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Take one good look in the mirror and tell me what you see. Is it one burnt-out university student who is barely scraping by to make it to the end? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. It feels so easy to give up when you’re close to the end, but the last push can be the most rewarding.
Think back to when you got accepted into the University of Calgary, your orientation and campus tour, meeting your university friends for the first time and taking your first final. Even if this is your first year and the end seems so far away, I want you to know that you have already come so far. All that time writing papers, riding the bus or train to campus, fighting your way through Mac Hall during the lunch rush — and sometimes spiralling, wondering if it’s all worth it — we’ve been there.
Even now as finals are fast approaching while projects and term papers are due and you feel the weight of waking up and staring at a screen for hours on end. And on top of that, the increasing cost of tuition can be a great obstacle. It’s important to remember that this is not how it always was, is or will be. You can have a life outside of all the assignments and D2L notifications.
This is the last issue of the semester, so don’t miss out. Stay updated on the news to do with a cap on rent and mental health advocacy. Understand the conversations that revolve around women in fame and fatphobia. Make plans with friends for upcoming music and film festivals. Maybe get started on that New Year’s resolution you always make but never really keep. Find help getting ready for another round of finals season. Take a
break from doom-scrolling on TikTok and see what the stars say for you and your crush. Try and fill out the crossword to see if you can win a prize. Or you can simply use this newspaper to clean up a mess you made and make a paper plane with what’s left. The point is that you choose to do something different from what you normally do to make a change for yourself.
Even if you don’t make it today, there will always be tomorrow. Coming from someone who has failed many steps of the way, who had to start over quite a few times, there’s always a second chance. Things might not look how you expect them but they will be there for you, just as you need them. Everyone fights for the things they believe in, so you should too.
So look again in the mirror and not just see an exhausted
version of you, but how much you’ve already accomplished. Take pride in what you have done and accept the things you couldn’t change. Just as it is the last issue of this staff team and the last semester before a new school year, know that there will be a new team that continues the Gauntlet and you will have new experiences to laugh, cry and remember. So be on the lookout for a new friend in the making, a new song that you won’t be able to stop listening to, a new SU election that we will have to cover and so on. So go big so you can go home with pride.
— Ramiro Bustamante Torres, Gauntlet Editorial Board
Editor-in-Chief: Sophia Lopez eic@thegauntlet.ca
News Editors: Julieanne Acosta Eula Mengullo news@thegauntlet.ca
Opinions & Humour Editor: Ava Zardynezhad opinions@thegauntlet.ca
Arts & Science Editor: Sheroog Kubur arts@thegauntlet.ca
Sports & Lifestyle Editor: Rodrigo Verney sports@thegauntlet.ca
Voices Editor: Aymen Sherwani voices@thegauntlet.ca
Visuals Editors: Megan Koch Valery Perez visuals@thegauntlet.ca
Layout Editor: Ramiro Bustamante Torres layout@thegauntlet.ca
Volunteer Coordinator: Namratha Badawadagi volunteer@thegauntlet.ca
Online Editor: Masoud Karimi Fatemi online@thegauntlet.ca
Business Manager: Gurman Sahota business@thegauntlet.ca
Contributor: Nazeefa Ahmed // Nimra Amir // Ansharah Shakil // Jett Ryan // Radhya Comar // Logan Jaspers // Mackenzie Ashcroft // Sylvia Lopez // Megan Wilson // Furor Arma Ministrat Room 319, MacEwan Students’ Centre 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 http://www.thegauntlet.ca
The Gauntlet is the official student newspaper of the University of Calgary, published bi-weekly throughout the year by the Gauntlet Publications Society an autonomous, incorporated body. Membership in the society is open to undergraduate students at the U of C, but all members of the university community are encouraged to contribute. Stories under the Opinions and Voices sections contained herein are those of the individual writers, and do not necessarily represent the views of the entire Gauntlet staff. Editorials are chosen by the majority of the editorial board. The Gauntlet is a forum open to all U of C students but may refuse any submission judged to be racist, sexist, homophobic, libelous, or containing attacks of a strictly personal nature. We reserve the right to edit for brevity. Grievances regarding the Gauntlet follow a three-step process which requires written decisions from the Editor, the GPS Board of Directors, and the Ombudsboard. The complete Grievance Policy is online at: thegauntlet.ca. The Gauntlet offices are located on Treaty 7 land. The Gauntlet is printed on recycled paper and uses an ink made from the spilled drinks from BSD. We urge you to recycle the Gauntlet by using it to wipe the sticky tables at the Den.
Cover Photo by Megan Koch & Valery Perez
Calgary opened its first-ever centre in March fully dedicated to child and adolescent mental health called the Summit: Marian & Jim Sinneave Centre for Youth Resilience. With the rise of mental health issues for children and youth, Dr. John Cowell, official administrator with Alberta Health Services (AHS), notes how necessary this facility is.
“What this centre is about is helping our youth that are seeing their life choices in a dark way, come here and be guided toward the light of life and safety,” said Cowell at the pre-opening ceremony of the facility.
The Summit will provide mental health services to Albertans under the age of 18 which will include no-cost therapy sessions where referalls will not be needed. Together with AHS and the University of Calgary, the Summit will also focus on research opportunities and
has the capacity to serve up to 8,000 youth and their family.
“In partnership with AHS and the University of Calgary, it will be one of the most research-intensive community-based mental health facilities for young people in Canada,” read a provincial news release.
The facility will provide not only no-cost walk-in therapy sessions but will also have services to address escalating symptoms to help keep youth out of acute care and a day hospital to aid transitioning patients out of a round-the-clock care.
In a statement, U of C president and vice-chancellor Ed McCauley notes how the Summit will break down barriers of accessibility for youth facing mental health challenges.
“The Summit will incorporate accessible mental health care with leading-edge research, so we can mobilize academic insights into the best possible clinical care for children and youth,” said McCauley.
