The Sheaf - March 14, 2013

Traces of Black Rock Terrace CULTURE 10

Sheaf the

.com

NEWS 2

The country’s best hockey teams get ready for the University Cup

Saskatoon’s only indoor skateboarding park unsure of future

SPORTS 7

SPORTS 9

NEWS

Silencing hate

With 13 new episodes, House of Cards is hard to stop watching

Sex reassignment surgery is necessary health care

CULTURE 12

OPINIONS 16

5 Days for the Homeless not as helpful as we think

OPINIONS

Don’t worry, this won’t hurt a bit: Accreditors check up on med school

14 March, 2013 | The University of Saskatchewan student newspaper since 1912

raisa pezderic/photo editor

Anti-gay and anti-abortion crusader Bill Whatcott demonstrates with supporters during his latest visit to the U of S.

Ultraconservative activist clashes with students in wake of Supreme Court ruling on hate speech DARYL HOFMANN Senior News Editor Late in the afternoon near the end of February, Bill Whatcott sat at his office in the quiet city of Weyburn, Sask. He was having a bad day.

That morning, Canada’s top court ruled that two anti-gay flyers he distributed in Saskatoon years earlier violated Saskatchewan’s Human Rights Code and met the legal definition of hate speech.

“The idea of criminalizing the disagreement with homosexuality and labelling it ‘hate speech’ is a big concern for me,” Whatcott said Feb. 27 over the phone from the sparse farming community of about 10,000 residents in the southeast corner of the province.

“It takes away the right to say what is true. It certainly is an infringement on the Judeo-Christian worldview. There certainly is a civil liberties element to this.... I feel that I can’t do everything. I can’t deal with every issue. But I can focus on this and I believe this is what God called me to focus on.”

Despite the Supreme Court ruling, Whatcott — a born-again Christian from Ontario who has spent a little over a decade on the Prairies preaching a radical socialconservative doctrine — wasn’t about to bow out.

Just one week later, he was on campus at the University of Saskatchewan passing out his latest flyer, “Sodomites and the Supreme Court of Canada.” After making

his way through the tunnel and Arts Building handing out pamphlets, Whatcott entered the law school.

Matt Straw, a law student, was studying in a private student office when Whatcott strolled by. He said Whatcott pushed open the door to the office without knocking and handed him a flyer.

“I followed him out to the hallway as he was going into the lounge and said, ‘You’re not welcome here. You need to leave,’ and I gave him back the paper,” Straw said.

After a brief spat over the legality of Whatcott’s actions, Straw crumpled a handful of flyers as Whatcott snapped an unexpected photograph, which he later posted to his website.

“He said I swore and insulted him but that never actually happened,” Straw said. “I was definitely telling him to leave, and I was not being particularly friendly, but I did not swear or insult him at any time.”

Following the incident with Straw, Whatcott drew the ire of at least two more law students, and took photos of them as well. In a second image posted to Whatcott’s website that day, a female student in the law building is giving the camera the middle finger while a male student stands in foreground. Whatcott claims the man called him a “butt fucker” and “cock sucker.”

Brent Penner, director of Campus Safety, said officers received “a few calls from people on campus” concerned with Whatcott’s activity before asking him not to distribute flyers inside classrooms and office buildings.

In light of the Supreme Court ruling, Penner and senior university administrators have met to formalize

an “appropriate” response to the farright Christian activist’s intermittent presence on campus.

On the day of Whatcott’s most recent visit, President Ilene BuschVishniac sent out a campuswide email titled, “A Safe, Positive and Inclusive Campus.”

“We will not tolerate discriminatory or harassing behaviour or materials in our work and learning environments,” BuschVishniac wrote.

“We value diversity and will defend it — diversity of political views, religious beliefs, sexual identities, ethnic backgrounds, and racial identities included.”

Her message went on to praise the Supreme Court’s decision in recognizing “that hate speech is not protected by freedom of expression” and lists nine separate initiatives or actions the university has undertaken in recent years that show “high standards for a positive, inclusive and safe university.”

After being asked to move outside

by Campus Safety, Whatcott and four older supporters stood on the corner of Bottomley Avenue and College Drive holding graphic posters of aborted fetuses and signs that read, “abortion: execution of innocent babies,” and, “abortion is murder.”

“I handed out about 100 pamphlets on campus and about another 150 in the [surrounding] neighbourhood,” Whatcott said while demonstrating near the busy intersection.

“Most students took my flyers without comment; some said thank you, but not necessarily out of support.”

Silencing hate

5

continued on ...>

jordan dumba

Commerce students “raise awareness” in the Arts Tunnel.

DAN LEBLANC Every year we see business students don orange T-shirts and ask for donations during 5 Days for the Homeless. Most people, if they think about it at all, consider 5 Days a helpful philanthropic exercise. However, it may be time to re-evaluate this practice and see if it actually does as much good as much as we expect it to.

5 Days was founded at the University of Alberta School of Business in 2005. In that first year, three business students slept on the U of A campus for five nights. The campaign has since grown in both size and support, with 26 business faculties across the country participating this year. Since 2005, a total of over $975,000 has been raised for charities across Canada.

On the campaign’s website, the organizers write that “the students identified homelessness as a growing issue and wanted

to give back to the community while at the same time changing the negative perception that business students are greedy and do not care about the community.” By these standards, the 5 Days campaign has no doubt been a rousing success at the University of Saskatchewan, and countrywide.

The charity for 5 Days Saskatoon is Egadz, a communitybased organization that seeks to help “hard-to-serve” youth in Saskatoon. There is no doubt that the work Egadz does engages people classified as homeless, and those who are housing-insecure.

(While “homeless” is the phrase used most frequently, most people associate that word with people living on the streets long-term.

Someone can still be homeless or houseless while living in shortterm housing or in a shelter.)

5 Days for the Homeless continued on

15...>

2

NEWS

| 14 March, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

Sheaf Minister may provide U of R students with amnesty: Lawyer the

.com

Editor-in-Chief: Kevin Menz, editor@thesheaf.com Production Manager: Jared Beattie, layout@thesheaf.com Senior News Editor: Daryl Hofmann, news@thesheaf.com Associate News Editor: Anna-Lilja Dawson, associatenews@ thesheaf.com Photography Editor: Raisa Pezderic, photo@thesheaf.com Graphics Editor: Samantha Braun, graphics@thesheaf.com

Culture Editor: Jenna Mann, arts@thesheaf.com Sports Editor: Cole Guenter, sports@thesheaf.com Opinions Editor: Tannara Yelland, opinions@thesheaf.com Copy Editor: Tannara Yelland, copy@thesheaf.com Web Editor: Bryn Becker, web@thesheaf.com Ad & Business Manager: Shantelle Hrytsak, ads@thesheaf.com

Board of Directors: Danielle Siemens, Pete Yee, David Konkin, Ishmael N. Daro, Lewis Casey, Andrew Roebuck Index Photo: Brett Smith Editing Assistance: HenryTye Glazebrook

Office Numbers: General 966-8688 Advertising 966-8688 Editorial 966-8689

Corporation Number #204724 GST Registration Number 104824891 Second Class Mailing Registration. #330336 The Sheaf is printed at Transcontinental Printing Ltd. 838 56th St. Saskatoon, SK Circulation this issue: 4,500

The Sheaf is a non-profit incorporated and student-body funded by way of a direct levy paid by all part- and full-time undergraduate students at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S). Membership in the Society is open to undergraduate students at the U of S, but all members of the U of S community are encouraged to contribute to the newpaper.

Opinions expressed in the Sheaf do not necessarily reflect those of the Sheaf Publishing Society Inc. The Sheaf reserves the right to refuse to accept or print any material deemed unfit for publication, as determined by the Editor-in-Chief. The Sheaf is published weekly during the academic year and monthly from May through August. The Editor-in-Chief has the right to veto any submission deemed unfit for the Society newspaper. In determining this, he/she will decide if the article or artwork would be of interest to a significant portion of the Society and benefit the welfare of Sheaf readers.

The Sheaf will not publish any racist, sexist, homophobic, or libelous material.

Corrections

In last week’s article, “Engineering students’ society under the magnifying glass,” we wrote, “In the first round of elections, three of the four presidential candidates were current executive members of the SESS.” Only one presidential candidate was a current member of the SESS. We also wrote that three members of the Elections Returning Committee “must be graduate engineering students.”

ERC members can be both undergraduate and graduate students. And we wrote that the SESS board of directors issued a warning to one candidate about vandalizing an election banner.

It was the Elections Returning Officer who issued the warning and not the SESS board of directors. We apologize for these errors.

ANNA-LILJA DAWSON Associate News Editor Two Nigerian students from the University of Regina who face deportation are still nervously holed up in a church while their lawyer, Kay Adebogun, works to keep the case a top priority with government officials.

Adebogun, who represents Victoria Ordu and Ihuoma Amadi, spoke at the University of Saskatchewan March 11 about recent political issues concerning immigrants and refugees in Canada and the two female students’ deportation story.

In 2011, Ordu was hired to do product demonstrations in a Regina Walmart. She worked for a couple of weeks but quit as soon as she found out that the Social Insurance Number she was given did not allow her to work offcampus. Weeks after she quit, the Canadian Border Services Agency arrested her.

Amadi began working at the same Walmart a couple weeks after Ordu quit, also without a work permit. She was arrested at work and escorted out by the CBSA. The women received orders to leave in November 2011, which gave them 30 days to leave Canada of their own accord. They stayed so they could finish their studies at the U of R without losing their full scholarships from the Nigerian government.

Ordu and Amadi received deportation orders June 19, 2012, and immediately sought refuge in a Regina church. Almost nine months have passed and the women are still in hiding.

Adebogun informed U of S students that changes have recently been proposed to Citizenship and Immigration Canada that will allow international students at some institutions to work offcampus without a work permit.

CIC will also hold the authority to request confirmation from international students that they are registered as full-time students. If passed, the changes will come into effect in January 2014.

Currently, international students with student permits are only required to show intent of enrolling

raisa pezderic/photo editor

Kay Adebogun, the lawyer of Victoria Ordu and Ihuoma Amadi, shared their deportation story with U of S students on March 11.

Adebogun hopes that keeping their fight relevant will give the Nigerian students a shot at staying in Canada and finishing school.

in classes to stay in Canada, and do not need to be enrolled throughout the duration of their stay.

The changes made to the CIC will help international students find employment, but they will not affect Ordu or Amadi’s case, Adebogun told the Sheaf. The students’ deportation orders overrule anything else.

Amadi and Ordu have not denied their infraction, but are seeking a lighter punishment than deportation. Adebogun says the government should dismiss their case and that nine months of neardetention is punishment enough.

“Considering the circumstances, the minister should be able to grant them amnesty on this one,” Adebogun said.

“We’re hoping time will heal the wound.”

For the time being, Adebogun knows that Regina-area Members of the Legislative Assembly and Members of Parliament have been lobbying on behalf of the Nigerian students’ cause and he will continue pressuring the government to be sympathetic, something which may be hard to do with the passage of Bill C-31.

Adebogun’s March 11 lecture was focused on Bill C-31, the Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act. He discussed both

the act and the effects it is likely to have on refugees coming to Canada. Bill C-31 passed in June 2012.

When entering Canada, people hoping for refugee status must claim that they are refugees and give supporting reasons for their case. With Bill C-31, claims to enter the country as a refugee can be denied if the country of origin is on list of countries considered “safe.” Designated countries tend to have low numbers of refugees coming from them, are recognized as respectful of human rights and may provide state protection for their citizens.

If a refugee’s claim is denied, they can be immediately detained.

Adebogun is critical of the new detention laws, saying that anybody, including children, can be detained for an undetermined amount of time, from days to years, and that the detention centres scattered across the country are like “mini prisons.”

