The Carillon - Volume 65, Issue 15 - January 19, 2023

the carillon

the staff editor-in-chief holly funk editor@carillonregina.com business manager thomas czinkota business@carillonregina.com production manager shae sackman production@carillonregina.com advertising manager holden norrie ads@carillonregina.com communications mehrnoush bahramimehr comms@carillonregina.com web manager vacant tech@carillonregina.com multimedia/graphics editors multimedia@carillonregina.com safal gangwani graphics@carillonregina.com lee lim copy editor aurel dumont copyeditor@carillonregina.com news editor gillian massie news@carillonregina.com a&c editor wren gessner arts@carillonregina.com s&h editor vacant sports@carillonregina.com op-ed editor hammad ali op-ed@carillonregina.com distribution manager sunpreet sidhu distribution@carillonregina.com staff writer amina salah staff writer victoria baht staff writer kate sveinbjornson news writer josh king a&c writer jorah bright s&h writer sophia stevens

contributors ayodipupo adetola, katlyn richardson, navjot singh board of directors holly funk and honourary members: shiva souri, thomas czinkota, jorah bright, hammad ali, amina salah, and shae sackman

Our healthcare system and emergency services crumble, students are left in the dark on the events of their students’ union meetings for months, and our premier has been dubbed by voters through Rank and File as the official 2022 Scumbag of the Year for the Canadian public sector. It’s the week of blue Monday, and the upcoming year overall may be looking pretty dim. That being said, we also have stories that contain tips for journaling, recounts of landlords who actually meet some minimum requirements for tenant support, and the start of a series of gym reviews that kicks off with quite a swing.

It all provides a bit of contrast against the fire and brimstone of late, but we’re also firm believers in fire and brimstone never quite being the end of the story. News develops, right? Stories continue past our coverage of them, and we’re looking forward to following up on the events we touch on in this issue.

Illegitimi non carborundum.

holly funk editor-in-chief

the paper

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The Carillon welcomes contributions.

Opinions expressed in the pages of the Carillon are entirely 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.

land acknowledgement

The Carillon is written on Treaty 4 territory. As such, staff recognize that we are living, working, and telling stories on and of Indigenous lands. We recognize that we are on the traditional homelands of the Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota, Lakota, and Dakota peoples, along with the homeland of the Métis nation. The Carillon understands that it is pointless to acknowledge the land on which we work without demonstrating our commitment to telling stories and prioritizing voices that further the return of this land to its sacred place.

the manifesto

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 sixty 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.

people’s friend; the tyrant’s foe

news

news arts & culture

student legal advising p. 4

Breakout Avenue p. 8

As both a celebration of Regina hiphop and a fundraiser for the General Hospital’s Mental Health Unit, a jam with a variety of performers was held at The Exchange.

sports op-ed

sports

paramedic predicament p. 11

Though Saskatchewan specifically is suffering from an under-resourced healthcare system, other provinces are also displaying the results of a reactionary system.

landlording p. 15

While acknowledging the inherent issues with charging money for access to a basic human right, contributor Katlyn Richardson recounts what makes her current landlord one of the best.

the

missing minutes p. 3

gym review p. 10

Entire semester of meeting minutes not published by URSU

195 days, and still no explanation

gillian massie news editor

From July 6, 2022, until January 16, 2023, no update of general meeting minutes was made to the URSU meeting minutes website page.

According to Article VI: Powers and Duties of the Board of Direction in the URSU Constitution, Notion (7) states “The Board of Directors shall keep a “Minutes Book” of all general and board meetings. This book shall be updated on a continuing basis and all minutes must be published on the URSU website within fourteen days after approval of the minutes by the Board of Directors.”

On January 10, 2023, the Carillon sent an email to URSU with a request that they publish their meeting minutes and provide a statement to the paper addressing why six months had passed without an update.

On January 16, 2023, around 11 a.m., the Carillon received confirmation that the meeting minutes had been uploaded to the URSU website. Bronwyn Heerspink, President of the University of Regina Politics and International Studies Students’ Association, said it should be a “high priority” for any government to publish general meeting minutes.

“I think it is significantly important,” said Heerspink. “Representative bodies need to be representative, or representing their students, and students need to be able to identify that their concerns are being addressed.”

Access to public records is a right to students, in part so that they can see what grievances are being brought to the board of directors and, furthermore, if these grievances are being addressed. There should be an “air of openness in every governing institution,” according to Heerspink.

“URSU has a lot of responsibilities, [URSU’s] responsible to the students who elected them,” she added.

Lack of transparency between government and the public can result in mistrust or lack of participation in political practices. Only 7.4 per cent of students voted in the 2022 URSU general election. Heerspink said the single digit turnout rates should be a concern, and low turnout rates are a reflection of a lack of transparency.

“A lot of it is really shallow and surface level,” said Heerspink. “You walk by the Riddell Centre, and there’s these nefarious [executive] posters staring down at you. I think having something that shows your record, like minutes, is more valuable than these kinds of frivolous shows of ‘Here’s who URSU

is.’ Tell us who you actually are with the work that you’re actually doing.”

Heerspink explained that she does not think URSU is acting “nefarious” by not posting meeting minutes, but questions if there is something in the minutes package that the government does not want students to see.

In Article VI of the URSU Constitution, Notion (8) states “The Board of Directors shall ensure that the books and records of the Students’ Union are accurate.” Heerspink identifies the qualities of a successful public document as clearness and accessibility. It may be the first time students have engaged with public documents which makes it even more important for them to be easy to understand, and easy to access. These documents should give students clear instructions on how to apply for grants or student emergency funding, without risk of rejection due to an application filled out incorrectly.

Student unions provide an opportunity for students to be introduced to politics, something Heerspink recommends. Heerspink explained reading meeting minutes is a good way for students to become more comfortable with politics and ask questions to understand the commitment that comes along with running in an election or cam-

paigning.

“The fact that [meeting minutes] are not available is troubling for the people who are wanting to get involved because it creates a barrier for them,” said Heerspink. While the meeting minutes are

now available as requested (and as per their constitution), at the time of writing the Carillon has yet to receive a statement from URSU on why it took six months for them to publish these minutes.

Coming out of the pandemic and returning to full-time classes has been a shock for many students. A study from Queens University found that 56 per cent of students reported feelings of loneliness and isolation as a problem early in the pandemic.

Universities also have the additional pressure of providing the ‘university experience’ that many students are looking for, which couldn’t happen over the pandemic. A University Affairs survey in Canada found the thing students missed the most was in-person classes, followed second by socializing with friends from school. Surprisingly, going to parties came in second last, well below attending class.

Socially-engaged students also reap academic and career benefits of increased networking, higher grades, and improved well-being. Coming off the University of Regina’s first full semester back, I decided to hit the streets and talk to students about how their social life is recovering and to gauge their satisfaction with the renewed social life on campus.

Ian, first-year student

“I have been thinking of joining like a film club or something to do with political debates or something, but I haven’t seen any-

where where you can sign up. I’m not really sure where you can actually go and find these clubs because, they’re not on the website. I’ve checked. And then there’s no other like bulletin board saying clubs or something.”

Ivan, first-year student

“I met quite a bit of people through the Physics Students’ Society. Student societies are quite nice. I joined multiple and some of the clubs. Meeting people was fairly easy, but only through like societies and niche interests. It’s hard to meet people from different fields of studies unless you go to like the Lazy Owl or the gym. […] For at least a year I probably will do dorms, because that gets you into this little group of people with different interests and you can find friends easily.

Even just networking makes it easier from that one group of people, like you meet the friends of the friends of the friends. The social events from the Students’ Union [are] pretty good, which people from multiple different faculties could come in there and socialize. But it also doesn’t pop out to you right away. You have to kind of look for a little bit.”

Ebuka, first-year student

“I live on campus, so the RAs

are very helpful. I have been treated racially [racialized] by my skin; a boy questioned my knowledge, [and] they pushed me out of the discussion. […] So, yeah, racism exists here sadly.”

Babitbalsingh, first-year student

“I’m from India. Overall, the university has a nice envi-

Aliz, second-year student

“It’s much better than Discord. I think it’s much better than what COVID-19 had, being far away from instructors, peers, and access to books, libraries, other things. I do want to play soccer

and I see there’s maybe some activities in eSports as well as sports. There’s 10,000 coffees, which is nice to engage and meet other peers. And one thing I do find, I think the group aspect could be made easier to access.”

ronment. I believe I am going to make many friends, and friends for a lifetime.”

