Issue 7, Vol 142, The Brunswickan

arts // STARS PREVIEW: TAKING UNB TO THE RIOT >> Page 7

Volume 142 · Issue 7 · Oct. 16, 2008

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FREDERICTON GOES BLUE

CANADA DOES TOO

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Tories land minority, Fredericton riding Josh O’Kane

The Brunswickan

After 15 years of Liberal representation, New Brunswick’s capital city is about to be painted Tory blue.

Conservative Keith Ashfield has claimed the Fredericton seat in Parliament, while Canada will see another Conservative minority government, with Stephen Harper returning as Prime Minister.

Unofficial election results from Elections Canada on Tuesday night showed Ashfield taking the position with 17,968 votes, followed distantly behind by Liberal David Innes with 13,316 votes.

NDP candidate Jesse Travis came in third with 6440 votes, followed by Green candidate Mary Lou Babineau at 4273 votes and Canadian Action Party candidate Ben Kelly with 168 votes.

Kelly, a UNB student, believes Ashfield will be good for the position, though he doesn’t support the Conservative party.

“I think he’ll do a pretty good job, but what he stands for, I don’t agree with,” said Kelly.

Kelly said he entered the race knowing he wouldn’t take the seat.

“I knew I wasn’t going to win when I started running. I wanted to talk about things other parties weren’t talking

about. I love this country. I consider myself a very proud Canadian. I’d like to keep it the way I grew to know it.”

Student Beth Giesbrecht feels that the student vote was obscured due to difficulties in proving what riding they could vote in.

“A lot of people couldn’t prove their address today,” she said. “Young people could have had a big impact, and they didn’t necessarily. I think young people need a better say because I’m pretty sure this isn’t how it would have turned out.”

Miles Clayden, who co-organized the Rock the Vote concert at the Cellar following the election, said he’s disappointed with the results.

“I think it’s a travesty,” he said. “I think the Conservative s don’t actually represent the mindset of Canadians and that if 35% of elderly people had voted instead of 35% of university students, then we’d see a very different result…

A low percentage of our demographic voted, and so politicians won’t feel like public policy needs to represent our interests.”

Laura Keating, a Renaissance College alumni, said the election results were not surprising.

“People didn’t believe in Dion… I think he brought out the Carbon Tax a little too early. That sunk him.”

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

(Above) Prime Minister Stephen Harper greets Fredericton MP-elect Keith Ashfield at a last-minute campaign stop on Monday. (Below) Liberal Party leader Stéphane Dion, foreground, speaks to a local crowd on Monday; local Liberal candidate David Innes appears back left.

brunswickannews

2 • Oct. 16, 2008 • Issue 7• Volume 142

thethe brunswickan presents Brunswickan

Last week on the Fredericton campaign trail; a brief photo essay

Green Party leader fails to unseat defence minister

Clockwise, from top left: (1) Fredericton MP Candidates Ben Kelly (Canadian Action Party), Jesse Travis (New Democratic Party), David Innes (Liberal Party) and Mary Lou Babineau (Green Party) at the UNB Student Union and Faculty Association candidate’s debate last Thursday in the SUB; (2) Liberal Party leader Stéphane Dion makes a brief stop in Fredericton on early Thanksgiving morning; (3) Monte Solberg, former Conservative Minister of Human Resources and Social Development drops by Fredericton last Thursday to support his party’s candidate in the riding, Keith Ashfield; (4) Ashfield conveys a strong message to those in attendance at the SUB debate; (5) Prime Minister Stephen Harper addresses a crowd at the Fredericron Airport during a brief stop in the city on Monday. Photos 2, 3 and 5 by Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan; photos 1 and 4 by Sandy Chase / The Brunswickan.

Danielle Webb

CUP Atlantic Bureau Chief

ANTIGONISH (CUP) – Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is “not going anywhere” despite her unsuccessful bid to defeat Conservative Defence Minister Peter MacKay. Early polls Tuesday night had May in the lead, but as the results came in, hope for a Green upset in Central Nova quickly faded.

Despite the negative result, May ar rived at Green Par ty headquarters in New Glasgow, N.S. with a smile on her face.

“This is not a time for tears; this is a celebration for a job well done,” May said to cheers from the crowd.

“I need to say that we ran an exuberant, a joyful, and a positive campaign. We had the kind of campaign that other politicians only dream of.”

“All of you who are here tonight have made a difference in turning this campaign into one that grabbed national attention, not because we were tilting windmills, but because we were doing something right, and we set out to do it for the right reasons,” she said.

May acknowledges her loss will have an impact on people in Central Nova that she believes are currently being neglected, but says she will continue to make their voices heard.

“I’m concerned for all the people whose lives I hoped to change by

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getting elected tonight – people who are facing such difficult and trying circumstances, particularly those low-income single moms in the riding, people with disabilities, and seniors without pensions.

“There is much to be done to set things right. I can’t do it in the shortterm as your member of Parliament, I’ll continue to do it as a member of this community,” she said.

In his fifth consecutive win, MacKay proved that support for the Green Party leader wasn’t as high as May had anticipated.

“It feels wonderful, it feels very rewarding to work this hard on behalf of the people of Central Nova and to have that rewarded tonight,” MacKay told supporters in New Glasgow.

“I’m humbled and determined to represent you to the best of my ability ever y day.

Ever yone here motivates me and inspires me; public life is nothing without you. Your support makes it possible for the exhilaration and support we’re feeling here tonight,” said MacKay. “I’m so proud to be here in my hometown, my home region, my home province.”

With Green support rising in the riding from 671 votes in the last election, to over 12,000 now, May has hope for the future.

“Next time, we’ll make all the dif ference. We will be a staying in force in Central Nova because I’m not going anywhere.”

Central Nova has been a Conservative stronghold since 1957.

brunswickannews Lackluster turnout at sustainability presentation Jens Ourom

The Brunswickan

Representatives from the David Suzuki Foundation, Sierra Youth Coalition, and Canadian Federation of Students embarked westward from St. John’s, Newfoundland to commence their biodiesel-fueled bus tour of 21 Canadian universities on Sept. 30, and arrived last Monday at UNB Fredericton.

A diverse panel of presenters addressed a “small, but intimate” group of environmentally conscious students and faculty, as ex-Mountain Equipment Co-op CEO, current Suzuki Foundation CEO, and keynote speaker Peter Robinson commented. The line-up of speakers also included Brendan Brazier, a professional Ironman triathlete, vegan and author, and Frederictonbased Conservation Council of New Brunswick’s David Coon.

Students for Sustainability is – besides also being the name of STU’s student environmental activism group – an initiative to inform and also inspire students across Canada out of environmental apathy. The three main initiatives of this particular tour include, but are not limited to, reducing waste, emissions, and commodification of natural resources such as Canada’s fresh water.

The SFS tour hopes to reach 50,000 Canadian students over the month of October, but if UNB’s lackluster attendance is any indicator, they may have trouble reaching that goal. The lack of Dr. Suzuki’s presence, as he spoke in Fredericton already this spring, may have been a factor in the attendance numbers, but despite this fact, cautious optimism was most certainly a theme for the afternoon.

“I’m up for the challenge and I hope you are, too,” stated Coon, in regard to global warming, while Robinson echoed that statement by

saying “we have to approach this with a sense of hope.”

Nevertheless, the nearoverwhelming challenges that lie ahead did not go unaddressed. Coon specifically addressed and chided “a society hard-wired to pollute,” and pleaded for a “fundamentally transformational change in society.”

Robinson, on the other hand, tackled the current global economic uncertainty’s effect on the environmental movement, admitting that shifting priorities from sustainability to economics may have unfortunately “set us back about five years.”

Brazier, who has managed to make a career out of triathlon racing while eating only plant-based foods, explained how the intricacies and dilemmas our current food supply system has left us with have left us “overfed and undernourished.”

This system of sustenance means “food production and transport is the largest greenhouse gas producer,” clarified Brazier. And that is without even mentioning the methane gas emitted by Confined Animal Feeding Operations – otherwise known as cow flatulence.

Fortunately, “all the technology already exists, all the knowledge already exists” to solve the looming crisis,statedRobinson–who,through managing private, public, and now, with the Suzuki Foundation, non-forprofit organizations, has managed to maintain a positive outlook.

Overall, the panel of experts and the informational displays that SFS brought the message of a very stark reality – the time for change is now.

Coon summed that economic reformisneededthroughgovernment “to serve people, their communities, and the environment,” with the best way to achieve this goal to “vote for the environment.”

Robinson laid bare the consequences of our indifference, and clearly sounded a call for action as, “the alternative is unacceptable.”

