Issue 21, Vol 145, The Brunswickan

arts | the vagina monologues

news | mo’snow, mo’problems opinion| transit strike

sports| playoff hopes still alive

Volume 145 · February 15 · Issue 21, 2012

www.thebruns.ca

brunswickan canada’s oldest official student publication.

hurting ourselves

thirty per cent of university students self-injure. college hill is no exception.

Hilary Paige Smith News Editor Live for today.

The words are etched on Stefanie Boucher-Bouchard’s left wrist in black cursive. Above them, her forearm is striped with thin, white lines. The scars left by years of self-injury.

Self-harm – often referred to as cutting – is the intentional injuring of one’s own body. It is usually done without suicidal intentions and can become an addiction.

Counselling Services at UNB has noticed a high number of students coming in who report self-injury. Ninety-one of 260 students who have sought services on campus since January reported the behaviour during their intake questionnaire. That’s just over one-third of their visitors.

Nancy Buzzell, psychologist with Counselling Services, did not wish to comment on those numbers. She says a

month’s worth of numbers is “not strong enough to stand on it’s own.”

Despite this, self-injuring is still a reality for many university students across the country.

Buzzell says there have been eight studies on self-harm in university students, the majority of which report 30 per cent of students have engaged in some form of self-injuring, whether it be cutting, scratching or burning.

For Stefanie, now in her third year at St. Thomas University, this behaviour began when she was 11. She was sexually abused by a family member at an early age and started suffering from anorexia when she was just eight years old.

She started off picking scabs, enough that they didn’t heal for weeks. She also

SEE SELF-HARM PAGE 2

self-harm is the deliberate injuring of body tissue, often without suicidal intentions.

brunswickannews

2 • Feb. 15, 2012 • Issue 21 • Volume 145

Temporary fix, lasting consequences FROM SELF-HARM PAGE 1 started scratching her wrists and arms.

“I wasn’t seeking out directly with a blade to harm myself, just picking at my skin - things that would cause injury, but would be easier to explain away,” she says.

This kind of self-harm, and eventually cutting, lasted almost every day until she was 19.

Stefanie was also raped in high school.

Cutting became a distraction for her – a way to displace the pain of sexual assault with something else.

“I used it as a way to distract myself from the thoughts and memories of the assault and the pain would bring me back.

It would bring me back right away from the memories,” she says.

Now 20, it’s been a year since Stefanie last self-injured. She stopped when she entered a serious relationship, though admits she has occasionally relapsed.

“It’s hard to hide something like that from someone you’re with every day and to have to put someone who willingly chooses to be in your life through that,” she says.

Explaining self-harm to loved ones is often one of the most difficult things a person has to deal with, Buzzell says.

There’s a stigma attached to self-injuring.

“The worst sort of generalization is that they self-injure because they need help.

They want someone to know they’re very upset and yet the first thing they hear from someone sometimes is that they’re just doing it for attention,” she says, shaking

her head solemnly.

Buzzell says there is an incredibly small minority who self-injure for attention.

“By and large, a far greater number don’t tell anyone about it. They are ashamed that they do it and try to hide it.”

Self-injuring is a temporary fix, with lasting consequences. Buzzell says it begins that way, to distract from emotional pain, but it can escalate.

“It has an addiction piece. It’s a complicated relationship between what happens in a person’s mind and their body – the endorphin thing that happens when people self-injure,” she says.

People often feel a release or a sense of control while they self-injure. After, the rush is replaced with shame and guilt.

“Research says that relief is temporary and followed by a lot of things that aren’t so good and people have to do more of it.

They have to self-harm more.”

If self-injuring goes untreated, people may get the urge to do it more frequently or inflict deeper harm. They run the risk of infection or blood poisoning. It can also create tensions with loved ones.

Self-injuring while drinking or using drugs also creates an additional risk because people aren’t as careful, both while injuring or patching their injuries up.

Buzzell says there are coping mechanisms people can use to prevent selfinjuring. The longer they wait, the less likely they are to hurt themselves.

She suggests Ericksonian techniques.

People with the urge to self-harm should take a deep breath and focus on five sights around them. Then, take another breath

and focus on five sounds they can hear.

Lastly, they should focus on five sensations, such as the feeling of their feet on the ground, with another deep breath.

“By the time they do that whole thing – it takes about five minutes – they will be calmed down and it’s less likely that they will do it. It’s a way of reducing the urge,” she says.

Both Buzzell and Stefanie suggest reaching out for help, whether it’s a friend, family member or a counsellor.

“I still struggle. It’s like any addiction, my eating disorder, my self-injuring, it’s not going to go away overnight and I don’t think it’s ever going to go away, but I know I have the support of the people around me,” Stefanie says.

On Monday, her scars are the only visible reminder of her past with self-injuring.

She’s upbeat, twirling fettuccini pasta melted with brie on a fork. On her left hand, a silver engagement ring catches the light. She got engaged to her girlfriend on the weekend and her smile is unwavering.

She isn’t afraid to show her scars, but cautions everyone against self-harm.

“It wasn’t great. It releases endorphins, but the relief you get from it is only temporary. The shame and the guilt and the pain you’ll feel from those injuries years later is something you’re going to have to deal with for the rest of your life.”

To schedule an appointment with Counselling Services, call 453-4820. For urgent assistance, call the free CHIMO hotline at 1-800-667-5005.

this week in brunswickannews Nominations extended Nominations have been extended for a number of positions in the upcoming UNBSU general election. A full list of positions is available at www.unbsu.ca.

Nominations close on Friday at 4 p.m. If you have any questions, email Cassie MacKinlay, the Chief Returning Officer, at cro@unb.ca.

Faculty teaching awards All undergraduate students are welcome to nominate any faculty member as a candidate who demonstrated a commitment to student learning and quality teaching, during the academic year of 2011-12.The nomination forms will be accepted starting on Feb. 17 until the deadline on March 23 at 12:00 p.m.

UNBSU council met on Sunday to discuss the upcoming election, issues between the Student Union Building board and the administration, employment practices for UNBSU employees and general updates. Check out next week’s issue for a full election spread. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

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brunswickannews

Feb. 15, 2012 • Issue 21 • Volume 145 • 3

Falling snow and ice claim first student vehicle this winter season

Heather Uhl Staff Writer Falling ice and snow has claimed a few cars so far this winter.

One unfortunate car belonged to Sara Long, a second-year chemical engineering student.

“I was in class and I got a bunch of text messages from my friends saying that my car had been damaged from snowfall,” Long said in an interview.

“Dolores, the cleaning lady in LBR, she heard a bunch of snow falling off the roof and heard a big bang so she ran downstairs to see what happened. She noticed it all landed on my car.”

In the beginning, Long didn’t think there was a lot of damage to her car. After she cleared off the snow it was a different matter and Long will need to replace her car’s hood.

The car had been parked in LBR’s parking lot in the back in a parking spot Long was sure was meant for residents’ use. Campus Security disagreed and said Long had parked in a service vehicle only zone.

UNB is not liable to pay for the damages having placed ample signage warning drivers and pedestrians alike of the falling snow.

“As you’ve noticed there’s signs all over the university saying ‘Danger: falling ice.’ So, yes there is, but that’s our designated parking space.

Even though it says, ‘Danger: falling ice’ there’s another sign that says, ‘residents’ parking here,” Long said.

Bruce Rogerson, director of Campus Security, said every winter there are between three to four reports

Sara Long’s damaged vehicle. Submitted of falling snow and ice. This winter there have been three reports so far.

“Snow comes down in big clunks, like icebergs,” Rogerson said. “A lady in financial services a year ago or so parked next to a building and snow hit her car and it was a write-off.”

“It [snow] doesn’t come down in trips, it comes down in icebergs.”

The thing to remember about the snow, Rogerson said, is that it can weigh a couple hundred pounds and isn’t just snow. There can be ice in the mix as well.

“Pedestrians too should be look-

ing,” Rogerson said. On mild days drivers and pedestrians should be paying attention to snow fall.

The university does attempt to keep control over the snow falling off the roofs through Facilities Management. The director of Facilities Management, Mike Carter said the university attempts to clean off the roofs, however, they can’t predict when the snow is going to melt enough to slip off the roof.

“Usually it’s ice control, where we have a build-up of ice we have to get that down before it breaks off or

slides down a roof and hurts somebody,” Carter said. “There are some areas where we do remove snow, but mostly [we’re] concerned with ice.”

Sloped roofs are the focus of most of the roof cleanings, with the flat roofs not a main concern.

“Certainly anyone parking their vehicle should be aware of their surroundings and we would hope people wouldn’t park in an area where the potential is for snow to slide off the roof,” Carter said.

“Having said that, our parking lots are usually very full and might not

be avoidable so that’s why we try to take some precautions.”

“Number one is try to park away from the buildings.”

Carter also points out that, while UNB has parking away from the buildings, people try and park as close as possible to the buildings.

Long remains frustrated by the situation.

“It’s frustrating because you pay so much and you expect your car to be safe, then it gets damaged.”

Co-ed switch not entirely welcome Alanah Duffy News Reporter Brittany Hunter has great memories of her first week at the University of New Brunswick due to the house spirit displayed by Tibbits Hall.

“The welcoming ceremony really brought us together as a house and formed a bond,” she says. “Plus, we have a lot of secret traditions to welcome first years. It’s a sisterhood, really.”

The all-female residence, named after UNB’s first female graduate, has been closed for renovations since the Fall. Last week, Tibbits residents were told the house would reopen in September – as a co-ed residence.

A meeting between Residential Life and 27 Tibbits Hall women took place on Sunday, Feb. 5. It was then that the girls learned about the proposed change.

“The atmosphere was really tense because we knew something was going on,” Hunter says. “It was neat because all of us, without planning it, showed up in our Tibbits jerseys and T-shirts.”

Hunter says that integrating men into the house will mean a loss of identity for the women of Tibbits.

“A lot of our traditions will have to change, because they’re really orientated around girls specifically,” says Hunter, who is the TIbbits Hall social representative.

James Brown, executive director of Residential Life, says that the decision to change Tibbits from a single-sex house was driven by a lack of applications to the house.

There are 200 beds in all-female houses; 100 in Lady Dunn Hall and 100 in Tibbits Hall. Brown says that the university only receives about 100 applicants for all-female

houses per year. The women are distributed throughout both houses and are supplemented with women who didn’t get their first choice of a co-ed house.

