Carillon (Volume 62, Issue 1)

the carillon

62

the staff editor-in-chief

editor@carillonregina.com

The University of Regina Students’ Newspaper Since 1962 June 13 - July 25, 2019 | Volume 62, Issue 1 | carillonregina.com

john loeppky

executive director jacob nelson business@carillonregina.com

cover

production manager jeremy davis production@carillonregina.com advertising manager advertising@carillonregina.com

New volume, nine new faces (John has officially lost count), same old journalism. This week we have some great coverage of tuition hikes, union issues, a food review, comments on the media’s coverage of nazi flags (spoiler alert, it was awful), among many others.

In other news: we have a new website, are now paying contributors, and are looking for one more staff member. Contact us at editor@carillonregina.com for more details.

ty cote

technical editor frank nordstrom carillontechnical@carillonregina.com multimedia editors

mutimedia@carillonregina.com

kate thiessen & sara carrier

copy editor hannah senicar copyeditor@carillonregina.com news editor news@carillonregina.com

sarah birrell

a&c editor ethan butterfield aandc@carillonregina.com sports editor tyler meadows sports@carillonregina.com op-ed editor op-ed@carillonregina.com

photos

taylor balfour

cover.............................. page 2...................................... news................. a&c.......................... sports.......................... op-ed......

distro manager

jon stricker distribution@carillonregina.com staff writer

elisabeth sahlmueller

staff writer

marty grande - sherbert

news writer

ben schneider

a&c writer

holly worby

sports writer

news

graphics editors kate thiessen & graphics@carillonregina.com sara carrier

errata

None that we know of.

brian palaschuk

multimedia assitant

contributors

kate thiessen

Roaches have company

shannyn hamm

Page 5

Chartwells is once again awarded the on-campus food service contract.

the paper

The Carillon welcomes contributions.

Correspondence can be mailed, emailed, or dropped off in person. Please include your name, address, and telephone number on all letters to the editor. Only the author’s name, title/position (if applicable) and city will be published. Names may be withheld upon request at the discretion of the Carillon.

Our own Eathan Butterfield speaks with the band Hinder.

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sport

Letters should be no more than 350 words, and may be edited for space, clarity, accuracy, and vulgarity. The Carillon is a wholly autonomous organization with no afilliation with the University of Regina Students’ Union.

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Hinder Interview

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227 Riddell Center University of Regina - 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada S4S 0A2 www.carillonregina.com Ph: (306) 586 8867 Printed by Star Press Inc, Wainwright, AB

a&c

THE CARILLON BOARD OF DIRECTORS Erickka Patmore, Lindsay Holitzki, Maddie Ouelette, Dustin Smith. John Loeppky, Jacob Nelson, and Ethan Butterfield

Opinions expressed in the pages of the Carillon are expressly those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Carillon Newspaper Inc. Opinions expressed in advertisements appearing in the Carillon are those of the advertisers, and not necessarily of The Carillon Newspaper Inc. or its staff.

The Carillon is published no less than 11 times each semester during the fall and winter semesters and periodically throughout the summer. The Carillon is published by the Carillon Newspaper Inc., a non-profit organization.

Saskatchewans very own professional basketball team begins its inagural season.

the manifesto

op-ed

In keeping with our reckless, devil-may-care image, our office has absolutely no concrete information on the Carillon’s formative years readily available.

What follows is the story that’s been passed down from editor to editor for over forty years.

In the late 1950s, the University of Regina planned the construction of several new buildings on the campus grounds. One of these proposed buildlings was a beltower on the academic green. If you look out on the academic green today, the first thing you’ll notice is that it has absolutely nothing resembling a belltower.

The University never got a belltower, but what it did get was the Carillon, a newspaper that serves as a symbolic bell tower on campus, a loud and clear voice belonging to each and every student.

The People’s Friend; the Tyrant’s Foe

Fix the problem

Page 18

Reginas construction fix examined.

in other news

Read above

news

3 Editor: sara birrell news@carillonregina.com the carillon | June 13 - July 25, 2019

No relief for students as tuition continues to rise Students begin to ask who the campus serves sara birrell news editor

For the eleventh year in a row – enough time for someone to have completed their Bachelor’s, Master’s, and post-graduate degrees – the University of Regina has implemented a tuition hike. The 2.8% increase, projected to bring an additional 2.5 million dollars into the University’s coffers, shifts the burden of the province’s failure to fund higher education onto the backs of students who are already stumbling under tuition rates that a 2018/2019 Statistics Canada report shows are higher than the national average, trailing only Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick when it comes to domestic tuition rates.

With studies showing nearly 40 per cent of Saskatchewan post-secondary students facing some level of food insecurity and the high cost of rent in Regina remaining static, it is becoming increasingly difficult to understand how the administration can justify increasing the financial burden on students. The University’s motto is “As One Who Serves,” but as students are increasingly seen as sources of revenue, rather than valued contributors to the campus community, one can be forgiven for wondering if the institution serves its students, or if they are servants to it.

As tuition fees soar in Regina and across Canada – the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) reports that revenue from tuition has tripled since 2001 – University of Regina Provost Thomas Chase pointed to the U of R’s scholarships as a place where students can make up the difference in tuition costs. Chase said that the U of R is “second among all Canadian comprehensives in total scholarships,” returning almost one third of tuition money back to students in the form of scholarships This disparity between real costs and accessible aid is only growing as the Government of Saskatchewan continues chipping away at direct support for students, reducing scholarship funding by 42 per cent in the last budget while increasing student loan funding, which will have to be paid back, with interest.

The need for some students to access loans and lines of credit that pile interest onto tuition fees means that students who enter university at a financial disadvantage tend to leave it at an even greater one. According to the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), those who take out a loan to finance their education will pay over $10,000 more

for their degree than a student who is able to pay tuition fees upfront.

The province’s “Saskatchewan Advantage” scholarship – touted by the Ministry of Advanced Education in communications with the Carillon – provides Saskatchewan high school graduates who “need it most” with up to $500 per year up to a maximum $2000, less than the cost of a single semester. Or perhaps a better price comparison, given that the scholarship is only available to students who qualify for student loans, roughly one fifth of the interest they will have to pay back to the province on a $28,000 loan.

RPIRG’s Executive Director Krystal Lewis said that the prospect of accumulating a debt load makes people less likely to commit to being a student, stopping them from taking the risks – and gaining the rewards – that lead to a more fulfilling life. “You know down the road, you’ll be in debt.”

In lieu of a truly public, free post-secondary experience, she said the province at the very least should be “providing grants, not loans.”

After acknowledging that many students are working “two and even three jobs” to make ends meet, dramatically reducing their ability to achieve at the best of their ability (and to maintain a GPA that will allow them to qualify for scholarship money), Chase pointed out that “more than 50% of University of Regina graduates leave school with no student debt at all.”

Graduating without student debt doesn’t mean that students haven’t accumulated sizeable amounts of other debt while pursuing their degrees. One student, who spoke under condition of anonymity because she did not want her financial status to be public,

Allan Hall

Tuition continues to rise

and 2018, a time period when the City of Regina saw an overall population increase of 2.3% - as proof that rising tuition isn’t affecting enrolment, some students and alumni say they won’t recommend the U of R to anyone.

Andrew Ruffell, a 2019 English department grad who worked full-time throughout most of his program, said that money – and the University’s reputation – is one of the reasons why he is not looking to pursue an MA at the U of R. “The university is using students as a cash grab while not realistically looking into student wellbeing and financial stability. Why should students pay top dollar for a campus that isn’t even top ten?” (Maclean’s ranked U of R 14th out of 15 among Canadian comprehensives for reputation and student satisfaction, down one spot from 2017, and 41 out of 49 overall). Ruffell doesn’t think he’s alone. “I think most students you talk to would hesitate to recommend the U of

research doesn’t add any value to my education, or my degree, or the institution in general....

Paying administration more doesn’t bring new professors.”

Services at the University of Regina are actually being lost as tuition continues to creep upwards. In 2018 the university cut both wrestling teams as well as men’s volleyball, and this year the university chose not to renew its lease with the medical centre and pharmacy, leaving the campus alone among similar sized Canadian comprehensives in not providing medical care onsite.

But the University administration does not bear sole responsibility for the economic burden tuition puts on students, we must also look to the province. There are real and rising costs that come with running a university, from utilities to salaries to building maintenance, and if they are to be truly public and truly accessible institutions, the government must take responsibility for funding them, a respon-

tutions of higher education the way they viewed the STC – not as enterprises for the public good that enrich the lives of users and the province as a whole, but as run-of-themill businesses that must turn a profit or shut their doors.

This attitude – which is not unique to the Saskatchewan Party or the University of Regina –is why targeting tuition alone will not solve the problems that plague students in post-secondary institution, points out Lewis. “It’s systemic,” Lewis said, referring to the ways in which overall austerity in a province affects students.

Lewis went on to speak about the cuts to other public services such as STC and the lack of affordable housing.

“Every single public service that exists that is underfunded affects students. So housing supports, childcare, affordable food, raising the minimum wage to a living wage,” Lewis said. “There are social barriers, there’s questions about the universi-

“I don’t feel like the amount of services has increased in relation to the tuition increases…Taking books out of the library doesn’t add any value to my education. Defunding research doesn’t add any value to my education…Paying administration more doesn’t bring new professors.”

-- U of R student said that although an RESP covered her tuition, meaning that though she technically left “debt free,” she didn’t come out of university financially unscathed. “I quickly found after starting grad school that I couldn’t work and keep my grades up or my sanity intact,” she said. “Tuition isn’t the only expense a student has. Living is very expensive.”

And although the university touts rising enrolments – a 1.9% increase between 2017

R because tuition is too damn high.”

The anonymous student agrees that the rising costs don’t seem to reflect an increase in the quality of the institution.

“I don’t feel like the amount of services has increased in relation to the tuition increases,” she said. “[Removing] books [from] the library doesn’t add any value to my education... Defunding

sibility that the Saskatchewan Party has been eager to shirk.

In 2018, after funding remained static following a significant cut the previous year, Minister for Advanced Education Tina Beaudry-Mellor told CBC that she hoped the University would, “get more aggressive on the revenue generation side of their business,” revealing, perhaps inadvertently, that the Government of Saskatchewan views insti-

ty’s policies on discrimination and whether they’re effective, there’s the hiring practices.”