You, as a student, have a right to public documents.

Illustration: Lee Lim

Hello Ms. Purell, having a busy morning I gather? Photo: Lee Lim

No SLAC-king off here Student legal services goes through on grant dollars

josh king news writer

The Student Legal Advocacy Centre (SLAC) came to fruition in the fall 2022 semester. Prior to the existence of SLAC, students had limited options for legal aid. Legal Aid Saskatchewan exists to provide low-income people with criminal and family law, though can have wait times of six weeks and requires proof of low-income status. Other non-profits like Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan offer an hour of free legal consultation, though does not provide representation services and is dependent on volunteer lawyers. Unlike either of these current options, SLAC will offer students legal aid for a larger variety of issues without proof of income status, and likely with shorter wait times.

SLAC is described on its website as “similar to RPIRG, the Women’s Centre and UR Pride, Regina SLAC will be a centre that will directly serve students and operate independently of URSU.”

The road to launch was fraught with controversy after an URSU referendum in the winter 2022 semester ended in a majority of students voting against creating SLAC. In an article published by the Carillon, leaders of the Speak Up and Vote No campaign outlined concerns of additional students’ fees to fund SLAC. With the opening of SLAC in November, there is currently no extra student fee associated with it. Its initial pilot budget is $70,000. Navjot Kaur, president of URSU, explained the funding of SLAC would not take money from students’ wallets.

“We’re applying to grants, but funding is limited,” said Kaur. “We have a campaign budget, and we are managing SLAC service from our campaign budget currently. But the decision of continuing this service, it’s all up to students and how they want it to be.”

Since the ‘no’ vote in the referendum, URSU has made several changes in response to the vote, such as not levying a student fee. In addition, URSU ran a student survey during October and the results were released on December 15. The survey had 1,140 respondents of the university’s nearly 17,000 students.

The survey found that students said employment law as well as academic and non-academic misconduct were the two topics they are most likely to use SLAC for. Aside from legal advocacy, 93 per cent of students who took the survey thought operators of SLAC should host workshops, with the most favored topic being about student rights. More than half of the respondents were willing to pay at least $10 a year for the service. Though, only 17.5 per cent were willing to pay $20, still far below the previously proposed $45.

Three focus groups were also done this fall, one with URSU

employees, another with the general student body, and a third with Justice Studies students. The focus groups were interested in having legal services on campus, though some expressed potential negative perceptions of free services being of low quality.

Following on the survey wishes to hold legal workshops, SLAC hosted their first workshop on

Sehra who are both paid based on how much their services are used. The Two Rivers law firm has an extensive history of working with immigration, family, and estate law, and Sehra has a background in administrative law. In the future, SLAC is also hoping to have paid positions for Justice Studies students, providing experiential learning to students at the

advice students need so far is the immigration issues, which is the most popular among students. But a lot of students came for the tenant rights as well,” said Kaur. “One of the other popular things students came to the SLAC is about the parking tickets. I think that’s something popular in the U of R, a lot of students getting parking tickets, but [is] also a se-

“We are aware that legal institutions have too often reinforced inequality and oppression,” states the SLAC website. “We may need to challenge these institutions in order to address injustice in our community.”

Student legal services at other universities vary drastically. A number of universities with J.D. programs have law students run

January 11 with the topic of Indigenous Law. The workshop was led by the Wahkohtowin Lodge and hosted in the Lazy Owl Mezzanine.

SLAC is headed by a student council who oversees the operation separate from URSU, who still provides the funding. The actual lawyering is done by a mix of a law firm called Two Rivers Legal Professional Corporation and another lawyer named Parveen

University of Regina.

SLAC is currently open to students and appointments can be made at reginaslac.ca. However, their client intake form is not working at the time of writing this article, for unstated reasons. Since SLAC opened in November it has seen about 50 students make use of it, and Navjot Kaur estimated that it saved students $180,000 in legal fees.

“The most popular student

rious thing when they don’t pay their fine.”

SLAC also has mandates to help with broader advocacy and change in the community. Part of this is the launch of legal action teams that are starting this semester, which are student led and focus on different issues. The legal actions teams currently have 30 students who have signed up, and anyone interested in joining can email advocacy@ursu.ca.

free legal clinics. Clinics like these are often open to the general public, making them busy, and often can only provide advice and not legal representation. Although, they often operate at low cost and are free, the University of Saskatchewan’s CLASSIC program is an example of this system at work. At the University of Calgary, a student legal clinic reports that it has served 2,000 people.

“We’re applying to grants, but funding is limited. […] We have a campaign budget, and we are managing SLAC service from our campaign budget currently. But the decision of continuing this service, it’s all up to students and how they want it to be.”

– Navjot Kuar, URSU President

U of R Alumni representing at APEC Summit

Travelling to Thailand for economic debate

pall agarwal contributor

When Hannah Tait met Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, he told her that she was a strong woman. Tait was one of the seven Canadian delegates and the only one from the University of Regina to represent Canada in the Youth Summit of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Thailand. The former president of the University of Regina Students’ Union holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business, along with a diploma in Political Science from the U of R. She has been actively involved with the community since a very young age, impacting people in Regina all the way to the global level. Co-ordinated by Global Vision, Tait was able to make her mark at APEC 2022.

In a recent interview, Tait mentioned how she had an enlightening, enriching, and wholesome experience at the summit. To be able to create the Youth Declaration along with the delegates from another 13 members from participating economies, they diligently put together youth’s economic and social priorities. There were discussions about different issues like international transferability in terms of work, academia, and gender equity that affect economies. The delegates also got a chance to take

tours where some were given by the Thai prime minister himself, surprising all. Tait’s journey at the summit from figuring out how to get to the destination to gracefully presenting at the summit was indeed remarkable and one of the biggest milestones of her life.

People have many takeaways from opportunities like these, and so did Tait. She found it very impactful that there was a major emphasis on how recognized the Indigenous population is in every economy. “Always expect the unexpected,” said Tait on facing different challenges and obstacles during this golden time. Majorly involved with Hill JDC West for overly 3 years, Tait has beautifully grasped the art of making through these situations and working though pressure and time-sensitive circumstances.

Moreover, her experience with different cultures in the summit gave her one of the biggest takeaways that people often neglect: trust. She emphasized how important it is to trust each other, give people a chance, and believe in them. Furthermore, fighting new positions on the spot was also in her list as the summit gave her an international exposure to the different challenges one can face to make it through the world.

Tait also made it to Bangkok Time’s front cover during her time at APEC 2022. Interacting with the CEOs, VPs, and VCs of different companies was de-

scribed as one of the memorable parts, and her interaction with the CEO of Acer was aptly put as the best out there. Getting a chance to discuss Canada’s status with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was one of the impactful conversations.

When being asked for advice for future participants or young delegates, the response held a strong emphasis on showing up to places and confidently going out-

side your comfort zone. It is imperative to realise that to make it so far with grit and determination, getting outside the regular circle is very important. This cultural exposure on a large scale brought out the ‘rockstar’ side of her when she, along with the other Canadian delegates, performed to Justin Bieber’s “Baby” in plaid shirts, hyping the audience and bringing together the world to their tunes.

An experience of a lifetime,

Tait highlighted the support from Ethical Digital, Global Vision, University of Regina with the International Experience scholarship, the University of Regina Students’ Union with the Project, Event, and Conference Bursary, Hill Business Students’ Society’s Conference Fund, and Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership. Making the nation proud and Regina even moreso, Tait certainly left a mark.

Scumbag Scott sweeps a different sort of vote

Moe taken out with the trash

holly funk editor-in-chief

This article was inspired when a friend shared Rank and File’s shortlist of candidates for their 2022 Scumbag of the Year award. Four Canadian candidates each from the public and private sectors were selected, and it wasn’t as much of a surprise as I’d have liked it to be to see Scott Moe as one of two premiers who made the cut (the other being New Brunswick’s Blaine Higgs).

At the time of writing, Moe has received 1,718 of 2,504 total votes split between the four public sector candidates, or roughly 69 per cent. For reference, the current second place runner-up is Ontario Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, with roughly 19 per cent; Moe’s got one hell of a lead. While Rank and File’s explanation for Moe’s nomination is restricted to one paragraph, they hit on several key ‘scumbag’ moments such as his questionable treatment of the working class. They reference him specifically as a “union-busting scumbag” for pushing legislation back in March to force locked-out CP railway workers back on the job.

