Vol 124 Issue 10

HANGING CHADS SINCE 1895

@XAVERIANWEEKLY

VOLUME 124 ISSUE 10 JAN 28 2015

the

xaverian LIGHTS OUT. PAGE 9

NEWS

leaded water page 4

OPINIONS

gender pronouns page 5

CULTURE

to my future wife page 11

SPORTS & HEALTH laugh it off page 15

news 2

thursday january twenty eighth, 2016

THE xaverian Jan 28 2016 Vol 124: Issue 10

OUR STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Julia O’Hanley xw.eic@stfx.ca MANAGING EDITOR Ryan Finn xw.managing@stfx.ca ART IST IC COORDINATOR Devon Chisholm xw.artistic@stfx.ca COPY EDITOR Molly Schreiber xw.copy@stfx.ca NEWS EDITOR Izaak MacMullin xw.news@stfx.ca OPINIONS EDITOR Emily Keenan xw.opinions@stfx.ca FEATURES EDITOR Paige Chisholm xw.feature@stfx.ca ARTS&CULTURE EDITOR Rachel LeBlanc xw.culture@stfx.ca DIST RACT IONS EDITOR Ty Kingston xw.distractions@stfx.ca SPORTS&HEALT H EDITOR Shelbi Kilcollins xw.sports@stfx.ca SENIOR REPORT ER Lauren Agnew xw.reporter1@stfx.ca SENIOR REPORT ER Sebastian Jurga x2014hbq@stfx.ca SENIOR REPORT ER Mathias Rincon x2015jrh@stfx.ca STAFF WRIT ER Alejandra Torres x2015lqa@stfx.ca STAFF WRIT ER Jane Stevenson x2013gcp@stfx.ca COLUMNIST Lindsay Johnstone xw.columnist1@stfx.ca COLUMNIST Caitlin Vance xw.columnist2@stfx.ca DIST RIBUT IONS MANAGER Alyssa MacNeil xw.distributions@stfx.ca The Xaverian Weekly is the official student newspaper of St Francis Xavier University. The Xaverian Weekly is published on Thursdays by the Xaverian Weekly Publications Board and is editorially autonomous.

The Xaverian Weekly is a proud member of the Canadian University Press, North America’s largest cooperative of student newspapers.

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The Xaverian Weekly welcomes submissions of articles, letters, photos, and graphics.

Submissions must be received by Friday 5 pm the week prior to publication. Submissions should be sent to xw.eic@stfx.ca or to the

relevant section editor.

The editor-in-chief and the section editors reserve the right to refuse to print submitted material and to edit submissions for length and/or style. The Xaverian Weekly will not print material that is racist, misogynistic, sexist, homophobic, or libellous. opinions

Opinions expressed in the Xaverian Weekly are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Xaverian Weekly or the Xaverian Weekly Publications Board. copyright

All materials appearing in the Xaverian Weekly are copyright their creator(s) and may not be used without permission.

CONTACT US Twitter: @xaverianweekly Facebook: The Xaverian Weekly www.xaverian.ca FIND US Room 111D, Bloomfield Centre PO Box 294 StFX University Antigonish NS, B2G 2W5

EDITOR: IZAAK MACMULLIN xw.news@stfx.ca

Open contributor meetings are held Sundays at six in the newsroom: bottom floor SUB, left from the bookstore. X

A new home in Antigonish

A Syrian refugee’s story MATHIAS RINCON Senior Reporter The Xaverian recently spoke to Tareq Hudhud, a young man and Syrian refugee who arrived in Antigonish in December, followed by his family who made the journey shortly after. Hudhud was able to offer a firsthand account of the refugee experience, as well as his thoughts and feelings about arriving in his new home. As he explains, he knew very little about Nova Scotia when he was first informed of his destination, but his first impressions have been very positive. “I expected I would be resettled in one of the main cities in Canada like Montreal or Ottawa or Toronto. But when they said to me, ‘You will go to Halifax,’ I said, ‘Where is Halifax? I don’t know where it is on the map!’…When I arrived at the Halifax airport, the moment at Halifax airport really touched my heart; I felt really comforted and safe when I saw a group of Antigonish people who were receiving me at the airport. They were saying ‘Welcome’ and holding signs in Arabic and English.”

The warm reception continued as Hudhud got settled in Antigonish, and he makes his appreciation for the kindness of the people who have helped him out very clear. “The people were really amazing and kind from the first moment. I really have an honour to be here in Antigonish, and I am really here to contribute to the community, to work and study and volunteer. And maybe to turn back the kindness the community has shown me.”

When asked what his life was like before coming to Canada, Hudhud said, “During my first 20 years in Syria, I really had a bright future because I was a medicine student. My family had a chocolate factory so they really arranged for a bright future for all the members of the family, for me and my sisters and my brother. So we were really living a peaceful life.”

This comfortable upbringing was completely turned upside down by the outbreak of war. As Hudhud explains, “When the war started in 2011 and we had to leave Syria, it was really hard for everyone in the family to just lose everything. One month we lost our factory, our house, and our building where the whole family was living in Damascus. It was also burned and then destroyed by a plane bombing. It was hard for us to just lose everything, to leave the country where we used to live.”

Leaving Syria was far from the end of their problems. Hudhud’s family ended up in Leba-

non without anywhere else to go. “When we left Syria, we felt we are not safe again in Lebanon, because we didn’t know anyone in Lebanon…We tried to live in a refugee camp, it’s so hard to live there. Hard situations for everyone, for education for the students, and for security reasons, and for services without water and electricity and without food, because the refugees in Lebanon were illegal.”

They eventually left the camp for a small apartment in southern Lebanon.

Hudhud was keen to continue his education, but it was not possible to do so in Lebanon. He wanted to try to go to Europe, but his parents forbid it. So he decided to return to Syria. “In the beginning of 2013 I decided to turn back to Syria to complete my medicine studies. I finished my exams for the third year and I started my fourth year in the faculty of medicine at Damascus University. But they said, ‘You will be in danger in Damascus if you stay, because you are in the age of military service. You wont be safe again in Damascus, you should turn back to Lebanon, with your family.’ So I turned back.”

After he was forced to leave Syria for the second time, Hudhud was stuck in Lebanon for three years. Hudhud managed to stay active by getting heavily involved in volunteer work. As he says, “After that, I decided to help refugees, as I can, because I think well-educated people can help refugees…I became a medical coordinator and PR coordinator and attended the United Nations high commissioner for refugees’ meetings and World Health Organization meetings. I was a media coordinator also. I was a fundraising coordinator for the refugees.”

Volunteers were needed because of the desperate conditions in the overcrowded refugee camps in Lebanon. “Refugees in Lebanon are dying because of everything. The main reason was because of the cold weather, without heating in the camps.

The second reason was for health problems…I hear so many stories that some people passed away because they didn’t have 200 or 300 dollars to be admitted in the hospitals.”

Hudhud ended up applying at the Canadian embassy for a scholarship that would allow him and his family to come to Canada. He was initially rejected due to his age, but a month later the embassy called to offer Hudhud and his family resettlement in Canada. However, it was not a quick process, as Hudhud explains, “They [the Canadian government] said it would be

just the three months, from March till June [2015]. So when June came and we didn’t have any reply from the embassy we were really anxious and nervous. It was really a lesson of patience for me and my family.

The Canadian government didn’t reply to us about the resettlement…Ten students were accepted to be resettled with their families. Five of them went illegally to Europe and most of them died in the sea. Here was the problem. You know when you had some promises, you forget the hope again. You will do anything, like going illegally to Europe, just to leave Lebanon because the situation was so hard. You can’t work in Lebanon. You can’t study because you are Syrian.” Fortunately for Hudhud, the Canadian government eventually contacted him and he arrived in Canada in December.

Hudhud hopes to resume his studies in medicine now that he is in Canada. “My main goal is to go back to medicine. I am trying with Dalhousie now…I have had a dream since I was born to become a doctor. So I am working on that. If it does not work out I will search for other alternatives, but I will stay in the medical field because I love it.”

When asked if he would like to stay in Canada or return to

Syria when the war is over, Hudhud replied, “You know that I said from the first moment that I am grateful for Canada for everything and I can see that the community really supported us just to escape from the Middle East and be safe. So I will give to this country all that I can…I am now here and I will do all my best to become a doctor here and maybe if not me, maybe my children. I would like my children to visit Syria several times.

My main plan will be to stay here in Canada because I can see this is the country of our dreams.”

Hudhud ended the interview by talking directly to potential readers of this article. “For everyone that maybe would read the article, I just wanted to say if you donate one dollar you will save one boat of refugees from sinking in the sea.”

If you are interested in contributing to community efforts to house Syrian refugees like Taraq, St FX students Kristian Rasenberg and Ben McGrath are starting Pause for the Cause, a fund-raising initiative to encourage other students to donate to help the SAFE society. To donate or learn more or to donate, contact Kristian at x2012brr@stfx.ca.

Interview conducted by Editor-in-Chief Julia O’Hanley.

Photo: week45.com

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History 100 removed from HC Humanities Colloquium professor concerned with changes JULIA O’HANLEY Editor-in-Chief Changes are coming for the Humanities Colloquium in the upcoming academic year. The three-course program offered at StFX since 2012 has offered first year Arts students the chance to study three interconnected disciplines with mutual peers in each class. Since its installation, the program has offered History 100, English 100, and Philosophy 100 studied in lockstep.

