arts | pre-pop
news | one-on-one with currie opinion| occupy wall street
sports| v-reds finish second
Volume 145 · Issue 6 • October 12, 2011
www.thebruns.ca
brunswickan canada’s oldest official student publication.
Emotional opening for the Richard J. Currie Center
Currie Center benefactor Richard Currie looks on at the opening ceremonies on Friday. Read inside for a one-on-one with the chancellor. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan Alanah Duffy News Reporter The grand opening of the Richard J. Currie Center was an emotional one for many people in the audience. The hour-long ceremony, held last Friday, featured musical and dance performances and videos commemorating the work of University of New Brunswick chancellor and the building’s namesake, Dr. Richard Currie. “I’m really filled with happiness,” said UNB’s president and vice-chancellor Dr. Eddy Campbell. “It’s been a long road for everybody to get here – there are lots of challenges associated with such a complex building. But, here we are today and it’s fantastic.” The ceremony, which was attended
by a mostly older crowd, was held in the building’s performance gym. Audience members were treated to performances by the Atlantic Sinfonia orchestra, the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada and violinist Kathleen Gorey-McSorley. Dr. Peter Jensen, a UNB alumnus, was the event’s special guest speaker. Jensen is the founder of Performance Coaching Inc. and a mental training consultant for some of Canada’s Olympic athletes. “Build a good foundation and what goes on in it will last a lifetime,” he said in his opening remarks. Construction on the five-storey, 139,000-square foot building began in 2008. One of the biggest projects in New Brunswick’s history, the Currie Center cost $62 million to build.
Currie donated $20 million to the project, the provincial government donated $10.4 million and the federal government invested $8 million. The remaining costs were funded by 728 donors and UNB. A tribute video to Currie played, featuring five individuals who were either close with the chancellor or whose lives he had impacted in some way, such as through his scholarship fund. Currie dabbed his eyes with a Kleenex throughout the video. Allison McCain, whose family donated to the Andrew and Marjorie McCain Human Performance Laboratory and who was one of the individuals in the video, said the donation is an investment in the province’s future. “I’m a graduate of UNB and the
university is important to the province,” he said. “It’s to attract young people and hopefully keep young people here.” Campbell echoed that statement, saying that the Currie Center will be a recruitment tool for potential students. “If you build it, they will come,” he said. “We want to attract students to the University of New Brunswick and we have challenges. This is going to be a huge help.” Peter Stapleton, a UNB alumnus and donor to the building, traveled from Calgary for the opening. “I’m extremely happy to be here today. I’ve been looking forward to this for quite a few years,” he said. “But, to actually be here and see it, it’s all I expected and much more. It’s magnificent.” Stapleton said one of the big factors
that pushed him to donate to the Currie Center was its human performance lab. “The concept of it is focused on lifelong wellness, and I think there’s a real need for that,” he said. “Dr. Currie really challenged the architects to make a multi-purpose facility that wouldn’t just be okay, but fantastic. I think they’ve really accomplished that.” In his closing remarks, Jensen pretended that the year was 2021, and the audience was gathered at the 10-year anniversary celebration of the Currie Center. He said that the building had once just been a dream of Currie’s and was now one of New Brunswick’s largest buildings. “Everything began in someone’s imagination,” he said. “Can you imagine what might be possible? Imagine that.”
brunswickannews
2 • Oct. 12, 2011 • Issue 6 • Volume 145
Students make the switch to Live@edu Christopher Cameron Editor-in-Chief Over the next week UNB students will notice a change to their email accounts as webmail switches over to Microsoft’s Live@edu. Every student will see their new Live@ edu interface by Oct. 21, but some students will receive the new interface earlier as the ITS staff cannot move every account from webmail to Microsoft in one day. Terry Nikkel, associate vice-president of ITS, expects no issues with switching accounts over. “The bulk [of email accounts] is being moved at once,” he said. “It’s certainly expected that this will be hassle-free. There is a huge amount of material to be migrated, but it should be seamless and Microsoft has done this many, many
times.” Moving to the new Live@edu system gives students multiple benefits they did not have with the webmail system. In the new UNB Microsoft email, students will have access to online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint, as well as the calendar function all built into the Live@edu environment. When using these tools, the data is saved on SkyDrive, similar to the NetStorage currently offered. Students can access their files on SkyDrive through their email inboxes from anywhere they have Internet, which Nikkel believes will be a vast improvement from having to go through multiple menus to open files on NetStorage. “A lot of students, as they move through [university], certainly have to use things like Word, Excel and Powerpoint,” Nikkel said. “Microsoft has done a good
New email system to roll out next week. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan
job of making their interfaces look and feel similar and easy to use so the user can expect certain functionality to be consistent and I think that is helpful.” On top of receiving the new tools and applications, students will see a major increase in email storage space. Although accounts will be moved to Live@edu by ITS, students will receive information on how to move their address books over to the new system. Mobile devices are the main reason behind students having to move their contacts over personally. “We put a great deal of thought right off the bat into how to make this useable on mobile devices,” Nikkel said. “One of the reasons we have to do the address book that way is because of that, because of mobile devices and all the differences there are in the systems.” This is phase one of the ConnectEd project taken on by ITS. By sometime in the next year, Nikkel hopes to have faculty and staff on a similar system, which will allow them to interact in the interface more closely with students. He also says that once Microsoft releases its Office 365 online environment, students will receive that free as well. “It [Office 365] more tightly integrates all of their different applications. Right now you can access SkyDrive through this environment, but they aren’t actually integrated. You’re going to a different tool, but in that environment [Office 365] they are all integrated together so they will truly offer a single application for all of these different tools.”
Kiss My Face founder comes to town Alanah Duffy News Reporter Bob MacLeod started on the road to success in business in a quite unusual way. “I remember living in New York City and selling organic vegetables out of the back of my New Brunswick-plated Volkswagen,” he says, laughing. MacLeod, a 1971 graduate of UNB’s business program, co-founded natural bath and beauty products company Kiss My Face ten years after his graduation. He and his partner Steve Byckiewicz having no money, were forced to get creative. “We had to wing it at first,” he says, his voice crackling over the phone line, as he’s on his way into New York City at the time of the interview. “But that’s part of what made it work so well.” He credits another factor to his success with the name of the company. “The name just sort of came to me, like a divine intervention,” MacLeod says. “We wanted a name that people would remember – and they did.” On Thursday, MacLeod will be speaking on behalf of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) at McInnis Cooper law office in Fredericton. His speech will focus on environmental initiatives that make good business sense. “We are delighted to have a person of Bob MacLeod’s quality and calibre join us in bringing attention to the need of preserving our natural landscapes,” said Linda Stephenson, regional vice-president of the NCC. Kiss My Face, which used to be located inside of an old feed store just outside of New York City, was
one of the first companies to embrace what MacLeod calls green entrepreneurship. His commitment to the environment is one of interest to the NCC. “I am pleased Bob accepted our invitation to help us advance the case that every one of us can take real action to protect our abundance and variety of life and conserve this natural heritage for today and tomorrow,” Stephenson said. “Hopefully Bob’s message will be a catalyst in getting more organizations to be part of NCC’s efforts to save our beautiful areas.” MacLeod says he’s excited to return to his alma matter and to Fredericton, where he grew up on the North side. “I miss UNB – the last time I was there, I had a lot of nostalgia,” he says. “I would have given my right arm to walk through the campus and see my old friends.” In the ten years between his graduation and the launch of Kiss My Face, MacLeod had a variety of odd jobs. After graduating, he moved to Montreal and worked for Constance Brown, a modeling and talent management company. He said he “burned out” of the city and then moved to Los Angeles, where he found work as a waiter (“I worked my way down the career ladder,” he jokes), and then finally onto New York City, where he still lives today. MacLeod says that after his graduation, he watched his friends go to work for corporations, something that he knew he didn’t want to do. “It sounds corny, but you have to do something that you love,” he says. “I’m glad I did what I wanted to do, even though I didn’t know what the hell it was.”
