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CONTENTS
Ryan Macfarlane
Editor-in-Chief einc@themeliorist.ca @_ra_mac
Alisha VanWieren
Campus Life Editor cl.editor@themeliorist.ca @vdubsmeliorist
Andrew McCutcheon
Garrett Bishoff
Meredith Pritchard
Travis Robinson
Features Editor f.editor@themeliorist.ca @smartstooge Business Manager
Mohamed Hassen
Arts + Entertainment ae.editor@themeliorist.ca @mereyrose Ad Manager
Travis Riedlhuber
b.manager@themeliorist.ca
ad.manager@themeliorist.ca
Creative Director + Illustrator
Photo Editor
Sam Loewen
Kjel Erickson
c.director@themeliorist.ca
p.editor@themeliorist.ca
Production Manager
Copy Editor
Nico Koppe
p.manager@themeliorist.ca
Opinions Editor o.editor@themeliorist.ca @CoffeeAndLiars
Sports Editor s.editor@themeliorist.ca @sivartrobinson Webmaster
Chris Cameron Design Assistants
Kenzie Ferguson Keely Goulding Printing
Emma Ferguson
c.editor@themeliorist.ca
Southern Alberta Newspaper Group
The Meliorist:
Cover
Sam Loewen Kjel Erickson Contributors Jordan Bartlett Gwendolyn Davidson Colin Dingwall Don Gill Jaisie Graham Mikyla Hindson Morag Rahn-Campbell Carol Williams
Mel-ior-ism (meel始e riz始m) the doctrine that the world tends to become better or may be made better by human effort
CAMPUS LIFE OPINIONS FEATURES SPORTS ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT TLFS STUDENTS UNION SU166, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge AB, T1K 3M4 Phone (403) 329 2334 themeliorist.ca @The_Meliorist
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
To the Editor: First off, to be clear, we are not interested in opening a debate about abortion, or in giving any opinion for or against either side of the argument. Our concern rests solely in the supposed “right” to toss offensive, disrespectful, and somewhat racist images into the faces of an unsuspecting public. Needless to say, the images displayed outside of the 1st Choice Savings Centre and in the Devonian walkway between the Fine Arts and LINC buildings this past week were insensitive and unnecessarily grotesque. This letter concerns our experience of walking the path of these images in the Devonian walkway last Thursday. Quite aside from the rudeness of the people who attempted to stop us in the hall, simply to begin a heated argument in which we made it clear we were not interested, a university is not an appropriate place for this kind of display. This school should be a safe learning environment where people engage only in the debates in which they wish to be involved. It is not a setting to display images of one of the most traumatizing and difficult experiences in a person’s life. This display is bullying and harassing. What about people who have suffered miscarriages? Or stillborn children? Were their feelings considered? This kind of blatant disregard for others’ feelings and learning space is nothing short of outrageous. Everyone is forced to walk through that hallway, and despite numerous protestations that there were warning signs and that we could have turned back and gone around, we cannot shake the feeling that the display was set up in that hallway precisely because those responsible for it knew that it is the only major path from one building to the next. Frustrated with the continual assaults on our personal and learning space, we contacted Campus Security regarding the “right” to display these images, and were informed that while the demonstration was passionate, it was nevertheless “peaceful.” Our response to this is, that while the display was not physically violent, it is still emotionally so, as exemplified by what one of the protesters in front of the images told us: the images are deliberately used as a trigger. It seems that the goal is to trigger a negative emotional response as a supposed cure for apathy. However, we would point out that the problem facing this group is not that the students or the public do not care about the issue, but simply that most people do not agree with their opinion. And it is neither morally nor academically right to attempt to force our cooperation through any trauma we might experience by viewing the images
displayed. Furthermore, the very principle of this method of protest is a flawed one: the fact that something is grotesque does not inherently make it “wrong.” Many of the things that people and animals do are disgusting, as are many of the things which can happen to us. Perhaps next we will be bombarded with images of AIDS victims, or children who suffer from Fetal-Alcohol Syndrome; perhaps that will shock us into caring about… about what, precisely? Images of that kind would be considered repulsive and disrespectful to the people in them. Perhaps that should have been more carefully thought through. We strongly encourage the university itself to take responsibility not only for what damaging and insensitive images it allows in its halls, but also to be mindful of the image in these displays. Many children walk down those passages, as well as many other members of the community who have no interest whatsoever in a raging, controversial debate. We ask that victims of rape and miscarriage be considered more carefully, and that the school and the people associated with it think about the kind of message this protest advocates: are we so bad at debate and rhetoric that we must resort to shock value to get our point across? Are we being so poorly educated that we are willing to forgo our compassion in order simply to win? This type of method taints more than just the people before the billboards: it taints us all. If protest groups want to have a reasonable, well-informed debate on this topic, nothing is stopping them. If they want to have a space to display these images where there are appropriate warning signs and no access for children, there are private rooms all over campus where people who actually want to have the debate may seek them out. And if, then, their complaint becomes that no one will do so, perhaps these protesters need to consider that their opinion is no longer prevalent, their message no longer dominant among the masses, and further that the possible shift away from their opinion does not in any way give them the right to shove that opinion so blatantly and disrespectfully down the throats of others, whether we would have it there or not. Signed, two very disgusted students, Jordan Bartlett and Mikyla Hindson P.S. A big thank you to the Women’s Centre for responding to the protest so quickly and so effectively. The university community appreciates it.
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CAMPUS LIFE
JAISIE GRAHAM
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If you wear glasses, you know that they can essentially make or break your look. Shopping for them can leave you a little cross-eyed, but as they can be necessary for your sight, glasses are an unavoidable accessory. So, it's worth it to take the time and choose your perfect pair of frames. Your decision should depend on your personal style, your personal features – such as your skin and hair – but most importantly, your facial geometry. — 4
2 Recently I have been noticing more and more fascinating frames. My favourite find has been the website annishades.com – beautifully crafted, unstained wooden eye wear. Their frames are edgy, well made, and flattering. For budget frames, wander over to Clearly Contact's website. You will get your first pair free from a full selection of brands. My personal favourite: Derek Cardigan.
How to Choose Frames for Your Face Shape For those with square faces or hard features, avoid hard lines or wide, boxy glasses. You’ll want to choose something with smoother lines that help balance your proportions. Heart-shaped faces with small chins and bigger foreheads will suit most frames and can get away with something daring. To avoid complicating things, I go by one simple rule of opposites. If you have hard, striking features, then choose a pair of frames with softer lines; if your face is softer, then buy a pair of frames that will define and give your face structure and character.
CAMPUS LIFE
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1. ADAM WEARING GLASSES FROM RAY BAN 2. MYRIAM WEARING GLASSES FROM COSTCO 3. NANCY WEARING GLASSES FROM ANNI SHADES 4. LIN LIN WEARING GLASSES FROM CHINA 5. KAIT WEARING GLASSES FROM ULTRA VIOLET
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CAMPUS LIFE ALISHA VANWIEREN
This week I decided to ask students, “If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be?” Here are the responses I received:
If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be? Get a degree. It will be very helpful. Are you getting a degree right now? Yeah. What’s your degree? Political Science. That’s my second piece [of advice] – don’t get a political science degree. Domenic Rigaux
If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be? Don’t ever stop believing in yourself. Stay positive.
Michelle Hebert
If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be? Don’t follow the crowd. If there’s a bunch of people going one way, that doesn’t always mean it’s the best way; it just means that’s the way most people are going.
David Kofi Anyoke
Is there a time in your life where you think you’ve followed/not followed the crowd and it’s benefitted or hurt you? I feel one time I did not follow the crowd was probably an English class. I remember in grade 10, distinctly, we were talking about euthanasia, and one person gave a statement that euthanasia is right, it should be used. I stood up for myself, and I was the only person in the class, and it was grade 10 – I was like 16 years old. I said, “No, I don’t believe in that and I’m sticking to my guns. That still is murder; it doesn’t matter if it’s gentle.”
If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be? Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet sweaty things.
