Vol 124 Issue 2

news 2

thursday september twenty-fourth, 2015

THE xaverian

Sept 24 2015 Vol 124: Issue 2

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

EDITOR: IZAAK MACMULLIN xw.news@stfx.ca

S.A.F.E. SOCIETY Locally organized group works to bring a Syrian Family to Antigonish

MANAGING EDITOR Ryan Finn xw.managing@stfx.ca

RACHEL LEBLANC Senior Reporter

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

Only a few weeks ago, a devastating photo was released of a Syrian child washed up on the shore as he tried to make his way to a better place. Since then, it seems that the whole world is asking themselves the exact same question: am I doing enough?

That question was raised months before this revolutionary photo, when a little group in Antigonish began SAFE– the Syrian-Antigonish Families Embrace society. This local society has been working towards their goal of sponsoring a Syrian refugee family displaced from their home by war and welcoming them to start a new life here in Antigonish. With the support of the whole community, both town and county, SAFE plans to raise $27,000 to successfully bring in the family and cover a half of their living expenses for twelve months while they adjust to life in Canada.

SAFE has surpassed the halfway mark this past month and are expecting to reach their goal earlier than expected.

The Xaverian spoke with Cindy Murphy, a member of both SAFE and our StFX faculty.

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 Aidan Hassell xw.writer1@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 The Xaverian Weekly is the official student newspaper of St Francis Xavier University. The Xaverian Weekly is published on Thursdays by the Xaverian Weekly Publications Board and is editorially autonomous.

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“The first meeting was held in May, but I came on board in June,” Murphy says. “We began by looking at our name, SAFE. We believe it reflects what this groups is all about fostering a safe haven for these refugees.”

SAFE is divided into three committees: a fundraising team, a communications team, and a resettlement team.

The fundraising team has been organizing local events in the Antigonish area to collect donations, and will continue to put together more fundraisers around town. As for the rest of the donations, members of the SAFE society have taken it upon themselves to approach people and ask for donations. Over time, money has travelled in from as far as Alberta, being sent via etransfers. Articles for The Casket and CBC Moncton were able to move people into action. “By getting the word out there, people have been touched and have been sending money,” Murphy says. “We have jars all over the community to collect money. We want to reach as many people as possible.”

And indeed they have. With $10,000 already collected, SAFE is energized. “We are expecting to have them here in

six to eight weeks,” Murphy says - a goal that wasn’t expected to be met until summer 2016.

With all of this moving tremendously fast, Murphy explains what she and the team have planned for the upcoming weeks: “We are now focusing on preparing for the family, which hasn’t been identified yet. We have reached out to junior and senior high schools in the area to see about programs for the Syrian children. One of the big things would be budgeting. We have one for their basic needs, and another for other necessities. The accommodations are still unknown, which has made it very difficult to plan financially. We also want to provide them with amenities and essentials they can afford down the road. Our aim is to cover all aspects of their health: emotional, psychological, and physical. All of these details are being worked on by our resettlement committee.”

In order to move forward, SAFE is waiting to have a family identified to steer them down the right track and enable them to fulfill their needs, whether they be physical, emotional, cultural, or religious.

With this dream on the

verge of becoming a reality, Murphy and the rest of the SAFE society are further investing their time into education, taking a course that looks at the history of the approaches to refugees from 1951 onwards.

“You don’t realize how vulnerable these refugees are,” Murphy says. “They have to leave their country, their homes, behind before they can even be considered refugees.

We are looking at these people who are walking out without anything in their hands.”

This society is one of many across Canada pitching in to help refugees find a better home.

Canada has committed to resettling 10,000 Syrians over the next three years, and has asked private groups to sponsor 60% of those seeking refuge. Ryerson University is responding by helping to bring Syrian refugees to Canada.

Through their Lifeline Syria Challenge, student volunteers are sponsoring 25 Syrian refugee families, or 100 people, in order to bring them over. We have a new family that will soon be joining the Antigonish community.

This all leads to the question: Should StFX be doing more on this issue?

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Students’ Union Shop shakeup An update on the transition process

SEBASTIAN JURGA Staff Writer During your frosh year, you may find yourself overcome by a sudden, overwhelming urge to show your campus/residence just how spirited and part of “it” you are. For many years, the apparel of choice has been a snazzy number from the Students’ Union Shop, but this year things have changed.

You can still scratch your itch for campus bling - it has just moved down the stairs into the Campus Store. So you can still get wool scarves for your house, but now you can do it at the same time as you drop serious money on textbooks.

As many of you may have noticed, the old location of the U Shop is as empty and dark as your professor’s heart after your first midterm, and surprisingly enough, this is part of the plan.

Now we have just one cloth-

ing store instead of two, so The Request for Proposal Mrazek explains, “We are what? As Troy Mrazek, Presi- (RFP) for this project was sub- currently in negotiations with dent of the Student Union ex- mitted towards the end of the candidates to rent the space. plains, “The university gave us summer on July 28 and was More information should be a proposal that was too good to meant to last four weeks, but it brought to the next Council turn down. Over the last year is currently being reviewed by meeting on October 4th if timwe’ve had a great collaborative a selection committee for an- ing continues to work smoothly.” relationship with the He also explained university and we want that as of right now to continue that trend it’s hard to say when moving forward. There the store will reopen was too much retail since the idea is still clothing competition on in its early stages of campus with two stores He and the long-term finan- “the University gave us a proposal that was too development. good to turn down.” does say though that cial sustainability of Troy Mrazek the majority of the both stores was quesStudent Union President proposals being retionable. This decision viewed state that won’t only benefit StFX they intend to comstudents and the Camplete renovations on pus Store, but the greater Xaverian community as a other two. To those who aren’t the location by the end of Octowhole.” in the business grind, this sim- ber. Any necessary renovaThe new Students’ Union ply means that a request was tions will be at the cost of the Store is intended to address a put out to potential candidates corporation that gets the conpreviously untapped market on to take on the project and that tract, as the candidates all have campus by stocking conve- currently the potential candi- their own specific accreditanience store goods and phar- dates who want the project are tions and safety standards that must be met. being considered. maceutical products.

The fact that the Students’ Union store has traditionally been an important source of student jobs has not been overlooked. Mrazek and his team say they prioritized employment opportunities for students during the negotiations.

“We negotiated student employment with the Campus Store and have a stipulation in the RFP that student employment opportunities are mandatory in the convenience side of the operation,” Mrazek states.

Mrazek does not foresee any major issues, saying, “There are no obstacles moving forward as we were extremely thorough in our negotiations with the University surrounding their supplier contracts and the retail clothing non-compete clause we agreed upon. The candidate negotiation process is the final step before bringing a presentation to Council for discussion and voting.”

X: Overcapacity?

Is the recent influx of students too much for St FX to handle?

RACHEL LEBLANC Senior Reporter Don’t look now, but there are a hundred kids lined up in Morrison Hall’s stir fry line, more students scrambling for a slice of pizza, and another 50 or so swarming the salad bar. Think you are going to grab a quick bite to eat? Think again.

This year, StFX welcomes their largest incoming class ever. The Class of 2019 currently has 1,277 students registered, bringing us almost double the amount of international students and has risen our entrance average. The campus is booming with fresh new faces, brilliant minds, and an incredible vibe. But with enormous lineups everywhere we go and classes growing, are we overflowing? Have we hit overcapacity?

Has our StFX ship sailing to academic achievements capsized? No need to panic,says StFX President Dr. Kent MacDonald.

One might ask, why did StFX’s incoming class numbers sky rocket? It seems that in fact, it has been continuously growing, attracting more and more students every year. “StFX continues to be recognized as a university that is different than others. Students are looking for environments that they can grow in,” Dr. MacDonald says.

“This is an experience you cannot get elsewhere.”

While the number of students interested has certainly grown, it was a strategic enrol-

ment management team that addressed the enrolment challenges hurting universities across Canada.

“We put together a group of admissions staff, recruiters, marketers, and faculty members to come up with this strategic enrolment plan. We had our recruiters and admissions team responding to demand faster, and we implemented a scholarship strategy to increase funds for student scholarships.”

With increasing demand and more money for students, there had been concerns that entrance requirements would be lowered. But MacDonald explains the entrance average actually went up, from 84.5 to 84.7 per cent.

While the numbers are exciting for Dr. MacDonald, are we drowning in them? StFX is a place renowned for real-time connection. It is an intimate university where students can easily get together for a cup of coffee, a night on the town, or a Morrison Hall feast. Will the sense of community be jeopardized?

“We will certainly remain a small institution. There are no aspirations to grow beyond 5,000 students. But, we do have a responsibility to open our doors for more students so they can indulge in this experience,” states Dr. MacDonald.

With our incoming class of 2019 replacing our class of 2015, StFX may have the revenue to address any issues on campus.

After years of having residence

and class space unoccupied, StFX is filling up, with a rise in residence utilization from 92% to 98%. This leaves the university some vacancy to accommodate those who truly need it.

StFX also plans to reinvest into Mount St Bernard, so by next year, there will be a focus on revitalizing another building for accommodations. As for Morrison Hall, StFX will be making changes when necessary.

“When you look at our reputation and enrolment, having this increase shows that X is on the go,” Dr. MacDonald says.

