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Anew year marks a new chapter, an urge to reinvent ourselves, shed past habits and sculpt ourselves into the versions of ourselves we want to be. There’s a lot of pressure to resolve and stick by resolutions. But with that pressure, one thing we don’t always appreciate is the simple, slow, steady and strenuous nature of change. Resolutions don’t always have to be dramatic — in fact, subtlety can be a virtue. New habits are not formed overnight, they are built over the course of time with persistence and, as with anything, a few fallbacks. Change is not easy — it can be messy and slow and tiring, but there’s also beauty in that side of it.
Here at the Gauntlet, we resolve to bring you the most diverse, engaging and amazing content — however different that may look from week to
week. Even though our team is flipping onto a new page of our publication’s history, this first edition of 2023 will showcase the old and the new. This edition will feature the same old writing of your devoted Gauntlet editors and volunteers, outlining stories of change, historic moments and promises of the future.
We will be celebrating breakthroughs and historical moments, such as those in nuclear fusion energy, biodiversity conservation or even our friendly neighbourhood BIG Winter Classic. We will appreciate new twists on the same old favourites in reviews of SZA’s new album, SOS. We’ll discuss new approaches to persistent societal issues in a discussion of ways to help our city’s unhoused population this winter. We will discuss resolutions, as in ones we can set for ourselves as
struggling university students, or ones that we hope to see on a greater scale like within our nation’s government structures. We’ll welcome new beginnings and offer you ways to spice up your new year with podcast recommendations.
However, January isn’t only a month for new beginnings, resolutions or the things you can’t let go of. This month, we will observe National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. This is a time to commemorate and stand with those who have fallen victim to this crime. The Gauntlet team has taken the opportunity to educate our student population about human trafficking and to contextualize what this crime can look like in our Canadian society.
January is also filled with new beginnings for students — a new term, new professors, new classmates and new rou-
tines. We hope you’re not too hard on yourselves as you meet these changes. However small they may be, new routines are difficult to get used to, so kudos to you for taking on the challenge so gracefully.
As the pressure to start things off right sets in, remember that it’s alright to alter your goals and it’s certainly more than human not to be perfect. Be kind to yourselves in this new chapter of your lives and we hope 2023 brings you all that your hearts desire.
Editor-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: Eric Hilbrecht // Sylvia Lopez // Lauren Brough // Mackenzie Ashcroft // Mihret Yirgeta // Logan Jaspers // Charlotte Dover //
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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 leftovers of the holidays. We urge you to recycle the Gauntlet by using it to wrap your lunch to save money.
Filipino-Canadian organization, Pinoys on Parliament (POP), offers a network for Filipino-Canadian youths to learn about a variety of subjects such as politics, business, arts and STEM
POP was formed by the members of the Filipino Students Association at the University of Ottawa and has since hosted annual leadership conferences for Filipino-Canadian youths.
“[Members] reflected on how FIlipino/a/x-Canadians are underrepresented in the Canadian Federal Government, and politics in general,” their website read. “There should be a space where Filipino/ a/x-Canadians are able to network, and learn from leaders in the fields that they would want to succeed.”
POP was founded in 2018 and hosted their first national youth leadership conference the following year in February of 2019.
“Over 100 Filipino/a/x-Canadian youth across Canada gathered in the nation’s capital. Delegates had the opportunity to listen to prominent Filipino/a/x-Canadian leaders, including the first Filipino-Canadian Member of Parliament Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, the first Filipina-Canadian Assistant Deputy Minister Amelita Armit, co-host of CP24 Breakfast and The Social’s Melissa Grelo and YouTube personality Elle Mills,” read their website.
In 2020, POP’s conference theme was Magkasama, a Tagalog word for togetherness. The year 2021 welcomed the theme Bayanihanmeaning communal unity. Lastly, the 2022 theme Pagitancan be translated to the spaces in between.
This year, the fifth annual theme is Balikbayan — the Tagalog word describes the journey of Filipino individuals returning home to the Philippines after living overseas — usually for work. The conference is free to attend for those aged 17 to 30 and will be held from Feb. 24 to 26 in Ottawa, Ontario. This year’s conference has 200 spaces available that are allocated from each province and territory to ensure an equal opportunity to attend.
In a press release sent to the
Gauntlet, POP provided further information of what attendees can expect from this year’s conference.
“This year’s keynote speaker is the award-winning Filipina-Canadian presenter and co-host of CBC’s The Great Canadian Baking Show, Ann Polner,” read the press release. “After having been a virtual conference for two years, our return to an in-person event has allowed us to celebrate the diasporic experience of those attending. [Attendees] will be empowered by prominent Filipino-Canadian leaders from many field in STEM, politics, online content creation, sports and community organizing — to name a few.”
In addition to the speakers, POP will host a community symposium where Filipino vendors across Canada can sell their products and a gala night where a sit-down dinner will be provided by the Philippine Embassy.
Regardless of the conference being free to attend, many are faced with barriers when it comes to travelling to Ottawa. To aid with this, POP is currently reaching out to various modes of transport and
businesses to arrange discount codes for attendees. Moreover, they encourage students to ask what funding opportunities are available for them attending conferences.
In 2021, the founders of POP founded another organization — a not-for-profit named Kabangka, which can be translated from Tagalog as a term that means being on the same boat as another.