They also reference the push to privatize healthcare, similar to what’s observable in Ontario; wages capped, healthcare professionals fleeing in droves, hospitals at 200-300 per cent over capaci-

ty, and increased pressure on the idea that a pay-for-service system would provide more efficient care. All this while disregarding the harm a pay-for-service healthcare system could cause in a province with nearly 20 per cent of adults earning an income below the poverty line as of 2019 and nearly 30 per cent of children living in poverty, not to mention us consistently being the province with the lowest minimum wage.

Our mental healthcare fares no better. In mid-July, Prince Albert’s child and youth inpatient mental health and psychiatric unit ceased all new admissions – this being the second time since 2020 – because their only remaining psychiatrist resigned on August 6. In an article by Connor O’Donovan for Global News, Dr. Randall Zbuk (the since-departed psychiatrist) was said to have had the stance that “Saskatchewan kids’ life outcomes are being put at risk by an under-resourced healthcare system.” Not a healthcare system that would benefit from being privatized, but one that’s essentially being mugged. At the time of O’Donovan’s article, the waitlist for services in Prince Albert was roughly 400 persons long, with triage being the only feasible approach to treatment regardless of context.

There are a host of other moments that could be highlighted as the scumbaggiest that could be,

but one haunting event that cannot be underemphasized is the handling of wife murderer Colin Thatcher’s appearance at the throne speech. While Moe didn’t invite Thatcher (that was Lyle Stewart’s move), Moe later said to reporters questioning the invite that was an apology to be requested of Stewart, Moe wouldn’t “understand what we’d be asking to apologize for.” After severe public backlash, Moe later apologized, saying this move reflected poorly on the Sask. Party.

All this resulted in the media highlighting the rates of domestic violence in Saskatchewan – some of the highest in the country – in comparison to resources available for those trying to escape situations where they are being abused, which are abysmal. Again, the province’s poverty rates have an influence here, with some people staying in relationships that constantly threaten their lives for the temporary potential of financial survival. It is hard to imagine that this situation of forced dependence would better if all illness – physical or otherwise – required payment for support.

In short, we’re in trouble. We’re a province being slowly (but rapidly increasingly) deprived of social assistance and support, all as a way to imply which residents are desirable to those in power. It’s really not too different from the Christmas story of Rudolph

the red-nosed reindeer, who was only socially accepted once he was deemed useful to the system in place.

News flash: the system in place is failing the people who have no option but to participate

in the system, and those in power have shown no interest in supporting those who have no use to them. If that’s not scumbag material, I don’t know what is.

Hannah Tait speaking with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau while surrounded by other APEC Summit members.

Photo: Adam Scotti

An award only earned through hard work and dedication. Image: Lee Lim

arts & culture

How to start

jorah bright a&c writer

Journaling is something we’ve all heard of. It’s something we’ve all been told we should do. It’s something we all think about doing, but don’t actually do. Well, it’s the new year, and it’s the perfect time for you to start journaling.

With the start of the new year, I’ve started journaling as a way to improve my overall quality of life. The hardest part of journaling isn’t starting, it’s continuing. It’s making a habit out of it. For me, it’s only been a few weeks and I’ve already seen improvement in myself with daily journaling. Here are my tips for starting (and continuing) to journal.

Name your journal

My biggest block for journaling was that I hated the idea of writing to myself. It seemed intimidating knowing that I was essentially talking to myself about myself. So, I named my journal. It immediately turned journaling from talking to myself to talking to a close friend at the end of the day. You can name it after someone in your life or a name that’s unaffiliated with anyone you know. You could name it after a character you like. It’s your journal, you can

name it whatever you want. Treat your journal as a pen pal who wants the very best for you.

Have a set thing to write about every day

Sometimes when you sit down to journal, you realize that you have nothing to write about. Writer’s block can stop journaling in its tracks. Find something that you want to write about every day. Then, when you journal, you have at least one thing to write about, even if it’s just that one thing. For me, I have promises I’ve made to myself to help me improve, and I journal about those promises and whether or not I’ve done them that day. For other people, they do their highs and lows of the day, the best and worst part of that day. Maybe for you, it’s what you ate that day or what classes you went to that day.

Digital versus physical

I hate journaling in a physical notebook. There’s something about it that feels off to me. When I journal, I journal in a Google doc. With that being said, I’ve met lots of people who only like to journal in a physical notebook. If you’ve tried journaling in a notebook and didn’t like it, try a digital notebook,

(and

and vice versa. Journaling is about what works for you.

Time of day

I hate journaling in the morning. Yet, I’ve known lots of people who like to journal first thing in the morning. I like to journal at the end of the day to reflect upon the events that happened. Some people like to journal around noon when they have spare time. Find a

time that works for you to journal. Maybe you like to journal throughout the day. Don’t feel restricted by a set ‘journaling time.’

Expectations

Something important about journaling is what you expect to receive from it. If you journal and expect it to solve all your problems, you’ll probably feel disappointed. When you see really pretty bullet

journals online, you expect your journal to look like that, and if it doesn’t, it can discourage you from journaling. You need to ask yourself what you’re journaling for and what you think will happen at the end of it. Keep realistic expectations of yourself and your journal.

Those are my tips for journaling, I hope they help you. Happy journaling!

For many of us, pens are just a tool. Some of us do not even bring our own pens everywhere, confident that we will be able to borrow one if needed. Even for those who make a point of not leaving home without one, usually any pen will do. Nor do most people worry about where to get their next pen, usually just picking up a bulk pack at the cheapest store nearby.

I have always been an anomaly in this sense. For as far back as I can remember, I have been obsessed with pens. Several years ago, I read how the Uni-ball Jetstream was named the smoothest ballpoint pen in the world, and got a friend in the UK to send me a couple of packets. On that occasion, I was actually disappointed and did not find the Jetstream to be a worthy purchase.

A lot has changed since then, and around three years ago, my fascination with pens and stationery reached what now feels like the logical conclusion – I now exclusively use fountain pens. I guess I will use a ballpoint pen to scribble a few lines in an emergency, but I am not going to be happy about it!

Like many other fountain pen aficionados, I started with one relatively cheap fountain pen. I say

relatively because even a cheap fountain pen often costs in the neighborhood of $30. For someone familiar with dollar-a-dozen single-use ballpoints, this comes across as shocking. In all honesty though, the fact that you can reuse fountain pens, the writing experience, and the quality of writing make it worth the price tag.

There is a joke in the fountain pen community about how no one owns one fountain pen; they either do not own any fountain pens at all, or they own an embarrassingly high number of them. In the three years since my first one, I now have a collection of eight fountain pens, and that’s after some downsizing! Most of my collection was bought used, and I do not see myself adding to it in the next little while. I say this because I had a reasoning for buying each pen I currently own.

For instance, fountain pens come in various nib sizes. Broad nibs put out thick lines, use a ton of ink, and do not do well with thin or low-quality paper. So I have just one of those, for beautiful signatures. Most of my other pens are fine or extra fine, great for thin lines and tiny notes in a margin. I do not own any with a post nib, which is supposed to be finer than extra fine; or a music nib, meant exclusively for writing musical notes. Given my day-today use, I am unlikely to get either

of those.

Another factor I keep in mind is the size of the ink tank. Some pens have barely one ml, like the first one I ever got. The problem with that is that for someone like me who essentially thinks by writing, this means refilling almost every day. Refilling fountain pens is fun, but it does have the potential for getting ink everywhere! My current collection has pens with capacity anywhere up to two ml, with the two ml ones easily writing around a hundred pages from a single fill.

The last factor I use in deciding what pen to get is what filling mechanism it uses. There are the squeeze converters, which I hate and find messy. There are those that just take cartridges, and are ideal for carrying around because, instead of drawing up bottled ink, I can just switch out cartridges. My favourites are those with vacuum fillers. Tricky to work, but very satisfying. I find refilling all my pens with bottled ink to be a very comforting ritual; one where I am left with ink-stained hands, which is fine. Modern life is all about fast pace and ease-of-use. There is something rewarding in not joining that race.