brunswickannews
From vision to reality
Oct. 21, 2011 • Issue 6 • Volume 145 • 3
UNB chancellor Dr. Richard J. Currie reflects on his namesake building, the university and the future of post-secondary education. Hilary Paige Smith News Editor Dr. Richard J. Currie once said there are few cases in life where reality exceeds expectation. His namesake is one of them. Currie, noted Canadian businessman, university alumnus and chancellor of UNB, sits in a black leather chair in the Long Hall of the Currie Center. The building, his vision come to life, is buzzing with activity around him as people prepare for the grand opening on Friday. “It’s a great piece of work,” he says. When Currie became chancellor, he realized the best thing he could do for students was ensure access to services and scholarships. “This to me is a manifestation of student services and I wanted this location, as you can see why,” he says, gesturing through the glass wall at the panoramic view of the city. “I wanted something that would have the ability to reach out into the community, as well . . . It’s good for the province. There’s a lot in this building over and above the gym.” For Currie, the building just made sense. The aging Lady Beaverbrook Gym is more than 70 years old and the chancellor wanted a better way to showcase the kinesiology faculty. The building is home to three gymnasiums – including one for varsity athletics. It’s also home to research facilities, like the Human Performance Laboratory. There is also a walking track, seminar and boardrooms and a family f itness studio. There are no classrooms. “I think classrooms should be
separate from facilities of this type. It was my wish there be no classrooms and the administration agreed with that,” he says. “I would like to see, on this campus, a new building with classrooms only. I think it probably needs it, although I’m not sure.” The $62.5 million structure, of which Currie contributed more than $20 million, has been the source of some controversy among students. Starting this year, all students are being charged a $150 ancillary fee to support operating costs and grant them access to the facility. The Student Union cried out for a referendum at the time, but it wasn’t granted. Currie says he’s “entirely indifferent” to the fee. “It’s up to the university, not to me,” he says. “I knew precious little about that. It’s a purely internal university matter.” The university, as a result of external economic pressures and declining enrolment, has suffered financially in recent years. In the last six years, more than $18 million has been cut from the $172.2 million budget. The chancellor says it didn’t cost UNB much to build the Currie Center. As of September, 80 per cent of the building had been fundraised for. “My attitude would be much like Rockefeller Center in New York. It was built right in the middle of the Depression. It really says – a building like this, like Rockefeller Center – they’re not really comparable, let’s face it,” he says. “It really says ‘we may be down, but we’re not down forever.’”
On the “ER” in Currie Center... “I owe the Americans more than I owe the British or the French. I remember as a boy, you’d keep track of hockey players and hockey scores and so on. Centre, playing hockey, was always spelled C-E-N-T-E-R. Now, that’s a long time ago when I was a boy, but over time ‘center’ went from E-R to R-E and I liked the E-R to begin with, plus I thought it balanced well with my name. The real reason, there’s two choices, both legit and I like E-R better than R-E.”
Currie wanted a building that would reach out into the community. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan UNB is among one of the oldest public universities in North America and the oldest English-speaking university in Canada. Currie says this isn’t the first time hard financial times have fallen on the institution. “It’s been through a lot. This isn’t the first time it’s had economic issues.” Currie says the biggest challenge that lies ahead for UNB is attracting great students. Comparing the frequently debated question “what came first, the chicken or the egg,” to the situation of students and faculty members – Currie says students come first. “I think you have to get the students first. That’s why I was interested in setting up scholarships, which hopefully will expand. I would hope other people in the community will emulate them and top them.” Last November, Currie called New Brunswick “a failing province” in a speech about the province’s dire financial situation. The comment sparked outrage from politicians, with premier David Alward dismissing Currie’s words. Close to 11 months later, Currie says he thinks the government is doing a good job of reducing the deficit.
“I have high hopes for their ability to do that because the province didn’t become to the state it was in three or four years, it took a long time to get it there and unfortunately, as you and I both know, elections take place every four or five years. These problems are not going to be solved in four or five years. It takes a long-term commitment,” he says. But, in order to maintain success, Currie says New Brunswick needs to invest in post-secondary education. He says the province has traditionally favoured tax incentives to attract industry. “It’s better to have a trained workforce to attract industry than bribing industry with incentives. If you have a trained workforce and a well-educated population, companies will want to come and I think that’s beginning to happen,” he says. Currie knows saying so will make him unpopular, but he sees tuition dollars as an investment and not an expense for students, adding that university graduates make more money over a lifetime than nongraduates. “If you look at it as an expense, short term, it’s high. If you look at it as an investment, short term, it’s low. If you want it, you’ll go get it and you’ll pay the tuition,” he says.
Moving forward, Currie believes the university, the province, the country, and the people in general need to focus on compromise, not confrontation, to make things work. He says there is an emerging culture of confrontation – a possible spillover from the American system – that needs to be reined in. “I think people should always maintain a positive attitude and think well towards the faculty, the administration. There’s simply too much confrontation in the university environment. There’s too much confrontation in the political environment. There’s too much confrontation in all environments today. There’s not the willingness to sit down and discuss and compromise.” He says Canada is a country built on compromise. In his opinion, Sir Wilfied Laurier was Canada’s greatest prime minister. Laurier was known for encouraging compromise between French and English Canada, as well as using conciliators to solve disputes among parties. “That’s the long way around saying the university, the province, people – enough confrontation already, we’re not going to get out of it alive.”
