The Sheaf - April 04 2013

Kenderdine campus not forgotten NEWS 4

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2013-14 USSU budget dips into the red but still passes

NEWS 3

Think the gym isn’t for you? PAC has more to offer than you think

4 April, 2013 | The University of Saskatchewan student newspaper since 1912

Soaring through the sky with Bioshock Infinite

SPORTS 9

CULTURE 14

Online reading to keep you inside this summer CULTURE 15

Should children be taught philosophy in elementary school?

OPINIONS 16

NEWS

Browsers’ new name revealed

Browsers gets new look and name as Louis’ Loft ANNA-LILJA DAWSON Associate News Editor In under six weeks, Browsers Café will be fully renovated and re-opened under a new name, Louis’ Loft.

University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union General Manager Caroline Cottrell said the new name had to reflect a Louis’ connection because the two venues will operate as one business.

When annual book sales dropped from $350,000 to $125,000 in under a decade, the viability of the space as a used book store came into question.

The USSU also recently lost Louis’ summer beach volleyball, which brought in just under $30,000 annually.

Louis’ Loft continued on

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The long snaking coffee bar at Browsers will be replaced with comfortable seating and a sleek design that will bridge the gap between coffee shop and nighttime venue.

pete yee

SPORTS

World-class fencers call U of S home COLE GUENTER Sports Editor

henry comerford

U of S student Shannon Comerford is always en guard as one of the best fencers in the country.

Thanks to her world-class fencing skills, Shannon Comerford has been making regular visits to Europe over the past two months.

Representing Team Canada in international competitions, Comerford most recently returned from Turin, Italy, where she was competing in a World Cup fencing event.

“It’s amazing,” Comerford said of her experiences fencing internationally. “I love the opportunities I have been given.”

World Cup fencing events run from the beginning of February to the end of May, with several different tournaments around the globe. Turin marked the fourth trip Comerford has made to Europe since Feb. 8, with her other international fencing bouts in the women’s senior foil category landing in Hungary, Russia and Germany.

A foil is the name of the weapon used in her matches; it

looks like a thin steel sword, but the blade is quadrangular with dull edges and a blunted end. The blades are tapered from the base to the tip and are manufactured to bend — but not break or injure people — upon striking one’s opponent.

In a foil match, fencers score points by striking one another with the end of the blade, which has a button that signals when the foil has struck the opponent. Foil competitors can only score points by striking their opponent in the torso, neck, groin and back. This is unlike those who compete in sabre and épée, the two other common types of fencing, where the striking areas are different and can include arms and legs.

While fencing against the world’s best in Turin March 22-24, Comerford competed for Canada both in individual and team events. She was pleased with her team’s result, but critical of her personal accomplishments.

In the “individual event, I ended up being the top-ranked Canadian,” Comerford said

of her 77th placing out of the 141 female competitors at the tournament. “It’s not a bad result, but I definitely want to do better.”

Comerford only recently returned to the sport after recovering from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. Comerford had similar results in the other three World Cup events she entered this year, consistently placing in the top 100 fencers at each competition. She hopes to move up the world-rankings ladder by improving her placings in the rest of the season, giving her more points.

“I want to try to break into the top 64 in the world again,” said Comerford, who spent the majority of the 2009-11 seasons in the prestigious group, and was ranked as high as 43rd in the world at one time.

Fencing

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NEWS

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| 4 April, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

Bed bugs move into campus libraries

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Bed bugs after they have feasted: red, plump and full of blood.

ANNA-LILJA DAWSON Associate News Editor Students and library users may be unknowingly bringing bed bugs into the University of Saskatchewan’s libraries.

A bed bug was recently spotted in the university’s Natural Sciences Library. On Campus News reported that this was the first case of a bed bug in a library in five years. There was a false alarm in the Murray Library earlier this year when a bath bug was mistaken for a bed bug.

However, Library Director of Finance and Physical Resources Dale Amerud maintains that there are no known bed bugs in the Murray Library.

“To the best of our knowledge we don’t have any in the library at this point,” he said.

The flat, oval-shaped insects are about four or five millimeters in diameter. Bed bugs are usually brown but change to a rusty red after feeding on animal or human blood.

Mattresses, furniture and carpet — wherever they can fit — are common places where bed bugs live. They are attracted to body heat given off by sleeping humans.

Bed bug bites are small, red and resemble mosquito and flea bites.

Bed bugs are not uncommon in libraries since books, library shelves and cloth-covered furniture are perfect places for the insects to hide. Saskatoon Public Library has assembled a task force to protect its branches from bed bugs.

Amerud says that the campus libraries are being closely monitored for bed bugs, and

urges students to report a bug immediately to prevent a full infestation.

“We are monitoring the situation to make sure that if any are found we can deal with it right away.”

The older residences in McEown Park have been dealing with bed bug infestations for years and now the pests have moved into the Natural Sciences Library — and most likely other libraries on campus.

“They are travellers,” Amerud said. “They travel and then they drop off and if they like where they are living, they’ll stay.”

Residence Operations Manager Lucille McInnes wrote to the Sheaf that the residence office has finalized a plan to eradicate bed bugs from residence this summer.

However, eradicating bed bugs

from the residences will be difficult if students continue to bring them from the university’s libraries.

Bed bugs are incredibly resilient: they can last anywhere from 30 to 550 days without feeding. The two common ways to exterminate the pest are by heat and chemical treatments. Bed bugs die at 45 C, but the eggs can survive up to 55 C. Often the chemical process needs multiple treatments to be effective.

“It’s a lot of work to get rid of them; that’s the problem,” Andrea Smida, biosafety manager for Facilities and Management Division, told On Campus News.

“You have to make sure the area is prepped properly. If it isn’t, the treatment won’t be successful.”

NEWS

| thesheaf.com | 4 April, 2013 |

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USSU passes 2013-14 budget Campus What you should know about the USSU budget DARYL HOFMANN Senior News Editor According to the recently approved 2013-14 University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union budget, prepared and tabled by Vice-President Operations and Finance Steven Heidel, the union will run a deficit of $278,000 next year, which includes asset depreciation costs.

Depreciation is the decline in value that all assets are subject to as time goes by.

Without asset depreciation costs, the union’s actual cash position is a deficit of $22,523.

That compares to a budgeted deficit of just over $200,000 in 2012-13 and one of $440,000 in the previous year.

Revenue from tenants in lower Place Riel continues to pour in as expected, but slipping profits from union-owned businesses such as Louis’ and Copy Central are keeping the union from balancing its budget.

The last time the USSU

managed to break even was in 2009-10, before the $30-million Place Riel renovation that shut down many of the union’s revenue sources for almost two years.

Facilities

With the reopening of lower Place Riel, rent from tenants has returned and this year the union expects to collect about $380,000, even with a vacancy in the corner space that was formerly occupied by Campus Cove.

“It would’ve been better without Campus Cove leaving,” USSU General Manager Caroline Cottrell said. “But other than that [lower Place Riel] has been doing good.”

Heidel said there were 40 additional chairs recently installed at the food court after they noticed it was tough to find a place to sit and eat at one of the restaurants. The USSU is paid according to how much business each tenant does.

XL Print & Design

After running small deficits for the past few years, XL Print and Design is expected to turn a profit of over $30,000 in 201314. This year was XL’s first year operating from the main floor of the MUB, after working from Browsers for several years.

Cottrell believes they have developed an excellent reputation for their quick turnaround times, and says that they expect business to continue improving.

Louis’

Last fall, university administrators told the USSU that they would be tearing down the beach volleyball courts on College Drive and rezoning the land for hotel development.

For at least the past decade, the beach courts were home to the Louis’ beach volleyball league, which annually brought in $30,000 in league fees and another $70,000 in food and beverage sales.

Without the league, Louis’ has been forced to revamp its

*

operations. The restaurant has a new manager and has expanded upstairs with Louis’ Loft opening in the coming months. Next year the operation is budgeted to break even, if depreciation costs are not included.

Copy Central

Since 2008, Copy Central has seen usage fall by approximately 50 per cent, from 500,000 copies per year to less than 250,000.

Next year the union’s photocopy business is projected to lose $55,000.

“Copy Central has been running a deficit for a long time and next year we have our contract with Western Business Machines coming up,” Cottrell said.

WBM owns and services the USSU’s fleet of 42 photocopiers across campus and the union pays WBM to keep them here.

The union is losing money each year because the contract with WBM costs more than students are spending on photocopies.

Heidel believes the ability to share notes online and the option of scanning documents have drastically scaled down the amount that students use photocopies. He claims adding scanners to the fleet of photocopiers and allowing students to email documents to scanners and printers would make Copy Central more relevant.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that students need copying,” Cottrell said. “To the extent that they used to use it... probably not.”

Administrative salaries

Administrative salaries are by far the union’s largest expense and account for roughly 50 per cent of the budget. Next year, salaries will cost the union a projected $989,000.

Cottrell says since taking over as manager she has cut three senior positions, including one — space and events coordinator — this year.

“We have reorganized and restructured,” she said. “We are trying to make sure we stay as lean as we can without killing people from exhaustion, and just trying to be very strategic with how we are administering the way we manage the USSU.”

crime report

Incidents at the University of Saskatchewan involving Campus Safety from March 25 - April 1

Officers issued: • 2 Driver’s view obstructed through front and both side windows • 1 Disobey stop sign • 1 Speeding • 1 Operating unregistered vehicle • 1 Driving while suspended • 1 Driving without reasonable consideration for others • 1 Intoxicated in a public place Other reports: • Campus Safety responded to three medical calls.

