www.thebruns.ca
Volume 149 ·September 10, 2015 · Issue 1
brunswickan canada’s oldest official student publication.
NEW ACADEMIC YEAR STARTS WITH A BANG BY MÉLANIE MICHAUD | PAGE 3 MEN’S, WOMEN’S SOCCER LOOKS FORWARD TO A SUCCESSFUL SEASON BY JOSH DANIELS | PAGE 9 & 10
A LOOK AT THEATRE NEW BRUNSWICK’S 2015-2016 SEASON
BY NATHAN DELONG | PAGE 7
BRUNSWICKANNEWS
2 • September 10, 2015 • Issue 1 • Volume 149
Union negotiations continue at UNB
Alex Corbett News Editor The employment agreement between the UNB administration and the former UNB Employees Association, now known as Unifor Local 4504, expired June 30, 2015. The two organizations have begun negotiations towards a new agreement that they hope will satisfy all parties. Unifor 4504 represents the secretaries, accountants, library assistants, security, general laborers who maintain UNB campus and its services. In anticipation of these negotiations, the former UNB Employees Association made the decision to join Unifor, a nationwide union with more than 300,000 members. The newly named Unifor Local 4504 believes the resources and backing of their new associates will give them more credibility when dealing with the administration. “Before, they saw us as unedu-
cated; it takes a lot of know-how to run negotiations. With Unifor we’ve had training, and now we’ve got the resources that make us feel up to par,” said Natalie Smith, business manager for Unifor 4504. “All we are doing is seeking out the respect and confidence of the administration as we meet for negotiations.” Peter McDougall, U NB’s associate vice-president of human resources, says he expects things to continue as usual. “The conversion of the UNBEA to be a Unifor Local is not expected to change anything. They are a strong, professional union and have already demonstrated their interest in working for the good of their UNB members and the institution as a whole,” he said. McDouga l l says t hat U N B’s primary concern is coming to an agreement that suits the financial pressures schools face. “With declining enrolment, the diff icult
provincial fiscal situation and the changing nature of post-secondary education, the administration and our employee groups will need to work collaboratively to ensure that UNB continues to offer our students the very best education.” The negotiation process is expected to take months, even years, before a decision is agreed upon. Smith says if things go smoothly, then things will continue relatively unchanged. “It’s a long process, we hope we can reach an agreement and if it goes well students shouldn’t notice a thing.” McDougall says the UNB is committed to maintaining a working relationship with the unions. “In working with our employee groups, the administration always strives to be fair, balanced and reasonable. Our primary concern is always to keep students as the focus for our efforts and to do what is in the long term best interests of the institution as a whole.”
Dumpster program cracks down on furniture fires Emma McPhee Editor-in-Chief The couch f ires of Graham Avenue may become a thing of the past. Three years after implementing a dumpster program for students’ unwanted furniture, the Fredericton Fire Department has noticed t hat t he nu mber of “nu isa nce f i res” on G ra ha m Avenue ha s dropped signif icantly. The program, which began in the fall of 2012, is a joint effort b e t we en U N B , S T U a nd t he Fredericton Fire Department. It i nvolves t he placement of t wo dumpsters in the student parking lot on Windsor St. for students to throw out their furniture. “ W hat wou ld happen pr ior to [the program] would be that people wou ld t a ke [t hei r f u rn it u re] to t he c u rb a nd t hen other people would come along a nd l ig ht t hem on f i re. So to try to minimize that we put the dumpsters out and so far it’s met with a remarkable success,” said Desmond Dupuis, crime prevention community liason for UNB Security and Traff ic. In 2012, the Fredericton Fire Department received 32 calls for nuisance f ires on Graham Avenue. Last year the number had dropped to f ive. The dumpsters are there for students, free-of-charge, in the fa l l a nd spr i ng when t hey a re moving. “[Students] had no way to get large items to the dump so we decided that the best way to help would be to have dumpsters there where they can at least carry them and put them into the dumpster,” said Dupuis. According to David McK inley, assistant deputy f ire chief of the
Fredericton Fire Department, furniture burnings are what the f ire department considers as incendiary f ire: f ires set maliciously or mischievously. They are a particular worry to the f ire department as they take attention away from other serious f ires. “For us every time we’re out on a nuisance call it takes us away from important calls in case there is an emergency,” McK inley said. Freder icton resident Nicola MacLeod knows just how dangerous furniture f ire can be. In the early morning of Aug. 27 an upholstered chair caught f ire on the enclosed veranda of her apartment building, located at the corner of George Street and York Street. “I was awoken by the f ire department pounding on my door one night because the entire side of my building was on f ire. So I guess someone in an apartment below had moved out a few days before and they left behind this
upholstered chair,” she said. “So at some point this chair caught f ire and the whole patio went out, just went up in f lames basically.” The building sustained only external damage, thanks to the quick thinking of three passersby, who awoke residents and called 911, and the building’s location near to the f ire station. “I guess everyone has heard of the mythological tales of the Graham Street couch f ires so when this f irst happened to me and I was standing outside my building watching the f ire department put out the f ire … the f irst thing that went through my mind was ‘It’s the end of August, students are coming back,’ ” MacLeod said. “Fredericton has such a tradition of these types of f ires and, whether it was intentional or accidental, it’s all just very unsettling that these things are happening.”
Numbers of furniture fires decreasing: Fire Departement Adam Travis / Matt MacGillivary/Flicker CC
UNB Admin will be negotiating employment contracts throughout the year. Brad Parker / The Brunswickan
The ugly side of first week Alex Corbett News Editor Students are f locking to schools across Canada t his mont h; for many, it w ill be t heir f irst experience with university culture. For some, it will be their f irst experience with university rape culture. D erog ator y a nd deme a n i ng incidents pop up every year, raising controversy and questions as to the causes and the frequency that they occur. Many of these incidents take place in the f irst few weeks of school, when orientation week organizers lead their ne w s t udent s i nto s omet i me s questionable situations. Je n G r a h a m i s t he s p o ke s person for the Fredericton Sexual A ssault Crisis Centre [FSACC]. She says there are a handful of unique reasons so many incidents are seen at universities. “For a lot of students, it is their f irst time away from mom and dad so they tend to go a little wilder than they would normally. Then there’s the mob mentality, where a lot of students feel they need to go along to get along.” The frequency of these events making headlines is also partly because of t he ef f icienc y t hat it ca n be repor ted w it h. W it h today’s technolog y anyone can catch a vulgar display in the act. A n offensive display twenty years ago might be quickly forgotten, today those actions can broadcast to the world overnight. A s Graham puts it, “A mistake today is forever.” P ubl ic re s p on s e va r ie s , but many call for more action on the part of universities to crack down on this behaviour. In response, many songs and act ivit ies t hat were once considered proud
t rad it ions have been cut f rom the itinerar y. Gra ha m a lso sa id t hat t here are some positive reasons why so many incidents are in the spotlight these past few years. “You have a culture that is getting a lot more aware of how these things are harmful, and campuses are more cognizant of how poorly these incidents ref lect on them.” Together with UNB and STU, the FSACC has been educating st udent leader s to bet ter recognize and deal with the issue. P r og r a m s p r o mot i ng c a m pu s safety have existed for years, but universities are beginning to see t he importance of stepping up their efforts. New resources are now available to st udent s. Gra ha m is pa r t icu la rly excited about t he formation of a campus sexual assault response team, or C-SA RT. They are currently look ing for volu nteer s to bet ter st a f f t he program, but C-SA RT is already underway. Based on an American model, this program organizes the support and resources available to a person dea l i ng w it h sexual assault. “For instance, there are some i n st a nces where t here wa s no legal action and now the student lives on campus w it h t heir attacker. C-SA RT helps people like t hem nav igate t hrough a ll t he support and resources that can be made available,” Graham said. The reason why programs like C - SA R T a re becom i ng w ide spread is that universes are taking these issues more seriously. Greater media coverage and increased public interest puts a lot of pressure on schools to f ind solutions.