Ward Huckabay
If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be? Listen to good music instead of that shit that’s on the radio, because it’s really annoying. Viki Sowinski
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CAMPUS LIFE If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be? Buy an agenda. I have an agenda and it is just insanely helpful. I can be so productive with it. Was there a time when you didn’t have an agenda? In between when I didn’t have one and I was buying a new one, I didn’t have one. Usually I’ll write down people’s birthdays and stuff in it, but I didn’t have one, so I didn’t remember my dad’s birthday and I forgot to tell him, and I felt really bad. It was horrible, but he was okay with it. Alexandra Drapeau
If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be? Just don’t change; be yourself. I find people change their attitude and personality based on who they’re in front of, and I think that’s just a waste of their time and a waste of your time if you’re not showing who you actually are.
Anna Ehret
Is there a time in your life where you feel like maybe you went against that advice or where you needed that advice? I used to be a really shy person, and I still kind of am, but I’m slowly kind of breaking out of it and opening up more to people.
If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be? Don’t fret; life ends up working itself out.
Dylan Hazell
If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be? Probably to remember that everyone grew up differently than you did, and that everyone has had a different life. Always remember that their actions are based from a completely different range of experiences than yours – so keep that in mind when you talk to people. Lisa Giovanetto
If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be? Remember to take a deep breath and take care of yourself, because sometimes situations will get really dire-seeming. But if you step back and think about it and make sure that you take care of yourself, you’ll get through it.
Heather Cameron
If you could give one piece of advice to a large group of people what would it be? Be yourself and don’t care what anyone else thinks of you. So, personally, I like to act like a five-year-old because I think it’s fun.
Sally Leung
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OPINIONS
VISUAL SPECTACLE AS PROPAGANDA —
CAROL WILLIAM & DON GILL From October 29 to November 1, the university community was subjected to a visual spectacle staged by an entity called the Centre for Canadian Bioethical Reform (CCBR). Headed by Stephanie Grey, who launched her pro-life career at UBC, the CCBR is a subsidiary of the California-based Centre for Bioethical Reform (CBR). CBR uses College Campus Outreach programs to recruit and train students to promote its message. They supply displays of extremely graphic images through what it terms its “Genocide Awareness Project” (GAP) as well as distribute materials such as postcards, stills, and videos to pro-life groups. The lurid display was erected in the U of L’s Devonian hallway and outside the 1st Choice Savings Centre and, in this instance, was subcontracted to the U of L Students for Life. CCBR/CBR’s defense of human rights and “pro-life” is contradicted by prior records. They outline an argument justifying the use of graphic, aestheticized images of violence to advocate their cause, however the purpose of the travelling GAP is, largely, provocation. They relish strong public reaction to the graphic spectacle, and both centres brag of responses to their campaigning, including reports of lawsuits, police retaliation, public confrontation, etc. Any claims of non-violence are offset by the history of aggressive extremism exercised by the U.S. anti-abortion movements, who have targeted, and killed, healthcare providers. This well-documented campaign of intimidation is added cause for civic concern. Consider the images used. The photos of disembodied human tissue might be understood as related to the message being promoted, but images of the human suffering inflicted by the Holocaust or from the lynching of African Americans in the U.S. post-emancipation era makes CCBR’s entire message suspect. Photographs have meaning and are rarely generic. As 20th-century industrial photographer Lewis Hine observed, photographs may not lie but liars can photograph.1 Photographs are mute; the specific meaning that resides in an image requires contextual interpretation, or captioning, in order to be understood. To strip an image of its specific context (time, people, place, etc...) and relocate it in an alien context is to mobilize that image as an instrument of propaganda. What remains is solely whatever message the propagandist, CCBR, has attached to it. And what of the history of the lynching image exploited? The CCBR utilize a 1930 photograph produced by studio photographer Lawrence Breitler of the hanging and tortured bodily remains of African American men, Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith. The young men were dragged by a mob from a jail cell, where they were being held on suspicion of murdering a white man and raping his girlfriend (an allegation she later refuted). Their lynching, by a white supremacist vigilante mob in Marion, Indiana, was witnessed on August 7, 1930 by more than 5000 townspeople.2 Breitler spent several days afterwards producing thousands of prints, selling them at 50 cents apiece. Postcards of lynching were popular.3 Breitler’s photograph was distributed worldwide by the Acme News Services explaining why this particular visual document
was so easily appropriated today without sensitivity to its specific history, or to ethics or permissions. Photographs of vigilante lynching, like those of the Holocaust, guarantee a reaction. When presented absent of historical explanation, the photograph is detached from “its horrific particularity in time and place.” Moreover, as scholars have shown, lynching photographs were consumed as mass entertainment not only by the mob and witnesses present at the exact moment – as evident by the crowd assembled below the bodies – but in the wider circulation, sale and thus consumption of the imagery in the aftermath.4 The CCBR wrenches these images from this specificity and resuscitates them for contemporary mass consumption and affect. The photographs serve their political campaign to restrict legal access to reproductive health services. CBR has issued a call for restricted access to pharmaceutical-based contraception (the pill, and Norplant, among others) and using illicit video, charges Planned Parenthood, the worldwide health provider and educator on sexual and reproductive health, of malpractice. The agenda to restrict access to pharmaceutical, or other forms of health care and contraception, is not explicit in campus displays, but it is evident in their web-based declaration: “Many forms of birth control can be classified as abortifacients since they do not always prevent fertilization and in some instances work to destroy the life of a developing child.”5 By implication, therefore, CBR’s argument for reduced access to legal contraception supports the doctrine that a woman’s professional, economic, or education ambitions be limited. Given that university communities are engaged in the ethical production of knowledge, the CCBR’s intentions to trigger distress and fascination based on public exposure to explosive historical misrepresentations, should make us wary. Directed by a politically and religiously conservative agenda, the CCBR conceives the university as a “marketplace of ideas,” employing these displays to market extremism. In particular, they exploit unsuspecting younger or naïve viewers who may have little familiarity with the history or motivations of lynching or the Holocaust. Targeted are those who may be visually unsophisticated in the sense they possess only a nascent capability to interrogate the immersive excess of contemporary media. Finally, historically, lynching often occurred in a carnivalesque atmosphere with participants and families proudly posing for the camera, an atmosphere parallel to that provoked by the spectacle of visual confrontation facilitated by CCBR. Shipp, 19, and Smith, 20, were of an age at which in another time and place they might have been students on a campus not unlike the University of Lethbridge rather than being exploited as an instrument of propaganda by well-funded American lobbyists. Carol Williams, associate professor, teaches history and women and gender studies in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Don Gill, associate professor, teaches photography and art in the Faculty of Fine Arts.
1. Lewis Hine, “Social Photography.” Classic Essays on Photography, ed. Alan Trachtenberg (1980): 110 2. Cynthia Carr, Our Town, a Heartland Lynching, a Haunted Town and the Hidden History of White America (Crown Publishers, NY: 2006) as detailed and reviewed in David Bradley, “Anatomy of a Murder.” The Nation (June 12, 2006): 32-36. See also journalofamericanhistory.org/teaching/2011_06/sources/day2ex1_photo_madison.html 3. sf: James Allen, Hilton Als, et. al, Without Sanctuary: Photographs and Postcards of Lynching in America (Twin Palms, Santa Fe: 2000) 81 images and support text are accessible at withoutsanctuary.org/main 4. Amy Louise Wood, “Lynching Photography and the Visual Reproduction of White Supremacy.” American Nineteenth Century History, Vol. 6, No. 3, September 2005, p. 373-399. 5. abortionno.org/birthcontrol/ accessed 2 Nov 2009.