• Graffiti was reported in a bathroom stall in Edwards School of Business.

• On March 25, a car stolen from campus between March 7 and 15 was recovered by city police at the intersection of 20th Street and Ave. Q. • A vehicle stop in the area of Innovation Boulevard at 1:33 a.m. on March 29 led to a female being charged with impaired driving.

• A vehicle stop near the bus mall at 12:45 a.m. on March 31 led to a female receiving a 24-hour suspension for having alcohol in her system.

FLOCK & GATHER

CRAFT COLLECTIVE PRESENTS

Place Riel debt

* Cash position is the total deficit without asset depreciation

cody schumacher

The USSU still owes nearly $18 million on the $19-million loan it took out to pay for the Place Riel renovation.

Each month the union makes mandatory $120,000 payments, split between two different banks.

Once the renovations to Louis’ Loft are complete, the union plans to set aside a rainyday fund of between $750,000 and $1 million, and then begin paying down the loan at a faster pace.

“We’re predicting we can start paying off the debt [faster than $120,000 per month] by the fall of 2014,” Cottrell said.

ST. JOSEPH’S PARISH HALL

535 8TH ST. EAST

(CORNER OF BROADWAY + 8TH)

APRIL 19TH & 20TH Friday 6PM -9 PM

Saturday 10AM -5 PM

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NEWS

| 4 April, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

Kenderdine campus spirit lives on MICHAEL MACLEOD

On Feb. 5, four Saskatchewan citizens came together to form Keep Kenderdine — a group devoted to the upkeep and continuation of the closed Emma Lake Kenderdine Campus. A month later, a gala was held to celebrate the storied past of the campus.

The Emma Lake Kenderdine campus opened in 1935 to house summer art programs taught by Augustus Kenderdine, then head of the University of Saskatchewan’s art department. Thirty years later, the biology department began offering zoology, ecology, limnology and botany courses at the campus.

The satellite campus operated for 77 years before university administrators decided to close the facility in November 2012 due to high operating costs along with needed repairs and maintenance totalling at least $3 million. The closure is slated to last until 2016, when the university will reassess the feasibility of the campus.

Keep Kenderdine founding member Marsha Day wrote to the Sheaf that the group formed after a petition to stop the closure received over 2,000 signatures.

“Building on this upswell,” Day wrote, “Writers, musicians, visual artists, scientists, teachers, environmentalists, students, alumni, and people from all walks of life are now joining Keep Kenderdine.”

Despite the petition, the campus remains closed. The group is now focused on keeping the campus operable during its closure by mitigating problems an abandoned

Executive members of the U of S Biology Club gather for a photo at the first annual Kenderdine Commemorative Gala that was held at the Radisson Hotel on March 15.

lakefront site may face, such as water and snow damage, looting, vandalism and fire.

In hopes of shortening the closure, Keep Kenderdine has been fundraising with a goal of $500,000 — the campus’s projected deficit.

Keep Kenderdine intends on generating open dialogue with the public and the U of S to keep the public aware of the campus’s cultural importance and history.

The spirit of the Emma Lake,

Kenderdine Campus lived on during the first annual Kenderdine Commemorative Gala, hosted by the U of S Biology Club on March 15.

The gala was held at the Radisson Hotel and was attended by community members who have supported the campus and are concerned by its closing.

The black-tie gala consisted of a dinner and silent auction, with funds going to support students impacted by the shuttering. Live

raisa pezderic/photo editor

Keynote speakers Ric Driediger (left) and Paul Trottier (right) with U of S Biology Club President Kasia Majewski at the Kenderdine Commemorative Gala March 15 at the Radisson Hotel in Saskatoon.

Louis’ Loft continued from

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speakers discussed the importance of the Emma Lake Kenderdine campus for biology programs.

Graduate student Kevin Lysak emceed the event, sharing how much his time at the campus meant to him and regaling the audience with anecdotes from the field course he attended there.

“There will definitely be a loss in the quality of education biology students will receive,” Lysak said when asked about the future of the biology program without the Kenderdine campus.

Lysak said that without field experience, research will only occur at the “students’ own initiative and through the private sector.”

With the loss of the campus, the university is one of the few major Canadian universities without a permanent facility for biology field courses.

Meredith Doyle, a fourth-year biology student, said the field course gives students valuable experience that cannot be replicated in a classroom setting.

“You need to get out there and experience it, not just learn about it in the classroom,” Doyle said.

The campus’s director Scott Halpin, who has roughly 30 years of experience working in the Emma Lake region, was in disbelief when he was informed of the closure. Halpin says he should

have been notified at least two years before the facility’s closure date.

Since the closure, he has been tasked with finding a new area with an equal range of biodiversity, lab space and suitable accommodations to host the biology field course in time for this year’s summer class.

Halpin said he did not foresee the university closing the campus because he did not think the campus’s financials were problematic.

“I thought we were doing so well, increasing the number of credit courses at the campus and making more money,” Halpin said.

Dennis Lehmkuhl, a professor of aquatic ecology who has taught at the Kenderdine campus, was dismayed by the facility’s closure.

“The small amount of savings is not worth the loss of knowledge and experience,” Lehmkuhl said.

“I just don’t understand.”

Fourth-year biology student Tracy Hunt feels she will miss out on the rich history previous students have been a part of by taking classes at the Emma Lake Kenderdine campus.

“You might get the experience [with other field courses] but you miss out on being a part of the history that Kenderdine represents,” Hunt said.

transition for various evening uses ranging from student groups’ events to weddings to live music.

Louis’ Loft will also provide a venue for students when Louis’ is closed for private functions.

The rebranding will feature a sleek new look for the upstairs venue with round booths lining the walls and the bar moved to the back of the room where the washrooms are located. The

flooring and lighting will also be redone.

The renovations will cost the USSU $750,000 and will be funded by the $56 infrastructure fee that full-time undergraduates pay per term.

Browsers closed March 27.

Renovations began the next day and are expected to wrap up within a six-week period in time to reopen mid-May.

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USSU Business and Services Manager Jason Kovitch was aware of the large drop in book sales and the imminent loss of beach volleyball revenues. He said the union had to find a way to bring in more money.

“We had to find what’s the best option out there for us to grow this business in the right direction,” Kovitch said. “This is what we’ve come up with.”

Cautious not to lose the coffee business, Louis’ Loft will offer products similar to those offered by Browsers with a larger emphasis on baked goods, handmade sandwiches and paninis — along with a new menu that will be unveiled at the end of the month.

“We believe in the coffee business there,” Kovitch said. “We wanted to take the core of that and

the success of that to be able to sort of grow that on a day-to-day level.”

Browsers had a limited selection of liquors available, so to offer more to students, Louis’ Loft will have local draft and a full bar featuring liquors from Saskatoon’s own Lucky Bastards Distillers.

Louis’ Loft will be a versatile space that will cater to the coffee crowd during the day and easily

NEWS

| thesheaf.com | 4 April, 2013 |

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Gender identity bill passes third reading in House of Commons ST. JOHN’S (CUP) — A bill recently passed in the House of Commons will make discrimination on the grounds of gender identity prohibited, a move that is being celebrated by many.

On March 20, the House passed Bill C-279, an Act to Amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (Gender Identity).

The bill adds gender identity to the prohibited grounds for discrimination within the Human Rights Act. Furthermore, amendments to the Criminal Code would outlaw hate speech advocating the genocide of groups distinguished by gender.

The vote for what Conservative Member of Parliament Rob Anders has in the past controversially labelled the “Bathroom Bill” came down to 149-137, with 18 Tories joining members of the NDP, Liberals and the Bloc Quebecois to pass the legislation.

The passage of this bill has been labelled a landmark in transgender rights by a number of LGBT and pride groups across Canada.

Bill C-279 “is a great step forward in the equalization of rights for our trans brothers and sisters in the LGBT community,” said Noah Davis-Power, director of external affairs for Memorial University’s LGBT Society.

“We’re even more pleased to hear that there were senior cabinet members including John Baird, minister of foreign affairs, and Jim Flaherty, finance minister, who voted in favour of the motion.”

Despite the step forward, DavisPower says the bill is far from perfect.

“Unfortunately, the bill was amended from its original form by removing ‘gender expression,’ ”

Davis-Power said. “This just shows we still have some distance left to go before trans folk are expressly protected under the law and even more miles before they are accepted by society as a whole.”

Member of House Assembly for St. John’s Centre, Gerry Rogers, has been a consistent advocate for gender identity and expression concerns within the provincial legislative. Just a day after the passing of the federal bill, Rogers proposed similar amendments at the provincial level.

Minister of Justice Darin King maintains that such change is not necessary.

“As I have said many times, our current legislation around the provision of human rights for people in Newfoundland and Labrador provides for that same security and protection that the member [Rogers] is advocating for,” King said.

“Currently our legislation does not prohibit the protection of the individuals that the federal government referenced in their legislation last night, and I will continue to monitor that.”

Many members of the LGBT community — including DavisPower — encourage Rogers to take a further step in her proposal and put forward a private members bill.

“We are all excited to hear when Gerry puts forward the motion, and are glad to have her fighting in our corner,” Davis-Power said.