Oct. 16, 2008 • Issue 7 • Volume 142 • 3

Pumping up pedestrian safety

Hilary Paige Smith / The Brunswickan

Reg Jerrett, Director of Security and Traffic at UNB, at a crosswalk with legally blind student Derek Ness. Both want more pedestrian safety awareness.

Hilary Paige Smith The Brunswickan

Lines are drawn and signs are erected, yet pedestrians and motorists continue to neglect their safety on campus.

The University of New Brunswick has thousands of students, and therefore thousands of pedestrians on campus. Combine that with the number of students that have vehicles and the number that neglect road safety and it could equal disaster.

Reg Jerrett, Director of Security and Traffic for UNB, is passionate about campus safety and has been taking extra precautions in recent years to ensure the well-being of pedestrians and motorists alike.

People may have noticed a speed radar trailer adjacent to the pedestrian-heavy Joy Kidd, Lady Dunn and Tibbits complex on Mackay Drive. This speed radar registers the speed of the passing vehicles and flashes the correct speed

when the maximum is surpassed.

“The speed radar trailer is a reminder to motorists as they’re driving on campus roads that the maximum posted speed is 40 kilometres and then when they see the speed radar trailer hopefully that will alert them to the fact that ‘Hey, I better slow down,’ ” says Jerrett.

Though there are painted crosswalks and signs to give them prominence, Jerrett says students still neglect to use them and cross anywhere to save time and effort.

Jerrett’s message to pedestrians is to “be aware of the fact that we do have a heavy population of vehicles on campus at this time of the year and they should pay particular attention when crossing, even at designated crosswalks.

“I know a lot of students cross basically anywhere on campus and we would encourage them to use the designated crosswalk locations for their safety.”

Motorists are aware that campus pedestrians do not always walk between the lines, he explains;

however, many are not aware that there are students out there who are visually impaired and cannot always judge the proximity of oncoming vehicles.

Derek Ness, a legally blind student, has been in four close calls with negligent motorists, with every incident happening at a designated crosswalk. Ness can see the shape and shades of oncoming cars, but has to be extra vigilant while crossing as running mid-crosswalk is not an option for him for fear of obstacles.

Three of Ness’s four incidents occurred while crossing at the Pacey and Mackay crosswalk near the Student Union Building. One of them involved a car neglecting to stop until it was mid-intersection and expected Ness to manoeuvre around it. The fourth occurred at the Bailey Drive crosswalk to McConnell Hall where a car neglected to stop or even slow down as it swerved around Ness. Ness notes that the car was likely exceeding the speed limit.

“My concern is that not only myself, but others who are legally

blind or perhaps deaf or hard of hearing, maybe even another disability would have issues with the same things and maybe they’re not comfortable coming forward with these issues” Ness says. “I, myself, am comfortable becoming an advocate and finding a solution with the appropriate authorities.”

Additional measures have been taken on campus, including the installation of speed bumps on Bailey Drive. Unfortunately, speed bumps cannot be instated on Mackay Drive as it is a City Transit route and the buses cannot drive over them. In the future Jerrett says that they are looking to put up signs warning drivers of students with disabilities to promote caution.

Ness and Jerrett agree wholeheartedly on the importance of campus safety.

“These occurrences aren’t acceptable,” says Ness. “As Mr. Jerrett has put forward, the campus is a pedestrian friendly campus, or that’s certainly the intention, and this isn’t the average street.”

Research Centre taking green initiatives on campus Sarah Ratchford The Brunswickan

Many scientists agree that the condition of the environment is depleting, and humans are largely at fault – a statement so prevalent of late that it can’t even be considered news.

But as part of a young generation which has plenty of time to make change, it is apparent to many that students must do their part to make a difference or the damages we create will become irreversible, and we will be forcing the consequences of our actions onto our children and grandchildren.

Shawn Dalton, Director of UNB’s Environment and Sustainable Development Research Centre, says that there are already some initiatives at work on the UNB campus. There is currently a Campus Sustainability Plan which has been created by UNB undergraduate students studying Environmental Issues. The plan includes operations relating to electricity, solid waste, and other ways to reduce our carbon footprints.

The aim of the plan is to reduce our overall environmental footprint at UNB. The plan has not yet been put into action. However, the UNB Sustainability Committee is working on implementing it, says Dalton.

“We haven’t decided specifically what we will and will not do,” says Dalton.

The ESDRC is pushing for the instalment of an energy steward in each building on campus, whose job would be to turn off lights and computers and other energy consuming machines.

The reason administration gives for leaving the lights on in classrooms is to “make them more inviting,” says Dalton sarcastically.

Work is being done to implement sensors which would turn lights on when a room is entered, and turn them off when it is vacated. In the mean-time, however, a lot of energy is being wasted by leaving them on at all times.

One experiment which has

already been completed by UNB to help the environment is the running of a sustainable Orientation Week, says Dalton. Paperless orientation kits were given out to new students as opposed to the paper-stuffed ones of the past.

The ESDRC is also in the process of working on several other projects which pertain to the Fredericton area as a whole, including resource and watershed management and work on climate change in partnership with other companies, says Dalton.

When asked her opinion on the single most important task we can take as individuals to promote environmental sustainability, Dalton vehemently responds, “buy less.”

“Consume less,” she says, “We are all over-consumers in this society.”

“In the last 100 years,” Dalton says, “the planet’s population has increased by 4 times; the economy has grown 40 times as large as it was 100 years ago. That tells us that consumption rates are right off the mark.”

Dalton also has clear ideas on actions the student population can make against climate change. She advises us to walk and bike more.

“Students are in a unique position to push the administration,” she says.

Another tip Dalton suggests for students is to purchase products made with recycled material, such as bags, paper towel - even vintage clothing counts as recycled material, and it allows the wearer to get creative. There are plenty of places to find vintage garb that are close to home, including reNeu boutique and Value Village.

This tip applies to all members of the community, not just students.

“When you buy something, make a sound decision,” Dalton says.

As far as homeowners, Dalton says they need to be aware that “30-40% of greenhouse gases come from private buildings.”

Students and other concerned members of the community can push builders in the community to make environmentally friendly choices when building homes and

other structures, Dalton says.

“People that educate contractors need to teach them sustainable practices,” Dalton says. “Your generation is the next big buying group.”

People talk about wanting to make change for a healthier environment, but “we need to translate talk into action,” Dalton says.

When confronted with current environmental issues such as pollution and global warming, many people turn a blind eye and refuse to claim personal fault.

When asked her opinion on where the fault lies - with everyone or just large corporations - Dalton responds “it’s a catch-22.”

“If we didn’t buy the products, corporations wouldn’t produce them,” Dalton says. At the same time, however, it works the opposite way. As a result, activists and others who are passionate about our environment must “encourage everyone to make a change,” she says. “Nobody’s off the hook as far as making change.”

“I’ve been in this business for 15-20 years,” says Dalton. “When I graduated from my Masters degree at Yale, the people I graduated with were going off to Third World countries rather than beginning with change in their own backyards.”

The progress needed to improve our world can seem quite daunting.

Reducing the damage made can seem impossible, especially since carbon dioxide, which is the product of burning fossil fuels, stays in the atmosphere for 50-200 years. Dalton, however, has hope for the future.

“I would like to see developers in the woodlot use sustainable procedures, even given the restraints,” says Dalton. “The City is working in conjunction with developers on what I call ‘Sustainable Fredericton.’”

This plan will include ideas for sustainable design for the city.

Dalton also notes that UNB Fredericton has committed to preserving 50% of its woodlots, which make up one quarter of the standing forest in Fredericton.

“The fact that the University has

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

UNB’s Environment and Sustainable Development Research Centre is promoting initiatives to benefit the environment. While recycling is one step to being sustainable, the Centre also suggests buying recycled products. done this is exemplary,” Dalton praises.

She also reminds that “the onus is on all of us to protect ecosystems in the face of development.”

Dalton is of the belief that we are making progress. She cites the practice of the “financial sector using carbon credits you can buy and sell” as proof that the condition of our environment is being taken seriously.

“There is a business opportunity in being green,” she says.

The Superstore in Fredericton now has a “Grown near home” section as well, Dalton points out. That, coupled with recycled, reusable bags, shows that people are trying to make a difference, she says.

Initiatives such as this are “providing opportunities for people to make better choices for consumption patterns,” she says. “If there wasn’t a market for cloth bags and local food, people wouldn’t buy it,” she says.

“Having said that,” she adds, “I think we have a long way to go.”

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brunswickanopinion

Oct. 16, 2008 • Issue 7 • Volume 142 • 4

editor@thebruns.ca

Challenge what you see Bring it on home Josh O’Kane In the Spring of 2007, Aitken House was threatened for closure. In the face of declining residence enrolment and increasing maintenance costs, it became apparent to Res Life that a building needed to be closed.