“Tibbits has a lower application rate in terms of all-female houses,” says Brown. “In the long term, if you’re not giving people their preference, they won’t have a positive position in residence.”

Brown says that he has a positive outlook about the transition to a coed house. He says that Neville/Jones House successfully transitioned from an all-male residence to a co-ed residence last year.

At last Sunday’s meeting, a compromise of segregating f loors by gender was mentioned.

Hunter says the compromise is a fair suggestion, but worries the men will feel secluded from the rest of the house.

She adds that she and the Tibbits women, who have been living in the 3T wing of Joy W. Kidd House for the year, have been getting support from the residence community and Tibbits Hall alumni.

“A lot of the alumni talk about how fun Tibbits Hall was and how they look back on those years as building block years,” says Hunter.

“Most were shocked when they heard of the plan to make it into a co-ed residence.”

Brown says the university’s decision will ultimately make students happier and will bring in more revenue.

“I guarantee that we could not fill both houses [Lady Dunn Hall and Tibbits Hall] as all-female, but we could fill both houses will one all-female and one co-ed,” he says.

“That’s good for students because it allows them to have their preferences

Brittany Hunter and other women of Tibbits Hall weren’t happy to hear the residence would be reopening as co-ed. Tim Lingley / The Brunswickan in terms of living situations. But, it’s also good for residence, because it means more residents, and therefore more residence revenue.”

Hunter is most worried about the

traditions and activities performed with brother house Aitken House, UNB’s only all-male residence.

“That sort of stuff just won’t happen in an co-ed residence,” Hunter

says.

The next residence to undergo UNB’s renewal process is Bridges House, a co-ed residence.

brunswickannews

4 • Feb. 15, 2012 • Issue 21 • Volume 145

Andrews Initiative declares this the Year of Water Jeremy Murray The Brunswickan It’s the Year of Water at UNB. The Andrews Initiative (AI) at UNB has declared this the Year of Water to recognize the importance of water to the province, the country and around the globe.

Susan Montague, volunteer Andrews Initiative coordinator, said their committee came to this decision after also looking at the importance of water in current events in the province.

“The question of fracking and its impact on our water systems is paramount in people’s minds [in New Brunswick],” she said.

In honour of this event, UNB will be presenting a series of speakers. The first up is Maude Barlow. She will be speaking at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Wu Conference Centre.

Barlow is a founder and the national chairperson of the Council of Canadians. The council’s current focus is on water, particularly water as a human right.

In addition to chairing the Council of Canadians, Barlow also works closely with and chairs various international committees on the preservation of water.

She is the recipient of 11 honorary doctorates and many awards. She is also the author of dozens of reports and 16 books, including the international best seller Blue Covenant: The

Maude Barlow is the author of 16 books. Submitted.

Global Water Crisis and The Coming Battle for the Right to Water.

The lecture is titled “The Global Water Crisis and the Challenge for Canadians.”

Montague said they hope to have “a good turnout and an opportunity to raise the profile of AI and the Year of Water.”

The AI is the brainchild of UNB’s president emeritus, John McLaughlin who feels a strong connection to the merits of preserving natural resources, particularly water.

“While the year of water program is intended to be educational in nature, not taking a position on any particular issue, the study of water should be relevant to the current concerns in the province as well as more globally,” she said.

“Issues such as access, quality, the commodification of, and conservation of water will be part of our discussions, lectures and online conversations.”

With AI only being in its second year, the effectiveness of the program has yet to be proven.

“By hearing these speakers and thinking about the topics, more New Brunswickers will gain an awareness of the fundamental importance of water, not just to our survival, but to global politics, the economy, the environment, and social harmony,” she said.

Everyone is welcome to attend the lecture series; admission is free.

Obama appoints UNB alumni to high-ranking position Damira Davletyarova The Brunswickan President Barack Obama has appointed a University of New Brunswick alumna to a high-ranking job.

Heidi Shyu is now the assistant secretary of the army for acquisition, logistics and technology with the Department of Defense. Originally from Taiwan, Shyu immigrated to the USA when she was 10 years old.

After graduation from high school, she chose the University of New Brunswick for her Bachelor of Science degree. She concentrated on chemistry, physics and math, graduating with honours in 1976.

Two years later, Shyu started working as an engineer for Hughes A ircraf t Company. Since t hen, her career kept climbing. Prior to her new appointment, she worked at Raytheon - a company, which

through top technology and intelligence systems, provides defense and security in aerospace.

With the new appointment, Shyu will become the army’s top weapon buyer, using her wide expertise in space and airborne systems.

In the White House press release that came after the appointment, Obama said, “I am proud that such experienced and committed individuals have agreed to serve the American people in these important roles.

I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

For Robb Parker, executive director of UNB Associated Alumni, the news of Shyu’s appointment came as no surprise. He says UNB has always been a nest of future leaders.

“Ms. Shyu is a prime example of that - over 225 years UNB has been quietly changing and inf luencing New Brunswick, Canada and the

UNB alum appointed to White House job. Tom Lohdan / Flickr CC

world.”

In fact, Parker said, many UNB graduates are at the forefront every day: you read about them in newspapers, watch on TV, listen on radio and even vote for them.

“They are in fields of business, technology, law, politics, the arts you will find UNB grads in every sector,” Parker said. “They are not just people within those professions, but they are actually leaders within those industries themselves.”

Notable alumni include Frank McKenna, former premier of New Brunswick and now deputy chairman of TD Bank and Anne Murray, Grammy-award winning performer.

But Parker said, despite success and fame, past students never forget where they started. Every year, UNB receives over $15 million from its alumni.

brunswickannews

Feb. 15, 2012 • Issue 21 • Volume 145 • 5

“To know Gwen was to love Gwen,” friend and former colleague

Alanah Duffy News Reporter When Mary Gwen Bear became the University of New Brunswick’s first elder-in-residence in 2009, she didn’t have a job description.

“I wasn’t sure how to tell an elder what to do,” laughs Lynda Doige, director of UNB’s Mi’kmaq-Maliseet Institute. “So, she did come without a job description, but she carved out her own niche and also her own way of doing things.”

Bear, known as Gwen to her friends and colleagues, was heavily involved with the Mi’kmaq-Maliseet Institute from November 2009 until her death on Jan. 24.

As elder-in-residence, Gwen gave guidance to students, faculty and staff.

“She used to laugh when she said that she was UNB’s first elder-inresidence, because she thought she was retired. But she came to feel that her role here was really just a beginning to her,” says Doige.

Gwen was born on New Brunswick’s Tobique First Nation. After spending a few years in Massachusetts, she moved back to New Brunswick and studied at St. Thomas University, earning two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education. She earned these degrees

while being a single parent to three children.

After earning her degrees, Gwen taught classes and was the coordinating instructor of the Aboriginal program at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design (NBCCD).

Charlie Gaffney, current coordinating instructor of the Aboriginal program, first met Gwen when he was only ten.

“To k now Gwen was to love Gwen,” Gaffney tells the Brunswickan. “What she instilled upon me was being proud of being Aboriginal and speaking up for what I believe in.”

Gwen retired from her position at NBCCD in 2006, after spending 18 years working there. Gaffney says her presence at NBCCD was always a positive one.

“She had the greatest laugh. When she was in the building and was laughing, you knew it was Gwen right away,” he says, laughing himself. “She never seemed down – she was always positive and happy-golucky.”

Aside from her elder-in-residence duties at UNB, Gwen was also an elder at Tobique First Nation.

Becoming an elder is a responsibility that is chosen for a person by others.

“It’s a combination of traditional

knowledge, communit y respect and usually it’s other people who begin to refer to you as elder, not self-declared,” explains Tina Nicholas-Bernard, Business Administration Certificate coordinator at the Mi’kmaq-Maliseet Institute.

Doige says Gwen’s past accomplishments are what brought her to mind when thinking of candidates for the position of elder-in-residence.

“She came not just highly recommended, but when I began to pursue how First Nations people would feel about having Gwen here, there was not one negative comment from anybody. Everybody was overjoyed,” Doige says.

As elder-in-residence, Gwen focused on the preservation and restoration of the Maliseet language.

Doige says her role was crucial to the success of First Nation students, by helping them to connect with their culture while away at university.

“I think she was able to get us talking about very important things and was able to make great progress in First Nations education in New Brunswick,” Doige says.

“She was living insight into First Nations culture and had a profound effect on me. She just had this very natural connectedness to people,” Doige says. “She was real.”

Space ‘burps’ offer clues on new galaxies

NASA Conceptual Image Lab / Submitted Matt Hirji The Gateway (University of Alberta) EDMONTON (CUP) — By pinpointing the exact moment when a black hole launched fast- moving material from the region surrounding it, a University of Alberta astronomer has uncovered an important clue for discovering how new galaxies are formed.

The interaction of material ejected, or “burped,” from black holes with other gasses in space is fundamental to the creation of new galaxies, but Gregory Sivakoff’s research on how and when matter is ejected from the black hole gives insight to the origins of these processes.

“One of the greatest questions in astronomy today is how black holes affect the formation of galaxies,” Sivakoff said.

“Our research may give foundational insight into this evolution by offering an understanding on the processes in which material from around a black hole is launched away.”

By using ultra-sharp detection methods made possible by the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) telescope system, along with an X-ray timing satellite, Sivakoff was able to detect and study an outburst by a stellar black hole located 28,000 light

years away from Earth.

“Essentially, if your eyes were as sharp as the VLBA is, you’d be able to see somebody standing on the moon with your own eyes. Because of this, we were able to track how the jet’s behavior was changing,” Sivakoff explained.

“In our observations, we can see the emission blobs moving from the base of the black hole outwards at about the quarter the speed of light. And because those things are moving out, we can essentially play the tape backwards and precisely, to plus or minus half a day, to determine when those blobs started their journey.”

By understanding when the matter was ejected, it’s also possible to extrapolate under which environments this ejection can take place.

As Sivakoff explains, before the ejection takes place, the material in the regions immediately surrounding the black hole, called the accretion disk, becomes unstable, heats up and becomes sucked into the hole. After that, there’s an ejection of material from the black hole at incredible speeds.

“This is sort of the foundational research in trying to understand how the accretion disk … and the jet burst are linked,” Sivakoff said.

“By pinpointing exactly when the

jet was launched, we can tell exactly what was going on in the accretion disk and we saw that the behavior was fundamentally changing. That means that we have a great meter to understand the physics of a projectile launch.”