Nazeefa Ahmed News AssistantWith the semester wrapping up and the summer approaching, students at the University of Calgary are on the residence waitlist and unable to secure a living arrangement for the upcoming school year. As a result, students are apartment hunting in Calgary’s tight rental market.
Beginning her third year in 2023, domestic student Afrah Karim is on the residence waitlist and unable to secure a space for the upcoming academic year.
“It has definitely set me back since I am not confirmed a place to live next year,” said Karim. “The house hunting process has been a little stressful, but since it’s still a little early to look for the fall, I don’t think I’ve processed it yet, but I can only hope it will work out.”
A recent national report from Rentals.ca and Rentalsfaster.ca found a 23.3 per cent rent increase for one-bedroom apartments in Calgary compared to last March. Additionally, asking rent prices in Calgary jumped by 3.8 per cent within the past three months — the fastest increase in the country.
In an interview with the Gauntlet, Students’ Union Vice-President External Mateusz Salmassi spoke of the university’s plans to increase enrollment without adequate plans to develop more residence buildings for current
students.
“What’s really troubling is that while the university is planning to expand enrollment between now and 2030, they don’t appear to have a plan as to where to house these students,” said Salmassi. “The university is just now exploring new residence buildings, but it will be at least three, if not five years before new residence buildings are finished, and no construction has started yet. The university also does not guarantee housing for international students, which is something that our comparator institutions do.”
Salmassi believes a strategic collaboration between the university, city and province will allow for effective control over rent prices so that students and other low-income individuals and groups are able to afford rental units, whether on campus or across the city.
“The university needs to provide short-term emergency housing and expand the criteria for who can access emergency housing while working on building new developments and ensuring that the University District is actually affordable for students,” said Salmassi. “Then, the city of Calgary can implement inclusionary zoning, so that new developments will be affordable.
“And finally on the provincial level, we need a rental cap akin to the kind that you can see in most provinces across Canada, and we also need the province to step up
to provide funding to better help cities build affordable housing,” he added.
Since the university oversees the development of the University District, Salmassi believes that there should have been inclusive zoning to build affordable housing for students.
“Phase one of their development has really missed a huge opportunity to include some affordable housing,” said Salmassi. “They’re overwhelmingly expensive condos for purchase, and the rental units there are too expensive for many students to be able to afford.”
Salmassi points to SU statistics that show students struggling to balance competing financial demands such as high tuition, rising living costs, and housing.
“We know that, especially with our recent tuition hikes, the students are increasingly making tough choices between paying for our education and basics like food and housing,” said Salmassi. “Nearly one in five students told us that they cannot afford their tuition after the university approved their fourth consecutive increase, and 67 per cent told us that these tuition increases would put a moderate or severe financial strain on them.
“Housing is just another way that the university is getting money out of students without providing the support and services that they’re actually paying for,” Salmassi added.
Students are facing many strains as cost of living gets worseHouse hunting has become more difficult for students. MEGAN KOCH The Summit has a capacity to serve 8,000 youths and their families. VALERY PEREZ
Canada is bringing the Heroes Challenge fundraiser to Calgary this June.
On June 23, seven teams of 10 people will take part in a variety of fun and unique challenges at the Century Downs Racetrack and Casino in Rocky View to raise funds for children with critical illnesses. The challenge time begins at 12 p.m. followed by a wrap-up party at 4 p.m.
Participants dressed in superhero gear — called Superhero Squads — will be paired with an honorary wish kid captain to help inspire them to raise funds and win their challenges.
In an interview with the Gauntlet, Cathi Arola — communications specialist for Make-A-Wish Western Canada — discussed what the event will entail and how individuals can take part.
“It’s gonna be a fun opportunity for people to get dressed up in superhero gears and we’re gonna be pairing each of our teams with
a local wish kid — who is either waiting for their wish to be granted or has had their wish granted,” said Arola. “That’s an opportunity for participants to really understand who our wish kids are and what their challenges have been and be inspired by their medical journey.”
Make-A-Wish is an organization dedicated to granting lifechanging wishes for children fighting critical illnesses to help
them in their treatment journey by building physical and emotional strength.
The Heroes Challenge is an opportunity open to anyone of all ages and abilities.
“Anybody can be there, we can have children, we can have anybody of all abilities,” said Arola. “It’s open for anybody and it’s fun. It’s something different.”
Currently in the Southern Alberta chapter, 219 wishes are
waiting to be granted in the area.
Arola highlighted how the travel restrictions due to the pandemic have posed challenges for them to realize these wishes.
“COVID-19 was a challenge for a lot of charities across the country and around the world,” said Arola. “So a lot of kids have actually been waiting for several years to have their wishes granted.
“A lot of kids have experienced isolation, it’s been a very difficult
time for them and their families and a wish is just a little bit of a spark, to bring them a little bit of joy, something to look forward to, something to give them hope,” she continued.
To participate, each team must raise an amount of $10,000. While this may seem like a daunting amount, Arola highlighted that their fundraising offices can provide guidance and various unique fundraising ideas to raise money.
The Heroes Challenge is an opportunity to be more involved with the community and Arola encourages students to participate.
“It’s a great opportunity for students to become connected again to the community,” said Arola. “This is an opportunity to find a community, to find other people who also want to make a difference.
“It’s an opportunity for people to really give back and have a good time doing it,” she continued.
This year, the Heroes Challenge hopes to raise $70,000 to grant wishes for children with critical illnesses. The deadline to register is on June 9.
Alberta General Election
Aymen Sherwani Voices Editor
Whenone is “woman’d,” Rayne Fisher-Quann describes it as when “everyone stops liking a woman at the same time.” An example would include Millie Bobby Brown’s rise to fame as a child star on Netflix’s Stranger Things followed by her subsequent fall as news outlets referred to her as “a massive diva” and being hard to work with. That’s code for “this woman has an opinion regarding her work, and that’s a little unconventional.”
