The Campus June 1, 2016

The Bishop’s University Newspaper Vol. 72, No. 1

FlosffFloating the Massawippi river since1944 JUNE 1, 2016

www.thebucampus.ca

LENNOXVILLE WHEREVER YOU GO

GRAB YOURS Pages 6&7

Illusions for Children

read story on page 5

PHOTO COURTESY FOREMAN ART GALLERY OF BISHOP’S UNIVERSITY

Stanley Cup Finals

read story on page 11 PHOTO COURTESY SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Travelling 201 Countries

read story on page 12 PHOTO COURTESY STEPHANIE TAVARES

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THE TEAM

THE CAMPUS JUNE 1, 2016

campus@ubishops.ca

The Editors 2016 - 2017

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Katie Manners thecampus.editor@gmail.com

BUSINESS MANAGER

NEWS EDITOR

ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR

Rachel Newcombe thecampus.news@gmail.com

Dominque Davidon thecampus.ac@gmail.com

The Campus Vol. 72, No. 1

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NEWS............

4&5

A&C....................

6&7

FEATURES.........

OPINIONS.........

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10&11

SPORTS....

COPY EDITOR

Natasha Paikin Nicole Gauvreau thecampus.business@gmail.com thecampus.copyeditor@gmail.com

FEATURES EDITOR

LAYOUT EDITOR

GRAPHICS EDITOR

Angélique Bielski thecampus.layout@gmail.com

Sarah Novak snovack15@ubishops.ca

OPINIONS EDITOR

SPORTS EDITOR

TBA Samuel Lazanis thecampus.features@gmail.com thecampus.opinions@gmail.com

This issue’s contributors

Antoine Airoldi, SRC President Chelsea McLellan, Mike Stanley, Gerrit Coulter, Jordan Hier, Kyle Donnelly, Scott Potter, Samantha Burns, and Camille Bouskela.

BE PART OF THE TEAM!

Summit your texts, photos or ideas to the editorial team and we will get back to you for the first issue of the Fall semester 2016 Submissions to The Campus will be considered if they are received prior to the deadline at midnight on the Friday previous to the publication date. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, style, and/or inappropriate material. The editorial staff also reserves the right not to publish submissions, including assigned stories or solicited material.

Letters to the editor can be submitted directly to the Editor-inChief by email, in person, or by mail. Letters must be accompanied by the author’s name and phone number for verification purposes, even in the case of anonymous letters.

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The opinions of the writers published in The Campus do not necessarily represent the opinions of the staff of The Campus or the Campus Publishing Board. Likewise, the opinions expressed in the advertisements published in The Campus do not reflect the opinions of the staff or the Publishing Board.

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NEWS

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Rachel Newcombe, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure Refugee Sponsorship Committee garage sale largest yet

NICOLE GAUVREAU Copy Editor

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hen the Refugee Sponsorship Committee garage sale first began, it was held in Hangar, a 1980s building behind the tennis courts, next to the P2 parking lot.

This year, the W.B Scott Arena on campus was packed with used goods, donated by the community and students from Bishop’s and Champlain. It was the largest sale yet, and a group of 73 volunteers spent the week leading up to the sale sorting, pricing, and otherwise preparing for the sale on May 7.

The entire sale would not be possible without the help of Bishop’s, Champlain, and the community.

Bishop’s and Champlain both lend as many tables as they can for the sale.

Bishop’s Security allows the W.B Scott Arena to be unlocked from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the month preceding the sale and has extra staff on the day of the sale for traffic control. Building and Grounds keeps the building clean and brings in all the borrowed tables. Residence Life makes it easier for residents to donate items by encouraging international and

exchange students to donate items they will not be able to bring home. These items can be dropped off at the Paterson front desk.

The community provides a large number of tireless volunteers, who sign up for shifts to organize and price items based on their areas of expertise. In the case of Faculty Secretary for Humanities Nancy Robichaud, volunteering meant giving up a week of her holiday to help organize the sale.

This year’s sale was the largest yet.

Some people who had been waiting in line left before entering due to the overwhelming number of people inside. The final total of money raised was also the highest yet, at approximately $20,500, far exceeding last year’s total of $17,700, which the committee thought they wouldn’t be able to top.

The money raised will all go to sponsoring four students, twice the usual number. This includes buying cellphones, laptops, winter clothes, paying for glasses and dental work, paying rent for four months, and in the case of Champlain students, outfitting a kitchen.

Professor profile: Dr. Matthew Peros

PHOTO COURTESY RACHEL NEWCOMBE

Sale organizers received assistance from a former student who benefitted from the hard work of the committee.

And what happens to any items that aren’t sold? Clothing, shoes, and belts that are too damaged to be sold are brought to Recupex; broken electronics are brought to the eco centre; unopened, non-expired food that was donated is given to the food bank; towels and sheets in poor condition are given to local animal shelters; two other nonprofit groups who hold garages sales later in the summer get their pick of the left overs; and the rest is donated to Estrie Aide.

Diving for giant sloths RACHEL NEWCOMBE News Editor

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ne does not simply explore subaquatic caves in Cuba without making a significant discovery.

That is what Bishop’s University professor Matthew Peros hoped for when he and his team, spread across North America, applied for a research grant to go exploring.

Peros, who besides teaching at Bishop’s is the Canada Research Chair in Climate and Environmental Change, stated that, “The past can tell us a lot about where we’re going in the future.”

The subaquatic caves that were the focus of Peros’ exploration certainly revealed a lot about the past.

In the caves, the divers found giant sloth skeletons, estimated to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old.

Recreational divers were the ones who discovered the skeletons, and Peros quickly put together a team of 15-16 people from across Canada, the United States, and Cuba for a weeklong exploration and sample collection.

“I’m not a cave diver,” but he stated that, “the people we were working with are very experienced and well-qualified.”

Peros believed that the sloth skeletons are from the time of the mass extinction of large mammals, or the Pleistocen megafaunal extinction, which took place between 10,000 and 12,000 years ago However, it is believed that in Cuba, these giant sloths were the last to go.

It is relatively unclear whether it was climate change or human factors that drove the giant sloths to extinction.

“In some ways it helped preserve the bones,” said Peros in regards to the bones being submersed in a water-filled cave. The outer layer of bone is in good condition. However, the collagen within the bone leaked out over time, and this makes it impossible to use carbon dating to give an accurate timeline.

Bones were not the only things collected: the divers also gathered sediment samples that Peros is in the process of examining. His specific role in the project involves studying the remnants of ancient environments and climates.