“Kabangka is borrowed from a poem by Rachel Evangeline Chiong,” read their website. “The poem illustrates Filipinxs wading on a boat, one as a people, floating through their history and heading towards their futures. This spirit of oneness is one that Kabangka wants to instill in everything it does.”
The organization is founded on elements such as youth empowerment, good governance, partnership, equity and diversity. Kabangka serves Filipino-Canadian youths all across Canada and allows for opportunities for these youth to lead conversation and take action on issues that are important to them.
To learn more about Kabangka,
visit their website kabangka.org.
For more information on the organization Pinoys on Parliament and to register for their conference,
visit pinoysonparliament.com. To get involved with Pinoys on Parliament, sign up for their email list on their website.
A research psychologist at the University of Calgary proves physical health isn’t the only reason to start paying more attention to diet. Dr. Bonnie Kaplan, a professor emerita in the Cumming School of Medicine spent the bulk of her career researching the role nutrition has on brain development and function.
In an interview with the Gauntlet, Kaplan spoke about how improvements in diet can drastically improve and prevent mental health conditions. Kaplan has also recently co-authored the book, The Better Brain: Overcome Anxiety, Combat Depression, and Reduce ADHD and Stress with Nutrition
“If you want a happy life you have to really protect and feed your brain,” said Kaplan.
Countless studies have shown a direct correlation between mental health and nutrition. Specifically, a notable study
from the University of Alberta conducted on over 3,000 children in grade five shows the impact that their diet has on the state of their mental well-being over time, proving diet to be a causal factor of negative mental health symptoms.
“Nutrition statistically and clinically proves improvement in mental health,” said Kaplan.
“We were taught to eat a healthy diet so that you’ll have strong bones and muscles,” Kaplan continued. “Nobody tells you that the most metabolically demanding organ in your body is not your bones and muscles, but your brain is the one you’re mostly feeding.”
As psychiatric medication use becomes more widely spread than ever, so do the many mental illnesses they’re prescribed to treat.
“It’s an era of magic bullet thinking,” said Kaplan. “We certainly turn to pharmaceuticals and the pharmaceutical companies are happy to accommodate us. There is a totally legitimate place for psychiatric
medications, it’s just that they should not be the first treatment.”
Brain metabolism refers to how the brain breaks down the nutrients individuals consume into things like serotonin and dopamine.
“What every university could be doing better is not only providing better food but teaching people why it matters,” said Kaplan.
The micronutrients one receives from consuming fruits and vegetables are not only fundamental for physical health, but also mental health.
“One of the reasons we wrote the book is to teach people why they need to pay attention to their nutrition,“ Kaplan said. “Because you’re not going to change habits until people know why.
“If you want adequate energy for all of the physiological processes that are going on in your body every minute of every day and night, you need to be feeding your mitochondria nutrients,” she
continued. “If you’re feeling chronically low in energy, look at your diet.”
Students can still increase their nutrition while on a budget. According to Kaplan, when it comes to eating on a budget planning skills are important. By planning meals ahead of time, individuals are less likely to rely on ultra-processed food from the corner store or vending machine.
“There’s a myth that people are eating ultra-processed stuff because it’s cheaper,” Kaplan said. “There was an Australian study that showed that people actually save 20 per cent of their food budget when they learn to cook with inexpensive, good, healthy food.”
Kaplan highlighted that when often fresh produce can be costly, things like canned legumes and frozen vegetables are also healthy alternatives that don’t break the bank.
The research shows that improving your nutrition will in turn also improve your ability to cope.
“It’s shown after earthquakes, after the Alberta flood and also after the mosque massacres in New Zealand, that people’s ability to cope with those stressors, which could not be taken away, but their ability to feel less depression and anxiety was very much improved in four to six weeks,” said Kaplan “The data is there, we just need to educate the public.”
The Mediterranean diet is what Kaplan and co-author Dr. Julia Rucklidge recommend in their book The Better Brain, which is rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
“You cannot live on ramen and soda,“ said Kaplan.
To learn more about micronutrients and how they interact with the metabolism of the brain Kaplan encourages watching an explanatory video called How Nutrients Control Brain Synthesis and Metabolism of Neurotransmitters.
To learn more about Kaplan and her research, visit bonniejkaplan.com.
to assume that it stands for 1 female 1 baby. She was then informed that this is now how sex traffickers are tagging cars ... please please mothers, fathers, grand parents..aunts & uncles. Be AWARE! [sic]”
These elaborate schemes that are circulated on social media and news outlets misinform people about the realities of human trafficking. Such news, which is so often at the forefront of internal human trafficking coverage, communicates a Nightcrawler-esque sentiment of “it could be you”— that a person of privilege has something to fear while also being entirely removed from the factors that would lead them down the trafficking pipeline.
Aymen Sherwani Voices Editor
January marks Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month — but what exactly does it look like? When we hear the term “human trafficking” we don’t think of Canada — the first thing that would come to mind would be criminals like Andrew Tate recently getting arrested in Romania after being charged with entrapping multiple women and forcing them to perform sexual acts with the intent to reap “important financial benefits.”