This same argument can be made for the careers of Meghan Markle, Anne Hathaway, Rupi Kaur, Jennifer Lawrence and Taylor Swift. These have all been women that were adored by the public for the work that they did or the positions they achieved but what promptly followed — time and time again — was the media and public tearing them down just as quickly as they built them up.
Prior to her marriage, Meghan Markle was considered to be a down-to-earth and compassionate woman whose entrance into the British Royal Family was a symbolic stance against racism, due to her mixed-race heritage. How exactly did she also become known as an over-controlling diva? How did Jennifer Lawrence go from being adored for her character portrayal as Katniss Everdeen in TheHungerGames series and winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook (2012) to being referred to as a “pick-me” girl? What often happens is that we are simply not used to celebrating or seeing women in the spotlight for such a long period of time, and within that time frame, these women are scrutinized for everything from their opinions, their clothes, their private relationships — almost looking for a reason to destroy them. Are we simply not used to women who stand out? Why do we applaud them for their outspokenness and then turn around and punish them for secretly having an agenda?
Jennifer Lawrence’s image was destroyed because she was given
the verdict of being “too relatable” for saying that she loved pizza. At the time she was applauded for combating cultures of disordered eating at the time that glorified actresses starving themselves when filming, but later was torn down for that same stance and labelled as wanting to seem different and “not like other girls.”
“Jennifer Lawrence isn’t normal. I’ve been saying it for years,” said Annie Lord, a contributor to The Tab in an article titled Dear Jennifer Lawrence, please can you stop pretending to be normal now.
“She’s not quirky, she’s not gross, and I will literally start bashing my head against the wall if I have to watch her fall over one more time,” she added.
The media is somehow horrified by celebrity women doing absolutely normal things — such as liking pizza — because it’s hard to grasp the humanity of someone whose life oversaturates news and media so much so that they transcend being seen as the average human. They are either adored and idolized for their lifestyles or
demonized — often for the very same thing.
“For me, there are only two kinds of women — goddesses and doormats,” said Pablo Picasso, the infamously misogynistic Spanish painter.
His commentary, if anything, highlights that patriarchal systems of existence condition us to believe a woman can never be on the same plane of existence as that of a male. There is scarcely a middle ground here where a woman can simply be considered human alongside her male counterparts. Rather, her existence is one that is unnatural, in one instance it is revered — like how men built cities in the name of female deities like Athena and Kali — whereas in the other instance, people are screaming to “burn the witch” for going against the status quo for trying to heal villagers with herbalist medicine instead of with bible verses.
The rise and fall of female celebrity status is an extension of the fear that is embedded within the patriarchy of what would hap-
pen if a woman were to speak out. Perhaps against the racism and sexism she’s experienced within a royal family that has historically white supremacists. Perhaps she chose to voice her opinion in an industry where her body is only of value to those around her. To be sentenced to death in the court of public opinion as a woman is entirely different than simply being criticized — meaningful criticism can exist without the misogyny that accompanies being “woman’d.” However, the latter is situated more in the realm of degradation that occurs when the public is tired of that same authenticity they once applauded. Women are metaphorically criminalized for being too seen and labelled for wanting attention for their actions.
Here, an advocate like Malala Yousafzai is transformed from the girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban for standing up for women’s rights into a puppet of foreign intervention and elitism. She too was hailed for standing up for what she believed in, threat-
ened to change the status quo and was quickly discarded for seeming disingenuous and accused of fabricating her experiences altogether. Just as the multitudes of women before and after her.
How are women supposed to succeed in a system that is designed to see them inevitably fail as they approach greater levels of success? It’s a trick. Female public figures in patriarchy are seen as disposable as soon as they perform outside any arbitrary idea of womanhood, which implies that they are designed to fail in order to make room for the next fresh face.
There’s this idea that human beings can grow, change, often referred to as strength and adaptability when exhibited by a man, but conniving and manipulative when exhibited as a woman. She is labelled as a strategist attempting to rebrand herself as more marketable but even within that argument, there exists an acceptance of the fact that women are viewed as commodities who are waiting to be valuable again.
ToFemale public figures continue to get “woman’d.” AYMEN SHERWANI
Aymen Sherwani
Voices Editor
Fatphobia tells us our moral, sexual, and intellectual value is determined by our weight,” said Kate Manne, associate professor of philosophy at Cornell and speaker for the Calgary Institute for the Humanities event on Demoralizing Fatness. “That’s absurd; it’s deleterious; and it gaslights us into dieting. In 2023, vow to fight fatphobia, not your own body. Be unshrinking.”
Manne, who is the author of DownGirl:TheLogicofMisogyny (2018) and Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women (2020) is currently working on her third book, titled Unshrinking: How to FaceFatphobia — set to hit shelves in 2024. As a researcher who has completed graduate work in moral philosophy, feminist philosophy and social philosophy at MIT, Manne makes the argument that the moralization of fatness should not exist. In true philosopher fashion — one first asks what moralization looks like in the first place.
“Through a variety of channels — the news, entertainment, social
media, and ordinary conversation — fat bodies are depicted as a moral problem, and fat people as a moral failure,” reads Manne’s statement posted by the Calgary Institute for the Humanities. “The atmosphere may be one of moral panic or, by turns, patronizing concern and ostensibly well-meaning hand-wringing.
“The best argument to the conclusion that one is morally obligated not to be fat — namely, that fatness represents a burden on the health care system — turns out to be surprisingly weak,” she added. “Not being fat is simply not a moral obligation…fatness has wrongly been moralized, in view of the disgust often garnered by fat bodies.”