Despite high numbers and an exciting future ahead, he makes sure to emphasize that

people come for the environment, and we will always be a small university, with small classes, and an intimate experience like none other, saying, “This is a testimony to our school; we just need to be mindful of our reputation.”

The responses from students when queried about this issue illustrate some of the opportunities and challenges facing the university. Kelly Soudant, a 3rd year Human Nutrition student says, “I love that more and more people are recognizing X for the amazing place that it is and want to be a part of it, but the trend of increasingly large in-

coming class sizes does have me worried. One of the reasons I chose StFX was for its small class sizes and intimate learning environment. Almost every single one of my profs know me by name this year and if the school keeps on getting bigger it’s hard to imagine that staying the same.”

Chloe Brown, a 2nd year Arts student adds, “Meal hall has definitely become less enjoyable this year; you’re waiting in long twisting lines and it’s so hard to find a place to sit at all.

It’s not as peaceful or fun as dinnertime should be. There needs to be an expansion or some sort of change.”

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thursday september twenty-fourth, 2015

StFX and sexualized violence StFX takes steps to prevent sexual violence on and off campus JULIA O’HANLEY Editor-in-Chief This year’s orientation week was the first at StFX to feature an evening entirely devoted to preventing sexual violence on campus. Following a number of suggestions brought forward to the university and then incoming Students’ Union at a President’s Colloquium held in March in O’Regan Hall, the evening of conversation and education about how to prevent and report sexual violence was added to the frosh week agenda, and in Head of Student Services Bob Hale’s terms was “certainly a success.”

“So last year at the showing of the Hunting Ground, the discussion came up that StFX did not do anything like this, and I said at that time ‘Look, that is going to change. I can assure you at orientation, we will be doing a session for the students.’ Everybody clapped, they were happy, and so ok, now I’ve got to do it.” Hale explains of how the event came to exist.

The Monday evening events were broken into two pieces:

the first being a panel discussion on sexualized violence, the latter deemed a “positive sex talk” presented on by travelling sexologist Dr. Justine Schuey. The first event proceeded with a serious tone while the latter was more light hearted.

The sexual violence panel featured four local panelists: Heather Blackburn from the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program; Constable Morgan MacPherson from the RCMP; Megan Turner, StFX Student Conduct Coordinator; and Margie MacKinnon, Director of Health and Wellness at StFX. The panel informed students of the resources available on behalf of their respective organization or institution in the case of sexual assault.

“It actually came up that people said we should try to make it more fun,” says Hale, explaining “It’s not an exciting topic, and I don’t want to make it too fun. You know we had a couple of laughs, and that’s great, but I don’t want people rolling in the aisles for it.”

Hale co-hosted the event with Students’ Union Vice

President Academic Hannah Stordy. “This is something I’ve wanted since the time I was a first year student,” Stordy notes of her advocacy in promoting this event.

Many policies and initiatives have been instituted by both the Students’ Union and the university since the last academic year in terms of sexual violence prevention, resources available, and the disciplinary process on campus for alleged perpetrators in violent situations.

A number of university committees have been formed which are working on issues surrounding sexual violence, including the Preventing Violence Against Women Committee that came about late last year. The committee, previously co-chaired by Margie MacKinnon and former Dean of Arts Dr. Richard Nemesvari is now under the operation of MacKinnon and Dean of Education Dr. Jeff Orr. In terms of other ways the university is taking action in the topic, Hale explains: “We’re working on redrafting the Community Code. So the piece that handles serious is-

sues like sexual violence, particularly violence, we’re going to make some changes there.

We now have a help button on My StFX so if you click on that it takes you to the security page [where] there is the piece on sexual assault. That came out of the President’s Colloquium. The Preventing Violence Against Women group is working on the sexual assault policy on campus and I expect, I think in the next couple of months that should be finished, so we’re going to get that up on the website.”

Stordy notes that the Student Union’s work on this issue extends beyond the campus parameter, noting that she and VP External Emily Gale traveled to Halifax over the summer months to advocate on behalf of students against proposed changes to the Child and Family Services Act. “There was a proposed amendment that was going to change the legal age of the child in Nova Scotia from 16 to 19, and one implication of that would be the duty to report for all sexual assaults for those under the age of 19. Our issue with that is that that would in-

clude university students that are 18 years old, or 17 years old, living on their own - not at home - who experience peerto-peer violence. Our feeling was that child services should not be involved in that incident, that that would impact negatively our services and our ability to help students because it’s all based around confidentiality, trust, and choice.”

These changes follow allegations last year that Manager of Student Life Shannon Travers was made aware of instances of sexual violence and failed to act appropriately to resolve the issues.

When asked about the decision to keep Travers in this position, Hale says “It’s a tough question. As I said that night [during frosh week], StFX is not going to stick its head in the sand when it comes to this.

So if we know of a sexual assault or sexual violence that happens on campus we are going to investigate it the best that we can. As long as the victim/survivor is willing to talk to us, we are going to do whatever we can to help. That’s my goal.”

Textbook-Free Classes

Is there an alternative to increasingly expensive textbooks?

IZAAK MACMULLIN News Editor One of the more unpleasant rituals of starting a new year at university is the disheartening task of heading to the campus book store to grab necessary, but pricey, textbooks. Costs can sometimes be alleviated by buying books online or acquiring a used copy, but that is not always possible. The costs of new textbooks can often seem absurd to students, and according to political science professor Jim Bickerton those frustrations are well founded.

“The price of textbooks has escalated dramatically.” Dr. Bickerton says, “I’m not even sure if all professors are aware how much their students are paying for some of these textbooks, but I became aware of the price of my textbook in political science 100 last year. I hadn’t taught that class for a few years, and I was shocked at how much the price had gone up in just a few years.”

Certain professors are trying to ease the financial burden on students by doing away with textbooks altogether. In Dr. Bickerton’s De-

velopmental Studies class, all the necessary readings are posted on Moodle, free for students to peruse at their leisure. There is no textbook required, and according to the professor it makes his job easier. “I did use a textbook for about ten years, but I was never happy with the textbook; I never felt there was a

particularly good fit. It’s not a standard course,” he says.

However, a physical textbook is still part of Bickerton’s political science 100 class, but he says, “I am now actively seeking alternatives to the textbook, because of the price.” He warns that “in some courses it is more difficult to do without the text-

book, certainly that’s the case for science courses.” The model could also run into issues in classes where there are certain types of software keys that are intended to be purchased with a certain textbook.

The idea of not having to buy a textbook drew keen interest from several students.

When asked if textbook prices are too high, Alex Forbes, a second year human kinetics student, replied with a simple, “Yes, definitely.” Forbes actually bought all his books used to cut costs. Catherine MacIntyre, a fourth year sociology student, agreed that prices are excessive, but was not completely sold on the idea of all digital readings. “I could see it working well for something like human kinetics or sciences, I couldn’t see it necessarily working well for arts because there is something to be said for having the book in front of you to interact with in class; I need to have it in front of me personally or else I get distracted with technology.” Meaghen Matinson, a third year psychology student, had a different perspective, explaining she felt textbooks were “very” expensive, adding, “I had to buy all new textbooks this year because all of them got updated and I needed the new edition.” She felt having readings on Moodle or a similar platform would work well because “people could print it off and bring it to class; it’s way cheaper to print a textbook than it is to buy one.”

opinions

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

StFX Gets Out The Vote An unprecedented student initiative

EMILY KEENAN Opinions Editor The upcoming federal election has been hailed as the most important election in Canada in over a generation. In what is shaping up to be the first true three-party race in Canadian history, polling shows that the Conservatives, the Liberals, and the NDP are separated by no more than a few points. Now more than ever, the axiom “every vote counts” is ringing true - a message that until now has seemingly fallen upon deaf ears within the student demographic. This year, however, through the efforts of the Get Out The Vote campaign, students at StFX are being made to know that their vote truly does matter.

Developed by the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), Get Out The Vote believes that students can and should have their say in Canadian politics. That being said, in politics, actions speak louder than words. If students want to have their voices heard, they must engage as active participants in the political process by turning up at the polls on Oct 19 to cast their ballot for the Canada they wish to see.

Get Out The Vote, led here at StFX by VP External Emily Gale and her team of coordinators and volunteers, strives to enhance voter participation with a threefold agenda. First, GOTV has a goal of getting 2,000 students to pledge to vote

Photo: getoutthevote.ca on Election Day. Next, the campaign guides students through the process of registering to vote with Elections Canada, and finally, it ensures that students get out to the polls with the proper identification.

While it may be tempting to write off GOTV as yet another campus campaign, it warrants noting that Get Out The Vote is truly an unprecedented initiative in Canada. The campaign was modeled off Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign that similarly targeted young voters. Not limited to StFX or Nova Scotia, more than twenty universities and colleges across the country are collaborating with Get Out The Vote to ensure that come election day, students nation-wide have the

necessary tools and information at their disposal to make an informed choice. GOTV speaks to the truth that as a citizen living in a democracy, you have the privilege to cast your ballot once every four years and prove to our politicians that you, through your involvement, are holding them accountable. That you, despite the fact that you are young, are informed, are engaged, and that you will not stand by passively as a generation of babyboomers decides your future for you.