In the new year, interim Dean of Arts Dr. Karen Brebner has made the decision to remove the option of History 100 from the slate of courses, and instead offer 100-level Art History. This decision comes contrary to the recommendation of a fourteen member Humanities Colloquium Advisory Committee, who voted 9-5 against making a change, as well as a high score in last year’s Presidential Task Force Report, which deemed the program a ‘priority to enhance.’

Dr. Joseph Khoury teaches English in the program and sat on the advisory committee. He strongly disagrees with the decision of the interim Dean, citing the success of the program in its existing format. “The view of a good number of the members of the advisory committee is that in fact this is totally a step back against the recommendation of the Task Force. The Task Force is very clear: this is a successful program that helps with recruitment. The admissions office is very clear that this is not a good idea to change it, that it’s a selling point, it helps to recruit students, it helps with the brand of the university as a highly successful place for academics.”

The possibility to increase the three-course program to include a fourth course is something that has been contemplated in previous years. In such a model, Art History would be implemented as the fourth section, with general History maintained. “We’re not at all opposed

to have Art History, I mean we all love Art History. In fact, every year we send several students to take Art History as one of their options - we can’t force them, but we recommend it,” Khoury explains.

The addition of Art History does not dismiss the possibility for students in Humanities to choose to study general History as one of their two course selections outside of the program. “All students who are in the Humanities Colloquium can certainly take History, and we would certainly encourage them to take History 100,” notes Dr. Brebner. If Humanities students wanted to study in the department in further studies, Art History would be used as a substitute for other 100-level History courses.

Dr. Khoury takes issue with the number of students already confirmed in the program for the upcoming year, claiming the change was made “dangerously late” for those already enrolled, a group he believes exceeds forty

students. “I think it’s a dangerous game of dice to be honest, and there is no rational basis behind it.”

A change this late in the year is not uncommon, says Dr. Brebner, as the academic calendar for next term is not yet finalized.

Students already enrolled in the program will be contacted individually by the Faculty to explain the change in curriculum. “[We’ll] explain the situation to them, explain that we are actually quite excited about this change.”

Dr. Khoury notes a decline in enrolment in the Faculty of Arts overall, especially in the History department. “[There is] no reason why the History department would say they don’t want to participate this year. It does endanger their enrolment. If the Humanities Colloquium students are, as the Dean has stated, put into an Art History course, then those students won’t count as part of the History department.”

According to Dr. Brebner,

“The numbers in any particular department fluctuate from year to year. Whether this has an impact on the enrolment in the History department remains to be determined. It could very well be that we attract more students with this new Humanities Colloquium that might get quite interested in Art History when they hadn’t thought of taking it before this experience. The numbers from year to year are very difficult to predict and there is no point in speculating where we are at.”

The change is tentatively effective just for the 2016-2017 academic year. Nonetheless, Dr. Khoury worries this could contribute to a long-term problem for the faculty if students are not receptive to the changes. “When you have a Faculty of Arts that continues to lose students, what happens to StFX? It becomes a technical college maybe, not a university. I find it incomprehensible. There is no rational basis for it.”

member Martin Luther King.

Before he was shot down, I remember the marches…As a young teenager growing up in Truro, I tracked what little coverage there was of the civil rights struggle. I cut articles, because up until that time you rarely ever saw us [black people] in the paper. So now, we were in the front page of the paper! Mind you, we were beaten on the streets. But we were in the papers.”

During her talk, Jones brought up the topic of “environ-

mental racism”. In her view, such issues demonstrate the subtler form of racism that is still present in Nova Scotian society. According to Jones, “There is not a black community here, or an Aboriginal community, that can’t tell you about the environmental hazards in their community. They all know it. Its not a new revelation and they’ve known it for generations. For example, they know that when an area in this province wants to put their waste somewhere, their waste is going next to the black community, in the black community, and if it’s not there it’s in the Aboriginal community.”

The Xaverian spoke to Equity Advisor Marie Brunelle after the talk via email. When asked what she took away from the talk, she said, “Racism is still strong and pervasive in Nova Scotia in 2016, it is up to each individual to stand up and speak out on this issue of racism and racial equity, and post-secondary education institutions have a major role to play, helping these communities to reach this equality and to work addressing the educational achievement gap.”

She also referred to the importance of the date of the event, saying, “I think Martin Luther King is still very relevant, very strong in the collective mind. It is wise to use his message and image to reflect today and here on this topic.”

Let’s talk about racism Community activist Lynn Jones speaks at the Coady IZAAK MACMULLIN News Editor On Jan 19, the StFX community welcomed civil rights and labour activist Lynn Jones to Dennis Hall at the Coady as part of a celebration of Martin Luther King Day. Jones, a prominent activist in the African Nova Scotian community, spoke about the issues facing black people in Nova Scotia, the progress that has been made, and the challenges that remain.

Jones was introduced by Marie Brunelle, the StFX Human Rights and Equity Advisor, who spoke about how racial issues are still a reoccurring problem in Nova Scotia, saying, “It is an opportunity for us to reflect on the topic of racial inequality, and how much have we really achieved in the last 50 years. In 2016, Nova Scotia is not yet a racially equitable society; on the contrary, systematic racism, racial profiling, and even racial segregation still persists.”

The StFX Advisor for Students of African Descent, Michael Fisher, also offered some words to honour the occasion and reflect on the goal he feels StFX is trying to achieve with these events. He feels that education is “the key to achieving your dreams” and he spoke of his desire to ensure that students from all walks of life have the same opportunity to be successful at StFX. “Together we

will work towards the kind of dream that appreciates students from different backgrounds and all their learning and all their culture that they bring, and work to provide a campus in which any student who walks through the door will someday walk across the stage believing that it was a good decision to attend StFX.” Early in her talk, Jones revealed how, as a young person growing up in Truro, she had visited StFX and met Coady participants from all over the

world. The African people she met sparked a love of African culture and pride in her roots.

As Jones explains, “Of course, you can’t come to Antigonish without mentioning the Coady Institute…It afforded me the opportunity to have firsthand contact with real people from Africa, who were able to dispel all the negative myths we had been taught about Africa and its people.”

Jones also spoke about how Martin Luther King has inspired her activism. “As a boomer, I rePhoto: Blaise MacMullin

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thursday january twenty eighth, 2016

Safe to drink?

A look at the measures taken to address lead in the water SEBASTIAN JURGA Senior Reporter In a town such as Antigonish, unsafe or contaminated water is a concept not many people should have to worry about. The town’s source naturally supplies clean, safe water, and is pumped to your tap with a guarantee of purity… Except when it isn’t.

Most people who aren’t in their first year at StFX will most likely remember the warnings, found either in email or a sign directly above the water fountains, telling students and faculty to flush the water for 60 seconds before drinking due to higher-than-normal levels of lead.

This was Facilities Management’s (FM) approach to the problem for a while as a long-term solution was devised. Danielle Haines, a StFX student, spoke to the Xaverian and commented, “I really feel like it shouldn’t have taken this long to give us clean drinking water.”

While most are under the assumption something has been done about the problem, it has not been clear to all what the solution was, or how it was implemented. The signs warning students to flush for 60 seconds were taken down, and the issue has seemingly been forgotten. In an effort to find what exactly has been done to give the students and faculty of StFX safe drinking water, the Xaverian spoke to Leon MacLellan, the head of FM. One thing most students may not realize about the issue is that, according to MacLellan, the problem was not the town’s water source, or even the pipes in StFX. As he explains, “The most common place where you get some lead absorption in the water is the fixture.

Even the brand new fixtures. You

might have a brand new fixture at home, in your bathroom or your kitchen sink, and over a period of eight hours, with the water inside that fixture or in the tap sitting stagnant, it absorbs a certain amount of lead.” This is the main reason why the approach consisted of flushing the taps for 60 seconds, and while its effectiveness can be disputed based on whether or not people actually did it, MacLellan states that “a quick flushing is what deals with the problem.” Alongside that, the problem is most likely not just local to StFX, as the fixtures that caused the problem, according to MacLellan, “only actually got outlawed by the code a year and a half ago.”

Combined with the fact that people haven’t been aware of what’s causing the problem, MacLellan believes that this makes it plausible that even newer homes could have lead problems.

FM’s solution to the problem, aside from the flushing, was to eliminate the issue by eliminating the

student’s use of taps as a water source. As many students were not likely flushing, they surmised that they could force the water to be constantly flushed by installing water fountains with a bottle filler at high traffic areas. “Busy buildings…like the Oland centre [have] three, but most buildings it would be at the entrance of the building,” MacLellan says. To some, this may seem like a way to simply circumvent the issue, as people won’t necessarily stop using the taps, however, MacLellan states, “They have proven to be very popular, as each is equipped with a counter telling how many bottles have been filled.” Each fountain and dispenser is fitted with a filter as well, in an effort to stop minerals and other deposits from reaching the recipients body.

“So we’re achieving a number of things with this strategy: one, we are eliminating the fixtures that are most likely the source of the lead, it’s also causing a lot of flushing due to the amount the dispensers are bePhoto: Devon Chisholm

SLUT: The Forum LAUREN AGNEW Senior Reporter Following the successful Theatre Antigonish production of SLUT: The Play, StFX will be holding an educational forum to continue the conversation about slut shaming on Jan 29. Hosted by the Women and Gender Studies department, the forum will focus on the meaning of “slut shaming” and how it can be halted within the community as a means of eliminating sexualized violence on campuses.

Dr. Rachel Hurst, Women and Gender Studies professor and author of recent book Surface Imaginations, is the head of the project. She says the forum hopes to “create a space where slut shaming can be discussed openly, honestly, and directly.” The forum will also attempt to

ing used, and we’ve also added this filter that removes lead if there is any in it.”

