VOLUME 154, ISSUE 5, JANUARY 2021
Chuck Cosby Day:
A look at one of UNB’s most controversial traditions
Nurses on the Frontlines: UNB nursing student shares her pandemic experience
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.
About us The Brunswickan, in its 154th year of publication, is Canada’s Oldest Official Student Publication. We are an autonomous student publication owned and operated by Brunswickan Publishing Inc. , a nonprofit, independent body. We are also a founding member of the Canadian University Press. Now a magazine, we publish monthly during the academic year with a circulation of 300. We publish weekly online at Thebruns.ca. @thebrunswickan
The opinions and views expressed in this publication are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Brunswickan, its Editorial Board or its Board of Directors. All editorial content appearing in The Brunswickan is the property of Brunswickan Publishing Inc. Stories, photographs and artwork contained herein cannot be reproduced without the express, written permission of the Editor-in-Chief.
Front Cover Detatched Rachel from the series DETACHED: Embrace the Essential Worker, by photographer Lisa Metz.
Staff Reporters Andrew McCullough Ibukun Keyamo David Bunce Creative Team Josh Vandenborre Jules Keenan Social Media Manager Emma Warwick Volunteer Lisa Metz
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Ally Buchanan Business Manager Cameron Wiseman Ceative Director Jules Keenan News Editor Taylor Chalker Arts & Lifestyle Editor Marlowe Evans Ad Manager Curtis Brewster Multimedia Editor Josh Vandenborre Copy Editor Jack Sparks
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Editor Letter from the
Words by Ally Buchanan Illustration by Jules Keenan
I remember March, and being absolutely sure that by the summer I’d be able to travel and visit my relatives in the United States. And then I remember June, with borders still closed and case numbers closely watched, thinking that by the fall schools would open as usual. And then October, attending classes from a Microsoft Teams call in my living room hoping that I’d be able to see my classmates in January. Now it’s January and, well, you tell me how close my prediction was. Of course, I was wrong every single time. Widespread access to a vaccine is on the horizon, yes, but the situation seems more dire every time you check the news. Daily cases are higher than ever, and the province has entered its second, or third depending on how you count it, wave of lockdown. The virus has been reported in multiple schools and seniors facilities. Outside of New Brunswick and the Maritimes, as well, cases, ICU admissions, and deaths are staggering. What seemed at first to be a nightmare lasting a few months has evolved into an oddly ordinary reality almost a year later. What many chalked up to a bad year, saying “2020 is the worst,” has proven to have significant staying power. 2020 was the year of abandoning assumptions, expectations, and predictions. It was a year that asked the world to stand still in many ways, while fighting for its life in many others. The celebration around the world as the clock struck midnight in whatever time zone you were in and saw 2020 fade into the rearview was astounding. But pandemics, political unrest, and economic and social crises do not abide by the Gregorian calendar.
It’s really easy to conflate the ills of the last 12 months with 2020, but as our lovely reporter Andrew will discuss in a few pages, that can’t be further from the truth. January 2021 brings a fresh new start, but also carries the same realities as December 2020. Allow this to serve as a reminder I know we’re all tired of hearing and reading: the pandemic is not over because you want it to be, or because the New Year passed. It is just as important today as it was two months ago to wear a mask, avoid travel, isolate if instructed, and generally act responsibly. The idea of facing another few months of the pandemic and all the implications that come with it – academic, social, economic, mental and physical health, and others – is discouraging to say the least. It’s frustrating to be in the large majority of those following guidelines to see those who aren’t doing so without much consequence while cooped up in your apartment. Even though it can be disheartening, it’s important to remember that what you feel you are giving up benefits so many in the long run. Sincerely, Ally Have a comment on a story, want to bring attention to something happening on campus, or have anything else to share? We want to hear from you! Send in your Letters to the Editor to editor@thebruns.ca.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE BRUNSWICKAN | VOL. 154, ISSUE 5
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News Briefs Taylor Chalker
On the Town
Marlowe Evans
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On the Frontlines: Nursing Home Conditions In a Pandemic Taylor Chalker
Unhappy New Year: Welcome to 2021 Andrew McCullough
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Chuck Cosby Day: The Residence Riot of 1991 Marlowe Evans
Winter Term Events and Orientation Ibukun Keyamo
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Defining Misogyny Vol IV: Taylor Chalker
Detached: Embrace the Essential Worker
Marlowe Evans
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January Horoscopes Sharkie
Dear Sharkie Sharkie
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Crossword
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COVID-19 Numbers Soar Following Holidays New Brunswick has seen a surge of cases in the new year, with multiple record breaking days since the first of the year, resulting in a shift to Orange phase. Zone 3, the Fredericton region, currently has the highest number of cases, with Zone 1, the Moncton region, following closely behind.
