The Carillon - Volume 65, Issue 23 - Thursday April 11

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 nazeemah noorally news writer josh king a&c writer will bright s&h writer sophia stevens contributors

pall agarwal, nikhil kumar, katlyn richarson board of directors holly funk, thomas czinkota, will bright, hammad ali, shae sackman, and amina salah

the paper

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The Carillon welcomes contributions.

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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

The University of Regina Students’ Newspaper Since 1962 april 13, 2023 | volume 65, issue 23 |

Welcome to our final standard issue for the 2022-23 academic year! In our next issue we’ll be swapping out the standard sections for some new ones chosen by staff, but they’ll still all be relevant to students at the U of R as is our purpose.

We’re currently setting everything up for our AGM which will be held in the Riddell Centre’s multipurpose room on May 13 at 2:30, and we want all students possible to attend this thing so please save the date and tell your friends! All registered students will be welcome to hear about the actions and progress from our staff and board over the past year, as well as our current vision for the newspaper’s future.

Illegitimi non carborundum. holly funk

rACEism p. 3

Critiques on the lessons taught in Accelerated Christian Education are not new, but the province funding its teaching with public education funds is fairly recent.

semester feedback p. 4

Students share their stances on end-of-semester course evaluations in this issue’s Carillon on the Move, giving mixed reviews but many suggestions for improvement.

say cheese p. 7

If you’re getting bored with standard photo-shoot locations, Self Image Boutique may be the local business you need to get those quality shots for your feed.

bashy thrashy riffs p. 8

Adding to our growing series on music to watch out for, Aurel Dumont covers his favourite metal and hardcore releases as of late, and those yet to come.

let

Media must be more than an amplifier for harmful stereotypes, though the recent women’s March Madness final has us doubting that the work is taken seriously.

exasperated Reginians p. 15

Long-time contributor Katlyn Richardson gives her take on the Experience Regina debacle, noting that Regina deserves more than a “blatant lack of forethought.”

Harmful curriculum being taught in schools, government funded

ACE? More like rACE-ism...

“If parents want their children to obtain a very limited and sometimes inaccurate view of the world – one that ignores thinking above the level of rote recall –then the ACE materials would do this job very well.” This comment was written in 1987 by education professors Dr. Dan Fleming and Thomas Hunt in response to a new curriculum called Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) which was being adopted by schools across the United States at the time.

What few may know, however, is that ACE made it to Canada, and in 2023 is still being taught in Saskatchewan schools that receive public funding. It has only been since 2012 that schools have received public funds to teach ACE. That’s because, in 2012, the Saskatchewan government created a new category of independent schools called ‘qualified independent schools’ which receive half the funding of public schools.

When the new QIS category was created, 20 schools in Saskatchewan who had previously not received any guaranteed funding as registered independent schools became qualified independent schools. Many carried over the teaching materials they had used prior to attaining government funding, in some cases including ACE materials.

One of these schools, Legacy Christian Academy, has become infamous in Saskatchewan for the alleged mistreatment of its students. Several other schools in the province use the same teaching materials which teach students creationism, sexism, homophobia – and which Fleming and Hunt have said “ignores thinking above the level of rote recall.”

In 2017, Ph.D. student Jenna Scaramanga from University College London, who studied the ACE curriculum, released a 300page analysis of it as her thesis, titled Systems of Indoctrination. Her conclusions are scathing.

Scaramanga said the social studies and English curriculum “show unrestrained admiration for colonialism.” While the science curriculum said “if evolution were true, dogs should give birth to cats.”

Beyond the ideas taught in ACE, it is also criticized for ham-

pering students’ understanding and critical thinking. In the words of Scaramanga, ACE relies on “rote regurgitation at the expense of critical thought, creative expression, problem solving, inquiry, or group interaction.”

John Macdonald, who teaches secondary science in the education program at the University of Regina, and who is also a for-

about it.”

These materials are used by an association of eight schools in the province known as the Saskatchewan Association of Independent Church Schools (SAICS). SAICS has ACE materials available for its schools as well as recommended textbooks from Bob Jones University (BJU).

Bob Jones University is an

when BJU still had its non-profit status denied due to racist policies, schools in Saskatchewan were using BJU literature while receiving government funding. Some of the textbooks that continue to be recommended by SAICS were published from BJU prior to regaining its status in 2017. BJU is currently under investigation by the US federal gov-

ple with disabilities.

The same analysis also reports how the BJU textbook uses slurs to refer to Indigenous peoples throughout. The textbook analyzed draws primarily from early American literature, though only includes one author who portrayed Indigenous peoples in a positive light, while leaving many literary texts uncommented on which portrayed Indigenous people as violent. While drawing from the early American period, it only mentions slavery twice; one of the incidents portraying slavery as a gift to those enslaved.

The biology department at BJU also continues to be staffed entirely by creationists who believe the Earth is 6000-14,000 years old, and deny the modern theory of evolution. This is similarly reflected in their science textbooks which take a creationist stance.

In many other jurisdictions, ACE and textbooks from BJU would not be allowed in publicly funded schools. For example, a 2005 Supreme Court case in the US, Kitzmiller v. Dover, was decided over a similar dispute. In the Dover case, a school district had a policy of teaching a form of creationism called ‘intelligent design’ and used a textbook that touted it.

The judge in the Dover case ruled that teaching creationism violated the First Amendment rights of the constituents. No similar case has been tried in Canada to establish case law, and this scenario has the additional complication of only having partial public funding. In the 2021-2022 budgetary year, schools with SAICS received over $2 million in funding from the province.

mer high school biology teacher himself, said the research points to rote memorization being a “waste of time” and would like to see schools have “other ways to assess learning.”

Evangelical Christian university in the US with a troubled past. After affirmative action in the 1960s, BJU refused to change their policies. By the 1970s, they received a lawsuit, which gave the

ernment, again, for violating sex discrimination laws.

The history of BJU would seem to reflect the literature it publishes. A peer-reviewed article by Dr. Agiro published in 2012

While it is an American decision, John Macdonald says “the provincial government should really have that decision [Kitzmiller v. Dover] in mind.” Macdonald thinks “spending government public money on it [teaching creationism] could create problems.”

While Scaramanga was talking about ACE in the United Kingdom, the guiding question of her thesis is one that remains relevant to the current situation

Scaramanga sees an additional link between the lack of critical thinking and the fundamentalism of ACE schools, pointing out that “if you want students to hold their beliefs steadfastly, depriving them

of the skills to question those beliefs is an effective way to go

school the option to revoke their racially discriminatory policies or pay millions in back-taxes. BJU paid the back-taxes. It wasn’t until 2000 that BJU revoked its final anti-miscegenation policy, allowing it to gain non-profit status again in 2017.

During the 2012-2017 period

in the Journal of Research on Christian Education reviewed an English textbook published by BJU in 2010. It found that for every one person of colour portrayed there were over five White people portrayed. Similarly, there were more than 3:1 portrayals of men over women and no portrayals of peo-

in Saskatchewan: “How could these schools operate for so long without critique or public scrutiny when they flew in the face of current thinking about educational best practice?”

josh king news writer

They won’t let you wear a hat inside, but they will teach you science denialism.

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

“

If you want students to hold their beliefs steadfastly, depriving them of the skills to question those beliefs is an effective way to go about it.”

– Jenna Scaramanga

Students eager to give end-of-semester feedback

As the winter semester draws to a close, students at universities across Canada are taking part in an important tradition: end-of-semester reviews. The University of Regina is no exception. This week’s Carillon on the Move was originally pitched by our news editor as an opportunity for U of R students to voice their opinions on the customary end-of-semester reviews about the courses they have taken and the instructors who have taught them. But just how helpful are these reviews? Should they be mandatory for all students? And what changes could be made to the class review process to make it more effective? We conducted a survey and spoke with several students to get their take on the matter.

“Yes, I feel that it’s very helpful because students’ opinions matter and it should be required because then it proves that they [the instructors] have gone through our review,” said Mahek Chaudhari, a third-year student in the faculty of Business Administration. She believes that the end-of-semester class reviews should be made compulsory for all students, as they can help to improve the overall quality of education on campus.

