Issue 17, Vol 142, The Brunswickan

OPINION // HAS THE UNBSU OVERSTEPPED ITS BOUNDARIES? >> PAgE 6 Volume 142 · Issue 17 • January 21, 2009

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Reds skate over Tommies

Bus pass possibility posed again Hilary Paige Smith The Brunswickan

Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan

The UNB Varsity Reds got off to a quick start and didn’t look back last Wednesday, defeating STU 8-0 at the Lord Beaverbrook Arena. UNB remains in first place in the AUS standings, with one point up on Saint Mary’s after going 2-1 in weekend play. For the full report, see page 17.

Students question effectiveness of police Some residents of College Hill concerned about the safety of the neighborhood Sarah Ratchford The Brunswickan

Some Graham Avenue residents are claiming that Fredericton police are not doing their duty to protect those who live on the student-populated street.

Graham Avenue has a history as

a place of notorious partying and, in some cases, disruption to the non-student population. The area is sometimes more heavily patrolled by police in an effort to control such goings-on.

One resident of Graham Avenue, who wishes not to be named, feels as though the police are devoting their efforts to the wrong cause, looking to persecute the residents of Graham instead of protecting them. He says there was recently an attempted break

and enter of his girlfriend’s house, as well as two other break and enters near his own home.

The student feels that the neighborhood, while it is being patrolled, is not being properly protected, putting its safety into question.

Additional criticisms of the Fredericton police have been brought forward to the Brunswickan by a nonresident visitor of Graham Avenue, who also wishes to not be named.

After attending a gathering at a friend’s house, the young man was walking home and was attacked near the top of Graham. His face required reconstructive surgery as a result.

“It took me three weeks to hear who was assigned to my case,” he says. “It took another two weeks

SEE GRAHAM PAGE 4

This generation of UNB students, unlike some before them, are being given the opportunity to vote on their travelling option within Fredericton.

The UNB Student Union passed a motion at last week’s council meeting for a referendum on bus passes the week of Mar. 22-27. Students will be able to vote for or against the option of a universal bus pass. The Student Union is also raising the idea of an opt-out plan, in which students who do not need or want the pass do not have to purchase it.

UNBSU Vice President External Jon O’Kane explains that a similar vote took place three years ago on both Fredericton university campuses, with St. Thomas students voting in favour of the pass and UNB students refusing it by a 52 per cent vote. He also says that with an almost entirely new generation of UNB students currently attending the school, the time has come for them to make their own decision on the topic.

“Only students in their fourth year and above – so, about less than a quarter of the UNB Student Union membership – has voted on whether or not they’d like a Student Union bus pass to the city,” says O’Kane.

“So that’s why we are entering negotiations again with Fredericton Transit, to see if we can present something to students, to give them that choice. We just want to make sure people have the ability to choose and this wasn’t just an option chosen by a previous generation of students.”

The universal bus pass would be an automatic addition to the fees of all students. An opt-out option would allow students who do not need the pass to opt out of spending the additional money for the pass.

St. Thomas University currently

SEE BUS PASS PAGE 5

brunswickannews

2 • Jan. 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142

Richard loved to make people laugh Sarah Ratchford The Brunswickan

Corey “Calves” Richard has left a longlasting impression on his friends.

“He liked to make people laugh at all costs,” says Brian Beaudette, a friend of Richard who lived with him in Aitken House.

Richard, a former student at UNB, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 11 after his car crossed the centre line and struck a transport truck on the way to Miramichi.

He had spent the weekend in Fredericton with friends from UNB. Richard attended the school from 2006 to 2008.

“You could always pick him out in a crowd, he was so outgoing,” says Beaudette, a former president and current educational proctor in Aitken House.

Richard was a person who always focused on reaching out to others.

Beaudette, who was the President of Aitken House during Richard’s second year, says that before he even arrived at UNB, Richard went on the residence’s website and started to meet his fellow Animals before even coming to university.

“He put a real effort into getting to know people,” says Beaudette.

His mother, Kelly Richard, says the same of her son.

“At the funeral, his friends filled me with happiness, which is weird in this type of situation. We laughed and it was really nice to see them.”

Her son’s own unwavering optimism

is inspiring Kelly to stay positive and cherish her son’s memory.

“I’m not all broken-hearted and falling apart. I’m just so proud of him,” she says.

Richard spent a lot of time reaching out to others, says Beaudette. He started to get involved in a number of volunteer organizations at a young age, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters. He was once the youngest Big Brother in Canada, and the person he acted as Big Brother to was a child with a disability.

“That was really unusual, they usually have older people that do that,” his mother explains. “He was always happy, he was always smiling.

“You know how parents kind of have to make up stuff? Well I don’t,” she says half proudly, half laughingly.

Richard also took part in a number of other volunteer efforts, including handing out brochures against drinking and driving for MADD, breast cancer awareness fundraising, and walks for AIDS. His involvement extended to school activities as well. Richard was very involved with cheerleading at UNB and rugby while in high school.

“Cheerleading was a big thing for him. He was one of the only guys on the team and I was really proud,” says Beaudette. “It doesn’t matter what he did, he put his mind to it. He lived to the fullest.”

Third-year UNB student ChristyLynn Jenkins is privileged enough to have enjoyed a sixteen-year friendship with Richard. The two met at age 4 and attended kindergarten together.

“He was just … kind of bigger than life,” says Jenkins. “He knew everyone.” She spent a lot of her first year of university with Richard, and says he supported her through it all, never judging her and always accepting her ideas, no matter how “crazy.”

Submitted

Corey “Calves” Richard passed away on Sunday, Jan 11. He is remembered by friends and family as a fun loving, charismatic person who continues to inspire those he left behind.

“He just had the perfect smile,” she says. “He was able to make you happy… he was just my best friend and I loved him very much.”

Richard’s mother says he loved to be with his friends.

“I’m so happy he got to spend the weekend with them in Fredericton before he went,” she says.

He was also very fond of his family.

His mother says that he once had a conversation with a family friend who asked him who he could be if he could choose anyone in the world. He responded, “I’d love to be my little brother, Chris. He’s so awesome.”

Beaudette says Richard’s mother has provided encouragement for his friends.

“His mom was so strong. She had tears in her eyes but you could tell she was so proud of him. If his mom’s being positive, we all should be.”

Of Richard’s lifestyle, Jenkins says, “It was just life, he was going to have fun while he was here. If he wanted to do something he’d do it and enjoy it. He loved everything about life.”

brunswickannews

Jan. 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142• 3

Number of private health clinics to increase Hilary Paige Smith The Brunswickan

This new year will see an increase in the openings of private health clinics, says New Brunswick Health Minister Michael Murphy.

Canada is home to accessible, free health-care for all citizens. Murphy compares the Medicare card to a credit card when placed on the desk of a doctor’s office or hospital.

Private health care organizations that are not under Medicare coverage include dentist’s offices, orthodontia and plastic surgeons. Public health care includes facilities like hospitals, blood and sample testing and afterhours treatment clinics.

Murphy explains that the majority of doctor’s offices and health-care clinics are privately owned and operated, but are publicly funded by the government and covered by Medicare.

“The vast majority [of procedures] go through the public health system.

The Canada Health Act requires that there be universal, accessible health care for medically necessary services, for example hip replacement, knee replacement, heart surgery. Those things are all covered by Medicare and in the public system,” says Murphy.

The Government of New Brunswick is pushing for an increase in health

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Beginning this year, New Brunswick will be opening its doors to a number of private health clinics. UNB Fredericton operates its own Health Centre where fulltime students can go to deal with health concerns, but part-time students (and of course, non-students) do not have access to these services. care operations in the private sector because of the reduction it will cause in procedure wait time for patients being treated in the public sector.

Murphy uses the plights of an athlete needing an arthroscopy as an example. An athlete needing an arthroscopy, the minimally invasive process of inserting a camera into the

body, may have to wait six months for the procedure in the public system, but need it within six days. The athlete can turn to the private sector and receive their operation in time.

The minister says that when wait times become unreasonable for patients in need, the private sector is free to come forward and open their

“Road of hope” campaign shows the power of friendship

doors to public business. If a patient can no longer risk waiting for public health care the government will, under the right business and safety circumstances, fund their trip to a private clinic.

“It’s all about reducing wait times and seeing whether the public sector delivers it faster or is overloaded or

Council shuts down Lockheed Martin motion Sarah Ratchford The Brunswickan

Cameron Mitchell The Brunswickan

If you’ve ever been to the Boyce Farmers’ Market on a Saturday morning, you might have seen 10-year-old Matthew Hynes walking around asking for donations. He’s not looking for donations for a school trip, or a sports team. He’s actually trying to get help for something that’s a lot more important to him: his friend.

For the last few months, Matthew has been raising money to help Mackenzie Carr, 10, who is battling a rare form of ovarian cancer. The two have been friends since kindergarten, and when Matthew found out that his friend was in trouble, he knew he needed to help.

“A year ago when she was diagnosed with cancer, he started to pray for her,” explained Matthew’s mother, Marilu Hynes. “But after her third bout with cancer, he felt he needed to do something more.”

It was a Wednesday afternoon, after a long day of school, when Matthew told his mother that he wanted to do more for Mackenzie. So the two of them sat down and tried to think of ways to help Mackenzie.

“We brainstormed ideas for a couple of hours, and then he came up with

the idea to Google the distance from the school to Mackenzie’s house,” Matthew’s mother continued. “He found out it was 56,313 inches. So he measured a loonie and decided that he wanted to raise 56,313 loonies.”

With that, the “road of hope” campaign was born.

Matthew then made a little writeup on Mackenzie and got her picture.

He glued them onto about half a dozen empty bottles and took them to stores throughout Fredericton.

