arts | harvest insert inside
news | how to drink smarter
opinion| UNB water situation
sports| reds suffer tough defeat
Volume 145 · Issue 3 • September 21, 2011
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Lead levels above limit in drinking sources across UNB campus Hilary Paige Smith News Editor Eighteen per cent of fountains and sinks on campus were found to have lead levels exceeding Health Canada guidelines after campus-wide water quality tests. More than 420 samples have already been sent to an outside laboratory. Facilities Management began testing fountains and sinks on campus after a student-led effort last fall turned up above average levels of lead in a fountain in Bailey Hall. A UNB professor also expressed concerns about water quality on campus. The fountain in Bailey Hall was replaced with a new one that includes a lead filter. Fountains and sinks that were found to have high lead levels have been turned off or marked out of service. Drinking water sources have been tested in every building on campus and people on campus are still asking whether or not their fountain or sink has been tested, bringing to light additional sources on campus. Barbara Nicholson, associate vicepresident of capital planning and property development, said Facilities Management is taking samples from new sinks and fountains as they are made known. UNB has been testing what they call “worst case scenario samples,” a decision they made in conjunction with the consulting firm helping them throughout the process. “What that means is that we’re not quite following the testing guidelines
that would be established by public health in that we’re not flushing the water. We’re taking the sample right from the tap immediately. Primarily, those are being taken first thing in the morning after the water’s had the chance to sit for a while,” Nicholson said. The vice-president said they are testing like this because it’s more representative of how people could be accessing water because most people don’t flush out the taps before drinking. According to Nicholson, Canada Health guidelines state water with more than 10 micrograms (.0001 milligrams) of lead per litre isn’t fit for consumption. “We have some samples with levels that are very close to the limit; they’re below that, but they’re very close. We’re going to go back and retest those ones for peace of mind and comfort and we have some that are over that limit,” she said. Nicholson didn’t have the numbers for how far over the recommended limit the samples were. She also couldn’t say if people were at risk of lead poisoning. “I can’t answer that question because I’m not a medical expert, but there are resources available if people are concerned. The guidelines are based on an extended exposure, not just a one-off occasion,” she said. UNB’s Water Quality Working Group has been consulting with experts from the Department of Health and
SEE WATER PAGE 2
Barb Nicholson said UNB is working to ensure there is safe drinking water on campus and the process will take about six months to complete. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan
Women of Fredericton to “take back the night” this Friday Amy MacKenzie The Brunswickan
Women march in the 2010 event. Brunswickan Archives
Walking alone at night can be intimidating for women in Fredericton. Many female students who walk the campus “rape” trails at night look over their shoulders, look at the brush that borders the path and wonder, “am I safe?” But on Sept. 22, the women of Fredericton will walk without fear in the annual Take Back the Night event. After nightfall, a group of women will walk together around the city. The event is meant to make a statement against sexual assault and rape and to allow women to walk without fear. Take Back the Night is organized by
the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre. “We want to emphasize the fact that the streets are not safe for women to walk on and we want to reclaim our space and our right to walk,” Kimberley Douglass said. She’s the organizer of Take Back the Night. Joanna Mills is another organizer of the event. She added that having the walk at night is not meant to insinuate that’s where the majority of sexual assaults take place. “One of the big reasons that we are walking at night is to bring attention to myths surrounding sexual assault,” Mills said. “Myths like it only happens at night and on dark streets, which is untrue. So one of the reasons we have
it at night is to symbolize the darkness and secrecy that sexual assault is shrouded in.” Similar to Take Back the Night is SlutWalk. SlutWalk started in Toronto last January after a Toronto police officer told a group of women at a campus information session that if women didn’t dress like sluts, they wouldn’t be raped. SlutWalk was then formed as a way to state that women should be able to dress however they want and not have to worry about assault. Now, SlutWalks are appearing in cities around the world. Take Back the Night’s theme this
SEE NIGHT PAGE 2
2 • Sept. 21, 2011 • Issue 3 • Volume 145
New fountains cost $5,000 each FROM WATER PAGE 1
say the department is pleased with the process they’ve taken. The past few weeks have been busy for Facilities Management and those involved with the water testing. Nicholson said UNB has made providing quality drinking water a priority. “There are a lot of people who are working a lot of hours collecting samples and reacting to the results of those samples, either by marking a water fountain or sink ‘Out of Service’ or taping it off. We’re also now in the process of installing new water fountains and
it’s been busy and it will continue to be busy for the next little while,” she said. UNB has already ordered 20 new water fountains with lead filters, ten of them are the new type of “hydration units” with water bottle fillers. They already had three in stock as part of UNB’s plan for a more sustainable campus. In the past week they’ve determined more fountains need to be ordered. Fountains cost about $5,000 each to replace, expenditures that were not planned for in the budget. “There is a small amount of funding that was already established for that (hydration unit initiative), but this
One of the fountains in the LB Gym that was closed due to high lead content. Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan
certainly is a much bigger initiative,” Nicholson said. Once new fountains are installed, they will be retested to ensure the lead filters are keeping levels far below the limit. Nicholson expects the process will take up to six months to complete. “It’s about a step-by-step process. Right now we are in what I would call the first step, and that’s identifying all of the fountains and the sinks that need to be addressed. That’s going to take us still a bit more time and then we have process of doing more physical work and that could take up to six months before we get everything addressed,” she said. In the mean time, UNB is working on testing and retesting drinking water sources, installing new fountains and compiling a list of affected sources, that will made available online. Up the hill, St. Thomas University is experiencing a similar problem. They began testing lead levels after the announcement came out at UNB. Five fountains on campus tested outside the requirements for drinking water quality and three were close to the limit. A communication was issued by Bill Maclean, director of facilities at STU. Six units total have been taken out of service from two different residences Vanier Hall and Holy Cross Hall - and two were taken out of service from Edmund Casey Hall. The STU administration also ordered drinking fountains with a lead filtration system.
brunswickannews
March begins at 8 p.m. this Friday FROM NIGHT PAGE 1 year is on the same pulse as SlutWalk. “This year our message is that the victim of sexual assault should not be blamed for the assault,” said Douglass. “It’s our theme this year because there have been so many instances across the country this year where police and judges and general public have said, well if she didn’t dress that way or if she didn’t look like that or if she didn’t go there, it wouldn’t have happened.” “Our message is that it doesn’t matter how drunk she was, how dark it was, how little you knew the person – it’s not the victim, it’s the rapist,” Mills said. Take Back The Night is different from SlutWalk in the way that it only
allows women to be involved with the walk. For this reason, Take Back the Night organizers receive criticism that they are men-haters. “The reason this walk is for women only is because women are the people who are the most affected by sexual violence. They are more targeted for sexual violence. That’s not to say that it doesn’t happen to men,” Mills said. “We have one event a year that’s just for women to march and I would happily get behind a march organized by men for men to protest sexual violence against men. We’re not trying to exclude men; we’re just trying to celebrate women.” The march will begin at 8 p.m. outside of City Hall on Queen Street this Friday.