“Water level is very important,” Peros said. He explained that figuring out how fast the cave filled with water could reveal past climate patterns, and aid in developing a timeline.

Peros, who is on sabbatical for the next semester to work on his research, said that this is the type of discovery that is very helpful to understanding our past environment, “it can be a lesson for the present and the future.”

Peros is not ready to stop discovering quite yet, he is putting in another grant application to fund more research, and he hopes to be back in the tropics by December. This time, he does not just want to stay on the surface.

“I’d like to play a more active role in the field work,” he said, adding that he had been looking into places to receive his diver’s certification.

Peros took a moment to show what samples he had brought back to Bishop’s, adding that the sloth skeletons were spread out over research institutes.

Besides the sediment core samples, Peros possessed two bones that belonged to larger sloths.

All this goes along with the committee’s secondary mission of being more ecologically responsible and redistributing items all over the city to help as many as possible.

Rev. Heather Thomson, the campus minister for Bishop’s and Champlain, thanks everyone for the amazing volume of support given. She believes it is due to the small, strong community spirit of Bishop’s, Champlain, and the surrounding area that makes such initiatives a resounding success.

BU spring updates

RACHEL NEWCOMBE News Editor

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ost of you reading this are back for your convocation. Congratulations!

However, this means that there were some things you missed. Despite the smaller population size, Bishop’s still has plenty going on.

The renovations at Abbott had to take a pause after construction workers struck a natural gas line. Emergency personnel were called, as well as Gaz Metro; workers were evacuated promptly. The leak was fixed quickly and efficiently, and there were no injuries. Students were notified through the Safe Gaiter application to avoid the area, and the whole incident was taken care of in only a couple hours.

International Astronomy Day occurred on May 14 and

Bishop’s played host to the Club des Astronomes Amateurs de Sherbrooke (CAAS).

People came to the campus to explore the observatory, and begin the process of understanding the universe.

It was an excellent opportunity to learn about an area of study most people don’t often think about.

Centennial Theatre unfortunately had to discontinue all of its professional programming for the upcoming academic year. This was a decision based on the serious financial situation of the school. While external funding from other partners was explored, there was no extra money to cover the cost.

More details on this can be found in the Arts and Culture section.

For more interesting, exciting, or controversial topics, read the rest of The Campus.

MORE NEWS ON PAGE 12

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ARTS&CULTURE

THE CAMPUS JUNE 1, 2016

Dominque Davidon, Arts and Culture Editor » thecampus.ac@gmail.com

What’s with all the drama?

Bishop’s University presents...

Bishop’s College School and Galt present…

DOMINIQUE DAVIDSON Ar ts&Culture Editor

DOMINIQUE DAVIDSON Ar ts&Culture Editor

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fter countless hours, the cast of Echoes: an Original Musical presented by the BU drama department is nearly ready to perform. After the success of last year’s performance of Pandemonium, in which a family of clowns makes a journey through hell, Echoes carries a horror clown flair and incorporates similar elements such as song and dance, clown work, and improvisation.

An intensive work-in-progress, Echoes tells the story of a group of university students on a quest for trust in and among themselves as they venture between the real and the fantastical worlds that surround them.

Returning to direct the project is Michael Kennard, one half of the internationally known clown duo “Mump &

Smoot” and professor of drama at the University of Alberta, as well as Bishop’s professors Fannie Gaudette and Jamie Crooks at the helm of musical direction.

The technical aspect of the musical is also in the hands of BU students who have been designing sets and costumes, lighting and sound. The production is created from scratch, including the music, set, costumes, and script itself. A group of 15 students assumed the task to develop this production collectively alongside Kennard, Crooks, and Gaudette. While the process has been stressful, the results will surely be rewarding.

Echoes will be presented from June 3 to June 5 and June 7 to June 11 at 8 p.m. in Turner Studio Theatre. Tickets are $22 for adults, $15 for students and can be purchased at the Centennial Theatre Box Office.

Dumas. The spring play is a central event for the Galt drama program. Auver the past few weeks Bishop’s ditions start in November and there College School has taken Centen- begins the tasks of theater. The cast is nial Theatre for their annual spring composed of 34 students, and countless production. This year, Miranda McGie, volunteers. drama teacher and director of the proVeteran director Olivia-Louis Grenier, duction, has chosen to present Play On a lively drama teacher at Galt, is directby Rick Abbot. ing this semester’s production. This is The intention of the play was to give her fifth play in her four years of teachthe audience an opportunity to under- ing. Assisting was Marcy Clark, a fellow stand what theater is really like be- teacher at Galt High-School. hind the curtains: it is a play within a The Three Musketeers is a rather play. physical play, the teachers were re“I chose this play because I wanted quired to bring in a professional in stage people to see how messy theater can combat to teach the students how to be, and also perform. After give attenfacing a few tion to typical challenges, characters in the students the theater.” were required McGie told to take more The Record. responsibility, People mess due to the poup lines, and tential danger MIRANDA MCGIE forget scenes; involved in DRAMA TEACHER AND DIRECTOR “unless you’ve sword fighting been a part – evidently the of a show, you wouldn’t realize that,” pieces were choreographed to reduce she said. the danger.

The production was put together in The director tried to look for a varthe short time frame of roughly a month iety of materials that could work for and a half. A substitute teacher was re- the sword fighting scenes, after testing quired to step forward, due to the regu- live action role playing swords and fenlar teacher being on a leave of absence, cing swords, the tech director, Steven as there would not have been a spring Coates, made swords from wood, with production otherwise. BCS puts on at fiber glass rods and a rubber stopper least two performances a year, one in at the end. Grenier says that they look the fall and the second in the spring. great from far away and make terrific The performance was entirely cha- sounds. They serve their purpose and otic, and therefore captured the ele- are not dangerous for the students. ments of intent. Actors were sitting in While the majority of the play took the audience to create more elements place in the Jacobean era, the music was of surprise, and the authenticity was modern pop, rewritten for string quarexcellent. tets. The costumes we provided by parConversely, after six months of prep- ents, who spent many hours working to aration, the students of Alexander Galt create beautiful authentic pieces.

High-School put on their production of Overall both plays were a great The Three Musketeers by Alexandre success.

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“I chose this play because I wanted people to see how messy theatre can be.”