Sivakoff’s research will help the astronomical community better understand the physics of how matter in the universe interact with each other.

While the exact mechanisms of the ejection remains mysterious to the scientific community, the launches also occur in supermassive black holes — similar to one at the centre of the Milky Way — which could have a significant impact in the creation of new galaxies.

“We’re not entirely sure what the material is inside the jet. It definitely includes electrons, but we don’t know if there are protons or positrons mixed in there,” Sivakoff said. “What we do know is that it’s some sort of ionized gas. As that material impacts other gasses in the future, it may affect how stars are formed.”

According to Sivakoff, more theoretical work will be done in the upcoming years in order to understand the full implications of the launch.

brunswickanopinion

Feb. 15, 2012 • Issue 21 • Volume 145 • 6

editor@thebruns.ca

Black History Month What’s its relevance in Canada anyway?

Tomi Gbeleyi The Brunswickan Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Malcom X are historical figures well known to many UNB students as key leaders who fought against inequality and racism.

Names like Marie-Joseph Angélique or Olivier Le Jeune, however, will likely not ring a bell. These two people were slaves in Canada and are part of the multi-faceted black history in Canada. Marie-Joseph Angelique was a female black slave who burned half of what was known as Old Montreal, and Olivier Le Jeune was a boy younger than eight years old who came into Canada from Madagascar as a slave but died a free man.

There is certainly more knowledge among students and educators alike about the history of African Americans than that of Canadians of African descent. Award winning author Lawrence Hill recently expressed to the Montreal Gazette that he believes Canadian knowledge on black history in Canada is incomprehensively centered on the Underground Railroad, because of an “unconscious resistance” of Canadians to examine their own history.

“It’s convenient to know about that and if a Canadian does know a tiny bit about black history in Canada, they’re likely to trumpet the Underground Railroad,” Hill said in the interview.

Many are unaware that Canada also bears the shame of participating in slave trade. Both slave and free blacks had to continuously fight against extreme discrimination and racism while living in Canada, such as lynching for suspected theft and deceitful tactics used to trap many in domestic work.

Interestingly, the Maritime provinces have particular significance to Black History Month in Canada. The first major influx of blacks to Canada occurred in Halifax after the American Revolutionary war in 1783.

Black Loyalists came with other Loyalists to the Maritimes but ultimately left to create the city Freetown in Sierra Leone, due to the extent of racial discrimination they faced in Canada.

Very few attempts have been made to provide an impartial account of Loyalists in Canada. The approach taken is often patriotic or genealogical, thus there is little information on the maltreatment they meted out to blacks, both slave and free.

As opposed to focusing on the history

of African-Americans, which is important, educators and students in the Maritimes should be aware of the history of their own country and province. Many are unaware of the multi-faceted history of blacks in Canada, which includes the major exodus to Sierra Leone in 1792 and the creation of a small community in the city of Halifax called Africiville, which was populated almost entirely by African Nova Scotians and subsequently destroyed by the Halifax government in the 1960s.

At the University of New Brunswick, efforts have been made to increase awareness about the contributions of Canadians of African descent to the struggle against inequality.

The UNB microfilm and microfiche department has a Loyalist collection which includes detailed information about slavery in Canada. I helped create this collection and know this department painstakingly went through old newspapers, treaties and contracts to provide a proper account of the historical timeline of both free and enslaved blacks in Canada.

UNB libraries are conducting an ongoing Black History Month Series and the movies shown are specific to Canadian History. One of the movies, Remembering Africville, depicts the struggles of African Nova Scotians who were evicted from their small waterfront community in the 1960s in the name of expansion and development.

It is important that Canadians are aware of black history in Canada, outside the context of civil rights activism in America. A focus on African American history ignores the struggles of Canadians of African descent who fought against racism and inequality.

Africville inhabitants, for instance, continued to protest the demolition of their community in the 1980s and 1990s, despite their eviction from the area in the 1960s.

The municipal government of Halifax has since apologized for the destruction of Africville and the government of Canada established a $250,000 Africville Heritage Trust in 2010 to preserve the history of the community .

The Black History Month Film Series ends Feb. 23. Showings are free to the public and start at 7 p.m. nightly in room 100 (Milham room) of the HIL. For information about specific movies being shown, visit the UNB libraries website.

The park where an African Nova Scotian community, Africville, once existed. Spacing Magazine / Flickr CC

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And you thought the lack of Acadian Lines service was ridiculous

This bus stop near the Dalhousie University Student Union Building won’t see buses until Metro Transit and Local 508 of the Amalgamated Transit Union reach an agreement. Jonathan Briggins / Kings Journalism get to pick all their shifts?

I have not actually heard of this. If it happens, it’s not very often, especially To the Point when shifts are left unclaimed. Employers Christopher need to fill shifts every week and therefore Cameron employees at most jobs have to suck it up and do one or two shifts they don’t want to every few weeks so there aren’t voids in Unions were once important in shaping the the schedule.

The union has asked why the overtime workforce and rights of workers we see in cost is such a big concern for the city when today’s North American society.

Well now they’re more of a hindrance Metro Transit spent millions in recent in some cases, if you ask me. Maybe I’m years on new administrative positions. In wrong, but currently Metro Transit in my opinion though, that spending was Halifax, NS is not running its buses because much more necessary than unnecessary the Local 508 of the Amalgamated Transit and avoidable overtime costs.

Municipal spending on the bus system, Union, which represents the drivers of these both on drivers and administrators, should buses, is on strike.

This strike affects approximately 96,000 be about making the service to the public passenger trips per weekday and approxi- cheaper and more efficient.

I believe the union needs to accept an mately 50-55 thousand passengers, accordoffer from HRM and stop using excuses ing to Metro Transit.

This strike comes down to scheduling of about how a change in scheduling will shifts, a wage increase for drivers and “wage affect family life.

I’m sorry, but having a shift or two a restructuring” for new bus drivers. The president of the union said in a Chronicle week that is a little inconvenient is still a lot Herald report on Feb. 9 the strike had little better than some others have it, like snowto do with money and more to do with the plow drivers who work overnight shifts.

People who get into shift work or change to scheduling.

Personally, I don’t care what the strike something with random scheduling such is about. Municipal transportation is an as driving a plow know in advance they will have random hours, but still suffer the major essential service.

So, here’s the scheduling issue. Current- blow to their family lives.

How about salesmen who have to travel ly, at Metro Transit, the senior employees choose their shifts first and it goes down all the time? What about their family lives? the line to the newer employees. Shifts that I didn’t realize we were picking and choosare not filled need to be filled to keep the ing which jobs should and shouldn’t affect family life. service running.

I’m sorry, but as someone who had one Metro Transit (the city) pays as much as $1 million in overtime costs to employees parent around most of my early years growto ensure these shifts are filled. The city ing up, I have no sympathy for someone wants to save some of this overtime cost that says this.

Family lives do take some hits when it by changing the system to one where drivers would not pick their shifts but would comes to parents’ work schedules in any be assigned their shifts instead through a job, but obviously with some careers it is worse than others. I don’t think this is a computerized system.

But union president, Ken Wilson, said good point for the union to stand on as the change in scheduling “would be a big this career is one of the better off ones when it comes to the blow it has on family lives. blow to drivers’ family lives.”

Although they said it was more to do But come on, since when do employees 21 Pacey Drive, SUB Suite 35, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3 main office • (506) 447-3388 advertising • (506) 452-6099 email • editor@thebruns.ca twitter • @Brunswickan www.thebruns.ca

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, Tomi Gbeleyi

with the effects of this new scheduling, the financial side needs to be looked at as well.

The Local 508 of the ATU want a 2.75 per cent increase instead of the 2.00 per cent the city has offered.

It is still an increase. Sympathy is out the door now for me.

Currently, in New Brunswick and PEI, Acadian Lines is not running because the company has locked out the employees.

The Local 1229 of the ATU, which represents Acadian Lines employees, is looking for at least a cost-of-living increase in their current negotiations, but aren’t getting that, according to the update on CBC.ca on Feb. 12.

Metro Transit drivers just take the increase! Acadian bus drivers do not have the luxury of choosing their shifts as easily as you and they can’t seem to make any headway on making Acadian budge on a cost-of-living increase in a new contract.

I’m starting to not only feel bad for people who use Acadian Lines buses to get around the province(s), but also feel bad that their drivers haven’t received a cost-ofliving increase.

Metro Transit drivers need to take their heads out of the sand and realize they have it pretty well off.

Acadian Lines drivers are simply asking for a cost-of-living increase. This comes even after the company has had to make cuts in recent years, which was obviously representative of the number of users.

They have also been locked out for a few months so that cost-of-living increase, if they get it, is not going to make up for the lack of regular pay they have not seen in their months off the job.

I just hope both situations are resolved soon, and that the people who need to wake up and realize how ridiculous they are being, do so.

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.

brunswickanopinion

Opposite of the Opposition

Michael Cook The Muse (Memorial University of NL) ST. JOHN’S (CUP) — If their recent convention was any indication, the Liberal Party of Canada doesn’t intend to go down as “the third party.” From choosing a young, new party president to supporting the legalization of marijuana, the Liberals — at least on the surface — are attempting to show voters that major and positive change is coming.

By contrast, very little attention was paid to a New Democratic MP crossing the floor to the Liberals. This isn’t unheard of in federal politics; there have been plenty of examples where MPs switch parties.

However, the context in which the switch happened is yet another troubling sign for a party that less than a year ago had such momentum.

Since the tragic passing of leader Jack Layton in August 2011, the NDP has seen its support dwindle. While the NDP is still out-polling the Liberals federally, at least for now, the party has plummeted in Quebec. Recent polls have shown that, provincially, the NDP is now tied with the Bloc Québécois.

This is not surprising: Jack Layton was very popular in Quebec, and many of the province’s voters admitted that they voted for Layton, not for the NDP candidate running in their riding. The NDP had never been strong in the province, but Quebec gave the NDP 59 of the party’s total of 103 seats in the 2011 election largely because of Layton’s charismatic appeal. His absence has left those Quebec MPs with little support in Quebec, and if the recent floor-crossing is any indication, some of them may look elsewhere to survive.

As I said, crossing the floor is not uncommon in Canada, but it usually involves an opposition MP going to the government side and vice-versa. To have an MP of the Official Opposition switch to the “third party” Liberals could be an indicator of internal issues the party might soon face.