June 13 - July 25, 2019

carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 4

news

Rift between URFA and U of R continues Union and campus still at odds ben schneider news writer Just over one month after a signed collective agreement, waves of discontent began to appear among University of Regina academic staff regarding the touchy subject of pay. Fair pay for academic staff members has been one of many issues that nearly resulted in members of the University of Regina Faculty Association (URFA) taking job action in April. Tensions between administration, academic staff and even students saw new heights as the University verged on a strike.

The stalemate in negotiations came to a close on Mar. 25, 2019 as both parties reached a tentative collective agreement which then went on to be ratified. However, a visible divide still exists between the administration and the faculty association.

Several URFA members exemplified such disillusionment upon being notified of a clause that URFA alleges is different from what was agreed upon at the table. On May 10, 2019, URFA contacted its members with an update from the Academic Bargaining Committee, informing its members that legal counsel has been engaged regarding a discrepancy in what is known as the “add one/drop one increment” clause.

This clause exists in previous collective agreements and deals with the increments by which the various pay families’ (faculty, librarians, lab instructors, etc.) salaries increase as well as the pay floors and ceilings within which these salaries are restricted to.

In the 2014-17 collective agreement, the add one/drop one clause included the ranks of librarians, lab instructors and instructors while in the newly negotiated agreement, faculty – a relatively large portion of academic staff – were added. In the 2017-21 collective agreement, those top earners at or above their normal pay ceiling are eligible for an increment raise.

The new collective agreement also raises the pay floor: the minimum amount staff can earn.

Provost Tom Chase affirms, “academic staff members who are below the new floor shall have their salary increased to the new floor.”

For those keeping track, that leaves a little bit of grey area for those earners in the middle of the scale. Tricia van Hardeveld, Compensation Advisor with Human Resources, explained that for these earners, the increment isn’t automatic and is dependent on their earning it as a part of regular performance reviews.

Jeremy Davis

Tensions

“In the year of the drop one/add one (2019), everyone who is eligible (i.e. meaning the increment wasn’t denied in their performance review) gets an increment as a result of the scales shifting up-ward by one increment.”

Apart from the add one/ drop one clause, all URFA members will receive a 1.75% salary increase effective July 1, 2019 as outlined in the 2017/21 collective agreement. This 1.75% increase is a part of the economic settlement and is separate from performance.

For the past two years that the University has been without a collective agreement, that rate sat at zero per cent.

So, those at the top and bottom of the pay scale will receive their increment increase, as per the add one/drop one clause, as well as this 1.75% raise, while those in the middle of the pay scale will be eligible for the increment increase and guaranteed the universal 1.75% raise. URFA’s understanding of the clause however, differs.

URFA declined to be interviewed for this story, but in the public communication to their members wrote, “When we agreed to include an ‘add one/drop one’ in the collective agreement we believed, based on the representations of the university administration made at the bargaining table, that every term, tenure track, and tenured academic staff member of

the URFA bargaining unit would receive a benefit of the add one/ drop one in year three [2019] of the contract.”

Administration is admittedly confused why members are upset with this clause. Summarizing van Hardeveld, the Provost said, “The only people who therefore, under this contract, would not get…the additional increment would be someone whose performance review has said no increment this year and the number of people to whom that applies annually is very, very small.”

The waves of this dilemma have not gone unnoticed for students. Mikayla Koronkiewicz, a Philosophy, Politics and Economics major entering her third year of studies in the fall spoke to a feeling of unease regarding the administration’s transparency.

“I feel like I can go to URFA and they’re going to tell me straight up what’s happening whereas the administration act kind of like politicians. The 201417 [collective agreement] didn’t include the faculty members.”

“I feel like just leaving out little things that, it kind of makes you question what the bigger picture looks like. And [the administration] might not feel like it’s a necessary thing, but the whole strike and job action – the core of that was coming from the faculty.

It’s just a good example of how the administration isn’t really as clear

or as transparent as they should be and that is where the lack of trust maybe comes from for me.”

Students felt pushed aside during the spring at the peak of negotiations with notions of disenchantment stemming from uncertainty as exam period approached.

Now in the fall, tuition will be rising another 2.8%, the 11th year there has been an increase, adding to a growing tension between the university and its students.

Certain members of the academic staff are feeling a definite divide between administration and staff. One URFA member, who asked to remain anonymous, said that, “as an URFA member speaking with several other URFA members, the only thing I’ve heard over and over is the absolute disappointment and low morale around the university.” This member in specific spoke to the issue of the add one/drop one clause as “yet one more thing.’

“Again, tuition has gone up but no one knows where the money is really going…the proportion of funds going to paying the front-line people – the teachers – has gone down every year despite huge increases in student body and tuition.” Responding to this notion of low morale, the Provost responded by referring to the difficulty of negotiating with a high amount of people.

“It’s regrettable when some feel that morale is low, but this is a

large group of people and I think you would find a varied reaction to that statement. Those who feel that way obviously have every right to. We believe, in the current economic circumstances, we’ve negotiated a fair settlement with the Faculty Association.”

“We regard the confusion that seems to have arisen, but that [clause] was not something new or completely out of people’s experience. So, we look forward to going ahead, the agreement has been ratified, it’ll carry us through for another couple of years, and then we look forward to going back to the bargaining table and bargaining another collective agreement with the Faculty Association.”

“These are valued people; faculty are valued colleagues and we want to do everything we can to ensure that relations remain good. But, labour relations can be contentious and certainly collective bargaining, around salary and benefits, can be…challenging at times.”

“It’s just a good example of how the administration isn’t really as clear or as transparent as they should be and that is where the lack of trust maybe comes from for me.” -Anonymous Student

June 13 - July 25, 2019

news

Chartwells food contract renewed

carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 5

Chartwells contracted renewed, URSU shut out

ben schneider news writer The university has once again awarded the on-campus food services contract to Chartwells/ Compass Canada. Over the years, Chartwells has earned a bit of a reputation for their various slips. These include the mislabeling of foods, specifically Halal and non-Halal meats, as well as the various Riddell roach reports.

Criticism has also been made in regard to a lack of healthful meal options as well as poor hours of operation – specifically for those living on campus.

In February of 2019, it looked as though change were on the horizon when the university released a tender for on-campus food services. This certainly got the attention of the university of Regina Student Union (URSU), who have heard complaints about the quality of food services at the U of R time and time again.

In the past, URSU has been denied the chance to of-

sarah carriier

Food service blues

fer potential solutions for some of these disillusionments due to the university’s existing contract with Chartwells. URSU General Manager Carl Flis and the team at URSU saw this opening as a chance to implement real change on campus.

“Why stay the status quo?

Let’s see if we can offer up a viable alternative option. Our thought was even if we change to one of the other [corporations], it’d be just more of the same for another five or ten years”

URSU put forth an extensively thought-out bid, demonstrating their serious candidature and desire for change. Their proposal covers everything from a more accessible meal plan service to a greater focus on local foods.

“Our focus was to differentiate ourselves from the multinationals. Knowing that we couldn’t take over 9 or 10 operations on campus and have them all run 100% by URSU, we needed

some partners and those partners would be everything from reputable national chains but also incorporating local vendors, local suppliers and partnering with local producers and focusing on fresh, local ingredients,” Flis said.

He added that an URSU-operated food services program would not be completely against the norm and that several campuses across the country are moving away from large corporations and toward sustainable self-ops.

Julian Wotherspoon, Outreach & Events Coordinator with Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG) published an open letter to the university President, Student Services, and Supply Management expressing RPIRG’s discontent with the decision to renew Chartwells contract.

Wotherspoon expressed confidence in URSU’s proposal when reached for comment. “What URSU’s bid represented was a

way of doing food service that put student experiences and well-being over profit in a sustainable way. It’s extremely disappointing that the university has chosen to maintain status quo when other sustainable options were on the table.”

This spring, a letter was received by URSU, stating that Chartwells had been granted the spot. Flis admited, “It was very disheartening when we got the news, knowing all of the issues that they’ve had with Chartwells over the years. We were pretty confident in the quality of our submission that we would at least be considered as a finalist.

“From the time of our submission until the time we got this letter we received zero interaction from the university. We thought that our submission really aligned with what the university claims its mission is and that the commitment is that students come first, but really, to make no change just

seems to be a slap in the face to students.”

Due to ongoing negotiations with the Chartwells contract, Student Services were not able to offer insight into the selection process. Bettina Welsh, Director of Student Affairs Operations stated, “As final negotiations are ongoing and no contract has yet been signed, the university is not in a position to provide more information at this time, other than to say every tender issued by the university involves a rigorous and thorough selection process based on a number of factors including; cost, quality and value for the money.”

She has assured the campus community that administration will be in a position to communicate upon the contract’s finalization.

“It’s extremely disappointing that the university has chosen to maintain status quo when other sustainable options were on the table.” -Julian Wotherspoon, Outreach and Events Coordinator, RPIRG

June 13 - July 25, 2019

carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 6

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Graduate Students’Association and Owl co-host fundraiser students band together to help their own john loeppky editor in chief In a June 7 email sent to the graduate students litserv, students were informed of a fundraiser for a graduate student who is facing treatment for cancer. University of Regina Graduate Student Association President Latoya Reid wrote about the plight of the student in question.

“Sadly, one among us was recently diagnosed with cancer, is currently undergoing treatment and requires our support in whatever way possible. The costs associated with treatments of this nature can be exorbitant, to the extent of exhausting one’s personal resources. This is especially more impactful when one has to stop working. Admirably, our fellow graduate student continues to study while undergoing treatment.

It is our intention as a university body to show our solidarity in supporting him on his way back to ‘wellness’.”

“Collaboratively, URGSA and URSU are co-hosting a fundraiser to benefit our fellow student as he seeks to fight his cancer diagnosis. Look out for donation jars that will be placed at different locations around campus for us to make contributions. Also, jars for us to write positive uplifting messages for him to read on days that he may feel low in spirit.”

The event will be hosted on June 17 from 5-8 p.m. The cost is $10 for appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages. Donations can be made at The Owl, the URSU front desk, as well as at Henderson’s.

The student is a current staff member of The Owl. Owl Kitchen Supervisor Asnoldo “AJ” Pireto

pixabay

Raising funds

spoke about the support the person has from his coworkers and his community as an international student.

“A fellow coworker of ours got diagnosed, by surprise, with Leukemia. Himself being an international student and tuition itself being three times more expensive for

him, has put him in pickle when it comes to his studies plus all the extras when it comes to his illness.”