September 10, 2015 • Issue 1 • Volume 149 • 3
THE BRUNS
NEWS news@thebruns.ca
RedShirts welcome students at the bottom gate. Left to right: Steven McCluskey, Emily Blight, Louise Sennett and Hayley Johnston. Brad Parker / The Brunswickan
O-Week blasts off Mélanie Michaud Staff Reporter
Orientation Week is back in full swing here at UNB to welcome new students, giving them plenty of t ime for cheer i ng, meet i ng new friends and exploring their new home. On Saturday, Sept. 5, new students checked in and got their Orientation Week bracelets that gave them an all-access pass to the Welcome to Freddy Beach events. Blast Off had a spectacular show of f ireworks to start the week off with a literal bang. Fi rework s were fol lowed by a beach bash in the SUB where students danced the night away or headed upstairs for a variety of video and board games. “It’s a great brea k from t he d a nce a nd i s a g re at a lter native. We want to be inclusive to everyone, and dances aren’t for ever ybody,” A lex Peppard, the UNBSU orientation chair. Sunday, Sept. 6, sexologist Dr. Justine Shuey was welcomed to UNB to give f irst year students a not-so-typical talk on safe sex. She answered questions and made the event entertaining for all. On Monday, students played games, mingled and enjoyed corn on the cob at the corn boil in the SUB quad. In the evening, f irst year students were welcomed to
the SUB to play a game of the Price is R ight, where many prizes were won. The next day, students were shuttled to the New Brunswick Provincial Exhibition where they were given free admission. “We’ll have a movie on the hill on the 11th, which will be 50 First Dates. We’re very excited; it’ll be on the HIL quad this year. The student union just bought a very large projector screen that we will be debuting on that day. It is massive,” said Peppard. Ma ke su re to br i ng a donation for Shinerama if you want popcorn, a comfy sweater and a blanket to stay warm and snuggly throughout the movie. A ll UNB students are welcome to this event on Friday. Sh inera ma, a long-sta nd ing U N B t radit ion, w ill be occurr i ng on Sept. 12. T he a n nua l fundraiser raises money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. “It’s a big day. Shinerama runs all day, our goal is $22000 to raise for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. We’ll have 100 things going on: people going door to door, at the market ... we’ll have people running BBQs across the city, as well as car washes,” Peppard said. Shiners will also get free admission to the UNBSU kick off concert featuring Hey Rosetta!. It takes place on Saturday night
at 9 p.m. and this year the concert will be held at the Currie Center. If you can’t participate in Shinerama, but would still like to go to t he concer t, t ickets ca n be purchased at the door for $20, or in advance for $15 at the Welcome Centre. Students are encouraged to cheer their hearts out and participate in events throughout the week. Houses will be competing against one another in a new activity called “O-Cup”. Points will be awarded by Red Shirt leaders called “Rowdy Crew Members” for d if ferent t hings such as attendance, attitude and w i n n i ng ga mes. T he w i n n i ng house will have bragging rights, a gigantic trophy and $1500 in funding that the house can use at their discretion. Orientation is considered one of the most important weeks in building university life outside the classroom. “It really runs you down through the steep learning curve that everyone has at university and minimizes it as much as possible,” Peppard said. “U N BSU orientat ion is a lso ver y important because t his is when new students are coming in: these are the people that will be in your classes, and that you’ll see around campus.”
Gutter Sundae: A long-standing tradition between Neville Jones and Neill House, involving 24 liters of ice cream and a rain gutter. Brad Parker / The Brunswickan
THE BRUNS OPINION editor@thebruns.ca
Welcome Back! It’s the beginning of a new school year and that can only mean one thing … The Bruns is back! So to all you new students, welcome, and to everyone returning – welcome back. Let’s get this year started off with the obligatory introductory message. Disclaimer: There is never a dull moment at UNB. And I don’t just mean the partying, orientation activities and other antics you may have experienced in your first week back. Nor the studying (err … cramming), reading (let’s be honest: skimming) or stressing you’ll likely be doing for your classes once they start up (although all of the above will definitely keep you on your toes). No, I’m talking about the crazy fiascoes that always seem to crop up here at the University of New Brunswick. Explosions in our science buildings? We’ve had a few of those. A faculty strike? One of those as well. A scandal at the law school? Look no further than last winter. And with all the faculties but one expressing non-confidence in their senior admin and the resignation of the vice-president academic last spring, this year is shaping up to be no different. A word of reassurance: the Bruns
has seen you through it all. The people of Canada’s oldest official student publication have kept you up to date with everything that happens at this university – and in our 149th year, we’re not slowing down. Whether you’re looking for arts, sports, news or opinions there’s always something going on at UNB, and you’ll be able to find it between these pages. That’s where I’d like to end off, because even though this university has seen its fair share of craziness, it’s not the only thing that will occupy your time. What you will find during your years here is that UNB is a community – one in which there are plenty of ways to get involved, as evidenced by its numerous clubs and societies. So try something new and make the most of it. Unlike the antics you got into during first week, choosing to get involved won’t leave you with any regrets. And hey – if you don’t know where to start, come down to room 35 in the SUB and volunteer for us. Or shoot us a message at editor@thebruns.ca.
Emma McPhee is the Editor-inChief of the Brunswickan
THE BRUNS the brunswickan
Editorial Board
Editor-in-Chief • Emma McPhee Business Manager • Adam Travis News • Alex Corbett Arts • Sebastian Maynard Sports • Rob Trites Photo • Bradley Parker Art Director • Andrew Spindler Copy • Jadrien Hong Multimedia • Sean McCullum Staff Advertising Sales Rep • Bess Teague Delivery • Dan Gallagher Staff Reporters • Nathan Delong, Mé lanie Michaud Videographer •Johnny Cullen
Contributors Mark Mancini, Alec Boudreau, Josh Steeves, Josh Daniels, Iain MacMillan The Brunswickan relies primarily on a volunteer base to produce its issues every week. Volunteers can drop by room 35 of the SUB at any time to find out how they can get involved.