With the release of the budget, it will remain uncertain when and if Rogers will propose such a motion.

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination based on gender identity within the province.

cody schumacher

Bernard Flaman

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Launching French and Indians in the Heart of North America, 1630-1815 Tuesday, April 16, 7:00 pm

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SPORTS

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| 4 April, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

Sports films to inspire KIMBERLEY HARTWIG Need something to fill your time now that the Huskies teams are done for the season? The Sheaf has compiled 10 great sports films to get you cheering.

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Hoosiers – Hoosiers tells the Cinderella story of a small-town Indiana basketball team that makes it all the way to the state final. Gene Hackman plays a disgraced coach whose unorthodox leadership style doesn’t sit well with the team’s ardent supporters.

The idyllic Indiana backdrop serves as the perfect sentimental setting for the ensuing events.

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Hoop Dreams – The basketball documentary, which took director Steve James nearly eight years to complete, is one of the most accurate portrayals of young athletes chasing their dreams you will ever see. The film follows two young basketball players, William Gates and Arthur Agee, as they try to use the game to win fame, fortune and redemption for their families.

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Raging Bull – Robert De Niro won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of prizefighter Jake LaMotta in this 1980 biopic directed by Martin Scorsese. The film is artfully shot in black and white and follows LaMotta’s outbursts, trials and triumphs. More than anything, the movie is a character study of the volatile LaMotta, a role De Niro knocks out.

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Field of Dreams – After hearing a mysterious voice whisper, “If you build it, he will come,” Ray, an Iowa farmer played by Kevin Costner, plows his field to build a baseball diamond. The film is considered an American classic, and the scene where Ray plays catch with his deceased father is near guaranteed to make you tearyeyed.

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Remember the Titans – Denzel Washington plays the head coach of a newly integrated high school football team in this Disney classic. Set in 1971 Virginia, power struggles ensue as the team struggles to come together in the face of diversity. Whether or not you’re a die-hard football fan, this flick reminds us that our enemies aren’t so different from us.

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A League of Their Own – Set during World War II, this is the fictional account of the real-life AllAmerican Girls Professional Baseball League. Men have been deployed, leaving the ladies to man the diamond at a time when female athletes rarely garnered respect. Tom Hanks plays the coach, a fallen baseball great trying to kick the bottle and regain respect, who spews the famous line, “There’s no crying in baseball!”

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Million Dollar Baby – If you haven’t seen this drama already, be prepared to get thrown a left hook.

The film takes an unexpected turn that makes it a captivating watch and the catalyst of many heated debates. The flick stars Hilary Swank as young, determined boxer Maggie Fitzgerald.

Clint Eastwood plays her embittered coach.

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Rocky – This classic underdog story is set to one of the most memorable soundtracks in movie history. In the boxing ring, the amateur fighter Rocky Balboa takes on world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed.

Creed comes to Philadelphia expecting an easy victory, but Balboa, the Italian stallion, has other plans.

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Bend it Like Beckham – When Jess, played by Parminder Nagra, joins a football team (that’s soccer to us) she is met with heavy resistance from her conservative parents.

The film is equal parts comedy and drama as it explores cultural differences and race relations, all framed by Jess’ love of football.

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Dogtown and Z-Boys – With summer finally appearing on the horizon it’s the perfect time to watch this documentary on the 1970s California skateboard scene. The film uses original footage of the Zephyr skateboard team and more recent interviews to tell the story of how a group of teenagers forever influenced skateboarding culture.

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| thesheaf.com | 4 April, 2013 |

Protect your noggin from a floggin’

mathias macphee/the fulcrum

SPENCER VAN DYK The Fulcrum (University of Ottawa) OTTAWA (CUP) — The risk of concussion comes along with many sports. By the time athletes reach the university sport level, many of them will have experienced at least one concussion, and many have suffered several.

Blaine Hoshizaki, a professor at the University of Ottawa, specializes in this type of head injury and is studying the mechanisms of concussions and the risk factors associated with specific sports and injuries.

Concussions may seem like a common occurrence, especially in sport, but they can do serious damage to your brain.

“The brain is relatively soft,” Hoshizaki explained.

“What happens is it actually gets sheared. It’s like Jell-O. If you try to compress it, it won’t compress, but if you shear it, that’s what a concussion is.

What people don’t realize is that the brain is mostly liquid and jelly-like. The brain only has to move three to five millimetres, and that’s the damage. The brain is very robust, but if you hit it hard enough, it damages the tissue and can interfere with the physiology.”

Athletes, especially those who have grown up in the culture of contact sports, are generally familiar with concussions and the risks of head injuries. One such group of athletes is the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees women’s hockey team.

“These players have been playing for 15 or more years, so they’re aware of those dangers,” said hockey coach Yanick Evola.

“It happens quite a bit. With the girls getting better and better,

hitting harder shots and skating faster, they’re at a higher risk, unfortunately. It happened last year, and it happened this year; it’s a pretty frequent thing.”

Hoshizaki seeks to connect the circumstances of the injury with their outcome and effects.

According to him, there are two types of injury that cause concussions: rotational dynamic head injuries and linear dynamic head injuries.

A rotational dynamic head injury occurs in a situation like being punched in the jaw. Hoshizaki explained that getting hit in the jaw or on the chin can create high angular acceleration, which could knock you out. Alternately, falling and hitting your head, causing it to stop suddenly, is considered a linear dynamic head injury. The consequences of these two types of injuries are comparable, but affect different parts of the brain in various ways.

“What we do primarily is try to understand the mechanisms of concussions and relate the event to the risk of injury,” Hoshizaki said. “If someone has a concussion, we can then recreate the injury to understand how the brain tissue is affected from that particular accident. It’s almost like a forensic [science] in that we take in the information about how the event occurred and then we reconstruct it so we can get the dynamic response of the head. We then take that dynamic response to the head to create a model of the brain and skull, which allows us to calculate the strain on the brain tissue.”

Samantha Delenardo, a former forward for the GeeGees women’s hockey team, says she has experienced three concussions that she can remember.

Delenardo suffered her first concussion while playing junior hockey. “That was a pretty bad one; I was out for about a month,” she said. “Immediately after I got hit, I forgot the score of the game. I knew where I was, but mostly forgot important details. Since then, I’ve been more susceptible to them.”

Delenardo’s second concussion happened when she took a slapshot to the side of her head.

Her last concussion came during a Gee Gees’ practice during her final year with the squad. “I hit a teammate, and she’s a lot heavier than me, so I got the worst of it. I don’t remember much from it. I was benched for about a month and a half.”

According to Delenardo, concussions occur more commonly in sports like hockey, football and boxing. In the case of football, hits to the head and using the head as a weapon have become basic parts of the sport.

In hockey, Evola says, being at a two-foot distance from the boards puts athletes at a higher risk of being pushed into the boards or falling on the ice — a risk players are aware of.

“You don’t really talk about it until it happens, but just growing up in the culture, you’re aware of what a concussion is, and as soon as you have one, obviously you know what the symptoms are and how to treat it a little bit,” she said.

Hoshizaki said the treatment of concussions and other head injuries depends not only on the circumstances but also on the brain itself, and that side effects and consequences from these types of injuries are unpredictable.

“In some cases, people can fall down and get right back up,” Hoshizaki said. “In other cases, they can get knocked out. That is partly because of the parts of the brain that are involved

and the effect, so it’s quite unpredictable.”

There are some aspects of concussions that remain a mystery to Hoshizaki.

“What we’re trying to understand is why in some cases, you can have relatively low trauma, but symptoms will persist and possibly never go away. You have to be very careful when you get back into play. Some studies are showing that even if you show no symptoms, the brain can still be compromised, so you need to be very conservative with getting back into play.”

Concussions are “going to happen,” Delenardo said. “It falls on you and it falls on the staff to make sure you take care of it and you can return to the game safely.”

Jesus I Trust in You! “Mercy is Love that Seeks to Lessen the Misery of Others” eadmcanada.com

8

SPORTS

| 4 April, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

Dog Watch: Koren Pitkethly KIMBERLEY HARTWIG Huskies wrestler Koren Pitkethly was destined to wrestle.

Pitkethly hails from Mackenzie, B.C., the same hometown as Canadian Olympic Wrestler Leah Callahan. In fact, it was Callahan who encouraged Pitkethly to start wrestling.

“She peer pressured me and forced me into wrestling back in grade eight,” Pitkethly said. “And ever since then I started winning and I loved it.”

Soon after, another twist of fate led Pitkethly to Saskatoon.

Representing her high school team, she came to Saskatoon for wrestling nationals.

“That’s where I met the Huskies coach and a bunch of the Huskie athletes I train with now,” she said. “After I met them I knew this is where I wanted to wrestle and come be a Huskie and support Saskatoon.”

Since coming to the U of S, Pitkethly has enjoyed a successful career with the Huskies. During her five years on the team she has won three Canadian Interuniversity Sport silver medals and a gold medal at the Canada West Championship.

Pitkethly says winning her third silver medal at the CIS championships this year was the perfect way to end her five-year university career.

“Everyone is always like, ‘Well, silver isn’t gold,’ but I can’t ask for anything better,” she said. “I put everything out on the mat and left everything out there.

“To be able to [win silver] three times now is a really big

Fencing

continued from

jordan dumba

accomplishment. It’s a big honour for me to be able to represent the U of S and wrestling as a sport. I was happy to finish on a really good note.”

