the carillon the staff
editor-in-chief editor@carillonregina.com
holly funk
executive director business@carillonregina.com
jacob nelson
production manager production@carillonregina.com
morgan ortman
advertising manager advertising@carillonregina.com
ty cote
technical editor tech@carillonregina.com
shae sackman
multimedia/graphics editors multimedia@carillonregina.com graphics@carillonregina.com
sarah carrier rooky jedege
copy editor copyeditor@carillonregina.com
aurel dumont
news editor news@carillonregina.com
sara birrell
a&c editor aandc@carillonregina.com
hannah eiserman
sports editor sports@carillonregina.com
vacant
op-ed editor op-ed@carillonregina.com
sarah nakonechny
distribution manager distribution@carillonregina.com staff writer
hammad ali
staff writer
gillian massie
news writer
vacant
a&c writer
jorah bright
sports writer
victoria baht
web writer
vacant
this could be you!
vol. 64
vacant
contributors
board of directors holly funk, lindsay holitzki, joseph holoein,, dustin smith, jacob nelson and honourary members hammad ali, cassandra byblow, morgan ortman
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 sixty years. In the late 1950s, the University of Regina planned the construction of several new buildings on the campus grounds. One of these proposed buildlings was a beltower on the academic green. If you look out on the academic green today, the first thing you’ll notice is that it has absolutely nothing resembling a belltower. The University never got a belltower, but what it did get was the Carillon, a newspaper that serves as a symbolic bell tower on campus, a loud and clear voice belonging to each and every student.
the people’s friend; the tyrant’s foe
The University of Regina Students’ Newspaper Since 1962 November 11 - November 24, 2021 | Volume 64, Issue 11 | carillonregina.com
news
Along with Regina’s first official snowfall and reading week comes issue 11 of the Carillon - and boy did our writers deliver! We have coverage on local gallery exhibits and poetry events, interviews with a Cougars team captain and head coach, perspectives shared on Canada’s 2022 Olympic outfit, and news on U of M strikes as well as the current state of mental health services for U of R students (spoiler - it’s not pretty). We’ll be taking a publishing break for a week after this issue, but will be back come November 25 with more rants, reviews, and rile-worthy news to keep you up to date with the local happenings.
Counselling woes
news
p.3
UMFA strike
arts
p.4
Long wait times, inadequately staffed, the U of R’s counselling services seem to leave much to be desired for.
p.6
The Artesian welcomed Toronto “disabled/queer/transmasculine multidisciplinary artist” Charlie Petch alongside local poetry recitations at Word Up.
sports
arts
Word Up!
op-ed
Holly Funk Editor-in-Chief
photos
cover......................................sarah carrier news..............................................alex iby news..................................jimmy emerson a&c................................kane reinholdtsen a&c................................hannah eiserman sports...................................arthur images op-ed.....................................elvert barnes
handwringers
p.7
Hannah Eiserman reviews handwringers, an adaptation of U of R alumna Sarah Mintz’s M.A. thesis looking into prejudice, Jewish identity, and who determines which.
Caitlyn Spurr
p.9
Cougars volleyball team captain Caitlyn Spurr found a new sense of gratitude for the game and shares her passion and perspective.
Olylulumpics?
p.12
Gillian Massie talks about the intertwining of the Olympics, Lululemon and Canadian pride.
news
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editor: sara birrell news@carillonregina.com the carillon | nov 11 - nov 24, 2021
Students suffer as mental health services fail to meet the mark Wellness Wednesdays won’t cut it
hammad ali staff writer Since March 2020, we have had to re-evaluate a lot of things about what is and is not working in our society. With all the stress and anxiety in the world around us, one thing that has become clear is that high quality, accessible, and affordable mental health services are an essential need. This is all the more pertinent on campuses, where the transition to online classes, changed expectations, and the lack of social opportunities are particularly taxing on everyone. We wanted to find out options for mental health services on campus here at the University of Regina, as well as how existing services are perceived by the student body. With the recent opening of the new Student Wellness Centre, we also wanted to find out which mental health services they would be offering and how these would complement those already being provided by Counselling Services at the Riddell Centre. We contacted Jenny Keller, Manager at Counselling Services to find out about the services provided by their unit and how students can go about accessing them. Keller informed us that currently there are two major options to meet student needs. In the Time-Limited Consult approach, students are able to get a single 30-minute consultation with the student support coordinator or a registered psychologist, either in person or virtually. This option is designed to help students formulate a plan and identify resources to assist with their current mental health concerns. In the E-Counselling model, students are able to have scheduled
Alex Iby via Unsplash
This is about people’s lives.
50-minute therapy appointments with a Registered Psychologist, facilitated virtually. The number and frequency of appointments are determined based on therapy progress and goals. On their website there is information on how to request services, as well as a link to the Mental Wellness Hub providing information on all services available to students. At present, there are five psychologists and one student support coordinator working with Counselling Services. Keller
resources, and received mixed responses. It appears that most students have either had a negative experience or found the services being offered to be inadequate for their needs. Some have consequently had to seek out more expensive alternatives off campus. Katie, who accessed Counselling Services on campus on two separate occasions during her time at the university, said that both times there was a wait of around two weeks. On a couple of occasions, her appointments
tually stopped booking appointments for a number of reasons. For one, Steinley felt that there was an expectation to meet for five to six sessions and then resolve that no further sessions are necessary. “It always makes me feel like therapy is bad and for those who are really mentally ill, ignoring the fact that therapy is something everyone should always have ongoing for maintenance,” they added. Another reason they stopped going was that there was a lack of queer and/or
“
I think they bill themselves as being more full-service [...], and in my experience, it’s a case of over-promising and way under-delivering. – Hila Smith
informed that there can be over 2000 consultation sessions with students in one semester. Appointments are available for free to all current U of R students, regardless of their registration status in a given semester. We also contacted the recently opened Student Wellness Centre (SWC), and were informed that the SWC is working together with Counselling Services, and the latter has a full list of all mental health services on campus. No information was provided on what services the SWC is able to provide on top of those already offered by Counselling Services. We also spoke to several current and former students on their experiences attempting to access
were cancelled with less than an hour’s notice, or she showed up for her appointment and found that her counsellor was not in. Katie also feels her first counsellor completely missed the signs of her being in an abusive relationship, while the other one suggested that given the issues in some of her relationships, perhaps she was the problematic one, without analyzing further. Nadine Steinley also had struggles with the long wait times in their first year, and felt that this came in the way of successfully meeting their needs. Steinley mentions that they were able to book an appointment online easily, but initially had some trouble navigating the website, and even-
female therapists, and also that the therapist they were seeing was a graduate student at the time and had not finished their program. Harvey Aurelien Michael, a U of R alumni, had accessed counselling services four years ago. While they felt the service was easy to access, it did not meet their needs. They went on to say, “The counsellor seemed illequipped to deal with a student who was having anything more than general anxiety. When I saw her, I gave her a summary of what I was struggling with, but was not offered anything else like coping mechanisms, any strategies, or anything. Maybe the counsellors are over-extended themselves, more staff would probably help
alleviate that strain?” Like Steinley, Michael also added that the counsellor they saw was not prepared to deal with 2SLGBTQ+ issues. Hila Smith accessed mental health services on campus in the Fall of 2019, after a serious incident in her personal life. In that instance, she was actually able to quickly see a counsellor, and found the experience helpful. However, later that same semester, she was hoping to get more regular appointments in order to address ongoing mental health concerns for which she had been diagnosed. During her first appointment in this phase, Smith felt that the counsellor was very dismissive of the legitimate medical concerns she detailed, and tried to convince her that she did not need ongoing help. Smith actually did stop after a couple more sessions because she had the distinct feeling that they were trying to get her off the regular roster as soon as possible. She does add, however, that she went back a few more times, always in response to some moment of crisis. Smith feels they were much more equipped to help in a crisis-type situation than to help with ongoing mental health issues. “If the counseling centre wanted to be a crisis-only service, that would be fine. I mean, it wouldn’t be great – students need more mental health services than that – but it would be a legitimate approach. But I think they bill themselves as being more full-service than that, and in my experience, it’s a case of over-promising and way under-delivering,” says Smith. (...cont. page 4)
nov 11 - nov 13, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 4
news
Counselling services lacking Lack of staff may be a cause
hammad ali staff writer (...cont. from page 3) Another student, who wishes to stay anonymous, accessed counselling services on campus in 2018-19, and found it fairly easy to access. However, they felt that the frequency of sessions was not adequate, often being able to meet less than once a month. “It didn’t really meet my needs, but I also wasn’t in a financial position to pay $200 out of pocket for something privately owned,” they said, going on to add: “Just feels that with all the emphasis that the U of R puts on mental health/ wellness, it’s all talk and no action. Our tuition goes to fund those kinds of services, but also with the fact that a lot of our campus buildings are falling apart, I just have to wonder where the money’s going and why it’s not being
“
Just feels that with all the emphasis that the U of R puts on mental health/wellness, it’s all talk and no action. Our tuition goes to fund those kinds of services, but also with the fact that a lot of our campus buildings are falling apart, I just have to wonder where the money’s going and why it’s not being invested in students or the campus.