He told them Mackenzie’s story and asked if the bottles could be left on the counter to collect change. The stores agreed, and today the bottles can be found sprinkled throughout Fredericton.

Word of mouth has also helped the campaign. The “road of hope” campaign has touched many people throughout Fredericton, and the city has shown its desire to help. Several people have donated via check or cash, sending their donations to one of the stores such as One Stop Kitchen and Counter Tops.

“And when he’s not playing hockey, he goes to the Market and collects himself,” his mother said.

So far, Matthew has raised over $13,500. All of the money is given directly to Mackenzie’s family, and it helps to take away some of the pressure in this difficult time.

“The money has brought the family some comfort in a really difficult time.

They’re not having to worry so much about expenses and things that could distract from having to look after a sick child,” said Marilu Hynes.

Nevertheless, the donations and fundraising can only go so far. The holidays were difficult for Mackenzie, and on Christmas Day she was taken to Fredericton’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital because she couldn’t keep her pain medication down.

“It’s an on-going battle, but pretty much we haven’t given up hope,” continued Matthew’s mother. “And neither has Mackenzie.”

Matthew has continued to support his friend through both the fundraising and his friendship. He frequently visits her at the hospital, and is hoping for better health in this new-year.

When he’s not playing hockey, or wandering the Farmer’s Market, Matthew can often be found reading to Mackenzie at the hospital. “(Last Thursday) we went up to the hospital and Matthew sat and read to Mackenzie for an hour,” continued Marilu Hynes. “She actually fell asleep while he was reading to her, so it was very touching.”

Matthew still has a long way to go to reach his ultimate goal of $56,313, but he hasn’t given up hope.

“Like Matthew says, ‘everyone has a loonie’, and you know what, he’s probably right,” his mother said with a smile.

whether the private sector does it,” says Murphy. “This whole thing about publicly funded health care through private clinics is not about a shift in philosophy. It’s about a war on wait times. Private clinics may not be a panacea. That’s not it at all, but they may be able to fill in some gaps within the system.”

After 90 minutes of debate and two calls to question, the UNB SU council rejected a proposed motion from Science Representative Alex Corey against Lockheed Martin being able to visit UNB Fredericton.

Corey proposed a motion on Monday, noting that whereas Lockheed Martin is a weapons manufacturer, which also sells weapons condemned under the UN convention on Cluster Munitions, and that the company provides the Israeli state with F-16 fighter aircraft used in the current assault on the Gaza Strip, “be it resolved that the UNBSU denounces the presence of Lockheed Martin representatives on the UNB campus as well as the intention of said representatives to recruit students.”

Following proposal of the motion, Council erupted in heated debate.

There was a widespread reaction against the motion. Several councillors agreed that VP Academic Greg Melanson made a strong argument against it when he expressed the view that “there’s no place for this kind of motion in the Student Union.”

He further argued that the motion and debate hurts the Union’s constituents as “we’re devoting our time at Council and executive meetings to this instead of other issues. As far as we should go is supporting those on campus who have been affected.”

Council passed a motion in support of those suffering in Gaza last week.

President Bethany Vail expressed a similar opinion to Melanson, stating, “council is not a place to debate these issues.”

Vail suggested the Fredericton Peace Coalition as an appropriate outlet for concerns such the state of affairs in Gaza.

“We are not the moral police,” she said.

Conversely, a nearly equal number of councillors stood in support of the motion.

Renaissance College Representative Matthew Abbott voiced the opinion that “Lockheed Martin will be lying to students by creating the impression that they are not an arms manufacturer.”

Jay Williamson, a visitor to the meeting, brought forth a statement similar to the proposed motion to Council, which he obtained from the Fredericton Peace Coalition’s website. He also provided proof of both Corey’s and Abbott’s membership in said group.

Williamson voiced the concern that both Corey and Abbott were attempting to “hijack the opinion of the Student Union” to make it fit with that of the Fredericton Peace Coalition.

Concerns were also raised by Williamson regarding the UNBSU’s mission statement, which reads that “we shall provide unified representation on matters relating to the diverse interests of our members.”

Williamson said that “taking a single moral stance eliminates the possibility of diversity.”

Councilor Corey then said in regards to the mission statement that “we can’t make everyone happy.”

Shortly after, the second call to question was made by VP Finance and Operations Lisa Solte. The motion was defeated by a 7-9 vote with one abstention.

brunswickannews

4 • Jan. 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142

FROM GRAHAM PAGE 1 to hear anything else about the investigation.”

The victim says he still has not been contacted by police.

“My only source is the key witness,” he says. “I wanted to speak with the police that night, but nobody came.”

The attack took place on Nov. 1.

In defence of he Fredericton police force, Const. Ralph Currie says that

police have not received news of a robbery on the street in over a month.

One home invasion was reported in the area over a month ago which is still under investigation.

“We’re always patrolling the area of course,” says Currie.

“Of course,” he notes, “there are more patrols on Graham Avenue than, say, Chandler Drive.”

Currie says that, statistically at least, Graham Avenue is in a good place. He says calls for both fires and loud parties are down as of late.

“There has been a vast improvement

in those areas, and I’m not crediting the police entirely, it’s cooperative.

I think they’re doing good stuff up there, (Councillor) Jordan Graham is doing a good job,” Currie says.

As a reminder to those who may not be satisfied with the efforts of police and the direction in which they point those efforts, Currie says that “incidents need to be reported in order to be dealt with.”

As far as the Nov. 1 attack, he says the case must still be under investigation if the victim has not heard any concrete news.

give us your feedback. 447.3388 or editor@thebruns.ca

news@thebruns.ca

Some residents wonder if Graham is safe

brunswickannews

Jan. 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142• 5

Bus pass referendum due in March FROM BUS PASS PAGE 1 has a universal bus pass option. Every student has a bus pass included in their student ID that is valid from September to August of the following year. O’Kane says that the St. Thomas bus passes were an additional $90 to tuition fees at the time of the original agreement three years ago.

O’Kane mentions that there appears to be a lot of interest from students in the opt-out plan. He also makes no guarantees to students that an opt-out plan will agree with Fredericton city transit.

“They are very hard-lined on their desire to have universal because to them, from a business perspective, that offers more guaranteed customers. For us, we don’t want to guarantee necessarily those who don’t want to purchase the service,” says O’Kane.

The UNB Student Union

stands firmly behind the idea of affordable, accessible postsecondary education, he says.

He also notes that adding a potential mandatory sum of money to student fees for a universal bus pass is somewhat counter-intuitive to this ideal, however he outlined a few reasons why the addition of a bus pass can benefit student finances.

He says that students with bus passes will be able to live further from the College Hill area in more affordable housing on bus routes, opening a more competitive market for living costs in the area. O’Kane also mentions that it will cut down on fuel consumption for students with vehicles if they choose not to bring them to campus.

“Directly,” he says, a bus pass “will cost more on your services.

Indirectly, it will open up some options for you to be more flexible with your finances in the long run.”

RESEARCH STUDIES VLT players are needed for UNB gambling research.

Monetary compensation ($50) will be provided for each of these 45 min. studies.

If interested, please call 447-3379.

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

UNBSU VP External Jon O’Kane explains the details of a bus pass referendum at last week’s UNBSU council meeting.

The referendum will take place during the week of March 22-27.

brunswickanopinion

Jan 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142 • 6

editor@thebruns.ca

Has our student council opened Pandora’s Box?

the brunswickan Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief • Josh O’Kane Managing • Tony von Richter News • Sarah Ratchford Arts • Doug Estey Sports • Mitchell Bernard Photo • Andrew Meade Copy • Dan Hagerman Production • Christian Hapgood Online • Dave Evans Staff Advertising Sales Rep • Bill Traer Delivery • Dan Gallagher Contributors Ashley Bursey, Chris Cameron, Alison Clack, Sarah Farquhar, Josh Fleck, Nick Howard, Brandon MacNeil, Colin McPail, Cameron Mitchell, Nick Ouellette, Hilary Paige Smith & Alex Wickwire.

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Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Renaissance College representative Matt Abbott made a motion at least week’s UNBSU student representative council meeting to condemn the destruction of academic infrastructure in Gaza, which does not directly fit within the SU’s mandate.

Rousing the Rabbles Nick Ouellette

And now for something completely different.

The UNB Student Union Council deserves our most irreverent accolades for its recent motion concerning the destruction of academic infrastructure in Gaza.

The motion’s sponsor was asked whether this was going beyond the bounds of the scope of the Union, but this did not deter him or the other supporters of the motion.

Although Renaissance College Councillor Matt Abbott readily admitted this was indeed going beyond what is “traditionally” the role of the Union, he argued away this concern by insisting that this relates to academic matters because universities were being destroyed in Gaza.

Shouldn’t we all strongly applaud this shift? It diverts the attention of your SU away from tangible results for UNB students, prioritizing instead the apparently pressing need to speak out against the destruction of academic institutions.

We apparently should not concern ourselves with the fact that the motion was presented originally as an expression of support of a UN Security Council resolution that has no bearing and makes no mention of universities, colleges, or anything else of an academic nature.

In fact, I now expect that our SU to issue edicts in the defence of academic institutions at risk all over the world.

As the SU expands its role to decrying the risks posed to universities, I expect to see motions on the Council

agenda concerning the Sri Lankan Civil War, the Kivu Conflict, the war in Afghanistan, the war in Darfur, the war in Iraq, the war in North-West Pakistan, and the Somali Civil War. As well, the SU should pass motions in support of academic institutions affected by fighting in Colombia, Uganda, Chechnya, Thailand, Niger, and Chad.

Don’t you agree?

Forget the fact that the SU is meant to advance the interests of UNB students right here who face their own extreme challenges. Forget the fact that the SU’s last efforts to rally students together to address rising levels of student debt produced fewer than 50 students and that it has some serious work to do.

