Mount Allison’s
THE November 21, 2013
ARGOSY Independent Student Newspaper
Starting our term papers tomorrow since 1872
Vol. 143 Iss. 11
Fifth-year graduating Mountie Nathan Zavarella gets an embrace after the teams valiant effort in the 2013 CIS Uteck Bowl. (Chris Donovan/Argosy)
Mounties fall to Laval; end miracle season at home
The Mount Allison Mounties came into the Uteck Bowl as an underdog against the defending national champions, the Université Laval Rouge-et-Or. Laval won 48-21, and advanced to their fourth Vanier Cup in as many years. Mt. A won their first Loney Bowl in fifteen years last weekend against the Saint Mary’s Huskies, 20-17. They fully exceeded fans’ expectations, and were only happy with their efforts against the Goliath that is Laval.
The Laval Rouge-et-Or were unbeaten on the season and looking to become the first team in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) history to play in four straight Vanier Cups. The disparity between the two teams went much further than that: Laval’s football budget is ten times larger, and its student body seventeen times larger, than Mt. A’s. The last time the two teams met, the game ended with a 73-7 win for Laval. No team from the Atlantic University Conference (AUS) had won the Uteck Bowl since 2007 when the Huskies beat Laval. Despite the stacked odds, Mounties coach Kelly Jeffrey was ecstatic heading into the game. “After five straight wins, we feel like it’s Goliath versus Goliath. These are two strong teams out here. We need to hang onto the football and have our passing game contribute some big plays because we cannot just depend on [ Jordan] Botel to carry us,” he said. That Mt. A was able to host the
game at all was something of a miracle: MacAulay Field, Mt. A’s football field, is grass, and a combination of use and Maritime fall weather had reduced much of it to mud in the weeks leading up to the game. Laval dominated the Mounties in the first quarter, scoring three touchdowns. The first quarter proved to be the difference in the game, as Mt. A could not overcome the big Laval lead. “The jitters at the start of the game hurt us, and after that the game was just too out of hand to catch up,” Mounties running back Jordan Botel said. The Mounties put together their first successful offensive drive of the game early in the second quarter, and capitalized when quarterback Brandon Leyh threw a fifteen yard touchdown pass to receiver Troy Trentham. Laval immediately responded as Pascal Lochard got his third touchdown of the half. Laval added a safety and the
teams went back to their locker rooms with the score Laval 30, Mt. A 7. The Rouge-et-Or scored both their touchdowns in the second half on big plays. The first was on an eighty yard touchdown pass, when Laval quarterback Alex Skinner threw to receiver Maxime Boutin, who sped past multiple Mounties defenders. CIS awarded the Most Valuable Player award to Laval’s Guillaume Rioux. Rioux caught two touchdowns in the air, and scored another on a punt return. His efforts alone were nearly the difference in the game. Brandon Leyh had a strong performance against one of the country’s top defences. He finished the game 22-of-36, with 260 yards and three touchdowns. Receivers Troy Trentham, Stu Moore, and Josh Blanchard caught the scoring passes. Skinner threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns for the Rouge-etOr. Laval had two 100-yard rushers: Lochard, who finished with 107 yards,
and Boutin, who rushed for 163. Uteck Bowl MVP Rioux had forty-five yards receiving and 172 punt return yards. Botel ran for seventy-nine yards and Trentham caught six passes for 100 yards receiving for the Mounties. This season was one of the most successful in the team’s history, winning just one of their first five games before a five game winning streak propelled them to the Uteck Bowl. “The last five years have been huge. [I’ve] played with tons of great players. This year we had so much talent and we just came together. This is a dream come true. My first start was at Laval and it feels right that [my] last start is [against them], too,” Mounties senior Alex Healy said. With their 48-21 Uteck Bowl win, Laval will try to win their CIS record eighth Vanier Cup against the Calgary Dinos at TELUS-Université Laval Stadium Saturday.
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Unjunking the junk DNA: Pg. 18
News Ship’s Log Opinions Arts & Literature Features Green Map Entertainment Sports Pg. Science Humour
Mounties lose in what can only be considered a win for the program Benjamin Foster Sports Writer
Protestors gather in Fredericton: Pg. 2
Rob Ford and politcal Mt.A shuts-out rival scandals: Pg. 6 Moncton 1-0 : Pg. 14
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NEWS
November 21, 2013
argosy@mta.ca
Diverse groups in legislature fracking protest Protestors march, give speeches in Fredericton against shale gas Kevin Levangie
Political Beat Writer
Around 400 protestors gathered outside in downtown Fredericton to protest shale gas development in the province at the opening of the New Brunswick Legislature. The Council of Canadians says around 650 participated, while police surrounding the event put the number at between 300 to 400 demonstrators. New Brunswick Premier David Alward refused to meet with the protestors, and told The Globe and Mail, “Chief [Candace] Paul has made it quite clear where her position is on resource development and at this point in time I don’t see what would be gained.” The government has repeatedly framed the gas exploration as a necessary injection of money for the economically depressed province. Given the widespread opposition among the members of her community, Paul said Alward’s refusal showed “a lack of respect.” “I am truly disappointed with our premier. He commented that it was
A number of Sackville residents and Mt. A students protested at the opening of the NB legislature. (Kevin Levangie/Argosy) pointless to meet with me,” she said. A diverse cross-section of New Brunswickers were represented in the protests, with students, members of the United Church, First Nations peoples, labour organizers, and many others gathered to protest. About ten Sackville residents, mainly members of the Tantramar Alliance Against Hydrofracking, made the trip to Fredericton, along with ten Mount Allison University students. The protest began on the front lawn of the legislature, eventually marching downtown through Queen Street, Regent Street, and King Street under police escort. After the march was
concluded, protestors went to a lot across the street from the legislature where local First Nations groups had set up a variety of traditional structures. Members of the St. Mary’s First Nation erected a traditional Wolastoqiyik—commonly referred to as Maliseet—longhouse housing a sacred fire. Members of the community tended the fire day and night for thirteen days, dismantling the longhouse on Nov. 6. Representatives from the Mi’kmaq and the Penobsquis First Nations also erected traditional structures on site. The lot, and the provincial
AUCC Open House held at Mount Allison University Event showcases university engagement with town Keegan Smith Last Friday, Mount Allison University hosted part of the nationwide Open Doors, Open Knowledge initiative, organized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. The event showcased programs orchestrated by members of the university, designed to foster cooperation between ‘town and gown’. Town Councillor Bill Evans welcomed attendees to the event on behalf of the town. A Mt. A graduate who has lived in Sackville since 1967, he feels that he has one foot in the town community and another in the university. He later commented that he was disappointed, but not surprised, by the poor turnout: There were no students in attendance. “Apathy’s always been a problem,” he said. Evans nonetheless remains optimistic. While town and gown relations have improved over the years, a lot remains to be done, and he sees encouraging student engagement as one of the best ways to get there. Evans believes that more is needed from everyone. “It’s part of continuing your education,” he said. “You could do a lot worse than doing some good.” While recognizing that “many wonderful events” happen regularly at the university, and that last week was exceptionally busy, Mt. A’s Acting Marketing Manager, Melissa Lombard said, “We would have liked to see more people, in particular students, attend this event, as it
highlighted three engaging community outreach projects involving students, faculty, and staff.” Approximately twenty-five people turned up to the R.P. Bell Library theatre for the event. Commerce professor Rosemary Polegato shared her experiences with Culture Days, a celebration of creativity and community across the country every September. Her Arts and Culture Marketing class has been the local powerhouse of the event since 2010, as her students annually take on the responsibility of organizing, advertising, and running the Sackville program. “They’re able to say ‘this is our project, we own it’… it belongs to the students,” said Polegato. “It’s amazing how talented the students here are.” The motif of youth drive and initiative continued in a presentation by Laurie Ricker, the coordinator of App Camp, a summer program designed to teach children how to program Android apps. “Bringing science to kids in the region is what we’re trying to achieve… [the camp] empowers kids by letting them ask, ‘how does that work?’” At App Camp, Mt. A computer science students helped instruct the kids (aged ten to thirteen) to use App Inventor software, developed by MIT to teach programming techniques to those without prior training. Rebecca Blankert was the third speaker, presenting the Owens Art Gallery Student Outreach Program. The program is a collection of projects inviting students and townspeople to the Gallery, including Family Sundays, Handmade Study Breaks (open to all, four times a year, allowing attendees to learn techniques from local artists), and the Artists in Schools initiative. “The programming is free,” said Blankert. “Education should be accessible for everyone.”
legislature, are on what is considered to be traditional Wolastoqiyik territory. Many activists lauded what is seen by some as the first effort by the province’s different First Nations to work together to represent their interests. A number of speakers addressed the crowd gathered by the longhouse, from the back of a parked pickup truck. Speakers included Harry Laporte, Grand Chief of the Maliseet Grand Council; Candace Paul, Chief of the St. Mary’s First Nation; Arren Sock, Chief of the Elsipogtog First Nation; Daniel Légère, General Vice-President for the Canadian
Union of Public Employees (CUPE) NB; Hugh Acagee, Chief of the Passamaquody First Nation; and others. Clan Mother Elma Brooks of St. Mary’s alluded to the controversial lack of treaties ceding land from First Nations to the provincial government. “We have the right to say no, and that’s based on our title, our sovereignty. That’s based on our treaty rights, and the fact that we have signed treaties at all. Only sovereign nations sign treaties. We have not pushed or ceded any of those rights,” Brooks said. Elsipogtog chief Arren Sock said that he thought the people of Elsipogtog are acting as any people would to protect their environment. “When we started off, trying to protect what little we have surrounding Elsipogtog, I didn’t think it was going to get this big,” Sock said. Protestor Daniel Goudreau of Pointe-du-Chêne said he was participating to raise awareness about the fracking process. He said it is important for people to educate themselves on the issue because “the government is not revealing everything to the public, and a lot of the media has been treating this with bias.” Fredericton District Labour Council President Alex Bailey represented the labour movement in the Fredericton region, and said, “We do not believe in jobs at all costs.”
METRAC report release Safety and security audit results referred to committees Chris Balcom News Editor
The results of a campus safety audit, conducted by the Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children (METRAC) in partnership with the Mount Allison Students’ Union (MASU) were made available to the public last Wednesday. Toronto-based METRAC was contracted by the MASU to conduct a safety and security audit in 2012, which was undertaken between August 2012 and March 2013. The MASU received the final report on July 12, 2013, and they reviewed the survey with the administration prior to the report’s public release. The fifty-seven-page report makes a number of wide-ranging recommendations aimed at improving the safety and security of students at Mount Allison University. The recommendations include revisions to strengthen Mt. A policies and procedures, as well as more tangible initiatives such as improving lighting on campus and increasing the number of security services staff. In a Nov. 13 press release accompanying the public release of the report, MASU President Melissa O’Rourke said, “It’s a big wake up call for students as well as for the university. There are a number of changes that will be forthcoming from this audit.” While it is yet to be determined what specific changes will be made as a result of the report, O’Rourke said she is “incredibly confident” changes will be forthcoming. The
report has been referred to the University Governance Committee, which has been tasked with updating policies and procedures, and the Security Matters Committee, a standing committee that deals with day-to-day security issues at Mt. A. O’Rourke noted that the university administration played a crucial role in securing funding for the project by writing a letter of recommendation to Status of Women Canada, who provided the MASU a funding grant for the METRAC contract. “The university has made it very clear that they really want to work with the students’ union to improve safety and security on campus, to ensure that these recommendations aren’t taken lightly,” she said. “[The report] might be useful and very effective in increasing safety in what is already a very safe and secure environment,” said Mt. A Vice-President International and Student Affairs Ron Byrne. He added, “We’ll have to see as [the committee process] unfolds, how and in what way these recommendations might inform our practice.” “We don’t tend to spend money unless it’s going to move us forward in a real and substantive way,” Byrne said, when asked about recommendations that might involve capital expense on the part of the university. “At the end of the day, it’s important that it’s going to make real change, not just the appearance of change.” Many of the audit report’s recommendations were based on online survey responses from students, collected last fall. In total, 475 students completed the survey, eighty per cent of whom identified as female. The report notes that the overrepresentation of students in the sample “suggests that campus safety may be a very important issue to female students.”
The Argosy
NEWS
www.argosy.ca
MASU looks to rebuild executive Council debates merits, sends report back for further study Kevin Levangie
Political Beat Writer An “Executive Restructure Report,” submitted by students’ union President Melissa O’Rourke, is intended to be the first step toward an executive overhaul. Despite some objections from councillors about specifics of the report, councillors gave it broad support. The restructuring would substantially change the election process, and redefine the responsibilities of several positions. The role of the president would remain relatively unchanged, although more emphasis will be placed on external issues, with less focus on internal union workings. The vice-president executive would take the internal duties of the current vicepresident finance and operations. The vice-president academic affairs would absorb some of the responsibilities of the current vice-president academic affairs and the vice-president external affairs, lobbying externally as well as on internal academic issues. The vicepresident student affairs extends the responsibilities of the current vicepresident campus life, in charge of all non-academic student issues at Mount Allison University. As it stands, the executive positions are president; vice-president, academic affairs; vice-president, external affairs; vice-president, campus life; vicepresident, finance and operations;
and vice-president, communications. The communications and finance and operations positions are hired; the others are elected. The report suggests that the current executive structure can break down if the Executive will not work together, or has even one member who is unwilling to do what is required of them, stating that “when a team is not wholly in cohesion, or a member does not produce adequate work, the union suffers and risks a year of failure on behalf of the Executive.” One aspect of the proposed changes that would address cohesion issues is the placing of the vicepresident executive and the president together on the same electoral slate. This means students would vote for the positions together, casting a ballot for two individuals paired on the ticket. Vice-President Campus Life Heather Webster said that the positions of Shinerama chair, Orientation chair, and entertainment chair will all be amalgamated into the new positions of executive director, union services and executive director, programming. O’Rourke said that part of the reason for bringing forward the policy to council without calling a vote was in order to consult them about the changes. Vice-President, Finance and Operations Josh Outerbridge said the new structure would make the executive democratically elected. “It kind of eliminates the problem of [Vice-President Communications Matt Ranson] and I where we’re executives, but staff,” Outerbridge said, “Under the new structure the executive would be solely elected.” “We are bringing this forward because [the MASU has] grown so
much over the past five, ten, fifteen years… We have not changed in a very long time in terms of staff structure, but what we have changed is our organization,” O’Rourke told council. Fourth-year student Natalie Brunet contacted The Argosy with her concern about changes in Executive positions without a referendum, saying she thought that the council “creating positions for which they would most likely [be elected to] again” was inappropriate. Brunet ran unsuccessfully for vice-president, external affairs last year. Shinerama chair Caleb Stark and Orientation chair Renée Connors were present at the meeting, and expressed concerns about the inclusion of the positions in the duties of the newly created Executive staff positions. They said that both positions are “passion projects” that should be filled by people who care deeply about the events rather than people who are simply good managers. Councillor Piper Riley Thompson asked whether the change in structure would cause any budgetary changes. Vice-President, Finance and Operations Josh Outerbridge replied, “We’ve crunched the numbers, and I think it all balances,” continuing, “we’re also looking at factoring in a pay raise as well, because we are going to have higher expectations for the higher [positions]. If you factor those in, it would only be around 2,000 extra dollars, but you can structure it in such a way that there would be no additional cost.” After a lengthy debate, council elected to put the report through a review by the Executive Committee, and later the Operations Committee, before further action is taken.
