The Carillon - Volume 65, Issue 19 - March 13, 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 jaedyn whittal web@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 sun sidhu distribution@carillonregina.com

staff writer amina salah

staff writer victoria baht

staff writer vacant news writer josh king

a&c writer will bright s&h writer sophia stevens contributors pall agarwal, kate sveinbjornson

vol. 65

board of directors holly funk, thomas czinkota, will bright, hammad ali, shae sackman, and amina salah

The

We’re springing into the second half of this semester with just as much gusto as the first, and have an issue chock full of controversy, hope, and absolute antics to update you on campus happenings. Much of what’s in this issue compliments prior articles or will be followed up on in future issues, so make sure you’re checking on our newsstands regularly to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

If you’re looking to get more involved in your students’ newspaper we currently have nominations open for next year’s board of directors, and we encourage all interested students to head to our website (carillonregina.com) to learn more and consider putting their name in the running. Regular updates on the election process are planned for our social media accounts as well, so make sure you’re checking our feed and marking at least the election dates in your calendars! Illegitimi non carborundum.

holly funk editor-in-chief

227 Riddell Centre

the paper

University of Regina - 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada S4S 0A2

www.carillonregina.com

Ph: (306) 586 8867

Printed by Star Press Inc, Wainwright, AB

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.

the people’s friend; the tyrant’s foe

news a&c

lim op-ed.........................pixabay, manipulated by lee lim

The students’ union’s AGM was filled with delays and debate, only saw votes on three motions of 24 total, and ended after members motioned to recess 4.25 hours into the meeting.

AG(ongshow)M p. 3 thriftsmas p. 9

If thrifting is your thing or even just a thing you’d like to start, check out Victoria Baht’s review of The Log House in Regina.

drug policy progress p.

4

Recent legislation in B.C. has led to prosecution exemptions when individuals possess 2.5 grams or less of certain currently criminalized drugs; Saskatchewan is not likely to follow suit.

s&h

soccer protests p. 11

Even the soccer mommas must be sick of the soccer drama at this point, but negotiations between Canada Soccer and our national teams continue regardless.

March madness p. 8

If you’re getting cabin fever and need a reason for an outing, peek through this events list that Will Bright put together for this month and get to scheduling plans stat!

the written word p. 15

Amina Salah explains why a good book can’t be beat, demonstrating both the creativity and intimacy she so appreciates in books with her own work.

University of Regina Students’ Newspaper Since 1962 march 13, 2023 | volume 65, issue 19 |

URSU AGM starts late, recesses after three motions

Special student centres, CFS funds, and cyber attacks, oh my!

gillian massie news editor

A slow start to the 2023 University of Regina Students’ Union’s (URSU) Annual General Meeting (AGM) left many students frustrated, accomplishing only three of 24 Special Business items on the agenda. A Special General Meeting will be scheduled to for the remaining 21 motions.

At 5:31 p.m., March 2, 31 minutes after the scheduled 5 p.m. starting time of the meeting, the 2023 URSU AGM began. A series of technical difficulties headed the meeting with a cyber attack invading the Zoom call. In a matter of minutes, the participant count plummeted from 600 to 200 while URSU staff worked to kick bots out of the chat. Some students on the Zoom call were mistakenly kicked off, but were encouraged to rejoin.

Minutes into the beginning of the meeting, Zoom comments were disabled due to inappropriate and racist remarks made in the chat. Members of the meeting requested that Sami Pritchard (the intended AGM chairperson) re-enable the chat function to allow students to participate in the meeting. The request was approved. At 5:47 p.m., Sami Pritchard was approved to chair the meeting.

The Approval of Minutes for the October 28, 2021 Annual General Meeting was then approved. There was no URSU AGM in 2022, meaning there were no minutes from 2022 to approve.

Beginning in Special Business, Tayef Ahmed, an RPIRG representative, made the move to strike motions 10.1.5. – Ski and Snowboard Club Levy, 10.1.6 – Articles of Incorporation, 10.1.20. Student & Pregnant Parents Coalition Policy, 10.1.21. - Immunocompromised Women, Trans, and Gender Nonconforming People’s Working group policy, and 10.1.24. – Radio Station and Incubator Services. Ahmed sited reasons for amending the agenda for reasons of time, and noted that many motion requests requested student levies or money, which needs to be approved by a referendum.

Many of these motions were requesting more money of students without students’ consent.

Article IX, Motion 12.1. of the URSU Constitution states “Existing levies may be adjusted by no more than 20 per cent through a motion at an Annual General Meeting. Structural changes (e.g.: modifying a levy from opt-in to opt-out or vice versa), or changes of greater than 20 per cent must be performed through a referendum.” Without approval through

centres.

The Carillon, UR Pride, and University of Regina Engineers without Boarders are all examples of service centres that exist on campus, but questions of what qualifies as a service centre were raised by much of the membership. An amendment to hold a Special General Meeting in October better describing service

10.1.2. was approved at approximately 8:15 p.m.. The motion was moved by Tayef Ahmed when many participants were exiting the meeting, as it had surpassed the three-hour scheduled time. Some participants explained they were feeling exhausted after the late start to the meeting, and noted they wanted more students to be involved in the vote for the

illegitimate and put URSU in legal jeopardy.

In August 2022, URSU paid $500,000 to the CFS in withheld dues. URSU was advised they would need to pay withheld CFS fees to be able to exit their agreement. Arguments were made questioning the motion’s resolution that stated “BE

a referendum, even if passed, some motions would be seen as invalid because they exceeded the 20 per cent margin. The amendment to the agenda was struck down 45 per cent opposed, 42 per cent in favour, and 13 per cent abstained.

The Special Business mo-

centres was passed with 77 per cent in favour. The amended first motion went to vote needing two thirds of votes in favour to pass. It was voted down with 55 per cent in favour, 37 per cent opposed, and 8 per cent abstained.

Motion 10.1.2. – Condemnation of Hate Speech, moved

following motions on the agenda. Others argued motions were under time constraints and they needed to come to a decision before the meeting recessed. The proposed recess was voted down, and the meeting continued.

Motion 10.1.3. – Resolution on withheld dues of the Canadi-

– Gillian Massie

IT RESOLVED THAT all fees withheld by the University of Regina Students’ Union be returned to the Provincial component of the Canadian Federation of Students.”

Concerns are that the creation of a CFS office would “trap” students to CFS within the province. However, the motion passed with 72 per cent of students in favour, 28 per cent against, and 2 per cent abstaining. From the time Motion 10.1.3. was argued to the time it was voted on, the AGM entered its fourth hour. 25 participants left the call during this time.

tions began with Motion 10.1.1.

– Resolution to Amend Article XIII of the Constitution: Service Centres arguing to change the language in the URSU Constitution to accurately describe independent services who operate in correlation with URSU. The motion argues the changes to this would create different avenues for creating more student spaces and

by Siddhi Shah, was passed with little discussion, but with an emphasis on a zero-tolerance attitude and repercussions for those who participate in hate speech on campus. The second motion passed with 82 per cent in favour, 9 per cent against, and 9 per cent abstained.

A motion to recess was made and then struck down after

an Federation of Students was the final motion to be pushed through for the evening. In 2015, URSU withheld dues owed to the CFS amounting to approximately $1 million. In 2020, students made a clear decision to leave the CFS, passing a referendum through the 2020 URSU AGM. URSU has previously explained on their website that this referendum was

A motion to recess was moved by Justin Passmore immediately after the vote on 10.1.3. and was passed 78 per cent in favour, 21 per cent opposed, and 1 per cent abstained. The date for the Special General Meeting will be decided at an URSU board meeting on Tuesday, March 7 – after this article is submitted to publish.

Talha Akbar, the general manager of URSU, said the board would consider hosting a hybrid version of the SGM including online and in-person options to better ensure student accessibility.

Instead of a farewell party for student funds, they held a gong show. Illustration: Lee Lim

“A motion to recess was made and then struck down after 10.1.2. was approved at approximately 8:15 p.m.. The motion was moved by Tayef Ahmed when many participants were exiting the meeting, as it had surpassed the three-hour scheduled time.”

Healthcare funding settled between federal and provincial government

Scrooge, meet the healthcare funding ghost of past, present, and future

The federal and provincial governments have been in a backand-forth fight over healthcare funding for years. As a result, the federal government announced an increase of $46 billion in healthcare funding over the next 10 years.