The government that we elect on Oct 19 will still be in office when every student here has graduated. This new government will determine how much tuition we pay, whether

or not we’ll be able to find a job, afford a house, and what we will pay in taxes and in daycare. This new government will determine the reactions we will get traveling abroad with a Canadian flag stitched on our backpacks. This new government will determine whether or not we will be able to sustain our environment.

And indirectly, therefore, all this is up to you.

It’s easy to feel isolated from and immune to politics when caught up in the bubble of campus life. But don’t be fooled. Get Out The Vote is here to remind us that politics affects us all, and that each individual deserves to be heard. In the words of Emily Gale, “We have a close three-party race, and at

this point it’s anyone’s game.

That is why every single vote matters. We’re going to dispel this myth that young people, that students, are apathetic.

Every voice matters. You matter.”

Text 902-708-0537 to pledge to vote, or pledge online at getoutthevote.ca. If you would like to volunteer with Get Out The Vote, contact Travis Dagg at x2012cjl@stfx.ca or register online. Be sure to register with Elections Canada by 6pm EST on Oct 13. Advanced polls will be open on campus from Oct 9th-12th from 12 noon - 8pm in the MacKay Room. Election Day is Oct 19. Polls will be open from 8:30am - 8:30pm in the MacKay Room and in Conference Rooms A&B in the KMC.

Frosh week: a frosh’s perspective “How much of your frosh week do you remember?”

IAN KEMP Contributor How much of your frosh week do you remember? Mine was just a few days ago and I’m at a solid 50%. Drink, frosh, drink! Sure, why not? The past week of our lives has been a time for us to prove to ourselves and to others that we are adults finally starting university. And how did we do that? By having a water balloon fight and sliding down a tarp filled with Jell-O of course! What better way to enter the next chapter of our lives than by pretending to be a kid again one more time?

Even though we may have trouble remembering some or all - of our nights, I don’t think any of us will ever for-

get our first night at StFX partying it up on the “beach”, also known as the SUB parking lot. Getting hot and sweaty with a bunch of strangers is actually kind of fun, so long as you meet Mr. Jack Daniels first. Frosh week was without a doubt one of the best times of my life and I think most people would agree with me, except for when it was 7 AM and inhumane pink monsters were screaming, “PAN-CAKE BREAK-FAST” - we definitely could’ve gone without that.

Despite the fact that I felt like stabbing those pink monsters at times because they made my hangover ten times worse, they deserve a shout-out for introducing us all to the X spirit.

They say StFX does the best frosh week in Canada and that’s not just because of our great events that everyone is jealous of like White Panda – it’s because no one matches our enthusiasm. I can’t imagine there are very many other schools that just cheer for an hour straight.

While yes, it was surprising and awkward at first, four years from now at graduation we are going to remember how special our frosh house cheer was. Towards the end of the week I remember chanting those cheers at parties and I imagine this will continue well into the future too. Who doesn’t like getting drunk and hearing “whalebone” screamed at 4 AM? That’s not an Acadia

thing, I’ll tell you that. All in all, making new friends along with some questionable life choices has led me to believe that these upcoming four years are going to be great. After all, StFX has the most beautiful student body in all of Canada, right? I’m looking at you, TNT. Although, now that frosh week is over, the partying does have to get toned down just a little bit… Unless you’re in Mac… or business… you guys and your Fridays…

It’s Yours.

Antigonish Mall has a new name! antigonishmarketsquare.com

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thursday september twenty-fourth, 2015

FROM THE EDITOR: frosh week in review JULIA O’HANLEY Editor-in-Chief Hey frosh, remember that girl you saw in the sidelines of all of your frosh week events? The one with two cell phones and that looked way too old to be there?

Well, that was me. And to be honest, I wish for your energy again, because damn you make me feel old. To be frank, the only upper class students you would have really heard from all week were the SU in blue, otherwise known as the folks who organized the week’s activities and events. As organizers, of course they will tell you everything is peachy, but I’m here to offer a sober (literally) second thought of what I thought went down this 2015 Frosh Week.

The first thing that stood out to me amidst the hoots and hollers of O-Crew was the First Nations’ drum circle situated amidst incoming students in line to register on Welcome Day. With so many incoming frosh, lines were long and wait times in the heat must have been unbearable for frosh and their parents. I thought that this drum circle, executed by the Kuji Boyz of the Paq’tnek First Nation was both a welcome break from a day of line-ups, but also a recognition of the land incoming students were preparing to study upon.

My next thought comes from the President’s Welcome which took place immediately following new student registration. I thought Dr. MacDonald’s speech was lack-luster, full of poorly exe-

cuted mountain-climbing clichés. I thought having seeing the president fumbling over his speech was a poor first impression for students. In contrast, this was the first of many speaking engagements by Students’ Union President Troy Mrazek. In contrast, I was impressed with Mrazek’s execution, content, and how downto-earth and relatable he appeared to new students. This relatability was especially emphasized in his speech at the Xaverian Welcome on Monday evening, where he spoke to students about how he almost dropped out of school early in his StFX career.

I can’t comment on frosh week events without noting the incredible rebranding of Head of Student Services, Bob Hale. In years previous, Hale has been a stern, funpolice figure on campus: if you disobeyed student policy or generally stirred the pot, you were usually faced opposite a disappointed Bob Hale. I mean someone has to keep this place in order, and having Hale as a stern figure on campus did the trick. So, given my years observing Mr. Hale, it came as a surprise to me to see him that he was whistled and cheered on stage, joking about being a part of the incoming class too, as he has just begun a masters program at StFX. Perhaps this is a new approach to discipline that StFX is taking, or maybe this is just a side of Hale that we haven’t yet seen - either way, it will be interesting to observe this “new-and-improved-Bob” as the year progresses.

The morning after Welcome Day was quite literally a hot mess.

Frosh events were held at Columbus Field between 10 AM and 1PM. So, essentially the students had to hike across town, hungover in 30+ degrees. Then, they participated in what I could tell was an outdoor PlayFair featuring faculty, before becoming entirely disinterested in the vendor fair that followed. Students left the farmers market-style fair early on, clearly exhausted from their first bout of university partying coupled with a hot day and a long walk. I think the SU planned this event with the intention of connecting town and gown, and I respect that. I just think the variables in play turned the morning into a disaster of lost, sweaty frosh and community vendors without customers.

The Jell-O slide and water balloon fight were standard except that there were two slides instead of one (to accommodate for the larger number of incoming students). In a repeat of last year, Dr. MacDonald did not go down the Jell-O slide. Considering that Dr. Riley, a man much his senior participated in the Jell-O slide until he retired, it was pretty lame to see that Dr. MacDonald didn’t deliver, once again.

I was very impressed though with Sunday evening’s Faculty Social event. Personally, I think having a larger academic, more serious side to frosh week brings only good things, and to see this come to fruition this year was great. The evening had a stellar turnout, with more students, fac-

ulty, and O-Crew than seats provided. This was an opportunity for students to get a taste for StFX academics and what to expect before setting foot in a classroom.

Very, very impressed with this event. It was something I wished was offered in my frosh year.

The following evening also had a serious tone, with a discussion about sexual violence and a positive sex talk taking place in the KMC. The first event brought to light a request by upper year students - to have frosh week discuss consent and safe sex - during last March’s President’s Colloquium. I was so, so happy to see the university beginning to take steps to address the issue of sexual violence on campus to better protect both incoming and existing students. The positive sex talk that followed was fantastic as well. It was more light-hearted than the sexual violence discussion, but allowed students to ask anonymous questions to the comedic sexologist via text message, thus creating a positive around previously taboo topics such as experimental sex.

I think overall the organization of Wednesday night’s talent show made the extended event less painful than it could have been.

With so many frosh, as expected there was quite a lot of talent acts.

Having the musical category last was a good way to keep interest in tact, as this category had about as many performances as the other three combined. That said, I think the cheer category was kind of pointless. The frosh cheer enough

throughout the week and it’s not like there was any shortage of other acts to fill the time slot. I think perhaps there should have been a stricter regulation on the number of acts each house could submit to shorten the night, but overall the event was well organized given the ultra-populated Class of 2019.

As for the Frosh Week finale, I really expected more from the White Panda. The show was late, and they were rude and pretentious when the power shut off, concluding their show earlier than expected. For the massive chunk of the Frosh Week budget that was spent on the evening, I expected more, especially in terms of the negative attitude they had toward a situation (the pulling of the fire alarm) that was out of their control.

Overall, the 2015 frosh week exceeded my expectations. The events at Columbus Field and White Panda did not deliver the results I had expected, but I was excited for the more serious events like the Faculty Social and sexual violence presentation. I must say it was progressive of theU to offer both (unofficially) “wet” and “dry” events for the students’ for both the night of Beach Party and concluding concert.

Having events for students to socialize with their peers without the pressure of having to binge drink is a step in the right direction. All-in-all a jam-packed week of activities, and a week I would say was better than my own Frosh Week.

Ronda Rousey’s lessons to society What we have learned from ESPY’s 2015 Female Athlete of the Year SHELBI KILCOLLINS Sports&Health Editor Although they are still not fully seen, there is no doubt female sports have made triumphant progress in terms of media coverage, gaining the attention of men, in the past year. Athletic stars like Serena Williams and standout events like the women’s gold medal USA vs. Japan FIFA game have certainly aided in building chatter in the sports world that goes beyond women’s appearances and promotes further uniting of minor sports and young girls.