About Us
The Brunswickan, in its 148th year of publication, is Canada’s Oldest Official Student Publication. We are an autonomous student newspaper owned and operated by Brunswickan Publishing Inc., a non-
Introducing the AFFSA FranÇAY What?
Alec Boudreau There are currently 85 clubs and societies recognized by the UNB Student Union. Entirely studentrun, they cover dozens of interests: Like rocket science? Join the UNB Rocket Club. Prefer propelling your body to propelling a tube of aluminum? UNB Rock & Ice or UNB REDS Cheerleading have you covered. More of the indoor type? Check out UNB Model UN or the UNB eSports Society. What about something cultural? There are a number of associations doing excellent work to create safe spaces in which different cultural groups are able to connect and grow. The newest addition to this category is the Acadian, Francophone, and Francophile Student Association. I founded AFFSA last year after getting into something of a public shouting match with members of a Facebook group calling for the end of official bilingualism in New Brunswick. The torrent of online abuse I received during this time
made it clear to me that 46 years after the Official Languages Act was introduced, it still strikes a raw and often bigoted chord in our province. N.B. is Canada’s only officially bilingual province. A little under one third of the population speaks French as their mother tongue. In N.B., francophones and anglophones are entitled to primary and secondary education, healthcare and other government services and communication in their language. For some reason, this pisses a lot of people off. These people tend to write about how pissed off they are online, where I used to make a point of reading what they wrote. I’ve found such gems as the Official Languages Commissioner photoshopped to be a Nazi soldier, shit photo-shopped onto the Acadian f lag, Acadians compared to the KKK and people calling being English “the new Black.” I have even personally been compared to Hitler. It could almost be satire … but it’s not; it’s horrible. After having been at the receiving end of their hate for a few weeks last year, reading what they write has become a trigger for my depression. I’m not putting myself through that again. I am choosing a more diplomatic approach: creating an association at UNB dedicated to providing a safe space for francophones to connect and to find community. I don’t expect AFFSA to change the haters. As Taylor sings it, they just “gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.” Instead, I do expect it to provide a safe and reaffirming space for people who want to get away from them. I also hope that we can
create a positive conversation about linguistic issues in New Brunswick, at least among the UNB Fredericton student community. I know that there is a need for A FFSA at UNB. There are very specific challenges in the experience of attending a university in a language other than your mother tongue. If you don’t have a community, you can feel that you’re losing you language, you can feel separated from your cultural heritage, and you can have a much more difficult time adjusting to university life. The main goal of AFFSA will always be to create that community, bringing together Acadians, francophones, and Francophiles in a positive way. I personally feel extremely detached from my francophone roots at UNB. If I wasn’t active in the francophone community on the national level, I think that I could easily end up losing my language, since I scarcely know anyone in Fredericton with whom to speak it. That’s a tragedy, and one that I hope to be able to avoid for others. Pending approval by the AFFSA Exec, we will be hosting a bilingual panel discussion later this month to talk about linguistic issues, and we will soon be having our first ever Annual General Meeting, where students can have a conversation about the direction AFFSA should take and even run to become an Executive Officer. You can contact us with your ideas, assistance, and (as always) hate mail at AFFSA.UNB@gmail. com
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.
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profit, independent body. We are a founding member of the Canadian University Press, and love it so. We are also members of U-Wire, a media exchange of university media throughout North America. We publish weekly during the academic year with a circulation of 4,000.
Letters to the editor
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.
Editorial Policy
While we endeavour to provide an open forum for a variety of viewpoints and ideas, we may refuse any submission considered by the editorial board to be racist, sexist, libellous, or in any way discriminatory. The opinions and views expressed in this newspaper are those of the individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Brunswickan, its Editorial Board, or its Board of Directors. All editorial content appearing in The Brunswickan is the property of Brunswickan Publishing Inc. Stories, photographs, and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the express, written permission of the Editor-in-Chief.
BRUNSWICKANOPINION
September 10, 2015 • Issue 1 • Volume 149 • 5
Rational discussion absent this election season
POLITICAL CHATTER
Mark Mancini With the drop of a hat, a lot of summers were ruined across our fair nation. It wasn’t the weather that was the problem. It was the spectre of four politicians criss-crossing the nation looking for your vote. That spectre was amplified by the fact that the vote begging would last much longer than usual. Let’s be clear. An election, in t heor y, shou ld be t he t ime to discuss important issues for the future of our country. One need only to compare the philosophy of the Conservatives and the NDP on dealing with ISIS, their policies with respect to taxation, and the list goes on. Perhaps for the first time in a generation, one gets the feeling that this election is a choice
between at least two very different ideologies. In that sense, it should be a momentous choice for our country because it represents two divergent paths. However, by my est imat ion, this fundamental choice has been papered over by the desire of some to render the election (and the opportunity for a real discussion on the future of our country) insignificant. That is, some with vested political interests are turning this election into a chance to demonize, among others, Prime Minister Stephen Harper. To be fair, the Conservatives have done a number on Justin Trudeau in much the same way. Though Trudeau (and, in the same vein, the NDP) has failed to provide many details as to how he would pay for his multi-million dollar promises, or how he would go about reforming Canada’s electoral system, or the social and economic implications of decriminalizing marijuana, the Conservatives have unfairly portrayed him as a dilettante, a nobody. Some of this may be true. But, of course, exaggeration is the name of the game — and it doesn’t help our political discourse, to say the least. What those on the left have done
to Harper is no different. Let’s take two examples, both from an article by Anthony Furey that recently appeared in Sun News. The first issue raised by Furey is Bill C-51. I agree with Furey that the bill is controversial and may raise significant constitutional questions. It changes the way police can collect data, creates new offences and changes the power of CSIS, among other things. These changes are designed to help Canada remain vigilant in the fight against terror. The legal issues involving Bill C-51 will be litigated and will be canvassed in due course, but let’s look at the political issues. One headline in particular caught my eye — an article by Tony Burman entitled “Why Harper (and friends) are a bigger threat than [the Islamic State].” This article was littered with similar comments. Of course, the critical commentary on Bill C-51 has mirrored this sort of sensationalist rhetoric; I think a particularly representative comment is from a protestor who wrote on a sign “I am more afraid of Stephen Harper than terrorists.” Is this rhetoric helpful in clarifying the issues in this important election? The second example raised by
