April 4, 2024

The Changing Face of AI

Letter from the (outgoing) editor

ASHLEE LEVY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The words ‘dying industry’ come up a lot when I tell people I’m a journalist. Whether I’m talking to a stranger at a bus stop or a family member I haven’t seen in a while, they often express concern for my career prospects. Once, someone even told me not to become “one of those journalists who make things up.”

I’ll be honest, in the moment, I laughed awkwardly and moved on.

But now in retrospect, I wish I could make them see what I’ve seen during my time at the Martlet — not a dying industry, but a changing one.

While layoffs at major media companies are dominating headlines, journalists in Canada are still finding ways to hold power to account and share essential, true information. Some write for independent, non-profit publications, while others have found an audience in new corners of the internet like Substack and Patreon, and yes, many still work for traditional

news outlets despite the fact that it seems like these jobs are disappearing. The same goes for student newspapers. Despite new challenges popping up each issue, I’ve seen them persevere first hand as Editor-in-Chief of the Martlet. When Meta blocked our content from Canadian viewers, we found new ways to reach our audience. When institutions refused to take us seriously and provide comments, we persisted. And as the news industry continues to change, we will adapt.

As young people come face to face with a mounting number of social issues, the work of student journalists and the Martlet’s mandate to act as an agent of constructive change is essential. So, I want to thank our hardworking staff and volunteers who have helped keep the Martlet going for its 76th year, even on the days when the future felt bleak and our impact feels minimal. The work done at the Martlet will continue to be more important, not less, and I can’t wait to see the work you take up in Volume 77.

UVSS Election sees highest voter turnout in over 20 years

In addition to the Board of Directors election, fee-increase referenda have been passed

HANNAH LINK SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Over 3 500 students took to the polls between March 18 and 20 to vote for UVSS directors and referenda which aimed to increase organizational fees.

First-year student Isabelle Easton was elected to the role of Director of Campaigns and Community Relations. She took 50.2 per cent of the vote against current UVSS Campaigns Committee member Prym Goodacre.

Isabelle told the Martlet that she is honoured to have been elected. “I could not be more grateful to the people who followed along my campaign journey and listened to me pitch my ideas,” she said in an emailed statement. “They are the reason my campaign was successful.”

Khushi Wadhwa was re-elected as

Director of Finance and Operations.

“I am grateful students trust me to represent them again,” she said in an email to the Martlet. “I would like to work on my campaign promises and being more proactive in spreading information about the UVSS Extended Health & Dental Plan!”

Hemal Sharma was elected Director of Student Affairs. “I am looking forward to learning about how I can best implement my ideas and do the best job I can as Director of Student Affairs over this upcoming summer,” he told the Martlet.

Harshita Sankar won the role of Director of International Student Relations. “I’m truly grateful for all the people who trusted and voted for me,” she said in an emailed statement. “Over the next year, I’m looking forward to making my election platform

a reality and building a stronger international community.”

Bunni Williams, who served as Director of Student Affairs this past year, had no competing candidate for the role of Director of Outreach and University Relations. They won 71.1 per cent of the vote, with 28.9 per cent of voters choosing not to support them.

Finally, Sarah Buchanan was re-elected as Director of Events, winning 57.5 per cent of the vote against candidate Artem Kuklev.

Kuklev was disqualified from the election following an alleged interaction with UVSS Elections staff on March 19. John Morrison, chief electoral officer (CEO) alleges that Kuklev was campaigning near an election information booth at the McPherson Library, was asked to stop,

but continued campaigning while harassing elections staff. These actions are major infractions under UVSS electoral policy.

In an email statement to the Martlet, Kuklev said that he has appealed the disqualification. “We strongly disagree with the decision made [by] the CEO,” he said. “We will be unable to make any comment until [the appeal] process is completed in order to respect the integrity of the election adjudication process.”

Following the appeal, UVSS Elections released a statement saying that Kuklev’s disqualification was upheld, affirming Morrison’s decision.

All four of the proposed fee-increase referenda were passed, with the UVSS Operations fee getting the lowest amount of support with 58.4 per cent in favour, and the UVic Sustainability

Project fee earning the highest amount with 66.9 per cent in favour. Some international students had issues with the online voting platform, according to a comment on the UVic subreddit. UVSS CEO John Morrison said in an emailed statement that this was quick to be addressed. “We worked with UVic’s Office of the Secretary and were able to resolve the issue within a few hours,” he said. “All affected students were notified shortly after the issue was resolved.”

This year also saw the highest voter turnout since 2001, with 21.7 per cent of electors casting a ballot. That’s 3 729 out of 17 223 students — a leap from last spring’s 9.9 per cent turnout.

Spring of 2020 was the last election before the COVID-19 pandemic, where 14.8 per cent of students voted.

Faculty of Health officially approved after years of planning

The new faculty, which combines programs from existing faculties, will highlight collaboration, says deputy provost

HANNAH LINK SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Last week, the Board of Governors followed the lead of the Senate and voted in favour of the creation of a new Faculty of Health at UVic. This faculty will include the existing schools of exercise science, physical and health education, health information science, medical sciences, nursing, public health and social policy, and social work.

The Faculty of Human and Social Development, where many of these schools existed before, will be disestablished. Schools of Indigenous governance and public administration will move to the Faculty of Social Sciences, and child and youth care will move to the Faculty of Education.

Samara Leckenby is a third-year nursing student. She feels that the new faculty will help healthcare workers to work better together. “I think that medical students, social workers, public health [workers] — we’re all so collaborative in the way that we work,” she told the Martlet.

“When I’m in a clinical setting, we’re all together all the time,” she said. “It totally makes sense that we would be a faculty.”

Leckenby also expressed that this change might help steer people away from the myth that doctors are more important than other healthcare professionals. “I think that this will possibly be a step in the right direction

for dismantling that myth that we’re just the supporters of doctors,” she said. “We all work together.”

Neha Johal is in her fourth and final year of health information science (HINF). She’s also the president of the HINF course union, which works to

bring students together from different cohorts and learn from each other.

Johal supports the creation of a new faculty. “I think for the most part it will be good, because it will give a broader understanding to what all of the majors are that fall within [the faculty],” she

told the Martlet.

Because she is graduating this spring, Johal is concerned for what this change means for those who have human and social development on their diplomas, since the school will no longer exist.

Helga Hallgrimsdottir, deputy provost and chair of the Senate Committee on Academic Health Program, addressed this concern in an interview with the Martlet. She explained that UVic will provide information to other schools and employers about the change.

