Issue 22, Vol 143, The Brunswickan

arts // eight page insert inside >> harvest jazz and blues fest Volume 143 · Issue 22 • March 22, 2010

thebruns.ca

brunswickan canada’s oldest official student publication.

SU Elections wrap up

Students raise concerns over Health Centre

Lee Larrett News Editor Student Union elections officially ended with a low voter turnout of 7.3 per cent, with only 1,040 of the 14,268 eligible voters casting ballots.

The Student Union president for next year will be Shannon CarmontMcKinley who ran against Stephanie Lord, winning in a close race with 465 votes against Lord’s 446. The only other contested executive position was VP Internal, which went to Ashley Wile who earned 531 votes compared to Cassie MacKinlay’s 296.

VP External went to Brad McKinney, VP Student Services will be Julia Coleman and VP Finance and Operations was won by Jordan Thompson. Each candidate was put to a yes no vote and received 700-776 yes votes and 100-164 no votes.

President-elect CarmontMcKinley is excited for her new position.

“We have a great team of incoming executives and councilors and I am very optimistic about the coming year. I have many plans for the union, both large and small, regarding improving the student experience (both on campus and in the classroom), increasing the union’s visibility on campus and maintaining strong federal, provincial and municipal lobbying,” McKinley said.

She encouraged students to send along questions or concerns to anyone at the union, and to check out the SU website.

Concerns were raised during the voting period about valedictorian voting and Chief Returning Officer Catrin Berghoff faced an unprecedented solution. Students who logged on to vote for valedictorian found that they were not registered as graduating and the online system did not have them on the voting registry as eligible to vote for valedictorian.

In the past, Berghoff explained, the CRO has taken the confirmation of application to graduate as proof of graduation and entered each student onto the voters list manually. Berghoff said that she, “just wasn’t happy with the legitimacy of this.” She explained that anyone can apply to graduate and the confirmation they receive is only proof that the form was submitted, not that they have the requirements to graduate.

SEE ELECTION PAGE 2

Michelle Alexiu is the UNB student who started the Facebook group UNB/STU Student Health Must Change. The group struck a chord with students, hundreds having joined within days.The group hopes to bring change to the Student Health Centre. Sandy Chase/ The Brunswickan Lee Larrett News Editor In just a few days hundreds of students joined a Facebook group entitled Student Health Must Change, and the group is still growing. Launched on Feb. 18, it already boasts 689 members (at the time of publication) and has attracted attention from students and staff alike.

Michelle Alexiu, a law student at UNB, created the group in response to hearing too many stories from her friends of bad experiences at the Student Health Centre (SHC). Alexiu explained that her own experience with SHC has been overwhelmingly negative, largely because of her 8:30 classes.

The current system at the SHC is same day scheduling. Every student requiring medical attention comes into the SHC, which opens at 8:15 a.m. and 1:15 a.m.

Students fill out an information form and are triaged by a nurse based on medical priority. Sometimes the nurse can take care of the student’s concern and there is

no need to see a doctor.

If necessary, an appointment is made to see a doctor that day, or if there are no appointments left for the day the student must return the next day and repeat the whole procedure.

There is a limited number of appointments available by phone for things such as a PAP or prescription refill, but appointments can only be made for the same day. The SHC website encourages students not to wait until the last minute to get a prescription refill.

Alexiu explained that her class schedule made it next to impossible to use the SHC. With 8:30 a.m. classes every day of the week, she was unable to get into the centre early enough to have a chance to get an appointment. She says her only free time during the day was during lunch hour when the centre was closed, so appointment times would not have worked.

“The same day scheduling system doesn’t take into account the realities of student life,” she explained, adding that it doesn’t take into account that, “many

people don’t need an appointment on the same day.”

Alexiu recognized that there are some challenges for the SHC because, “Student Health is trying to function in a dual role … it replaces the family doctor for all those students that are away from home, and functions as a walk in clinic for a large population.”

The purpose of the Facebook group is to provide a forum for compiling and discussing issues students have with the SHC, with the end goal of bringing these issues to the appropriate people and working with them to change the system into something students and staff can be proud of.

Alexiu is working quickly towards these goals, having met with key people on campus to inform her strategy, and is working with the SU. Her plan is to gather student issues, some rough suggestions and research material regarding how student health clinics at other universities operate. Then she’ll take this information to the administrators to help them come

up with solutions.

She said that she will be keeping the grassroots style to this movement, ensuring students can stay informed and have a say. For her the key to success, “will be having a unified notion of what students want,” and she says she will, “work as hard as possible to change student health to be a positive experience.”

Just days after the launch of the Facebook site, Scott Duguay picked up on the issue and got in contact with Alexiu.

Duguay is associate executive director with integrated recruitment and retention for UNB. Duguay said he served as an ear for the group, and Alexiu said after their meeting that he is keen to help. Alexiu said he, “will be present at the meetings [with SHC] to help represent the student interests and ensure the meetings can be as productive as possible.”

Duguay said that the best ideas come

SEE HEALTH PAGE 3

2 • Mar. 10, 2010 • Issue 22 • Volume 143

No votes for valedictorian FROM ELECTION PAGE 1

The registrar’s office doesn’t begin to process applications until after the deadline to apply to graduate, which was March 1. Because this deadline fell after the voting period, no students had been processed by the registrar’s office and were not registered as graduating in the online voting system.

To ensure the legitimacy of the votes,

Berghoff wants to postpone the valedictorian election until an accurate voters list can be generated.

She said that this issue will be part of her report following the elections, and she will pass along this information to next year’s CRO to hopefully improve the election in years to come.

Berghoff noted that the changes in valedictory voting could exacerbate a conflict of interest in the appeals board.

Chris Samuel chairs the appeals board and is also running to be Valedictorian for Ceremony C. Berghoff did explain that the conflict of interest had not been an issue at the time of the close of elections, and that it’s an issue beyond her power as CRO. This conflict of interest will be one of the issues in her report to council.

Voting ran from Sunday, Feb. 21 until one minute to midnight on Friday, Feb. 26.

UNBSU election results.

EXECUTIVE -President: Shannon Carmont-McKinley -Vice President Internal: Ashley Wile -Vice President External: Brad McKinney -Vice President Student Services: Julia Coleman -Vice President Finance & Operations: Jordan Thompson GENERAL -Arts Representative: Dylan Lenton, Samantha Molen,

Tabatha Armstrong, Jaden Fitzherbert -Business Representative: Lauren Vail -Computer Science Representative: Ash Furrow -Education Representative: Hardy Cameron -Engineering Representative: Melissa Rousselle Aaron Farkas Chris Pelkey -Forestry and Environmental Management Representative: Rachel McKinley -International Student Representative:

Josiah Gado -Kinesiology Representative: Elizabeth Hallett -Law Representative: Julian Williams -Nursing Representative: Sarah Monteith Elizabeth Sterling -Renaissance College Representative: Matthew Webb -Science Representative: Jocelyn Fotso Soh Hansika Gunaratne -Student Senator: John Boldon Lauren Vail Ashley Wile Kevin Beets -Residence Liason: No votes

brunswickannews

Student start up company is ticket to Las Vegas Hilary Paige Smith News Reporter Two University of New Brunswick students will be fleeing Fredericton on March 23 and hitting the Las Vegas strip, but not to play the slots.

Kumaran Thillainadarajah and Xavier Saynac, members of the Smart Skin Technologies team at UNB, were selected by the faculties of business and engineering to showcase their product and network with industry leaders in the technology field at the International CTIA Wireless show and conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Smart Skin Technologies is a startup company based out of the university, comprised of a number of business and engineering students and professors, guided by Dr. Felipe Chibante, chair of nanotechnology in the engineering faculty. “Smart Skin” is a prosthetic skin-like material made to cover prosthetic limbs. Though the group originated in prosthetics, they are now working on developing “skins” for touch smart phones that act as a protective case and include a Qwerty keyboard. The skins are made from the unique multi-touch, pressure sensitive, nano-based material developed by the Smart Skin team.

“The material was originally developed with the goal of developing a prosthetic skin that could give back amputees a sense of touch. Although this goal is still close to our hearts, it’s a very difficult first project for a startup, so we are now focusing on applications for mobile phones. In particular we are focusing on extending the functionality of touch screen phones, like the iPhone,” Thillainadarajah said, explaining the new direction the

company is taking.

Thillainadarajah and Saynac were notified about the three-day conference by Karen Murdock, director of the International Business and Entrepreneurship Centre, who recommended the two for the opportunity.

