Issue 17 Vol 143, The Brunswickan

21-0 //The Reds top guns drop tommies to stay perfect >> pG. 13 Volume 143 • Issue 17 • January 27, 2010

thebruns.ca

brunswickan canada’s oldest official student publication.

NOT PRO-PROROGATION

Students made up some of the crowd of 50-60 people who gathered outside City Hall in Fredericton on Jan. 23 to protest the prorogation of parliament. A prorogation causes unenacted bills to lapse and stops committee proceedings.The government asked for time to recalibrate during the Olympics. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

NB Power still not quite ‘In this place’ Sarah Ratchford Editor in Chief The contentious deal to sell New Brunswick’s power utility to Hydro-Québec has been reworked slightly after much public opposition in the Maritime province.

In the new deal, NB Power’s transmission and distribution systems will remain under the control of the province of New Brunswick, and generation facilities including the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station, hydroelectric generating units and peaking diesel units will be sold to Quebec for $3.2 billion – rather than the original $4.8 billion.

Initially, the majority of NB Power s assets were to be sold to Hydro-Québec, sparking much public outcry over the sale of one of the province’s largest assets. The provincial Liberals’ modified sale proposal appears to take into account, at least partially, the overwhelming negative response to the initial all-or-nothing deal.

Final details of the new contract have not yet been cemented. Premier Shawn Graham has said they will be made available to the public as soon as they have been settled, which is slated for March 31.

Provincial Opposition leader David Alward still isn’t satisfied, however.

“The premier has decided to keep the

new deal hidden from the people,” claimed the Progressive Conservative leader. “Many people picked holes throughout the (deal’s original memorandum of understanding); the people understood the deal better than the premier himself.

“Why isn’t the information being made public? New Brunswickers aren’t being given the opportunity to look at the details.”

While the power utility’s debt will not be completely eradicated as in the original $4.8-billion sale proposal, the original deal’s five-year freeze on power rates will still be in place.

Alward said he’s also concerned that details of what will happen after the rate

freeze’s end are not yet clear.

“Following five guaranteed years of no rate increases, it will be NB Power . . . that will appear before the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board to justify any rate increases,” wrote Energy Minister Jack Keir in a recent press release.

When asked in a subsequent interview if he thinks the new deal is better for New Brunswickers, Keir said that “It’s not about a better or worse deal than the other. This is the same deal.”

He said the process of making the deal has been two-fold; part of it involved talking to New Brunswickers, and part of it involved talking to Quebec to reach a final

agreement.

“We knew we would make changes as we moved forward. What I’ll tell you is I talked to many New Brunswickers, and they didn’t want to sell NB Power transmission and distribution.”

Lauren Vail, a third-year business student at the University of New Brunswick’s Fredericton campus, said she doesn’t think the deal bodes well for the people of New Brunswick.

“It’s good in the fact that we’ll maintain

SEE POWER PAGE 2

Student Union partners with students to raise funds for Haiti Lee Larrett News Editor In early January an earthquake devastated Haiti and shook the world into action.

The UNB Student Union responded by organizing fundraising efforts led by VP External Ryan Brideau.

Brideau said that it all started with a conversation around the SU office.

“People realized that something needed to be done. This is a big global issue and we’re in a position where we can make a big difference, so it would be an injustice not to.”

From there the SU has created a campus-wide and online fundraising effort that benefits the work of Doctors Without Borders and the Canadian Red Cross. Brideau said they selected these two non-governmental organizations because, “they’re very well known organizations that have a track record for doing effective work and at this time they’re working in Haiti, they need the money, and they seem like an organization we’d be looking to support.”

The SU has set a goal of raising $20,000 for this cause, and will be

matching dollar for dollar what students raise up to $5,000.

“At first I thought [$20,000] would be a little too ambitious, and in hindsight it might be just appropriate. It’s ambitious enough to get attention but practical enough that we can actually reach it,” Brideau said.

The UNBSU has been getting a lot of attention from local media including the CBC, and other student unions across the country have taken notice as well. The University of Alberta Students’ Union called Brideau to ask how the UNBSU is organizing their fundraising efforts.

The SU is taking a unique approach to this fundraising; it wants to partner with students and clubs and societies.

“We’re here to facilitate and provide resources for anyone who’s looking to help the cause,” Brideau explained. The SU has put together posters, presentation boards, and donation boxes. An online volunteer page on the SU website shows available time slots when the SUB, Tilley Hall entrance and Head Hall entrance are available for clubs to set up findraising initiatives.

“If they want to do their own thing then we’ll help advertise for it, we’ll help

facilitate that,” Brideau said.

To get the fundraising started, the SU sent an email out to all the clubs and societies. Iota Beta Chi, a sorority at UNB, was the first to respond to Brideau’s request.

“As students we know that we’re not much, but we are strong in numbers, so if you can start with something small then it starts a snowball effect,” said Angie

SEE HAITI PAGE 2

2 • Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143

Haiti: res community helps out Sandy Chase Staff Writer The Lady Dunn talent show finished off a week of fundraising for Haiti with a total of over $1,500. Russell Drummond, a proctor in Joy Kidd House, helped lead the recent fundraising efforts in residence that caused students to open their hearts and wallets to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Drummond and two other proctors from the DKT, Serena Smith and Caitlin Doyle, organized the fundraising campaign that started with a door-to-door drive and concluded with a raffle at the Lady Dunn Talent Show.

“We started Thursday, we got prizes and stuff, and then Sunday-- there were three of us-- we went door to door with 11 other proctors all from the DKT,” said Drummond, adding that the response by students had been amazing. “Myself and Shannon, one of the other proctors, were placed in LBR. They were having a house meeting, and we told them, and after everyone was running around the house trying to find us and bringing money. We’ve had tiny donations, like people dumping their piggy banks, which is fantastic, all the way up to $20.

But every single bit counts.” The Lady Dunn talent show was the final event of

brunswickannews

Small turnout for Strategic Planning session Hilary Paige Smith News Reporter

Residences are doing what they can to help raise funds to support releif efforts in Haiti. Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan the week. A raffle table was set up in the back while students from across campus showed off their skills. The fun evening showcased everything from dancing to stand up comedy, and included a touching song by Sally McCrae, a proctor in Maggie Jean, with a video montage of news footage from Haiti.

“It’s an amazing group effort, the three of us organizing it, and you go a little bit further and you’ve got our friends, the other proctors and then that goes to the UNB community, so its got support at all levels. We were hoping for $600 and

we’ve come close to tripling that, so it’s pretty amazing,” said Drummond.

Drummond also added that some of the smaller donations have been some of his favourites because of the stories that come with them.

He recalled one donation. “One guy came up to me with his piggy bank and he said ‘Here you can have it, you can have it’ and I said ‘No I don’t want your piggy bank, I just want the money in it.’” All the proceeds from the raffle and fundraising in residence went to an orphanage in Jacmel, Haiti.

About 15 students showed up to the second break out strategic planning session for students on Saturday Jan. 23.

The two hour session was one of many that have been held throughout the year for various focus groups in the UNB community. This break out session was student focused with a goal of improving student life at UNB. A similar session took place prior to Christmas break, however it coincided with the exam period so Saturday’s session was planned to give more students an opportunity to have their voices heard.

“We had about 15 people come out to have a bigger conversation specifically with regards to what you can do to improve the student experience here and how can you build a better UNB,” Jon O’Kane, president of the UNB Student Union and a member of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, said.

O’Kane said that participants in the session were mostly Student Union councillors, however other students did partake in the discussion. The SU

president said one of the major topics raised surrounded international students on campus and the international student differential fee.

Another issue that was discussed at the session included mentorship for younger students.

“There were some very interesting conversations about mentorship and connecting earlier year students with upper year students and alumni to improve the student experience,” O’Kane said.

Other issues that were raised include graduate studies at UNB, English as a second language training and having the voices of underrepresented groups heard.

O’Kane said he is optimistic the conversation that took place at the session will be included in the overall strategic plan.

Feedback gathered from this and other sessions will be reviewed by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee for implementation into the overall strategic plan.

UNB’s strategic planning initiative aims to build a better university as they move into the 225 year. The Strategic Planning Steering Committee consists of 30 members from all areas of the UNB community including students, faculty, staff and administration.

Students hard at work with Haiti relief efforts FROM HAITI PAGE 1 Barbrook, Philanthropy Chair of Iota Beta Chi. “It shouldn’t be a matter of ‘Should we help;’ it’s, ‘How much should we do?’ because everyone has something to give whether its money, whether it’s time, whether it’s clothing, everybody has something,” Barbrook said.

The sorority sisters staffed a table in the SUB with posters and donation boxes prepared by the SU, helping to do the leg work of collecting donations.

“We want to be a positive image in our community and not to be that stereotype,” Barbrook said. “Our motto is ‘Lead by grace;’ what a better way than to pay attention to what needs to be done

and get on the ball and do it.”

This fundraising effort has grown with support over a very short period of time.

“At this point I’m trying to get as much done as I possibly can within my time constraints; I’m trying to be a full time student as well,” Brideau said.

The Social Club raised $2,360 on Saturday Jan. 23, and the parents of a UNB student donated $1,000 the night before.

Brideau has also worked out a partnership with the STU Students’ Union, who will also be matching dollars raised up to $5,000.

Brideau says that the SU will support any fundraising ideas brought to his attention, and that he looks forward to partnering with clubs and societies as well as individuals who want to help.

To donate to the relief effort, follow the links on the SU’s website at http:// www.unbsu.ca/.

NB Power deal revised FROM POWER PAGE 1 distribution lines, but it’s a burden on taxpayers because of the cuts (in rates) to big businesses. It’s a huge loss; it would be better if we maintained (the utility). It is lowering debt if we do it, but only in the short term.”

