Issue 18, Vol 142, The Brunswickan

NEWS // COUNCIL DIVIDED ON INTERNATIONAL MOTIONS >> PAgEs 6 & 7 Volume 142 · Issue 18 • January 28, 2009

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Coalition says UNBSU is getting it wrong Josh O’Kane The Brunswickan Criticisms are mounting over student financial aid policy supported by both the UNB Student Union and the New Brunswick Student Alliance.

A newly-formed student group called the Coalition for Accessible and Affordable Education hosted a ‘Slash Fees Forum’ on Monday, where a panel of students and faculty discussed the effectiveness of current university fee structure and student financial aid policy.

Approximately 50 students, faculty and community members attended the forum in Tilley Hall.

The forum was moderated by SU science representative Alex Corey and featured SU Renaissance College representative Matt Abbott and Graduate Student Association VP External Neil Cole as speakers, among others.

The UNBSU and NBSA’s financial aid policies include advocating for a $6,000 per year debt cap on government student loans, as well as cancelling the provincial government’s current tuition freeze in order to reallocate funds for highneeds students.

Abbott was critical of the process by which the SU decided their policy, which he said offered too little time for student input.

Policy development through national and provincial lobbying groups “needs an accountable process with ample time for constituent consultation and engagement,” said Abbott.

“Not at this year’s Student Union,” he continued. “It hardly seems that the UNBSU acts more than a rubber stamp ... We cannot accept the motion on provincial financial aid policy as the voice of students.

“We need to engage in discussion like tonight to make sure we are more than just a mouthpiece.”

Cole, a political science graduate student, spoke at length regarding income-contingent loan repayment (ICLR), a program that is in place in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Britain in various guises.

While such programs allow individuals

SEE FEES PAGE 4

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Neil Cole, VP External with the UNB Graduate Student Association, speaks at the Slash Fees Forum in Tilley Hall on Monday. The Forum was put on by the Coalition for Accessible and Affordable Education to discuss post-secondary education funding and student financial aid policy.

Carthaginians brings the dead to life Alison Clack The Brunswickan Sitting alone in a room that’s decorated like a graveyard is probably not many people’s first choice for what to do some night this week. It turns out, however, that it can be a pretty good way to spend an evening.

Theatre UNB’s upcoming show, Frank McGuiness’ Carthaginians, debuts on Wednesday this week at Memorial Hall. This past Sunday, The

Brunswickan got a sneak peak at the performance.

The play, which is being put on by students in the ENGL 3170 class, is about a group of Irish people who gather in a graveyard remembering the events of Bloody Sunday.

No, it’s not just a U2 song. Bloody Sunday was a historical event in which several Catholics in Derry, Northern Ireland – where the play takes place – were shot down by the English army during a protest.

The play’s director, Len Falkenstein, brings expertise and enthusiasm to the direction of the play.

“It’s been a play that I’ve always wanted to do. I did my doctorate in contemporary Irish drama and I’ve never actually directed a contemporary Irish play – I’ve been kind of waiting to do one. I wanted to have the right group of people for it and this is a really strong group of actors,” says Falkenstein.

There’s also no need to worry about knowing all of the historical facts surrounding this event; a brief summary of historical facts and a glossary of Irish terms are included in the play’s program.

Even without it, you won’t need to work too hard to figure out the histor-

ical context of the play. The play’s actors bring a great deal of talent and emotion that make it easy to empathize with characters and help to understand how the aftermath of Bloody Sunday affected the Irish – Catholic or not.

The play tugs on the emotions of its viewers. The composition of character drawn by these young actors creates a strong sympathetic connection to the tragic historic events.

Carthaginians mainly surrounds the idea of loss. The initial idea of the play

SEE TUNB PAGE 15

brunswickannews

2 • Jan. 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142

Maclean’s editor to speak tonight at STU Hilary Paige Smith The Brunswickan

Submitted

Saint Thomas University will play host to the annual Dalton Camp lecture on Wednesday, Jan. 28.

This year’s speaker will be Kenneth Whyte, editor-in-chief of Maclean’s magazine.

Students can expect an eye-opening and informative evening on Wednesday from media veteran Kenneth Whyte.

WhytewillbespeakingatSt.ThomasUniversity’s annual Dalton Camp Lecture in Journalism on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Whyte is the current editorin-chief and publisher of one of Canada’s foremost current affairs magazines, Maclean’s. Past speakers at the lecture have included Chantal Hébert, Naomi Klein and Joe Schlesinger.

Dalton Camp is a New Brunswick native and University of New Brunswick graduate who served as editor of the Brunswickan prior to graduation. He went on to pursue graduate studies in journalism at Columbia University and Political Science at the London School of Economics. Camp was an prominent member of the Conservative Party of Canada, as well as a prominent political commentator. The Order of Canada officer passed away from a stroke in February of 2002.

He has since been remembered by St. Thomas University through their annual lecture, as well as the $1.5 million Dalton Camp Endowment in Journalism. This initiative was named for Camp’s contributions to Canadian media and contributes to the annual lecture, scholarships and bursaries and journalism internships.

Phillip Lee, an associate professor of journalism at St. Thomas, says he feels gratified by the number of attendees at the lecture each year.

“I think it’s partly because we remember Dalton Camp when we do this. Dalton certainly had a great impact nationally and also as a New Brunswicker.”

Kenneth Whyte’s former positions include editor-in-chief of the National Post and editor

of Saturday Night magazine. Whyte joined Maclean’s in 2005 and is the first person to be both editor and publisher of the magazine.

Kenneth Whyte has also recently been named the Canadian Journalism Project’s Newsperson of the Year.

“He’s certainly been one of the most interesting newspaper, magazine editors in recent years in Canada and certainly, I think he’s going to talk about his experience in the news business in Canada and talk about what the future is of journalism in the sort of changing world that we’re facing right now,” says Lee. St. Thomas University is one of the few universities in Atlantic Canada offering a journalism program. Aspiring journalists flock there from across the country to educate themselves in the media and communications field.

Lee says that the lecture will cover issues that pertain to a broader crowd and not just journalism students. The lecture is open to the public and will be recorded and broadcast at a later date on CBC Radio’s program Ideas.

“We’ve had big crowds for these events and they’re not all journalism students, by any stretch,” says Lee. “Usually the lecturer talks about broad and not just of interest to journalism students in particular, by any means and I think the role of the media in our democracy is an important subject that matters to everybody. I think the broad interest in the lecture shows that a lot of people care about that.”

The lecture will make up roughly an hour of the evening’s presentation and will be followed by an open question and answer period.

The lecture, ‘Be Interesting, Or Else,’ will be held in Kinsella Auditorium in Margaret Norrie McCain Hall on the St. Thomas campus at 8 p.m.

Lockheed Martin postpones recruitment visit to UNB campus News Department The Brunswickan

Weapons manufacturing giant Lockheed Martin has set its sights on UNB for recruitment. The company was scheduled to appear on campus on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

The visit, however, did not take place. The social activist group STR AX organized a protest against Lockheed Martin for the day of its arrival, and the company got word of its opposition and declined to show up.

Matthew Abbott, UNBSU Renaissance

College representative and STR AX member, says about 20 protestors showed up on the scheduled date of Lockheed Martin’s appearance. “Most of the people were from STR AX, but there was a good chunk who weren’t,” he says.

Abbott believes only one person present had shown up for Lockheed Martin’s actual demonstration.

He says about 10 people stayed behind to discuss the issue after finding out that Lockheed Martin representatives would not be making an appearance.

Lockheed Martin will return to campus at a later date, which is currently unscheduled.

want to get involved with the brunswickan? check out our story meetings, wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. in SUB room 35.

brunswickannews

Jan. 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142• 3

Potential move in the works for Renaissance College Hilary Paige Smith The Brunswickan

Renaissance College offers students the opportunity to study philosophy and leadership in depth – and soon the faculty could become further integrated with the UNB campus.

There are roughly 70 students currently attending Renaissance College, with 25 students admitted per year. Classes and some students are housed in Maggie Jean Chestnut House, a renovated 1895 Victorian mansion on nearby Charlotte Street.

Discussions have arisen in recent weeks due to what UNB’s VP Academic, Anthony Secco, calls the “tremendous success” of Renaissance College.

Consultations began last week regarding a potential move for Renaissance College from its current location to campus.

Secco says that one of the key reasons for this potential move is the leadership program of the college. The program focuses on social issues and public policy and seeks to educate students into leaders. It also involves intensive hands-on research and community internships.

The VP Academic says that other students may be able to benefit from Renaissance College’s leadership courses if they were made more accessible.

“One of the aspects is of Renaissance College and its leadership, and what leadership can do if infused into other programs within the campus,” says Secco.

He notes that before he obtained his position this year, there was already talk of how Renaissance College could be better placed on campus, as opposed to existing solely off campus.

Secco recently commissioned Pierre Zundel, Dean of Renaissance College, to examine spaces on campus to house some of Renaissance College’s programs and resources.

“Before any kind of move can be contemplated you have to know what

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Renaissance College, which accepts 25-30 students a year into its three year B.Phil. program, is located at Maggie Jean Chestnut House off of the UNB campus.

The UNB administration is currently looking at a move for portions of the college to become more integrated with the rest of campus. it is you need and what space would be appropriate,” says Secco.

The VP Academic says that there is no definite area in the minds of administration for an on-campus Renaissance College location. He also mentioned that discussion has yet to occur regarding the fate of Maggie Jean Chestnut House.

In recent years, campus space has been rededicated to other pursuits, such as Jones House, which is being converted to a Student Services building. Secco is still unsure about whether or not Renaissance College’s space on campus will occupy a residence.

“Where space exists, we have to look at an appropriate use of it and sometimes it’s a matter of, I’m sure you’re familiar with, the domino effect. You push one and they all fall down,” says Secco.

“Residences are in that mix, but obviously residences were built for residents and that’s a primary focus, but I don’t think it’s any secret that we have not filled our residences with residents.”

Matt Abbott, the Renaissance College representative for the Student Union, has mixed emotions about such a drastic change being made to his faculty.

He noted that one of the opportunities Renaissance College students have is to

be taught in a class with only 20 to 25 other students, an opportunity that may be lost if the college were to transition.

He also says that the communal living environment benefits their learning experience.

“It allows us to develop a level of trust that lets us really sort of push the envelope at times, and so in a different space, sort of in a more traditional academic space, some of that could be more challenging.

“They could also create a space that facilitates some of those things better, it’s hard to say.”

The ongoing consultations about

Renaissance College are not due to a shrinking number of interested students.

Secco believes that the College is at a point of maturation and can connect not only through programs, but physically on the campus. He also states why he believes this is a necessary transition.

“On the programmatic side, it’s how to connect leadership programming with existing programming and that’s really an exciting opportunity, and discussions are taking place and meeting with positive response,” says the administration’s VP Academic.

“And then physically, to be proximal, as opposed to being distal.”

Students react to Obama’s inauguration Cameron Mitchell The Brunswickan

“Obama-mania” swept across the Unite States during last week’s Presidential Inauguration. Much of the inauguration hype also crept north of the border, and UNB was of no exception. In Marshall d’Avray Hall, a large projector displayed President Obama’s Inauguration speech for a crowd of about 70 people. Across campus several students skipped class to watch the festivities, and some professors played the speech live for those students that did show up for class.

Much interest was displayed by students on the matter.

“I think that he’s going to be good for their country. Even if he doesn’t solve all of their problems, I think that he has a way with the people that makes them feel like there’s hope for the future,” said fourth year biology major Laura Bursey.

“He’s just a really good public speaker, and I think that he’s going to do the best job that he can over his four years in office.”

It was President Obama’s public speaking that was on display at last week’s Inauguration, and across campus UNB students were glued to their televisions and computers to hear what he would say.

“Our professor wanted us to watch it online, but there was too many people watching and it was lagging,” explained fourth year multimedia student Rodney Mann in reference to CNN’s recordsetting Internet stream. “So we ended up listening to it on the radio.”

The presidential supporters were out in full force in Washington for the Inauguration. They filled the grounds of the White House. “I saw the satellite pictures and there was a ton of people there,” continued Mann. “They kind of looked like ants.”

CNN’s online stream set a record for the most watched event on live Internet, but the sheer volume of people watching caused some issues and many people were left without a feed.

“I watched what I could, I had class at the same time but I managed to catch parts of it,” said engineering student Nick Walker. “I think that he looks to be a very nice guy and he sure has a lot of support in the US.” But the spectacle didn’t stop after the speech, and it was the huge parties

afterwards that caught many students’ attention.

