the carillon
62
the staff editor-in-chief editor@carillonregina.com
The University of Regina Students’ Newspaper Since 1962 September 6 - September 11, 2019 | Volume 62, Issue 3 | carillonregina.com
john loeppky
executive director jacob nelson business@carillonregina.com
cover
production manager jeremy davis production@carillonregina.com advertising manager advertising@carillonregina.com
Saskatchewan sports fans have lots to celebrate this week. Not only did the Riders beat the Bombers during the Labour Day Classic but the Rams scored a whopping 46 - 16 victory over UBCs ThunderBirds. Boasting aside, cheers to the Ubyssey (UBC’s student paper) and their great photographer for these shots of the game. Lastly, we’re hiring. If you’re interested in multimedia shoot us an email with your reel, cover letter, and resume, to editor@carillonregina.com
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technical editor frank nordstrom carillontechnical@carillonregina.com multimedia Graphics editors kate thiessen sarah carrier multimedia@carillonregina.com graphics@carillonregina.com copy editor hannah senicar copyeditor@carillonregina.com news editor news@carillonregina.com
sara birrell
a&c editor ethan butterfield aandc@carillonregina.com sports editor tyler meadows sports@carillonregina.com taylor balfour
distro manager jon stricker distribution@carillonregina.com staff writer
elisabeth sahlmueller
staff writer
marty grande - sherbert
news writer
ben schneider
a&c writer sports writer
holly worby
news
op-ed editor op-ed@carillonregina.com
photos
cover..... salomon micko benrimoh / sarah carrier page 2........................... haley klassen news.............................. sarah carrier a&c......... courtesy of shake the lake sports... salomon micko benrimoh op-ed...................................... pixabay
brian palaschuk
Greta gettin’ um
contributors
errata
Last issues article on country thunder was mistakenly reprinted.
Page 6
Swedish invasion set to address the UN
salomon micko benrimoh, olivia wiens, B,, diana pfeifer, andrew andrews and haley klassen
the paper
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a&c
THE CARILLON BOARD OF DIRECTORS Erickka Patmore, Lindsay Holitzki, Maddie Ouelette, Dustin Smith. John Loeppky, Jacob Nelson, and Ethan Butterfield
The Carillon welcomes contributions.
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.
Page 8
Take a spin through their new menu.
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.
The owl
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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.
Rams crush Thunderbirds
Page 11
They beat UBCs Thunderbirds 46 to 16.
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
Censorship in media
Page 15
Diana Pfeifer weights in on the reaction to Unplanned’s screening.
in other news
Our editor-in-chief got hitched. Said Editor-in-chief will also be moderating a debate between URSU and U of R admin.
news
3 Editor: sara birrell news@carillonregina.com the carillon | September 5 - September 11, 2019
University of Regina welcomes students
This year’s welcome fest features food and fun
sara birrell news editor This week the University of Regina welcomed more than 15,000 students to the campus, with many of them arriving for the annual move-in weekend. Students and their families got settled in one of the five on-campus residences (plus the Pride Centre’s Colourful Campus House for 2SLGBTQQIA students), getting to know each other and the lay of the land, in what is, for many, their first time away from home. This year there is a line-up of entertainment and activities planned throughout the week to kick off the 2019/20 school
year. The University’s annual Welcome Week celebrations are an opportunity for new and returning students to get to know each other and find out about clubs and activities available to them on campus. Societies on the Green – where academic and social clubs set up on the quad to attract new recruits – gives students the opportunity to find communities of people who share their interests and academic goals. “The societies have all signed up ahead of time so students can get to know them,” said Jessica Rusitch, who is co-ordinating her first ever Welcome Week this year. There are nearly 200
on-campus clubs registered with URSU Vibe – the students’ union’s online hub for all things social. Between Societies on the Green and Vibe, new and returning students can find a club for just about anything – from Amnesty International to the Biology Undergrad Society (BUGS) to the Dungeons and Dragons Club. There are plenty of Welcome Week-specific events too, said Rusitch. “We have the rock wall, the Euro bungee, and the Welcome-fest concert,” which will be held on Wednesday. In the past the concert has been held on the weekend, but Rusitch says they’ve pushed it to Wednesday – the first day of
classes – to take advantage of the fact that more students will be on campus. Life of Kai and Flatland Funk will be playing at what has been dubbed the “Glow Fest.” And for those who are just hungry, there are Red Frog pancake breakfasts on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Along with the fun, there are practical sessions for students that will go on through the entire month of September, including “Conquering yoUR First Semester” (we see what you did there and we don’t like it), “Navigating Your Syllabus” (because you WILL be told “it’s on the syllabus”), and “Effective Note Taking” (because there’s nothing worse
Sarah Carrier
U of R Residences
than sitting down to review your notes and realizing that they’re completely incomprehensible). All told the month of September will be full of great opportunities for students to settle in on campus, get in the swing of classes, and try and get on track before it’s already time for mid-terms. Faraz Khan, who is returning for his second year at the U of R, said that when it comes to starting the year off on the right foot, he appreciates the Welcome Week atmosphere. “The campus is kind of bustling,, students are engaged, having fun with activities.” There are other perks as well. “Last year we got mini-donuts.”
“The campus is kind of bustling. Students are engaged, having fun with activities.” - Faraz Khan, student
September 5 - September 11, 2019
carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 4
news
RPIRG prepares to perplex students with (Dis) orientation Week
RPIRG to host welcome workshops
ben schneider news writer The University of Regina 2019 fall semester is officially in full swing and Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG), your on-campus home for all things social justice, is ready to kick start September with this year’s edition of (Dis)orientation Week, Sept, 9-12. Since Julian Wotherspoon stepped into her role as the Outreach and Events Coordinator at RPIRG, the second week of September has been slotted as (Dis)orientation week, a former RPIRG tradition that Wotherspoon discovered in the non-profit’s archives and has brought back for a new generation of U of R students. Wotherspoon said that, Over the course of the week, various free workshops will be held with the aim of challenging what students think they already know. “Once you’ve oriented yourself to the campus and you have your bearings, University is also a really great opportunity to unlearn things, to disorient yourself, and to branch out and learn new things.” This year the schedule is as follows: “Food Justice Potluck & Community Conversation” on
Sarah Carrier
PRIRG offices
Monday, Sept. 9 from 3-5 p.m. at the Green Patch Garden (Research & Innovation Centre Atrium should weather interfere), “Media Literacy & DIY Journalism” on Wednesday, Sept. 11, from 12-2 p.m. in Education Building Room 209 and “Student Fight for $15 Minimum Wage” on Thursday, Sept. 12 from 12-2 p.m. in Riddell Centre room 286. Monday’s event, Food Justice Potluck & Community Conversation, should interest students and community members who are concerned about the viable nutrition options available on campus, said Wotherspoon. “Nutrition [on campus] is not easily accessible. It’s not healthy in a social way, it’s not quality in a physical way and it’s not accessible financially.”. The university’s current food services contract holder, Chartwells, has come under fire numerous times for its failure to meet expectations regarding nutritious selections, sanitation, and the distribution and proper labelling of Halal and non-Halal meats, said Wotherspoon. “We have a campus that is not built; it’s not easy to share food in a communal way.” RPIRG’s
outreach and events coordinator spoke to the challenge of finding catering, with Chartwells being one of the only options aside from the Student Union, which is available in certain circumstances. It is also worth mentioning that the University has two communal kitchens, but as Wotherspoon notes, “The hoops that you have to jump through to actually use [the kitchens], make them really inaccessible.” The Food Justice event promises conversations around sustainability, food security for students, as well as what it means to live and study on campus with the food systems that are currently in place. Two days later, on Wednesday the eleventh,, RPIRG will host a Media Literacy & DIY Journalism workshop. This second (Dis) orientation event will help answer questions such as “where do I get my news?” and “how can I distinguish a reliable source from the overwhelming flood of what we deem ‘news’?” as well as “whose right is it to determine what warrants reporting?” and “how might that create an inequity in the stories we read?” The workshop also aims to open students’ eyes to the world of student journalism and
the possibility of creativity, exploration, and investigation. To close the week, the Student Fight for $15 Minimum Wage workshop will take place on Thursday afternoon. This workshop will be put on by a group of organizers who are working to bring awareness to the need for a more realistic minimum wage in Saskatchewan. Currently, our province has the lowest minimum wage in Canada, sitting at $11.06 an hour. This amount is set to increase by just 30 cents this October. Comparatively, British Columbia’s minimum wage is set to increase from $13.85 to $15.20 by June 2021 and Ontario presently sits at an even $14. RPIRG’s goal for this workshop is “to give students a really tangible working example of what organized activism could look like and the success that [this group] has had.” Wotherspoon emphasized, “[Minimum wage] is one of those things that very heavily affects students, who are often working numerous jobs in order to pay their way through school and so I think we really need to be mobilizing on this as students who are often taking these minimum wage jobs that are insufficient.”
Also on the horizon for RPIRG this semester are the results from the Our Turn survey from the last academic year, the focus of which centred around the elimination of rape culture on campus. As well, RPIRG’s Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 19 and will feature a hands-on banner-making workshop as well to help out with all of your activism needs.
