VOLUME 154, ISSUE 1, SEPTEMBER 2020
Why The Bruns Matters
Past EICs speak on the value of The Bruns
NB Snap Election
A recap of the 2020 New Brunswick Provincial Election
Canada's Oldest Official Student Publication
Staff Reporters Andrew McCullough Ibukun Keyamo Morgan Bell Creative Team Josh Vandenborre Jules Keenan Social Media Manager Emma Warwick
Editorial Policy About us The Brunswickan, in its 154th year of publication, is Canada’s Oldest Official Student Publication. We are an autonomous student publication owned and operated by Brunswickan Publishing Inc. , a nonprofit, independent body. We are also a founding member of the Canadian University Press. Now a magazine, we publish monthly during the academic year with a circulation of 300. We publish weekly online at Thebruns.ca. @thebrunswickan
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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 publication are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Brunswickan, its Editorial Board or its Board of Directors. All editorial content appearing in The Brunswickan is the property of Brunswickan Publishing Inc. Stories, photographs and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the express, written permission of the Editor-in-Chief.
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Ally Buchanan Business Manager Cameron Wiseman Ceative Director Jules Keenan News Editor Taylor Chalker Arts & Lifestyle Editor Marlowe Evans Ad Manager Curtis Brewster Multimedia Editor Josh Vandenborre Copy Editor Jack Sparks
Editor Letter from the
Words by Ally Buchanan Illustration by Jules Keenan
Welcome back! Or, not really? The vast majority of classes are being held online. Students have deferred, taken semesters off, or are attending classes from all over the world. Campus is largely deserted, with red tape and arrows directing you through buildings and ominous signs depicting masks and listing COVID symptoms plastered on each door. School is back in session, but it really isn’t. I sat down in front of my laptop for hours trying to think of what I wanted to say. What intelligent or valuable sentiment I could add to the multitude of complex conversations being had right now. And honestly, I couldn’t come up with much. There was no rallying cry or pep talk I could offer, no original insight I could provide to all the issues the last few months have brought to light, some not for the first time, many not for the last. It’s exhausting, and overwhelming, and stressful. This is not a unique feeling; everyone is having to adjust and move forward in ways that would have seemed insane to us if proposed in January. I’m supposed to graduate this spring, and I’ll be leaving university for a world that is unrecognizable from anything seen for generations. There is no guidebook to 2020, and what will come after it, which leaves both terrifying realities and exciting possibilities. People keep making reference to “the new normal,” saying that lockdowns and COVID regulations will now define our lives for the foreseeable future. I think those people forget that the concept of normal has never been stagnant, and nothing has ever been guaranteed. We are constantly being upended, forced to adapt, and resettling for the next time it will happen again. This is a big one, sure, but who’s saying we can’t bounce back, with new ideas and plans, building a better “normal” instead of returning to the old one?
Here at The Bruns, much like everywhere else, life is turned upside down. How do you cover the issues in the community when “the community” is now a series of Microsoft Teams meetings? How do you engage with the student population when that population is spread across the country and world? We’ve had to rethink the answers to those questions, reframe our place in the conversation, and recalibrate our approaches. I wanted to open this dialogue, in a time of top-down information, with constant regulations, mandates, and statistics, hoping to hear back from you. What problems are you facing; what matters to you right now? Speaking on behalf of The Bruns, we are committed to providing our readership with the information they need and facilitating the conversations that are beneficial to them. In order to do that in the best way we can, especially amid the distance, we want to know what you have to say. We want to be your advocate. So, welcome back to a new year. I hope you never lose WiFi, always remember to turn your microphone off, and leave the house on occasion. Sincerely, Ally Have a comment on a story, want to bring attention to something happening on campus, or have anything else to share? We want to hear from you! Send in your Letters to the Editor to editor@thebruns.ca. 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE BRUNSWICKAN | VOL. 154, ISSUE 1
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News Briefs Taylor Chalker
On the Town
Marlowe Evans
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Meet The Bruns Staff Brunswickan Staff
Community at a Distance
Ally Buchanan
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When Anger Turns to Action Taylor Chalker
NB Snap Election Andrew McCullough
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Why The Bruns Matters Morgan Bell
Defining Misogyny Ibukun Keyamo
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An American Pickle Marlowe Evans
RosĂŠ
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Maritime Landscapes
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Lisa Metz
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Burnout
KC Parlee
Vanessa Lavesque
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Words by Taylor Chalker Photo and Illustration by Jules Keenan
Provincial Election On September 15, the province held a provincial election which saw the emergence of a Progressive Conservative majority government.
“More and more of the pressure has fallen on the shoulders of students themselves,” Coon explained at a recent electoral roundtable. COVID-19
There is contention among New Brunswickers about the results, with many expressing anger at the lack of proportional representation and questioning the need for an election in the midst of a pandemic.
New Brunswick currently has only one active case of COVID-19, located in the Moncton region, and has reported no new cases as of September 19. Since the pandemic began, the province has seen 194 cases of the virus. Of that, 191 have recovered and two have died.
Many view that the concentration of population in certain areas, such as Fredericton South, was not weighted accordingly, a symptom of the firstpast-the-post system.
Social distancing precautions are still in effect, with most businesses requiring hand sanitation and masks upon entrance, and screeners asking COVID-19 related questions prior to entry.