– Anonymous Student invested in students or the campus?” Taylor Balfour, another of U of R’s alumni, had the following to say: “In 2019, within the first few days after my little sister’s death, I attempted to access university counselling. After crying through the entirety of my first
appointment, I was asked if I actually needed a second appointment. I said yes and insisted that I booked a follow up appointment for a few days after her funeral. When my second appointment arrived, my counsellor told me that I didn’t need to come in for a second appointment and didn’t
book me further. I needed to access outside counselling, all paid for out of my own pocket. I was later diagnosed with PTSD in response to her death, as she was tragically found dead suddenly at the age of 18. Not only did the university counselling fail me, but it placed me in a state of danger,
without support, during one of the worst periods of my life. If the University of Regina is unable to provide accurate counselling services to their students, I would suggest they either outsource their counselling, suggest other options that students can access, or change their system, massively.” As evidenced by most of these firsthand experiences, counselling service on campus has left much to be desired. While many of the students concede that the services offered more than met their needs for acute crisis management, clearly ongoing help has not been adequately provided for many. As many conjecture, perhaps understaffing is the root cause for most of the issues students have reported. It remains to be seen whether the new Student Wellness Centre can bring some positive impact in this regard.
UMFA strike in its second week as U of M refuses to budge Students largely supportive
sara birrell news editor On Monday, November 8, after seven days of striking, members of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association, which represents 1170 full-time staff, and their supporters gathered outside the Winnipeg constituency office of premier Heather Stefanson with the goal of occupying the office until Stefanson would agree to meet with them, as she has so far been unresponsive to UMFA’s requests to engage. Stefanson avoided them by going to Brandon. UMFA has been on strike since November 1, and they’ve been without a collective bargaining agreement since March 31, 2021. Salaries at UM are among the second lowest in the country in comparison to similar research-focused universities, in part because of their last experience hammering out a collective bargaining agreement with the university. The last time UMFA picketed the university was almost exactly five years ago, beginning on November 1, 2016, and lasting until a new CBA was ratified on November 21. UMFA members returned to teaching the following day with a contract that gave them zero percent salary increases in exchange for substantial governance changes, including a collegial model to determine workloads, privacy and confidentiality improvements, a
Jimmy Emerson via Flickr
Solidarity forever.
guarantee that standards and processes for tenure and promotions will be set by faculty, and increased administrative support for faculty to free up more time for research and class preparation. “Students rely on us every day in classrooms, libraries, and labs. We want the University of Manitoba to continue being a great university. That means attracting great instructors, professors and li-
“
it harder for institutions to attract and retain Black and Indigenous faculty members, also making it difficult for faculty to do the ground-breaking, sometimes courageous, and often extremely important work that they were hired to do in the first place. UMFA tabled an offer on Thursday that they hope will end the strike. According to a press release from UMFA, that proposal
with librarians, which would address compensation and retention issues.” What is happening at UMFA is not unique to that university and should be seen instead as a symptom of the growing neoliberalization of higher education, in which universities are seen as businesses to be run by a burgeoning class of administrators, many of whom have not seen the inside
Whatever can be monetized is monetized, whatever can be cut is cut, and as much as possible these universities begin to rely upon adjunct labour for teaching, an inhumanely treated, poorly compensated underclass who does all the work of educating undergraduates for none of the glory. – Sara Birrell
brarians, and keeping the talent we have,” said UMFA President Orvie Dingwall in October. “It’s hard to attract new staff and keep existing staff when they can work elsewhere for fewer hours and more money.” Underfunding programming and underpaying faculty in comparison to other universities makes
“includes two years of 2 per cent increases and the third year at 2.5 per cent, or a Cost of Living Adjustment. The proposal also includes increases to recruitment and retention adjustments over the term of the agreement. Finally, the proposal includes raising the salaries of Instructors to be in line
of a classroom since they got their degrees. These administrators attempt to play the market, cutting programs that they think provide too few returns (largely humanities departments) and investing in faculties where there’s currently lots of money and excitement. They tend to invest heavily in attract-
ing international students who are charged exponentially more in fees that don’t equal the services that they are given. Whatever can be monetized is monetized, whatever can be cut is cut, and as much as possible these universities begin to rely upon adjunct labour for teaching, an inhumanely treated, poorly compensated underclass who does all the work of educating undergraduates for none of the glory. As universities begin to function more as businesses to be administered as opposed to places of learning to be funded, staffed, and nurtured, we will continue to see situations where faculty must go on strike – disrupting students’ educations – in order to ensure that their jobs will not only pay existing faculty what they’re worth, but also that they will continue to be there when the next generation of apprentice scholars is ready to move into tenure track positions. It’s important and necessary for students at universities to wholeheartedly support job actions by tenured faculty, as many U of M students seem to be doing. Strikes are as much for the future as they are for the present, and a successful strike for a University Faculty Association is a success for students and for future faculty members, some of whom may yet be students.