Pireto said that the fundraiser was part of what it means to be a good co-worker.

“It was the very least that we could do as co-workers, as a supporting team with himself being

part of us, part of the Owl family. “ Pireto encouraged those who may be interested in donating to “be grateful for their blessings” and had a simple message for the student who is currently recovering when asked what he would tell him if he were the one asking the

questions.

“To always realize that we are here for him regardless, whatever it may be. [The] Owl as a family has his back and we cannot wait until he’s back and running and joining us again.”

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Editor: ethan butterfield aandc@carillonregina.com the carillon | June 13 - July 25, 2019

Cineplex fails to accommodate Accomplished playwright Adam Pottle highlights need for captions in film theatres holly worby a&c writer Imagine that you’ve paid to see a movie in theatres only to have the sound not work for its entirety. You’d be at least a little miffed having spent that money and not having got what you paid for.

Now imagine you complain to the management afterwards and find the only compensation offered to be another ticket to the same movie but still without functioning sound..

Dr. Adam Pottle – a deaf playwright living in Saskatoon – had a similar experience in late March while trying to view Jordan Peele’s Us at the Saskatoon Cineplex, as he relayed to CBC. This theatre advertised Us as closed captioned so Pottle requested a Captiview, a small device that sits in the cupholder and provides subtitles for the film.

Unfortunately, Pottle’s Captiview didn’t work despite his efforts to troubleshoot. In the interview with, Pottle mentioned this isn’t an uncommon occurrence. After the film he confronted theatre management to explain the situation and ask for compensation only to be offered the same experience again, but for free this time (as if that was supposed to make up for something). Cineplex has since apologized for that response and explained it was not handled according to protocol, but some still feel that doesn’t make up for Pottle’s experience (or lack thereof). “I left the theatre livid,” he added, “I’d been robbed of experiencing a film that by all accounts is a modern horror masterpiece, and I wanted to enjoy their work on equal ground as my hearing peers.”

In a Carillon interview Pottle, sent a message about how he feels movie theatre companies have treated him.

“I like Landmark. They’re on the ball. The CaptiView machines don’t capture everything; some previews aren’t captioned, and there are always brief lapses during the main feature. If I had to choose a best experience, it’d be seeing Jordan Peele’s Us. Because it was a relief. I saw it first at Cineplex, but they had no captions. Cineplex couldn’t give a shit. They hide behind corporate platitudes but aren’t willing to engage in actual dialogue.”

Pottle later defined being

Cineplex The cinematic “experience”

“on the ball” in more detail.

“On the ball means considerate, aware. As soon as I ask for the machine, the employees smile and run to get it for me. They’re never condescending or patronizing. They’re just cool. I don’t know if theatres do this already, but having accessibility awareness training would be a boon for theatres, especially big ones like Cineplex. Also, having Deaf and disabled employees goes a long way.

Big theatres with many screens have more options, so they could easily provide open captions on at least a few of them. There’s no excuse. Open captions help everyone, not just Deaf and hard of hearing people.”

I told a few of my friends Pottle’s story with the hope of gaining some other perspectives.

In response to hearing management’s reaction to the scenario, Luke Huot commented: “If anything it shows the lack of commitment by whoever should be handling [the scenario], and should raise awareness about everyday struggles most people have never even worried about… as well as open eyes to a certain level of nonchalant effort put in to aid people who need it.” On July 3, 2015, the Canadian Association of the Deaf claimed

357,000 Canadians were deaf and 3.21 million were hard of hearing, encompassing roughly 10 per cent of our country’s population. Shocking, that 10 per cent of our country’s population is unable to attend the majority of public events and experience them to the degree a hearing individual can. There are a wide variety of sign languages used in Canada including American Sign Language (ASL), la langue des signes Québécoise (Quebec sign language), and Inuit sign language, yet I can’t remember the last time I saw a class being offered by anyone other than a deaf and hard of hearing association.

I don’t believe I’ve ever seen sign language interpretation at public events either, be they publicly or privately funded.

In response to his experience and the treatment he received after, Pottle is calling for closed captions in all theatres to make theatre showings more accessible to the deaf, the hard of hearing, and those learning English whose comprehension levels would rise with the visible script. Cole Manz, an employee of Rainbow Cinemas, mentioned assisted hearing devices available at their theatre that give viewers a clearer quality of sound during the movie to

aid those hard of hearing, though they only offer subtitles for films not in English.

“Some regular customers state that they find subtitles to be distracting during the film. I think, however, that having carefully specified subtitled events (showings) would help to circumvent this; those in need of subtitles would know to attend a different showing.”

Pottle said that the reasoning behind not accommodating those who are not hearing is not enough.

“I understand it takes some getting used to, but it’s ableist privilege to say no. It’s an excuse not to think, not to grow. And many hearing people who watch films with captions find that they understand more of what’s happening onscreen. Accessibility is a collective effort. Deaf and hard of hearing people have always had to conform to hearing normalcy.

Asking for captioning, for the dignity of being able to follow a story on our own terms, is a small ask.”

The general worry expressed by theatres, it seems, is that less people would attend films in-theatre were there subtitles on every film.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a movie theatre having (sub-

titles) available even one or two showings a day but most movies play three to five times a day!” said Cassie Norton, sister to a Regina Cineplex employee. With that many showings it wouldn’t be difficult to have a few with subtitles and to alternate the showtimes, catering to various scheduling needs. This way those not wanting to see subtitles could go to regular showings and maintain their movie viewing experience, and space would be made for the deaf, the hard of hearing, and those learning English who would benefit from the visual aid. The opportunity is there to create a more accessible space, and it’s not a question of the time it’d take or the money – it’s a question of whether these theatres are able to put in the effort needed to create an inclusive space. The need to rise and fill the niche is there, and thanks to Dr. Adam Pottle the follow-through has been called for.

“I’d been robbed of experiencing a film that by all accounts is a modern horror masterpiece, and I wanted to enjoy their work on equal ground as my hearing peers.” – Dr. Adam Pottle (to CBC).

June 13 - July 25, 2018

Praire Sky School produces “eco-play”

carillonregina.com | The Carillon |

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Cathedral Village Arts Festival performance focuses on environment

marty grande-sherbert staff writer The Cathedral Village Arts Festival came and went, and in my new position as Staff Writer here at the Carillon, I had a great time trying to decide what aspects of it to bring to this summer issue. There was a lot to see, and not enough time for me to see it all, but what stuck out to me when I looked at the schedule was a performance at the Artesian put on not by a company or individual artist but an entire school. I decided to go and see Prairie Sky School, a QIS (qualified independent school) in Regina, debut their production of The Lorax. I needed to satisfy my curiosity after seeing that it was called an “eco-play.”

The school-age l students of our city are taking a lead from Greta Thunberg and organizing weekly climate strikes at the Legislative Building, organized with help from the Enviro Collective.. I was curious before how kids were engaging with that issue when they weren’t at the climate strikes, and it was clear from the performance that they matter every day of the week.

The Lorax, is a classic Dr. Seuss story about a creature who speaks on behalf of the trees in the forest where he lives. The antagonist of the story is “The Onceler,” who claims to only be chopping down trees to make a few products to sell, but ends up destroying

Jeremy Davis

A message through performing arts at The Artesian

the forest altogether. There was an animated movie made of it recently, but the original animated version, with its art style similar to the book, is the one I remember from childhood. Watching it as an adult, it still matters – the message, in fact, feels more profound and always hits a little harder as the climate crisis and its marriage to capitalism becomes more and more dire.

Looking back, it was probably one of the childhood movies that shaped me, and I think that was a good thing. I was happy to see kids engaging with it like I did.

The performance itself was one that integrated the entire school – and as someone who’s been in sold-out shows at the Artesian, I can say that it was really, really packed – from the youngest to oldest students, with the story of the Lorax broken up into lines for the kids to read. There were also dance performances, musical numbers, and amazing props like a factory that contained working gears and brightly-coloured birds made by the students themselves. I was taken with the way the whole school came together as a community to perform this at the Arts Festival, for more people than just their parents, Allan Dotson, the drama teacher at Prairie Sky who was involved with the coordination with the show, had a lot to share about what education can be for kids, and how it can integrate a

real understanding of the world around them when it matters most.

Dotson is Prairie Sky’s STEAM teacher, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. This might seem like an odd combination of subjects, and the teaching of engineering to young children might seem odd in itself, but Allan explained that Prairie Sky “believe[s] in hands-on, active learning” and that he “work[s] to integrate the Arts into all subject areas.” It was clear that Prairie Sky kids were used to producing real things and interacting with real people, but also that they were used to art and expressiveness being part of how they did that. For example, the props in the production involved working gears and were made by the Grade 3-6 students themselves, but they were also ways of making the stage exciting and colorful, and to boot, they were all made with recycled materials.

The factory prop helped students engage with the idea of corporate environmental damage, and they were also introduced to the making of simple machines.

Another really fun and innovative feature of the production was the use of satirical advertisements students made for the thneed, the product made with trees that is sold in the fictional world of the Lorax. Parents in the Prairie Sky community even

made actual, knitted thneeds that were sold in the lobby of The Artesian, with the proceeds going to TreeCanada to help reforestation and greening of urban spaces. Young students really were getting an idea of what kind of efforts exist in their community, and then they were going out and doing something, which I don’t think a lot of us learn to do until we’re well into our adulthood.

Dotson said the “large, collaborative, multidisciplinary” projects that students engage in at Prairie Sky, reflect the idea Prairie Sky has about what childhood education should be and He also spoke about the need for students to experience the world outside the classroom.

“I believe early childhood education should include a lot of actual nature experiences (active outdoor play and exploration, camping, and working with natural materials), personal responsibility (community cleanups, and learning to care for our own things), connection to food (cooking, gardening, and farm visits), engagement in meaningful activism (like the student climate strikes), and opportunities to collaborate with other people (peers, students of all ages, and our larger community).” Having just volunteered with the U of R’s Green Patch, I can testify that engaging with food, the outdoors, and col-

laboration is incredibly satisfying once you learn how to do it. Prairie Sky is a seems to be giving its students a leg up in this regard, and I have to admit that it made me excited to think what these kids were going to be interested in doing years from now. I wasn’t just watching a play, but being taught about the kind of opportunities that exist for community engagement in Cathedral and Regina as a whole.