Chris Callaghan, a facilities maintenance worker at UNB Fredericton, said that while it’s a good thing that New Brunswick would retain control of transmission, he is concerned about job losses at affected generating stations.

“It’snotright,”hesaid.“Itdoesn’taffectme, but it sucks for them.”

“It’s insane, what they’re doing,” said Alward. “We’re giving our future away.” He plans to send a letter, like he did at the time of the original memorandum of understanding, to Quebec premier Jean Charest outlining

his stance.

Brett Bodechon, who runs the youth commission in New Brunswick for the provincial Liberalparty,saidthechangestothedealsignify that the government is listening to the people of the province.

“Asfarasyouthandthisdealareconcerned, I think this deal can only benefit the future of this province, and the youth, as we move forwardwithlowerratesandacleanerenvironment.” he said.

“Not to mention less provincial debt. A lot of students I have spoken to since October havestatedthatthedealisasolidbusinessmove and that the province will be better off without the burden of such a debt-ridden operation.”

The deal will be finalized by March 31, though Keir said details of the agreement would be disclosed to the public as quickly as possible.

brunswickannews

Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143 • 3

Frederictonians protest prorogue

news briefs.

Bridges polar dip approaching Bridges House will hold its annual polar dip to raise money for its house charity, the IWK, on Saturday Jan. 30. The event starts at 1 p.m. with live music and a barbeque, and the jump is at 3 p.m. The cost to jump is $25,and both jumpers and donations are still being accepted.

Ian’s case settled Chris Ian’s case has been settled. There was contention surrounding the grad student’s accidental role played in the setting of a fire in McLeod House in November, and it was suggested that he move out of the house. Ian says his case has been settled, he has discussed the situation with Residential Life, and is happily settled in another residence.

On a Saturday afternoon Frederictonians descended on City Hall to express their distaste for the government’s recent decision to prorogue parliament. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan Hilary Paige Smith News Reporter Red signs and red faces populated the area in front of Fredericton’s City Hall on Saturday afternoon to protest Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to prorogue Parliament.

Between 50 and 60 people showed up in below zero weather, eager to have their voices heard about the suspension of Parliament until March 3.

Alysha Bayes, a law student at UNB, took charge of organizing the Fredericton No Prorogue rally. She acted as master of ceremonies throughout the hour-long protest.

“When I heard about the prorogation in December, I remember thinking to myself ‘Didn’t we just do this?’

When I returned to school in the new year I read an article about the Facebook group…and there were about 20,000 people on it at that time so I joined,” she said. “There was this discussion about rallies being held across the country and nobody had signed up for the Fredericton one, and I decided to take the challenge and organize it because I really believed in the cause and I really wanted to get involved.”

A handful of people spoke before the crowd about various issues related to the prorogation of Parliament. Alex Corey, a member of the Fredericton Peace Coalition, spoke about the war resistors bill; Tracy Glynn, also with the Fredericton Peace Coalition, spoke about the effect prorogation has on the inquiry into the treatment and torture of Afghan detainees; Ella Henry, student activist and VP Education with the St. Thomas University Student Union spoke about “the lack of democracy”; Eileen Malone, a seniors activist who spent two terms on the National Advisory Council on Aging, spoke about what cost prorogation has for Canadian citizens; Dan Foster, a professor at UNB, spoke about how Canada needs Parliament and what the average Canadian can do to help; and Dan Weston, co-ordinator of the Fredericton Anti-Poverty Organization, closed the rally with a speech about getting engaged in politics to affect change.

Foster’s speech was met by a flood of applause from the crowd. He encouraged everyone to get engaged and continue to be engaged in the political process.

“Don’t accept the answer that all politicians are bad, they’re not. There have been great politicians in this country and in other countries in all parties who have cared about Canada and fought for Canada. If enough Canadians remain informed, remain engaged and remain noisy, the good politicians will be with us and the bad ones will slither back under the rocks they came from,” he said, using Winston Churchill as an example of a good Conservative politician.

The rally organizer said she believed the afternoon was successful and that Fredericton did its part to protest the prorogation.

“My hope is that future prime ministers will use this power more wisely. I don’t think there needs to be a legislative change. I think these demonstrations are proof enough that people do care and we’re not going to tread on our democracy lightly,” Bayes said.

Fredericton’s rally was one of 50 that happened across the country. The Facebook group, Canadians Against the Prorogation of Parliament, has over 210,000 members with numbers steadily climbing. For more information visit www.noprorogue.ca.

Small girl, big crown Chris Cameron Staff Writer Fifth year UNB Biology student Chelsie Doherty, won the title of Miss Petite New Brunswick last week. A native of Chipman, NB, Doherty has spent most of her life involved with pageants.

Winner of Junior Miss Chipman, Miss Chipman, Miss Fun Fitness and a top five finisher in the Miss New Brunswick pageant, Doherty is ready to step up to the national level.

“I was approached by the former Miss Canada and asked if I was willing to participate,” said Doherty. “I could not deny the chance to enter and of the 70 girls that applied I was granted the title.”

The selection was based on interviews with the candidates, applications and photos. In order to qualify competitors must be five foot five or under. During the phone interviews Doherty was asked many questions, but one stuck out in particular: “If there was only one word to describe yourself, what would it be?”

“I answered clumsy,” said Doherty.

“They laughed and asked for a serious answer, but I told them that if my friends could describe me in one word it would be the same one. I’m just an average person and being clumsy is something I can’t help.”

Coming from a smaller province where there is less competition for the provincial title, Doherty sees the national competition to be somewhat intimidating. Besides competing on a national level, she will have to prepare for new events she has never competed in.

“This is the first time I’ve ever done a bathing suit competition,” said Doherty. “There is a lot of gym time involved and a lot of shopping. I also have to prepare my talent, which is public speaking. I used it in my other pageants, so that is the talent I will stick with.”

Doherty discovered her talent for public speaking at a young age thanks to her grandfather’s position as the mayor of Chipman.

“Being brought up in that environment I was placed in many situations where I was forced to speak publicly,”

said Doherty. “On many occasions I was told to MC an event, and I believe those past situations have helped me participate in these competitions in the talent portion.”

Although the recognition for winning Miss Petite New Brunswick may not be substantial, it makes no difference to Doherty.

“This is important to me and I feel that I accomplished something by doing this,” she said. “I’m proud of myself for doing this and it is just something to say that I went, something I’ve always wanted to do and now I get to do it.”

The competition for the National title of Miss Canada Petite 2010 will take place on August 29, 2010, at the Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts, in the town of Richmond Hill, Ontario outside of Toronto. Doherty’s one wish is that she makes her province proud.

“It is a lot about being a role model because you want to be the best representative for your province. When I get there I’m really going to have to step it up.”

brunswickannews

4 • Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143

Spend springtime in Paris

Final reading for Council bylaw amendments Lee Larrett News Editor

Students can participate in a unique program that turns Paris into their classroom for the month of May. Flickr CC Hilary Paige Smith News Reporter “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast,” Ernest Hemingway once said.

Dr. Robert Viau, a French professor at the University of New Brunswick, shared this quote when referring to the upcoming “Spring in France” study abroad program.

Joanne and Tom Melady are living examples of Hemingway’s words. They participated in “Spring in France” in May of 2008 and spoke by phone with The Brunswickan on Friday from Dijon, France where they are on an extended visit.

“I guess we kinda caught that bug. We thought, ‘We’ve got to get back,’” Joanne said. Her husband is studying French at the University of Burgundy.

Spring in France has been happening every May for the past four years. The

program, run by UNB, is open to students and members of the public who are interested in studying abroad. This year’s trip takes place from May 3 to May 22.

Participants will spend a week in Poitiers and two weeks in Paris. A French language and culture course, taught by Viau, is offered for university credit; students may also take an economics course taught

by Dr. Constantine Passaris. Classes are informally taught and students study in museums, churches, historical sites and cafes. Participants may also audit classes.

Poitiers, the first stop on the trip, is closely tied to Acadian culture in New Brunswick.

“There is one place in the world where people know where New Brunswick is and it is the Poitiers-Poitou area. The reason is because that is where the Acadians come from,” Viau said. “When we do get there we are received as cousins.

They take out the flag. They bring us out for lunch. It’s really quite an experience.”

After Poitiers, students spend two weeks in Paris, which are highlighted by visits to important landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral, as well as museums like the Louvre.

Viau said that one of the benefits of the trip is that students are invited to explore places that tourists are not, such as the Bank of France, UNESCO, a fashion show and the Louvre at night.

For Melady, the trip was an immersion into French history and culture.

“When you think about what is here in France, hundreds and hundreds of years, just the wealth of history that’s here,” she said.

Melady said she recommends the trip both to students and professionals looking to explore French culture.

For more information on the trip visit: www.cel.unb.ca/travelstudy/france/ english.php or email rviau@unb.ca or passaris@unb.ca.

Group counseling in session Alex Kress Staff Writer Self-injury is a significant issue, particularly for University students. Nancy Buzzell, a psychologist at UNB, and some of her colleagues at the CC Jones Student Services Centre are offering psycho-educational group sessions for female students over the coming weeks.

The CC Jones Centre offered a pilot group last semester that, although humble in size, was successful in providing support for female students in need.

“We’re hoping it will continue to build,” Buzzell says, “because [selfinjury] is a very common problem.”

She mentioned that although this is not exclusively a female issue, these group sessions will focus on the needs of female students as the percentage of the affected is much higher than males.

For now, male students are welcome to seek one-on-one counselling at the CC Jones Centre, but Buzzell hopes group sessions for males will be available in the near future.

A common assumption is that it may be very difficult to face a group of strangers and admit to habitual self-injury.

“You’d think it would be really hard, and it is. But it’s supportive because you’re with people who understand.

Sometimes when you’re doing one-onone [sessions] you don’t get the same kind of counselling. There is a full range of experience in a group and there is no judgement. There are people who have stopped injuring, some who have relapsed, and some who are actively selfharming,” Buzzell said.