Her accomplishments aren’t going unnoticed by the school, either. Pitkethly is now nominated for the Huskies’ female athlete of the year award for her grappling greatness. She says the nomination

is the icing on an already sweet cake.

“To be nominated and to potentially be able to be in the history of the U of S as one of the top female athletes, I can’t ask for anything more,” she said.

Pitkethly is in her final year studying education and hopes to become a high school teacher specializing in either physical

categories, Seguin finished in the top 16 at the Junior World Championships and scored on-the-podium finishes at both Junior and Senior World Cup events. Yearning to make the next leap in athletics, Seguin competed at international Olympic trials for both the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympic Games, but narrowly missed the cut each time.

Following the 2008 Olympic trials, Seguin decided to focus more of his efforts on university.

He will be graduating this spring with a degree in sociology and a double minor in political studies and economics. With intentions to study law next fall, Seguin hopes to move into more of a coaching role with Saskatchewan’s fencers despite winning Canada’s senior épée men’s national tournament last September.

“Now it will just be supporting the club and passing on advice,” Seguin said, content with his decision. “I can still compete really well, so I can be an extra body in the club and be a substantial opponent for them to get better.”

For more information on getting involved in fencing or joining the U of S fencing club visit: www.sites.google.com/a/

Comerford is looking to regain the fencing form that took her to 43rd in the world rankings in 2011.

education or biology. She also wants to stay close to the sport and help coach wrestling.

Although being a student athlete doesn’t leave Pitkethly with much free time, when she does get a free moment she enjoys hanging out with friends, reading and playing board games.

With her degree finished and time with the Huskies over she intends to

relax this summer. Pitkethly plans to head home to B.C to enjoy the weather and will possibly return to Saskatoon to help her teammates prepare for upcoming tournaments.

As for superstitions, Pitkethly only has one: “I shave my legs every day of weigh-in,” she said.

The ritual may have worked, but it took a lot more than luck to win three CIS silver medals.

8

She was all smiles about the performance put on by Canada in the team event, however. The three-woman group of Eleanor Harvey and Kelleigh Ryan, along with Comerford, placed eighth out of 16 teams.

“That eighth place is tied with our best-ever result from any women’s foil senior national team,” Comerford said proudly.

Comerford, who turns 25 this month, has been fencing for 17 years. In that time she has been a national champion in the under-17 cadet age group and the under-20 juniors. Now she competes in the senior age category, the category for fencers over the age of 20. As a senior she has placed second at nationals three times.

Comerford isn’t the only University of Saskatchewan student who has made Canada proud in the world of fencing.

Jean-Pierre Seguin, who has attended the U of S on and off since 2005, was at one point ranked as the best cadet épée fencer in the world. In 2002 Seguin won gold at the épée Cadet World Championship.

Over a decade later, Seguin talks calmly about his accomplishment.

“I was pretty pumped,” Seguin said. “But it was short-lived.”

As he moved through the age

saskfencing.org/sask-fencing/

jay scott photography

SPORTS

| thesheaf.com | 4 April, 2013 |

9

Staying fit on campus JANIS RIISE There are positive physical and psychological implications to working out, and the gym on campus provides students a great way to learn about and participate in multiple forms of exercise.

Some students are comfortable signing up for their favorite cardio equipment, taking a yoga class or heading into the weightlifting areas, but others are unsure what to do or how to interact in a gym setting. This is why the Fit Centre is staffed with friendly students who are there to help answer any questions students may have.

Huskies men’s basketball player Matt Forbes is one of the many student workers at the Fit Centre.

Forbes says he enjoys interacting with the diverse group of people that comes through the Fit Centre.

Matt has tried several of the fitness classes on offer and recommends them to everyone.

They are “extremely fun,” Forbes said. “The instructors are accepting of the different abilities people have and they teach to that.”

Yoga, Zumba, step, spin and other classes are all free for fulltime students.

Inside the Fit Centre, friendly and qualified kinesiology students use what they are learning in class to help those with fitness-related

questions. They are available to demonstrate stretches and exercise technique, watch you to make sure you’re safe when lifting weights and offer advice on what exercises best fit your fitness goals.

It is also their job to maintain and clean the equipment in the gym, meaning they are not always by their desk. Jennifer Jochim, a kinesiology student and personal trainer at the Physical Activity Complex which houses the Fit Centre, says students should never feel like they are interrupting the staff.

Jochim prefers to share her knowledge with other students rather than spend her entire shift cleaning.

“It is more enjoyable when people utilize our knowledge, otherwise we just do maintenance,” said Jochim, who suggests students ask for a tour of the Fit Centre facilities in order to feel more comfortable in the gym.

“We are here to help all the time.”

Weight lifting, cardio machines or fitness classes may not suit all students, but there are other ways of being active at the PAC. Students can use the climbing wall, running track, swimming pool or squash and racquetball courts.

Of course, students can always sign up to play on Campus Rec sports teams, get information on

jordan dumba

Fit Centre employees are here to help you keep fit and have have fun.

the university’s School of Dance or join the Physical Activity for Active Living program — a program for individuals with intellectual and physical impairments. And if you prefer to stick with the tried and true forms of exercise, consider joining the U of S triathlon club.

Kinesiology student and Huskies cross-country athlete

Amanda Regnier is a trainer for the Triathlon Club. She says the club is not just for serious triathlon athletes.

“Workouts are tailored to individual ability,” Regnier said.

“If you want to be competitive you can, but it can be done for fun fitness or to cross train too.”

Cross-training is when an athlete trains in a sport other than the one

he or she competes in. The goal of cross-training is to address certain fitness areas that might be neglected while training for a specific sport.

Full-time students have access to the PAC from the beginning of September until the end of August, and with all the resources available to students there is no excuse for not exercising.

General Academic Assembly (GAA) The president’s state of the university address President Ilene Busch-Vishniac, chair of the GAA, invites you to attend the annual meeting of the GAA, where she will give her first report as president on the state of the university. This event is open to all faculty, staff and students.

Details.

Wednesday, April 10 at noon in Convocation Hall Members of the GAA include the president as chair, members of faculty, elected students, deans, executive directors of schools, vice-presidents, the university secretary and the registrar.

For more information, visit usask.ca/university_secretary/gaa

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FEATURE

| 4 April, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

USSU election winds up SCOTT DAVIDSON Max FineDay narrowly edged out competitors Alyssa Bredohl and Brayden York to become the 2013-14 University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union president.

The results were announced March 28.

FineDay won by fewer than 150 votes — not quite a five per cent margin FineDay — a third-year political studies student — campaigned on a platform that included cheaper textbook options, the possibility of a fall reading week and increased student engagement.

The race for USSU president was closely contested and FineDay credited his competitors with running hard-fought campaigns.

“We had a lot of good opportunities to talk to students and a lot of good ideas came out during this campaign,” FineDay said of the election.

FineDay said he is relieved the campaign is over, and is looking forward to beginning his new position.

Current USSU President Jared Brown says he feels this year’s pool had strong candidates and he believes FineDay will be a good fit for the position.

Two members of this year’s four-person USSU executive resigned early, leading to some uncertainty about the transition period between executives. Nonetheless, Brown said he feels the transition will go smoothly and added that he plans to be as accessible as possible over the coming year.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a major issue,” Brown said. “Everybody who ran has experience with the USSU [and] has been in contact with the current executive throughout the year.”

Both Brown and FineDay said they are looking forward to working with each other in the transition period.

Nour Abouhamra, Jenna Moellenbeck and Jordan Sherbino were also elected to the executive.

Abouhamra was elected vice-president student affairs in a race of six candidates.

Abouhamra’s 1,028 votes nearly doubled the total received by any other individual candidate in the field. Improving nonacademic life through student health programs and engaging student concerns were the key elements of Abouhamra’s campaign platform.

Abouhamra echoed FineDay’s thoughts, saying she is glad the campaign is over, and is looking forward to working with the other members of the new executive.

In another tightly contested race, Moellenbeck edged out Elias Nelson by a mere 179 votes to become the first woman to hold the position of vice-president operations and finance.

“I’m really excited to break through that barrier that no women can do finances,” Moellenbeck said.

Moellenbeck looks forward to fulfilling her campaign promises of creating an on-campus tax clinic and working with Saskatoon Transit to improve services for students.

Sherbino ran uncontested for vicepresident academic affairs and was approved by a large majority.

“Even though I was running unopposed, I was still much more stressed than I had to be,” Sherbino said following the announcement of the election results.

Like the other members of the new executive, Sherbino said he is looking forward to putting his ideas into practice.

Sherbino intends to give students a strong voice when dealing with university administration and wants to work closely with student societies.

Jordan Robertson, Daniel Leblanc, Heather Franklin, Steven Heidel, Justin Wood and Adam Duke were elected as student members of the University Senate.

photos: jordan dumba

Students congratulate Nour Abouhamra on her landslide win for the position of vice-president student affairs.

Jordan Sherbino relishes students’ approval for him to serve as the next vice-president academic affairs.

