VOLUME 151, ISSUE 7, MARCH 2018
The Brunswickan Editorial Board
About us
Editorial Policy
Letters to the Editor
Editor-in-Chief Emma McPhee
The Brunswickan, in its 151st year of publication, is Canada’s Oldest Official Student Publication.
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.
Letters must be submitted by e-mail to editor@thebruns.ca. Include your name, since letters with pseudonyms will not be printed or posted online. Letters must be 500 words at maximum. Deadline for letters is Friday at 5 p.m.
Business Manager Katie Kim News Editor Emma MacDonald Arts Editor Ryan Gaio Sports Editor Caroline Mercier Art Director Book K. Sadprasid Copy Editor Tristan Hallihan Multimedia Editor Cameron Lane
Staff Assistant Art Director Maria Araujo Reporters Erin Sawden Tiziana Zevallos Brad Ackerson Photographer Maria Araujo Book Sadprasid
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We are an autonomous student publication owned and operated by Brunswickan Publishing Inc., a nonprofit, independent body. We are also a founding member of the Canadian University Press. Now a magazine, we publish monthly during the academic year with a circulation of 4,000. We publish weekly online at Thebruns.ca.
The opinions and views expressed in this publication are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Brunswickan, its Editorial Board or its Board of Directors. All editorial content appearing in The Brunswickan is the property of Brunswickan Publishing Inc. Stories, photographs and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the express, written permission of the Editor-in-Chief.
@Brunswickan
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Letter from the Editor by Emma McPhee
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by Ryan Gaio
Artsy Things to Do This Month
News Briefs by Emma MacDonald
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Secrets of the HIL
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Thoughts from the Arts Editor
by Ryan Gaio
by Ryan Gaio
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UNB’s Makerspace blends art and science
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by Tiziana Zevallos
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The Redshirt Dilemma by Brad Ackerson
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Bruns Crossword Win Free Pizza!
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Letter from the Editor Words by Emma McPhee I think it’s about time I address the elephant in the room: Forgive us, dear Brunswickan readers, for we have [apparently] sinned…yada yada...amen. For those of you who didn’t get the Seinfeld reference, I am talking about the Brunswickan’s sex issue. Let me provide a recap: Almost every year around Valentine’s Day, the Brunswickan—like many student newspapers across Canada— releases a sex issue. These are known to be a bit… racy, shall we say? One year, the Brunswickan staff posed nude for the cover photo (our logo was strategically placed to cover key “areas”). Another year, we published questionable UNB-themed pick-up lines. Another time we stuck a condom on a banana and made it our cover image. These issues are obviously heavy on sexual content and are usually a favourite among our readers—and we have fun producing them too. This year, we decided to push the envelope a little bit more (as any student paper worth their salt does) and published a feature on Fredericton’s sex shop, Pleasures n’ Treasures. The article’s purpose was to promote sex positivity; the sex shop might make you uncomfortable at first, but it’s totally natural and it’s okay to laugh! To go along with this, we published photos of some of the items available in the sex shop. We figured the [sexually explicit] images might make some readers uncomfortable at first, but that was the point of the article. Did we push the envelope too far with the images in question? Most likely, especially because we distribute our magazine around Fredericton as a whole—something we had overlooked when we created the issue with only our student audience in mind. But this paled in comparison to how UNB’s administration reacted. On Monday, Feb. 12, I received an email from Don Allen, director of UNB Security and Traffic, asking me if I was available to discuss some concerns that had been reported to Security regarding our February issue. The following day, Allen called me. I was informed that UNB admin had contacted Security about our sex issue and
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that Security had opened a file on it. The main concern was that children could have stumbled upon our issue and seen the sexual images. Allen then followed up the phone call with an email. This time, he told me to look up Section 171.1 of the Criminal Code (Making Sexually Explicit Material Available to Child). As any self-respecting journalist would have, I did some digging. According to that section of the Criminal Code, The Brunswickan had apparently committed an offence that “amounts to a form of grooming of a child similar to conduct that makes up the offence of child luring.” Yup; you got that right. We were being accused of trying to obtain sexual favours from children. Obviously this was an act of intimidation. I don’t know what children the Victorian-minded prigs in admin thought our intended audience was (although after covering UNB Senate a few times, you really have to wonder). We weren’t seeking out children specifically with our magazines—our target audience consists of university-aged adults—nor were we producing a magazine aiming to commit an offence such as, as enumerated in the Criminal Code, sexual exploitation, child pornography, incest or human trafficking. When I responded to Allen and told him as much, I was informed that Security “was not pursuing the matter” and that they’d contacted us “out of courtesy on [their] part.” Upon reflection, our Editorial Board did decide to issue an apology to our community distributors. While we never received a single complaint, we decided to be proactive. We do acknowledge that we should have been more mindful of our Fredericton community audience, and will take this into consideration in all future sex issues. That being said, I believe UNB Admin and Security overreacted—especially given their reactions to recent events. Take a moment to think about it. Earlier this year, white supremacist posters were found around the Fredericton campus. The group responsible for them were literal neo-Nazis. UNB’s response? A lame statement that said
