arts | fund drive
news | student voices lacking
opinion| women aren’t ‘girls’
sports| cis hockey insert
Volume 145 · March 21 · Issue 25, 2012
www.thebruns.ca
brunswickan canada’s oldest official student publication.
The dead and the dancing
Currie fee gets a “no” from UNB students Alanah Duffy News Reporter One of the most contentious issues at the University of New Brunswick was raised in a referendum question during the UNB Student Union’s general election. It asked: “do you agree with paying the $150 facilities access fee known commonly as the ‘Currie fee’?” Of the 1,141 ballots cast in this vote, 757 said no while 384 said yes, making about 66 per cent of voters opposed to the fee. Adam Melanson, a science representative for the UNBSU, and Cody Jack, an arts representative, fought to have this referendum question on the ballot. “I thought I’d heard from enough students who were upset about this fee, and we were able to put forward a petition that required a referendum on this issue,” Melanson explained. “Another reason was that last year’s student union had officially asked the presidents of the university to hold a referendum on this issue of the Currie fee before implementing it, and the university declined.” Melanson and Jack pushed for a second referendum question to be included on the ballot. The question asked: “should the University of New Brunswick policy and the provincial University Act require a student referendum on the implementation of ancillary fees?” There were 1095 votes cast in this question; 798 students said yes while 297 students said no, making the average about 73 per cent in favour of a referendum for future ancillary fee impositions. “This referendum was also a way to show the university the proper way of introducing ancillary fees,” Melanson said. The university imposed the manda-
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Monica Lacey is an emerging artist from Charlottetown and an NBCCD grad. Her work is being shown at the UNB Art Centre. Tim Lingley / The Brunswickan Haley Ryan Arts Reporter For the next month the UNB Art Centre will be home to disturbing and beautiful images, sometimes even in the same frame. Monica Lacey and Brody LeBlanc are two emerging artists whose works will be shown until Apr. 20 in Memorial Hall, as part of the Werkstatt series. Lacey, who’s from Charlottetown and moved back home after completing her arts degree here in Fredericton at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design (NBCCD), said the show came about thanks to connections at the craft college. Exactly a year ago, Lacey and LeBlanc had a show together in the gallery at NBCCD, which the director of the UNB Art Centre, Marie
Maltais, attended and approved. “She talked with us and offered us shows,” Lacey said in a phone interview, “and exactly a year later this exhibit opened.” Lacey’s area of the gallery is dedicated to her series of art entitled The Sky is Always Moving, which is a photo/sculpture/video exhibit dealing with dance as part of the human experience. “We’re designed to do it,” Lacey said, “and even those who say they don’t like dancing can appreciate it when it’s in art ... everybody has their own story about it.” While Lacey’s years at the craft college prepared her for working with photography and sculpture, she said the video aspect of her new work was definitely a challenge. She found the editing software much more difficult than she would
have thought, and it was a lot to learn. “I very much enjoyed shooting the film,” Lacey said, laughing. “The editing ... not so much.” LeBlanc, a Fredericton photographer, also attended NBCCD when Lacey was there and said he thinks their work is similar in the emotional connections they’re able to portray. His series of photos in the show is called Playing Dead, where many of the beautiful visuals are paired with something morbid. “There’s a bit of satire in the photos, a bit of humour,” LeBlanc said. “I placed things in these dark scenes that are kind of funny ... It’s interesting to see how people react to them, and they’re bringing up the question of what is acceptable socially.” He says while some people might
consider his photos dark in subject matter, there is a lot of “weird stuff” in the world that people don’t think twice about consuming, like bigbudget movies with lots of violence, or the media frenzy around a murder trial. “Now that’s disturbing to me,” LeBlanc said. Photography is the only medium LeBlanc has wanted to really work in since he was 11. He said it comes easily to him, and the whole process makes a lot of sense. “You take things that are there and existing and make them what you want them to be,” he said, “3D turns into 2D art.” Lacey and LeBlanc’s work will be on display in the UNB Art Centre in Memorial Hall until Apr. 20, and the gallery is open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. during the week.
brunswickannews
2 • Mar. 21, 2012 • Issue 25 • Volume 145
Students bracing for budget impact “It would be nice if (the fee) were gone completely”
Heather Uhl Staff Reporter
The provincial government is set to drop its budget soon, and students are bracing for impact. The UNB Student Union has been working to address some of the issues on the table for students and prepared a pre-budget submission for the government earlier this year. Some of the recommendations included in the document were a reversal of the controversial Parental and Spousal Contribution to NB student loans and that the Timely Completion Benefit become more student-friendly. Vice-president external, and NB Student Alliance (NBSA) president, Joey O’Kane has a few predictions. “I imagine that In-Study Earnings will be raised, but it’s tough to say by how much. Ancillary fees [have] a zero cost to the government, but it’s tough to say. I imagine we’ll see a similar budget as last year, in regard to operating grants and tuition. Anything can happen with this government,” O’Kane said in an email. The NBSA has also submitted a proposal for the government, addressing slightly different topics than the UNBSU. Notably, the NBSA proposed increasing operating grants for universities by six per cent per year over four years, for a total of fifty-five million dollars and that key
performance indicators be completed by a third party. “I know that every year student loans get cut more and more,” student Nicole Dasilva said. “I’m hoping it [student loans] doesn’t get cut, but it probably will.” Dasilva has a student loan and describes the loan as good now trouble later. “I have a student loan for my education. I mean it’s good now, I’m good with my student loan, but I’m sure after my student loan gets more and more it’s going to be a struggle to pay it back.” The controversial return of parental and spousal contribution has been a main priority of the Student Union for the past year. “That’s been one of our main lobbying points this year,” UNBSU president Jordan Thompson said. “However, government is a bit resistant to re-eliminating it. Their line is that they believe families should contribute to their students’ education.” “While we don’t necessarily disagree with that, the parental contribution does hinder accessibility.” A rts student Cassandra Long knows about that requirement all too well. “They recently took into account my parent’s income without taking into account that my parents don’t help me with school, ‘cause they can’t,” Long said.