Sackville deals with rare crowd Hosting Uteck required careful planning Miriam Namakanda News Writer
Traffic, accommodation, and security were top priorities for Sackville and Mount Allison University this weekend, as the university hosted its first Uteck Bowl. With only one week of planning, arrangements to accommodate the big crowd were critical for allowing a great experience at the game. Though the university only had a week of planning, Atlantic University Sport (AUS) and Canadian Intervarsity Sport (CIS) provided logistical experience and support to Mt. A. CIS is responsible for intervarsity sport for all of Canada, while AUS manages only the Atlantic region. These groups also worked closely with the Town of Sackville and the local Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Mt. A’s Director of Administrative Services Michelle Strain said, “The AUS/CIS folks are very experienced in all of the logistics of planning for regional championships. This was the first time the Uteck Bowl was hosted by Mount Allison, but
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This Week in the World Joanna Perkin
China’s one child policy to be relaxed
China’s ruling Communist Party has announced that the regulations for the one child policy are to be loosened due to the gender imbalance and age imbalance of the population. By 2050, over a quarter of the population will be over the age of sixty-five, and by 2020, twenty-four million men will be what have become known as ‘leftover men’, who are unable to find wives due to the gender imbalance. From now on, families will be allowed to have a second child if one of the parents is an only child. The one child policy will be adjusted gradually to improve and promote long-term balanced development of the Chinese population. Some experts have expressed concern that this may create a massive population boom.
Missing California family found in shallow graves
The bones of a family that went missing in 2010 are believed to have been found in the southern California desert. DNA tests have confirmed that the bones of Joseph McStay and his wife Summer have been found. Investigators are still waiting to hear whether the bones that were found with them are the bones of their two toddler sons. In 2010, the family left their house with no warning, and without telling anyone. They left behind their pet dogs in the backyard and thousands of dollars in the bank. It was believed at the time that they had crossed the border into Mexico, but it was unknown what had happened to make them run away. It is unknown who killed them or why, but investigators believe it to be a multiple homicide.
19-year-old woman shot through door in Detroit
Renisha McBride was killed by a shot to the face through a screen door, while sitting on a suburban Detroit porch. The homeowner, Theodore Wafer, argued that he shot McBride in self-defence, although prosecutors say there is no reason to believe that she was trying to forcefully enter the house. Toxicology reports show that there was alcohol and marijuana in her system and it is believed that she was knocking on Wafer’s door to ask for help after being in a car accident. It is believed that she crashed her car into a parked vehicle about a block away from Wafer’s house. Family members say she was probably knocking on his door to ask for help. Her alcohol level was above the legal limit for driving. The Associated Press reports that prosecutors have raised doubts that the unarmed nineteen-year-old have posed a threat to Wafer, who shot her through a “locked and closed screen door.” Some members of McBride’s family have suggested that she was the victim of racial profiling. Wafer is facing second-degree murder and manslaughter charges.
Typhoon hits Philippines, killing thousands
A typhoon hit the Philippines over a week ago, causing some 10,000 injuries and over 3,500 deaths, as well as causing over a million people to be displaced, and millions more were affected in other ways. The death toll is expected to rise significantly as aid agencies from around the world arrive to assess the situation and help rebuild the country. Thus far, it has been difficult for aid agencies to get into the country, as the airports have been destroyed, and the agencies can only land during the day. The emergency services of the Philippines have also been crippled, with only a quarter of the police force reporting for work after the typhoon. The CBC’s David Common reported that while a lot of aid is being offered, the difficult part will be making sure that the right kind of aid is received, and that it goes into the hands of those who really need it.
San Francisco rallies for leukemia survivor, ‘Batkid’ The RCMP brought in back-up from Shediac for Uteck. (Chris Donovan/Argosy) planning went smoothly.” Though the group anticipated a crowd of 4,000, about 3,600 attended the game. The RCMP reported no arrests related to the game and said, “Everything went well.” Illegal drinking was the biggest worry for the RCMP who noted that “large crowds and alcohol” can attract general mischief. The RCMP called in extra man power from Shediac to ensure an efficient response. AUS also contracted Halifax-based firm Shadow Security to provide additional support before and during the game. Aside from security, the RCMP was involved in handling traffic logistics. Strain explained that “a comprehensive plan for traffic and parking” was devised. The plan included “a total of 1,300 parking spots set aside, including local schools and places like Moneris,”
added Strain. Two Streets, York and Lansdowne, were closed, and maps were posted on the Mt. A website and given out at checkpoints heading to town, said Strain. She added that accommodation was exhausted in Sackville and so some travellers sought accommodation in Moncton and Amherst. AUS covered much of the cost associated with the event, such as “ticketing, security at the game, sound equipment, tent,” said Strain. All profits directly associated with the game went to AUS, who had already set a price, and also received sponsorship from groups like SportsCentre and the CBC. Strain said that the handling of the Uteck Bowl was a great success. “It was truly a great effort among many administrative departments and athletics to pull this off with less than a week to plan for such a large event.”
Thousands of people in San Francisco helped Miles Scott, a leukemia survivor, fulfill his dream to be Batman for a day. The Make-A-Wish Foundation organized the event, and received pledges from over 10,000 who offered to lend a hand. Miles, a five-year-old boy whose cancer is in remission, participated in activities around the city such as fighting mock crime and receiving an honour from the mayor. According to local television, Miles thought he was getting a Batman costume so he could dress up as his favourite superhero when he heard a radio broadcast asking for the help of ‘Batkid’. Hundreds of people gathered and cheered while Batkid saved a damsel in distress, and then again later when he stopped a fake bank robbery with the help of an adult Batman. Toward the end of the day, the mayor of San Francisco presented Batkid with the keys to the city.
Mandela still unable to speak properly
Former South African President Nelson Mandela is unable to speak due to tubes that are in his mouth to clear fluid from his lungs, but uses facial expressions to communicate. He has been ill for some time, with a recurring lung infection, and his condition is said to be critical and unstable. His ex-wife Winnie has dismissed rumours that he is on life support, and says that doctors believe that he will be able to regain his voice. Mandela has been receiving intensive care at his home, which has been specially adapted for his care. BBC correspondents report that the government has eagerly reassured the public that Mandela is no more vulnerable in his home than in a hospital, and has asked that his family’s privacy be respected.
SHIP’S LOG
November 21, 2013
argosy@mta.ca
The Argosy’s Weekly rundown: upcoming events in Sackville EVENTS M e d i t a t i o n Yo g a
T h u r s d a y N o v. 2 1 , 5 : 3 0 p m Chapel Manning Room Yo g a / m e d i t a t i o n c l a s s e s ( n o c h a r g e ) Tu & T h 5 : 3 0 - 6 : 1 5 i n t h e basement of the Chapel. All levels welcome.
Schulich School of Law Dalhousie
T h u r s d a y N o v. 2 1 , 6 : 0 0 p m Avard Dixon Room 116 The Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University is very excited to be on campus to promote their programs. If you’ve ever c o n s i d e r e d a c a r e e r i n l a w, d r o p in to learn more about the process, requirements, and more. All students are welcome.
At Home in Atlantic Canada?
T h u r s d a y N o v. 2 1 , 7 : 0 0 p m Avard Dixon Room 116 International students’ experiences living and studying in Sackv i l l e , Wo l f v i l l e , a n d A n t i g o n i s h . S a c k v i l l e , Wo l f v i l l e , a n d A n t i g o n ish are three university towns in rural parts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The universities Mount Allison, Acadia, and St. Fr ancis X avier - are among the top-ranked in Canada. They are also attracting a growing number of international students. What is it like for these same international students to make the adjustment to academic and social life in Atlantic Canada? Join D r. M o r g a n Po t e e t , P r o f e s s o r o f Sociology at Mount Allison, and Bianca Gomez, an international student from Mount Allison and Research Assistant for the project, as they present some preliminary findings from their research into the international student experience at smaller universities in Atlantic Canada.
Latin Dancing Society Practices
F r i d a y N o v. 2 2 , 7 : 0 0 p m WMSC Multipurpose Room We e k l y L a t i n d a n c i n g p r a c t i c e s ; no partner required, no experience required, no co-ordination r e q u i r e d . We h a v e o u t s i d e v o l u n teer instructors.
Eco-Action Ethical Giving
S a t u r d a y N o v. 2 3 , 1 2 : 0 0 p m G r a c i e ’s C a f e E c o - A c t i o n’s a n n u a l E t h i c a l Giving is a free workshop event where people can drop by for an afternoon of creative gift-making! Join us for an afternoon of music, a c lothing swap, silk-screening, card-making, and other fun alternatives to holiday shopping.
Bachelor of Education Progarm - Acadia
M o n d a y N o v. 2 5 , 2 : 0 0 p m Sir James Dunn Room 106 This is an information session on the Bachelor of Education program at Acadia for undergraduate students at Mount Allison Univ e r s i t y.
U n i v e r s i t y o f To r o n t o M M PA
Tu e s d a y N o v. 2 6 , 1 1 : 0 0 p m WMSC Room 125 T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f To r o n t o ’ s M a s -
ter of Management & Professional Accounting program is designed to offer students with nonbusiness undergraduate degrees courses leading to a first-class M a s t e r ’s d e g r e e i n M a n a g e m e n t plus all the course requirements necessary to prepare for the acc o u n t i n g p r o f e s s i o n’s q u a l i f y i n g examinations. All students are welcome to drop in to learn more.
Internationalizing the Student Body
Tu e s d a y N o v. 2 6 , 1 2 : 0 0 p m WMSC Multipurpose Room Internationalizing the Student Body - Bringing a Cross-Cultural Pe r s p e c t i v e t o G l o b a l E n g a g e ment (presented by Adam Christ i e , R o b i n Wa l k e r a n d C h r i s t a Maston - International Affairs S e c t i o n ) . T h e Ye a r o f G l o b a l E n gagement at Mount Allison serves t o h i g h l i g h t t h e U n i v e r s i t y ’s ongoing efforts to build a more internationally-minded campus. But what does it mean to be internationally-minded? How does one go about internationalizing the campus? How can we incorporate cross-cultural competencies into the teaching, learning, and communication? This session will attempt to address these questions while delving more deeply into notions around internationalization, multiculturalism, and what it means to be globallye n g a g e d . We w i l l e x a m i n e m o r e closely the international student experience, the relative value of international study opportunities, and the underlying importance of c r o s s - c u l t u r a l a w a r e n e s s . F i n a l l y, we will look at who and what are the drivers behind building a campus that is truly international in its composition and mindset. This presentation was originally delivered in October as part of t h e P r o v o s t ’s Fa c u l t y D e v e l o p ment Series. It will be delivered a g a i n i n N o v e m b e r, t h i s t i m e a s an open session for students, staff a n d f a c u l t y, a s p a r t o f I n t e r n a tional Education Month (Nove m b e r ) . Fo r m o re i n f o r m a t i on about these and other activities being organized for International Education Month, please visit the I n t e r n a t i o n a l C e n t r e ’s w e b p a g e .
A RT S & M U S I C C a d e n c e Vo c a l B a n d
F r i d a y N o v. 2 2 , 8 : 0 0 p m Conservatory of Music M o u n t A l l i s o n Pe r f o r m i n g A r t s Series presents Cadence. J.E.A. C r a k e C o n c e r t . Vo c a l J a z z Q u a r t e t : C a r l B e r g e r, b a r i t o n e , R o s s L y n d e , t e n o r, L u c a s M a r c h a n d , t e n o r, K u r t S a m p s o n , b a s s a n d v o c a l p e r c u s s i o n . C a n a d a’s p r e miere a cappella vocal group: four men, four microphones, fabulous s o u n d ! Yo u w o n ’ t w a n t t o m i s s this amazing ensemble, which has been entertaining audiences worldwide for over a decade with their innovative jazz arrangements, genre-hopping covers and eclectic originals. Single tickets are $28 for adults and $15 for students. Full ser ies subscr iptions are $140 for adults, $65 for students ($35 for first-year students at Mount Allison University). Bring a child (age 4-18) for free with the purchase of an adult subscription or adult single ticket. Numbers are limited, so order early! Tickets can be obtained b y m a i l o r d e r, a t t h e M o u n t A l l i s o n B o o k s t o r e ( 6 2 Yo r k S t r e e t , l o w e r l e v e l ) , a n d a t t h e d o o r. Fo r ad d i t i on a l i n f o r m a t i on , v i s i t w w w. m t a . c a / d e p a r t m e n t s / P e r formingArts Contact: Margaret Ann Craig, 364-2662 (voice mail only), performarts@mta.ca
H e a t h e r Wa l e s S t u d e n t Recital
S a t u r d a y N o v. 2 3 , 8 : 0 0 p m Conservatory of Music Student Recital featuring Heather Wa l e s , s o p r a n o a n d A r y e l l e M o r rison, piano.
Sackville Horn Day
S u n d a y N o v. 2 4 , 1 2 : 0 0 p m Conservatory of Music A meeting of horn players from around the Maritime provinces
Choral Society/Elliott Chorale S u n d a y N o v. 2 4 , 3 : 0 0 p m
Chapel Sanctuary Seasonal Music and Stories from a r o u n d t h e Wo r l d . T h e c h o r a l groups from Mount Allison join in a celebration of song with old and new music from various countries. Members of the community will share their special stories of the season from their native lands. Mount Allison Choral Society and Elliott Chorale, directed by Gayle Martin. University Chapel, 3:00 pm. Admission is free, all are welcome to attend. Fo r m o re i n f o r m a t i on p l ac e e mail music@mta.ca or call 506364-2374
Mt.A Chamber Orchestra Concert
Tu e s d a y N o v. 2 6 , 8 : 0 0 p m Conservatory of Music Mount Allison Chamber Orchest r a , d i re c t e d by D a n i s e Fe r g u s on . Brunton Auditorium, 8:00 pm. Free admission, al l are welcome t o a t t e n d . Fo r m o re i n f o r m a t i on please e-mail music@mta.ca or call 506-364-2374.
