www.thebruns.ca
Volume 148 · February 4, 2015 · Issue 19
brunswickan canada’s oldest official student publication.
TURMOIL WITHIN UNB FACULTY OF LAW MYSTERY BEHIND LAW DEAN’S DEPARTURE RAISING CONCERNS BY EMMA MCPHEE | PAGE 3
N.B. GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE RESOURCE BY KEVIN LEMIEUX | PAGE 8
UNB MEN’S HOCKEY TEAM SITS ALONE IN FIRST PLACE BY JOSH DANIELS | PAGE 10
2 • February 4, 2015 • Issue 19 • Volume 148
Francophone rights in the Supreme Court FranÇAY What?
Alec Boudreau If you were at Buckets last week, you may have overheard me in a heated discussion about two Supreme Court cases being heard in the next 30 days (anyone wondering what Renaissance College is all about need only read this sentence). The first comes to us from Alberta, the second from Yukon. Alberta: Le Cas Caron A few years ago, a Québécois truck driver moved to Alberta. He was eventually pulled over for a minor infraction and given a ticket … in English. Scandalous, I know. M. Caron took issue with the fact that he could not be
ticketed in his language and sued the provincial government, using an obscure piece of legal trivia from the acquisition of Rupert’s Land and the Manitoba Act as grounds for his challenge. From my understanding of the case, the Manitoba Act clearly states that English and French are equal in the legislature and in the courts of both Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. Caron is arguing that this remained unchanged when Alberta and Saskatchewan were created. A similar case in Manitoba established that all of the province’s laws were illegally unilingual Anglophone and gave them two years to translate everything to French, so it’s kind of a big deal. The case goes before the Supreme Court Feb.13. Yukon: French Schools The one Francophone school in the Yukon has been suffering from a dwindling population. In recent years, they have loosened their admissions policy to allow non-Francophones and new immigrants access. This has boosted population to the point that the expansion or construction of a new school is a necessity. Pretty cut and
dry: we have more kids; we need more schools — right? Wrong. The territorial government refused their request with the justification that the new students should not have been admitted to the school in the first place, as most are either not Canadian or not francophone. The community is fighting back with the argument that it should be they, not the legislature, who get to decide who goes to their schools. This decision could open the door for other anti-Francophone legislatures to deny their communities the right to determine their admissions, with especially disastrous results for minority communities (such as Fredericton and Saint John) which rely on admitting immigrants to maintain their numbers. It also has consequences for the Anglophone minority of Québec, which is why their government recently testified against the Yukon Francophone School Board. This case is being heard right now. Supreme Court watchers delight — we’re in for a hell of a month (five months from now when we actually get a decision.)
BRUNSWICKANNEWS
Me to We at UNB Emma McPhee News Editor In 1995, Ontario native Craig Kielburger was an average Canadian 12 year old who went to school with his friends. That same year, Pakistani Iqbal Masih was also 12 years old — but he was killed for speaking out against child labour. Although both boys had very different circumstances, their lives became forever linked. Inspired by Iqbal’s story, Kielburger founded an organization that would become Free the Children when he was only 12 years old. Free the Children has since gone on to become an international charity. On Feb. 5 Kielburger will be giving a presentation at UNB about Free the Children, its sister organization Me to We and the importance of global citizenship. “He’s talking about how an individual can make a difference. So to get involved, whether you get involved here or whether you get involved in projects around the world or how can we make a positive impact in the world around us,” said Veronica McGinn, coordinator of international development at UNB. Kielburger himself has already made an
impact. As co-founder of a charity spanning 45 countries, an inductee of the Order of Canada at 24 years old and recipient of numerous honorary degrees, Kielburger has an impressive list of credentials. His presentation is being offered in recognition of International Development Week, a Canada-wide, week-long initiative that aims to engage Canadians in global awareness. McGinn said that Kielburger was chosen because of the involvement of the Fredericton community in Me to We, a social enterprise that raises money for Free the Children through the sale of sociallyconscious merchandise. “We have a lot of Me to We chapters in the high schools and the middle schools [in Fredericton] and there’s a lot going on here,” McGinn said. “It seems to be that if you know him, you know all about it and are really involved in it. But if you don’t know him, it’s like ‘well I don’t know him so it must not really matter.’ ” “So we thought it would be a good idea to expose UNB students to what’s going on and support the local schools in their objectives of global awareness.” The event will be held in the Currie Center at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Admission is $8 for students and $10 for non-students.
Dr. Richard E. Lee Optometrist
406A Regent St. 458-1580 (2 buildings past Harvey’s Hamburgers)
New Patients Welcome
February 4, 2015 • Issue19 • Volume 148 • 3
THE BRUNS
NEWS news@thebruns.ca
UNB vice-president academic Tony Secco and president Eddy Campbell met with law students in a private meeting last Thursday. Adam Travis/ The Brunswickan
Few words from UNB admin about law faculty Emma McPhee News Editor UNB has yet to speak about the background surrounding the abrupt leave of absence by Jeremy Levitt, their new Dean of Law. Levitt had only occupied his position for four months. According to UNB’s website Levitt came to UNB from Florida A&M University, where he was a professor of international law and the associate dean for international programs. No explanation has been given for his leave of absence. “This is a matter internal to the law school and it would be inappropriate at this time for us to discuss publicly,” said UNB spokesman David Stonehouse in an email to the Brunswickan. But Levitt’s absence is not the only one of its kind to have affected the faculty of law recently. Last week, associate dean Janet Austin resigned. In November, the faculty’s Scholarin-Residence, Gerard LaForest, also resigned. No reasons have been given for these resignations. In a letter to the faculty, staff and students of the faculty of law, Laforest wrote, “I regret having to terminate my more than 65-year relationship with the faculty of law … [I] am in the process of completing my memoirs. You can be sure that the faculty of law will be part of that story.” Although an acting associate dean, John Williamson, was appointed on Thursday, the faculty has yet to ap-
point an acting dean. Law student and student senator Lyle Skinner is concerned about what this may mean. “My biggest concern at the moment is that there are structural issues that do need to be addressed,” he said. “It’s unclear who is exercising diaconal powers … and those relate to even basic things such as tenure appointments.” Skinner invited UNB president Eddy Campbell and vice-president academic Tony Secco to a meeting with students last Thursday to discuss the recent events within the faculty. The meeting was closed to the public. “What was communicated was with the stuff that’s going on, your main focus should be a student. And I agree with that but it’s just that there’s still a bunch of issues that are preventing us from being students,” Skinner said. “Officially the response from the university right now is ‘no comment’ and it’s not really helping the situation.” In a letter addressed to Secco, Campbell and the Board of Governors, Skinner listed six topics he wanted the UNB administration to consider. Among the topics were the issue of the “significant number of faculty” who are on medical leave, the addition of two new full-time faculty unbeknownst to students and the fact that some students will not recommend the UNB law school upon graduation.
