pumped funds and steroids into their athletic development during the Cold War to show the power of Communism.

Sure, they would remain at the top of the medal standings for that time, but the gold, silver, and bronze could neither hold up the Berlin Wall nor prevent the Soviet Union from crumbling in 1991.

Nazi Germany sat on top of the 1936 Games, yet history does not care for the Third Reich’s supremacy.

Don’t count democracies out either. Americans swell with pride whenever their good ol’ boys and girls are the victors. America – the world’s leading exporter of hope, freedom, and liberty – would suffer from wounded pride if its success ran dry at the Games.

This time it was China’s turn.

The Communist giant is so desperate to improve its image on the world stage that it forces athletes into certain sports at a young age depending on body type – not to mention allegedly using a 13-yearold gymnast to win an event.

A successful China is a powerful China. Chinese airwaves blasted their success at having “won” the games (via the highest gold medal tally), but the lasting images of these Games will not be China’s bounty of gold. Smog might restrict the vision and those human right’s violations will forever linger.

This victory the Chinese are trumpeting doesn’t exactly evoke images of the Greek gods, either.

As reported by Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports, in preparing for these Games the Chinese targeted certain sports that would yield the highest amount of medals.

For example, why focus on a team sport such as basketball where only two medals are possible

Flickr Creative Commons

The recent medal count for Canada at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing should not be an indicator of our country’s strength. (men’s and women’s) when one could roll over the competition in lower profile sports such as rifle shooting?

China captured eight golds in weightlifting, seven in diving, and five in shooting. If pummeling the field in shooting clay discs is to be equated to global power, then China can have it. That’s not to say rifle shooting is insignificant, but it really underscores what petty notion declaring an Olympic champion is.

In the end, mass Olympic success will always come down to a large population –something the 33 million Canadians can’t gloat about. Yes, Canada did send roughly 350 athletes, one of the highest contingents at the Games, but it’s all about the pool you can draw from.

The U.S., Russia, and China are three of the most populous countries in the industrialized world and success has followed. If you take 300 athletes from a billion people, there’s a higher potential for stronger athletes.

Canada’s national pastime, hockey, is kind of a hindrance to our other sports because it draws

so many quality athletes away.

That does not imply that Canada is sending substandard athletes, but a good portion of Canada’s athletes will spend their life occupied with hockey. What of Sidney Crosby the gold medal decathlete, or Wayne Gretzky the rifle shooting phenomenon?

Laughable and implausible now, but a strong athlete can excel in any sport if given the appropriate training.

Even if we were to suddenly become a force in the Olympic Games, would we really look at ourselves any differently? The world would not cast envious eyes at the mighty people of the North, the collection of folk who are really, really good at sports. We don’t do the same for the Chinese or the Americans. National characteristics in areas such as foreign relations or domestic competence always shine through.

In the end the Games are a stage for athletic accomplishments that can be appreciated, not used for bragging rights. Kudos should be given to any Canadian Olympian regardless whether they were one of the 18 medalists or not.

A16 • Sept. 10, 2008 • Issue 2 • Volume 142

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