Words by Taylor Chalker Illustration by Jules Keenan
New Brunswick Being Sued Over Abortion Access The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) has launched litigation to fight for abortion access in New Brunswick. This follows the province restricting access to abortion services and aims for New Brunswick to fund those abortion services in private clincs. On October 14, the CCLA issued a formal letter stating that they would be taking the province to court if they did not improve access to abortion services. With the recent closure of Clinic 554, and in response to regulation 84-20, New Brunswick now has no out-of-hospital abortion clinics. The CCLA stated that the removal of out-of-hospital abortion services has made this a federal issue, as it is criminalizing abortion and is, therefore, out of the province’s jurisdiction. Premier Higgs has not yet made a statement regarding this lawsuit.
These cases come from a combination of holiday gatherings and travel related cases, and has seen outbreaks at several schools and long-term care facilities throughout the province. Dr. Jennifer Russell explained that the clusters in Zones 1 and 3 are the result of individuals attending holiday gatherings while symptomatic. “We are not in a good place in terms of the direction that things are going right now, so I am concerned. I am concerned about the cooperation of the public right now,” Dr. Russell said on January 4. She explained the severity of the situation, explaining that this is the worst scenario that New Brunswick has been in so far, in regard to the pandemic, as it is spread all over the province. She addressed rumours that the province would be entering the Red phase, stating that it is not currently planned, but that it is not impossible. “I have no doubt in my mind that if Red is required, it will happen,” she said. “We just know that the ramifications of going to Red in terms of what we saw with the first wave were quite negative in terms of unintended consequences and negative outcomes.” On January 9, Woodstock announced cases at Woodstock High School and Townsview School, with Public Health asking all students and staff to self-isolate pending test results. Townsview School reported one positive case, and Woodstock High School indicated multiple cases, but did not specify an exact number. “If you don’t care about yourself, please care about others,” Premier Higgs said on January 5. “We are indeed talking life and death at this time.”
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Words by Marlowe Evans Illustration by Jules Keenan
Shivering Songs When: January 20 - 24* Where: The Fredericton Playhouse Fredericton’s famous Shivering Songs Festival comes through for 2021 with an amazing lineup of local artists. Including names like Jeremy Dutcher, Grand Theft Bus, and Les Chanterelles, Shivering Songs is aiming for a banger festival that is entirely COVID-safe. Tickets are available via the Playhouse Box Office. *Due to the Province’s move to the Orange Recovery Phase, the Festival will look to move its previously announced hyperlocal live festival to February, in a concentrated effort to support local artists, venues, and contractors who’ve struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Downtown Ice Sculpture Showcase When: January 23 Where: Downtown Fredericton Richard Chiasson is back again this year to create enticing ice sculptures for the 2021 Ice Sculptures Showcase. Using everything from a fine pick to dramatic sweeps of a chainsaw, watch as sculptures come to life across downtown! A map of sculpture locations will be available on the FROSTival website.