“In conversation with my peers, they are grateful that they will be graduating in May and see their association with UNB ceasing. I spoke with several high-achieving students … one indicated that they would not donate money to the school,” Skinner wrote. The full letter can be read at Thebruns.ca. Students have been noticing the absence of professors as well — these being credited leaves, resignations and illnesses. Enough so that it is affecting the regular functions of the program. “Over the last couple of weeks a number of professors have announced resignation or are on leave. Students in tort law and family law have not yet received their fall semester marks due to these absences,” said Josh Toombs, a UNB law student and law representative in the UNBSU. In total, CBC reports that three members of the law faculty are currently on full or partial leave at this time. But faculty absences because of illness, many of which are not relayed to students, are also an issue. “We’ve had a labour disruption, we have these illnesses and I’m not blaming the professors for the illnesses. Clearly there’s something that’s making them ill. We don’t know what it is and it is an occupational and health and safety issue because we need our professors well so that we can continue on going about and being students,” Skinner said. The lack of communication from
the university administration is causing frustration within the student body. “I do have some idea of what’s going but unfortunately the lack of information being communicated to the students is perhaps my biggest concern,” Toombs said. “Other than the announced resignations and absences the students have no idea why any of this has occurred and whether or not the issues are symptomatic of conflict between the faculty and the administration.” “At a time when many first- and second-year students are concerned with on-campus interviews, the disruptions in course offerings and the delay in grading for family and tort law has been particularly frustrating. For third-year students, we’re seeing yet another dean disappear and are left with more questions than answers at this point.” Issues with speaking out At UNBSU council on Sunday, law students brought to the table claims that they’ve felt pressure from the Law Students’ Society (LSS), law faculty and the university administration to not speak to the media about recent issues in their faculty. A motion tabled by Toombs requesting “that the Student Union supports students who wish to make their concerns known to the wider public, and the media” was passed unanimously at council on Sunday. Toombs also requested that the UNBSU “advocate for the import-
ance of student involvement in the resolution of these and other matters affecting the quality of education delivered at UNB.” This arose after the LSS made clear in Thursday’s closed meeting that it was “inappropriate” for students to talk to the media. “I believe that most of the students at the law school are under a lot of pressure to not talk about these issues outside of the law school,” said Edward Choi, UNB law student and student senator. “I think the reasoning behind that is that the admin and the LSS believe that if we talk to the media about these issues, it would ruin the reputation of the law school and UNB,” he said. Choi also confirmed that the LSS has sent out two emails requesting that students not speak publically about internal matters. According to Skinner, students are afraid of the repercussions should they speak publically about issues within the UNB law school. “I’ve seen instances where it’s been almost in a way of a witch hunt to trying to go after students because they simply want to provide their comments on how to help resolve this problem,” Skinner said. The LSS is a ratified faculty group under the UNBSU, but are not subject to adhere to whatever the council decides. Check Thebruns.ca for updates as this story develops.
BRUNSWICKANNEWS
4 • February 4, 2015 • Issue 19 • Volume 148
Annual polar dip plunges into new territory THE BRUNS Benjamin Crouse News Reporter
The Bridges House Polar Bear Dip is back, but with a twist: the event has been moved from campus to Yoho Lake. The Polar Bear Dip is an annual charity event hosted by the Bridges House on campus. Bridges residents raise money for the IWK Children’s Hospital by jumping into an outdoor pool full of freezing cold water. The dip took place on campus in years past, but had to be moved this year because of financial issues. “We owned the pool but facilities management charged us $3,600 to set up and take down the pool,” said Alyson PickardTattrie, president of Bridges House. At this rate, the charity event was costing more than it was raising for the IWK. Last year $6,200 was raised, but after covering the costs to put on the event, only $2,200 could go to the hospital. In previous years, most of this cost was covered by UNB Residence Life. However, it soon became apparent that some residences were asking for much more funding than others. “Some houses would have no special requests because the nature of their charity was such that they didn’t need any additional support or help,” said Angela Garnett, director of student life. “Then some houses were asking for quite a bit of help, to the point where really ... the charity wasn’t making any additional funds.” ResLife then created a policy stating that it would give each house $500 in funding each year. Each residence would have to either cover their charity event with that money alone, or provide additional funding on its own. Because of the cost to set up and take down the pool, Bridges decided to change the location of the event to Yoho Lake.
Students will be bussed to the lake from campus. “They had the best interest of the IWK at heart, and thought ‘what can we do to make the tradition continue but be able to donate the maximum amount to our charity?’ So that’s sort of how it morphed,” Garnett said. Ailish Grieve, a Bridges House resident, doesn’t mind the relocation despite the fact that Yoho Lake is about 30 minutes away from campus. “The costs are a lot lower to hold the event there, which will be great because we can give even more to the IWK,” Grieve said. This year, Bridges will also be partnering with the Central Valley Adult Learning Association. All profits from the event will be split 50/50. Each pledge must be a minimum of $25. A by-donation barbecue will take
place after the dip at the Yoho Scout Lodge where prizes for the top fundraisers will be handed out. A heated area known as the “Chicken Coop” will be provided to those who wish to donate without taking the plunge for an extra $25. “Some people, as you may expect, don’t want to jump into the freezing cold lake. So, they pay the same amount as a plunger does, but then they basically get the best seat to watch everybody else jump,” said Pickard-Tattrie. Heated military tents will be set up for plungers to get warm again after the dip. “Getting people warm again is very high on our safety list, so nobody’s going to be standing around shivering,” PickardTattrie said. The Bridges House Polar Dip will be on Feb. 22 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Buses will leave campus at noon.
Bridges House had to move the location of their annual Polar Bear Dip from UNB campus to Yoho Lake because of funding issues. Brad Parker/The Brunswickan
Greek Council works toward recognition on campus Benjamin Crouse News Reporter The Greek Council is one step closer to becoming ratified by UNB. The Greek Council has not yet been officially recognized, but is currently working with the UNB Student Union to put a policy committee together. “The idea is that it operates as a kind of governing body ... to make sure that if somebody wants to found an organization ... it’s not just people kind of popping up drinking groups and disguising them as fraternities or sororities,” said Kaley Etheridge, vice-president of the Psi Lambda Phi fraternity and secretary of the Greek Council. The Council is also currently looking towards working with UNB administration. “We’d like some sort of arrangement where we can work with the universities or with the student unions so that everyone knows that there are other voices involved in the process,” Etheridge said. “The important thing to remember is that we want to be held accountable because we believe that the things that we do are good. The whole point of a fraternity or
sorority is to try and better yourself personally.” The Council is made up of members of each of the Greek organizations. The organizations select their representatives for the Council however they please. Council meetings take place once a week. Recently, meetings have been focused on recruitment and joint events. “A council meeting happens really any way that you would expect an official meeting to happen. We go, there’s a chair, we discuss issues of the day ... we just arrange business,” he said. Two fraternities and two sororities have been recognized on both UNB and STU campus. Each of these organizations has at least one representative within the Council, except for the Theta Tau Nu. “The invitation was extended to them — they never responded. We made sure that they were aware of all of the days of meetings, we attempted to contact them,” said Etheridge. The Greek Council is still unaware as to why Theta Tau Nu never responded to the offer. “We created a council to support the people that want to make sure
that Greek life is safe and accessible, and Theta Tau Nu hasn’t wanted to be a part of that process,” Etheridge said. Members of Theta Tau Nu refused to speak to the Brunswickan about this topic. Despite some recent differences between Greek life and university administration, Etheridge still believes that the camaraderie found in a fraternities or sororities is worthwhile. “People are very wary because we have appeared in the media and the university is very hush-hush about how they want to handle it. We’d like to show that there is an interest and this is strong.” The fraternity that Etheridge is aff iliated with, Psi Lambda Phi, has recently recruited four new “brothers” who will become official members of the fraternity at the end of the semester. “It’s everything that a college student should want to do ... in one place: it’s a place to achieve academically, to grow socially and to engage in your community,” he said. “I would encourage people who aren’t in Greek life to still do those things: be engaged in their community, and be engaged with the school.”