Image: Lee Lim

The open gaming license: an end to an era?

jorah bright a&c writer

One of the greatest things about Dungeons & Dragons is the community. People come up with incredibly creative ideas and share them online. People can make money from coming up with these ideas and selling them online to other D&D fans. The reason why D&D players are able to monetize their D&D-related works is because of something called the Open Game License (OGL).

The OGL lets creators take elements from D&D such as basic rules or aspects and make content from it that they can then distribute legally and make money. Wizards of the Coast (WotC), the company behind D&D, has the OGL in place so that they can hold ownership of the game while still allowing D&D fans and players to create their own elements of the game. For WotC, having the OGL helps D&D grow as a game and a franchise. Official D&D books are expensive, while fan-made content is often cheaper while retaining a high quality.

The OGL was initially introduced by WotC in 2000. This was during the era of 3rd edition D&D. Former WotC vice president Ryan Dancey claimed that with the OGL “[WotC] can establish a clear policy on what it will, and will not allow people to do with its copyrighted materials.” Dancey believed that allowing the public to create D&D content would help D&D grow.

In 2008, WotC changed up the OGL for the new 4th edition of D&D. They created the Game System License. The GSL didn’t get rid of the OGL, but they didn’t work well together. The GSL was a lot more restrictive and people didn’t like it. Under the GSL, people could make products that worked with D&D 4th ed., but it limited what fans could create and share for the game.

In 2016, when D&D 5th ed. came out, WotC returned to the OGL. People could make and share content for D&D. They could even get a license to create content within WotC copyrighted material.

People have been speculating

D&D. WotC tried to quell these rumors by saying that they would support those who make additional content for D&D. They stated that they couldn’t announce anything about the OGL for One D&D just yet, because One D&D wasn’t developed enough.

Recently, in December of 2022, WotC announced information about OGL 1.1, the first big update to the OGL since 2000. OGL 1.1 stated that if anyone wanted to create D&D content, they would need to have a badge indicating that it’s an official part of the OGL 1.1 on the product. If a creator wanted to monetize their D&D content, they would need to inform WotC if the total revenue was more than $50,000 a year. If anyone wanted to make anything related to D&D, WotC would need to know and the product would need to be registered, which was never the case before.

Not only was this change made for the upcoming One D&D, it also applied to any version of D&D. If you made something for D&D 2nd ed., you would need to make it comply with OGL 1.1. Those who already have products released under OGL 1 would have to completely change their products and how they’re sold to continue to make money and be sold under OGL 1.1. Not only would you need to report it to WotC, you’d be allowing WotC to use your product in any way they wanted to for any reason. WotC could take your product, change it up a little bit, and sell it, and you wouldn’t be able to do anything about it under OGL 1.1. And, if WotC suddenly doesn’t like something you did, they could decide that they don’t want you to have the OGL 1.1 license and stop you from creating and selling content.

D&D fans are not happy about the new OGL 1.1. For 22 years, people could freely create D&D content and make a living off of it if they wanted to. Companies like Paizo, Kobold Press, Green Ronin, and Ghostfire Gaming were able to be established as successful companies and successfully create loved content for D&D, but now their businesses could crumble unless they change their models, and fast. If

low D&D, a game about creation and making new things, to be a place where people could be creative and create new things for D&D. The OGL 1.1 completely revoked that feeling of freedom and took away a lot of trust fans had in WotC.

In response to OGL 1.1, the community started to take things into their own hands. Kobold Press announced a new TTRPG system they would create that

a site connected to WotC where players can purchase licensed D&D content, share homebrew content, and create character sheets on the site. The cancelation movement started after rumors that WotC was monitoring how people were responding to OGL 1.1 based off of D&DBeyond subscriptions. When the bottom line at WotC allegedly started changing because of the subscription cancellations, WotC

money. They claimed that many of their goals with the OGL 1.1 were aligned with stopping discriminatory products and things like NFTs. They stated that they would not use the OGL 1.1 to steal work from the community. The community did not respond to this statement well either, making fun of the sentence “It’s clear from the reaction that we rolled a 1,” attempting to make a joke about the rules of the game to

for years when the next edition of D&D will be released. News broke in August of 2022 that the next version would be called One D&D and WotC was launching a public playtest. Shortly after, in November of 2022, rumors started circulating that the OGL would not be available for One

the community takes the changes WotC is making without a fight, then WotC could continue to make restrictive changes like this in the future.

One the biggest things D&D fans took from the OGL 1.1 is that it felt like a betrayal. The OGL 1.0 was put in place to al-

would be completely open source. Paizo announced their Open RPG Creative License, which would allow content under this ORC to be perpetually open source.

People began campaigning to cancel subscriptions to the website D&DBeyond. D&DBeyond is

started making moves.

On January 13, WotC used D&DBeyond to release a statement in response to the OGL 1.1 backlash. This statement did not have the new OGL 1.1 in it, but they stated that creators would no longer have to pay royalties if creations earn a certain amount of

be lighthearted in this tense situation.

In the near future, we’ll probably see more changes and updates to the OGL 1.1 and be able to see whether or not WotC is actually listening to the community or trying to make more money for themselves.

Wizards of the Coast has a long path ahead to earn back the community’s trust

Set sail across the sea.

Photo: Jorah Bright

“

The OGL 1.0 was put in place to allow D&D, a game about creation and making new things, to be a place where people could be creative.”

– Jorah Bright

The Jam: Breakout Avenue

Exploring the diversity of hip-hop in Regina

victoria baht staff writer

On January 14 at 8 p.m., there was a very interesting event happening at The Exchange. The Exchange is a music venue that gives talented locals the chance to show their skills before venturing out to bigger commercial venues, as stated on their website. Dan Innes took the time to organize an event called The Jam: Breakout Avenue, which highlighted hiphop culture and dancers with an added special guest break-dancer from Vibes YQR.

We thought it would be good to bring you the background story of this event to take a bit of a different approach compared to a typical review. We did an interview with Innes to give you insight into what it takes to run an event at The Exchange, and what inspired The Jam: Breakout Avenue. Innes is an MC, goes by ThatManDan, and he has been pursuing music since 2015.

Can you tell us what inspired you to run this event?

The first reason is that hiphop in Regina is an underserved population, especially in terms of getting shows and having shows at different venues. […] The inspiration was to create awareness of the hip-hop community in Regina and give the opportunity for five acts to get the opportunity to per-

form and to be seen.

What are you hoping the vibes of this event are going to be?

Positive, and good times. I want to give a vibe of sharing the culture. Hip-hop has a culture that is made of four elements: breakdancing, DJing (turntablism), MC (rap), and graffiti. So, we want to share that information as well, not only are we a group and artists for that night but we are ambassadors of hip-hop and share that information to educate.

What influence will this event have on Regina’s hiphop culture?

We are hoping it raises the profile of hip-hop culture in the city. […] We all are hoping to gain some exposure and break down some stigmas around hiphop. […] This event is for all ages, and it can be a family show to create awareness.

Do you have any personal feelings or reasons why you decided to highlight hip-hop culture?

I think it has the potential to be helpful to people in so many ways. In my life, it has helped me in so many ways. […] I think overall it can be helpful. Even if you are just a listener to hip-hop that is an activity, listening is an

activity. So, when you are listening and identifying lyrics and taking in even punch lines, […] and processing information while you do that, it is an exercise thanks to hip-hop. Thanks to all music to some degree, but it allows me to think of hip-hop as my governing body, my perceptions about life.

How did you collaborate multiple different hip-hop cultures into one specific event?

Karavan: a shop of curiosities

Your local shop for all things creepy and cool

Regina has plenty of hidden gems waiting to be found. From The Broom Closet to Paper Umbrella, there are a variety of unique shops selling unique product. Karavan – Curio and Collectibles has all things horror, goth, and witchy. Name your area of interest and they will likely have something there for you.

Upon stepping inside, visitors are greeted with a friendly face and walls of dark merchandise. To the right are a variety of mugs and coffee beans with fun descriptions. Some were based on cryptids, and others famous horror movie villains. Despite how these might sound, the flavours look delicious. How could anyone go wrong with a salted caramel latte?

To the left is a collection of smaller items, from enamel pins featuring mysterious quotes and famous spooks all the way to larger patches perfect for that denim jacket. There are also some fun gifts ideas, like skull lip balms and sticker packs.

