The Brunswickan, Issue 2, Vol. 155

CUPE Strike Demands Increased Funding For Public Workers: "We tried to accommodate as much as we could but were met with disrespect from the Premier."

The Life and Death of Poleen the Snowflake: "I hate being still, I hate being yellow, I hate being silent, and I hate being a pollen speck!"

The Brunswickan Canada’s Oldest Official Student Publication

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

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 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.

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Brunswickan Territorial Acknowledgement and Pledge of Action We recognize and respectfully acknowledge that the operations of the University of New Brunswick’s student publication, The Brunswickan, take place on unsurrendered and unceded traditional territory of the Wolastoqiyik.

The territory served by this magazine is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship which the Wolastoqiyik, Mi’kmaq, and Passamaquoddy peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1725. The treaties did not deal with the surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized the Wolastoqey, Mi’kmaq, and Passamoquoddy title and established the roles for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.

The British Crown proved, and continues in its settler-colonial form as the government of Canada to prove, incapable of respecting or honouring these treaties in good faith.

To honour the continuing sovereignty and independence of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq, as well as the land and waterways on which The Brunswickan and all of its members and readers depend, we pledge to uplift Indigenous voices whenever and wherever possible. A simple territorial acknowledgement at the beginning of this magazine is not enough. We pledge our action, resources, and support, and readily give our space when it is wanted and needed. For more details, contact editor@thebruns.ca

Staff Reporters Quintina Northrup David Bunce Joel Rumson Eva Morris Social Media Manager Emily Titus Editor-in-Chief Marlowe Evans Business Manager Stuart Wallace Creative Director Olivia Chenier News Editor Taylor Chalker Outgoing Arts & Lifestyle Editor Incé Husain Ad Manager Kristen Connolly Multimedia Editor Joe Jonah Copy Editor Melissa Spohr Cover By Olivia Chenier Joe Jonah

Letter From the Editor Dear Reader, It’s nice to find you here. We’ve got something good going.

This edition is inspired by the onset of winter, and everything it brings out. Here we discuss the importance of mental health, access to mental health services, and the effects the onset of the cold months can have on our minds and bodies. These discussions are important, not only because we should value ourselves as we move into winter, but also because we have different needs as the seasons change.

The rhythms of our lives change with the changing of our clocks, internally and externally. Our classes change as we change semesters, and as we move into winter and have to deal with the dark and the snow, we have to go deeper into our dens. This forces us to confront a type of loneliness many of us have been dealing with on and off, with varying levels of success, for the past two years. COVID sometimes makes every season feel a little bit more like winter, a little bit more like we’re in a perpetual hibernation.

But there are plenty of things left to do, and plenty of things left to see. We have snow days ahead, and holidays. Maybe this edition of The Brunswickan is a little bit softer, a little bit gentler, but maybe that is what winter asks of us this year.

Maybe winter asks us to be kind to ourselves and to recall that every year is a cycle of regeneration, and that as we go on, in a cycle that will repeat itself until eventually it doesn’t, all we need to do is to be brave against the harsh and cold wind.

Sit a minute with a hot chocolate, add a couple marshmallows, and reflect on how you will take care of yourself. Enjoy our winter magazine, and perhaps—like the bears do before they go to hibernate—go forage something for yourself, learn about snow days, or what to do when your mother has an affair with a shark…

Just remember that after winter, there is always spring.

Marlowe Evans Brunswickan Editor-in-Chief (and medium-sized blackbear in hibernation)

Graphics: Olivia Chenier

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Upcoming Events Incé Husain

Circadian Rhythms: Understanding Our Biological Clocks Vy Phan

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New Brunswick’s Fantastic Fungi Eva Morris

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Combatting COVID-19 Fatigue Taylor Chalker

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News Briefs Taylor Chalker

The Life and Death of Poleen the Snowflake Eva Morris

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Inside This Issue: The Brunswickan . Vol 156, Issue 2

Build Routine, Avoid Burnout David Bunce

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Mental Health Services at UNB: Navigating a Strained System Quintina Northrup

CUPE Strike Demands Increased Funding For Public Workers David Bunce

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ElderPride: The Importance of Intergenerational Community Eva Morris

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Journey to the North Pole Joel Rumson

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Dear Sharkie Sharkie

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October Taylor Chalker

Increase in Crime Crime seems to be on the rise in Fredericton as multiple reports of vehicle and building break-ins are reported. Residents living in buildings downtown have been encouraged to lock their cars and to not leave any valuables in sight.

City Motel Continues to Serve as Homeless Shelter Joan Kingston, chair of the Community Action Group on Homelessness, said that the City Motel is currently providing between 26–28 beds each night. The hope is that this initiative, along with others of a similar nature, will work to decrease the need for tent communities in the city.

Increased instances of fraud and scams have been reported since the beginning of September 2021, totalling almost $185,000 in losses. The RCMP have stated that many of these crimes have targeted post-secondary students.

Kate Rogers, Mayor of Fredericton, explained that the city always intended to find an alternative solution for tent communities.