After announcing her switch, MP Lise StDenis was asked if voters voted for the NDP or her. She responded, “They voted for Jack

Layton. Jack Layton is dead.”

As cold and cruel as that may sound, StDenis’ remarks nonetheless highlight the issue that has been floating over the NDP since Layton’s passing. Under interim leader Nycole Turmel, NDP approval ratings have been steadily declining in favour of the Liberals. This is not necessarily Turmel’s fault. To go from an inexperienced MP to the Leader of the Official Opposition in Canada is no easy task.

However, it has allowed Prime Minister Harper and, more crucially, Liberal interim leader Bob Rae, to dominate discussions in both Parliament and the media. Rae in particular has been closing the approval gap between his party and the NDP and has been seen by some as the unofficial Opposition Leader just because his presence is so much larger than Turmel’s. His performance has been so well received that there is talk he may run for leadership permanently, and if polls continue to favour him, there may be no reason not to run.

All of this leads to the question of whether the NDP can maintain or improve its status by the next election. In March, party members will elect a permanent leader of the party and, by extension, the new leader of the Official Opposition. How that leader performs will indicate whether the NDP will have a legitimate shot at government.

But are there any names on the ballot that are as inspiring as Jack Layton’s?

Thomas Mulcair is seen as one of the frontrunners, but there are concerns that he has too fiery a personality for a majority of voters. Regardless, the next leader will either maintain the NDP fortunes or reveal that the 2011 election was a mere fluke before sidling off to third or, dare I say fourth, position.

The NDP still has great potential. Until the next election, it remains the Official Opposition and keeps all the benefits that come with this status. But if the party does not make its presence stronger, the Liberals will once again overtake them as the main alternative to the Conservatives. If that happens, Jack Layton’s passing will be all the sadder because his party’s chances will have passed with him.

Correction to “Former housing co-op gauging interest on campus.” as published Feb. 8, 2011 The following statement is incorrect: “Due to mismanagement in 1968 the N.B. Residence Co-op fell apart.”

In fact, the NBRC was established in 1968. The last houses were sold in a tax sale in August 2007 as a result of mismanagement by non-students for over ten years.

The Brunswickan regrets the error and apologizes for any embarrassment it may have caused.

Feb. 15, 2012 • Issue 21 • Volume 145 • 7

letters to the editor tell us what you think

Re: Affirmative Action Dear Editor, It seems the author of this piece is lambasting a political ideal he doesn’t fully understand. Affirmative action is the practice of creating opportunities for individuals without discrimination of skin color, gender, sexual preference, etc. Your argument is a conservative approach to AA, which is to say- since you have no experience with racism in your day-to-day, or because you don’t identify as racist, you shouldn’t be expected to give up opportunities to others outside of your social purview.

According to StatCan in 2011 about 20 per cent of New Brunswickers were visual minorities. In Quebec it is above 40 per cent. America (where “affirmative action” was termed) is also 60 per cent white, but those other 40 per cent are made up among myriad ethnicities, backgrounds and histories. The problem with your argument is you’re reducing this to a matter of skin over skill.

For affirmative action to work we must understand there are less privileged classes in society not afforded equal opportunity. In primarily white municipalities like Fredericton you are dealing with class gaps that aren’t traditionally whites vs. minorities.

Affirmative action is something that takes in to account lack of educational opportunity, financial security, and social safety nets. I don’t know you personally, but as the editor of UNB’s paper I can safely assume you and I don’t face the same struggle as those affirmative action is fighting to protect.

The problem with your discourse is you’re attempting to take what is termed “color-blind” backlash against equal opportunity. I would suggest removing stereotypes and culturally engrained prejudice (including preferential hiring practices) from equal opportunity diminishes human understanding and empathy. It also individualizes a fight that is still intensely cultural, marginalizing malpractice across entire industries. To say affirmative action is unjustifiable actively allows employers and societal norms that have proven malleable towards workers. We aren’t in this problem because at one point we totally had the fight against racism in-hand. It’s because at one point we tipped the board insanely in our favor, and now it’s time to afford others some kind of advantage as well.

All this is a poor way of articulating what was once well summed up by Leon Pitts when he said “if affirmative action is defined as giving preferential treatment on the basis of gender or race, then no one in this country has received more than white men”.

The reason it feels kind of icky reading think-pieces on equal opportunity from a white male (and, uhh, hello- from one of your own) is because it is entirely misguided and wrong-headed to think you have a voice in the dialogue whatsoever. You have shown a lack of respect and understanding towards women and other cultures by ignoring what you perceive to be a non-issue.

For example, your Barack Obama paragraph belies a complete ignorance for social action and change. To see this problem as economic, as one that revolves solely around

job creation and hiring practices, is shortsighted and foolish. Though Obama was not personally a product of unfair hiring practices, he has a job that no one of minority held until FOUR YEARS AGO. There is no “white precedent” for this. We have no touching stone to relate to moments of less privilege.

As a journalist it is your responsibility to see through these complexities. In 2009 minority journalists fell from 12.6 to 11 per cent of the total work force. You work in a predominately white industry, in a predominately white city, in a predominately white country. As a journalism student, I bet you believe wholly in the power of journalism to incite due and proper change. You have a responsibility to educate, but also to fight to better the world. Your paper shouldn’t be a soap box for you to preach what I and many other readers have perceived to be racially insensitive and frankly insulting.

The problem with the economy isn’t that YOU might not end up with a job because another applicant (of equal qualification) beat you. It’s to FIX the radically inequitable unemployment disparity of minorities, and between women and men. No one is asking you to go out and give someone the job-off-your-back. But I, personally, and I hope other readers, would like to see you show some empathy for people whose only shot is through the same equal opportunity, and affirmative action you rally against in your paper.

Best, Ben Burnett & Katie McTiernan

brunswickanopinion

8 • Feb. 15, 2012 • Issue 21 • Volume 145

Student

Viewpoint.

Let everyone know what’s on your mind.

If you could choose the Viewpoint question, what would you ask?

Josh Bubar

Ryan Cashin

Justin Chan

Natalie Riley

“What’s your favourite bar?”

“Macbook vs. PC?”

“Is it important to shave ‘down there’?”

“What are your thoughts on the Currie Center fee?”

John Busse

Anicka Senior

Katelyn Haughn

“Why doesn’t UNB close on snow days?”

“Why is NB tuition so high?”

“Do you think building the Currie Center was the best use of UNB’s money?”

Tim Kukula “Would you use a two tiered parking fee system?”

brunswickanarts arts@thebruns.ca

Feb. 15, 2012 • Issue 21 • Volume 145 • 9

A Hoot of a Peep show

Brandon Hicks The Brunswickan In the display window of The Owl’s Nest Bookstore, a small shop on Queen St., a young woman sat on a pillow upon a picnic blanket. Fruit was placed orderly around the limited space the window allowed; some organized in bowls, as if a part of a still life painting. Some laid half eaten before her.

To the right of her, there were tubes of lipstick. She picked one up and removed the cap, then proceeded to apply it to her entire face, methodically, as if in a trance. She stood and turned, wordlessly, toward the back of the small space. She placed her red face against the white surface.

She rolled it onto one side, then the other. She stepped back to reveal a crude, yet instantly identifiable approximation of kissing lips. She continues to do this all over the white surface, while pedestrians stop to look. They admire as she persists in her strange act, as if in another world, with a sheet of glass as their only divider.

This woman was WhiteFeather Hunter – visual artist, executive director of the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, and the main organizer of the Hoot and Peep Mini Performance Festival.

Her performance was among many that took place in the left window at the front of the Owl’s Nest from Feb. 6 through Feb. 11. Over the five days, there were 11 performances by eight performers with a focus on gender and sexuality. The performers included Hunter, Jo Griffith, Megan MacKay, Amanda Jardine, Cynthia Rider, Joe Blades, Shaun Bartone, and Candace Moores.

“The performers were selected during a brainstorm session between me and the performer whose idea this was in the first place, Jo Griffith,” Hunter said.

“She came to me and presented the idea, which I thought was both fun and brilliant, and so we set to work building this collaboration.”

WhiteFeather Hunter, executive director of the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, was a performer and organizer for the festival. Submitted.

The performers, chosen based on several factors, including their history in performance art surrounding gender and sexuality, developed their own concept, the setting and worked with a shared schedule.

Wanting to be seen, but not become too big, they turned to the Owl’s Nest Bookstore and its manager, Debbie Croft. After hearing the idea, Croft gave them permission to perform in her store windows.

With acts that included themes such as S&M, the crimes of the exColonel Russell Williams, and sexual repression, the Hoot and Peep festival seemed to be ripe with controversy.

However, Hunter said that the public had done little to protest the festival.

“I know of only one complaint, about the word ‘masturbation’ being used during a performance.”

When asked if she viewed the festival as a success, Hunter said

“absolutely.”

“We wanted attention, and we got it.”

They certainly did. The festival caught the interest of CBC, CTV and other members of the press, as well as word-of-mouth praise. The purpose of the event, at least in part, was to create some publicity and dialogue for the upcoming Salon Connex event at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre.

The event hopes to create critical

analysis surrounding the Gallery Connection’s current exhibition, Tokyo Hotel Stor y by Nathalie Daoust, featuring photographs of Japanese women who work as dominatrixes. It starts running Feb. 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre in the auditorium. It will be moderated by Erin Morton, PhD, from the UNB Arts Department.

The V-Word: The Vagina Monologues at UNB Lee Thomas The Brunswickan

Kayleigh Kristiansen practices for the upcoming performance of the Vagina Monologues on Feb. 15 and 17. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

It’s Valentines Day, and a lot of people will be considering popping the L-word.

But how about mentioning the V-Word?

Valentines. Victory. Vagina.

According to w w w.vdays.org, these are what the “V” in V-Days stands for, and it’s time to start talking about them.

This Wednesday and Friday, the Universit y Women’s Centre, in partnership with the UNB Sexuality Centre, is hosting their annual V-Days event: a presentation of The Vagina Monologues, and you are invited.

Based on Tony Award winning playwright Eve Ensler’s interviews with over 200 women, The Vagina Monologues addresses the issues of sexual abuse and violence against women, as well as various other aspects of female empowerment and sexuality.

“It’s a lot of laughs,” said Megan Glenwright, who was an actress in the play last year and is now the official organizer for the 2012 V-Days campaign in Fredericton. Glenwright is also the UNBSU women’s liaison

and arts representative and the University Women’s Centre chairperson.

