The Carillon - Volume 63 - Issue 21

the carillon the staff

editor-in-chief editor@carillonregina.com

taylor balfour

executive director business@carillonregina.com

jacob nelson

production manager production@carillonregina.com

morgan ortman

advertising manager advertising@carillonregina.com

ty cote

technical editor shae shackman carillontechnical@carillonregina.com multimedia/graphics editors

multimedia@carillonregina.com graphics@carillonregina.com

kate thiessen sarah carrier

copy editor copyeditor@carillonregina.com

hannah senicar

news editor news@carillonregina.com

sara birrell

a&c editor aandc@carillonregina.com

julia peterson

sports editor sports@carillonregina.com

ethan butterfield

op-ed editor op-ed@carillonregina.com

holly worby

distribution manager distribution@carillonregina.com staff writer staff writer

kyle anderson

marty grande-sherbert

reese estwick

news writer

a&c writer

matt thomson florence hwang

sports writer web writer

sarah nakonechny

contributors hammad ali, simar sandhu

gillian massie

board of directors taylor balfour, lindsay holitzki, maddie ouelette, dustin smith. marty grande-sherbert, and jacob nelson

vol. 63

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 March 11th - March 17th, 2021 | Volume 63, Issue 21 | carillonregina.com

news

URSU Elections Welcome back to another week!

Each week, we love hosting and sharing your work. Thanks for making yet another issue of the Carillon great.

This paper is made for you.

We hope you enjoy this issue! Stay safe, everyone!

Taylor Balfour Editor-in-Chief

news

p.3

With the upcoming URSU elections in sight, the Carillon talks to the two candidates running for president about their platforms and reasons for running.

Safe consumption

arts

p.5

Regina is getting its first safe consumption site after an uptick in overdose deaths with year.

p.6

Marty Grande-Sherbert talks about what makes Stardew Valley such a beloved game five years down the road.

op-ed

op-ed

sports

Stardew Valley

Erata: In last week’s issue we printed a story on the U of R Stem Cell club.

In this story, we said the club were researching stem cells, when in fact they are only accepting stem cell donations.

photos

cover......................................sarah carrier news..............................ursu/jeremy davis news...........................wikipedia commons a&c.........................................bago games sports.........................wikipedia commons op-ed..................anton diaz/kate thiessen op-ed........................piqsels/kate thiessen

Regina Pats

p.11

After a long wait, Regina will finally be seeing some sporting action with the return of the new Pats season.

Modern colonialism

p.14

Gillian Massie considers the over-romanticization of mission trips and encourages people to look into their reasons for going.

Minimum wage

p.15

Saskatchewan has the lowest minimum wage in the country, and the problems that stem from that are vast and wide-spreading. Holly Worby discusses the need for a living wage

news

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editor: sara birrell news@carillonregina.com the carillon | march 11th - march 17th, 2021

URSU General Election to be held March 17 and 18 Hannah Tait versus Amir Said matt thomson news writer After what can only be described as a tumultuous year, the University of Regina’s Student Union, or URSU, is preparing for another general election. Only two candidates have been nominated this year: current URSU Vice-President of External Affairs, Amir Said, and former chair of URSU’s HR committee, Hannah Tait. Both candidates agreed to be interviewed by the Carillon regarding their platforms and the elections. What follows is a break-

When asked to comment regarding changes or planned changes for the internal culture at the URSU, Said stated, “URSU has taken several steps internally to help improve our culture, and as President I will continue facilitating these steps. Lots of progress has been made in the past couple [of] weeks and I’m very proud of that fact.”

Regarding his experience with student leadership, Said added, “I’ve done a significant amount of work on equity, diversity, and inclusion within the organization, and taken steps to

wrote, “I’ve had a fantastic time serving as URSU’s Vice-President External Affairs, and I hope to serve another term with more of a focus on student advocacy and the organization’s long-term strategic goals.”

Tait, a fourth-year political science student, personally reached out to the Carillon to offer an interview. Tait’s platform, which is posted online, is built on four main components: “First, revised strategies to better serve students; second: equity, diversity, and inclusion; third, empowerment of students; and

up and led to greater difficulties, and [during that time] I felt that HR was not a strategic priority for the URSU administration.”

In regards to leadership development, she added, “I feel it’s important since developing future leadership would provide a solid framework to get more students to run for candidacies within the URSU. Specifically, I think my policy would get more people involved at board meetings, help them understand university culture, and get interested students into the office to understand the positions before they decide to

with digital work and communication.

Commenting on what she considered to be the biggest issue currently facing students, Tait stated “Our role as students is only a small part of our lives.

Many of us have jobs, are parents, and continue to struggle with mental health. At the end of the day, we are people, not just students, and I think we need to continue to recognize that.”

Finally, when asked what ultimately made her decide to run for the URSU presidency, Tait said “I wanted to run because

“

Our role as students is only a small part of our lives. Many of us have jobs, are parents, and continue to struggle with mental health. At the end of the day, we are people, not just students, and I think we need to continue to recognize that.

– Hannah Tait

down of each platform in their own words during their respective interviews.

Said, who has been the URSU’s Vice-President External Affairs since October 2020, whose interview was conducted via text, stated that his platform, “[I]s centered around continued advocacy for students on important issues, increase financial and academic support for students, stronger diversity and student representation within the organization, more student employment opportunities, and improved transparency and communication within the organization and with student members.”

promote the ideas of reconciliation and decolonization in URSU [...] I’ve also done plenty of work towards increasing student representation and transparency […]

Big topics that I want to discuss with municipal/provincial government officials include sustainability, improved student services such as transit, and a tuition freeze.” Regarding the latter, Said told the Carillon he had been involved with efforts as VP External Affairs and added that he looks forward to taking the lead on these issues.

When asked about what ultimately made him decide to run for the URSU presidency, Said

fourth: a renewed focus on advocacy regarding on a number of issues, including public funding and addiction support. Consistent and compassionate HR practices [are] also a priority.”

When asked to elaborate on her resignation from the HR committee, she stated, “I resigned [in February] because I felt there were misconceptions about what HR should be doing.

I felt it wasn’t being valued.” She went on to explain what she felt were the greatest issues facing the URSU during her 8-month tenure, which she characterized as, “A series of small conflicts, mostly communication issues, that built

run.” She also emphasized the need for adequate communications training regarding emails and use of digital resources.

In addition to her experience in the URSU’s HR committee, Tait added “[I’ve] worked on strategic planning and workplace community programs during my time working for the Government of Saskatchewan, and I have plenty of experience in interacting with people within the context of administration.” Tait also reiterated her involvement in a number of youth delegations and congresses, some international, and emphasized her past experience

[the URSU] can do better and run much better. The role [of president] is strategic and important for planning, and I believe I would fit the role well. My platform will also allow me to speak on issues which I have been advocating for years, and I hope to encourage more people to run [in future elections] and increase general participation in student government.” If elected, Tait would be the first woman elected as President of URSU since Haanim Nur in 2012.

Voting will take place March 17 and 18. Students can vote by going to https://ursu.simplyvoting.com or via UR Self Service.

URSU logo superimposed over Riddell Centre

URSU logo superimposed over Riddell Centre.

march 11th - march 17th, 2021

carillonregina.com | the carillon | 4

news

U of R Queer Initiative spotlights queer life on the prairies Series open to all

hammad ali contributer

The University of Regina Queer Initiative (URQI) was established in 2007 with the goal of supporting 2SLGBTQIAP+ faculty and staff at the University of Regina.

That same year, URQI also started a speaker series called Out on The Prairies with different speakers giving talks about various aspects of queer life in Saskatchewan. From the time of its inception till the recent past, there had only been periodic events followed by a few years of inactivity.

Recently, URQI’s primary organizer Randal Rogers restarted the series. We got in touch with Randal Rogers to find out more.

“We reached out to a core group of professors and received a very positive response,” Rogers said. “We thus relaunched URQI in the fall of 2020, with the Out on The Prairies series as one of our core activities. So far, the response has been terrific. We have had three presentations already, and another one is scheduled for March 26.” The upcoming talk is titled Margins, featuring Morgan Moatest and Lee Stubbe. The series for the next academic year is also being planned currently.

When asked who can attend the talks, Rogers said the series is open to everyone. “We do have to be careful about security, and need those interested in attending to register ahead. But we are also trying to be as open as possible to anyone who wishes to attend.

We are also always looking for presenters in the series, and welcome proposals from anyone on potential queer and trans topics

of interest.”

Since the relaunching in fall 2020, the series has already had four presenters. This includes one featured off campus guest speaker, something they plan on doing every year in the future. “This year, we invited Dr. Valerie Korinek from the University of Saskatchewan for a presentation on her new book Prairie Fairies. It was a wonderful talk, and very apt for

our relaunch since it focused on little-known aspects of the queer prairies history,” said Rogers.

Unfortunately, there are no publicly available recordings of past presentations, but discussion is underway for the possibility of recording and sharing future talks.

“Announcements about future talks in the series always go out in emails to multiple university mailing lists. We can also be

Wikipedia Commons

Rainbow flag against blue sky.

found on Twitter and Instagram by the handle @urqi4all. We are currently working on building an active social media presence and would love it if people followed us. All of our other activities are also shared via our social media,” added Rogers.

URQI is an organization for the faculty and staff at the University of Regina. They welcome all queer and trans members of the community, as well as allies, friends, and partners. The group has student representatives, and works closely with URPride, with whom they are currently collaborating on several projects. “We are also developing community partnerships. URPride and URQI sponsored a sock drive in partnership with the Imperial Court of Regina, raising over $2000 for socks for Regina citizens who are homeless or experiencing housing challenges. We hope to do an even bigger sock drive next year,” mentioned Rogers.

The next talk is schedule for March 26 and will be held over Zoom. Prior registration is needed, and more information can be found on their Twitter and Instagram pages.