“I watched a little bit of it when they replayed it later that night, and I watched all of the partying and stuff that happened after,” said Laura Bursey.

“I feel like it was a very elaborate party, and I’m kind of interested to see how much they spent on it,” said Mann.

“Cause it sure seems like a lot of money to be spending in an economic crisis.”

“I didn’t really watch a lot of (the Inauguration), but I did see him on Oprah,” said chemical engineering student Vicky Knott.

Where the Barack Obama celebrity stops, and the Barack Obama presidency begins, seems to be a point of contention for many students at UNB. Many seem to be questioning whether his promises were merely just posturing for support and popularity.

“I guess I feel like he’s appealing to feelings,” explained Mann. “I think that if people saw the debt that (the US) will go into if he follows through with all of his proposed spending, they would see that things are going to get pretty bad.”

“I think he has a lot to live up to,” said Jodie Boone. “He’s come in at such a bad time and there’s a lot of pressure for him to turn things around really fast. I think it will be hard for a lot of people to

Flickr Creative Commons

Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, Jan. 20 to captive audiences in Washington and on the internet. like him if he doesn’t turn things around quite quickly.”

The UNB campus, however, seems to have plenty of supporters. Some students are happy that change is in the works, and they see hope for the future in both Canada and the US. “My personal opinion is that he seems like a really great guy and I think he’s

going to make a change for the better,” said Nick Walker. “Canada always seems to follow whatever the USA does. So I think that the US will set some examples with Obama and Canada will follow in their footsteps.”

“I think it’s great that there’s an African-American president,” concluded Knott.

brunswickannews

4 • Jan. 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142

Res Life cuts clerical security position Hilary Paige Smith The Brunswickan

Reg Jerrett, Director of Security and Traffic for UNB, is assuring students that campus security will continue to make nightly rounds through the residences and on campus, despite eliminating one position.

Currently, there are a total of 23 campus security officers employed by UNB, 15 of which make nightly rounds through the campus and residence buildings. The officers average three rounds per evening from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Campus security officers convene in the Residence Life building while they are not on assignment and can be reached at that central area. Jerrett refers to this as the “core” of the UNB Campus. Until recently, the Campus Security staff also took a clerical position in the office. That position has since been terminated, with one officer losing employment.

Jerrett is adamant that the termination of the position will not have a negative effect on the residence population.

“If there is an issue in the residence community, James [Brown] will have somebody working downstairs who will have contact with my personnel who will be on campus and who will be concentrating on the core area. As far as the residence security in the core area, it will not be affected,” says Jerrett.

“As a matter of fact, I think we have

a more even distribution of security coverage now in the residence core area with this system in place.”

James Brown, Director of Residence Life and Conference Services at UNB, noted that some part of what the officer was doing was a clerical service, but that service will not be lost completely.

“It was never a part of their job description, but they agreed to sort of figure out how to use the cash and how to return key refunds and that sort of thing and it was good of them to do that, but it is also true that we can arrange things so we don’t need them to do that.

“Reg has always been very flexible with us. We think we get a great service from security and I’m very happy he’s been able to arrange things,” says Brown.

Brown also says that a key factor for the termination of the position relates to the tightening of the residence budget. He says that residence operation spends $600,000 more per year than it takes in, with $250,000 of that money transferred to security.

Under the supervision of VP Academic Anthony Secco, Jerrett and Brown have reduced the $250,000 sum to $120,000.

Secco revealed that the university is attempting to get the necessary security measures covered at a lower cost. He says that it is not a matter of an individual’s salary, but rearranging human resource services to reduce expenses.

The residence budget is still under discussion, but Brown assures students that nothing else will be cut in the coming year.

CAAE wants more money for PSE FROM FEES PAGE 1 to pay off their student loan debt at a rate related to one’s income, he argued that they essentially condemn students to a “debt sentence” just by attending post-secondary education.

In some nations like Australia, said Cole, the ICLR program is in place as a funding mechanism for the postsecondary education system and not specifically for the aid of students.

The NBSA advocates for a loan repayment assistance program, which is similar in some fashions to an ICLR program in that it proposes that no person should pay more than 20 per cent of their income at a given time on loan repayment.

“I propose a continued freeze on, and reduction of, tuition fees,” said Cole. “A freeze must be accompanied by increased funding to postsecondary education in this province.

“We don’t want debt caps, we don’t want ICLR, we don’t want loans, so if we pressure our provincial and federal governments, we can make them stop cutting funding to post-secondary education,” he continued. “If we lobby our governments for money to put back into post-secondary education, we can reduce and eliminate tuition fees, not just freeze them.”

Speakers also included UNB Education professor Emery HylsopMargison, STU Social Work professor Suzanne Dudziak and single mother Anne-Drea Allison.

When the floor opened to questions

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Matt Abbott, the UNBSU Renaissance College Representative and member of the Coalition for Accessible and Affordable Education, speaks at the Slash Fees Forum. after the speakers, discussion centred largely on the financial aid policies of the UNBSU and NBSA. NBSA President Duncan Gallant and UNBSU VP External Jon O’Kane, who were in the audience at the forum, soon began to field questions of their own regarding their organizations’ policies.

After some time of dialogue between the policymakers and their dissenters, Phil Ouellette, a former national director of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, spoke for the need of a unified voice to attain progress.

“There’s an ongoing struggle

in student movements of people defending what organizations they’re a part of. The one thing I think is important is that people should be talking together,” said Ouellette.

Dudziak echoed Ouellette’s statement.

“I understand the dynamics of being part of a movement, and working out these inner struggles around issues if there are different ideological stances,” she said.

“You’re all going to continue to lose unless you see that the picture is bigger, the issue is bigger, and you have a wonderful opportunity to come together around the issues.”

brunswickannews

Jan. 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142• 5

Winter weather poses accessibility Council edges past problems for students Sarah Ratchford The Brunswickan

Winter weather has been making it extremely difficult to get around in a normal, safe, and functional fashion, and this issue is enhanced for those with certain disabilities.

Derek Ness is a student with a visual impairment, and he expresses concern with the condition of campus after a snowfall. “I’m fed up with the university’s inability to clean campus,” he says. “The pathways are not cleaned up until the morning.”

He says that after the big snowstorm last week, the paths to meal hall were not properly cleared until a couple of days later. “All I could see was white,” he says, “I couldn’t tell if there was 1 centimetre of snow down or a 20-foot snow bank.”

Professor of Economics David Murrell agrees. The professor cancelled his classes on the morning of Monday, Jan. 19 because of the “blizzard-like conditions.”

“I find it odd that the university would be so demanding as to schedule school, with nothing plowed properly,” says Murrell.

Steve Hampsey is Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds Operations for Physical Plant. He admits that there can be problems when it comes to mass removal of snow.

“It’s pretty tough to plow when campus is open, there are 13,000 people around here. We clean up as best we can and there we go.”

He says that snow removal is a big job.

“You can’t imagine what bad weather does for campus, it’s almost impossible to deal with. Each storm is a different animal.”

In terms of staff dedicated to snow removal, a labour crew of 7 persons is in place. Hampsey says that they are not responsible for all shoveling, however, but only a portion.

“Our custodial group shovels entrances and steps adjacent to buildings,” the Supervisor says. There are also two sidewalk machines and a backhoe.

The crew of 7 is not always fully available, however.

“Sick days throw some things into the mix,” says Hampsey. “If one guy’s out I’m down to six. You could have a hundred people out here on a blizzard and I won’t lie, when there’s a big storm it taxes us.”

Ness feels taxed as well.

“Particularly, the places that are used the most often are the ones done last,” he says. “I’m seeing all these little footpaths wide enough for one and a half feet which get packed down and slippery. When I went for breakfast I fell flat on my face because I couldn’t see the curb.”

Physical Plant was contacted by Ness regarding accessibility, and he says nothing was done when he came back from class.

Points of major concern for Ness following the storm on Monday Jan.

19 include the pathway from Harrison house to McConnell Hall, the path between Tilley and Harrison, and Bailey Drive, the latter of which he says was not plowed until noon.

Excessive snow causes accessibility problems not only for the visually impaired, but for those in wheelchairs as well.

Murrell says that there are two major problems with classes not having been cancelled on that particular day.

“First, there is a danger for drivers, who risk an accident trying to drive to school,” Murrell says. “Second, having school on Monday discriminates against the elderly and handicapped students, since it is next to impossible for them to negotiate the streets and sidewalks.”

“There are unsafe throughout the city, let alone the university,” says Ness.

“I myself as an advocate have been trying to get things done. There really are issues with getting things done.”

Many members of the UNB community, students and professors alike, voiced the opinion that campus should have been shut down on Monday Jan. 19, and on subsequent days like it.

UNBSU President Bethany Vail says, “I strongly believe that classes should have been cancelled.” The decision, she says, on whether or not campus will be open or not, was made at 5:30 a.m.

“If the decision is being made at 5:30 in the morning, it should really be made at a later time.”

As far as rectification of the issue, Hampsey says that “Meetings occur after storms so that we can see what we can do better, what we miss. Then it becomes April and people forget about it.”

quorum to discuss environment, poster Sarah Ratchford The Brunswickan

The UNBSU Student Representative Council meeting almost didn’t proceed this week, as quorum wasn’t reached until nearly halfway through the meeting.

Short one councillor, Council began by discussing the agenda items that did not require a vote.

Jens Ourom, Eco-Commissioner for the SU, presented the report of the Eco-Committee. The committee is examining the idea of funding for the creation of a carpool website accessed through the SU’s webpage.

Ourom also mentioned the possibility of legislation banning plastic bags and water-bottles, but he said that he is not certain whether he would turn to council for help with this project.

Also addressed at council was action against a poster created by the College Hill Social Club for an event that took place last Saturday. The poster advertises a “Ho-Down” at the campus bar, and pictured is a woman in a low-cut, belly-baring shirt.

Council received a letter from a concerned student regarding the poster. The student said that blatant advertisement of the overconsumption of alcohol coupled with photos of scantily clad women creates an unhealthy campus environment, making her feel unsafe.

She called the poster “distasteful,” and said that it “crosses the line of appropriateness.”

VPs Lord and Melanson suggested contacting the manager of the Social Club, Matt Harris, before taking any further action.

brunswickannews

6 • Jan. 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142

International motions divide council Sarah Ratchford The Brunswickan

Two motions have been brought forward to the UNBSU this month that have sparked considerable debate.

The first was posed by Councillor Matt Abbott, Renaissance College representative, on Jan. 12. The motion set out to condemn the destruction of academic infrastructure in Gaza, as well as stand in support of those who have been affected by the crisis. This motion, after some amendments, was carried unanimously.

Councillor Alex Corey, a Science representative, proposed the second motion on Jan. 19. This motion suggested that the Student Union condemn visitation and recruitment by weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin on campus. After close to 90 minutes of debate, this motion was shut down by a 7-9 vote.

Virtually every councillor expressed their opinion at the two meetings, and students who are not part of council participated in the discourse as well, both in and out of the council chambers.

From the discussions carried out so far, two distinct standpoints have been made.

“History has shown that student movements have been very powerful in social change,” says Corey. “This is our world that we’re inheriting; it is our responsibility to not abandon our world to fate, but to take an active role in shaping our world.”

Corey says that because Lockheed Martin produces nuclear weapons, cluster bombs, and F-16s, the SU should take a stance against the company recruiting on campus since “we don’t need to live in a world where there are more nuclear weapons. That’s not what’s going to help humanity.”

SU President Bethany Vail sees the issue from a different standpoint.

“What is really our place is to put aside our personal views,” says Vail.

“People need to realize what their actions are doing, and focus not just on themselves but on the thousands of undergraduate students they represent.”

She says that to take sides in a conflict and restrict the choice of prospective employers for students is a form of oppression.

“It’s not a moral or global, but a choice issue,” she says in regards to the motion concerning Lockheed Martin.

VP External Jon O’Kane agrees.

“Censoring choice is just as bad as censoring anything else,” he says.

“And that’s something that our union can’t stand for.”

Opinions have been strongly voiced on both sides of the issue. On proposing the motion concerning the destruction of academic infrastructure in Gaza, Abbott says he was perfectly well within his mandate.

“My campaign posters last year said that part of what I aim to do in my mandate were I elected was to confront the military academic industrial complex. I was explicit about that.”

Abbott speaks out against the corporatization and militarization of campus, stating that both can pose “a disservice to the academic work

done here.”

By supporting motions such as the two in question, Abbott hopes to send a strong message to students.

In terms of accomplishments, Abbott says the first motion resulted in “active support for those who were affected by the issue.”

If the second motion came to be passed, he said, a productive outcome of that would have been “participating in the call to critically examine corporations like Lockheed Martin’s recruitment practices on our campus.