S P O RT S Wo m e n ’ s H o c k y - A w a y F r i d a y N o v. 2 2 , 7 : 0 0 p m Mt. A vs. St. FX
Wo m e n ’ s B a s k e t b a l l - A w a y S u n d a y N o v. 2 4 , 3 : 0 0 p m M t . A v s . D a l AC
M e n’s B a s k e t b a l l - A w a y S u n d a y N o v. 2 4 , 5 : 0 0 p m M t . A v s . D a l AC
Wo m e n ’ s H o c k e y - A w a y S u n d a y N o v. 2 4 , 2 : 0 0 p m Mt. A vs. SMU
Wo m e n ’ s Vo l l e y b a l l - H o m e S u n d a y N o v. 2 4 , 3 : 0 0 p m Mt. A vs. HC
Languages at Lunch
We d n e s d a y N o v. 2 7 , 1 2 : 3 0 p m WMSC Room 289 Languages at Lunch: Korean 1 2 : 3 0 a n d 1 : 2 0 p m , Ta i w a n e s e 1:30 - 2:20 pm. Come enjoy fun, informal, introductory language lessons from Mt. A students! Pres e n t e d a s p a r t o f M t . A’ s I n t e r n a t i on a l E d u c a t i on M on t h . Fe e l f re e to bring along your lunch!
S t ress Free Z one
We d n e s d a y N o v. 2 7 , 5 p m WMSC Room M o u n t A l l i s o n ’ s We l l n e s s C e n t r e is proud to present our bi-annual stress-free zone! The stress-free zone offers many different serv i c e s , s u c h a s m a s s a g e t h e r a p y, e s s e n t i a l o i l s , a n d a r t t h e r a p y, f o r students to use for a few hours to de-stress when nearing the exam period.
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The Argosy
OPINIONS
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THE
Bagtown Economics
w w w. a r g o s y. c a
Independent Student Newspaper of Mount Allison University Thursday November 21, 2013 volume 143 issue 11
Economists can agree on a carbon tax
Since 1872 Circulation 1,700
62 York Street W. McCain Student Centre Mount Allison University Sackville, New Brunswick E4L 1E2
Jeff Hicks
Economists can be an argumentative and dissenting bunch. Often we fail to prescribe sensible policy advice because we cannot reach a consensus amongst ourselves. However, there is one policy which almost all economists agree on: carbon taxation. In a survey of forty of the world’s top economists, ninety two per cent of the respondents favoured a carbon tax over other policy options. Simply put, it is unequivocally the single-best policy tool we have for reducing carbon emissions. However, the problem is a lack of public support for the idea. So I want to provide you with the quick-and-dirty argument for a carbon tax in hopes of convincing at least a few more people that it is an idea worth voting for. How does it work though? The tax would place a per tonne price on carbon emissions. Then this carbon price would then be converted to a per unit tax on various fuels, based upon the amount of carbon they emit when used. The basic idea is that as the price of carbon goes up, the demand for carbon goes down. But the beauty of such a tax is in the details. The first genius of a carbon tax is that it would apply to the large majority of carbon emitters, from coal-fired power generation stations to the suburban residents who insist on driving Ford F-150s to the grocery store. Roughly everyone who emits carbon dioxide would have to pay the price, quite literally. And I could fit the legislation on two pages of paper. Contrast this to the tedious process of regulating emissions standards for every single industry in the country. The second genius of a carbon tax is that it allocates emissions to those who value them the most. Consider again the example of Ford F-150 owners. Some owners actually need such a gas-guzzler for work. However, the other people, the ‘I just like big trucks’ kind, they really do not need to be using it. So, when faced with an increase in the price of fuel, the ‘I just like big
Telephone 506 364 2236
Noah Entwisle
Typhoon Haiyan, one of the largest storms ever seen, hit the Philippines. Thousands have been reported dead, and many hundreds of thousands more have been displaced. Millions of dollars in aid have poured in from around the world. However, controversy has been made of China’s response to the crisis. China has given a relatively tiny amount of aid to its close neighbour. It initially pledged $200,000 in aid, which, for scale, is over $100,000 less than Mount Allison students raised for various charities in 2012. China has since increased that value to about $2 million to appease its critics. This new amount still pales in comparison to the contributions made by much smaller countries, and is even exceeded by the charitable donation from Ikea. Critics have accused China of withholding aid to the Philippines for political reasons, given that the two nations are currently engaged in a territorial dispute in the South China Sea.
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THE ARGOSY is published by Argosy Publications, Inc., a student run, autonomous, apolitical not-for-profit organization operated in accordance with the province of New Brunswick. THE ARGOSY is a member of the Canadian University Press, a national co-operative of student newspapers. ISSN 0837-1024 The Underbridge Press is a student-run publishing organization at Mount Allison University.
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Richard Kent
Carbon tax would increase the price of gas but other tax rates could be lowered. (Chris Donovan/Argosy) trucks’ people would (a) switch from a truck to a car, or (b) lower their mileage substantially more than people who actually need the truck for work. The work-truck-driver really values the use of her truck, so she is willing to pay that higher price to keep using it. Thus, carbon emissions are allocated to those who value them most. This may not seem very important, but it truly is. The allocation of resources to people who value them the most is one of the foundations of an efficient and prospering economy. The third genius of a carbon tax is that it levels the playing field for other energy sources. As it stands now, fossil-fuel combustion is costcompetitive in most markets because they aren’t forced to pay for the negative effects of their carbon emissions. A carbon tax would increase their cost of production, causing renewable energy sources to become relatively more attractive. I’ve saved the fourth and best argument for last. Most opponents of the tax claim that it will severely hinder our economy. Even less logical opponents just dislike taxes on principal. But these are just lazy arguments. All the money generated from the carbon tax could be used to lower the dreaded and highly distortionary
income tax. This reduction in income taxes would spur economic growth, likely offsetting any negative effects of the carbon tax. Never has an idea been clearer: Carbon bad. Income good. Tax the bad stuff. Don’t tax the good stuff. British Columbia follows this scheme with great success. Finally, some people raise distributional concerns, and rightfully so. Specifically, lowincome families would be hit much harder by the tax due to increased heating and transportation costs, which make up a larger percentage of their budgets, while having fewer opportunities to substitute to low-carbon technologies. But we have a fix for that too. Via tax credits and rebates, we can redistribute some of the carbon tax revenue to those low-income families. British Columbia does this too; it’s called the Low Income Climate Action Tax Credit. It is time that people understood why the carbon tax is such a good idea. Please, take these arguments to your friends, to your families, to your colleagues. If you truly believe that we need to lower our carbon emissions, carbon taxation is the way to do it, and it will only happen if people vote for it.
Foreign aid serves another purpose
Countries don’t give out of kindness alone
A RGOSY
Many argue that humanitarianism should transcend political rivalries, and that China is wrong to have let its own agenda interfere with helping those in need. While I agree that China’s level of aid is absolutely unacceptable, I do not think that countries should be expected to act in a manner inconsistent with their national priorities. Instead, I believe that China’s inadequate contribution is symptomatic of deeper regional problems. Both Canada and the United States have a long history of aligning their aid with national interest. The most storied example of this is the Marshall Plan, in which the US provided massive aid to Europe in order to stem the spread of Soviet Communism. Canada has also historically given aid intended to promote Canadian interests. Fostering Canadian economic growth has become a core goal of the Canadian International Development Agency, which has recently been folded into the Department of Foreign Affairs, the organization tasked with serving Canadian interests abroad. The politicization of foreign aid is impossible to avoid. Countries will always tend to allocate their limited resources to initiatives that will build alliances, or improve the welfare of their own citizens. Selfless aid, while admirable,
should not be considered the norm. Thus, a county’s aid policy should be seen as a reflection of its national priorities. This means that the issue with China’s Haiyan aid package is not that China is choosing to shape its foreign aid policy based on its national interest. The issue is with how China defines its national interest in the first place. China’s frugal Haiyan policy has communicated that it is more interested in coercion and intimidation than confidence building. China has shown that it prioritizes its territorial claims over good relations with its neighbours. This skewed prioritization will lead to more undesirable outcomes for China, and is the underlying cause of China’s negligible aid package to the Philippines. A shift in China’s aid policy, while clearly necessary, should not be predicated on a reevaluation of how nations rationalize their foreign aid distribution. Instead, any shift in China’s foreign aid policy should arise naturally from a reshuffling of its broader foreign policy priorities in its near abroad, with a strong emphasis on building good relationships with its neighbours. A new set of Chinese foreign policy strategies in southeast Asia could ease regional rivalries, and underpin more humane foreign aid policy in the future.
NEWS EDITOR Christopher Balcom
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SCIENCE EDITOR Norman Nehmetallah Allison O’Reilly FEATURES EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR Tyler Stuart Alex Bates OPINIONS EDITOR HUMOUR EDITOR John Trafford Ian Malcolm ARTS & LITERATURE ONLINE EDITOR EDITOR Madison Downe Julia McMillan
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NEWS WRITER Miriam Namakanda
POLITICAL BEAT WRITER Kevin Levangie FEATURES WRITER Taylor Losier
PHOTO MANAGER Nick Sleptov PHOTO EDITOR Chris Donovan ILLUSTRATOR Lisa Theriault ENTERTAINMENT WRITER Cameron McIntyre SPORTS WRITER Benjamin Foster SCI/TECH WRITER Martin Omes
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contributors
Keegan Smith, Joanna Perkin, Clay Steel, Adam Cheeseman, Austin Landry, Sam Moore, Liz Campbell, Stu Moore, Daniel St. Louis, Célina Boothby, Jeff Hicks, Mitchell Gunn, Noah Entwisle, Robert Eaton, Gavin Rea, Humberto Duque, Jenna Gaudet
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disclaimers and copyright
The Argosy is the official independent student journal of news, opinion, and the arts, written, edited and funded by the students of Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of The Argosy’s staff or its Board of Directors. The Argosy is published weekly throughout the academic year by Argosy Publications Inc. Student contributions in the form of letters, articles, photography, graphic design and comics are welcome. The Argosy reserves the right to edit or refuse all materials deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise unfit for print, as determined by the Editor-in-Chief. Articles or other contributions can be sent to argosy@mta.ca or directly to a section editor. The Argosy will print unsolicited materials at its own discretion. Letters to the editor must be signed, though names may be withheld at the sender’s request and at The Argosy’s discretion. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Comments , concerns, or complaints about The Argosy’s content or operations should be first sent to the Editor-in-Chief at the address above. If the Editor-in-Chief is unable to resolve a complaint, it may be taken to the Argosy Publications, Inc. Board of Directors. The chairs of the Board of Directors can be reached at the address above. All materials appearing in The Argosy bear the copyright of Argosy Publications, Inc. Material cannot be reprinted without the consent of the Editor-in-Chief.
6
OPINIONS
November 21, 2013
Cuthbertson House Rooms for Rent
Letter to the Editor Your Nov. 7 issue of The Argosy includes an article, “Enrolment decline hits university, students’ union,” which cites sources of the decreased enrolment. Might one reason be the insensitive decision of the administration that led to the destruction two years ago of the treasured Memorial Library? This historic
structure was erected after the Great War in memory of the seventy-three young Allisonians who responded to the call of [their] country and left their classrooms for the battlefields of France, never to return. - Robert Eaton
Revisions & Reflections
Rob Ford is the latest political figure to fall from grace in Canada. (Flickr/West Annex News)
Politicans are not getting worse, people pay more attention now Mitchell Gunn In a scandal that first started back in May, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has become entangled in a labyrinthine web of controversy. From his admission to having smoked crack cocaine, to a rather explicit comment regarding sexual harassment allegations, and even to a video of a drunken rant where he graphically threatens to kill somebody, Ford seems to be caught in a downward spiral with no end in sight. Despite all of this, he has thus far refused to step down as mayor. Yes, to reiterate, this man is still in office and shows no signs of giving up his post. Ford’s actions have drawn an enormous amount of attention on an international scale, and unsurprisingly, little of it is positive. Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Fallon have all made their share of jokes, and Saturday Night Live recently parodied Ford’s antics as their opening sketch. To put it gently, Rob Ford’s actions are not painting Toronto – or, by extension, Canada – in a very favourable light. But are they just one manifestation of a larger problem? Canadian municipal politics has been plagued by scandal in the past couple of years. London Mayor Joe Fontana will soon be facing trial under allegations that he used federal government funds to pay for his son’s wedding. Montreal recently lost two mayors in less than eight months, both due to charges of corruption. And the problem isn’t limited to the municipal level either. In 2011, a scandal erupted in Ontario surrounding the Liberal government’s scrapped plans for a Mississauga power plant; in the end, Premier Dalton McGuinty and Energy Minister Chris Bentley both resigned. To round out the Canadian cavalcade of political scandal, Parliament Hill is still coming
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to grips with the fallout of the recent Senate spending scandal. While Stephen Harper initially claimed to have no knowledge of the misspending, new evidence is increasingly implicating the Prime Minister’s Office. Three Senate members have been suspended, but many are calling for Harper himself to step down. All of these incidents took place within roughly the last two years. With such damning evidence, it should come as no surprise that many Canadians are feeling disillusioned with contemporary politics. But I find myself wondering whether our politicians are truly teetering on the brink of moral bankruptcy, or whether we’ve simply gotten better at finding and publicizing scandals. After all, it’s only a scandal if the public hears about it. In recent years, freedom of information laws have been used more liberally and whistleblowers have been more apt to condemn officials’ behaviour than ever before. Consider the NSA surveillance scandal in the United States, discussed in this very column a few weeks ago: had Edward Snowden not leaked information to the press, there would have been no controversy. Nobody would have known that anything was wrong. And to be entirely fair, it’s not as if government scandals are anything new. Such prominent American examples as the Clinton sex scandal and Watergate come readily to mind. Here in Canada, our first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, resigned in 1873 amid allegations of taking bribes. And yet, for every political controversy documented in the history books, there were likely just as many that were never discovered. Today, these kinds of scandals are simply becoming harder to cover up. Politicians are as bad as ever, but certainly not worse. As a matter of fact, it could easily be argued that these scandals are actually a good thing. The large public outcries surrounding them clearly signify that the public is not willing to accept such behaviour from elected officials, and will hopefully cause future politicians to toe the line a bit more prudently. That being said, if our politicians needed an example to learn that smoking crack is a bad thing, I think that’s a bigger problem.