“On my student loan application it doesn’t say, ‘how large is your mortgage and how many cars do you have?’ or ‘how many other dependents are there?’ It says ‘what’s their income?’ The end.” Because of the implementation, Long lost her student loan. “They told me I had an over-reward and took back the insufficient money they had already given me, which wasn’t even enough to pay for first half of f irst term. I don’t make enough to pay for it myself,” Long said. Other aspects of what the SU and NBSA have been lobbying for changes to the In-Study Earnings. For students that work during school, the government deducts the earnings (over the allotted $50 per week) from the student loan given. The SU wants to up that $50 to $150, or approximately two shifts of work. “According to ‘the price of knowledge’ a student shouldn’t work more than 15 hours a week,” O’Kane said in an email. “Students should be concerned with everything that affects them. Apathy is not sufficient. Students need to realize that the overall cost of education is on the rise, and that includes more than just tuition and ancillary fees.” The provincial budget will be released on Mar. 27.
The building cost $62.5 million to build. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan Not all students are in disagreement of the fee, however. Alyssa Shupe, a second-year kinesiology student said tory $150 Facilities Access Fee last year that while she doesn’t agree with the without a student vote. way the fee was imposed on students, Though a description of the fee she is okay with paying the fee. says it “provides students the right of “I support it somewhat because we access and use of all the recreational get into all of the varsity sports games facilities within campus,” it became for free and get to use the gym for known as the “Currie fee” because of ourselves and for our classes as much its introduction when construction of as we want,” she said. “But, I mean, the $62.5 million Richard J. Currie they should have told us about paying Center was completed. an extra $150.” Many students have voiced their In response to the referendum quesopposition to the fee, which is added tions, the UNBSU drafted a letter to to mandatory fees at $75 per semester. the university’s vice-presidents and its Gordon Mihan, a second-year busi- president, Eddy Campbell. It was sent ness student, voted in disagreement of on Mar. 11. the $150 fee. Melanson said the letter asks the “I don’t really use the gym, so I university to find alternative funding don’t really see why I should have to measures for the Currie Center and pay for it. It’s kind of silly,” Mihan told asked for suspension of the ancillary fee the Brunswickan. “I thought it would for the 2012-2013 school year. be incentive to use [the Currie Center] While the goal of eliminating the fee but that didn’t pan out, so now it’s an may be a lofty one, Melanson hopes a extra fee that I’m paying for nothing.” new agreement can be reached, such as Mihan hopes that “no” votes like lowering the cost of the fee. his can be used to sway the university “I think the key is that any agreeto rethink the imposition of the fee. ment that we can come to with the “It would be nice if it were gone administration has to be approved by completely, but if they can’t get rid of students,” he said. “There are options it completely, then maybe they should going forward, but any option that is lower it a bit,” he said. “But, they’d still decided upon really should and has to have to pay for it somehow. UNB really be decided by student referendum.” put themselves in a spot with this.”
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brunswickannews
Mar. 21, 2012 • Issue 25 • Volume 145 • 3
Student representation severely lacking on governing board Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan Alanah Duffy News Reporter The University of New Brunswick’s Board of Governors is one of the largest in Canada, and yet only three student representatives are part of it. The 43-member board is responsible for all of the decisions that happen at both the Fredericton and Saint John campuses. Jordan Thompson, president of the UNB Student Union, is one of the three student representatives. He said that with a disproportionate number of students, it is more difficult to get student-centred issues heard. “What less representation does is that you have to set the bar a lot higher in terms of attempting to convince people,” Thompson said. “With only three of us, sometimes it’s an uphill battle to get people to see our side, and sometimes they never do.” While Thompson said there hasn’t been notable conflict on the board this year, the implementation of the $150 Facilities Access Fee last year was a point of contention between the student members and the rest of the board. The introduction of the ancillary fee is commonly known as the “Currie Fee,” since it was introduced when construction on the $62.5 million Richard J. Currie Center was completed. Thompson said the university’s administration engaged students early on in the process, before construction on the building had begun. “However, the communication broke down in the latter years, when the construction actually started. So that was a definite issue – it was a hard sell to convince the board members not to go forward with the implementation of the fee, which obviously didn’t work,” Thompson said. “More student voice around the table might have changed the dialogue a bit. I can’t guarantee that it
would have been a different outcome, of nine ex-officio (someone who sits on but more engagement with students a board due to the fact that he or she is always beneficial, especially since holds another office) and 33 appointed we’re huge stakeholders in university or elected officials. operations.” Queen’s University, where CampEddy Campbell, president of UNB, bell was once head of the Department said the number of students on the of Mathematics and Statistics, had a Board of Governors is a common similar size board to UNB’s. Campbell number among other universities’ told the Brunswickan the board is Boards of Governors. downsizing to 25 members through Last week, Campbell spoke with the attrition. Brunswickan over the phone while a When asked if UNB’s Board of member of the university’s Communi- Governors would ever do something cation and Marketing Department similar to Queen’s, Campbell said perand the president’s own senior advisor haps, and that it was a question of time. listened in on the interview. The size of the board is detailed “From my point of view, the stu- in the University of New Brunswick dent voice is very much listened to at Act, which was last assented to in UNB, in part, I think, because both June 1984. campuses have good student govern“It’s a very unusual Act, and it apment. In my view, they do a very able job of It’s a very unusual Act, and representing the student it appears to be to be quite body,” Campbell said. “It’s not about the dated in a number of respects numbers – it’s about the - Eddy Campbell respect and the manner in which they represent the student body and the way in pears to be to be quite dated in which they conduct themselves,” he a number of respects,” Campbell said. continued. “The folks that we have Campbell said one example of the are used to making the student point way the Act is outdated is the unof view very clear.” usually high number of positive votes The amount of students on UNB’s it takes to change the bylaws at the Board of Governors is about seven per university. cent of the board. Carleton University, The Act also meticulously details which has around 22,000 students, the university’s senior administration, has a board comprised of 12.5 per cent including deans and faculties. of students (four out of 32). The Uni“That’s very unusual,” Campbell versity of Victoria has a board of only said. “You would need to go to the 15 people, two of whom are students, government to create or delete a vicemaking it comprised of 13.3 per cent president’s position, or to create and students. The University of Alberta’s delete a faculty, along with the dean. board is made up of 14.3 per cent of That’s really very unusual in a Canstudents; three out of 21 members. adian context that that would be part Aside from the low amount of stu- of our legislation.” dents, the size of the board is unusual The strict legislation governing the in itself. Campbell said he believes Board of Governors would make it UNB’s Board of Governors to be the difficult to add any additional student largest in Canada. representation, let alone any other The 44-member board is comprised positions.