“The CTIA wireless conference will attract a lot of companies like HTC, Nokia, and RIM that could potentially license a technology. The goal for Smart Skin will be to get a first contact with these companies and build the connection that will hopefully lead to the commercialization of our technology,” Thillainadarajah said.

The conference will be an opportunity for the company members to learn about some of the newest trends in wireless technology, learn how to better develop and market their products and network with some of the biggest names in the technology industry. Keynote speakers include everyone from the senior business staff at Sprint, Samsung and Apple, to Avatar director James Cameron.

“It will be a great experience being exposed to an event like this, it gives a sneak peak at new trends,” the Smart Skin CEO said, “More importantly we hope it will give us introductions with key people at these companies that could lead to future business for us.”

When asked if he was looking forward to the conference, Thillainadarajah replied with an enthusiastic yes.

He said that though they are mainly looking forward to the professional opportunities the conference will offer them, it is Las Vegas and there are some great tourism opportunities in the neon lights of the renowned desert strip.

“Viva Las Vegas,” he concluded.

news briefs.

CIHR recognizes research excellence at UNB Two researchers from UNB have been awarded funding to go toward their work in improving health care for women. Greg Kealey, vice president research at UNB, led the ceremony at the Wu Centre on Monday, March 1. Keith Ashfield, minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and minister of national revenue, on behalf of the Leona Aglukkaq, minister of health, and Greg Byrne, finance minister for New Brunswick, were on hand to congratulate the researchers. Dr. Nicole Letourneau is receiving funding for her study on telephone-based support programs for mothers with post-partum depression. Dr. Judith Wuest will investigate primary health care interventions for women who have just left abusive partners. Nineteen health research projects across Canada are being funded by the Canadian Institution for Health Research as part of the Partnership for Health System Improvement (PHSI) program.

Blue Cross Medical Insurance Change Health Insurance provider Medavie Blue Cross has been working on a new payment model for pharmacy drugs. Some pharmacies, including Shoppers Drug Mart, initially decided to stop accepting Blue Cross cards for direct payment. Customers could still have had their prescription filled but would have been forced to pay up front the full bill and be reimbursed later by Blue Cross. In response Blue Cross recommended its policyholders switch to a drug store chain that accepted their card. Shoppers Drug Mart and the insurance company resumed talks and have come to a tentative agreement allowing customers to be reimbursed at the pharmacy. UNB and STU student health plans use Medavie Blue Cross as the insurance provider.

brunswickannews

Mar. 10, 2010 • Issue 22 • Volume 143 • 3

What’s wrong with our Student Health Centre?

The C.C. Jones Centre for Student Affairs and Services is the new home to the Student Health Centre.The move to the new location has brought improvements to the service according to Clinic Director JoAnn Majerovich, but these changes aren’t enough for students, who remain seriously unsatisfied with the service they recieve at the centre.The main focus of student frustration is the cumbersome same day scheduling system which can make it difficult or impossible to get an appointment. Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan

through constructive conversation and students should, “feel comfortable going straight to decision makers with ideas.”

He said that student feedback is key to the university.

“No one pretends that all services are perfect, they’re always looking to be improved,” he said. “We all want the same thing,” he said, “for UNB to be excellent, something we can be proud of.”

JoAnn Majerovich, director and physician at the SHC, gave some perspective

about the issues at SHC. The same day scheduling system, she said, was implemented recently to replace a less effective system where the wait time for booked appointments made by phone was up to five weeks.

It was also a response to the high number of students who did not show up for appointments, wasting physicians’ time that could be spent seeing another student.

“We tried to choose a system that serves the students better, that makes the most effective and efficient use of the resources we have, and is evidence based,” Majerovich said.

She said there are changes happening

at the SHC to continually refine the system. Currently the SHC is, “reviewing increasing the types of appointments that can be booked over the phone, allowing appointments to be booked not just on the day of the call, but for the next days as well,” Majerovich explained.

The SHC is also in final negotiations that could bring another nurse practitioner to the centre to help increase capacity. Also the move to C.C. Jones House increased the number of available physician employment slots by 10 per cent, according to Majerovich.

Majerovich explained that contextualization is important when critiquing the SHC. She offered McGill University’s

student health centre as a comparison, citing a notice on their website that explained that all medical appointments for March were booked by mid February and students looking for an April appointment would have to wait until March 15 to book. Supplementing appointments is a walk-in clinic which the website warned fills up very quickly, and so students should arrive by 8:30 a.m.

Majerovich also pointed out that many people living in New Brunswick do not even have a family doctor, as the waiting list in Fredericton is over a year.

She also noted that some universities don’t have a student health centre, or one that is run solely by nurses.

Majerovich highlighted the partnerships made with a local psychiatrist who visits once per week and orthopedic surgeon who see students at the clinic one half day per month. Majerovich said students can see these specialists within a month or two at the SHC, but in the community would have to wait several months or more.

Majerovich said that she is aware of the Facebook group and is open to comments and suggestions and welcomes constructive feedback from students.

She also said the SHC is very open to working with students and she has proposed a joint Health and Counseling Student Advisory Working Group.

First Nations poverty shoved under the rug Sarah Ratchford Editor in Chief Apparently, the issues of poverty and income for First Nations in New Brunswick are somebody else’s problem.

After attempting to contact numerous provincial, federal and First Nations sources over the course of a week, the Canadian University Press found that almost no one was willing to address what numbers show to be severe poverty in the province’s First Nations communities.

Chad Skelton, a *Vancouver Sun* reporter, recently found that Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside was not, as commonly claimed, the “poorest postal code” in Canada. Instead, he found that many of the country’s poorest “forward sorting areas” — that is, regions encompassed by the first three digits of a postal code — are in New Brunswick, in terms of median income.

Six of the ten poorest forward sorting areas, including the poorest, were in New Brunswick, and five of them,

including the poorest, were First Nations communities.

These communities are, in order: Burnt Church First Nation (1), Red Bank Reserve (3), Elsipogtog First Nation (4), Tobique First Nation (5), Eel Ground (6), Kingsclear First Nation (7) and Adamsville (9).

All of the New Brunswick First Nations communities were contacted to comment on the issue, but none returned calls.

Linda Doige, director of the Mi’kmaq-Maliseet Institute at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton also declined comment.

Debbi Ackles-Adams, who is the Atlantic region’s manager of communications for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, passed the reporter along to Genevieve Guibert, a spokesperson for the national office.

When phoned, Guibert recited information carefully as if from a press release, vaguely focusing on infrastructure and only slightly touching on social programs.

She said the government is dedicated to “improving the quality of life of all First Nations across Canada,” and that it is working on a “wide range of initiatives. Investments are being used to improve housing, access to safe drinking water, education and social programs.”

“Through Canada’s economic action plan, First Nations families and communities are benefiting from almost a billion dollars in new investments.” She said money is also being put toward “urgent infrastructure needs on reserves,” like housing and schools.

Guibert said Burnt Church received $11.2 million from Indian Affairs in the 2009–10 fiscal year for “core programs and services like community development, economic development, education, social development and child and family services.”

She did not address any plans to improve the income situation of First Nations.

The office of Kelly Lamrock, New Brunswick’s minister of social development, said it was not their job to com-

ment or help better the issue.

Alison Aiton, communications officer with the Department of Social Development, said the federal government is responsible for dealing with these issues, and that there were no plans in the works, provincially at least, to address the impoverished communities.

But while First Nations issues fall into the hands of the federal government, Lamrock himself introduced the Economic and Social Inclusion Act to the provincial legislature in February, which he said would help “fight to reduce poverty in our province.”

Despite that fact that these First Nations persons live in New Brunswick, no comment was offered.

The *Vancouver Sun*’s Skelton obtained his median income numbers from Statistics Canada data from 2006.

The lowest median income was found to be in Burnt Church, at $9,200.

Redbank’s was $10,600, Elsipogtog’s was $11,000, Tobique’s was $12,300, Eel Ground’s was $13,000, Kingsclear’s was $13,600 and Adamsville’s was

$14,000.

Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside was in eighth place, at $13,600.

Andy Scott — a former Fredericton Liberal MP who was the minister of Indian affairs and northern development from 2004 and 2006 — said he was unprepared to comment, but questioned the legitimacy of the numbers.

Scott, who now conducts social policy research at the University of New Brunswick’s Fredericton campus, said this is partially because he hasn’t been a minister for two years, and partially because of the sensitive subject matter.

