www.thebruns.ca
Volume 148 · November 19, 2014 · Issue 12
brunswickan canada’s oldest official student publication.
NO IDENTITY, NO CONSEQUENCES
THE PROBLEM WITH ONLINE ANONYMITY ON CAMPUS BY BENJAMIN CROUSE| PAGE 3
ROVING WHERE NO CANADIAN TEAM HAS GONE BEFORE BY BENJAMIN CROUSE | PAGE 2
REDS HOCKEY TEAM LOSES BACK-TO-BACK HOME GAMES BY JAMIE TOZER | PAGE 12
FREDERICTON RAPPER BRINGS THE BEATS TO TORONTO BY SEBASTIAN MAYNARD | PAGE 7
2 • November 19, 2014 • Issue 12 • Volume 148
CORRECTIONS
News: A story on page 3 of the Brunswickan’s Nov. 12 issue contained an error based on a formatting issue. In the “Know your prof ” table, the additional 3 per cent per course for teaching 18 courses or more in the past five years is given to part-time professors, not full-time professors. Arts: A story on page 10 of the Brunswickan’s Nov. 12 issue contained an error. Blackjack Billy will be performing at the Capital Exhibition Centre on Nov. 20, not 17.
BRUNSWICKANNEWS
UNB’s NASA Rover Challenge Team is Canada’s first in global competition Benjamin Crouse News Reporter
The UNB Mars Rover Team will head to Alabama in April to compete against teams from around the world. Brad Parker / The Brunswickan
U N B’s n e w l y c r e a t e d N A S A Rover Challenge Team w ill be compet i ng i n N A SA’s Hu ma n Rover Challenge for the f irst time next spring. “NASA asked students from all around the world to build and design a space rover. Once that’s built, in April all the different teams from various universities get to compete in A labama at the US Space and Rocket Center,” said Nicolas Poirier, the team’s captain and a third-year mechanical engineering student at UNB. Competitors will test the f inal desig ns of t hei r rovers i n t he form of an obstacle course that stretches nearly a mile long. The c o u r s e c o m e s e qu i p p e d w it h extraterrestrial terrain including craters and boulders. “Teams from all over the world are competing to have bragging rights. Last year Canada didn’t send any teams. We are, so far, the sole Canadian team that’s going to be competing,” said third-year elect r ica l eng i neer i ng st udent Jordan Jamison. T he comp e t it ion it s el f i s a timed race through the obstacle course. A ll rovers are man-powered by pedals. A team’s time can be penalized if a member has to get out of the rover and push it. “The rover itself is supposed to simulate what it would be like in space. So for example there can’t be any air in the tires because you can’t have air [in space] due to the atmosphere. There’s a lot of parameters that we’re going to have to work around, but that’s part of the competition,” said Jamison.
Each team is to be made up of no more than six members, each with different roles. “ We all come from dif ferent backgrounds of engineering ... it’s all going to come together quite nicely by the time April rolls around,” Jamison said. The University of Puerto R ico w o n t h e c h a l l e n g e l a s t y e a r. UNB’s team will be the f irst ever to compete from New Brunswick. “It’s mostly to test what we’ve learned in class and see what we can do. We see how we compare to other universities and other students,” said Poirier. All of the work put into designing and building the rover is done on the team’s own time. On top of this, they need to fund the trip themselves. “ We are act ively look ing for sponsors and people to help us get to A laba ma. It’s goi ng to be a big task not only gett ing ourselves there but our rover as well; it needs to be shipped,” said Jamison. Poirier and Jamison hope to ma ke t he Huma n Rover Cha llenge a tradition for UNB’s engineering students. “We want this to be a sustainable team where year after year we can hopefully send UNB down to represent Canada at this challenge. This is another opportunity for us to show what UNB has to offer,” said Jamison. Jamison said the competition will likely give UNB attention as a successful academic institution. “It’s going to be awesome to compare us to different universities from all over,” he said. “We’re going to bring back a lot.”
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406A Regent St. 458-1580 (2 buildings past Harvey’s Hamburgers)
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November 19, 2014 • Issue 12 • Volume 148 • 3
THE BRUNS
NEWS news@thebruns.ca
The UNBF and STU Confessions and Compliments Facebook page may be more of a place for bullying than kind words. Adam Travis / The Brunswickan
Facebook without the face When ‘confessions and compliments’meet anonymity Benjamin Crouse News Reporter The UNBF and STU Confessions and Compliments Facebook page has provided an unintended platform for the question of how anonymity is contributing to bullying on the internet. “I started the page because our universit ies didn’t have one of our own. Other universities had a confession and compliments such as UNBSJ and UPEI, so I decided that the two universities in our region could have a nice confessions page,” said Matt Kelly, admin of the page and computer science student at UNB. Some sample posts of what has been argued as bullying or harassment on the page are “Fat girls ain’t beautiful, just saying” and “I seem to have a problem meeting girls that are not damaged.” “I don’t know of any bullying on this page. It’s being used for political discussions which I did not expect. But as of right now it is mostly confessions and compliments towards others,” Kelly said.
Kelly said that he reads posts and decides whether it is right or wrong to publish them. “People are ent it led to t heir opinions. The whole purpose of this page was to let people express themselves without personally being condemned. No one is forced to view the page’s content if they do not like it,” he said. He also said that there is a silver lining to the negativity taking place on the page. “With every negative comment posted there is positive support in even greater numbers every time,” Kelly said. Jef frey Ca rleton, d irector of communications at STU, said the issue is that someone is making the comment in the first place. “I think [the page] has a negative impact. [The administrators] have created the page and may have to take responsibility for what’s being posted,” said Carleton. Students are starting to notice the page’s harmfulness too. Earlier this month a student complained to the presidents of both UNB and STU about some of the posts
on the page. “The individual was concerned that the site was spreading false rumors, that people were being targeted and that it was something that should not be tolerated on our campus,” said Carleton. “We felt that some of the content violated our student code of conduct and our student harassment and discrimination policy.” The harassment and discrimination policy covers multiple types of harassment including personal and psychological harassment and sexual harassment. Comments that affect one’s dignity, integrity or create a harmful environment can be considered psychological harassment according to the policy. Both institutions took this complaint very seriously and are seeking legal advice on how to proceed. “The presidents asked me to look into what options we have via where the law stands on these sites. We’re going to take a look at this with external experts on the issue and see what our options are,” said Carleton. Ay la Poit r a s , a s econd-ye a r
psychology student at STU and active member of the page, has been personally harassed by name on more than one occasion in anonymous posts. The first post read, “Ayla Poitras just uses this page for masturbation and self validation.” “I was alienated for my activity on the page. It’s disgusting that someone needed to go to an anonymous forum and type in those words,” said Poitras. Poitras said she definitely thinks the page is slanted towards bullying and harassment rather than confessions and compliments. “It’s full of malice and it leaves a gross taste in your mouth to think that you go to school with people like that. It makes me wonder about the people that I’m sitting next to in class,” Poitras said. Multiple anonymous users have used “freedom of speech” as their defence for what they post. “You’re allowed to have your own opinion, so long as it doesn’t oppress someone else. If it’s not affecting you, who cares? I think that’s what needs to be drilled into
people’s heads,” said Poitras. Sara Rothman, senior director of academic success at UNB, sees both the good and the bad of the page. “I have concerns about the page, but I also see the potential for it to foster a positive campus community. I am heartened by the posts that are there solely to boost the spirits of others,” Rothman said. Some of the more positive posts read “Brynn, how I would like to get to know you better. You are beautiful!” and “Don’t forget to say thanks to your mum and dad once in a while. Sometimes we begin to forget all the things they have done for us to get us where we are today.” R ot h ma n bel ieve s t hat it i s everyone’s responsibility to be wary about what is being posted. “I strongly encourage the admin to ensure the space is a safe and respectful place for all UNB and STU community members and to use good judgment in deciding whether or not to post or refuse submissions. Users have a responsibility too and should think carefully before submitting a post,” said Rothman.