Frosty 15 Storytime On Demand When: January 21 - February 6, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Where: Fredericton Public Library Call or email the Fredericton Public Library to book a storytime for your family bubble! Winter-themed stories are available, and the time slots are limited. This is a unique opportunity to get kids out of the house in a COVID-safe way – the story times can even be arranged for family favourite books! We recommend The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. Sandwith Sleigh Rides When: January 21 - February 7 Where: 2031 RTE 620 Highway, Royal Road Do we have to say anything more than hot chocolate and horse-drawn sleigh? There is nothing more romantic than being cuddled up close listening to the jangling of a horse in harness, gliding through the snow. With meals, snacks, drinks, and even a bonfire available, there is no sweeter deal this winter. The phone number for booking is available on the FROSTival website. Thane Dunn’s Elvis Greatest Hits Birthday Celebration When: January 24, 7:30 p.m. Where: Fredericton Playhouse Nothing says January like an Elvis tribute. Thane Dunn and the Cadillac Kings, along with Melly Dunn, are going to be bringing Fredericton insane Elvis Presley vocals, style, and action. Tickets are available at the Playhouse box office. 7
On the Frontlines:
Nursing Home Conditions in a Pandemic Words by Taylor Chalker Illustration by Jules Keenan
Workers in New Brunswick’s nursing
homes have had to adjust to a constant state of change during the pandemic, with new precautions being considered as COVID-19 persists in the province. Cara Babcock, fourth-year Bachelor of Nursing student at UNB, works as a personal support worker at Pine Grove Nursing Home in Fredericton. Within this position, she performs basic care for the elderly residents and has found herself having to adjust to the changing rules enforced at her facility. “My daily tasks include helping the residents with activities of daily living such as morning and evening care, taking blood sugars, doing vital signs, and charting,” Babcock explained, adding that “the tasks I do for work haven’t changed since COVID; I still do the same things, but the rules have constantly been changing.” Staff are required to wear a mask at all times, except when eating or drinking on their break, and their temperature is taken before entering the facility. They must monitor their email frequently to ensure that they are aware of any new rules as soon as they are announced.
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Through Orange protocol, nursing homes in New Brunswick have placed heavy restrictions on those permitted in the facility due to the high-risk status of their residents. Virtual gatherings are permitted, as well as outdoor gatherings of up to ten people with social distancing guidelines being observed. Facilities have prohibited all general visitors, allowing only essential volunteers, designated support persons, and visitors for those receiving palliative care allowed into the building. Even gifts must meet certain guidelines to be able to enter the building, as they must be able to be washed and disinfected before coming into contact with residents. Items such as flowers must be left at a safe enough distance to be seen, but not touched or smelled, by residents. Many residents have experienced long stretches without visitors due to the pandemic and struggle with feelings of loneliness as a result.
Babcock expresses the need for more workers, not only during the pandemic, but also when it ends. Workers are dedicated to providing the best possible care to their residents, and more workers would ensure that this is an attainable goal. She praised Pine Grove for their success in adjusting to the new rules imposed by the pandemic, highlighting their stringent practices of handwashing, mask-wearing, and social distancing as reasons for their success. “I think there have definitely been some challenges with all of the new rules in place, but overall the facility has done a fantastic job of handling the difficulties. There are precautions in place to ensure our safety,” she said. “I just hope that as a province we can follow the rules and regulations to keep our cases down to ensure the residents at Pine Grove can see their families.”
“It has been hard on a lot of the residents because none of them saw their families for a long period of time during the pandemic, which is really hard on their mental health,” Babcock said. “When we accept a new resident they remain in their rooms for 14 days to isolate for symptoms, which is also really hard on them.”
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Unhappy New Year:
Welcome to 2021. Words by Andrew McCullough Graphic by Josh Vandenborre
Yes, we know… a lot of bad things happened in 2020. As disaster after disaster befell the world, people were quick to vocalize their disdain for the year.