So despite this solution, why have the signs from places like the gym and Oland centre been removed if the lead is still in the taps?

In response, MacLellan commented, “The Oland centre came up clean our second set of tests. That’s why we took the signs down from those places. Doesn’t mean it couldn’t reoccur, but we do continue to monitor. You don’t have as much stagnant water collecting lead there because it’s always being used.”

One reason for the unusually high levels of lead could have been the time the tests were done, as according to MacLellan, “Our initial set of tests were done at the end of the summer, that is, the summer before last. So by the time we’d done the tests, the taps had been sitting almost unused for a couple of months - let alone a couple of hours.

We did another series of tests a few

link “individual actions” such as a slut-shaming comment on an Instagram post with “broader structures of privilege and oppression” such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, and ableism.

The forum will encourage an interdisciplinary discussion, with students from many faculties including Human Kinetics, Psychology, and Women and Gender Studies. It will continue the discussion around the issue of sexualized violence that has begun to gain momentum over the past few years at StFX with endorsement from Dr. Kent MacDonald. Events such as President’s Colloquium on Sexualized Violence, which took place in February of last year, as well as the production of SLUT were designed to address the role we all play in the perpetuation

months after that, and there were quite a few places [tested before] where the lead absorption really was reduced.”

Another area of confusion is the severity of the problem. While lead is known to be highly dangerous when ingested in unsafe concentrations, MacLellan says there has not been any documented health problems. “There haven’t [been any health-related complaints], we’ve tried to make people aware of [the risks], but we wouldn’t expect there to be any health impacts caused by the lead.” He claims students and faculty are among the demographic the least at risk for lead related health complications, as young children and pregnant women are most at risk.

Another student, Nick Kennedy, had a similar view of the issue, saying, “It’s alright. [The water] is most likely cleaner than the stuff back home, anyways.”

Despite the seeming elegance of the solution, there is still one small issue: the new fountains and dispensers have not yet been tested for lead themselves. MacLellan explains, “We will test them, though we haven’t tested them yet. As of right now we are assuming they will be good because they do have a water filter. We’ll finish the product this year, there’s still three or four that need some repairing before they are finished, but we’ll finish the product and then do the tests.”

The solution was also found with aid from campuses such as Dalhousie and Acadia that suffered the same issue a few years ago. “It’s wonderful to be able work with our sister institutions and identify their great solutions, and have them help us with ours. So it’s definitely a collaborative approach.”

UPdate On TRIMacs of sexualized violence and its pervasiveness in our culture. It has been estimated that 1 in 4 women will experience some form of sexual assault in their lifetime.

StFX’s production of SLUT did well enough that it travelled to Halifax for a onenight only performance on Jan 24. Other events such as Take Back the Night also drew large crowds in the name of raising awareness about sexual violence in the community.

Students looking to attend the forum can register by emailing stfxslutforum@ gmail.com, and reading an article on slut shaming beforehand will be required.

Any students wishing to get connected to like-minded individuals or who wish to take action against sexualized violence are invited to attend.

JULIA O’HANLEY Editor-in-Chief New information has surfaced from the lengthy discussions between the university and Students’ Union regarding the decision to make TriMac and MacIsaac residences frosh only for 2017-18. Six second year students will be allowed to live in each TriMac residence next year – a change from the university’s previous statement allowing only the house president and vice president to return in second year. The conditions for re-admission are stricter than usual, including the submission of a 500 word essay, good academic standing, and a positive record within Residence Life. Students’ Union VP Internal Bridget Burgess says she and theU were able to nego-

tiate some of the terms, however the university is firm in their decision to ban all pre-assig ned names for residents of the TriMacs, as well as the exclude visitation by all house alumni with the exception of Dec 3.

No changes are announced regarding the university’s plan for MacIsaac Hall. “Unfortunately there have been some instances of negative, really disrespectful behaviour which is really unfortunate,” Burgess explains. The building has been on sanctions fairly consistently since the university first announced their frosh-only ruling.

Whereas damages in the lower campus residences have “flown under the radar” of Burgess, claims damages have remained relatively constant in MacIsaac Hall.

opinions

5 EDITOR: EMILY KEENAN xw.opinions@stfx.ca

The case for gender pronouns Two students speak out against the gender binary

CHLOE BROWN Contributor Our entire world is shaped by a gender binary, the distinction between male and female.

From the time we are tiny tots who can hardly speak, we are taught that there are boys and there are girls. And accordingly, there are masculine things and feminine things. Our society seems to have a sort of obsession with gender and everything it encompasses.

Thus, within the English language, the pronouns he, she, him, her, his, and hers are the only proper pronouns that exist. But my question is: what is the big deal with gender binary anyway? Have we not reached a point in society where people have the freedom to be who they choose?

Why is the gender binary so heavily ingrained in our culture that we don’t even have any language that could represent an alternative?

As a cisgender individual, a person whose gender identity conforms with the sex assigned to me at birth, the fact that the English language only has two gender pronouns has never really affected my life personally. I have always been she or her, and have been comfortable in these roles. As with

many things, issues that do not directly affect your life are often issues you never have to think about.

However, as I have begun my degree in Women and Gender Studies here at StFX, the world of gender fluidity has been presented to me and I have since come to realize that the gender binary in itself causes a lot of problems. In having only two working gender pronouns, there is an entire segment of our population that cannot be properly represented within the present parameters of the English language.

People who are non-binary, transgender, transitioning, intersex, or genderqueer may not feel as if the pronouns he or she describe who they are.

There are more than two genders and we need to come up with a third pronoun that is inclusive of this.

The idea of introducing a third gender pronoun has actually been proposed a number of times since the 1700s but it has yet to be widely accepted for mainstream use. Many transgender or genderqueer people have begun to use the pronoun “they” to describe themselves. However, this causes grammatical discrepancies because “they” is a plu-

ral pronoun.

Sweden has recently introduced the pronoun “hen” into their language to work alongside their other pronouns “hon”, meaning she, and “han”, meaning he. This pronoun has become mainstream over the last few years and can now be found in official texts, media, court rulings, and books. The best part about having a nonbinary pronoun like this is that it is not only inclusive of people who do not identify as either male or female, but it also allows us to describe any individual without the unnecessary emphasis on their gender

identity.

We are living in a world that is moving faster than ever before. There is no better time for us as a society to introduce a non-binary singular pronoun into our language. Like all things, it will take time to catch on, but as it becomes more mainstream I believe it will help to curve the exclusion of the trans, genderqueer, and intersex communities.

We need to work toward following the steps Sweden has already taken in introducing a new pronoun and promoting it in mainstream media and official texts. Many popular celeb-

rities such as Ruby Rose, Ivan Coyote, Rae Spoon, and Miley Cyrus identify as genderqueer and have introduced more people to gender fluidity and nonbinary identities.

As the gender binary is being deemphasized and challenged, the time for change is now. Gender is not as important as we make it out to be.

Everyone should have the right to be a human being without having to conform to a specific gender or identify themselves as male or female, and this inclusion starts with the right to be properly represented within your own language.

Photo: thesheaf.com

Another take on misgendering JASMINE CORMIER Contributor As university students, I’m sure we can all agree that language and vocabulary are vital in how we communicate and present ourselves to others.

Language is an enormous part of our culture and relationships and we are heavily influenced by how others speak to us and how we speak to ourselves. With this in mind, the topic of pronouns has been coming up more and more frequently as of late as the lives of transgender people – including not just trans men and women, but agender and nonbinary people as well – are slowly but surely being brought to the forefront.

As a Women and Gender Studies student, I’ve spent the last two years engaging with the concept that both sex and gender are socially constructed, meaning that as a society we have adapted to and proliferated a culture that tells us that the shape of our genitals determines our preference in toys, colours, and pretty much

everything else.

The reality is that gender has in many ways become a self-fulfilling prophecy. We assume that baby girls prefer pink so we surround them with pink until it becomes a daily part of their lives and identities, or we consistently remind young boys to “be a real man” and not show emotion, thus reinforcing the so-called definitions of masculinity and femininity.

To clarify, there is nothing wrong with being a “feminine” girl or “masculine” boy. What is wrong is how those who challenge these social norms are heavily scrutinized and more often than not subjected to harassment and violence. To be cisgender is to be privileged, and like many privileges in our society, those who have them most times do not even recognize or acknowledge them.

Being cisgender myself, I have never had to worry about being able to find a public washroom that was safe for me to use. I have never had to worry about not being accepted by my family for openly living my

life the way that makes me happy, and I have never had to worry about being referred to as “he” when I identify as a she.

To those who have felt they were assigned the same gender at birth as the gender they are most comfortable identifying as, being misgendered might not seem like a problem.

However, for someone who has had to fight and have courage just to be who they truly are, being called a “she” when you know you are a “he” or even a “they” can be a serious blow. Imagine how frustrating it would be to be called someone else’s name day in and day out, or think about how annoyed some people are when their name is misspelled on their Starbucks cup or McDonald’s receipt. Using a person’s preferred pronouns can make or break whether or not they feel included in society or safe being who they are.

There is never any excuse for purposely misgendering a person, and choosing to do so is transphobic and violent.

Some frequently used excuses

for not acknowledging non-cisgender individuals include: “But calling someone ‘they’ would be improper grammar,” “If they look like a boy, I’m going to call them a boy,” or “I don’t really believe there’s a such thing as being transgender.”

