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NEWS
THE CAMPUS FEBRUARY, 13TH 2023
Eva Rachert, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com
Eco-Week: A successful environmental event Irma Susset - Contributor
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eb. 6, 2023 marked the beginning of Eco-Week here at Bishop’s. The five-day event, planned by the Environmental Club, consisted of a multitude of environment-focused activities with the intent of sensitising BU students to environmentally-friendly and sustainable choices. The different events around campus included a thrift store at the Gait with clothes donated from students and staff, a plant sale, a nature walk in collaboration with the Outdoors Club (BUO), a trivia night, as well as a ban on the sale of disposable cups for a day. The Environmental Club’s Instagram account highlights the goal of the week-long event as to “promote, encourage or enhance the sustainability practices on campus” which was successfully achieved. The remarkable events were wellappreciated by students and staff members who participated in the enjoyable and educational activities organized during the week. The large variety of activities were made possible in partnership with other green-minded groups such as the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Club (SAFS), the Community Fridge Organisation and the Indigenous Cultural Alliance (ICA). The first day of Eco-Week brought together different artists, groups, and organizations Photo Courtesy of Emily Crunican
participating in the sustainability movement. The Community Fridge, located at the entrance of the SUB building, was promoted as a no-waste option, along with a biweekly locally grown vegetable basket available for BU students to purchase and get delivered on campus. The second day of the events consisted of a cupfree day, in which everyone was encouraged to bring their own mugs on campus since most food and
drink services were not handing out their usual single-use cups. The rest of the week was filled with outdoor activities, organised by the ICA, the SAFS Club, and BUO, as well as a presentation of green initiatives on campus and an environmental conference on the topic of hurricanes by Bishop’s professor Dr. Matthew Peros. Students who participated in Eco-Week activities were entered into a draw to win a weekend pass to
Winterfest. The Environmental Club has helped the BU campus in becoming more sustainable in a number of ways. The growing group of BU students with the environment at heart has had a considerable impact in the creation of a more sustainable, ecological and greener campus for all to enjoy.
Photo Courtesy of Emily Crunican
Opulent Observations: Wit and Whimsy’s first meeting Colin Ahern - Opinions Editor
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department and the host of the Poetry, Empathy, and Social Justice ennoxville was a desevent). olate wasteland over the weekend Dr. MacEachern’s poetry of Feb. 4. Howling winds pulled described the experience of being the tops of snow along and drifta woman in Canada. As her first ed along the grounds, creating a poem began, time froze while mystical aura around the campus. On Sunday night, a few wandering students were engrossed with each word she uttered. As her poems souls braved this death by landended, the audience erupted into scape to meet up in the basement applause. of Bandeen Hall. The night began Bryn’s short talk referenced at 6:15 p.m., due to unforeseen dethe importance of poetry within lays, and featured live poetry from neuroscience. She noted how each Dr. Jessica MacEachern (a profesword is pregnant with meaning, sor in the English department who thereby engaging large swathes of specializes in Canadian and feminist literature), live music from Eric the brain at the same time. Bryn’s Manolson (a musician who studies energy was electric as always and left the crowd buzzing with exciteAlzheimer’s and music in a therment. apeutic setting), and a short talk The final performance was from Dr. Shoshannah Bryn Jones a song by Eric Manolson. His song Square (a professor in the English
involved audience participation to create a low droning sound that enraptured the audience while he performed over it. The droning sound began as slightly jarring, but quickly became hypnotic and mirrored the whistling of wind through trees as he recited poetry. Needless to say, this was a massive hit. From here, the night became a writer’s café for students to share and create their own original work. The opening performances left the room ablaze with creativity for students to tap into. The collaborative nature of the latter half of the event allowed for students to workshop their writing. In addition to snacks, students had access to the review and opinions of their peers.
One notable announcement was about the upcoming open mic night on March 24. These biweekly meetings are designed to hone work for the upcoming live performance. The dozen attendees of the poetry night were all invited to perform and support their fellow artists and writers. By 8 p.m., the club’s time was coming to a close. Students slowly began to filter out after sharing contact information and stories. The poetry club climbed back out of their little bag, and clutched their hoods close to guard from the elements. With the bag refolded, the only vestiges of the club were found in memories, the eerie night, and the sound of closing a door behind oneself and turning a lock.