“Unfortunately, several reported frauds have come from students attending post-secondary institutions in the city. Scammers capitalize on those who may not be familiar with how government agencies communicate and who may have access to student loans or additional education funds,” said the RCMP. Police are advising residents to protect themselves by not releasing personal information over the phone and to report any potential scams to them or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

“It was always with the understanding that this wasn’t a longterm solution. This was to get us to a point where we had the appropriate shelter for various needs.”

The shelter at the City Motel aims to be fully operational by November.

Shooting in Marysville On October 12, at approximately 12:45 p.m., local police responded to reports of a shooting in Marysville. Two victims were reported, and were receiving treatment by paramedics when police arrived on scene.

Local man, Skylar Troy Michaud, was charged on October 13 with two counts of aggravated assault, breach of probation, and breach of a firearms prohibition. Following a court appearance, additional charges were laid. They are as follows: � Pointing a firearm � Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose � Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon � Possession of a loaded firearm � Tampering with a serial number on a firearm � Reckless discharge of a firearm � Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

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Souvankham Thammavongsa and Rebecca Salazar: Virtual Reading When: Wednesday, November 17; 7:00 p.m.

Where: Virtual; free registration on Eventbrite

November Incé Husain

Rebecca Salazar, Canadian poet and recent doctoral graduate from UNB, does an opening reading for Souvankham Thammavongsa, Canadian poet and short story writer (Giller Prize 2020 How to Pronounce Knife; O. Henry award 2019 Slingshot).

Hosted by UNB’s Department of English.

Writing consultations with Phoebe Wang: UNB Writer-in-Residence When: Open year-round.

Where: online or in-person appointments can be made at the website linked in the QR code below:

Phoebe Wang writes lyrical poetry about colonization and trauma (Admission Requirements, 2017 Trillium Book Award nominee). She is offering her time to UNB and NB writers interested in having feedback for their work and/or having discussions about writing styles and processes.

Back Where I Belong: Ron James, Comedian When: Thursday, November 11; 7:30 p.m.

Where: Fredericton Playhouse, 686 Queen Street, Fredericton “Fits of helpless laughter” — Halifax Herald “Thunderous standing ovation” — Saskatoon Star Phoenix Canadian comedian Ron James scrutinizes modern society with poetic satire. He has been performing for over 20 years. Tickets: $55; Ages: 16+

Chats et châssis, An Introduction, and Confluences: Art Exhibitions When: November 2 (online); opens November 5 (gallery): Tuesday to Friday 10:00 a.m.

– 5:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Where: Gallery 78, 796 Queen Street, Fredericton; virtual visitation: www.gallery78.com Welcome Raymond Martin, Stephen Hutchings, and Céline Genest’s new art exhibitions!

Chats et châssis (Rayond Martin) features surrealist cats; An Introduction (Stephen Hutchings) involves original photographs poured with oil and charcoal drawings; Confluences (Céline Genest) showcases vibrant, whimsical human figures in nature landscapes.

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Circadian Rhythms: Understanding Our Biological Clocks By: Vy Phan As finals season and winter breezes start to surround the UNB community, many sleep-deprived faces flood the lecture halls, united by the common goal of trying to get through the day. This phenomenon is no stranger to students or professors. But what sinister cause lurks beneath our fatigue?

Dr. Scott Deibel, new assistant professor in the Psychology Department at UNB, discussed how students are affected physically and mentally by circadian rhythms.

“Circadian rhythms are processes and behaviors that are synchronized with the cues in the environment so that we’re able to anticipate events [like sleep activity or eating habits] that are at the same time each day…. A circadian rhythm takes 24 hours to complete a cycle,” said Dr. Deibel. He pointed out that our circadian rhythms can be understood as a biological clock. “It is sort of the master clock in our brain, our body.”

There are many reasons why circadian rhythms might fall out of sync, like shift work or using technology late at night. Dr. Deibel stressed the health complications associated with a disrupted circadian rhythm, especially if it’s chronic: “[It can cause] metabolic syndrome, like diabetes, cardiovascular [issues], as well cancer. It’s a big one.”

However, scientists and researchers in the field have yet to discern why the disruption can cause such illnesses.

“We know that it’s associated with these poor [circadian rhythm] outcomes but we don’t know exactly how much exposure you have to have before you experience a certain symptom… or [whether] there are any things that predispose you and make you more susceptible to circadian rhythm disruption,” Dr. Deibel said.

Dr. Deibel then expressed his interest in what is called “social jet lag.”

“When someone is usually an evening person, but, because of their job or school, they have to wake up early during the week, [then] as the week progresses, they get more tired because they’re having trouble getting up each day, and then when the weekend comes, they’ll sleep in till very late. Then Monday rolls around and they’ve got to try to adjust their clocks to wake up early again.”

This is a mild form of chronic circadian misalignment that many students can relate to. Dr. Deibel said that he himself is no exception: “A study in Europe actually found that 87% of a sample of 65,000 people were experiencing social jet lag to some degree,” he added.

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This could be due to the nature of students and young professionals having to work early on a constant basis. “I think we’re going to see social jet lag a lot,” Dr. Deibel said.

Interestingly, he shared that a person’s circadian rhythms vary with their age and diet.