If you’re an Education student, I think that the example of what Prairie Sky is doing is worth considering even in the conventional school system. There are so many ways for young children to learn, and even here in our universities, we can apply what Mr. Dotson says about education to our own academic process. We are here to learn, but are we remembering where we are learning, and the world that we’re going to enter once we graduate? Among the fun and festivities of CVAF, this little production of a Dr. Seuss story provided a surprising opportunity to reflect.

If you’re an Education student, I think that the example of what Prairie Sky is doing is worth considering even in the conventional school system.” – Marty Grande-Sherbert.

carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 9

June 13 - July 25, 2018

Updates at Victoria’s Tavern Vic’s brings out summer specials holly worby a&c writer In a near-century-old building located downtown on Hamilton since 2014, Victoria’s Tavern never fails to impress. Their website states they offer “classic comfort food,” one of the humblest statements I’ve seen by a place with no need for humility. The many ontap options are a great way to enjoy an old favourite brew or support a local’s draught. Whoever comes up with their daily grilled cheeses must truly be a genius – I’ve never tried one I didn’t love!

They don’t keep it standard either; I’ve had grilled cheese filled with macaroni and cheese (for those of you who enjoy carbs in your carbs), I’ve had thanksgiving varieties (turkey with cranberry and brie was my favourite), and some alternative types filled with deep fried pickles that I’ve tried to recreate at home but it’s just never the same.

Some local eateries seem to struggle in giving adequate portion sizes; this is never the case at Vic’s. More often than not I leave with a full belly and enough

food in my to-go box from my one meal ordered for another full meal. If the quality of food overall didn’t justify their prices, the sheer amount of food would.

The establishment prides themselves on catering to a variety of dietary needs – more than I’ve ever seen on a tavern/pub-style menu. Alongside their constantly changing grilled cheese of the day is a plant-based option made with daiya cheese and sourdough, and the option to add in various veggies to further fill the masterpiece. You can get any sandwich or burger on a gluten-free bun or have it lettuce wrapped (again – above and beyond your standard tavern/pub-style menu). In addition to regular pub hours they’re open an hour early on weekends for brunch and offer a special brunch menu from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. As with the regular menu you can substitute a gluten-free bun for bun-ned dishes. The Chef ’s Choice - a new special creation for every week - is my personal favourite as there’s so much variety.

The only less-than-lovely item I’ve had from Victoria’s Tavern’s menu would be their two

new mini mason jar cheesecakes.

A friend and I went specifically to try them in late May as the photos of them we were seeing posted on Instagram looked phenomenal. My friend Jess got the vanilla bourbon and I the chocolate espresso so we could each try both. They looked just as phenomenal as in the photos when they arrived but weren’t quite up to the Vic’s standard. The vanilla bourbon was just a little bland, but my chocolate espresso was near-tangy (not how I like my dairy in general). The leftovers the next day tasted a little better when mixed all together, but it kept that same sour quality.

Vic’s has brought in some summer specials for Regina to enjoy including half-priced appetizers from 3-6 p.m. and 10-close and a variety of $5 drink options during those times. The whole property is filled with perfect photo opportunities (just check out their Instagram), so make sure you check out their patio this summer and take advantage of the scenery to make some lasting memories.

A New Ground embark on Canadian Tour

victorias tavern

Ol’ reliable

john loeppky editor in chief A New Ground, a two-person group made up of Ryan Dugal and Claryssa Webb, is soon to be performing as part of the 10th anniversary edition of All Folk’d Up, a music festival that takes place every summer in Montmarte, Saskatchewan. Described as a Celtic-folk duo by their publicist, A New Ground is currently on a Canada-wide tour.

courtesy of the new ground

folking good music

in an interview earlier this summer Dugal said that the origins of the band make for an “interesting story.”

“I was running an open jam in downtown Kitchener. I was the drummer in the band, the band would back up solo artists and one of the most unique artists who’d come by was Klarissa. She would come by with her fiddle and just capture the crowd and just get everyone stomping their feet and,

well, it didn’t take long for us to start playing music together after that.”

The two mix what Dugal calls Claryssa’s “traditional fiddle roots” and his “more pop perspective.” They initially began playing together as a band in 2016.

Their Canadian tour starts on June 29 in Northern Ontario, before moving to Regina on July 3 at The Bushwackker Brew Pub. In terms of musical influenc-

es, Webb said that they revolve around her traditional tranining.

“Mostly I would say classical.

Growing up I had a lot of training and played with a lot of different people and, other than that, I did also play with my family band and through that we did a bit more traditional stuff.” The “folk-side” as Webb calls it, comes from playing traditional fiddle music.

“A lot of my improv and playing along comes from that experience.”

The band has a new EP entitled Forge the sky that was released in the summer of 2018 and Dugan said that it has “quite the mix.”

“Essentially [it’s] a mix of folk songs interwoven with fiddle tunes, it’s all original music, and while that’s how we’d write if it was just the two of us, but we’re both multi-instrumentalists so I play all the rhythm sections, Claryssa plays all the strings and so we decided to just go all out with it and imagine if we could clone ourselves and give ourselves a full-piece band.”

“What we get is us times a million.”

Webb pointed to the band’s want to explore different territory.

“We both like to learn new things, so experimenting we usually come up with new stuff.”

This this year’s edition wil also l feature Chilliwack, Jeffery Straker, among many others.. The line up also includes five artists that

were chosen by fans of the festival, as described on the website, alongside a blurb about the history of the festival. “”The All Folk’d Up Music Festival is proud to present 5 new artists to grace our stage in 2019.

All of these artists participated in our open-mic events that take place in the months leading up to AFU and were chosen by the audience to be apart of the festival lineup for this year. Congratulations to all these winners and we are so excited to be apart of your musical journeys!”

“Now as the festival is going into its 10th year of production, the number of performances has increased to over 15 that span various musical genres and styles.

The Festival Committee plans on selling over 1000 tickets this year and strives to find innovative ways to promote the wonders of rural Saskatchewan and the incredible talent pool that they have lined up this year.”

All Folk’d Up runs from July 5-7 with tickets available on their website, www.allfolkedup.net. You can find A New Ground’s music on bandcamp at anewground. bandcamp.com if you can’t make it in person.

June 13 - July 25, 2019

a&c

Hinder embark on Lucky 7 tour

carillonregina.com | The Carillon |10

Same old band, brand new tunes

ethan butterfield a&c editor Hello all and welcome to the first of what I’m sure will be many band interviews for the summer (if my Editor-in-Chief allows it). Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to interview the band Hinder, who are currently engaged with their Lucky 7 Tour. Talking with drummer Cody Hanson, more details about the tour and the bands history came to light, all of which you can find below: So the band has been on the Lucky 7 tour at the moment, how has that been going?

It’s been going great; we’ve done a couple of legs with the same name. One of them was with Soil, and that was a great run.

This one [Lucky 7] is just getting started, so I think we’re goint be on our… I guess this is goint be our fourth show, maybe. Third or fourth. That’s pretty bad that I don’t even remember that [laughter]. We’re just on the beginning, just getting started, you know. Last night’s show was sold out and

Hinder

They’re the All-American nightmare.

we’re excited to be back out.

Nice, so how are you guys feeling about coming through the Great White North again?

We’re excited about it man, it’s been a while since we’ve been up into Canada. We’ve spent a lot of time up there earlier in our career and we love it up there. So, we’re definitely excited to head through there again.

Glad to have you guys come back through. Now, with regards to the band’s newest single, Halo, which came out in January, how has the reception been for that?

It’s been good, it’s been really good. No complaints here.

You know, with this cycle, we’re just kind of taking our time and releasing songs as we see fit. And, at some point, we’re hoping that’ll turn into the full album release.

But, you know, the response to “Halo” has been great, and we have another single in the pipeline, so we’re hoping to release that pretty quick.

I don’t suppose there’s any

details you could give me on that new single is there?

None just yet [laughter].

So, regarding the new, and I believe ninth, album and with all the work that Hinder has done with previous works, do you guys get that self-reflective feeling of pride on how much you’ve accomplished then and now?

Yeah, it’s pretty crazy to think about, and you know, with Marshall and I working so closely together in the studio, the Hinder stuff isn’t even half of all the songs that we write. Yeah, we have a pretty substantive catalog, but this album, coming up, as a full-length album would actually be our seventh.

Now, and this may be a difficult question, but how has the replacement of the lead singer, from Austin to Marshall gone for the band?

Oh yeah, absolutely. The crowd loves seeing someone who actually wants to be up there and, you know, actually loves being a

part of the band. Our chemistry up there is pretty awesome, and I think the fans can see that and react to it.

So you have been doing a part of this Lucky 7 Tour with Saving Abel, how has that cooperation been?

Well last night (Editor’s note: at the time of writing] was the first night we performed together. So, I mean, we’ve been friends with those guys a long time, you know, and they’ve gone through some lineup changes as well and this was the first show we’d played with the new lineup. But we’ve know the original guys in the band for a long time and we’ve been friends with them forever so it’s nice to perform together.

We already looked at the new music that Hinder has out, but in regards to the old music ‘Lips of an Angel’, ‘Get Stoned’, so on, does the band ever get tired of playing those songs?

I mean, we really don’t have that feeling, you know? We rec-

ognize that fans come to hear the songs that they know and love.

And that’s what makes us happy, is playing songs that we know fans want to hear. We’re here out on the road touring for them, so we’re more than happy to play those songs.

Other than the new album and coming through Canada, is there anything else that the future holds for Hinder right now?

I mean, like I said, we’re getting ready to release a new single.

I don’t have a date for that yet but, after that, we’re heading out to the west coast with our friends in Royal Bliss. And after that, I’ve seen several shows up on the schedule that I’m sure will turn into full blown tours, so it’s going to be a busy year.

“…what makes us happy, is playing songs that we know fans want to hear.” – Cody Hanson

11

sports

Editor: tyler meadows sports@carillonregina.com the carillon | June 13 - July 25, 2019

Cougars 2019 season previews Looking forward in green and gold anticipation brian palaschuk sports writer University of Regina sports fans are accustomed to a mixed bag of results by now, and last season was no exception. We had some team cuts, some players/games disqualified, and some tough losses during championship season. We did have a few great successes as well, but all of that is in the past now. It’s the off-season. Now is the time for big dreams and fresh hopes for a successful season.