Looking back on 2020, the whole thing appears to be a doomsday prophet’s fever dream. The year started with Australia on fire. Photographs circulated of a maelstrom of hellfire consuming the outback. Then the news cycle was dominated by headlines spreading the word that Ukrainian Flight 752 was shot down in Iran. Additional tensions between Iran and the United States suggested a steady creep toward war. The Doomsday Clock ticked toward midnight. 8 10
Then COVID-19 spread worldwide. With everyone experiencing the insufferable boredom of their first full-on lockdown, no one had anything better to do than shitpost jokes about how they can’t wait for the year to be over. Well, guess what, it’s 2021’s time to shine. You waited with bated breath, anxiously posting the distracted boyfriend meme where the girlfriend is labelled 2020 and the “other woman” 2021. The bad year is over, and the good year has begun! That means we can all celebrate, right? Right? Then you turn on the TV and see Trump fanatics cosplaying as Vikings on CSPAN and realize the nightmare
continues. You flip the channel and realize that COVID case numbers are still rising. You change the channel again to see the mega-douche Elon Musk is now the world's richest person. There is no escaping it – 2021 is going to be worse than 2020. Have we forgotten 2016 already? The world wept not just because of Trump’s election but also because of celebrity deaths and a failed Ghostbusters reboot. Under scrutiny, many of the world’s recent catastrophes can be directly linked to things that happened that year. Trump’s election in 2016 led to the complete failure of the U.S. to manage the Coronavirus pandemic. Believe it or not, but you can even draw links between the hate directed at the Ghostbusters reboot and the current U.S. political climate. Opposition to the all-female Ghostbusters film appeared to originate from piranhas leftover from the misogynistic Gamergate crowd. The semantics surrounding the film threw fuel on the fire of burgeoning anti-feminist, far-right rhetoric spreading in internet dark corners with ideological ties to groups like the Proud Boys, Turning Point, and others that have contributed to political turmoil happening in the U.S. Think of it this way: everything that you think makes 2020 a terrible year will just be the catalyst for many far worse things to come. Coronavirus in 2020? Pshh, a walk in the park compared to the beating the world will take when the next pandemic rattles a population riddled with post-COVID lung problems. You think Trump was bad? Wait until you see the next far-right dem-
agogue that putrefies into existence in response to the Democrats' constant failure to produce or harness meaningful social movements. Trump’s hissy fit of a presidency will appear a pathetic whimper in comparison to a reactionary figure that isn’t too lazy to harness the destructive power of their base. 2021 doesn’t look all that bright when you consider how it is just the natural conclusion to 2020 and the inevitable cause of whatever shitstorm awaits us in a couple of years. The casual banter may seem harmless. You might not even realize you are doing it. But the mindless small talk, the chatter that amounts to no more than “2020 sucks” ends up reproducing an ideology of complacency, irresponsibility, and nihilism that prevents any real change or progress from happening. Words have power, and when we contain the awesome events of the past year into the cultural branding of “shitty things that occurred in 2020,” we restrict our understanding of the events and lessen our ability to foresee and prevent them. Others are attempting to deconstruct and point out the warning signs that preceded and the unfortunate consequences to come. It’s not a pretty narrative, and it is certainly not one that allows a joyous celebration of 2021. But in the sombre reality lies a happy ending that our world is not concrete, and things can change. This year we saw sincere attempts at spreading positive energy, creating productive activist movements, and bridging social gaps between a variety of demographics. These are projects that are not limited to the year 2020, and that we should ensure thrive in the years to come. So while, yes, 2021 is going to suck, let's create some nice things for ourselves instead of just complaining.
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Chuck Cosby Day: The Residence Riot of 1991
Words Words by by Marlowe Marlowe Evans Evans Photos submitted
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April 11, 1991 The University of New Brunswick has many traditions
that have slowly petered out over the years, but there are others that have been systematically stamped out by university administration. One of those traditions? Chuck Cosby Day.
Now just who Chuck Cosby was is unclear. It could be that he was once a UNB student, or perhaps the name was created specifically for the event. Either way, Chuck Cosby Day was a long-held tradition at Bridges House from long before the residence became co-ed, back in a time before Residence Life when house Dons were in charge, and residences could have bars at socials and parties. Chuck Cosby Day was a social, followed by an awards ceremony of sorts. It usually happened in April, at the end of second term. The social event was rumoured to involve drugs as well as alcohol, but was a party which residents looked forward to for the entire year. The awards ceremony presented the “Asshole of the Year Award” to whatever resident was voted (by secret committee) to be the biggest loser in Bridges. With 2021 perspective, it’s not difficult to recognize why the event was cancelled – but, in 1991, sentiments were different.