The men of Aitken did not stand for that. On the eve of their 50th year as a house, the residents of Aitken joined forces with alumni, administration and fellow students to prove that their house should stay open.

The fight came down to the wire, and was inevitably settled at a Board of Governors meeting during winter exams – Aitken House would stay open.

It’s a story that’s inspired me ever since. In the face of what was deemed a financial inevitability, the men of Aitken stood up, fought for what they believed in, and won.

There have been few incidents since then (barring most prominently the cut of six V-Reds teams last fall) that have seen such activism and passion on UNB’s campus.

Since I first arrived at the Brunswickan three years ago, it’s been rare that the paper was used as a tool to fundamentally challenge what was going on around it.

To me, omitting that challenge only fulfills half of the purpose of a newspaper. While the Bruns strives to provide as full an account as possible of UNB, Fredericton and other relevant news, it should also foster a dialogue between parties who relate to the issues.

I use this column each week to challenge the status quo. As a paying student of UNB, I feel that I can’t stand idly by and watch my money be spent in ways with which I disagree. When my time, money, or vote is wasted, I challenge it.

I can’t stand letting the status quo slip by.

Should you let it slip by? Like it or not, you pay a $5 subscription per

Stephanie Lord

Educate yourself. Vote for the most qualified nominee who is best suited to represent you whenever you have the chance.

If you don’t agree with the work of an elected official, complain and demand a change.

Just as this statement is true within national politics it remains the same on the level of student government here at UNB. The following is an excerpt from the UNBSU Mission Statement: “Whereas we are the elected body of the full-time undergraduate students of the University of New Brunswick - Fredericton, we shall provide unified representation on matters relating to the diverse interests of our members and strive to be proactive in facilitating their personal and professional growth while protecting and promoting student rights.”

This mission statement leaves a certain standard to be filled and exceeded by those who obtain positions with the university’s student government.

The onus doesn’t just simply remain in the hands of those working office hours down the Student Union hallway of

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, Sandy Chase, Alison Clack, Maggie DeWolfe, Karissa Donkin, Mike Erb, Josh Fleck, Beth Giesbrecht, Colin Hodd, Stephanie Lord, Brandon McNeil, Colin McPhail, Cameron Mitchell, Earl Denver Montañez, Nick Ouellette, Jens Ourom, Brian Savoie, Hilary Paige Smith & 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 nonprofit, independent body.

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Students are privy to innumerable sources of information on a daily basis – but that doesn’t mean one has to sit idly by if one disagrees with what is being presented. term to the Brunswickan as a full- right to challenge the actions of the job description of what they’re Fredericton, he used his candidacy as an opportunity to promote issues he running for? time undergraduate student at UNB. UNB’s faculty and administration.

Do you care who represents you to believed were important that other This therefore should be a primary If you’re passionate about someforum for you to express your con- thing – or even concerned – don’t let the federal government? Conserva- political parties were ignoring.

Tim Ross, the Renaissance Coltive Keith Ashfield ran for MP in cerns over issues pertinent to you. it slip on by.

If you disagree with something Do you like how your money is the Fredericton riding and was “too lege student who succeeded in landat UNB, don’t sit idly by. Address spent? Right now, Residential Life, busy” for interviews and debates ing the SU VP External position last your concerns and challenge the Campus & Conference Services reaching out to students. How dedi- year, aimed to make SU executive positions more accessible to Renaisstatus quo. If you disagree with is proposing implementing a $25 cated is he to his constituency?

He is now our Member of Par- sance College students. While I diswhat I have to say, tell me. If you levy to maintain the Student Union disagree with any of our columnists, Building. Do you want it? I don’t. I liament, and we need to challenge agree with how he went about it, I do let us know. Continue the dialogue. don’t want to pay a fee for the main- him before he continues to neglect commend him for challenging the norm in support of his beliefs.

Challenge what is presented to you. tenance of a building that, given the his student constituency.

There are plenty of students willThere are students out there who Challenge more than the Bruns- speed of UNB Physical Plant’s team, wickan. Challenge what you see in won’t be touched until well after I are challenging the status quo, and ing to challenge what is presented to them – yet this year, the Brunswickan they deserve commending. other media – be it in our sister stu- graduate in the Spring.

Ben Kelly, the UNB student who has only been receiving less than one dent publication, the Aquinian, or Do you care about who represents the CBC, Daily Gleaner, Telegraph- you on the Student Union? Look at was the Canadian Action Party can- letter to the editor each week for pubJournal, or any other source. the Brunswickan’s byelection cover- didate for the Fredericton MP pos- lication.

Change that. Be engaged. ChalIf someone has been or wants to age in last week’s issue – five candi- ition, is one example who challenged be elected to represent you, challenge dates neglected to submit profiles for federal politics. While Kelly has ad- lenge something. them. They’re working for you, not the section. Do these candidates have mitted his party won’t win a majority Josh O’Kane is the Editor-in-Chief of the other way around. As a student the time to represent you to the SU? government, and that he likely would The Brunswickan. He can be reached and as a taxpayer, you also have the Or worse yet – do they even know not have won Tuesday’s election in at editor@thebruns.ca.

Use your voice Student Beat

the brunswickan

the SUB or the representatives that liaise between the weekly council meetings and their constituents.

A great deal of pressure lies on the individual student to keep those in the positions of power in line and ensure they are representing the diverse demographics and needs of the University of New Brunswick undergraduates within the Fredericton campus.

The Student Union byelection opened Sunday, Oct. 12 and closes this Friday Oct. 17. If you haven’t run for a position, you have placed yourself in the situation to have someone else represent you during the remainder of the 2008-2009 academic term.

How can you have a voice when you don’t have time or simply choose not to hold a position within your student government? Remain an active member of your SU, vote for your representative, for who you feel is best suited to speak to your needs.

If someone holds a position that you do not feel is worthy, then challenge them.

Although the SU is looking at increasing the voter turnout, in particular after only 111 votes were cast during the Oct. 2007 byelection, an uneducated vote can happen with a thoughtless click of the computer mouse.

Your vote means nothing unless it is a personal decision based on your knowledge and preference of representation.

Know who you are choosing and have a reason behind it.

Regardless if it is a variety of nominees or simply a yes, no vote understand that each click

matters.

Beyond the action of casting a vote, there is much left to be done after the ratification of election results.

If someone has been granted a position on the SU council with whom you don’t agree, or whom you feel as if they don’t represent their constituency, approach that person and make suggestions of what they could do to further assist other students like yourself.

The positions of student government are held by just that – students.

However you interpret it, if you feel someone is deserving or not, they still attend weekly council meetings and represent the voice of a portion of undergraduate students.

Some, such as executive members, exceed the expected weekly office hours and assist the students as they see fit which truthfully might not necessarily address your personal needs to the greatest extent.

Use your voice. If you’re passionate about anything your student government touches on or have any issues, bring them forth to your council and have them solved.

Just as writing a letter to your local MP when issues of Federal politics arise, the SU is accessible and working for you.

Send an e-mail, make a phone call, drop by the offices in the SUB and make a change.

Stephanie Lord is VP Student Services of the UNB Student Union. Student Beat is a weekly column by UNB student leaders examining issues that are pertinent to students.

Tearing apart the ‘Ordinary Canadian’ The Opinionator Nick Howard

I suppose it’s a little comforting to be told by the all-knowing party leaders that I am ordinary. Especially since my very ordinariness ensures that my government’s policies are hand-crafted just for me.

My very existence then, suggests that there is someone out there who is not ordinary and is losing out on these policies for Ordinary Canadians like me.

Well, that’s a darn shame; but how did I become ordinary?

What are the requirements for being a part of this privileged group of ordinaries? Is it money, race, gender, nationality, hair colour or height?

No? Maybe it’s weight or foot size then.

Am I ordinary?

This question seems to have lost its purely existential tone.

It has taken up that whining, mosquito-in-ear drone of

politics.

Harper, Dion, May and Layton have all talked on the campaign trail about what ordinary Canadians want. This leads me to ask where I can find these ordinary Canadians – the social yardsticks to which I must compare thirty million other people.

This, dear readers, is an existential crisis of epic proportions; I shouldn’t have to read Kirkegaarde and Nietzsche after the leaders’ debate.

I did, in case you’re wondering, and Nietzsche didn’t help.

Have we become so desensitized by American politics, by ridiculous buzzwords, that we don’t even recognize them as our own leaders spew stereotypes?

So what is the Ordinary Canadian?

The Ordinary Canadian is the straw-man on the playground.

It just stands there, mute and unmoving, but somehow cool.

To be a part of the strawman’s in-group, the other kids do everything a kid should do to be cool (they give up their lunch money willingly!).

But one day the kids realize that being cool really doesn’t matter. They feel rightfully disillusioned and ask the straw-man for their money and ideals back.

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.

