NEWS: VOICES: LIFESTYLE:
WHAT IS SEX WEEK?
ANTI-BLACK RACISM IN HEALTHCARE
DIFFERENT KINDS OF BIRTH CONTROL
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Golden Spatula – Mackenzie Ashcroft Mackenzie
We did it. We’ve made it through the first month of the year. Sometimes we put a bit too much pressure on ourselves in January, and we end up feeling burnt out by the end. So this February, why don’t we take some time to reflect on ourselves and our history? Hopefully, relax a bit too.
It’s Black History Month, and this issue of the Gauntlet highlights fighting anti-Black racism in healthcare, some events taking place organized by the Anti-Black Racism Task Force, and performances to celebrate Black history with UNGANISHAI. Attending some of the events coming up to celebrate Black History Month is a great way to get involved in meaningful reflection and celebration. This month also marks a year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 23. Although there are frequent stories circulating the news year-round regarding the war and
injustices based around race, it’s a good thing to dedicate time to remember what’s going on in our world and what we can do to make it better.
You can also expect some sex education-related activities, such as Sex Week at the University of Calgary goes on from Feb. 13–17.
If it’s your first time on campus for Sex Week, or maybe you’re just curious about the week-long event, you may have some questions. Don’t be shocked to find a human-sized vagina and penis moseying around campus this week. You also may have decided to pick up the Gauntlet because of the somewhat surprising but all-toogorgeous vulva-flower cover — so it should come as no surprise that the Gauntlet talks about sex (baby, let’s talk about sex) in this issue. We’ll cover the basics of Sex Week, different birth control options, an insightful horoscope reading, and share an opinion piece on where
sex education perhaps falls short in Alberta schools. As someone who had few alternatives to finding resources other than conducting my own research into contraceptives, female hormone cycles and sexual education in general, this month I excitedly welcome Sex Week and openness to conversations about these unnecessarily taboo topics. Lastly, the long-awaited winter term reading week is among us. During the break, take some time to rest and reset. January is a tough and draining month. All of the resolutions we’ve tried to uphold might feel impossible to maintain with midterms, assignments, essays and projects looming around every corner. Just remember: it’s okay to take a break. Maybe working out twice a week is more attainable than going to the gym every day. Try reading one non-academic book each month instead of each week, which is better for your sanity with all the assigned readings
piling up on your to-do list. It’s unlikely that reading week will be totally free from homework, but hopefully we’ll all have some time to sit down and relax. Hopefully, we can reevaluate the standards our January selves set for us, and come up with something more realistic.
Take care of yourselves this month — although it’s the shortest month of the year, it can be one of the hardest to get through. The good news? The sun is rising earlier and setting later. The weather is getting warmer. The YYC Hot Chocolate Festival is back again, which I was personally and anxiously waiting for. The Students’ Union general elections are coming up soon, and the end of the term is nearly in sight. Buckle in, U of C. It might be a bumpy road to summer, but we’ll get through it!
— Megan Koch, GauntletEditorial BoardEditor-in-Chief: Sophia Lopez eic@thegauntlet.ca
News Editors: Julieanne Acosta Eula Mengullo news@thegauntlet.ca
Opinions & Humour Editor: Ava Zardynezhad opinions@thegauntlet.ca
Arts & Science Editor: Sheroog Kubur arts@thegauntlet.ca
Sports & Lifestyle Editor: Rodrigo Verney sports@thegauntlet.ca
Voices Editor: Aymen Sherwani voices@thegauntlet.ca
Visuals Editors: Megan Koch Valery Perez visuals@thegauntlet.ca
Layout Editor: Ramiro Bustamante Torres layout@thegauntlet.ca
Volunteer Coordinator: Namratha Badawadagi volunteer@thegauntlet.ca
Online Editor: Masoud Karimi Fatemi online@thegauntlet.ca
Business Manager: Gurman Sahota business@thegauntlet.ca
Contributor: Mackenzie Ashcroft // Nazeefa Ahmed // Dianne Miranda // Sylvia Lopez // Malea Nguyen // Eric Hilbrecht // Charlotte Dover // Mihret Yirgeta // Logan Jaspers // Furor Arma Ministrat Room 319, MacEwan Students’ Centre 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 http://www.thegauntlet.ca
The Gauntlet is the official student newspaper of the University of Calgary, published bi-weekly throughout the year by the Gauntlet Publications Society an autonomous, incorporated body. Membership in the society is open to undergraduate students at the U of C, but all members of the university community are encouraged to contribute. Stories under the Opinions and Voices sections contained herein are those of the individual writers, and do not necessarily represent the views of the entire Gauntlet staff. Editorials are chosen by the majority of the editorial board. The Gauntlet is a forum open to all U of C students but may refuse any submission judged to be racist, sexist, homophobic, libelous, or containing attacks of a strictly personal nature. We reserve the right to edit for brevity. Grievances regarding the Gauntlet follow a three-step process which requires written decisions from the Editor, the GPS Board of Directors, and the Ombudsboard. The complete Grievance Policy is online at: thegauntlet.ca. The Gauntlet offices are located on Treaty 7 land. The Gauntlet is printed on recycled paper and uses an ink made from the drool of watching Pedro Pascal edits on TikTok. We urge you to recycle the Gauntlet by using a bucket and a mop to clean up the mess.
proachable and non-judgemental way,” said Alcantara. “We’re trying to aim to provide a safe space where students can openly discuss and engage on topics surrounding sex and gender.”
The kick-off event on Feb. 13 is a carnival that will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Alcantara noted that there will be a prize for students who come and talk to more than five vendors.
“[The carnival] will feature booths from on-campus and off-campus vendors and counselling support,” said Alcantara.