Former MTA satelite house, Cuthbertson is in the midst of major restoration and will be ready for student housing again as early as winter semester of 2014! Recently moved from original location to beautiful and spacious adjacent property, historical Cuthbertson neighbours the President’s house and is so close to MTA land it might as well be on campus. ALL INCLUSIVE:
• Laundry Facilities • Clothes Lines • Large Kitchen on Main Floor • Kichenette on Ground Floor • Four Bathrooms • Great Room • Living Room • Cable • High Speed Internet • Snow Removal • Parking • Heat • Lights • Lawn Care • Janitorial Service • Storage Building for bicycles
Covered Patio G3 G2 Great Room G5
Bath G1 G6 Bath
RENT:
• Double Room $250.00 per month • Single Room $400.00 per month
Ground Level G1 Double Rm G2 Single Rm G3 Single Rm G4 Single Rm G5 Single Rm G6 Double Rm
Vernada
Living Rm
M2 Kitchen
LOCATION:
• 88 York Street
G4
M1 M3
Main Floor M1 Double Rm M2 Double Rm M3 Single Rm
The multiple upgrades in store for Cuthbertson in 2014 include ultra modern ICF foundation, expanded kitchen, new laundry faclities and many renovations to the main and second floor.
S1
S2 S3
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Second Floor S1 Double Rm S2 Double Rm S3 Single Rm S4 Single Rm S5 Double Rm
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Contact Jim or Paula Throop Office: 536-8085 Cell: 540-1715 jim@throopsigns.com paulathroop@gmail.com
Write a letter to Op/Ed Send a letter to the editor to argosy@mta.ca For further information, visit www.argosy.ca or come to a contributor meeting on Thursdays at 5:30 pm on the third floor of the WMSC.
ARTS & LITERATURE
November 21, 2013
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Lynn Davies latest poetry collection a success
How the Gods Pour Tea mixes pastoral and elegy Daniel Marcotte
Arts & Literature Writer Fredericton-based poet Lynn Davies’ most recent collection undoubtedly lives up to its divine title. Published earlier this year, How the Gods Pour Tea is her third collection following The Bridge that Carries the Road in 1999 and the criticallyacclaimed Where Sound Pools in 2005. Mount Allison had the privilege of welcoming this brilliantly cerebral writer for a poetry reading and discussion last month, and ever since her
deliverance of a few enticing snippets at the event, I found myself compelled to further investigate her uniquely transcendent style. Davies expertly engages with the realms of the mythical and the ordinary, in a way that echoes some fundamental elements of Gertrude Stein’s Tender Buttons, but with a reverent subtlety. Although she explores objects and ideas that appear trivial at first glance, her ability to unpack the underlying implications and hidden melancholy of seemingly ordinary circumstances is a skill that Davies has down to a science. She frequently engages with nature and its mystical implications, while simultaneously carrying an elegiac tone that unearths, but respects, the sorrowful beauty that lies just below the surface. Through her analysis of a sub-physical reality lying only slightly out of reach, Davies’ poetry bridges the gap between the perceivable and the imaginative using a profound combination of
metaphor, personal inspiration, and a selectively omniscient literary voice. The collection’s title comes from the poem entitled “Fireworks,” a piece that compares fireworks to a godlike tea party and situates her narrative voice somewhere between nature and humankind. Throughout the collection, Davies also invokes fantastical elements like fairies, dragons, and giant beavers in order to construct an advocacy for environmental preservation; while her poetry often delights in the beauty of the natural world and creatures of fantasy, it is also inflected with a sorrowful elegy for the “disappearing bees and frogs” and the “drowning white bears” that remain ignored and desperate for recognition. Overall, I find it difficult to pinpoint exactly why I love this collection, because although Davies is interested in exploring the intrinsic beauty of the world around us, she also recognizes
that by looking closely at something, one may also unwittingly expose its depressing reality. She is never eager to unearth these realities, instead allowing the reader to learn how to look for things they did not know, or did not want to know, were there. Davies develops a relationship with the reader that is both enlightening and compassionate; she does not command respect, she naturally accumulates it. By reading the collection and hearing the serene voice of the writer, one can feel the presence of a poet with sagely knowledge of immeasurable supply and depth. Each poem seems deliberately and enticingly incomplete, inviting the reader to extrapolate beyond what is given and crave a further explanation that is masterfully withheld. Perhaps someday we will learn how exactly it is that the Gods pour tea, but until then, Davies continues to keep me hanging on every carefully chosen word.
The signs, they are a changing Humberto Duque alters the town’s marquees Julia McMillan
Arts & Literature Editor I’ve spent three years living in Sackville without ever noticing the town’s billboards. I’d never looked twice at the Legion’s marquee promoting Bingo on Tuesday, or thought to check what Sassy’s was advertising that week. I’d certainly never identified these signs as a remarkable aspect of the Sackville landscape. But when the signs around town began saying nonsensical things like “One Buffs New Poets,” and “Sack Bros,” I started to pay attention. These small alterations were the handiwork of Struts Gallery’s latest artist-in-residence, Humberto Duque, who immediately noticed the various sign boards when he arrived in town. These are the sorts of thing that Duque is interested in: the subtle, yet prevalent aspects of a landscape that are taken for granted due to their predictability. The marginalized billboards around town became the subject of Duque’s work, “The Marquee Project.” Duque’s project set out to jostle the public’s perception of their surroundings by changing the messages on the town’s marquees from advertisements to disjointed fragments of prose. The messages were displayed around town between Nov. 11 and 15. The project was a reflection of the artist’s ongoing interest in counterrealities where the bizarre, offkilter, and uncertain reign supreme. While the usual changes a town or city experiences are predictable and cyclical, Duque aims to alter specific landscapes in unexpected or uncanny ways. “Lately, my aim has been to pull spectators out of their frame of mind with gestures, most of them subtle, in public places with objects or inexpensive materials,” said Duque. “I want to create a kind of artificial
Humberto Duque’s “Marquee Project” was an interactive public installation built upon community participation. (Humberto Duque/Submitted). landscape that will give you a glimpse of a different reality for an instant.” The marquee project did just that. While the changes to the billboards may have gone unseen by many, when someone did stop to notice, the appearance of the signs proved jarring in a vaguely unsettling, but simultaneously amusing way. It made viewers wonder what was going on. Were they seeing things correctly? What did Sassy’s mean by “Moooh we purr on the cow”? Clearly, these aren’t things you see every day. These strange and unexpected sights prompt viewers to question their perception of reality, and wonder what else they aren’t noticing on a daily basis. Although the project was displayed in the public space, rather than in a traditional gallery setting, Duque still managed to engage with his audience
by inviting the community to submit their own phrases for the marquees. After posting photos of the original sign on Facebook, participants were asked to use only the letters that were already on the board to create a new message. The word game yielded an abundance of responses from people both within and outside of the Sackville community. Duque chose one phrase for each billboard, and with permission from business owners, changed the billboards in real life. Some submissions were humorous and light-hearted, while others were profoundly poetic. Some of my favourite submissions included the shift from “We thank you” to “A wet hunk yo” (by Helen Pridmore) and John’s Murchie’s suggestion to change Vin’s Wok’s “Buffet now open” to “& the upper
evergreen forests never found out where bad people erred on 3 numerics” (Murchie added some extra letters, but we can appreciate the poetry). Another favourite was the sign outside of the daycare that read “Hate Yuk Now.” After complaints identifying the word “hate” as inappropriate language to be displayed at a daycare, the message was changed to “Hi Ate Yuk Now.” A full list of submissions was on
display at Duque’s closing reception at Struts Gallery on Nov. 15, along with photos of each marquee, both before and after their alterations. Duque worked as Struts Gallery & Faucet Media Arts Centre’s Open Studio artist-in-residence throughout October and November. After spending the winter at home in Mexico City, he will head to Switzerland for another experimental residency.
8
ARTS & LITERATURE
September 5, 2013
An exhibition of community artistry at Owens
Sackville Art Association holds annual show
Creative Corner Christ the Backyard Spider O, God I thought I saw you yesterday with your iconic hands raised, on the back of a spider that haunted the porch. That famous depiction of Jesus spinning miraculous webs from the place that it swelled and I cried, because I was confused and because the next day, all it did was rain. I know that you're curled into yourself somewhere in the grass, and this time, it was the flood that did you in and not all of my sins.
Daniel Marcotte
Arts & Literature Writer
In a celebration of Sackville artists and their work, the Sackville Art Association held its annual Members’ Exhibition last weekend in order to present a collection of exhibits from a diverse array of community contributors. Featuring a collection of paintings by Judith Arkell as well as various works from other local artists, the Owens Art Gallery attracted a large crowd on Sunday, Nov. 17 that gathered to appreciate the inexplicable artistic talent contained within our humble town. This year, the entire exhibition was dedicated to the life and memory of prolific Canadian artist Alex Colville, who passed away this summer. In addition to his many contributions to Mount Allison University, Colville himself was an executive member of the Sackville Art Association for many years. The exhibition contains twenty four paintings and one sculpture by this year’s featured artist, Judith Arkell. Additionally, Struts Gallery coordinator Amanda Fauteux bestowed the Annual VIP Award to Barbara van Leeuwen for her innovative rug hooking piece entitled “Tantramar” which depicts an idyllic New Brunswick countryside superimposed within a barn. Although the exhibition as a whole is artistically impressive, van Leeuwen’s use of this craft medium made her
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work stand out in a refreshing way. Due to the magnitude of Arkell’s exhibition, observers could quickly identify the impressive breadth of her style and artistic ability. While some artists have a visible theme that carries through a series of their work, Arkell’s defining motif is the deliberate lack of repetition, with each new painting utilizing a completely unique perspective and mood. Many of her paintings are of landscapes both familiar and foreign, upon which Arkell expertly inscribes a set of feelings, personalities, and identities that are intrinsic to each location. For example, while the blurry watercolours of “Potato Field” imply a rugged and difficult lifestyle, the crisp stillness of “Peggy’s Cove” depicts a world that is geographically close but ideologically distant. Finally, though her paintings generally do not contain people, they often give the profound implication of life; both “Logan’s Barn” and “Red Boat at Aboiteau” suggest an absentee human interaction, leaving a residual tranquility that Arkell captures with breathtaking authenticity. Arkell considers art to be a defining
N. Nehmetallah
Travel (Domestic) The clouds below us are covered in scabs, a sea of sheets succumbed to blisters. Are we on the ground? Can someone with a window seat tell me if it's snowing? I idled in the aisle seat just in case it wasn't. ------------------------------------The SAA show displays a distinctly Sackville aesthetic. (Chris DonovanIArgosy) aspect of her identity. During a brief interview, she explains that she often felt ostracized while growing up in her hometown of Lakeville, Ontario due to her “eccentric” family and artistic interests. She would spend much of her time alone at home sketching and painting her pets, an isolation that ultimately shaped her as an individual and developed her as an artist. “I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t paint,” she says. A unique and humble woman, Arkell’s quirky and fun personality almost seems to betray the contemplative power that her works distinctly embody.
Established in 1935, the Sackville Art Association is an organization dedicated to the promotion and education of visual arts that is completely open to all members of the public. In addition to providing weekly workshops for its members, the SAA donates scholarships to graduating high school students and holds an exhibition in the Owens every year to highlight the artistic achievements and developments of their members. The exhibition, can be viewed in the Owens Art Gallery until Dec. 15 of this year.
That canyon, being the widow of a pre-division The before and aftermath of a bloody holy what? ------------------------------------N. Nehmetallah
Bedside Walking the unnatural sun in a foreign land at midnight it burned and our hearts did turn but you and i set our pulse on the bedside when the sun was still up and our day was over
FUNDER’S MEETING
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FEATURES
November 21, 2013
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Does a balanced budget come at the cost of sustainability?