In the same line of thought, Yug Shah, a fourth-year student

currently pursuing a B.Sc Honours in Computer Science with a minor in Pure Mathematics, explains “Being a student as well as a lab instructor, I believe it is important that the faculty gets some

improved. “I believe in providing feedback to the instructors since I understand how much it matters to me if I was teaching.” Shah’s emphasis on the significance of constructive criticism and two-

ful and comprehensive feedback. “Maybe instructors could set aside some time in class for students to fill out the reviews together,” suggests Zakiyyah Noorally, a recent graduate in Computer Science and Economics. “That way, students can discuss their opinions collaboratively and make sure that at least everyone’s feedback is being heard.”

feedback as to what is going right and what is going wrong with their style of teaching.”

Shah’s firsthand experience in both roles as a student and a lab instructor enables him to understand how valuable it is for instructors to receive input from their students about what is working well and what could be

way communication in academia is a reminder that learning is a collaborative effort that requires participation and engagement from both students and instructors.

Another suggestion was to make the reviews more interactive, and potentially encourage students to provide more thought-

While many students support the idea of making end-of-semester class reviews mandatory, not everyone agrees. One anonymous respondent to the survey expressed concerns about the authenticity of the feedback if students are forced to fill it out. “Data would be skewed if people are forced to fill it out and don’t make accurate or authentic answers,” the student said. Despite the majority (66.67 per cent) of the students responding positively, indicating that they believe such reviews are essential, the survey also revealed that only 33.33 per cent of students who responded always fill them out, while 16.67 per cent never do.

This ambivalence regarding the end-of-semester class reviews raises the question of how to make the process more effective. “Make it a one-on-one talk,” suggests Chaudhari. On the other hand, Shah stated “I understand

that not everyone would feel comfortable in providing feedback and sometimes, it feels like the feedback is not completely anonymous, so people fear being ostracized. If there was a guarantee that the feedback process was to be completely anonymous, and if there were some rewards tied to completing the feedback, more students would feel comfortable in providing this feedback.” Another student who chose to remain anonymous suggested using the reviews to base pay. While this may seem like an extreme solution, it raises the possibility of incentivizing both students and the faculty to take the process more seriously.

While the end-of-semester class reviews remain a topic of debate, one thing is clear: only by creating a culture of open communication and transparency can faculty members foster a collaborative learning environment that prioritizes student success. Ultimately, the success of the end-of-semester class reviews relies on the willingness of both students and instructors to participate in the process and take it seriously.

“mislead”

The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) have been raising concerns over TikTok gathering data on Canadian citizens. However, according to recently released documents gathered by the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA), the CSE have been spying on Canadian citizens for decades.

The BCCLA initially opened a lawsuit against the CSE in 2013. The initial claim of the lawsuit is that gathering the metadata and private communications of Canadians violates charter rights to privacy.

The CSE was founded during the cold war, though only had its official mandate created in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks. The CSE fill a similar role to America’s NSA, which had the whistle blown on it by Edward Snowden in 2013.

Snowden revealed, with the information the NSA collected on citizens, it could put together quite intimate profiles on nearly anyone. Snowden also revealed the information was being shared among the Five Eyes network, which are five countries who agree to share security information, including Canada’s CSE. With the possible implication of the CSE, the BCCLA opened its lawsuit.

The case finally ended in late 2022, and now the BCCLA has released the documents discovered during the court process. Throughout the near decade-long court process, the case was kept in secrecy during the hearings.

In their news release, the BCCLA concluded that their findings “paint a picture of a powerful spy agency in dire need of oversight.”

One of the tactics to avoid oversight that the BCCLA found is that the CSE “redefines common words” with the goal of creating a “misleading impression of CSE’s actions to the public, and potentially to the ministers.”

The example used by the BCCLA is the specific definition of ‘intercept.’ In normal parlance, if a communication is intercepted, it is obtaining the contents of the communication between two people, and in Canadian law a similar definition is used elsewhere. So, a normal person would consider a wiretap or reading another person’s emails interception.

However, the CSE redefine ‘intercept’ to only apply to information they receive from a particular redacted source. So, using the CSE’s definition, if they surreptitiously read a person’s email, that wouldn’t count as the message being intercepted – allowing

the CSE to confidently say that it doesn’t intercept communications when they in fact do collect the contents and metadata of communications by many Canadians.

Despite the mandate preventing CSE from spying on Canadians, loopholes have allowed CSE to collect enormous amounts of data on Canadians. One such loophole is that, if the CSE get the information from another Five Eyes partner, it does not need to follow the usual channels it would if they had got the information themselves.

Additionally, the CSE collects “all telecommunications” that pass through its collection

points, and the BCCLA estimates that these collection points are likely at “internet backbones leading in and out of Canada.” So even using common sites that are not based in Canada, like Google or Facebook, could result in the CSE collecting an individual’s metadata.

The CSE currently justifies this collection under the mandate by keeping Canadian information separated and redacting it from reports. However, that data is still maintained, and there is an extremely vague loophole allowing that data to be accessed “as needed to fulfill official duties.”

In fact, the collected metadata of Canadians in this manner was accidentally shared by CSE with Five Eyes partners for five years. Between 2009 and 2014, the CSE shared the metadata of Canadians with foreign powers, some of which contained those Canadians’ IP addresses or identifiable telephone information. Former defence minister Jason Kenney was alerted to this and failed to alert the public. There is also no clear evidence if there were any repercussions.

The latest documents BCCLA was able to uncover were from 2015. While we do not know what the CSE have done since then, surveillance activities as of 2015 had been increasing and showed no signs of slowing down.

I wonder what things are living in that carpet

Photo: Gillian Massie, manipulated by Lee Lim

An Edward Snowden whistle blowing moment for Canada with mass surveillance loopholes Communications Security Establishment has

More participation in feedback, but students want to see improvements in return

A sneak peek into the CESL

The program that replaced UR Guarentee

nazeemah noorally staff writer

“As one who serves” is more than just a motto at the University of Regina, it’s a way of life. The recent opening of the Centre for Experiential and Service Learning (CESL) is an attestation to this purpose. Located on the first floor of the Riddell Centre, the CESL is set to empower students to serve and lead with purpose. From volunteering opportunities to co-op placements and internship programs, the CESL has something for everyone.

On March 30, the Centre for Experiential and Service Learning hosted a spectacular event, the UR CESL celebration, to honour and recognize the dedication of its outstanding volunteers and ambassadors. The Carillon had the opportunity to speak with Rhea McFarlane, the acting manager of CESL, as she shared insights about the centre’s mission, services, and its impact on the students’ community at the University of Regina.

How long has CESL been operating at the University of Regina, and what kind of services and programs does it offer to students?

The CESL officially opened in November 2022 and within that time, we’ve added a lot of amazing services to already what we have going. We have kind of three main pillars of our programming: Experiential Learning, Service Learning, and Work Integrated Learning.

The Experiential Learning portion is anything that is going to help students get involved in the events organized on campus and in faculty panels and ways to help them reflect on what is going on in the classroom. Service Learning is the opportunity to give back to the community, whether it’s the university community through the Ambassador Program that has been going on for many years now or the new volunteer centre which is focused on working out in the community and being

That has been going on since 1999, which was the very first co-op program in western Canada. We’re proud of the work that we’ve been continuing to do. We are very excited to continue this work as we move forward in the next years.

Can you tell us about the recent UR celebration for the CESL ambassadors? What was the purpose of the event, and how was it organized?

to-peer celebration and promotion of growth is so important. We’ve had almost all of our staff members at some point including our student assistants as well to organize this event. And now that we’re with CESL, we have a much larger group. So, moving forward, we hope to continue to grow that event. It’s really exciting how we get to see changes that get to be even more inclusive and diverse so that more and more students are able to take part.

ing, our students get the opportunity to meet employers, network, and learn soft skills just as much as disciplinary skills. We’ve seen many of our students go up straight from the co-op placement in a company getting into a full-time job with them and it’s so exciting to see that. […] There is part of that community-engaged learning for students, understanding that their place is connected to people.

What are the plans or initia-

2023, which meant a lot to Khan. “Being recognized as the Ambassador of the Year is truly an honour, and I am humbled by this recognition. I feel grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Ambassador Program and for the wonderful experiences it has brought me.”

Khan went on to share that her journey as an ambassador, starting as a junior ambassador and advancing to the role of ambassador leader, has been both gratifying and exhilarating.

in partnership with community organizations. Work Integrated Learning focuses on finding paid and unpaid learning opportunities for students which is what they are learning in the classroom and putting it to use in a working environment.

