The Campus - September 18th, 2023

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SINCE 1944

VOLUME 79 ISSUE 2

Septemer 18th, 2023

Student run since 1944

We’re back Bishop’s!

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SRC fall elections: Positions’ impacts, candidates’ visions Course information should be password protected Men’s rugby geared up and ready The Pathy Fellowship: An interview with Sophie McCafferty Reflections on playwriting, from a non-playwright BU investments club

Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican

Layout design by Mikyah Fortune

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NEWS

THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER, 18TH 2023

Micah Della Foresta, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com

SRC fall elections: Positions’ impacts, candidates’ visions Sustainable

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By Gabrielle Liu Editor-in-Chief

everal candidates vie for six positions in the SRC’s fall elections.

Voting opens on Sept. 19, Tuesday morning, and closes on Wednesday at midnight at busrc.simplyvoting.com.

Irmah Alao, running for the ethnic diversity representative, welcomes more cultural diversity and inclusion in SRC events. The second-year student from Benin stated that she’s heard complaints about the limited music at events. She imagines a diversity day where students can showcase their culture and traditional food in the SUB. Alao told The Campus that she wishes to empower students to start more cultural clubs and that she looks forward to working with SRC to increase funding for such clubs.

Karen Dymond, SRC’s secretarygeneral, emphasizes that both the ethnic diversity and the equity representative allow the SRC to view issues through an equity lens. She recalls how a past representative said that the SUB lobby was not a very private place for students to talk to representatives about private or traumatic issues. Sophia Stacey, SRC president, notes the representative’s role in EDI Fund decisions.

Monica Beyere, a first-year representative candidate, highlights that she’s served in student government since elementary school. She speaks about the challenge of effective communication. If students message her to express interest in an event, she considers sending reminders through Instagram and Snapchat the day of so they remember to attend. “I am not a shy person,” she says about her commitment to advocate for first-years.

Roser Rise also aspires for the firstyear position. Born in Barcelona and a Sherbrooke resident for many years, she served as student government president in previous schooling. While she does not have specific projects in mind, she emphasizes that she wants to be “the bridge between the [first-year] student body and the Board”. “I am not representing

myself,” she emphasizes.

The first-year representative is an important voice on the BSR as they are “facing different experiences than upperyear reps”, says Stacey. Both Stacey and Dymond noted that representatives often advance to other positions in the SRC. Fiona Gaombalet, a second-year student from France with roots in Central Africa, eyes the international student representative position. She envisions a day, week, or month of cultural awareness, similar to Black History Month. “My job is to let people be comfortable and express themselves,” she adds. Addressing recent media portrayals about international students, she emphasizes that “they bring more value to the country”, citing how many stay for higher studies and future work.

The international student representative helps the SRC contextualize decisions through the lens of someone coming into a new university, country and culture, says Dymond. She desires deeper collaboration between the representative and the International Student Office. The Campus reached out to Ehson Khashi, who is also running for international student representative, but they were unfortunately not available for interview by publication.

Speaking of the general councilor positions, Stacey says that “last year they really excelled”. She mentions how Olivia Woods, the current vice-president of student life, began a menstrual equity project as general councilor last year.

Students will vote for two councilors in this election.

Sasha Kardos-Machado, a fourthyear student, served as general councilor last Winter. “It was a really engaging and rewarding experience”, she said. If elected, she shares that her main project would be creating an experiential learning map. She hopes to collaborate with student senators and the Experiential Learning Office to build it.

Taylor Morgan, a second-year classical studies student, knew he wanted to volunteer more in the Bishop’s community. It wasn’t until he met SRC

executives during O-Week that he began considering volunteering for the Board. He expressed his interest in the supportive role the councilor plays in existing projects. “I love to help where I’m needed.”

The on-campus representative is involved in multiple committees including the residence student life committee, which organizes events like Gait Gatsby and Sexpalooza. Dymond adds that their presence on campus means they can bring up potential issues related to infrastructure.

Sarah Jewett, a second-year student, is running for the role. Jewett was not available for interview by publication, but their campaign page on Instagram mentions intent to create safe and calmer spaces on campus.

Voting takes place online at busrc. simplyvoting.com. Students should log in with their BU login info to vote.

Future elections run in February 2024 for executive positions and in March 2024 for senators and representatives. Dymond also invites students to attend the SRC’s first annual general meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26. The first 50 attendees will get a free drink ticket at the Gait’s quiet bar afterwards. If you pay student fees to the SRC, you are considered an SRC member and can therefore vote.

Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican

Are we heading towards governmental paralysis?

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By Fabrice Blais-Savoie Contributor

uebec’s public sector employee unions are threatening a coordinated strike after stalled negotiations with the provincial government. The government is sticking to its previously proposed nine per cent salary increase over five years for the public and para-public sector workers. This has led to an uproar by unions, demanding that the government be more realistic about current inflation which the unions claim is going to total 16.4 per cent over the next five years. They say this would create a situation where the real salary of their members would decrease by 7.4 per cent over these five years.

Every year, unions from around the province meet to renegotiate collective bargaining agreements. Because Quebec

has a particularly high unionization rate of 37 per cent compared to the Canadian average of 29 per cent, this ritual has a notable impact on the province and usually receives considerable media coverage.

As the first real post-pandemic renegotiation, this year has seen important topics brought up, notably remote work and inflation. To tackle these complex issues, the public and para-public unions have revived the Front Commun, an ​​ association created in 1972 by the five biggest union groups, which together represent over 420,000 employees: the Confédération des syndicats nationaux, the Centrale des syndicats du Québec, the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec and the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux.

A coordinated strike between the

unions would inevitably lead to a complete shutdown of the province. This is because these unions include workers from large swathes of society. Workers range from healthcare to primary, secondary, collegial education and some universities – not including Bishop’s – as well as some public servants in ministries and agencies.

However, it is important to note that unions have promised to respect the provincial union board’s decisions about maintaining essential services.

The government’s proposed nine per cent salary increase for these workers comes after the CAQ and Liberal party recently pushed through a 30 per cent salary increase for the elected members of the National Assembly. Also to note, the recent negotiations with the Sureté du Québec, the provincial police force, have led to an agreement for a 21 per cent salary

Development Goal Summit approaches

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By Angus Whyte Contributor

he 2023 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Summit is set to be held Sept. 18-19 in New York, where we can expect these global development targets to be revisited and revised.