Locally, Fredericton South saw Green Party leader David Coon re-elected. This will be Coon’s third term as Fredericton South MLA and, among other things, he pledges to continue his focus on improving mental health resources for students.
While many businesses, particularly restaurants and bars, have found ways to cope with social distancing guidelines, many worry about what will happen as winter approaches and outdoor seating areas are forced to close.
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On September 18, the province made a COVID Alert app available to residents. This app, available for Apple and Android users, will notify the user if they have been potentially exposed to the virus. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will receive a one-time key which, using bluetooth technology at the users discretion, will alert others if they have been exposed. Glyphosate Controversy The National Farmers Union in New Brunswick encourages people to seek education on the use of glyphosate in farming practices. Glyphosate is a herbicide used to kill weeds, and there are allegations that it causes some health risks, such as cancer.
In a statement released for World Environment Day, Green Party leader David Coon expressed the importance of “farmers using organic processes,� which encouraged some to vote for him on the basis that he would ban the use of glyphosate in farming practices. Both the Green and Liberal parties pledged to ban the use of glyphosate spraying on public lands. The NFU-NB fears that the lack of distinction between the use of glyphosate for farming and forestry threatens the livelihoods of local farms. While the union aims to eventually eradicate the use of pesticides in farming, there is still a necessity for certain pesticides to ensure farms are able to survive and that food security is maintained.
During the recent provincial election, some candidates pledged to ban the use of glyphosate, a pesticide used for spraying in both the agricultural and forestry sectors. 7
Words by Marlowe Evans Illustration by Jules Keenan
Saltwater Songs with Catherine MacLellan, Rachel Beck, Tim Chaisson When: Saturday, 24 October, 2020 - 7:30 p.m. Where: Fredericton Playhouse Three dynamic musicians bring a fresh set of island music to Fredericton with Saltwater Songs. Inspired by Prince Edward Island, the music of the show was designed to reflect and celebrate the diversity of people, cultures, and talent on the island. With celebrated Canadian folk music performer Catherin MacLellan, the hauntingly talented singer-songwriter Rachel Beck, and Tim Chaison (of The East Pointers fame), the show promises to be a showcase of some of PEI’s best talent. This is a show that can’t be missed. Prices are regular $34, $31 for members, and $17 for students, plus applicable taxes. Tickets must be purchased by phone or in person at the Playhouse. Hindsight: 2020 Diploma Exhibition When: Sept. 26 - Oct. 11, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Where: King’s Landing Reflecting on 2020 and the work accomplished this year, Hindsight invites viewers to celebrate the New Brunswick College of Craft & Design’s class of 2020 and everything they achieved during the 2020 school year. These students deserve a way to celebrate their work and their successes, and this multidisciplinary exhibition is the perfect opportunity. Symphony New Brunswick presents Camerata NB: Summer Roses When: Saturday, 3 October, 2020 - 7:30 p.m. Where: Fredericton Playhouse Featuring guest conductor Martin MacDonald, 8
along with acclaimed soloists such as Christie Goodwin, Karin Aurell, and Joël Cormier, Summer Roses promises to be a stunning homage to the end of summer. The concert integrates traditional Mi’kmaq songs into a symphony performance. When has anyone ever had the opportunity to mix Mi’kmaq songs with Mozart’s symphonies? This unique performance runs only for one night. Tickets are regular $36.52, and $8.70 for students, plus tax. (Again, ticket reservations for the Playhouse may only be made over the phone or at the box office.) Soirée d’humour et d’improvisation (A Night of Comedy and Humour) When: 1 October, 2020 - 7:30 p.m. Where: Centre Communautaire Sainte-Anne Acadian comedians André Roy, Luc LeBlanc, Samuel Chiasson, Bass Levesque (and a specially anticipated surprise guest!), will be the first ones to light up the stage at the CCSA since last February. This interactive night of comedy is available for viewing both in person and online, with audience participation available for both options! Any fans of Saturday Night Live or Whose Line is It Anyway? are sure to be entertained by this phenomenal performance. Tickets are available at the Centre Communautaire Sainte-Anne and online for only $35. Harvest Home Celebration When: Oct. 3 - 4, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Where: King’s Landing Celebrate alongside living New Brunswick history as the harvest begins at King’s Landing! The harvest is the most important time of year for the villagers of King’s Landing, and they’ve been more than kind enough to invite everyone along for the ride. The celebration promises fun, food, games, and learning!
Are you looking for a job for the next academic year?
WE ARE HIRING! OPEN POSITIONS: REPORTER
SEND APPLICATION TO EDITOR@THEBRUNS.CA Applications should include a cover letter and resume. Full job descriptions can be found at https://www.thebruns.ca/articles/job-opportunity-staff-2020-2021
Meet the Bruns 2020/2021 Staff
Ally Buchanan | Editor-in-Chief Ally is entering her third and final year at Renaissance College, with a focus in Political Science, and at The Brunswickan. Originally from Hampton, New Brunswick, she is thrilled to be back in Fredericton for another great year with The Bruns. She is passionate about political education and engagement, coffee, and retro science fiction. In her new role as Editor-in-Chief, Ally hopes to lead The Bruns in being a voice for the student body during this atypical year.