Hallgrimsdottir said that the idea came from a report released in 2018, which proposed that UVic consider restructuring its programming to create a dedicated Faculty of Health. This process was delayed by COVID-19 and started again in the spring of last year.

The undertaking ran through the Senate with the creation of an ad-hoc committee on health programming. This included a group of deans, support people from the office of the registrar and resource planning, and faculty members, said Hallgrimsdottir.

Schools interested in integrating into the new Faculty of Health were invited to submit letters to the committee. Hallgrimsdottir encouraged those interested to “have a thoughtful and deliberate conversation” and to consider future goals for their discipline. The committee created a survey in

the fall of 2023 to hear what students and members of the UVic community thought about the change. They received around 2 000 responses, half of which were from students.

Hallgrimsdottir also organized a pop-up booth in the quad to speak with students and encourage them to fill out the survey. “I was really struck by how passionate people were about making a difference,” she said. “Of course people go to university because they want jobs, but they want jobs that are meaningful.”

“Students are quite interested in health programming and were looking for health programming when they applied to UVic," explained Hallgrimsdottir. She said she heard anecdotal stories of people choosing to attend other institutions because of their dedicated health faculties.

“We have an entire generation of people that really feel like they want to roll up their sleeves and do stuff,” said Hallgrmsdottir. “And we have to offer programming that allows them to do that.”

Hallgrimsdottir also noted that this is the biggest faculty change to happen at UVic since the faculties of humanities, sciences, and social sciences were split in the 1990s.

The next step for the faculty is the selection of a dean, who Hallgrimsdottir explained will provide leadership and guidance during this change.

Photo by Sage Blackwell.

Photo by Anna Alva.

#KateGate: Kate Middleton reveals her diagnosis and exposes our social media disease

The Princess of Wales announced she is receiving cancer treatment amidst intense social media scrutiny

On March 22, Princess Catherine of Wales, known to most as Kate Middleton, issued a video announcing that she was diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing “preventative chemotherapy.” In the video, Middleton requested “time, space, and privacy” to process the news and recover. The announcement follows rampant online speculation. Users on social media platforms debated Middleton’s recent absence from public engagements following “planned abdominal surgery.”

According to the Guardian, hashtags such as #whereiskate and #katemiddleton gathered traction on social media, reaching around 2.3 million shares on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Videos and posts under these tags touted theories about Middleton’s whereabouts including absurd claims that Middleton was the anonymous graffiti artist “Banksy” or recovering from a Brazilian butt lift

Middleton is “reminiscent of events that reflect distrust in institutions such as the government and media, a general lack of information, and uncertainty.” In the absence of official updates, speculation and conspiracy theories can spread quickly, especially when they appeal to emotions like anger, fear, or humour.

Kensington Palace exacerbated the situation by releasing an Instagram photo on March 10, showing Middleton with her three children. Observers said uncanny aspects of the image, such as Princess Charlotte’s sleeve, were evidence of alteration. Global media outlets, such as the Associated Press and Reuters, issued “kill notices” on the photo due to “manipulation.” On the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Twitter account, a post from ‘C’ (Kate’s moniker) apologized for the confusion, saying she was “experimenting” with photo editing software.

Notably, before the photo incident, the royals had remained true to their original decided to deviate from tradition by sharing his prostate cancer diagnosis. Charles’ forthrightness has benefits, such as raising awareness for his condition and the importance of testing. However, Charles decided to share this news himself, whereas Middleton was pressured into releasing diagnostic information.

COMMUNITY-LED CRISIS RESPONSE

C.L.C.R. is a peer-assisted care program and a mobile crisis response team, led by persons with lived and/or living experience and mental health professionals, who are able to de-escalate crises and develop community care plans with persons experiencing crisis. Service hours are listed below.

Call: 250-818-2454

Hours: Mon-Friday 7:30am-1230am Saturday & Sunday 2pm-9pm

At the end of February, royal aides released a statement to the Sun newspaper which referred to the “madness of social media” and reiterated the princess’ “right to privacy.” Middleton followed tradition by being reticent, but the public willingness to allow this has seemingly shifted. Middleton’s video brings the real-life impacts of this into focus: a mother of three has received a devastating diagnosis while contending with voracious public attention. We can hope that Princess Kate will be given the space she needs to heal. Unfortunately, the situation reveals deeper issues within digital culture, where boundaries are ambiguous and misinformation can circulate. Going down the social media rabbit hole may be fun, but everyone, even a princess, deserves

Photo via katemiddletonstyle.org.

6 GREAT FILMS · 3 FUN WEEKS

The downfall of dating apps

Dating is hard for Gen Z, and dating apps aren't helping

Let’s face it: romance is dead. While you may know the odd happy couple that have somehow been together since the dawn of time, the rest of us are struggling to navigate the dating scene in our digital world. Long gone are the days of passing notes in class, and instead we have men sending “You up?” texts at 2 a.m. as our new courting ritual. Call me old-fashioned, but all I want is to be taken out on a nice date.

Like many people, I avoided using dating apps because I wanted to meet potential partners naturally. When I started my first year at UVic, this seemed reasonable, since living on campus meant I was meeting new people almost every day. But during my second year, I soon realized the rate at which I was meeting new people was beginning to slow down and the number of potential suitors in the wild was dwindling quickly.

At the start of my first year, I had a brief experience with Tinder. Tied with Bumble, Tinder was the most used dating app in the U.S. last year. After hearing my fair share of Tinder stories from friends, I was intrigued enough to try it. Tinder describes itself as “the place to be to meet your next best match”, and I was going to put it to the test.

Tinder’s unique feature is the swiping function: left to say no, right to say yes. The swiping makes Tinder feel like a

game, and the reward is getting a match. After the initial dopamine rush of making a match, I quickly lost interest when the majority of people I matched with didn’t even message me, and if they did, the conversations were short and lackluster.

Tinder’s setup is great for finding interested singles in your area but rarely fosters genuine conversations. Furthermore, Tinder has garnered a reputation for being the "Netflix and chill" app, where you can find fun for the night. If you’re interested in going on a date, I recommend skipping

Tinder and looking elsewhere.

My friend wisely advised me, “If you actually want to go on dates, use Hinge. Men on Tinder only want to hook up.” Unlike Tinder, Hinge describes itself as “the dating app designed to be deleted”, boasting its top-notch algorithm meant to direct you to people with similar interests.