WORD OF MOUTH
More than one hundred students turned out to dance and lipsynch to Lady Gaga’s “Born this Way” and “Yeah x3” by Chris Brown for the UNB Lipdub video.The video will be released on Sept. 23. Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan
brunswickannews
Sept 21, 2011 • Issue 3 • Volume 145 • 3
Financial situation grim, but Campbell is optimistic
Hilary Paige Smith News Editor
Working to increase enrolment, enhance student financial aid and cut costs are among the priorities for the UNB administration this year, president Eddy Campbell said. The Brunswickan sat down with Campbell earlier this month to get his thoughts on the coming school year and to see what the administration will be focusing in the months ahead. Campbell said, after several years of enrolment decline, the number of students attending UNB this year is about the same as last year. “We seem to have stabilized and the plan calls on us to increase our enrolment, so we’re at least headed in the right direction,” Campbell said, referring to the Strategic Plan that was finalized and adopted last year. UNB will be working on implementing the Strategic Plan this year. As part of the plan, UNB eventually hopes to double all forms of student financial aid. “That’s a very ambitious goal and I know it’s one that’s very important to this group of student leaders who are concerned about access, as are we. In a high tuition environment, it means many of our students need help in order to come here,” he said. When the Strategic Plan was in development last year, numerous consultation sessions were held between students, faculty, staff, and the administration. Campbell said students will still be able to consult with the administration through elected student leaders. Further sessions on the Strategic Plan will up-
date the community on its progress and implementation. “I think they’re very clever. They’re very good representatives of the student body and I really enjoy talking to them. I have a lot of respect for their abilities and the principles and values they bring to the jobs they’re doing. We will be in close touch with them,” Campbell said. The UNB president added that if students are struggling, financially, academically or personally, they should seek help from the university. “The university does have lots of people whose job it is to try and help students. It’s not a perfect world. I wish we were doing better, but we’re doing pretty well as it is and we’ll try and improve,” he said. The administration has already begun meeting with the provincial government to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding, a four-year plan for post-secondary education, which is expected to be unveiled next month. “Everybody knows, and it is the truth, that the financial situation of the province is far from good. I think people fully expect the government will be taking the action they need to get our finances under control as a province. For my part and certainly the other presidents at other universities, we believe that we’re extremely important if the economic and social development is going to improve as it has to improve,” Campbell said. I n t he sa me vei n, t he U N B president said the financial situation at the university remains grim. UNB is looking at a structural deficit and Campbell said they’re hoping to balance the budget this year.
Dr. Eddy Campbell said September is one of the greatest times of year. Submitted “But only by reducing our expenses and that has come at a price. Over the past six years we’ve made $18 million in expense reductions. Over that period we are down 55 full-time equivalent faculty members and that causes concern for our ability to treat our students in the right
Getting to know UNB and the UNBSU Alanah Duffy News Reporter University of New Brunswick students are invited to come out and participate in some upcoming events that will help them learn more about the university community. The UNB Fair, being held today, and the State of the Union Address, happening Monday, Sept. 26, both give students an opportunity to learn about the different services offered by UNB. The fair is being held for the first time. In previous years, the Student Union held a Success Fair and the Wellness Committee held a Wellness Fair. To encourage more student participation, the two decided to merge this year, creating the UNB Fair. The fair will combine information and entertainment for students. “The UNB Fair is the ultimate, not-to-be ignored basics fair,” said Hansika Gunaratne, vice-president internal of the UNB Student Union. “There are going to be 34 information booths set up, and to make it a
bit more interesting, we decided to add some demonstrations from some of those groups.” While students peruse the information booths – which will have information about campus services as well as services offered by the city of Fredericton – they will be entertained by UNB Dance, the UNB Red Brigade and some entertainment provided by CHSR. Gunaratne encourages all students to participate in the event. “It’s really important that students know about the services that are available to them, and this is a good opportunity for them to find out the help that’s actually offered to students,” she said. “You don’t want to wait until later on in the term to figure out that you’re in trouble with academics.” The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the SUB atrium and the cafeteria. Some information booths will have free pizza for students. As well, participating students have the chance to win a trip for two to Montreal for New Year’s Eve.
The State of the Union Address is being held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday in the SUB atrium. The event, hosted by the UNBSU, will introduce students to what the student union is and how it works. “This event is a chance for students to come out and find out what we’ve been up to for the past five months and the next seven months,” explained Jordan Thompson, president of the UNBSU. The event, which is being held for the second time, will also be the kickoff to the student union by-election. There are seven positions up for grabs. “This event is pretty casual – we just want to see people come out and get involved,” Thompson said. At the State of the Union Address, students will get the opportunity to meet the executives involved in this year’s student union. “If you want to know more about the student union – who we are and what we do – then this is a good way to get to know the people involved and get to see the inner workings of the student union,” Thompson said.
way,” he said. He said the university’s financial priority right now is maintaining the quality of their programs because “if we’re not able to do our programs at a very high level, it’s not worth doing.” Despite the challenges that lay ahead, Campbell said September is
an uplifting time and he’s looking forward to the rest of the school year. “It’s very uplifting. This time of year for me is uplifting. Universities are inherently optimistic places at which to work. I’m on a real high at the moment and I think we’re going to have a great year.”
brunswickannews
4 • Sept. 21, 2011 • Issue 3 • Volume 145
Stakeholders jockey for better PSE standing in N.B. Colin McPhail CUP Atlantic Bureau Chief FREDERICTON (CUP) — For the student associations of New Brunswick universities, the first step in ensuring an accessible future in post-secondary education is getting a seat at the negotiation table. Despite scattered meetings throughout the 2010–11 school year and this summer, student representatives are still fighting for a stronger voice in ongoing post-secondary education funding consultations. The need for a better foothold in the talks is more important than ever as the provincial government and university administrations prepare to negotiate a four-year post-secondary education funding memorandum next month. “The students, who are one of the largest funders of these institutions, were officially left out of the negotiations,” said Mark Livingstone, St. Thomas University students’ union president. The four-year agreement, originally proposed by Premier David Alward during his campaign last September, would lock funding in place in order to provide a clearer future for universities during fiscal planning. While foresight will do wonders for university administrators, the wrong agreement could further the hardships faced by New Brunswick public universities and their students. To make matters worse for all parties, the financial report for the 2010–11 fiscal year revealed the provincial debt increased by $1 billion, leaving the net figure at $9.48 billion. The debt is projected to reach upwards of $10.2 billion when the 2012–13 provincial budget will be unveiled. Early comments made by Finance
Minister Blaine Higgs stated “tough decisions” are to be made, but no indications of which areas will see the chopping block were offered. “Students are certainly very concerned and nervous,” said Livingstone. “We hope the government will continue to value an affordable and accessible public post-secondary education system.” Acting as a unified front under the New Brunswick Student Alliance (NBSA), provincial post-secondary students are pushing for a more prominent role in consultations. However, according to Livingstone, they have not seen much success to date. He said students are being left out the decision-making process and the NBSA is having difficulty simply meeting with Martine Coulombe, minister of post-secondary education, training and labour. On the occasions when they do convene with the minister, he said a “lot of concerns have been dismissed.” Despite concerns brought forth by the NBSA, Coulombe insisted students are being involved in the discussions. “Our department has been meeting student leaders on an almost monthly basis to discuss a wide range of issues including the agreement with universities as well as the review of student aid programs,” she said in an email. She said the government and university stakeholders are meeting on a regular basis to create an appropriate funding model. That being said, the minister is well aware of the current financial situation gripping the province. “Like other jurisdictions across the country and around the world, the government of New Brunswick has been working diligently to reverse our province’s fiscal decline and institute a more balanced approach for New Brunswick,”
Dan Murray, vice-president finance, said stakeholders are meeting regularly. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan she said. “New Brunswickers told us they want government to manage growth, reduce spending and protect core services. Our first budget was a first step toward that goal.” She added the government is determined to meet the need of all stakeholders, and the four-year funding will go a long way in doing so. Dan Murray, vice-president of finance for the University of New Brunswick, echoed the minister in saying the fouryear model will act as an important planning tool. The only problem is the uncertainty overshadowing the final agreement.