Letters Must be submitted by e-mail including your name, letters with pseudonymns will not be printed. Letters must be 400 words 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 Editor-in-Chief.

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They soon see this “cool” straw-man for what he really is, just a dummy dressed up in nice clothes, put there by the principal to streamline his students.

I wish I could say that the kids threw the principal out of his office and onto the streets, but that remains to be seen. Canadians still haven’t realized that ordinary doesn’t matter or exist.

What Canadians need are policies that will treat us like the nation of diverse, intelligent people that we are.

These methods of simplification don’t work in a modern state like Canada, if they ever did. Yet, we continue to reward our politicians by electing those who use them.

Exclusion just isn’t ordinary, unless Canadians really like poverty, racism and a host of other plagues of the nationstate. I don’t believe that’s true and I want the simplification to stop.

I just hope I live to see that giant straw-man torn apart by the hands of the Extraordinary Canadian.

The Opinionator is a weekly opinion column by UNB student Nick Howard, presenting a no-holds barred approach to current events or anything that smacks of unquestioned perspective. He can be reached at nphoward@ gmail.com.

On the campaign trail the brunswickan. iewpoint V

brunswickanopinion

Mugwump

Tony von Richter

Although I’ve written a fair amount about them this year, I’ve said on many occasions that I’m not that interested in politics. I don’t follow the daily happenings on the campaign trail, and I don’t know too many specifics about each party’s platforms.

However, I got to see the political machine in full effect on Monday morning as both Stéphane Dion and Stephen Harper chose our fair city as one of their final stops prior to Tuesday’s election.

Both candidates events theoretically had the same goal in mind: rally the base, convince any undecided voters that the opposition is unworthy, and give the local candidates a boost.

Although both party’s events may have had the same goals they couldn’t have been more different in execution.

The first stop of the morning was the old King Street liquor store, and now David Innes campaign headquarters, where Dion was making an appearance at 8 a.m.

In the minutes leading up to his appearance Innes’ Headquarters began to fill with a diverse group of Liberal supporters, all far more excited than most people would be early on a holiday Monday.

Following brief speeches by Innes and outgoing MP Andy Scott, a strange ‘70s style disco theme blared to life and Dion made his appearance in the front of the delighted crowd.

During his more than 20-minute speech, Dion hammered Harper and the Conservatives repeatedly, criticizing their stance on the environment, the economy, and the negative tone of their advertising.

Despite a few missteps it was a well-delivered speech that got

across the points that the party wanted to send. It also delivered one unintended message, however.

This was a desperate party.

At different points in his speech, Dion mentioned the other party leaders and had mostly positive things to say about Jack Layton and Elizabeth May, however he repeatedly said that to vote for these parties would not stop Harper.

That only a vote for the Liberals could bring down the Conservative monster. Dion seemed to be doing everything he could to suggest that to vote for the other parties was to throw your vote away, that in order to defeat the Conservatives everyone had to pull together and vote Liberal.

Overall the Liberal event seemed like a gathering of people concerned with the events facing their country that just happened to take place in front of the cameras.

In contrast, the Conservative event taking place at the airport a few hours later was one of the most contrived scenes I’ve ever witnessed.

Upon entering the hangar where the speech was to take place, campaign staffers told everyone (including media, who of course didn’t comply) that they had to wear one of the Harper stickers they were passing out.

After filing everyone into the building staffers began handing out Harper and Ashfield signs for people to hold up and then passed out t-shirts and strategically positioned specific people behind the podium where Harper was to speak.

Once the crowd was in their proper place they were told of the order of events and then informed that following Harper’s remarks everyone would be heading out onto the tarmac to see him off on his flight.

Harper, entering the building to Collective Soul’s Better Now, spoke for just over 20 minutes focusing mostly on the economy and criticizing the Liberals’ proposed

Oct. 16, 2008 • Issue 7 • Volume 142 • 5

carbon tax.

It was a well-delivered speech, a perfect example of Harper’s polish and charisma, and he had the crowd cheering nearly everything he said.

It was nearly a perfect speech with only one problem: he didn’t really say anything.

Until the very end of his speech Harper didn’t discuss what his party planned to do should they be elected but criticized the polices of “the other guys” as he repeatedly referred to them, saying that the carbon tax was flawed and that Dion would experiment with the economy while Harper would protect it.

Okay, great. How? I’m still not sure. Harper did say plans to rebuild the military, balance the budget, decrease the deficit, and cut taxes. Huh. Now I might not have been the best economics or finance student but if you decrease the amount of revenue coming in through taxes how do, you plan on decreasing the budget or increasing military spending?

Again, I’m not sure as Harper didn’t really elaborate on that or anything else. He also hasn’t been taking questions from the media for the past few days so no one got a chance to ask him.

I’m sure I’m not the only one that left the event questioning what the Conservative party will do for the country, and if an event designed to rally your base and convince the undecided ends up providing some with more questions than answers I don’t think it can be deemed anything but a failure.

Sure there were a lot of buzz words and some great sound bytes for the cameras, but most of Harper’s speech was void of any substance, and didn’t offer any real concrete ideas for the country.

Sadly it fit perfectly with the tone of the event: everything looked and sounded great, but none of it was real.

Tony von Richter is Managing Editor of the Brunswickan. He can be reached at managing@thebruns.ca.

Question: What is the least safe thing on campus?

“Falling ice.”

Andrew McMullen

“Ninjas.”

Chris Samuel

“Construction.”

Colin Fraser

“Crosswalks.”

Erin Rumbolt

“Drivers.”

Gardner Dickson

“Walkways in the winter.”

Jonathan Brown

“Pot holes.”

Lacy Boyd

“The room at Marshal d’Avray.”

Ray Chase

“Food.”

Tom Hems

6 • Oct. 16, 2008 • Issue 7• Volume 142

brunswickanarts arts@thebruns.ca

Oct. 16, 2008 • Issue 6 • Volume 142 • 7

THE NIGHT STARTS HERE

Doug Estey / The Brunswickan

If Stars’ breathtaking performance in a downpour of rain this summer at the SummerSonic ‘08 festival counts for any indication, their upcoming show at the Student Union Building on October 29 will prove to be a real winner.

Doug Estey

The Brunswickan

The Brunswickan: I understand the band started between you and Chris Seligman. How did you meet up?

Torquil Campbell: We’ve known each other since we were eight and have been friends all our lives.

B: Then you guys moved to New York, then back to Montreal?

What neccessitated that?

TC: We went to New York for school, and when we got back we started the band, just because NY isn’t a realistic place to try and start a band. We needed somewhere cheaper and closer to home.

B: How did Amy Millan fit in to this equation?

TC: Amy was a friend of Emily (Haines), and Emily was a friend of ours that we were living with.

B: So Broken Social Scene is really just a big group of friends?

TC: Oh yeah. That’s family,

man. That’s no press kit, it’s the real shit. That’s twenty-five people all of whom are obsessed with each other to varying degrees, all who share many complex, deep, long-term relationships. We all grew up in the same town in the same place in the same time. It was inevitable that we would all be together.

Broken Social Scene is a huge influence on Stars for sure. They and Metric, and The Dears.

They’re literal influences on our music because we play it for them first, and as a result we care most about what they think of it.

B: What other bands had a major influence on Stars’ sound early on?

TC: I think band like New Order exemplified the sonic template of what we were going for. That’s how you start out with anything though, you start with something you like and then build on it and carve out your own identity.

I think we’re always trying, and striving to find a new path that is still somewhat acceptable but new while maintaining our identity.

B: Stars’ music is very emotional

and seemingly heart-felt. Is there some kind of message you’re trying to broadcast?

TC: I think it’s the message that people send to us. We reflect back what we see in the crowd. Music is a beautiful way to connect with people. I think that’s exactly what is wrong with us today; people are lacking the ability to connect. We go through so much of our lives not connecting with one another, and I think there is a worldchanging ability in arts and in music when it comes to making that connection. When we share ideas, melodies, and rhythms together, we create something bigger than all of us. We’re just giving what we’re getting.

I think if we have a message, it’s that you should embrace your weakness. Set yourself on fire before someone else does.

Say “Yes, I’m weak, and I’m perverted, and I’m lonely, fucked, and sad, but I am alive, and you can’t take that away from me.”

I think that we’re always told to work from our strengths and that’s something that’s very difficult for people who are struggling. Bands have always

been a great way for people to step outside of things, form a band, say, “Fuck you, I can live this way, and I don’t have to live the way you tell me to.” It’s a cliché, but that’s what bands are for. So start a band!

B: Great point. So what was Stars’ big break?