A new internal report argues Mt. A has some room to improve Tyler Stuart
Features Editor With a blue-green recycling system, massive savings on energy and water, and a switch from bunker A oil to natural gas, environmentalism at Mount Allison has gained momentum in the past decade. Much of this momentum has come from the student body. Since 2009, all Mt. A students contribute ten dollars to the Green Investment Fund (GIF) in the SAC fees. This money is used to support students, staff, and faculty seeking to reduce carbon emissions through environmental projects. “Our students are way ahead of us as an institution, which is a good thing on many levels,” said Michael Fox, a Geography and Environment professor. Graham May, a third-year student, became the first student Chair of the Environmental Issues Committee last year. “There are already a lot of excellent, well-intended efforts that are already happening around the university,” May said. There are numerous avenues for environmental activism at Mt. A. Clubs like EcoAction, Edible Ethics, and Transition Town work toward specific environmental objectives on campus. “Mount A students are activists, not just for credit,” Fox said. In his twelve years at Mt. A, Fox said that he has noticed the two sides to the school, faculty and students, present a problem in practical education. Fox said there is opportunity for growth in student interaction with the Mt. A campus. The geography department has taken steps in this direction. Professor Bradley Walters teaches a course on environmental activism, in which students create their own campaigns and lobby them on campus and in the Sackville community. “The university generally supports student engagement and hands-on, participatory learning,” said Walters. “It is a course that’s constantly evolving; you never know where it’s going to go.” Despite the various positive environmental initiatives, there are some roadblocks. In a sixty page EIC report issued this summer, alumnus Rob Burroughs (‘13) investigated some of the environmental issues at Mt. A. The switch from bunker A oil to liquified natural gas during the 2009/2010 school year resulted in energy and financial savings. These returns reached $500,000 in the first year. These savings were held in the Green Initiatives Budget (GIB), from which the university would allocate the money to sustainable initiatives. This year, these savings were frozen by the administration without
Environmental policies are made in Centennial Hall by the university administration, whose budget has allowed and prevented some initiatives. (Nick Sleptov/The Argosy) informing the student body or the Environmental Issues Committee. Burroughs outlined this in the EIC report. “Carrying over environmental funding from year to year is crucial to long-term sustainability planning. Discarding unused funds to the bottom line also creates a serious issue with accountability. The University and the EIC cannot claim that we dedicate financial savings to certain projects if we do not follow through. To date, $367,135 from the Green Initiatives Budget over the past two years has not been spent on sustainability projects,” the report states. While the GIB money is officially considered frozen, environmental advocates said they were doubtful it will be used for sustainability efforts. May said the administration is more likely to pick the “low hanging fruit” of environmental initiatives, which have a quantifiable payback. One of the main obstacles in the way of a sustainable campus is student turnover. Most Mt. A students graduate in four or five years, limiting their contact with the community. May said this makes it very difficult to force systemic change on the administration. “Every single year, [a] club’s makeup is going to be fundamentally different,” May said. “That’s really disruptive if you want have a campaign.” Lauren LaTour, the MASU Sustainability Coordinator, is campaigning for the University to divest from fossil fuels. The campaign, Protest to Divest, has met with university administrators, held
film screenings, and started online petitions to push the administration. “The administration has made it clear to us that they don’t plan on divesting from fossil fuels at this point,” LaTour said. Much of the university’s budgeting allows these clubs and campaigns to operate and implement initiatives, but it can slow others. “One of Dr. Campbell’s achievements over the past few years is that Mt. A hasn’t gone into deficit,” LaTour said. “That’s wonderful, but it demonstrates how budget driven the school is.” LaTour said Mt. A’s incoming vice-president administration Robert Inglis explained the complex the way Mt. A invests and budgets its money. “The budgeting process is very tight and rigid, so it’s very hard to loosen up strings for targeted investments,” Walters said. Aside from budgeting, the Facilities Management Department frequently looks into alternate sources of energy. We look at solar and wind as much as we can. Every time we do a project, we look at the costs of doing that, the paybacks, and, right now, they’re just not there.” “We have to deal in reality right not. The divestment from fossil fuels would mean that a lot of people would be cold right now,” said Rob MacCormack, the director of facilities management and security. To overcome issues such as budgeting or turnover, students and faculty devise possible solutions. Walters said that the hiring of Inglis as the next vicepresident administration presents an opportunity for student
environmental advocates. “If I were advising students, I would say ‘start focusing your efforts on Rob Inglis,’ because Rob is moving from a position of little power to a position of a lot of power,” Walters said. Walters said he thinks Inglis is looking forward to engaging with students on issues on campus. “We ran into each other a couple weeks ago and he sad, “students are too nice,” like i.e., they should be pushing harder.” One of the largest problems presented by student advocates was the need for a sustainability coordinator. Currently, Mt. A’s position on environmental sustainability is that it is a collective responsibility. This poses a problem if there is too little student participation in initiatives or not enough administrative support. Many student advocates, including LaTour, concur with this position. “Everybody has wonderful ideas, but it’s hard to implement those ideas if their not united under one body,” LaTour said. LaTour said that the community has pushed for a sustainability coordinator or office for the last decade at Mt. A. “Sustainability is everybody’s issue, it is everybody’s responsibility, in an given situation, there always has to be a clear leader going forth, otherwise we’re all kind of like chickens running around with our heads cut off.” While small initiatives have been successful in the past, it is the largescale long-term project that would be difficult without this office. “There isn’t the kind foundational leadership we would need to move
from small projects toward university sustainability.” The university has refused to add such a position for various reasons, including the financial concern of adding a full-time staff member or office. LaTour and Fox said that the position of sustainability coordinator would likely pay for itself and even bring in money through grants as it does at Dalhousie University. There are also political concerns. “My biggest concern about that is if they hired someone at a junior position, [he or she] might not have any political clout,” Walters said. The need for a sustainability coordinator was also expressed in the EIC report by Burroughs. “To move forward, and for Mount Allison to achieve its sustainability dreams, it is imperative that the operational responsibility of the GIB be moved out of Facilities Management and given to a newly created, centralized sustainability office. Such a move would allow for the serious and independent analysis of sustainability projects.” The push for large, comprehensive environmental initiatives has faced problems with money, participation, practicality, and politics. “It feels kind of futile at this point, but we’ll continue to push because we feel like it’s necessary,” LaTour said. “I almost think for it to happen it’s going to take a really big shift in terms of administration or a lot of creativity on the part of the people that are pushing for it.”
10 GREEN MAP
November 21, 2013
Greatest energy savings: Did you know that in residence two of the best things you can do to save energy are to 1) take shorter showers and 2) leave your window closed during the winter? This is because the process of moving air in and out of a building (and the removal of humidity from your bathroom after a shower) uses up a lot of energy.
argosy@mta.ca
Steam traps (which keep the incoming and outgoing steam separate) in all buildings were recently replaced, preventing enormous energy loss.
The heating/cooling coils (like what you will find on the back of your refrigerator) in all campus buildings were recently cleaned, which converses a lot of previously wasted energy.
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Heating converters in many buildings (such as Avard Dixon, Edwards, Thornton, and Flemington) were recently reinsulated, which helps prevent heat from leaking out of the system.
So, what project can provide the greatest energy savings for a building? Updating or replacing the building’s ventilation (HVAC) system, which controls the building’s heating, airflow, and air conditioning.
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Fun Fact: M maintenance tu be accessed thr buildings.
The cooling towers in both Dunn and the library were cleaned, which helps condition the water in these buildings and keeps the system remaining efficient.
Mount Allison hosted the North American Envirothon competition in July 2011. Teams of students from forty-seven States and nine Provinces and Territories came to Sackville to compete, testing their knowledge of local wildlife, forestry, aquatic ecosystems, and soil and land uses. The team representing Ontario took home the first place prize.
Co Mu s ic
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Taxati Flying Bea reusable m Adjus HVAC sys
Lighting upgraded to higher efficiency (in the summer of 2013)
Crabtree Avard Dixon
Fun Fact: Switching to natural gas has significantly reduced Mt. A’s energy footprint.
LED lighting
Meeting place for Transition Town (Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, everyone welcome!)
Jennings Dining Hall Local Food Trayless Dinning Big Hanna Composters Daylight Harvesting: lighting system that dims on sunny days
Harper Hall
Now uses natural gas to supply heat and hot water to all campus buildings Hires students to conduct environmental audits Meeting place for the Environmental Issues Committee, which is the first presidential committee to have a student chair
Windsor Hall
All Residences Low-flow water features: showers, toilets, faucets, urinals Light censors and timers Fluorescent light bulbs Compete in annual Campus Climate Challenge Each house has an Eco-Rep All residences were weatherstripped: for example, all windows were properly sealed, which helps conserve energy all ll H e b ard mp ard Ca P aw es Aw I b CB Gl o n ee Gr
All cleaning products used in campus buildings are EcoPure products, which are fragrance and carcinogen free, and come in fully recyclable containers.
Purdy Crawford Centre for Fine and Performing Arts
features Efficient windows and
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Flemington Energy Star fridges and freezers High efficiency lighting system in plant growth chambers
Chapel
All LED lighting Low-flow water
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Fawcett Building Switched to natural gas
Barclay Increased efficiency in fume hoods
insulation High-efficiency HVAC system Targeted to achieve four Green Globes
Environmental policies are made and monitored here
Mt. A president Robert Campbell has signed the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Climate Action Plan, which calls for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
Bennett Building
Centennial Hall
Current Campus Campaigns: fuels
Protest to Divest from fossil
Solar energy campaign for Mt. A to invest in solar energy
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GREEN MAP
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Future Initiatives; what else could Mount Allison do for environmental sustainability? Have students make a green pledge at convocation, promising to pursue environmentally sustainable practices after graduation Re-open the Mt. A farm, providing locally grown vegetables to Jennings and the wider community Implement an office of sustainability with a coordinator dedicated to environmental projects Invest in renewable energy sources, such as geothermal, solar, or wind; these are currently reviewed as energy project options with every building construction and renovation
Convocation Hall
Efficient lighting system
The Sierra Youth Coalition, Canada’s oldest youth environmental network, was founded by Mt. A students
Mt. A has an underground unnel system which can rough many campus
Many buildings (including most residences) feature variable-speed fans in their exhaust systems. This type of system ensures that only the needed amount of air is flowing through the building (rather than pulling in excess air and wasting energy).
$20,000 is available every year through the MASU's Green Initiatives Fund for sustainability projects
Fact: The Campus Climate Challenge (C3) started at Mt. A, which later challenged other schools.
Library
Football Field
Gairdner Fine Arts Building
Owens Art Gallery More efficient chiller system
WMSC 3 Green Globes (the fitness center has 4!) Rainwater collection cistern in the basement Home of the MASU Sustainability Committee Meeting place for Eco-Action (Tuesdays at 6:00 pm, everyone welcome!)
Dual-intensity lighting: the lights can be switched from low to high intensities, saving energy. Lights run on timers This is the only place that Mount Allison uses herbicides
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ion for paper cups in the an: encouraging the use of mugs sted temperature controls on stem
Renovations installed low-flow water features New dehumidification system: heat gained through dehumidifying spaces is used to heat the pool High efficiency lighting system downstairs and in the main gym -Features a hot water setback system: the building cools down during the off-hours
Athletic Centre
Wind energy projects have been considered before at Mount Allison; however, building a wind turbine on campus would only have a twenty-five to thirty year payback period. In twenty-five to thirty years, the turbine would have to be replaced! Hopefully in the future, wind, solar, and geothermal energy harvesting technology costs will be less, allowing for a broader incorporation of renewable energy projects.
Down York Street… The Removal of Cuthbertson Reduces Mt. A’s energy footprint Loss of eco-friendly living habits for potential residents Hammond House Renovations Low-flow water features High efficiency lighting system New, better insulated windows Included in the natural gas network Mount Allison Farm Closed in the summer of 2013 Mount Allison’s own space for growing vegetables Pesticide free
l All South Side residences had lighting systems changed to increase efficiency
Thornton Bigelow
Renovations installed low-flow water features and higher efficiency lighting systems
Bennett
Hunton Edwards
Dunn Building
For more information on any of these facts, projects, environmental groups, or campaigns, please contact Graham May (ghmay@mta.ca) or Jenna Gaudet (jlgaudet@mta.ca). Special thanks to the Facilities Management team here at Mount Allison for all the work they do every day to keep us warm, dry, and as efficiently as possible!
ENTERTAINMENT Berner delivers satirical songs and stories November 21, 2013
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Vancouver artist Geoff Berner plays his accordion-centric songs and tells humorous stories to the attentive crowd at Jazz Guys, in support of the release of his debut novel, Festival Man. (Nick Sleptov/Argosy)
Berner brings book and music to Jazz Guys Cameron McIntyre
Entertainment Writer
Vancouver artist Geoff Berner brought his charming mix of comedy and music to Jazz Guys last Thursday with a brand new novel, Festival Man, in tow. Jazz Guys, though absolutely packed, felt tailor-made to suit the accordion player’s performance, which was impossible not to walk away from
without at least a small smile or smirk. The laughter contrasted perfectly with moments of sadness. Intertwined, they resulted in a dark satire that touched on everything from abuse of power to Vancouver’s ridiculous housing market. His music and the little introductions to each of his songs had dramatically different approaches. His hesitant pacing between songs made all of the punchiness of his comedy seem to come out of nowhere while remaining poignant, while the songs themselves cut straight for the laughs, over the tremendous backing of his accordion. The interplay between the two drove the show forward, making it all too brief in retrospect. The songs
centred on relevant themes of pseudoreligions, Judaism, and the prevalence of injustice in society. Berner poked fun at the societal issues that are too often cast in such a stagnant, negative light that they are irreproachable; he opened them up and made them appear so incredibly unnecessary. The anarchistic overtones emerged in the music as well, with a song entitled “Fuck the Police,” which was unfortunately not an accordion cover of the N.W.A. classic, though the mere thought of such a composition may be too whimsical to bear. They also popped up in constant allusions to starting a religion to deal with all problems, all washed away through a simple act of “spinning a chicken
Film Society screens Allen’s exhausting delight of a film Blue Jasmine is an exercise in great writing and pacing Sam Moore Watching Blue Jasmine was like a watching a train crash in slow motion. From the outset it is plain to see that the characters are inevitably going to end up crashing and burning, but still I could not look away; I had to see that train crash. The film is centred around Jasmine (played by Cate Blanchett), as she moves in with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins), in San Francisco following her husband’s arrest and death. Over the course of the film, Jasmine attempts to put her life back together and have a fresh start, to varying degrees of success. The writing is truly great in this film. Woody Allen has yet again written and directed a film with mundane characters that are hilarious simply for being mundane. Many lines had the audience in stitches simply because they were delivered in a completely unabashed manner, tongue placed firmly in cheek. That is not to say that the humour came only from the dialogue, however. Cate Blanchett is magnetic as Jasmine, an eccentric and unstable woman trying furiously to keep herself together as her life crumbles around her. Louis C.K. is hilariously hapless throughout his, albeit small, screen time. Alec Baldwin is also quite good, though it seemed like
he plays a more serious version of his 30 Rock character, Jack Donaghy. As I mentioned before, the film is set in San Francisco, and the city gets as much screen time as any of the characters. The cable cars and rolling hills, as well as the bay and Golden Gate Bridge, all get their due. This is also one of only two films shot in an American setting in the last nine years by Allen, who has written at least one movie every year since 1977, the year he released the critically lauded Annie Hall. Traditionally, Allen’s films have been set in New York, but as he has said over the last ten or so years, New York has become too expensive for him to make a film in. Whatever Works, from 2009, is the only movie he has shot there in ten years. In that context, the choice of San Francisco for Blue Jasmine makes sense. The city seems like a blend of his two cinematic phases; while it is a distinctly American city, it also has a very European feel, an aspect of the city that characters comment on occasionally. There is just as much of manic hustle-and-bustle of a city like New York, but it also seems to have a more luxurious, almost indulgent manner to it. Jasmine is very much a reflection of the city, despite her rather minimal experience with it. The pacing of Blue Jasmine is plodding, to say the least. The movie is not that long, and the conclusion is fairly evident from an early point, but, boy, does it take its time. As things spiral out of control for Jasmine and Ginger, the wait can be agonizing at times, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Make no mistake, the pacing of the film is intentional. It is a testament to the strength of the writing and the acting that I came out exhausted by it, rather than tired of it.
above your head three times to rid yourself of all sin,” with a donkeybased messiah to boot. But it was not all fun and games. Although Berner displayed a unique ability to keep one laughing, there was a feeling of deep sadness that did not lie far underneath the surface of his work. Undoubtedly, it is a product of hyper-awareness to the seemingly irresolvable issues faced by Canadians as a whole. Berner’s Canadian tour was in concert with the launch of his debut novel, Festival Man, published by Dundurn. Following the misadventures of a Calgary folk music festival manager, the novel promises “digressions into the Edmonton hardcore punk rock scene,
the Yugoslavian Civil War, and other epicentres of chaos.” The claim that it is “at turns funny and strangely sobering” mirrors the polarity of his mixed music and comedy routine, rendering the claim very believable. In Berner’s show, the flaws of the life we live were brought to light and laughed at, yet still remained what they are. His comedy is not all of the kind grandmother’s find disagreeable either, as evidenced by Berner’s having a hand in writing a couple episodes of Sesame Street. Overwhelmingly, tactfulness ran through the night as if he knew who he was performing for, leaving very little regret for attending the small gathering in Sackville’s newest pub.