In our office, we do have co-op and internship programs.

UR celebration has been going on for many years. It started off as a UR Guarantee celebration, then we incorporated the ambassadors into it and now it kind of incorporates all aspects of CESL, an even bigger opportunity to celebrate students’ successes. The purpose of the event is to celebrate students’ successes. A lot of wonderful things happen in our centre, and we do have those opportunities throughout the year to congratulate students on their great work.

How many ambassadors were recognized at the event, and what were the specific types of volunteer work they engaged in to support the department’s mission and goals?

39 ambassadors received certificates on the occasion of the UR CESL celebration. [...] With our ambassadors in particular, they do a lot of work by being engaged on campus, kind of that first friendly face that new stu-

tives that the CESL has in store for international students and newcomers in the upcoming years?

Actually, a large majority of our students who engage with our centre are international students who have emigrated to Canada. It’s so exciting to see that we have such a breadth of knowledge and diversity. […] It’s really exciting to have drawn in a wide variety of students. So, we continue to invite the students to join us at any

“When I joined the program, I was looking for a way to socialize and make friends in Regina, and I can confidently say that the program has delivered much more than that,” she continued with enthusiasm.

“The Ambassador program is like a triple threat to students, giving them public speaking skills, time management skills, and communication skills that they can use in the future to ace interviews and charm people. It’s like a social skills boot camp!” Khan explained. “As an ambassador, you’ll not only enhance your skills, but you’ll also build beautiful relationships – just like how I met all my closest friends through the program. I encourage students to make the most of this program during their undergrad by seeking out opportunities and cultivating relationships with like-minded individuals.”

The UR CESL celebration is that one big day where we can say to all our volunteers, our ambassadors, and students who engage in Experiential Learning, that “Hey, you’ve done a really good job. We’re really proud of you and we want to you to be celebrated not just by us but also by your peers.” That kind of peer-

dents get to see for their orientation or even for some of the larger events. Getting to be part of that mentorship process is a hands-on version of learning mentorship here at the university before they leave for whatever their careers might be.

In other areas such as co-op programs and Integrated Learn-

point and we’re excited to have them with us.

The interview above has been edited for length and clarity.

Maliha Jabeen Khan, a second-year Science student, was the recipient of the prestigious title of Ambassador of the Year

She concluded with a compelling insight: “So, why settle for just a degree when you can also gain a social life? In a nutshell, being an ambassador means you get to network like a boss, show off your passion, enthusiasm, and dedication, and leave a legacy that impacts the campus community and fellow students positively.”

A CESL-abration for the students.

Photo: Gillian Massie

“

Getting to be part of that mentorship process is a hands-on version of learning mentorship here at the university before they leave for whatever their careers might be.”

– Rhea McFarlane

arts & culture

Cozy games for easy play days

will

Do you ever find that video games can be a bit too intense? Maybe you have lost in Valorant or Overwatch or Apex Legends over and over again, and you’re tired and frustrated. Are the stakes feeling just a bit too high, and you feel stressed when you are playing games? Well, do I have the genre for you.

Introducing cozy games. Some people also call this comfort gaming. Cozy games are about relaxing. They are about feeling comfortable. They are about caring for your mind and body. They help you unwind after a long day. The pace is slower, the music is calming, and the gameplay is at just the right difficulty.

But where do you start? Cozy games is a big genre with lots of different games.

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is my favourite cozy game of all time. It was released in 2016 by independent developer ConcernedApe and studio Chucklefish. In the game, you create a farmer who inherits their dead grandfather’s farm. It’s your job to build the farm back up, profit, catch fish, raise livestock, mine, and make friends with townspeople. I currently have over 400 hours in the game if that gives you any insight into how much I love Stardew Valley You can get married, have kids, and create a beautiful life for your farmer self. It’s a freeing game because there are little to no expectations for you to do anything if you don’t want to. If you never want to fish, you don’t have to – there are ways around it. The game is $15 USD on Steam currently. If you’re interested, check

Nintendo Switch in March 2020, making it an early pandemic staple. In this game, you move onto a deserted island with two other villagers, and Tom Nook with his nephews. You get to develop the island to your liking and make your dream island with your community of animal villager friends.

Most consider New Horizons to be the best installment of the series, and I agree. It’s such a nice, slow-paced game wherein you can fish, swim, craft, collect resources, catch bugs, and visit your friends. There’s a museum to fill up and stores to add to your island as you progress in the game. If you’re looking for a game that’s slow and fulfilling to play in the evenings or on your breaks, check out Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Unpacking

Unpacking is a game for everyone and anyone. The gameplay is self-explanatory from the title: you are unpacking. The game follows the story of a girl’s life throughout each home she has lived in throughout her life. You learn the woman’s story as she moves from place to place and introduces new hobbies and interests into her life. The narrative is told through the unpacking, the experience of finding where everything goes and what everything is. It’s a very, very relaxing game and it’s simple. It’s perfect for people who have never played video games before and are interested. It’s available on almost every platform, including PC, Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation.

Coffee Talk

Talk A.S.A.P.

Disney Dreamlight Valley

out my earlier article in the Carillon called “Making the most of your first year in Stardew Valley.”

Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing is the original cozy game. It was first released in 2001 for the GameCube. The GameCube version was my first introduction to Animal Crossing, and I’ve loved it ever since. The most recent version is Animal Crossing: New Horizons which came out for the

Have you ever wanted to just listen to other people’s problems to avoid your own? Then Coffee Talk is the game for you. It’s another one of my favourite cozy games, and one I frequently replay. You play as the owner of a coffee shop that’s open all night long. You make coffee for guests that frequent your shop in the late hours. You learn their orders, how to make them, and the struggles they are facing in their lives. Sometimes you even get to help them out and guide them in the right direction. One of the highlights of Coffee Talk is the calming, lo-fi music that plays throughout the game. Get ready to make some coffee and download Coffee

Calling all Disney adults and Disney fans, I’ve got a cozy game for you! It’s called Disney Dreamlight Valley and it was released in 2022 in early access on the Switch, PlayStation, PC, and Xbox. You play as a new human in Dreamlight Valley, a setting full of your favourite Disney and Pixar characters. The valley has been cursed, and you need to save

you sad that they no longer make Harvest Moon games? Well, then I have great news for you. Harvest Moon is still around, it’s just under a different name. It’s called Story of Seasons. Since 2015, it’s been going under the name Story of Seasons, and the most recent game is Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town. It was released for the Switch and PC in 2021, and PlayStation in 2022. It follows the same path as lots of other cozy games: growing crops, ranching livestock, foraging, gath-

captures the experience of having a cat. A Little to the Left is a puzzle game about organizing household items, kind of like Unpacking, but it’s more of a 2D game, and there’s a chaos instigator. There’s a cat that wants to mess up your organization which adds a bit of laughter to the gameplay. A Little to the Left has been a great game for me on days where I feel like my life is completely out of control. It lets me feel like there is something there that I can control.

the valley and all your favourite characters. Like many other cozy games, Disney Dreamlight Valley lets you farm, fish, mine, and cook. You can even cook with Remy from Ratatouille! I love this game for the ease of the gameplay and the lack of urgency while still completing important tasks and meeting well-known characters.

Story of Seasons

Do you remember Harvest Moon from way back when? Are

ering materials, marriage, and children. But just because it has the same elements of other games does not mean it’s not worth it. The developers have been mak ing cozy games for a long time, and they do it well.

A Little to the Left

For our last game, let’s wan der away from the farming games and head back into puzzles. A Little to the Left released in No vember of 2022 and it perfectly

bright a&c writer

While action and thrillers can be engaging, sometimes you want to sit back and wait for virtual crops to grow

If you need me, I’ll be playing cozy games for the next 5-7 business years. Image: Pikurā via Pixabay

“

Are you sad that they no longer make Harvest Moon games? Well, then I have great news for you. Harvest Moon is still around, it’s just under a different name.”

– Will Bright

For all your photo-shoot needs

Theme rooms, props, and consistent variety make for a unique Self Image Boutique

victoria baht staff writer

Are you looking to spice up your Instagram? Are you someone who hates taking pictures? Do you have a big announcement coming up, or maybe a special date? Are you looking for a fun night out with friends? Well, I think I found a perfect place for you no matter which one of the above applies to you! It is called the Self Image Boutique, and today I am going to get you an insider’s scoop as I walked around, chatted with the owner, and got to take some pictures myself!