The increase in funding will reach the provinces through several different avenues, the largest four being the already standing Canada Health Transfer, new bilateral agreements, Indigenous health priorities, and other smaller initiatives. The increase in funding is being given on the condition that provinces increase reporting on health care outcomes.

The Canada Health Transfer is the main way the federal government provides funding, and this budget involves an immediate $2 billion increase and a guaranteed five per cent increase each year.

The new funding will be targeted towards four priorities, including increased access to family health services, improving access to mental health services, supporting healthcare workers, and modernizing healthcare. Premier Scott Moe told CBC’s Sunday Scrum on February 13 “those priorities are shared.”

The bilateral agreements must be signed with each prov-

ince specifically, and these bilateral agreements will account for $25 billion of the promised $46 billion. The bilateral agreements offer more flexibility outside of the four priorities for funding.

There is also $11 billion earmarked for Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addiction Services. Another $2 billion is targeted to address inequities in Indigenous healthcare.

The new funding comes amid long wait times for both emergency rooms and operations, and even emergency room closures in some places around the country. In a statement by the prime minister, he acknowledged the health care system “hasn’t been living up to expectations,” and has been under “enormous strain.”

For reference, before this most recent increase in funding, the federal government covered 22 per cent of the total cost of healthcare. However, it hasn’t always been this way, and it isn’t what the premiers are asking for. When public healthcare first became implemented in Canada in the 1960s, the federal government covered a full 50 per cent of insured health services.

Under the government of Pierre Trudeau in the late 1970s, the transfers were changed to a block amount instead of an agreed proportion. This had some advantages, such as funding health care programs that aren’t insured, but it also opened the

healthcare budget up to being cut in future budgets, which did indeed happen throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

By 2001, the Romanow Commission, which was set up to investigate healthcare spending, found that the federal government was only paying 18.7 per cent of insured costs, which was 14 per cent of total costs, and recommended that the minimum payment should be 25 per cent of insured costs.

In 2023, the premiers are currently pushing for 35 per cent of total healthcare spending to be covered by the federal government, which would be an increase of about $28 billion a year. The $46 billion increase is spread out over 10 years, so it would average only 16 per cent of what the provinces have asked for.

Still, Premier Moe said “any increase in the area of healthcare is most certainly appreciated.” Though, he did note that it is “far lower than what the request was.”

Saskatchewan’s plan for spending will be required to be in line with the four priorities set out by the federal government. As well, Premier Moe said “the largest challenge” for Saskatchewan healthcare is “the number of qualified people.” In addition, the number two challenge is “surgical wait times,” referring to the continued surgery backlog from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drug decriminalization in British Columbia

Will other provinces follow suit in axing drug prosecution and saving potential lives?

Drug possession will no longer be legally prosecuted in some parts of the country. At the start of 2023, drug possession below 2.5 grams is no longer prosecuted in British Columbia. This begs the question, could Saskatchewan follow suit?

Taking effect in January

2023, BC received a three-year exemption to the section of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) involving minor drug possession for opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA. The exemption was the result of a co-ordination between the federal government, the provincial

government, and a number of other partners.

While commonly used interchangeably, there is important distinction between legalization, decriminalization, and an exemption. Legalization involves government regulation of an industry, such as what happened with marijuana in 2018. Decriminalization means that the government removes laws prohibiting the activity. An exemption, which is what has happened in BC, is a temporary suspension of the laws, meaning that minor possession offenses could be illegal again in 2026 if the exemption is not renewed.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), one of the largest and oldest mental health organizations in Canada, has openly supported the exemption.

Rebecca Rocco, the director of advocacy, research, and public policy development for the CMHA in Saskatchewan, explained “addictions and mental issues are like best friends.” Dave Nelson, a senior consultant with CMHA Saskatchewan, added that mental health and addictions need to be treated “holistically.”

While other provinces have not yet looked for an exemption, there has been broad support for drug decriminalization from institutions across the country. Members of parliament for the Conservative party called the act

symbolic, but did not criticize the broader idea of decriminalization, and federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has called to make decriminalization a nation-wide policy.

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police released a statement in 2020 officially recognizing “substance use disorder as a public health issue” and stating that the evidence suggests “decriminalization for simple possession as an effective way to reduce the public health and public safety harms.”

The BC Civil Liberties Association, a civil rights advocacy group, responded to the CDSA exemption by calling for a further “full repeal of federal legislation criminalizing simple possession and necessity trafficking.” The BC Civil Liberties Association says that criminalization increases the harm of drug use by creating a stigma which forces people to use alone, use a toxic drug supply, and avoid seeking help.

In addition, while drug possession is criminalized, people with addictions or mental health issues sometimes end up in correctional facilities, which Rebecca Rocco says is “not an appropriate place for treatment.”

Amid the recent exemption for BC, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health has stated there are “no plans to decriminalize drug possession.” The Ministry of Health instead stated that the

province has invested in treatment capacity and addictions services. However, criminalization of drug possession means that people “may feel unsafe seeking life-saving interventions and treatment services,” according to a press release by the CMHA. Rocco thinks that realizing decriminalization in Saskatchewan requires a “transformation” in people’s view of addictions from a “morally corrupt thing and turning that into viewing it as an illness.”

Despite the provincial and federal government not expanding the exemption to Saskatchewan, municipalities also have the capability to act. Regina Police Chief Evan Brey told CBC reporters in June 2022 “Right now, we’re not charging, but we don’t really have some great off-ramps in terms of diversion.” Referring to the pairing of decriminalization and addictions treatment, Nelson said that we “need both.”

When asked about what message she would like to leave with readers, Rocco said that if people have “someone around them who seems to be struggling either with mental issues or addictions issues that although it’s sometimes hard to find help, it is well worth their time.”

Daily manifestation: drug decriminalization will pass in Saskatchewan! Illustration: Lee Lim

Emergencies Act justified in trucker convoy removal

Rouleau concluded with a list of suggestions to improve the Emergencies Act

josh king news writer

‘Unprecedented’ is a word we have all heard too often in the last few years, though it is certainly an apt description of the first use of the Emergency Act in its 35-year existence. A year after the emergency, the Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC) has released its final report as required by the Emergency Act on February 17, 2023.

POEC was formally called on April 25, 2022, two months after the Emergency Act was revoked. The Emergency Act requires that a final report be released within 360 days from its revocation, meaning Judge Paul S. Rouleau and his team put the report together fast. For comparison, the Air India inquiry which investigated the bombing of a plane took four years.

The report was headed by the Honourable Paul S. Rouleau who has been a judge in various parts of the country for over 20 years. Rouleau grew up in Ottawa and was a partner at various law firms between 1979-2002 before becoming a judge. Despite online rumours, he is not related to Justin Trudeau. He does, however, have a cousin who is married to Jean Chretien’s daughter and was formerly involved with the Liberal party before starting his law career in 1979, though he has made no donations to the Liberal party since at least before 2002 when he became a judge.

POEC’s mandate is also laid out in the Emergency Act, which is to examine “the circumstances that led to the declaration being issued and the measures taken for dealing with the emergency.”

This mandate enables the public to receive an unusual amount of transparency towards the decision-making process leading up to and during the use of the Emergency Act. One issue that was not clear to the committee is whether or not it is within POEC’s mandate to assess the legal validity of the government’s decision to invoke the Emergency Act. In his final report, Rou-

However, POEC’s final decision is not legally binding, and Rouleau was careful to state that the legality ultimately rests upon decisions by the courts of Canada.

Several cases surrounding the legality of the Emergency Act’s invocation are before the courts

POEC to be admissible in the court case.

The CCLA has stated that it disagrees with the conclusion drawn by Rouleau but thanks POEC for a contribution “to greater transparency and understanding.”

Despite finding the invoca-

“protected places” was criticized because the wording about what was allowed as a protected place was too vague and the government had too broad a power to designate areas as protected. While this power was thought to be designed poorly, it was not used during the emergency.

has received a great deal of criticism. He did find the freezing of bank accounts appropriate, but stated that if the emergency went on longer it would have required a way for people to unfreeze their accounts and it would be preferable to have a humanitarian clause that would have allowed protesters to access money for essential needs like medicine. Related to the freezing of bank accounts was the power that the government had to freeze protesters’ car insurance. Rouleau found this measure inappropriate, since it would be counterproductive to have protesters leave Ottawa on foot or risk innocent bystanders by driving uninsured. However, freezing protester’s insurance did not end up being implemented.

