Vol 124 Issue 6

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thursday november fifth, 2015

THE xaverian Nov 5 2015 Vol 124: Issue 6

OUR STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Julia O’Hanley xw.eic@stfx.ca

EDITOR: IZAAK MACMULLIN xw.news@stfx.ca

How did we get here?

Unraveling why MacIsaac and TriMac residences will become frosh only

MANAGING EDITOR Ryan Finn xw.managing@stfx.ca

JULIA O’HANLEY Editor-in-Chief

ART IST IC COORDINATOR Devon Chisholm xw.artistic@stfx.ca

In the hours following Monday night’s announcement by Head of Student Life Bob Hale, Director of Ancillary Services Carla Gillis, and Director of Student Life Jacqueline De Leebeeck, campus was abuzz with questions and comments regarding the university’s decision to make MacIsaac Hall and all three TriMac residences frosh-only in 2016-17. For the TriMacs, it was an alternative to the previous threat of becoming coed, but for MacIsaac it seemingly came out of nowhere. The Xaverian sat down with Students’ Union VP Internal Bridget Burgess to learn more about what happened to lead to this controversial decision.

Three meetings occurred between university representatives and the Students’ Union regarding the proposed changes between Tuesday Oct 27 and Sunday Nov 2.

“I hadn’t even had time to finish going through everything because there were so many thoughts,” Burgess explains, following the university’s request to meet with theU two days after their Oct 25 student forum.

On Oct 27, Hale and Gillis reached out to SU President Troy Mrazek and VP Hannah Stordy to discuss the future of the residences in question, stating their intention at that time was to turn both Cameron and MacKinnon Halls into coed living spaces. “[Mrazek] found that out and called an executive meeting to tell us all about it. He called me first and asked me to come in so I knew it was probably not good news,” claims Burgess. “[He said] we

COPY EDITOR Molly Schreiber xw.copy@stfx.ca NEWS EDITOR Izaak MacMullin xw.news@stfx.ca OPINIONS EDITOR Emily Keenan xw.opinion@stfx.ca FEATURES EDITOR Paige Chisholm xw.feature@stfx.ca ARTS&CULTURE EDITOR Rachel Revoy 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 Rachel LeBlanc xw.reporter2@stfx.ca STAFF WRIT ER Sebastian Jurga xw.writer2@stfx.ca COLUMNIST Lindsay Johnstone xw.columnist1@stfx.ca COLUMNIST Caitlin Vance xw.columnist2@stfx.ca DIST RIBUT IONS MANAGER Devon Chisholm xw.distributions@stfx.ca xw.eic@stfx.ca for general inquiries xw.managing@stfx.ca for advertising xw.distribution.ca for subscriptions

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need to come together and we need to figure out our stance on this issue and what we’re going to do moving forward.

This was two days after the forum so for me it was obviously pretty upsetting.”

Burgess notes that Hale was present at theU’s forum on the 25th, but only during the opening and closing of the event. He was not present during the various breakout sessions held to discuss solutions to the issues at hand, as it was deemed his presence would alter the conversation.

“I guess from what he saw of what students were saying, he didn’t think they understood how serious it was, which is fine, that’s his perspective,” she tells, adding “But [the university] made this decision regardless of how students were feeling.”

Burgess says theU was united in their belief that the decision was “very much not what the students are OK with,” and as such they couldn’t support the motion. “We have to speak for those students. That’s our job,” she explains.

The second meeting occurred three days later, Friday Oct 30. Burgess says this meeting was a time for theU to bring light to their concerns regarding the decision to turn the residences coed. The timing of this meeting allowed them enough time to organize student feedback from the forum and present specific proposals and alternatives to making the residence coed. Following the Friday meeting, Hale and Gillis asked to meet again on Sunday Nov 1 to discuss the university’s final decision.

The night before the public announcement at 4 PM, the Students’ Union met with Hale,

Gillis, and De Leebeeck. In this meeting, the university administration told theU that they had taken their feedback into consideration, and as such had decided to make the residences single year rather than coed for 2016-17.

It was in this November 1st meeting that the Students’ Union first became aware of the changes to MacIsaac Hall.

Burgess describes the decision as “really disappointing,” and a “curveball.” Whereas discussions to change the University Avenue residences had been discussed at length, according to Burgess the last meeting held between MacIsaac and university staff was in September, a meeting of which she was in attendance.

“They were having floor meetings to address a couple issues around damages, some pretty minor things. They talked about things like holes in ceiling tiles, but it was mainly to address throwing garbage out of windows and garbage in the hallways,” she describes of the meetings.

“Those meetings I thought went really well, and one of the things that was said in the meetings was you know if this behaviour doesn’t change we’re going to have to look at sanctions and we’re going to have to look at security, or cameras. It was never mentioned that it could be removing second years from the buildings.”

Speculation of alternative motives has circled campus since the announcement, with many wondering if this year’s increased enrollment and residence overcrowding had anything to do with the proposal.

“From what I’ve heard, they’re expecting a lower incoming

class next year, so I don’t think so,” Burgess says of the rumours. “What they keep saying is that it’s to address negative culture. I think in Cameron and MacKinnon they were more specific as to what those negative cultures were. In MacIsaac I think it was a little more broad. I think it’s a lot of the party atmosphere and what comes along with it, things like: damages, unsanctioned events, guests.”

Speaking to MacDonald, the only affected house that already operates as a frosh-only residence, Burgess says Hale cited the house as an instance where having only first year students had a positive impact on previous conditions. “I think that really is a testament to Curtis [Beitz] and Darcy [MacIsaac] because they have worked so hard in that building. I think it’s very unfortunate that they feel like they’re not getting that acknowledgement from the university because I think they deserve it.

“I think I can speak for all of us on the Students’ Union when I say that we are quite disappointed with this notion of things being final decision.

We are very open to continuing discussions,” she notes.

Burgess alludes that the discussions with the university were beneficial, but she wishes she was allowed more time to consult students before a decision was made and residence applications were opened.

Residence applications for all returning students are now open. Alongside residences not affected by this recent change, upper year students will have the option of moving into a renovated Mount Saint Bernard in the year ahead.

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Longer nights at the Inn Students’ Union pushes for the Inn’s hours to be extended from 1 to 2AM IZAAK MACMULLIN News Editor The Inn is a veritable institution here at StFX, where it is a communal watering hole beloved by many and home to a noisy hubbub practically every night, especially Wednesdays. Despite its popularity, the Inn has long been set apart from the other drinking establishments in town when it comes to closing time. The revelry at the Inn ends at 1 AM every night, instead of at 2 AM like Piper’s Pub or the Split Crow. However, this may be about to change.

Students’ Union president Troy Mrazek wants to see the Inn’s closing time changed to 2 AM. His desire to see the hours changed stems from safety concerns, and the Students’ Union has been pursuing this change for a while. As Mrazek explains via email, “We’ve been trying to change the closure hours of the Inn since 2010. The application for an extension is solely based on student safety. We’ve found a trend that students come to the Inn and from 12:30 AM to 1 AM they venture off campus to other establishments. Moving off campus at this hour of the night (when alcohol is often involved) puts our students

at potential risk within the Town of Antigonish.”

The fact that the Students’ Union has been aware of this problem and its seemingly simple solution for five years might seem strange, but according to Mrazek the process of changing the Inn’s hours is quite complicated. He says, “The process for changing these hours is actually very difficult. We’re not actually applying to change our hours; rather, we’re applying to alter our liquor license— which ultimately rests with

the University. Over the past few years we have gathered letters of support from both the Town of Antigonish and the RCMP. Following those letters, we drafted a proposal to submit to the Director of Ancillary Services with the University (they control all campus liquor licenses). Once the University receives that proposal, they will review and suggest potential edits.

Following that discussion, they will bring the proposal to the Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Authority for review

and final adjudication.”

Mrazek says that the Student Union plans on submitting their proposal to the university sometime in November, but he is not able to give an estimate of how long the process would take because he is unsure how long it will take the Alcohol and Gaming Authority to rule on the proposal.

The general reaction from students seems to be positive.

Meaghan Wright, a fourth year business student, feels extending hours would be a

Photo: Devon Chisholm

logical decision, saying, “I think over the last four years at StFX it’s always been an issue for students. Everyone kind of complains at the end of the night. I think students would be more satisfied and the Inn would make more money off of it, so that would be good. I don’t see why, if the Pub closes at two, it kind of just makes everyone walk down to the Pub” James Côté, another fourth year business student, feels that the Inn has a special vibe that appeals to different people than those who prefer Piper’s Pub, and with equal hours people would have more of a choice. As he explains, “The Inn has a different atmosphere then the Pub so having the same closing hours gives [students] almost two options for where to go for a given night, so I guess it would benefit them.”

Finally Rose Brown, a fourth year Human Kinetics student, echoed the general theme, saying, “If the Inn did close at two, most people would stay. They close at one now so [for] most people, one doesn’t feel that late so they go down to the Pub. But if they had the choice to stay [at the Inn] until two, they probably would.”

Maclean’s university rankings StFX ranks highly in student satisfaction LAUREN AGNEW Senior Reporter StFX has scored among the top of its class in the Maclean’s University Rankings, particularly in a new section of the report, entitled “Students Speak Out”. Maclean’s conducted a voluntary survey of university students, asking them to report on categories such as whether their university experience was helping them to become gainfully employed, and wether their classes where helping them to develop critical thinking skills. StFX ranked first in the latter category, with 96 percent of student participants crediting StFX for improving their logic and problem solving skills. StFX also came first in the category of “professors know your name”.

StFX students featured in the survey gave generally high marks to the university for the quality of the student experience, and StFX students on

campus this year seem to agree.

First year student Shannon Browne says that “St. FX felt like home right away,” adding that “the faculty and residence life staff are very supportive”.

Third year student Sam Kent believes that his university experience was different from his friends at other universities, but in a good way, describing “All the extracurricular activities, from intramural, to hockey cups, to clubs and societies, allow for an experience of community that just isn’t possible at other larger universities. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else for my undergrad.”

Although it is ranked as a primarily undergraduate institution, StFX hosts a number of graduate students in the Bachelor of Education program. Several of these students also had positive things to say. “StFX has always been the number one choice for me” says senior student Jayme Ward. Having com-

pleted her undergraduate degree in StFX’s Human Kinetics program, Ward is now in her sixth year at St. FX, and her final year in the B.Ed program.

She agrees with the Maclean’s survey of students who voted StFX degrees to be highly beneficial in the “employment” category, stating, “The education program here is one of the best, if not the best, in the country. I am absolutely confident that I will be able to get a job in the education field knowing that I have the necessary skill set and experience.”

This year, StFX moved into fifth place (tied with Acadia) in

the Primarily Undergraduate category, up one spot from last year, and beaten only by Mount Allison, Trent, Lethbridge, and UNBC, which claimed the top spot. Simon Fraser University

came first the category of comprehensive schools, and McGill retained its crown as the best Medical Doctoral university in the nation, a position it has held for eleven consecutive years.

Photo: Devon Chisholm

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thursday november fifth, 2015

StFX professor judge for literary award English Professor Joseph Khoury 1 of 3 judges in non-fiction category IZAAK MACMULLIN News Editor The prestigious Governor General’s awards for literature have just been handed out, and one of StFX’s own professors had a hand in picking the winners. English professor Dr. Joseph Khoury was selected as one of the three judges this year for the non-fiction category Governor General’s award. This job required him to read over 190 books from April to the beginning of September, a tough task for even the most prolific reader. The Xaverian recently spoke to Dr. Khoury to find out why he was selected and what made him want to subject himself to such a demanding amount of reading.

When ask to explain the Governor General’s award and its significance, Dr. Khoury replied, “It is a fairly prestigious award; they give out about a half million dol-

lars in a year. It’s been going winners had already been September 5. It really, really, on since 1937, I think. So it’s decided. As Dr. Khoury exreally tested my stamina. My long-established and it’s an- plains, “I had to sign docuwillpower was pushed benual. It’s run by the Canada ments to ensure that I don’t yond anything I could have Council and they run on be- spread the word around beever expected. It’s an imhalf of the Governor Gener- cause they want the promense amount of reading… al. It’s a great way to show- cess confidential in order to For example, Conrad Black’s case Canadian literature, maintain objectivity.”

History of Canada is 1100 both fiction and pages! Obviously non-fiction, in not all of them both official lanwere that big, but guages… It tells there were many the world that big ones… and Canadian writyou had to read ing is actually them, because out there and it’s you have to take respected, and It tells the world that Canadian writing is your job seriousindeed people actually out there and it’s respected, and ly and you are look for these fiindeed people look for these finalists to trying to select nalists to read read the best that Canadian writers have the best books in the best [literato offer. this category.” ture] that CanaThe amount of dian writers Joseph Khoury|StFX English Professor time Dr. Khoury have to offer.” spent reading Being a judge would rival most for such a prominent award When it comes to sheer full time jobs, as he claims, “I meant that Dr. Khoury’s amount of reading required was reading 15 hours a day, project had to be kept under for the job, Dr. Khoury says, every day. I mean, that’s a lot wraps. He was not allowed “It ended up being 198 of reading. So, I’m exhaustto tell anyone what he was books, and I started reading ed.” up to until the finalists and mid-April and I read until Despite all the work, and

doubtless sore eyeballs, Dr. Khoury is very happy he was selected to judge the best of Canadian non-fiction.

He says, “It is a great honour; I was obviously very pleased to have been selected, even though I don’t know exactly how.”

When it comes to the books themselves, Dr. Khoury found himself greatly enjoying many of the works, despite their often unglamorous subjects. As he says, “There were some wonderful books. I have a list of 30, 30 or 31, that I myself really, really enjoyed, more than I even though I would enjoy… The Social Life of Ink is one, I loved that book too. I didn’t think it would be that enjoyable. It’s about the history of ink, how to make ink, how the ballpoint pen was made, and that kind of thing. One would think, ‘Well, that would be a boring thing.’ It’s not! It’s a wonderful read.”

New party, new deal?

How might the new Liberal government affect students?

RACHEL LEBLANC Senior Reporter A few short weeks ago, Canadians elected Justin Trudeau as our new prime minister, along with a majority Liberal government to take over control of the country from Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party. This change in Canadian government means that there will be a different outlook on Canadian policies. What many might not know about our new Prime Minister is that Mr. Justin Trudeau was a school teacher for several years before pursuing Canadian politics. With a background in the education sector, what might Justin bring to the table that could be of interest to students?

The Liberal platform contains several pledges, including working to solve the climate crisis, restoring our humanitarian reputation in the international community, and cutting taxes on middle class families while raising them for wealthy individuals. Upon forming government, the liberal party plans to make changes to income tax rates, tax credits for families and the child care benefit plan, cancel income splitting for families, create a federal framework

to address climate change, bring in 25 000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2015, and spend an additional $5 billion on new infrastructure projects to run on a three year deficit.

For students, the new Liberal government promises to invest $1.3 billion over three years to create jobs and opportunities for young Canadians and an additional $40 million each year to help employers create more co-op placement for students in

science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and business programs. To make post-secondary education easier to get, the Liberal government plans to increase the maximum Canada Student Grant for low-income full-time student by up to $3 000 a year, and up to $1 800 a year for part time students.

And to top it off, the new government will make sure no graduate with students loans begins repaying until they earn an income of at least $25

000 a year.

On campus, the new government’s proposals seem to sit well with the majority of students. On the night of Oct 19, the Golden Inn was packed with students celebrating the victory of the Liberal Party. “His ideas are going to the right places, and where we need help the most like student jobs. We have a high unemployment rate right now especially for students, and it’s great that they are making opportunities for

Photo: Adrian Wyld, Canadian Press

us to get jobs and co-op experience,” says Laura, a Liberal voter and second year business student. “I get the deficit is a little scary, because we are already in a deficit, but it’s like he is thinking about it in the long run.”

However, the Liberal platform has its critics among students. Second year human kinetics student TJ Buckley explaines, “When the Liberals say that you don’t have to begin paying back student loans until you make at least $25,000 a year, it’s very misleading. If you do the math, and break that sum down into hourly earnings, it only amounts to a wage of $13.02 per hour; a wage many student make more than at their summer jobs. The Liberal propositions also call for billions of dollars worth of spending, with no definite way to pay for it. Trudeau has said himself that the tax increases for those who make the most in Canada only offset tax cuts elsewhere.”

The incoming Liberal government will form in the near future, with a promise to Canadians for “Real Change”.

Students have been both optimistic and critical about Justin’s plans. Only time will tell whether this change will truly be what Canada needs.

opinions

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

Sexualized violence at StFX The conversation we shouldn’t need to be having

EMILY KEENAN Opinions Editor I find it appalling that we are still having this conversation. The fact that it’s necessary for the topic even to be broached is an insult to the humanity and the intelligence of each one of us on this campus and on all campuses. But I write this nonetheless, since no matter how many times it’s been said, the popular discourse about sexualized violence and slut shaming remains blatantly discriminatory against women.

I don’t want to tell you that consent is like asking someone if they would like a cup of tea. I really do not need to tell you that if someone is drunk, they cannot give consent.

It baffles me that I feel the need to Photo: amazon.com

say that sexualized violence is a horrendous and violating experience. It makes me want to rip my hair out and go live in a forest that people don’t seem to understand that cyber bullying, especially about such affairs, is unacceptable.

Feel insulted reading that? I certainly feel like I’m insulting you in saying so, but if you’ve been on Yik Yak lately, it’s clear that some people still aren’t getting the message.

While it almost pains me to spell out these painstakingly obvious truths, time and time again it has been proved that they have not yet been absorbed into our cultural consciousness here at StFX, despite the efforts on behalf of the university to “create a culture free of sexualized violence”. Our administration has proudly advertised the many initiatives they have implemented to help educate and prevent sexual assault. An email distributed to students and faculty on Oct 21 outlines these programs and identifies them as being “tremendously successful in helping the community identify and address the issue, as well as creating supportive conditions in which survivors feel not only comfortable, but also encouraged to report any instance of sexualized violence.”

While I cannot speak to the effectiveness of these endeavors, what is clear to me is that we still have a lot of ground to cover in eradicating the misogyny that surrounds sexual as-

sault. It is also interesting to note the university decided to implement these programs not long after the CBC released a report in February exposing how StFX had underreported our rate of sexual assault between 2009-2013 by 80%. StFX initially reported four cases of sexual assault, and it wasn’t until CBC News filed a request under the Right to Information or Freedom of Information law that the school divulged twenty-one reports throughout that time period. And here we are, a mere nine months later with a shiny new set of initiatives to share with a new CBC report.

Let’s not forget that the majority of sexual assaults go unreported, or that university administrations are prone to discouraging students from following up with reports of sexual assault so as to manipulate their statistics (although apparently StFX has taken to that task themselves). Not to mention last year’s RA/Shannon Travers debacle.

We clearly have a long way to go.

This past week, the Xaverian Weekly interviewed Ryanne Chisholm about her work in the Bauer on SLUT: The Play and the issue of sexualized violence as a whole. She made many enlightening comments about the epidemic of sexualized violence on campuses across the continent and discusses how the play grapples with the issue in

an up-close-and-personal manner.

Check out our next issue for our full coverage on SLUT and her interview.

SLUT emphasizes the lasting influence sexual assault has on not only the victim but also the community at large. In particular, SLUT brings to life the bystander effect, a phenomenon we’re likely all familiar with from PSYC 100 that has all-

Experiencing sexual assault is a horrific experience; what’s even worse is to then reintegrate into a culture that will ridicule you and hold you accountable for being brutally violated. It is essential that we condemn these attitudes of scorn and vilification and instead show empathy and compassion to the 20% of university students who will experience a sexual assault.

Let’s not forget that the majority of sexual assaults go unreported, or that university administrations are prone to discouraging students from following up with reports of sexual assault so as to manipulate their statistics Emily Keenan | Opinions Editor too-powerful ramifications in regard to sexualized violence. While the popular discourse is still undergoing the switch from “Don’t Get Raped” to “Don’t Rape”, the discussion of sexualized violence does not end with the act itself.

SLUT is unique in that it exhibits an entire community’s reaction to a single incident of sexual assault. A chorus of slut shaming and victim blaming rings throughout the entire play and is nearly identical to the one that exists here on campus.

Let me remind you that I should not have to tell you “experiencing sexual assault is a horrific experience.”

It’s time we remember and start to respect the dignity that belongs to each human individual, including the girl at the Pub who’s had three too many drinks.

Stop perpetuating sexism. Stop slut shaming. Stop using “rape” as a casual term. Stop cyber bullying.

I really should not have to tell you this.

The Antigonish movement Moses Coady’s lasting influence LINDSAY JOHNSTONE Columnist StFX is world-renowned for the Antigonish Movement and the Coady International Institute, yet many students are unaware of this fact. An unfortunately wide gap exists between the Coady International Institute and StFX Students. Here are a few things you need to know to better understand the Coady Institute and its historical importance.

Beginning in the 1920s, an economic crisis struck rural Nova Scotia, particularly in the northern parts of the province. There was no money left in communities. For example, people would work in the fisheries and make their money, but have to give their profits to the owners of the business who did not live within these local communities. Many young people were forced to move away and work elsewhere and send money home to their families who were living in rural Nova Scotia.

Do the names Moses Coady or

Jimmy Tompkins ring a bell? Coady and Tompkins were priests who taught at StFX in the early 1920s. They were considered quite radical for their day. Both individuals saw that there was a need for change in rural Nova Scotia, so they took action.

Coady and Tompkins began bringing education to the local people in rural places such as Canso. Education sessions taught by these priests would be held in local churches and community halls. Thus, instead of the locals having to struggle economically in their communities, Coady and Tompkins educated the people so in turn they could empower themselves. This led to the beginnings of the StFX Extension Department.

The Extension Department at StFX was revolutionary. It gave people the understanding of the local economy that allowed them the opportunity to take control for themselves. Local people formed Credit Unions so that they could take control of banking decisions

for the community and cooperatives were formed in local industries, allowing people could take control of their own work.

Cooperatives allowed community members to ensure that local profits were not shipped elsewhere. Credit Unions, cooperative housing, coop grocery stores, and many fishery-related industries began the shift from the owners having total control and making all profits to a system where everyone in the community who was a member of the coop or credit union actually owned the store or the “bank”. This was all part of the Antigonish Movement.

Providing education to people who would not normally be able to get it was an enormous achievement. As a result of the Antigonish Movement, the world became familiar especially with Moses Coady. Many institutions arose out of the Antigonish Movement. One such institution that we are familiar with is the Coady International Institute, named after the leader of the Antigonish Movement himself.

The Coady International Institute is a place where local people and others from all over the world take the opportunity to learn about the possibilities of empowerment from educated and experienced people. The Coady empowers their students so that they in turn can take that education and give back to their own communities. The Coady International Institute educates people as Moses Coady did: by empowering their students. The courses are designed so that participants and facilitators learn from one another; there is no real hierarchy. It is a supportive learning environment.

The students who attend the Coady International Institute are often from other parts of the world and the students might be a little older than the typical undergraduate. However, the students who are at the Coady are people who are community leaders back in their own countries. They are well aware of the social issues that surround their home communities and have come to the Coady

International Institute wishing to learn some of the ways that they can be empowered so that they can in turn help and change their communities back home. It’s astonishing that Antigonish has such a rich and diverse social history.

The Coady International Institute is an amazing place if you are interested in community development and want to help others.

Don’t be afraid to say hello to some Coady students; chances are they have an interesting story to tell and you will learn something from them. Find out how they heard about the Coady International Institute and what they will do with the knowledge they have gained from their classes and experience at the Coady. The Coady draws students from all over the world, but the Coady is not solely for people from other countries. You can be a part of it too! You should check if any of the courses the Coady offers spark your interest, because who knows where they could take you.

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thursday november fifth, 2015

Tradition aside?

Potential repercussions of frosh-centric MACs MARIE HORGAN Contributor “I just don’t get why BurMac is such a big deal;” “What’s the point of TriMac haircuts?” “Remind me again the significance of the whalebone?”

These are not frequently asked questions at the moment. Current frosh in MacIsaac, MacNeil, and MacPherson (MacDonald being the exception as it is already froshonly) have by now been well indoctrinated into the traditions of their respective houses. By whom?

Second years, relating their highs and lows of first year and preparing the frosh for events unique to their residence to come. In time, and especially by their own sophomore year, frosh come to appreciate being a part of a residence culture so deeply rooted in custom.

This article aims to explore the implications of taking those second years out of the picture.

First off, I will identify how I fit into this debate. I am in my third year, having spent my first two years in MacIsaac Hall. In other words, half of my time at StFX will have been encompassed by a red and blue frenzy. Therefore, my opinions to follow will largely come from a MacIsaac perspective. However, this also speaks to the three factions that constitute the TriMac grouping: MacDonald, MacPherson, and MacNeil.

Now, in the wake of this seemingly strategic move on the part of the university, I ask whether the consequences will outweigh any benefits that result. First-off, if this becomes protocol, what does that do to tradition? I have yet to hear of another university campus that rivals StFX’s fierce residence pride.

Indeed, it is largely what drew me here in the first place.

What I want to emphasize

about how this tradition is executed is that, upon entering my frosh year in September 2013, I found it overwhelming. Not negatively per se, but that I was not expecting it to be as strong as I had heard it said.

I assumed it was an exaggeration as part of recruitment attempt. I was wrong.

It didn’t take me long to be swept up in the vigor that was MacIsaac pride, and certainly by BurMac I was fully convicted that I had chosen a truly fantastic building to live in. Around me and across campus, I saw that same excitement perpetuate in other residences; be it Bishops, Lane, Cameron, MacKinnon, what have you. As a frosh class, we were cementing our foundations, which for the majority came from the traditional residence environment.

Will tradition thrive in the same way it has been privileged to without a second year presence? I find that difficult to envision. Frosh week will still be exciting, no doubt. Perhaps even, frosh will be just fine, as they have never known living in a residence with second years. But in a desperate attempt to keep custom alive, the respective house councils of MacIsaac, MacNeil, MacPherson, and MacDonald will be forced to bear that responsibility. Three people (possibly only two) cannot be expected to uphold that and translate it effectively. The second year body of a residence as a whole makes that happen.

This all changes, of course, if the goal of this maneuver is to try to alter these traditions altogether.

To that, I ask, why would we threaten a key recruitment asset?

It goes beyond changing the customs of individual buildings. The reputation of StFX University is necessarily inclusive of what these buildings have to offer incoming

frosh eager to make connections.

Without the extensive history of residence identities, where will our uniqueness be found among other small-town university campuses? It will be a slow process for sure, with the years dwindling down the tradition aspect. But throughout that process, valuable recruitment tactics will cease to be available, as they will be nowhere near as effective.

In case you think my claims are lofty up until this point, let’s turn to practical matters. So practical, in fact, we’re getting economical. Because StFX is known for having students stay on campus in their second year as opposed to dispersing into houses – like many other universities – where now will second years have the option to go? The choices will likely be O’Regan, Riley, Governors, or Apartment Style. I did not include Bishops or Lane immediately because I guarantee that by and large, frosh in one traditional residence are not eager to move to another traditional residence with different house spirit; loyalty to your frosh house is very prevalent here.

Additionally, staying on campus is indeed somewhat of a security blanket. Many frosh, including myself at that time, are unwilling to commit to moving off campus in their second year. It implies signing a lease with people you barely know after only a month of so of school, given how early leases are signed. Many frosh, also, choose to spend their first year in MacIsaac, Cameron, or MacKinnon Hall on purely economical grounds. They are cheaper than other options due to the double rooms. O’Regan, Riley, Governors, and Apartment Style are not so economical. They demand a much larger financial commitment that I’m sure stretch-

es the budget for many. This will potentially force students to unwantedly pay for a more expensive residence option, when staying on campus was their only viable choice for second year.

I will now turn to what I assume the university is hoping to solve by enacting this policy. I see this decision as an attempt to suppress the rowdy culture that generally characterizes all Mac houses. In my two years in MacIsaac, I can attest to having to pay for many a hole in the wall, a broken chair, etc., as per someone else’s drunken antics. While I respect that this is a problem that needs to be addressed, I genuinely don’t see that this is a clear solution. Unless there are statistics that validate second years as being more inclined to wreak physical havoc upon their residence buildings, frosh are equally as guilty of this.

One’s individual drunken tendency to punch walls and jump on furniture comes out of what kind of person they are, not what year of university they are in.

I would even argue that from my own observances, frosh are decidedly more hyped than second years in many cases. This is

understandable. It’s their first year away from home; excitement is to be expected. What I’m getting at here is that frosh will be rowdy and reckless regardless; second years do not necessarily perpetuate that. This is particularly the case for frosh that opt to spend their first year in traditional residence. There is a pre-conceived notion across the board – not just at StFX – that your first year building will be party central. Considering StFX as a whole upholds that party school reputation, it is unrealistic to expect frosh to alter their expectations coming in, be there second years or not.

Effectively, I see this “frosh-only” decision engendering more harm than good. I would not have the convictions about MacIsaac that I do if it had been this way in my frosh year. Likewise, I would not have had the privilege in my second year of introducing first years to MacIsaac’s vibrant traditions and the sense of community that results. StFX, you are putting a lot at stake here, and I ask you to consider whether it is worth the risk of changing the face of the residence culture we are so lucky to share.

when we pay the amount of money we do to attend this institution.

That being said, I also understand that we do not pay for parking and that it is considered a privilege.

We are one of a few universities in the country that have free parking. But maybe that’s just the problem.

I feel that implementing a set fee for parking on campus would alleviate the current problem.

This would help in two ways. First off, many students would opt not to pay and therefore reduce the traffic on campus. Secondly, if students pay to park, this means the university guarantees that there will be a spot for them. The school could put this parking revenue towards looking into and possibly creating more parking spots as required.

Ideally, I feel that the best system would mimic something found at the University of Toronto and other schools in Canada. Students would pay for parking at a specific parking lot. There would only be so many spots and so many passes available per parking lot. If you were to purchase a pass at the SUB parking lot, you can sleep well knowing the next morning there is a spot in that lot with your name on it. Problem solved. No more walking in obnoxiously late to class and worrying about having to fork out another 20 bones for yet another ticket.

Obviously, this is all easier said than done. But I do think it’s something for the school to look into.

Especially considering the cold white stuff is just around the corner.

Parking on campus The rant we’ve all been waiting for ZACHARY LONDON Contributor Parking on campus. The two words ‘parking’ and ‘campus’ in the same sentence make me cringe. I feel it’s a widely shared opinion that parking on campus is not quite up to par, and I myself have fallen victim to the campus parking woes countless times this school year.

When I drive to campus in the morning, I end up checking 3-4 parking lots before I find a spot, at which point I am already late for class. Since I did not find a spot in the lot of my choice, I proceed to walk all the way across campus, making for an awkwardly late entrance to class.

Given the restrictions on parking in certain areas and the volume

of cars on campus looking for somewhere to park (legally), sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and park under that no parking sign. For the rest of the day, in the back of your head you do nothing but worry about getting a ticket. Sure enough, after a hard day’s work, you come out to your car, looking forward to getting home and there it is. A little pink slip under your wiper blade.

Then comes the hissy fit. “Well, where the hell on earth was I supposed to park? I was just trying to get to class on time! I can’t afford another ticket!!” I have gone through this unfortunate cycle many times. Realistically $20 isn’t a massive amount of money, but it just doesn’t feel right getting ticketed when you honestly couldn’t find a better spot given the cir-

cumstance.

To make matters worse, the school periodically hosts cross country meets and other events at the fields by the New Res buildings. This brings in countless vehicles and makes finding somewhere to park nearly impossible.

If the school is going to plan these events, they should ensure there is enough parking to accommodate both students and visitors to campus facilities. Or perhaps they could at least let us know about large events so that students can plan accordingly. Many students, including myself, have been forced to park outside the painted lines on such occasions, which also happen to be days that the by-law officers were out in full force.

I find it a bit ridiculous that students can’t find places to park

7

Cam Hall qualms Frosh restrictions won’t change rivalry proximity SEBASTIAN JURGA Staff Writer Recently, there has been a lot of fear for the future of single gender housing at StFX. While it has been a concern for a while, this year it seemed especially likely that TNT, Chillis, and the Trimacs would not be a thing for the 2016/2017 academic year. Luckily, it’s starting to look like this won’t come to pass, as the university recently announced that it is more likely that the male single gender residences, as well as MacIsaac, will instead be only allowing first year students to live in the buildings. TNT and Chillis seem to have emerged unscathed, but I guess they aren’t really part of the problem, at least not in the university’s eyes.

Now personally, I think this solution is favorable to the earlier notion of entirely disbanding the single gender residences. However, I am slightly surprised that MacIsaac Hall has been dragged into the spotlight as well. I mean, obviously its track record isn’t spotless, but I’m not sure too much has changed in that residence in comparison to previous years, so I fail to see why it is suddenly an issue. Given that the residence is filled with mostly first year students this year, maybe it won’t change too much. This plan will create a large number of displaced second years in 2016/2017. So for this reason, in addition to the fact that it most likely won’t change too much about the atmosphere of the building, I’m not sure preventing second years from living in MacIsaac is a great solution.

All I can do now is try to lend my expertise as a former MacPherson Mustang to the situation regarding the Trimacs. It seems they liked what was happening with the new MacDonald.

As of right now, I feel like I should have seen this coming, but I digress. I feel like this is a temporary solution at best, as I have strong feeling that it’s the atmosphere of the living conditions in

the Trimacs that has more to do with the behavioural issues. So while getting rid of the second years may seem like a clear cut solution to the issues with the residences, I feel strongly that it will have negative effects as well.

The truth is that any one of the thirty guys in those dorms have each other’s backs, always, no matter the situation. The second years are especially important in this regard, and this goes for all residences, not just the Trimacs.

They serve as guides and role models for the confused froshlings (I know I certainly had a tough time figuring out what was what first year). I also know there have been times when having some second years around that understood residence culture literally saved the skin on my neck.

This realization came to me in one of my first few weeks of living there, when I was coming back from a late night and was accosted by three individuals from my rival residence. They started getting aggressive. All were quite intoxicated and the term “bashing skulls” got thrown around a lot.

Luckily, three second-year students from my residence heard this commotion and came sprinting out to my aid. Despite what you may think, a brawl did not in fact break out. The upper years had my back, and instead of throwing punches, they convinced the angry trio to go on their way.

I had been surprised by the incident. Not because I had avoided getting the shit kicked out of me, but because three guys I barely knew at the time stuck their necks way far out and probably made some enemies doing so just to help out some kid they had only just met. This camaraderie is something you don’t see in other residences at StFX, yet it is common to all three of the Trimacs.

Now I understand we aren’t perfect, and I’m not going to lie and say the damages in the Trimacs aren’t a few multiples larger

than those of the more posh residences like Bishop’s. We had to pay for those out of our pocket, and when I realized at the end of the year that I paid three to four times more than my friends in the nicer residences, I began to wonder why. Why did the boys like to smash shit? You go to MacIsaac, where people are much more messed up than we used to get, and while there are damages, you don’t see them paying nearly as much or having it happen nearly as often.

So I started to think, and I came to the conclusion that it isn’t the people; it is the atmosphere.

The building is terrible, so people treat it terribly. A broken ceiling tile here and there isn’t a big deal when the rivals down the hall are likely to sneak into your bathroom at night and rip a tap off a sink, just because they can.

So my solution? I believe that if the university renovates the buildings and makes them look more like a twenty-first century residence and less like an old office building, then maybe people would take more pride in their living accommodation and there would be fewer damages. I really feel that if the university renovates the place properly this summer, 50% of the issues with the residence would be solved.

In order for these renovations to be successful, they must absolutely address the central issue of the ‘hobbit door’ in Cameron Hall. The hobbit door is an unregulated passageway connecting both sides of TNT, and therefore Macdonald and MacPherson.

Having a door that connects two rival houses living one hundred feet down the hall from each other causes 95% of rivalry-related damages and issues. Hell, simply putting CCTV in from of the door would make a world of difference. TNT wouldn’t suffer from it, and it would stop the late night raids that cost the students that live in the building a lot of trouble and dollars. The likelihood of this happening is anyone’s guess. We pushed hard for this change while I was living there, but it never came to fruition.

Other than damages, the rivalry isn’t too different from any other one on campus. It’s not like Burke hats never go missing around Burmac. As long as separate buildings exist, there will be tension among the inhabitants.

However, this tension has the potential to be mediated more effectively than in the current situation, and the solution the university has proposed won’t change the fact MacPherson and MacDonald are rivals with direct

unregulated access to each other’s building.

In regard to the other side of the street, I’m not really all too sure why they want to attack MacNeil’s culture, as they have a reputation of keeping mainly to themselves. The fact that they are also planning to make them frosh-only leads me to speculate that this could be in preparation for making both Cameron and MacKinnon Halls single gender in the near future, though perhaps not next year. The lack of tradition necessarily created by having first year only residences would make the residence easier to dissolve into co-ed in the future.

All we can do is hope they rethink the idea, because it’s going to cause a ruckus if they don’t.

Personally, I think student life is more concerned about the “what if?” involved with keeping volatile male housing. I don’t live on campus anymore, but I still would be quite upset to see these houses and their traditions die. I’m sure this sentiment is shared by all those who have spent time in those living accommodations, because while the building itself was forgettable, the people and what went on inside them will definitely stick in my mind for the rest of my life.

Photo: stfx.ca

Food for thought ON LITTERING Please pick up your garbage, friends of Antigonish. My dog has pooped out two bottle labels in the past week.

ON THE XAVERIAN The boys like pictures. The boys need pictures. At least two per page. Maybe even some colouring. A maze or two, a Sudoku. Call it “The Stoner Spot” and colour the cheeseburger. Too many words, more pictures.

ON THE POPULAR DISCOURSE StFX students shouldn’t feel as though they can’t criticize the school as an institution. Often remarks on how the school falls short are dismissed because “my great-great-grandfather went here” or “I bleed blue and white” or “this is the best school.”

I will support anyone who freely says that StFX is a great school because there is so much evidence in support of that notion.

But when we don’t allow space in our public dialogue for criticism,

we eliminate the option for betterment.

We should be able to comment on issues to our friends without the robotic defenses of why X is the best. We know it’s great, but we also each have an individual opinion on what makes StFX not so great sometimes. Let’s not shy away from these public conversations. Ultimately, instead of reciting why StFX is the best, recite how each of us can strive to make it better. After all, there is always room for improvement.

ON RESIDENCE SELECTION Emails have just gone out asking students to choose their living arrangements on residence for next year, and the decisions are tougher than ever. Now that many residences have become frosh only, students are under more pressure than ever to not only get into the res they want, but with people they’ll get along with come next April. After only two months on campus, can anyone really say they know their friends enough to sign on for eight months of living in incredibly close quarters?

THINGS TO DO Call your mom. Get checked for STIs.

Want to share your thoughts with the student body but don’t have time to write an entire article?

Email xw.opinions@stfx.ca with your enraged rants, idealistic daydreams, and cynical observations.

8

thursday november fifth, 2015

9

we’ve been here before an opinion DARCY MACISAAC Contributor

The QuadMac: MacIsaac, MacPherson, MacNeil and MacDonald. Campus’ latest family, cult and bandwagon in one. In light of the university’s latest decision to turn all four residences frosh only, what is most apparent to me about the decision is the blatant disregard for how much stress this will put on students that live in and run these houses. In deciding to announce the ‘non-punitive’ punitive full residence sweep of all four residences the day before residence registration, the university has blindsided frosh, second years, Res Life staff and house presidents alike. Monday night’s decision ignores many positive changes and efforts among TriMac houses as well as any attempt to help resolve MacIsaac’s issues through sanctions and other measures. However, here at StFX we like to hope for the best.

As the Vice-President of MacDonald this year, I have served as one of only two returning students tasked with running an all frosh house, a house that will return once again as an all frosh house in 2016-17. The university puts so much pressure on residence house presidents to fix each and every problem within the building and reshape the ‘negative’ culture that resides within, yet there is little to no appreciation for the work we actually do. In the lead up and all throughout frosh week, many officials approached me and told me they really wanted to see, and thus recognize positive changes if they saw them happening in MacDonald.

In September, I made the quick transition from being a frosh to playing Dad to thirtyodd frosh. After nearly being fired by Residence Life (over a misunderstanding that could have been resolved by asking and not telling), putting in hours that are well over my pay

scale for the entire year, consuming ten packs of Halls, and dealing with problems from lost meal hall swipes to losses of confidence, MacDonald won frosh week.

find over $2.7K, a group of roommates for apartment style, or even sign a lease off campus right?! Probably not, but to the theme of the decision, we like to hope for the best at StFX.

The win was one of the proudest comeback wins in my life (not counting my Grade 8 provincial badminton mixed doubles semifinal run), and all of a sudden the four hours of sleep I got each night that week, the sprinting keys back to drunk frosh across town, the constant worrying if the job I was doing was good enough dissolved and I couldn’t wait for the upcoming year. Everyone from best friends, old friends, people I knew in passing, and people I’ve known since kindergarten were saying congrats and how cool it was that MacDonald won. One member of Residence Life told me “good job.” Many suddenly went from constantly checking in on problems MacDonald could be causing to seemingly forgetting my face. I wasn’t surprised; I just hoped for the best.

What I want students to remember is: this is not the end of the world. This has happened before and StFX has survived.

Your residences will stay pretty similar: MacIsaac will not suddenly have Saturday night study hall; MacNeil will not disband the brotherhood; the national sport of TriMac will not become ringette. Your lives will stay pretty similar. You won’t end up watching the same episode of Suits four times on a Friday night, you will still be able to find people to order athlete’s specials with on a Tuesday night (losing this would be my biggest fear), and more importantly, your friends aren’t going anywhere – and hopefully neither are you.

As someone who experienced this same decision while a frosh in MacDonald, I know the stress and pressure it puts on a group of students who lose the place they live and are suddenly forced to think about relocating on a campus with limited space and even more limited affordable options.

These four residences are four of the five cheapest options on campus, and with Residence Life’s recommendation that Riley and O’Regan would become a second year option for these students, that would mean they pay an extra $2750 over the course of the year - an expense many students cannot afford.

However the university chose to give students plenty of time to think over the decision.

As a residence life admin pointed out, residence applications opened midnight the night of the announcement and don’t close for two whole weeks!

Two weeks is plenty of time to

What I want residence life to remember is: this is not going to change anything you want to change. By creating four allfrosh houses, you are not changing house reputation.

You are not changing house culture. You are not eliminating damages. But you are eliminating guidance. You are creating a building where a small group of students has to run a large group of often reckless, confused, inexperienced students who have countless questions with limited patience for answers. You are eliminating the opportunity for frosh to make lasting relationships with students who know what they are going through. You are eliminating a confidante for a frosh who doesn’t feel comfortable talking to an RA. Whether you like it or not and whether you believe that’s how it should be, many frosh do feel that way and their opinion and feelings are just as valid as those who say they are not comfortable talking to a second year.

desire to expand the university over the wants, needs and happiness of the students already at the university. I urge them to remember that making the university attractive and welcoming for every frosh is not as important as giving the people who are already here something they deserve; what they’ve paid for. They don’t just pay for an education, a place to live and eat. They pay for a voice, they pay for the “StFX Student Experience.” Listen to them, and listen to them all. I would love to see StFX’s student population reach 5000, but not at the cost of the student experience that I came here for.

After living in the Antigonish area for eighteen years, I was ready to go as far away as I could get, but I loved and would not settle for anything less than a university with the traditions, culture and atmosphere that StFX has to offer. I spent night after night on YouTube, Google and other online forums looking for a university like StFX. From coast to coast, I could not find a student experience that had the academic and social combination StFX offers. What was once the hardest decision of my life became the best decision of my life in choosing to study at StFX.

At StFX, I went out on a limb and chose to live in a residence that I had never heard of and met my best friends. At StFX, I entered an alumni network that I know I could go to for anything. At StFX, I created memories I will be happy to tell my children about. Changing StFX incrementally year after year to make it more and more like every other cut and dry university in the country will change the opinion of myself and many others that know going to StFX offers you something different, something you can use past your 9-5. Please, do not make this a place where we go only for an education, What I want the university leaving us as former Xaverians, to remember is: do not put the not as forever Xaverians.

10

thursday november fifth, 2015

culture

EDITOR: RACHEL REVOY xw.culture@stfx.ca

Wear You Label fashion show success

Wear Your Label and Jack.org at StFX team up to showcase how label’s affect mental health RACHEL LEBLANC Senior Reporter On October 28th, the Jack. org society and Wear Your Label collaborated to put together a fashion show in the McKay room.

Here, they showcased Wear Your Label’s fall and spring collection with a keynote presentation by the founding members, Kyle and Kaylee. The entire night was aimed to raise mental health awareness, bringing together two organizations to put on Wear Your Label’s first University fashion show. The fashion show was accompanied with a keynote presentation that encapsulated the vision of both parties.

Lights dimmed around 6:40 pm, with nearly all the seats filled. One by one, the chosen role models walked towards the stage, sporting the new collection and their beaming smiles. Tee shirts that adorned the caption such as “sad but rad”, or “its okay to not be okay” boasted creativity in fashion alongside a voice for mental health awareness.

Both Kaylee and Kyle took the stage for a keynote presentation on Wear Your Label’s foundations, achievements and ambitions for the years ahead. Kyle and Kaylee met in an internship with an organization based in Montreal, where Kayley was battling an eating disorder, and Kyle was living with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and ADHD. Together, they shared stories and felt validated that they were more than those labels.

“From that first conversation, and after coming up with

the idea and building the brand, we were still battling personal struggles,” Kyle says to the audience. The team went on to create a unique social enterprise that donates 10% of its profit to mental health organizations all over the world. So far, they have conquered Atlantic and New York Fashion Week, and they have been recognized by Buzzfeed. Further, they have been recognized by The Today Show, MTV, and Wear Your Label has been in continuous conversation with customers who have confided in the company.

Mental illness differs from any physical illness. For example, a cast physically symbolizes that you are hurt but are healing. Wear Your label saw that, for mental illness, there was no cast to symbolize the healing process. Wear Your Label tries to emulate this with clothing, by using clothing to acknowledge that you have a vulnerability, but you are healing. Wear Your Label’s success is the result of a strong aim and a passion for change. Clothing can encourage individuals to take ownership over their mental health without the fear that the label will define them. The company showcases their collections on chosen role models who have a story of their own.

These models wear slogans to continue the ongoing conversation around mental health’s stigma.

The Jack.Org Society at StFX reaches the same audience to break the silence. We spoke with Julissa Stewart, one of the co chairs of Jack.

Org society and a “Communi-

ty Champ” for Wear Your Label. “This is an organization based in Toronto, so the society [here] is just a chapter program - an initiative based outside of their program. It started five years ago with a young man named Jack. He was a student at Queens university in his first year, and unexpectedly died by suicide in his second semester. Nobody knew he was struggling, he was silently suffering from depression. His family got together and made a little small group in support of mental health advocacy, and five years later it is a national network of young leader across Canada. “The Society’s co chairs Julissa Stewart and Sarah Nartiss met with Wear Your Label founders at the Jack.Org Summit in 2013, when Kyle and Kaylee were pitching the company idea.

“Wear your label has community champs and role models on their website,” Julissa tells us, “I’m one of the community champs for Wear Your Label, so I shared my story on their website and we kept in contact since the Summit. When they got accepted for New York Fashion Week and did their spring fashion line, we thought it would be cool to bring them here and do a little something. They were pretty excited about it!”

The company takes pride in offering clothing that is created, designed and produced by people who know what battles individuals suffer through. One in four youth feel alone, and the stigma is one reason we feel like we are the only ones in the world who are dealing with a mental

Photo: wearyourlabel.com illness.

“I want my grand kids to be baffled by the fact that I had to start a clothing line to raise awareness,” Kyle laughs in his presentation.

The event’s success was overwhelming. It inspired a roomful of engaged students.

But now, it’s a matter of getting youth to take action.

“Jack.org’s message is that 1 in 5 Canadians will suffer from mental illness at some point in their life, but 5 in 5 Canadians have mental health. This is why we are

trying to engage the 5 in 5 rather than the 1,” Julissa says. I am always comforted when I see young people taking this kind of initiative through the means of enterprise and organizations. Mobilizing the conversation is the first step. The potential that lies in the future depends on the nurture it gets now. A big thanks to Wear Your Label, Jack.Org society and all of the beautiful role models who walked the staged - it is people like you who are leading the conversation.

A letter to the most beautiful person I know What it’s like to love a person who doesn’t realize you could be interested in them ANONYMOUS Contributor My hands go from mildly clammy to a sloppy mess, as if a slug just casually crawled across my palms the second she walks in.

She grins, says hi and I barely form a response both choking and spewing grammatical garbage in one breath. The sexuality that I have convinced myself that is not who I am dissolves into her every movement and my heart flails sporadically down a line- inches

away from a stick of dynamite. My heart wants to combust and scream that I marvel at her confidence and crave her kindness and know that she is the loveliest thing on earth, but the emotional bomb is quickly dismantled by reality.

I’m comforted knowing she can never break my heart, but than again I wouldn’t mind if she was the one to break my heart. Permanently friend zoned, I am calmed knowing my costume of blonde curls and maroon lip gloss deters any-

She laughs unforgivingly, and speaks eloquently.

My heart is infinitely full.

one’s thoughts that I could love a girl. I conclude that every compliment she gives is flirting because I desperately yearn for her romantic validation. I teeter on the two legs of a plastic elementary school chair, forward closer to her beautiful skin ready to pronounce my unwavering adoration for her and back withholding all feelings…risking bitter pain as I wobble in either direction.

She laughs unforgivingly and speaks eloquently, my heart is infinitely full. I pon-

der for a second on why this love has chosen me and my heart hurts. In my mind we will remain free of jaded opinions, ignorant statements and evolve into a couple rivalling that of Portia and Ellen.

I dissolved into something complete and great, yet why have I been left with impossibility and nothingness? Our conversation sharply ends, she leaves and I remind myself I can’t be in love but wait there wishing she could stay a little longer.

11

Paranormal investigation at the Bauer theatre The Xaverian and Paranormal Investigations Nova Scotia team up to uncover the truth of the Bauer’s phantom RACHEL REVOY Arts & Culture Editor “Who do you want to leave?” we asked in the dark basement of the Bauer theatre on a cold October night. A muffled reply broke through the static. Clear as day, in a the voice of a young man rang the tragic word: “Me.” We broke and looked at one another- this trapped spirit wants to leave. *** October 20th, 2015. I sat down in a quiet, secluded area with two individuals: the head of Paranormal Investigations Nova Scotia (PINS), Earle Lattie, and one of the group members Melissa O’Leary. Here, we began to discuss the possibility of exploring

On the tour we all had the same eerie feelingthe change room and the bathroom held more than just darkness

on campus hauntings. The conversation started on terms of general inquiries on what the group was looking for versus what I, as representative of the Xaverian, was looking for. We left with an idea of the appropriate location to begin investigating the ghosts on StFX’s campus: the historic Bauer Theatre. After being in contact with Ed Thomason, the Artistic Director of the Bauer, we began organizing our search for the alleged spirit who may reside there.

October 28th, 2015. We reached the night of the investigation. Outside the Bauer, myself alongside Columnist Caitlin Vance and Distractions Editor Tyler Kingston met with Melissa and Earle from PINS. We unloaded the equipment and ran through the devices and their functions. Before we took a quick tour of the building, I began providing the information that I had collected that afternoon in the library’s archives (with the help of the staff archivist Kathy Mackenzie and archivist assistant Jennifer Clifton). I was excited, and freaked out, that I had three names that I was going to

try and label the Bauer’s spirit as: either Jacque, Alex, or the infamous Hector.

“I’ve always been a skeptic when it comes to ghosts and hauntings. I’ve never seen or heard anything from the ‘other realm,’ so surely I’ve had no reason to believe in such things,” said Caitlin about her beliefs.

Those who frequent the theatre are aware of Hector’s legend.

The story goes a student named Hector was running around the suspended track (now the catwalk) when the Bauer existed as the school gym. In an attempt to kill himself, Hector flung himself from the height. Now, weather Hector was the actual name of a student who committed suicide in the theatre or if that was the nickname that emerged over the years is debated.

To begin, we received a brief tour of the Bauer from a staff member. After getting a general sense of how we were going to maneuver around the theatre, Earle, Melissa, and Ty went to set up the cameras in the basement.

On the tour we all had the same eerie feeling- the change room and the bathroom held more than just darkness; they ignited a creepy aura that left us looking down their depths with fear and intrigue. So, those were the ideal locations to leave cameras running throughout the investigation.

Next, we began the tour with the equipment. “First, a crash course in Ghost tracking technology was given. In the first search, devices were used that would ‘detect’ the electromagnetic energy that a spirit has. The theory being that the phantom would have detectable action potentials as it moved. It is detectable because the phantom no longer has a net neutral body to conceal its electrochemical impulses (which powers the nervous system in living animals) according to PINS. It didn’t take long for the devices to fire incessantly,” Tyler describes.

The devices picked up subtle information, to which we usually debunked as being caused by the wiring. Once we reached the metal spiral staircase (that appears to be an authentic 1916 element of the building) all of our devices went on high. This was either because of the wiring that surrounded the stairs or the stairs had an energy attached to it.

“The equipment is built to pick up energy fields, which went off a few times but mainly due to faulty wires in the wall. Nothing happened, and so we moved on to EPV recording,” says Caitlin.

The five of us began using the ghost box in the auditorium- also known as ITC (instrumental trans communication). “We were using an SB7 and SB11 ghost box, which both scan through white noise and radio signals rapidly.

The theory is that spirits can use the white noise between the channels as well as the radio frequencies to communicate with investigators. The movie White Noise was also based on this theory, and it is a practice that has been around for decades,” said Earle about the device.

I began hearing a squeaking noise, to which I asked if anyone else heard that same noise. Caitlin agreed that she too could hear the repetitive sound. We tried to think of what the noise could have been, but then the recognition of the noise hit me- it was the sound of running shoes as people are playing basketball. This sound came in waves, and would leave for long periods of time. This could be a residual spirits playing basketball in the converted gymnasium. Or, this was the assumption based on a similar sound.

The first recording picked up a man’s voice: this voice would be the undertone we will hear through the ghost box throughout the rest of our investigation. A voice clearly stated “Get out of here.” Ghost box’s scan radio frequencies, but the scanning process is too fast to pick up entire phrases, creating this recording to be an interesting piece of evidence. Whoever resides in the Bauer was not fond of our presence. No one recognized the phrase while we were on stage, it was discovered after Earle went through the recordings. At the time, we moved locations after a few minutes of assumed silence.

We moved to a room backstage where Melissa felt uneasy. I felt a pressure in my head, and we all agreed that this room had a creepy vibe. Melissa stated that she felt something touching her arm. She admitted to feeling cold breezes surrounding her. With the MEL metre, which measure fluctuations in the electromagnetic fields in a room or building as well as temperature, I tested the area around her which consistently proved to be colder than the room’s base temperature.

We began using the EVP (digital recorder that records electronic voice phenomena) and the ghost box. To begin, we said hello.

After a few minutes of trying, a voice broke through- Hello? We all looked at each other in dismay.

Earle asked if the voice could respond with the name of someone in the room for validation. The voice responded: Melissa. We were in contact. The ghost box’s static was overbearing, and after

a few more questions we understood that it was time to move on onto our final destination: the basement.

The five of us sat amongst the costumes and props of the Bauer’s basement. We continued talking to the spirit through the ghost box. Melissa asked immediately once we sat down “If you are here with us can you make a noise?”

The toilet in the bathroom next to us FLUSHED. We all looked at one another in surprise and disbelief.

We continued after calmingour racing hearts. “What is your name?” After a few seconds, the same man’s voice returned. “Jacob.”

“Did you commit suicide?”

The answer was muffled, but it was affirmative. We speculate that the voice responded with “definitely.” Ty asked a question that made me feel dizzy. “Why did you commit suicide?” No response came through.

At the moment that was the most heartfelt for me, Melissa asked “Who do you want to leave?” The spirit’s response shattered through me. He responded with the simple syllable “me.” He himself wants to leave. Why would this spirit, named Jacob, be trapped in the Bauer?

After this dialogue the conversation took a turn. We heard many clear phrases such as “leave” and “go.” Earle wanted more affirmation of the spirit’s presence, so he moved into the bathroom. The spirit was residing in there, I believe, based purely on the feeling of the room. All the equipment went wild as we entered. Then through the ghost box we heard an exasperated “fuck off.”

We packed up, we left the Bauer Theatre that October night. “I doubt that a supernatural event happened on that night. However, that does not mean that there is not a ghost in the Bauer Theatre, or that ghosts cannot be. Regardless, it was a very fun evening full of spooks – I highly recommend

ghost hunting,” reflects Tyler on the investigation.

“Regardless of if there was in fact a ghost or not, or the equipment was faulty or biased, by the end of the night I’d had my share of spooks. I think the adrenaline and communal feelings of creeped-outness all of us were experiencing definitely influenced my judgment and encouraged me to draw conclusions. Based on my personal recollection of the night’s events, I think there is a chance that there was something there

“What is your name?” After a few seconds, the same man’s voice returned.

“Jacob.” talking to us. Which even sounds weird to me now admitting it. I definitely will continue to be skeptical, but the experience changed my views, if even in the slightest.

Who knows, there may be more behind the history of X and it’s ghosts,” says Caitlin Vance on her experience.

To the skeptics I present the ideas that old piping and wiring could surely explain some of the strange encounters. To the supernatural believers I present that perhaps some of the words we heard were produced by a flukethey could have picked up a radio signal for those moments. But, what cannot be disputed for me and the others who walked through the theatre on this night is the fact that the building is filled with a presence. A presence of an alleged trapped soul, communicating with exasperation, one who is jealous of the option that all of us who enter the Bauer have- jealous of our free will to come and go as we please.

12

thursday november fifth, 2015

THE PERSPECTIVES: THE BAUER’S HAUNTING CONTINUED CAITLIN VANCE Columnist Having known about the haunted stories from Saint FX in relation to the Mount long before I got here, I was intrigued to hear about another proposed spirit that may be haunting the campus. That spirit is said to reside in the 1916- built Bauer Theatre.

Known to many as Hector, said witnesses have either seen or heard this entity most commonly late at night at various locations within the building.

Of course when I heard of the opportunity to explore the site first hand with some ghost busters, I jumped right on it.

I’ve always been a skeptic when it comes to ghosts and hauntings. I’ve never seen or heard anything from the “other realm”, so surely I’ve had no reason to believe in such things. If anything I was more captivated by the idea of using all those highly advanced pieces of equipment. So with curiousness and excitement in mind, on the night of October 28th, 2015 I set off on an adventure more than worth my while.

When we first got to the theatre we were introduced to two experts from Paranormal Investigations Nova Scotia who would be accompanying us for the evening. The amount of equipment for such a small gathering was impressive, and I was already getting excited!

We started off by doing a building check by walking around the entire theatre with equipment. Along with Rachel and Ty, I got to use an electromagnetic field detector. This thing is built to pick up energy fields, which went off a few times but mainly due to faulty wires in the wall. Nothing happened, and so we moved on to EPV recording. This is an attempt to “talk” to the spirit using a recorder. Still nothing occurred, but I was enjoying myself regardless.

After using the EPV in one room and getting no response, the intrigue and interest in the building seemed to be fading for everyone. Until we did hear something. Having moved on to a narrow room in which Melissa, one of the guides, had felt her stomach in knots, we started to get unclear responses.

After most questions asked, sounds came through the radio, although I personally couldn’t distinguish any words being spoken from random sounds. It could have been the device just picking up radio signals, which was what I presumed.

Finally we moved on to the basement for our last EPV episode. At this point in the night I still wasn’t quite convinced, but I’ll be honest, what happened in that buildings basement freaked me out. We continued asking questions using the EPV, but this time we got clear

and direct responses. What got me personally was that this time I could distinguish words being spoken, which I couldn’t before. It was the same voice every time we did get a response, a deep male’s voice.

Sounds also accompanied our conversation. The toilet flushed on it’s own twice and the piping above us growled. Though of course the building is old and worn down so that could just be normal. Whatever the case, it was clear that if there was in fact a spirit present, it no longer wanted us there investigating. The responses heard while in the basement were uninviting and aggressive, and I can honestly say they scared me.

Regardless of If there was in fact a ghost or not, or the equipment was faulty or biased, by the end of the night I’d had my share of spooks. I think the adrenaline and communal feelings of creeped-outness all of us were experiencing definitely influenced my judgment and encouraged me to draw conclusions. Based on my personal recollection of the night’s events, I think there is a chance that there was something or other there talking to us. Which even sounds weird to me now admitting it in writing. I definitely will continue to be skeptical, but last nights experience changed my views, if even in the slightest. Who knows, there may be more behind the history of X and it’s ghosts!

TY KINGSTON Distractions Editor This past Wednesday, three St. FX students teamed up with Paranormal Nova Scotia to hunt the elusive ‘Hector’ of the Bauer Theatre.

First, a crash course in Ghost tracking technology was given. In the first search, devices were used that would ‘detect’ the electromagnetic energy that a spirit has. The theory being that the phantom would have detectable action potentials as it moved. It is detectable because the phantom no longer has a net neutral body to conceal its electrochemical impulses (which powers the nervous system in living animals) according to PINS (Paranormal Investigation Nova Scotia). It didn’t take long for the devices to fire incessantly.

Could it be Hector? Possibly, but it should be noted that the Bauer theatre was built in 1916 and last renovated in the early 1970’s. Could it not be faulty wiring?

Next, were voice recorders. The team sat on stage and repeatedly asked the phantom its name and why it was there. No reply. PINS explained that the phantoms voice was too weak to hear, thus, the recording would have to be edited so that we may actually hear what was recorded.

Lastly, another voice recorder of sorts. PINS explained that it would detect weak wave frequencies and magnify them so that the team could hear. This actually was exciting. Like the previous test, the team repeatedly asked simple questions.

Static… static… a bit of a radio commercial, and more static. The team moved throughout the theatre repeatedly receiving static until “Jacob” started to come through. The team jolted, as they heard inaudible replies by the same low tenor, or occasionally a woman.

Twice, the phantom apparently told PINS to ‘fuck off’ – this was of much entertainment to me. This was followed by the automatic flushing of one toilet.

Since I am a regular member of Theatre Antigonish has not observed such an event before.

Goosebumps, watering eyes – a host of sensations began to be felt by the crew and they naturally left.

What a thrill!

Was it really a ghost though?

One must remember that I have very little education on how the third device works. Radio transmissions infrequently frequented it, and even if the voice was not that, it could have been a prankster of some kind. The toilets of the Bauer are very old, thus, they may function unpredictably. I also have a very short and narrow attention span and may simply have been ignorant of regular automatic toilet flushing. The odd sensations could have been either a response to these strange events.

I doubt that a supernatural event happened on Wednesday night.

However, that does not mean that there is not a ghost in the Bauer Theatre, or that ghosts cannot be.

Regardless, it was a very fun evening full of spooks– I highly recommend ghost hunting.

Artist of the week: Caitlyn Peddigrew Profile of StFX student thriving in the arts DEVON GREENE Contributor This week’s featured artist is third year student Caitlyn Peddigrew. Peddigrew traveled from Waterloo, Ontario to attend St FX for engineering due to its small class sizes and East Coast charm.

“I’ve always loved arts and its something I took throughout high school and I wanted to take it as a hobby. I’m just taking classes on the side,” explains Peddigrew.

Moving between Newfoundland, Ottawa and Waterloo during her childhood, there was no shortage of opportunities for Peddigrew to take art classes and to practice on the weekends outside of school and she was able to explore various types of art at an early age, including watercolour and sketching.

Peddigrew gravitates more towards a realistic style of art focusing in particular on portraits. Her pieces commonly feature images from photographs she has taken or objects she has drawn form real life. She describes her attraction towards reproducing photographs and real images: “For me personally I think [the creative

part] is looking at a photograph or something in real life and being able to produce on paper what you see, which is not necessarily what everyone else sees. For example when I do a drawing of a person I see colors like blues or reds in their skin that aren’t necessarily seen to everyone who is looking at the same person. It’s creative in the way that everyone sees things differently and we are all expressive those things in our own ways.”

StFX has opened up new doors for Peddigrew in terms of mediums of art that she has worked with. So far she has taken Art 100, watercolour, batik studio and is currently enrolled in pastels. Batik Studio especially peaked her interest and found it very different from the styles and techniques she was used to working with. “I had never worked with dyes before and producing an image using them and it was really different and kind of interesting.” Batik is an art medium using layers of dyed materials to create shapes and colours to form a desired image. The piece Two Newfoundland Puffins, a recreation from an image Peddigrew came across online, was created using Batik.

“That was the first time I really had to plan out exactly what I was going to do. I usually draw it out whatever I want to paint and I plan it out that far but this one I had to plan out all the steps I was going to do. That was really new for me. I enjoyed it and it worked out really well and it was really different” Peddigrew is not shy when it comes to new art forms and is currently enrolled in her first pastels class. “Its pretty new to me. In pastel, you can still get the detail but it’s a little more difficult because of the medium; It’s so messy and thick. It’s been a new experience but I’ve been enjoying it.”

Peddigrew created her piece featuring two hands as an assignment for the course earlier in the semester. “It was based on a specific technique called the massive approach. Basically we started out with a base colour.

The difference between it and watercolour, which I’ve been using is that you have to layer on your dark colours first and then you have to pull out the lighter colours.” Although successful in creating a global image of hands

in her piece, one cannot help but notice the detailed work including the lines in the hands which showcase Peddigrew’s talent for creating realistic images.

This will be Peddigrew’s final year at St FX as she plans to return to Ontario where she will continue on with environmental engineering after she graduates from the engineering program in the spring of 2016. She says she will look back fondly on her time here. “I’ve really enjoyed my experience in the art department at

StFX I think that the teachers are really great. I’ve definitely learned a lot and have improved on my abilities since I started taking classes here. It’s something I’ll definitely miss next year when I’ve graduated.”

Peddigrew plans to continue to take art classes wherever she may end up in life and will continue with art as a hobby and a stress reliever. For now, the StFX community is lucky to enjoy the beautiful pieces that this talented and dedicated artist creates.

“NEWFOUNDLAND PUFFINS”

By Caitlyn Peddigrew

distractions

13

EDITOR: TY KINGSTON xw.distractions@stfx.ca

November 6th will mark the 10th anniversary of the release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Ty Kingston has finally completed a Fan Fiction that will blow as much as this masterpiece.

Harry Potter fan Fiction - Bet ya can’t have Introduction Call him Arthur S. Inkheart, that is the first hint into the nature of our tale; of one boy’s rise and fall. How the demons both in and around him consumed him.

Chapter 1: Our tale begins in mid-August. Registration has just opened at Absalom Catholic Academy; it is a private university preparatory school. It lies not far from the Saint John River, north of Fredericton. Like a pearl, it hides inside the thicket of trees.

The Inkheart family is making their yearly pilgrimage there. Mr. Inkheart drives, Mother Inkheart dotes, and moody Arthur broods in the back of their fancy car.

“Are you sure it’s right to just send him off like this?”

“Of course! Are ya dumb?

Only the cream of the crop go to Absalom; he gets good grades; the buildings are magnificent; it’s not that far it’s the best, it just is. You’d be crazy to pass up a chance to attend Absalom,” Mr. Inkheart declared. “Ah Absalom - my former home.”

“But I meant about what the doctor said-” “What of it? You think she knows my boy better than I do? He’s fine, I know it.”

“I-I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have-” “No, you shouldn’t have.

What Arthur needs is to be with the greats, his own kind, so he can do something enriching. Did you hear that future King Arthur?”

Silence.

“But even then, it’s $25 000.

They raise it every year, and we can barely-” “Barely what? Arthur deserves the best; Absalom’s the best; Arthur deserves Absalom. He’s going to Absalom.”

It was decided, Arthur was going to Absalom. .

Like the country, the road went on forever. Mr. Inkheart believed he knew how to break boredom.

“What’s the best part of Absalom, Arthur?” he asked.

Silence, then awkward silence, then, “The suits.”

Lavish suits are uniform at Absalom. If you are of the fairer sex, you wear only the fin-

est skirts, shirts, and cardigans money buys.

“Aren’t you happy you get to go back two weeks early, Arthur?”

“Well, no one’ll be there for another week.”

“No, Keegan won’t be there for another week, I’m sure you can make new friends. That would be better anyway.”

Arthur grumbled to himself before turning back to the endless countryside. .

The Inkhearts entered the walled campus through its gates, and drove to the Administrative building. Arthur glanced at the deathy quiet art deco buildings before they arrived at the Administrative building.

“Good old J.C. hall,” Mr. Inkheart said as they ascended the short set of steps. John Chaplin hall was written in the school colours of red, black, and white. .

“Just sit here an’ we’ll take care of everything,” Mr. Inkheart told Arthur, sitting him in the reception room. They left to meet with councillors.

Across from Arthur were two old, ugly ladies dressed in black.

Together they knitted a murky, grey quilt.

Arthur watched them until they left. He was bored.

Arthur was soon joined by a trio of Bangladeshis. A mother, a father, and a son, a son of about Arthur’s age. The parents uttered something to him, before walking into one of the multiple counselling offices. The two boys were left alone together.

Arthur didn’t want to stare, but he never seen anybody like that, there, before. Absalom had been all-white, with one exception, since 1896 when it stopped being a residential school.

“You, are - new here, aren’t you?” Arthur awkwardly asked.

Arthur’s face turned pink as he thought, ‘Shit - that was racist Shit! Shit! Shit!’ Arthur fidgeted.

The boy smiled. “Don’t worry, you’re not the first.” It was like he could read Arthur like a bad book.

“Oh good,” Arthur said giving his nervous little smile, “What is your name?”

“Boutros Hadith,” he said, matter of factly, “I’m the first Muslim to attend here.”

“Really?” Arthur asked. He had never met one of those people before! Excited, Arthur asked, “Are you sure you wanna go to a Christian school? - They

make us go to church every week, and we have a course on the Bible.” He whispered, “It sucks.”

“Not really?”

“Yes, I’m Atheist - the whole lot of us are. Most of our parents aren’t even religious. It’s just tradition, and ‘this school is the best’ so we put up with it. - We aren’t all Atheist, there’s a few nuts - we don’t talk to them.”

Boutros was a bit taken aback. “Oh, good, I was a little scared of getting trouble here. I knew one boy’s family complained about me, a Feddle? Fiddle?”

Arthur’s eyes became wide.

“Fetil,” he gasped, “Oh, he’ll give you trouble all right. He gives everyone trouble though don’t worry. You’ll get it, though not as much as the Yankees. - Where are you from?”

“Ontario.”

“Ontario’s basically America.

You’ll get it.” .

They heard a trotting sound approach from the hallway.

Down the mahogany stairs came Absalom’s President, Harry LeQuinn. He travelled on, a solitary man, like the Cumberland beggar. He was old too.

He entered aimlessly. “You must be Mr. Hadith,” he said warmly.

“Indeed I am.”

“We’re very happy to have you here. We want you to know we will accomodate as well as possible. We have a shuttle going to a mosque on Fridays, and your meals will be vegetarian until further notice.”

“Thank you, sir,” Boutros said.

Arthur sat silent feeling slightly slighted until, “And how are you today, Mr. -” “Inkheart, Arthur Inkheart, sir - I’m great.”

“Ahh Inkheart! - I taught your father. Now I’ve heard some things about you; tell me, have your parents worked everything out?”

“What things?”

Arthur abruptly asked.

“Nothing, have you converted Hadith yet? Tell us your favorite Bible passage - show him what we teach here.”

Arthur shot into military stance, “’Love is always patient...

- finds joy in the truth. It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to edure whatever comes’ Corinthians 14:7,” he read off the sign behind LeQuinn.

LeQuinn smirked, “Mine is Matthew 23:27 ‘Alas for you Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like white-washed tombs that look handsome on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of corruption.’”

“That doesn’t sound like Jesus - what did he mean by that, sir?”

“I don’t pretend to understand the words of the lord, but I would hate to be filled with every kind of corruption - any kind of corruption.”

Arthur sat uncomfortably, “As would I, sir.”

“Good.” As aimless as he came, he went.

Beneath his breath, he asked himself for what he came down stairs. Then his eyes lit up like London, and he went to the door.

He soon returned to his office tightly tailed by a tall, thin, bald man.

“Does he always wear a smoking jacket?” Boutros asked.

“Yes, and always that f’ugly green too,” Arthur said.

Arthur didn’t really believe it hideous; he often told himself, “I could wear it better.”

“Will you give me a tour sometime? My parents are leaving me here today.”

“Same! Isn’t it great?” Arthur almost jumped.

“Sure.”

Arthur’s parents returned, and Arthur slipped back to brooding.

As usual, they whispered: “We’ll need a second m-” “I know, it’ll be fine.”

“Where will we find-” “It’ll be fine.”

They took no notice of the boys, until, “Am I still in McStygian?”

Mr Inkheart looked up, “ But of course! Just like me when I went here.”

“See ya ‘round, Boutros,” Arthur said as his parents took him in their stride. .

No sooner outside than, “ Who was that?” Mother Inkheart asked.

“Boutros Hadith - he’s the first Muslim to attend Absalom.”

“Why would any of them go here?” Mr Inkheart asked.

“It’s the best high school east of Montreal.”

“True, - but - it’s little odd ‘cause we haven’t had anyone that dark here since they were converting natives.”

The trio then took Arthur’s extravagant things to McStygian

house.

McStygian is one of two allmale dormatories on campus. It is named after the man who paid for its construction in 1922.

Mr. Inkheart decided to have a moment with his son. He bluntly slapped Arthur’s shoulder and said, “Son, the only way to be in this world is great. People will like you more; they will remember you more; you will have bragging rights galore - and that will make you happy, trust me.

Nobody likes lazy, lead-footed losers. Be like the stars in the sky: dazzling, awe inspiring; light years above the rest of us. It is your destiny if you want it enough.”

Mr. Inkheart has just implanted an idea - a very powerful idea, in Arthur. It will fester and eat at the boy henceforth.

“How?” Arthur asked.

“That’s for you to figure out,” Mr. Inkheart said and left.

Mother Inkheart hovered over Arthur. “If you have any troubles you must keep secret, write them in this,” she handed him a little red book.

“You want me to keep a diary?” Arthur asked.

“I know now you don’t trust to keep things on your phone, so-” “You shouldn’t have -” “I know. - So I’m giving you this, you can keep things to yourself, but still talk to anyone at anytime about anything. I’d hate for you to be lonely.”

For the first time in a long time, Arthur smiled for her.

“Thanks Mum.” “I mean, we’d hate to have another accident - that would just look horrible.”

Arthur soured. “You should get going, it would just look horrible to keep Dad waiting.”

Mother Inkheart gave him a weak little smile. “So it is. Mummy loves you Arthur.”

“Great,” Arthur lied.

They left.

More in the future! What a distraction!

14

thursday thursday november november fifth, fifth, 2015 2015

sports and health

EDITOR: SHELBI KILCOLLINS xw.sports@stfx.ca

Weekend on the water

Canadian university rowing championships hosted at lake Lochaber LAUREN AGNEW Senior Reporter Four hundred university athletes and coaches converged on Lake Lochaber, outside of Antigonish, this weekend for the Canadian University Rowing Championships. Hosted by the St. FX Rowing Club, university athletes from schools all over the country, including UBC, UVic, Queens, McMaster, Brock, Trent, and U of T, among others, competed for the national university rowing titles.

Racing began Saturday afternoon after a slight weather delay due to rain typical of Nova Scotian weather un-predictably, and time trials of each event were conducted. St. FX boasted boats in many categories, including a lightweight women’s double, lightweight women’s 4, lightweight women’s 8, women’s 8, lightweight men’s single, lightweight men’s double, men’s pair and men’s 8. In each trial, St. FX teams earned a spot in the following day’s final events.

Sunday’s results were equal-

ly as exciting, and the notable finishes include the lightweight women’s double team of Emily Piggott and Laura Graham placing second in the “C” final, lightweight men’s single Matthew Cormier placing second in the “B” final, lightweight men’s double team Matthew Cormier and Trevor Bartoli also placing second in the “B” final, heavyweight men’s pair Warren Laybolt and Liam Rowe placing first in the “C” final, and the Women’s 8 team of Emily Joyce, Fiona MacDougall, Nancy Ma-

cLeod, Erin Wilson, Abby Hall, Kaitlin Van Steeg, Lauren Sieben, Hilary Brousseau, and Taylor Hope as the coxan placing third in the “B” final.

Assistant Coach Ella Besserer was happy with the team’s performance, stating: “No matter what we do, when we come off the water we expect that we have worked our hardest and done what we had to do to satisfy our own expectations. And I think that we really pulled that off this weekend.”

The weekend was a huge

success, with full credit going to St. FX Rowing Club head coach Katie Edwards. Without her tenacity and Herculean effort to build the rowing club into what it has become, St. FX would have a much harder time competing on the national stage against many longer-established clubs. The rowing club has once again proved the Xcellence of St. FX athletes and deserves to be commended for their performance this weekend and over the course of the season.

Photo: Katie Edwards

A buck to watch some puck A reflection on the ever changing cost to attend X-men hockey games SHELBI KILCOLLINS Sports and Health Editor Part of the crucial experience at X games is the intense Xaverian pride swimming through the stands. The young adults attired in blue and white do their part to fire up our X-men and women, while distracting any unfit rival in the screaming process. Although the vast majority of home games are free with the presentation of a St. FX student id, the men’s varsity hockey program recently decided to change this protocol and charge students’ a flat rate of $4.50 per game (cheaper if your ticket is bought in advance). There is no denying the intense speed and incredible talent of our X-men is worthy of a price tag but is $4.50 too much?

Most of the roster has come from a program demanding a price well beyond X’s $4.50 in order to watch them play: Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Central Junior Hockey League… but most of these leagues weren’t addressing a demographic where the main source of income is provided by student loans. The OHL for instance contains teams in cit-

ies such as Ottawa and Sarnia, who possess a population of almost a million, a group of fans whose individual net worth is most likely more than $0.53 in a chequing account and weekly goals beyond teetering the fine line of black out and gaining entrance into the bar.

So what appears to be a reasonable pocket change price to attend an excellent three period game might in fact have detrimental affects on fan presence, simply based on who the event looks to attract: St. FX students. I have subjectively recognized a decline in the student attendance at games and have overheard students discussing that they would not bare the cold rink simply because of the hike in price (free just fits perfectly in a student budget). When asked to compare X fans to those of his previous junior career, assistant captain Nathan Chiarilitti stated, “It’s always cool playing in front of people you know and friends you see around campus and outside of class. It’s a different lifestyle and support network then Junior hockey but it is something that is a great experience being apart of university athletics and

university spirit.”

It is apparent intercollegiate athletics posses a unique level of fanaticism (simply look at Syracuse University basketball), but is it somewhat lacking on our small but mighty campus? The enjoyment that is experienced at games by spectators is clearly reciprocated by the players themselves, however is this relationship overshadowed by the desire for a vodka cran or Coors Light on a Saturday by students? Although most would hope a few dollars to support our athletes would take priority to a beverage, this is simply not the case as mentioned by X- men member Eric Locke, “I believe the hockey is worth the price of admission, most students would rather use that money to get into Piper’s on Saturday night instead.”

When asked why there has been an increase in ticket prices for students’ to attend these games athletic director Leo MacPherson responded with, “We have always had a cost for students to attend X-Men hockey games and we have had certain promotions such as the first 100 or 250 students will get in free. Much of the reason we have

a different ticket arrangement with X-Men hockey is the nature of the building and the number of season-ticket holders.” The athletic department also engaged with consulting firm Cosmo Sports in order to accurately price the elite level hockey games.

Luckily for students there will be an immediate change in the cost to watch men’s hockey games as Mr. MacPherson further explained, “We plan on offering the first 100 students free admission while others will receive discounted pricing on tickets.”

This is great news for the student body who particularly adore sports.

Despite this financial transition what must be acknowledged is our skewed priorities as university students. Although we all suffer financially the majority of us manage to weasel our way through the pub

line and are willing to pay five dollars for a night of things we’ll likely forget. Our athletes dedicate their undergraduate careers to represent StFX as a leading institution beyond academia, its our role as fans and future alumni to get in those stands and redeem our rowdy reputation.

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Save your money; stick to food The truth and dangers behind supplements CAITLIN VANCE Health Columnist Have you taken your multivitamin today? The supplement industry is an evergrowing multi-billion dollar industry. From vitamin C capsules to raspberry ketone miracle weight loss pills, Canadians spend a heck of a lot of money buying such products. The question is, are these products worth the extra money? And is there any truth behind all these wonderful health claims? The truth and science behind it all may not be what you’d think.

One of the most commonly used supplements is the wellknown multivitamin. I can still hear my mums voice in the back of my head every time I get sick telling me to drink some tea and take my multivitamin and all will be

well. Multivitamins contain a wide arrange of vitamins and minerals in different quantities. Despite the popular belief that taking multivitamins is an added benefit to the diet, scientific research does not show any correlation with intake and health improvements. Shockingly, the result is opposite. Studies on beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E have shown that these nutrients, taken as isolated pills, caused an increased risk of death. For example, one study done on smokers focused on beta-carotene and it’s cancer-fighting properties. It was found that there was actually 18% more lung cancer and 8% more deaths in those taking the beta-carotene supplements compared to the placebo group. Whether for the sake of your health or back pocket, you’re better off skipping

that morning multivitamin.

Taking wholesome fresh foods and isolating select vitamins and minerals just doesn’t make sense. The body is equipped to process and obtain it’s vitamins and minerals along with the carbohydrates, fiber etc present in food. Subjecting your body’s cells to 50x the amount of a vitamin that it would normally be exposed to from food results in chemical imbalances in the body. Clinical supplementation is a different story.

Often vitamins and minerals are prescribed when there are deficiencies or health problems in the body; in these cases the positive effects of supplementation typically outweigh the negative.

Unless there is a prevalent and diagnosed deficiency, supplements will do you no good.

Especially in Canada with

our lack of sunlight during the colder months, Vitamin D can be a concern. Vitamin D, is important for bone health, it is actually synthesized by the body during direct exposure to the sun. In Canada we don’t get as much direct sunlight to acquire the daily 600 IU that Health Canada recommends. We can opt for more vitamin D by getting more sunshine throughout the day.

Alternatively, vitamin D can be obtained through the diet through foods such as fatty fish or fortified beverages.

Canadians often use supplements throughout the winter to make up for lost sun, but talk to your doctor for specific doses if that is your course of action. Weight loss pills are just gimmicks also. No one likes to hear it, but change takes time. In order to successfully lose and keep off the weight one needs to make a

lifestyle change to incorporate healthier foods and consistent exercise. A pill can’t do that for us.

Although the technology used to make supplements can be helpful at times, more often than not they’re not necessary or beneficial for us to take. Self-driven efforts to improve our health should be placed in the diet. We don’t find beta-carotene or vitamin E on it’s own in nature, but we do find nutritious produce. Including a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in the diet is a much more efficient means of ensuring we get all our vitamins and minerals than any store bought pill. Taking vitamins often acts as a safety blanket and excuse for unhealthy habits, and based on the research, a safety blanket that doesn’t even exist. Save your money, don’t buy the pills.

Getting REAL with X athletes Ending homophobia one shot at a time SHELBI KILCOLLINS Sports and Health Editor On October 22, 2015 the sports world once again over lapped with the LGBTQ community as hyper masculine, tatted, extreme skier Gus Kensworthy publicly identified as gay via ESPN video and Twitter. It appears that the shock value of a public figure, particularly an athlete, “coming out” is beginning to dwindle (finally) at least in comparison to NBA player Jason Collin’s public announcement of his homosexuality in 2013. Although females, specifically those who participate in physically aggressive sports, are assumed to be gay, the idea of a teammate loving the same sex on a mens’ roster contin-

ues to remain taboo and subtly unaccepted.

Luckily ignorance surrounding homosexuality is rapidly crumbling in all sectors of society through a variety of programs, which include Get REAL. Meaghan and Marie Wright have been the pioneers of the Get REAL society at StFX and describe its mission as “a movement of university students across Canada who speak to universities, high schools and middle schools about LGBTQ discrimination and bullying, ending the use of homophobic language and creating an inclusive environment for every student. Get REAL is more than a non-profit; we are a generation of like-minded students who work tirelessly to bring about a pro-

Photo: Get Real StFX

found change in homophobia.”

You have definitely noticed the neon pink hats sported by numerous students across classrooms and potentially even attended a wicked event hosted by the organization, however a new component that has helped to draw recognition to its cause is their recent varsity athletic photo shoots swarming social media.

When asked why the most recent campaign to end homophobia has included on campus athletes, Marie claimed, “Varsity athletes are role models and like any leaders on this campus, they have the ability to influence other students.

This campaign also shows that joining the movement doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be a member of the LGBTQ c o m m u n i t y.

Get REAL is open to any and all who wish to stand up and speak

Photo: Gus Kensworthy’s Tweet out against discrimination, regardless of their sexuality.” The use of athletes as voices for issues beyond the arena is seen not only on the X campus but across many leagues such as the NFL and NBA’s expression of disapproval of police brutality last year.

Individuals such as transwoman Caitlyn Jenner have urged conversations in the sports community to be more inclusive of those on the fringe of society, however as history has taught us the progression towards acceptance comes at the price of time. Marie commented on this issue by saying, “Homophobic language still exists in many communities, especially within athletics.

Whether it’s in a homophobic

context or not, we hear people use this language all the time in many different aspects of our daily environments. Get REAL has gotten the opportunity to hear a variety of people’s stories regarding their experience with homophobia, including athletes. Although some of these stories are told as hurtful experiences, sharing them still provides an opportunity to learn and speak up.”

As professional gay athletes continue to come forward and their heterosexual peers display acceptance this will hopefully lead to an evolution in minor sports to the point where explicitly stating your sexuality is arbitrary and the dynamic of a team is left unchanged.

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