Forget the fact that there are real concerns about the value of students in matters at UNB as simple as the functionality university’s new website and as broad as their role in university governance; UNB’s track record is not the greatest on that front. Forget also the rampant safety concerns and risks that our own university poses to students as it continues to suffer from crumbling buildings and infrastructure due to a lack of government funding.

Shouldn’t we all rest assured that our SU is properly representing us by spending its time passing resolutions supporting academic institutions in war zones?

Of course not, because the following is both salient and unforgettable.

These kinds of motions are completely outside the scope of the SU. They are also ineffective in achieving their arguably laudable goals.

Don’t get me wrong. War is pervasively devastating; it destroys societies, it ruins families, and it eliminates entire communities, including university communities.

That is as an abominable shame, and it must end. But that does not change the fact that last week’s motion was out of place.

What value does last week’s motion

hold in the hands of students?

None. As much as we might like to think otherwise, it will not bring government action in Canada, let alone in Israel or Gaza. It will not end destruction. As laudable as those goals are, it is the role of nations and communities to resolve these disputes. It is not the role of student unions.

Before I am criticized by somebody who insists something along the lines that “indifference is injustice’s incubator,” let me reiterate that although social and humanitarian issues such as the recent Gaza attacks are properly of concern to individuals, the forum for addressing these issues is not the SU. That the matter greatly affects and impacts on the students of UNB who might have family in the Middle East is also fails to justify the intervention of the SU. Does the effect that the abortion debate has on UNB students justify the intervention of the SU by taking one side over the other? No. The role of the UNB SU is simple and is set out in its enacting legislation. It is to promote events for students, to provide for the service needs of students, to act as their official representative on the UNB Fredericton campus, to create and maintain infrastructure for them, and to co-ordinate the activities of student organizations on campus.

It is not a humanitarian forum for imposing a single, unitary view on the students of UNB about different moral and social issues. Make no mistake about this: the motion on Gaza was presented with a view to insisting that UNB students take a side in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Anybody who doubts this can refer to the text of the motion as originally moved by Councillor Abbott, which obviously shows it as a thinly veiled attempt to side with the interests of Palestine over Israel. This is as unfair to students as it is a poor representation of them.

Should Council pass motions and

plan activities concerning the conflict in the Middle East that fall in line with the its stated purposes, so much the better. Tangibly, the SU might have considered offering funding the local student groups attempting to promote and debate the cause or to organize a campus forum on the issue. However, this was not what was done. The time the SU Council spent debating this motion could have been better spent in bringing about real results for UNB students.

I can only hope that last week’s motion has not opened a Pandora’s Box for every social concern that arises on a whim in the minds of Councillors. Unfortunately, I am disheartened by the appearance of a motion concerning recruitment efforts by Lockheed Martin on the agenda for the Council meeting of Monday, Jan. 19. Going down this apparent slippery slope will not help UNB students.

Before going any further with these motions, I implore Councillors to take a step back and consider what they are doing. The simple adoption of motions supporting social and humanitarian concerns will not achieve results halfway around the globe. It only diverts the attention of the Council away from problems it actually has some ability to help resolve.

Councillors who voted yes last week should not feel a sense of accomplishment that might arise when taking a stand on a personally held belief, because the reality is last week’s motion failed. It put Councillors’ own beliefs ahead of the interests of students, leaving them in a trail of dust.

Nick Ouellette is a third year law student who has served on the UNB Board of Governors, the Student Union Council, and other university and student bodies. He is currently completing his second term as a UNB Senator for Fredericton and is the Don of Neville/Jones House, one of UNB’s residences.

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brunswickanopinion

Jan, 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142 • 7

letters to the editor.

Slash Fees Forum to aim at tackling student debt Dear Editor,

Set your watches, and mark your calendars: Jan. 21 is going to be a date to remember. Why is that, you may ask?

Well, while you would be right to point out that Jan. 21 is Squirrel Appreciation Day, this particular Jan. 21 will also be the day that Canadian students will have accumulated a total of $13 billion in student debt.

Though the amount is understandably shocking, a closer look at the state of federal and provincial post-secondary funding over the past few decades reveals the source of this staggering debt. Be it the massive cuts to federal post-secondary funding that occurred in the early 1990s, or be it the mismanagement of Millennium Scholarship grants in provinces like Nova Scotia – mismanagement that resulted in what should have been student grant money being directed towards various non-student spending initiatives: these cuts and questionable tactics forced the average Canadian student to have to make up the difference on their own.

For, with the average university in Canada now relying on student tuitions to make up 30 per cent of their operating costs (a percentage that has more than doubled since 1985 when student tuitions were only required to account for 14 per cent of these costs), is it any wonder that the average Canadian student will leave university with $25,000 in debt? What is more though is that – with the average New Brunswick student leaving university with $34,000 in debt – students in this province are reported as having the second highest level of student debt in the entire country!

Now, while statistics and numbers may all be fine and dandy, one question still remains unanswered, “What can be done about it?”

Canadian students have banded together to fight high tuition and staggering levels of student debt in the past: take Quebec’s 2005 student strike or the tuition freeze that has been in place in Newfoundland and Labrador since 1999, for instance. So, what can be done here in New Brunswick?

To find out what you can do to help tackle the skyrocketing levels of student debt in New Brunswick and beyond, come out to the upcoming Slash Fees Forum. Held by the newly-formed Coalition for Accessible and Affordable Education – a group of concerned students and citizens who have had enough with the high cost of education – the Slash Fees Forum will be held on Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. in Tilley Hall Room 303 (on the UNB campus). Help fight the $13 billion!

Sincerely, Craig Mazerolle Coalition for Accessible and Affordable Education

Stop using SU to push political and ideological agendas Dear Editor,

Why am I forced to join and pay fees to a Union that spends its time debating issues completely irrelevant to endemic student concerns? That is a question you should be asking yourself. Apparently, rising tuition costs, large numbers of students living well below the poverty line and the low availability of student-centred employment play second fiddle in our Student Union. By recently accepting a motion expressing concern over the destruction in Gaza, the Student Union has shown it is more interested in passing thinly veiled political statements than in addressing the most pressing student concerns. Rather than passing motions related to the above and lobbying the Provincial and Federal governments to address such critical problems, Student Union Councillors feel it is far more important to express their opinions on topical world issues.

Well, actually, it’s OUR opinion, too.

After all, the Union represents all UNB students automatically. Still worse, is that we’re paying an $89 Union fee to hear our collective opinion on issues that individual members feel are important, whether or not we agree with their assessment or even care. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very interested in and concerned about domestic and world issues; however, I don’t need my Student Union telling me what I think. I’m quite capable of free-thought and like to reserve my own opinion, but thanks for asking; wait a minute, you didn’t.

Maybe I’m being a little unfair in implicating the entire Student Union.

There seems to be a number rational voices on board being taken for a ride by a few bad apples. The SU President, Bethany Vail, hit the nail on the head when she stated that the recent motion was not in line with the purpose of the Student Union. Matt Abbott, the member who drafted the Gaza motion, countered that it is the duty of the Student Union to “not allow academic institutions to be destroyed in any given conflict.” Right, so, you’re going to use my $89 to fund a paramilitary force mandated to defend international academic institutions? Give me a break.

Nowhere in the Vision and Mission Statement does it indicate the Union is to be used for any purpose other than in protecting and promoting student rights. I’m not sure how Matt Abbott interpreted that as a worldwide mandate, but here we are. Matt, if you’re that concerned about an issue, join a local social justice group or, if you absolutely insist on using student fees, start a Student Society centred on that particular issue.

Stop using the Student Union as a vehicle to push a political or ideological agenda, stop telling me what I think, stop wasting UNB students’ time and money and please START addressing actual local and domestic student concerns.

Jay Williamson

letters to the editor due by friday at 5 p.m. maximum 400 words, please.

BA does not stand for ‘barely anything’ Sincerely, Sarah May Sarah Farquhar

First term has come and gone, and we’ve all passed.

Well, hopefully you have, or maybe you’ve just snuck into McConnell hall and are hiding your face behind this paper. Seriously, the Jello pie and raisin pizza are not worth it.

As this is my first column, I suppose there are some introductions in order. My name is Sarah May Beth Farquhar. No, I am not related to Lord

Farquaad and I did not prosecute all fairy tale creatures. I’m in my first year at UNB, and I live in the one and only Joy Kidd House.

I come from a very small area called the Scotch Colony, near PerthAndover. Everyone there has a greatgrandfather or grandmother who came from Scotland. Consequentially, I do a lot of Scottishy things: stepdancing, fiddling, etc. You can laugh if you want, but I’d kick ass if there were such a thing as So You Think You Can Square Dance? Man, I would own that show.

But enough about my skilled ways.

This column may not have a clear and concise thesis, MLA formatting, footnotes, or even a draft copy stapled to it, but I hereby solemnly swear it will be just as fun to read as your ex’s Facebook page.

What I’d really like to bring to your attention this week are the prejudiced and often hurtful conclusions we all

jump to when someone mentions they are in the Arts program. I’m so sick of people thinking all you need is the IQ of a banana to get a BA. People seem to think arts courses are nothing more than watching movies and painting. An Arts degree takes dedication and work.

I think there would be a lot more understanding around campus if everyone would stop associating computer science with “genius” and arts with “lazy”. If you think you can just sleep your way through English and get an A, I’d really like to see you write an essay for my professor.

If you think philosophy doesn’t matter, I hope you know how thoroughly screwed Science would have ended up without it. Galileo, Descartes, Aristotle – all philosophers.

If they hadn’t been curious about the beauty around us, we wouldn’t know about the heliocentric universe or most aspects of calculus. The

importance of Arts is really often just overlooked. I remember an exercise my little sister did in grade school involved ranking the importance of jobs. The entire class voted doctors as the most important with writers making the bottom of the list.