Aside from the Emergency Act itself, Rouleau did identify several failings leading up to the invocation of the Emergency Act, saying that the invocation “could have been avoided.” Rouleau also pointed to previous pandemics in history and called the civil unrest “not entirely unpredictable.”

Leading up to the declaration of an emergency, the final report identified “a series of policing failures” and a “failure in federalism.”

The recommendations for policing are extensive, though centre on two themes: a need for better coordination on a large scale and a need for better use of Police Liaison Teams, the teams that negotiate with protesters to help reach compromises.

Rouleau also recommends that the Emergency Act be significantly updated. First, the definition of a public order emergency needs to be modernized. The Act also does not require consultation with the territories or with Indigenous leaders, which Rouleau thinks should be changed. Rouleau also believes that the Act’s direction to an inquiry like this in the future should be clearer in what it requires both from the government and from the inquiry.

An issue Rouleau ran into during the inquiry was Premier Doug Ford’s claim of privilege, allowing him to refuse testify-

– Josh King

leau said the Emergency Act is a “complex, multi-layered legislative scheme enacted more than 35 years ago in a very different social and political context.” Given this difficulty, Rouleau said there was “no precedent” for whether he should render a judgement.

In the end, Rouleau decided that, in the interest of transparency, he would offer his analysis, concluding “the decision to invoke the Act was appropriate.”

currently. One such case is being brought by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), a non-governmental organization whose purpose is to defend civil liberties. The CCLA also notably objected to the use of the War Measures Act by Pierre Trudeau in the 1970s.

While POEC’s findings are not legally binding, a decision by the judge in the CCLA’s case will allow the evidence gather by

tion of the Emergency Act to be appropriate, Rouleau did find some specific actions taken to be unnecessary and included a list of recommendations in the final report. Namely, the federal government’s use of emergency powers to designate “protected places” turn certain people away crossing the border, and certain elements of freezing protester’s assets were seen as inappropriate by Rouleau.

The power to designate

The measure taken to turn away people at the border was criticized due to its ineffectiveness, though Rouleau thought that it may have been reasonable at the time. At the heart of Rouleau’s criticism is the fact that people could already be turned away at the border for not being vaccinated, so this measure was likely redundant.

Finally, the asset freezing that occurred during the emergency

ing to POEC. Rouleau recommends that the Emergency Act be changed to remove claims of privilege by government officials.

The report concludes with a call to have the Trudeau government submit a response within one year outlining which recommendations will be implemented and how they plan to do so.

It was the right idea. Illustration: Lee Lim

“The recommendations for policing are extensive, though centre on two themes: a need for better coordination on a large scale and a need for better use of Police Liaison Teams, the teams that negotiate with protesters to help reach compromises”

arts & culture

Top pick podcasts

The importance of podcasts and their technology in our lives

amina salah staff writer

The world of entertainment is growing and expanding. Globalization has led to new forms of media and media consumption. Those who hate reading can listen to audio books if it is their preference. There is a form of media for every person depending on their hobbies. Podcasts are a form of entertainment that bring us stories from people, resources, awareness, and knowledge. There are hundreds of podcast genres. Whether you are interested in true crime, finance, news, lifestyle, or health and fitness, there is something for everyone.

I started listening to podcasts as a teenager. At that time, the first podcast I listened to was Serial Serial is among the earliest podcasts in the industry and its three seasons are hosted by Sarah Koenig. The first season is the one that almost everyone knows. It goes into the case of Hae Min Lee and Adnan Syed. What I enjoyed about Serial is Koenig’s storytelling. She includes conversations, reports, and so much more. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Serial is one of the earliest podcasts that pioneered and paved the way for the genre of true crime. Serial is not just a podcast with a host speaking, rather it is an entire production.

There is so much that goes into podcasting. The script is important, there is a need for a soundtrack, and everyone has to figure out the narrative of the podcast and why it is important. Vulture Magazine calls Serial the ‘anti-Dateline’ and I believe this is the perfect description for the podcast.

Moreover, we cannot talk about podcasts without mentioning Dirty John Dirty John tells the story of an older woman who meets a man and falls in love with him. He tells her that he is a doctor named John. John starts slowly disrupting her life from the inside out and soon, she comes to face a lot of harsh truths about the current man in her life.

and the experiences of people we would never have a chance to otherwise meet. Podcasts breathe life into the stories and journeys of people.

relationships, mental health, or healing and self-care, you almost feel like you are a part of the conversation. It is something that is not out of reach. You are listening

ly. Many of us are aware of what is known as the Manosphere: an umbrella term that is used to describe communities rooted in misogyny. Unfortunately, there

giving the host your money and engagement.

Podcasts today have become a way for some people to promote ignorant beliefs and rant to anyone who will listen. Thus, I personally believe it is necessary to do your own research and focus on topics that are useful to you. There is no point in listening to podcasts if you are not learning something valuable and useful to you, your well-being, and your growth.

I enjoy podcasts because I am always commuting to the university. As a result, I need something to listen to in order to pass the time. Listening to a podcast allows me to take a step back, clear my head, and just focus on listening and understanding whatever information is being shared through the podcast.

At the moment, I am listening to Love Janessa, a podcast from BBC. It tells the story about a woman whose pictures are used to catfish people and exploit them to send money to the catfishers. Another of my favourite podcasts is Crime Junkie, which produces true crime podcasts every week.

I also enjoy listening to Rotten Mango, another podcast by YouTuber Stephanie Soo. Soo’s storytelling is by far the best I have ever listened to. She is able to capture your attention and tell stories from direct sources. What I love about Rotten Mango is that the host gets her stories primarily from books. Each week, she reads a book related to a specific case and talks about everything discussed in the book. Soo breathes character and quirkiness into her storytelling. She is easy to listen to and even easier to follow.

Furthermore, the cases in her podcast are mostly stories that have been swept under the rug and are not so common, which is something I enjoy. She honours the victims in her podcast by telling their stories with compassion, empathy, and respect. She also shares resources that listeners can follow. Overall, Rotten Mango is something I would recommend to everyone who wants to start listening to podcasts but are unsure of where to start.

Dirty John is an incredible podcast. The story in Dirty John started from newspaper reports, then turned into podcast, and even became a TV show. What makes podcasts so interesting is that they are one of the ways we can learn about real life stories

While some might compare podcasts to radio, I believe they are completely different from each other. Podcasts offer a form of intimacy and familiarity that you can rarely find from other forms of media. When you listen to a lifestyle podcast about

to someone or a group of people delving into important topics that give you space to think about your own thoughts and beliefs regarding these topics.

Although the world of podcasts is incredible, it is something that requires you to tread careful-

are hundreds if not thousands of podcasts focused on this topic. It is important to know who is worthy to be listened to and who is not. The reality is that even if you are listening to a controversial podcast because you saw it trending on Twitter or TikTok, you are

Podcasts are well loved by listeners because they seek to inform and educate the public on what is going on in our world, how it works, and important things and stories we should know.

Who would’ve guessed sound quality impacts podcast quality?

Illustration: Lee Lim

“While some might compare podcasts to radio, I believe they are completely different from each other. Podcasts offer a form of intimacy and familiarity that you can rarely find from other forms of media.”

– Amina Salah

The importance of music

How music helps us in our everyday lives

victoria baht staff writer

When is your favourite time to listen to music and jam out? Is it when you have a major checklist sitting next to you? In the gym doing a killer workout? On the road with a long drive ahead of you? While deep-cleaning your house? Or, is it in the moment when you are feeling deep emotions? Do you listen to music when doing all the above or just a specific one?

Today, I am going to talk about all my favourite reasons to listen to music, and tell you about some of my top picks and why they really get me going. To start off, I will tell you right now my top genres of music are pop, country, and R&B.

As I am in my fifth year of university, music is the best thing to listen to when I’m studying and preparing for class. I have tried multiple types of background noise when studying. I have tried old TV series, podcasts, and community chatter. The thing about all those choices is that they normally cause me to pay attention so I know what is going on. I have to make sure

I see a specific scene, hear a specific question, or look up and see who is around and truly listen in to what they are talking about. Music hits differently. For me, I put on a genre that is just fast enough to keep my train of thought moving through my fingers and into the keyboard while writing or working. Right now, as I write this out to you, I am listening to “my country mix.”

I have artists here such as Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Jordan Davis; the list continues. For myself, country holds a special place in my heart.

I personally only got into country music in 2016. The artist who really won me over is still one of my top artists: Luke Bryan. One of my favourite songs then and to this day is “Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day.”

