The Argosy, November 1, Vol. 148, Iss. 5

THE ARG OSY

NEWS The Argosy investigates graffiti on campus (Pg. 3)

ARTS & CULTURE Amateur stand-up comedy at T & L (Pg. 6)

Wearing costumes, not cultures since 1872

SPORTS Dr. Boudreau on running (Pg. 12)

OPINIONS Smokestack Kickback with Divest MTA (Pg. 15)

Mount Allison’s Independent Student Newspaper

COVER: MADELEINE HANSEN, TAG YOURSELF, I’M OSCAR THE GROUCH, INK AND MARKER, 2018.

November 1, 2018 Vol. 148, Iss. 5

02 NEWS

EDITOR: MAIA HERRIOT & MINNOW HOLTZ-CARRIERE | NOVEMBER 1. 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

COMMUNITY

Mt. A’s second annual Powwow: The solidification of a tradition

THURSDAY, NOV. 1

The University campus and surrounding communities came together to celebrate Indigenous culture and history through music, food and dance

Fine Arts Show and Sale 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

PCCA Quo Vadimus 4-5:30 p.m.

Dunn 104 Argosy Funders’ Meeting 5-6 p.m.

Wallace McCain Student Centre room 386 MLLC Lecture: Dr. Sandra Parmigiani 6:30-8 p.m.

Owens Art Gallery

FRIDAY, NOV. 2 Fine Arts Show and Sale 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

PCCA Psychology Seminar: Dr. Annie RoyCharland 2-3 p.m.

Dunn Mini Wu Debussy Late Chamber Work 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Brunton Auditorium

SATURDAY, NOV. 3 Diwali 6-8 p.m.

Convocation Hall Foyer

TUESDAY, NOV. 6 Senate 4-6 p.m.

Tweedie Hall Climate Change Support Group 6-7 p.m.

Dunn 111 Stitching in Spirit 6-8:30 p.m.

Contact Lisa Binkley Ron Joyce Centre Alumni Speaker Series: Fred Bullock and John Harrison 6-7:30 p.m.

Avard Dixon 111 1918: Don’t Worry, Rejoice 7:30-9 p.m.

Motyer Fancy Theater

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7 Breaking the Silence Fall Speaking Tour: Marcelo Sabuc Xalcot 6-7:30 p.m.

Avard Dixon 116

INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS COORDINATOR PATTY MUSGRAVE SAYS SHE’S “JUST GETTING STARTED” WITH INDIGENOUS EVENTS AT MT. A.. SAVANNAH FORSEY/THE ARGOSY

DANIEL MACGREGOR Contributor On Oct. 18, as winter made its first welcome appearance in the form of light flurries, the Indigenous Student Support Group hosted the second annual Mount Allison University Powwow.

Located in the Athletic Centre, anyone walking along York Street could see a bright yellow banner near the entrance. During the opening ceremonies, attendees were met with bleachers overflowing with people, from faculty and students to community members and a sea of children.

In the centre of the gym drummers from the Wabanaki Confederacy, Hey Cuzzins, and East Boys provided the rhythm for the event. On one side of the gym were vendors selling a plethora of traditional Indigenous

goods, like footwear and jewelry. At the front of the gym was Possessom Paul, the energetic MC from the Wabanaki Confederacy.

The event was not only a celebration of Indigenous culture and tradition, but also a community event where Indigenous culture could be shared with the Mount Allison community.

The fact that the Powwow was open to the public was the first example of this intention. Another occurred after the incoming president of Mount Allison, Jean-Paul Boudreau, gave his address to those gathered there.

Boudreau was asked by the MC to take part in a dance celebrating his upcoming installation. There is a video of the president accompanying Indigenous dancers on the Powwow’s Facebook event page.

After the opening ceremony, it was announced that the community was invited to join what was called

an inter-tribal dance. After hesitation from the audience, MC Possesum Paul explained that “inter-tribal” meant everyone was invited to take part in a dance lead by Indigenous dancers. He described it as “stepping through the glass.” The result was a surge of students (both secondary and post-secondary) and other community members creating a sea of dancers circling around the gym.

At the same time, in Mawita’mkw there were four kinds of “Indian tacos” being sold, which are made up of a shell, meat, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and other ingredients. Paul Beautiful Eyes Francis, a volunteer, explained the origin of Indian tacos to a community member as a product of the Long Walk, when Indigenous people had to survive off of rations given to them by the United States government.

Patty Musgrave, the Indigenous

affairs coordinator, said that the significance of this event was that it furthered reconciliation and showed pieces of the Indigenous culture to the Mt. A community. When asked what she would say to the community at large, she replied, “Thank you.

We are grateful the Mount Allison community are so open to learning about the culture of this territory’s first people. I am sure our ancestors, whose bones are in the ground where this University sits, would be happy to know that they are being honoured in this way.”

As for future events, Musgrave said, “Holy moly, I’m just getting started.”

The Mt. A community can look forward to more events celebrating Indigenous culture. Specifically, Mt. A’s sweat lodge should be built soon, and once it is ready there will be sweats open to the entire community.

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UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS

03

Graffiti on campus accuses former Mount Allison professor of sexual misconduct

The University is aware of graffiti. Their statement notes that “No disclosure of sexual misconduct has been reported by a survivor,” but that they are monitoring the situation MAIA HERRIOT News Editor In August of this year, someone wrote a former Mount Allison professor’s name on a bathroom wall with the implication that he was equivalent to Harvey Weinstein – the major film producer who has been accused of sexual assault by over 80 women.

The allegations against Weinstein and the resulting New York Times article exposed decades of cover-ups from within Hollywood and Weinstein’s inner circle, sparking the #MeToo movement and a chain of investigations into sexual abuse allegations in the entertainment industry.

The graffiti, which read, “Beware: [former professor’s name] = Harvey Weinstein,” was written in a bathroom in the R.P. Bell Library.

On Aug. 16, an individual who wishes to remain anonymous due to legal concerns created the @ metoomta Instagram account and posted a photo of the graffiti. The caption clarified that the account’s owner was not the author of the graffiti and that they could not say exactly what the graffiti meant, but that “Exact details are not necessary.

This clearly implies that the professor in question has abused their position of power. This is Mt. A’s Me Too moment.

The photo of the graffiti posted by this account did not show the former professor’s name. The owner of the account cited “legal reasons,” not the protection of the accused, as their motivation for doing so.

For this same reason, the Argosy cannot publish the name of the former professor. Defamation law also prevents us from publishing any details that could imply their identity. This law is intended to protect individual reputations from being sullied by unjustified allegations or criticism. The Argosy does not currently have sufficient corroboration to support the claim implied in the graffiti that we could present in a court of law.

The instagram account currently has 104 followers. @Metoomta noted that the direct responses to the account had been “extremely positive” with “many DMs of support” and others sharing the posts on their own social media.

On Aug. 18, @metoomta published a screenshot of a text message conversation wherein the account owner tells a former student about the graffiti. The student, who noted that they had a class with the professor in 1988, responds, “I do remember rumours that he was dating one of his honours students. Probably a 15-year age gap at the time.”

The Argosy interviewed the owner of @metoomta through Instagram direct message to accommodate their

request for anonymity. When asked what led them to use Instagram as a reaction to the graffiti, they said, “I wanted this documented publicly before I reported it to the school because I knew it was likely it would be covered up.” @Metoomta said that on Aug. 17 the graffiti was reported to Kim Meade, VP international and student affairs. They also noted that “[at] this point, someone else had already reported the graffiti through a different channel” and the graffiti had been covered up.

They also said that they had previously heard rumours about this professor and their “dubious affairs,” but did not have any sources who were willing to speak to the Argosy.

They went on to say they believe that “Ultimately it doesn’t matter who wrote it or what exactly happened if we just believe survivors.”

On Oct. 8, @metoomta published a new photo of the same message, rewritten in another library bathroom. On Oct. 9, the Argosy found the graffiti written in two female-designated bathrooms in the library. This graffiti has since been removed.

On Oct. 8, the Argosy contacted Laura Dillman Ripley, Mt. A’s media relations officer, to request interviews with Meade and SHARE advisor Melody Petlock about the graffiti, the reports and the University’s process for handling allegations of sexual misconduct. The Argosy also wrote that we would be “receptive to including a formal statement from admin in the potential article.”

Interviews between university administrators and the media are always arranged through Dillman Ripley.

The next day, Dillman Ripley asked the Argosy for their list of interview questions, writing, “Given the sensitive nature of the topic, we want to ensure we have a complete understanding of your questions and provide you with the information needed.” The Argosy gave her a list of questions that afternoon. Dillman Ripley replied that she would “follow up with [the Argosy] later in the week.”

The week following, on Oct. 15, the Argosy sent Dillman Ripley a prompting email asking if the University would be able to follow through on an interview or give a statement that week.

