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
marty grande-sherbert
distribution manager distribution@carillonregina.com staff writer staff writer news writer
holly worby
reese estwick
a&c writer
kyle anderson
issac tamlin joseph holoein
sports writer
sarah nakonechny
web writer
gillian massie contributors hammad ali, isaac adeoluwa atayero and rayanne gwilliam
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 October 22 - October 28, 2020 | Volume 63, Issue 9 | carillonregina.com
news
Sustainable cities
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Building a sustainable Regina is obviously good for the enviroment, but it also greatly helps those in marginalized communities.
Welcome back!
sports
arts
Artist profile: D4WN
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Having just released his first EP, Just In Time, Regina based rapper D4WN says a full length album is on the way.
Josie Brooks
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Sarah Nakonechny profiles Josie Brooks, a decorated bowler and outspoken female athlete.
Special thanks to Sarah, once again, for another great (and important) cover. With Halloween approaching, more than ever, we’re looking forward to hosting your art, thoughts, costumes, poetry, and photography. Remember, all contributors are paid!
op-ed
op-ed
sports
We hope you enjoy this wonderful issue! Taylor Balfour Editor-in-Chief
photos
cover......................................sarah carrier news....................climate justice saskatoon a&c...................................................d4wn sports............................sarah nakonechny sports.......................................adrian hon op-ed.............................................pikrepo op-ed.......................................julia raasch
Toe wrestling
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Another issue, another weird sport to introduce to our readers. We’ll let you guess what this one involves.
#AllEyesOnMikmaki
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Despite numerous calls for action, Justin Trudeau and the RCMP have not stepped in to end the hate crimes being commited against the Mi’kmaq people.
Halloween
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Contributer Rayanne Gwilliam gives us the scoop on how how to still enjoy your favourite holiday pandemic-style.
news
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editor: sara birrell news@carillonregina.com the carillon | october 22 - october 28, 2020
Charting the course for a just transition to a sustainable city Social justice and environment entwined reese estwick staff writer
Currently, the city of Regina is heavily dependent on one specific mode of transportation – cars. But private transportation is not accessible to everyone and it’s harmful to the environment; therefore, it is time that Regina begins adopting policies to develop a just and sustainable city for all, and that starts with affordable, accessible public transit. University of Regina professor of geography and environmental studies, Emily Eaton, and Saskatchewan director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Simon Enoch, co-authored Renewable Regina: Putting Equity into Action – a report that makes recommendations and encourages Regina City Council to centre equity and social justice when putting the 100 per cent Renewable Regina motion into action. “I think a lot of people think of Regina as a car-dependent city, and that conceptualization of our city really hides the number of people for whom a private car is not achievable in terms of, you know, just having the money to buy or operate a private automobile,” Eaton said. “A lot of people within our city don’t even have the funds to be able to take public transportation [the bus] every day. Lots of people are walking very long distances or bicycling
in really terrible weather in the winter.” She said that “something that would immediately make those peoples’ lives better would be something like fare-free public transit.” The report acknowledges the different struggles that face different social groups in Regina and attempts to accommodate the needs of all. “In [Regina’s] path towards one hundred percent renewability, the city is going to make cer-
groups sharing their concerns about how the transition to a 100 per cent sustainable city will impact those who are often negatively impacted by public policy. Some of the groups represented were Indigenous people, women, 2SLGBTQ+, newcomers, and disabled people. These groups were created in order to centre the needs of community members who are often ignored and sidelined when it comes to policy decisions.
ties,” Enoch noted. One resource that is heavily used by marginalized people in Regina is public transit. It’s used by many on a daily basis, and will play a critical role in the push for a more sustainable city, but there are still groups of people who do not feel safe using the transit system due to fear of discrimination and/or verbal and physical abuse. “There is a genuine fear amongst certain LGBT people about riding transit [or being] in
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Climate change is going to disproportionately affect the most marginalized in the city – so you have to really think about that when you’re introducing climate policies at the city level that you don’t exacerbate those inequalities. – Dr. Simon Enoch
tain investments and it was our view through the research, that those investments should be made in communities and people who have experienced marginalization, so as not no reproduce the inequalities associated with what you might call the carbon economy,” said Eaton. There were a number of focus groups held throughout the study, with representatives from a number of marginalized
“The places that have the most success at implementing either one hundred percent renewability or more sustainable policies at the city level have been places that acknowledged early on that climate change is going to disproportionately affect the most marginalized in the city – so you have to really think about that when you’re introducing climate policies at the city level that you don’t exacerbate those inequali-
public spaces sometimes because they fear violence,” Enoch said. “So that learning about how other people experience the city – that our experiences aren’t equal – I think that insight is so important when designing policies that ensure that the city will be inclusive for all of us.” Through any period of change, there are always concerns and worries. As the 100 per cent Renewable Energy motion is put
into action, Enoch expresses that he is concerned that these policies will “just steam-roll in and won’t consider equity groups.” As provincial and municipal elections approach on October 26 and November 9, respectively, it is important that elected officials and representatives take into account the unique experiences of different groups to ensure that all people in Regina are supported in the ways that they need to succeed and can access the resources they need, so that the transition to a more sustainable future doesn’t end up exacerbating existing inequalities. “We need a city council that is clear-eyed about this,” said Enoch. “We need to ensure that any improvements we make don’t end up hurting the people we want them to help.” Enoch encourages each and every person to get out and vote in their municipal elections. As the conversation surrounding equity and sustainability continues in Regina, it is important that young peoples’ voices are being heard. Eaton shared that she believes youth have “a better understanding of how these different axes of inequality and oppression intersect […] Just because you do come from a privileged background doesn’t mean that you don’t have a place in holding other people’s signs as well,” she said.
Regina transit still hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic routes, schedules Waiting for the bus
hammad ali contributer
While we seem to be in the second wave of Covid-19, with the province recently registering the highest number of new cases since the pandemic began, the city of Regina has slowly been opening up in phases. However, even as most businesses have reopened to full or at least partial service and many Regina residents are back at work and school, Regina Transit services is still not back to their regular schedule, although they’ve resumed charging full fare for their service, following a brief respite during the spring and summer when Regina transit was free for all residents. Since not having adequate public transport options affects all of us who do not drive but still need to get around the city in a timely manner, we reached out to Regina Transit to ask a few questions. Nathan Luhning, manager of transit administration, mentioned that at present, weekday services are operating at roughly 80 per cent of what they were prior to the start of the pandemic in March. Right now, on both days of the weekend, the buses are running on the Sunday/holiday schedule. That means that on
most routes, the bus only comes once per hour and runs only until 7 p.m., a major hardship for transit users who work weekends and evenings. In addition, some express buses are not running at the moment, in part because the routes they serve – the university, for instance – don’t have as much demand right now. Still, Regina residents have largely returned to work, and that includes residents who use the bus to get to and from their place of employment. Frontline workers, like those at grocery stores and who work in maintenance, have been working throughout the pandemic and have not seen their need for reliable, affordable transit decline, and so it seems strange that the city would argue that the demand for the bus service has gone down enough that they would significantly cut back on Saturday service. Another reason why buses are not running at full schedule is the maximum capacity. Under normal circumstances, the buses are able to accommodate nearly 50 to 60 people, along with those standing. However, currently the Saskatchewan Health Authority has called for a limit of 30 people to try to ensure that physical distancing measures can be main-
Ant Rozetsky via Unsplash
...and still waiting...
tained. As a result of this, Luhning said that transit services are keeping some buses as backup in case one of the regular buses is at limit and cannot take the rest of the passengers at a stop. However, Luhning did mention that they have plans to resume express route 50 as well as regular Saturday services, starting the week of November 9. [Editor’s note: seems
like it would be more efficient to run more buses at regular times to prevent overcrowding and encourage transit use.] In conversation, the U-Pass also came up. Nathan Luhning mentioned that for the Fall 2020 term, there was not enough time for them to work something out with the University of Regina Students’ Union. However, as the campus continues online in Win-
ter 2021, they are hoping to negotiate something that is beneficial to both transit services and the UofR student body. Luhning also mentioned that as more on-campus services resume and the demand for buses to the university rises, they will be looking at how to best serve those routes.