Cameron Wiseman | Business Manager Cameron Wiseman is entering his fourth year in the Management faculty at UNB pursuing honours in Marketing along with a minor in Finance. He comes from Riverview, NB and is excited to join The Bruns for the first time as their Business Manager for the 2020/2021 academic year. His interests include biking the trails of Fredericton, keeping up with financial markets, and reading non-fiction. Cameron is grateful for the opportunity to further connect with the community of Fredericton as well as support an exceptional team at The Bruns.
Jules Keenan | Creative Director Jules Keenan is in her final year of the Photography Diploma program offered at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. Originally from Miramichi, New Brunswick, she moved to Fredericton to pursue her goal of a creative lifestyle in art, photography, and writing. She can usually be found running around downtown with a camera in one hand and a to-go cup in the other, striking up conversations with intriguing strangers. As this year’s Creative Director, Jules hopes to push The Bruns to its creative limits by incorporating designs that are visually fun and refreshing.
Taylor Chalker | News Editor Taylor is an Entertainment Marketing graduate from the Toronto Film School, and a second-year Arts student at UNB. She is hoping to enter the Honours program, and aims to complete a Joint Honours in English and History. Originally from Newfoundland, she enjoys baking, painting, and watching Tom Hanks movies. Taylor is excited to act as News Editor for The Bruns this year, and looks forward to working with this fantastic team.
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Marlowe Evans | Arts and Lifestyle Editor Marlowe Evans is a third-year Political Science Honours student at UNB. Hailing from British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, and having worked as a journalist there for five years, living in Fredericton and returning for another term as The Bruns’ Arts and Lifestyle Editor is a grand adventure for her. Marlowe’s entire personality is based on her ability to cook an entire turkey (with stuffing), and the fact that all dogs like her. She is interested in being able to work with the community to create new and exciting content this year.
Curtis Brewster | Ad Manager Curtis Brewster, originally from Hopewell Cape, now lives in Fredericton. He recently graduated from the University of New Brunswick under the Media Arts and Cultures program. He is a working filmmaker in the Fredericton film scene and currently has projects on the go. As Ad Manager, Curtis wants to get students and community members more engaged with the organizations and events that help bolster our city.
Josh Vandenborre | Mulitmedia Editor Josh Vandenborre is an Applied Arts graduate who has just started in the Education program. Within the Applied Arts program, he focused on Media & Cultures and Graphic Design with a big love for film. He is a well-rounded creative individual who is in his first year working as the Multimedia Editor at The Brunswickan. He is always up for a good time, loves to be outdoors, and is always looking for vinyls to add to his collection. He is excited to work with a creative team that will push each other in a positive environment.
Jack Sparks | Copy Editor Jack is a sick man… he is a spiteful man. No, he is not a pleasant man at all. He believes there is something wrong with his liver. However, he doesn’t know a damn thing about his liver; neither does he know whether there is anything really wrong with him. Memory mixed with desire… something lost. Some nights we danced, and the air was thick with things to come.
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Emma Warwick | Social Media Manager Emma is entering their third year at UNB, pursuing a major in Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies and a minor in Psychology. This is their second year at The Bruns and they are thrilled to be working with this year’s team. Emma is originally from rural Nova Scotia and is passionate about social justice, educational reform, and queer studies. They also enjoy cooking, trying to keep their plants alive, relating to their younger brothers through Minecraft, and messing with the gender binary.
Ibukun Keyamo | Reporter Ibukun is a first-year Arts student from Nigeria who is studying at UNB. Having always loved to write, she is excited to be working as a reporter for The Bruns this year. She loves to sleep and eat, and when she’s not doing either of those, she’s watching Friends for the millionth time. She enjoys extreme sarcasm, and believes dogs are almost better than humans. This year, she’s looking forward to putting out entertaining content and working with this amazing team.
Andrew McCullough | Reporter Andrew is a third-year Arts student pursuing Joint Honours in English (Creative Writing) and Media Arts & Cultures (Filmmaking). Growing up in St. Andrews, NB, Andrew has always pursued creative fields and holds two diplomas in visual arts and operated an independent pottery business for several years. Andrew’s presence is always overshadowed by his pomeranian Peanut, who is actually the cutest dog in the world. His free time is usually spent reading, watching horror films, or looking at pictures of Nic Cage.
Morgan Bell | Reporter Morgan is a third-year Journalism student at St. Thomas University. She’s recently decided to minor in Criminology with hopes to pursue her dream as an investigative journalist. She’ll be working at The Bruns this year for her first time as a reporter. Besides writing, the 23-year-old enjoys spending time with her toddler, making crafts, and finding new recipes to cook. She’s excited to meet new people this year and write fascinating stories about the community.