A 2019 study found that a greater moralization of obesity and perceived fatness actually contributed to a stronger public belief that obesity can be controlled, moreover, further contributing to the disgust surrounding obese people in addition to their subsequent mistreatment. As a result, there are specific narratives and profiles that are generated about them as lazy or lacking the necessary work ethic to be able to retain a healthy life-
style — overlooking the reality that obesity intersects other, often uncontrollable, health conditions like genetics, hypothyroidism or injuries that prevent one from being at a weight deemed as acceptable.
Speaking further on genetics — the origins of fatphobia can actually be traced all the way back to the Atlantic slave trade, as addressed by Manne. African cultures have strong connections to food and many enslaved persons at the time were larger than their oppressors because of this connection.
“We wanted to be able to have a mechanism for ensuring that we could recognize who was a slave and who was free, right? And it was easy in the beginning of the slave trade; it was simply skin color. But as you might imagine...” said Sabrina Strings, author and professor of sociology at the University of California, Irvine to NPR. “And so eating and body size became two of the characteristics that were being used to suggest that these are people who do not deserve freedom.”
She continues to argue that the system of measurement referred to as the Body-Mass Index
(BMI) is embedded in racist attitudes, as it fails to account for ethnocultural differences when determining what is considered healthy — therefore, routinely placing individuals with genetically higher BMIs in overweight and obese categories, accompanied by the negative attitudes that accompany such labels. In that regard, moralized attitudes about weight and race are intertwined and often seek to categorize certain demographics as lazy because they are genetically larger in comparison to other demographic groups that are rewarded for their work ethic but also conveniently weigh less on average.
In addition to this, another study found that individuals that expressed higher attitudes toward moralized obesity were less likely to categorize obesity as a health condition and more as a lifestyle choice. With that in mind, racialized discrimination on the basis of presumptions about healthcare — particularly the idea that fatness is an indicator of work ethic or lack thereof — is normalized under the guise of public concern and welfare. It is that same rhetoric that
holds many back from employment opportunities as their bodies become an unspoken assessment of their ability to perform in the workplace. It is that same attitude that also prevents overweight and obese people from wanting to seek medical care as well.
“Every symptom, from ear infections to endocrine issues, was attributed to my size and met with a requirement of weight loss,” wrote Aubrey Gordon, regarding the way doctors interacted with her in the past. “Every doctor I saw looked past me. They did not ask about my diet or exercise. Instead, my body spoke on my behalf, proof positive of my assumed irresponsibility and neglect.”
Manne’s argument advocating to re-evaluate the way the public navigates fatness is one that not only challenges the overlooked racial elements that exist in healthcare, but also seeks to dismantle the shame that should` not exist in the first place if one is not able to fit into a Eurocentric standard of health. Treating larger bodies with the respect, dignity and complexity that is inherent in every person is long overdue.
include folk artists like Helado Negro, bringing a refreshing ambiance to the festival by introducing the sounds of electronic folk and jazz, edgy punk-influenced pop artist Pom Pom Squad, singing her sorrows of girlhood through the lens of a recently-deceased cheerleader, and Venezuelan-Guatemalan-Chicago fusion artist KAINA, bringing an R&B and pop dimension to the festival with sophisticated polyrhythms and groovy instrumentals.
#1 Legion. This band steps above the classic riot-grrrl archetype and expands on what punk could be, crossing the worlds between thrash, punk and melodic pop sounds. Osees will be returning after a legendary performance in 2011, injecting some underground, grimy punk into the festival.
Sheroog Kubur Arts & Science EditorWith June quickly approaching, Sled Island is soon to be a hop, skip and jump away. The first wave of artists has been announced and each one brings something exciting to the table.
This year’s festival seems to be a return of some of the greatest performances in Sled Island history, stretching from down south to the big cities of up north.
Bartees Strange is the guest curator for this year’s event — an artist with a comforting repertoire and clear vision. His contributions
Bonafide punks will be excited to see 1876 — a self-described “pow wow punk rock” band, the group injects an Indigenous flair to each of their songs, whether it be through the incorporation of pow-wow drums or lyrics boasting their music as “the sound of Indigenous and proud.” Philadelphia punks Mannequin Pussy will be making their Calgary debut at the
To keep the energy high and ears ringing, Montréal avantgarde metal band BIG|BAND takes the stage. Their flavour of metal is a cross between art rock and thrash, creating ear-melting tracks that are best experienced live. Suffering Hour follows suit with a more traditional metal sound, bringing black and death metal to the forefront.
While this first wave has been remarkably noisy, artists like Water From Your Eyes bring the high energy back down and bring balance to the lineup. Atlanta
jazz players Sun Ra Arkestra will be kicking it old school with an afro-futurist and big band attitude, breaking down barriers of what it means to be a band and what music can be. Pop princess Spelling will be taking attendees to space with her ethereal beats and synth-heavy tracks, providing the soundtrack to a potential alien invasion at any moment. A standout from the lineup is Toronto-based hip hop artist Haviah Mighty — rapping hearty lines over slick instrumentals, bringing a different kind of edge to the festival.
The first wave is a sample of the full lineup of Sled Island and it’s already better than anyone could have imagined. Sled Island runs from June 21–25 with single tickets for the first wave being available now through the website.
For their 20th anniversary, the Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) returns to the Globe Cinema this April 20–30 but bigger than ever before — with the lineup including 42 feature films and 38 shorts.
“The lineup of films this year is just as diverse as ever, with a speckle of retro selections, — many of which are celebrating milestone anniversaries — comedies, documentaries, art-house world cinema, and the latest genre films to hit the festival circuit. The stories vary, as do the budgets and styles of films. We really love a lineup that can speak to many different audiences here, and we hope that everyone finds something to come check out,” said CUFF co-founder, festival director and lead programmer Brenda Lieberman.