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OPINIONS
DOES CANADIAN IDENTITY EVEN EXIST? —
GWENDOLYN DAVIDSON ences that separates us. What is it, then, that makes me Canadian? The only thing I can truly come up with is that I am Canadian because I live in Canada. I was born and raised here, as were my parents and my grandparents. But being Canadian isn’t really a generational connection or a history with the land. My great-grandparents were immigrants, just like many who are arriving today, starting off a new life in a new country full of opportunities. They brought with them the cultures and traditions of their homelands. And I think that is at the heart of being Canadian: the process of arriving here, to a place new and different and open to accept you no matter who you are. Then you build around what is already here and what you brought with you to create something entirely new for future generations. To be Canadian is to have roots somewhere else, and this isn’t quite as contradictory as it may seem. It is this idea that unites us. Everyone is merging the traditions of where they came from with the traditions already here. For some, it is their parents or themselves embarking on this journey of becoming Canadian. For others, it was grandparents and great-grandparents that began the journey. Those of us several generations down the line can see the seams where our heritage connects to the beginning of Canadian identity and traditions. And we can see where new patches have been sewn on as other cultures blend in the quilt that is always in a state of becoming. That is what makes Canada unique: our ability to absorb all different kinds of people and cultures and stay true to what we are, while becoming a bit of everything else that adds to the country we may someday be. Sadly enough, that also means absorbing some of America; but I think we’ll survive. This merging is not easy, though. Sometimes there are people or ideas or cultures that have a difficult time adjusting, either because they are trying to hold onto their culture in its entirety, or Canada is refusing to become part of what they are. In this, Canada shows what has become probably our second best known trait: resiliency. We are the country that survives the harshest winters on Earth (other than Siberia). Even though we are generally safe from most of the political and natural disasters that plague the rest of the world, we have seen through our unforgiving weather and landscape just how resilient of a people we can be. We endure with patience until the problems that assault us can be peacefully resolved. We outlast. Our history includes stories of the harsh North during the gold rushes and the prairie blizzards that isolated homesteads for days and weeks. We are the home of grizzlies and cougars and the Rocky Mountains. We are the North. Not only have these traits fostered tolerance and acceptance, but they are traits distinctly unique to Canada. So it turns out we do have an identity after all. It is in that very diversity and complexity that some say are tearing us apart that instead give us our strongest identifying qualities. We are polite. We are resilient. And we will forever be “not American.”
SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF CANADIAN IDENTITY, WHILE OTHERS ARE DOWNRIGHT ADAMANT THAT IT DOESN’T EXIST. They will insist that it cannot exist because there are no overall ideals to agree or disagree on and no set goals that the country has decided to take a stand on. Sometimes they will attribute this to the vastness of the nation or to the immigration policies that gave us our remarkable cultural diversity. With so many differences and so much separating us, how can we have an identity unique to Canada? I must begin by saying with absolute certainty that, even though Canadians will disagree about the existence of Canadian identity, the universal consensus is that we are not American. I took a road trip across the United States this past summer and realized that there are noticeable differences that set Canadians apart from those I found south of the border. Some are small, quirky things like the differences in certain word pronunciations or going about communicating something in a different way. These are nothing more than colloquialisms unique to us because we were infiltrated by both the British and the French. On the other hand, some differences are blatantly obvious. What would be the first thing to pop into your head were I to ask you what makes Canadians unique? One popular answer would be that Canadians are polite. We apologize too much and are seen as the peacemakers in international arguments because of our tolerance and acceptance. This is not just a myth. I’m sorry if I have to be the one to break this to you, but we apologize all the time, and I know this isn’t just me. It’s not even something you really notice until you are around people who don’t do it at all (and who tend to give you strange looks when you do so). Can this be considered part of our identity, or just a funny quirk that happens to be true for those of us who make an impression when out among the rest of the world? I think that this politeness has roots in our multiculturalism, our openness and tolerance of differences. Because we live with so much variety and so many conflicting viewpoints, Canadians have become more polite to allow for these distinctly unique cultures and people to coexist peacefully where, elsewhere in the world, they have not. In this way, identity can be defined both by what we are and what we are not, what we were and what we have yet to be. I think Canadian identity is most strongly defined when comparing how we are similar to and different from other countries, things we have either adopted or rejected from how the rest of the world functions. And I believe that we have nothing resolute to bring us together but the composite of differ-
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FEATURES
WHO WILL YOU REMEMBER? —
GARRETT BISHOFF
It’s hard to write an article on remembrance for students. Most in Lethbridge are too young or too removed from war to have felt any of its effects. Yet, many people here know someone – or of someone – who made a sacrifice during service, be that a veteran, a relative of a soldier, or a relative of someone killed in battle. One might just have long-lost memories of an elder family member who never spoke about the things they went through. Students, however, have strong ties to soldiers. Most soldiers are in their twenties, and thus, most casualties are too. Even officers are required to have a degree. Most students learn of current wars by watching exploitive news that skews facts to give a positive light to the Canadian missions, regardless of how much they have affected other people involved. These soldiers are giving their all, and it’s no wonder they dislike talking about their experiences when they return home to propaganda, good or bad. Still today, Canadians are more supportive than ever of their troops and of others who serve in some capacity overseas. The famous, or perhaps infamous, “Highway of Heroes” is a tragic tribute to those who will never see home again. Many line the streets to welcome and honour a soldier coming home, but many more say prayers for friends and family still half a world away. It has yet to be 100 years since the world first said that to go to war was wrong; indeed, this generation will be the last of an important century of people, the first century of people to instigate a world-wide peace movement, from the revolutions of the 60s against war in Vietnam to proclamations of refusal to engage in war from nations as diverse as Austria and Japan. Canada itself is seen as a leader in peacekeeping, being one of the top attenders of peacekeeping missions led by the UN. Yet there is still war. From Syria to Mali, confrontations have broken out in regions impacted by colonialism, and the Middle East is a hotbed of hatred and violence. This has had impacts around the world and even in Lethbridge, where citizens are often guilty of racism. This is not to imply blame, though; as said before, it has been less than a century. It takes time to form bonds, and one might remember that it has only been double that time since Canada and the United states were at war. The biggest impact on today’s mindset towards conflict came from the world’s largest, the Second World War. For the first time, it was internationally recognised that all people, regardless of religion, race, beliefs, residence, sexual orientation, self-identification, and any other grouping, could all be targets of abuse by those in power. When this war concluded, the major powers came together for the first time to agree that all human beings were equal, equally suffer, and equally have inalienable human rights. The first suggestions of human rights laws were written (by a Canadian no less) and works of humanitarianism started to be honoured where they had not been before. Nation ties have been strengthened, immigrants from around the world convene in the same cities, and people have to understand that the world is a lot smaller. During the tough times we all live in, we
harken back 100 years on the eve of the conflict that would itself grow into the Second World War, when the world first saw the terrible destruction of humanity. Something more important was borne out of that carnage: the kindness of humanity and its ability to learn. The very fact that different people from nearly all backgrounds around the globe came together for the first time to agree that something must be done in the future to prevent such horrors from reappearing is, in itself, a great achievement. The fact that many more have joined and that peace itself is now a valid option, where individuals may find help and hope in countries outside their own, is a testament to humanity and its toughness at sticking through such a hard choice. On November 11 there is another factor at play: we remember not the governments, nations, or groups that put and continue to put efforts towards peace, but those individuals, the faces, the countless names who literally gave their all to make these efforts happen. We don’t just remember the acts of Gandhi, Mandela, or Pearson, but rather the people we knew and are proud to have known. Volunteers who, today, go into dangerous locations to provide what little help they can; students who plan to attain the ability to help others through education; and of course the many, many countless people – mostly young men and women – who went through hell across the world, even when they weren’t forced or even asked to, and who left their bodies and legacies behind as proof that they would never sit by when they could do some good. This Remembrance Day, like any other, there are services many do not attend because they have, thankfully, never been affected by war. But two minutes is asked – 120 seconds – for a small recognition of those who fell, fall, and will have fallen in the future, so that the idea of a country, and maybe world, unaffected by war will be the legacy of thousands of years of human efforts. Just giving those few moments to remember someone personal, their memory or honour, their efforts, is a small price to pay for peace and for the comforts we all desire – for ourselves and the ones we love. Many chose the doomed path over those comforts, at the risk of influencing others. My own personal remembrance will be of a distant relative who I’d only just discovered – a youth of 18 murdered in cold blood by the Nazis. And yet, I refuse to hate that group. I will instead attack them with the very thing that they cannot defeat: memory. If people choose simply not to forget, then there will always be a way for anyone to continue to be free – to fight for peace – no matter what laws or opinions affect them. As a member of humanity, that legacy is our strongest. November 11 marked the end of a war which many hoped would end all wars. It also marked the beginning of a worldwide movement to see that goal through, even though it has failed countless times. Most importantly, it marks humanity’s greatest motivation: hope. As long as hope lives, the many silent gravestones and unmarked graves can never fade into oblivion. As we enter further into this uncertain new century of devotion to world-wide peace, who will you remember?