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“We don’t know what the outcome will be, but at least having certainty about what your funding will be over a long period of time helps you to put plans in place,” he said. Murray said the new arrangement is a welcome change after the roller-coaster year that just passed, in which the UNB administration was forced to balance a budget which was $3 million in the red for the fiscal year. Thanks to a surprise two per cent increase in 2011–12 operating grant and a one-time $1-million money injection, the university was able to present a balanced budget. However, as Murray noted, the
continual exercise in cost-effectiveness can only be sustained for finite amount of time. “If there are any changes or reduction to the grant, it has a big impact on our finances,” he said. The $108-million operating grant from the province accounts for 63 per cent of the university’s total budget. Murray and the rest of the university stakeholders have already begun the lobbying process as negotiations are set to begin later this fall. “It’s not just about spending, it’s about investing, and there can be a really good return on investments on a number of fronts,” he explained.
brunswickannews
Sept 21, 2011 • Issue 3 • Volume 145 • 5
An educational approach to responsible drinking
Damira Davletyarova The Brunswickan After a 19-year-old Acadia University frosh died from alcohol poisoning following a night of drinking in residence, UNB is taking extra precautions and planning more educational activities. Megan Glenwright, Drink Smart coordinator, provides information to students about alcohol-related issues and promotes more responsible drinking. She said the student-run group has plans for this year. “I will be putting on such events as a Mixology. It teaches students how to mix drinks in the right quantities, what kind of drink it is, what it tastes like. There will be free samples, so everybody can come and taste,” Glenwright said. Glenwright is a fourth-year Womens Studies and Sociology student at UNB and this is her second year as Drink Smart coordinator. She decided to work towards more responsible drinking after observing many drunk students, even her friends, behaving in a way that could be harmful to themselves and to others. “I’ve seen a lot of heavy drinking in high school ... and it has continued in the university,” Glenwright said. “If you go to any of the bars in Fredericton, you tend to see people that are too intoxicated to be there. They are barely standing up. I have had a couple of my friends who have tried to
drive after they had been drinking, so I had to take their keys and hide them,” Glenwright said. According to the 2004 Canadian Campus Survey, more than 90 per cent of students who attend universities in the Atlantic region consume alcohol. It is the highest number across Canada. The same study indicates that the most drinking happens among students who live on campus. UNB Residential Life coordinator Krysta Skentelbery said it is the student’s responsibility to follow all government laws concerning liquor. The university takes an educational approach rather than a punitive one. “It’s not something that we want to happen behind closed doors, because we want to be able to identify potential problems,” Skentelbery said. “The best thing to do for our leaders is to model responsible behaviour themselves. We find that first year students, all students for that matter, tend to follow the model that the leaders are sending.” Even though, Skentelbery explains, the university spends a great amount of resources on education and prevention of alcohol-related hazards, students are adults and they have to learn to protect themselves from any dangers, including excessive drinking. “Drinking is an adult thing and sometimes it takes learning and experi-
Glenwright has events planned to help students drink more responsibly. Damira Davletyarova / The Brunswickan ence to find your limit,” Skentelbery said. “But we strongly discourage binge drinking. Binge drinking is not allowed in the residences, not any games, anything like that, that could arise in potential health issues or just normal disruptive behaviour.” As Drink Smart coordinator, Megan Glenwright realizes she has to deal with adults who have already formed an opinion about the role of alcohol in their
lives, yet she said her work is not in vain. She said she will keep organizing different activities with music, games, and open conversations where attending students can learn about drinking responsibly, resisting peer pressure to drink and still have fun. “It’s definitely okay to drink but it’s not okay when you drink in excess and putting yourself and others in danger,” Glenwright said.
Glenwright urges all UNB students to take all precautions and follow basic safety drinking rules such as setting limits, going out with friends, looking after own drinks and planning a safe ride back. “It is kind of reinforcing what people probably know but tend to forget on occasion,” Glenwright said. “But it doesn’t take much for an accident to happen. Nobody wants that.”
Biology professor gets big boost for his algae study Christopher Cameron Editor-in-Chief
Dr. Adrian Reyes received $169, 069 for his studies on algae. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan
Alanah Duffy News Reporter
Not even two years after coming to UNB to teach in the Biology department and continue his research, Dr. Adrian Reyes’ study of algae was given a major boost. Reyes received $169, 069 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation Leaders Opportunity Fund to put towards the purchasing of new lab equipment. Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State (ACOA), recently made the announcement in Moncton. “Our government is investing in science and technology to create jobs, improve the quality of life of Canadians and strengthen the economy,” Valcourt said. “This investment will make sure that our scientists have the tools they need to be successful and help Canada develop, attract and retain the world’s best researchers.” Reyes said this money is for equipment or renovations to labs, but cannot be used to pay students. “Some people here at UNB told me that CFI is a good option if you want
to get a good facility for your research,” Reyes said. “This particular type of CFI grant is the best way to get funding for what we need for this project. You have to provide them your project in terms of goals and experimentals and you need to justify why you need the equipment.” The major piece of equipment he needs is a flow cytometer. “This device will allow us to study a lot of cells in a single experiment,” Reyes said. “This device is able to take populations of different cells by using lights and electromagnetic forces and other processes and separate them based on particular characteristics. It is helpful when you can separate your cells of interest from one collection and separate them into their own tubes.” His research is looking at how cells in algae that used to eat bacteria evolved into a cell that now co-exists with the bacteria and creates its own food. “The way they are co-dependent at this point in evolution is so tight that you can distinguish them morphologically and in shape, but in terms of the interaction at a chemical level they are a single thing,” he said. “They are a very complicated structure and we’re trying
to see how they got to where they are today.” “The grant I have received is to understand particularly how those plastids evolved in early times and one way to do that is looking at the gene collection.” Although this is a major portion of Reyes’ research, he is also looking into the diversity of plants. “One way to understand what happened at the beginning is to understand diversity,” he said. “If you understand diversity you can compare things and figure out what happened in the past.” This grant comes as a major boost to his research and will help him continue to discover more about how these cells developed, but he says it is impossible to do research alone. “The main idea of the CFI grant is to have a good place to work, but it is designed to have five or six people working there,” Reyes said. “Research is impossible if you don’t have people working with you to some degree. We’re buying equipment for more than just me. During the summer I had two undergrad students working with me, but I’m looking for a grad student to help me with my research right now.”