Dillman Ripley replied the next day with no mention of the interviews originally requested: “Thanks for your note. It’s a busy week with the President’s Installation on Friday and Farah Mohamed’s upcoming talk on the 22nd. We will have a response to you before your deadline this Sunday.” The Argosy responded with, “Just to confirm – you won’t be able to schedule me an interview

with Melody Petlock or Kim Meade?

If I waited a week would there be time for interviews or is there an enduring issue beyond time?”

On Friday, Oct. 19, Dillman Ripley wrote, “Thanks for your note.

Attached is a statement from the University as requested, as well as some background information for your story. SHARE advisor Melody Petlock is available for an interview next week. Let me know your class schedule and timeline and we’ll work to set something up.” No mention was made of the requested interview with Meade.

This is the statement Dillman Ripley sent the Argosy on behalf of the University: “When the University becomes aware of a concern (through social media, print or verbal reports) it is always taken seriously.

“In August, the University became aware of graffiti on campus that mentioned a former faculty member.

“We began to monitor the situation and gather information with the support of the SHARE office.

We noticed the graffiti returned at the beginning of the fall term, at which time we also received reports from individuals who told us that they had also seen the graffiti around campus.

“We encourage members of the Mount Allison community to come forward to disclose if they observe something that raises concern, to seek support, and/or consider the options for complaints to be addressed.

With respect to reports about this situation, no disclosure of sexual misconduct has been reported by

a survivor, nor have we received a complaint under the sexual violence prevention policy. Individuals can contact Mount Allison’s SHARE office, share@mta.ca, call/text (506) 540-7427.

“We are continuing to monitor the situation and gather information.”

The University included a “background information” section in their statement, highlighting the following three sections of Mt. A’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Policy: that it “applies to all members of the Mount Allison community, has clear processes for responding to disclosures from survivors and addressing informal and formal complaints, and upholds confidentiality, which is a key principle in creating an environment where survivors feel safe to disclose and seek support and accommodation.” The policy is administered by Meade and is available on the University’s website.

Other sections of the policy relevant to the response to the allegations in the graffiti include the scope of their policy – “This policy applies to all members of the Mount Allison community. The interpretation and application of this policy is the responsibility of the VicePresident International and Student Affairs or delegate for student issues and the Vice-President Finance and Administration or delegate for employee issues” – as well as the limitations of the policy – “Normally, complaints may be accepted up to a year after an incident, recognizing that it is the nature of sexual violence

that a survivor may take much longer to feel safe or ready to disclose.”

No Canadian university has official policy banning sexual relationships between professors and students. Mt. A does have a policy on workplace harassment. That policy, approved in 2011, is only applicable to “employees of Mount Allison University” and “relates to their interactions with other employees in the workplace.” Though the policy does cite abuse of authority as a form of workplace harassment, it clarifies that “In the case of sexual harassment, the University’s separate policy and procedures governing sexual harassment, rather than this Workplace Harassment Policy, will apply.” Online, there is a link provided to that harassment policy.

The link fails, because in 2016 the University’s sexual harassment policy was replaced by the aforementioned Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Policy. Appendix 1 of that policy, “Principle of Consent,” states, “Consent cannot be obtained if one party abuses a position of power, trust or authority.”

The Argosy will continue to pursue information about the University’s response to the graffiti’s implied allegations, as well as any information about the allegations themselves, from Mount Allison community members.

If you have information pertaining to this article that you would like to share with the Argosy, anonymously or otherwise, please contact us at argosy@mta.ca.

THE @METOOMTA INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT FIRST POSTED ABOUT THE GRAFFITI ON AUG. 16 AND CONTINUES TO POST CONTENT RELEVANT TO THE #METOO MOVEMENT. MAIA HERRIOT/THE ARGOSY

04

NEWS

NOVEMBER 1, 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

LITERATURE

The art of translating ancient texts

Dr. Sarah Ruden discusses literature in translation in this year’s Crake Lecture series

LAURA SKINNER RUDEN HAS ALSO PUBLISHED A COLLECTION OF POETRY. LOUIS SOBOL/ARGOSY

LAURA SKINNER News Reporter On Oct. 25, Dr. Sarah Ruden, a biblical scholar and essayist who holds a PhD in classical philology from Harvard, gave a seminar on translating ancient texts. Mount Allison’s classics department brought Ruden in as part of their annual Crake Lecture series.

In her lecture, Ruden discussed the importance of translating scenes in a way that remains true to the original text while still being interesting and

coherent to modern readers.

“Translators are the unsung heroes of the continuation of classical studies into the 21st century,” said Dr. Bruce Robertson, head of the classics department, introducing Ruden’s lecture. “They made it possible for undergraduate students to encounter the ancient world before learning amo, amas, amat. And so, grammar and syntax became in some ways subordinate to the human and sympathetic task of examining a foreign culture.”

Ruden emphasized the importance

of translating scenes so that they that sound cohesive when read aloud.

“The Greeks and Romans didn’t read silently; even when they were alone they performed the sounds of the texts for themselves. What we call books tended to manifest outdoors in public and to a high degree interactively with the audience,” Ruden said.

“I’ve had to think of ancient literature as performance and in terms of cohesive, interesting scenes,” Ruden continued. “This is the essence of translation reform for me. I always have to make my goal the creation of a coherent, dramatic world. If certain words don’t fit, I can’t just leave them. I have to make them part of a performable new version of the original work. I can’t settle for an end product that is colourless or confusing.”

Ruden talked about her translation of a convoluted joke in The Golden Ass, the only fully preserved ancient Roman novel. She wrote, “Where you take ass,” to represent a character’s poor Latin. “He’s making a firstyear Latin mistake,” she explained.

“There’s no way to mimic this precisely in English, so I adapted a couple of analogies, messing up the question in ways someone with only entry knowledge might.”

Ruden changed small aspects of the text to try and keep the English translation in tune with the intent of the author. “I felt licensed: I was really not totally out of bounds with this author,” she said of the alterations she made.

At the end of the lecture, attendees

were able to ask Ruden questions about her translations and the process of translating ancient texts in general.

Dr. Chris Forstall, a classics professor, said he finds it fascinating how important punctuation is; some things can’t be expressed through word choice alone but need punctuation as well.

Ruden agreed with Forstall’s point.

“You just have the skeleton and it’s a very dicey thing to try and put the flesh back onto that, because you are going to be accused of being willful, of personalizing,” she said in response to his comment.

Ruden said that a professor at a Johns Hopkins writing seminar once told her that he “couldn’t think of anything more tasteless than a semicolon,” and that there was no excuse for their use in his class.

Ruden is skeptical of that approach to literature: “We’ve come to a more chaste mode of writing where you would almost never use an exclamation point, and I’ve been told that italics do not belong in poetry.

These are legitimate expressive modes of English. Why do you cut down the resources that you have in your literary tradition for making it absolutely clear what you mean – especially for emotional expression?”

After the event, students, faculty and staff were invited to enjoy coffee and snacks, allowing them a chance to discuss what they’d just learned.

They also had a chance to talk further with Ruden if they had any more questions.

The Crake Lecture series began in

INTERNATIONAL

1979 and has now been running for the past five decades. It was named after Dr. Ernest Crake, a professor who spent 30 years teaching at Mt. A, and whose charity, the J.E.A Crake Foundation, supports projects in scholarship in the humanities at Mt. A. “Dr. Crake’s teaching career spanned a critical time for the classics,” said Robertson. “Through the 70s, Greek and Latin no longer held their past position as the de facto test of acumen in the humanities, and the expansion of the curriculum meant that courses in classics needed to attract students by merit and inherent desirability, not sheer authority. Dr. Crake’s generation turned this corner with the timely help of the paperback printing press and, even more importantly, translators like Betty Radice, who took up the editorship of the Penguin Classics series and translated many of its Latin works.”

Dawson Fraser, a second-year classics student, said he thinks having additional speakers come in is very beneficial to students. “It gives us a different insight into the way we look at careers in these degrees of study. She’s not a professor but she still has a PhD and a master’s and she decided to go elsewhere to use those degrees, which I think is really important,” said Fraser, adding that it lets students know they have different options as far as career paths in their chosen field of study.

“If Crake’s generation were lucky to have their Radices, ours is lucky to have our Rudens,” said Robertson.

CEO of Malala Fund visits Mount Allison Farah Mohamed kicks off the President’s Speaker Series with a speech on the topic of service AMELIA MACDOUGALL-FLEMING News Reporter Mohamed’s light-hearted speech was introduced with a joke from Élise Vaillancourt, the MASU VP student life. “Farah is the founder and CEO of Girls 20 – the really good G20 – where she has built an organization dedicated to girls’ education and female labour force representation,” said Vaillancourt.