THE BRUNS OPINION editor@thebruns.ca
Let in the student press
The journalistic profession is built on a foundation of calling people out on their shit. Last week, people took to Twitter and Facebook to call us out on our shit, and they had every right to. We reported on a meeting between law students and UNB administration that was intended and communicated to be closed to the media. This was due to a series of miscommunications between staff, and we retracted the posts and apologized. It was a dumb mistake, and I assure you we take our mistakes, however dumb, very seriously. But here’s the thing. As much as we did, in fact, screw up, we shouldn’t have been put in a position to do so. The entire UNB law debacle has been shrouded in a disturbing degree of mys-
tery. Not only was it requested that media stay out of last week’s meeting, but UNB admin has remained infuriatingly tightlipped about an issue that affects everyone with a vested interest in this school. Add to this new information that a number of law students are feeling “pressured” not to speak to media, and you’ve got a recipe for a deeply warped concept of press freedom on this campus. One person tweeted to the CBC’s Terry Seguin that “not everything needs to be ‘open,” to which he replied that in this case, openness would be beneficial. Of course not everything needs to be open. But in meetings “for students only,” everything should – at the very least, to the publication of students, for students.
“Crown Jewel” of UNB losing shine Dr. Jeremy Levitt took up the helm of the UNB law school a little over four months ago. His appointment was announced to us law students with much fanfare and excitement. Expectations were high, and rightly so. Here was a man that is billed as one of the world’s foremost authorities in the area of the law of the use of force, international human rights law, humanitarian law, peace studies and African politics. Four months later, he is on an unexplained leave of absence. No word on his return or any official word on why he is gone. Coupled with Dr. Levitt’s disappearance is the stress/sick leave disappearance of at least three law professors, the resignation of one, and the resignation of The Honourable Gérald LaForest, a former Supreme Court Justice who resigned last November from his position of Scholarin-Residence, although it appears not for health reasons as his letter makes it clear he is continuing his active role at Stewart McKelvey. This is why Dr. Eddy Campbell, UNB president, and Dr. Tony Secco, vice president academic (Fredericton) were at the law school last Thursday hoping to quiet concerns amongst the student body. Although this was
a private meeting, closed to media and outsiders, I have no problem telling the readers that all that was basically said was “keep calm and carry on” and “we’ve got this!” No information regarding the circumstances of Dr. Levitt’s leave, what appear to be random class cancellations, marks from last semester not returned or the disappearance of professors. None. Nada. Zip. Students shouldn’t worry their pretty little heads about it, we were told. Keep your heads in your books and plough through! UNB law has been called the “Crown Jewel” of UNB. Praises are heaped from among high about the UNB law grads well rounded legal education and well prepared skills for the practice of law. Now, don’t get me wrong, UNB law is decent. There are some fantastic professors here and I do not regret my choice. But, talk to any law student and they will raise concerns about certain professors’ quality, lack of course selection for certain semesters, and the random rescheduling of courses with little input from students (read: future donors). These concerns have been expressed on high to admin and nothing seems to be done. Add to this
the unexplained disappearance of yet another dean (Dean Peach left from his position in 2013, with no explanation to students) and you’ve got one annoyed student body (read: future donors). You also have wild speculation amongst the student body, which is being fuelled by shit-disturbing professors. Dr. Secco implores that he didn’t know the doin’s transpiring at UNB Law until last week, although it’s been painfully clear from a student perspective since last semester. Now, Eddy and Tony are telling the students “don’t worry, we’ve got this.” Pardon me if I’m not optimistic. The “Crown Jewel” of UNB has been losing its shine and the jewelers haven’t noticed and now they want to reassure us that it’s all under control, without telling us what is happening. I know the old adage is “loose lips sink ships” but maybe it’s time for the captain to tell the crew where the buckets are so the crew can help bail her out. Jordan Thompson is a third-year law student and will be on an unexplained leave of absence for an undetermined period of time.
Obama “unshackled” by reality POLITICAL CHATTER
Mark Mancini President Obama, in his last term as President, obviously feels unshackled by reality. In his recentStateoftheUnion address,the President advanced a plan that he marketed as “two free years” of community college, for
any American student that had the capability. Of course, to many of us in Canada, we might be wishing (for once) that we were American. Takingastepback,andlookingatthesituation rationally, that hope might be a bit premature. Obama’s presidency has been marked by many endeavours of this sort. The first that comes to mind is his universal healthcare plan, colloquiallyknownasObamacare.Obamacare sought to address a challenge in the US that many Canadians hold as a point of pride: we have universal healthcare, and they don’t. It’s part of the Canadian ethos, really. Obamacarehas,however,notbeenwithout a cost. The real cost of the initiative will clock in at $1.35 trillion by 2025. As we know in Canada, healthcare (while a public good) is a long-termentitlementthatcanaddtothedeficit
and debt. The US, while only a short time ago enacting its universal healthcare program, already has financial solvency issues — with debt and deficits numbering in the high billions and low trillions, credit downgrades are on the horizon. This hobbles the American government’s ability (without reductions in spending), to finance long-term entitlements and social obligations. This is the context in which President Obama dreamed up the idea of subsidizing, in a joint venture with the state governments, twofreeyearsofcommunitycollege.Sofar,no costs have been ascribed to the plan. Given the breadth of what is proposed, one can assume they would be high. At the core, the idea that everyone should be able to go to college despite their financial
means is laudable. There have been a ton of studies done about the economic potential inherent in giving young people a chance at post-secondary education. Much like public healthcare, there are benefits to Obama’s plan that would at least make a dent in America’s flagging education system. But perfection is not of this world. Nor is anything a free lunch. Obama’s plan, in the contextoffiscalrestraintorabudgetarysurplus, might make sense. In Canada, it might make sense — we are on the road to a surplus that rightfully should be re-invested in key priorities that will give Canada an economic advantage. Anyone with eyes can see that the US is not inthefinancialpositiontoexpandentitlements any further. Free tuition is something people talkaboutadnauseum;asstudents,weallwant
a bill of $0 for our education. It’s my judgment that Obama sees this as an opportunity to solidify a base of political support among young people. But, this has to be about more than politics. Virtually no one ever considers what the true costoffreetuitioncanreallybe.Doesitcomeat the cost of mortgaging the country, paying off debt and deficits for time immemorial? Does it come at the cost of increased taxes, in a time of economic recovery? Perhaps it comes at the cost of cutting other social services. Either way, someone has to foot the bill. In the US, I am unsure what the end game is.Whowillfootthebill?Oristheplan,instead, to forget reality? It seems as if Obama has chosen the latter.