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Community at a Distance: Online Orientation amid COVID Closures Words by Ally Buchanan Graphic by Josh Vandenborre
The 2020 school year has started off in many ways completely unrecognizable from the years before it. Campus is deserted, students are attending classes from their bedrooms all over the world, and the events and traditions we’ve become accustomed to have been put on hold. For incoming students, this presents an entirely new collection of obstacles in overcoming distance, isolation, and stress when making the transition into university. Niko Coady, this year’s Orientation Chair, described the challenges in bringing together approximately 800 first-years in an unprecedented online orientation. “I would say the main thing for us was just like, we wanted to make sure that we created a community and that we had a space where incoming students could still feel like they were a part of the community and make friends,” said Coady. Events for the seven-day orientation, dubbed Rise Freddy Beach, were held on Microsoft teams, and consisted of icebreakers, UNB and Shinerama trivia, a coffee house, bingo, yoga, and a comedy night with local comedian James Mullinger. Coady said that the first event, Welcome to Rise Freddy Beach, received the best feedback and participation of this year’s events, with 150 i ncoming students taking part in breakout sessions and icebreakers. Other events received an attendance of approximately 100 students. “Compared to other years, like, we definitely had lower numbers,” said Coady. “But the people who were there were extremely engaged. All the students felt very comfortable, which was really lucky.” During the course of the orientation, Coady was left with the impression that the incoming students had 14
just as much desire for community that her team did, and made use of the technology available to create it in their own ways. “So we’re trying to keep up that online community feeling. They’ve also done it on their own. Like they have a bunch of different group types for like, their programs for their classes. Like they have just like, run with it,” she said. With programming entirely online, the transition to university has become a more individualized experience than in previous years. Kristyn Serniuk, a first-year computer science student who is currently attending UNB from Mississauga, Ontario, found the online orientation “fun and informative” despite the distance. “I thought [orientation was] really good considering it was online,” she said. “The bingo and trivia were really fun. We got a sense of the school community even though we are all far away. I also met a lot of first-years as well!” Despite being appreciative of the programming and communication during her transition to university, Serniuk stated that the orientation fee, which was unchanged from past years, was excessive considering the events offered to her. “I do think considering it was online that it wasn’t worth the fee, but I completely understand as it still took a lot of work and everyone had to adapt,” said Serniuk. “Everyone has to adapt to these new circumstances and that comes with challenges, but there’s been a lot of support and people willing to help make the transition easier, which has been great.”
Allison Wilson decided to stay home in Hampton, New Brunswick to start off her Bachelor’s of Business Administration. “I made the decision to stay home because in the midst of the pandemic and everything going on, I figured it would be the safest place at the moment,” said Wilson.
to incorporate new ways of doing things,” said Garnett. “They did everything they really could to make orientation special. The orientation kits the UNBSU sent out were so nice!” Controversy surrounding the fees and tuition paid by students for virtual learning has been circulating since the largely online semester was announced, and the $80 orientation fee paid by incoming students is no exception to that. “Every domestic student that’s coming directly from high school automatically pays the orientation fee. Transfer students and international students do not so they have to opt-in, and we had less optins than previous years,” said Coady. Coady said that the funding from the student fee was “reallocated” to cover the new costs associated with an online orientation, including a premium Kahoot subscription for trivia and international shipping for the orientation kits.
“We bought more merchandise specifically for the incoming students. Normally, the Student Union orientation kits are smaller, because they get something from residence. So we bought more, because obviously they won’t get anyDespite not having the traditional O-week experience, thing from residences this year,” she said. “And then shipping and mailing Wilson felt that her transition to UNB was a smooth one, aided by the orientation programming offered by everything out.” the UNBSU. She also made reference to “money that is leftover” “I really like those events and felt like they were really that could contribute to events in the winter semester well executed despite the virtual barrier!” said Wilson, should campus reopen. but expressed that she did not feel the programming Coady felt that the Rise Freddy Beach orientation was worth the orientation fee students paid. was a resounding success, albeit a different type of success than in previous years. Hesitations surrounding the orientation fee were echoed by Morgan Garnett, who moved to Frederic“It definitely feels different,” she said. “We all felt ton this summer to attend UNB’s Renaissance College with the goal of achieving “a bit of the university extremely rewarded. I would say I felt more rewarded, because we had to come up with a whole new plan. experience” despite campus closures. And we had to kind of start fresh without help or Garnett, like the others, also expressed understanding experience. And we were on a pretty tight timeline. at the complexities of holding an orientation this year, And it seems like the students really enjoyed it and and felt the sense of community she desired was well had fun and were engaged. I would call that a success.” established during her first week at school. “It is a tough time for everyone, it certainly wasn’t how I pictured my first year orientation, but they tried 15
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Conservative Wins, Green Gains, and Liberal Losses Words by Andrew McCullough Photo submitted
NB
Blaine Higgs called a snap election to take place on Monday, September 14, and the New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Party emerged with a majority government with a total of 27 seats. “I want to get a program to bring stability to the province. I want an economic program that doesn’t get stalled because of politics,” said Blaine Higgs in the days leading up to the election. Sweeping seats across Central and Southern New Brunswick, the PC’s now have the opportunity to show New Brunswick what Higgs’s stability looks like. For many others, particularly members of the LGBTQ+ and Francophone communities, as well as those seeking reproductive justice, this election means uncertainty and a tough road ahead. For these communities, Higgs has been an antagonist against accessible abortion and specialized medical treatment, services offered at Fredericton’s Clinic 554, which is facing closure due to a lack of provincial funding. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the suddenness of the snap election, there was little opportunity for contention on subjects such as abortion services or glyphosate spraying. Voters approached the election as a referendum on Blaine Higgs’s coronavirus response.