oct 22 - oct 28, 2020
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 4
news
Moe, Meili face off for first and only election debate Election on October 26
isaac tamlin news writer On October 14 the Saskatchewan provincial election debate was held in Regina. Premier and leader of the Saskatchewan Party, Scott Moe, faced off against the leader of the New Democrat Party, Ryan Meili in a debate to inform voters of their position on some of the critical topics this election season. The four main topics on the board were COVID-19, each party’s plans for the budget, the engagement between the government and Indigenous peoples in Saskatchewan, and plans for education in Saskatchewan. Most remarkably this year, the debate managed to be a (relatively) civil affair, with both leaders giving the other time to speak and respond to questions and comments, certainly a breath of fresh air. The Sask Party started off strong with Moe reading from a script, and promising to reduce Saskpower bills by 10 per cent if they get elected. With the Sask Party’s strong stance against the carbon tax, this is their way of trying to offset the costs to Saskatchewan residents. Of course, when questioned about where the money to afford this cut was going to come from, Scott Moe responded that “nothing will be cut, except for taxes,” a bold statement, especially since they also promised to balance the budget and increase the Sask Advantage Scholarship. While these promises would be beneficial for residents and students in the midst of this pandemic, I’m sure we’re all curious where Moe expects to
Wikipedia Commons
Party leaders
get the money from and what other services will suffer to achieve these goals. The NDP had no script in their opening statements, and though they lacked the specificity the Sask Party put forward in how they plan to help Saskatchewan, the NDP promised to stop the exporting of jobs to out of province companies and promised to stop cutting funding to healthcare and education, and invest in them instead. Leading into the first section of the debate the first question was how the parties planned to prevent the spread of COVID-19. NDP came in swinging, when
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distance [of two metres] can be maintained, there’s no need for a mask” and altogether avoiding whether or not the government would be willing to put in a mandatory mask policy. Leading into the second section of the debate, regarding their party’s plans to help the economy, the NDP promised to raise wages, in part by introducing a multiyear plan to increase the provincial minimum wage, currently the lowest in Canada, to $15 per hour and create jobs. The Sask Party’s response was all about balancing the budget and investing in infrastructure above all other things. Meili responded by saying
while ordinary families are struggling across Saskatchewan.” The rest of the economic questions were answered with similar responses. The NDP promised higher wages, more investment, greater diversification, while the Sask Party promised a balanced budget, and criticized the NDP spending habits. When the debate shifted into its third section, from the economy to Indigenous relations, the Sask Party promised to engage with Indigenous communities by strengthening them economically, promising continued support for Indigenous work in the forestry industry. Meili responded by re-
[Moe] tells us we can’t afford things, we can’t afford childcare, we can’t afford to not have overcrowded classrooms, we don’t deserve high quality healthcare. We do deserve it.” – Ryan Meili
Moe talked about reducing gathering sizes from 30 people maximum, to 15 people maximum, Meili pointed out that the Sask Party has been failing to address that for class sizes, asking Moe, “What about our classrooms with 30, 35, 40, 50 students? You’ve never been able to address the overcrowded classes’ sizes.” A failure many residents are aware of and concerned about. Moe also managed to dodge the question of when mandatory masking would be required, merely stating that “when that
that, “this is the message we hear over and over. He tells us we can’t afford things, we can’t afford childcare, we can’t afford to not have overcrowded classrooms, we don’t deserve high quality healthcare. We do deserve it.” While the Sask Party only has a focus on balancing the budget and doing the bare minimum for its residents, the NDP have promised to invest in Saskatchewan and help the people in Saskatchewan. “What we can’t afford” Meili said, “is four more years of back room deals for the old boys club
minding residents that the Sask Party unanimously voted down a legislative mandate to help reduce suicide rates. Saskatchewan has the highest suicide rates of any province, particularly among Indigenous people. Moe’s response was that the Sask Party has their Pillars for Life strategy which he said, “was working.” Hearing that, Molly Thomas, the debate MP, pointedly asked, “over 1000 people have lost their lives in the last five years, larger than the first half of this decade, so how are you measuring your success?”
Unfortunately, Moe’s response was cut short by the debate limitations. Regarding education, the Sask Party attempted to act like they hadn’t been cutting education funding for years and promised “continued investment in our schools.” Meili focused on the overcrowding of classrooms and the fact the government needed to promise to do better in terms of class sizes. To sum up the debate, both parties managed to represent themselves well. Across the board, the Saskatchewan party Promised to maintain the bare minimum in order to balance the budget. The NDP, while they often lacked specificity, gave a hopeful promise to invest more in Saskatchewan, to get down and tackle large issues like the economy, like Indigenous relations and suicide, and overcrowded classrooms. This upcoming election, it’s important to get out and vote, and it’s important to be informed when you go out to vote. For those of you going into your first year at university, this will be the government making decisions throughout your schooling. They’ll be largely responsible for if you see education costs go up or down. For how healthcare will be handled. For the mental health supports people rely on. For those of you about to graduate, this is the government that will affect your ability to find work, find an affordable place to live, and access healthcare.
oct 22 - oct 28, 2020
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 5
news
Students’ fears confirmed as Proctortrack breached Admin stands by software isaac tamlin news writer Less than two months into the semester, and one of the biggest fears that University of Regina students have raised about Proctortrack has come to pass. On Tuesday October 13, the university was advised that Proctortrack had a “security breach” and that services would be down for 7-10 days while Proctortrack “looked into things.” Rahul Siddharth, COO of Verificient technologies, the owners of Proctortrack, said that one of the company’s servers in Europe was accessed by a “prankster” who attained access by masquerading as a Verificient employee. The hacker contacted some Proctortrack clients and sent communications to them. While the security and privacy concerns associated with Proctortrack have been clear from the start, few could have predicted that a “prankster” would be all it took to breach the company’s security. The company’s response to potentially compromised data was “security breaches, unfortunately, happen, and are part of our modern tech world.” More than 24 hours passed between the company’s initial October 13 announcement that security had been breached and their decision to shut down Protctortrack services. It wasn’t until 2:15 p.m. on October 15 that an email went out to deans and directors at the university, advising them of the breach. An email from Student Affairs followed about two hours later. Dr. Gavin Simpson a profes-
sor at the university of Regina expressed his concern from the beginning, commenting on the Carillon twitter post: “We shouldn’t be using it in most cases/instances. It exposes students to too large a risk of sensitive data breach (no matter what Art Exner says), requires a level of tech/resource that is exclusionary, & represents a poorer way to assess students than other methods.” Many students have also expressed their concerns to the Carillon via an anonymous survey: “We are passed [sic] the re-
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they put reliability on you for anything that happens to the data you give them. Terms state, ‘In no event shall Verificient Technologies, Inc. and/or its officers, directors, employees, or agents, be liable to you for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, punitive, exemplary, or consequential damages whatsoever.’ Not allowing students to leave their computers and take their eyes off a screen is unfair when bathroom breaks are permitted during regular exams. Many students can also not guarantee a quiet and traffic-free space for exams. Also, Sasktel’s internet
tracted this out to a third party. This is much, much different than the University controlling recordings from in the gym. We’ve never been asked to put our own personal property at risk in a way as we’ve seen now.” “The University is supposed to be about critical thinking. It’s time students ask faculty members to problem solve and think critically on how they are going to adjust their evaluation methods without forcing students to download potentially harmful Spyware on their person computers. It’s a shame the University is forcing
The choice to use this software signals to me that the university administration has not considered the health and well-being of students as a priority [and] that they have not considered or do not care about students with disabilities who will be disproportionately targeted by this software.”
fund date and honestly, I had NO IDEA about proctortrack!! Now I’m looking into trying to drop any classes that use it but for a loss. This is totally unacceptable and I honestly can’t believe that this is something that the university is following through with.” “I am a student at the University of Regina, and I am anxious and stressed out about the use of Proctortrack for myself and my peers. I did not or wish to consent for a third party company to have access to my data and video and audio recordings of the inside of my home. Although Proctortrack says they will not share any data,
can barely handle [Z]oom, and some students live in a more remote area that does not promise a reliable internet connection... Exams are stressful enough on their own. On top of the anxiety, stress and financial strain of a pandemic, adding something like this to a student’s load is harmful to the mental health, finances and success of students.” “Now we are being asked to give up personal privacy and install software on our computers that, according to reports, have caused people’s computers to crash and have had major data breaches. The University has con-
students between personal property or furthering their education. I have decided to drop a class, not because I wanted to but because I felt it necessary to protect my personal belongings.” “I strongly disagree with the U of R’s choice to purchase and utilize ProctorTrack for any course, with any students. The software is unethical in it’s [sic] collection of data and breaching of privacy, and contributes to the intense levels of stress students are facing during the pandemic. The choice to use this software signals to me that the university administration has not considered the
health and well-being of students as a priority (which they claim is a top priority during the pandemic). This choice also makes clear to me that they have not considered or do not care about students with disabilities who will be disproportionately targeted by this software. Bluntly, if I am at any point required to use this software as a condition of my enrolment in a course, this will force me to drop out and I will not return to the U of R.” In addition to data breaches, Proctortrack has also interfered with students’ ability to complete their exams with the necessary tools. In some instances, the software told students they weren’t allowed to use their calculators and, while an online calculator was supposed to be provided, many students weren’t able to access it during the exam. That meant that some questions, which required a calculator to answer, couldn’t be answered by students, costing them marks. Proctortrack is not the answer to cheating. It is not in students’ best interest. By continuing to use this software in spite of data breaches, exam interference, and the legitimate concerns raised by students and faculty, the university is demonstrating a lack of respect for students and their education. An URSU town hall on the subject of Proctortrack on Wednesday is a welcome development, but the only acceptable solution is for the university to end their contract with this company and find another alternative to ensuring academic integrity.
Christin Hume
An expected development.