New project aims to find alternatives to ER visits Researchers hope to alleviate suffering

marty grande-sherbert staff writer

While COVID-19 has raised a great deal of concern about the availability of medical care to people with chronic health conditions, Saskatchewan has faced a crisis of hospital capacity since even before the virus. Regina and Saskatoon reported such a crisis over a year ago, in February of 2020. Hospitals are often low on beds, and many emergency room visits are accounted for by patients who could be better served elsewhere. With the virus making available beds and equipment even more scarce – and even more crucial – putting intensive care units, which are dealing with

the dual responsibility of caring for both COVID and nonCOVID patients, under greater strain, has diverted people from the emergency room has become a critical point of focus.

The University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing in Saskatoon is currently working on two research projects that focus on reducing emergency room visits, specifically for people living with mental illness and addictions.

These are two groups of emergency room patients, with great overlap between them, who are likely to be frequent visitors of the ER; that is, people who visit the ER at least four times a year.

According to a study in the Canadian Journal of Addiction several years ago, those frequent visitors

made up a full 25 per cent of all people who went to the ER, often because there’s simply nowhere else for them to go. Statistics from the Canadian Institute for Health Information reveal that within this group, 50 per cent visit the ER for both mental health problems and addiction. Fifty per cent are also people under 35, with young women and girls under 20 making up the majority at 63 per cent. It was also found that frequent ER visitors with mental illness and addictions are four times more likely to be low-income, and seven per cent are homeless. In an interview about the research projects, project head Dr. Hua Li said addressing this group’s needs would save the health system a great deal of money.

Wikipedia Commons

Outside an emergency room entrance.

But it isn’t only about savings and resources. Dr. Li also hopes that the projects can “save human suffering” by addressing the healthcare needs of these frequent visitors before they reach crisis.

Mental health conditions, such as mood disorders, eating disorders, and schizophrenia, often lead to recurrent, acute symptoms that require emergency intervention (risk of suicide, psychosis, or an inability to care for the self, for example). However, these periods of crisis often come after periods of decline, where interventions and supports could prevent them from becoming worse. In the case of addictions, the issue is similar; support from the community when it comes to safely using and treating overdoses at centres like the new safe injection site in Saskatoon or Nēwo Yōtina in Regina would mean that the ER no longer has to be the first – and last – resort.

As for the details of the Nursing College’s projects, the first is that Li’s team will survey frequent ER visitors by phone or Webex to gather more information about their needs. The interviews will be followed by focus groups with healthcare providers, as well as comparisons between frequent visitors and infrequent visitors in terms of their use of community resources. This is meant to address the fact that, as written on the U of S website, “what’s been missing from the conversation about how best to meet this patient group’s needs is the perspective of the frequent ER visitors themselves.” This is described

as a three-year project, with the results of research expected to come out in the spring of 2023.

The second project is the development of a smartphone app (a two-year endeavor), one that is meant to provide the caregivers of young people with mental health and addiction disorders support. Dr. Li said that these caregivers are likely to develop depression and anxiety symptoms of their own, and that young people are “significantly affected” by the health of their caregivers.

With this in mind, addressing the needs of caregivers as well as those of frequent visitors may create a stronger foundation for community interventions.

These two Nursing College projects are made possible by grants, the first by a grant from the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHSF), and the second by the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. The grants total $225,000 ($120,000 for the research interviews, $105,000 for the app), a significant investment showing concern for the crises in Saskatchewan hospitals and vulnerable populations. The question remains whether this approach will be enough, or come soon enough, to make a real difference in the lives of frequent visitors.

Dr. Li’s team will be collaborating on these projects with the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan, as well as the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s services for mental health and addictions.

march 11th - march 17th, 2021

carillonregina.com | the carillon | 5

news

Hong Kong’s democracy continues to be eroded Mass emigration anticipated

matt thomson news writer A few months ago, yours truly wrote an article on the CCP’s increased crackdown of democratic and independent elements within the (formerly) autonomous region of Hong Kong. I ended with a hopeful note and a slight sense of optimism that the wider world would finally step in and do something, anything, to halt Beijing’s authoritarian grab for domination over the former British colony. It turns out, as it often is nowadays, my optimism was completely misplaced, and I was dead wrong. While online activism is still considerable in regards to spreading information, a slew of arrests and government “reforms” have made political activism and public demonstration virtually impossible, forcing most to seek a means of escape rather than immediate change.

Following the 2019 protests and 2020 pandemic lockdown, Hong Kong’s culture of democracy and independent spirit was already in critical danger. After city legislators passed a rigid CCP-sponsored security bill last December under the guise of domestic security and “patriotism,” Beijing effectively blocked off any practical route for political opposition within Hong Kong’s governmental bodies. Following this, the HKPD made a series of arrests against pro-democracy student leaders, effectively decapitating local political and youth leadership, charging most with

trumped up charges of rioting and violence against public officials. In addition, authorities have started going after the families and loved ones of public demonstrators, charging them with similar crimes without any actual evidence, effectively sentencing innocent bystanders to years

of incarceration. Professors and teachers have also been targeted for “insufficient patriotism” while extreme limits on free speech and a new, state-friendly school curriculum have been introduced by the Beijing backed HK administration.

These sorts of tactics are

standard for authoritarian, militaristic, or otherwise dictatorial regimes, and the cycle playing out in Hong Kong is yet another example of “might makes right” policy. The Hong Kong government, headed by Carrie Lam, has completely caved into Beijing’s demands, and is now 100 per cent

Wikipedia Commons

Hong Kong protestors with signs.

complicit in its own destruction.

Political opposition is now entirely illegal if deemed insufficiently patriotic, and a new system of multi-tiered surveillance, including surveillance of emails and online activity, is currently being built by the Hong Kong Police Department, making individual opposition even more dangerous. While online communities, such as the Hong Kong subreddit, remain active and continue to spread awareness of these injustices, a deep sense of defeatism has begun to take hold and few see much of future for the city they love.

The general narrative for pro-democracy and pro-Hong Kong groups has shifted completely from local demonstration to communal opposition abroad, as many within the city-state are preparing to flee while they still can. Recently, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet introduced a bipartisan bill to assist future settlement of political refugees from Hong Kong, which has received unilateral support within Parliament, as many within the British Commonwealth are preparing for a major exodus once the COVID-19 pandemic has been neutralized. Outside of this, however, the outlook is still fairly bleak, as global attention has shifted away from Hong Kong towards the state-sponsored genocide against Chinese Uyghurs.

For now, there are few practical options left for Hong Kong’s struggle for self-determination.

Newo Yotina Friendship Centre approved as safe consumption site

Only the second site in the province

ethan butterfield sports editor

The Newo Yotina Friendship Centre, located on the corner of Osler Street and 11th Avenue in Regina, has been given preliminary approval to become a new temporary safe consumption site within the province in the coming weeks.

As it currently stands, Prairie Harm Reduction (formerly Aids Saskatoon) is the only site in Saskatchewan for safe consumption.

The site comes during an overdose epidemic in the province. According the Coroner’s Report for 2020 in Saskatchewan, there were around 170 confirmed drug toxicity deaths last year and up to around 350 suspected.

The Newo Yotina Friendship Centre will track usage numbers as long as the site is active, hoping to use the gathered data as a means of showing the positive results of the site.

Via the Leader Post, Executive Director of the Friendship Centre, Michael Parker, commented on the current issue and the approval/backing from the city and police.

“There’s always people who don’t want things in their backyard, and so to have support from these key figures within the city, it means a lot,” Parker said. “We know that folks have our back, and we can just focus on what we know needs to happen. The number of deaths has not slowed down in 2021. It’s continuing on the same trend, even through COVID, which is a startling increase.”

In the same article, Parker also described the site and its operations.

“The purpose is not to encourage use – that’s not the point of it,” Parker said. “It’s about safety and trying to reduce the harm and potential risk so that people can at some point access the services that they need.”

In December of 2020, Executive Director of Prairie Harm Reduction (PHR), Jason Mercredi, shared his thoughts with the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix after the site’s opening.

“It’s a start. It’s not perfect.

Ideally, we’d be open a lot longer and be able to serve a lot more people,” Mercredi said. “But it feels good. It’s a weight off all our shoulders.”

On both accounts, from Parker and Mercredi, the opening of the sites is a step forward, but not an end all for the issues that Saskatchewan faces.

Prairie Harm Reduction, like the Newo Yotina Friendship Centre, has an unclear future as a site and may be only temporary due to funding issues.

On top of monitoring safe consumption, these sites also deal

with issues such as needle sharing and proper needle disposal. They also help to deal with addictions and the mental health issues associated with drug use.

As things currently stand, there are around 70 confirmed and suspected deaths that Saskatchewan faces from drug toxicity in 2021.

The lack of resources available to those that need them is

an issue that more and more individuals are becoming aware of as the numbers of drug toxicity fatalities paint a clearer picture in the province.

Moving forward, although these steps are in the right direction, it is still uncertain where Saskatchewan will find itself in the coming months.

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editor: julia peterson aandc@carillonregina.com the carillon | march 11th - march 17th, 2021

#StillNotOverIt: Stardew Valley What’s not to love about this gentle farming game?

marty grande-sherbert staff writer You turn on your Nintendo Switch. It is approximately two o’clock in the afternoon. Stardew Valley is already paused for you on the home screen, so you decide to fire it back up again, just to see where you left off. You look up from the game a few seconds later.

It is approximately two o’clock... in the morning. Farming game of my heart, you have done it again.

Despite being a pixelated, lower-effort graphics game with a single developer, Stardew Valley has consistently been one of the best-selling games in the Nintendo Switch eShop since its release. Considering it was released almost exactly five years ago, in late February of 2016, this is an incredible feat. People still want to play this game, especially after the latest version 1.5 patch which added nearly countless quality-of-life improvements and a whole new area of the map.

Even though the game has such a simple premise – it’s really just a lower-budget Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons – it is so beloved that, among many people I know, the excitement behind the phrase “I can finally stack multiple preserves jars” is easily understood.

So, what is it doing so correctly? Why do games like Stardew Valley feel timeless when games that are much higher-budget and more anticipated in the life sim genre (like Animal Crossing: New Horizons) have more or less fallen out of the spotlight at this point?

I’m here to offer a few guesses.