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FEATURES
#whyirelay GARRETT BISHOFF
The HPV vaccine, the breast cancer death rate plummeting by 40 per cent, 82 per cent of kids surviving a cancer diagnosis, 18-and-under prohibition on booth-tanning in multiple provinces, and $1.2 billion raised with $439 million of that from the Relay for Life itself – all are incredible achievements made by The Canadian Cancer Society. It looks back at the last 75 years with pride, as Lethbridge participants in the annual Relay gear up for another overnight run in order to do their bit in fighting a disease that affects us all. #whyirelay is the calling card for University of Lethbridge students’ commitments to the upcoming Relay for Life, the day after Halloween. And while many are using the timing to dress in great costumes and have fun with teammates in the overnight run, the event itself has a serious hold for some who’ve been affected the most by cancer. “I relay for my father, my cousin (who introduced me to Relay), and all my other family and friends who have been affected by this disease. But mostly I relay because I can't just stand by and not do something about it! Relay is my time of the year to remember my personal experiences with cancer,” says Shelby Karas, team captain of the Kappa Pi Chi team; running the relay only begins to scratch the surface of the strength behind her team. “I'm relaying for my Nana. She is an amazing woman [who] has dedicated her life to helping everyone. She is so loving and has been there for me through everything. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer a couple of years back; thankfully the tumour was removed [before] it had a chance to spread. I'm extremely grateful that I still have her with me today,” says Megan Ensign. “I relay for both of my grandfathers who passed away from prostate cancer . . . Relay for Life gives me an opportunity to remember what both my grandfathers suffered, and how important it is to continue doing my part in fundraising and volunteering,” Christina Ensign adds. Their comments illustrate the differing motives for each team member who saddles up to do more than their part for the Relay for Life. The Kappa Pi Chi Female Fraternity, in their second year at the Relay, is full of strong women who are stepping up to raise money not for their own organization, but for the event itself. After a successful previous year of raising $5,000, and after an enormous amount of support from Kappa Pi Chi members, the team hopes to create an annual tradition of attendance. Kelly Stevens, VP of finance and fundraising adds that, though small, the sorority’s potential is very high. “[We’ve been filling] all the chair positions and bringing girls into responsibilities that they’ve never had before. The Relay for Life has been huge.” Running for her grandfathers and Aunt Terry, Stevens believes that “running as a group is really exciting and makes the event more fun. Being together at such an important and effective event really shows the basis behind the cause.” Organized by Stevens and her two chairs, one being Shelby Karas, Kappa Pi Chi sends two teams to the relay, one composed of current members and another of pledge members. The latter is coming on strong as well, having raised $2,000 last year, and are on their way to the same goal this year. “We make our teams pretty big,” notes Stevens. “We usually recommend a team of ten, but we do bigger teams because it’s hard for us to be there for a whole night . . . It’s a lot of work to make sure girls are fundraising, making costumes, and showing up.” With a goal of $7,500 in honour of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Canadian Cancer Society, Stevens and her chairpersons have their work cut out for them.
Karas, the community service chair and team captain, has been “involved with Relay for Life for over six years now, as a participant, a volunteer, and a committee member. I served two years as youth coordinator in the Airdrie Relay for Life and now I will be sitting as mission delivery chair for the U of L Relay. Relay for Life is unlike any other cancer event, in that it is highly community-oriented and has so many special ceremonies. It also places emphasis on the caregivers who are equally as important to the cancer journey. I am grateful to be able to run with my sisters because I know that all of us have been affected in some way or another, and it allows us to support and encourage each other in a very meaningful setting. I also chose to support this event because the Canadian Cancer Society is such a wonderful organization: they offer so many resources to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers.” As Stevens tells, “Mostly all of us have been affected by cancer, so this, the Relay, is a big [event] . . . My other experiences with Kappa Pi Chi have been so monumental in my university career and life in general. Events like the Relay for Life bring my sisters and I together in a way like no other . . . Hopefully people will come out. If you can’t relay, you can stop by and donate. Any survivors [can] come by and check it out; we’d love to see [them] there. It makes the experience a lot more heartfelt and emotional, which it should be.” Supporters can also donate online at cancer.ca. For Stevens this relay has been a tradition of sorts, as it has for many of the girls. “Participating in Relay for Life is something I have done for many years now in my hometown, and now here at the University of Lethbridge. I choose to participate in this event because of the amazing bonds you build and the strong cause you are supporting. I refuse to sleep during Relay to support the cause that 'Cancer never sleeps.” Therefore I will continue to push towards my fundraising goal of $1,000 and my goal of spreading cancer awareness and research funding until there is a cure.” The ripples that her leadership causes can be seen in her team’s willingness to do their best. As Ensign comments, “To be relaying with Kappa Pi Chi means more than words can explain. [It’s] a group of extremely talented, passionate, and successful young women, working together to try and make a difference in the lives of others. It is extremely meaningful, as cancer has affected so many of us! Relay for Life is an outstanding event that I am proud to be participating in.” “I love participating in Relay for Life because all of my sisters are there to support [me], and you can really get a new perspective [on] how cancer has affected so many individuals so close to you. I have participated in other cancer fundraising events, but what makes Relay for Life so special and unique is the fact that it brings everyone participating closer together and takes the time to remember those who have been affected and the loved ones we have lost. . . . Relay for Life is my favourite event to participate in with my sisters.” This, from McLellan, sums up the girls’ determination as the event approaches. The final words are best expressed by the Cancer Society itself. “Relay for Life symbolizes and honours a cancer patient’s journey. For the thousands of Canadians fighting cancer right now, their journey is long and hard. From the shock of initial diagnosis, through days of treatment and the long nights that follow for them, cancer never sleeps, so neither do we . . . Relay for Life is a global movement against cancer, taking place in 20 countries worldwide, including over 500 communities across Canada. From coast to coast, in communities big and small, thousands of Canadians will join together to fight back.”