Business students get real world investing experience
Business students learning about investing money are taking lessons out of the classroom and into the real world. The Student Investment Fund Program (SIF), run by the Faculty of Business Administration, has paired with LeeSide Capital Management, Inc. to help them invest $2.5 million of UNB’s endowment funds. The UNB endowment fund is the second largest of its kind in the Maritimes. The funds come mainly from alumni and other donors. “It’s a win-win-win situation,” said Glenn Cleland, founding director of UNB’s Centre for Financial Studies. “Why would the UNB endowment want to do it? They want someone who’s always going to be there. That’s LeeSide. The reason we wanted to do it was for the students.” By partnering with LeeSide, students will get to learn about investing funds
internationally. In previous years, students only got the opportunity to invest in North American markets. LeeSide Capital Management, Inc. is a Halifax-based company led by three New Brunswick-native financiers. “These guys are great guys,” Cleland said about why he chose to partner with LeeSide. “They have a New Brunswick connection and I’ve known them for 20-plus years.” Through the partnership, LeeSide will act as mentor for the students. “Now, my students are not limited to my knowledge, but they can also pick the brains of the people who are investing internationally,” said Cleland. “The students can now also present to these international professionals. It really expands the investment universe.” Mitch Legare, a fifth-year Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) student, is looking forward to the opportunity. “We’re really excited to manage
the money,” he said. “We get to play with it internationally and look at the international side of business, which is something we’ve never done before. This gives us a new look on things.” The Student Investment Fund began at UNB in 1998, with an initial $1 million provided by the New Brunswick Investment Management Corporation (NBIMC) for students to invest. By 2010’s year-end, students reached a balance of $2.6 million, which came from investment returns over the years. Students in the SIF program are typically fourth-year BBA students or second-year Master of Business Administration (MBA) students. Legare said that one of the fund’s biggest advantages is the real-world experience that it provides. “The key to the SIF is employability and making sure we’re all employable when we finish,” he said. “All of the students have huge initiatives going into the program.” Cleland said that employability was
Win-win-win situation for SIF students. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan a factor in his decision to partner with said the biggest advantage is the opLeeSide for this program. portunity for students to learn. “Our financial goal is to outperform “The whole idea of the program our benchmark, but my ultimate goal is that the only way that you learn to is to have LeeSide hire some of my invest is by doing it,” he said. “You students,” he said. can’t learn about it in books and that’s Although employability of students the whole point here. This will take it was a factor in the partnership, Cleland to another level.”
brunswickanopinion
Sept. 21, 2011 • Issue 3 • Volume 145 • 6
editor@thebruns.ca
The global economy: cracked but not broken
Reid Standish The Peak (Simon Fraser University) BURNABY, B.C. (CUP) — It’s easy to look at the events of the past few months and feel pessimistic about where the world and the global economy are headed. The U.S. Congress put on a spectacular display of political theatre and got the government’s credit rating downgraded by Standard and Poor’s. Britain was engulfed by prolonged rioting, looting and violence, and the Eurozone appears unable to handle its sovereign debt crisis with Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain stumbling while trying kick-start their stalled economies. These events paint an ominous picture of the future of the global economy. The astonishing cluster-cuss that took place in Washington during the debt ceiling and budget debacle was a prime example of why companies and investors are
sitting on record amounts of cash instead of investing it — they’ve lost confidence in governments doing what is necessary. Similarly, the Eurozone crisis illustrates how governments around the world have failed to stimulate their economies and get their houses in order, consequently losing the trust of the financial and business communities. Private sector spending and investment have been reduced, causing a cycle of poor growth and high unemployment. Unlike the economic crisis of 2008, markets and banks are now the victims. Moreover, as the world begins to enter into a new age of austerity, there is ample evidence to suggest that fiscal cuts and the economic downturn will cause social unrest to rise. In a spectacularly welltimed paper, Jacopo Ponticelli and Hans Joachim Voth argue that austerity measures increase the risk of social chaos. The introduction summarizes the findings quite nicely: “From the end of the Weimar
Republic in Germany in the 1930s to antigovernment demonstrations in Greece in 2010–11, austerity has tended to go hand in hand with politically motivated violence and social instability.” As the global age of austerity begins, so too does an age of increased social upheaval throughout the developed world. Add falling government efficacy and fading investor confidence to the mix, and the near future begins to look grim. However, perception can often distort and even ignore the reality of a situation. Although the current state of the global economy may not be a cause for joy, it also may not be headed towards the disaster that it feels like. Despite some obvious parallels between 2011 and 1931, the world is not gearing up for a further collapse into depression and social chaos. For starters, public support for the global economy is still quite high. In comparing World Public Opinion polls from 2007
UNB’s Water Situation
and 2010, public support for free markets shows no signs of retreating. Despite a downturn in U.S. support (70 per cent to 68 per cent), public support from major powers such as Germany and China has increased despite the major financial crisis of 2008. So, while there may be calls for action, a move away from free markets and towards more nationalistic policies (like those of 1931) is unlikely. Another key reason why the world isn’t about to implode is the strength of multilateral economic institutions. Organizations like the IMF and WTO have more resources than ever before to stave off collapse. Moreover, the G20 has proved its usefulness in being able to prevent panic from escalating and provide assurance to investors, even in the face of disagreement. It is quite easy to be a cynic about such organizations, but their safety net is a key reason why the global economy hasn’t worsened considerably.
Lastly, the roots of social unrest may be more complicated than simply introducing austerity measures. Ponticelli and Voth’s paper makes a noteworthy distinction: “For full democracies with a complete range of civil rights, the coefficient is still negative, but no longer significant.” This means that for democracies, the risk of social unrest during times of austerity is significantly lowered if political institutions are accessible. This is good news considering the abundance of democracies in the world. Freedom House lists 115 out of 195 countries as democracies. What happened in Britain might be the exception, rather than the norm. So yes, the recent news might create a bleak picture of the global economy. However, unless political and economic institutions and public attitudes completely disintegrate, a repeat of the 1930s is unlikely. Recovery might be slow, but we’re not as close to the edge as it feels.
Check out thebruns.ca for the solution later this week.