This Summer

Lennoxville Farmer’s Market : Saturday June 4 & 18 XMAN Race Mont Sutton: June 4 & 5 Festival of Chefs: June 10 to 12 Sherblues & Folk: July 4 to 9 ShazzamFest: July 8 to 10

PHOTO COURTESY UBISHOPS.CA

Bouffe ton Centro: August 5 & 6

Festival des traditions du monde de Sherbrooke : August 10 to 14

ARTS

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Vital Remains in Sherbrooke An interview with Tony Lazaro ANTOINE AIROLDI Contributor

PHOTO COURTESY FOREMAN ART GALLERY OF BISHOP’S UNIVERSITY

The art of optical illusion

One Eyed Rabbit invites you to explore and imagine NICOLE GAUVREAU Copy Editor

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or the past month the Foreman Art Gallery has played host to an exhibition called One Eyed Rabbit, or Lappincyclope, an exhibit directed towards children and their families. However, the experience does not begin in the gallery, rather it commences at the exterior doors to the Centennial Theatre lobby, where rabbits have been painted onto the glass.

Described as a friendly rabbit that meets a sightless worm, the One Eyed Rabbit, could, upon watching the accompanying video in the video tank (which alternates between the French and English versions) be described as anything but friendly.

The video explains some of the artwork, and it is when the viewer discovers that the black circles covering one corner of the gallery are the One Eyed Rabbit’s painting that he has made to look like rabbit holes, tricking his fellows into smacking into the ground and breaking their teeth

when pursued by a fox.

The use of reflective pillars was advertised as a selling point of One Eyed Rabbit, and it does create a truly unique sensation to see distorted images painted on the floor, which when viewed in the reflective pillars become parts of the story one sees in the film.

Not included in the advertising, but very interesting, is the use of holographic art, which uses superimposed layers to change what one sees in the image, creating the illusion of movement based on one’s position relative to the images.

Other parts of the exhibit include a carrot painted onto the wall and a series of free-standing blocks that mean one must stand at the correct angle to see the full carrot, a large book filled with images represent the One Eyed Rabbit and interactive art (such as puppets and a page that requires 3D glasses).

Surely engaging for families and children, One Eyed Rabbit encourages imagination, but may have been better off had the video not been the primary aspect of the collection.

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ollowing their 45-minute set at Bar Le Magog on May 16, The Campus had the opportunity to interview Vital Remains rhythm guitarist Tony Lazaro, who is also the sole remaining 1989 founding member. Orginally from Providence, R.I., the current line up includes members from Canada, the United States, and Italy. Practices and writing occur in Miami, Fla. The current Infernus tour was originally slated to be on break, but Vital Remains realized the importance of pleasing fans and performed in Sherbrooke.

As the accompanying bands did not follow Vital Remains’ path and perform in May, the band played more songs in Sherbrooke than they have in any other city. When asked about the show Lazaro said, “I like underground shows; it has always been our mentality as a band.”

On Canada and favourite tour moments, Lazaro said, “We are enjoying Canada. We have been playing Canada

since the mid ‘90s. We like playing in Hamilton, Ont. We also performed in Sherbrooke in 2013, and it was amazing.

Performing in Canada is like performing in Europe. We will perform anywhere anytime.” A performance in Europe was Lazaro’s favourite as he “performed on the same line up as [British heavy metal band] Judas Priest.”

When posed the question of the band’s message, Lazaro responded, “we like keeping it old school. We don’t show up with an agenda and do what we love to do. We like keeping it brutal in the most natural way. Some songs are anti-Christian, but our message is about a philosophic way of living opposed to being constrained to a certain belief. We like to be free in our choices.”

Lazaro has composed every song on the band’s albums thus far, though they haven’t released an album since 2007.

However the band has composed their next album and is expecting to record it in July.

PHOTO COURTESY ANTOINE AIROLDI

Centennial Theatre ceases professional programming An interview with Dr. Miles Turnbull DOMINIQUE DAVIDSON Ar ts&Culture Editor

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he Bishop’s University Executive Committee made the decision to discontinue the professional programming in Centennial Theatre as a result of the University’s serious financial situation.

The university was unable to secure the $150,000 of external funding required to keep the doors open after the decision last year to reduce funding to support this programming.

Centennial will continue to present student performances and will remain open for rental as in the past. The university anticipates that rental income will increase because of greater availability of the space for groups such as community organizations and schools.

Dr. Miles Turnbull, Vice-Principal Academic, states that: “The university had talks with external partners earlier this year, but none were in a position to offer additional funding to ensure that the professional programming could continue. Nevertheless we appreciate the special funding which was provided last

year by our external partners - la Ville de Sherbrooke, le Ministère de la Culture et des Communications and le Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec - to allow us time to try to find a solution for a viable future.”

Centennial Theatre has been an important cultural venue for the Sherbrooke community for many years and has consistently presented outstanding performances. “It is with great regret that we have taken this decision,” Turnbull said.

The annual budget for Centennial Theatre is $600,000. However, in ticket sales, concessions, rentals and external grant, the theatre has only been making yearly revenue of approximately $450,000.

“There’s been a gap of $150,000 to $200,000 and that’s been going on for years now,” Turnbull told The Record.

“We almost made this decision a year ago, but our external partners stepped in to give us a lifeline. Instead of Bishop’s subsidizing $150,000, in addition to the revenues from Centennial that included our ‘Crowd funding campaign’, we con-

tributed $50,000. The gap of $150,000 has been there for quite a while. It’s not sudden, at all, in terms of this decision.”

While the financial situation of the university is a continuing struggle, “it’s not our mission to offer a professional programming theatre.” The drama department has a very strong production series put on in Turner Studio, and the music department continues to offer Musique Chez Nous, both of which are successful artistic programs at the school.

“We believe so strongly in the arts, it is a part of our liberal education model.”

Many students would assist backstage doing technical word such as lighting, or sound. “There will continue to be opportunities for the students, but it will be a different kind of exposure. We’ll still need students and maybe even more than we have in the past.”

The staff of Centennial Theatre has been informed of this decision and at least for the short term, permanent employees will retain their jobs.

“We certainly recognize the contributions of the whole team. Although the public didn’t always recognize its quality, those in the critical world, and those that attended will attest to the very high quality of the programming and the extraordinary efforts that Luce Couture and her team have put into running the programming over many years.”

“We wish to express our great respect and appreciation for the excellent work and tireless efforts of Luce Couture and her whole team” Turnbull states, “Luce is an outstanding professional who has dedicated more than 30 years of her professional life to Bishop’s, Centennial Theatre and the arts in Quebec, across Canada and around the world.”