BRUNSWICKANNEWS
4 • November 19, 2014 • Issue 12 • Volume 148
UNB gets real for homophobia awareness Travis Piercy The Brunswickan It’s time to get real, UNB. In efforts to address the growing problem of homophobic bullying on social media, two students are introducing the “Get REAL” movement to UNB. “Get REAL” is a movement aimed at educating people about the LGBTQ community in universities, high schools and middle schools all over Canada to raise awareness about homophobia and bullying. “Language can hurt and it’s important to be true to yourself and kind to others,” said event co-organizer Lee Thomas. The UNB group aims to put special focus on homophobia in sports. “Right now we’re hoping to go in a similar direction as Western [University] has, with university athletes talking to younger students about how homophobia and bullying aren’t tolerated on their sports teams,” said Thomas. Thomas and Lacey Purdy, the leader of the movement at UNB, came across the Get REAL website and were inspired to start the movement at UNB. One video about inclusiveness in sports stood out to them. “The video was so honest, unedited and relatable; it was so different from what we’d seen up until that point. That type of message presentation was something we believed UNB deserved and needed in order for our message to be heard,” Purdy said.
Along with other universities joining the Get REAL movement, Purdy set a goal for her campaign. “Our goal is to help influence our generation and the younger generation for a better future for all,” she said. They plan to achieve a major portion of that goal by heading to local middle schools and high schools in order to share their message with the new generation of young adults. “We’re looking to travel to middle schools and high schools across the Fredericton area, maybe even across the province and give presentations about homophobic language and bullying,” said Purdy. But they will still focus on the university campus. “On a campus level, Get REAL UNB will be focusing on the intersection of LGBT and sport, to show the potential of a positive coming out process in athletics and the importance of being yourself amongst your teammates and coaches.” Even though Purdy said that Fredericton is, on the whole, an inclusive city when it comes to the LGBTQ community, there are always areas to work on. “From personal experience, as a bisexual living in this city, Fredericton has been a very welcoming place in the LGBTQ community. But casual language is the area we’re looking to work on,” Purdy said. “Terms like ‘that’s so gay,’ ‘faggot’ and ‘dyke’ are harmful and can influence a person.”
UNBSU debates Greek council Emma McPhee News Editor The Greek life, specifically if fraternities and sororities should be ratified, was a key topic of discussion at UNBSU council last Sunday. There are two levels of recognition for clubs and societies by the UNBSU. The status of ratification is given to groups that are in line with the union’s policies. Ratified clubs and societies receive funding. Groups that don’t fit this criterion are only given recognition that they are a club or society. Because sororities and fraternities generally act upon an exclusive, gender-based system, a violation to UNBSU inclusivity policies, the Student Union will not ratify them individually. Instead, the concept of ratifying an overarching Greek council was proposed at council and put up for discussion. “A Greek council, what it is, is an amalgamation of the fraternities and sororities under one board, one governing society and that society is ratified by the student unions and they are accountable for the actions of the fraternities and sororities that are recognized under it,” said Will MacMackin, vice-president of finances and operations for the UNBSU.
Lee Thomas, UNBSU vice-president internal, said that Greek councils are already a successful part of some Canadian universities. “The two examples that we’re really following are Dal and McGill. We’ve been reading up a lot on the sororities that are there and when clubs, including fraternities and sororities get legitimacy, then they’re held more accountable,” she said. “Greek councils are very successful with other student unions and given that there’s an increasing number of Greek life societies and that we are recognizing more and more of them every year, it just seems to make sense to have something that is working in other places and bringing it here.” But not everyone agreed. Some councillors were concerned about the legal aspect. “Anyone who’s been following education issues, especially in the United States, can see that there’s a big issue with fraternities and sororities there,” said arts councillor Marc Gagnon. “I think given the stigma that can come with these, UNB, and especially the Student Union, shouldn’t have to bear the burden of financial and legal responsibility to these groups. I just don’t feel like this is something we should open ourselves up to.”
“I’m really concerned that, for instance, if we ratified a Greek council I understand that that separates us a little bit from the liability but we’re still attached,” said Kevin Collins, also arts representative for the UNBSU. Ratification is not binding, however, and the UNBSU council can always vote to take away a ratified status if a club or society violates their policies. For many councillors, holding the Greek council accountable thorough ratification is a positive aspect. “I think that if we were to say no to them, then they’re still going to be there, they’re still going to be doing what they’re doing other than that they’re less legitimate so then there’s nobody looking going to say ‘no you can’t do this.’ So I think that it’s better that at least we have a little bit of say as opposed to none,” said Hailey Rendell, UNBSU representative for kinesiology. Currently, a draft constitution for a Greek council is in the making among Fredericton’s fraternities and sororities. “A big issue at UNB is a lack of engagement. People aren’t going to things so I don’t think we should shut down a club or society or a Greek council that people want to join,” said Rendell.
Currently, a draft constitution for a Greek council is in the making among Fredericton’s fraternities and sororities. Brad Parker / The Brunswickan
New campaign informs students about academic advising Emma McPhee News Editor A new campaign is underway at UNB Fredericton to make your academic advisor a buzzword on campus. The Keep Calm and See Your Academic Advisor campa ign is a new initiative with the goal to promote the academic advising process and inform students about its importance. “This is one way to start building the conversation among advisors and their students, and also help generate a campus environment that is conducive or supportive around advising so that it values advising as an essential aspect of teaching and learning,” said Neil Cole, academic advising support coordinator with the Centre for Advanced Teaching and Learning. The campaign has two main components. One is the distribution of posters and magnets with the campaign motto around campus and to students by their advisors. The other is a website that provides information about academic advising and also links to UNB’s
academic advisor directory where students can f ind out who their advisor is. The student website is paired with another website for the advisors themselves. “It’s very much a multi-pronged approach and the campaign is targeted at getting the students to see their advisors,” said Cole. There are many different reasons why a student may need to contact their academic advisor and Cole said that the campaign was also put in place to inform students of some of the areas where their advisors can help them. “It’s more t ha n just pick ing courses and so we want to have a clear understanding among students, faculty and staff what is entailed,” he said. “It’s usually through the advisors that students come to get connected and you start picking your courses through your advisor, exploring your academic and career plans through your advisor so it really is key.” The slogan “Keep calm and see your academic advisor” was developed with the hope that by using
a phrase so common in pop culture, students would remember it. “T he rea son we picked t hat motto is because it’s classic. People recognize it. It actually rings true, more than any other joke,” Cole said. “We want it to be a familiar phrase. That eventually it clicks when there’s something you need help with, something’s gone awry, so that it becomes automatic. That [students] think about their advisor first. That they don’t panic about what to do. We want to eliminate that fear and anxiety.” The campaign is only in the beginning stages and Cole said he sees it, as well as the larger concept of academic advising, becoming a bigger part of student life in the future. “We’re treating this as a marathon, not a sprint, because we’re trying to build the campus environment so that advising is seen as a critical aspect — a component of learning. ‘Keep calm and see your academic advisor’ really is an important message to give to students. That when things get rough, see their advisor.”