“Once you’ve oriented yourself to the campus and you have your bearings, University is also a really great opportunity to unlearn things, to disorient yourself and to branch out and learn new things.” –Julian Wotherspoon
September 5 - September 11, 2019
Tolls
carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 5
news
Bing, bong, the summer’s dead john leoppky editor-in-chief & sara birrell news editor Gurinder Singh Gill Named Federal NDP Candidate University of Regina business faculty graduate Gurinder Singh Gill has been named the NDP candidate for the federal election in the Calgary Skyview riding. Gill, a former Housing Services staff member and Enactus president, was nominated on Aug. 27. After graduating with an accounting degree, Gill went on to be a staff accountant for KPMG Enterprises. The current MP for the riding is Darshan Singh Kang. The former Liberal now sits as an independent after being found to have sexually harassed a staff member, an accusation he denies. In polling predictions, 338Canada.com has the seat listed as a safe conservative bet. Gill isn’t the first University of Regina graduate to enter politics recently. Former business student Miranda Rosin was elected as part of the United Conservative Party (UCP) in Alberta’s provincial election. Rosin’s role as MLA for the newly created riding of Banff-Kananaskis includes being a member of two standing committees: one on public accounts and the other on resource stewardship. She was criticized for her stance on public healthcare in the lead up to the election. U of R Announces Alumni Awards The recipients of the 2019 Alumni Crowning Achievement Awards have been announced. Six people have been named as winners: Gary Drummond, Janine Windolph, Trudy Stewart, Brianne Urzada, Tyler Willox, and Paul McLellan. The winners come from a diverse set of backgrounds; among the winners are two documentarians, an educator/artist, a lawyer, and two business leaders. Their extensive bios are available on the alumni relations’ webpage. In short, Drummond was part of the first days of Direct Energy as a founder. Windolph and Stewart are documentary filmmakers who bring Indigenous issues to the forefront, Urzada is a cancer survivor who started a project that raised thousands for cancer patient care; Willox, the largest single donor to the Saskatchewan
Brett Neilsen Goodbye hot girl summer
Party in 2018 and one of the directors of the right-wing Canada Growth Council, started the Regina chapter of 5 Days for the Homeless which is the least he could do, and McLellan served on the university’s board of directors. The event will be held Oct. 10. Tickets are $75 a person or $600 for a table of 8. Bed, Bath, and Beyond Gives Student Discount Large homewares chain Bed Bath & Beyond offered students a dis-
count on all their dorm room essentials during the month of August. Each store had a shopping list from each major Canadian institution and shopping events were held throughout Canada to get students ready for the semester. With hundreds of students moving into the University of Regina’s residence buildings, a specific event was held on Aug. 31 to accommodate their needs. According to the University of Regina’s own statement, 150 members of staff were available to help stu-
dents make the University of Regina their home base for the next eight months. President Timmons was quoted singing the praises of living on campus. “’From personal experience, I know how important it is for new students to experience a welcoming and inclusive environment right from day one [...]Our job as a University community is to set the stage for student success from the moment a student decides to call the U of R home.” Living on campus isn’t cheap. Rooms range in cost from $539 a
month for a double dorm room with no cooking facilities to $1258 for a one-bedroom apartment that has all of the amenities expected of a regular living arrangement. The newly renovated College West hosts apartments with up to seven roommates. For those requiring dining plans, that can mean up to another $460.75 a month.
“’From personal experience, I know how important it is for new students to experience a welcoming and inclusive environment right from day one.” – U of R President Vianne Timmons (press release)
September 5 - September 11, 2019
carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 6
news
Year of Thunberg
Greta Thunberg arrives in North America
ben schneider news writer By now, Greta Thunberg is a household name. 2019 is still four months from being a thing of the past, but as the world’s most well-known climate change activist, this 16-year-old Swede has so clearly claimed the year as her own, and it’s not difficult to see why. Thunberg is best known for her weekly climate strikes titled “Fridays for Future.” The movement began just over a year ago when the soon-to-be Grade 9 student took to the Swedish parliament buildings, missing school for three consecutive weeks. Starting in September of 2018, Thunberg persisted and went to the parliament in place of school every Friday. Her goal was for climate policy in Sweden to align with that of the Paris Agreement. In January, four months after the start of Fridays for Future, and just one month after speaking at the United Nations 24th Conference of the Parties of the Climate Change Convention, Thunberg delivered an iconic speech in Davos, Switzerland as a part of the World Economic Forum. “Our house is on fire” she
Anders Hellberg
Greta Thunberg
opened, going on to warn that time is of the essence and that the solution lies in the elimination of greenhouse gas emissions. That same month, Thunberg also delivered a TED Talk to a local audience in Stockholm that made waves on the global stage, increasing the girl’s celebrity. When she speaks, Thunberg is commanding and impressive, though unassuming. The young activist speaks to her experience living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, stating that most things appear to her as black or white. Stopping climate change however, she argues, is, in fact, black-orwhite; we either act or we don’t. Thunberg’s audience turns icy as her existential plea becomes clear. She incites a sense of shame into her listeners, an effective way to grab our attention. She begs the question of her future and the uncertainty surrounding it. What kind of world are those of us in power creating for generations to come? Thunberg continued to spread her message by commencing a European tour throughout the month of April, making stops at the European parliament, the Vatican, and the United King-
dom Parliament. However, given Thunberg’s cause, the 16-yearold made the trek via train. “Flygskam,” or “flight-shame,” is catching traction in wealthier places like Sweden, with individuals avoiding air-travel due to its heavy carbon emissions, despite its convenience, causing train travel to become more attractive. Now, Thunberg has completed a two-week sailing trip across the Atlantic in order to reach a summit on zero emissions set to take place this month at the United Nations in New York City. Flying was obviously out of the question. The journey was accomplished instead with Thunberg aboard a zero-emissions yacht using solar power. She was met with inspired crowds as she landed in New York to begin her journey in the Western Hemisphere. Thunberg also intends to voyage to Chile later in the year for annual UN climate talks. The teenager has three million followers on her Instagram account and 1.3 million Twitter followers watching her momentum build. Thunberg’s critics, though not as abundant as her supporters, are explicit in their disapproval. They include
the likes of Australian columnist Andrew Bolt who referred to the young woman as ‘deeply disturbed’ while Canadian politician, Maxime Bernier, tweeted that Thunberg, a ‘climate alarmist cult saint,’ will be bringing ‘her apocalyptic message to the US and Canada,’ upon her recent arrival in New York. Meanwhile, Thunberg is focused on her purpose and has voiced that the ignorant opinions of these men are not worth her time and actually demonstrates how fearful they are of the truth. Greta has received numerous recognitions from across the globe for her activism including the Prix Liberté from France, the Fritt Ords Prize from Norway celebrating freedom of speech, as well as being named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2019. Additionally, Thunberg is a nominee for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize, scheduled to be announced the 7th of October. Should Thunberg win, she will be the youngest ever of the award’s recipients. In what Thunberg is describing as the most critical time for action, Krakow, Edmonton, Sydney, Ottawa, and New York are 5 of
over 800 municipalities/jurisdictions across the globe to declare a climate emergency. In joining the war on climate change, these cities are making an effort to do their part to reduce emissions while also empowering municipal governments to take charge when the greater structural powers at play are choosing to be complacent in the Earth’s extreme warming. Thunberg has declared the 20-27 of September a week of action for climate change. Protestors, students, and activists around the world will be demonstrating their right to a clean and healthy future. Thunberg implores the world’s participation. It’s not a battle that can be won on her own, nor in just one day or one week. It is, however, a chance to speak out and demand the attention of those who have refused to listen before. The burden of climate change has consistently been shrugged off to the next, younger generation, but it’s time to take ownership of our species’ mistakes. The climate crisis is still a crisis. So, let’s start acting like we’re in one.
“[Thunberg] begs the question of her future and the uncertainty surrounding it. What kind of world are those of us in power creating for generations to come.”- Ben Schneider
a&c
7 Editor: ethan butterfield aandc@carillonregina.com the carillon | September 5 - September 11, 2019
Shake the Lake: The summer of rock
Classic rock and shredded guitars make for a fun night
ethan butterfield a&c editor On Aug. 30 and 31, Shake the Lake came and rocked Regina like Disturbed never could. The festivities were on full display as several acts took to the stage and made their mark in the Queen City. A unique blend of older and more underground acts, there was a little something for everyone to enjoy as they watched another summer come to a close in rather spectacular fashion. One of the acts that were part of the event were the wickedly talented band, 54-40. For those who don’t know, 54-40 is group that hails from Tsawwassen, British Columbia and has spent over three decades perfecting their craft. Known for such hits as “Ocean Pearl”, “I Go Blind”, and “One Day in Your Life”, the band is no stranger to success. Examples of their work include their reimagined acoustic album which was released in 2016, La Difference: A History Unplugged, as well as their most recent album from 2018, Keep on Walking. 54-40 bassist, Brad Merrit spoke about how performing at Shake the Lake was for the band. “We feel real good about it [laughter]. We like playing in front of people, and we don’t discriminate as to what age they are, or what kind of music they like, or where they want to see it. We’ve done a few of this shows where we are playing with what are her-
Courtesy of Shake the Lake
More rock outside than usual.