“But there are a lot of different emotions associated with the show.

It’s really powerful, and I just encourage anyone who can to come out and see it, because everyone experiences it differently.”

After its initial performance in 1996, Ensler’s play soon became a female empowerment movement, bringing attention to global social injustices such as female genital mutilation, battery, incest, sex slavery, and rape. Since the V-Days project began in 1998, The Vagina Monologues has been performed in over 140 different countries.

“Statistically speaking, one in three women are going to be sexually assaulted in their lifetime,” said Glenwright, who is in her fourth year of arts at UNB with joint honours in Women’s Studies and Sociology.

“I think everyone should be aware of the topic, and it should be talked about, because the more you talk about those things the less taboo it is. So if someone has an issue they are able come forward, and not feel stigmatized for what they’ve experienced.”

However, the V-Days message is not limited to women. It’s important

for males to be conscious of these issues as well, said Glenwright, because “men can help stop it. If they’re standing and see their friends harassing a woman or talking badly, they can tell their friends it’s not okay.

They can stand up against it just as much as women can, and when it’s coming from one man to another man, sometimes the message is more powerful.”

The event will be used to raise funds for two charities. As expressed in the V-Days’ official mandate, 90 per cent of the profits will be donated to a local charity – the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre – and 10 per cent to the V-Day Spotlight on Women of Haiti. Glenwright hopes to raise at least $1000 at this year’s event.

The Vagina Monologues will be showing at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) on Feb. 15 and 17 in MacLaggan Hall room 105. Tickets are available at the Welcome Centre in the SUB for $10, or $12 at the door.

Addressing social injustice, encouraging female empowerment, and seeing a world-renowned theatrical performance? This Valentine’s could be the best one yet.

brunswickanarts

10 • Feb. 15, 2012 • Issue 21 • Volume 145

The gods walk among us Haley Ryan Arts Reporter The doors glide open, welcoming you to a scene of wonder. Golden light streams from the sky, giving everything a hazy appearance. A huge fountain sprays water high into the air, gods and goddesses frolicking beneath it.

You step a little closer to admire the great work of art on the wall.

The Beaverbrook A rt Galler y might not have a fountain in the foyer, but its weekend of activities inspired by Joseph Turner’s The Fountain of Indolence is sure to be heavenly.

Darren McL eod, manager of marketing and development for the Beaverbook, said since the Salvador Dali masquerade ball went so well last year, they felt compelled to have another fundraising event where people could dress up and have fun.

The Turner painting was chosen as the theme of this year’s ball, which is entitled “Gold, Gods and Glitter,” thanks to the sheer decadence and party atmosphere going on within the art.

“It’s a great fantasy painting,” McLeod said. “With all the gods playing around the pool, it’s fun to play off of that in a masquerade.”

McLeod said the depictions of ancient gods, nymphs and little goldfish in the painting should give people lots of costume ideas. He added that last year he was blown away by the amount of creativity with some of the outfits.

In the days leading up to the ball on Saturday night, the art gallery will be putting on some free events

as well.

To k ick of f t he weekend, on Thursday at 7 p.m. there will be a reading of “The Castle of Indolence”

by James Thomson. That night the poem, which is credited for inspiring Turner’s painting, will be accompanied by violins and refreshments for everyone.

On Friday night at 7 p.m. the gallery will welcome Dr. Anne Koval, an associate professor of Art History from Mount Alison University, to give the lecture “All that glitters is not gold: J. M. W. Turner as Alchemist.”

The main event on Saturday night will feature DJ Mizz Maxine to help you get your groove on, and there will be face painting as well as a photo booth from Dragon-fly photography. Make sure you hit up the bar for Picaroons beer or a special “elixir of the gods,” and check out the original Turner as well as a local artists’ series of paintings inspired

by Indolence.

When Dana O’Regan was contacted by the Beaverbrook and asked if he would be a part of the Turner weekend, he said it was a wonderful opportunity to show there, so of course he jumped at it.

Although O’Regan’s work is more abstract, and Turner is considered one of the fathers of Impressionism, he says the British artist has always been a huge inspiration for him.

“I first started doing gesture drawings with his work,” O’Regan said.

“He’s a big part of how I learned by hand as a painter.”

The raffle tickets for the draw to win any of O’Regan’s four paintings costs $5, and half of the proceeds

The Fountain of Indolence, a painting by Joseph Turner, is the centre piece for a festive weekend at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. Submitted go to Gallery Connexion, so it’s a great way to support other local artists as well.

McLeod says he hopes the masquerade will become an annual fundraiser for the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, and said although these balls have been around for hundreds of

President Campbell, Vice-President Secco and Barbara Roberts of the Office of Human Rights and Positive Environment

 Invite the University Community to the launch of the new

Policy and Procedure on

Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Harassment Monday, February 20, 2012 at 4:00 pm in Tilley Hall Auditorium or Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:00 pm Head Hall, Dineen Auditorium

UNB supports the right of all members of the university community to feel safe on campus. Come out and learn more about this policy initiative.

years, the theme of gold, decadence and myth is a classic recipe for a good time.

“Last year’s ball really demystified what our gallery is like,” McLeod said. “We can create a party atmosphere ... and it’s important to open our doors to a new audience.”

Tickets are $30 for the masquerade ball on Feb.18, and available at the gallery’s front desk. After the ball ends at midnight, you can head to Boom! nightclub, where anyone from the masquerade gets free admission.

The Vagina Dialogue The New Position Sarah Vannier

“Her vagina is a church and her clit is the steeple, her vulva’s one of Barbara Walters’ most fascinating people” -Vaginal Hubris, Jon Lajoie In recognition of The Vagina Monologues taking place this week, it’s time for us to talk about vaginas.

First, let’s review a little basic anatomy. A lot of the time, when we’re talking about vaginas we aren’t just talking about vaginas. We’re talking about vulvas.

The vulva includes all of the outside parts of female genitals and includes the mons pubis (the cushy part right at the top), the labia majora (outer lips), labia minors (inner lips), and clitoris (small button-like part near where the labia majora meet). When we say vagina, what we’re actually referring to is the passage that leads to the uterus.

Alright, now that the vocabulary is out of the way, let’s talk about how the vulva is not getting enough of the love and appreciation it deserves.

At the last few sex research conferences I have attended (yes these are real things, and yes you should change your major), the topic of “designer vaginas” kept popping up.

Designer vagina is a term used to describe female genital cosmetic surgery. That’s right ladies and gentlemen; I’m talking about cosmetic surgery for your genitals.

Nose jobs are so 1996.

Although it’s hard to find good statistics on the frequency of female genital cosmetic surgery, there has been a definite increase in these types of procedures in recent years.

And you have lots of options for “improving” the look of your junk. You can make your labia smaller or your vagina tighter. Think your mons pubis is too fat? No problem! You’re just one quick liposuction procedure away from having that slim, svelte mons you always wanted. All for a small fee and all the usual risks that come along with surgery (including possible loss of sensation… eek!)

Anyone else a little horrified by all of this?

So why are designer vaginas becoming more and

more popular? Some recent research in the U.K. found women typically seek out genital cosmetic surgery because of concerns about how “normal” their genitals are. The most common concerns were about labia being unsymmetrical, or that the inner labia hang outside the outer labia. (Side note: Both of these are both common and normal). Roughly 20 per cent of women seek out surgery to reduce physical discomfort, e.g., chafing, discomfort playing sports, etc.

Now, I’m a firm believer that women should have control over decisions about their bodies, and many women report feeling happier and more comfortable after having these types of surgeries. What worries me is the reason so many women feel the need to have these surgeries in the first place.

What’s so wrong with our genitals that we feel like we have to fix them?

One problem is we just don’t see enough vulvas to have a good idea of what “normal” genitals look like. Although men may see other penises on a pretty regular basis (e.g., locker rooms), the most common place to see naked women is in porn where the women are either chosen for the appearance of their genitals, or pictures of genitals are airbrushed.

Plus, women are often bombarded with messages telling us there is something wrong with our genitals. Don’t even get me started on the whole “feminine hygiene” aisle at the pharmacy. Where is the male hygiene aisle? And what’s so horrible about the feminine that it requires its own specific form of hygiene?

So, how do we bring back the love for the vulva?

Well, we can start by talking about female genitals more, and by using appropriate names for body parts. We can start talking about genital self-image.

We can show young men and women what real genitals, both male and female, look like. We can start treating the vulva like the wonderful body part it is and not some secret, shameful thing that has to be “fixed” and cleaned up.

A good place to start talking is The Vagina Monologues that will be taking place at 7 p.m. on Feb. 15 and 17 in MacLaggan Hall, room 105. Advanced tickets are $10 at the Welcome Centre in the SUB, or $12 at the door. All proceeds go to the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre and the V-Day 2012 Spotlight Campaign on Women and Girls in Haiti.

Hope to see you there!

brunswickanarts

Feb. 15, 2012 • Issue 21 • Volume 145 • 11

Family matters: Stories behind Atlantic rum runners Haley Ryan Arts Reporter This time of year, many students are polishing up resumes and will soon be looking around for a summer job.

If your ideal one includes lots of heavy lifting, exposure to freezing rain, high winds, and the delightful possibility of being shot, you may have a lost calling as a rum runner.

This Sunday, CBC TV’s Land & Sea series will be showing the documentary Rum Running, which focuses on the smuggling of liquor from Nova Scotia and the French Islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon.

Latonia Hartery, who wrote and directed the film, works for Tell Tale productions in Halifax. She said because rum running is such a huge topic, Nova Scotia was the natural choice to explore since they had the research on hand.

Originally from Newfoundland, Hartery travelled across the country to the University of Calgary to complete her PhD in archaeology. She said since she lived away for awhile, Maritime documentaries like this one are near and dear to her heart.

“I think when a person is distanced either from their home or even the past, these things become very interesting,” Hartery said on the phone from Halifax. “It’s something that you yearn for because it’s not as close

to you as it once was.”

Hartery’s production team first pitched the idea to CBC, who decided they were interested in a show about how rum running impacted Canadian families in the 1920s during Prohibition.

Besides historical photos and actual footage showing rum and other liquors being loaded onto wooden ships, viewers will see interviews with older people who remember the days of smuggling first-hand.