“I don’t think that I’ve ever denied, nor has anyone in a position of responsibility denied (that this is an issue).”

“I’ve been to some communities where there’s no running water,” he said. “There’s housing worse than Burnt Church.”

He said he wants to make sure before he comments in full that these communities are really as badly off as the median income numbers make them appear.

brunswickannews

4 • Mar. 10, 2010 • Issue 22 • Volume 143

Acadian is questioned by the SU

NOTICE All nominations for the College Hill Social Club Board of Directors shall be made in writing by a nominator with written concent of the nominee and shall be hand delivered to the General Manager by 5:00 p.m.

Friday March 19, 2010

SATURDAY OCTOBER 31

Shown above is the old Acadian downtown bus station that fell victim to cuts to Acadian service this year.The SU is challenging the bus company on its changes to service. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan Lee Larrett News Editor In response to recent changes in Acadian’s service, the Student Union has launched an information request to the bus line, attempting to improve student access to affordable and convenient transportation.

Student Union VP External Ryan Brideau, who is spearheading the project, explained that the questions directed at Acadian, “are a compilation from a number of sources, including myself, our policy and research officer, approximately 30 students who sent in submissions through our online form, and others that I’ve met and talked to in person.”

The questions are devised based on a report released by Acadian Lines and student concerns.

Questions included, “could you dem-

onstrate the approach that was taken to ensure that the aged 16-20 demographic was fairly included in the studies put forth that resulted in the decision to end routes in New Brunswick?” and “Given that one of your strategies is to ‘focus mainly on the student clientele,’ could you describe some of the initiatives that one may expect, and what is being done to ensure that these initiatives will be effective for students?”

Questions to Acadian based directly from student feedback from the SU’s online form included, “Has Acadian looked into the option of running buses on the FrederictonMiramichi route less often, or only on weekends?” and “Were any studies done to assess the possible negative effects on customer confidence that may result from the proposal to cut the Fredericton-Miramichi route?”

Brideau said that he hopes the

questions will be a way to work with Acadian to improve the service they provide to students without cutting routes.

“While some of the questions are posed to question the methods they used to decide to cancel these routes, others are asked such that they might provide a starting point for improving the company’s service,” Brideau said.

The formal hearing takes place at 10 a.m. on March 17 at the Fredericton Inn. An informal hearing takes place that same day at 5:30 p.m. Brideau said that students who want to have an impact can show up to the informal hearing to show their opposition to the route changes.

The SU is still looking for student feedback on Acadian and wants students to use their online feedback form available from the homepage of the SU website.

Following up on science fees Hilary Paige Smith News Reporters The recently proposed ancillary fees for the faculty of science were met with opposition from the UNB Student Union and resigned acceptance from members of the faculty.

The fees include a $35 sum per lab and a $25 fee for first and second year math students, including engineering students who are required to take introductory math courses. The fees will total $260 for the average first and second year science students. The fees were unveiled to the science department in February and a motion was quickly tabled at an SU council meeting, where the SU strongly opposed the idea of additional ancillary fees.

Dr. David Magee, dean of the faculty of science, said there are no new developments regarding the fees.

“As far as the faculty is concerned there are no new fees added to what we originally proposed, nor are there any plans to add any. As we mentioned to our students, our intent was to set the fees at a rate such that it could be maintained at that value for a three to five year period, barring any unforeseen circumstances,” he said, regarding the potential for an increase or a decrease in the proposed fees.

Both Jon O’Kane, president of the

UNBSU, and Ashley Wile, the councillor who tabled the motion of opposition at the meeting, said in previous interviews with The Brunswickan that they take issue with the fees being implemented, especially during a tuition freeze.

The UNBSU formed a working group of council and executive members at the same meeting. Their first meeting took place on Feb. 23 and was attended by three council and three executive members.

“I thought it was helpful. We got some background, and came up with a plan of action. Each group member took a task to work on over the break. Basically we’ll be focusing our efforts on a student awareness campaign for students in all faculties that would be affected, since the fees apply to say, business students taking a math course as well as science students,” Wile said of the happenings at the meeting.

The group met again on March 9, and Wile said they hoped to make a concrete plan and a timeline of action.

“I am hopeful that through the actions coming out of the task force we will be able to show the administration that students agree a fee increase during a tuition freeze is unjust,” the science councillor said.

The university administration unveiled their figures for budget cuts earlier this year, with $2.5 million in cuts planned for the 2010-2011 school year on the

Fredericton campus and $400,000 for UNBSJ. Magee said the fees were planned with the university’s budgeting plans in mind.

“We do not see any way that it is possible to reduce these fees at this point, given that we were mandated to cut our budget for the 2010-2011 budget year and the only way that was possible was to surrender a significant portion of our non-salary budget,” Magee said. The faculty of science would have been required to surrender 15 per cent of their non-salary budget.

This budget covers the operation of things like labs and the Math Help Centre, and Magee said this budget has not changed within the last ten years that he has been involved in the budgeting process.

Though the SU is opposed to the administration’s decision, Magee said the department respects their position.

“The faculty and departments respect the position that the SU has taken. We feel that you have been very objective and balanced in your arguments and objections. Our position is that we, faculty, staff, students and administrators, are all in this together and we want what is best for the institution and our students.

It is unfortunate that we were left with no alternatives and are in this position, it truly is something that we did not want to do,” Magee said.

brunswickanopinion

Mar. 10, 2010 • Issue 22 • Volume 143 • 5

editor@thebruns.ca

the brunswickan

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Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief • Sarah Ratchford Managing • Alex Duncan News • Lee Larrett International • Danielle Bodie Arts • Alison Clack Sports • Colin McPhail Photo • Andrew Meade Copy • Sam Perlmutter Production • Christian Hapgood Online • Doug Estey 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 Christmas tree is a central part to the holiday celebrations of many people. Simply switching its name to “holiday tree,”however, does not make it inclusive for all cultures. Flickr CC zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

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Editor’s note: It has to be said. The election was extremely boring, and inspired a voter turnout of a measly 7.3 per cent.

Hopefully the severe lack of engagement prompts the SU to do a better job next time.

Flaherty takes the easy way out Take My Word For It Sam Perlmutter After two months of hard work, students at UNB got to enjoy a well-deserved one week break. After two months of no work and attending lots of photo ops and Olympic events, members of parliament have finally returned to work for one week. Funny how that works.

The long awaited return from prorogation did bring forward some very important developments. Last Wednesday Governor General Michaelle Jean delivered the throne speech, and a day later Finance Minister Jim Flaherty presented the latest federal budget.

After two months off to “recalibrate,” the effects of this were not very visible.

Two months of recalibration resulted in a throne speech titled “A stronger Canada, A stronger economy. Now and for the Future,” and a budget that simply froze a lot of spending - both very much a continuation of the policies previously pursued by the Conservatives (including completely ignoring the environment).

The only thing remotely interesting about the speech from the throne was the proposal to examine the wording of our national anthem to make it more “genderneutral.” The specific line in question was

“in all thy sons command.”

Of course, in examining the anthem, no thought was given to making it more secular and inclusive to members of all faiths by examining line, “God keep our land.”

Then again, the Conservatives generally poll lower among women than men. Plus the Conservative base would likely be the most upset about removing a reference to God from our anthem.

The same Conservative base responded to the idea of revising the anthem with a resounding “no,” and within 48 hours Stephen Harper pulled a complete 180 and retracted the government’s proposal to change the anthem.

With the formality of the throne speech out of the way, that brought us to the truly important event of last week, budget day.

On Thursday, March 4, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty presented his plan to pull the country out from its $54 billion deficit. Flaherty plans to do this over the next five years, without raising taxes (if you consider increasing EI premiums not to be a tax) or cutting funding for healthcare or education.

Flaherty plans to primarily scale back spending on the public sector, the military and foreign aid to trim the deficit. $6.8 billion, or almost 40 per cent of the proposed savings, will come from freezing the departmental operating budgets of the civil service. An additional $4.5 billion will be saved by cutting spending on foreign aid, and $2.5 billion will be recovered from cuts in spending in the military. Flaherty’s plan

is supposed to yield a surplus by 2015-16.

While the military will not receive as much money as initially expected, spending will continue to grow. The military will receive two years of increases as planned, bringing the military’s operating budget to $19.7 billion by 2012-13. In 2013-14 and 2014-15, the military will receive $1 billion less than previously expected.

On the other hand, Flaherty has planned to scrap $4.4 billion earmarked for international aid in the next five years.

