Volume 127, Issue 1

Volume 127, Issue 1

Filling the stands since 1895

August 30, 2018

The Xaverian Weekly

News: SAFE Fundraiser...

Opinions: Pipeline Debate...

A&C: Lawrence Hill at StFX...

S&H: Special Olympics...

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News The Xaverian Weekly

XAVERIAN August 30, WEEKLY 2018 Volume August127, 30, 2018 Issue 1 Vol. Our 127;Team: Issue 1 OUR TEAM Editors-in-Chief: Editors-in-Chief: Bowen BowenAssman Assman and and Yanik Yanik Gallie Gallie

Thursday, August 30, 2018 Editor: Evan Davison-Kotler

Open contributor meetings are held Sundays at 6:30pm in the

xw.news@stfx.ca

newsroom. Newsroom located in Bloomfield Centre 111D.

Deciphering the Town Bylaws Dos and Don’ts of living in Antigonish Melissa Aycock Staff Writer

Managing News Editor: Editor: Phillip Elzein

Evan Davison-Kotler

Whether you’re starting your first year at StFX or a reOpinions Editor: Caleb MacIsaac turning student this fall, there News Editor: are some things that you Evan Features Davison-Kotler Editor: Lewis MacLeod should know about your new home such as the town bylaws.

Opinions Arts & Community Editor: Editor: Salome While some town bylaws may Barker seem like common sense, it’s Features Editor: best to keep yourself informed Distractions Editor: Kenneth to avoid getting in trouble while Arts Doiron & Community Editor: Salome living in town.

Barker First and foremost, if you’re Sports & Health Editor: Ryder looking to have some fun with Distractions Braithwait Editor: your friends during the evening, it’s best to remember that Sports Senior&Reporter: Health Editor: Kathleen Nora Antigonish has a noise control Dayna Smockum bylaw. After 10 pm, if you’re Senior Reporters: making noise that exceeds 55 Dayna Staff Writers: Smockum dBA, you can be issued a sumMelissa Aycock mary offence ticket by a bylaw Staff Bailey Writers: DeEll or police officer, with or withAddy Ashley Strickland Fullerton out a noise complaint. ReceivMelissa Douglass Aycock Hook ing a ticket means you can be Ashley Fullerton liable for a penalty of $387.50 Kaitlin General Dryden inquiries: xw.eic@stfx.ca per occurrence. While blasting Advertising: xw.advertising@stfx.ca music after 10 pm may seem Photographers: like fun, it might not be worth Nikan ________________________________ Ghafari the price tag compared to going out to the pub.

Web Developer: Of course, if you’re living in ABOUT US material and to residence, quiet hours define Distributions The Xaverian Weekly Manager:edit submissions when you are permitted to be is the official student for length and/or loud inside the buildings. Most General newspaper inquiries: of Saint xw.eix@stfx.ca style. The Xaverian residences will have different Advertising: Francis Xavierxw.advertising@stfx.ca UniWeekly will not quiet hours for weekdays and versity. The Xaverian print material that is weekends as well as different The Weekly Xaverian is published Weekly is the racist, official misogynistic, student schedules during exam time. If newspaper on Thursdays of Saint

by The Francis sexist, Xavier homophobic, Univeryou want to avoid having a chat sity.

Xaverian The Xaverian Weekly Weeklyand/or is published libellous. on with a Community Advisor, it’s Thursdays Publications byBoard, the XaverianOPINIONS Weekly Publicabest to know when the quiet Multimedia Coordinator:

tions and isBoard. editorially and is editorially Opinions autonomous. expressed autonomous. in The Xaverian The The Xaverian Xaverian Weekly Week- is a Weekly proud member are thoseof the ly isCandian a proud University memPress. of theNort author America’s and largest ber of the cooperative Candian of student do not newspapers. necessarily FREE University Media Press, is Xaverian Weekly’s reflect those national of The adveritising North America’s agency.

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CONTACT SubmisUS sions unceded should terriorty be send of to xw.eic@stfx.ca Twitter: @xaverianor to the the relevant Mi’kmaqsection people.editor.weekly SUBMISSIONS Instagram: @xaveriOur The Xaverian editors reserve the right anweekly to refuse to Weekly print submitted welcomes material Faceboook: and to edit@xaverisubmissions submissions for of length and/or anweekly style. The Xaverian articles, letters, Weeklyphowill not Spotify: print material thexaverianthat is tos, racist andmisogynistic, graphics. sexist, weekly homophobic, or Submissions libellous. must be www.xaverian.ca received by Saturday OPINIONS at 3pm the week FIND US Opinions prior to publication. expressed in Xaverian Room 111D, WeeklyBloomare those Submissions of the author shouldand dofield not Centre necessarily reflect be sentthose to xw.eic@ of the Xaverian 902-867-3732 Weekly or the Xaverian stfx.ca or Weekly to the relePublications PO Box Board.

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The Xaverian Weekly

hours in your residence are, and avoid making excessive noise.

For those of legal drinking age heading off or on campus carrying alcohol, make sure that you’re only transporting it to another location. Having open alcohol, or illegal possession, carries a fine of $467 in Antigonish, meaning it’s best to wait to open or drink any alcohol until you’ve arrived at your destination. Alcohol in travel mugs, water bottles, or that has been opened previously can also be counted as open alcohol under the Liquor Control Act. Another thing to keep in mind while living in Antigonish is how to sort your garbage, recycling, and compost properly.

Whether you’re on or off campus, the system for sorting is the same, including what colour bags to use and what items fall under each of the three categories. Sorting guides are available on the Town of Antigonish website under Residential Waste Management and may be distributed on and off campus residences at the beginning of the academic year.

For those off campus, keep in mind that garbage, recycling, and compost bins are picked up specific days, and each bin may not be collected every week.

The schedule for when each bin is collected is posted on the Residential Waste Management section of the town web-

Photo: Sean Smith site, based on your address. It’s a good idea to post a copy of the schedule around your house, so you don’t forget to wheel the bins out to be collected.

Last but not least, Antigonish is not only a temporary home for StFX students. It’s important to remember that we live next to families and longterm residents, and that they should be treated with respect as well. You wouldn’t want to have noisy neighbours, see lit-

ter everywhere, or generally have a bad experience in your hometown. Try to have a positive impact on Antigonish while living here by following the bylaws and being a good citizen.

To find any further information on Antigonish town bylaws, visit the bylaw section on the town website. Otherwise, welcome back to StFX for another great year; hopefully one without any trouble with the town bylaw officer!

Summer Stabbing Devastates Antigonish Unsettling domestic violence leaves woman and three-year-old with injuries Dayna Smockum Senior Reporter

Antigonish’s reputation as a quiet, quaint town was put into question this summer when a stabbing occurred on the morning of July 25, 2018.

A woman and a three-yearold girl were injured when stabbed by a 41-year-old man inside a home on Brookland Street. According to Chronicle Herald, the man is reported to be the husband of the woman.

The woman was the first to escape from her house and alerted her neighbour Karen Boyle. Karen heroically ran into the house and brought the 3-year-old to safety.

Thanks to Karen, the woman and child were able to escape and call the RCMP around 8:30 am.

The victims were sent to hospital via ambulance but are expected to recover.

Shortly after the police were

Photo: Kenneth Doiron called, the man (who police have now identified as Shajev Thomas) was arrested outside the Brookland Street home where the incident occurred.

He is now facing two counts of attempted murder for his attack on the woman and young child. Thomas appeared in the

Port Hawkesbury courthouse on Thursday, July 26 and was subsequently sent for a 30-day psychiatric assessment.

The accused’s next court appearance set for August 24, 2018 got rescheduled until which time he will remain in custody.

“We do everything we can to

keep students safe. We patrol on campus and StFX residences off campus.” said John Gormley from Safety and Security Services.

Shajev’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 18 at the Antigonish Justice Centre.

News

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SAFE launches new $60 000 fundraiser Refugee resettlement thrives in Antigonish Evan Davison-Kotler News Editor

Syrian-Antigonish Families Embrace (SAFE) has set a new fundraising goal of $60 000 to be raised by September 31st.

The new initiative will be driven by their “100 for 100” campaign, which encourages members of the StFX and Antigonish communities to donate $100 to SAFE while challenging their friends to do the same. SAFE hopes that the fresh injection of cash will enable them to resettle two more Syrian families in Antigonish. In an email to SAFE volunteers, founding member Lucille Harper issued a rallying cry to members of the community: “With the support of people in our community and our province, we have helped 5 families start new lives in Antigonish. We can do more. The war in Syria is entering its 8th year with over 465 000 Syrians killed in the conflict, over a million injured, and over 12 million - half the country’s pre-war population - displaced from their homes. Please help us bring 2 more families to safety.”

SAFE was founded by a small group of community

members in May 2015, in direct response to the ongoing conflict plaguing Syria. Their mission was simple: gather funds and community support with the hopes of eventually resettling a Syrian refugee family in Antigonish. The group set an initial fundraising target of $30 000, and began raising funds by setting up jars in local stores, and organizing town halls & community events.