Comedy combats stress Mel Brooks’s films can help get you through the midterm season Austin Landry Mel Brooks would do just about anything for a laugh. His career began with The Producers (1968) and The Twelve Chairs (1970), two stories he penned the scripts for and then filmed. The high point of his career was essentially the first half of it, during which he made movies that poked fun at the monster genre of the thirties, westerns, suspense thrillers, silent films, etc. The Producers was the first movie he made, and it still stands today as one of the funniest films ever put to celluloid. It stood out especially upon its initial release because of its over-the-top, inyour-face style. However, one can appreciate how carefully controlled the material and acting are. The plot involves a failing theatre producer who seduces little old ladies to help raise funds for his productions. The fact that that alone made its way past censors in 1968 is astounding, but Brooks had a zeal for seeing his projects through. Following the moderate success of his first feature, he then adapted the 1928 Russian satirical novel The Twelve Chairs. In this film, the style he directed his actors to portray began to emerge. This involved anything from abnormal facial twitches, mispronouncing certain words, and other very simple forms of whimsy that would churn out at least a few big laughs and a
lot of smaller ones. In 1974, Brooks somehow managed to release both Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles. The former is a satire of the old horror genre, made with obvious affection for the genre itself. The latter pokes good fun at westerns. Apart from great sight-gags and his signature willingness to go anywhere for a laugh, these movies work so well because of how appropriate their targets are. Conversely, there were times when Brooks aimed his satire at less appropriate targets, and his efforts turned out only mediocre results. High Anxiety (1977) attempts satire of suspense movies, Hitchcock’s works in particular. Here, the director’s own ideas are funnier and more impressive than the points of satire: a long tracking shot is interrupted by breaking through a wall of glass, which is always memorable and warrants a good chuckle. But take a scene that directly mocks a famous Hitchcock sequence: the shower scene in Psycho (1960). The original scene includes wit, circumstance, and narrative audacity. The satire tries to poke fun by having a bellboy delivering a newspaper to a persistent guest by ‘stabbing’ the guest, likening the paper’s ink running down the shower drain to blood. Because it’s more or less thrown into the movie, it loses an entire dimension of Hitchcock’s signature craftiness. Brooks’s earliest films are worth watching, especially as a means to break any lingering exam stress. When selecting a movie intended as a study break, we often tend toward ones we can ‘shut off ’ our minds to. One of the things that makes Mel Brooks’s best films immortal is that they don’t demand that we pay intensely close attention, yet they are still of the highest echelon of comic quality.
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Alvvays return with an improved set of power pop Opening acts fall flat but headliners impress at Sackville Legion Cameron McIntyre Entertainment Writer
On the precipice of the Remembrance Day long weekend, SappyFest favourite Alvvays returned to town alongside PEI’s English Words and Moncton’s DJ Bones. Although the show netted a sizeable turnout for a mid-week event, and Alvvays finished the night off on a high note, the evening was far from perfect. The sets were grouped together awkwardly, resulting in general confusion around pacing. Additionally, the level of instrumentation, which makes live music a markedly different experience from home listening, was lacking. The night began with a stumble as DJ Bones played to an empty dance floor. Noted for his popular Pond sets, their spiritedness and positive reception did not really transfer over to the Legion. The Moncton jockey’s signature blown-out indie classics, which feature throbbing beats neatly tucked beneath them, barely fit into the overall structure of the night, with overproduction being the only unifying trend. While the songs in his arsenal were definitely
Toronto’s Alvvays play a moody power pop set to the crowd at the Legion. (Madison Downe/Argosy) more conducive to a lively dance floor, they were stripped of nuance. Boiled down into vaguely recognizable club beats, they paled in comparison to their original versions. The result was a failed attempt by Bones to move the noticeably still-indie community to the dance floor. PEI’s English Words did little to move the night out of the plastic, pre-packaged mould it was entrapped in. The five-piece was surrounded
by a massive amount of gear that served as the basis for the electronic pop tunes they doled out. Matching their name, a notable Brit-rock influence ran through all their music with a keyboard and the occasional appearance of a sax to give it a bit of a flavour. However, their lack of a drummer and the centring of their sound around drum machine-produced music resulted in a staleness to the excitement they were trying
to create. All the personality that underscored their music became an afterthought, and the lack of life in its core made for a forgettable encounter. Alvvays (pronounced ‘always’) managed to finally break through the stagnation that enveloped the rest of the night, but only after spending the opening of their set dwelling in it. Their jingling pop was made trance-like with a smooth keyboard as its base. It seemed very formulaic at the beginning of the set, as one song bled into the next, but as their set progressed, the music did as well. The songs picked up speed and gained the kind of life that makes lives music shine, leaving the mechanistic beginnings behind. The initially overbearing keyboard moved to a more tasteful backseat and let the instrumentation, which it had been covering up, shine through, making all the detail available while not startling the audience out of their Brit-pop-inspired trance. Compared to their SappyFest performance three months ago, Alvvays has grown much more entertaining to watch live and are beginning to break out of the dream pop genre and develop a unique sound. The Toronto band has their debut LP set to be released by Royal Mountain Records at some point early next year. Having already released the lead single for the album, it has shown nothing but promise so far. With production by Calgary musician Chad VanGaalen, another SappyFest mainstay, it is definitely an album to keep an eye out for.
Argosy’s Media Reviews Kappa Chow play a dirty shuffle. There are no theatrics on either side of their eponymous debut tape: just spit, sweat, and a steady rhythm. But who is Kappa Chow, anyway? Side A of the tape was recorded in Sackville, while Side B was recorded by an entirely different band in Montreal. With guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Chamandy as the only constant, one might think that the band’s sound would revolve around him, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Side A—the stronger of the two sides, without question—weaves itself a simple, yet effective, formula: Chamandy snarls and yells, almost as atonal and exciting as Richard Hell, while Averill keeps one foot planted and allows things to stay under control. Side B has bigger riffs, oscillating between blown-out bass and thin treble, but loses steam come “sleep all day.” Highlights include “love on me” and “can’t have you,” but the entire tape is worth a listen. - Norman Nehmetallah
Bong Jovi Bong Jovi
on FOX
Kappa Chow
The contents of Bong Jovi’s self-titled sophomore album are best experienced, no doubt, in the throes of the pit. Like their so-dumb-it’s-clever name, Bong Jovi gets its point across by pummelling the listener, letting subtleties show themselves only in subsequent listens. Their particular strain of stonerpunk is slow and sparse, but the constant droning feedback which serves as a backdrop for their tracks never distracts from solid—if a bit predictable—songwriting. Opener “This Machine Kills Hipsters” chugs along ominously, and despite the fuzz rising a decimal or two with each passing verse, it still feels like something is lurking beneath the surface of the audio, if only for now. This latent antsiness stands out in middle tracks “Shrill” and “Burn The Mattress,” and Robert Johnson tribute “Me & The Devil Blues” dials up the sun-baked riffing to near-Kyuss levels. Overall, Bong Jovi presents a solid and accessible set list of stoner rock for both initiates and seasoned tokers alike. - Ian Malcolm With the release of Pearl Jam’s Lightning Bolt, the band represents the scarce remains of alternative rock within mainstream music. The album is predictable through the eyes of devoted fans; still, the tracks collectively result in a satisfying, mature album. Vocalist Eddie Vedder’s youthful confidence in his aggressive ‘yarl’ has been lost along with grunge itself. Lightning Bolt still presents the band’s modest attempt to conform to modern day rock; however some aggressive tracks, such as “Mind Your Manners” and “My Father’s Son,” have a similar sound to their debut album Ten. This is a nice change in comparison to 2009’s Backspacer, which consisted of clean-cut punk tracks absent of their trademark grunge sound. Additionally, some tracks on Lightning Bolt give off a folk rock vibe, influenced by Vedder’s solo work. Lightning Bolt is a great example of Pearl Jam’s chemistry; however, be aware that you will not find an anthem as legendary as “Alive” or “Black.” As many already know, Pearl Jam is long past its prime. - Liz Campbell
Sleepy Hollow
Kappa Chow
Based off of Washington Irving’s short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the television show Sleepy Hollow is a modern twist on a supernatural classic, mixed in with some good old-fashioned mystery. The premise: Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) wakes in a cave in modern day Sleepy Hollow, New York, after he was injured fighting in a battle for the Revolutionary War. At the same time, the headless horseman that Ichabod was searching for follows him to modern day Sleepy Hollow as well, and begins a murderous beheading spree. Ichabod stumbles into the town and is arrested in connection to the murders. There he is introduced to the leading lady protagonist, Lt. Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie). The story is a new twist on a classic, and features fun and slightly ridiculous banter between the historical Ichabod and the hopeful FBI recruit Abbie. The show features a diverse cast and seems to be an amusing alternative to the original story. - Steph Pringle
Pearl Jam Lightning Bolt
SPORTS
November 21, 2013
argosy@mta.ca
O’Brien shines in 1-0 shutout over Moncton
The Mounties were outscored 6-2 on Saturday night, but proved their tenacity in a 1-0 shutout of the rival Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus this past Sunday. (Nick Sleptov/Argosy)
Women split weekend AUS matches Benjamin Foster Sports Writer
The Mount Allison Mounties Women’s hockey team split a pair of games this weekend. Their record through nine games is three wins and six losses, which puts them in a tie for fifth in the Atlantic University Sport Conference (AUS). Saturday night’s home game
featured the women against the St. Thomas University Tommies (STU) and the team did not play well. STU won the game 6-2, and made use of a very dangerous offence in the game. Goalie Megan Colpitts played well for the Mounties, stopping thirty of thirty-six shots, including a penalty shot by Tommies forward Erin MacIsaac. The game was fast-paced, with STU controlling the play for much of the game. The Tommies only had four more shots on net than the Mounties, but were able to convert on their chances around the Mounties net. The goal scorers for the Mounties were Courtney King and Lindsay James. STU has now won both games against the Mounties this season.
Mt. A came out stronger in their second game of the weekend against the Moncton Aigles-Bleus in Moncton, and for the second time this season beat them 1-0. “We did not play to our potential against STU but we were very happy to come away with two points against Moncton again,” said Mt. A forward Sarah Gagnier. Kate O’Brien notched her second shutout of the season, both coming against Moncton. She saved her team when they got into penalty trouble five times in the game. O’Brien stopped thirty-two shots and made multiple big saves in the third period to clinch the game for Mt. A. “I do not think there is a reason
The fear of missing out Breaking down the potential hazards with being attached to your cellphone Célina Boothby Our nightly routines are all similar: remove contacts, brush teeth, change into pyjamas, snuggle into bed, plug phone into the wall, and tuck it in right beside your head as if you were going to cuddle it all night long. Even if it’s not in the actual bed with you, it is probably within a quick arm’s reach if it were to ever buzz, beep, or brighten. A 2010 Pew Research Center study of more than 2,000 adults found more than ninety per cent of Americans aged eighteen to twenty-nine sleep with a cellphone on or next to their bed. The same study, part of the Pew Internet and American Life project, showed that those who text are forty-two per cent more likely to sleep with their phones than those who do not text. These numbers completely support the trend of ‘FoMo’ (the fear of missing out) and show how deeply entrenched we are as a society to always being in contact. Living in a world where one is constantly surrounded by technology, this is simply a reminder to be careful. The effects of FoMo could be potentially harmful to our academic health, and one needs to be vigilant of the harm cellphones can cause.
Sleep in university is hard to come by. Studies show that sleep deprivation can negatively affect memory and attention, and greatly contributes to physical day time fatigue. Long lectures, midterms, meetings, and even homework require tremendous amounts of active processing to retain information and heightened levels of attention. A lack of sleep puts a lot of stress on your body during the following day. This greatly decreases your odds of remembering those crucial details that you will need to recall at a later date. With the continued temptation of a cellphone in close proximity during the night, bedtimes are easily pushed back. There are even studies demonstrating that the light from the cellphone screen will actually decrease melatonin production. Melatonin production is crucial to getting a good night’s sleep. In order to stay academically healthy, you need sleep. Sleep is the recharging time we require to function in tip-top shape. As students, a lot is asked of us, and there are a lot of pressures to get things accomplished. I would like to challenge everyone to go a night with your cellphone turned off. Think you could accomplish it? Will you break under the separation anxiety? I can guarantee you that it will be there in the morning, that you will have survived, and that the world is still standing in one piece. You never know, you may feel rested, confident, and distraction-free when you wake up. Believe me; your brain could use a complete and total break. Stay healthy folks! Célina Boothby is Mount Allison University’s Health Intern.
I play so well against Moncton. I go into each game wanting to play well; it just so happened I have two shutouts against them,” O’Brien said. The Mounties played a defensive game after letting up six goals the day before. They were still out shot, this time 32-15, but the chances were not as good for Moncton. “We worked well as a team, especially defensively with a lot of blocked shots and we limited their chances,” O’Brien said of the game. The only goal of the game was scored in the second period by Megan Cameron, her second of the season. Samantha Bujold had the assist. Catherine Dumas and Marika Lacroix led the Aigles-Bleus charge,
as they recorded six and five shots respectively. O’Brien did well to turn the tandem away for the majority of the match, recording thirty-two saves to notch the win. Mt. A will go on the road for two games next weekend. They will face off against the unbeaten Saint Francis Xavier X-Women this Friday night. The X-Women have been dominant so far this season, including in their only game against the Mounties, winning 6-0. The Mounties play in Halifax against the Saint Mary’s University (SMU) Huskies Sunday afternoon. They lost their first game against the Huskies 3-1 earlier this month in Sackville, and will try and seek revenge against rival SMU.