As I sit here listening to the music, it helps me think of the warm summer days when I am fishing on a boat, getting a good tan, listening to music, and exuding positive vibes! Country music helps me focus and move my train of thought; it helps me think of time off and enjoy life.

My next personal favourite time to listen to music is at

The Idol: one to avoid?

Male complaints of a feminine view remain a standard here

HBO’s Euphoria is known as one of today’s biggest hit shows. It has solidified its place in pop culture through its use of makeup, colour, and scandalous behaviours in high schools. Running Euphoria is Sam Levinson, a nepotism baby who seems to be followed by the controversy surrounding his shows. Lots of Euphoria cast members have expressed their discomfort with the number of nude scenes in the show. Moreover, the days on set are allegedly incredibly long, anywhere between 15 to 17 hours.

Sam Levinson is working with HBO again to create a new show called The Idol, and if you thought Euphoria had controversy, you are in for a wild ride. The show stars Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, and LilyRose Depp. The story is about Depp’s character Jocelyn, who is a pop star, and Tesfaye’s character, Tedros, a club owner and cult leader. Tesfaye is also the co-creator of The Idol. The show is supposedly even darker and more risqué than Euphoria

The original director was Amy Seimetz, but she left last April despite the show being 80 per cent complete. With Seimetz leaving, a huge adjustment followed for the cast, crew, and overall creatives. When Levinson showed up to take over as director, he allegedly got rid of all of Seimetz’s work, over $54 million’s worth, to rewrite the entire show and do reshoots of everything. Seimetz’s story had more of a feminist lens and saw Depp’s character as a young girl being prey to the industry. Levinson supposedly turns it into a hollow love story that degrades Jocelyn. A

production member even claimed that the new version of the show was akin to a rape fantasy.

Levinson was involved in the creative team behind The Idol from the beginning, but Seimetz was barely given anything to work with. People have claimed that the scripts she was given weren’t finished, the schedule had almost no breathing room between Seimetz’s commitment to Sweet

Tooth and Tesfaye’s commitment

to his world tour, and what HBO was expecting from her.

Compared to other HBO shows like Euphoria or the wildly popular House of the Dragon, The Idol had a small budget, yet was expected to be the same quality as Euphoria which had almost double the budget. Beyond that, what Seimetz wanted and what Levinson wanted was completely different and some claim that Levinson wasn’t willing to be as collabora-

the gym! For myself, I have been going to a gym with an instructor that makes playlists for me, which is so extra! There is also the advantage of having hundreds of playlist options on app platforms, whether that be Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube.

Some of my personal gym songs have a requirement: they need to have a fast beat, mention a body part or a movement, and have motivational words. When a song has one or all of the above requirements it automatically gets me moving and gets me distracted from what I am really doing. There are many different artists and genres that pump me up for a workout!

My final reason I listen to music is something all of us must do and get involved in, and that is cleaning. I don’t know about you, but my favourite jams to listen to when cleaning are what I would consider the classics. For myself, this includes Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, and Disney songs! Some of the best music has been around for a long time. That is the best thing about music; it goes back in history no matter your genre!

trap and exploit young women, but Seimetz was expected to write the finale episode while directing the show. As a result of unfinished scripts, what they had written was constantly being changed and rewritten. This led to crew members not knowing what they were expected to complete while at work.

One character that Levinson added was one for Jennie, a K-Pop star known for being in the group Blackpink. This appears to be more of a marketing tactic than anything else. Since adding Jennie to the cast, K-pop stans have been supporting the show any chance they have. Despite that, Jennie’s character is allegedly not important at all and doesn’t do much for the show.

Crew members have claimed that Levinson’s new version of the story sees Depp’s character enjoying the abuse that she faces from Tesfaye’s character. They called the show sexual torture porn. Some details of drafted scenes are so disgusting as well as physically and sexually abusive that I’m not going to list them here.

tive as they hoped.

When Seimetz left the show ad Levinson stepped into the director role, one of the main reasons Levinson came in and overhauled the show was because Tesfaye allegedly wasn’t happy that the show was so focused on women, especially Depp’s character. It was too feminist for him.

The original script was allegedly great and told an incredible story about how fame can

Once the show is released, more information will likely come out about the sexual, physical, and mental abuse that Depp’s character faces and there will be even more controversy surrounding Levinson and Tesfaye. Until then, Seimetz’s show will continue to be pushed aside until all that remains is another one of Levinson’s explicit sexual shows.

How many ways can you sexualize female mains before someone raises a red flag?

Illustration: Lee Lim

Check out March’s highlight events

Talk about a diverse month for arts and culture in Regina

will

March is one of the busiest times of year for students, and sometimes all you want to do is anything except your homework. If that is you, you’re in the right place. I have compiled a list of some of the best events and things to do in the month of March for your viewing pleasure and entertainment.

Art exhibition: the excess is ritual

I love art. I especially love queer art. If you’re like me, check out the excess is ritual. It is an art exhibition curated by Noor Bhangu and is available to view at the Dunlop Art Gallery. It first came to the city in January and it will be here until April 4, so you’ve got some time to see it, but you won’t want to miss it. The goal of the exhibition is to create new relations inside queer art. The silenced voices of marginalized communities can see their thoughts and rituals brought to life with Bhangu’s curation. It is described as “Under the curatorial umbrella of queer and relational, works will comment on the afterlife of racism in diaspora, the imagined intimacies of ancestors, and the survivance of non-binary identities through the histories of settler colonialism.” If this sounds interesting to you, head over to the Dunlop and check it out!

Visiting exhibit: Behind Racism: Challenging the Way We Think

If you’ve read some of my articles in the past, you know that I love the Science Centre and that I was disappointed by some of their previous exhibits. But, I am excited about the one currently at the Science Centre, and I’m hoping you are too. Behind Racism: Challenging the Way We Think talks about how our minds can get to places like racism and the different ways of thinking that can cause biases. It asks viewers to question the way they think and

One of my favourite musicals is a little show called Something Rotten. If you know me, you know I love Shakespeare, so it’s no surprise to find out this musical is about Shakespeare. It takes the bard and moves it to something digestible and entertaining. The whole show spends so much time making fun of Shakespeare, while the main characters, brothers Nick and Nigel, are fun and charismatic. You really care about these brothers, and you want to see them be better than Shakespeare through discovering the world of musicals. It’s at the Conexus Arts Centre from March 7 to March 9. You won’t want to miss this.

Tesla Quartet with David Kaplan

Do you like string music?

into feelings and words, and then back to music.

BOOM

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘boom’? If you said baby boomers, you guessed correctly! BOOM is a one-man show about the Baby Boom from 1945 to 1969. It focuses on politics, music, activism, and more. Not only that, it is a multimedia performance. The songs are said to be incredible, and the story is supposed to be great. If you’re looking for a fun historical show, head down to Darke Hall from March 23 to March 26 to watch BOOM

The Irish Rovers

Do you ever think about that one scene from Pitch Perfect where they talk about how the Barden Bellas only sing songs made famous by women? This band does that, but with instruments. Trio SR9 with Kyrie Kristmanson will be performing at Westminster United Church on March 26 at 3 p.m. Their music style includes baroque, classical, and romantic songs. You’ll hear instruments like the marimba, vibraphone, and piano. It’s a three-part show with Kyrie Kristmanson’s voice tying it all together.

Elle & Jules EP Release Show at Lancaster Downtown

off on Saturday and head down to Lancaster to listen to two queer best friends celebrate their EP release.

Live at The Mercury: Ella Forrest and the Great Pines, The Wonts, and Blu Beach Band

how their thoughts are toward racism and biases. It’s an incredibly important topic, and I think as many people as possible should see it at the Science Centre. Don’t wait too long, as it will be gone by April 2.

Something Rotten!

Well, I certainly hope you do, because I have a show for you (it’s not Veggie Tales, sorry). On March 12 at 3 p.m., at Darke Hall, the Tesla Quartet with David Kaplan will be visiting. These are Juilliard School alumni, so you know it’s going to be good. The show is called The Kreutzer Affair and it focuses on how music is translated

Do you remember when the song “The Wellerman” was everywhere online? If you love that song, you’re going to love this concert. On March 27, The Irish Rovers will be at Casino Regina. The Irish Rovers are an Irish music band from – you guessed it –Ireland. It’s going to be a super fun show with lots of shanties and folk music, so don’t miss this!

