the carillon the staff editor-in-chief editor@carillonregina.com
holly funk
business manager 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 copy editor copyeditor@carillonregina.com news editor news@carillonregina.com
safal gangwani rooky jedege aurel dumont sara birrell
a&c editor aandc@carillonregina.com
hannah eiserman
sports and health editor sports@carillonregina.com
katherine mutschler
op-ed editor op-ed@carillonregina.com
sarah nakonechny
distribution manager distribution@carillonregina.com staff writer
hammad ali
staff writer
gillian massie
staff writer
anima salah
news writer
syd mcwilliams
a&c writer
jorah bright
sports writer
victoria baht contributors
amir said
vol. 64
vacant
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 January 27 - February 2, 2022 | Volume 64, Issue 16 | carillonregina.com
news
Whether you’re looking for information on accessing vaccines on campus, need to commiserate over Boba Fett’s new show, or are desperate to find a new gym in Regina, this issue checks boxes. We have an interview with U of R President Dr. Jeff Keshen to boot, alongside reviews of the Sask Music Awards nominees and how joy as well as productivity can come from increased physical activity. We’re excited to have welcomed new contributors over our last few issues, and wholeheartedly encourage those curious about having work published to contact us with their written or graphic creations.
Keshen on COVID
arts
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Dr. Jeff talks participation marks during COVID, stance on contact tracing and more.
Boba wamp wamp
arts
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When we were scammed p.9
The titular bounty hunter might be a crack shot, but Robert Rodriguez’s The Book of Boba Fett misses the mark.
Nostalgia is a powerful drug and Live Nation almost had us all hooked, but not everything is lining up for this festical.
sports
sports
op-ed
Holly Funk Editor-in-Chief
photos
cover...................................safal gangwani news...............................michaela aguilar a&c............................wikipedia commons a&c....................................natalie parham sports.........................................lux graves sports......................................brayden law op-ed.......................................loren javier
Sleep strats
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Katherine Mutschler shares her insomnia-fueled woes, but leaves us with strategies to fight for our rest.
Olympic abuses
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Though the Olympic Games may entertain the masses, more and more people are beginning to see the problematic patterns.
Grown-up Muppets
p.17
If you thought the Muppets were fun as a kid but haven’t rewatched since, Gillian Massie may convince you to give it a go for the adult-aimed jokes and gags.
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editor: sara birrell news@carillonregina.com the carillon | jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
Dr. Keshen interviewed on back-to-campus plan Despite the highest case counts we’ve ever seen in the province, U of R is back holly funk editor-in-chief Until December 21, 2021, most courses at the University of Regina were expected to be delivered on campus in the Winter 2022 semester. Due to concerns on the spread of Omicron, the highly contagious COVID-19 variant currently prevalent in Saskatchewan, courses were later moved to remote delivery until at least January 22, 2022. The U of R has since announced that starting February 7 all courses and laboratories originally planned to be delivered on campus will begin returning from remote delivery to their original format, and will be required to resume by March 1 at the latest. U of R President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jeff Keshen was interviewed on January 21 about the current backto-campus plan for courses. Could you give the elevator pitch of what your position is at the university? I guess what we were trying to do is to balance as best we could all the concerns that people do have on both sides. So we know that there’s a lot that’s out there when you think about it. There’s students who live out of town that will have to come back, there are many students who are suffering because they’ve done two years of their degree at home, there’s the wider concerns over Omicron and the way that it spreads. We do know that the peak has not been reached yet in the province and there’s going to be concern also about hospitalizations, and we also know that within the broader university sector and the broader societal sector people are back…We also have to be aware that there are professors who are concerned about coming back to crowded classrooms, and by March 1, after the break we thought, “Okay, we’re going to be able to provide – at least to some extent for those last six weeks – something that’s a near-normal circumstance to what we intended in the first place.” I know it’s not an elevator speech but the thing I want you to understand is the thinking that went into this. You’re not going to get unanimity in what the best path forward is. You can see it across the country where you have different provinces doing different things, different states doing different things, different businesses doing different things, so I think everybody’s trying their best and that’s what we’re doing to try to strike that balance of bringing us back but not in a way that could be leading us to a huge amount of risk. In the January 17 email that came out – the announcement that we had a plan coming out – you said that classes and laboratories could be returning “as early as February 7,” so I was wondering what sort of criteria is being used to determine when a class or lab can come back? I believe what we’re seeing is