THE BRUNS OPINION editor@thebruns.ca
Anonymity sucks Most people avoid the comments section on YouTube like they avoid Sodexo’s cheeseburger chowder. This is for good reason. Scroll down below a video of cats bobbing their heads in sync to dubstep and within moments you’ve unknowingly walked into a debate about whether Stalin was really such a bad guy after all. Anonymity on the Internet is a curious (and by curious I do mean awful, awful, awful) thing. Not only does it make us feel invincible by giving us the power to say things we would never dream of saying in real life to an actual living, breathing human being, but it gives our words — however obscene or untrue — a certain weight. This is true of social media in general. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter have allowed us to publish whatever meaningless garbage enters our brains at any given time. In this way, social media tends to gives us an — albeit false — sense of importance and entitlement. Pair this with the ability to be totally anonymous in sharing those garbage thoughts and you’ve got the perfect, poisonous recipe for a page like “UNBF & STU Confessions and ‘Compliments’” (I’ve chosen to give “compliments” an extra pair of quotation marks since every “compliment” that ap-
pears on the page is really just one form of anonymous sexual harassment or another). The thing is, it’s hard to avoid the YouTube comments section when it’s following you around at school, criticizing the things you’re doing or wearing or saying for the whole rest of the school to enjoy. We mustn’t forget its sister pages of yesteryear: Spotted at UNB and Spotted at STU, in their heyday also outstanding in their ability to make students feel like their every move (even those they have no control over) is suddenly fodder for public debate. Perhaps this new hybrid is even more damaging, however, for as the admin put it in a recent post on the page: “Spotted at STU and Spotted at UNB are not completely anonymous. Plus I will be posting everything uncensored too. They have rules, we don’t.” Excellent. Because nothing spells a happy, healthy campus like the ability to call out others with absolutely no rules or repercussions. These pages keep springing up and will keep springing up unless we take a step back as actual living, breathing human beings and collectively quit scrolling down below. Tess Allen is the Editor-in-Chief of the Brunswickan.
Letters to the
EDITOR
All faculty should meet the same standards Emma McPhee in her article on “Part-time profs beyond the classroom” w r ites, on i n format ion she received from Arthur James or Wendy Bourque, that tenured professors are hired for “teaching, research and service work,” while contract professors are only hired for teaching. Some contract faculty appear to feel threatened by any suggestion that their credentials include research, but that
is short-term thinking. The only way university faculty can provide something that high schools do not is if they keep themselves in the forefront of their fields of study, and demonstrate their stature through publication. When I was a university senator I developed with the vicepresident research, Greg Kealey, a concept for a research fellowship for contract academics, with some new money promised. But the union
chose not to pursue the matter until after VP Kealey’s retirement. It is in the interest of students that the degrees they get from UNB should be ranked with the best, to which end it is in the interest of the university, its permanent and contract faculty alike, that all faculty should meet the same standards, and indeed be paid consistently on a pro-rata basis. —Dr. Nicholas Tracy
Self-censorship, constant anxiety for part-time profs make for an unhealthy UNB In “Part-time profs beyond the classroom” (Nov. 12/14), I am quoted as saying that “[i]t saves the university money, but mostly it gives them incredible flexibility because that means ... the full-time faculty, they’re tenured; you can’t get rid of them.” I have edited the punctuation and want to put this quote into context for your readers. The discussion was about why a university might want Contract Academic Employees (CAE) instead of tenured faculty. The common belief is it’s cheaper, but the real appeal is that CAE can
be gotten rid of easily, arbitrarily and without consequence for everyone but the CAE themselves. Out of context, the quote implies I am opposed to tenure. I am most definitely not. Tenure alone keeps programs from being abolished on a whim. And contrary to popular belief, full-time faculty can lose their jobs for many of the same reasons any other worker can. But a university functions only if these same people believe they cannot just be gotten rid of because they challenge vested interests, are disliked by the
wrong person, or because of sudden administrative changes. This is in stark contrast to the situation for CAE, who know they are easy to get rid of if they rock the boat, annoy the wrong person or are caught up in the type of restructuring this article points out is in the works at UNB. The resulting self-censorship and constant anxiety about the future of their livelihood is hardly a healthy situation for anyone in the university. —Arthur James
GOT AN OPINION YOU CAN’T HOLD IN? Letters must be submitted by e-mail to editor@thebruns.ca including your name, as letters with pseudonymns will not be printed. Letters must be 500 words at maximum. Deadline for letters is Friday at 5 p.m. before each issue.
Interest on student loans is cruel and unusual punishment AN OPINION
Micah O’Donnell-Gillies According to Statistics Canada, well over half of Canadians who attend a post-secondary institution draw on student loans. The average debt load hovers around $19,000 with loans of $25,000 or more increasing to 27 per cent between 1995 and 2005 and those with $50,000 or more tripling in that same time period to 6 per cent. The Canadian Federation of Students contends that 425,000 students use student loans each year. When loan repayment is considered alongside loan disbursement, overall student debt increases by one million dollars a day. And, according to CFS, without the inclusion of private bank
loans, student loan debt currently sits at $15 billion nationwide. Student loans are magnif icent things. They’ve provided a way for students from low-income families to have access to university and college, have shown to increase the number of women attending post-secondary education, and indebted an entire generation to a country that cares more about cushioning the settled than encouraging the anxious. The scheme that Canada and its cronie provinces has set up is worthy of the Don’s praise. It’s the perfect shark loan. It has the ideal vig. First, hand out thousands upon thousands of dollars to young people fresh out of high school in large lump sums. Second, let them think everything is all good for four to five years. Then, once they are in their most tenuous situation, send the dogs after them. Or, student loan repayment. As these naive, debt-ridden, and ignorant borrowers wallow in the daily doldrums of Starbucks and part-time careers, charge them interest like crazy. Like, somewhere around 5 per cent plus prime. It may not seem like a lot, but be patient.
Let Revenue Canada practice their hand at collections once those loans go into default and not a single welleducated youth will see a GST or tax return cheque again. And here’s the beauty of it all: if they don’t default on their loan and actually pay it back, the nation still makes even more money. College and university educated youth, overall, persistently reach higher tax brackets than those with only a high school degree. So, you get a youth who pays back a $40,000 student loan. On that, they’ll pay in the vicinity of $12,000 in interest depending on their terms (monthly payments, length of repayment period). And then, once you get $12,000, Canada still gets to claw way more tax money than they would’ve been able to if that person hadn’t gone to school. Take on a huge debt load so you can pay a tax to pay more tax. That’s exactly what student loan interest is: a tax. There isn’t anything wrong with tax. My kid goes to a public school. I walk on public sidewalks to get him there. Plenty a student has gotten their stomach pumped at 4 a.m. on the public’s
dime. Tax is great. Tax isn’t so great when we use it to prey on our youngest. There are two terrifying points in life before 29: the day you realize you’ve hit puberty and the day you get your notification of student loan repayment. That notice comes in the mail telling you that for the next seven to 15 years you should be paying $300 to $500 a month. The figure settles in. You think about it all day. If you’re me, you go through the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and then acceptance. That final stage is the acceptance that I will never be able to do this. Never be able to because a corrupt corporate world, an ignorant government and an entitled generation would prefer to rely on us working 60 hours a week at minimum wage to pay off our debts and carry the nation into the future. At this rate, a whole lot of us will be, like me, dead by 52 (that’s what my BuzzFeed quiz told me). And so we’re entitled. We think we deserve an education. We insist that careers and jobs should come
running to us the day we walk off that stage with our diploma. Excuse me: we work our damned asses off and get the crumbs from the boardroom table. The current generation of youth, at least the ones I meet and talk to frequently, are not entitled, lazy or lethargic. There are an uncountable number of us who get the grades, work the jobs, gain the experience and wheel ourselves away for a meagre $10 an hour. While we subsist on substandard resources, we have student loans hounding us. We work hard; we get nothing. Cut student loan interest. Completely eliminate it at both the federal and provincial levels. There is no need for us to carry a debt that is ever increasing while we try to begin our lives. The Canadian Charter clearly states in section 12 that citizens have the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. Interest on student loans is cruel and unusual punishment. If you don’t believe me, you can carry my $40,000 in student loans for the next 15 years. Canada punishes its youth for getting an education. Canada, leave students alone.