Bill C-31 gives the minister of citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism the right to revoke refugee status if that individual’s country of origin is later designated safe. If refugees were misrepresented while acquiring their permanent residency or refugee status, either

may be revoked and the person may be ordered to leave.

After spending several years in Canada, refugees are often well-established in the country. At the lecture, Adebogun expressed concern that parents who have had their refugee rights revoked might be ordered to leave while their Canadian children would be forced to stay.

Other changes in Bill C-31 include reducing the time refugees have to submit their basis of claim to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada to 15 days following the initial claim they make upon entry. Hearings for refugees from designated countries of origin must be held within 45 days after a case is referred to the board, while other refugees have 60 days.

Adebogun said that imposing such time limits will result in refugees being unfairly denied a legal stay in Canada.

“It will lead to poor preparation, extra work for the Council of Refugees,” Adebogun said. “In the process of trying to push some of these cases through, a thorough job will not be done.”

There’s a big world on the other side of the classroom walls, and we believe it’s an important part of the curriculum. Join us and discover a world of inspiring and interesting places – like China. edwardsMBA.com

EDWARDS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

13SEB002_MBA Print – Go Places 1/4 page – 10.2” x 3.85” The Sheaf

MBA

NEWS

| thesheaf.com | 14 March, 2013 |

3

Campus crime report Incidents at the University of Saskatchewan involving Campus Safety from March 4 - 11

raisa pezderic/photo editor

Accreditors are back on campus to check in on the struggling U of S medical school, which is currently without a permanent dean and in the midst of a massive restructuring.

Medical school looks to duck probation DARYL HOFMANN Senior News Editor Two years after warning the College of Medicine that it would risk losing accreditation if it did not restructure its operations, a small team of inspectors has returned to the University of Saskatchewan to examine the changes the medical school has made so far.

The team, from the committee responsible for standardizing and accrediting major medical programs across North America, was on campus March 12 and 13 to meet with the acting dean of the college, faculty and students to assess how the school is resolving 10 areas of underperformance accreditors red-flagged in March 2011. At the time, the school was told it had 12 to 15 months to begin fixing the issues.

If the committee decides enough progress has been made, the warning could be lifted from the college. On the other hand, if the committee is not satisfied with the situation, either the warning will continue or full-on probation will be imposed. In rare circumstances, accreditation could be denied or withdrawn.

At the earliest, the results of the visit will be announced this summer.

“Students have been actively voicing concerns, working with the college on the improvement of the 10 standards of issue,” the Student Medical Society of Saskatchewan wrote in a press release March 11.

The 10 infractions cited include an overall lack of structure, unclear professor responsibilities, decentralized student reviews, a delay in reporting students’ final marks, informal student review procedures and insufficient study space at the campus in Regina.

After more than a year of backand-forth deliberations between college faculty and university administrators, both sides agreed to a sweeping restructuring plan in January. The new structure will split the college into three departments — research, education and faculty engagement — each with its own vice-dean.

Since receiving the green light to restructure, the college has formed ad-hoc groups and worked closely with the university to develop an action plan.

But some, including U of S President Ilene Busch-Vishniac, have doubts that enough progress

has been made.

Busch-Vishniac, who’s publicly declared the medical school her number one priority, told the StarPhoenix last month she is unsure the college can avoid probation.

“There is a good probability that we will encounter resistance from accreditors,” Busch-Vishniac said.

If probation is issued, “it means we take a hit,” she said. “Nobody wants to be on probation. It means we are found lacking.”

In addition to solving accreditation issues, the restructuring plan also aims to boost faculty research outputs and students written test scores, both of which fail in comparison to peer undergraduate medical programs in Canada, known as the U-15 — Canada’s now 17 leading medicaldoctoral research universities.

On average, medical schools countrywide account for about 50 per of all research done at universities. In comparison, the U of S medical school only accounts for about 10 per cent of all research on campus.

The reason, Busch-Vishniac said in an editorial interview with the Sheaf, is that there are about 250 college faculty members and

roughly 100 of them are not doing any research or teaching. Instead they are focused solely on clinical practice.

Without medical schools as part of the equation, the U of S ranks around “the middle of the pack” in total research compared to other U-15 universities, Busch-Vishniac says. With medicine, the U of S plummets to dead last.

“Before we can resolve our issues in the College of Medicine we really have to partner well with the health regions so we can present a solution to government that is a win-win for everyone that is involved,” the president said.

The college’s issues have had a direct impact on students, who rank last in the country in written test scores. To combat the poor performance, the college has recently proposed more stringent requirements for acceptance into the undergraduate program.

“Our priority must be the training of medical professionals and research and discovery so that we open new doors in medicine,” Busch-Vishniac said.

Infractions issued: • 4 Operate unregistered vehicle • 1 Alcohol in a motor vehicle • 1 Re-entering premises • 1 Drive without a licence • 1 Disobey stop sign • 1 Learner drive unaccompanied • 1 Disobey traffic control device • 1 Speeding • 1 Unlawfully display blue or green light on vehicle Other reports: • Campus Safety officers dealt with a person distributing leaflets in university buildings on March 7. The man was asked to leave the building and was told he was able to hand out material outside. The man was cooperative and left the building and was not seen trying to enter other university buildings.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.

IMMIGRATE TO CANADA PERMANENTLY. The Canadian Experience Class program offers foreign graduates with Canadian work experience the opportunity to apply and stay in Canada permanently. Visit immigration.gc.ca/cec for more details and see if you’re eligible.

ÉTUDIANTS ÉTRANGERS.

IMMIGREZ EN PERMANENCE AU CANADA. Le programme de la catégorie de l’expérience canadienne offre aux diplômés étrangers ayant une expérience de travail au Canada la possibilité de faire une demande en vue d’habiter en permanence au Canada. Visitez le site immigration.gc.ca/cec pour en savoir plus et pour voir si vous êtes admissible.

4

NEWS

| 14 March, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

USSU prepares for another election season ANNA-LILJA DAWSON Associate News Editor Brace yourselves students: University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union general elections are about to get underway.

Campaigning for USSU elections kicks off March 18, with the vote on March 27 and 28 on PAWS. All undergrads are eligible to cast a ballot for each of the four executive positions as well as the member (or members) of students’ council for their college and the six student positions in University Senate.

The executive consists of the president and the vice-presidents of academic affairs, operations and finance and student affairs.

All executive members contribute to the USSU’s overall direction and make decisions that affect nearly 20,000 undergraduate students at the U of S. The president oversees the

raisa pezderic/photo editor

Former USSU preisdent Scott Hitchings (left) stands with current president Jared Brown. By 4:30 p.m. March 28 we’ll find out who will take the helm next.

direction of the USSU, is the chief spokesperson for the union, sits on a number of committees and is a member of the university’s Board of Governors.

The vice-president of academic affairs is responsible for all academic issues regarding students and sits on University Council.

The responsibilities of the vice-president of operations and finance include preparing the annual budget, handling campus groups and issues of transportation or transit.

Student housing, sustainability, parking and student health and safety are some of the responsibilities of the vicepresident of student affairs.

Members of student council are student representatives from every college as well as from the indigenous and international student communities. Councillors attend weekly University Student Council meetings and sit on various committees, boards and commissions that help the executive with the direction of the USSU. There are six positions available for students to sit on University Senate. Among other things, the senate is responsible for recommendations to establish or abolish departments, schools or colleges and for the creation of

bylaws for examination conduct.

Four executive forums will be held across campus where candidates for the executive positions will answer students’ questions. The forums will be held March 20 in the Engineering Student Lounge, March 21 at Louis’, March 25 in Upper Place Riel and the following day in the Edwards School of Business Reading Room.

Last year’s voter turnout was 16 per cent, up eight per cent from the year before.

Polls close at 4 p.m. March 28 and the results will be announced at 4:30 p.m. in Place Riel.

For the most up-to-date news coverage during the USSU general election campaigns, visit thesheaf.com.

‘I do not have sleepless nights:’ defence lawyer Edward Greenspan KATHRYN WEATHERLEY The Ryersonian (Ryerson University) TORONTO (CUP) — Tougher jail sentences don’t prevent more crimes, says criminal defence lawyer Edward Greenspan.

During a lecture at Ryerson, the lawyer took a strong stand against the current state of the Canadian justice system.

“Somebody who commits a crime doesn’t think they are going to get caught,” Greenspan said at the second annual speaker series “Law, Business, Politics: The Real World,” hosted by the school’s Ted Rogers School of Management’s law and business department. He notes that increasing a crime’s penalty isn’t motivation enough to deter white-collar crime, which is his speciality. “ ‘Tough on crime’ is meaningless,” Greenspan said, claiming that governments are just giving the public a false sense of security when they take the familiar position. Instead, he says, it’s the likelihood of actually getting caught that lowers crime.

Greenspan also spoke specifically about general deterrence, which makes examples of convicts to prevent similar crimes, and its lack of success. He cited the death penalty in some American states as an example to demonstrate his point, calling it “a horrendous punishment that is unnecessary.”

The New York Times has reported that the homicide rates in states with the death penalty are roughly the same as those without it.

Some Canadians think life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 25 years is not a tough enough sentence in cases like serial killer and rapist Paul Bernardo’s, but Greenspan disagrees.

kathryn weatherley/the ryersonian

Defence lawyer Edward Greenspan recently lambasted the current state of the Canadian justice system during a lecture at Ryerson University in Toronto.

“Why are people so hell-bent on believing the parole board isn’t going to do their job?” asked Greenspan, who advised the audience not to worry about Bernardo — he isn’t getting out anytime soon.

He went on to say some people are baffled by how he can stand in front of a judge and argue that his clients are innocent of the heinous crimes they are accused of. During his 40 years in the field, Greenspan has defended the likes of Conrad Black, Garth Drabinsky, both of whom have been convicted of numerous accounts of fraud, and Karlheinz Schreiber, who was imprisoned for tax evasion.

“I do not have sleepless nights,”

Greenspan said.

Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, he is not representing a criminal, but a person who is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Greenspan shares a similar philosophy with doctors who would do everything in their power to save anyone who comes into their operating room, regardless of the person’s past.

If his client claims to be innocent, he doesn’t question them — he just defends them.

“We don’t make moral decisions about our clients,” Greenspan said.

FOR RENT

Phoenix Hills Apartments

306.374.4333 Vienna Apartments

830 & 840 Idylwyld Drive

306 20th Street East - Downtown

Non-furnished Suites 1 BD - $830 2 BD - $920 to $970 3 BD - $1035 to $1085 Includes F/S, water and heat Free parking Walking distance to SIAST

Non-furnished Executive Suites 1 BD - $950 2 BD - $1095 Studio - $810 (own furnace & air) F/S, D/W, W/D and A/C inc Parking $40 per mo Extra Storage $20 per mo Electricity and Gas not included

NEWS

| thesheaf.com | 14 March, 2013 |

Silencing hate

1

5

continued from

Whatcott was halfway through a four-day barrage of Saskatchewan and Alberta universities, protesting the Supreme Court ruling against him. He visited the University of Regina the day earlier, where he was chased and yelled at by two women who tried to steal his flyers.

In response to Busch-Vishniac’s email about the university’s notolerance policy for hate speech, Whatcott said administrators would be unable to silence him. He had his lawyer on hand in case he was arrested or detained.

After being fined by the U of R in 2001 for placing anti-abortion flyers on car windshields, Whatcott had the penalty overturned in an appeal.

A few years later Whatcott filed a defamation lawsuit against the university and eventually settled.

“Really, if the university is trying to get rid of hatred they might need to clean up some of their more leftwing students,” he said, snarkily referring to the law student who confronted him earlier that day.

“As long as universities are taking public funds and are shaping public policy, they can’t hide behind [the idea that a university is] ‘private property’ the way a supermarket can.”

Across the street, a group of six pro-choice supporters began holding posters along College Drive to counter Whatcott’s display.