that UNB was “disheartened” by the posters. “While we encourage and applaud critical thought and respectful dialogue, we do not tolerate disrespect or the marginalization of any group in any form,” the statement continued. What followed was a lackluster investigation by UNB Security and nothing was ever really done about it. When The Baron, UNBSJ’s student newspaper, published racist screed from the neo-Nazis responsible for the posters found in Fredericton, UNB said they would “express [their] concerns to The Baron.” While the editor-in-chief of that paper got fired, there was no bandying about with the Criminal Code. We were a student publication who published something about SEX, for heaven’s sakes; that’s hardly anything new. Nazi propaganda is a whole ‘nother level of lack of journalistic integrity.
I’m frustrated, to say the least. In the past couple of months, UNB barely responded to racist posters, racism in another campus publication and identity theft for the sake of spreading white supremacist messages—but when it comes to SEX (O’ the horror of it!!!), UNB admin gets Security to contact us and try to scare us with the Criminal Code. Given the fact that Eddy Campbell has just announced his plans to double UNBSJ’s student population by relying heavily on international student recruitment, wouldn’t you think admin would want to crack down on the racism on campus with a bit more vim and vigour? I do. UNB needs to get its priorities straight.
Furthermore, after the posters and The Baron controversy, someone created an email account in my name and emailed a number of UNB email addresses, spreading a white-supremacist message. While UNB ITS blocked the email account from contacting UNB accounts, I was informed that nothing else could be done about it.
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News Briefs Words by Emma MacDonald Less than 20 per cent of students voted in the new UNBSU council and exec this month
Aitken pool had not produced a feasible deal and the pool will be demolished as scheduled in September 2018.
After almost a month of campaigning and a week of voting, the new UNB Student Union was revealed at 12:01 a.m. on March 2.
The city and the university returned to the bargaining table just weeks after the city shut down negotiations between the two to build a new competitive pool, saying they had received interest from the YMCA that better aligned with the city’s own priorities.
The new executive will see Richard Du as its president, Ali Balcom as vice-president internal, Simal Qureshi as vice-president advocacy, Emily Meagher as vice-president finances and operations and Ben Palmer as vice-president student life. 1095 students voted in this year’s elections, making the voter turnout a mere 19.9 per cent. Renaissance College once again had the highest faculty voter turnout at 78 per cent, Science trailed in second place with 27 per cent and Kinesiology in third with 21 per cent. Addressing the apathy that most students have towards the UNBSU is one of the main goals for the new executive; the shared platform of Du, Balcom and Palmer in particular promised to work on the lack of ‘spirit’ and ‘pride’ displayed by UNB students. “UNB! Thank you for all of your support in the past weeks, as this is truly an honour and a privilege,” said Du in a statement following his win. “This election, we wanted to voice how important it is to be proud of our amazing campus, our school community and of being UNB students. In the upcoming school year, we look forward to creating an extraordinary, vibrant, strong and inclusive UNB experience for all of you.”
According to O’Brien, keeping the pool open “was just not a sustainable decision for the taxpayers of Fredericton.” O’Brien said that in the deal, the city would have been responsible for the operational costs; costs of risks associated with past, present, future repairs and maintenance; and costs of liabilities. O’Brien said the initial conversation between the university and city for a new centre “just wasn’t to be,” and with this new deal, it just ended up that “the city of Fredericton would take on too much of the risk solely,” and it was uncertain where the funds would be found if anything happened to the pool during the time it was kept open. According to an email from UNB president Eddy Campbell, the university made two offers to the city in an attempt to keep the SMA open for another year, both of which were declined. The first asked the city to split the pool’s operating costs for the year, with the city paying 60 per cent and UNB 40 per cent. This was in line with the city’s own cost assessment. The second was an offer to lease the pool to the city for $1 per year and have the city “take over the operating costs and control user fees.” UNB would have also paid 40 per cent of the operating costs until September 2019.