Furey is an article by Torontonian Stephen Marche, printed in the New York Times. Its title was auspicious: “The Closing of the Canadian Mind.” In all-too catastrophic language, Marche argues that Harper has cloaked himself in secrecy, refused to participate in debates (even though, as Furey points out, he has already done one and has committed to several more) and cancelled the long form census while muzzling scientists. A representative quote, one I particularly love, goes something like this: “The darkness has resulted, organically, in one of the most scandal-plagued administrations in Canadian history. Mr. Harper’s tenure coincided with the scandal of Rob Ford, the mayor of Toronto, who admitted to smoking crack while in office and whose secret life came to light only when Gawker, an American website, broke the story. In a famous video at a Ford family barbecue, Mr. Harper praised the Fords as a ‘conservative political dynasty.’ ” Connecting the crack-addicted Ford to Harper is a stretch at best, but the claim of “darkness” and secrecy is even more of a stretch. What is darkness? Who can measure that in any conceivable way? Is this
a fair and well-thought out charge against the prime minister? A ll of this comes to a simple conclusion. It is f ine, and even well-founded, to disagree with Harper and the Conservatives. It is expected and welcome. But the disagreement has to be delivered in a rational way. The above examples are only representative of what we see on our Facebook and Twitter feeds every day — people taking extreme points of view, discussing “dictatorship,” “rights violations” and the like. This is hyperbolic rhetoric that doesn’t do justice to the fundamental choice in front of Canadians at the current moment; it makes us all worse off as Canadian citizens; it blurs the real choices in front of us; it appeals to the lowest common denominator of human nature: fear. The rationale is that making people fear Stephen Harper is better than presenting honest and well-argued disagreements. The people who are wringing their hands feverishly about the “closing of the Canadian mind,” the death of our democracy and the end of Canada are all contributing in some small way to our collective dumbing
UNBSU president’s commencement address I remember sitting exactly where you are right now. If you had of told me that I would be addressing commencement four years later as the Student Union president, I wouldn’t have believed you. But here I am, and I couldn’t be happier. Many of you are beginning a four year degree program here at UNB. Much will change in four years, especially while you’re spending virtually all of your time learning. I wa nt to ta l k to you today about three things, all of which I learned over my last four years here at UNB. The f irst is that it is okay to change your mind. We come to universit y with a general plan, some more concrete than others, but the elements are the same. You pick a degree program that seems to fit your desired outcomes both professionally and personally. The person you are today is not the person you will be in four years or, for that matter, in four days. For some, that’s scary but if, and when, you start to change as a person, it’s okay to change your path. Maybe you decide to join a new club or maybe you decide to change you major. Whatever it may be, it is OK AY! The second thing that I’ve learned here is that it’s okay to make mistakes, you’ll learn from them
and you’ll be better for it. Thinking that you have to be perfect all the time is a great way to become stressed out. Of course we all want to get perfect grades and have our life together from day one, but that’s not a reality. You are going to get a bad grade. It’s not the end of the world. It’s actually a great opportunity to get to know yourself a little bit better. Maybe you need to improve your writing skills or your study skills. Whatever it may be, you wouldn’t have known if you didn’t make that mistake. The third thing that I’ve learned while at UNB is that engagement is the most important part of the experience (second to academics of course). Between UNB and the UNB Student Union, there is literally something for everyone and if you find that something isn’t offered, you can create it. Although what you learn in the classroom is invaluable, you change the world by involving yourself outside of the classroom. I want to leave you with one of my favourite quotes, and it’s one that I wholeheartedly believe. “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” [Rob Siltanen, Apple, Inc.]
THE BRUNS. BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE EVER MADE. EXCEPT BEARS. w w w. t h e b r u n s . c a
BRUNSWICKANOPINION
6 • September 10, 2015 • Issue 1 • Volume 149
W T VIEO N I P
on What’s YOUR s week? i h t d n i m
What are our first years most excited for this year?
Logan Sharpe
Mason Baker
Erin Sawden
Rachel Sawden
Brandon Dixon
“Meet new people and to get learnt.”
“Meeting new people.”
“Start learning.’”
“Meeting new people and the life experiences.”
“Settling in and meeting new people.”
Spencer Hoar
Kyle Baxter
Alec MacPherson
Alex Boyd
Matt Parker
“Meet new people and making memories.
“Get away from my parents.”
“Freedom and hanging with the boys.”
“Intramurals and living on my own.”
“Making new friends.”
Photos by Brad Parker / The Brunswickan
THE BRUNS
ARTS arts@thebruns.ca
Etsy: Made in Canada is an event taking place on Sept. 26 in the ballroom of the STU Conference Centre. Shubert Ciencia / Flicker
Made in Canada: Etsy puts focus on local artisans Mélanie Michaud Staff Reporter The craft community in Fredericton will get another opportunity to showcase its talent at the end of September with Fredericton’s first Etsy: Made in Canada event. The upcoming event is organized by Janie Vu, a UNB honours neuroscience student and co-founder of the Etsy online shop High on Hemp, along with UNB graduate Rebecca Ewing. The Etsy event will take place on Sept. 26 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the ballroom of the St. Thomas University Conference Centre. “Etsy art isans w ill sell t heir
handmade wares and vintage goods to local buyers at these markets, each of which will represent the spirit of the local community,” Vu said. The market will welcome 40 Etsy artisans from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The event is the first of its kind to occur in New Brunswick, and will feature metal jewellery, pottery, knit goods, herbal solutions, soaps, art and photography prints, home decorations and many more handmade crafts. “Being part of an Etsy [Made in Canada] event can be useful for Etsy businesses to make their presence known in their local communities,” said Vu.
These events help to bring Etsy artisans from across Canada together where they can exchange tips and tricks on how to run successful Etsy online shops. Furthermore, these markets provide extra exposure for local artisans, and customers will be able to bypass the extra fees associated to online shopping. With the aid of her boyfriend, Alex Doucet, Vu’s High on Hemp business has been running since 2011. The Etsy shop has helped Vu channel her creativity while supporting herself financially through her studies. “I chose to start my first shop on Etsy because it has its own internal search engine and millions of
people across the world use it to find handmade goods,” she said. Vu is hoping for a large crowd at the Etsy: Made in Canada market. She hopes that the event can contribute to the “buy local” movement and raise awareness of the importance of supporting local artisans. Along with the different vendors, there will also be some fun things that are not to be missed on the Sept. 26. “We will be handing out ‘swag bags’ to the first 40 people through the event doors. [They] are Etsy: [Made in Canada] Fredericton tote bags filled with goodies and samples from our vendors,” said Vu. There are also some DIY demon-
strations scheduled where artisans will demonstrate how they make their items. The full schedule will be unveiled on the Etsy: Made in Canada Fredericton Facebook page once it is finalized. “I am hoping that we can have over 2000 people t hrough t he doors for the event and that every vendor is able to make at least a couple of sales,” Vu said. “For many people, selling handmade items may be their sole source of income. Thus, I would like to be able to educate more people on the importance of buying handmade versus mach ine-made (or mass made) items.”
Theatre New Brunswick previews upcoming season Nathan DeLong Staff Reporter With another season upon Theatre New Brunswick, the company is planning a diverse, jam-packed lineup with a little something for everyone. Thomas Morgan Jones, who became TNB’s artistic director in February, said acts include a one-person play, blues and theatre mash-up, dark comedy, political drama, Broadway musical and an innovative, technological, site-specific play. A performance for young audiences, a comedy-drama feature and a musical by TNB’s graduating theatre school class are also among this year’s shows.