In response, remember that in this day and age of telecommunication, grammar and vocabulary are not fixed but are ever-changing and evolving (even though it technically is not poor grammar to refer to someone as “they”). A person’s sex or gender cannot be defined by looks or behaviour and the only real way to determine a person’s gender is by what they know it to be. Lastly, all bodies are different and do not need to be understood. They just need to be respected.

Some trans people choose not to undergo operations, but they still deserve respect.

Some agender people may dress or behave in a way that we consider inherently female, but they still deserve respect.

Anyone who isn’t cisgender should not automatically be-

come subject to intrusive and extremely personal questions about their gender and body.

If any person decides to share with you that they prefer to use pronouns that were not the ones you assumed to be correct, it is your responsibility to correct yourself and show that person kindness and respect just as you would anyone else.

There is no definitive way of knowing whether or not it’s appropriate to ask someone what their gender is. Some may appreciate it and some may be offended. As a cisgender person, my advice would be to understand that each individual situation is unique, as all people are different and have different levels of comfort. If you get the sense that it would be okay to ask, then do so respectfully.

The main takeaway, as you might have already noticed, is respect. Explicitly asking someone for his or her pronouns might not always be appropriate. Educate yourself on gender, trust your intuition, tread carefully, and just be nice.

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thursday january twenty eighth, 2016

Spare the Humanities Colloquium Why removing History from the HC is a terrible idea IZAAK MACMULLIN News Editor When I arrived at St FX from Northern Alberta, I knew absolutely no one in the Nish. Despite that inconvenience, my first year ended up being a fantastic experience. A huge part of my smooth transition from high school to uni life was the excellent Humanities Colloquium (HC) program. The HC, which is open to any first year arts student, allowed me to make great friends and have a stellar academic experience because of the small class sizes and unique, coordinated curriculum that it offers.

Unfortunately, future first year students will not get the same experience I did, due to changes that have been unilaterally imposed by the interim Dean of Arts, Karen Brebner, against the wishes of the majority of faculty and students involved in the program.

Since its inception in 2012, the

HC has offered three classes, History, English, and Philosophy. That is about to change. History is being removed, to be replaced by Art History (see page 2). This is a terrible decision for several reasons.

The most obvious problem that will arise from this change is that Art History is not a subject with wide popular appeal. Art History is a worthy and engaging field of study, but it’s a niche subject that will be a turnoff for many students considering the HC. The HC is intended as a general introduction to the study of arts and it attracts a diverse group of people. Some of my former classmates have continued in subjects like Philosophy and History, while others have pursued the sciences and business.

No matter your interests, History, English and Philosophy are all foundational subjects that provide a stepping stone to further learning. The same is not true for Art History.

I would not have been interested in taking the HC had Art History been a part of the program. After talking to several of my former classmates, it is clear they share the same view. One even went as far as to say, “Now I feel like a jackass for having been part of a program that includes Art History.” I don’t speak for all who have taken the HC program over the years, but my classmates were unanimous in the feeling that the removal of traditional history is a foolish decision.

This decision could seriously damage future enrolment in the HC. There are already about 40 students enrolled in the HC for next year, expecting to take History. Who knows what their reaction will be when informed that they must take Art History instead? I suspect that a large number of students will leave the program. This is very disappointing, because the HC is widely recognized as an ex-

The campaign for Better coffee ISAAC TURNER Contributor Are you frustrated with the quality of coffee offered on campus at StFX? Want to support a small, local business rather than a big corporation? Wish you had easier access to certified organic and fair-trade coffee? If your answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’, then keep reading. Coffee is a staple in the lives of many university students. It is consumed from dawn to dusk and is a major part of many people’s daily routine.

We, the members of Breaking the Silence (BTS), believe that students should feel good about their purchases and make a difference in the world whenever possible. We can bring about positive change just by buying a cup of coffee, something we do every day anyway.

Here at StFX, we reach for the highest standards in our students and in the work that we do. We think globally and act locally. These goals align perfectly with the JustUs! motto of putting people and the planet before profits. One coffee might not seem like a huge change, but this small action could make a difference in many people’s lives. Serving JustUs! coffee on-campus offers a number of benefits. JustUs! was the first fair trade certified licensed coffee roaster in Canada, is certified organic, and pays producers above the minimum required for fair trade.

As if this was not already impressive enough, JustUs! Breaking the Silence coffee is single origin, and produced by the CCDA (Highlands Committee of Small Farmers), which is visited each year by StFX Immersion Service Learning students travelling to Guatemala.

The CCDA is a small farmer’s organization which, in addition to coffee production, is involved in local political affairs

and advocates for positive change in Guatemala.

While serving BTS JustUs! coffee at various campus functions this year (such as the farmer’s market), we have had the opportunity to chat with dozens of coffee enthusiasts at StFX. Generally, their attitudes have always been the same: the coffee offered on-campus is of low quality relative to the price it costs, but is more convenient than venturing off-campus for a good cup. If this does not raise eyebrows, then we don’t know what will. We are not naïve; we understand that this idea needs to make business sense. And it does.

Better tasting coffee at reasonable prices will increase coffee sales and student satisfaction. Mini Moe’s has the potential to become a more popular hangout spot for students to grab a coffee with friends, as opposed to a last resort while running late for class. High quality, fair-trade, organic coffee would bring people together in a variety of ways. It connects global producers and consumers, and, in a local context, friends chatting about assignments or professors meeting with students or fellow colleagues. Coffee is a vital part of many people’s lives here at StFX University, so our coffee choices should represent who we are as a community: caring, passionate, globally-aware, and always striving to be the best.

If you agree with us and want to see the coffee supplier on-campus at StFX change from Aspretto to JustUs!, there is no shortage of things you can do to help bring about this change. Sign the petition. Share a post on Facebook.

Compose a tweet. Write a letter. Talk to the Students’ Union. The possibilities are endless and if we want to see change then it is time for us to speak up!

In solidarity, The Breaking the Silence Society

cellent program, both in terms of socializing and academics. It was one of the few programs not only deemed sustainable, but given a glowing review and the “priority to enhance” tag in the 2014 sustainability report. If properly advertised, the HC could become a “killer app”, a program that is able to draw students from afar due to its unique nature. That potential will be crushed by the introduction of Art History, a program that attracts little interest from students entering university.

This whole situation is made even worse by the fact that this decision was made against the wishes of the faculty actually involved in the HC. The HC advisory committee voted against the replacement of History with Art History, only to be unilaterally overridden

by Brebner. The fact that an interim Dean would make such a drastic and unwelcome change suggests extreme arrogance on the

part of someone who will only be have this power for a year.

Brebner’s action makes little sense considering the integral role History plays as part of the HC. The HC curriculum moves in chronological order, so while you are learning about Ancient Greece in History, you are also learning about Socrates in Philosophy, and reading a play by Aristophanes about Socrates in English. As you move through the ages, the three subjects continue to reinforce each other, as something you learn in one class is brought up from a different perspective in another. The history class in HC sets the pace for the entire program, and by removing it you take away a huge part of what makes the HC great.

I hope this decision will be reversed, so that future students will be able to experience this fascinating stepping stone into their university education. If it is not, I fear for the future of the program.

the XAV’s WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE JANE STEVENSON Staff Writer Well Xaverians, it’s here. The season of snow day emails, aching faces from the frigid air, steamed chocolate milk, and Canada Goose jackets. The days of walking to the pub coat-free are over, and it’s time to get back on the grind. You survived exams; now its time to survive winter. Here are some tips to help keep you warm, toasty, and sane throughout the winter term.

1. Invest in some good snowproof and waterproof boots. As most of you are aware, the weather in Antigonish is as inconsistent and unpredictable as the campus wifi. You’ll be spending a lot of time braving slippery, slushy sidewalks, so make sure your feet are prepared. If you don’t want to spring for Hunters or Sorels, the generic brands you can get at Walmart or Canadian Tire are often of similar quality and will serve the same purpose.

2. Save up for your Saturday night Wheel trip by getting your hot beverages at meal hall or making them yourself. You can get coffee, tea, hot chocolate and cappuccinos at meal hall. Don’t like the classic Red Rose? Bring your own tea bags and skip the Mini Moe’s line. Live off-campus? Invest in a coffee maker. It’s worth it. Grab your reusable mug and start saving the environment and your wallet!

3. Shovel your walkway or driveway and then hold it over your roommates’ heads for the rest of the semester. It’s a great workout, and you can reference it at any time to get your roommates to

do anything from taking out the garbage to buying you study snacks.

4. Have no shame in your study game. Avoid freezing your ass off and take your library nest to the next level with a blanket, slippers, and fingerless gloves for typing and Snapchat breaks. The only people staring at you will be the cold, jealous haterz.

5. Don’t get stuck in the “it’s the beginning of the semester” mentality. Frost Week is over, and midterms sneak up quick. Find a new secret study spot. The Coady library, town library, and Dreamcatchers Café on Main Street are all a nice change of scenery from the lib.

6. Forget last semester’s drama.

Whether it was a lost bae, a failed friend, or roommate drama, make like Elsa and let it go. Being civil and mature will make the next three and a half months much easier. We go to a small school, and it’s best to have as few enemies as possible.

7. Rethink your pubwear. You may enter the pub on a perfectly clear evening and come out in a 2:00 AM blizzard. As Frankie Macdonald says, “Be prepared!” If you absolutely must wear heels, opt for wedges, which will give your drunken self a bit more stability when stumbling home through the snow. I also recommend buying a $5 coat from the op shop that you don’t mind losing. The uglier the coat, the less chance it will get stolen if you skip out on coat check.

Winter is tough, but we Xaverians are tougher. Now go out and show the world that we aren’t afraid of a bit of snow!