Farah is also the CEO of the Malala Fund, which promotes education for girls. It was inspired by Malala Yousafzai after she was shot by the Taliban on her way home from school in Pakistan at the age of 15.

In her presentation, Mohamed

focused on the topic of service. “When I think about service I have a multidimensional view, and I encourage you to do the same,” she said. “Each of us has a role to play.” She explained how her boss, Yousafzai, exemplifies dedication to service, saying, “Most people would shrink from what happened to her; most people would go into hiding. And who can blame them? But instead of going into hiding, Malala learned to walk, learned to talk and learned again to take a stand. And now she works for the education of girls.”

Mohamed spoke about how she got involved with service when she first volunteered in a political race in Burlington, Ont., when she was

in her 20s. She went on to say that in her ideal world there would be a one-year internship for young people in a sector that promotes service. “I think one thing we need to do better is to provide young people with opportunities,” she said. “My vision is that if we really want young people to open up their eyes, we should create those opportunities. I think by the time you enter college or university you should give up one year for a paid internship and over that period of the year, you should spend four months in either the private sector, the social profit sector, government or academia. If we just took a year out of a young person’s life and paid them, I have to believe more people

would work in social profits.”

Joanna Perkin, a Mt. A alumna from 2017, attended the event. Perkin has a history of volunteer work, and now works full time as a counsellor at a women’s shelter. Perkin spoke about how she made connections between her own motivation for service and the work that Mohamed is doing. “I believe there are a lot of people who feel like they don’t have a voice, and I really like to help people feel as though they do have a voice,” said Perkin. “Something that really stuck with me was that [Mohamed] said that sometimes her and Malala let girls take their spots in different meetings or conferences. That’s a huge thing. She’s giving up some of

her own power to give someone else a voice.”

Mohamed encouraged people to find ways that they can provide service for others: “Sometimes I think we think too much. And sometimes, if you have the capacity, take a risk on yourself, and just get out there and do it.” Mohamed finished her talk by saying, “Please, do not wait to give.

Give it when you can.”

The next event in the Speaker’s Series is on Nov. 19, and will feature filmmaker Jesse Wente.

WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS? www.mta.ca/studentservices

Mount Allison’s Indigenous Support Services includes the Indigenous Affairs Co-ordinator, Mentorship Program, the Indigenous Gathering Space (Mawita’mkw), visiting Elders, and the student-led Indigenous Support Group.

For more info, email: indigenous@mta.ca or call (506) 364-2127

Patty Musgrave Indigenous Affairs Co-ordinator

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STUDENT ACTIVISM

Take Back the Night Rally at Mount A

05

Students marched through campus to raise awareness of sexual violence and honour survivors

IN 2001, A GROUP OF WOMEN WHO HAD PARTICIPATED IN EARLY TAKE BACK THE NIGHT MARCHES STARTED THE TAKE BACK THE NIGHT FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT MARCHES GLOBALLY. PENGYI HUANG/ARGOSY

MINNOW HOLTZ-CARRIERE News Editor In freezing temperatures, a small crowd mostly made up of students gathered in front of the Student Centre Thursday night. The crowd was gathered for the second annual Take Back the Night rally, organized

by Mount Allison’s women’s and gender studies (WGST) society.

The purpose of the rally was “not only to bring awareness [to issues of sexual violence] but to let people know that we’re there for them and that we believe them,” said Michelle Roy, a member of the WGST Society.

Mt. A’s Take Back the Night rally drew its inspiration from similar protests against sexual violence sharing the same name. Take Back the Night rallies have been taking place on university campuses since the 1970s.

Speaking at the rally, Natalia Liste Colomina, the WGST Society president, said that Take Back the Night is important for “all people, especially those in marginalized or minority groups, since they are more likely to be assaulted or murdered.

This event is for all that do not feel safe walking at night.”

Chantal Thanh De Alba, assistant director and outreach worker at the Beauséjour Family Crisis Resource Centre, was a guest speaker at the rally. “I was asked to say why events like tonight are important and I decided to share with you one of my spoken word [poems] about my experience,” she said.

Thanh De Alba’s poem touched on her experiences as a survivor of sexual assault and her frustration in having to navigate rape culture. “I want to live in a world where my voice matters. A world where my choices

are respected. A world where I can go for a walk at night feeling safe,” she recited. Thanh De Alba finished her poem to applause, saying: “I want to live in a world without rape culture.”

Micah Godbout, another member of WGST Society, spoke next.

“From a very young age, girls and those who are socialized as female are taught never to walk at night, to be back before dark, to keep their phone on at all times and are taught where to hit someone in self-defence,” said Godbout. “We are taught to fear the dark and the people who stalk within it. Even after I disowned my status as a woman, that fear has never left me.”

However, Godbout also talked about some of the problems with the idea that only strangers in the dark commit sexual assault. “Sexual assault happens everywhere,” they said. They also talked about the ways in which schools and communities can fail to adequately handle the cases of sexual assault that happen within them by not holding rapists accountable for their actions.

“I stand here today to remind you that we have not lost our voices and the world has not lost its ears.…

Tonight we demand to be heard,” Godbout said, just before the march began. “Be loud, be fearless and make them listen.”

The route of the march took participants from the Student Centre, into downtown and then back up through campus, passing through both the north-side and south-side residence quads. People peered out their apartment and dorm windows at the sound of the group chanting, “The feminists united will never be defeated” and “Claim our bodies, claim our rights, take a stand, take back the night.” The pace of the march

was quick, and many organizers and participants were hoarse and out of breath by the time the rally ended.

Participants generally reacted positively. “I just really wanted to be an ally. I want people to come out and show support,” said second-year student Ruth Curry on her reasons for attending.

Mika Gerrits, another second-year student, said she felt that she was able to find community in the march.

WGST Society organizers were glad that people were aware of the event. They allege that several days before the event their posters were being removed from bulletin boards on campus.

“We printed off 25 posters and I think the majority of them got taken down,” said Roy. “I was going to places they were taken down and putting up more and it seemed like they kept being taken down.”

“It was happening over and over and over, so we knew someone was taking them down. It was frustrating, but also goes to show that we need something like this because somebody on campus or some people on campus are trying to silence this,” said Godbout.

The WGST Society is looking ahead to the Trans Day of Remembrance.

“Normally it’s kind of done last minute but we really want to make sure that there’s focus on it and there’s advertising done, because I think it’s a really important event,” said Godbout. The Trans Day of Remembrance is on Nov. 20 and the WGST Society event is planned for the same day.

06 ARTS & CULTURE

EDITOR: BEN MAKSYM NOVEMBER 1, 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

COMEDY

Hilariously heartfelt and tepidly transgressive

Thunder and Lightning’s third stand-up show sheds new light on the nature of the form DEREK SHARP Arts & Culture Reporter

PERFORMING STAND-UP COMEDY CAN BE DAUNTING FOR SOME, BUT IT CAN ALSO LEAVE THE AUDIENCE THUNDERSTUCK. WILLIAM LALONDE/ARGOSY

EXPERIENTIAL

By the time I arrive at Thunder and Lightning (T&L), it’s already pretty full. The crowd is eclectic. The community around T&L has always been varied, and it seems like they’ve all turned out to laugh at some jokes.

I manage to snag a chair below the glowing red APPLAUSE sign. The rest of the room has a faint yellowish glow. The show starts late, but that just gives me more time to marvel at T&L’s décor. The yellow comes from a string of bulbs hanging above our heads. There’s a bar, of course, with stools, but there are no booths. The rest of the seating is either trendy kitchen tables or a series of couches facing each other; it’s more like a comfortable living area than a pub.

There are also a surprising amount of taxidermied critters, including the blowfish dangling above the bar, eyeing the chatting patrons.

No one minds that it takes a while for the show to start. When it does, the chatter dies down and everyone’s attention is respectfully rapt. Six comedians. Two hours. Lots of laughs, giggles and guffaws.

Although this isn’t a brand-new event (this was the third of its kind held at T&L, the first being in February of this year), it is a fairly new idea: a night of very amateur stand-up comedy, with emphasis on the very amateur. None of the comics have done stand-up before they step on stage, so there’s naturally an uncertainty in the air. In some ways, this plays to the comic’s advantage, as Geordie Miller, the event’s host, explained. “There’s an incredible amount of generosity in an audience when they know that it’s the first time someone’s doing a difficult thing,” he said.

The atmosphere was so

compassionate, in fact, that Meaghan Cunningham, one of the night’s comics, seemed to feel that she had to permit the audience to laugh at some of her more personal jokes. Later, she explained how she navigated the often rocky train of comedy. “I love jokes about my sexual identity and my physical gender expression in the right contexts, and I wanted to make it clear to the audience that I’m okay with them laughing at a joke I am making about myself,” she said. “I didn’t want them to think that they were hurting me by laughing.”