The group dynamic allows one to express varying personal experience and “let go of the shame and the blame,” according to Buzzell.

Ways in which those affected injure themselves include cutting, burning, hair-pulling, hitting, scratching and excessive picking. Buzzell says that despite her extensive training to help self-injurers find more positive ways to cope with their emotional strain, it is still difficult to identify self-injurers.

“We can’t always tell because people hide it. They often start in middle school and [self-injure] as a way of coping with overwhelming emotion for years and years, and are very good at hiding it.”

Large workloads can lead to high levels of unhealthy stress among university students.

“There is an assumption that because people are university students they are the cream of the crop, so they must be really healthy. The truth is they struggle just like everybody else,” Buzzell said.

Buzzell listed the three most common issues she sees as anxiety, depression and relationship difficulties. Selfharming can begin innocently, and in the beginning can be used to distract oneself from negative feelings and can create a sense of control and power.

Once self-injury becomes a habit, it becomes problematic.

Other triggers of self-destructive behaviour include pressure due to grades, finances, family and interpersonal relationships. The group atmosphere provides female students with an opportunity to talk about their own experiences with others who have experienced

similar tough times. The group tries to provide less harmful ways of dealing with pressure.

Pre-group interviews will be conducted the week of Jan. 25-29. They will take approximately 30 minutes and will allow time for Buzzell and her colleagues to meet interested students and for interviewees to discuss their histories of self-injury. Pre-screening also exists to “demystify” what can be an intimidating move in a healthy direction for female self-injurers.

There will be two separate groups, one on Tuesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., starting on February 2 until March 16 and one on Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., starting Feb. 3 until March 17. There will be six sessions and each group will be led by two qualified professionals at the CC Jones Centre.

Each group will discuss relaxation, talking and education, and there will be exercises and activities that provide suggestions for alternate ways of coping with self-injury.

The costs of group sessions and general counselling services are covered by the Student Union Fee included in university tuition for UNB and STU students.

“People can change this if they want to stop,” Buzzell says. “We don’t expect people to stop completely all the time, but to harm less and less seriously, replacing [self-injury] with more healthy ways of coping.”

Call 453-4820 to set up a pre-group interview. Group sessions will be held at Counselling Services, on the second floor of the CC Jones Student Services Centre at 26 Bailey Drive.

The third and final reading of bylaw amendments met with no discussion and were passed almost unanimously, making the changes law within the Student Union.

Prior to voting on the bylaw amendments, references to liaison positions were removed from the bylaw amendment package. Bylaws referring to liaison positions are to be altered based on the work of an Ad Hoc committee whose task was to consider what positions should be created, and how candidates would be elected into those positions.

These positions are meant to represent marginalized groups on campus.

Student Council passed a motion that Women, Aboriginal, LGBTQ and Differently-Abled Representatives be elected by persons who self-identify with those groups. The election is to be done with paper ballots, in a specific location, overseen by the Chief Returning Officer.

An Off Campus Students’ Representative is to be elected by off campus students through online voting.

Arts Representative Tom Cheney spoke on behalf of the committee and explained that most representative positions are a matter of self-identity and voters could never be asked to prove that

they were aboriginal, gay or lesbian. So it was suggested that voters come to a voting space, self identify on paper and then be given a paper ballot. By voting for different representatives at the same booth another layer of anonymity is added. Issues were also discussed about barriers to attending Annual General Meetings, or any event that requires constituents to openly self-identify within the student body.

VP Academic Shannon CarmontMcKinley raised concern over voters who might abuse the voting system by claiming to self-identify as something they are not and vote for the candidate whose views they want at the council table. Computer Science Representative Ash Furrow pointed out that there are mechanisms within council to remove a candidate who did not represent their constituency, and VP External Brideau said he couldn’t image someone who did not represent a constituency having the nerve to run for and hold a council position. Forestry Representative Rachel McKinley pointed out that many of these communities gaining a representative on council are close knit and any dishonesty happening within the community has the potential to be dealt with within the community.

The motion for representative recommendations passed unanimously.

Hey, you.

Do you think there’s an issue that’s not getting decent coverage?

Do you have suggestions for better opinion articles, features, or anything else for that matter?

Use the Bruns as your voice.

Write to editor@thebruns.ca to get set up.

We look forward to hearing from you.

brunswickanopinion

Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143 • 5

editor@thebruns.ca

Know your grammar, get a job

The Opinionator Nick Howard I feel like I have neglected my duty. As copy editor of UNB’s only print news outlet, I edit the paper every week for style, grammar, spelling and fact. Though I correct the same errors every week, I have failed to bring them to the attention of the student population.

This week’s version of The Opinionator will be a first attempt to share with you, in the hopes of generating grammatical change, some of the most common mistakes I have seen over the last six months. Though the leap from spoken to written word is often difficult, communication through written language is what sets man apart from beast and, as such, deserves attention.

1.“That” does not refer to people.

“I love people that write with proper grammar”.

Unless the people to whom I am referring in the above sentence are inanimate objects or animals (which they clearly are not, since they are people), then “that” has no place in the sentence as a pronoun. What the struggling author of the above sentence was searching for was a relative or interrogative pronoun for sentient beings; “who”, in other words. Using that in reference to people is essentially the same as calling your friend an “it”. Intended or not, that is still insulting.

2.Its, it’s and its’.

“Its common grammar mistakes which make you look stupid”.

This mistake, though glaringly obvious, is painfully common. Along the same lines as the “their and they’re” trap, the “lose

Our text- laden culture has contributed to making our English even worse than before. Although grammar can be an annoying thing to pay attention to, negligence in this area can make you look like a moron. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan and loose” trap and the “effect and affect” trap, misusing it’s, its and its’ will make you look even more stupid in the eyes of a future employer or any human being with a knowledge of grammar. In fact, the use of these three little words is fairly simple. It’s is a conjunction, a combination for lazy English speakers of it and is. If you can substitute it is for it’s, then your sentence is safe for public consumption.

Its is the possessive of it. The root of the confusion is easy to understand; many English words are made possessive with the use of an apostrophe s (i.e. the pie’s filling). It,

however, is an exception. Since the conjunction stole the apostrophe, the s is left on its own in making it possessive.

Its’, however, is a whole different story.

Its’ is unforgivable. Its’ makes no sense in any context, so just don’t use it.

3.Could of and would of instead of could have and would have.

“I could of not failed my English course”.

If people spoke more clearly a world of grammar mistakes would never have been made. People need to speak slower if they are going to write like they speak. Blending could and have together resulted in could

of – a combination of words which is never and will never be grammatically correct. If you see could or would and of beside each other in any of your writing, backspace is your next move. Even the terrible grammar auto-check in Word picks it up; if a computer can write better than you, it might be time to quit university.

These three grammar mistakes are all too common, even among educated university students. Some mistakes are esoteric and up for debate – like the oxford comma (the comma which precedes and in a list). Others, like the three listed above, are not debatable;

Giving to charity really isn’t that noble

Take My Word For It Sam Perlmutter The recent earthquake in Haiti sparked a massive worldwide relief effort. The quake, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, devastated the poorest country in the Western hemisphere; recent estimates put the death toll over 200,000. Seventeen Canadians have been found dead, and hundreds remain missing.

The outpouring of support has been overwhelming thus far. On Friday Jan. 22, a number of major networks in the United States and Canada broadcast “Hope for Haiti Now” to raise funds for charities involved in the Haitian relief efforts. The telethon raised over $50 million in one night.

Canadians have already given a whop-

ping $67 million to charities and the government has announced that it will match its citizens’ donations. On our own campus, the Student Union, led by VP External Ryan Brideau, started a campaign that has already raised over $11,000.

But, let’s not kid ourselves. Donating to charity really isn’t that noble.

By no means do I want to discourage people from donating, or minimize the impact these donations may have. But, let’s at least face reality and admit that giving to charity is a piecemeal solution. It’s a halfassed attempt to assuage our collective guilt and a tacit acknowledgement that we are not prepared to do anything substantial to help.

Before people start tooting their own horns for how much money has been raised for Haiti, it’s worth mentioning that had people not ignored the plight of the Haitian people until it was plastered all over television, Facebook, Twitter and every other major media outlet, a relief effort of this scale would not be necessary.

One of the biggest reasons for catastrophic devastation of this earthquake was

the near complete lack of infrastructure in Haiti prior to the disaster. Haiti has a population of close to 10 million - of which 80 per cent, or 8 million, live in poverty. Most of the population lives off less than $2 per day. Every day, before the quake, Haitians dealt with poverty to an extent we can only imagine.

The aid Haitians are receiving now is aid they have desperately needed for years. The plight and suffering of the Haitian people are not new phenomena, they just haven’t been of a significant enough degree to attract our wandering attention.

Donations to charity are not altruistic; rather, they are reactive. A terrible, desperate situation has finally captured our minute attention spans. Having been able to largely ignore it prior to this, donating to a charity is the easy way out so that we do not have to feel as bad about the suffering of others.

Donating to charity can even be looked at as a cop-out, a guilt transfer. It’s a token gesture to allow us to feel better about ourselves.

William Harbaugh and Ulrich Mayr, economics and psychology professors

respectively at the University of Oregon, published a study that said people donate to charity because it feels good. Brain scans showed that pleasure centers in the brain were stimulated by the act of giving.

Other studies and research suggest that people give to charity because they feel guilty.

Personally, I think there is truth in both of those theories. Donations to charity are largely a selfish act, often done out of guilt.

Not that either of these are necessarily bad things. Donations to organizations such as the Red Cross and Medicins Sans Frontieres will help with the relief efforts. But we should not delude ourselves into thinking these actions are an enviable altruistic deed.