When it is a conversation to be had, however, it’s marred by fear-mongering and sensationalized reports of human-trafficking schemes involving women being kidnapped during broad daylight in grocery store parking lots. That is exactly the problem — we make the mistake of assuming that such a crime would never be occurring within our own borders or discrediting its occurrence with misreporting and gossip. But it does happen, and that same blind eye allows such
a grotesque violation of human rights to persist. The reality of the situation is that human trafficking is a lot closer to home than many of us are comfortable admitting.
The Action Coalition on Human Trafficking (ACT) in Alberta — an organization focused on front-line efforts in victim response — reported that “internal trafficking” directly targets vulnerable and impoverished populations residing within a region. Contrary to popular belief, human traffickers don’t simply drive up to someone in the suburbs in a white van with a chloroform rag ready. It is a grooming process that directly targets the desperation of vulnerable people that are at the intersections of houselessness, addiction and poverty and uses such factors against them for material gain.
“Those more likely to be at risk of trafficking include ‘persons who are socially or economically disadvantaged, such as some Aboriginal women, youth and children, migrants and new immigrants, teenage runaways, children who are in protection, as well as girls and
women, who may be lured to large urban centres or who move or migrate there voluntarily,’” an excerpt from the federal government’s National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons reads.
Of the 1,390 Albertan victims supported by ACT Alberta in 2021 alone, 22 per cent of Albertan victims were Indigenous women and girls, with 66 per cent of cases being related to forced labour and sex slavery.
“Traffickers may be intimate partners, employers, recruiters, family members or organized crime groups,” an RCMP threat assessment on human trafficking in Canada reads. “In many cases, convicted traffickers formed bonds with their victims…[who] have been recruited through the Internet or by an acquaintance…often groomed, manipulated, coerced to enter the sex trade.”
Indigenous women and girls in Canada have historically been victimized by the government in a pipeline starting from residential schooling and forced entry into the foster care system to addiction,
poverty and trauma. The organization’s coverage of the matter directly contributes to the conversation surrounding missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) within the country, whose deaths and disappearances are already under-investigated by police and underreported by news outlets in comparison to white victims — so much so that there’s a term for it. Missing White Woman Syndrome, coined by the late-PBS anchor Gwen Fill, describes the mainstream media’s seeming fascination with covering missing White women, and its seeming disinterest in cases involving missing people of colour or vulnerable groups.
What this does is push forward viral, sensationalized stories on social media that go a little something like this story from USA Today:
“A very close friend of mine was out today doing shopping with her child. When she left the store at lady stopped her and made her aware of what was written on her back window (1f1b) I’m just going
Why prioritize viewership, clicks and shares over lives? Canadians forget that it has been nearly 21 years since police raided Robert Pickton’s pig farm and arrested one of Canada’s most prolific serial killers responsible for the murder of 49 women, many of whom were Indigenous, battling with addiction, houselessness and having to resort to sex work on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. An area often referred to as the “Low Track,” in the 1990’s the Downtown Eastside was referred to as “Canada’s poorest postal code” and inhabitants were known to be involved with prostitution and drug trafficking — thus reports from residents in the area were either scarce or neglected by law enforcement. Pickton specifically targeted already-stigmatized individuals who the public has a habit of marginalizing and that persists in the demographic trends and patterns surrounding human trafficking collected by ACT in 2021.
“Our first goal is always to get victims and survivors of human trafficking on the path to safety,” a statement reads on the organization’s website. “We also know that we can’t solve this problem alone: we raise public awareness and readiness so that our community can work together to reduce trafficking.”
Visit ACT Alberta’s website to donate to their Survivor’s Fund or to simply learn more about the realities of human trafficking in the province.
E veryone has a New Year’s resolution after the festive period winds down to an end and the start of the year is always a great opportunity for a fresh start. Stereotypical resolutions already exist and are likely a quick Google search away, but this time around, everyone — especially students — should be looking inwards. University being back in full swing is already going to be stressful as is, so here are three resolutions to consider when it comes to taking care of yourself for a change.
As students, anything that isn’t geared towards productivity often triggers a guilt response in our heads that makes us feel like we aren’t worthwhile or are inherently doing something wrong by simply cutting ourselves a break for once. That could range from sleeping in, going out with your friends, buying fresh produce over cheaper, non-perishable foods or even just refilling a prescription that you know you need, despite it being expensive. We often convince ourselves that we need to prove to ourselves that we are worthwhile in order for our basic needs to be met and convince ourselves that these aren’t things that impact our overall well-being. Well, they do, and something that no one will tell you when you’re young is that the rat race is endless and it will not stop and wait for you, regardless of your mental and physical health — you need to actively demand time, space and love for yourself.
This year, rather than fitting the struggling student archetype, choose to be unapologetically happy and stop listening to the little voice in your head telling you that you should be having a bad time. Make the time and space for yourself to thrive because it’s what you deserve. I suggest taking the time to make a “kill list” of all the things that you’ve been holding off on — the unattainable goals that you said you would get to, but because of guilt, they seem to be up in the air. Get that dental cleaning done. Schedule
mandatory naps for yourself. Anything. Everyone should make 2023 the year where they understand that wellness is more than just a sheet mask and a matcha latte — it’s a mindset where you’re actively dismantling the structures that exist in your mind that tell you that you’re less worthwhile if you’re taking the time to prioritize yourself for once.