THE BRUNS
ARTS arts@thebruns.ca
Daniel Zebarth is part of the growing hip-hop scene in Canada. Submitted
FROM THE BEACH TO THE BIG CITY Canada has always been a country that measures itself against others. Our culture has been intertwined with those of Europe and America since we became a country, and oftentimes what made up our culture was not homegrown. But that is starting to change. Canada is beginning to get its own identity. The perfect example of this is the Canadian hip-hop scene, which for a long time was either non-existent or embarrassing. Now, we have artists like Drake, BA DBA DNOTGOOD, and the
Weeknd, who are not just copying musicians that came before them, but are creating a new sound and music scene that is worth being proud of. And if you ask younger artists, like Daniel Zebarth, they say this is just the beginning. “The Canadian hip-hop scene is growing exponentially every day,” said Zebarth, a Fredericton rapper who is currently studying audio engineering in Toronto. “The biggest artist in rap at the moment [Drake] is Canadian, so that just goes to show where we stand.” Zebarth has been musically in-
clined for as long as he can remember and started rapping when he was 13. A couple of years later he began producing and in January of this year, DZ released his first album. “The Beach was a starting point,” he explained. “I needed to complete a project to see where I stood in the industry. I learned so much during the two years crafting the album and it put me in a better position to achieve success.” W hile Zebarth has spent the majority of his life on the east coast of Canada, he grew up with an outsider’s mentality, wishing that he were in Houston with his siblings or in a bigger city.
“As I got older I began to develop a soft spot for the East Coast and now I can truly call it my home,” he said. For him, it has been the people and experiences that have had an impact on his work, though he admits he tends to get his musical influences from elsewhere. Though Zebarth is busy with school and work, his goals are clear and everything he is doing seems to be a calculated move towards making it in the music industry. DZ and his First Class Crew began working on a new project in the summer, and though there is no scheduled release date, he says
will be a very different sound from The Beach. The exciting thing about DZ is that he is not alone. Rappers around the country are seeing the success that some Canadian artists are having, and they are realizing that just because you’re not from New York City or Los Angeles doesn’t mean that you don’t have an interesting story to tell. “I feel like I fit in amongst the best and it is only a matter of time unt il I w ill be work ing beside them,” promises Zebarth. ‘The year 2015 is looking very promising and I’m feeling very grateful to be in this position.”
BRUNS ARTS
THE
Sebastian Maynard Arts Editor
BRUNSWICKANARTS
7 • November 19, 2014 • Issue 12 • Volume 148
Ian Sherwood continues his extensive tour with stop in Fredericton Marc Gagnon Staff Reporter While Canada may have no shortage of folk singers, Ian Sherwood is looking to carve out a spot for himself. The Halifax native, whose latest album Everywhere to Go was released in September, is on an international tour to promote the release. Having toured nearly continuously since 2009, Sherwood will next perform at Fredericton’s Charlotte Street Arts Centre on Nov. 22 — his 84th performance in 2014 alone. Now with four albums under his belt, and having been named the Contemporary Singer of the Year at the 2013 Canadian Folk Music Awards, this new album was an opportunity for Sherwood to start fresh. “The focus has been more of a pop feel, and that’s not completely without design,” said Sherwood. “We wanted to have something that was very focused, because my previous albums have been kind of all over the place as far as styles. With this one, we said, ‘hey, this might actually sound like a complete album, rather than a bunch of weird songs tied together,’” explained Sherwood. Having started out as a freelance
saxophone player, Sherwood made the move to songwriting 10 years ago, which has been his focus ever since. A music fan since a young age, he cited classic folk rockers such as Tom Waits and James Taylor as being among his influences. “They made a huge impact on me that I didn’t even realize until later,” he noted. “The songwriting I was doing was really influenced by what I had grown up hearing and taken note of.” During the writing process for Everywhere to Go, Sherwood explained that a strict, self-imposed one-song-per-week deadline led him to find emotional inspiration in unlikely sources. “The deadline was coming up, and I hadn’t written my song yet,” he said. “And then I started thinking about a guy in high school who didn’t really care too much about what the other kids thought of him. Now later on in life, I look back at that guy and think, wow, that guy really had it together, to be so confident in himself at a young age. I wish I was more like that.” While Sherwood still dabbles occasionally in producing music for film, TV and theatre, playing live continues
to be his passion. His recent performances in the UK, however, elicited a reaction he wasn’t prepared for. While as a guitar-playing singer/songwriter he was something of a novelty to British audiences, he found their reserved demeanor unsettling at first. “The audiences [in the UK] are very different [in that] they’re very polite,” he explained. “The first couple of nights it was hard to get used to it because they’d sit there kind of stone-faced and watch the show, and I thought to myself, ‘These guys don’t get it at all, they’re not into this.’ But then they explode at the end of the show, and you realize the way they take in music and observe it is different from what we do here.” While his sound may change from album to album, Sherwood said that he tries to stay true to his fundamental goals as a performer. “I’ve always tried to tell a good story, to evoke a feeling of some kind,” he said. “And good storytelling is where I come from. You can keep my interest if you can spin a good yarn — it doesn’t have to be a true story, but it has to be interesting.” Ian Sherwood will be performing at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre on Nov. 22, with tickets starting at $12.
HIL sets up student advisory council Kevin Lemieux Arts Reporter A library is an essential part of any city, and on a university campus libraries are even more essential. The Harriet Irving Library is looking to see how its services are being received and how it can further help its users.They are launching a new initiative: a student advisory council to help oversee the library and all of its features. “We are looking for feedback from students on the services that the HIL offers. It’s a chance for us to have a conversation and see what the students really want,” said Lesley Balcom, interim director of libraries. With the help of this year’s intern, Laura Corscadden, Balcom did some research on how other universities have used their councils.They’re now ready to launch the pilot project. “We want to hear about the services we are currently offering, like study guides and jobs. We want to hear what else students want us to offer and to let us know,” said Corscadden. “Things like more quiet space for studying or more areas for group work, these are the things we’re looking to
hear,” said Balcom. The council consists of eight students, all based on the leadership role they hold on campus. Undergraduate and graduate students are represented, as well as St.Thomas University students. With the council, Balcom and Corscadden hope to work together and create an open discussion.This will then generate new ideas and hopefully projects for the library to work on. “This is also an opportunity for us to share with them what’s happening in the library that they might not know about.Then, hopefully, they’ll take what we tell them about the HIL and they’ll pass it on in their networks, so more people take advantage of what we have to offer,” said Balcom. Every month or so, the group will meet and discuss where the library will go next. But for Balcom, she hopes that this group will really bring something new to the table. “I really hope we hear something that we aren’t anticipating hearing. Something new that could change the way the HIL helps students.”
The Harriet Irving Library is asking students for feedback and ideas on how to improve its services. Adam Travis / The Brunswickan
Ian Sherwood will be performing at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre on Nov. 22. Submitted
BRUNSWICKANARTS
W E I V OINT P
November 19, 2014 • Issue 12 • Volume 148 • 8
on What’s YOUR week? s i h t d n mi
What do you think of UNBF & STU Confessions and Compliments?
Taylor Colpitts
Lauren Lawless
Joshua Vandenborre
Ryan Smith
Kalen Park
“I don’t follow it.”
“I haven’t been following UNB/ STU Confessions.”
“I think it’s hilarious and a good read.”
“I think it’s getting a little out of hand.”
“Spotted [at UNB] has changed. It’s more of an ad service now.”
Ryan P.
Corey Deigham
Chloe Eisner
“I don’t pay it much mind.”
“I love it.”
“ I think it’s a great way to give compliments and love.”
Victoria Jones
“I think it’s entertaining. A good way to compliment people and pass along information.”
Jessica Anthony
“I think they are entertaining, and I love seeing everyone’s opinions.”
9 • November 19, 2014 • Issue 12 • Volume 148
The Brunswickan’s Food & Liquor: Ciders Molson Canadian Cider This is like drinking pure sugar, which may be exactly what you are looking for in a liquor. There is a slight apple tang when the drink first hits your tongue, but it quickly fades, leaving no aftertaste. The label proudly states that the drink is made with Canadian apples, but don’t fool yourself. This doesn’t taste like your farmer’s market apple cider or your favourite local beer, and if I see you drinking this I may have to make a comment about it.
Sebastian Maynard
Strongbow So this week we drank ciders. Which taste like a weird hybrid between wine and beer. Which is a lot like mixing ketchup and peanut butter. Which might sound appealing to some, but to others such as myself this is an abomination. The best part about this cider is that you can buy it by the can, though I still didn’t have it in me to finish. I can safely say my first cider experience will be my last.