arts & culture
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editor: hannah eiserman aandc@carillonregina.com the carillon | nov 11 - nov 24, 2021
Theatre review: Lights! Climate! Action! The U of R Department of Theatre’s first group show after pandemic-induced hiatus
jorah bright arts writer Live theatre: sitting in an audience with other theatre lovers and watching a story unfold in front of you, watching people performing and doing what they love. Live theatre is an incredible experience. Throughout the pandemic, live theatre has been a scarce commodity. Most performers, the few that they are, had the choice to perform outside or not at all. Broadway productions have just returned after the long shutdown. And right here at the University of Regina, live theatre has returned. From November 3 to 6, the U of R Department of Theatre put on the show Plan(et) B presents: Lights! Climate! Action!, a show about climate change. The story follows eight different eco-warriors, mostly portrayed in two groups of four – and from an audience standpoint it was difficult to see where the story went from there. Rather than being one whole cohesive storyline, it was a collection of 12 plays put together in the same show. Each play was written by a different member of the production. This made things a little confusing and difficult to understand. Yes, there was a thread connecting all the plays together, but trying to connect the dots made me feel like the meme of Charlie connecting the red lines on the conspiracy board from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I think one aspect that contributed to the play’s not feeling cohesive is that the order wasn’t initially set. The cast revealed in interviews that the order was made after rehearsals had begun
Jorah Bright
Someone needs to clean their room again…
and the two casts began working together. I also found out through those cast interviews that the show was about the characters taking part in a climate change theatre festival. The EventBrite listing describes it as, “a post-apocalyptic world where our ‘eco-warriors’ gather in the rubble of their lives to remember the world as it was and to imagine what it can be in a futuristic theatre festival.” Either they said it in the beginning and I just missed it, or it wasn’t very well explained. I love a good storyline, and I’ll suffer through a lot to get a good story, but Lights! Climate! Action! was missing that. Despite
for this piece because he was in a penguin costume. People often talk with their hands because it’s a natural thing to do, but while telling the story of a penguin and an albatross, Babcock couldn’t do that. He also had limited mobility in his legs because of the costume and had to hop around. The overall acting in this scene was fantastic and humorous. I had the most fun watching this monologue and it swiftly became my favourite. The actors in Lights! Climate! Action! were amazing. They took the story that was meant to be separate and brought it all together through their characters; they saved the storyline. Although
The costumes and the set were entirely made from upcycled, repurposed, and recycled pieces, and they looked great. From the front row, you could see words about climate change written on the pieces. They had the same vibes as the Fates from Hadestown. Each character had a different symbol of one of the four elements on their face – the style was taken from Avatar: The Last Airbender. The set’s colour scheme flowed naturally throughout the stage and the lighting brought out the more earthy tones. It felt almost minimalistic, but it wasn’t because there was paper and piles
“
Also, I sat in the front row and at one point was handed an orange. I’ve never eaten an orange and I had no idea what to do with it. – Jorah Bright
the lacking story, it had a good message. Climate change is very real and has real effects on our lives and will continue for years to come, and Lights! Climate! Action showed that very clearly. In my opinion, the most important piece of the story is the message of morality that comes across when it’s over, and this play nailed that on the head. The best play within the show was the penguin piece starring Lucas Babcock who played Rhett, a member of the ‘Reclaimed Kingdom’ group. Babcock didn’t have use of his hands
I did feel that both groups were fantastic when they were broken into sub-groups, the chemistry between the sub-groups didn’t translate well when all eight actors were on stage. When they were in the sub-groups, they truly seemed like groups of people who lived together in hard times and came to rely on each other and trust each other. Some of these moments felt special, like found family. Altogether, they seemed a little awkward and disjointed, but the costuming helped repair that and made them feel more connected.
of things. It was simple, yet complex. One piece of the set left me confused. There was a barrel with a fire in it. Sometimes the actors touched it and the characters reacted like it was hot to the touch, but sometimes they didn’t. Was the barrel supposed to be hot or not? The stand-out performances were from Finn Burke Eggertson as Roach and Jacey Jacobs as Ash from The Waste Watchers. From the moment Eggertson walked out on stage, he presented a clear and defined character in Roach.
Roach was socially anxious until he was performing in a separate play, and as someone with social anxiety who performed for years, I saw myself in that character. Eggertson evoked emotion in his performance – fear and joy, laughter and pain. He was brilliant; Jacobs equally so. She played the little sister-like character incredibly well, and despite that archetype, she stood out. The character of Ash felt developed and so did the other characters Jacobs portrayed in the smaller plays. Every time I looked at Jacobs, even when she wasn’t speaking, she was fully in character and fully responding to what was happening. The play took place at the Shumiatcher Open Stage, commonly known as the Shu-Box. This made the play feel more intimate because the space was smaller. It allowed for more immersion for the audience into the space. I was the only person sitting in the front row, aside from the cast when they sat in the audience while the other group was performing. Each cast seat had a reserved sign on it, which made it seem like the entire row was reserved and seemed to lead to a bit of confusion for audience members. I only knew that I could sit there because I asked someone working if I could. Overall, Lights! Climate! Action! was improved by the cast portraying the characters who made up for the disjointed storyline. They were its saving graces: the actors, and the overall powerful message about climate change. I can see every actor who was on that stage having a bright future in performance.
nov 11 - nov 13, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
6
Word Up at the Artesian
November 3 iteration of Word Up features poet Charlie Petch amongst local performers
amina salah staff writer The time was 7 p.m. It was a cold, windy Wednesday night in Regina. The night sky was beaming. However, the atmosphere inside the Artesian was warm and cozy. The crowd was cheerful, empathetic, and welcoming. Attendees of the event were welcomed to share their work. In return, they won’t have to pay the admission fee. Although it’s nerve wracking to be open in front of strange people, I decided to share that night. Shaking, I recited some of my work in front of a lovely audience that cheered for me and chanted for me to come back next time. That was the aura of the event; it inspired people to be raw, unfiltered, and open, and even commended them for it. Other members of the audience also shared their pieces. There was poetry, comedy, and much more. The recurring Word Up event is a versatile event that welcomes all forms of spoken art, whether it be stories, poems, or singing. The invited performer was a “disabled/queer/transmasculine multidisciplinary art-
ist” named Charlie Petch who joined the Regina Word Up event through Zoom. Residing in Toronto, Petch is a poet, playwright, and musician with a background in lighting design. Petch was named the 2017 Poet of Honour for SpeakNorth. He was also the winner of the Golden Beret lifetime achievement in spoken word alongside The League of Canadian Poets.
Petch was there to promote their new book called Why I was Late with Brick Books. Charlie read some excerpts from their book, one titled “broiled meat.” Petch also recited poems for the audience with his own live music in the background showcasing his many talents. Petch stated that they spent many years doing lighting for television. Their next piece, “Electric,” illustrated the
reality of our fast-paced world whereby people are expected to work endless hours. “The world is our television,” read Petch. The poem highlights the reality of working behind the scenes on television and film sets in relation to the rigorous long hours commonly seen in the entertainment industry. Petch’s book featured many pieces such as “Why did the trans
Kane Reinholdtsen via Unsplash
Literally just a microphone.
kid cross the road,” “How to tell if a poem is trans or not: Helpful guide for Slam judges,” as well as “Stealing candy at the movies,” among others. A copy can be purchased at Brick Books. The website directs you to local bookstores in any area that have copies for people to purchase. Petch emphasized that the book is essentially a transformative journey that details his life and the experiences he has been through as a disabled, queer, transmasculine person. Petch says he thinks it’s “a good book for men to read.” The Regina Word Up event followed the Government of Saskatchewan’s public health orders. The event upheld Saskatchewan COVID-19 guidelines and regulations to ensure it went by in an efficient and smooth manner. The audience was masked up. Moreover, the event organizers encouraged social distancing guidelines. Proof of double vaccination was required along with an ID or a negative test dated within 72 hours. Contact tracing was also set up at the event. Overall, it was a total success!
Serving of Afflictions at The Woods
A stop at The Junction to see exhibit by Ashely Marshall, what’s coming for the space hannah eiserman arts editor If you’ve lived in Regina for a while, someone has probably mentioned The Junction – an extremely eclectic hair salon, art gallery, and massage therapy space – to you. If not, I’m here to tell you a little about it. You may think hair salon/art gallery/massage therapy to be an odd combination of services for a single business, but it just works. The space is in the Heritage neighbourhood, just off Albert and College Avenue, and inside an old house complete with a veranda. The bottom floor hosts the salon which features some of Regina’s most talented stylists, and gender-neutral pricing. The whole space is dedicated to being queer friendly, and there’s ample signage scattered around the place to let you know you’re welcome here, no matter what. All kinds of art line the walls
in the salon space – up the stairs to The Woods Gallery and into the hallway before you even get to the main gallery room! Currently, the gallery room is dedicated to an exhibit by Ashely Marshall called Serving of Afflictions (a self narrative) which is a collection of ceramics (mostly plates). The plates are each dedicated to mental “afflictions” like anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia. The plates, in general, have a repeating border around the edges and a depiction of Marshall painted in the middle. I have a great respect for ceramicists, since it’s such a hard medium to work in. I thought Marshall’s collection was incredibly unique and moving. The only non-plate ceramics featured were a hanging display of ornaments and string lights called “Tangled in the Light,” which were dazzling from afar, but simply mesmerizing close-up. I spent most of my visit staring at the little bulbs
and twinkling lights. Kristina Blake, the owner of The Junction, told me that Marshall’s exhibit actually came from a contest to win an exhibit at The Woods. This type of contest seems typical. “One of our missions is to create opportunity with the space,” Blake says. “So, we do our best to accommodate as many folks as we realistically can.” If you’re an artist interested in putting some work up in the gallery, Blake tells me they have an “artist application” on their website and frequently have open calls for submissions. Some of the other artists on the walls of the hallway were Patrick Fernandez, credited with being a vital volunteer to The Woods gallery, Geanna Dunbar, a local mixed media, piercing, and tattoo artist, and Jess Richter, whose work I hadn’t seen before, but now greatly admire. Fernandez paints portraits in lively colours and geometric patterns.