“We are out in support of the Supreme Court decision against his hate speech,” said Amy Stefanson, a Saskatoon elementary school teacher and U of S alum. “Just to let him know that the spreading of hate is not tolerated in our city, on our campus, in our province, anywhere.”

Although Whatcott feels strongly about the immorality of homosexuality and abortions, he says that’s not why he’s on campus.

“I am not so much mad at homosexuals,” he said, claiming

to have gay friends who choose to live chaste lives. “It’s the silencing of speech, the loss of religious freedom and the freedom of my fellow Christians. That is why I am standing here.”

As Whatcott and his supporters began packing up toward the end of the afternoon, an unknown male student spit in his face. Whatcott retaliated, hitting the student in the face.

“Sorry about that, guys,” Whatcott said to his supporters while scurrying across College Drive immediately after the incident. “But spitting in my face really gets me mad. I’ve never done that to them.”

The case The two single-page flyers at the heart of the Supreme Court of Canada ruling, which were distributed to Saskatoon homes by Whatcott in 2001, decry the teaching of homosexuality in Saskatoon’s public schools.

Titled “Keep Homosexuality out of Saskatoon’s Public Schools!” and “Sodomites in our Public Schools,” the flyers repeatedly quote religious scripture and refer to gay people as “sodomites.”

“The Church of Jesus Christ is blessed with many ex-sodomites and other types of sex addicts who have been able to break free of their sexual bondage and develop wholesome and healthy relationships,” one pamphlet reads.

“Our children will pay the price in disease, death, abuse and ultimately eternal judgment if we do not say no to the sodomite desire to socialize your children into accepting something that is clearly wrong.”

The Supreme Court, after first hearing the case in 2011 and deliberating for more than a year, ruled in a rare, unanimous decision

The rocky past of Bill Whatcott

1

3

In Whatcott’s relentless pursuit for media attention, he once appeared on the The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and was mocked as a closeted gay man for hosting a Heterosexual Family Pride Parade.

As a young man, Whatcott lived on the streets and would sometimes have sex with men to support his drug addiction — a period in his life he now deeply regrets. He’s been jailed “20 to 30” times throughout his life, he says.

“Heck in jail I find that some of the inmates produce more common sense than some people who sit in social science classes at university for too long.”

2

Whatcott has repeatedly run for political office, losing mayoral races in both Regina and Edmonton.

Sheaf the

.com

to uphold Saskatchewan’s human rights law and deem Whatcott’s two anti-gay flyers hate speech.

The judgment, delivered by Supreme Court Justice Marshall Rothstein, found the two flyers not only offensive and inflammatory but also possibly “exposing homosexuals to detestation and vilification.”

“A prohibition of hate speech will not eliminate the emotion of hatred from the human experience,” Rothstein wrote. “Employed in the context of human rights legislation, these prohibitions aim to eliminate the most extreme type of expression that has the potential to incite or inspire discriminatory treatment against protected groups on the basis of a prohibited ground.”

The case polarized the country — and the media — over the argument of censorship. To some, the judgment bolsters the rights of vulnerable groups, while to others, the decision is a blow to the constitutionally protected right to freedom of speech.

Nevertheless, the unanimous decision sets a strong new precedent for Canada’s legal approach in dealing with hate speech.

Ken Norman is a law professor at the U of S and former chief commissioner of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commision. As chief commissioner from 1978 to 1982, he oversaw the drafting of the province’s human rights code, which Whatcott violated.

He firmly backs the high court’s decision and says it draws a clear distinction between Canada’s freedom of expression laws and those in America, where speech must invoke a clear and present danger to be deemed hateful.

“It shows we are committed in this country to diversity,” Norman said.

“That commitment means that

those who are a minority and are marginalized deserve some protection by the state when they are being essentially silenced by language that shows that they are despised or pseudo-human.”

Essentially, the Supreme Court has stated that freedom of speech applies up to the point that it constitutes an effort to dehumanize a specific group — something Whatcott did in his flyers by suggesting gay people were diseasebearing predators and less than human, Norman said.

“The crucial step, it seems to me, is that freedom of expression is protected until you get to point of starting what amounts to propaganda of dehumanization.”

The Supreme Court exonerated the social-conservative activist for two additional flyers that were also passed out around the same time.

Both were simply photocopies of classified advertisements in which men were seeking sexual relations with other men, and both included brief handwritten introductions.

For the two flyers that were deemed hate speech, Whatcott has been ordered to pay a total of $7,500 to two individuals who were offended back in 2001. They are the two people who originally brought the complaints forward to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. He also owes thousands of dollars in court fees to his lawyer.

“I’m on the hook for tens of thousands,” Whatcott said. “That’s so big that it will never ever get collected.”

If Whatcott continues to have human rights complaints lodged against him, and refuses to pay his fines, there’s a chance he’s ordered to serve jail time.

“Yeah, that’s possible,” he said.

“I’m not looking forward to that.”

4

2001 and 2002 — Over several months, Bill Whatcott delivered four separate anti-gay flyers throughout Saskatoon and Regina. The flyers lashed out at homosexuality, and in particular, the “teaching of homosexuality” in Saskatoon’s public schools.

2002 — Four individual complaints were filed against Whatcott with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, which then slapped the Christian activist with a $17,500 fine and launched a further investigation.

2005 — Following the investigation, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal met and found Whatcott’s four flyers in violation of section 14 of the province’s human rights code.

The flyers were deemed to incite hatred and discrimination.

2007 — The Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench judges the four flyers and upholds the ruling of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal. Whatcott appeals the decision.

Feb. 2010 — The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal overturns the tribunal’s initial ruling that Whatcott’s flyers incite hatred. Rather, the court calls the flyers a “polemical and impolite” contribution to the public and says they should not be censored.

The Saskatchewan tribunal appeals to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Oct. 2011 — The Supreme Court begins hearing “Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission vs.

William Whatcott.”

Feb. 2013 — After deliberating for 16 months, the Supreme Court rules that two of the four flyers constitute hate speech. Whatcott is exonerated for two of the flyers and ordered to pay $7,500 in damages.

His favourite drop-spot for the flyers are university campuses, particularly in and around the area of the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina, where he claims to have passed out hundreds of thousands.

Annual General Meeting 4:00 pm Thursday, March 21, 2013 Room 206 Arts

FREE PIZZA

Any proposed motions, changes to this agenda, or amendments to the Society Bylaws must be submitted to the Chair of the Board of Directors, in writing, by 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 15th to: The Sheaf Publishing Society Inc. Room 108 MUB 93 Campus Drive Saskatoon SK, S7N 5B2

Membership with Impact

How it played out:

The Sheaf is seeking candidates with established business, ethical and leadership expertise to join its Board of Directors. Potential candidates must be University of Saskatchewan students. They should be aware that Board of Director meetings are regularly scheduled once a month from September - April.

Additional meetings are scheduled as required. Directors will be elected at the AGM.

1) Call to Order 2) Call for Quorum

A G E N D A

3) Approval of Agenda 4) Approval of Minutes - April 2, 2012 5) Society Report 6) Financial Report -Auditor’s Report - Reappointment of Auditor 7) Proposed Bylaw Amendments 8) Election of Directors 9) Other Business 10) Questions and Comments 11) Adjournment

SPORTS

6

| 14 March, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

Dog Watch: Dexter Janke KIMBERLEY HARTWIG Dexter Janke is no stranger to the comeback.

Janke has spent three years with the Huskies football squad, but because he red-shirted his first year and was injured last season he has only used up one of his five years of eligibility. The running back had last season abruptly cut short when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus tear in a pre-season game last fall. It wasn’t the first time Janke has suffered a setback like this.

When Janke was playing football at Austin O’Brien High School in his hometown of Edmonton, he suffered the same left-knee ACL tear in grades 11 and 12. Because it had already happened twice, when the doctor told Janke he tore his ACL for a third time after last year’s game, he could hardly believe it.

“At first, I was really crushed,” Janke said of his most recent injury.

But “I realized that it’s not the end of the world. I’ve come back before.”

Janke believes that knowing what to expect during rehab is making the recovery process easier this time around.

Now six months post-operation, Janke is excited about returning to the field.

“I can’t wait,” Janke said of his return to action, which will be during the team’s spring camp.

The five-foot-ten running back says what he misses most about being away from the game is the competition. It’s that factor that makes him enjoy playing basketball and other sports in his free time.

I like doing “anything competition-oriented,” he said.

This competitive spirit has undoubtedly helped Janke become a great athlete and overcome the injuries that have plagued him throughout his career.

The road back from injury is never an easy one, but Janke is hoping that the “third time is the charm,” and that this will be the last time he will have to face the struggle of physical rehab.

Janke grew up around football and said his dad was his inspiration for getting into the sport.

“My dad played, and watching him made me want to play,” Janke said.

He studies sociology but is hoping he won’t have to use his

degree anytime soon. The tailback has aspirations to continue playing football after university. Hoping to be drafted into the Canadian Football League, Janke says if it doesn’t happen for him in the CFL he would even travel to Europe to play.

Janke chose to move to Saskatoon for university because of the football program. For him the decision to play for the Huskies was an easy one, saying he feels continued support from the community, the team and head coach Brian Towriss about his potential in football.

Janke has a team-oriented attitude and sees the team more as a brotherhood than a just a random group of elite athletes.

“Everyone wants to see everyone [else] succeed,” he said.

Janke also feels close to coach Towriss and gives lofty praise to the Dogs long-time leader.

“There isn’t a better coach” than Towriss, Janke said.

Despite last season’s injury it seems that there is nowhere else Janke would rather be. He is excited to get back on the field to do what he does best — running the ball against other teams.

raisa pezderic/photo editor

Dogs running back Dexter Janke could only watch from the sidelines last season after suffering the third knee injury of his career.

Huskies track and field held to one medal The Huskies struggled against the nation’s best university athletes March 7-9 at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport track and field championships in Edmonton.

The Dogs walked away with only one medal, while the University of Calgary Dinos took home the women’s national banner and the Guelph Gryphons ran away with the men’s team title.

The Huskies’ lone medal came on the third and final day of the meet by way of the men’s 4x200-metre relay team. The squad snagged the bronze medal thanks to the effort of three rookie sprinters — Alex Fedyk, Ryan Graf and Tyler Young — and their veteran anchor Kyle Donsberger.

They crossed the line in a time of 1:28.11.

Individually, Fedyk finished fifth in the men’s 300-metre dash with a time of 35.20.

Huskies men’s triple jumper

Cossy Nachilobe placed fourth on the final day of competition with a leap of 14.41 metres, while Nolan Machiskinic finished ninth in the men’s shot put. Machiskinic’s throw of 15.12 metres was a season-best toss and was only centimetres shy of making the top eight, which would have granted Machiskinic three more throws.

“They all performed really well. Many performed season-best performances, and for being such a young team they all did really well,” Huskies head coach Joanne McTaggart said of the men’s team.

The men finished 10th in the national team standings out of the 21 squads that competed.

The women, despite leaving without a single medal, placed one spot higher than the men’s squad.

The Huskies women finished with 23 team points, landing in ninth place out of the 22 competing women’s squads.

McTaggart noted that the women’s side might have done better had some of the athletes

been healthier.

“Unfortunately we had a few athletes come up injured after Canada West and therefore didn’t score as high as we thought we would, especially on the women’s side,” McTaggart said.

Middle-distance runner Amanda Banks was among the injured.

She was set to compete in four events at the national stage, but after running her first heat for the 600-metre race she re-aggravated a foot injury thought to have been sustained at the Canada West conference meet in Regina Feb. 22 and 23. Banks, who won gold in the conference 1000-metre and was an integral part of the women’s 4x800- and 4x400-metre races, was forced to bow out of her individual events.