Mystery surrounding UNB law debacle unacceptable AN OPINION
Micah O’Donnell-Gillies President Eddy Campbell’s greatest contribution to UNB, thus far, is implementing a tradition where at the outset of every winter semester, the university goes entirely bat-shit crazy. Last year it was a strike, this year it’s leaving law students—andtheentireuniversityandpublicto which our institution belongs — out in the cold. What’shappeninginthelawfaculty?Idon’tknow that anyone has a clue. Dean of Law Jeremy Levitt is on leave. We
know that. It’s not my place to make conjectures on why he took leave from his position after four months.There’sawholemultitudeofpossibilities. However, there is a whole arena to question Eddy’s ability to run our university. The entire situation at our law school is characterized by secrecy, exclusion, and outright denial of a problem. Tony Secco and Eddy held a meeting to inform Law students and faculty on where things stand. That meeting was not open to any media. Why? We know that Law professors have been taking leave, that professors have been shifting around and cancelling classes. Meanwhile, we’re paying a president nearly half a milliondollarstonotsayadamnthing.Tosaythat what’s happening is an “internal” matter. Sorry to shatter the dream, but UNB law is not some distinct and superior element of our university. It is as much a part of our school as the arts department. As the education department. As the grad school. Sure, graduates from our law schoolarelikelygoingtomakealotmoremoney and have a lot more power in their lives than
lowly English students such as myself. But we’re all students right now And what’s happening at our law school is a student issue. It’s students getting screwed over. You know who keeps students informed? The Brunswickan.Wefollowstudentissues.Wekeep information flowing to the most vital part of our university. Sure, some of you hate us, and that might be my fault. Even still, we are the tunnel through which information is transported with mitigated bias. But everyone’s keeping secrets. There’s Eddy, but there’s all the Law Students’ Society. You’d think they were hiding the Holy Grail. I mean, I knowlawyersandmediaarelikeoilandwater.Yet, to get a single word from any law student, much lesstheirownrepresentativesociety,wasliketrying to find a lawyer who drives a Kia. Why am I putting so much of this on Eddy? Well, yes, you’re right. I am not a Campbell fan. I don’t think he’s appropriately equipped to run our university. Ithink he’s disconnectedandgets paidwaytoomuchtobeso.Ithinkhe’sdamaged
our school in severe and tragic ways. But I am taking issue with Eddy because the buck stops with him. Because our university has fallen victim to his lack of leadership. If nothing else, when an entire faculty goes awry, it’s his responsibilitytokeeptheuniversity,bothstudents andfaculty,informed.Instead,he’shidingbehind closed doors and marketing assistants. Wait. The list goes on. VP Tony Secco’s to blame too. As VP academic, he’s got faculty relationsunderhisportfolio.IpraythatTonydoesn’t list “leader” as a skill on his CV. Sorry man, but offering to buy people coffee every Tuesday just isn’t enough. Howdoesthemattergetresolved?Well,Eddy stepping down would be a start. We’re in dire need of a new day at UNB. The atmosphere on campusisgivingmebackpains.Fornowthough, aresolutiontotheissueathandwouldbeginwith openness.Withhonesty.Withtheadministrative and student bodies treating UNB students like adults. By treating UNB students with respect. Not halfhearted, empty comments and false
assurances. At the end of the day, I think that what’s happeningatUNBLawandhowitisbeingdealtwith speaks one thing: our president and his cronies lack leadership and it’s spreading. They’ve created the tableau to which other university leaders are expectedtoconform.Problemsarepresentedand it feels like the university’s leaders shy away. It’s the nature of the beast, issues arising. I’ve a hardtimefeelingsympathyforEddybecausethe monstershebattlesarecreatedofhisownvolition. Evenmeandmypoorcolumnsareaconsequence of Eddy’s poor leadership. With our law school, there are a number of people to blame, numerous fingers to point. Whatweneed,bothatthelawfacultyandUNB as whole, is strong leadership. Leadership that is doing the push and the pull right alongside the restoftheuniversity.Nothiddeninanivorytower within the ivory tower. What the law debacle has proven, if nothing else, is that a lack of leadership is contagious. And Eddy’s patient zero.
THE BRUNS
ARTS arts@thebruns.ca
Sylvia Hamilton will be reading some of her poetry as part of the UNB Art Centre’s Black History Month. Screenshot
UNB Art Centre celebrates Black History Month Kevin Lemieux Arts Reporter Since 1995, Canada has off icially recognized February as Black History Month. Twenty years later, the UNB Art Centre is planning a few ways to commemorate the important occasion. Sarah K ing is the program assistant at the UNB A rt Centre and says that a lot of planning has gone into making this Black History Month special. “Last year, the Art Centre noticed that Black History Month was not receiving much atten-
tion on campus or in the broader Fredericton community and recognized that this was a void that needed to be f illed,” said K ing. “This year we are focusing on one key individual in the Black At lant ic Canadian communit y, f ilmmaker and poet Sylvia Hamilton, whose work highlights the h istor ic a nd ongoi ng system ic racism that has affected Black Atlantic Canadians.” Sylv ia H a m i lton, a n awa rdwinning poet and director, will be making a stop on campus on Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. Along with Hamilton’s poetry
reading at Memorial Hall, a noonhour f ilm series at Memorial Hall will run from Monday, Feb. 2 to Friday, Feb. 6, screening Hamilton’s films as well as others related to the black history of Canada. “The UNB Art Centre’s mandate is to take a ‘multi-cultural, mult i-generat iona l, a nd mu lt idisciplinary approach to education,’ ” explained K ing. “ T he Blac k H i stor y Mont h progra mm i ng we of fer f u lf i l ls this mandate and offers members of the UNB community and the broader Fredericton community an opportunity to engage together
with an important piece of our history that is often neglected and under-discussed.” Ha m i lton’s f i l m s have been s c r e e ne d on C B C , T VO, t he K nowledge Channel and on university campuses across the country. She has received many awards for her work, including a Gemini award, the CBC Television Pioneer Award and Nova Scotia’s Portia White Prize for Excellence. Her collection of poetry, And I Alone Escaped to Tell You, deals with the settlement of African peoples in Nova Scotia. “Black history is an important
part of Atlantic Canadian history. The films and discussions held this year will give students and community members an opportunity to interact with a key artist in the Black Atlantic Canadian community,” said K ing. “Sylvia Hamilton is a key voice i n t he d i sc u s sion s bei ng held across Canada, and more broadly, on the systemic racism experienced in Canada. Attending these events will give participants the opportunity to engage in conversations that can improve our campuses and communities in Atlantic Canada.”