Self Image Boutique is a small local business owned by Anna and Matina. I walked around and got to chat with Matina, and explore their creative local business. Self Image Boutique is a place where you get to walk around and take pictures of your choosing, but not just any pictures! They have 25 different themed rooms, and they are constantly changing so nothing gets old. Quite honestly, the choices, creativity, and options are endless!

Matina explained that his small business works in a way that they change the rooms every four months, and they change the holiday rooms every month. So, for example, as I walked around, I got to see a bathtub filled with yellow, orange, and white balls and

some ducks, and got to look like I took a step back into the past and was enjoying a milkshake at an old-fashioned diner. Other rooms

made it look like I was taking a phone call with a good friend, pretending I was on an airplane mid-flight, and even taking a pic-

ture with the Easter bunny.

If the backgrounds are not enough, don’t worry, they have plenty of props that you can use and you can take them anywhere within the building. That is where you can get creative and have everyone enjoy their time. Do you have a little one that is obsessed with candy? Perfect! Have them sit down and take a picture with a lollipop, and have them carry it around the boutique. They can pose on a couch and still take a cool picture with it, can pretend they are at a Pats game eating a lollipop – whatever you can imagine, it can work here!

Another cool way you can create these images and have them be special for you is that you can take them yourself. They have the option of using a ring light, which is included in your admission price and just connects to your phone via Bluetooth. Although, if you are looking to get something done for you, they have a professional photographer if you choose and they can make it a little extra special, pose you a certain way, and help you get those quality shots. Matina touched base on how a good majority of customers choose to do an hour of just themselves taking pictures where they get to have fun, be comfy, and gain a perspective of the space and what they would like to do in it. Then, you can pay a little extra to have the photographer take your picture as well for

The thing about that TikTok ban…

30 or 60 minutes to guarantee a great variety in your photos.

This is a really cool local business, and honestly a cool setup and idea! I only walked around for a short period of time, only took a few pictures, and honestly, I loved it. You can also look into booking a party room where you have the option of more special rooms, and you can ask to make certain things specialized. You can do wedding dates, for example, and have your names and dates put in a certain area for an additional price. Assure you check out their website for all the details before you dive in.

Self Image Boutique is a great place to go by yourself, with your significant other, alongside a group of friends, your family, or an athletics team. Literally anyone could enjoy this setup as long as you can sit back, relax, be creative, and have fun. The takeaway message of this business that I got is to really be yourself, have fun, and take all the pictures you can to make some extra special memories!

Make sure to check out their website and social media for prices, picture ideas, and more. As an added bonus, all U of R students get 10 per cent off just by showing their student ID. Also, if you are a loyal customer, you can make five visits and get the sixth one free. You can check out more details at selfimageboutique.ca.

With privacy concerns from all parties, where are lines being drawn and how could creators be impacted?

will bright a&c writer

I’m sure most of us have heard or seen on our ‘For You Page’ the potential for an imminent TikTok ban in the United States, whether it be from clips of the TikTok CEO explaining the app to senators or random creators telling you to follow them on Instagram for their content. But, what is the TikTok ban actually doing? What is it for? And how will it affect creators?

The bill is called the Restrict Act, which stands for Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications. If the bill gets passed, it will allow the president of the United States, currently Joe Biden, and the Department of Commerce some control over technologies that come from outside America.

The main concern with TikTok is privacy laws. Senators are worried that because TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company, the Chinese government can force ByteDance to give them data sourced from American users.

But the act would be able to extend past TikTok. Any technology, such as apps that come from China, Russia, Iran, North Ko-

rea, or Venezuela can be banned by the Department of Commerce. This includes satellites, AI, drones, and more. This bill could prevent millions of Americans from using the hardware or software they own.

The bill would also extend this power past congressional and court approval and would send it straight to the president. No more waiting for individual bills to be passed about technologies; the president and the Department of Commerce can act whenever and however they want.

A few weeks ago, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew defended TikTok in a Congress hearing. He stated that ByteDance does not act as an agent of the Chinese government. Chew stated that TikTok headquarters are not even in China, they are in Singapore and Los Angeles, California. Chew also faced some racism from Senators and, overall, a lot of misunderstandings about the app.

Say this bill does pass, and you access a website or app you should not be able to. What then?

Currently, if the bill gets passed, you could face up to 20 years in prison or a fine of $1 million.

And what about the creators who are making their living on TikTok? What happens to them?

Well, those creators would likely have to turn to other platforms.

‘I

Illustration: Lee Lim

An issue here is that most people who are TikTok ‘famous’ have significantly fewer followers on Instagram or YouTube. For larger creators, they will lose a major income from the lack of the Creator Fund from TikTok. They will also lose their largest sponsorship platform, which could cause them to lose sponsors and the money from them.

And what about creators who don’t make any money but still do TikTok? For many, a TikTok ban would cause them to lose their creative outlet. They would lose a space where they can feel comfortable expressing themself through make-up or dance. They would lose friends and mutuals they made through the app. They would lose the support and encouragement from their friends, mutuals, and followers. They would stop learning more about their craft from others on the platform. Moving to Instagram or YouTube shorts could be like starting all over with people who may be cruel toward their craft. It would be a devastating loss for these creators.

The fate of TikTok is still up in the air. The government is looking for an American company to buy shares in TikTok, but there has been no announcement of that yet.

Photo:

see countless apps and I want them painted black.’

Metal and hardcore to keep an ear out for Extreme music for extreme times

aurel dumont copy editor

Y’know the kind of music that makes you feel scared when you hear it? The kind of music bad guys in movies listen to? Well, that’s what I like: metal, hardcore, etc. – extreme music. And I feel lucky, because 2023 is shaping up to be a big year in extreme music. Since I want you to feel lucky too, here are some notable recent and upcoming metal and hardcore releases to keep an ear out for.

Before getting into this year’s releases, I think it’s worth surveying a few of 2022’s most noteworthy records (according to me). The first two albums that come to my mind when I think about 2022 are Spite’s Dedication to Flesh and I

ite song of last year, then it’s I AM’s “Surrender to the Blade.”

Some other albums I liked in 2022 are Undeath’s It’s Time…

To Rise from the Grave, Watain’s The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain, Conjurer’s Páthos, END and Cult Leader’s split EP Gather & Mourn, Immolation’s Acts of God, Volcano’s Fool 2 Tha Game, Labyrinth of Stars’ Spectrum Xenomorph, Darko US’ s Oni and DethMask Pt.

2, Mongrel’s Off the Leash, High Command’s Eclipse of the Dual Moons, and Gates to Hell’s Gates to Hell.

Time for 2023. I’ll start with full releases, then move on to singles from albums set to release later in the year. Starting off the year, Scalp released their Black Tar EP on January 13. This is a furious hardcore/grindcore rec-

(and catchy) impression.

Hardcore band Judiciary dropped their highly anticipated second album Flesh + Blood on March 10. This album is so hard, it’s what diamonds want to be when they grow up. Flesh + Blood is one catchy, aggressive riff after another. Songs like “Knife in the Dirt” and “Blood” will remain in my daily Spotify rotation for a while to come.

Following hot on their heels are two records released March 17: Scarab’s Scarab EP and Kruelty ’s Untopia. Scarab have seemingly exploded onto the scene with a four-song, seven-minute EP of pressurized mayhem. Like Scalp, Scarab has attitude and aggression. Meanwhile, Kruelty offers cold deathy hardcore from Japan. They hit my radar in January with

Jesus Piece have just one album – Only Self, released in 2018 – so their new material has been highly anticipated.

AM’s Eternal Steel. Spite are bringing fresh and exciting energy to deathcore, and that’s never been more true than it is on Dedication to Flesh. Songs like “Caved In” and the titular “Dedication to Flesh” still have me coming back and will for a while to come.