These are, in general, I think, the great qualities of a farming or life simulation game like Stardew Valley. They are qualities that people should keep in mind when making games like this (and many more recent indie games, like

BagoGames

“Stardew Valley,” in letters made out of planks with leaves sprouting out of them, sits above a mountain and forest scene.

Littlewood and Calico, are already catching on to the trend.)

First, customization is key – but more than that is freedom of direction. In Stardew Valley, not only can you customize your farm – naming your animals, deciding where your buildings go, choosing from multiple different types of farming terrain – but you are not pigeonholed into doing any of these things in any particular order. Most of the farming life is something you have to figure out for yourself, and multiple farming paths (e.g., will you have more skill with animals or with crops?) mean that no two players’ farms

especially in games that should be immersive for the player.

Second, well-developed and realistic characters will always improve a life sim. In the Harvest Moon games I grew up with, there were usually one or two characters in the farming town who were a little grittier than the rest of them, but as a rule of thumb, the people you were surrounded with were very simple. The first character I married in a Harvest Moon game, Celia from A Wonderful Life on the GameCube, was the virtual love of my life and everything, but, admittedly, she had about the depth of a piece of paper. Even

health are something the player character actually bears witness to. Other issues in the Valley are strained marriages, PTSD from military combat, giving up on career dreams, homelessness, and the relationship gossip that so often plagues small towns. The instinct might be to avoid topics like this in a game where life is supposed to be soothing and idyllic, but taking the plunge and exploring them actually creates more tangible bonds between the player and their virtual life. I care about these town residents, and I always find myself wishing they had more cutscenes—that’s the

“

Lastly, and I really can’t stress this improvement upon fast farming games and life sims enough: Stardew Valley lets you be gay.

– Marty Grande-Sherbert

are going to look the same. While games like Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon are huge in customization as well, there is generally a prescribed order to them, and after a while the virtual to-do list runs dry, and the game loses its luster. Stardew Valley avoids this by giving the player the ability to literally design the entire layout of their farm, as well as imagine the kind of things they want to produce. This is a lot like the approach of the (also wildly successful) re-imagined play style in Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which removed the sequential, one-path direction of some of the other games. It turns out that people like having their options open,

if you felt invested in characters like her, the games gave you only the smallest glimpse possible at their motivations and past, to the degree that they didn’t really feel like real people at all.

Stardew Valley is different.

Penny, the other virtual love of my life, is similar to Celia from my youth in many ways, but this time she has a life around her that feels more real. Developer ConcernedApe takes some real risks in the game by looking at really difficult issues in characters’ lives, like Penny’s single mother struggling with substance use. Shane, another romanceable character in the game, has his own addictions, and his crises of mental

biggest thing I think could really be improved (apart from your children in Stardew Valley never growing up or saying a single word to you...that’s something that could’ve been done better, but with a single developer, I can let it slide).

Lastly, and I really can’t stress this improvement upon fast-farming games and life sims enough: Stardew Valley lets you be gay. As I wrote in a previous article about gender and video games, games can be an important first point of contact for young people about experimenting with the type of person they want to grow into. In games that involve romance and marriage, like Stardew Valley and

Harvest Moon, the same principle applies when it comes to people seeing themselves in relationships. For the longest time, players of these games who wanted to romance someone of the same gender would have to either play as the opposite gender and compromise their own character customization or play as their gender and compromise their romance experience. It’s an unfair way that heteronormativity builds an unavoidable punishment into the game.

In Stardew Valley, though, any player of any gender can romance any of the bachelors or bachelorettes. Not only that, but with the new 1.5 update, the player can change their gender and appearance any time. These are features that are actually incredibly easy to add from a design standpoint (often, separating the play experience by gender requires more work), but are so often squashed because of the developers’ prejudices. The effect of just letting go of that bias is enormous and attracted thousands of new players to Stardew Valley so that they could finally live a virtual farming life as themselves.

These three things are, along with many other smaller boons, the elements of Stardew Valley that make it great. The game is available not just for Nintendo Switch, but also for PC (on Steam), iPad and iPhone, and Xbox, so if you haven’t given it a try yet, it is more than worth the price. With different kinds of farms to play and adjustments to difficulty, even a full playthrough of your farming life won’t be enough – you’ll want to do it all over again.

march 11th - march 17th, 2021

carillonregina.com | the carillon |

arts & culture

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Golden Globes 2021 The beginning of awards season

ethan butterfield sports editor As February comes to a close, so starts the 2021 film awards season. This past weekend, film fanatics, casual viewers, and people with nothing better to do because there’s a pandemic, were able to see the ceremony for the coveted Golden Globe. An award so barely sought after that at least one person nominated in each category doesn’t bother to attend. This is, of course, a comedic overgeneralization and in no way should be taken as fact. It’s okay though, because this time they have a reason with COVID-19 and because of COVID-19, first responders and essential workers were instead a part of the honourings.

Some slight digs at the Globes aside, this 2021 ceremony had important conversations regarding the association that puts on the awards. Yes, Tina Fey specifically didn’t pull any punches as she dived straight into the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s lack of inclusivity, stating: “the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is made up of around 90 international no-black journalists”, as well saying that “inclusivity is important and there are no black members of the Hollywood Foreign Press (HFPA), I realize, HFPA, maybe you guys didn’t get the memo because your

Pixabay

A photo of two signs for the Golden Globe awards.

workplace is the back booth of a French McDonalds, but you gotta change that.”

Moving to the actual awards and winners themselves, we’ll start things off with Best Original Song and Best Original Score, which went to “Io Sì (Seen)”, performed by Diane Warren for The Life Ahead and Pixar’s Soul, respec-

tively. I can’t speak for The Life Ahead, but Pixar’s Soul was very deserving of this award and I would be shocked if it doesn’t end up winning the Academy Award for it as well.

Next is Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actors, the first of which went to Jodie Foster, and I couldn’t have

been more excited. Jodie Foster is an absolute masterclass of an actress and it was thrilling to see her win for her role in The Mauritanian. The same can also be said of Daniel Kaluuya, who won for his role in Judas and the Black Messiah, which, if you haven’t seen, I would highly recommend.

Continuing, we have the Best

Actress and Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical. This year, the winner was Rosamund Pike in I Care A Lot, who finally won after having been nominated twice.

Other nominees include Michelle Phiefer, Kate Hudson and Maria Bakalova. Best Actor went to Sacha Baron Cohen for Borat 2, a film I don’t think anybody would have guessed to have the cultural relevance that it does.

Following Musical or Comedy, we have Best Actress and Best Actor in a Drama. The winner of Best Actress this year is Andra Day in The United States vs. Billie Holiday, and Best Actor went to Chadwick Boseman, who tragically passed away this year, for Ma Rainy’s Black Bottom.

Best Director went to Chloé Zhao for Nomadland, which was a huge win as Zhao became the first woman of Asian descent to win the award. Additionally, Zhao’s film, Nomadland went on to win Best Motion Picture Drama. As for Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, that went to Borat 2 in what, again, was a mind-boggling win considering the first one’s subject matter. Of course, as mentioned beforehand, the relevance of the sequel was much more deserving of an award.

So, there you have it, the 2021 Golden Globes. Join me next time when the Academy Awards roll around!

TV review: Person of Interest A cyberpunk take on the classic genre

hammad ali contributor

If you are a fan of crime dramas and thrillers, you probably know the phrase “person of interest” is how the police refers to any individual that they believe might be related to a crime, victim, or perpetrator. A quick google search these days, though, might get you information about a TV show that went off the air in 2016 after five seasons. This is no accident, given the premise of this show.

Person of Interest, created by Jonathan Nolan (yes, brother to Christopher Nolan), straddles crime drama, thriller, and science fiction. In the very first episode,

we meet a reclusive computer programmer called Harold, whose real last name we never find out.

If you think that is weird, Harold is seen recruiting a former CIA agent named John Reese, whose real first or last name we never find out. So why does a millionaire tech baron need the services of a former CIA operative?

Turns out, Harold built a “machine” for the government – a software that observes all of the United States through cameras, cellphones, computers, and even credit card transactions.

The purpose of this machine is to identify risks of the next terrorist attack, having been ordered on September 12th, 2011. However,

the machine identifies all sorts of risks, including ordinary people who are about to become a “person of interest” in some violent crime (i.e. murder). The government only cares about the national level threats, not bothered with why, say, a high school teacher has been identified as a person of interest. Even more interesting, the machine cannot tell if the person is a victim or a perpetrator. Harold, unable to make peace with the fact that all these people too minor for government attention are still going to be involved in crimes, invests his substantial wealth to hire John Reese and start an operation to track down persons of interest daily, and save

them from either falling prey to or committing murder.

Given this premise, the show is essentially just a crime thriller for the first two seasons, with the machine giving the protagonists a new name every night at midnight. On their missions, John and Harold make friends in the NYPD in former crooked cop Fusco and model detective Jess Carter. At some point, there is even a second CIA veteran, Shaw, who joins the team. As someone who is always a fan of second layers, the show also begins to tackle issues of free will. If the omniscient machine identified you as a murderer, maybe even more than once, how long can others save

you from that destiny? How about if you are the victim?

In the last two seasons, the cyberpunk science fiction angle is more prominent, as a rival artificial intelligence called Samaritan almost destroys the machine and takes over the world. A wonderful subplot involving a terrorist group that wants the right to privacy, even from the government, is also explored. All in all, the ending is bittersweet but satisfactory, and clearly Jonathan Nolan made the decision to quit while ahead.

If you love crime dramas, police procedurals, and action, served with just a hint of moral and political debate, this is the show for you.

Wikipedia

A person in a suit and tie stands on a busy street. They are being filmed by someone with a television camera.

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Little known facts about St. Patrick’s Day A deeper look at the beloved Irish holiday

florence hwang arts writer With about one-quarter of Canadians (4.5 million) who have some degree of Irish roots, it’s no wonder we embrace celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. With the pandemic still in place, people who wish to celebrate the Irish holiday may be out of luck. However, since we can’t go out, let’s take a closer look at common beliefs and traditions to separate fact from fiction.