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Thompson said there probably won’t be any changes to the number of students on the board in the near future. “Any additional student members would require an amendment to the University of New Brunswick Act. That would in turn require recommendation from the Board of Governors that they want that change,” he said. “So, it’s a long-term process.” As set out by the University of New Brunswick Act, the board meets five times per year for meetings that Thompson said last about five to six hours. Board members are sent a detailed agenda about the meeting about a week in advance, Thompson said. “[The agenda] usually runs three to five hundred pages, depending on what the topics are. That keeps it orderly as well, so board members are prepared in advance with questions and concerns going in. It cuts down time, really,” Thompson said. Campbell said the cost of each board meeting is $2,500. Positions on the board are voluntary, although some out-of-town members get reimbursed for their travel and accommodation costs. According to Campbell, the $2,500 covers the travel costs of some members. “We are able to cover the cost of their travel and their accommodations, but some members of our board choose to donate the cost of their travel to the university. They don’t bother to bill us for their travel expenses,” Campbell said. “That can vary – not all board members are in a position to do that, but some of them are and they do. That figure allows for the fact that some board members are seeking to have their costs reimbursed. If we were paying for everyone, the cost would be quite a bit higher.” Campbell said he didn’t know the
exact number of how many board members pay for their own travel and accommodation, but that he expected quite a few do, given the low figure. The annual cost to operate the board is about $25,000. The money comes from the university’s operating budget, which is comprised of an operating grant from the New Brunswick government, tuition fees from students, and money from activities such as real estate developments. However, Campbell sa id t he $25,000 figure is really just a “guesstimate.” “There are qualifiers around that information and it’s really an estimate,” he said. The Office of the University Secretariat oversees the Board of Governors and money allotted to go to the board helps fund office supplies and utilities. “The Secretariat looks after our two Senates, they look after our records management for the university, they look after our privacy access policy, they look after non-academic student discipline, and they look after the publication of the undergraduate calendar, so there’s an awful lot of work that is happening in that office and there’s certainly a significant proportion devoted to the board, but there are many, many other duties as well,” Campbell said. “It would be hard for us to really, and again it would only be a guesstimate, to attribute their time to the board.” Despite the small number of student representation on the board, Thompson said it’s important for students to understand that the Board of Governors is responsible for all decisions made at the university. “Ultimately, the board has to stamp their approval on anything that the university does,” he said. “So, as a result, they’re responsible for anything at the university that happens.”
brunswickannews
4 • Mar. 21, 2012 • Issue 25 • Volume 145
Disney comes to Fredericton
UNB employees will be learning Disney leadership strategies. Andreybl / FlickrCC Cherise Letson The Brunswickan Employees at the University of New Brunswick will be getting a touch of magic. On Mar. 28, the Disney Institute will be giving a presentation on leadership excellence at the Kent Auditorium. The presentation is part of the Executive Education Business Seminar series put on by the UNB College of Extended Learning’s Executive Education Centre. Sheila Burt, director of executive education at the College of Extended Learning said the centre wanted to bring in presentations that targeted people in senior levels of management. “We have been successfully delivering [programs] at the middle manager, new manger level. We’ve been doing that for 20 years. So, we felt that there was a gap in our offerings and our programs, and we didn’t have anything specifically targeted to that senior level of management,” Burt said.
“We really felt it was important to bring in high-end folks to come in and deliver well-known, proven training programs.” The Mar. 28 presentation deals with how participants can adapt Disney leadership strategies into their own workplace. More than 100 participants from across Atlantic Canada have already signed up. On Mar. 29, the Disney Institute will also be hosting a workshop for UNB staff and faculty only. This session will deal with topics that are more applicable to the staff at UNB, such as customer service skills. Burt said staff learning these skills can be beneficial to students. “We thought it would be good to select the customer service side of things. Being able to create a positive experience for students here, and to get the faculty and staff thinking of how we do our day-to-day work really impacts the experience that students have here,” Burt said. Due to restrictions in the contract with Disney, Burt said they are unable to release how much the presenta-
tions will cost the university. She said however, the cost of the presentation is offset by the $500 fee participants pay, along with sponsorships. Susan Mesheau, executive director of student recruitment UNB, was excited when she found out Disney was making a presentation at UNB. “It’s [Disney] known as a storytelling company that engages the emotions of its audience. That’s what we do in recruitment as well. It’s through stories and demonstrating what our students do and the kind of experience they have, that attracts other students,” Mesheau said. Mesheau said the presentations will help faculty and staff give students a better overall experience from the university. “Students can make a decision to join UNB, but then their experience is what will keep them here, and also give them what they’re looking for. We know student’s come in looking for not only that higher learning, but also a fantastic experience,” Mesheau said.
Imagining a better solution Christopher Cameron Editor-In-Chief Imagine a network of charitable organizations. That’s exactly what one Canadian organization is out to accomplish. Imagine Canada has partnered with the Muttart Foundation to create “Students (Verb) Charities,” a contest to help show how charities improve the quality of life in Canada. Open to post-secondary students across Canada, Imagine Canada is asking for students to help create a public awareness campaign about the impact of the charitable sector in the country. “We’ve observed that when people think of charities they tend to think of organizations doing good work, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but the sector is quite a bit broader than that,” said Stephen Faul, vice-president of strategic communications and business development for Imagine Canada. “Most universities are charities, many hospitals are also charities, so there are certainly some large charities and certainly some smaller ones,” said Faul. “They all do different things, but all have a way of giving back to society.” The contest launched Jan. 15, but the submission deadline is not until Nov. 30 as they believe students will have more time to put their ideas together in the summer months. There is no specific media the campaign has to be in. It could be a song, a video, or simply an eye-catching poster. Faul said the choice to look to students for ideas for their public awareness campaigns was a simple one. “We want to be engaged with them
Stephen Faul says people should look at charities as a whole. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan (students) and we want them to think about us. We would actually be happy if the whole country would think about us in slightly different terms, but we have to start somewhere,” he said. “Not to be cliché, but why not start with the next generation that is the future.” The charitable sector in Canada consists of 2 million jobs and 12 million volunteers. Imagine Canada tries to strengthen the voice of the charitable sector, act as a forum for the sector, and tries to create an environment that leads to the success and strengthening of the whole charitable and non-profit sector. Keeping with those goals of the organization, this contest was created as a way to bring all the charities together under one image. “We’re hoping people take a look
at the sector as a whole, rather than individual organizations,” Faul said. “It is the whole idea of the charitable sector that we’re hoping people will focus on, that if all of a sudden you took that out of the mix, there would be this enormous gap.” “Charities don’t promote themselves very much and if they do, they do it quite wisely and for obvious reasons, because you won’t want to overspend on that, but by the same token that’s left people without an appreciation for what they do and what they contribute.” The top prize for the contest is $50,000, second place at $25,000 and third place at $10,000. For more information on the contest, students can visit studentsverbcharities.ca.