The good thing about plants painted on a wall is that they won’t die when you forget to water them.
The piece of Dunbar’s I noticed was an eclectic piece of mixed media using wood and other natural materials like bones. Richter does some stunning small ink portraits that could be harder to miss if they weren’t mostly black and white pieces with a touch of colour making them stand out from the other more saturated pieces. I recall standing and looking at Fernandez and Richter’s pieces in particular and thinking: “Man, I miss making art.” The pieces on display seemed to all be for sale as well, in case you are interested in bringing some home. I will admit, I was a little skeptical of the salon/gallery/ massage therapy set up, but the concept is so well executed. The space is just so comforting, homey, and inspiring. Blake also notes that The Woods “is completely volunteer based,” which adds to the eccentricity of the space. “We do the best we can,” Blake says, “but we do things a little bit dif-
ferently.” Marshall’s exhibit will be up until November 27. From there, Blake says it’s a tradition four years in the making “to host a small works group show every December called Every Nook and Cranny.” Blake says “[i] t’s always a show that hosts the most amount of new-to-us artists, [and] it’s also our most eclectic show that suits so many art preferences, styles, and price points.” The Woods will be kicking off the new year with a solo show called Sleep Spirits by Jaime Reynolds. Those wanting to peruse the gallery can visit anytime during business hours for a “self-guided tour.” There is also an option for appointment-based visits with a business day or two notice by email at thewoods@thejunctioncreativestudio.com. The staff are delightfully friendly and respond quickly to inquiries.
Hannah Eiserman
The mesmerizing ceramic bulbs in the corner that the A&C editor spent a little too long staring at.
nov 11 - nov 13, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
7
Book review: handwringers
Debut fiction collection presents sophisticated characterization, commentary on Jewish identity
hannah eiserman arts editor Reading as a writer is often different than just reading for fun. As a creative writer – because my writing endeavours do go beyond the pages of the Carillon – I tend to look for different things in books than the average reviewer. The qualities in a creative work that I admire are the ones I want to adapt in my own writing: decadent prose that hits like a gut punch, characters compelling in their honesty (or dishonesty), and moments that sit in the discomfort of the weird and inexplicable. All this preamble is to say I’ve wanted to review the short story collection handwringers by Sarah Mintz since I was hired as the Arts & Culture editor, and I finally have a gap where I’m able to! However, as I started coming up with what I wanted to say about this book, I realized a lot of what I thought about it may not be “conventional” review material, per se. So, I hope you’ll bear with me as I conduct my own unconventional review of this collection! First, I have to note how exciting this book is to me as a student in my final year of the English program here at the U of R. Sarah Mintz is a recent alumna of our M.A. program, and handwringers is a version of her thesis! It’s so inspiring to me that material she wrote during her time at university went on to be an actual published book – and one that’s pretty darn good! The book was also produced here in Regina by Radiant Press, who have heaps of other cool titles out like the flash-fiction novella Tiny Ruins
by Nicole Haldoupis, a resident of Saskatoon. And for anyone else grinding away at NaNoWriMo, be advised that Radiant Press is actually open for general submissions of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction manuscripts! On to the collection! The title is fitting for a collection as unconventional as this one: Mintz leaves a note at the end of the book to explain that the title comes from a quote from an essay by Susan A. Glenn, which says a “‘good deal of hand wringing ensued’ over a
logue and parenthetical action at least. Flash and micro are forms that have become very popular in the last decade, probably because social media has radically altered our attention spans. They’re not generally my chosen form to write in, but I do truly enjoy reading them. It’s certainly remarkable what storytelling can be done with only a few words. Within their short page span, some of Mintz’s stories use traditional narrative styles and some play with form. A few more closely resemble poetry,
Rooms.” The first lines of her stories are generally provocative, enticing, and/or hilarious – and in the case of the second one, very indicative of character. Clearly, the narrator is unreliable, and Josephine may or may not be the kind of person who kicks dogs. Don’t you want to know more about these people? Some of the stories are just downright weird, which is really what I live for lately. My two personal favourites were “Please Don’t Eat That” and “Strangers
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Mintz is clearly speaking to other Jewish people who may be feeling fragmented or disconnected from their people and culture. It’s not important I understand her message: it’s important that her community does. – Hannah Eiserman
study that seemed to demonstrate that people who held strong prejudices against ‘Jews, Blacks, and Catholics,’ tended to be the most accurate in their selection of Jewish faces.” The stories themselves are largely concerned with identity, but particularly Jewish identity. As a result, there are small sketches of faces distributed on random pages throughout the text. One of the most important things to know about Mintz’s collection is that the stories are actually flash or micro fiction, meaning they are around five pages at most or four short lines of dia-
like “Invitations” and “L’Shana Tova, I Guess.” One is written in a very experimental form which features exposition coupled with file titles, called “to whom life happens.” The thing that struck me the most about this collection were the opening lines. Mintz is an absolute expert at crafting the first lines of stories. Some personal favourites include: “Miranda was sure she’d get shit on her head,” from “Little Wisdom I”, and “Josephine holds the leash taut then yanks and kicks the dog – no, she would never!” from “Crowded
in the Vent.” The former is about a young lady who eats trash (out of necessity at first) and has exceptionally poor luck in dating. The latter is about a tenant who “understand[s] why someone would murder the Russian girl in the adjacent apartment just for cutting her food rhythmically.” This is also an example of another one of her spectacular opening lines. I did find, at times, that though I knew there was a comment on contemporary Jewish identity being made, I just didn’t have enough knowledge or con-
text for it to click. But I also knew Mintz’ writing wasn’t meant to cater to me. As she notes in her explanation of the title, Jewish folks “chosen to attempt to identify Jewish faces in pictures” were “unexpectedly incompetent” in identifying Jewish faces. Contrasting this with the other quotes about non-Jewish people, one of the problems seems to be letting outsiders determine Jewish identity. Mintz is clearly speaking to other Jewish people who may be feeling fragmented or disconnected from their people and culture. It’s not important I understand her message: it’s important that her community does. And that doesn’t mean that the stories aren’t enjoyable without that context, or that I didn’t learn anything from it. I certainly do feel like I know a lot more about Jewish culture than I did before, and found I related to lots of the struggles of identity Mintz’s characters face that had nothing to do with whether or not I was also of the faith. To conclude, I would absolutely recommend picking up a copy of handwringers next time you’re at The Penny University or ordering off Radiant Press’ website! If you’re anything like me, entering into either of those places – a bookstore or a book website – with a credit card can be a dangerous endeavour. Proceed with caution! Or don’t. I wouldn’t blame you if you judged some books by their covers, and took home most of Radiant Press’ collection based solely on their beautiful designs.