By 2014, only 0.26 per cent of Canada’s budget will be devoted to aid - the lowest among developed countries.

Of course, the return to surpluses in five years depends on economic forecasts described by many economists as “optimistic.” And officials, including Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page, warn that the government still faces an ongoing structural deficit of up to $19 billion.

But what really stands out about this budget is not its long-term vision so much as its short-term one. In many ways this looks like a budget made in preparation for an election that many expect to come this fall. There are no ambitious new initiatives, taxes, or significant cuts to any group that may be inclined to vote Conservative in the next election. The budget very much stays the course.

The only change from previous budgets is that the conservatives have finally reigned in their aggressive spending responsible for whittling away most of the surplus left by the Liberals before the recession hit.

wMost of the groups whose spending has been cut are not people who will hurt the Conservatives come election time. Even though the military was hit with cuts (albeit very slightly), spending will still continue to grow. Recipients of international aid, while they may be very upset, are not in a position to punish the Conservatives at the polls. Along with their feeble attempt to soften their image among women with their anthem shenanigans, the conservatives seem to be very, very careful not to alienate potential voters.

Most of all though, this budget pushes the difficult and challenging decisions that will inevitably have to be made farther into the future. Returning to a balanced budget without cutting taxes or program spending, while technically possible, is very unlikely (in my mind at least). At some point in the future, transfers to provinces may need to be cut. The GST may need to be raised. Program spending may need to be cut (severely). These are all tough decisions that will certainly upset a number of voters.

But the Conservatives don’t seem to want to make these types of decisions.

This budget is very careful not to upset anybody who may vote for them in the next election. The tough choices, along with the environment and our structural deficit, can wait.

Sam Perlmutter is the copy editor of the Brunswickan. He writes a weekly column, musing on politics, world events and everything in between. He can be reached at copy@thebruns.ca.

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.

We are an autonomous student newspaper owned and operated

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.

21 Pacey Drive, SUB Suite 35 Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3 main office • (506) 447-3388 advertising • (506) 452-6099 fax • (506) 453-5073 email • editor@thebruns.ca www.thebruns.ca

brunswickanopinion

6 • Mar. 10, 2010 • Issue 22 • Volume 143

Stupidity in the cyber age

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Students wait for the free bus to Crabbe mountain to participate in half price ski night as part of Winter Carnival. After hitting the slopes students warmed up with free Cellar chilli. Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan 04/30/10

Robert J. Holt The Uniter WINNIPEG (CUP) — Once, in elementary school, a friend of mine was sitting by himself in a corner of the playground, pouting. I walked over and asked what was wrong.

“I hate people,” he responded, looking at the ground.

“Why?” I asked.

He lifted his head, looked me right in the eyes, and shouted, “Because people are stupid!”

Recently, I’d been having same thought whenever I went online. Whether watching a video on YouTube of some sub-normal jackass from South Carolina jumping on his best friend’s crotch or reading barely-literate status updates on Facebook, I got the feeling that people aren’t just stupid. No, the whole human species is getting more idiotic by the keystroke.

It was a depressing thought, but I’ve started to see things differently. It’s not

that people are getting any dumber. It’s that, thanks to the advent of social media, people are more honest about how dumb they actually are. They can come clean and let the whole world know.

For example, take that teacher from a Winnipeg high school who decided it was a bright idea to perform a lap dance on his colleague in a gym full of students. Was that dumb? Fantastically so. Everybody in the place knew it was dumb and everyone who saw it on the news thought it was dumb. Really, really dumb.

A decade ago, only a handful of people would have known about this — the people in the gym, the parents, the school board. Rumours would spread to schools nearby, but it would essentially be a local issue.

However, thanks to YouTube and a high school student with a cell phone (I understand that’s fairly common these days), the lunchtime lap dance story blew up like gangbusters. It received global attention; the video was featured on the front page of CNN’s website. It’s a safe

bet that neither of the teachers in the video will ever be hired by any school division with a working knowledge of how to use Google.

If there’s a moral to their story, it’s this: nowadays, if (and when) you do something stupid, people are going to find out.

Personally, I think that’s great. I’m looking forward to a future when the members of this generation start running for public office and the photos from their youth begin to surface. Smear politics will be that much more fun. Or maybe they’ll just disappear entirely.

After all, if everyone has dirt on everyone else, no one can really claim the moral high ground.

The point is, if you’re ever crawling the web — that wondrous series of tubes — and you start to feel like the world is getting dumber, just remember that my grade school friend has been right all along. People aren’t getting any stupider; we were plenty stupid to begin with.

We’re simply getting better at admitting it.

brunswickanopinion

Sept. 16, 2009 • Issue 2 • Volume 143 • 7

The Canadian fox and American jackal commune at last….

Christian Hapgood Jonathan W. Salmon It was a dark, strange night and Frank Iacobucci’s mind was as clouded as the sky above his head. Although, unlike the vast expanse, his clouds were a touch more complicated than precipitation.

He had been given the task of effectively determining the fate of the Conservative government upon the all-too-conservative issue of torture.

I knew there was something fishy about the exasperating election of Stephen Harper.

But this matter deals not with the terrifying campaigning tactic of subjecting voters to extensive historical torture techniques that have been all but abandoned everywhere except the Canadian house of commons, that is for another story. The accusation comes in the form of allegations that Afghan prisoners were released from the Canadian Armed forces only to be mercilessly beaten by the native officials. Although the nature of the actions are unknown, I imagine that the techniques utilized are near, or in the field of, being strapped upside down by their genitals while a pack of hungry jackals claw and nibble at their scalps. That one really gets people talking, believe me.

Yet it is up to Iacobucci whether or not these details will be revealed to parliament, and if it were up to Harper, this matter would have been kept under the rug with all the rest of his depraved secrets. Although the prospect that the investigator was chosen by the Tories themselves keeps me a little uneasy, for perhaps the honorable Prime Minister has been studying the case of Richard M. Nixon with his utmost fox-like slyness and has in turn threatened Mr. Iacobucci with the same treatment as the detainees in question. But then my chronic paranoia could be getting the best of me once again.

However, the story does indeed travel deeper than the surface, for the infamous two-month vacation that Harper and his friends took began with the roots of this matter. Reports have it that Stephen has been seen visiting Nixon’s grave with a bottle of bourbon, a multitude

As soon as you grab this and go, it might be hard to get back into Canada.Your identity might be questioned. Is it really appropriate for our government to be doing this? Flickr CC of psychedelic drugs and a pad of paper, allegedly attempted to conference with the dead and in turn learning a thing or two about scandals.

This whole situation does plague my

mind with questions about how one of the ‘world’s premiere peacemakers’ could be involved with such Medieval acts as these, although I suppose that is why the prisoners were released to another army,

rather than doing the dirty deeds ourselves. The image of Peace and Canada is upheld while the picturesque image of a Bloodthirsty, Corrupt Government runs rampant in the countryside.

The real question is, if this secret is the one that made it to the light, will that unnatural rug in the Prime Minister’s office be swept under before he has a chance to Hoover up the dust?

The changing nature of gay

Alana Westwood The Uniter WINNIPEG (CUP) — When an out homosexual character on a prime-time sitcom exclaims, “Can you have him paint us something a little less gay?” it sounds like being gay isn’t entirely about sexual orientation.

Gay is an ambiguous term these days. In fact, some have renounced it altogether.

Academic, poet and drag queen Sky Gilbert has quit being gay. He has since declared himself an ESP (effeminate sexual person, pronounced “espie”).

He claims that being gay has become too mainstream and therefore meaningless. In a recent *Globe and Mail* article, Gilbert stated, “when being gay is the same as being straight, there’s no need for gay anything. . . . Gay culture as we know it will eventually disappear.”

Gilbert bemoans the loss of genderplay (the manipulation of one’s expression of gender) in gay culture, which he equates with the loss of the culture itself. But is genderplay part of sexual orientation, or is it a separate culture that happens to overlap? And when it comes to the important questions

— particularly questions of equality — should genderplay figure in the discussion at all?

Genderplay has been historically tied to LGBT communities. Think “gay” and one image is of pride parades featuring equal amounts of skin and androgyny. Ask the wider population for synonyms of gay and you may hear “dyke,” “fairy,” “butch” and other derogatory slurs.

However, this vernacular speaks to aesthetics rather than sexual orientation. These stereotypes are harmful and illogical. They assume that a certain appearance equates a certain sexual orientation — which it doesn’t.

Unfortunately, the inflammatory rhetoric goes both ways.