For example, St. Patrick’s Day was not always associated with the colour green. Originally, the official colour identified with St. Patrick was sky blue. George III created the Order of St. Patrick, which was a new order of chivalry for Ireland. The colour was known as “St. Patrick’s Blue.”

According to early Irish mythology, a woman wearing a blue robe often represented the Irish sovereignty.

According to the History channel, the colour green became associated with St. Patrick’s Day in the 18th century when Irish independence supporters chose to use the colour to represent their cause.

Leprechauns are depicted as only male. According to Fairy Legends and Traditions from the South of Ireland by Thomas Crofton Croker (published in 1825), there are no such things as female leprechauns. Some people think that leprechauns live forever, so they don’t need to worry about procreation.

In the Old Irish language, leprechaun translates to “small

body.” They were believed to live in Ancient Ireland’s fairy rings and houses. Others have argued that female leprechauns lured men away from their homes with adventure. Over the years, the female leprechauns have disappeared.

Leprechauns are also shoemakers by trade. According to folklore, a person can track leprechauns by listening for tinkering sounds – meaning they are working away on shoes in their workshops.

According to Legends and Stories of Ireland from 1831, leprechauns were outfitted in a red “square-cut coat, richly laced

ments risk being pinched, as leprechauns liked playing pranks and pinching.

Legend says that these leprechauns keep a hidden pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. They are extremely mischievous. If one is captured, the lucky person would theoretically have three wishes granted. Initially, leprechauns weren’t consumed with accumulating gold. According to one legend, when the Danes invaded Ireland, they trusted the plunder with leprechauns, who didn’t seem they could be trusted.

In the end, the leprechauns hid the pots of gold throughout Ireland.

supposedly wanted to remember paradise, so she took a four-leaf clover.

There are reportedly 236 leprechauns left in Ireland, and they live in Carlingford County Louth.

According to the Irish Post, in 1989, P. J. O’Hare claimed to find a leprechaun’s remains: a small suit, and four gold coins in that county. The skeleton disintegrated to dust, but O’Hare kept the clothes and displayed them in his pub. Since 2009, the European Directive protects leprechauns.

Every year, there is a so-called Leprechaun Hunt.

Kevin ‘McCoillte’ Woods, also known as Ireland’s last lepre-

“

If someone carried a four-leaf clover, that person supposedly would be able to see fairies, identify witches and potential evil spirits, and be protected from the evil eye. Each of the four leaves stands for faith, hope, and luck.

– Florence Hwang

with gold and a cocket hat.”

Why are they often dressed in green, then? Some people joke that the leprechauns chose green to better match the shamrocks.

According to Oprah magazine, the colour change was due to a famous William Allingham poem called “The Leprechaun,” which depicts the main character as wearing green.

Speaking of wearing green, the reason why people wear green clothing is to avoid being pinched.

According to St. Patrick’s lore, those who don’t wear green gar-

What about four-leaf clovers?

If someone carried a fourleaf clover, that person supposedly would be able to see fairies, identify witches and potential evil spirits, and be protected from the evil eye. Each of the four leaves stands for faith, hope, and luck.

According to the Daily Telegraph, St. Patrick explained the clover represented the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the Grace of God. The oldest reference to the four-leaf clover was when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden. Eve

chaun whisperer, was determined to find evidence to prove these mythical creatures existed. He led the annual hunt for leprechauns every May. Portland, Oregon, is another official leprechaun colony. Journalist Dick Fagan supposedly noticed a hole dug up in concrete by a leprechaun. In his column, he wrote about the “world’s smallest park” in Mill Ends Park in 1948.

In 1976 on St. Patrick’s Day, Mill Ends Park was designated an official park.

Initially, St. Patrick’s Day

was only observed in Ireland as a Roman Catholic feast. Those who kept the holiday would pray at church or at home. The Irish American immigrants secularized the occasion by starting the traditions of holding parades and drinking beer to celebrate.

According to Global News, Saskatoon was the birthplace of green beer. Jay Beavis, the part-owner of O’Shea’s Irish Pub, claimed his grandfather, Ford Beavis, managed the Baldwin Hotel between the 1940s and 1960s. The hotel’s beverage room, formerly named the Shamrock Room, was supposedly the first bar to carry green beer.

According to vox.com, as early as 1914, Professor Thomas H. Curtin was among the first to mix beer and blue food colouring to create a green beer for his New York clubhouse.

And if beer isn’t your thing, there are cocktails made with whiskey and Bailey’s or non-alcoholic alternatives like shamrock shakes.

Montreal hosted the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Canada in 1824. According to National Geographic, it is rated among the top three parades in the world for this holiday. Between 250,000 to 700,000 people come to watch the three-hour parade featuring hundreds of performers, marching bands, and floats.

In 1760, Boston hosted the first parade in America, according to Time magazine. New York and Chicago soon joined in the festivities. Chicago is known for dying its river green to mark the occasion.

freeimagesalive

A selection of green decorations, and a couple green beers, on a wooden table.

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TV review: Taskmaster A look back in advance of Series 11

julia peterson arts editor Have you ever tried to paint a picture of a horse while riding a horse? Identify the contents of a pie without breaking the pastry?

Fill an egg cup with tears? Make a Swedish person blush? Impress a mayor? Conceal a pineapple on your person? Paint an upside-down self-portrait using only condiments?

These ridiculous tasks - and many, many more - are what contestants have to face when they compete on Taskmaster, a British panel game show that will start its 11th season next week.

Every season of Taskmaster features five comedians who compete with one another to score points on a variety of nonsensical tasks set by the Taskmaster – actor and comedian Greg Davies – and his assistant Alex Horne.

The person with the most points at the end of the episode will win the prize pool made up of items that the contestants themselves have been tasked with bringing in, such as their “most unusual item,” “best piece of memorabilia,” “most flamboyant clock” or “best form of protection.” And in the grand tradition of British panel shows and their worthless prizes, the overall series winner takes home a trophy shaped like the Taskmaster’s head.

Horne initially created the panel game show during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2010, and the show was first adapted for television in 2015. Most of the

series’ older episodes are posted to the show’s official YouTube channel if you’re looking for a taste of some of the wonderful weirdness – and now, it’s time for some brand-new nonsense!

I got into Taskmaster earlier this year after YouTube extrapolated my love for one specific weird British panel show where the rules are made up and the points don’t matter (Citation Needed) into a general love for that sort of thing – plus, quite frankly, I’d already been stuck inside

excellent, and well worth watching with the subtitles on). Other Taskmaster spinoffs have been made in Belgium, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Norway and the US. For me, Taskmaster strikes a delightful balance between featuring new people often enough to keep it interesting and also keeping contestants around for long enough (ten episodes, plus a few returning victors in the Champion of Champions seasons) that we really get to know and love them.

much as the next person, but I don’t always love it when they try to up the stakes every season with new devious twists and extra-difficult challenges. Sometimes, it’s just nice to turn on the TV and know that Greg Davies is going to be scowling at people, Alex will be intimidated, a pineapple and/ or a coconut and/or a swede (either a person from Sweden or the vegetable that we here in Canada would normally call a rutabaga) will probably show up somewhere in the episode, and the white en-

“

The other most wonderful part of Taskmaster is that because it’s so low-stakes [...] there’s no part of me that feels bad at laughing when contestants go absolutely feral on a task.

– Julia Peterson

for months and was running out of things to watch. So, I clicked over to the first episode … then proceeded to binge the next eight seasons.

But even when I had watched everything that was available online, I still wasn’t ready to be done with it. So, I also watched the New Zealand Taskmaster spinoff (which was pretty good, though their Taskmaster and Taskmaster’s assistant didn’t quite capture the magic of the friendly/hostile/ threatening/flirty dynamic between Greg and Alex), and even delved into the Finnish spinoff Suurmestari (which was thoroughly

The mix of tasks in every season runs the gamut from incredibly simple to almost impossible, making for a wonderful viewing experience. Every time I’m watching, I’m always asking myself – how would I have done that? Would I have thought of that weird solution somebody came up with (such as, when the task was to high-five a 55-yearold, high-fiving three people whose ages added up to 55 instead).

The show is quite formulaic – and for me, that’s actually a selling point. I do enjoy relaxing to a reality show competition as

velopes with the red wax seals will always have some sort of baffling task inside.

That’s not to say there aren’t also plenty of surprises – but they fit within the formula rather than breaking it to up the stakes. Every once in a while, a contestant will be given a task that they will later find out (usually to their extreme dismay) was given only to them, rather than to all five competitors – everything from the daunting challenge of counting hundreds of baked beans and rice grains to the enjoyable task of “hav[ing] the most fun on a bouncy castle for one hour,” to the simply ridic-

ulous “make the most fish puns.”

Also, every once in a while, contestants will be handed an extremely easy task … only to find out that it was the prelude to the second, much more difficult, main event.

The other most wonderful part of Taskmaster is that, because it’s so low-stakes, there’s none of the high-key emotional or financial drama that tends to come along with other reality shows, and no one is even really being judged on things they’re supposed to be good at. There’s no part of me that feels bad at laughing when contestants go absolutely feral on a task. No one’s life is going to be monumentally changed by which one of them made the tallest tower using food cans or sneezed the fastest, so when at least one of the comedians completely misunderstands what they’re supposed to be doing or messes it up (as happens in spectacular fashion at least once a season), we can all take it in the spirit of good-hearted fun.

The upcoming season of Taskmaster, which premieres on March 18, will feature comedians Charlotte Ritchie, Jamali Maddix, Lee Mack, Mike Wozniak, and Sarah Kendall. The first episode is titled “It’s Not Your Fault,” which is already a promising sign (all the episode titles are direct quotes from somewhere in the episode). And you can bet I will be right there watching every moment of the ridiculousness that’s about to ensure. Join me, won’t you?

PXHere

A photo of a pineapple on a bright yellow background.

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editor: ethan butterfield sports@carillonregina.com the carillon | march 11th - march 17th, 2021

The Butterfield Breakdown Rumours, news, and outcomes

ethan butterfield sports editor Returning once again to breakdown the latest in big sporting developments in the month of March, the initial weeks have been interesting to say the least.