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On April 11, 1991, news broke that Chuck Cosby
Day was cancelled, and that no Asshole Award was to be bestowed. Students were unhappy, and according to an interview given by Steve Williams to then-Bruns News Editor Karen Burgess in April of 1991, cancelling Chuck Cosby was, “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Tensions had been rising for several years as university administration cracked down on traditions that it perceived as unsavoury or damaging to the school’s reputation. Though it seems nearly unbelievable, the University of New Brunswick used to have more of a party-school reputation than St. Frances Xavier. It has only been in the last 30 or so years that UNB has recouped their reputation, and even then it was done with great difficulty. April 11, 1991 is a perfect example of why it was difficult to try to change the university’s culture overnight. Residents were upset when they discovered that the administration was forbidding them from having Chuck Cosby Day. According to a Bruns article from April 12, students felt that “their way of expressing themselves through legitimate channels” wasn’t working. So there was a riot. This is no exaggeration. Bridges residents were furious that their traditions were being stripped from them, and other students sympathized, since Bridges wasn’t the only residence where events were being scrutinized. Students began to gather in the quad and inside Bridges. Things escalated. Beds were broken apart and thrown into the quad out of the windows. The washrooms were destroyed; toilets were ripped out of the wall and thrown through windows into the quad. People were drinking heavily. There were hundreds of people running through the quad, destroying things. By the end of the night on April 11, there were over 400 people in the quad, and the university was dealing with a full scale riot. According to a source who worked at UNB in 1991 and who wishes to remain anonymous, one estimate at the time put the cost of damages to Bridges House “in the five figures,” and a figure even more outrageous 30 years ago. Needless to say, the administration was not happy at all.
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There was no record available to see how many students were disciplined by UNB, but the police were called to the riot, and reportedly there were one or two students who were arrested. The same week, several male students had to be disciplined over an anonymously published letter in Rolling Jones: UNB's Rudest Official Residence Publication, discussing why women were useless and not as good as men. The riot was a shock to the university in a week where they were already having issues controlling what was going on behind the closed doors of residence. It was the first time there had been a full-scale riot on the campus grounds, and it dealt a blow to the school’s reputation that echoed a long way. Newspapers from across the country covered the riot – from the Vancouver Sun to the Windsor Star, there were articles about the Chuck Cosby riot on newsstands all over Canada. The idea of an Asshole Award was repugnant to most, and the fact that students at UNB had rioted over its removal was strange to those who were not involved directly with campus affairs. The Brunswickan’s article from the day after the riot is the only one that represents a student perspective. One of the students who witnessed the riot was interviewed, and noted that the Asshole of the Year Award worked as a deterrent for bad behaviour in Res, as nobody wanted to get the award.
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It’s obvious that students at the time were frustrated with the lack of consultation with the student body over what events were going to take place on campus. The loss of Chuck Cosby brings to mind the increased tightening and restriction of Harrison House’s Pumpkin Sacrifice, and the loss of traditions and events associated with O-Week for fear of hazing accusations. Chuck Cosby Day and the Asshole of the Year Award briefly came back into the limelight as Gabriel Wortman, perpetrator of the 2020 Nova Scotia Attacks, was listed in several online forums as a possible past recipient of the Asshole Award. There has been little information released to the public about Wortman, and there is no public, or Brunswickan, record of Asshole Award recipients. But the forums raised an interesting question – would being named Asshole of the Year have implications? Was getting the award a source of shame, or was it one of those inside joke awards that only those who’ve lived in a residence could understand? Was it right to cancel Chuck Cosby Day along with the Asshole Award?