Word of mouth and coverage in the local paper then prompted members of the StFX community to join the movement. At a special meeting in November 2015, StFX faculty members, representatives of the StFX Students’ Union, three Employee Unions, the Association of University Teachers, and Senior administration voted on a motion to create StFX for SAFE. The goal of this newly founded fundraising body was to raise $10 000 in sponsorship money for SAFE to aid in their resettlement efforts.

Throughout the following year, StFX for SAFE and the associated student society organized various fundraising events such as the Peace for Syria Walk, two Pause for the Cause campaigns, Hair Today/ Gone Tomorrow, and the spe-

cial presentation of a play co-authored by StFX alumnus Brendan Ahern and Majd Al Zhouri, a 22 year old StFX student from Syria. Within 18 months, StFX for SAFE raised tenfold their initial goal, collecting a total of $100 000 in donations.

Word of SAFE and StFX for SAFE’s efforts spread throughout the community, prompting Class of 2018 co-presidents Alex Corrigan and Rachel LeBlanc to establish a bursary aimed at providing financial support for individuals who have claimed refugee status at some time in their life. Fundraising for the bursary is ongoing, however, the Class of 2018 was able to raise nearly $40 000 over the course of the past academic year.

“At StFX, graduating classes have a rich history of giving back to the community and by the spring of 2017, it became apparent that the Class of 2018 also wanted to leave its mark.

Rachel LeBlanc and I heard many wonderful ideas, but were most inspired by StFX for SAFE that had in the previous two years, raised more than $100 000 to support refugees in Antigonish. We were floored by their dedication and knew that

X-Fest 2018 Schedule

if the community was so incredibly supportive of their cause, then our class would be too.” says Corrigan.

As of today, there are five SAFE-sponsored families from Syria living in Antigonish, with a sixth having recently relocated from Newfoundland; if the “100 for 100” campaign proves successful, that number could

increase to eight.

To make a donation to SAFE: • E-transfer to safamiliesembrace@gmail.com • Donate through https:// www.c anadahelps.org /en / charities/syria-antigonish-families-embrace-safe-society/ • Mail a cheque to SAFE, Suite 204, 219 Main Street, Antigonish, NS B2G 2C1

Photo: Syria-Antigonish Families Embrace

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Thursday, August 30, 2018

The Xaverian Weekly

IGN Dead Cells Plagiarism Controversy How to avoid plagiarism at university Bailey DeEll Staff Writer

Have you ever had that one friend who steals your joke that was really good? Not funny, right? Well here at StFX, as Drake would say, we “can’t take a joke ‘cause it’s not one.”

On a serious note, on every course syllabus you will find a brief description of the “Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures,” which outlines the university’s “Code of Academic Conduct.” Read this carefully as it outlines the “offenses against academic integrity,” such as plagiarism, cheating, falsification, and tampering, as well as the potential penalties for violating the Code of Academic Conduct.

The Code operates on “five fundamental values,” which go as follows: -“advances the quest for truth and knowledge by acknowledging intellectual and personal honesty in learning, teaching, research, and service; -fosters a climate of mutual trust, encourages the free exchange of ideas, and enables all to reach their highest potential; -establishes clear standards, practices, and procedures and expects fairness in interactions amongst students, faculty, staff, and administrators; -recognizes the participatory nature of the learning process and honours and respects a wide range of opinions and

Photo: www2.mystfx.ca

ideas; and, -upholds personal responsibility and accountability and depends upon action in the face of wrong-doing.”

Here at The Xaverian Weekly, we describe plagiarism as “The presentation of the work of another author in such a way as to give one’s reader reason to think it to be one’s own.”

This does not mean that using another person’s work is not permitted; quite the opposite in fact, having multiple sources is imperative to the production of accurate argumentative writing.

Citing and quoting relevant work is necessary if one is to include the ideas, thoughts, and research of others into their own work in order to improve their arguments and accuracy.

Just recently, there was an unfortunate, yet fantastic example of plagiarism within the mainstream gaming journalism sphere. A now former employee of IGN Entertainment, Filip Miucin, recently posted his review of a game from French developer Motion Twin, called Dead Cells.

The game, described by the developer as “a rogue-lite, Castlevania-inspired action-platformer” released on August 7, 2018 to raving reviews, netting itself an astonishing 90/100 on Metacritic, the benchmark for a video game’s success.

However, a controversy began on August 6, 2018 when a relatively small YouTuber Boomstick Gaming posted a video tilted “IGN Copied my Dead Cells Review: What do I do?” which has amassed over 1 million views. The video shows a side-by-side comparison of Boomstick’s review and Miucin’s review on IGN, which was posted two weeks after Boomstick Gaming’s review.

The similarities are abundantly clear: not only does Miucin only slightly alter the word choices of the original review, but the sequencing is identical, with the talking points of each video flowing simultaneously.

Jason Schreier, a wellknown and respected gaming journalist from Kotaku has been chronicling the events of the situation as they have unfolded. In his article, “IGN Pulls Review After Plagiarism Accusations,” Schreier transcribed

each video, placing each talking point side-by-side, only serving to make the similarities all the more apparent.

Throughout the course of events, Schreier updated his articles to include IGN’s formal apology and public announcement of their letting go of Miucin, as well as two “tipsters” who made Schreier aware of two other examples of substantial similarities between past reviews of Miucin’s to a competitor’s review. The reviews in question were of Nintendo Life’s Fifa 18 and Engadget’s Metroid: Samus Returns.

Through transcribing each review, the side-by-side comparison is just as bad as the Dead Cells review which put these events in motion.

Miucin posted a video to his personal YouTube channel on August 11, 2018 in which one would expect a public apology.

This was not the case.

Miucin dodged around the fact that he indeed plagiarised the review of Boomstick Gaming stating that “the bottom line is that what happened with the Dead Cells review was not at all intentional.”

Remember the fifth fundamental value of our Code of Academic Conduct, responsibility. Despite his wrongdoing of what seems to be multiple accounts of plagiarism, an appropriate apology is the first step in regaining his integrity; unfortunately, what he has done is far worse. Not taking responsibility for his actions, claiming their supposed unintentionali-

ty, is a true show of his character.

Unfortunately, the original video is not available as Miucin promptly took it down. However, Schreier continued to follow the course of events in his article “Former IGN Reviewer Responds to Plagiarism Allegations: ‘Not at all Intentional’” in which Schreier notes that Miucin said “You can keep looking, Kotaku, and please let me know if you find anything,” a direct jab at Schreier for doing his job as a reporter.

I hope that such a clear example of what-not-to-do helps us understand the severity of plagiarism, especially in a university environment. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to avoid plagiarism and properly cite sources in all works.

Professors are always willing to help out or point students in the right direction. The Student Success Centre, located in the library, is designed to help students out with all things academic.

OWL Purdue is a fantastic internet resource full of examples to ensure you are citing properly, for both APA and MLA styles; and finally, ask a friend for help.

Upper year students in your classes or residence may be able to help edit your work with the experience they have gained at StFX. The bottom line is this: if you don’t know, just ask – there are plenty of people willing to help out around campus.

Get to Know Canada’s First Vertical Bank Note Bank of Canada releases unique details on note featuring Viola Desmond Amélie Ferron-Craig Contributor

Canada’s new $10 bank note will begin to appear in cash transactions late this year.

Designed to stand apart, it’s the first vertical note issued by the Bank of Canada, and features the portrait of social justice defender Viola Desmond.

Here’s what businesses and cash users need to know about this new $10 bill.

As with Canada’s other notes, the new $10 has bold security features, ensuring that Canadians can use it with confidence. That’s why the Bank issues new notes – to stay ahead of counterfeiting threats and to keep pace with advances in technology.

But remember, bank notes are only secure if you check them. Routinely checking all notes—no matter which series

or value—allows you to intercept counterfeits and keep them out of circulation.

The security features on Canada’s vertical $10 note are quick and easy to check:

• Flip the note to see the elements inside the large window repeated in the same colours and detail on the other side.

• Feel the smooth, unique texture of the note. It’s made from a single piece of polymer with some transparent areas.

• Feel the raised ink on the front of the note, namely on the portrait, the word “Canada” and the large number ‘10’ at the bottom.

• Look at the detailed metallic images and symbols in and around the large transparent window.

• Look at the pattern in the eagle feather. Tilt the note to see the colour shift from gold to green.

Photo: Bank of Canada

The new $10 note will be rolled out gradually and circulate alongside the other polymer $10 notes. Unlike the special $10 note issued for Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017, printed in a limited quantity to mark this historical milestone, the vertical $10 note will be the regular $10 note produced for years to come.

Business owners may be wondering what this new $10 note means for their cash-handling equipment. The vertical $10 has been designed to minimize the impact on the cash-handling industry and maintains the same functional features as current polymer notes. Equipment owners and renters should contact their suppliers with questions about machine compatibility.

With the release of this new $10 note, the Bank of Canada’s approach to issuing bank notes is changing. Rather than issu-

ing all five denominations within a short time frame, a new note will be released every few years. This will allow the Bank to integrate the latest security features each time a new bank note is issued, ensuring that Canadians can continue to use their bank notes with confidence.

For free, downloadable materials to help businesses train their staff, visit www.bankofcanada.ca/retailers.