itage acts, we’ll call them, and the vibe backstage is different from the it was 20 or 30 years ago. It’s relaxed, everyone seems to be appreciative of the opportunity and has a sense of gratitude. It’s really neat, we love the idea of playing Shake the Lake.” Another band that played the event was rock and roll’s Styx. Their hits, that continue to blow minds, include “Renegade,” “Come Sail Away,” “Mr. Roboto,” “Babe,” “Too Much Time on My Hands” and many, many more. Styx was the first band to achieve the unbelievable achievement of four consecutive triple multi-Platinum albums, which in the music industry means that they sold over 3 million units for four straight albums. Lawrence Gowan, two-time Juno Award winner and a Platinum single “A Criminal Mind,” said that part of the allure of the event was that Regina isn’t somewhere they go to often. “Well it’s an area we haven’t gone to enough. My history goes back even further, I used to come to Saskatchewan pretty much every year when I was touring as a solo artist. But funny enough, just two years ago I was there shooting a movie called Wolfcop [laughter]. It was kind of a horror movie and I shot that, and just being their people were just asking, ‘Is Styx ever going to come here? Is Styx ever going to come here?’ and I said ‘Yeah, eventually,’ so that
made us really excited to come here, to hear that passion from people.” Merrit also spoke about how grateful his band is to play their tried and true classics. “. . . I remember one year we did nothing but 135 dates and just sort of circumnavigated North America a couple of times in concentric circles, and it’s just Motel 6 after whatever, and that gets to be a bit of a grind. Now, like last year, we did 51 shows, which is actually a lot for us. This year we won’t do that many, but the point is we play a lot less and appreciate it a lot more. It’s not like the early days where we’re practicing ‘Fire’ six nights a week and writing songs, you know, we all have separate lives and we get together and play these things live. Matt Johnson, the drummer, says ‘Brad, we get to play music tonight!’ [laughter], you know, he’s ecstatic about it. So to play ‘Baby Ran’ for the 3000th time is a privilege . . . So, the answer is absolutely no, we don’t get tired playing the same song over and over again, we’re so grateful that these songs mean so much to so many people.” Other artists in the lineup included Jack Semple, classic rock group Loverboy, Canadian icon Burton Cummings, The Northern Pikes, and Toque. 54-40 also had another record to talk about, Keep on Walking. “It’s difficult to get attention for a new release, compared to
how it was back in the day. But we have a very good record company out in Toronto. They’re releasing a focus track every three months kind of thing. We’ve done video, we’ve got a couple of videos we’re going to be doing over the course of the summer. So yeah, we’re getting lots of listens, we’ve also pressed vinyl and we sell those at shows, it’s also available on our website, and that seems to be quite popular again. And it sounds great, it’s a beautiful mastering job and a great vinyl pressing. Overall, I would say it’s a record we’re extremely proud of and it took us five years to finish.” Gowan talked about the band’s legacy as the event approached. “I mean, this is a band that is closing in on five decades, we’re not quite at the fiftieth anniversary yet, but we’re closing in [on] it, just a year and a half away. And, you know, I’m in my 21st year with the band and I’ve been around the world many times with them. You know, last month we played a sold out show in England, and two nights later we did a sold out show in Norway, and then a couple of nights after that we played this festival in Sweden that we’ve done a couple times in the past and that had the biggest audience we had at 40,000 plus. Then we came back to America, and it’s just one string of sold out shows one after another. Our latest album called, The Mission, is
still on the Billboard Classic Rock Chart after a year, which is really outstanding.” “It’s a band with such a legacy, that when you look at it, of course you would never imagine that, ‘cause we were taught and learned growing up that rock music was a very temporary form of entertainment, that the shelf life of a band would be very limited. But what we’ve learned over the course of the years, is that rock music really is the legitimate holder of the grand musical statement of the last half of the 20th century. So, it’s far more revered and respected now than it once was. And there are maybe now a dozen bands touring now like we do that were born in the 70’s, and people are drawn to wanting to go and see that. And on any given night, half the audience now in the past 10 years, has been 30 and under in age, so they weren’t even born when some of the biggest classic rock albums were made.” Shake the Lake’s website marketed the event as a flashback to musical times gone by. Shake the Lake Regina features great Classic Rock groups performing the hits you loved back then and still do today. [The] event goes rain or shine. Check the weather, bring your lawn chair, and plan for a great weekend of Classic Rock!”
“…Shake the Lake came and rocked Regina like Disturbed never could.” – Ethan Butterfield
September 5 - September 11, 2019
a&c
The Owl’s new lunch menu
carillonregina.com | The Carillon |
8
A bite-sized Review marty grande-sherbert staff writer & B contributor
The Owl’s new lunch menu just dropped, complete with delightful punny item names, which means it’s time for a student food review. Of course, Marty the staff writer is a natural critic choice. I have all the qualifications: I’ve never done a food review before, I’m Jewish in a city where no one really knows what kosher means, and I subsist entirely on cheap bagels and bubble tea. My strategy for covering as much ground as I could in one article was this: eat at the Owl two times, once for an appetizer and once for a full meal. Additionally, because a lot of the menu items were not kosher, I enlisted the help of an omnivore – B – so they could review at least one of those dishes. For vegans, you’ll be happy to know that there is an entire plantbased section of the menu, although I didn’t try anything from it this time The first thing I got was the Appetizer Curry Fries, and oh man, what an aroma. It is a yellow curry with pineapple in it, and it was sweet and creamy with mild
spiciness, making it an all-around family friendly sauce. The fries themselves were just the right amount of crispy, and dusted with some kind of spice or curry powder I loved. I was extremely satisfied with the portion size and especially the ratio of sauce to fries, which is often botched and results in what I call “sauce anxiety.” All in all, they slap. I was happy to see that these fries are also a side for the regular lunch menu items. Although I can’t eat the other curry items, trying this sauce made me really wish I could. As for the Hokey Pokey Bowl, I shouldn’t have gotten a takeout container for it; it’s obviously a bowl food. That being said, the Owl staff were really sweet and arranged the takeout container just like they would a bowl, so I didn’t miss out on the beautiful presentation. The tuna was good, chopped into tasty fish cubes, and the vegetables were super fresh. I enjoyed them even though carrots and sprouts, two of my most hated vegetables, were snuck in there. The whole thing tasted very clean, if you can understand what I mean by that. It’s a meal that I feel like would make you feel better if you had just gotten off of eating burgers every day for a week. The pieces of ginger are also quite big but they’re not too terribly overpowering. I did not enjoy this as much as
the curry fries, but I appreciated it nonetheless. The only criticism I have is that the portion size was a little small and the price was a little high. I would recommend getting a side as well, or getting it as a light meal. The Caesar salad was predictable, and an appropriate size. The donair was missing some sauce, so... c’mon. Ketchup worked fine in its place, though my mind said “sacrilegious” as I applied it. The meat was nice, the spice was sufficient, the temperature was as it should be. Not like your favorite mom and pop shop would make, but university munchable. Now I’m real full, and not as oily as I could be. On a final note, the staff of the Ow,l as always, were really friendly and more than willing to answer questions about what we were ordering. They also let us in on an exciting development: soon, they will have rotating cheesecake flavours made by one of their chefs, who is apparently specially trained in desserts. We are beyond jazzed to check this out and plan to be going back to the Owl soon to try the items we haven’t yet on our own time.
Jaecy Bells
Lunch is the second most important meal of the day
Grasslands camping
Experience the beauty of Saskatchewan holly worby a&c writer
We as a province have been dubbed the land of living skies, yet several Saskatchewanians have only seen the views our main cities have to offer. I was among that population until this past long weekend when a few friends and I drove down to Grasslands National Park in the southwest corner of our province. I’d like to issue an apology for anything I may have said in my 23 years of life alluding to the opinion that Saskatchewan is flat, boring, or that I’d seen all it had to offer; I had no clue what I’d been missing out on. Forget the experience in the campground – even just the drive out was breathtaking. We spotted deer, foxes, and hawks during our 380km drive. Between the animal sightings and the 70s playlist we were blasting, the drive took no time at all. The absolute beauty of the sky when you can see clear from the west horizon to the east is paralleled only by the ocean’s endless waves or a wheat field billowing in the breeze. We stayed at the Two Trees campsite within Grasslands, far away from Wi-Fi signals and cellular service. Thankfully, the roads are all beautifully (and bilingually) labeled, easily directing you to the campsite. It’s an open area to visit during the day complete with a small 3.3Km walking trail, barbecues, and fire pits. On a low hill facing the badlands to the east were five Sioux tipis available to rent for shelter overnight situated around the bar-
David Resivo
Experience the land of living skies
becues and fire pits. Aside from the actual nature to enjoy, they had horseshoes available to be thrown and a swing made from what looked like repurposed tires (the younger ones at the site were especially fond of it). One couple brought out their telescope and another had a ukulele to play after dark – there was quite a variety of characters who came out to camp at Two Trees. From a toddler who almost got into our vehicle the next morning while we packed, to an older gentleman taking time-lapse photos, there was no shortage of friendly faces and conversations which brought a real sense of communi-
ty to that random chance gathering of strangers. The real beauty didn’t show until night fell, and the darkness of a new moon’s sky filled the plains. The stars are already incredible on an average night due to the lack of light pollution, but missing the moon too really took the stars to a new level. The belt of the milky way was easily visible from our site and more than a few shooting stars graced us with their presence. There’s nothing like laying on your back in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere, and the sense of peace that just overtakes you from the inside out. Regardless of specific beliefs it
has a tendency to reignite a sense of purpose and determination while inspiring awe and humility in a near-epiphany. The morning came bringing with it a fog that danced over the tops of the distant hills as beautifully as the starlight had the night before. We took a 6 a.m. stroll through the short trail and were amazed by the wildflowers and fauna growing safely and spreading naturally. Bushes of white sage at least four feet wide were a common find on this path, along with the occasional doe and garter snake minding their business while we respectfully snooped in theirs. The single night stay at Grass-
lands was not near enough time to fully take in the vast beauty present, but it was more than enough to inspire a passion for the beauty in our province. Conventional camping season is quickly drawing to a close, but I’d fully encourage you to look into Grasslands National Park and Two Trees in particular; you won’t be disappointed.