Hannah Eiserman
A smorgasbord of cartoon people with no social distancing and no masks in sight. An appalling illustration for a pandemic released book.
nov 11 - nov 13, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
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Animal Crossing’s new update
The game that kept millions sane at the onset of the pandemic releases its last free update
jorah bright arts writer Picture this: it’s April of 2020. You’re stuck in your home with your Nintendo Switch and one comfort: Animal Crossing: New Horizons (AC:NH). There was a joy and a peace in spending hundreds of hours on your own deserted island with your villagers and a raccoon you’re thousands of bells in debt to. The cozy game brought great comfort to its players, and now it’s back with a new update to do this same again. Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2.0 was released on November 3, 2021, with tons of new features and a little bit of controversy. When the update was announced,
some people were upset because Nintendo said it was the last major free update for AC:NH. Many people poked holes in this argument, saying that Nintendo could’ve easily taken the EA route and made this update downloadable content (DLC) and charged money for it. The “EA Route” refers to how Electronic Arts made the base game of The Sims 4 costs $40, but all of the DLC costs over $900. The new AC:NH update comes with lots of new features, including a cafe that can open in the museum, run by Brewster. Brewster is a pigeon that was initially introduced in AC: Wild Word. Another returning character to this update is Kapp’n, originally from the first Animal Cross-
ing game, back again to give you a boat ride for 1000 Nook Miles. K.K. Slider fans, be ready for 12 new songs being added to his setlist. The game has finally added cooking, making the kitchen in your home functional. It behaves in a similar manner to the DIY system. Now, the fruit you worked so hard to get from other islands and the sea bass you’ve caught so many times will come in handy as you learn all the different cooking recipes available. A new item for ease of access is a permanent ladder. No more spending thousands of bells for an incline or having to get out your ladder every time you need to climb. And for those just waiting so patiently for Flick to
appear on your island only to find out you just missed him, Isabelle will now tell you what island merchant is visiting your island. And what might be the best update: storing DIY recipe cards in your home. No more piles of DIY strewn across the island. It’ll be a relief to clean up your island of all the cards hiding everywhere. Now, the villagers visiting your home can’t see the mess of DIY’s you’re hiding in the back room. That’s right, villagers can now visit your homes. They’ll interact with your items, admire the portrait you have of them, and leave immediately if you have cockroaches. Another fan favourite is also returning: gyroids. The Animal
Crossing staple returns in a customizable fashion and is available to be placed anywhere with their own achievements. If you’re like me and you recently reset your island to try again and make some different decisions, you’ll have to wait a little bit before you can try out a lot of these new things. Most of the new update items are inaccessible until you reach certain milestones on your island, but that’s a good excuse to play some more and work towards paying your debts to Tom Nook. There are lots to find and unlock in Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2.0, and it’ll only cost you 731,380 Bells and 31,600 Nook Miles to do it all.
Ian Hughes via Flickr
A player’s room on Animal Crossing that’s better decorated than my apartment.
Eric Clapton: yet another problematic favourite
A quick summary of what Eric Clapton has against vaccines – and immigrants, apparently hammad ali staff writer I might be dating myself here, but there was a time when for me and my peers, the epitome of a love ballad was “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton. Only much later did some of us learn that this English guitarist, singer, and songwriter once ranked second in a list of 100 greatest guitarists of all time, put together by the Rolling Stones magazine. He was also ranked in the top five on two other, similar rankings. Victim of a great personal tragedy, Clapton’s son Conor passed away in an accident in 1991. The artist channeled his grief in one of his best songs, “Tears in Heaven.” In his illustrious career, Clapton has received 18 Grammy awards and was honoured by the Queen of England in 2004 for his contribution to music. These accolades make it hard on those of us who grew up with his music to come to terms with his unfortunate re-entry into the media. Joining the long (and growing ever longer) line of celebrities who seem to be letting down their fans, Clapton has recently been on the news as a leading anti-vaccine activist. Not only that, he has apparently been donating to several movements that are geared towards spreading skepticism about the vaccine, and also took part in at least one lockdown
protest concert called the Jam for Freedom. The artist’s personal social media is also seen replete with accusations of the vaccines being propaganda. Clapton embarked on a U.S. tour, booked in the red states, despite surging numbers of new cases and death rates. Even worse, he then made a point of announcing that no proof of vaccination would be needed to attend. Many are lamenting this decline of the former great – yet another testa-
ment to how you either die a hero or do something to disappoint the multitudes of people who once loved you and your art. Of course, journalists around the world went digging around for something, anything, that would explain this abrupt apparent change in personality. What they found might be worse than Clapton’s anti-vaccine stance. Dave Wakeling, a musician and former Clapton fan, has shared stories of the time in 1976 when
he saw Clapton in Birmingham . Wakeling recalls Clapton, clearly drunk, going on a rant about immigrants. Based on other published accounts of the time, he began making racist comments, complete with nasty slurs, right from the stage. He also states that the influx of immigrants into the UK must be stopped, because otherwise the country will “become a colony.” Earlier in 1968, Clapton had endorsed a prominent anti-immigration politician,
Wikipedia Commons
Eric Clapton absolutely shredding that baby blue Strat.
Enoch Powell. Wakeling and others recall that soon after the Birmingham incident, Clapton did issue an apology that was essentially just him saying that he was drunk and having a bad day. Former bandmates also remember the incident and said that this side of Clapton was a total surprise to them. As usual, there are also those who defend the artist, saying that his rant does not reflect his true feelings and that he was just not in full control of himself at the venue. Speaking to Rolling Stone in 2017, Clapton himself said that he is surprised by how different of a person he is when fueled by drugs and alcohol. In his 2007 memoir, he once again insisted that his statements were not “meant to be racist,” but rather “anti-government.” Many of those present, however, do not feel this aligns with the words Clapton had used when singling out specific immigrant groups. One reason why there seems to be so much hearsay and unclear anecdotes about this incident is that somehow no major news outlets covered it, and next to no recordings of the show survive. Had it not been for Clapton’s recent problematic anti-vaccine actions, maybe this would not have come to the surface. Either way, as a former fan, there is much to lament in this situation. Time to add one more artist to the list of those whose work I can no longer enjoy unconditionally.
sports
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editor: vacant sports@carillonregina.com the carillon | nov 11 - nov 24, 2021
Caitlyn Spurr shares on personal and team growth Cougars women’s volleyball team is back and more grounded than ever
victoria baht sports writer This past week, the University of Regina Cougars women’s volleyball team played against Winnipeg. The game was intense, with multiple points made by multiple teammates, and the student-athlete we spoke with for this article, Caitlyn Spurr, scored eight points herself. With a final score of 2522 for Winnipeg it sounded like a tough game, but the team is working hard. So, this week, let’s get to know one of the game leaders! Spurr plays on the left side, is a team captain, comes from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and has been playing volleyball for 10 years. She has been playing for the Cougars for four years now while studying and is in her fourth year of Nursing. What previous leagues or camps have you gone to that helped you train to become a Cougar? “From a very young age the importance of work ethic was instilled in me, which led to playing multiple sports at a high-level including Team Saskatchewan Soccer from 2014-2017, Team Saskatchewan Volleyball from 2015-2018, and I also played high school basketball and participated in track. Leading up to becoming a Cougar, I played for Saskatchewan Stealth Club where my coaches supported me tremendously and prepared me for the next level of volleyball.” How does the volleyball team train on a weekly basis? “We practice Monday to Friday for two and a half hours a day (…), and we also have three team work-outs a week and additional programmed cardio workouts. On the days when we have a
Arthur Images
There are few better feelings than spiking clean through the defense.