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Are student politics a popularity contest?

SEBASTIAN JURGA Senior Reporter Take the ballot. Mark the box. Chances are you, like so many of us, are not entirely familiar with the platform you are supporting but still feel confident you’re making the right choice. You think he or she will do a good job in x position: you know them personally, they’re outgoing, talented, and a person you’re happy to be acquainted with. Of course, you trust your own character judgment, which compels you to make a decision like voting for your friend in the upcoming student election.

Now here’s the thing: what if we all did that? Gave into our bias and voted for a friend, but not necessarily for the person who is the best equipped or qualified for the position they are running for.

If we simply choose the person we trust and know the best, is the election still a fair contest of charisma and leadership skill? Or, at that point, is it simply a popularity contest? More importantly, how does this affect our school and the Students’ Union’s platforms?

From my point of view, most elections, especially those in a small community, are simply matters of popularity. It makes sense. If people love you, they will elect you their leader. This is something that I think most people who went through high school noticed – there was a strange correlation between

one’s participation in Student Council and his or her social ties. If you were pop, you were prez. It was rattling for me back then. In reality, however, I’m not sure it was actually such a big deal. I look back on all four years of my high school career with equal amounts of disdain and indifference, but frankly they were all the exact same, or at least very similar. What I take from this, in reflection, is that even if the elections back than were based off popularity - and they were, mark my words - it really did not make any difference in everyday life.

In my three semesters spent at StFX thus far, I look back on my time here in a somewhat more positive light. The community is certainly more mature, but I dare say we are still subject to the same biases.

Frankly, when I asked a few students who they were voting for as Vice-President -since the President is essentially pre-determined - most gave somewhat

different answers, but generally the reason was the same: they knew the candidate.

So while we are all mostly voting for the person we are most comfortable with and trusting of - the candidate we share the closest interpersonal relationship with - how detrimental is that to our school and the Students’ Union?

When I look back to my frosh year, I didn’t really pay much mind to the U or who was running it. I thought the programs they put on where great, but I was under a veil, a fish fresh out of the pond thrown into the ocean. Everything about StFX was so awesome, simply because it was something new to chew on. For that reason, I can’t really say that who was running the U last year had any effect on my thoughts of the school.

This year, having been habituated to life around here a bit more, I’m now in a better position to critique, ever so slight-

ly, how this place is managed.

As in high school, I feel like when you get down to the nitty gritty, the platforms are all so similar that it doesn’t make a difference who you elect so long as they are the slightest bit competent – or at least that’s what I’ve seen so far. This year has been just as good for me, maybe even slightly better than last year, but I feel like the government of the U has not had much of an effect on this improvement.

So perhaps yes, when voting in these small, closed community elections we are subject to some bias. Perhaps in the end, it really is just a matter of the candidates’ social network that really pulls in the votes. And to that I say so what? So far this year the U has gotten us a new convenience store in the SUB, which, as opposed to having two outlets that sell clothing, is a huge improvement. At the very least, I do not believe anything crucial to student life has

Photo: The U Facebook Page

been slashed. So if those who were elected last year were elected out of popularity I would be one to argue that it has not been detrimental to the school.

Alongside that, the individual I’m putting my money on to win this year is definitely the most popular of the three choices. Without naming said individual, I can’t actually say he or she would do a bad job, because from what I’ve seen of their performance, they seem more than capable of taking on the position.

This leads me to believe that perhaps being more socially affluent or popular isn’t a bad thing for someone holding such a position. They would certainly be highly sociable, and if people in a community such as ours seem to like them then there must be a reason for it. The only downfall would be that others who may be equally or even better suited for the role may not have the chance to acquire it, due to being caught in the shadow of those more connected.

I feel like that’s just part of how human society works though, and since the problem is not going anywhere, nor does it seem to cause much harm, I will finish on this note. My proposed solution is simple: vote for whomever you feel truly deserves the position. Whether it be friend, acquaintance, or someone you don’t even know.

Often times, our leaders are not chosen, they simply are.

Fat shaming & why it doesn’t work “If shaming reduced obesity, there would be no fat people” JANE STEVENSON Staff Writer “She gained a lot of weight over the break.” “Being fat is bad for your health!” “She can’t pull off that crop top.” “She’s fat but at least her face is pretty.” We’ve all said something like this at some point in time, and whether we know it or not, this is fat shaming.

Fat shaming is when someone makes a negative comment about someone else’s body size, shape, or weight. These comments can be extremely debilitating and hard on an individual’s self esteem. “But these people need to be motivated,” you may say, “They need to be told the truth!”

Or, my personal favourite, “I’m just concerned about their health!” Here’s why those arguments are bullshit.

We are our own worst critics. If someone is overweight, there is no point in commenting on it. I guarantee whatever you say about someone’s weight, they’ve already said the same thing to

themselves over and over, only ten times worse. No one lives in a magical land with no mirrors. A person who is overweight already knows they’re overweight, just like a tall person knows they’re tall and a short person knows they’re short – and they will probably also get annoyed with you constantly pointing it out. These habits are so ingrained in us that it can be difficult to break them. I challenge you to try and catch yourself making negative comments toward someone’s body, then pause, and ask yourself why you feel the need to put that negativity out there. Did this person do something shitty to you? Are you jealous of their sweet new iPhone 6? Those feelings are okay to feel, but make sure you don’t let them turn you into the kind of person who body shames people.

“But fat shaming motivates people to lose weight!” This may sound like it makes sense, on the surface, but study after study has shown that this is not the case. As one article by A. Janet Tomiyama

(University of California) and Traci Mann (University of Minnesota) states: “if shaming reduced obesity, there would be no fat people” (2013). Overweight individuals are arguably the most openly discriminated against population in our society. Don’t you think after years of being called “lazy” or being told they have “no self-control” these people would have made a change already? If someone feels like shit about themselves, they’re not likely to jump out of bed in the morning with a smile on their face and hit the gym.

Recently, the fat acceptance movement has gained a lot of traction on social media. The idea behind it is that if we build each other up and boost one another’s confidence, everyone will feel a little better about themselves and be more motivated to make a lifestyle change if they choose to do so, since it’s their body and their choice. Yet I’ve seen a lot of comments to the tune of, “I’m glad she’s confident, but this is unhealthy” which brings me to my

Photo: sfltimes.com last point: you are not a doctor and you are not genuinely concerned. You are listening to the biases planted in your brain by the society we live in. When someone has suffered from an illness or an eating disorder and loses a significant amount of weight, the dialogue is vastly different: “Tell me your secret!”

“You must be hitting the gym!” or some comment about “skinny

bitches”.

Fat shaming is completely useless and unnecessary, and we all need to make a conscious effort to make it stop and to be a little nicer to one another.

Tomiyama, A., & Mann, T. (2013). If Shaming Reduced Obesity, There Would Be No Fat People. Hastings Center Report, 43(3), 4-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ hast.166

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gone

thursday january twenty eighth, 2016

but not forgotten Rest in peace

2013 - 2015 paige chisholm | features editor

9 This article is not full of facts. It is not full of cheesy curds, gravy, or greasy burgers. This article is full of pure, uncontrollable sadness due to the closing of beloved X Burger. Located on the corner of Hawthorne and Main Street, X Burger was the destination for many of us when we were drunk, sober or just wanted some food that would inevitably make us hate ourselves following consumption. Now, it is simply a shell of its former glory - empty, lifeless, and sorely missed.

the 2-3 X Burger poutines that I ate a week. X Burger was the heart of Antigonish to me at that time in my life, and was the wager in many bets during 3rd year. My roommates and I had a deal that if we did something stupid, we would owe another person a large poutine. This bet kept us from making inebriated mistakes too often. Now, we are all just fumbling around making bad decisions with no wager on the line. Thanks a lot, X Burger.

X Burger opened in 2013 (as far as I know), and employed a tonne of StFX students. They provided greasy classics such as poutine, burgers, fish & chips, hot dogs, and chicken. At the start of their career, X Burger was open late and consistently busy. As time went on, X Burger had inconsistent hours, but still maintained the same quality of food. It was in the midst of the December exam period that X Burger called it quits, and shut down for good one fateful day.

Being surrounded by people who are as passionate about food as I am, I have seen the devastating effect that X Burger’s closing has had on them, and have gone as far to include quotes from them below.

I can proudly admit to gaining 15 pounds in second year due to

Kurt Brothers: Upon returning to StFX in January, nothing excited me more than the thought of getting a Nathan’s foot-long hotdog. Approximately 35 seconds after moving back, I ran down Hawthorne to Heaven aka X-Burger and was met with a crippling realization. Gone.

I went through multiple stages of grief as I realized that those doors

would never again open. Sadness at the thought of all of the drunken nights spent at Kenny’s instead of X-Burger. Anger at the blatant disregard for StFX students’ feelings.

Pity for the future frosh who will never experience this masterpiece of culinary art. After what seemed like days, I pried myself from the window (after seeing no leftover cheese curds on the floor) and sulked home. Why X-Burger closed down will remain a mystery to the population of Antigonish. Personally I believe it was a conspiracy by the pizza trifecta (Kenny’s Wheel, and Snappys) to run competition out of town. RIP X-Burger, your hospitality and curds will be missed.

Allie Mitchell: I one time ate a poutine out of the garbage at X Burger. True story. There’s photo evidence of it somewhere.

Kuba Hass: X burger is closed, I’m in big sadness, Hunger got me exposed, I’M TURNING INTO MADNESS! Poutine, burgers, whatever you love, All the things I’ll never get tired of.(Ate his first poutine in X-Burger).