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“There was no one issue that emerged during the campaign. In ridings where the conservative was the main contender, a number of candidates said that they felt like they were running against Blaine Higgs, his record on COVID-19. And that’s a pretty difficult thing to vote against when many people were quite happy with how they were kept safe and secure in the face of the pandemic,” said David Coon, New Brunswick Green Party Leader and Fredericton South MLA. Despite the PC majority, there is a clear political divide based on language. Francophone New Brunswick rejected Higgs outright by electing Liberal MLAs in the northern ridings, despite Higgs’s attempts at uniting the province under his party. This election shows that New Brunswick Francophones are not willing to forget the premier’s decades-old anti-bilingualism views from his time with the now-defunct Confederation of Regions party. The New Brunswick Liberal Party saw disappointing turnout in the rest of the province, with leader Kevin Vickers only getting 28.6 per cent of the vote in his Miramichi riding, losing to People’s Alliance incumbent Michelle Conroy who had 45.1 per cent of the vote. Conroy was re-elected despite controversies r egarding disputes with CUPE, including accusations from the President of CUPE NB, Brien Watson, that the People’s Alliance party allegedly stole CUPE signs critical of Conroy.
“The Liberal Party will move on and rebuild,” said Vickers, just after the election results were called. Shortly after, he announced he would be stepping down as party leader. For the New Brunswick Green Party, the results brought mixed feelings. “I certainly was hoping for at least two additional seats to give us five. This was a particularly challenging election, of course, because it was a snap election, so we didn’t really have any time to prepare while the [Blaine Higgs] government was. It’s interesting because we were the only party on the opposition side who did not lose any seats. We held our seats and we’re the only party to actually grow our percentage of the popular vote in New Brunswick by 30 per cent. Those are all very positive,” said Coon. In the Fredericton area ridings won by PC candidates, the Green Party came second in every riding. A notable exception is in the Fredericton-Grand Lake riding where People’s Alliance leader Kris Austin was re-elected with the PC’s Roy Wiggins coming in second. The People’s Alliance, a third party that held strong sway in the minority government, saw a decline in popularity, losing its seat in Fredericton York where incumbent Rick DeSaulniers came third following the PC’s Ryan Cullins in first and the Green’s Melissa Fraser in second. In Fredericton North, voting came down to a battle between small business owners. The PC’s Jill Green, co-founder of Green Imaging Technologies, and the Green Party’s Luke Randall, owner of Endeavours and Thinkplay, faced a close battle where Jill Green edged out a victory with 41.1 per cent thanks to large support from early voter turnout. In this same riding, the Liberal incumbent Stephen Horsman was dethroned to third place, and NDP interim leader Mackenzie Thomason experienced a devastating loss with only 100 votes. While New Brunswick will now be governed by a PC majority, Fair Vote Canada points out that the Conservatives were far from winning a majority of the popular vote, with over 60 per cent of New Brunswickers voting against Blaine Higgs’s Progressive Conservative Party.
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Black Lives Matter Fredericton - Continuing the Conversation
When anger turns to action Black Lives Matter Fredericton - Continuing the Conversation
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Words by Taylor Chalker Photos from BLM Fredericton
On May 25 of this year, the world saw tensions rise and anger turn to action when George Floyd was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Black Lives Matter movement fought to bring attention to this injustice, and continues to fight to put an end to police brutality, white supremacy, and systemic racism. On June 2, Fredericton saw a protest in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement. This event was organized in less than 24 hours, and demonstrated overwhelming support from the public for the movement. Husoni Raymond, one of the organizers of this protest, recognized the need for a Fredericton chapter of Black Lives Matter, and immediately began working toward making this a reality. Through connections with the Toronto and
Logo via The Ginger Agency
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Vancouver chapters, he and the other organizers were able to attend training sessions hosted by Black Lives Matter Toronto. Following the formation of the chapter, an email campaign was organized which encouraged people to email their elected officials encouraging them to defund police and reallocate resources. “We’ve had hundreds of emails sent to elected officials across the province on both the provincial and municipal level. Through that we’ve been able to meet with all the party leaders prior to the election, and also some municipal leaders like city councilors and the mayor, to talk about our calls to action,” said Raymond. One resource that has been helpful for growing the chapter is defund.ca, a site which offers contact tools to help contact government officials.
Raymond explained that defund.ca helped them “to continue the conversation around rethinking community safety and moving towards more preventative means of community safety through investing in community resources, rather than reactive approaches such as investing more money in police.” Defunding the police creates community resources that can lead to tangible improvements, while police reform is a surface level solution.
work with any government, or any elected officials, that are willing to implement our calls to action, and fight for collective liberation. So, we’re looking forward to collaborating and working with them to empower black communities here within the province.” Working toward the education point, the chapter has partnered with DMV Fredericton to create a resource for Black History that local teachers will be able to use in their classroom. To bring this to fruition, the chapter has hired three interns from UNB, and one intern from STU.