As for the future of Centennial, “Nothing is impossible. The professional programming will not continue for 2016/2017, whether there will be a resurrection of a new source of funding that will allow a different vision. If we were not in our financial situation we would not have made this decision.”

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FEATURES Lennoxville wherever you go How to play Lennoxopoly: Download the chance and community chest cards on The Campus Facebook page and print them.

Play with your own dice, playing pieces, house and hotel markers, and Monopoly money.

Follow the Monopoly game rules.

Have fun!

/thebucampus

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OPINIONS

THE CAMPUS JUNE 1, 2016

Samuel Lazanis, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

A look at the UK EU referendum SAMUEL LAZANIS Opinions Editor

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round this time last year, the European Union was facing a crisis over the Greek economy and its crippling debts. The disagreements between Greece and the most financially sound members of the EU nearly reached a breaking point, especially after a referendum where the Greek people refused the offered bailout conditions.

The term “Grexit” was coined and was thrown around to deal with the potential scenario of Greece’s withdrawal from the European Union, or at least the Euro zone.

Now the stumbling, decrepit body is under attack again. This time the United Kingdom is entertaining ideas of success—I mean secession.

After some political manoeuvring and scapegoating the European Parliament, David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, grudgingly offered the country a referendum on its relationship with the EU. The Prime Minister must have felt confident of an easy victory for the “remain” campaign, especially since he had just secured a new and “advantageous” deal with the Union. Unfortunately, the commentators lambasted his deal, his party has been rent asunder, and the voters are in a deadlock over the question. The figures fluctuate without straying far from a 50-50 split.

Possibly, the most significant reason for such a close vote is that fact that there is a glaring deficiency of facts supporting either side. Both camps have been forced to pursue more emotionally charged campaigns and conflate the few figures to corroborate with the respective camps’ platform. The result is that the issue has become a complete quagmire. Each side is plagued with shoddy arguments and numerous embarrassments.

The “remain” side decided to target millennials with one of the most vapid and insulting advertising campaigns seen in recent years. By using “trendy” and atrocious spelling, the “remain” camp tried to entice youths to vote stay by listing the greatest benefits of the European Union. The ad suggests that this is making money, partying, travelling, and doing other exciting things that you can post on social media. The implied threat is that, without membership, young people will no longer be able to get blackout drunk on some Greek island before jet skiing in the morning.

Has the west become such an indulgent culture that these are our most dear values?

I may be a cynic but I think not. Rather it seems to suggest how out of touch the “remain” camp is. Which is no surprise, considering they have the lion’s share of the “one percent.” They probably are out of touch with the common voter’s view because of their financial self interests in staying part of the EU. All their extra money also allows them to waste it on contemptuous ads.

After seeing the ad campaign, one MP quipped that he thought it was a parody made by the “leave” campaign. Are these patronising fear mongers the sort of people we should listen to when a nation’s future is at stake?

While the “remain” side is in an awful state, the “leave” camp is not much better off as it is a cacophony of xenophobes, frustrated mobs, and a handful of sincere democrats. “Leave” seems to have the strongest argument although at the price of support and popularity they’ve been shackled with the weakest and most inflammatory arguments. Putting that aside, they do have the strongest point: self-governance. Although the European Unions edicts and regulations seem negligible to the average citizens, the benefits are more visible.

Most nations today live in some sort of a Democracy and this government type is pushed heavily on those not supporting it, unfortunately in ineffective and often violent ways. So it should go without saying that we value the right of the citizens to choose their own destiny rather than the will of the few. Why then is British selfgovernance such a contentious issue? As Daniel Hannan, a member of the European Parliment said, “No where else in the world do countries apologise for wanting to live under their own laws.”

To make matters worse, the politicians who have authority in the European government have often been expressly refused by the country’s voters and are then offered a position in EU. This might be why the EU has been stagnant for so long where the rest of the world, save Antarctica, has experienced significant growth.

What sane state would subject itself to being encumbered and ensnared by a quagmire of remote officious red tape? Yet, this is the state the British find themselves in and we criticize them for attempting to cut themselves free. We can only hope that the voters find their inner strength and self-confidence to choose their own destiny again.

As Milton had said over four hundred years ago, but which is no less fitting today, “Methinks I see in my mind a noble and puissant nation rousing herself like a strong man after sleep, and shaking her invincible locks.”

PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL POST

Putin’s proxy war games SCOTT POTTER Contributor

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he Islamic State (IS) reported that on May 14 they destroyed four Russian attack helicopters and some score of trucks loaded with munitions at a key Syrian Regime airbase near Palmyra. This has been confirmed by satellite images from think tanks close to the American intelligence agencies. Russia still denies the attacks took place.

I had meant to write President Putin a letter consoling him on the loss of billions of roubles worth of military hardware, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.

Four days after the shelling, Ukraine commemorated the 1944 Soviet deportation of Crimean Tartars, which the European Union considers genocide, with a minute of silence. Somehow it didn’t seem like the time to write the bear a nice letter, particularly since in Crimea there was no commemoration this year as Russian authorities and partisans have increased the pressure on Tartars in Crimea.

Taking just enough time for brief mentions of the Kremlin’s anti-gay stance and of that the world’s number three greenhouse gas emitter is dragging their feet over the Paris climate Agreement, I move on to my main topic.

This is that, particularly since nobody seems to have died, we can cheer the IS destruction of Russian military assets in Syria because Russia is propping up Assad. And yes, Assad really is that bad. His regime has continued his father’s practice of trumping up charges against political dissenters, and his father’s policy of then quietly shooting the worst—an estimated 17,000 of them in the last forty years—and burying them in mass graves. Indeed, he is widely considered to have the worst record on human rights in the Middle East, which is quite something.

Assad has also committed numerous war crimes; an estimated 88% of attacks on hospitals and a staggering 97% of attacks on all medical workers in the threesided war in Syria have been attributed to Assad’s government forces.

Moreover, Assad has made extensive use of indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets, especially with improvised “barrel bombs,” and has even managed to perfect a new tactic of civilian bombing know as “double tap,” bombing an area then bombing it again some twenty minutes later to kill emergency responders and good Samaritans. Russia, meanwhile, in their “attempt to wipe out the IS” has been bombing the moderates, liberals, and ethnic minorities which Canada and her allies have been supporting.

Most shocking, however, from a realpolitik standpoint is the fact that Assad has been tacitly supporting the same IS forces he is battling. For a long time, the West simply assumed that regime forces were buying IS oil because they were stupid.