game, we practice in the morning in order to prepare for the evening game.” Do you have a personal goal for yourself during this season? What is your team’s goal? “Our team goal is to win the National Championship. When we sat down as a team to decide on what our goal for the season was going to be, it was important for us to set the bar high because for us, the sky is the limit. We are determined to work hard every day, enjoy the process, and do what it takes to achieve our goal.” “As a captain on the team, my personal goal for the season is
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Have you coached any teams in the past? Or, if you want to coach a team in the future, can you explain why and what you think are important aspects about coaching? “I have coached many different kids sport camps and volleyball camps over the years. I believe every child should have the opportunity to be involved in sport as sport has given me many incredible opportunities, and taught me life skills such as time management, leadership, communication, and work ethic. In addition, participation in sports teaches teamwork and fosters re-
kindness. For this reason, I work each day to encourage those around me whether it be on the court, classroom, or on the street with a stranger.” What are some other important things people should know about your team? “As a Cougars athlete, it has been very important to recognize that in addition to the University, we are also leaders in the community. Therefore, it is important that our team takes part in service initiatives and demonstrates our commitment to bettering the lives of those around us. As a team we have volunteered lots of time with various Sask volleyball initiatives
…something our team learned is that the only thing we can control is our response. Response to the adversity, response to the challenge of not having court time for months, gyms being closed, and many others. – Caitlyn Spurr
to give generously to my team on and off the court, and spread love and joy to my teammates. One thing I have learned is that there is so much power in the simple love of a sport, and bringing this to the court every day helps those around me.” What techniques and skills do you think are required for volleyball? “Like any sport, work ethic is the number one thing that is required. Volleyball is a very specialized sport, and it takes a lot of mental discipline.”
lationships all while having fun and playing the games the kids love.” What is your favourite part about playing with the Cougars so far? “My favourite part about playing for the cougars is the relationships I have built with my teammates and the coaching staff. I also love the competitive environment of being pushed to be my best every day. Playing a high-level sport has shown me that everyone can spread joy. and impact others with the power of
as well as Special Olympics Saskatchewan. Personally, because I have been significantly impacted by cancer, I have been called to volunteering for different Cancer fundraising initiatives including the Terry Fox Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society and Small but Mighty SK. I have been volunteering for The Terry Fox Foundation for over 10 years and in that time, I have raised over $25,000.” How does your team “work as a team” on and off the court?
“The connection our team has on and off the court is unique because we all genuinely care about one another. As a team, we have learned that there is something very powerful about looking each other in the eye and saying, ‘I believe in you,’ or ‘You can do this.’ I am very excited (to) watch our team grow throughout the season.” How has COVID-19 affected your team? “Last week we played our first match in 630 days, and I think when you face an obstacle as impactful as COVID, something our team learned is that the only thing we can control is our response. Response to the adversity, response to the challenge of not having court time for months, gyms being closed, and many others. Personally, it came down to asking myself the question of, okay, what can I do today that will make me better and more prepared so when we do step back on the court, I am ready to go? And, now that we are finally able to play again, I think collectively as a team one thing we learned is that every single day we step on the court is a gift that cannot be taken for granted.” What does the rest of the season look like for the Cougars? “Our season is just starting! Our first home games are Nov 12 and 13 at 6 pm against the Brandon Bobcats. Then in January we are at home two weekends in a row: January 14 and 15 at 6 pm against Winnipeg Wesmen, and January 21 against the U of S Huskies.”
nov 11 - nov 13, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 10
sports
Sporty Queers series: Timothy Leduc Gay, nonbinary, and a potential Olympian? Please tell me more… gillian massie staff writer
Timothy Leduc, an openly gay figure skater from the United States, has paved the way of excellence in sport, and resiliency in the world sports web. LeDuc and Ashley Cain-Gribble compete in pairs figure skating through thick and thin. Both still compete at international figure skating events and are a pair to keep an eye on both on the ice and through activism in 2SLGBTQ+ rights. LeDuc first revealed that they knew they were gay as a child, reading a book about figure skating. Being a young child in a hetero-normative atmosphere can lead to large amounts of anxiety when you do not have anyone who you feel you can talk to about your feelings. LeDuc states they typically felt this way as a child and wanted to be seen as a visible gay role model to help kids feel a greater acceptance, and to realize that their sexuality is valid. Many conversations about labelling athletes by their sexuality, gender, or race can individualize them and separate characteristics from the athletes themselves. In an interview with the Human Rights Campaign, Leduc was asked by fans why they want to be known as a queer figure skater, and said it was because they want a platform to acknowledge that their participation in sport is an
Weston Mackinnon via Unsplash
T-minus five weeks until our lakes match this one – who’s ready?
example of queer excellence. Leduc’s performance on the ice with partner Cain-Gribble is one of the best representations of queer excellence. The two not only represent success, but also resilience in the face of adversity. The partners have been labelled the “tall” pair on the ice, as Cain-Gribble is taller than the typical female pair skater. Fur-
thermore, the pair took a break in 2014 from being burnt out with the sport, only to reconvene years later to train again in 2017. They began making headlines in 2018, shining in competitions in Asia and the United States, then becoming Olympic alternates finishing fourth at Nationals that year. In 2019, Leduc and
Cain-Gribble won the U.S. pairs championship, giving fight to their fire and making them spotlight competitors for the next Olympics. The next year, they represented the U.S in the World Championship in Montreal. While the pair stumbled placing third in their short program, they ended up in fourth place at the end of the competition. The pair
has slowly been creeping up the ladder with new advances every year, making them side-eyed competition for the United States. Figure skating has been stereotyped as a “gay” sport for decades and has typically received a negative connotation compared to its masculine-perceived counterpart: hockey. Figure skating has often been labelled a girl’s sport or a “sissy” version of hockey because it relies on flexibility and precision technique whereas hockey relies on agility and strength. Breaking down stigmatism between sports showcases that both sports rely on all elements of training to make a more efficient athlete – figure skaters need agility just as much as hockey players require precision. LeDuc has a grip on where many of these stereotypes come from and acknowledges their own privilege within the sport while calling attention issues of homophobia and misogyny to show how fighting them is critical in achieving equality for all athletes. Spending six days a week training for six years is a long time, especially when spending it training with someone for competitions that only come around a few times a year. Both LeDuc and Cain-Gribble have faced setbacks in competitions, but have thrived in the face of adversity, so make sure you don’t rule them out for Beijing 2022.
Interview with Cougars women’s basketball head coach Taylor talks on tryouts, season requirements, academic supports, and more victoria baht sports writer
University of Regina Photography/Aby Reed via Flickr
The subtle discomfort of someone about to be called out for referring to players as “your man” while coaching a woman’s team.
Did you know that you do not have to have been a professional athlete to coach a university team? Dave Taylor is the Cougars head coach for the women’s basketball team and has been for 16 years, yet only played high school basketball. What is the furthest you have seen an athlete of yours go? Over the years of coaching, Taylor has seen players go overseas and play professionally. One of our previous alumni athletes just won an NBA title. He has also seen players go on and get their master’s in coaching. Where does someone takes their master’s of coaching? Two options we found for the masters program are at the University of Lethbridge and University of Victoria. When it comes to playing on a university team, the players normally must maintain good grades in their classes. What do you as coaches do to help your players keep the balance needed? “Well first off, right away, the players cannot get scholarships unless they remain at a 65 per cent GPA. Then if you are an Academic All Canadian, there are rewards with that which creates some motivation for the players. Then while the team is on the road for game
day, we make sure there are study spaces, we talk together as a team about marks, being prepared for organization and time management, and how to get access at the University to tutoring.” What is a good common activity that you do with your players and other coaching staff to help with team bonding? At the start of the year, the Cougars team works getting to know one another. Then, throughout the season, overall team bonding takes place while being on the road together and spending time together in the team room. Taylor states “the more time you spend together and just communicate with each other, the better your team chemistry tends to be.” Do you feel like referees play an important role in the sport? How do you as a coach remain professional when it comes to taking a hard call? Right off the bat, without hesitation, Taylor said “Of course they are an important part, they are just as critical as the players that are playing the game!” Taylor has kept himself clear and not gotten too wound up by their calls by keeping a mind set of “controlling what you can control.” He believes that over the past 29 years, there has only been one game where referees have had an impact on the game. What are some examples of training or drills that you have stuck to throughout your years of coaching?