Do you want to brag to your friends that you’ve been listening

When we say support local businesses, we also mean support local artists. One way you can do this is to see Ella Forrest and the Great Pines, the Wonts, and Blue Beach Band on March 11 at the Mercury Cafe & Grill. It’s the debut performance of Ella Forrest and the Great Pines, and you won’t want to miss the funk style of music they’re going to bring. It’ll be a great time to celebrate indie bands from Regina, so make sure you check this one out.

All Ages Drag Show

Drag shows are always a fun time and I always recommend them to people when they’re happening. Unfortunately, sometimes people are too young to go to a club for a drag show. Not on March 11 at 8 p.m. at Q! March 11 is their all-ages, family-friendly drag show. Bring some cash and support your local drag performers, no matter how old you are.

to a band since before they got big? Here’s your opportunity. On March 18 at Lancaster Taphouse, musical duo Elle & Jules are having a release party for their EP, Try Hard. The duo has been friends for over 20 years and their music covers personal topics throughout their life, such as depression, loss, and heartbreak. Take the night

This is not a comprehensive list, so if there’s nothing you’re interested in here, it doesn’t mean there’s nothing for you to do in Regina. If there is something here you want to check out, that’s great! I wish you the best of luck and the most fun of times with these events.

Trio SR9 with Kyrie Kristmanson

bright a&c writer

Photo: congerdesign via Pixabay

Which way will weather blow?

“Do you want to brag to your friends that you’ve been listening to a band since before they got big?”

– Will Bright

The Log House: a non-profit organization

Support local with your next thrifting haul!

victoria baht staff writer

The city of Regina has plenty of thrift stores that can make your shopping experience fun, unique, and different. In central Regina, you can find a building that looks just like a log cabin that you would typically find on the shore of a beach. To some people, this is their favourite clothing, book, craft, and furniture store.

Today we will be talking about The Log House thrift store, which is not like every other thrift store. It has more of a boutique style and works hard to support the communities in Regina that are in need. Learn about all the things you can find in this log cabin and some good things to know about it too!

This small log cabin is a registered Saskatchewan non-profit charitable organization. The Log House operates to help individuals in Regina that need a helping hand when buying products for their homes and loved ones.

From the pamphlet and what I gathered in the store, they have

clothes for infants all the way to adults that can be business, casual, and outside gear. They also have unique accessories that can spice up your wardrobe. Not enough for you? They also have household goods like dishware, cooking ware, pictures, artwork, and more that can help decorate your home, cabin, or trailer. They have so much more that can be fun for you to enjoy for a short time or a long time!

Personally, when I first walked inside, I was welcomed into a cute little store that gave me the vibe of a boutique store. While walking around, I found lots of goodies that are second-hand but still appeared to be in good to great condition. Not only are they in good condition, they are still a fair price.

As I was walking around, I found clothing in a variety of prices, and you can always find something so long as you keep looking. They have baby clothes that are around $1 all the way to children’s clothes that are $3 depending on what you are looking for. Adults have regular clothing starting at $3 and ranging up to

$8, again depending on what you look for.

These prices seem fair to support those in the community and those in need. They do not try and get more out of you no matter the brand or the condition it appears. For the most part they have a firm price depending on the category. For example, I saw that they had ‘Regular Tag Clothing’ for $3 and ‘Suits’ for $4. Because of these prices, this thrift store shows that they care about the community and lend a helping hand, compared to some outrageous trendy thrifting prices. Not only do they have clothing for a great deal, they have board games, puzzles, card games, and toys for you, your kids, family, and friends to enjoy! Are you looking for a board game to add to your collection, but the price in store is too daring? Or are you looking for a good handful of games for your own log house and cabin? This place may have the ones for you! They have puzzles starting at 75 cents reaching all the way to games and toys for $5. Some games I saw that might encourage you to go and check it

out were Cranium, Yahtzee, Battleship, and more!

Clothes, board games, toys –what else could you want? How about some motivation to try out a new hobby? They have got lots of options for you! The first section of the cute boutique that I would check out for a new hobby would be the library that they have in the corner. The library has plenty of books that you can find, ranging anywhere from classic novels, cookbooks, tips and tricks on how to knit and sew, and more. Not only do they have books to try and teach you how to do a new hobby, they have some supplies as well.

While I was walking around, I found some scrapbooking paper and a variety of holiday cards, such as birthday cards, get well soon cards, graduation cards, and so on. Do you know what would be a unique idea for someone in the future? Come check out this store, grab some scrapbooking paper and some old cards, cut them out, and make your own card and scrapbook with a twist! A great thing to do for a loved one!

Not only can you start scrapbooking, they have supplies to start crocheting, knitting, sewing, and I am sure more! I am no master myself in these hobbies, but I am confident this would be a great place to start. Maybe you can grab a book from the library, a pair of knitting needles, and some yarn to get started! Look for a new hobby that can keep you busy for cheap. Maybe you’re already a master of the craft and want to challenge yourself. That sounds like an adventure in itself. I could go on and on about all the second-hand goods that you could find in this store, but I want you to go and check it out yourself. If you are not encouraged already, be sure to check out their website, Instagram, and Facebook, and you might discover some items of interest as they come into the store. This small organization looks like they are really trying to lend a helping hand to those in need! So go and check it out for yourself or take a friend to this cute little log cabin.

Are those some vintage records I see on the floor?

Photo: Victoria Baht

“

The Log House operates to help individuals in Regina that need a helping hand when buying products for their homes and loved ones.”

– Victoria Baht

AI and problematic deepfake websites

How websites are exploiting female streamers with fake porn

haviour and apologized alongside him.

On January 30, popular Twitch streamer Atrioc accidentally revealed a private tab open on his web browser of a porn website full of deepfakes of female streamers. Even though his tabs were only open for a few seconds, it did not take long for the clip to go viral on the subreddit r/LivestreamFails and for many people to start asking questions about what the website was and why Atrioc was on it.

For some background, deepfakes are part of artificial intelligence. Deepfakes are created through artificial intelligence, taking the face of one person and putting it onto another person in an image or video. With deepfakes, you could take a photo of Jennifer Lopez and put your face on her body. Unfortunately, deepfakes are often used for nefarious purposes. They have been linked to CSAM, revenge porn, bullying, fraud, celebrity porn, and blackmail.

It is worth noting that deepfakes aren’t always used for bad things. They’re how Disney makes their characters look younger in movies. Some artists use it for studies.

So, who is Atrioc? Brandon Ewing is a Twitch streamer and YouTuber who goes by the name Atrioc online. Most of his streams are under the ‘just chatting’ section. He worked for Twitch for three years and currently works at NVIDIA as their Manager of Global Consumer Marketing. He is well-known for his series ‘Marketing Monday’ where he discusses topics about marketing. Sometimes it’s what is currently in the media, and sometimes it’s old Shark Tank clips.

On January 30, just hours after the clip went viral, Atrioc went live again to release an apology while his partner sat in the background. Both him and his partner were crying. Atrioc expressed how he felt embarrassed and upset with himself. He stated that he wanted to help make women on Twitch feel safe. He claimed that he was reading a lot about AI and deepfakes for research.

While he was on Pornhub, he received several ads for a website that had deepfake porn of popular streamers. In his Twitch apology, he says he has a same-day receipt for the website saying that

On February 1, Atrioc released another apology through a TwitLonger. He started by apologizing to the two female stream-

going to this instead of making Twitch and YouTube content. He expressed that those who think he did nothing wrong are the ones in the wrong . He said he does not want them to support him. He

sent. that’s it, that’s the tweet,” and has made no further comments. The same day, Higa tweeted a statement in regard to the situation. She mentioned that she

porn of her on that site because of the Atrioc story.

The content creator whose response has been discussed the most is QTCinderella. QTCinderella is a popular Twitch streamer and YouTuber who was close friends with Atrioc and is dating one of Atrioc’s closest friends and fellow content creator, Ludwig. She was one of the many female content creators on the website.

QTCinderella went live on Twitch to tearfully discuss what is going on. She stated “this is what pain looks like” in response to her visage on her stream. QTCinderella continued to say “fuck the constant exploitation and objectification of women, it’s exhausting.” She expressed that Atrioc’s viral clip had shown thousands of new people the website and that people had started sending her private messages of images found on that site of her.

She said that people who look at women online sexually without putting it online themselves are part of the problem. She also expressed that it should not be her job to get these images taken down and she should not have to spend money to do so. Fake nude images of her are not her job, and it should not be part of her job. She ended by showing her intent to sue the creator of the website.