Now, back in 1991, apparently UNB still had a minister who was for some reason involved in Residence Life. The day after the riot, the Kitchener-Waterloo Record reported that “Rev. Monte Peters, a campus minister, sent a letter to all Bridges House residents the day after the incident. In it, he wrote of a ‘deep and painful sense of shame.’” "‘My conversations with past victims of the Chuck Cosby process of intimidation and harassment had convinced me beyond any doubt that it was a mean and cruel form of psychological torture,’ he said in his letter.” Quoted in an article in the Vancouver Sun on April 11, 1991, then-dean of residence Mary-Lou Stirling said that interviews “with past recipients of the award revealed it caused lasting psychological harm. Some suffered depression afterward; others wanted to quit UNB altogether.” The Brunswickan was not able to find anyone who either admitted or was named as a recipient of the award other than Gabriel Wortman – so who knows how recipients of the Asshole Award feel 30 years later. No one will ever know what would’ve happened if Chuck Cosby hadn’t been cancelled, but the riot in 1991 is certainly a major event in the history of the University of New Brunswick, and is certainly worth writing about in the year of its 30th anniversary. If you happen to know who Chuck Cosby was, or have any more information about Chuck Cosby Day, the Asshole of the Year Award, or the 1991 riot, please email arts@thebruns.ca – we’re dying to know. We’ll even buy you a beer. 15
Winter Term Events and Orientation Words by Ibukun Keyamo Illustration by Jules Keenan
Many students are taking their
classes online from different provinces, countries, and even continents, meaning that there will be a significant decrease in the number of events provided this year. Although there will only be a few events, the Student Union plans to make them as entertaining as possible. “Our goal as the Student Union is to provide exciting events to students regardless of their location,” said VP Student Life Vishnu Vardhan. Vishnu says that the SU is monitoring the changes brought about by COVID-19 and will program events accordingly. He maintained that student safety is the top priority but hopes that New Brunswick’s situation will improve enough to allow in-person events. Vishnu explained that the plans set in place for events are extremely flexible and can be changed to reflect changes in phases. The regularly scheduled winter semester programming such as the Winter Carnival, Red Awards, etc. will be planned with alternatives readily available in case of a phase-change. It is unclear whether there will be any new events, but Vishnu promises that a few regular events will be coming back this year, including Sex Week, Red N’ Black Revue Variety Show, Red Awards, and Winter Carnival.
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The Director of Campus Events has been officially hired by the Student Union and will be working with them to create exciting and meaningful programming for students this winter. “It has been a very challenging year for students, but we are very committed to creating the best possible experience for them,” he added. Winter Orientation, an event organized by the International Student Advisor’s Office (ISAO), is for new international students who arrived in Fredericton and started classes at UNB in January. This year’s winter orientation will be delivered virtually to ensure higher attendance and has been broken down into a five-day series of info sessions with a social event on the last day. All the orientation sessions will be delivered on Microsoft Teams, taking place from January 5 to January 10. “We encourage all our new students, whether they are in Canada already or studying remotely this term, to attend and learn about the essentials to help them navigate their academic years at UNB,” explained Hillary Nguyen, an International Student Advisor at UNB. These sessions will include an immigration session, student services orientation, international insurance information session,
and a virtual social event. The social event will feature a video series showcasing local spots and the most highlighted locations in downtown Fredericton. The ISAO partnered with St. Thomas University and the City of Fredericton last summer to shoot these videos. There will be mini break-out sessions where the students will be split into smaller groups to connect and meet others, as well as mini games, the winners of which will get a $100 tuition credit prize each. To end orientation, a panel partly made up of SU and GSA executive members will be available to answer any questions the students might have. Due to the unpredictability of the province’s phases, most plans for winter semester are unsure as of yet, but the SU will provide more information as the semester progresses.
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Defining Misogyny Vol. IV: Taylor Chalker Words by Taylor Chalker Illustration by Jules Keenan
Defining Misogyny is a series dedicated to sharing stories of how misogyny and gender-based discrimination have affected women and gender nonconforming people in our community. If you have a story you’d like to share, send it to arts@thebruns.ca.