Art Battle Canada aims to put local talent on national stage Sebastian Maynard Arts Editor Originally scheduled for Jan. 31 but postponed due to the weather, Art Battle Canada will be happening on Feb. 20 at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre. Art Battle events have been happening throughout Canada since 2009, and involve 12 artists who have 20 minutes to create a work of art. The audience then gets to decide who moves on to the next round. This is the third year that events will be happening in Fredericton. “We’ve gone from one event a month to more than 20 a month. From a couple of artists involved to over 2000,” explained Art Battle Canada co-founder, Chris Pemberton. “We wanted to create a community of
artists and art patrons that would inspire and connect people to each other.” While many of the contestants are students and young artists, Pemberton says that the ages vary. “In painting, skills continue to grow throughout one’s practice and the older painters can show us how it’s done. It’s quite remarkable to see such a variety at the easels.” In terms of the young artist scene in Canada, Pemberton believes that there is a talent and drive found throughout the country. “We’ve met so many who are just getting their start and willing to work wherever they get the opportunity. Recognition takes a while to build, so it’s important for youth to focus on improv-
ing skills and making connections.” Though Art Battle has grown from a monthly event in Toronto to a national one, local art scenes are at the heart of the movement. “Our events are based on local connections and scenes, so they are of great importance to us or any successful endeavour in the arts,” said Pemberton. “You need to inspire the people, to help them to inspire others, and the live event is the best form of this celebration.” Though events rely heavily on word of mouth, Art Battle Canada has grown into something much larger than originally anticipated. This year, there are over 200 events planned, with an International Live Painting Championship happening as part of the Pan American
Art Battle will be happening Feb.20 at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre. Submitted
Games in Toronto. Ten thousand people are expected to attend the finale. For Pemberton, it is an exciting opportunity not only for Art Battle
Canada, but also for artists from around the country. “It should be a new height of amazing recognition for the arts in Canada.”
BRUNSWICKANARTS
W E I V OINT P
February 4, 2015 • Issue 19 • Volume 148 • 7
on What’s YOUR s week? i h t d n i m
Mitchell Upton
Kendra Belding
“Get on top of Head Hall.”
“Stay at The Cellar for 24 hours.”
What’s on your UNB bucket list?
Maroon David
Keara Lavigne
Natasha Séguin
“Set a record for most wings eaten at The Cellar.”
“Meal hall tray sliding..”
“Go one winter without wiping out on campus.”
Josh McIntyre
Julie Sirois
Jordan Priest
Ahmed Almohammadi
Nawaf Alansari
“Explore the tunnels under UNB.”
“Steal a tub of ice cream from meal hall.”
“Drink with a prof.”
“Skiing on a mountain.”
“Diving or hockey.”
GENERAL ELECTION day i r F his T e n i
l Dead
Nominations Open: January 26th - February 6th
Mandatory Candidates Meeting February 6 at 4:00 pm, SUB 103 Forms can be found in the UNBSU Welcome Centre
8 • February 4, 2015 • Issue 19 • Volume 148
N.B. leads the way in resources for LGBTQ community Kevin Lemieux Arts Reporter Transitioning to the body that makes you happy can be hard. It is especially hard for people in the small towns that are prevalent throughout the East Coast. Here, people can tend to be more judgmental and finding a doctor can be difficult. Alex Warford is a 23-year-old who was assigned male at birth but is now living as a woman. She says she’s known from a young age that
she was different. “I guess it was not iceable at around age five. But I fully acknowledged it at age 12,” she explained. Originally from Labrador City, she moved to Toronto for a better and easier life. Just two months ago, she moved to Fredericton. Being a kid in a small town was hard for her. “Labrador was probably the hardest place to live in because it’s a very small place where people are raised very closed-minded so they just don’t understand and choose not to understand. They also watched me transition and they chose to tease me.“ These struggles may soon be a thing of the past though, as the government of New Brunswick is set to launch a new program. On Feb. 1, the New Brunswick LGBTQ Inclusive Resource will be available in paper and online, in English and French. The resource is available to teachers, guidance counsellors, administration, students and parents with information on any LGBTQ issue they may have. Ta m my St rong is a lea rn i ng specialist at the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. She says that provinces like Newfoundland, Manitoba and Ontario have resources like the one in New Brunswick, but not as developed. “We can’t start in Grade 7. We needed to create a kindergarten to Grade 12 kit, something that has never been created before,” she said. Both the physical and online
editions focus on sexual orientation and gender identity. A long with the release, 100 Anglophone schools and district office staff will be taking courses on how to deal with trans issues and other LGBTQ topics. It was important for Strong to create something that started at a young age. “Children are starting to identify themselves before starting school that they aren’t cisgender, so it was important that this resource be available starting in kindergarten.” Last year, the government of New Brunswick passed Bill 703, which gives students the right to start a Gay Straight Alliance group (GSA). In December, the province of Alberta passed Bill 10, which does not allow any schools to have GSAs. Strong believes that New Brunswick is ahead of some provinces but could always be doing more. “Do I think we’re done here? Of course not, but we are taking big steps forward and we’re now the first jurisdiction to have this resource available K-12.” Warford is happy to see that the school system is working on making things more accepting, especially for those who are trans. She says that transitioning can be hard and that support is the key. “Just continue to be yourself and follow the path of what you think is best for you. If anyone tells you different, just remember you live your life, not them. You’re perfectly imperfect.”
BRUNSWICKANARTS
What’s on?
“Another Day, Another Time pays homage to the music of the past while also proving that folk music is alive and well.”
Sebastian Maynard Arts Editor
The Coen brothers have always been known for the music heard i n t hei r mov ies. I n 20 02, t he sou ndt rack for t hei r f i lm O Brother, Where A rt Thou? won A lbum of the Year at the Grammys, and in 2013 they released Inside Llewyn Davis, a f ilm that follows a struggling folk singer who lives in Greenwich Village in the 1960s. Both f ilm’s soundtracks, along with many others, were produced by T Bone Burnett, and in the case of Inside Llewyn Davis, the f ilm’s soundtrack inspired a live concert performance in celebration of the music from that era. The concer t was recorded a nd made into a movie, called Another Day, Another Time. A s Chris Thile of the Punch Brot hers put it, t he musicia ns were trying to “create an experience that could be had around the campf ire.” Tak ing place at the famous Town Hall in New York City that holds about 1,500 people, the performers were able to succeed. The f ilm features performances from well-known musicians like Jack W hite, Marcus Mumford, Joan Baez, Patti Smith and the Avett Brothers, while also highlight ing some of t he ta lent of pr e s e nt- d ay f o l k a r t i s t s . T he Milk Carton K ids, for example, jok ingly say t hat t hey have no idea who Si mon & G a r f u n kel are, before making Mumford and others in the audience cry as they play “Snake Eyes” from their 2013 album, The Ash & Clay. “You know that thing where you can’t tell who is singing cause they are so in sync?” asks Mumford. “A nd t hose t wo g u ita rs, they make them sing.” Though the movie maybe pats itself on the back a little much, as the f ilm takes a ver y idyllic approach towards looking at the
‘60s and the music that came out of it, it is also the key feature of the f ilm, as the viewer really gets the sense that all the musicians were there for the simple love of the music. Mumford attributes the atmosphere to T Bone Burnett, who quietly walks around the practice studio and stands behind the curtains during the live performance. “There is an energy there that I t h i n k ex ist s a nd t here is no assholes around as well, which is kind of extraordinary,” he explained. Some of the songs are recognizable while a lot of them will be new for most viewers, but the reaction to the f ilm has been so strong that Another Day, Another Time now has its own soundtrack as well, which was recently released digitally and on vinyl. The f ilm will give you a respect for musicians that you may have never heard of or liked before and can be something that you watch intently or simply put on in the background. There are no fancy l ig ht shows or choreog raphed dance moves, but the f ilm does what it set out to do: pay homage to the music of the past while also proving that folk music is alive and well.
