23 minute read
Sustainable cities
Charting the course for a just transition to a sustainable city
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Social justice and environment entwined reese estwick in really terrible weather in the groups sharing their concerns ties,” Enoch noted. into action, Enoch expresses that staff writer winter.” She said that “something about how the transition to a One resource that is heavily he is concerned that these policies that would immediately make 100 per cent sustainable city will used by marginalized people in will “just steam-roll in and won’t Currently, the city of Regina is those peoples’ lives better would impact those who are often neg- Regina is public transit. It’s used consider equity groups.” heavily dependent on one spe- be something like fare-free public atively impacted by public policy. by many on a daily basis, and will As provincial and municipal cific mode of transportation – transit.” Some of the groups represented play a critical role in the push for elections approach on October 26 cars. But private transportation The report acknowledges the were Indigenous people, women, a more sustainable city, but there and November 9, respectively, it is not accessible to everyone and different struggles that face differ- 2SLGBTQ+, newcomers, and are still groups of people who do is important that elected officials it’s harmful to the environment; ent social groups in Regina and disabled people. These groups not feel safe using the transit sys- and representatives take into actherefore, it is time that Regina attempts to accommodate the were created in order to centre tem due to fear of discrimination count the unique experiences of begins adopting policies to devel- needs of all. the needs of community mem- and/or verbal and physical abuse. different groups to ensure that all op a just and sustainable city for “In [Regina’s] path towards bers who are often ignored and “There is a genuine fear people in Regina are supported all, and that starts with affordable, one hundred percent renewabili- sidelined when it comes to policy amongst certain LGBT people in the ways that they need to sucaccessible public transit. ty, the city is going to make cer- decisions. about riding transit [or being] in ceed and can access the resources
University of Regina pro- they need, so that the transition to fessor of geography and envi- a more sustainable future doesn’t ronmental 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 “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 exacerend 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 encourages Regina City Council to centre equity and social justice bate those inequalities. want them to help.” Enoch encourages each and when putting the 100 per cent Renewable Regina motion into – Dr. Simon Enoch every person to get out and vote in their municipal elections. action. As the conversation sur-
“I think a lot of people think rounding equity and sustainabilof Regina as a car-dependent city, tain investments and it was our “The places that have the public spaces sometimes because ity continues in Regina, it is imand that conceptualization of our view through the research, that most success at implementing they fear violence,” Enoch said. portant that young peoples’ voices city really hides the number of those investments should be made either one hundred percent re- “So that learning about how oth- are being heard. people for whom a private car is in communities and people who newability or more sustainable er people experience the city – Eaton shared that she benot achievable in terms of, you have experienced marginaliza- policies at the city level have been that our experiences aren’t equal lieves youth have “a better underknow, just having the money to tion, so as not no reproduce the places that acknowledged early – I think that insight is so import- standing of how these different buy or operate a private automo- inequalities associated with what on that climate change is going to ant when designing policies that axes of inequality and oppression bile,” Eaton said. “A lot of people you might call the carbon econo- disproportionately affect the most ensure that the city will be inclu- intersect […] Just because you within our city don’t even have my,” said Eaton. marginalized in the city – so you sive for all of us.” do come from a privileged backthe funds to be able to take pub- There were a number of have to really think about that Through any period of ground doesn’t mean that you lic transportation [the bus] every focus groups held throughout when you’re introducing climate change, there are always concerns don’t have a place in holding othday. Lots of people are walking the study, with representatives policies at the city level that you and worries. As the 100 per cent er people’s signs as well,” she said. very long distances or bicycling from a number of marginalized don’t exacerbate those inequali- Renewable Energy motion is put
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 maintained. 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-
Ant Rozetsky via Unsplash ...and still waiting...
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.
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 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 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
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 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 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
“[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
industry. Meili responded by reminding 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?”
Wikipedia Commons Party leaders
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.
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 professor 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 resoftware.” 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, 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 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 contracted 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 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.
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 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 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 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 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
“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
Teacher” and “Panama.” The 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.