In their teen years, people are mostly found to have an evening preference; with age, this shifts gradually to morning. But it’s not definite. Aging also alludes to a breakdown of circadian rhythms.

In some cases, this can result in Alzheimer’s disease.

In terms of diet, inconsistent eating times are said to cause circadian rhythm-associated memory loss in the long run.

When asked about how students can maintain a healthy circadian rhythm, Dr. Deibel said, “The best thing that we can do is try to avoid blue lights from our screen [approximately] an hour before bed.”

Students can also use their circadian rhythms to their advantage when preparing for upcoming exams.

“Studying at the same time of day… or at the time of day when you feel most productive [is advantageous],” said Dr. Deibel. “Another thing that you could do is, if you’re tired or experiencing sleep disruption, you might want to study a little longer. It might take [extra studying time] to compensate for that [disruption]. You might just have to do more of it.”

Circadian rhythms studies are also used in clinical treatment for depression, bipolar disorder, and sleep disorders, administering bright light therapy or chronotherapy, a type of treatment that integrates the body’s biological cycles.

“Alongside that, melatonin — [a sleep-associated hormone] — is a fairly common [medication] used to promote sleep if you want to shift your rhythm earlier or to resynchronize to your environment if you’re experiencing jet lag,” said Dr. Deibel.

To learn more about Dr. Deibel’s research, please visit:

Graphics: Olivia Chenier

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New Brunswick’s Fantastic Fungi By: Eva Morris While m a ny Canadian provinces have had their own mycology societies for years, New Brunswick is finally getting in on the mushroom scene.

The MycoNB Society is a federally registered non-profit, volunteer-managed association backed by an enthusiastic collective of amateur and professional mycologists, and others who simply have a passion for wild mushrooms and fungi.

“I have been interested in fungi for a little over a decade. When I got into it there wasn’t really a community in New Brunswick,” said Anthony Brooke, Vice President of the MycoNB Society. “[When] Covid happened, and everyone started going out in the woods, foraging and connecting with the land more, little Facebook groups started popping up and I slowly started seeing more and more people become interested in mushrooms,” Brooke said.

“Those plant and mushroom foraging groups connected like-minded mushroom enthusiasts, which prompted us to start a Messenger group, and things took off from there. Eventually we had a big meeting and decided to put the paperwork together to start the MycoNB Society.”

While having the knowledge to forage and find your own food is undoubtedly exciting and important, Brooke points out an even more exciting perspective.

“It’s not just about eating them, but actually understanding how they work with other organisms,” Brooke explained.

This topic is explored extensively in the 2019 documentary, Fantastic Fungi. The film was an inspiration for Brooke and many other fungi enthusiasts throughout The United States and Canada.

Fantastic Fungi follows a man named Paul Statmets, a mycologist and medical researcher who has received several awards for his groundbreaking mycological research.

His work is so influential that it even inspired the creation of the character Lt. Paul Statmets, a Science Officer and “Astromycologist” in the new series, Star Trek: Discovery.

Paul Statmets’s research, and the advancement of mycological research in general, has been revolutionary.

From finding effective treatments for various medical conditions to creating innovative solutions that can be used in the fight against climate change, fungi have indeed proven to be pretty fantastic.

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The MycoNB Society is a local option for anyone who is interested in fungi—beginner or otherwise— to connect with New Brunswick’s growing community of mushroom-lovers. They may just be up and coming, but they are already taking New Brunswick by storm, hosting regional mushroom walks and events in Moncton, Fredericton, Miramichi, and Edmunston.

Although the mushroom season is almost over for this year, the MycoNB Society has some big plans for 2022. An interregional, annual foray is being planned for the next season, and while mushroom walks and mushroom identification resources will be a big focus, MycoNB is also looking into potentially hosting a series of workshops on topics ranging from growing and producing your own mushrooms to mycological microscopy.

MycoNB has six important objectives:

1. To provide opportunities for its members to meet and enjoy all aspects related to mushrooms and mycology 2. To educate members and the public about mycology through initiatives such as lectures, publications, forays, and mushroom walks 3. To provide information to the community on matters affecting the preservation, identification, and appreciation of the fungi of New Brunswick 4. To identify sites of particular ecological value and to work with other natural history and conservation organizations and government agencies to achieve their preservation 5. To research and gather data on mycological diversity in NB and to disseminate this information to government agencies, research scientists, and interested members of the public 6. To actively share information with, and encourage participation from, Wo l a s t o q i y i k , Mi’kmaq and Pe s ko t o m u h ka t i Peoples, as we recognize that the activities of the society take place on their traditional unceded territory The MycoNB Society has several resources available, including mushroom identification Facebook groups and forums. If you are interested in joining the MycoNB Society, memberships are available for individuals, students, and families at MycoNB.org.

Graphics: Olivia Chenier

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Combatting

COVID-19 Fatigue

By: Taylor Chalker

It is no secret that COVID-19 has had a detrimental effect on mental health, causing heightened instances of depression and anxiety, as well as the presence of trauma-like responses.