Not to give too much away of what’s below, but the NFL free agency is starting to heat up and there are some big deals going on in the NBA. That aside, you can find the rest just below: MLB Opening day in the MLB is scheduled for April 1.

NHL Positive news coming out of the NHL is that U.S. players have started to get the vaccine for COVID-19. With more players (like that of Sidney Crosby) being added to the COVID-19 list, the vaccine will certainly be welcome to prevent more names from finding their way on it.

In other news, hit suspensions have been dealt out to a couple of players recently. Notably, Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals is serving a seven-game suspension for his hit on Boston Bruin Bradon Carlo, a blatant hit to the head.

As well, Chicago Blackhawk defenseman Connor Murphy was ejected for his hit against the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Erik Cernak.

Standings wise, currently the Tampa Bay Lightning, the New York Islanders, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are all number one in their divisions.

NFL

Ethan Butterfield

Big signings are starting to occur in the NFL. Mega defensive star J.J. Watt is no longer a Houston Texan and has found a new team in the Arizona Cardinals.

With Watt, the Cardinals also feature big names like Kyle Murray and DeAndre Hopkins, and may once again have Larry Fitzgearld Jr. back on the roster, assuming free agency goes their way.

Not only Watt, but quarterback (QB) Dak Prescott also inked a new deal with his original team, the Dallas Cowboys.

Wilson may no longer be a part of the Seattle Seahawks as there’s been interest from the Chicago Bears franchise in signing him.

On the subject of the Seahawks, defensive lineman Carlos Dunlap has been released from the team.

As far as new entrees into the league, the NFL draft is fast approaching (April 29) and shows some promise in being one worth watching. Two quarterbacks, Zach Wilson and Trevor Lawrence, look set to go in the first round with the New York Jets and

curred with regards to Yan landing an illegal knee to the forehead.

Two title defences took place at UFC 259 as well, with famed champion Amanda Nunes defending her title against Megan Anderson, and Jan Błachowicz defeating Israel Adesanya to retain his Light Heavyweight Championship NBA With the NBA in full stride, the playing field is becoming more and more clear.

Big news came out of the

“

Keeping up with my look at the New York Knicks in the standings, the team is now 5th overall in the Eastern Conference. I am so happy right now.

– Ethan Butterfield

Prescott will earn more than $150 million over 4 years. This solidifies Prescott as the franchise quarterback moving forward, and throws backup Andy Dalton into an interesting position.

In more rumour-based reports, it seems the career of Ryan Fitzpatrick may be coming to an end despite interest being shown for the veteran by the Denver Broncos organization. The actual result of Fitzpatrick’s status will likely be known in the coming days, if not the end of the week.

As well, veteran QB Russell

the Jacksonville Jaguars primed to receive them. As things become clearer, it looks as if Wilson will be making his way to the Jets and Lawrence will be heading towards the Jaguars.

UFC UFC 259 occurred on March 9 with a few noteworthy updates, including a bantamweight title change.

Then-Bantamweight Champion Petr Yan lost his title due to disqualification (DQ), wherein Alijamain Sterling was then awarded the belt. The DQ oc-

NBA recently as Blake Griffin is now a member of the Brooklyn Nets, adding some serious experience to the team.

Signing aside, and taking on a Canadian perspective, the Toronto Raptors have been losing ground in the standings. Now, currently sitting at 8th overall in the Eastern Conference, Toronto has accumulated a 17 win and 19 loss record, this still being a positive change from their ‘once-upon-a-time’ 8 win and 12 loss record during one of my last updates. Now settled at just below

.500, the Raptors can hopefully develop their game and move even further along in a winning direction, providing a challenge for any opponents along the way.

The Raptors having been looked at and are now focusing on the current number one ranked teams in each conference, the Philadelphia 76ers are still holding on to their first-place position in the East, certainly making their case as “the team to beat”. That being said, teams like the Brooklyn Nets are literally right behind the 76ers in the rankings and look primed to take the title of number one away.

Moving on – in the West, the Utah Jazz remain in the top spot of the conference as a result of their record. However, the Phoenix Suns have gained a lot of ground since the last update and are making a run for the top place in the West.

Keeping up with my look at the New York Knicks in the standings, the team is now 5th overall in the Eastern Conference. I am so happy right now.

So, there you have it, the updates and news from around the league. From the looks of things, it seems as though these updates will become more of a monthly thing, rather than a weekly thing, moving forward. That aside though, as always, let’s remember to keep safe and healthy with everything that’s going on in the world today.

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sports

Conspiracy theories in sports Que the X-Files theme

sarah nakonechny sports writer We all love a good conspiracy theory. Whether it’s if the moon landing actually happened or was staged, who killed Kennedy, or if aliens are the ones making crop circles, we cannot help but eat up everything that these theories have to offer us. Athletics does not disappoint when it comes to these theories either. Here are some of the hottest and most controversial conspiracies of our time!

Up first is Game 6 of the 2002 National Basketball Association (NBA) Western Conference Final! What’s the theory? The Sacramento Kings were leading the Lakers 3-2 in the Western Conference finals before David Stern supposedly ordered the officiating crew to take every measure possible to ensure that the Lakers won. Is this as farfetched as it may seem? No, it is not. The Kings are a much smaller market than the Lakers, who are one of the NBA’s premier franchises. Having the Lakers in the finals brought forth significantly higher ratings than the Kings, meaning that it will benefit the NBA as a whole if they win. Although nobody has confirmed or denied this, it would not be too farfetched to believe.

Back in 2004, during Game 6 of the ALCS, Red Sox starter Curt Schilling was pitching against the Yankees. He had an injured ankle and supposedly placed what looked to be either ketchup or red paint on his sock to cover his injured ankle. It was

believed that he did this in order to provide a scapegoat excuse in case he pitched poorly. If he pitched well, then he would be able to play the part of the hero.

How does one get accused of something so bizarre? It was well known that Schilling loved attention, and being able to fabricate such a story where he can be the star is something that his fans could definitely believe. However, we have never had anyone commit to confirming this for us.

Taking it all the way back to the 1985 National Basketball Associations (NBA) draft when the New York Knicks were wanting to get Patrick Ewing. This, my friends, is the famous frozen envelope theory that we all love and shiver about. It is believed that this envelope was frozen to allow for it to be easily identifiable amongst the many other envelopes present in the draw. This tactic is also a lot easier than trying to bend or tamper the envelope in any other way as it is difficult to prove once the envelope reaches room temperature again. What lengths will individual teams and franchises go to to get the players that they desire?

In, 1995 it was believed that the New Zealand national rugby team was poisoned prior to the World Cup final! Allegedly, many members of the team had come down with food poisoning after eating at a restaurant the evening prior. Many blamed the waitress that was serving the team during this meal. The reason for this supposed poisoning was due to the

Ryan Milani (Flickr)

A golden question mark.

fact that they were scheduled to be facing South Africa. Although New Zealand was the favoured team to win the match, they were playing in front of primarily South African fans, making their eventual win that much sweeter.

Although possible, nobody was ever able to track down this supposed waitress.

Finally, we will look at the 2005 National Hockey League lottery. All eyes were on which lucky team was going to land superstar Sidney Crosby. Surprise, surprise – Crosby was selected by

the Pittsburgh Penguins for the season. Why is this so suspicious?

The Penguins franchise was not doing well at the time and there was a possibility that they could go under. By drawing this emerging star, it allowed them to secure viability within the company. The team began to rise in the standings and allowed for the franchise to get back on its feet fast enough that a new arena was built shortly afterwards. Although the plausibility that this was the case is there, nobody has been able to figure out how they may have done

it. Other teams at the time were also struggling to stay afloat, making Crosby’s name well watched in the draft.

This is just the tip of the iceberg amongst a long list of theories that fans and franchises alike have come up with. From phantom punches to power outages and, of course, to rigged drafts, there is something for every sport and every occasion. While the sweat may fall, the drama will continue to rise.

this return to play and compromising the league to the degree that occurred at the national level is simply an unacceptable result.

For now though, fans of the Pats can eagerly await the days ahead as they will be able to see the team hit the ice for the first time since March 11 of last year.

Regardless of their results, it’ll be nice to just have the game of hockey come back at the local level here in the Queen City. Of course, at the same time, here’s hoping that the team will surge during the shortened season and make for an interesting watch.

Regina Pats season starting Time to hit the ice

ethan butterfield sports editor

What has been a lengthy wait for many is now a reality. The Regina Pats season has been going ahead with regards to the WHL’s shortened season. The Pats are officially beginning play on March 12 against the Prince Albert Raiders.

Local hockey fans are sure to be excited about the development as the COVID-19 pandemic has left the community without sports for some time.

With the Regina Pats getting their East Division start times, other teams have also received their starting dates (some having already started as early as February 26) with regards to the Central Division, The B.C. Division, and the U.S. Division. In total, the WHL season will include 24 games. All games for the East Division will be played in the Brandt Centre.

For those curious about the Pats competition, the East Division is made up of the following teams: The Winnipeg Ice, the Brandon Wheat Kings, the Moose Jaw Warriors, the Saskatoon Blades, the Swift Current Broncos, and, as mentioned

above, the Prince Albert Raiders.

As far as assessments go for how this season will fare for the Regina Pats (going back to the cancelled 2019-2020 season as a referral), it will be an uphill battle for the team. The Raiders, the Ice, the Wheat Kings and the Blades all had playoff positions before the pandemic resulted in the shutdown of the league. As well, going back to the 2018-2019 season, the Prince Albert Raiders had won the championship title against the Vancouver Giants.

The Pats record for the 20192020 season did place them above the Warriors and Broncos, but, as with any struggling team in any league, more work will need to be done to get to the postseason marker. The Pats last postseason appearance was during that of the 2017-2018 season where, interestingly enough, the Swift Current Broncos would end up winning the WHL championship.

The last time the Regina Pats won the championship for themselves was back during the 19791980 season. Doug Wickenheiser was the most valuable player that year and made an impact in the NHL soon after being drafted first overall by the Montreal Ca-

nadians.