For more information, contact us at 1-800-303-1282 or info@bankofcanada.ca.

Follow the Bank on Twitter (@bankofcanada) for the latest news about Canadian bank notes.

The Bank of Canada Museum is on Facebook! Follow, like and share the latest information about Canada’s upcoming $10 bank note and much more: @BoCMuseum.

Opinions

Opinions

5 Editor: Caleb MacIsaac xw.opinions@stfx.ca

Welcome to StFX’s Orientation Week Advices and more regarding the secrets to living a healthy O-Week Yanik Gallie and Bowen Assman Editors-in-Chief

As I enter my final year at StFX, one thing remains abundantly clear: This school is way too friendly.

Welcome all to orientation week at StFX. Have a safe week ahead and let’s party hearty together.

I met so many friends I can not recount a time when I have walked across campus and did not come across someone I knew. The tight-knit community is just one reason why you will enjoy being here. With that being said, here are some tips I have learned on how to make your O-Week amazing:

As a New-Brunswick scholar in university since 2013, I witnessed 6 orientation weeks, including this upcoming week. From parties with the University of Windsor to StFX, here are some practical orientation-week advices: 1. Join a society on campus. Societies always welcome new recruits early in the semester.

2. Log into Moodle and read the syllabus for each class this semester. In my opinion, a head start on the year’s readings and assignments facilitates the transition from Summer to Fall.

3. A nap is suggested in the medical science of my mind to revitalize the senses.

4. Go to activities organized by the university. Should the activity lead to getting frisky, practice our strong consent culture and get permission from the other participant.

5. Attend off-campus events hosted by fellow students and friends. Contributing burgers or sausages usually gives you access to a local party-house barbeque.

2. StFX Book Buy and Sell on Facebook. Join that group and you can get your textbooks for considerably cheap. It is way better then getting gouged by the StFX bookstore.

3. Water is your friend. Seriously. I was never a huge water fan until I discovered the magic of sparkling water with brands like Perrier, Montellier, and if you are feeling really lavish, Voss Sparkling. This amazing drink is most important on those mornings when you wake up parched like a Sahara desert in the midst of a drought.

4. Attend a football game. These games tend to bring out alumni, faculty and student-alike. Even if you don’t know what a first down or interception is, simply coalescing with others will make your time there worthwhile.

5. Be active! StFX has a host of fields and trails to satisfy your athletic body.

There are tennis courts located on Main Street and Columbus Field and several trails for running around the outskirts of Antigonish.

The best advice I can give to our reader is to retain the information that speaks to them from these advices and experience their own version of orientation week.

1. You will be meeting a ton of people, and that can be quite nerve-racking; however, everyone is in the same boat as you, and simply talking with someone can help ease their nerves.

Orientation Week or Frosh Week?

Deconstructing the semantics of titles and their powers (if they have any) Alexis Wright Contributor

Orientation week is a time of new experiences, new classes, new friends and of course, new parties. StFX is at the top of the list for party schools in Canada according to Maclean’s magazine, but if you dig a little deeper, the parties don’t necessarily constitute the new-coming class or hold relevance to the orientation week.

When discussing the parties both on campus and in town, “The pub (the Inn) stopped serving chicken at 9 p.m. and booted out anyone under legal drinking age; the night has become a High School Musical sing-along that is nearly frosh-free.” Campbell states in an article posted on the magazine’s website. The distinction between current students and freshmen is important because the title of the party school is advertised mostly to new comers and can deter prospective students from applying to our campus.

StFX, among other schools, have begun to switch from the infamous “Frosh Week” to a more study-friendly “Orientation Week”, and although there has never been a firm implementation, it leaves this author wondering whether the title change would make a difference.

StFX has always held a tradition where their introductory events built a sense of community, ranging from team building activities, presentations, house competitions, and of course parties; but these events do not span across the year and do not condone excess drinking or partying.

The university takes pride in its students and emphasizes the strong bond developed among peers. If the university officially changes the title of the introductory week, it does not mean that they change their activities. It is important to remark that while the university provides activities, they are not the ones responsible for actions taken by students.

Many of the university’s events

are often listed as dry or are activities that can be enjoyed without the use of recreational substances.

There are many students who come to StFX to learn, myself included, but that doesn’t make the effects of peer pressure any less prevalent.

The fear of missing out (FoMO), according to Oxford Dictionaries, is an “anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on social media.” In an article for the American Journal of Medical Research, Louise H. Graham states that “FoMO may make people more conscious to what is happening around them, improving their awareness, but the preoccupation with what they may fail to catch may disconcert them, curbing their capacity to be knowledgeably vigilant.” which can correlate with its definition to imply that our sense of peer pressure and wanting-ness to belong is greater than ever before.

Students may partake in

activities because of FoMO and wanting to develop a bond, but StFX makes a point to host events in separate locations and filter those who aren’t of age so that it becomes a choice rather than an obligation.

These events are specifically designed so that people are given the opportunities to participate and belong without having to make decisions they might otherwise regret.

This leaves hazing; Frosh Week no matter where you go, often suggests that there are rituals or activities that someone must partake in to belong to a house, or a group. I came from a university before StFX where there was a lawsuit against residents in my house due to actions taken during my frosh week. I bore witness to attempts to try and take advantage of those who were incapacitated, and I said no. You always have the right to say no, and if someone tries to force your hand, then they are breaking the law, and if you see someone else who can’t say no for themselves, then stand up

and say no for them. The people who try to do those things are not people you want to affiliate with, and they do not represent a norm, and they do not represent your school. There is nothing wrong with partying occasionally in my opinion, but a big part of university is involvement and what you make of it. If you’re not a partier, then StFX is loaded with options for alternatives, but it may be up to you to take advantage of those or to develop them as you see fit. If you are put in an uncomfortable situation, you have the right to move, and to voice your concerns.

Pitching ideas to your student union of activities or ways to improve the school is how you can make the difference you want to see. I don’t believe a title change will change the way the school is perceived, but I do think less emphasis on the party activities and more emphasis on other ways the school provides its strong university bond, and how students can get involved is the best route to take.

6

Thursday, August 30, 2018

The Xaverian Weekly

Pragmatic Parking New fee for StFX students who stay on campus overnight hour wait time for my classes, and ably going to have to pay for parkParking is a troublesome thing on the StFX campus, and with the growing population of students who would prefer to drive themselves than walk, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find that perfect spot. The StFX security team has undergone some practices to curb the growing number of cars on campus by adding carpool spots and, most recently, parking tags.

Last year, when registering for my tag, I spoke with security who told me this was a long-term plan to calculate the number of people who park on campus before implementing a parking fee. The idea being that a fee will discourage people from driving to campus while also earning the university a nice profit.

While I love the idea of fewer vehicles on the road, in Antigonish there is a population four times larger than the town that lives in the county. Driving longer distances is the requirement for many of the locals, as well as students, and forcing them to pay an excess amount of dollars because of where they live is not fair.

Current rent prices in the town stuare unsustainable for many dents, and the result is many people moving out into the county or further from the town. Scheduling rides is possible, but not always practical.

I live at home while going to school and if I were to share a ride with my mother, it would mean a 3

anywhere from a 3 to 6 hour wait time for her while waiting for me to finish classes. While feasible, it’s not necessary when there are alternatives such as my own vehicle.

There is a transit available but only on certain days and people must plan their day around it, if they can at all. Unless the transit system becomes more comprehensive, the resulting fee is a larger force driving people away from campus.

“It’s frustrating that we’re prob-

ing, when there aren’t enough spots.” Says Kristen Meagher, a third-year business student. She goes on to explain the difficulty with the available parking that isn’t near the associated buildings to her classes.

In disbelief, Kristen states “I just can’t believe they’re going to make us pay for a spot that’s not even guaranteed, let alone it being where you want it to be.”

Parking convenience in relation to class location is a common

Frankie Moreno Contributor

Photo: Brendan Riley Photography

complaint among students; the entire parking system is rigged that unless you are in residence, you are required to park a sizeable walk from your class, which can also be difficult for people with health issues.

This year security has implemented an overnight parking charge of $250 for the full academic year or $150 for a single term.

Safety and Security Services emphasize that they are trying to create a “pedestrian-friendly campus” but fail to explain how an

overnight charge helps to create that environment.

The student population is most active in the streets during daytime hours, and so the nightly charge appears to just be an extra expense to students who are already paying great sums to live on campus.

The only promotion an overnight pass creates is that the lots surrounding a building are given to residents rather than potential guests; however, given the limited number of spaces, it is no guarantee that a resident will still be close to their building.

In the past, protests have been made to establish the demand for overnight parking across campus, but to no avail. Three years ago a body of student activists started a petition on change.org that reached 494 supporters.

StFX and their security team need to begin listening to their students and either make the university more accessible or begin to provide the services that are being requested and demanded from them.

If they begin to issue charges for parking tags, then spaces should be guaranteed so that students are ensured spots close to the buildings relevant to them. If students can’t park on campus, then they will be forced to park in the business lots surrounding the school, and the walk isn’t much different.

This movement outside of campus could cause disruption with local businesses and the town itself, and then StFX will have more than just the students to deal with.