It’s time for training camps, summer league, and final preparations to open the season in September. In all varsity sports, a new season brings new faces as rookies step up to fill the shoes of graduating veterans. For some teams this means losing key pieces, while others look for fresh blood to kickstart a strong 2019 campaign. Regardless of how last season went all the Cougar teams look to 2019 with one goal in mind: win more games.

Women’s Soccer The University of Regina women’s soccer team comes off a tough 2018 season, where they finished 3-9-2 in Canada West competition. Although that record was good enough for them to squeeze into the playoffs, they ultimately lost their Canada West Play-In to the MacEwan Griffins. This result outshines their 1-7-6 record in 2017 where they failed to qualify for the playoffs, but it’s nothing to write home about. The Cougars hope to build on last season and try to make a deeper playoff run in 2019.

Despite last year’s rocky finish, the future is looking brighter.

The Cougars are a young team, with only ten potential fourth and fifth-years on their thirty-five-player roster. One of these returning fifth-years, Sydney Langen, expects the youth to help breathe life into the Cougars 2019 season.

“We have quite a young team, so we want everyone to step up to the plate and push us veterans to be better. We have lots of pace up front who will hopefully score more goals and get us deeper into the playoffs.”

The Cougars also have a strong batch of rookies coming in for 2019, including local Regina players Olivia Gables, Natalia McCullough, Emma Davidson and Chloe Langen. These new faces will get their chance to shine at the

University of Regina

University of Regina cougars Cougars biennial tournament, an opportunity Langen thinks will be great for the team’s development.

“It’s a really good way to test out the teams – a lot of teams won’t play their starting line-up; they want to get the other girls on the pitch to get varsity experience and it gives them a chance to prove themselves.”

After their mid-August tournament, the Cougars begin their season in September.

Football It’s a new year and a newlook season for the Regina Rams both in the locker-room and on the field. The 2019 roster loses many of last year’s key pieces on offence including both starting quarterback Noah Picton, who was recently released from the Toronto Argonauts, and all-time rushing leader Atlee Simon now of the Calgary Stampeders. The Rams also lose rising second-year running back Kyle Borsa to a suspension after a positive drug test.

Borsa led Canada West with six rushing touchdowns and rushed for 613 yards in only three starts.

The team also looks to move on from a tough season off the field, where an ineligible player forced the Rams to forfeit the first five games of their season. This disqualification effectively ended their season, leaving them out of Canada West playoff competition

for the first time since 2015. Despite the difficult circumstances and the new faces, third year Offensive Lineman Andrew Becker is confident that the Rams will be able to bounce back. “[Last season] was heart-breaking, but it motivates us. The guys are ready to move on with something to prove. We are motivated by how last season went, but I don’t think that will weigh heavily on our minds. We are focused on competing this season and leaving that in the past.”

Becker also has strong confidence in the team’s ability to fill the holes left by graduations, especially after a strong spring training camp for the new-look roster.

“We have a lot of guys in the system that have been groomed for bigger roles as well as a topfive recruiting class. We have a lot of young pieces who will be asked to step up and some great players coming in.”

One of these players who will be asked to step up is second-year quarterback Josh Donnelly. In 2018, the rookie was only the third first-year in team history to start a Canada West conference game after injuries to starter Noah Picton and backup Seb Britton. Heading into his second season, look for Donnelly to take a bigger role on offense.

When it comes down to team goals for the season, for Becker, the endgame is clear.

“It comes down to winning, we’ll look to compete against all the teams we play against and clinch a playoff berth and then the end goal is the Vanier Cup.” The Rams will begin their 2019 campaign with a pre-season home game against Manitoba on Aug. 21. They begin conference competition on the road against UBC on Aug. 31 and follow that up with their home-opener on Sept. 6 against Alberta.

Cross Country This will be an exciting season for the Cougars cross country teams as it is the first year Canada West will be hosting a sperate Cross Country championship, an opportunity that is exciting for 2018 President’s Award winner Greg Hetterly.

“This is the first year we have a Can West Championship for cross country, so my personal goal is to finish in the top fifteen.”

Beyond his personal goals, as a veteran and team leader Greg has lofty goals for his team at the inaugural championships.

“Our team goal is to place higher than last year – we’ve got a young team focused on middle distance, so it’s a big jump to hit a 10km, but we hope to finish top four at Canada West.”

This young team includes outstanding recruit Ron Maclean.

The local Regina athlete, who

competed for Sheldon-Williams Collegiate, is the 2018 Canadian U-18 cross country champion. For Hetterly, this addition to the team could be a game changer.

“He’s used to running six kilometers, so it will be a jump to ten kilometers for him, but he will make an impact for sure.”

While cross country poses an exciting opportunity for the fall, Cougars athletes are still in action over the summer, albeit on the track. A contingent of Regina athletes led by U Sports rookie of the year Joely Welburn were in action in California at the Steve Scott Classic and the Oxy Invite.

Competing for Regina, incoming third year Shane Patmore finished top ten in the Long Jump at both events.

Cougars Welburn and Hetterly will be back in action on June 20 in Vancouver at the prestigious Harry Jerome Track Classic and will close out their summer season at Canadian Nationals in Montreal from July 25-28. The Cougars then officially open their cross country season at the Cougar Trot in September.

As of this article the inaugural Canada West championship dates and location are to be announced.

“We have a lot of guys in the system that have been groomed for bigger roles as well as a top-five recruiting class.” - Andrew Becker

June 13 - July 25, 2019

carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 12

sports

Regina’s UWS Team QC United Begins Their Inaugural Season Developing women’s soccer in Regina brian palaschuk sports writer Regina’s new United Women’s Soccer team QC United has begun its inaugural season, playing their first two games against the Calgary Hilltoppers.

The UWS is a dedicated developmental league that falls below the National Women’s Soccer League. Similar to the NBA Development League (now known as the G-League(, it was formed to help bridge the gap between the collegiate and professional leagues. The UWS features 23 teams grouped into four conferences. QC United will be competing in the Western conference alongside the LA Galaxy, Calgary Hilltoppers, Santa Clarita Blue Heat, and the Colorado Pride.

Some UWS teams are affiliated with universities, while others serve as development teams to the pro league, but they all have one thing in common: they must support an all-ages development program.

In the case of QC United, this means that QC United runs programming from grassroots to the adult league. These teams all serve the purpose of developing soccer talent through the program in hopes of growing the sport and perhaps one day competing for the QC United UWS team. Another feature of the UWS league is that varsity players may compete without any danger to their eligibility. This allows education to continue alongside professional development. In this QC United

is no exception, their UWS team joins the league with six University of Regina Cougar players on their roster.

Like any new team, QC United face many challenges joining an existing league, especially one filled with many talented international players. University of Regina fifth-year and QC United forward Sydney Langen understands this difficulty well.

“It’s going to be a tough season for sure because it’s our first year going into this league, but we’re ready to compete.”

It was indeed a rocky start for QC United. Their first game against the Calgary Hilltoppers at Regina Rugby Park ended in a tough 5-0 loss, with Canada U-20 team member Tanya Boychuk scoring four of the Hilltoppers five goals. Despite the loss, QC United bounced back against the Hilltoppers in Calgary the next weekend. In their second effort the end result was the same, but in a much closer 2-1 effort. In that loss, the team’s first goal was scored by University of Regina Cougar third-year Taylor Bubnick.

For Langen however, it’s not just about the results.

“Over the summer, teams and players don’t have a lot of opportunities to get touches on the ball and have the same high-quality practices and games. This is going to allow me to improve by getting more quality practice and experience playing with different girls.”

Langen believes that her time

carillon sports archive

University of Regina Women’s Soccer Team

with QC United will certainly bring valuable experience to the six University of Regina Cougars on the roster.

“There is definitely a little bit higher level of players because we don’t get to play the women in the States very often. It’s going to be a challenge because they play different styles of the game so it will be good to see how we compare against them” The opportunity to play for QC United also extends the career opportunities for varsity soccer players from across North America. The QC United roster features six Cougar athletes, but their roster also includes players from University of Saskatchewan Huskies, as well as other varsity programs in Canada and the

Saskatchewan Rattlers begin first season

United States. This career opportunity is one Langen relishes.

“Before I heard about this, university level was the ‘cut off’ in the sport for me – this definitely inspired me to push myself going into my fifth season with the Cougars, and now I can keep playing up to age 28 if I wish.”

QC United also means a lot for women’s soccer development in Regina. Langen’s ultimate hope is to inspire the next generation.

“If we can get as many youths out to our games [as possible], it will hopefully push them to play at a younger age and get them to the level we are at today.”

The UWS can also serve as a stepping-stone to higher level international competition. Al-

though UWS does not pay the players for games, they do cover living and travel expenses, allowing athletes valuable experience that could prepare them to play higher level international soccer or in the professional league in the United States.

Even considering the team’s tough start to the season, for Langen, the team’s ultimate goal is clear.

“Everyone is here to compete and win.”

QC United will be back in action at the University of Regina in a doubleheader June 14 and 15 against the visiting LA Galaxy and Santa Clarita Blue Heat.

Province’s only professional basketball team starts play tyler meadows sports editor Who the hell cares? That is the question that is asked of any new endeavour in the entertainment business. The Canadian Elite Basketball League is betting that a lot of people in this country care about basketball and are willing to spend their money on it.

The CEBL is a professional basketball league with six new franchises. Our very own Saskatchewan Rattlers, based in Saskatoon, along with the Edmonton Stingers, Fraser Valley Bandits, Guelph NightHawks, Hamilton Honey Badgers, and Niagara River Lions. The league has been very strategic in trying to create the best opportunity for Canadian players to play in a quality professional league at home. They require that each team carry 70% Canadian players and 1 U-Sport developmental player as well.

Saskatoon’s own Michael Linklater described the experience of making history with a new basketball league, “It’s really exciting, because basketball hasn’t been in Saskatoon for a very long time… to be a part of this home opener was amazing and something I will re-

member for the rest of my life”.

The Saskatchewan Rattlers have approached their business model very similarly to the Saskatchewan Rush lacrosse team, which has been raved about for the passion, excitement, and entertainment brought to the fans in a very niche sport. Saskatchewan has a reputation for being the most passionate fans in the country due to the support the Roughriders and Rush get. But the big question is if that translates to basketball as well.