Instead, it turns out that there is a genuine conspiracy: Syria’s dictator is actually helping the IS remain competitive, notably letting them withdraw heavy artillery and hard-to-replace weaponry before his forces take back IS-held cities.

It is unclear if Assad thinks the young men fighting for the caliphate will submit to his secularist government, or simply make his life easier by fighting instead against the other rebels, but if he thinks this is going to end well then he and his Russian allies are more of a threat to regional stability than we thought.

OPINIONS

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“I’m gluten free on Tuesdays” Dropping gluten when you don’t need to

SAMANTHA BURNS Contributor

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ometime, when the majority of you dear readers were in high school, humanity was made to realize an everpresent foe, one more formidable than the peanut or shellfish.

Sometime in the late 2000s the veil was removed regarding the “evils” of gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and other such grain.

Individuals can be intolerant or allergic to gluten, which can also aggravate those who suffer from celiac disease.

Sensitivity to gluten can result in a number of ailments such as headaches, inflammation, bowel issues, nausea, and many more health issues. Gluten intolerance is a prevalent issue in North America, likely due to the ever-increasing use of GMOs. The problem arises due to the instant and widespread introduction gluten in-

tolerance and gluten free foods. Thus, people assume that going gluten free is both healthy and easy.

Gluten intolerance is a serious issue.

There are a number of individuals in my life who suffer constant arthritic pain and hangover-like symptoms if they consume gluten products. These people have spent half a decade familiarizing themselves with the jargon pertaining to such an intolerance and rooting out potential hazards.

Gluten intolerance is not a diet; it is a lifestyle.

In any grocery store you can find a gluten free section that is stocked with cakes and breads and pasta. Many people make the assumption that because gluten has negative affects on some that it is bad for everyone, and as a result give it up.

Wheat contains proteins that are good for the body and finding substi-

What is respect?

Can there be consensus on respect? s I sat in class two weeks ago a classmate made the comment (about what I can’t remember) that something seemed awfully disrespectful. This struck me as rather ironic as said person talks loudly trough class and has been known to urinate on churches.

However, I certainly know I come across as disrespectful to a number of people. I make comments during TV shows, sometimes even during movies; I know it’s annoying to people, but I also don’t think it’s horribly inappropriate to point out logical fallacies or blatant inaccuracies.

But is there really consensus on what constitutes respect? I recall an all-school assembly when I was in high school to tell us to call out teachers and coaches Mr., Ms., or Mrs. and their last name. We were not to use first names or shortened versions of last names, even if the teacher told us it was ok.

The girls of my middle and high schools were also pulled aside and told that certain types of clothing were disrespectful to our teachers and male peers.

Here at Bishop’s some professors find it the height of disrespect to call a professor by their first name, or to refer to a professor in conversation with friends by last name only.

Some even comment in courses that unlike some of their colleagues they demand respect and by no means are first names to be used.

above it takes years to get accustomed to such a lifestyle.

Gluten is in a fair amount of products that people just do not think about when giving up the beast. Because it is a binding agent one can find gluten in salad dressing, sauces, candy, chocolate, gravy, burgers, and a large majority of food you will try to get at restaurants, just to name a few items. It requires giving up a lot more food than the obvious culprits and many people are not willing to give that level of dedication.

The long and the short is that giving up gluten is your choice, but it is very difficult and requires a lot of self education, advocacy, and work and unless you are willing to work hard and be informed you should not perpetuate the ignorance or waste the time and effort of other people by being “gluten free.”

Help the aged or conversing Fun for All Ages CAMILLE BOUSKELA Contributor

NICOLE GAUVREAU Copy Editor

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tutes that are as rich with such products is difficult. Facsimile products made from rice or other gluten free flours do not facilitate the necessary change required for individuals who need to give up gluten. Many people who give up gluten just replace their wheat-based cereal, pasta, cake, bread, and so forth with other items almost identical in nature. By doing this, individuals are only replacing a product that is bad for you with a product that is slightly less bad for you.

In order to go properly gluten free, it is best and yields the best results, if one gives up gluten products and gluten replicates all together. If bread is bad for you, why should fake bread be that much different?

The final and most important issue with people who causally take on the mantle of gluten free is their lack of education and dedication to it. As stated

It is also a popular notion that one’s superiors and elders are to be respected even if they treat you poorly.

It is implied that respect should be blindly given and not earned.

Personally I find it disrespectful when people come to class more than a few minutes late, talk loudly about things that are off topic, don’t let others into a conversation when they clearly have something to say, don’t show up to work or do their job poorly.

I also find it disrespectful to hit-on random people in the street or to ask things like “can I touch your boobs?”

I’m sure you are capable of touching my breasts, but no I won’t let you, and really you shouldn’t be asking someone that.

Yet it seems there is no universal thing people can agree upon as disrespectful. Some may think it fine to pee on churches, while others can’t fathom students calling their teachers by anything other than their title and surname.

How is it that we have come to a day and age where nothing is sacred enough that everyone can agree to do or not do something?

Additionally, why is it that referring to someone by a name they have said you may call them has become disrespectful?

Finally, can we not agree that respect is earned, and that someone who treats you poorly need not be respected?

M

ost of us at Bishop’s University live in a time of uncertainty about the future. We are young and we are in the process of realizing what we want to do with the rest of our lives.

Some of us have plans for the future but are unsure if we will ever achieve them. Many of us believe that when we hit a certain age then that is it for us. Live while you are young because when you get old life seems to slip away. There is only a limited time left.

I do not hold this point of view. There is no moment in one’s life that a person cannot reinvent himself or herself.

The older generation holds plenty of wisdom and they have much to teach the younger generation. Our lives do not end at 60, 70, or 80 years old; in some cases our real lives may only be the beginning.

We come to a time where we can truly be ourselves; and this may only come when we are old enough to know it.

Sometimes when we are young, we are unable to open our minds and leave the rigid structures that society has built around itself and us. It is hard to remember that age is only a number that determines the amount of years one has lived.

It does not determine one’s capacity to achieve goals or stops a person from fulfilling their dreams. A person can go back to school in their 60s and find true love in their 70s.

Over the years I have made many friends that are advanced in age and

they are some of the best people that I have come in contact with. These friends have always had the ability to open my eyes to new possibilities.

They have showed that age is never a barrier in achieving our goals. With time, I have become blind to a person’s age. I connect with a person because of their different qualities and our shared complicity.

The older generations deserve more respect in our society and an understanding that their life is as interesting as ours can be and maybe sometimes even more so. For they have lived through many lives already.