Countering Spite’s deathcore is I AM’s nod-inducing trash metal on Eternal Steel. The only way to describe this album is to say it’s all riffs. You’ll be drowning in riffs. But you’ll headbang as you drown to I AM’s earworm guitar work and rolling drums. Their metalcore influences and guttural vocals give them a newer sound, but the sheer thrash of everything else is sure to keep even seasoned metalheads interested. If Spite’s “Made to Please” isn’t my favour-

ord with serious attitude and big riffs elevated by palpably abrasive production. It sounds like the band was deep-fried in tears. Scalp put forth freezing desperation on Black Tar; look no further than song titles like “Endless Relapse” and “Diabetic Necrosis” to get an idea of what to expect from this beefy gem.

Speaking of high-octane hardcore, Year of the Knife’s short but sweet Dust to Dust EP dropped February 2. At only 3 songs, Year of the Knife do more than necessary to squeeze every bit of down-tuned, raspy-voiced fury into this little package. The whirling layered vocal production toward the end of “Ctrl+C” signifying one’s voice being lost in a crowd of copies left a memorable

the single “Burn the System,” and I anticipated the album since. Untopia is downtuned hardcore punk covered in encrusted distortion with rare moments of bliss.

Finally, as of writing this, the most recent notable release was legendary Finnish grindcore unit Rotten Sound’s Apocalypse on March 31. With 18 songs and a runtime of 20 minutes, Apocalypse crushes one blast-beaten political lyric after another.

Those albums are all great, but so far this year the most exciting music has been singles from upcoming albums; specifically, singles from two bands, the first of which is Jesus Piece. Mixing hardcore and its hip-hop influences with crushing industrial distortion and low guttural vocals,

They’ve dropped four songs from their upcoming album, ...So Unknown, and each one are among my favourite music in recent memory. “An Offering to the Night” and “Tunnel Vision” are easily some of the best bops in extreme music to come out in recent years, and “Gates of Horn” and “Silver Lining” further showcase how unique and captivating Jesus Piece are. They really explore the possibilities of how distorted electric guitar can be used in musical ways beyond conventional playstyles. Jesus Piece really feel like new music; not just recent, but something original and, well, unknown. ...So Unknown releases everywhere April 14.

The second band whose singles have me truly trembling with anticipation are Cattle Decapitation. Their name, which you might scoff at, represents the brutality of the slaughter industry. They’ve always been about animal rights and environmental and political issues. Their previous album, Death Atlas, eerily predicted COVID. Released November 29, 2019, songs like “Bring Back the Plague” with lyrics about a culling virus that humanity deserves feel prophetic in retrospect.

Cattle Decapitation have stated they intend their upcoming album, Terrasite, to be a musical rebirth, while still building upon the concepts introduced in Death Atlas. “We Eat Our Young,” the

first single released from Terrasite, blew me away when I first heard it. Music can’t get much higher bitrate than Cattle Decapitation before it literally becomes noise. The band’s unbelievable musicianship makes them one of the few metal acts that I think can still successfully push the envelope of how extreme music can be. Terrasite drops May 12, so start getting your ears ready now. If you still aren’t curious, look up the album art.

Lastly, Winnipeg-based noise rock band KEN mode seem to be following up last year’s album, Null, with even more new material. “Painless,” released March 10, features the band’s signature weirdness with strange lyrics, frantic rhythms, and what sounds like a dissonant distorted violin at one point. No word yet if this signifies an EP or LP, so be sure to keep an eye peeled for new KEN mode.

If 2023 keeps up its pace, a lot of excellent extreme music is on its way. In the meantime, here are some listening suggestions depending on your taste: for those of you looking for some real dumb person music, I’ve been entertaining my inner caveman with Snuffed on Sight, BodyBox, 200 Stab Wounds, and Volcano. For the giga-brain punks out there, I recommend Jesus Piece, Boundaries, Chamber, ORTHODOX, and Distinguisher. And finally, for the average metal enjoyer, check out Undeath, High Command, and I AM.

You’d better get your break down frown ready...

Photo: Pexels via Pixabay

“This is a furious hardcore/grindcore record with serious attitude and big riffs elevated by palpably abrasive production. It sounds like the band was deep-fried in tears.”

– Aurel Dumont

The Glory: your next movie night in

A captivating story about high school bullying, long-held trauma, and revenge

amina salah staff writer

The Glory is a Netflix Korean drama directed by Ahn Gil-ho. It features well-known Korean actors such as Song Hye-kyo and Lee Do-hyun, among others. It is a captivating story about a young woman who goes on a mission for revenge against the high school bullies who tormented and tortured her. What is interesting is that The Glory does not follow the story through the lens of revenge being something that ultimately destroys the one seeking it. Rather, the notion of revenge is shown as one that is painful, tedious, and empowering.

Played by Song Hye-kyo, Moon Dong-eun was once a teenager who had her entire life uprooted by her bullies. In her high school years, they abused her so horrifically that it led to trauma. As things get worse, Moon Dongeun eventually leaves her school and promises to herself that she will destroy all of her bullies one day. She crafts a meticulous plan to get back at her bullies.

Over time, Moon Dong-eun works her way up and manages

to become a teacher. She ends up teaching at the school one of her high school bullies sends her daughter to. Moon Dong-eun re-introduces herself to her bullies, and things start to go down.

She enlists the help of a dermatologist who is also battling through his own issues after witnessing the death of his father. As the drama carries on, Moon Dong-eun and the dermatologist get closer and closer. The mission of revenge however drives them apart from each other, as they feel their worlds crashing down. It is clear that revenge is taking a toll on Moon Dong-eun and she finds it difficult to navigate her feelings of rage and sadness, but also the guilt she feels from the fact that she is harming some people who do not deserve it along the way.

What I enjoy about The Glory is that it shows how people carry feelings of rage and often are unaware of what they should do with these feelings. Some choose to bottle them up until they explode, whereas others choose to actively pursue them.

Furthermore, the themes of wealth, power, pride, and greed are interesting. At times, people expect apologies from those who

Feel it in your soul

Who else is looking for new music?

If you know me, you know that I very rarely listen to new music. I’ve been listening to the same music for the last three to five years. It’s not often that a new artist really grabs my attention and forces me to listen to them.

Introducing the Scarlet Opera.

The Scarlet Opera has had me in a chokehold for the last two weeks with their new EP Comedy. I first found them through their TikTok account, and that might be where you’ve heard of them, too. Their song “Alive” has been dominating my ‘For You Page’ for a while now. After I found myself constantly singing “Alive” throughout my day, I gave in and listened to Comedy and I am very glad I did.

There’s a sound that the Scarlet Opera has that feels so rare. It makes me feel alive and alight with the sound of music. It makes me want to get up and dance, get up and move, get up and relish in the fact that I am alive every time I play the EP. Their music resonates with joy and energy the likes of which I’ve never heard or felt before. It feels theatrical without ever leaning into the realm of musical theatre.

The energy is truly led by the band’s frontman Luka Bazulka, who also wrote most of the songs on Comedy. Bazulka’s voice draws in the listener, almost akin to the likes of Freddie Mercury. Bazulka’s voice in the music has me hanging on every word waiting for what’s next, waiting to see what adventure he takes me on alongside the band. The

band consists of keyboardist Colin Kenrick, bassist Daniel Zuker, drummer Justin Siegal, and guitarist Chance Taylor.

The Scarlet Opera’s name was inspired by The Scarlet Letter, and its intent to outcast people and make them feel misunderstood and misrepresented by society. The Opera is a place for those marked by Scarlet, the outcasts, the misrepresented, and those who just aren’t understood

by others, to join together and feel free and alive in a place where they can be and not worry about expectations or societal understandings. The Scarlet Opera is a place for the passionate, a place for the lustful, a place for the furious, and a place for the beautiful. Comedy opens with the song “Riot.” I could not imagine a better opening song for this EP. The words start immediately, calling out to the listener, telling them

have hurt them. The sad reality is that a lot of people sleep peacefully at night after harming others. They do not feel guilt. They do not feel sadness. They do not feel empathy for their victims. Rather, they see their victims as nuisances. Even up until the end, Moon Dong-eun’s bullies never apologize for the harm and suffering that they inflicted upon her.

The Glory is a perfect reflection of life. Many people chase after revenge with the belief that their abusers will one day apologize to them and feel empathy for them. Unfortunately, this is a rarity. Many people carry on with their lives holding onto the pain they went through.