brunswickannews
Mar. 21, 2012 • Issue 25 • Volume 145 • 5
brunswickanopinion
Mar. 21, 2012 • Issue 25 • Volume 145 • 6
editor@thebruns.ca
letters to the editor tell us what you think
Re: “Glee: not as queerfriendly as it pretends to be” Dear Editor, I understand where the writer Jonathan Petrychyn is coming from. When I watch shows that have queer folks in it, they seem to be portrayed as the stereotypical, over the top, gay person. I also see women, men, blacks, asians, italians, mexicans and others being portrayed stereotypical as well. I have a problem with Jonathan assuming that he has the voice for all queer folks. He says in the article that basically Glee is telling the queer community that “if you want acceptance, you have to be just like every other heterosexual couple out there.” Maybe some queer folk want exactly that. Is the writer trying to say that if a homosexual couple wants what heterosexual couples want, then they have sold out or aren’t queer enough? This attitude reminds me of when black people would get upset with other black people who wanted to move ahead in their lives. They were accused of trying to “act white”. Let queer folk decide who and what they want to be. Just because you are part of a group doesn’t mean that the way you want to live your life is what all other queer folk want. That is just a closed minded as people who don’t accept queer folk. Groups that have been historically oppressed and are fighting for their freedoms always have a long uphill
battle in front of them. It takes a long long time to change people attitudes and behaviours. The women’s right movement started a long time ago and they were finally allowed to vote in 1919 and its now 2012 and women are still fighting for their rights. Its a lengthy journey. I think the queer folk journey has made alot of strides and is well on it way with a lot of momentum, but the way will be fraught with frustration and aggravation along with the victories. Also, please don’t assume that all heterosexual couples want the same things. A monogamous relationship (boring), with a well paying job (to buy material stuff with?) a couple of kids (I will admit I have 2 and I love them), a dog (no thanks) and a white picket fence (feels more like a jail cell to me) may be what most (?) heterosexual couples want but believe me, there are us out there who don’t want these things. After saying that though, I don’t judge people who want these things. Let the queers who like Glee, like it. After all, it is just fiction. I’m not going to stop watching Desperate Housewives because the women are stereotyped!! As a person, male or female, gay or straight, or any other labels that people put on themselves, let people just be who they are! Why try to define yourself or the queer community.....just BE! Pam Thompson Caldwell
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Why women shouldn’t be called ‘girls’
Mays Chami The McGill Daily (McGill University) MONTREAL (CUP) — Ageism can be defined as discrimination against one on account of one’s age. The conventional discourse around ageism requires that we gather statistics that indicate reduced opportunities for those of advanced age groups and then compare those between the two genders. But I would like to discuss a different kind of ageism — one that most women feel at most stages in their lives. Starting at what age, exactly? It’s difficult to say, because this ageism deliberately blurs the line between girlhood and womanhood. The most literal proof of this is that women continue to be referred to and refer to themselves as “girls” well past the onset of adulthood. I’ve even noticed the paradoxical phenomenon where many women, regardless of their age, tend to refer to females older than they are as “women” and females of their own age as “girls.” Even well into their 40s and 50s, females feel uneasy referring to themselves as women because they associate the word with something unattractive and undesirable. Men avoid it, too, and opt for words like “girls” and “ladies” to flatter women. The same is absolutely not true when the roles are reversed: while males are referred to by the convenient in-between term “guys” starting from age 14 or 15, their female counterparts remain “girls” for as long as society allows or dictates it. Then, they’re suddenly demoted to the category of “women,” usually when they become a mother and a wife — at least, that’s what comedian Louis CK argues. According to him, “You’re not a woman until you’ve had a couple of kids and your life is in the toilet.” Whatever happened to the word “woman” designating an adult female? This discrepancy is translated into outward appearance. Compare the men and the women in advertisements or on Hollywood’s red carpet. Women’s “imperfections” (invariably those indicative of age, such as wrinkles and gray hairs) are concealed, while men’s are often proudly displayed, the prevailing notion being that men of advanced age have charming or
desirable qualities. It is usually much more difficult to gauge a woman’s age than it is to guess a man’s. Women often try to prove that they can play the part of being 30 forever. While there are some middleaged men that seem not to accept their age, a greater number of women dress in a way that their younger selves would. All this points to the fact that many women feel pressured to remain youthful. Consider the concept of Lolita, the
12-year-old “nymphet” from the famous Vladimir Nabokov novel. Lolita has somehow become an icon over the past few decades. Grown women don attire to resemble the sexualized youth. If a grown woman trying to look like a young, sexualized girl is not an absurd conflation of girlhood and womanhood, I don’t know what is. While ageism is rampant in many stages of one’s life, this fixation on girlhood haunts all too many females long past childhood.
a required subject taught in most schools across North America and Britain. These classes would teach children, in both elementary and high school levels of study, how to properly kneel at the altar, which fork was for what and how to write proper letters. Children learned that the timing of a thank-you note was the difference between merely following etiquette rules and having a high degree of class. But our society just isn’t that formal anymore. Social graces today ref lect our digital identities. There are, for example, unwritten social rules about
when it is and when is not appropriate to friend someone on Facebook. But when it comes to formally saying thank you, very few people know the rules about when or how to say it. According to etiquette specialists, a thank-you note is absolutely required for the following major life events: bridal shower or baby shower gifts; holiday, birthday, Bar/Bat mitzvah, graduation and housewarming gifts; and sympathy letters, flowers, mass cards or donations made in the deceased’s name. A formal thank-you note should not be 140 characters or less, and should be done by hand. Letters in
your own handwriting are personal; they show you are genuinely grateful for something. Online communication lacks a human quality, even if you use every emoticon you can find. When you are really thankful, an email or (God forbid) a tweet just won’t cut it. I dare you to sit down and write a thank-you card to someone who has recently done or said something that meant a lot to you. Take the time to pick up a pen, dig out some stationery and pay for the postage stamp.