Postseason struggles and Pats history aside, the return of WHL hockey should be the biggest take away here. Now, moving forward, player and personal safety is top priority as things start rolling. Looking at the NHL’s COVID-19 list, mismanaging

Wikipedia Commons

A jersey with the Regina Pats logo.

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History of sports: dogsledding Huskies and winter chills

sarah nakonechny sports writer Tell me what is better than an activity that involves adorable animals, is enjoyable, and is also practical? I know, I know you have nothing. Dogsledding is a method of winter travel that was developed by the Inuit as a way to haul goods and to travel efficiently across the snowy terrain. This was quickly adopted by early European explorers as they soon learned that it would be an effective way to haul supplies and to check on their traps.

Now, who does not want to know more about the dogs?!

These fluffy teams can range from

Wikipedia Commons

Happy huskies pulling a sled across snow.

Although normally in pairs, they may be placed in a single file line if they are crossing trackless terrain in deep snow. The reason is because their rider will often walk in front wearing snowshoes, having the dogs follow behind pulling the sled and any supplies that may be on it.

There is much thought that goes into the placement of each dog in the lineup. Naturally the two at the very front are the leaders and are responsible for guiding the team. They are the ones that are commanded by the rider’s voice commands. The pair

ensuring that the team stays on the trail when rounding corners.

Many people nowadays are familiar with the command “mush” for when riders who are now known as mushers want to spur their team to action. This was not always the term that was used for such a desire. Initially, early French-Canadian drivers used the term “marche” which means walking or running. This makes a lot of sense when you consider what the command is asking our canine friends to do.

However, everyone’s favourite English explorers misinterpret-

designs. They developed a basket sled which allowed for the load to be raised up off of the snow.

This was done with the support of two narrow runners that were placed on the underside of the sled. These basket sleds have been modified slightly, the reduction in length being the most noticeable modification, to allow them to be used for dogsled racing.

Although there is not as much of a need for dogsledding for the purpose of transporting goods, that does not mean that it is any less entertaining to take part in. There are still many indi-

itors between 10 to 14 days to cover this 1600km trail. There is another race that covers a similar distance that takes place between Anchorage and Nome, Alaska.

Races do not just take place in Canada. You can also find many that occur in the Northern United States of America, Greenland, France, Norway, and Russia.

Even though it involves some of the cutest athletes, dogsledding is not for the lighthearted. One must not only look after themselves while taking part but must also care for 2 to 12 furry children. This poses challenges of

“

Although there is not as much of a need for dogsledding for the purpose of transporting goods, that does not mean that it is any less entertaining to take part in.

– Sarah Nakonechny

2 to 12 dogs and are commonly in pairs. The furry friends that are typically utilized for this are Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. They are highly intelligent and easily-trained dogs that are also a good size and have enough fur to make them perfect for the climate. Alaskan Malamutes are often used when it comes to hauling cargo and for trips that will take multiple days. As well, these dogs are typically used when doing long-distance races. Siberian Huskies, on the other hand, are typically used for day trips with lighter loads or for speed racing.

that is directly behind the leaders are referred to as the “point dogs” and are often referred to as leaders-in-training. Their job is to provide encouragement to the leaders and to help keep them moving forward. The last pair of dogs immediately in front of the sled are known as the “wheel dogs.” They are the strongest and are responsible for keeping the sled on track. All of the dogs in the middle are referred to as the “swing dogs” and, no, they are not the best dancers. Their time to shine is when the team needs to turn as they are responsible for

ed what they were trying to say which is why we now use mush as our command of choice.

Just like how the riders vary, so do the designs of the sleds they ride. The Inuit developed what is called a qamutik, which is designed to carry loads over rough terrains. When we begin to head farther south, we see the flat-bottomed toboggans that are more effective for hauling loads through deeper snow. This was also the inspiration for the toboggans that we use for general recreational purposes. Of course, Europeans had to come and modify these

viduals who train teams for a variety of different reasons. Most of these are for the purpose of touring wilderness areas or for racing.

Many of these races are held in conjunction with different winter carnivals. These carnivals often feature speed racing as it is something that is easier for spectators to come out to view. The longer endurance races are often their own separate events. A few of these consist of the Yukon Quest, which takes place between Fairbanks, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon. Depending on weather conditions, it can take compet-

health and injury depending on weather conditions, as well as the overall age and physical ability of the dogs deteriorating.

This is more than just a sport that we can watch for amusement. This originated from a way of life. Dogsledding was the way that the Inuit people were able to move around and allowed them to sustain themselves. The transition over time from this easy way of living to fierce competitions is one that is truly remarkable.

Some traditions may change, but they will not die.

march 11th - march 17th, 2021

carillonregina.com | the carillon | 13

sports

Sports and song: the (unofficial) anthems of major teams Music plays its own role in the big game

ethan butterfield sports editor The use of music in sporting events is nothing new. Usually during intermissions or helping to pump up the crowd, the songs that play over the speakers are a fairly standard aspect of what games at any level have to offer.

However, there are certain songs out there that are a little more impactful with their use in the sporting world.

Curious? You can find them just below: “Zombie Nation” - Boston Bruins By no means a beloved team, the Boston Bruins are nonetheless a history franchise that has seen its fair share of legendary players hit the ice. Whether that be Ray Bourqe, Joe Thorton, or Cam Neely, the Bruins certainly aren’t without their notable names.

That being said, one notable name doesn’t refer to a player in the Bruins organization, but rather a song that has become synonymous with the franchise.

“Zombie Nation” by Kernkraft 400 has become a legendary sports anthem all on its own, but it’s even more legendary in the Bruins arena as it’s been the goal song for the team for around two decades.

During playoff runs for the Boston club, the song gets a boost in usage, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

“Renegade” - Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are an NFL franchise that holds so many memories for so many fans,

Wikipedia Commons

A Saskatchewan Roughriders helmet sitting in the sun.

only continuing to cement their legacy year after year. Styx’s is a rock band that saw massive popularity in the 70’s and 80’s, holding so many memories for so many fans of the rock genre. See where I’m going with this?

Those similarities aside, the hit Styx’s song “Renegade” is associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers in a much more direct fashion.

Usually played during games where the score is close, ‘Renegade’ has boosted the Steelers defense to the point of “clutch” time

Not only the home of legends like Brett Star, Brett Favre, and Don Hutson, but also home of one of the most catchy tunes in all of sports, “Bang on the Drum” by Todd Rundgren has been a staple of Lambeau Field for more than two decades.

Coming about during the highly productive/winning days of the Packers organization, the song hasn’t slowed one bit through the years as it blasts through the stadium whenever Green Bay scores a touchdown.

So, it would only make sense that the site also features a song unlike any other in the form of “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. The tune, according to Dr. Charles Steinberg, was a result of Amy Tobey (a former control room employee of the Red Sox) playing the song for a then-Red Sox employee who had a baby named Caroline. From then on, the song would grow to be a hit with fans and employees alike.

The interesting thing is, where other songs play during moments

“

I’m proud of the team. I’m proud of the organization.

You know, nationally, it’s kind of a storied franchise.

So, to be associated with it is really nice.

– Jason Plumb

and time again.

The song’s use came about when one of the upstairs technicians bought a Styx’s greatest hits album and heard the “fishing hook” of “Renegade” (slow methodical opening draws you into a big riff). It was then used during the 2004 AFC playoff game when the Steelers were down against the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers would come back and win that game after “Renegade” was played.

“Bang on the Drum” Green Bay Packers

Becoming almost an anthem for the state of Wisconsin itself, “Bang on the Drum” will continue to live on as long as the Packers continue to win.

So it’ll probably be around forever.

“Sweet Caroline” - Boston Red Sox Fenway Park has been the site of some truly awe-inspiring moments in baseball. From the Red Sox ending their World Series drought in 2004, to the stadium reaching its 100th anniversary, it’s truly a ballpark unlike any other.

of great tension within games, ‘Sweet Caroline’ is really only played during moments of joy (such as when the Red Sox are ahead in games).

As an added bonus, Neil Diamond himself would eventually perform the song live at Fenway Park “Paint the Whole World Green” Saskatchewan Roughriders What would a music and sports association article be without the tune that gives Rider fans an earworm after leaving the

game? Incomplete, that’s what.

Coming from Jason Plumb & The Willing, “Paint the Whole World Green” is catchy, fun, and screams Saskatchewan sports.

Don’t believe me? Don’t take my word for it, as Jason Plumb himself was available for comment regarding the song: “You know,” started Plumb, “The fact that they’ve been playing it for ... God, I don’t know, must be 10 years now. You know, it’s nice.”

As for the song’s association with the Roughriders, Plumb also spoke on that.

“I’m proud of the team,” said Plumb. “I’m proud of the organization. You know, nationally, it’s kind of a storied franchise. So, to be associated with it is really nice.”

Though the song and team are linked now, Plumb originally didn’t expect the two to be so closely associated for so long.

“No, not at all,” said Plumb.

“I mean, when I wrote it, it was just for the unveiling of the Max Tron. They needed a song to go with some visuals and they captured my band, playing a bit of it.

Actually, it’s funny, because when they came to film us playing it, I had only written the chorus and one verse, so all we did was play one verse in the chorus, and they kind of cut it together in a magical way.

“But no,” continued Plumb, “I didn’t know that it would last this long. You know, you never know when you write these things, right?”

op-ed

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editor: holly worby op-ed@carillonregina.com the carillon | march 11th - march 17th, 2021

The Venn diagram of mission trips and modern-day colonialism Would you still go if you couldn’t post the pics?

Anton Diaz (manipulated by Kate Thiessen)

A photo of missionaries leading a song for kids in a classroom, made to look like an Instagram post.

Mission trips make me uncomfortable.

Going into a foreign country and forcing religious beliefs upon people in poverty is equivocally patronizing. Consequently, I do not think that many people who participate in missionary trips do it with the best interest or for genuine humanitarian efforts.

The problematic nature of mission trips contributes to the façade that Christianity uses to continue its power trip, and it needs to be acknowledged.