A Hinge profile comprises images and prompts, meant to help people engage in conversations based on similar interests, personal stories, and date ideas. On Hinge, you can send someone a "like", and if they accept

it, you can match and then start a conversation.

Initially, I found Hinge very promising. After only a few days, I had engaged in more genuine conversations than I ever had on Tinder. However, very few people showed interest in taking the next step and moving our budding relationship from online to in-person. Even with my (albeit subpar) efforts to move things along, I felt an overwhelming lack of interest from my matches in taking me out on a real date.

Where did it all go wrong? Over the

years, dating has become more casual. The internet played a huge role in this since social media has made it possible to connect with people 24/7. Our parents’ generation didn’t have cell phones, and could only talk to each other on a landline. The accessibility of talking to people online has ruined the novelty of getting to know someone the good old-fashioned way. While this may save us from many awkward first dates, it also has taken away a large chunk of dating culture, since people are comfortable getting to know one another over a series of texts instead of drinks.

While dating apps once provided a promising way to meet new people, over the past decade, they’ve slowly been losing downloads, and not due to a lack of interest in dating. MatchGroup, the owner of Tinder, reports that Gen Z users are seeking “a lower pressure, more authentic way to find connections.” Gen Z users have paradoxical interests of wanting to find a genuine connection while simultaneously seeking these connections on dating apps based on initial attractions.

So where do we go to find love? My best recommendation is to skip the dating apps, however tempting they may be. The data supports taking it slow, and forming friendships before jumping into relationships. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there: love may be closer than you think.

How Canadians are losing money to artifcial intelligence

ATUM BECKETT SENIOR STAFF WRITER

“This is your grandson. I was just in a car crash, and I’m being held in jail. I need $5 000 to make bail.”

After uploading less than 30 seconds of me talking, I was able to create a half-decent clone of my voice that could say this exact quotation. While it might not fool everyone, I know that it would be enough to convince my grandma.

I used the website Speechify to do this, but there are many other options to choose from that are just as easy to use, and most importantly: free.

And chances are, this technology is only going to get better and better.

Like any hot new tech, it’s no surprise that people have found new and elaborate ways to commit crimes with it. As the annual Fraud Prevention Month has come to an end, it’s time to look at whether Canadians are prepared for the changing landscape of financial scams powered by artificial intelligence.

AI-POWERED SCAMS

Earlier this year, Hong Kong police reported that a finance employee was tricked out of $35 million CAD of his firm’s money. The culprits? His bosses — or so he thought. As it turned out, the employee was not on a video conference call with senior executives as he believed, but rather pre-recorded deepfakes of them.

Deepfakes are “media manipulations that are based on advanced artificial intelligence (AI), where images, voices, videos, or text are digitally altered or fully generated by AI,” according to the Canadian government, which also calls them “a real threat to a Canadian future.” It has become incredibly easy to look and sound like somebody — anybody — else.

But this isn’t just some phenomenon that only appears in high-level corporate espionage. It might be happening to your grandparents.

In late February, Nanaimo RCMP were bombarded with reports that many residents received fraudulent phone calls claiming that their family members were

being held in jail and needed money to be released. AI had been used to copy the voices of the victims’ loved ones.

“While the scenario varied somewhat, it involved their grandson being arrested after a motor vehicle accident involving a pregnant woman. To be released from jail, a large sum of money had to be delivered immediately,” reads the RCMP release. Some victims lost $3 000–8 000.

Two individuals were arrested at the Vancouver International Airport for scamming over $20 000 from Saanich residents using similar tactics. It is unclear whether they are connected to the cases from Nanaimo.

“There could be 10–20 people in any given location calling people all day long,” said Gary O’Brien, a Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson.

This type of scam, known commonly as the ‘grandparent scam,’ isn’t anything new, but these advancing technologies allow them to be done more realistically than ever before.

“Fraud has rapidly evolved over the last 20 years and has become

much more sophisticated,” said Josephine Palumbo, a deputy commissioner from the Canadian Competition Bureau.

“We've transitioned from telemarketing scams to increasingly convincing AI-generated fraud,” added Palumbo. “Fraudsters are incorporating artificial intelligence into old schemes to make them more sophisticated and convincing.”

A report from Statista and Sumsub shows that Canada has experienced a 477 per cent increase in deepfake-related fraud cases from 2022–2023. While that is a staggering number, it pales in comparison to how hard some other countries have been hit. The United States, for example, had a 3 000 per cent increase in the same time frame. This means Canadians are losing money to fraud — a lot of it. Reported losses reached $567 million for Canadians in 2023.

However, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) says that only 5–10 per cent of Canadian fraud victims report it.

AI technology isn’t just being

used to scare older people out of their money with cloned voices. Investment opportunity scams are becoming increasingly detrimental to Canadians as well. Promises of making a fortune off a hot new cryptocurrency — no matter how tempting — are something to stay away from.

Sammy Wu, a manager of investigations from the British Columbia Security Commission (BCSC) explained that as AI scams advance, they are becoming harder for the BCSC to detect. Poorly designed websites with grammatical errors are no longer the hallmark of a scam.

“[Initially] we [saw] a lot of spelling errors and we [saw] a lot of mistakes,” said Wu. “Now, they're very polished, and I think a lot of these have AI components.”

As these bogus investment opportunities become more believable, it’s easier now than ever to fall for something that seems too good to be true. To make matters even more complicated, fraudsters are also using deepfaked testimonials of celebrities to promote what

Illustration by Sage Blackwell.

they’re peddling.

A convincingly accurate Elon Musk could tell you about a new opportunity guaranteed to make you money, and before you know it your initial investment is gone. What’s easier than stealing money from someone? Having them give it to you themselves.

As the barrier of entry to this technology disappears, Wu says entities like the BCSC are struggling to keep up. While AI-generated websites can be shut down, his description of the problem evokes a game of Whacka-Mole.

“One shuts down, 10 pop up, 20 pop up. You can never catch up,” said Wu. “The amount of losses is tremendous.”

The unfortunate truth is that if you do fall victim to a scam, chances are, that money is gone for good. In the last three years, the CAFC has only been able to help recover $6.7 million, or about one per cent of what was lost in 2023 alone.

Instead, experts say the best thing to do is to educate yourself to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

THE LEGAL RISKS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

While AI is used by some criminals to scam people out of money, it is also finding a place on the other side of the law. But as this technology advances at an accelerated rate, the rules and regulations have been left playing catch up.