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HE’S SO
UNUSUAL PHYSICALLY SPEAKING, RYAN LETTS STANDS OUT FROM HIS FELLOW HOCKEY PLAYERS IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. TRAVIS ROBINSON
GARY PETERSON
SPORTS
“
I WANTED TO BE CHALLENGED ON THE ICE AND CHALLENGED IN THE CLASSROOM
” Physically speaking, Ryan Letts stands out from his fellow hockey players in more ways than one. As I talk to him at the Nicholas Sheran Ice Arena, the sizeable fourth-year athlete is displaying a new leg tattoo that he just received that same day. Letts is currently laid up with the notorious “lower-body injury” that serves in hockey jargon as an umbrella term for any lingering pain affecting the skating ability of the athlete. As such, he can schedule his tattoo appointment during a time normally reserved for practice. The new tattoo is a death moth, inspired by Silence of a Lambs, something that is fitting for a man not quite like the other athletes. Letts sports a massive beard more fitting of a fisherman than a hockey player (even during the playoff season), and his sartorial choices are more in line with a fine-arts student than a stereotypical jock. The most idiosyncratic feature of Letts, however, is his unusual path towards the sport of hockey and the CIS. Letts grew up in Southern California, a place where hockey has success (in the past decade, the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks have both won Stanley Cups) but where the best athletes are usually funnelled into baseball or gridiron football. Letts was born in Temecula and spent his formative years in Newport Beach, where he groomed his hockey skills based on a wise investment by his father. “My father invested into an ice rink,” says Letts, “and at age nine I began to skate for fun, recreationally.” This leisurely pastime soon turned into a serious commitment, and by his teenage years, Letts had grown into a formidable defensive forward. “At 14 and 15, I was on some pretty good travel teams out of California, and at 16, I made the Calgary Hitmen and played in the Western Hockey League for five years.” During his time in the WHL, Letts characterized himself as “an energy guy, a character guy,” who spent his playing time on the fourth line as a grinder to wear down his opposition for his star teammates on the feature lines. His WHL career took a defining turn in 2008, when he was traded to the Spokane Chiefs. “After the start of my third year in Calgary,” says Letts, “I was traded to Spokane, and that year we won the Memorial Cup.” Timing was everything for Letts, and for that fateful trade, as that 2008 edition of the Chiefs boasted several future NHL players who banded together to give the city of Spokane its second title since 1991. To date, that 2008 Chiefs team is the last WHL team to win the Memorial Cup, as the tournament has since been dominated by teams out of the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) and QJMHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League). Nonetheless, Letts admits that his Chiefs team was not a down-and-out favourite that season. “It was the weirdest chemistry on the team,” says Letts, “with the boys either getting along or not getting along and battling, and just a full year of adversity.” That adversity, says Letts, brought the team even closer, and the Memorial Cup win in Kitchener can be summed up by Letts in one statement: “It was wild.” What overshadowed the Chiefs’ win in the media, however, was the trophy presentation ceremony, where the overzealous captain of the
Chiefs shook the ancient trophy too hard and caused the cup portion to break free from the wooden base. This sent the 40 pound hulk of oak crashing to the ice, and made a joyous moment all the more serious. “As soon as the trophy hit the ice, it was dead quiet in the arena,” laughs Letts. “That didn’t stop us from celebrating.” Ryan Letts is obviously very intelligent, and his diplomatic stance on issues that plague both the WHL and the CIS are testament to that intelligence. In regards to fighting in hockey, Letts says that “fighting can solve problems, and it also can create problems.” Coming from a league where fighting is celebrated (the WHL) to where fighting is strictly prohibited (the CIS), Letts cites several pros and cons of the absence of fighting in his current league. “By taking fighting out of the CIS, it creates more jaw-jamming and chirping out of players. This causes no fear of abiding by the rules in players.” While he is no enforcer in the WHL, Letts did drop the gloves a time or two, and saw it as just a part of internal policing within the game. As a sociology major, Letts can relate the prohibition of fighting in the CIS to the league “changing the social construct of the game,” and creating a new set of problems with the reckless players having no sense of consequence. It is rare to find an athlete with such academic insight into their sport. For the idiosyncratic Ryan Letts, however, it comes across as natural. Letts understands that nothing can last forever, and that an athlete’s career is subject to the ticking clock of expiry. “Within any athlete’s career,” says Letts, “you’re never going to know how long you’ll be able to play.” That is why Letts took the option of joining the Pronghorns very seriously. “I consolidated with my parents, and they said there is nothing wrong with going to school and playing hockey. I wanted to be challenged on the ice and challenged in the classroom.” The choice to come to Lethbridge was made in part to geographical preference, part because of head hockey coach Greg Gatto, and part because of his time spent in Calgary. “I didn’t want to deal with Winnipeg winters or Saskatchewan’s boring prairies. Greg Gatto came to the table, and Lethbridge seemed like a good choice.” Letts admits that the CIS is more liberating than the stuffy WHL, and that the sense of freedom that comes with being a student athlete is very enjoyable. “[In the WHL], they groom you off the ice and on the ice to attend to their rules and regulations. It’s a sense of freedom in the CIS.” On the Pronghorns, Letts remains a high-energy, third-line guy who brings passion and experience to a squad oftentimes mired in losing. He remains dedicated to his position as a student first, athlete second, and will continue to play hockey while he finishes his degree. In regards to his future, Letts is committed to participation in hockey, no matter what the level. “I’d like to continue playing hockey after university,” he says. When pressed about a coaching future, Letts is more self-reflective about this prospect. “As far as coaching goes,” he says, “it’s going to take patience to deal with kids that I’ve been like.” If his idiosyncrasies made Letts a tough kid to handle, they have certainly brought him further than any of his coaches could have imagined.
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ARTs + ENTERTAINMENT
THE SMALL ROOM AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS REVIEW —
COLIN DINGWALL
There was a play last week at the university, produced by Theatre Xtra: The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs by Carole Fréchette. Too bad you missed it (because honestly, we don’t get much more than a few hundred people in each Theatre Xtra run, so statistically you did not see it, which is a pity). The show was the directorial debut of Cassandra Watson, a third-year drama student whose passion falls primarily in acting. “No, I’m not usually a director,” says Watson. “I wanted to see [the play] done, but I had a feeling if I were to be an actor in this play, I would be very, ‘Why are you doing it this way? You should do it like this.’ I had visions for the play as a director.” Did I mention Theatre Xtra is a student-run theatre company? It offers students the opportunity to try new things, to experiment with different ideas, and solve problems creatively – all things I consider important when looking at how a play did its job. What I mean is, how well it accomplished the goals it set out to accomplish, instead of the popular questions, “Good or bad?” or “Did I like it or not?” If I was here to answer the last question, the short answer would be “Yes,” and the long answer would be, “Yes it was good, and I liked it because I was entertained by some of my friends, whom I am here supporting, for an hour and a half,” which does not make for a happy editor. Quick story rundown, since we are here: Grace moves in with her new mega-rich husband. He is perfect and nice and sweet, and he gives Grace his massive 28-room house, which is where the play takes place. But he tells Grace she cannot go into one of the rooms, without giving her a reason why. So, of course, she goes into it. He finds out and is furious. That is the story of the play. For those who came to see the play, you know that it is not actually that simple. The play goes through all sorts of ideas of what is real, what is not, what is in our head, and what is in real life. I go to see this play with a few things in mind. First and foremost being that there are a lot of first-time actors in this cast, and also a first-time director. This thought is followed quickly by the recollection that it’s the first time for some of the design crew as well. Even the more experienced actors in the show are still students who are in the process of training. Very interesting. Maybe I will just keep that in mind while I watch this student-produced play. I see the set and I think, “There’s not much here.” There are some blocks, some steps, but no real staircase – just steps up to the blocks, a doorframe with a light on it in centre stage, and a sink. It’s called The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs, and I don’t see any specific room, and no real set of stairs, and I think that maybe the room isn’t the focus of this production. Then I see the doorframe with the light in it, centre stage, standing on a small platform. There is no door, but a light. Is the light the door? Is this threshold that separates the room from the rest of the house going to be important in some way? Okay, well some ideas are flowing. Cassandra Watson could have attempted to build a full house on stage, done a realist set with an actual room at the top of some actual stairs, but there was a low budget. She had to solve in a creative way the problem of not being able to just build a full house. This, I think, was pretty successful and totally worth it. The set is visually interesting, there are different levels, and different playing areas, and it gets me thinking about the play. What is going to be important? The room? The stairs? The threshold? Was I a little bit pulled out of the performance because the blocks are just the standard boxes in the Spinks Theatre, painted grey? Yes. Do I think the lack of literal set and the use of blocks, small steps, and
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a door frame eventually work very well with the concept of the play? Also yes. I thought the sound was a tad quiet, but I also found some of the moments of silence quite tense. The light for the show was also well done. The changing light levels and the tones for different moments created tension in a way that I think worked for the show. There is a scene in a dark room, lit by nothing but the light from the doorframe and a flashlight. The main character holds her breath and listens to the sound of ragged breathing. Was this effective with the near silence, and near darkness? I would say the tension was definitely stated if not directly felt by the audience. The performances all around are pretty good when you take everything into consideration, which, like I said earlier, I believe you should, especially when you know the context of the production. I will restate this in case anyone missed it: It was a production put on by a student-run theatre company, directed by a new director, with several new actors in it (one of them being a 17-year-old, first-year neuroscience major), and with student designers and student technicians. This is not to say that I thought anyone did poorly, nor is this an excuse for ineffectiveness or poor execution. This is just to say that there are some things that need to be taken into account when looking at a performance. Jillian Metcalfe played the lead, Grace. Watching the show, you might have been able to tell that she isn’t a fully-trained professional actor (neither was anyone else in the cast). You might also have been able to tell that she is not a fourth- or third-year drama student, and you may even have been able to tell that she was quite new to this. This, in my opinion, is great; getting involved in new things is how we learn, experience, and grow. The rest of the cast was: Benjamin Goodwin as Grace’s husband, Lark as Grace’s mother, Alisha VanWieren as Grace’s sister, Elizabeth Ferguson-Breaker as Jenny the maid, and James Stead, who personified the body. This was a pretty solid mix of more-or-less experienced actors, who all performed well. There were a few speed bumps along the way, but all of the actors worked through them to put on a good show. I think all of them had times when they were really on, in the moment, and playing their action. There were other moments when the actors seemed like they weren’t entirely living the show moment-by-moment, and plenty of moments in between. The cast did a good performance overall; they told me a story and I went along with them. There were a few moments I was unsure about. Stead, as the body, shuffling on and off of the stage, pulled me out of the action at times. Although, later on, when Grace goes back into the room and she sees the body while there is no one in the room, made the entrance and exit worth it. However, I think the execution of the entrance and exit could have been cleaner. There are a few other nitpicky moments that pulled me out of the action, but what I respect about all these moments is that, even though they aren’t choices I would have made, they were choices. The actors and the director decided something and committed to it. So, did this play do its job? Watson said she wanted the productions to “jolt us out of our own little worlds,” and while I was not reeling at the end of the play, I was wondering. Was the body real? Was the set a real place? What actually happened, and what events went on inside her head? I came out of the performance thinking about the play and about the concepts of perception and reality. I came out of the play thinking what a good job that group of students did of putting together a production and telling us a story.