Basketball team in a hot streak; take two in a row Women now sit fourth in ACAA with a game at hand Sam Shury
Circulations Manager The Mounties Women’s basketball team has now recorded two wins and a loss on the season after back-to-back wins over the past two weekends. The Mounties showed excellent poise on Nov. 10 in their home game against the University of King’s College Blue Devils and pulled out a 5146 win. The game was back-and-forth for four quarters, with both teams able to make big runs at different points. In the end however, it was the Mounties who were able make the final run. With less than four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the game was tied at forty. Over a two-minute span, Mounties forward Mackenzie Gray scored six straight, unanswered points to put her team up 46-40. A strong driving layup down the middle of the key, from Mounties guard Brooke Kelly, stretched the lead to eight points with under a minute to go, essentially icing the game. Gray led the way for her team, scoring twenty points on 8-12 shooting, to go along with eight rebounds and five steals. Brooke also had a strong all-around game, finishing with eight points, six rebounds, and three assists. This past weekend’s game proved less exciting, but no less impressive for the Mounties, as they
dominated the Crandall University Chargers in a 74-37 win on the road. The Mounties were able to attempt twenty-four more field goals than the Chargers, as they were a minus-13 in turnovers and a plus-7 in offensive rebounds. For Gray, the keys to the two wins were simple. “We were focused,” she said, “we stepped up when we needed to and played well together as a team.” The Mounties have certainly showed flashes of being a real threat in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association this season, and their game against the Chargers may have been the best example of this so far this season. After mental lapses at certain points in the first two games, the Mounties won all four quarters against the Chargers and held them to just twenty-two points over the final three quarters. Looking forward, when asked what the team needs to improve upon most after three games, Gray replied, “we need to work on consistency across all forty minutes and across teams with different calibers. We need to play our game no matter who the competition is.” The Mounties will need to continue their physical, hard-working play down low in order to keep winning games. Outside shooting has not been their strong point, shooting just 4-41 from three-point territory on the season. The Mounties have looked best when utilizing quick ball movement and have been able to get the ball inside, either through strong post play from their forwards or from their guards driving lanes and creating their own shots. Their next match is against the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 3 pm.
The Argosy
SPORTS
www.argosy.ca
Loewen and Peters qualify for CIS nationals; Reeder wins silver
Sports in brief Volleyball take two in Pointe-de-l’Église
Mounties bring twelve AUS medals back from Dalhousie meet Alex Bates
Sports Editor Despite finishing fourth in the third Atlantic University Sport (AUS) meet of the 2013-14 season, the men and women that comprise the Mount Allison swim team left Dalhousie proud of their accomplishments. The Dalhousie meet was the third meet of the year for the team, and the last meet of the fall semester. It’s an event that all teams train and prepare for, and the best swimmers in the conference compete. “Everyone swam really fast this weekend. It’s good to see all our hard work paying off,” said first-year student-athlete Allison Loewen. The team was preparing vigorously for the event, training nine times a week. Loewen and Marya Peters were highlights in the women’s events, and their team took seven medals back to Sackville. Both women qualified for Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) events during the meet. Loewen will compete in the 100 metre free, finishing fourth in her event, and the 50 meter free, where she was able to take home a silver medal. Peters will also compete in the 100 meter free, as she placed third in the event. The Mounties’ seven medals included four bronze medals and
15
Mt. A brought twelve medals home this past weekend. (Taylor Losier/Argosy) three silvers. White, Peters (who won two), and the 4x100 medley relay team comprised of White, Leblanc, Peters, and Loewen all took home bronze medals. Peters, Loewen, and the 4x100 free relay team comprised of the same members as the aforementioned team won silver medals. Emma Woodworth and Lea Raiche-Marsden also placed in their events finals. Woodworth placed sixth in the 200 intermediate medley, and Raiche-Marsden finished sixth in both the 50 meter breaststroke and the 100 metre fly. “We came here with the goal to get some kids qualified for CIS. Two did, Allison Loewen and Marya Peters, and the women’s 4x100 metre freestyle relay team narrowly missed it. While we hope that they’ll make it next week, right now we’re looking forward to training camp in Miami and the AUS Championships in Newfoundland,” said Mounties Head Coach John
Peters. The men’s team accumulated five medals over the weekend’s events. Andrew Reeder had the men’s only silver medal, and the Mounties came home with four bronze. Dylan Wooley-Berry finished third in the 50 metre fly, and Joe Blackwood finished third in the 50 metre free. “Never has [Mt. A] swimming been so badass,” said Blackwood after his bronze medal. The men’s team of Reeder, Blackwood, Jeff Loewen, and WooleyBerry took home bronze medals in the 4x100 free relay and the 4x100 medley relay. The men finished the team event in fourth position, trailing Dalhousie, Acadia, and University of New Brunswick, respectively. The Mounties will now prepare for events after the Christmas break. They will head to Miami to train, and will be looking forward to showing their prowess at the AUS Championships.
The Mount Allison Varsity Volleyball team took two wins on the road at the Université Sainte-Anne this past weekend. It was unclear if the Mounties would be in tough against the Dragons. The Dragons were able to hold their own against perennial contender St. Thomas, splitting a two match series earlier this season. The women made quick work of the opposing Dragons in the first match, winning in three straight sets 25-21, 25-16, 25-23. The team knew the work was not done yet though, and awaited the re-match that would occur the following day. The game was a 12 pm start, and it was unclear if the early start affected the women, but they quickly found themselves down two sets to none. Whether it was correlation or causation, Lynne Arsenault was subbed into the game for the first time just before the start of the third set. The women took the next two sets, forcing the winner-take-all fifth set. Mt. A blazed out to a 10-2 lead and Caitlin MacDonald made the final kill to win the final set 15-6. The Mounties won the match by a final score of 25-27, 12-25, 25-21, 25-19, 15-6. The result of the match pushes Mt. A’s record to four wins and two losses. The Mounties have now won four consecutive games. They seem to be back in their winning ways under new coach Paul Settle.
Chargers defense cool Mounties’ hot hand Mounties Men’s basketball split their two games over the past two weekends, winning 89-77 at home against the University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils on Nov. 10, and losing 73-58 against the Crandall Chargers on Nov. 16. Against UKC, the Mounties got two huge games from forwards Alex Chisholm and Bradley Fuller. Chisholm finished with twenty-one points, twelve rebounds, and five assists, while Fuller dominated the paint all game, putting up thirty-two points and eleven rebounds. The Mounties shot 53.6 percent from the field and had twenty assists as a team. The Mounties offense cooled off significantly the next weekend against Crandall. They saw their shooting drop to 35.9 per cent and managed just six assists. “Crandall’s full-court press and 2-3 zone defense were what stymied his team’s offense, as they were not able to run their sets as comfortably as they had against UKC,” said Chisholm about the Chargers defense. Mt. A will play the Dalhousie Agricultural College Rams this Sunday.
Mounties stun Acadia 12-9; lose in semifinals to Dalhousie The Mount Allison Lacrosse Mounties upset Acadia in the Maritime University Field Lacrosse League Championship 12-9 in a hard-fought match. The teams faced off in the fourth versus fifth elimination game on Nov. 8. Spencer Betts kept the opposing Laxmen at bay, and allowed only nine goals. David Carson scored four and Ryan Scott had the game-winner. The team advanced to the semifinals against Dalhousie, but lost 17-4.
I’ll always be ‘forever a Mountie’ What wearing the ‘Flying A’ means to me Stu Moore It seems like it was just yesterday that I arrived on campus eager to begin my commerce degree and suit up as a wide receiver for the Mounties football team. Yet, the past five years have flown by. Sadly, I have played my last down of football and will be graduating from Mount Allison after the fall semester. Looking back on my time at this university I realize how lucky I was to have received a top-notch university education, an opportunity to represent Mt. A on the gridiron, and to have met so many amazing people at the university and in the community. They have all made this place feel like home. It is strange that sometimes it is the small things that we miss the most. For me, it is the freshly painted lines on the field, hearing the national anthem at a packed home game, and that hug my parents always had waiting for me at the end of every game. Despite the tears in my eyes as I walked off the field one last time, I smile to myself. I smile thinking about those sunny fall afternoons of MacAulay Field, the locker room of brothers waiting for me, and how proud representing this university has made my family.
Reminiscing on these memories, I realize that the past five years have been the best of my life. That’s not to say that they will be the best years of my life, because I am optimistic about the future. I am optimistic because I know what it takes to succeed in life. It takes the same accountability, dedication, perseverance, and commitment that my teammates and I have developed over the past five years as student athletes. I will always cherish my time as a Mountie and look back on the memories with a smile. Another sad reality is that once I am done in December, I will have to leave my teammates. Over the years, these guys have become my brothers; they are family to me. I am so lucky to have been able to spend time with eighty of my best friends on a daily basis for the past five years, and knowing that this will end is a tough pill to swallow. These are the type of guys that never quit, that never stop believing in you, and that are always there to pick you up when you are down. I love those guys, and their friendship means the world to me. Winning the Conference championship and hosting the Uteck Bowl here in a small university town like Sackville has been somewhat of a fairytale journey. And for a few days in November, our team reignited a sense of pride in our students, alumni, and our community that had not been felt for almost two decades. In closing, I cannot express how proud I am of this team. When no one believed in us, we continued to fight; we overcame the adversity and produced a season that this school will never forget. What we have accomplished has put this university and program back into the national
Moore is 2013’s AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award winner. (Daniel St. Louis/Mount Allison) spotlight. I am very blessed to have been a part of something so special. So thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way. Thank you to the coaches, professors, students, and members of this amazing community who have made my time here so memorable. My time here at Mt. A may have come to an end, but I can promise you
that I am forever a Mountie. Stu Moore is a graduating student-athlete playing for the Mount Allison football team. He is nominated for the 2013 Russ Jackson award, which is an award given to an athlete demonstrating outstanding community service.
ATTIC TRANSMISSIONS
THE CHMA 106.9 FM CAMPUS & COMMUNITY RADIO BULLETIN
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
THE HOWLING WOLF EDITION
THE CHARTS
AN INTERVIEW WITH LUCAS HICKS
FOR THE WEEK ENDING TUESDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2013
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RANK
ARTIST
TITLE
(LABEL)
01 The Arcade Fire* Reflektor (Merge)
02 SAID THE WHALE* Hawaiii (Hidden Pony) 03 KING KRULE 6 Feet Beneath The Moon (True) 04 PAT LEPOIDEVIN* American Fiction (Self-Released) 05 ASTRAL GUNK* Straight Up James Dean (Nervous System) 06 CORY ISENOR* Hollowbody (Self-Released) 07 BOLIVIA* Giants (Self-Released) 08 CROSSS* Obsidian Spectre (Telephone Explosion)
09 BONGJOVI* BONGJOVI? (Superbob)
10 ALEX LEGGETT* Captain (Self-Released) 11 ALVVAYS* Alvvays (Self-Released) 12 WOODEN STICKS* Antler Lake Disaster (Self Released)
By Phil Mercier I recently sat down with local musician Lucas Hicks to chat about musical influences, trees, and Elvis.
13 THE STRUMBELLAS* We Still Move On The Dance Floor (Six Shooter) 14 ADAM MOWERY* Local Bands (Self-Released) 15 KIM BEGGS* Beauty and Breaking (Self-Released) 16 SHOTGUN JIMMIE* Everything Everything (You’ve Changed) 17 THE DARCYS* Warring (Arts & Craft) 18 MATTHEW GOOD* Arrows of Desire (Frostbyte)
19 GOLD & YOUTH* Beyond Wilderness (Arts & Crafts)
20 THE MOUTHBREATHERS* Stone Soup (Killer Haze) 21 BORN RUFFIANS* Birthmarks (Paper Bag) 22 VINCENT VALLIERES* Fabriquer (L’aube) 23 PAPER LIONS* My Friends (Fountain Pop)
24 CITY AND COLOUR*
Phil Mercier: Besides music what do you do with your time? Lucas Hicks: I’m a bit of a poor student, a promoter, a bar keep down at Jazz Guys, and a board member for the Sappy Records Music Festival. PM: Who are your musical influences? LH: I love many types of music and musicians but artists like Stephen Malkmus (of Pavement and Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks) really inspire me to keep doing what I do. He makes it seem effortless and fun, which it totally can be. PM: How does playing with different backing bands effect your music? LH: Pretty greatly. Some folks I play with have songs down to a T and others are just experimenting. It’s fun and keeps old things feeling current and gives me new ideas. PM: How does living in Sackville influence your music? LH: Many of my other influences either started here or lived here for a time i.e.: Shotgun Jimmie, Julie Doiron, Steve Lambke (Constantines/Baby Eagle). Those folks are all reasons that I play and love music so much. They’ve created a great scene and I feel really fortunate to be in it.
The Hurry and The Harm
PM: Do you enjoy playing live or in studio better and why? LH: They both have there perks but I’d have to go with playing live. You have less control and can just have fun with it. I can get pretty worked up in the studio and want things to be perfect, but I’m not that good. I rely on the energy. PM: What’s next for Lucas Hicks? LH: I’m going to take a short break from touring etc. and try to track my first full length over the break. That won’t be out for a while but there should be more news on that really shortly. PM: What is your favourite type of tree? LH: Pine, man. They smell great in any state. PM: Is Elvis really dead? LH: Rock and roll will never die, but I believe punk-rock already has. PM: Why should I go to your show on Saturday? LH: Because my buds from Motherhood will totally blow you away. They’re extremely professional and put on an amazing live show. Be sure to stop by Ducky’s Saturday Nov 23rd where Lucas will be sharing the stage with Fredericton alt-rockers Motherhood. The show starts at 8:30, is pay what you can, and is not to be missed.
SPOTLIGHT #31: GROWWING PAINS
Die Alone)
17 Songs About The Same Girl (Urnial Cake)
The underrated yet coveted number thirty-one spot goes to a band of unlikely origins this week: Growwing Pains of Detroit, Michigan, USA. Their debut LP on Urinal Cake records boasts a stacked roster of seventeen catchy numbers clocking in at under 30 minutes total without a dud in the bunch. These aggro pop songs are quick out of the gate, full of hooks, and covered in fuzz; think Jay Reatard with a sweet side. These Motor City kids are just barely twenty years old and have already put in touring time and established their own distinct and homogeneous sound. Not in a bad way, the album is musically cohesive and downright upbeat. Check them out quick, before Pitchfork sticks them with its lecherous tines!