When all you have known is anguish and agony, it is extremely difficult to let go of these feelings. It is something that you have to actively work through. The Glory teaches us that, sometimes, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes you have to shine your own flashlight through the tunnel. That is the only way to get through it.

that they like it, it gets them excited, it makes them want to shout from the rooftops, and it’s time to riot. But not a riot in the way of violence or protest, it’s a riot in the way of celebration and joyous victory in the very essence of who we are and what we can be. The strong bass line makes you immediately want to dance to the beat and join in on this riot they’re proclaiming.

The next song, “The Place

to Be,” is my favourite. It’s a great follow-up to “Riot” because it alludes to the idea that the riot is the place to be. It’s telling you to be there, to dance, to live as if it’s your last moment on Earth, and to celebrate in the beauty and boldness of your essence that can only be found at the Opera. The bass line is prominent here too, but it’s emphasized, and it has more details. It almost feels like it’s emphasizing the riot and what it means to you as an individual and discovering that, letting it flourish and blossom within you.

The EP ends with their most popular song, “Alive.” There’s a reason this song is their most popular. It’s an incredible song and has the most Queen-like energy. It keeps up with the theme of the Opera, too – you’re giving something to the world, you’re giving them what they see you as, but there is still the essence of you. Despite how people may see you, “keep the party alive,” as the band proclaims. Don’t let society take away what you are, and don’t let them make you stop the party for their sake.

This EP has acted like a knife and cut straight through the burn-out and exhaustion I’ve been feeling; it held out a hand, and invited me to dance. I said yes, and you should, too. Comedy by the Scarlet Opera is available on Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and YouTube.

Rock on to some new tunes!

Illustration: OpenClipart-Vectors via Pixabay, manipulated by Lee Lim

sports & health

Planning ahead for summer camping

Imagine this: you are sitting back in a camping chair and enjoying a nice drink. Beside that drink is another chair where your friend or family member sits with you, and you are just chatting away. As the conversations get longer, the sky gets darker, but it doesn’t bother you because you have a fire going. You can see just fine, as the fire is generating light from its yellow and orange base. As the fire crinkles, crackles, and cracks, you can feel the heat generated off it and onto your body.

As you sit back and talk all night, you make plans for the next day, and your options are nearly endless. You can enjoy a nice day on the beach, play some lawn games, go for a hike, enjoy some golf or beach volleyball, and the list continues! Doesn’t all that sound like just the ideal weekend? Well, don’t you worry, times like that are coming. That’s right, camping season approaches and will be here before you know it.

Now that you have pictured the perfect camping night, let’s look at different provincial parks you can enjoy, things you can do, and some tips on how to book

a campsite. As of last week, the bookings for provincial parks have opened! Some campsites that have recently opened are Good Spirit Lake, Candle Lake, Echo Valley, Rowan’s Ravine, Danielson, Greenwater Lake, Great Blue Heron, and the Battlefords. You can find a full list of

the water for a while, you can play catch, chat, float, or sunbathe.

Another two provincial parks that are my favourites are Pasqua and Echo Lake. These two lakes are the perfect distance to get away from Regina a little faster and easier. Both are about an hour away, and you have access to

and sewer hook-up. If you would like an electric campsite, which has access to electricity and water point access, those are also available. You can also have non-electric site with non-dedicated direct water points. All the campsites listed above have access to a service centre, firewood, fire pits,

want to have to pump up your air mattress at another campsite and walk it back because getting back or getting a blown-up mattress into your tent can be a real challenge!

Now that you know some locations where you can book and what sites to use for booking, what

provincial parks on the Saskatchewan Parks website.

I’m a camper myself, and I honestly have some recommendations if you have never camped before, or if you have and are looking for a new spot to check out this season. Off the top of my head is the list in the paragraph above.

I would highly recommend visiting Good Spirit Lake. It is quite distant, honestly. From Regina, just to give a perspective, it is about a two-and-a-halfhour drive, although it is worth it! Good Spirit has some amazing perks. Their beach sand is honestly some of the best that I have seen in Saskatchewan. It is very soft, and they also have sand dunes that if you walk far enough on are almost like having your own personal beach. On that beach is a lake that takes a while to get deep, so it can be beneficial for swimming with little ones or anyone in general. Just walking in

a beach, playgrounds, and stores. They also have Fort Qu’Appelle close by, which is great in case you forget some things because you can always run into town and get what you need. Provincial parks and lakes that are close to the city seem perfect just to get away for the weekend or long weekend. I personally like going a long distance like Good Spirit when you are gone for a good chunk of time (five days or more) to make it worth the drive.

Getting a campsite booked is one of the first steps in planning a camping trip. Nightly camp-

and picnic tables. There are also economy campsites, although those have no electricity available and do not have access to water, firewood, or a service centre. If needed, those would all be around 10 minutes away. Find out more details and how to book on the Saskatchewan Parks website.

From a personal perspective, I have experienced a full-service campsite and, honestly, these appear to work best for campers who own a trailer. That way, you can hook it up and have a perfect ‘home on wheels,’ as they say! If you are a tenter, you can either do

can you do at provincial parks while camping? Well, a good majority of provincial parks have lakes and beaches which make for perfect beach days. Some have hikes nearby where you can go on an adventure and find some goodies. Some parks are even lucky enough to have an ‘Aquatic Adventure’ where you get the chance to play around on inflatable parks in the water. You can run, jump, slip, and slide! Make sure to check out where they will be located on the Sask Aquatic Adventure website when you are booking.

site bookings can mostly be done through an online reservation system or over the phone. Although, this begs the question, which type of campsite is the best for your style and for your group?

There are four kinds of campsites that are open for reservation. You can choose to do a full-service campsite where you have access to electricity, water,

electric campsites or non-electric. Personally, I would recommend an electric campsite. That way, you can have access to electricity to pump up your air mattress, plug in some Christmas lights to light up your campsite, or charge your electronics and a couple of extra things. If you choose a non-electric site, just take that into consideration. You do not

So, you know some lakes that we have in the province, you have personal recommendations, know what kind of campsite you can book, have an idea of what you may need, and you know some activities that will be available. What is stopping you from booking? Happy camping season!

Though camping trips are a ways away, it’s never too early to sort out where you’ll go and what you’ll do

victoria baht staff writer

If you’re looking to feel awe-struck this summer, you’d better get to making camping plans now!

Photo: Noel_Buaza via Pixabay

“Their beach sand is honestly some of the best that I have seen in Saskatchewan. It is very soft, and they also have sand dunes that if you walk far enough on are almost like having your own personal beach.”

– Victoria Baht

NHL both wrapping and amping up

Playoffs start in mere days, and everybody’s got eyes on the draft pick this year

sophia stevens s&h writer

The last National Hockey League (NHL) hockey game of the season is scheduled for Friday, April 14, with the playoffs scheduled to begin on Monday, April 17. In the Central Division, the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and the Minnesota Wild have all secured playoff spots in the Western Conference. The current playoff picture has the Avalanche playing the Kraken and the Stars playing against the Wild.

In the Pacific Division, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the Edmonton Oilers, and the Los Angeles Kings have all secured playoff spots. The current standings show the Golden Knights playing the Jets and the Oilers and Kings playing each other. In the Atlantic Division, the Boston Bruins, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Tampa Bay Lightning have all secured a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It appears that the Bruins will be playing the Islanders and the Leafs will be playing the Lightning.

In the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes, the

New Jersey Devils, and the New York Rangers have secured playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. The playoff picture shows the Hurricane playing the Panthers with the Devils playing the Rangers. The wildcard spots have not officially been secured. However, the New York Islanders, the Seattle Kraken, the Florida Panthers, and the Winnipeg Jets are

currently favoured in the standing to obtain a playoff spot with the Pittsburgh Penguins close behind.

The Boston Bruins are a favourite going into the playoffs, as they have 127 points compared to the second-place team in the whole league, the Carolina Hurricanes, who have only 109 points. FOX Bet currently has the Boston Bruins as the favourite, with the

We can’t self-assess without info

Colorado Avalanche and the Toronto Maple Leafs being in second and third places respectively.

The NHL is also experiencing a race to the bottom this season. This is due to teams wanting to obtain the first pick in the 2023 NHL draft in order to draft Connor Bedard first overall. Many teams see Bedard as being a key player in helping to rebuild their

team. Bedard finished his Western Hockey League regular season with 71 goals and 72 assists in 57 games for the Regina Pats.