Government hinders accessibility to post-secondary education estimates, 29 per cent of studentloan recipients will be affected by this change. That is roughly 4,500 students. Some students will find Student Beat their loans reduced by a few dollars Jordan and not face a massive reduction in Thompson comparison to previous years. Others will find their loans reduced by a When it comes to financing educa- considerable amount. One of our tion, 55 per cent of students at UNB students had his loan reduced by rely on government student loans, 73 per cent! He is receiving less for considerably higher than the national the entire year than he received in average of 31 per cent. This is why one semester last year. The problem when the Progressive Conservative is that his parents cannot afford to government reinstated the parental contribute what the government has contribution calculation to New assessed them to contribute. Brunswick student loans, students The question then becomes how at UNB were hit hard. do these students finance their eduAccording to the government’s cation? If their parents cannot, or if
the brunswickan
About Us 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. The Brunswickan, in its 145th 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 publish weekly during the academic year with a circulation of 6,000.
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they refuse to contribute, one option students have is to go to the banks to get student lines of credit or rely on credit-card debt. With both options interest begins accruing immediately, as opposed to student loans where interest is only charged after graduation. Other benefits to student loans are the Timely Completion Benefit, where debt is capped at $26,000 if you finish your degree in the specified time and the Repayment Assistant Program, which limits your monthly loan payments to 20 per cent of your income if you qualify for the program. These options do not exist with private financing. This move by government is a step in the wrong direction to improving
accessibility to post-secondary education. The main selling point for this move is that it would be saving the government $1.6 million. However, there has been no study on the impact this will have on economic growth when fewer have access to post-secondary education. By hindering access, what is the impact on New Brunswick? No study has been done. Parental contributions erect barriers for students who need to apply for student loans in order to finance their educations. These students will now be taking on more debt as a result of needing to borrow from banks. What can you do if you are affected? Make yourself known.
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Contributors Mike Erb, Cherise Letson, Josh Fleck, Haley Ryan, Sean O’Neill, Alanah Duffy, Nick Murray, Tova Payne, Nicole Vair, Colin McPhail, Jennifer Bishop, Sarah Vannier, Bronté James, Damira Davletyarova, Amy MacKenzie, Luke Perrin
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Write Martine Coulombe, Minister for Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour (martine. coulombe@gnb.ca), Blaine Higgs, Minister of Finance (Blaine.Higgs@ gnb.ca), and Premier David Alward (david.alward@gnb.ca). Let them know this change affects you and is impacting accessibility to postsecondary education. Hopefully they will reconsider. Jordan Thompson is the President of the UNB Student Union and can be reached at president@unbsu.ca.
brunswickanopinion
Sept. 21, 2011 • Issue 3 • Volume 145 • 7
Student
Viewpoint.
Let everyone know whats on your mind.
What would you like to have come out of the water fountains instead of water?
Erica King
Melissa Rouselle “Optimum temperature, high pressure water.”
Jennie Savoie
Laura Eldridge
“Chocolate.”
“Pop.”
Danielle Landry
Nicole Saulnier
“My tuition money.”
Drew Noiles
“Strawberry kiwi juice.”
“Ice Cap.”
“Lemonade.”
“Chocolate syrup.”
“Free booze.”
Jessica Pattison
George Many
brunswickansports
Sept. 21, 2011 • Issue 3 • Volume 145 • 8
sports@thebruns.ca
Bronté James The Brunswickan
Varsity Reds lose back-to-back home games
After picking up one point in two games in their doubleheader against the Memorial University Sea-Hawks the UNB women’s soccer team lost their first two home games of the season with a heart-wrenching 3-2 loss against Saint Mary’s and a 4-0 loss against Dalhousie. Saturday’s game against Saint Mary’s University ended in a 3-2 loss, with both goals scored by Samantha Lagacy. The Reds and Huskies played neckto-neck until the 79th minute of the game where a break in the defensive line led SMU to score the third and final goal. “We have a young team, and we talk about getting better week by week, game by game. At times we played really well today, we made some mistakes, and we just have to correct the mistakes and keep going. We have the luxury of being in the playoffs, so we work it one week at a time,” said women’s soccer team head coach Andy Cameron. “Obviously there is a lot of frustration because they are not getting results right now, but I think there is good team chemistry.” Dalhousie University was the second team to play take on the Varsity Reds at BMO Centre, but had no trouble, picking up a 4-0 road win. Although the final score was in Dal’s favour, the V-Reds held a strong defensive line until the final 13 minutes of play, allowing Dal to score two consecutive goals, securing the win. Goalkeeper Jackie Blank, a firstyear addition to the team, played a strong line back in the net. Saving
The V-Reds lost both games in their opening weekend at home SMU 3-2 and Dal 4-0. Bronté James / The Brunswickan multiple shots taken within the 18yard line, Blank was able to keep the score low and showed the determination of a Varsity Red soccer player. “I think Jackie is tough as a firstyear goalkeeper. It is a tall task for any first-year player and she will get better with every game. We are working with her on a regular basis, and her performance was good but has to get better, just like everybody on the team,” Cameron said. “I think they dominated the play a little bit; they just played a little bit
simpler and a little bit quicker. We talk about the speed of the circulation of the ball, and they were a half-step quicker in the first half but we managed to get it back in the second half, but it’s good soccer and it’s a good level, and you get punished for your mistakes.” This weekend the UNB Reds also fundraised for the international program known as “Right to Play,” which raises money and awareness for underprivileged children around the world to participate in athletic activ-
ities. The event was put on nationally by the CIS and given the title “Go Shoeless.” Both the men and women’s soccer teams were UNB representatives this weekend, as both of their coaches went barefoot during their games. UNB athletes, as well as students, greeted fans at the newly named BMO Centre entrance with a shoecheck. Cameron and Miles Pinsent, head coach of the UNB men’s soccer team, went barefoot with students, fans and
athletes – which included members of both men and women’s volleyball, basketball and hockey teams – to represent the need for change. The UNB Varsity Reds next games are this weekend at home against Acadia on Saturday and Moncton on Sunday. “You have to be excited about every game, and last year we competed well against those teams and we will go out, guns firing,” Cameron said.