I should know because I was one of the first people to donate in the UNBSU’s online campaign. I gave what I thought was a reasonable, even generous amount. After all I am a university student, operating on a limited budget (or so I told myself). I could have given more. We all could have. My next

use them correctly or don’t use them at all.

Though grammar may be brushed off as inconsequential, the written language is our primary method of communication in professional contexts. Compare grammar to your clothes – would you go to a job interview with your shirt on backwards? Your first communication with a future employer will inevitably be through a resume and letter of interest. Using its instead of it’s is wearing your grammatical shirt backwards; you demonstrate the same kind ignorance and sloppiness with your misuse of words as with your misuse of clothing.

pay cheque will likely go toward beer and my Toronto Blue Jays ticket fund.

But somewhere I, like thousands of other donors to charity, have decided that I am not willing to make any changes or sacrifices to my lifestyle in order to help the Haitian people as much as I can. My donation was nothing more than a token, a tacit acknowledgement that I will continue to spend my money on alcohol, out of season berries and sporting events, while the people of Haiti loot their own broken grocery stores for their next meal.

And that’s what donating to charity really comes down to. It’s a nice gesture, and it will make a positive contribution to the lives of others. But that’s all it is, a gesture. We all could do more. We feel enough guilt seeing the suffering of the Haitian people, compared to our relative lives of luxury, to give a little. Giving a little to charity isn’t really all that special. Special would be sacrificing part of our standard of living to help improve that of Haitians. Now that would be noble.

brunswickanopinion

6 • Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143

Lost Sundays…the athletic apocalypse

the brunswickan Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief • Sarah Ratchford Managing • Alex Duncan News • Lee Larrett Arts • Doug Estey Sports • Colin McPhail Photo • Andrew Meade Copy •Nick Howard Production • Christian Hapgood Online • Alison Clack Staff Advertising Sales Rep • Bill Traer Delivery • Dan Gallagher Contributors Zaheer Abbas, Stephanie Allen, Danielle Bodie, Chris Cameron, Kathryn Chase, Sandy Chase, Alison Clack, Maggie DeWolfe, Dave Evans, Sarah Farquhar, Josh Fleck, Kennie Gathuru, Dan Hagerman, Ayat Abed Isiad, Cody Jack, Jacques Landry, Brandon MacNeil, Cameron Mitchell, Matthew Murray, Sam Perlmutter, Jon Salmon, Brian Savoie, Hilary Paige Smith, Ysabelle Vautour, Alex Wickwire & Valerie Woodman.

The Brunswickan relies primarily on a volunteer base to produce its issues every week. Volunteers can drop by room 35 of the SUB at any time to find out how they can get involved.

About Us The Brunswickan, in its 143rd year of publication, is Canada’s Oldest Official Student Publication.

Is Favre’s continued participation in the world of the National Football League leading to his imminent demise? Or is insinuating this in the first place total ageism? Flickr CC

Jonathan W. Salmon Staff Writer The weekend graced its subjects with seasonally mild, yet crisp winter temperatures and a pocketful of sunshine for those of us who embraced it. But no football fans would have known this.

We were among the small percentage of the population, normally dominated by the sick and sufferers of solar urticaria—or one who is allergic to solar rays—who felt the daylight through a window; or more specifically a window situated on the opposite wall of the television on which their attentions were so firmly fixed. We will hardly breathe fresh air on a Sunday for another two weeks.

And this is a steep price to pay, espe-

cially when the games come up short of expectations. Nail-biting, hair shedding finishes are seldom, if ever, seen these days. Of the four games played this past weekend, only one was remotely close on the scoreboard-- the New York vs.

San Diego match up, which ended in a 17-13 win for the Jets. And looking into the wildcard round, the Arizona vs. Green Bay game was the sole affair that ended in a difference of less than 10 points.

This is a grim revelation for the future of the NFL and its fans. However, the upcoming week has the potential to offer some nail-biters. I have high hopes for the Minnesota vs. New Orleans game. It should be a high-hitting, high-intensity bout. And as for the Jets vs. Colts game, the Jets are the sole

wildcard team left in these playoffs, and I always root for an underdog.

However, the question on everyone’s minds nowadays is “Can Brett Favre steer his team into the port of the big game?” And although he is presently playing some of the best football of his life, I give him until the third quarter of the final game before he drops to the ground and spends his final breath.

Yet that is if he makes it through the entirety of the weekend’s events. With a man of his age, it is always difficult to tell.

This will difficult for the NFL to deal with, especially after the investigation into Favre’s death reveals a conspiracy that weaves all through the league and forced Favre into taking on a more years than planned. They told him that he

wouldn’t have to worry; they’d pump him full of steroids and give him all the Just for Men that he could ever want.

I guess he decided against the Just for Men. Nonetheless, with those muchsuppressed steroids in his system, it was only a matter of time before his heart simply couldn’t take it anymore.

The implications of this pro-steroid stance by the NFL will reverberate through the sporting world. It will spell the beginning of the end for professional sports in this world. Pro athletes will drop off the map. In our children’s era, sports fans will be a thing of the past, forgotten lore.

And they will be out enjoying those mild weekend afternoons.

But, let’s thank god Favre pulled through, eh.

Have ideas or an opinion you need to get out?

Send us Letters! editor@thebruns.ca

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by Brunswickan Publishing Inc., a non-profit, independent body.

We are a founding member of the Canadian University Press, and love it so. We are also members of U-Wire, a media exchange of university media throughout North America.

We publish weekly during the academic year with a circulation of 6,000.

Letters Must be submitted by e-mail including your name, letters with pseudonymns will not be printed.

Letters must be 400 words at maximum. Deadline for letters is Friday at 5 p.m. before each issue.

Editorial Policy While we endeavour to provide an open forum for a variety of viewpoints and ideas, we may refuse any submission considered by the editorial board to be racist, sexist, libellous, or in any way discriminatory.

The opinions and views expressed in this newspaper are those of the individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Brunswickan, its Editorial Board, or its Board of Directors.

All editorial content appearing in The Brunswickan is the property of Brunswickan Publishing Inc. Stories, photographs, and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the express, written permission of the Editorin-Chief.

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brunswickanopinion

Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143 • 7

Sexy white noise

Lube without fear Maddie Guerlain The McGill Daily

It’s no secret that music can heighten the mood when it comes to sexual endeavours. Sexual Healin’ anyone? Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan Nathan Downey The Muse ST. JOHN’S, N.L. (CUP) – Whether used in combination with incense and candlelight to set a certain mood in the boudoir, or played at high decibels to drown out the sound of the headboard thwapping against the wall, music and sex have had a long and storied relationship, dating back at least to the invention of the phonograph (well, to the invention of the car radio, anyways).

Music is especially useful for these two applications, but above that, it enhances the enjoyment of both the sex and the tunes.

If you’re like the vast majority of college students, you probably have roommates. It’s an unspoken tenet of roommately etiquette to spin songs during sex, absorbing yours and your partner’s coital moans and bedspring squeaks in sonic ramparts of pink noise. Unless you get off on being heard, everyone inside – and outside – the bedroom will be more comfortable with a soundtrack playing in the background.

Beyond being a useful sound screen, music vastly enhances the sexual experience itself. Well, the right music does. It works in much the same way the score and soundtrack of a movie adds depth and dimension to its scenes. It can

also have a metronomic effect on your moves, giving your thrusts and gyrations (or whatever) a more regular rhythm than a capella sex does.

Music taps heavily into the emotion and memory centres of the brain. If you listen to certain songs with greater frequency in the sack, you’ll experience what I like to call déjà screw: Fondly recalling your boudoir triumphs any time you hear whichever song or album you favour while knocking boots.

So if music and sex are such an ideal combination, what’s the best music to do it to?

Sex music falls into a few different categories. There’s smooth and sultry, something R&B-ish (though avoiding anything with a soprano saxophone is an absolute must, and R. Kelly will probably crack you up).

There’s rock ‘n’ roll, classic or modern, a genre positively fuelled by sex (The Idiot by Iggy Pop, or Exile On Main Street by the Stones, for instance).

Electronic music is a good bet as well, generally mid-tempo stuff involving a deep bass line (be careful though: The line between sexy and cheesy is hazy with electronica).

The best stuff, though, borrows sexy qualities from all of the above. Albums like Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix by Phoenix, or The XX’s eponymous

debut would work. Herbert’s Scale and Psychocandy by The Jesus and Mary Chain are other albums tailor-made for sex.

I did a quick scan of Yahoo Answers, one of the Internet’s great unifiers, to see what other people’s definition of sex music is. Marvin Gaye and Barry White seem to be heavily represented (possibly by our aging Boomer population?)

Someone inexplicably suggests Arwen’s theme from *Lord of the Rings*. How kinky. Lots of people seem to take R. Kelly seriously as well.

If I were going to type in a response, I’d probably suggest Loveless by My Bloody Valentine. Don’t let its seemingly contradictory title fool you; Loveless is a sprawling lo-fi masterpiece that’ll fill your boudoir with some of the sexiest music ever recorded. It’s loud and layered, soothing and sultry, and the sound is dense enough to absorb even the loudest moans of ecstasy. But if you’re in the market for something electronic, Tarot Sport

by Fuck Buttons is, well, a no-brainer.

Other people will clearly have different definitions of what constitutes sexy stereo fodder, but there are a few artists that nearly everyone will agree should be avoided at all costs. Just to name a few: Limp Bizkit, The Black-Eyed Peas, Billy Ray Cyrus, Current 93, Hanson, and System of a Down. Seriously, just don’t.

MONTREAL (CUP) – Maybe you found it as a young child on your parent’s bedside table. Maybe you got a free packet in your Frosh kit. Maybe you never leave home without a bottle of your favourite brand. Everyone has a different relationship with lubricant.

Alas, like many fun things about sex, it’s not commonly mentioned in health class (if Sex Ed is taught at all), and for many it remains in the shadows of the semi-taboo.

