Issue 20,Vol 145, The Brunswickan

arts | shivering songs

news | winter parking woes

opinion| affirmative action

sports| richard’s last home game

Volume 145 · February 8 · Issue 20, 2012

www.thebruns.ca

brunswickan canada’s oldest official student publication.

Universities will soon be subject to the Right to Information Act. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

Ripping off the tape: UNB prepares for Access to Information Hilary Paige Smith News Editor Though the government of New Brunswick is hesitant to set a launch date, it is only a matter of time before universities will be included in the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The Act was given Royal Assent in 2009 and according to the province, “is founded on the principles of openness and accountability.” The act allows citizens to request information about public institutions and government bodies that isn’t readily available.

Until now, universities and municipalities have been excluded from the act.

UNB is making preparations, but as university president Dr. Eddy

Campbell says, that doesn’t mean hiding information. It means putting policies in place for employees handling the information.

“You have to realize that people have day jobs and they’re fully occupied by doing what they’re doing now and what typically happens with these sorts of requests is they come in and they’re layered on top of everything you’re doing,” he said.

Once RTI requests have been submitted, the institution has 30 days to comply. Campbell, during his time at Memorial University, said similar legislation “created a significant administrative burden on the university.”

“We have to do our best to comply with the legislation and that 30-day window sounds quite reasonable to people from the outside, but in

lots of instances, it’s actually a real challenge to meet that particular deadline,” he said.

The university has received RTI requests in the past, but administration members did not have information on how many.

Sarah DeVarenne, university secretary, is responsible for responding to requests. The university’s RTI coordinator and privacy officer report to her.

DeVarenne said once the policy is in place, they will keep track of statistics like that.

“I’ll be able to provide that information at some point in the future.

Not specifically this question, but information on what kinds of requests were received and what our responses are like,” she said.

Campbell said, at the moment,

universities have been told the Act will go into effect on April 1.

In a statement issued by Claude Williams, minister for Supply and Services – the department RTIPPA falls under – he said there is no fixed timeline for the Act. “Government has been consulting with universities and municipalities on this issue and other issues related to coming under the Act. These consultations have been completed and recommendations are being prepared,” the statement read.

Universities will also be required to release salary ranges for employees, though individual salaries will not be released.

Campbell said the university is looking at adding a page on the website where people will be able to access information like salaries and

the university budget in one place.

It is Campbell’s expectation that the university will receive an influx of requests when the Act rolls out.

He said this is a concern.

“We want to be able to respond.

I’m not sure how it will evolve. I think at this point we will engage in proactive disclosure, putting the kinds of information that we get in an easily accessible place,” he said.

“If they have questions that are not answered in that way, they can approach us in either an informal or formal way.”

The university sent information out about RTIPPA policies through the eDaily News several times in January. The information called on

SEE RTI PAGE 2

brunswickannews NDP leadership hopeful talks big New Brunswick issues to small crowd

2 • Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145

Alanah Duffy News Reporter New Democratic Party leadership candidate Thomas Mulcair spoke at the University of New Brunswick last week about an issue that has been in New Brunswick news for several months.

“I would put it to you that the issue of shale gas extraction and hydro-fracking are almost metaphors for our society at the stage that we’re at now,” Mulcair said at the beginning of his speech.

Hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofrack ing, dominated provincial headlines for much of 2011. It is a technique used by energy companies to gain access to underground natural gas deposits.

To gain access, companies drill wells through shale rock and then blast a mixture of chemicals, sand and water into the rock. This fractures underground formations and releases tapped gas. But, it damages the soil and it is feared that the chemicals used can damage drinking water.

After arriving 20 minutes late due to traffic, Mulcair started his 35-minute speech by giving a history of the environmental movement.

“From the beginning of time, whenever we moved a rock or cut down a tree, it had an effect on the environment. There weren’t enough of us then to have a terrible effect,”

he told the crowd of about 35 people, pointing to the 20th century industrial revolution as being the first movement to have a profound effect on the environment.

In the second half of his speech, Mulcair narrowed his focus specifically to hydro-fracking. He warned the crowd of the dangers of this practice and said that current rules and regulations about fracking are not being enforced.

Mulcair placed a lot of emphasis on the importance of getting people together to lobby against the government on this issue.

“You’ve got to talk amongst yourselves. You’ve got to start staying, ‘there has to be an alternative.’ This is about our common future; this is about what we can live in and with,” he told the audience.

In a media scrum after Mulcair’s speech, the Brunswickan asked how it was expected to get people involved in this issue when passivity about Canadian political issues is so high.

Mulcair responded by saying: “The only way to combat an issue like this is with solid information.

Emotionalism is not going to help.

We’ve got to make sure that people understand that there’s a real danger in this one, explain what it is, and then they will push really hard to require that rules be put in place and enforced.”

Mulcair, the Member of Parlia-

Thomas Mulcair spoke in Carleton Hall last week. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan ment for Quebec’s Out remont constituency, served as Quebec’s Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks from 2003 until 2006.

His stop in Fredericton was one of many across Canada as part of the

leadership race. The next NDP leader will be chosen on March 24 in Toronto. Mulcair is competing against seven other Members of Parliament.

On Thu rsday, Ja n. 26, New Brunswick premier David Alward gave his annual State of the Prov-

ince speech. He told spectators that hydro-fracking could potentially be an economic benefit for the province, given New Brunswick’s debt and rate of unemployment.

UNB will be conservative with personal info FROM RTI PAGE 1 administration members, faculty and staff to give input.

DeVarenne said student groups have also been notified about the draft policy.

Campbell said when administrative policies are being drafted, students aren’t involved. However, if students want to be involved in the process, they can submit their input.

Universities differ from other institutions because they do have student records on file. DeVarenne said students will be able to request their own information, but they can’t request the information of fellow students.

Campbell also said the university has to be careful when protecting the privacy of students and they will be conservative with respect to personal

information.

He also said the university will be hesitant to release information that could hurt it’s competitive position, like how they attract students.

“I don’t like discussing hypotheticals. You can see there are potential areas where people may disagree over what should and shouldn’t be released. And that leads us to exercise the measurements in the legislation for adjudicating such disputes,” the president said.

The government has a system for resolving disputes over RTI requests, for example, if the institution receiving the request doesn’t wish to release information.

Campbell said this is an important move for the university and it is one that will help build trust.

“There’s a kind of saying in administrative circles that sunshine cures a lot of ills.”

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brunswickannews

Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145 • 3

New Democratic Party leadership race not attracting much attention Derek Ness The Brunswickan The eight New Democratic Party leadership hopefuls had their second of six televised debates in Halifax last week.

But the leadership contest may not be attracting as much attention as candidates hoped, according to a St. Thomas University professor.

Tom Bateman, an associate professor of political science, said “the NDP’s national and Quebec poll numbers have been sliding [since early fall] and the NDP is now in a statistical tie with the Liberals who [as a party] are not dead yet.”

Bateman believes the outcome of the federal NDP leadership race will be a key indicator of how successful the party will become in future elections.

Since the first debate, one of the original nine candidates, Robert Chisholm, has withdrawn from the race, leaving eight candidates running to become Jack Layton’s successor.

Each of the debates has a set theme, allowing for a somewhat different, engaging and informative atmosphere.

The Halifax debate was on the subject of families, a group the late Jack Layton always pushed for.

The party will have much work to do once the leadership competition closes if they intend to reinforce last

spring’s discussion on Canada’s ability to be a two-party system with the NDP and the Conservatives.

Dominic Cardy, leader of the NB NDP, has been working on local projects, while also helping on the campaign of one of the leadership candidates, Tom Mulcair.

Having attended the debate in Halifax, Cardy said, “the race is a great opportunity for New Democrats to share their ideas on the future and for the candidates to spell out how they can take the party to the next level.”

He believes the choice of leader will have a big impact on the future of the party and on federal politics.

In particular, Cardy is hoping that the next federal NDP Leader will be, “someone who has the strength to manage the federal New Democrats, to take [their] message of modern social democracy to Canadians, and to become Prime Minister by winning the election in 2015.”

Bateman explained that the Harper government has certainly given NDP leadership contestants an ideal opportunity to demonstrate their beliefs, policies and values through the looming cuts to retirement benefits. “[How the NDP responds] will be telling. Will [the party and leadership candidates] reflexively oppose [the proposed cuts] as some foolish gutting of the welfare state, or will they respond to protect Canadians by taking account of demographic and

Candidates Paul Dewar and Romeo Saganash during a recent leadership debate.

Rob Salemo - Xtra.ca / Flickr CC fiscal challenges that will become ever more pressing?”

Both Cardy and Bateman indicated that it is important for NDP enthusiasts to inform themselves on the platforms of the eight candidates and to also evaluate the candidates

on their decorum, their ability to maintain trust, and their abilities to lead and connect with all Canadians.

“It’s said that you get the governent you deserve. It’s our responsibility, as a party, to reach out to the public and explain our values,“ Cardy

explained.

As a result, he hopes that, “the public will get engaged and get involved – you can join the New Democrats before Feb. 18t and vote for the next leader.”

Syphilis rates on the rise in the province

Safer sex is one of the best ways to prevent the transmission of STIs. robertelyov / Flickr CC Alanah Duffy News Reporter The number of syphilis cases is rising in the province, a coordinator with New Brunswick Public Health said. The Student Health Centre is also dealing with a number of new cases.

“Our practitioners at the Student

Health Centre have not noticed a change in the rate of STIs, with the exception that we are now seeing cases of syphilis,” said Stacey Taylor, a nurse practitioner at the Student Health Centre.

Karen Wilson, communicable disease coordinator with New Brunswick Public Health, says that the province is currently in outbreak

mode for syphilis. Wilson says that an outbreak is a term used when rates are significantly higher than normal.

Between 2010 and 2011, syphilis rates almost doubled among people aged 20 to 24.

The data from Public Health is preliminary, unpublished and was retrieved from the system in October 2011.

Syphilis progresses through four stages, and symptoms of this infection may include a sore on the genital area, rashes or red spots on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, hair loss, fever and sore throat, and muscle and joint aches. Syphilis is curable with antibiotics, usually by injecting penicillin into the infected person.

Taylor also said the two most common STIs the Student Health Centre sees are human papilloma virus (HPV) and chlamydia.

There are more than 100 strains of HPV, which can be present without any symptoms. Factsheets say that about three out of four sexually active Canadians will contract this virus at some point; for women, it can be detected during a routine pap test.

Chlamydia, like HPV, can often be present without symptoms. When symptoms are present, they include an unusual discharge from genitalia and burning while urinating. Taking antibiotics can cure this infection.

“It is important to be aware that chlamydial infections are frequently asymptomatic,” Taylor said. “An infected individual can therefore unknowingly spread the infection to their sexual partner or partners, and so on.”

Wilson told the Brunswickan that

chlamydia rates have gone up ten per cent in the Fredericton area, and five per cent in the entire province.

The two most commonly affected age groups are people aged 15 to 19 and 20 to 24. Gonorrhea rates have gone up five per cent in the province, and affect the same age groups as chlamydia.