Du’s statement was made from Halifax—he and many other “For more than a decade we’ve advocated our case for a UNB students traveled there this weekend in support of the Men’s Basketball team, who won gold at the AUS Cham- new pool to the city and other stakeholders. We regret that the city’s response to our offers means UNB will not pionships on March 4. be a partner in the drive to find a solution to Fredericton’s Potential life extension of UNB’s Sir Max Aitken pool pool needs,” Campbell said in his email. are dashed by city announcement “This news will undoubtedly bring disappointment and frustration to people who depend on a competitive pool, On March 1 at the Fredericton Indoor Pool, Mayor Mike and we empathize with them.” O’Brien announced that the negotiations between the university and the city to extend the lifespan of the Sir Max
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Thoughts from the Arts Editor Words by Ryan Gaio I. Love. Survivor. I’m not saying this ironically—and there is no hyperbole either: I don’t like Survivor; I love it (a show that, I might add, is currently airing its 36th—yes, 36th—season each Wednesday). I have a fledgling collection of Survivor-related paraphernalia including DVD sets, tribal buffs and a shot glass. I spend many, many hours each week listening to former contestant Rob (“The Rob That Sucks!”) Cesternino break down the latest reality TV RHAPpenings on his Survivor-themed podcast. I can name each season’s winner, runner(s)-up and location. I think—and have thought—about Survivor more than any other piece of entertainment I’ve come across. And here’s the thing: I’m proud of it. There is no guilt attached to this pleasure, because Survivor makes me think, feel, analyze and debate. I treat it like I was asked to treat any of the texts on a syllabus, yet I do so with more fervor and enthusiasm, for I truly love it. And that makes all the difference. Look. I recognize that it may not be “high-brow.” Survivor is not “sophisticated” or “intellectual.” It is not what is classically referred to as “art”—but who decides what “art” is, anyway? As I said: the show makes me think, feel, analyze and debate—and isn’t that why we turn to art in the first place? My partner keeps up with the Kardashians—and as with my Survivor fandom, she feels no shame about this, nor should she. She once explained her Kim allegiance in a way that deeply resonated with my Survivor-supporting soul: “To say you ‘hate’ the Kardashians,” she said, “Is just boring.” It’s so obvious; it’s so easy. There’s little that’s interesting about that opinion. But what is interesting is looking at why Kim Kardashian is the cultural force that she is, and what that says about our world in 2018 and the society we live
in. What is interesting is explaining why the Kardashians are worth thinking about. That’s less easy—but it’s far more fun. This is precisely how I feel about Survivor. Sure, it may not be “intellectual”—but what I love is getting to intellectualize what others deem unworthy of such a pursuit. Which I do: I gladly interrogate the ethical implications of Boston Rob’s blindside on Lex; I enthusiastically defend my thesis about how All-Stars married reality TV with the age of postmodernism; I have still yet to settle my ongoing internal debate about whether Survivor is “a social experiment disguised as a game show” or “a game show disguised as a social experiment” (or, most intriguing—and likely!—of all: a “social experiment disguised as a game show disguised as a social experiment”). I love getting to think smartly about something that appears, on its surface, silly. And of course, Survivor is not the only piece of pop culture that warrants such critical engagement. I took an English course in my undergrad that was exclusively about Harry Potter, in which books that some might dismiss as “children’s stories” were treated (deservedly so) like serious literature worthy of actual academic examination. Similar courses exist on Game of Thrones, Beyonce and myriad pop culture phenomena. And yes—there’s even been one on Survivor. This was all to say that I wholeheartedly defend the idea of loving whatever so-called “guilty pleasures” others might try to convince you are unworthy of your time, enthusiasm and care. Anything can be critically engaged with; anything can yield worthwhile discussion; and anything can make you think, feel, analyze and debate. So go ahead: keep up with the Kardashians. It might actually make you smarter. But seriously, watch Survivor.
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Ten Artsy Things to Do in Fredericton This Month Words by Ryan Gaio Editor’s Note: These ten listings are hardly—hardly!—the only Artsy Things To Do this month; while I have selected ten that I think are interesting and eclectic, always remember that there are many other wonderful things happening in and around the city all month long. To let us know about an upcoming Artsy Thing To Do, email arts@thebruns.ca— we may feature your Thing in an upcoming issue! For more information about any of the following listings, please use your social media lurking skills and/or consult Google. All Artsy Things can be very easily found.