“So had we passed that, it would have sent a message that this concerns people, and that message was sent by students directly, and the Student Union had the opportunity to join its students in sending that message and chose not to.”

Members of the SU executive express their reasons for not getting involved with condemning Lockheed Martin.

“There’s just no place for it. We have trouble enough getting bus passes for students, let alone solving the war in Gaza,” says VP Academic Greg Melanson.

“This is not what I signed up for.

I’m not in support of any of this. It’s not what I want to think about as VP Academic. It’s not what I’m supposed to think about.”

Melanson does note that “I am one hundred per cent, completely against war.”

VP Student Services Stephanie Lord expresses mixed emotions regarding the recent motions posed to council.

“With the first motion on Gaza, as long as we could tie it in to the realm of this university, for example with the amendments that were made discussing support for those affected and those who were involved in the relief efforts and our support towards them, I believe that that aspect is in our realm,” she says.

As far as the second motion regarding Lockheed Martin, Lord says she believes that it is unfair to pit councillors’ morals against their job descriptions.

VP Finance Lisa Solte agrees: “Each councillor comes to the Council table with individual morals, but it is not up to Council to pass moral judgment on all students.”

“It simply boils down to the fact that students should be able to make decisions for themselves; it’s not the responsibility of our Council.”

She says that deciding whether or not to allow certain groups to recruit on campus is simply not what Council was elected for.

Abbott sums up his argument with the idea that “the status quo is also political; keeping things the way they are is a deeply political choice to make.”

“Everyone knows it’s wrong to build nuclear bombs,” says Corey.

O’Kane says that he is “not going to support a stance that just condemns something. There was no debate about if cluster bombs are a bad thing.”

He says the Student Union should support “constructive, solution-based advocacy.”

Taking a stance condemning Lockheed Martin, O’Kane says, is not appropriate. He does, however, approve of the stance taken in support of those who have been affected by the crisis in Gaza, because he says actual solutions can be produced.

Some ideas of solutions are currently in the works, says O’Kane.

He poses a final question.

“Are we looking to be a union of complaints, or a union of solutions?”

?

The Brunswickan polled councillors and student senators last week with the following question: “Do you believe motions regarding international affairs off-campus are within the mandate of the UNB Student Union and the Student Representative Council?”

“Depends on the issue. If it is not relevant to student expenses or university life (broad category), then no, it is not a relevant issue for the SU. International students should have as much support as possible coming from their representatives, especially at the price they have to pay to be able to attend our institution.”

- David Rabinovich, Senator

“This isn’t really a question that I can answer with a quick yes or a no. Every question should be looked at on a case-by-case basis with an emphasis on the facts. I don’t think the Students’ Union is a mini-UN, but I also don’t think the Students’ Union should limit itself as a purely administrative body. We should and must engage with relevant questions regardless of political or international flavours.”

- Jonathan Griffith, Law Representative

“The issue of what is in our realm is questionable, seeing as it is an evolving concept. The question is, do students want their SU to be outspoken about certain issues?

One freeing thing about being a student seems to be our judging power. In many countries around the world, the decisions student make mean something and they are taken seriously.

It’s up to the students, though, at the end of the day. I don’t let personal feelings get in the way of my judgment on what seems to be best for the students I represent.

Personally, I can’t see that simply passing motions about supporting or not supporting actually has any weight (though it may have some sentimental value). Truly, a better way to speak about these issues is not behind closed doors, but where people can hear you.”

- John O’Neill, Engineering Representative

“Yes. Clearly it depends on the motion. While it serves certain perspectives, and the status quo, to limit the scope of council within narrow, bureaucratic lines, council is accountable to its constituents, not the status quo, and should thus use its reasoned discretion to determine what is important at any given time vis-à-vis its constituents.”

- Matt Abbott, Renaissance College Representative

“My answer: no.”

- Daniel Hambrook,Arts Representative

“No. We can barely deal with tuition costs and student needs. Why are we now jumping to international issues when there are students we can help here?”

- Chris Gunter, Business Representative

“No. SU is meant to enrich the lives of students and to support them as they embrace ambitions, causes and interest groups, not to define and vocalize their opinions for them.”

- Shannon Carmont, Senator

“No, I do not believe motions regarding international affairs off-campus are within the mandate of the UNB Student Union and the Student Representative Council unless affecting and contributing to Student Life on and off campus but motions aren’t an adequate form of assistance. For our Undergraduates to understand they have our support, there is no motion required to relay such support or efforts in relief, our actions during such events are stronger than our words.”

- Stephanie Lord, VP Student Services

“I believe we all have a job to do when we sit there and discuss issues and any theme like this which would hint in the direction of narrowing down the scope of issues that are brought forward would be a question on our abilities to reason things through.

At the end of the day we can’t isolate ourselves from what happens around us and we are a part of an environment that we live and breathe in, so whether it be a domestic issue or an international one, let it come through and pass or fail on its merit.”

- Anmar Nawaz, International Student Representative

brunswickannews

Jan. 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142• 7

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

The UNBSU council table, pictured on Monday, swirled with debate at several Council meetings this month. One motion was brought forward to condemn destruction of academic infrastructure, as well as to support those affected by the crisis. It passed on Jan. 12. The other, which was voted down on Jan. 19, stood in condemnation of Lockheed Martin’s proposed visit to campus, during which they would have attempted to recruit students.

“Yes. Our mandate must come from our members; it would be undemocratic to attempt to predefine what we can, and cannot vote on in council. A democratic union must voice (not censor) the will of its members.”

- Alex Corey, Science Representative

“As an elected representative in a democratic union, my responsibility lies with whatever motions my constituents deem relevant.”

- DanielleTudor, Arts Representative

“As an elected representative I don’t feel as though it is my place to comment on what motions are relevant. My responsibility is to consider any motion that my constituents feel is relevant.”

- Maggie Pitts, Engineering Representative

“No. Council should focus on efforts that achieve actual results for students. A Councillor who seeks to introduce platitudes in the form of lofty motions that advance one side of social and humanitarian issues on behalf of all students should pause and take a moment to ponder, ‘What will this actually achieve for our students?”

- Nick Ouellette, Senator

“As a democratic student union, the councillors bring forth matters of concern to their constituents and these, including matters related to international affairs, should not be dismissed.

UNB students are part of communities that span wider than that of Fredericton, and this should be acknowledged through the mandate of the student union to represent the diverse interests of the members. It is the responsibility of the councillors to uphold the right of our members to take issue with international affairs, and doing so is not a waste of our constituents’ time.”

- Kelly Flinn, Arts Representative

“Yes. We are a democratic union and as such should not be predetermining the importance, or the content of motions brought forth by councillors on behalf of their constituents.”

- Elizabeth Stirling, Nursing Representative

“I believe that motions regarding international affairs off-campus are within the mandate of the UNB SU.” - Kristina O’Brien, Kinesiology Representative

brunswickanopinion

Jan 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142 • 8

editor@thebruns.ca

Apathetic or Unengaged?

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, Josh Fleck, Nick Howard, Brandon MacNeil, Colin McPail, Cameron Mitchell, Nick Ouellette, Hilary Paige Smith, Bethany Vail & Alex Wickwire.

The Brunswickan relies primarily on a volunteer base to produce its issues every week. Volunteers can drop by room 35 of the SUB at any time to find out how they can get involved.

About Us The Brunswickan, in its 142nd year of publication, is Canada’s Oldest Official Student Publication.

We are an autonomous student newspaper owned and operated

by Brunswickan Publishing Inc., a non-profit, independent body.

We are a founding member of the Canadian University Press, and love it so. We are also members of U-Wire, a media exchange of university media throughout North America.

We publish weekly during the academic year with a circulation of 10,000.

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

The UNB Student Union, shown at Council this month, is just one student group that wants what every student does: an inexpensive and meaningful education.

Other student groups are rising up on campus with the same goal – but has there been enough meaningful communication for students to recognize that?

The Opinionator Nick Howard

Our country saw its lowest voter turnout in the last federal election, with youth leading the downward spiral. The story is no different in universities: participation in student government and student-run media is shockingly low.

Unfortunately, UNB offers a prime example of an under-involved student population; student votes garner about 10 per cent of the electorate, rallies are poorly attended and participation in student media outlets (CHSR and the Brunswickan) is abysmal.

I, for one, find this a sad state of affairs – one which leads to unfortunate and sometimes damaging consequences. My thoughts on student apathy have been stewing for some time, but have been brought to the fore by a recent event.

CHSR, UNB’s radio station, held a “debate” last Friday morning between a representative of UNB’s Coalition for Accessible and Affordable Education (CAAE) and a UNB Student Union executive. This quote from CAAE’s website explains the situation in which CHSR found itself on Friday morning: “The UNB Student Union, with its offices directly below the UNB/STU campus radio station, were a no-show at a scheduled debate with CAAE.” Aside from being grammatically incorrect, the sentence, though entirely true, lacks certain nuances – something

that is sadly true of most student political endeavours. SU President Bethany Vail claims that the SU was asked to join the Friday morning debate on Wednesday afternoon, but had to decline on Thursday evening as she had workrelated meetings to attend; VP External Jon O’Kane, being a student, was in class at the time of the scheduled debate.

Somewhat distasteful posters advertising the event were placed around campus sometime before Friday morning.

I am not a reporter and this is not a news column so this is as far as I will go into the murky details. What amazed me more than the fact that this was not a debate, nor even a fair or accurate representation of both sides of a story, was that even after repeated pleas for listener calls, no one called in.

Shane Martinez, the representative for CAAE had some accurate and shocking points. No student could listen to his impassioned monologue on tuition fees and the inequalities they embody without feeling the need to call in and either ask a question, raise a point, or merely say “I agree.”

This simply confirms what I have long thought: no one was listening.

This case simply illustrates the problems with organization and professionalism that are rampant in UNB’s student politics. The ability for student political and media groups, including this paper, to communicate ideas, policies and actions to the larger student body is seriously lacking. This leads to sometimes damaging or systemic miscommunications and mistrust. In my opinion it is not apathy on behalf of students; they are simply waiting to be engaged.

Students may become confused, for example, about why the Student

Union supports lower tuition fees while simultaneously supporting the unfreezing of tuition rates. Undoubtedly there is a logical and meaningful explanation of this seemingly counterintuitive choice in policies.

However, when communication is lacking and all that is seen is the results of discussions had by executives, conclusions are inevitably drawn. I know and converse regularly with many of the students involved in the political or media groups on campus. None of them are the power-hungry monsters looking to trap students into cycles of lies and debt that we hear so much about.

They are students who want what every student wants: a meaningful and cheap education. Sure, like anyone who gets excited about anything they may get wrapped up in the microcosmic world of student politics or media creation; but in the end their goals and ideas are driven by student problems. Why fight against each other when a simple chat can stop all this jumping to conclusions?

Who says that condemning the destruction of infrastructure in Gaza is outside the “scope of the student union?” The SU mission statement is vague enough to cover a student-led moon-walk. My sister column Rousing the Rabbles says that such a motion achieves nothing tangible. What constitutes tangible for a student group with a yearly turnover? Free tuition?

Free beer?

The truth is that the power of any student group is limited to the power held by students. And while there is some power there, it is not enough that we should reprimand students for expressing unorthodox approaches to engaging students. If we can’t voice our concerns in an unorthodox fashion in a

liberal, youthful, academic setting, then we have a sad life ahead of us.

Students are not unified in their cares and challenges: a fact that makes governance both difficult and interesting. This fact also speaks to the necessity of meaningful and constant communication. I believe that students are interested; I believe the involved students care.

Why the lack of engagement in the general population? Why the discontent and malicious words among those who are involved? The simple answer is communication and patience. Martinez didn’t give the student union a chance and the SU isn’t communicating and explaining its actions to the general population. Ouellette jumped on students who wanted to show that even politically bound organizations can show compassion, while the student union did not explain the meaning or purpose of the Gaza motion to the student population.

We must assume that our student brethren are intelligent and compassionate people. We must greet them with patience and a willingness to work together. We must transcend our organizational silos and work on horizontal ground. In this way, students will engage their education at the highest of levels. If we cannot be united as students, it does not bode well for our future.

It is time to talk, to “waste some time” getting to know each other. No one ever said that student policy had to be created by a few people in board rooms and behind computer screens.

Why not stir a little policy into our coffee conversation?

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

Letters Must be submitted by e-mail including your name, letters with pseudonymns will not be printed.

Letters must be 400 words at maximum. Deadline for letters is Friday at 5 p.m. before each issue.