In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly, consisting of 193 heads of state and numerous world leaders, gathered in New York to plot a chart for the future.

With global warming becoming an ever-more pressing issue, the United Nations envisioned an equitable and sustainable path to economic growth for all participating nations. The result of this conference was the adoption of 17 goals centred around sustainable economic development, to be achieved by 2030.

These 17 goals were designed to serve both developed and developing nations. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon describes the SDGs as “our shared vision of humanity and a social contract between the world’s leaders and the people.” As a result, the General Assembly’s mandate was broad, covering social issues like gender inequality as well as climate challenges like conservation efforts and access to clean energy. The adoption of the SDGs represented a blueprint for a harmonious and prosperous future. The goals intend to usher in a decade of growth and progress.

Experts expect that goals will be reevaluated at this summit, resulting in an accelerated plan to achieve the SDGs by the 2030 deadline. Members of the UN Foundation describe this summit as a metaphorical halftime, an opportunity for the UN to reflect on progress made but also to refocus their ambition to deliver the SDGs. Cont’d on page 3

increase over five years.

Adding to this already tenuous situation is the historical gap between the salaries of Quebec’s provincial public sector employees and comparable federal or municipal employees. In 2022, Quebec’s salaries were on average 30 per cent lower. The gap is set to widen with the most recent federal government agreement enshrining a 12.6 per cent wage increase over four years.

The government has responded to the criticism by emphasizing that these salaries come from public funds and that they do not intend to increase taxes to pay for them.

As these unions have the right to strike at the end of September, Premier François Legault fears “disruptions” and “strikes”, which would include 600,000 public sector workers.

NEWS

SINCE 1944

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Micah Della Foresta, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com

SDG Summit Approaches

Wild Wild Lenn: Orientation week ‘23

By Joseph Aubert Economic & Business Editor

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Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican Cont’d from page 2 The 2023 summit marks a momentous occasion for global politics.

The summit will be the first of its kind post COVID-19, having to confront the reversal of development progress during the pandemic. In a time of tense global relations, the SDG Summit provides nations with a chance to promote a level of unity that transcends national borders. It offers an opportunity for collaboration towards common goals for the betterment of the entire globe.

The 2023 SDG Summit will set the tone of the global political arena for how the world tackles climate change, gender inequality and other pressing issues.

s this year’s incoming class was still moving into their residence rooms or apartments, on Sunday, Sept. 3, the campus was taken by storm with the launch of Wild Wild Lenn: the 2023 O-Week. Each year, O-Week offers new BU students a vast array of fun activities to bond over, discover the campus and familiarize themselves with the tight-knit, continually growing community in Lennoxville. Wild Wild Lenn had a lot to offer the young Gaiters: a scavenger hunt, several concert bands and DJs in the quad, carnival games and a movie night in The Gait, to name a few.

Although the whole week is designed as a competition between different teams, victory is not what prevails during the seven days of orientation. What truly remains are the memories made, the foundations of new friendships that are developed and the acquired sense of belonging to the school.

Kate Rumble, one of this year’s leaders, reminisced about her orientation week at Bishop’s in 2022: “[O-Week] is not all about drinking and partying. It is the start of a fresh new life, the beginning of the best four years of your life and the debut of many long-lasting friendships.”

When reflecting on her experience as a leader, Rumble added, “Wild Wild Lenn has taught not only the first years but reminded the leaders and judges that

Bishop’s is a loving community that will always be here for us. O-Week is truly the moment when all of us start bleeding purple.”

The Bishop’s University 2023 incoming class also became accustomed to the school’s values during their first week in Lennoxville. Activities like the bystander training and “Can I Kiss You?”, presented by renowned speaker Mike Respects, were opportunities for students to learn about respect and inclusivity.

Bryn Empey, Wild Wild Lenn’s ‘Sheriff’ and SRC director of events, commented on the subject: “It was very important for us [the SRC] to ensure that all incoming students, especially those participating in

orientation week, are equipped and have the opportunity to learn about consent culture and the Bishop’s values. Within hours of joining a team, students begin to learn and familiarize themselves with the topic as well as local resources. This allows all of our students to be on the same page on how to be respectful community members and the values of being a Gaiter.”

Wild Wild Lenn strived to welcome new BU students into their first week on campus and into their home for their next several years. O-Week is a staple of Bishop’s traditions, which has served and will continue to serve as a beautiful way to integrate new students into the community.

China, as they bring together rivals like Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The Johannesburg summit highlighted countries’ frustrations about Western power in global politics. The BRICS members desire for a greater say in international affairs. Their planned membership enlargement represents an important milestone for BRICS as it seeks to solidify itself as a counterweight to Western dominance in global governance. However, a global shift to multilateral blocs like BRICS could risk impeding cooperation on shared threats.

At the recent BRICS summit, Brazilian President Lula da Silva floated the idea of creating a common currency for the BRICS bloc to conduct trade and investment, reducing reliance on the US dollar. However, this proposal was not formally on the summit agenda and experts point to major practical difficulties in actually adopting a shared currency.

BRICS economies have very different fiscal policies, banking systems, levels of

development and trade imbalances, with China dominating intra-BRICS trade. Both Russia and China expressed support for trading more in national currencies, but India and Brazil have closer Western ties, making consensus uncertain.

The motivation behind the proposed currency is BRICS countries’ interest in circumventing the power of the US dollar and Western financial systems, whose sanctions have strongly impacted Russia. However, the US dollar remains the dominant global reserve currency today, so displacing it would require major coordination and alignment between BRICS economies. While the proposed currency signals the bloc’s growing economic ambitions and desire to reshape global finance, the obstacles to adoption are still immense.

If the BRICS did adopt a shared currency, it could gradually erode US financial dominance over time. However, its implications depend on how the idea develops going forward and whether

the BRICS can overcome divisions to implement it. For now, the currency remains just a proposal without a formal plan.

The expansion of BRICS to include major developing economies like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Argentina and Egypt grows the bloc’s economic and geopolitical influence. It supports BRICS’ ambition to reform international institutions to better represent the Global South. But, larger and more diverse membership means competing agendas that could make achieving consensus more difficult.