Factsheets from the government of New Brunswick say that the people most at risk for sexually transmitted infections are those under 25 who are sexually active with multiple partners.

Taylor said that there are sometimes rises in the rates of chlamydia among students. However, the Student Health Centre does not track the rates of STIs among its patients.

“An increase in chlamydia rates in a brief period of time is not unusual, but overall the rates remain very consistent,” Taylor said. “The bottom line is that chlamydia has been, and continues to be, one of the most commonly seen STIs in this clinic.”

Wilson encouraged all people who are sexually active to practice safer sex by always using protection and getting tested for sexually transmitted infections regularly.

More information about sexually transmitted infections can be found on the government of New Brunswick’s website, on the right-hand side of their health department page.

brunswickannews

4 • Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145

The Brunswickan’s annual winter parking story. Don’t say you didn’t see this coming Tamara Gravelle The Brunswickan Old man winter is visiting and needs a place to put his car.

First-year student Denver Welton says that finding a parking spot during the day is bad enough without the snow.

“All the spots are always taken during classes,” Welton said. “You have to park pretty far away to find a spot.”

Welton only has his car in Fredericton so he can get home on the weekends. He said that the snow causes more problems with parking because of how much there is.

“Snow gets packed up between cars,” Welton said. “Sometimes it can be really difficult to get in.”

Director of Security and Traffic, Bruce Rogerson said there are two problems with parking this year.

First, if it’s snowing during the day then the plows have less time and opportunity to clear the lots.

Also, pushing the snow out of the way means that some spaces are unavailable.

Second, which Rogerson says has always been a problem, is the fact that students are “inventing their own parking spaces.”

“Some students just block other students in,” Rogerson said. “That’s a behaviour problem.”

Security and Traffic get about four complaints a day from students due to being blocked in a parking area.

Rogerson said that this is unnecessary and that there is parking available, it’s just not convenient parking for the student.

“There are other spaces,” Rogerson said. “You can go to the Currie Center and we have the new BMO field that’s cleared out.”

Students should come to campus early with more than just one parking option. Rogerson said that if the first lot if full, then to just move on to the next one instead of waiting around for a space.

Rogerson also sees students not

Security and Traffic gets about four parking complaints per day. Tim LIngley / The Brunswickan respecting the parking signs on campus. Students have a tendency to park in faculty and staff parking lots or in no parking areas, which is another behaviour problem.

The SUB parking lot is one of the busiest lots, but also one of the most inconvenient due to the condition of it. Rogerson said that fixing it is on the horizon, but UNB does not have the funds for it.

“Does UNB want to make their education experience what it should be,” Rogerson said.

“Or do they want to take that money and put it into parking?”

Welton thinks that Rogerson has a point with this comment.

“Maintaining our academic buildings is more important than our park ing lots,” Welton said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s more of an

inconvenience to park because of it.”

Getting that money depends on students getting involved, Rogerson said. If students would like better parking they would have to come to UNB and rally for it, but that could cause a raise in tuition. The money that UNB gets for parking passes doesn’t cover the cost to maintain the lots. “ W hen you’re pay i ng beerbudget prices,” Rogerson said “you shouldn’t be expecting champagne.”

Rogerson suggests that on snowy days students should expect to spend the whole day on campus instead of leaving for a period and then coming back. He also recommends that students arrive early to get a good space, or to just stay home.

Welton still thinks that the campus just needs more parking spaces.

Parking in the winter is often difficult due to blurred space lines.

Tim Lingley / The Brunswickan

Combatting student stereotypes

The UNBSU is looking at new ways to get students involved in the provincial budgeting process Cherise Letson The Brunswickan

With provincial budget time quickly approaching, the UNBSU is making plans to get more students involved and get their voices heard.

During a discussion last week, council brainstormed possible initiatives to get students engaged in the budget process and the future of post-secondary education. Some of their ideas included a viral video project, letter writing and postcard

campaign, as well as a petition.

However, UNBSU president Jordan Thompson said those are only ideas and there are no definite plans just yet.

“They’re still in very developmental stages. We haven’t actually decided

UNBSU president Jordan Thompson and vice-president external Joey O’Kane want more students involved with the budgeting process. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

on any avenue we want to pursue yet, but we will be doing that within the next week or so,” Thompson said.

Thompson sa id t he U N BSU wants to work towards not only getting more students involved, but the province as well. He said that they want to work to put certain stereotypes about students to rest.

“We don’t like it, but there are some stereotypes still around, which aren’t true for the most part, and we want to find ways to combat that with facts about the problems students face financing their education currently,” Thompson said.

UNBSU vice-president external and NB Student Alliance president Joey O’Kane said they want to show the government that it’s not just a “select few” students who care.

“The main reason why we want to get students involved is to show to the government that students actually do care and it’s not just a select few students basically saying to the government ‘This is what should happen.’ Because ultimately the decisions that they [the government] make affect about 20,000 families,” O’Kane said.

O’Kane said that most students care about these issues, but because students lead very busy lives, it is often hard for them to find time to go and speak out. He also said there

is often confusion about what is going on in terms of campaigns and events. He said this is partially the fault of the Student Union.

“I’d say that’s a fault on almost everybody’s part, because the Student Union could be doing a better job of actually trying to tell them to come to us. But on the other hand, students should also be searching that out. So I would say that it’s kind of a give and take scenario,” O’Kane said.

O’Kane said that whether or not the upcoming campaigns work or not is a waiting game.

“The most we can do is sit back and wait and hope that they do, because at the end of the day, the government had their own mission, and we have our own mission and sometimes they don’t necessarily align,” O’Kane said.

O’Kane said the idea of students sending a message to the government often has a “radical” or “negative” connotation to it. He said, however, that they look at affordable education as a realistic way of cutting the province’s deficit.

“R ight now we’re in a def icit, everybody knows it. But we believe that education and educating the population is a way to intelligently move ourselves out of the deficit.”

brunswickannews

Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145 • 5

Former housing co-op gauging interest on campus

The Brunswickan is hosting an information session on hiring and the media fee Wednesday Feb. 15 in SUB room 103 at 7p.m.

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Wayne Walsh and Forrest Orser are trying to gauge student interest in a housing co-op.

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan Christopher Cameron Editor-in-Chief Forrest Orser and Wayne Walsh receive no benefits for donating time in with the New Brunswick Residence Cooperative, but that isn’t what matters to them. Giving students a way to live cheaply is what is most important to them.

Due to mismanagement in 1968 the NB Residence Co-operative fell apart and has since legally existed as a nonprofit company, but has not owned any houses. At one point the co-op even owned what are now McLeod and Magee houses at UNB. Orser and Walsh are trying to gauge student interest in taking over the cooperative from them.

“We’re hoping that there’s a group of students out there that want to do this and not just gauge interest,” Orser said. “We’ll hopefully find a group that will want to do this.”

“If we have no luck with this we’re

basically going to dissolve it and the money is going to go to student housing here or donate it as some sort of scholarship or something like,” Walsh said. “It’s sort of a last kick at the can.”

Walsh believes this is something that students would be interested in doing as it would give them an opportunity to live in a house for a lower cost then most places they may currently live in.

The way the residence co-op works is that the co-op would own a house where there would be six or seven residents or members. These members would own the house and would take over the board of director positions currently held by Orser and Walsh.

“In that group you would elect a president because you need that stuff for the legality for the Department of Justice,” Walsh said. “In the past it worked that you would pay rent and that included everything, including your food.”

“You would pay that amount for the month and the food manager would

go get the food and everyone could take turns cooking. In the past those members that weren’t really good at cooking they would do something else (in the house).”

Walsh said it is simple, but that it requires a group of people that can get along well and are responsible.

“It can be whatever the students want it to be,” Orser said. “In the past there were several managers in each house. There was a house manager, a food manager and everybody did something.”

“Unlike a hostel where you have other people doing things, people do their own stuff, so you need a special breed of student.”

If students are interested they can learn more about the NB Residence Co-op by e-mailing Wayne Walsh at wayne.walsh@newbrunswickresidencecooperative.com within the next few months as both he and Orser gauge interest from post-secondary students in Fredericton.

Successful beginning for workshops Heather Uhl Staff Reporter The Student Success Workshops have had a promising beginning.

“The workshop series was designed to bring together, in a workshop setting, some of the skills development that we know from research we have been reading that assists students to be successful in their academic programs,” executive director of Student Affairs and Services, Anne Forrestall said in an interview.

Each week there is a workshop, held twice that week, that covers one topic. Over the course of the semester a wide range of topics, from budgeting to anti-procrastination tactics, are covered through the workshops. These workshops are to teach concepts that can improve a student’s academic year, thereby improving the next year and easing the transition to university life.

According a Student Affairs and Services memorandum, “research shows that students who transition will do better academically, and stay with us [UNB] longer.”

Originally, different branches of Student Services hosted individual workshops. Last fall semester saw the introduction of the Student Success Workshop and the compiling of the current workshops into the weekly

series.

There is also organization for which topic appears during what week of the term.

“We really looked at this as a program,” Forrestall said. “So, from start to finish, fall term and winter term, and try to look at the rhythm of the academic year and say, ‘what kind of things will students need to know at this particular time?’”

For example, in the winter term, Forrestall explained, the workshop on budgeting followed the Christmas break and when all the Christmas bills come in. The workshops are also lead by experienced professionals in Student Services.

As a new program, the Student Success Workshop has been in UNB for less than two semesters and has experienced some bumps. For example, the Fall term of workshops began with Procrastination. Later, it was brought up that a workshop on procrastination would be better suited for the mid-way in the semester, when students tend to let things go.

Between the daytime workshop and the evening workshop, it was also found that the evening workshop was more popular with students.

Measuring the success of the workshops is done through evaluations completed by participants. The

survey is a combination of ranking and comment boxes.

There are other measurements of success as well.

“When we look at key performance indicators, certainly the numbers of students. That will be one thing we hope to improve from year to year,” Forrestall said.

“We can look at the evaluations themselves and ask students questions ‘how useful did you find this’ and ‘will you be putting to use things that you learned here?’”

“One of the measures of success would be at the end of the workshop the students have learned the desired outcome for the workshop.”

The workshops only teach concepts and strategies while students remain responsible for applying the knowledge.

The program’s funding comes from t he Depa r t ment of PostSecondary Education, Labour and Training and primarily funds the development of the program and the advertising. The program is another service provided by Student Affairs and Services.

The workshops take place Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 11:45 a.m. at the Harriet Irving Library. There is a workshop every week until the final session, March 1.

For more information, see: go.unb. ca/studentsuccess.

brunswickanopinion

Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145 • 6

editor@thebruns.ca

Affirmative action: Is hiring the less qualified justifiable?

To the Point

Christopher Cameron

Representation of women and minorities in the workplace is something that has been a major topic in recent years.

I had looked into it somewhat as it has been discussed by friends as well as in many of my classes, but it wasn’t until the past few weeks that I really looked at affirmative action for an ethics course I am taking.

The basis of the assignment was whether affirmative action as defined as hiring a slightly less qualified candidate from a disadvantaged group over a white male, is justifiable.

When I started the paper I began by backing it up, saying it was justifiable. The more I wrote, the more my opinion changed. I know it may sound terrible to say affirmative action isn’t justifiable as I am a white male, but I believe it isn’t, after analyzing the issue.

I think this is an important issue to look at, even if it will anger some people.

The number of women in positions of power is not on par with that of men, nor do companies have a diverse employee base that represents every race evenly.

I’d like to clarify before I give my reasons behind this. I am not against any person of any race or sex in positions of power whatsoever.

Last Friday I had a job interview and was interviewed by two women and they both deserve to be in the positions they are in as they are very knowledgeable of their tasks at work.

Although there is not an equal number of women and men in positions of power, the number is increasing.

This is also not about how women or races are portrayed in society, simply whether they should receive jobs if they are less qualified than a white male.

If Barack Obama had made his way to the top of the political world in the United States because of affirmative action his achievements would not have been looked up as highly as they have been. Submitted There are many arguments for affirmative action.

One of them is that society needs to compensate minorities and women for wrongs done in the past.

At first I believed this was a great point to justify affirmative action, but now I don’t think so. My biggest problem is these are wrong doings

Sarah Palin could have been a strong person to be a role model for young women looking at getting into politics, but instead she became an embarrassment. marcn / Flickr CC

in the past.

People are still mistreated when it comes to hiring for senior positions within a company, but hiring a less qualified person for a job due to race or sex for past wrongs is wrong in itself.

The involuntary physical traits argument points out that people are born with different physical traits they cannot control, whether it is race or sex.

Regardless of whether you are born a woman or a man, you will end up paying for the past wrongs done, which have brought around affirmative action. It is just a fact. If you are a female, you are paying for being oppressed in the past and if you’re a white male, you have slightly more difficulty in getting a job when affirmative action is in play.

When it comes to involuntary traits, it is more than just sex and race. For example, it is unlikely that a professional basketball team would hire you if you’re under 5’5”. There’s still a chance for you but it’s probably pretty slim. If a basketball team had to use affirmative action to ensure more equal representation, it would ignore abilities of other players not targeted by affirmative action. As one researcher, Edwin Hettinger, showed in a study, black males tend to be better at basketball.

Looking away from that example, women and minorities are still push-

ing for more roles in government and the workplace with equal pay to their male counterparts. As terrible as it sounds to some, if a less qualified person is hired over a white male, affirmative action is failing society in some regard.

Yes, affirmative action can create a more diversified workforce both with sex and race, but by hiring someone who is less qualified, it takes away from hiring the best person for the job. I stress less qualified because if they are more qualified then they were not hired because of affirmative action.

If we hire less qualified people for jobs to diversify every company evenly then we are failing to realize this does not break stereotypes. I’ll use an extreme example to make my point. If Barack Obama had made his way to the top of the United States political structure because of affirmative action then it would not have been as big a deal that he became a presidential candidate and then the first black President of the United States.

You would look at him and realize that he could not be a role model for younger black males because it was given to him. On the contrary, he did earn his way to the top and therefore can be seen as a role model to younger people.

He is also a role model to more than just black males. He can be a

role model to anyone, as he showed that barriers can be broken.

I know this year we ran a story about women in administrative positions at UNB and the story was correct in showing that women were not represented equally as faculty members. The numbers showed 58 per cent of faculty members are men and 42 per cent are women.

Although both are not represented evenly, the numbers are getting closer. STU also now has a female president.

These are all great things and as a society we are moving towards a more equal representation of sexes and races in significant roles in politics and the workforce, but I believe doing it without affirmative action is the best way to ensure stereotypes are not carried forward.

This will continue to happen and work itself out naturally as we move forward as society. The biggest issue we need to focus on now is how sexes and races are portrayed in the media.

If we can affect how television shows and advertising agencies portray sexes and races, society will continue moving forward into a more balanced place.

Christopher Cameron is the Editorin-Chief of The Brunswickan and can be reached at editor@thebruns. ca or in SUB room 35 throughout the work week.

voice your opinion. letters to the editor due friday by 5p.m. editor@thebruns.ca

brunswickanopinion the brunswickan Have #UNBprobs? Get involved and make a difference

Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145 • 7

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief • Chris Cameron Managing • Liam Guitard News • Hilary Paige Smith Arts • Alex Kress Sports • Bryannah James Photo • Andrew Meade Copy • Kathleen MacDougall Production • Sandy Chase Online • James Waters Staff Advertising Sales Rep • Bill Traer Delivery • Dan Gallagher Contributors Cherise Letson, Josh Fleck, Haley Ryan, Sean O’Neill, Alanah Duffy, Nick Murray, Tova Payne, Colin McPhail, Jennifer Bishop, Sarah Vannier, Bronté James, Damira Davletyarova, Amy MacKenzie, Luke Perrin, Lee Thomas, Susanna Chow, Ben Jacobs, Sarah Cambell, Brandon Hicks, Heather Uhl, Adam Melanson, Derek Ness, Lindsey Edney, Brad McKinney, Patrick McCullough, Leonardo Camejo, Tim Lingley 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 145th 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-profit, independent body.

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Student Beat

Jordan

Thompson There is no question about it, some things at UNB need to change. It’s true for any institution that wants to move forward and continuously improve. Campus life offers many avenues for students to get involved to make changes to university experience here at UNB. Do you have a problem with parking on campus? Deteriorating quality of some classrooms got you down?

Should the HIL have more study space? Or whatever you feel is an issue that needs addressed, my call to action is to get involved with campus life.

There is us, the Student Union, which advocates for improvement of student life through many different channels to both the university administration and government. Also, the SU plays an important role in making life at UNB better and more enjoyable through the services we offer (SafeRide, Book

“The UNBSU plays an important role in making life at UNB better and more enjoyable through the services they offer.” Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan Buy & Sell, etc) and the entertainment in improving the UNB experience. can’t sit back and assume someone events we put on.

These groups are always looking for else will fix it. Be the person who steps However, the SU is not the only more students to get involved in their up and helps improve campus life for the better. Get involved and make a avenue for improving campus life. activities.

The point is we all can identify difference.

The Brunswickan, CHSR, clubs and Jordan Thompson is the president societies, Women’s Centre, Sexuality problems that face us at UNB and Centre, the Residence community, we all have creative solutions that will of the UNBSU and can be reached at and others all play an important role help solve the problem. However, we president@unbsu.ca.

brunswickanopinion

8 • Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145

letters to the editor tell us what you think

Fredericton through ‘Queer Theory’ blinkers Dear Editor, Shaun Bartone’s article in last week’s Bruns, ‘Where are all the queers?’ demands a response, if only for its caricature of the Fredericton reality. It is a perfect example of the way ‘queer theory’ offers no guide to life as it is lived and creates an utterly skewed perspective. The Fredericton ‘community’ portrayed in this exercise in contradiction and pretzeloid reasoning goes beyond stereotype into the world of fantasy.

The conclusions he draws seem to run as follows: Fredericton has a high proportion of gay and lesbian residents and because they are not engaged in a permanent pride parade or other forms of street theatre, they must be closeted; there is some sort of equivalence between being gay and being ‘queer,’ and if you are not the latter, then you are not really gay – just closeted. A collection of grotesque anecdotes are trotted out as ‘evidence.’

Having lived in Fredericton for more than two decades, and played

some part in the activism that really did make a difference, this is not the first example of a type one quickly recognizes here. Someone arrives from a large city and rapidly comes to the conclusion this is not Boston, San Francisco, Montreal, Toronto (choose your metropolis) . . . and will not cease whining about it. Well, ten out of ten for observation. This is not Montreal, Toronto or Boston.

It’s Fredericton, a small town with all the benefits and all the disadvantages of being a rather large village.

It is certainly the smallest place I’ve ever lived.

A high percentage of gays and lesbians? This stems from a ‘20/20’ informal survey reported 25 years ago, and largely anecdotal, but has become an urban myth – canonized as ‘fact’ by continuous repetition.

Whether it is correct or not really is irrelevant. It seems, from Shaun’s reasoning, that the community’s biggest sin in Fredericton is its invisibility – which turns out to mean lack of leather-men, drag queens, etc (lack of ‘queerness’ or ‘queer consciousness’), but take a walk down St. Catherine’s Street in Montreal anytime, where chances are the majority of folk you pass on the street, see in the cafes and bars, are actually gay and lesbian (trans, bi, etc), and

transfer the majority of that crowd to any other Montreal location and they would be equally invisible. If their invisibility, or ‘conformity to heterosexist norms’ (or whatever ‘queer theory’ jargon applies) means they are ‘closeted’ then the term really has lost its meaning. Shaun’s line: “Because without a distinct gay culture, there is virtually no difference between gay and straight people that is worth talking about” sums it up wonderfully. My response to this is: “No difference? So what!”

Back in the day when activism started here – more than 30 years ago, involving people whose courage leaves me in awe – gay and lesbian liberation meant fighting the marginalization and alienation that remained after decriminalization – fighting an enforced difference that was the essence of oppression. Eventually we fought our way to a place at the table and into inclusion in the mainstream, without compromising our principles. This activism created space for our own meeting places, support organizations for those with AIDS/HIV, brought in rights to employment and services, inclusion in Human R ights legislation . . . eventually the equal right to marry and raise our own kids. Are things perfect? No. Have we come a long

way? You bet we have. That is a matter of gay and lesbian, rather than ‘queer,’ history (and it goes back at least four decades, before Stonewall).

‘Queer Theory’ seems to want to turn the clock back to around 1969 – by celebrating that marginalization and alienation, the ‘true gay’ – or should that be ‘true queer’ – as a permanent rebel, making common cause with every fringe ‘radical’ movement around and living in a permanent piece of street theatre. It reminds me of the older generation when I first came out bemoaning how much ‘fun’ life was before decriminalization.

Reality, on the other hand, consists of people who have integrated their sexuality with the rest of their lives (more or less successfully, and often after much struggle), and in the nature of things have to find and hold down a job, pursue career aspirations, pay the rent/mortgage, work at maintaining a relationship, and raise the kids – some will even vote for Stephen Harper!

To the die-hard theorist this is ‘assimilationist,’ ‘false consciousness,’ ‘counter-revolutionary’ – or whatever the current pejorative may be – in fact, it is just simple reality.

The ‘community’ here, as elsewhere, is very diverse – and I would argue that diversity is actually a strength (if occasionally a source of frustration – organizing anything being an experience akin to herding cats). The difference between then and now is that four decades of dogged activism has created a reality where choices exists – choices that did not exist 30 years ago – even in Fredericton. No bar will give you a representative sample of this community, nor will any Pride Parade, gay/lesbian church

congregation or activists’ meeting.

Viewing Fredericton and its heroic gay/lesbian community through the blinkers of ‘queer theory’ is blinding to the true reality. If gay/lesbian liberation means anything, it is the right to be who you are, in the place you call home, among the people you call friends and true family. Once upon a time the only option on offer was exile in a city large enough to have its own ghetto, and perhaps have to conform to a suitably ‘radical’ image in the process (changing one set of camouflage for another, even if it was more chic). That has changed as the result of a lot of dogged hard work and persistence.

There has been a role in that activism for shock tactics and in-your-face protests – a matter of means to an end. My issue with ‘queer theory’ is that it does not seem to have figured out the difference between means and ends, sees protest as an end in itself (empowerment or alternatively self-indulgence), and seeks to impose a new and quite sterile conformity based on a pseudo-intellectual mélange of discredited Marxist dialectic and trendy post-Modern navel-gazing.

Adrian Park University of New Brunswick

CBC under ideological attack Dave Swanson The Link (B.C. Institute of Technology) BURNABY, B.C. (CUP) — When you ask what defines Canada, what iconic symbols come to mind? You may picture Granville Street during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics — a sea of polite folks dressed as red-maple-leaf-caped crusaders. Maybe you see a bearded hockey player raising Lord Stanley’s Cup (unfortunately not Roberto Luongo). You might even conjure up the image of a resourceful beaver perched on his dam. Yes, these are all prevalent Canadian images; however, there is one marquee symbol that is as Canadian as it gets: the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s logo.

The CBC is Canada’s national public radio and television broadcaster and a major player in producing Canadian culture. It uses the majority of its funding, received in the form of government subsidies, to produce original Canadian programming like David Suzuki’s The Nature of Things, Q with Jian Ghomeshi and Hockey Night in Canada.

Currently, the CBC has an annual budget of $1.1 billion. This may seem like a substantial sum, but when compared to 18 other major western countries, Canada only places 16th in support for public broadcasters, with $34 per capita — 60 per cent less than the $87 average. This figure is expected to decrease in the near future due to impending Conservative government budget cuts. This is a serious problem.

The Harper Tories seem to be hiding behind the classic guise of right-wing politics — a “these are tough times and we need to reduce our national debt” mentality. But on Oct. 19, 2011, the government announced Irving Shipbuilding Inc. in Halifax would receive $25 billion to build 21 large combat naval vessels. Could a portion of this money not be used to reduce the debt?

It’s far more likely that the suggested five to 10 per cent cut in CBC funding has little to do with reducing debt and is only being framed in such a way to gain public support. I believe that the real reason for the proposed cuts is ideological.

Historically, the CBC has been viewed

as left-leaning media. The socially conscious programming they produce and the liberal scope with which they present local and international politics is inherently dangerous to Conservative dogma. Harper knows the media can shape public opinion, and in order to remain in power, he needs voters to share his ideals.

When speaking to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters in 2004, Harper said the Conservatives would “seek to reduce the CBC’s dependence on advertising revenue and its competition with the private sector.” However, in 2008, when the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage released a major study on the future of the CBC that suggested annual funding be increased to $40 per capita over the next seven years, the Conservative committee members voted against it.

If the Conservatives take this anti-CBC stance one step further and cut the CBC’s funding, lower quality programming will be produced. The Canadian public will recognize this decline and lose interest in public programming, devaluing the CBC. If this occurs, it will justify further funding cuts.

This could then force the CBC to seek funding from the private sector in the form of advertising revenues, hindering its creative autonomy. The airing of commercial and mainstream content will become inevitable and give proponents of funding reductions a reason to eliminate all CBC government subsidies, effectively privatizing the CBC. As of right now, the CBC receives a third of its total revenue from advertisers. If the CBC is forced to obtain the majority or all of its funding from advertisers, Canadian cultural identity will suffer.

The CBC is a wounded soldier wheeling a single pistol. It is up against the heavily armed cavalry that is the American media.

If we do not provide it with adequate defence, it will be killed. Canada will then be in danger of succumbing to a Conservative agenda that seems more concerned with protecting its own ideology than the Canadian public.

brunswickanopinion

Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145 • 9

Student

Viewpoint.

Let everyone know what’s on your mind.

Since there is no statutory holiday in February, what do you think should be the holiday for this month?

Steven Forrester

Chris McCoy

Keegan Shaw

Kevin Burke

“Winter spirit day.”

“Drinkin’.”

“My birthday, Feb. 18.”

“National eating day.”

Amanda Coneen

Bethany Chandler

Tavis Latimer

Renata Yehia

“Singles awareness day.”

“I agree with Amanda.”

“Groundhog Day.”

“Valentine’s Day.”

brunswickanfeature

10 • Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145

Sweet Shivers: The Olympic Symphonium Lee Thomas The Brunswickan There’s a tremendous assortment of people in the Wilmot United Church – men, greying at the temples, with double-pierced ears; teenagers with toques and braided necklaces; women with shimmery silk scarves; and more than one member of the UNB faculty.

Patiently waiting.

After a brief introduction from CBC Radio 3 host Lisa Christiansen, the band comes on stage. They are dressed in jeans and button-up shirts, untucked, sleeves rolled up their forearms. Quietly, without fanfare, they take their positions. A lap slide guitar, an acoustic, a double bass, an electric.

“To say we’re excited to be here would be an understatement. Welcome, friends.” Graeme Walker calmly greets the audience. And with that, the concert begins. They’re just four guys, until they start playing.

The Olympic Symphonium was formed in 2005 by friends and fellow musicians Nick Cobham, Kyle Cunjak and Graeme Walker – all of whom also belong to additional bands (Force Fields, Share, and Grand Theft Bus, respectively). Occasionally the trio is joined by Bob Deveau or, like tonight,

Dennis Goodwin.

An East Coast Music Association “Group Recording of the Year” nominee, The Olympic Symphonium is hosting the Shivering Songs music festival for the second year. 2011’s event celebrated the release of their third album The City Won’t Have Time to Fight, which was recorded in an abandoned house in Fredericton.

In the church, the acoustics are flawless, each note soaring high into the gracefully vaulted ceilings and wrapping itself warmly around the audience. It’s impossible to tell where one instrument ends and another begins, the music blends so smoothly.

Their first song concludes with a gentle flourish. An audience member shouts an appreciative “Nice!,” and the band and audience share a chuckle.

Preparing for their next piece, the artists trade instruments with the casualness of shrugging into a different coat, their impressive musical prowess simply second nature.

Graeme Walker relates a story about a song-writing competition dreamt up in a London loft during a snowstorm.

The band and audience smile appreciatively as he describes how nine musicians wrote a total of 54 songs on subjects ranging “from pancakes to pir-

ate ships.” One such project eventually became the song “Flame” (or “Flag”, as Walker’s four-year-old daughter insists).

The artists treat the audience like old friends, their joking demeanour in stark contrast with their poignantly beautiful songs. As Kyle Cunjak said to the audience, “I know we play sad songs, but we’re really happy people.”

Another switch of instruments, three brief warm-up chords, and into another song.

Melancholy and sweet, The Olympic Symphonium’s melodies are reminiscent of staring out the windows during a rainy day. The audience, seemingly unaware, starts to sway gently; the artists’ passion for their music is both tangible and infectious.

The group eases into their last tune, fittingly entitled “Home.” The Shivering Songs festival featured numerous local musicians, and Maritimers should be proud that such talented artists as The Olympic Symphonium call Fredericton home.

The band leaves the stage as unobtrusively as they entered, speaking softly but leaving a big impression.

Songwriters Circle (From left) David Myles; Mike O’Neill; Andrew Sisk; Catherine MacLellan; Chris Gauthier.

Shivering

Songs of the Shoe Factory: Ho Haley Ryan Arts Reporter “Now, please welcome to the stage probably one of Fredericton’s most important bands,” said Kyle Cunjak, a festival organizer and member of the chamber-folk band the Olympic Symphonium. His eyes shone in the stage lights.

“Hot Toddy!”

Last Friday night, the well-loved local trio of Thom Swift, Joel LeBlanc and Tom Easley performed at the Wilmot United Church to kick off the Shivering Songs music festival.

Thunderous applause and whistling rose to the vaulted roof as three middleaged men walked on stage, waving and smiling as they quietly picked up their instruments.

“This is going to be just like Classic Albums live,” said sandy-haired LeBlanc, holding up a CD case.

“Just none of the notes will be the same.”

LeBlanc looked to the men beside him and they began laughing, inviting the audience in on the self-deprecating humour Hot Toddy carried throughout the evening.

It was a reunion of sorts, since the band hasn’t played together in Fredericton for a few years. Recently, the

talented musicians have been focusing on their solo careers, but Swift made a point of saying how happy they were to be playing together again for the night.

The church was packed with people of all ages; silver-haired grandmothers hugged toddlers on their laps as groups of students chatted in the pews. They had all turned out to hear a live version of one of Hot Toddy’s most successful albums, Shoe Factory.

At the opening chords of “Crow Jane,” the twangy, upbeat first track, there were many cheers from the audience, and scattered clapping as LeBlanc took up his harmonica.

It was the first time the band had performed in the Wilmot, although Swift shared a story about how he should have played there for a wedding once, but arrived just as the wedding party was leaving the church.

“I really did want to play here,” Swift said, “but I just found out they’re not still together, so I did them a favour by not showing up.” He laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

Apparently, several of the other couples he played at weddings for have since broken up, so he’s convinced he’s bad luck.

LeBlanc and Swift traded vocals back and forth during the night, both

Joel LeBlanc with Hot Toddy.

brunswickanfeature

Songs

Folk for all kinds of folks

ot Toddy returns on guitar as Easley expertly played the stand-up bass between them. His large hands slapped and moved over the strings in intricate patterns, providing an excellent foundation for songs, as well as busting out some solos of his own.

Although a little bit rusty (the band kept checking the CD to see which song came next, and asking one another what key they should be in), Hot Toddy played together with a comfort and talent that couldn’t be diminished by time apart.

Laughing and poking fun at each other like the good friends they are, the band’s mood on stage was infectious, and every song had so much personality and joy in it that the toes in the crowd weren’t still for long.

Although many country-folk tunes made you want to get up and dance, the ballads were soulful and showed a nice range for the musicians.

Near the end of the set, Hot Toddy played “Mermaids Flirt With Me,” a sexy, languid track that makes you want to stretch out next to that special someone, and get lost in your own world.

If you missed Hot Toddy, keep your eyes peeled for future concerts, and you can preview or buy Shoe Factory on iTunes.

Haley Ryan Arts Reporter The man in dark-framed glasses leaned into the microphone, smiling. His thin hands strummed the guitar with a quick, infectious rhythm, and his head bobbed up and down with his foot taps.

“I’m not lazy, I’m just really laid back,” David Myles sang as his hometown audience grinned back, bright wintery sunlight pouring through the many windows.

Myles’ lyrics embodied the feel of the whole Shivering Songs singersongwriter event last Saturday at the Wilmot United Church, as well as the very festival it was a part of.

Five musicians and an author entertained the all-ages crowd for the afternoon, and Myles was a charming and up-beat host as he played his own tunes or joked with other performers.

Seated in a row at the front, the singers each did one song before the player beside them took up their guitar.

Mike O’Neill, a Halifax musician with shaggy hair and a dry sense of humour, said that he wasn’t as used to performing in front of people as he was to songwriting itself.

“So please say a prayer for me, since we’re in a church and all,” O’Neill smiled.

Maybe it was the extra good wishes, but his lilting voice and softer, thoughtful songs didn’t come off as amateur.

Andrew Sisk, originally from the small town of Chipman, N.B. snagged a few hearts with his crooked smile and funny anecdotes that had nothing to do with his mellow songs.

One of his first tunes, “Treelines,” gets caught in your head even though it’s brief, because the hook is simple and has a nice rhythm.

“I keep my songs short because I don’t want to inconvenience people,” Sisk said, and laughed. “It’s just this feeling I have!”

Beside Sisk was P.E.I. native Catherine MacLellan and her guitarist and accompanying vocalist, Chris Gauthier.

The duo was on their way to shows in Ontario, so the festival fell conveniently in their path.

With two sets of string and vocals at play, MacLellan had some of the most enjoyable songs of the show, thanks to her music’s fuller sound.

It didn’t hurt that MacLellan’s voice was easily the most melodic of the

bunch, and had a beautiful, haunting quality.

Her tunes were also diverse; she played mellow folk numbers as easily as a new untitled one which had a Spanish influence and catchy, forceful rhythm.

Governor General Award-winning author, David Adams Richards, provided an interesting interlude to the show when he read from one of his novels.

Looking dapper in a dark suit, Richards explained a bit about the plot of The Friends of Meager Fortune before he began to read in a strong voice. He chose an excerpt where one of the main characters, a logger, is left alone in the woods with night falling.

Myles led a round of applause in thanks for the reading, and said it was wonderful to have Richards back in his home province.

“When you’re a young person, it’s nice to have someone from your area that’s done well in the arts, someone to look up to,” Myles said.

If you missed the show, hunt down these Atlantic artists on the web and discover some of your own favourite tunes.

An inconvenient truth: The Great Mark Kozelek Alex Kress Arts Editor

Mark Kozelek.

Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145 • 11

It’s exactly 9:10 p.m. Audience members have been following Mark Kozelek with their eyes as he moves back and forth between the stage and the back room of the church for a long ten minutes of filler music – albeit fabulous: “Njosnavelin “ by Sigur Ros, “Flag” by the Olympic Symphonium and “Dreamer” by Jenn Grant.

Kozelek walks on stage and this time, it’s to play. He sits in his trademark position in a wooden kitchen chair. All conversation hits a brick wall and dies.

He’s the brilliant festival headliner everyone’s been waiting for, and he has a reputation for being temperamental.

Something’s wrong.

He barely acknowledges the audience and concentrates on tuning his acoustic guitar; it almost didn’t make it to Fredericton.

Soft-spoken, he says, “I just got my guitar five minutes ago.”

Catastrophe averted.

“There’s feedback already,” he says to the sound technician in the back of the church. But actually, he says it at him, rather than to him.

He gives him a hard time when

he asks, “So, what are we doing for sound tonight? It’s pretty simple, you know, there’s just two channels.” He’s smiling subtly, but it’s clear he’s only half-kidding.

He begins to play, his expert fingers picking exquisite notes in his signature classical guitar style. Only, they don’t really pick – they look softer and smoother than that. His fingers appear more like they’re tickling the soft underside of a lover’s arm than coarse guitar strings.

Then, he opens his mouth and the most graceful noises fill the church. It sounds like he’s singing in a digitally enhanced cave, and like he’s simultaneously incredibly close and impossibly far.

He finishes the first track and the audience waits with bated breath – for an insult. And it wouldn’t be the last.

“There’s a pretty good amount of people here for a town I never heard of ‘til last week.”

The crowd laughs. Canadians are accustomed to being belittled, and they take it in stride.

Kozelek is equal parts understated and commanding – the crowd seems careful about even shuffling feat or shifting in the pew to avoid breaking

The Olympic Symphonium.

the infamous Mark Kozelek code of silence and being called out for talking.

When he played at Lee’s Palace in Toronto in March of last year, he flipped out when the crowd talked amongst themselves while he was tuning his guitar between songs and said, “Is there a sign above my head that says ‘talk?’”

So, maybe he’s not the bubbliest of alt-rock Gods, but the general consensus that evening and in almost all of his concert reviews is that if he comes off like a pompous asshole, he’s earned it.

There’s no one else who sounds quite like he does and he’s been in the business for more than 20 years. His performance is effortless, and flawless – despite another jab at Canada: “I should’ve rehearsed more. But I knew I was coming to Canada so I didn’t take it that seriously.”

He’s not a fan of bitter Canadian winters. He played a show in Halifax the night before and someone asked here him if he had a chance to explore the cities yet.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” was his response. To be fair, it was -20 degrees C on Saturday night, and that’s a far cry from his hometown of San Francisco.

He’s also not a fan of Canadian

hipsters.

“Glad you guys got some young people in this town,” he said.

“And couples. Guys have girlfriends here. If I lived here, I’d stay at home.

I’d have a girlfriend for sure. Not like these guys with beards and flannel shirts in Halifax.”

One of ‘em said ‘Can I ask you –’ and I said ‘Can I ask you why you don’t have a fucking girlfriend?’”

At least that one was sort of a Fredericton-friendly insult.

Bashed and enamored, the Wilmot Church crowd clapped forever for an encore that never came.

Maybe if his guitar arrived in good time, he would’ve indulged us with a longer set and an encore, and the show wouldn’t have felt like a shitty favour.

The truth is, the man is an utter songwriting genius and we felt blessed just to have been in the same room with him.

Bluegrass Brunch/Alan Jeffries & Slim Pickens Photos by Andrew Meade

12 • Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145

Dancing up a storm at UNB

Dancers from Dalhousie gave it their all on Sunday at the competition hosted by UNB. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan other members of the team to organKevin Lemieux ize this one-day event.

The Brunswickan The day was divided into two A s the U N B Dance team goes parts. A competition from 10 a.m. over their dances one last time, the to noon was judged by Stephanie excitement grows until the start Grace, Sarah Clarke-Rowinski and So of the Atlantic Collegiate Dance You Think You Can Dance Canada’s second runner-up Matt Marr. The Competition.

Ashley Thompson, president of second part of the day consisted of the dance team, was thrilled to host a workshop, led by Sarah Butler and Matt Marr. the event.

The UNB Dance team brought “It’s exciting for sure, but stressful at the same time. The competition in five teams from various corners was fantastic and those who stuck of Atlantic Canada and the United around for the workshops did very States to participate, including Université de Moncton, St. Francis well. A good day for all,” she said.

At the end of last year’s season, Xavier University, Dalhousie Uniwhen she was elected president, she versity, Acadia University, and the decided to see what other schools University of Maine.

Brianna Thorogood, a third-year seemed interested. She got good feedback and started working, with member and competition organizer,

said she was happy with the team’s performance.

“We gave it our all and all we can hope for is the best.”

When asked about how she felt about having Matt Marr at the competition, Erika Rans, another third-year member, laughed.

“Matt Marr is my best friend. We have been dancing together since we were eight years old. He’s my bestie,” she said.

Marr was impressed with the performances.

“I wasn’t expecting for them to be as good because I didn’t really know what I was walking into. Some schools were better at different elements and genres than others,” he said.

He said it’s different to be home on the East coast now as he has more media attention. He also said it’s fun to teach people who share his passion for dance. He tries to come home often so he can motivate and teach other people.

“It’s interesting being on the other side of the panel, because growing up you wonder what it’s like being on the judging panel, but actually doing it is a learning experience,” he said.

The UNB Dance team did very well at the competition, winning first place for both their contemporary and jazz piece in the large group division. The big winner of the day, taking home a scholarship to next year’s completion and a banner, was the Université de Moncton.

When asked for some words for aspiring dancers, Marr said it’s simple: work hard and never give up.

“If you think you have what it takes, go for it. If you happen to know a professional, reach out to one.”

brunswickanarts Reese’s Who? Lil’ Ray’s pb cups

These cups of joy are far superior to the store-bought variety.

Andrew Meade/ The Brunswickan

The Garlic Press with Alex Kress

Valentine’s Day is coming up and my sweet tooth told me I should make

something for all my sweet hearts. I did an informal poll on Twitter and my followers told me peanut butter cups were the best way to win hearts on the mushiest day of the year. I did a practice run this week and I’ve never had a baked good disappear so fast! Reese’s who?

Ingredients 1 cups creamy peanut butter ¼ cup unsalted butter ¼ cup light brown sugar 1¼ cups powdered sugar 4 cups milk chocolate chips (two bags) ¼ cup vegetable shortening A pinch of salt Recipe Line a mini-muffin tin with equally miniature muffin wrappers and set it aside.

Begin by mixing the peanut butter, butter and brown sugar together. Don’t let it boil, only bubble a little, on medium heat. Take it off the burner and stir in powdered sugar in increments. Take the ball of filling that forms and set it aside to cool. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips, shortening and salt together in the microwave, taking care not to burn the chocolate. Fill the bottom of the muffin cups, with just enough chocolate to cover them. Refrigerate until firm. Next, roll the cooled filling into balls and slightly flatten them. They should be roughly the size of a thumbprint. Place them in the wrappers and pour the rest of the melted chocolate on top. Refrigerate again until firm, between half an hour and an hour.

Then, serve em’ up cute, Cupid.

brunswickanarts

Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145 • 13

‘This poem changed my life’ Hilary Paige Smith News Editor “Poetry is what happens when nothing else can,” my favourite poet, Charles Bukowski, once said.

I’m living proof that sentence is true.

I’m on the brink of graduation. I’m up to my hairline in forms and applications. I have assignments due almost daily.

In the past month, I’ve only written one thing I felt was worthy of an “A” and it wasn’t even for class.

It was a poem.

I’ve been struggling to focus on assignments and articles, often combating hours of writer’s block. And here comes this poem, scrawled out in a breathless half-hour burst.

Poetry has always been a source of comfort and pleasure for me. No matter how happy/angry/miserable I am, there’s a poem for it. The poems I’ve been writing recently are the first I’ve written since Grade 8 when I had an unrequited crush on a boy from a neighbouring classroom.

Misery begs poetry. So does elation.

I love poetry because it’s incredibly rare to find someone sharing exactly how they feel. Secreting your feelings away, protecting your metaphorical heart, is part of the human condition.

It makes life harder, which is why I have so much respect for poets. Every day,

they do the unthinkable. They live life exposed, wearing their thoughts like a logo on a t-shirt.

Recently, I posted two of my poems on my blog, a Tumblr that only my mom, my best friends and the odd Facebook lurker visits. I held my breath when I hit Publish.

Even though my Tumblr only gets about three hits a day, my pulse quickens at the thought of someone reading my work, seeing my ideas compacted into black letters. It’s terrifying, but freeing.

I’m hard-pressed to find fellow poetry devotees in university. Dissecting poems for professors doesn’t exactly inspire a love of verse.

Still, I force people to read poetry, listen to me read poetry, or, best-case scenario, listen to poets read poetry.