ESPY’s 2015 female athlete of the year, Ronda Rousey, is a trailblazer among this fight for equality and respect on behalf of athletic women, putting any misogynistic constructs in the arena to sleep one arm bar at a time. Her flawless skill, social media presence, and confidence within the ring has taken female MMA to mainstream while her choice of words outside has left athletic culture with a few eye opening lessons: The idea of a “man’s sport” is

dead. In 2011, TMZ caught Dana White UFC president saying that we would never see women fight in UFC. A year later, Rousey was the first female ever to sign as an Ultimate Fighting Champion.

Three years later, Rousey holds an undefeated record with the fastest finish of any UFC title fight – 14 seconds – and also took home countless awards that were held solely by men including ESPN’s Fighter of the Year. In light of her insane talent, Mr. White has recently reflected upon his once closed-minded views at a press conference: “This whole women’s power movement that’s going on right now is crazy. Ronda has been the whole thing. Ronda is the one that launched this whole thing. I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t for Ronda. She’s the one that convinced me to do it, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Her unapologetic ability to kick ass has shown the world that women aren’t any more delicate or fragile than our male counterparts, and has placed the king of MMA on the path of feminism.

Don’t be a DNB. According to

Rousey on her All Access series a “DNB” is a “do-nothing bitch”. She states that a do-nothing bitch is someone who wishes only to be pretty and taken care of, “the type of woman her mother raised her not to be.” This strikes a note contrary to what women tend to be fed via Instagram, reality television, and casual conversation. Often, whether explicitly through branches such as the Miss America pageant or implicitly when asked how much their significant other makes, women are encouraged to primarily look proper, be slim, and play second fiddle to men – think of the “damsel in distress” trope, 2.0. Rousey challenges these notions when approached by body shamers who claim her physique is too masculine: “Listen, just because my body was developed for a purpose other than fucking millionaires, doesn’t mean its masculine. I think it’s femininely bad ass as fuck because there is not a single muscle on my body that doesn’t have a purpose.” As women in all intellectual sectors push for an identity linked to their work and beyond

their appearance, Rousey continues to do the same with clear and much-needed ruthless language.

Bullies never win. One of the most notorious feuds that has entered forefront in sports media is that which exists between the highest paid athlete in the world, boxer Floyd Mayweather and Rousey. The out-of-ring battle ignited when Mayweather claimed to forget Rousey’s gender and name when questioned about the athlete by an interviewer. In light of the snub, Rousey, with ESPY fighter of the year trophy in hand, looked directly into a camera on the red carpet and confidently said, “I wonder how Floyd feels being beat by a woman for once,” forcing the boxer to eat his words while reminding the world of the domestic abuser he is convicted of being. Floyd later issued a statement to TMZ sports stating: “Big bank take little bank. Let’s play and see how much money you get. Last time I checked, I was #1 on Forbes. She will never be at my status. Keep trying to get publicity,” claiming that Rousey was still out of his financial arena.

However Rousey shut down Mayweather’s arrogance once again, releasing on Ellen that she was the highest paid UFC fighter - including men - and once the math was done she made “two to three times as much per second” as her boxing rival in each fight her fights rarely push one minute. Once again, Rousey proves that intimidation driven by gender-sport hierarchy is laughable and that statistics don’t lie… sometimes they can even silence bullies.

Regardless of whether you adore mixed martial arts or are repelled by any glamorized fighting I highly encourage binge watching all Rousey docu-series on Youtube. Her battle through emotional adversity after her father took his own life and stunning work ethic provides tremendous inspiration to any demographic athletic or not.

Ronda Rousey is a blunt speaker, merciless fighter, and the precise leader needed to propel female sports to the level of seriousness and respect that it has always deserved.

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The Green dilemma

How backwards thinking and a flawed electoral system are holding Canada back EMILY KEENAN Opinions Editor

Elizabeth May’s exclusion from last Tuesday’s Globe and Mail debate caused quite the commotion in the media. May attracted much attention as she live-tweeted her way into the debate, posting thirtysecond videos outlining the Green Party’s agenda for each section.

She continued by “fact-checking” the manipulated statistics and outright lies declared by other candidates, those of Prime Minister Harper in particular.

Why did the Globe and Mail choose to exclude the Green Party leader from their debate on the economy? In an article published by the Globe and Mail, David Walmsley stated “We’ve set up the debate this way because we believe that by limiting the format to Canada’s three main party leaders, we will create a truly focused, successful discussion about the state of the Canadian economy.”

Elizabeth May was ready with a wry smile and the perfect retort on September 15th, stating in one of many clips: “As I attempt to make sense of those three men arguing over each other incomprehensibly, I’m wondering if it’s occurred to the Globe and Mail that this wasn’t exactly the ‘focused’ debate they wanted. Maybe they needed me onstage to help try to keep a bit of order.”

Indeed, looking back to the MacLean’s debate on August 6th, it was Ms. May who displayed the most tact and civility, whereas Tuesday featured an hour and a half of Harper, Trudeau, and Mulcair bickering like petulant children. Ironically enough it was Walmsley’s own ineptitude that allowed the leaders to get away with exhibiting such raucous behaviour.

Without a doubt Ms. May has proven herself worthy of going toe to toe with Harper and his adversaries. In regard to the economy,

which was the central topic to the debate, the Greens are the only party whose economic policy is intertwined with that of the environment. In her Twitter videos Elizabeth May declared, “The Green Party’s vision for growing this economy starts with taking aggressive action to confront the climate crisis.” While the debate touched the environment, Ms. May alone addressed the urgency with which environmental issues must be approached in order to be ready to negotiate a new treaty in Paris in December.

The Green Party alone seems to have grasped the severity of these issues. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, on the other hand, pledged at June’s G7 gathering in Germany to phase out fossil fuels by the end of the century has been the first to pull out of the Kyoto protocol, approved new pipelines, and the expansion of existing pipelines, severely cut environmental regulations, and silenced Canada’s leading environmental groups, organizations, and critics of pro-tar sands policies. Harper does have the audacity to run for office again with an abysmal environmental policy that juxtaposes this very commitment. His anti-terrorism strategy even listed eco-extremists (read - environmentalists) as terrorist threats. Is this why he passed Bill C-51, to protect us from those who fight for a sustainable future?

(This must be because his fundamentalist faith believes the apocalypse is coming. More on that next week.)

Elizabeth May has proved herself to be credible, capable, and arguably the best choice as Canada’s future leader. But regardless of the error of his ways, David Walmsley’s statement does raise an interesting paradox. Despite the Green Party having established itself as a viable option for candidacy, the stigma of voting Green being a waste of a vote is still alive and

well.

Where does this backwards logic come from? First, this mainstream understanding is falsely perpetuated from those like David Walmsley who write the party off as having no shot at Parliament without having given them a shot.

We have all fallen prey to it at one point or another. Even the Globe is not the only organization to make this mistake during this election campaign.

The upcoming Munk debate, Canada’s first ever debate on foreign policy, has also elected to exclude the Greens on September 28th. In response, the Green Party has launched a lawsuit with the Canadian Revenue Agency alleging that the Munk debate format infringes upon the agency’s policy.

Aurea Foundation is helping fund the Munk debate contrary to the CRA’s rules against charities exhibiting political leanings by supporting or opposing a party.

While I applaud Elizabeth May for refusing to be put down by close-minded and patriarchal discourse, these steps should not need taking in the first place. That being said, while mainstream conversation is hindering rather than helping her cause, the real culprit in the Green dilemma is our current electoral system- the outdated, rusty, and unforgiving firstpast-the-post system.

If everyone who wanted to vote Green did in fact vote Green, we would all be taken aback by the turn out. However, even if this were to occur, the Greens would not be represented by the actual proportion of the vote they received, but by the number of ridings they were able to win. And in all likelihood, these two ‘measurements’ would not turn out to be equivalent - ergo, paradox.

Voting Green is considered a waste of a vote by so many because in a way, it is. Under our current electoral system, one which

only Stephen Harper wishes to maintain if re-elected, smaller parties like the Green Party have very little chance at the representation they deserve. The Green Party won one seat last election, and this was something worth celebrating.

That seat, however, was won with 6% of the total Green vote, meaning the other 94% of votes were wasted (strategicvoting.ca).

This very phenomenon, which allowed Harper to swindle his way to a majority in 2011, brings us to a devastatingly necessary methodology: strategic voting. The main aim of strategic voting is to prevent vote splitting. According to strategicvoting.ca, 5 million votes in 57 electoral districts were wasted in 2011 due to the splitting of the progressive vote (read – not conservative). Millions of Canadians want Harper out of office, and the way to accomplish this is not necessarily voting according to your party line, but rather voting for the party in your riding that has the best chance at beating the Conservative candidate.

This is obviously not the ideal situation. I have opted to vote in my home riding and truth be told, I don’t feel entirely comfortable casting the ballot strategic voting tells me I should cast. Out of all the party leaders, Elizabeth May is the only one I want or feel comfortable with representing us as a nation.