UNB men’s hockey adds former NHL’er to roster
Jennifer Bishop The Brunswickan The UNB Varsity Red’s hockey team has signed a new goaltender for the 2011-12 season. Dan Lacosta, a former OHL player who was drafted to the NHL in the third round, 93rd overall to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2004. Lacosta started playing hockey in Labrador between the ages of six and eight because of the influence of his friends and his father, who grew up playing hockey. “I was a player for my first couple of years and then by the time I was in Atom – I was probably nine or ten – our team needed a goalie full time,” Lacosta said. “For half a year I was switching back and forth between goalie and player and my dad used to be a goalie, and I liked their masks and their gear, and I thought it was kind of cool so I just wound up sticking with it.” At 15 he moved to Wellington, Ontario to play provincial Junior A hockey and was later drafted to the Ontario Junior A league and then the OHL. After playing two years in the OHL, he was drafted to the NHL where he signed a three-year entry-level contract. Lacosta played for the Owen Sound Attack for two years and then another two with the Barrie Colts where he was a teammate to Hunter Tremblay. Tremblay played with the Varsity Reds until last season and signed a contract with the Edmonton Oilers a week after UNB won the University Cup. “Actually, me and Hunter Tremblay were really good buddies there and actually that was kind of my
connection here to the university,” Lacosta said. Although Tremblay had 25 goals and 32 assists in 27 games last season with UNB, Lacosta said he felt no pressure to live up to Tremblay’s reputation because comparing a goalie to a player is like comparing apples to oranges. “He’s a good friend of mine and I really respect what he’s done here, but I have to do what I do,” Lacosta said. “I don’t feel any extra pressure because of what he’s done. I’m still going to come here and try to play my best and that’s all I can do.” After sitting last season out because of CIS eligibility rules and wanting to take a mental break from hockey, Lacosta is looking forward to being back on the ice. “If you’re a professional hockey player and you’re a major junior hockey player, that kind of becomes your identity, and I didn’t really have much else, I guess, as my identity besides that,” Lacosta said. “That was my profession. I never had a degree or anything, or any other jobs so it really forced me to develop as a person and figure out more about myself.” After his time away from hockey last season, Lacosta said he is ready to get back on the ice and get playing. He said that he has not spoken to head coach, Gardiner MacDougall about how the playing time will be split between himself and returning goalie Travis Fullerton, who has been with the team for the past four years. “Even though I played at a higher level, I still have to come in here and prove myself to my teammates and the coaches,” Lacosta said. “At the end of the day, I think that whoever
Former NHL’er, Dan LaCosta to join men’s hockey team this season. K. Bryannah James/ The Brunswickan deserves to play will play and that’s the way it should be.” Lacosta said he is looking forward to being on a team that has the expectation to win. He said that the last
time he played on a successful team was when he played with Tremblay for the Barrie Colts. “If you don’t win the CIS and if you’re not AUS champions, here at
UNB, I think you can’t really consider it a successful season,” Lacosta said. “It’s kind of nice having expectations like that, to win, you know. Hockey’s a lot more fun when you win.”
brunswickansports Legutky to help UNB volleyball Josh Fleck The Brunswickan With the departure of both of its starting left-side players from last year, Jill Blanchard and Erica Hay, the women’s volleyball team has big shoes to fill. Katarina Legutky is going to do her best to fill one of the voids. Legutky is a first-year left-side player from Calgary, Alberta. She moved to Calgary from Poprad, Slovakia 10 years ago. Legutky seems to have been born into volleyballashermother’scousin,IngridGillotMartin, plays professionally in Basil, France. When she was in the seventh grade, she became involved in volleyball and hasn’t looked back since. She played with the Calgary Dinos Volleyball Club in Calgary and had great success, and now she hopes to bring these skills with her to UNB. With just two left-sides on the team, Legutky is looking to see a lot of floor time this upcoming season. “We only have two this year so it’s going to be a lot of fun. A lot of playing time this year. There’s some added pressure trying to fill the shoes of Jill and Erica. It’s going to be a hard transition coming in so young. I think the speed of the game in the West will make it easier to adjust.” Legutky was not set on committing to UNB. In fact, it wasn’t even on her radar. She was set on going to the University of British Columbia Okanagan. It was only when coach John Richard invited Legutky
for a campus visit that she changed her mind. “John invited me out to the East Coast and my mind had been made up to go to UBCO. I loved Kelowna, it was just like Calgary. I figured why not take the trip to Fredericton, just to see what it was like? As soon as I got here I fell in love with the place.” Legutky may be excited to be here, but athletic director and head coach of the women’s volleyball team John Richard is just as excited. “We were very excited to have Katarina commit to our program. With Hay and Blanchard graduating we needed a left-side who could not only score, but could pass as well. Katarina is a dynamic physical player who will step in and contribute right away.” Legutky will be one of four rookies looking to make her mark on the women’s team this year along with Vanja Mitrovic, Olivia Babcock and Leah White. There are three starting spots up for grabs with the graduation of Hay and Blanchard, and middle-blocker Tanya Paulin signing a pro-contract to play in Lyon, France this season. If the Reds look to repeat as AUS Champions, they will need Legutky to step right into the shoes of Blanchard and Hay and compete from day one. The Reds open up the season with a tournament at Dalhousie University, on Sept. 30.
Sept. 21, 2011 • Issue 3 • Volume 145 • 9
Men’s soccer loses home-opener
Christopher Cameron Editor-In-Cheif
After four regular season games so far this season, the Varsity Reds men’s soccer team has one win and only one goal to show for it. Officially renaming Chapman Field, BMO Centre on Saturday, the V-Reds lost its first game at BMO Centre 4-0 to the Saint Mary’s Huskies. After the game, UNB men’s soccer head coach Miles Pinsent said Saint Mary’s showed his team where they need to be to be successful. “We’ve got a long way to go I guess,” he said. “We’ve played three games to date and in two of those performances been quite disappointed with what we’ve seen on the field. Obviously today was a championship-calibre team in Saint Mary’s and they showed us all about what that level is about. My guys did not react well to it.” On Sunday, UNB played its second home game of the season against the Dalhousie Tigers, which ended in a 2-0 shutout loss. The Tigers opened the scoring in the first minute as Julian Perrotta scored off a scramble in front of the Varsity Reds goal. As UNB pressed for an equalizer late in the game, Perrotta broke in alone on V-Reds keeper Aaron McMurray to score the final goal of the game and put the Tigers up 2-0. “It was a bit of a case of that (pushing for equalizer) and a young player trying to
Hurricanes rock Red Bombers on weekend
K. Bryannah James Sports Editor The UNB Red Bombers may have lost this past weekend against the Holland College Hurricanes, but it wasn’t due to any lack of commitment by the team. During the game, it was a hard-pressed struggle between the two teams, until the final quarter when the Hurricanes blew past the Bombers. The first quarter started with a touchdown 15 seconds into the beginning of play by the Hurricanes’ Demetrius Ferguson. However, it was quickly balanced by a 13-yard run by Bomber, Eric Smith to tie the game 7-7. “My offensive line was wicked tonight, I just can’t thank them enough,” Smith said. Smith, who’s playing his last year as a Red Bomber, is one of the leading players to put points on the board, as his touchdown was one of three for the evening. “I’m just a big guy who likes to play football. The boys on the field call me tanker, because I’m a firefighter in Oromocto. I just like getting the ball and playing.” By the second quarter of the game the stakes were raised when the Hurricanes seized an opportunity as quarterback Jeffrey Madsen fumbled the ball, allowing the Hurricanes to one-up the Bombers, 14-7. However, as the Bombers’ offense lined up on the 30-yard line, Sean Middleton ran downfield to the 14-yard line, securing the Bombers’ second first down. Directly following, Smith put together two runs to get his second touchdown of the game and get the Bombers back on even ground at 14-14. As the neck-to-neck game continued, it
The Red Bombers lose tight game by the fourth quarter, losing 44-28 against Hollend College Hurricanes. Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan was just before the end of the first half when the Hurricanes blew past the Bombers with a touchdown by Ferguson, unsettling the Bombers and going into halftime with a 21-14 lead. The Bombers started the third quarter with a bang as their special teams put the ball on the 50-yard line, giving UNB a good run. Madsen had a strong pass to Cody Stewart, grabbing a first down for the Bombers, which was directly followed by Smith’s third touchdown for the evening, to tie the game again, 21-21. “Eric was just phenomenal tonight, his effort was just incredible. Second, third, fourth, effort all the way through to score those touchdowns,” said Bomber head coach, Mike Dollimore. Holland College answered back off he kickoff to take the lead again, 28-21.