Bringing together rivals like Iran and Saudi Arabia could introduce tensions between pro-West and anti-West factions within BRICS. For Russia and China, the expansion allows them to extend influence through ties with Middle Eastern states, countering US power.

The changes underscore that the West must reform international institutions and share power more equitably, or lose influence as developing nations turn to alternatives.

Photo courtesy of Pranav Buchineni

BRICS plans expansion and discusses shared currency

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By Mikael-Benedict Worku Contributor

outh Africa hosted the annual BRICS summit in Johannesburg late August, where five influential emerging economies agreed on membership expansion and considered a shared currency.

BRICS, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, planned a major expansion of their membership starting in 2024. They agreed to include Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Argentina, Egypt and Ethiopia. This decision will expand the bloc from its five to 11 members, significantly increasing the grouping’s economic and geopolitical influence.

Many of the new members have criticized the current world order. Their addition aligns with BRICS’ vision of providing a greater voice for emerging economies and reforming institutions like the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund. The expansion also shows growing cooperation between Russia and

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he Campus Newspaper acknowledges that it operates on the traditional territory of the Abenaki people. As a student-run newspaper, we have the responsibility to uphold the principles of Truth and Reconciliation. As students at Bishop’s University, we are committed to furthering our education regarding the truths of the land, peoples and languages that we reside. Our team is devoted to using our platform to amplify the voices, stories and resources of Indigenous students.

—The Campus Team

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OPINONS

THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER, 18TH 2023

Annabelle McIntosh, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com

Connecting with the Lennoxville community outside the BU bubble

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By Grace Moore Contributor

s students of Bishop’s University, we spend years of our lives in Lennoxville. And yet, how often do we truly make a connection to other members of the community? Most of us spend these years content in our little bubble formed by the arches of this university. With Big Buddies, we break through this bubble.

Our club has partnered up with Lennoxville Elementary School. We pair up a member of our club and a student from the elementary school as they partake in the eight events that our executive members plan throughout the year. Some of our most popular events have been painting pumpkins at the Gait, going sledding by the golf course and our trip to the Museum of Nature and Sciences in Sherbrooke.

Last year, we had over 80 members who were actively involved in our club.

The majority of the members who were involved are returning to be a part of it

once again this year. Even those who aren’t members are still supportive, making sure to lend a hand whenever we are in need.

Through these events, we become part of the community, extending past the comfort zone of our university walls.

The Lennoxville residents get to know more about the people occupying their community from September to April. We become more than strangers that they see at the SAQ and Provigo. We become mentors, people who their kids look up to.

At the end of the year, we sent out a survey to the parents for feedback. All of the parents’ replies were overwhelmingly positive.

One parent comments: “My kid loved the Big Buddy and made a great friend.

They stay in contact online. They are hoping to go back next year and be with their Big Buddy again.”

Another says: “My child had a lot of fun with the Big Buddy this year. Great job Big Buddies!”

A parent gave a shout-out to a specific buddy: “A special thanks to our child’s buddy! They made our child feel included

and really connected with them! We’re looking forward to next year!”

“My child had a lof of fun with the Big Buddy this year. Great job Big Buddies!”

With reviews like these, we are proud to continue this program for another year. We had an enthusiastic Extra Day, having more sign-ups than we originally anticipated. We are so excited to watch as the connections grow between buddies from previous years and to see new connections start to form this year.

Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Liu

O-week through the eyes of a head judge

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By Eric Clipperton Contributor

rientation week was an interesting experience. It was my second year volunteering for O-Week, and I was a head judge for the first time. Last year, I worked as a regular judge. This year, I decided to move up and become a head judge, and boy, was that a good decision. O-Week 2023 was a wild experience for a multitude of reasons.

From the training that commenced beforehand to the closing ceremonies, the week was nonstop. Events that spanned from small activities such as tie-dyeing shirts to doing as many challenges as possible were a great opportunity to get to know the new cohort of students. I had a blast meeting them and introducing them to the Bishop’s culture. Passing down the positive traditions of Bishop’s such as our school song and going all out on Gait nights has been a real eyeopener in terms of ensuring that we are continuously good role models for new students.

My personal experience of O-Week comes down to a few more behind-thescenes details that I witnessed as a head judge. I felt that for the most part, there was some really good planning and organizing that went into O-Week and for that, I want to thank the SRC. Dealing with people not showing up made certain days and nights a bit more difficult. On a few occasions, I stayed

to help clean up the events until 3 a.m., which took a toll on me. At times, I was not supposed to be there that late, but due

to others leaving early, I felt an obligation to stay and help those who were left working. O-Week was a great experience,

but it can be hindered when all those involved do not step up and fulfill their part.

Photo courtesy of Annabelle McIntosh

SINCE 1944

OPINIONS

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Annabelle McIntosh, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com

Course information should be password protected Annabelle McIntosh - Opinions Editor & Emma James - Contributor

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n June 28, 2023, a targeted attack occurred in a gender studies classroom at the University of Waterloo. This violent assault, including a triple stabbing, left three people injured and many others feeling as though a reevaluation of safety measures on campus was necessary.

Reflecting on the attack, multiple Ontario schools, such as Western, York, Guelph and the University of Toronto, have since decided to hide their course information from the public eye.

Sensitive details such as class locations, times and professor names are now password-protected and only accessible to their students.

This small added safety measure helps students feel safe in their classrooms, knowing that their peers will be the only ones accessing this information - and can be more easily identified should any escalation need to occur. In my opinion, this is a positive change for these schools, and Bishop’s University should consider following suit.

As of right now, our course timetables are easily viewed online on the Bishop’s University website. Anyone,

whether a current student or the general public, can view the time, place and professor for all classes. Considering recent events prompting deep reflection on the safety of all students, I feel that this is something that should change.

Public schedules pose a potential danger for Bishop’s University students, as they make it strikingly easy for someone to look through the offered classes and learn the time and place the class would occur. Though we should be able to feel safe in our classrooms regardless, the incident at Waterloo proves this to not always be the reality and therefore preventative measures should be taken.

For students who belong to marginalized communities, seeing targeted attacks like this in the media can cause feelings of discomfort and anxiety. All students deserve to feel comfortable going to their classes without thoughts of a horrifying attack occurring on campus lingering in the back of their minds. Changing this sensitive course information to a private setting would help students feel safer, knowing that nameless individuals do not have access to their information as well.