One of the main reasons we don’t talk about lube is because we don’t like to talk about body fluids. From a young age, we dismiss talk of body fluids as “potty mouth” or “bathroom talk,” leaving little room for people to talk about the fluids going in and out of their bodies. Think: pee, poop, blood, cum, puke, tears, lube. These can be hard to mention to a doctor, let alone a partner.

The absence of lube in our education and casual conversation creates an unspoken, unrealistic standard about how “normal” bodies are supposed to function. For example, a common myth is that vaginas naturally create all the lube they need when the person is turned on. This is simply not true.

Some vaginas do and some don’t.

This is when communication becomes important, and when lube can lend a helping hand.

Another common misconception is that lube is only for certain types of sex (read: penis-vagina intercourse). In reality, lube can be used everywhere and with everything: toys, masturbation, anal sex, massage, handjobs, blowjobs, fisting, fingering, spanking, frottage.

You name it, and you can probably lube it.

It is important to remember that different lubes can be better suited to different places. Water-based lube absorbs into the skin with use, which

means no mess later on. If the lube dries up, simply add water to the area; only the water content of the lube has disappeared, not the ingredients that make it slippery. Silicone lube lasts longer and won’t be absorbed by the skin, which is helpful in places or parts that don’t naturally create their own lubricants. Remember, silicone lube should never be used with silicone toys, as the friction will melt the toy!

There are also warming lube, tingling lube, organic lube and vegan lube.

If using a condom, put a little lube on the inside before using it in order to increase sensation for the wearer. Lube is also a great way to make sex safer: it will decrease the risk of a condom breaking or, if not using condoms, it will decrease the chance of micro-tears in the skin, which STIs like to invade.

A few things to be aware of when choosing a lube are glycerin, parabens and oil. Water-based lubes often contain glycerin, a sugar alcohol that can lead to yeast infections or irritation, and parabens, which have been found to be carcinogenic – though this is still controversial. While some prefer oil, it should never be used with condoms since it weakens latex. It also has a tendency to stick around longer than expected, increasing risk of infection, and it will stain your sheets.

Like anything you put in or on your body, check the ingredients before use.

It’s also important to keep in mind lube’s limitations. Bodies like to communicate in different ways and producing lubrication can be one of them; a lack of natural lubricant might signal somebody isn’t feeling the situation or isn’t quite ready. Whether it be with words, hand signals or a secret code made up of pelvic thrusts and grunts, communicating with your partner about what you’re into and what you’re not, as well as asking them about their wants and needs, creates a space of trust and experimentation.

brunswickanopinion

8 • Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143

Student

Viewpoint.

What is your favourite thing to do in Fredericton?

Let everyone know whats on your mind.

“Food and drink at the cellar.”

“Reading each Bruns twice.”

Brian Von Richter

Greg Melanson

“Hockey games.”

Kelvin Gilliland

Kathleen Hutchinson

“Party.”

“Go drinking.”

Myran McLaughlin

Melissa Dedaf

“Hanging out with friends.”

Nicole Eccleston

“Fun, what’s that?”

“Hookers and blow.”

“Going out.”

Sarah Kennedy

Tyson Belliveau

brunswickaninternational

Multicultural fair a success

Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143 • 9

International development week is coming up Danielle Bodie International Editor

STUISA put on its annual multicultural fair this past weekend. A wide diversity of cultures gathered in the SUB to share the best parts of their backgrounds. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan Maria Acle The Brunswickan The St. Thomas International Students’ Association (STUISA) recently brought together different cultures represented in the Fredericton community for its 2010 Multicultural Fair.

The event, held in the SUB Atrium, let people experience different musical styles, traditional dances, fashions and exotic flavours from all over the world.

“We are so happy with the turn out of the fair,” says Sabrina Sotiriu, President of STUISA and volunteer of the multicultural fair. This being her fourth year contributing to the event, Sotiriu says that this is STUISA’s most famous and popular event.

“It is becoming a tradition of STUISA to display and put together our multiculturalness and international backgrounds to the Fredericton community,” says Sotiriu. As the President, Sotiriu worked closely with Marina Grechko, the event’s chair and main organizer.

The crowd got to enjoy the colourful, bright lights and various art decorations which were displayed at the event. “Everything just looks amazing. It brings back good memories of home,” says Omar Johnson, a fifth year UNB student from the Bahamas.

As the event started, broad selections of dishes from every continent were offered. Some of these dishes included Lebanese samosas, German gulasch, Mexican tortillas, and even

Ukranian and Russian vegetarian soups and desserts.

“The food is delicious. I’m surprised to see so many interesting choices,” says Kayla Brinston, a second year STU student. American and Canadian dishes were also served such as fudge, poutine and pancakes.

MCs Steven Lecky and Devika Dadhe entertained the audience throughout the event. Once the talent show began, Saa Andrew jumped on stage and sang “Hey Yoh and On Da Radio.” This tune was followed by the Japanese community’s powerful Soran Bushi dance. Irish and Jamaican songs turned the beat up while poetry pieces and native drumming transmitted strong messages to the audience. Cheerful Indian and AfroPeruvian dances brought colourful rhythms and choreographies into the show. Finally, the song “Imagine,” interpreted by Khairunnisa Intiar, Emmanuel Rutayisire, Kara Cousins and Kiyoka Kunishima, moved the public as it closed up the talent show.

In between the performances, a fashion show displayed traditional clothing from around 20 countries.

Yi Nuo Tao, this year’s fashion show coordinator, says that these shows bring Fredericton closer to the rest of the world. “I find it amazing to be cross-cultural, and I want more and more people to be like that,” says Tao. Devika Dadhe says that these performances “are an opportunity to make all of these different norms and cultures familiar to the Canadian

community.” Devika, STUISA’s public relations officer as well as MC and volunteer for the fair, says that “the event opens their eyes to different worlds.” As an Indian citizen, the PRO thinks her country was well represented during the Multicultural fair. The Talent Show Coordinator, Maria Cristina Montenegro, says that the fair is an example of hard work and unison.

“It is intrinsic to search for the many skills that different cultures have and show how much they have to give,” says Montenegro.

The UNB International Relations Office has organized International Development Week to inform students about development issues around the world.

International Development Week is an event that is put on every year through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), which deals with foreign aid and international development projects. One of the organization’s main focuses is to raise awareness about international development.

To accomplish their goal CIDA has different campaigns across the country.

For the past few years, the International Relations Office at UNB has hosted International Development Week on campus. The office handles student exchanges and works with faculty members to develop relationships with partners overseas. IDW consists of student and faculty groups interested in sharing their knowledge of international development with others.

Many UNB students help out with the preparation for this event, but Brian Magee, a work study student in the International Relations office, gave the Brunswickan an peek inside the preparation for this event.

“IDW is something that I am very excited for. This year’s keynote speaker will definitely be one of our many the highlights of the week,” says Magee.

The keynote speaker is Dr. James

Orbinski, a past president of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders). He is a well-known author and has led a life full of humanitarian work.

In 1999, he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of MSF. Dr. Orbinski will be speaking on Wednesday Feb. 10 in MacLaggan Hall.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of IDW, students will have the opportunity to attend lunch and learn sessions. Each session will be led by different groups that focus on activities that UNB is involved with and that deal with international work.

On Tuesday, there are also speakers from Bhutan. Professors and students visiting from Sherubtse College in Kanglung, Bhutan will share their experiences from Bhutanese universities.

Information will also be shared about UNB’s involvement in Bhutan.

On Wednesday, the Centre for Property Studies will host a lunch and learn session with students who have been working in Malawi over the past summer.

On Thursday, YMCA International will be hosting a presentation on Honduras.

IDW will also give students the opportunity to learn about careers available in international development. CIDA will be here on Thursday afternoon to introduce students to the responsibilities of a job in international development.

Throughout the week donations will be accepted for the relief efforts in Haiti.

brunswickanarts arts@thebruns.ca

Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143 • 10

When life imitates art: “Life Without Instruction”

This year’s English 2170 class shows its acting and production chops with a winter production of Sally Clark’s “Life Without Instruction.” The show starts this Wednesday, Jan. 27 and runs through Saturday, Jan. 30; doors open at 8 p.m. Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan Maggie DeWolfe The Brunswickan The ability to gracefully act out a taboo subject is a talent that is not easy to acquire.

The cast and crew of this year’s English 2170 class managed to do just that in their production of “Life without Instruction”.

Len Falkenstein, the play’s director, says he chose the play to challenge his students.

“Life without Instruction” is based on the true story of Artemesia Gentileschi, a Renaissance-era painter who is raped by her father’s friend Agostino Tassi. Artemesia subsequently takes him to court when he refuses to marry her.

The script, written in 1991 by Sally Clarke, depicts a sordid love story with

undertones of gender issues and violence. The dialogue is brief and to the point, yet it still gives the audience an in-depth look into the psyches of the characters.

These psyches are masterfully portrayed by the actors in the production.

Stefan Folkins, who portrays the rapist, says that getting into character was no easy task.

“You really have to put aside your own emotions and tap into a dark place,” Folkins says.“You have to understand the person and be able to express the depth of their character in a few short lines.”

Christine Bissonnette, who plays Artemesia, agrees.

“It’s a very emotional subject,” she says. “I had to work really hard to make it seem like Stefan’s character is going

to hurt me.”

Their efforts certainly did not go to waste. The members of the cast have tremendous chemistry on stage; they seem to feed off of one another’s energy, resulting in a darkly comic and sometimes heartbreaking spectacle.

“The actors and I bring different things to the stage in how their characters are played,” says Falkenstein.

“We met somewhere in the middle and were able to bring the subjects together without being at odds with each other.”

Because of the small cast, each character was a highlight.