Poems are usually prefaced by, “This will change your life” or “This poem changed my life.”

Most often, my audience smiles and nods. “That’s nice,” they say. That’s life, I guess.

So, in my typical fashion, I’ve included a list of poets who will change your life, I swear. (Garden State, anyone?)

1. Andrea Gibson She’s a spoken word poet out of Colorado. She writes about gender norms, love, heartache, social justice and LGBTQ issues. She’s won numerous poetry competitions and brought me to

The Arkells

The Arkells tore up the SUB ballroom Wednesday night.

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

tears when she played the SUB Ballroom two years ago.

Poems to hear: Photograph, How it Ends, Maybe I Need You 2. Sarah Kay Sarah Kay is another spoken word poet. She got her start at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City when she was just 14, and too young to be allowed into the club. She, along with fellow poet Phil Kaye, do self-expression workshops with youth across the United States. She writes about everything and it’s all amazing.

Poems to hear: B, Love Letter from a Toothbrush to a Bicycle Tire 3. Charles Bukowski If I could marry this man, I would.

Sadly, he died of leukemia in 1994. He is known for writing about alcohol, failed relationships with women and work.

He’s hilarious and honest. His confessional poetry resonates for these reasons.

There’s nothing pretentious about him.

Poems to read: Raw with Love, The Laughing Heart, So You Want to be a Writer?

4. Leonard Cohen We all know and love Leonard Cohen. He’s a Canadian gem and notorious for his unique, raspy singing voice. His soul is brilliant. In addition to writing many beautiful songs, he’s also written a wealth of poetry.

Poems to read: Had We Nothing to Prove, Anthem, Twelve O’Clock Chant

Andrea Gibson is a spoken word poet from Colorado who writes about love and social justice. wesshowell / Flickr CC 5. Pablo Neruda lines your Facebook status.

Oh Pablo. No one writes about love Poems to read: Tonight I Can Write, better than this guy. He’s a Chilean If You Forget Me poet and politician who won the Nobel There are a million other poems I Prize for Literature. If you were in love want to share, but we just don’t have with someone and you were mourning the column inches. So, in the interest of the loss of that person’s love, you’d read shameless self-promotion, check out my his poetry. You might even make a few Tumblr at www.hpswrites.tumblr.com.

brunswickanarts

14 • Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145

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‘Slut’: Good riddance to bad rubbish A response to ‘You’re writing about sluts?’

Brandon Hicks The Brunswickan “I want a girl that’s willing to have fun, and doesn’t want to start a relationship,” my friend said.

“I guess I could with *Name*, but she’s a total whore. I don’t want to screw around with any sluts.”

This conversation took place in June of last year, during prom season when talks of relationships were at their peak in my circle of friends. Although I had heard these words often, and had been in conversations like this before, it had never been so obvious nor had sounded so ugly.

This was the exact moment when I started thinking about those words, what they meant, and their effect.

For the next few weeks I listened for them and became aware of how they were used. Everyone used them – girls, boys, virgins and the “experienced.” Why was it okay to call someone these names behind her back?

That was the week that I eliminated the words “slut,” “whore,” “tramp,” “hussy,” “floozy,” “harlot,” “dyke,” or any other sexually demeaning terms that relate to women from my vocabulary.

After making this decision, and trying to impress it on those I talk to about “social” women (while trying, often unsuccessfully, to not to give off a “holierthan-thou” attitude), I was delighted to see an article on this very topic by Lee Thomas in last week’s issue of the Bruns.

I wish to expand on her ideas, while keeping the focus on the language. The point I would like to expand on in particular, would be, in her words: “... I’d like to point out that this viewpoint is held widely by girls and guys alike.”

The “viewpoint” being that men are not to be judged on the quantity of women they sleep with, while women are morally defined by how many men they’ve taken to bed.

Thomas is correct in saying this; not only is this viewpoint held by both sexes, but when it comes to the language, women seem to be more vicious regarding how often they judge other women.

One might think men would be quicker to make judgments about women’s sexual-

ity, but most women will call each other “sluts” for just about anything. She has sex with a guy on a first date. Slut.

Her skirt is too high.

Slut.

Her shirt is too low.

Slut.

That slut ate the rest of my cheerios!

Anything. You could say women have been trying to take the word and put a more positive spin on it by calling friends this as a term of endearment, or with the more recent empowering use of the word for “Slut Walks” is evidence of this. However, no matter how you twist it, “slut” is not something a girl wants to be called.

Women tend to use it more than men – so what? Women are the ones victimized by it. The thing is, the word has become so commonly used, that it seems rare to see a woman chastise a man if he were to use it casually when talking about someone.

Few words can be used to describe a

promiscuous male, and even less with a negative connotation. With generations of women that seem to be continuing the fight for equality and breaking down the gender walls set up by our patriarchal culture, why does this harmful language prevail?

So, like Thomas, I’m against the use of these words, but unlike Thomas, I would like to propose a modest solution: become conscious of it.

Listen to how often these words are used in the conversations you have, who they’re directed towards, and their meaning. For an even more powerful examination, when a derogatory word is used, pretend that another sexually discriminatory word is being used in its place, such as “faggot.”

Maybe then you’ll begin to notice the power that these words have, and choose to abandon them. Words are attached to ideas, after all, and ideas are powerful.

Become aware using the word ‘slut’, and abandon it . dhammza / Flickr CC

What’s love got to do with it?

The New Position Sarah Vannier “We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” – Dr. Seuss Valentine’s Day is less than one week away and love is in the air. Cue images of frazzled men buying roses and heart shaped chocolates in the hopes of pleasing their partners.

We tend to think of women as being obsessed with love and romance, and think of men as being indifferent to the whole romance thing. Of course we know that there are plenty of guys out there who are in great relationships, are happy, and care about their partner. But in general they just can’t be bothered with all that mushy-gushy, lovey-dovey stuff.

Right?

Wrong!

The truth is that compared to women, men tend to fall in love faster, usually say “I love you” first, and are more likely to say they believe in things like love at first sight.

Shocked? Surprised? Think I’m making this all up?

Marilyn Montgomery and Gwendolyn Sorell, researchers at Texas Tech University, asked high school

students about their experiences with love. In every grade, more boys than girls said they had been in love at least once. The boys also reported

falling in love for the first time at a younger age than the girls, and were more likely to say they were in love with someone they were dating.

And this isn’t just something we find with teenagers. Joshua Ackerman, a researcher at M.I.T, and his colleagues conducted a very clever series of studies looking at gender differences in the expression of love.

First they asked people who they thought would most likely to say “I love you” first; men or women. Not surprisingly, most people thought women would be the ones to say it first.

Next, they asked people about their actual relationships. In contrast to what people expected, in about two-thirds of past relationships, the man had been the first one to say “I love you.” Not only that, on average, the men they asked said they had thought about telling their partner they loved them about a month and a half earlier than the woman did.

The researchers were also interested in looking at how happy people are after a partner tells them that the love them. In line with all of their other research they found that, on average, men were happier than women after a partner said, “I love you.”

However, the researchers did find one interesting twist when they

looked at the timing of the “I love you.” The difference between men and women was biggest when a partner expressed their love before the couple had sex. If a partner expressed love after the couple had sex, the women tended to be slightly happier than the men.

Overall, the research just doesn’t support the stereotype of men as being indifferent to love and romance.

Sorry boys…the jig is up!

Of course, whenever we talk about gender differences it is important to remember that we are talking about average behaviour. There are obviously some men out there who are more or less romantic than some women, and some women out there that are more or less romantic than some men.

One of my favorite Valentine’s Day stories is about one of my female friends. She had been dating her partner for few months by the time Valentine’s rolled around and was worried about getting him just the right thing. In a Valentine’s-fueled panic she went out and bought him a whole pile of gifts (in various sizes and degrees of sentimentality), wrapped them all, and only decided which one to give him after seeing the present he picked out for her.

(Side note: It clearly worked because they’re still together three years later and now laugh about the craziness of that first holiday.)

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

brunswickansports

Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145 • 15

sports@thebruns.ca

Women’s volleyball make farewell video for coach

K. Bryannah James Sports Editor The University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds women’s volleyball team may have lost in the fourth set to the Universitié de Moncton’s Aigles Bleues this past weekend at the Aitken Centre, but head coach John Richard was the overall winner of the evening.

“It’s pretty special,” Richard said.

“You forget how long you’ve been here and all the girls that have played for you and all the good things they’ve gone on and done.”

After the match, the team gave their coach a gift they had put together, as Saturday’s game was his last home game as the head coach.

Richard will be finishing his term as coach this semester and his sole responsibility as athletics director will start after the season.

Over his time as coach, Richard brought the women’s volleyball team to four AUS finals in the last five years and two AUS championships.

“You get accustomed to doing that and get accustomed to getting a buy in the first round,” Richard said.

“And then you get a younger team like you have here, and it snaps you back into reality petty quick.”

However, during his time as coach he’s had a few rebuilding years, but after seeing the video, he realized the magnitude of his years as coach with the Varsity Reds.

“You look up there and you see a lot of pictures and you go through a challenging year like we’re having this year and you kind of look back and maybe took some of those times for granted.”

During their Saturday night game, the Reds were unable to capitalize against the Aigles Bleues, but instead of losing in a three-set match, the Reds pushed Moncton to four.

“I thought we had a let down in the first set as well. They bailed us out a couple times and made some mistakes in some key plays, I thought and we were able to get out of it,” Richard said.

“The second, third and fourth game, I thought we just went to sleep for five minutes or so. I mean again, it’s a characteristic of a young team.”

Even though the evening against UdeM was yet another loss in UNB’s standings, Richard is taking some positivity from it.

“There’s a lot of pieces over there on

our team this year. We’re young and we need a couple more players, but it’s not like we’re five or six or seven players away, were only a couple pieces away,” Richard said.

“So I’m tremendously proud of that group over there, to try and stay as positive as they can each day and battling every night.”

As Richard says, despite their record this year, the team is coming along, something he says is also due to his great coaching staff and the potential on the team.

“You look at a girl like Vanja Mitrovic, I mean she has a tremendous, tremendous future in this league. Katarina Legutky, you know went down with an injury to start this term and she was having a tremendous year before she hurt her knee. So I mean there are a lot of young good pieces there.”

During his time as head coach, Richard brought UNB to the national volleyball court, as UNB has hosted two national championships over the years, the first time in over 25 years that Atlantic Canada saw such a level of play.

But it wasn’t easy for the better half of a decade at the beginning of Richard’s career as head coach; there were no banners or championships to be seen, something that changed dramatically in the last few years.

“We didn’t win any championships and I probably would have done a lot of things differently if I could have had it back,” he said. “But again, you’re young and energetic and you’re emotional and you make mistakes and that’s how you grow.”

That growth is evident in the championships and banners Richard and the volleyball team won over the years following that slump. However, now is another rebuilding year, and another slump before a spike in play again.

“We keep on trying to battle and just focus on the next point and not look at the standings and not worry about the standings. “ Although it is disappointing, riding the coattails of an AUS championship year only to lose more games then winning with a rookie team, Richard is looking toward a positive aspect of the team, even as he departs as their head coach at the end of the season.