Opinions

7

Alumni Empowerment StFX alumni in politics giving students a voice Ashley Fullerton Contributor

One thing that StFX is best known for is its involved and passionate alumni community.

For students just starting out on their undergrad journey, the idea of being a Xaverian beyond four years may seem too far away to worry about. However, our alumni community has the potential to represent more than just returning to campus for homecoming.

Among StFX’s alumni stories are those who have found success in Canadian politics. Politicians have a unique power that many government positions do not – they have the opportunities to not only launch positive change, but also act as a mediator for the people who want to.

A great example of this is Sean Fraser. He is a Liberal member of parliament representing the riding of Central Nova, and also an X grad. Very active on social media, Fraser’s twitter gives off an approachable atmosphere and showcases his involvement in Central

Nova Scotian communities.

What does this mean for you? It means that you have someone in the know. Like most StFX alumni, Fraser is proud to be a part of the circle. Of course, writing to any member of parliament if you have concerns or ideas is fine, but the chances of having your thoughts listened to are far greater if you have something in common with the MP. An MP with a StFX background might also be aware of any university or township is-

sues before someone even asks them about it, which is another advantage.

Beyond using alumni power as a voice, there is also the way in which StFX alumni can inspire others to go forward with their own career decisions.

StFX publishes an Alumni News magazine twice annually. For Summer 2018, included was an article about women who graduated from StFX and how the university encouraged and empowered them to

Photo: https://bjordan.liberal.ca/biography/

achieve success in whatever they wanted to do.

Liberal Nova Scotia MP Bernadette Jordan became the first woman to represent the South Shore-St. Margaret’s riding, and she says that StFX, “ignited [her] passion for federal politics.” By sharing her story to other members of the Xaverian community, she has shown that she is not simply here to represent her undergrad. Her accomplishments inspire women in the community, whether they be politically-inclined or otherwise, to reach their goals.

Furthermore, political alumni have another big way to contribute to StFX; donations and buildings!

Most recently, The Mulroney Institute of Government has been built due to Brian Mulroney’s generous donations to the school. This is another major power that X alumni involved in politics, or another wealthy profession harbour. Because not only does it allow them to give back to their school community, but it also brings a sense of pride to StFX for having so many

alumni success stories.

Having alumni that are able to donate their money and influence to the school also gives current students a sense of belonging; maybe in the future, current students will be able to donate just like so many of those before them.

The phrase ‘small but powerful’ is something that resonates with this school. Despite our size (population-wise and geographically), Xaverians have made waves. Of course, everyone knows about our most well-known politician (probably ever), former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, but there are other politicians active in all tiers of Canada’s government right now who are doing good work...and they are wearing X rings! Aforementioned MP Sean Fraser is once again a great example, given his recent tweets promoting the Help the Helpers conference, right here in Antigonish.

So if you’re ever feeling like you want to make a change in your community, utilizing alumni connections is a powerful way to do so.

Is Protesting an Effective Means of Change?

The Trans Mountain pipeline moves forward despite protest efforts in a national debate Douglass Hook Staff Writer

In 2004, I paid $5 to board a bus to join a protest in Toronto.

It was the first anniversary of the illegal invasion of, and war of aggression against, Iraq by the United States. There was a thick throng of people that stretched farther than I could see, and at least as wide as University Avenue. I remember the conviction of so many people gathered in common cause in such a space, raising their voice to the monstrous injustice of the war.

The previous year there had been the largest coordinated protest in recorded history, all in opposition to the contrived American plan to invade Iraq.

Millions of people flooded the streets, in cities across the globe, to oppose the plans of the George Bush and Tony Blair, among others.

In face of this unprecedented opposition, the war went on. Iraq was invaded, millions of Iraqis murdered, millions more displaced. There were tens of thousands of soldiers traumatized by the realities of war, and a seemingly unending battle between varying rebellious forces of complicated origins, alliances, hostility, and goals.

This was my cultural and political environment growing up; as if the power of the people was mocked, ignored, and discarded. Even as I write this now, 15 years later, I feel the sense of disillusionment that visited many of us who opposed the occupation of Iraq.

What the protests of the Iraq War accomplished, if anything at all, is intangible. By contrast, the worldwide phenomenon, the 2011 protests in New York known as Occupy Wall Street (OWS), spawned a political, an economic, and a spiritual awakening from people across the political map.

At the urging of Canadian-based, anti-consumerist magazine, Adbusters, hundreds of thousands of protestors turned out in major cities around the world to protest the rising inequality of the modern globalized economy. Ridiculed then, and for some time after, for producing no tangible accomplishments, OWS sparked a growing consciousness among people that the global systems of economy were not just weighted unfavourably against them but had been engineered to ignore the needs of the majority.

It was among the loosely organized collection of like-minded individuals that anthropologist and anarchist, David

Graeber coined the phrase, “We are the 99%.” Seven years after the events of OWS there is a greater awareness of the unfair economic conditions that affect all of us. There is a great deal of work being done to try and turn the tide of this unfairness and all of this sprung from a protest that was faulted and ignored for not producing any immediate or direct, political effects.

I didn’t join the OWS protests. At the time I didn’t understand what is was about, or what exactly they were protesting. It sounded like malcontents hanging out rent-free in parks around the world. I can now see the same hopeful spark of struggle that propelled other struggles, like the Paris Commune of 1871; a participatory, anti-authoritarian, grassroots democracy out for fairness from the forces that control their lives.

The message may not always be easily heard, but the cause is just, and the hearts are in the right place. There are so many in Canada who believe in a better country, we just need to listen to each other and work together in the cause of each other. The breadth of history provides those looking for inspiration and education, great lessons about how to effect great change.

On July 17th, Justin Trudeau visited StFX campus to talk about twinning the 401 and to announce an increase to the Canada Child Benefit. His visit was covered by both the Halifax Star and the Casket. While the Star reproduced a Liberal Party memo, The Casket did report on the “number of people organized… expressing their concern for the environment, referring to the federal government’s purchase of the Trans Mountain pipeline… for $4.5 billion.”

They provided no further context to the protest.

I spoke with the organizer of the protest, St. FX history professor, Dr. Chris Frazer about it.

He heard about the arrival of the Prime Minister only a few days before, giving him a short window to protest the Trans Mountain pipeline currently cutting its way through British Columbia. Fortunately, Dr. Frazer and the other protestors were able to visibly confront the Prime Minister, despite repeated and shameful attempts of intimidation by campus security and the Prime Minister’s security detail.

Dr. Frazer was spoken to by Mr. Trudeau, who repeated the false idea that protestors are against job creation and the economy.

Mr. Trudeau has lied to voters about his promise to pro-

vide indigenous people with the right to veto resource projects on their land and territories, lied about his intention to enact electoral reform, lied about his commitment to human rights, and lied about his intention to take seriously the causes of climate change.

I asked Dr. Frazer if his protest was worth it, and he replied enthusiastically, “Absolutely…

What do you do? Wait for years until we get a chance to vote and… I look at that and think what’s the point of voting?

Considering a Prime Minister who has completely abandoned his promises to reform the electoral system…most people in this country have a useless vote… what’s the alternative?”

I don’t know if Dr. Frazer’s protest alone will change the shameful course of the Trudeau Government and I don’t know if protests themselves are always an effective means of affecting direct change, but I do know that sustained, firm pressure on the Prime Minister and any one of his cabinet, whether in official or personal appearances, will draw attention from the people.

Anyone interested in gathering or protesting in support of good causes, can contact Dr. Chris Frazer at cfrazer@stfx.ca

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Thursday, August 30, 2018

Features

The Xaverian Weekly

Editor: Lewis MacLeod xw.features@stfx.ca

X-Project and The Xaverian Weekly now allies Creative works of X-Project youth leaders to be showcased in Features section Lewis MacLeod Features Editor

The Xaverian Weekly proudly announces a partnership with X-Project. The Features section will showcase the best works of youth leaders from the Indigenous and African Nova Scotian communities.

An alliance with X-Project

gives youth from five locations around Antigonish an opportunity to publish their creative works. StFX students who are X-Project volunteers will work hands-on with youth leaders and The Xaverian Weekly staff.

The idea to re-introduce X-Project in our Features section sprung from witnessing the talented youth in and around our neighboring communities

performing their original material.

Kalista Desmond, a natural poetess, performed spoken-word poetry as an opening act to Desmond Cole last year and dazzled the audience. Kalista is scheduled to perform as one of two opening acts for Lawrence Hill during his speaking visit to StFX on October 19th.

Similar to the Math and Science outreach programs, X-Project will visit each community on a rotation to host a Creative Writing workshop.

During the workshop, youth leaders will revise and edit their original works with the input of staff writers, editors and layout designers of The Xaverian Weekly team.

One of our goals this year is

to publish the voices of youth leaders. This introductory issue contains the spoken word of youth leader Kalista. The Xaverian Weekly is committed to showcasing the local talent of aspiring authors and artists in our Features section.

The Features section in our following issues will contain only creative works from youth leaders.