that some cases, for example if you look at engineering, there’s some accreditation issues that they have to be aware of. They have external bodies making sure they have the requisite amount of in-person activities. There are some areas like that as well, I imagine that you would see some of that in nursing, probably even in social work…So I think strategically, it really will come down to the Deans’ level. I think it depends upon the particular area, and I’d say especially in areas like science and engineering because of the necessity to ensure that our students are prepared. I think that some of those students in those areas, I’m not going to say for certain, but I think some of them will have concerns to make sure that when they go out into the next level or when they’re graduating that they show that they’ve had the experience necessary to make them ready and competitive in the marketplace post-graduation. URSU President Hannah Tait has voiced some concerns about courses that have required attendance or participation, they have grades attached to those things, saying that students who are actually feeling sick might feel pressured to go to in-person classes when they should be isolating. Are there any accommodations being put in place to make sure students don’t have to balance that risk between causing an outbreak or taking a dock in grades? I understand that would be easiest of course if there were a hybrid option, that would solve the problem completely. The student who wants to come back can, and those that feel that they can’t for reasons of health need not come back…I would say that if a student has that concern, I would encourage them to bring that forward and we will deal with that accommodation especially if it’s medical. I would say that I understand Hannah’s concern and I am empathetic to that situation as well, and I would also like to know. I don’t know specifically and I would probably want to dig in with the Provosts to see whether and to what extent that is actually happening. It would be quite awkward if it is, especially if it’s in person. Who would you recommend students do contact if they find themselves in that situation? Give the professor the chance to rectify the situation, number one. Number two is if you can’t, students should be going to the Chair of that department to make their concerns known. If it’s straightened out at the Chair level that is excellent, if the student feels that they haven’t been given due regard, justice and that, it needs to go to the Dean. After the Dean if it doesn’t, student needs to go to the Provost, and if necessary to the President. (Continued on page 4...)
Michaela Aguilar
A caricature of Jeff Keshen.
jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 4
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Keshen interview cont.
Are there any current plans to have a contract tracing system in place or something like the check-in-at-the-door system we had when campus first reopened, or is it going to stay like the current system where you can walk in, walk out at your leisure? As far as the contact tracing is concerned and checking everybody at the door, we won’t be able to do that anymore because I just think that essentially at every institution that’s not being done at this point in time. It’s really difficult for us to have those resources to do it, and I think that every place has basically said that if you find yourself feeling ill, self-isolate, ensure that you let the people know that you’re with, test and act appropriately, but no we won’t be doing that going forward…I will say, is the sys-
tem foolproof ? No, it’s not. I just think that that’s where we’re at more generally as a society, we see that cases are going up, and positivity rates are going up, thankfully the severity of when people are getting it is not as profound… especially when we see that there might be very high hospitalization rates in early February. Hopefully by the beginning of March we’ll see that start to taper down. On March 1, 2021, there were 1,551 [COVID-19] cases that were known of in the province – had been tested for – and as of today there’s 12,199 active in the province and that’s a number that’s consistently built from March until now. If you look at case trackers, it doesn’t seem to be coming down. So if you could sum up, how would you say
that the university’s ensuring that students, staff, and faculty will really have a safe return to campus? It’s a good question especially in terms of the statistics that you quote, and I think that that’s something that clearly does worry people. I think it’s a little perhaps – again I’m not an epidemiologist, and I’m not a person who deals with viruses as well – I think that we’ve learned some things along the way in terms of health and safety and densities, enhanced ventilation, and self-care with masks and handwashing…Omicron, while it’s more contagious with the vaccines that we do have and the number who are vaccinated, while it doesn’t prevent you from getting it absolutely, I wouldn’t deny that as well - the impact of it and our ability to recover from it seems to
be putting us in at least a better spot as far as that goes. I can’t promise students that they won’t get it – we’ve had outbreaks on campus, I would not presume to make that promise. Will I think that a number of students and faculty will get it? Yeah, I think we’re already seeing it in Saskatchewan that we’re going to get it…I think that for us, we’re trying to make the right decision based upon what we know of our constituency and the feedback that we’re getting, trying to make the right decision on the basis of minimizing risk for our students, but also trying to respond to give them some hope of coming back at least to some extent…We’re doing our best to serve our students, our professors, and all the various views that are very well intentioned by everybody.