The British Columbia Law Institute released a “consultation paper on artificial intelligence and civil liability” last year. It states that “Artificial intelligence

has brought about a very new context, one in which selfdirecting machines acting autonomously may cause harm to humans, to their property, or other interests protected by law.”

As the ethics of using AI in a setting with real legal implications continue to become increasingly complicated, the rules and regulations become even more important.

A B.C. lawyer recently apologized for using the popular AI software Chat GPT to help her research for a case. The AI suggested two cases for her to cite, but they turned out to be pure fiction.

“These models are known to hallucinate, to give misleading answers, [and] just completely make up answers,” said Payam Mousavi, an applied research scientist from the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institution.

While the term “hallucination” has become commonplace when referring to incorrect information generated by AI, it does lend itself to putting humanistic traits onto what is in reality just a collection of algorithms.

“When you chat with a chatbot and it sounds exactly like a human, it seems to understand,” said Mousavi. “If you expect them to be exactly like humans and then they fail in catastrophic and sometimes funny ways, you realize, ‘Okay, I'm just dealing with a machine.’”

But if a large company has an AI chatbot employed, these “funny” mistakes can mean real trouble — or even a lawsuit. Air Canada has already felt the effects of this.

In late 2022, the airline’s chatbot told a customer that he

could receive a bereavement discount for his flights. After booking, he was told that he had to have applied for the discount prior to his flight, which directly contradicted what he was told by the AI.

While Air Canada only had to pay the customer $812, this verdict shows that trusting an AI to speak for you can leave you on the hook for the information it provides.

In a world where ‘fake news’ and disinformation run rampant, public distrust perpetuated by inaccurate AI could be a real problem.

“Once you start distrusting [AI], that might actually transfer to distrusting people too,” said Mousavi. “I don't know if I'm interacting with a machine or a human being. So basically my default mode, I feel like it's slowly changing to assume all of it is garbage unless proven otherwise.”

While the Canadian government has encouraged employees to use AI tools such as ChatGPT in federal institutions, it also warns of the problems that can come from it.

The government’s guide on AI suggests “generating a summary of client information” as one way to use the technology. It makes you wonder how much of your personal information a government employee may be inputting into one of these constantly evolving and learning models. As we’re still learning about the capabilities of this new technology, the consequences of using it are unclear.

PROTECTING YOURSELF

If you have been scammed or believe there has been an attempt to scam you, reporting it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, RCMP, or a provincial organization is an important step in helping stop it from happening to others.

But how do you prevent this from happening in the first place in a world where you can no longer trust your eyes or ears? Gone are the days when robotic voices and hands with too many fingers were tell-tale signs of AI tomfoolery.

Just like any scam, it comes down to looking at the bigger picture, and ultimately trusting your gut.

Cryptocurrency investment scams that promise high rates of return work by making you feel like you’re missing out, pushing you to invest quickly without thinking about any red flags. Similarly, something like the grandparent scam preys on rash decision making in a time of emergency.

“They create a sense of urgency,” said Wu. “Those are all classic signs.”

University students, especially international students, looking to make a little extra cash are the prime targets for another aspect of financial scams: becoming a money mule. These are people used to launder money for fraudsters without even knowing it.

“Someone approaches you and says, ‘Hey, we have a part time job here for you. What you can do is just open an account, make some money. I'll just use your account to flow some money in and out,’” said Wu. “We do find

a lot of students, they’re just not aware and they become victimized indirectly.”

As AI advances, it’s up to you to keep yourself and the people in your life educated and diligent on the ways that it can be used against you. If you’re not looking out for yourself, no one will.

Whether you’ve already integrated AI into your everyday life or refuse to interact with it at all, it’s here to stay.

I’ve now started to think about the content I have readily available to anyone on social media. Any Instagram videos that I uploaded for fun could be fuel to create a convincing AI replica of myself. Our digital footprint is an ever evolving database of personal information, ready to be used nefariously by anyone with an Wi-Fi signal.

Image by Chloe Latour.

UVic announces winners of annual writing contest

Meet the undergraduate students who placed frst with their writing on equity, diversity, and human rights

SYDNEY LOBE SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The University of Victoria’s annual on the Verge writing contest, facilitated by UVic Libraries and Equity & Human Rights UVic, has come and gone once again. First and second place and honourable mention prizes have been awarded to 11 undergraduate writers.

The first place winners — Tessa Thevenot, Cate Freeborn, Saule Olson, and Hannah Brown, who won in the fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and spoken word categories respectively — sat down with the Martlet to talk inspiration, process, and what this win means for a young writer.

Congratulations also to Eli Pazder, Parris Mook-Sang-Forbes, Nico Caparas, Rita Bunrayong, El Newell, Alex Da Matta, and Ruby Harris whose works either took second or placed as honourable mentions in the contest.

The theme of on the Verge 2024 was equity, diversity, and human rights. Winning submissions, chosen by guest judge Thembelihle Moyo, interpreted the theme in myriad ways. Their works consider ecological equity; freedom and belonging in one’s cultural heritage; empowerment within one’s own gender, sexuality, and

neurodivergence; colonial legacies; and reclamations of identity.

TESSA THEVENOT, FIRST PLACE IN FICTION

Thevenot’s “Red Cedar Confessionals of the Rich Man’s Sport” looks at the impact that climate change has on fish size, through one conversation between a bartender and patron at a fishing lodge. According to Thevenot, it’s based on conversations she has had herself.

“It’s a bit dystopian, but it’s based in fact,” she says.

Thevenot spent a summer working in a lodge in Haida Gwaii — a location that remained at the top of her mind while she was writing her submission.

The short story is actually a restructuring of the opening chapter of her novel-inprogress. By working so closely with a single chapter during the contest submission process, Thevenot realized what work remained on the rest of her novel.

Thevenot hopes to bring attention to the ways people respond to the environment and what our ecological future may look like. “I really hope that my short story opens up some eyes to that,” Thevenot says.

CATE FREEBORN, FIRST PLACE IN POETRY

Freeborn won first place in the contest’s poetry category with a freeform poem called “At 19, I am diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder”. A version of the poem, Freeborn says, was originally written almost two years ago, following her initial diagnosis. When she saw the contest’s theme, she picked it up again, revised it from her current retrospective standpoint, and submitted it.

The poem wrestles with the experience of neurodivergence and trauma, wondering, in some respect, what one is to do with the cards they have been dealt.

“I was trying to write a poem specifically about autism to encapsulate my experience,” says Freeborn.

When she was diagnosed with autism, Freeborn could find very little media representing experiences similar to her own, so this piece is also a brick in the wall, so to speak, working to fill what she identifies as a “gap in literature”.