Colin McLean
Red Rover Fall Brew Gotta love the freshness and flavour the local brew gives you. Starts you off with a strong cinnamon flavour, and it’s super smooth on the way down. The aftertaste is a just a tad sour with a hint of cinnamon sticking around. Perfect for cider lovers and anyone new to them alike. You just might want to be careful about drinking too much in one sitting though, as this Red Rover brew is quite rich.
Devin Patterson Red Rover Summer Brew
Mathieu Wong
The locally brewed Red Rover cider was the first I have ever bought on my own. I had never had a bottle of cider to myself until then; normally trying sips of other’s just to see what it was all about. I have to say it is now one of my preferred drinks. Even when we went to their cider house on Hanwell Road, they were kind enough to let us sample the four types they had. I left with a 1L flagon of the Summer Brew, which was sweet and dry. Compared to canned variants of hard cider, it did not have too much sugar and was not overly sweet, but instead offered a refreshing and sharp flavour that was able to quench my thirst for the night. Needless to say I am excited to go back and get more.
BRUNSWICKANARTS
BRUNSWICKANARTS
10 • November 19, 2014 • Issue 12 • Volume 148
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First year students take centre stage Kevin Lemieux Arts Reporter A group of theatre students at UNB brought the dying art of letters back to life last week. Unfolded! was put on by UNB’s first-year drama class on Nov. 13 and 14 in Memorial Hall. The performance was made up of students reading a series of letters. Some were written by them, others were letters given to them and some were just found online. “My letter was given to me last year, by a guy in my high school,” said Stephanie Daigle, a first-year arts student. “His letter told me that he loved me and that he always did. At that time, I was in a relationship with another guy. That letter kind of changed my way of thinking and I’m no longer with him today.” She said that working on this project made her look back at her old self. “This took me back to high school and how I was. It really made me realize how much I’ve changed already and where I’ve come from.” Some people from the class shared the same type of storyline. Just before Daigle read her letter, a male student took the stage and recited a letter that he once wrote for a girl who was in a relationship with another man. Though it helped with the flow and could have been about the same thing, their letters come
UNB’s first-year drama class put on their first show of the year this last week. Adam Travis / The Brunswickan
from two separate events. While some of the stories were heavier in nature, the show took the audience through a variety of emotions. Some stories were sad, funny or inspirational. Melissa Leblanc, a second-year student, found her letter online. “My letter is written by a father to his daughter. It basically tells her to be herself and not change herself for any man in her life.” Since October, the class had been working to pull the show together.
Daigle attributes the success of the play to the director, Tania Breen. “She really tries to get people out of their comfort zone by doing different things.” Though some of the students may have been shy at the beginning of the semester, their confidence was apparent during the performance, making the time travelling, emotional roller coaster of a play a great success for all those who took to the stage and shared their letters.
The NB Spirit Festival will be taking place from Nov. 18 to 21. Brad Parker / The Brunswickan
Liquor and fine dining on display at local festival Waleed Khokhar The Brunswickan From Nov. 18 to 21, the Fredericton Delta Hotel will be hosting the NB Spirit Festival. The annual event is centered on various spirits, such as rum and whiskey, but also features gourmet food that will be paired with specif ic drinks. On the f irst day of the festival will be the Rum Dinner, which is being introduced for the f irst t ime t h is yea r. The n ight w ill include a t hree-course d inner, and will be hosted by the Internat iona l Bra nd A mbassador of
El Dorado Rums, Stefanie Holt. Frank Scott, the festival’s organizer, said that while alcohol is the focus of the event, it is not meant for people looking to get drunk, but instead to enjoy and learn about the differences between whiskies and other drinks. The second day of t he fest iva l w i l l include what is ca l led the Whiskey Dinner, which will feature six courses of food and seven t y pes of — you g uessed it — whiskey. Day three of the event will feature master classes, where there w ill be samples and tast ing of some of your favourite whiskies,
as well as probably a lot you don’t k now. G len f idd ich , C a nad ia n Club, Glenlivet and Remy Martin are just some of the drinks that will be represented by brand ambassadors. Friday, Nov. 21 will involve a Whiskey Lunch, which starts at 11:45 a.m. Later on that night, the Festival Showcase will take place, which features over 200 different products. Free rides home will also be provided on Friday, which shows that even though Scott doesn’t want you to get out of hand, if you’re drinking from 11:45 onwards, it’s best to plan ahead.
11 • November 19, 2014 • Issue 12 • Volume 148
Songs of the week Sebastian Maynard Arts Editor
BRUNSWICKANARTS
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 19 Big K.R.I.T. – “Cadillactica” Mississippi’s Big K.R.I.T. released his second studio album, Cadillactica, on Nov. 10. The albums title track was produced by DJ Dahi, who has put together an impressive track record so far in his career, with production credits on songs like Drake’s “Worst Behaviour,” Schoolboy Q’s “Hell of a Night,” Kendrick Lamar’s “Money Trees” and Pac Div’s “Posted.” On “Cadillactica,” K.R.I.T. and Dahi create a hard-hitting anthem that sees K.R.I.T. switching up flow and showing off his wordplay and skill. The subtle female vocals and echoing of certain lines that are thrown into the song makes it a more interesting listen and not just another rap song about a car.
NB Spirits Festival Delta, Nov. 19-21, $75 Theatre St. Thomas: The Taming of the Shrew Black Box Theatre, Nov. 19-22, 7:30 p.m., $5 (Students) Music and Films Memorial Hall, 7:30 p.m., $10 (Students)
THURSDAY, NOV. 20 Bands on the Run Tour Capital Exhibition Centre, 8 p.m., $47.45 Hippo Campus – “Souls” A lot of comparisons can be made to the first song shared off of Hippo Campus’s debut EP. “Souls” features a similar voice to Vampire Weekend and Grizzly Bear, while the instrumentation reminds a bit of WU LYF. With that being said, the Minneapolis band constructed a song that sounds familiar, but certainly is different from all the bands mentioned above. The track is a light-hearted one, and with lyrics like “the night was ours for the taking,” expect to hear it in a beer or car commercial sometime in the near future.
Stargazing with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada William Brydon Jack Observatory, 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, NOV. 21 Remembering Bruno Bobak Gallery 78, Nov. 21-Dec. 21
SATURDAY, NOV. 22 Troy Little Cartoonist Signing Strange Adventures, 10 a.m.-noon Rick Ross – “Movin’ Bass (featuring Jay-Z)” Rick Ross has been busy. Having already released the 16-song Mastermind in March (19 songs if you got the deluxe edition), he is set to put out his second album of the year on Nov. 24. Easily the most anticipated track on Hood Billionaire is the Jay-Z assisted “Movin’ Bass,” which is now available for listening. On the new track, the two rappers stick to what they are most comfortable with, addressing their success in the music industry as well as in the drug game. “We still moving bass,” raps Jay on the chorus, a classic double entendre by him that refers to both the bass of a song as well the as cocaine that both rappers claim to have sold in the past. The only disappointing thing about this Timbaland produced track is that Jay only contributes on the chorus and doesn’t give an actual verse, but luckily Rozay brings enough bravado for the both of them.
SUNDAY, NOV. 23 John Leroux: Talk on Fredericton’s Centennial Building 23 Dineen Drive, 2:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, NOV. 25 UNBSU Holiday Bazaar UNB Student Union, noon-6 p.m.
Vogue Dots – “Way With Silence” In late October, New Brunswick’s Vogue Dots released their four-song EP, Mauka. The record was primarily written and recorded in a cottage in Belle Isle, but that doesn’t mean it is filled with simplistic campfire songs. The electronic duo use synths and killer vocals from singer Babette Hayward to create a refreshing product that conjures up images of a late night cityscape, not a cottage in the middle of the woods.