The audience’s hesitance to laugh at Cunningham’s personal jokes makes sense in the larger context of T&L. Miller is very familiar with the establishment and feels it’s a very sensitive space. This is somewhat contrary to the nature of comedy, which does attract its fair share of mean-spirited people. “Thunder and Lightning is a positive, safe space.

And so the spirit behind it is good, but often that spirit and comedy, particularly amateur comedy, wrestle with one another. It can be reactionary, hateful, nasty – the stuff people don’t need,” Miller explained.

When it’s bad, live stand-up can be nightmarish. “I’ve seen a lot of really bad stand-up comedy,” he added.

“You’re in the audience and you feel trapped. You’re trapped into this person’s world.”

Therefore, the crowd’s initial hesitance towards Cunningham’s touchy jokes makes sense. So – where do you draw the line for comedy?

Cunningham said she thinks it has to do with the positionality of the comic. “If I was not a queer woman making jokes about queer women, that’s different,” Cunningham said.

“I think it has to lead from your own experience and invite people to see the humour in everything, because that makes life a bit easier; sometimes

you just have to laugh at how difficult things can be.”

In other words, as Miller put it, “There’s boundary-crossing and transgression, but you can do that in a way that’s not reproducing people’s oppression.” All throughout the night there was an aversion to punching down; one of the comics, Mark Macdonald, opened his set to rapturous applause as he declared he intended to make fun of rich people.

Despite being clearly comedic in nature, the event at T&L highlighted how unique the medium of stand-up comedy really is. “It’s such a clever way to be very open about something very serious, to invite people to laugh about it,” said Cunningham. At one point in her set, she discussed the recent straight pride incident in Chipman, and although that is clearly a very touchy subject, people were laughing. In that, I think, we see the strength of stand-up as a platform: It permits frank discussion of subjects which may otherwise seem taboo.

Cunningham’s bit reminded me of John Mulaney’s “horse in a hospital” bit, in that it’s a clear, aggressive criticism that’s part of a larger discourse, but it’s not stressful or anxiety-inducing. It’s fun.

Fun, at the end of the day, really is what it’s all about. As Cunningham said, “I’m not doing a magnificent performance. I went up because I wanted to have fun and to make my friends laugh.” And that may be what I’ve failed to mention so far: This night was funny. Everyone did a killer job up there, busting the audience’s guts with dry observations, passages from childhood journals and personal anecdotes. In a few months’ time, there’s bound to be a fourth amateur show. Everyone should go, frankly.

Above all, it’s a great time.

Learning by doing

Guest speakers from the University of Guelph give talk on alternative form of learning JULIANNA RUTLEDGE Arts & Culture Reporter Melissa McAfee, a special collections librarian, and Kristyn Paccione, a clerk in archival and special collections, visited the Owens Art Gallery from the University of Guelph last week to lecture on their experience of experiential learning as well as its importance in universities.

“Experiential learning [is] a pedagogical practice, whereby students gain new knowledge, skills and abilities through the intentional application of classroom learning in a workplace setting,” McAfee explained. “[We] engage students actively in creating knowledge and critically reflecting on their experiences, allowing them to understand how to transfer their knowledge and skills to future endeavours. It is basically learning by doing.”

Paccione, who participated in an experiential learning project as an undergraduate student at the University of Guelph, explained how it was through this type of learning that she gathered the skills and experience that helped her get her current job at Guelph’s Archival and Special Collections. She compared her experience to the fairytale of Cinderella. The two speakers played the roles of Cinderella and her fairy godmother, using these characters as metaphors for the relationship between student and librarian in these experiential learning projects.

“Like Cinderella, the student is hardworking and motivated but may need some guidance on how to reach their goals,” explained Paccione cheerfully. “With the help of the fairy godmother or [in this case] the special collections librarian, the student is able to develop their innate skills and knowledge, and learns how

to use them in different ways.”

McAfee and Paccione discussed several other projects that had taken place at their university which promoted experiential learning. This included their current curation, titled “From Glen Notes to War Notes,” which analyses the characters of L.M. Montgomery’s novel Rilla of Ingleside. Collaboration between students and educators facilitated the production of the curation.

Paccione noted how during her experiential education as a student, she was required to step up and complete tasks that sitting in lectures hadn’t prepared her for.

As an example, she mentioned her experience of walking into a meeting for a curation and being expected to share her opinion right away, which is something she may not have expected in a lecture setting.

Laura Hutchinson, a fourth-year art history student, said she thought

it was good that Guelph students had the opportunity to be hands-on.

Noting her personal involvement with experiential learning at Mt. Allison, Hutchinson added, “It’s

certainly great that schools are taking that initiative.… It would be cool if other courses could try to get their hands on that [type of learning] as well.”

THE TALK, HELD IN THE OWENS ART GALLERY, UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN ACADEMIA. EMMA BIBERDORF/ARGOSY

ARTS & CULTURE

THE ARGOSY | WWW.SINCE1872.CA

DRAMA

An assassination of norms

07

Touching base with some cast members following the closing of Assassins last weekend

IN HIS PRODUCTION OF STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S ASSASSINS, DIRECTOR PAUL DEL MOTTE HIGHLIGHTED MANY SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES THAT ARE BOTH REVELANT IN THE SETTING OF THE PLAY, AND IN OUR LIVES TODAY. MOTYER FANCY THEATRE/SUBMITTED

JANE REMPEL Arts & Culture Reporter The curtain closed for the Assassins cast and crew last Saturday night at the last showing of this dark comedic musical, but the powerful performances will resonate with the audiences and performers long after the Motyer-Fancy Theatre doors close.

Assassins was written by Stephen Sondheim and directed by Paul Del Motte, with musical direction

by Jennie Del Motte and Matthew Thompson. The musical is about the nine historical individuals

who assassinated or attempted to assassinate the president of the United States. Their stories were told in the form of a carnival game, where the object of the game is to shoot the president. Del Motte made the choice to gender-bend the casting, making all of the assassins women. The play explored crucial topics of mental health and gun control.

The performance began with Paul Brisk Jr. greeting the spectators in the audience before the show began. Brisk played the Proprietor, a character who manipulated and coerced the assassins into carrying out the assassinations. Brisk said

that being a part of Assassins was “absolutely phenomenal because you don’t often get shows that provoke thought like this one.” On the content and feel of the piece, Brisk said, “It’s very intense, but it still manages to allow itself to be funny.”

The hilarious Chelsea Doherty played Sara Jane Moore, who attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford and provided much of the comedic relief for the show.

Touching on the topic of how mental health was handled in the musical, Doherty said, “The way that we tried to approach our characters was that what is rational to them may not be rational to other people, but they had their reasons and motives regardless.”

One standout performance was by Gabrielle Gagnon, who took the stage in Assassins as Samuel Byck, a Santasuit-clad lover of Leonard Bernstein, who attempted to assassinate President Richard Nixon. Gagnon’s captivating, paranoid monologues exuded the dark comedic qualities of the show. When asked how she embodied this interesting character, she said, “I just studied the text, and performed it in a way that felt most natural.”

On the significance of genderbending the cast, Gagnon said, “It was so empowering to look around the stage and see a group of such strong women.… I admire them so much.”

The opportunity to use theatre as an outlet should never be ignored or wasted. Assassins combined multiple genres to produce a thoughtprovoking and intelligent piece. The choice to defy gender roles in this production should be an example for all future directors at Mt. A: Gender should never be set in stone.

ONE NOTABLE DECISION MADE IN THE PRODUCTION OF ASSASSINS WAS TO TAKE A CAST OF PREDOMINANTLY MALE CHARACTERS, AND GIVE THE ROLES TO MOSTLY FEMALE ACTORS. MOTYER FANCY THEATRE/SUBMITTED

This is not for the faint of Hart Hart Hall played host to a spooky haunted house put on by members of the faculty of arts

MAGGIE PITMAN Arts & Culture Reporter The spookiest building on campus took a break from its usual role as faculty offices and classrooms on Sunday. Instead, it acted as the setting for the first Haunted Hart Hall, put on by the Dean of Arts Council. Students from several arts disciplines worked together with the Council to create a scary event in the oldest building on campus that’s still in operation.

The four floors of Hart Hall each took on an individual theme which were taken on by different Arts Departments. The religious studies and philosophy departments transformed the first floor into a spectacle of religious and existential horror. The second floor was an eerie take on the history and ghost of Hart Hall and was organized by the history department. The third floor played home to a gothic horror scene from the department of English.

Finally, the fourth floor was hellish embodiment of “the underworld” put on by the classics department.

Built in 1910, Hart Hall was part of the Mount Allison Ladies College and School for Girls. With

its creaking floors and the narrow stairwells, Hart Hall is the perfect location for a haunted house since it is supposedly already haunted. Each year as Halloween approaches, there is likely talk around campus about the story of Peake, more commonly known as the ghost of Hart Hall.