VISITING ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
COLLEEN MURPHY Canadian award-winning playwright, film director, screenwriter, and librettist, Colleen Murphy, will share insight and wisdom with students and community guests at the University of Lethbridge, November 12 and 13. During her time on campus, Murphy will make classroom visits and present a playwriting workshop November 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. She will host a public talk, “Rage & Love,” on November 13 at 3 p.m. If you love tragedies, these are must-attend events. Colleen Murphy is a winner of the Governor General’s Award, the Enbridge playRites Award, and most recently the Sondra Kelly Award. She is also an award-winning filmmaker, and her distinct films have played in festivals around the world. Shortly after her stay here, she will be rushing off to Edmonton, where her play Pig Girl is currently premiering at Theatre Network. Colleen Murphy’s workshop and lecture is co-sponsored by the department of theatre and dramatic arts and the Women Scholars Speaker Series. In addition to engaging individuals at the university, she is also here to see rehearsals of EXIA, and support its author Meg Braem, a faculty member in the department of theatre and dramatic arts, who herself was just recently nominated for a Governor General’s Award for Drama for her published play BLOOD: A Scientific Romance. EXIA premieres November 19 and runs until November 23.
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Colleen grew up in Northern Ontario. She has two new plays premiering in 2013, Armstrong’s War at the Arts Club Theatre, and as mentioned earlier, Pig Girl at Theatre Network in Edmonton. Her play The December Man (L’homme de décembre) won the 2007 Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama, the CAA/Carol Bolt Award and the Enbridge playRites Award. Other plays include Beating Heart Cadaver (nominated for a 1999 Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama), The Piper, Down in Adoration Falling, and All Other Destinations are Cancelled. She won awards in the CBC Literary Competition for the radio dramas Fire-Engine Red and Pumpkin Eaters. In 2011 and 2012 she was the Canadian playwright-in-residence at Finborough Theatre in London, U.K where three of her plays were produced, including the world premiere of The Goodnight Bird. Since 2010, Colleen has been guest playwright at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton where she runs the Playwrights Forum with Brian Dooley. She was playwright-in-residence at Factory Theatre in Toronto in 2011 and 2012. Currently, she is working on two new plays, O’Brian Road and Snow Red, as well as a short film, Bloodsucker Waltz, and libretti for new operas with composers Aaron Gervais and Andrew Staniland. Her full-length opera with Gervais, The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G, will premiere in Toronto in 2015, and 2016 with Tapestry New Opera.
ARTs + ENTERTAINMENT FACULTY OF FINE ARTS VISITING ARTISTS • NOVEMBER - PERFORMANCES – LECTURES – WORKSHOPS – DIALOGUE IT’S NOVEMBER ALREADY AND MANY OF YOU MAY BE FEELING THE CRUNCH OF MIDTERMS AND DEADLINES. WHY NOT TAKE A SHORT BREATHER AND CHECK OUT SOME OF THE FANTASTIC VISITING ARTISTS THAT ARE HERE FOR A SHORT TIME AT THE UNIVERSITY? THESE ARE SOME OF THE TOP WHO’S WHO OF THE CREATIVE WORLD COMING RIGHT TO YOUR DOORSTEP. SOME OF THE ARTISTS WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THEIR PRACTICE, SOME WILL BE PERFORMING, AND SOME WILL BE PROVIDING WORKSHOPS. ALL OF THESE LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS ARE FREE TO ATTEND…AND WHO KNOWS, PERHAPS ONE OF THESE ENCOUNTERS WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. NOVEMBER 8 • WENDY COBURN
Art NOW lecture • Noon • Recital Hall • FREE to attend. Wendy Coburn's work explores representations of women in popular culture; ideas of nationhood; the roles of image, spectacle and myth in mediating cultural difference; queer and sexualized bodies; everyday objects; material culture; and human/animal relations. She will be part of an upcoming exhibition at the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery called Acting Out, which opens November 7 and is up until December 20. Opening reception: November 7 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
NOVEMBER 12 • MICHELLE MINKE AND DEANNA OYE
Music at Noon • 12:15 p.m. • Recital Hall • FREE to attend. In demand for her luscious vocals and artistic versatility, soprano Michelle Minke is quickly becoming the face of opera in Calgary. She will be accompanied by Dr. Deanna Oye, on piano, and will be performing a selection of Schubert, Faure, Rachmaninov, and Brittens’ infamous Cabaret songs.
NOVEMBER 12 & 13 • COLLEEN MURPHY
Co-sponsored by the Department of Theatre & Dramatic Arts and the Women Scholars Speaker Series. Known for her dramatic tragedies, award-winning playwright, filmmaker, and librettist Colleen Murphy will be hosting a playwriting workshop and a public talk, as well as visiting particular classes in the Department of Theatre & Dramatic Arts. •Playwriting Workshop – Wednesday, November 13 from 9 a.m. to noon, W422. FREE to attend. Please bring something you are currently working on. •Rage & Love – Public Lecture – Wednesday, November 13 at 3 p.m., David Spinks Theatre. FREE to attend.
NOVEMBER 15 • MITCHELL MIYAGAWA
Art NOW lecture • Noon • Recital Hall • FREE to attend. Mitch Miyagawa is the director/writer/co-producer of A Sorry State, a one-hour documentary for TVO. He was the winner of the Canadian Screenwriting Award for Documentary in 2013. A free screening of this documentary is taking place at the Galt Museum & Archives on November 14 at 7 p.m. Check out his documentary and listen to his talk.
NOVEMBER 18 • JACEK MALEC
Architecture & Design NOW • 6 P.M. • M1040 • FREE to attend. Jacek Malec’s lecture will offer a mini-survey of Monika Sosnowska’s architecturally structured installations and sculptures that transform a viewer's perception and experience of space.
NOVEMBER 19 • JASON BARRON
Music at Noon • 12:15 p.m. • Recital Hall • FREE to attend. Jason Barron is an emerging professional classical guitarist and is an active performer, adjudicator, instructor, and clinician.
NOVEMBER 22 • MICHELANGELO SABATINO
Art NOW lecture • Noon • Recital Hall • FREE to attend. Michelangelo Sabatino (Ph.D.) is associate professor and director of the History, Theory, and Criticism Program at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, University of Houston. He is a critic, designer, teacher, and historian. His lecture will explore the history and reception of the Canadian Pavilion in Venice.
NOVEMBER 25 • DIANE COLWELL
Art NOW lecture • Noon • Recital Hall • FREE to attend. Diane Colwell is on the Board of Directors at Stride Gallery and has her own visual art practice based in Calgary.
NOVEMBER 25 • SHAUNA LEVY
Architecture & Design NOW • 6 P.M. • M1040 • FREE to attend. Shauna Levy is the president of Design Exchange (DX) and co-founded the internationally-acclaimed Interior Design Show (IDS) in Toronto.
NOVEMBER 26 • CHRISTINE VANDERKOOY
Music at Noon • 12:15 p.m. • Recital Hall • FREE to attend. Praised for her “sensitive and passionate artistic interpretation,” pianist Dr. Christine Vanderkooy has performed solo recital tours of Canada and Europe. She will be performing works by Grieg, Brahms, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, and S. C. Eckhardt-Gramatté.