The opening night film is the Canadian premiere of Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls — a horror-comedy directed, written and starred in by Andrew Bowser based on his viral internet character. The film
follows amateur occultist Marcus J. Trillbury, also known as Onyx the Fortuitous, through magic and mayhem in a “joyful celebration of weirdos of all kinds.”
There is also a big selection of Albertan films throughout CUFF which includes Influencer — a Shudder horror-thriller directed, written and produced by Alberta’s CUFF alumni Kurtis David Harder. The film follows social media influencer Madison (Emily Tennant) throughout her trip in Thailand which after being largely uneventful, despite what he has been posting online, takes a turn when fellow traveller CW (Cassandra Naud) takes her to a deserted island.
Another Albertan film is Thunder: The Life and Death of Arturo Gatti — a three-part true crime series directed and written by Calgary’s Guillaume Carlier. The series follows the mysterious death of legendary world champion boxer, Montréal’s Arturo Gatti. Officially, Gatti’s death was ruled as a suicide after he was found allegedly hung by the purse strap of his wife, Amanda Rodrigues. But more than 10 years later, the rumours of mur-
der still linger.
Even if not Albertan, there is also a big selection of Canadian films throughout CUFF which includes Polaris — a fantasy-thriller directed and written by Canada’s Kirsten Carthew and starred in by Canada’s Dinah Gaston. The film set in the year 2144 follows a young girl raised by a polar bear who pursues her destiny after escaping capture by warriors trying to kill her mother.
Another Canadian film is Blackberry — a comedy directed by Canada’s Matt Johnson and produced and written by Matthew Miller. The film follows
Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel) and Jim Balsillie (Glenn Howerton), the two men that invented the Blackberry smartphone through their chaotic rise to market dominance and then their quick fall after a few years of shady business dealings, personal grievances and the iPhone. There is also a big international film selection throughout CUFF which includes Dad & Step-Dad — a comedy directed by Tynan DeLong and starred in by Colin Burgess. The film follows Jim (Colin Burgess) and Dave (Anthony Oberbeck), dad and step-dad, who have trouble
bonding during a three-day trip upstate with their 13-year-old son, Branson (Brian Fiddyment).
Another international film is The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster — a horror drama directed and written by Bomani J. Story. The film, inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, follows teenage Vicaria (Laya DeLeon Hayes) who tries to cure death in a world where death — from police brutality to substance abuse — is almost all she has known.
“We are counting on our filmmakers, alumni, festival friends and as many audience members as possible to come to celebrate with us. The reason we do this is for the city and our local fans,” said Lieberman.
The films at CUFF — whether they are from Alberta, from Canada or anywhere else — have continued for the past 20 years to elevate the arts scene in Calgary by showcasing a unique roster of films that rarely get the chance to be seen in Calgary. To celebrate the biggest version of the festival yet, you can find more information on the CUFF website.
Wildlife managers from Alberta Environment and Parks euthanized the remaining members of the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep male herd in Kananaskis when several of the males contracted a strain of infectious bacterial pneumonia in March. The decision was made out of fear that the disease would spread quickly to the female herd, but done without consulting any experts or Indigenous people.
University of Calgary biologist Dr. Kathreen Ruckstuhl expressed her alarm over the decision. Though she was the one to alert the government on the spread of the disease, she was ultimately not contacted before the culling of the sheep, but said she would have appreciated a heads up and consultation before the decision was carried out.
“Being a woman in science, I’m not sure a male would have been treated the same way,” Ruckstuhl said, speaking on the decision to not consult her or other scientists despite her years of knowledge, and past work and consultation with Wildlife and Parks.
“I know these animals in and out,” she said. “I’ve studied them
for close to 30 years.”
Ruckstuhl said that had she been consulted, she would have explained that the immediate culling of the sheep was not strictly necessary.
“[The males were] no immediate threat to the females,” she said. “They’re [currently] not in contact with the females, so there would’ve been time to assess the severity of it, to test them and if they’re positive, either to remove them or even look at some kind of treatment or isolation to give them a chance to potentially survive.”
She added that the disease itself, a bacterium called Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae transmitted by domestic animals, is not always deadly. There have been instances in the United States where immunity has been reached.
One of her biggest concerns is the ripple effect the culling will have on the sheep. Of the population’s 25 adult males, 18 are now dead — most were euthanized. The bighorn sheep’s mating systems work around only a few dominant males who are mainly responsible for the matings and genetics of the population.
Tanisha Henry, a PhD student working under Ruckstuhl, discussed the genetic and social consequences that will occur with so
many of those dominant males gone.
“These are bigger males, they’re more socially experienced, so typically the females are more comfortable with them,” Henry said. “They’re of better genetic quality. Most of our adult rams have been removed, and approximately 70 per cent of the paternity is gone just from removing three males.”
The oldest males in the population are now only about three or four years old.
sheep due to a program called the Minister’s Special Licence (MSL) program which runs outside of the regular hunting season. People and hunters spend money to shoot or hunt bighorn sheep among other animals such as elk, turkey, mulled deer and moose. The program has now been extended to run year-long.
Henry said this change was made mostly with the advice and information of hunters, rather than biologists or ecologists, leading to a lack of understanding of the harm this can cause to these populations.
“Winter specifically is difficult for these organisms,” she said. “They have reduced access to resources, they’re most susceptible to disease, and there’s physical deterioration. So it’s not a good time to be hunting them, it’s not a fair hunt. Similarly, into the spring, they’re recovering from the winter.”
have very serious consequences for that particular population and populations across Alberta,” said Henry.
Ruckstuhl said it was a disregard for science and it was an oversight to not consult with experts about the matter.
“Consulting scientists and First Nations are, for me, the utmost important things that they should do,” she said.
Henry described the lack of consultation in both cases to be a matter which should be brought to the public’s attention. In order to spread the word, she created two letter templates.
“I wrote two letters to the Environmental Minister of Alberta,” Henry said. “They’re designed for students or anyone else to send, they just have to sign them.”