Rookie Tye Buettner replaced Banks as an alternate in the women’s 4x400-metre relay.

Buettner ran a personal best time in the replacement, but the squad could still only manage a fifthplace finish in Banks’ absence.

alexandersrestaurant.ca

new lunch & dinner specials and daily soups

Our classic dishes and fusion

specialties are prepared from scratch, without preservatives - from soups and sauces to all of our entrees and popular desserts.

414 Cumberland Avenue North

956-7777

Mon-Thurs 11am-1am, Fri & Sat 11am-2am, Sun 11am-11pm

pete yee

Huskies triple jumper Cossy Nachilobe finished fourth at nationals, just missing the CIS podium.

Katrin Ritchie and Michelle Young, both sprinters, were also sidelined due to injury.

“Without Ritchie, Young and Banks, who were three of our top track performers, the points just weren’t there,” McTaggart said.

“We would have probably ended up in the top five, but you can never say.... Injuries are injuries and they happen.”

Women’s pole vaulters Courtney Erickson and Mignon Le Roux were healthy, and they finished

sixth and seventh, respectively.

Each of them cleared 3.45 metres.

Karla Gabruch ended in fifth spot in the women’s shot put with a throw of 12.69 metres while Morgan Sawatzky finished fifth in the 300-metre dash with a time of 39.66.

The women’s 4x800-metre relay team of Julene Friesen, Tye Buettner, Elecktra Charles and Brittany Elliott finished sixth, clocking in at 9:10.75.

EXPIRES March 7, 2013

COLE GUENTER Sports Editor

SPORTS

| thesheaf.com | 14 March, 2013 |

7

Saskatoon welcomes University Cup contenders COLE GUENTER Sports Editor It’s finally here. After much talk of the men’s hockey University Cup, the top six teams in the country are now in Saskatoon and ready to vie for the national title at Credit Union Centre March 14-17.

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies are the fifth-place seed going into the tournament, and will have to play their best if they want a chance at hoisting the cup in front of their fans. With the Alberta Golden Bears joining the Huskies as Canada West representatives, and two teams from both the Ontario University Athletics and the Atlantic University Sport conferences, the competition will be tough for the Dogs.

The Alberta Golden Bears enter the tournament as the number one seed after leading the Canada West regular season with a 23-4-1 record. They went on to win five

of six playoff matches and won the conference banner by defeating Saskatchewan in the final.

The Bears have dominated on both ends of the rink this season.

Scoring an average 4.14 goals per contest in conference play to rank second in the country in the category; their defence was second to none. The Bears allowed only 1.59 goals per game thanks to the stellar play of goalie Kurtis Mucha. This year being the 100th anniversary for the Golden Bears men’s hockey club, the team has extra incentive to add to their already record-setting 13 national titles.

Seeded second is the AUS champion University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds. UNB topped the AUS regular season standings with a 23-5 record and managed two shutout victories in the playoffs. It’s that type of strong defence that makes the Reds a contender each year.

If history repeats itself, it will be time again for UNB to win a title.

The Reds have claimed the trophy the past three odd-numbered years: 2007, 2009 and 2011.

Staking out third seed in

the national tournament is the Université du Québec à TroisRivières Patriotes. The Patriotes are led by forward Félix Petit, who finished second in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport scoring race with 11 goals and 32 assists in 28 games. Petit, along with Canada’s top-scoring university-level defenceman Pierre-Luc Lessard, helped the squad boast a 3.89 goals-per-game average.

Saint Mary’s University, whose team is also named the Huskies, made the trip from Halifax and is seeded fourth in the tournament.

Saint Mary’s has been among the topranked teams all season, and finished as runner-up to the UNB Varsity Reds in the Atlantic conference.

In his 16th season at the helm, head coach Trevor Stienburg has brought Saint Mary’s back to the University Cup tournament for the first time since they won in 2010.

This time around Saint Mary’s will be leaning on Atlantic conference MVP Lucas Bloodoff for offence.

The forward tallied 20 goals and 18 assists this season.

The hosting U of S Huskies were seeded fifth in the tournament after failing to repeat as Canada West champions this year. Highflying forward Kyle Bortis led the Canada West in points with 36, while last year’s conference points leader Derek Hulak missed eight games due to injury but still finished among the top point producers in Canada West.

The Huskies have been in the tournament 15 times in club history, including 10 with current bench boss Dave Adolph.

Adolph has yet to win the grand prize as a coach, but was on the Huskies

squad as a player when the club won its one and only national title in 1983.

Rounding out the tournament is the University of Waterloo Warriors. The Warriors finished the regular season with a meager 12-11-5 record and only captured three wins in the final twelve league games, just squeaking into the last playoff spot in the OUA. The Warriors got hot in the playoffs, though, going 6-1 before losing in the single-game league final to the UQTR Patriotes.

The tournament is split into two pools of teams for the preliminary round of the tournament. Pool A includes number one seed Alberta, number four Saint Mary’s and number six Waterloo. Meanwhile, Pool B will be a dogfight between number two New Brunswick, number three Quebec and fifth seed Saskatchewan.

There will be two games on each day from March 14-16, culminating in the cup final on March 17.

samantha braun/graphics editor

Men’s basketball duo reflect on past season STEPHANIE ARDELL

Though their 2012-13 season concluded with an early playoff departure, point guards Ben Baker and Stephon Lamar of the Huskies men’s basketball team are departing the season with much to be proud of.

Both players were honoured with league awards following the season. Baker played his way to the Canada West top defensive player of the year award while Lamar scored Canada West MVP honours and was named a Canadian Interuniversity Sport first team all-Canadian.

“For me it’s pretty exciting.

It’s the first time I’ve ever been acknowledged like that in my CIS career,” Baker said of his conference award. “I was kind of disappointed with the way the season ended, so it was kind of a nice surprise at the end of the season.”

Baker played an undeniably impressive season to earn the title.

He accumulated 36 offensive and 127 defensive rebounds throughout the year, and was an integral part in keeping Huskies opponents to an average of just 77.6 points per

game. Making his presence felt on the other end of the court too, Baker averaged 13.4 offensive points per game.

Lamar, who moved to Saskatoon from San Diego, Calif. to play with the Dogs this year, averaged 22.9 points per game in his first year in the league. He placed second in the country in points per game as well as fifth in assists, with 105. He was an exciting player to watch all season, but says he would trade his

individual awards for a chance at a CIS title.

“It’s an honour to be considered one of the best players in the CIS. It’s a cool award to have and say I got, but I’d give that award away to get to play in nationals,” Lamar said.

Like all great players, Lamar pushes himself to improve even after being recognized as one of the country’s best university players.

photos: raisa pezderic/photo editor

Ben Baker (left) and Stephon Lamar (right) each received awards for their exceptional play this past season.

“Being my own worst critic, I feel like I can always play better,” he said. “But overall I feel like I made my teammates better and I got better throughout the season with playing and getting used to the rules of the game here, because they’re different than America.”

Both players deserved their awards after a hard-working season, especially after the Christmas break when the team won 10 of their final 12 regular season games. In the end, the squad’s 16-6 win-loss ratio carried them to first place in the Canada West Prairie Division, a feat Lamar is impressed with given the early season reports.

“I’m proud of the team,” Lamar said. “Going into the season the media was writing us up because we were so young, but we ended up finishing first in our division and making the playoffs. That was great to me; just to see a lot of young guys coming together to win a lot of games and actually be a good team, rather than a maybenext-year kind of team.”

The team entered the Canada West playoffs full of confidence, but the best-of-three quarterfinal playoff series against the Fraser

Valley Cascades proved to be a tough task. It went to three games, but ultimately UFV’s unshakable shot percentage would earn the Cascades the series victory.

Both players have two years of eligibility remaining and are now looking to see what they can improve on to ensure a Canada West championship in the seasons to come. Baker recognizes the need for more consistency.

“Some nights we would prove that we were the top team in the country and other nights we would lose a game that we should have won,” Baker said. “I guess that is just a showing of inexperience, but it’s just something we have to work on: consistency throughout the season.”

Lamar summed up the players’ thoughts on a good season, unfortunate playoff run and hopeful future.

“We had a good season regardless of how it finished. The end was just the bad part; not everything can end like a movie.

“We beat a lot of good [teams], and lost to some bad ones. But I think we grew a lot as a team and next year we’re going to be a lot better,” Lamar said.

8

SPORTS

| 14 March, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

Dogs football serious about off-season training KIMBERLEY HARTWIG It may be the off-season for university football, but Huskies’ players know that is no reason to slack off.

In terms of physical training, there is no real time off for Huskies football players; they continue to prepare for next fall’s games with a heavy workout and indoor practice schedule. Huskies players spend approximately 10 hours per week in the gym working on strength, agility and speed. Indoor practices at 6:30 a.m. are twice a week, leaving no time for the players to sleep in either.

Huskies head coach Brian Towriss works with the team’s fitness trainers to make sure players will be ready to face the demands games put on their bodies. From the first kickoff, players need to be ready to perform at their peak both mentally, by understanding the playbook, and physically, by being stronger and faster than their opponents.

Huskies defensive lineman Zach Hart feels that when it comes time to hit the field, players “should already be ready,” implying that training done away from the gridiron should allow players to be prepared when the time comes to step back on the field.

Hart added that Huskies football players spend more time training off the field than they do on it, so it is especially important that the whole team remain committed to their fitness.

Huskies players, regardless of their position, are expected to maintain the level of fitness they acquired during the season and continue to build on it after the year is over.

cole guenter/sports editor

With a long break between seasons, athletes can be tempted to slip into habits of inactivity.

But Huskies running back Dexter Janke says he keeps lethargy at bay by keeping his schedule consistent before, during and after the football season.

“It doesn’t change too much,” he said of his training schedule.

Janke feels the main difference between the football season and the rest of the year is that he is more focused on strength and weight-lifting during the off-season, whereas he puts more emphasis on watching and analyzing game footage while the team is playing games.

Both Hart and Janke admitted they prefer on-field workouts to the long hours spent in the gym, but they understand that the gym is necessary in order to be successful during the regular season.

“The [off-season] work is worth it,” Hart said.

With hard work during the offseason, the Huskies are trying to gain the competitive physical edge over their rivals in order to rack up big wins in the upcoming season.

By training up to eight times a week, the Huskies football squad appears to be doing everything it can to ensure that players will enter the season prepared and ready to battle for a championship.

Many Huskies football players do their off-season workouts in the team clubhouse (left).

Continuing Scholarships Apply online by June 1 students.usask.ca/awards

SPORTS

| thesheaf.com | 14 March, 2013 |

9

Indoor skatepark working to stay open HENRYTYE GLAZEBROOK Only a few short months after opening its doors to local skateboarders, Saskatoon’s newest indoor skate park is facing a crisis that may see it shut down for good.

Located in the City Centre Church in Riversdale and developed by Saskatoon Skate Inc., the free skatepark has faced problems with skateboard axles causing significant damage to the floor. To prevent further deterioration the park took an ongoing voluntary break from operations on Feb. 28, until a viable solution can be found.

Jason Gordon, owner of local skate shop Ninetimes, is heavily involved with Saskatoon Skate Inc. Gordon believes rubber caps might offer a solution to the park’s problem. Putting caps on skateboard axles will hopefully cushion the impact of skateboards crashing down on the floor, preventing further damage.

With the caps currently in transit, Gordon hopes the park can resume regular hours as soon as the they arrive.

“If the plan works out, we’ll be open immediately,” Gordon said.

“It’s all based on if these caps break, fall off or do their job.”

After opening to the public in January, the park saw a massive influx of local talent looking to take advantage of Saskatoon’s only indoor skate spot during the winter months. In some cases, people even decided to leave due to overcrowding.

“Every night at the skate park, there’s about 40 kids,” Gordon said. “It’s packed within a two hour span. If we had more space and it was open all day, who knows how many kids would come through.”