Safety should always be of top

priority on a university campus. We must ensure BU students feel protected by filling in these security gaps. To do so,

I feel it would be in the best interest of our students and staff to leave this private information for their eyes only.

Graphic courtesy of Leea Rebeca Ruta

Bishop’s University leadership retreat

By Shakina Blackstock Pearce Contributor

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he world’s images of leaders have negatively impacted people’s views on what they think a leader should look like. Most often, people do not see value in their unique leadership qualities because society has not identified them as valuable. Although the world’s description of a leader may not represent the majority, we all have unique leadership qualities that we deserve to flourish with. According to the popular online learning platform Emeritus, “A leader is someone who directs and motivates a group of people or an individual to accomplish a certain goal”.

“A leader is someone who directs and motivates a group of people or an individual to accomplish a certain goal”

There is no exact image of what a leader should look like because every person expresses leadership differently.

Some individuals do not present to

Photo courtesy A Shakina Blackstock Pearce

thousands of people or lead a team, but they are leading their friends to take the right path, supporting their family as best as they can or inspiring their community to be the best versions of themselves.

Sometimes these leaders are in the public eye, and sometimes they are not. Both leadership in public and in private ways

are valuable and bring direct change in communities and beyond.

Most often, students are eager to lead and share their expertise, but they do not have access to tools that will help support their leadership. Bishop’s University’s leadership retreat is a valuable gem that most students are not aware of. It helps

students identify the unique leadership qualities they have and encourages them to flourish in their leadership. It is a retreat where students have the opportunity to be challenged and reflect on what they believe leadership is, have a deeper understanding of leadership, connect with like-minded people and self-reflect on who they are.

The retreat gives students the liberty and security to express themselves and discover the unique qualities they have to offer to their community and beyond.

Past participant Mohammad Alfotihi states: “I had the opportunity to connect with an incredible group of individuals dedicated to making a positive impact on society. Learning from both my fellow participants and the exceptional trainers, I gained valuable insights and successfully embarked on my journey, achieving milestones like establishing my first non-profit organization and actively participating in government meetings and events. I’m immensely grateful for the leadership retreat for enabling these accomplishments’’.

Retreats such as these are worth experiencing because students leave with a strong leadership foundation and the confidence to own and express their unique leadership qualities. They can shift their communities and the world’s view on leadership.

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SPORTS

THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER, 18TH 2023

Owen Kitzan, Sports Editor » thecampus.sports@gmail.com

Gaiters football trending upwards

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By Dylan Monico Contributor

he 2023 Gaiters football team did not start their campaign the way they intended. On Aug. 26, Bishop’s traveled to Antigonish, Nova Scotia, to face the defending AUS champions, the St. Francis Xavier X-Men. The Gaiters unfortunately suffered a 22-8 loss on a rainy and windy day in the East Coast. The Gaiters returned to la belle province with one goal in mind: to dominate the Huskies of Saint Mary’s University (SMU). On Sept. 2, the Gaiters would achieve their goal by defeating SMU 38-10. The 28-point win is the second largest margin of victory for Bishop’s during head coach Cherif Nicolas’s era. The recent record runs just behind the 39-8 win against the Acadia Axemen in 2022.

There were many key plays in the Gaiters’ victory, but one remarkable play would be in the first quarter when secondyear receiver Gabin Leux blocked an SMU punt, which would be recovered by Alex MacDonald and returned 22 yards for a touchdown. This was something the Gaiters never looked back from.

David Chaloux was the game’s

leading rusher with 96 yards on 16 rushes, as well as a touchdown. Oliver Burnett contributed with four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown too. On the defensive side of the ball, Gabriel Royer had ten tackles as well as a sack.

Veteran defensive lineman BrandonJames Poulin-Marques was a force, adding six tackles, also including a sack.

Furthermore, Bishop’s kicker Xavier Gervais had 13 points of his own. He was 3/3 on field goals as well as 4/4 on point after attempts.

The Gaiters are currently being led by breakout signal caller Justin Quirion.

Quirion has amassed an impressive 470 passing yards as well as two touchdowns.

He has rushed for 93 yards in just two games. Furthermore, another Gaiter who has stood out this season is fourth-year Jake Matheson. He has been excellent in both of Bishop’s games so far. In two games, Matheson has collected six total tackles and five pass break-ups, leading figures in the country.

Bishop’s looks to improve to 2-1 on Saturday, Sept. 16 when the Acadia Axemen visit Coulter Field to play in front of what should be a packed house for Bishop’s Homecoming 2023.

Photo courtesy of Emery Gbodossou

BU men’s hockey moves to new league

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By Owen Kitzan Sports Editor

ver the past couple years, the BU men’s hockey program has made the jump into the Collegiate Hockey Federation (CHF) where they had the chance to play 15 games through their first two seasons.

With a record of nine wins and one loss last season, the national championships seemed locked in. However, sadly, they did not meet the league’s minimum number of games required, which sits at 16.

Prior to this upcoming season, the team has played games as a part of the Upper New York College Hockey Conference League, or the UNYCHL. Due to long travel distances for some teams and the necessity to play all conference members as well as meet the minimum game requirement of 16 games, it was decided that they should look into a move out of the UNYCHL. Because of that, BU Men’s Hockey has decided to join the New England Independent Hockey Conference, otherwise known as the NEIHC, for their 2023-24 campaign. The conference is

based out of Massachusetts and facilitates travel. They offer a smaller conference with only five teams. This allows the team to play competition from other conferences as well to test themselves.

The NEIHC features Babson College, a school of 2500 students based out of Wellesley, Massachusetts; Anna Maria College with roughly 1000 students in Paxton, Massachusetts; and Stonehill College, a school of about 2500 students in Easton, Massachusetts. The final team featured in the conference is the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, a team that BU faced off twice with last year. The

Academy was the only loss BU Men’s Hockey has suffered in its first two years in the league. Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a school out of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts with a student body of nearly 1500 students.

With this move, the team looks forward to an exciting new season and aims to capitalize on their early success in the league. With the focus set on nationals and a chip on the teams shoulders going into the year, there is much to be proven.

Stay on the lookout for a schedule to be released as well as an official roster finalization following tryouts.

Photos courtesy of Josephine Wild

SPORTS

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Owen Kitzan, Sports Editor » thecampus.sports@gmail.com

Men’s rugby geared up and ready

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By Jayme Marteniuk Staff Writer

he last time we saw the Bishop’s men’s rugby team, they endured a heart-wrenching loss by a mere two points in the semi-finals of the playoffs against McGill University. This being said, true champions are defined by their resilience when faced with challenges, and this season, the Gaiters are gearing up for an extraordinary comeback.

Their journey to redemption commenced Sunday, Sept. 10, at a home game on Coulter Field where they faced off against Concordia University. Their impressive performance was reflected in

the scoreboard, which read a resounding 27-12 victory. This result demonstrates their dedication and the tremendous support from their fans.

After the match, Bodan Stanakovic, who plays second row on varsity, shared, “We need to stay dialed in and focused throughout the season”. His words echo the team’s commitment to excellence, a value at the forefront of their endeavours since the launch of their pre-season training camp on Aug. 20. With their eyes set on the season that will run until the end of October, they are ready to make a resounding impact in the playoffs.

This season is highlighted by the emergence of fresh talent, including a first-

year student, Maxime Gaudreau, starting here at Bishop’s University. Gaudreau secured a spot in the starting lineup, the sole rookie in the season’s inaugural game.

Joining him in the ranks of promising newcomers are Nicholas Cury and Greg McDowell, whose skills and potential are sure to enhance the team’s capabilities.

The influx of nearly 20 recruits this season underscores the team’s commitment to fostering and harnessing young talent, nurturing them under the coaching of both the Espoir and varsity teams.

Under the meticulous guidance of Nic Clapinson, the head coach of the Gaiters men’s rugby team, the team has embraced an organized program characterized by multiple training regimens and precision drills. This focus on development and growth builds a team capable of reaching its championship potential in the coming season. Notably, the expansion of the Espoir team, under Clapinson’s vision, saw their victory, 27-5, on Sunday against Concordia’s Espoir team.

The varsity team, the heart and soul of the Gaiters rugby team, is welcomes a gruelling season. With six regularseason games and the prospect of two playoff encounters on the horizon, the team’s aspirations are nothing short of the championship. Zack Gauthier, flanker

for the varsity team, shares the team’s collective goal: “The boys are really just focused on winning the championship.”

Their determination is the driving force behind their strong desire to succeed.

As we look ahead to the 2023-2024 season, the men’s rugby journey is about more than just winning games; it’s about pushing past their boundaries, building strong team bonds and motivating anyone fortunate enough to witness their determined mindset for success. Even through challenges, they are establishing a new identity as champions, driven by passion, determination and a shared vision of hoisting the championship trophy in the coming season.

Photos courtesy of Jayme Marteniuk

Gaiters women’s rugby early season recap

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By Cammy-M Bernier Contributor

Sports’ rugby season kicked off two weeks ago as the Gaiters women’s rugby team wrapped up a warm pre-season marked with hard work, blood, sweat and the eight Cs: courage, curiosity, creativity, clarity, confidence, connectedness, compassion and composure. These eight words act as the stepping stones of the 2023 season.

On top of rugby-specific skills and tactic development, the past month has been based on emotional intelligence skillsbuilding. Emotional intelligence is an essential component to unite a squad of 35 players, consisting of 17 freshmen.

On Aug. 19, the varsity team came together to establish on- and off-field goals for the 2023 season. These goals included rugby performance, academic performance and community involvement aspects.

As a very young team in the RSEQ women’s rugby circuit, we must show up mentally and physically prepared day after day. We have to implement an entirely new offensive system, which is a challenging adjustment both for rookies and returners.

The words connectedness, curiosity, courage and clarity resonate with us when so many new details must be put together within as little as two weeks. This new system allows our physically small team to

exploit our main strength – speed – as the roster is filled with small and agile players.

The start of the season has not been without challenges. In fact, just two weeks into the regular season, we have suffered two hard losses. Our season opener did not conclude as planned. We fell short to the McGill Redbirds at the Percival-Molson stadium — an opponent whom the Gaiters’ team has had positive and dominant results with in the past. A short ten days later,

we stepped foot on the home field of the Concordia Stingers, another game that finished in disappointment. Confidence and composure are on the menu as we attack the season, wishing to turn the scores in our favor.

Regardless of the challenges faced so far, the positives are not to be dismissed.

Gaiters’ defense is one of the most structured, connected and efficient it has been in the women’s program. Additionally, incoming

freshmen are strong, skilled and creative, resulting in a very bright near future for the program. Team unity is another strong feature at this point in the season.

The varsity team will benefit from a bye week during Bishop’s homecoming weekend. Coaches plan rest, recovery, adjustments and skill refinement for the team. We will look to bounce back on the road in Montreal on Sept. 20 against the Carabins.

Photo courtesy of Juan Alchourron

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THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER, 18TH 2023

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The Pathy Fellowship: An interview with Sophie McCafferty

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By Manu Bissonnette Features Editor

ishop’s University graduate Sophie McCafferty ‘23 arrived in Chilanga, Malawi, a week ago to start her community involvement at the Transformative Practices Malawi campus as a Pathy fellow. With the Pathy Fellowship’s application opening on Sept.

11, 2023 for its ninth cohort, here is what Sophie has to say about her experience so far.

Sophie’s initiative aims to work towards soil regeneration using integrative livestock management. The initial idea established in collaboration with the community was to build a female-managed goat cooperative on the campus. However, upon arrival, the team determined that there were more pressing issues that must be addressed first. She emphasizes the community aspect of her initiative: “This is an asset-based, community-driven approach, which means it is based on the available knowledge and resources in the community.”

As she and her team are redirecting the initiative, the community is looking into various possibilities: “Knowledge dissemination, land help, effective irrigation, a community garden, food forests, improved chicken management…

There is so much that can be done.”

Sophie’s initiative also includes a strong feminist component, as she emphasizes the valuable work of women in agriculture: “Women do a huge

portion of agricultural work worldwide, but their work is often not recognized or remunerated. They rarely get the credit they deserve.” As such, Sophie aims to work mainly with local female farmers to support their legitimacy, expertise and empowerment in the field.