“This season, rather than having a theme, we are asking the audience a question,” Jones said of TNB’s 2015 program. “ ‘How do we care?’ ” TNB’s 2015-16 season opens Sept. 9 with the show You Play Beautifully, which runs until Sept. 13. Jones, who wrote the play, said it depicts a world famous pianist named Jonah who tells his story from the time he began apprenticing with his mother (also a renowned pianist) at age four, through to adulthood, his first love and a life-changing twist. “What’s amazing about this play is that it’s a one-actor play,” said Jones. “Byron Abalos, the actor in the produc-
tion, is the only one performing live for the entire show. It’s an intimate and exciting relationship with the audience because he speaks directly to them the entire time.” Jones said the use of sound, music and lights is what makes the play highly theatrical, as the only set is a single chair in a large, empty, black-painted space. “It is then left to lights and sounds to help to ignite our imaginations as an audience,” he said. Other shows during this year’s season are Life, Death and the Blues (Sept. 17 to 18), Vigil (Oct. 22 to Nov. 1), Watching Glory Die (Nov. 12 to 15) and Little Women, The Broadway Musical (Dec.
10 to 12). The Space Between will tour New Brunswick schools from February to April 2016, while the play Returning Fire goes from Feb. 4 to 7. The show Marion Bridge is set for March 31 to April 6 performances, and TNB’s season will end with Mary Poppins from May 5 to 7. “In addition to performances, we’ll have many ancillary events to explore the question of the season and the plays themselves,” said Jones. “In this way, we aim to share plays with the audience, rather than present them at you.” Jones said the extension to the question “how do we care?” is “how do we
care for each other as family, friends, colleagues and strangers?” “Each play in our season is our potential answer to this question, along with a way to inspire continued conversation,” he said. Jones said this season is the first time in several years that TNB has had nine shows on its playbill. Four will be at The Playhouse Theatre, while one is set at a mystery location in the city’s downtown. One show is TNB’s Young Company Tour, and the final three are at the newly built studio theatre on Whiting Road, where You Play Beautifully will be premiered.
BRUNSWICKANARTS
8 • September 10, 2015 • Issue 1 • Volume 149
Finds from the HIL: DVDs at UNB
Josh Steeves The Brunswickan
You’ve walked by the rows of DVDs on your way to the elevator or the study room. Lined up in a neo-alphabetical method I have yet to figure out, the rows of DVDs at the Harriet Irving Library (HIL) are the first thing you walk past on the bottom floor. Classics, foreign, mainstream and weirdo cinema, like everything else in the library, is at your fingertips and it is up to you to dive in. This is where I come into play. My goal is to distract you from Netflix and use that DVD player you keep setting up every move yet never use.
Since the HIL allows you to take out four DVDs at once, I will highlight four films per article in hopes that you’re interested in at least one and find more in the recreation of the video rental experience. For the inaugural four, here is a taste of some of the best films I’ve taken out from the library. A Separation (2011) Dir: Asghar Farhadi Very few films are perfect; A Separation is one of them. I hate saying this as not many films are truly great, but the domestic tale of A Separation moved me like few do. An Iranian couple, Nader and Simin, is on
the brink of separation as Nader is increasingly occupied with taking care of his ailing father, refusing to place him in a care home. Simin is tired of being tied down to societal expectations and leaves Nader to pursue the life she wants. This may not sound earth shattering, but I encourage you seek out the polarizing experience of a film that challenges the notions of cultural progress while touching on the universal themes of domesticity and patriarchy. El Topo (1970) Dir: Alejandro Jodorowsky Are you burned out from watching Pink Floyd’s The Wall? Not to reduce my
suggestion, but check out El Topo: an unexplainable film fueled by new ideas in every scene, channeling religion, sex, politics and race. I do apologize as I cannot give an exact synopsis but Jodorowsky is a man of many ideas and his film is one of the most puzzling and fascinating films that should be included in the university experience. A must for philosophy and English majors. A warning to the faint-hearted: stay away.
La Haine (1995) Dir: Mathieu Kassovitz Twenty years after its release not much has changed in regards to race relations and La Haine is as relevant today as it was when
Albums of the summer Sebastian Maynard Arts Editor Beach House - Depression Cherry Listen To: “Space Song” Last fall, when Beach House performed in Fredericton at The Playhouse, Alex Scally described the band’s performances as a place to study what fans liked and didn’t like. “In a live environment, everything is changing every single night, so I think you actually really can test things,” he said in an interview with The Bruns. With the band’s latest release, Depression Cherry, the studying has paid off. Scally and his band mate, Victoria Legrand, have used their hushed harmonies to blend in with an array of musical instruments that go as well by a campfire as they do in a car on a sunny day.
Tame Impala - Currents Listen To: “The Less I Know The Better” The third album by Australia’s Tame Impala was once again written, performed, recorded and produced by the band’s primary member, Kevin Parker. Everything that happens on Currents is 100 per cent Parker, and the themes looked at on the record show how life has changed now that he is more recognizable as a public figure (take a guess at what “Yes I’m Changing,” “Eventually,” “Past Life” or “The Less I Know The Better,” “‘Cause I’m a Man” and “Love Paranoia” are about). High pitched vocals, psychedelic guitar solos and catchy choruses are still found on Currents, but Parker has added more synths and sounds that make the changes to his music noticeable and welcomed. “Yes I’m changing,” he states on the song of the same name. “If you don’t think it’s a crime you can come along with me.”
it debuted in 1995. Four friends of mixed ethnic backgrounds spend 24 hours in a suburban ghetto of France where racial tensions have erupted in a riot when a police officer’s gun goes missing. Shot in black and white with the energy and urgency of Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, La Haine is a brutal film that is as much about friendship and brotherhood as it is race relations. Paris, Texas (1984) Dir: Wim Wenders Harry Dean Stanton. Existentialism. Sadness. Those eyes. Never escaping your past. I’m short on words so if you love films, watch this.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 Construction & Destruction, Luka, Property//, Quaker Parents (Solo) Connexion ARC, 8 p.m., $7
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 Cinema Politica: Mars at Sunrise Conserver House, 7 p.m., donations welcome
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 Hey Rosetta!, Vogue Dots UNB Student Union Building, 9 p.m., $20 (at door)
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 Feast in the Field Officers’ Square, 2 – 5 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 Book Buy & Sell 2015 UNB Student Union Building, Sept. 14 - 18
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 Dr. Dre - Compton Listen To: “Deep Water (feat. Kendrick Lamar, Justus & Anderson .Paak)” Detox is dead, long live Compton. After 11 years of waiting for Dr. Dre’s anticipated third solo album,fanswereinsteadgivenCompton,Dre’sfinalalbumwhichwasinspiredbytheN.W.A. biopic,StraightOuttaCompton.WhilethefilmlooksattheriseofDr.Dre,IceCube,Eazy-E and the rest of N.W.A., Dre’s album picks up in the present day, where he is the richest man in hip-hop and has helped launch the careers of many current day stars. “Still got Eminem checks I ain’t opened yet,” he boasts on “Talk About it” before admitting, “The world ain’t enough, I want it all/goddammit, I’m too old, I forgot I had it all.” Dre didn’t have to release Compton for the money or to cement his legacy; he did it because he was once again inspired. With features from the likes of Xzibit, Ice Cube, The Game, Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar and newer names like King Mez, Anderson .Paak and Justus, Dre makes himself a member of a supporting cast as opposed to being the main focus. As Dre is shown in Straight Outta Compton bringing together a group of rappers to form N.W.A. and make something special, he does it again with Compton, leaving those who enjoy his music hoping that he will again find inspiration to record another album.