Shinae Lee / The McGill Daily
The art of thanks Jane Caulfield The Watch (University of King’s College) HALIFAX (CUP) — I have vivid memories of my mother making very detailed lists on Christmas morning of who got what from whom. She would then pass the lists out to my sister and I with a cheery, “Remember to write your thank-you cards as soon as possible!” But much to my mother’s chagrin, we never managed to write a single thank-you note. We would think about it, maybe even start one, but never follow it through to completion.
Recently, I received a bursary. Having gone through this process before, I know proper etiquette rules state that I should respond promptly with a short but well thought-out thank-you note. When I inquired at the financial aid office about what address to send the note to, I was met with some surprised looks. What happened to the fine art of writing thank-you notes? I know they still sell thank-you cards in the greeting card aisle, but when was the last time anyone bought one and actually used it for its intended purpose? Up until the 1960s, etiquette was
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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 Campbell, Brandon Hicks, Heather Uhl, Adam Melanson, Derek Ness, Lindsey Edney, Brad McKinney, Patrick McCullough, Leonardo Camejo, Tim Lingley, Tomi Gbeleyi
brunswickanopinion
Student
Viewpoint.
Mar. 21, 2012 • Issue 25 • Volume 145 • 7
How do you plan on paying back your student loans?
Let everyone know what’s on your mind.
Cassie Snyder
Erin McMaster
Sarah Holt
Chris Herc
“I plan on being in debt for the rest of my life.”
“My parents are paying for it.”
“My savings and working.”
“Getting a job.”
Olivia Newcombe
Lindsay Hodd
Tiffany Brown
Shannon Lanigan
“Working in Vancouver, or prostitution.”
“I’m hoping for the timely completion benefit to help out.”
“I’m going to get a job.”
“The lottery.”
brunswickanarts arts@thebruns.ca
Mar. 21, 2012 • Issue 25 • Volume 145 • 8
The best dinner you’ve never seen
Haley Ryan Arts Reporter Sitting down to a meal engages all your senses. The smell of the chicken wafts towards you and you feel the heat of the food on your tongue as you eat. You hear your fork scrape across the plate and stare in envy at your neighbour’s rich chocolate cake. What if one of those senses was taken away? What if you couldn’t even see where your food was, let alone admire how delicious it looked? Thousands of people in this province know what it’s like to sit down to dinner without a clear picture of what they’ll be eating, and on Apr. 1, you can too. The masters of business administration (MBA) students at UNB have organized a fundraiser in support of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), which involves a unique dinner, musical entertainment and silent auction. Each year students in the program come up with a different social entrepreneurship project to work on for one of their classes, and this year Dining in the Dark was chosen as the event. Rebecca Wilson, the business student in charge of marketing and communications, said the fundraiser is an opportunity to put you in the shoes of someone dealing with vision loss. “We’re describing it as a ‘unique dining experience’ but for 20,000 people in New Brunswick it’s not unique at all,” Wilson said. “It’s how they live.” The event will begin with a reception at 5 p.m., and the dinner follows at 6 p.m. Since turning the lights off in the dining room would make serving the food a bit difficult, you have the option of seeing your meal.
CNIB will host a blindfolded dining fundraiser on Apr. 1. Tim Lingley / The Brunswickan Beside each plate will be a blindfold you can wear during the entire dinner or just a part of it. There will also be a CNIB client and assistant at each table to help those guests who are used to relying on their sight. Amanda Bent, fund development manager for CNIB, said everyone at the institute is “really enthusiastic” about working with the students, because they’re able to raise awareness among young people. She also explained how the dinner
Living the Wildlife Nicole Saulnier The Brunswickan Spring is in the air, and you needn’t look any further than The Capital to spot some Wildlife. The Toronto-based band is taking The Capital stage Thursday, Mar. 29. Life-long friends Dean Povinsky, Graham Plant, Tim Daugulis, Derek Bosomworth, and Dwayne Christie formed the band in 2006. Their debut album, Strike Hard, Young Diamond, was released 2010 and was met with warmth from Canadian fans. “Strike Hard, Young Diamond was a lot about adventure and the folly of youth and our carefree attitudes when we were younger,” said lead vocalist and guitarist, Povinsky. Wildlife’s newer music, however, is more of a progression from their youthful inspirations to a more mature outlook on life. “Everyone can enjoy some part of our music and can take something good away from it,” he said. “Our new album is going to be a lot more about interpreting the startling and flawed world around us and trying to still take away from it something that is really positive and is really pure.” Fans can still expect the band’s unique sound and intense performances to energize every song. The band has invested in a strong Canadian following, but lately, Wildlife has been playing regularly in Buffalo, N.Y. at Mohawk Place, a music hub in the area. Povinsky said the band is working to expand its reach in the U.S. “This residency has helped us
build up our foundation in the states and open the door to new cities,” Povinsky said. Each band member’s taste in music helps audiences relate to their unique sound. “Everyone brings something different to the table, but we always meet in the middle and savour something very unique to us,” he said. The band draws creative inspiration from Halifax indie rockers Writers’ Strike. They’ll be touring together in the coming months. This isn’t the first time Wildlife has visited Fredericton; they’ve returned every year for the past three years. “The shows [at The Capital] are always a lot of fun. The people from the East Coast are always really receptive to new things and are out to have a good time.” Wildlife is known for their highintensity performances where the energy is contagious. “We like getting people involved in our shows. Our songs are stuff you can sing along to.” He added the university students they’ve met are always pleasantly surprised by Wildlife’s performances because of the band’s liveliness on stage and their passion for music. In the next few weeks, university and college students in Fredericton will be stressed with papers, midterms, thoughts of exams, and concerns about the summer. On Mar. 29, the band wants to be your excuse to take a break. “We just want people to let go of their inhibitions, dance and have a good time,” Povinsky said. The show is at 10:30 p.m. Admission is $7 at the door.