QTCinderella also expressed in a tweet that she has experienced a lot of body dysmorphia after seeing images and videos of her face on a body that is not her own.

Many people were waiting patiently for Ludwig to create a video on the situation, knowing how close he is to Atrioc and that his girlfriend was engaged in the situation. Ludwig showed in his video through Google Trends that there was a spike in interest in deepfake porn after the Atrioc situation.

Thankfully, the website has since been taken down. The creator has claimed that it was because streamers asked for it to be taken down and that if a streamer had asked in the past to be taken off the site, it would immediately be taken down.

ers who were in the screenshot shown online, Maya Higa and Pokimane. He apologized that they were being exploited further because of what he did.

Atrioc stated that he is now

ended the TwitLonger by saying that he would be gone for a while, showing his actions instead of his words.

An important thing to note about this TwitLonger is that he

was assaulted at a party in 2018 and the way she feels about being “in headlines where thousands of people are commenting on the sexualization of [her] body against [her] will” is similar to her

In the future, hopefully we can see fewer and fewer female content creators being sexualized and sexually exploited against their will and content like these deep fake porn websites leaving the internet.

there is no pattern of behaviour and it had not happened ever before. He clicked it out of morbid curiosity early in the morning. He claimed that he deeply regretted what he did. His partner agreed that it wasn’t a pattern of be-

working to take down the website and helping pay back women who had paid to take deepfake porn content of them off the internet. He stated he is working with lawyers to rid the internet of this content. His full effort is now

did not apologize to his fans for what he did. He only apologized to the people affected by his actions, Pokimane and Higa.

In response, on January 31, Pokimane tweeted out “stop sexualizing people without their con-

2018 experience. Despite never making any sexual content, Higa expresses that she was made into a sexual object by men.

Another streamer, SweetAnita, tweeted on January 30 that she found out there was deepfake

For now, listen to the women affected by this situation. They are the victims. They are the ones hurt by this. They are the only ones who can accept Atrioc’s apology. Their words matter the most.

How advanced will AI develop before someone puts an end to this? Illustration: Lee

“

Fuck the constant exploitation and objectification of women, it’s exhausting.”

– QTCinderella

sports & health

The players are speaking: enough is enough

Negotiations lag and strike drama abounds as agreements with the national teams develop

The Canadian women’s soccer team walked into the SheBelieves Cup not wearing their normal warm-up jerseys. As the Canadian national anthem played, the players stood in solidarity, wearing their purple t-shirts as a symbol of the need for equality in soccer. The shirts said “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” on the front.

Purple is often used to signify gender equality, and was used in this case to both symbolize and protest the lack of equality and equity in Canada Soccer. In the lead up to the SheBelieves Cup in the United States, several Canadian senior national team players took to social media platforms to post a message regarding the inequalities and historic lack of transparency from Canada Soccer.

The messages posted to the players’ accounts on February 10, 2023 spoke of significant budget cuts to national team programs along with uncertainty regarding compensation. Canada Soccer and the Canadian Soccer Players Association have been in negotiations for more than a year now, discussing the need for equity, equality, and transparency. It appears that a solution to this overwhelming problem is not likely to be achieved in the near future.

The posts also included a financial breakdown, indicating that the women’s national team brought in more excess revenue than expenses for the year compared to the men’s team. In a post to Instagram, Janine Beckie posted several photos explaining why the situation with Canada Soccer is more than just about compensation. The post highlights that there has been poor governance from Canada Soccer, which has resulted in financial mismanagement, along with the deal between Canada Soccer and Cana-

in the last two years. Beckie also acknowledged that these budget cuts affect the team’s ability to prepare for the upcoming World Cup, along with the financial impact that it places on the youth national teams moving forward. Her post concludes that the team is looking for equitable opportunities and that significant changes of Canada Soccer personnel are required in order to achieve financial sustainability for both the senior and junior national teams.

As a way to move negotiations forward, the women’s national team decided that they would not compete in any competition – including the SheBelieves Cup – leading up to the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. In response, Canada Soccer threatened players, staff, and other members with legal action if the team did not compete at the SheBelieves Cup.

A statement released by the Canadian Soccer Players Association explains that before a meeting between them and Canada Soccer, “Canada Soccer told us that they consider our job action to be an unlawful strike. They told us that if we do not return to work – and did not commit today to playing in Thursday’s game against the United States – they would not only take legal action to force us back to the pitch but would consider taking steps to collect what could be millions of dollars in damages from our Players’ Association and from each of the individual players currently in camp.”

The statement states further that “as individual players who have received no compensation yet for any of our work for Canada Soccer in 2022, we cannot afford the risks that personal action against us by Canada Soccer will create. Because of this, we have advised Canada Soccer that we will return to training tomorrow and will play in the SheBelieves Cup as scheduled.”

cil vice-president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) since his resignation.

In a statement on February 26, Bontis stated “Canada Soccer and both of our national team programs have the real potential to sign a historic collective bargaining agreement. Once signed,

acknowledge that this moment requires change.”

It should also be noted that Bontis was a proponent of Canada Soccer’s deal with Canada Soccer Business, which limited the financial earnings for individual players playing for the national teams. Bontis’ resignation comes months after players and the Canadian Soccer Players As-

for 2022. The women’s team still hasn’t received funding for 2022 and the principal deal only mirrors that with the men’s national team, which includes per-game incentives and results-based compensation.

An overreaching collective bargaining agreement for both the men’s and women’s national teams is still being negotiated. It

da Soccer Business which ensures that athletes don’t receive benefits from increased investment within the sport.

The second point that Beckie highlights is that there is continuing gender inequity, and that there have been significant funding discrepancies between women’s and men’s national teams

On February 27, it was announced that Canada Soccer president Nick Bontis resigned during a board meeting after provincial and territorial soccer leaders asked that he resign. It is believed that Bontis stepped down as a way to expedite labour peace, however, CBC News has reported that Bontis has been named coun-

it will be a landmark deal that will set our nation apart from virtually every other FIFA member association. While I have been one of the biggest proponents of equalizing the competitive performance environment for our women’s national team, I will unfortunately not be leading this organization when it happens. I

sociation asked for a change in management in the organization.

On March 1, Canada Soccer announced their new interim CEO as Olympian Charmaine Crooks . It was announced on March 2 that the women’s national team reached a deal in principle with Canada Soccer regarding an interim funding agreement

appears that interim Canada Soccer CEO Charmaine Crooks understands how important a new agreement is for the women’s national team and is not wasting her time, sparking hope that a new collective bargaining agreement may soon be reached.

sophia stevens s&h writer

Though strikes abound, these teams are still around. OpenClipart-Vectors via Pixabay and Clker-Free-Vector-Images via Pixabay, manipulated by Lee Lim

“They told us that if we do not return to work – and did not commit today to playing in Thursday’s game against the United States – they would not only take legal action to force us back to the pitch but would consider taking steps to collect what could be millions of dollars in damages from our Players’ Association and from each of the individual players currently in camp.”

– Canadian Soccer Players Association statement

Pickleball booms in Regina

With a hub all our own, many future events can be expected

minton, tennis, and ping pong. Players play on a court similar to badminton, are given paddles like ping pong, and have rules similar to all three. You can play in singles or doubles, and it involves hitting the ball over the net and avoiding having it land outside the court.

Regina has the biggest pickleball league in Canada with roughly 1,000 regular players. Due to this large amount of interest, and having the official Queen City Pickleball Hub, Regina is often the host of largescale pickleball events. Pickleball is one of the youngest sports in Regina, only being established in 2017.

age groups play at different skill levels, and they work to make sure fair games are being made. There are also classes you can register for to learn more indepth about how to play.

For many students, sports can be an intimidating venture to explore, especially with so many leagues being competitive. Pickleball is the perfect medium of getting exercise and having fun. There is some movement involved, but injury is very rare. A membership to play is cheaper than many other places, at most being a $25 annual payment. After having your membership for a year, the cost to renew it is only $11 dollars.

Pickleball Regina has been awarded the Pickleball National Championship award for 2022 after holding the official Western Regional Pickleball Championship, and interest is only growing as it proves to be one of the most accommodating sports to play.

“Pickleball Regina has earned a reputation as an enthusiastic, capable, and welcoming host of competitions both large and small,” said Deanna Christie, vice president of sport for Pickleball Canada. “The

club set a high bar by hosting the Western Regional Pickleball Championships, held in July, and we have no doubt that Regina will be able to deliver a successful Nationals [sic].”