South Courtyard, we will be having what we’re calling an inclusive Valentine’s Day cards [activity]. People can come in and write one for their friends, loved ones, etc.” said Alcantara.
Julieanne Acosta News EditorEvery year, students at the University of Calgary participate in Sexual and Gender Wellness Week. This year’s Sex Week is happening from Feb. 13 to 17 with the kick-off event starting at 11 a.m. All week students can expect a wide range
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of events revolving around the topic of sex.
In an interview with the Gauntlet, Vice-President of Student Life Adrian Alcantara explained why students can benefit from this week of events.
“It’s really an opportunity for the campus community to explore anything and everything that’s related [to sex] in a non-ap-
“If you talk to five vendors, you’ll get cotton candy. There will be games from different organizations that will be coming including the SU Q Centre, Women’s Resource Centre, the Residents Association involving Sexual Education (RAISE), and Queers on Campus. ”
Alcantara also touched on this year’s lineup of events and what students can look forward to.
“On Valentine’s Day, in the
“On Feb. 15, the SU Q Centre will be hosting a Trans 101 panel,” he continued. “Certain topics will include terminology, respect, and the journey of individuals during transition. [On the same date] RAISE will be doing in that empty space called De-Stigmatizing Sex Work. It’s going to be a bit of an art exhibition.”
Finally, Alcantara notes to students the importance of coming out and learning.
“We really hope that students will come out to all these great events and learn something new. I hope they have lots of questions and can ask and really get to talk to all the different vendors and panelists,” he said.
For a full list of sex week events, visit the SU website.
TheStudents’ Union (SU) and the University of Calgary’s Parking and Transportation Services return with their annual Fines-for-Food program. The program is in support of the SU Campus Food Bank which provides food hampers to the campus community and helps ease food insecurity amongst the student population.
From Feb. 13 to 19, students and anyone with outstanding parking fines can pay their fees to have 55 per cent of the proceeds go toward the Campus Food Bank regardless of when the fines occurred. Payments can be made either online or in-person. More information on how to pay parking fines can be found on the Parking and Transportation services website.
In an interview with the Gauntlet, Vice-President Student Life Adrian Alcantara explains
the partnership between the SU and the campus Parking and Transportation Services.
“This program is a collaboration between the university and the Students’ Union Campus Food Bank in support of the university’s food security initiative and the SU’s commitment towards food security as well,” said Alcantara.
This week-long initiative is es-
pecially important for students intending to graduate this spring as all fines must be paid off prior to graduation.
The program was established in 2021 as part of an initiative to tackle food insecurity among the campus student population. Since then, the initiative has been running annually to help raise funds for the variety of programs that the Campus Food
Bank offers.
Alcantara highlighted that last year they raised over $6,000 for the food bank just through the Fines-for-Food program alone. They intend to surpass these numbers this year.
Alcantara also remarked on the support from the U of C and encourages the campus community to partake in the program.
“The SU really wants to thank UCalgary for working with us and for the support of the SU Campus Food Bank,” said Alcantara. “We also really hope that the campus community will rally behind this chance to support the good work that the SU Food Bank does.”
For anyone wanting to access the SU Campus Food Bank, they can be reached by phone at 403220-8599 or via email at foodbank@ucalgary.ca.
To learn more about the SU Campus Food Bank, their services and programs, visit the Student’s Union’s website.
4 | FEBRUARY 13, 2023 news@thegauntlet.ca BHM»
Anti-Black Racism Task Force hosts several events for Black History Month
Force when it was created in the summer of 2020.
“The Task Force just started as a response to the murders, police brutality and the social reckoning that was happening in 2020,” said Ige. “The faculty originally released a statement but members of the faculty felt that there needed to be more action. They decided to take a stance alongside and in solidarity with the ongoing call for social justice and racial justice that was happening in Canada, the United States and across the world.”
everyone to get together, socialize and celebrate Black joy.”
The Task Force has also partnered with African Canadian Civic Engagement Council (ACCEC) to host, “ANZA Black Youth Entrepreneurs Event” in Edmonton on Feb. 24 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Ige states that the event will be streamed live for viewers in Calgary and beyond.
Nazeefa Ahmed News Assistant
The University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work’s (FSW) Anti-Black Racism Task Force is hosting several events throughout February in honour of Black History Month. The events are a part of a greater plan to develop Black excellence and address systemic racism against Black individuals.
“The FSW formed the Anti-Black Racism Task Force to uphold this commitment, with a mandate of promoting Black excellence and contributions while addressing anti-Black racism in its structures, processes, and practices,” reads a statement in their Action Plan.
In an interview with the Gauntlet, Task Force coordinator and social work student, Victoria Ige, describes the intentions of the Task
Don’t forget to vote!
On Feb. 17 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Task Force will host a dodgeball tournament, “Dodge, Duck, Dip, and Dive” in U of C’s Gold Gym. Ige hopes that the event will create community and introduce a safe space to Black students at the university.
“We want the Task Force to be more visible in the campus community so Black students know they have a group that will support and advocate for them,” said Ige. “So this fun activity is for
“The mentorship program will help young Black people with creating their own businesses. So it’s like a mentorship program. They help them develop a business plan and help them be successful in their chosen area of business,” said Ige. “There will also be a digital storytelling piece that focuses on the history of Black people before colonization. The youth have mentioned that it seems like Black history always starts with slavery, but we know that’s not the whole story.”
In her concluding statements, Ige describes how the Faculty of Social Work allows her to actively celebrate Black History Month
and advocate for change.
“This task force allows me to be part of something that is making a difference and, as social work, I get to advocate for important social issues,” said Ige. “I can ask questions such as, what needs to change? What can be changed? How do we collaborate with people to make real change?