FEATURE

| thesheaf.com | 4 April, 2013 |

11

Max FineDay President

Nour Abouhamra Vice-President Student Affairs

Jenna Moellenbeck Vice-President Operations and Finance

Jordan Sherbino Vice-President Academic Affairs

Currently a third-year political studies major, Max FineDay got his start in student politics in his first year when he sat on the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union External Affairs Committee. In his second year, FineDay was elected to University Students’ Council as a member for the College of Arts and Science. FineDay’s presidential platform included providing a voice for students during TransformUS and sustainability in university operations. Upon seeing “open licence textbook programs” appear across a number of universities in B.C., FineDay was inspired to pursue one at the U of S. Open licence textbooks can be freely accessed and modified through the internet and can be cheaply printed as desired.

Originally from Tripoli, Libya, Nour Abouhamra moved to Lloydminster on the border of Saskatchewan and Alberta before coming to the U of S. She is a fourth-year kinesiology student and has sat on the USSU’s Student Affairs Committee and is both a member of the Kinesiology Student Society and a student representative on University Council. Abouhamra was elected as a Member of Student Council for the College of Kinesiology last year.

The creation of safe, 24-hour study spaces for students during finals and a frosh week were among Abouhamra’s campaign initiatives.

Having visited Libya after the revolution in 2011, Abouhamra was inspired to establish a student crisis relief fund to offer interest-free loans to students who are affected by similar circumstances. This is a project that Abouhamra hopes to make a reality during her term.

Jenna Moellenbeck is in her fourth year at the Edwards School of Business, majoring in human resources. Moellenbeck has sat on the USSU’s Academic Affairs and Budget and Finance committees. In addition to two years as a member of the ESB Student Society, Moellenbeck has been elected to represent ESB on USC twice. Improving transit services for students, running a financial literacy campaign and creating an on-campus income tax clinic were elements of Moellenbeck’s platform.

Jordan Sherbino is in his third year in the College of Arts and Science, and is majoring in political studies. Over the past year, Sherbino has served as vice-president for the Public Administration and Political Studies Students’ Society, he has sat on the executive of the St. Thomas More Students’ Union and he’s been a member of both University Council and USC. In fall 2012, Sherbino helped organize the successful summer U-Pass referendum campaign.

Sherbino’s campaign platform included improved academic advising, organizing a second undergraduate research symposium and identifying academic issues that affect students across all university colleges. As the link between university administration and the undergraduate student body, Sherbino looks forward to providing a strong voice for students in university affairs.

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13SEB002_MBA Print – Job Running 1/4 page – 10.2” x 3.85” The Sheaf

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12

CULTURE

| 4 April, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

Tyler, the Creator howls to his own beat NICHOLAS KINDRACHUK No one can deny that Tyler, the Creator has charisma.

The verses on his latest release, Wolf, are packed with personal emotion even when they are clearly made up stories.

I had Goblin, his second album and the follow up to his selfreleased breakout Bastard, on heavy rotation when it first came out. The more I listened to it, though, the less I liked it.

There were aspects of it that felt incredibly forced, like it wasn’t the album Tyler wanted to make, but he felt obligated to because of the subject matter and fan base he got from Bastard.

Goblin didn’t have the same “I’ve never heard anything like this” vibe that Bastard had or the raw teenage angst he burst onto the scene with.

It’s clear Wolf is exactly the album Tyler wanted to make, but many people are going to hate it.

They are going to hate how selfinvolved he is, how he can’t break away from his discomfort with his fans and with sexuality, regarding both himself and those around him.

Many will want him to abandon his honesty because they don’t want to hear it - it’s too frustrating.

Tyler has always exposed his raw emotions in his music and he is not shying away from them now. Wolf is a look into Tyler, the

Creator’s mind. He is angry and frustrated, but he yearns to break free and enjoy life.

Tyler seems depressed, like he can’t enjoy the finer things his celebrity allows him to access no matter how badly he wants to. He is an adult now, but he is having issues embracing that.

The whole album contains an interesting contradiction with his depression, and his more childish summertime singles exemplify this theme. Although the beats are strikingly original and perfect for the season, they are topped with disturbing lyrics from a 22-yearold struggling to find freedom.

All Tyler can see is the attention and hate that surrounds him, and how his success hasn’t improved much in his life outside of his cash flow.

One of Wolf’s most deeply uncomfortable and riveting moments comes on the second single, “IFHY.” It is all about Tyler’s desperate infatuation with a nondescript girl: “I love you so much that my heart stops beating when you’re leaving/ And I’m grieving and my heart starts bleeding/ Life without you has no goddamn meaning.”

The anger and desperation in the song is so grand that it nearly made me sweat. It is a striking balance that Tyler finds again and again: overloading the listeners’ senses with raw emotions without

supplied

The deluxe edition cover for Tyler, the Creator’s new album, Wolf

pushing them away. It’s like watching a horrific accident; looking away is impossible.

Of course, the album is far from perfect. There is always a joke songs on Tyler’s albums, and Wolf is no different. “Trashwang” isn’t quite as fun as Tyler’s previous joke tracks, “Tina” and “Bitch Suck Dick.” It’s too crowded with guest spots to be an effective light rap song in the style of Waka Flock Flame or Lil B.

With an unprecedented amount of honesty, Wolf is something you can’t find anywhere else in hip hop. Tyler’s personality makes up for the occasional lyrical misstep.

Even with lazy rhymes like, “They bandwagon jumped me from a pogo/ I’m going fucking loco.”

Tyler’s new album is a complex and confusing piece that could only be delivered from him.

Wolf almost hits with the same impact that Bastard did, but only

if you free yourself from the rigid expectations that are clearly frustrating Tyler. What you’ll find is a truly unique production that is out of this world.

An hour inside Tyler, the Creator’s head is an intense and frightening experience, but it’s a trip you should definitely take.

Post-secondary education.

Investing in our future.

Since 2007-08, your provincial government has invested more than $4.2 billion dollars in Saskatchewan post-secondary students and institutions.

Over $117 million is available in student supports.

Over 500 new student housing units have been built since 2007-08.

University operating funds have increased 52% since 2007-08.

13-305-002 – Investing in Our Future Thursday March 28 & April 4, 2013 – The Sheaf (5.05” x 7.7”)

CULTURE

| thesheaf.com | 4 April, 2013 |

13

Lens puts local artist on display JENNA MANN Culture Editor Bart Gazzola’s experimental self-portraits are something to think about.

The local artist recently teamed up with Montreal photographer Evergon for a new exhibit, The Performative Lens, currently on display at PAVED Arts in Saskatoon’s Riversdale area.

The small gallery is filled with several self-portraits from both artists.

Gazzola’s photographs are fleshy, but not quite human. For his series, titled “Prophet,” he used pigskin and coiled it around himself in various ways.

He is careful not to show his

Recipes to get you ready for summer ALEXANDER QUON With summer approaching, I know you’re thinking what l am: it’s time to get cooking and eating outdoors. Outside is where food was meant to be enjoyed. Here are five summer recipes to keep you full, fed and cool during the upcoming summer months.

bart gazzola

An untitled work from Gazzola’s “Prophet.”

face; it is his body — specifically his chest — that is the focus of the photographs. Gazzola is never fully exposed.

“I didn’t want to have a face and I definitely made a conscious decision to not have my eyes within” the frames, Gazzola said.

His use of framing transforms the focus from himself onto the pigskin, which seems to become an extension of himself.

Evergon’s use of props add a sense of comedy to his photographs. In one photograph, for example, Evergon sported underwear, a sailor hat and a hula skirt. On his torso he sketched a topless woman in a manner that mimics the wear typically seen in aged tattoos. The viewer is drawn

Autumn Chopped Salad It’s always good to start off a meal with a nice, light and crunchy salad — perfect for any type of summer day.

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Ingredients: 6 to 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce 2 chopped medium pears 1 cup dried cranberries 1 cup chopped pecans 8 slices of bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled 4 to 6 oz. crumbled feta cheese poppy seed salad dressing (store-bought) balsamic vinaigrette

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Ingredients: ½ pound ground beef 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ½ large diced onion ¼ pound chopped, crispcooked bacon ½ tsp seasoned salt 2 tsp beer

The Performative Lens will be on display until April 20.

A photo from Evergon’s “Sailor” collection.

evergon

Watermelon Lime Frosty On a large platter combine the lettuce, pears, cranberries, pecans, bacon and feta cheese.

Drizzle generously with the poppy seed dressing and the balsamic vinaigrette.

This recipe was found at espressoandcream.com

If it’s a warm day you will want a frozen drink to cool off. Mix that with a little bit of alcohol and you have the perfect day. This recipe makes two servings.

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Bacon Double-Cheese Stuffed Burgers Summer means barbecue, and what is barbecue season without a great burger? Here’s a really easy burger with a cheese-filled twist!

to the large guts of both Evergon and the woman.

“I know Evergon cracked me up because I know that there’s this intense sense of humour behind what he does and this kind of almost silliness,” Gazzola said.

The two artists have a longstanding relationship and strong ties to the arts community in Saskatoon. They first worked together 22 years ago when Gazzola was a student in Windsor, Ont., where Gazzola modelled for one of Evergon’s projects.

Evergon has eight works on display at the exhibit while Gazzola contributed three.

Blend all ingredients until smooth, adding water as needed.

This recipe was found at daydreamkitchen.com

Ingredients: 3 cups watermelon, cubed and frozen 1 banana, peeled and frozen 2 tbsp agave nectar or maple syrup (I prefer maple syrup) lime zest 4 tbsp lime juice ½ cup water (optional) 3 or 4 shots of tequila

Summer Corn and White Bean Soup Combine the bacon, onion and cheddar cheese in a bowl.