Despite the potentially silly name, pickleball is a real and practiced sport. It was created in 1965 by Joal Pritchard, who wanted to entertain his family for the summer. Pickleball is named after Pritchard’s dog, who kept stealing the wiffle ball while Pritchard was learning to play.

Pickleball grew from then on into a loved, widespread game that can be played by almost anyone.

Pickleball is known for its wide base range of players which span from children to the elderly; all are able and welcome to play. Additionally, games can either be played recreationally for fun or competitively in a tournament. Skill levels range from group to group, and games are meant to be fair and fun.

Pickleball is a mix of bad-

“Regina Pickleball works to promote the growth of pickleball as a game for all ages in the City of Regina,” states Pickleball Regina’s website . “We plan to accomplish this by offering organized recreational and competitive play, by ensuring opportunities for the continued development of players in an inclusive and sportsmanlike environment.”

Every day at the Queen City Pickleball Hub, Pickleball Regina hosts several leveled events for people to participate in. Different

Who’s responsible for abuse in athletics?

With allegations mounting, is it organizations or governments who must take action?

sophia stevens s&h writer

When an athlete is abused by a member of their athletic organization, who is deemed responsible? Canadian sport organizations say it’s difficult to stop abuse in sports, citing that jurisdictions make it nearly impossible. In 2019, a CBC investigation revealed that more than 200 coaches have been charged with sexually abusing athletes since 1998.

National Sports Organizations (NSOs) are made of 64 governing bodies that each represent a different sport. NSOs range in different sizes and span sports from Canada Soccer to Water Polo Canada. Many CEOs of NSOs are saying that Safe Sport should fall under provincial jurisdiction instead of being a problem at the national level.

Water Polo Canada CEO Martin Goulet said that “It’s unfair to hold NSOs accountable for cases of abuse and maltreatment that might have taken place at local clubs and associations. Most NSOs don’t have the capacity to do this. They won’t do a good job or they’re going to drain all their resources in this. And who is going to suffer? It’s going to be the athletes at the end of the day, because programs for athletes are already poorly funded.”

Goulet added “I’m not going to take responsibility for things that I can’t control.” However, heads of provincial organizations are saying that it’s wishful thinking to believe that Safe Sport can

be implemented at the provincial level where funding is also sparse at times. In response and trying to address abuse in sports, the federal Liberal government has created the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) as one of their Safe Sport initiatives.

The idea is for the OSIC to independently investigate athlete complaints, with the intention of having all federally funded sports organizations be required to participate in the OSIC. Noni Classen, the director of education at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection in Winnipeg, told CBC News that “We need a body that has actually been created for children alone, because children are different from adults, and they need to solely be putting the child at the centre.”

Swimming Canada, who are one of the biggest NSOs in Canada, recognizes that they need to provide education and guidance, but acknowledges that their own capacities are limited. Swimming Canada’s Director of Operations and Sport Development Suzanne Paulins told CBC News that “We keep standing on our soapbox, telling everyone to pay attention to community and grassroots, and the conversation keeps happening about the national-level athletes, […] but we’re missing 99 per cent of the participation pool.”

It seems like conversations regarding who is responsible for Safe Sport will continue to be discussed and debated, with a goal of developing an understanding as to who is deemed responsible given jurisdictions. The creation

of OSIC is a step in the right direction that provides athletes with a safer option when deciding whether or not they feel comfortable launching a complaint against a coach.

It is clear that work still needs

A membership gives you access to recreational games, lessons, and more. Pickleball is the perfect game for any U of R student who wants to have fun, but not be pressured to play competitively or spend lots of money. For more information about how to play pickleball, and Pickleball Regina specifically, you can reference pickleballcanada.org.

‘Hot buck’ doesn’t have quite the same ring as ‘hot potato.’

Illustration: Clker-Free-Vector-Images via Pixabay manipulated by Lee Lim

to be done to address Safe Sport in Canada. However, it is a step in the right direction that potential solutions are being discussed and, in some cases, being implemented. Therefore, National Sports Organizations, provincial organi-

zations, and local clubs owe it to their athletes to find a compromising solution that effectively addresses Safe Sport and protects athletes from abuse.

It’s not the power-stance we need, but it’s the power-stance we deserve.

Photo: Stephen Rahn via Flickr

Snowshoeing for the uninitiated

Walking the walk with three-foot long shoes is harder than it looks

Early on a Sunday morning in February, I gathered with my family and strapped on snowshoes for the first time. These shoes were not like typical shoes; each was three to four feet long, and made of metal.

So, I strapped on my shoes, started to make my way, and the first couple of steps were a real struggle. The added length made it troubling to get up and move around. As I lifted my right foot, I would have to nearly lunge to lift my foot for a step and put it down, compared to just a simple step forward like you do when walking regularly. It took a while

the stick down, pulling themselves forward before repeating the motion with the opposite side to walk. They were using all their limbs, which appeared to give more momentum, stability, and balance. But why is it hard, why is momentum important, and what is the story behind snowshoes?

That is exactly what we are going to look at. Today, I am going to translate this science for you to hopefully encourage you to try a new activity before snow melts for the season. Based on research done by snowshoe company Gros-Louis, I have some history and facts to share that helped me to fully understand the story of snowshoeing.

Snowshoeing has been around for a great deal of time,

past centuries.

The older models look very cool, different from a modern look (like those in the article’s image), and they serve an additional sentimental value to those who make them. Over time, snowshoeing has developed in many communities and cultures, which has led to alterations to the equipment and the technology involved. Over the years, Gros-Louis has altered how they make snowshoes, and tend to use materials like aluminium, magnesium, and wood.

The reason one would wear snowshoes while walking on snow is to help prevent the wearer from sinking into the snow drifts. That theory seems to have support; as I was walking, the shoe was designed to distribute my weight

think it’s because of the path that my family chose, as we followed one another through some cattails. This means there were some long, tall plants, and roots of the plants which may have caused the packed snow to shift.

Let me tell you, when you do sink in ‘non-sinking’ shoes, it is very difficult to get up. I had to lift my foot up really high and over while snow was on top of it, then get the other up and over the snow drift immediately after to ensure that I did not sink in again! If that sounds like something you want to avoid, I’d say that is doable if you do not go where the snow piles are disrupted.

As a personal reflection after my first time snowshoeing, it is a great activity! As I was doing this

pared to just normal shoes. I had a great time with my family, and I highly recommend you go with a group of four or more people. The reason being that if you follow someone else’s snowshoe tracks, it is definitely easier to walk behind them! So just be sure that you walk in pairs and that you are in the back, if possible.

I had a great time snowshoeing with my family, and I am sure you’ll have a good time when you try it, too! This winter is ending quickly, but you may still have the chance to strap on some shoes and go on your own journey. You can rent snowshoes from Fresh Air Experience in Regina, and a great deal of Saskatchewan parks such as Buffalo Pound,

to get a bit of momentum going when getting into this walk.

I had only the snowshoes for mobility, while some of my other family members had a hiking pole in each hand as well. This appeared to give them an advantage, as they could take their left hand, reach forward, then stamp

and the look of these shoes has developed over the years as well. According to research by Gros-Louis, snowshoes used to be made of white birch or ash, and the technology originated with and has been expertly developed by Indigenous groups through

along the bottom to help prevent me from sinking. As I took my steps on my journey, I could definitely see this being beneficial, because that is exactly what these shoes did most of the time.

A few times on my trail I did manage to fall through the snow. I

activity, I focused on moving my feet in different ways and maintaining my balance with some core work – overall, it is a great workout. I say ‘workout’ because, honestly, it does seem like a lot more additional work to walk around with these big shoes com-

Duck Mountain, and Echo Valley. If you check out the provincial parks website, they have a list of snowshoe trails as well. Head on there and you can choose one that may be perfect for you and your group!

victoria baht staff writer

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…

Photo: Jay Morrison via Flickr

“

I only had the snowshoes for mobility, while some of my other family members had a hiking pole in each hand as well. This appeared to give them an advantage, as they could take their left hand, reach forward, then stamp the stick down, pulling themselves forward before repeating the motion with the opposite side to walk.”