BRUNSWICKANARTS
February 4, 2015 • Issue 19 • Volume 148 • 9
Songs of the week Sebastian Maynard Arts Editor
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21
Big Sean – “Blessings (feat. Drake, Kanye West)” “Blessings” is set to appear on Big Sean’s upcoming album, Dark Sky Paradise, which is due out on Feb. 24. The track features appearances by some heavyweights in Drake and Kanye West and is produced by Boi-1da and Vinylz. Each rapper delivers a pretty strong verse, with Big Sean having fun with wordplay (“funny thing about talking behind my back is that it just keep coming back to me”), Drake claiming the crown (“stop worrying about whoever next”), and Kanye talking about condoms, Snapchat and home gyms. Common theme? They all feel blessed.
Music on the Hill: Joel Leblanc Memorial Hall, Noon, Free
THURSDAY, JAN. 22 Black Moor, SiegeBreaker, Scumlord The Capital, 10 p.m., $7
Death Cab for Cutie – “Black Sun” When talking about the departure of former guitarist, Chris Walla, Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard explained, “This is an opportunity for the band to become something it could only become by losing a founding member.” The band has begun life without Walla, and though the sample size is small, there are some differences in the sound of the band. On “Black Sun,” which the group premiered on The Late Show With David Letterman, there are more electronic sounds and an electric guitar. “In the West, if you break an heirloom, you either throw it away or you make the repair as invisible as possible,” bassist Nick Harmer said. “But there’s this artistic movement in Japan where the repair of it, the damage of it, is more important as part of the history of something than repairing it to its original state.” And with that idea in mind, Death Cab for Cutie moves forward. Jeff Bridges – “Chimes for Dreams” Jeff Bridges is best known for acting in films such as The Big Lebowksi and True Grit, but the actor’s latest project was a musical one. “While working on the Sleeping Tapes album we put in some long hours,” Bridges said of the recording process of his latest album, Jeff Bridges Sleeping Tapes. “Listening back to our day’s work, I’d often drift off. I’d wake up and smile saying, ‘This stuff works.’” The record sees the actor slowly talking over relaxing musical arrangements composed by Keefus Ciancia. For those in need of a nap, this is the album for you.
FRIDAY, JAN. 23 KingFest Delta Fredericton, Feb. 6 – 7, Prices vary
SATURDAY, JAN. 24 UNB Workshop: Cozy Cast-On Knitting Memorial Hall, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., $55
SUNDAY, JAN. 25 UNB Workshop: Nepalese Cuisine 155 Turnbull Cres., 2 p.m., $35
TUESDAY, JAN. 27
Will Butler – “Anna” On March 10, Arcade Fire’s Will Butler will be releasing his debut solo album, Policy. Butler’s latest offering, “Anna,” is an electronic-heavy track that also features a piano and brass instruments coming in and out. The song bounces along with upbeat synths and Butler humming a catchy tune, and just like the unexpected instruments that come into the song, Butler has the ability to go in directions that you don’t anticipate. His voice certainly sounds similar to his brother Win’s, but Will is proving that he has the ability to make great music on his own.
Monday Night Film Series: The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared Tilley Hall, 7:30 p.m., $12 (Students)
SUNDAY, JAN. 25 Wine Appreciation 101 Memorial Hall, 7 p.m., $75
The Brunswickan’s Food & Liquor: East Coast beers Alpine Lager Really only word comes to mind when drinking Alpine: average. There is nothing memorable about this beer, and if you are drinking it, it probably isn’t for the taste. Having the beer cold is essential to making the beverage somewhat manageable, and buying the beer when it comes with a free t-shirt or other giveaway makes the beer go down so much smoother.
Adam Travis
Sebastian Maynard
Alexander Keith’s India Pale Ale This beer is the pride of Nova Scotia for a reason. Throughout my evening with this fine drink I was again surprised to how flavourful and easy drinking it was. I want to say it has a hoppy taste, but I’m not a true beer connoisseur. All I know is that it is perfect for any kind of maritime gathering.
Devin Patterson
Mathieu Wong
Molson Canadian Molson’s flagship lager is a typical mass-produced beer – nothing special. Any hope for a tasty, flavourful beer is washed away at first sip. It’s sort of like carbonated water with a splash of beer. Keep it cold and it’s not bad as a “cold beer on a hot day” drink. Be careful though, if you let it warm up at all, it goes downhill fast. Overall it’s pretty standard for mass-produced beer, and if you keep it cold and drink it fast, it’s a decent beer for a hot summer night, or for an $11 pitcher.
Moosehead Lager Being from the oldest independent brewery in Canada, Moosehead claims to be driven by “Quality and Tradition.” In New Brunswick it is easy to find on tap and can usually be found on special for those equally-as-popular pitchers. The beer itself is good, not expensive but a better quality than most commercial beers. It is slightly hoppy while staying sweet to maintain its refreshing qualities. When first poured it almost appeared flat, but when taking a sip it became very active, leaving the tongue dry and acting as incentive for more, proving that this lager is very carbonated. It doesn’t have much flavour compared to other lagers I have had, but the sweetness and hop bitterness make up for that.