Strong emotional responses can occur in both adults and children as they work to navigate through the pandemic which, despite the presence of vaccines, is far from over. Increased stress can come from isolation, or increased concern about the health of oneself and others, but it can be combated through recognition and coping techniques.

Recognition of stress is the first step to combating it. The Canadian Centre for Disease Control and Transmission outlines signs of stress as the following:

� Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration � Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests � Difficulty concentrating and making decisions � Nightmares or difficulty sleeping � Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes � Worsening of chronic health problems � Worsening of mental health conditions � Increased use of substances such as drugs and alcohol

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Scientists all over the world have been tracking a surge of depression during the pandemic, gathering data that links heightened levels of depression to measures instilled in order to manage COVID-19.

On a global scale, they are working to examine how different policies in various countries affect levels of depression. This research can be used to find an ideal way to respond to the pandemic that preserves mental and physical health.

Studies have shown that young people are more vulnerable to adverse psychological reactions to the pandemic, with experts believing that this may be because they have increased needs for social interaction.

It is also suggested that young women are a more vulnerable group than young men, and that parents of young children, or those with a previously diagnosed psychological disorder, are at increased risk.

“The things that we know predispose people to mental health problems and conditions have been increased as a whole,” says Victor Ugo, a campaign officer who specializes in mental health policy at United for Global Mental Health.

While the entire population is combatting the effects of the pandemic, researchers are still working to understand the effects of the disease on mental health. Those who have contracted the virus have increased mental health detriments, with reports of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

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When someone is infected with the virus, their immune system produces increased levels of cytokines. This is more common in more severe cases. The impact of increased cytokines can result in symptoms that occur commonly in psychiatric disorders, like depression.

Post-secondary students cannot be expected to leave their problems at the door of their classrooms, or at the beginning of an online lecture. The Taylor Institute at the University of Calgary compiled information for trauma-informed teaching and learning during COVID-19.

They defined trauma as a response “[where] an experience of powerful and dangerous events overwhelms a person's capacity to cope.” Viewing the pandemic as a traumatic event allows for better understanding of the detrimental impacts that it has had on mental health.

The Taylor Institute encourages learning spaces and workspaces to take an equity-focused approach, aiming to be human-centred, asset-based, proactive, and system-focused.

13 Graphics: Olivia Chenier

The Life and Death of Poleen the Snowflake

By Eva Morris It all began inside a beehive. The Queen Bee was giving a final pep talk to the strong, woman-bees who were preparing to venture out of the hive on the last day of the nectar collecting season.

“We need more nectar! We need 60lbs of honey to sustain us through the winter and right now we barely have enough to make it through to January. Get out there and make your Queen proud.”

The bees braced themselves, for this last day of the season was beginning to chill, and the northern New Brunswick winds were unforgiving. Clouds were forming in the sky and the sunlight was shifting from the summer’s warm yellow to the winter’s pale grey – it would be a gruelling day of work – but alas, they had not yet met their nectar quota.

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. n e ried the que

And with that, the woman-bees took flight, soaring out of the hive and into the cold world beyond. Beetreece, the strongest of the woman-bees, was determined to make her queen proud.

She pushed herself to fly as fast as her tiny bee body could go, a staggering 12 kilometers per hour. She scoured the land laid out in front of her, searching for a sweet source of nectar. Suddenly she saw it – a huge patch of purple aster, jackpot!

“Buzz buzz, buzz!” she cried out to the others to alert them to her find.

The bees turned immediately, propelling themselves toward the little purple flowers.

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Anticipation grew as they neared the aster. Buzzing eagerly, the bees positioned themselves to come in for a landing, aiming for the bright yellow pads of pollen that dotted the flowers beneath them. Little did they know that disaster was about to strike! Just as Beetreece's tiny bee legs grazed the pillowy yellow of the nearest aster, a gust of frozen wind scooped her up and threw her into a neighboring patch of dandelions!

She slammed into the blooming flowers, a cloud of pollen exploding around her as she fell. This is the precise moment that Poleen was freed from her floral prison for the very first time in her life.

Until that fateful day, Poleen the pollen speck had lived a simple life.

She had spent every last moment of her existence being still, yellow and silent, with nothing but her own pollen thoughts to comfort her. While she had not yet known it was possible to leave her home or lead a different life other than that of a humble pollen speck, she secretly had always wished for more.

When Beetreece crashed into Poleen’s dandelion she hardly knew what hit her. She was torn away from her flower and thrust into the cold winter air. She watched, stunned, as her flower grew smaller and smaller as she drifted away. I’m moving, she realized. Another gust of wind whisked Poleen higher into the sky, the world beneath her shrinking away into the distance. At first she was afraid, where did all the other pollen specks go? Where is the wind taking me? But as the flowers and trees and bees faded away, she couldn't help but be flooded with a great sense of relief. Soon the world she once knew had vanished completely, all there was as far as Poleen’s tiny eyes could see were big, grey clouds. So she closed them and enjoyed the freedom of floating on the air.

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I hate being still, I hate being yellow, I hate being silent, and I hate being a pollen speck! she often thought to herself. She knew thinking such thoughts were against the rules of her pollen society, but, seeing as she had no mouth to speak those thoughts, nor did her pollen peers have ears to hear them if she did, she saw no real risk in thinking them to herself.