TC: Arts and Crafts came around and there was finally some people that knew what they were doing and a bunch of us were all prepared to release albums at the same time. Before that, Stars’ music had been mastered and produced by guys in their bedrooms who hadn’t the first idea of how to promote it. So I think a lot of it can be attributed to Arts and Crafts, with Metric’s Old World Underground and Broken Social Scene’s You Forgot It In People coming out at the same time. It was a thrust forward in music, you look at bands like The Arcade Fire, there was a lot of things happening.

What people don’t realize about putting out a record is that it’s on everyone’s shoulders. When there’s good people producing a record, good things will happen.

B: It seems that you guys follow

Thank you for the ride

Christian Hapgood / The Brunswickan

Solo artists Diana Catherine and Andrea Ramolo played Doodles Café in Fredericton and Sessions Café in Rothesay during their tour of Atlantic Canada called “Thank you for the ride” last week. Both Toronto natives played their hearts out and won over the crowds with their incredible voices and catchy guitar riffs.You can check them out at www.myspace. com/andrearamolomusic and www.myspace.com/dianassound.

thebruns.ca

some kind of theme in your live performances.

TC: Stars works with different themes of their shows on tour.

We get grand visions of what we want to do, and then I think we just take a step back and realize that the most important aspect is just... playing. But I think that after you play a certain set so many times, there is an invisible barrier that you have to get through where it starts to feel stale and repetitive, and so something new needs to be injected.

B: Do you have any other musical endeavours in the go? I know you play the trumpet as well.

TC: Well I play trumpet in Stars... that’s really the only band that will let me play trumpet; I’m not a very good trumpet player.

My band Memphis is writing another record and I’m doing my own thing under the name Dead Child Star, so I don’t know what the fuck is going to happen with that, but it’s my first time trying out something like that by myself.

B: You’re a busy guy. Didn’t you also follow an acting career?

TC: Yeah, actually I spent most

of my life as an actor, right up until I was 27. I was a child actor and worked a lot in stage theatre.

It’s a theatre family really, both of my parents are theatre actors and my wife is as well. It’s a big part of my life.

B: Does Stars have any off-beat talents or special powers?

TC: There are so many. Evan (Cranley) can tell you what wine tastes like. Better than anyone, ever. He’ll taste wine and he’ll be like “Hmm. Tastes like red shoes and corkscrews.” You’ll be like “What the fuck are you talking about?” and then you’ll taste it and be like wow, yeah, it does taste like that.

Chris is excellent at baseball.

Very good. Incredible baseball player.

Amy Millan can do absolutely anything she puts her mind in to.

As for me, well.. I’m great at racket sports. And I can smoke more weed than anyone I’ve ever met in one sitting. I’ll stand up against anyone in New Brunswick, and I know there are some weed-smokers in New Brunswick. I’ll take anyone on.

Seriously.

brunswickanarts

8 • Oct. 16, 2008 • Issue 7 • Volume 142

The turkey dump Pop Tart Ashley Bursey It’s never been my favourite time of year. A holiday that centres around the massacre of a poor, defenseless animal just leaves me feeling a bit down in the dumps.

I gave up eating meat almost a decade ago. It’s not because I thought steak and giblets were particularly disgusting; I was just the animal-lover kid who, after learning where her dinner really came from, decided to lay pepperoni and burgers to the wayside in favour of tofu and textured vegetable protein.

It’s a tough game to play, and not many people know the rules. Back home, no one quite understands that I can’t just “eat around the turkey” in soup made from Thanksgiving leftovers.

I spent this past Thanksgiving on Prince Edward Island. I carted along my own version of “turkey dinner” – a “fake” chicken breast made from soy products, something that looked comfortable next to mashed potatoes and stovetop dressing.

On the Saturday before, we had stopped into a gas station to discover that one of the province’s bigger newspapers had decided to celebrate the upcoming holiday in a most unconventional way.

“Tough Time for Turkeys!” blared the front-page headline, underneath a rather prominent picture of cheerfullooking turkeys from a local farm.

Apparently, the paper noted, a few of these particular birds were already spoken for, and their local farmer was preparing the rest for a spectacular feast – so hurry up, folks, and this here purty little turkey might be only hours away from roasting in your oven.

I’m pretty sure my eyes fell straight out of my head. The rest of the world eats meat and I’m okay with that.

I don’t really condone it, and I’d

prefer if everyone else took a page out of PETA’s playbook, but I know that’s not always the reality of the situation.

But this was just too much.

It’s one thing to buy a turkey at a grocery store; it’s a faceless, nameless slab of meat, just another product to toss into the cart alongside lima beans and a loaf of French bread.

This particular option, however, just seemed – well – fowl.

I understand the desire for fresh food. I really do. I like a nice crispy head of lettuce as much as the next guy. But when your dinner starts clucking back at you, peeking at you – doesn’t it start to rattle your thinking a little bit?

It’s the personal touch that really kills me (no pun intended). Imagine lining up your kids, pulling on scarves and hats and boots and ushering them out the door. “We’re going to the farm!” the parents say cheerily. “Are you ready to meet your meat?”

They arrive, rosy-cheeked and giggling, peeking at turkeys and chickens and perhaps a pig or two.

“Which one do you like, Jimmy?”

Dad might ask, pointing to a particularly plump fowl. “How about that one?”

Jimmy and sister Susie agree; that one looks like a nice friendly chap.

So Dad pays the man behind the counter, grabs the turkey, and with a solid thwock – Turkey’s head has been neatly separated from his body and he’s all ready to be plucked and stuck into a roasting pan for someone’s delicious Thanksgiving dinner.

Meanwhile, Jimmy and Susie are traumatized for life, forever wondering why they have an unnatural fear of axe-wielding woodsmen and red flannel shirts.

And there you have it. Meet your meat. The fun factor of personally making the acquaintance of the innocent animal you’re about to slaughter.

It’s bad enough you have to eat them. But do we really need the introduction first?

Ashley Bursey is a former Arts Editor of The Brunswickan.

Jill Barber takes a chance Alison Clack

The Brunswickan

It takes courage for an artist to take a chance and change their musical style. That’s exact what Jill Barber did on her ironicallytitled new album, Chances.

Although Barber has a strong fan-base for her self-described “smokey-folk” style, and was nominated for a newcomer award at the 2008 Junos, she made the leap and changed her style on her new album due out this month.

The desire to change her style came from the opportunity to perform with Symphony Nova Scotia in their pop series (which has also featured artists like Joel Plaskett and Buck 65).

“I think that kind of sifted my focus a little bit – having that opportunity- and I was drawn into the idea of producing a record the way they made all the classic records - with full, lush orchestration,” said Barber of her opportunity to play with Symphony Nova Scotia.

“I ended up making a natural sort of move away from the folkier side of things and take these songs and fully realize them with lush strings and horn arrangements. I just decided to sort of make that my focus on this record and really kind of go all the way with it.”

Her new album has a lounge singer aspect to it – the listener feels like they are transported back to the ‘40s in a smoky hotel bar. But more than just the era itself Barber wanted to recreate the feeling of romance in the music.

“I think I’ve always written songs that are pretty romantic and I think that romance has been lost in a lot of modern music so I look to the old classics. I just

Jill Barber’s Chances was released October 14. She will appear at the Playhouse on October 26. wanted to deliver it and bring that sound back to contemporary songs,” said Barber.

But she didn’t just want to cover some old classics, “because I’m a song-writer; instead of just covering some of my favourite old songs I wanted to challenge myself to write new songs that really have captured that old classic, romantic feel,” said Barber, “I’ve found a niche in modern music which is to keep the spirit of the old romantic classics alive but to try to write new songs instead of just singing the old classics over again.”

She had some help with writing the songs for this album.

Ron Sexsmith collaborated with Barber for three songs on Chances. Sexsmith helped to write the title track Chances and One More Time, as well as singing on the track Old Flame.

“I’ve always really, really admired him as a song-writer; he’s always been a bit of a songwriting hero of mine,” said Barber of Sexsmith.

The two became friends while

touring together on the east and west coasts. The friendship eventually led to Barber asking Sexsmith to join her while she worked on her album at the Banff Centre – a learning center partially dedicated to the arts.

While working at the centre Barber worked tirelessly on her album, waking up every morning and writing songs with Sexsmith throughout the day.

“It was really intense but really satisfying,” said Barber of the experience, “It can be tough to focus on the art in my day-to-day life so to get away from everything and to shut everything else out allowed me to focus and to get more into the artistic process. I tried to make the most of it and I ended up writing the majority of these songs during that time so I was well worth it.”

The album’s release will be followed by a tour by Barber.

All of the locations were hand picked by her based on the places that she enjoys performing in the most.

“I’m just really looking forward

Submitted

to getting into these performance rooms since I’ve got this perfect tour lined up so I’m looking forward to the tour as a whole,” Barber said of the line-up.

“It’s a beautiful theatre space.