November 19, 2014 • Issue 12 • Volume 148 • 12
THE BRUNS
SPORTS sports@thebruns.ca
UNB was in search of two big home wins but were unable to do so. Sarah Badibanga / The Brunswickan
Reds fall to Axemen, Huskies UNB falls to third in AUS standings
Sarah Rouse Sports Reporter
It was an important weekend for the UNB Varsity Reds men’s hockey team as they played host to the Saint Mary’s Huskies on Friday and Acadia Axemen on Saturday. UNB, who headed into the weekend with a record of 8-1-1, was in search of two big home wins but were unable to do so, coming away with only one point between the two contests. I n Fr iday’s a f fa i r w it h Sa i nt Mary’s, UNB put themselves in a hole early as the Huskies scored t h ree t imes in a pena lt y-f i l led opening frame. Stephen Johnston, Ben Duffy and Bradley Greene all found the back of the net despite only having four shots as a team in the first period. UNB was able to get one back as Peter Trainor scored on a power play 3:43 into the second period, but SMU quickly tallied a power play goal of their own just over three minutes later. Steven Trojanovic was the goal scorer for SMU, a goal which proved to be the even-
tual game winner. Philippe Halley scored for UNB in the later stages of the second period to make it 4-2 game heading into the third and final period. UNB outshot the Huskies 11-3 in the third period but only managed to find the back of the net once as Matt Boudens scored with just under five minutes remaining. Despite outshooting SMU 31-13 overall, UNB lost 4-3. Husk ies goa ltender A nt hony Peters was solid as usual, making 28 saves in the win. UNB goaltender David Shantz allowed four goals on 13 shots. On Saturday, the Varsity Reds were in search of a bounce-back game against the A xemen. The Reds were unsuccessful though, dropping a second straight home game, 4-3 in overtime. The Reds, 8-2-2, dropped to third in the AUS standings as Acadia, 9-3-0, moved slightly ahead of them. Prior to Saturday’s game, UNB forward Rob Mignardi received the first annual Rod Pike Award. The award is in memory of the late
Rod Pike who played defence on the UNB men’s hockey team from 1976-80. The Rod Pike Award in men’s hockey is awarded to a UNB hockey player that has demonstrated a special athletic ability and has a successful academic performance. Mignardi, this year’s recipient, had a 4.0 GPA in business last year as a redshirt for the Varsity Reds. Acadia’s captain, Liam Heelis, opened the scoring midway through the first period to make it 1-0 for the A xemen. The Varsit y Reds tied it up late on a power play as Trainor’s cross-ice pass found Halley’s stick and then the back of the net with just 37 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Acadia was able to take the lead back 7:45 into the second period as rookie Zach Franko found the puck in a big scrum in front of UNB’s net and put it in. With a few minutes left in the second, UNB’s R.D. Chisholm blocked a slapshot with his hand/wrist, forcing him to leave the game and not return. UNB was able to score late once again as Philippe Maillet scored on a one
timer from the left side of the ice with 27 seconds left in the period. Shots were 12 apiece in the second. UNB carried their momentum from the late second period goal into the third, which saw Maillet score his second of the game just 15 seconds in to put the Reds ahead for the first time. Acadia then tied the game up at 6:40 on a power play. Remy Giftopoulous skated the puck around the net, managing to chase Shantz out of position and then fed it out front to Brett Thompson who shot the puck into the yawning cage. UNB’s Tyler Carroll took a late cross checking penalty which saw Acadia go on the power play with under two minutes left in the game. Shantz made several big saves in the final minute and Halley was able to swat the puck away from the goal with just seconds left on the clock to force overtime. Acadia outshot UNB 9-4 in the period. In the overtime period, Acadia won a puck battle along the boards and Alex Beaton was able to feed Franko near the left side faceoff circle at 2:05. Franko beat Shantz
up high for his second goal of the game and the game-winner. UNB and Acadia both finished with 29 shots on goal in the contest. Acadia was led by Franko’s two goa ls a nd goa ltender Bra ndon Glover who made 26 saves in the win. Shantz finished with 25 saves in the loss. The Varsity Reds will look to bounce back from a tough weekend at home with away games at Saint Mary’s and St. Francis Xavier this Friday and Saturday, respectively. “This weekend was a growth opportunity,” said Varsity Reds head coach Gardiner MacDougall. “We hung around and we had a lead in the third period and at home you have to find a way to protect it. It was disappointing to give up a lead like that but you have to take the positives out of it — like a huge penalty kill with minutes left to grab a point. “We have made good progress with our group but you have to be better at home. Our goal is [to] get better all the time.”
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13 • November 19, 2014 • Issue 12 • Volume 148
Reds poised to be strong again Jamie Tozer Sports Editor Three years. Three trips to nationals. Zero appearances in the gold medal game. What’s it going to take for the UNB Varsity Reds men’s soccer team to win the school’s first CIS men’s soccer championship since 1980? “I think we are there,” said head coach Miles Pinsent. “I think we just need to continue to push and continue to grow and get better in every little way that we possibly can to make sure that in those tight games that there’s absolutely no question about coming out on top.” Despitenotwinningagoldmedal,it’sbeen an impressive three-year run for the Varsity Reds. In regular season Atlantic University Sport play, the team has amassed a combined recordof28-5-6overthepastthreeyears.The V-Reds reached the AUS finals each season, winning the conference championship this year and last. But a national championship continues to elude the team. TheVarsityRedshavequalifiedfornationals in each of the past three seasons. They didn’t win a game at the 2012 tournament butreboundedin2013andwonbronze.This year, the Reds appeared poised to have a big run at the CIS championship, but a shootout
loss in the quarterfinals cost them a chance to play for a medal. The loss was especially painful for UNB because of the fact they were undefeated up until that point. The Reds went on to win their two consolation games at nationals to clinch fifth place in the nation and end the year with a 15-1-2 record. “Other than the first half of our first game, where I felt we were playing a little timid and just didn’t relax and play our game, every minute after that I was quite pleased with our performance. We showed that we can create things against teams from all the different conferences and the best teams around the country. At the same time, for the second year in a row, defensively we [proved we] can handle pretty much all offences across the country.” Pinsent said he was especially pleased with how his team handled some adversity at nationals. UNB had to play their first game without Kenneth Van Aarle after he received a red card in the AUS final. Then in the quarterfinal game, Oliver Jones, Steve Miller and Matt Mountney all suffered injuries. “I thought we were prepared to handle anything. You can’t anticipate what’s going to happen with cards or injuries. I thought we handled all those issues quite well.” Although the quarterfinal loss to Mc-
Master still stings, the impressive season as a whole can’t be overlooked. “For them to consistently show up and put in those efforts … I think that’s probably the biggest trap with young players playing in a difficult league like the AUS. Yes, maybe you are capable of beating any team on any day but to go out and actually do it each and every time is the impressive part. Sometimes you’re playing against a team whose home field is difficult to play on. Sometimes your playing against a team that’s rested and you played a game less than 24 hours before that. There are many challenges throughout the league and I thought we handled those all extremely well. “We lost a shootout — it’s the only thing we lost all year. We never got beat on the field in the run of play. I’m sure at some point we’ll be able to take some pride in that but right now that kind of stings a little bit,” Pinsent said with a grin. The coach said that part of the team’s success this year was balanced scoring — and much of that scoring will be back next year. The team is expected to have just three players graduating, meaning the core group that makes up the team will, for the most part, remain intact. “I think most coaches across the country would be excited to be in the position that I’m
What’s it going to take for the UNB Varsity Reds men’s soccer team to win the school’s first CIS men’s soccer championship since 1980? Sarah Badibanga / The Brunswickan
in as we look forward to next year,” he said. In terms of additions the team hopes to make, Pinsent said he wants to add a wing player and more depth up front and in the midfield. Also, with Aaron McMurray graduating and Brandon Eagle taking over No. 1 goalkeeping duties, the team hopes to add a young new keeper.
Like any team, there is also the expectation thatreturningplayerswillalsostepupandhelp fillsomeoftheholesleftbygraduatingplayers. “It’ll just be a natural process for these guys that’ll all be a year older and hopefully a year better next year. Hopefully we’ll just keep building on what we’ve been doing here for over the past three years.”