I grew up in a Catholic school. Occasionally, we would have presenters from missionary groups come to school and explain how wonderful it was to give back to communities in poverty. They explained how it was an ultimately moving experi-

“

me feel nauseous; I had been brainwashed into thinking that this was an acceptable means of displaying humanitarian efforts.

It frightens me how many methods of colonialism we keep adapting overtime.

Despite each mode of assimilation we enter, it still comes down to the roots of colonialism. The toxic mentality of mission trips is how they enter a country and force their beliefs onto other individuals who need “saving” through the volunteer’s religion. If this sounds familiar, it is because it embodies what was done to Indigenous children in residential schools. You are not a hero; you are a perpetuator.

Speaking of being a hero, I wonder how many people would still go on mis-

a medical clinic for children without any medical experience, consequently killing 105 children during the operation. Bach’s experience is just one example of what can happen when you excuse credentials while wanting to make a difference. While some missionary trips do not involve religion, there should still be some thought into why you are going to another country to help. If you are going to build a school or a house, have you considered the quality of materials you are building the structure out of ?

Do you have any contracting experience?

Is there anybody in the area qualified to teach or operate at the building once it is built? Why couldn’t you have just sent the money across seas to the communities for

now, 40 per cent of Indigenous children in Saskatchewan live in poverty, and many houses require desperate maintenance and reconstruction to safely house the number of individuals in each home. Many Indigenous individuals do not have clean water or sufficient running water (Editor’s note: over 30 reserves in Canada have been under drinking water advisories for over a decade).

Poverty is not a battle that takes a week to complete, topped with a hut. Long-term action is needed to aid countries in poverty.

Third-world countries require social programming to help their people and include democratic measures within the community. Without any system of relief for their

The toxic mentality of mission trips is how they enter a country and force their beliefs onto other individuals who need “saving” through the volunteer’s religious beliefs. If this sounds familiar, it is because it embodies what was done to Indigenous children in residential schools.

– Gillian Massie

ence that had changed their lives forever.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they had united everyone together, making peace with one another. I remember very vividly when they explained how many of the people who lived in poverty would pray for us and emphasized how it was the most fantastic opportunity we would have in our lives to make the difference and be the change.

And honestly, they had me completely sold on it. I was enthralled looking at all the photos from previous mission trips, and encouraged that I would create long-lasting relationships with my companions from the journey and the people I would be aiding.

Looking back on that conversation makes

sionary trips if they were told they were not allowed to post about their experience for social media clout. It takes away the purpose of volunteering when you regularly take photos that generate likes and comments about how you love to give back and how humbled you are to have committed such acts of selflessness. The romanticizing of mission trips is incredibly problematic because giving people fundamental human rights should not be rewarded. Furthermore, rethink your motives of what posting about your experience will do.

The ugly truth about mission trips is that they often have underqualified individuals who operate them. Renee Bach, a missionary from the United States, conducted

them to create, potentially providing people in poverty with jobs? Missionaries often enter countries and provide more problems than peace.

Mission trips are the perfect opportunity for people to go on a vacation and make themselves look good at the same time. Often, the trips are broken down into the days spent volunteering, with a specific day or days spent at the beach or sight-seeing. These tone-deaf actions demonstrate that the trips are all about the people who go on them, not aiding individuals in poverty.

I find it ironic that many of these mission groups neglect to help communities in need within their own countries. Right

people, they will continue to live in poverty because of how their society is structured.

I am not writing this because I am against humanitarian efforts, but I find it frustrating seeing where people’s true interest lies. I would like to encourage others to become more aware of organizations that put the best interests of the people in thirdworld countries first. The uneven distribution that occurs in many mission trip charity organizations is more for the volunteers’ welfare and well-being than the individuals in need of help.

gillian massie web writer

march 11th - march 17th, 2021

op-ed

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When employment doesn’t mitigate poverty

Could it maybe have something to do with Sask having the lowest minimum wage in the country?

According to Statistics Canada data, in January of 2021, Saskatchewan had the lowest unemployment rate of any province at 7.2 per cent. While that is a lovely number, other Statistics Canada data also places Saskatchewan as having one of the highest overall poverty rates in the country and the third highest child poverty rate.

This begs the question, with that amount of people employed, why are so many living under the poverty line?

I’m going to start with an adjacent question: what’s the current data on income for those in Saskatchewan? I will be using information from Paul Gingrich’s report Poverty in Saskatchewan – October 2020 update, which combines data from Statistics Canada’s 2018 Canadian Income Survey and the 2016 Census of Canada. The 2018 Canadian Income Survey doesn’t include data on individuals living on reserves, so the 2016 Census of Canada was used for information on First Nations and Métis individuals.

In 2018, the federal government established the Official Poverty Line (OPL), a measure for “goods and services a household requires to meet basic needs,” at $44,833 for a family of four and $22,416 for an individual adult. Make any lower than that per year and you’re under the poverty line – in Saskatchewan, there’s roughly 122,000 people under that line, or at least 12 per cent of our population (number does not include individuals living on reservations). To use an example that I’ve used in previous articles, that number is roughly half of Regina’s population, so take a second and actually picture what that amount of people looks like. Think about how many lives are actually being impacted here in a province with 7.2 per cent unemployment.

If you’ve read my pieces before then you know what comes next – let’s dig into those numbers a little deeper.

I found the numbers for two specific demographic groups to be the most tell-

ing in Gingrich’s report. First, the poverty rate for children living with single mothers is 48.4 per cent, compared to 8 per cent of children living with two parents. This difference makes sense when you consider that it’s a lot easier for two adults to make $44,833 per year than one, especially in a province where our minimum wage – the lowest in Canada – is $11.45 an hour. On top of putting time in to raise and care for children, run all the errands, and do the cooking and cleaning, these mothers would have to work two full-time minimum wage jobs to make an income anywhere close to the poverty line.

The fact that this makes sense is a prob-

“

did live with families. The average income of that 35.5 per cent, or roughly 1 of every 3 people in that group, was found to be 45 per cent lower than the poverty line for individuals, meaning an average income of roughly $14,500 per year.

Again, a sizeable gap; again, it makes sense. When the cost for your vehicle and maintenance, housing and maintenance, education and/or student loan payments, daily costs, and everything else falls on you to take care of, it’s not likely you’ll have money left at the end of the month to put away if you’re only making $11.45 an hour.

Some of the people in this group would be employed post-secondary students who

The fact that it’s so easy to understand why roughly one in every two children living with a single mother lives in poverty is – excuse me – absolutely fucked, because when you understand a problem like this you can’t stop at just understanding.

– Holly Worby lem. The fact that it’s so easy to understand why roughly half of children living with a single mother lives in poverty is – excuse me – absolutely fucked, because when you understand a problem like this you can’t stop at just understanding. Noticing a problem changes nothing; raising the minimum wage to a wage that an individual could support a family on would change things by at least ensuring single mothers would only have to clock in 40 hours a week to get their family’s basic needs met.

The other group I took note of was individuals between the ages of 18-64 who don’t live with families. Of this group, 35.5 per cent were below the poverty line, compared to 7.6 per cent of individuals who

don’t live with their parents or a family of their own, divorcees and bachelor-types who live alone, or middle-aged, widowed homemakers who are getting back in the work force with a two-decade gap on their resume.

Gingrich concludes his report by stating that “It is unacceptable for a rich province like Saskatchewan to have over 100,000 persons in poverty and another 100 thousand with relative low incomes.

Improved social assistance benefits, universal child care, adequate house, a Living Wage, and a universal basic income could ensure that no child or adult lives in poverty.” It is unacceptable for a province with an unemployment rate like Saskatchewan’s

to still have so many people unable to afford to meet basic needs for themselves and their families.

In an article for The Canadian Press on February 22, 2021, Brett Bundale reported on some of the factors that those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic had in common. He used a report on Statistics Canada data done by Benjamin Tal, the deputy chief economist at CIBC, which found that “Canadians who lost their jobs due to the recession sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic all had something in common: they made $27.81 an hour or less. But the biggest decline in work was among the country’s very bottom wage earners, with an hourly wage under $13.91.”

What this says to me is that the people working minimum and low wage jobs, the same jobs that last year were heralded as essential, are most likely to be hit hardest by this pandemic. An hourly wage of $13.91 is considerably higher than our minimum wage, yet it’s not a high enough wage to be able to save money – that’s a paycheque-to-paycheque wage, and the people earning those wages were those most likely to lose their paycheques.

The minimum wage, legally speaking, is the lowest amount most businesses can legally pay their employees, and some take advantage of that by choosing to cut wages to the lowest legal amount to cut costs and pocket more profit. While I understand that increasing the minimum wage could lead to job losses, I would argue that if you can’t pay an individual enough to meet their basic needs, you can’t afford to have someone working that position. You need to either rethink your business model or try cutting costs in areas that don’t directly harm the people working under you – AKA those who make it possible for you to earn what you do.

holly worby op-ed editor

Piqsels (manipulated by Kate Thiessen)

A hand coming from the left side of the frame holding coins and a hand coming from the right side of the frame holding a stack of bills.

march 11th - march 17th, 2021

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op-ed

16

The Xenophobic Pattern in Anti-Mask Protests Questioning the motive of deniers’ protests

For anyone who has had to venture out in that direction, the protesters around Albert Street bridge have been a constant fixture pretty much since last summer. I am not aware whether they were also there during the brutal cold snap we had for the past couple of weeks. For their own, sake I hope good sense prevailed, but I concede that the chances of that are rather slim.

While I never saw the point of these protests, as long as they are just holding up signs and standing there I see no reason why they should not be allowed to exercise their democratic rights. Recently though, things have taken unpleasant turns more than just once.

I believe it was a couple of months ago that some of these protesters went on a rant about the Chief Medical Officer of Saskatchewan, Dr. Saqib Shahab. If citizens of this province feel Dr. Shahab is not good at his job, or is not spending enough hours at his job, or is not doing the best that he can to protect our interests, then I would absolutely and wholeheartedly agree that he is not above criticism, rebuke, and maybe even a well-crafted insult.