Two very lost, hungry second years waiting patiently for their large poutines. 2014

The stuff that dreams were made of.

Breton Doucet: X burger was an establishment that exemplified Xaverian spirit. You could go in at 2 am and know everyone inside, the person behind the counter and the people you met on your way out. And if you didn’t know them, by the end of the visit you would.

Be it burger, poutine or milkshake that you were in search of, they always delivered. X Burger will be sorely missed.

Katie Dodsworth: I miss X Burger each and everyday. It was a large part of my eat-clean vegan meal plan for the past two years.

Many great nights were spent at that delicious restaurant; from ditching the long pub lines early to go get a large poutine, to getting a greasy X Burger meal as a late night study snack. The worst part is that I didn’t even get to say bye. It was gone before I got to spend one last drunken late night there or get the last large poutine my roommate owed me from a bet. X Burger, you will forever be missed and always remembered in our hearts, memories and arteries.

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thursday january twenty eighth, 2016

culture

EDITOR: RACHEL LEBLANC xw.culture@stfx.ca

Living abroad as a student My first impressions in Barbados from our Foreign Correspondent LINDSAY JOHNSTONE Contributor Warm breezes gently blow past my shoulders. Air smells fresh. Outside is filled with the gentle scent of blooming flowers and echoes the singing birds. In the distance, I can see the crystal clear ocean, with sailboats paving their way through the vast open waters.

This is Barbados, and what a beautiful country it is.

Studying abroad is something I always imagined doing, but never had I imagined it would be at a University in the Caribbean.

As I left the bone-chilling cold in Halifax, I anticipated an array of new situations and ideas. This was both exciting and petrifying, chilling me to the bone like Maritime winds. I walked onto the plane thinking, “What did you get yourself into?” But knowing that this was by far the most adventurous thing I had ever done, I set forth on the adventure with an open mind, excited to meet the new challenges.

As we flew to the Island, I could see the entire Island of Barbados out of my plane window. It was so small - a mere 34 kilometres long, surrounded by vivid blue waters instead of blinding white snow.

Arriving at the University by cab was an adventure in itself. The roads were narrow in comparison to what we have in Canada. Yet despite this, the driver drove very fast. I was flying around in the backseat, holding onto

the seats at every sharp turn because there were no seat belts. To add to the confusion, all vehicles drove on the left.

In my very first moments, I knew this was a life I needed to get used to.

As we bounced our way to the University Campus, I saw people standing up in the backs of dump trucks speeding down the highway. We arrived at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.

I arrived at my residence on campus. A colourful, attractive building with stairs located on the exterior. There were roosters and chickens running around all over the grounds, which added to the culture shock I had already been bombarded with since the beginning. With some help, I managed to lug my bags up three flights of stairs.

I opened the door to my room, and found more surprises.

There was no glass in any of the windows; each window only had a shutter! Imagine, having no glass in your window in your residence room in Antigonish - in January! It was becoming clear that this was a very warm climate indeed. Going into the room, the view from my breakfast table was amazing…

The bed felt like a cement block, as they usually do even in Canada. I spent the first night there only to be greeted by a lizard on my floor the next morning. Talk about a pleasant reminder that I’m now in the tropics. I met a stray dog that lived at the residence. She was the skinniest dog I have seen in a while, but

she is friendly nonetheless.

The longer I lingered, the more I was reminded of how far I was from home. There are wild monkeys living on campus, and they can be aggressive towards people at night - I have to be very careful from now on. The beach is a short walk from campus. Though it is beautiful, we have been warned about tourist scams that can take place at the beaches.

The locals are very friendly, helpful, and speak English beautifully.

I was very impressed to learn that Barbados had one of the highest literacy rates in the world, with nearly 100% literacy achieved. We were advised to try out the bus system, and did exactly that. These so-called “busses” in Barbados are not the same as those in Canada. The bus was a small van, with a driver and an attendant sitting in the back to take the bus money. No uniforms, either; we all “just know”. There were only 14 seats, but 25 people crammed in the bus anyways. It seemed like everyone knew exactly where they were getting off.

Well, except me - all I knew was that I was heading to Bridgetown to find a local market. But with the help of friendly locals, I found my way.

The local markets were incredible. The one I visited was as big as a stadium, stocked with every fruit imag-

Photo: Lindsay Johnstone, Barbados inable. It all tasted as if it had been picked minutes ago fresh, juicy, and full of flavour.

Ok, so I don’t miss Morrison Hall that much.

So far, so good, down in the Caribbean. At the outset, I have only gotten familiar with a few local customs and practices, but soon my courses will start, and I am really looking forward to studying within such a distinct cultural environment. My first impressions are really favourable.

And I have to tell you folks back there freezing through

another Canadian winter, that mostly here I am hot – even though it is January.

Most people come to the Caribbean just for a holiday, but living and learning here is going to be an awesome experience.

Lindsay Johnstone is a third year StFX student who is on an exchange program for the winter term, attending the University of the West Indies in Barbados. This is her first column as our “Foreign Correspondent.

Netflix Pix: What’s worth a night in ALYSSA HILTZ Contributer This week, we start off with a bang a horror, action, fantasy mix show (and my personal favourite), Supernatural. This legendary show started in September 2005 and has been growing stronger as it steps into its 11th season. Brothers Sam and Dean Winchester travel across America in their father’s black 1967 Chevy Impala, saving people and hunting, er, things.

Many of these “things” are demons, ghosts, and several creatures based on mythology, theology, American legends, and folklore.

This gives Supernatural an intriguing twist that sparks anticipation among its viewers as they await the

next episode. Supernatural can always have you on the edge of your seat, laughing until you cry or tearing up from some of the saddest scenes in television. There are 10 seasons on Netflix, with darkthemed seasons, kooky seasons, and fan-acclaimed seasons. Not only are the writers and characters brilliant, but the actors are as well.

Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, and Mark Sheppard have collaborated to put the piece to life in a incredible, sustainable series that resonates with its entire audience. With great storylines, charm, and spirit (pun intended), Supernatural is a great show for almost everyone. With the winter hiatus (or hellatus, as the fans call it) over on Jan 20, fans have a lot more

to look forward to.

On the other hand, we have Mad Men: sex, drinking, smoking, handsome men, gorgeous women, and advertisements? What more could you ask for from this iconic show set in 1960’s New York? The show focuses on the lives of the employees at the ad agency, Sterling Cooper. During the era of a man’s world, the series focuses on the independent, strong women, who worked three times as hard to have successful and fulfilling careers. Since 2007, the show has had seven successful seasons, where the characters grow and evolve right in front of your eyes. If you love to watch creatively written episodes, enticing drama and a snapshot of history, you will absolutely adore the series.

Photo: The Humor Columnist Lastly, I recommend the amazing series based on the characters from the novel The Three Musketeers. This BBC show is a historical drama, filled to the brim with humour and sword combat. It is set in 1630 Paris, and follows the lives of musketeers Aramis, Porthos,

Athos, and d’Artagnan. Watch these characters as they constantly risk their lives in honour of their King and country. There are already two great seasons on Netflix to catch up on before the new season is released.

Have fun binge watching.

11

Artist of The Week: Ashley MacDonald DEVON GREENE Contributor This week’s featured artist is fourth year student Ashley Macdonald.

Ashley MacDonald, like many featured artists, got an early start on her artistic education when she was in first grade MacDonald began taking art lessons from a local artist in Summerside PEI where she grew up. She enjoyed painting and drawing recreations of her favourite cartoon characters or photographs that caught her eye.

After many years of practicing art through her classes and on her own time, MacDonald decided to take her education another step further by taking Art 100 in her senior year. MacDonald is currently in her last semester of completing her Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in English and French. She hopes that this full year elective course will help her with her chosen career path. “I want to be a teacher, so I feel like doing the art classes will help explore my creativity,” says MacDonald.

This aspiring teacher explains that she is drawn to the younger age group by her passion for instilling a love for reading in children.

“For a lot of teachers, creativity is definitely a huge part, especially in elementary school. If you’re doing slide shows… or writing a word across the board and then drawing a picture of

what it is, I feel like having a background in art is definitely going to help me in the classroom.” This is a particularly important skill for MacDonald as she hopes to teach elementary level French. While trying to learn a new language, students will rely heavily on visuals to understand in the classroom. Being able to clearly communicate through pictures and drawings will be a big help to both teacher and student in MacDonald’s classroom.

MacDonald’s artistic interest extends beyond her professional aspirations. In her personal time, MacDonald uses her surroundings and life experiences to inspire her to create her own works of art. For example, her water-coulour painting of the Cheshire Cat was created at the time that she was studying Alice in Wonderland in her Children’s Literature class. Some of her cartoon recreations are also motivated by real life events, such as her recreation of the popular cartoon, Calvin and Hobbs. “[The painting] was a gift for my boyfriend for his birthday. He was named after Calvin, from Calvin and Hobbs so that was the intention there. So it’s usually just whatever’s going on in my life.”

MacDonald keeps a portfolio of her own work and sometimes does drawings for friends. However, most of her creations are simply a way to escape from the everyday stresses of life. “I

feel like art, in any way, whether it’s a doodle or writing or writing in a journal, I find it’s really great for anyone to take part in.

It’s been such a help to me to paint or draw to clear away the anxiety or stresses that I have.” That being said, MacDonald is always up for a challenge in her Art 100 course with instructor Katie Brown. She finds the class is taking her out of her comfort zone both with medium and subject matter.

“We’re doing a lot of still life, which is not something I had ever done before.