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editor: julia peterson aandc@carillonregina.com the carillon | october 22 - october 28, 2020
Eddie Van Halen dead at 65 Hall of Famer remembered gillian massie web writer Rockers worldwide were saddened to hear that Van Halen lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen passed away of throat cancer on October 6, 2020. Eddie was one of the most influential guitarists in the 80s who shaped rock & roll for future generations. His legendary guitar stunts landed Van Halen a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Van Halen’s success was hard won. Starting by playing backyard gigs and small venues, the band had to hold their own to scrounge up a record deal. Even with the band’s enormous success, they faced challenges juggling three singers throughout their performance years. Eddie’s personal struggles with alcoholism would result in the devastating consequences of a terminal illness. Despite the band’s challenges, Eddie proved himself worthy of his Hall of Fame title by completely revolutionizing guitar music. His legendary stunts left audiences breathless as he wowed them with innovative techniques. Eddie and his family immigrated to the United States at age seven from Amsterdam. Eddie’s father, who played in a Dutch air force band, inspired both Eddie and his brother Alex to pursue music as a career. Settling in Pasadena, California, both Eddie and Alex practised many instruments, initially starting on opposite instruments they played in Van Halen. They traded instruments after Eddie failed to succeed the drumming in Surfaris’ “Wipe Out,” a decision that would shape their careers. They began playing in the Pasadena area at strip clubs and outdoor events to get performing experience. The early band names such as Broken Combs and Trojan Rubber Company did not quite stick as Van Halen did. While acquiring small gigs, they met David Lee Roth, who would soon become the band’s front runner. Early original songs like “Runnin’ with the Devil,” which is still a fan favorite today, landed them a record deal with Warner Bros. in 1977. The band’s first album Van Halen had skyrocketing success hitting number 19 on Billboard’s Hot 200. Van Halen’s first taste of success was noticed by singer Ozzy Osbourne who asked the band to open for Black Sabbath. Eddie’s talent on the guitar flourished during his solo in “Eruption,” on their debut album, featuring some of his many guitar stunts. In a video showcasing his talent, Eddie performs the guitar solo using techniques such as tremolo picking, all while his cigarette is strapped underneath the strings of his guitar. Van Halen’s party culture was a distinct
Wikimedia Commons
feature of the band that reeled hard rockers in. The guitar stunts that Eddie performed added wow factors to his performances. Tremolo picking is the intricate, high-speed
after in 1979, featuring popular tunes like “Dance the Night Away” and “Beautiful Girls.” Van Halen fan Kevin Ellard reminisced on the band’s immediate success, “Their first two
launched a period of bad blood between Eddie and Roth. Van Halen’s album 1984 dropped, leaving fans starstruck with tracks such as “Hot for Teacher” and “Panama.” The
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Eddie Van Halen leaves behind his legacy as one of the most innovative guitarists who was key in shaping rock & roll in the 80s. – Gillian Massie
picking played on one note during a sequence. It takes lots of patience to master the technique and work up to faster speeds to tremolo pick efficiently. Songs like “Eruption” perfectly showcase how excellent tremolo picking is when mastered. Van Halen II launched a year
album’s (Van Halen I & Van Halen II) were very popular when I was growing up.” Eddie married his wife Valerie Bertinelli in 1981 and had one son named Wolfgang. Roth made his distaste of the marriage known as it hindered the band’s wild, partying nature. This
band’s most iconic hit, “Jump,” was initially rejected by Roth and producers. Still, Eddie insisted it makes it on the album. It certainly paid off as “Jump” was one of the most iconic hits throughout the band’s career. Another famous guitar stunt mastered by Eddie was tapping.
Although he did not create the technique, he did improve and master it throughout his career. Tapping was initially used by flamenco guitarists for its clean tone. It occurs when the string is fretted by a “tap” and is set into a fretboard vibration. Eddie mastered the two-handed tapping technique and has proven his talent by jaw-dropping performances. The band’s success was halted when lead-singer Roth chose to depart from Van Halen due to fighting between himself and Eddie. The two could not come to terms with the best choice for the style of the band. With Roth leaving to pursue a solo album, Eddie also considered solo work until “I can’t drive 55” singer Sammy Hagar crossed paths with Van Halen. After immediately meshing well, Hagar became the new front-runner of Van Halen. 5150 hit the stands in 1986 as Van Halen’s first number one album with tracks like “Dreams” and “Poundcake.” Conflict struck the band once again when the band ended the 5150 tour. Hagar wanted to return home to his wife, whereas the rest of the band wished to return to the studio. Hagar eventually admitted to wanting to return to be a solo artist and left Van Halen. Van Halen acquired their third singer George Cherone. They performed with them on Van Halen III in 1998, which was not received well by fans than previous albums. Various reunion tours with Roth and Hagar occurred in the 2000s that fans were not well received as “sloppy.” Despite harsh reviews on the reunion tours, the band still scored themselves in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Eddie would miss the event as he had checked into rehab for alcohol abuse. Eddie’s wife filed for divorce in 2007 and he was remarried to Janie Liswezski in 2009, a union that would last until the end of his life. Eddie’s death rocked the entire nation. With such influence on the music industry, Van Halen’s death is being severely mourned across the country. “He played in a style never seen before,” reflected Ellard. Many Van Halen fans have set up memorials for Eddie at his childhood home, a liquor store, and at the Guitar Center on Sunset Boulevard, where Eddie’s handprints remain. Fans have written messages in chalk and bought flowers and candles to commemorate Eddie’s life. Eddie’s contributions to the music industry wrote the blueprints for rock & roll. His talent and techniques will go down in history as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
oct 22 - oct 28, 2020
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
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Artist profile: D4WN The D4WN of a new musical age
isaac adeoluwa atayero contributor
D4WN
D4WN recently released his three-song EP, Just in Time.
For Nigerian born Regina-based rapper D4WN, “music started as a way of expressing myself.” Although D4WN has been making music for about three years, he just put out his first official body of work Just in Time. Just in Time is a three song EP which features multiple features from fellow Regina acts like Zweii, Oboise and Ninijegz. The journey to this moment for D4WN has been years in the making. “It all started with battle rap. Rap battles in secondary school was where I learned how to use
Kendrick Lamar, Phora, M.I. Abaga, Lexii Alijai, TDE and Roy Woods, I would get jealous because I knew it was in me to do it better.” These musicians lit a fire in D4WN that would propel him into music. “I knew that I could do it, I just had to get it done.” The beautiful thing about DAWN’s journey into becoming a hip-hop musician is that his influences are not limited to rappers. “Even till day, I am inspired by Nigerian artistes like Alpha P, Rema, Wizkid, Davido, Leriq,
What are some of these lines D4WN has crossed musically? “Rhyming and imitating,” he said. “For a long time I felt like it was essential to rhyme to make a song good. I have learned, however, that this is far from the truth. It took a lot of experimenting but I was finally able to break free from that mindset. I also used to believe that I had to imitate some rapper’s style, cadence and flow because I had people in my ear telling me what to do. Thankfully I have been able to trust myself more and silence the voices of others.”
“The album is made up of my stories and experiences which I have transformed into art that can be perceived by someone who is just like me. They may not have the same experiences but there will be so much for them to learn from. The story will tell itself.” Finishing up his masterpiece during a global pandemic, however, seemed to be a tasking feat for the musician. “At the beginning of the pandemic I was still going to school and working two jobs. I was able to get inspired by the situation I was going through and it was
and positivity with his music, he feels a responsibility to do it as authentically as possible. “While I feel an obligation to deliver a positive message, I know that delivering that type of message is an art of its own and I want to perfect the craft before I address any serious issues.” For the songs he has made, D4WN is yet to announce a release date for the project. Why? He wants it to be perfect for the listener. “I am excited about how the album will make the listener feel. This is why I am taking time to
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When I would hear songs by J.Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Phora, M.I. Abaga, Lexii Alijai, TDE and Roy Woods, I would get jealous because I knew it was in me to do it better. – D4WN
words,” he said. “At that time I had a mediocre flow, but I had to win, so I kept writing and practising.” D4WN’s passion for working hard on his burgeoning flow to win battle raps at Ronik Comprehensive School, Ejigbo, Lagos introduced him to the world of music in a way that he had not experienced before. “I was not a huge music listener before that time but I knew there was a lot of good songs out there,” D4WN said. “When I would hear songs by J.Cole,
and Wande Coal.” Anyone who has listened to D4WN’s music can attest to the fact that he has truly been able to seamlessly merge all these influences into one cohesive sonic experience. D4WN has promised his fans that his debut album, 21, will be a new level of this sonic experience. “With this project I wanted to challenge myself to do something that I have not done before. I believe that I have been able to cross the line with every single track on my album.”
Apart from being his debut full length album, 21 is a special project to D4WN for a plethora of reasons. He even hopes to be able to make it the first of a series of projects. “I plan on making an album called 23 in a couple of years. This is like the first movie and it is truly a collage of different pictures and points of view. All these pieces come together to make a single image: 21, and you can only see this image if you are in tune with the music.” So what is 21 about?
during that time that I made my favourite songs on the project.” Having now completed the LP, D4WN is proud to have created another torch bearing hip hop project that will advance the genre during this decade. “I believe hip hop can never die but there are some people who have done things to bring harm to its image. I feel like its job, and that of a chosen few, to make sure that hip hop spreads a positive message.” Although D4WN is resolute in bringing a message of hope
make sure there are no gaps in the experience. I am taking my time and letting the story grow with time and of course creating awareness because many people will not understand what I am trying to do.” While his fans wait for his debut album, D4WN’s fans can revisit his old music available on all streaming platforms knowing that what is coming is indeed greater.
oct 22 - oct 28, 2020
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
8
The power of house plants Weeding out the myth about air purification
joseph holoein arts writer
In 2014 I was in Belize helping build a hurricane shelter. While there, we met a local of Mayan ancestry who showed us several native plants that were growing wild in his backyard: a cacao tree, coffee plant, and many coconuts and calabash fruit. He explained to us how he built the roof of his wooden home from the plants of the jungle. The hut-like structure had one open room with a table in the middle and a wood-fuelled clay oven with an opening in the front for adding more logs. While running through the jungle can be a disastrous decision for a number of reasons, our guide noted to us that there is a specific kind of plant that grows upward using the trees around it and extends a net-like curtain of vines that are as sharp as razor blades. Although I prefer the safety of Canada, owning my own tropical plants has helped my mind wander back to Belize. I am sure that anyone else who travels and loves plants could say there is a specific kind that helps transport their mind elsewhere. Maybe maple leaves make
you think of eastern Canada, or the smell of pine makes you think of your time westward or in northern Saskatchewan. Or perhaps a family member has a particular passion for plants. Many memories and emotions of ours can be linked to plants. There is something special about this relationship we hold with plants. They can help us imagine, dream, see things differently, or perhaps it’s just the visual aspect that causes us to appreciate their presence. Do we really own them, or do they own us? For example, my typical morning involves a coffee and as I sit and look at my collection of plants, I find that I am naturally moved to water them. Perhaps we need to see electronics in our life as holding a similar power over us. Remove the item and the power it holds over your life is dispelled. Yet, it is easier said than done for some things and eliminating distractions might not be our life’s goal. For some, distractions are a coping mechanism, and taking care of plants can be exactly what we need to feel at peace. Sometimes the simple act of potting a plant can focus one’s mind enough on the process that
Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash
Make like a tree and flourish
we forget for a moment the pressures of the world. Alternatively, sometimes these tasks provide the time for thought. We can be so busy with life that we forget to think deeply about who, what, and why we are the way we are. The benefits of plants are multifoliate. Just over a year ago I was
working at a local flower shop. I was told that certain plants like the snake plant in particular can actually help purify the air – so there I was, advertising the amazing air-purifying benefits of the snake plant. Little did I know, this belief would be overturned and labeled a “myth” by scientists as noted by National Geographic.