be harmed as a consequence of someone else’s selfishness. Only you can set the standards for the type of treatment that you deserve in your academic, professional and personal lives. Did a professor that has shown a clear dislike for you in the past grade you in a way you feel is unfair? Don’t just take it with a smile — dispute it and explain your case kindly. Does the not-so-savoury professor think being questioned is disrespectful? Speak to the dean. Speak to the Student Ombuds Office. Workplace microaggressions? Don’t fake laugh and be passive — report it to HR or whichever independent board presides over the management in your place of work and hold people accountable, especially if it’s negatively impacting your life.
time friend prevent you from communicating your needs or cutting ties with them if needed, as it is often the case that people are more reckless with your feelings if they assume the bond between you two is unbreakable.
you have no time to focus on making something as a product of your own individuality? A hobby perhaps? You have an excess of consumption and may need to consider the negative impacts of constantly being on the receiving end of the things that make you happy. I would suggest trying to make other people happy for a change and see how that makes you feel on the inside. That could look like starting to volunteer at a charity of your choice on the weekends, practicing acts of service for your loved ones or simply being mindful.
Everyone’s seen the saying “stand up for yourself because no one else will” circulating social media for years to the point where seeing something like that is just a part of mindless scrolling now. I’d like to change that. To be clear, everyone is an individual and that means that everyone will choose themselves first, so you should never allow yourself to stand by and
While this can become a little difficult in our personal lives, especially when it comes to family and friends — upholding personal boundaries has never been more important. From personal experience, toxic family members will always tell you that “family will always look out for you,” while not exactly walking that walk or having the best intentions for you. Do not let the fact that they are family or a long-
A create-consume dynamic is what I like to call the balance between the act of giving out into the world and the act of being on the receiving end of that creation. I believe every action in the world is either of the two. When the scales tip on either side of the spectrum, our lives become dysfunctional. Do you have a video game, TikTok scrolling and binge-eating addiction that keeps you awake until 5 a.m. for no apparent reason? Are you finding that
Alternatively, someone who simply cannot stop cleaning, studying, cooking, taking longer hours at work and doing absolutely anything to avoid the dreaded “reactional time” may suffer from an excess of creation. Here, I would also suggest mindfulness. Take the time to understand why you struggle to be alone with yourself and for yourself for once. Both people struggle in their own ways — both would either likely hate each other or date, or both. What I think is important at the end of the day is acknowledging that too much or too little of anything is harmful.
AERIC HILBRECHT
“...something no one will tell you when you’re young is that the rat race is endless and it will not stop...”
“Only you can set the standards for the type of treatment that you deserve in you academic, professional and personal lives.”
could never forget.
For those not looking to get lost in the mosh pit, headliners also include a barrage of indie and electronic experimental acts to get into.
Thomas Thomas is the local indie band that brings a tinge of freshness to the bitter cold. The Garrys closely follow with hazy harmonies and familiar lo-fi guitars perfect for gently swaying in a crowd.
The lineup also includes musicians who have been making strides across the country, with bands like Anishinaabe indie rockers Status/Non-Status, who made waves with the release of their album Sewn Back Together in 2022.
joins her alongside trap-influenced Indigenous artist Mattmac. They bring a diversity of sounds to the lineup that can easily get overcrowded with hardcore punks and zealous rockers.
Sheroog Kubur Arts & Science EditorThe new year brings the return of the coldest festival of the year, BIG Winter Classic. The annual event takes advantage of Calgary’s tendency to have bad weather during festivals by being held from January 25–29. It brings together some of Calgary’s cultural centres into one four-day event with good
CHOONS »drinks and even better music. This year’s lineup features a range of musicians that can’t be seen anywhere else, international, national and local acts exploring a range of genres.
This year’s headliners are upcoming legends in the scene. The biggest is without a doubt Shame, the London post-punk band that made strides the moment they stepped onto the scene in 2018.
This is paired with other various kinds of punk bands from across the pond and the country, including Toronto hardcore punks Fucked Up and bisexual vegan shitpunk band Joe & the Shitboys. Mexican punks Sgt. Papers will also be making a Calgary debut at the festival. These bands do more than make noise — they put performance above all else and make a show that will be something you
After the release of Ctrl in 2017, SZA cemented herself as an artist with a cultural impact. She brought an alternative flair to the pop landscape of the day, injecting her unique vocal techniques and delivery into a scene trying to find its next big thing. Her voice was iconic, her instrumentals were stripped back and comforting in an era of excessive production and most of all, her lyrics were jarringly honest. After five years of teasing a retirement from music and making periodic appearances as features on compilation albums and singles, SZA returned with her sophomore album, SOS
SOS keeps the foundation of Ctrl but carries a mature flair. The pre-chorus of the first single, “Kill Bill,” reminds us by singing “I’m so mature” over a silky smooth beat and distorted
emergency signals. The single is an apt introduction to the album — it touches on themes of jealousy and growth, going through the emotions of someone trying to move on from an ex-partner. Each track is an SOS, going back and forth between blaming themselves for the failure of the relationship and assigning blame to everyone around them. It’s calling to the void asking if they were the problem in their relationship and musing on what could have been done differently.
The record is aggressive and reflective despite SZA’s laid-back delivery. Each track is coated in a gentle melody and whispers of an oceanic scene, feeling like you’re floating on the water thinking about life. Hi-hats are peppered throughout the record, grounding the track in a more heavy melody against the mellow rippling of other tracks. “Seek & Destroy” is the first deceptively reflective track on the record,
with SZA singing “Now that I’ve ruined everything, space is all I need” over an instrumental that carefully builds to reflect the deterioration of the lyrics. The distorted harmonies on “Low” bring an edge to the delivery, matching the IDGAF attitude of the lyrics.