But given the park’s location and the demands of day-to-day operation, it isn’t feasible for the volunteers of Saskatoon Skate Inc.

to keep it open full-time. Although the City Centre Church was kind enough to serve as a site for the park, Gordon said maintaining a skate park within a church presents its own challenges.

“The volunteers have to show up a half hour early and pull out fences, boxes, ramps, obstacles, set up tables and signs,” Gordon said. “[We] set up and tear down a skate park every night.

“We couldn’t be more grateful to the church, but it would be great to have our own space.”

Gordon and his crew hope to bring city officials on board for future efforts. Given the overwhelmingly positive response to the park, the volunteers have high hopes that the city will respond in kind.

“We want to prove that there is a need for [an indoor park] and that there’s people willing to work hard toward it,” Ninetimes manager Dan Watson said. “Hopefully along the way our paths can meet up and start working together.”

Despite difficulties with flooring and manpower issues, Gordon is optimistic that the park will thrive once it reopens.

“This has been some of the most fun I’ve had living in Saskatoon during the winter,” Gordon said, “and I think the same goes for the kids using the park heavily.

They’re there every day, open to close, helping us.

“We’re not giving up.”

Those hoping to check out the skate park can keep an eye on Ninetimes’ Facebook page, where up-to-date information is posted as it becomes available.

Local skateboarders finally had a spot to go in the winter — if only for a short time — thanks to the indoor park.

photos: chris colewell

TRAVELODGE HOTEL 9:30AM - 4PM

ONE DAY ONLY

DON’T MISS IT

Due to damage to the venue floor the park has been closed since Feb. 28.

CAREER FAIR

10

CULTURE

| 14 March, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

Traces artist tracks the lives of 12 Black Rock Terrace residents JENNA MANN Culture Editor Two missing canvasses in a three-by-four grid of paintings might make Donna Bilyk’s MFA exhibit Traces seem incomplete, but the blank spots are integral to her show.

Bilyk began studying for her BFA in 1985. After a 20-something year hiatus from school, she completed her bachelor’s from the University of Lethbridge in Alberta in 2011. Now she’s fast-tracked her master’s at the University of Saskatchewan.

Her graduating exhibit, now on display at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery, takes inspiration from Bilyk’s time working at Black Rock Terrace, a seniors’ independent living complex, in Lethbridge.

The show focuses on 12 residents from the complex who were happy to share their stories with Bilyk and collaborate on her project.

The two blank spots on the grid, which sits on a wall opposite the gallery entrance, represent the residents who have passed away since Bilyk began her work.

The grid, titled “In Memory of,” consists of 10 solid-coloured paintings, each painted in a different colour. The pieces are arranged in such a way to correspond with her exhibit’s other works.

For instance, on the left side of

Bilyk’s piece, “In Memory of.”

photos: brett smith

This wide-angle view of the Snelgrove Gallery features Donna Bilyk’s individual portraits, right, and a group painting, far left.

the gallery, 12 large portraits of the residents Bilyk came to know line the walls. The first portrait in the line of works corresponds with the top left painting in the grid. The third portrait in the line corresponds with the third spot in the grid’s top row — a blank spot.

The grid, Bilyk said, is meant to represent the institutionalization of the residents at Black Rock Terrace.

“You’re in a system where you’re all a group but the grid separates you,” Bilyk said. “You’re all kind of clumped into a rent payment and a room number, and, I mean, there’s care there but it’s just that now it’s an institution in a sense.”

The portraits Bilyk painted

counter the grid; they are much more personal.

The portraits, however, still fit the institutionalized theme of Bilyk’s exhibit as the residents all appear very similar in the paintings.

Bilyk used photoshop to simplify the portraits. She employed the digital medium and its filters to alter and dissolve her reference material in order to plan out the images she

would paint onto canvas.

She explores the personalization of the Black Rock Terrace residents much more thoroughly at the back of the gallery.

Tucked away behind a separate wall in Snelgrove’s back corner are what Bilyk refers to as her closet drawings. Bilyk wanted to create something less conceptualized to show the subjects of Traces,

something she could display in a separate exhibit that would be recognizable to the residents of Black Rock Terrace.

In her closet drawings, Bilyk recreated important photographs from the lives of her 12 subjects in charcoal drawings. These prints were never meant to be included in the Snelgrove exhibit, but Bilyk decided to include the drawings after her supervisor insisted.

In the centre of the Snelgrove gallery, Bilyk included a little bit of herself in a work titled “Pieces of Me.” The acrylic painting is an abstract image of hair clippings against the white backdrop of her bathroom sink. At first glance it might be mistaken for a snow storm or trees standing in the winter landscape.

Bilyk wanted to include a piece of herself that had been removed.

“Just like [the residents have] been part of my life but they’re not attached,” she said. “My hair, of course, once you cut it it’s gone, but it’s still part of me, it’s a piece of me but it’s not me literally.”

Traces closes on March 15 with a reception that night from 7-10pm.

Bilyk’s charcoal drawings are hidden in the back of the gallery and display personal moments from her 12 subjects’ past.

CULTURE

| thesheaf.com | 14 March, 2013 |

Spring makeup trends feature vibrant eye and lip colours PEGGY JANKOVIC The Gateway (University of Alberta)

moisturizing balm. Some popular choices include Maybelline’s Baby Lips Lip Balm ($4, most drugstores), Revlon’s Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain ($10, most drugstores) or the oh-so-posh Yves Saint Laurent Volupté Sheer Candy ($39, Sephora).

EDMONTON (CUP) — With every new fashion week comes new avant-garde makeup looks and trends. Following the lead of New York Fashion Week, this spring promises some fresh trends that will have you looking your best once the snow melts.

While translating anything high-fashion into the real world can be difficult, you’ll be catwalk-ready in no time with the help of these tips and product recommendations.

Get Naked

Everyone’s getting naked this spring and there’s no need to be a prude about it. Both high-end and drugstore brands have been formulating foundations and face products that aim for a “your skin but better” finish. Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup ($45, Sephora) feels light and natural while still evening out skin tone; it’s the closest you’ll get to Photoshop-in-a-bottle. A cheaper option is Revlon Nearly Naked Makeup ($12, most drugstores), which leaves a similar flawless finish while avoiding the dreaded cakey face.

If you’re into naked neutrals, you’re in luck: nude eyeshadow palettes are also in vogue. In particular, Urban Decay’s array of neutral eyeshadow sets live up to the hype. From the warm, golden Naked palette ($60, Sephora) to the cooler bronze shades of Naked2 ($60, Sephora) or the all-matte Naked Basics ($32, Sephora), there’s something for everyone.

Other options are Stila’s In the Light Palette ($50, Sephora), The Balm’s Nude ‘Tude Nude Eyeshadow Palette ($36, Rexall or thebalm.com) or LORAC’s PRO Palette ($55, Sephora). All of these eyeshadows are buttery, blendable, highly pigmented and easy shades for everyday wear.

True Blue

The spring/summer 2013 runways at September’s NYFW were flooded with waves of marine blue. You can easily translate this trend into your everyday makeup look, but please be sure to leave the powder blues in the 1980s.

Instead, go for an intense cobalt or electric teal in bold, geometric shapes. Try updating last year’s trendy winged eyeliner by swapping out the black for cobalt blue gel liner, like Sephora’s Waterproof Smoky Cream Liner in “The Deep End” ($15, Sephora).

The Classic Red Lip

Year after year, spring makeup looks feature corals and pinks — hardly groundbreaking stuff.

Let 2013 break that monotony by introducing a bold red lip to your spring colour palette, as seen at Jason Wu’s show at NYFW. Rather than trying darker, brown-tinged shades, choose a bright, vibrant red like Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick in the shade “Fire and Ice” ($10, drugstores), a timeless lip colour first launched in 1952. Or go even punchier with a matte red that has subtle coral undertones, like Sephora Color Lip Last in “All You Need Is Red” ($15,

11

Bold Brows

stephanie mah

Sephora). Keep this look fresh, modern and spring-like by opting for minimal eye makeup and glowy skin.

Low-Maintenance Lips For anyone too busy to fuss with lipstick and in need of an

easy, on-the-go application, tinted lip balms could be the ultimate solution. A sheer wash of colour will brighten up your face with the added benefit of

Put down those tweezers, buy a brow pencil and start embracing the youthful, low-maintenance trend of fuller, thicker brows.

Keep your look more Cara Delevingne and less Frida Kahlo by plucking, but stick to only the most unruly hairs.

SELF STORAGE FACILITIES

www.sohandy.com

431 CIRCLE PLACE

3915 WANUSKEWIN RD.

TEL: (306) 665-6226

•

MOVE IN SPECIAL $1 PAYS FOR YOUR FIRST MONTH’S RENT* * TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. CALL US FOR MORE DETAILS. THIS OFFER IS VALID UNTIL APRIL 30, 2013.

• • •

Newly renovated self storage facility located along Circle Drive Indoor storage units are still available for either short term or long term rental options Wide array of storage unit sizes with short and long term rental options.

Highly secure facility with several security cameras and improved lighting for monitoring the premises

TEL: (306) 668-3300

• • • •

Brand new Handy storage facility on Wanuskewin Road located along the drive towards the city of Warman.

Plenty of indoor storage and outdoor parking units for both personal and commercial storage Wide array of storage unit sizes with short and long term rental options are readily available Highly secure facility with lighting and security cameras

12

CULTURE

| 14 March, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

Caretaker opens at Persephone

House of Cards is first in game changing new trend HENRYTYE GLAZEBROOK Don’t let the premise turn you off: House of Cards is a thrillingly executed foray by Netflix into original TV programming.

Set in Washington, D.C., the series starts with House Majority Whip Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey) being passed over for a promised promotion to Secretary of State. Naturally he wastes no time plotting revenge on those responsible for the slight.

Underwood’s plan is vague and haphazard at first, awash with asides into newsrooms, cover-ups and the political intrigue around which the secondary plots orbit.

But, like any good puzzle, the big picture grows clearer as each piece is snapped into place.

Spacey may be the show’s greatest success. The man is a veteran of villainy — having played the bad guy in many films from Se7en to Superman Returns — and it’s easy to see why when he brings this calibre of performance to the table. Spacey’s Underwood is a shark: cold, relentless and endowed with row after row of razor-sharp teeth. Leave a drop of blood in the water and watch as he hunts down the source and picks it apart one bite at a time.

By all means Underwood should

be a difficult man to empathize with, but Spacey injects the figure with a slick southern charm that’s impossible to resist. You may nearly delight at watching the anti-hero get his due in the end, but you’ll also cheer for him every step of the way.

Drama majors take note: this is how a pro plays sinister.

David Fincher directs the first two episodes, setting a sombre tone the rest of the series dutifully follows. Those familiar with the director’s previous work will recognize the dark hues and brooding-yet-playful score that have become his signature style in recent years. Fincher avoids the flashy camerawork he has used in films like Fight Club, and the series is better off for it. House of Cards isn’t meant as a dazzling sparkler, but a slow-burning fuse spiralling from a stick of dynamite—and the direction reflects this intent perfectly.

It sounds strange to hear the names of Hollywood superstars like Fincher and Spacey attached to a show offered by Netflix, but it’s a clear indicator of where the television market is heading.

In a world where even NBC is struggling to keep viewers from wriggling back to their laptops and tablets, it makes sense that creators would turn to subscription

services where ratings take a back seat to high-quality content. It’s the same reason HBO has kept lowperforming shows like The Wire on the air well into their later years despite modest ratings.

As one of the pioneers in a new release format, House of Cards lays a solid foundation for what is to come. The fact that the series commands such star power is proof of its merit.

None of this is to say that House of Cards is a perfect show, but even its downsides are hiccups when weighed against the positives.