I got to actually the chance to perform there a couple times – once with Ron Sexsmith and once with Stuart McClean and the Vinyl Café. It’s a great stage and a beautiful room,” said Barber of the Fredericton Playhouse, one of the stops on the tour.

The Playhouse will actually be the opening show for her tour.

“It’ll be the kick off and that’ll be fun. It’ll have the energy of a first show which is always unique and very exciting. It sounds great and feels great to be on that stage and perform in that room. I’ve had great experiences there and I can not wait to get back and do another show, said Barber.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Freddy Beach.”

Jill Barber’s album, Chances, was released October 14. Her show at the Fredericton Playhouse is October 26.

brunswickanarts

Oct. 16, 2008 • Issue 7 • Volume 142 •9

Post-nuclear role playing

Will tour for gas

Screenshot

If you think this armor looks awesome, imagine yourself wearing it and wielding a Turbo Plasma Rifle.

The Final Score Dan Hagerman If you ask a gamer to list their top five computer RPG titles of all time, the vast majority of them are likely going to mention Fallout. Originally released in 1997 for PC and Mac computers, Fallout has since spawned two official sequels – one coming out at the end of this month – and a few spin-off games on top of that.

Eleven years since its original release, how well does Fallout hold up?

The answer lies almost entirely with the individual user’s patience.

The game begins with a couple of short movies introducing the player to the game’s environment. Essentially, World War 3 has happened, leaving the planet in a very post-apocalyptic state. The government has set up numerous “Vaults” to keep humanity safe until such time where the Earth might again be inhabitable.

Unfortunately, the computer chip controlling your vault’s water supply has broken down and is irreparable.

The Overseer of your vault takes you aside and asks you to go search the barren wasteland for a new one.

From the start of the game, you are tasked with choosing from three pre-created characters or creating a brand new one from scratch. Though the characters the game gives you are balanced enough in their own right, most people choose to fully customize the attributes and skills of their characters.

In addition to the base attributes, your character also has a variety of skills based on those attributes, including everything from gun use to bartering to being able to traverse the outdoors. A whole lot of all three things and more occur fairly frequently in this game.

Depending on your character creation choices, you usually start the game with a knife, a couple of flares, and, if you’re lucky, a handgun. From there, you can get a bit of target practice on some rats inhabiting the caves outside your vault, or you can immediately run towards the light and begin exploring what is, to you, a brand new world.

While it may seem like your options of where to go at the beginning of the game are limited, you can in fact explore the entire game world at any point you like. The only problem

with that is that until you get some experience and level up, most of the game will be too much for your character at first.

You can get more experience by killings things, completing quests, and successfully using your skills like First Aid or lockpicking.

Combat resolves itself in a turnbased manner, where every person has so many Action Points per turn.

You can move, shooting, check your inventory, or use your skills while in this mode, which continues until there’s nothing left attacking you. It can get really slow-paced at times, but there’s in the options menu there’s a tool that lets you speed up how fast combat moves, which is a great help. It can be very difficult at times, though, so unless you save your game often, it might be better to tone down the difficulty. Exploring the wastes will find you other towns and even a military base. In each town you are usually provided with a number of different quests that can be completed for various different people, but they usually boil down to doing something for good or doing something for evil. Depending on your intelligence and charisma, new dialog options will open up letting you do even more, driving home the point that this isn’t just a game about

shooting things up.

It’s a good thing that the game is heavily weighted towards dialogue and text descriptions of many things, because by today’s standards, Fallout looks pretty awful. The game certainly is to be commended for its unique visual style, but unless you’re a big fan of retro-styled graphics, Fallout is very blocky, with few frames of animation for each character.

What animations there are tend to be fantastic, especially the morbidly dark death animations.

The music in the game is very minimalistic in many cases, which tends to suit the idea that your character is out there roaming this huge wasteland on their own (or with one or two computer characters). The sound, especially that of the various guns, tends towards the loud.

Overall, Fallout is a very engrossing RPG, and it’s not hard to see why so many gamers and critics think it’s one of the best. It may look pretty dated by today’s standards, but on the other hand, that means that it’ll easily run on pretty much any computer in existence. With a lot of replay value and a good portion of former California to explore, this game is worth sinking your time into.

Dan Hagerman is Copy Editor of The Brunswickan.

Doug Estey / The Brunswickan

Cancer Bats are known for their relentless touring schedules, sometimes hitting Fredericton several times in a single year.

Curran Faris The Uniter

WINNIPEG (CUP) - In the face of rising gas prices, falling CD sales, and plummeting recording budgets, the members of Toronto’s Cancer Bats adapt, evolve, and persevere.

Formed in 2004, Cancer Bats play a vicious mix of hardcore, metal, and straight up rock n’ roll.

The band is on a Canadian tour in support of its latest offering, Hail Destroyer.

The band remains passionate about playing its music in front of a live audience in spite of high gas prices, vocalist Liam Cormier says by phone from a van driving across a stretch of highway in Alberta.

“If you want to tour, you’re just going to tour,” Cormier said.

“You’re going to eat it and you’re

going make it work.”

And Cancer Bats are making it work. Aside from signing to Distort Records, home of Alexisonfire, the band has received a string of awards, including the 2007 Much Music Video Award for Best Independent Video.

The band also fulfilled the dream of many musicians by quitting their day jobs to focus on making music full-time.

“None of us have worked a real job since 2006,” Cormier said.

“It’s not like any of us makes a substantial amount of money – it’s just we’ve also been able to cut back on expenses so we can afford to tour full time. So, like, none of us have apartments, per se.”

Despite the increasing challenges, financial and otherwise, associated with being independent musicians, Cormier is confident that Cancer Bats will always step it up in the face of adversity.

“We’re still gonna be a band regardless,” he said.

brunswickansports

Oct. 16, 2008 • Issue 7 • Volume 142 • 10

sports@thebruns.ca

Tough weekend at Helen Campbell tournament Mitchell Bernard

UNB - 60 CBU - 73 Hockey UNB - 4 U of Maine - 5 Saturday, october 11th Women’s Basketball CBU - 67 Lakehead - 73 UNB - 41 UBC - 42 Hockey UNB - 7 U of Maine - 6 Sunday, October 12th File / The Brunswickan

UNB will be looking to improve their play as they get set to host the University of Winnipeg in a three-game exhibition series this weekend. Action kicks off at the L.B. Gym tonight at 6 p.m.

Lisson saw 17 minutes of floor time against UNB. In the final game of the tournament, UNB once again fell flat against their opponents.

Lakehead controlled most of the play in front of the estimated 250 fans at the L.B. Gym on Sunday afternoon as they defeated the Reds 74-71. The Thunderwolves are coached by former Reds player Jon Kreiner. Shannon Vellinga led the way for the Lakehead Thunderwolves. She scored a gamehigh 15 points. For the Reds, it was Emma Russell who stepped up the play with 14 points. Russell is in her first season of eligibility with the Reds since being transferred

Emma Russell

to UNB from Cape Breton last season.

Despite going winless in the tournament, UNB head coach Jeff Speedy still found some positives to take out it.

“It was our first three games of the season and we had six news faces – seven if you count our starting point guard, who was injured for most of last season. It was a good chance to gauge where we are and to see what we need to do in order to improve,” said Speedy.

“The girls are playing with a lot of passion and drive. I’m happy to see the effort put forward. There were compliments from fans about how hard the girls worked.”

UNB Media Services

Sport: Men’s Basketball Yr: 1

Sport: Womens Basketball Yr: 1

Why did you choose UNB? I chose UNB because I like the small feel of the campus. Coach Brent Baker was also a huge factor for me coming here. I also wanted to be a part of the big turnaround in the Varsity Reds men’s basketball program.

What is your personal goal this year?

To be an academic All-Canadian, and be in the top three in the league for foul shooting percentage.

What is your desired profession?

Athletic therapy, a medical doctor, a strength trainer, or a coach.

What are your pre-game rituals?

I listen to my iPod – a great pump up song is Flashing Lights by Kanye West. I’ll go over our game plan, run over the sets in my head, and remember to have fun, because that’s why I play the game. I enjoy it, its fun!

What is your pet peeve?

When people snap/crack bones in their body.

Why did you choose UNB? I love the campus and facilities, the community of Fredericton, and the girls on my team, coach, etc.

What are your pre-game rituals?

I always listen to an Alexisonfire song.

Who was your childhood idol?

Lisa Leslie

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of meshing everyone together and getting on to the same page. We’ve sort of changed our program to be about passion and hard work. They are just a great group this year and I’m really looking forward to working with them.”

Next action for the Reds will be this coming weekend when they host the University of Winnipeg in three exhibition games across the province. The exhibition series begins tonight at the L.B. Gym at 7.pm. The series will then switch to Carleton North High School for Friday night’s game, and then again to the UdeM campus for

Saturday night.