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She opened her eyes a while later, but only because she was suddenly very cold and – to her surprise – sopping wet! She had been moving up into the sky, bouncing from one current of wind to another and swirling in between them. Before she knew it she had been scooped up inside a cloud! She started to panic, her tiny absorbent pollen body was sucking up ice cold water like the dryest sponge in the galaxy, changing it’s yellow colour to a mucky grey. Suddenly she realized she was not alone, for all around her were more pollen specks, and dust specks and other specks of all kinds. They were all soaking up the droplets of water around them and changing colours too! She watched as another pollen speck changed from yellow to grey, and then, to her horror, froze over in ice!

Holy shit, I'm going to die, Poleen thought. Soon enough the other specks followed. One by one every single speck transformed into tiny frozen crystals, even Poleen.

She was sure this was the end, but it wasn’t. The tiny frozen crystals appeared to be growing!

The surrounding water droplets attached themselves to the frozen specks, quickly freezing which caused them to sprout little ice arms and ice legs of all different shapes and sizes. That mucky grey colour turned to a pale, blue. The specks were no longer specks at all, they were snowflakes!

I’m not yellow, Poleen discovered, looking down at her new snowflake body, I’m not a pollen speck! Oh, I’m also not dead! This is pretty sick, she gleamed.

The hundreds of newly born snowflakes were growing steadily, and as they grew big enough and heavy enough they started to fall. Poleen watched as snowflake after snowflake fell out of her line of sight. Sure enough, Poleen eventually fluttered down out of that big grey cloud toward the earth she had just left behind. She floated through the air on a pleasant winter breeze. As the flowers and the trees and the bees grew nearer, she was happier than she had ever been during her whole life as a pollen speck. Soon the ground was so close she could even recognize what was once her dandelion home in the distance.

As the other snowflakes hit the ground, a beautiful chiming sound rang out all around her. It would have been too quiet for human ears to hear, but fortunately Poleen’s new ice ears were pretty solid. When it was her turn, she landed delicately on a warm brown tree branch, singing out one quiet note, and then melting immediately.

Maybe it killed her, I don’t know. I’m not a scientist. But there were a few things that I was certain of: upon her end, Poleen was not still, she was not yellow, she was not silent, and she was not a pollen speck.

Graphics: Joe Jonah

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Build Routine, Avoid Burnout By: David Bunce

As midterm season comes and goes, many students will be experiencing various degrees of burnout.

Burnout is caused by excessive stress over a prolonged period. It is often viewed as a state of mental exhaustion, but its effects may also be physical. The physical symptoms of burnout may cause a drop in immune function, making a person more vulnerable to illnesses like COVID-19. Individuals experiencing burnout may lose motivation and the mental desire to complete certain tasks. They may also experience physical symptoms and become lethargic.

When completing typical, daily tasks becomes unmanageable, it may be time to examine if burnout is the reason why.

In the typical student, burnout may be caused by excessive workloads, lack of sleep, or lack of meaningful social interaction.

UNB students who have experienced previous bouts of burnout have shared their experience and strategies to cope.

Youmn Young, a student at UNB, has experienced burnout to various degrees. During exam seasons she has found herself burnt out to such an extent that leaving the house for basic tasks has been a cause of stress.

Simply going for groceries has felt like time wasted which could have been spent on studying. This term, Young has been trying new strategies to avoid burning out. First, she has been prioritising being physically active.

“I try to get to the gym at least four times per week,” she says.

Physical activity helps refocus the mind and reduce stress.

Hormones released through exercise can also improve mood.

For Young, it is helpful to understand the diminishing returns of attempting to study all day. She can be productive for short bursts, but studying begins to be unproductive after more than three or four consecutive hours.

Keeping this in mind helps reduce the stress associated with taking breaks. In turn, these breaks improve the quality of study time, leading to more work being done in less time. The benefits of exercise are well-documented and it is important to remember that they extend well beyond the physical.

Consistent sleeping patterns help maintain routine, energy levels, and retention. Retention, specifically, is important for students approaching exams. All-nighters adversely affect the ability to recall information and can hurt exam performance.

The key to maintaining high energy levels and productivity is a regular sleep schedule. Young admits some issues with this as stress piles up.

“I sometimes find myself staying up too late working on things which affects my ability to focus the next day,” Young explained.

Other students use organization to reduce stress. Kelsie Lockyer implements to-do lists in her day-to-day life. She arranges these in order of priority.

“Sometimes I lose track of the priority, but at least I am crossing items off the list.”

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By keeping track of the things she needs to do, Lockyer helps put her mind at ease. She is confident that she is not forgetting anything and can focus on the task at hand without worry. This visual representation is also helpful in maintaining motivation.

As the list is reduced, that sense of accomplishment helps the individual feel like their efforts are making a difference.

The takeaway for most students attempting to avoid burning out is to build a routine. By maintaining consistency, students are able to carve out time for themselves away from the stresses of work. Each person’s ideal routine will be unique to them. It is helpful to experiment to find what works best. Students can rest assured that the activities they enjoy can, in moderation, enhance their productivity and ability to be successful.