Not only are Folkins and Bissonnete astoundingly convincing, but Thomas Fanjoy’s portrayal of Artemesia’s bumbling father Orazio and Madeleine Whalen’s performance as Tutia, the handmaid, create a noteworthy en-

semble.

The group’s strengths are accentuated by equally hilarious performances provided by Mike Augustine, Brendan Grimes, Ryan O’Donnell and Becky Forbes. Whether they are playing drunks, floozies, flamboyant homosexuals, or lecherous old men, the supporting cast played their roles perfectly.

Besides the acting, the play’s sets and technical directions were exceptional.

The set features antique furniture and Renaissance paintings complete with a hide-a-bed and trapdoor. The stage space was well used; the props created an authentic look without crowding the actors.

It is also worth mentioning that the technical cues were perfect and music and lighting were used to great effect.

My hat goes off to stage manager Diane Laflamme Millette, technical director Mike Johnston and stagehand Taylor Sinstadt.

One of the most important aspects of the play was the cast and crew’s ability to pay homage to a group of real artists.

The script is written so it could be acted out in different ways, but this particular group manages to keep it classy and not favour any character.

“We know how people interpret their art,” Falkenstein says, “but we don’t know how the real people were read. It walks the line between truth and fiction.”

The play was fantastically well done.

Not only was it funny, but the cast also showed the dark sides of betrayal and the very deep trauma one young girl experiences. This play gets two thumbs way up and will without doubt receive several standing ovations.

“Life without Instruction” runs from Wednesday, Jan. 27 until Saturday, January 30 at Memorial Hall. Admission is $6 for students and $10 for the general public.

brunswickanarts the brunswickan presents

Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143 • 11

a photo essay.

By Andrew Meade

Ruby Jean and the Thoughtul Bees, Jenocide and A/Vcollaborated to put on an incredible electric show at the Capital this past Sunday. It was a wild one, especially for a Sunday night. Look for them to stop back soon.

Global Warming isn’t holding these animals back Alison Clack Arts Editor The winter cold hasn’t put Montreal rockers Plants and Animals, into a winter sleep.

The band has decided not to follow their namesakes’ leads this winter and have instead filled their schedule.

The end of this month marks the beginning of a mini tour across the Maritimes to promote the upcoming release of their new album, La La Land.

Before hitting the Maritimes, the band flew out to Paris this past weekend to play some shows in the town were they recorded part of the album.

The album was recorded in part in a

manor just outside of France’s capital city.

“We worked in this house outside of Paris. It’s kind of like this big, old, crooked manor with great big rooms and ceilings,” said Matthew Woodley, drummer of the trio.

While the French countryside might have been a bit of a change for the group from their regular home in the Quebec urban centre of Montreal, Woodley says the place quickly became home.

“You live there, sleep there, eat there and work there. It felt like home.”

Some of the album was also recorded in the band’s town of residence, Montreal.

“We recorded the fundamental stuff in Paris then came home to Montreal

and added a little bit,” explains Woodley.

Woodley also believes that the feeling of the two different cities may have had an impact on the album’s sound.

For any fans who care to try and discern the difference, Woodley notes that the band recently realized that the record company may have made it easier for you.

“We just realized the other day that the A-side of our record is all Montreal stuff and the B-side is all Paris stuff. So, people will have a chance to see if they find their own differences in the sound and feel of the album.”

Plants and Animals play at the Capital Saturday, Jan. 30. Tickets are $12 in advance (available at Read’s News Stand and Backstreet Records), or $15 at the door.

Montreal natives Plants and Animals are made up of: Warren Spicer (guitar, vocals), Nicolas Basque (guitar, bass, keyboards) and Matthew Woodley (drums). Submitted.

brunswickanarts

12 • Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143

cd reviews by andrew olsvik.

Spoon – Transference (Released January 19, 2010; Merge) As one of the most trusted names in indie rock, Spoon’s reputation for consistently releasing quality records is always threatened whenever they prepare to release a new album. Long time fans wait anxiously, praying that songwriter Britt Daniel has not lost his muse while also trying to fight off the bad thoughts: “Will Spoon finally disappoint?” Realistically, it’s inevitable. A look at any aged band’s discography reveals at least a few duds here and there (I’m looking at you, Rush. Caress of Steel? Presto? What were you thinking?). That said, Spoon’s seventh studio album, Transference, was released last week and somehow, against all odds, defies expectations and ranks among the band’s best work, continuing one of the greatest streaks in musical history.

Vampire Weekend – Contra (Released January 12, 2010; XL) Ever wonder which contemporary artists will be remembered and which will be forgotten twenty years from now? In 2008 Vampire Weekend released their self titled debut album and exploded, reaching everywhere from the speakers at college bro parties to the headphones of pretentious music critics. While their popularity was unrivaled by any other band during that year, the future of Vampire Weekend was cloudy and many, myself included, doubted their ability to churn out another great record. As it turns out, Contra is a magnificent record that finds the band exploring new territory while maintaining the Paul Simon inspired afro-pop sound that made Vampire Weekend so refreshing. As only one of twelve independently released albums to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 since 1991, Vampire Weekend’s place in musical history seems assured.

A place where coffee smells happy

Coffee and Friends is located in downtown Fredericton at 415 King Street. In addition to various coffees the restaurant offers soups, sandwiches and desserts. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan Andrew Meade and Mike Erb The Brunswickan For the second installment of our look into off-campus coffee, we decided to venture to Coffee & Friends, located on 415 King St. in the heart of downtown Fredericton. .

Coffee & Friends claims, “Our coffee smells happy.” Being the bitter individuals we are, we decided to put this to the test to fulfill our need for morning caffeine.

We arrived around 11 a.m. on Sunday morning and were the only people in the café at the time. The Tragically Hip filled the air as we made our way to the counter to place our order.

Andrew ordered a double Americano and took it black, while Mike went for a brewed coffee and ordered the flavour of

the day, butter pecan.

The coffee was reasonably priced as the espresso cost $2.35 and the butter pecan was $1.77 in a travel mug. We placed our order and took our seat at the front of the store overlooking sunny King Street.

Mike mixed his coffee at the mixing station, which included a variety of creams and sweeteners, while Andrew was served his espresso promptly at our table.

Andrew’s Americano arrived in an oversized mug and had a pleasant aroma.

The cup displayed a golden brown crema with the distinct taste of an espressobased drink.

Giving the coffee a few minutes to cool, Andrew indulged himself in the steaming cup of joe. The result of said indulgence was not quite as fantastic as he would have liked.

While still a good Americano, the flavour of the espresso was not overly desirable. It was a bit weak on the palate, possibly due to the beans’ roast or too much water.

Looking for a more subtle taste, Mike’s brewed coffee was fairly satisfying. The butter pecan was smooth and creamy with the added milk, and did not offer the acidy taste that sometime accompanies a bad cup of flavoured coffee. It was warm and fresh, which is good because cold and bitter coffee really pisses Mike off.

Andrew rates his coffee a three out of five beans; Mike is a bit more generous and is serving up a four out of five beans, based on the freshness of his brew.

We recommend a stop at Coffee & Friends as they offer a variety of specialty drinks including steeped tea and Italian sodas, along with fresh sandwiches.

‘Loud’ Tour hits the Maritimes Andrew Olsvik Arts Reporter Anyone who has frequented the Capital Complex’s monthly Metal Monday series is aware of the sense of community that the event exudes.

Metal Monday has helped Fredericton’s struggling metal scene and has served as a place for both touring and local bands to showcase their talent and dedication to the art of metal.

The Capital has created a nationally recognized event that has placed Fredericton on the map. The Capital has offered its stage to a variety of local and touring favourites including We, the Undersigned, Halifax Headbangers, Black Moor and Vancouver’s Ninjaspy.

“It’s rad seeing the same crowd come out every Metal Monday; that was always part of the goal, to make it so it’s a monthly hangout for metal heads in general, no matter what genre of metal the bands happen to be playing,” says Jai Sadler, bassist for We, the Undersigned.

But it’s not just Metal Monday that accounts for the recent gradual increase in popularity, organization and success of the

east coast metal scene.

“There have always been really good metal bands around the Maritimes but I think now it’s a combination of a couple things,” says Jai. “The quality of the recordings, in an engineering sense, that are being released now are a lot better. They can compete with recordings coming from Ontario and the West coast.”

Owner of Diminished Fifth Records and Hogan Media Relations Josh Hogan has also played a vital role according to Jai. “He’s worked his ass off for the past few years and the metal community honestly owes him a lot,” Jai says. “He gives the bands an outlet for press releases, reviews and online presence. It provides that crucial step where the band goes from simply promoting themselves to having third party organizations promoting the band [and] telling other people in the music industry that these bands, and this genre of music, is worth checking out.”

In early March, We, the Undersigned will travel to Sydney, Cape Breton to take part in this year’s East Coast Music Awards where they have been nominated for Loud Recording of the Year for their album Bleed

the Constants.

The category offers up some stiff competition from Moncton’s The Motorleague as well as Big Game Hunt, Black Moor, Shelter With Thieves and Uncooperative Death, all from Halifax.

The week prior to the ECMA events, all five of the nominated acts will participate in the East Coast Loud Tour, which will have shows in Moncton, Saint John, Halifax and Fredericton.

“The East Coast Loud Tour is the brainchild of Don Levandier, from the Motorleague, and Josh Hogan,” Jai said.

“Basically they had the idea to put together a mini tour leading up to the awards, messaged the bands to see who’d be able to participate, and every band came back saying they’d be stoked to do it. To the best of my knowledge this is the first time there has ever been a tour that’s involved all the nominees, playing together, from one category. I personally love touring so it will be fun getting to know all the other bands.”

Some might argue that the amalgamation of all genres considered heavy into the one “Loud” category at the ECMAs minimizes the importance of the heavy genre.

But, as Jai puts it, it’s really just a matter of having enough bands with records.