March 17: PISS Alive II: The Farewell Show. March 8-18: Finding Wolastoq Voice. Theatre New Brunswick proudly presents the world premiere of Finding Wolastoq Voice, the playwriting debut of Wolastoqiyik artist Samaqani Cocahq (Natalie Sappier) of Tobique First Nation. The piece is a powerful hybrid of theatre and dance, exploring the personal discovery, identity and culture of a young Wolastoqiyik woman awakened by the voices of her ancestors. TNB Open Space Theatre, 55 Whiting Road, Various performances.
March 15: Inside/Out. This one-man show is written and performed by Patrick Keating, an artist who spent years in and out of Canada’s penitentiary system. His honest and engaging delivery challenges the audience’s expectations of what a “criminal” looks like, while helping us better understand how language, class and race are ever-present factors in Canadian society—an important message, no doubt, for times like these. Fredericton Playhouse, 686 Queen Street, 7:30 p.m.
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Fredericton is gonna rock n roll all nite (and party everyday!) as the Maritimes’ ultimate KISS tribute returns to the Capital Complex as part of their (one city) farewell tour, with special guests GOITREHEAD (a tribute to Motorhead). Bust out the fake blood and makeup, and bring your best Starchild, Demon, Spaceman or Catman look as the band turns the City of Stately Elms into Fredericton Rock City! The Capital Complex, 362 Queen Street, Doors at 10:00 p.m., show at 10:30 p.m.
March 17-18: Kings Landing Sugar Bush Weekends. No winter is complete without experiencing maple candy on snow! Check out the various activities Kings Landing has planned—including encampments, snowshoeing and sleigh rides, even though we all know the highlight is the 19th-century sugaring demonstration! Maple candy: a timeless taste! Kings Landing, 5804 Highway 102, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
March 24: Seedy Saturday. Fredericton Botanic Gardens members are inviting all to join in a seed swap. Bring seeds to share and leave with new ones of your own! Members will be on hand to answer any gardening questions. Though the latest snowfall may make it seem otherwise, spring is around the corner—and it’s never too early to get this year’s flowers ready!
March 17-April 7: YFC Burger Battle. Now that the Olympics have again come and gone, it’s time to follow another high-stakes competition: the annual battle for Fredericton’s best burger! See for yourself if reigning champs, The Hilltop, can reclaim their title against one of this year’s 17 other worthy competitors. This is one contest I, for one, will gladly help decide. Various locations.
March 23-25: Fredericton Tattoo Expo. Check out Fredericton’s first tattoo expo, which features the best artists in the region, a special guest artist, fashion, cover-ups, removal and more! Who knows—you might even leave with a new piercing or piece of ink! Fredericton Inn, 1315 Regent Street, Various times.
Fredericton Botanic Garden, 10 Cameron Court, 1:00 p.m.
March 24: Maritime Bearded Villains Charity Beard Competition. Celebrate Movember in March as the Maritime chapter of the Bearded Villains host a charity beard competition! Featuring such categories as Full Beard, Partial Beard, Moustache, Freestyle and Whiskerina, all proceeds are donated to Fredericton Homeless Shelters Inc. Come cheer on your favourite beard, or enter as a competitor yourself! The Wilser’s Room, 362 Queen Street, 8:00 p.m.
March 24: New Brunswick College of Craft & Design Open House. Meet instructors and students to learn about next year’s programs at the annual NBCCD Open House! Live demonstrations will be presented in Aboriginal Arts, Ceramics, Jewellery/ Metal Arts, Fashion Design and more! Plus, free workshops will allow visitors to try out wood carving, pottery, pinhole cameras and even virtual reality. For once, you’ll want to go to school on a weekend! New Brunswick College of Craft & Design, 457 Queen Street, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
March 30: The Hypochondriacs and the Stanfields. Check out my pick for Fredericton’s finest band, The Hypochondriacs, hot off the heels of a March break tour through Ontario and Quebec. This homecoming gig will see the alt-country quintet joined by Halifax’s own The Stanfields, who are supporting their fifth album, Limboland. Come for the killer tunes, stay to see your Arts Editor fanboying in the front row. Charlotte Street Arts Centre, 732 Charlotte Street, Doors at 8:00 p.m., show at 9:00 p.m.