brunswickannews
4 • Oct. 12, 2011 • Issue 6 • Volume 145
The Brunswickan is currently conducting a readership survey
Visit thebruns.ca and complete the survey to be entered to win two large pizzas
“It was all about breaking barriers.” Damira Davletyarova Staff Writer When Rick Hansen took the stage at the Currie Center last week, he said the 25th anniversary of Man In Motion is different from previous celebrations. The 12,000 km, cross-Canada relay is a celebration of difference-makers – people who live up to their dreams, inspiring and helping others to do the same. “What is a better way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the One Man In Motion tour – to really move from one man in motion to many in motion, to really express gratitude to this country and to communities all across the country that make up the vision of who we aspired to be as a great nation,” Hansen said to a crowd of roughly 200 people. The silver medal, specially coined for the anniversary relay to be passed between 7,000 relay participants, shined on medal-bearers, illuminating their unique stories. Some of these stories are rarely told and some even forgotten. After wheeling her marked route from the walking bridge to Queen Street, one of the medal bearers told her own story. Joanne McLeod’s story began 50 years ago. The UNB Board of Governors received an application from the young woman in a wheelchair who expressed her desire to study at the university. When she was in high school, a car accident left her in a wheelchair. At the time, UNB didn’t accept any students in wheelchairs. Joanne McLeod’s application was initially rejected too, but then something made the board change their minds. McLeod was given an opportunity to study at UNB. Joanne McLeod became the first student in a wheelchair to graduate from UNB with a bachelor’s degree, and later from the UNB faculty of law. Now, retired from the profession, she still remembers her student days on the hill. “I was the only person in a wheelchair, so everybody stared at me,” McLeod said. “It was very difficult because UNB then didn’t have anything, any ramps, any elevators. And I had classes all over the campus, from foot of the hill to the
Joanne McLeod was the first person in a wheelchair to graduate from UNB. Damira Davletyarova / The Brunswickan top of the arts building, up the winding stairway, and some fellow students would carry me up.” McLeod decided to help change things at the university. She said it’s unfair for people like her to be kept from realizing their full potential. “There were no ramps, no curb cuts, or anything. And that is what I had to start lobbying for and trying to get inclusion of disabled children at schools,” McLeod said. “Earlier on, disabled children didn’t go to school because they could not get in, so it was all about breaking barriers. It’s still an ongoing struggle, we have to keep at it.” Later, McLeod continued working with the government on legislation that would give equal rights to people with disabilities, especially the right to study and work. McLeod devoted her life and career to the cause. She was determined to see the world become a better place. McLeod became the executive director of the Canadian Paraplegic As-
sociation in New Brunswick. She was honoured with the Order of Canada. She received the International Human Rights Award and Distinguished Citizen of Fredericton Award – just a few of her achievements. After passing her medal to another medal-bearer, McLeod said that she has only one message to the public. “See the person and not the disability.” Twenty-five years have passed since Rick Hansen undertook his Man In Motion Tour, wheeling more than 40,000 km through 34 countries, raising more than $26 million to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. He still inspires people, both young and old, to work harder toward a more inclusive society. But today, Hansen said, these people inspire him. “I see nothing but unification, common vision, people who care, people who have that can-do attitude and want to make a difference.”
Rick Hansen congradulates Sarah Lord, a para-athlete from Fredericton High School, at the end of day 44 of the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay. Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan
brunswickanopinion
Oct. 12, 2011 • Issue 6 • Volume 145 • 5
editor@thebruns.ca
Smokers: easy political scapegoats Do Canada’s cigarette packaging warnings truly make a difference?
Preoccupied with Occupy Wall Street
Andrew Trites The Argosy (Mount Allison University)
Smoking does not damage your eyesight, so what is the point of making the size of the warnings on the packages bigger? Gonzalo Merat. / Flickr CC Ian Merkley The Cord (Wilfrid Laurier University) WATERLOO (CUP) — This December will mark the tenth anniversary of the government of Canada forcing cigarette producers to place a label containing a graphic image and health warning on cigarette packages. This law requires the graphic images to consume 50 per cent of the front and back of the package. The government recently announced that it plans to increase the size of the health warnings to 75 per cent. However, it’s doubtful that increasing the size of the images will actually have any noticeable impact on the prevalence of smoking in Canada. I do not smoke and do not plan to smoke. In no way do I advocate it. I am also in no way against applying labels warning consumers about the dangerous side effects of products. In a free society, the consumer and producer mutually consent to exchange one item for another. However, neither party should misrepresent the product it proffers. Look inside your medicine cabinet. The warnings on the bottles are very different from those on cigarette packages in both size and depictions. Like nearly all other Canadians who are able to purchase cigarettes, I already know the dangers of smoking. The effectiveness of the labels
is questionable. To see just how effective these graphic warning labels actually are, I looked at statistics from both the United States, which does not have these labels, and Canada, which does. I looked at the period between 2001, when the labels were introduced, and 2009, which was the date of the most recent American figures. It turns out that between these dates the number of smokers in Canada declined by 3.8 per cent. In America, it declined by 2.2 per cent. So Canadians had reduced the percentage of smokers by more than Americans. However, can this 1.6 per cent be attributed to these pictures and warnings alone? That is unlikely. There are a number of factors this decline could be attributed to, including higher taxation on cigarettes and more laws to make the life of a smoker miserable (such as a ban from restaurants). It could also be attributed to the difference in culture. Even if we like the idea of graphic warnings on cigarette companies’ packaging, why expand it to 75 per cent of the packaging? What now makes 50 per cent unacceptable? Proponents of the size increase argue that people are now immune to the old pictures. Why not just get new pictures and keep the previous size? Pictures that are more graphic should be equally effective. Fifty per
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.
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 or on thebruns.ca is the property of Brunswickan Publishing Inc. Stories, photographs, and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the express, written permission of the Editor-in-Chief.
cent was a lot to ask of the cigarette companies; 75 per cent is just getting out of hand. There is a nasty double standard when it comes to cigarettes versus other potentially dangerous vices. Drinking alcohol in excess increases the chances of liver problems and could, in extreme cases, kill the drinker due to alcohol poisoning. I do not see a picture of a dying person on a beer bottle. Fast food could lead to obesity and you could have a heart attack. I do not see a depiction of someone suffering from a heart attack on the packaging when I buy a cheeseburger. Using a computer for too long may damage your eyes, and yet there are no depictions of people sheltering their eyes in agony covering 50 per cent of computers’ packaging. I hope I did not give any altruists ideas. There is little, if any, evidence to suggest that this labelling law will do any noticeable good, and this law against the tobacco companies appears to have been passed because of pure populism. I would advocate repealing the labelling law completely, or at least not increasing the size of the health warnings. After all, tobacco does not damage peoples’ eyesight, so an increase in the size of the picture will not change peoples’ level of awareness.
SACKVILLE (CUP) — Most of us have heard about the “Occupy Wall Street” protest, but thanks to major media’s mishandling of the story, few of us understand its trajectory. Many protesters share the view that everything changed after the stock market crashed in 2008. Many more agree this year’s record poverty estimates (46.2 million) are linked with record bonuses among the bankers who were bailed out after the crash of 2008. It was established before the Sept. 17 protest that there was to be no violence of any kind. Still, before the protest, the Department of Homeland Security warned the security community of the planned activities over the next few months. It also warned financial institutions of three planned “cyber attacks” and civil protests. The first attack, dubbed #OccupyWallStreet, was to take place on Sept. 17. Since that date, the protest has gone through several stages. On the first day, roughly 1,000 protesters showed up and a live stream was set up. That evening, more than 100 people spent the night. In the following days, estimates were consistent — between 100 to 300 protesters staying through the night. If one were to try to find any information during the early stages of this protest, sources would be limited to YouTube, Ad Busters, the odd blog and individuals’ sites. Four days after the protest began, Keith Olbermann, host of the commentary program Countdown on Current TV, reported on the protest. He outlined the protest, addressing various issues and misconceptions. Olbermann reported, “This rhetorical question is perhaps self-answering. The protest called Occupy Wall Street is trying to underscore and ‘gum-up’ the financial industry’s influence on who is rich and who is not. Why wouldn’t that get news coverage?” He then goes on to describe the minimal coverage by mainstream media as “limited to one blurb in a free newspaper in Manhattan and a column in the Toronto Star.”
Mat McDermott / Flickr CC
21 Pacey Drive, SUB Suite 35, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3 main office • (506) 447-3388 advertising • (506) 452-6099 email • editor@thebruns.ca twitter • @Brunswickan www.thebruns.ca
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief • Chris Cameron Managing • Liam Guitard News • Hilary Paige Smith Arts • Alex Kress Sports • Bryannnah James Photo • Andrew Meade Copy • Kathleen MacDougall Production • Sandy Chase Online • James Waters Staff Advertising Sales Rep • Bill Traer Delivery • Dan Gallagher
CNN’s first report on the protest was a brief. In an interview with police commissioner Raymond Kelly, Wolf Blitzer inquired about the events. “I always feel a little bit more secure when you are sitting next to me in New York. How worried should we be?” asked Blitzer. “The mayor was suggesting that if the economic situation gets worse there may be riots in the streets.” Kelly dismissed concerns, describing the protests as peaceful, with only a couple of minor arrests. Another report on Sept. 25 focused on the arrests that Kelly so briefly mentioned. The “minor arrests” came in several stages; first, a group of seven people on Sept. 20 followed by four more on Sept. 21. Sept. 25 saw more than 80 people arrested. However, this time the police were caught on video, spraying several women with pepper spray. They threw a male protester to the pavement. They grabbed a woman from behind a fence, dragged her into the street and arrested her. The most recent event was the Brooklyn Bridge protest, where protesters from the Occupy Wall Street protest marched. Instead of blocking and preventing the protesters from going on the road, police let the protesters onto the road. They waited until the protestors were on the bridge, followed them, trapped them and arrested 700 of them. Later, the police stated that the arrests were for blocking traffic and disorderly conduct. These police tactics and the force used against protestors have been questionable at best. The same could be said of mainstream media’s coverage of these events. Why have the mainstream news media focused on the arrests rather than protests themselves? If police are meant to protect all individuals, why are they targeting protesters for minor offences and upsetting their right to peaceful assembly? If a protest and the individuals taking part are being mistreated by police and misrepresented in mainstream news media, should we share a collective concern? In the interest of maintaining a state that values freedom and liberty domestically and abroad, should I be the only one asking these questions?
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, Lee Thomas, Susanna Chow, Ben Jacobs, Sarah Cambell, Brandon Hicks
brunswickanopinion
6 • Oct. 12, 2011 • Issue 6 • Volume 145
Student
Viewpoint.
What is your guilty pleasure movie?
Let everyone know whats on your mind.
Lindsey Parker
Audrey Gagnon
Jill McManus
Alex Simpson
“Bridesmaids.”
“Baby Mama.”
“The Justin Bieber Movie.”
“The Notebook.”
Elizabeth Doherty
Sarah Peter-Paul
Sylus Daver
Jen Durante
“Pocahontas.”
“Legally Blonde.”
“Footloose.”
“Disney movies.”
brunswickanarts arts@thebruns.ca
Oct. 12, 2011 • Issue 6 • Volume 145 • 7
Braids brings Polaris Prize-nominated sound to Freddy
Colin McPhail Special to The Brunswickan To classify Native Speaker as art rock, experimental, avant-garde pop, or even indie rock would be incorrect. It’s in a league of its own. The energy-packed debut studio album from the Montreal-based band Braids, originally from Calgary, introduced listeners to a new level of Canadian indie music they hadn’t experienced before in the 43 minutes of eclectic splendor. And they’re coming to Fredericton. Braids, along with Los Angeles folk-pop group Pepper Rabbit, will kick off the week-long Pre-Pop(ped) festival at The Capital Complex Oct. 17. The critically acclaimed record exploded as wafting post-rock sounds and experimental indie pop tones – to satisfy those in need of classification – made sweet love in speakers across the world. However, the album’s musical ambiance would be lost without the mesmerizing vocal accompaniment of Raphaelle Standell-Preston. The powerful, foul-mouthed lyrics of the talented front woman send tingles down your spine in tracks like “Lemonade” and “Same Mum.” For added measure, the standout record was shortlisted for one of the most coveted awards in Canadian music, the Polaris Music Prize. “I felt honoured and lucky to have our music be considered as
influential and an important piece of Canadian culture,” Standell-Preston said. The lead vocalist and guitarist said it was beyond nerve-racking performing in front of some of the most notable acts in Canadian indie music, including this year’s winners Arcade Fire, during the Polaris award show in September. “It was very stressful,” she said with a laugh. “I felt a lot of nervousness towards the whole thing, and after we finished playing, it was one of the biggest waves of relief I felt in a very long time.” S t a nd e l l-P r e s to n , a lt ho u g h dreaming of writing a successful album, didn’t expect to receive this much praise. “Every day is a gift to find out people enjoy our record or “Lemonade” is their favourite song,” she said. “It keeps giving back, which is amazing because we put so much into it . . . It’s amazing when your art can give back to you.” Although the writing for Native Speaker was split between time in Calgary and Montreal, she said the cosmopolitan centre of Quebec, and the country for that matter, deeply influenced the band. “There’s so many interesting people who have moved there to make art, so you’re just very directly inspired and influenced by them,” Standell-Preston said. She said even the decision to move East impacted the group profoundly. The members, Standell-Preston, Katie Lee (keyboard), Austin Tufts
The Montreal-based band made the short list for the coveted Polaris Prize this year. Submitted. (drums), and Taylor Smith (everything), became truly committed to Braids when they put other life plans on hold and relocated to Montreal. A mong other inf luences, the group drew from indie-rockers Animal Collective for not only musical composition but also their relationship as a group. “It’s a collective band where they all have equal input,” Standell-
Preston said. “They’re really good friends and not afraid of experimenting. I guess seeing a band that embodies everything we would like to have in our band was very influential for us.” When writing on her own, she sought personal interaction from all kinds of people for inspiration. “I think for a lot of people, from the time they’re like 16 to 20, it’s a
time where you try to discover your sexuality, respect for yourself and respect others,” she said. “I was just going through that phase of experiencing other people and understanding myself in the relation to others.” Braids and Pepper Rabbit take over The Capital on Oct. 17; tickets are $10 in advance or $12.50 at the door. Doors open at 9:30 p.m.