As visitors venture further into the store, it is much larger than it first appears. Everything is sectioned off, with a large clothing section towards the back, a wall of horror collectible figurines, a smaller music display, vintage VHS tapes, and even a unique boardgame section. I want to highlight a few of my favourite

sections, though I could spend hours in here with everything there is to offer.

As a boardgame fanatic, I was immediately drawn to the wall of unique boardgames they had in stock. Most of them I had never seen before, and yet each one I picked up looked immensely fun. It’s clear that whoever takes care of the stock carefully selects their items. There was a Godzilla game with 3D figurines, and a cryptid card game (which I couldn’t resist bringing home with me). All of the games have beautiful artwork to match what are very clear sets of rules.

The shelves of Stranger Things merchandise tempted me with more than one item. More specifically, they had a metal Hellfire lunchbox that was absolutely dreamy. There were also a variety of character figurines, and even the Hellfire t-shirts.

Stepping into the clothing section gave me a similar feeling to stepping into Hot Topic as an edgy 14-year-old, only this place is so much cooler. There were dresses with checkered patterns and leather, themed – you guessed it – black and white. There were also a variety of classic tees with a good range of sizes. They had classic horror film prints, as well as vibrant graphic tees. Anyone with a dark sense of humour would find something to

love here.

While out of my range of typical interests, the figurine wall deserves an honourable mention. There were more collectible characters than I could name, and each of them were uniquely created. The packaging was all in mint condition, and the organization was commendable. For anyone looking for a special figurine,

I think how we came to it is that we wanted to attract a fair, well-rounded representation of what exists in hip-hop.

This event was free, but was a fundraiser for the General Hospital Mental Health Unit. Would you like to tell us why you choose them specifically?

Since 1998, I have lived with bipolar. […] It is an understatement to say these people have saved my life. […] The care they

gave me was so huge and now we can do a fundraiser, raise some dollars, and give back to the community and unit so that they can support some other people.

We learned lots of new facts and information about hip-hop culture in Regina, and we hope you did too! We hope this event was a success for ThatManDan and all the other artists who performed.

particularly in the horror genre, this place is worth checking out. Whether you’re someone invested in collecting merchandise for all things horror, or someone who is just looking for an interesting outing, Karavan is sure to impress. This place is fun to visit alone or with friends, and employees are always willing to lend a helping hand. This is

hands down one of the best places to grab a fun and unique gift for someone, whether for a holiday or a little pick-me-up. Happy ghost hunting!

a&c editor

wren gessner

A different sort of twist-and-shout. Photo: Lee Lim

Where it’s spooky season the whole year long.

Photo: Wren Gessner

in thaw

the hesitation's palpable, the setting seems serene as flakes drift down from heaven we are all struck by the scene across the land a pause's been took, repose and respiration as implications settle in all across the nation

another, and another, and another still are found between winter and next winter, their stories ripped from ground the latest come from '96 and the true total eludes as the sins of our fathers are tallied in an 'unmarked, now-found' deluge frozen earth and frozen hearts and frozen promises the record was not struck; merely delayed, it says by those who'd seek to minimize the harm, the greed, the lust of those who would seek to consume the spirit of the just in thaw stands the defiance rage, revelation, reclamation as an ambience of "no you fucking don't" seizes a generation

photo and poetry by holly fu

photo and poetry: holly funk

sports & health

Resolutions gym review: Iron Therapy

victoria baht staff writer

The month of January is here, and it is time to make New Year’s goals and try to make a ‘new you.’ Often a theme that comes along with the month of January is going to the gym to get yourself back on track after the holidays, and to get nice and fit for the summertime. Last year, we did a gym series where I went around to different gyms in the city, tried out a class, told you what I liked and did not like about the specific class, and did an interview with the instructor or the owner. Well this year, that series is continuing!

The first location I went to is Iron Therapy, located at 1763 Mcara Street in Regina. To give you a bit of a background about the gym before we get to the review, I’ll let you know a bit about Iron Therapy. The gym itself is owned by a woman named Brandi Smith; she claims herself an iron addict. She has a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology specializing in human kinetics, and she used her degree and her years of weightlifting to her advantage to create a space that is welcoming to all minds, bodies, and souls, as she makes very clear on the website and in the gym itself.

Now that we know a bit about the gym, let’s take you along with the session. When you first walk in you are welcomed by Smith herself, and you walk into a typical warehouse-style gym where you have a simple set-up with lots of options for gym equipment and everything. Once you get introduced and situated, it is time to get into the good stuff.

I attended a small group session, which included myself and two others, though typically these work in groups of four. How Smith works these sessions is that two go at once while the other two watch the others work out, watch their form, and cheer each other on. In today’s class, we worked on the upper body, and it was a good one. Honestly, I was quite shocked by all the little details, information, and advice that Smith had for us to assure that each one of us was safe, comfortable, and successful with the movements. She literally broke it down step-by-step on where your body should be, what you should

be doing, where you should be feeling it, and – if you are doing parts wrong – how to fix it. We did bench press, assisted pull-up, started an overhead barbell press, and an arm circuit with two triceps and two bicep movements.

Now that you know a bit about the gym, how Smith works, and the workout, I am going to tell you the details I did and did not like. We jumped right into things with no stretch, so I would recommend that you show up a bit beforehand to stretch out if that is what you enjoy to keep yourself safe. Personally, that is the only thing I did not enjoy. Everything else was immaculate! The vibes of the gym were good, you were welcomed by the community right away, you cheered each other on and worked together, you got a good pump on, and you counted your own reps so you got that feeling of working on your own but with a personal trainer there to keep you safe and welcomed! With those vibes comes a great personal trainer. Let’s ask her some questions!

What do you like specifically about teaching classes at the

gym?

Mostly, I just love my clients. I have just bonded with all of them. We all have our own little relationships, so it is basically like getting to come to hang out with friends and teach them how to lift and train, and like, that we get to work hard and have a good time!

What keeps you personally motivated to be a fitness instructor? What inspired you to go this route in the first place?

My motivation to continue is that I am a bodybuilder, so I do bodybuilding in the figure division. […] I got into training during university as [I was] interested in health and fitness obviously, so started training and fell in love with it and never stopped, and evolved and worked my way through gyms and started my own business.

Is there anything that you’d like to learn how to instruct in the future? What are your personal goals?

Bodybuilding I am currently working on getting my pro card this year, which would make me a pro athlete and pro bodybuilder.

[…] For job-related, I just like always learning something new, so new ways of executing exercises, new cues to teach people, […] how to communicate things in different ways.

What is some advice you would give someone who is wanting to try out your gym for the first time?

Just do it! I think a lot of people are really scared; […] just book a class and try it! There is no commitment here, a lot of other gyms want you to buy a package, or commitment from you. I don’t like sales or pitching people. I like people to just try it and if you like it keep going, if not, everyone likes different things. Book a session and try it out, we have a very supportive community.

January is often the month of “New Year, new me.” What are some suggestions you have for people to not only have a “new me” in January, but to improve

their lifestyle and habits past this month? What have you found helpful in making a resolution that sticks?

I don’t like ‘new year, new me’ because then that almost implies that you are not good enough as [you] are, and I think everyone is good enough as they are! But, we can all improve, so I like the new year, improved me, or better me! […] Advice for resolutions, work on small steps that make a big difference, start out with one goal at a time. […] Create a habit, then add something else in, and do not get overwhelmed. It should be easy and enjoyable!

So, here is the rundown for you from Iron Therapy! You got to learn a bit about the owner herself, got to read how an upper body day works when working beside Smith, got a feeling of what you may experience when there, and got to learn about Smith and why she owns Iron Therapy herself. It was a great time at Iron Therapy, and I personally see why people enjoy it. I hope you go and try it one day. Stay tuned for more gyms coming your way!

I don’t like ‘new year, new me’ because then that almost implies that you are not good enough as [you] are, and I think everyone is good enough as they are! But, we can all improve, so I like the new year, improved me, or better me!”

If detailed instruction is up your alley, this could be the place for you

“

– Brandi Smith

Build yourself by lifting weights, build others by lifting spirits.

Photo: Troy Fleece

Ambulance shortage impacting more than just Sask.

s&h writer

Provinces across the country are facing mass shortages of paramedics and available ambulances. Why is this the case? In a recent news piece in The National, viewers were taken behind the scenes into Ottawa’s call centre for ambulances. Viewers were informed

the emergency response crisis is the lack of trained professionals in positions of influence and importance within the healthcare system.