The thoughts of a black girl Kalista Desmond Contributor {You’re pretty for a black girl No I’m gorgeous You’re smart for a black girl No I am intelligent You have great manners for a black girl No I am respectful}

Or try to “holla” at me because you think that’s how we’re supposed to be approached Just because I’m a black girl doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be approached with respect Just because I’m a black girl doesn’t mean I’m not pretty

Wait hol’ up Why is the colour pigment of my skin show my personal traits?

Why does my “blackness” depend on what shade I am?

Why does the way I wear my hair make you wonder how ratchet I am?

People fail to realize we are more than a #blackgirlmagic or some relatable post Black girls are underrated and unrecognized And no we don’t all get together and claim we sista’s We are more than a Cardi B or a Nicki Minaj

How does the way I talk show you who I am?

We don’t all have plastic surgeons on speed dial To know me But there’s one thing we all got in common To know a black girl And that’s the thoughts of a black girl The last thing you should do is assume Or ask to touch my hair

X-Project continues to be almost entirely run by volunteers, and the success of X-Project rests solely on the interest, initiative, and commitment of students on the StFX campus. We are always looking for more people to join the X-Project family! Volunteering with X-Project is an opportunity to:

- Engage with the people in communities around, and including, Antigonish.

- Spend valuable time with some awesome young and elder folks.

- Learn about Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian cultures.

- Get small breaks from the overwhelming university life.

- Gain leadership skills.

- Have a laugh and make some friends!

Features

9

X-Project Calls for Volunteers Lend a helping hand and get involved with one of StFX’s finest societies Audrey Gunn Contributor

Are you interested in deepening your understanding of issues that impact local Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian communities? Are you seeking ways to combat inequity and injustice of systemic racism in real and significant ways? Would you like to build friendships with neighbouring community members, youth leaders and peers? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, X-Project is the place for you to volunteer.

So, what exactly is X-Project? Well, it all began in 1965 when Joe Webb, a recent StFX graduate, was given the position of teaching principal in the Lincolnville school. At the time, Lincolnville, a historic Black loyalist community, faced many inequities along with considerable racism in the surrounding areas that meant that job opportunities, education, and support systems were limited.

During his time as principal, Joe noticed that his students were having difficulty completing their homework. He was determined to find some way to help them out. He called his friend Rollie Chiasson to discuss the issue, and realized that many of his friends who were still in university might be able to come out and help some of his students. He also spoke with community members to discuss how to best go forward with this idea. The students he contacted posted a sign just outside of meal hall calling for volunteers willing to drive to the Lincolnville school and help out. Their hopes were that at least a couple of people would show up at the designated date and time. It was a pleasant surprise when 13 people showed up, enthusiastic and willing to

help out.

Around the same time, Margie Boyle, Kay Cameron, and Joan Dillon were travelling to Lincolnville three times a week to teach a pottery class. They had been inspired to do this after the tragic passing of Giles Gaudry, an itinerant artist who had begun teaching pottery in the area as a way to give back to the community that welcomed him in. These women continued his legacy of teaching pottery with the help of Mother St. Phillip, Father Anthony, and men from the Third Order of St. Augustine’s. They not only taught pottery class, but as relationships with the community grew stronger, they helped to create Father Anthony’s ABC Band as well as the cubs and scouts programs.

They eventually needed to recruit more volunteers and soon a group of about 30 people were coming down, along with members of the Sisters of St. Martha.

Though initially the group offering homework help and the group doing pottery stayed separate, eventually the two groups decided to merge so that transportation could be shared.

Joan Dillon negotiated a bus deal with Dr. Remi Chiasson, Superintendent of schools who granted them the weekly use of a very large bus at a reasonable price and soon the whole group began traveling together. At the time there were approximately 98 children and about 30 families in Lincolnville. Though the two groups joined forces primarily to share transportation, they quickly began to share programming ideas and worked with students and adults to promote literacy, offer cubs and beavers, provided recreational programs, and more. In March of 1966, the group of volunteers sat down and wrote a constitution that formed the society now known as X-Project. The

“X” in X-Project was actually chosen to represent the importance of operating as an “unknown factor”- that is, not asking for recognition or going into communities with a personal agenda, but rolling up your sleeves, listening and understanding community needs, and working alongside them with determination in a quiet manor. So, the core intentions of this group were quite simple; only go to the community if invited and welcomed, respect the wishes of the community and respond directly to the community’s requests.

Over the years X-Project quickly grew to include more communities and more members. The group began to organize many community building events including well-attended teach-ins that focused on Indigenous issues in 1968 and the impact of racism on African Nova Scotians in 1969. X-Project has held numerous Saturday programs, bowling days, swimming days, skating parties, youth leadership weekends, and literally thousands of nights in communities. In more recent years, X-Project has helped to bring some important keynote speakers to campus including Wab kinew in 2015, Senator Sinclair in 2016, Buffy Sainte-marie in 2017, and Desmond Cole in 2018, in keeping with their long tradition of discussing important ideas relating to equity and justice. Thousands of St.F.X. students have volunteered over the past 50+ years and hundreds of community members have been consistently involved since the beginning. What began as a small group of students committed to working alongside one local community to support children’s learning has grown into a phenomenal, strong family of students, alumni, youth, and community members all work-

Photo: Lisa Lunney Borden ing together toward common goals.

Today, X-Project works with five African-Canadian and Mi’kmaw communities in the surrounding area; Paqtnkek, Pictou Landing, Antigonish, Sunnyville and Lincolnville. We continue to offer small group educational assistance, recreational and leadership programs for the youth in these communities. Each week a number of student volunteers board vans and buses and head out to the communities to work with the children in their homes or in community centers, helping with homework, playing educational games, doing activities and being a mentor. Also, approximately four times each term, youth from the communities are brought to the St.F.X. campus for recreational programs such as Sports days, Halloween and Christmas Parties, swimming, bowling, and skating. Each year we also work with the teens in the communities to provide youth leadership programs. This often involves several Saturday trips in to the university to meet as a group and participate in activities and workshops that help to develop leadership skills. The youth leaders also help to plan workshops and activities for their own communities and act as leaders for recreational pro-

grams and weekly educational assistance. Each March, the youth leaders come to StFX. to participate in the youth leadership weekend where they engage in activities and workshops that they have helped to plan throughout the year.

Over the years it has become inexplicably clear that both the student volunteers and the community youth gain so much from being involved with X-Project. Volunteering with X-Project gives you the opportunity to learn about yourself and others, take breaks from the overwhelming university life, foster beautiful relationships, connect with communities in a meaningful way and work towards common goals of greater equity and justice.

We’re always looking for more volunteers to join the family! If this sounds like something you’d love to do then why not become part of the crew of students that heads out to communities weekly or helps out during the various planned events on campus? Perhaps you know all about X-Project already and are keen to take on a leadership role. Available volunteer positions include community coordinators, youth leadership coordinators, saturday program coordinators, transportation coordinator and office manager.

How to get invloved with X-Project?

- Contact xproject@stfx.ca or lborden@stfx.ca - Find us at society night!

- Attend our volunteer orientation on September 20th.

Where to find us?

- On Facebook @stfxproject - On Instagram @stfxproject - On Twitter @ stfxproject - Our website @ http://people.stfx.ca/

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Thursday, August 30, 2018

Arts & Community

The Xaverian Weekly Editor: Salome Barker xw.culture@stfx.ca

In Search of Time to Lose on the North Shore Spot some of the amazing fauna of Nova Scotia Douglass Hook Staff Writer

This year is the first year that my fiancée and I are going to be in Antigonish. Last year, we lived in, and commuted from, New Glasgow. Although we lived in New Glasgow, we’re not from there either. Together we’re both from the southern Ontario/Greater Toronto area, but we’re not really city people.

We lived in Northern Québec for a year teaching high school and elementary students in the Cree Nation of Wemindji, on the James Bay. We were frequent outdoorsy people, happy to go blueberry picking in the fall, fishing and canoeing in the spring and summer, and excited to have real snowfall to go on long snowshoe hikes through thick subarctic evergreen forests up and down rocky hills.

Ever since we’ve arrived in Nova Scotia about a year ago, we’ve been doing our best to root out some of the great spots to enjoy the outdoors and in between digging in gardens and flowerbeds for our summer jobs.

Melmerby Beach in Pictou County, where the beach is a long sandy strip and the water is cool and clear, bordered on one end by tall cliffs. It’s a 40-minute drive out of Antigonish, but well worth the

Photo: Yanik Gallie trip if you’re looking for cool reprieve from the hot, humid weather.

Sugar Moon Farm, west of New Glasgow and north of Truro in Earltown, where they can show you the passage of the season in the colour and flavour of maple syrup, as well as a really great crash course in the history and science of maple syrup and production.

As well, all around the farm are publicly accessible trails ranging from quick one-hour hikes to longer, multi-hour treks.

Mahoney’s Beach, just a quick drive north of Antigonish is a rocky and windy beach.

The shape of this beach is that you can be on either side of the natural dune. The warmer, calmer waters behind the sandbank, perfect for laying in the warm sun are opposite to the rocky shore facing St. George’s Bay. A quick and easy getaway

along the picturesque Sunrise Trail.