Usually I base my art on pictures, photographs, cartoons and stuff. So it was just really different to draw what is really in front of you and draw it accurately. Usually when I draw or paint I’m a little looser in terms of creating what I’m looking at. [It is] kind of more flowing than strictly

Photo: Ashley MacDonald

Photo: Ashley MacDonald drawing what I’m looking at… On my own I basically just do water colour and ink. In class, right now, we’re doing oil pastels which is something that I haven’t really used before so I’m kind of struggling with that because it’s almost like a thick crayon. I find with watercolour, it’s more loose and the layering is a lot different. Pastels has been a bit of a challenge this semester.”

MacDonald also created her collage piece in Art 100 as an in class assignment.

She explained how much work went into the piece. “It was quite difficult to rip of the tiny little pieces and put it together. What we did is, Kate Brown had a statue, a vase and a pyramid shape on the table. We could use one colour and I chose blue, and then neutrals as well. I flipped through old

National Geographic magazines and just ripped out the colours that would suit what we’re looking at.” MacDonald was only able to complete half of the assignment in class and, like many dedicated art students at St FX, used her own time to finish the piece and says “It took quite a while.” Despite what many students may think, visual art classes at St FX are no place for an easy grade. The students work hard both in and out of the classroom with the support from their instructors.

MacDonald has taken a lifelong hobby and turned it into a skill that she can use, not only in her future career, but as a way to relieve stress and anxiety from her busy life as a student. MacDonald’s personal relationship to art is one filled with expression and a little bit of distraction. “[Art is] A way to get away from things and immerse yourself totally into a project. Once you finish it, the sense of completion you get just takes away all your anxiety and stress. I find it to be a relief whenever I’m just concentrated on a piece.”

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thursday january twenty eighth, 2016

SLAM: THE STUDENT POETRY SECTION Hosting a party with sadness ALEJANDRA TORRES Contributor My alarm rings and I hit the snooze button twice.

into my experience.

My mind cannot articulate an answer to the question,

But now when I have a good day I will pause and smile Because they don’t happen that often; they are actually a treat.

“Why?” I wonder, is it only me?

The room is pitch dark and the cold numbs my bones.

It is yet another day, a new start, but I don’t want to go outside I know where I’m going and who I will see.

My classes have become a routine; This whole life has turned into big old routine.

Wasn’t college supposed to be exciting?

I was told these are the best years of my life.

If that is the case then I must be completely blind,

Am I the only one who feels this lost?

Is it really just one out of thousands who can’t cope?

Am I the only who cries?

So now, let me ask you, is that really the only way to live?

My mind never stops turning and my heartbeat will not slow down, I feel as a fish out of water when everyone’s around.

Is it really not this bad for anyone else?

They focus on parties and drinking until they pass out.

I wonder is there something wrong with me?

Although they do seem happy and wonder why I’m so sad,

I’ve created this formula to follow constantly, step by step,

I do not envy them, do not get me wrong.

Because now I know that it probably won’t be a good day.

I’d rather be sad than have a fake happiness that won’t last all night long.

I used to think that bad days happened once in a while,

I do not see how that theory fits

This sadness it haunts me wherever I may go,

But it never travels on its own.

stabs me in my back.

It is accompanied by friends who are very dear to its heart

When someone comes up to me again

And they never seem to have someone else to taunt.

Pondering on why I am so blue,

Their chains tighten up, causing me to choke Apparently they love to party and I am usually their host.

Trying to sell me the idea of getting intoxicated without regrets, I’ll let them know that I am okay with being discontent

As the snow begins to fall on every sidewalk and on its cracks,

Because at least I know that there must be something more to what I am feeling

I see how dangerous it is to walk on them now.

Unlike their narrow vision of what can be found.

Maybe I can be like a sidewalk on a stormy Saturday night

Yes, I am sad while navigating on an unfamiliar road with no headlights;

And I’ll use this uncertainty and sadness as my own snow.

They can become my armor and my shield

But there is always an end to every road.

There is always a storm before the calm.

Instead of the tip of a dagger that

Have you ever been sick?

ROB HALLIGAN Contributor Have you ever been sick.

Hold on, not so quick I mean..

The kind where things don’t..

Click?

It’s no magic trick, yet people are fooled it’s in your brain.

You can’t fix it with tubes

and IV lines.

It’s okay, I guess I’m fine.

Then life just drains away Or slams to a stop like a Runaway train.

It’s a reminder that you’re looking At a gun, right down the barrel, Unable to run away and hide, Helplessly wondering, why me?

Why is it me?

Alone and feeling down like...

The points of a frown A King but no crown, A clown With no makeup on to hide behind.

And ropes only hold you when you Can’t cope, when you are on a downwards slope.

But there is always Be hope if you are willing to say it.

It’s not a lonely walk if can talk, Pick up the chalk, and let it go.

I used to be snappy and I hated Being so scrappy like a baby with A soiled nappy but I’m better now..

You see? I’ve decided I can happy.

Editor’s Note: In light of

the Mental Health Awareness week, I’d would like to remind you that you are not alone. StFX provides a Counseling Centre to help with any issues, big or small. Additional resources are available, including the Mental Health Crisis Line and the Nurse Telecare open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Don’t fight this alone - we are all in this together.

One Man, Two Guvnors Why students should trade in a night at the computer desk for a real performance RACHEL LEBLANC Arts & Culture Editor A dimmed room, illuminated centre and a performance that sent chills up my spine. This was the first time I stepped into the Bauer Theatre to watch SLUT: The Play last semester. The experience was unlike anything else - I watched friends, classmates and new faces step into a new suit, a new character made merely to move me. That night I went home, fogged up with emotions, thoughts, conflicting ideas, and an entirely new appreciation for entertainment.

Yes, the theatre does that to you.

This winter, the Antigonish theatre will perform One Man, Two Guvnors, an English adaptation of 1748’s Servant of Two Masters by Italian writer Carlo

Goldoni. The comedy, reworked

by English writer Richard Bean, is set it in the 1960s in a sea side town in England called Brighton.

“In England, in a slang informal way, you call your boss the ‘Guvnor’. So, the play is about one man serving two Guvnors,” Ed Thomason, Artistic Director of the Bauer theatre says, “the plot is quite funny and interesting.”

The play is being directed

by Melanie Mackay, a StFX student who has been involved with several performances put on by the Bauer theater. As a student director, she filled us in on the experience’s benefits and drawbacks. “Some challenges would be organizing all of the information for the play, actors, and crew.

I get maybe 20 questions thrown at me every day that I don’t know the answer to before they ask me. For example, my stage man-

ager came up to me with about 15 different doorbell sounds and asks me, ‘What do you think?’

Things like that. Managing the actors is especially difficult for me as a student because I’m directing my peers - I’m directing students or people that are older than me, community members; there’s a professor here. So adopting that new hat in front of everybody has been a challenge because of course you want to be everyone’s friend, but at the end of the day, you’re the director and you need to tell them what to do.

It’s been kind of hard for me, but it’s been working out so far very well. We all get along well.”

The lighthearted comedy this winter is in stark contrast to the fall performance of SLUT: The Play. “With SLUT, it’s a really important issue and we want to make an impact in a different

Photo: The Telegraph way. It should be playing to all of the student population but, when you come to see a play called SLUT, you know you are coming to focus and to be moved and to engage in a conversation about a big issue,” Thompson says.

“With this one, not that you have to check your intelligence at the

door, but it’s a definite part of our role to provide relaxing entertainment - and this is it.”

One Man, Two Guvnors opens on Feb 4 and plays until Feb 9. Get your tickets for $10 as students at the box office in the Bauer Theatre, or visit ticket.festivalantigonish.com.

distractions

13

EDITOR: TY KINGSTON xw.distractions@stfx.ca

14

thursday thursday january january twenty twenty eighth, eighth, 2016 2016

sports and health

EDITOR: SHELBI KILCOLLINS xw.sports@stfx.ca

Bell Let’s Talk Mental health initiative teams up with AUS LAUREN AGNEW Staff Writer January 27th marks the sixth annual Bell Let’s Talk nationwide fundraiser for mental health. This year, Atlantic University Sport and Bell have teamed up to promote mental health awareness and athletes across the conference are standing up and getting in-

volved. Beginning with a video released last week, the campaign entitled #OneTeamForMentalHealth will run until January 27th, and is expected to be an annual event.

The Canadian Mental Health Association states that 20% of Canadians will experience mental illness in their lifetime, with 3.2 million Canadian youth currently at risk for developing depression d u r i n g their adolescence.

The organization also says however that 80% of people with recognized depression who receive help can return to their normal daily activities. This is where the Bell Let’s Talk camp a i g n comes in:

the aim is to remove the stigma from conversations surrounding mental health, as it affects so many people all over the country.

Hanna Nathanson, the current manager of the X-Women hockey team, second year education student, and former summer student for Bell Alliant has taken an active role in interviewing and recording StFX athletes’ thoughts on the importance of mental health.

Hanna believes that “mental health shouldn’t be the elephant in the room, it should be discussed openly and honestly.” Having experienced the effects of mental health both personally and with a close loved one, Hanna says she was “thrilled,” when the AUS collaborated with Bell Let’s Talk on its campaign She also believes that “student athletes are not only leaders in our community but voices to many young kids that look up to them.”

Hanna of course, isn’t the only member of StFX athletics that feels this way. Many athletes have taken to social media to express their support for the project. Former X-Men basketball captain and current mem-

ber of StFX track and field team J o r d a n Tyrell took to Instagram and Fa c e b o o k this weekas did many other athletesto say, “Mental health awareness is important because everybody deserves to feel like they matter, and if they are having trouble, they should not feel afraid to talk to someone about it”.