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I have spent a lot of time inside the Harriet Irving Library. I’ve been there before it opened; I’ve been there until it closed and I’ve been there for all the hours in-between. I have my favourite study spot, I have my go-to water fountain and yes, I even have my own personal nap station. Yet despite the time I’ve logged inside those redbricked walls, it recently struck me that there was a great deal of the library I had not explored. In all my many visits, I had never ventured far outside my frequent haunts; there were entire floors altogether that my feet had never stepped on. I wanted this to change. I wanted to uncover the secrets of the HIL. *** To begin, of course, I sought to learn the library’s seedier secrets: spooky goings-on, books mysteriously flying off shelves or a subterranean labyrinth of tunnels. I asked the Circulation Desk’s staff to fill me in on any such tall tales— ones passed down through the years if not personally experienced. Happy as they were to help, however, this was one request they could not check out: sure, there’s the old legend about snakes showing up in the basement once (not to be confused with the occasional squirrel that accidentally makes its way inside each spring); yes, on the fourth floor, the elevator doors do sometimes open and shut all on their own—but the causes are just mechanical, not mystical. Besides these, though, the only other seedy secrets have to do with students thinking the stairwells are a lot more—shall we say—private than they actually are. Not one ghost? Not one secret passageway? Undeterred, I decided that, having started at the bottom, I ought to continue my investigation into the unknown by heading all the way to the top, where I visited someplace I did not know anything about: the Archives & Special Collections. “The Archives is essentially meant to preserve and provide access to the records of the university,” explained Christine Lovelace, the library’s academic archivist. Lovelace, along with archive assistants Patsy Hale and Patty Johnson, met me in the fifth-floor office, where they eagerly introduced me to the many features the Archives has to offer. “We go back to 1785, so we have things like the first charter, the senate minutes—those records that document the history of the university,” Lovelace continued. Johnson added, “We have all the documents that made the university the university...Right from the very beginning.” Some of the many noteworthy UNB-related items in the collection include old yearbooks; photos of winter fairs—key events which, with elaborate floats and on-campus ice sculptures, used to marry the city’s communities in a way that is rarely seen today; and footage
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of football games from the 60s and 70s, from reels discovered under the Sir Max Aitken pool. “But that’s just the first level,” Lovelace continued. “On the second level, we’re committed to documenting the history of the university—but also Fredericton and New Brunswick…We have a really great mix of New Brunswick heritage and university heritage.” Furthermore, the staff informed me that, as significant as the Archives are to those interested in the local area, they also contain many items of high interest on a national level—and beyond. In addition to possessing the personal papers of Prime Minister R.B. Bennett—making them one of only two archives outside of Ottawa to have a prime minister’s papers—the Archives also features materials from Lord Beaverbrook’s collection. Frustrated that the province lacked an archive at the time, Beaverbrook began collecting things he deemed to be of historical significance and donated them to the university, resulting in what Lovelace described as “some quirky things that don’t necessarily fit the mandate of university records or NB records,” including an atlas given as a gift to Beaverbrook by Rudyard Kipling—which also contains poems about Canada written by the author—and letters from Benedict Arnold. Through the Archives, any interested person—an undergrad working on a term paper, a grad student chipping away at a dissertation or any curious community member—can access one of the many fascinating materials housed in the collection, either by viewing a digitized version on the online catalogue, or by booking an appointment and arranging to come see the item in person. It is the latter option that makes the Archives a truly special place. “The documents themselves have a certain mystique and aura,” Lovelace said. “You can look at them online and stuff, but when you see Benedict Arnold’s actual signature on it? It’s just a whole other thing.” Fascinated by my new knowledge of the top floor’s available resources, I continued down a level, deciding to pop by the Eileen Wallace Children’s Literature Collection—a room I had often seen but, as with the Archives, did not know anything about. I knocked on the office of Sue Fisher, the collection’s curator, and was warmly welcomed inside. I explained my mission and asked, honestly: “What is this place?” “This is the largest research collection of children’s literature east of Ontario,” Fisher explained with eager enthusiasm. The collection was founded by Miss Eileen Wallace, a UNB alumna, recently turned 94, whose 1944 yearbook entry describes her as someone who loves books and could often be found in the library. After earning her UNB degree, she went on to study elsewhere before eventually returning to Fredericton, where she became “really the only person in the province teaching on librarianship.” A lifelong collector of children’s books, Wallace established the collection—which Fisher described to me as “a wonderful, serendipitous snapshot of what it means to bring books to New Brunswick libraries in the 20th century,” with offerings ranging all the way back from the 19th century to the present. “We have a lot of interesting Fredericton-based stuff,” Fisher said. “We have all the works of Mary Grannan, who was basically Mr. Dressup before Mr. Dressup, and