They do still purify the air in some minute way, but the significance is now highly debatable. So while my plants will not be revolutionizing the air in my home, they will continue to inspire creativity, a connection to nature, and small acts of stewardship.
How I keep calm: Capturing history the way I want to remember it A series featuring the different ways students are finding peace and contentment during the pandemic
isaac adeoluwa atayero contributor Crisis has never been as inescapable as it is right now. Whether it is dealing with the pandemic, social justice issues or a professor who is yet to figure out Zoom, there is some level of difficulty and looming danger that is present everywhere you look. The overt documentation of this period in time has been unrelenting thanks to social media and high quality smartphone cameras. Everyone has something to say and share or reshare and it has all become overwhelming for me. When I look back at this year, I don’t want to look back at crisis after crisis. I don’t want my phone gallery to only be filled with protest after COVID-19 warning. So I decided to do something about it. I started taking portraits of my friends and anyone who would let me put my iPhone in their face. I have always loved taking pictures with the portrait
Carillon
How have you been keeping calm during the pandemic?
mode on my iPhone but I did not realize how much fun it would be to take pictures of other people smiling and being crisis-free in that moment. I look at my camera roll now and I smile at the silly faces, the glammed up winks, and the ef-
myself with. It gives me the ability to capture the people around me in what I believe is their true essence. It affords me the chance to celebrate people in a world that gives you little to celebrate. There have been so many cancelled birthdays, anniversaries, naming
some proactivity but I’m glad I have been able to make it to the other side. I am strongly considering creating an Instagram page to share my portraits and maybe some of the stories of the people featured. Happy stories of course. Nothing sad or dramatic. We have
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It is important that we are able to create some type of pseudo-reality for ourselves and preserve some of the joy in the world. – Isaac Adeoluwa Atayero
fortless beauty that is able to exist during these crazy times. It is important that we are able to create some type of pseudo-reality for ourselves and preserve some of the joy in the world. Taking pictures enables me to do that. It allows me to control, in a small way, the energy I surround
ceremonies, weddings, funerals and vow renewals this year. If my request to take someone’s picture brings them even a little bit of that stolen celebration, that is plenty. For so many people, reality is too real and there is seemingly no way to get ahead of it. I took
an abundance of that already. We are all part of history in a way that those that came before have not been. The times are no longer just happening to us, we are also happening to the times. We are all historians with our platforms and devices. If we choose to, we can help tell more
nuanced stories of what it felt like to be alive in 2020 through our Snapchat videos, Instagram reels, boring Tik Toks, rambunctious tweets or whatever device we choose to chronicle our lived experiences with. Many of us do this already without realizing it. We are usually propagating someone else’s version of our own reality and fully accepting it. I challenge you to stop. Take a break from social media and the news. Ask yourself what you really feel about hot button issues minus influencers and the media. Discover how angry you are or how at peace you really are. Read, write and share from the place that is most honest to you. Capture history the way you want to remember.
oct 22 - oct 28, 2020
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
9
By the students, for the students The University of Regina Psychology Students Association holly worby staff writer “Growing a student community of healthy minds” is a phrase that could (and should) apply to any student organization, but the Psychology Students Association (PSA) at the University of Regina has taken pride in making that phrase their goal this year. From a complete website overhaul to building a mentorship program from scratch, they’ve been busy at work since May attempting to bridge as many gaps and provide as many opportunities as possible. The PSA for the 2020-2021 school year is made up of eighteen undergraduate psychology students from both the art and science programs who are using their ambition to make a difference. One of their first steps in going above and beyond this year has been to compile a list of local mental health resources that can be found on their website (ureginapsa.org) under the “support” tab. While some of these resources are specifically student-directed, they’ve also taken care to list many other local sources that can be accessed by anyone needing help in areas like addiction, sexual health, or suicidal thoughts. Shae Sackman, the PSA’s president, was particularly passionate about making these resources available and saw it as part of a wider ethical responsibility as “a steward of the profession.” It’s not uncommon for members of the PSA to be approached by students requesting mental health resources, which
in the past has been hard to accommodate as Saskatchewan’s mental health resources are quite scattered. Compiling some of the best-established resources into one list has made it easier for the PSA to direct people to the organization that will best help them, and this list is publicly accessible on their website at all times. Shelby Leis, vice-president of the PSA, mentioned that in prior years the PSA was seen as more of an exclusive social group, an image that this year’s PSA doesn’t identify with. To break that per-
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Zoom call weekly, on alternating Tuesday or Thursday evenings. A schedule list is available on the PSA’s website, as are the Zoom links you’ll need if you’d like to attend one. The Psych Lounge is always attended and housed by PSA members who are more than happy to share study tips, tutor, give advice on course selection, or inform students on the teaching styles of various professors so you can find one that suits your learning style. Along with being a great space to hang out and visit with
are inspired by the PSA’s devotion to offering students as many opportunities as possible while supporting them in every area possible. They want to openly and honestly address issues from an anti-colonial, anti-racist, inclusive, and radically accepting perspective. A complaint raised by many psychology students concerns the pressures of trying to get into the honours program, which is competitive for psychology students at the University of Regina. Sackman commented on this growing,
The PSA has chosen to highlight alternative uses for psychology degrees in their newsletter, “Pscholastic,” which can be found on their website.
ception and become “an actual, viable source for people,” an emphasis on sharing knowledge has been established. All eighteen members have a wide variety of connections and interests which, when combined, result in incredible new opportunities like one of the PSA’s most recently created resources – the Psych Lounge. Put simply, the Psych Lounge is a virtual hang-out space for people, psychology students or not. While the PSA would like to have a physical office to visit, coronavirus has pushed that goal back a ways, so the Psych Lounge is a temporary solution that’s accessible and inclusive, offered via
like-minded peers, the Psych Lounge will be used to host the events that the PSA has in the works. While there’s nothing set in stone quite yet, I would highly recommend keeping your eye on the calendar located on their website, or following the PSA on instagram (@ureginapsa) to stay updated on the more socially-focused events. Sackman and Leis said the PSA has been working with local mental health organizations and professors from the U of R to provide presentations on everything from potential volunteer experiences to talks on healthy coping strategies and much, much more. These events
shared mindset that if you’re not good enough for honours, you’re not good enough for psychology – it’s simply not true. However, the honours program is often presented by professors as the only way to progress in academia; this is concerning for many students, as there’s normally no more than a couple dozen students accepted into the honours program for psychology each year. This, along with a lack of representation among faculty, has led to many people leaving the program because they don’t see a future for themselves using this path and can’t identify with those who have.
In part to address this, the PSA has chosen to highlight alternative uses for psychology degrees in their newsletter, “Pscholastic,” which can be found on their website. It’s filled with writings by members of the PSA, graduates from the undergraduate psychology program, and student contributors. If you’re a student looking to contribute writing, an opinion, or even artwork, email internal@ureginapsa.org to get more information on making your voice heard. Another recent development rolled out by the PSA this fall has been their mentorship program, “Peer-to-Peer,” where first and second year undergraduate psychology students are paired with an undergraduate psychology student in at least their third year to have as a resource. It’s difficult to connect naturally with students in further years of study, especially with our current remote learning format, and they hope that through this program, students will take on the PSA’s mindset of sharing knowledge and experience for the benefit of others. The mentor-mentee pairings are made at the start of every semester; the pairs for the Fall 2020 semester have already been set, but if the program is of interest to you there will be an application process in early January for the Winter 2021 semester. Any questions about this program, or other programs mentioned in this article may be directed to hello@ ureginapsa.org.
University of Regina Psychology Students Association
Building a community of healthy minds.
sports
10
editor: ethan butterfield sports@carillonregina.com the carillon | october 22 - october 28, 2020
The world of female athletes: Josie Brooks Looking at every perspective
sarah nakonechny sports writer Josie Brooks is a 21-year-old force of nature that one would be a fool to go against on the lanes. She has been participating in five-pin bowling for the last 16 years and boy does that experience show! Over the years she has been able to refine her techniques and has developed a reputation that strikes fear into the heart of her competitors. Brooks is one of many strong female athletes that proves hard work, dedication and the ability to block out other individuals’ opinions can allow you to succeed in anything. By staying focused on her goals, she has been
Sarah Nakonechny
Positivity all around.