Editorial Policy While we endeavour to provide an open forum for a variety of viewpoints and ideas, we may refuse any submission considered by the editorial board to be racist, sexist, libellous, or in any way discriminatory.

The opinions and views expressed in this newspaper are those of the individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Brunswickan, its Editorial Board, or its Board of Directors.

All editorial content appearing in The Brunswickan is the property of Brunswickan Publishing Inc. Stories, photographs, and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the express, written permission of the Editorin-Chief.

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brunswickanopinion

Jan, 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142 • 9

A questionable poster (and actually, it’s spelt ‘H-O-E’) Sarah Olsen & Matt Abbott

Submitted

to the

Brunswickan

The Social Club poster promoting last Saturday’s “Ho Down” has crossed a line – in fact, it has crossed many lines.

The poster features a scantily clad cowgirl with the text “Ho Down” over her barely covered breasts, with promise of cash prizes and cheap drinks for students. While this may not be out of character for Social Club advertisements, it cannot be tolerated as it promotes the objectification of women as well as heavy drinking, heightening the risk of both sexual violence and unsafe sex.

While a “H-O-E”-down (a rather splendid display of footwork in dance) is occasionally spelled with an “e”, the implications of the chosen spelling on the Social Club poster are crystal clear. “Ho” is also a pejorative label designating a prostitute. The posters basically encourage students to get tipsy off cheap drink specials; entice women to attend the event dressed in skimpy cowgirl outfits (a.k.a. “ho” outfits, as they are termed on the posters – a term that just oozes negative stereotypes of “easy women” and ideas of prostitution); and suggest students should expect ‘easy’ sexual partners. Apparently the Social Club thinks that this “get drunk, have sex” mindset is actually a great promotional tool and will thus readily take advantage of this idea to encourage students and community members to

buy their alcohol products and drink up.

Of course the poster is poor in taste but the problems surrounding this advertisement run much deeper than matters of personal preference.

Combined with the promotion of excessive alcohol consumption/ drinking, the implied support of sexual actions has serious implications vis-à-vis coercive sexual behaviour and safer sex.

With excessive alcohol consumption, people may become incapable of consenting to sexual relations or resisting unwanted advances. This concerns much more than merely experiencing afterthe-fact regrets; where consent is not established by all parties (starting with the initiator checking for consent) any resulting sexual activity is deemed sexual assault in the eye of the law. Further, the mixing of excessive drinking and the oversexualization of an event such as this will possibly create an environment leading to risky behaviour. Where people are too drunk to make good decisions, and are in a context promoting sex, they are less likely to practice safer sex and increase their susceptibility to the risk of unwanted pregnancies and contracting STI’s.

The Sexuality Center exists to promote healthy attitudes surrounding sexual issues, especially safer sex.

The Center is further committed to working to end sexual violence and to encourage healthy relationships. VASA (Voices Against Sexual Aggression) joins the Center in this anti-violence commitment. VASA works to create

a campus safe from sexual violence for all university community members thorough education about consent and respectful and responsible relationships.

As such, we are disappointed to see such blatantly inappropriate advertising so prominent on our campus. How can we truly hope to build a safe and respectful campus when we have no mechanism to ensure that organizations like the Social Club do not take actions that, in the end, promote ideas that facilitate sexual violence and unsafe sex?

The Sexuality Centre and VASA are by no means anti-sex. People can have safer, consensual, respectful sex lives of their choice. The Social Club poster in question forces hypersexualized conceptions of sexuality onto members of our campus community. These conceptions promote risky behaviour both in terms of safer sex practices, alcohol consumption, and sexual assault.

As students, we have chosen to immerse ourselves in an academic environment where we are all encouraged and supported in reaching our intellectual and academic potential.

Should we not aspire toward a higher standard than that displayed last week by the Social Club? This standard can be one in which women and men, are not portrayed as sexual objects, but celebrated for their intellectual and academic capacities.

Sarah Olsen is the UNB Sexuality Centre Coordinator. Matt Abbott is the UNB Voices Against Sexual Aggression Coordinator.

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

This poster was seen across campus last week advertising a ‘Ho-Down’ event at the Social Club on Jan. 24.

On government and certainty: A reprise Rousing the Rabbles Nick Ouellette

There is a curious certainty in the old saying that in politics, nothing is certain.

Eight weeks ago, in the face of opposition parties moving to strike a coalition and poised to take power, Prime Minister Harper asked the Governor General to prorogue Parliament. She agreed, allowing Harper to cling to power and effectively cancelling everything they had started only weeks prior to that.

This week, a new session of Parliament resumes. A lot has changed since early December, and although some of these changes bear a hue of misfortune, they tell a story about the way politics might work in the coming months.

Back then, the government proclaimed that the Canadian economy would weather the storm of global economic uncertainty and that the credit crunch would not push so fiercely against Canadian families. Today, the government asserts an impending failure of the economy without intervention, and is projecting $64 billion in deficits over the next two years. Long gone are the days of Canadian surpluses in the area of $10 billion annually.

As a result, some in the Conservative party are accusing the government of abandoning its values. There is more evidence for this than deficit spending.

Take the Senate as an example. Harper has been adamant since assuming the Prime Minister’s job that he would not appoint unelected Senators. Michael Fortier notwithstanding, he had held to this since 2004 and let 18 vacancies pile up in his battle with the provinces for Senate reform. But when it became clear that there was a risk of losing his job, Harper quickly filled all 18 spots with unelected individuals to avoid the chance that a Liberal Prime Minister would be able to appoint Liberals to the Senate.

The Liberal leadership has also changed. When the opposition parties entered a coalition in December, Stephane Dion was still hobbling along in his Grit leadership. When it became clear that there was real potential for the

government to fall in January, the party panicked and shelved its ongoing process to replace Dion — who had just steered the party to its worst electoral results since Confederation — and anointed Michael Ignatieff as leader.

Notwithstanding the willingness of Iggy’s only two declared opponents for the top post at the time, this was not a democratic process. Ironically, it now appears (on Monday, at the time of this column being written), that the Liberals do not intend to vote against the budget and that government will survive.

The pause button has been pushed on other traditions too, such as cabinet secrecy. The prorogation back in December was a consequence of the ultimate realization by the government that it had to respond to economic difficulties instead of simply publicly stating that there was no problem and that the non-problem would not affect Canada. Since that time, the government has developed both a Throne Speech and a budget to be delivered in less than 48 hours, which is an anomalous proximity in Canadian politics. To build public support for their budgetary policies, Harper’s ministers have been leaking details of the budget since last week. It’s not a bad strategy, it’s just not what is done in Canada; the budget is normally announced in – not surprisingly – the budget speech!

I had been waiting for the Speech

the brunswickan.

from the Throne before writing this column because it normally spells out the general governmental policy for the coming session. Much to my chagrin, the speech was less than eight minutes long and made only one point: there is a global economic crisis and there will be an economic stimulus plan to respond to it. Wow, that’s a big surprise. As one television commentator noted as soon as the speech was over, cabinet ministers had announced more policy informally in the last week than the Governor General did in the Senate Chamber. So much for tradition.

In fact, the only remaining certainty is the unwillingness of the NDP to even consider what is in the budget before making up their minds on this matter of confidence in the government. Jack Layton and his underlings have been clear since day one (read: the day Parliament was prorogued) that they were not going to support any government action, no matter what it was. And this is supposed to be responsible?

It’s becoming clear that political expediency is now the priority, and the governing mantra is to do whatever you can, however you can, to gain or retain power. Then, when that’s done, worry about the economy.

I’m quite disappointed in the behaviour of all three major federal political parties. Anybody who watched the antics in early December 2008 was

clear on one thing: even though we had just gone through a federal election — the third in about four years — the House of Commons was serving as little more than a sandbox for children.

Since so many things have changed outside the House chamber, I’m hopeful that the playground mindset has as well. For years, Canadians have been lamenting that fundamental fiscal and social problems remain unresolved and are getting worse, even though governments have time and again promised they would be fixed. The traditions of Ottawa have in many cases been the impeding factor.

If political expediency is now the priority and has caused so many things to change in the last eight weeks, I hope it can work to ensure that Parliament actually starts effecting real change and that the question at the forefront of our legislators’ minds is no longer about retaining power but what is best for the country and its citizens. If anything is certain, it’s that this kind of thinking actually would be expedient for Canadians.

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.

letters to the editor due by friday at 5 p.m. maximum 400 words, please. send them electronically to editor@thebruns.ca.

brunswickanopinion

10 • Jan. 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142

letters to the editor.

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor, I would like to respectfully correct some of the figures in Sarah Ratchford’s article “UNBSU passes motion to support those suffering in Gaza,” from the Jan. 14 issue of the Brunswickan.

Firstly, it is stated in the article that “over 500 Palestinians have been killed, and about 2,000 wounded since the beginning of Israel’s campaign on Dec. 27. A minimum of 200 of the dead were civilians.”

Even the most conservative of estimates, possibly short of the Israeli military, place the Palestinian death

toll over 1,000, with at least half being women and children. The number of wounded Palestinians was closer to 4,000 or more. These were the numbers being reported on Jan. 14, the date the article was published.

It is also stated that Gaza is “currently occupied by Islamist militant group Hamas”. This is simply factually incorrect, although it was also reported as such in the Aquinian. It is generally recognized that a functioning democracy would be virtually impossible in Gaza in its current condition, considering Israel’s

control over its borders and airspace.

However, it needs to be recognized that Hamas is an elected body, one of very few in the Middle East. I am not in any way saying this in support of Hamas, but rather in support of accurate reporting.

I realize that this is a complex issue and can be difficult to cover, but these numbers require no analysis whatsoever. They can be easily found on several websites, including the UN, CBC or the BBC. Please recognize the power held by journalists and editors over the public opinion of these issues. This power should not be abused or taken lightly.

I would really appreciate seeing these corrections in the next issue of the Brunswickan, as this is an issue of great importance to many members of the UNB-STU and Fredericton community. And despite my mild criticisms of the article, I would like to thank you for covering this issue.

Sincerely, Marie-Christine Allard

What is the scope of the UNBSU? I think it should be maximizing the progress of students at UNB. Providing the students with a comfortable and stimulating environment while shielding them from the wrath of the capitalistic elements sounds like a good realm to work within to me. So what the hell does a war which has been going on for 60 years on the other side of the world have to do with UNB students? The answer on an academic and community level: nothing.

It is a personal issue, an issue which, in my opinion, is outside the scope of the UNBSU. I do believe the Lockheed Martin motion (made Monday, Jan. 19) is within the scope of the student union. If Lockheed Martin is engaging in activity that is condemned by the UN then the students have a right to know, since Lockheed will be advertising at UNB. Students also have the right as to whether or not they want their environment invaded by a shady corporation.

The “shadiness” of the corporation is a moral issue that has to be weighed. Since the UNBSU represents the students it is their job in my opinion to weigh the moral issues and decide if something is appropriate or not.

The following is an open letter to Dr. John McLaughlin, President of UNB: Given the significant snowfall that Fredericton received on Sunday night and Monday morning last week, I find it extremely irresponsible of UNB to not have taken their students, staff, and faculty’s safety into consideration and issued a closure notice.

At 9 a.m. on Monday morning, I was following a line of students, walking on the road of University Ave., as the sidewalks were impassable.

While most vehicles were observant of us, we were, nevertheless, placed in a situation that put our safety at risk.

I was informed by a faculty member that UNB only receives its operating budget if it stays open until noon. If that is in fact correct, and the reason that students’ safety was put at risk was due to financial reasons, I would suggest that the decision of closing the university be made by someone other than UNB administration, as it is clearly a conflict of interests.

I hope that wisdom prevails in future decision making regarding university closures due to inclement weather.

Sincerely,

Regards,

Brandon Moore

Kerri Krawec

questions? comments?

447.3388 / editor@thebruns.ca

brunswickanopinion

Jan, 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142 • 11

If you want to make a significant difference, work together Student Beat Bethany Vail

University is a unique experience for each individual. Take myself, for example. During my four years of study in business administration I have been in the co-op program, Student Union, Senate and Board of Governors.

We also all have different reasons for being here. Some of us are here to get away from home and “party hardy” for a couple years without really any long term plans. Some of us are here to get in and get out as quick as we can to start “real life.” Some of us are here to learn – not only in the classroom, but from each other. Then there are some of us who are here because we want to make a significant difference.

What classifies “making a significant difference” is also unique to each individual. For some it means making the Dean’s List. For others it’s being a residence leader. No matter what path led you here or what you have decided to do with your time at UNB, there is one thing I am certain about when you want to make a significant difference.

You need to work together.

No man is an island and no single student can be a Student Union.