“Sometimes we’ll take two or three steps forward and a couple steps back,” Richard said. “But I commend our group for fighting every day in practice and trying to get better.”

the panel voice your opinion

The women’s volleyball team may have closed the weekend with a four set loss, but coach Richard realized how much he’s won over the years. Tim Lingley / The Brunswickan

Do you think the UNB men’s basketball team will make it to the AUS playoffs?

K. Bryannah James

Christopher Cameron

Josh Fleck

The men’s basketball team is going to make AUS playoffs - it’s as simple as that. With Seth Amoah, Michael Fosu, Dan Quirion playing the way they have been, the teams moral, and McFee’s level of play when he’s not injured- the guys can’t miss playoffs.

However, that being said, I don’t think they’ll place in the top three.

I hate to say it, but the boys will not be able to pull out the necessary wins this weekend. Losing both is going to cripple their chances of making the show in Halifax. Too many tough games remaining, too little time.

The Reds are tied with St. Mary’s for the final playoff spot in the AUS and face them on the 18th in a game which could decide both teams’ playoff fates.

The Reds are hot and I think will win 3 of their last 5 along with the crucial head-to-head win against St. Mary’s.

The Huskies will go 2-4 in their final games, and the Reds will squeak into the playoffs.

Sports Editor

EIC

Sports Writer

Heather Uhl Sports Writer

Personally, I don’t think the men will make it to playoffs. They have to win both games this upcoming weekend to make the last spot. Granted, the AUS standings have the potential to be shuffled over the next round of games. If the men make the playoffs, it’ll be by the skin of their teeth.

brunswickansports

16 • Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145

Varsity Red men’s basketball split Think Pink weekend with StFX Sean O’Neill The Brunswickan If the UNB Varsity Reds men’s basketball team makes the playoffs for the second year in a row, a win, which most wouldn’t have counted on them getting, may be the catalyst to break into the six-team tournament.

The StFX X-Men came to Fredericton as the No. 6 team in the country and had a 9-3 AUS record. StFX was also reeling from a loss the weekend before at Dalhousie.

Less than four weeks before this weekend doubleheader, UNB got smashed twice at the Oland Centre by 33 and 19, respectively.

So observers wouldn’t have expected much from this weekend, and in the first game on Friday it would take more than Michael Fosu’s first-possession block and Seth Amoah’s second quarter dunk to keep the crowd engaged and the team focused.

However, that’s what it did. The lead in the fourth quarter was passed back and forth like a tennis match; Alex DesRoches gave the Reds a one-point lead with two minutes left off a three-point play. After missed shots from both teams, StFX sharpshooter Jeremy Dunn nailed a long two to give the lead back to the visitors, 66-65.

With 19 seconds left, UNB drew a perfect flex-play, which left Amoah wide open under the net, but he fumbled the ball and couldn’t go up for the shot. After another in-bounds play, Dan Quirion was fouled by Dunn and was sent to the line, down by one.

During the subsequent time-out, head coach Brent Baker didn’t say anything to Quirion. “I don’t want to get in a shooter’s

head and talk about that, he’s pretty much golden down the stretch of games.”

Quirion was as good as gold when stepping up to the charity stripe and nailed both. StFX couldn’t get a shot off with the two remaining seconds and the Reds took the two points, 67-66.

“We’ve busted our asses off the last couple weeks,” DesRoches said, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

“And you know what, coach said from the start, just like [last week’s win] in Cape Breton, ‘if we battle all game we’re gonna be there in the end.’”

Quirion led the team with 23 points, and Amoah came off the bench with 14.

Dunn had 24 and 10 while Terry Thomas had 17 and 12 for StFX in a losing effort.

UNB held the X-Men well under the season averages of 82 points with 66 and 43 per cent shooting with 37.

“I didn’t think it was going to be that kind of score,” Baker said after the game.

“I think we got a really big boost last weekend from Cape Breton, winning that game. I told them all week, ‘X went into Cape Breton and got cranked by 20 with a full roster, it ain’t like we did something small last week by going into Cape Breton and winning.’”

The next day, X got back in the win column. UNB were down as much as 13 in the fourth, but a spirited comeback was snuffed out when Thomas drained two free throws with eight seconds left to make it a two-possession game and give the X-Men a 76-72 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Thomas led StFX with 14 points, Bol Kong came off the bench and had 13 points with six rebounds. Fosu led the Reds with

Varsity Red Seth Amoah pushes past StFX’s defense to make a run for the net.

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan 20 points, DesRoches had 19 and Amoah had 13.

“We wanted to make sure that StFX was not coming here just to get an easy win,” Fosu said after the second game on Saturday. “We wanted to grind it out and try and get this win. But unfortunately, we didn’t get that.”

UNB hosts Dalhousie next week in two critical games, which could essentially deter-

mine whether it’ll make the playoffs or not.

The Reds sit tied for the sixth and final playoff spot with Saint Mary’s with 16 points. The Tigers have 20 points on the year, but the two teams have yet to play on this year, with the other two games being at the DalPlex the last weekend of the regular season.

“The biggest thing we got to take from this is we have an M.O., we have a way of

attacking, we have a way of doing business,” Baker said after Saturday’s game.

“If we play our quality defense that we played the last two days -- well, three quarters today -- then we’re going to be fine. If we deviate from that, we’re gonna be in trouble.”

The games tip-off Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m.

right on target sports@thebruns.ca

brunswickansports

Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145 • 17

Reds may miss shot at playoffs

Sean O’Neill The Brunswickan The Varsity Reds women’s basketball team had a huge opportunity at playoffs last weekend at the Currie Center, but the playoff spot seems to be slipping away, one game at a time.

The AUS championship-hosting XWomen were in town, playing for nothing but pride and muscle memory before five other teams come to the Oland Centre to play for the banner.

Wins don’t tangibly matter for StFX but they mean everything for UNB who were trailing Dalhousie for the final playoff spot in the league.

Instead of writing up a ticket to Nova Scotia the first week of March, the Reds are looking likely that it’ll be stuck in New Brunswick that weekend.

The X-Women were in town for the Reds annual Think Pink weekend, which is a part of the national Shoot for the Cure drive for breast cancer research. In the first game Friday night, the only research the V-Reds should have done was to find its effort because the team barely showed up, getting wiped 82-52.

UNB gave up 40 per cent shooting to StFX including 45 per cent from behind the arc, and shot a low 24 per cent itself.

Kirsten Jones had 22 points and 10

rebounds for X, while Vanessa Pickard had scored 16 herself. Claire Colborne, as usual, had 19 points to lead the Reds in scoring.

“We weren’t very intense, we never showed up,” Colborne said. “We had other things on our minds and we didn’t show up to play basketball.”

On Saturday, the team came out sprinting, starting out on a 17-4 run from tip-off.

But from then on, the pressure wore off as the game progressed. Pickard even drained a half-court shot as the half-time buzzer sounded to push StFX ahead by four at halftime.

The Reds made numerous defensive mistakes in the final quarter, which ballooned StFX’s lead in the fourth and capped off the 71-65 win.

“I think they made shots,” head coach Jeff Speedy (who dyed his hair pink and had a breast cancer ribbon shaved into the back of his head for the weekend) said after the second game.

“I think they got the ball where they wanted to on offense whether it was in transition or pounding it inside. Some of the very good technical defensive things we’ve done for 35 minutes we stopped doing for the last five minutes. It wasn’t effort, it was defensive mistakes.”

Emma Russell paced UNB with 19 points and eight boards, Sam Kaminsky scored 13 off the bench and Colborne had

an uncommonly low 12 points, which Speedy had an explanation for.

“Claire got fouled repeatedly and it wasn’t called. She made a lot of mistakes on defense, but I thought she got absolutely murdered on the way to the basket and for whatever reason they wouldn’t put her on the foul line.”

“I just didn’t get the calls,” Colborne said after the game. “Maybe I need to drive harder, I’m not too sure.”

If the Reds have any chance of making the playoffs, they’ll have to turn into a different team when they host Dalhousie next weekend.

The Tigers have 16 points to UNB’s 12. If the Reds get anything less than two wins at home, while not mathematically eliminated, they can all but surely kiss the postseason goodbye.

“I’m not thinking about Dal,” Speedy said of his team’s next opponent. “I’m thinking of the horrendous week of practice we had, the horrendous game we played yesterday and how proud I am of how hard we played today.”

“They lost by 40 [last week against Cape Breton] and they lost by 30 and they played great today so hopefully they’ll figure it out.”

Tip-off on Friday is at 6 p.m. while the teams play at 2 p.m. the next day.

The Reds are still fighting to stay in the game, and make playoffs.

Tim Lingley / The Brunswickan

Dalhousie Tigers claw their way past Reds to steal weekend win

The Dalhousie Tigers pushed the Reds into OT and then into a shootout, where they lost 3-2. Martina Marien / Dalhousie Gazette Heather Uhl Staff Reporter The Varsity Reds men’s hockey team came home from last weekend’s road trip to Nova Scotia with the disappointment of a split.

The V-Reds won Friday’s game

@brunswickan

against the Acadia Axemen 3-2, and lost in a shootout against the Dalhousie Tigers.

“The game at Acadia, I thought that we scored goals at the right times,” coach Gardiner MacDougall said in an interview. “We got a power play goal to start the game which was

important to score first. I thought that Daine Todd had a big goal in the second. And then Nick MacNeil got the game-winning goal in the third period.”

Acadia stumbled when Axeman Cullen Morin received a penalty for holding 19 seconds into the first period. On the power play for UNB, Chris Culligan scored the first goal of the game.

Acadia tied the game by the end of the first period, before scoring another goal early in the second period. Todd tied the game again with his goal late in second period.

UNB’s MacNeil scored the winning goal early in the third period and from there, the V-Reds successfully prevented the Axemen from scoring again.

“We probably played a better game at Dalhousie than we did at Acadia,” MacDougall said. “Game-wise, it was probably one of the best games we’ve played in Dalhousie in the last couple years. It speaks to the parody of the league: some night you need a

bit of a break and we outshot them 39 to 11 in the three periods, 21 to 2 in the third.”

“We got to capitalize on our opportunities. We had some great opportunities and we just got to score one more goal.”

In the first two periods of the Dalhousie game, the V-Reds scored a goal per period. Rookie Shayne Wiebe scored in first period, while Kyle Bailey got UNB’s second goal of the evening, a minute into the second period.

The Tigers also scored in the second period, and again in the third period to tie the game. In the overtime shootout, Tiger Brett Theberge won the game for Dalhousie.

“It was a huge weekend for the hockey club,” MacDougall said.

“The goal is to try and get better each night, and we’re getting big games every night so that’s a great opportunity for us, going down the road and into playoffs and into nationals.”

MacDougall also said that the

UNB goaltenders, Travis Fullerton and Daniel LaCosta, are back to full health and that Fullerton played his first away game against the Axemen since October.