Vince Staples - Summertime ‘06 Listen To: “Jump off the Roof (feat. Snoh Aalegra)” Having your debut solo album produced by legendary producer No I.D. and released by Def Jam Recordings leads to both big expectations and a big opportunity, and Long Beach’s Vince Staples was able to make the most of it with Summertime ’06. After previously working with Earl Sweatshirt and Mac Miller and touring with Schoolboy Q and Isaiah Rashad, Staples is now getting his moment by being chosen as part of the Freshman Class of 2015 by XXL Magazine and seeing Summertime ’06 do well both by critic and fan standards. The new album features 20 songs, in which Staples goes from singing harmonies on “Might Be Wrong,” to party songs like “Norf Norf,” to love songs like “Summertime.” Throughout, there is a consciousness to Staples’ lyrics that show him as an observer of the world and the problems around him. At just 22 years old there are sure to be more opportunities for Staples, and if his track record shows anything, it is that he will do just fine with the pressure.
Viet Cong, Greys, Motherhood The Capital, 8 p.m., $11.99
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 Wintersleep, Paper Beat Scissors Bell Aliant Mojo Tent, 9 p.m., $17.69
The Brunswickan’s Food & Liquor: Morning drinks Caesar If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then it is vital to get all the vitamins you can get. This is where the Caesar comes in: the combination of Clamato Juice with vodka, Worchester sauce, celery salt and as much hot sauce as you want wakes up all the senses. Throw in some lime and a cucumber or celery stick and you are sure to get the day off on the right foot.
Adam Travis
Sebastian Maynard
Devin Patterson
The Freddy Beach Radler For my brunch beverage, I made a do-it-yourself radler with a flare of Freddy Beach. It may take you a sip or two and some re-measuring to get the perfect ratio of juiceto-beer, but what worked for me was two parts Picaroons Dooryard with one part orange juice. The Dooryard adds a hint of bitterness to the radler, but not too much. Then the citrus of the Dooryard and the orange flavour mesh perfectly for a finishing burst. For an even more Fredericton taste, substitute in some market orange juice.
Hair of The Dog With none of the casual brunch appeal of a Caesar, the sweetness of a mimosa or the refreshing taste of a radler, drinking that half-full beer from last night is less of a drink choice and more of a cry for help. Your head is splitting, the room is spinning and all you want is to be released from the hell you find yourself in. Bringing the half full can to your lips, you catch the distinct scent of an 8-hour old, room temperature beer. Powering through the unfortunate smell and taste, the small amount of alcohol seems to ease your pain just enough for you to slip back into a hung-over slumber. Mimosa A mimosa is a nice alternative pick me up in the morning. It’s a really easy drink to mix; you just combine equal parts orange juice and sparkling wine or champagne. It’s light, crisp and sparkling from the bubbly. It looks just like orange juice too, so it’s good for sneaky drinking. This drink would pair well with a boozy brunch with the girls.
Mélanie Michaud
September 10, 2015 • Issue 1 • Volume 149 • 9
THE BRUNS
SPORTS sports@thebruns.ca
The men’s UNB Varsity Reds soccer team is hoping to improve on last season. Bradley Parker / The Brunswickan
#3 ranked men’s soccer team reloads for another run
Josh Daniels The Brunswickan The men’s UNB Varsity Reds soccer team is hoping to improve on a season where they found success at the AUS and CIS levels. The Reds finished atop the AUS standings in 2014, with an 11-0-2 record, and were crowned AUS Champions for the second consecutive season. The V-Reds were ousted by a strong McMaster squad in the quarterfinals of the CIS championships. UNB tied the game in dramatic fashion during the final minutes of regular time and forced the game to OT, which solved nothing. UNB would go on to
lose on penalty kicks and become silver medal winners. It was a painful loss, but it gave the V-Reds a boost in confidence knowing that they are able to compete with the best teams across the country. They are heading into the 2015 season seeking to build on their previous accolades. “It’s an ongoing evolution. Every season is completely different, with new players coming in and players leaving, so every team looks different year-to-year,” said Miles Pinsent, the coach of the men’s soccer team. “Talent-wise we are well off, it is just a matter of how we are going to fit together as a team and that will come
with time. We like the path we have been on the past few seasons and we want to continue to build on that and strive be one of the best teams in the country.” The V-Reds recruited eleven new players for the 2015 season. Pinsent added, “We have a very strong, very large recruiting class this season. The class was probably larger than I anticipated, but we are very happy.” Fullback George Lawton is the VReds captain this year, but that does not mean he will be the sole player occupying a leadership position. “We don’t need to rely on any certain one person for leadership, we rely on a complete team game that requires every
The reality of fantasy sports
Iain MacMillan Columnist
Fantasy sports are quickly becoming every sport fan’s favorite pastime, and if you’re not on board yet, you will be soon. If you’ve never heard of fantasy sports, it’s quite simple. You enter a league with a group of people and at the start of a specific sport’s season you draft a roster of athletes for your team. Each statistic your athlete achieves in each game he plays throughout the season is then converted into points for your team. There are countless forms of fantasy
sports, such as keeper leagues, auction drafts, dynasty leagues and even daily leagues, which treat each day as a brand new season. What seemed like a niche pastime for hardcore sport fans just a few years back has exploded into an international phenomenon; its influence ranges from television shows based on it, to professional advisors who make a living off of giving their personal opinion and analysis. In 2014, the Fantasy Sports Trade Association estimated that approximately 41 million people across the United States and Canada, aged twelve and above, participated in a
fantasy sports league that year. Pair that with the estimated three to four billion dollars in annual economic impact that fantasy leagues have accumulated across the sports industry and it’s clear that it’s a serious business. Nowadays, it’s hard to be considered a die-hard sports fan if you aren’t in fantasy leagues and accumulate hours of wasted class time per week due to researching who to start in your flex spot for this weekend’s match-up. Fantasy league makes watching sports more exciting and gut-wrenching because you aren’t only cheering
player to be accountable,” said Pinsent. The V-Reds played three pre-season games against Laval, UQTR and Concordia on Aug. 30, 31 and Sept. 1, respectively. They had two narrow 1-0 defeats to Laval and UQTR and notched a 3-0 win versus Concordia. The V-Reds regular season gets underway with back-to-back away games at Cape Breton and StFX on Sept. 12 and 13. “The first weekend of the season could potentially be the most difficult of the season looking at the matchups, as CBU and StFX were second and third last year in the AUS,” Pinsent said. “It’ll be a good challenge, especially
on the road, but based on how camp is going we have a good feel of what we have and hopefully it will all come together successfully.” He added, “The season is a long process and we will keep learning from each and every game and make sure we are ready for when it counts in November.” The V-Reds head into the 2015 campaign ranked third in the nation. Only York, the defending CIS champs, and UQAM are ranked ahead of them. After their first two road games, the team will make their home field debut at the BMO Centre as they play host to the Dalhousie Tigers on Sept. 19.
for your favorite team to win; you’re also cheering for all the players across the league that are lucky enough to be on your fantasy team’s roster. In reality, fantasy sports have helped the development and growth of many sports and their fan bases, especially American football, which is the most widely played fantasy and has become the spearhead of the fantasy sports movement. The competitive aspect of managing your own roster and facing your friends in weekly matchups makes watching your top WR drop an easy pass in the end zone just that much more heart breaking.