Sophie started working virtually with Transformative Practices Malawi during her second year at Bishop’s to create a chicken cooperative with women on the ground. However, the project was abandoned because a connection through Bishop’s University fell through, resulting in the loss of major funding and resources.

The Pathy Fellowship represented the perfect opportunity to work towards a more sustainable setup without ties to the

Photo courtesy of Sophie McCafferty

Move-in day 2023

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By Mikayla Geraghty Staff Writer

t was back to the swamp for many Gaiters on Sept. 2, 2023. Students gathered after a summer away to honour the tradition of welcoming incoming students as they enter the community to begin their journey here at Bishop’s University.

With Animal House no longer being a part of student housing, BU students gathered on the front-facing road at the top of Reed Street dressed in school purple, donning signs and smiles.

For some upper-year students, this was a significant shift in the nature of the day.

Lexie Mackenzie, a fourth-year student, shares that move-in day is her favourite day of the semester: “Everyone is freshly back from summer and excited to see not only friends but peers, all celebrating returning to Bishop’s. As much as it is a sad end to the Animal House tradition, it was enlightening to see everyone still come together and keep the excitement alive for the upcoming school year.”

As incoming students drove into campus, they were welcomed by a plethora of Bishop’s students. The excitement

university. As an environmental science graduate with a minor in sustainable agriculture and food systems, this initiative is right up her alley.

Yet, when asked what she is looking forward to most as a Pathy fellow, her answer has nothing to do with agriculture: “Relationship-building. I am excited to get to know people. I am grateful that they have welcomed me here, and I know there will be many opportunities for knowledge sharing.” The recent graduate is also looking forward to growing through the experiences, whether it be navigating difficult situations or simply having fun.

According to Sophie, the Pathy Fellowship is a lot more than just funding: “It is a comprehensive program, in that

you can learn a lot and be supported while doing it. It does a great job of overviewing what is really important.” As a Pathy fellow, Sophie has a whole support system in place, including a life coach, who helps with personal development, self-care and reflection on future endeavours. She also has two self-selected resource people, experts in their field, who act as mentors; a whole crew of support staff, who help every step of the way; and the other fellows, who have become close friends. As such, Sophie considers the Pathy Fellowship “one of the more ethical sources of funding”.

Sophie is still at the beginning of her journey, but if she could give one piece of advice to graduating students, it would be this: “If you’re thinking of applying, apply.

No one thinks they are going to get it.

Besides, the application process itself is an extremely rewarding experience.” During the in-person selection process, she was brought to reflect on who she is and how she views the world. She carried these with her during the month-long course component of the fellowship at Saint Francis Xavier University, where topics such as power and privilege, development and its potential harms, positionality, leadership and white, western views were touched upon.

“It’s not about the money, it’s about the relationships you build with people.”

“It’s not about the money, it’s about the relationships you build with people.”

seemed to coat the air, with students cheering and the cars honking their horns as they drove by.

First-year student Charlie Delvechio shared that when driving down College Street to campus, “it felt like a welcome home ceremony because everyone was so friendly and welcoming.”

“it felt like a welcome home ceremony beacuse everyone was so friendly and welcoming”

This year, members of the Bishop’s community had the option to go and cheer on the Gaiters’ football team as they played against St. Mary’s University.

Leighton Geraghty, a second-year student and broadcaster for the Bishop’s Gaiters, shared that he thinks having a football game the same day that most incoming students move into their residence buildings is “a great way to showcase and introduce new students to Gaiters athletics and the support that the community has for one another.”

Graphic courtesy of Leea Rebeca Ruta

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Tree planting: A student summer job like no other

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By Sara Watson Contributor

ver stood around in the winter months, wondering what on earth you might possibly do over the summer? Ever wanted to make good money, test your limits, explore this vast country and spend time with friends?

Have you ever heard of tree planting?

Tree planting has become somewhat of a Canadian coming-of-age milestone.

Every year, hundreds, maybe even close to

a thousand young adults step out of their comfort zone to brave the bugs, the land and the elements to play a part in one of Canada’s most important natural resource sectors.

Every year, Canada’s forestry sector logs approximately 190,000 hectares of forest; it is safe to say this represents millions of trees. As mandated by law, logging companies must replant or regenerate each tree that is cut down.

This assures that the supply of timber, an important asset to the industry, will remain in check for years to come. Trees are also replanted under government mandates, in

part to make up for forest fires, forests lost to pests such as the damaging pine beetle, but also as part of Canada’s climate plan.

Although technological advancement has reduced manual labour in many industries and jobs, planting trees remains a job that has yet to be replaced by machines.

So, what is tree planting actually like?

Well, for one, it is important to note that tree planting is one of those rare jobs still done as piecework; planters get paid per tree. Although the price per tree varies from contract to contract, from province

Photo courtesy of Sara Watson

Student volunteers keep our Sports Medicine Clinic thriving

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By Kaitlyn VanSchyndel Contributor

very year, we get together on game days to watch our Gaiters defend the swamp. We witness them accumulate all sorts of injuries from being tackled, slashed or outright mauled.

Who keeps them together before, during and after games? The Bishop’s Sports Medicine Clinic!

The Sports Medicine Clinic is a great resource for varsity student-athletes to get treatment for injuries that occur over their season. Covering ten varsity teams with only five athletic therapists, the clinic heavily relies on student volunteers to ensure its smooth operation.

Student volunteers have an amazing opportunity to give back to the Bishop’s community through the Sports Medicine Clinic. They are given responsibilities ranging from shadowing and assisting the athletic therapists during treatments, managing the tidiness of equipment and

the clinic itself, and providing muchneeded support during busy game days.

Volunteering with the clinic is a rewarding experience because volunteers do not just give back to the community; they also have the chance to build connections with the clinic staff, who, in my experience, will go out of their way to support and mentor dedicated students. An additional benefit, mainly for those in sports studies, is the SPO 411 Sports Centre Practicum. This unique opportunity allows students to translate accumulated knowledge into practical hands-on experience for credit.

Overall, the clinic is a welcoming and positive atmosphere to be a part of, filled with a sense of community and individuals who share a passion for health care and sports. Whether you are interested in a future in athletic therapy, want to make a difference on campus or just really like sports, volunteering at the clinic is a great opportunity to get a sense of the sports medicine environment.