September 5 - September 11, 2019
carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 9
a&c
The Cure review The cure… to all your problems
olivia wiens contributor The Cure, although relatively quaint, is multifaceted and encompasses all the joys of music, food, and community. Personally, I have been to this restaurant, located at 2323 11th Ave, twice in my life: once to experience the music and the other to enjoy the food. Both experiences have left me with an immense sense of community as the wonderful food and energetic music filled my body. As I explain the delicate contrast between my two experiences, including the difference in atmosphere and sensations, the community that surrounds this restaurant will be extremely evident. My first experience was filled with blissful ignorance as I simply entered the building in hopes of meeting up with a friend. However, as soon as I stepped through the door, the loud, indistinct rock music emitting from the back of the joint and the vibration of
The Cure Website
A food place so good our EIC went to check it out after reading this
people carelessly dancing flowed through my body. Just as well, my eyes were immediately drawn to the warm, cozy aesthetic of the establishment. Old books and rusting instruments lined the far wall, reminding me of my grandfather’s study. The contrast between the blaring live music and the peaceful corner filled with novels juxtaposed perfectly and allowed for a variety of activities to fit every person’s needs. Although there were multitude things to look at and enjoy in such a small area, I was not overwhelmed or constricted due to the proficient use of space. Rather, I was excited to experience all that I possibly could in one evening. After looking through the array of books and admiring the brass instruments, my friends and I wandered through a hallway that lead to the local band whom I regrettably forget the name of. This hallway, dimly lit and quite simple, almost acted as an enchanted passageway into another world. As we were led to an outdoor patio surrounded by a
chain-link fence, the muffled noise became distinctive lyrics and the quaint bar transformed into an unbridled concert. A handful of drunks were jumping and dancing, spilling beer onto the cement, and attempting to sing along to the lyrics of an unknown song. This atmosphere, although unappealing and primitive from afar, exuded a sense of community when examined up-close. Drunk strangers linked arms and danced in a circle while tipsy bystanders shoved their friends into the crowd, furthering the communal chaos. The music, aesthetic, and ambience of The Cure made that evening one I will never forget. After the band concluded their set, a bottleneck formed into the enchanted passageway as this small community entered back into reality. However, while the rock band packed up their equipment, a talented DJ accompanied by a saxophonist soothed the stragglers. Although these two musicians aren’t normally paired together, this fusion created a relaxing, jazzy atmosphere that act-
ed as the calm after the storm. As we sipped the last of our drinks, we began to hear a ringing in our ears caused by the prior chaos, a sign of a memorable night. The second of my two experiences was much more relaxed and food-oriented than the first. Although there was no live music or drunk dance circles, I was able to focus on the food and day-time environment. Upon entering the building, friendly faces welcomed us and flooded our minds with recommendations and daily specials without appearing pushy or scripted. The Cure’s menu is perfectly described as quality over quantity, as it is rather minimal, but compensates with exceptional flavour. Specifically, my friend and I shared the chicken enchiladas and the special: braised lamb with asparagus and corn on the cob. Both dishes were exceptional and beautifully plated, contributing to the entire aesthetic of the restaurant. While the enchiladas carried on a traditional style, they were decorated with guacamole,
radishes, feta, and many other garnishes that gave a unique style to an otherwise plain dish. In addition, the braised lamb practically melted in our watering mouths. Eventually, I reluctantly exited the building with the desire to return and try every item on the menu. In my opinion, the food of any restaurant can be the epitome of garbage or fantastically gourmet as long as the atmosphere of the establishment is booming with positivity. Fortunately, The Cure has both palatable food and a joyous sense of community that has made my experiences worthwhile. This is truly a place where memories are made, as the friendly staff, versatile music, and cozy atmosphere create an evening that is hard to forget.
“The music, aesthetic, and ambience of The Cure made that evening one I will never forget.” – Olivia Wiens
September 5 - September 11, 2019
carillonregina.com | The Carillon |
a&c
10
Avril Lavigne and religious controversy Former punk rocker sings about devil elisabeth sahlmueller staff writer Songwriting is both a skill and a creative art form, as the best and most well written songs are those which tell a story, are relatable and convey meaning or some significant message, through both the lyrics and music video. Unfortunately, sometimes these stories, messages and meanings are lost, or misinterpreted due to a variety of factors, a situation which has recently occurred with Avril Lavigne’s newest single, “I Fell in Love with the Devil”. Although this song tells a relatable story of Lavigne’s painful personal experience, because of all the “offensive” religious imagery within its music video, it has quickly, and in my opinion, unfairly, become labelled as anti-religious. After a six-year break from songwriting, during which she battled Lyme disease, Lavigne has returned to the music world with the release of her sixth studio album, Head Above Water. While her album’s first single and self-titled track is a positive upbeat song about personal strength, perseverance and asking for God’s help and protection through a difficult time, there’s a noticeable shift in mood with I fell in love with the Devil. Although this song also centres around a serious subject matter, it embodies a darker tone, especially with its hauntingly beautiful music video, produced by Elliott Lester. I have watched this music video numerous times and each time I do, I am captivated by the beautiful surroundings, colour contrast, special effects and Lavigne’s powerful vocals, which are excellently woven together to tell the story of a woman leaving behind a toxic relationship. At the same time however, it is hard to ignore the abundance of religious imagery displayed, such as the hearse, black clothing, coffins, crosses, graveyard and Devil. While these religious elements are a positive contribution, adding both beautiful and creative symbolism, others –such as her strong Christian fans – view their incorporation as offensive, anti-religious and even blasphemous. As a result, Lavigne has received a great deal of backlash and negative criticism, evident through multiple harsh social media comments such as one Instagram post which states, “this is a turn off. Get your soul right
with Jesus. . . the only one who can save you, yet you hold his cross and blaspheme his name. I pray for your salvation.” Although I understand that Christian fans are confused and upset by the religious imagery presented in this music video, the anti-religious controversy and criticism surrounding this song is absolutely ridiculous because it reflects an inaccurate understanding of the story and message behind Lavigne’s song and disregards how religious imagery is creatively being used to symbolize to her own personal experience. At one point, Lavigne walks through an empty graveyard where she encounters the Devil, whom she can’t help but be drawn towards. In this scene, she is not attempting to glorify, or promote the idea of falling in love with the Devil, as some accusatory statements suggest. Instead, the Devil represents not only the individual Lavigne fell in love with whom had a negative impact on her, but also symbolizes the unfortunate reality that some people have a dark side that isn’t discovered until much later. As Lavigne stated, (on Facebook and Instagram) “some of the darkest people in the world can be disguised as angels ... sometimes your heart conflicts with your head and leads you into situations you know aren’t right and once you’re there, it’s very difficult to get out.” This last part of her statement is also depicted within the video, when Lavigne struggles to pull herself away from the Devil’s embrace. Additionally, seeing Lavigne dressed in black holding a cross, while hearing her sing lyrics such as, “someone send me an angel to lend me a halo ... wake me up from this dream … please save me from this hell,” doesn’t suggest that she is trying to mock Christianity, or exalt evil. Instead, this scene symbolizes the moment in Lavigne’s past relationship when she realized, as her lyrics express, that she was “in trouble” and wanted to free herself from her toxic lover, who was “no good for her.” A third controversial aspect of this music video is the two coffins, one which Lavigne, dressed in a white lace dress is lying in, and the second which she smashes near the end. Although some people view Lavigne lying in a casket as an insult to Christianity, I perceive the coffin as a physical representation of Lavigne’s toxic relation-
Karina3094
Keep on Rocking
ship. The fact that Lavigne is lying inside a coffin with a clear lid overtop, symbolizes how trapped Lavigne has become in her relationship that she fears, as her lyrics suggest, being “(buried) alive.” At the same time, this religious imagery also foreshadows the music video’s empowering ending, as Lavigne’s white dress symbolizes the new beginning she obtains after smashing the coffin. This near final moment is my favourite part of the entire video because it demonstrates a great level of empowerment. Not only does this action represent Lavigne
breaking out of the harmful relationship and away from her toxic lover, but it also enables her (as stated on Instagram) to “bury the constant heartache and trauma, close the casket and never look back.” Although the song’s music video does contain religious imagery and is undoubtedly darker than her most recent releases, Lavigne’s song not only has a personal and significant meaning, but also provides a remainder to everyone (as stated on Instagram) “ to not let someone else’s demons bring you down.” “I Fell in Love with the
Devil” is a great song and its music video should be enjoyed and appreciated for its beauty, creativity and strong message rather than criticized on the sole basis of perception. If you are upset, or offended by a song’s lyrics or music video, instead of making harsh, accusatory and often false statements about an artist or their music, without taking the time to learn about the song’s meaning and background, simply don’t listen to the song, or watch the video.