SAULE OLSON, FIRST PLACE IN NON-FICTION

Saule Olson’s “Resuscitating myself” is a short work of non-fiction about freedom,

belonging, and identity. The piece considers the weight of a name, a place to call home, and a cultural heritage through the author’s exploration of her own experience as a Kazakh-Canadian.

Writing is a form of release or freedom for Olson, but she also sees it as a way of stepping into power. In the past, Olson shares, she has let other people speak into her identity before she spoke into her own cultural roots as Kazakh. She says that this piece of writing was an act of reclamation.

After winning the contest, Olson says she realized, “I am powerful with my words.”

For Olson, writing is putting structure to ephemerality and chaos, and the fun of it is finding decolonial and authentic writing practices to accurately mirror her lived experiences.

“I like to write into the silences that I've lived in,” Olson says, adding that this piece of writing was a freeing experience, and she hopes that this work resonated with or inspired its readers too.

HANNAH BROWN, FIRST PLACE IN SPOKEN WORD

“I am me,” Brown’s winning spoken word submission, considers various seen and unseen aspects of identity that create the

self. The work was inspired by conversations Brown was having with those around them about identity and privilege. The juxtaposition of their marginalized identities — to do with their disability, queerness, and sexuality — and their whiteness and visible privilege creates what Brown calls a “liminal space of marginalization.”

Their main work is as an advocate for accessibility and within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Before the contest, Brown says, they never thought they were a creative person.

“Spoken word is quite new to me,” says Brown. “[I thought] I might as well put it out there and see if it resonates with other folks,”

Now though, they are looking forward to exploring new — possibly creative, less traditional, and decolonial — avenues for communicating around accessibility and advocacy.

The winners, across every category, expressed that their success was encouraging and affirming, and to future potential entrants they have equally heartening things to say.

“Don't hesitate,” says Thevenot. Brown adds, “If you never try, you'll never know. And you might surprise yourself with what you're capable of.”

Love Lies Bleeding: a queer love story with a dark twist

Love an '80s themed movie? Or a dark, hot thriller? This movie is for you

MELODY POWERS SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Sex, drugs, muscles, and murder is what to expect with the new lesbian thriller Love Lies Bleeding. Directed and co-written by Rose Glass and the lastest A24 production, this ‘80s neo-noir thriller is set in small town New Mexico and follows Lou (played by Twilight alum Kristen Stewart) who works at a small gym where she meets Jackie (Katy O’Brian), a body-builder wannabe. Soon they start a roid-rage love affair, but things quickly turn after Lou’s sister Beth (played by Jena Malone) is hospitalized by her husband JJ (Dave Franco).

The first half of this movie focuses on Lou and Jackie slowly falling in love as Jackie trains for a body-building competition in Las Vegas, while also showing the abuse Beth faces in the hands of her husband. This half also introduces Lou’s weird father, Lou Sr. (Ed Harris), who is being investigated by the FBI.

As the movie progresses, things start to unravel and Jackie slowly succumbs to

her steroid addiction. The end the movie changes from a realistic neo-noir into a magical realism film that requires you to suspend your disbelief.

The success of Love Lies Bleeding has proven once again that Stewart is an actor who needs to be recognized for her talents outside of her Twilight past. She stole the attention on screen and her chemistry with O’Brian was intoxicating. While their on-screen relationship was toxic and unhealthy, I was still left wanting them to be together. O’Brian’s character’s descent into madness was well portrayed and happened gradually, so it felt more realistic when she fully succumbed to her drug addiction.

Along with his costars, Harris portrayed Lou’s crazy father as a creepy yet down to earth villain. His character was complex, and I questioned if he was the bad guy he was made out to be. Overall, each one of the actors pulled their weight, portraying complex, likeable characters despite their intense flaws. I was even left wondering if the abusive husband JJ was as bad as

he was portrayed.

Another aspect that this movie succeeded in was the cinematography. The dark neo-noir lighting was powerful at conveying an uneasy feeling throughout. As the movie moved into magical realism, the lighting slowly started to get brighter and more unrealistic, just like the story and the characters. The use of purple and blue neon lighting of the gym also played into the overall ‘80s vibe of the film.

I went into this movie blind, having only seen a few TikToks about it, so to say that I was confused the whole time is an understatement. While I did enjoy the performances and the way the plot kept me on the edge of my seat, I left the theatre extremely confused.

The switch to magical realism came too quickly in my opinion, and I did not see the ending coming. When it was over, I really questioned who I should root for, if anyone. It felt like one of those movies I would only fully understand during a second watch by overanalyzing every scene and piece of dialogue.

In the end, after I suspended my disbelief and accepted Lou and Jackie as unreliable narrators, I did overall like the film. It was a steamy lesbian murder movie, and it wasn’t like anything I had watched before. Stewart once again reminded me that she’s an actor that deserves to be respected, and the movie kept me

guessing what was going to happen next.

I don’t think this film is for everyone, but if you’re a fan of thriller movies, love an ‘80s period piece, or love a classic A24 production, I think this movie is for you.

Photo via vanityfair.com.

CULTURE

Hell of a Ride: In conversation with Martin Bauman

UVic alumnus publishes debut novel about his 7000-kilometer, cross- country bike trek for mental health

TW: This article discusses depression, suicide, and trauma.

UVic Writing alumnus Martin Bauman (MFA ‘21) recently published his debut novel, Hell of a Ride, which reflects on his cross-country bike ride in 2016, with which he raised over $10 000 for mental health initiatives. I recently had the opportunity to talk with Bauman about his ride, his book, and mental health.

THE RIDE

“I was 23 years old turning 24 that summer and some of it was just a pure adventure. The idea of seeing the country from coast to coast was appealing.” But there were deeper motivations. “I was doing the ride as a fundraiser for community-based mental health services,” he explained, which was something close to him. “I lost a cousin to suicide when I was 10 and saw my dad go through a major depression when I was 13 going on 14. I was comfortable talking about them but I think the ride was a chance for me to begin to feel more comfortable talking about myself and what I’ve lived through.” One of his favorite parts of the ride was the people he met, including four people in Ontario who inadvertently became a “pseudo-family, this traveling band of misfits … who would inevitably run into each other for a stretch of four, five, six days on the road.”