February 4, 2015 • Issue 19 • Volume 148 • 10
THE BRUNS
SPORTS sports@thebruns.ca
The Varsity Reds men’s hockey team defeated the Dalhousie Tigers 4-2 on Saturday. Adam Travis / The Brunswickan
Hockey V-Reds sit alone at the top Josh Daniels The Brunswickan Entering the final week of the regular season, the UNB Varsity Reds men’s hockey team is in the driver’s seat of the Atlantic University Sport standings. With two games remaining, the Varsity Reds sit in first place with a 21-3-2 record. Their latest wins came this past weekend at the Aitken Centre where UNB defeated one of the league’s best and one of the league’s worst. Coming off a disappointing 4-1 loss at Acadia on Jan. 24, UNB faced off against the Axemen this past Friday at the AUC. It was a penalty-filled first period but neither team was able to convert on the man advantages. At the 15:01 mark of the period, Jordan Murray threw the puck on net and it
found its way through Brandon Glover to give UNB a 1-0 lead after one. UNB was not able to hold on to the lead long though, as Mike Cazzola scored the equalizer for Acadia just 1:28 into the second stanza. At 5:50, Acadia defenceman Remy Giftopolous received a five-minute major and game misconduct for a hit to the head. Despite having five minutes with the extra man, the V-Reds could not score to take the lead. With time in the final frame winding down, Acadia took a delay of game penalty at 18:26 to send UNB to the power play. The Axemen survived the UNB advantage though and the match headed to overtime. At1:58ofovertime,PhilippeHalleybroke into the attacking zone and was able to get a shot off with the rebound making its way to Randy Gazzola at the left faceoff circle. The
Reds defenceman was able to wrist the puck into the top corner to give the Varsity Reds a huge 2-1 victory. Goaltender David Shantz made 17 saves in the victory. UNB finished the game with 30 shots on goal. On Saturday night, UNB played host to the Dalhousie Tigers. The Varsity Reds gave David Shantz the night off in net and started Chris Carrozzi. With Jordan Murray, Matt Petgrave and R.D. Chisholm out of the lineup, UNB only had four defencemen dressed. Justovertwominutesintothegame,Cam Braes was hit from behind by Dalhousie defenceman Patrick Arnold. Braes left the game with a neck injury and did not return. Arnold was given a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct. Just as the penalty expired, Florida native Colin Suellentrop received a pass from Adrian Robertson and
found the back of the net with a slap shot for hisfirstgoalasaVarsityRed.TheTigers’poor discipline continued and UNB went right back to the power play following the goal. Dana Fraser doubled UNB’s lead at 8:58 when he received a pass from Philippe Maillet and was able to bury the puck from the slot. Following a slow start to the second period, UNB coach Gardiner MacDougall decided to call a timeout. The timeout worked to perfection as only seconds later Cam Brace put the Varsity Reds up 3-0. UNB was clearly incontrolofthe game untilaskirmish behind the play resulted in Dalhousie getting a full two-minute, two-man advantage with 3:47 remaining in the second. At 18:09, Andrew Rieder took a pass from Matt English and was able to put the Tigers on the board. With just seconds remaining in the period and after several chances in front of the net, Dan Joyce
was able to bang it home to cut the UNB lead to just one goal. In the third, and with 3:09 remaining in the contest, Halley fired ashot through traffic that found its way into the net, making it 4-2 UNB. The V-Reds held the Tigers to only four shots in the final period and outshot them 34-17 overall. “Sometimes you need the ability to be able to win those third periods,” said MacDougall on Saturday. “If we can find a way to win third periods as we move forward here it will be huge for our group. These two points tonight are as equal as those two points last night.” The Varsity Reds are back in action on Wednesday when they host the Université de Moncton. They play their final game of the regular season Friday at the University of Prince Edward Island.
Swim teams set for AUS final
Marc Gagnon Staff Reporter
The UNB Varsity Reds swim teams are looking to make a major splash at this weekend’s 2015 Atlantic University Sport swimming championship at Dalhousie University. Robin Ferdinand, the head coach of UNB’s men and women’s teams, said that expectations are high — especially after the V-Reds’ performance at the UPEI Invitational in January where seven UNB swimmers placed in the top three. “We have many medal hopefuls, and everyone on the team has a solid chance to
make the top eight,” she said. “Achieving lifetime bests is obviously the goal for everyone at this championship meet. First-year athlete Allison Somers, fifth-year Jessica LeBlanc, fourth-year Kate Lantz and thirdyear Amanda Greene are great racers and all have a chance to be on the podium with solid performances.” The fact that the Varsity Reds already have swimmers who have qualified for Canadian Interuniversity Sport nationals — even before the AUS championship — is an indication of how strong the team has been this season. “The swimmers swam very well at the
AUS Invitational at the end of November and we had a great training camp leading into the New Year,” explained Ferdinand. “The team has really stepped it up in training and they are looking really good in the water.” For Ferdinand, it’s the wide variety of talent across both genders that makes the V-Reds formidable in the water. “Charli LeBlanc, Lauren Adam and Cassey Mooney have had top three finishes this season in breaststroke events, and Kaitlyn Young has been one of the top three butterflyers in the AUS. On the men’s side, Chris Garcelon is one of the top breaststrokers in the conference, and Brandon Warren
and Taylor Dalke lead in distance free and butterfly.” While the coach expects the V-Reds to put up a strong fight at AUS, other schools in the region are expected to make it a competition to be reckoned with. There hasn’t been a more dominant school in the pool over the past decade than the host Dalhousie Tigers who have won every men’s championship since 1999 and every women’s title since 2002. “Dalhousie has been the top team for both male and female for the past 15 years, and have a strong team again - especially on the womens’ side,” explained Ferdinand.
“Acadia has a great mix of first year athletes and veteran athletes that have come together to be a very strong team as well. It’s a competitive conference.” Ferdinand is already looking beyond the AUS meet, hoping that some of her swimmers will join the three already in training for the mid-February CIS championship in Victoria, B.C. “The three that are already qualified have more time to prepare for Victoria,” she said. “All three have experience at national level meets, so they’ll be ready to race when we get there.”
BRUNSWICKANSPORTS
11 •February 4, 2015 • Issue 19 • Volume 148
New rules for intramural team names Sarah Rouse Sports Reporter Let Me See Your TDs, Blaze it Like Beckham and Just the Tip. While these may seem like the titles of R-rated films found in the deep trenches of the Internet, in reality they are the names of several intramural sports teams at the University of Calgary. In October of this year, University of Calgary officials banned several intramural sports team names that were deemed offensive, sexist or that referred to illicit substances, following numerous complaints from the wider
student population. Many female students in particular had suggested that these monikers were further promoting the rape culture that exists on university campuses. It’s not only Calgary that is tackling these concerns, however. “We are in the process of developing guidelines around the naming of intramural sports teams,” University of New Brunswick spokesperson Kelsey Seymour said in a recent statement to the National Post. “Intramural sports team names cannot ridicule, degrade or humiliate others or involve the use of any sexual connotations.”