NOVEMBER 18 • JACEK MALEC
Art NOW lecture • Noon • Recital Hall • FREE to attend. Jacek Malec is chief curator and co-founder of Art Forum Gallery in Calgary. His lecture will discuss the works of Monika Sosnowska in the broader contexts of modern and contemporary sculpture in Poland and its international influences. Sosnowska currently has an exhibition up at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery until November 24. Admission at SAAG is $4 for students, or free on Sunday afternoons.
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TLFs
Question for the anti-choicers: If abortion is made illegal, what should the punishment be for women who get them? To who ever decided it would be appropriate to allow the anti-choice nutbags show their posters outside the PE building. Wtf thanks for taking away my choice of wanted to see that. Thank you to the kind students who defended the memories of those lost to ACTUAL genocide. To whoever made the sign saying abortion is genocide, you should be ashamed of yourself. Dear pro-life protestors on campus: first, move away from the Timmy’s line. Second, your posters are intrusive and affect others in a way you may never comprehend. Use your heads. I’m 112% sure that the pro-choice advocates are kicking the anti-abortionists asses when it comes to support from the u of l students. Dear ProLife People, Do you really think people are pro-choice b/c they don’t know what an aborted fetus looks like? Your pictures are vulgar & aren’t changing minds. Remember kids: Pro-choice does not automatically mean pro-abortion.
Thank you to the pro-choice people who realized that the pro-lifers pictures probably weren’t campus appropriate and acted as a censor wall. Made the walk back to my car nicer .
The compassion of “Pro-life” stops at birth, after which they’re Pro “telling-you-what-to-do”. You were no proponent for the lives of the daycare children exposed to your posters.
Hey Pro-Life group. A woman wants an abortion in the same way an animal caught in a trap wants to chew off its own leg. You get an opinion when you’ve had the experience.
Actually, yes, Pro-Life IS “Anti-Choice.” You are taking away a woman’s right to choose. You are AGAINST her right to choose. Pro-Choice means the decision can go either way.
The university doesn’t allow the penis/sexual artwork but it’s okay for me to walk past gruesome abortion pictures on my way to class at the PUBLIC bus loop? Think about it.
The SU needs to step up and take some initiative in protecting the Liberal Education that we are supposed to be receiving. The display of such a narrow view today was appalling.
Genocide is “the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, caste, religious, or national group”. Get your definitions straight Pro-Life.
Thanks, UofL, for allowing BOTH sides of a hot topic to be shown. You may not agree, it may be disturbing, but everyone is allowed an opinion. Right? Or is that only for liberals?
Abortions happen. If you don’t give women the right to choose, they will die of bloodloss and infection when they have to do it themselves, illequiped. Isn’t that murder?
Maybe we shouldn’t give the pro-lifers attention and they’ll go away. This is what they want, to get us worked up.
To the abortion protesters: Please refrain from shoving your opinion down everyone’s throats! As a student I’m disgusted, as a women I’m offended. Give your heads a shake.
Genocide TARGETS certain ethnic or racial groups (hate crimes). I doubt people get pregnant and have an abortion because they hate children. Proper associations =stronger arguments
I’m willing to bet that if I wanted to arrange a protest on pretty much any other subject, I would not be allowed to use the graphic techniques of the anti-abortion campaign. Dear anti-choice protestors: Thanks for reminding everyone how disgustingly insensitive you are. Don’t like abortions? Don’t have one. And DON’T try to take away my rights. Is it too much to ask that campus be a place where students are SAFE from harassment by bigots? It wasn’t for the UofC. Uleth admin need to take a stand and BAN “Genocide Project”! So… what were blown up pictures of pre-term child porn doing in an institution of education? The people that put those up need introspection, not a soapbox. I like how freedom of speech only applies to Liberals Actually, no, Pro-Life isn’t “anti-choice” because there are options for a mother after the birth of her child such as adoption. Project genocide terrifies me. I no longer feel safe at school, I feel like I’m being attacked. Sadly, I’m being 100% serious
TLFs
To the guy driving the white car and a windshield scraper: Winter is an embarrassing season for everyone. Let me know if you’re single and like coffee. Single redhead Gay guys unite! Why can’t we all just be friends? Unattractive gay guy Anyone else notice the massive lack of class in Spring 2014? Hello I’m in my 4th year and have no options! I JUST WANT TO GRADUATE >:[
To the guy with the kilt that sits outside of PE250 Rock on! You’re awesome! haha To the guy that offered to carry my booze back for me in the parking lot by Uhall: Thank you! haha. I didn’t get a chance to. Sincerely, the girl with absolutely no muscle mass. For you baby, I’d quit smoking, start flossing and lose 15 lbs. Just think about Looking for a windless place to smoke? Follow the butts!
Seeking buddies to ride snowboards w/ me! Come find me. I’m the girl w/ a broken ankle w/ blue & pink in my hair. I promise my ankle is healing & I’ll be ready to ride hard asap!
Whose meat do you have to beat to get more Vegan-friendly food choices on campus?
The energy drink machine should be replaced with wine To the Med. Hat “Lumberjack,” Sorry I lost you at the Halloween cab! If you want to hang out sometime, let me know -RHCPixie To the sad boy at the bottom of the stairs after the Zoo Halloween party: keep that chin up, you’re cute and good shit. Photos from the Halloween Cabaret at the Zoo are live on Facebook! Search up ULeth Photography Club.
To myself I am hot Due to the lack of computers in the library on campus this term, could people with laptops leave the work stations with computers open for people who need the computer? Kjel, you’re making the paper cool again!
Dear guy in the green dragon onesie, please find me so people can look at us weirdly together. -girl in the red polar bear onesie Hey Spencer! Thanks for the coffee and your support today! Keep being awesome! To the dude dressed as Goku looking all self conscious in the food court today: I think you’re so effin cool, keep your head up The overconfident clock Laying on the lawn Got ahead of itself
To the girl who left your polka dot panties behind Kainai… It would’ve been better if you’d hung them on the tree, but still made my morning! Keep on keepin on you classy lassie. We’re usually at the Zoo playing Magic between noon and 4. We use it as a study break, so if you ever wanna play with us just come say hello PS. Laura’s Golgori is brutal..
I am John Galt! Who is Alexander Galt?!
In a perfect world there’s someone out there confessing their deire for everone that wishfully reads through these mesages hopeing that they’re being thought about. not reality tho
SNOWJAM2014! Grab a group of friends and come party with UofA, UofC, NAIT, SAIT, & MRU in Fernie from Jan 23-26th. Go to http://campusvacations.com/trips/snowjam2014-204 to sign up now! $10 off: WILSONJ
To the lovely Libby @ Tim’s: you always serve our cups of joe with a smile! My students & I thank you for your warm and generous heart. Sincerely, “Librarian Lady”. NVM the dog therapy, what this school really needs is a ball pit. Who’s with me? To whom ever brought my phone to security thank you, you saved my life. -Lost without my Phone
We are super noobie Magic players in the Zoo sooo we would love amateurs and pros to join us for some casual fun Seriously dude? If you walk in during the middle of someone else’s class I’m pretty sure you’re the rude one. Not the prof for asking you to leave… I’m a 3rd year, I feel like I havent really meet that many people(I’m shy)and I don’t know what the hell I’m doing with my life.I feel so lost and lonely sometimes -Lonely&LostGirl Dear lonely&lost girl: Check out Greek life next semester and consider rushing!