They were able to speak to the son of a rum runner, as well as the widow of a man who had been in the smuggling trade before he married her.

She was very forthright, Hartery said, but said at the outset of their courtship she didn’t know what kind of work he was doing. She only found out exactly what he had been doing when she read a book he wrote about his early life.

“When she read it, it was only then that she understood the full scale of what he had been through,” Hartery said.

“Seeing somebody 96-years-old reflect on the past is quite an endearing thing.”

The theme of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to provide for their family is one of the main ones of the film, Hartery said.

She added the men who took the champagne or hard liquor from the Maritimes, down to the north-east coast of America, were not in it for the

The CBC documentary about the Nova Scotia connection to smuggling liquor during Prohibition airs on Sunday. Submitted glory or the adventure.

Prohibition also came to Canada during a time of huge economic stress.

Hartery said although it was illegal at the time, we shouldn’t ignore a chapter of history when we can examine what factors drove certain people into smuggling.

“They were just people trying to

make a living in a very difficult time, and this was an opportunity to make money that might enable you to feed the 10 to 15 children that you may have at home,” Hartery said.

As well as being educational and entertaining, Hartery said the film debunks a lot of romanticized myths

of rum running.

“After talking to people I’m closer to ... the reasons people took that on,” Hartery said. “At the end of the day it was all about family.”

To watch Rum Running, tune into CBC at 12 p.m. on Feb.19, or you can watch it online on the show’s website.

Andy Brown to set stage on fire with ‘Ashes’ Kevin Lemieux The Brunswickan

Andy Brown comes through Freddy to play The Capital Feb. 24.

Submitted

The Capital Complex will soon be rocking to the sounds of New Brunswick singer-songwriter Andy Brown.

On Feb. 24, the 28-year-old will be making The Capital’s stage his home for another performance.

Over the past few months, this Woodstock artist has been busy preparing for his third album scheduled to be released this Fall.

“I’ve been doing a lot of writing and collaborating with artists like David Myles, John-Angus MacDonald from The Trews, Tim Chaisson as well. I’m going into the studio at the end of March in Halifax,” Brown said.

He’s inspired by a wealth of things when writing his songs.

“I’m always inspired by the elements of love, but one thing I’m trying to focus on for this album is rebuilding. Whether it be with love or life, anything is not lost. You can always find hope.”

His folk-rock style with a dash of

pop, as he calls it, helped him win the Galaxie Rising Star award in 2010.

This gave him the opportunity to meet with David Haymond, who helped Brown get his song “Ashes” on ABC’s hit show Rookie Blue.

“Hearing my song on the show was surreal,” Brown said.

“The effects were amazing, making my song number one on the iTunes Canada singer-songwriter chart, and number two in the U.S. for the same category. It was emotional because it was the first time my song has made it this high on the charts. The show was viewed by nearly nine million people at one time. Every day since that day has felt so good.”

Brown has been inspired by several artists, like Mumford and Sons and David Gray.

“And then there’s always a place for Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer and The Foo Fighters,” he said.

When asked if he had any wild tour stories to share, he said he figured they’d be too inappropriate to publish. Instead, he told a story about sharing his talent with youth.

“In November, I got the opportunity to go to Labrador and do songwriting workshops in schools.

The k ids were most ly bet ween Grade 4 and 7. It was an amazing experience. I took one of the songs from the new album and blanked out a verse. I worked with the kids and they would come up with the lyrics and at the end we would sing it together. They got to see how easy it is if you focus and put your heart on the page,” Brown said.

Andy added that he feels lucky to be where he is today.

“My life keeps getting a little cooler and cooler because I get to do some amazing things and go around and play with some pretty cool musicians. Those musicians are my friends, so to sit in a room with that pool of talent is amazing.

Working with Dave Doyle, Gordie Sampson and Tim Chaisson ... it’s just incredible.”

Brown will be performing on Feb. 24 at 11 p.m. at The Capital Complex. Tickets are $8.

The Overlooked: A column about alternative film Ethan Pierce The Brunswickan Ever been left with a sad, empty feeling after you finished a superb movie, and you know it won’t have a sequel?

What do you do? You try to fill that feeling with another spectacular movie … but which one?

You tried all the movies that were recommended to you by your friends but you still can’t find another one quite like it. Sometimes during a search for a new movie to watch, you ignore older titles because of their age. This column – The Overlooked – is about those older movies you may not have heard of, or just simply didn’t give a fair chance. Take

for instance, some fabulous Johnny Depp films. I’m not talking about his performances in Tim Burton films like Edward Scissorhands or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Pirates of the Caribbean series (both of which show us how well Depp adapts to his character roles and the phenomenal actor that he is).

But what about before those movies? What other odd roles did Johnny play?

The first one I’d like to mention is What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993).

In this dramatic-comedy Depp plays Gilbert Grape, a young man who lives at home with his two sisters and younger, mentally disabled younger brother A rnie, (a breakout role

for Leonardo DiCaprio). After his father’s suicide, Gilbert’s mother became depressed and morbidly obese over the years and also emotionally and physically unable to take care of the family, especially Arnie, so all responsibility fell on Gilbert.

Adding to his frenzied life, he has a love affair with a married woman named Betty (Mary Steenburgen).

One day, a trailer breaks down while passing through town and Gilbert meets a striking, down-toearth woman named Becky (Juliette Lewis) who changes everything.

Gilbert re-evaluates his situation and realizes the truly important things that life has to offer.

A second film is Benny & Joon

(1993). Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson) is a young woman struggling with mental illness who lives with her brother, Benny (Aidan Quinn).

Benny spends all his time either working or taking care of Joon and has very little time for himself, let alone a relationship. Benny and Joon’s living situation soon changes over a poker game and a friend’s eccentric, cinemaphile cousin Sam (Johnny Depp), and he comes to live with them.

Sam immediately makes an impression on Joon; right away the two are both captivated by each other, unbeknownst to Benny. Before he knows it, Benny has more time on his hands and develops a relation-

ship with a waitress named Ruthie (Julianne Moore). Benny and Joon’s relationship undergoes changes neither of them is ready to accept as the result of Sam’s entrance to their lives.

Both films are truly unique – the type that will leave you touched by the character’s emotions portrayed in their roles, as well as a satisfied feeling by the end of the movie.

Johnny Depp does one-of-a-kind performances that are both dramatically different in each movie. Even though these are older flicks with fantastic story lines, they don’t need special effects to make them memorable. If either of these films sounds appealing, give them a try. You might just fill that empty feeling.

brunswickansports

Feb. 15, 2012 • Issue 21 • Volume 145 • 12

sports@thebruns.ca

Men’s basketball sees hope for AUS playoffs Sean O’Neill The Brunswickan The UNB Varsity Reds have played 1145 minutes of basketball this season between Montreal and Newfoundland.

And if the team plays its final home game of the season in a funk, those 19 hours spent on the hardwood will be lost in time.

At the same time, if UNB wins its four-point game against Saint Mary’s, the Reds will leapfrog the Huskies into the final AUS playoff spot.

The first game on Sunday was as straightforward and comprehensive as a victory can be. UNB shot 47 per cent from the floor while holding Dalhousie to 36. The Reds also had 15 turnovers to Dal’s nine, and rounded off the victory 77-59.

Dan Quirion and Alex DesRoches both led the Reds with 20 points apiece. Seth Amoah came off the bench and scored 14 points with three offensive boards and four assists. Ritchie Kanza Mata scored 15 to pace the Tigers in the loss.

Head coach Brent Baker needed more from his bench in the second game. Starters Michael Fosu, Jordan Irving and Matt Daley got in early foul trouble, and played only 15, 18 and 27 minutes, respectively.

In a game which was tied at halftime and after the third quarter, the game was down to the final 45 seconds.

With Fosu, Irving and Daley put on the bench after being fouled-out, the Reds were down by five.

Quirion pulled up and nailed a jumper at the foul-line. At the other end of the f loor, Aaron O’Brien stuffed a Dal player, the ball went straight up the floor and Quirion swished a three and the Currie Center went mad.

A five-point-lead evaporated in less than 30 seconds.

The game went to overtime tied at 64. The Tigers pulled away in OT and won 77-69.

The reason Dal won in overtime,

other than UNB having 3/5 of its starting lineup on the sideline was “they hit shots,” according to DesRoches after the game. “They got some pretty key stops,” Quirion said after the game. “We didn’t take care of the ball a couple of possessions but we fought hard but like Al [DesRoches] said they hit shots and we didn’t.”

If the Reds had won the second game it would have created a threeway tie between them, Dal and SMU, at 20 points.

The split wasn’t perfect but it doesn’t eliminate UNB. The team finishes its regular season Feb. 24 and 25 on the road at Dalhousie.

“Ideally, it’s not the best result because we wanted to get two wins,” DesRoches said.

“But it definitely helps. Even before these games, it comes down to Saint Mary’s next week. When you look at the points, when you look at the standings, if we lose that game, we don’t make the playoffs. If we win that game, I think we have a good chance.”

Key player Will McFee hopes to be back on the court this weekend, after being out with a tweaked ankle.

“I don’t wanna watch again,” McFee said.

SMU and UNB have played twice already this year, with the Huskies winning both.

Saint Mary’s won 82-78 at the Currie Center during a preseason tournament in September, and crushed the Reds 101-75 at the Tower in Halifax in November.

Saint Mary’s averages 83.7 points per game as opposed to UNB’s 72.3, most of which Baker says comes in transition. “[Tory] Fassett is one of the best transition players in Canada,” Baker said. He’ll finish against the odds; he’ll finish 2-on-3, 1-on-2, it doesn’t matter. You gotta take him out of the mix for sure.”

Tip-off is Saturday at 3 p.m at the Currie Center against SMU.

the panel voice your opinion

Varsity Red Seth Amoah protects the ball from a Dalhousie player before setting up the play.

Tim Lingley / The Brunswickan

Do you think the UNB men’s volleyball team will repeat as AUS champions?

K. Bryannah James

Christopher Cameron

Josh Fleck

The guys have been playing well over the season, but they haven’t been playing at the same caliber as last year. I think with the lack of depth on the bench will hinder them against Dalhousie’s team. That being said, I don’t think they’ll roll over and let the Tigers steal the banner they rightfully won last year. They’re going to put up a fight, but I don’t think we’ll be seeing a second AUS championship this season.