SOS feels like you’re reading SZA’s diary. Each song has lyrics that feel both like an overshare but also the things that you wouldn’t have admitted crossed your mind. “Notice Me” is the pinnacle of this, peering into the mind of someone desperately trying to get someone to notice them. It details mildly obsessive lyrics, contemplating whether or not it would be out of line to check your phone for calls or messages, compromising by saying that an official label isn’t necessary as long as they’re together and resorting to calling him a “hoe” when she doesn’t get what she wants. It’s the kind of song that sounds tame in isolation, but
Zoon, a frequent collaborator with the band, will also be headlining with his raw and honest lyrics and production. New Brunswick rockers Motherhood will be making a much-welcome appearance, bringing both unbridled energy and innovative musicality.
Amidst the rock and punks bands, soloists will also be taking over the stage throughout the festival. Jasmyn brings a much-needed pop-infused edge. Ghanian experimental–pop soloist Mauvey
Aside from the headliners, the festival is designed to celebrate Calgary’s music scene, so it’s only fitting that local musicians also make the bill. Quirky bands who have spent the last year becoming local favourites like Quit It!, Mixed Blame and Less Miserable will make appearances alongside local-adjacent groups that are expanding their horizons like High River’s Gratuitous Platypus and Lethbridge’s Starpainter. Horror-rock legends Forbidden Dimension will be taking over the stage as well, bringing an oldschool flair to the week.
Regardless of if you think going to a festival in the middle of winter is a good idea or not, BIG Winter Classic is the type of show you can’t miss. The full lineup is available on www.bigwinterclassic.com alongside tickets that range from full weekend passes to individual events.
when it’s attached to the scribbled diary entries in the form of other songs, it gains some extremity.
Despite the intense theme, the admissions never feel gratuitous. It sounds exactly like what it told you it would sound like — a young woman reflecting on her relationships, trying to rationalize her behaviours and wonder-
ing if it was all worth it in the end. SZA masterfully translates these insecurities into the album, creating resonant tracks for anyone to jump into. While detailing plans to kill an ex may seem extreme, SOS is more than those moments. It’s SZA being honest, something she’s been doing since day one.
The National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California made a breakthrough by producing energy through nuclear fusion. The amount produced was only enough to boil 15-20 kettles of water, but the breakthrough represents something much more.
“This is a historic achievement. Over the past 90 years, thousands of people have contributed to this endeavour and it took real vision to get us here,” said LLNL director Dr. Kim Budil to the BBC
Nuclear fusion is the process used by the Sun to generate energy. The process involves two atoms coming together to fuse into one element, which produces massive quantities of energy. It’s a difficult process because two atoms with the same charge naturally repel each other, meaning just as much, if not more, energy is required for the fusion. The Sun contains the right conditions for nuclear fusion thanks to the extremely high heat and pressure. Scientists on earth have been trying to replicate nu-
clear fusion since the 30s, but until now there have been no successes in producing more energy than what was consumed in the reaction.
The International Atomic Energy Agency maintains that the process is intrinsically safe because of the extreme conditions the process requires, meaning if the conditions aren’t fulfilled fully, then the process would self-extinguish.
The experiment at the LLNL used
a 192-beam laser to heat and compress hydrogen fuel, forcing the hydrogen atoms to fuse. The laser reaches 100 million degrees Celsius — which is hotter than the core of the Sun — and creates a high-pressure environment 100 times stronger than Earth’s atmosphere. The experiment had an input of 2.05 megajoules (MJ) and produced 3.15 MJ of energy, according to Dr. Marvin Adams, the deputy administra-
tor for defense programs at the US National Nuclear Security Administration.
Nuclear fusion has been sought after as the cleaner form of energy than nuclear fission. Nuclear fission is currently the most widespread nuclear energy production practice, but it comes alongside the production of large amounts of radioactive waste. Nuclear fusion, on the other hand, produces much smaller
quantities of short-lived radioactive waste and doesn’t produce any greenhouse gases. It has the potential to produce energy that is four-times per kilogram that of fission and four million times its coal or oil counterparts. It also uses materials that are relatively abundant, lithium and hydrogen, and doesn’t rely on ideal weather conditions like solar or wind energy, making it a strong contender for sustainable energy in the future.
“The pursuit of fusion ignition in the laboratory is one of the most significant scientific challenges ever tackled by humanity, and achieving it is a triumph of science, engineering and most of all, people,” Budil said.
The technology still has a long way to go before it becomes common. The energy input and output reported by Adams doesn’t consider the energy used to power the lasers, which vastly exceeds the energy produced by the hydrogen atoms. The experiment was also part of a 3.5 billion dollar experiment looking into nuclear fusion. One big challenge remains scaling down the production and increasing the energy output.