Therefore, it is interesting to observe behaviours of certain individuals who appear to want to make a significant difference. Instead of actually trying to work together to create policies that will work for students, certain individuals feel that they can only make change through anarchy.

Comics!

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Alex Corey, a Student Union Councillor involved with the Coalition for Accessible and Affordable Education, introduces a speaker at Monday’s Slash Fees Forum.

Recently a small group of students have come together out of frustration that their views on tuition policy are not being discussed at the Student Council table. They call themselves the Coalition for Accessible and Affordable Education (CAAE). They claim that “YOUR Student Union OFFICIALLY OPPOSES tuition freezes.”

Upon reading the Oct. 30, 2008 minutesoftheUNBSUCouncilmeeting (found online at unbsu.ca) you can find the inaccuracy of this statement. The Council passed a motion 13-4 stating that although “tuition freezes may have a role in a holistic student financial aid plan, these freezes are not sustainable,

efficient programs at addressing the affordability of education.”

Council then resolved that the “reallocation of funds from the Tuition Freeze” go towards “targeted assistance focused at addressing high needs students.” Basically, a tuition freeze alongside other programs can work – but not on its own.

What is ironic is that the CAAE is fighting for the same thing – a more accessible, affordable education with more grants and upfront funding. Yet they have not attempted to contact the policy makers of the Student Union to try to work together for the betterment of all students. In fact, when members

of the Student Union executive found out about this coalition, they excitedly tried to get more information on CAAE policy. Instead of engaging meaningful policy discussions, the CAAE staged a policy debate and created a campuswide forum that the Student Union was not invited to.

As such, it seems the CAAE and its affiliates are more interested in pitting students against students instead of working together toward a truly accessible and affordable education.

Sure there are some differences, like the CAAE’s push for tuition reductions.

Who wouldn’t want tuition to be cheaper? But with a projected federal

deficit of $34 billion this year and $30 billion next, as well as an expected deficit next year in New Brunswick, how pragmatic is a tuition reduction when over 50 per cent of UNB’s operating budget comes from the government?

It’s time to put the attacks aside because, let’s face it, the only way to make a significant difference when it comes to accessible affordable education is for us to work together. The rising costs of tuition is not a battle between students, it’s a battle for students.

Bethany Vail is President of the UNB Student Union. Student Beat is a weekly column by UNB’s student leaders examining issues pertinent to students.

The old man rant a satire by Dave Evans

Wow. It appears that some people (as usual) couldn’t leave well enough alone, and as a result, Lockheed Martin decided to say, “screw you guys, I’m going home.”

For anyone who was not aware, Lockheed Martin, a shining example of capitalist success, was scheduled to come to UNB to meet with prospective future employees.

However, as can be reasonably expected, some hippies decided to show up and completely screw decent, hardworking students out of jobs.

Now, to be fair, I didn’t even know Lockheed Martin was coming to the campus.

Had I been aware, I would have totally jumped at the chance to meet with them.

I’m not sure you’re aware how many nights I’ve dreamed of becoming a billionaire weapons manufacturer, creating a suit of armour and taking down evil-doers. Well, I only have a business degree, so maybe I’d have to settle for being that dick who steals Tony Stark’s designs in Iron Man, but I digress.

As usual, I’m sick and tired of people protesting against something completely irrelevant to their lives. If you want to do something productive, and useful to society, go get a job. I realize that not everyone can wind up being a business genius like me; the world definitely needs people to cook my french fries at McDonald’s. No, wait, scratch that; I don’t want any long-hairs preparing my food – it’d probably wind up smelling like granola and stinky Che Guevara t-shirts. Once again, I digress.

I’m extra pissed this week, because one of my good friends was supposed to have an interview with Lockheed Martin and obviously wasn’t able to. Although the person is working towards degrees in psychology and computer science – which makes me afraid they will be the one to create Skynet – they are a good person and deserve a fair chance. Guess what hippies, you’ve made it personal.

As a result, I’m afraid I’m going to have to retaliate. I’m going to find information on each one of you, and protest YOU. If you have a job (which I highly doubt), I will protest your place of employment. During events such as “Buy Nothing Day,” I will show up alongside you and begin peddling imitation Rolexes from the inside of my trench coat. Oh, and you had best be sure that I will campaign tirelessly to ensure Quaker Oats gets shut down; say good bye to your granola supply. Remember well Newtonian physics: for every action, there is an equal and opposite – my foot up your ass.

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

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TODAY!

Sports/Volunteer/Facilities/Religion/Culture/etc

C&S Fair TODAY, January 28th SUB Atrium 11am - 2pm Practice Conversational English with Games & Activities January 28 from 6-8pm in SUB Room 103 Free Food & Refreshments!

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

A great opportunity to find a club or society to join if you are not currently involved in any extra-curricular groups

For information on any of UNB’s clubs or societies contact clubs@unb.ca Check out unbsu.ca for an updated clubs and societies listing

Student Union General Election 2009 NOMINATION PERIOD

CAMPAIGNING

VOTING

Friday Jan. 30 to Friday Feb. 6 at 4pm Candidates’ meeting Friday Feb. 6 at 4pm

Begins Friday Feb. 6 following the candidates’ meeting

Sunday Feb. 22 at 12:01am to Friday Feb. 27 at 11:59pm

Available Positions STUDENT UNION EXECUTIVE - President - VP Student Services - VP External - VP Finance and Operations - VP Academic

GENERAL COUNCILORS - Arts, Business Administration, Computer Science, Education, Engineering, Forestry, Kinesiology, Nursing, Science - International Student Representative - Residence Liaison OTHER - 2 Board of Governors positions - Senate (4 one-year positions, 1 two-year position) - Valedictorian for graduating class of 2009

Nomination forms and answers to all your questions available in the SU Welcome Center

use your voice. send your letters to editor@thebruns.ca.

brunswickanopinion

Jan, 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142 • 13

more letters to the editor.

Dear Editor, Last October I ran for the position of VP External against Jon O’Kane.

The campaign went really well and was a lot of fun. It was also conducted without any personal attacks. After the votes were in, I had lost, however the students did not lose as they found themselves with a very competent person to do the job. I strongly believe that Mr. O’Kane as well as the rest of the SU executive has been doing a great job so far.

I was at the SU meeting last week that saw a motion being defeated concerning Lockheed Martin. It was clear to me that the motion being put forward had no place on the agenda, especially that it was an added item which prevented students to know about it with enough time to voice their concern.

During the meeting, Councillor Matt Abbott said that Lockheed Martin would lie and deceive the

students. Looking at recent events in the past few hours I find his statement quite interesting. Lockheed Martin knew full well what they would have to face during their information session and therefore decided it was not worth their time and cancelled the event, depriving several students of a chance to learn about a job opportunity that they should have the choice to accept or not.

A video was put on YouTube about the SU executive and Lockheed Martin. While in the process of writing this letter I went to go watch it to get direct quotes but the clip had been removed due to term of use violations. They did say that 20 supporters showed up at the meeting.

I was there, and more like eight noncouncil members were there.

Now STRAX did not stop there.

They tried to corner VP O’Kane into a debate with only 12 hours notice and disregard to his class schedule which happens to be posted on his

door. Moreover they posted flyers all around campus with his face without his permission. Furthermore at the time of “the debate” since VP O’Kane was in class, CHSR aired what would turn out to be nothing short of a personal attack towards not only VP O’Kane but the entire SU executive.

Now, as a student who is forced to pay $15 a year for CHSR I am deeply insulted with such use of airtime by a group representing only handful of student on campus. University will teach us how to think for ourselves.

Why are we supporting through forced fees a marginal group trying to tell us how to think? I will end this letter by voicing my total support to VP O’Kane, whom I ran against, and the rest of the SU executive as I am sure will continue their great work with unclouded judgment.

Sincerely, Jacques Landry A very concerned student

Dear Editor,

Now that students at UNB are dedicated to protesting the destruction of academic institutions by groups that use violence to achieve their goals, a cause I can support at no cost whatever to my way of life, they might want to pass a resolution condemning the Taleban: “Taleban militants have blown up another five schools in northwest Pakistan, officials say, despite a government pledge to safeguard education. The schools were destroyed in the town of Mingora in troubled Swat district.” (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/ hi/south_asia/7836875.stm) I am sure UNB student representatives can also find many other such events, although that might take the edge off the recent condemnation of Israeli actions.

Sincerely, Roger Seamon

iewpoint V

brunswickanopinion

14 • Jan. 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142

the brunswickan.

“Raise taxes and lower fees.”

Chad McNeill

“Taxes.”

Cody Bulmer

“Taxes. Actual goverment funding.”

Lauren Emms

“It’s pretty unrealistic. The only way is to make up for it somewhere else.”

Matt Melanson

Question: How can we make free tuition possible in New Brunswick?

“Communism.”

Colin McPhail

“Just give us the money. Please.”

Jenna Henery

“Make the goverment pay for it like public school.”

Krista Carney

“Cut down on other things and put the money into education.”

Melissa Bates

“It’s more of a long term, unrealistic, but desirable goal.”

Mike MacLean

“I don’t really see it as a possibilty, but it would be interesting to see how.”

Susan Sheffield

brunswickanarts arts@thebruns.ca

Jan. 28 , 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142 •15

Carthaginians depicts life after Bloody Sunday

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Marisa Martin’s character Maela grieves at the burial site of a loved one in Carthaginians, which debuts Wednesday, Jan. 28 and runs through Saturday, Jan. 31 at Memorial Hall. Tickets for students are $6.

FROM TUNB PAGE 1 surrounds three women, Greta, Sarah, and Maela – played by Adrienne Fitch, Chelsea Steeves, and Marisa Martin respectively, who are waiting in the graveyard for the dead to rise.

The idea of loss doesn’t only revolve around the loss of loved ones after death, but also encompasses the issues of drug addiction, love, being openly

gay, and friendship lost after betrayal.

These subjects help keep the play relevant in contemporary Canadian culture despite it being based in 1980s Ireland.

“It deals with issues of sexuality that we don’t often see – even today. I think that people are going to be impressed by the performances because it’s a tough play to watch in many ways, but it’s a very beautiful play as well. I think people are going to be very affected by it,” says Falkenstein.

The title of the play itself links back to the classic story of loss surrounding the city-state of Carthage. Carthage’s

queen, Dido, suffered the loss of her love and killed herself. After this, the Roman Empire came and destroyed the city and took over the Carthaginian Empire.

The play creates an allegory between the Roman Empire and the British Empire. The Irish are fighting to survive and keep their culture and language under the rule of the English – reasons that lead to the events of Bloody Sunday.

The Irish culture is well represented by the actors in the play. Each one of the seven actors does a good job of adopting the notoriously difficult ac-

cent and easily negotiates the slang and jargon of the culture.

But it’s not just an Irish caricature that the actors are able to bring to life.

Each of the actors captures the fragility of all of all of the different characters and makes the hurt and sadness they feel believable. All of the actors do a wonderful job of making the characters human, real, and we feel right along side of them.

It’s this experience that makes it worth it to go to this play, and why Falkenstein believes theatre remains relevant despite the technology available in this day and age.

“I think that theatre gives you an experience you can not get anywhere else. It’s not watching an image on the screen. You’re with a real actor who is looking at you, spitting on you, and sweating at you – if you’re in the front row.

“I don’t think that any kind of art form can touch you and move you the way that live theatre can,” says Falkenstein.

The show starts tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 28, and plays every night until Saturday, Jan. 31. Curtain is at 8:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall. Tickets are $6 for students and $10 for adults.

this week in brunswickanarts NBCCD hosting TALKabout lecture series The New Brunswick College of Craft and Design is hosting a weekly presentation ongoing until Feb. 23, every Monday night at 6 p.m. Interior designer Shaune Walsh Daigle is speaking this upcoming Monday, Feb. 2. Future speakers include Maegen Black, Karen Ruet, and Brigitte Clavette.

For a full schedule of the upcoming presentations and other NBCCD related events, check out www.nbcc.ca/nbccd.

Fredericton label making big waves on the East Coast, London Forward Music Group, Sleepless Nights and the Olympic Symphonium are bringing strong representation to this year’s East Coast Music Awards.

Forward is the only New Brunswick based outfit nominated for Label of the Year. Additionally, Olympic Symphonium and Sleepless Nights have both been nominated for Album of the Year.

Also, The Olympic Symphonium will join Share and Grand Theft Bus on a tour in the UK from Feb. 1-8. Share will continue into Northern England, Scotland and Germany to broadcoast the sound of their unreleased new album.

For more information, visit www.forwardmusicgroup.com.