This makes me angry for two reasons. One, nobody messes with J.K. Rowling and two, writers are responsible for more than just Twilight and Peter Rabbit. Artists, such as writers, have the power to influence whomever they please.

Karl Marx caused a revolution with his communist writing. Dan Brown single-handedly made Christians all over North-America start to question their beliefs after reading The Da Vinci Code. John Lennon’s assassin, Mark Chapman, was found with The Catcher in the Rye in his pocket.

Books can inspire, they can teach, and they can cause wars. I’d say Arts deserves a little respect.

the brunswickan went tabloid. what do you think? editor@thebruns.ca

brunswickanopinion

8 • Jan. 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142

brunswickanopinion

Jan, 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142 • 9

A need for innovation, not prorogation Student Beat Jon O’Kane On Dec. 4, 2008, the Governor General prorogued the 40th session of Parliament, to resume on Jan. 26, 2009.

Through the month of suspension, I hope our government has crafted an economic plan that will put forward innovative strategies to address our struggling nation. I cannot help but ask, though: was the prorogation necessary or merely the byproduct of several officials misjudging their reach of power?

Prior to our (arguably unnecessary) federal election in October, the national Liberal party was in critical condition – underfunded, possessing controversial policies, and under questionable leadership. Stéphane Dion, a man who openly believed he was destined to be Prime Minister, was the face of the opposition.

Stephen Harper and the Conservative government were in a favorable political position. Despite being a minority, the understanding that the largest opposition parties were ill-prepared to campaign allowed Harper’s government to successfully avoid having their

minority toppled as they effectively governed and evaded non-confidence.

With their security bolstering, this government pressed forward as the Liberal party launched a “green shift” initiative. Policies regarding carbon taxes began entering the political dialogue.

The enthusiasm and support of the Liberal party was growing (or rather, this is what the Liberals believed) under the clouded helm of Dion, who still aspired for Canada’s highest office.

As the months unfolded, the Liberals, self-assuring they were gaining momentum, began to finally challenge the Conservative minority and a vote of non-confidence became a reality. But the Liberals were not alone in believing in their growth. The Conservative team was also secure in their ability to succeed in another election, and with large enough numbers to form a majority.

Was either side right? Would the opposition challenge the government in a vote of non-confidence? Ideally, these parties could co-operate better to produce policies and bills more focused on the majority of Canadian thought, not the sometimes stark lines drawn by party politics. But that would be too easy and not as fun for our politicians.

Cue the Queen.

Stephen Harper met with Governor General Michaëlle Jean, the representation of our favourite monarch.

Her role is to represent the interests of Canadians without party prejudice or partiality. As the opposition pressed

forward, with the Conservatives firmly believing they could form a majority, an election was called for October.

Our elected officials were wrong.

The Liberals gained nothing, losing seats across Canada. The Conservatives, who had been pushing the limits of the opposition with bills, had gained seats but could not form a majority.

It seemed Dion would become only the second Liberal leader in Canadian history to not become Prime Minister.

His stubborn dreams were broken. He stepped down as leader, but in a strange circumstance, declared he would remain in the position until the new leader was chosen in May. Then the economy plummeted.

With jobs being lost across the world, financial markets weakening to the lowest in decades, and the economic forecasts looking weak, it became imminent that our government act to salvage our battered economy. The Conservative government, being accustomed to an accommodating opposition from months past, put forward an economic package that would change the way we look at Ottawa.

This economic package proposed severing funding for political parties which attain money per vote to continue to campaign. This motion, if passed, would capsize small parties who rely on these measures. The NDP, Green, and even the Liberal party would be nearly unable to run candidates in another election. The Conservative

Mugwump Tony von Richter

From the time that I sit here writing this piece to the time that you read it on Wednesday, the entire world will have changed. Well, that’s what’s supposed to happen, I’m not so sure that it’s true though.

The day before this issue comes out, Barack Obama is scheduled to be inaugurated as the forty-fourth President of the United States of America, and there probably hasn’t been a President with as much hype since Washington.

Obama was elected on a mandate of change, and after eight years of Bush and Cheney, a large part of the world was not only ready for but also clamoring for a different direction, hence Obama’s sweeping popularity.

With his popularity Obama has become a figure many have likened to John F. Kennedy in that he’s moved from simple politician to pop culture icon, one that has attracted the attention of not only his constituents in the United States but people all over the world.

This popularity, combined with Bush’s record-low approval rating, provides the perfect storm for Obama and the Democratic Party: a popular candidate campaigning on a promise of change with a public demanding that very thing. Obama now has the opportunity

with Stephen Harper, prorogued parliament to allow for time for the government to react. This was the decision warranted to be in the best interests of Canadians. Since then, parliament has not sat and passed the bills that will shape and drive our nation.

Ignatieff now leads the Liberals, the official opposition, and the potential coalition, but the conditions have not changed. When Parliament sits on Jan. 26 and the new Conservative economic “stimulus package” is released, the minority government will likely have succumbed to the issues that frustrated the oppositions.

The coalition will not challenge this given it will be tailored to many of their concerns. The motion will pass and it will reflect the needs we faced months ago. The tragedy of the Canadian democratic system is that our party politics arrived at this common solution through months of dramatic twists and compromises instead of initially striving for this solution.

Innovation in policy drives a successful government of which I can be proud.

Prorogation hinders success and puts our parties months behind the progress each citizen is relying on.

At least it’s not as expensive as an election.

Jon O’Kane is VP External of the UNB Student Union. Student Beat is a weekly column by UNB’s leaders examining issues pertinent to students.

The old man rant

A world on the verge of change to implement real change in the policy of the United States government.

As great an opportunity as Obama’s popularity provides him it also could become a burden that drags him and his administration down.

Since Obama campaigned on the idea of “change we can believe in,” what happens when things don’t start changing fast enough? Foreign and administrative policy don’t change overnight and I don’t think that Obama has some miracle quick-fix solution for the economic crisis. Some people might become disillusioned with Obama if things don’t turn around fast enough.

This might seem somewhat absurd right now, as Obama is probably the most talked-about politician in history and one of the most popular figures on the planet – but if he fails to live up to the amazingly high expectations his popularity could fall almost as fast as it rose.

We shouldn’t forget that Bush holds the distinction of not only being the lowest-rated President in history, but also the highest as 90 per cent of American’s approved of his job performance in the days following Sept. 11, 2001.

I don’t think this will happen, and I think that Obama will be able to achieve the change that he promised. People need to have realistic expectations for what he can achieve and how quickly he can achieve it.

Change doesn’t happen easily or overnight. It doesn’t happen here at UNB and it won’t happen for Obama.

Change is possible though; we just need to be realistic about how quickly it will happen.

Tony von Richter is Managing Editor of The Brunswickan. Feel free to email him at managing@unb.ca.

party, however, would be comfortable financially and still capable of winning office.

Personalities, and the obstinate struggle to seize power again, began to dominate parliamentary interests instead of improving the quality of Canadian lives. Dion suddenly had a rare opportunity to again fulfill his dream of being Prime Minister.

A perfectly constitutional option in a minority government situation is for opposition parties to form a coalition that can claim to bring confidence to Parliament. Opposition parties met, aligned themselves, and shared calculated “experts” to devise a stronger economic package.

Again, the opposition parties overestimated their reach due to the Conservative government taking advantage of a fragile position of power. Driven in part by Dion’s political aspirations, our parliament was storming with accusation of democratic infringements and legitimacy of governance.

I, personally, would have hoped for a more honourable path. Our newly elected government should govern, taking into account the diverse needs of our citizens. Our recently less powerful opposition should represent the interests of their constituents primarily, and not concern themselves with the designation of authority.

Again, cue the Queen.

The Governor General, after meeting

an satire by Dave Evans

T

.echnology. For most people it’s an absolute necessity, but for me it’s the bane of my existence. I don’t even trust computers enough to write this column with; that’s why I have my secretary do it for me. She works the letter-board device while I spew out pearls of wisdom. But I digress.

Modern technology has become so integral to peoples’ lives that I’d like to see what would happen if we suddenly lost it.

What happens if a big war or plague breaks out and all of the scientists and engineers are killed off? It’d be back to the dark ages: people living in hovels, combing the hillsides for good dirt piles and I’d likely have to put on some effeminate tights, grab a bow and fight corrupt sheriffs. What would all the young’uns do without their Segas and Ataris or whatever the hell they play? Not to mention all of the modern day conveniences that have robbed people of basic motor skills and their dignity.

Want a good example? Automated washrooms. I walked into this washroom at a restaurant the other day, and you’d better bet I was plenty pissed off. The toilet paper, the sinks, the paper towel dispenser, the toilet and so forth – everything was run by little blinking lights. Or magic. How the hell do I know? Let’s say that I’m on the john and I’m reaching for toilet paper when suddenly the power goes out. What the hell do I do? I can’t finish my business in the stall, can’t wash my hands and will likely go back to the dinner date with my secretary smelling of something less than roses. Oh dear readers, I can see this going even farther. Most people will get so lazy from relying on technology, that they’ll get really fat and have to hire fit humans to roll them around in a red wagon. Luckily for me, I have the physique of a Greek god, so if anyone wants me to roll them around they’d better be prepared to pay me big monies. Well, I’ve gone on such a tangent I don’t even remember what I’m talking about anymore. So, until next week, think about how much you love me. That is all.

Dave Evans is the Online Editor of the Brunswickan. Tell him what you hate at online@thebruns.ca.

brunswickan

10 • Jan. 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142

SU ad

brunswickanopinion

The art of serious time wasting The Opinionator Nick Howard

This second section in the two-part series The Art of Time Wasting is for those more resolute with their time usage. There is much on offer for the serious time waster in Fredericton.