Ethel Peake (1885-1954), previously a professor in the department of music, has apparently been seen roaming the halls in this historic building.

Peake was the head of the vocal department here at Mount Allison from 1936 until her death. In honour of this, the ghost of Peake was portrayed in this haunted house by fourth-year voice major Emily Steers, who sang haunting songs in minor keys on the second floor.

Her representation of Ethel added a certain eeriness to the house.

Arts students opened this spooky event to both Mt. A students and Sackville community members.

They offered “fraidy cat hours” as a less scary option for children and families, but after dark came “fearless hours” for those who had the guts to endure the spookier part of the event.

Members of the Dean of Arts

Council as well as many student volunteers contributed to this event in one way or another. Luke Rayworth, a fourth-year music student, took part as an actor on the second floor. “Nothing beats the satisfaction of making a grown man scream,” he said.

Students Kaye Klapman, Katrina Johnston and Alexandra Duchemin, who coordinated the whole event, were surprised by its success.

“The Dean of Arts Council kept marvelling at how easily an event this ambitious could have fallen apart, but the student leaders were fabulous and pulled it off,” said Klapman. “I hope very much that Haunted Hart becomes an annual event – even if little kids left insisting loudly that they weren’t scared!”

All proceeds from this event go to ABC Life Literacy Canada, which is a charity based out of Toronto. At the end of the day, $600 was raised for the cause. If you missed out this Sunday, be sure to check out this anticipated event next year.

Photos by Savannah Forsey Illustrations by Mara Ireta Gordon

“Nothing beats the satisfaction of making a grown man scream” -Luke Rayworth

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ARTS & CULTURE

NOVEMBER 1, 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

CAMPUS LIFE

Thought-blocked

Exploring the effects of writer’s block on Mount Allison’s creative writers the atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between distractingly loud and distractingly quiet,” she said.

Herriot also nailed a key reason why writer’s block may favour creative writers. “The creative writing I do rarely has a set deadline and I think that’s why I struggle with writer’s block there the most,” she said.

“A LOT OF MY WRITING IS CATHARTIC AND CONFUSED. I’M WRITING TO MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLD, AND SOMETIMES HEALING AT THE SAME TIME”

FROM POETS TO NOVELISTS TO PLAYWRIGHTS, WRITER’S BLOCK IS NO JOKE. HOW DO STUDENTS AT MT. A HANDLE IT? EMMA BIBERDORF/ARGOSY

JANE REMPEL Arts & Culture Reporter With the rigid guidelines and rubrics of academic writing, it can be easy to lose passion and inspiration. Because of this, creative writing is the perfect escape for many Mount Allison students. But when a writer’s mind goes into mental overload with all the demands of being a student, their creativity can suffer drastically.

Mt. A’s English department has one creative writing course, which is offered in third year fall and winter semesters. Since there’s only one such course, English students who write creatively need to find ways to write in their free time throughout the duration of their degree. This is not an easy feat, as inspiration and creativity can often be difficult to access when the brain is overloaded by readings

and papers. It can be extremely frustrating when one finally finds the time to write only for writer’s block to strike. How do Mt. A’s creative writers preserve their creativity when the fog of writer’s block takes over?

Alexa Mutch, a fourth-year double major in English and history, is balancing writing her novel with her busy semester. Mutch likes to incorporate her interest in history into her creative writing. “I usually leave the story and come back to it if I am having writer’s block,” said Mutch. “Then when I get a new idea, I write it down and add it later.”

The Argosy’s very own Maia Herriot holds the editor-in-chief position at 7 Mondays, a creative writing journal on campus. Herriot finds that the locations where she writes are important in establishing discipline. “I sit on my roof because

Rory Britt, a fourth-year English major, said he finds inspiration from “real life experiences.” Britt described how he tackles pesky writer’s block: “I set everything down and relax, or focus on something else entirely.…

This allows me to have a clear head and fresh perspective when revisiting the piece that I am writing.”

Jena McLean, a recent Mt. A graduate, is busy applying her passion for creative writing to her studies at the National Theatre School of Canada, where she writes plays. When asked where she finds inspiration, McLean said, “Anywhere and everywhere.…

A lot of my writing is cathartic and confused. I’m writing to make sense of the world and sometimes healing at the same time.

“The best solution to writer’s block is just to write and know that not everything will stick,” McLean said, adding, “I’ve also recently stopped walking with headphones in, so I hear a lot more of the world around me.”

It seems that many creative writers can agree that even though their writing time is precious, stepping away from their work for a moment may be what is needed to push away the fogginess of writer’s block.

Writing is art, and having the ability to take the complex inner workings of one’s mind and turn them into words on a page is powerful. It is important for writers to be prepared for writer’s block, so that when you feel the fogginess invade your creative thoughts, you will be able to confront it head on.

WHAT IS SHARE? www.mta.ca/studentservices

The Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Education Service (SHARE) offers confidential advice and support to those who have experienced gender-based violence such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, homophobia, transphobia, or intimate partner violence (abuse).

For more info: www.mta.ca/share For support, advice, or to report, call/text (506) 540-7527 or e-mail share@mta.ca

Melody Petlock SHARE Advisor

11 What contemporary chamber music concerts have to offer Amy Hillis and Katherine Dowling impress Mount Allison with a thrilling violin recital ARTS & CULTURE

THE ARGOSY | WWW.SINCE1872.CA

MUSIC

IAN RICHARDSON Contributor This past Friday, Oct. 26, Mount Allison was lucky enough to host Amy Hillis, winner of the 41st Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition. Hillis is quite an accomplished young violinist, whose talent is clear from her very first notes.

Among her many achievements, she was an artist-in-residence at La Cité internationale des arts in Paris in 2017 and the winner of the 2017

“EACH OF THE SELECTIONS ON FRIDAY NIGHT’S PROGRAM GAVE ME A NEWFOUND RESPECT FOR THIS SORT OF MUSIC” McGill Concerto Competition.

As the winner of the EckhardtGramatté Competition, Hillis is currently on a 12-concert tour of Canada where she is joined by the equally talented Dr. Katherine Dowling on the piano. Dowling has taught at Stony Brook University in New York and performed across North America and Europe, to name a few of her accomplishments.

You can find out more about Amy Hillis and Katherine Dowling on their websites, amyhillis.com and katherinedowling.com respectively.

After leading a masterclass with Mt. A violin students in the afternoon, Hillis played a wonderfully exciting concert of contemporary music in the evening. Many of the pieces that she played were either new commissions or released within the last two decades, so at no point was the audience sure of what to expect.

I found myself deeply captivated by each piece and was often on the edge of my seat, listening attentively.

Hillis and Dowling performed effortlessly together; each run was filled with masterful precision, and the emotional parts were extremely expressive.

I will not lie to you. Contemporary music is not always my favourite, and often I find myself confused or disturbed by the modern music that I hear in concert. However, each of the selections on Friday night’s program gave me a newfound respect for this sort of music.

Along with the incredible attention to detail that was evident in each piece, Hillis had a wonderful stage presence and engaged the audience with short descriptions of each selection. In this way, the audience had a better sense of what to listen for and how to appreciate the music.

For example, the first piece on the program, Wild Bird, was meant to evoke the calls of different birds, but also to pay homage to Jacques Israelievitch, the violinist for whom the piece was originally composed.

His bright, dyed-orange hair would move back and forth in performance, which reminded composer R. Murray Schafer of a wild bird. With this insight, the piece takes on a new level, and one can almost see the orange hair swaying as the performer, Hillis, moves expressively. I had the chance to speak with Hillis after the show, and she said, “Practicing Wild Bird was the most fun, as I could be very imaginative with the calls of the birds.”

A personal favourite of mine from the program was the newly commissioned piece Foxy Fox’s Musical Games. Originally, I was deeply puzzled by the very “Boaty McBoatface” name of the selection, and I thought that it might be some sort of parody of classical music, or one large practical joke. Once the piece began, it was immediately clear that it was not a joke, although the piece was incredibly humourous and thoroughly enjoyable. Foxy Fox required many levels of musicality and talent, from improvisation based on numbers which were selected by the audience before the performance, to recurring lullabies both played and sung. I was amused and blown away by the selection as a whole, and my congratulations to Hillis and Dowling for pulling it off so marvelously.

Foxy Fox and The Criterion Collection, another selection from the second half of the performance, were not only musical but also visual experiences. The Criterion Collection was accompanied by short segments of classical Stanley Kubrick and Alfred Hitchcock films (as well as The Sound of Music). As a whole, it was a

“THE MUSIC WAS NOT WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT. IT PROVIDED SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT” truly unique experience that I am sure to never hear and see again.

After the performance, I spoke to some other concertgoers, and all were impressed by what they had experienced. “The music was definitely not what you would expect,” said Sannu Nu, a third-year violin student.