“Lavigne has received a great deal of backlash and negative criticism, evident through multiple harsh social media comments…” – Elisabeth Sahlmueller
sports
11 Editor: tyler meadows sports@carillonregina.com the carillon | September 5 - September 11, 2019
Rams open 2019 with big win over UBC Rookie QB Josh Donnelly leads the team with 377 passing yards
brain palaschuk sports writer After losing a close game to University of Manitoba in pre-season, the Rams opened their regular season in a big way with a 46-16 win over the UBC Thunderbirds. This is their first season opening road win in program history, a huge statement from the young Rams roster. The Rams offence was lightsout, with new starting quarterback and Regina local, Josh Donnelly passing for 23-32, 377 yards, and two touchdowns. The receiving core was also dangerous on many levels as Ryan Schienbein, Kyle Moortgat, and Bennet Stusek had five or more receptions, while Riley Boersma set a new career best 75-yard reception for one of the team’s two passing touchdowns. Another new starter, fifth-year transfer running back Trey Campbell contributed with 42 yards and one touchdown. Running back Sam Varao punched in three more for the green and gold. Despite this great performance, for Offensive Coordinator Mark McConkey, it wasn’t just the offence that led the team to victory. “It was a great team win versus a strong opponent. All teams
Salomon Micko Benrimoh (courtesy of the Ubyssey)
Rams vs. Thunderbirds
contributed to the victory. The offence kept gaining momentum off of our strong defensive play.” Strong defensive play it was. The Regina defence held UBC to only one touchdown and generated three turnovers. This team effort included eight tackles and one sack from second-year linebacker Ryder Varga. Another big defensive moment came with a huge interception by Zach Moore in the second quarter that resulted in a Rams touchdown possession, sinking the Thunderbirds’ chances. For some Rams fans, this result is surprising, considering that coming into the season the Rams were looking to fill some big holes, especially starting quarter back and current CFL free agent Noah Picton. This is something that weighs on new starter Donnelly’s mind, but he doesn’t let it get in the way of the job. “It’s always [going to] be in the back of mind that I have to fill the shoes of Noah Picton, but at the same time I know I have my role to play. I just want to do my job.” Against UBC, his 377 passing yards tops U-Sports all-time leading passer Picton’s 2018 average of 330, which is no small feat for
a first-year starter. Even more impressive is that this game was only his second U-Sports performance after coming in for relief in the final game of the 2018 season. Despite this early success, individual accolades are the last thing on Donnelly’s mind. “I’ve actually talked to Noah about that, not trying to be the star, but rather doing my job and playing my role, letting the rest of the team help me out.” Donnelly will have support on the receiving end for years to come as well. The game’s receiving yards leader Boersma, as well as five-reception earner Kyle Stusek are second year players, meaning they have three more full seasons to represent the green and gold. This diverse offence is something Donnelley believes is a key to the team’s success. “It’s huge, that’s a big part of our game plan. We don’t want to have to rely on just one guy, we want to spread the ball around and keep the defense guessing, whether it’s running the ball, passing the ball or spreading it out, everyone in our offense is ready to make contributions.” As a local Regina player from LeBoldus High School, another
key to Donnelly’s success is the support of a hometown crowd, something he does not take for granted. “There’s so many people checking in, wishing me good luck and congratulations after games. Getting in touch and getting those little text messages from people is huge for support.” The Rams will play their home opener against University of Alberta on Sept.6 at Mosaic. Alberta comes off of a 31-41 defeat against University of Calgary while the Rams will look to build a winning streak through Canada West competition. For Donnelly, the keys to next game will be the same as the first. “We want to spread the ball around to the receivers every game, if we can get four or five guys over 50 yards receiving, we are going to be rolling.” Donnelly also applauds the performance of fellow new players and sees room for improvement in all aspects of the offence. “We have a new offensive line and I think they did really well, and we have three or four running backs carrying the ball so finding the best way to use those guys will help as well.”
Off the field, managing emotions and staying motivated to improve will help the team to reach their season goal; to win the Vanier cup. The players, including Donnelly are committed to this step-by-step approach. “We scored 46, but going over the film there’s lots of little things we can improve on. As a team we need to stay the course, we don’t want to get too high on that first win. We need to take it one week at a time.” This philosophy is also one that the team applies to the rest of the season, the goal is to win the Vanier Cup, but they are laser focused on taking it one game at a time. “As a team we throw personal goals out the window, we go one week at a time looking for wins. Obviously, the ultimate goal is the Vanier, but we like to take it step-by-step. We want to win our conference, and then we want to win the Hardy Cup, and then we want to win the Vanier.” For the team, the next step is clear. They will aim to beat University of Alberta at Mosaic this Friday.
“As a team we need to stay the course, we don’t want to get too high on that first win” Starting QB, Josh Donnelly
September 5 - September 11, 2019
carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 12
sports
HoopLife, Changing the Game Enrol your child in a global sport and support a local business
tyler meadows sports editor
Calling all parents! If you are interested in getting your young ones interested in sports, basketball is a terrific choice (I may be biased as I literally have “basketball is life” tattooed on my body). However, I will make a compelling case for you to enrol your child in a global sport and support a local business, while your child learns valuable life lessons. Basketball is one of the fastest growing sports in Canada and a great way to get kids involved in a sport that does not cost you your life savings (goodbye hockey). Basketball is also wonderfully multi-cultural. As a global sport it is the second largest sport in terms of participation right behind soccer. Basketball should be considered extremely Canadian; it was founded by a Canadian, the first NBA game was played in Canada, and it is super multi-cultural, which leads to your child feeling accepted and engaged in the sport. Basketball is great at creating a passion for sport and exercise, creating opportunities to build life-long friendships and a team-first attitudes, as well as being extremely fun and affordable. The best part about the sport right now is the huge boom in
Canadian players in the NBA, RJ Barrett was the second overall pick this past year and will start his basketball career playing in Madison Square Garden, albeit for the Knicks who are terrible. When I grew up there was one Canadian to cheer for, Steve Nash, and he wasn’t even born in Canada! Now kids can choose their Canadian superhero: RJ Barrett, Jamal Murray, Andrew Wiggins, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, these players are just a few of the top tier NBA players who kids can watch in the NBA. In addition to all the Canadian talent, chances are you and your kid(s) heard about a certain NBA champion. That’s right, the Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship for the first time in their history and the entire country went wild for a few weeks. Over 50 different cities across the country hosted watching parties for various Finals games and at one point during game 5 of the Finals 13.4 million Canadians tuned in according to the CRTC, and those numbers do not include all the people at various viewing parties and pubs. Now that I have fully convinced you that basketball is the sport to enrol your child(ren) in this year, let’s talk about HoopLife. A year-round basketball academy that is operated by
a group of locals that are passionate about the community and basketball. Andrew Gottselig, the founder of HoopLife grew up in Regina and has grown the company to be a leader in basketball training and giving kids the opportunity to learn the game of basketball and have fun simultaneously. HoopLife has training camps in Regina and Saskatoon, along with doing a variety of mini camps in communities all around Saskatchewan. They host weekly training sessions, various three and five-day camps throughout the year and provide an opportunity for free basketball sessions as well. Let’s get to the elephant in the room first before you turn the page; there are costs to basketball training and it is FREE – well, sort of. HoopLife provides the opportunity for high schoolers to come to “The Lab” on Sundays to play some competitive pick-up basketball. For anyone who does not fall into that category, camps are as follows: if you commit to one year of basketball training, the cost is a reasonable $99 per month. With this you get 25 credits that you can use towards weekly training and can choose from many dates to fit busy schedules. This includes full access to Christmas, Easter, and February break three-
day camps; full access to a 5-day summer camp (if you cannot attend camps you will be given additional sessions); your child will receive quarterly progress reports and lastly, as a member you will receive 10 per cent off any additional sessions, camps, or apparel. The company’s Executive Director, Habib Habib, stands by HoopLife; he is involved in every aspect of the company including running a lot of the camps. On the website Habib is quoted saying, “The number one way to shine as basketball player is to put the hours in working on your fundamentals. The HoopLife membership is the greatest investment ant young player can make to properly develop their game and truly shine on the court.” My cousins, who will remain nameless, attend HoopLife basketball camps and excessively rave about how much they love it and they absolutely adore Habib. There are a few reviews that I reached out to a few people for regarding their experience with HoopLife, Christina had this to say: “HoopLife has been a terrific experience for our son, he had attended other camps before, but when he attended a HoopLife camp, he wanted to keep going every week! The staff are terrific
and run a great program.” Aksa also raved about HoopLife, “We have sent all four of our boys to their camps and the boys all love it. They are constantly learning and although they are not the best players in the world, they are all getting better and getting excited about their progress through the programs.” Aksa continued speaking about the HoopLife mobile app, which gives players tips, drills, and custom plans to continue to practice at home on their own time. “My one boy will practice on our hoop at home right at crack of dawn, he checks out a few different drills on the app and then will practice that over and over, he is really committed.” HoopLife gives the opportunity to train year-round for kids aged 7-18 with various camps for each age level and skill level. If you go to their website www. hooplifebasketball.com you can find much more information. If you go to their “Basketball Training” tab and click on “Browse Camps” you can easily sort by your location (Regina, Saskatoon), sex (male, female), age (7-18), and skill level (beginner, intermediate, elite) and date (Sept. 21 - Nov. 10).