Abelev finding success at UNB Sarah Rouse Sports Reporter Ilya Abelev has found success in his first season with the University of New Brunswick’s wrestling team. In mid-January, eight UNB wrestlers competed with the Black Bears Wrestling Club at the 2015 Guelph Open. The event boasted a highly competitive field with top competitors from across Canada, the United States and Jamaica taking part. Several UNB wrestlers had string performances, but Abelev earned the lone medal, winning gold in the 74 kg men’s division. Despitehisrecentsuccess,Abelev’sforayinto theworldofwrestlingbeganrelativelylateinlife. “When I was younger, I wanted to become involvedwithsports.Unfortunately,Iwasn’tcoordinatedenoughforsoccer,wasn’ttallenough forbasketballandmyparentsdidn’twantmeto play football,” said Abelev. This led Abelev to the sport of judo, which he began practicing at the age of 10. “My judo program was more recreational when I was younger, but when I was 15 I wanted to compete at a higher level so I began cross training with wrestling,” he explained. “I immediately fell in love with wrestling and transferred over because it was a better fit for my skill level.” Following his high school graduation, Abelev competed for three years at the University of Western Ontario. It was his former high schoolcoach, whonowcoachesat UNB, who convinced him to make the move to the
As URec’s Intramural Sports coordinator, Tom White is tasked with the oftentimes difficult job of determining what is and isn’t inappropriate in terms of team naming. He explained that the department is in the midst of developing a policy that is currently being implemented, and that will be fully put in place for the 2015-16 academic year. “Like other groups, events and teams on campus, intramural team names are being reviewed to ensure they contribute to the inclusive, respectful and positive environment that we strive for at UNB,” said White. “We’ve informed team managers that we are undertaking a review of team names as part of our policy planning, and any teams with names that include
offensive sexual connotations or humiliating language will be asked to choose a new one.” White stated that this action is a proactive attempt to stay ahead of the curve in the changing landscape of university recreation and was not a result of any type of complaint about specific names. Several students involved with campus intramurals believe that in some cases, team names have gone too far. “I’ve played against certain intramural hockey teams whose names clearly have sexual connotations,” admitted one student who wished not to be named. “For the most part they’re pretty clever and funny, but they’re definitely not team names that I’d want embla-
zoned on a t-shirt for the world to see.” Conversely, other students believe that URec’s stance is an overreaction, with the team names being chalked up as “all in good fun.” While some of the monikers are indeed quite humorous, team names such as “Beats like Ray,” which references NFL player Ray Rice’s infamous domestic violence case, are a bit harder for bystanders to swallow. “I think names like that, that make light of the situation, are contributing to the stigma that surrounds domestic abuse,” said a female intramural participant. “I don’t think it portrays those individuals in a positive light, and it will definitely have an impact on the school’s reputation as a whole.”
East Coast. “I’ve only had two tournaments so far with UNB, as I was hurt earlier in the season,” said Abelev. “My first tournament back ended up being a very big one, which was kind of intimidating.” “Somehow everything fell into place for me at that competition. I dominated and won the tournament, which was a huge boost to my confidence.” “Then we had the UNB Open where the goalwasprimarilytojustnotgethurt,butIwas able to succeed and get some solid competition experience under my belt.” Abelev currently has his eye on winning at the CIS level, with the national tournament taking place in Edmonton from Feb. 27-28. “Inadditiontothat,myloftiergoalwouldbe toqualifyforthePan-AmGamesandcompete for Canada at that level,” said Abelev. In addition to Abelev’s success, many other membersofUNB’swrestlingclubhaveearned bragging rights this season. On Jan. 24, UNB Wrestling hosted their invitational, in which athletes from all three Maritime provinces as well as Concordia UniversityandtheUniversityofMainewerepresent. Many of UNB’s athletes medalled at the event, with Allyssa Cleaves, Brittany Dillman, Darrion Sterling, Mario Tran, Andy Sanford, Abelev, Grayson St-Lauren and Alex BrownTheriaultearninggoldintheirrespectiveweight categories. Brad MacPherson, Amada Eng, Rachel Clark and Alex Thoms were awarded silver medals while Logan Fraser and Tom MacRae came in third in their events.
PANEL
THEY KNOW WHAT’S UP
What do you think of non-national teams (Team Europe and Young Stars) taking part in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey?
Jamie Tozer
Jonathan Copeland
Devin Patterson
Sports Editor
Sports Fan
Multimedia Editor
I like the idea around it. The European team has the potential to be quite strong and the Young Stars will be intriguing to watch. My concern is how this affects the quality of the games. I’m not sure how hyped up fans — and players — will be for a big Canada/ Young Stars game. It won’t feel like the Olympics or world juniors, that’s for sure.
I like the concept of “Team Europe” (better known as Thomas Vanek, Anze Kopitar & Slovakia). On the other hand, the Young Stars’ inclusion makes no sense. The tournament’s purpose is to crown a country as the best. It takes away from the international competition.
I like the idea of both of those teams because it will make the World Cup more competitive. It will give good European players from less competitive countries a chance to play and the Young Stars will showcase future high-calibre NHL talent. I’m not sure if those teams can win it all, but it’s a creative idea and I like it.
John Robb
cellarpub.ca
V-Reds Fan
Bettman is an idiot. There, I said it. This is a terrible idea. When Europe wins, and they are standing on the ice waiting to hear the European anthem, we will have the final, irrefutable evidence and hopefully that will be the end of him in this league. Hockey is as big as it is getting globally. Let’s grow the game where it is loved.
BRUNSWICKANSPORTS
12 •February 4, 2015 • Issue 19 • Volume 148
Picking yourself back up
ONE STEP AT A TIME
Scott Hems Columnist
There’s something about picking yourself up after you were down so harshly that no other feeling in life can compare to. I wish I could tell you that when I decided to fight obesity, my weight went down and never went up again. I wish I could say that the whole “changing is easy, it’s not changing back that’s difficult” thing isn’t a cliché. But it’s something we need to go through. Every time we see the underdog win or a come-from-behind victory, it’s invigorating. Weight loss is the same thing because you’re always an underdog. That’s the beauty in this goal; you always come from behind to win.
Like anyone who wants to lose weight or reach a goal, I’ve given up. I’ve fallen behind on my fitness, regained weight I thought I lost forever, and as quick as I had started believing, lost faith. I try to live by the thought that “adversity exists solely so we can overcome it.” After all, if you aren’t overcoming adversity, what are you doing? Look at the Canadian women who won hockey gold in Sochi, the Red Sox’s 2004 World Series win or Heather Dorniden falling during a track race but getting up and winning. It’s just as glorious when you make the comeback against yourself. A few years ago, I met the best group of people I ever competed in sports
with. Unfortunately this running team fell apart with a change of management and some harsh words put towards me concerning my weight. Many of us gave up on the team that suddenly represented the demise of encouragement I thrived on. Recently, I decided I was too mature to simply “quit,” so I made my comeback regardless of immediately being shunned by management as soon as I walked through the door. I’m not the most competitive person when it comes to running, but it’s not always about a medal or being asked to compete at a higher level. I’m there, and to me, I’ve already won regardless. The only person that really lost was the overweight, self-loathing self that gives up and sits on the couch — because
that wasn’t me anymore. I think of times I gave up, put weight back on, and stopped working out. I think of the people I tried to impress but never had respect from regardless of my size. There will always be those challenges in life. When I came back from dark times, I not only loved myself for knowing I could overcome these problems, I loved knowing I could overcome them multiple times. The one thing better than accomplishing the biggest goal you ever set out for yourself is knowing it wasn’t a fluke. “Sometimes when things are falling apart, they are actually falling into place” —unknown
UNB wrestler Ilya Abelev recently won gold the 2015 Guelph Open Adam Travis / The Brunswickan