Episodes are interrupted fairly regularly by quick asides when Underwood breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the audience. These moments reek of forced exposition and can easily derail the momentum of a scene, but are a necessary evil when you want to explore the finer details of politics without alienating your audience. Besides, Spacey delivers this occasionally clunky dialogue with just the right panache to make it feel inviting rather than explanatory.

With a wink and a sly grin, Underwood will beckon you in as his enthusiastic accomplice even as he dangles those around him like marionettes from his fingertips.

photos: electric umbrella

Henry Woolf, left, shines as the homeless man in Persephone’s The Caretaker.

MATT CHEETHAM The Caretaker is the latest offering of the Persephone season.

Written by Harold Pinter, the play focuses on two brothers who invite a homeless man into their home, creating conflict and chaos.

The Caretaker is an absurdist three act spectacular reminiscent of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting For Godot. Both plays are light on plot and instead rely heavily on character interaction. The Caretaker moves quickly; the dialogue is fast and cutting, and the talented actors create instant chemistry on stage.

The play is anchored by Henry Woolf’s performance as the homeless man, whose name is either Mac Davies or Bernard Jenkins — though the character might be lying.

Woolf infuses the homeless man with life and brings a sad yet relatable element to the role. The actor makes audience members sympathetic toward his character while still allowing them empathize with the brothers. Woolf is magnificent: once his character enters, it is hard to take your eyes off him.

The two brothers, Aston (Chip Chuipka) and Mick (James O’Shea), have equally entertaining

personalities. Aston is the quiet, reserved type and Mick is highstrung, angry, dynamic and dramatic.

Chuipka plays Aston with an intense, subdued energy. He perfectly crafts mannerisms for the Aston character, and his vocal inflections, while subtle, paint a strong picture of the characters personality.

O’Shea brings both rage and comic sensibility to Mick, the younger of the two brothers. Mick will both infuriate and entertain the audience. O’Shea’s character is a foil to the other two. The way Mick toys with his older brother and the homeless man is a treat to watch in a cringe-worthy, albeit funny, way.

The chemistry between the three actors is really the highlight of the play.

The direction by Del Surjik is low-key, perfect for the intimacy the play intends to evoke. Surjik takes a quiet approach, letting the actors work while he remains focused on the tone.

The Caretaker is not to be missed.

The Caretaker is currently at Persephone Theatre. It runs from March 8-25 and tickets can be purchased online or at the box office.

Chip Chuipka as Aston, left, and James O’Shea as Mick, centre.

CULTURE

| thesheaf.com | 14 March, 2013 |

Derryl Murphy’s Over the Darkened Landscape plays with Canadian history SHAZIA ESMAIL

supplied

Derryl Murphy’s Canadian roots are a prominent aspect of his work.

The Saskatoon author’s most recent release, Over the Darkened Landscape, which was published this past November, brings together 13 short stories from throughout his career.

The collection ranges from science fiction to horror and fantasy and embraces and twists Canadian culture in creative and inventive ways.

In the story “Canadaland,” for instance, Murphy pokes fun at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s contract with Disney — a fiveyear licensing agreement that the Mounties held at one time with the company. In “Cold Ground,” Murphy transforms rebellion leader Louis Riel into a mystical messiah.

The diverse characters in Murphy’s stories pull in readers, and, though for only a short time, bring the audience into a unique world that is at the same time strikingly familiar. In “Body Solar,” the reader takes a trip through the stars with a character named Simon — a trip that could realistically one day be possible.

Mixing in everyday politics and playing off humanity’s deep-seated desire to touch the stars, the reader

is transported to a world very similar to our own, then jettisoned into one that is at present only a fantasy.

Murphy mentioned in an interview with the Sheaf that he likes to take either everyday or surreal situations and lend “them a twist of the fantastic.”

Murphy displays a finesse and flair for stretching the imagination.

Tales such as “Clink Clank” and “The Day Michael Visited Happy Lake,” for example, bring back childhood memories in very different ways.

“The Day Michael Visited Happy Lake” makes readers think of a time when they played with dolls, talked to stuffed animals or dreamed of adventures in places

13

that only existed in stories. “Clink Clank,” on the other hand, reminds one of things that go bump in the night and the plausible — yet unlikely — explanations for what could cause them.

Murphy, who knew he wanted to be an author from a young age, said his inspirations come from various places, including the environment around him as well as images in his mind. In cases like “Northwest Passage,” a story about the past and present colliding, Murphy’s inspiration came from his personal connection with his grandfather.

Murphy adapts his writing style to each story, often switching from first-person to third-person narrative. Sometimes he employs an entirely unique perspective, like in “Over the Darkened Landscape,” a story told from the point of a dog, Pat. Murphy displays a finesse and flair for stretching the imagination and transporting readers to a whole new world filled with endless possibilities.

Slavery still prevalent and closer to home than you might expect KENDRA SCHREINER

supplied

There are more slaves in the world today than there have been at any other point in history.

According to the U.S. State Department, there are over 27 million slaves worldwide. Two million of these are children, and human trafficking is the second-largest and fastestgrowing criminal industry in the world.

Human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation is not only a devastating problem in third world countries, but is also prevalent in both Canada and Saskatoon. According to research done by the RCMP, Canada is a major destination for women trafficked from Asia and Eastern Europe. The average entry age of girls into the sex trade is 13-14 in the United States of America.

Surprisingly, very little research has been done on sexual exploitation in Canada, leaving many ignorant about the seriousness of this humanitarian injustice.

A local group called Saskatoon ACTS is seeking to rectify this ignorance.

Saskatoon ACTS, founded

by Gil Klassen, is a small group of concerned individuals who meet every several weeks to learn about, discuss and take action against human

trafficking. Recently they raised funds for International Justice Mission, a human rights organization, through a polar bear dip — donning costumes and swimming in sub-zero temperatures to raise money.

They also lead a letter-writing campaign to some Members of Parliament, urging them to take a stand against human trafficking.

Slavery was supposed to have ended over a hundred years ago through the work of abolitionists like Abraham Lincoln and William Wilberforce.

On March 18 the group will host a free screening of the multi-award winning documentary Nefarious: Merchant of Souls.

The documentary is a hardhitting look at modern-day sex

slavery. It features interviews with johns, pimps and victims from all around the world who are currently being or who have been trafficked. As well, it provides analysis on the industry from international humanitarian leaders.

Nefarious reveals the hidden world of child sex slavery; many children are sold by their own parents so that the parents can afford to feed their families. It looks at the disturbing trends and problems facing both developed and poverty-stricken countries and makes suggestions for the steps that need to be taken to begin to abolish modern-day slavery.

Slavery was supposed to have ended over a hundred years ago through the work of abolitionists like Abraham Lincoln and William Wilberforce, but millions of people are still being exploited daily. The world can no longer remain ignorant.

Nefarious is a call to make a difference.

Nefarious will be shown March 18 at the Broadway Theatre. Tickets are free and can be printed online at saskatoonacts-es2005. eventbrite.com.

14

CULTURE

| 14 March, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

Celebrate St. Paddy’s with your best brews ALEXANDER QUON St. Patrick’s day is right around the corner. It’s a celebration of Irish culture and more importantly for us university students, an excuse to drink.

Here are five of the best Irish drinks you should be downing on March 17. supplied

Johann (Mads Mikkelsen) and Queen Caroline (Alicia Vikander) in A Royal Affair.

A Royal Affair deserving of its Oscar nomination KATLYNN BALDERSTONE

Set in Denmark during the latter half of the 18th century, A Royal Affair features Alicia Vikander as Queen Caroline Mathilde recounting her life in Denmark’s high court.

Married to King Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard), Caroline quickly finds her husband deranged and violent, and resents her lack of power within the court, which shows resistance to the royal family.

After two years in a difficult and loveless marriage, she finds comfort and mutual attraction with Johann Friedrich Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen), a town doctor and revolutionary who has been appointed the king’s personal physician.

Caroline and Johann begin influencing and inspiring King Christian to take on a greater role in court and work to better the kingdom for the lower classes.

The king’s council resists and the demands of power — and love — increase as Caroline and Johann find their relationship, ideals and lives in jeopardy.

Directed by Nikolaj Arcel, screenwriter for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, A Royal Affair beautifully captures the main characters’ emotions and conflicts.

While Caroline is the main focus of the story, enough development and care is put into the other main characters that the audience sympathizes with all three players in the scandal.

The viewer sees not only Caroline’s love for Johann and fear as her affair is threatened, but also Johann’s desire to see his reforms implemented despite interference from the king’s governing council.

Christian’s frustrations with being manipulated by Johann and Caroline and with the council as they limit his ability to rule are portrayed masterfully. The characters are morally ambiguous and become victims of their impulses and desires as well as societal pressures. Eventually they must face the consequences of their actions.

Ultimately, the film is more about a clash of ideals than a love affair. Numerous political conflicts crop up between Johann’s revolutionary plans, the nobility’s desire for control and the difficulties of learning not to abuse new-found power. It’s a shame more attention is not given to Caroline’s situation beyond the risks of her infidelity.

In terms of both production and cinematography, the film adequately depicts the mood and manages to get its political messages across to the audience.

Sets and costumes are gorgeously

designed, pulling the viewer into the time period. The film’s colour is subtle but well planned; much of the film has a faint tinge of grey that portrays a feeling of grimness or impending grief.

Caroline’s letter to her children, used as the framing device of the film, aids in winning the sympathies of the audience. The heavy focus on close-ups can be tiring as well, but ultimately the mood and conflicts of the story are engrossing.

A Royal Affair is not a happy film, but is well-written and -presented, with much of the appeal coming from the cast and the actors’ interactions and conflicts. While not necessarily for everyone, the skilled acting and immersive design in A Royal Affair make up for any flaws in the story.

17

Sunday

18

Monday

19

Tuesday

Open Stage at Lydia’s

Guinness is one of the most common Irish beers drunk on St. Paddy’s Day. A stout beer with a large, creamy head, Guinness isn’t necessarily for everyone. If you don’t like stout or dark beers, this beer will definitely not be your first choice. However, if you haven’t tried a stout beer, this is the one I would recommend. It’s a little bitter and very thick, but not so much that it is unappetizing.

Kilkenny Irish Ale Brewed since 1710 in the Smithwick Brewery in Kilkenny, Ireland, this ale is among the most iconic Irish beers. Kilkenny is red ale and, like most ales, has a significantly lighter taste than a stout like Guinness; it is creamy and goes down smooth. You’ll be drinking a piece of Irish history if you choose to drink Kilkenny for the night.

Magners Cider

This one is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day partiers who don’t like beer. Magners Irish Cider tastes a lot like bitter, carbonated apple juice. It has little to no alcoholic aftertaste and is perfect for anyone who likes drinking but doesn’t like the taste of alcohol.

Smithwick’s Irish Ale

[puamelia]/flickr

Guinness is good for you!

Crown Float

The Crown Float — even though this article is supposed to be exclusively about Irish drinks — is too good not to mention. Half Guinness and half English cider, in this case Foundry Cider, the Crown Float is sweet while retaining its beer-like flavour. This drink was allegedly created as a political statement, with the Guinness floating on top of the English cider to symbolize Ireland’s superiority over England.

So there you have it: some Irish drinks that you can enjoy this St. Patrick’s Day. As always, please drink responsibly and find a safe ride home!

Another brew from the Smithwick Brewery, this Irish ale is a nice reddish amber colour. It is sweeter than Kilkenny but has a slightly bitter, or hoppy, aftertaste.

If you like your amber ale with a sweeter taste than normal, then this is the beer for you.