“I don’t think I would’ve made it across if it had been truly solitary,” Bauman said. Beyond the physical challenges of a 7000-kilometer bike trek, Bauman shared that the mental side of the ride was more difficult than anticipated, particularly the wind and isolation on the prairies. In one terrifying moment, Bauman was caught in a prairie thunderstorm, with lightning cracking around him. “It was scary, really scary. I thought I was going to die that day but I didn’t want shelter at that moment and I didn’t want the sun to come back out. I just wanted company, I just wanted human companionship.”

Bauman cites Terry Fox as a primary inspiration. “He’s a huge hero of mine,” he reflected. “[Fox] seems like a Canadian

that has sort of stood the test of time, his ideals, what he stood for, what he represented, what he fought for. It really hit home to me — it still does.”

“When it came to the idea of the ride, of course he was on my mind … So I kind of set out in my own personal tribute to him and I was curious to see what sort of things I might be able to relate to in his life.”

WRITING AND PUBLISHING A BOOK

“I write in the acknowledgements that riding a bike at the time was the hardest thing I’d ever done, but by far writing a book afterwards was harder,” he said.

MENTAL HEALTH

For Bauman, the ride was a “concrete reminder of some core truths, one of them being that we’re not as alone as we think we may be.”

Throughout his ride, strangers supported Bauman. “Those gestures, big and small, meant a lot and were real reminders of the truth that people care and you’re not as alone as you may feel. I know that it’s not always easy to remember that and in the depths of things; depression can really narrow your field of vision and you can feel like you can only see a foot, two feet in front of you. But if you can find that perspective every now and then to be reminded of the fact people care and we’re not in this alone.”

Writing offered Bauman an opportunity to “comb the depths of [his] life and upbringing.”

“I don’t know that without writing that book I would’ve started therapy, so that was a positive,” he added with a laugh.

Bauman had many influences, including his supervisor, Deborah Campbell, Blair Braverman, Greg Gilhooly, and his peers at UVic. “It was a great time in my life,” he said, “to just spend every day writing and reading, getting inspired and being around other inspiring writers. It really helped this book come to life. I don’t see it being nearly the same book without my time in Victoria.”

Bauman hopes that “men in particular can read this book and feel more comfortable talking about their struggles, whatever those struggles may be.”

Hell of a Ride is an engaging blend of literary nonfiction and journalism, and recently won first place in the sixth annual Pottersfield Prize for Creative Nonfiction. The novel is available in stores now, including at Munro’s Books. Bauman currently lives in Halifax, working as a reporter for The Coast.

Photo via @martin_bauman on X.

A guide to on-campus housing at UVic My experience and advice for incoming students

BRYNN GEDDES CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Before coming to UVic, I found it nearly impossible to find any pictures or advice regarding the various residence buildings and dorm options.

I sifted through what information I could find, and made my decision. When I applied for on-campus housing, I was sure I would get into the pod housing and wouldn’t be subject to the dreaded meal plan like those living in the single and double dorms are. I wrote my application essay about wanting to make new friends and how I have irritable bowel syndrome, so the meal plan isn’t exactly ideal for me. To my dismay, I did not get in. I instead ended up in one of my other top choices, a Čeqʷəŋín ʔéʔləŋ single dorm.

Until move-in day, I had no idea that the dorm I accepted was the size of a shoebox.

Trust me, I’m grateful to have a roof over my head. But when it costs $274 more than the other single dorms, I expected the accommodations to be a bit more impressive. However, I quickly realized that this was not the case. When you share a building with 400 people, things get worn down quickly. The elevator and bathrooms are constantly out of order and the washing machines are always leaking. It’s noisy, the rooms are tiny, and the large number of residents makes me feel like an insignificant speck of dust in the cosmos.

do). I’m glad I lived on campus for one reason and one reason only: the experience.

I’ve dreamt my whole life about what ‘the college experience’ would be like. Sure, it was absolutely not what I pictured, and I complained about it constantly, but I wouldn’t have known that if I didn’t try it. Living on campus was my first solo experience. I might not have had to cook for myself or clean very much, but there was no one to tell me if I was living the right way. It was close to my classes so I barely ever showed up late (which was a big issue for me in highschool), and I did occasionally invite new friends up to my dorm since it was so convenient.

I now have stories about the fire alarm going off in the middle of the night, my neighbours messing up the bathroom and it being the most antagoizing thing in my life for a couple months, going to lame campus parties and overall moments that I will remember for at least the next couple years.

I thought these might just be my own introverted complaints until I heard the same opinions from other students living on campus. When residents from the smaller buildings go into the new buildings, they tell me that they get an uneasy vibe from the way we interact with each other. Not many people know or talk to each other in the common areas. There’s no real sense of community, outside of a select few friend groups. I now think that it would be better to live in a smaller space that forces you to get to know each other. After discussing with 27 friends and/or strangers (three from each residence neighbourhood) I had my suspicions confirmed. Those living in smaller communities were more satisfied overall. Sure, they might have to deal with cold water, broken appliances, and electrical issues more frequently than I do, but the downsides are outweighed by the comfort of having a tight-knit community.

So, the best advice I could give to someone planning to live on campus is to get your priorities straight. Which do you value more: comfort or connection?

If it’s comfort, go for Tower, or South Tower, or maybe even Čeqʷəŋín ʔéʔləŋ or Sŋéqə ʔéʔləŋ. These newer residences tend to have more trustworthy appliances and better washroom situations. And yes, I did complain about those things earlier,

but from what those in residences like Craigdarroch and Lansdowne have told me, the new building might be a bit more reliable when it comes to sturdy furniture, heating, electricity, and hot water (which apparently some of the other buildings rarely have). They might not be cozy in a social way, but when contrasted with UVic’s older residences, they might be easier to get a good night's sleep in.

If you think you could overcome the issues I just mentioned, I would recommend Park, McGill, Lansdowne, or Craigdarroch. These are the buildings that I’ve seen really strong bonds come out of, that read kind of like a found family. Everyone knows each other. They’ll say hi when passing each other in the hallway. If I could do it all over again, I probably

Trust your gut The inconclusive science behind probiotics

KATE BOURDON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

With the explosion of interest in the microbiome and gut health, most people are aware of the bacteria and other organisms living in their body. This area of science has been super trendy recently, and for good reason. The human microbiome may have large-scale effects on mood, cancer risk, and even life span. Entrepreneurs have recognized this, and have produced a wide array of products and services claiming vaguely to ‘improve’ your microbiome. However, for many consumers, this influx of healthpromoting products begs the following question: do these products really work?