Paramedic burnout since the start of the pandemic has also increased, leaving staffing shortages. Many paramedics are finding it difficult to sit and wait at hospitals when they could be in the community responding to calls

Rural and Remote Health, explained that the province is taking steps to incentivize healthcare workers, which include paramedics to work in rural communities within Saskatchewan. Minister Hindley went on to say that “we do have a target within the ministry in rural areas to try to have response times of 30 minutes or less to an EMS call. I think our most recent statistics from a year or

to primary care. It is a symptom of a whole system that is in crisis and it’s absolutely unacceptable. I think that we expect that when we call 911, we are going to have an ambulance available.”

What is the provincial government doing in order to minimize wait times and address staffing shortages? The SHA says that the last two budgets have seen an increase by the provincial govern-

fessions, the healthcare system requires individuals with years of qualified training, which naturally takes time to accomplish. Therefore, increasing the number of qualified staff to fill up staffing shortages will take time, and is not a fool-proof short-term solution to the ongoing crisis. Provinces such as British Columbia are turning to internationally trained nurses in hopes of filling

that Canada’s capital is consistently at a “level zero,” which means that there are no available ambulances left to respond to 911 calls.

Ottawa is just one example where the paramedic shortage is having a major impact. Many experts in the field have pointed to overwhelmed systems, exasperated since the start of the pandemic. Overwhelmed hospitals have also required paramedics and ambulances to wait at the hospital for hours due to the lack of available beds.

This impacts wait times, as paramedics have to wait hours at the hospital transferring their patients instead of being available for 911 to take a call. The impacts of chronic understaffing have also impacted the exchange paramedics have at the hospital when transferring their patients. Short term solutions for understaffing seem bleak, as the root cause for

for help. British Columbia is also seeing an impact due to staffing shortages, as the province’s recent switch to paying paramedics less has had a great impact on paramedics within the province.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Health have acknowledged the concerns surrounding ambulance shortages and understaffing. In an emailed response to CBC, the SHA expressed that both the SHA and Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Health are aware that there are times where call volume will exceed the anticipated and plannedfor staffing levels. SHA explains that “during these situations, the SHA will assess the situation and call in additional EMS resources and triage calls to ensure ambulances are dispatched to patients requiring urgent care.”

Everett Hindley, Minister of

two ago have [us] achieving that about 73 per cent of the time.”

Saskatchewan’s NDP have called for more action regarding the emergency response crisis. The NDP wants to see a robust and immediate plan to address the shortage and wait times that the province is currently subjected to. Vicki Mowat, NDP MLA in Saskatoon’s Fairview riding, said regarding the shortage that “we’ve been hearing EMS report this concern for so long due to offload delays. So, not being able to move patients into the emergency room when our emergency rooms are full, transferring patients between communities and between facilities. […] We have a patchwork system that is not working. It is representing the crisis that we know exists in healthcare right now, where we do not have adequate access to emergency care, we do not have adequate access

ment, with an additional $5.64 million in funding to help with more staffing and to minimize response times in Regina, Saskatoon, and other communities. This includes $3.5 million to Saskatoon for three additional 27/4 staffed ambulances, and $2.14 million to Regina for two additional 27/4 staffed ambulances.

In a statement to CBC, the SHA stated that “The Ministry of Health and the SHA are working on a multi-year EMS stabilization plan to address staffing issues in a number of rural communities across the province.”

The province’s current 2022-23 budget includes $7.317 million to provide additional support to full time workers in 27 communities throughout the province.

Is the province doing enough to mitigate wait times and to increase the number of qualified staff? Unlike certain types of pro-

shortages. It appears that Canada’s emergency response crisis will only become mitigated if individuals from the international community are willing to come to Canada to practice medicine.

This begs the question: does Canada need to re-invest and provide more opportunities for individuals to be accepted into nursing and medical schools? Would it be more beneficial for the province of Saskatchewan to invest in programs focused on nursing and medicine? There are many important questions that need to be asked when finding a solution to the ongoing crisis, which likely stems from underlining staffing shortages and therefore impacts wait times for ambulances. Will this ongoing crisis across the country become a long-term issue going forward, or will provinces be able to find a rapid and reliable solution?

sophia stevens

“We have a patchwork system that is not working. It is representing the crisis that we know exists in healthcare right now, where we do not have adequate access to emergency care, we do not have adequate access to primary care. It is a symptom of a whole system that is in crisis and it’s absolutely unacceptable.”

– Vicki Mowat, NDP MLA for Saskatoon Fairview

With wait times increasing, there’s uncertainty as to the dependability of aid in crisis

How to stay active when outdoors = pain

sophia stevens s&h writer

The winter season is often difficult when it comes to staying active. However, staying active makes up one of the most important ways to improve our mental and physical health according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the CDC, consistent physical activity helps improve balance as well as lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes and many types of cancer. Moreover, staying active strengthens bones and muscles, lowers blood pressure, and assists in ensuring your mind stays sharp as you age. The CDC recommends 150 minutes per week of physical activity. The good news is that whatever activity you choose is up to you and your wellness goals.

“Many activities count, such as walking, running, or wheelchair rolling. […] You can break that up into smaller chunks of time or spread your activity out during the week. […] Try 30 minutes a day, five days a week” says a statement by the CDC. The reality is that some of us do not have the resources to work out five days a week. Everyone is different, and I personally think three days a week works just as great for me.

The CDC recommends taking nature walks, as it allows one to connect with their surroundings and get fresh air daily. An important aspect of staying active in the winter months is figuring out what is the right attire to wear. The CDC recommends wearing several layers of comfortable attire. This ensures that you can remove any items once you feel warmer. According to Harvard Medical School, winter workouts are a crucial way for you to get exposure to sunlight which might prevent seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that affects some people during the winter months.

If you are someone who enjoys nature walks during the winter months, it is still important to wear sunscreen. The sun’s rays are still out in the winter even through gloomy, dark, cloudy days. Harvard Medical School recommends at least SPF 30 for minimum coverage.

If you are someone who does not enjoy being outside in the cold, then there is definitely the option to work out from home with online video guides. There are hundreds if not thousands of workout videos dedicated to every form of exercise there is. You can jump rope, practice Pilates and build strength, or there are many forms of yoga depending on whether you require low intensity or high intensity workouts.

As the weather changes, the mood and energy shifts. Seasonal changes are very pivotal to many cultures. There is a reason why certain cultures focus on celebrating the winter solstice each year. As the weather changes, the ability for us to get vitamin D and sunlight decreases. The sun is extremely powerful in its ability to

bring forth many changes to the human body. As the weather gets colder and colder, the chance for seasonal depression increases. Furthermore, it becomes harder to remain active.

I can’t speak for others; however, for myself, I find that the seasonal change allows me to live life on slow mode. It almost feels like I have no energy for anything and would much rather stay indoors and cuddle up. What we seem to forget is the importance of staying active during the winter. There is no need to overwhelm yourself, however it is important to identify what kind of exercise works best for you. Some people require high intensity workouts whereas others are better off with low intensity workouts. Moreover, it is necessary to pinpoint what you love to do. That way, staying active will not feel like a tiring chore

you have to do every day. Instead, it will feel like a hobby, a way to re-connect with your mind, body, and brain. It will be a way to get your blood flowing and your body sweating.

In December, I decided to create a journal to help me identify my health, wellness, and fitness goals for the new year. I wanted to understand how I could focus on building healthy habits and staying active as the weather cools down. In that moment, I had remembered a yoga instructor I always turn to, and for me that is the YouTube channel Yoga with Adriene. Adriene Mishler is a yoga instructor who offers many classes for everyone interested in the practice at beginner to experienced levels. Whatever your fitness goals are, there is something for everyone. For 2023, the theme is centre. This is a journey that fo-

cuses on strengthening the entire body with the core especially in mind.

“Designed for whole-body mental health, this 30 Day Journey is yoga for the here and now. […] This series is suitable for all levels, and offers modifications and enhancements for individuals far and wide to practice in a way that invites transformation, healing, and strength from the inside out.” Mishler emphasizes.

The instructor encourages viewers and participants to expect to learn new things, to get real and deep in the practice, and to focus on self-care through yoga, meditation, breath work, self-massage, affirmation, sweat, stillness, and laughter.