I attended the CEBL’s inaugural season opener featuring the Rattlers facing the Niagara River Lions. Admittedly, I went in with low expectations, I was blown away with 3,399 fans in attendance and the building was loud for most of the night. Travion Dawson, the Rattlers leading scorer (29 points) shared this sentiment, “I thought the atmosphere was great, I didn’t expect that many fans for the first game, but it was great.”

The biggest pop from the crowd came in the third quarter when Marlon Johnson (19 points, 10 rebounds) blocked Payen-Boucard, then ran the court in transition and dunked on Dorian Pin-

courtesy Saskatchewan rattlers

son for the and-1, the fans went nuts. The Rattlers ultimately lost 97-99. In the last minute an alley-oop for Johnson cut the lead to 2 points, and in the waning seconds Bruce Massey stole the ball from River Lions guard Alex Johnson, but fumbled it around a couple times before an Alex Campbell half-court heave to win

the game fell short.

The fans who know basketball in Saskatchewan are eager to see it grow. HoopLife’s Executive Director, Habib Habib was in attendance for the game and said this about the future of the CEBL in Saskatchewan, “They are going to be the next Rush. I think they are going

to be as big, if not bigger than the Rush. Basketball is growing, even with the Raptors in the Finals that will spark the basketball interest around the country and in Saskatchewan.”

June 13 - July 25, 2019

carillonregina.com | The Carillon |

sports

Cougars and Rams Athletics to provide more drugs training

13

Renewed focus following Borsa’s positive drug testing john loeppky editor in chief The past year has seen a number of issues within the Rams football team including two suspensions, Takudzwa Timothy Brandon Gandire (for an assault charge that has since been dropped related to a fight outside of the Owl, as reported by CBC) and Kyle Borsa’s drug suspension for the prohibited substance higenamine. This follows former Rams linebacker Michael Stefanovich’s 2017 suspension for drostanolone.

In response, the Rams reaffirmed via email their commitment to the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport in a statement related to the issue.

“As a U SPORTS member school, the University of Regina will continue to have its student-athletes complete mandatory annual education provided through the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. We also periodically provide additional learning opportunities beyond the scope of the CCES programs, and this year Dr. Darren Candow - associate dean of our faculty of kinesiology & health studies - will be speaking to our student-athletes about supplements.

“At the moment, we have no plans for additional education beyond the mandatory CCES program and Dr. Candow’s presentation to our student-athletes.”

In the report detailing Borsa’s suspension, the athlete’s argument noted that “The anti-doping education received by the Athlete was the most basic and minimum.

He was told to complete it so he could play, and he did. There was no follow up, no questions, no assessment as to what he learned or anything of that nature.”

In response, in the 27-page decision, the governing body found Borsa to have not done his research.

“Here, the Athlete had not read the label or otherwise taken any steps to ascertain the ingredients with the supplement. He had not cross-checked what was on the list with the Prohibited List. He had not done any internet search of the product. He had taken no steps to ensure the product was reliably sourced beyond buying it at a retail store instead of online. There, he relied upon the advice of the clerk the Athlete believed had a kinesiology degree, ‘whatever good that was’,

Pixabay

Performance enhancing drugs

who suggested the store did not sell anything that was banned.”

The report also pointed to Borsa’s negligence in relation to the rules put forward by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.

“As to the degree of risk, athletes are expressly warned regarding the risks of supplements and so know (or ought to know) that they take a risk from an antidoping perspective when using supplements. Athletes are also informed how to mitigate these risks by using products that have an NSF label or NSF certification. The Allmax Impact Igniter that the Athlete purchased and used did not include such a label and was not NSF certified. As such, not only should the Athlete have been aware of the risks associated with supplement use, but he should have also been aware that there was a heightened risk when using Allmax Impact Ignit-

er because it did not contain an NSF label or indication that it was NSF certified.”

Lisa Robertson, the University of Regina’s director of sport, community engagement and athlete development, noted that the program does focus on new themes every year at athlete orientation and that this year would have a focus on supplements.

“Going into last season with the legalization of marijuana at our orientation we did some education around cannabis and cannabis in sport. So, each year we pick a subject to address with the student athletes but they do the full education every year through CCES.” Robertson did confirm, having been read parts of Borsa’s report, that the University of Regina does not follow up on the mandatory CCES training required of U Sports athletes.

“We don’t do any follow up. I guess if there’s questions around the CCES education that’s a question for CCES not necessarily for me to speak to.”

“When we are notified I get in touch with the coach and then we get in touch with the athlete to tell them in person. What I normally do is encourage them to follow up with the CCES because they are very, very good at walking the athlete through [them] having a better understanding of the steps that they have to them.”

Scott Julé, manager of sport sciences services at the Sport Medicine and Science Council of Saskatchewan, which works closely with Sask. Sport, thinks that there are a number of issues related to CCES and doping violations that university athletes need to be aware of.

Julé said that the council would be providing training to

the Rams in August related to training already provided by CCES and noted that the Rams had previously accessed their services a number of years earlier.

“We don’t do any follow up. I guess if there’s questions around the CCES education that’s a question for CCES not necessarily for me to speak to.” - Lisa Roberts

June 13 - July 25, 2019

sports

carillonregina.com | The Carillon |

University partners with TDF Sports Nutrition

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University of Regina to use TDF sports nutrition elisabeth sahlmueller staff writer Although sport nutrition is essential for all athletes in order to ensure both their best athletic performance and chance for success, with hectic schedules involving hours of rigorous training, practice, and competition it can be difficult to not only consume the most beneficial food, but also the adequate amount. As a result, many athletes turn to various sport nutrition supplements for extra help.

There is a lack of government regulation over sport nutrition supplements, so consuming them can sometimes cause more problems for the athlete especially when they contain substances which are allergenic, banned or hazardous to individuals’ overall health and sport activity. In certain circumstances substances are intentionally added, but in other cases, products can be contaminated as a result of faulty manufacturing, or an unclear material supply. Most often, the athlete is unaware that they have consumed any harmful or banned substances until they complete a drug test following their competition and find themselves suspended from their sporting event.

Despite the harmful and dangerous sport nutrition supplements which do exist, there are some companies which have put forth NSF certified sport nutrition products, meaning they meet national health and safety standards. One example is TDF Sports Nutrition, formerly referred to as The Doctors Formula, a Canadian company, with a new and innovative take on sports nutrition, which the University of Regina recently entered into a partnership with at the beginning of May. TDF Sports Nutrition was co-founded by Dr. Darren Burke, and TJ Galiardi, two long-time friends, both with a vast amount of experience and knowledge in sport, nutrition, and health. In 2008, Dr. Burke, a former athlete, scientist, and entrepreneur, became the first individual to develop and create a sports nutrition supplement brand, Rivalus, for athletes competing in any drug tested sports.

After selling his company five years later, in 2013, Burke turned his attention towards developing sports nutrition supplements that were not just plant-based, but also environmentally sustainable.

This shift in focus encouraged Burke to join with TJ Galiardi, a former NHL hockey player,

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Sports nutrition and hydration

who has played on four different teams throughout his professional career, including the Calgary Flames and the Winnipeg Jets.

Galiardi was one of the first hockey players to adopt a vegan lifestyle and is passionate about environmental and cruelty-free initiatives.

Since its formation on Aug.t 1, 2018, Burke and Galiardi’s company has gained great prestige within the sport nutrition supplement market. Not only are their products entirely ‘clean’, according to NSF certifications, but they’re also both 100% vegan and completely environmentally sustainable. All TDF sports nutrition supplements are made from only fresh fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, peaches, melons, acai fruit, pineapple, and kiwi, from farms run by “socially conscious grocers.” Additionally, TDFs’ 100 per cent vegan base allows for a high level of environmental sustainability. According to Galiardi, all TDF products “are developed through sustainable nutrition technology that reduces waste, greenhouse gases, and water loss,” according to their website.

While Burke and Galiardi are co-founders of TDF, their products couldn’t have been developed without help from multi-

ple scientific, medical, nutritional and exercise advisors, including Dr. Darren Candow, kinesiology professor and associate dean for Graduate Studies and Research at the University of Regina.

Candow said that he attended graduate school with Dr. Burke and because of their former connection and “similar interest in sport nutrition and ergogenic acids,” Dr. Candow was “asked to join TDF Sports as their Chief Scientific Officer” where he had a major role in overseeing “product development and effectiveness.”

Currently TDF produces four products, three of which, according to Dr. Candow, have been “formulated based on evidence-based research” and “contain no containments or compounds.” While each product has its own intended focus and proper usage, in general, they aim to supplement an athlete’s diet to not only build and maintain muscle strength, but also provide energy, endurance and hydration before, during and after working out to help athletes reach their full athletic potential.

Plant Strong Protein, made “from pumpkin, brown rice and peas,” works as a dietary addition and “convenient strategy” which allows an athletic individ-

ual to not only “increase muscle recovery following exercise,” but also helps “exercising individuals consume [their] daily protein requirements, [of roughly] 1.6-2.2 grams/kg of [their] body weight [in] protein per day.”

The second product, Just Creatine combines “three aminio acids: arginine, glycine and methionine [ all of which] come from plant sources” and help increase “muscle mass, strength, endurance, power, muscle recovery and delay fatigue.” Lastly, also made from “three amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine) [all derived] from corn, Branched- chain amino acids, or BCAA[s], [help] decrease muscle soreness post-exercise.”

As a result of the sport, nutrition and health benefits that can be gained from TDF’s products, it is unsurprising that this company has gained significant support from the athletic community. Athletes such as Alysia Rissling, Canadian Olympic bobsledder, Jordan Reaves, defensive lineman for the Saskatchewan RoughRiders and Jill Saulnier, hockey forward for Team Canada. As well as through partnerships with various institutions, including “a multi-year agreement” with the University of Regina.

This partnership began, as Lisa Robertson, the director of sport, community engagement and athlete development at the University explained to me, when “TDF approached the University with an opportunity to partner with a plant-based, NSF certified supplement company.”

From there an extensive review of the product took place by both the AHPI director and Kinesiology faculty members and it was agreed upon that partnering with TDF Sports, “ would be a benefit to [all University of Regina] student-athletes.”

Despite the health and sports benefits of TDF Sports Nutrition products, Robertson wants to stress that this partnership is not a mandate for student usage, since it is up to the student-athlete to decide for themselves whether they wish to use the supplements.