The Bombers scored their a fourth and final touchdown against the Hurricanes, when Madsen passed the ball to Stewart for nine-yard TD catch; the score now at 28-28. “Jeff, we’ve given him a whole new offence in some ways and he’s getting used to that. But you know I thought he threw the ball fairly well, he got pressured and it sort of threw him off a little bit and he got sacked a couple times and you can’t do much when you’ve got peoples’ hands in your face. He did well to get the ball out a couple of times and he threw some very nice passes and I thought he did a great job tonight,” Dollimore said. By the fourth quarter of the game, the Bombers didn’t move much on the scoreboard, but the Hurricanes did rock them down the lines as they pulled away with two more touchdown passes, leaving the BMO Centre with a 44-28 victory.
The mens soccer team lost both their games against SMU and DAL this past weekend. Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan do too much,” Pinsent said. “As a result we this weekend, as they host Acadia Saturday turned the ball over and because we were and Moncton on Sunday. Pinsent believes pressing for the equalizer, players need to there will just be some minor adjustments know they can’t turn the ball over in those this week on top of what they have already game situations. It lead to a counter-attack been working on. without the right balance in behind him.” “There will be some adjustments for sure Pinsent is left looking for answers when and I think there will be some personnel it comes to figuring out his team’s offense. adjustments and I also think there will be “Obviously if I had the answer for that some adjustments in the way we try and then hopefully we’d have more than one play,” he said. “Again I’m going to echo goal,” he said. “There were actually some that today (Sunday) that we look forward, signs today that we were starting to find a that we’re hopefully going to build on for stride going forward so I think there are the rest of the week.” some things that we can build on.” Seeing passion on the field even when his He says that turnover due to injuries has team was out of contention was something caused some of his squads offensive woes. he was happy to see. “We’ve had some injuries to our key “You have to have that don’t you. The offensive players and it hasn’t necessarily first two weeks haven’t gone the way we been the same guys injured. It has just been would have liked to have them gone, but a matter of a rotational injured list and as a what are you going to do? All you can try result we haven’t had any consistency in our to do is try to improve your efforts and try training with our front players.” to improve the manner in which you’re The next Varsity Reds games are at home playing.”
10 • Sept. 21, 2011 • Issue 3 • Volume 145
brunswickansports
Relax, “it’s just a game” Nick Murray The Brunswickan
TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie talks hockey in Freddy. But before, he gave an exclusive interview with The Brunswickan. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan
Using his influence and elite hockey status, Bob McKenzie has certainly inspired an in-depth look into the ugly side of “crazy” minor-hockey parents. McKenzie himself admits that now that his sons have grown to 22 and 25 years old respectively, he doesn’t spend as much time around the rinks as he used to. So if these jaw-dropping and seemingly scandalous stories of calling stick measurements on 11-year-olds happened more than a decade ago, how bad has it really gotten? “I suspect it’s probably getting worse in that the nature of the ‘crazy’ hockey parent has changed,” McKenzie said in an exclusive interview with The Brunswickan. “In my universe, the crazy hockey parent was the one who pushed his kid too hard and would act up in the rink, the primary thing being that he made his kid’s life very difficult. The crazy hockey parent now has probably gone to the other degree in terms of a sense of entitlement as a family that everything will be given to their kid and that he is going to get all the quality ice time. And if things aren’t the way they want them to be, they start causing problems,” McKenzie said. He’s absolutely right, but not quite right enough. Not only are parents becoming more demanding in terms of having their kids get every opportunity, all the while taking opportunities away from other kids, they are also becoming more violent. At the STU hockey dinner on Sept. 9, McKenzie shared a story about a team from Detroit, where parents verbally and physically assaulted a coach for not stacking his lines toward the end of a game. The team needed a win in a tournament and with the game tied, the coach kept to his philosophy of even play and rotated all of his lines
instead of only playing his top two. It’s not just coaches facing abuse, but officials too. In Manitoba last year between January and March, there had been 16 individual cases where referees had been physically abused by both players and coaches. Incidents included punching, biting and even being struck in the head with a stick by a player – that referee was 16 years old. “For referees, it’s gone from a way to make a few extra bucks and a way to give something back to the community, to a pain in the neck and a physically dangerous (job) dealing with unstable people,” McKenzie said. “Then again, let’s be honest. Minor hockey is still filled with mostly good people, but it doesn’t take very many crazies to ruin it for everyone.” Anybody remember the “it’s just a game” ads by Hockey Canada PSA back in 2002 and 2004? When asked about the nature of the game, McKenzie agreed that the game itself has become too fast. “Oh, no question,” McKenzie said. “We came into the lockout saying that the game was too slow, that there was too much clutch and grab. Now we come out of the lockout with zero tolerance for hooking and holding to speed the game up. And people love it. The brand of hockey being played right now has never been more popular, and attendance post-lockout has been very strong. I would agree that the game has become too fast, but it’s so much fun to watch (as fans) it’s hard to find that happy meeting.” In an attempt to slow the game down, the Moncton Wildcats will be playing this season with soft pads, a mandate that has already been put in place in the Ontario Hockey League. “The NHL wants to do it and has planned to do it, but is awaiting approval from the NHLPA, and the more teams that do it, the better. It’s long overdue, it’s almost criminal that it hasn’t been done,” McKenzie said. Although the soft-cap pads are a great step, McKenzie states that they hail in comparison to the pads used by Paul Coffey and Brendan Shanahan, and still used today by Mark Recchi. “The pads now are so protective now that it’s almost too protective to the point where the guy wearing them has no fear of hurting his shoulder,” McKenzie adds, “and that’s part of the reason why we have as many severe head injuries and concussions as we do.” That being said, players back in Shanahan’s day had to adjust their checks to not hurt themselves. Today with the equipment being as protective as it is, guys can go into the boards at 100 miles per hour without having fear of injury. “I understand the players’ association being concerned about guys getting hurt and everything else, but I think the number one problem in this game right now is the head injuries and everybody needs to be in as soft shoulder pads as can possibly be designed with still having some relative degree of safety.”