young age. While all her friends were getting ready to play teeball, Brooks was getting ready to bowl and has never looked back. She has developed a love for the sport like no other. Growing up at the lanes of Glencairn, there is no other way she could have imagined spending her time as she grew up. Throughout her bowling career Brooks has cleaned up across the country, making 10 appearances at Nationals as well as participating in one Winter Games. She qualified for the Youth Bowl Canada National Champion-
on into her adult career this has brought forth new and exciting opportunities for her. Her rookie year in adult league during 2019 Brooks went to the Canadian Open Championships where her team placed sixth and the Canadian Master Association National Championships where she placed eighth in the singles event. As well during this past year she should have gone to the Canadian Master Association National Championships again, however, due to COVID, the event was unable to be held. With so many national ap-
the Adam Christopher Hammel Memorial Scholarship which was a really great way to end off her youth career. To begin her adult career Brooks was also awarded the Youth Bowl Canada Scholarship in 2019. Although Brooks has clearly been making a name for herself, it hasn’t been an easy road to get there. She has bad knees and a bad back which can hinder her performance if not taken care of. If neglected it can affect the form she needs when bowling. As she tries to push through to ensure that she is also at peak perfor-
adult leagues as female bowlers are more likely to take seasons off to have children and care for their families. However, Brooks has proven time and time again that female bowlers can offer just as much, if not more skill and ability than some of the males. Although this mentality is also sitting in the back of people’s minds, Brooks doesn’t let it bring her down. According to her, knowing your skill level and what works most effectively for you is the easiest way to combat these views. Throughout the years Brooks has been able to harness her
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While all her friends were getting ready to play tee-ball, Brooks was getting ready to bowl and has never looked back. – Sarah Nakonechny
able to collect quite the folder of achievements. You may be asking how does one get involved in a sport like five-pin bowling? For Brooks this specific sport is near and dear to her family’s heart, which made it just a matter of time before she decided to carry the torch. Her father was a bowler when he was younger, which allowed him to create a strong relationship with the owner of Glencairn Bolodrome. These close family ties to the sport caused her to become fascinated with it at a very
ships in 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2019 where she has received silver in teams, bronze in teams, fourth place, silver in singles, gold in combo team and silver in duo teams over the years. In 2016 and 2017 she made it to the Canadian Youth Challenge but was unable to make the podium either year. As well in 2017 Brooks took bronze in the team event at the Canadian National Championships. All of these amazing accomplishments were throughout her youth career as a bowler. Now that she has moved
pearances many people within the bowling community in Canada know the name Josie Brooks. There is one specific reason why they should know her name, as it should be recognized in the history books: in 2019, Brooks made it to 3 national tournaments in one year. There has not been another individual who has been able to accomplish this from her centre in over 55 years. This is a true testament to her amazing abilities and her dedication to the sport. This dedication has not gone unrecognized. In 2018 she was awarded
mance, she continues to practice three to four times per week. Having the ability to go through drills and games as frequently as she does allows for her to be as prepared as possible to bowl in any physical state. It hasn’t just been this physical aspect that Brooks has had to work through throughout her career. There is also a mentality that male athletes are the better bowlers as they are viewed as having more strength and are seen as being more consistent. This consistency is especially prevalent in
strength and share the joy of her passion with the country. While doing this she has been able to grow as an athlete and has one piece of advice to provide other female athletes: don’t ever let anyone tell you that you’re any less of an athlete because of who you are. As she continues to maintain her skill while waiting for tournaments to resume, this piece of advice is something that she will continue to remind herself of.
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 11
sports
oct 22 - oct 28, 2020
Lumberjax Axe Throwing: the hidden gem of local sports “Axing” all the right questions
holly worby staff writer Since December, 2016, Lumberjax Axe Throwing has been a building filled with full-body laughs and valuable, humbling lessons. It was started by Danny Ritz, now the regional manager, whose interest in axe throwing was sparked by some competitive axe throwing videos he’d seen online. It’s been a quickly growing sports for many years and several reasons, most of those reasons centring around it actually being a sport anyone can do. It can be competitive, or not, depending on what type of experience you’re looking for. You can bring friends and make a game of it, have it as your me-time/selfcare activity of the week, or join their throwing league and compete in tournaments around the country. Ritz said the youngest person who’s thrown with them was three-years old, and their oldest was an 88-year old blind man – there is no limit on age with this sport. Another major benefit brought up by Ritz is that you don’t need any sort of “athletic” body type or in-depth sports knowledge to be successful, which makes it available to a much wider variety of people. There’s also not a lot of equipment required to participate; really all you need to bring is close-toed shoes to avoid getting wood splinters from the targets in your feet. As far as outfits, Ritz said they’ve seen people show up in everything from sweatpants to business suits, and that you’ll have the best experi-
Mr. Bottle (Flicker)
Life in the axe lane.
ence wearing whatever’s comfortable to move in for you. If you’d like to throw by yourself, as a pair, or you have a group of less than six people, you can book a slot of an hour for $25 per person. If the group is six people or larger you can book a two-hour slot for $40 per person. These bookings include coaching by the staff at Lumberjax Axe Throwing on how to throw safely and correctly, as well as the opportunity to try your hand at throwing. Ritz mentioned that there is no single proper way to throw that works
know everything” attitude, chances are you’ll perceive the coaching as belittling, which is in no way where the staff are coming from. If you’re not willing to learn then you’ll only ever be as good as you are now, so it’s important to keep yourself in the proper headspace. Your attitude going in will largely dictate the experience you have, so if you can remember to check your pride at the door and you don’t take yourself too seriously when you goof up, those fullbody laughs I mentioned earlier will happen naturally.
able than they are, and possibly how they react when they’re not immediately really good at something. Whether they’re closed to new experiences, refuse to take direction because they insist they know best, or have an adult hissy fit because they’re losing in a game, you’ll have an opportunity to see those red flags early on. Life, much like learning a sport, is all about trial and error, and if someone can’t handle the “trial” of losing or being coached, chances are they won’t handle life’s trials much better.
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… a quickly growing sports for many years and several reasons, most of those reasons centring around it actually being a sport anyone can do. – Holly Worby
for everyone. That’s part of why the staff are always supervising – to help people tweak their grip or throwing styles and find what works best for them. This is where those valuable, humbling lessons come in. To have the best experience, Ritz said it’s essential to come in with a “willingness to learn and have fun.” If a staff member is taking the time to point out areas you could improve in and is taking the initiative to show you how, they’re genuinely doing it for your benefit. If you go in with an “I already
The demographics of their clients vary depending on time of year, according to Ritz. They’re a popular choice for wind-up parties of various sports teams, for staff holiday parties, team-building events, and even for date nights. When you think about it, it’s actually a really good idea for a date night, especially if you’re just getting to know the person. You’ll have the opportunity to see how they act when they’re out of their comfort zone, how they take (or refuse) direction and advice from people more knowledge-
On a more positive note, Ritz happily mentioned that the competitions and the sport itself is “heavily community and family based.” Even though the point of the competitions is to best your opponents, everyone cheers for everyone because they genuinely want to see others do well even if it means they personally don’t do so well. This makes for a supportive, collaborative atmosphere where every person wants to learn more, and share what they’ve learned so far. To bring that atmosphere lo-
cally, Lumberjax Axe Throwing hosts league nights once a week where people can compete in games of three-rounds each. If you’re intrigued by the competitive aspect and want the opportunity to attend tournaments, this is the best avenue to take as it introduces you to more of the “sport” aspect of the activity. You’ll also have the opportunity to throw their larger axe – not the hatchets used normally – In the event of a tie, which really helps build suspense and adds a new layer of difficulty. Building their local impact, Lumberjax Axe Throwing also hosts fundraising events, which can be booked through their website just as their regular bookings are. In the past they’ve hosted fundraisers for the Humbolt Broncos, Regina Cat Rescue, and various sports teams who need money for their own equipment and tournaments. The profits from the event are split fifty-fifty between Lumberjax Axe Throwing and the organization fundraising, which is a higher percentage than many other common fundraising opportunities offer. It’s important both to Ritz and his employees that they make the opportunities to give back to their community and to those who’ve helped them get this far.
sports
oct 22 - oct 28, 2020
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
A look into toe wrestling
12
Literally going toe to toe
sarah nakonechny sports writer The United Kingdom has given us many things to talk about in our everyday lives and they continue to not disappoint. In 1974 the sport of toe wrestling was born and has continued to thrive. Now you might be wondering, why on earth did this sport start? Well it started with people being upset that their country couldn’t produce any world champions and they were desperate to have a champion in their country for the world to admire. What better way to produce a guaranteed champion than to create a sport that the rest of the world has never heard of before? This was believed to guarantee them a champion that they could boast about to the world at last. Toe wrestling involves two opposing participants lock feet by interlacing their toes together. Originally participants would sit on stools and attempt to knock each other off using their interlaced foot. However, they decided that was too dangerous as it resulted in many horrendous injuries. This resulted in them moving the participants safely onto the floor where they were expected to pin the others foot, similar to that of arm wrestling. This once again led to too many injuries as many people would end up with broken ankles as a result of the aggressive movement. Which leads us to where we are today. Participants are still expected to sit on the floor
but will now set their interlocked feet onto a board. They are no longer required to interlace all of their toes and only need their big toes locked together. Then they have to force their opponent’s foot to touch the small board that’s a few inches away. While attempting this they are not allowed to raise themselves up and must keep themselves sitting firmly on the floor. Similar to arm wrestling, there is no time limit for how long it takes to pin the opponent’s foot. Matches are done in a best-twoout-of-three style before a winner is declared. This is not a game for the faint of heart. Toe wrestling is serious business that can result in some pretty nasty injuries and other health concerns. As one might expect given the nature of the sport, breaks and sprains are extremely common in one’s ankles and toes. This can be devastating to an individual’s career as a professional toe wrestler if they don’t heal properly. In general, you do not want to participate if you have weak ankles since you are guaranteed to either injure yourself or just continuously lose. There is also the concern of various scratches and scrapes occurring from your opponent’s toenails. This has been combated by having their toenails checked prior to matches beginning and the expectation that competitors maintain short toenails for competitions. There is also the huge concern of funguses and other skin diseases being passed
Adrian Hon
No easy “feet”
through to other competitors, which means that each individual must be checked by a podiatrist prior to competing. If they don’t pass this initial exam they are not eligible to compete. Foot health is no laughing matter in these games. Every sport also has their own way of showing good sportsmanship before and after the matches. Whether that’s respecting someone’s warm up area or shaking their hand at the end of the game, every game has their own way that players can demonstrate proper sportsmanship. Toe wrestling is no different. As a sign
of respect for one’s opponent, traditionally you would remove your opponent’s footwear and socks and you would allow them to do the same for you. One must be cautious when performing such an act on the most important body part in this competition. If you are too aggressive when removing these items, you may cause injury and it can be viewed as trying to sabotage your competition. Even though it’s unusual, toe wrestling is no laughing matter. There is a lot of thought and training that goes into such a unique sport. Just like every
sport, the athletes are very serious about competing and the United Kingdom sporting community was definitely excited about the increased opportunity to raise the number of world champions that their country has. As the interest and the participation grows tournaments continue to grow in their level of competitiveness and the winners continue to earn more respect as a result. Although it’s primary audience is still in Europe, others are slowly becoming more aware of its existence. At this rate the Olympics better watch out. Toe wrestling is coming.