Adam Lambert of American Idol fame has been lampooned by some LGBT groups for his flamboyance.

This, too, confuses the issue. Lambert isn’t representing his sexual orientation with his makeup, he is representing a culture that engages in genderplay — a culture that is not the same as gay culture, since gender-bending is enjoyed by many straight people. In fact, for the gay community to appropriate genderplay as their own is an act of exclusivity — seemingly the antithesis

of the inclusiveness they promote.

How does this fit into the LGBT rights movement?

The representation of gay people in popular culture is increasingly positive.

There are lesbian and bisexual characters all over prime-time television (*Bones*, *Grey’s Anatomy* and *House*, just to name a few shows).

These characters bear two things in common: an aesthetic quality that doesn’t involve genderplay and enormous audiences.

It is these “normal” gay characters, marching into the living rooms of the straight world, who are the new ambassadors of equality. The straight majority may still balk at genderplay, but in much of North America, being gay is increasingly accepted.

That’s not to say gender roles don’t need revision; they certainly do. But if it means more recognition and less discrimination, perhaps mainstream gay isn’t so bad.

Confusing genderplay and sexual orientation, or trying to promote both on the same agenda, only poses additional barriers. It isn’t until equality has truly been realized that we can fight for Sky Gilbert’s right to wear tights and have no one bat an eyelash.

Elliott Brood’s Moving Mountains was released in 2008 to critical acclaim and scored them a spot on the shortlist for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

brunswickanopinion

8 • Mar. 10, 2010 • Issue 22 • Volume 143

Student

Viewpoint.

What are your thoughts on the student health centre?

Let everyone know whats on your mind.

“Obv. Brittany.”

Amin Bagheri

Cody Jack

“My significant other.”

Hannah Steeves

Eric Rideout

“That guy.”

“Dawn.”

Justin Wise

Jonathan Ritchie

“Michelle Obama.”

Liane Rideout

“Colin McPhail.”

“Probably Ben.”

“J.K. Rowling.”

Marya Leslie

“Megan Fox.”

Megan Lynch

brunswickaninternational

Mar. 10, 2010 • Issue 22 • Volume 143 • 9

brunswickanarts

Mar. 10, 2010 • Issue 22 • Volume 143 • 10

arts@thebruns.ca

Non-profits team up to rock the playhouse

The Music for Change performance will feature a number of local artists of varying notoriety . One of these performers includes bluegrass musician Jens Jeppesen, who hails from nothern New Brunswick’s New Denmark. Submitted Andrew Olsvik Arts Reporter Live Aid and its more recent spinoffs have had a positive impact on global issues; however, the endeavour will be scaled down this week for a more local event.

This weekend the New Brunswick Chimo Helpline is teaming up with the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Center to put on an event showcasing some of the province’s best musical talent.

The first annual Music for Change competition will take place at the Playhouse on Friday, March 12, and is aimed at raising awareness of the resources available in New Brunswick to those dealing with any kind of personal crisis.

While both organizations originally had separate ideas for their own independent fundraising, the common ground shared between the organizations led to a collaborative

effort.

“Both organizations we are fundraising money for had been brainstorming ideas for an event independently, and both had the idea of some sort of musical event,” says Kristen, whose last name cannot be disclosed because of her involvement with the helpline. Kristen is one of the organizers behind Music for Change.

“There were a few volunteers and staff involved in both organizations that decided it would be really great to have both organizations collaborate to put on a big event, and after throwing ideas around such as a coffee house or talent show, we decided that a music competition giving lots of musical talent from around New Brunswick the opportunity to compete would be a more unique event and more appealing to a big audience,” says Kristen.

The event will function like a battle of the bands, with each performer putting on their best show to im-

press the audience and five judges.

Once all the performances are over, the judges will deliberate and carefully select one winner from the solo musicians and one winner from the group performers. Both artists will receive the annual champion title and a grand prize.

Choosing from a pool of over fifty applications, the organizers behind Music for Change managed to whittle the list down to six bands and seven solo musicians. The selected bands represent a wide variety of genres and age groups and feature both established artists and up and comers.

Among the participants are 11 year old Brianna Corey who recently placed fifth in Canada in the Karaoke Star Jr. Competition, bluegrass/ country musician Jens Jeppesen, rock band Here’s Your Proof from Stanley High School and many more.

The judges for the competition include: Craig Woodcock of retro rock band 8 Track Mind, DJ Nasty Naz,

local reggae artist Saa Andrew, music journalist Ben Conoley (who has served as judge on the Polaris Prize panel) and a yet to be confirmed fifth.

“It is extremely important that this event is successful,” says Kristen.

“The money raised from this fundraiser will ensure that the programs that we have and services we provide for our community can continue and grow. [The event will] provide services that we do now, while allowing both non-profit charitable organizations to continue running.”

While the Chimo Helpline is commonly viewed solely as a crisis and suicide helpline, the toll-free number is actually available for virtually any personal crisis such as family issues, addiction, relationship problems or even for just someone to talk to.

“Chimo Helpline also has educational and training programs, public awareness projects, and [offers] a lot of training for other organizations”.

The other organization behind

Music for Change is the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Center.

“We at the [FSACC] offer many services such as counselling, educational programs for the community and schools, training programs, public awareness projects and our volunteer programs which allows us to run the 24 hour crisis line,” says Kristen, who is a member is the FSACC as well.

Since the event is still in its first year, the organizers behind Music For Change don’t have a specific monetary goal in mind, though Kristen realizes that the level of success they achieve this year will determine the likelihood for future events.

“This is something we are hoping to put on every year, and make it an event that everyone looks forward to,” she says. “Success this year will allow that to happen”.

Tickets are available now and the event takes place at the Playhouse on Friday, March 12 at 8 p.m.

Reggae Night’s Dub Antenna is available for download Alison Clack Arts Editor If you’ve spent any time at the Capital Complex you know who Dub Antenna is.

The musical collective has been an institution at Wilser’s Room on Wednesday nights for the past few years as a part of weekly Reggae Night events.

The group has been performing at the Capital for the past four and a half years according to drummer Mat Fitzgerald. However, the group hasn’t

always looked – or sounded – the way they do now.

The collective originally formed to perform at Fredericton’s Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival a number of years ago.

At this time, the group played mostly electronic dub and featured none of the horns and traditional dub reggae parts associated with the act now.

Over the years the band’s line up has changed a great deal. Fitzgerald explains that there are only three from the original group that are still an active part of the collective. He and two other members, Tania Breen (vocals) and Mike

Doherty (keyboard and bass) are the only members from the original line up.

After a number of years the collective added a horn section, and from there the music evolved naturally.

“We started to have more of a traditional dub reggae sound,” explains Fitzgerald.

Now the band is undertaking another step in their evolution, releasing an album. The record is a live recording of one of their performances from two years ago.

“We did this mostly as documentation. We’ve been really lucky to have

a gig that has lasted this long and we know it won’t last forever. It would be a shame not to have a reminder of what we did,” says Fitzgerald about why the band decided to release an album.

The record is currently up on Dub Antenna’s Myspace, and the free download will be available in the next couple of weeks.

“I don’t really think there’s any money in making and recording CDs anymore. Most people get their music by downloading it one way or another,” explains Fitzgerald on why the collective is offering the recording free of charge.

“Obviously, you don’t get involved in a 10 piece band if you’re in it for the money,” he adds.

As far as new recordings go, Fitzgerald also revealed that the collective plans on releasing a studio album in the next few months.

“We were hoping to start recording this month but we’re still recouping financially from creating this [live] recording.”

Reggae Night is a weekly event, and happens every Wednesday at the Capital Complex’s Wilser’s Room. Dub Antenna starts 11:30pm. Cover is $5.

brunswickanarts

Mar. 10, 2010 • Issue 22 • Volume 143 • 11

Not your average Piper to be picked

Alex Kress Staff Writer Fans of Ontario band Caribou and music junkies alike, listen up. Brad Weber, the drummer for Caribou, is coming to The Capital this Friday, March 12 with his other band, Pick a Piper.

Pick a Piper released their self-titled debut EP a little over a year ago, and the band just kicked off their first east coast tour with Fredericton as one of their first stops.

“I haven’t been out east in about four years. Everyone is so friendly and nice and so welcoming, and fairly enthusiastic about music in general,” Weber said. “I haven’t been to Fredericton before. I’m very excited.”

Pick a Piper is the creative project of Weber and a few close friends: Angus Fraser who also plays drums, Dan Roberts on bass and Clint Scrivener on guitar.