Graphics: Olivia Chenier

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Mental Health Services at UNB: Navigating a S t r a i n e d System By: Quintina Northrup Mental health services across the country have been strained as the pandemic surges on, and New Brunswick has been no exception.

The number of youth referrals to mental health supports in the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital region increased by almost 80% between January and March of 2021.

According to April Kennedy, director of UNB Counselling Services, demand for counselling services at UNB is on the rise.

“Early in the semester students can expect to get a first appointment within one to five days from submitting an online request. As the term goes on our office gets busier, and, during peak times of the semester, the wait can increase.”

New Brunswick has a shortage of mental health professionals.

The latest report The Best We Have to Offer: Final Report of the Youth Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Services Review by the New Brunswick Office of the Child and Youth Advocate underscores the dire state of our mental healthcare system.

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The New Brunswick government has promised an additional $7 million dollars to the mental health sector for the 2021–2022 budget along with recommendations on where it should be spent, but struggling New Brunswickers wonder if funding alone is enough to make a difference.

“Additional funds and resources can make a difference in providing mental health support, and how they are allocated into programs and services will be important,” said Kennedy. “In addition to the provincial government’s pledge, the federal government has promised to hire up to 1,200 mental health counsellors at colleges and universities across Canada. The additional funding and positions would make a difference in communities across the country, including at UNB.” The mental health professional shortage translates to individuals having to wait longer to see a counsellor, even on campus. UNB Counselling Services does their best to manage the shortage. One way they effectively mitigate wait times is by implementing the “stepped care model.”

“We work to reduce wait times by booking at capacity, filling cancellations, and using a flexible stepped care model that offers as many options as possible, including but not limited to one-onone counselling,” Kennedy explained. “We have also introduced a new online scheduling process, which allows students to reach out to us anytime to make accessing appointments easier.”

The stepped care model was first developed in the United Kingdom by Dr. William O’Donohue & Dr. Crissa Draper in 2011 and has laid the foundation for variations of stepped care models to be developed. There are variations in practice at two other Canadian universities, Memorial University in Newfoundland and at Georgian College in Ontario.

The Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health describes the stepped care model as “a method of delivering and monitoring mental health treatment so that the most effective, yet least resource-intensive treatment, is delivered first, only “stepping up” to intensive/specialist services as required and depending on the level of patient distress or need.”

Students who urgently feel as though they need to speak with a mental health care provider can do so.

“Students [have the choice] of booking a single session with a mental health professional to explore immediate strategies and develop a plan for mental health support,” Kennedy described.

“There is little wait time for a single session and a lot can be done in one appointment, including referrals to other supports if needed.”

Graphics: Olivia Chenier

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UNB Counselling Services also facilitate support groups and encourage students to consider this option as students learn skills for taking care of mental health alongside their peers. They also offer students full access to an online tool called Therapy Assisted Online (TAO) which provides helpful modules on a wide variety of mental health topics. TAO is available 24/7, on- or off-campus.

Other services available to students on campus include the Campus Sexual Assault Support Advocates, the Student Health Centre, and Indigenous counselling services through the Ntulsonawt Wellness Centre.

“We want all students to know that they have options and are not alone in their struggles. Finding supports and learning ways to take good care of yourself are important,” Kennedy said. “If students have questions about services, mental health, or the counselling process, they can reach out by phone or email, and we will be happy to talk with you.”

If you are struggling with your mental health, asking for help can be hard, but you are not alone.

UNB counsellors can be reached by phone at 453-4820 or by email at counsel@unb.ca.

Further information about how to access programs along with a list of other recommended wellness resources and crisis resources are available on the UNB Counselling Services website: https:// www.unb.ca/fredericton/studentservices/counselling-services/ index.html

Mental health resources in New Brunswick: CHIMO Helpline (800) 667-5005 Canadian Mental Health Crisis Line (888) 353-2273 Crisis Society Mental Health Line 310-6789 (no area code needed) 24-Hour Crisis Line (403) 266-HELP (toll free) Mental Health Helpline (877) 303-2642 (toll free) You can also dial 911 or visit any local emergency room during times of crisis.

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CUPE Strike Demands Increased Funding For Public Workers By: David Bunce

Talks broke down between the province and CUPE on October 27, and late on the night of October 28, Simon Ouellette of CUPE said “the strike is imminent.”

This prediction proved to be correct. On October 29, drivers passing the Fredericton Motel and various other locations in the city were greeted by the large yellow fists of CUPE picketers.

The 22,000 CUPE members in New Brunswick are demanding 3% wage increases across a four-year period.

Ouellette says this demand is more than reasonable considering the surplus of the province and the vital role served by these frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A strike is the last resort in any labour dispute. We hope to bring the government back to the table to negotiate with people he previously called ‘frontline heroes.’”

The strike comes at an inopportune time. Circuit breaker measures have interrupted daily life for many New Brunswickers and school closures have not been welcomed by students who have remained home for far too long over the past two years.

However, CUPE believes they have waited as long as they could.