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September 5 - September 11, 2019
carillonregina.com | The Carillon |
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U of R soccer hosts Great Plains Challenge
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The Cougar women open pre-season competition with a 1-3 record brian palaschuk sports writer The University of Regina women’s soccer team opened their season with their bi-annual pre-season tournament, the Great Plains Challenge. The tournament features fellow CanWest competitors as well as teams from across the northern United States. In the competition the Cougar women finished sixth out of seven teams with a 1-3 record. Their lone win came in a 3-1 victory over Thompson Rivers University. The result was not what the team wanted, but for fifth-year forward Kirsten Finley, there is definite progress and room for improvement. “We did not get all of the results we wanted during the Great Plains Challenge, but we have learned from our mistakes and I believe we will go into our first weekend very strong.” Despite the team’s poor record, it is only the pre-season, and all is not lost. The tournament serves as an opportunity to finalize rosters and integrate the new players, which is especially important for a young roster for the Cougars, who bring in eleven rookies while returning only six fourth and fifth-year players. This brings an opportunity for new
faces to help fill in the holes, an opportunity assistant coach Rob McCaffrey sees the rookies taking in stride. “Natalia McCullough, Sophia Stevens, Allyson Schneider, Sierra Kolodziej, Jessica Merk and Olivia Gables have been effective in their performances to date. Given the high number of first- and second-year athletes in the squad, we have encouraged them to set a high standard of performance in training to be ready to make an effective impact in matches when called upon.” At the Great Plains Challenge, called upon they were. In the team’s sole win, a 3-1 victory over Thompson Rivers, Sophia Stevens, Jessica Merk, and Natalia McCullough all played the full 90 minutes, while Stevens scored one of the team’s three goals. For Finley, this competition has helped her to improve her own game. “The first-year group has come in strong and ready to take positions of our senior athletes. This has been a great environment to train in this preseason as it has enhanced the competitive environment and allowed all players to continue to push themselves to become better.” While this competition has helped the team to get better, Finley also appreciates the impor-
tance of leadership that the upper year team members bring. “In my role, I have tried to ensure that this competitive environment is positive by supporting my teammates as best as I can both on and off the field.” This leadership has also come from a strong core of six players who also represented Regina in the United Women’s Soccer league during Queen City United’s inaugural season. For McCaffrey, this experience has brought a lot back to the Cougars. “The ability to play high quality soccer through the summer months against teams from Colorado, Santa Clarita, Calgary, and Los Angeles has been hugely beneficial for each player and our program.” As a player, Finley has also seen the benefit of the Queen City United experience. “The players involved in the QC program have brought back with them a high level of competitiveness which is greatly benefiting the team. These girls played a lot of teams from the United States and down there, the soccer is faster paced. By training with this tempo, we have been forced to play quicker and make decisions faster which has gotten us success on the scoreboard.” Despite the 1-3 record, this improvement has already been evident. The Cougars lost by just
one to the tournament champion, the University of Calgary, and held all three teams they played against to just three goals. Additionally, while their goals against average from the tournament of 2.0 was slightly worse than the 2018 regular season, their offence has shown strong signs of improvement. At the Great Plains Challenge the team averaged 1.25 goals per game, a huge improvement from their 2018 regular season average of 0.64. Coach McCaffrey also sees this improvement in the offensive side of their game. “Over the course of the Great Plains Challenge, we saw very positive signs of the team’s ability to build up play effectively, increased ability to adjust to opposing pressure by effective ball circulation. We were able to generate lots of quality scoring opportunities throughout the games.” Fifth-year Kristen Finley also attributes some of this offensive improvement to a strategic change. “This year, our formation has changed from four defenders in our back line to three defenders. This is something new and I feel like we were really able to hold our own against great teams.” The team will need to continue to improve in order to make it into Canada West playoff com-
petition, which is the team’s ultimate goal after losing the play-in to MacEwan in 2018. This is a goal Coach McCaffrey thinks is possible. “We have set several goals for our team over the course of the 2019-20 campaign, the first of which is being in a position to play the first round of playoffs.” The way they will do this is by continuing to improve their offensive threat. Something coach McCaffrey thinks that a strong push from a motivated group of rookies can improve. “Given the spirit within the squad, high standards of performance in training, and positive attack-minded play demonstrated in pre-season matches, we are confident in our ability to produce multiple winning performances this season.” For Finley, as a fifth-year, her part in the team’s success is clear. “My personal goal is to leave it all on the field. This is my last opportunity to showcase myself as a collegiate athlete and I want to make the best of the time I have left with my amazing team.” The team will open their regular season on Sept. 6 against Winnipeg, who they lost to 0- at the Great Plains Challenge.
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Sometimes the ball just doesn’t go your way
September 5 - September 11, 2019
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carillonregina.com | The Carillon |
Labour Day Classic
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Beautiful day and a Rider win
tyler meadows sports editor What a beautiful day for the Labour Day classic. Bright and sunny with little wind, this is exactly what the people of Saskatchewan look forward to before the winter freeze kicks in. One last long weekend to party before the reality of school and winter kicks our collective asses, Red Foreman style. Part of this tradition includes hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the annual Labour Day Classic. Plenty of pesky Bomber fans flooded into Regina to attend the feud so there was a buzz around the city and I’m sure plenty of banter. The game was filled with plenty of action, mistakes, and extended dull periods (typical CFL). The Saskatchewan Roughriders came into this game 6-3, and winners of five in a row. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers came into the game in first place in the Western Division with a record of 8-2. The first quarter was dominated by defence or, in other words, was a bit of a bore. On the Bombers first drive of the game, following a one-point Single,
Chris Streveler threw an interception. Unfortunately, Cody Fajardo took a sack two plays later and the Roughriders were forced to punt. On the Riders third drive of the game, deep in Winnipeg territory, Cody Fajardo tried to force a ball into his receiver after scrambling. The ball was tipped and intercepted for Fajardo’s first interception since week 6. The Roughrider defence responded with a sack on second down and Winnipeg elected to take the safety making the score 3-0. The Riders then went on a drive that ended in a Touchdown pass (and extra point) from Cody Fajardo to Shaquelle Evans, making the score 10-0 just before the start of the second quarter. In the second quarter, following an exchange of punts, the Blue Bombers running back, Johnny Augustine, broke out for a 55-yard run that lead to a touchdown pass on the next play, the extra point was good making the score 10-7. The Roughriders quickly answered with a field goal; however, this score was preceded by a miscommunication on a handoff inside the 10 that led
to an incompletion, and a dropped attempted diving catch in the endzone. So, the Riders could have had a commanding lead, but settled for three points and a 13-7 lead. On the Riders next drive, Fajardo showed why he has led the team to five wins straight as he marched down the field using his arm on every play to give Brett Lauther a chance at a 40yard field goal as the Riders took a 16-7 lead into the half – or so they thought. Chris Streveler drove the Bombers down the field to kick a last second field goal to cut the lead to one score as the teams entered half-time. The Roughriders played a dominating half of football, but definitely should have more than a six-point lead at the half. The Bombers are just happy to be in the game still. Second half. Filled with errors, the third quarter was easily the hardest one to watch for the fans on both sides. After trading punts to begin the third, the Blue Bombers were on the march, partially aided by Roughrider penalties and defensive breakdowns. Thankfully, Loucheiz Purifoy
Jaecy Bells Mosaic Stadium was rocking
stepped up and intercepted Streveler for a second time deep in Rider territory. As I mentioned earlier, this quarter was filled with mistakes so you should already know what happens next even if you did not watch the game. Yep, Fajardo throws it away three plays later as Winston Rose collected his 7th pick of the season. The quarter ends mercifully without any points scored as the Bombers drive into Rider territory. The fourth quarter was much more entertaining, as the Rider defence tightened up and forced a punt after the turnover in their own end. After a quick 2 and out by the offense, the defence was quickly back on the field and looked a bit slow. They gave up a huge 18-yard QB sneak run that was rather embarrassing. Streveler capped off the offensive drive by running it in himself on 3rd down, as the Riders tried their best at a goal line stand. The lead is now gone with the score 16-17 and there is just over three minutes to go in the game. Purifoy on the kickoff does one of the dumbest things I have
seen; he runs around aimlessly in the endzone taking precious time off the clock and proceeds to get tackled in the endzone, after accomplishing nothing. On top of that, the home team takes a brutal penalty and start the drive on their own 5-yard line. Cody Fajardo then steps his ass up and proves he can be special! Pass to Moore, pass to Arceneaux, his own 7-yard run, Powell 15-yard run, pass to Roosevelt, pass to Arceneaux, pass to Evans. Fajardo goes 5-5 for 41-yards and 7 rushing yards with some help from Powell who chips in with 4 carries 39-yards rushing in the final drive to setup a game winning 26-yard field goal from Lauther. Holy hell what a drive by the Riders to take the win away from the Bombers who lead the division and put themselves in terrific position to go into Winnipeg next week on Sept. 7 for the Banjo bowl and possibly come out in first place.
“last long weekend to party before the reality of school and winter kicks our collective asses, Red Foreman style”. -Tyler Meadows
op-ed
15 Editor: taylor balfor op-ed@carillonregina.com the carillon | September 5 - September 11, 2019
Unplanned and uncomfortable
EIC’s note: The Carillon prides itself on publishing work of varying opinions. Sometimes this means publishing work that doesn’t necessarily line up with the beliefs of the editorial staff. However, that doesn’t mean that the editor can’t write a preface that includes the link to planned Parenthood as well as critiques of Unplanned like a piece from CTV highlighting the protests against the film screening. It should also be noted that Unplanned is marketed as being based on true events, giving the creators ample artistic license. It is because of the disconnect between those who label themselves as “pro-choice” and those who label themselves as “prolife” that I decided to write this article. I know that there are many people who do not believe that Unplanned should have been screened in Canada much less anywhere else, but I disagree. If we want to live in a country that encourages free speech and free thought, then the censorship of a movie, which tells the true story of a young woman, should not be allowed.