When Sidney Crosby was asked about Bedard, all he had to say was “No weaknesses,” which showcases the potential that one of the best in the hockey world sees in Bedard. It will be interesting to see how Bedard transitions into the NHL, and how effective he will be with the team he is playing on. Bedard is considered a once-in-a-generation player, which is no small feat. If Bedard is able to translate his success from the Western Hockey League and the World Juniors without letting the pressure get to him, he’ll have one heck of a career in the NHL.

The first-round draft pick normally goes to the team with the worst record in the league. However, this season, the Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, and the Columbus Blue Jackets all currently have 56 points with four games left in the regular season as of the time of writing. It will be interesting to see which team wins the draft lottery set to be held May 8 and has the opportunity to draft a standout like Connor Bedard.

How can people be expected to monitor themselves when what they monitor has been misconstrued?

holly funk editor-in-chief

If you head to the government of Saskatchewan’s current website page for COVID-19 information and care, it is clear from the language alone that the government is taking a hands-off approach; it’s everybody for themselves.

To start, the COVID-19 homepage has the word “self” listed 10 separate times. Self-testing, self-monitoring, and self-management are positioned as the triage trinity for mitigation of this pandemic in our fourth year. From that page you can navigate to “Living with COVID,” another page which continues to inform people how to assess their own risks and recommends – but does not require – self-isolation if you test positive for the virus.

In January, I wrote a piece for the Carillon titled “We should treat COVID more like an STI” wherein I talked about the effectiveness of proactive measures, and I’d like to return to that sentiment from a slightly different angle. Catherine Demoliou, Christos Papaneophytou, and Vicky Nicolaidou published an article in the International Journal of Medical Sciences last October looking at the similarities between the impact of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) and HIV. Demoliou, Papaneophytou, and Nicolaidou note that even though the way these viruses spread and the symptoms they can cause are very different, the way they attack a person’s immune system is very

similar, as are the long-term effects of each.

T-cells are a type of white blood cell that our bodies use to fight infections, and they are essential to the way our immune system is able to adapt and find new ways to fight new viruses, diseases, and infections throughout our lifetime. The problem is that, in both people with HIV and people who have had COVID, the amount of T-cells is lower than normal. That means individuals are more vulnerable to infections, more likely to catch a virus or flu than before, and that it will take more time and effort for their body to adapt and fight off infections.

To expand on that, there is a growing area of research dedicated to COVID’s impact on the brain and its functioning, which has been steadily increasing with higher reports of ‘brain fog’ postCOVID infections. National Geographic, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Frontiers in Psychology, the National Center for Biotechnology Information, and the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease are just a handful of publications that have published studies on the similarities between COVID and Alzheimer’s impacts on the brain. While none have stated that COVID is some sub-type of Alzheimer’s or that it can lead to its early onset, some brains of those who have died from COVID show similar types of damage in similar areas when compared to brains of people with Alzheimer’s.

For all these reasons and more, I am immensely distressed by our province’s choice to remove the very last of masking mandates that applied to health-

care facilities. I am frustrated by the government’s continued positioning of COVID as nothing more than a mild flu or respiratory infection. I’m angry

that the information released on COVID infections and outbreaks in the province are not reported independently and in depth, but rather they have been put in the community respiratory illness surveillance program (CRISP) reports.

What the provincial government fails to realize in their consistent pull-back of policies is that their policies impact how people self-assess their risk. They encourage residents to monitor themselves, to test themselves, and to keep themselves safe, but are not clear on exactly what people are to be keeping themselves safe from. Of course hardly anyone here is masking, of course we have some of the highest COVID hospitalization and death rates in the country at the moment, because the government’s decisions do not show residents that this virus is any sort of big deal.

Let’s say you asked me if it was safe to cross the street. If I told you to be careful, to wait until the lights at the intersection turn green, and to look both ways, but I didn’t tell you there was a piano falling from above that crushes you as soon as you step into the street, would you believe that I had given you all the information you needed to assess your risk properly? If the government expects us all to watch out for ourselves, the literal least they could do would be making sure we have the information necessary to gauge that risk. Anything less is negligence at best.

Caution: playoffs may be closer than they appear.

Photo: FotoEmotions via Pixabay

COVID is a grease fire, and the government’s got the garden hose on full blast.

Photo: Lee Lim

Fickle stances on trash talk in sport

s&h

Louisiana State University (LSU) beat the University of Iowa in the women’s college basketball national championship game. The game drew a peak viewership of 12.6 million and was the mostviewed women’s college basketball game on record. During the end of the game, LSU superstar Angel Reese was seen taunting Iowa’s star basketball player Caitlin Clark. Reese’s action sparked heated debate across multiple social media platforms, with many highlighting that Clark was the first to make a taunting gesture.

This media firestorm started many types of conversations including how the media portrays women in sport, how White women are treated compared to Black women, and how trash talking by men in sports is taken much differently than women trash talking in sports. The media often portrays competitive women in sports as being overly aggressive and less than elegant, making women feel like they don’t belong or feel like they have to hold back during moments of celebration and success.

Women across all sports have experienced sentiments similar to those seen in the LSU vs. Iowa game. Men are oftentimes seen as taunting their opponents during moments of competition. Did this moment of heated competition in the women’s game really catch some off guard as Fox News alluded to in a recent article?

In an interview with ESPN, Clark expressed her views on the double-standard seen with trash talking. “I think men have always had trash talk. That’s what it’s been, and I think more and more people, as they turn on the game, they’re appreciating it for what it is. I’m just lucky enough that I get to play this game and have emotion and wear it on my sleeves, and so does everybody else, so that should never be torn down, that should never be criticized, because I believe that’s what makes this game so fun. That’s what draws people to this game, that’s what draws it to the pro level, to college level, to the high school level. Either way, it doesn’t matter. You should be able to play with that emotion. That’s what makes it so fun. Nobody wants to tune in and not see people be competitive and passionate about what they’re doing across any sport. That’s how it should be. I believe that’s what it should be, that’s how I’m gonna continue to

play, that’s how every girl should continue to play. I’m just lucky enough that we have fans support us and want to watch that type of basketball.”

Anyone who has been around female sports at the college and elite levels understands and have seen forms of trash talking taking

The standards of professionalism are often unjustly held higher for Black women, who are more likely to be tone policed due to stereotypes perpetuated in the media. A study in the Harvard Business Review concluded that “any display of anger by Black women professionals is deemed

talk and use their emotion during competition across all sports while also understanding that Black women are held to different social standards when it comes to being professional.

Another debated moment from LSU’s win came when the United States First Lady Dr. Jill

they deserve to go there. Maybe I could go the White House [someday] on different terms.” LSU beat Iowa 102-85 to win the national championship.

This was a game that showcased how far women’s sports have come while also indicating moments of much needed

place within their sports. It’s a common part of the competitive experience seen in higher levels of sports. Since the game, many athletes have come out in support of women being able to trash talk during their competition without getting the push back that has been seen after the LSU vs. Iowa game. During a press conference after the game, Reese spoke to the media, saying that “All year I was

a personality defect, which often results in lower performance ratings and leadership evaluations.”

The example of Reese highlights the gender double-standard along with how Black women are often criticized far more for using the exact same gesture that White women may. This type of mistreatment towards Black women has been seen across many sports and sectors.

Biden spoke, saying that both LSU and Iowa should come to the White House, which is normally an invitation for only the winning team. The First Lady spoke to the advancement in women sports as being the reason to invite both teams. This sentiment sparked controversy online as many people believe that only the winning team should be able to attend the White House. Some also believe

improvement across all sports and how women are portrayed within competition by the media. LSU should be proud of their accomplishments and the amazing hard work that they put in to get there along with their ability to handle unforeseen controversies while celebrating their successes.

critiqued about who I was. I don’t fit the narrative. I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto, y’all told me that all year. When others do it, y’all don’t say nothing. This was for the girls who look like me.”

Many major reports that have been published stating that Black women are not treated as equals to their non-Black peers when it comes to the workplace.

In response to the criticism towards Reese after the game, Clark told ESPN that “I don’t think Angel should be criticized at all. I’m just one that competes, and she competed. I think everybody knew there was going to be a little trash talk in the entire tournament. It’s not just me and Angel.” Clark highlights how women should be able to trash

that this invite wouldn’t have been extended to the losing team if Iowa had won, though at this point nobody can be certain.