we have these wonderful books published out of New Brunswick called ‘Beaverdime Books’—they were sold out of gas stations in the 1950s for a dime, and were designed for kids to compete with the ‘great comic book scare…’ They were all over Canada, and it started right here.” The collection—which contains what Fisher described as “a lot of quirky, interesting, rare things that may not be first edition Tom Sawyers, but give a sense of the depth of the history of Atlantic Canada and of how we interacted with the young people of Atlantic Canada”—is housed inside the bright, welcoming Nan Vesta Gregg Room, which is a kind of “library within the library” where Fisher commonly finds firstyears curled up in a corner, reading. The room evokes an elementary school library, and offers a welcome contrast from the somewhat-daunting stacks that surround it. To complete my investigation, I descended yet another level to the office of Jeannie Bail, the HIL’s direc-
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Photos by Maria Nazareth Araujo
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UNB Archives & Special Collections, UA PC 10 no. 24(3)
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tor of learning and research services, to try and understand the library’s overall significance as a campus institution. “In a nutshell: we provide access to knowledge,” said Bail. “And we’re very democratic. Anyone can come in and access our resources and technologies…We’re a little bit like Switzerland: we don’t have any biases with regards to one faculty or department. We get students from all over—and not just from different academic backgrounds, but from different parts of the world.” “It’s a cultural space, too,” Bail added. “I think it’s really important for students to be exposed to paintings”— such as the portrait of Alden Nowlan, found on the first floor and once included in a Beaverbrook Gallery exhibit entitled “Masterpieces of New Brunswick Art”—“And film and performances and readings...Our spaces are just as important as our collections.”
UNB Archives & Special Collections, Joe Stone and Son Ltd. fonds - UA RG 340, Series 6, File 7284.
“What then,” I asked her, “would be lost if our increasingly digitally-inclined society decided to do away with a library like the HIL?“ “I see the library as the heart of the campus,” Bail responded, without hesitation. “If there was no library, it would be harder for students to be successful. I think research skills are really important—not just in university, but in lifelong learning. 2017 was the year of ‘fake news;’ the ability to think critically is a skill that’s increasingly important. There would be a big, gaping wound if the library were ever to disappear.” *** As I write this, I’m sitting in the Nan Vesta Gregg Room. Like too many other amazing parts of this building, it is a room I have never been in before; I knew of the space, but not what it was.
UNB Archives & Special Collections, UNB Public Relations Dept. Photo Collection, Series 2, File 76, no. 1.
It was a secret. I am surrounded by shelves and shelves of children’s books, and I recognize many of the titles from my childhood. They are books that first made me fall in love with stories—ones that I read again and again and again. They are books that I discovered after visiting my school library. “The view outside is lovely,” I think to myself, curling deeper into my chair in the corner. This investigation of mine may not have uncovered any ghosts or secret tunnels. But that’s okay, because maybe—just maybe—I have found a new favourite spot in the library. UNB Archives & Special Collections, UA PC 10 no. 21(1) 15
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Words by Tiziana Zevallos | Photos by Book Sadprasid Inside old Head Hall—now also Technology, Management and Entrepreneurship—a room contrasts with the building’s old façade and wooden interior. Room H128 hosts UNB’s Makerspace, a graffiti-decorated location with all the tools one might need to create: 3D printers, a laser cutter, computers and an electronic workbench. A workshop and design studio, the Makerspace provides an environment to create prototypes and projects, and share ideas and techniques. “It is a space for students to get back into the ability to build with their hands and see the physical models and their designs being made,” said Rob Moss, Faculty of Engineering operations engineer and Makerspace organizer. “Through the Makerspace, we’re trying to get that expressive ability back to the students, and a broader skillset.” Moss is a UNB civil engineering and MBA graduate who became involved with the Makerspace in September 2017—first as a volunteer and now as organizer. For him, the roots of engineering are a mix of art and knowledge. However, he feels that the creative foundation of engineering was lost somewhere in the past 50 years, as schools have shifted their focus to more theoretical learning approaches. “The Makerspace is an initiative to revitalize that creative aspect within engineering and science studies,” Moss said. When the space was created in the summer of 2016, it was initially conceived for engineer students only. However, the Makerspace is now open to all students, faculty and staff. “In these initial phases, we are hoping for students to see the Makerspace as a way to solve some of the challenges on their projects and integrate these solutions into larger challenges,” said Moss. The student-led space strives to be as open and stress-free as possible, to allow students to be as innovative and creative as they can be. “A laser cutter sounds kind of dangerous—but really isn’t. You can go in as a beginner. It’s a place where we encourage people to go work on their projects, and if they need help, there’s facilitators and documentation in place to help you in whatever you’re doing,” Moss said. Moss believes that when students challenge themselves to not only build something using a 3D printer—but move beyond to incorporate pieces together using different tools—they grow as creators. “You’re using