“After I came back from a couple years of steady touring with Caribou I wanted to get a new project going where I was contributing a lot more creatively. We started playing together and before we knew it [we’d] turned into a full fledged band, and it blossomed from there,” Weber said.

Since last year when their EP was released, Pick a Piper have been establishing themselves live at shows across southern Ontario and Quebec.

“We put the EP out around the time we started playing live, figuring out what our sound is and what kind of music we want to write and how we want to convey that live. I think it’s come a long way. We’re pretty happy with how the shows are going. We’ve been getting good feedback and we’re having fun,” he said. “We’re playing material, figuring out what we are as people and as a band and moving forward.”

Pick a Piper won’t be able to release a full-length album until early 2011, largely due to Weber’s busy tour schedule with Caribou. Caribou is releasing a new album in April and Weber is heavily booked through the spring and fall touring to support it. He said he expects to have time during the summer months to put

finishing touches on material for a full-length Pick a Piper album.

The band will be bringing a special treat for east coasters, however.

“We’re making up a limited edition east coast tour EP. We have about 100 copies that we’re going to sell out there which have one new song we just put up and an alternate version of that song, and then a few older ones.”

“There are 100 different [album] covers of random travel photography from everywhere as I’ve made my rounds. Some are from when my brother and I went to Nunavut this past fall, and some are from Newfoundland, Peru and Bolivia. I’ve had a travel bug over the last five years,” he said. “[Nunavut] is a totally different world. People are different. They look different, they speak a different language, and the landscape is completely different than anywhere else in Canada. I definitely recommend it as a place to go, it’s really wild.”

But Weber didn’t stop the cultural exploration with the album covers.

“We have incorporated some Latin kind of beats [on the debut EP], like in the song Dené Sled, the last one on the EP. It’s totally influenced by my travels [in South America].”

Weber also visited Iceland in October last year for a second time and shot footage for and directed Pick a Piper’s video for “Rooms,” which can be viewed on their MySpace page.

While on the road this time, Weber said the band will be listening to the new album by New Zealand’s The Ruby Suns. The ex-Californians’ last album was “almost world music meets Animal Collective,” he said, “and this new one is really kind of dreamy synth-pop with slight kind of tropical vibes to it.”

Weber says Capital-goers can expect a truly unique and interactive show with a percussive mission.

“Our live show is a lot of drumming. We have two drum kits set up.

There’s one at the back, and Angus is playing at the front standing up,” he said.

“There’s points in the show where the other guys kind of drop their instruments and come over and play

Pick a Piper is made up of Brad Weber, Angus Fraser, Dan Roberts and Clint Scrivener, all of whom hail from the GTA, Hamilton or Waterloo. Pick a Piper / Flickr CC along to us on our drum kits or pick up a hand drum, and that kind of dynamic explodes near the end. We play drums on the floor with the crowd or give them tambourines and try to get people involved with the show,” Weber said.

The band always makes an effort to intrigue and entertain the audience when they play live.

“Live, we try to make it crazy and unpredictable while keeping to tighter arrangements. We’re not like a jam band in any sense. We mostly have our stuff pre-arranged but leave room to make it slightly improvised so we can do something unexpected.”

Saint John’s Andy Stevens and Ontario’s Ace Kinkaid open for Pick a Piper this Friday, doors open at 10pm.

this week in fredericton.

UNB Dance presents Movement Beyond Borders (March 10, 8 p.m.)

UNB Dance will be putting on a show this Wednesday in the SUB ballroom. All the dances feature choreography that is culturally inspired. Admission is $7 at the door.

Maggie Jean Chestnut Art Gala (March 11, 7 p.m.)

Stop in for Maggie Jean Chestnut house’s second annual art gala in support of the Fredericton Food Bank. Admission is $3 or a non-perishable food item.

Trinitea’s presents “Can’t Buy Me Love” (March 13, doors 6:10 p.m., show 6:30 p.m.)

Enjoy a couple hours of dinner theatre at Trinitea’s Cup with their presentation of “Can’t Buy Me Love.” The story follows a relationship expert’s advice and features an all-Beatles soundtrack.

NBCCD welcomes Thomas Ferrero (March 16)

Thomas Ferrero will be visiting the college next Tuesday to hold an exhibition of his lauded metalwork entitled “Artifacts of Fantasy.”

arts@thebruns.ca

12 • Mar. 10, 2010 • Issue 22 • Volume 143

brunswickanarts

the ECMAs

a photo essay.

By Mike Erb

Going to bed as the sun rose was required this past weekend in Sydney, Nova Scotia during the East Coast Music Awards. Forward Music Group had a showcase stage at Governor’s Pub Saturday night.

Force Fields (pictured bottom left), Share (top left), Grand Theft Bus and The Slate Pacific were just a few of the record label’s roster to perform to the packed two level bar. New Brunswick was well represented this year as Moncton’s The Motorleague (top right) won the first music award of the festival for Loud Recording of the Year for their record, “Black Noise.” They also won Fan’s Choice Video of the Year “Hymn For The Newly Departed.” to celebrate their award the band planned on holding an acoustic set in the Music New Brunswick room; however, the set had to be cancelled for fear of the room being totalled. Meanwhile, Iron Giant’s (bottom right) Saturday night performance was a barnburner in itself as the first note sent the crowd rushing to the stage until the very last note. Other notes from the awards include Joel Plaskett’s (expected) domination of the awards ceremony with a total of 6 wins. Mike Erb / The Brunswickan

brunswickanarts

Please rob me!

From the Tubes Doug Estey If you’ve never used foursquare, you aren’t alone. The location-based social networking service is barely a year old, yet it’s already starting to draw some controversy about just how much personal information we choose to broadcast to the web.

With foursquare, users “check in” whenever they go somewhere - essentially updating their current location so they can connect with friends along the way. The idea is that you can share tips about certain places with your buddies, bump into them at the coffee shop, and compare habits.

Foursquare adds in some fun features like badges and mayorship - I’ve somehow become the mayor of Pita Pit, The Cedar Tree Cafe and The Brunswickan (who knew?) which means that I’ve checked in to these places more than any other foursquare user. Privacy controls are pretty good; you only share your location with approved friends and you can even check in “off the grid” to hide it from them.

What’s the problem, then?

Issues arise when people (optionally) connect their foursquare accounts to Twitter and then hit a nasty little checkbox that posts foursquare check-ins to Twitter by default. Not only is this obnoxious and frustrating for the person’s Twitter followers, it also represents a viable security risk.

I’m clearly not the only one who’s noticed this. PleaseRobMe.com is selfexplanatory proof of this. The website pulls in foursquare updates that have been posted publicly to Twitter, listing the user’s Twitter name and appending “left home

and checked in x minutes ago” as a wakeup call to those who foolishly announce to the entire planet every time they go somewhere. Foursquare users can also push their location updates to Facebook, which is slightly less public but still poses a risk.

Of course, there really isn’t anything wrong with sharing occasional check-ins via Twitter and Facebook. Foursquare has responded to the issue of location privacy on their blog at http://foursquare.tumblr. com/post/397625136/on-foursquarelocation-privacy, in which they highlight a hilarious but excellent comment made on a Gawker.com article on “How not to be a foursquare jackass” (http://gawker. com/5473916/how-not-to-be-a-foursquare-jackass): “You might as well argue that you should never tell anyone that you have a job, because then people will know you are at work from nine to five every day, and can use the white pages to find your home and rob you! Or that you should never, ever update your Facebook status to let people know you’re on vacation.

Or that you shouldn’t blog that you’re at work, or at a restaurant, or in another city, or anywhere other than home. Or that you should never upload mobile pix to Flickr when you’re out at night. Or for that matter, you should never, ever, ever tell anyone that you’re anyplace on the phone, because you know who may be listening in? Robbers! Fucking robbers who want to steal your precious, precious, precocious twee shit!” via @mat As with everything, it’s all about moderation. If you have a steady, consistent stream of location updates being cached

by Google and available to anyone with Internet access, you might want to take a step back at the decision you’re making.

On the same note, becoming paranoid and closing yourself off is counterproductive to the “social” web you’re taking part in.

Mar. 10, 2010 • Issue 22 • Volume 143 • 13

cd reviews by andrew olsvik.

Liars – Sisterworld [Released March 9, 2010; Mute] While it’s often comforting to have some “safety bands” that never fail to release familiar sounding material, New York experimental rock trio Liars are not one of those bands.