What I enjoy most about the 30-day yoga challenge is that even on days where you might not be up to it, you can still sit on the mat

and do some stretches. We are not robots, and there will be days when we might need to take a step back and recoup. This challenge offers viewers the ability to go at their own pace in an environment where there is no judgment.

The ball is entirely in your court. Furthermore, I appreciate the challenge of consistency. There have been days where I had to skip my daily yoga. However, this is not a time to hang in the towel; rather, it is an opportunity to get back up the next day and continue right where I left off. Ultimately, that is what makes staying active unique to each person. It is an opportunity to build healthy habits and work on yourself. It is an opportunity to heal your mind and body.

We should treat COVID more like an STI

COVID-19 and STIs are obviously different in the ways that they spread. To start, STIs aren’t airborne viruses; you generally need unprotected contact with another person’s saliva, blood, or genitals. No contact is necessary for COVID to spread, just the virus finding a way by air and moisture into an unprotected mouth, nose, or eye.

They are different in number, as there are many more types of STI than variants of COVID.

We’ve also had many decades of medical attention on and investigation into STIs (to one degree of accuracy or another), whereas research specifically on COVID is still a budding area with widespread awareness of the virus being only about three years underway.

One major factor the two have in common is their ability to infect people without the person necessarily displaying symptoms of infection. In an article for

NPR, Pien Huang outlined specifically in reference to COVID that “Asymptomatic coronavirus carriers are hard to find and study – because people usually get tested for the coronavirus only if they think they may have it.” Though it’s been clearly established since nearly the start of this pandemic that infections can begin as or even continue for their duration as asymptomatic – and that they can be spread to others while the host is asymptomatic – many people disregard and only take caution in the form of reactionary measures if they recognize symptoms.

Similarly, the most standard experience when an STI first sets in is the absence of symptoms. It takes some time for an infection or virus to reproduce enough that its effects can be observed and noted, but within that time the body can still experience harm, even if symptoms are never experienced and the individual has no idea they were infected in the first place.

Roughly two years ago I wrote an article on sexual education and STIs for the Carillon, and interviewed local sex educator Taryn Wahl who noted that asymptomatic but untreated syphilis can lead to organ failure, and chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

The good news is that all STIs either have treatments or cures available; the bad news is that an STI must be known about in order to be treated and/or cured, and the arguably worse news is that the STI will have ample op-

portunity to spread if proper precautions aren’t taken during sexual encounters because there’s no awareness of the infection. While treatments and cures for COVID are still very much in the works, it is true that an infected person will likely spread their infection much more if they don’t know of it and aren’t taking proper precautions anyway.

While COVID doesn’t require sexual contact to spread, its spread when undetected happens in a much similar sense, and the spread of the virus can be protected against in a much similar sense as well. When it comes to STIs, the most effective proactive methods of defense are things like condoms, dental dams, and rubber gloves. These help to prevent saliva, sexual fluids, and blood from spreading from one person to another, and can minimize physical contact for STIs that are spread through skin contact with an infected area.

For proactive methods against COVID, we have things like masks that work in the same way to block entry points the virus could use to enter someone’s body. The issue seems to be then, just like with condom use, that proactive measures against virus spread aren’t that commonly engaged with.

Another method to prevent the spread of STIs is regular testing, which Wahl recommended every three to six months or with each new sexual partner; whichever happens first. While some STIs such as HIV can take up to three months post-infection to show a positive test result, get-

COVID column: international update

Health mandates may come

sophia stevens s&h writer

The COVID-19 pandemic is a world health crisis the likes of which we haven’t seen in modern times. New subvariants continue to spread throughout the globe. The rise of COVID cases in China has prompted the government to create a zero-COVID policy. This policy requires severe lockdown protocols, with the idea of having zero COVID throughout the country.

However, these policies have led to vast protests across China in response to limitations associated with the zero-COVID policy. A protest in Northern China was ignited when an apartment fire broke out and led to the deaths of 10 people due to restrictions of the zero-COVID policy that impacted people’s ability to exit the apartment complex safely. The limitations include limited access to food and medical care, along with social distancing.

According to the New Yorker, the National Health Commission believes that approximately 250 million people are believed to have contracted the virus in the first three weeks of December,

which is an estimated 37 million people being infected each day. China has since lifted restrictions, including travel restrictions, along with their zero-COVID policy.

The Canadian government has imposed new restrictions regarding entry into Canada from China, which include individuals testing negative for COVID before entering Canada. China is currently considered a Level 2 regarding COVID-19 and International Travel by the Canadian government, which means that Canadians should practice enhanced health precautions when going to and from China. Many countries fear that the Chinese government’s lack of transparency regarding COVID-19 cases and deaths could lead to new variants that are more serious than those previously known.

According to the New York Times, global hot spot map countries such as Australia and Japan are experiencing high volumes of COVID cases, along with Italy and the United States. Therefore, China is not the only country experiencing an increased number of cases; however, the protests associated with the zero-COVID policy have sparked controversy

over the last few weeks.

On January 27, the World Health Organization (WHO) has scheduled a meeting to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic is still considered a global emergency. At the moment, WHO has suggested that individuals still wear masks while flying on longer flights due to the spread of a new variant. This meeting will determine whether an outbreak represents a Public Health Emer-

gency of International Concern, which is the highest level of alert used by the United Nations.

According to WHO, in December of 2021, the world saw more than half a billion people go back into extreme poverty or be pushed further back into extreme poverty due to health care costs alone. The global pandemic has impacted people from around the world in many different ways. However, if there is a positive

ting tested can ensure that should an unknown infection spring to awareness, it can be dealt with properly to protect the person infected and those they may come in contact with. Since STIs are normally asymptomatic at debut, it’s essential to engage in regular testing regardless of whether symptoms are present. Symptoms indicate that you are already infected and have been infectious for some time; they rarely if ever indicate the actual start of the infection.

In much the same way, COVID tests can be used as a regular check. Just like condoms can break and STIs still spread even when precautions are taken, masks and social distancing do not guarantee prevention. They are preventative measures, but infections can still occur, so it’s important to test normally even if you’re one who follows the utmost of precautions.

If we’re to follow a similar model with COVID, testing should be done within a specific frequency of time or with each potential occasion when a new infection could have occurred, whichever happens first. By testing regularly, whether it be for STIs at a clinic or for COVID-19 at home, you’ll be quicker to notice when infections may hit – even when they’re still asymptomatic – and will be better prepared to protect the people you care about.

takeaway from the pandemic, it is that it brought the international community together in ways that it hadn’t before. In times of uncertainty, progress is sometimes the only sign of hope. It’s important to keep in mind that COVID is here to stay whether we like it or not, and that life before COVID will likely never be fully returned to.

How both proactive and reactive strategies can be borrowed to improve awareness and action

Proactive protection has never looked so snazzy.

Photo: Bru-nO via Pixabay, manipulated by Holly Funk

and go, but COVID is forever

It’s the COVID variant orgy, and Sask. is just the breeding ground.

Illustration: Lee Lim

Twitter headed to crash and burn

Elon Musk loves polls, but not always

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Had it been someone relevant, I might have thought this. But since I’m talking about Elon, I guess the phrase “as expected” will do. Despite having precious few expectations, my guy managed to both exceed and fail them simultaneously. I mean, on the one hand, he lasted longer than Liz Truss, so that’s a tentative plus. But on the other hand, if he’d bailed out earlier, he might have kept a smidge of his (barely existent) dignity.

Since rocket boy is currently making a name for himself as the single person who has lost the most money (~$180-200 billion USD), it is challenging to find this scenario surprising. Considering that Twitter was

the surplus of bots that Musk insists do not exist).

One also wonders why Musk loves polls so much, especially as he seems to have problems with accepting the results if they aren’t the ones he wants. A nice example of this was his considering the idea of only letting those who paid for his NFT checkmark vote on polls (see: disenfranchisement). He’s not great at taking criticism. As a matter of fact, it has taken him a remarkable amount of time to discover that we (anyone who doesn’t slavishly simp for him) just aren’t that into him as a person.