“We pressed pause when circuit breaker measures hit. We tried to accommodate as much as we could but were met with disrespect from the Premier.”

Eventually, CUPE was forced to put pressure on the Premier by threatening a strike.

“Higgs is misreading the public. They are on our side,” Ouellette explained.

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A possible wrench in CUPE’s plan is Higgs pursuing back-to-work legislation. Such legislation could force workers back to their jobs despite the strike.

In 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed that the ability to strike is constitutionally protected by Section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

This decision appears to block the ability of the government to force workers back to work. However, in pressing circumstances, the Higgs government could do just that.

The current state of emergency could allow the province to force workers back to work if the health of New Brunswickers is deemed to be adversely affected.

In a recent press conference, Higgs said, “if the healthcare system is impacted, or if the health and safety of our citizens is at risk or jeopardized in the middle of a pandemic, in the middle of an emergency order, then we could have an action directly as a result of being in an emergency order in the province.”

Ouellette is hopeful that the province will avoid such action calling it “heavy-handed” and unlikely to be popular with the public, and believes that the strike will quickly be resolved with the commitment of CUPE members.

“The longer the picket line, the shorter the strike.”

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Photographs and Cartoon: Olivia Chenier

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Arts Editor

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The Importance of : ElderPride Intergenerational Community By: Eva Morris

ElderPride is an initiative by Fierté Fredericton Pride to build intergenerational relationships within the 2SLGBTQ+ community. It began in the spring of 2021 out of a need to create a shared space for members of the community, young and old, to connect and share knowledge and experience. ElderPride prioritizes accessibility by providing meals at their events, hosting at locations easily accessible by public transportation, and providing ASL interpreters.

“I have always been interested in intergenerational connectivity in our community,” said Amelia Thorpe, ConneQT NB Liaison for Fierté Fredericton Pride and SOGI Coordinator at the University of New Brunswick. “Everywhere I have lived, most programs and spaces are typically focused on youth and young adults, which leaves a lot of people out.”

The 2SLGBTQ+ community is rich in history and culture. Although connection to such a community can be vital for many young queer people, it’s not always easy to find.

“Personally, I didn’t learn about 2SLGTBQ+ history or culture at all in school,” Thorpe recalled. “For me it was just kind of trying to learn it on my own — I think that’s very valuable information for folks to have.”

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This solitary learning is common. Many young members of the community today may not know where or how to begin interpreting themselves. The absence of information about 2SLGBTQ+ culture and history is unfortunate; context and representation are crucial when coming to terms with a genderqueer or sexually diverse identity. Being unfamiliar with the history and culture can also create a barrier when attempting to connect with others in the community.

The lack of access to our community’s history is anxiety-inducing for many young people. What if they embarrass themselves, or come across as ignorant? Will that ignorance prevent them from accessing the 2SLGBTQ+ community? Will it hurt someone?

These fears may discourage young people from reaching out to their elders.

Elders in our community also feel similarly disconnected. Many struggle with isolation; a lot of 2SLGBTQ+ spaces are now online or otherwise inaccessible to older folx. The rapidly changing language norms in the community are also a barrier for reaching today’s youth.

Both the young and old in our community would benefit from intergenerational connection. If you are a young person seeking connection with your elders, remember that they may feel similarly.

“It's the difference between having a black and white television and a colour television,” said Heather Nicholson, an elder who is active in the ElderPride program, stressed the value of overcoming the distance. “You get old, you go grey — young people bring the rest of the spectrum. It's important to reinstill hope; young people are still expanding.”

When asked if there was anything she wanted to communicate to young members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, Nicholson said: “More is better. It’s easy to get put into a box. People want to put us in boxes, but it's our diversity that makes us strong. Even as you get older, the internalized homophobia is still there, and we need to do everything we can to crack it open. Remember that whatever is going on right now, things will change.”

There are more events coming up for ElderPride within the next few months. If you are looking for a community as the winter sets in, ElderPride is a great place to start.

To learn more, please visit https://frederictonpride.com, or the Fierté Fredericton Pride Facebook page:

Graphics: Joe Jonah

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Journey to the North Pole By: Joel Rumson

When a university student hears “snow day,” the automatic reaction is: “that must be nice.”

Snow days were a time when the world was a winter wonderland and we were its prime explorers. The possibilities of spontaneous exploration were endless. Whether you built castles with siblings and created your own kingdom, or cozied up beside a fire and read your favourite book, a snow day was a truly magnificent experience for our school-children selves.

It was a Thursday morning. The streets were quiet and filled with snow. The district had declared a snow day at 6:23 a.m. Schools were cancelled due to dangerous driving conditions and ice-buildup.

The storm encaged my brother’s entire school in a thick layer of impenetrable snow and ice. Everyone was asked to assist in the freeing of students and staff who had mistakenly still driven to the school.

But my friends and I wanted to do something extravagant, something original, something that had never been done on a snow day. So, unfortunately for those stuck in the ice-clad school, we embarked on an expedition to the North Pole.

“Sucks to suck, losers!” my friends and I chanted at the windows, where poor prisoners of the snow lay trapped.