The Cougars spend a lot of time on re-bounding the ball and close-outs. Then, as the season moves on over the years, they play games in practice before doing actual drills. Can you describe what close-outs are for people that do not know basketball well? “A close-out is when your man does not have the ball. Then your man gets passed over the ball. The close-out is the action of you going to go and guard the ball. So going from being the ‘help position’ to directly being on the ball. It involves a sprint towards the ball, then you can try to block a three-point shot or get down to try and control the drive of the opponent.” When you are getting your players ready for a big game, what is one thing you say to get your team pumped up and ready to go? Taylor believes that it is not about showing up just for one game, it is about showing up to all the games together as a team. They do this by not looking at short-cuts or easy answers; it is pure hard work all over the season. What is one main piece of advice that you would give an athlete that wants to play for the cougars in the future? “The initial cut is based on you (being) talented and (having) focus on skill development. Then based off the skills that they have, (and) it comes down towards character and are they a good fit for our team and what we want.”
op-ed
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editor: sarah nakonechny op-ed@carillonregina.com the carillon | nov 11 - nov 24, 2021
Mournful remembrance of those sent to shower
The heartache in remembering my Dachau walkthrough Being asked to sit and reflect is not an easy task at the best of times. Being asked to reflect on topics that make us uncomfortable and that we would much rather leave buried in the past is so much harder. One may argue that this reflection allows us to grow as not only a person, but as a society as well. When we are forced to stare these ugly topics in the face, we are being forced to remember that, as human beings, we are not perfect, and we can inflict incredible harm on one another. I had the privilege of staring one of these horrific incidences in the face six years ago – that experience has continued to stick with me as though it happened yesterday.
pads representing each building where those who were held as prisoners would have inhabited. Once you make it past all the symbolic pads, you reach a handful of the preserved buildings. The sleeping quarters looked like a summer camp cabin from hell. As someone who is intimately familiar with how uncomfortable a regular thin mattress on those wooden frames can be, I was immediately upset knowing that the wooden frames with a bit of straw would have seemed like heaven when they were finally allowed to stop working long enough to sleep. As the warmest spot would be in the middle, jamming between two to three other people all sharing the same level of
person who was lost in that camp. My soul has never ached so much for lives I would never know. It gets worse as you make your way out of the building. There is an area that looks as though it may be a nice patch of greenery for people to enjoy, but things are not as easy as that when walking through a concentration camp. This patch of greenery is where prisoners were lined up to be shot and discarded until someone was sent to move them. Where were they moved to? The giant furnace that would have been kept burning all year round. As I looked at those close to me who were walking with loved ones and peers, I couldn’t help but
God and deal with the mentally scarring endeavours that have been carried about? For many, holding onto their faith and trying to maintain a sense of community with cultural ties is what gave them the strength needed to continue to push through the horrifyingly long event – knowing that even in all the uncertainty, someone was looking out for them. I don’t know if I would have it in me to turn towards a higher power to look for guidance, strength, and protection while going through the motions of those horrifying days. Seeing those around you perish in unspeakable ways, just because those in charge have decided they don’t like you.
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I wanted to scream about the injustices of the world - past, present, and future - and I wanted nothing more than to cry and mourn the lives of every single person who was lost in that camp. My soul has never ached so much for lives I would never know. – Sarah Nakonechny
April 2017, I had the opportunity to find myself standing in Dachau. For those of you who are not history buffs, Dachau is a concentration camp located in southern Germany that was built with the intention of holding political prisoners. Naturally, it expanded to include forced labour and the imprisonment of any other population that was deemed unworthy of freedom at the time. Walking through the preserved grounds of this particular concentration camp sent such intense chills through my entire body it felt as though my entire being was being frozen from the inside out. Among the things you see initially when you enter through the gates are the cement
the bunk is a price one may have to pay to avoid the frost that would inevitably sneak in. When you’re able to tear yourself away from the sleeping quarters, you can walk through the shower area. Knowing that the room you’re standing in is the same spot where thousands of people have died is overwhelming. As I stood in there, I was overcome with so many emotions it was hard to untangle them. I wanted nothing more than to throw up at the thought that this was done to so many innocent lives. I wanted to scream about the injustices of the world - past, present, and future - and I wanted nothing more than to cry and mourn the lives of every single
think about the horrifying event of being told to go and collect the bodies from the morning’s shootout only to come across the body of someone you cared about. The damage done, not only in the physical pain that was caused, but also the mental suffering that these individuals were put through is absolutely soul-crushing. The last area shook me to my core. Near the back, far from the main gate, was the chapel. It seemed almost like a rude and unusual punishment to provide the camp and those who were there the opportunity to attend and be present in a chapel. I don’t know about you, but I don’t know if I would be up for praying to a God. How are you supposed to celebrate over the word of
Taking the time to remember and reflect is something that is challenging to do at the best of times. Being forced to stare at the preserved buildings and having no other choice but to reflect on one of the darkest portions of the world’s history was almost impossible. I will never forget the feelings of despair and the longing for things to be better, knowing that these injustices are not just a token in the past. Remember those who fought to cease them, and remember those who fought every day, trying to survive long enough to escape.
sarah nakonechny op-ed editor
Pixabay
For those who weren’t able to walk back out of the gates.
sept 30 - oct 6, 2021
op-ed
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
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Indulging in the Lulu scheme
You too can pay an outrageous amount to look like Canada’s 2022 Olympians
Elvert Barnes via Flickr
You’d think with how much their clothing costs, they would be able to afford a better window display.