Instead the aim of this partnership is to “ensure clean, healthy sport for all [by] simply providing affordable access to a safe, clean, NSF-certified product that [student-athletes] may choose to use.”

“Not only are their products entirely ‘clean’ according to NSF certifications, but they’re also both 100% vegan and completely environmentally sustainable.”

op-ed

15 Editor: op-ed@carillonregina.com the carillon | June 13 - July 25, 2019

Local media failing at covering white supremacy

Few symbols in history are as fraught with meaning as Hitler’s swastika. For twelve years the Nazi flag flew, spreading across Europe like a blood stain, and when it arrived in your country, your village, in the arms of jackbooted soldiers, it heralded nothing but terror and murder. It is bound so inextricably to the racism and violence of the Nazi party, its meaning so singular, that it is now banned in Germany. In the 74 years since it last flew as a national flag, that meaning has not changed, and although the swastika itself was appropriated

by Hitler from Hindu culture, in the context of the Nazi banner, or graffiti scrawled on a synagogue wall, there is no once-pure cultural meaning of the symbol to be reclaimed. There is only one reason to fly the Nazi flag: to threaten and intimidate those who were once targets of the regime.

This is what makes the mincing, cowardly approach that Saskatchewan news media has taken to covering the story of the Kelliher man who refused to be cowed by his neighbour’s open embrace of white nationalist iconography so grotesque. After seeing his neighbour raise the Confederate and Nazi flags over his home, and after the RCMP did little more than pay a friendly visit to “voice community concerns” (Leader-Post, May 14, no byline) and receive verbal confirmation that the racist would remove his racist icons at some point when the weather was more pleasant, an Indigenous resident took matters into his own hands, removing the flags and torching them.

There is much that can and should be said about the RCMPs coddling of the racist, about Canada’s laws regarding the dis-

play of hateful insignia, as well as the mayor of Kelliher’s inability to understand that racist threats in the form of violent iconography cannot be chalked up to an individual being “harebrained,” but what struck me most about this story was the media’s complete abdication of their responsibility to accurately convey the serious threat that the open embrace and display of Nazi – and Confederate – symbols poses to a community.

“The swastika is a symbol with many styles and meanings,” the Leader-Post reported, reading like a history assignment from the world’s most un-woke sixth grader. “[It] is commonly seen to represent racial supremacism.” In their initial reporting of the situation – before the flags were torched, but after photos of them had exploded on social media – they used the words “symbols of hate” in quotations, as though it was not an objective fact that the Nazi flag is symbolic of humanity’s most depraved manifestations of hatred, and mournfully reported that the racist had “his own personal struggles.”

CBC hardly managed better, headlining their story about the incident “RCMP investigate alleged theft and burning of Nazi flag,” like the critical takeaway was that someone’s yard décor had been interfered with. CBC Saskatchewan ultimately published a story about Holocaust survivor and current Kelliher resident Gerrit de Gooijer and his horror and disgust at seeing the flag that brought such terror and violence hoisted over his neighbour’s house.

But the May 19 story quickly pivoted to an explanation of how “well-regarded” the family who owns the home is in the com-

munity, adding that the man who hoisted the flag is “troubled,” as though it is somehow natural for someone who is troubled to turn to racism and hate, when in reality, millions of “troubled” people manage not to fly the swastika over their house.

CTV, Global, and the national media all followed the same arc, with most reports earnestly adding that it is “not illegal” to fly the Nazi flag. In doing so, they falsely equate the law with justice, and suggest that for something to be legal, that must also make it right. They forget that all the atrocities committed under the Nazi banner were committed within the bounds of law.

None of the stories mentioned the rapid increase in hate groups like Soldiers of Odin, as well as more insidious groups like United We Roll , who embrace violent, xenophobic rhetoric, and are in turn embraced by the Conservative Party of Canada. None commented on Statistics Canada’s finding that racial hate crimes, ranging from woman having their hijabs pulled off, to the arguably racially motivated murder of Anishinaabe woman Barbara Kentner in 2017, to the 2016 mosque shooting in Quebec, are on a steep rise. None of them interviewed experts on the psychological impact that seeing hateful iconography has on those whom it targets, nor did they report the Canadian Anti-Hate Group’s finding that the radicalization process moves quickly from consuming hateful material and embracing racist symbolism to organizing in real life. None of the stories reported on Saskatchewan’s long history with extremist racism, the way the Klan flourished here less than 100 years ago.

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Hate is alive and well in Canada, and is not abstract, but deadly. Anti-Semitic and Islamophobic violence is burgeoning in this country. New trespassing laws and carbines in the hands of conservation officers threaten the lives of Indigenous people in this province, particularly in rural regions like Kelliher, near the Muskowekwan First Nation. And yet the major news outlets refuse to call someone or something that is unequivocally racist, racist. They must hedge their statements with “alleged,” they must coddle and excuse racists by stressing that they’re “troubled.” And yet they would not take that kind of care with the identity of the man who torched the racist banner, publishing his name, his photo, his race, and his home community..

In this, and in all environments, the media has an ethical duty to take all acts of hatred – including the open embrace of icons of hatred – seriously. They have a professional obligation to provide readers with critical context to help them see clearly how local events fit into the wider picture of the state of the country and the world. They must call racism, white supremacy, and hatred by name. In this, the mainstream media in Saskatchewan has utterly failed.

sara birrell news editor

June 13 - July 25, 2019

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op-ed

An honest conversation about abortion A note on wording: you may notice that I use language like “people experiencing pregnancy” and “parent” instead of “mothers” and “women” when I talk about abortion. This is not because I don’t believe abortion is not a women’s rights issue; of course it is. Anti-abortion legislation can be as robust as it is because of misogyny, and women are by an overwhelming majority the people who suffer because of it.

However, it must be acknowledged that there are in fact men and nonbinary people who can and do experience pregnancy.

This does not make this less of a women’s rights issue, and “women’s rights issue” also doesn’t mean all women experience pregnancy. Transgender healthcare is a serious battle in Canada and around the world, so to exclude trans people from a discussion of rights in healthcare would be a mistake.

We need to talk about abortion. The fight to challenge the recent slew of anti-abortion legislation in the south of the US – which seems to be spreading like a wildfire and threatens vulnerable people living with a pregnancy – is the battle on the front lines and our most urgent priority, and we need to put as much of our weight as we can behind it. But the same resistant arguments keep coming up when individuals or organizations try to stand up for reproductive freedom, so although these are things we should have been unpacking before the stakes were so high, we have new allies to gain by honestly engaging with the topic.

Firstly, this is not something that is only relevant in the United States. A coworker here at the Carillon told me this weekend that their day was interrupted by a vocal Pro-Life gathering downtown here in Regina. Legislation and wide-reaching political conversations have real effects on communities miles away, inspiring people to be louder and bolder. Rationalizing that “here in Canada things are different” will not protect us from how much this matters.

Anti-abortion laws have already spread through a handful of states and, if left unchallenged, they will reach us. So, whether you support abortion or not, you need to be listening.

I hope that people who do oppose abortion will read this, because I don’t think that it’s impossible for us to have a conversation, and the Pro-Life movement often makes me wonder if they have been listening at all. I like to think I understand where the resistance to abortion comes from; the idea of killing and the thought that it could be legislated as acceptable upsets me too. I went vegetarian when I was ten years old because of my belief that life was sacred—the Hebrew name I chose for myself, Chaya, comes from the word for life. Many people who support abortion aren’t religious or otherwise don’t think it’s relevant where a human life begins and ends – and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that – but I actually do care, quite a bit. I don’t think those beliefs are at odds.

I agree that it always matters when a life ends, whether that life is a fully formed person or an animal or just a few cells trying to grow, and I agree that it’s good for people to feel compassion for things had the potential to live. I don’t think that the

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“pro-life/pro-choice” debate is actually about whether human life is valuable, though. Maybe not everyone has the same opinion about that, but that’s not what we should be arguing about. When I talk about abortion and the need for it to be safe and legal, I’m actually also advocating for a human life and, in addition, for human dignity, human safety – things that (in a religious context or not) I believe human life is necessarily connected with.

If we are talking about loving and caring for all life, we need to talk about legalizing abortion. It is time to face an urgent reality: that people who really, really want and need abortions are going to get them one way or another. Some people cannot be pregnant. They can’t even talk about being pregnant – they can’t even think about it.

And for people who are impoverished, for people who have been sexually assaulted, for people who risk serious abuse in their

living situation or unemployment, even if medically we can’t be sure that a pregnancy will result in death, it’s highly possible that giving birth will kill both parent and child through some means. We can think about helping people like this through adoption programs, but that isn’t going to be possible in every case when we consider the barriers marginalized people have to accessing care.

These people will have abortions in an attempt to save their lives, and before abortion was legalized for the first time, those unsafe abortions were the only option.

In developing countries this still kills; according to the World Health Organization, over 22,000 a year die from unsafe abortions, and those who don’t die suffer long-term health complications. The huge, systemic issues surrounding those abortions cannot be solved short-term. Providing safe abortions is the only way to literally save lives in those cases.

“I hope that people who do oppose abortion will read this, because I don’t think that it’s impossible for us to have a conversation.” - Marty Grande-Sherbert

Even if a pregnant person’s life is not in danger, forcing a person to give birth to a baby they do not want (especially one formed by sexual assault) is tantamount to torture. As someone who very much does not want to be pregnant or give birth, the thought of doing so without my consent is sickening. There is nothing about doing that to another person that respects or honours human rights and dignity. I know that these arguments should not always be about our spiritual beliefs, but if you believe the human body is a divine creation, I cannot defend treating it like an emotionless breeding ground. Of course we can grieve lives that never got to be – I know that many people who have abortions do – but we cannot allow this kind of treatment to be legal. This only scratches the surface of what fully formed people, with families and livelihoods, might have to endure if we do not change our priorities now.

marty grande-sherbert staff writer

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June 13 - July 25, 2019

The underlying significance of trophies

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Although trophies, medals, and plaques provide public recognition for an individual, group, or team’s academic, artistic, or athletic success, they are more significant because of what they represent. I may just be an overly sentimental individual, but for me, each time I received a medal, trophy, or was honored with my name inscribed on a plaque for an academic or athletic accomplishment, I was filled with a sense of pride, not just because of what I had achieved, but because of all I had done and gone through to get to that point. Major success is not achieved instantly or easily, but is only possible with a great deal of effort, time, practice, struggle, commitment, and dedication. For any athlete, trophies, medals, and plaques represent the literal blood, sweat, and tears, both of pain and joy which have significantly contributed to their resulting victory. They symbolize the good and tough moments, such as reaching minor goals, the honor of representing your school, the hours spent practicing and training, as well as the doubt, setbacks, and injuries the individual experienced, endured, and conquered to reach that final moment of triumph. Unfortunately, sometimes the significance of such items is overlooked or not fully understood by others, which leads to disrespectful and insulting actions.