The movie follows a woman named Abby Johnson from her navigating Planned Parenthood as a guide who walks women into the clinic, to her eventual role as a director. Her journey to becoming a pro-life activist is not without its barriers. She does not shy away from what really happened, including admitting she had two abortions when she was younger, and discusses how when she was a director, she fit in as many abortions as she could in one day before a big storm hit. Her story is credible because of these events, and the audience can see that she was not perfect. Her journey to becoming a pro-life activist starts when she is asked to help with an ultrasound-guided abortion; she sees the baby sucked out of the woman’s uterus but not before the baby tries to squirm away from the vacuum. What makes this a powerful movie is what happened after it was released; people began openly talking about abortion and not shying away from it. The message of
the movie is about how the idea of abortion might seem to be about a woman’s right to her body, but the truth of abortion is much more difficult to defend. What makes it such a great movie is that it offers compassion to the women who feel abortion is their only option, and shows an organization that is happy to help women should they choose to keep their babies or give them up for adoption. This idea of being compassionate while also not forgetting that biologically it is a baby, just in an earlier stage of development, is something that will allow for open communication and a real discussion about what abortion is and how we can better help these women who feel trapped. I want to live in a world where people can voice their opinions and where media is not censored due to people’s personal opinions – within reason, of course. I do not agree with hate speech, but I believe that some things labelled hate speech are just differing opinions, and I believe that as
Pixabay Canadians who want to be free, we need to allow these opinions and discussions. There are few people who enjoy having discussions that are uncomfortable, but it’s precisely because these discussions make us uncomfortable that we need to have them, and movies such as Unplanned ignite these conversations rather than hide them.
diana pfeifer contributor
“I want to live in a world where people can voice their opinions and where media is not censored.” - Diana Pfeifer
September 5 - September 11, 2019
op-ed
carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 16
What’s up gamers. Let’s destroy fascism. Obviously, knowing a thing or two about video games – unlike the generation reporting on their supposed connection with violence – we tend to roll our eyes at this whole “Call of Duty makes shootings happen” debate. Invoking video games as the cause of white supremacist violence is a bold claim, and with so many more blatantly horrible acts committed by more powerful people, it seems like a farce to even give it mention. Of course, it’s an oversimplified and derailing response coming from the kinds of people who have brought it up; Trump centering this rise in hate crimes on anything but his own campaign rhetoric and actions in government is a bitter irony. I want to carefully suggest, though, before we totally dismiss the conversation, that there is actually a thread of this topic worth expanding from a different angle. There is, quite related to this debate, an undeniable connection between games and white supremacy. It’s something that anyone who is into games has experienced first-hand, but I think we tend to take it for granted because of the sad truth that a lot of white supremacy goes totally unchecked among even the youngest demographics. It is precisely because these huge structures of racism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism (to name just a few motivations of these crimes) are so wide-reaching that video game culture is not exempt from them. And as gaming is in so many cases lead by figures who are white, cis men, as
the image of the gamer and the associated culture is so often associated, gaming inevitably becomes a domain where whiteness, cissexism, and patriarchy have broad influence. For instance, it’s worth mentioning that one of the recent shooters explicitly included the phrase “subscribe to Pewdiepie” in his manifesto, and that Pewdiepie has explicitly promoted white supremacists on his YouTube channel. It’s worth mentioning that just this week at the “Straight Pride Parade in Boston – which was dominated by white supremacists and police brutality against counter-protesters – people were dressing up like Pepe the frog, a meme that originated on 4chan which has a huge cultural overlap. It bears thinking back on some experiences you’ve had with gaming: how many slurs, threats of violence against women, and performances of bigoted violence have you heard over live chats? How many young children do you think have learned how to behave that way, speak that way, and think that way because of the circles they fall into as a result? How many young men do you know who spend most of their time in these circles, and undoubtedly move towards radicalization every time they forget to be critical of these views? These arguments could be made about any community centered around any hobby, of course – if the people who dominate the community are racist and promote
racist violence, that community will produce violent racists. This isn’t a unique attack on video games, but it is a wake-up call that I think we all owe it to ourselves to heed. It’s not the guns, the graphics, or the mechanics of games that are making bigots bolder, it’s the ideas that we allow ourselves to feed on in our leisure time. Everyone who plays games, any games, and especially those of us who reap the unjust benefits of white supremacy, has power and responsibility in what has become a
Julia Dima
radicalizing climate. We can protect this community and its integrity by strongly aligning ourselves against fascism in these circles and making it clear what we think of this dark connection; to deny it outright is to let it grow in silence another day.
marty grande-sherbert staff writer
Controversy in violent video games The idea that video games cause violence, or that they are responsible for so many of the violent actions that have taken place in the United States recently, is a very blackand-white perspective to have on the subject. Actually, “black-and-white” may be too nice a term to use in this scenario. Ignorant” would be better. “Fucking ridiculous” would probably be the most apt phrase. Yet here we are, once again thick in the debate that video games are the root of all evil. This isn’t new territory either, people. This is a debate that has gone on for several decades now and is represented on both sides of the political spectrum. Yes, for everyone out there that thinks Trump is the first offender in holding this ridiculous perspective, let me assure you he is not. Going back to Regan and Clinton, we can see that this life long fear-fest has been going on for many, many, many years. Clinton herself was a rather big advocate for the doing away of violent videogames. During a now infamous press conference where she was trying to push for the Family Entertainment Protection Act, she is quoted in saying; “We need to treat violent video games the way we treat tobacco, alcohol, and pornography.” Now I don’t know about you, but I think there’s reason that the ERSB ratings on videogames exist in the same way that there’s a legal drinking age. If a game is rated M for mature, then the game is intended for a mature audience. So, if little Timmy or little Susie or whoever the fuck under the age of 17 years manages to get their hands on a violent videogame, then you can chalk it up to oblivious parenting or a lack of any and all supervision. The same way that if a child got their hands on alcohol, you would chalk it up to all the same reasons. Now, what actually constitutes a violent videogame? Well, going back to the days of Mortal Kombat II on Sega Genesis (which was one of the first major controversies), the idea to add blood to a game was considered “the worst thing created in the world ever” for that week. It sent folks spiraling as they thought an impression would
be left on their sweet innocent children. Here’s the thing folks, as much as it sounds like a bad argument, Mortal Kombat’s excessive gore is implemented the same way gore is used in a Tarantino movie. It’s fun. It may make me sound like a psycho, but ripping the spine out of your buddy’s avatar is fun. It doesn’t turn you into a serial killer, it’s there for entertainment and shock value. Manhunt, a game that vividly shows you how to murder another person, implements its violence the same way a Saw film shows you how to trap people, yet people don’t make arguments against Saw films, do they? They even made games off of the Saw films! Long story short, the recent uproar in “violent videogames are the worst” culture doesn’t come without its reasons. Many shootings and incidents that have taken place in the past have been linked to people’s obsession with violent videogames. But if that’s the case, it’s not the videogame, it’s the person/their obsession. The person, who more than likely has issues mentally that led them to that obsession, didn’t have a positive outlet in which to deal with problems that plagued them which would lead to violent occurrences. The examples that I’ve listed above are there to show people that violent videogames are just another in a long line of excuses to take away from the fact that maybe it’s not the game that’s the problem, it’s the observer.
ethan butterfield a&c editor
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September 5 - September 11, 2019 op-ed
carillonregina.com | The Carillon |
You deserve to be woken up by Amber Alerts
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In the early morning hours of July 11,an Amber Alert was issued across Ontario notifying the province about a missing grandfather and his two grandsons, aged two and four. A mere hour and a half later, the York Regional Police successfuly found the three and returned them home. Police later said they were located as a direct result of the Amber Alert. While I wish I could write this piece about how phenomenally the Amber Alert system worked in this case, this story – as many Amber Alert cases now often do – took an unfortunate, bitter turn. 9-1-1 dispatchers that night were greeted by a plethora of complaint calls by those irritated that the 3 a.m. alert had woken them from their sleep. According to dispatchers that night, the calls came from a large area, not just the area from which the three had gone missing. These Amber Alert complaints are nothing new, but the constant resurgence of anger toward those who complain gives me hope that as a collective, we know that the concept itself is ridiculous. I find it hard to wrap my brain around the idea that someone would feel so irritated that they were notified that a child is missing that they would treat 9-1-1 like a complaint hotline. Maybe it’s because these people don’t know that an Amber Alert is only issued in Canada when the child is “believed to have been abducted” and is believed to be “in grave danger” as stated by MissingKids.ca, meaning that in Canada, Amber Alerts are only issued if a child has gone missing under suspicious or dangerous pretences.