Stepping outside yourself Scott Hems Columnist
ONE STEP AT A TIME
Scott Hems
So much of weight loss involves pushing boundaries you haven’t pushed before. You think a way you hadn’t before, push yourself harder than ever and put yourself in positions outside your norm to become a person you didn’t think you were. I have been there, as we all have when we take on that journey. Believe it or not, there’s an amazing element to pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. When you take chances, and work towards something you know you deserve, you go places you never thought you would. This is a story of the places you’ll go when you step outside yourself. Last year I went to Quebec City for the first time. My plane landed long
PANEL
before my colleagues and I had to find ways to kill time in a city I knew nothing about. I randomly decided I would go for a run and experience it by foot and not car. I saw a side of the city most people never will, and instantly fell in love with it. It became a tradition for me to go for a run in every city I visited. Surely every city in Canada I’ve fallen in love with for a different reason. It’s a tradition I never thought I would encounter as my overweight self. One of my favourite runs I ever had was after pulling into Niagara Falls, changing fully in the parking lot in front of a bunch of tourists, tying my running shoes, grabbing my video camera and just running. Everyone stared as I bolted through the main streets of mini-Vegas while holding my camera
and loving every minute of it. Half my face was covered in sweat, the other half in water from the falls. I ran all the way up Clifton Hill past hundreds of attractions and back to my car. Tourists still stared as I wiped my face, and suited up for a night on the town. Somehow, I never felt more at peace. I’ve seen the falls so many times on TV, and even a few times as a kid, but I never ran by them. I never thought I would run by anything when I was overweight and that was the beauty of what was in front of me. No one will ever remember that city the way I will because I was doing something I truly loved. It’s easy to hope that if you work hard enough in life, you’ll get places. But admiring these places when you get there is a whole other level of accomplishment.
I’m sure anyone can run through the falls with a video camera and love it, but knowing I’ve made it somewhere I never thought was possible is where I really felt at peace. So often we let the weight of the world crush us, letting it impact how we’re able to reach a goal. If peace is not within us, it makes sense to step outside ourselves. You will be amazed at what you find when you’re willing to try something new. I never would have lost a pound if I hadn’t been willing to change. Truthfully, I can’t even picture my life without having these adventures. If you take that step, you won’t be able to picture your life without it. “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination” –Jimmy Dean
Should the NHL use expanded video review?
THEY KNOW WHAT’S UP
Sarah Rouse
Devin Patterson
John Robb
Sports Reporter
Multimedia Editor
V-Reds Fan
I grew up in a community where every Red Sox game is aired on the radio, a guy has a replica Green Monster on his front lawn and half the population owns David Ortiz jersey t-shirts. Before winning the World Series in 2004, Red Sox fans were great. They were always the lovable losers. But after 2004, 2007 and 2013, things have gone off the rails. Sox fans just need to realize they are no longer the scrappy underdogs of baseball – and they have a lot more in common with the Yankees than they would like to admit.
The suggestion that’s been around for a while is a coach’s challenge. This is similar to what the NFL uses, which gives coaches that ability to review something that might have been missed — like we saw last season with some blown offside calls that led to goals. Logistics such as how to challenge, since a flag on the ice is probably a bad idea, and how many challenges a coach gets, need to be looked at, but this is a good idea for the game.
Short answer, no. Long answer, the flow of the game would be broken and offers the chance for a coach to take away a breakaway to review an offside. Too many headaches. Trust the zebras to not be blind and make the right call, and suck it up when human error happens. Just that simple.
cellarpub.ca
Jonathan Copeland Sports Fan
I really like the idea of a coach’s challenge. Putting the power in the hands of a coach would add to a game’s excitement, while improving the accuracy of calls on the ice. The challenge flag being thrown at a football game heightens the viewer experience. Similarly, a challenge by a hockey coach would do the same. However, it’s imperative that a failed challenge would result in a penalty to ensure a coach isn’t abusing the system by challenging too often.
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14 • November 19, 2014 • Issue 12 • Volume 148
Mixed results for basketball teams Jamie Tozer Sports Editor After getting their season off to a promising start, things went south for the UNB Varsity Reds women’s basketball team this past weekend in Halifax. The Varsity Reds fell to 2-2 on the season following back-to-back losses to the Saint Mary’s Huskies. UNB had opened the season strong, defeating the Acadia Axewomen twice at the Currie Center. The Huskies improved to 3-0 with the wins. Last year’s Atlantic University Sport champions went 20-0 during regular season play in 2013-14. On Friday night, the Varsity Reds managed to keep things close in the first half. UNB trailed by just two at the end of the first quarter and by eight at halftime. In the third quarter, the Huskies began to pull away. UNB was outscored 18-8 in the quarter and trailed 46-28 heading into the fourth. Despite outscoring Saint Mary’s 20-18 in the final quarter, it wasn’t enough as the Huskies defeated the Reds 64-48. Katelyn Mangold led the way for the V-Reds, recording 10 points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes of action. Nicole LaFleur and Kiley DeLong came off the bench to post nine points each. On Saturday, the Huskies opened the game on a 7-0 run and never looked back. They led 17-8 after the first quarter and 33-16 at halftime. Saint Mary’s continued to pour it on the rest of the way and defeated UNB 59-45. Grace Wade led all UNB players with 12 points in 33 minutes of play. Mangold had a team high nine rebounds.
The Varsity Reds men’s basketball team had much better luck this past weekend, sweeping Saint Mary’s to get their season off to a 4-0 start. On Friday, the V-Reds went on a 17-0 run early in the first quarter and led 28-18 at the end of the opening frame. The Huskies had a better second quarter but couldn’t catch the Reds, trailing 47-39 at halftime. In the third, Saint Mary’s got within one midway through but UNB managed to maintain their lead. In the fourth, the Huskies were up 72-70 with less than three minutes to go but a big three-point shot from Will McFee put UNB back in front and they would stay there, going on to win 82-75. Javon Masters led the way for UNB with 23 points, which included going 14/14 from the free throw line. On Saturday, the Reds hit triple digits for the first time in this year’s regular season, defeating the Huskies 108-91. UNB led by as much as 20 points during the game. Saint Mary’s got off to a good start, going on a 7-0 run to open the game. But UNB quickly kicked things into gear and led 20-18 at the end of the opening quarter. The Reds put up 29 points in both the second and third quarters and 30 in the fourth to hit triple digits. Masters once again led the way for UNB, recording a team high 28 points in 38 minutes of play. Jordan Irvine came off the bench to post 18 points in 24 minutes. Both Varsity Reds teams return home to host StFX this weekend at the Currie Center. The women’s team faces the X-Women at 6 p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday while the men’s team takes on the X-Men at 8 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Things went south for the UNB Varsity Reds women’s basketball team this past weekend. Adam Travis / The Brunswickan
Back end leading hockey team Sarah Rouse Sports Reporter
With an 8-2-2 record and a conference-leading 50 goals, the UNB Varsity Reds men’s hockey team’s first half success can be attributed in no small part to its solid defensive line. With a combined 29 points in 12 games, defencemen Randy Gazzola and Jordan Murray have contributed heavily to the team’s early success. With five goals and 10 assists, Murray currently sits in a tie for sixth in AUS scoring, while Gazzola is close behind with a goal and 13 assists, good for eighth in the league. While Gazzola has been drawing praise in his first season with the Varsity Reds, he is quick to give credit to the team’s forwards. “Our team is loaded with goodquality forwards,” he said. “Every time you’re on the ice there’s a chance that if you make the right pass, they will capitalize on the opportunity and score. “The quality of our team is so deep. Everybody’s a tremendous player who can put the puck in the net on any given night.” It was this reputation for success that drew Gazzola to UNB in the first place, following an illustrious career in the QMJHL. Gazzola played one season with the Halifax Mooseheads before being traded to the Val d’Or Foreurs where he was a member of the President’s Cup winning team in 2014. “I had heard a lot of good things about UNB and their winning traditions. A few of my old friends had played here before, and after talking with the coach I knew it was going to be a good fit for my development.” For Murray, a Riverview native, UNB was the clear choice when
UNB Varsity Reds men’s hockey team’s success is due in part to its solid defensive line. Adam Travis / The Brunswickan
looking at universities. “After following the team’s success for so long, it was an easy decision to come here,” he said. Following a three-year career in the QMJHL with the AcadieBathurst Titans and Drummondville Voltigeurs, Murray had a breakout rookie season at UNB last year and was named to the AUS second allstar team and all-rookie team. Both players credited the team’s chemistry, both on and off the ice, as a key reason for their early success. “The team is really close. We have a lot of young guys in their first and second years with the team, so we’re all pretty much the same age and get along really well. It’s a great
atmosphere in the locker room,” said Murray. Despite their personal success so far, the pair are focused solely on one team goal — namely, winning the national championship. “The team goal at UNB is, obviously, a lways to w in anot her championship. We want to be on top of the standings all season long and hopefully have a good playoff run,” said Gazzola. Gazzola, Murray and the Varsity Reds return to action this weekend in Nova Scotia with games at Saint Mary’s and StFX. The team plays their final home game of the first half on Nov. 28 against the Université de Moncton.