process will work for those who want to be blindfolded. They will be given a bit of orientation before the meal, and shown exactly where their plates will be. “People may also have questions for people with vision loss,” Bent said about why CNIB clients are helping with the dinner, “so this creates a space to be comfortable and have that dialogue.” The proceeds from the ticket sales and silent auction will all go to the New Brunswick clients of CNIB after the cost of the
event is covered, Wilson said, but it’s also about informing people. Bent said one thing she wishes everyone knew about CNIB is that you don’t have to be completely blind to use the organization’s services and programs. “It could be as simple as getting the right magnifier to read, or learning how to travel independently,” Bent said. “Nine out of 10 of the people we serve have some vision and we work with them to maximize what they still have.”
Although CNIB has hosted a few Dining in the Dark events in N.B. before, this is the first time for Fredericton. Wilson said she’s also looking forward to taking part in the dinner herself. “It’s a bit scary, but it’s also an experience you could have someday as well,” Wilson said. Dining in the Dark is taking place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Apr. 1 at Kingswood Lodge, and tickets are $65 or $520 if you want to purchase a whole table for eight.
From YFC to NYC Lee Thomas The Brunswickan Marilyn Monroe. Paul Newman. Julia Roberts. Bradley Cooper. While these are all household names of famous actors, these celebs also, not coincidentally, share another trait: they are all alumni of the Actors Studio. Soon, two Frederictonians may be among them. Actors Stefan Folkins and Samantha Kamras have recently been accepted into the Actors Studio Drama School, a branch of Pace University endorsed by the prestigious Actors Studio. The three-year masters of fine arts program is highly exclusive. Of the thousands of applications received every year, only a handful of hopefuls are accepted. Folkins, a business administration student with a theatre minor, called the opportunity “exciting as hell.” “You know how people want to be astronauts when they’re younger? When I was five, I knew I wanted to be an actor,” said the fourth-year UNB student. The Actors Studio is co-presidented by Ellen Burstyn, Harvey Keitel, and Al Pacino. It is perhaps best known for the Bravo TV series Inside the Actors Studio, where dean James Lipton interviews various actors, writers, directors, and other prominent members of the industry. Kamras, a fourth-year STU journalism student, has been involved with Theatre St. Thomas (TST) for four years and served on the TST executive committee for the past three. She said theatre had been solely a hobby until this summer. “Theatre just kept taking precedence over everything else. And that’s when I realized: how can I pass this up? Why wouldn’t I pursue something I loved? So I decided I’d go for it.” The two auditioned together for the Actors Studio, calling the experience “insane.” Using the method acting
Stefan Folkins (left) and Samantha Kamras were recently accepted into the Actors Studio in New York. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan techniques taught at the school, they were directed to improvise a breakup scene which they said left them “emotionally distraught.” “I’m like, ‘Is every day like this?’ And they said ‘Oh, you have no idea,’” Kamras said, laughing. “But that’s the point of getting an education . . . It just strips away anything you have – any inhibitions, stereotypes, beliefs. It strips everything away so you’re at the base. You will change as a person because you will be finding truth through theatre.” Kamras remains undecided about which school to attend, but said she has “narrowed it down to New York City.” She has also been accepted to the New School for Drama. Folkins has decided to accept the Actors Studio Drama School’s offer. He was recommended to pursue the joint acting-directing program at the school, given his experience directing shows such as the Michael Jackson tribute production
at the Fredericton Playhouse. Both Kamras and Folkins give credit to the “good, solid foundations” of theatre education they received through Theatre St. Thomas and Theatre UNB under the mentorship of Ilkay Silk and Len Falkenstein, respectively. For other New Brunswick actors who may be considering a career in the field, their advice is simple: “Don’t be afraid to pursue your dreams,” Folkins said. “If you’ve got a passion for something, do it. Do as much as you can of it, and just know that anything can actually happen if you try it. We had no idea if we would be accepted; it was such a wild, off-thecuff thing. Follow your passion and do it. Just do it, whatever you love. Because you could be great at it, and the world needs that.” Kamras added, “Take the leap, because in a world where there really are no guarantees, why not pursue what you love?”