Age 17. I allow the men in my life to view
me as a service-provider. Custodian. Cook. Alibi. I am good, innocent, eager, and trustworthy. I can be relied upon to hide whatever secrets they needed kept. I want them to need me, existing in a fog of my own expectations while waiting to mold myself to theirs. I protect them, and wait for the moment when they will finally protect me. I keep waiting. I am the good sister, the good daughter, the good friend. I am a good girl. Age 18. He is kind to me, and he is handsome, and he is smart, and when they look at me with him I finally feel seen. He is calling me, I can’t answer right now. 11 missed calls. 23 missed calls. 68 missed calls. He is going to throw himself off a bridge if I don’t answer. Who was I with? Where have I been? He doesn’t care that I am in a lecture. When he calls, I answer. That is how this works. Don’t I know that? Age 19. I call him. I call him again. He was busy. Why am I so needy? When he calls I answer, but when I call it is not the same. We are not the same. Why don’t I know that yet? I’m putting on weight, he doesn’t like that. I need to go to the gym more. I leave. I am failing my classes. I drop out of school, drink too much, and will never find a man as good as him. I was stupid to let him go. I know they are right, but I have lost myself and I can’t find her anywhere. I look for her in the men that I kiss downtown, in the beds of coworkers. He is gone and I am empty.
Age 20. The city welcomes me like a gutter welcomes a lost glove. Catching me before I fall, but leaving me wet, dirty, and looking for shelter. I try to find it in my new school, my new friends, and my first apartment. I stumble. I see him in the bartender at my job, the regular that buys me drinks after my shift, and the man on Tinder that tells the cab “just one address” without asking me. I hate them, and I hate myself. I begin to resent them. I become them. Commitment becomes a foreign concept, one that is reserved for desperate little girls that needed somebody to love them back. Age 21. I am lost. Age 22. I am lost. Age 23. I allow myself to feel again. Love, trust, fear, heartbreak – all of it. It feels good, and it hurts bad, but I finally know what it means to dive right into the human experience and indulge myself. I do this for me. He no longer dictates how I choose to love myself. I look in the mirror and I finally see who I am, instead of who he made me. I am capable of saying NO, of saying LISTEN TO ME, of saying I AM HERE. I will no longer be ignored by anyone. Especially myself.
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DETACHED: Embrace the Essential Worker Words by Marlowe Evans Photography by Lisa Metz
There were few things that caused such uproar and tension in 2020 as the implementation of mandatory mask policies. None of the uproar over having to wear masks was in any way legitimate, and artist Lisa Metz said as much.
“The fact of the matter is, there are countless professional scientific studies that show that wearing masks is beneficial in the fight against Coronavirus. Today we live in a distorted world,” said Metz in her artist’s statement. Her photography series, DETACHED: Embrace the Essential Worker, attempts to capture the way that masks can create an almost unreal elegance.
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“My medium is perfect for expressing this new reality. DETACHED: Embrace the Essential Worker is a photography series that incorporates both elements of surrealism and portraiture with the aim to encourage people to welcome the new normal so we can return to the old normal.� 22
The colours feel like a dream – a reminder that the last year has felt like some kind of fever dream. The photos feature glimmering, electric reflections of Metz’s subjects in masks. The photos serve as a bridge between the knowledge that masks are essential and the fact they can also be beautiful.
“I want my viewers to see my series as a reminder of why masks are so important and why we should continue to follow medical experts’ advice,” said Metz.
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Janu Horos 30
uary scopes Words to the wise from your favourite red herring. Words by Sharkie Graphics by Josh Vandenborre
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January sees new things for Aries. You may get a new car – you may get a kick in the pants. It’s all about perspective. Don’t look a gift kick in the car. It’s a bad deal on Chevrolet in January. Avoid chinos.
Now you, as a Capricorn, may think that this isn’t your season. You are correct. Christmas is your season. Lament that for January. Jesus was a Capricorn, that’s not just PR.
Your bad attitude is going to get you in trouble in January. If you would stop being a two-faced pain in the ass, maybe you could have some groovy new connections this new year. But I don’t think so. People think Geminis are the unreliable slimy ones. It’s you.