The fact that you can win some money while you’re at it definitely helps its popularity; there are now many people who make a living off of the daily version of fantasy sports from websites such as Draft Kings and Rotogrinders. Whether you’re a fantasy junkie who researches for hours on what to do with their 11th round pick, or you’re a purist who thinks fantasy sports are for those who need to gamble in order to truly appreciate the sport, there is no denying that fantasy leagues have become a permanent part of the world of sports.
BRUNSWICKANSPORTS
10 •September 10, 2015 • Issue 1 • Volume 149
Women’s soccer confident about a successful 2015 Josh Daniels The Brunswickan The UNB Varsity Reds Women’s soccer team had a season last year that saw them drastically improve over their previous two seasons. Under AUS Coach of the Year, Jonathan Crossland, they went on to boast a 10-1-2 record, which was good enough for the number one seed in the AUS conference and to achieve their first playoff berth since 2011. Their goal heading into the season was to make playoffs, and they did not disappoint. The women made it to the championship game versus number tworanked Memorial but lost 3-1. Overall, it was a massive improvement over the previous season and a display of how bright their future could be as a team. This season the goal is no different. They want to be the team to beat in the AUS and earn a CIS Championship berth. For the first time in several seasons, the team will head into the season knowing full well they possess the talent to win the AUS Championship. Crossland is confident about the po-
tential in his club, “The expectation is to improve each day and put us in a position to contend for an AUS Championship again in November,” he said. “This is the largest turn around of players we’ve had in three years, with seven new additions to our program, so there will be lots of teaching and learning throughout the season.” The V-Reds lost six players from last year’s team at graduation, five of whom were starters. The recruiting class is very strong and Crossland believes the freshman will be crucial to their team’s success this season. “It was important for us to have players that could come in straight away and step into those [starting] roles. The recruiting class is exciting for what they bring immediately, but it is even more exciting to think about the future and their development after being in the program,” he said. “We have seen that in our exhibition games, once the new players get used to the speed and physicality of the CIS play, that they have technical and tactical ability to play,” the coach said. The V-Reds played three exhibition
games versus the defending champions Laval, UQTR and Concordia. They lost 3-0 to both Laval and UQTR. They won their final tune up game against Concordia 2-1. Crossland is confident in the leadership core for this season. He expects Hayley Gates, fullback, and Kayla Painter, midfield, to be in all-star form once again this season and, along with several other key players, to take on leadership roles. “Our leaders have set a good example for the standards we expect here, and everyone is buying in,” Crossland said. Overall, the coach is very confident in his group this year. He added, “We want to be a team that puts our opponents under pressure and takes advantage of any mistakes made.” “We have spent more time on the defending pieces thus far in training camp, so if we can be tough to score against, it will go a long way in us having success.” The V-Reds open their season with two away games versus CBU and StFX on Sept. 12 and 13. Their first game in front of the home fans is Sept. 19 against the Dalhousie Tigers at the BMO Centre.
Kayla Painter runs the ball down field. Adam Travis / The Brunswickan
Reds Notebook: CIS announces new CEO Rob Trites Sports Editor T he C a nad ia n I nter u n iver sit y Sport (CIS) has announced the replacement for P ier re L a fontaine, former CEO of the CIS, who resigned only two years into his position. Graham Brown, the man named as his replacement, will have a hefty task placed in f ront of h i m as t he CIS is a n orga n i zat ion i n need of some serious reform. Brown, who is coming off a 13 year tenure with Rugby Canada, was not initially sold on the position, but was convinced when he was informed that the CIS had changed their model of governance and were focused on moving the organization forward. In a Q& A conducted by Sports-
net’s Donavon Bennett, Brown sounded very positive about the future of the CIS. “The boa rd doesn’t see why C I S c a n’t b e t h e t o p s p o r t s organization in Canada. There a re g re at i n s t it ut ion s i n C I S w ith great structure and great facilities. We have an opportunity that to this point [the CIS] haven’t maximized. We have an opportunity to grow our corporate partners and to grow our fan base. Both will happen if we give them a better return on investment.” L acrosse: R icht sfeld , Buccaneers look to grow game I n its second i naug u ra l season, U NB Lacrosse will tr y to improve on a year in which the club struggled. Evan R ichtsfeld,
PANEL
THEY KNOW WHAT’S UP
a grad student in the k inesiolog y depa r t ment , ha s la id t he ground work for the team to be successful in the future, and for the expansion of the sport in the province. “We have a vision for where we want to be in the future,” said R ichtsfeld. “That vision involves heav y investment in the grassroots development of lacrosse in New Brunswick.” In the spring of 2015, R ichtsfeld and the Buccaneers started the Junior Buccaneers Lacrosse Academy, a youth lacrosse prog r a m d e s ig n e d t o a l l o w t h i s g ra s sroot s development. Fou r players from the academy were selected to play for Team New Brunswick.
Hockey Season on the Horizon The perennial University Cup competitors, UNB Hockey team, went back to the drawing boards a f ter na rrowly m issi ng out on t hei r fou r t h cha mpion sh ip i n eight years last season. The Reds have announced part of t hei r 2015 - 2016 recr u itment class which includes names such as Memorial Cup winning goalie, A lex Dubeau (Montreal, Que.); goalie Etienne Marcoux (Mont rea l, Que.); defencema n Marcus McIvor (W hitby, Ont.); forward Stephen Anderson (Morell, P.E.I.); and former V-R ED M ike Thomas (New Mar yland, N.B.), who played with the team in the 2013 - 2014 season. Head Coach, Gard iner MacDougall, has claimed a “new era
Happy Trails Ha n na h Cla s sen, com mu n ications manager of the Varsit y R e d s , h a s r e s ig n e d f r o m h e r position to take a job with UNB com mu n icat ion s. Cla ssen w i l l remain with the V-Reds until the end of September. Applications are being accepted for qualif ied candidates.
How do you feel the changes made to the point after touchdown rules in the NFL will affect the game?
Nathan Delong
James Woods
Iain MacMillan
Brunswickan Reporter
Columnist
Columnist
Admittedly, I’m not a football fan. However, I don’t see a problem with any move that will make the game more exciting for fans or even foster creativity when it comes to strategies during gameplay. If it’s already a boring play no one cares about, don’t fix what isn’t broken.
of goaltending at UNB.” It became apparent, over the course of last season, that goaltending was the V-Reds only real weakness; they often lost games where they heavily out-shot their opponents. The new net-m inders were recruited to f ix this disparity. UNB Hockey will get its NonCon ference preseason ga mes underway with a game at home versus McGill on Friday, Sept. 18.