brunswickanarts
Mar. 21, 2012 • Issue 25 • Volume 145 • 9
The little station that could (flourish with a little help)
Dr. T. Wayne Lenehan Dr. M. Michele Leger
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Tim Rayne, CHSR station manager, is thrilled to welcome Jason Eisener, director of Hobo With A Shotgun, to campus. Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan Alex Kress Arts Editor What do UFOs, Hobo With a Shotgun, and a Fredericton radio station all have in common? They’re linked by a common goal: raising some extra cash for the UNB’s campus and community radio station, CHSR FM. The station is holding a fund drive from Mar. 24 to Mar. 31, and you’re invited. Tim Rayne, station manager, and Mark Kilfoil, program director, are thrilled to host CHSR’s first fund drive in years. “The idea is to bring a tradition back to the station where we go after the community to help support us financially,” Rayne said. CHSR has a week of entertainment and interesting content planned to engage and interact with the community. On Tuesday, Mar. 27, Jason Eisener, the creative mind behind the 2011 grindhouse hit Hobo With a Shotgun, is making an appearance. The film will be screened at 9 p.m. at Tilley Hall, and will be both pre-empted and followed with discussion. “Here’s a guy from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia … He wants to make sure people know he’s from Dartmouth”, Rayne said, laughing. “The fact that someone like Jason Eisener was able to come from the Maritimes, be in this place like Dartmouth, produce a film that’s well known around the world now, whether you like grindhouse or not, it just shows we can support
each other.” Another element for the fund drive week is a three-hour program called Strange Encounters, produced by Kilfoil. Subjects range from paranormal, to UFOs and alien encounters, to cryptozoology. The show will air Mar. 30 at 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. It will feature interviews with members of the Paranormal Researchers of Fredericton, including Stanton Friedman, a nuclear physicist-lecturer and worldrenowned UFO specialist. Kilfoil will also speak with Loren Coleman, director and founder of the International Cryptozoology museum, and Nathan Schoonover, a paranormal researcher and filmmaker who has worked with A&E. Kilfoil wants community members and listeners from abroad to submit their “strange encounter” stories for the show by leaving a voice message at 206-2032292. Contributors can also submit stories to Strange Encounters on Facebook. “What’s exciting about this program is that we’re trying to reach out beyond local and regional markets and go into international markets for funding,” Rayne said. “A lot of people who are really interested in this content Mark’s providing on his show, provides us with an opportunity to test our own marketing ability.” Kilfoil said CHSR highly values its local listeners, but they’re also trying to expand their international reach. “It really is a global reach, where we do have shows that have followings in
Australia, Austria, down in the states, and Norway, Germany, and all kinds of places,” Kilfoil said. “In this next year, the whole theme is growth. It’s all about growing in all these different directions, and the fund drive is one way to start that. But we could use a little more resources to help us grow. “ It’s been a little over a year since Rayne and Kilfoil started in their positions, and their focus is on becoming more selfsufficient. They don’t have a specific fundraising goal in mind, because they’re not sure what to expect. They just want to become more visible in the community and online, and any extra funding they can raise in the meantime is a big help. “One of the things that CHSR has never done in all of its history is overextend itself. We’ve always been very cautious about how we spend the money and how we use the money,” Kilfoil said. They’re hoping this fund drive will help them buy a new radio transmitter, because parts of the one they have now are 35 years old. A new unit would cost around $10,000, but will last 15 or 20 years. The result would mean clearer signals and a further reach in the city. Any funds raised can also go toward studio upgrades, extra microphones and recorders, and remote digital equipment. The fund drive begins Saturday, Mar. 24, and ends Saturday, Mar. 31. Donations can be made on the CHSR website, www. chsrfm.ca.
Strawberry-blackberry spinach salad The Garlic Press with Alex Kress
Given that we’re experiencing temperatures in the double digits, I thought a light, colourful salad was in order. Not only is this salad a palate-pleaser, offering a blend of savoury and sweet, fruity flavours, it’s low-calorie and filling: the ideal combination. And, it’s far from boring. It seems ambitious, intimidating, and looks borderline pretentious for the variety of ingredients. But be assured, it’s actually very easy to make, and a great salad to bring to potlucks. Here’s what you’ll need to make a big bowl: Alex Kress / The Brunswickan The Ingredients: 1 small plastic container of baby spinach 1/2 a small plastic container of mixed greens 1/2 a cucumber, sliced and halved 30 strawberries, sliced 20 blackberries 1 package plain Athena feta cheese, crumbled 1 cup pecans, crumbled fig balsamic vinaigrette
The Recipe: Assemble spinach, greens, cucumber, strawberries, blackberries, feta and pecans in a large salad bowl. Toss to mix ingredients evenly. Add desired amount of fig balsamic vinaigrette (don’t need much), and toss until the salad is lightly and evenly covered. Enjoy!
10 • Mar. 21, 2012 • Issue 25 • Volume 145
Discovering Undiscovered Country
Barry McCluskey (left) and Emily Burton star as Friedrich and Genia Hofreiter in Undiscovered Country. Heather Rowe / The Brunswickan “Movies are expensive.” Burton says the play should appeal to students based on its characters and subject matter. “I hope the audience pays close attention because there’s a lot that goes on underneath, besides what the characters actually say,” Burton said, adding that the characters are extremely realistic.
“Every time we analyze a scene, I’m like jeez, I know someone exactly like this.” Even from my brief interview with them, it’s obvious the actors have had fun with the play and that a deep familiarity has developed between them. “People in this class are abnormally closer than any other class you’ve ever
heard of,” Marquis said. One can only hope that chemistry will shine through on stage. The production will take place at 8 p.m., Mar 28 to 31 at Memorial Hall. Tickets will be sold at the door at $6 for students and $10 for adults.
arts@thebruns.ca
In preparation for the upcoming production of Undiscovered Country, members of Drama 2170 have been rehearsing late into the night, using power tools, and learning how to kiss each other. As instructed by director Len Falkenstein, they’ve had to work on making their kissing scenes “more Hollywood.” Set at the turn of the 20th century, Undiscovered Country (originally titled Das Weite Land) is a full-length play written by Arthur Schnitzler in 1911 and translated into English by Tom Stoppard. Falkenstein described the production as a portrait of a marriage in crisis. Friedrich and Genia Hofreiter, the two main characters played by Barry McCluskey and Emily Burton, are members of a privileged circle of Viennese society in which adultery is viewed as a game. Scenes in the play are light, casual, and often funny on the surface, until the seemingly insignificant events take a tragic turn. The English title of the play was taken directly from Hamlet’s famous “to be or not to be” speech, and many themes tackled by Shakespeare’s plays are also
addressed in Undiscovered Country. “The spectre of death does hang over Undiscovered Country, as light as the play is in many ways,” Falkenstein said. The play was picked because of its cast of 25 people – which fits the number of students in the class – but also because of the vivacity of its character and breadth of its themes. “It is a period play, but it speaks very much to universal themes,” Falkenstein said. “Take any set of friends anywhere any time and you’ll find the same kinds of games and deceit and double-crossing and gamesmanship that typifies these people. It is of a certain time and place but it’s also not. It’s the stuff of what makes us human and fallible.” In addition to running lines and practicing love scenes, the cast has also been busy creating their own sets, which will transport the audience between the suburbs of Vienna and the Swiss Alps. “I live here,” Burton said, gesturing to the theatre. Despite all of the hard work, Burton, Kelsey Hines – who plays the other woman – and Andreas Marquis – who plays the nice guy who’s been “friend zoned” – all love the play. “I really hope people come to see it,” Burton said. “Movies suck,” Marquis added.
do you have a feel for the arts?