When asked about the White House invite in an interview with EPSN, Clark had this to say: “I don’t think runners-up usually go to the White House. LSU should enjoy that moment for them.

And congratulations, obviously;

sophia stevens

writer

It is a help to no one when the media becomes a megaphone for stereotypes

Some media speaks truth to power, while others amplify harmful stereotypes. Illustration: Lee Lim

“

All year I was critiqued about who I was. I don’t fit the narrative. I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto, y’all told me that all year. When others do it, y’all don’t say nothing. This was for the girls who look like me.”

– Angel Reese

Summers can be a time for rest and growth Summer in Canada for international students

Summer is the season of hope and enthusiasm, as people get out of their houses after the snow, enjoying the option for more to do outdoors in the sun. University students have the best time during summer as they enjoy outdoor sports, smaller course loads, etc. International students also enjoy greater benefits during the spring and summer semesters compared to the fall and winter semesters.

As per IRCC rules, international undergraduate students have the option of signing up for fewer classes, or can choose to take a break, during these four months. This helps the students get some respite after the heavy workload of the fall and winter semesters. Many students also choose to sign up for some summer classes in order to stay ahead in their degree and not break the momentum of their studies.

Other than the course load benefit, international students can also work full time over the summer. This is a substantial advantage for students, as they can take on one or more part-time jobs and work more than the usual 20 hours, which used to be upper limit for international students but has now been waived by IRCC until December 31, 2023. This gives the students a chance to learn time management, work hard, and manage their life beyond the classroom. Some students usually take one or two classes and work a couple of part time jobs, if required, to save up for the coming semesters. Since the course load

When writing down all the things we want to do in a week, we often forget how good it feels to just stay at home.

is lighter than the usual semester and goes faster, they are more easily able to balance school and work.

Since summer is also a great time to be outdoors, students who have been working save up and tend to travel out of province, forming groups to travel and share expenses. This gives them a glimpse of what the

country can offer, as well as an opportunity to explore themselves amidst the chaos of work and study. International students often face intense stress due to studies and work as most have to sustain themselves financially while maintaining their grades. Spring/summer is a great time for these students to take a break and recharge so

Making the most of your summer

amina salah staff writer

The sun comes out, embracing your face. The whole world glistens and sparkles. The days are longer. The nights are shorter. The weather is beautiful, giving us the opportunity to do things we otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to do. There are people who love the aesthetic of fall and winter. Personally, summer is when I come alive, when I come out of hibernation. If you

have seasonal affective disorder, you know that summers can be easier to manage. The sky is blue. Seasonal fruits taste better. The flowers are prettier. It seems like Earth is the most stunning during warm weather. Additionally, many of us, if lucky, are able to take a break from school.

The best way to enjoy summer, in my opinion, is to be comfortable with solitude. Of course, summer is the time when friends make travel plans or go on picnics. However, it is important to use it as a season of growth and self-discovery. Get to know yourself. Try to think of activities you enjoy

and come up with a good list. My favourite way to enjoy the summer is going on solo picnics. I pack up some snacks, food, and dessert that I make each summer, ice for soft drinks, and a good book. This is a yearly tradition for me. It allows me to focus on nature. It forces me to step outside of my comfort zone and rest my brain as I focus on reading my book, looking at nature, playing with lady bugs, and eating good food. You can explore Lakeshore Park, Maple Leaf Park, or Candy Cane Park to set up a picnic.

Furthermore, if you are someone who

that they can spring back with greater energy and motivation.

There are often outdoor sports like soccer, canoeing, kayaking, and more that students tend to enjoy. This really helps them relax and enjoy the sun for these few months. Some students join bowling leagues and soccer leagues in the city to challenge themselves outside their comfort zones. This gives the students a chance to build a network in the city and make lifelong friendships. There are fairs and markets put up in the city where students can volunteer and gain some experience that helps build soft skills. Since international students have no prior Canadian experience, volunteering is one of the best ways to gain some experience and impact the community.

In the summers, international students get a chance to go out there and explore what they truly want in life. It gives them the time and space to pursue opportunities that would not be available to them otherwise. One needs to watch for these opportunities and have the courage to take the leap of faith. Summer is a good time to grow as a person and give oneself the professional development towards success in Canada and life.

likes to set new year’s resolutions, summer is the perfect time to check in on your resolution and figure out what is working and what is not. It is the perfect time to craft and apply your goals to fit the season you are in. In many cultures, summer is an important season as it is the perfect time to forge and maintain your friendships and relationships. It is the season for growth, good food, flowers, and good weather.

Hiking is also a good way to make the most of your summer. As someone who is passionate about health and fitness, hiking is a good way to get a workout in. It challenges your strength and discipline. There are many hiking trails to explore. Echo Valley Provincial Park has many trails, and it is less than an hour from the city. Condie Nature Refuge is also another good one, and it is only 20 minutes from Regina. Of course, Wascana Valley also has many trails for hiking and walking. Douglas Provincial Park is an amazing place to explore. It is two hours out of the city, however it offers many fun activities to do. You can set up camp there. Additionally, there is also Lake Diefenbaker which is near the Trans Canada Trail.

Lastly, the Queen City Exhibition is another way to make the most of your summer. My tip is to avoid it during the day and only go at around 6 p.m.-7 p.m. as the sun is setting and the weather is cooler. Moreover, if you go in the evenings, you will be able to avoid large crowds, long lines, and the exhausting heat. It is more peaceful at night. Enjoy these opportunities to experience the long days and great weather while you can!

Illustration: yeliao521 via Pixabay, manipulated by Lee Lim

Beautiful photos of the summer sadly do not convey the number of bugs and mosquitoes around.

Photo: Haydn Blackey via Flickr

Embarrassment Regina

Poorly planned campaign shows lack of sensitivity

katlyn richardson contributor

On March 16, Tourism Regina (now rebranded as Experience Regina) released their new marketing campaign intended to drive up tourism to the city. Instead of celebrating any of the fun, interesting things that exist here, they decided to create a campaign that has made Regina hit international headlines. Honestly, I’d be embarrassed to say I sat on the board that approved that slogan to be part of anything intended to demonstrate the city as a place to visit. A majority of Regina’s attractions are meant to be family friendly and this slogan shows something completely different.

As a female, I am quite disgusted with the campaign. We already live in a society where femininity is seen as a joke for men, and this campaign, coming from a malerun organization, just furthers this narrative. The mayor, who was so quick to cry sexism just a few months ago when two male councilors sued the city manager, only recently stated that she felt this campaign did have sexist undertones.

As someone who has been involved in situations that required a communication following some bad press, this fumble was severely mismanaged. The first thing that should have been done is acknowledging the problem, and issuing an apology for the blatant lack of forethought put into that slogan. The second thing that should have been done is addressing what will be done to prevent such an issue in the future.

Instead, neither of these were done. The first statement doubled down on the choice and the second was just simply “whoops, my bad.”

This entire fiasco is a really great case study on why you need to look at every way a slogan can be used, and how publicity from that can affect the success of a campaign. We have seen other companies accidentally use offensive slogans before, but the company quickly apologized and seemed to become more aware of the risks involved in the future. A sensitivity reader is an often-used asset to prevent future problems, as they are able prevent you from using problematic phrases in advertising. I’d highly recommend a more thorough review in the future for any tourism campaign.

The Experience Regina and the ‘show us your Regina’ campaign were a horribly thought-out mess. The failure to evaluate any slogan that is even a potential innuendo and the lack of forethought as to how there might be issues with the slogan show how disconnected the leadership of the city and all those involved with the campaign are. We no longer live in a society were sexism and blatant displays of disrespect are just accepted. There has been a rather substantial attempt since I was a child to uplift women, and it has shifted society to be a bit more equal.

Over time, this has also revealed how men are shamed for existing in any way that might be even remotely feminine. Experience Regina has shown how little Regina supports the movement toward being

The more things change...

careful with statements that could bring people to harm . Allowing an organization to make a city you have to live in become an international headline for all the wrong reasons is not the direction we want to head

toward. Regina deserves to be more than a joke on the world stage, and the women of this city deserve to be more than the butt of that joke.

The problem with civil protests is that they assume the entity you are protesting against is capable of growth.