“What the metal and punk bands in the Maritimes need to do is to show them there are enough bands of those genres to keep the category aggressively focused,” Jai continues. “The only way to do that is of course to have bands submitting albums.

I’m already excited for next year’s nominations. There have been a couple solid releases already and more coming in the next few months.”

Before they embark on the East Coast Loud Tour and make their way to Sydney, We, the Undersigned will appear at the next installment of Metal Monday alongside Moncton’s Iron Giant and Manlord on Feb. 8 at the Capital. The East Coast Loud Tour makes it stop at Nicky Zee’s on Feb. 24.

brunswickansports

Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143 • 13

sports@thebruns.ca

Bailey leads Reds over Tommies

Christopher Cameron Staff Writer In the cross-campus match up Saturday night, the Varsity Reds defeated a relentless Tommies team to improve to 21-0 on the season.

After the Reds opened the scoring, the Tommies answered quickly with a power play goal. Kyle Bailey answered back shorthanded 16 seconds later to regain the lead.

The Tommies notched two more goals, with Reds goaltender Travis Fullerton being pulled after the third goal of the period. The Tommies took a 3-2 lead into the intermission.

In the first intermission Coach Gardiner MacDougall told his players to continue the same style of play and that the bounces would come.

“Our guys had a little better first period than the score showed,” said MacDougall. “I felt the group knew they were on the right track, they just needed the bounces to start going our way in the second period and the persistence in the second helped us turn the game around.”

In the second period the Reds came out firing as Bailey scored a hattrick goal on the power play, followed by a Chris Culligan shorthanded goal 44 seconds later to retake the lead.

UNB finished off the period with three more goals for a 7-3 lead after two periods.

In the third period, STU managed another goal, while UNB notched two more, leaving the final score at 9-4.

Bailey led the team in scoring, finding the back of the net four times and adding one assist. This is Bailey’s most productive game of the year.

Coach MacDougall knows that having someone step up offensively is a testament to his team’s depth.

“It’s reflective of the team and the individual performance,” said MacDougall. “Kyle is one of the leaders for us. He showed persistence and his work ethic Saturday, with a nice end to end shorthanded goal alongside his ability to calm the team down and get us on track for the second.”

Derek Yeomans picked up the win for the Reds; coming off the bench

Tommies forward Devan Praught (right) is shown being chased down by Reds defencemen Ben Shutron (left) during Saturday night’s 9-4 shootout. With the wins over UdeM and STU, UNB improves to 21-0 on the season. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan with five minutes remaining in the first to make 15 saves, allowing only one goal.

MacDougall does not doubt his decision to put in Yeomans midway through the game at all.

“Travis [Fullerton] played the majority of the games in the first half and has played great thus far in the second half,” said MacDougall. “I

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the panel

think it was important for Derek to get in there and perform the way he did. When we have both goaltenders on their game pushing for the starting spot, it makes them play harder, in turn making our goaltending better.”

Charles Lavigne picked up the loss for the Tommies after being pulled early in the second period, but returned in goal for the third.

In Friday action the Reds defeated UdeM 3-1 in Moncton. Yeomans picked up the win, stopping 29 of 30 shots. Hunter Trembley led the team in scoring with a shorthanded goal and an assist, as he continues to lead the AUS in scoring with 15 goals and 25 assists.

“We had a strong game in Moncton, but I thought we were close to

scoring a lot of goals down there,” said MacDougall. “Allowing only one goal was great, but we just struggled at finishing on some scoring plays and could have had another two to three goals easily.”

This weekend the Varsity Reds host the Saint Mary’s Huskies on Friday and the Acadia Axemen on Saturday, both games begin at 7 p.m.

Should the NFL even have the Pro Bowl?

voice your opinion

Colin McPhail

Tony von Richter

Alex Wickwire

No hitting. No fun. No point.

Not in its current format. Although all-star games work in other sports, the physical nature of football makes the Pro Bowl a terrible game because no one wants to take a chance of hurting someone. It should be changed to something completely different like a skills competition or even a flag football game instead.

What’s not to like about the NFL’s elite players playing a meaningless, half-assed game under the Florida sun? I just wish you could bet on it, legally of course. Actually, the probowl sucks, but it isn’t going anywhere because the NFL executives make a boatload of money off it every year.

Sports Editor

CUP Sports Bureau Chief

Sports Reporter

Christopher Cameron Sports Writer

No, I think it’s a joke. So many player named don’t actually start like Young in for the AFC? Joke.

I’ve never watched it and I don’t ever plan on watching it.

brunswickansports

14 • Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143

TANNING SPECIALS

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Help Haiti: big wigs listen up

VERSA SPA SUNLESS MIST TAN 02/28/10

How exciting would it be to see the NHL’s most electrifying player pull an incredible stunt for charity?

Alex Ovechkin would bring more than enough star power for it to be successful. Flickr CC

Alex Wickwire An opinion A nation that suffers every day got sucker-punched by Mother Nature. We all know that, and we all want to help.

Haiti literally went from having nothing, to having less than nothing.

This is ridiculous, Haitians need help and we, the privileged North Americans, are dawdling around dropping food and mailing spare change to the Red Cross. Don’t get me wrong, the relief efforts are great. From the information that is available in the media, plenty of help is coming from around the globe. But everybody is forgetting that the only way of getting anything done is through either entertainment, extortion, or a paycheck. I’ve got a realist perspective and lots of ideas; these wild and fun situations could bring in tons of ‘cheddar’ for the country in sorrow and provide us with entertainment as well.

Let’s bring back the old school

foot-race. Growing up in the ‘90s everybody wanted to be the fastest kid on the playground. Well, why don’t we get some NFLers to have a charity 100 metre dash? Who wouldn’t pay to see Chris Johnson race with Chad Ochocinco, Pierre Garcon, Andre Johnson, and Brandon Marshall, with a cameo by Usain Bolt? Their respective franchises would allow it. Why would anybody with the physical gifts these guys possess turn down a chance to help a country in need?

Before Brady Quinn even got drafted, he would charge hundreds of dollars just for autographs while playing at Notre Dame. He’s become something of a bust and a hack in the pro leagues, but he made himself a fortune. These slimy business moves need to be applied to charitable causes, because when they are, lots of problems will vanish.

Vince McMahon makes millions selling pay per view wrestling events every month, so who wouldn’t pay 40 dollars to watch Kobe and Lebron

play one-on-one at the Rucker park playground? Why not throw in Alex Ovechkin doing stuff like shooting slap shots over the Grand Canyon or Prince Fiedler whacking flaming baseballs into hilarious places like Minnesota lakes or over the Great Wall of China?

You’d have me hooked.

The best part is that you get sports nuts like myself as well as people who just want to give.

Maybe it’s just me, but I would laugh my head off if Charles Barkley participated in a doughnut-eating contest with John Goodman, Rex Ryan, or any other plus-sized celebrity.

How about a lottery? Seriously! Get a disgraced public figure with a fat bank account to cover the prize, and sell tickets globally. Gambling is a huge industry with huge revenue.

All these things, as farfetched as they may seem, could be a charity circus with all proceeds going to the Haiti Relief effort while we, the North American public, would be getting entertained for a great cause.

St. FX forces weekend split for Reds Colin McPhail Sports Editor After dropping two important matches to CBU and St. FX, the Reds were looking for revenge as they traveled to Nova Scotia this weekend. In a disappointing turn of events, however, UNB blew a chance at a weekend sweep and settled for the split.

The Reds came out flat against the Capers during Saturday’s match, losing the first set 25-21. However, the Reds pulled a one-eighty taking the next three sets 25-21, 25-17 and 28-26 to seal the victory. Tanya Paulin led the comeback with 14 kills, six blocks and 22 points, while veteran Jill Blanchard chipped in 14 kills and 17 digs.

“We didn’t start very well at CBU but were able to gain some momentum late in set one despite dropping the game,” said Coach John Richard. “Our two rookies continue to impress with so much composure. I thought Emma [Hunt] gave us something extra tonight. I also thought Jenna [Wamsley] set one of her best matches thus far this season making lots of great decisions in a tough match.”

The Reds played strong ball early in Sunday’s match against StFX winning the first two sets 28-26 and 25-13.

From then onwards, the women took their foot off the gas and lost the final three sets 25-23, 25-20 and 15-12.

Despite strong efforts from Blanchard, Hunt and Paulin, StFX’s play was too

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much for the Reds to handle.

Even though it was tough to let the win slip away, Richard saw some good play in the loss.

“It was disappointing not to get the win on Sunday as I felt we played pretty well in a lot of areas, they just elevated their game as the match progressed and we didn’t respond. A lot of days that type of effort gets you a win on the road but we needed to be better in a few areas that ended up costing us two points.”

The split gives the Reds a 5-7 record and leaves them in fourth spot in the AUS standings.

The Reds will travel to St. John’s for a pair matches against Memorial this weekend.

brunswickanhealth

sports briefs.

Interlock unfriendly for Reds The Reds travelled all the way to McGill for the second interlock tournament of the season, only to come home with a 1-3 record. They swept McGill in three sets, but were dropped by Laval, Montreal and Sherbrooke winning only three sets in the process. They are now 6-6 on the season.

Women’s basketball sweeps UPEI The Reds picked up four important points over the weekend by crushing UPEI 67-28 and following that up with 65-46 win. With the pair of victories the women jumped over Acadia into fifth spot in the standings.

Danton makes AUS debut this week After being fully cleared to play, ex-NHLer and ex-con Mike Danton will most likely play his first AUS match this Wednesday against Acadia. Danton and the rest of the Huskies will also make an appearance the Aitken Centre as they take on the Reds this Friday at 7 p.m.

Upcoming V-Reds Events Friday, January 29th

Hockey SMU @ UNB 7:00 p.m. @ AUC

Saturday, January 16th Women’s basketbal UNB @ StFX 4:00 p.m.