Although initially congested into the New York post-punk/garage revival scene early in the new millennium, Liars quickly broke out with their subsequent material and have expanded their soundscape so much that it was virtually impossible to predict what direction their fifth album Sisterworld would take. Surprisingly, the aesthetic differences between Sisterworld and Liars’ previous albums are slim and as a whole, Sisterworld is strikingly tame in comparison – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

The album’s success lies in the dynamic between slow, chamber pop interludes and loud thrashy jams, and could demonstrate that Liars have finally found their niche. Or, as the band has been quoted as saying, their next album could be a Japanese pop record.

Joe Pug – Messenger [Released Feb. 16, 2010; Lightning Rod] When Joe Pug released his debut EP in 2008 I was sure he had the potential to become the next big great singer/songwriter in the style of Bob Dylan or Neil Young.

Distinctive yet soothing voice? Check. Insightful, relatable lyrics? Check. Outstanding debut album? Err...not so much. While the Nation of Heat EP was a recording of a man with something to say, Messenger sounds more like something you’d find on the counter of Starbucks. Although only one of the songs on the album appeared on one of Pug’s EPs, the rest of the songs sound like slightly reworked versions of the EP songs with different lyrics and some cheesy alt-country twang thrown in. Surprisingly, it’s that one reappearing song that saves Messenger from being completely missable.

Originally from the Nation of Heat EP, the electric full band version of “Speak Plainly Diana” that appears on Messenger should be a hint that maybe Pug should follow in Dylan’s footsteps and plug in.

Aloha – Home Acres [Released March 9, 2010; Polyvinyl] Since their inception eleven years ago, experimental indie rockers Aloha have teased us with talent and potential. Releasing a string of varied albums and EPs ranging from the ferocious rhythms of 2000’s That’s Your Fire to the subdued Light Works EP, Aloha can never be accused of recording a bad album. However, throughout the years there has been a lingering feeling that their best work was ahead of them; that despite their already impressive catalogue they hadn’t climaxed. For better or for worse, that feeling is gone with Home Acres. Aloha have managed to balance experimentation and melody and have combined their renowned fury of eclectic sounds with their knack for writing relentlessly catchy hooks to create the perfect representation of the past 11 years of Aloha. While the vibraphone is practically synonymous with Aloha, never has it been used to as great an effect as in “Microviolence” where it’s beautiful melodies accentuate Tony Cavallario’s riffs and soft voice as much as they do the rigid rhythms of the rest of the band. Whether you are anxiously awaiting its release or are completely new to Aloha, Home Acres very well could be your album of the year.

brunswickansports

Mar. 10, 2010 • Issue 22 • Volume 143 • 14

sports@thebruns.ca

Fencing club presents duel of the hill

Colin McPhail Sports Editor There has always been a rivalry between the University of New Brunswick and its neighbour St. Thomas University.

When thinking of “the battle of the hill,” the mind tends to linger towards visions of hockey. That is not the case here. The UNB/STU Fencing Club is offering a new twist on this old feud.

The club will host the 2010 UNB Shield, Atlantic University Fencing Championship, and Atlantic Team Fencing Championship tournaments over the weekend. Although the club has hosted events similar to these in its 43 year history, they are offering something very different this time around.

Promptly dubbed “the duel of the hill,” the event will pit several high profile members from both UNB and STU against each other. Each squad will be represented by a member from their Student Union and University President’s office. Also, Aquinian Sports Editor Stephanie Fauquier and I, Colin McPhail, have risen to the challenge and will also compete. The club is also proud to announce that Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside will challenge the winner of an online auction to a duel.

“The duel of the hill is an idea that I got from the battle of the hill and thought that would make an interesting play for UNB and STU,” explained club president Dhomas Trenn. “So, it’s intended to excite the student population and if it goes really well, we’ll run it next year. And of course the Mayor’s challenge is to bring more interest in from the community as well.”

Although the club is excited for the duel of the hill, it is not the only main event over the weekend.

“The University Championship is something that we started last year with the idea to bring Newfoundland, PEI

The UNB/STU Fencing Club will be hosting several fencing competitions, including the 2010 UNB Shield.The club will also present the first ever ‘duel of the hill’ event where notable members from the community will face off against each other. Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan and Nova Scotia together to start building a university circuit,” Trenn said.

In last year’s tournament, the UNB/ STU Fencing Club took home the gold in a thrilling final match against Newfoundland.

“It really couldn’t have played out better; particularly for us because we won,” commented Trenn. “But also because it really excited Newfoundland

the brunswickan presents

the panel voice your opinion

and they put a lot of money from their province into [the program] immediately to send a team again this year and we’re really looking forward to build on that. We’re doing whatever we can do build that support and then take it from there.”

Club president Trenn and vice president David Themens are hoping the weekend will deliver some much

needed exposure to not only the club, but the sport as well. As of now, the pair have their hands full teaching the basics to duel of the hill participants, but with a smile nonetheless. The club invites members of all skill levels from the universities and the city, always keeping their goal of building the club in mind.

“We’re also looking on bringing in the community as well,” Trenn

What do you think about LeBron James switching his jersey number?

Colin McPhail

Tony von Richter

Alex Wickwire

I’m going to be the cynic and say that James’ intentions are not as sincere. A new number will make jersey sales skyrocket. Coincidence?

I think not. You might as well slap that baby on a sneaker and triple your profits while you’re at it. I’m sorry LeBron, but I just don’t buy it.

Although it’ll be a little strange to see LeBron without his familiar number 23, if he wants to change it as part of his campaign to get everyone to stop wearing Michael Jordan’s old number than it’s a good idea.

So LBJ is going from Michael Jordan’s famous 23 to Bill Russell/ Dr. J’s old jersey number. C’mon ‘Bron, build your own legacy.

Wearing recycled digits and getting swept in the finals won’t make you into the greatest of all time.

Sports Editor

said. With the new facility next year (The Currie Center), we will have the opportunity for wheelchair fencing.

We’re thinking big and really doing what we can to build the club and the interest in it.”

The action begins in South Gym Friday night at 7 p.m. with the opening ceremonies, and will continue until Sunday.

CUP Sports Bureau Chief

Sports Reporter

Christopher Cameron Sports Writer

I think his plans to change his jersey number is a good idea, if he is doing it for the right reason and not for marketing LeBron. Seeing as Michael Jordan was such a great player, to stop wearing his number in honour of him is a huge deal.

brunswickansports

sports briefs.

UNB wrestlers take home hardware At the 2010 CIS Championships in Calgary over the weekend four UNB wrestlers took home medals.

Eric Feunekes grabbed the gold in the 90 kilo weight class, while Ben Sayah won gold in the 65 kilo class and Vince Cormier won a bronze in the 57 kilo class. On the women’s side, Rachel Pinet won silver in 82 kilo class.

Make it 24!

Dalhousie has added another championship to their incredible streak of consecutive AUS titles, winning their 24 straight. The Tigers defeated the UNB Varsity Reds in two straight matches, both 3-0, in the best of three series.

Dalhousie will now head to the CIS Championships at Thompson Rivers University.

AUS men’s hockey final set In the other AUS semi-final, Saint Mary’s defeated Acadia three games to one to move on. Now the Huskies will face St.FX in a best of seven series for the AUS title. The season series was locked at two games apiece.

Mar. 10, 2010 • Issue 22 • Volume 143 • 15

X-men shock Reds in semi-final Colin McPhail Sports Editor For UNB hockey fans, the unthinkable has happened. After a record-breaking 27-1 regular season, the Varsity Reds hockey squad was swept by the St.FX X-men in AUS semi-final. However, it seems fitting that the only team to beat the Reds during the season would knock them out of the playoffs.

After earning a first round bye with their first place finish in the season standings, the Reds had a lengthy 12 day break from competition before squaring off against St.FX. The X-men made quick work of UPEI, sweeping the best of three series. Game one saw the Reds take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission thanks in part to a pair of Kyle Bailey markers. However, St.FX netminder Bryan Gillis shut the door in third stopping all 10 UNB shots. Gillis’ counterpart Travis Fullerton could not match his performance as Phil Mangan notched the equalizer and Brennen Wray scored the game winner with under five minutes left, giving St.FX the 3-2 win.

The story of game two was Gillis.

Even though the Reds outshot the visitors by an astonishing 31-6 margin, the X-men still managed to jump to a 3-0 lead with a pair of goals from Mangan and a shorthanded tally from Ryan Desrosiers. UNB tried to mount a comeback with goals from Ben Shutron and Daine Todd, but Gillis stood on his head, making 29 saves for the 3-2 win.