First, a short introduction to the human microbiome. It’s not just the bacteria that live in our intestines. On nearly every surface of your body, internal and external, there is a symbiotic community of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other organisms. Diverse communities exist in your mouth, on your skin, and of course in your gut, and the composition varies from site to site.

Our microbiome is generally beneficial, and assists with many necessary bodily tasks like digestion, defence against infection, and production of beneficial nutrients. The type of bacteria present in your gut depends on your lifestyle, genetics, and environment. The foods you eat and the medications you take have major roles in shaping your bacterial composition. All of this variability leads to a pain in the neck for scientists. Researching this unique part of the human body is very complex.

What scientists are still not sure of though, is the ability of probiotics — edible supplements of live, beneficial bacteria — to benefit all people who take them. Touted for their gut-healing abilities, supplements containing probiotics have received a lot of attention lately. One way that our bodies oppose these products is something called colonization resistance, a process by which already established bacteria in your gut resist the attempts of new, foreign bacteria to set up shop. Colonization resistance, like many other facets of the microbiota, varies from person to person. Probiotic supplements stick around in some people’s guts, but get flushed through others. So how do you know if your microbiome is going to be partial to these probiotics or not?

If we could see the bacterial composition of the intestinal microbiome, we could be able to solve some of the problems associated with microbial differences. From this data, we could determine if the microbes present are permissive of or resistant to colonization by probiotics.

Thankfully, scientists do have a method like this at their disposal. Microbiome sequencing is an emerging tool that has caused a major stir in the scientific community. This technique has given us the ability to probe an individual’s gut microbiota to see the full genome of the microbes that are present.

One of UVic’s resident experts on the human microbiome, Dr. Lauren Davey, is a professor in the biochemistry and microbiology department. Her class, Microbiota and Human Health, provides a host of engaging information, from

would have put these options near the top of my list.

If you want something in the middle, go for Ring Road or Gordon Head. I’ve heard very mixed reviews, but from the short amount of time I’ve spent in these neighbourhoods, they seem like great options.

I’ve heard from my friends in Cluster and off-campus housing that they much prefer their accommodations to mine. However, off-campus housing is inaccessible to some, and Cluster is not usually open to first-year students. That being said, I would recommend on-campus housing to first-year students, regardless of what residence or housing style they end up in. Despite all my moaning and groaning (which I love to

Most of the friends I made were from my classes, so it wouldn’t have made a difference socially if I’d have spent my first year off campus. However, not everyone is like me. I’ve seen plenty of my neighbours living their best college lives, going out on the weekend and running down the hallways at 1 a.m. All in all, your on-campus experience will depend on your personality and the luck of the draw.

So, to sum up my advice, give campus living a try. I still wish that the pod housing would have accepted my application, but if I could do it again, I would put places like Park, McGill, and Craigdarroch in my top five choices. Regardless of where you end up, you’ll make some memories. And if you end up regretting it, you can always look for a place off-campus for your second semester

Hopefully, this article pops up just when you need it, so you don’t make the same uninformed decision that I did.

microbiome basics to emerging discoveries in the field. I reached out over email to hear her thoughts about these trendy probiotic products.

“Commercial probiotics and microbiome sequencing services are often expensive, and while they can offer a peek into our gut health, the ability to turn this data into personalized advice isn't quite there yet.

The field is rapidly evolving, but realistically, we're about five years away from confidently using this information to improve health outcomes. The potential is huge, but the science hasn't caught up yet.”

It seems like sequencing may not be the answer, but other emerging areas of science could tell us if our guts are

susceptible to probiotics. A way that scientists are trying to address the complexities of the microbiome is with machine learning. Using an artificial gut and an algorithm, researchers are predicting what probiotics can be successful, without needing any experiments at all.

Additionally, current research is looking into the ingestion of a probiotic with a prebiotic (food that you can’t digest, but bacteria can) as a way of increasing colonization. These are known as ‘synbiotics’, and are being investigated as a potential treatment for conditions like diabetes and arthritis.

So then what’s our consensus? Can probiotics contribute to a healthy lifestyle

and fix all of our problems? The short and unfulfilling answer is maybe, but we’re not completely sure yet. For some people, the answer may be yes. Because of the massive amount of variance from person to person, proof of probiotic efficacy is hard to nail down.

Like many areas of science, microbiome research is uncovering new advances all the time, and though there have been some promising results, nothing is conclusive yet. As for right now, you probably don’t need to run to your local pharmacy and shell out for a pricey supplement. Instead, maybe just settle for a few bites of Greek yogurt.

Illustration by Chloe Latour.

This data was pulled from discussion with three residents of each neighbourhood/housing-style from both this year and last year (27 total).

The best used bookstores in and around Victoria

Make reading affordable and sustainable with these fve second-hand bookshops

KIERA CLARK VOLUNTEER STAFF WRITER

Everything seems to be getting more expensive, and books are no exception. When paperbacks can cost upwards of $20 each, buying new books isn’t always an option. At that price, it can be hard to justify spending that kind of money on a book you might not enjoy. It can also often be challenging to find used bookstores in the area, as there are so few remaining. But I’ve managed to gather a list of my favorites.

Here are five second-hand bookstores to help you find your next read at an affordable price.

THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP

My favorite place to find used books is The Haunted Bookshop. Located in Sidney, The Haunted Bookshop is the oldest bookstore on Vancouver Island and was first opened in 1947. The fifth and current owner, William Matthews, took over the store in 2020. It is a maze of used books, with stacks piled from floor to ceiling. They carry a wide collection of rare and vintage books, including Shakespeare and other classics. They also have a variety of vintage maps, prints, and postcards. The Haunted Bookshop is a store you could easily browse for hours on end and still have more to find.

BASTION BOOKS

HUMOUR

“treasure trove of gently loved books.” Just look for the blue bicycle to find this hidden gem.

BOOKS & SHENANIGANS

This cute and eccentric bookstore sells new and used books, along with a variety of toys, games, and other knick knacks. In the heart of Cook Street Village, their colourful storefront welcomes you inside with its brightly painted exterior. Deceptively small from the outside, Books & Shenanigans has multiple rooms with a “carefully curated and eclectic mix” of books. The store is right next to Moka House, making it easy to grab a good book, get a snack, and read for hours. There is also a beautiful and whimsical mural inside which immerses you in the quirky atmosphere of the shop. Plus, they have a shelf of free books outside the store.

owned company that was initially founded in Montreal in 1961. Russell Books originally opened in Victoria in 1991, but the store moved to a new location across Fort Street in 2019 due to spatial constraints. With such a huge collection, you’ll have no trouble finding your next read here.