While I do believe a large factor in these complaints stems from an uncanny sense of entitlement, I unfortunately believe it also stems from people forgetting how Amber Alerts came to be. If people did, maybe they wouldn’t be so quick to slander law enforcement. The name “Amber” in Amber Alert stands for “America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response,” but is also intended to honour Amber Hagerman; a nine-yearold from Arlington, Texas. While Amber was out biking on Jan. 13, 1996 in a grocery store parking lot, a man in a black truck jumped out of his vehicle, grabbed her, and tossed her inside. There was only one witness to the kidnapping, bystander Jimmie Kevil who then called the police. Despite tens of officers searching for the missing girl, days passed, and they came up with nothing. That was until five days later, when her body was located in a creek. After Amber’s murder had been announced, it was a woman unrelated to Amber–Diana Simone–who questioned why radio stations had been issuing weather warnings surrounding a storm and yet hadn’t issued an alert for the missing child. This suggestion grew to become the Amber Alert system, implemented later that year. The assumption regarding the program’s creation was that if more people had known about Amber’s abduction, there may have been a greater chance of her coming home that evening alive and her captor, and now murderer, being apprehended. To this day, Amber’s murderer has never been found. To this day, because not enough people were notified of her death,
not only was Amber killed, but the person who did it has been able to roam free. Complaining about an Amber Alert is unfathomable to me. Maybe it’s because I read more about cases where missing children are found after the fact, their bodies in horrible condition, or maybe it’s just because I have a heart. It shouldn’t take a great deal of thought to consider why complaining about a missing child notification is sick. I witnessed a complaint during the midst of this that stated: “No one is looking for missing children at 4 a.m.” Maybe you’re right. Maybe the alert isn’t telling you to get outside and start searching, but rather it is simply notifying you of something to be on the lookout for. It’s called an alert for a reason. It’s alerting you of something that’s happening. It’s not a call to action. I also saw the same person argue that people are going to be “sleep deprived the next day.” To that, I need to ask: you do know that going back to sleep is still an option, right? You can wake up and read an alert and – brace yourself for this part, it’s a little crazy – go back to bed. Possibly the worst part about people calling to complain was that the Toronto Police Operations shared on Twitter that they “have been receiving dozens of complaint calls” and needed to ask people to “not block 9-1-1 lines with non-emergencies, as you are risking the health & safety of others.” I can’t tell if it horrifies me more knowing that dozens of people called to complain, or that they willingly blocked emer-
gency 9-1-1 lines to complain that they were notified about a parent’s worst nightmare. Imagine viewing the potential kidnapping of a child as a detriment to your sleep; as if the disappearance of another human life was such a burden to your precious replaceable, adjustable sleep schedule. Because the truth of the matter is that your sleep can be made up. You can get the sleep you lost back, but if a family loses their child because no alert was released, they don’t get to have that child back. There is no making up for that. So, to those who complain about Amber Alerts waking your precious sleep, I post one question to you: how does it feel wearing those rose-coloured glasses? Would you keep them on if it was your child that had gone missing? Because I have a hunch that no, you wouldn’t.
taylor balfour op-ed editor
“I unfortunately believe it also stems from people forgetting how Amber Alerts came to be.” - Taylor Balfour
September 5 - September 11, 2019
carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 18
op-ed
Alcohol: Not everyone’s favorite guest. EIC’s Note: This article mentions a UR Pride event and the writer is an employee of UR Pride. We thought this perspective was important none the less, so here it is. The start of the school year also signals the beginning of one of the university’s largest events: Welcome Week. There are plenty of opportunities for new and returning students to make friends, attend cool events and, of course, drink alcohol. Although there are other alternatives, the biggest push to generate interest seems to revolve around events that involve drinking. And why not? For many people, the culture that combines college and partying is strong. However, not everyone is comfortable around alcohol. And for those people, there are fewer social engagements that they can access. There are a lot of reasons why someone may choose not to drink, including cultural, religious, familial, or personal values. Someone may have had a negative experience in the past. A student might need to get up early the next morning for a test. Or, someone may just not want to drink as a personal preference. Providing a space where students can meet other people without the push to drink is something that’s quite necessary. Substance abuse is far above the national average here in Saskatchewan, as are our cases of impaired driving. In 2017, our province was the leader in impaired driving cases. Yet alcohol is celebrated as a widely available drug, often not included in the talk of substance abuse at all. It’s time to recognize that not everyone is comfortable around alcohol, and not
everyone drinks. There needs to be more emphasis on the fact that alcohol is not the only thing that makes an event worth attending. For those that choose to not be around alcohol, the experience can be isolating. The vast majority of events on campus come with the expectation of alcohol being available, particularly during Welcome Week. One of the alternatives that students can access is UR Pride’s TGIF (Thank Gay It’s Friday) program. It runs every Friday from 7 -10 P.M., and focuses on providing a sober environment that has a semi-structured activity. Some cool things we’ve done in the past have included movie nights and dance parties. Anyone is welcome to participate even though it focuses around the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community and allies. Even if someone simply wants to be present at the space and not participate, they’re more than welcome to do that too. Unfortunately, the queer and trans communities also have their own strong culture of substance use, which is why this program is designed to fill the gap in substance-free events. Besides the gay bar [EIC’s note: The Q], many members of the queer community in Regina don’t have another option at all. Hopefully, more opportunities for those seeking an alcohol-free choice will continue to pop up, and we continue to destigmatize the choice of not drinking.
andrew andrews contributor
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Show mother nature mercy
Jeremy Davis
The rainforest is on fire. Across Brazil and into Bolivia, more than 600 million acres of the “Earth’s lungs” are being devoured by apocalyptic flame, with thousands upon thousands of fires tearing through the jungle where 20 per cent of the oxygen we breathe is born. In the final weeks of August, as dense, choking smoke drifted thousands of kilometres south, plunging Brazil’s largest city, Sao Paulo, into utter darkness, the hashtag #PrayForAmazonas began to trend on Twitter. But we are past the point of prayer. Prayer is a cry from the people for protection against natural forces beyond our control. It is a call to God or the universe to send mercy. But the Amazonian fires are not natural, and it is not us who need mercy from nature, but rather nature that needs mercy from us. Unlike fires in the Boreal forest, which,
although intensifying from the effects of the climate crisis, are still part of a natural and necessary process of regeneration, the fires burning in the Amazon have – to a large extent – been deliberately set for the purpose of clearing land for ranching and agriculture. Brazil exports nearly 20 per cent of the world’s beef, more than any other nation, and anywhere between 60-80 per cent of the deforested regions of the Amazon are used for cattle grazing. It’s also the world’s largest exporter of soy beans – meaning that not even vegans can consider themselves off the hook for the role their consumption plays in the destruction of the rainforest. Since the swearing-in of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro in January 2019, the clear cutting and incineration of the rainforest has accelerated at breakneck speed, eating up the place that is home to hundreds
of Indigenous tribes and 10 per cent of the Earth’s biodiversity the way consumption hollows the lobes of the lungs of some of literature’s most tragic heroes. Bolsonaro was not shy about making clear his intention to open the rainforest for business during his election campaign, something that didn’t stop the CBC from reporting that his election “could open new investment opportunities, especially in the resource sector.” Nor has this prevented Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from continuing to negotiate trade deals with Brazil that are built on the destruction of the rainforest. These fires are burning for us, because of us. The land is being cleared so we can continue to consume, the forest is being devoured because of our need to devour. Prayer is not good enough. Nihilism and surrender are not acceptable. We must reduce our consumption – of wood, of
paper, of soy, of dairy. Indigenous tribes in Brazil have asked that we eliminate the consumption of beef entirely. We must donate to environmental movements that defend the rainforest, like Amazon Watch, The Rainforest Action Network, Amazon Conservation, and One Tree Planted. Sign the petitions on Change. org and the Greenpeace website. We must call and write our elected representatives and urge them to act on our behalf – our responsibilities as citizens do not end in the voting booth. The rainforest is on fire, and we are burning with it.
sara birrell news editor
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carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 19
Editor: sarah carrier & kate thiessen graphics@carillonregina.com the carillon | September 6 - September 11, 2019
Haley Klassen
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carillonregina.com | The Carillon | 20 Editor: taylor balfour op-ed@carillonregina.com the carillon | September 6 - September 11, 2019
Dear retail customer Dear retail customer, Your rude, inconsiderate and manipulative shopping style needs to end because ,whether you realize it or not, you’re making the job of retail employees even more difficult than it should be. Although many people don’t realize it, working in retail is tough. Not only are retail employees constantly busy and extremely underpaid for the amount of work they do during an average shift, but they also have to deal with annoying, rude, obnoxious, and outright strange customers, who unfortunately don’t see any problems with their behaviour or actions. I understand that you, the retail customer, would like quick service, but it is unreasonable to expect that an employee drop whatever they are doing to provide you with immediate service, especially when they are in the middle of something or currently helping another customer. Employees work for the store, not for you as your own personal shopper, so for goodness flippin’ sakes, have some patience and understanding! And what is the deal with you and fitting rooms? They are there for your benefit so you can try on clothes before purchasing them to avoid the potential hassle of having to return clothes that don’t fit. However, maybe stores would be better off without them as many of you abuse this privilege, seeming quite content to leave the fitting rooms looking like a complete mess with clothes inside out, twisted up, off hangers, and sprawled all over the floor. Retail employees don’t get paid nearly
enough for the work they do, so why would you think they should, or would even want to, clean up after you? I mean seriously, would you want to? All stores have a rack for you to hang the clothes you don’t want to purchase. While this courteous action is, I believe, an easy concept to grasp, many of you instead chose to leave your clothes in the fitting room. I honestly don’t understand where this confusion comes from. The space within fitting rooms is not your home and I highly doubt that you would choose to be so messy at your own place. Or maybe you would. In that case, I just don’t know what to say. Retail workers try to provide you, their customers, with the best possible customer service and deserve to be treated with respect. So, dear retail customer, I sincerely hope that this short letter encourages you to both reconsider and change how you interact with retail workers from this point on. If not, maybe you need to spend one day working in retail so you can experience for yourself just how tough it truly is.
elisabeth sahlmueller staff writer
“Retail employees don’t get paid nearly enough for the work they do, so why would you think they should, or would even want to, clean up after you?” - Elisabeth Sahlmueller
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