Champions Series: The Los Angeles Lakers From NHL to NBA ethan butterfield sports editor After the NHL season wrapped up in a nice tidy bow and the Tampa Bay Lightning took home the biggest prize in hockey, the sport of basketball finished up its run and crowned a champion of its very own. That champion being the Los Angeles Lakers, who earned their championship in a best-of-seven series against the Miami Heat. Of course, even those who have the vaguest idea of what a basketball is know the Lakers big win means another title for the man, the myth, the legend, Lebron James, as well as a talented core of others. Before getting into that core or James himself, let’s take a bit of a dive into the championship history of the Lakers. With this win, the Lakers franchise has now earned 17 NBA championships all-time. However, this is kind of technicality as five of those titles were earned as the Minneapolis Lakers, but considering the organization is a continuation of that team, the official count is 17 altogether. What should be brought to attention with regards to those wins are the players that have come through the Lakers on their way to said titles – players
like Shaquille O’Neal and Magic Johnson being just two out of the many legends that have played for them. Moving from the organization itself to the competition the organization faced throughout the league, the rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics is arguably the greatest in the game of basketball. That being said, the Lakers also had their fair share of rivalries with other teams that left their mark on history. Notable ones include the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons (which saw the Pistons win two championships). Then there’s the Lakers and fellow Los Angeles team, the Clippers, making for some inter-city competition which is also fun to witness. Finally, there’s the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs, which, being an interdivisional rivalry, always seems to get ugly fast. Going back quickly to the Celtics and the Lakers, the most interesting thing with regards to their rivalry (which last saw them playing against each other in 2010 in the NBA Finals) is that now, after the 2020 NBA Finals, the two teams have 17 championships a piece. Pretty staggering all in all. With the history lesson out of
the way, it’s not hard to see why the Lakers have found their way to new glory under the leadership of Lebron James and Anthony Davis. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Danny Green were also key players for the Lakers, as they averaged around 10 to a dozen points each night. Frank Vogel
should also be given props as his win over the Heat marks his first NBA championship ever, always great to get off your back. All in all, this win for the Lakers shows a couple of things, Lebron isn’t done yet, the Lakers aren’t done yet (despite the decade long drought), and hopefully for
Frank Vogel, he isn’t done yet. In any professional sport, you want to continue the momentum that you have whenever you can get it, and I firmly believe that the Lakers will keep riding this momentum into the next season.
Pixy
A fine logo for a fine team.
oct 22 - oct 28, 2020
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 13
sports
The Butterfield breakdown Week to week, league to league ethan butterfield sports editor Hey all, I’m back yet again with another sports update regarding the happenings of the various major leagues and whatnot. Another week has come and gone with its own set of twists and turns. Major developments are coming out of several areas making for good conversation. Whether it’s about the newly crowned NBA champions, the continuing developing landscape of the NFL, or ongoing MLB playoffs, those interested can find the news just below: NHL: With the free agency signings going on in the NHL, there has definitely been some note-worthy moves being made by teams. One of the most surprising moves (to me anyway), is “Big” Joe Thorton going from the San Jose Sharks to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Considering that the 41-year-old Thorton used to be a Boston Bruin, I see this as the ultimate brutal move. I mean, he doesn’t have any control over it, but how could he. Other signings saw a huge goaltender switch-a-roo as teams were signing the netminders left and right. The Washington Capitals picked up “The King” Henrik Lundqvist, Matt Murray found a spot on the Ottawa Senators
roster, the Dallas Stars resigned Anton Khudobin to a three year contract, the Calgary Flames found Jacob Markstrom to put inbetween the posts, Corey Crawford joined the New Jersey Devils squad, The Vancouver Canucks may have lucked out with Braden Holtby, and finally, Regina’s own Devan Dubnyk ended up on the San Jose Sharks. That wasn’t the end of it though, as other majors signings also occurred, including that of Taylor Hall, who is now a mem-
potential of breaking a Gordie Howe record with this signing. The 41-year-old now has the ability to pass most career regular season games played by simply playing 45 games next season. NFL: Week 6 has now rolled around in the National Football League and things couldn’t be more crazy. The Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants, who were previously without a win, have found victory in Week 6 as they both now move to 1-5. Also, speaking of the New
move to 5-0), the Tennessee Titans also earned a hard fought 5-0 record after a win against the Houston Texans, and lastly, shockingly, the Denver Broncos managed to get a win against the New England Patriots (who were missing some pretty key players admittedly). MLB: It’s playoff time in Major League Baseball and we’re now down to the last two teams in the MLB championship, the Tampa Bay Rays will be taking on the Los
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Another week has come and gone with its own set of twists and turns. – Ethan Butterfield
ber of the Buffalo Sabres. It’s hard to say if this is an upgrade for Hall, but I suppose we’ll see when the season starts. As well, former Bruin Torey Krug is now a part of the St. Louis Blues, which should provide a boost for the young player as the Blues are recent Cup winners. Veteran Patrick Marleau will be returning to the San Jose Sharks with a oneear contract. Marleau also has the
York Giants win, I guess the ‘Battle of the Worst of New York’ is over rather soon as the Jets take the crown at 0-6 with a loss to the Miami Dolphins. In other news, the Green Bay Packers suffered their first loss against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Cleveland Browns winning wave of momentum came to a stop after a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers (who now
Angeles Dodgers in the World Series in what is a startling case of deja vu with regards to these two cities competing for championships. The Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup, and the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Championship. I suppose one city will have the honour of being a duel champion. Not a bad 2020 for them, all things considered. The Houston Astros and the
Atlanta Braves were the last two teams eliminated from the playoff race, much to the delight of fans with regards to the Houston Astros. Fans of baseball still haven’t forgiven the Astros for their scandal and took to Twitter, using #cheaters to call out the team for their misdeeds and to vocalize their excitement at Astros elimination. #Cheaters was, at the time, trending on the social media site. NBA: The NBA season is over with the official champions being the Los Angeles Lakers. Teams will now look to continue developing in the offseason in order to make a run for the title next year (expect for the New York Knicks, never again). This will occur as a result of the free agency and the approaching NBA draft that will take place on November 18, 2020. Well, I hope you enjoyed this rundown, fingers crossed that there was, once again, enough in it to hold your attention. I do my best to keep the news as relevant or ‘up and coming’ as possible but sometimes there can be things that end up being a bit stale given the timeframe. Regardless, I look forward to continuing to bring you the major news of the major leagues from week to week.
Ethan Butterfield
Keeping up with the current happenings.
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editor: marty grande-sherbert op-ed@carillonregina.com the carillon | october 22 - october 28, 2020
Trudeau, there is racism in Canada. You’re defending it.
#AllEyesOnMikmaki
Yesterday (on October 19), an emergency debate was held in the House of Commons on the subject of the violence and intimidation taking place in fisheries in Mi’kmaq territory (Mi’kma’ki), or Nova Scotia. The Indigenous fishers of the area, who are exercising their Treaty 1752 rights to a moderate livelihood through hunting and fishing, have been met with assaults, sabotage, arson and discrimination from businesses. All this from local commercial fishers who claim their own livelihoods are threatened, a claim that feels ridiculous when one considers the size of the commercial lobster industry in comparison to the Indigenous fisheries. Scientists also disagree with the claims of commercial fishermen that Indigenous fisheries would threaten the lobster population, and admit even in their discussions about fishery sustainability that the deeper issue is “a racism problem.” So Canada is facing a crisis because of a high concentration of hate crimes against Mi’kmaw fishers. Yet, during this debate, I heard Justin Trudeau in one of his many vague statements say that “racism has no place in Canada.” I cannot express my frustration enough. Not only is this an avoidance of the severity of the issue, but it is an outright lie. Racism has clearly taken a place in Canada right in front of us, right now, and not at all for the first time in only a few months. The least the government can do is acknowledge it. After years of repeated acts of systemic armed violence against Indigenous people, including those perpetrated by the RCMP and the Canadian military itself – a casein-point being the raid the on Unis’tot’en blockade – it is a spit in the face to thousands of people for a Prime Minister to
pikrepo
Lobsters aren’t kosher, but if I did eat them, I’d be boycotting right now.