Facing elimination, the Reds travelled to Antigonish for game three in front of packed crowd of excited St.FX fans salivating over the possibility of sweeping the nation’s number one ranked team. Once again UNB came out strong, outshooting the X-men 113, only to have the home squad take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission off a

Rob Warner goal.

The tide turned in the second as St.FX controlled the play and Matthew Bragg scored the period’s only tally, giving X a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes. With their hopes of repeating as national champion fading fast, the Reds stormed back and squared up the match with goals from Chris Culligan and Lachlan MacIntosh. However, to the dismay of UNB fans and the delight of a sold out Keating Centre, Mangan notched his fourth goal of the series making it 3-2 with 4:50 left on the clock. The Reds could not recover and their season was ended.

The story of the series was the stellar play of X-men goaltender Bryan Gillis.

He stopped 89 out of the 96 shots UNB threw at him and was the number one star in two matches. UNB’s inability to solve Gillis, coupled with St.FX’s determination, was too much for the defending champs.

When searching for answers, the Reds goaltending could be called into question as the Fullerton and Derek Yeomans tandem let in nine goals on only 54 shots. However, the goal support UNB was used to seeing was absent as well. The Reds averaged 5.1 goals throughout their 28 regular season games.

Unfortunately, Head Coach Gardiner MacDougall was unavailable for content.

The 12 day break between action, reminiscent of the 2007 Stanley Cup finals when the Ottawa Senators felt the rust of a long break, could also be the cause of their demise. Coincidentally, both teams that received first round byes were ousted from the playoffs.

Nonetheless, the Reds must now endure the bittersweet feeling of watching St.FX and Saint Mary’s battled it out for the AUS title; a prize that could have been easily captured.

End of another tough grind for Reds Alex Wickwire Sports Reporter A 3-17 record, eight points in the conference standings and a -244 scoring differential. This is the end result of another building year in UNB men’s basketball.

For the second year in a row they were the youngest squad in the AUS, and that lack of experience was the Achilles heel to the team’s success.

Double digit losses and an inability to finish in the fourth quarter were a recurring story for the team. Head coach Brent Baker addressed the issue of youngsters on the bench.

“I really think two things come into play with our squad’s performance in the second half of games,” explained Baker.

“One is lack of depth, which in the case of the top four teams is a decided advantage, and our lack of experience in these situations. Our bench is predominantly freshmen, so it is a defining factor in our success. Experience counts for so much in this league.”

Baker also recognizes the necessity for not only experienced depth, but depth that can play against any line-up as well.

“Teams have to learn how to win and part of this is having ‘proven depth’,” continued Baker. “When I was with [St. FX] as an assistant coach when we won two AUS titles, it was not just that we had talent, it was the fact that our depth off the bench was so good. In most cases, the first five guys on any AUS squad can play with the other squad’s first five; it’s when you sub that it becomes the critical factor.”

In a season filled with tough losses, the Reds did get notable production

The Reds’ 3-17 record during the regular season marks the fifth straight season below .500 for UNB. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan from their team captains. Mike Anderson ended his career at UNB with a 17.7 point per game average this season, as well as three games in which he scored over 30 points. Alex DesRoches led the league in rebounding, scored 13.6 points per game and recorded eight double-doubles.

Other notable bright spots for the team were the fifth place finish in turnover margin, with a +1.15, and a

conference high 12 assist performance from guard Andrew Wright against CBU back in early February.

It was another tough year, but the team showed plenty of potential. Now that the rookies have got their feet wet in AUS play, we can only be optimistic about next season. The 3-17 record is a little misleading. Catch a game on a Saturday afternoon next season and you’ll see what I mean.

brunswickansports

16 • Mar. 10, 2010 • Issue 22 • Volume 143

Bringing down the house Christopher Cameron An Opinion If the names Kevin Martin or Cheryl Bernard came up in conversation a few weeks ago, most people would not know who they were. Like it or not, one of Canada’s leading sports, curling, has hit a boom time in popularity thanks to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

Leading up to the Olympics, The Simpsons featured curling in an episode called “Boy Meets Curl.” Although the episode was not a completely accurate depiction of curling, it sparked interest in people that generally do not take part in the sport.

Being a curler myself I understand the sport, but have often been questioned when someone does not comprehend what is going on. I’ve heard curling referred to as a game similar to chess because it is such a strategic game. There seems to be a new fascination with the game as viewers try to strategize with the teams playing. Musing over what shots to play and why gives observers a way to debate with their company. Although the Olympic teams may make the game look easy, each shot call needs to be carefully executed.

Another reason curling has been taking off is sex appeal. Many males new to curling have not been able to stop discussing how gorgeous they thought Cheryl Bernard was, as well as many other curlers on other international teams. Although this may be shallow, it has drawn viewers to the sport nonetheless. The same can be said about male curlers. John Morris, the Canadian men’s third, has been the curling sex symbol for the ladies just beginning to watch the sport.

The curlers themselves have noticed a

Vancouver 2010: a golden history Alex Wickwire An Opinion

Canadian skip Kevin Martin and third John Morris eye the French skip during Olympic play in Vancouver.. _Tawcan/Flickr CC major difference in the fans, as many are new to the sport. The Canadian men’s and women’s championships are played in front of crowds usually ranging from 10 to 18,000 people. During these events, fans are not told to stay quiet, but generally are calm and not too noisy.

With the Olympics, many people were just looking to get to events and did not know much about how fans have generally behave at curling matches. In one of the round robin games when Canada was taking on Great Britain, the crowd began sang “O Canada” in the middle of the game. All the curlers stopped playing as it was so loud players could not communicate. This is a new phenomenon to

curling, but one that could happen more often at events like the Tim Hortons Brier and Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

The Canadians fared well, the men’s team skipped by Martin won gold, while the women’s team skipped by Bernard settled for silver after Bernard missed potential game-winning shots in consecutive ends in the finals.

The Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men’s national championship, is currently taking place in Halifax. The top men’s teams in Canada can be watched on TSN with the final taking place March 14. Taking in a few minutes of curling action in could draw you in and have you hooked, so be sure to check it out.

Since the end of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, I’ve been smiling nonstop, walking with perfect posture, and nothing seems to really bother me.

I’m sure I share this feeling with the rest of the nation, because I’ve never been more proud to be a Canadian.

Normally in an article like this I’d have a field day mocking the mighty USA for being the best at finishing third (13 bronze medals) or throw a dig at Pepsi for their stupid “Eh Oh” cheer dying out before it even got started. I could dub the BBC sore losers because they openly called Vancouver the worst place for the winter games, or even throw any American sportswriter under the bus for the never-ending anti-Canada articles they churned out.

But I don’t want to.

The 2010 Winter Olympics were the greatest sporting event in Canadian history, and that simply means there’s no room for negativity in any sort of article, TV wrap or column.

We really did own the podium, the best part of it.

Everybody saw Alex Bilodeau fly down the mogul hill and embrace his disabled brother. Everybody wanted to walk down the street with Jon Montgomery as he chugged that pitcher of draft beer. Yet the biggest of all, was when everyone lost their minds when Jarome Iginla dug the puck off the boards, slid a beautiful pass to Sid the Kid, and when that chunk of black rubber went between Ryan Miller’s

legs and hit the back of the net, 71 per cent of our great country jumped for joy.

Who else spent 17 days with their TV’s stuck on a network showing the games? I found myself skipping marquee NBA match ups just to watch people in spandex suits fly down an ice covered track inside a contraption called a “bobsleigh.”

With the games taking place in the west coast time zone, we could literally turn on an ice dancing contest at 3 a.m. on a weekday. It’s probably a good thing the games only last 17 days, because any longer and I’m sure that grades, jobs and anything else relevant to real life would have suffered greatly.

Who ever thought it would be Duncan Keith and Drew Doughty that would be the most talked about defencemen on team Canada? Who ever thought Zach Parise would score with less than a minute to go in the gold medal game? The hockey tournament itself couldn’t have been written by the most brilliant screenwriters.

The campaign had been going since Steve Yzerman invited half the NHL to team Canada’s training camp and ended with number 87 cementing his legacy in Canadian hockey history. Twenty minutes after Crosby’s goal, celebratory Facebook groups had almost 3,000 people join. Status updates were all variations of the same thing, and people were so excited that the server crashed and threw up error messages for over half an hour.

Canada, walk upright, put your chest out, and enjoy being on top of the winter world.