“This will have serious social impacts on the population because these males are not socially experienced,” Henry said. “They don’t know how to court the females and protect them from other males during the mating season, which stresses the females out.”
There could be even more threats to the population of the
Henry expressed the view that the monetary value of the changes in this program doesn’t seem worth the environmental harm which will likely arise.
“Considering the sheep river population we work with, our males have already been stressed by this disease and the culling, and so to add this on top of it could
One of these letters is centred around the culled sheep, and the other is addressing the new hunting regulations that will further harm the population.
Henry hopes that publicly discussing the issue is a good place to start.
“If enough people show interest and concern about this issue, it might motivate the government to do something, or at the very least re-evaluate their approach to wildlife management,” she said.
“Consulting scientists and First Nations are, for me, the utmost important thing that they should do.”
Calisthenic workouts are a great way to build strength and improve overall fitness without needing equipment. They rely on your body weight as resistance and can be done anywhere, making them perfect for students needing more time or resources to access a gym or workout equipment. Here are some of the best calisthenic workouts.
Push-ups
There are many different variations of the classic pushup. If you can perform at least 25 reps of one variation, you are ready to move on to the more challenging ones. Consider which of the following is suitable for your training level.
Knee push-ups:
Begin with both knees on the ground with your arms locked and your hands shoulder-width apart on the floor. Lower your body slowly until your chest touches the ground, then spring back to your starting position.
Standard push-up:
Start in the same plank position, keeping your back straight throughout the whole rep. Lower your body and keep your elbows as close to your body as you can. Push yourself back up to the starting position and repeat.
Diamond push-up:
Start in a plank position with both thumbs and index fingers touching to form a diamond shape on the ground. Keep your back and core engaged throughout, then lower yourself by bending your elbows until your chest nearly touches your hands. Push yourself back up to the starting position a repeat.
Spider-Man push-up:
Begin in a high plank position, this time with your hands shoulder-width apart and your feet hip-width apart. Lower your body down toward the floor as you would in a regular
push-up, but as you lower yourself, bring your right knee up toward your right elbow. As you push back up, return your right leg to the starting position and repeat on the other side. Alternate between the right and left sides for the desired number of reps.
Bicycle crunches are an abdominal exercise that target your obliques. To perform a bicycle crunch, lie on your back with your knees bent and your hands behind your head like you would when doing a situp. Then bring your left elbow to your right knee as you extend your left leg straight out. Switch sides and repeat for three sets of 10 to 15 reps.
Mountain climbers are a fullbody exercise that primarily works your core and engages your upper body and legs. To perform a mountain climber, start in a standard push-up position, quickly bring one knee up
to your chest, then switch legs. Continue alternating legs for three sets of 30 to 60 seconds.
The Bulgarian split squats is a lower-body exercise that targets your quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. To perform a Bulgarian split squat, stand with your back to a bench or step, then place one foot on the bench behind you. Lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the ground, then push yourself back up to the starting position. Repeat for three sets of 10 to 15 reps for each leg.
The pistol squat is a challenging lower body exercise that targets your quads, glutes, and hamstrings. Begin by standing with your feet hip-width apart and your arms extended in front of you. Shift your weight onto your right foot and lift your left foot off the ground. Lower your body down into a squat position on your right leg,
keeping your left leg extended in front of you. Push back up to the starting position and repeat on the other side. If this exercise is too challenging, you can hold onto a stable object or use a resistance band for support.
Jump squats are a plyometric exercise that work your lower body, specifically your quadriceps, glutes and calves. Jump squats work to build muscle by negative resistance meaning upon impact. To perform a jump squat, start with your feet shoulder-width apart, squat down, then jump up as high as possible. Land softly and repeat for three sets of 10 to 15 reps.
L-sit
This exercise targets your core and hip flexors while also engaging your triceps and shoulders. To perform an L-sit, sit on the floor with your legs extended in front of you and your hands by your hips. Press your hands into the ground and lift your body off the floor,
keeping your legs straight. Hold this position for as long as possible, focusing on keeping your core engaged and your shoulders down and away from your ears. If this exercise is too challenging, you can bend your knees more for support
Bodyweight exercises are a great way to stay in shape and improve overall health. Calisthenic exercises allow you to perform multiple variations either increasing or decreasing the level of difficulty. You will also notice rapid improvements in building muscle through calisthenic exercises since you can easily adjust the movements to your strength level.
Callisthenics don’t require special equipment and you can do them wherever there is a floor. Incorporating these exercises into your daily routine will help you build strength, improve your cardiovascular health and boost your mood. Always remember to warm up before exercising and cool down after your workout.
Every time exam season comes along, outdated and redundant exam tips follow. But I think everyone could always benefit from some tips and tricks to make life easier during such a stressful time. As a fourthyear student, I’ve learned how to survive exam season in the least detrimental way possible — at least you’d hope so. Here are some exam tips that helped me during exam season, and I hope some of them can help you too.
Bet you didn’t think you’d see this one did you? As a constant procrastinator, I never believed that success was measured by how early you can prepare for an exam, and this goes for assignments too. What I think is valuable is figuring out the best study method for you to ensure that your late-night study session counts. If you work better under pressure, why should that be a
bad thing? Keep procrastinating, but just make sure that you have a system that has been proven to work for you.
This tip is more directed toward first-year students. Taking a quick quiz like the one on the Arden University website can help you figure out what type of learner you are. Don’t underestimate the power of the Internet. There are so many videos out there where students share their studying tips and habits that you may want to adapt.
A common rookie mistake, that I even continue to make from time to time, is relying on available practice tests to be ready for an exam. There are a couple of factors that don’t allow practice tests to be the sole preparer for any sort of exam.