“The month has always been a time of pride for me. I love seeing people learning about what it means to be black and really celebrating it. People are more open and receptive to learning about that history during this month, but really black history should be acknowledged year-round,” Ige continued.
The Task Force hosts virtual cafes throughout the year to encourage discussions about Black history and experiences. Students are invited to attend the next one happening on Feb. 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. called, “Identities in the Black Diaspora of Canada.” Registration information can be found on their website.
During
Things to know:
Students currently pay $115.16 ($57.58 per term).
• Students receive free admission to Dinos games.
• Students contribute about 48% of the Dinos operational budget; the university contributes about 30%.
The university sets the fee, and could raise it by up to 5.5% for next year.
Vote
Preview the question on our website at:
www.su.ucalgary.ca/elections
Miranda Volunteer
The key question surrounding naloxone kits is that, “should you carry naloxone?” The training and the distribution of naloxone has been essential to addressing Canada’s opioid crisis and responding to minimizing fatal overdoses. However, the underutilization of naloxone and the hesitancy of people to carry and use naloxone is often attributed to the lack of education regarding the effects of the drug and the stigma over its possession.
So, what is naloxone?
Naloxone is a drug that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Naloxone works by disabling an opioid’s harmful effects such as restoring breathing within two to five minutes. It is safe for everyone and is harmless as it cannot be improperly used and does not cre-
ate dependence. It is available as a nasal spray that can be sprayed directly into the nose where it is absorbed or as an injectable drug into a muscle, typically the upper arm or thigh. Naloxone kits are available at local pharmacies and walk-in clinics, and at the Student Wellness Centre free of charge.
The systemic importance of carrying a kit
A simple act of carrying naloxone with you can save the life of a friend, loved one or even a complete stranger; the concept is similar to carrying an EpiPen for allergies. This is especially important for many community members with stigmatizing circumstances such as those with substance use disorder, lack of access to care and the unhoused.
Naloxone kits are becoming increasingly available to the general public, and along with this, education on proper use and an increase in advocation for harm re-
duction. Naloxone kit training is also usually deployed with many community-based programs and thus kit training has been essential in improving knowledge surrounding overdose recognition and prevention. Carrying a naloxone kit not only provides a person with the tools and the skills to be able to respond to an opioid overdose, but the cultural change to act.
How to join members of the campus community in being trained on how to use a kit
Naloxone Training is offered at the Student Wellness Centre regularly on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and repeats weekly until April 20, 2023. The training is administered by registered nurse Jennifer Myers and takes only about 15–20 minutes where a take-home naloxone kit will be provided. The process to book training is simple. It can be booked by calling 403-220-9355.
There are also campus programs such as the Upstanders program that promote and spark a type of change through the creation of a widespread culture of harm reduction off and on campus. The program explores safer substance use and mental health awareness among a variety of other areas where harm reduction skills can be developed.
The Liam Project is a harm reduction coalition led by university students that promotes responsibility, accessibility, education, and change within and around issues of harm reduction. Among other initiatives, they have distributed naloxone kits around campus and community events where drug safety is especially important.
Aymen Sherwani Voices Editor
Itmay surprise you to know that in a society built on slavery and colonialism, within which White people were positioned at the top of the hierarchy, that every institution in that society — including healthcare — would be embedded with white supremacy. Shocker. In Canada, anti-Black racism in the context of healthcare is rooted in pre-existing beliefs about Black Canadians that reinforce prejudices and stereotypes towards those of African descent. This, in turn, leads to a lack of equitable access, opportunities, positive outcomes and quality of life for Black people.
“Even though we’re the third largest, quote unquote, visible minority group in Canada, either there was nothing about us in the materials or it was often the wrong information,” said physician and professor, Onye Nnorom, one of the leading voices surrounding the conversation on Anti-Black racism in Canada and one of the founders of the Black Health Education Collaborative (BHEC). “There isn’t a textbook or an online resource
that really speaks to Black population health in a Canadian context and the social factors that impact Black community health and all of the other intersecting factors like culture, and also the lack of racebased data.”
The BHEC is a community of scholars and health practitioners that seek to transform medical and health professional education to improve the health of Black communities across Canada through education and research. Their mission? Addressing anti-Black racism through interlocking and over-
lapping systems of inequality that ultimately also impact health. The organization finds that being Black means that life is “intricately connected” to certain places and spaces of work, worship, recreation and resistance within which there are long histories of which healthcare is not exempt.
It also asserts that anti-Black racism is unique from any other form of racism and discrimination because of its connection to enslavement and the historical methods in which the institution of slavery was justified through the creation
of myths and stereotypes about Black people. Such myths normalized ideas that Black people “were biologically different or subhuman, less intelligent” and “had a greater tolerance for pain” — which in turn led to inhumane experimentation on Black bodies by healthcare practitioners.
For instance, James Marion Sims — often referred to as the father of modern gynaecology and later the president of the American Medical Association — conducted experiments on enslaved Black women without anaesthesia, falling in line with later experiments like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, which sought to determine what would happen if the disease went untreated — ultimately leading to the death of 100 Black men. These incidents were both justified by physicians by the time through the misconception that “Black people did not feel pain” and continue to impact the relationship Black Canadians and Americans have with healthcare with respect to trust and existing prejudices today. For instance, African-American people were found to be 63 per cent less likely to receive pain medication when compared to
their white counterparts in a 2003 study.
There is a common problem of doctors and nurses making broad generalizations about racial and ethnic groups, often relying on patterns of patient behaviour, which in turn leads to patient skepticism.
A Forbes article highlights that some doctors may think that “Black patients won’t comply with my instructions about taking this medicine, or they won’t be able to afford it, so there’s no point in prescribing it,” which in turn creates the idea that “doctors have disrespected my family and me before, and shown from what they say that they don’t know what my life is like, so there’s no point to taking any medicine they give me.”