Winter poetry readings on campus As part of UNB’s winter reading series, esteemed poets Randall Maggs and Barbara Klar will be presenting on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 8:00 p.m. in the Alumni Memorial Building Lounge.

Maggs is a UNB graduate whose recent work attempts to thoroughly explore the complex personality of hockey legend Terry Sawchuk, and has published two poetry collections to date.

Klar is an author as well as an established poet whose work has granted her a Gerald Lampert Award.

The Healing Power of Injury at the Capital With their debut EP featured on CBC Radio and charting respectably on college charts, Smothered in Hugs is hot off the press with their new full-length release entitled The Healing Power of Injury, is coming back to the Capital on Thursday, Feb. 12. You can glean more information about Smothered in Hugs on Myspace or on their website, www. smotheredinhugs.com.

Photos: (Left) James Boyle leads Forward Music Group, who are bringing strong representation to the 2009 ECMAs. Kyle Cunjak Photo. (Right) Up-and-coming Smothered in Hugs performing live at the Capital. Doug Estey / The Brunswickan.

brunswickanarts

16 • Jan. 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142

The devil’s in the details: fashion meets finance Pop Tart Ashley Bursey

Much like its wearer, this iconic bob is known for its bluntness. From its crisp, severe bangs to the piercing gaze that trails from beneath them, the decades-old bob – Vogue editor Anna Wintour’s trademark – is as quintessential in the fashion world as opaque tights with your A-line on a blustery fall day.

But one thing doesn’t go quite so nicely with that perfectly-rounded coif: losing money. And Vogue, despite reaching remarkable heights in the world of highfashion glossies (including an 832-page September issue only four years ago) is being hit hard by something at which Wintour might scoff: the economy.

Anna Wintour took the helm of what was once billed “the world’s most influential fashion magazine” in 1988.

But rumours have been swirling in recent

days: she plans to retire, she’s taking a more senior position with that company, or she’s – gasp! – being fired.

Perhaps I’ve got a bit of a bias. I’m fresh off a re-read of The Devil Wears Prada and my mind’s agog with strappy Jimmy Choos, luxe knee-length Cavalli skirts and everything de la Renta.

Of course, the book was written in a different economic environment; when it hit stands in 2003, it was still chic to pair your gazillion-dollar heels with a gazilliondollar everything else.

Now, not so much, and perhaps Vogue is feeling the pushback. The Victoria Beckhams of the world might still cater to the glossy pages of haute-couture mags (hell, her and David can practically paper their walls with their own half-naked Vogue ads, I’m sure), but more of us than ever are watching our wallets.

Taylor Swift, country’s newest It Girl, sports lower-end French Connection UK; Michelle Obama has professed proudly to rocking J. Crew; and Vanessa Hudgens loves cheapie store H&M. And then there’s the other direction: stores have begun to acknowledge our shallower pockets. H&M had it right a few years ago, kickstarting a trend of high-style

clothing with marked-down prices. Bebe, which caters to the corset-and-skinny-jean crowd, has begun its own inexpensive line in San Francisco (devastating when I’m all the way in New Brunswick!). And of course, we all know how much I appreciate a good Joe Fresh tank or even Urban Planet purse.

But it’s Vogue that’s got me all hot and bothered. While never one to dash out and buy the latest quadruple-digits Hermès bag, it was comforting to flick through its pages and see knockoffs appear, a few months later, on the local market. It was wonderful to feel, even just for a minute, enfolded into the pages of the super-elite, the front-row fashionistas.

The only upside? Last week, it was announced that ad revenue for the mag had dropped by 44 per cent. While I love the new Miu Miu ads and appreciate a great fisheye Tod’s, I can’t help feel a little bit sated. I love my Vogue, but 800 pages is a weighty tome to carry around – and it might be nice to see someone more affordable taking over the monopoly of fashion bible for a while.

Ashley Bursey is a graduate of St. Thomas University’s journalism program and a former Arts Editor of the Brunswickan.

Internet

The recent econonmic crisis doesn’t discriminate, and expensive fashion culture like that based around The Devil Wears Prada is no exception.

A handful of openings at the Beaverbrook Alison Clack The Brunswickan

swickan

The first gallery opening of the new year at Beaverbrook Art Gallery started off with a bang.

The opening, which was held this past Saturday at the art Gallery on Queen Street, was the kick off for five new exhibitions featured by the gallery.

The openings reflected the Beaverbrook Gallery’s history and feature as it enters its 50th year of operation.

Specifically, two of the gallery’s new exhibits show the gallery’s history and accomplishments.

In the west wing of the gallery a collection of masterworks owned by the gallery is featured. This collection features paintings by some of the world’s most prestigious artists including Freud, Turner, Cranach and Krieghoff.

In the east wing of the gallery is a collection featuring a piece of gifted artwork for each year of the gallery’s operation.

Gifts have been an incredibly important, and notorious, part of the gallery’s existence. The gallery’s permanent collection is largely made up gifts from Lord Beaverbrook and other benefactors. However, many of the gallery’s most impressive and renowned works have been under dispute in the past few years.

On March 23, 2004 the Canadian and British Beaverbrook foundations – run by Lord Beaverbrook’s heirs – looked to seek acknowledgement that 175 of the paintings that were gifted to the gallery were in fact only on loan. In addition to seeking this acknowledgement the foundations planned on removing several of these paintings and selling them at auction.

The Beaverbrook Art Gallery refused to acknowledge that these paintings were on loan to the gallery as the foundations alleged. In response to this the foundations

started a lawsuit that kept the paintings in dispute until March 26, 2007. At this time a Supreme Court judge deemed 85 of the disputed paintings were gifts and were to remain in the gallery’s possession.

Both the masterworks and gifts collections represent important parts of the gallery’s history. The featured opening this past weekend at the gallery represented an artist who has been incredibly in the Maritime’s art history.

Tom Forrestall’s collection at the gallery features works he created over his lifetime as an artist. It features paintings of Europe Forrestall painted several decades ago, more recent landscapes of the Maritimes, and old family photos of Forrestall as a child.

The collection represents his evolution as an artist. It shows works from his time as a fledgling artist to his later works as a respected member of the Order of Canada.

The final two gallery openings represent the more modern, multimedia aspects of art. While the other gallery openings show the path the gallery and Maritime art has taken in the past, these exhibits represent the direction for the future.

One of the exhibits, just past the gift collection in the east wing, features an installation by Graeme Patterson. The Barn and Barn Romance seems simple enough when one enters the small room. The installation at first glance is just a large miniature of a run-down barn. As one walks around the installation one comes to a side with a missing wall where a clay-mation video – Barn Romance – is playing on a TV inserted into the barn.

Downstairs in the Gallery is the final installation piece. Peter Kingstone’s 100 Stories About My Grandmother will be shown on TVs. The piece is a collection of interviews with male prostitutes discussing their grandmothers. Kingstone’s intention with the piece is to remove the stigma surrounding the group – prostitutes that is, not grandmothers.

The Beaverbrook Art Gallery is open every day of the week until 5:30 p.m., except on Thursdays when it is open until 9:00 p.m. Student fees to enter the gallery are only $3.

brunswickanarts

Jan. 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142 • 17

Hagerman’s hungry horoscopes

Get your grind on A closer look at Fredericton’s specialty coffee scene

Aries (March21st - April 19th)

You will be much hungrier than usual this week, dear Aries.

Your stomach will grumble extraordinarily loudly, causing an earthquake. Thankfully, the quake will overturn Doritos trucks, leaving them ripe for the eating. Your lucky sauce is awesome.

Doug Estey / The Brunswickan

As far as coffee drinking goes, Fredericton offers a wide variety of venues and atmospheres.

Taste: Pricing: Atmosphere: Variety: Service:

Doug Estey The Brunswickan Coffee. It’s something that we don’t really think about that often, and proof lies in the popularity of Tim Hortons, Canada’s most successful coffee and doughnut chain.

Tim Hortons’ “Model T” coffee business strategy is one that often goes overlooked.

Ever thought about how many different kinds of coffee you have to choose from when someone is going for a Tim’s run?

Maybe it’s time you should.

The Brunswickan has reviewed several major coffee outlets in Fredericton for the caffeinated aspirations of our readers.

Second Cup is the largest specialty coffee retailer in Canada, with its Fredericton location located at 440 King Street. Think of it as a Canadian Starbucks. With a huge array of blends available, from everything your grandmother might drink to something that will seriously kick your ass out of bed regardless of how early in the a.m., you won’t get bored of this place.

Like most specialty coffee shops, Second Cup rates their coffees on a basis of 1-5 in terms of how strong the blend is. Naturally, I was drawn to a 5, so I went with a Latin American “Continental Blend.” It was everything that the bright store colours and cheery, warm environment led me to expect. Free Wi-Fi access is a pleasant bonus, and likely to keep you for another hot drink, as its name suggests. Be warned, though, for you will face Starbucks-like prices.

Taste: Pricing: Atmosphere: Variety: Service:

4/5 2/5 4/5 5/5 5/5

Crumbs is a locally owned and operated coffee shop at 551 King Street. It’s a cute little spot with comfortable seating, and it also serves a various assortment of wraps, soups, and sandwiches. The food is great, and the location is even better (near the corner of King and Regent). Unfortunately, its coffee selection is somewhat limited, and my vanilla bean blend tasted average at best.

Worse, its cozy atmosphere is often forfeited by live music and/or karaoke played at alarmingly loud volumes. Service is quick and simple, unless you’re ordering a latte of any type, in which case you can forget about making it to your next meeting or class.

Overall, Crumbs has some potential as a venue and cafe. In terms of coffee and environment, however, it’s not quite there yet.

3/5 4/5 3/5 2/5 3/5

If you’re familiar with Timothy’s World Coffee, then you already know what Read’s Newsstand is all about. Read’s brews a bold selection of Timothy’s rich, flavourful coffees from a variety of locations around the world. I first fell in love with Timothy’s coffee in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, so I may be slightly biased towards the selection that Read’s offers, but upon entering its location at 435 King St., you’ll more than likely be drawn to its comfortable (though limited) seating area and extensive selection of magazine and newsprint.

Already familiar with Timothy’s coffee, I strayed from my usual strong blend and instead opted for a chai latte. Which, if you ever have the chance to try it, is absolutely fantastic.

In addition to Timothy’s coffee, Read’s also carries a wide variety of fair trade and organic snacks and other food products. Wi-Fi access is also available.

Taste: Pricing: Atmosphere: Variety: Service:

5/5 3/5 4/5 5/5 4/5

Starbucks franchises in Fredericton are somewhat less common than in other cities around the province, and as such, can be exclusively found at the Regent Mall.

(The Harriet Irving Library Commons Café only serves Starbucks coffee and is not actually a Starbucks.) If you’ve never tried Starbucks coffee before, prepare yourself.

Most of the blends, while excellent, are quite strong and will leave you shaking on an empty stomach. That being said, Starbucks never fails to offer an excellent selection, and my choice, a Guatemala Casi Cielo cross-blend, didn’t leave me disappointed.

Until I sat down, and, after snapping back to reality, discovered myself in the bustling Regent Mall. Perhaps a less than ideal spot for relaxation, and most certainly not a walkable distance from the campus during the winter.

Taste: Pricing: Atmosphere: Variety: Service:

5/5 2/5 3/5 5/5 5/5

Some other interesting coffee locations in Fredericton that we didn’t get to, but would love to try, include Coffee & Friends at 415 King Street, Trinitea’s Cup at 87 Regent Street, and Paradise Imports at 95 York Street.

Taurus (April 20th - May 20th)

Your love of honey mustard will be your downfall this week, dear Taurus. Every food other than honey mustard will taste bland and unsatisfying. Fortunately, you will not care. Your lucky bread is whole grain.

Gemini

Cancer

(May 21st - June 21st)

(June 22nd- July 22nd) Drinking ridiculous amounts of Pepsi will have an unintended consequence this week, dear Cancer.

The caffeinated explosion in your stomach will cause you to grow to double your size. Thankfully, since you were 3 feet tall to begin with, you won’t have any trouble avoiding hitting your head on doors. Your lucky duck is Donald Duck.

Your reliance on soy for your vegan lifestyle/foodstyle/healthstyle/ moralstyle/freestyle choice will cause difficulties for you this week, dear Gemini. Not unlike the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park with their dependence on lysine, if you are not supplied with your soy you will go into a coma. Your lucky lettuce is wet and crunchy.

Leo

(July 23rd - August 22nd)

Your healthy diet will be even more advantageous than usual, dear Leo. Your body will feel better, your hair will be shinier, and your teeth will start resembling rabbits’ teeth.