Bell Let’s Talk day on January 27th coincides with four AUS men’s hockey games, all of which will be special promotional events for the project.

The StFX X-Women hockey team will also play at home in the Keating Centre that day,

where Bell Let’s Talk will also be promoted. Pictures and messages of support can be found on the AUS and StFX athletics websites, as well as the StFX athletics Facebook page. On Jan 27, be a part of the conversation by tweeting #BellLetsTalk to raise money for mental health in Canada.

New year, same “classics” menu A mini menu to solve your meal hall woes CHLOE BROWN Contributor The new semester is now in full swing and we are all ready (or trying) to get back into it. For many of us, with each bright new year comes a shiny list of new years resolutions stock full of dos and don’ts for the year to come.

Maybe you’re going to tackle more of those dreaded readings, maybe you want to visit the pub less or perhaps visit the pub more. For myself and many others I know there is the annual recommitment to a healthier lifestyle. Hit the gym, try some yoga and eat better. Personally, this commitment is often one that is attempted with a pretty good effort, for about a month or so before I slowly fall back into old habits. Sleeping through my workouts and sheepishly grabbing a basket of fries to load it with gravy and cheese curds because meal hall is a struggle all of it’s own.

The meal hall blues is a

feeling many of us know all too well. There is the familiar groan when we log on to see what’s for supper (and it’s ham and scallop potatoes AGAIN). Meal hall is not particularly ideal but as many things in life, it is what you make it. If your day of dissecting frogs, reading Shakespeare or doing your info systems has drained your brain of it’s energy and your last drop of creativity is gone, here are a few ideas to make the meal hall experience a little less lame and a lot more healthy.

For me, breakfast is all about the eggs. And lucky for us Morrison Hall is chalked full of kind meal hall ladies that make your egg line experience a cheery one (introduce yourself to Jarlene).

However you like it: scrambled, fried, sunny side up, over easy, omelette(ed), the mighty egg is full of protein that gets you ready for another successful day. I am also a huge fruit person so I never

miss the chance to chow down a grapefruit or some fresh melon in the morning.

Eggs with a pile of fruit makes for a breakfast of champions. If you’re looking for something to curve that sweet tooth try a piece of toast, buttered and sprinkled with a wee bit of sugar and cinnamon. If you’re going to do carbs, the morning is the right time to do it because you’ll have plenty of time to work it off while you’re jogging from Nicholson to Mac and then sprinting back to Schwartz. But what about when you’re crawling to meal hall on Saturday or Sunday morning after a long night of fist pumping and $2.50 draft?

For many, the hangover breakfast is a time for nothing but greasy bacon and tater tots, but from my professional opinion (and yes I consider myself an expert at being hung over) the post party brunch is a time for cleansing your body of all the questionable substances it

may have experienced the night before. Unfortunately on weekend mornings it is easier to find a pancake then it is to find an orange, and although those overflowing trays of home fries may be tempting, aim to give your body some nutrients instead.

Load your plates with some green veg, hard boiled eggs and cottage cheese (my personal favourite), you will feel better and you will be in for a much more productive Saturday afternoon full of readings.

It’s easy to hop into a line and eat whatever is on the ominous “classics” menu when it comes to lunch and supper, but who wants to wait thirty minutes for a potato and a piece of mystery meat anyway. Why not mosey to the salad bar, grab your a pile of your favourite veggies and make a unique stir fry? If you’re trying to cut out the rice and pasta you can always put your stir fry on a plate of spinach for a nifty

salad, this is delicious. You can always sauce a handmade a pizza in the oven or make a giant, lovely salad using the salad bar and the pizza station for maximum ingredient options. Who doesn’t want feta on their salad?

When it comes to meal hall a little bit of effort goes a long way, taking dinner from terrible to tasty. So whether you’re struggling to eat better or just bored with your same old burger and fries, make an effort to spice up your meals when you attend Morrison Hall this year. Try not to eat the same thing day in and day out and don’t count on there being gems in the “classic” line everyday, unless it’s chicken which is always worth the wait. Here’s hoping this mini menu gave you one or two ideas of how to make your eats a little cooler this semester. I believe there is only one question left to ask and that is: when is our beloved Nutella coming back?

15

Recovery is possible A reminder to those suffering with an eating disorder ASHLEY BROOKER, CARLEE SHAW, SARAH MYERS Contributors February 1st-7th is Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

This week is about reducing the stigma surrounding eating disorders, seeking help, and promoting recovery. The key message is simple - recovery is possible. Eating disorders are serious, but treatable, illnesses with medical and psychiatric aspects.

Anorexia and bulimia are most known to the public, however there are also other eating disorders such as binge eating disorder. These disorders often coexist with a mental illness such as depression, anxiety, or obsessive compulsive disorder.

People with an eating disorder often become obsessed with food, body image.

Think about your best friend, neighbour, classmate, teammate, or that random person on campus that you see everywhere but you don’t really know; all of these people could be affected by eating disorders. Eating disorders affect males and females above the age of seven, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, age, sexual orientation and body type. In Canada, 1.5% of females be-

tween the ages of 15 and 24 have experienced an eating disorder. Although eating disorders are common in females of that age range, males, adolescents, adults, and seniors are also privy to eating disorders. Despite all of this, with help and support recovery is possible.

How can you support someone ex p e r i e n c ing an eating disorder? Here are some tips: T h i n k about your own attitudes, beliefs and behaviours around food, body image, health and exercise.

Respect and appreciate diversity! Take notice, in a positive way, how varied people are whether it is gender, race, ethnicity, intelligence, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, body shape and size. We are all beautiful.

Pay attention to the media and think about the messages they are portraying. Become a critical consumer.

Encourage open communication; open, honesty, active listening. Let them know

their feelings and thoughts are cared for and valued.

Model your own behaviour. Try not to constantly criticize your own body! Encourage balanced eating of a variety of foods, healthy physical activity, and positivity.

Remain close to and supportive of your loved ones as they experiment and struggle

Laugh it off What a little chuckle can do for your health CAITLIN VANCE Health Columnist Have you ever laughed so hard that your belly hurt?

Someone told you a joke, or you witnessed something so painfully funny that the laughs just wouldn’t stop coming? Nothing brings on a smile quite like laughter.

Laughter feels good. It brings people together and lightens people’s moods. Laughter may not be the best medicine, but it sure does a body good!

Laughter is beneficial for your physical health, mental health, as well as social health; all reasons why we should be doing a lot more of it!

We can all relate to the joy that comes from having a good laugh, but the proven effects that laughter has on the body may make us appreciate it more. Who knew that laughter actually boosts our immune system function?

Laughter increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies in the body that work to keep us healthy.

Laughter also acts to release

physical tension and stress by decreasing stress hormones and releasing the feel good endorphins that we all love.

Laughter increases blood flow by increasing the function of blood vessels, herein also protecting the heart!

Not only does laughter help protect the physical body from everyday stress and sickness, but it’s beneficial for our social health as well.

Bringing laughter into conversation helps strengthen relationships and draw others towards you. People who can make you laugh or those who laugh often are seen as open and attractive to others.

Laughing enhances teamwork and helps decrease conflict in situations. Laughter can add joy and satisfaction to everyday life by enhancing our mood and helping us harness a positive outlook. It can ease anxiety and fear and enable us to forget about our problems, even if only for a few moments.

Now that the benefits of laughter have been explored, how can we take advantage of these benefits and bring

laughter into everyday life?

Laughter is contagious. If you are laughing and smiling, guaranteed your friends and family will laugh along with you.

There are many ways that we can make an effort to laugh more if we feel that we aren’t laughing enough.

Watch a funny video online, read a funny book, or hang out with that one friend who never fails to bring tears of laughter to your eyes. If you can learn a few funny jokes to tell your friends or just be silly with them for a little while, I’m sure they’ll appreciate it the few giggles. Even just getting together with good friends is a surefire way to guarantee some laughter will arise! Especially on those days when the stress of school and life in general seem so overwhelming, pull out the laughs for comfort. Laugh off the stress. Read a good joke or listen to Kevin Hart on Youtube, and you’ll feel better after it guaranteed. If you can do one thing today to brighten yours or someone else’s day, let it be laughter!

with body image.

Demonstrate respect for all people.

Be aware of some of the warning signs of eating disorders. Things to watch for can include skipping meals, comments about their own body and others bodies, irritability and depression, withdrawal from friends, and signs of extreme dieting, bingeing, purging, discomfort in eating around others, and excessive exercise.

Be supportive. People will make a change when they are ready. Shaming the individual to change can discourage him/her from making a change. Be supportive and encourage the individual to seek professional help. When they are ready, be willing to help and go along the journey of recovery with them.

If you or someone you

know is experiencing an eating disorder there are services available on campus to help. Contact the health and counselling centre ((902) 8672263) or Aspiria for more information in the steps you can take. Remember, recovery is possible.

But at the end of the day what it really comes down to is calories in vs. calories out.

As long as they balance, who cares what you’re eating!

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps certainly believes so, as he released his 12,000 calorie-per-day diet to the public in 2008. For an athlete that swims over 50 miles a week, it’s no sweat to burn that many calories of both simple and complex carbs, and he has the gold medals to prove it.

Everybody has different caloric needs however, and whether you’re fueling your brain to study, or fueling your body to compete, food is important. To see how they stack up to the 12,000 calorieindulging Olympian, we asked veteran StFX Athletes to tell us how they fuel their bodies over the course of the long season.

16

thursday january twenty eighth, 2016

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