CENSORSHIP and FREEDOM OF SPEECH: A DELICATE BALANCING ACT
SHUNA TALBOT President The Students’ Union is a non-partisan organization, with the exception of post-secondary issues. Recently, we had a controversial demonstration on our campus, which had many students upset about the Students’ Union’s lack of stance on the issue. Even with the backlash we received from this demonstration, we are connization to remain neutral on the pro-life versus pro-choice debate. Just a few years ago, the University of Victoria’s Students’ Society chose to take a stance on this issue and has since been paying for it. In 2011, the society declared themselves prochoice and attempted to disband the pro-life club, Youth Protecting Youth. Since then, YPY teamed up with the B.C. Civil Liberties Association to sue the university for illegal censorship and lack of academic freedom. Back on our own campus, many students and faculty members expressed their concern, not necessarily with the message and opinion the Lethbridge Students For Life were communicating, but rather the way they chose to communicate those opinions. This controversial experience has exposed an even larger issue revolving around censorship. How much is too much and who should be dictating what should and should not be censored? If policy was put
were not allowed to voice their opinions or concerns, would we be preventing productive debate around these topics? Post-secondary institutions are traditionally the perfect venue for these types of conversations, but in recent years some people argue that censorship has become a big issue on post-secondary campuses. A recent report submitted by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms measured the state of free speech at Canadian universities and the results were shocking.
Half the Canadian universities surveyed failed to provide student groups with enough freedom of speech. Although the University of Lethbridge was not included in this report, ensuring censorship is not an issue on our campus is a large priority for the ULSU. In previous years, we’ve experienced controversy to varying degrees surrounding art
displaying male genitalia, as well as other various poster campaigns. In almost every case the controversial items were not censored, but rather, the organizations or groups responsible for them chose to remove the items due to the negative reactions they were receiving. In neither case were the groups censored by the university or the Students’ Union. These comparisons may seem arbitrary and are not necessarily as concerning as the arguments against the controversial images displayed by the pro-life club, but we do want the issue of censorship to be discussed among students and staff. Although we want everyone on campus to feel safe and at ease, we also know how important discussion surrounding controversial issues is to university culture. This is a delicate balancing act that also has some legal connotations, as we cannot infringe on and individual’s freedoms. But how do we ensure these opinions or perspectives don’t infringe on another individual’s rights? understand that hearing our students’ concerns ing for any feedback regarding policy or procedure we can put into place that will satisfy all of our staff and students on campus, without creating censorship in our post-secondary institute. Any ideas, suggestions, or comments on the balancing act of censorship and freedom of speech are welcome. Please contact us at su.president@uleth.ca.
SPY vs SPY
A CHALLENGE TO BECOME THE UofL’S GREATEST SECRET AGENT ADAM LONG VP Student Affairs Spies: your mission, should you choose to accept it, will transform you from an ordinary student into a top secret agent over the span of a week. You will be tasked with the duty of capturing as many spies as you can in this campuswide game of tag. With the help of your spy kit you will be fully equipped with the ability to track down and stealthily locate your opponent. Your spy kit will include three different methods to tag your enemy along with a photo and the class schedule of the enemy spy. Once you’ve tagged your opponent you acquire the photos they’ve worked so diligently for. Your challenge is to become the top spy on campus by collecting all the photos, proving you are the highest ranking secret agent at the U of L. It’s a game of tag or be tagged. Can you handle the paranoia of watching over your
your adversary at the same time? Switching from Humans vs Zombies to Spy vs Spy turns a campus wide feeding frenzy into a game of superior stealth. It’s not about who can become the best zombie hunter, but rather who can survive the longest while collecting the most mug shots of other spies. An armband will identify you as a player of Spy vs Spy, so don’t underestimate the ability of civilians. You will be provided with safe zones such as bathrooms, the library, and classrooms, but this won’t stop other spies from patiently waiting for you so they can seize the opportunity to surprise attack you, knocking you out of the game. Be prepared to have someone watching your every move around every corner and hallway. Only one spy will rise above all the rest and prove they are worthy of the 2013 Spy vs Spy trophy. Prizes include a brand new snowboard, Coca Cola gear, a longboard, and Zoo gift cards.
Check-ins to report kills and tally up points will be held in the Zoo at 5 p.m. each day. Any spies that are still alive and fail to meet at these check points will be eliminated from all records of existence. Should you expose your identity at any point during the game, the Spy Academy will You are to become a spy. The loud and boisterous run the risk of becoming exposed and being eliminated quickly. This is not a game of the strongest soldier, but rather the smartest assassin. Sign-up for Spy vs Spy will take place next week from Nov. 12 - 15 in the SU Atrium and U-Hall Atrium from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. $2 gets you your spy kit, a picture of an opposing spy, their class schedule, and entry into the game with a chance to win big. Best of luck to all our spies, but let it be known: only one spy will reign supreme. This message will
COMIC
PLASTIC FANTASIC
MORAG RAHN-CAMPBELL
PUZZLES
6
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CES JOB LISTINGS WELCOME BACK EVERYONE! Let us introduce you to CES (Career & Employment Services). CES is a student service office dedicated to assisting you with your Career and Job Search needs. Weʼre within the Career Co-op Services Office in AH154, along with Applied Studies and the Management and Arts & Science Cooperative Education programs. CCS office hours are 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday. Workshops for November:
To see full workshop schedule and sign up go online to uleth.ca/ross/ces/workshops.
Some of our services include:
• CAREER ADVISING – whether you are in your first year or about to graduate; if you are wondering what you can do with your major; if your career path is the right one for you, or how to go about finding a job, come in to make an appointment with a Career Advisor! • CES JOB BOARD! – access part-time, summer, full-time, international, and volunteer opportunities! Check postings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from the comfort of your own home or on campus. For more information and how to access the site, go to our website or come in to our office in AH154. All of the positions listed below can be found on the CES Job Board uleth.ca/ross/ces/job-board, • JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES – do you have questions about resumes or interviews? We have handouts for you; drop by to sign up for a workshop, • CAREER & EMPLOYER INFORMATION SESSIONS – watch for upcoming career events and information session dates. Sessions start as early as Sep 10. • CAREER INFORMATION – we have employer information, website lists, info on professional entrance exams (e.g. LSAT, MCAT, DAT, GRE) and an array of career planning information.
CES resume & cover letter workshops:
Thursday, Nov. 14, 1:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
CES career exploration workshops:
Friday, Nov. 15, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, 1:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
CES job search & networking workshops:
Thursday, Nov. 7, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
CES interview techniques workshops:
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Go to our website for more detailed information on our services: uleth.ca/ross/ces For details of the postings and information on the application processes go to uleth.ca/ross/ces/job-board
November 7 - 13
L.A. BEAT LISTINGS labeat.ca
7 Hey Romeo
Show Tunes Singalong at the Bordello
Lethbridge Casino Country
The Bordello Pop
Open Mic at Inferno
Devonian Gardens with the Yeah Dads
Inferno Nightclub DJ
Hollerado and the Zolas with Pup
The Slice Rock
Emerson Drive with Amber Bauer
9
James Oldenburg
July Talk with Thomas DʼArcy The Slice Rock
Studio 54 Rock
Daniel Huscroft and Old Yale with JJ Shiplett
Cal Toth
Ricʼs Grill Jazz
Steve Coffey and the Lokels with Tin and the Toad and Petunia
Mocha Cabana Jazz
Geomatic Attic Folk
Lethbridge Folk Club Open Mic
Coal Creek Boys
Wolf's Den Folk
Lethbridge Casino Country
Coal Creek Boys
Jay Bowcott
Open Mic at Jimmyʼs
Tallest to Shortest
Lethbridge Casino Country
Jimmyʼs Pub Rock
Dave McCann and the Firehearts
The Slice Jazz
Lebowski Bash with Autobahn aka the Raw Dogs HB's Lounge (Holiday Bowl) Rock
Mocha Cabana Jazz
James Oldenburg
Cité des Prairies | Société du centre francophone World/Reggae
Open Jam at Studio
Average Joe's Sports Bar/ Joe's Garage Country
Owl Acoustic Lounge Folk
8
Owl Acoustic Lounge Alternative
10 Karim Oulette with Paul Cournoyer
Owl Acoustic Lounge Folk
The Slice Rock
Mic at Owl Acoustic Lounge with 11 Open Alex Marusyk Owl Acoustic Lounge Folk
12 Open Mic at the Slice The Slice Rock
13 Bridgette Yarwood and Jason Eveleigh Ricʼs Grill Jazz
Drama Nutz Flop or Funny Old Time Radio night NAAG Studio Comedy
L.A. Beat Open Jam
Owl Acoustic Lounge Rock
Craig Cardiff The Slice Folk