Forget TV, books and movies.

Forget music, food and coffee. This is an introduction to the renaissance of time wasting, a back-to-basics approach: a purist’s wet dream. Quiet and a brain are all that is required for this particular brand of time wasting.

Fredericton boasts a large, beautiful cathedral, especially during the summer when the expanse of stone is surrounded by green lawn and offers a view of the river. The inside offers less expansive views, but has the bonus of heat – perfect during Fredericton’s horrendously cold winters.

I consider myself neither Christian nor religious, but it is clear to me that the appreciation of such a place requires neither classification. It stands silent during most weekdays, and is pleasingly gloomy on the inside. The quiet is almost perfect during the winter, making it a place where thoughts can roam unimpeded by interruptions from reality.

Like every church the pews are less comfortable than anything I have ever sat in (I dare you to find a comfortable pew), but this only serves as a starting point for thought and prevents sagging eyelids from losing all rigidity.

The few paintings on the wall aren’t terribly stimulating, but many of the walls offer interesting designs.

My favourite part of visiting the cathedral is simply standing beside a bishop’s tomb near the front, sculpted in his apparently dwarfish likeness, and creating elaborate zombie stories usually involving pope-zombies.

Various questions of the life-altering variety have come to me when sitting in cavernous old churches, and though they are rarely of a religious flavour, I do not deny the power of the space.

Within eyeshot of the cathedral is the New Brunswick Provincial Art Gallery and like everything else in Fredericton it is named after the city’s late promiscuous benefactor, Lord Beaverbrook. It contains many pieces of incredible art, mostly in its permanent collection. The temporary exhibits are usually on the weirder side, featuring giant bugs or miniature aliens.

More than art, the building provides a silent, warm retreat from the busyness of everything outside.

The lack of comfortable seating means meandering is a must and once each piece has been seen twice (an act of only a couple hours) the exhibits simply provide the beginning for long and winding trails of thought. Or you can choose one piece, as I so often do, and simply stare.

The purist’s time-wasting is an act of meditation. It requires no real setup, only quiet. It is relaxation and peace; it is time for the mind to unravel all of its tangled lines twisted by the forced thinking of the classroom.

Whether answers come or not is of

no significance to the serious time waster; the passage of time is simply a comfort.

There is much to explore around us, even in a small city like Fredericton, and it seems a waste not to take advantage of the time we have with it. What better way to get to know our space than to explore it on our own terms, in the setting of our own minds.

Quiet places inspire thought and drag us away from the ultimate mundane nature of daily life. So grab a coffee or tea, a burger or schnitzel, a pew or armchair and create the things around you. Answer the questions that have been waiting and familiarize yourself with the passage of time.

Nick Howard can be reached at nphoward@gmail.com.

Jan, 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142 • 11

Comics!

iewpoint V

brunswickanopinion

12 • Jan. 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142

the brunswickan.

Question: Do you think motions about international affairs are within the UNB Student Union’s mandate?

“Yes, we should support students. We would want it if it happened here.”

Alissa O’Rourke

“For a university to use its influence on international affairs won’t phase goverments.”

Andrew Fairweather

“Yes, students’ voices matter.”

Asif Saleem

“Yes, we are citizens of the world. If it happened here we would wish people gave a fuck.”

Brendan Leeyung

“Yes, I think world issues are important.”

Emily Chase

“Yes. There are a lot of international students here.”

Fatima Vayani

“Yes, if they can help.”

Joseph “le petit JD” Doran

“No, I think they should deal with local matters first.”

Lauren McLaughlin

“Yes, if it affects students here.”

Robert George

“Yes, because worldwide focus is a good thing.”

Spencer Schmidt

b

brunswickanarts arts@thebruns.ca

Jan. 21 , 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142 •13

The Capital reels in east coast all-stars Alison Clack The Brunswickan

Fredericton’s Capital Complex will be serving up some Maritime-based fun next month.

Halifax Pop Explosion and Molson Rocks the Coast presents a night that most won’t want to miss.

The show, on Feb. 10, will feature three talented East Coast groups: Boxer the Horse, Dog Day, and In-Flight Safety.

The show will come on the heels of In-Flight Safety’s CD release for We Are An Empire, My Dear. The album will be released across Canada on Jan. 27.

Vocalist and guitarist for In-Flight Safety, John Mullane, says the band’s sound has evolved on this album.

“It’s quite different from The Coast is Clear. I hate to bias people, but it’s not as layered and subtle as the last record.

The new record has more backbone and is a little bit more immediate,” says Mullane.

The show will predominately feature the new album’s songs, but old-fan favourites will be included too.

In-Flight Safety is no stranger to Fredericton; the band was formed in nearby Sackville, N.B. “The band started at Mt. Allison. A bunch of us, who were more interested in music than we were in school, bonded together over our love for the same bands,” says Mullane.

“We started playing music together and found that we were on to something.

So, we sort of scrapped our intellectual and academic pursuits in favour of playing music together. We continued [playing music] outside of school and have been impoverished ever since – but very happy!”

The opening acts shouldn’t be overlooked, however – Dog Day and Boxer the Horse have their own impressive material to showcase.

Submitted

In-Flight Safety is based in Halifax, N.S. and is comprised of members from across the Atlantic provinces as well as Quebec. Along with heart-warming Dog Day and up-and-coming Boxer the Horse, they will appear in Fredericton at The Capital on Feb. 10.

Dog Day are like the indie Fleetwood Mac of Halifax – only without the divorces and the ever-changing band line-up. The band, which is made up of two couples, has been making music together since 2005.

The band has taken an interesting leap into fame since their first EP. That EP, which was originally released by creator Seth Smith on some homemade CD-Rs, was picked up by local radio stations where it gained popularity.

Eventually, CBC Radio Three picked up the CD and invited the band to play a full concert on air.

Boxer the Horse is a band of universityaged guys from Charlottetown. The band has been to Fredericton before – particularly last year at the ECMAs where they were showcased.

Like Dog Day, Boxer the Horse started off as a small project that quickly grew much larger. When they released their first EP – a short, five song demo – the 50 pressings were quickly sold out.

The young the band’s sound recalls some of the classic rock greats – updated with upbeat indie pop. They have been compared to music scene veterans like The Strokes, The Kinks, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

The diversity of sounds and talent should have a lot of people looking forward to coming out to the show.

But it’s not just the audience that is – or should be – looking forward to the show. Mullane says he’s looking forward to what the show might bring.

In-Flight Safety says that nights playing at the Capital always bring some

sort of craziness.

“In the winter I remember huge dude fights outside and ambulances pulling up blocking the place and we couldn’t get out. We’d be driving over snow banks to get out and get to the hotel,” says Mullane.

“At the Capital it’s always a funny show. People will try and get on stage I remember one time we were playing a really great show – it was a really great time – and towards the end of our set some girl kept trying to sit with Dan (Ledwell) at his keyboard – she wanted to play really bad. I remember Dan looking over at me at one point and being like, ‘John, this show is over. This show is done.’ She was still sitting there when we were like, ‘thank you very much!’

“That’s always been one of the funny

stories for sure. She split beer all over his piano. It was the funniest thing ever. It’s the kind of think we’ve grown accustomed to at the Capital - it’s always a lot of fun,” laughs Mullane.

He says In-Flight Safety will try to be good sports if more antics happen at this show.

“We enjoy that kind of stuff. When we were younger we were a little more uptight about that kind of stuff but now it’s exciting. You never know what’s going to happen,” says Mullane.

Halifax Pop Explosion is a music event that is hosted every autumn, two weeks after Thanksgiving, in Halifax.

In addition to this festival, the event organization promotes various other independent arts, music, and popculture events in the Maritimes.

Supporting women in a different way Alison Clack The Brunswickan The Playhouse put on a show that was a little different this past weekend.

This past Friday and Saturday, the venue presented The Vagina Monologues – or the “Vajayjay monologues” as some Oprah fans may know them.

For those who have never heard of the play, it has now become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon. It isn’t exactly what the title suggests – no one should expect to see actors dressed up as genitals and reading monologues. The play is more about empowering women and encouraging them to be proud of their sexuality.

The playwright, Eve Ensler,

interviewed about two hundred different women, of all ages and backgrounds, and asked them to tell stories about their sexuality and struggles with it. The monologues range from everything: birth, menstruation, love, and sex.

Now, this might lead some people to think that the play would be a super, bra-burning feminist fest; however, the play is nowhere near that level.

Most of the monologues were actually quite funny. One of them went on to discuss all of the different names given to the vagina and how the actual word itself sounds like a disease. Others discussed the various different ways a woman would moan, or the reclamation of the word ‘cunt.’

However, not all of the monologues were likely to appeal to a university-aged audience. A monologue about a woman watching her granddaughter being born was more off-putting to younger

audience members than to most of the middle-aged mothers in the audience.

The Vagina Monologues are the sort of play that a woman (or a man, if he wants to) could see again years down the road and appreciate it in a different way.

The monologues – despite their many humorous aspects – weren’t all about fun and games. A number of the monologues highlighted the issues of abuse and injustices against women around the world.

These monologues with stories about women being raped by soldiers in the Middle East and husbands throwing acid on their wives were incredibly sobering between the humorous monologues.

One of the monologues is a recount of Eve Ensler’s interview with a young African girl who had been brutally raped and permanently injured.

It is these deeper monologues that

are the heart and soul of the play. After a few years of having put on the play (which was first performed in 1996), playwright Eve Ensler created V-Day, an organization that attempts to raise awareness and stop violence against women.

V-Day uses Valentines Day to raise awareness of violence against women.

The group’s mission is to “see a world where women live safely and freely.”