According to the Government of Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 cases tracker at dashboard.saskatchewan.ca/health-wellness/ covid-19/cases on January 21, 2022, Saskatchewan’s seven-day average of new cases is currently 1,240, with nearly two of every five new cases being identified within the age group of 20-39. Of the 1,233 new cases reported on January 21, 685 involved people who’d gotten both vaccine doses at least 14 days before they contracted COVID-19, and another 274 of new cases had received their booster shot at least 14 days prior to their positive test results. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity).
COVID-19 shots still being offered at campus clinics First, second, and boosters
syd mcwilliams news writer As communities across the world continue to battle the pandemic, the University of Regina has been doing its part to help the students and faculty stay as safe as they can. The nursing faculty runs the Student Wellness Centre at the university. The centre has been responsible for operating the vaccine clinics for students, faculty, and immediate family. The clinics are located in the Research and Innovation Centre. People can receive their first, second, or booster dose at the clinic. However, they cannot vaccinate between the ages of five and eleven because they do not have child vaccine doses. The clinics started last summer and ran weekly into the fall but demand dropped, and they halted operations for a while. When it became evident that people would need booster shots, the university approached the Student Wellness Center again. They began operating the clinics at the beginning of the month and planned to have one every week in January. “The idea was we would have one every week in
University of Regina
When the province won’t protect you.
January, but there seems to still be some demand. So we’re starting to look at February and thinking that one through. So it’s really kind of demand based,” said Maureen Klenk, associate dean of the Student Wellness Centre. The clinic is only open to students, faculty, and dependent
relatively smooth experience at the clinic by reducing lines, as you need to book an appointment to receive your shot. “We send out an email, I try and encourage the email to be sent to all the student outlets first, so students have the first opportunity to sign up for online booking,
“I just really, as a healthcare provider, want to stress the importance of getting vaccinated and staying safe, it is one way in this strange world that we’re living in right now that we can be as safe as we possibly can be. The evidence is there for a booster; please look at the scientific evidence and
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I just really, as a healthcare provider, want to stress the importance of getting vaccinated and staying safe, it is one way in this strange world that we’re living in right now that we can be as safe as we possibly can be. – Maureen Klenk
family members, and there are no plans to open it to the public. Emails are routinely sent out with information to everyone eligible to utilize the clinic. They include information such as dates, times, and the link for their online booking system, which has created a
and then about twenty-four hours later, the email goes out to faculty and staff to sign up, and the link is very clear in the email where you need to sign up and what you need to do. Everybody’s been telling us that it’s been really easy,” Klenk said.
not just Facebook or TikTok, and really consider getting vaccinated as quick as possible. We do everything we possibly can to get you in as quick as possible, out as quick as possible and make it as good an experience as we possibly can,” Klenk said when asked about how
the clinics have been going and what she wants students to know when it comes to looking after their health. The University of Regina is also one of the locations in the city where any member of the general population can pick up rapid tests. The rapid tests are not part of the vaccine clinic but can be picked up in the Campus Security office right across from the clinics in the Research and Innovation Centre. People can pick the kits up at any time between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday while supplies last. There is a limit of one kit per person, and each kit has five tests. The vaccine clinics have been operating relatively smoothly. Thanks to the access to rapid tests, the University of Regina has provided plenty of opportunities for students to protect themselves from COVID-19. The best thing to do if you’re looking to get your shot is check your student email and keep an eye out on the university website and social media for any new information about services being offered at the school.
jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 5
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Poet Maya Angelou commemorated on U.S. currency Capitalism loves gestures
syd mcwilliams news writer Maya Angelou was a writer, a performer, and a civil rights activist. As of January 2022, she is the first Black woman to be featured on a circulating piece of United States currency. The Angelou coin is the first in a new series of coins the United States Mint plans to release over the next five years featuring prominent women in American history. The coin was designed by Emily Damstra and sculpted by the United States Mint metallic artist Craig A. Campbell. It features Angelou with her arm uplifted, and behind her is a bird and the rising sun. When Emily created the coin, she was inspired by Angelou’s poetry and the uplifting way she lived her life. On the other side of the coin is George Washington’s portrait to celebrate his 200th birthday. Laura Garden Fraser designed and sculpted it. Angelou had a prolific and influential career. She was a successful performer and worked as a singer, a dancer, and in theatre, but is best known for the autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Her published work includes fiction and non-fiction material, like poetry collections and essays, and she has over 30 best-selling titles. Angelou was also the first Black woman to write and read a poem at a presidential inauguration. Through the 1960s she was involved in the civil rights movement and aided people such as Malcolm X with
whom she became good friends. She won many awards throughout her career and received over 30 honorary degrees. In 2011, Barack Obama awarded her the presidential medal of freedom, the highest honour the American state can confer. Darlene Juschka, a professor of Women and Gender Studies at the University of Regina, said that the development of the coin
“
I think it is a good thing. I don’t think it’s tokenism, it’s an effort to correct a problem, and that is White Indo-centrism in the United States. You know, the notion that all heroes are white men. It we’re going to talk about heroes, no, they’re not all white men. They come in all different sizes and all different representations as non-white and not masculine.” In contrast to the United
the ten-dollar bill. Desmond was a Black Canadian civil rights activist arrested in 1946 for sitting in the whites-only section of a movie theatre. When asked about Canada’s efforts to display women on currency, Juschka said, “There’s an effort here, but it has to be a consistent effort, and it has to be there. If it’s not a consistent effort it’s tokenism. We had the Famous
You know, the notion that all heroes are white men, if we’re going to talk about heroes, no, they’re not all white men. They come in all different sizes and all different representations as non-white and not masculine. – Darlene Juschka
has more than just a symbolic meaning. “It is a positive thing in so far as it does several things. It provides a historical representation of a significant woman who has had an impact, and so it recognizes her as being important and we have tended in the past to absolutely erase women’s voices largely because they are seen in times past just as the supporters of men. It allows us at the very least to think about the historical representation of Black women. And for those a hundred years from now to not lose Maya Angelou in the midst of time, because she’s represented on the currency.
States, Canada has had women on our currency, but the effort has been sporadic. From 2001 to 2006 the fifty-dollar bill had on it a depiction of the statue of the Famous Five – a group of white woman suffragists active in the 1920s – but the image of an icebreaker ship replaced them. The first woman elected to the Canadian parliament, Agnes Macphail, was put on the bill created for the 150th anniversary of the Confederation, but she shared the bill with four men. After that, women were generally absent from the currency until 2018, when Viola Desmond was put on
Five and they were replaced with an icebreaker. Like, thanks for that. We have all sorts of people who have really contributed hugely to our society in the present and the past. There are females, Indigenous folks, male and female, and people of colour like Viola Desmond, who most people don’t know about and if we have Viola on [the currency] and so you say, oh, who is that? And someone says, ‘oh, that’s Canada’s Rosa parks, and this is what she did.’” Even in our evolving digital age the currency is important, not only as money but as a symbol of what a country values, and cur-
rency endures time. It is a reflection of a period of history. In the turmoil-filled last two years, the uplifting image of Maya Angelou on the quarter is a positive step forward for the United States, even if the measure is symbolic. The United States Mint has made an extensive effort to ensure that the women represented on the coins are diverse and that the representation is accurate. The process includes a six-step program with recommendations and insights from many different organizations such as the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Gallery of Art, the Bipartisan Woman’s caucus, and the general public. Hopefully, we will see more women on Canada’s currency in the future. Perhaps a similar program would be beneficial to see a more consistent effort and not just sporadic action. Who and what countries put on their currency matters, as Canadian historian Merna Forster, who actively campaigned to have more women included on Canadian money, said, “Who and what is celebrated on our banknotes matters, as it reflects what we consider important in our culture and history and whom we consider worthy of honouring for achievement. Women are not absent from the list of notable worthies in Canada, just notably absent or under-represented in many of the images that surround us and which contribute to our view of the world and our potential role in it.”
Russell Mondy via Flickr
Angelou was no capitalist.
jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 6
news
Prince Andrew symbolically stripped of symbolic titles
Cursed family on cursed spiral hammad ali staff writer For the last several months, the British monarchy and royal family have been in the news for not the best of reasons. First, there was the much-publicized parting of ways between Prince Harry and the family, ostensibly in response to cruel and racist treatment of his wife, Meghan Markle. In more recent times, especially in the wake of Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell’s conviction for child sex trafficking, there was the shadow of possible legal consequences for Prince Andrew, the Queen’s second – and rumoured to be favourite – son. To provide background, Virginia Giuffre, also known as Virginia Roberts, filed a civil lawsuit in August 2021 against Andrew, who she accused of coercing her into sexual encounters on three separate occasions in 2001 when she was 17. Andrew initially denied all allegations, and also claimed he had no recollection of ever meeting Giuffre, although a picture of Andrew with his arm around Guiffre’s waist has become infamous. Lawyers from both sides have filed requests that individuals be summoned to testify. Late last year, it was revealed that Giuffre had agreed on a civil settlement with Jeffrey Epstein in 2009 and was paid $500,000. Concern was expressed that the language of this settlement may prevent her from suing Andrew, and potentially shields anyone other than Epstein from lawsuits. Andrew himself claimed that this settlement protects him from any
liability. Giuffre in her 2009 lawsuit alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Epstein, and was also required to be sexually exploited by his friends, including royalty, politicians, academicians, and others. Andrew’s lawyers have argued in the past that he falls under the category of royalty, and is thus immune to any lawsuits by Giuffre. On January 12, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan dismissed Andrew’s efforts to have the lawsuit turned down, saying that it was premature to decide
court settlement. Sarah Krissoff, former federal prosecutor, feels it unlikely that Andrew would want every detailed allegation to come under public scrutiny, and that it makes the most rational sense to begin a discussion about resolving the case. Meanwhile, there have been significant developments regarding Prince Andrew. On January 13, the Royal Family announced that it is stripping Andrew of all his military titles and royal patronages, and that he will no longer have use of the title His Royal
tions. A statement from the Buckingham palace mentioned that all his military affiliations and royal patronages now return to the Queen, and going forward Andrew is defending himself in his lawsuit as a public citizen rather than a member of the monarchy. Over the next several months, these military affiliations and royal titles are likely to be redistributed to other members of the family. As mentioned, this decision came less than 48 hours after Judge Kaplan decided that Giuffre has a right to seek litigation
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On January 13, the Royal Family announced that it is stripping Andrew of all his military titles and royal patronages, and that he will no longer have use of the title His Royal Highness. – Hammad Ali
whether the 2009 settlement with Epstein shields Andrew. Judge Kaplan also said the case remains on track for trial sometime later in 2022, unless a settlement is reached before that date. In his written decision, Kaplan asserts that the language of the 2009 settlement is ambiguous, and that there are multiple reasonable interpretations of the language regarding the possible immunity from further litigation for third parties. Speculations were being made as to whether this move by Judge Kaplan makes it more likely that Andrew will seek an out of
Highness. Earlier, in 2019, the now former Duke of York was asked to step down from public duties because of his connections to Jeffrey Epstein and a disastrous BBC interview where it was felt that Andrew showed a lack of empathy for the victims. The prince had agreed to do the interview hoping to clear the air regarding his links to Epstein, but it only sparked the controversy and led to further questions. Around this time, the Royal Family also began to gradually distance themselves from the prince. This recent move means that Andrew loses all his royal connec-