Arisaig Provincial Park, on the western edge of Cape George, lets you take a short hike through some very mossy forest, and stop for a picnic, if need be. If the park isn’t big enough for your trek, you can always continue along the Cape for some stunning vistas of old farms, fishing spots, and lighthouses that let you feel like you’re on the edge of the world.

Nova Scotia even has what’s called a “Passport” that gives the location of one of more than 60 distilleries, breweries, and vineyards in the province. Travelling to any one of these is half the fun, collecting the stamps upon arrival and imbibing in the potables, is the other. Many of the best places Nova Scotia has to offer in terms of tipple is packed away and hidden from the main roads and finding

these curiosities after travelling through some of the most beautiful hidden gems of towns in the province is well worth the price of a pint. Pick up a passport at the Townhouse and earn your first stamp.

Keppoch Mountain is an all too brief 20-minute car ride south of Antigonish. You’ve probably seen it looking south while driving the highway out of town. Don’t pay too close attention to Siri or Alexa for directions, they’ll send you past the entrance. When my fiancée and I went we ran into someone exceptionally friendly and helpful, who guided us onto a short, winding hike that took about an hour and a half to go all the way to the top of the mount, from which we could see the taller buildings of Antigonish, especially the greened copper steeples of the cathedral. If you go in the fall, you’ll have one con-

siderable benefit that we lacked; the berries all along the trail will be ripe for picking.

Remember to keep your eyes open and try to spot some of the amazing fauna of Nova Scotia any time you’re out and about in the wilderness. Just digging in gardens we ran into a number of salamanders (from eggs to juveniles to adults spotted, and bright orange), snakes (red ones barely longer than my pinky finger and big ones coiled up under decks, baby porcupines napping in an apple tree, washed up jellyfish, the awkward scuttling of hermit crabs on the beach, any number of clams, oysters, and mussels, all manner of fish, and the wide variety of birds. Remember to leave only footprints and take only pictures. Don’t disturb the wildlife but enjoy the view and have fun.

Women of Antigonish: Meet Your Resources How the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre is here to help StFX women Dayna Smockum Senior Reporter

For such a small town, Antigonish is jammed packed with some awesome amenities.

From waffle grilled cheeses and the farmer’s market and the Christmas parade, there is never a shortage of places to go in the Nish. And let’s not forget that we’re only a quick drive to the ocean! As far as a university town goes, Antigonish may be small, but she is mighty when it comes to everything the town has to offer.

One of the lesser known amenities of Antigonish is the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre. This organization is designed to specifically cater the needs of any and all women in the Antigonish community, including StFX students. Not only do they offer crisis support, advocacy, and counselling, but the often initiate and stand up for local issues affect-

ing women. The goal of the AWRC is to promote self-awareness, independence, and individual decision making for women in the community.

The Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre offers support for women in a variety of ways.

The AWRC runs programs throughout the year that vary from weekly craft circles to emotional eating and anxiety seminars. There is also one on one support in the form of counselling available through the AWRC with highly trained professionals.

Specifically, there are counsellors for issues such as: sexual assault, domestic violence, childhood trauma, anxiety, depression, poverty, stress management, and addictions. There is also assistance in finding employment, academic upgrading and training, as well as parenting courses.

The Centre can also provide women in difficult situations with advocates to help them navigate the legal, medical or

other confusing fields following trauma.

A large part of what the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre does is provide sexual assault resources for survivors. The AWRC offers three forms of sexual assault services in addition to counselling.

The first is the Antigonish Sexual Assault Response Team, which works to help survivors who choose to press charges proceed through the criminal justice system. ASART works in partnership with the Antigonish Crown Attorney’s Office, Nova Scotia Department of Justice Provincial Victim Services Program, RCMP – Antigonish Detachment, St. Francis Xavier University Health and Counseling Centre, and St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Emergency Department by outlining each specific member’s role to ensure that the utmost care is given to the survivor. AWRC also offers a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner who

is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to conduct a forensic examination of a victim of sexual assault. Finally, there are also support groups for adult survivors of sexual trauma that come in two phases: those just beginning the healing process and those further along in their recovery.

The Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre is located at

219 Main Street, and is open between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. The first AWRC event this school year is the Take Back the Night March, a walk through Antigonish in protest of sexualized violence and advocating for safer streets. The walk begins at 7 pm outside of the Angus L. MacDonald Library, on Thursday September 27, 2018.

Photo: Yanik Gallie

Arts & Community

11

Lawrence Hill speaks at StFX on October 19th Get your shorts to Schwartz Auditorium for an evening with a great Canadian novelist Yanik Gallie Co-Editor-in-Chief

Lawrence Hill will speak at Schwartz Auditorium Friday October 19th, 2018. Thanks to the StFX event sponsors Committee for Aboriginal and Black Student Success, African Descent Affairs and the Department of English, the Canadian novelist and professor of creative writing at Guelf University is scheduled for a first public speaking event in Antigonish this Fall.

Lawrence is the grandson and son of African-American soldiers who served with the American Army during WW I and WW II, respectively, and is working on a new novel about the African-American soldiers who helped build the Alaska Highway in northern BC and Yukon in 1942-43. He is a Member of the Order of Canada, and lives with his family in Hamilton, Ontario and in Woody Point, Newfoundland.

Earlier this year, Lawrence was interviewed by Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School senior students who had completed a novel study of

The Book of Negroes. Lawrence’s critically-acclaimed novel won various awards including The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, and two-time winner of CBC Radio’s Canada Reads. The Book of Negroes was made into a TV mini-series in 2015.

The questions crafted by senior students deconstruct some key elements of Lawrence’s literary devices like imagery. Senior student Timothy Matthews asked, “How did you come up with imagery for all the different settings?”

Lawrence replied, “It’s really hard to write about a place, isn’t it? Let’s think about the ways you might write about a place and the kind of images you

might use. It might be the image of a tree or nature. It might be the image of sound. What is Aminata hearing? What kind of language is being used around her? It might be the image of history, the social or historical setting of the place.”

The evening with Lawrence at Schwartz is some four hundred kilometers away from where the novelist did his research in Shelburne, Nova Scotia when writing The Book of Negroes. Shelburne is an important place in Lawrence’s novel, especially since the book fictionalizes the 1784 riots that depicts a fragment of the Black Loyalist experience and resiliency.

Senior Lauren Breen asked,

Photo: Jenn Priddle

“How much did you fictionalize the narrative when representing historical events like the Shelburne riots?”

Lawrence responded, “I gave myself every liberty to play with or exaggerate or contort minor details for the purposes of dramatic effect. I didn’t make what I would consider to be any major deviations from my understanding of the grand lines of the transatlantic slave trade.”

The full interview with Lawrence, published on May 31st, is available on The Xaverian Weekly’s website under the Arts and Community section.

Lawrence is author of novels Any Known Blood, Black berry: sweet juice and The Illegal and essays “Dear Sir, I Intend to Burn Your Book”, “Is Africa’s Pain Black America’s Burden?” and “Act of love: The life and death of Donna Mae Hill”.

The later essay, published this year, is a heartfelt personal story that calls for Canada to reform its assisted suicide policies.

Kalista Desmond and a drum group led by Morgan Gero will perform as opening acts for Lawrence on October 19th. Kalista has performed powerful

Photo: Lisa Sakulensky spoken word poetry as an opening act at last year’s Youth Activism Conference headlining event with Desmond Cole. Morgan’s drum group also performed wonderfully as opening act for special guest Cole during his visit to campus last year.

The title of Lawrence’s speaking event “Faction: Merging history and fiction in The Book of Negroes and The Illegal” hints that the author will dissect the intersection where fact meets fiction in his literature.

Arrive at the October 19th event early to get the best seats in the Auditorium for an evening with special guest Lawrence Hill.

Coady International Institute: An Often Forgotten Gem Let’s remember the global impact inspired by Coady Salome Barker Arts & Community Editor

Welcome to your new home, or welcome back for those of you who are returning students! It’s hard to believe that the humid hazy days and the sweet summer nights have come and gone, it’s now back to student life.

But student life is not a bad thing, new classes, new profs, my inner academia nerd is coming out. Student life isn’t just about endless assignments, the late-night cramming for exams or the last-minute submission for the term paper which should have been started weeks ago.

It’s also about growing as a person through the education you receive and hopefully wanting to make a positive difference in others’ lives.

Speaking of making a positive difference in others’ lives, there’s an institute right here on this campus that works day in and day out to make this possible. The Coady International Institute tucked away behind Cameron Hall, sits a place that is blooming with life and endless possibilities.

For first year students you might not have any idea what

Photo: Kenneth Doiron

I’m talking about, and the same goes for upper year students.

Don’t worry, I’m not here to shame anyone from being uninformed, quite the opposite.

Over the past four months I’ve been privileged enough to have an internship there working in the women’s center. In those four months I’ve been able to get a glimpse of all the dedicated hard work that its staff members pour their energy into.

The Coady’s mission is to instill leadership, “In collaboration with partners in Canada and the global south, the Insti-

tute is committed to reducing poverty and transforming societies by strengthening local economies, by building resilient communities, and by promoting social accountability and good governance.”