This cause also links back to the cause that the weekend’s shows were supporting.

A number of the proceeds from these performances were donated to Women in Transition House, Inc. The Transition House is a non-profit organization which, for nearly 30 years, has been providing free shelter for women and children who have been abused. It provides spaces for about 200 women and children each

year.

Fundraisers like this past weekend’s production of the Vagina Monologues are crucial to the continuing operation of Women in Transition House Inc. Fundraisers account for 40 per cent of their operating costs.

For those who missed the performances at the Playhouse there will be a one-night performance on Feb. 13 at UNB to support the V-Day Campaign. The monologues will be presented in Tilley 102 from 8 to 11 p.m. Tickets will cost a minimum of a $7 donation for students and $10 donation for general admission.

Proceeds from this performance will be donated to two causes. Ninety per cent of the donations will go to Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Center.

The remaining money will be donated to a global cause that will benefit women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

brunswickan story meetings. wednesdays. 12:30. SUB room 35. check it.

brunswickanarts

14 • Jan. 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142

Emo rock experimentation gone awry Doug Estey The Brunswickan

Fall Out Boy has decided to print the track titles backwards fort heir new album, Folie à Deux. Well, the joke’s on them, because I don’t have time to hold the CD up in the mirror and decipher them while I’m taking a new profile picture for MySpace.

Likewise, I won’t be referencing the tracks by their names, but instead by the order in which they appear on the record.

From the bottom of my heart, I can tell you that the three opening tracks on this record don’t have much to say for themselves. If you know Fall Out Boy, you know what the start of the album sounds like. Track two is perhaps worth noting – it sports a kind of fancy, elegant feel to it – except it’s Fall Out Boy. So maybe a little less elegant and a bit more dramatic. The band is pulling a lot of the usual punches here, but they fail to come up with any memorable hooks.

Track four is a slow-moving ballad with some finally noticeable guitar work, as opposed to the monotonously blended power chords in the opening three tracks. So, as much as it dragged on, I enjoyed some of the variety that it introduced.

This is followed by a song that features harder instrumentation reminiscent of numetal blended with Panic At The Disco, changed up by some odd synth

and piano melodies thrown in between.

As odd as it sounds when it’s all brought together, it almost comes off as catchy before the song slows down again and falls back into synth and piano. The ending, though brief, is an epic blend of guitar finger work with over-the-top pop vocals you’ve come to expect from this band.

Six is full of fun, clever guitar hooks bathed in falsettos and harmony-driven choruses. Not a bad effort here, and certainly more memorable than its predecessors.

The trend continues into the next track, full of fast synth and guitar driven hooks: “We will never believe in anything again.” Strong vocal performance is apparent here by Patrick Stump, perhaps his defining moment of the album. Still, some of the lyrics feel stale and recycled from the large pool of MTV’s top 40: “Throw your hands up in the air / wave them like you just don’t care.”

Eight feels like credit-scrolling music for movie. It’s slow, with lots of violin that builds up to a loud, swinging chorus. Interestingly, it incorporates some elements from each of the previous tracks, something that throws one back to the finale of Cartel’s 2005 self-titled release (remember Q and A?). Sadly, this track is highly overproduced; even more so than its siblings. For some reason, Elvis Costello even makes an appearance.

Something has definitely shifted by track nine. Is that a key change? I think so, and definitely a more ethereal feel.

Around 2:20 we get a real treat (to my ears at least): a short but sweet metal guitar solo in full harmonics, slightly out of character for this four-man ensemble.

Then comes the next track. I don’t

Internet

Fall Out Boy’s latest, Folie a Deux, won’t disappoint the band’s dedicated following. The band’s efforts at experimenting, however, have left something to be desired. know what the hell this shit is, but at this point the record has taken a turn for the worse. Odd vocal switch-ups by Stump and the rest of the boys left me scratching my head.

As did the rest of the album.

Imagine a keyboard driving a train.

Then imagine that train driving off

a cliff. Just as the train is in midair, hurtling towards the ground at a gutwrenching pace, you can hear the sound of horns playing off in the distance. Such is track 12.

Overall, this record just spent far too much time in post-production.

Ironically, it arrives less than two years

out of the gate behind Infinity on High, which took significantly more time to produce. I’m not sure where some parts of it went wrong, but it isn’t all bad. The average Fall Out Boy fan will find plenty of their favourite things here.

As for me, well, I didn’t get much out of it.

this week in brunswickanarts

Cape Breton announced as host of 2010 ECMAs Those unable to attend this year’s ECMAs in Newfoundland might be pleased to know that the East Coast Music Association has confirmed its awards and festival for Cape Breton in 2010, making it slightly more accessible to both artists and the general public.

Theatre UNB Presents Carthaginians by Frank McGuinness, Jan. 28-31 Inspired by the infamous Ireland “Bloody Sunday” shootings of Jan. 30, 1972, Theatre UNB presents Frank McGuinness’ Carthaginians at Memorial Hall from Jan. 28-31. For more information, visit Room 24 in the same building.

Wintersleep with Plants and Animals One of the east coast’s favourite indie outfits, Wintersleep, will appear at the cafeteria in the Student Union Building this Thursday, Jan. 22, at 8 p.m.

Special guest is Montreal-based Plants and Animals. Tickets are $25 in advance and can be purchased at Read’s newsstand or online at http://www.sonicconcerts.com/wintersleep.html.

The relaxing acoustic experience The Playhouse will be home to three classical guitarists from Montreal that have dubbed themselves Montreal Guitar Trio on Friday, Jan. 23. Curtain is at 8 pm and tickets are $18 for students. As always, tickets are available at The Playhouse box office or by calling (506) 458-8344.

Get your game on: COMUNICON Game Festival COMUNICON has announced its main annual event, the COMUNICON Gaming Festival, to take place in Gillin Hall C122 from January 2425. Some of the games and events featured include: - Collectable Card Games (sanctioned Magic The Gathering Type II and Sealed Deck) - Strategy Games (Settlers of Catan) - Role-Playing Games (D&D, GURPS) - Miniatures Games (D&D minis, Warhammer, Battletech) - Card Games (Munchkin, 3 Dragon Anté, Chez Goth) - Movies - new and old and some fan favourites - Displays by the Maritime Modelers - Pundown competition If interested, please contact COMUNICON at brianjm@nbnet.nb.ca.

Photos: (Left) Magic: The Gathering is a featured games at the COMUNICON Games Festival.

Internet. (Right) East coast favourite Wintersleep is hitting the sub this Thurday. Submitted.

brunswickanarts

Hagerman’s haggard horoscopes

Aries (March21st - April 19th)

You will be feeling beardier than usual this week, dear Aries, particularly if you are female and have never actually had a beard before. Thankfully, it will look badass and keep you warm during the bitterly cold winter months! Your lucky change is any.

Taurus (April 20th - May 20th)

You will find a new hobby this week with falconry, dear Taurus. You will train a falcon to swoop down and peck at your enemies and hand in your homework assignments. You will become the scourge of the university. Your lucky skin type is gaunt.

Gemini (May 21st - June 21st)

Getting ready to study for exams will leave you running on empty this week, dear Gemini. To keep yourself going, eat a lot of coffee beans and boiling water, and jump up and down just like Mr. Bean.

Your lucky jeans have holes.

Cancer (June 22nd- July 22nd)

All of this extra studying and shivering will leave you feeling extra tired this week, dear Cancer.

Getting exercise, eating correctly, and getting into knife fights will get your energy flowing again!

Your lucky trash can has a shiny lid.

Leo (July 23rd - August 22nd)

You will feel a surge of confidence this week, dear Leo. Your straggly beard and and general unkempt appearance will suddenly become the new chic! Zoolander was right, after all! Your lucky moustache is extremely scruffy.

Virgo (August 23rd - September 22nd)

Don’t let people judge a book by its cover this week, dear Virgo. Though you may look like you’ve seen better times, you are in fact having some of the best times of your life, as not shaving and getting minimal sleep is the result of you partying all the time. Your lucky time of the morning is 2 a.m.

Libra (September 23rd - October 23rd)

People may criticize you for your well-worn “old man sweaters” this week, dear Libra. To avoid this: take a pair of scissors (or just pull really hard if scissors are not available) and turn your old man sweater into an old man sweater vest! You will now be happenin’ as well as worn out-looking, just like a movie star! Your lucky vitamins are multi.

Scorpio (October 24th - November 22nd)

Studying for exams will have an awesome side effect this week, dear Scorpio. You will stay up so late that your eyes will become permanently red and you will be able to see in the dark. You will have gigantic bags under your eyes, but think of all the things you can now do in the dark!

Everything! Your lucky Christian Bale movie is The Machinist.

Sagittarius (November 23rd - December 21st)

You may need to patch the elbows of your jacket this week, dear Sagittarius. Instead of the usual leather or flannel patches, use laminated copies of your notes or previous exams. It’s not plagiarism or cheating if it’s a fashion statement! Seriously! Your lucky drink of choice is meal replacement fluids.

Capricorn (December 22nd - January 20th)

Not showering for days on end will be more advantageous than usual this week, dear Capricorn.

The layer of grime will protect you from the Sun’s evil rays, making you invincible! Use your powers wisely. Your lucky coins are not shiny at all.

Aquarius (January 21st - February 18th)

Your eyebrows will grow thicker than usual this week, dear Aquarius. Also, they will be made out of steel wool. You’ll be shiny and functional! Your lucky user of duct tape is Red Green.

Pisces (February 19th - March 20th)

Lots of hardcore exercise will leave you in great shape but exhausted this week, dear Pisces. The secret government splinter group chasing you will make sure of it. Your lucky garbage cans are overflowing.

arts@thebruns.ca

Jan. 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142 • 15

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brunswickanarts

16 • Jan. 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142

Friday Night Live hits the SUB

Psychological adventuring

Simon Leslie / Special to the Brunswickan

want to volunteer? drop by SUB room 35 and we’ll get you started.