Pre-Pop: Get online to get in line Haley Ryan Arts Reporter The upcoming Pre-Pop music festival at The Capital Complex was a happy accident. This brand new music festival will run Oct.17 to 23, with a lineup that includes Canadian artists Braids, Plants and Animals, Library Voices, Ohbijou, and many more, all stopping into Freddy on their way to the Halifax Pop Explosion next weekend. Zachary Atkinson, booking agent for The Capital, said he started thinking about creating a festival when he noticed a lot of bands were coming to him to arrange shows at The Capital around that time, and soon he had a full week’s worth of great music. “We just decided to kind of give it a name and sort of create an identity for it, and hopefully do it again next year because there’s always bands headed to [Halifax] Pop Explosion and we’re always there sort of helping them along the way,” Atkinson said. Atkinson said it’s always exciting to
get musicians coming back to town that get more successful every year, like Braids or Plants and Animals, but he was also pleased to get an act that’s never appeared in Fredericton before. Chad VanGaalen, more of a family man, doesn’t travel very often, but luckily he was on the road this fall for a crosscountry tour. “It was a really positive surprise, that would be the one act I wasn’t expecting to see,” Atkinson said. Although Atkinson said he hasn’t thought too far ahead as far as Pre-Pop (PED) becoming an annual thing, if the week goes well it will be something to consider. He also added that the feedback in the city has been very good so far leading up to the festival, and awareness about the event has been spreading outside Capital regulars. The festival will have eight shows with cover around $10 a night, but Atkinson said with Picaroons, CHSR and Sonic Concerts as sponsors, the public can also buy a pass for $50 which will get you into
every show, and is definitely a deal if you’re planning on seeing most of the acts. However, you won’t be able to get tickets at the usual spots downtown like Read’s or Backstreet Records. Just open your computer. The Capital is offering tickets for PrePop online only, but they’re easy to find on their website. For those who don’t have a credit card or like online shopping, there’s a new Interac feature which allows you to directly use your debit card and have your ticket instantly emailed to you. Atkinson said the debit feature was a major factor in deciding to try the online ticketing option now, as well as the expense of paper tickets. “You don’t know how many tickets I print that don’t get sold,” Atkinson said, “there’s a lot of waste involved so we’re trying to curb that down a bit.” Braids and Pepper Rabbit kick off the first show Monday, Oct.17, and you can check out the full lineup on the Capital’s website www.thecapitalcomplex.com, as well as order your tickets at the same time.
Zachary Atkinson books shows for The Capital Complex and is the brains behind the inaugural Pre-Pop festival. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan.
brunswickanarts
8 • Oct. 12, 2011 • Issue 6 • Volume 145
NOTICE
Attention: Wildlife crossing
To all members of
The Brunswickan ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will be held on October 24th at 5PM in the Student Union Building Ballroom. Members will review the financial & organizational performance of last year (Volume 144), elect new company directors for the current year, and vote on policy motions. For more information, contact Liam Guitard at managing@thebruns.ca
Wildlife wanders into Fredericton for a show at The Capital for the Pre-Pop festival Oct. 21. Submitted. Sarah Campbell The Brunswickan Now, here’s some wildlife you can feed. The Toronto-based band fuses a diverse sound with years of experience. They draw on five different backgrounds from members Dean Povinsky, Dwayne Christie, Graham Plant, Derek Bosomworth, and Tim Daugulis. Dean Povinsky, lead singer, was a fan of the early teenage punk style of music, while Dwayne Christie, drummer, grew up playing with local churches. Graham Plant, guitarist, had the acoustic background and Tim Daugulis brought theatre influences from having acted in the past. With all these different experiences, the band is able to create music that appeals to all types of music lovers. “All our individual songs have an eclectic mix with layers on top that tie it all together,” Povinsky said. In creating their debut album Strike Hard, Young Diamond, some songs
were written long before the album came out. “We wanted to make sure we knew everything back to front before we spent the money to record it” Povinsky said. It was worked out well for the band because they realized what they had was a bit more interesting than they thought. Each song became catchy through original melodies and creative backgrounds, and was given individual attention to ensure none of them sound the same. Povinsky brought different ideas of melodies and rifs to the band and they would go from there. “We would go in, turn on our instruments and just sort of start playing,” he said. There’s one thing you can count on to stay constant is Povinsky’s cool voice. After playing together for about five years, Wildlife has become one big family. “We know each other really well, front to back, and it makes for an in-
teresting relationship”, Povinsky said. Having met in their local skate park, Povinsky and Plant have been living the wild life ever since. They got their start playing for their friends in their living rooms and local beaches, and have been able to make a pretty good name for themselves. With the addition of roommates and friends from all over Canada, Wildlife has been touring through the United States right down to our very own Fredericton, New Brunswick. When asked what they wanted audiences to get from watching their shows, Povinsky simply said, “a good party night.” Their down-to-earth nature and pure desire to just have a good time is what keeps audiences coming back for more. Those who attend are always encouraged to say hello to these open and personable band members. They’ll be playing on Friday, Oct. 21 at The Capital as part of the Pre-Pop Festival. Joining them on stage will be Bruce Peninsula and Writers’ Strike. Cover is $5.
Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps opens Playhouse main stage season Brandon Hicks The Brunswickan Alfred Hitchcock is widely accepted as one of the greatest film directors of all time. His work is beloved by fans worldwide (including an eventual journalist who snuck a VHS copy of “Psycho” into the basement’s VCR at the age of 10), so naturally stakes are high for Theatre New Brunswick (TNB) as they prepare to put on the stage production of Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps. The play is based on the 1935 suspnse film, which itself was based on the 1915 novel by former Canadian governor general John Buchan. How do they plan to recreate Hitchcock’s film? They don’t! Well, not really. Although the play borrows heavily from the film with its plot, dialogue and characters, it lends a comedic tone to the story, providing a fresh take on an old classic. Set in the same time period as the Hitchcock film, the play follows a man bored with life who, after meeting a mysterious woman, gets sucked into a story of mystery and murder. The theatre adaption by Patrick Barlow was first performed in 2005 on Broadway, and quickly became a long running hit. It called for the entirety of Hitchcock’s film to be performed with only four actors, and had a script containing allusions and puns on other Hitchcock films. Rachel Jones, a Saint Thomas University graduate who is making her TNB debut with the show, plays three characters. She was working on another
show when she heard about the audition. She drove to Toronto (one of the three spots where auditions were held, including Fredericton and Halifax) and was given the parts of Annabella (a spy), Margaret (a Scottish country wife) and Pamela (a British heroine). When asked if she was nervous she said, “of course!” “I’m always nervous.” She explained it’s not a bad thing to be anxious about a performance because “it keeps you going.” Jones has been in rehearsals since Sept. 23, and she said they have to be sure every detail is in place in order for the physical comedy to work. She primarily works opposite the male lead Gordon Gammie, but works alongside other actors, including two who play several different parts and are referred to as “the Clowns.” With only four actors, many quick
changes must be done, and although it calls for a lot of rehearsal, Jones said she’s extremely excited to put on the show. She also said the story is still relevant today and that she sees it as a timeless period piece with all its main elements: love, mystery and humour. It isn’t just the great acting that makes the play. TNB has also used the talents of ECMA winner Michael Doherty for sound design and nationally-renowned set/costume designer Patrick Clark, with lighting by Leigh Ann Vardy, a four-time Merritt Award winner. TNB’s production of the The 39 Steps kicks off the 2011-2012 Main Stage season on Oct. 13 and runs until Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $40 for adults, and only $10 for students
The 39 Steps is at the Playhouse from Oct. 13 to Oct. 16. Submitted.