However, given the extremity of the circumstance and what is at stake in this election, namely Canada’s international reputation, the economy, and the environment, I would rather go out on a limb for another progressive party than spend another term tainted blue.

I contacted David Hachey, the Green candidate for Central Nova, to get his take on this apparent dilemma. In such a tight three-party race, what room is there for the Green Party in this election? While he didn’t get back to me with a quote, he more than adequately

answered my question in his closing statement at Tuesday’s All Candidate’s Debate. Mr. Hachey stated, “Strategic voting disenfranchises the democratic process,” and encouraged everyone to vote according to his or her heart rather than along the line of ‘business as usual.’

While it is true that strategic voting is not exactly the epitome of the democratic spirit, in this particular case, I would argue that voting strategically does not entail a subscription to ‘the politics of fear’ cultivated by the ‘old boys club in Ottawa,’ as he posited Tuesday.

Seeking a less idealistic perspective, I spoke to John Moore, a former X student who is currently running for the Green Party in the Northwest Territories. John replied with the following: “The way I view it, strategic voting is the partisan poison dagger in the back of our Parliament and her democracy. It is the walking death of modern politics yet oh-so-necessary in a first past the post system. Strategic voting is a quavering call to surrender hope for the dubious prize of less dismay.”

Despite my hesitation, I’m willing to sacrifice one Green vote, a vote that would have little to no impact in my riding, rather than risk living under Harper’s militaristic and dictatorial administration for another four years. Moreover, every party but the CPC has promised to revise our current electoral system if elected. We have the potential to see real change in the outcome of our elections so long as we keep Harper out. 2015 may not be our year, but if we collectively cast the proper ballot, there’s no reason why 2019 (or earlier) won’t be. The Green Revolution is inevitable, after all.

If you too seek the complete and total demise of the Harper government, check out strategicvoting.ca for suggestions on which way you should cast your ballot.

something with that knowledge to put it to good use.

The first step to start creating change is to narrow your scale of change. Try not to get intimidated by large social movements.

Look at what groups you are already involved with. Are you involved with a community group or a StFX society? Start creating change within something you are already a part of, or start getting involved with a new group. There are hundreds of ways that citizens can get involved and there are different levels of risk and comfort. Pursue whatever type of involvement is within your comfort zone.

If we all contribute to being the change then there will be noticeable differences in our communities. Acts of active citizenship such as voting in elections, mowing an elderly person’s lawn, volunteering at a community organization, signing an online petition, and occupying public space for a cause all help bring about social change. Think about it and I bet you that you have already helped create change.

Start at a very small community level of social change and start growing from there. You may not be able to change the world all at once, but you can definitely change your part of it.

How can you...

Be the change you wish to see in the world?

LINDSAY JOHNSTONE Columnist No doubt you have heard this Mahatma Gandhi quotation and learned about how, through his life efforts, Gandhi changed the world. We’ve all studied the man and his leadership at some point and he showed us the way to some major progressive changes. But have you ever pondered the idea of being the change yourself? Being an active citizen does not necessarily mean you have to make giant steps to be effective.

Over the past year, I’ve thought long and hard about how

one can be the change. In many of the courses that are taught at the university level you learn about social change, both historic and current and in national, provincial, and global contexts.

Some of these large social movements include women getting the vote, the civil rights movement, and a developing environmental consciousness. Learning about these successful examples of social change can often inspire you want to create positive social change in your neighbourhood or on a larger scale.

I think a lot of us study these large social movements and never really understand how we can

make effective contributions. After all, we are only individuals…

What can each one of us do? Or maybe you see something in your everyday life that should be changed, but you aren’t sure how to go about implementing that change.

As students we gain incredible amounts of knowledge everyday.

When you finally understand and grasp a concept and the world begins to make a lot more sense, this knowledge becomes invaluable.

Simply by understanding a major critical concept, you are now capable of empowering others. After you gain important knowledge, you should want to do

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Why Rick Is Here & why it matters thursday september twenty-fourth, 2015

Interview by Julia O’Hanley Editor-In-Chief

Article by Paige Chisholm Features Editor

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Rick Mercer: The Funny Man with a message Last week, StFX had a special visitor who was here to speak about a pressing topic for every member of campus. Through collaboration between The U - StFX Students’ Union and Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership, Rick Mercer was brought to campus in order to encourage young people to vote in the upcoming federal election. There were bouncy castles and other fun activities available to students, but the core message rang clear: VOTE. Julia O’Hanley, Editor-In-Chief of The Xav, was able to sit down and speak with Rick about his visit.

Julia O’Hanley: Why StFX? Of all the campuses in Canada, of all of the Get Out the Vote campaigns, why StFX? Rick Mercer: That’s a good question because there are a lot of get out the vote campaigns, there are a lot of vote mobs this election. We were certainly invited to this school by the Get Out The Vote people. The Frank McKenna Centre for leadership, I actually bumped into Frank McKenna not that long ago and he talked to me about what he was doing here. So there was lots of options, but I like getting as far away from Toronto as possible, on a regular basis. Nothing against Toronto, but I like having a national feel to the show. Obviously I love the Maritimes, I’ve always been impressed with StFX, and I know people here are very politically active. Yeah, that’s a lot of reasons.

JO: Is this the only campus that you’re going to?

RM: Yeah. I will visit other campuses in the run of the season for lots of different reasons, I mean I did the Spread the Net challenge with takes me to other campuses, and I visit a number of campuses a year, but this is the only one before the election. We’re hoping to have two segments shot here, and I can count on one hand out of thirteen years (of the Mercer Report) where we’ve done two segments in one location. So its essentially devoting the entire show to StFX and the Get Out the Vote campaign.

JO: Is this typical of your team to do an event on a campus before an election?

RM: I think this is the first time. In previous years, my election coverage has been me on the planes, and the trains, and the buses with the leaders. There wasn’t enough time to do that this year and we just wanted to mix it up. So this is the first time that I’ve done this. The last election I went to a number of vote mobs, but we were off the air for the vast majority of elections. This is an opportunity to be on the air for a couple of weeks before the election and get out to ground zero, which is StFX. JO: Why now? Why do you think that students in particular should be getting out to vote? Why is it important for figures like yourself to emphasize this on campus?

RM: I mean, it’s just my own personal view, and I believe that everyone should vote. So obviously I believe that young people should vote. I think it’s a travesty that young people as a demographic don’t vote as much as, say, 45 year olds. So obviously that’s something that I think should be turned around. I think that young people have an interesting perspective, I think they have unique issues, and I know for a fact that young people as a demographic are entirely ignored by political parties when they are putting their platforms together. Young people are always an afterthought, and that could change overnight, in the blink of an eye. If young people turned out to vote in the federal election in the way StFX students vote in their campus elections, there would be a seismic shift in Canadian politics, and I can’t underestimate how much things would change. Your tuition would probably be cut in half.

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thursday september twenty-fourth, 2015

culture

EDITOR: RACHEL REVOY xw.culture@stfx.ca

The art of loving and leaving What happens after you find Mr. Right Ester Imogene Contributor We wait for the person who fulfills all of our lists, and when we find them, the rest is supposed to fall into place. Here’s the tale of what happened after I found Mr. Right; time and distance became the great villains of my love story.

At first, I knew I was not in a place to be romantically involved with someone, which is one of the reasons why I went along with Mr. Right. He seemed to allude that our relationship during the last week of the school year would involve strict fun with no attachment.

I thought that was ideal, having just been freed from a long and drastically painful breakup.

But how often does the excitement of something non-committal lead our modern romances into existence? He left on his last exam day, he said goodbye, and he gave me a brief speech on why we wouldn’t work out. I accepted it! I was happy that he was not in the same place that I was, and I knew that because our lives would not properly cross paths for years that this was the best thing for the both of us.

I figured at first his immense infatuation with me existed because he wasn’t going to be around long enough to uncover my flaws. And, now at the end of it all, I would not say that there is any falsities in that statement. What I had not figured was how the distance after finding someone you’re completely attracted to can lead to two diverging mental roads: you either move on and block them from you mind, or the thought of them begins to plant its seeds and roots. For him, as he began

his summer expedition of being a travelling salesman, the memory of me was haunting.

The good things about me – my beauty and youth and general kindness – must have dug deep roots- so much so that he drove eight hours to visit me in my hometown for a three hour date. On that date he asked me to be his girlfriend.

I was f loored by two things: first that I agreed to our d a t e a f t e r we had m a d e a clear a n d e m o tionless goodbye, and second that this m a n w h o seemed to relish in the freedoms of a single

young person would want to compromise that for years of long distance. I told him I needed time to think about it. I did need this time, but I was finding his grand gestures and confidence hard to deny. I agreed to this advance in our relationship after he came to visit me as I was working the summer in British Columbia. Mr. Right goes the distance!

So then we fell in love. Our love was different for one another; he says I love you as a promise for our life of being committed to only each other.

He saw our relationship as the beginning of a lifelong love. And I, although hopeful, was not in a place to be making long term plans. That was a major flaw in the way we loved. My love for him was bright and shining and new, his love for me was golden and solid and permanent. Either way, we both loved, and maybe that is what I should remember.

After my summer work term had ended I booked a plane ticket to his hometown in order to spend a week with him before returning to university.