The biggest reason is the environment. When taking a practice test, we’re usually taking it at a desk, in a relaxed area, and
with no pressure on our minds. In order for a practice test to really benefit you, try taking it as if it were your actual exam. Set a specific time you’re going to do the test, have no notes around you or loud people around you, and give yourself a time limit. I also recommend printing the practice test if possible, that way it feels more realistic.
It’s also very important to ask your professor about the possible questions on the exam, such as what the format will be. Even if it’s the same content, there’s nothing worse than relying on a practice exam that contains questions that look vastly different than the ones on your exam.
Sometimes students underestimate the amount of help professors are willing to give to us. While it may seem like some professors don’t want us to succeed at times, the majority do. Attending office hours and having one-on-one conversations with your professors and TAs can
sometimes be enough to get your grade bumped up from a B+ to an A-. And who doesn’t like an ego stroke? Definitely not your professor. It’s also important to build connections with those in your field of study, so getting some help from a professor before an exam, or even going through previous exams, is always a plus.
We’re not always going to ace every exam. That’s fine. When situations like this arise, it’s time to start thinking about what realistically you can do to prepare for your exam. Giving
up completely isn’t the answer, so try to pinpoint a solid section that you could potentially do well in. While some crazies might be able to, relentlessly trying to cram a semester’s worth of content is not going to allow you to do the best you can on an exam. Pinpointing your strengths and focusing on them can at least guarantee that you get the marks for what you know best. There’s no point in mediocre studying everything at once and not having strong answers for anything.
Good luck to everyone taking exams this semester.
In a March survey, Forbes Health found that the most common New Year’s resolutions were based on improving one’s physical or mental health. This comes as no surprise as most people live fairly sedentary lifestyles. Whether it involves sitting through long meetings or
working at a desk, the average person spends about seven hours a day in a sitting position. Yet, as we move further away from the beginning of the New Year and progress into finals season, motivation to follow through with our fitness goals decreases. For many, the root cause of this is “gymtimidation.”
This coined term refers to the fear or anxiety one feels when
entering the gym. This anxiety could be caused by many things. It could be caused by the fear of being judged by others, especially those who seem fitter than us. Similarly, it could also be caused by unfamiliarity with the gym equipment and wondering if you’re using the machines correctly. However, there are ways you could familiarize yourself with the University of Calgary Fitness Centre (KNB 155) before you even step foot on the gym floor. This article will act as your guide to gaining entry into the gym and some of its features.
The U of C Fitness Centre is located in the main hallway of the Kinesiology complex, making it easily accessible from Mac Hall. There are also change rooms and showers near the gym for those looking to sneak in a quick workout in between classes, but change room lockers are not accessible for free and students do need to rent them by semester.
Students are however allowed to bring in a drawstring bag. To
gain entry into the gym all you need is your UCID. Before you can enter, this card needs to be activated at the Fitness Centre front desk. This only takes a couple of seconds and sets up your card for the entire duration of your time as a full-time student at the U of C. This also gives you access to the Aquatic Centre.
After you scan your card, you immediately enter the first floor of the gym. This initial view is easily intimidating as the space is filled with weight benches, treadmills and cycling machines. For those who are unsure about how to use these machines, the Fitness Centre offers a free orientation for any questions you may have. These are available by booking and help you not only learn the proper form and technique, but also more about the benefits of specific equipment. While masks are not required, it is still important to sanitize your gym equipment before and after you use it. This is easy, as stations with hand sanitizer and
wipes are spread throughout the gym. Just taking a few seconds to wipe down the screens on your equipment and handlebars greatly reduces the transmission of germs within the facility.
Taking the stairs to the upper level of the facility leads you to the indoor track. This track is not only for serious sprinters. Whether you want to fast-walk, jog or just cool down after your workout by walking, the track is open to all as long as you are in the correct lane for your selected activity. The upper level also includes additional weights, box jumps and vertical punching bags.
While this is far from a comprehensive list of all of the amazing facilities and equipment offered by the U of C, hopefully it helps you visualize the area and familiarize yourself with it before even having to step foot on the gym floor. Any additional questions can be answered through the Fitness Centre website.
Even if you haven’t been following the news, it’s hard to miss all the chatter around the United States’ efforts to ban the social media app, TikTok. The kerfuffle seemingly began when the White House ordered a ban of TikTok from government devices in February of this year. The ban stems from a concern about privacy and the protection of government and national data. The concern is not specific to the U.S as many western governments such as Canada and the EU have also banned the app from government-issued devices.
TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese Internet technology company. TikTok is currently banned in China and is headquartered in Los Angeles and Singapore, according to CEO Shou Zi Chew. However, in the past, there have been reports of Chinese IT
companies sharing algorithms and other data with the Chinese government.
In the midst of today’s political climate and the West’s rocky relationship with China — including disputes over election interference and their strengthening relationships with Russia — this ban makes a lot of sense. However, it is also important to consider certain contributing factors and consequences of a TikTok ban in the West.
Of the consequences that come to mind, most immediately is the creation of a void in our global communication and entertainment industry. Since the pandemic, TikTok has become an invaluable tool for communication, art, marketing and more. What might be even more important, however, is the vital role TikTok has played in building a global community. The void that this ban will create in these areas can cause a lot of problems for small- and
large-scale content creators and online businesses.
However, an effect that’s looked over in this discussion, is the move toward an IT and data monopoly in the West. Currently, Google, Amazon and Meta are some Internet giants serving many Western countries. However, as we saw with the global WhatsApp outage last year, a technological monopoly comes with risks and costs.
Yet, that’s not even the worst of it. Even though this poses a risk to personal communications and businesses that use social platforms, a tech monopoly means a considerable amount of personal data is owned and controlled by a select few companies. This can lead to cases such as that of misinformation spread through Facebook during the pandemic and U.S. elections.