brunswickanarts
Oct. 12, 2011 • Issue 6 • Volume 145 • 9
50/50 skillfully balances fear and farce in the face of cancer Andrew Jeffrey The Gateway (University of Alberta) EDMONTON (CUP) — There’s a fine line that films dealing with tragic issues continuously walk — it’s a balancing act between staying grounded and real, while avoiding the sappy and maudlin. Comedies with difficult subject matter like 50/50 have to be especially careful about looking insensitive or offensive while they make jokes in the face of tragedy. Based on the experiences of writer Will Reiser following his own cancer diagnosis, 50/50 navigates tricky territory to be both hilarious and heartbreaking. Joseph GordonLevitt gives an impressive performance as Adam, a normally cautious and healthy man who is suddenly diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer, giving him a 50 per cent chance of survival. The film explores Adam’s struggles through various stages of coping with his disease. Along for the ride is his best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen), who is just as unprepared for Adam’s diagnosis. Because the film is grounded in Reiser’s own experiences, 50/50’s story feels genuine, never forced or overly melodramatic. The shifts in tone between comedy and drama can sometimes feel a little odd — after all, Seth Rogen’s usual brand of dick jokes doesn’t necessarily blend perfectly with the real grief this film shows — but the grounded script consistently helps the story move naturally, with comedy funny enough to be forgiven for distracting
from the movie’s sadder moments. The balance is a good thing, since 50/50 would be hopelessly lost without it. It’s difficult to find something like cancer funny, and audiences don’t necessarily appreciate attempts to make light of it. Rogen’s previous work in Funny People is a perfect example: a comedy about a terminal health condition that only managed mixed reviews and mediocre box office results. However, he and Gordon-Levitt carry both the serious and comedic load of the film admirably, drawing out laughs despite the dark subject matter. This duality is present throughout the movie: in one scene, Gordon-Levitt, high as a kite, smirks and laughs his way through hospital corridors past crying families and ill patients. Not a single cast member’s talents go to waste either, as the film looks at the lives of the people around Adam and their difficulties dealing with his diagnosis. While an inexperienced therapist and unsure girlfriend are in over their heads as they try to help Adam, his best friend struggles to make him happy in what could be his final months, and his mother becomes desperate to establish her role as a caretaker for her son. It’s the way 50/50 explores a whole range of issues surrounding Adam’s cancer that makes it such a poignant and meaningful film. Its diversity is striking, embodying a tearjerker one moment and a laugh-out-loud comedy the next. In a movie about confronting mortality, that’s no small feat.
The wedding ring effect The New Position Sarah Vannier Are all the good guys (and girls) taken? Has this ever happened to you? You’re single for a while. You go out and meet people, but no one seems interested in you. At one point you meet someone you like and before long you’re in a relationship. Suddenly, it seems like everywhere you turn there’s someone who wants you. The idea that we find people more attractive when they are in a relationship is something called the “wedding ring effect.” Usually, when people talk about this supposed “wedding ring effect”, they are talking about women finding attached men more attractive. Anecdotally, some of my male friends swear that as soon as they got married they had women flirting with them left, right and center. So why would we be more attracted to someone who’s already taken? There are a few possible reasons. First, if a person is in a relationship it means someone else has already decided that they make a good partner. They already did the hard work of figuring out if they snore too loudly or won’t share the remote. You can think of it like boyfriend/ girlfriend quality control. (Side note: Maybe this is why so many guys use a picture of themselves with their arm around a female friend on their Plenty of Fish profiles!) The second reason we might be more attracted to someone who’s in a relationship is that it’s a sign that they’re willing to commit to a relationship. This might be especially important to women who are usually
(although definitely not always) more interested in finding a long-term relationship than are men. Does the “wedding ring effect” actually exist? Some recent research done at UNB tried to answer this question. Students were asked to look at pictures of other students and rate how attractive they were, and how much they would like to date them. Some students were told that the people in the pictures were in a relationship and some students were given no information. The researchers found that when students were told that the person in the picture was in a relationship, they rated them as less attractive and as less desirable as a possible partner. But, if being in a relationship makes people less attractive and less desirable, how come so many of my male friends swear that a wedding ring makes them irresistible? I have a theory: I think that when you’re in a relationship, you make eye contact with the person on the other side of the bar and think “They sooooo want me. If only I were single I would be all over that.” In contrast, when you’re single and make eye contact with that person, you might go over to speak to them only to realise they were looking at their friend who was standing right behind you. Now this is just a hunch, but I suspect that the reason people believe in the “wedding ring effect” is because when they’re unavailable, and can’t follow through, it’s easy to think that everyone is interested. So what do you think? Do you find people who are in a relationship more attractive? Do you get hit on more when you’re unavailable? Share your thoughts in the comment section for this article on the Bruns website: www.thebruns.ca.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a young man dealing with cancer in 50/50, based on a true story. Submitted.
brunswickansports
Oct. 12, 2011 • Issue 6 • Volume 145 • 10
sports@thebruns.ca
Bishop’s takes Helen Campbell basketball tournament
Christopher Cameron Editor-in-Chief Three points is all that separated the Varsity Reds women’s basketball team from its second-place finish and a first-place finish in the Helen Campbell basketball tournament at the Currie Center this past weekend. Opening the tournament against Bishop’s on Friday night, the Varsity Reds would serve-up a 21-14 lead after the first quarter, 40-30 at halftime. In the second half Bishop’s would outscore UNB 19-10 in the third quarter, to come within one point. In the final quarter they would pass the Varsity Reds to win 70-67, a loss that cost UNB the tournament title. UNB would go on to win its next two games of the tournament, 71-51 over York University on Saturday and 66-51 over UPEI on Sunday. When asked after Saturday’s game about the team struggling to defend York’s three-point shooting, UNB women’s basketball head coach Jeff Speedy attributed it to sitting back and not following through on coverage. “It’s (three-point defending) one of many things we need to work on,” he said. “We were up roughly 25 points when they started hitting those threes and I think we relaxed for three or four minutes and once they scored about four possessions in a row we decided to start scoring again.” This was the first weekend in five years that Speedy has not had Amanda Sharpe on his roster. When asked how he replaces that presence on the court he said he’s not looking to do that. “Not thinking about it,” he said. “If we think about trying to replace Leah,
Megan Corby taking the ball to the net as she gets past York defender Kayla Pangos (No. 13) this weekend at the Helen Campbell Tournament. Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan Amanda and Laura we won’t. We’re just point guard in the league,” Speedy said. know. It’s still too early to tell, but we here this year,” Speedy said. “We’ll do the thinking about the people that are here “When the ball’s in her hands, good worked on some things after each day in tournament with the guys again next year. and trying to find our identity and our things usually happen for us and when she’s the next game and got a little bit better. This was just a one-year thing because of style and find a way to get better and win guarding the other team’s point guard, it That’s the goal for October. Keep getting Carleton coming in on the guys side. It some games at the same time.” helps out our defence tremendously.” better each day.” will be more fun again next year with the Losing those players was a significant Looking ahead to the regular season, he On a side note, next year the men’s guys tournament at the same time again.” blow, but with Megan Corby back and likes what he has seen thus far. basketball tournament will be coupled In other tournament scores, UPEI beat controlling the play, he likes what he has “It’s a great group of girls and they’re with the women’s tournament again. York 71-68, but lost to Bishop’s 84-64. with her experience. working hard, so I’m excited,” Speedy “This facility (Currie Center) has been In the Bishop’s-York game, York would “I’m biased, but I think she’s the best said. “How are we going to do? I don’t great and it was nice to have it (tournament) fall 63-51.