These hostilities continue to impact the quality of life and healthcare experienced by Black Canadians today. To combat them, the BHEC has created a primer for all healthcare professionals and students in Canada, with modules that include critical information about Black health, so while there are still grave disparities to dismantle, the world seems ready to listen and grow from such a dark history.
nect the histories of Africa.”
The story being told reflects the history of each particular style of dance. It features a multimedia format, using film, theatre and dance as different aspects of the story it’s telling. Each element pays homage to the pan-African tradition of storytelling, relying on the performance aspect over the spoken words. While the show features different mediums, Idowu emphasizes the role of dance in the production.
ating their own rhythm. Hip-hop was directly inspired by traditional African dance styles mixed with contemporary African-American culture, creating a crossroads between the movement of the motherland and the lived experience of African-Americans.
Tyme for the tap and hip-hop styles.
Sheroog Kubur Arts & Science EditorBlack History Month isn’t only about learning Black history, but celebrating it. That’s why UNGANISHA, the multimedia dance and theatre production, is the best way to celebrate the month. It will be returning for its first in-person production in two years. The collective of performances is telling the story of an essential part of
African history — dance. Put on in collaboration with the Black Arts Development Program, UNGANISHA is the perfect way to explore the diasporic roots of beloved performance arts today.
“Unganisha is the Swahili word for connected, one of the most spoken languages in all of Africa,” explained Wunmi Idowu, founder and director of Woezo Africa, the organization behind the show.
“What we’re trying to do is con-
“I have been dancing since the age of three and I have never heard of why or what constructed specific dance styles, like jazz and hip-hop,” she explained. “So I did some research and found that they were the African diaspora trying to preserve their culture.”
The dance styles featured in this year’s iteration of UNGANISHA are hip-hop and tap, both forms of dance born from the African diaspora. Tap was created after percussive instruments were banned for slaves, so they resorted to cre-
“The reason we have the three components is that it’s all part of storytelling, giving the intricate details and cultural origins,” Idowu explained about the different storytelling mediums. “And we love a good story.”
All components feature participation from participants of the Black Arts Development Program, a program designed to foster creativity and artistic spirit for Black youth across Calgary. The most recent iteration was the dance program, featuring five professional dancers teaching their respective styles, including traditional Ivorian dance, afro house and dancehall. UNGANISHA will feature performances choreographed by M’Kayla Kongnetiman and Sho-
“Africa has contributed a lot to society and a lot of people don’t know because of a lack of information,” Idowu said. “Such a production will create a social change in the way people understand Africa.”
Above all, UNGANISHA is a celebration of Blackness, both diasporic and domestic. It doesn’t only look backwards at the history but also at the Black arts community within Calgary. The production is a chance for artists to share their craft — putting the ball back in the court of its creators.
“Having this type of production allows these artists to come forward,” Idowu explained. “The audience can take this information into their communities and share the onus of who created this art form.”
UNGANISHA takes place on Feb. 25 at Contemporary Calgary. Tickets start at $11 and are available on the website.
BRINGING SEXY BACK » Sheroog Kubur Arts & Science Editor
In honour of Sex Week, we’re kicking it back to the release of one of the greatest male pop records of the new age — Justin Timberlake’s sophomore album, FutureSex/LoveSounds. In his desperate attempt to revitalize the 2006 pop scene, Timberlake managed to release an album that was equal parts edgy and entertaining. He was no longer hidden in the shadow of the teeny-bopper N*SYNC days and wanted to show maturation, making an entire record dedicated to his commitment to bringing sexy back.
The album is composed of two parts, one side exploring the “future sex” and the other exploring “love sounds.” It’s a very loud juxtaposition, placing raunchy and desire-filled songs against heartbreak and butterflies in your stomach. The album treats sex and love as interchangeable,
using a romantic and inviting delivery for sexual gratification. It shows two sides of the same coin — the sweetness required for a relationship to work and the fun that comes with it. Timberlake’s voice is naturally more reminiscent of honey than ice, better suited for the bitter breakup ballads of “What Goes Around…/… Comes Around” rather than the aggressive European rave sounds of “SexyBack,” but it creates another fun juxtaposition within each track.
Timbaland’s presence as a producer was welcome, injecting new life into Timberlake’s otherwise potentially tacky lyricism. The lyrics were composed alongside the beats, meaning lyrics like “I’ll let you whip me if I misbehave” were off the cuff, studio experimentation. While these lyrics can sometimes come across as a desperate attempt to shed the boyish charm of N*SYNC, the production elevates each track to an unexpected level. The opening
track, “FutureSex/LoveSound,” is groovy and monotonous with a slick melody. The transition into an explosive chorus riddled with charming instrumentals isn’t offputting, instead akin to the climax to a skillfully built beat. This record was one of experimentation for Timbaland and Timberlake. The structure of the album is bizarre, with multiple songs going over five minutes with interludes and transitions, acting like two parts to a story. Songs like “LoveStoned/ I Think She Knows” rely on double meanings, first describing a man drooling over a woman in the club and then a man who may have truly fallen in love with her. It can come across as corny, but the transition from an orchestral melody accompanied by a chorus of Timberlake’s voice evoking luxurious imagery to the tragic guitars and stripped back delivery of the second half take the listener on journey. A similar effect is done to a lesser degree on
“Let Me Talk To You/My Love”
featuring T.I. — an acapella rap cipher between Timberlake and T.I. to a percussive instrumental becoming a dark new wave track that sounds so painfully 2006.
At the very least, if the iconic Timberlake and Timbaland duo aren’t convincing, then the fun time you’ll have listening to the album will be enough. It’s
dynamic enough that you have to sit down and experience it at once, listening to the raw creative process of two musical legends. It’s also entertaining enough that if the haphazard attempts at being sexy aren’t the best part, the gentle love confessions peppered throughout will be sweet enough to give you a cavity.