“Reform [makes] an adjustment to the way it currently works... so it’s basically adding body cameras, or anti-bias training, or those kind of “We’re coordinating that project right now, and superficial means of [working] with Fredericton City addressing police to open up a “Reform [makes] an adjust- Council violence… which is good conversation around but it’s proven to be ment to the way it current- community safety in ineffective and it Fredericton.” ly works... so it’s basically doesn’t solve the root cause of crime. The chapter is in the process adding body cameras, or Defunding is about of creating a website which, anti-bias training, or those among other things, will include reconsidering community safety by information on how to be the kind of superficial means of investing in best possible ally. community, such as addressing police violence… instead of criminalizing “It’s listening to racialized which is good but it’s provhomelessness and communities to see what they calling the police on want and how you can help, en to be ineffective and it homeless people, we it’s about educating yourself on doesn’t solve the root cause could invest in these issues and affordable housing,” spending some time doing of crime.” explained Raymond. some research… and then using the knowledge and the Black Lives Matter Fredericton recognizes the privilege, you have to educate your family importance of collaborating with the Indigenous members and friends who might not be keen on community in Fredericton. The chapter participated doing that research and labour in a unity ceremony with Indigenous elders and themselves,” explained Raymond. Black elders on August 13. If you are interested in learning more about Black “We can support each other to advance our Lives Matter Fredericton, you can find them on Inscommon interests and make our communities tagram (@BLM_FREDERICTON), Facebook (Black better,” Raymond said, and described the Lives Matter Fredericton/NB), and Twitter ceremony as very empowering. (@BLMFredericton). The chapter began reaching out to Premier Higgs prior to the election and, following a period of silence, was able to meet with the Progressive Conservative leader to discuss implementing their calls to action. “The premier is very keen on working on the education point,” Raymond said. “We’re willing to 21
Why the Bruns Matters Words by Morgan Bell Photo by Jules Keenan
Canada’s oldest official student publication happens to be yours truly, The Brunswickan. Our first issue was published in 1867, and we have continued to grow and evolve over the more than a century we’ve been around. “[The Brunswickan] has been a huge part of my university experience,” said Emma McPhee, a recent UNB graduate who served as the Editor-in-Chief for two years, and with The Brunswickan for five. The 25-year-old is now a full-time reporter for the Telegraph Journal. When starting university, journalism was not in her plan. She was pursuing her bachelor’s in archaeology and classics. She had been reading The Brunswickan in residence and felt it would be a fun side gig while attending UNB. “I knew the moment I handed my first story into The Brunswickan that this is what I wanted to do with my life – I was hooked from there on.” However, with the new position at the paper, McPhee was forced to practice her writing skills, which eventually turned into her current career path. “I credit my time at The Bruns for preparing me for my job,” she said. Not only has The Bruns helped find her a dream job as a journalist, but over the years it’s helped McPhee with her anxiety as a student. “I could barely hold a conversation over the phone, but somehow being able to say ‘Hi, Emma McPhee from The Brunswickan’ just took my anxiety and gave me confidence; it helped shape me personally.”
Although The Brunswickan is an amazing way to gain journalistic experience for a future career, that does not have to be the case. “A great thing about The Bruns is that you can have students from all different backgrounds be a part of it, not just journalism students,” said McPhee. The role of the paper is to represent all voices on campus, and working there is a wonderful way to meet new people and instigate meaningful change. “It’d be great if students started becoming more involved in the process by submitting opinion pieces or just volunteering their work. They don’t need a background in writing to do so,” said Brad Ackerson, another former Editor-in-Chief. He’s worked with The Brunswickan for the last three years, and feels it’s taught him a lot as a student. “It’s taught me to deal with adversity, definitely just going through so much with the job and doing classes at the same time.” “The Bruns is all about what’s most important and interesting for students. I’ve always liked doing my own thing, and the best part about The Bruns is that there isn’t a company overtop of you telling you what to write. That’s what makes it unique,” said Ackerson. Every year, the voice of the publication is shaped by those who work there. So every year things are slightly different, and there are consistently new writers working to create different and exciting content. Working for a completely independent student news publication is probably the, “only time in your life when you’re going to have so much freedom to cover what you want,” according to McPhee.
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The role of The Bruns is to amplify the voices of students and to keep them informed on what they need to know. Working there, or even volunteering a single story or letter to the editor, is an opportunity that is always open, a hand always extended. “Student journalism is important just to create, debate, and hold universities and student unions accountable,” said Ackerson. McPhee went even further, noting that “there are big stories that can be brought out of campus. We’ve been seeing the closure of so many community newspapers in the past few years, but campus newspapers always seem to be the ones who stick around. They’re important to bring local news to communities.” We matter because we give people a voice and a hand up in a world that’s not always easy for students. Submissions for letters to the editor can be sent to editor@thebruns.ca
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Defining Misogyny Vol. I: Ibukun Keyamo
Words by Ibukun Keyamo Illustration by Jules Keenan
Defining Misogyny is a series dedicated to sharing stories of how misogyny and gender-based discrimination have affected women and gender nonconforming people in our community. If you have a story you’d like to share, send it to arts@thebruns.ca. Coming into my own as a woman of the twenty-first century, I have yet to meet you in person. I have heard so much about you, and sadly none of it is good. So here I am, wondering why it is that I so utterly abhor a man that I have never even met. For centuries, you have set a standard of behaviour that threatens me and my female ancestors. You have stunted our growth and stifled our potential. You have set the tone of norms that trim our wings and reduce us to caged birds. Your influence has proven so great that members of my female clan have bought into your ideals and embraced your values. Talk of a house divided against itself. In the workplace, you reign, supervising the glass ceiling which you built over the heads of people of my gender. For centuries, we have struggled to come to terms with the fact that we have to work two times as hard as our male counterparts, to earn half of what they earn.