Separately combine beef, spice and beer, mix thoroughly and shape into six thin patties. Put bacon, onion and cheese mixture on three patties. Place the remaining patties on top and press the edges together to seal them. Grill them until well done. Makes three burger patties.

This recipe was found at bbq. about.com

On those days when the sun doesn’t shine and storm clouds fill the sky, you’re going to want something to keep you warm. Here is a spicy soup that should do the trick.

Ingredients: 1 tbsp canola oil 1 cup sliced green onions ¾ cup chopped cooked ham 3 cups corn kernels (fresh or canned) ½ tsp salt 2 cans navy beans 2 cans chopped green chiles -

Heat canola oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and ham and cook for three minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the corn and remaining ingredients. Bring the contents to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for five minutes.

Makes six servings.

This recipe was adapted from one found at myrecipes.com

Homemade Orange Creamsicles This recipe is a sweet treat for a warm summer day.

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Ingredients: 1 cup cream 2 egg whites ½ cup honey 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup orange juice zest of 1 orange

In a bowl, beat the cream with a whisk until soft peaks form. In another bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add honey and vanilla extract and continue beating until firm peaks form once again. Combine the egg whites mixture into the cream and add the orange juice and zest. Place the mixture into popsicle molds and insert popsicle sticks. Place in freezer overnight and serve.

This recipe was found at foodnetwork.ca

A mouth-watering burger desperate to jump in your belly

amadeus/flickr

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CULTURE

| 4 April, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

Why monsters and slashers all vote Tory KYLE LEITCH The Carillon (University of Regina)

cody schumacher

REGINA (CUP) — While I was actually paying attention in film class last week, my professor raised an interesting issue.

Over the course of the lecture, the aforementioned professor suggested that horror films, and more specifically the slasher films of the 1970s and ’80s, were representations of conservative ideology—albeit a cartoonishly over-exaggerated version.

My firmly established beliefs challenged, I scoffed, “Surely, you jest!” Perhaps the professor didn’t hear me, because the lesson moved on without the slightest pause. “Surely, he jests?” I asked my neighbour.

“Fuck off,” my neighbour responded, going back to the doodles adorning the margins of every page in his notebook.

“It’s okay,” I told myself.

“Surely, he jests.” But still, I couldn’t get the nagging idea that he might be right out of my head.

The night after that fateful lecture, I sequestered myself in my living room. Beside me I had a veritable cornucopia of bloodlust. Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers and Tommy “Leatherface” Hewitt would be my only company that cold night.

First up was Jason. Surely Friday the 13th wouldn’t let me down. Okay, things are looking good: teenagers getting high and screwing, Jason putting the machete to them and — wait.

Teenagers. Drugs. Sex. All things right-wingers hate, and all being dealt with in a bloody, unrelenting manner. I ejected the DVD, starting to feel slightly panicked.

Nightmare on Elm Street?

Freddy killed without discrimination, right? He got you in your dreams, right?! But on the screen: teenagers, drugs. sex, abortions. Oh, fuck.

Mike? Leatherface? Teenagers.

Drugs. Sex. This was bad. This was really, really bad. How could I not have noticed the patterns?

They had been in place since before the turn of the century!

These movie monsters are the metaphorical archangels sent by conservative politicians to punish the things they hate most.

Think about your favourite slasher movie. Now, think about your favourite kill (you sick bastard). Now, think about the victim. Think about what they were engaged in immediately before their intestinal tracts were strung up on light fixtures.

I guarantee you they were either having intercourse out of wedlock, abusing a controlled substance or discussing

something guaranteed to piss off your local Conservative Members of Parliament.

Ask yourself: what does a Conservative MP hate more than teenagers, drugs, sex and abortions?

And, suddenly, it hit me. This is how the Conservatives have been exerting their power in Canadian politics for so long.

They get into power, and then they use their cronies summoned literally from the very depths of hell to murder their competition in cold blood. All I’m saying is, who’s heard from Joe Clark lately?

Jason, Freddy, Michael, Leatherface — I expected more from you. I honestly thought you killed with no regard for political affiliation. I can assure that whatever the Conservatives are paying you, we, as a collective body, could easily double it to stop your mercenary work for the Conservatives and make a few more sequels each. Shall we set the first scene on, say, March 21, 2013? Oh, was that budget day?

I’m not angry. Honest.

Bioshock Infinite takes to the heavens NICHOLAS KINDRACHUK It’s time to explore a new utopia — a world in the sky that believes Abraham Lincoln was a demon and that worships John Wilkes Booth for assassinating him.

The previous Bioshock games took place in Rapture, an underwater dystopia aiming for a new world. Rapture was created by Andrew Ryan, a crazed man with such a social vision, so bizarre that he had to build an aquatic society to see them come to fruition.

Where Bioshock and its sequel both took place in Rapture after disaster brought the city to the brink of damnation, Infinite takes place on the floating island of Columbia during what could easily be seen as its golden age. Here you are the force tearing it down, bringing heaven back to Earth.

The games could theoretically take place in the same universe, but are most related thematically and in terms of gameplay.

Infinite deals with extremist views and utopian ideals. A culture of white supremacists that worships U.S. presidents as gods, Columbians were so extreme that the rest of America rejected them and so they floated off, disappearing from view. Columbia takes southern secessionism to unprecedented heights, both literally — given its skybound setting — and figuratively.

As lead character Booker DeWitt, not much is revealed to the player. All you know is there is debt you must pay to a mysterious

someone. You will repay this debt by finding a woman named Elizabeth and bringing her to your unnamed debtor. For this purpose you are dropped off at a deserted lighthouse with only one option available: climb. At the top, you are launched in a small rocket pod into the sky and Columbia is revealed.

It is a city dreamt up by a man named Comstock who claims he can see the future. He also claims that your character, DeWitt, is the false prophet who is meant to steal the lamb — his name for the girl you were sent to retrieve.

I could go on forever on the biblical references and commentary involved, but to do so would reveal elements designed to be experienced firsthand. Just know that the story is rich and only increases in complexity the more you explore.

Those familiar with Bioshock’s gameplay will feel right at home. For those who aren’t: you’re equipped with an array of upgradable weapons and abilities.

These abilities are fantastic in nature and come in the form of power giving drinks called vigour, which can be combined with weapons in unique ways during battle.

The way Infinite updates the previous two Bioshock’s combat makes this edition of the franchise stand out. Everything in Columbia feels fucked all to hell in a way that breathes new life into the stale, war-torn environments that usually plague first-person

shooters. The events that take place when you are exploring the flying city blow everything the original game had out the water.

Infinite uses its floating setting to its advantage by giving the player opportunities to hurtle all over the terrain in search of the best way to take out your enemy.

The biggest addition to the new game comes in the form of the much-talked-about Elizabeth, the player’s near-constant companion.

She is one of the most wellrealized characters in video game history and certainly sets a high standard for future games.

Elizabeth always feels like she is there experiencing the game

with you. Although initially she seems like the damsel in distress, it becomes clear she is your partner.

When you’re exploring, she grabs things for you and brings items of interest to your attention. A character this well-developed feels so real at times that it’s almost scary.

One of Elizabeth’s primary character traits, which is key to showing a lot of the disturbances within Columbia, is her ability to activate rifts — seams in space that open like a window into another world. These add to the chaos of not only the story but also the conflicts, since what’s behind these rifts is highly unpredictable.

A giant statue of the prophet Comstock welcomes you to the floating world of Columbia

Infinite takes the slower pace of the original and scraps it, adding endless opportunities in combat to the point of overwhelming the player. The amount of options available to take enemies out is staggering and can lead to indecisiveness while fighting.

I’m always worried that I might be missing out on some exciting possibility I haven’t considered yet.

Bioshock Infinite is an incredible thrill ride of a game that transcends expectations and contains some of the most memorable environments and characters to date. It needs to be experienced firsthand to be believed.

supplied

CULTURE

| thesheaf.com | 4 April, 2013 |

15

Losing summer with online comics KATLYNN BALDERSTONE Now that the school year is almost over, it’s time to make your plans for summer! Going on trips, hanging with friends, finally writing that novel… no, let’s face it, you’ll probably still be on the computer most of the time. The Sheaf fully endorses your indoor

summer; in fact, here are some of the best online comics for your reading pleasure.

Hark, A Vagrant!: harkavagrant.com

Created by Canada’s own Kate Beaton, Hark, a Vagrant! takes history and makes it entertaining.

The art is simple but engaging,

and her use of more contemporary dialogue makes the history-and literature-based jokes easier to understand.

Epiphany: ianjay.net

Eli’s had a rough day. He’s having trouble at school, his father is in critical condition after a car accident, he found an ancient religious text in a jar and he met a jerk of a god who’s lost his powers and works in retail. You know, typical teen stuff. Epiphany is a usually humorous, sometimes heart-wrenching and always thought-provoking look at religion and faith — a difficult topic that’s handled well here.

Ava’s Demon: avasdemon.com

Ava has struggled with depression and isolation her entire life, brought on by the spirit that shares her body and seems intent on making her miserable. A crisis causes the two to start connecting and understanding what brought them together. This all happens as they struggle to find a new life and defeat a mysterious force called Titan. With each page a single illustration, Ava’s Demon is a quick read with good pacing and topnotch art.

Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal: smbccomics.com In case you’ve forgotten since reading some of its strips in the Sheaf or you didn’t know, here’s another reminder: SMBC in the first place is an actual web comic, and a darn good one. The daily updates look at life, love and the sciences in a way that is both amusing and insightful. There are also website exclusives, so you really should go check it out.

Manly Guys Doing Manly Things: thepunchlineismachismo. com

Dreamed up by another Canadian artist, Kelly Turnbull, this comic asks one question: What happens when ludicrously macho video games characters have to exist in the real world and find regular jobs? They go to a rehabilitation and job-finding agency run by Commander Badass, a time-travelling soldier from a nondescript future, of course.

While most enjoyable for video game fans, the jokes are accessible to everyone and the writing is of a consistently high quality — plus, there’s a giant sea monster named “Mr. Fish.” If that doesn’t sell you I don’t know what will.

Octopus Pie: octopuspie.com

Eve and Hanna are old classmates — they took kindergarten together — who find themselves sharing an apartment in Brooklyn after nearly a lifetime apart. With the help of their friends and family, the pair slowly try to navigate work, romance, relationships, the search for selfesteem and being adults in general.

Octopus Pie is a slice-of-life series that sometimes takes a turn for the bizarre, but always stays grounded in the main characters and their struggles.

cody schumacher

Upcoming Events Sunday

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Monday

Broadway Calls at Lepps Celebration of Old Skin at SCYAP Art Gallery

9

Tuesday

Open Stage at Lydia’s Yelawolf at Louis’ Pub

10

Thursday

5

Friday

John Jerome at Amigos The Martyr Index at The Fez

Saturday

6

Clutch at The Odeon Dumb Angel at Vangelis Cookers at The Bassment Louis’: The Gathering II at Louis’ Pub

Wednesday

Open Mic Night at the Fez Imagine No Bullying Concert at The Broadway Theatre Ritornello Underground: Kerry DuWors and Leanne Zacharias at The Bassment

EXPIRES April 4, 2013

7

Tonight It’s Poetry at Lydia’s Doom at Lepps

4

Randy Bachman at TCU Place Yukon Blonde w/ Zeus at Amigos Swollen Members at The Odeon Matt Blais at Bud’s

for the week of April 4 - 10

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16

OPINIONS

| 4 April, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

Children need philosophy

ALEX WERENKA

As a student in my final year at the University of Saskatchewan, it saddens me that I am not as adept at critical thinking as I should be.

Give me something to memorize and I’m on it, but ask me to critique an argument and I flounder.

There are many ways in which critical thinking is encouraged in university: writing critical reflections, research essays or journaling individual experiences.

But unless one is well-practiced in reflection and questioning, how does one truly know how to think critically?

The government of Saskatchewan is moving to implement standardized testing throughout the province, but this methodology does not actually teach children how to think critically, nor does it encourage the questioning attitude so important in modern society. But what’s the alternative?

Philosophy classes are the obvious answer, as they’re literally the study of knowledge, but it’s understandable why some people may steer clear of them — I normally do. However, I was fortunate enough to find a class that has not only taught me to delve into the art of thinking, but to also encourage and foster this process in children.

For the past three months I have been taking a class on philosophy for children. The class has been very challenging, but it has also been very inspiring.

The discussions we had ranged from conversations about meaning,

identity, friendship, happiness, value, death and ideas of good versus bad. The children were always asked to give reasons for their answers and they most always provided engaging responses.

The children taking this class have taken away essential analytical skills, something that will impact their education for years to come.

It has taught them the value of asking questions — something that undergraduate students are too often lacking.

These 10-to-12-year-olds asked questions such as, “What do our lives mean?” “Is there life on other planets?” and “What is normal?”

It was amazing to see the curiosity these students had, helping them air out philosophical questions and leaving them asking more.

During one of the first sessions a student asked if they were allowed to disagree with us, the student facilitators. It was so exciting to inform her that disagreeing, arguing and reasoning was the purpose of our lessons together.

Throughout these sessions though, I truly felt like it was I who was learning. These kids would voice their “wonders,” as we phrased them, and the children’s ideas completely blew me away.

I can’t remember the last time I stopped to think about life on other planets, or to ponder what it means to be happy.

It was through these sessions that I started remembering the importance of questioning and reasoning. I had gotten to a point in university where it was easy to ask questions regarding the texts we were reading or what was

Adults aren’t the only individuals who can question the meaning of life.

happening in society, but seeking out knowledge and questioning truths was something I had forgotten how to do. Encouraging this in children and being a part of the inquiry in a classroom setting — or community as we called it — was exhilarating.

When you are constantly surrounded by academics, working with preteen children is like a breath of fresh air. They have such uniquely untainted insight, with much admirable innocence.

It’s refreshing to hear about their middle-school values and ideas on friendship, truth and the nature of good and evil.

Upon finishing our in-classroom

discussions with our grade five and six classes, one of the last questions asked was whether or not the children would like to do this class again. The group of 30 students unanimously said yes. Some of the feedback we received throughout the semester was that this one-hourper-week lesson was a highlight for the students, prompting them to share what they learned with their families and peers.

As someone who still sees herself as a novice when it comes to critical thinking, it was exciting to learn such skills alongside these youths.

They grew so much in the eight sessions we had together and it saddens me that the Saskatchewan

raisa pezderic/photo editor

government will be implementing standardized testing across the province, as it strikes me as a curiosity killer.

I don’t see standardized testing as a way to foster creative or critical thinking. My hope is that philosophy for children classes, like the one I partook in, become a norm in this province because it challenges typical ways of learning and thinking.

If the government is going to teach for standardized testing, why not teach philosophy and critical thinking alongside? They could easily balance each other out and help Saskatchewan cultivate some of the next great thinkers.

It’s time to end Canada’s fairweather environmentalism JONAH LETOVSKY The Strand (University of Toronto) TORONTO (CUP) — When it comes to addressing the catastrophic consequences of climate change, this nation is often described using words like “laggard” and “indifferent.”

For a country whose very identity is tied to the Rocky Mountains, abundant fresh water, large forests and diverse species of animals and plants, Canada has an abysmal record on setting and meeting greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.

We are no Denmark, Sweden or Norway. Nor are we Germany, or Iceland, or Japan, or Britain, or Australia or even the United States, for that matter. We are an international embarrassment.

So, who is to blame for this continued failure to step up to the plate at the national level?

To be frank: all Canadians are responsible. Students, seniors and especially baby boomers have shirked their collective responsibilities to each other and their children. Certainly there are many activists and environmental supporters, including university students, who make noise and call for concrete policy shifts. But in

recent years, this noise — so critical for compelling politicians to act — has been overwhelmingly reactive.

Yes, Canadian students expressed outrage at Canada’s withdrawal from Kyoto. They were angry at the government’s clear lack of regard for the Doha COP18 talks, an international conference on climate change. Discussions arose, locally and globally, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, linking the massive devastation seen on the eastern seaboard to rising sea levels and temperatures. But in all cases our passion was purely reactionary and faded away after each crisis, allowing the media and federal government to shift the conversation back to less vital but sexier topics.

When was the last time you saw a Canadian newspaper with a frontpage article about the enormous costs of future hurricanes, or the similar and immediate threat to other major cities such as Miami or Vancouver? Canadians seem content to allow these historic changes in ocean, climate and biodiversity to subsist as a “flavourof-the-month” niche topic.

We must demand better. For Canadian prosperity to survive, a sustained discussion needs to take place, as has appeared to happen in the United States over gun control.

The elementary school shooting in Connecticut occurred many weeks ago, yet the debate over gun ownership has continued to rage on front pages and social media.

Federal legislative action, endorsed

by President Obama, is sure to follow.

As students we can no longer simply react, criticizing Prime Minister Harper and his ministers when they enact tangibly harmful policy such as Bill C-45, which doesn’t fully honour the treaties, and eliminates protection for many bodies of water in Canada; as history proves, inaction can be just as crucial as action.

For concrete measures, which experts agree will most effectively reduce carbon emissions — including a carbon tax and investment in public transit — to finally take root nationally, we must hold our local politicians accountable at every turn.

It is vital for those in Toronto, where the urban summers will grow continually hotter and dirtier.

It is vital for Westerners in B.C. and Alberta, whose freshwater sources are drying up along with the vanishing glaciers.

It is vital for Maritimers, whose community viability is threatened by bigger, badder and more frequent extreme weather events.

Nobody likes melting glaciers.

It is vital for the elderly, whose health will suffer as Canada’s climate becomes less and less moderate.

It is vital for aboriginal peoples, whose heritage, culture, spirituality and, in many cases, livelihood depend utterly on the nation’s biodiversity — which is already in such widespread collapse that it has been termed the anthropogenic “sixth great extinction.”

And it is vital for the taxpayers of tomorrow, for whom the costs of adapting to an aggressive planet will skyrocket while suffering up to a 20 per cent loss in GDP. Keep in mind: those future taxpayers are today’s students, who also happen to be facing a dismal unemployment crisis and rising health-care costs.

So, please remind me — why isn’t climate action the prevailing topic in every one of our political discussions? Why aren’t there

nasagoddardphotoandvideo/flickr

visceral and angry weekly protests?

With regards to posterity, Canadian civil society has essentially failed.

I don’t intend this to be a postmortem. Our ways of life, health and economy are facing their single largest threat, yes. But we also know that we’re not yet doomed.