I don’t have the words to properly express just how astonishing the staff members of the Coady are. I was amazed every day at the work they put into making sure that the students they work with have the best experience possible, both on campus and off campus.

I encourage more students to get to know the people who

work there and to find out all the work that they do. Who knows, it might be along the lines of work you’d like to do someday.

In the last four months I have watched five cohorts of both women and men come from vastly different countries and walks of life. But, everyone had the same like-minded goals of building their own leadership skills for each of the different sectors that they work in and making positive impacts within their own communities.

From July to December there are 41 students at Coady from 19 different countries, who will be here studying and working towards receiving a diploma in Development Leadership.

All of this happening, and it’s happening right here on campus. It’s a shame that not enough promotion goes into telling the new students about the Coady during frosh week, and the weeks after, once you’ve settled in.

The students who are currently studying at the institute are some of the smartest, kindest, and loving individuals that I have met in my life thus far.

They have so much to offer, with every word they have to say to you, you will find your-

self in awe of their brilliance.

I want to challenge every student at X, which is asking a lot, to make the Coady a part of their undergrad experience.

Whether that be walking through the halls of the building, researching more in depth to find out about the work that goes on in the institute, or by saying hello to some of the students who will be studying with us until December.

By doing this, you will find yourself realizing how special this little community is. We may be little, but we’re making a huge impact in the world and so can you by getting involved.

Photo: Kenneth Doiron

12

Thursday, August 30, 2018

The Xaverian Weekly

Megan Strong Works with Elephants and Marine Life Senior at StFX majoring in Biology travels to Thailand Jane Stine Contributor

This summer, Megan Strong, 21, of Toronto, Canada, spent three weeks in Thailand helping animals, studying conservation, and learning handson what it’s like to be a veterinarian.

Traveling with study-abroad organization Loop Abroad, Megan was selected as part of a small team that volunteered giving care at a dog shelter, worked directly with rescued elephants at an elephant sanctuary, and volunteered in marine conservation on the island of Koh Tao. The Veterinary Service program brings students to Thailand to volunteer alongside veterinarians from the US and Thailand. For one week, Megan and her team volunteered at an elephant sanctuary outside Chiang Mai, Thailand to work with the giant animals and learn about animal rescue and conservation

on a larger scale.

The sanctuary is home to elephants who have been rescued from trekking, logging, or forced breeding programs.

Many of them had been abused and suffer from chronic injuries or blindness. At the elephant sanctuary, they are cared for by volunteers from all over the world. Megan helped to feed and care for elephants, as well as learn about their diagnoses alongside an elephant vet. The sanctuary is also home to over 1,000 animals, including cats, dogs, water buffalo, horses, and cows, and is sustained in huge part by the work of weekly volunteers like Megan.

Megan also spent a week volunteering at a dog rescue in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The shelter is home to dogs who have been rescued after being abandoned, beaten, or abused.

While the dogs can be adopted, any who aren’t will be cared for by one of the local shelters for their whole lives.

While she studied under

Photo: © 2018 Loop Abroad

the veterinarians leading her group, Megan and her team made a difference in the lives of these dogs. By providing check-ups and cleanings, diagnosing and treating ear and eye problems, taking and testing blood, administering vaccines, cleaning and treating wounds, and helping with sterilization surgeries, the students were able to help support the health and well-being of these dogs.

Megan then spent a week on the island of Koh Tao in the South of Thailand, working through Loop Abroad with the New Heaven Marine Conservation project. She helped to do marine surveys via SCUBA diving, worked on creating artificial reefs to help rebuild the coral reefs of Thailand, and studied marine conservation.

With plastic consumption and marine pollution in the news daily, projects like New Heaven and Loop Abroad’s marine conservation projects aim to help educate students like Megan while allowing them to be part of making a tangible difference in protecting biodiversity in the world’s oceans. From cleaning beach trash to tracking ocean animal populations, this work focuses on empowering local organizations to make a daily impact and help increase education about the importance of marine biodiversity and the health of our oceans and sea life.

Loop Abroad has animal science and veterinary programs for students and young adults age 14 to 30, and offers financial aid and fundraising

Photo: © 2018 Loop Abroad help. Interested participants can inquire or apply at www.

LoopAbroad.com. Admission to veterinary and marine programs is selective and Megan was selected based on her transcript, admissions essay, and professional references.

By following a study abroad model instead of a voluntourism model, Loop focuses on educating its students so that they can contribute and serve in meaningful ways. It also works with locally run animal welfare and conservation organizations so that students contribute to long-term improvement on the ground in the countries they visit. With programs in Thailand, South Africa, Australia, and the Amazon and Galapagos, Loop Abroad is able to support animal welfare and conservation around the world because of its students and their dedication to helping animals in

need.

The program’s Managing Director Jane Stine says, “Our students are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. They are kind, compassionate, dedicated, hard-working individuals who have big goals and want to make a big impact. It’s amazing to see how eager they are to learn and challenge themselves.

Over the last nine years, we’ve seen them go on to do some wonderful things.”

Of her trip, Megan says, “This trip has been an extremely rewarding and fun experience. I was able to work with animals I probably would not have otherwise had the opportunity to work with, as well as learn a lot of things I can use in the future.”

Megan is a senior at StFX, majoring in Biology.

Distractions

Distractions Game of Squares

- Two players or more take turns adding one line from dot to dot.

- A player who completes a square initials it & earns an extra line.

- The player with the most initialled squares is the undisputed champion.

13 Editor: Kenneth Doiron xw.distractions@stfx.ca

Source the Alumni Quotes - Draw a line from the Alumnus/Alumna to their respective quote.

Lisa Raitt

“Measure twice; cut once.”

Brian Mulroney

“Why can’t we both add value to our industries and take greater responsibility for managing our natural resources?”

Annette Verschuren

“Trudeau’s contribution was not to build Canada but to destroy it, and I had to ome in and save it.”

Alistair MacLeod

“That’s the part I find the most difficult: people commenting on weight gain, people commenting on what your hair looks like... I know men get it too, but I think women get it to a greater extent.”

Sudoku - Each horizontal rows and vertical columns should contain numbers 1-9.

- Each 3-3 squares should contain numbers 1-9.

X-Rings in a Jar - Guess how many X-Rings are in the jar.

- Submit your prediction, name, and student email on the ballot below for a chance to win $50. The monthly winner can pick up their prize courtesy of Cameron’s Jewellery at the store location 239 Main street, Antigonish.

X-Rings in a Jar Ballot Prediction: Name: Student Email: Submit your ballot to our newsroom in the basement of Bloomfield centre, Room 111E.

Spot our Mascots in... Brazil - Find and circle Captain X and SuperXavia.

14

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Sports & Health

The Xaverian Weekly Editor: Ryder Braithwait xw.sports@stfx.ca

Special Olympics Summer Games Town and County of Antigonish and StFX co-host special olympics Alex Weaver Contributor

5 Days, 13 Provinces and Territories, 315 Coaches and 1,025 Athletes with one common goal; to prove that they have what it takes to compete on the global stage for their country. This year’s Special Olympics Summer Games may have come to a close, but the lasting impact they have had will continue for years.

The games were particularly special for me and my family, seeing my brother Patrick, who has Down Syndrome, compete on a national stage and seeing it happen at the university I am so proud to attend. Patrick competed in the swimming events and participated in 4 individual races and 2 relays. In addition, he also plays with the Special Olympics basketball team but did not compete with them at these games. Seeing Patrick’s excitement as he walked on campus for the first time, just thrilled to spend the week living where his older brother does, was beyond worth the plane ticket. From the moment Patrick met up with his teammates he always had a smile on his face and was trying to soak up every minute he could.

The Special Olympics mean the world to Patrick. It is where he meets his friends and plays the sports he loves with people who support him and share a passion for the game. It is where he has made some lifelong friends and learned the value of competition and sportsmanship. It re-

ally shows you how excited all the athletes are when they finish a race, and everyone starts cheering for each other and the different swimmers, it becomes an immensely humbling experience to see these people who are competing for a place on team Canada giving a high five or a hug to their competitor that beat them to the finish, you can’t find that anywhere else in sports. It is remarkable just how much the athletes teach you what it means to be a human, and how compassion goes such a long way.

The games have given Patrick opportunities to grow and improve as both an individual and an athlete that he would not be able to ordinarily. See-

ing him excited to go to practise and get that little bit better and then come home beaming about his new techniques he learned or how he got to spend time with his friends really makes the difference in his life. And that practice sure paid off, in all of the events Patrick competed in he had 3 personal bests for his fastest time, won four medals and competed better than any of us could have hoped, and it makes us immensely proud of his achievements. It is these experiences that are so important to us, to give Patrick the chance to excel at sport where he would be shunned from because of his disability, and to get a chance to socialize with people who

From left to right: Patrick Weaver, Joshua Weaver and Alex Weaver

care about him just as much as he cares about everyone he meets.