Tim Chiasson and Morning Fold perform at Friday Night Live last weekend at the SUB. The event was put on by Drink Smart, the Student Union program to promote responsible consumption of alcohol.

Screenshots

If you’re looking for a throwback from modern first-person shooters into something a lot more psychologically interfering, search no further. than 1995’s I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream.

The Final Score Dan Hagerman

Games rated as ‘Mature’ by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board are rarely deserving of their status.

Admittedly, many of these games have lots of cussin’ and, on occasion, enough blood to make Eli Roth feel mildly uncomfortable. These games and the stories associated with them are quite often designed to appeal to the masses, with no intent on providing anything more than mindless entertainment.

And from time to time, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

But if you are looking for something that involves a little bit more mental exertion, something that doesn’t just have “mature” violence or profanity but rather mature ideas, look no further than Harlan Ellison’s I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream.

Released in 1995 for the personal computer and based off of Ellison’s 1967 short story of the same name, I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream is an adventure game along the same lines of The Secret of Monkey Island or Full Throttle. What differentiates this game from the majority of its contemporaries is its seriousness of tone and its grounding theme of psychological trauma.

The game is set in the future, where an insane supercomputer called AM has killed all human life on earth save for five people, and has cruelly kept them alive and tortured them for 109 years. The game begins with a sinister narration of AM’s disdain for all humankind, and provides an introduction to each character.

From there, you can pick the character of your choice and have them teleported to their own personal hell.

Each of the characters has one – or several – psychological problems that AM models onto their environment, forcing them to live through their worst

fears and experiences. Unlike the last 109 years, these tortured characters seem to be overcoming their past and their fears. How and why this occurs slowly becomes clear over the course of the game.

In addition to the usual point-andclick and inventory interfaces, I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream also includes a unique addition: the Spiritual Barometer. The Barometer is indicative of your current character’s state of mind.

Do good acts and overcome your fears and it will rise, do evil acts or resort to reading your personal Psychological Profile book – a sort of in-game hint system – and it will fall. This doesn’t really affect the outcome of the game, but it gives the player more freedom with which to accomplish their goals.

The environments themselves are drawn to reflect each character’s thoughts and fears, so while a computer engineer afraid of the colour yellow finds herself in a giant electronic pyramid, a paranoid man finds himself in a decaying castle with wolves lurking just outside the door. The sprites themselves are detailed and unique across the five characters, but sometimes the animations won’t trigger correctly when interacting with objects.

While hand-drawn for the most part, the game also uses a very small amount of computer animation, especially for animating a flying zeppelin.

The voice acting left me somewhat on the fence. Even with so much dialogue being performed, sometimes it was hard to imagine the voices hitting the parts.

The character of AM, voiced by Harlan Ellison himself, is at times annoyingly over the top but also tinged with madness. This makes sense since only Ellison himself would know exactly how AM would communicate.

Overall, it’s nice once and awhile to have a game that really makes you think about the circumstances a character is in and how they got there and, more importantly, how to help them out. I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream serves as a reminder that games can be more than just filler in between bouts of violence and really show what games can be like.

Dan Hagerman is Copy Editor of the Brunswickan.

brunswickansports

Jan.21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142 • 17

sports@thebruns.ca

Staying hot in the freezing cold Women’s volleyball defeat CBU at home, but fall to St. FX on the road during AUS weekend play

Josh Fleck The Brunswickan

During one of the coldest weeks recorded in the city of Fredericton, the women’s volleyball team managed to stay hot this weekend, defeating Cape Breton before falling to St. FX. The 1-1 weekend places UNB (7-8) in sole possession of third place in the AUS standings.

After handling the Capers on Saturday afternoon, the Reds hopped on a bus to Anitigonish, N.S. to face sixth-seeded St. FX. The Reds were looking for a bit of revenge after dropping a 3-1 match at the hands of St. FX in November.

The Reds remained hot in the opening sets behind the play of fourthyear middle Barb Vriends and secondyear Tanya Paulin.

However, the next few sets were a different story. Whether it was the fact that they rolled over STFX in the first few sets, or the freezing cold gymnasium, the Reds lost momentum and fell behind in the following sets.

UNB dropped the final three sets, falling to St. FX 3-2 (25-13, 25-19, 21-25, 21-25, 12-15).

Along with his staff, UNB head coach John Richard remained in his jacket throughout the game. The sheer cold took the heat away from the Reds, and Richard understands that his squad is capable of playing a much more aggressive style of play. “We went up early, but we all knew it wasn’t going to be that easy,” said Richard. “From the

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

UNB’s front row played a vital role in their win over Cape Breton on Saturday at the L.B. Gym. Strong blocks and consistent play led the Reds to a straight set victory over the Capers in front of a hometown crowd. third set on, that team started playing so aggressive and we played so passive on our side, especially blocking at the net.”

Things were different for the Reds on Saturday at the L.B. Gym. Coming off a big win against UdeM last weekend, the V-Reds kept the ball rolling against the Capers. In the opening set, UNB was quick to getting settled, taking advantage of CBU mistakes to grab an 8-7 lead. Fourth-year left-side Erica Hay lead the charge for the Reds, starting off with a block followed by four kills after a technical timeout, pulling UNB

ahead by six. The Capers refused to roll over, putting together a four-point run, bringing within a point of the Reds.

UNB broke a 23-23 deadlock, followed by strong block off the hands of Vriends, leading the Reds to an opening set victory.

The Reds got off to a quick start in the second set, led Hay and third-year Jill Blanchard. Blanchard, continuing her dominant play which earned her UNB female athlete of the week honours last week, pushed UNB to a second set victory.

Richard played around with his depth charts for the third set. Holding a 2-0 lead, Richard sent rookie setter Jenna Wamsley to the court to give fifth-year setter Melanie Doucette a well-deserved break. If Wamsley was at all nervous, she certainly didn’t show any rookie jitters.

Wamsley and the Reds rolled to an early 8-1 lead at the first technical timeout.

The Reds cruised to a 25-14 victory, sweeping the match 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-14).

With Doucette playing her last year of eligibility at UNB, coach Richard is

excited about the prospects of having Wamsley step it up next season.

“Really happy with Jenna Wamsley’s contribution out there in game three,” said Richard. “Despite having some stretches where we stopped moving our feet defensively, I thought overall against CBU we played well. They are such a big blocking team, so your first contact is important to try to diversify things. I thought we did that quite well today.”

Next up, the Reds will travel to Nova Scotia to take on Dalhousie and Acadia next weekend.

V-Reds stumble but regain composure Brandon MacNeil The Brunswickan

With one month remaining in the regular season schedule, it looks as though the Reds are beginning to find their sweet spot as they take a run at defending the AUS championships.

After plowing through their city rivals from STU, UNB stumbled in overtime against UdeM only to regain their steadiness and knock off a young and talented squad from UPEI. “It’s was another blue collar victory,” said UNB coach Gardiner MacDougall following the Saturday night affair against UPEI. “We’re working hard as a team, and that’s how we’ll remain successful throughout the season.”

It was a back-and-forth start on Saturday, with each team scoring twice within five minutes. In a risky move, MacDougall sent netminder Travis Fullerton to replace starting goaltender Derek Yeomans, who allowed two goals in the nine shots he faced, to begin the second period. But the move paid off as Fullerton turned aside all 26 shots he faced, en route to a 4-2 victory over the Panthers.

“You can’t help but notice what Fullerton has been doing for us,” said MacDougall. “He played five periods

over the last few days and hasn’t allowed a goal. He’s playing very well for us right now.”

In his return to the ice, UNB rookie forward Jordan Clendenning notched his first goal of the year, which proved to be the go ahead for the Reds.

Clendenning responded again in the third period, scoring his second of the night. Fredericton native Chris Hodgson and the recently acquired Luke Lynes each tallied three points on the evening, helping UNB (13-2-3) stay atop the AUS standings, holding a onepoint lead over Saint Mary’s.

Despite the victory on Saturday, the Reds are probably more concerned about the one the got away.

Near the halfway marker of the overtime period it appeared as though UNB goaltender Derek Yeomans had the puck frozen. However, after being knocked loose, Moncton’s Mathieu Berube fired his third of the year into the open UNB goal, snapping the Reds eight-game win steak in AUS league play.

Despite grossly out-shooting their opponents in the match, the Reds weren’t able to solve Lachance. “We had our share of chances, that’s for sure,” said MacDougall. “We weren’t quite as alert as we usually are, however, their goalie kept them in the entire game.”

MacDougall continued, “Of course we would have liked the two points, however, we’ll settle for the one. It’s still

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

After crushing their inter-city rivals from STU, the V-Reds were unable to capitalize on their many opportunities, falling 3-2 to UdeM. a big point.”

UNB’s Kyle Bailey was the lone goalscorer for the Reds. He added two in the match, increasing his season total to 20 goals.

Unlike the weekend affairs, last Wednesday night’s battle against STU was completely controlled by the Reds.

Jimmy Cuddihy, Kevin Henderson, Hunter Tremblay, and captain Dustin Friesen all tallied in the first period alone, as UNB severely outshot the Tommies.

UNB’s top line continued its

dominance in the second period as Cuddihy found his second goal of the game. Henderson and Tremblay notched another in the second frame to give the Reds a commanding lead. Recently recruited Justin McCutcheon, who played three seasons with the Tommies prior to being recruited by UNB over the Christmas break, tallied the eighth and final goal for the Reds, give them an 8-0 victory over their rivals.