Climate change is no temporary or transient issue for youth. It is the existential threat of our generation, marching on every day whether we confront it or not.

In the end, of course, it comes down to the politicians. In our liberal democracy, a popular failure always results in political failure.

In other words, we cannot expect Prime Minister Harper and the provincial and territorial leaders to take drastic, capital-intensive measures as we sit at home, silently fuming about the state of affairs.

Let’s turn carbon reduction into a popular success.

Diana, Princess of Sales?

TRAVIS HOMENUK

Saskatonians often head to the West Edmonton Mall for a few days of shopping fun, ice skating, water-sliding and — let’s face it — a stop at Hooters. Now we have a new reason to head to WEM. The award-winning exhibition celebrating the life and work of Diana, Princess of Wales, has made its stop at the mall and will be there until June 9.

Turn back the clock to Aug. 31, 1997 and remember the tragic accident in which Princess Diana was killed. Her passing has probably been the most heartbreaking celebrity death in recent memory.

Interestingly, her death and legacy have since been turned into commodities. Is this a good thing?

Remember the Ty Beanie Baby memorial bear modelled after Princess Diana? Of course the proceeds of this bear go to the Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, which is a positive, but we’ve still turned the death of a beloved woman into a product.

Think about the movie The Queen. I enjoy this film because it gives insight on circumstances and decisions kept out of the public eye when Princess Diana passed away.

However, Hollywood still made a shit-ton of money from this movie. Would screenwriters have come up with this plot on their own without the tragic circumstances surrounding Princess Di’s death? Nope.

Here’s the way I see it: A royal celebrity and philanthropist dies tragically and numerous companies continue to financially benefit from her death.

Again, there are some positives in this money-making madness.

Many of the proceeds from anything Princess Diana-related

thefoxling/flickr

Diana and Charles on their wedding day.

have gone to either her memorial fund or other charities. Indeed the travelling Princess Diana exhibit donates its proceeds to causes of which Diana was fond.

But I still find this exploitative.

Can’t we just let the woman rest?

Elton John was right in his tribute “Candle in the Wind” when he suggested Princess Diana’s candles burned out long before her legend ever will.

I suspect her legend will survive as long as money can continue to be made from her death and royal status.

While this subject matter intrigues me, I have no interest in paying over $20 to see Princess Diana’s numerous designer dresses — including her wedding gown — family heirlooms or rare home videos. These items should be for her boys to keep and cherish. Her family should watch those videos, not complete strangers who thought they’d check out the exhibit after a quick stop at McDonald’s.

I realize Princess Diana was a highly public figure who affected many lives, but I fear we’ve turned her into an object for purchase, or simply consider

her life a source of profit — regardless of whether it’s for a charity or not.

She was more than a way to make money. She was a mother, a wife and a friend, among other titles. She was a woman and a role model, but most importantly, Princess Diana was a human being.

The dignity of celebrity status continues to plummet in today’s society. We’ve got Snookie and Jwoww from Jersey Shore, or The Real Housewives of Vancouver to remind us that being a celebrity isn’t what it used to be. If I get some collagen or some cheek and butt implants, can I also can become famous? I’ll call my best friend forever a bitch on national television if that’s what it takes.

Perhaps Diana was the last dignified celebrity. And that’s why I dislike that the memory of her is now on sale.

She was a victim of mistreatment on the part of her royal family and was continuously hounded by the paparazzi following her divorce from Charles. What was the point?

If I’ve learned anything from Princess Diana, it’s that being a celebrity is extremely dangerous, and can prove fatal under the wrong circumstances.

I do not mean to suggest that we should forget the Princess of Wales, as she is certainly a woman worth remembering.

I simply want to encourage individuals to think critically about how our society turns people or events or tragic circumstances into products for purchase.

I’m going to remember the woman and mother that Diana was — not the product we’ve made her into.

17

OPINIONS

| thesheaf.com | 4 April, 2013 |

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

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Hot town, summer in the city KIMBERLEY HARTWIG Many students’ first reaction after writing their last final is to immediately head for the bar to celebrate — or drown their sorrows. This is all fine and good, but once the hangover wears off students should take advantage of everything summer has to offer.

Students work incredibly hard during the academic year with papers, tests, assignments, projects, labs and many more extracurricular commitments.

Summer allows students the time to breathe after constantly gasping for air all school year.

With an abundance of free time, it can be easy to slip into a routine of sleeping in, playing video games until the wee hours of the morning and becoming a general slob. We’ve all had those weeks where our hair went unwashed and our undies unchanged.

Of course summer calls for relaxation, but it’s important that students also use this time to accomplish something. This could be anything from learning to play an instrument, catching up on a neglected reading list or finally conquering that dreaded five-

kilometer run you’ve wanted to do since New Year’s.

Whatever you didn’t have time to accomplish during the school year, now is the time.

Because we live in Saskatchewan, we spend a lot of time indoors during the many, many winter months. We detach ourselves from society, waiting desperately for the snow to melt. Saskatchewan is one of the sunniest provinces during the summer, making it the perfect time to break out of hibernation mode and spend time outdoors.

Whether it’s spending time at the beach, biking through the city or meandering by the river, make sure you squeeze on some sunscreen and bask in the sunshine.

Of course, who could forget that other quintessential experience — the summer fling.

Now I’m not suggesting that you say “adios” to your significant other to ride off into the sunset with Fabio or Emilia, but something about the summer sun really does make everyone look more appealing. Even the pasty kids look sexy with that summertime glow.

If you are committed, take this time to form new friendships. And if not, well, what you do is up to you. Just remember to play safe, kids. Seriously.

Saskatoon is a great place but when it’s hidden under blankets of snow it’s hard to appreciate everything the city has to offer.

There are great restaurants, festivals, a farmers’ market and many other exciting opportunities just waiting to be discovered. The warm weather makes it easier to traverse cities and stay out late into the night — a perfect combination for exploration.

Everyone has different expectations for what summer will be, but it’s important to try and meet these expectations. Plan a summer bucket list and make it your goal to cross off everything before fall. Summer may seem like it will last forever but it won’t be long before the sunlight starts fading away and the air becomes crisper.

Make sure you fit everything you can into these four months because in Saskatchewan, winter is always just around the corner.

BMSC 200.3: Biomolecules Now Available Online for Spring & Summer Through collaboration between the Department of Biochemistry and CCDE, this course is now available online. It provides an understanding of the four primary classes of biomolecules (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids) and how these molecules contribute to the living state. Instructor: Scott Napper.

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 112; Biology 30.

Register Now on PAWS! Learn more at ccde.usask.ca/biomolecules

Curious

18

COMICS

| 4 April, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

dan smolinski

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CAMPUS CHAT

| thesheaf.com | 4 April, 2013 |

19

Campus Chat If you were stalking someone, what would you take from them?

Their wallet.

Michaela Madraga

Their virginity.

Peter Machnee

Their socks.

FAKE NEWS

Study finds Gregs the worst Facebook users Harvard professors Mia Fullman and Jeremy Lundgren published a study in the open-access journal PLOS ONE detailing trends among Facebook users.

After combing through Facebook’s extensive data on its users for several months, Fullman and Lundgren came to the conclusion that men named Greg are the worst users of the popular social networking site.

“They don’t know how to use the site,” Lundgren said. “They’re often older men who adopted social networking later in life in order to keep up with their children,

Sheaf

but even the younger Gregs are the most egregious offenders in other areas. They use hashtags [a technique used on Twitter and Instagram] in their posts, they catalog everything they think or eat and they constantly promote their businesses on their personal pages.”

Fullman said she personally has at least seven Gregs on her friends list, and all of them infuriate her. But the average person has a median of four Gregs on individual friend lists according to the Harvard study.

“Greg Dickins has invited me to every event he’s hosted — which

seems to happen every week — despite the fact that he lives in Cincinnati,” she said. “We were close before he moved there. My page says ‘Harvard’ right up top.

“There’s no way he truly believes I’m coming to Cincinnati for a wine and cheese night. It’s utter nonsense.”

At press time, your friend Greg Harmon’s status was “is feeling soooo hungry for sum of my gfs steak, best in the world <3 #blessed ilu” and he had changed his profile picture to the red equals sign in support of marriage equality.

the

.com

Interested in journalism?

Seriously, lay off the tanning bed.

Think about writing for the Sheaf.

We’re always in need of volunteers.

It’s not worth the risk.

Every visit to a tanning bed increases your risk of developing skin cancer.

Join us! www.SunSmartSK.ca

Tyler Hazelwanter & Wyatt Carleton

Their phone.

Kianna Mofazzali

20

OPINIONS

| 4 April, 2013 | thesheaf.com |

OPENING SPRING 2013 On March 27th closed its doors to make room for Louis' Loft. This new operation will occupy renovated space on the second floor of the Memorial Union building and will continue to offer Museo and Fair Trade coffee along with fresh baking. Our valued customers will also be able to eat in or take out items from a dynamic redesigned menu and we are proud to serve local draught beer and spirits.

Louis' Loft will also be available for bookings for groups of 30-225. Whether you are planning a reception, wedding, banquet, or party we will be able to meet your needs with flexible modern decor and a diverse menu. Come check out Louis' Loft opening in May 2013! Like us on facebook at facebook.com/louisloft or visit www.ussu.ca for updates.