We wanted to travel to a part of the world where few dared to venture. It was our mission to make the journey, no matter the cost, no matter the danger.

We began by packing our gear, books, writing tools, winter clothing, food, batteries, torches, flashlights, extra socks, extra fuel, pickaxes, and snowshoes. You name it, we packed it.

Historians have classified this trek as one of the most dangerous drives known to mankind. The only humans to partake on this journey were heavy-truck drivers, researchers, and students.

We met a truck driver before our departure.

“This exploration, my boys, will be dangerous,” he said. “There are many moose and other animals that often cross the road. It will be a very dark drive — no lights, no sights to see — just a straight drive of pure trees. This exploration will turn your excitement into fear. Keep the car straight, watch for wind and blowing snow, and I have faith that you will make it alive.”

Newly-prepared for what was to come, we packed the car, dressed

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appropriately, gassed up, and began our journey.

The journey was interesting. Parts of the drive were filled with nothing but trees. Then we would pass more trees — followed by more trees. This went on for what felt like 45 years. Every passing minute felt like an hour.

No matter the roads, no matter the travel risks, our courses would go on. Our professors would always be there to welcome us in the midst of a snowstorm. How could I forget — there was no such thing as a snow day in university.

This was no North Pole. We were at the UNB campus.

The road was absolutely horrible. It seemed that it hadn’t been worked on since the days of horses and buggies. My friends and I had no idea how anyone could travel this road safely. After a while, we realized the road conditions were undriveable, so we decided to get some rest at the NorFolk motel.

We found snacks at a local gas station, and walked the sidewalks as snow reflected the glares of streetlights.

I suspected something was horribly wrong. Why were there so many trees on the way to the North Pole? But I ignored my intuition and we continued forth.

It didn’t take much longer for us to arrive at our destination.

It was… very weird.

The scenery was nowhere near what had been described. There were so many trees.

“Trees don’t belong in the North Pole, do they?” my friend, Jacob, exclaimed.

“No, Jacob, I do not believe that we would find trees in -60 degrees celsius weather.”

We came upon a massive mountain and began to climb. Was the mountain… paved?

Things were making less and less sense.

The snowfall intensified beneath the white-painted sky. We began sliding. The vehicle lost traction and we spiralled out of control, spinning faster and faster, snow falling thicker and thicker, until in a quick flash of white, the vehicle mysteriously came to a complete stop.

And we saw… people? Trudging through blowing snow, eyes shielded, arms and legs flailing.

How was this possible?

Then it all came to me.

Graphics: Olivia Chenier 30

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Dear Sharkie:

Mom and Dad and Megalodon Send any questions regarding school, university culture, or life in general to dearsharkie@thebruns.ca for a chance to gain really bad advice from everyone’s favourite red herring. Disclaimer: Please don’t actually follow this advice.

Dear Sharkie, A few years ago a shark fucked my mom.

I walked down stairs and my mom was smoking a cigarette at the kitchen table and I asked, “Mom why are you smoking a dart in the kitchen?”

She replied with, “Last night I felt like a woman again for the first time in years!” I didn’t really clue into what was going on but I thought it was cool that I was allowed to smoke indoors now.

Then I turned around and saw a shark walking down the stairs! What a sight! The shark then looked me right in the eyes and said, “Hey kid, your mom’s a nice piece of ass,” and slammed the door on the way out.

The experience was traumatising and I will never forget it. After a few years and my parents’ messy divorce later, I thought I should write to another shark to see what they had to say. Are all sharks such [jerks]? Are they all complete horndogs like my mothers lover??? Sharkie please I need answers that only you can provide!

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Spencer

Dear Spencer, I’m not sure how to help you bud. The thing is, despite my misleading name, I’m actually a herring. Like the whole point of my nickname being Sharkie is that it’s a red herring. The definition of a red herring is, “something, especially a clue, that is or is intended to be misleading or distracting, e.g. ‘the book is fast-paced, exciting, and full of red herrings.’” So when I was a kid my mom nicknamed me Sharkie so bigger fish would hear my name, assume I was a shark, and not try to eat me. I mean, now I’m an eldritch god, like I’ve beaten out godzilla in a fistfight, no one is going to eat me, but I’m still not a shark. However, I have met my fair share of sharks in my time under the sea.

Are they all complete horndogs? Yes. In fact, I would consider calling Dog the Bounty Hunter, or maybe whoever that dude is who goes out looking for river monsters because dude – that thing that ruined your parents’ marriage sounds like a real asshole. No real gentleman would call a woman a “piece of ass,” and he deserves to be taught a lesson. However, the fact that your mother seems to have been sexually dissatisfied in her relationship to your father to the point that she had sexual relations with a cold-blooded sea animal that could talk may be another cause for concern.

My advice? Bounty hunters. Have them take the shark alive.

Give him a real talking to. Show him who the REAL man of the house is, and that it certainly isn’t some fast-talking, misogynistic, no-good fish! Also, some family therapy might be good. Try that parent trap thing from the Mary-Kate and Ashley Movie. But if you don’t have a twin, you might be shit out of luck. xoxo, Sharkie 32