There I was, ready with a plan to see my boyfriend and a plan to break up with him. Alarming, isn’t it? He was everything, and together we would have had a

beautiful and happy life. But, I knew deep down in my wildly intuitive core that before I could make plans to give someone a beautiful future I had to forge my own individual present. I knew I was risking a lot, but what is a life without the knowledge of independence, loneliness, and individuality? Especially because we were going to be so far apart, both of us with plans to travel in Europe and to take great job opportunities.

I was there in his homet o w n w i t h his family and friends and the looming monster on my shoulder whispering, “You k n o w

what you intend to do.” It was a hard place to put myself in, knowing the easy out would have been to call him over the phone to end things without walking into his personal life.

But, I had to fully grasp what I was leaving behind before I left.

Or else I would have been filled with even more regret and the feeling that I never really knew him. I did it, maybe not the most seamless ways. We were hungover in bed and I told him I loved him and I was leaving him all before fully waking up.

It was okay. Mr. Right is understanding, and cares about you being true to yourself. I will be eternally grateful for learning what love is supposed to feel like, what an ideal man acts like, and how special I was to someone – at least for a time.

I recall a conversation we had had in the early parts of our relationship. He said to me over a message as he was leaving the country for work, “I wish I was on my way to you.” I replied honestly and romantically, “You are, but you’re just taking the long way.” I’m hopeful that this is all that is. Us taking the long way in order to be the best for each other.

Now here I am, sitting on this metaphor of a train leaving him and the future he had painted for us behind. Now I’m going to move through my life with the optimism that he can exist for me again, in one form or another. It has been told that when you find someone so ideal and so willing to give you their life you take it. But, you also have the option of taking your life in the directions you feel necessary in order to grow and flourish in the ways that will make you complete and happy.

I’m on my way to forging myself

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Jess Domenico: powerhouse performer StFX music student’s “journey to self discovery” LAUREN AGNEW Senior Reporter Anyone who knows StFX music student Jess Domenico will tell you that behind her slight frame and shy smile is a powerhouse of a vocal artist, ready to blow you away with her renditions of everything from Ed Sheeran to Justin Bieber while her own compositions will leave you begging for an encore. But as with every superstar in the making, Jess is so much more than just a voice.

Taking up piano at the age of three, Domenico was surrounded by music for much of her early life. She accredits her vocal coach Jake Leiske with igniting the passion for music that so clearly drives her in everyday life. As a fourth year in the Jazz program here at StFX, Jess has had a whole host of musical inspirations and role models throughout her career.

Her parents exposed her to an array of musical styles including Joni Mitchell, Brahms, Miles Davis, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, and Michael Jackson.

Her inspirations nicely offset her enjoyment of 90’s-era artists such as the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, and Hilary Duff. High school introduced an appreciation for folk, punk, and alternative rock. When describing her musical influences, Domenico explains, “Some artists have taught me what I don’t like, and others have taught me what I love and cherish; music takes you on a journey self-discovery.” When asked to describe her style, Domenico says it is “a JazzFolk fusion with a side of Soul/ R&B”.

Domenico believes that much of her growth as a musician was a direct result of her education at StFX. She explains, “My professors have not only taught me the technical, cerebral aspects of music; they have also taught me valuable life lessons applicable to everyday existing. They have given me so many opportunities to experiment musically and expand my mind. They truly care about each and every individual student and put so much extra time and atten-

tion on everyone.” Another added bonus of the music program is the opportunity to work with other up-and-coming artists as peers and fellow classmates.

Although Domenico is undecided in her decision to pursue a professional career in music, she believes it will always be a major part of her life. Composing and performing are among her favourite musical pursuits.

Outside of performing, Domenicois actively involved in the StFX community. She is currently the Music Director at CFXU, the campus radio station, as well as working as a lifeguard at the Alumni Aquatic Centre. She also enjoys gardening, recreational dancing, hiking, horseback riding, playing board games, kayaking, and canoeing.

Check out Domenico’s Facebook page or Soundcloud page, both under the name Jess Domenico, for more soul-soothing sounds. You can also catch her performing live at Townhouse on Oct 1, and with her band ETHOS at the Inn on Oct 17.

Photo: Devon Chisholm

New local vegan paradise Pachamama A review of Antigonish’s new, healthy cafe Caitlin Vance Columnist “Pachamama” is our newest café in town, located at 18 College Street on the corner of St. Ninians and College. The shop recently opened up this past summer on Jun 15. The café offers a variety of baked goods and beverages to try, with a specialty in vegan and gluten free options so as to make the food accessible for any consumer.

Leanna Braid is the owner and operator of the business. I had the privilege of talking to her to get some backg round information on how the shop came to be.

Leanna started out her business originally at the Antigonish Farmer’s market selling baked goods and smoothies. Leanna has always been passionate about cooking and baking and making healthy food taste good.

As Braid became a hit at the farmer’s market, she wanted to expand the company’s horizons by establishing a store in town. Her lifelong passion of creating healthy recipes paired with the business expansion being necessary in order for her to stay in Antigonish both lead to the innovative

idea of “Pachamama” coming to life. Braid’s moto surrounding food is that eating fresh, local foods is the way to go.

Every item at “Pachamama” is made from one of Braid’s own recipes, without the use of cookbooks.

Her goal is to create delicious foods for everyone to enjoy. After all, in Braid’s own words, “There is no need to exclude g reat flavour to have healthy foods!”

I had to try out the food for myself to get a personal opinion on the goods offered. The first thing I tried at Pachamama was one of their frappas. I was very impressed with the large selection of flavours and milks to choose from. There are a variety of plant-based milks available, but dairy is also available. The drink was the perfect thing to have as a refresher on a hot day. The store also offers iced coffees and teas, cold smoothies, as well hot drinks and teas for when it starts to get cool again, which will happen soon. After trying one of their beverages, I had to come in again and try out the food.

The truffles caught my eye the second I stepped into the store. I had one of the raw cacao, coconut, and na-

ked truffles. My personal favourite was definitely the raw cacao, though they were all delicious. I was impressed with the prices of the goods; for a whole food emporium they were quite reasonable.

Maddie Burton is the current president of X-VEG, StFX’s new vegetarian and vegan society, and was recruited to test out “Pachamama” for a gluten free and vegan perspective. She first heard about Pachamama from Braid herself, as Burton was a frequent customer at Braid’s table at the Antigonish Farmer’s Market.

Burton recommends the Mexican Hot Chocolate, es-

pecially on a chilly day, as it’s the “perfect mix of sweet and spicy.” She also recommends any of the treats with the cacao icing for any of the chocolate lovers out there. Being vegan herself, Burton says, “It’s just really nice to walk into a restaurant where you know everything on the menu is okay for you to eat.

Especially in a society where you usually have to ask for changes to your dish, or your choices are slim picking.” She also reports being very happy with the service at “Pachamama.” Even though retail vegan foods can be quite expensive, Burton notes

that “Pachamama is putting forth an appreciated effort to keep the prices low and their products accessible.”

“Pachamama” is an impressive spot with the solid prices, products, and the g reat service. I invite you to go try out the place on your next coffee break to establish an opinion for yourself.

Leanna is always coming up with new ideas to meet students’ needs and wants customers to know that there is something there for everyone. The store is not limited only to vegans or glutenfree eaters but anyone open to try healthy, wholesome, and delicious food. Happy eating!

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thursday september twenty-fourth, 2015

White Panda unmasked Gaining insight on the life of a performing panda RACHEL REVOY Arts and Culture Editor Before being introduced to the elusive members of White Panda, I waited as they finished their sound check. Beams of mystic lights illuminated the empty venue as I sat in the vacant bleachers of the Keating Centre. The speakers continued to check over the same lyrics that haunted the empty room: “The sun is shining and so are you.”

On stage, White Panda worked diligently in setting up the equipment required for a powerful performance. People were working, moving, and testing the system so that nothing should go wrong during the show. Nothing did, except for an unexpected fire alarm that cut the concert short.

I greeted one of the members of the duo that is White Panda. I wondered silently why I was only speaking to half the band, and why only half the band had given me only half his name. Tom. Tom without a last name. Tom the music producer and performer from Chicago, Illinois. We sat backstage on the bleachers as I begin to ask him about the life of a Panda.

The Xaverian: Tell us about

[have a persona].

Xav: Do you have a trained musical background?

WP: Yeah, I was classically trained on the piano when I was seven years old and took it for ten years. I taught myself guitar and drums. In high school I put together an indie rock album. I became familiar [with] and excited about dance music when I was in college and I really liked a lot of what Girl Talk had done with their album Night Ripper. So when I got bored in school I decided to make sample music on my own, but in more of an electroniclike style. And we were one of the first ones to do that. It’s sort of why our name became known and we started sending [our music] out to people and next thing you know people are starting to ask you to play shows. Our sound has definitely evolved to be more EDM. We play a lot of progressive and electro-house live but some of what we release is more down tempo. It’s chiller music.

Xav: EDM is becoming a huge movement. Would you say you followed the movement or were you one of the people creating the movement’s popularity?

WP: I wouldn’t say I’m the reason it’s growing, but one of

When I got bored in school I decided to make sample music on my own, but in more of an electronic-like style.