Men’s volleyball finish series with UBC tonight Christopher Cameron Editor-in-Chief Coming off their AUS championship season last year, the Varsity Reds men’s volleyball team is hoping to carry the high from last year into this season. Kicking off their exhibition season last night in the Currie Center, the men’s volleyball team play the season of a two-game series against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Currie Center. Varsity Reds head coach Dan McM-
orran is friends with UBC head coach Richard Schick, which enabled him to bring in such a high-calibre team early in the season. “We’re expecting a good battle and are excited to play our first matches in the Currie Center,” McMorran said. “Having them against UBC is pretty exciting so we’re excited and hope everyone else is too.” Last year the Varsity Reds hosted Trinity Western University (eventual CIS champions) in exhibition play. McMorran tries to have a team from out West come in for pre-season matches
as there are not many opportunities within the Atlantic provinces. “Over the last number of years we’ve tried to bring in a Western team in early October in order for us to do a number of things,” he said. “One, to bolster our exhibition schedule with not many teams around here and two, to use it as a good measuring stick for where we are right now.” “UBC will have already played a few more matches than we have as these will be our first matches this year, but you’ve got to start somewhere.” Tomorrow morning both teams
will travel to Queens University for an exhibition East vs. West tournament. Teams attending include the Alberta Golden Bears, Calgary Dinos, UBC, McMaster Marauders, Western Mustangs, Queens Golden Gaels, and the Montreal Carabins. “They are hosting this tournament because they’re hosting CIS nationals this year so basically there were 27 teams that applied to get into this tournament. She chose us as the Atlantic representative,” McMorran said. With the games against UBC and the tournament this weekend, McM-
orran hopes his team will be prepared for the regular season that starts Oct. 28-29 with the first Interlock tournament in Montreal. “We’ll have next weekend off when we come back before the first Interlock,” he said. “There is a very good senior squad that is based out of Halifax that has some former UNB and Dal players on it so we might schedule some matches before the Interlock, but after this week (against UBC) and the weekend (at Queens) we’ll probably be okay just to be practicing and gearing up for that Interlock.”
Dr. T. Wayne Lenehan Dr. M. Michele Leger
F P
L P E D
2 3 4
E D F C Z P
6
T O Z
P E C F D 5 F E L O P Z D D E F P O T E C L E F O D P C T
7 8 9
Optometrists “Family Eye Care”
Eye Examinations Contact Lens Frame Selection Laser Care
458-8986
New Patients Welcome
Office Hours Monday-Friday: 8am - 5pm; Thursday: 8am - 8pm 512 George St.
brunswickansports
Why so many blue Leafs each fall? Back of the Net K. Bryannah James Picture this: the day I was born, I signed over all my rights to a hockey team I would eventually cheer for. My parents brought me home, walked into my new room, and laid me down in my crib. And what was above me? A framed picture of Wendel Clark, and when my sister was born, her framed photo was of Felix Potvin. Neither of us stood a chance; we were destined to be Leaf fans. I don’t know about everyone, but I would bet good money the majority of the Leaf Nation reading this has already drifted back to the first day they drank the blue and white Kool-Aid. It’s a taste which brings to life Leaf icons like, David Keon, Punch Imlach, Johnny “the China wall” Bower, Bill Barilko, Darryl Sittler, Tim Horton, and now such players like Phil “the thrill” Kessel, James “OptimusReim” Reimer and of course, Darryl Boyce. However, it leaves the bitter taste of regret, frustration and confusion. Where the hell is our damn Cup, and why are we cheering for a losing team? I’ll sit there at the beginning of every season and say, this is our year, and at the end of each season I’ll say, next year is our year. Why do we diehard Leaf fans do this? Because of a multitude of reasons. The f irst is a family thing. As Canadians, hockey teams to us are almost as precious as breathing, so our teams become a huge part of our family. We have coffee mugs with our teams on them, blankets, bumper stickers, jerseys and paraphernalia galore. I don’t know many hockey fans who didn’t rush home to catch the game, stay updated via Twitter or Facebook, call home to get the score, follow the draft like it’s a crack addiction or grab a coffee or hot chocolate at Tim Horton’s and head over to the local arena to watch a minor, AAA, or Junior game. Your love for a team probably started during that very first hockey game you watched on television (or beside the radio in the old days) where you listened with great anticipation alongside your relatives as their team, which becomes your team, pummeled or scored against your rivals (Habs). It’s a generational thing. Now I’m not saying that happens to everyone; most people branch off and find their own teams to cheer for, but for
many, especially Leaf fans, it’s passed down through the generations as a curse and a privilege – mostly a lot of cursing. Another reason, the Maple Leafs have a fan base pre-dating expansion. As one of the Original Six, it’s only natural that Canadians would migrate toward a team that’s been there since the early days of the NHL, and a team that represented the majority of English Canada. See, my grandfather is a Leaf fan, and from Toronto (there’s that generational thing again) – like I stood a chance. So in essence, it’s a team that’s integrated in our culture, and a part of our heritage. I mean come on, who plays hockey better than a Canadian? They’re also a team second in Stanley Cup wins. This is our clutch retort for another hockey fan that takes a shot at our guys, usually scoring more off the insult than the players do on the ice. The Leafs are also a well-oiled marketing machine. As the highest grossing and richest team in the NHL, naturally they’re doing something right, even if that doesn’t include firing Ron Wilson, but that’s another story. The Air Canada Centre is consecutively sold-out, and there’s a sea of blue and white from East to West, even after back-to-back losing games, seasons, years (Toronto is the largest sports media centre in Canada – that plays a huge role too). However, at the end of the day these are only little things in comparison to what it truly means to be a Leaf fan. We just love the team. We love the feelings of watching our guys skate out onto the ice and represent a team that is close to our hearts. I mean, my mom bought my dad a piece of the ice from Maple Leaf Gardens for his birthday, you don’t get more patriotic than that. It’s a team that gets under your skin and into your heart and stays there. You want to cheer for these guys because they’re your team, you can’t help it, it just is. I mean, I wear my blue jersey with pride every season, and I probably could have switched teams long ago, but hey, once a Leaf fan, always a Leafs fan. It sounds simple and silly, but at the end of the day it’s like watching a fallen hero and hoping he’ll pick himself up one day. It’s an irritating and frustrating exercise in repetition, but at the end of the day, the Leafs are like your family. So when that year finally comes and our guys hoist Lord Stanley above their heads, we can say we never lost hope, and never gave up. That’s why there’s so many blue Leafs in the fall.