15 • November 19, 2014 • Issue 12 • Volume 148
Lagacy ends career on a high note Marc Gagnon Staff Reporter After a five-year tenure with the UNB Varsity Reds women’s soccer team, Samantha Lagacy is moving on. But having finished this past season with nine goals and coming third in conference scoring, the 23-year-old AUS All-Star is leaving the team in their best shape in years. While the V-Reds had been in a slump in recent seasons, Lagacy said that the experience of going from last to first was character building. “This was the one year where we were quite successful, but it was definitely a build-up,” she said. “All the girls are a lot older now, so everyone put in a lot of work for it — so it wasn’t so much a surprise so much as we knew we deserved it, and every game we played we wanted to win.” To Lagacy, what finally clinched their domination this year was sheer determination on the players’ part. “I think a lot of people were getting tired of having a program where we thought we should win but then we weren’t coming out with wins,” she explained. “We were coming out with ties, losses by goal, and I think everyone just decided to find a way to win. And every game we played, even if we were losing, we would come back with goals — everyone was invested.” No st ra nger to tea m spor ts, Lagacy has been a soccer enthusiast since she was five years old. Having played other sports such as hockey, basketball and volleyball, she became serious about soccer upon qualifying for the Canada Games in Grade 11. Her coach in those games suggested playing for UNB, whose law program she was already considering. Balancing academics and athletics is no simple task, but Lagacy has worked out a system after five years. “When I was in my first year I could never have done it,” she noted. “But you learn to study on the bus, read on the plane, study in your hotel room — everyone [on the team] has the same mentality. The hours that I spend at practice and playing are like my free time.” Looking back on her soccer career,
BRUNSWICKANSPORTS
Ironmen win championship Ben LeBlanc The Brunswickan The UNB Ironmen rugby team brought home the Maritime University Championship trophy on Nov. 8 following a hard-fought victor y over St. Francis Xavier University (StFX). “The st rengt h of ou r bench and being patient in the last 10 minutes of the game were key to the win,” said Paul Wilson, the head coach of the Ironmen. “Being able to bring in players of the same calibre as the starting fifteen has been important throughout the season, and has allowed us to continue to play at a high level.” UNB defeated StFX 24-20 to capture the Cockburn-Carty Trophy. StFX led the game at halftime by score of 10-5. Brendon White scored for UNB while Alex Vanier scored both times for StFX. UNB’s Dibaba Ekangyela registered an early score in the second half to tie it up, and converted to tip the scales in their favour. The battle continued throughout the second half where StFX wrestled for two more tries by Sean Carr with 15 minutes left in the game. Unscathed, veterans Pat Grant and Scott Asselstine fought for two more tries, one of which was converted to give the Ironmen a four point lead with four minutes
Samantha Lagacy is moving on. Adam Travis / The Brunswickan
Lagacy felt that this year served as a satisfying capstone to her time with the V-Reds — seeing her team make it to the AUS Championships and her fellow teammates develop as athletes. “Just seeing the other players grow in a winning environment [was a highlight],” she said. “They got to see the benefits of working hard. Kind of like the light at the end of the tunnel. It was hard going through it, but it paid off in the end.”
As for herself, Lagacy was reflective on her growth as a team athlete over the years. “I’ve always had the best interests of the team in mind, but I find now, you don’t have to do everything yourself,” she explained. “You can depend on everyone on the team. In my first year, it was more individual efforts, and now it’s the effort of the whole team.”
left in the game. “We had a tough end to the season coming off a three game losing streak going into playoffs, but the boys all came together and played like true Ironmen through playoffs. I couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of them and their efforts on the f ield,” said Oliver Parkman, captain of this year’s championship team, after the victory. Discipline and motivation were what granted the Ironmen success. With last year’s 21-17 upset against Dalhousie and the year before against Acadia, the Ironmen held their heads up high as they came home victorious. UNB had less luck in the B Division f inal as they were upset by the X-Men 37-7. Ekangyela scored t he lone t r y for t he I ron men, which was converted by William Daponte. “We’ll be losing a few key senior players next year, but there is a strong core of young players on the squad,” said Paul. “It will be interesting to see how these players develop over the next year. We expect that the opposition in our league will continue to grow in strength as they have done this year, and we will have to improve our level of play to continue to be successful.”
BRUNSWICKANSPORTS
16 • November 19, 2014 • Issue 12 • Volume 148
V-Reds wary of social media risks
Sarah Rouse Sports Reporter
Several Canadian sports teams have been trending in recent weeks — but not in a good way. Twitter was abuzz following the announcement that two Ontario Hockey League players were suspended in light of abusive behaviour on the popular dating app Tinder. Peterborough’s Greg Betzold and Belleville’s Jake Marchment were each suspended 15 games after screenshots emerged of their derogatory comments towards women. Over the past couple weeks, Saint Mary’s University once again found themselves embroiled in scandal following several inappropriate Twitter posts by men’s lacrosse coach, Mitch Hannigan. This comes after SMU’s orientation week rape chants last year and the suspension of football players last winter for inappropriate tweets. Hannah Classen has been following these types of stories very closely. As the communications officer for the UNB Varsity Reds, her role includes managing the team’s social media accounts, as well as ensuring the teams’ online interactions remain scandal-free. “Here at UNB, we have a social media policy for our off icial accounts, @VarsityReds on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter,” explained
Classen. W hile team-specif ic accounts such as UNB soccer or UNB hockey are run by individuals closely connected to the programs, such as coaches, former players or superfans, the communications staff works to ensure all posted materials are appropriate. “We do a lot of regular training and try to keep an open conversation going around best social media practices, but the policies that we have for these accounts are extensions of our best practices elsewhere. It’s my goal to make sure that our behaviour on social media isn’t seen as being any different from how we behave elsewhere — it all needs to reflect our values and our code of conduct.” W hile no concrete guidelines for social media exist, the Varsity Reds do not issue posts that breach UNB’s code of conduct and values. This encompasses: statements that harass another individual in any way (physically, sexually, emotionally, etc); hazing or team orientation that requires questionable activities; treating others differently due to gender, origin, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political belief or economic status; not abiding by the team rules; and any conduct that might be considered unsportsmanlike or could bring the reputation of the team or the university into
The Varsity Reds have a social media policy in place. Adam Travis / The Brunswickan
disrepute. Classen states that the athletics department encourages anyone involved with the Varsity Reds to have a presence on social media. “It’s an incredibly powerful tool for community building in sport. However, we do stress education around responsible use.” This education is also spread to
the athletes themselves, with social media training making up a big part of each year’s athlete orientation. “We look at examples from the past and discuss them with the players. We look at what is appropriate social media use and what isn’t,” said Classen. As student-athletes, players are encouraged to use social media in
positive ways — such as thanking host universities and connecting with other teams. “If issues come up, we try to use them as learning experiences and continue that dialogue around best practices and the code of conduct,” said Classen. “It’s never far from our minds.”