The point after kick could have honestly been scored by my grandmother before they moved it to the 15 yard line. It adds a little more skill to the position. Also, it will increase the likelihood of teams going for 2-point conversions.
The extra point in the NFL became a time when you could take a bathroom break and grab a beer because it was virtually automatic with a 98 per cent success rate. Moving the point after back to the 15 yard line adds excitement and strategy to the game, which can never be a bad thing.
John Robb V-Reds Fan
Great change, love it. PAT was always a joke and two point conversions were less attractive. Now there is an increased (3-5 per cent) chance of a miss and an argument to be made to try for two more often.
BRUNSWICKANSPORTS
September 10, 2015 • Issue 1 • Volume 149 • 11
Returning players bolster UNB baseball squad Rob Trites Sports Editor The UNB baseball team is set to begin their second season as part of the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Association against the defending Atlantic Conference champions, Holland College. The doubleheader will be held Sunday, Sept. 13 at Thompson Field, starting at 2 p.m. This season has an atmosphere of intensity surrounding it as UNB is set to host the National Championship Tournament on Oct. 22 to 25. This will be the second time the team has hosted the event since its inauguration in 1997. The team has claimed three National Championship titles, and has been a contender the last two years at the championships but lost in playoff games both years. There is a solid core of returning players, including last year’s Atlantic Conference All-Star and Top Defensive Player, Tyler Walchuck (SS), and Atlantic Conference All-Stars Sean Corcoran (OF), Jimmy Russell (OF) and Spencer Montgomery (3B). Tyler Walchuck has been a key piece of the Metro Mudcats Junior team, the most recent Junior Provincial Champions. Walchuck, who began
playing with the team last fall, is entering his final year at UNB. He slashed a .368/.476/.471 line with 19 runs scored from the leadoff position in 16 games last season, flashing not only the leather defensively, but also providing a spark plug for the offense. Sean Corcoran and Spencer Montgomery both hail from P.E.I., where they play for the Senior League’s Charlottetown Islanders. They are joined by returning outfielder Josh Kelly to form one third of the Islanders’ starting line-up. The trio will be pitted against several of their Islanders teammates, who have stayed close to home to play for Holland College. Over the past several years, the UNB team has seen a strong contingent of players from the Chatham Ironmen Junior and Senior teams, which this year includes returning players Jimmy Russell, Tyler McKay, Tyler King and Ryan Dickson. King is one of the few returning pitchers from last season and will be relied upon to carry a bigger workload this year. Rounding out the Cougars’ returnees are Isaac Thomas, Alex Phillips and Matt Thomas of Nova Scotia; Ben Murray of Guelph, Ontario; and home-grown talent Adam Kerr of Fredericton. There are no small roles for the
The UNB baseball team will host the National Championship this October. Submitted
returning players, as each of them has played pivotal parts throughout the season for their respective Senior League teams. The returning players will be looked upon to help mentor
newer recruits, both academically and on the field. Open tryouts remain one of the main resources for finding new talent coming to UNB, as the diverse
programs offered attract all types of talent from across North America. Tryouts will be held Sept. 8 to 10 at Thompson Field from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Hoops tourney tributes former student athlete Nathan Delong Staff Reporter
T h i s ye a r ’s A lex Mc L aug h l i n Memorial Tournament brought 16 b a s ke tb a l l te a m s toge t her for the support of mental health awareness. T he second a n nua l event, wh ich wa s held f rom Aug. 14 to 16 at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, was a tribute to the late A lex McLaughlin, an Acadia University basketball player who committed suicide in 2014 after battling mental illness. “The mission behind it was to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention,” his twin sister, Julie McLaughlin, said. T here were eig ht men’s a nd women’s tea ms at t he tou r nament. A mong the players in the tou r n a me nt we r e 15 at h le te s f r o m t h e Un i v e r s i t y o f N e w Brunswick. McLaughlin said most teams
included current and former Atlantic University Sport athletes, along with professional players f rom t he Nat iona l Ba sketba l l League. During the tournament, McLaughlin said, funds were raised for t he St udent At h lete Mental Health Init iat ive (SA M HI) through donations and by selling tournament passes. A canteen, silent auction and 50-50 raf f le were a lso held to f u nd ra ise for SA M H I, a nonprof it organization dedicated to supporting student athletes who suffer from mental illnesses. “Student athletes shouldn’t be embarrassed or ashamed to come for ward and ask for help when they need it,” said McLaughlin. McLaughlin said the main goal for her a nd ot her tou rna ment organizers was to raise awareness for SA MHI. As for support for the tourna-
ment , McL aug h l i n sa id ma ny spectators at the inaugural tournament in 2014 came to support her f a m i ly, wh ich made for a more emotional atmosphere. However, she said, it was more of a basketball crowd this year, so it felt more like a hoops tournament. “ We wa nt to br i ng out t he best of the best players and put toget her a tou r na ment where people will come from all over to participate, watch and remember a stellar guy,” said McLaughlin. McLaughlin said her brother spent all three of his university years playing for the Acadia A xemen, but he quit during his third year af ter being over-recruited and deciding that his happiness went beyond sports. “He decided there was more to life than basketball, but that didn’t take the pressure off him,” she said.
It is for that reason that the tournament’s organizers wanted to reach out to athletes aged 18 to 25. Mc L au g h l i n s a id s u ic ide i s a mong t he le ad i ng c au s e s of death in that age group. “It’s somet h i ng t hat’s pa i nf u l ly a f fect i ng us, where we didn’t know he was suffering,” she said. “To know he had to deal w it h t hat pr ivately because he was embarrassed by of the stigma attached to it, it has hit home.” For McLaughlin, a U N B alumni, it was powerful to see athletes from U NB play in her brother’s memory. “Both last year and this year, t he me n’s f i n a l w a s b e t we e n U N B a nd my older brot her ’s team, which is kind of bittersweet for me,” she said. H a l i f a x- b a s e d s p o r t s c o m mentator Bill McL ea n covered the tournament for Bell A liant
C om mu n it y One’s Ea st C oa st Sports Show. He said it was a wonderful opportunity to work with SA MHI to raise funds and awareness for mental health. “ We’ve a l l been touched by mental illness in one way or another,” said McLean. “It was an honour to webcast all the games to b a s ke t b a l l f a n s ac r o s s t he country who couldn’t make it.” McLaughlin said it was overwhelming to see the size of the crowd at the tournament. She said she has also been taken aback by the number of people who have said they can relate to her late brother’s story. “Hav i ng t he top at h letes i n their respective age groups and spor t s say i ng t hat completely blows you away, where they never feel they’re good enough,” she said. “That’s what needs to end.”
BRUNS SPORTS
BRUNSWICKANSPORTS
12 •September 10, 2015 • Issue 1 • Volume 149
UNB
O-WEEK
2015 Photos by Brad Parker / The Brunswickan