On May 24th, a large collection of old University of Regina wrestling trophies, medals, and plaques were discovered by a previous Cougar wrestler in a garbage bin outside of the University of Regina’s Centre for Kinesiology health and sport. Among the found items were two MVP trophies, a Canada West trophy, multiple Cougar Invitational Tournament plaques, as well as some Saskatchewan Amateur Wrestling Association medals. Upset and insulted by

his discovery, but determined to prevent the University of Regina’s wrestling legacy from being forgotten, the previous Cougar wrestler donated the items to Sask Sport, who will display them in the Regina Sports Hall of Fame.

In the weeks following this discovery, a great deal of negative responses have emerged from both past University of Regina wrestlers and fans, even more so after it was acknowledged that these valuable items were intentionally discarded because there wasn’t enough space to store them during the current renovation at the University of Regina’s Fitness and Lifestyle Centre. Although I understand that space is limited, especially during renovation, I believe that not only was it a poor and inconsiderate decision to throw out these valuable objects, but also that this situation could have been handled in a better and more respectful manner.

Based on the significant symbolism embodied in these physical items, it is not surprising that some individuals would be upset by the university’s decision. Many past University of Regina wrestlers have spoken out expressing their anger and disappointment, including Inga Hammer. Although Hammer never felt that the wrestling team’s success was fully acknowledged, she never would have thought the awards which had been earned through “countless hours of effort,” would be thrown out because “you [just] assume that an award is... longstanding and... will last beyond your athletic career.”

Other athletes also feel that discarding these items adds further insult since the wrestling team was cut last year. According to the previous cougar wrestler Amber Wiebe (Speaking to Leader-Post reporter

and Carillon alumnus Ethan Williams), the University’s decision suggests that “it’s not really a priority for [the University of Regina]” to preserve its wrestling legacy. The wrestling team was cut, “so they don’t have a use for [these items] anymore.” I strongly agree. Getting rid of them so soon after the wrestling team was cancelled is not only disrespectful, but also gives the impression that the university doesn’t care about the success and achievements of its previous wrestlers.

Despite the negative responses, the dean of the faculty of kinesiology and health studies, Harold Riemer, feels he made the best choice considering the lack of available storage space within the Kinesiology building. According to Riemer (speaking to CJME, among others), “very, very little storage space [exists] in this building and any [that does] is effectively full.”

Originally, these trophies, medals, and plaques were displayed within the wrestling teams’ locker room, but once the team was cut, they were moved to the offices of the former wrestling coaches. Riemer claims that both former wrestling coaches were contacted a year ago to come clean out their offices, but only one actually did. However, Dane Bueckert, a former wrestler, spoke to his past wrestling coach (as noted by Global News), Dan McGee, who denied being notified, so clearly there was a major miscommunication problem.

Additionally, Riemer disagrees with the perception that discarding these items eliminates their overall significant meaning, as well as the wrestling teams’ past success and accomplishments. To him (as he said to Global) “the award hasn’t disappeared [only] the emblem of that award has changed” since the record of achievement isn’t lost or going unnoticed. In 2008, new plaques

were created commemorating the wrestling teams’ accomplishments which all the old information was transferred over onto.

While it may be true that the information was not lost, the value and significance of these items is based on what they represent rather than on the informational recorded. Instead of throwing these items into the garbage, other alternatives should have been considered first. An effort should have been made to ensure that coach McGee’s contact info was up to date, so he could come and pick up the items from the offices. In the circumstance that the coaches did not want the items, they should have been offered to former Cougar wrestlers and then any interested University of Regina students, staff, and alumni. Lastly, they should have been offered to somewhere like Sask Sport to be displayed, rather than discarded.

Plaques, medals, and trophies have special significance to those who earned them and throwing them out is basically saying none of that matters. I sincerely hope that the University of Regina, or any university for that matter, considers the significance of the items the next time they need to make space during a renovation project.

elisabeth sahlmueller staff writer

June 13 - July 25, 2019

op-ed

Let’s talk about construction

It’s no secret to any Saskatchewan resident that summertime is construction time – one of the primary seasons of the country.

While it is irritating that construction sites pop up all over the city during the one time of year when Regina roads aren’t slicked with ice, normally they don’t pose too much of an obstruction. That is, until this year.

For some reason, the City of Regina thought that closing down chunks of almost every major road was an effective way to handle construction season. At any given time, pieces of Ring Road, Victoria Avenue, Lewvan Drive, Dewdney Avenue, and Albert Street (among others) were restricted. Many Regina residents vocalized their complaints with the city, claiming that this was a result of poor planning and management that city staff should take into consideration for future construction plans.

It is absolutely ridiculous for the city to continue to close down major routes while others are under construction. People like myself would find ways to avoid construction to discover days later that, yet again, the City of Regina would be closing down another section of that route for necessary construction.

Claiming that navigating through traffic can be frustrating, as mayor Michael Fougere said to Global News , understates how ridiculous these decisions are. Just a few weeks ago, I watched as an ambulance attempted to manoeuvre through a heavily backed-up area of construction during morning traffic. I was horrified thinking about just how long an ambulance with sirens blazing was going to be stuck at a standstill. The worst part was this ambu-

lance couldn’t have taken a better route, as every feasible one was also blocked off for other construction projects.

Traffic issues are more than just frustrating. They are an additional pressure and a problem for everyday life in the city. Traffic is inconsistent, which creates an issue for people going to work. People try to work around construction routes to find new alternatives, only for those to be shut down as well. The City of Regina can only pin the problems on citizens for so long before taking actual accountability for their poor planning.

Worst of all, however, is how the City of Regina responded to the justified and angry complaints of its citizens by misrepresenting arguments and not addressing the actual concerns at hand. Michael Fougere represented the public’s concerns as frustration that construction needs to be completed at all, which is far from reality.

The issues Regina drivers have with the current construction setup has absolutely nothing to do with the actual need for construction. People are fairly understanding that roads need to be maintained for safety, and we can accept that, but the issue at hand is the planning and timing for these construction projects.

Instead of addressing the concerns as to why the city decided to close down almost every major street at the same time during construction season, the City of Regina made it look like the residents of the city were complaining that construction was happening at all. All citizens are asking for is transparency in how the city selects which areas are to be fixed and when, and

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to that question we have yet to receive an answer.

To make matters worse, most of these construction projects are no small feat, meaning that these roads will be closed and restricted for anywhere from a month to 12 weeks—for many people, a majority, if not all, of their summer.

Now, many of Regina residents are bringing attention to how behind the city is on how it handles construction – listing how other cities have 24/7 construction crews, crews that only work at night, and crews that work on weekends to maximize work and lessen the amount of time a route is under construction.

In fact, some Regina residents living in the east end by Arcola have claimed that construction blockages are actually making travel more dangerous and more inconvenient rather than effective, as the city hoped their setups would be. Instead, residents say that the blockades are actually making traffic flow even worse.

The backlash has generated a reaction from Fougere, saying that he recognizes that this year’s construction needs are unique and that planning should be handled differently going forward. He also noted in a Global News interview that they were going to look into 24-hour crews in the future and for appropriate projects.

While the dust seems to be settling and the backlash dies down, the fact remains that the 2019 construction season is another example of poor planning on the City of Regina’s end. Whether or not they are actually considering 24/7 work crews will become apparent in time, as their claim

that they will use the measure ‘when appropriate’ leaves the decision up to their own discretion. After all, what if they don’t deem a single opportunity as ‘appropriate’?

The truth of the matter is that the City of Regina struggles with listening to the thoughts of its people and taking their requests seriously. Instead, Regina seems to be all about PR, wanting to appear as though everything is under control despite complaints from their residents. Through this ordeal, it seems that appearing as though things are in order means more than actually keeping things in order.

At the end of the day, this is yet another example of the City of Regina being faced with criticism and refusing to properly address it. While there is still hope for the city using this summer as an example for future planning endeavours, avoiding answering the questions the people want to know and refusing to take the proper accountability clearly generated more problems than the city originally anticipated.

Hopefully, leading into the future, the City of Regina will take the thoughts of their people into consideration and will weigh it heavier than how they are seen in the eyes of the public.

taylor balfour op ed editor

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Editor: sarah carrier & kate thiessen graphics@carillonregina.com the carillon | June 13 - July 25, 2019

letters Homophobia Around 1.6 million young people in the United States suffer from homelessness after “coming out of the closet.” 46 per cent percent are young people running away after their family rejected them. 43 per cent were forced out of their homes by their own parents. This is an alarming rate of young people who are homeless just for being who they are. They could also be rejected because according to their family’s religion, they are then labeled as a sinner.

I just think that it is wrong to label someone as a sinner for being true to themselves because I think that if you were not to be true to your sexual orientation, it could cause harm. I also think it is ignorant to outcast someone because your religion says it is a sin. It should be that if you’re going to be ignorant and hurtful toward someone because of their sexual orientation, that should be labeled a sin.

In the end, we are all human, and having the 2SLGBTQIA+ community makes our lives more diverse and that should be seen as a beautiful thing. They should not be discriminated against. They cannot do the same things as a straight couple, and I find that to be very sad. I say that because there is adoption in Canada, and there are 45,000 orphans in Canada, and in my opinion those children would love that have parents that love, care, cherish, and care for them.

No matter what relationship two people are in, they are as capable of raising children as a couple. The reason is that there can be straight couples that may not be equipped to have children and that goes the same for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Just because that person is gay,

straight, bisexual, transgender, or a lesbian, they all have the potential to be amazing parents. Just because of the relationship that a person is in causes them to not be able to procreate means nothing, as there are straight people that also cannot have children.

Just because they may not be able to have children of their own does not mean that they can’t be parents. As I said earlier, they can still be awesome parents and how a person identifies should be respected.

shannyn hamm contributor

carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 20 Editor: sarah carrier & kate thiessen multimedia@carillonregina.com the carillon | June 13 - July 25, 2018