Last season UNB was not expected to beat Dalhousie in the final weekend of regular season play. Four matches later they were AUS champions. I expect this year they are simply peaking later and will take another AUS championship. If the trend of having four strong games to finish of the season happens again this year, maybe two wins will happen at CIS nationals.

I don’t think the guys will have what it takes to repeat as AUS champs. They will however put on a great show at home on the 19th, and come away with the lone home game they will be hosting. But I think the home team will win every match in this three game series.

Sports Editor

EIC

Sports Writer

Heather Uhl Sports Writer

I expect Dalhousie to take the first match, the V-Reds to take the second match and, if they can kick the ‘win a set and lose a set’ mentality, the V-reds take the championships in a third match. The Tigers won’t give up a chance to take back the title and the V-Reds will need to fight hard to win.

brunswickansports

Feb. 15, 2012 • Issue 21 • Volume 145 • 13

Women’s basketball season hanging by a thread Sean O’Neill The Brunswickan T he playof f hopes for U N B’s women’s basketball team are hanging not just by a thread - but a thread which is suspended in midair by an anvil, which is strained to the closest point of breaking.

UNB’s closest playoff rival came to Fredericton, and if the Reds won both games, it would be tied on points with Dalhousie for the final playoff spot in the AUS. However, the Tigers won both games, but for two different reasons.

On Friday night, UNB held an opponent under 70 points for only the fifth time this season. It also led by three at the break and held Dal to 33 per cent shooting from the field.

But in typical fashion for the Reds this year, UNB outdid themselves by making a pathetic 29 per cent of its shots, including only 21 per cent in the second half to lose 67-58.

Cour t ney Thompson had 16 points and six rebounds to pace the Tigers; Claire Colborne scored 20 points to lead the V-Reds, and Jor-

danne Holstein had 11 points and ten rebounds.

Frustration came out of head coach Jeff Speedy when subbing out forward Emma Russell in the final minutes, as she walked straight by him on the bench and he screamed her name and told her to “never do that again.”

“I was mad at her and she didn’t like me being mad at her,” Speedy said after the game, “so I yelled at her.”

“She wasn’t doing what I asked her to do.”

After the game Speedy said he was “thinking about tomorrow,” and not being six points out of the final playoff spot.

When tomorrow finally came, it wasn’t much different than the day before. On Saturday, the Reds shot much better -- 35 per cent -- but Dalhousie drained 53 per cent of its shots and walked away with another win, beating UNB 79-63.

To add injury to insult, starting guard, Holstein, fell to the floor in a heap at half court when nobody was around her. She injured her Achilles

and is out for the rest of the year. The severity of the injury is unknown.

“I think we played better today, but so did Dalhousie,” Speedy said.

“They were more physical today and I thought that their size and their physicalness really beat us up.”

Guard Megan Corby, who is in her final year of eligibility, was asked how the team got to this point and responded with a slight laugh, “I don’t even know.”

“I felt that out there today,” Corby said. “If we don’t win this it puts that much more pressure on. It’s actually that real that we’re almost done, I guess.”

UNB’s playoff chances now are reduced to the size of an egg: Dalhousie needs to lose twice to the Capers at home next weekend; the Reds have to beat second-place SMU and potential league MVP Justine Colley on Saturday. And then UNB has to beat the Tigers twice on the road on Feb. 24 and 25 by a combined 26 points or more.

Tip-off is at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

UNB’s hopes for playoffs are slim. Tim Lingley / The Brunswickan

V-Reds finish atop AUS standings, waiting for second round matchup

UNB finished with 20 plus wins for the sixth straight season this year.

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan Christopher Cameron Editor-In-Chief A little more than two weeks ago the Varsity Reds had to fight for first place in the AUS against the Acadia Axemen.

They stole it back on Jan. 27 and since then have been a force to be

i’d rather be writing sports

sports@thebruns.ca

reckoned with.

Winning f ive of their f inal six games of the regular season, UNB would clinch first place in the AUS and a first-round playoff bye.

“It was a good week for the hockey team,” said Varsity Reds head coach Gardiner MacDougall, underplaying how his team outscored STU, UPEI

and UdeM 13-2 in three games last week.

“We knew this was an important week for us and we had three good opponents and we tried to define ourselves and what we’re all about as a group and our two-way play.”

UNB defeated STU last Wednesday 5-0 before dropping UPEI on the road Friday night 4-1.

Home for their final game of the regular season against UdeM, the Varsity Reds would showcase their dominance in front of a sell-out crowd at the Aitken Centre.

In a back-and-forth first period, UdeM would have some quality chances on the only power play in the frame and throughout the period, but UNB’s Tyler Carroll would be the first to find the scoreboard.

He would redirect a Ben Wright point shot past UdeM’s PierreAlexandre Marion, putting the VReds up 1-0.

With 1:28 remaining in the first period, Carroll would find the back of the net again for his second goal of the night putting UNB up 2-0.

UdeM would bounce back before the end of the period though, as

Alex Quesnel knocked in a rebound off Dan LaCosta. UdeM would trail 2-1 after one period of play.

In the second period UdeM would have the only man advantage again, but UNB would be the only team successful in finding the back of the net. Antoine Houde-Caron would bury a one-timer from Sefan Salituro at 16:41, putting the V-Reds up 3-1.

They would carry the lead into the second intermission.

A fter dominating play in the second, the third period saw UdeM take some momentum back, outshooting UNB 12-5. Although the Varsity Reds struggled to maintain pressure on the Aigles Bleus, LaCosta kept his team from giving up their lead.

Dion Campbell would pad the Varsity Reds’ lead midway through the third en route to their 4-1 victory.

“We obviously wanted a win to finish off strong and have a lot of confidence going into the playoffs and there’s no better team to win against,” Carroll said.

The win on Saturday would also mark UNB’s sixth season in a row of

20 wins or more.

“We knew that it would take at least that much to get a bye,” MacDougall said. “You want to set goals that are achievable, but you got to push.”

UNB will now wait for the firstround results before seeing AUS playoff action. It will give them approximately a week and a half off before round two.

In the first round of the playoffs UdeM will host StFX, while UPEI hosts Acadia in their respective bestof-three quarter-final series, which kick off this week.

“It’s (bye) important from the hockey part. We’re just getting everyone back (from injury) now.

It was good to see Ben Wright and (Josh) Kidd back tonight. You guys healthy.”

“It’s important from the student part because it’s during a midterm period so we’ve found sometimes that that is just as important as the hockey part. With the parody of the league you get yourself (time) to prepare for a good opponent.”

brunswickansports

14 • Feb. 15, 2012 • Issue 21 • Volume 145

Men’s volleyball prepares for AUS playoffs against Dalhousie Heather Uhl Staff Reporter

UNB is preparing to fight for another AUS title.

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

The Varsity Reds men’s volleyball team lost both matches against Dalhousie last weekend.

The away games began on Friday with a 3-1 (26-24, 25-19, 18-25, 25-15) loss against the Dalhousie Tigers.

“We didn’t execute when we had to,” coach Dan McMorran said. “I think in Friday night’s game, we clawed back and actually had an opportunity to win the first set and made a couple of errors at the end of the first set to give them that.” “[We] had to try and juggle several players to find a combination that would work and just couldn’t get it done on Friday night,” he said.

Saturday’s game was a little better than Friday’s four-set match. The second game went five sets but, despite their push to win, the V-Reds were unable to shake the Tigers off their tail.

The Varsity Reds lost 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 25-13, 22-25, 15-7).

“Saturday we started out kind of the same way. We had an opportunity to win

the first set, lost the first set by another two-point first set,” McMorran said. “We wanted to play and put in a dominating performance in the next set and then didn’t come out to play again in the third set. Then came out to play in the fourth set.”

“We were just an up and down, riding the wave kind of team over the weekend and that’s just not going to be good enough to win against the Dalhousie team.”

‘Riding the wave’ describes the V-Reds performance in the games and with these two losses the Varsity Reds slip into second place at the end of the regular season.

With Dalhousie moving into first place, the AUS championship best-of-three series will kick off in Halifax, giving the Tigers a home court advantage.

“I hope that the players are a little bit ticked at themselves. I think they are. It’s not so much about losing,” McMorran said.

“It’s how we lost. And we lost because we didn’t perform. We had some guys who just didn’t execute and those guys know they can do a better job.”

Had the Reds managed to at least split the weekend, the championships’ first game would have been hosted by UNB this

coming Friday. Instead, the second game of the playoffs will be hosted in the Currie Center on Sunday.

Should the Tigers and Varsity Reds win a game apiece, the third match will take place in Halifax.

Last year, the V-Reds went into the championships in first place, hosting the first game, and won the title, snapping Dalhousie’s 23-year AUS Championship winning streak.

The V-Reds will be looking to add a few tiger pelts to their collection this coming weekend, as they defend their place as AUS champions.

On team morale entering the weekend, McMorran said, “we don’t have a defeatist kind of attitude right now. That was just the end of the regular season. We had already secured a playoff position a long time ago and knowing that we have to win two [matches] in the playoffs to win, that’s what we’re doing.”

The first game of the championships will take place in Halifax on Friday, Feb. 17. The second game is a home game at the Currie Center on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m.

Women’s volleyball finish season at the bottom of the AUS Josh Fleck The Brunswickan It has been a tumultuous final season for coach John Richard. There have been many lows culminating in a 4-26 record. However, with lows come highs. The high point of this season has been the play of first-year players Vanja Mitrovic and Katarina Legutky.

In their final two matches of the season the Varsity Reds were on the road against the No. 8 ranked Dalhousie and the No. 2 ranked St. Mary’s Huskies “Both of those two teams are real solid,” Richard said. “It is great for our conference to have DAL ranked

8th in the CIS and SMU to be 2nd in the country. However, it makes for a heck of a tough road trip.”

The Reds came out f lat Friday night in Halifax, and failed to get any momentum going against the Tigers, falling in straight sets, (2517-25, 25-13, 25-16). As per the case in most of their losses this season, the first pass wasn’t there, which lead to a lot of Dal points.

That hapless result carried over into Saturday’s match against the Huskies, as again the Reds were overmatched and couldn’t get anything going. This resulted in the Huskies winning in straight sets, (25-15, 25-15, 25-13).

“We didn’t pass well at DAL,

which didn’t allow us to get in any rhythm,” R ichard said. “At SMU we passed well but needed to be a lot more dynamic offensively to have any success. I thought Emma Hunt had a good match at SMU, as did Monica Jones.”