against Andrew, and the latter is not protected by the language of any earlier settlements. A source close to Andrew said they are not surprised by Judge Kaplan’s ruling, but that this does mean that Giuffre’s allegations are being assigned any merit, and Andrew’s legal team will continue to defend him against these claims over a substantially long term if need be. The general mood of the media, in response to this recent development, is that the issue at hand now is the protection of the Royal Family’s reputation around the world. A royal source said
that this decision came following extensive discussions within the family. Earlier, more than 15 military veterans had signed a petition addressed to the Queen, calling on her to strip Andrew of his military titles and dishonorably discharge him if necessary. The petition claimed that Andrew has been “less than truthful” about his relationship with Epstein and has brought disrepute to the armed services he represented in his capacity as a royal. On January 20 there were further developments regarding Andrew. His official Duke of York Twitter account has now been deleted, and while he continues to have an official Instagram account, it has now been moved to private from public. The Buckingham Palace official website has also been updated to reflect recent changes, with mentions of his public work and service to the monarchy rephrased in the past tense. Some of Andrew’s royal patronages and military affiliations were based in Canada, such as Colonel-in-Chief for The Queen’s York Rangers, the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada, and The Princess Louise Fusiliers. In his capacity as Duke of York, Andrew also held positions with The Royal Alberta United Services Institute, The Robert T. Jones Scholarship Foundation, The Canadian International Air Show, The York Club, The Royal Colwood Golf Club, and the Maple Bay Yacht Club. All of these affiliations are now revoked and reside with the Queen.
Wikipedia Commons
Fired by Mummy.
arts & culture
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editor: hannah eiserman aandc@carillonregina.com the carillon | jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
Saskatchewan Music Award winners A brief profile of the artists, producers, and organizers that make our music scene spectacular
hannah eiserman a&c editor It was a year of firsts for the Saskatchewan Music Awards. They rolled out two new categories – the Indigenous Music Achievement Award and the R&B Artist of the Year Award – to honour artists based on activities from the October 2020 to October 2021 year. I listened to all of the SMA award winners so I could write a bit about them and their music, and I must say, I was deeply impressed. I genuinely enjoyed each of the artists and think the province should be extremely proud. As a disclaimer, I’m no music connoisseur and can’t claim to know everything about every genre, but hope I’ve done these artists justice (and not gushed too much about the country-esque artists that made me nostalgic). I highly recommend checking these artists out for yourself ! I certainly came away with some new favourites. Alternative Artist of the Year: Megan Nash Nash is an artist from Mortlach whose latest release, an album called Soft Focus Features, came out this year. She’s performed at Regina Folk Festival and, in November, The Exchange. Her older music like “Deer Head” reminds me a lot of Sharon van Etten in vocals and tone, but their latest album has a bit of an 80s flare amongst the darker material with a bop like “Quiet.” I am now a huge fan. Country Artist of the Year: Jess Moskaluke Her single “Country Girls” from her most recent album The Demos was #1 on the Billboard Canadian Country Charts. She’s from Langenburg and has been nominated for and won a ton of Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs). I’m also from a smalltown and was raised on country, so her music makes me super nostalgic, particularly “MAPDOT.” Electronic Artist of the Year: RUMPUS RUMPUS, a cool dude with a cooler stage name, has made some recent appearances at ma-
Concert Socks
RUMPUS playing to a large indoor festival crowd, a photo you can smell.