Upcoming Events Emerson Drive and Doc Walker at the Odeon Karaoke Sunday at Diva’s Electric Six with Guests at Amigos Tonight it’s Poetry at Lydia’s Kevin Menz’s B-Day

Guinness

20

Wednesday

Open Mic Night at the Fez

14

Thursday

Rockets and Dinosaurs, Jenny, The Faps, Nodding Donkey and Three Simple Words at the Fez Heart at TCU Place Whitney Rose and Devin Cuddy at Amigos

15

Friday

Indigo Joseph and Rory Borealis at Lydia’s Carnival of Solidarity 2013 at Louis’ Jeremy Hotz at TCU Place Band Wars IX at the Fez The Trews at Prairieland Park Untimely Demise, Rehashed and Shooting Guns at Amigos

16

Saturday

Our Lady Peace at Prairieland Park Kiss Me I’m Irish Party at 302 Lounge and Discotheque Bass Invaders at Lydia’s The Big Lebowski: 15th Anniversary Screening at the Roxy Mystery Squad, Good Enough and Zombie Bouffant at Vangelis Mischa Daniels at Tequila End of the Rainbow Party with the Pistolwhips and Ricky Rock at Louis’ The Bad Decisions at the Rook and Raven

for the week of March 14-20

OPINIONS

| thesheaf.com | 14 March, 2013 |

Find what makes you happy, even if it’s not what you expect Roadtrip Nation is a valued presence on campus

KIMBERLEY HARTWIG What are you going to do with your life? It’s a question we have all been asked many times, but do any of us really know the answer? No matter what response we give it seems like people are never completely satisfied and that somehow our vision of how our lives should unfold doesn’t live up to others’ expectations.

As students, it can seem like we are supposed to have our lives mapped out. Pressure from peers, parents and even perfect strangers can make it feel like we are supposed to have a clear and definite plan that will lead us from degree to career. But sometimes when we go to make the shift from studying to working, we realize the path we are following is no longer the one we want to be on.

This is what happened in 2001 to four recently graduated friends from California. Instead of continuing unhappily on the paths they had chosen, Nathan Gebhard, Mike Marriner, Brian McAllister and Amanda Gall set off on a

cody shumacher

cross-country road trip.

While travelling across the U.S. they interviewed influential leaders who had followed their passions in order to see how those people had made their dreams a reality.

The road trippers quickly realized that they should share with others what they learned and the stories they heard, which gave birth to the Roadtrip Nation project.

The group produced a book, Roadtrip Nation, and a documentary, The Open Road, from their original footage.

Gall quickly moved on to become a teacher while Gebhard, Marriner and McAllister took on Roadtrip Nation full time.

Roadtrip Nation is a program that helps students, including some at the University of Saskatchewan, forge their own paths. In 2008, the program developed a curriculum to help students everywhere create their own awareness-inducing roadtrips.

The Roadtrip Nation Learning Community at the U of S was established in the winter term

Flanagan persecution an affront to academic freedom TRAVIS GORDON The Cadre (University of Prince Edward Island) CHARLOTTETOWN (CUP) — University of Calgary professor and former political operative Tom Flanagan is facing heavy scrutiny for questioning the illegality of viewing child porn. In addition to the public outcry, Flanagan has been prematurely retired from his post at the U of C. Flanagan has served as a media pundit, political chief of staff to then-Leader of the Opposition Stephen Harper, and political operative within the Wildrose Party of Alberta.

While lecturing on aboriginal issues at the University of Lethbridge on Feb. 27, Flanagan was called out by an irate student for having said, in 2009, “What’s wrong with child pornography, in the sense that it’s just pictures?”

Flanagan sought to clarify his stance.

“I certainly have no sympathy for child molesters, but I do have some grave doubts about putting people in jail for their taste in pictures.”

That remark received jeers and boos from the crowd of students, prompting Flanagan to continue.

“It is a real issue of personal liberty and to what extent we put people in jail for doing something in which they do not harm another person.”

External reaction was swift.

The Prime Minister’s Office condemned Flanagan’s comments

urban mixer/flickr

Tom Flanagan, not looking creepy at all.

as “repugnant and appalling.” The Wildrose Party halted his work with them immediately. Alberta Premier Alison Redford reported that the comments “turned [her] stomach,” and the CBC, where Flanagan has been a frequent commentator on political science and public policy, has dropped him from future appearances.

Why was a professor retired for voicing an unpopular opinion in an academic setting? Further, why did students not challenge Flanagan’s thinking intelligently? Why instead did they boo him and call him disgusting?

Has academic discourse in

Canada devolved into simple, guttural responses?

The display the Lethbridge students put on was disgraceful.

We should allow challenges to conventional thinking, especially in an academic setting. If students cannot clearly and articulately argue against legalizing the viewing of child pornography, we have much larger problems as a society than one political operative spouting unpopular views.

Without academic freedom, how can professors challenge existing ideas or propose new ones? More importantly, how can we justify the implementation and existence of current ideas or laws without exploring alternatives, however unpopular?

Academic freedom should provide protection for those wishing to provoke discussion on any number of issues, including ones as controversial and taboo as child pornography.

The Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada says that faculty must be free to take intellectual risks and tackle controversial subjects in their teaching, research and scholarship.

Flanagan took an intellectual risk, and tackled a controversial subject. His reward? Political disownment, early retirement and media vilification. Whether we agree with someone’s views or find them repugnant, surely the answer is not to fire and silence them.

Until we decide on a more appropriate response, though, tread lightly, professors.

of 2011. The community meets weekly to explore the program’s curriculum and to plan their own mid-term break road trip.

In early February, Roadtrip Nation’s partnership director Jimi Spatharos spoke to students about his experiences with the program and the experiences of others who had participated in it.

One of the things Spatharos mentioned that I found most interesting was the sheer number of jobs he has worked. He estimated that he has had around

5 Days for the Homeless

15

20 jobs, and the variety among them was just as surprising. From engineer to fisherman, it seemed that he has worked in every field imaginable.

More than anything, this showed me that our paths are always changing and that all experiences are valuable and will matter one day. It also proved that what you want to do one day might not be the same thing you want to do the next, and that there is nothing wrong with this.

Later during Spatharos’ talk, while he showed interviews with professional leaders, I was struck by something that Kevin Carroll, a creative change agent at Nike, said: “But what is that thing that brings you joy?” He suggested that college students don’t search for their joy, they search for a job. He said that these things — joy and job — can be the same thing. What brings you joy and what you do to make your living need not be mutually exclusive.

As obvious as it may sound, this is one of the most beneficial lessons any student can learn.

1

continued from

Each year during these five days of philanthropic work, Edwards students are a very public group on campus; we see business students showing us that they care about their community.

These efforts help combat the negative view many other students have of their business counterparts.

I am deeply skeptical of this campaign. First, because of the obvious fact that five business students are not going to be representative of the houseless population in Saskatoon. Their highly publicized experience is not illustrative of the typical houseless person’s struggles, yet it is often treated as such — if not by the participants themselves then by some of the discussion around their work.

While the participants’ experience perhaps looks similar to homelessness (they do not sleep in beds and they rely on others’ assistance) it is markedly different in content and context.

These “homeless” participants are given social capital for sleeping outside of a home — ­ they are congratulated for being “brave” — which is the opposite of an actual homeless person’s experience. The participants know there will be an end to their houselessness, and they go into the week well fed. Even if they did experience the scourge of malnourishment for a week, they would be better able to remain healthy than would someone caught in the cycle of poverty.

The second element of 5 Days Saskatoon that I am skeptical of is

that Edwards School of Business, which puts its name behind this campaign and benefits from the publicity and the good will that flows from it, encourages the very behaviour that, at a societal level, contributes to rampant houselessness. By normalizing and legitimizing their presence and “branding” as a college concerned for the houseless in Saskatoon, they are engaging in a public relations campaign, one that has been successful in increasing their likeability, to the detriment of the houseless.

To paraphrase The Fugees, they pretend to be on the side of Zion when they are with Babylon.

Again, 5 Days does very well what it was created for. My sense is that the participants in 5 Days Saskatoon are also aware of the scope of the campaign. The broader community should not be hyperbolic about what the participants are doing, what they are experiencing or what they have learned.

The houseless and housinginsecure in Saskatoon do not take on the form of poverty for public relations campaigns; they live it.

They are not considered “ethical” because of their hunger, and they are not lauded for it. Barbeques are not thrown in their honour.

Local celebrities do not choose to spend a night with them as “guest sleepers.” Sheaf articles are rarely written about them.

16

OPINIONS

| 14 March, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

Go ahead, be a PAL

stephanie mah

TRAVIS HOMENUK I hated university in my first year, probably because I loved high school. In fact, I ruled at high school.

I may not have been the kid getting drunk or high behind the garbage cans at lunch, but I was involved and had one hell of a good time.

When I came to the University of Saskatchewan, I did not intend to get involved in anything like I had in high school. I had already experienced years of being the involved kid, whether it was SRC shenanigans, drama productions or hiking trips. I thought, “I’ll just do school for once.”

This plan was an epic failure.

Reflecting on my first year of university, I tried to decide why it was that I didn’t care for the hustle and bustle of this institution. Simply put: classes were too big, no one took the time to learn my name and I felt as though I’d lost that sense of community I’d loved and thrived on for years.

In my third year of university a friend introduced me to the PAL program, or Peer Assisted Learning for those who don’t do acronyms.

Within PAL there are numerous subdivisions, from learning communities to U-Speak to study skills to writing help — plus more!

On a whim I decided to apply and take part in PAL during my fourth year. Although I thought university sucked in my first year, I figured I could at least try and make that inaugural experience worthwhile for a new shipment of academic minds, fresh off the high school production lines.

We are often herded into postsecondary institutions without any true guidance or assistance. We’re tantalized by entrance scholarships and exciting future possibilities. For many, moving away from home is also a large part of the university experience.

However, no one prepares us for what we’re supposed to do once we get here. (Dicks!) I feel like high schools need a class simply to help students make the transition from the handholding ways of high school to the Miss Independent, Kelly Clarkson ways of university.

By now we all know that professors don’t care if we come to class. Many of them don’t care

that Grandma died or that you were struck by lightning. Oh no, you need a doctor’s note for that shit. So often they just want our dollar, dollar bills y’all. It’s sad but true, and we can make this work to our advantage.

Oddly enough, the one thing I’ve learned best in university is how to do the minimum amount of work for the highest, most satisfactory grade. And yes, I’m quite aware this is a terrible attitude to have, but how many students actually read everything for their classes? Do you read articles through fully for papers, or do you skim them to find the best quotes? We all do the latter, so don’t feel ashamed.

Perhaps these tips aren’t particularly useful or constructive for students looking for some help, but isn’t it best to be honest? Why pretend post-secondary education is all hunky dory when it can very well be hell in a handbag.

I don’t know if this makes me a good peer mentor or the worst one possible. But I do know that this much is true: I had a marvellous time being a peer mentor, and I continue to keep in touch with the students who were in my learning

community.

During our term together, we shared in the nearly lost art of collaborative learning. Indeed, we learned each other’s names, a basic part of human interaction that is nonetheless often ignored at university; we talked about school, classes, our worries and where to go for help of any kind. These weekly meetings kept me sane this year, and I certainly hope they had the same effect for my students.

I was also lucky enough to have a great co-mentor who made my experience all the more thrilling.

Those in charge of the PAL program do great things for this campus, and I hope no jobs are lost in their department with all of the cuts swooping through the U of S like birds of prey. We need to employ these people to keep students involved and happy. Without them it’s impossible to say how many students will feel like I did in my first year, unattached and unhappy.

PAL definitely helps students, who are primarily in their first year, transition into this no-name academic world, providing that sense of connectedness not always

found on campus.

Admittedly, though, PAL isn’t all smooth sailing. As a fulltime student, having a learning community felt like having a sixth class at times. My co-mentor and I also had to meet once a week to plan and we had a weekly meta-meeting with other co-mentors on top of our regular learning community hour. It was a true test of my time management skills.