– Victoria Baht

Your local one-stop-(not-a)-shop to learn for fun (and for free) Regina Public Library offers more than just books

kate sveinbjornson contributor

The Regina Public Library offers free and accessible events, such as craft cafés, movie nights, board games, and more for ev-

who needs people to play against. You can play chess with others at your level at your local library branch. Sundays at 2 p.m., you can bring your own board game, or drop in and play with someone else. This event is perfect for socializing and having fun.

all the help we can get. The library hosts several events which can help you with your job search or school work. On Friday afternoons, you can register for tutoring and practice to help improve your English skills. An instructor helps students with better reading, speaking, and comprehension

prepare you for interviews, as well as answer any career-related questions you may have.

If you are new to Canada and are preparing to get your citizenship, the citizenship preparation class is the perfect program for you, where you will be coached

eryone to enjoy. Saving money is vital for university students, but so is having fun. Although, normally students can only do one or the other, and would prefer knowing about low-cost or free events around Regina. Well, look no further than your local public library! They have events that take place every week, often switching libraries each time, so anyone in Regina can enjoy them.

Libraries offer more than just books. You can check out movies, CDs, use computers, or have a quiet place to sit and work. There is no fee for a library card, and you can order one online at reginalibrary.ca, or get one in person. One way in which students can save money using a library is by taking out a book they need for class. Books can get expensive, so many students choose to borrow novels they need for classes from the local library. This way, you can read what you need, then return it so someone else can use it!

At stressful times during the semester, it is nice to join a fun, relaxing event. The library branches offer several games and artistic events which are available by dropin. Mondays at 1 p.m. you’re invited to drop in and play mahjong, a fun and easyto-learn game involving matching tiles. While there’s no instructor, other players are usually happy to teach you.

Or maybe you’re a skilled chess player

Are you a crafter who doesn’t want to craft alone? At 1 p.m. multiple days during the week, crafters of all kinds get together to chat and make their masterpieces. Any kind of craft is welcome to participate. The War Book Club and the Don’t Stop Reading Book Club are perfect if you want to

skills which are important for success in studies and work.

On Mondays at 6:30 p.m., writers of all levels are encouraged to drop in and receive inspiration and mentorship from writer-in-residence Pam Bustin. If you need inspiration to finish an essay or oth-

and assisted for your citizenship exam. For your health and wellness needs, Thrive Walk-In Counselling offers a free and accessible walk-in mental health clinic. On Sundays at 3 p.m., you can try a beginner yoga class.

While you learn a lot in university, it can be refreshing to learn about something new and to have that be something you don’t have to pay to learn. The programs mentioned are perfect for people who want to learn, socialize, and have fun! To further the list, in armchair gardening you can learn about gardening, take a virtual tour with Sarah Williams, and learn about the land. This is perfect for anyone who wants to learn about gardening and the history of land.

There are also several kinds of beading events held by Indigenous artists, happening during different times of the month. Learning a language can also be rewarding and is also a good way to stimulate your brain. Once a week, you can attend classes for beginner students learning Nakota.

discuss a book you’ve been reading or want a group to keep you on your course material readings. Both programs operate on a drop-in basis.

Trying to find jobs is also an important part of student life, and we can use

er written work, or need help with editing, this program is for you. This program is offered in person and online. Pam also runs a writing program tailored for newcomers learning to write English. There are volunteers to help you create your resume and

To learn more about the programs offered at the Regina Public Library, visit reginalibrary.ca for a full list of programs, dates, and times, or head to a branch near you to talk with a librarian.

Ah, libraries. The last place left on earth where one can enter without a wallet.

Photo: Lee Lim

“

Trying to find jobs is also an important part of student life, and we can use all the help we can get. The Regina Public Library hosts several kinds of events which can help you with your job hunting or school work.

– Kate Sveinbjornson

Minding your money

Watching expenses is hard, but worth it

pall agarwal contributor

Budgeting as a student can be difficult, especially when you do not know how. A lot of students face this issue during their university life and eventually see themselves drowning in debt. But there are different ways one can save money and manage it well as a student. The most fundamental element to budgeting is keeping track of money.

We often struggle in knowing where and how much of our money is being spent. Keeping track of all the money that comes in and goes out is the basis of budgeting. This can be done electronically through bank applications or manually through apps like Money Manager, Wally, Goodbudget, etc. They not only classify your expenses into different categories, but also show you via graphs and charts the cash flow projections observed till date. We are often drowned with assignments and other commitments, and struggle with keeping regular track of our finances. It is essential to have a biweekly or monthly check of expenses through bank statements.

Moving on, as students, we do have one weapon in our hands – student discounts. We can make use of these through various channels, like in some online shopping, or discounts through Unidays, ISIC, etc. Places all over Canada have offers for students, typically to attract the younger crowd. Thus, using it to our advantage is one of the best ways to get through student life thriftily.

It is a good habit to first understand the difference between needs and wants. This can give us a lot of clarity in our purchases. Before making a purchase, it is essential to take a step back and think whether that element is actually a need or want. This drives all our purchasing decisions. We find it easier to spend on objects than on experiences, whereas those experiences are the more essential elements that can give one the actual taste of life. So, you might be thinking whether saving up for a skydiving trip is better than the Nike shoes that you have had your eyes on. Well, the choice is yours.

As students, we often spend a lot of

The passion for reading

money away from home on fast food and coffee. Maybe it is time to change those habits and build the discipline to cook more often at home to save that extra buck? It doesn’t seem much at the moment, but when compounded over a year or so, it can definitely add up to a significant amount.

It all eventually boils down to one’s capacity to rethink and adjust accordingly. Budgeting and saving can be both exhausting and enticing at the same time, if done right. Start with small decisions like “Should I go to Tim’s today or wake up

earlier and make my own coffee?” This could be all it takes to start, while being mindful to not overwhelm oneself with too many changes at the same time.

The best time to start is now. Budgeting isn’t something fancy, it’s a basic life skill that gives one an edge. It makes things simpler and at the same gives clarity to all the possible expenses that can come in one’s life. Setting aside an emergency fund is another great place to start, so continue moving forward from there. Ask yourself this: is budgeting really impossible?

Once again it is time to review how much money I do not have that has been spent on things I did not need.

Illustration: Lee Lim

Books are magic portals to many worlds and of many times

amina salah staff writer

Reading is one of the most common hobbies in the world. When you pick up a book, it is almost as if you are looking directly into an author’s soul. You get to know the narrative, the structure, the heart of the story, and why it is important. Books teach us lessons about the world. They help us understand the journey of life from different perspectives. In my opinion, reading is the best form of entertainment.

What makes reading so unique is its ability to breathe nostalgia into your soul. You will find yourself yearning for a place you have never been to, all because of a book. The power in reading is that, at times, while you are reading a book, you are actually reading a piece of history. Books have the power to change our lives and force us to cultivate hope and inspiration for the life we want for ourselves.

When you are reading works from authors such as Franz Kafka, Jane Austen, or Sylvia Plath, I believe that you are reading a piece of history.

What I find so interesting is that I often find myself relating to authors who lived hundreds of years ago. The fact that books give us the opportunity to get to know authors from a different time is what makes reading so enjoyable. I find myself relating to Jane Austen so much at times. The way she viewed life, romance, and love. The way she writes about it. The fact that she wrote some of the greatest love stories of our time yet never married. If there was one author I would love to meet, it is Jane Austen. Her books allow me to understand love and the complexities of relationships.

In addition, reading is a great hobby because of how versatile and multi-faceted it is. There is something for everyone to read. Whether you are into classics, or romance, or fantasy, or dystopian fiction, or adventure, thriller, horror, science fiction, war fiction, etc., there is a book out there for everyone, even those who hate reading.

My favourite book in the world is The Velveteen Rabbit. It is a short children’s book. It sounds silly, but it is a book that brings me so much comfort. I often read it at night as a way to unwind and help me fall asleep. It is a beautiful book about a velveteen rabbit who feels unloved and abandoned because he is an old toy, and the boy he belongs to has started playing with new, shiny toys.

The rabbit wishes he was real rabbit so he could visit the boy. This is a beautiful book about love, friendship, and life. It teaches many lessons such as self-love, the importance of gratitude and friendship, and always remembering where you came from. I believe it is a book that everyone should read, not only children.

Books help us understand people. Moreover, reading allows us to enhance our vocabulary and improve our writing and comprehension skills. The reality is that reading is important because it is through books that knowledge, resources, lessons, and stories are spread and shared.

Books create awareness. They allow us to be aware of the journey of life, whether it is the life we are living in today or the life that other people lived hundreds or thousands of years ago.

Unless reality has improved a lot recently, this will always be a far more tempting way to spend one’s day. Illustration: