the carillon the staff editor-in-chief editor@carillonregina.com
taylor balfour
executive director business@carillonregina.com
jacob nelson
production manager production@carillonregina.com
morgan ortman
advertising manager advertising@carillonregina.com
ty cote
technical editor shae shackman carillontechnical@carillonregina.com multimedia/graphics editors multimedia@carillonregina.com graphics@carillonregina.com
kate thiessen sarah carrier
copy editor copyeditor@carillonregina.com
hannah senicar
news editor news@carillonregina.com
sara birrell
a&c editor aandc@carillonregina.com
julia peterson
sports editor sports@carillonregina.com
ethan butterfield
op-ed editor op-ed@carillonregina.com
holly worby
distribution manager distribution@carillonregina.com staff writer
kyle anderson
marty grande-sherbert
staff writer
news writer
reese estwick
a&c writer
matt thomson florence hwang
sports writer
sarah nakonechny
web writer
gillian massie contributors emily katherine camposano. sonali maria currie
vol. 63
board of directors taylor balfour, lindsay holitzki, maddie ouelette, dustin smith. marty grande-sherbert, and jacob nelson
the paper
227 Riddell Center University of Regina - 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada S4S 0A2 www.carillonregina.com Ph: (306) 586 8867 Printed by Star Press Inc, Wainwright, AB The Carillon welcomes contributions. Opinions expressed in the pages of the Carillon are expressly those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Carillon Newspaper Inc. Opinions expressed in advertisements appearing in the Carillon are those of the advertisers, and not necessarily of The Carillon Newspaper Inc. or its staff. The Carillon is published no less than 11 times each semester during the fall and winter semesters and periodically throughout the summer. The Carillon is published by the Carillon Newspaper Inc., a non-profit organization. land acknowledgement The Carillon is written on treaty four territory. As such, the 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 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 speaking to our commitment to telling stories and prioritizing voices that further the return of the land to its place sacred place in the cultures of those that live here. 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 forty years. In the late 1950s, the University of Regina planned the construction of several new buildings on the campus grounds. One of these proposed buildlings was a beltower on the academic green. If you look out on the academic green today, the first thing you’ll notice is that it has absolutely nothing resembling a belltower. The University never got a belltower, but what it did get was the Carillon, a newspaper that serves as a symbolic bell tower on campus, a loud and clear voice belonging to each and every student.
the people’s friend; the tyrant’s foe
The University of Regina Students’ Newspaper Since 1962 February 11th - February 17th, 2021 | Volume 63, Issue 18 | carillonregina.com
news
URSU squabbles
news
p.3
Bullying, tacked faces and apology votes. Just a few of the things URSU is tackling instead of our gym fees.
Welcome back! Thanks again to all of our contributors for making this issue another amazing one. Each week, we’re so excited to host all of your amazing work. Remember, all of our contributors are paid $20 per contribution. So, what are you waiting for? Come share your work and get paid!
RPIRG
arts
p.4
The Regina Public Interest Research Group has partnered with two new organizations, the Pyshcology Sudent’s Association and the Non-Profit Youth Leadership Network.
p.7
Calgary’s Burnt Thicket Theatre is offering up a series of audio dramas surrounding marriage just in time for Valentine’s
op-ed
sports
sports
Burnt Thicket Theatre
Thanks for another great week. We hope you enjoy this issue. Taylor Balfour Editor-in-Chief
photos
cover......................................sarah carrier news.................jeremy davis, kate thiessen news..............................................RPIRG a&c.......................................burnt thicket sports.........................wikipedia commons sports.........................wikipedia commons op-ed.........................wikipedia commons
Super Bowl
p.11
Ethan Butterfield breaks down the 55th annual Super Bowl and Tom Brady’s historic win.
Dance history
p.13
From the swinging 20’s to the voguing of the 80’s, the history of dance is long and storied.
Casting ableism
p.16
Gillian Massie discusses Sia’s new film Magic and how it’s just another example of Hollywood’s ableism and lack of diversity in casting.
news
3
editor: sara birrell news@carillonregina.com the carillon | february 11 - february 17, 2021
Serious accusations of internal misconduct leveled at URSU Communications breakdowns, personality clashes
sara birrell news editor Four members of URSU’s board have resigned since January and at least two are contemplating resigning amid complaints that the executive has created a toxic work environment. Although some of those who resigned attributed their departures to outside commitments, others have stated that their resignations or potential resignations are directly due to the atmosphere created by the executive committee consisting of President Gurjinder Singh Lehal, Vice President of External Affairs, Amir Said, Vice President of Operations and Finance, Gurkirat Singh, and Vice President of Student Affairs, Ziyang (Zeo) Li. Sources close to URSU allege that the executive has used bullying tactics, undermined decisions made by the board, and disregarded recommendations by the HR committee. Charges of bullying and intimidation have been leveled at Said and Li in particular. However, according to Said, “there is blame on all sides,” for the board’s internal problems, which stretch back until at least this past summer, when tensions flared following the firing of an URSU employee. According to sources, the employee’s firing exposed a rift between the executive (which did not yet then include Said, who joined the executive in October, following the resignation of Nefimi Adekoya) and other members of the board. The HR committee was called to investigate and although they found the firing was not wrongful, they expressed
that communication needed to be stronger between the executive and staff. In fact, communication difficulties and personality clashes seem to be at the heart of many of the problems that are facing the students’ union. The internal situation at URSU worsened following the firing of John Lax, the former chair of the student union. Lax was fired after he was disrespectful to an URSU member at the 2020 AGM in October 2020. There were procedural concerns with the way Lax’s termination
discriminated against, or mocked anyone on the board” isn’t the only member of the executive (or the board, for that matter) who has had concerns about his behaviour brought before the HR committee. Documents obtained by the Carillon show that Li was disciplined for defacing the photos of former URSU President Victor Oriola and another URSU member. The incident was caught on security camera and the Carillon has seen the footage, which appears to show Li putting pins through the faces of Oriola and
HR committee once more. In other documents, the HR committee reported that at a December 29 board meeting held to discuss the committee’s findings on Li’s case “broke down with various inhospitable conversations.” This included an incident in which disability representative Katlyn Richardson asked Lehal if he was “going to do his f***ing job for once.” The committee also reported that based on the meeting, they had reason to believe that members of the board and executive “did not read the
“
With so much time and energy being spent on internal conflicts by staff, board members, and the executive, I don’t think we’ve been able to tackle certain student issues as effectively as we’d like. – Amir Said
was handled, which Isaac Tamlin covered for the Carillon in November. According to a letter sent to the Carillon, signed by “Concerned Students of the University of Regina,” the fallout from Lax’s firing “led to a month of infighting that was started be [sic] Amir.” However, according to Said, “Any emails I sent in the aftermath of the firing of John Lax were sent in response to others, and were merely to clarify issues or misconceptions others had about the Executive or the organization. I will note that other staff and directors did send malicious emails during this time.” Said, who is adamant that he has “never bullied, harassed,
the other member. It was a repeat of another incident in which the same photos were defaced. Li was suspended without pay for four weeks. Li admitted guilt and claimed the incident was a joke (Li, an international student, would later inform the HR committee, via the student advocate, that he doesn’t understand the Western concept of a joke). A meeting was held to decide how to proceed following the incident, with two options being proposed. Either Li would be terminated or he would have to take a four week unpaid suspension. The board voted to suspend him without pay, a situation which Li appealed, bringing the matter before the
report HR made or listen to the presentation.” In those same documents, the HR committee said that, in pursuing an appeal in which he mentioned the possibility of taking legal action and requesting that the HR committee keep his appeal private, Li, who has made student mental health the focal point of his tenure as VPSA, “whether it was his intention or not […] intimidated the HR committee,” a volunteer board made up of students. Following that meeting the board was mandated to take respect in the workplace training. Richardson apologized in an email, Said apologized in a January 12 meeting, and the third
board member was given a simple warning. Li has been pursuing appeals, arguing that the HR committee erred in their findings and in a meeting on February 5 the board voted to reinstate his pay, however they voted against apologizing or acknowledging any wrongdoing in his case. Li told the Carillon that he could not comment on the situation. It’s clear that internal communication problems, like the ones that were first identified by the HR committee in the summer, are largely responsible for the apparent crisis on URSU’s board. This turmoil has had an impact on the union’s ability to advocate for students. Said told the Carillon “with so much time and energy being spent on internal conflicts by staff, board members, and the executive, I don’t think we’ve been able to tackle certain student issues as effectively as we’d like.” There has been little movement – or even communication – with regards to the recreation and athletic fee. The January 20, 2021 date that had been set for URSU membership to discuss proposed changes to the constitution was cancelled and Lehal has put off requests for an interview regarding the subject. Regardless of who is responsible for the internal culture at URSU – and it seems that many hands are making light work in that regard – the entire board has an obligation to students. Whatever interpersonal grievances they have against one another should not prevent them from doing their jobs, and if they are, they should evaluate why they joined student government in the first place.
URSU logo manipulated by Jeremy Davis and Kate Thiessen
URSU logo in flaming trash can.
february 11 - february 17, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 4
news
RPIRG working groups offer opportunities to students Funding, support available
reese estwick staff writer
The Regina Public Interest Group (RPIRG) recently announced that they are adding two new working groups, one with the University of Regina Psychology Students Association (PSA), and one with the Non-Profit Youth Leadership Network (NPYLN). “Working groups are involved in projects or initiatives that fit within RPIRG’s broad mandate of social and environmental justice and have chosen to affiliate with RPIRG to mutually benefit from each other’s work. RPIRG provides them with small scale operational funding, as well
or have worked to take action to help address community or campus needs, which weren’t being addressed previously,” Lewis said. As stated by Lewis, these new working groups fit within RPIRG’s board mandate of social and environmental justice, with each group providing unique opportunities and supports for different people and groups. “By supporting and promoting student initiatives like this, a wider network of our student members can learn about their work and how to get involved. They offer programming and services that can benefit our members,” said Lewis. Shae Sackman, President of
groups have seen what we’re up to and have begun talking to us. Demonstrating that student-led groups can not only obtain funding but support from an organization like RPIRG is something I felt was really important to show other students,” said Sackman. While the PSA plans to use the funding and resources provided by RPIRG to directly support students, the Non-Profit Youth Leadership Network plans to use this funding to further grow their organization and provide training for the Executive Directors to ensure that students can be best supported and represented. “RPIRG’s support has been invaluable in offering new ideas,
at the U of R have amazing ideas and projects in mind, but they either don’t know what’s out there in terms of support or resources, or they’re lacking that person to just say ‘yes, that’s a great idea’ to them,” said Sackman. “The PSA’s work with RPIRG creates more opportunities for students because it allows our board to take very seriously the values of growth, opportunity and support that we have as an organization. RPIRG’s support lets us turn our ideals into values we can concretely demonstrate.” Both the PSA and NPYLN expressed how this partnership validates their hard work and allows them to continue growing
tunities for student involvement and engagement. In this online world, it is now easier than ever to connect with other people from across the country and find opportunities within your area of interest. “We list our working groups on our website and try to highlight their programming and work in our monthly newsletter and on social media. Students can contact the groups directly or ask us to help connect them based on what interests they have,” explained Lewis. “Our recent Research Reading Group is actually the first project a general member brought to us, and we’re so excited it’s start-
“
“I feel as if a lot of students at the U of R have amazing ideas and projects in mind, but they either don’t know what’s out there in terms of support or resources, or they’re lacking that person to just say ‘Yes, that’s a great idea’ to them.” – Shae Sackman
as other types of support, to help them succeed,” said RPIRG Executive Director, Krystal Lewis. These two organizations will be joining a growing list of RPIRG working groups. “We currently have one other working group based out of Saskatoon called Nourish YXE, but over the years we have had several others. It is hard to quantify success of the groups because they have ranged from established non-profit organizations (such as SEARCH) to very small-scale local initiatives that might only serve a select community of people (such as the Heritage Community Association’s Two Spirit Group). But all of them work
the Psychology Students Association, explained how the PSA’s decision to partner with RPIRG was multifaceted. “First, I wanted to demonstrate the PSA’s seriousness in our mission to support students. A way to provide funds to students studying psychology was a top priority and RPIRG’s belief in what we are trying to do, and their resources are such an asset to us.” Supporting other students, while developing a strong foundation on campus can be trying work, especially in this world of online learning. “Secondly, because the PSA has worked so hard through the remote semester, lots of other
new contacts, and resources that can be used to better our organization. I’ve been very thankful for RPIRG’s variety of funding options, all of which we can still apply for even though we are getting working group funding as well, such as conference/training funding, which we are using towards training our executive members,” said Emily Lints, NPYLN Executive Director and founder. As the purpose of these groups are to provide people with opportunities, these partnerships are so valuable; they expose people to opportunities that they otherwise would not have been aware of. “I feel as if a lot of students
and developing their networks. “Being a RPIRG working group gives us more exposure to U of R students who might be looking to take advantage of our offerings. As well, it provides us with a better way to connect with U of R students and clubs in our consultations, trainings, and more. Utilizing RPIRG as a resource is perfect for student organizations just starting out and looking for some initial funding,” said Lints. As many students are constantly looking for ways to get involved both on and off campus, RPIRG’s development of working groups in a variety of areas of interest has created many oppor-
ed. General members can join us on URSU’s Universe website. Our board elections will happen in March. The best place to check for information and updates on all this and more is our social media, or our website at ureginapsa. org,” explained Sackman. To get involved with the NPYLN, students can find the organization on social media @ npylncanada or visit their website to join our network “After joining, students will be able to take advantage of our wide varieties of sessions, our Canada-wide network, and viewing new opportunities in the non-profit sector from across the country,” Lints said.
RPRIG
Green globe made from puzzle pieces with RPIRG in lowercase.
february 11 - february 17, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 5
news
Government failing to address roots of the drug crisis War on Drugs is catastrophic
matt thomson news writer Saskatchewan, the province I’ve called home for my entire life, has a clear and well-documented issue with substance use. That information is nothing new. Plenty of fine journalists and writers before my time have written better articles than I ever could on our province’s long-standing struggle with this crisis and its consistently inadequate attempts to solve it. Our provincial capital, Regina, has seen substantial increases in narcotics use and overdose over
Wikipedia Commons
Naloxone kit plus syringe
for substance-related crime and deaths due to overdose. According to recent statistics from the Saskatchewan Health Department, Regina reported 177 confirmed deaths due to drug related toxicity in 2019, up six from the previous year’s 171. According to a 2020 report from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, the overwhelming majority of these deaths were the result of an overdose of fentanyl or opioids. Unfortunately, the crisis has only grown worse in the wake of
tially be attributed to the general malaise the public has experienced throughout the course of this pandemic, but that still does not explain why the numbers remain so high. The biggest contributors to this staggering loss of life are the same as they’ve ever been, neglect, apathy, and a lack of investment in resolving the social determinants of drug use. The Saskatchewan government has shamelessly cut funding for crucial mental health facilities and programs for the better part
Instead of siphoning tax payer dollars to subsidize a rapidly collapsing fossil fuel industry, granting corporations like Bell Media massive tax cuts to maintain hellish monopolies, or pouring more gas on public dumpster fires such as KXL and privatization of healthcare, the government at every level needs to seriously commit to investing in mental health care and addictions treatment and ending the disastrous War on Drugs. Substance use amongst Canadians is
week, what shocked me the most wasn’t the fact that a stranger had barricaded himself in my home, the giant knife in his bleeding hand as he stammered nonsense, or my inner thoughts betting whether I’d have to resuscitate the poor guy in ten minutes. No, what shocked me was how unsurprising, unexciting, and blasé the entire situation felt. I had seen too many news reports on crime statistics, had too many encounters with victims begging for a single cent, and witnessed too many
“
Studies across the globe have proven time and again that public programs such as needle exchanges, safe supply, supervised consumption, easier access and increased funding for mental health centres, and refocusing on rehabilitation rather than criminal punishment are tried and true strategies in preventing substance-related deaths. – Matt Thomson
the past ten years, an issue that has become more acute with the rise of fentanyl and other highly potent opioids. I myself was confronted by our city’s systemic substance crisis just last Tuesday when I became the unsuspecting victim of a home invasion and near-witness to a methamphetamine overdose, an experience that only served to remind me that this issue effects us all. Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early March, Regina was already one of the worst regions nationally
the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March, Regina has had at least 172 confirmed cases of death due to overdose with another 207 possible cases. Assuming that even a third of these cases are confirmed as overdoses, 2020 will have been the deadliest year in our city’s history regarding substance related fatalities. As well, drug and alcohol consumption have both risen drastically in the past year, and, so far, the numbers show no sign of change. The rising numbers can par-
of a decade now, and with the Sask Party’s iron-tight majority still intact, the situation is unlikely to improve. Adding to an already dire situation, the many mental health and addiction services were shut down or seriously restricted during the initial rounds of quarantine, a time when these services were needed more than ever, and were refused essential status for nearly two months. During that same period, liquor stores and most major retailors remained open.
at an all time high, our nation’s youth are dying at a staggering rate, and the solutions are staring us right in the face. Studies across the globe have proven time and again that public programs such as needle exchanges, safe supply, supervised consumption, easier access and increased funding for mental health centres, and refocusing on rehabilitation rather than criminal punishment are tried and true strategies in preventing substance-related deaths. During my encounter last
broken and grieving families not to expect this sort of experience. I watch everyday as the desperate and the downtrodden walk past my building to wait for a bus ride they can’t afford before a string of BMWs and lifted trucks drive by. After the police knocked on my door and the terrified stranger was peacefully detained and removed from the premises, I didn’t feel fear or sadness. To be perfectly honest, I felt angry and hollow, and I felt like I hadn’t done enough to help him.
february 11 - february 17, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 6
news
Redditors GameStop victory no match for Wall St. The house always wins matt thomson news writer In 2008, I was a 12-year-old kid with a love of Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes, a penchant for binging Fallout 3 or Call of Duty 4 for hours on end, and absolutely zero understanding of the stock market and Wall Street economics. Yet still, I remember with astounding clarity the level of gloom and doom on every news broadcast and publication during the Great Crash of the global housing market. I recall my dad standing in front of the TV shaking his head, arms crossed, with an expression between disbelief and disappointment on his face as reporters detailed millions losing their jobs and the collapse of several major banks. As he attempted to explain to me what was happening, I can imagine how frustrated he was having to watch everyday people suffer as those responsible escaped justice while pocketing billions in tax payer bail-outs. Thirteen years later, though, a relatively small group of amateur traders managed to enact a powerful, albeit brief, act of revenge from the unlikeliest place on Earth, Reddit. In late 2020, users on the subreddit r/wallstreetbets, a chaotic sub dedicated to amateur stock trading, finance memes, and losing copious amounts of money (yes, really), adopted Wall Street’s own investing strategy and used it against them, causing some in the one per cent to lose billions in potential revenue. For a couple weeks, the subreddit became the primary focus of news networks while billionaires and hedge fund managers cried foul through gold-plated dentures without the slightest hint of irony. Many like myself who had no idea what was going on laughed as the richest of the rich finally got a taste of their own medicine while GameStop’s
stock prices rose for seemingly no reason. This tiny bit of happiness, however, was not to last. After a collaborative effort by some of Wall Street’s largest institutions, many buyers were spooked into selling their stock through what can only be described as a pile of market manipulating-bullshit, and for now, the status quo has unfortunately returned. Alright, so how exactly did a bunch of meme-lords and neckbeards cause billions in loses for the one per cent? Well, let’s start with some amateur dictionary definitions. For those who aren’t in business school or haven’t seen The Big Short yet, a short is when a trader, often a hedge fund, essentially bets that a stock will decrease in value, which, if it does,
Wall Street. While the rest of the economy tanked in early 2020 due to the pandemic, hedge funds have made literal trillions off the shrinking profits from dozens of companies and businesses since March. Despite the fact that millions lost their jobs and the global GDP has sunk significantly, the ever-opportunistic one per cent lined their pockets by shorting the economy only to then use their profits to lobby governments for further tax cuts. It was 2008 all over again, only this time people were dying, money was even tighter, and the public’s hatred for Wall Street shot to record heights. After the third financial quarter of 2020 passed, several Wall Street hedge funds, namely Melvin Capital and Citron, turned their greedy
though. Using the profits from GME, many amateur traders began investing heavily in other failing companies such as the theatre conglomerate AMC, defunct tech giants like Blackberry and Nokia, and the crypto-currency Dogecoin, which was literally created as a joke. Hell, even Blockbuster saw their stock price rise from $0.004 to 42.1 cents per share in less than a week. These massive waves of investment, combined with buyers’ refusal to sell, caused a general short-squeeze (when traders are forced to sell their shorts back at a loss) across the board and ended up costing hedge funds billions of dollars. Around this point, billionaires, such as Leo Cooperman,
“
While some early investors managed to make an enormous profit from all the chaos, the rest have lost hundreds and even thousands of dollars to simply make a short-lived, albeit justified, statement. – Matt Thomson
then nets the trader by however much value the stock has lost or vice versa. Shorting is a fairly common and standard practice in the stock trade, however, mass short-selling often leads an already struggling company to fall deeper into a cataclysmic downward spiral. So, when shorts are sold on a large scale by major hedge funds, this correlation becomes an intended side effect that allows the biggest players on Wall Street to effectively cheat the system and manipulate the market to their benefit. Basically, it’s as if a black jack dealer gave themselves an ace any time you flip a ten. Unfortunately, these sorts of border-line illegal tactics are nothing new to the feudal hellscape of
mitts towards the retail market yet again and began shorting major retailers en masse, especially mid-level companies such as GameStop (listed as GME on the stock market). For whatever reason, targeting GameStop turned out to be the final straw for some, and beginning in early January, r/ wallstreetbets decided to turn the tables. Users from the sub began buying GME stock in droves through commission-free trading apps such as Fidelity Investments and the now infamous Robinhood, and within days their investments caused shockwaves throughout Wall Street and garnered a snowball effect across the market. Reddit didn’t stop there,
and CEOs took to major news networks claiming victimhood and demanding that Washington step in to bail them out (so far, Washington has remained relatively quiet on the issue). By January 27, GME price hit an all-time high of $347.51, a mind-boggling increase from $19 per share on January 1. Melvin Capital and other mid-tier hedge funds were pushed to the brink of bankruptcy, and the internet celebrated another underdog victory. Alas, this brief hit of collective schadenfreude was not to last. Beginning on the 28, trading apps began restricting users from buying GME or similar stock, including Robinhood which allegedly sold some users’
stock without their knowledge or consent. Alongside other illegal acts of financial rubber-banding, many amateur stockholders panicked and sold their shares, causing another snowball effect in a downward trend. GME sunk to $193 by the end of the 28, and while the stock price temporarily bounced back to $325 on Friday, the writing was on the wall. Since then, GME has continued to slide back to its pre-bubble price, sitting at around $90 at the time of writing. While that’s still almost five times more valuable than it was a month prior, it seems the fun is over, at least for now. So, what exactly did all this tomfoolery accomplish? Shortterm, a lot. Long-term, probably not much. Sure, Melvin Capital and several other hedge funds have lost billions so far, but without the introduction of substantial regulations and, God-forbid, the real possibility of another tax-payer bailout, the Wall Street’s corrupt power-structure will remain intact. For r/wallstreetbets, while some early investors managed to make an enormous profit from all the chaos, the rest have lost hundreds and even thousands of dollars to simply make a short-lived, albeit justified, statement. Lastly, the public was reminded yet again of Wall Street’s true nature: a bunch of rich assholes who’ve rigged the entire financial system to benefit of themselves and only themselves. In short (haha), the stock market is still a giant casino with even worse odds and without the slightest bit of logic. If the last 1000 words haven’t convinced you of that yet, here’s an interesting anecdote; Raven Thorogood III, one of the top 100 investors of the last twenty years, was a literal chimpanzee that chose investments by throwing darts at a random list of stock picks while blindfolded.
Wikipedia Commons
GameStop storefront.
arts & culture
7
editor: julia peterson aandc@carillonregina.com the carillon | february 11 - february 17, 2021
Burnt Theatre offer a way for couples to celebrate V-Day Tied in Knots series explores challenges of relationships
florence hwang arts writer If couples are looking for a pandemic-friendly way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, they can tune into Burnt Thicket Theatre’s new Tied in Knots audio drama podcast about the challenges of marriage in the 21st century. The series starts February 12, with a new play being released every second week afterwards. The plays explore couples’ stories at different stages of their relationships, from engagements, post-engagements, and broken engagements to late, middle-aged couples who are wanting to rekindle their relationship. “It’s a pretty good variety in there,” said theatre director Stephen Waldschmidt. He says the theatre was considering and planning to do audio dramas before the COVID-19 hit. The original plan was to have a series, but with fewer plays in it. “Once the pandemic hit and we got our heads back on straight, we’ve figured this is actually one of the best ways that we can be creating new work, given all of the public health restrictions. So it was kind of a happy coincidence,” says Waldschmidt. Before production or planning started, the director said he talked with audio drama producers from North America and the United Kingdom to pick their brains to find out what they learned in terms of best practices. When they were auditioning and casting roles for the first few plays, actors used Zoom to try out for the parts. They also held virtual rehearsals via Zoom. As part of his research, Wald-
Burnt Theatre
Actor Cheyanne Lemaigre, sitting on a chair next to a music stand and a microphone in a recording studio.
schmidt listened to audio plays in which actors performed in their own spaces or homes. There was the option of mailing actors each small high-end USB microphones so they could record their pieces with some pillows to help deaden the sound. But he could hear a big difference between the performances, which could detract from the quality of the recording. So, the theatre wanted to bring actors into the theatre physically to record all the performances in local studios. By recording all the actors in a similar environment, the production would be more consistent and co-
Tim Bratton, our recording engineer and also the sound designer can also be listening and talking with the actors [about their performances]. It’s kind of like a bit of a hybrid where we’re trying to record as close to a live performance as possible,” he said. Recording the audio plays was like shooting a movie, minus the visuals. “It’s like the old time radio theatre where instead of having all the actors live on microphones and a foley artist making all the sound effects, live in a radio studio, we’re kind of creating that, but trying to keep the sense of
As for how the theatre company came up with plays, there was a competition, called Tied in Knots, held a few years ago about the challenges of marriage. The three winning plays went through a dramaturgy script development process. The original intent was to produce the plays in a live setting, like a coffee shop environment over Valentine’s Day weekend. These plays never materialized. So when Burnt Thicket Theatre was thinking about developing audio dramas, these three plays came to mind. So, more playwrights were added to the series, which runs until March.
“
We’re inviting people to listen, with their beloved, to these plays. Whether they have their own device in their own ear and hit play at the same time or if they’re in the same room listening together, we’re inviting people to listen to them together. – Stephen Waldschmidt
hesive in terms of sound quality. That meant recording each actor separately in different recording studios in Saskatoon (to adhere to pandemic safety precautions). They wanted to create a record in which the audience felt like the actors were physically in the same room rather than in different places. Also, there were benefits for recording actors separately. “We can isolate each audio channel in terms of recording.
live performance as much as possible,” Waldschmid said. Not being able to perform these plays live has some drawbacks, like not being able to do a dry run to gauge what kinds of tweaks are needed to make to fine-tune the performance. Waldschimdt says the theatre may get some feedback from some listeners before they make the final edits on the audio recording. And once the changes are made, then the plays will be released online.
“We’re inviting people to listen, with their beloved, to these plays. Whether they have their own device in their own ear and hit play at the same time or if they’re in the same room listening together, we’re inviting people to listen to them together. We’re even suggesting people for the first audio drama, maybe take a walk together to your favourite coffee shop while you listen,” he said. He hopes that by encourag-
ing people to listen to audio plays together that it fosters social connection, good communication, and conversation between couples. One of the advantages of a live performance is the conservation that it sparks between friends and fellow theatregoers. “A good story always invites reflection and a kind of sharing of the experience with others,” he said. Waldschmidt says the Burnt Thicket Theatre has been adapting to the pandemic. They livestreamed their Christmas variety show in 2020 in which about 300 people tuned in. He thinks more people will tune into the Tied in Knots series because they are shorter pieces than the variety show. Also, he thinks more people will tune in from not only Saskatoon, but also other parts of the province since the audio play is accessible from most apps. The first play is called The Kindling Box, which is a café romance by Jeany Van Meltebeke. A married couple tries to rekindle their passion based on their therapist’s advice. This comedy shows how that couple tries different exercises to reignite the flame in their relationship. Josehua Beaudry, Angela Christie and Cheyenne Lemaigre perform in this audio play. People can find the play on the theatre’s website www.burntthicket.com , or through Google Play, iTunes and other podcast apps. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged and appreciated.
february 11 - february 17, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
8
SOPHIE: in memoriam
Young artist made a seismic impact on the music industry
marty grande-sherbert staff writer You could be me and I could be you Always the same and never the same Day by day, life after life Without my legs or my hair Without my genes or my blood With no name and with no type of story Where do I live? Tell me, where do I exist? (“Immaterial”) There’s a world inside of you I wanna know what it feels like I wanna go there with you (“It’s Okay To Cry”) Electronic producer, songwriter, singer, artist and self-affirmed pop star, SOPHIE, passed away last week, on January 30 at the age of 34. The artist was climbing a cliff, wanting a vantage point from which to see the full moon. The moon that night, pictures of which exploded on twitter as it shone over the Greek parthenon, was honoured as “SOPHIE’s moon.” One user on reddit commented on the now-famous photograph by Yiannis Liakos, saying, “I imagine that now, SOPHIE is floating through the cosmos like the ethereal being [SOPHIE] is, shape shifting freely.” SOPHIE’s impact on the music industry cannot be overstated.
As a producer, SOPHIE made possible some of the most iconic songs from artists that since took off or were able to pull themselves into the spotlight again with a fresh sound: the careers of Le1f, Vince Staples, Charlie XCX, Madonna, Superfruit and Kim Petras were all boosted by SOPHIE’s sounds. When it comes to SOPHIE’s own music, it’s never like anything I’ve heard before; for me, someone who when understimulated thrives on music that “scratches a brain itch” (I
better than mine, but I want to invite people who might not have known about SOPHIE to explore the absolute love that so many have for the artist and for those brave new concepts, those lessons for living. If nothing else, this article is a collection of really touching things I read during the week of SOPHIE’s passing. The main lesson to explore, I think, is epitomized by the lyrics of “Immaterial,” and it is the absolute freedom that can be realized from taking control
with your soul and spirit so the two aren’t fighting and struggling to survive […] It means you’re not a mother or a father, you’re an individual who’s looking at the world and feeling the world.” In other words, transitioning – or being in any state of existence that involves a liminal stage, really – does not have to be uncomfortable, taboo, or unhappily concealed. It can be bold and joyful, shiny and exciting in the spirit of the pop music SOPHIE created. Nature and reality them-
“
The main lesson to explore, I think, is epitomized by the lyrics of “Immaterial,” and it is the absolute freedom that can be realized from taking control of one’s body, perception, mind and spirit. – Marty Grande-Sherbert
would not be able to concentrate on writing this right now without SOPHIE in the background) it is audio gold. The bold steps SOPHIE took with every piece, in audio, visuals and lyrics, challenged people in every sense. But it isn’t only musically that she made an impact. The ideas that SOPHIE invited people to explore, and the things SOPHIE allowed people to feel (explicitly, as in “It’s Okay To Cry,” the song with which the artist came out as trans), remain invaluable as well. There are plenty of pieces about this that I’m certain are written
of one’s body, perception, mind and spirit. SOPHIE modulated voices, obscured faces, created bizarre, cosmic and mind-binding images, and otherwise remained in artistic control of the way SOPHIE was seen. As Niko Stratis says in Xtra, this resonated deeply from the perspective of transness: “SOPHIE spoke openly and fondly of transness in interviews, and her love for trans people was intertwined with everything she did.” SOPHIE said in an interview: “Transness is taking control to bring your body more in line
selves are mutable, and changing is possible. Morgan M Page, in an essay called “Beyond The Flesh and the Real,” points out that this is particularly inspiring amid cissexist bioessentialism: “Though anti-trans bigots are quick to hold up unseeable chromosomes as [...] a supposedly irrefutable gotcha, these vocoder gerhls [sic] walk right on past them as they cross not only the lines between sexes but between nature and machine.” And this is for everyone. Many people (those I know personally, and those whose passing
tweets I’ve read) have questioned or altered their perception of their gender during quarantine. Some have even used this very opportune time to transition. This is not frightening, as so many people would like to clutch their pearls and believe, but truly exciting and entirely human (or beyond-human, as SOPHIE might dare us to envision). In another Xtra article Alex V Green writes, “Transition is a universal experience [...] many cisgender people seek to change their bodies for similar reasons trans people seek to change ours: social perception, personal comfort, identity and community. Though these experiences are diverse, the essential logic is shared [...] as human beings, our bodies are laboratories, experimental terrains, perpetual works in progress always in need of an adjustment.” Is it bold? Yes, in the same way that SOPHIE’s music sometimes sounds like, as many have called it, “pots and pans” – that is, in a way that allows us to imagine things yet unimagined. SOPHIE’s then-girlfriend once asked in an interview: “Do you believe in God?” SOPHIE answered easily: “Yes, God is trans.” If we all contain a spark of the divine, surely we also at times can catch a glimpse of God’s undefinability, transcendence and denial of categories that can’t possibly articulate the complexity of being. Art about transness lets us fully appreciate that totally holy experience.
Wikipedia Commons/Pixabay
Left: SOPHIE performing; Right: A black studio microphone on a white background.
february 11 - february 17, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
9
‘Theatre of the Now’ brings community together Sum Theatre gives people food for thought about current events
florence hwang arts writer Award-winning hip hop performing artist Eekwol (Lindsay Knight) opened the Sum Theatre’s “The Last Sunday” with a bang. She performed a short rap about ‘fighting the fight’ against oppression, which set the tone and stage for the fourth episode of the season at the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon. About 50 to 75 people watched the show via YouTube and shared their comments and reactions to the show in the chat window. The theatre only had the production crew and guest artists. Artistic director Joel Bernbaum said the point of the evening was to take people down the path of understanding of the past month’s events, such as an insurrection (Capitol Hill protests) and a new American president. Artists are given freedom to tackle any topic as long as it happened in the past month. For most artists, the Capitol Hill protests took centre stage. On January 6, supporters of past President Donald Trump breached the U. S. Capitol Hill. Trump urged his followers to protest the verification of the electoral votes that would confirm President Joe Biden’s victory. Eekwol shared about how she has been using her art as a “creative wave of escaping” the pandemic. Her piece “Southern Sunset” was timely because the numbers of COVID-19 cases have skyrocketed and everyone is struggling with mental health. Next up was this month’s ranter, Peace Akintade, the 2021 Saskatchewan Youth Poet Lau-
Wikipedia Commons
A spotlight shines on an empty stage in a theatre.
reate. She recounted her day when she heard the news about Capitol Hill protests. She ranted about how she thought it wasn’t fair to compare the George Floyd protests with the Capitol Hill protests. “When we talk about the Capitol, let us say that Black Lives Matter did it better and with honour,” Akintade concluded. Then actors took the stage to perform “Dear Diary: A Story of Defeat” by Prince Albert playwright Adreanna Boucher.
Each month, “The Last Sunday” has a guest who is in the ‘hot seat.’ In this episode, Bernbaum interviewed Scott Napper, a Professor in the College of Medicine within the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology as well as a Senior Scientist within the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO). Napper talked about how vaccines work and dispelled myths and misinformation about vaccines. Napper said didn’t know what
favourite hormone was. Napper said oxytocin, the love hormone. Napper also fielded questions from the viewers who posted them on the chat window. One question was about if the COVID-19 vaccine would impact DNA. Napper explained that the vaccine used the messenger RNA so it would be used as a blueprint for the cells to know how to make the protein to strengthen the immune system. The vaccine wouldn’t impact the DNA. Someone asked if it was possible for this blueprint not to
“
We could have a play written and ready to go on the 20th the month and then something major happened on the 25th and they give us a whole new draft about something completely different on the 29th. – Judith Schulz
She penned the play about Capitol Hill from the vantage point of heaven, where George Washington is talking with an angel who is trying to explain what happened January 6, 2021. Other characters in the play included a dead member of the Capitol Hill police force and an adamant Trump supporter (who was a former soldier), who vehemently defended the former president. Trump even makes an appearance, where he shares his innermost thoughts about Biden winning the election. To switch up the mood, Eekwol performed a rap about loving oneself and loving one another.
he wanted to be when he grew up at all, let alone a scientist. When he was in third year university in sciences, he worked in a research lab where he was studying some hormone. He asked his supervisor if he knew what would happen next? He said, “If we knew that, it wouldn’t be research.” “It was at that moment that’s when it really hit me. We’re standing at the edge of what’s known and we’re trying to go further. We’re trying to learn something that no one else in history has done. We’re creating history,” he said. Without missing a beat, Bernbaum asked Napper what his
work for some people. “Yes, we are all different,” he said. “But think of the vaccine of what it does for the population in general, not just an individual.” Napper said that the important thing about vaccines was to protect enough people in the general population to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Even though the main theme for this particular episode of “The Last Sunday” focused on the Capitol Hill event, Judith Schulz, artistic associate with The Sum Theatre, says that she still doesn’t know what to expect from the artists. “That’s the thrilling part of
live theatre because it’s not scripted.” She says the Sum Theatre calls itself the ‘theatre of the now’ because the art form is supposed to be very current and immediate and focused on what people are thinking about and processing. “And that’s the beauty of it (basing theatre on current events). We just have to make sure our artists are able to turn on a dime and switch what they’re doing if need be.” Schulz says the most stressful part of putting on “The Last Sunday” is finding and booking artists for the show, because the Sum Theatre wants to showcase a diversity of talent. “We’re trying to find a new ranter every month, a new musician. We know the group of artists or at least some of the artists in Saskatoon fairly well, but we’re, we’re now trying to connect with our partners and see, okay, do you have musicians in Battlefords that we could find a musician for April and they could come do the music for April or a rant or from Prince Albert for May,” she says. Even though artists may have an idea of what they want to present, it may change at the last minute because of the news events. “We could have a play written and ready to go on the 20th the month and then something major happened on the 25th and they give us a whole new draft about something completely different on the 29th,” said Schulz. “The Last Sunday” is an excellent example of spontaneity through live theatre.
february 11 - february 17, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
10
Documentary review: Migrant Dreams Examining the world of migrant workers
florence hwang arts writer Set mainly in Leamington, Ont., Migrant Dreams follows the journey of Nanik as one of the many Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) migrants from Indonesia. Like many immigrants, she has temporarily left her home country to work for a company in Ontario. In the documentary, she is halfway through her twoyear contract in working with one of the corporately owned greenhouses. According to the federal government website, the (TFWP) allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers “to fill temporary jobs when qualified Canadians are not available.” Many of these workers come from abroad to fill temporary jobs that are not usually desirable for Canadian citizens to take on, such as working in minimum-wage paying greenhouse jobs. There was and still is a lot of controversy about this program. This film takes a deeper look at the program through the lens of migrant workers. When I read the synopsis on the Mackenzie Art Gallery exhibit website, it piqued my interest. The documentary was originally released in Toronto’s Hot Docs Festival in 2016. When I learned that Emmy award-winning producer Lisa Valencia-Svensson (Herman’s House, 2012), I knew it would be a well-researched and well-produced film. Herman’s House was about how African-American men made up the majority of solitary confinement inmates in American, in particular one man named Herman Wallace, who was wrongfully convicted of murdering a white man, and his relationship (which started with writing letters) with artist Jack-
Pixabay
A worker in a jumpsuit and an orange hard hat repairs a sidewalk.
ie Sumell. In the film she asks Wallace, who had at that point served more than 40 years, what his ideal house would look like if he were released from jail. Valencia-Svensson’s films have strong social justice themes; Migrant Dreams was no exception. As a half-Filipina, half-Swedish-American woman, Valencia-Svensson has focused on telling the stories of minority women. Director Min Sook Lee (El Contrato, Hogtown, Tiger Spirit)
It also challenged the notion that the TFW are stealing desirable jobs from Canadians. Cathy, a community activist, is trying to help the migrants learn about their basic labour and human rights as employees in Canada. Working alongside her are Evelyn and Chris, who are members of the Justice for Migrant Workers organization. The advocates must try to reassure the migrants that they can effect change if they band together and
the tone that migrants are careful what they say and what they do as they live in fear of doing something wrong that could warrant them being fired. The migrants are expected to pay exorbitant fees to their recruiters in addition to rent and telephone costs that are taken out of their meager wages. Because migrants do not know their rights as workers in Canada, they do not question the fees their recruiters and employers charge. Migrants
“
Even though advocates tell the migrants they can and should hold their employers and recruiters to account, the migrants are hesitant because they have witnessed those who have spoken up being fired without just cause. – Florence Hwang
exposes the deplorable working and living conditions the migrants must endure as temporary foreign workers. Migrant Dreams was not Lee’s first film on this topic so she is no stranger to controversy. In 2000, she produced her first documentary about the treatment of migrant workers. She was threatened with a million dollar libel suit. Lee understood the high stakes involved in making Migrant Dreams. But despite these risks, Lee says the migrant workers were willing to share their stories for a “mix of personal and political reasons.” It was an eye-opener to witness first-hand how poorly the migrants are treated and left to their own to fend for themselves.
speak up against these unjust labour practices at their respective workplaces. But even though advocates tell the migrants they can and should hold their employers and recruiters to account, the migrants are hesitant because they have witnessed those who have spoken up being fired without just cause. Passionate justice and advocate workers step in to try to speak up for the migrants to change their conditions. The first scene takes place in a Superstore parking lot where Evelyn has agreed to meet with two migrant women, including Nanik. They meet there because it’s one of the “safe” places to meet in town that is free from surveillance of migrant employers. This scene sets
are afraid that if they do not comply, they will be deported and left with a bigger debt than what they started with. Most migrants send most of the little money that they have left to their families back home. Migrants are at the mercy of their employers and their recruiters, who collect high “fees” each pay period. In terms of housing, for example, up to 36 male migrants live in a warehouse-like shed. Another man complains of his place being cockroach-infested. Migrants are extremely vulnerable to those in authority (or those who want to take advantage of them) because migrants don’t know the language, are newcomers to the country and are desper-
ate to support their families back home. When migrant workers wanted to speak up for better working conditions, they often stay silent because they fear being reprimanded, losing their job and ultimately being deported. Advocates try their best to coach the migrants to stand up to their illegal practices of their employers. But usually temporary foreign workers did not perceive themselves as established or worthy enough to be bold and stand up for their rights. These struggles humanize the migrants who are treated with little dignity or value by their employers. Another theme of the film is the isolation and lack of support migrants experience at work. The workers form a supportive community and become like a family. There’s even a budding romance between a Muslim and Hindu woman (Rhawi and Dwipwa) – a relationship that would have been forbidden in their respective countries. The film includes broadcast news media reports and talk show callers about the TFWP to reflect the public’s views, often that reflect the NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard) attitude and show a resentment of migrant workers “taking away” jobs from Canadians. I had heard about the TFWP in news reports, but hadn’t formed much of an opinion about the topic. Migrant Dreams draws the viewer into the TFW world to underscore the need for more support for migrant workers so they aren’t, nor shouldn’t, be treated like second-class citizens. To view the documentary, go to https://mackenzie.art/experience/exhibition/migrant-dreams/
sports
11
editor: ethan butterfield sports@carillonregina.com the carillon | february 11 - february 17, 2021
Super Bowl 55 TB to TB to SB
ethan butterfield sports editor
In what has been an absolutely insane NFL post-season, the end result of the Super Bowl did not disappoint For those who didn’t watch the championship game, look at any social media from Sunday until now, or who just refuse to be up to date on anything, Tom Brady is now a seven-time Super Bowl champion (which means he has more individually than any team), while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are now two-time title winners (which means they have more than the New York Jets will ever hope to have). Tampa Bay’s first Super Bowl win was against the Oakland Raiders in 2002, during which time they were led by current Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and then-quarterback Brad Johnson. The win was a huge one for the Buccaneers as they don’t exactly have a history of success; when they began as a franchise in 1976, they found themselves on the wrong side of a 26 consecutive loss streak in their initial two seasons (going 0–14 in their first). The Buccaneers would also find themselves with 14 consecutive losing seasons from the 80s to the 90s. Now, fast forward from their first Super Bowl win to almost 20 years later and we have a Tampa Bay team that are champions once again, making history by
winning the big one in their own hometown. The Buccaneers defeated the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in a blowout 31–9 victory, cementing this talented roster of players as the new team to beat. Let’s just be clear on that statement, the new team to beat, not just the ageless wonder Tom Brady. Other fantastic players such as Rob Gronkowski, Lenoard Fournette, Mike Evans, and Antonio Brown, have all
up by pissed off fans, you’ve heard every possible argument as to why Tom Brady is not the best. Read my words clearly: Tom Brady is the best to have ever played this game. He may not be your favourite NFL player (Lord knows he isn’t mine), but there are no ifs, ands or buts with regards to what he has been able to accomplish. He has defied the odds time and time again, and has shown that he doesn’t need a system to
head for saying this, but Eli Manning is the luckiest player to have ever accidentally found his way into a Super Bowl arena. Props to the 2× Super Bowl champion for earning those rings, but how he made that now-legendary throw in 2008, I’ll never know. As well, if it weren’t for that perfect lob pass, I guarantee you nobody would ever talk about Eli Manning. That being said, at least Manning did something with his
“
Now, with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick in tears and former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe laughing at Belichick’s tears, it’s official that Tom Brady can ride off into the sun as the best that ever will be. – Ethan Butterfield
earned a ring for their efforts on the field this past Sunday (especially Mike Evans). Of course, no Super Bowl analysis article is complete without looking at Tom Brady’s legacy, so you know, backpedal, backpedal. That being said, it’s time to stop the Brady debate. Not familiar with what I mean? Well, if you’re a regular NFL viewer, you are. From DeflateGate, to HeadsetGate, to whatever conspiracy theory type bullshit gets thought
win. If anything, the system needs Tom Brady. What makes Brady’s legacy all the more shocking is that when he loses, he loses to the most baffling opponents that the NFL has ever thrown at him. No disrespect to Eli Manning and Nick Foles, but I mean come on, Nick Foles was a back-up for the Eagles when he beat Brady! But Eli, oh Eli Manning. There’s probably going to be a lot of Giants fans coming for my
career unlike Tony Romo. But I digress. Now, with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick in tears and former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe laughing at Belichick’s tears, it’s official that Tom Brady can ride off into the sunset as the best that ever will be. Brady is just going to win at the end of the day and that’s all there is to it. And win he did. By switching to another team, and going to a more difficult division, he proved to everyone that he was
the genuine article and got the monkey off of his back. Even if he were to lose every game from this point on, it wouldn’t matter, because he did it. He earned our respect and then some. So here’s to you Tom Brady, from a random Saskatchewan writer in the middle of nowhere Regina to the historic seven-time Super Bowl champ, you’re the best. So what else is there to discuss? Well I am happy to report that I was correct in my Super Bowl Carillon prediction for this year. Since writing at the Carillon, I’ve been correct in three out of six Super Bowls, (Super Bowl 50, Super Bowl 52 and Super Bowl 55). I should’ve been correct in four, but we don’t need to relive the Atlanta Falcons fiasco of Super Bowl 51. That being said, nothing wrong with 50 per cent. Of course, since this will likely be my last year writing at the university paper, it’s a shame I’ll never really have the opportunity to make it past .500. So, in an effort to look really cool while in reality looking incredibly foolish, I’m going to throw out a hail mary of a Super Bowl prediction for next year. I think the Los Angeles Rams are going to win it all next season (Heaven Can Wait, eat your heart out). Anyway, hope all of you fine folks enjoyed this year’s championship game and all of the history that came with it.
Wikipedia Commons
No. 12, Tom Brady before he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
february 11 - february 17, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 12
sports
National girls and women in sports Looking into Cougars athletes and women in sports
sarah nakonechny sports writer Our female athletes are the silent heroes that often get overlooked when we start to discuss sports. Especially in the world of professional sports, it is normally the men’s sports that we look to first when discussing stats, games and what to watch. National Girls and Women in Sports day, which is February 3, is a day where we can take the time to appreciate these strong female athletes and allow them to know that we see them, their hard work, and their dedication to their sports. Whether it is soccer, swimming, or figure skating we take the time to recog-
PxHere
Women running along the track line.
nize the accomplishments of our athletes. Although many seasons have been cancelled this past year, making it even more difficult for these athletes to get the recognition that they deserve, that has not stopped the dedication that each of them possess. Time and dedication has not ceased to exist during this pandemic; rather, adaptations have had to come into effect. Alternative ways to train, plan, and communicate needed updating in these unprecedented times which is something that we should take the time to acknowledge. Everything has been so much harder
for everyone trying to work online, but it has been even harder for these athletes who are unable to train together as a team due to restrictions and the fact that some of their players are back home in other cities and provinces. Our Cougars women athletes and coaches have been working tirelessly to be able to ensure that they maintain top condition and that they are ready to go for all of us to come and cheer on when time allows for that. This is something that should be recognized not just on National Girls and Women in Sports day, but everyday. Being a student athlete
could be considered a full-time job with the amount of hours and dedication it takes to guarantee your coaches, fans, and yourself that you will be able to perform at the expected level when the time comes around. Trying to do that with limited resources is not an easy task. To all of our past, current and future Cougars women players and coaches we recognize your talents, skill, hardwork and perseverance. We recognize that this past year has been hard not only on the fans but also on the players that we love to go out and support. The world of athletics
may be a difficult one for women to exist in, but we are forever grateful that you choose everyday to continue to pursue the athletics that you love and to inspire other athletes to do the same. Just because it is not easy does not mean that is not worth it in the end. From the lessons learned while competing and after, being an athlete is something that all women should be proud to call themselves. Happy National Girls and Women in Sports day, Cougars, and keep making us proud.
A surge in cross-country skiing Hitting the trail ethan butterfield sports editor Well, it’s finally that time of year (no, not Valentine’s Day). The time of year where the fog from your breath freezes instantly, where putting on gloves ends up being more of an issue than a solution, and where starting a vehicle can result in you swearing at the top of your lungs or praising the Lord. Yes, it’s polar vortex season. Right now (at the time of writing), the weather is so cold that doing anything other than snuggling up on the couch with snacks and binging your favourite streaming service sounds like an absolute nightmare. Fear not, however: with the arrival of extreme temperatures come those that push themselves to face the extreme. Who are these individuals? Why, cross-country skiers of course. Cross-country skiing is a wonderful activity that, when I was going for morning runs, I had noticed there was a steady rise in. Around Wascana you could
find individuals either using the hilltops for downward slope momentum or just gliding along the path at a steady pace. Regardless of the reasoning, cross country skiing is now what I consider to be the new biking on these brisk winter days. And, according to the Regina Leader-Post, apparently I’m not the only one that sees this as they
also published an article in relation to the surge of skiers. Aside from Wascana, locations like Kinsmen Park South of Regina are getting several takers for the ski craze. The article also features talking points with volunteers and workers that say “they’ve never seen anything like it.” So why get into cross-country skiing? What are the benefits that
come along with it? Well, to start with the basics, it’s a great calorie burner and does wonders for your cardiovascular fitness. That’s fairly given though, considering what skiing involves. On top of those benefits, it also improves balance and gives you a full-body workout, which might come as a surprise to some as skiing may look like more of a leg based workout
PxHere
A skier making their way along the trail.
than anything. However, as with anything in this world of COVID that we live in, I must always say the following. Please remember to take care if you head out to do some skiing. With the weather the way it is, and this virus continuing to be an issue, more harm than good can come out of leaving the house these days. So with all that being said, hopefully I’ve done enough to maybe convince you that cross-country skiing is worth giving a go. If not, then there’s still plenty you can do to stay in shape during this harsh weather. There’s always indoor workouts. Sure, they might not have the same impact as heading to an actual gym where you can narcissistically ogle yourself in the mirror, but it’s still worth keeping in mind if you feel the need for some physical activity. If that doesn’t sound like something worth trying, then there’s always the option to snuggle up on the couch with snacks and binge your favourite streaming service.
february 11 - february 17, 2021
sports
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
13
Sports history: the world of dance Finding balance through style
sarah nakonechny sports writer What is one of the best ways to get exercise without feeling like you are actually exercising? By shaking your groove thing and hitting the dance floor with friends. Although we may not be able to do that in current circumstances, we still have the ability to reminisce about the styles we grew up watching on television or ones we did ourselves. Here is a look at the last 100 years of dance and all the wonderful craziness that has come with it. Let’s take it all the way back to the 1920s where we step into the swing scene. This comes with big band music and the joy of social dancing. If you want to be social while dancing, swing dancing is where you want to be. Twirling around the dancefloor with your friends and lovers is what makes everyone gravitate towards these movies and scenes. Not only does it look like a ton of fun, but it would be fun to take part in as well. In the 1930s we have what is now known as the moonwalk as the craze. You may be thinking that this was created by the staple Michael Jackson but think again. The jazz icon Cab Calloway was the creator of this dance and it was formerly known as “the buzz” before being rebranded later on by Jackson. This dance allowed individuals to show off their own moves solo for the world to see. Following the Great Depression, in the 1940s everyone was so excited to get together and cele-
Wikipedia Commons
A hall filled with dancers.
brate all that life had to offer that we cannot just pin one dance to this decade. We can however say that the mambo and East Coast Swing were the styles of choice. Once again it was all about those partner dances. It was fun, lively and sociable. The music that went along with this style was one that continued to make spirits soar after such a difficult previous decade and it was the best way for everyone to release these difficult times. Toss away the bad and swing into the new! The 1950s is where dance really begins to pivot. We have the start of contemporary dance but
“
As time passes we start to get into more individualistic dances. 1960s brought forth popping and locking along with the robot. As hip hop was making its way into the music scene more predominantly we needed a dance that would go along with it which introduced us to our poppers and lockers and, yes, they are different movements. We also get to experience the interesting joy that techno brings with robotic dance moves. Step aside partner dancing, it is time for the solo dancers to strut their stuff. What is more iconic than the big hair and the even bigger
styles that we still see present today. One that may be less obvious is voguing. It is time to strut yourself and bring out your inner supermodel my friends, voguing was born and was here to stay. Although this has only stuck with a limited group of people, what has made its place in history and is determined to stay is the dances that went along with good old fashion rock ‘n’ roll. We now have the joy of mosh pits and what is known as jacking which is the basic back and forth motion we make with our entire body. For those who say that they cannot dance just need to take a page from the book of
Here is a look at the last 100 years of dance and all the wonderful craziness that has come with it. – Sarah Nakonechny
the big headliner is the hand jive! Who could pass up the opportunity to aggressively dance with their hands at extremely high speeds? Nobody! However if you have bad wrists and the hand jive is not your thing you are in luck. This decade is also known for the cha cha which was something very easy that everyone could learn. This presented everyone with something that they could learn with ease which was a steep change from all the swinging of the previous decade.
sleeves of the 1970s? Oh wait – that would be the disco moves that come along with it! This decade introduced the beginning of what we can consider the nightclub scene and what is better than hustling the night away with your girlfriends? Although the riff raff of the day were hitting the clubs, the tamer audiences could enjoy the other rising star known as the salsa. This decade provided a little bit of everything for all groups. The madness that was the 1980s introduced us to dance
the 80s as there is nothing overly fancy or technical about this decades dance style. We are here for a good time, not a fancy time. We all know the classic workout videos that we tend to mock nowadays. Well the 1990s birthed the dance version of this, Zumba. Working up a sweat is really easy with these choreographed dance programs. Not only are they easy to do but they are also something that you can do from the comfort of your home. There may need to be some serious consideration to
allow this trend to come back for the rest of the pandemic. Grab your best sweatband and neon pants and let’s go Zumba. One day craze that looks like it is going to successfully because injury is the 2000s krumping trend. The controlled flailing looking movements and sporadic body motions allowed for this trend to fit perfectly with the rising music trend of that decade, hip hop. krumping originally started in Los Angeles as a wellknown street dance before infiltrating the mainstream dance trends. Although many people may not be able to do it well, it is still a ton of fun to watch. Finally, the 2010s brought forth a little bit of everything. We have yet to settle on one but we had many that were associated with very specific songs. The Dougie, Gangnam style, Hotline Bling and many more were featured within this final full decade. Many dances were associated with specific songs or artists and it was a matter of keeping up with the latest hits. As we look at the 2020s, we can be curious as to which trends are going to stick. Are we going to be known for the Tiktok dances that have surfaced, or is there something else entirely that we have yet to see? Until we have the ability to go out and enjoy dancing together, crank your favourite hits and enjoy a dance party for one. Happy dancing.
february 11 - february 17, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 14
sports
Sports in media: top five football films The pigskin on the big screen
ethan butterfield sports editor With the NFL season officially over, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers becoming the new Super Bowl champions, I feel it’s the perfect time to write up another piece on sports in media. This time, instead of ice hockey or baseball, I’ll be taking a lot at the top five football films of all time and the impacts they’ve had in both cinema and life. Before we get started, I should mention that this list is in no way, shape or form an actual definitive ‘best of the best’ list and should be taken as such. The films that I will be looking at are those that are equal parts entertaining and emotional. So, with that being said, hopefully you enjoy the following and don’t look too much into the lack of Any Given Sunday: Honourable Mention: The Replacements There’s so much about this film that hasn’t aged well. In what is basically just a more believable and less cringeworthy The Longest Yard, The Replacements is certainly a product of its time. At the same time though, it’s also a film about heart, the importance of bonding and what you can do when you trust in yourself. Keanu Reeves (back in his iffy acting days) plays down and out quarterback Shane Flaco, who perseveres through the face of adversity to overcome the obstacles in his way, therefore allowing him to see his true value as a player. So, you know, every underdog movie plotline ever.
Pixabay
A football lays on top of the grass.
Still, it’s a film that really brings it home in the feel-good department. It’s goofy, it’s silly, and it’s just fun when all is said and done. The film also stars Gene Hackman and Brooke Langton in supporting/leading roles, as well as Jon Favreau pre-Marvel success (anyone else remember Daredevil? No, not that one) [Copy Editor’s Note: Hey – put some respect on Elf’s name]. 5. Invincible A dramatized biopic from Disney, Invincible is the story of
and ends up playing at the professional level. Honestly, this film is fantastic and is personally one of my favourites. The soundtrack (which features Jim Croce and Bachman-Turner Overdrive), the acting, the football – it’s all very well done. 4. Friday Night Lights I was debating putting this at number three, but felt number four was more appropriate considering the other major juggernauts we have coming up. In what is probably my favourite of the
It may be from 2004, but even to this day the movie isn’t worth spoiling. The film stars pre-A list status celebrities suchs as Garrett Hedlund, Lucas Black, and Derek Luke, as well as Billy Bob Thornton and Tim McGraw 3. Rudy Following the story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, Rudy looks into the world of college football and how those who aren’t meant for the game can still make it. Probably the most inspiring film on the list (maybe second most), your
“
So, with that being said, hopefully you enjoy the following and don’t look too much into the lack of Any Given Sunday. – Ethan Butterfield
Philadelphia Eagles player Vince Papable. Papable (played by Mark Walhberg) is an average joe who is just trying to make ends meet during a mass shutdown of job sites in the city. Due to his financial difficulties, as well as his friends’, Papable winds up trying out for the Philadelphia Eagles during an open-to-all practice. It is here where Papable impresses the coaching staff and begins his journey. Through trial and error, Vince eventually does become a member of the Eagles roster
films listed, Friday Night Lights does what few other sports movies have the moxie to do, be about journey, not the destination. If you haven’t seen Friday Night Lights, it is an absolutely heart-wrenching film. After everything that the team goes through to get to the championship game, they end up losing by being just short of the goal line (much like the Rams and Titans Super Bowl of 2000). However, like I mentioned earlier, it’s how they got to the championship that makes the film so engaging.
eyes are glued to the screen from start to finish. Sean Astin (who plays the titular role of Rudy) just makes this film his own. I mean really, the guy is just a phenomenal actor and brings the character to the screen in such a dynamic fashion. On top of this, Charles S. Dutton has one of the best motivital speeches in a sports film I’ve ever heard (again, probably second best on this list). Long story short, Rudy raises to the occasion in this fantastic viewing experience.
2. The Blind Side The thing that prevents this film from hitting number one is the controversy that surrounds it. While the film is empowering and inspirational, some have taken issue with the portrayal of Michael Oher’s character from the film and his lack of pull when it comes to the narrative moving forward. As a film free of controversy, The Blind Side is a must-watch that captures the feeling of pursuing your dreams. Sandra Bullock was truly deserving of her Oscar win for her role as Leigh Anne Tuohy. However, as a film not free of controversy, there will always be a “what could have been” that surrounds the film. 1. Remember the Titans Was there ever any doubt? Starring Denzel Washington, Remember the Titans may not be the best technically made, or best of all time, but it is the best in what it sets out to do. That being, telling a solid story through the game of football. The film deals with a lot and, for a football film, manages to do good work in bringing together different groups of characters that support and care for each other. Remember the Titans is a film about unity, which, even today, sets it apart as the best. Well, there you have it, the top five football films. Coming back from reading week, I’ll have to try my hand at the top five basketball films. To that, enjoy Reading Week, everyone (I’m sure that won’t date this article at all)!
op-ed
15
editor: holly worby op-ed@carillonregina.com the carillon | february 11 - february 17, 2021
Let’s talk, Bell: An honest letter to my service provider
Let’s talk about performative activism for profit
Pixabay
People sitting in a circle; in the foreground is a person’s hands outstretched on their knees, and in the background are four blurred figures in similar positions.
I, a Bell customer, am appalled by the performative actions taking place every year with the marketing ploy popularly masked as Bell “Let’s Talk” Day. This is a letter that I have written to my service provider about the damage that they are doing to others in order to gain some customers and publicity. Dear Bell, I think it is time we all have a serious conversation about mental health. With the recent “Let’s Talk” day posts infiltrating all of my social media feeds, I believe everyone needs to understand what Bell’s “Let’s Talk” is really about. In my opinion, it has literally nothing to do with mental health and creating a safe space for people to be open about their struggles, and everything to do with this company gaining popularity, media coverage, and profit. I would like to begin by saying that the original idea behind this initiative may have been kind-hearted and not ill-willed at all, yet your company’s failure to acknowledge the expressions of disappointment from the greater nation shows that your main focus is not the mental health of Canadians, but rather the opportunity to plaster your logo over the faces of those wanting to share their mental health journeys. As much as I would like to remind you of the many news stories published in 2017 on your company’s past and present employees coming forward about their unannounced termination and/or struggles working within your company, I will not. I think it is more important to look forward and hope that you will finally listen to the thousands of Canadians asking you to take a step back and work on providing your employees with a safe workplace before
deeming yourself the face of mental health awareness across Canada. I would like to pose this question to you: your company prides itself on the grand donations given every year to mental health initiatives, but do you ever think about the people who are struggling and need to talk but do not have access to these initiatives? You have branded this day as “Let’s Talk,” but are you really creating a safe space for people to talk if your services are astronomically expensive, thus making it impossible for some people to have access
By choosing celebrities as spokespeople for such issues, it is obvious to me that you are trying to sell something. I see this in the Aveeno commercial with Jennifer Aniston, who has great skin. I see this in the Pantene commercial starring Selena Gomez, who has beautiful hair. I see this in the Bubly Super Bowl commercial starring the man himself, Michael Bublé. Each of these commercials are very similar as they have a famous face – one that people want to follow and be like – promoting a product that the celebrities themselves are most
“
Do you ever think about the people who are struggling and need to talk but do not have access to these initiatives? – Reese Estwick
to these initiatives? Or by choosing to script Michael Bublé for your promotion video instead of creating a video of Canadians talking about their experiences with mental health so it will get more views? When people share the video of Michael Bublé, they are just sharing a video of Michael Bublé, a figure who is already all over the internet. Why did you choose him as your spokesperson this year? Were there no Canadians who are struggling with mental health issues during this trying time of a global pandemic who you could have offered your platform to where they could promote their stories?
likely not using as they have all the money in the world to buy the most high-end products. When discussing mental health you shouldn’t be trying to sell something, but rather be raising awareness. The best way to learn and end stigma is to hear the story of someone like you who is struggling with something you don’t struggle with. When I look at Michael Bublé I see someone who has the money for therapy, I see someone who can afford the astronomical data rates, I see someone not like me and not like anyone I know. I see a person of great privilege. So, who are you really trying to sell your product to?
Who are you really trying to help? As I begin to conclude this message, I leave you with a suggestion for future years. Use the platform that you have built, but pivot. Pivot to something that Canadians want to be a part of. Pivot to something that is relatable. I encourage you to look inward and reflect upon what you are really doing for your own employees and their families. Reflect upon what you are doing for your customers in times of need. Don’t encourage people to share your post under the guise of donating 5 cents per share; just donate the money that you would like to and put the time and effort into creating resources and connecting with Canadians rather than casting a famous face or developing Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok templates. I appreciate you for the idea, but I am disappointed with the angle you have chosen to take for the last number of years. Mental health matters, and if you agree with that statement, make it known to Canadians. I look forward to 2022, and truly hope that you use these next 11 months to listen to others and their needs rather than your own. The journey to ending stigma surrounding mental health begins with validating people’s experiences – I encourage you to listen, learn, and act accordingly. Best, Reese Estwick (She/Her) 5-Year Bell Customer
reese estwick staff writer
february 11 - february 17, 2021
op-ed
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
16
Ableism: The prioritization of convenience in casting
The performative allyship of creating a film on autism using faulty research
Wikipedia Commons
Actress Maddie Ziegler posing in front of a display for dance companies. Right: Actor James Cordon glancing behind his left shoulder while walking.
Casting neurotypical people to play disabled or autistic characters is ableism. Hollywood is entering murky waters and demonstrating their ignorance by hiring orthodox actors. Sia’s newest film, Music, depicting a non-verbal autistic girl, is problematic. The movie is about a young non-verbal autistic girl named Music who is taken into care by her half-sister named Zu. Zu, a sober drug dealer, struggles with the new challenges as Music’s sole guardian. While we need to see people with disabilities in film making, Maddie Ziegler - a verbal and non-autistic actress - plays the role of Music. Sia hired long-time companion Ziegler for the job rather than hiring an actress that is a part of the autistic community. Before Ziegler, they did have a non-verbal actress who eventually resigned from the film due to it being “unpleasant and stressful.” It is questionable that Sia turned to previous companion Maddie Ziegler rather than hiring another actress from the autistic community. Ziegler allegedly had her concerns about taking on the role as she was concerned that the autistic community would think she was “making fun” of people on the spectrum. The predicted suspicions arising from Ziegler should have been their first clue that they were committing acts of ableism. Sia has now openly come out and spoke about why she wanted Ziegler for the role of Music: “I realized it wasn’t ableism. I mean, it is ableism I guess as well, but it’s actually nepotism because I can’t do a project without her [Ziegler]. I don’t want to. I wouldn’t make art if it didn’t include her.” It is completely fine if Sia wants to include Ziegler in her projects. However, she could have given Ziegler a role to represent a neurotypical person who could have easily fit into the plotline. Sia did not have to take away an autistic individual’s opportunity to complete the movie rather than giving the part to Ziegler. The dismissal
of the first actress and rapid replacement of her with Ziegler demonstrates that Sia never really planned to represent autistic individuals within the film accurately. Nor did she want to adapt to help the young autistic actress thrive within her role, which is essentially the movie’s plot. So here we are once again, watching a neurotypical actor play the role of a disabled character. It is incredibly disheartening and offensive to the autistic community to watch ableism unfold for what seems like the millionth time. We are now entering an era where we need to diminish the Hollywood casting norm of hiring neurotypical characters to play something they are not. We need to re-analyze the praise for an actor or actress being “brave” for play-
you judge it? FURY.” Despite Sia’s “three years of extensive research” put into the movie, there were still scenes with improper techniques when dealing with an autistic meltdown. A scene from Music, which Autreach leaked on TikTok, shows the physical restraint of Music by Zu during a breakdown. The act of prone restraint within the autistic community is heavily protested as many physical constraints have ended in the harm and even death of people with autism. Sia’s spectrum of research was too narrow, but considering her own ignorance in casting and defensive attitude to criticism there is the possibility that she may have ignored critiques from advisors. Sia later tweeted that the scene would be removed from the
“
The dismissal of the first actress and rapid replacement of her with Ziegler demonstrates that Sia never really planned to represent autistic individuals within the film accurately – Gillian Massie
ing a disabled character. They are people just like the rest of us. They do not need to change because of their disability, and casting agencies do more harm than good by stripping opportunities from actors from that community. Sia’s aggravation of the autistic community’s protests shows that she is utterly tone-deaf to the situation. Rather than taking the advice of care aids and people with autism, it took her months to take responsibility for enabling Ziegler to play Music. Sia’s tweet to protestors of the film shows undistinguished anger: “Grrrrrrrrrr. Fuckity fuck, why don’t you watch my film before
movie, and there would be a warning at the beginning of the film. The entire scenario screams right idea, wrong context. I want to see more films about people with disabilities and how they live, and how we can be more accepting of them. I do not want to see depictions from actors outside of the disability spectrum, or to perceive them as “weak” or “in need of help.” All people are prone to mistakes and growth, and there is no hierarchy among humans. Enabling non-autistic actors is not a recent occurrence. We see Freddie Highmore in The Good Doctor, a neurotypical actor
playing an autistic man. Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal of Raymond Babbitt in Rain Man earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. Leonardo DiCaprio also received an Academy nomination for Best Actor playing the autistic brother of Johnny Depp in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. These actors where heavily applauded for their extensive research into the life of an autistic individual, but little is said about giving the opportunity to a person with autism. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association have also nominated Music for Golden Globes for Best Picture and Best Leading Actress for Kate Hudson, who plays Zu. Not only is Hollywood enabling films to cast typical actors, but they are also rewarding them. Casting ignorance within the film industry does not just impact the disability community, but every other marginalized community. We have recently seen James Corden playing a flamboyantly gay man in The Prom while he is a straight man. Gal Gadot is staged to be the next Cleopatra, which has faced criticism of whitewashing. Finally, Scarlett Johansson was cast as a trans man in Rug & Tug before quickly withdrawing from the movie due to backlash in 2018. These three A-listers show that your name is more important to casting rather than hiring a person of the category. Over 18,000 people have signed the petition to cancel Music, the film that has hurt and offended the autistic community. The lack of sufficient research combined with casting ignorance shows that the film is an inadequate and harmful representation of autism. My friends with autism are some of the kindest, most creative, and most brilliant individuals I have ever met, and stripping them of acting roles in favor of orthodox actors increases stigma. Here is the petition against the release of Music: https://www.change.org/p/siacancel-the-film-music