After coming away with the AUS championship last season, never have the words “it’s a long fall from the top” been more apparent to this team, as the pair of losses sealed a last-place finish in the AUS standings.

“This year was a tough transition for us as a team,” said fourth-year libero Megan Dudek. “After winning the AUS title last year and having been to nationals twice, to

having this result was tough.”

“Facing experienced teams like Saint Mary’s and Dalhousie is always tough with a young team like we had.

But being so young gives us a leg up for next year.”

Dudek has the right idea. You can’t lose high caliber players like Jill Blanchard, Erica Hay and Tanya Paulin and expect your first-year girls to come in and fill their shoes (despite the efforts from Legutky and Mitrovic to do so).

“Teams like SMU, Acadia, CBU, STFX especially are all graduating several strong players (this year)” Richard said. “That was us last year.”

With the season and thoughts of a repeat of AUS champions being long

gone, thoughts now turn to who will fill the shoes of Richard next season.

“With us not planning to lose anyone through graduation, and with the bulk of our lineup back for a couple of seasons, add in a new coach with new ideas and energy, I look forward to seeing us have another successful run,” Richard said.

Regardless of who takes the job, they will be taking over a team with a lot of good young talent, mixed with some good veteran leadership from the likes of Dudek. The new coach will have nowhere to go but up following this season.

Gallant and Harty awarded prestigious Mark Jeffrey memorial scholarship NickMurray The Brunswickan

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Defensemen Luke Gallant and Jonathan Harty have been named the corecipients of this season’s Mark Jeffrey memorial scholarship.

It’s the first time the award has been shared by two defensemen, and the third time since 2000 that the scholarship has been awarded to two players.

Kyle Bailey and Hunter Tremblay shared the scholarship last year, and Kevin and Kyle Werner were also corecipients in 2006.

Mark Jeffrey was a player for the UNB Red Devils from 1981-1982 and again from 1983-1986 and led the team to an AUAA (now AUS) championship in 1984. He was a two-time AUA A All-Star, UNB’s male athlete of the year in 1985, and was an assistant coach and head coach from 1987-1991.

Jeffery died in the summer of 1991 while on vacation in Montreal, and his number 17 was retired the season

after his tragedy.

Coach Gardiner MacDougall says this is their most prestigious award and when selecting a recipient he looks for a leader on the ice, as well as in the classroom.

“When you look for criteria you look for a high performer, a player that does well in school, and one of the leaders of the hockey club,” MacDougall said.

“We try to make it a senior member in his fourth or fifth season that has given a lot to the program, and has had success within it.”

Both Gallant and Harty are MBA students, were named to the AllTournament team of last year’s CIS Championship and have both had an incredible season leading UNB to their fifth straight AUS first place regular season finish.

Gallant finished first among AUS defensemen in assists with 21, while Harty was second with 20; Harty also finished second among AUS defensemen with 27 points, with Gallant close

behind at third with 26.

“This is the ultimate award you can get from UNB,” Gallant said, after their 5-0 shutout against the St. Thomas Tommies last week during the Mark Jeffrey memorial game.

“It’s such a prestigious award and to be voted among your coaches as a leader that brings emotion and passion to the game like Mark did, it’s just a privilege to be among the past winners and have my name associated with Mark.”

“When you look at the criteria that both these players brought, their pedigree and their body of work here at UNB, they’re both very worth recipients of the award,” MacDougall said of Harty and Gallant.

More hardware was handed out over the weekend before Saturday night’s game against Université de Moncton.

Ben Wright was awarded the Mike Cavanagh memorial award, and the “Punch” Walker Memorial award went to Bretton Stamler, Jordan Clendenning and Chris Culligan.

brunswickansports

Feb. 15, 2012 • Issue 21 • Volume 145 • 15

UNB’s Megan Corby talks about her time as a Varsity Red

Nick Murray The Brunswickan Since transferring to UNB in 2009, Megan Corby has been a strong floor general for the Varsity Reds’ offence, with a quick hand on defense.

Now in her fifth year of eligibility in an on-again-off-again CIS career, spanning over nine years and two schools, the nursing student hasn’t lost her playmaking touch.

Corby, a Leo Hayes High School graduate, began her career in CIS basketball in 2003 at Lakehead University when she was 17. She was recruited by former UNB player Jon Kreiner and named athlete of the month for October in her freshman year.

She finished the season seventh in the OUA in assists, ninth in steals, and was close to making the OUA All-Rookie Team.

After taking the 2004-2005 seasons off, Corby returned to Lakehead for her second year of eligibility.

Corby said in a 2005 interview with the Daily Gleaner that taking the year off made her realize how much she loved the game, and that she wouldn’t pass up another year away from it.

However in her graduating year at Lakehead, Corby didn’t play the 2006 season. Instead, she chose to focus on academics.

“Megan still [wanted] to be involved with the team,” said thencoach Jon Kreiner in a 2006 interview with the Daily Gleaner, “but she [couldn’t] be going away every weekend, practicing every night plus training two hours a day on top of

that. She said that’s something she wasn’t going to be able to do and keep up with everybody on the basketball side of things.”

That decision was much to the benefit of V-Reds coach Jeff Speedy, who was able to utilize Corby in the midst of a comeback.

A comeback, which Corby says, was completely accidental.

“I never really had any intentions of coming back that summer,” Corby said. “I was out playing in a spring league just to get some physical activity. Then they were short some players in the summer so they asked me to come scrimmage with them and that kept me in good shape.”

She also said that returning to Fredericton and having family support helped her manage school and basketball easier than at Lakehead.

In her first year at UNB, Corby tallied 32 steals, despite having only played 17 games, and shared pointguard responsibilities with Tashina Van Vlack. She led the team in steals (sixth in AUS), and was fourth on the team in assists.

Last season, joined by her sister Leah, Megan helped lead UNB to the AUS final. Megan was second on the team in assists and fourth in the conference, totalling 76. She said playing with her sister was an incredible experience.

“It was awesome playing with her,” Megan said. “Leah has such a natural ability to score and it was really fun getting her the ball because you always know that she would make those clutch three-point shots. I’ve always been really proud and happy for her so it was cool to share that [playoff

Corby has spent a number of years on the court, but not all of them were as a V-Red. Tim Lingley/ The Brunswickan run] with her.”

Corby still has two years left in her program, and says she is looking forward to exploring other types of physical activity other than basketball.

“Last summer I ran a half-marathon so I’m thinking I may do that

again, or maybe try to run a marathon.”

Head coach Jeff Speedy said the veteran has set a very high standard and a great example for future Varsity Reds basketball players.

“Megan is a very, very hard worker

and a true point guard, which is a luxury to have,” Speedy said. “She has steadily improved every year and should be very proud of the career she has had. She has set the bar very high for future Reds point guards.”

Matt Sweet reflects on his time on the court Jennifer Bishop The Brunswickan Most teams have a pre-game ritual.

The captain of the UNB Varsity Reds men’s volleyball team says their team is no different.

On any given game night, after head coach Dan McMorran leaves the dressing room, you might hear something like this.

“Before I turn on ‘em I kill Satan and stick my red flag in the ground.

It’s Red Nation.”

That is a lyric from the popular rap song by The Game featuring Lil Wayne, called “Red Nation.” This is the latest song the V-Reds listen to before a game.

“When he [coach Dan McMorran] leaves, we get a little foolish. We put a little music on and scream and whoop and holler,” Sweet said.

That’s what they do to get pumped for the games. But Sweet says the thing that gets him most motivated is “playing for these boys.”

“It was a pretty special feeling winning AUS last year with that group, so, that feeling’s pretty motivating.”

Sweet’s interest in volleyball started

after he went to a volleyball camp when he was in middle school.

It’s stuck with him ever since.

Originally from PEI, Sweet said he used to go to the UPEI women’s volleyball home games when he was younger to watch his cousin play.

“I used to just fiddle around with balls and stuff in between their games and sets so I was a little more advanced than some of the kids at the first volleyball camp, so I stuck with it,” he said.

He hadn’t been recruited for UNB’s team and was torn between trying out for hockey or volleyball. He chose volleyball so he didn’t have to delay his studies.

“I heard a lot about some of the older guys – that they were really good – and I didn’t know how I was going to fit in,” he said. “As a walk-on, it was nerve-wracking.”

School is something that’s important to Sweet. He started volunteering with the V-Reds assistant coach who does physiotherapy, and it sparked his interest.

“I’ve done physio before just for minor injuries and I’ve always been kind of interested in it,” he said. “I figured it would be something I might

be interested in doing down the road to keep me in the sports world once my volleyball days are done.”

But for now, Sweet is still going strong and is looking forward to finishing the season. He describes himself as a “smart player” and says that passing and defense are his strengths on the court.

“Offensively I make smart shots – I’m not the guy that’s going to wow you out of the gym – but I still get my kills, just maybe not as fancy as some of the other guys,” he said.

These qualities are similar to Sweet’s favourite volleyball player, Gilberto Amauri de Godoy Filho, otherwise known as Giba.

“He’s similar to myself. He’s smaller, but he doesn’t do everything well.

He passes and makes smart shots.”

Sweet is focused on finishing out the season strong. As captain and a member if the winning AUS championship title last year, there’s only one thing on his mind – another win.

“We know we belong now, we won one championship so we figure we can do it again. Our big goal now is that we want to win a game at CIS.”

Sweet has loved volleyball from an early age.

Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan

The newspaper industry is in a tough position and the student newspaper industry is no different.

Production costs and increases in minimum wage aren’t making things easier. This is why we need your money.

This would be the first fee increase in over ten years. A lot has changed since 2001 and in order for your paper to serve you better, we need this increase. It will allow us to structure our services to suit your needs and help us get with the times.

The funds will be devoted to enhancing our online presence and increasing our use of multimedia.

The fee will also create two new student jobs with the sole purpose of producing up-to-date online content, video and building school spirit.

In addition, this $1.50 increase will help keep your community newspaper afloat and avoid a looming deficit situation.

The Brunswickan is a publication for students by students. We cover issues that matter. We’ve been keeping the university and the student union honest since 1867 and we plan to keep it that way.

Please support your student paper and vote YES to your voice on election day.

the brunswickan needs your help. we are asking for a $1.50 increase to your media fee.

The Brunswickan will be holding an information session on this fee increase tonight at 7:00 p.m. room 103 in the SUB. General inquires: managing@thebruns.ca