Special Olympics decided that they would do something different for their 50th anniversary and decided to take a chance on a small town in central Nova Scotia. This was the first time in the history of the Canadian Special Olympics that they have hosted the games in a small town, and from being there and feeling the atmosphere I would say that it was a huge success. I was especially impressed at how well embraced the games were, whenever we went out for dinner or went to the grocery store there were always people coming up to us asking if we were out for the games

and interested in where we were from and what events my brother was in. You can’t find that kind of hospitality anywhere else. From all of the volunteers taking time out of their lives to help make the games possible to the companies that donated money and goods to bring an east coast vibe, the games were well executed and presented. The town of Antigonish itself should be proud for opening its doors to the rest of the nation and doing it with the utmost kindness and compassion. It really made the games that much more extraordinary for my family and we cannot thank everyone involved enough for their part in making dreams come true.

From left to right: Justin Thompson and Patrick Weaver

X-Men Football Athletes of the Week Strong performances in season-opener from MacDonald, Virtanen and Burnham Krista McKenna Contributor

reception including a 29 yard X-Men Football Defensive reception in the 3rd quarter Player of the Week that set-up an X-Men touchX-Men Football Offensive down. Greg also had one kickX-Men defensive back Cole Player of the Week off return in the game for nine Virtanen was named the StFX yards.

Football Defensive Player of X-Men wide receiver Greg the Week for the week ending McDonald was named the Aug. 26, 2018. Cole, a 2nd year StFX Football Offensive Player Business student from Nanaiof the Week for the week endmo, B.C. had two big defensive ing Aug. 26, 2018. Greg, a 3rd plays in the X-Men’s loss Friyear Business student (2nd day night to SMU as he picked year eligibility) from Halifax, off two passes for intercepN.S. led all receivers in the tions. Cole also had a pair of game Friday night in total resolo tackles, including one for ceiving yards in StFX’s loss to a loss of three yards, and he SMU. Greg had 4 catches for 91 Photo: goxgo.ca had one break-up in the game. yards, averaging 22.8 yards/

X-Men Football Special Teams Player of the Week X-Men kicker/punter Kieran Burnham was named the StFX Football Special Teams Player of the Week for the week ending Aug. 26, 2018. Kieran, a 4th year Arts student (3rd year eligibility) from Cambridge, Ont. booted 2 field goals and an after-point kick to record 7 of the X-Men’s points in a 20-13 loss to SMU Friday night. Kieran kicked field goals from 15 and 35 yards out. He also had 8 punts for 319 yards (39.9 avg) including 2

punts inside the 20, along with 3 kick-offs for 168 yards (56.0 avg).

Photo: goxgo.ca

Sports & Health

15

Your Fall Guide to Sports at StFX Athletic events occuring in September for students to attend As the new school year comes into focus, so too does university sport, and StFX is not short on great athletic teams.

Men’s soccer gets their regular season started with a three-game homestead starting September 8. Moncton, UNB and Cape Breton come to town for these matches. StFX looks to avenge their semi-final loss to Cape Breton from a year ago. That Caper team ended up winning the national championship, besting the Montreal Carabins. Expect a tight battle, as both vie for first place in the conference.

On the women’s side, the squad looks to better their fifth place showing in the AUS a year ago. Their games are played preceding the men’s.

One interesting note is that the coach of the soccer program: Graham Kennedy, coaches both the men and women.

The inevitable beast that is X-Women rugby, begins their assault on the AUS competition at home against Saint Mary’s on September 7. Last year the team finished with a

Bowen Assman Co-Editor-in-Chief

Photo: Yanik Gallie perfect 6-0 record, however they were bested in the semi-finals of the national event by Laval. The Rugby program is the most storied in StFX athletics, having claimed a mesmerizing 19 of the last 20 AUS titles, and four national championships since 2010.

StFX football has already begun, and it began with an unfortunate loss against St Mary’s. Luckily, our home opener is August 31 in a game against our vaunted rival, the Acadia Axemen. The team looks to improve upon it’s .500 record last year, and the hope is that they can get some key contributions from their rookies, as well as improvement from all returnees. The biggest game of the season is Homecoming, on September 29 vs. Saint Mary’s. This is the day all students, past and present cram into the bleach-

ers to see the fired-up X-Men compete.

StFX cross country had a surprisingly efficient 2017 campaign, buoyed by Angus Rawlings, who won the 10km event last season. The teams will be under new leadership, with Olympian Eric Gillis taking over the head coaching duties. The season begins September 15 in UPEI, followed by StFX’s own invitational on the 22 of September.

On the ice, both teams get their regular season going in the beginning of October.

However, there will be some preseason events taking place.

September 18, the men’s team play Moncton in the Auxiliary Arena, followed by a matchup against Saint Mary’s on the 29, taking place in the local Antigonish Arena. On the women’s side, expect back to back nights of games on the 21 and

22 of September in the Auxiliary Arena, as they face off against Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s.

On the hardwood, both basketball teams have their regular season begin the first week of November. StFX hosts their own invitational tournament in the preseason, on October 5 and 6, with the women’s event on October 12 and 13.

Track and Field does not begin until late November, with a meet in Gagetown, NB on the 24.

StFX has more than just varsity athletic events, as they have a slew of recreational athletic teams. Curling, baseball, cheerleading, dance, field

hockey, lacrosse, men’s rugby, rowing, swimming, equestrian, badminton and ultimate frisbee. The mens rugby team has had a very successful run, and the curling team has also held it’s own against other AUS programs. Cheerleading is a staple at football matches, while the rowing club has consistenetly produced solid outings, that is if you are ok with waking up at 4am! Keep an eye out at society night for the sign ups for these sports, and if you are feeling extra ambitious, create your own sport society.

For more information regarding StFX athletics, please visit goxgo.ca

Photo: Chronicle Herald

Alex Cyr Interview Alumnus publishes debut novel documenting athletic experience at StFX Yanik Gallie Co-Editor-in-Chief

Alumnus Alex Cyr published his debut novel Runners of the Nish: A Season in the Sun, Rain, Hail and Hell on July 25, 2018. Alex’s novel is an autobiographical reveal of life as a StFX athlete.

Alex Cyr is now studying journalism at the University of Windsor while running cross-country and track with the Lancers.

The PEI native writes with Canadian Running Magazine and new endurance sports media company WELLE Stories.

Alex was interviewed by Yanik Gallie on August 14, 2018.

Runners of the Nish: A Season in the Sun, Rain, Hail and Hell is now available for purchase online through the FriesenPress or Amazon websites. Read Alex’s full interview on The Xaverian Weekly’s website. *** YG: Can you share your experience of writing a first novel Runners of the Nish: A Season in the Sun, Rain, Hail and Hell?

AC: There were a lot more steps to the experience than I thought. I started writing not

thinking I was about to write a novel. The way it started is my coach Bernie Chisholm asked me if I wanted to chronicle a few things throughout the season like a race, workout, that kind of thing. As time went on, I filled in the gaps with things that happened. Not only races, workouts and hard outcomes, but also fun events that the team did and nights out. The process of writing my first novel really came in small, small, increments to the point where I didn’t know where I was going with it. It didn’t feel like a job until I got to the point when I looked at what I had and thought I can publish this. Because it was about something that I cared about and enjoyed, it was really a painless, and fun, process.

The publishing process took a lot more out of me than I thought. There is a lot that goes into taking a manuscript and making it into a book. Before that, I didn’t realize how many people would get to work with me. There is so much to be done. There’s editing, design, layout, copyright, getting your ISBN registered. All in all, I think it was a super cool experience and something that I might

want to do again. It was eye-opening and rewarding.

YG: Coach Bernie Chisholm is a treasured mentor of yours.

How are you keeping the teachings of Bernie with you in P.E.I. and Ontario?

AC: Something I think you’ll hear from many people who have been coached or taught by Bernie, because he was also a teacher, is Bernie became a bit more than a running coach. He became a life coach.

I think Bernie instills good values in his runners and students. He’s a person with very consistent beliefs that he vocalizes. He’s also a guy who will tell you when you’re stepping out of line. He’s someone who implements a strong team culture and holds everyone to the same high standard.

Personally, a lesson I am taking back with me from StFX, and from Bernie especially, is the ability to be mentally tough.

I apply this to my running mostly, but it’s also a lesson that I apply to life. It’s the ability to push through things when they are not going my way. When you are doing a discipline like running, chances are you are going to replicate that behavior in other aspects of your life.

Photo: Heckbert’s Photography and Gallery With Bernie, he taught me to persevere and to be patient while working hard. That’s probably the number one quality that I have that I can attribute to Bernie’s coaching.

YG: What athletic tips would you give to a first-year student who is interested in running for StFX? AC: I would encourage that student to go tryout and give it their shot. I think successful runners on the StFX team come from all walks of sport. You will have those who are superstars coming in and they don’t take as much time to walk up the ranks in the team and become intrinsic members. You will have

those who have to wait a bit longer and stick it out. A tip that I would give is to be patient and trust the process. It wouldn’t be to work extremely hard for one week as it would be to work quite hard for 52 weeks and do it again, and again.

Now, I’m one year removed from X and my best friends that I talk to everyday are fellow X-Men and X-Women, roommates and teammates.

Cross-country and track-andfield are in essence sports for individuals. However, at X, there very much is that aspect of team that follows you wherever you go. Work consistently hard and results will come.

Photo: books.friesenpress.com

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