Cuddihy finished the game with five points, while line mate Tremblay continued to climb the AUS point

leader board after recording six points on the night. STU’s only opportunity to break the shutout came in the third period, when they held a 5-on-3 for over a minute. Rookie netminder Fullerton closed the door, and held on for the first UNB shutout of the season.

“Our boys were on their game,” said MacDougall, regarding Wednesday night’s game. “We got the momentum early and never looked back. The boys capitalized on every opportunity. They had opportunities, but Travis (Fullerton) made key saves to help with the win.”

brunswickansports

18 • Jan. 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142

Celebrating the Super Bowl, UNB Style Christopher Cameron The Brunswickan

Although it’s still over a week away, Super Bowl XLIII is approaching fast.

One of the biggest weekends in all of sports, showcasing the NFL’ s two best teams, the event will be celebrated by many across the campus. If if you’re not on the Arizona Cardinals or Pittsburgh Steelers bandwagon, there’s always fun for all.

There is so much to what happens Super Bowl weekend that sets it apart from a Stanley Cup or World Series. It’s the half-time show, the commercials, and not to mention the game itself.

Whether you’re a Cardinals or Steelers fan, or even if you don’t like football, your eyes will be glued to the T.V. to see another moment in football history.

This year, Bruce Springsteen and the E. Street Band will be headlining the half-time show. Although it may not be

as entertaining as the Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake fiasco, it should be a great show nonetheless.

At UNB, everyone has a different way to celebrate the Super Bowl. Some head on over to the local watering hole, others to a house party, or some may possibly neglect the entire event. It may just be another Sunday tradition, getting together with your buddies and having a few beer, while your assignments lay incomplete on the table. Either way, hundreds of millions of people will tune into the game, each celebrating in a unique manner.

On campus, there are will be multiple events. Campus pubs will be showing the game to those who don’t have a sufficient television to watch the game from the comfort of their very own home. but for many others, there is usually some type of tradition involved in watching the game.

Student Dave Bryden has his schedule already planned. “I usually have about a half dozen or so people over for a party,” says Bryden.

And what about the food? “No Super Bowl is complete without homemade nachos, chili, and cornbread, as well as large quantities of beer,” adds Bryden.

“The afternoon is spent cooking, and

the evening is about enjoying the food, friends, and the game.”

For Sam Perlmutter, the Super Bowl doesn’t really entail any tradition. “It’s usually not a big deal for me,” says Perlmutter. “Most of my friends don’t like football. I usually just watch it with my brother. Plus if the Jags aren’t in it, I don’t really care who wins.”

Many see the Super Bowl as a chance to get together with their friends, an opportunity that may not come very often on a Sunday evening. “All I do usually is get together with a group of friends, have a drink or two, some pizza, and argue about who’s going to win,” says Quinn Mercer.

Geoff Forgie has the same idea. “I get together with a group of friends and we play poker and have some beers.”

You can’t forget the alcohol. It’s often a great excuse to pop a few brewskies on a cold Sunday evening. “We normally go to a bar with the guys and girls rugby teams to watch it and have some drinks,” says Nichole Conrad.

As the week draws near, more Super Bowl plans will surface at UNB. And, no doubt, it’ll will be yet another interesting affair when millions tune in to cheer on the team they know nothing about.

Athlete of the week

V-Reds Results Wednesday, January 14th Hockey UNB - 8 STU - 0 Friday, January 16th

Women’s Volleyball UNB @ DAL 6:00 p.m.

Hockey UNB @ ACA 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Volleyball UNB - 0 Laval - 3

Men’s Volleyball UNB @ DAL 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 17th Men’s Volleyball UNB - 3 Sherbrooke - 1 Women’s Volleyball UNB - 3 CBU - 0 Women’s Basketball UNB - 67 ACA - 72 Men’s Volleyball UNB - 3 U of Montreal - 2 Hockey UNB - 4 UPEI - 2 Men’s Basketball UNB - 79 ACA - 98 Men’s Volleyball UNB - 3 McGill - 2 Women’s Basketball UNB - 50 ACA - 70

Kyle Van Genne Men’s Volleyball BRSS, 3rd Year Dawson’s Creek, BC

Friday, January 23rd

Hockey UNB - 2 UdeM - 3

Sunday, January 18th

UNB Media Services

Upcoming V-Reds Events

Women’s Volleyball UNB - 2 St. FX - 3 Men’s Basketball UNB - 94 ACA - 76

Saturday, January 24th Swimming UNB Double Dual Meet 12:00 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball UNB @ ACA 1:00 p.m.

Men’s Volleyball UNB @ DAL 3:00 p.m.

Women’s Basketball MUN @ UNB 6:00 p.m. @ L.B. Gym Hockey UNB @ DAL 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Basketball MUN @ UNB 8:00 p.m. @ L.B. Gym Sunday, January 25th Women’s Basketball MUN @ UNB 12:00 p.m. @ L.B. Gym Men’s Basketball MUN @ UNB 2:00 p.m. @ L.B. Gym Wednesday, January 28th Hockey STU @ UNB 7:00 p.m. @ Aitken Centre

Winless streak snapped

File / The Brunswickan

UNB head coach Brent Baker and the UNB Varsity Reds men’s basketball team breathed a sigh of relief this weekend as they captured their first victory during AUS season play. The Reds knocked off Acadia 94-76 on Sunday.

brunswickansports

Jan. 21, 2009 • Issue 17 • Volume 142 • 19

The joys of being a TV basketball fan Alex Wickwire An Opinion

It was the month of November and the Toronto Raptors were 3-0. The preseason predictions about Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon were coming true and Jermaine O’Neal was looking like the first legit center Toronto had seen since Antonio Davis.

That was two months ago. Today, the team is sitting 10 games below .500 with a record of 16-26. Since their fall from grace, they’ve become possibly the most annoying team to watch in the NBA. Whatever new

coach Jay Triano is trying to do, it’s not working out. Whether it’s Chris Bosh taking nothing but high-post jump shots, or Andrea Bargnani looking clueless in his role on defence, the team is finding hilarious ways to lose games.

With that in mind, why not create something positive out of the Raps recent woes? Games are usually shown on Wednesday and Friday evenings, broadcast on The Score and TSN. We as students have been known to party on either one of those nights, so consider this.

Start a Raps drinking game. Drink every time Anthony Parker jacks a senseless mid-range fade-away jump shot off a poorly placed screen. Any regular Raptors fans know what I’m talking about. The guy plays and shoots like Kobe Bryant – he’s just lacking something called skill.

Skiing College Hill

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Local skiing conditions have improved after a recent snowfall in the city of Fredericton. Shown here are local skiers going down the stairs to the SUB.

Better yet, take a drink every time announcer Matt Devlin says something that makes you roll your eyes. Before Devlin came on this season, “Raptornation” was treated each night to a dose of overly flamboyant play-by-play man Chuck Swirsky. His goofy nicknames and catchphrases about salami, cheese and onions were lame but entertaining.

Now, the best Matt Devlin can do is yell out the initials of whoever scores.

How many times has Jason Kapono drained a three-pointer and we’ve had to hear “JAY KAY!” over and over again. Gone are the days of nicknames like “The Big Bosh-Man,” “CB4,” and “The Boshasaurus.”

Using the Raptors to get wasted could be the cure for what has gone from an optimistic season with high hopes, to hope of potentially bumbling into the playoffs because of

a weak eastern conference.

Aside from what goes on in Toronto, plenty of other stuff is worthy of mention for the TV fan.

Does anyone else wonder if Gilbert Arenas will ever play basketball again?

The guy tears some stuff in a knee a few years ago in the playoffs, now a zillion surgeries later he still has yet to step on the court and be himself.

Once he was the most entertaining player in basketball, now all we ever see of old Gil’ is what he does in those cheesy Adidas commercials.

On the subject of players, why not take a look at Canada’s golden boy, Steve Nash. Nash and the Suns were supposedly going to miss the postseason this year in the tough Western Conference, yet they sit at the sixth seed with only 15 losses on the year.

There was talk of bringing Nash to Toronto with a trade package of picks

and players with expiring contracts, but when the Suns acquired Jason Richardson that idea was shut down in a hurry. Nash and his Suns have an all-star starting five and a coach not named Mike D’Antoni, maybe they can finally beat the Spurs this postseason.

If you’ve made it this far into this article without becoming bored and moving on to the next one, realize that everything said here is constructed with information obtained through watching games and reading NBA media. It’s all speculation and in no way credible, but that’s the beauty of the being a TV fan. We as people have complete freedom of thought and speech, so let it be known that underachieving teams will be made the subject of fun.

Alex Wickwire is a volunteer reporter at The Brunswickan.

From the bottom up Tip of the Cap. by Josh Fleck

This week’s Tip of the Cap is a flashback of sorts. We won’t be needing the DeLorean to remember this. I’m flashing back to this past baseball season where the Tampa Bay Rays, formerly the Devil Rays, went from being one of the laughing stocks of the MLB, to nearly winning the World Series.

Well, this past Sunday, it was looking a lot like baseball season – only in the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals have been one of the laughing stocks of the NFL for several years now, but they must have been inspired by the Rays’ run, as they are now one win away from hearing Larry Fitzgerald say, “I’m going to Disneyland!”

Over the past five seasons, the Cards and the Rays have shared equal success, so to speak, when it came to losing. The Cardinals winning percentage over that span is .350, with their best season being 8-8 (last season) – not very impressive. The Rays had a slightly better .404 winning percentage, with their best season having a total of 69 wins. Again, not that great.

However, something happened to these teams, whether it be the impressive drafting they got after years of losing, which is probably the case, or the divinity of the sporting gods. Or maybe it’s the plain old good karma catching up with them.

No matter what it has been, my Tip of the Cap goes to both of these teams for getting their dignity back and winning some games.

P.S.: Go Cards!