Rodrigo Verney Sports & Lifestyle Assistant
T here have been many moments in which the world has seen how sport has the power to change and inspire. It sticks a flag of resistance in the face of turbulent times. May that be Jesse Owens dominating the 1936 Olympics, the great use of South African rugby to unite a nation suffering from apartheid, or the Scotland-Germany unofficial football game amidst the Christmas truce. It is a glimpse of humanity among tragedies and, now, the University of Calgary Dinos men’s hockey team have had the honour to participate in this history too after hosting Ukraine’s U25 men’s national hockey team on January 2 at the Father David Bauer Arena.
Canada wasn’t their first stop though, as the team made its way through several different regions and countries. Since they left Kyiv, the group has been in a multitude of places before reaching Canada West’s eyes. These include Warsaw,
Munich, and Toronto. Their trip is a fantastic display of perseverance and an ingenious way to keep playing the sport they love while helping the country that they represent through the support of the Ukrainian hockey team foundation. Many brands have joined together to make this tour possible with the help of Canada West. Companies like Tim Hortons, Sobeys, True North Sports and Entertainment, Heritage Frozen Foods Ltd. and VISAIC.TV have all taken part in helping their dream stay alive.
The number two ranked Dinos men’s hockey team welcomed the Ukrainian team as they made their way through their Hockey Can’t Stop Tour, a journey that aims to collect funds for refugees and those whose lives were impacted by the invasion. This was their second match of the tour after the team faced the Huskies on December 30, 2022.
The Father David Bauer Arena saw a crowd of over 1,700 people sporting the blue and golden — a mark that will be remembered
for years. The crowd was supportive of both teams and the night was marked by an overall atmosphere of playfulness and cheer.
The match began with excitement filling the air. Ukrainian flags were plastered on the glass. People hardly ever sat as they were unable to contain the excitement of such a historic match. The team entered the ice and greeted the fans before the match took place. The Dinos were welcoming and were just as excited to play them as the fans were.
“We are very excited to be hosting the Ukrainian U25 National Team and are appreciative of the opportunity to help raise funds for their communities. This will be a great challenge for our team as we prepare for the second half of the season and it is humbling to be part of this fundraising tour,” said Dinos head coach Mark Howell in an interview with the U of C.
The first third was relatively tamed. Both teams were focused on the win and the Ukrainian
team made great use of fast break action to initiate some momentum. However, the Dinos were controlling the game even though they did not score. The Dinos had seven shots to goal in the first four minutes of play. An open shot by Bogdan Dyachenko scared the Dinos, but the stars of the night were our goalies who caught a combined 27 attempts with one goal making for an almost perfect 100 per cent saves night. Overall, a quiet start to dictate the pace and understand your opponent. It was then up to the second third to see how they would fair.
Both teams came in hot for the second as the Dinos stagnated a bit on offence which allowed the Ukrainian team to match their shot attempts 11 a piece. The game began with an impressive save by Carl Stankowski for the Dinos. However, things quickly changed as the Ukrainian team came back down the ice to score a minute later. Mykhailo Simchuk’s shot found the back of the net to give them the lead. The people erupted into cheer as the
Editor: Rodrigo
Verney sports@thegauntlet.caFather David Bauer Arena had the honour of hosting the first goal scored by them in the west. The Dinos kept pushing and later in the third were able to score twice. Once by Tyson Upper in a beautiful deflection goal and later by Bradley Schoonbaert to go to the last third with the lead.
The puck fell on the ice one final time as the Dinos pushed to make new scoring opportunities and take advantage of power plays. Although a lot of chances opened up, the Ukrainian goalie made sure to stop any puck flying his way and the Dinos were held for much of the period. Of course, a one-goal lead can be quite tempting. It only takes a single goal to tie but a 3-1 can be devastating at the final stretch. As the game was drawing to a close, Ukraine decided to take the goalie out in exchange for another skater. That gave them a momentum boost but didn’t result in much. The Dinos were able to take advantage of the open goal and score one more at the last minute. Dinos won 3-1.
The final buzzer rang and the Ukrainian team skated the rink waving and thanking the incredible support of their fans. Smiles were plastered on their faces as they shook hands with the Dinos team thanking them for the support and the game. It was a fantastic moment that none in attendance and in that game will forget.
“We really appreciate this tour. It’s good for us. Good for our fund, good for [future generations] in Ukraine. Canada really helped us.” said team captain Mykhailo Simchuk in a postgame interview with the U of C. He went on to comment on the atmosphere that night. “We all really appreciate the support,”
The Ukrainian team will now set their eyes on New York for the 2023 International University Sports Federation (FISU) Winter World University Games. They look excited to continue their tour and help their country.
“For us right now this is very important. Very emotional,” said Konstantin Simchuk, an assistant coach with the U25 team in an interview for SportsNet.
Wolf 359
Mihret Yirgeta VolunteerNow that we are starting a new semester again, I’m sure people could use something to listen to as they walk back and forth between classes and buildings. Here are some sci-fi podcasts to start the new year right.
EOS 10
This podcast has been described as “Scrubs in space.” It is a medical audio drama set on
a medical space station in the distant future. It chronicles the adventures of Dr. Ryan Dalias as he is first stationed on EOS 10 to support Dr. Horace Urvidian who has a drinking problem that has gone too far. There he meets nurse Jane Johns, a unique and lovable weirdo, and the resident hypochondriac Levi, a deposed alien prince living on EOS 10 as a refugee. Together hijinks ensue. EOS 10 is perfect for anyone who loves sitcoms and likes emotional moments in their comedy.