gillian massie staff writer
february 11 - february 17, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
op-ed
17
Self-love: More than simply treating yourself
Learning to love myself in my love languages Few mental health tips have captured the attention of the media in the way self-care has. Part of this would be due to relatability; even if you aren’t living with a mental illness, you can relate to being bogged down by life and to feeling a boost once you start doing the things that make you excited about life again. It could also be due to the profitability of the fad which business models have picked up on, with the anthem of “treat yourself ” being pasted on all modes of advertising so that their business can profit off of your self-care. While treating yourself can give a boost, it also puts you in that business model’s cycle and you condition yourself in a way that doesn’t line up with the purpose of the practice. Woke up feeling defeated? Buy something to feel better (so they make money). Everything went wrong at work today? Buy something to feel better (so they make money). Had a fight with your partner and you need to unwind? Buy something to feel better (so they make money). That’s not to say that it’s inherently wrong to treat yourself if you’re having a rough day; sometimes that little boost can be enough to bounce you back to the right headspace so you’re better able to problem solve. The pattern I’d like to point out is that the “treat yourself ” method doesn’t actually address what got you to a place where you had to treat yourself just to feel okay again. It gives you a habitual behaviour to perform that temporarily makes you feel better, but it does nothing to improve the circumstances that brought you to that low. Desmond Tutu said “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to
go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” In regards to mental health, that means that when we see this many people spending money that they don’t have just for the dopamine boost, we need to do more than help them through it in the moment. We need to take a critical look at the factors that are causing people to be swept up in this cycle of behaviour, and at what can be done differently. We do need the reactive approach of helping people out of the river when they fall in, but we also need to be proactive in minimizing opportunities for people to
going to be drawing on, using the ways that I’m learning to show love to myself through my own love languages. There are five areas in love languages – quality time, acts of service, gifts, physical touch, and words of affirmation – and each person has a slightly different preference for the areas they use to give and receive love. To figure out which I preferred, I thought about examples of experiencing each and how those experiences impacted me both short-term and long-term. For example, if you find you really benefit from the treat yourself method, chanc-
“
You have my unwavering, research-supported, 100% guarantee that this approach will not work for everybody. – Holly Worby
fall in. To balance this hot take with some constructive content, I will share some of the things I’ve recently learned on building a habit of self-compassion through intentional self-love, not just self-care. You have my unwavering, research-supported, 100 per cent guarantee that this approach will not work for everybody. Part of the “intentional” aspect of self-love is discovering in what ways you need love, and I can’t do that for you. What I can do is share how I’ve been making progress by exploring so far, with the hope that it can set a guard rail against the river for a few folks at least. The idea of love languages is what I’m
es are that gifts and acts of service would be in your preferences as you’re choosing to go out of your way to do something for yourself, and you’re putting in the thought to get yourself something that will make you smile. However, when it’s a habit behaviour rather than intentional self-love, all it does is regulate your emotions in the moment (which, again, is sometimes needed). The easiest way for me to stay intentional in my self-love is by making sure I’m not doing whatever I’m doing based on external motivation. I have had people tell me for decades that I need to go easier on myself and talk to myself like I’m some-
one I care about because, I’ll admit, that is not one of my strong suits. I even found a quote in high school that summed up the advice: “If there were someone in your life who talked to you the way that you talk to yourself, how long would you put up with that treatment?” The quote and the conversations with friends helped to bring my awareness to the issue, but I needed to be intentional to understand. Words of affirmation is possibly my top preference for both giving and receiving love, but I’d never thought to intentionally love myself in that way. Normally when I’m responding to my thoughts or observing my own behaviour, I am frustrated with myself and taking it out on myself. When others take their frustration out on me I can recognize it and communicate that it’s inappropriate, but I was blind to the fact that I was doing it to myself until I stopped to think about it. I also love thoughtfully complimenting and encouraging others, but I realized I hadn’t been taking that constructive approach with myself. The good news? The way that I talk to myself is in my control. I am still imperfect in my practice, but sometimes when I start getting frustrated with myself now, I can pause and ask myself how I’d talk to a friend with the same issue and then take that route. When I choose to talk to myself in that way, I’m actively deciding to show myself compassion. In a world where we’re condition to critique ourselves and pursue an ideal, self-compassion is a revolutionary act.
holly worby op-ed editor PxHere
A person staring at their reflection in a bathroom mirror.
february 11 - february 17, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon |18
op-ed
Etiquette lesson: Pronouns and deadnaming How do we make things right after we get them wrong?
More and more professors in my classes, administrative staff, and coworkers in my life have begun introducing themselves with their pronouns, including them in their e-mail signatures, and using gender-neutral language wherever possible. A few have even changed their pronouns, or at least introduced the ones they prefer for the first time. It is important to make this a neutral part of socializing. Personal pronouns and gender identities are not taboo subjects; they are information we often need to exchange so that we can respect the way a person wants to be spoken about, cisgender or not. That being said, when administrative staff in particular use these as markers of acceptance for trans and nonbinary people, that needs to be backed up with a consistent understanding of what trans students deal with. In this year’s Alumni Awards at the University of Regina, the Distinguished Alumni Award for Humanitarian and Community Service was won by the past executive director of UR Pride, who made possible initiatives like Monarch Mental Health and Colourful Campus Housing. These important contributions were made for the sake of 2S and LGBTQ+ students’ safety and security, precisely because many of these students do not feel safe enough on campus. Because of the significance of this work for queer and trans students, it was a particularly heinous error when the initial announcement of the award referred to the recipient with a name that they do not recognize. Although this error is no longer visible on the U of R website, it is not something a person forgets, and the students, staff, and
Ted Eytan
A blue and white introduction label with blank spaces for one’s name and pronouns.
faculty need to look at it as a serious undermining of any message in support of diversity. Neglecting or refusing to call a trans or nonbinary person by the name they go by (deadnaming) causes serious distress and shows a great lack of care. What’s more frustrating about this constant struggle for respect is that, in general, whenever a mistake like this is made, cisgender people tend to treat it like a public relations embarrassment instead of demonstrating a genuine desire to learn. Trans and nonbinary people often have to fight and have deeply humiliating conversations just to be recognized accurately for
their work. Being seen for your studies or work but being misgendered can feel like not being seen at all, and many trans people back out of the spotlight or of jobs that require a public presence simply because of the emotional toll that takes. This is a short list of things I wish more people kept in mind when working with trans and nonbinary people, and especially when recognizing them for their accomplishments: • Ask for people’s names - ask them directly. Not even all cis people use the same name in every situation. Using the wrong name to refer to a trans person can
actually put them in danger of violence if the wrong person recognizes it. • Get pronouns right. Sometimes people will have more than one set (“he and they”) or pronouns you may have not heard before (“ze and hir”). Even if this is a new concept to you, it isn’t to trans people, so when you treat it like it’s unheard of, it’s actually you who comes off as looking unreasonable. Google is your friend when it comes to these things; if you’re afraid of using a person’s pronouns incorrectly, most people are very willing to guide you through it if you’re genuine about wanting to know. • You really don’t have to explain that a trans or nonbinary person is trans or nonbinary every time you write about them, or explain what that means when it’s not relevant. You can just use their pronouns the right way. Making marginalized people hypervisible unnecessarily, or leaving room for controversy in a story about them, can lead to harassment and even mockery from transphobes. • Sometimes a person’s identity, their pronouns, or their name will change. Because there are so few resources for trans people out there, it can take a long time to understand themselves. This is why it’s important to do your due diligence and make sure that you get the absolute basics of respect for someone you’re working with - their name and pronouns - correct.
marty grande-sherbert staff writer
The personality types of shoppers Are you a “control freak” or a “chatterbox”?
Pixabay
A person orders food at a counter in a coffee shop.
Working in customer service is fun, because it throws varied experiences at you every day. Whether work is busy or slow, I love observing the personality types of customers, and I continue to feel intrigued by how different people can be. I have tried to describe, in a (hopefully) funny manner, how interesting it is to come across these different personalities on a daily basis. The first kind of customer that comes to my mind is the “the Chatterbox.” It’s easy to spot them in a crowd. They are habitually on the phone or with a friend, and constantly talking. Chances are, they might even be yelling on the phone to cut out the
noise around them, like the Friends song playing in the store for the 100th time. If they are with a friend, the Chatterbox will not notice that they have lost their friend’s long ago. In terms of their shopping habits, Chatterboxes tend to pick up items which they most likely do not need, and end up changing their minds and placing them on the shelves just before they hit the cashier on the way to checkout. The next kind of customer is “the Supersaver”; they are the smartest breed of shoppers. They regularly know which items are discounted and which are not. They are ready with the weekly flyers and ads from
around the city, and they are likely to have a bunch of coupons stacked with them as well. The quantity of items purchased by these customers is either huge or small, but nothing in between. They have quick eyes that can spot any mismatch in price between the display shelves and the scanning of an item, and they never hesitate to ask for compensation. It is quite possible that they have a good rapport with store employees in order to know when items will be sold at clearance price. Another type is “the Control Freak,” and they are relatively easy to spot. They
usually have items organized categorically in their carts with a list in their hands. They are likely to call the department manager if they find the green apples are advertised in the weekly flyer, but not available in the store. They hate being directed to any random checkout lane, and always prefer to let their favourite cashier touch their items. Control freaks aren’t bad people, they just know what they want and how they want it. “The Observer” is an interesting kind of shopper. They observe items, objects and people in a way that even store management do not. They feel a sense of loyalty to the store, and are quick to report to customer service if they notice someone shoplifting. They are the ones who notice if the regular store greeter hasn’t been around in a while, and might even bring a get-well-soon card if they hear that the person is unwell, asking for it to be passed on. Finally, the last kind of customer on my list would be those once-in-a-bluemoon shoppers who are rarely seen in the store. When they do turn up, they have two or three carts lined up with them, making sure they have enough supplies stocked for a month or two. These are customers who usually live several miles away from the city, and they tend to confuse entry and exit passages while navigating through the store. Are there any types of shoppers you would add to the list? Do you recognize some of these? Try having some fun identifying them the next time you work or shop – maybe you will recognize yourself.
sonali maria currie contributor
graphics
19
editors: sarah carrier, kate thiessen graphics@carillonregina.com the carillon | february 11 - february 17, 2021