With the past weekend, the Varsity Reds remain in first place in the AUS with 17 wins, five losses and three overtime losses. Saint Mary’s University and UPEI have the same number of wins, but more game losses then UNB. The V-Reds have yet to secure the first-place bye in the AUS playoffs, although all but one playoff spot has been locked up, with only StFX, Dal and STU without a spot locked up.

Over the weekend MacDougall was also selected to be head coach for the Canadian men’s hockey team at the 2013 Winter Universiade, a multi-sport event for University sports.

The next game for the V-Reds will be tonight at 7 p.m. at the Aitken Centre against the Tommies.

brunswickansports

18 • Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145

Grades before the gridiron: Vaillancourt turns down bowl game Andrew Maggio The Link (Concordia University) MONTREAL (CUP) — Rookies are supposed to be complementary pieces to a sports team. They’re expected to stay quiet, absorb information and learn the ropes until their moment comes somewhere down the road.

But once in a while, a rookie breaks through the stereotype and becomes an overnight sensation. It happens all the time in pro sports, but this year we saw it in our own backyard courtesy of 19-year-old Concordia Stingers defensive back Kadeem Vaillancourt.

Vaillancourt, a native of Ottawa currently studying environmental science, burst onto to Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) football scene this year posting solid numbers (14 tackles, seven assists, one interception), and displaying the raw size and talent normally reserved for high-level NCAA college players.

For this, Vaillancourt was selected to play in the third annual International Bowl on Feb. 1 in Austin, Texas. The concept revolves around pitting a U.S squad against a team formed of international players, all under 19 years of age.

“I’m really excited about the selection,” said Vaillancourt, “It’s a big game and I wanted to go there and show I could play with the guys on the top U.S. college teams.”

But unfortunately, Vaillancourt will not be attending the event due to academic obligations, having made a commitment to be more focused on schoolwork than before.

“I found it really hard to find balance between school and football. I ended up putting most of my effort into football,” said Vaillancourt. “I’ve changed my habits toward school, making it an equal priority. I bring the same football mentality towards school now.”

News of his selection was still a moment of extreme pride for him and his family.

“What he’s doing is far beyond my reality,” said Vaillancourt’s proud father, Rick Clarke. “I tell his younger siblings, ‘Following in your dad’s footsteps is OK, but if I were you I would follow Kadeem’s lead — he’s way ahead.’”

Vaillancourt turned down the third annual International Bowl in Austin,Texas, to focus on his academics. David Murphy / The Link Despite the fact that he won’t participate head-to-head with the greatest on the continent, his dad stands by him whether he chooses to go into professional football, or stays on the traditional route. Many, however, are tipping the teenager off for the former.

“He’s a very amazing kid and the family would be extremely happy and proud of him, but I don’t think anyone here would be surprised [if he went pro], because he said that’s what he is heading for,” said Clarke. “I think if he’s not playing pro football, it’s because he chose not to.”

Vaillancourt’s accomplishment

garnered similar responses from his teammates and coaches. Defensive coordinator Phil Roberts thought Vaillancourt was well-deserving of the recognition.

“We’re definitely proud of him for being selected,” said Roberts, “He did a great job this year covering some of the best receivers in the country.

He’s very much a prototypical U.S. corner, he’s got great size and the talent is definitely there.”

Vaillancourt credits his early success to learning things quickly, and to his coaches and teammates for helping him assimilate to his new environment.

“I feel the reason I performed the way I did is because I have a coaching staff who I felt, from the beginning, had faith in me and want me to succeed,” said Vaillancourt. “They placed me in situations to make plays, be it scheme or play calling, and I feel the way we play defence plays to my strengths.”

Despite the tumultuous ending of this season — where the Stingers lost 33-7 to the Laval Rouge et Or — Vaillancourt was already looking ahead to next year, showing no worry about the state of the team moving forward.

“I’m surrounded by perfectionists,

therefore their attitudes should rub off on me and make next season that much more interesting,” he said. “I urge people to come out and watch.”

Vaillancourt is already being touted as a good prospect with a great chance to play professional football, something that he says has been part of his plan all along.

“I’m in university to not only get a degree to fall back on, but also to work as hard as I can so that someday I can make it pro. I feel I can compete at that level,” he said.

“I’ve been thinking about for so long that it all seems to make sense to me.”

Eating: The social aspect of your food and your choices Tova Payne The Brunswickan Eating is basically about taking care of our bodies and nourishing our cells. However, it’s not uncommon to find yourself in a social situation surrounded by food where there is this pressure to eat, even if you’re not necessarily hungry or wanting the food that is offered.

This creates a template of doing the opposite of what food is meant to do. Instead of nourishing ourselves we end up detracting from our health.

Often social situations involve food. It could be your roommates who are offering you some chips, a party with cake, or a seminar with

pizza. The interesting thing is that most of the time the food offered is not necessarily whole grain nutritious foods that are good for our body.

More often than not, we are faced with pizza, donuts, chips, and so on.

There’s nothing wrong with eating these foods some of the time if we actually want to (remember balance is key). The problem is the social pressure that tends to revolve around these encounters.

Often people will say, “oh, have some fries, come on” or “you’re too skinny, have a doughnut.” When in all actuality choosing to not eat may have nothing to do with weight and body issues. The division of “good” food and “bad” food is so ingrained

in our culture that people fail to see that sometimes a person may refrain from eating something due to preference, medical or religious reasons.

The pressure to eat runs high, and often instead of explaining your reasons, it’s easier to just eat something that you never wanted in the first place, or that can end up making you sick.

Imagine if you had a food-sensitivity to cake, and you are at a gathering with cake. When everyone tries to pressure you to eat it “oh it’s just a slice, you can have it”, they do not realize that eating that slice can be damaging to your small intestines.

People are well meaning (most of the time) but the challenge is finding a way to take care of yourself while

you refrain from caving into the pressure to eat something that you either feel is unhealthy, unappealing or physically or culturally detrimental to your health.

I would like to offer a simple solution to this food-pressure phenomenon, however, there is no clear cut solution, as some people do not back down and will continue to make their comments about your eating choices. You can choose to be honest and just let the person know either you have sensitivity or are not in the mood, but often it’s not enough to temper down a person who is pressuring you to eat or inquiring about your food choices.

So all you have left is you and your body. At the end of the day,

the most important thing is feeling good. When our physical body does not feel well, your emotional, mental and spiritual body tend to decline along with it.

The only advice I can give is: don’t cave, and for those of you who see yourself in the shoes of the “food pressure” role, perhaps you will think twice the next time somebody is not choosing to eat at a social event with food that may not be up to healthy standards.

There is an author by the name of Byron Katie who eloquently says “There is your business, and everybody else’s business. Your job is to mind your own business”

brunswickansports

Feb. 8, 2012 • Issue 20 • Volume 145 • 19

the brunswickan is hiring for 2012 The Bruns will be hosting an info session Feb. 15 in SUB 103 at 7 p.m. with free pizza

Good reasons to join The Bruns…

The Brunswickan is a newspaper put out for students by students, and that means you. Join The Bruns. The friendships you make and the experience you gain will last you a lifetime. Call, email or drop by the office in the SUB. Working with your student newspaper is a great way to build your resume and portfolio, have your name published in a weekly newspaper and on the Internet, meet interesting and important people, and serve the good of your student community. No experience is necessary to apply, and all students are welcome to join.

Working with the Bruns will also give you the opportunity to attend the national Canadian University Press conference, where you can meet and network with journalists across the country.

The following paid positions are up for grabs.

The deadline to apply is March 2 at 11:59 p.m.

available positions:

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Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Arts Editor Photo Editor Sports Editor Production Editor Online Editor Copy Editor News Reporter Arts Reporter

Editor-in-Chief: You’d be the in charge of everything, well not everything, but oversee it all. You run meetings, manage the opinion/ editorial section of the paper, and ensure that everything is moving along well each week with the paper. You’re always on call, but at the end of each week when the paper hits stands it is always worth the time you put in.

Managing: Office manager that looks after everything in the physical office. Looks after pay for everyone on staff, amongst almost every other detail in the office that you may or may not imagine. It could be cleaning it up, changing the name board, or cleaning. Essentially you do everything that does not involve the the publication online or in paper form.

News: Since this is a newspaper we’re talking about, the most obvious place to start is with the news department. The Brunswickan’s news staff covers events of interest to students both on and off campus.

Writers bring interesting and informative stories to the attention of the university community.

Arts: Do you like listening to music? Do you like going to plays, festivals and concerts? Good. Being a part of the Arts section means you’ll be doing this regularly!

Sports: For all you sports fans out there, the Bruns has a job for

A week in the life of the Bruns

W

EDNESDAY

•12:30 p.m. – Story Meeting in Bruns Office (SUB Room 35) •Assign stories to writers •Assign photo assignments to photographers •Discuss any new and upcoming business with entire staff and volunteers •Begin to arrange interviews, your weekend work schedule, etc.

T

HURSDAY

•Continue to work on stories •Make sure your section is running smoothly and is under control •Ensure that any questions staff members or volunteers have are tended to

F

RIDAY

•Ensure every story in your section is either finished or nearing completion •Complete as much as you can to avoid a busy weekend •12:00 p.m. – Online Editor’s first story is due •Collaborate with photographers to ensure everything is running smoothly

S

ATURDAY

•12:00 p.m. – Stories are due to the section editor •Track down any late stories •Aid any writer in a tough situation (lost interview, no quote, etc.)

•Begin copy editing

S

you, too. As with the entertainment section, sports staff gain free admission to all UNB sports events. The sports section covers Varsity and intramural sports and community events. The section also covers stories concerning health and wellness.

Photo: The photography department of the Bruns teaches you a special skill that will be a valuable asset in the future. Even if you’ve only ever used a point and shoot camera, the Bruns photographers can teach you everything you want to know about photography and then some. We even do video!

Online: Our web presence, thebruns.ca, is your digital source for reading the Brunswickan and other web-exclusive content. We also have regular video and photo content. Working in this department will give you experience working with a large and ever-growing website.

Production: This is when it all comes together. With the help of Adobe InDesign and InCopy, all of the copy and photos are artistically arranged on a digital canvas. The production department also oversees the overall design of both the Brunswickan and thebruns.ca.

Copy: Did you read it in the paper? The copy editor was one of the people that edited it. They read everything. Well all the stories at least.

Your work is all on one day, but you learn a lot about what is going on at UNB before everyone else because you’re reading it before them.

UNDAY

•Editors complete their copy editing •Photo Editor begins editing photos •12:00 p.m. – Stories are due to Copy Editor •2:00 p.m. – Ed. Board meeting •Dummies are filled out and front page layout is decided •Copy Editor and EiC begin the editing process

M

ONDAY

•11:00 a.m. – Online Editor’s second story is due •12:00 p.m. – Production Editor begins layout on InDesign •Section editors build their section on InCopy •Photo Editor finalizes photo editing •EiC performs final check

T

UESDAY

•Managing Editor sends paper to printer •All other Editors sleep in •9:00 p.m. – Detailed story and photo lists are due to EiC and Photo Editor