And we were one of the first ones to do Tom from White Panda

your persona as White Panda and how that came to be.

White Panda: Obviously I’m really energetic and into the music, but apparently my girlfriend came to a show and said that I have a stage voice which is a little bit darker, deeper, and a bit more thug-ish. I guess I do

the reasons we got to where we were is because of that growth. We started making this music before it was big. So then when it got big, we were one of the original names - at least for the sample-based stuff. I also don’t entirely classify us as EDM; it’s a similar

Photos: Devon Chisholm performance but that’s just because we like to play all of our higher energy music in the live setting. We’re not quite in the typical EDM network but we’re still along the fringe.

Xav: What is your formula for a good mash-up?

WP: A lot of it is trial and error. You’ve just got to hear the things together, you’ve just got to trust your ear. Obviously it has to work rhythmically in terms of speed and key signature. They have to be synced up and then you look for cadences in the song and accents on similar beats to make the music flow well together. Other than that, it’s about picking tracks that people would like to hear in a mix. You’re not picking some unheard-of old J-Lo song because no one is going to care. If you’re going old you want to find something that will bring back memories. [The process is] a combination of your ear, taste, and music, and all the technical boxes check off to make it work.

Xav: Do you also control the lights for you show?

WP: A lot of these lights are advanced, meaning we let them know ahead of time what to bring in and they bring in an LD, a lighting director, to control them.

We’re controlling our masks which have lights on them along with the strobes and a few other efT-

fects. One of the reasons there are two of us on stage is so one can do music and one will control the lighting and effects.

Xav: Who is the other panda?

WP: We’re supposed to both be mysterious, that’s why we don’t do video interviews.

Xav: Online, your reviews on concerts and new tracks are very impressive. Do you have a specific fanbase?

WP: Kids between the age of 17 and 25 are generally where our biggest fan base is, which is really nice for college shows because we do a lot of these.

We try and put on a really high energy show. This is always a good environment to do it in because these are the highest energy audiences.

Xav: Have you heard about StFX before our Student’s Union contacted you?

WP: No, I’ve actually never been to Nova Scotia before.

[The U] contacted my agency, and then he gives me all the information and I definitely wanted to get up here so it was an obvious choice.

Xav: What do you think about StFX so far?

WP: I haven’t seen much of the campus but the setup here [at the KMC] is great – the lights and the arena; it’s all very conducive to a good show.

I had lunch in An-tee-go-nawsh and the food was great. It seems like a cute little town.

Xav: How do you expect the show to go?

WP: I expect the show to be great. I really appreciate you guys bringing us up here and I hope we leave a good taste in your mouths and we’ll hopefully circle back and see you again.

The general consensus is

that they did what they intended to do: entertain the crowd of frosh mixed with the less dominant group of upper years crowded hazily under mist, confetti, and lights. Everyone in the crowd was not only moving along with the music, but appeared to be genuinely enjoying the atmosphere that White Panda provided. We were sweaty, we were in close contact with each other, and we were mesmerized.

On stage Tom and Anonymous adorned panda masks. It was hard to see anything beyond the lights of their masks with the thick layer of mist that surrounded both stage and arena. Their masks were the beacon.

After the 11:30 PM mark, the Pandas had been on stage for merely one hour when the concert had to be cut short. From the guests’ point of view, they were told to leave after White Panda stated, “We can’t do anything about this.”

Later, it was determined that the fire alarms went off due to the humidity created by the human bodies in the Keating Centre. No one pulled the alarm, according to Nick Carpenter, Students’ Union Vice President of Activities and Events, who stated, “The fire alarm went off. We have confirmed that it was not pulled by anyone. According to one technician the code on the alarm by an elevator in the foyer said it was the humidity in that area that caused it.”

Nonetheless, the concert was seemingly a success.

Thank you White Panda, for the hour of concert we did receive. The concert was an exciting way to conclude Frosh Week 2015.

distractions

13

EDITOR: TY KINGSTON xw.distractions@stfx.ca

Ty Kingston presents local poetry (eat this shit up) I look around I see bright white light I can’t see anything else I can’t tell if I’m up or down I’m blind to what surrounds me Where do I go?

I sometimes wonder, What other eyes see All I see is the bright white light It’s that pure It’s that bright It’s perfect.

Blinding.

What a thrill it is To escape somewhere And forget my lover Though he’s so often on my mind What a jolt I get To forget he watches over me But a life without him cannot be He is so often on my mind My family weeps when I lay in his arms.

Sometimes I want him more than them I shouldn’t.

I dream of him I shouldn’t.

I want him.

I shouldn’t.

For I grow ill, the closer we get He is so often on my mind.

I’ll play with this thing for now And distract myself It is my only lucid time He’ll be back He is so often on my mind.

Hey you! You can write better stuff than this.

Email your poems to ty kingston at x2014hgs@stfx.ca and state whether or not you wish to be anonymous.

Rejected Frosh Issue (Mama bird regurgitates this stuff with a vengeance) TY KINGSTON Ass Crack Have you ever wanted to talk to a senior – a veteran, about X? Well I did! Late last summer I sat down with Jon Hierlihy (no, it’s pronounced Her – lee- high) about his time at X. Jon graduated in May with an engineering diploma, and is now finishing his degree at Dalhousie.

“Jon-Jon,” I began, “Why did you go to X?” “Two buddies of mine went the year before. One was a partier, the other was not. They both loved X, so I figured it was a good school.”

Jon started here in 2012, and lived in Lane hall for two years.

Jon is one of the founding fathers of first floor Fridays.

Take a minute to catch your

breath. “Shit got fucked,” Jon commented, staring into the distance nostalgically.

While at X, Jon was a member of Hype committee on O-crew. He also studied a lot; that is a trending life-style amongst students here. Jon claims that his greatest achievement here was “passing Willy’s classes.”

I have not reached out to the infamous Willy for comment.

My last question for Jon was, “What advice would you give to incoming students?”

“Study – it makes life easier.”

Ground breaking philosophy; I know. Indeed, for though we will ‘discover’ ourselves, make memories and friends galore, we must remember the words of those who came before us: study; this is a school; study.

14

thursday thursday september september twenty-fourth, twenty-fourth, 2015 2015

sports and health

EDITOR: SHELBI KILCOLLINS xw.sports@stfx.ca

Scoring on and off the field: What it’s like to be an athlete in a relationship LAUREN AGNEW Senior Reporter It’s the dream of any athlete to score the winning goal, point, or basket in a close game in front of a huge home crowd. We close our eyes at night and picture what that final play will look like, how we stand alone in the spotlight with only the sound of our own heartbeat resonating, sweat dripping, adrenaline surging.

There’s the perfect pass, the defense seems to part like the Red Sea and all of a sudden it seems so simple, so innate: victory. All of a sudden the sound of the crowd returns to us, our teammates are celebrating and everything is right in the world. The dream replays over and over again as we drift off to sleep, realistic or not, and keeps us motivated at practice the next day.

For some people however, that winning feeling isn’t enough, and we need someone to share it with. While some athletes find it a distraction, still more believe that having a “special someone” with whom to share victories and losses both on and off the playing surface are what makes everything worthwhile.

Picture that dream from before, but when the sound comes back and your teammates are

celebrating, you’re looking for that face in the crowd that makes everything better. If you’re having trouble picturing it, imagine the One Tree Hill Lucas-andPeyton scene where Lucas chooses Peyton after scoring the winning basket in the final game and simultaneously sets the ridiculously high standard for every future jock-plus-cheerleader relationship.

However, there are very obviously both pros and cons to having a significant other in the crowd. X-Women Rugby centre Becky Clark says that off the field, having a significant other is beneficial for the relationship’s ability to give her space from the team that she spends so much of her time with. She does, however, agree with teammate Fawn Zeuchner, that knowing your significant other is watching you play adds another level of stress to the game. Zeuchner explains that “it makes me nervous knowing he’s watching, but it also helps push me to do better because I want to make him proud.”

Where Clark finds comfort in her relationship as an escape from the stress of the game, Zeuchner believes that having a boyfriend who is also a varsity athlete is an added bonus, because not only does he under-

stand the demands of a busy varsity season, but he also becomes a training partner in the offseason, offering motivation and support.

Perhaps it ultimately comes down to the type of athlete you are, whether you thrive in highpressure situations or would rather just play the game and block out all the noise. Former XWomen Varsity Hockey Captain Jenna Downey says that looking into the stands and finding an encouraging face is all it takes for her to settle down and play the best hockey she is capable of.

If you are lucky enough to be dating an athlete of any sort, remember that even though they may seem calm, cool and collected during the game, they are without a doubt performing under high expectations from teammates, coaches and themselves. Athletes need balance as much as anyone else, and a partner that is supportive and understanding of the ups and downs of longs seasons and exhausting practice schedules is an invaluable support system. On the other hand, if you’ve managed to handle dating an ambitious athlete you are one brave soul, who deserves just as much recognition along the road to victory as your significant other does.

Stamping your athletic career with an ‘X’

A look at the challenges and benefits of being a freshman varsity athlete CONNOR GARAGAN Contributor Whether it be stepping into the classroom or onto the playing field, our StFX student-athletes certainly know how to deliver success wherever they go.