“It provided something completely different.” I think that sums up very well what a contemporary concert can be: It is unknown and new, which is both thrilling and captivating.

This performance gave me a

AFTER OFFERING MUSIC STUDENTS LESSONS IN VIOLIN AND PIANO TECHNIQUE LAST FRIDAY, AMY HILLIS AND DR. KATHERINE DOWLING PUT ON A RECITAL THAT BLEW THEIR AUDIENCE AWAY. MARGARET GRANT/ARGOSY newfound respect and appreciation for modern compositions, and I hope that I get the chance to listen to more of this sort of live music in the future.

I hope that anyone who missed this particular concert does not make the same mistake again. If Amy Hillis or Katherine Dowling are to play here again in the future, be sure to go as you could not be disappointed by their masterful and moving performance.

When I spoke to Hillis, I asked about the kind of practice time that goes into a concert like this

one. She told me that The Criterion Collection, which was incredibly rhythmically challenging to my ears, was something that they “had only received in September.” It’s incredible to consider how flawless they sound with the short rehearsal time they have.

I know many music students at Mt. A would be terrified by the notion of practicing such difficult repertoire in only one month, so I asked Dowling if she could provide any advice for aspiring accompanists. “Know the

other player’s part better than your own,” she replied.

I hope that more students make time for contemporary chamber music. I had my notions about it challenged and so can you. Next time there is a chamber concert featuring a program from the last 20 years, don’t pass it up – you might discover something different and lovely.

My sincerest congratulations to Amy Hillis and Dr. Katherine Dowling on a fantastic program!

Bravo!

12 SPORTS Running on ideas

EDITOR: ALYSSA DONSTON | NOVEMBER 1, 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

LEADERSHIP

Mt. A president Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau uses running to process ideas while maintaining his physical health

IN HIS LAST EVENT, DR. BOUDREAU FINISHED FIRST WITH A PACE OF 4:00 MIN/KM. JEAN-PAUL BOUDREAU/SUBMITTED

JESSICA FIRMINGER Sports & Health Reporter Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau proves that his success in running is not limited to his recent installation as Mount Allison’s 15th president and vicechancellor.

“I have a busy life, [in my] job as University president,” Boudreau said, “but running gives me a bridge between the physical life and work life balance.”

Boudreau’s running career began while working on his master’s thesis in child development at Laurentian University, a school of human kinetics. Boudreau’s master’s thesis advisor was a kinesiology professor and avid runner, exclusively holding meetings with students who would run with him. “To get meeting time with [my] advisor, you had to lace them up and hit the road,” Boudreau said.

“It was a great way to bring together running and academics,” Boudreau said. “A nice marriage of two important themes of my life.”

Following his graduation from Laurentian University in 2007, Boudreau enrolled at Tufts University in Boston, earning his PhD in experimental psychology.

While studying at Tufts, Boudreau maintained his running regime and started training for his first marathon, becoming more engaged in the more serious, long-distance aspect of running.

After earning his PhD in Boston in 2009, Boudreau moved to Toronto, and the intensity of his running schedule began to decline. To fuel his running career, Boudreau joined the Black Toe Running Club, which provided him with a new training schedule based on an assessment of his running at the time. “Joining

Black Toe was important because it gave me a professional entry into running,” Boudreau said.

After moving to Sackville, Boudreau has continued to follow his Black Toe regime. “Running is helpful,” Boudreau said. “It provides for me today a lot of things which I think are really important, which is why I’m sticking to it.”

Boudreau says he uses his running time to reflect on complex problems, and incubate and test ideas. “[It’s] the idea of using running space as a mental cognitive exercise space,” Boudreau said. “The body is working, but the mind has time to work

“WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT MARATHON I’M TRAINING FOR, I TELL THEM I’M TRAINING FOR A GOOD LIFE.” without interruptions.”

“While I’m out there, I’m running on ideas,” Boudreau said. “I’m doing work for Mount Allison.”

Boudreau plans his work schedule accordingly, to make time for his intense running regime. “Running is the key to balancing my workload,” Boudreau said.

Boudreau mentioned the relationship between having a healthy mind and maintaining good physical health. “Running is a core value of my university,” Boudreau said, quoting Mt. A’s marquee at the Athletic Centre: “Healthy mind,

healthy body.”

Boudreau monitors his physical health with the use of technology, sharing his data and statistics on Strava, a running app. The data analytics from the measurements on his watch help keep him engaged in running. “Technology keeps me motivated,” Boudreau said.

Boudreau frequently measures his VO2 max, which represents his maximum rate of oxygen consumption during incremental exercise. He currently has a VO2 max of 57, and is in the top one per cent for his fitness age taking into account his weight, running time, heart rate and VO2 max. Boudreau said that getting that data is “pretty exhilarating.”

In terms of his running goals, Boudreau is working towards his target of running between 1,700 and 2,000 kilometres per year, and has run 1,390 kilometres so far in the 2018 calendar year. While Boudreau is mainly striving to beat his own personal pace goals, he can be seen on the Strava leaderboard for the alltime fastest pace of one lap around the Alumni Field track, placing third under Kip Jackson and Matt Fyfe.

Boudreau does not have specific goals for races, but will occasionally participate, motivated to beat his own times. “When people ask me what marathon I’m training for, I tell them I’m training for a good life,” Boudreau said.

The last race Boudreau ran was the five-kilometre Terry Fox run on Sept.

11 in Toronto, where he finished first with a pace of four minutes per kilometre.

Boudreau is currently looking for individuals who are interested in running to join him in his hobby.

“If anyone in the Mt. A community wants to help build a running club,” Boudreau said, “let’s talk.”

Call for contributors: meetings every Tuesday at 6 p.m. in WMSC 386

SPORTS & HEALTH

THE ARGOSY | WWW.SINCE1872.CA

BASKETBALL

13

Road trip to Ontario brings two wins for the Mounties men’s basketball team EMMA MACMILLAN Sports & Health Reporter Playing against teams outside of their local league, the Mount Allison men’s basketball team recently celebrated two wins.

The team travelled to Ontario during the weekend of Oct. 19 to 21 in preparation for the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) league play. The team played two exhibition games against Algonquin College and St. Lawrence College, both Ontario College Athletic Association (OCAA) teams, as well as a controlled scrimmage against Queen’s University, a U Sports team.

The team ended their first game

against Algonquin College Thunder with an 85-81 win. They trailed 39-38 at the half but were able to come back in the fourth.

The Mounties also won their second exhibition game against the St. Lawrence College Vikings 82-71, the result of another comeback from behind. These close and exciting games are just a preview of what their current season has to offer.

Jeshua Becker, a fourth-year environmental science student who plays on the team, said that although the team usually goes to a St. Thomas University tournament at this time of year, “We just wanted to change it up. We definitely played better competition [in this tournament].”

Becker said that playing against

SLEEP

Sleep deprivation: every student’s worst nightmare Why you’re falling asleep in your morning class

EMILIE COMFORT Health Intern Sleep contributes to our overall quality of life. It plays a role in many areas of our daily functioning. Unfortunately, for some people falling asleep and staying asleep can be very hard.

Sleep can be disturbed by many factors such as stress, caffeine intake, alcohol consumption and drug use.

Some of these are out of your control, but factors such as caffeine intake are not.

Sleep is important for a number of reasons. As reported by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), sleep helps us think more clearly, produces a more positive mood, reduces fatigue and restores our energy. Between classes, studying and extracurricular activities, students use up a lot of energy in a day. In order to balance all of this, many students end up reducing the amount of sleep they get, which can have a negative effect on their quality of life. Sleep loss can cause both physical and emotional issues, such as increased stress, increased risk of getting the flu or a cold, decreased athletic performance and decreased academic performance.

There are a number of things that can help improve your sleep. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that setting a bedtime routine and a morning routine can help to promote

healthy sleeping habits. For example, exercising for 20 to 30 minutes per day, no later than a few hours before going to bed, can help you to fall asleep. Additionally, avoiding caffeine and drugs before bed can improve your quality of sleep. Taking some time to relax before bed can also help, since it can help the body destress from the day.

Some wonder if taking naps during the day can affect their sleep at night. The NSF suggests that a nap spanning 20 to 30 minutes can improve alertness and performance without leaving you feeling groggy or interfering with nighttime sleep.

The NSF adds that there are three kinds of napping: planned napping, emergency napping and habitual napping. Planned napping involves taking a nap when you know you will be up later than you normally would.

Emergency napping is taking a nap when you get tired suddenly and cannot continue with the activity you are currently doing. Finally, habitual napping is when you take a nap at the same time each day.

Everyone needs to sleep. Most of us have done it once or twice, but staying up until 2 a.m. writing a paper or studying for a test isn’t ideal. Sleep can be hard to prioritize in your daily schedule, but it is important for your overall success!

comparable teams in the OCAA gave the Mounties a new opportunity.