SUBTEXT

Tucked away in historic Bastion Square, Bastion Books carries contemporary and vintage second-hand books. They have an excellent selection of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books.

RUSSELL BOOKS

Bastion Books also has a very friendly shop dog that enhances the wonderful, cozy atmosphere. There are even comfy chairs and a children’s reading nook to sit and read surrounded by books. One Google review sums up Bastion Books beautifully, calling it a

Hell is a UVic cluster party A 2021 retrospective

BENNETT GILLELAND CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The time I spent partying at UVic that fateful fall semester in 2021 is time I’ll never get back. UVic students had the devil in them, and the liquor let it out.

I remember when I stumbled down to that first slice of hell. It was a wet September night in Cadboro Bay. The beach was lined with a horde of strangers exchanging socials and 30-second greetings. Students stumbled through the sand and drank their $9 wine. Creepy men hid in the limited visibility. Not a single LED or flashlight in sight, the beach was completely dark until that first flicker of red and blue.

The cops arrived and killed the buzz. A thousand students scurried up Sinclair Road. Victoria sidewalks could never handle such traffic. The swarm spilt out onto the street, and cars honked their way through the pandemonium. I saw drinks chucked into oncoming windshields and people jumping onto hoods.

I separated from the group once the

herd returned to campus, and the next morning I saw Global News had picked up the story. I even heard that they expelled a couple of kids, but I don’t know for certain. Classes hadn’t even started. Sometimes on a quiet night, I can still hear them chanting. “Cluster 60! Cluster 60! Cluster 60!”

If campus parties were hell, then Cluster 60 was the ninth circle. With every weekend came a single intrusive thought shared by a battalion of frat boy foot soldiers. How can we cure our boredom in the most destructive way possible? I’ve experienced more vandalism in UVic cluster housing than anywhere else in my life. Stop signs ripped out of the concrete, litres of dish soap poured into Petch Fountain. Another time I saw someone, while campus security was watching, punch out a window after arguing with their boyfriend.

Campus Security didn’t do a damn thing about it either, but in my experience, that’s routine for them. The Community Leaders are no different. Either they act like students and let their friends drink, or they call CSec if they see a single empty

can. At the end of the day, they likely won’t lift a finger if there’s a real threat. It’s beyond their pay grade.

I can understand the desperate appeal of cluster parties if you’re 18, a first-year, and still not allowed at the bar. But my advice? Sit this one out for another year.

UVic doesn’t tell you in the orientation booklet that living on campus has a risk of imminent injury. In the span of one Halloween weekend, I sustained burns, bruises, and multiple lacerations. That year they started the biggest mosh pit I had ever seen. I walked right into the middle of it without even realizing. After the pit had swallowed, digested, and expelled me from its clutches, someone threw a bottle of Smirnoff from a thirdstory balcony. It shattered against my right hand and left a few shallow cuts with a splotchy bruise across the knuckle. I held a cold beer against it to reduce the swelling.

I went to tell my friends that I was leaving this cursed place to go home and cry when I noticed the crowd had dispersed from where I was standing. I heard a faint sizzling at my feet. Snuggling

No list of Victoria’s used bookstores would be complete without Russell Books. Perhaps the largest and most widely known, Russell Books has two floors of shelves lined with new and used books. It is a family-

Don’t want to venture off campus to find affordable second-hand books? SUBtext is more than just a place to consign your old textbooks. They have a wide variety of popular contemporary novels and nonfiction books, as well as plenty of classics. Recently, they’ve had popular books like Dune by Frank Herbert, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. SUBtext carries a variety of locally-made items, including artwork, stickers, pins, and jewelry. As a bonus, SUBtext also offers free board game rentals. Just leave your ONEcard and play as long as you want.

up next to my Blundstones was a lit firework. It erupted and my crotch was engulfed in a flare of red and purple sparks. It made my pant legs crispy and burned through to the thigh. I yelped like a branded animal. Nobody should ever have to leave a party with a charred ass.

Monday morning always looked like a tornado had blown through. An explosion of gutted trash cans, broken glass, and dried puke. Put that in your orientation booklet. A party fails when it lacks one thing: good people. I was unsuccessful in finding them here. Be safe if you decide to attend. You should party where the bouncer isn’t a coward, not here where campus security just daydreams about being cops.

Illustration by Abby Koning.

Illustration by Frankie Ho.

46. Nike and Adidas competitor brand, abbr.

47. Slang for an unenthusiastic text

49. An online diary

51. Mansion

53. The two most common answers to a question

54. Thirteenth letter of the alphabet

55. Stimulate appetite

56. How water runs

57. Elsa's sister in Frozen

59. Decent, especially for a golf player

63. Acquire

65. Compensated time away from work, abbr.

66. Ingredient that used to be in soap

67. One billion years

69. Part of a trip

71. Iron on the periodic table

72. Masculine article in Spanish

ACROSS

1. She dies in the first season of Stranger Things

5. Comedy show about a fake psychic cop

10. What carnivores eat

14. Canadian pharmacy chain

16. Band with a treadmill music video

17. Mescal, Giamatti, Rudd, McCartney

18. What a wasp attacks you with 20. Babies take a lot of them

21. Pig

22. Coding command prompt, abbr.

24. _ _ Studio, music production software

26. Not hard

29. Shortened word for "cartoon"

30. Peter Griffin's dog in Family Guy

33. How you might describe barrelaged wine

35. Annoy or irritate

36. Cowboy Lizard voiced by Johnny Depp

37. Alternate spelling to "slough"

38. A different and typically positive way

39. Star Wars show starring Diego Luna

40. Fifa and Madden video game company

41. Website domain used instead of ".com" in Germany

42. Beware the ___ __ March, or the day when Julius Caesar was assassinated

43. Japanese mobile game that has made over $7 billion, abbr.

45. Something that failed to work properly

48. Neither

49. Pollinator insect

50. Upper body appendage

52. Windows software company, abbr.

53. Complimentary colour to blue

56. Department that includes writing and acting, abbr.

58. Excessively talk

60. Aesthetic similar to goth or alternative

61. Like mountain biking, abbr.

62. What the Coastal Gaslink is designed to transport, abbr.

64. Italian city that is the birthplace of pizza

68. 2009 show that involved lots of singing

70. Nineteen minutes before 2:00

73. Time zone that is four hours ahead of us

74. Most of Earth's surface is covered in it

75. The study of wines