We live in a society where we like to hide the elderly. We like to hold on to the concept that we can live forever. The older generation reminds us of our mortality. As a society we like to put them into homes where sometimes we forget about them; where they can only live lonely lives of quiet desperation. I am not saying that this is true for all however it is certainly true for some.

The message I leave you with is that one should take the time to cultivate a relationship with out elders and listen to what they have to say. Their seemingly impending mortality must not become a barrier for interaction. One must learn to seek them out and benefit from what their life experiences can say.

........................... thebucampus.ca

10

SPORTS

Rio 2016

THE CAMPUS JUNE 1, 2016

Maddie Hession, Sports Editor » thecampus.sports@gmail.com

Can Brazil pull it off?

KYLE DONNELLY Contributor

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he Summer Olympic Games are arguably the single greatest sporting event around the world. In no other competition or gathering is there as much preparation for such top-level competition for multiple nations worldwide.

The sheer magnitude of the host city announcement cannot go unnoticed, both as a seemingly premature pressure on host cities to align their construction teams, and in the timing itself. In the case of the 2016 host, Rio de Janeiro, almost nine years of a countrywide fiscal clearance will cease come this August. A quick look at the social and political situation in Brazil, however, reveals a faded mosaic of institutions, striking the very core of the expectation for a successful Summer Olympic Games.

Every Olympics is primarily governed through three main factions, one of which is the host city’s federal government. In this past, most vital year for Brazilian hopes, President Dilma Roussef, has been handed impeachment charges for manipulating government accounts—never a good start for the avid money vacuum that is the Olympic Games. Though Roussef has deputies, their track records do not fare much better, as corruption and impeachment permeate through the positions of power.

Based on these facts, one can see the breakdown in top-level supervision from the Games’ most important sponsor. One of the largest accounts in the government’s books this August will be ensuring the protection and peace of mind of athletes and citizens. Security, in our world today, unfortunately tends to start and end with the Islamic State. Every government’s worst nightmare is dealing with an enemy with unknown potential and plans, which we have seen as IS manifests itself in various parts of the world.

Last month, the Brazilian National Intelligence Agency revealed a threat directly from IS stating, “Brazil, you are our next target.” A month prior, Rio had just announced a 35% cut to its security budget. The city’s public security chief said the cuts would mean reducing the city’s police presence and maintenance spending, as well as pacification plans for Maré, one of the city’s biggest and most violent favelas, would be put on hold.

Now, without the top legislators in parliament to pump money back into the city’s security schemes, there is potential for a serious void in the streets of Rio de Janeiro, to say the least. A void that has become clear in the last two years is in the Brazilian economy, where

Madden ’17 cover

PHOTO COURTESY OLYMPIC.ORG

Security and economic issues could have the city of Rio de Janeiro struggling to host a successful Summer Olympic Games.

the national GDP has dropped by 13% since June 2014.

Such numbers have prohibited organizers from fulfilling their bidding-period promise of cleaning up Guanabara Beach, host site of the sailing and swimming events. Alarmingly, the Huffington Post estimates that disease-causing viruses from human sewage in the bay are at levels of 1.7 million times those considered “highly alarming”. The Inter-

national Olympic Committee has stated they will not test the water prior to the Olympics.

Fortunately for the Olympic networks, or any broadcaster for that matter, drama sells. It is apparent though, that the Olympic organizers may have trouble keeping their moneymaking watches afloat in a pool of broken promises as their clocks tick down to the Opening Ceremonies.

these numbers are, Gronk’s ’11 campaign is even more impressive.

In 2011 Gronkowski also set the NFL record for receiving touchdowns by a tight end with 1,327, as well as posting the all-time record for touchdown catches in his position, when he hauled in a whopping seventeen scores. Both records still stand. Gronk does not just

stack up well against other TEs, in fact, since the 2010 season when he entered the National Football League, Gronkowski has the most receiving touchdowns by any single player in the entire NFL. Rob also has the honour of being the first player from the New England Patriots franchise to appear on the cover of the famous video game. This is a little surprising since Madden has had NFL players on its cover since 2000, and the Patriots have arguably been the best team in football over the last decade and a half.

Gronk is about as near to a perfect choice for the Madden cover as EA could have made, since they tend to choose players who not only show their prowess on the field, but who are also big names in the mainstream media.

Whether it is for a stunning catch, showing up at a pro wrestling event, or for his legendary party cruise, Gronkowski is constantly making headlines. He also has a very strong social media presence, which will only help in the promotion of the upcoming video game.

Rob Gronkowski scores anew GERRIT COULTER Contributor

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n early May it was announced that the cover athlete for this year’s edition of EA Sport’s Madden NFL video game would be Rob Gronkowski. “Gronk” plays tight end for the New England Patriots, and has become one of the premiere talents in the NFL. In 80 career regular season games, across six NFL seasons, number 87 has amassed a total of 380 receptions for 5,555 yards and 65 touchdowns. To put these lofty statistics into perspective, Tony Gonzalez, regarded by most as the greatest tight end of all time, had 111 touchdowns over his lengthy 17year career where he played 270 career games. Therefore, Gronkowski has over half Tony’s career TDs in less than 30 percent of the games. In fact, over Gonzalez’s first 80 games, he totalled 4,045 yards, 339 receptions, and 31 scores, far lower totals than this years Madden Cover Athlete. Looking at his sizable production so early into his career, it is fair to say that Gronk

is well on his way to being an NFL legend.

This past year, Gronkowski had his second most productive season ever as he led all starting tight ends with 1,176 receiving yards, and average yards per reception with 16.3. His eleven touchdown grabs were also tied for second most in his position. As spectacular as

PHOTO COURTESY EA SPORTS

SPORTS 11

THEBUCAMPUS.CA

Oh, Canada

Southern United States dominates Stanley Cup playoffs NICOLE GAUVREAU Copy Editor

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ot one Canadian team managed to reach the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs, leaving only slim hopes for a team anywhere near the border such as the Detroit Redwings and the Minnesota Wild.

These were dashed when both teams were eliminated in the first round.

With the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks also eliminated in round one, the world suddenly knew that the Stanley Cup would be leaving its comfortable home in the only two cities it had known for the past four years.

Even the Presidents Cup winning Washington Capitals fell to the Pitts-

burgh Penguins in overtime in game six of the second round. While reaching game six against the Pens may have surprised a number of die-hard Caps fans, given the propensity for the Capitals to lose to the Penguins, many others were left wondering what had happened.