Coach Steve Chapman is back for his third season with the men’s basketball team.

Chapman coached Mt. A’s men’s basketball from 1992 to 2000 while teaching in Sackville. However, upon moving to Moncton, he stopped coaching at Mt.A. When he retired from teaching three years ago, he was asked to come back and coach.

Chapman said team is “quite young,” and that these exhibition

games allowed the coaching staff to see how their team plays together early in the season.

Of the 14 members of the team, only five have played more than one year of universitylevel basketball.

Eleven players are eligible to return next season.

James French, a second-year psychology student, said the team dynamic was different this year, with many new players asking second-

“IT’S TOO EARLY TO TELL, BUT WE HAVE A TRADITION OF WINNING AND WE PLAY TO WIN.”

year players for advice. Compared to previous teams, French said this team is close even this early in the season.

“That trip really brought us together,” he said.

Chapman said he hopes that the team makes progress every week and improves from each game. He said he has already seen improvement from their first game of the season. “It’s too early to tell, but we have a tradition of winning and we play to win,” Chapman said. The Mounties have finished second place overall in the ACAA for the past two years.

The Mounties men’s basketball team will look for a win as they host STU in the home opener at 4 p.m. on Nov. 4.

MENTAL HEALTH

SAMHI brings assistance and awareness to athletes’ mental health struggles ALYSSA DONSTON Sports & Health Editor Across Canada, university student bodies have made efforts to destigmatize mental health by openly talking about it. Mount Allison is no exception.

Last week, an intimate group of Mt. A athletes gathered in a quiet Avard-Dixon room to discuss key issues surrounding mental health for students balancing school with demanding athletic schedules.

The student-run executive team for the Student Athlete Mental Health Initiative (SAMHI) this year is made up of four student athletes: Heather Richards is the treasurer, Mike Cormier is responsible for communications, and Kathleen Morrison and Elizabeth Baker are the co-leads. These four individuals are working together towards ending the stigma surrounding mental health, particularly in student athletes.

SAMHI, an initiative with a presence in universities across the country, was brought to Mt. A by a former mental health educator as well as Pierre Arsenault, the director of athletics and recreation.

According to the SAMHI website, “SAMHI works to educate Canadians about the vulnerabilities of student athletes. We aim promote the mental well-being of all student athletes. And we work to support those struggling with a mental health concern or illness.”

Cormier, who is a goalkeeper for the Mounties soccer team, hopes that the group will have a large impact on Mounties athletes and offer help to those who need it. “Our team got up and running in the winter term of last academic year. Our primary goal then was to lay the groundwork for this year, where we are hoping to really expand our presence on campus,” he said.

“The benefit to having a group like SAMHI on campus is that it is an organization for athletes, by athletes,”

Cormier added. “Mental illness is heavily stigmatized, and the stigma surrounding mental illness in athletes is immense. SAMHI’s mission is to eliminate mental illness stigma in post-secondary sport and facilitate access to the resources needed to maintain and improve mental health.”

Baker, a badminton player and defense for Mounties soccer, said she hopes that SAMHI will promote an open dialogue about mental health, as well as create support for athletes at Mt. A. “This initiative creates a liaison between student athletes, the athletic department and mental health resources on campus. We provide support, education and mental health awareness to all of our student athletes. SAMHI members are allies and champions of mental health,” she said.

“It lets [student athletes] know we are aware of the unique challenges student athletes face with regards to mental health, and we are focused on improving the overall student athlete experience,” she said.

Morrison, a forward for Mounties basketball, hopes that this initiative will have a positive impact across campus. Ultimately, she has high hopes that SAMHI will encourage athletes to seek help in order to improve their overall wellbeing. “This initiative aims to raise awareness for the importance of athletes’ mental health and provide resources for student athletes and coaches at Mount Allison,” said Morrison. “We have a group of passionate athletes working towards the goal of ending the stigma surrounding mental illness in general and in sport, and bettering this needed conversation across campus.”

“This initiative is a powerful tool to keep the conversation going about mental health all year long, especially in a department [like athletics] where this topic sometimes gets forgotten or is not acknowledged enough,” Baker said.

To stay up to date with SAMHI on campus, take a look at the official Instagram page, @samhi_mounties.

SAMHI FOCUSES ON THE MENTAL WELLBEING OF STUDENT ATHLETES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. ASHLI GREEN/THE ARGOSY

EDITOR: OLIVIA WIGMORE | NOVEMBER 1, 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

CANNABIS

OPINIONS 14

It’s high time to celebrate cannabis in Canada While some people maintain concerns about abuse of cannabis, the majority of Canadians feel good about legalization

MATT DURNNIAN Contributor Stoners rejoice! Yes, recreational cannabis legalization finally came into effect on Oct. 17, marking a great day for Canada and, therefore, the world. While many naysayers speculated that society would collapse in a half-baked haze, it seems as though all crises have been averted in the wake of legal weed being ushered in across the nation. In fact, the only complaints overheard as of yet seem to be from cannabis consumers themselves. But, before we get to the negative press, let’s focus on all of the spectacular opportunities Bill C-45 has introduced!

First and foremost is the opportunity for safe and easy access to cannabis for all Canadian adults. No longer will you have to creep to your dealer’s dimly lit apartment in the cover of shadows, choosing from a small variety of “probably not what the strain actually is” options.

Instead, you can proudly wear your cannabis consumption on your sleeve, as you and 78 others wait in line to choose from a nearly equal number of products!

In reality, if you had a dealer before

now, this legislation won’t drastically affect your relationship with cannabis.

It will, however, offer an extremely accessible and, more importantly, educational aspect to purchasing and consuming cannabis – one that is more interactive than access to medical-use cannabis or parlaying with your friendly neighborhood drug dealer. Now “canna-curious” people can be informed as to how to choose cannabis as an alternative to prescription opiates or alcohol for relaxation or stimulation, all without the fear of persecution under the law.

And, if you have a problem with the product, you no longer have to argue with your dealer that you got bad bud – you can contact the company that grew it and receive a refund.

Another fantastic outcome is the opportunity to now pardon past cannabis possession offences under 30 grams, giving so many the opportunity to work, rent homes or lease vehicles: all things which require a criminal background check.

Considering the last attempt to decriminalize recreational cannabis possession in 2016 was only shot down because marijuana possession itself had yet to be legalized, there should be no barriers in moving forward this time around. This would be especially important to minority groups who, historically, have been far more likely to be targeted and charged for marijuanarelated offences. Maintaining these criminal charges does nothing but perpetuate the cycle of poverty by keeping the disadvantaged from attaining meaningful employment or pursuing financial opportunity, all for something which is now legal.

Legalization will also re-introduce the debate for more freedom

MAINTAINING THESE CRIMINAL CHARGES DOES NOTHING BUT PERPETUATE THE CYCLE OF POVERTY... ALL FOR SOMETHING WHICH IS NOW LEGAL

THE STRUCTURE OF CANNABIS SALES WILL AIMS TO CREATE A TAILORED, INFORMATIVE, AND SAFE EXPERIENCE THAT PEOPLE BOTH FAMMILIAR AND UNFAMMILIAR WITH CANNABIS CAN BENEFIT FROM. WILLIAM LALONDE / THE ARGOSY regarding access to cannabis for research purposes, which is critical for consumer health and safety with plans for expansion of the marijuana market into products such as concentrates and edibles.

Currently, researchers must apply for an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, a lengthy and often fruitless process.

Finally, from a purely financial standpoint, the national revenue generated from the public sale of pot is estimated to be in the range of $5 billion to $6 billion annually. That would put cannabis just outside of the top 25 grossing industries in Canada.

It would equate to roughly $99 million of revenue in New Brunswick, generating nearly $15 million in tax dollars for our province. Those are tax dollars which are desperately needed in our snail-paced economy.

The industry will also provide a large amount of employment both directly and indirectly through production and sale of associated paraphernalia, which will undoubtedly increase in the coming months.

While many chronics will be left groaning at the price, that’s to be expected of anything the government gets their hands onto.

But, this middleman fee includes Health Canada regulation and quality control so, in essence, you are paying for what will be a safer, more trustworthy product overall.

The other concern has been in regards to long lineups, with some locations across the province seeing wait times exceeding two hours since legalization. This is truly a testament to the demand for a trusted source of cannabis in our province, which should delight anyone interested

in the revenue aspect. However, as shoppers establish their stashes and initial curiosity dies down, so too will the immense lines.

The legalization of recreational cannabis has brought many exciting new opportunities to our country, especially in New Brunswick. The ability to give so many a second chance after a harmless infraction, the opportunity to educate and introduce people to a new and exciting experience, the chance to capitalize on a young, thriving industry with a ton of potential: these are all reasons to celebrate, not condemn, the legalization of cannabis in Canada.