Thesudden changes in tem-
perature in our city and around the world have sparked discussions about the effects climate change has had on our weather. But there seems to be a misconception of what is categorized as common weather patterns and what is the result of climate change.
University of Calgary associate professor in the department of geoscience, Dr. Rachel Lauer, talks about how this misconception is often more common than we think, and that it fosters some misinformation.
“In general, we can think about the weather as something that is predicted on a daily or weekly basis, and climate is really more of a decadal scale,” she said. “The behaviour of the climate system is something that happens over a much longer timescale.”
While they are far from the same, Lauer clarifies that sometimes the weather and climate change can overlap as a result of human activity.
Lately, regions that don’t usual-
ly experience cold snaps such as Dallas, TX, are calling these events “polar vortexes.” This term has travelled even far up north to Calgary, Alta. where extreme weather changes are common enough that a term has been assigned to it for years.
Chinook winds are a part of Calgarian culture — a common occurrence during the winter season most of us are accustomed to now.
A chinook is when warm, dry wind blows over the mountains from the west, according to a CityNews article. This could cause temperature changes of up to 20 degrees Celsius in the winter.
Lauer explains because of the misconception between weather and climate change, people are starting to believe that our chinooks are classified within polar vortexes when this isn’t true.
“We live in a region that experiences massive temperature shifts as a result of chinooks, which are commonly misattributed to climate, when in fact, this is just a function of our position adjacent to the mountains,” she said. “These very rapid temper-
ature increases and subsequent decreases are a result of living at a high elevation.
certainly had a rough time in December in terms of an early cold snap, but those temperatures are not unusual for this particular region.
While the weather isn’t something we should be concerned about according to Lauer, considering these are typical weather patterns seen in Alberta, and specifically Calgary, she says that climate change is still something we should be aware of, just not in regards to our winter season.
mate Change (GLGY 292) is a class that Lauer feels passionate about teaching, as she wants climate change to be a topic students want to learn about, not feel obligated to.
“[At the time] I was like, ‘I can’t believe there’s no class for non-majors,’” Lauer said.
The misinformation escalated this past December when Calgary experienced extreme cold snaps, with the temperature reaching up to -44 degrees Celsius some days, according to the Calgary Herald. This led many people to believe that what we were experiencing was just as drastic as what people in more southern regions were experiencing.
“I think it’s more alarming when we don’t have cold weather in Calgary,” said Lauer. “We
“My biggest concern for this region is as the average temperature increases, as a result of climate change, things that we rely on like our agriculture, the cattle industry — all of that stress from increasing temperature means higher demand on water and things that we kind of take for granted because of where we live,” she said.
The department of geoscience provides several opportunities for students, both in STEM and not in STEM alike, to learn about what climate change really is and its effects, and what we can do on our part to combat it.
With a course specifically created for non-majors in 2015, Cli-
“The whole course is set up to not scare people — not to scare them with math or science,” she continued. “But to give them the tools they need to have the conversations with their parents, their friends. I think of it as being a citizen scientist, we want everyone to vote, we want everyone to understand what is and is not climate change, and what they can do.”
Lauer talks about changes happening within the department itself, with the intention of modernizing the curriculum and teaching students about issues going on right now. She hopes that students start to feel like their concerns are being heard.
“Part of the reason we’re changing our department — we know students want to solve problems, they don’t want to be the problem.”
“[...] we want everyone to vote, we want everyone to understand what is and is not climate change, and what they can do.”
forward to battling it out against a much lower-ranked 11th-seed and, by the looks of it, they have a great chance of having a deep playoff run. The future looks bright and they are as hungry as ever to snatch that title. Their last game comes this Feb. 11 against the Cougars.
The Dinos men’s volleyball team finds themselves in a similar situation. Situated at the .500 mark they are in a tough spot as they are only one seed above the 8th team. They will be playing against a competitive Cougars and will have to come with everything they have in order to advance deeper in the playoffs. Although the Dinos have a winning record against them, the difference is slim and everything can change in the playoffs. They will have to come out of the gate on fire and hold the lead throughout the game. Any changes might be too much of a risk to take. They are still a couple of days away from their last match against the Manitoba Bisons on Feb. 18.
Rodrigo Verney Sports & Lifestyle EditorFinally nearing playoff season, the University of Calgary Dinos look better than ever with many teams taking one step closer to adding another season to their banners. The excitement is palpable with fans getting louder with every regular season game. The Dinos have been having good runs so far and the dream of a championship is alive and well. However, sometimes it can be hard to keep up with university and so many great teams to support, which is why it’s necessary to situate ourselves. The Dinos are facing the calm before the storm.
Hockey
The Dinos men’s hockey team has been unstoppable so far. Not only are they breaking records, but being the team with the most consecutive wins in a single season now defending their streak
against the University of Manitoba Bisons on Feb. 3, and Feb. 4 back-to-back extending it to their 20th straight victory. They have now clinched the number 1 seed and are five wins in front of the number two team, the University of Alberta Pandas, and await to see who will get the last seed to absolutely demolish them. The soon-to-be champions are hungry to close this incredible season in the best way possible, by raising the cup high over their shoulders. Their last regular season matchup will happen on Feb. 11 against the MacEwan University Griffins.
The Dinos women’s hockey team enjoys a 4th-seed position with thirteen wins and nine losses. They are going to battle it out against the number five ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies, a team they have more than enough experience with. The road to the championship will be rocky, but the climb is very much within reach. They also see
their last game on Feb. 11 against the Griffins.
offs might be a lesser problem than being paired with a strong team in the first round. Currently standing at the 9th-seed and looking to clinch that spot, they would be going against the Brandon University Bobcats, which is a great matchup since they are a strong team but roughly evenly matched. The team still needs to make some adjustments but this group has been proving itself multiple times to be a competitive squad that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Their last game is on the same weekend of Feb. 11 against the Mount Royal University Cougars.
The story is much the same for the Dinos women’s volleyball team. They are on the .550 which means that they will most likely get their rivals the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in the first round. A tough matchup that proved to be a pain for the longest time. Winning games by a large margin during this regular season. The Dinos would be looking at a problematic first round and a pain to go deeper into the playoffs. The odds are tipping the scale against them, but this is how the Dinos like it to be. They will be facing the Bisons on Feb. 18.
The Dinos men’s basketball team are fighting an uphill battle, but not a lost one. Standing at exactly .500 they are in a position where clutching the play-
“I think that we are slowly becoming the championship team that we can be because we are winning these close [games] as a team. […] We have been working hard every day,” said guard Ezehoa Santiago, after their Pack the Jack win.
The Dinos women’s basketball team is in a good position at .58 at the 6th-seed. They are looking
Playoffs are the most electrifying event in sports. The time to prove who got what it takes to advance and who is the greatest on the field. The Dinos are enjoying a great season overall and everyone is excited to see who will survive in this everything-goes environment. Soon will come the time for the fittest to survive, and they will understand why Rex is the apex predator.
“I think we are slowly becoming the championship team that we can be because we are winning these close [games] as a team[...]”
other alternatives and some can even be covered by your insurance. However, the responsibility of taking it every day is a must or else the effectiveness goes down. There’s also the concept of the pill messing up people’s hormones — but of course, that differs in how serious it is from person to person.
When it comes to birth control, there are a lot more methods than the common pill we tend to hear about. But whether you were raised in a conservative religious home or just didn’t get the proper sex education at school — or both — it can be confusing to figure out what the best and safest method of birth control is for you. Everyone’s body is different, so it’s best to check with your doctor before starting any of these methods. Here’s a list of a few different birth control methods
and their pros and cons.
Probably the most commonly heard-of method, the pill comes in two types: the combination pill and the minipill. The combination pill consists of pills with both estrogen and progestin in them to stop your ovaries from releasing eggs, also known as preventing pregnancy. The minipill is slightly different in that the pills only contain progestin, but it works the same. They have to be taken every day to be effective and range between 91–99 per cent effective if taken properly. The pill is slightly cheaper than
The implant is a plastic rod that is implanted under the skin and releases progestin to prevent pregnancy. When it comes to intrauterine devices (IUDs), a copper IUD is a T-shaped copper device that gets placed in your uterus by a doctor and it prevents pregnancy by fighting off sperm. The copper stops the sperm from ever getting to the egg. A hormonal IUD is also inserted into the uterus by a doctor, but it releases a small amount of progestin instead. All three options last a lot longer with less maintenance, the implant lasting up to three years to the IUD lasting several years. Once inserted, the effectiveness is more than 99 per cent. The insertion of these devices and the initial side effects
after, however, are not exactly pleasant experiences.
A small sticker that you can either put on your upper arm, butt or back, the patch releases estrogen and progestin into the body to prevent pregnancy. You need to replace the patch every week for three weeks, then no patch for a week to get your period. Similar to the pill in both price and effectiveness, the patch has the advantage of slightly less side effects and you don’t have to touch it for a week. Cons include human error, such as if you don’t apply it correctly.
Ah, the classic. The condom, with both internal and external options, is preferred for single-use moments. No need for a routine or to follow up with anything — unless of course that condom breaks. While many could say using a condom “doesn’t feel the same,” it’s the most convenient option if you’re not looking for anything long-term. The effectiveness rate varies from 79–95 per cent, depending on if it’s
used properly. They’re also the only method of birth control that protects against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
You could technically get away with not using any sort of birth control — but this is really not recommended. By using no method of birth control, you not only put yourself at high risk of pregnancy, but you also have a greater chance of getting an STI Some honourable mentions include: the temperature method and the cervical mucus method, a more complicated and time consuming method; a vasectomy, which might mean having a conversation with your partner; the ring, which I honestly don’t understand how it works, among others.
As you can see, there’s plently of different options of birth control for people with different needs and priorities. Hopefully this list helped you understand some of them better. It’s important to take the method of birth control that works best for you and that you feel comfortable using it.
February feels like the October of the winter semester and in honour of this delightful fact, here are some spooky horror podcasts to enjoy this month. Maybe recommend one to your valentine.
Arguably my favourite podcast of all time, The Magnus Archives follows Jonathan Sims, head archivist at the Magnus Institute, an institute dedicated to researching the paranormal. The show is in the form of Jonathan’s audio recordings of statements from people who have experienced paranormal incidents and small supplements from his small research team. It starts out as an anthology of seemingly unrelated stories but later becomes a larger overarching story. Five seasons later, I’m still sad it’s over.
The voice acting and editing in this show are phenomenal. Please check trigger warnings though, the show goes indepth into a lot of phobias.
Archive 81
Similarly, Archive 81 is a found footage horror podcast where archivist Dan has been hired to catalogue a set of audio tapes while he is legally required to record himself at all times. We learn in the first episode that these recordings were mailed to Dan’s friend Mark and that Dan has been missing for a while. Mark has been trying to find him by releasing these recordings as a podcast to crowdsource resources and help. It really is as if you are listening to found footage and not just an audio drama. The story gets progressively scarier, and the sound editing over the two seasons is excellent. There is also a TV show adaptation on Netflix. Trigger warnings for body
horror in the show.
Alice Isn’t Dead
Alice Isn’t Dead follows a long-haul trucker, Keisha, as she drives across the continental US looking for her wife, the titular Alice, who she had thought was dead. During her travels, she encounters all manners of conspiracies and supernatural horrors standing in the way of finding her wife, and Alice doesn’t seem to want to be found. Told in the format of Keisha’s audio diaries, you will feel literal chills as you listen to this show. There are three seasons and a novelization of the show’s first season. Definitely check this out if you like long road-trip vibes.
Bridgewater Bridgewater is not so much horror as it is a mystery thriller with supernatural elements. Staunchly skeptic folklore professor Jeremy Bradshaw is pulled back into a forty-year-
old cold case involving his father’s disappearance when his father’s old police badge suddenly reappears in pristine condition at the last place he was seen. Along with his TA Vipin and Detective Anne Becker, Jeremy tries to find the truth behind his father’s disappearance in the midst of supernatural occurrences happening in the Bridgewater Triangle, an area which seems to attract more than its fair share of paranormal activity.
Faerie
Faerie is a fictional docuseries investigating the existence of faeries, a race of mythological beings that are as beguiling as they are deadly. The show follows Ryan Bailey as she investigates their mysterious existence and the covert agency that protects them, The Department, after she saves the life of a former Department agent. The more we learn about faeries the scarier they become and the worse the danger gets.
our handshakes rather than teaching us about sexual health.
Alberta
Education sure has a comprehensive program of study in place for the Health and Life Skills portion of their K–12 curricula, yet somehow, I don’t remember learning any of it when I was in school.
According to this outline, students need to learn about everything ranging from general wellness choices, to career and life choices, to the daunting topic of sexual health. But, all I remember learning from my grade nine music teacher during those two sessions of band we gave up for “health class” is, a) that you have to pinch the tip of the condom before putting it on, b) Freddy Mercury died with HIV-induced AIDS and c) nothing more than pure confusion about dermal contraceptive patches.
I also rather not get into the topic of Career and Life Management (CALM) in high school — because let’s be real, if we had the choice, we chose to do it online and if we didn’t, more time was spent criticizing the firmness of
To say that the Alberta health curriculum is lacking, however, is not necessarily addressing the problem. In its essence, the program of study for both K–9 Health and Life Skills and high school CALM is completely backwards.
The first exposure Albertan kids get to sexual activity is in the context of blood-borne disease, in grade six.
“Examine and evaluate the risk factors associated with exposure to blood-borne diseases — HIV, AIDS, hepatitis B/C; e.g., sharing needles, body piercing, tattooing, helping someone who is bleeding, being sexually active,” reads the curriculum.
Throughout grades seven to nine, the curriculum exposes students to sexual development, sexual violence, social influencers on sexual matters, decision makes in sexual relationships and last but not least, “[examining] abstinence and decisions to postpone sexual activity as healthy choices.”
Time and time again, we’ve learnt that in the society we live in, abstinence promoting educa-
tion does more harm than good. A lack of information around sex, is not protective, instead can lead to more destructive, uninformed behaviour — a reality our educational decision-makers seem to remain blind to year after year.
As we enter high school, the stance on abstinence remains with a few added bonuses — refer to page 12.
The outlined program seems neutral until you add the trauma and bias of having gone through the experience, with teachers that only seemed to focus on negative consequences of sexual activity
and condemning students’ personal values when there was a lack of alignment between theirs and those of students.
It’s deficiencies like these that lead to sexual assault rates being highest among our province’s youth and walk-outs organized by students, demanding better sexual health education on topics like consent.
But, putting all the issues with the curriculum aside, I think the biggest issue with health education in our schools is that the modules are often being taught by band or English Language Arts
(ELA) teachers, who are already overworked and underpaid and have too many things on their plates to care more than to tick a few checkboxes off the health curriculum and call it a day. Maybe it’s idealistic and unrealistic, but I think the Alberta Education health curriculum can benefit from getting its own slot in our timetables and knowledgeable teachers, dedicated to the topic, who can address students’ questions and curiosities and help them explore this ever-changing and strange period of their lives safely.
ties have been pegged at around 100,000, whereas civilian casualties this year are commonly estimated to be between 20,000 to 40,000. However, some Ukrainian sources have stated that the number of civilian deaths in the now-destroyed city of Mariupol alone was a staggering 87,000. Likewise, sexual violence, particularly against women and children, has been widespread and deliberately utilized by Russia as a weapon of war.
Admittedly, rattling off these statistics is somewhat premature. Until the final gunshots over Ukraine ring, it’s unlikely that a comprehensive review of the costs and casualties can be conducted. However, current estimates are, if anything, understating the extent of the destruction, so the lessons from quantifying all this are undoubtedly pertinent.
thousands of deaths, rapes and destroyed families — wounds that cannot be healed by throwing money at them — Ukraine will need hundreds of billions of dollars for recovery. Earnest support for Ukraine means that this support will extend into the inevitable post-war recovery process.
Logan Jaspers Opinions & Humour AssistantThe evening of Feb. 23 will mark a year since Russia escalated its war against Ukraine from a low-level “frozen conflict,” typical of the countries constituting the former Soviet Union, into a catas-
trophic, full-blown invasion. Much of the coverage has focused on the war’s military and political developments, like battles, arms shipments and lines on the map. This coverage is invaluable, but should not come at the expense of considering what has been lost in the war.
Ukrainian military casual-
The United Nations (UN) Refugee Agency estimates that around 14,000,000 Ukrainians are refugees abroad or are internally displaced, more than a third of Ukraine’s pre-war population of 41,000,000. This figure includes hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians deported to Russia, and the thousands of Ukrainian children kidnapped and adopted into Russian families — an act of forced assimilation that may amount to genocide.