In fact, most of what was said about him that day were insults. Unfortunately, none of them had anything to do with how well he is doing his job or whether his credentials are good enough. Maybe because even his worst detractors know that Dr. Shahab has an unassailable track record, even more so since the beginning of this pandemic. It has been extremely evident how many hours he has been putting in, and how stressful the situation is for him.

It is thus not surprising, that the issue they chose to talk about is his name and appearance. You know, the fact that he is a member of a visible minority, with a name that does not quite roll off the tongue. It ap-

pears that the man who has been leading our province’s medical and public health response with all his might is guilty of looking like a foreigner, whatever that means.

While Scott Moe, among others, denounced them, a disturbing precedent had been set. Just over a month ago, a group of protesters thought it would be a good idea to show up at Dr. Shahab’s private residence, on a weekend, to voice their displeasure with his work. Once again, it would appear that they did not have very many concrete criticisms of exactly how Dr. Shahab has failed at his job. Other than, you know, being called Saqib Shahab. Thankfully, law enforcement intervened, and no physical harm was done to the good doctor,

his family, or his home. Once again, Scott Moe said some words about how unhappy he was with this development and increased police presence was ensured for Dr. Shahab’s home. I have not seen any news about whether the protesters guilty of this breach of privacy faced any consequences.

I wish that were the entirety of this saga. Shortly after the protest, people decided to show up to his residence again, this time as a show of support. Perhaps I am a hopeless utilitarian, but I feel that the best way to show your support for the Chief Medical Officer is to follow public health orders and ensure that healthcare funding is adequate. If I were in Dr. Shahab’s shoes, I would rather see our policies

working and our taxes going to proper services, not a cheering crowd outside my living room window.

Just one last thought before I finish.

All across Canada, provincial and national chief medical officers are trying to do the same thing. Can someone explain to me why the news is replete with protests, rants, and threats of violence to only those with names like Saqib Shahab, Mustafa Hirji (Ontario), and Theresa Tam (federal)?

Are people mad about being issued public health orders, or because of who is announcing those orders in the media?

hammad ali contributor

Wikipedia Commons

A man at an anti-mask rally with the center of his mask cut out to expose his mouth and nose.

Pink Shirt Day waters down the purpose of the cause What do Halloween, Bell Let’s Talk, and Pink Shirt Day have in common?

Pink Shirt Day has made me resent the term “bullying”. There, I said it. Why do I hate this term? Well, it sanitizes situations.

It waters them down until it is on such a broad spectrum that the actual issue is unidentifiable.

Pink Shirt Day’s original purpose was to recognize homophobia but was re-branded to taking a stand against bullying. When you look up the origins of Pink Shirt Day, no mentions of homophobia are present. It has all just been absorbed into the term “bullying”. Here are some of the reasons I think the campaign is problematic: First and most obvious, the

2SLGBTQ+ community is being silenced once again. The irony of removing the advocation against homophobia and broadening it into bullying strips the meaning out the significance of the day. Pink Shirt Day’s re-branding demonstrates that they made it something appealing for people who are homophobic to participate in.

Second, if they are going to advocate for anti-bullying, every day needs to be prioritized as a day that contributes to the end of bullying. Much like other campaigns (cough* Bell Let’s Talk cough*), we should not solely focus on one day each year to end bullying. Pink Shirt Day is the perfect time to pretend like you care, then resume

your usual shitty habits the next day. Uniting individuals and students for one day is too short-term; long-term effects should be implemented to make a difference.

Furthermore, I know schools are already attempting to do this, but their policies to stop bullying are inefficient. Putting a kid in detention to teach them a lesson will not work. There needs to be some initiative through social programming in schools to help combat these issues.

Third, the campaign heavily focuses on gender contracts through the significance of the pink shirt. The emergence of pink shirts proclaiming “proud to wear pink” and “don’t laugh, it’s your girlfriend’s shirt”

Pixnio (manipulated by Kate Thiessen)

A hand holding an iPad with a picture of a folded pink collared shirt and the words “Pink Shirt Day”

perpetuate how wearing pink is something that girls and “sissy men” wear. Moreover, the campaign still emphasizes that pink is something that men only wear one time a year before returning it to the back of their closet. It is masculine and acceptable to wear once a year, then it is returned to a symbol of femininity. The pink shirt represents a type of rhetoric that it is okay to wear pink for one day before returning to the stereotypical blue for boys and pink for girls. Wearing a pink shirt is comparable to dressing up for Halloween on October 31 – it doesn’t change how people conduct themselves daily.

I have difficulty seeing what the campaign is truly accomplishing in ending bullying. The campaign could be doing so much more by advocating for 2SLGBTQ+ rights across Canada and the world. It could be a day about learning and recognizing homophobic and transphobic behaviors and supporting policy change against conversion therapy. Speaking of policy change, there could be an emphasis on questioning why there is little representation of the 2SLGBTQ+ community in government. Furthermore, the campaign could involve guest speakers who uplift and encourage youth to embrace their sexuality. All these things can contribute to gender equality, should be taken notice of, and should not be watered down.

gillian massie web writer

march 11th - march 17th, 2021

carillonregina.com | the carillon |17

op-ed

John McAllaboutme offers tell-all on International Women’s Day Regina local shares strategies for respecting women daily

Naomi Ushiyama

I woman shown from behind, looking at a chaotic mix of cool-toned blobs and hands holding comment captions.

The Carillon, as an organization, has come very far in ensuring that gender biases and norms have no place in our workplace or our writing. Our current Editor-in-Chief, Taylor Balfour, is the first female Editor-in-Chief in fifteen years, and she has done a phenomenal job in the position. I’m serious – this woman is an absolute powerhouse who has won my eternal respect with how gracefully she navigates uncertainty and conflict alike. Roughly five years ago, there were only two women on staff, and now three of the four section editors – including myself – are women. It’s incredibly encouraging to be employed by people dedicated to affecting change and providing a platform to those whose voices are otherwise unheard in the media.

This week, on International Women’s Day, I had the pleasure of providing a platform for one of those voices when I interviewed Regina local John McAllaboutme on how he ensures that the respect given to women on this day is carried out yearround.

Good morning John, and thank you once again for making time for this!

Oh it’s no trouble Holly, I can always make time for a media appearance. Always happy to share my honest thoughts with the student paper.

That’s great to hear – honesty is all I ask for. I guess we’ll get started; do you remember when you first heard about International Women’s Day and the history behind it?

I have to reach into the memory bank for that one, gimme a sec…I guess it must’ve been when I was 15 or 16. I was in grade 10, in a history class with Ms. Asset – great name for jokes by the way, we came up with all sorts ofI’m gonna have to stop you there – this is an interview on a day devoted to the progress of women’s rights, so it

feels odd to include jokes about your 10th grade teacher and her…assets.

I mean it was funny at the time, and I have to admit I still dig into that memory bank when the internet goes down at the wrong time if you know what I mean.

No actually, for some reason I don’t have memories of my high school teachers’ bodies that I use for… whatever you’re implying you use them for.

Okay I get that like you’re interviewing me and all, but I really didn’t appreciate your tone there. Do you kinkshame all the

think you’d censor me so much. Typical.

Moooving on. Next question: how have you been impacted by toxic masculinity, and what have you found to be helpful in combatting that norm?

Is that like when dudes insist they’re fine when they’re clearly not fine?

Well, kind of. Toxic masculinity does categorize being “not-fine” as a feminine trait, so men who are actually honest about their mental well-being are often portrayed as weak because it’s seen as non-masculine to be not-fine, and being feminine in any

“

Shit dude, I knew you looked like one of those uptight feminazis, but I didn’t think you’d censor me so much. Typical.

– John Mcallaboutme

people you interview?

Normally I don’t have the opportunity, so I’m gonna go with a classic “no comment” there, McAllaboutme.

Next question: who are some of the women in your life that you’ve seen as role models, and what did you admire most about them?

Well there was this one lady who used to come into the coffee shop I worked at as a barista last year, and she’d always wear these flirty short skirts that just drew your eyes up so that every time she’d bend over to put her bag down you sawPlease don’t finish that sentence.

Please. I do not want to have to write what you’re about to say.

Shit dude, I knew you looked like one of those uptight feminazis, but I didn’t

sense is seen as a weakness by those with this outlook.

Christ, you talk a lot. I mean I guess I get what you’re talking about, I can’t really talk to my guy friends when I’m not doing so hot, but that’s what fuckbuddies are for, right? …could you elaborate?

Well whichever chick I’m fuckin’ at the time is usually who I talk to about that stuff cuz I know it won’t last long, so it doesn’t really matter what I tell her or what she thinks about me, right?

I mean, if you see her as a human being who deserves at least the base level of respect then no, but I’m getting the vibe that’s not how you see things.

Hey hold on – I respect women! I always make sure the chick gets off before

I do, I open doors for them and shit, but most females don’t even thank me for it so like how much is it even worth to them?

I promise you, most chicks get off every time they fuck themselves, so you getting them off is not a perk – it’s a baseline expectation. Also, if you’re only doing these things to get thanked for them, I really think you’re doing them for the wrong reason. Shouldn’t you be doing them because it’s just the right way to treat a person?

Well sure, I hold doors for my buddies too, but when chicks don’t thank you it’s like they’re taking advantage of your kindness. …to hold a door? That’s kindness to you?

It’s chivalrous! Hold the door, let them rant when they’re bitching about things, buy them food, and they repay you with sex. Age-old, flawless formula.

Actually, being kind to women was a very small part of what chivalry was about, and even then, it held the mentality that women need to be saved – we don’t; we need allies.

Allies? What is this, a gender war?

No, it means taking a stand against the patriarchal structures that negatively impact every person of every gender, but especially women of colour and trans folks because they currently have the least rights.

Are you kidding me? When I got fired as a barista an Asian chick got my job, so clearly they’re not struggling too much.

Aaand we’re done here.

The Carillon would like to assert that the opinions of McAllaboutme do not reflect the opinions of the Op-Ed Editor or our body as a whole; we’re sorry you had to read this.

holly worby op-ed editor

graphics

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editors: sarah carrier, kate thiessen graphics@carillonregina.com the carillon | march 11th - march 17th, 2021