The conference semi-finals saw the Penguins as the northern most team, with the Tampa Bay Lightning, St. Louis Blues, and San Jose Sharks rounding out the four.

Anyone who picked the San Jose Sharks and the Pittsburgh Penguins as the teams to play the Stanley Cup final when the playoff teams were finalized should be commended, as neither of the

Make baseball fun again MIKE STANLEY Contributor

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his year it seems like Bryce Harper is on a mission; elevating his game to the next level. His mission, however is not only to elevate his own game, but to elevate the entire sport back to what he claims is “fun.” On opening day of the season, Harper drew quite the buzz when he sported a “Make Baseball Fun Again” hat; a play on Donald Trump’s U.S. election campaign.

“If a guy pumps his fist at me on the mound, I’m going to go, ‘Yeah, you got me. Good for you. Hopefully I get you next time.’ That’s what makes the game fun. You want kids to play the game, right? What are kids playing these days? Football, basketball. Look at those players—Steph Curry, LeBron James. It’s exciting to see those players in those sports. Cam Newton—I love the way Cam goes about it. He smiles, he laughs. It’s that flair.

The dramatic.”

Harper is not alone in wanting to bring more emotion to the game of baseball. Los Angeles Dodgers Outfielder Yasiel Puig has expressed his thoughts on the subject: “We have to make baseball fun for the fans and not take everything so personal. In baseball, it is more common for a pitcher to punch you out three times than for you to hit the ball out of the park. So after you have struck out three times against a pitcher and you finally get a home run, bat flips are just an emotional expression—not about taunting the pitcher.”

He’s also stated that he admires Bryce Harper’s athleticism and that he’s been a great friend and player.

Although the hitters are looking to make things exiting again with big home runs and celebrations, there is a plethora of pitchers looking to do the exact opposite. Lefties are a baseball trend this year and are providing quite the show. There are a few notable pitchers that have given batters nightmares:

Jake Arrieta, Noah Syndergaard, Max Scherzer, Madison Bumgarner, Chris Sale, and Clayton Kershaw, just to name a few.

There is no arguing that Kershaw is making a case to be the best pitcher in the league, however, following close behind, Aroldis Chapman is undeniably riveting to watch with his 100-m.p.h. plus fastballs.

Baseball is currently in a great state with a deep pool of talent, which should make for a notably exciting season. Personal top picks to win the World Series would be the Chicago Cubs, the San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and a wild pick would go to the Seattle Mariners. Although the Mariners are having a staggering season so far, they have not managed to make the playoffs since 2001.

Though they have the bats and depth to make a good run in the playoffs, it will be a season of the starting rotation, which is what gives the Dodgers, Mets, and Cubs an upper hand.

PHOTO COURTESY TWITTER.COM

Harper sports a Make Baseball Fun Again hat to bring the passion and excitement back to the game.

two teams that made it to the Western Conference semi-finals would generally be regarded as a hockey powerhouse.

Because of this, and looking at playing records for the teams, it seems likely that the 2016 Stanley Cup will go to the Eastern Conference, even if it is won by a city not known for snow.

One has to contemplate the combination of factors that brought teams based in cities so unfamiliar with winter and natural ice to the final rounds of the Stanley Cup. Whatever it is, clearly the teams of the True North ought to start paying attention, because early draft picks have certainly not been helping a number of teams.

PHOTO COURTESY SIXTHROUNDPICKS.WORDPRESS.COM

Will it be the Penguins or the Sharks?

Toronto Raptors

From the Stone Age to Prime Time JORDAN HIER Contributor

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e The North! That has been the tag line of the Toronto Raptors in recent years. Despite the overwhelming support for the sole Canadian NBA franchise from coast to coast to coast, the American media has chosen to turn a blind eye to the Raptors success, until now.

One can understand from an economic perspective why the American media outlets, such as ESPN & TNT, would snub the Raptors when creating their schedule of nationally televised regular season games. Toronto is obviously not located in America, so purely on interest alone not as many eyeballs will be tuning in, due to the lack of brand recognition. Secondly, when ABC broadcasts their nationally televised games, which are shown in Canada, the ratings for the games do not include Canadian viewership, therefore their ad revenue is reduced. That can make a strong argument to ignore a three-time defending division champion, if one is looking at it from a pure dollar and cents point of view, that is.

It is a shame that the almighty dollar and the location of a team over shadow talent and success. If the very same Raptors team was located in New York, Boston, or pretty much any other American market, the team would be discussed on talk radio and have televised showcase games on a regular basis.

However, the 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 Atlantic Division title holders are forcing the media south of the border to make the Raptors the focal point of discussion rather than them being an afterthought. The first bit of exposure came this past Valentine’s Day weekend when Toronto became the first city to host an NBA All-Star game outside of the United States. That in turn put Toronto on the map, as all eyes were squarely fo-

cused north of the boarder. The spotlight then landed again on the Raptors during their deep playoff run.

The 2015/2016 edition of the NBA Playoffs started with the second seed Raptors squared up against the Indiana Pacers. The Raptors and Pacers played a contentious series, and with help from the league’s best fan base, who congregated religiously at Jurassic Park for each game to cheer their squad on. The Raptors emerged with a Game 7 victory.

Next up for Canada’s team was the Miami Heat. The playoff veteran Heat posed problems for the Raptors, but yet again the series went the distance, with Toronto finishing off the series on home soil. With that victory the Raptors earned the right to play in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the winner advancing to the NBA Finals.

With the Raptors making their deepest playoff run since the 2000/2001 season, the American media outlets were forced to show the Raptors in prime time, despite the low television ratings for games they participate in. Raptor fans in Canada don’t care about television ratings; all they care about is the team’s success.

But when the television ratings in Canada are measured the results are record breaking. Viewership for Raptor playoff games in Canada is at the highest they have ever been.

The future looks extremely bright for the Raptors if they keep the current team intact. All-stars Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are only getting better. Not to mention, the supporting cast is young, energetic and many of them have the potential to be future all-stars.

If the trend of the Raptors success continues the American media and American NBA fans will have to learn to like the Raptors, because they will be broadcast well into May for years to come.

12

NEWS

THE CAMPUS JUNE 1, 2016

Go Steph go!

Documents and history and data, oh my!

BU alumnus takes on the world RACHEL NEWCOMBE News Editor

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ne woman. Three years. 201 countries. This is the tagline for former Bishop’s student Stephanie Tavares’ mission to break three world records, starting at the end of June.

Tavares, graduating this year, will be attempting to break the world records of youngest person, first woman, and shortest time traveling to every country in the world. Called Solo Steph, the project, which was only a thought at the beginning of last year, is now a reality.