The world’s most expansive global event is back, with another Canadian powerhouse company behind the gear campaign. Just after the conclusion of the Tokyo Summer Olympics, advertising outlets are hightailing it into campaigns for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing this January. On September 23, Lululemon launched their Team Canada Olympic gear campaign. This had mixed reactions from spectators eager to dress like an athlete. Criticism is drawn from Lululemon’s “transformative” outfit construction. While some see the designs as a step into the future, looking sharp and futuristic, others are disappointed with them, saying they look like a Christmas ham. While both criticisms are completely perpendicular in my
the Olympic outfit. The entire campaign has been marketed to invoke nationalistic pride and convey the feeling of being a part of the larger picture: being Canadian. Invoking emotion in campaigns is a classic strategy that has been used in many sports’ equipment and clothing campaigns, as we have seen with brands like Nike and Under Armour – it takes an item and gives it symbolic meaning and emotion. Wearing the Team Canada outfits gives fans a rite of passage feeling as a supporter of the Olympics, and a sense of belonging to Team Canada. Each Olympic Games marks a new possibility. The innovation and resiliency that Lululemon is trying to market sucks in fans, making them want to buy their product. It is genius. Making an
genders and disabilities. Also, an incredible amount of feedback has been given from Paralympic athletes to manufacturers to make their clothes more functionally sound - a real A+ attitude from Lululemon. Another beautiful aspect of the clothing line is that it is seamless between Paralympic and Olympic athletes alike. The coherency between clothing shows the equality between teams, which enforces Olympic ideals. Another zinger that hits the campaign is how it took them 18 months to construct puffy coats and leggings through detailed scientific evidence. Laying it on thick like this is a little bit embarrassing for stretchy pants, I will admit. When you put out how long and hard you work on something, it takes away the prod-
will overtake Beijing and the next three Olympic Games as the clothing designer, which makes perfect sense. Unlike the Bay, they are an activewear brand, giving them hands-on knowledge on practical and comfortable clothes for athletes. Lululemon was originally more of an athletic brand for women, but is now expanding to more consumer categories. They have begun marketing their clothing by developing their men’s section. Along with expansions in design, they have introduced more “athleisure” clothing that customers can wear off the field, even while hanging out watching Netflix. The campaign appeals to those who like to participate in sport as well as spectate. The brand has truly started to evolve in the year through pandemic
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Invoking emotion in campaigns is a classic strategy that has been used in many sports’ equipment and clothing campaigns, as we have seen with brands like Nike and Under Armour – it takes an item and gives it symbolic meaning and emotion. – Gillian Massie
mind, they oddly make sense when you see photos of the Olympians – I hope they win big looking like futuristic hams. All criticism I have seen in the campaign is valid. As a constant critic of capitalism, I completely understand the frustration with the pretentious idea that a piece of clothing can be life changing. However, before going into a rant about overpriced capitalist fashion that will ruin the environment, I should say that I have come to enjoy some of the designs and the emotional meaning behind the patriotic apparel. Sometimes you must pick and choose your battles, and I cannot believe I am defending dressing like a ham hanging in a butcher’s shop – but here we are. Lululemon’s campaign as the Team Canada Olympic outfitter containing the slogan “Feel Canada” has drawn in criticism from Canadians. The campaign is set up to convince consumers that they can be “more Canadian” by purchasing
object a part of a larger whole is beneficial to generating income for a company. It can create customer loyalty because they represent a large extension of the population’s pride. On the other hand, some are not buying into the transformative, innovative, and exciting themes Lulu is trying to uphold. Maybe it makes me pretentious to buy into this entire capitalist concoction that makes you look big, red, and puffy. A part of me believes that there is something a little more to the Lululemon haters out there. Many are labeling the campaign as cringey or a capitalist money grab, but what campaign trying to sell you something isn’t? Lululemon is the brunt of the joke this time, but other athletic brands are doing the same thing. Some of the criticism stems from the fact that a women’s athletic brand is dressing team Canada. That takes away from the issue, especially considering their effort to be inclusive to athletes of all
uct’s beauty because you know that you are being oversold on it. Honestly, I am glad they are putting in the effort to consider the needs of athletes. I hope it creates a special and functional product for them. Finally, I think that many are frustrated because of the cost of dressing like an Olympian. Prices for Lulu apparel have been steep as the alpine skiers who wear it for years. Paying $100 for a pair of leggings is awful, let alone $500 for a parka, and mostly for the maple leaf on it. Just because some people are not interested in it does not make me want it any less. I think it is a fresh and different design from anything other retailers have created, and I think it would be fun to wear to represent Canada. Lululemon being selected to be the Olympic clothing sponsor for the 2022 Winter Games comes after the Hudson’s Bay Company’s 16-year reign creating and marketing Olympic activewear. Lululemon
sales promoting comfort and functionality, which is what people want to wear considering many are working from home. I completely understand the criticism of the entire campaign. It is completely pretentious to think that a piece of clothing can transform you into a better, new version of yourself. I would like to think that people will pick and choose what to wear, making them feel good about how they look or wearing what their role model will don the day they compete in Beijing. I’m a proud Canadian girl through and through, and I will set aside my capitalist rage for two weeks to wear a $100 moisture wicking shirt that I could probably buy for $10 anywhere else. You win this round, consumerism.
gillian massie staff writer
nov 11 - nov 13, 2021
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
op-ed
Ain’t no rest for the wicked
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Easy ways to enjoy taking a break Students are some of the busiest people in the world. With midterms, papers, jobs, and course work, it can be difficult to find time to do the things you love. It can be difficult to catch your breath in such a fastpaced environment. It is important for people to find ways to rest that are unique to themselves. Not everyone rests the same way, and not everyone considers the same things to be relaxing – that is the beauty of self-care and rest. It must be completely tailored to meet an individual’s needs. There are those who go for walks or take their dogs out to the dog park. Some might even enjoy getting their nails done on a weekly basis. Journaling is also something that works for some. There are many diverse ways for people to give themselves a break and allow them to catch their breath for once. Self-care, for me, has been something that has taken a few years to perfect. I never understood the importance of self-care and rest until I got into university. I have no idea how I was even functioning prior to this, but I am glad that I finally understand how crucial it is to my mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. When it comes to rest, I like to do social media detoxes when I need to. Every single day, we’re bombarded with everything going on in the world. It is getting more and more difficult to read the news today or to go through my timeline. In fact, it is mentally taxing. I notice that at times I become so desensitized to other people’s suffering and instability that it makes me feel empty inside. In some instances, it makes me feel apathetic. Of course, I don’t mean to feel that way. However, when I am confronted by those feelings, I realize that I need to take a step back and do things that make me feel joyful in my core. This
forces me to go back to my roots and take a detox to gain my sanity back. I am a firm believer that we absorb everything we read on the internet, whether it is directly or subconsciously. The most important way for me to rest is to not be on social media; it is common for the people in my life to see me deactivate my accounts for months at times. I also enjoy going outside, or on walks
I try my best to find the time to paint every month. I like to turn it into a whole set up. I love having a show playing in the background that I can watch whilst painting. I also lay out some snacks such as rice krispies or cookies. Lately, I have been watching Anne with an E every time that I paint. I think the best way to calm your spirit is to read. Reading can take you to an entirely different world. It makes you visual-
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Not everyone rests the same way, and not everyone considers the same things to be relaxing – that is the beauty of selfcare and rest. It must be completely tailored to meet an individual’s needs. – Amina Salah
in my neighbourhood. I find that it is the closest thing to therapy for me as nature is something that truly makes me feel well rested and healed. When I don’t feel well rested, I get stressed much more easily. Of course, going on walks is not sustainable all the time, especially in the harsh Saskatchewan winters. In these cases, I like to do yoga and Pilates. All I need to get me in the right mood are my diffuser and my mat. Making time for the activities I love grounds me. The biggest thing that I like to make time for is painting. When I don’t paint, I don’t feel like myself. Painting requires your energy and time, and it is not every day that I have the time to paint, but
ize your way through books. I love reading fantasy books when I need an escape from the busy life of university. It takes me to a world of magic and magnificence. It makes me focus entirely on what I am reading. It’s as if I’m entrapped in the world of the books myself. The most important thing that ensures that I am well rested is having a morning and night routine. I like to wake up early. The first thing I do is light my morning candles. I try to get a workout in early in the morning, drink some herbal tea, journal, shower, and listen to a podcast on my commute to school. My night routine is one that helps me take the edge off from
the day. I like to light my night candles, usually warm and cozy scents. I also turn my diffuser on every night like clockwork. I cannot go to sleep without a diffuser in the background. The cozy light and the sound of it helps me sleep better. I am someone who’s always overthinking everything, so I make the effort to essentially turn my brain off as soon as I am home. It helps me clear my head. I simply listen to or observe things, but I limit the internal monologue. It was difficult at first, but it has gotten easier over the years. It is important to have a night routine because it helps with winding down. It is important to understand that lack of self-care leads to lack of rest, and lack of rest eventually takes you down the path of burn out. It can be inevitable at times which is why it is important to practice habits that will help you make time to be there for yourself. The most important relationship you will ever have is the relationship that you have with yourself. We owe it to our bodies and our minds to take care of ourselves. The older we get, the busier our lives will get. It will be even harder to make time for the things we love. But it is important that we at least try, even if it is something we do for 10 minutes every day. Consistency is the most important thing when implementing rest into our daily routines. Being well rested allows us to be efficient. It makes it easier for us to be pleasant people. It allows us to be there for the things and people who are important to us. Without rest, catastrophe is bound to happen.
amina salah staff writer
Adrian Swancar via Unsplash
Can you really afford to be napping on such a nice couch?
graphics
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editors: sarah carrier, rooky jegede graphics@carillonregina.com the carillon | nov 11 - nov 24, 2021