Women’s volleyball UNB @ MUN 6:00 p.m.

Men’s basketball UNB @ StFX 6:00 p.m.

Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143 • 15

Drawing a line between exercise and addiction Noreen Mae Ritsema Manitoban WINNIPEG (CUP) – As most gym junkies can attest, the gym gets noticeably busier in January. Not only are more people visiting the gym trying to purge the excesses of the holidays and trying to compensate for missed workouts during holiday gym closures, but there is also a spike in new members joining the gym.

You know it’s the new year because you are blinded by all the shiny, white new runners being sported by people determined to start exercising. You also know it’s the new year because your favourite exercise bike that you use at the beginning of every workout is being used by one of those people wearing shiny white sneakers.

The good news, or at least the truth, is that by the end of January most of those new running shoes will be sitting at the backs of closets under piles of clothes as people realize how

much work a workout actually is. It is unfortunate, but at least you get your bike back.

As we welcome a new year, so many people add exercising to their list of New Year’s resolutions. That is important and ambitious, but for some people it is also possible to exercise too much.

If you do go to a gym often enough to have pieces of workout equipment that you affectionately consider your own, it may be time to consider what it means to over-exercise. There are both physical and psychological components to over-exercising and both are complexly related, exposing the difficulty of actually diagnosing the problem.

Physically, symptoms that indicate that you are putting too much pressure on your body include consistently sore muscles, sleep disturbances, lack of motivation, decreased appetite, sudden weight loss and increased incidences of injury. Any or all of these signs translate to your body needing you to exercise a little bit less.

The effect of alcohol on athletic performance Tieja MacLaughlin The Cord WATERLOO (CUP) – Every athlete knows that in order to excel in any sport, a high level of commitment, responsibility and sacrifice is required. The body must be in peak condition both physically and mentally in order to perform at a high level of competition.

The effect of alcohol on athletic performance is often underestimated, but if one takes the time to examine how much it actually alters the body, it’s staggering.

Alcohol is a toxin.

It destroys the body’s ability to heal itself, erases any positive effects of working out and practicing proper nutrition and lessens brain function and mental capacity.

The University of Notre Dame has reported that if one consumes five drinks in a given night, it can take three days for one’s body to fully recover. The 100-150 calories per drink is converted directly into fatty acid, comparable to three hamburgers from McDonald’s.

“I’ve talked to all of my players and they understand the negative effects (of alcohol) and how long it takes to leave your system,” said Lynn Orth, head coach of the Wilfrid Laurier University women’s lacrosse team, which implements a 48 hour no-drinking policy before game days.

The policy has clearly been working for Orth, who has coached her team to seven straight Ontario University Athletics championship games.

Most athletes should recognize that quick recovery time, whether post-injury or post-workout, is essential.

However, the consumption of alcohol completely erases the benefit of training.

The muscles’ source of energy, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), is reduced, lowering endurance and making one weak and tired.

Protein synthesis also diminishes, resulting in impeded muscle growth.

Testosterone and the human growth hormone (HGH), essential hormones in muscle growth and tissue repair, are decreased by as much as 70 per cent, not to mention the body becomes severely dehydrated.

“Our practices are so physically demanding that you don’t need the effects of alcohol compounded on top of that,” commented Gary Jeffries, head football coach and manager of football operations at Laurier.

Not only physical performance is affected – a player’s mental game is thrown off after alcohol consumption. Brain cells are killed; therefore, the ability to learn, store and retain information, such as plays, is altered. Sleep patterns can be disrupted as well, affecting one’s memory formation, among other things.

“You can probably only hit a 60 per cent performance level,” said Erik Kroman, captain of the Laurier men’s volleyball team. “It’s obviously detrimental to your performance when you’re hungover and tired from drinking.”

While some athletes flirt with a fine line between partying and competing, successful individuals and teams are ahead of the pack, outworking their competition and tweaking their bodies into top shape.

“Players know they’re not supposed to be drinking,” said fifth-year Laurier baseball player Elliot Shrive. “As a varsity athlete and a responsible adult, you should respect your teammates and want to play enough not to do it.”

Hockey Acadia @ UNB 7:00 p.m. @ AUC Men’s volleyball UNB @ MUN 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, January 17th Women’s volleyball UNB @ MUN 11:00 a.m.

Men’s volleyball UNB @ MUN 1:00 p.m.

Before knocking back that extra drink, think about the effects it’ll have on you. Alcohol has a surprisingly large effect on athletic performance, even days after. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

These physical symptoms can be obvious and intrusive indicators that you are over-exercising. Your body is literally telling you to slow down.

What can be more insidious, however, are the psychological aspects of overexercising. Also known as compulsive exercising, this phenomenon is considered an addiction and has been categorized alongside eating disorders.

Compulsive exercisers often lack clear fitness goals and tend to work out longer and more frequently than necessary. It has been speculated that people who compulsively exercise are addicted to the chemical reactions in their bodies caused by exercise.

Interestingly, it has also been found that many over-exercisers have skewed opinions about their bodies, often perceiving themselves to look heavier than they actually are. This is the same distorted body perception that fuels many eating disorders.

The psychological aspects of compulsive exercising are also a matter of

a person’s perspective on their exercise regimen. The general guideline indicating whether you are exercising too much or not is reflected in how high of a priority you place on exercise.

You should be concerned about overexercising if you prioritize workouts over friends and family. Another sign may be if your friends and family are concerned that you exercise too much.

Remember, exercise is only healthy when it is not taken to an extreme.

Ideal bodies that are unrealistic for the majority of people permeate the media and it is not uncommon to see women reading fashion magazines featuring ultra-thin models at the gym while they work out. Perhaps this common scene shows a correlation between the media’s glorification of thinness and compulsive exercising. What is not so easy to see is the line between healthy exercising and over-exercising.

For some people, it may be time to take a step back and evaluate which side of the line we find ourselves on.

brunswickanhealth

16 • Jan. 27, 2010 • Issue 17 • Volume 143

REDS SWIMMERS CURLING FOR CANCER

It’s been a busy January for the Varsity Reds swim team as they recently returned from a training camp in Puerto Rico and are currently undergoing an intense workout program. However, the squad found some the time to curl for cancer. They raised over $2, 000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. Swimmer Robyn MacIntyre (above) is seen enjoying the experience. Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan

Living well really is a circular thing Alex Wickwire Sports Reporter The late-January sun rises at 8 a.m. and sets before 6 p.m. The weather is cold, dark and depressing in New Brunswick and the best way to fight it is to simply live well. Sure, that’s easy for me to type and easy for you to read, but what’s the way to actually do it? What does it mean to “live well” anyway?

To live well is to have a healthy mind, a fit body and a positive outlook on life.

There are people here on campus who are committed to helping you live well.

So committed, they formed a committee. The Campus Wellness Committee is a collection of students and staff from every department on the campus. Lauren Rogers is the main person behind the committee and is the Coordinator of Wellness and Fitness here at UNB. Lauren lent some of her time to The Brunswickan and gave some clarity to what Wellness Month is all about and how Fredericton students can beat the winter blues and live well.

The Wellness Committee promotes complete living, the circular model that incorporates social, mental, and physical health that are summed up in the eight dimensions of wellness. The first step to living well is to “get involved in your community,” Rogers said with enthusiasm.

“We have all kinds of resources right here on campus.” It’s the centre of Fredericton and has tons of fun stuff to do, with tons of variations of physical activities, film screenings and plenty of school help available, and campus is a great spot

to start your healthy lifestyle.

The super bowl is coming up, and during a time where giant subs, pizzas and chicken wings are the only things to consume, Rogers has an easy plan to live well at the big game.

“Moderation. Moderation is the key to life,” explained Rogers in regards to consumption of greasy foods at parties.

“Have a healthy snack at home before the party, limit how hungry you are.”

Another simple way to keep healthy is what comes out of the tap.

“You can never go wrong with water, it clears your system and fills you up,” added Rogers. “8-10 glasses a day is always recommended and continues to be.” Water instead of anything else is pretty logical.

Simplicity is a way to a well-balanced life.

Aside from drinking habits, eating is also not very complex.

“Whole foods. Pre-packages foods… forget it. Whole, real foods. That’s going to help you in a lot of ways.” So drinking water and eating whole foods, when it’s put that way it doesn’t seem to difficult does it?

“Wellness is a circle. They [elements of living well] don’t work independently of each other.” Think about when you don’t get enough sleep. Being tired out makes you desire junk food, which makes you avoid the gym, which makes you feel sickly and so on. Handle each element, and your life will improve.

Throughout all of Wellness Month, or February, there will be a variety of presentations and events going on focusing around healthy living.

Mark Walma, from the Office or Human Rights and Positive Environment, will be hosting a ‘Trekking to Wellness: Insights from the Galaxy’ workshop on Friday, Feb. 5 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Alumni Memorial Building.

“I have been thinking a lot recently about how popular culture shapes our perceptions, our beliefs, our approaches to life and life’s difficult questions.”

Mark said. “I’ve enjoyed Star Trek in its many iterations since I was a kid and, as I was thinking about this wellness session, I realized that the show has provided me with a number of ‘lessons’ that have impacted how I approach life and the world around me.”

Mark is designing the session around these lessons, many of which are simple re-statements of common philosophical, moral or ethical slogans. This session is sure to be a lot of fun. It will be an interactive experience and will even include film clips from the shows and movies that will be discussed by the group.

On Feb. 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in the President’s Room of the Alumni Building, Jennifer Johnson will be doing a workshop on Facial Reflexology. Facial reflexology is about mapping spots on the face that represent different body parts. If, for example, a person had a hip injury, there is a specific spot on the face that corresponds to the hip. With the proper technique, the pain in that person’s side will disappear.

For more information on Wellness Month and the Wellness Committee visit www.unb.ca/fredericton/wellness.

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