As for those who can’t come to terms with the change brought on by legalization, as Gord Downie once said, “You can’t be fond of living in the past, ’cause if you are then there’s no way that you’re going to last.”

COLUMN

An introduction to Divest MTA’s new column Fossil fuel divestment activism at Mt. A promotes campus leadership

HANNA LONGARD Contributor Welcome to Divest MTA’s new column: a space to learn about fossil fuel divestment, meet some people involved in the movement, and keep up to date with our actions. This week I will explain what Divest MTA is, why it is important to me and how you can get involved.

Divestment means the opposite of investment. Divest MTA is a student-led group specifically asking for the University to divest our $180 million endowment from the top 200 publicly traded fossil fuel companies.

Not only is this economically viable and beneficial, but, more than that, it is a socially responsible move.

Divest MTA was founded in a classroom in 2014, and since then we have worked determinedly through multiple strategies to have our voice heard by Mount Allison.

We have written reports, met with administration, sat in on Board of

15

OPINIONS

THE ARGOSY | WWW.SINCE1872.CA

Regents meetings, held community consultations and several protests, and more. You may best know Divest MTA from the March 2017 camp-out we held in the academic quad that culminated in a discussion with former president Dr. Robert Campbell.

Frustratingly, the University’s official position on Divest MTA has so far been one of consistent resistance despite the widespread student, faculty and community support since we began. Meanwhile, the fossil fuel divestment movement around the world is growing every day.

Institutions that have divested include Laval University, the Government of Ireland and the City of New York – global fossil fuel divestment totals over $7.17 trillion. Removing investments from an industry translates into

removing social support from that industry. Divest movements usually focus on moral arguments to take away an industry’s social license to operate. It worked in apartheid-era South Africa, and now it is working with fossil fuels (see gofossilfree.org).

What motivates me? On Feb. 3, 2017, led by inspiring peers, I helped disrupt the Board of Regents meeting to ask our University to stand in solidarity with our future and those affected by climate change by removing its investments in the fossil fuel industry.

I felt a connection as I held hands with people I just met, all brought together in the fight for climate justice. I feel deeply about the need for structural change to mitigate climate change, and I am compelled to continue resisting this institution’s apathy towards our values.

I have optimism about fossil fuel divestment this year. I see many people in Sackville who care about sustainability, waste-reduction and living gently on this earth. As a community, we are worried and we are striving for alternatives. This is evident in the inspiring election of the Green Party’s Megan Mitton as our MLA this September. I am now calling you to join your community members

I AM CALLING YOU

NOW TO JOIN YOUR

COMMUNITY MEMBERS

WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR STRUCTURAL CHANGE.

who are fighting for structural change, as so importantly outlined in the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report (see ipcc.ch).

I also think the new leadership at this University provides an opportunity to overcome the inertia we have so far been met with, and that Mt. A could make an economically viable and socially meaningful move by getting on board with fossil fuel divestment now.

So, what does fossil fuel divestment mean to you? How do you want to make a difference? You can sign the petition here: bit.ly/2Q1uu3y. You can wear the orange pin, talk to your friends, attend our actions, come to our meetings, make and share art about climate justice, talk and write about Divest in your classes, support other climate activism and environmental justice events on campus, or incorporate Divest into your other clubs and societies. There are multiple ways to support Divest MTA. I am so excited to meet you and work with you to divest Mount Allison from fossil fuels this year.

As students, we discuss and debate the problems of our day, but we also have the power to actively engage with them.

THE ARGOSY w w w. s i n c e 1 8 7 2 . c a

Independent Student Newspaper of Mount Allison University Thursday, September 20, 2018 volume 148 issue 2 Circulation 1,500 Since 1872

on Unceded Mi’kmaq Land 62 York Street W. McCain Student Centre Mount Allison University Sackville, New Brunswick

506.364.2236

E4L 1H3

Email argosy@mta.ca

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.

The Underbridge Press is a student-run publishing organization at Mount Allison University.

EDITORIAL staff EDITOR IN CHIEF | Catherine Turnbull MANAGING EDITOR | Alix Main NEWS EDITORS | Maia Herriot, Minnow Holtz-Carriere ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR | Ben Maksym SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR | Alyssa Donston OPINIONS EDITOR | Olivia Wigmore HUMOUR EDITOR | Trill Waves COPY EDITOR | Charlotte Savage

PRODUCTION staff

PRODUCTION MANAGER | Morgan Bender PHOTO EDITOR | Gillian Hill PHOTOGRAPHERS | Savannah Forsey, Emma Biberdorf ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR | Ashli Green ILLUSTRATORS | Louis Sobol, Madeleine Hansen

Divest meets weekly on Wednesday evenings. For details, see our Facebook page: facebook.com/protesttodivest.

VIDEOGRAPHER | Louis Sobol

REPORTING staff

NEWS REPORTERS | Amelia MacDougall Fleming, Maisaa Al Tamki, Laura Skinner ARTS & CULTURE REPORTERS | Derek Sharp, Julianna Rutledge, Maggie Pitman, Jane Rempel

COLUMN

SPORTS & HEALTH REPORTERS | Emma MacMillan,

Liminal spaces between world and worship

Jessica Firminger

OPERATIONS staff

BUSINESS MANAGER | Mirelle Naud

The importance of accessibility of places of worship

REV. JOHN C. PERKIN Columnist I often reflect on the faith perspective by which I interpret the world, and use the metaphor of seeing the world “through stained glass.” I first used that title for a column in the Argosy 25 years ago, and I use it now as the title of my own blog as well. The particular stained glass of the University Chapel is inspirational to me, and I often photograph it. Recently, as I was looking through the pictures I have taken over the years, I ran across a picture of the main doors of the Chapel. The doors are also inspiring, and evoke many thoughts and

memories for me.

The doors are heavy and not easy to open at the best of times; when the wind is blowing and there is a trace of frost or ice on the granite steps inhibiting good traction, it can be a struggle to get into the chapel. I suspect that this is not just poor engineering, but a careful and thoughtful design; there is effort involved, which enhances the sense of stepping from the mundane, profane world into the liminal – even sacred – space of the chapel. I often think about the many people who have stepped across that threshold into the quiet interior with its high ceiling and muted light tinged with the colours of the stained glass, and its holy presence

and reminder of the things that are transcendent and eternal. I often think about that transition, from the things of this world into the realm of the holy, as one enters through the doors.

I think of the student, long since graduated, who came in every day at four o’clock and sat quietly for 20 minutes. I think of the hundreds of couples who have come in to be married during my time at Mount Allison. I recall a special service, held on the morning of Christmas Day. I wondered if anyone would want to attend, and I was surprised at the large number of people and how, in stillness, beautiful light, and quiet celebration of a holy day, we became a small community. I am aware of those who enter confused, wondering, unsure, and those who enter the Chapel at critical moments in their lives; I have wondered what they were looking for as they entered, and whether they found it.

I have shared in some powerful moments with those who have entered the chapel. They have come in alone, in the midst of crisis, needing hope; they have come wondering, needing direction; they have come in joy, wishing to give thanks. The doors have been opened to students in groups, who have attended vigils, memorial services, funerals and other

DISTRIBUTIONS MANAGER | Cara MacKenzie HR REP | Allison MacNeill

momentous and difficult occasions, seeking solace in the space and the words shared in that space.

Sunday Vespers (the term for the service of worship that takes place in the evening, as the sun sets and the day turns to night) are still held in term time, and as light turns to darkness, candles are lit to hold the light and remind us that we need not fear the darkness – we can hold hope.

The Chapel, in an increasingly secular world, becomes more and more a place that reminds me that we need sacred space, openness to the transcendent mystery, healing serenity and hope.

On the doors of the Church of St Stephen Walbrook in London, one can read the words of a prayer traditionally ascribed to Bishop Thomas Ken, the 17-century cleric. Perhaps these words should be inscribed on or near every church door: “O God, make the door of this house wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship, narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife.

Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling-block to children, nor to straying feet, but rugged and strong enough to turn back the tempter’s power.

God make the door of this house the gateway to Thine eternal kingdom.”

ONLINE staff

ONLINE EDITORS | Morgan Bender, Mac Clevinger SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER | Tori MacBeath

CONTRIBUTORS

Ian Richardson, William Lalonde, Margaret Grant, Mara Ireta Gordon, Pengyi Huang, Hanna Longard, Rev. John C. Perkin, Matthew Durnnian, Emilie Comfort COVER | Madeleine Hansen

PUBLICATION board

Michael Fox, Dave Thomas, Mark Nicol

DISCLAIMERS & 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 designs and comics are welcome. The Argosy reserves the right to edit or refuse all materials deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic or otherwise unfit for print, as determined by the Editors 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 Editors in Chief at the address above. If the Editors in Chief are 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 Editors in Chief.