screws, putting pieces together, watching them fit and looking at the challenges that the machines provide. You’re not only designing anymore; you’re creating.” And that, for him, is the intersectionality between art and science. For Curtis Kennedy, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student, the Makerspace provided the right tools to launch his own company. Throughout his life, Kennedy suffered from muscle pain, especially after long days at school. For as long as he can remember, his physiotherapist and chiropractor would suggest pressure as the best solution for at-home care—but as the pain was in his back, he would have to roll on lacrosse balls to sooth the stiffness of his muscles or rely on others to apply pressure for him. One day over the summer, while working a landscaping job, he had an unusual idea. After using the industrial suction cups to pick up windows and put them in place, he stuck the suction cup to a wall. And then, he began to run his back against the contoured handle to soothe his soreness. “I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it just be great if there was a ball attached to the suction cup’s handle?’” Kennedy asked himself.
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That’s how “Vertiball” came to be. Vertiball is a line of muscle relief products that use the patent-pending technology/design to attach onto walls and other flat surfaces, allowing the user to put it at specific heights according to where the pain is while giving them freedom in applying as much pressure as they need.
“What’s so great about the Makerspace is it gives you, as a student on a tight budget, the access to really expensive equipment, that—in my mind—is state of the art. This 3D printing thing is [something that], for the longest time, seemed like fantasy—but it’s actually hard to believe how simple it is,” Kennedy said.
“Essentially, it’s balls that stick to the wall—but what it does is it makes your back accessible,” Kennedy said.
With a consolidated idea and a first model, he applied to the UNB Summer Institute, a three-month intensive accelerator program for entrepreneurs with an innovative idea and the drive to turn it into a sustainable business.
For one of the world’s most common problems, Kennedy was a firm believer there needed to be a better solution. That’s when he started his journey at the Makerspace: “Just designing the model, printing it out, testing it, using it, seeing how it feels, going back to the drawing board, applying a new design and going from there,” he said.
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“It’s funny looking back at it now and seeing all the versions that have happened,” he said. When he applied to the program, Vertiball was in its first iteration; now, it is in version 182.
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You’re using screws, putting pieces together, watching them fit and looking at the challenges that the machines provide. You’re not only designing anymore; you’re creating.”
On the first day of the Summer Institute, Kennedy met artist and industrial designer Philip LeBlanc, who specializes in using art and creativity to solve technical problems.
other, as they complement each other equally. This philosophy was fundamental for Vertiball to be successful in its earliest stages of product and business development.
“After going through this process, I try and imagine what [it] would be if it were just me going at it without Philip, and I just don’t think Vertiball would’ve ever made it this far,” Kennedy said.
“Vertiball is an enabler. It allows you to take control of your pain and find relief for whenever you need. In the next few years, I want to start a family of products that use our patent-pending design to make all sorts of [pain-relief enablers],” Kennedy said.
According to Kennedy, artists have the ability, once they understand the restrictions and limitations imposed on the design, to reflect and come up with new, sleek, beautiful and creative solutions—ones that accomodate any necessary changes.
“I want muscle-care to become part of everyone’s daily lives. As we make this big push to become better people all-around in every aspect, I don’t think back pain should be left behind.”
He doesn’t think art and science can exist without the
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The Redshirt Dilemma Words by Brad Ackerson | Photo by Orlando Solar Bears Website
After a successful junior hockey career, UNB’s Patrick Watling chose to chase a dream job as a professional hockey player. Three years later, he is now being forced to pay for this decision by sitting out for the entirety of the 2017-18 hockey season. Such is the dilemma facing many young hockey players who are unable to land NHL contracts immediately after leaving juniors, but have been successful enough to earn minor-pro contracts that bring them within striking distance of the world’s top hockey league. This issue is a result of a U Sports eligibility rule, which states that an athlete over the age of 21 cannot play varsity sports within one year of playing in a professional league. For hockey players like Watling whose junior careers end at the age of 20 or 21, this can be a difficult decision between giving oneself the best possible
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chance of (hopefully, eventually) reaching the NHL or accepting a scholarship to play varsity sports while continuing their education. While the rule is intended to promote fairness and prevent experienced former professionals from dominating younger and less experienced athletes, for those like Watling—who now want to transition from pro to varsity sports—it is essentially punitive in its effect. “You always want to be out there helping the team win, doing whatever you can,” said Watling of the frustration that has come with sitting on the sidelines while his teammates prepare to host the national championship. “You’ve just got to grit your teeth, basically. Go with the decision you made and just prepare for next year.”