Although it may have been a struggle at times, PAL was a positive experience for me. I learned a lot about myself and helped make the first-year experiences of nervous students an enjoyable one — I think.

Thus I encourage others to be a PAL in the upcoming school year.

Applications are due March 23. It’ll look great on your resume, you get a free sweater and a few free meals here and there.

But most importantly, being a PAL will improve both yourself and the broader campus community. Just do it.

Sex reassignment surgery should be covered by taxpayers NADINE MOEDT The Cascade (University of the Fraser Valley) ABBOTSFORD, B.C. (CUP) — In September, a federal U.S. judge ordered Massachusetts authorities to provide taxpayer-funded sex reassignment surgery for transgender prisoner Michelle Kosilek. This ruling will result in a convicted murderer receiving better health care than law-abiding transgender citizens in both America and Canada.

Should we be outraged that a convict is getting this sort of care on the taxpayers’ dollar? Or should we consider the fact that any other ruling would have been considered “cruel and unusual punishment” under the eighth amendment of the U.S. constitution, and that the

Canadian government is submitting many non-criminals to treatment that erodes their human dignity by not covering the costs of sex reassignment surgery?

“It may seem strange,” Judge Mark Wolf wrote in his decision, “that in the United States citizens do not generally have a constitutional right to adequate medical care, but the eighth amendment promises prisoners such care.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, Kosilek has attempted to castrate herself and twice tried to commit suicide despite hormone treatment and psychotherapy.

Gender dysphoria — characterized by persistent discomfort and anxiety about one’s assigned gender — is a characteristic of Gender Identity Disorder, which is listed as a mental illness by the

American Psychiatric Association.

Gender dysphoria leads to extreme distress and unhappiness, disrupting one’s ability to lead a normal and happy life. High rates of depression and suicidal tendencies in people with gender dysphoria emphasize the need for professional and medical help.

As Canadians, we often pride ourselves on our health-care system. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled in 2001 that sex reassignment surgery is an “essential medical treatment.” In 2003, a federal court agreed. Yet the federal government does not make decisions about specific medical services, and many provinces still do not recognize the medical needs of transgendered Canadians.

Many provinces offer only partial coverage, and Alberta, New

Brunswick and Nova Scotia do not cover the treatment at all. In many cases a patient will have to travel to Toronto for a procedure. There are hoops a patient must jump through: specific institutions one must be referred by and a certain time period they must live as their preferred gender before being considered for treatment.

This incomplete coverage for people suffering from gender dysphoria is unacceptable. Sex reassignment surgery is not a cosmetic or elective surgery; it’s a necessary procedure that is critical for a person’s mental well-being, and that can save lives.

The Canada Health Act’s purpose is to ensure that necessary medical care is accessible to all who require it. Sex reassignment surgeries can cost anywhere between $10,000

and $30,000. Asking an individual to pay this is ludicrous; taxpayers should fund it collectively. It is not a procedure that is high in demand or that a person would take lightly.

Some taxpayers may be opposed to these types of procedures, considering them morally offensive.

However, the decision to provide equal care to all Canadians is one that must be based on fact and not on the intolerance and prejudice of a narrow-minded minority.

Our tax dollars go to lung cancer patients who chose to smoke; they go to obese people, some of whom ate what they wanted and now suffer from diabetes. Why should we not be funding those who did not choose to suffer from gender dysphoria?

| thesheaf.com | 14 March, 2013 |

As the Oscars showed us, we need Israeli Apartheid Week TANNARA YELLAND Opinions Editor

samantha braun/graphics editor

then found Detroit recording artist who had, unbeknownst to him, become enormously successful in South Africa. Compared to its competitors, Searching for Sugar Man is decidedly unserious stuff.

I watched 5 Broken Cameras the week after the Oscars and expected a well-made, probably depressing film with little new information for me, someone who follows the Israel-Palestine conflict fairly closely. The film follows the struggle of one Palestinian town, Bil’in, to stop an Israeli settlement’s constant encroachment on its land.

During March various cities and

communities participate in Israeli Apartheid Week, a movement intended to call attention to and end Israel’s policies regarding Palestinians, making now an ideal time to watch such a movie.

Some of the issues in 5 Broken Cameras were things I had already been aware of, or at least were unsurprising. Soldiers approach peaceful protesters every time they congregate and shoot tear gas into the crowd, sometimes hitting people. While any construction built on Palestinian land by Israelis cannot be torn down, Palestinian constructions are afforded no such privilege. Israeli soldiers dress in

plainclothes and act as peaceful Bil’in protesters to cause trouble; the film’s director realizes that is who the strangers are when they grab his brother and arrest him.

There was one tactic I hadn’t previously been aware of, though.

About midway through the film, frustrated Israeli soldiers begin driving into Bil’in at night and arresting children. It’s unclear what crimes the kids are even being accused of, and the tactic is obviously a ploy to scare the villagers out of their weekly protests. By that point in the film Bil’in’s peaceful struggle had become a rallying point for activists both throughout and outside the West Bank.

No matter how much someone in Canada thinks he or she knows about Palestinians’ struggles, there are both atrocities and banal impositions on their freedom taking place every day, and there is no way for us to understand all of these things from the relative safety of North America. That is why Israeli Apartheid Week is so important, as is the BDS or boycott, divest, sanction campaign.

These two movements seek to bring awareness and eventually an end to the occupation of Palestine

by Israel, and the inequality Palestinians live with on both sides of those borders.

Student pricing For just $29.95, walk in with your taxes, walk out with your refund. Instantly. You’ll also get a free SPC Card to save big at your favourite retailers.*

I slovenly swear Why you could stand to give a rat’s apple about what comes out your pie hole GLENDON RHOADES Editor’s note: The following is a response to Natalie Serafini’s article, “I solemnly swear: Why cursing in front of kids shouldn’t be verboten,” published in last week’s issue of the Sheaf.

“Respect” is more than a Grammy’s song from the ’60s.

Respect is about caring enough to interact with people around you in a manner that shows consideration for the individual — a stunning concept, I know.

Lack of respect is why this country has to throw unrighteous amounts of money at problems like bullying, hate crimes, violence, self-esteem and depression issues, racism, etc., etc., etc.

So what’s respect got to do with dropping the F-bomb every time something gives you a slight startle?

Or splattering conversations about last week’s ball game with references to fecal matter? Absolutely nothing.

That’s the problem.

Collectively, Canadians care enough about minorities to ban major publications that carry the possibility of offending them. Why do we do this? Respect. Because of our consideration for the feelings of another person.

As individuals, however, many of us toss out rape jokes regardless of how such talk might affect the people around us. We spout off “goddamn” like it’s a generic adjective (even in this publication, apparently) without the least bit of concern for the religious convictions of our audience.

Seriously, I’m not Muslim, but I still care enough about that sector of the population that I wouldn’t dream of introducing nouns using the term “Allah-f--king.” …And then we contemplate whether we should share this inconsiderate approach to communication with the impressionable minds of our kids.

Or someone else’s kids.

Is it really that hard to see the issue here? Showing respect in conversation is one of the easiest, most immediate ways to respect those around us. If we can’t even bring ourselves to the simplest level of consideration for another person, how do we have a chance of carrying on as a successful and supportive society?

I mean, come on, I’m not asking for sirs and ma’ams; just don’t friggin’ cuss at my kids!

SaSkatchewan Book awardS ShortliSt readingS i ©

we make taxes painle$$ hrblock.ca | 800-HRBLOCK (472-5625)

© 2013 H&R Block Canada, Inc. *$29.95 valid for student tax preparation only. To qualify, student must present either (i) a T2202a documenting 4 or more months of full-time attendance at a college or university during the applicable tax year or (ii) a valid high school ID card. Instant Cash Back is included in the price. Students pay $79.99 for Complex/Premier return. Expires 12/31/2013. Valid only at participating locations. Additional fees apply. Instant Cash Back valid only on the federal portion of tax returns filed in Quebec. Some restrictions apply. SPC cards available at participating locations in Canada only. Offers may vary, restrictions may apply. For full terms see www.spccard.ca.

FILE NAME: 12-HRB-033-BW-SP-E-8

TRIM: 4" x 7.5"

DATE: Jan 22

BLEED: –

REV #: 0

upcoming events

Earlier this month, one of the most glamorous cultural events of the year took place. The Hollywood elite donned some of the world’s most expensive clothing and jewelry for an evening that honours the year’s best achievements in film and acting: the Academy Awards.

One of the less distinguished awards of the evening is the “best documentary” category; documentaries are nowhere near as intriguing or entertaining as fictitious film for most people, and they often unveil disturbing truths most people would rather not acknowledge.

Indeed, four of this year’s five nominees are of that ilk. One, How to Survive a Plague, shed light on the utter failure of the New York and U.S. governments to help gay men during the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic; The Gatekeepers and 5 Broken Cameras examine the IsraelPalestine conflict from different perspectives; and The Invisible War looks at the pervasive problem of sexual assault in the American military.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the film that won was Searching for Sugar Man, the tale of a lost and

17

OPINIONS

Sunday, March 10, 2 pm Featuring leah marie dorion, caSSie StockS, and authorS oF STR8UP and GanGS: The UnTold SToRieS hoSted By paul denham

SaSkatchewan Book awardS ShortliSt readingS ii Monday, March 11, 7 pm Featuring Jen Budney, david p. mcgrane, and harriet richardS hoSted By weS Funk

sheaf mar 14, 2013.indd 1

3/3/2013 1:01:43 PM

18

HUMOUR

Campus Chat

| 14 March, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

What are you most excited for now that the weather is improving?

I’m excited to start biking to No winter clothes. school.

Kristin Loberg

Shorts!

Gabe Senecal

Going to the beach.

Brittney Lins

Nicole Mulegna

FAKE NEWS OF THE WEEK

OBAMA READY TO UNLEASH AUTOBOTS In response to North Korea’s military threats directed at South Korea, U.S. President Barack Obama has quelled the American ally nation’s fears by revealing that the plots of numerous blockbuster franchises have in fact been covers for the development of real military strategies.

The news came during a March 11 press conference. Despite expectations that the president would respond to North Korea’s intimidation attempts in his usual calm demeanour, Obama shocked reporters when he instead stared down cameras and urged Kim Jong-un to reconsider his stance or suffer “grave and horrifying consequences.”

Although a complete list has yet to be made public, Obama indicated that big name series like The Expendables, The Avengers and even Transformers were all ripped straight from highly classified CIA reports.

“The Autobots are real, and Optimus does

respond well to threats of terrorism,” Obama said.

“You may think your borders are impenetrable, but we’ve had Jack Bauer deep undercover within your government for years,” the president continued, using international news outlets to speak directly to the North Korean dictator. “Do you think your father just up and died of natural causes?”

Although Kim Jong Un has yet to respond, sources close to him have revealed that North Korea is already working on a series of low-budget, direct-implementation strategies based on its own blockbuster franchises like Transchangers, Arachni-boy and Supreme Eternal Leader Will Carry Us to Victory.

First-hand accounts have described these pale imitations as “hilarious” and “so bad they’re almost good.”

ss&ss/flickr

“You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”

COMICS

| thesheaf.com | 14 March, 2013 |

19

smbc-comics.com

dan smolinski

Eyes International 116 Idylwyld Drive N Saskatoon, SK. Phone: (306) 934-4545

Now OPEN Dr. Joe Zheng New Optometrist (fluent in Mandarin)

Ask us about our Student Discount on Eye Exams Call today to arrange an exam (306) 651-3511 116 Idylwyld Dr. N Unit C

At Eyes International our licensed opticians are dedicated to meeting your eyewear needs.

It’s our job to help you continue to experience the joy of seeing.

Ask us about our Student Discount on glasses and contact lenses.

Call us today to arrange your eye exam (306) 934-4545

20

| 14 March, 2013 | thesheaf.com |