Becoming a Leafs can happen before you take your first steps. Jay_Mooy /Flickr CC
Oct. 12, 2011 • Issue 6 • Volume 145 • 11
Lets take out some time and meditate Tova Payne Staff Writer Life goes by pretty fast sometimes. We live in a society that’s conducive to multitasking, anxiety and a constant agenda. These ingredients make for an unconscious state of awareness. Even though not all of us do it, taking a time-out from everything once in a while isn’t a bad idea. There have been recent medical acknowledgements for its effectiveness in reducing stress, depression, anxiety, and enhancing mood and mental performance. I’m talking about a concept that may sound esoteric – meditation. However meditation is just a big word with a very simple meaning: it’s the practice of being still, just as you are. You don’t need to spend money on a course, you don’t need to see a hypnotherapist and you don’t need to buy books about different techniques. By all means, if you want to – go ahead. But the act of practicing stillness is free and freeing. You don’t need to pay anyone for your ability to touch your own consciousness and inner wisdom, which is what makes this practice freeing for your mind. All you need is patience and the desire to set aside some time. The same way our physical bodies need daily movement to stay healthy, our minds need the opposite – daily
stillness for health. Our minds are here for a reason; they help us engineer buildings, get through arduous math equations, memorize scientific terminology and write essays. However, our minds can also take over to make us confused, scattered and out of touch. The practice of stillness starts with setting aside five minutes. Find a quiet place – as quiet as you can. Then set a timer for five minutes. Sit in any position of your choice. The ground or on a pillow is best, however if you need a chair or want to lie down, go ahead. Then just sit with yourself. Usually our minds begin to purge the moment we finally become still. Recognize that your mind needs to let go of all these things that surface – that’s why they are coming up. It’s the withdrawal of the “busymess” that has become a part of your mind. So if you feel fidgety, bored, anxious, sad, flustered – these are all normal sensations that arise. The practice is to just sit with whatever comes up and just let it be. It’s a good idea to take a look at what comes up, yet the practice is to let it go. A helpful tool to help clear your mind is focusing on your breath – which is flowing in your present state. The idea is, if you are so focused on your breath it will be pretty impossible to be thinking about anything else. This task is often
harder than it sounds; you may find yourself “drifting” off into thought after a few seconds. That is part of the practice. The moment you catch yourself drifting off in some sort of thought or distraction, the practice is to return to your breath to help you let go of the thought. Even if you find yourself very much in a state of thoughts continuing to flow, let that be your sitting experience. You will notice that if you commit to this five minutes a day, not only will you feel calmer, more focused, confident and at peace, but you will find it easier as the days go on. You may even find yourself sitting for longer than five minutes. Although meditation can be challenging at times, recognize that with practice you will experience moments of deep peace, relaxation and inner freedom. Don’t be discouraged if your practice fluctuates from feelings of frustration to feelings of peace. Just as your physical exercise routine varies day-to-day, and takes practice, so will your stillness practice. Choose a time that works for you and one that you can commit to. If you don’t think you have five minutes, challenge yourself to find it. With continued practice, notice the changes that may occur. It may be something profound, yet it may be as simple as giving yourself a chance to take a genuine break out of your day.
brunswickansports
12 • Oct. 12, 2011 • Issue 6 • Volume 145
Are the Ravens ready for NCAA level of play? Nick Murray The Brunswickan The University of Carleton Ravens men’s basketball team are arguably the best team in the country this year, and after their dominant performance two weekends ago at the Eric Garland National Men’s tournament, it’s easy to see why. Carleton is a dynasty within the CIS, having won seven championships in the last nine years, and housing 2010 CIS male basketball player of the year, Tyson Hinz. The mastermind behind their success is without a doubt head coach Dave Smart. Smart has been head coach since 1999, achieving honours as men’s basketball CIS coach of the year four times during his tenure. Outscoring their opponents by 675pts in the OUA last year (second was Windsor with 187pts), on route to a national title, some may begin to wonder if maybe it’s time for the Ravens to rise up to a greater challenge, that of NCAA division one basketball. Beginning last September, Simon Fraser University was the first Canadian (and non-US) post-secondary institution to be officially recognized as a NCAA member, after a two-year transition period. Although not off icially recognized, Carleton’s been tuning up against NCAA division one teams prior to the start of the regular season. This year they played eight teams from the United States. Four of those teams were in the top half of 345 division one schools where they went 1-3, losing by no more than 10pts. The other four teams in the bottom
half of the NCAA, Carleton went 3-1 dismantling Niagara by 30pts. In 2008 however, Carleton took on the defending NCA A champion Kansas Jayhawks, with Kansas winning by two points in the final minute. Although the prospect of playing a higher level of competition may be one that any fan would be excited about, coach Smart feels differently. “I don’t think it’s something that makes any sense,” Smart said. “I think we’re way better off, not just improving the CIS level, but also showing people that the CIS level is a high level of basketball.” One of the problems of becoming an NCAA recognized school, is that each of a school’s sports teams must be moved up as well, so it wouldn’t just be the basketball program facing tougher competition. At Simon Fraser University, the Clan have risen to f irst place in men’s soccer with a 5-0 record, but in women’s soccer and volleyball, they’re struggling for wins. However, the Clan football team has recorded their first ever win in conference play with a 62-56 triple overtime win against Dixie State College this past weekend. The game was also the highest scoring game in GNAC (Great Northwest Atlantic Conference) history. Though Dave Smart would like to play higher level NCAA teams, as they did playing Kansas in 2008, NCA A regulations restrict their teams to one trip up to Canada for competition every four years. “A lot of the big time programs will go to Europe just because it’s a different experience, and their staff and alumni would rather go there.
After multiple victories in the CIS, some people may question if the Carleton Ravens should step up to NCAA play. THe.Rohit / Flickr CC When Kansas came up, they brought all their alumni with them. But most of the big time schools would like to stay in Canada because it’s easier to do their 10 days of practice,” Smart said. “Then [they] have the short travel and then play games that they know
what the level is going to be at, as opposed to going to Europe where it’s a crapshoot on how good the teams are going to be. But a lot of those decisions are made by their alumni who are footing a lot of the bills. So if they want a trip for themselves as well as with the team, [Europe] is
where they’ll go.” Smart went on to say the game of CIS basketball is a great game and a great product, but in order to build the game to a more exciting level, it has to be marketed better, which is an area where the CIS and the respective schools are falling short.