You really are a goof. I don’t know what the matter is, but everyone is about to laugh at you in January. Avoid making financial decisions. You don’t want people to laugh at how you mismanaged the family fortune.
I think someone on staff is a Gemini, so our lawyers told me to play nice or I’m going to sleep with the fishes again instead of in the office. Just leave the Gemini section as, “No Comment.”
You’re going to get some mad action this January. Kiss kiss, bang bang. Just kidding, you’re Uma Thurman, January is Kill Bill Pt. 2.
Watch out fish sign, someone’s going to eat you. By someone, I mean me. I am a herring, not a shark. But some herring (from southern Norway) are both clairvoyants who write funky little horoscopes, and carnivores with a taste for Pisces. Tasty.
You’re going to find $20 on the ground. I give you permission to keep it. Remember to share money with people who give you good advice. And I’m not talking about Dr. Phil, he’s already rich and, according to my aunt Midge, does not actually give good advice on how to rehabilitate penguins.
You’re full of worms.
January is a good time for Sagittarius. You’re going to meet a beautiful woman who will show you all the nuances of true pleasure. Dairy Queen. Montana’s? Outback Steakhouse.
January is a good time for Scorpios. You’re getting into new things. Maybe it’s a fun new computer game, maybe you’re cheating on your girlfriend. Just remember that January doesn’t mean no COVID restrictions. Keep booty calls to a minimum.
My cousin’s mom’s friend Oin was a Libra and he made me go to bed early at Benji’s sleepover back in 1250. So I’m going to say bad things about Libras. Bite your tongue in January!
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Send any questions regarding school, university culture, or life in general to dearsharkie@thebruns. ca in less than 100 words for a chance to gain really bad advice from everyone’s favourite red herring. Disclaimer: Please don’t actually follow this advice. Dear Sharkie, Last week my roommate’s dog bit me while we were having happy happy fun time. Now I’m acting all weird and I’m thirsty all the time. What do I do? I don’t want my roommate to know what I’ve been doing with his lab Sheila while he’s doing his Engineering lab. Sincerely Dogboy Dear Dogboy, I, under no circumstances, will give you any pity for being bitten. Don’t do “happy happy fun time” with dogs. Dogs are not meant to go in bouncy castles. They could break their little legs! And I see legs as a valuable commodity, being a fish. In fact, I don’t think people like you should be around dogs. If you gave me just a little bit more evidence, maybe I’d forward your email to the dog equivalent of those cat people from that movie where people don’t mess with cats. You might think you were being nice to Sheila, giving her an alternative for walkies, but dogs like walkies, and they do NOT like bouncy castles. Again, they are VERY dangerous. As it is, the only advice I am going to give you is as follows: Move. Move far away from poor Sheila.
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Tell your roommate you were playing the bouncebounce with his dog and to take her to the vet to make sure she’s not hurt. She also might need a check-up on her vaccines. Just a suggestion. Definitely don’t go to the doctor. I’m glad Sheila bit you. The symptoms you are describing do not sound at all like the onset of rabies. If you start foaming at the mouth, it’s definitely because you’re missing the bounce house. Not because of anything else.
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1. What is the best kind of flour to use in the making of fresh pasta? 2. What city is the capital of the Yukon? 3. Home of the world’s largest lobster. 4. Thumbelina’s name in the original Dutch version of the fairytale? 5. How many states fought as part of the Union during the American Civil War? 8. Provincial bird of British Columbia. 9. Where are the world pond hockey championships held? 10. Who invaded Ireland in August 1649? 16. A magic word. 17. Fill in the blank: Chuck ________.
7. How many toes does a horse have? 11. What university is tied with UNB for oldest English-speaking school in North America? 12. The first name of the author of our “Unhappy New Year” article. 13. Title of Bob Dylan’s 16 minute, 32 second long John Kennedy epic. 14. Current record holder for fastest swim across the English Channel. 15. What is the most common colour for the stone known as jade? 18. Director of Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. 19. Common name for a Labrador-Poodle cross. 20. Spell New Brunswick in French. 21. Where was the host of Don Messer’s Jubilee born?