Winnipeg is one of the powerhouses of the west and will be a great challenge for the Reds. It will be a chance for the Reds to step it up once again as they prepare for the upcoming season.

“One of the things we want is to continue to get better as a team. This weekend will be a great opportunity to play one of the better teams in Canada west. As well, it gives us the opportunity to play in some other communities where people don’t normally get to see us. I guess it’s almost sort of a goodwill thing, but it will definitely benefit us as well to play in other venues,” said Speedy.

Defending Champs look to repeat Brandon MacNeil The Brunswickan

UNB Media Services

Women’s Volleyball UNB - 1 Moncton - 3

Women’s Basketball Lakehead - 49 UBC - 66

One-on-one with...

Matt Durdin

Wednesday, October 8th

Friday, october 10th

The Brunswickan

Despite a strong effort in front of a home town crowd, the Reds weren’t able to keep up with their opponents in their first three games of the season. UNB went 0-3 in weekend play at the Accreon Helen Campbell Women’s Basketball tournament this past weekend. A tournament designed to give teams a look at their potential roster for the upcoming season, UNB used the games to work out the rust formed over the summer months.

In Friday night’s action, UNB faced Cape Breton, a powerhouse in the Atlantic conference. Despite leading the match 20-18 after the first quarter, the Reds weren’t able to keep up with CBU. Cape Breton notched 37 points in the second half en route to the 73-60 win over the Reds. Amanda Sharpe, a thirdyear Fredericton native led the way for UNB. Sharpe scored 25 points in the loss. Kari Everett was the top scorer for Cape Breton with her game-high 20 points.

On Saturday, the Reds came out stronger than their previous game.

Facing the University of British Columbia, defending national champions, UNB put forth a strong effort. Leading 31-29 going into fourth quarter play, the Reds fell once again as UBC took advantage of UNB errors trimming the Reds in a 42-41 victory. Once again it was Amanda Sharpe who was the Reds top scorer. She notched nine points against the UBC. For the defending champs it was Candace Morisset who led the way with 14 points.

Fredericton native Devan Lisson was in action for the Thunderbirds.

Despite an off-season knee surgery,

V-Reds Results

The UNB Cougars baseball team is heading back to the national Ccampionships. After an emotional Atlantic Division final over the weekend, UNB has earned its third consecutive visit to the national tournament.

“It feels great every time,” said Phil Brown, a third year veteran.

“We set a goal at the beginning of the year to defend our title.

We didn’t want to sneak in as a wildcard. We wanted to win the Atlantic division. We achieved our goal and it feels amazing.”

After sweeping the Dalhousie Tigers in the Atlantic semi-finals, the UNB Cougars awaited the winner of the other semi-final.

ABU and St. Mary’s battled it out, exchanging wins in the first two contests. In the last game, Saint Mary’s narrowly defeated ABU, earning a spot in the finals.

Despite losing game one of the finals to Saint Mary’s, UNB stormed back with two dominating victories, to take home the best-of-three series.

In game two, Pete Shaw pitched a complete game, allowing only one run on five hits, while striking out three hitters. Riverview, N.B.

native Kyle Keeping had a strong game offensively, batting in two of the team’s four runs.

In the third and final game, Jake Waugh pitched a three-hitter while striking out six to lead the Cougars to a 6-0 win. Saint Mary’s ace was pulled from the game in the fourth inning, with what Norris Philpotts considered “a flat fastball.” Nick Cameron led UNB at the plate with two singles and a double. Philpotts continued his strong season and had a very strong weekend offensively. When asked about the run support he received in the final game, Waugh couldn’t be more thankful of his teammates.

“It’s fantastic. The boys came through with small ball,” he said.

“They played basic fundamental baseball and all I needed to do was go out and throw it across the plate.”

The scene now shifts to McGill University in Montreal, the host of this weekend’s Nationals.

The tournament is compiled of six teams, including the three division champs, the host, and two wildcard positions.

The Lafleche Dragons reined victorious out of the Northern Division, while the Durham Lords were crowned champions of the Ontario Division.

Rounding out the competition is the host McGill Redbirds, along with the two wildcards from

ABU and the St. Claire Saints.

UNB’s coach Mark Clark said before the season that his team will a national contender come October, and he’s sticking to his word. “I knew this team would do some damage this year,” he said, after winning Atlantics.

“We have a solid core back from last year, and that will definitely help this weekend.”

Although they have lost some key leadership roles from last year, certain Cougars have stepped up when they had to.

Being a returning veteran, and having been to Nationals twice already, Phil Brown knows how important leadership is.

“We lost some key leaders from last year, but some of us have stepped up into that role. Last year’s experience will definitely help us because we know what it takes. Last year everyone was on the same page and focused, and that’s how you win championships.”

UNB begins play in Montreal on Friday afternoon when they square off against McGill. On Saturday they are set to play division rivals ABU, before finishing the round robin versus the St. Claire Saints. Semi-finals and finals will be played on Sunday. To track the Cougars’ progress this weekend, be sure to visit the Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association website.

Women’s Basketball CBU - 62 UBC - 72 UNB - 61 Lakehead - 74

Upcoming V-Reds Events Thursday, October 16th

Women’s Basketball U of Winnipeg @ UNB 7:00 p.m. @ LB Gym Friday, october 17th Men’s Basketball UNB @ St. FX 6:00 p.m.

Swimming TBD @ UNB 6:30 p.m.

Women’s Basketball U of Winnipeg @ UNB 7:00 p.m. @ C.N.H.S Hockey UNB @ UPEI 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, october 18th Swimming TBD @ UNB 10:00 a.m.

Women’s Volleyball TBD @ UNB 12:00 p.m.

Women’s Soccer UNB @ UPEI 1:00 p.m.

Men’s Soccer UNB @ UPEI 3:15 p.m.

Women’s Basketball U of Winnipeg @ UNB 6:00 p.m. @ UdeM Campus Sunday, Ocotber 19th Swimming TBD @ UNB 10:00 a.m.

Women’s Volleyball TBD @ UNB 12:00 p.m.

Athlete of the Week

the brunswickan.

UNB Media Services

Send classifieds to bruns-ad@unb.ca by monday at noon.

Kyle Bailey

Hockey Forward 2nd Year Ponoka, Alberta

brunswickansports

Oct. 16, 2008 • Issue 7 • Volume 142 •11

Beaten, battered, but not torn

Wood Works Grant Virgin

Submitted

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Daine Todd of the UNB Varsity Reds celebrates with a teammate after a goal in weekend play. Despite losing a few players to injuries, the Reds split their two game series against the University of Maine Black Bears, who play in the NCAA.

Tony von Richter The Brunswickan

What was supposed to be a celebrated weekend of the V-Reds Hockey Grand Slam slate of exhibition games turned into something of a nightmare for the team and its fans.

Over a weekend set of games against the University of Maine Black Bears, forwards Daine Todd, Dion Campbell, John-Scott Dickson, and Kyle Bailey were all injured.

This left UNB with a significant hole in their lineup for this week’s regular season opener against the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers.

The players joined forward Rob Pearce on the injured list.

Pearce suffered a sprained knee ligament during a road game against UMass – Amherst two weeks ago.

According to Head Coach Gardiner MacDougall, the players suffered injuries ranging from separated shoulders for Todd and Dickson to head injuries for Bailey and Campbell.

Campbell and Bailey have no concrete timeline for a return and, while not specific, MacDougall indicated that Dickson and Todd will be out for a significant period of time.

More positive was Pearce’s prognosis, as he may begin skating as early as this week.

Some have suggested that the Reds’ ambitious exhibition schedule contributed to their injury woes but MacDougall discounts this theory, saying that the injury bug can’t be controlled and the chance to develop their skills is a big part of why players come to UNB. Obviously losing five players from the lineup is a blow to any team, but Coach MacDougall feels that his team has the ability to adapt to this new situation.

“First part is you have to adapt your practice. You usually practice

with a certain set, four lines, so there’s an adjustment there.

“We’ve moved some defensemen around and got a couple of assistant coaches in gear this week, so we’re working on that part of it.”

Saying that “we’ll be down a couple,” Coach MacDougall indicated that the Reds won’t be playing with a full roster for their first game of the regular season, but it wasn’t a source of great concern if the team plays with three forward lines rather than four.

“In my eight years here no one has knocked on my door and said ‘Coach you’re playing me too much,’ so there is going to be ample ice time for anyone who dresses on Friday night.”

One personnel move that was confirmed is that defensemen Alex Aldred will be playing on a forward line, something he had ample experience during his junior career in the Western Hockey League.

Another question mark heading into the regular

season was the team’s goaltending situation.