absolve himself of complicity by suggesting racism is an external problem not built into the fabric of the state he represents. In Mi’kma’ki now, the Sipekne’katik First Nation only asks to be given the same protection from RCMP that settler commercial fishers would be given under their circumstances. But according to Chief Michael Sack, RCMP are doing next to nothing. As much as this infuriates me, it doesn’t surprise me either. What real intervention can the RCMP do, with their history? After earlier this year they were the ones violating UNDRIP? Jean Battiste, the only Mi’kmaw MP in the House of Commons, reminded viewers and attendees of the debate that the right
to a moderate livelihood was not granted under the 1999 court decision; rather, this was a right that the Mi’kmaq have always had. It is an injustice in itself that Indigenous peoples (in multiple places – we see this happening as well in Algonquin territory with the moose moratorium) should have to wait for negotiations to subsist off their own lands. To be met with targeted violence on top of that is an absolute disgrace, and to turn responsibility away from the colonial state that allows all this adds the ultimate insult to injury. If settlers care about breaking down the anti-Indigenous foundations of Canada, we need to place our support with Indigenous peoples wherever they practise
self-determination. This government will not; the RCMP will not. It is up to us to build power together. A google doc with a donation link and more ways to advocate for Mi’kmaw fishers is available on the Idle No More website. Harsha Walia (@ harshawaila) has also compiled a helpful collection of information about the many similar struggles happening right now. October 19-23 has recently been declared a week of action for the Mi’kmaq, so keep your eyes open for initiatives and actions near you!
marty grande-sherbert op-ed editor
Don’t give up on Halloween – treat it as a challenge
Traditions can mean a lot. We should take them wherever we can Ah yes, spooky season is upon us... or perhaps it has yet to leave, depending on how you look at it. It’s fair to say that Halloween is a time of celebrating the abnormal, which this year in particular has been full of, even though abnormalities we usually like to celebrate are our wildest fantasies about fantastical creatures, as Halloween becomes an excuse to play dress-up as adults. It’s also another chance to get together with friends and family to have a good time. Granted, this Halloween will be less than traditional because of COVID-19, but that does not mean all is lost. Halloween isn’t exactly a holiday that depends on formal traditions. Some people throw costume parties, have drinks, and share stories. Others go all out with the decorations, providing a full Halloween experience. Some love the seasonal activities, like watching horror movies, going to haunted places, and some love Instagramming different fall activities. Some do a mix of everything above. Some of the things I’ve listed maybe can’t happen this year, because people aren’t comfortable or there will be rules preventing it. However, we have gotten this far during the pandemic together by adapting and making decisions (though they’re not always wise, I’m sure). I know everyone has differing opinions on how to manage the virus, and I’m not suggesting any particular strategy. I simply want to say that there aren’t many days in
a year we can treat as special occasions. For this reason, I feel it’s important to do our best to seize every opportunity for ourselves to celebrate what we do have in some way. If decorating is your thing, there’s nothing that says you can’t do it this year. If you love trick or treaters, take orders from the kids you know to make up sanitized treat bags, and drop them off no-contact if you have to. Dress up, do the makeup, and set up a makeshift outdoor theatre so people can social distance. And though I don’t condone doing anything potentially reckless or harmful, I’m sure there are haunted places abandoned enough you could find somewhere to spend time. Many close knit groups came together once they heard about quarantine happening. Embrace those connections! There are guidelines to group events; educate yourself on those and participate if it’s safe for you to, or at your own risk otherwise. I know it’s not fun to have to think about barriers and rules surrounding a holiday meant for fun and expression, but it can be taken as a challenge. We can challenge ourselves to adapt to how we have fun and enjoy ourselves, possibly forging new experiences for Halloween that could become new traditions. I can’t speak for everyone else, but for me, this is one of the better challenges I’ve come across this year. I will probably get some eye rolls for these suggestions, and that’s okay, I know this is a sensitive subject for everyone. If
you’re in a place where your risk is lower and you’re in perfect health, great. If you’re not, and you think this is all garbage, you have every right to feel that way, too. Regardless of how anyone feels though, we’re all ultimately still human beings. Therefore, it’s important we try and face things as positively as we can, and find our own methods of enjoyment when it comes to traditions we depend on. If you need or
want to be cautious, if the rules are stricter for you or you can’t celebrate the same way – whatever the circumstances are. I hope this has inspired you to still find a way to enjoy yourself and have fun, by whatever means you can.
rayanne gwilliam contributer
Julia Raasch via Unsplash
Get ready for the coronavirus costumes.
oct 22 - oct 28, 2020
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carillonregina.com | the carillon |
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Dear Scott Moe: “Pillars of Life” doesn’t cut it
Sask party won’t take criticism
Nicolas Raymond via Flickr
Political debates cause me to take psychic damage these days.
Content Warning: This article contains discussion of the suicide epidemic, medical negligence, and intergenerational trauma affecting Indigenous people. “Pillars of Life,” Saskatchewan’s Suicide Prevention Plan, is not the most efficient option to reduce suicide rates in Saskatchewan. This is because it only does the bare minimum, plain and simple. “Pillars of Life” does not have any grit. By “grit,” I mean something with any friction, something that you can sink your nails into. Grit is required of legislative suicide prevention. Reducing suicide rates requires grit, and none of that is demonstrated within the Pillars of Life. Vague and underwhelming, the plan outlines how, in a five-step process, the program will miraculously lower suicide rates with measures hospitals should already be taking for people with mental illness. Not only were the actions taken so far ineffective, but suicide rates also continue to surge. After the Pillars of Life plan launched, Samwell Uko died in Wascana Lake after being turned away from the Regina General Hospital. If this was not your first clue that things aren’t working, I don’t know what it will take. NDP MLA Doyle Vermette has challenged the Saskatchewan Party on its efficiency with his own Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Plan. Vermette sees the effects of poverty in Indigenous communities, and wants to fund the scarce social programming in Northern Saskatchewan. He raises excellent points about how the plan will not reduce suicide rates, being too vague. It is ignorant to believe that all issues related to suicide stem only from mental health. Environmental factors can also
heavily influence people, depending on their living standards. When it comes to Indigenous communities disproportionately affected by suicide, “[s]ixty per cent of children on reserves live in poverty,” stated NDP candidate Ryan Meili in the 2020 Leader’s Debate. Poverty within First Nations communities, in turn, is a result of the long-lasting intergenerational trauma inflicted upon Indigenous peoples through the assimilation tactics of John A. Macdonald. Contrary to the colonizer’s perspective, this trauma
reserves as well. Acknowledging high suicide rates in Saskatchewan is only half the truth. There needs to be action taken on behalf of Saskatchewan’s government to implement methods of action to improve Indigenous quality of life. The recent 2020 Leader’s Debate also mentioned “Pillars of Life,” which Moe adamantly defended as being significant because the Canadian Mental Health Authority approved it, despite the harsh criticisms outlined above, Moe continues to defend the credibility of the plan, even
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The ignorance shown by Scott Moe — prioritizing the economy over the people — demonstrates how steps towards reconciliation are yet to be met by the Sask Party. – Gillian Massie
did not disappear when the final residential school closed in 1996. The effects of genocide inflicted upon Indigenous communities still manifest in physical forms like chronic illnesses, alcoholism, mental illness, and suicide. While “Pillars of Life” mentions Indigenous suicide rates, it neglects to acknowledge Indigenous people’s intergenerational trauma. While the plan shows many preventative measures, it needs to be met with a commitment to improve quality of life on
though learning from its mistakes should be a priority in the spirit of reconciliation. Furthermore, the belligerence of Moe and his refusal to budge on improving the suicide plan proves that the Sask Party is only willing to do the bare minimum to improve suicide rates. If the provincial government cannot advocate for its citizens’ best interest, the suicide rates will continue to skyrocket. Tristan Durocher, a Métis fiddler from the North of Saskatchewan, has been a key
player in advocating for lowering suicide rates. Durocher marched from northern Saskatchewan to the Legislature building’s lawn after the provincial legislature dismissed Vermette’s Bill. Upon his arrival, he set up a ceremonial tipi. He then began a hunger strike to acknowledge the rising suicide rates, raising that they should be regarded as a state of emergency. The Leader’s Debate acknowledged that Moe sent two of his Ministers over to speak to Durocher, rather than speak to him one-on-one. If Moe takes the issue of rising Indigenous suicide rates seriously, then why didn’t he walk onto the lawn to talk to Durocher? NDP Leader Ryan Meili also demonstrated his distaste for the “Pillars of Life” and spotlighted Durocher for peacefully advocating for Indigenous lives. He was also critical of Moe’s choice to ignore Durocher, who is right outside his office. Durocher was given a court injunction for violating a municipal bylaw by setting up his tipi on the lawn of the Legislature. In short, Scott Moe does not care that Tristan Durocher is advocating for the mental wellbeing of others, he wants his front lawn back. The ignorance shown by Scott Moe – prioritizing the economy over the people – demonstrates how steps towards reconciliation are yet to be taken by the Sask Party. If we cannot prioritize the importance of Indigenous lives, then lives will continue to be lost.
gillian massie staff writer
oct 22 - oct 28, 2020
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
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Religious bias, lost friends
A message from my Christian hometown Recently, I received an online message from someone I was good friends with back in high school. It motivated me to write this article, after thinking about how biased religious beliefs (in Christianity specifically) can draw people away from each other. To explain it, I have to explain my background: I grew up in a very small town in Southern Manitoba, where hypocrisy and hatred held a strong presence. There is a very clearly defined social hierarchy there, and at the top was the class of white, cisgender, straight, Christian men. It became very apparent that the “traditional Christian values” that my town held were really just a nice way of those men saying: “if you’re not like me, you don’t belong here.” Growing up in this town as an atheist, a woman, and someone very passionate about equality and social justice, I faced my fair share of challenges as I didn’t “belong” or “fit in” with the traditional Christian values the town so proudly stands by. I spent many years watching my peers – adults, teachers, community representatives, etc. – spread homophobic, transphobic, misogynistic, racist, and classist messages. For years I turned a blind eye, because I wanted to fit in. This meant attending morning prayer in the school gym, but it also meant not standing up when I saw someone being bullied for the colour of their skin or their assumed sexual orientation – and for that I am ashamed. Yet, as I got older, I realized that I had to refuse to allow that awful, hateful behaviour continue. I became an ally and advocate for those who had been silenced by the “good Christian values” that were displayed in every store, school, and square inch of the town. Being an atheist in a predominantly Christian town, I received so many invitations to youth groups and texts from people trying to “save me.” I experienced being cornered in a bathroom from someone who was determined to show me “who
God really is.” These were hard moments for me because it showed me that everyone around me saw me as lesser and damaged. I was told that I have no morals, and must be a bad person because I don’t have a “god” to guide me – when in reality, I have always been proud of the person I am, proud of the fact that I didn’t need a guide or god to decipher right from wrong. These messages still hurt me because I felt so misunderstood and isolated, as though I had to mute certain parts of myself just to be seen or liked. Then, during my senior year of high school, I became close to a certain individual, whom I will refer to as X. X is a Christian, yet they were (note that I switched to past tense here) what I would deem progressive. X was a feminist, an advocate
That was until I received a message from them. I will quote it now, removing any personal details: “Looking back,” X said, “it is clear for me to see that I was not necessarily looking for the wrong things, but I was looking for them in the wrong place, which ended up destroying me in the end.” They were referring finding love and happiness within our friendship, rather than turning to God to help them through a very hard time in their life. This is very hard for me to fathom, because it shows that kids who grow up being taught that God has all the answers also grow up to believe that relationships with people standing right in front of them are meaningless, leading them to feel guilty for finding healthy outlets and mental health supports.