But how did our fourth and fifth year leaders develop into the people they are today? How did their transition in first year set the stage for the entirety of their undergrad experience? I met up with rookie athletes from our many sports teams and touched base with them about what they

hope to gain from this upcoming year.

I had the chance to sit down with Antigonish native Holly Scott. Scott is a new shooting guard to the varsity X-women basketball team; she highlights in our discussion that her schedule is rigorous due to her being in the nursing program. She expresses that the busy varsity schedule overlapping her workload is something different than her high school years, however she insists that she is “enjoying it so far.”

As with many other freshman Photo: goxgo.ca

students adjusting to StFX culture for the very first time, she was forced to adapt to the new team and location that she will call home for the next four years.

Scott found it overwhelming in the early days with all the new surroundings and expectations pushed upon university students. Luckily for Scott, the StFX campus comes with some familiarity that has certainly made the transition more comfortable.

She emphasizes how special it was for her to come here, saying, “Growing up in Antigonish I always wanting to play on the X-

women Basketball Team.” Now having the opportunity to attend StFX, she is coached under Augy Jones, whom in his fourth year serves as head coach.

Tyrel Edwards, a native of Hamilton Ontario, originally started his post-secondary athletic career in the NCAA at Dalton State University. In commenting his reasons for transferring to StFX, Edwards speaks highly of Coach K’s longstanding reputation for producing elite teams in CIS. Coach K and his new teammates have expressed a lot of support towards Edwards as the school year revs up and the squad embarks on their first regular season games.

As a transfer student, one of Edwards’s worries was the status Canadian universities posses for having intense academics, as he hopes to succeed both on the court and in the classroom. Edwards relayed excitement for his new school and on eventually receiving the third most recognized ring in the world.

In my final meeting, I had the opportunity to sit down with my newest teammate on the women’s varsity hockey team, fresh-

man defensemen Alley Goodreau. Goodreau played at a prep school in Ontario last year; she stresses how crucial it was reaching out to the StFX athletic community in preparing her transition to university.

Goodreau is appreciative that she was able to conquer frosh week with fellow varsity athletes. She was nervous about the daily sacrifices that student athletes are required to make; nonetheless, she maintains optimistic and is “beyond excited to wear a StFX jersey while being part of such a special organization.”

Goodreau also touches on the importance of her academics, saying, “Being a student athlete can be challenging and overwhelming at times with the work load, but I know that I have a team behind me who will help and support me in my times of need.”

The StFX athletic family and community of fans are thrilled to see our freshman in their first CIS appearance. Our varsity athletic programs are an integral part of the university experience weaving all years together under white and blue on the court and in the stands.

15

Morrison hall survival guide Avoiding monotony and staying healthy in your kitchen away from home

CAITLIN VANCE Nutrition Columnist Every student at X has been to Morrison Hall at one time or another. Whether every day in first year or the odd time while on campus, the majority of us have had our go at the all-you-can-eat buffet style campus outlet. Here are some tips and tricks on how to navigate meal hall while taking the healthy route.

The term “healthy diet” is one of those words that is hard to define. In general terms, a healthy diet is a diet comprised of a variety of different foods that together supply our bodies with all of its nutritional needs. The key here is balance. Try to stick to fresh, wholesome foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains as much as possible. A great rule of thumb if you’re ever in doubt is that the less processed a food is, typically the better it is for you.

SALAD BAR Starting with the salad bar, there are a variety of vegetables to choose from. It’s a good idea to start your meal with a big green salad in order to ensure that you get your vegetable servings for the day. Start with spinach or lettuce, adding numerous vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, and green peppers to the mix. If you choose to make a salad as a meal, ensure that you add some protein in the form of lean meats, beans, or tofu and some complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, or whole grain bread to your dish in order to keep you satisfied.

Beans and/or tofu, tuna, and sometimes chicken are located at the salad bar. If there are no lean meats available at the salad bar

for you, you can always go to the main counter of meal hall and ask the employees to prepare you some. Opt for vinegar or water based dressings as the creamy dressings typically come loaded saturated fats, which are known to have a negative effect in the body by raising LDL (bad) levels of cholesterol. Personally, I like to add some balsamic vinegar or a little bit of soy sauce on top of my salads. The salad bar is also great for making wraps and sandwiches. Grab a whole grain bread or tortilla wrap, and add as many vegetables as you please to keep variation in your diet.

SOUP Soup is served daily at Morrison Hall. Again, opt for the waterbased soups rather than cream based - they will pack in a lot less calories for a heck of a lot more nutrients. For example you could choose the “vegetarian lentil and spinach soup” rather than the “cream of broccoli”. In the morning they serve oatmeal instead of soup: a terrific way to start your day. Pair your oatmeal with some fresh fruit in the morning for a balanced meal. Take it easy on the sausage, bacon and eggs for breakfast as these are loaded in unhealthy fats and cholesterol.

THE GRILL AND PIZZA BAR Most of the dishes from the Grill in meal hall are deep-fried. If you’re trying to eat healthier, I’d recommend staying away from this part of the space. On some days, they will host healthier dishes, so you can check xmeals.ca prior to going to meal hall to see what options they will have for you. As the pizza options of meal hall are not always the healthiest

either, the make your own pizza option is terrific because it allows you put whatever you want on your dough! My alltime favorite personal pizza is as follows: Start with a flat bread or tortilla wrap and spread a few tablespoons of hummus from the salad bar on top. Next, spread some of the pizza sauce on the flat bread and top that with your favourite veggies and beans. Finally, ask a Sodexo employee to put it on the pizza grill for you.

When baked, the hummus helps give the pizza a delicious cheesy texture. Typically they have little pieces of chicken at the pizza bar as well if you want to use that instead of beans as your protein source.

INTERNATIONAL At the “international” section of meal hall you can usually find the daily stir fry. You can bring additional veggies and whatever else from the salad bar to the stir fry line if you don’t like what they are serving, as long as it’s on one of the little plates. Don’t be afraid to ask for no oil, no meat, or whatever your preference when making a stir-fry! Again, the less processed a food is, the healthier it is for you.

Photo: Devon Chisholm CLASSICS The “Classics” portion of meal hall always provides a variety of selection of dishes. Whatever your choice, aim to get in a sufficient amount of vegetables, complex carbohydrates in the form of whole grains, and lean sources of protein at every meal. Meal hall doesn’t always have brown rice, but baked potatoes can be a great way to get in some complex carbohydrates. I always fill my plate with what I know I need first, and then add in additional foods as deemed fit. Meal hall is great because every dish served has the nutritional facts of the meal located on the counter beside or above it. Check here for any key ingredients if you have any dietary restrictions, or to see the nutritional value of what you’re about to eat.

Speaking of dietary restrictions, there is a little section in

meal hall that supplies those with dairy and gluten restrictions a selection of foods that they otherwise couldn’t eat. Here they have gluten free breads and treats such as buns and muffins, and dairy free milks for anyone who is lactose intolerant or who chooses not to drink milk.

DESSERT Always save the best for last, no? As many of you have come to know already, meal hall serves dessert after every lunch and dinner. Of course having dessert every day is not good for you, but remember moderation is key.

There are healthier alternatives for dessert such as some granola and low fat milk, or cereal with fruit. But if you want to indulge in a piece of cake once a week, I wouldn’t feel guilty about it. After all it’s all about balance, remember? Happy eating!

Producing more than just hockey players A recap of the impressive Canadian athletes who dominated this summer SHELBI KILCOLLINS Sports and Health Editor While most of us indulged in a few pints and tons of sun this summer, multiple Canadians were tearing it up athletically at the elite level. Although it is the poster child of unique winter sports, Canada has transformed its athletic identity from a land dominant in hockey to a country excelling in a variety of sports such as track, tennis, and paddling, all within just one year.

This summer Toronto hosted the 2015 Pan Am Games, with Canada collecting 78 gold medals, 69 silver, and 70 bronze medals. This included golds in track and field, badminton, boxing, diving, and g ymnastics. Later in the summer, the World Track and Field Champion-

ships were hosted in Bejing where two Canadians rose above the rest and made a name for themselves in the world of running. Melissa Bishop from Eganville, Ontario broke the 14 year Canadian 800 m record with a time of one minute 57.52 seconds in a race that tested not only speed but tactical skill. In the same week, Derek Drouin of Corunna, Ontario took gold in high jump being the only man at the event who could clear 2.34 metres.

Another upcoming diamond in Canadian athletics is eighteen year old golf superstar Brooke Henderson.

Brooke won the Cambia Portland Classic on the LPGA Tour in August, making her the first Canadian female to win on the LPGA circuit since 2001. After playing a summer with spon-

sorship exemption, she has finally been granted LPGA membership and currently ranks 17th in the new Women’s World Golf Rankings.

With this deep body of talent, Canadians should be pumped for the upcoming 2016 summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro; with a roster of athletes like veteran swimmer Ryan Cochrane, trampolinist Rosie MacLennan, and beach volleyball duo Heather Barnsley and Sarah Pavan, Canada will be sure to decorate the country in gold, silver, and bronze while further drawing recognition for the diverse physical and mental talent the Great North possesses.

Photo of Brooke Henderson: mindfulgolfer.com

16

The White Lotus

thursday september twenty-fourth, 2015

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