“I’ve always thought about travelling to every country in the world,” Tavares said. Previous travel only ignited Tavares’ interest and passion for her idea.

Once she committed, she had to make a plan. Tavares will spend at least 24 hours in each country. The actual timeline will vary depending on how much she likes where she is.

Tavares is not just doing this for the glory. Her main motivation is to show that women can do absolutely anything they want. Travelling alone is often advised against, but it is in particular for women. Tavares said that, “There are some risks, but there are some risks in everything.”

As part of her travels she will work with Tostan, a charity based in Africa. “19,000 women have been given leadership positions in their

communities,” Tavares said, and this is something she can believe in. Women can have ambitions and dreams that are so large they seem improbable. “We can accomplish anything,” she added.

Tavares has garnered a sponsorship from Jet-Setter, and has started a public funding page to help offset some of the costs of her trip, which she has been saving for.

The official date of departure will

by June 26, and the first stop will be Iceland. The first seven months of her trip are devoted to Europe. If all goes according to plan, Tavares will be back in Canada in July 2019.

Follow Solo Steph on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. If you are interested in donating to her mission, visit www.tilt.com/tilts/ solo-steph-1-woman-3-years-201countries

PHOTO COURTESY STEPHANIE TAVARES

Stephanie Tavares at Glacier National Park in Montana.

Planning for the year ahead

ETRC launches new database NICOLE GAUVREAU Copy Editor

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t 6 p.m. on May 26, the Eastern Townships Resource Centre (ETRC) officially launched a project that has been over a year in the making: a portal through which one can access the documents from a number of repositories and historical societies in the Eastern Townships.

Fabian Will, executive director of the ETRC, spoke not only of the ETRC’s mission to preserve the history of the Anglophone community in the Eastern Townships, but also of the challenges of doing so. Previously these challenges were mainly the sheer number of historical societies in the region, practically one per town.

However, the 21st century and the Internet age have brought new challenges: digitization, changing research habits, and cost.

More and more, if one does not have an online presence, it is as if one does not exist; this is true even of archives. However, digitization is not an easy or inexpensive process. Luckily, the ETRC made it happen Thanks to the committed work of the ETRC and other historical societies who have joined the project, and a $44,000 grant from the Government of Canada, this has been possible.

Julie Allard, a researcher on Modern France at Université de Sherbrooke, explained the values of digitized records and how they affect research.

Digitization eliminates geographical restrictions; researchers no longer need to go to dozens of archives or to different countries to see the documents they need. They also do not need worry about properly

handling antique documents or struggling to find associated materials.

This ease of distribution and access allows new research to be done, aids historic exploration and discovery, and is perfect for students who are used to just typing search terms into Google.

Finally, ETRC archivist Jodie Robinson explained the three major reasons for creating the portal. One was making digital content more accessible, useful, and practical.

Another reason was furthering connections and exchanges between unique but related archives and repositories by putting the content all in one data base, which allows for greater context. Finally, offering institutions access to archival management software they may not have had otherwise due to shortages of staff and funding.

The portal not only provides the infrastructure, but also provides a way to intellectually manage archives so that archivists and researchers know what documents are most at risk.

Robinson also gave a quick explanation of how the portal works. It allows searching by key words, but can be filtered by institution, geographic area, and type of document (text, audio, audio-visual, visual, oral history interviews, etc.).

Once filtered, the researcher can then see not only the archival description, but also see if a digital object is connected, and observe the object online without need for additional software.

Overall this growing work-in-progress seems very promising not only for the professional, but also the amateur researcher.

SRC summer plans and initiatives CHELSEA MCLELLAN SRC President

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he 2016-2017 Student Representative Council (SRC) Executive Team has hit the ground running upon taking office May 1. Several initiatives are already set for completion this summer, along with the day-to-day management and committee representation.

Part of ensuring a successful year is taking advantage of the spring and summer months that the executive members spend preparing together. A good portion of this time is dedicated towards planning and organizing Orientation Week for over 800 incoming students in the fall.

Each year, along with the Orientation Week Coordinators, the SRC works to make the week inclusive by including more diverse events and ensuring a proper integration for our new Gaiters.

Outside of the realm of Orientation Week, the SRC Executive is also undergoing their first Strategic Planning Process. Throughout this process, the executives hope to coordinate goals as they

relate to student needs, such as sustainability, equity, representation, and transparency of the SRC as a whole.

The final product of this process will be circulated to students and will ensure continuity, transparency, and accountability. On top of overseeing the Strategic Planning Process and the day-to-date management of the organization, the SRC President will be supporting and guiding the projects of all of the executives, managers, and representatives.

Throughout the summer the SRC President will be researching processes for constitutional review, and student focus groups to solicit feedback on numerous student issues. The Strategic Plan will influence and add to each executive’s goals and priorities for the coming year.

Each elected executive member and director is hard at work with a number of other projects. In addition to preparing her event coordinators and clubs’ manager for the upcoming year, Heather Barlow, Vice-President Student Life, will be delving into further research regard-

ing safe spaces on campus and creating a process to ensure inclusive event planning for the SRC. Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Morgan Gagnon, will be preparing for the launch of the Academic Peer Mentorship program in the fall. It is anticipated to be an exciting program for the university, which will have a positive influence on students’ academic experience and retention.

Gagnon is also a key representative on a committee to develop and create foundation courses that the university will put in place for future students.

Director of Communications and Marketing, Jessica Goodsell, is looking at how internal communications are currently run in the SRC, and proposing software solutions to aid in running a more efficient, transparent and accountable SRC. Goodsell will be collaborating with the president to streamline communications, and reduce student emails through policy creation and advocacy.

Director of Finance and Operations, Andrew Morton, will be developing the

SRC’s budget and ameliorate financial transparency through enhanced financial reporting and reviewed financial statements.

Morton will also be collaborating with the general managers to seek out additional revenue sources and re-envision new opportunities for the Gait.

Director of Human Resources, Dominique Lavoie, will be organizing uniform training modules for executives and managers during the spring and summer session. Lavoie is also pursuing an independent study to assist the SRC in conflict management, performance appraisals, stress management assessments, and more.

There are a number of projects being developed as of now, and even more to come. This year represents a year of stability for the SRC, where the focus is on the execution and quality of outputs and, and involving and engaging students in new and innovative ways.

Student input is always welcome. Stop by the SRC offices in the SUB hallway or send an email with any questions or concerns.