Nice. Your lucky ice cream named after a person is Stephen Colbert’s Americone Dream.

Virgo (August 23rd - September 22nd)

Eating lots of beef jerky will make you even more impressive this week, dear Virgo. Your teeth will be filed down until they are pointy by the gritty jerky. Just don’t go out to vampire raves after this, because for one thing, you’re not a real vampire, and for another, vampire raves are stupid. Your lucky chips are salty.

Libra

Scorpio

(September 23rd - October 23rd)

(October 24th - November 22nd)

You will discover a new skill while eating at an all-you-can-eat restaurant this week, dear Libra: your jaw can become unhinged like a snake’s to eat even MORE food! Restaurants all around the city will go out of business because you can eat much more food now. Your lucky board game is Hungry Hungry Hippos.

A game of Chubby Bunny will go awry this week, dear Scorpio. You will do so well at the game that you will eat all of the marshmallows, leaving none left for anyone else. You should be ashamed of yourself. Your lucky food that contains carotene is spinach.

Sagittarius

Capricorn

(November 23rd - December 21st)

(December 22nd - January 20th)

Aquarius

Pisces

(January 21st - February 18th)

(February 19th - March 20th)

Drinking way more water than usual will have adverse side effects this week, dear Sagittarius. At first, you will cleanse your body of all of its impurities, but eventually you will start cleansing your body of all skin colour.

You will be transparent, which will be kind of gross, but biology students will love you! Your lucky veggie burger has bacon added to it.

Your cooking expertise will receive an unexpected boost this week, dear Aquarius. The addition of a strange device called a stove will greatly increase your ability to cook for yourself. As long as you don’t burn yourself with it. Your lucky compilation album is the Food Album by Weird Al Yankovic.

Attempting to genetically engineer your own food will go even better than you anticipated this week, dear Capricorn. Not only will you know the joys of creating life, but you will also know the joys of being able to say that you were the first person to successfully grow a live turducken.

Your lucky rice is NOT minute rice.

Going without your coffee fix will slowly bring you back down to reality this week, dear Pisces. No, the entire world does not jitter and shake wildly, and colours do not jump straight into your eyes. A coffee-less world is a sad world. Your lucky sandwich is buttered.

brunswickanarts

18 • Jan. 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142

Why Microsoft needs Windows 7 to be good The world’s software giant is in big trouble if it flops another operating system

From The Tubes Doug Estey

Microsoft Corporation, the friendly neighbourhood author of your favourite operating system, is walking a very thin line.

Facing a potential $8.5 billion dollar lawsuit in the light of their horrendous train wreck of a campaign you might remember as “Vista Capable,” an ever-decreasing following of unhappy consumers, and the rise of prominent alternatives to the Windows desktop, the software giant has also been forced to lay off 5,000 employees earlier this month

due to the recent economic crisis.

You’d better believe that CEO Steve Ballmer is planning his next steps very carefully.

With the release of Windows Vista less than two years prior, the corporation has already begun public beta testing of its Windows 7 operating system.

Never before have I witnessed so many everyday computer users – some novice at best – jumping at the opportunity to install an officially unstable environment on their laptops, production workstations, and server farms.

Okay, maybe not servers, but hopefully you see the point.

So then, what’s so great about Windows 7?

The only answer that I can come up with is that it’s everything Vista should have been. It’s faster. Window management has been completely redesigned, making Aero something more than just an ugly,

semi-transparent skin and instead a tool for keeping your

desktop u nclut tered and organized.

Driver management has been

overhauled – again.

Additionally, the OS encompasses some innovative features that Mac and Linux users have been touting for years.

Something that jumps out right away is the redesigned taskbar - one that looks eerily like the OS X dock. Closer inspection, however, provides some interesting usability improvements as well as a few minor features that some overexcited Microsoft podcasters describe as “an excellent use of drag and drop.”

Microsoft Update has even borrowed a page from the old Linux textbook; administering important updates and drivers in a fashion similar to the Linux package manager.

This all comes as a big breath of fresh air for Windows. The operating system with a seeming stranglehold on desktop market share has suffered criticism of lacking innovation since its inception.

An improved, but still functional environment from Microsoft is long overdue, and with the Vista nightmare still looming over their backs, they’re scrambling to come up big.

And for good reason. The company’s inability to produce a modern operating system that is netbook-friendly and convincing enough for XP users to upgrade has been a constant thorn in their side.

With Mac and Linux-based computers on the rise, a repeated failure could mean catastrophic problems for Microsoft.

Those brave enough can still register for a free beta testing of Windows 7 until February 10 at www.microsoft.com/ windows/windows-7.

Doug Estey is Arts Editor of the Brunswickan.

Back in black (and red) at the Playhouse

Submitted

F.I.E.R.C.E. (top) and UNB Dance (bottom) are two acts that will be appearing at the 61st Red n’ Black Revue at The Playhouse on Feb. 1.

Doug Estey The Brunswickan It’s a long-standing tradition between the University of New Brunswick and the city of Fredericton. The 61st Red ‘n’ Black Revue, presented by the UNB Student Union, is slated for Sunday, Feb. 1 at the Fredericton Playhouse.

The Red n’ Black Revue is an elaborate annual variety show of sorts, well known for its eclectic variety of acts, from comedic slapstick to song and dance.

The event is appropriate for a wide variety of ages and audiences, making it a great occasion to bring the entire family out for a night of guaranteed entertainment.

This year’s featured acts include The Last of the Curious Thieves, F.I.E.R.C.E., UNB Dance, Sarah Farquhar and Tyler Lombard & his invisible Three Amigos, among a colourful cast of entertaining student figures.

Tickets are a mere $5 for students showing their school ID, $8 for seniors, and $10 for adults. They can be obtained by contacting The Playhouse Box Office at 1-866-884-5800.

STUDENT UNION UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK

Advertisements/Layout by Mike Stevenson: SU Multi-Media Coordinator - h113k@unb.ca - 506-470-1809

UNB STUDENT UNION PRESENTS THE 2009

WINTER CARNIvAL SATURDAY, JANUARY 31

ICE

Winter Formal

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 The Real 60th

c

revUE h

10pm - 1am in the SUB Atrium Bar provided by the Cellar Coat check for sponsor relief efforts in Gaza Free for all UNB undergrads Free cover into the Social Club for all formal attendees

8pm at the Fredericton Playhouse $5 for students Tickets available at the door Free transportation provided in front of the SUB at 7pm

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6

N I G H T

3pm - 10pm Half-price lift tickets and rentals Free transportation for all UNB undergrads from the SUB at 3pm (You must sign up PRIOR to Feb.3 in order to have a spot on the bus) Free chili to all participants unpon return to the Cellar

With Surprise Opener!

9pm in the SUB Atrium $5 for all UNB students Tickets available in the SU Welcome Center and at the door

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7

RIDGES POLAR DIP In support of the IWK Children’s Hospital Live entertainment, BBQ and prizes starting at 12pm Dip at 3pm in the Quad To take the Dip contact Bridges House President Sarah Jardine through e-mail at p5e3i@unb.ca

VS 7pm - 9pm at the Aitken Centre $3 for all UNB students Plenty of prizes to be won Attend any Winter Carnival event for your chance to win tickets

Student id is mandatory for admittance into all events!

brunswickansports

Jan.28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142 • 20

sports@thebruns.ca

Finally finding their winning ways UNB Men’s Basketball go 1-1 in weekend set, matching last season’s win total

Alex Wickwire The Brunswickan

The 2009 half of the AUS season has been good to the Reds. This past Saturday night, in front of 600 people, the UNB Varsity Reds men’s basketball team won their first non-exhibition home game of the season. Coming off a weekend split at Acadia, they returned home to face MUN where they maintained their new year .500 record.

Mike Anderson played a team-high 37 minutes, scoring 15 points and adding eight assists. Anderson and his 6-foot-7 vertical reach recorded three crucial blocked shots over the weekend.

“It was a bit ugly, but we’re glad,” said Anderson following the Reds victory.

“It feels good.”

Saturday night started off slowly for UNB. Failing to attack the rim, settling for timid mid-range jump shots, prohibited the Reds from opening up any sort of a lead. Alex DesRoches’ ugly air ball from about 10 feet out was somewhat of a wake-up call for the team.

From then on, UNB began pounding the ball into the low post.

Colton Wilson was the focal point of UNB’s attack, taking only highpercentage shots and drawing fouls.

At one point the crowd even had a “C-DUB” chant going. As Memorial adjusted their defence to contain Wilson, the floor opened up for the V-Red’s backcourt players. Capitalizing on MUN mistakes, Antwann Parks and Mike Anderson turned up their game

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

The UNB Varsity Reds basketball team is finally starting to come together as a team and play at their full potential. The Reds are 2-2 in the new year, compared to their winless start in the 2008 portion of the season. tempo and played classic “run ‘n’ gun” basketball.

The team highlight came in the second quarter. Pushing the ball with a three-on-two fast break, Parks faked an inside drive then threw a no-look pass to a trailing Wilson who laid the ball in for an easy two. The Memorial players looked absolutely baffled, and the entire L.B. Gym crowd went wild. Parks sold the play with his emotionless facial expression, and immediately shifted his focus to his defensive assignment after the score.

At halftime, the Reds had built a huge lead by shooting a beautiful 69 per cent. The game was playing out in the smoothest possible way for UNB and head coach Brent Baker was pumping his fist so enthusiastically it looked like his arm would pop out of its socket at any time.

Memorial came out for the second half performing at the same level they did in the first two quarters and the Reds kept a double digit lead till the fourth. Before the fourth quarter, the look on the faces of the Memorial players was comparable

to the expressions of the Washington Generals in a game against the Harlem Globetrotters.

In the final quarter, MUN came out with hustle plays and gritty defence, but UNB outlasted them to claim a fourpoint victory, 76-72.

Sunday afternoon both teams were trading baskets. This game was the return of Reds centre Lonzel Lowe, playing 15 minutes mostly to set screens and pull down rebounds. This game went down to the very last minute.

Carrying a one-point lead into the

fourth quarter, the Reds proceeded to go completely ice-cold, dropping an 8076 decision to MUN. The game was lost on “an in-out three (pointer)” said coach Baker, as well as the inability to score off three offensive rebounds. “They shot layups and we shot jump shots,” said Baker.”We had trouble adjusting to their zone down the stretch.”

The Reds will attempt to continue their success in 2009 when they hit the road to take on Cape Breton and St. FX next weekend.

Reds run out of steam against MUN Sports Department The Brunswickan

It was a close call for the Reds in the Pitt over the week. The UNB women’s basketball team lost steam in the fourth quarter during both of their weekend matches against Memorial, going 0-2 against their Atlantic division rivals.

Memorial’s Victoria Thistle led the way for the visiting Seahawks. Her 21 points helped MUN climb their way back to the lead in the fourth quarter, after falling behind by nine points entering the final frame. Fredericton native Amanda Sharpe’s 11 points weren’t enough to keep the Reds in the lead, as they allowed MUN to outscore them 25-5 in the final quarter, finishing off a 80-69 victory for Memorial.

“Well we were up against the seventh ranked team in the country, who only have one loss all season,” said coach Jeff Speedy. “For three quarters on Saturday, we played very well. We had a nine point lead and played a terrible fourth quarter.”

Despite the loss, the Reds were able to show that they can contend with some of the best in the nation.

“I’m not one to be all excited about moral victories but I think we can take a lot out of this weekend,” Speedy commented. “We went toe-to-toe with

one of the best teams in the country.

If we didn’t have such a terrible fourth quarter we might have came away with the victory.”

Sunday’s match saw much of the same result. Trailing by 10 at the end of three quarters, Memorial blew open the doors in the fourth with an 18-6 run. Brittany Dalton notched a game-high 16 points for Memorial, while third-year guard Jessica Steed had 15 for the Reds.

“On Sunday, I thought the girls did the best they could but I just think their [MUN’s] athleticism and size just got to us and there wasn’t much we could do about it,” said Speedy.

With the loss, the Reds (4-8) now sit in fifth place in the AUS standings.

MUN, who entered the weekend in second place, now sit atop the standing with 32 points on the year.

The Reds will now have a week to fix their fourth quarter woes before their next league action. Coach Speedy was certain that it was an item to be covered in the week to follow.

“We’re certainly going to address it,” said Speedy. “I think the main thing is when teams press us we tend to freak out a little bit. We have to learn to handle other teams stepping up their defense and putting a lot of pressure on us.

We have to make sure that we can still execute our defense and not turn the ball over.”

The competition won’t be getting any easier for the Reds. They travel to

Nova Scotia to take on Cape Breton and St. FX next weekend before returning home to take on a double-header against Saint Mary’s the following weekend.