25 DAN GRIFFIN* Bordertown (Ragg Wool) 26 COACH LONGLEGS* Coach Longlegs (Self-Released) 27 WAKE OWL* Wild Country (Rezolute Music) 28 KATRANADA* Kaytra Todo (Huh What & Where) 29 BORN GOLD* I Am An Extra (Self-Released) 30 THE HEADSTONE* Love + Furry (Frostbyte)
31 GROWWING PAINS* 17 Songs About The Same Girl (Urinal Cake)
NEWCOMER SESSIONS EVERY TUESDAY 4PM 364-2221 WWW.MTA.CA/CHMA 3RD FLOOR STUDENT CENTRE
UPCOMING EVENTS & CONCERTS TOM HEARN + FRIENDS & JSTN PARSONS & SCOTTY BERNIER THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013 PICKLES PWYC 9:00 PM
LUCAS HICKS & MOTHERHOOD SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2013 DUCKY’S PWYC - 19+ 9:00 PM
The Argosy
SCIENCE
www.argosy.ca
India attempts first voyage to the Red Planet Probe a first for India’s budding space program Clay Steell India has blasted off to the Red Planet, the eighth country in history to attempt the voyage. On November 5, the Mars Orbiter Mission lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, north of the southeastern city Chennai. This tiny probe is a part of the ongoing ‘second space race’ between India, China, Japan, and other Asian nations with emerging economies. The Mars Orbiter Mission, known informally as Mangalyaan, carries huge implications for India’s rapidly developing space program. Its space program started humbly in the 1960s with the launch of satellites tracking water sources, deforestation, and human settlement patterns. Since then, the space program has launched more than seventy satellites, and has
been independent of other countries’ launching facilities since 1980. In 2008, the country reached a milestone: a successful lunar orbit probe. It was the first lunar mission to confirm the presence of water on the moon. This present mission to Mars is part of India’s rapid advancement as a spacefaring nation. Mangalyaan has a dangerous path ahead. Half of all attempted missions to Mars have failed. Seven space programs have attempted to reach Mars with unmanned missions; only the United States, the former Soviet Union, and European Union have succeeded. The Mars Orbiter Mission has objectives in line with other recent Mars missions: seeking indications of past or present life on the planet. It will scan the Martian atmosphere for methane, a gas highly indicative to life as we know it on Earth. There is presently conflicting evidence for Martian methane: The European Space Agency announced in 2009 that its Mars Express satellite found atmospheric methane, but NASA’s Curiosity rover has so far not detected
any. India’s space agency hopes to clarify the status of this gas in the Martian atmosphere. This space mission has provoked significant criticism of India from around the world. Critics, primarily from western countries that provide aid to the country, contend that India is not justified in spending millions of dollars on an extraterrestrial mission that will not directly benefit its millions of poor and hungry citizens. India’s space agency believes strongly that the mission benefits the country and its citizens. Mangalyaan is the cheapest Mars mission to date, and cheaper than many Earth-based space missions. At $72 million, it was considerably cheaper to make and launch than most Hollywood blockbusters, such as the recent spacethriller Gravity. Successfully reaching the Red Planet would lend credence to India’s space program, attracting investment and therefore economic development. Jitendra Gotswani, director of India’s 2008 lunar mission, believes that Mangalyaan would also be incredibly inspirational to all Indians, rich and poor.
PlayStation 4 released A review of this year’s most anticipated console Martin Omes Science Writer
The next generation of gaming has arrived. The PlayStation 4 (PS4) was released this week, and the Xbox One will be released Friday. Through the last seven years, gaming consoles have transformed into living room hubs, through software updates and the constant evolution of gaming. During those seven years, Sony took notes and designed a console that would address the issues of the PlayStation 3 (PS3). The most noticeable addition is the DualShock 4, which is considered the best controller Sony has ever made. When the PS3 launched, it cost $200 more than the Xbox 360. This time, Sony’s product is listed at one hundred dollars less than the competition. The PlayStation 4 is the more aesthetically appealing of the next generation consoles, with a sharp, angled profile, and a light bar that will act as a console status indicator. On the back, it only has HDMI and optical ports, with no analog audio or video outputs. With an internal power supply, it saves a lot of space behind the television. Any PlayStation gamer can tell you that the DualShock 3 controller was very annoying. The sticks were too close together, too squishy, and for someone who has big hands it was difficult to use the controller for long periods of time. The new controller fits gently into the curve of your palm, and texture on the back allows for a strong grip without distraction. The most welcome addition is the headphone jack on the bottom of the controller,
which supports any standard singlejack headset, even standard dollar store headphones. It also has a speaker in the middle of the controller, which is of better quality than the Nintendo Wii’s controller. Unfortunately, a majority of the launch titles have ignored this feature. The only downside of the controller is the battery life: I was only able to get seven hours of solid usage on a full charge, compared to a dozen hours prior. The new controller takes about three hours to charge fully, and can be charged on an idle PS4 or any USB port. The home screen is a huge improvement from the previous consoles. Going through the menus with little lag was very refreshing, but the best change was that you can now skip the PS3’s PSN ID association process. You are now able to download your profile more easily on the PS4. With advantages come disadvantages: The camera-based voice commands are relatively useless so far, as all of the video apps, such as YouTube and Netflix, are in a submenu, which means that they are not able to be reached by voice command alone. There is also a new system Sony instituted called Music Unlimited, a program that offers access to millions of songs, and with the purchase of the PS4, you get a free one-month trial. It is quite clunky so far, but the main issue is that that it is the only way to get outside music onto your system. It cannot read MP3s or CDs, so if you want to listen to music while you game, this is the only option. As always with new consoles, there will be hardware issues, with many PS4s having what is being dubbed as the “blue light of death” for which Sony has not yet discovered an easy solution. With some updates and clean up, the PlayStation 4 has the potential to be an innovative and exciting console. In the meantime, the focus is on Microsoft.
The Mangalyaan orbiter launches toward Mars. (Indian Space Research Organisation)
Honours Profile Alyssa James Allison O’Reilly Science Editor
Alyssa James is a fourth-year psychology honours student working with Rima Azar. James was first introduced to psychology through an AP psychology course in high school. The subject matter proved very interesting to her. “I’ve always been interested in what makes people tick,” James said. It wasn’t until she started taking second-year psychology courses that focused on more in-depth topics that she realized that psychology was the subject for her. James is currently writing her thesis under the scope of Azar’s ongoing research concerning the psychoneuroimmunology of pregnancy. Approximately ten to twelve per cent of Canadian women suffer from prenatal depression. Prenatal depression may have a detrimental impact on fetal growth—low birth weight, which is correlated with increased illness and developmental issues, places a burden on our health care system. James’s project seeks to investigate whether prenatal depressive symptoms are associated with increased inflammation during early to mid pregnancy James’s thesis is entitled “Serum levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers as a function of the severity of depressive symptoms in nulliparous expectant women during early-tomid-pregnancy.” James’s research involves examining levels of three pro-inflammatory biomarkers in nulliparous (have not given live birth before) women: C-reactive protein, Tumor Necrosis Factors-alpha, and
Alyssa James in the Psychobiology of Stress & Health Lab. (Allison O’Reilly/Argosy) Interleukin-6. Blood samples are collected from participating pregnant women during their first prenatal hospital visit (seven to ten weeks gestation). Samples are collected again during mid-gestation (twenty-four to twenty-eight weeks). These samples are then centrifuged to separate the serum from the red blood cells and debris. The blood serum is analyzed for levels of the three proinflammatory biomarkers. During blood sample collection, participants are given both a demographic questionnaire as well as a depressive symptoms questionnaire to complete. The demographic questionnaire will be used to determine potential confounding variables such as age, smoking, and BMI. James hypothesizes that there will be a dose-related
response between pro-inflammatory biomarkers and maternal depressive symptoms (meaning that higher levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers will be associated with more severe depressive symptoms). C-reactive protein, Tumor Necrosis Factors-alpha, and Interleukin-6 are signals of inflammation. Previous research has found a relationship between inflammation and depressive symptoms, that higher levels of inflammation show more severe depressive symptoms. There has been some research conducted looking at depressive symptoms and inflammation, but not in pregnant samples. “It is really exciting to be researching a topic that only a few people have ever studied.” James said.
18 SCIENCE
November 21, 2013
argosy@mta.ca
Non-coding regions of DNA found to be functional When the ‘one per cent’ truly matters Nick Sleptov Photo Manager
We’ve all heard that human and chimpanzee genomes are about ninety-nine per cent similar, and many of us have questioned: how could this tiny difference contribute to such drastic differences between the two species? Furthermore, what parts of the human genome are responsible for such differences? In 2003, after the Human Genome Project was completed, it was found that functional genes (ones that encode protein sequences) constituted only about two per cent of our genome, with the other ninetyeight per cent having no apparent function and thus labeled ‘junk DNA’. However, with time, new evidence pointed out that many noncoding parts of our genome perform regulatory functions. In other words, many non-coding parts of our DNA regulate the expression of other
genes through various ways like reducing, enhancing, and silencing it. Furthermore, many of the non-coding sequences turned out to be crucial developmental regulators, thus, being vitally important. Research estimates that about five to ten per cent of human genome is conserved across mammals, with the majority of it not coding for any proteins. This data argues that the non-coding portion of the human genome therefore contains more functionally constrained DNA than the coding portion. Thus the non-coding portion of the human genome is a larger potential target for evolutionary change. Furthermore, the sequence of protein changes that occurred during human evolution is too small to account for all of the human-specific traits. Evidently, human-specific phenotypes (the composite of an organism’s observable characteristics or traits) must have resulted due to changes in such noncoding regulatory sequences. How does one determine what exact human-specific changes in the noncoding part of the genome contribute to our unique traits? Thankfully, rapid progress in genome sequencing techniques have allowed multiple
Environmental News Emma Jackson
Four months after the Lac-Mégantic train derailment, environmental groups are warning officials of high levels of contaminants found in the nearby Chaudière River. According to Greenpeace Quebec and the Société pour vaincre la pollution (SVP), samples from the water have been found to contain higherthan-acceptable levels of numerous chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which have been found in waterways surrounding the Alberta oil sands and have been linked with cancers found upstream in communities such as Fort Chipewyan. In late September, Quebec’s environment department lifted a drinking water ban for several communities that rely on the Chaudière’s water supply. The Quebec Environment Minister Yves-François Blanchet has, however, assured the public that the department is continuing to monitor the safety of the water and that sampling and analyses have not stopped. The train that derailed in LacMégantic on July 6 was carrying over seven million litres of crude oil, of which 5.9 million is estimated to have been released into the environment. It remains unclear how much of this oil ended up in the town’s lake and in the Chaudiére River. The environment department has estimated that roughly 100,000 litres likely contaminated the river, but Greenpeace’s Patrick Bonin questions this figure. Following their testing, Greenpeace Quebec and SVP have stated that samples taken 4.7 kilometres downstream from the lake were found to have pollutant levels twenty-seven times higher than what
is deemed acceptable. Blanchet has responded by saying that the area the group chose to sample is known to have been highly contaminated, and is therefore not representative of the current condition of the river. But Rosa Galvez-Cloutier, a decontamination expert from the Université de Laval, has added her voice, pressuring the government to do further testing on toxicity levels. She says that the tests done by SVP and Greenpeace show significant amounts of crude oil, which could have an impact on the river’s ecosystem. Daniel Green from the SVP is concerned that future contamination will occur in the spring. He warns that spring flooding could stir up oil located along the riverbed and overflow onto surrounding agricultural lands. Environment Canada has also been collecting samples from the site. However, last week a spokesperson stated that the results, “will only be released when appropriate, as investigations are ongoing and all samples collected may become subject to future legal proceedings.” The environmental groups are not satisfied and they have been calling on Quebec to release information on what contaminants are in the river and where they have been found in concentrated levels. The groups are also asking for the government to make the work they have done public information. “There are a lot of unanswered questions,” Bonin said.
vertebrate genomes such as mouse, rat, chimpanzee, zebrafish, amongst others, to be sequenced and mapped, allowing a detailed comparison of those with the human genome. We can identify the regions in human non-coding DNA that are evolving faster than predicted. In other words, the parts of the human non-coding genome that are experiencing faster mutation rates than the analogous parts in other related animals. Next, the researchers used an experimental design to see whether the human variant of a noncoding sequence of interest has any regulatory role in development. This is done by creating transgenic mice containing human-specific regions of non-coding DNA of interest instead of their native ones. The procedure is repeated to create a transgenic mouse with our ‘ancestral’ form of the non-coding sequence from the chimpanzee. The expression of specific genes in mice embryos containing human and chimpanzee genome sequences can then be compared by using specially constructed ‘reporter genes’ that visualize the expression of the specified gene. If a human variant of such non-coding DNA sequences showed reproducible gene expression
Predicted human non-coding regions and functions. (Adapted from Capra et al.) different from the related chimpanzee sequence, it can be an indicator of regulatory functions. Another approach is to use statistical analysis to predict what parts of the human genome might have such regulatory functions (i.e. enhancer activity) by analyzing their proximity to genes and many other factors involved. A recent study by John A.
Capra had predicted that about 773 non-coding human-specific regions of genome with accelerated mutation rates are to be developmental enhancers. Interestingly, the majority of them have been predicted to enhance and regulate brain and limb development—perhaps the most important human traits.
Educating for the future
A study of climate change education Adam Cheeseman Cecilia Jennings, a member of the GENV 3701 class, is conducting research following a trip to Jasper, Alberta. Her study seeks to investigate the potential for interpretive educational opportunities about climate change throughout Jasper National Park. This is Cecilia’s second visit to Jasper National Park through Mount Allison University. With a huge amount of scientific research occurring in the park relating to climate change, there is significant educational opportunity for the public. Although this research exists, little effort has been taken to convey this work to the general public. “Climate change is a huge issue for the park [especially in terms of glacial melt and changing habitats of wildlife], but so far it’s not a big part of their educational outreach,” says Jennings. “I find it’s really important to find ways to transfer scientific knowledge, especially about such an important subject, to visitors interested in learning more about how our world works.” In 2012, Jennings was part of a research team in the GENS 3401 class that investigated the impacts of a massive icefall off of Ghost Glacier near Mount Edith Cavell that had recently occurred in the area. It was noted that minimal educational interpretive programming had been posted or discussed at the site related to this event upon return to the park this past August. Seeing the educational opportunity of this research, Jennings is attempting to put forward recommendations to Jasper National Park to promote the
Cecilia Jennings in Jasper National Park. (Adam Cheeseman/Submitted) development of new programming that includes both climate change and recent research that is occurring in the area specifically at Ghost Glacier. Throughout her time in Jasper, Jennings gathered an extensive knowledge base regarding both the passive and active forms of interpretive programming throughout the park. “I’ve conducted interviews with various Parks employees who deal with interpretation to hear about how they include [or exclude] climate change interpretation from their educational programming… I spent a lot of time looking at the signage that they had up, some of which is almost twenty years old!” Currently, an analysis of existing policy is underway in order to fully
understand how climate change is involved within park policy and decision-making. The final goal of this research is to present comprehensive and structured recommendations to the constituents of Jasper National Park that promotes the integration of climate change education. This education has the potential to come in many forms and benefit residents and the thousands of visitors that come to Jasper annually. Jennings hopes that the success of her project will inspire action. “Ideally, it will mean that people who come to the park to appreciate the incredible beauty of the glaciers will also recognize that these are threatened and feel inspired to do something about it—which can only benefit us all!”
HUMOUR
November 21, 2013
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