Elizabeth Creelman The Brunswickan
brunswickanarts
brunswickanarts
Mar. 21, 2012 • Issue 25 • Volume 145 • 11
Refreshing Red N’ Black
Wednesdays at Wilser’s continues with two more weeks of Big Love’s residency. Tim Lingley / The Brunswickan
Brittany Stuart (left) and Kayne Wong showcased their talent in the Red N’ Black Revue. Tim Lingley / The Brunswickan With a total of 16 acts, the event a taste of what was to come. Each Brandon Hicks performer wore UNB’s red and black was filled to the brim with talent. The Brunswickan colours; some sang and played on the Presumably to keep things at a steady The 63rd Red N’ Black Revue was stage, while the other acts moved in pace, no act was over 10 minutes. not unlike a talent show at elemen- front of the stage. After each per- This, apart from allowing everyone tary school, and that’s said with former had cycled through and the to get a chance in the spotlight, never praise. song reached its climax, the lights left the audience with a single thing Remember those variety shows dimmed again and the show began. for too long. One minute the audience was your elementary school held each The greatest aspect of this year’s year? Parents would come, video Revue was the range of talent. listening to a man at the piano, and cameras in hand, to watch their The musical performers included two or three later, a young woman children do a dance or sing their guitar players, singers, rappers, with glow-in-the-dark paint dancing own rendition of some flavour-of- pianists (one notable act featured took the stage. This gave the show the-month pop song. two unbelievably talented children a constant feeling of freshness, as The Red N’ Black Revue was playing together), and many others though we were constantly seeing the best possible version of that. It playing instruments I could not something new. After a closing act similar to the was like a lost archetype the grade name. There were also some great schools caused us to forget, with dancing acts: two pairs from UNB show’s opening, the 63rd Red N’ annual traditions of kids showing Dance, an independent dancer, and Black Revue was finished. With its off and being cute. a hoola-hooper. Lastly, there was a fast pace and original talent, the The evening opened with all the joke-telling magician who performed show’s organizers can pat themselves on the back for a successful evening. talent together, giving the audience a few tricks in between jokes.
ocia l m cial edia m ial m edia e al me diaso c
Two more weeks of Big Love
A guide to cumming out on top The New Position Sarah Vannier Back in January I wrote about faking orgasms. That was interesting and all, but do you know what’s more fun that fake orgasms? Real orgasms! What happens when you have an orgasm? Physical signs of an orgasm include a faster heartbeat, an increase in blood pressure, a reddish skin flush, muscle contractions, and dilated pupils. We tend to think that for men ejaculation equals orgasm, but this isn’t always the case and guys can definitely experience one without the other. During an orgasm many people say they lose sense of time and space, feel a release of tension and a rush of pleasure. Orgasms feel pretty similar for both men and women. For example, if you were asked to read descriptions of orgasms, and asked to guess whether or not the description was written by a man or a woman, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. That said, men and women have slightly different experiences with orgasms. As compared to women, men are three times as likely to say they always have an orgasm when they have sex with a partner. Why is it harder for women to have an orgasm from partner sex? Well, hopefully this isn’t coming as a surprise (pun def initely intended), but the clitoris plays an important role in female orgasm.
The majority of women can’t have an orgasm without at least some form of clitoral stimulation. Time for a mini history lesson! In the early 1900s, Marie Bonapart, a French princess and distant relative of Napolean, married a Greek Prince. Shortly after her wedding she became concerned that she wasn’t able to get off when having sex with her husband. So what is a poor, sexually frustrated Greek Princess to do? Seeking an answer to the question of why some women have orgasms during intercourse, and others don’t, she followed the most logical course of action. She tracked down more than 200 (very accommodating) women, and measured the distance between their vaginas and clitorises. She found the shorter the distance between the two, the easier it was for a women to have an orgasm through intercourse. This is probably because the closer the clitoris is to the vagina, the more likely it is to be stimulated by a thrusting penis. As a female orgasm side note, some people make a big deal about the difference between vaginal and clitoral orgasms. Although a woman might prefer one type over another, research on the physiological experience of orgasm (e.g., muscle contractions, heart rate, etc.) suggests than an orgasm is an orgasm, no matter how it is triggered. If only someone had shared this with poor Marie Bonapart 100 years ago! So, why exactly are our bodies designed to have orgasms? One theory suggests that women’s orgasms actually increase their chances of getting pregnant. Ac-
arts@thebruns.ca
cording to the “Up Suck” theory, when a woman has an orgasm, her cervix contracts, which helps to suck sperm up into the uterus. Support for this theory is mixed. One team of researchers placed fake semen laced with radiographic dye in the vaginas of women who were asked to masturbate to orgasm. Afterward the researchers used x-rays to figure out if any of this fake semen had ended up in the uterus. None of the pseudo-semen made it past the cervix. Orgasm may also play a role in creating a connection with our partner. When we have an orgasm, our bodies release two hormones: oxytocin and vasopressin. Both of these chemicals play a big role in our attachment to other people. Dr. Helen Fisher, a sex researcher, has been quoted as saying “casual sex isn’t always casual.” As soon as we experience an orgasm, chemicals are released that predispose us to bond with that person, sometimes whether we want to or not. Finally, orgasms may just function as a reward for sexual activity. It feels good, so we have sex more often, are more likely to feel attached to our partners, and are more likely to have children. In summary, whether you’re a man or a woman, whether it comes from vaginal or clitoral stimulation, or whether you’re having one or many, orgasms are kind of awesome. Make sure you have one today! (Oh, and because I know you were wondering – they made the fake semen out of cornstarch and water.)
Get Social
Through the optics of marketers, journalists and communications experts who use social media as a tool not a toy, we will discover the potential as well as discuss ethical issues of the emerging medium.
Panelists:
Heather MacLean - Senior Community Manager with Radian6 Melanie Thompson - Community Analyst with Radian6 Dan McHardie - Web Editor for CBC NB Jacques Poitras - Provincial Affairs Reporter for CBC NB David Shipley - Web Content Strategist at UNB
Hosted by: Student Affairs and Services
the brunswickan
FREE for UNB & STU students Join us on March 30 in Tilley room 102 at 6:30pm
For further information e-mail: editor@thebruns.ca
12 • Mar. 21, 2012 • Issue 25 • Volume 145
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