Saturday night’s game against Memorial University was more than just a basketball game for the UNB Varsity Reds. Raising awareness for a reputable charity, members of the Reds took to the court for their annual ‘pink game.’

An initiative proposed a few years back

by Bishops University coach Rod Gilpin, ‘Shoot for the Cure’ is a nationwide effort in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport women’s basketball program.

There are 38 teams aboard, all raising funds for their respective Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation chapters.

UNB head coach Jeff Speedy is the national co-ordinator of the program.

He was pleased with the attendance and the overall success of the charity game on Saturday evening.

“Our goal was to raise over $2,000, closer to $2,500, and I think we reached that,” said Speedy.

A crowd of close to 400 were in attendance to show their support for both the Reds and for breast cancer research, leading to a successful evening according to event organizers.

“I think the whole evening was a little bigger than last year. There was a bigger crowd, we got more into it, and a lot of people in the crowd were wearing pink. Overall, I think it was just bigger and better than last year,” said Speedy.

Ssndy Chase / The Brunswickan

The women’s basketball team blew a lead in the fourth quarter, dropping their ‘Shoot for the Cure’ game against Memoral, a top ranked team in Canada.

UNB now stands in fifth place in the AUS standings with a 4-8 record.

brunswickansports

Jan. 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142 • 21

Swimmers finish second to Dalhousie Chris Cameron The Brunswickan

After nearly two months away from competition, the UNB men’s and women’s swim teams were back in the pool last weekend, for the Dual Meet at Sir Max Aitken pool. The meet included teams from DAL, MUN, and UPEI. All teams came ready to compete last weekend, looking for wins as they prepare for the upcoming AUS championships.

Despite the extended break between competitions, a holiday-break training camp combined with a heavy schedule of practices helped to keep UNB sharp and at the top of their game. UNB finished second overall, behind a dominating Dalhousie line-up who claimed all match-ups.

The women’s team went 3-1 in dual action. Their only loss fell to the hands of DAL by a score of 145-62. The Reds topped MUN 109 – 51, MTA 127 – 60, and crushed UPEI 133 – 43.

Individual events were captured by Shannon Donnelly (200m IM) and Danielle Merasty (100m freestyle).

Katelyn MacDonald, a third-year P.E.I.-native felt that their results came directly from the extra work they’ve put in as of late. “We had a really hard training camp after Christmas and it shows how

that hard work paid off. Everyone is looking better than before the break.

I am really positive about where we are going into AUS championships.”

The men’s team had similar success.

Dropping a match against DAL 140 – 70, the recorded victories against MUN (120-60), MT. A (118-64) and UPEI (136-45).

Male individual swimmers who win their events were Patrick Adam (200m breaststroke) and Rene Boudreau (200m backstroke).

Fourth-year team member Brian Beaudette was pleased with the results of the weekend. “I came into the meet expecting it to be hard,” said Beaudette.

“We are not tapering our training yet so we are a little tired. But everybody grinded through their swims and did really well.”

For Beaudette, the meet marked his last home competition for the veteran swimmer. “It was my last home meet and it was a really good time. The team looks the best it has in the four years that I have been here. They have lots of heart.”

UNB coach Paula Crutcher was pleased with the results. “I was very pleased with the day’s swims. They look like they are in great shape and swam very well. A two week taper and they will be ready to go for AUS Championships.”

Coming up, UNB is off to the AUS Championships Feb. 6-8, hosted by Dalhousie. Additional swimmers hope to qualify for the CIS Championships a few weeks later on Feb. 19 at UBC. UNB swimmers will have to push themselves a little farther to meet the high expectations to qualify.

Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan

The Dalhousie Tigers were the only team that stood in the way of the Reds during dual meet action held in Fredericton this past weekend. Clockwise from top are Reds swimmers Morgan Millard, Shauna Manning and Nick Cameron.

brunswickansports

22 • Jan. 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142

Boyce credits university program for success Brandon MacNeil The Brunswickan

Two years ago, Darryl Boyce was helping ensure a playoff spot for the Varsity Reds Men’s hockey team.

After being named rookie of the year in his first season, he helped lead UNB to a CIS national championship in the next season.

Today, he sits comfortably in between playing with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and waiting for his next chance at the big leagues.

Last season, Boyce realized a boyhood dream after he found himself on the biggest hockey stage of them all.

Called up by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boyce laced up for his first game in the National Hockey League, only to be sidelined for the remainder of the season following an on-ice freak accident early in the game.

“It was a shock more then anything,” said Boyce. “Playing for the Leafs was something all kids dream of so really I was basically just living my dream.”

Boyce, who grew up in Summerside, P.E.I., credits a lot of his success to the

Internet

A long list of UNB hockey alumni are now playing professional hockey in Canada and throughout the United States.

Pictured is Darryl Boyce, a former V-Red now playing with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

University’s hockey program. “(UNB) allowed me to develop into more of a complete player,” he said.

“Throughout junior I was more of a defensive player, however at UNB, I was more offensive.”

Boyce seems to be finding himself with yet another role now as he works his way up the rankings. He currently

From the bottom up

leads the Marlies in penalty minutes while still managing to put up points.

“One thing that didn’t change from junior to university was my passion for the grit of the game,” he said. “The scrums, the hitting, the fights – that’s what makes it fun.”

Boyce isn’t hesitant to credit head coach Gardiner MacDougall for

his success thus far. “A huge part of my success came from G-Mac,” said Boyce. “He basically took me in as part of his own family. We both come from P.E.I., so there was a bit of a connection there. We were straight shooters with each other, and that seems to have treated us both well.”

An Ontario Hockey League

graduate, the un-drafted Boyce never lost his drive and determination. “I wouldn’t still be playing hockey today if I didn’t think that I’d someday be playing in the NHL,” said Boyce.

“You make your own opportunities and I feel I did that very well in my two years at UNB. I think that any guy that can make it pro from Canadian University has earned the right as well.”

The unorthodox path toward the NHL may pave a new path for undrafted major junior players.

Although it was previously very rare, it’s becoming more and more common for players to get professional contracts out of the CIS. A year after Boyce’s signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, several other UNB all-stars were granted professional contracts.

Rob Hennigar signed a deal with the New York Islanders organization, and is currently playing for their AHL affiliate. Standout goaltender Mike Ouzas attended the Marlies training camp at the beginning of the season, however he is now stationed with the Reading Royals of the ECHL. Denny Johnston began the season in the AHL and is also currently competing in the ECHL. Rounding out the former players who recently turned professional is Nathan O’Nabigon who is currently playing for the Rocky Mountain Rage of the Central Hockey League.

Skating for Joy

Tip of the Cap. by Josh Fleck This week’s Tip of the Cap goes out to Brent Baker and the UNB men’s basketball team for finally breaking the goose egg against last year’s Cinderella team, the Acadia Axemen.

If you have watched any of the games that these young men play, you would have to agree with me when I say the Acadia win was long overdue. The young V-Reds, at times, would show glimpses of sheer excellence, as well as the potential they hold to be a contender in the AUS in the upcoming years.

Assistant coach Don McNeill said following the first win, “It was like knocking a gorilla off our backs. The guys really deserved this win.”

Following the Acadia game, which saw veteran Mike Anderson drop 37 points, they came home this past weekend to host Memorial University.

Anderson again led the way for the Reds, as they put together another win, and Brent Baker’s first winning streak as Reds head coach.

The dream of three straight wins was alive – momentarily. MUN dampened their spirits on Saturday as they took the second game.

Nevertheless, there is hope for this team. With the likes of Dustin Anthony, Lonzel Lowe, and Antwann Parks, there is no limit to how high this team can go, especially with that gorilla off of their backs.

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Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan 02/28/09

Members of Joy Kidd were recently out for an afternoon skate on the homemade rink in their courtyard. The residence will be hosting the Kidd Cup, an annual pond hockey tournament, in the near future.

thebruns.ca

brunswickansports

Jan. 28, 2009 • Issue 18 • Volume 142 • 23

Colin McPhail An Opinion

It’s that time of the year again. And by “that time” I mean it’s three weeks into the semester and I’m already looking for any possible distraction. Luckily for me, the NHL All-Star festivities gave me a reason to laze around this weekend.

The funny thing was that the biggest story wasn’t the Jolie-Aniston type feud between Ovechkin and Malkin or the game itself. In fact, the main topic of discussion was whether or not there should be a game at all.

The biggest argument against the game is the fact that it is more shinny than hockey. The best players in the world, for the most part, competing on the same sheet of ice should result in one of the greatest games ever, right? Wrong.

No hitting, no back-checking, and plenty of two-and-a-half minute shifts

V-Reds Results Friday, January 23rd Women’s Volleyball UNB - 3 DAL - 0 Hockey UNB - 4 ACA - 2 Men’s Volleyball UNB - 0 DAL - 3 Saturday, January 24th Women’s Volleyball UNB - 3 ACA - 0 Men’s Volleyball UNB - 0 DAL - 3

are not the qualities you want in a great game. The play only picks up late in the third and that’s only if it’s a close game.

It is all one big commercial. That’s why they should get rid of the game.

I completely disagree with that argument. Psych!

When has the all-star weekend actually been about the game? For the first time ever, I’m going to agree with Leafs GM Brian Burke. Time-honoured tradition aside, it’s a celebration of the players and of the NHL. It’s a great opportunity for a struggling hockey market to show what they’ve got and the perfect time to share the legacy of the game with the younger generation as they did in Montreal. When during the regular season can one find the sport’s top players in one city? It’s one of the best promotions a professional sport can offer and the event does wonders for charities. It’s not like the NBA, MLB or NFL do anything different.

To appease of the naysayers, some changes could be made.

I realize that the NHL wants to involve its fans, but I’m not a fan of the voting system. There was another Rory

Upcoming V-Reds Events Wednesday, January 28th Hockey STU @ UNB 7:00 p.m. @ Aitken Centre Friday, January 30th Women’s Basketball UNB @ CBU 6:00 p.m.

Hockey UNB @ SMU 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Basketball UNB @ CBU 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 31st

Women’s Basketball UNB - 69 MUN - 80

Women’s Basketball UNB @ St. FX 1:00 p.m.

Hockey UNB - 4 DAL - 1

Men’s Basketball UNB @ St. FX 3:00 p.m.

Men’s Basketball UNB - 76 MUN - 72

Hockey UNB @ St. FX 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, January 18th Women’s Basketball UNB - 53 MUN - 75

Sunday, February 1st Women’s Volleyball SMU @ UNB 2:00 p.m. @ L.B. Gym

Men’s Basketball UNB - 76 MUN - 80

Athletes of the week Shannon Donnelly Swimming BA, 1st Year Halifax, N.S.

Rene Boudreau Swimming BSc, 1st Year Fredericton, N.B.

Fitzpatrick situation as the Montreal faithful did their best to have the Eastern starting line-up filled with Habs players.

I will argue that Mike Komisarek is not an all-star until I’m blue in the face. And how was Ovechkin not a starter? The players, coaches and GMs should be the ones to vote.

Also, to pick up the play of the game, an incentive could be added. A certain amount of money could be donated to the victor’s charity. I wouldn’t go as far to take a leaf out of MLB’s book and give the winning conference home ice advantage in the Stanley Cup Finals, but it’s some food for thought.

Some say it’s either the Winter Classic or the All-Star game that has to go. I say leave them both. They’re both great publicity opportunities for the league and it gives the fans a little something to get excited about during the winter months. Let’s face it, the Spengler Cup just doesn’t cut it (Cujo would beg to differ).

I liked the new rule that All-Star participation for the players is mandatory.

I think it’s a good idea to ensure that your top stars are there. Kudos to

Crosby. However, I do not agree with it this year as both Datsyuk and Lidstrom are going to be suspended for one game which in turn cripples my hockey pool.

As for the skills competition, I wouldn’t change a thing. From a wide open young stars game to Zdeno Chara instilling fear into every goalie, it was quite enjoyable to watch. The much anticipated breakaway shootout was a success as the crowd roared when a player scored and laughed when they didn’t.

There will always be problems with any approach the NHL takes on anything. Although, I bet if they get rid of the game, Bettman will hear it.

Montreal left the hockey world smiling at the end of the weekend, with memories of Ovechkin’s sunglasses and hat or Luongo’s save while doing an interview with CBC,or especially when Habs captain Alex Kovalev won the MVP award. It was a special weekend and one that you won’t soon forget. Which makes you have to ask the question: how could you lose this?

Colin McPhail is a volunteer reporter for The Brunswickan.

sports@thebruns.ca

The N.H.L. All-Star Debate

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