brunswickansports
Sept. 21, 2011 • Issue 3 • Volume 145 • 11
Basketball adds depth with Vanier College recruits
K. Bryannah James Sports Editor
ments, so that really changed a lot of stuff. I was out for half the season, so when I came back I wasn’t really myself in the beginning. So I started looking to schools, I decided to go CIS.” This is when UNB cropped-up on the radar. When both Fosu and Amoah came to UNB to checkout the campus, they loved it instantly, which helped them solidify their newly discovered CIS route for basketball, and heading East to play a little ball for the V-Reds. “The first time I came here I felt this warm spirit and vibe. That really caught my eye. There weren’t a lot of students when I came here (in the summer), but we could really see how the vibe and culture of UNB is all around, and it was a warm feeling to come down here,” Fosu said. Both basketball players will be studying Arts, as Seth continues towards a BA in multimedia and Michael in sociology. But it’s not just a few academic credits that transfer over, it’s also their personal credit that will help the team at UNB. In Amoah’s case, one thing that drives him to the net and in aca-
The men’s basketball team will be adding two new recruits to its roster this year as both Michael Fosu and Seth Amoah take to the court this season. The two CCA A National champions will be retiring their Vanier College jerseys and putting on new Varsity Red ones. Both Fosu and Amoah played for Vanier College during the past two years, but as their college days came to an end, they began looking at different universities to continue their love of the game. However, UNB wasn’t the first choice for the college players. Fosu was looking at division-two schools in the United States and Amoah, division one – but they ended up falling in love with the environment at UNB. “ACTs (Accepted College Entrance Test – similar to SATs for American schools) and everything just messed me up, and then I’m like, why not look at CIS? Why not look at Canada,” Fosu said. In A moa h’s case, during his last year of eligibility at Vanier, he broke his leg The first time I came here I felt and was unable to play this warm spirit and vibe. That for the f irst really caught my eye. part of the season. W hen he returned to the cou r t, t h i ngs were a little different. demics is a promise he made to his “I was talking to a lot of schools mother, that he would pay for school in the states to play division one, because he didn’t want her to, which and a freak accident happened last basketball has helped him fuel and August,” Amoah said. keep. For Fosu, it’s his desire to do “I broke my fibula, and tore liga- well both on the court and in the
“
Michael Fosu
”
Michael Fosu (left) and Seth Amoah (right) will join the Varsity Reds basketball team this season after winning a CCAA National Championship with Vanier College in 2010. Submitted classroom, because to him the two go hand-in-hand. At Vanier, the men said there was a friendship both on and off the court with their teammates, which helped with their provincial and national success as athletes and as a team, something they believe they’ve also found at UNB. “We fit in perfectly. The guys are great; they make us feel like it’s a family and everybody’s together, on the same page. So I feel like even if I’m not home, I feel like I’m home because everybody treats each other with respect. I feel respected, I also give the respect back,” Fosu said. “That’s one thing we have, coming from Vanier,” Amoah said. “At
Food basics & your energy levels Tova Payne The Brunswickan This week the topic is balanced food choices. If you decide that you want to eat in a way that will maximize your energy levels and health, the following article will give you some food basics to help you make intelligent decisions when it comes to your meals and snacks. Food can be medicine, optimal fuel, or unfortunately, detrimental to your health. The more whole, natural food you choose to eat, the better your energy levels, immunity and focus will be. Your body recognizes whole foods and will happily break them down and assimilate the nutrients throughout your body. However, processed, refined foods are examples of foods that are extremely hard for your body to break down, absorb and assimilate into your cells. For example, an apple is natural – it comes from a tree and is a pure product. Your body can break it down and distribute its vitamins to the areas in your body that need it. In contrast, when you eat candy made with hydrogenated oils, your body will think it is foreign. This means your body will have to work extra hard trying to figure out what to do with it. In some cases your body may identify it as foreign, leaving you feeling fatigued and low on energy, despite that you may have just eaten a whole meal or a big snack. When your body is forced to work extra hard to decipher and break down processed foods, it means there is less energy for your body to focus on regular metabolic activities. If you constantly feel fatigued and sick, you may want to take a closer look at your diet. When your body spends too much time deciphering
good and bad foods to break down, you have less energy to fight things such as a cold or the flu. You r body needs wholesome foods and a variety of wholesome foods. Generally you want to eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. This entails a large amount of deep dark greens, along with a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables, as the different colours in your natural foods generally mean different vitamins and nutrients within the food. Understanding complex carbohydrates, (foods w it h essent ia l vitamins, minerals, and yes, even protein) such as whole grain bread (which has f ive to six grams of protein a slice, the same amount of protein found in an egg) can help you achieve a balanced diet. Whole wheat, rye, kamut, spelt, quinoa – which is extremely high in fibre and protein – and other grains such as amaranth and millet are among these complex carbohydrates. All of these grains are available at the Superstore, Aura and other grocery stores in town. Proteins are also important and they can be found in lean meats, poultry and eggs. Beans are also a great source of fibre and protein. A word on fibre: it is essential for bowel health, which relates strongly to our general health as it helps our body detoxify and release wastes from our system. Moreover, fibre keeps us full for longer and ensures that you don’t overeat. By choosing whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables, you are sure to get your 25 to 35 grams daily, which are the recommended daily amounts. It’s also important to eat good quality fats. Fat does not make you fat. It is processed refined foods and overeating that leads to excess weight.
Every cell in your body has a phospholipid bilayer, which means your cells need fat. Moreover, fat helps keep you full and assists in stabilizing your blood-sugar levels. It is important to moderate your fat intake by choosing good quality fats for cooking. Purchase oils that come in dark bottles as oils are volatile to heat and light, and can become rancid when in a clear bottle. Next, you want to apply some brain food – that’s your essential omega-3 fatty acids, which help with cognition, mood, your skin, hair and cardiovascular health. Flax oil (I recommend Spectrum flax oil which can be found at the grocery store) is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. Make sure to keep it refrigerated, and never ever cook with it! Adding a teaspoon to a tablespoon a day, on any salad or meal, or even used as a replacement for butter on bread will increase your health in a multitude of ways. It is also surprisingly good. Other natural sources of omega-3 include walnuts and oily fish, like salmon. Eating healthy is really about going back to basics and keeping it simple. Maintain variety, freshness and wholeness in your food choices for as many foods as possible, and you are sure to be eating to your most vital potential. As the weeks progress we will continue to discover the world of nutrition and health. Please feel free to send your emails and questions on topics you would like to read about. Tova Payne is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Yoga Instructor and can be contacted at adventureyoga@gmail.com.
Vanier we were really close as teammates and outside the court. So that really helped us on the court when we played together. So when we come down here and we see how close they are, we try and bring that friendship that’s off the court, on the court.” On top of a positive attitude, Fosu and Amoah each have their individual talents as basketballers, which they hope to contribute to the team this upcoming season. “Well, I’m intense. I bring energy, rebound, defence; I just make sure that I switch the tempo of the game if I feel like the game is not going our way, just doing one thing or another to change the game. I think I’m that
guy,” Fosu said. “I’m more momentum. I bring the hype – get the crowd on our side. I just do what I have to on the court, I don’t go over what I know I can do. I just stick to what I do best, which is athleticism and defence. I just make the crowd and make our team hyped,” Amoah said. As the guys get ready for their new season as Varsity Reds, they are excited about using the new Currie Center, which was another reason they chose UNB. With the state-ofthe-art facilities, Fosu and Amoah like how the building caters to their needs as athletes.
12 • Sept. 21, 2011 • Issue 3 • Volume 145
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