A dream interrupted
Not giving up
Playing hockey has always been a huge part of Watling’s life. When asked, he chuckled and said the last time he’d gone without playing hockey was “probably around the age of three.”
Despite the setback, Watling believes he is still young enough to continue his pro career after he is done with university.
“I have never in my life gone this long without hockey since I started.” In 2014, after a strong final season of junior hockey where he put up 54 points in 65 games with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, everything seemed to be falling into place for the then 20-year-old. Kyle Dubas, Watling’s former general manager with the Greyhounds, had just been hired as the Toronto Maple Leafs assistant general manager and had offered the Sault Ste. Marie native a contract with the Toronto Marlies—the Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate. In addition to playing 29 games with the Marlies during the 2014-15 season, Watling spent 24 games with their ECHL affiliate in Orlando, where he scored over a point per game and established himself as a pro-quality player with a realistic chance at playing on the next level. While the opportunity to move to university hockey was always there, the allure of chasing his dream at the professional level was too great and he spent another season in Orlando, where he continued to produce over a point per-game. Despite his continued strong play, an opportunity to permanently move higher never came—and he was now in a bit of a bind. He wanted to further his education, but knew doing so would mean sitting out for a full year as a redshirt in order to gain U Sports eligibility, essentially throwing away a year of his career. So he continued to play. “That made it a hundred times more difficult,” said Watling of the rule. “If there wasn’t a redshirt, I probably would have gone sooner—but that weighs on you, going and taking a year off.”
In the meantime, he is trying to see the positives and make the most of his situation. “You get a different perspective on hockey; you get to see it from the outside looking in instead of the other way around. You get a lot from it, but you also give up a lot too—so it’s just how you take it,” he said. “If you’re working so hard on something day in and day out non-stop, you kind of lose sight of certain things. When you [get away], you get to think about it—and then certain things click and certain things don’t, but you get to think in a different way than you did before.” Watling is also still trying to contribute to the Varsity Reds pursuit of a third straight national men’s hockey title in any way he can, in practice and in the locker room. “One of my coaches in professional hockey [said] ‘you could be a healthy scratch player and not be play, but every time you go to practice you’re making someone else better by how hard you compete.’ Basically, you’re out there helping the guys who are playing get better throughout the year. While you don’t get to see it [in the game], behind closed doors you’re doing your team justice.” In return, he believes the level of competitiveness at V-Reds practices has helped mitigate the negative aspects that come with not being able to play in actual games for a year. “Being with the guys and [seeing] how they practice and how they do things here, [the year off] really doesn’t affect me as much. The year is almost done and I’ve gotten through it.”
Finally, after one more season in the ECHL, he realized it was either now or never to attend university on an athletic scholarship. Hockey would have to wait. “Basically I was at a crossroads,” he said. “The opportunity to go to UNB was on its last legs, so it was either then or never.”
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Illustration by Peter Allen
How closely have you been reading the Bruns in the past month? Test yourself with this crossword puzzle, featuring answers from last month’s online stories and this month’s magazine. Submit your completed crossword to the Brunswickan’s office (Room 35 in the SUB) to win a prize! The first person to submit a correct puzzle will automatically win a free pizza from Domino’s. Everyone else will be entered into a draw for another free pizza, which will be held on March 31. We will draw four winners. Best of luck!
Across 1 Universities fall under this gov. Department; abbr. 4 Bruns Arts Editor’s favourite show 7 Arts and science are combined here 9 This year, March came in like a _____ Down 2 Number of track and field athletes UNB is sending to USports championships 3 UNB library 4 To close down next fall; abbr. 5 New UNBSU president; no space 6 Number of wins by women’s v-ball team 8 Campus food provider
If no one’s in the office, please slip your crossword under the door with the date, time, your name and your email written on it. Thank you!
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