I cannot stop questioning the unfortunate fact that it took Canada one hundred and twenty six years to get its first female Prime Minister – and even then she wasn’t elected. Thanks to you, Misogyny, and the seeds that you continue to sow. Misogyny, as I come into womanhood, I hear your snide remarks: “No, you cannot do that. No, you cannot wear that. No, you cannot be that.” What irks me the most is the fact that you permit menfolk to do all that I am forbidden to do. You set the tone for the discrimination, inequities, inequalities, and injustices that my female ancestors fought hard to overcome. Why indeed was she blamed for events that you shaped and caused? Why was she blamed when she reported mental, physical, and sexual abuse by you? Why was she told that she must have brought it upon herself, through something she said, did, wore, permitted? Just so you know, Misogyny, this is the twenty-first century. I have been raised to hold my own, to spread my wings and soar. This means that when I do meet you, there is likely to be war. Believe it or not, I know the truth that sets you on edge: I am stronger and smarter than you! I know who I am, what I want, and where I am going. And this time, Misogyny, you cannot stop me. 25
An American Pickle
and the Immigrant’s Dream
Words by Marlowe Evans Photo by Lisa Metz
Warning: this article contains spoilers for An American Pickle. What seems like a light-hearted comedy about a man preserved in pickle brine for 100 years is actually one of the most heartfelt and poignant films produced in the last ten years. Don’t go anywhere, this isn’t a joke: Brandon Trost’s An American Pickle tells a dark and difficult story that is the lived reality for millions of people. An American Pickle follows the life of Herschel Greenbaum, a Jewish man who emigrates to the United States from Eastern Europe with his
beloved wife Sarah after their village was destroyed by Cossacks in 1919. Herschel and his wife are devout and humble people, and the bleak circumstances in their village have led them to have humble dreams – Herschel dreams of tasting seltzer water, and Sarah dreams of having her own burial plot. They believe that they can make these dreams come true when they go to America, but their reality in Brooklyn isn’t much better than it was back in their village. Herschel works in a pickle factory and smashes rats around the vats. Despite his difficult and very comical work, he manages to save just enough money to buy Sarah the burial plot she’d always dreamed of. They were expecting their first child when the rats at the pickle factory corner Herschel and chase him into a vat, where he is sealed as the factory is shut down. 100 years later, some kids lose a drone in the abandoned pickle factory, and Herschel is released. He is studied and analyzed, and eventually finds out that he has only one living descendent – Ben Greenbaum. At first, Ben and Herschel get along very well – Herschel believes that Ben, a struggling app developer, is actually very successful (largely because he has a SodaStream). However, in a string of events that involve alleged Cossacks and a very real arrest, Herschel and Ben fall out. They begin a wickedly funny feud. Herschel sets out to create his own pickle company using people’s garbage. Ben has him shut down by the health department. Herschel restarts, Ben has him shut down. At one point Herschel is even cancelled on Twitter, and Ben ends up being deported back to their family’s village in Europe. None of that really matters. It’s funny, but it’s not really important. The meat of the film, behind the witty dialogue and the on-brand Seth Rogen humour, has to do with why Ben and Herschel fought. Herschel’s promise to his wife when they came to America was that their family would grow to become important and successful. When he realized Ben wasn’t what he had initially dreamed, he condemned his great-grandson as a failure, and worse – a coward. Herschel was the literal embodiment of what it means to come from a family of immigrants.
Herschel was the ghost of Ben’s family. Even though Ben was third-generation American, he had internalized the idea that he had to be successful and carry on his family legacy in a big way. Though Herschel took the length of the film to realize that Ben was honouring their family in his own way, Ben had based his entire identity on trying to further their family legacy through his work. There’s trauma there. The pressure to succeed is at the basis of so much of the intergenerational trauma that comes with being from an immigrant family. The constant pressure to do nothing but study, to have a “good” career like medicine or law, to marry well, to fit in but still honour your culture. This intersection of assimilation and retention of culture is so complex, and is a part of identity that becomes more and more complicated as families change. An American Pickle handled this so beautifully with Ben’s relationship with his faith. The healing that goes on throughout the film, culminating with Herschel finding Ben in their village synagogue taking part in the mourner’s Kaddish, is piercingly emotional. An American Pickle is easily discounted as a comedy. It’s easily discounted as a story about the American Dream. But it’s more than that. Trost’s film (and Simon Rich’s New Yorker short story, “Sell Out,” on which it was based) is a love letter to the dreams of immigrant families everywhere, and the complex legacy that those dreams leave behind. Not everyone has a great-great-grandfather who was brined for 100 years to tell them that they have in fact lived up to the hopes and aspirations that were held for them. But when Herschel Greenbaum told his great-great-grandson that he was proud of what he’d accomplished? It felt like he was speaking to me. An American Pickle is now streaming on CraveTV.
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Rosé By LisaMetz
Lisa Metz studies photography at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. As a child, her father was an avid photographer and would often share his photographs through photo albums and slideshows of various genres, greatly influencing Lisa’s love for this visual art form. Lisa’s photographic work exemplifies her strong passion and willingness to go the extra mile with both her creativity and imagination. A reoccurring style and a favourite form of photography is natural light portraits with extravagant clothes and accessories. These are more artistic in nature rather than biographical.