Being booed at Chappelle’s show seems to have been legitimately shocking

on his car company since his association with Twitter has a fascinating way of making Tesla stock drop. It’s like seeing this guy mess up a social media company makes people less confident in his cars, which makes sense. It’s one thing for Twitter to crash and burn, but if the Tesla you’re driving does the same…

Musk’s most recent poll was one to decide an assuredly small matter: whether he was to step down as CEO or not. If I held Twitter stock right now, I’d probably be tearing my hair out by the fistful. It seems that every Tweet, every decision, and every comment by Musk is an attempt to do a bankruptcy speed run, which again is very funny to me since I have no stake there. But

be running the server and software teams, so for anyone who feared the company may improve, he’ll still be there to mess it up. Who could forget his odd requirements of grading employees on how much code they wrote? I’m no software engineer, but I think the point is to reduce extraneous code instead of having tons of bloat. Indeed, it will be challenging to find a replacement.

The fact that one would have to be ‘foolish’ to take the job inspires little confidence in seeing a qualified candidate. Namely, anyone with two neurons to rub together wouldn’t touch the position even with someone else’s hand. And a person stupid enough to take the job even after seeing the very public fallout is fighting an

somewhat notorious for being a money sink before he even got there, Musk’s hopes of it turning a profit were misguided at best. Considering Musk’s track record with technology (self-driving cars? Cybertruck?), this whole thing was really fated to go one way.

His way of running Twitter includes firing large swathes of staff, insisting everyone return to HQ (which he isn’t paying rent on), and making significant company decisions via Twitter polls. I won’t claim to be a CEO or anything, but I’m pretty sure ‘majority rules’ decision making is best left to people with a stake in the company rather than randoms on the internet (and

to him, for some reason. Whether it’s his sexual harassment scandals, levelling accusations of pedophilia, profiteering off his father’s emerald mine, or general unpleasantness as a person, it’s rather amazing that this guy just keeps failing upward. Also, he doesn’t make rockets. He didn’t found Tesla, he just bought the ‘founder’ title.

That’s why he hasn’t been cast out on a rusty rail, even after having Tesla’s share price drop 60 per cent from his announcement to buy Twitter till now. And despite having convinced people that he’s a rocket engineer, he couldn’t even stay in that lane. His stockholders call for him to focus more

to the workers who sleep at the HQ and are desperately coding and adding harebrained features according to their boss’ whims, this whole thing probably really sucks. I feel bad for the ones who didn’t get out when the getting was good. But considering that everyone who got laid off isn’t getting their full severance package, I think I feel bad for everyone who ever darkened the threshold of Twitter HQ.

But onto the meat of the topic – if Musk is to step down, who will take his place? He recently tweeted that he would step down when he found someone ‘foolish enough’ to take the job. And he would still

uphill battle. They have to try to undo the damage done to the company while being derided as an idiot for even attempting it. Suffice it to say, it will be a while before anyone takes the title of Chief Twit from Musk (although I doubt the swap will ever really take the name from him). But eventually, he’ll stop being the CEO, so it’s kind of a win. Moral of this story? Make sure to vote.

Vox populi, vox Dei!

Image: Elon Musk via Twitter (@elonmusk)

You have to respect a man who leaves important life decisions to strangers on the internet!

“If I held Twitter stock right now, I’d probably be tearing my hair out by the fistful. It seems that every Tweet, every decision, and every comment by Musk is an attempt to do a bankruptcy speed run...”

– Ayodipupo Adetola

The reality of grad school

Staying in school is an option, but not an easy one

amina salah staff writer

When you’re born, the world seems big. Anything is possible. It is a place where all your dreams can come true. You can be anything or anyone you want to be. You can choose to be an academic, a professor, a scientist, a business owner, or a designer, among other things. There is something for everyone. Then you get older, you go to school, you graduate high school, and before you know it, you are supposed to pick what you want to be, what you want to do for the rest of your life. Forever.

This doesn’t take into account the reality that forever is an extremely long time. It is unbelievable that young people are expected to choose the path they want their lives to follow. This makes us the architect of our own fortunes or misfortunes. It is an incredible amount of pressure that the world puts on us. As you get older, your dreams seem unreasonable and impossible. They get smaller. You give up. Life humbles you. You experience the growing pains of adulthood.

Many have graduated in the midst of what seems to be a cost-of-living crisis, inflation, and

an impending doom known as a recession. At that point, what else is there to do other than to go to grad school? The reality is that academia offers a veil of protection for some. It is a humbling experience, but it also shields you from the mainstream, stereotypical form of adulthood. It ensures you remain a student and that is all your life will be. Your worries might not be about an unprofessional boss; instead, they might be about the paper that is due tomorrow that you haven’t gotten started on.

Ultimately, people go to grad school for different reasons. It is unique to everyone, and it is unfair to comment on how others choose to live their lives because it has nothing to do with us or our choices. Graduating during COVID-19 means that we are entering a job market that is inconsistent and always transforming right before our own eyes. It becomes increasingly hard to keep up with a job market that focuses on corporate greed and slaving your soul away for a dead-end job. Thus, what better time to remain in academia than the times we’re currently living in? When school is all you know, it makes sense to grow attached to it whilst simultaneously hating the pompous academics it comes with.

Renting in Regina

The unfortunate reality is that grad school is extremely hard to get into. Forget acceptance, applying alone requires a lot of time, effort, energy, and resources. It is a full-time job. It will take everything out of you. I had no idea how exhausting applying was until I gave it a try this past year. It was an extremely humbling moment for me. It taught me a lot about patience. Nobody warns you about the waiting period. Being ghosted. Not knowing where your application is. Whether you even stand a chance. Nobody warns you about how competitive grad school is. I know people who have applied to 10 schools and never got into any of the schools despite having amazing grades, experience, and essays.

The most important thing to remember is that life is different for everyone. Comparison is the thief of joy. All we can do is attempt our best with the resources available to us amidst the circumstances we are in. It is unfair to put unnecessary pressure on ourselves. If there is nothing else we can do, then we must actively refuse to rot our youth away in despair and hopelessness. That is what the status quo wants: our misery.

Some landlords are happy to make a buck without providing any service

katlyn richardson contributor

I have lived in rentals all my life and in several different cities.

As an adult, I have rented twice with two vastly different experiences. I have been renting from my current landlord for almost 3 years now with a small break in between as I rented a house with friends. That house had a horrible landlord. If anything needed fixing, it took weeks to get things even looked at, and getting them fixed was a completely different battle.

This landlord also would get mad if you dared to hold them to the lease agreement and the Tenant Act for the province. When I broke the lease early because that house became a nightmare quickly, the landlord did everything to cause problems, including standing at a cat litter box and complaining it smelled of cat potty when my cat had hopped out of the litter box in front of them. We also had issues where we couldn’t get the front door to open, which made the place extremely unsafe. When we left, they did everything to keep the damage deposit and I didn’t even bother fighting it because any amount of money to never deal with them again was worth every penny.

My current landlord is honestly the best landlord, and extremely fair to tenants to the point that in the last two years only one

suite has changed renters. This landlord is quick to fix anything, only asks for a heads-up if rent will be late, and makes sure there are no issues for tenants. Also, because the building only has six suites, we get free laundry services. Around the holidays, we all get wished a happy holidays and are checked in with at different times to see if anything is needed. Quite honestly the experience here should be the norm for renters. When we had cockroaches in the building, the landlord tried

every method he could until I told him how they manage it in huge buildings in Toronto, and while it was a pain to get the gel because nowhere in Regina sells it, it almost immediately cut down on the roaches seen when it was used. When my cats had nearly caught a mouse, my landlord was quick to seal up entrances for them.

Landlords like my current one are rare and typically only found if someone rents from a family member or close family friend. These landlords shouldn’t be so

rare, but they unfortunately are. My landlord being so good actually has me unsure if I will ever move unless under some miracle I can buy a house or my landlord mentions having a different house for rent. While I am mindful that my landlord has profited off the need for people to have shelter, that doesn’t stop them from sometimes actually treating tenants like people. I know some places are absurdly priced, like $1,200 a

month for a one-bedroom apartment. A rent cap would help, but I feel like more restrictions need to be put on landlords to take proper care of their rental properties so that less renters are forced to pay $1,000+ per month to a landlord who only cares about whether they can continue to rent out places while doing the absolute bare minimum the law tells them to.

Compared with some of the landlords we know, this one actually comes across as pretty reasonable.

Illustration: Lee Lim

In a world full of misery and stress, the college student chooses how they want to be miserable and stressed. Illustration: Lee Lim