With both Derek Yeomans and Travis Fullerton being replaced early in this weekend’s games the team doesn’t appear to have a set number one starter.

“I think we’ll be looking for one of them to step forward now,” said MacDougall.

“Having ten [exhibition] games gives each guy a chance to get used to playing, but now there’s an opportunity to step forth there.

“Obviously that position has to be our best, I think it can be improved upon, and I think both guys can do that for us.”

The Reds open the regular season this Friday night on the road against UPEI.

to the

Bruns

The UNB Woodsmen team is back to defend their 2007-08 Canadian Inter-Collegiate Lumber-jacking Association (CILA) championship this weekend. They are in action on Saturday, Oct. 18, in their first competition of the year as UNB’s Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management hosts the 43rd annual Woodsmen Competition at the Hugh John Flemming Forestry Center.

The competition features a series of morning individual and team events such as: pole climb, burling, axe throw, bowsaw, and one-man crosscut. After a quick lunch, the teams are back at it in the afternoon to participate in the team chopping and sawing events. The competition concludes with the way-moreexciting-than-it-sounds kettle boil, where representatives from each team are given a couple matches, a hatchet, and a block of wood and asked to boil a tin of water. These competitors are known for doing whatever it takes to win.

Forestry has been a part of the Maritimes culture for hundreds of years and it runs deep through the veins of many New Brunswickers.

The rise of forestry in Maritimes led to the creation of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of New Brunswick in 1908, eventually leading to the formation of the UNB Woodsmen team in the 1960s. This year’s competition features three UNB teams: men’s A & B teams, and a women’s team all vying for the top spot.

Only two of seven members of the men’s A-team are returning from last year’s championship. The empty roster spots were filled two rookies and three promotions from the men’s B-team.

UNB Men’s A-team captain BillyRae Freeman likes their chances of repeating as CILA champs.

“Certainly I think we have a great chance. What we may lack in

experience, I believe we have already made up for with lots of practice and hard work,” said Freeman.

Taking a run at UNB this year is McGill University. They were fivetime defending champs prior to last year when they were forced to rebuild. At McGill, timber-sport has varsity status, coached and funded by the university. If any team has the resources available to stage a comeback in 2008-09, it’s them.

At UNB, however, timber-sport is viewed in a different light.

“What makes the Woodsmen so unique at UNB is the fact that we’re one of the most complete teams I’ve ever been apart of. We raise our own money, manage the team, coach the team, and we compete as well.

I also can’t say enough about the help we receive from our sponsors and woodsmen alumni as well,” said Freeman.

Like many clubs at UNB, the Woodsmen are no strangers to financial need. Their equipment isn’t cheap and neither is transporting their 22 members all over Eastern Canada. This year, the team has raised funds by running security at the Student Union Building and doing non-event security at the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival - and this doesn’t include practicing every day at 6 a.m.

“At the end of the day I think it gives us an advantage. The fact that we’ve worked so hard to get to where we are it makes us want to compete that much more,” said Freeman.

And compete they shall for this years competition with a team representing each of the last three decades featuring 30 years worth of UNB Woodsmen Alumni . The fact that former team members are willing to return to compete 30 years after graduation epitomizes what the UNB Woodsmen team is all about - working hard, having fun, and above all the team.

The competition runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and parking are free for everyone. Public transport is available as spectators can hop on the city bus at the SUB and head up to the mall.

brunswickansports

12 • Oct. 16, 2008 • Issue 7 • Volume 142

The revival of women’s hockey A Girl with Grit Kirsten Goruk

Through determination and an everlasting love for the game, the girls will play hockey again

CUP Alberta Bureau Chief

Colin McPhail The Brunswickan

Almost eight months after being let go by the university, the women’s hockey team is back on the ice. They won’t be labeled as a varsity team, but nonetheless UNB will have a team this season.

“After being dropped by the university varsity program everyone was devastated,” said the President of the club Kristen Doucet. “No one knew that this was being done to any of the teams.”

Men’s swimming, men’s and women’s wrestling, and cross country are the other five sports that got the axe last March.

The reasoning for abandoning those programs was to increase investment in eight other varsity sports consisting of both men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, and soccer, as well as women’s swimming and men’s ice hockey.

Immediately after the exam period ended, Doucet and her cousin and fellow teammate Melinda Forster got to work. After meeting with several university officials and representatives of different women’s hockey associations, the pair was able to join the Women’s Independent Hockey League or WIHL. Following meetings with James Cress, the Coordinator of Intramural Sports and Sport Clubs for the University and the Director of Campus Recreation, Gangsheng Xu, they learned of the responsibilities in creating and managing a team, but more importantly they learned of the financial implications involved in not being a varsity program. “Our team is basically self-funding with exception of a small grant from campus recreation. We don’t have to pay for our ice time but we do need to pay for refs and pucks

File / The Brunswickan

Although not varsity status, the UNB Women’s Hockey club will still compete this season, despite the loss of funding after being cut to competitive club status last spring. and things like that. We are looking into sponsorship.” They have already a generous donation of team jerseys from the FYHA. Finally, at the end of a stressful summer, the two were ready to have their first official meeting as a club at the beginning of the semester. To their surprise 43 girls showed interest in the new team; a number that will allow a competitive and a recreational team.

“The competitive team will be playing in three tournaments, if the funding permits, including teams like Acadia University, Cape Breton University and Holland College,” said Doucet.

The Brunswickan Annual General Meeting

November 6th, 2008 4:30 p.m.

SUB Room 103

awesome

EDMONTON (CUP) – Carolina Romeo isn’t just the new kid on campus – she’s also the newest Dino on the University of Calgary’s field hockey team. And if that isn’t enough excitement, she just celebrated her sixteenth birthday two days ago.

Romeo is making history as the youngest athlete to ever play at the U of C, and if her academic record is any indication, she’s got experience in facing challenges head on. As an exceptional student growing up, Romeo skipped two years of junior high and found herself in Grade 9 a little earlier than usual. “At first it was a little challenging, but whenever I thought about it, I didn’t think that I was ahead,” she said. “It was just the work I supposed to do, so whenever I thought that it was hard, I just thought it was probably the same for my friends in their grade.” When she was only eight years old, her family relocated to Canada from South America. The opportunity provided her with a new learning environment and the chance to excel.

“I was born in Argentina, Buenos Aires. [I have a] family of six – an older brother at U of Victoria, an older sister, and a younger sister. We moved as a family with my parents in December of 2000 straight to Calgary,” Romeo said.

Her love of sports – particularly field hockey and ringette – is deeply routed in her family life.

“My family is very involved in sports; all three of my siblings play

and my Dad used to as well,” she said.

It didn’t take long for her to make an impression on the athletic community of Calgary. During her years at Centennial High School, Romeo was a star athlete in addition to being a straight-A student. She was named Most Valuable Player of Centennial’s field hockey team in 2007, and was also awarded the Carol Erickson Award for high school field hockey in 2008.

Now she’s enjoying the perks of the Chancellor’s Club Scholarship – a $10,000-a-year ride – while playing with the Dinos full time. Romeo has also just begun her degree at the Schulich School of Engineering, but balancing school life with her athletic career hasn’t proved too hectic for her yet.

“I’m finding that it’s taken me the week to settle down from the whole summer holidays and starting to do work. My schedule [includes] practice before school or after. It’s been sitting perfectly,” she said.

On top of that, living in residence has thrown the young 16-year-old into an accelerated adulthood.

“It is different. I really have to get around and do everything by myself.

But it’s a lot easier to get around campus; I can walk everywhere. I don’t have to leave an hour before everything,” Romeo said.

As for the Dinos, their first game of the season took place on Sept. 13 against the University of Victoria Vikes. Despite the 2-1 loss, Romeo is looking forward to what lies ahead.

“I’m just excited for the year. It’s finally here after the whole Grade 12, trying to figure out where to go for university. It was hard, but I’m glad with my decision.”

“The recreational team, if there are enough girls to create this team, will be playing in the WIHL - basically a senior women’s team mostly in the Fredericton area, competing in a tournament or two.”

Now that the stage has been set, they must look towards the season ahead of them. It was quite a shock to be let go for the women’s team last year because of the recent success and popularity.

The team was looking forward to extending their lengthy streak of playoff appearances in the AUS. However, winning may be more difficult this year due to inexperience amongst the young

players.

“This will definitely be an uphill climb this year, basically a test year to see how well things pan out,” said Doucet, “and hopefully in the future we can create a league for the competitive team with best case scenario the club being reinstated back to varsity. We are just taking one step at a time.”

Another obstacle that the club is hoping to overcome quite soon is their lack of a coach, but this determined squad isn’t discouraged. “We plan on going to this tournament in Acadia at the end of October, with or without a coach.”

thebruns.ca

David Moll / The Gauntlet