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When I made these self-portraits, my hope was for viewers to imagine themselves stepping into my shoes through the dreamy reality that represents me and the way I like to see things. I find this series of images captures how I see myself and truly outlines the qualities that form my identity and inspirations.�
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Burnout | Kc Parlee Model: Jared Eagles
Kc Parlee is a photographer and artist based in Fredericton, NB. Aside from photography, she enjoys working with many art mediums such as graphic design, stained glass art and interior design. Being passionate about nature and gardening, much of her work is inspired by plants and the outdoors. Other inspirations often include people and bold concepts that images can strongly express. Kc strives to create images that emulate life and draw viewers into a moment captured in time. She has a certificate in Foundation Visual Arts and is currently studying towards a diploma in Photography.
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“I created Burnout for a school assignment focused on political issues and awareness. Mental wellbeing is important to me and I knew that many people weren’t entirely aware of burnout or what it entails. It can be a slow process caused by overworking and experiencing extended periods of stress. I wanted to attempt to capture this feeling not only with images alone, but take it a step further by progressively adding damage to the photographs. Burning the images gave the word ‘burnout’ a more literal sense. I wanted to spread awareness of this issue to remind people that this kind of stress is real, and it’s okay to slow down and take a little time to yourself.”
“Living in and travelling around the Maritimes, I am constantly captivated by the dynamic and ever-changing landscapes. I am amazed how they transform from location to location. I love how a single image can change depending on the time of day, impact of light, and weather conditions.
Martime Landscapes | Vanessa Levesque Vanessa Levesque loves exploring her creative side through photography. She is especially drawn to several genres of photography, particularly nightscape, abstract, and lifestyle portraits. However her passion is landscape photography. As an artist, she always strives to “see the beauty that is right in front of her” – what others have missed with a cursory glance. She captures these images more deeply and draws viewers in for a second look to see what they have missed.
This collection of images seeks to capture this diversity. One can easily hop in the car, drive a short distance and be immersed in the stunning farmscapes of rural NB. Before long, in almost any direction, the beautiful white beaches appear. Take a ferry south and suddenly the rough and foggy scenery of Grand Manan is before you. Drive across the Confederation Bridge east and you are immediately in the rolling green hills and red mud of Prince Edward Island. Such extremes and diversity in a matter of hours! This body of work takes you on this Maritime journey.”
Send any questions regarding school, university culture, or life in general to dearsharkie@thebruns. ca in less than 100 words for a chance to gain really bad advice from everyone’s favourite red herring. Disclaimer: Please don’t actually follow this advice. Dear Sharkie, One of my profs is making us use our cameras on Teams. I wouldn’t mind except this person I really like is in the class and I feel like I look disgusting. How do I look hot on Teams? -Elle Woods Dear Elle, Don’t worry! Looking attractive during your online classes is easy. All you have to do is rub half an orange on each cheek before you go on. The acid in the orange is good. And even though you can’t smell through the screen, your crush should be able to sense the citrus on you by the way it glistens on your skin. That will tell you whether or not you are truly compatible. However, if by some sad and strange biological mishap you are allergic to oranges and cannot rub them on your body, there is a foolproof way to look good on Teams without doing a DIY facial. Here’s what to do: print off a photo of the person you like. Then, stare into your camera. Tilt your head slightly to the left and angle your chin up. Rest your head on one hand and then look away from the camera. Glance back and forth between the printed-off photo and your camera. This will open their third eye and they will begin to think about you. Next, start to flick your tongue out of your mouth every three and a half 38
minutes. If you need a tutorial on how to properly flick your tongue out of your mouth, search Barty Crouch, Jr. on YouTube. He does a great snake impression and he can do magic tricks. By flicking your tongue out at them, you’re sending subliminal messages telling them that you like them, and that you’re ready to mate. Everyone knows that! I am honestly a little surprised you even have to ask me for help. Humans have been finding new and interesting mates through Microsoft Teams since the pandemic started, and tongue flicking and third-eye rituals have gone absolutely viral in terms of attracting a new and interesting partner. I think I’ve answered your question in great detail. There should be no way at all that whoever you like can resist you if you follow my instructions properly, Elle. (By the way, you should’ve told me who it is you’re crushing on and I could’ve mailed you a little straw and fish paste charm to make them fall in love with you during the next online class.) Trust the citrus fruit.
Across 3. A tree with triangular, silvery leaves that quake. 5. A breed of horse used as a foundation for almost every North American breed. 6. 2020 Best Picture winner. 12. Our EIC’s first name. 13. Tallest mountain in New Brunswick. 14. Our mascot Sharkie’s species. 16. A dish baked in the oven using ham, chicken, and blue cheese. 17. The current Prime Minister. 18. Author of To Kill a Mockingbird. 19. Provisional chairman of the Irish Free State in 1922. 22. A song that begins with Harry Truman and Doris Day. 23. Largest city in NB. 24. The year The Bruns was first published.
Down 1. The dragon Harry Potter had to fight in the Triwizard Tournament. 2. The first name of our new ad manager. 4. A cooking object used by witches. 7. The main character of the hit movie Frozen. 8. Someone who fixes mistakes in written works. 9. King Louis XVI’s wife. 10. The Lone Ranger’s nephew’s horse’s name. 11. The true name of the St. John River. 15. Author of the Left Hand of Darkness. 20. A famous Thornton Wilder play set in Grover’s Corners. 21. The day of the week on which Halloween will occur in 2020.
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