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Every person should be accepted and loved by all regardless of who they are or who they love – religion should not pose a barrier, as it can be extremely damaging. – Reese Estwick
for the LGBTQ* community, actively anti-racist, and so much more. That is why the friendship worked. We shared a love and passion for people – the fact that they prayed and I didn’t was never an issue, because we had respect for each other as human beings. With that context, we move into the present day. I had not spoken to X much since we graduated in June of 2019, but in my mind, there were no hard feelings. When you move thousands of kilometers away from each other the spark of the friendship is likely to dim.
“I no longer support the LGBTQ community,” said X; “I chose my own happiness over honour and respect.” This is the most upsetting part to me, as this person spent so much time learning to support and love 2S and LGBTQ+ people and became an active advocate and ally. “I chose my own happiness over honour and respect” — I had to sit with this for a long time in order to truly understand what it meant. I concluded that my old friend felt they were “disrespecting God” by being an ally. The religious ideas this person chooses to follow oppress and breed fear and hatred towards
other humans. This is heartbreaking, as it means 2S and LGBTQ+ children growing up with that mindset grow up to believe that they are sinners just for being who they are. That idea can lead to a lifetime of struggle. Every person should be accepted and loved by all, regardless of who they are or who they love – religion should help further that message, not pose a barrier. As I previously mentioned, I am a passionate advocate and ally to marginalized communities. I made the decision to go to university and work towards becoming a human rights lawyer, so I can continue to fight against injustices and support those who are not given a fair and just walk through life. But my ex-friend said, “[i]f it is freedom you are fighting for and justice you are searching for, you are looking in all the wrong places.” They says that getting an education and learning from the stories and lived experience of other people is wrong, and that I should be looking towards God for all the answers. Again, this is difficult to hear, as it invalidates the lives and challenges of others. I love and respect each and every person, regardless of their religious affiliation or anything else. Yet, I do not respect when someone uses their religious beliefs to be hateful or discriminatory towards others. I want to acknowledge that I am in no way saying all Christians are the same as this individual, but there are many who are, and it can burn a lot of bridges like this one. If you are a person who is struggling with religious beliefs that seem to conflict with who you are, I love you, I see you, I support you. And I will end this in saying to everyone: be kind to one another.
reese estwick staff writer
pikist
We’re affected by the beliefs around us, for better or worse.
oct 22 - oct 28, 2020
carillonregina.com | the carillon |17
op-ed
Creativity, stability, and grace
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your creative practice is to take a step back
Julia Peterson
The author working on a woven bracelet in August 2019.
I like making things. In fact, I’m a much happier, more focused person when I have some sort of craft situation going on. I always used to time my study sessions around how long it would take a loaf of bread to rise, brought beadwork to lectures and once repaired an entire multi-layered petticoat while on a coffee shop date. And when I’m at the computer, I love taking some time to work on my fiction, filling pages and pages with notes and notions for a completely garbage “draft zero” before going back and editing it into something I can really be proud of. That’s why I was so surprised to look up a few weeks ago and realize – “hey, I’ve started wanting to make things again!” Which was quickly followed by the realization – “hold on a second, when did I stop wanting to make things?” It wasn’t as though I rolled out of bed one day and decided to pack away the needles and novelling. Over the last year-anda-bit, I’ve carted my craft supplies across four cities and two countries, even when I didn’t have a lot of space and had to make tough decisions about what to leave behind. But it’s been a difficult couple of years. Money was tight, school was intense, workdays were long and at the end of the day, if I finally had a little time, I rarely had the energy to pick up yet another project. And if I did happen to have a little bit of energy left over, I didn’t feel justified spending it on something that wasn’t going to help with rent, tuition or groceries. That didn’t stop me from trying to continue some parts of my creative practice. I had internalized the message that “writers write.” That is to say, you can’t wait for the inspiration/motivation/ideal circumstances that might never arrive; you just have to keep showing up at the blank page and putting words on it until some-
thing good happens. So I kept working on my fiction throughout this whole period of what I now realize was creative burnout. But I wasn’t enjoying it. It was a slog. I struggled to see projects through or even make any progress on them, and I kept wondering what I was doing wrong. Where was the fun? Where was the spark? And I thought if I just kept throwing myself at this brick wall, I was bound to eventually break through. But, of course, that’s not what happened. Because, yes, “writers write” and “makers make” – but not all the time. Sometimes writers rest. Sometimes makers let their craft supplies sit idle for a while as they focus on other things. And that’s not just okay, it’s necessary. For my own part, my creativity has started coming back six months after the most chaotic parts of my life stabilized. My finances are in order, I’m able to get regular exercise and rest, and I’m living with wonderful people. Even now, I’m not back to the same creative output I used to have, but I’m getting back into the habit of joyful creativity, and it feels wonderful. For so many reasons, this year has been tough on a lot of us, and while I believe we will find our way to better days, I also know we’re not there yet. So if, in the face of everything going on around you, you have been struggling to pick up your creative projects: give yourself grace. Rest. Refocus. Find peace where you can. Your creativity will be there when you’re ready
julia peterson arts editor
Shaking up the princesses in our media
A reflection on a Disney+ rewatch Taking a trip down nostalgia lane wasn’t as fun as I remembered it being. Well, that isn’t entirely true. It’s absolutely fun to laugh at the cringey corniness of old Disney Channel Original Movies with friends (since there isn’t much else to do, Thanks COVID.) But were some of the messages being tossed my way during those movies uncomfortable to sit through? Oh, definitely. Before going into this article, I should clarify that no, I’m not going to be ripping into the campy plots or the premises of these films. That campiness is always part of the fun. Instead, what I want to talk about is the morals and views of women and femininity that I saw, within the “princess movie” framework. More specifically, I want to talk about the idea that you need to break through your ‘femininity’ in order to be seen as strong. Purging through Disney+ landed me and my friends on The Princess Diaries (and the sequel, of course), as well as the Princess Protection Program, all three films produced by Disney. The Diaries franchise and the Protection Program are eerily similar in a lot of ways, and those ways are a little worrying when it comes to the messages they send. In both of these princess films, what it takes to “become a princess” revolves around the need for the protagonist to change her physical appearance (i.e., to be attractive by conventional beauty standards). Princesses in both cases also need
to embody a feminine way of walking, talking, sitting, standing, speaking, waving... the list goes on and on. By ‘feminine,’ what is meant seems to be delicate, fragile, quiet, docile, and polite. Yikes. Now, both of these films also make a point of noting that the progressive mindset of the teenage, protagonist princesses is what inevitably ends up “saving the day” toward the film’s climax. Despite that, these girls (come the end of the movie) have nonetheless embraced their conventionally “feminine” fate. They wear the dresses and do the walk, they wear the heels and get their makeup done. Hell, even the tomboyish Carter in PPP (I hate that that’s even what they call the Princess Protection Program in the film) ends up caving and getting all dolled up to go to their high school dance. I’m not asking for us to end the princess trope in campy movies. Rather, I’m asking for us to consider what we fixate on when creating a “princess” or a highly feminine character. Why does she “transform” herself into a “pretty woman” by removing her glasses and dolling herself up in a dress and makeup, despite her original interests and personality? If this is always the moral we are teaching our girls, how do we expect them to grow up with a healthy balance of self-confidence and courage? To be fair, we do see this system “shaken up” plenty in modern times. Movies like Moana, Frozen and Frozen II, Wreck It Ralph, and any other modern animation
film about princesses and royalty, shift the conventional way we see princesses. These women aren’t perfect, which makes them more relatable. They make mistakes and act rashly, they save themselves and support those around them, and they are resourceful and craft when needed. They don’t all wear dresses or concern themselves with appearances, and many of them are against our traditional standards when it comes to being a royal woman. In films like these, the importance of a “princess” no longer lies in appearance or marital status, but mainly has to do with
one’s ability to take charge of a situation and mediate chaos. Regardless, all these characters still need to be congenitally beautiful – it isn’t perfect. In truth, I would like to see a princess film where the underlying focus is not on transforming a “normal” teenage girl into a “proper lady”. Let girls just be girls. Let young girls be who they want to be. That is enough.
taylor balfour editor-in-chief
church of the king via Unsplash
Those plastic tiaras always really hurt my scalp. anyone else?
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editors: sarah carrier, kate thiessen graphics@carillonregina.com the carillon | october 22 - october 28, 2020