Another fun podcast set in space, Wolf 359 is told in the form of the audio logs of communications officer Doug Eiffel on board the USS Hephaestus space station, a military ship sent into deep space to look for signs of intelligent life. Along with Doug, we have Lieutenant Commander Renee Minkowski, a by-the-book leader, Dr. Alexander Hilbert, the very definition of a mad scientist, and Hera, the resident sarcastic AI. This dysfunctional crew faces daily life-or-death emergencies as they maintain their search for intelligent life in space. This show starts very fun and lighthearted but gets very emotional and high stakes as it goes on, so be prepared.
ThePenumbraPodcasthas two separate running storylines from different genres, and Juno Steel is the sci-fi storyline. Juno Steel is a grumpy and brooding private eye living in Hyperion City on Mars. His cases bring him in contact with a wide variety of scenar-
ios as he tangles with an elusive homme fatale, tracks dangerous artifacts of an ancient alien civilization, and deals with a corrupt secret organization that operated outside the laws of any Solar government. Juno Steel is a gripping audio drama and perfect for anyone who is a fan of old-school noir detective stories.
In the year 2191 in a distant patch of space, a mysterious explosion kills nearly the entire crew of the science vessel Starship Iris. The only survivor is Violet Liu, an intrepid, sarcastic, terrified biologist. Waking up on the ship The Rumor, Violet meets the crew from the compassionate Captain Sana Tripathy to prickly tech support Arkady Patel, followed by friendly and nerdy translator Brian Jeeter and the lovable alien pilot Krejjh. But as Violet struggles to readjust to life after the Iris, she starts questioning if the explosion really was an accident. Violet and her new allies end up discovering a lot more than they bargained for. This show is amazing for fans of the
space opera subgenre and really works with the found family trope.
Dakota Prentiss works at a secret military base built around an alien crash site which contains a spaceship and the alien that piloted it, nicknamed “Moss.” Owing to the top-secret nature of the military base and its research, there are very strict rules for all military personnel including no fraternization. This becomes a problem when Matt Salem joins Dakota’s security team and sparks fly between the two. If they are found out they will be thrown into military prison, if they run they will be hunted for what they know. Dakota and Matt decide there’s only one way they could be together without persecution: steal Moss and sell the secret of its existence. Steal the Stars is a very engaging and mesmerizing story of what happens when people get desperate. It’s perfect for anyone who loves shows about military conspiracies, and the audio editing for this show is remarkable.
Just before the start of the new year, delegates from roughly 190 countries gathered in Montréal for the 2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15). The conference — which was originally supposed to be held in 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic — was held in Canada after being postponed four times.
At its conclusion, news broke of a “historic” agreement between nations to conserve and protect global biodiversity. However, under a stronger lens, it seems like, similar to the organization of the summit itself, the negotiations during the conference lacked urgency and the deal achieved is elementary at best.
The major agreement made during the COP15 was to preserve 30 per cent of Earth’s biodiversity by the end of the decade. To break this down, the agreement targets decreasing the loss of biodiversity to a
net value of zero and setting an effective restoration and conservation goal of 30 per cent by 2030. Targets also include the management of polluters, invasive species as well as the effects of climate change.
However, this agreement was not reached easily. According to a source from The Guardian, negotiations were met with a lack of coordination, political division, a general lack of helpfulness and silence. A majorly disputed factor at the COP15 was the financial capacity of the countries involved in reaching these biodiversity goals. Many African and South American states walked out of negotiations due to a lack of cooperation and willingness to show financial support by rich, Western nations. Many of the walkout countries have complained about a disregard for equity when it comes to the financial propulsion of the goals of this agreement.
“It’s everyone’s problem, but we are not equally responsible
for the drivers that have led to the destruction of biodiversity,” a delegate from a walkout nation has said.
Without a concrete plan for mobilizing financial support, all these negotiations and seemingly well-intentioned and revolutionary agreements will be nothing more than a moot point.
Despite these shortcomings, the summit has been at the forefront of a few breakthroughs. First and foremost, Indigenous activism has been at the heart of the COP15 Through the persistent efforts of global Indigenous groups, Indigenous knowledge, traditions and sustainable practices have been repeatedly recognized in the resulting Kunming-Montréal Agreement. Moreover, sustainability and the preservation of biodiversity has been framed through an environmentally equitable lens, which is an incredibly big and valuable step. Canada has also made im -
portant commitments at the summit. Along with other G7 nations, Canada has entered a sustainable mining alliance, which will be incredibly useful as we start moving towards clean energy — which is heavily dependent on minerals. This agreement also holds promise for an alteration in the operations of big businesses and the footprints they
leave. If the promised and discussed disclosures and agreements are implemented, there is hope for a greener future for humankind.
That being said, there’s still a long way to go to reverse the damages that have already been done to our natural world and to reconcile the toll that the growing human population will take on our ecosystems.
THREE’S A CROWD »Among parliamentary democracies, Canada is unusual in our cabinet size. Furniture aside, the number of ministries in Canadian governments are needlessly excessive. Looking at the federal government, the list of Justin Trudeau’s cabinet ministers is an eye-watering 39, meaning that around a quarter of the 158 Liberal Party MPs are cabinet ministers.
This is a comparatively staggering ratio. The United Kingdom, from whom we inherited our fusion of the legislative and executive branches, has a cabinet of 22 ministers despite their ruling party almost doubling the Liberal Party in parliamentary seats. And though the United States has a proportionally larger bureaucracy than Canada, given that their population is 10 times the size of Canada’s, their bureaucracy manages fine with
just 24 cabinet ministers.
For what it’s worth, in our increasingly polarized political climate, flabby cabinets are bipartisan. By the end of their stints as prime minister, Stephen Harper’s final cabinet had 27 ministers, Paul Martin had 32, Jean Chretien had 28, Martin Brian Mulroney had 30, and Pierre Trudeau had 33. And given that 71 of 117 Conservative Party MPs are crit-
ics in his shadow cabinet, it’s unlikely that a hypothetical Pierre Poilievre cabinet would deviate from this pattern.
Ministerial bloat isn’t solely a federal problem. Alberta premier Danielle Smith’s cabinet has 25 ministers out of 60 United Conservative Party (UCP) MLAs, and her predecessor Jason Kenney finished his premiership with 21 ministers in his cabinet. New
Democratic Party (NDP) leader Rachel Notley started her term with a surprisingly skeletal cabinet of 12, but this figure swelled to 19 by 2019.
Why is this objectionable? The growth of cabinets isn’t especially expensive to taxpayers and lacks the culture war “sexiness” of hot-button issues. However, the implications of swollen cabinets on government function give it prudence.
First, there’s a lack of brevity in cabinet composition. The swelling of cabinets is partially attributable to the carving out of portfolios from pre-existing ministries, rather than that government taking on responsibilities in untapped areas. The tasks of the new Ministry of Red Tape Reduction, for example, could be done by the numerous other ministries within the provincial government that deal with the economy — the Minister of Red Tape Reduction’s work is cut out for him. If a ministry can
ably handle a set of tasks before, then from the perspective of caring about governance first, there is no reason to split that ministry apart. Otherwise, governments needlessly subdivide themselves.
Second, the growth of cabinets abates stronger executives and weaker legislatures. Canada’s executive branch, through the cabinet, dominates governing party backbenchers and dissuades them from dissenting from the cabinet’s preferred legislation. When cabinets swell, it means that there are fewer governing parliamentarians who hold an irresponsible government accountable — once committed to a decision, all cabinet members are bound to follow.
This is a wonkish topic that will top few voters’ lists of policy priorities, but if you’re concerned with how responsive and democratic governments are, then at least give cabinet size a glancing consideration.
New year, new me. While many people have made their resolutions for what they want this new year, what are they not willing to let go of?
Capricorn (December 22–January 19)
During the break you spilled your guts about something that happened and now you can’t look at your friends the same way since they saw you be vulnerable. While they’re trying to make plans to hang out, you are figuring out a way to reconstruct your business facade.
Aquarius (January 20–February 18)
You can’t let go of the argument with your friend about your differing artistic views after an art gallery visit. For the next PowerPoint night with them, you will pull up an almost 30-minute lecture on contemporary art and the different
styles developed leading up to that period.
Pisces (February 19–March 20)
While going through old photos of yourself as you reminisce about your youth, you are reminded that nobody appreciated you for your unique style back then. A grudge with a friend or sibling resurfaces after they bring back the silly nickname they had for you which reminded you why you don’t go through old photos anymore.
Aries (March 21–April 19)
For every argument you have lost, you find that there are some things that you still wish to add just to prove your point. You try to recreate the arguments with the people you had fought with so you can win the arguments.
Taurus (April 20–May 20)
People tend to say you have un-
popular opinions about places and others but no one is complaining when they find out you’re right about stuff. You have your reviews saved in a notes app ready to send whenever someone has the wrong opinion.
You are somewhat of a hoarder. Sometimes it is a specific type of thing you collect or maybe the memories associated with them are what you wish to collect. Either way, it’s time to decide if it’s worth it to live as if you have to dumpster dive in your room every time you need something.
Cancer (June 21–July 22)
You have a special show or movie that you like to watch for comfort even when you know the writing is bad and the actors aren’t that good. Anytime you hear someone criticize it, you try to find ways to convince them why they should still watch it despite its flaws, in-
advertently taking it too personally.
Leo (July 23–August 22)
You like when others run on your time and not the other way around. Whenever someone walks too slow in front of you or makes you wait more than five minutes, you remember to return that energy with interest.
Virgo (August 23–September 22)
Everyone has their one group project horror story, yours is one just as bad as everyone’s but you seem to bring it up in every other conversation when group projects are brought up. Your friends wish that you would forget about it but even after years this will be the story you tell to new friends, on dates, and have on your will that it must be shared at your funeral.
Libra (September 23–October 22)
You constantly have to fight the indecisive-sign allegations because you refuse to take the proper time and steps to make decisions. Longterm goals with you are still wishywashy and everyone wants to know how you intend to keep your New Year’s resolutions this time around.
Scorpio (October 23–November 21)
A stranger or acquaintance had once made a comment that wasn’t about you but you took it to heart and had dubbed them your nemesis. You have secretly been plotting revenge and the pieces are falling into place for you. Your friends and family know of this grudge and hope its a phase.
Sagittarius (November 22–December 21)
You have had to ask for the attention you deserve and you keep a tally for when someone starts to slack on the boundaries you both set. After three strikes you ghost the person until they apologize with tears.