Above all else, it’s critical to realize that privacy concerns do not disappear with the banning of TikTok. Even American IT com-
panies are capable of violating personal and government privacy
— as we saw earlier this year when Meta was fined in Ireland for breaking EU privacy laws.
As dangerous as an unproved security threat from ByteDance’s relations with the Chinese government may be, data collection by IT companies as a whole is dangerous. We’re living in an age where
almost everyone is forced to have a virtual footprint, whether that’s through opening a bank account, working for most companies or having a social media presence. Instead of banning TikTok beyond the doors of government agencies, federal efforts may be better spent discussing tighter regulations on data collection and use by IT companies.
Logan Jaspers
Milk Carton Collector
Despite almost four months of searching for the lost student, Dylan Paradowski hasn’t been able to return home thus far. He is believed to still be aimlessly roaming the Schulich School of Engineering.
Paradowski, a second-year law and society major who on Dec. 15, 2022, went to ENA 201 for a final exam. Many other students in attendance attest to the fact that Paradowski was in attendance for the exam. One student, Alice Delahaye, was sitting next to him.
When asked if Paradowski was acting unusually before the exam, Delahaye said he wasn’t.
“I mean, I don’t really know much about him, he seemed pretty normal,” she said. “He got to the exam with his pencil, calculator and eraser ahead of time, quietly sat down, did the exam and left. He finished and was out of the room
about 20 minutes before I was. I haven’t seen him since.”
Security camera footage obtained by the Gauntlet shows Paradowski leaving ENA 201 that afternoon and walking through multiple hallways. After half an hour of walking, Paradowski ended up back where he started, seemingly causing his demeanour to change as he realized that he was lost. Panic-stricken, Paradow-
ski frantically runs across all seven blocks in the complex before collapsing from exhaustion. The footage ends there.
Paradowski’s roommate, Robby Monet, said that Paradowski never returned to the dorm.
“He had told me the evening before the exam that he’d never been in Schulich, to which I jokingly responded with, ‘it’s like a labyrinth — you could easily get lost.’”
Monet’s face turned to a frown as he remarked, “I had no idea how right I was.”
Paradowski’s disappearance sparked a grassroots campaign, which has included large posters of his face with large text reading “HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN?” plastered all over the complex. The campaign has even organized expeditions into the engineering building to find him, but to
no avail, as few are bold enough to brave Schulich’s innumerable depths.
However, not all hope is lost, as one student, who has asked to remain anonymous, revealed that they saw Paradowski just days ago.
“I was hanging out in Block A, doing my homework, when I saw this one guy playing on one of the pinball machines. He was really unkempt and had an impressively shaggy beard, but I could tell after a solid look that it was him. But, I blinked and he vanished — like he wasn’t there.”
With exams once again imminent, the university has asked students to pack a flashlight, a map of the building and some spare change so they can use the vending machines if they get hungry while lost, rather than make the engineering building more navigable.
Any sightings of Paradowski should be reported immediately to the authorities.
BE AWARE AND BEWARE »
Noone really knows what will happen in the future, we can only guess. Except here — these will be very specific situations that somehow will happen one way or another during finals season. Good luck.
Aries (March 21–April 19)
Your patience will be tested in a way you had not thought possible. You must perform a task that while seeming light and easy for others, hurts your pride.
Taurus (April 20–May 20)
Amidst your studying you will run into an old acquaintance you had hoped never to see again. You will be trapped in small talk, losing precious study time.
BE SAFE DAY »
Gemini (May 21–June 20)
Oh no, you’ve double-booked yourself with two once-in-alifetime opportunities. You believe the only option is to split yourself in two.
Cancer (June 21–July 22)
Being avoidant will only lead to your problems piling up. Confront them one at a time or be prepared for them to come all at once.
Leo (July 23–August 22)
Someone takes you up on one of the many fantastical claims you make. Unfortunately, this is one you cannot back up and you will find every excuse in the book to get out of this situation.
Virgo (August 23–September 22)
In a self-fulfilled prophecy, you will reach your limit and feel the effects of burnout. Will you learn to take a break or risk burning out even more?
Libra (September 23–October 22)
What you will believe is a case of your indecisiveness again, will actually be a test to do the hard work for a real reward.
Scorpio (October 23–November 21)
To improve a situation, you will have to undergo the mortifying ordeal of being known. Otherwise, there will be more struggles ahead of you.
Sagittarius (November 22–December 21)
Triple Vodka Slime Champion
This year marks the return of BSD. Can you fill out this crossword with your knowledge?
ACROSS
2. This U of C tradition began in what decade?
7. Back in the 80s and 90s, students were known to climb this outdoor sculpture to celebrate BSD
9. Along with a government-issued ID, you will need this identifier to get into the 2023 SU BSD event.
10. BSD stands for Bermuda _________ Day.
DOWN
1. This year, the event will be held at the ______.
3. What is the themed dress code for BSD?
4. What is the last name of the person who began BSD?
5. What day of the week does BSD fall on this year?
6. In addition to food and drinks,
this year’s event will also have a ________ to get some fun pictures with your friends.
8. BSD is held to celebrate the last day of ______.
Send a photo of a completed crossword to volunteer@thegauntlet.ca
Congratulations to Mihret Yirgeta, James Emmanuel and Ayishah Hasni for being the first three submissions last issue!
Be among the first three submitters to be congratulated in our next issue and win a Gauntlet toque!
You will have to choose a hill to die on if you wish to have a hill to call your own. Trust in yourself or risk being swayed by others.
Capricorn (December 22–January 19)
No amount of planning will live up to the real thing. Take a leap of faith to make a move forward.
Aquarius (January 20–February 18)
Sometimes being crystal clear is better than communicating with vague signals only you understand. Be direct or be misunderstood.
Pisces (February 19–March 20)
Don’t get lost in your daydreams on the off chance you miss out on the good things happening in your reality.
PLUS OVER 150 MORE ARTISTS STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED!