Students interested in getting involved with the Bishop’s Sports Medicine Clinic can send an email

to province and even from piece to piece, it typically ranges from 12 to 25 cents for where first-time planters are likely to be employed. Prices are often higher along the British Columbia coast due to difficult terrain, heavy rain and technical planting requirements.

If you do some quick math, you will realize that to make decent money, planters must plant upwards of 2,000 trees. On a long day, on good land, one might even plant closer to 4,000 or 5,000 trees. The trees planted are pretty small, on average spanning from four inches to maybe a foot in height. These can be planted fast, with top planters putting in a tree every three to six seconds.

Spending your summer as a tree planter is a lot more than just planting. You will spend the months of May to August often living out of a bush camp, sleeping in a tent, van or camper. Camps are often home to 40 to 100 planters, crew bosses and other support staff; living there is an experience of its own. After long days of work, planters can often enjoy the simple comforts of a hot meal and shower (not fancy but hot!) and the good company of others. Campers might let loose and party or enjoy an organized event such as a night of “Ted Talks”, a talent show or a movie.

Tree planting is not a job for those who hate the outdoors or the idea of working tirelessly on a repetitive task in any and all conditions. You’ll probably experience the lowest lows while out in the bush, but also some of the best moments of your life. The camaraderie is unparalleled, and you will likely make friends for life.

One thing is for sure: it is a summer job like no other!

to Kelsey Arseneault at karsenea@ ubishops.ca or Katrina Lambert at klambert@ubishops.ca.

Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican

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ARTS & CULTURE

THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER, 18TH 2023

Caitlyn Gerrish, Arts & Culture Editor » thecampus.artsculture@gmail.com

Cartography.

By Colin Ahern Contributer

You are not what we paid for.

You flattened a sphere.

You hold nations of yesterday.

The hands of colonialism wield you like a flail To bludgeon the culture of people you divide.

You are a cruel and apathetic shard of what you claim to represent.

Foreman Art Gallery launches first exhibit of the 2023-24 season

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By Caitlyn Gerrish Arts & Culture Editor

hursday, Sept. 7, marked the opening of the Foreman Art Gallery’s first exhibit of the 202324 season, titled “The Milk, The Goats, The Costume Maker, The Bees, The Honey, The Brass Band”, featuring the multimedia artwork of Saskatchewan native, Bill Burns. Admission to the gallery is free and runs until Oct. 7.

This year the Forman Art Gallery, which is located on Bishop’s campus, will be featuring five exhibitions in its main gallery and another five in its video tank, an immersive space for video art.

Camila Vásquez, ArtLab Coordinator and co-curator of the current exhibit expressed how visiting the gallery can provoke transformative and educational discussions. “For our local university community, visiting the gallery is an opportunity to learn more about contemporary art and reflect on current issues. As well as to develop a personal relationship with the artworks, while getting to know the artists, their statements and their biographies.”

The current exhibit features a variety of media including but not limited to drawing, photography, sculpture and videography. As gallery director and curator, Gentiane Bélanger describes: “His projects have attempted to bring together the disparate realms of art, culture, economics, industry, the earth, living things and nature.” For the past year, Burns has taken up residency at the gallery’s ArtLab and as the gallery team explained: “worked in collaboration with farmers, musicians, beekeepers, artists, students and farm animals in the community.” The

culmination of the yearlong project ends with the current exhibition as well as a farm-side performance.

In addition to offering a variety of free exhibitions open to all members of the community, the gallery also has opportunities to get involved at both the gallery and ArtLab on a regular or occasional basis. As Vásquez explained: “This could be for opening receptions, art hives or creative workshops. There are also opportunities for work experience, internships and independent study.” Any student interested can stop by the gallery to inquire or reach out via email.

The gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday and the team is always on hand to guide visitors and answer any questions, Vásquez explained. “What’s more, the Community ArtLab offers guided tours and creative workshops in conjunction with exhibitions.” As with gallery admission, these workshops are free and open to all.

Photo courtesy of Caitlyn Gerrish

By Kendra Buchner Contributor

A Town

I live in a town A small town A town where you have to walk miles just to walk on a sidewalk A town of alcoholic fathers and overworked mothers With rambunctious children forced to play outside Blue blue skies Blue blue rivers Blue blue collars Blue blue people A town where there’s nothing to do But to go to the next town To tailgate at the Tim Hortons A town where you just drive to the next slightly bigger town To the next slightly bigger town To a medium-sized town With more diversity and the same amount of adversity Then, you realize there still isn’t anything to do So, you go to the city Until you realize the city is scary And expensive And boring too You laugh at this little town I laugh at this little town But sometimes I wonder Will I be stuck here Decaying slowly Only to end up a Lion’s Club member?

Drowning in blue blue skies And blue blue rivers Suffocated by the blue blue collars Only to be a blue blue person?

Comic

By Leea Rebeca Ruta Graphics Editor

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Caitlyn Gerrish, Arts & Culture Editor » thecampus.artsculture@gmail.com

Reflections on playwriting, from a nonplaywright

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By Journey Bardati Contributor

had written exactly one half of a script prior to writing for the New Plays festival, an idea that emerged from taking the Playwriting II class at Bishop’s. The script was god-awful despite my internal monologue telling me it was in fact the greatest masterpiece known to man that must be talked about to everyone, everywhere and in every conversation I found myself in.

“This,” I told myself, back when I was delusional, “will be my magnum opus.”

It had a ridiculous fake-Latin title, an overly complicated fantastical plot, and only the protagonist had an actual name.

Now, don’t get me wrong: just because it was a stupid play doesn’t mean it was useless to write. I had to write it in

order to learn what not to do, to get the initial “I-have-no-clue-what-a-plot-is” out of my system, so to speak.

But, it was two simple, timeless, oftshared pieces of advice from George Rideout in the course DRA282 that helped me tremendously when writing my first full one-act play for New Plays: “The truth is in the details” and “write what you know.” In other words, a scene will come across as more genuine if you’ve in some way experienced it, because you’ll be able to pinpoint the little things that make the situations so memorable.

I think the class as a whole latched onto this advice, as they’ve all written brilliantly personal plays that leave the audience with questions. Many of the plays have been chosen for the festival.