As intense fighting still occurs today, it is important that the war doesn’t become background noise. Ukrainians today are still fighting, still dying, still being forced from their homes and are still victims of unimaginable horrors. Regular people must not get “bored” of the war, lest politicians here in the West lose the appetite to keep supporting Ukraine, especially when renewed Russian assaults seem imminent.
Likewise, when the war ends, life in Ukraine will not simply return to normal. Beyond the
Most critically, as tragic as the war is, simply regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine as a tragedy misses the key aspect of Russian aggression. A hurricane slamming into the eastern seaboard is a tragedy, out of control of anyone’s hands. The war against Ukraine is tragic, but it is also a crime that can stop at any moment. Russian political and military leadership, along with the multitude of soldiers that have committed atrocities, ought to be held accountable and face prosecution as war criminals. Their disregard for human life and Ukrainian dignity should not go unpunished.
Ramiro Bustamante Torres Monster Matchmaker
Everyone has their celebrity crush, that one person from their class that they would ask out, or even the questionable ex that your friends always like to remind you of. To even out the playing field, it’s time to see what monster you would consider risking it all for one night of passionate — or very terrifying — boning.
Aquarius (January 20–February 18)
The chupacabra fulfils your fantasies of “I can fix him” and all the omegaverse fanfic you read. It’s your innate need to understand each other beyond words that makes this match work somehow.
Pisces (February 19–March 20)
Not everyone can match the enormity of your feelings, which is why Godzilla is the object of your affection. Who else but the most reliable monster of them all?
Aries (March 21–April 19)
We know you like a challenge, even if it means one of the major demons from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Balrog. This giant fiery beast is not for the faint of heart and you’re the person up for the challenge.
Taurus (April 20–May 20)
Meet your dream monster in the comforts of your home with soft, cuddly and caring James P. Sullivan from Monsters Inc. He has direct access to your room and knows how to make you scream, need I say more?
Gemini (May 21–June 20)
Your charm is hard to capture and you need someone like you, hence the Rat King is your perfect match. It will be a sort of romantic entanglement that you can’t get enough, whether you want it to end or not.
Cancer (June 21–July 22)
of the Caribbean franchise is shown
WORKING HARD OR HARDLY WORKING? »
as a character that loves the sea and can’t get away from it. Along with his dramatic musical talents, he is a skilled sailor who knows his way around ropes like no other.
Leo (July 23–August 22)
You’ve heard of how you can feel someone’s eyes on you, but have you ever wanted to take it to the next level? The Pale Man from Pan’s Labyrinth can fulfill your fantasy with eyes on both hands and an unquenchable hunger.
Virgo (August 23–September 22)
Normally, you’re chalked off as the straight-edge but everyone has their wild side and with you, there is a need to tame a bad boy. This manifests in your irrational crush on Hellboy and your fantasy of domesticating him.
Libra (September 23–October 22)
To make things easier for yourself, a cyclops is the best bet since you’ve got only one eye to look at. No need to trick or blind one when
your charm can win one over as easily as tending a flock of sheep.
Scorpio (October 23–November 21)
It’s hard to find someone who will stick around with you through thick and thin, so the symbiote Venom has the upper hand above others. No need to open up to anyone if they’re with you — and in you — always.
Sagittarius (November 22–December 21)
To keep things interesting and ongoing, there’s always the Xenomorph. The suspense created by this creature’s perfect hunting abilities are exactly what you want in a partner: to be chased.
Capricorn (December 22–January 19)
You want someone who is no nonsense and gets straight to the point. That’s why a Dalek from the British-show Doctor Who does it for you in a way no one wants to understand.
Type A Student
Reading week takes place from Feb. 19 to 25, and it’s the time in the semester when students find reprieve from the intensity of ordinary school life and take time to catch their breath. Certainly, many students will unwind in the most soothing way they know how — by diligently working through their mountains of homework.
A recent poll found that 87 per cent of U of C students answered affirmatively if they were “excited about the prospect of spending their only significant break in the semester locked in your room 12 hours a day doing homework.” By contrast, a meagre 11 per cent of respondents are looking forward to getting more sleep.
Further research indicates that the exhilaration students
feel about spending their break working is accentuated by caffeine abuse. One study found that during reading week, the average student’s bloodstream is around five per cent coffee. This high percentage of caffeine creates a feedback loop, as the raving students drink
more coffee to keep up with their workload, making them feel more energetic, only to dedicate that energy to wanting to do more work, causing them to need even more coffee.
In an interview inside a makeshift fortress of crusty textbooks and meticulously
annotated library materials in a forlorn corner of the fourth floor of the Taylor Family Digital Library, Karla Young, a second-year philosophy major with three papers due soon, enthusiastically explained to the Gauntlet how grateful she was to spend her break writing papers.
“I’ve been waiting all semester for this time off,” she said “Forget the beach, trips, going outside, or whatever people are ‘supposed’ to do during reading week — paper writing is just so restful!
“The daily grind of waking up, booting up the library portal and doing research, then blankly staring at a Word document on my screen for hours on end until I pass out on my keyboard is the most gratifying part of the university experience. All that hard work? It’s a reward in itself.”
Caspar Fairday, a third-year physics major, explained to the Gauntlet how much he’s looking forward to studying from his thermodynamics and statistical mechanics textbook.
“I’m going to reread this chapter on kinetic theory and transport processes in gases at least 30 times next week,” Fairday said.
“Sure, I’ve already memorized that chapter by this point, but with a big midterm scheduled on the Monday after the break ends, you can never be too prepared. And besides, what greater joy is there than the intricacies of classical statistics? Man, reading week is the best,” he said.
To enjoy your reading week as much as these students, readers are encouraged to ask their professors to assign as much new material as they can before the break begins.