Death and the Afterlife playfully examines various perspectives on the matter, The Gossips tells a story of small-

town rumours inspired by a Normon Rockwell print and Bridges and Coffee deals with grief and sapphic love. All are wonderful inventions and so are the others I haven’t mentioned. As for mine, The Waiting Room is exactly what the title implies – the audience is invited into the lives of people united by their shared location. It’s a little silly, a little heartwrenching and a little bit lovely. Nothing abstract, just people being people.

So, with all that newfound knowledge from Playwriting II, does that mean that I am now an excellent writer, and my play is extraordinarily well-written? YEAH, IT DOE— No. No. I wish! But no. Do I feel bad for the guy directing my play?

Absolutely. I still struggle with OverComplication Syndrome, as is evident in the fact that there are fifteen characters total played by six actors. There are still many aspects I would’ve changed if I had

the time.

But grace must be given to amateurs, because as a friend of mine likes to say, art takes courage. The act of writing a finished, tangible synthesis of ideas – that is, the externalization of something as nebulous as the internal chaos of an individual’s mind – is in and of itself a great feat, regardless of how it is received. That process of solidifying abstract ideas into finite words should be commended, I feel. So, I would highly encourage everyone to watch both Night A and Night B of the New Plays festival (running from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1). They should be armed with the knowledge that they will be thoroughly entertained, that they are supporting the arts in general, and that they are investing in individual writers, directors, actors and technicians as they learn how to express ideas visually.

Photo courtesy of Journey Bardati

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THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS:

-Colin Ahern -Kai Luginbuhl -Kendra Buchner -Journey Bardati -Kaitlyn VanSchyndel -Sara Watson -Dylan Monico -Cammy-M Bernier -Shakina Blackstock Pearce

-Emma James -Grace Moore -Eric Clipperton -Angus Whyte -Mikael-Benedict Worku -Fabrice Blais-Savoie

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Introducing the BU Investment Club: A new adventure for financial enthusiasts

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By Kai Luginbuhl Contributor

repare for a new era of student engagement at Bishop’s University, where academic excellence meets financial empowerment: the BU Investment Club. This exciting initiative, launched by a group of enthusiastic students, is poised to become the go-to hub for financial enlightenment on campus.

Driven by a collective interest in investing, a group of motivated students came together to bring their ideas to life.

Their mission? To create a welcoming space where students can expand their financial horizons, share their thoughts and learn from each other in a lively and enjoyable atmosphere. One distinguishing feature that sets the BU Investment Club apart is its commitment to inclusivity.

Regardless of your level of financial expertise, whether you’re a seasoned stock market wizard or someone just starting to grasp the nuances of stocks and bonds, you are welcome here. The club’s mantra is straightforward: learn and grow together.

While the club leaders are well-versed in the financial realm, they emphasize that their role is to facilitate discussions rather

than provide financial advice.

Anticipate the weekly meetings to deviate from the conventional lecture-style format. Instead, envision lively conversations and interactive discussions at the Lion Pub, making the process of learning about finance even more enjoyable. Topics will span from dissecting market trends, exploring realworld investment strategies and learning to invest sustainably. Throughout the year, the BU Investment Club is planning exciting events like guest speaker sessions, stock market simulation competitions and even organized Gait nights. These experiences will not only deepen your knowledge but also connect you with industry professionals and like-minded peers who share your enthusiasm for financial success.

Whether you’re a finance professional or a complete novice, the BU Investment Club welcomes you with open arms. Mark your calendars, prepare your questions, and become part of this exciting journey.

The BU Investment Club believes that financial literacy is a vital life skill that can empower you to achieve your goals, whether they involve securing your future, funding your dream projects or making informed investment decisions.

Don’t shy away from embarking on an

Whether you’re a finance professional or a complete novice, the BU investment Club welcomes you with open arms.

amazing journey of financial exploration, learning and growth. Your future financial success starts here at Bishop’s University.

If this club sounds like something of interest to you, or you’d like to learn more, don’t hesitate to reach out to kluginbuhl22@ubishops.ca. The club leaders are here to answer your questions and welcome you to Bishop’s community of financial enthusiasts.

Graphic courtesy of Leea Rebeca Ruta

My experience being a small business owner in university

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By Caitlyn Gerrish Arts & Culture Editor

n the early spring of 2020, during the height of the global pandemic, I launched a small business. While I never could have foreseen becoming a business owner while pursuing an undergraduate degree, the experience has been incredibly rewarding. This year marks the third anniversary of the debut of Humblehaus, the artisanal ice cream business I started in my kitchen as a first-year English literature student at Bishop’s. Launching myself into the world of owning a business came with its fair share of challenges, all of them providing valuable learning lessons that have allowed me to grow and continue to evolve as a young entrepreneur.

As a humanities student, I had no educational background in the business field. This should not be a barrier to becoming an entrepreneur, however.

I decided to take a few courses in the business department at Bishop’s to enrich my understanding of the field. I learned some valuable skills about the basics of entrepreneurship and marketing, but more importantly, I expanded my network. I was able to meet with a variety of experts in the business world, from professors to

business owners and even fellow student entrepreneurs. These interactions allowed me to ask more questions, brainstorm new ideas, and even test my products with industry experts. I was able to grow

not only my business but also my limits as an entrepreneur and person.

Owning a business is not always easy, however. While most people I encounter — customers, partners or otherwise

Photo courtesy of Caitlyn Gerrish

— have been very supportive of my business, I inevitably face opposition at times too. One of the challenges with being a young woman entrepreneur is that you are not always taken as seriously by larger organizations. This can make important elements such as product sourcing and grant applications more complicated. However, these situations have strengthened my adaptability as a person. Entrepreneurship beckons you to evolve and change. Situations like these have allowed me to grow thicker skin and be more willing to change with the tides.

Looking back to my first days navigating the operations of a small business, the number one piece of advice I would have given myself is to stay passionate and remain tenacious amidst the hard moments. Being a full-time student and a business owner makes it easy to become impatient if your business is not taking off as quickly as you may have hoped. In these moments, the tendency would be to become frustrated and lose interest in your product or service. The trick is to remind yourself that every business owner faces these hurdles. Staying excited and passionate about your project is exactly what will allow you to overcome them.