jor festivals including Shambhala, Burning Man, Lightning in a Bottle, and Shipsomnia in Ibiza. His Shambhala set is available on YouTube as a part of their virtual series. He also won this award last year. He is active on social media and can be found on Instagram as @itsrumpus. Experimental/Contemporary Artist of the Year: Factor Eight Factor Eight is the stage name from Andrew Bennett, whose latest album, II, is about his struggles with bipolar disorder. Bennett has collaborated with a film maker for the video of “Fear, My Friend” and the result is a dark
for those who aren’t in the know,) were a bit harder to track down. They seem most active on their Twitter page, @flash_back_nu. Their latest album, Wide Awake, was released on Bandcamp and Spotify in October of 2021. R&B Artist of the Year: vbnd vbnd, of Saskatoon, is a jazz, funk, and neo-soul artist who, like soso, changed what I thought of the R&B genre. He works with a group he created called The Soulmate Collective, which includes Katie Tupper on vocals, Connor Newton, Justice Der, and various other talented musicians. His newest album, Scum Funk, is
“Slings and Arrows,” which is some weird continuity from The Garry’s Shakespeare-themed title. Their sounds couldn’t be more different, though. His video for “Ready to Be Brave,” telling the story of a young, gay farmer whose father doesn’t accept his sexuality, made me pretty mistyeyed. In true folk style, his song writing is outstanding, and the main feature of his work – though it should be noted he is also a classically trained pianist! Indigenous Artist of the Year: The North Sound The “storytelling” duo, formed by Forrest Eaglespeaker and supported by his partner
“
As a disclaimer, I’m no music connoisseur and can’t claim to know everything about every genre, but hope I’ve done these artists justice (and not gushed too much about the country-esque artists that made me nostalgic). – Hannah Eiserman
short film showcasing the album themes, available on YouTube. Bennett is also donating proceeds from streams of II on Bandcamp to CMHA Saskatoon. Hip Hop Artist of the Year: soso soso is the stage name for artist Troy Gronsdahl, an experimental hip hop artist from Saskatoon. soso has a super interesting sound and certainly challenged what I thought hip hop could be. His newest album, Not For Nothing, really can be best described, as he says in an interview for Verb Magazine, as “brooding atmospheric beats.” Metal/Loud Artist of the Year: Flash Back This group, who describes themselves as nü metal (a subgenre of alternative metal that fuses heavy metal music with other styles like hip hop, grunge, alternative rock, hard rock, and funk,
available for streaming on all platforms. He’s on most social media as @vbndmoney. Rock/Pop Artist of the Year: The Garrys The title track of their fourth album is called “Get Thee to a Nunnery,” which is hilarious in and of itself. The music video is a fun little animation that reminds me of the show Gravity Falls. The album “was inspired in part by stories of their mother’s high school years at an all-girls Catholic boarding school and convent in small-town 1960’s Saskatchewan,” according to their website. The sister trio’s Bandcamp bio describes them as a “[d]reamy blood harmony surf rock doomwop on morphine,” and I can definitely see what they mean. They have a killer sound. Roots/Folk Artist of the Year: Jeffery Straker Straker has a song called
Nevada Freistadt, call themselves “roots rock,” but their sound reminds me of the country I grew up listening to, the stuff that’s more electric guitar and drum kit heavy. Album of the Year: The Hunter Brothers, Been a Minute The Hunter Brothers are revered in the corner of the province I’m from, being from Shaunavon. They have been nominated for a ton of CCMA’s and had a couple of top 10 hits on the Canadian Country charts. I really like the single they released last year from Been A Minute, “Hard Dirt.” Music Video of the Year: Dylan Hryciuk for Spiritbox, “Hurt You” Hryciuk is from Saskatoon and owns Versa Films. The video for “Hurt You” from Victoria based metal band Spiritbox makes a very creepy companion
for the song. Hryciuk takes the sadistic song a step further with murder and surrealism. Despite the gruesome themes, it’s very visually stimulating and well done. Single of the Year: Tesher x Jason Derulo, “Jalebi Baby” It’s pretty cool to see a Regina local sharing a music video with Jason Derulo, whose name we can’t forget because he always reminds us at the beginning of his songs. The video for this song has some fun Bollywood influences, likely from Tesher’s influence on the mix. Producer of the Year: Bart McKay McKay is a country music producer set up in Saskatoon. He has produced music for artists like Brett Kissel, Brad Johner, and Adam Gregory (who I am thrilled to see is still making music). He also produced “Pickup Truck” by Shane Yellowbird and “Drinking Buddy” and “Blame it on that Red Dress” by Gord Bamford, two songs I loved growing up (which is a little disturbing considering their content, but whatever). Industry Achievement: Eliza Doyle, CAMP Doyle’s CAMP (Community Arts Mentorship Program) hosts a musician-in-residence up north in Stanley Mission, courtesy of a Sask Arts Board grant. The program organizes everything from lessons to coffeehouse jams. Indigenous Music Achievement: Sheryl Kimbley The inaugural award we’ve all been waiting for! You won’t find any recent releases from Sheryl Kimbley because most of her work happens offstage. She is a producer of Voices of the North, a performing arts festival in Prince Albert. She’s sat on many boards and committees such as Juno Aboriginal Red Carpet event and SaskCulture. She is dedicated to helping Indigenous youth, particularly those up north.
jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
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Exhibit review: “How the Sky Carries the Sun” Boyer weaves together sky and sun in tender new exhibit at the Art Gallery of Regina
jorah bright a&c writer Art galleries: the perfect place for art lovers to go out and admire art at their own leisure. A fun place to go with your art loving friends without the stress of an escape room or the long lines of a movie theatre. The Art Gallery of Regina will be hosting an exhibit called How the Sky Carries the Sun by Katherine Boyer, a Métis/Settler artist who is originally from Regina but currently lives in Winnipeg. Boyer works with textile arts and other handmade methods like beadwork and woodworking. Through her art, Boyer works with her own history and family stories. Boyer’s work has been featured in other Regina galleries, such the Slate Fine Art Gallery in 2016 and the Dunlop Art Gallery in 2015 and 2016. The SaskCulture website describes How the Sky Carries the Sun as being just like the artist herself: “nothing in this exhibition is just one thing.” The exhibit is full of different artistic mediums such as “[t]extiles and roof trusses, botanical silhouettes, a cloudy sky rendered in seed beads, and hooked rugs.”
Through How the Sky Carries the Sun, Boyer explores “beyond the artist’s complex and seemingly dichotomous identity (Métis and White settler). The exhibit takes the duality of Boyer’s identity and translates it into “the relationship between the sun and the sky.” Through the artwork and her art practice, Boyer asks herself “Am I the sky or am I the sun?” I had the opportunity to visit the Art Gallery of Regina and see Boyer’s work in person. How the Sky Carries the Sun is a beautiful exhibit; its very presence fills the large space it takes up. The colours complement each other perfectly and the use of the wood boxes the items came in creates a flow throughout the entire room. One of my favourite pieces in the exhibit was called Queer Hometown Horizon. It’s a long, serpentine orange rug that rests on the wall above a long OSB crate. The rug’s colours were stunning, and the yellow on the outside blended into the orange perfectly. In her artist statement, Boyer describes the rug as “reveal[ing] the shape of a formative place from my youth. A horizon line that wraps upon itself and contorts around the urban features of
my hometown neighbourhood, it reinterprets memories and experiences that were once benign but might reveal a young queer experience.” Another one of my favourites was a twisted piece of wood placed on a small pedestal. It was fascinating to see how the ends were knotted together. My final favourite piece was The Sky Vest. It’s a beautiful piece of beadwork. Every detail is precise in its location and its design. The beadwork twists and turns throughout the vest creating the imagery of a moving sky. The grey and white clouds feel like they’re floating above the sky. The brown pieces complement the blue sky in colour and design. In her artist statement, Boyer says “I created The Sky Vest over the span of a year and fitted it with exacting precision to my own body. The Sky Vest materially connects my body, and the skies of places that were formative to understanding myself.” And there’s even more for you to see at the Art Gallery of Regina. I won’t spoil all of it, but I promise that it is all beautiful. You can visit the exhibit from January 13 to March 13.
Jorah Bright
The Sky Vest: a work of art that will keep your tummy warm.
TV review: The Book of Boba Fett Disney show centred on fan favourite gives a watered-down version of the villain
amir said contributor
Boba Fett: when you read that name, what did you think of ? If you don’t know or care about Star Wars, maybe you didn’t think of anything at all. If you’re like me and millions of other Star Wars fans worldwide, though, you probably imagined a badass bounty hunter with an unforgettable look. Maybe you imagined his constant silence and air of mystery, his damaged armor and endless supply of weaponry, or his ability to still be menacing while standing still – a character who is undoubtedly one of the most popular and beloved characters in the franchise’s long history. His appeal really can’t be understated: he’s been portrayed by six actors, stars in books, comics, and even his own TV show, and has an action figure worth up to $45,000. But if you’re a Boba Fett fan like me, you were probably disappointed when you saw Return of the Jedi for the first time. The movie’s first act has Boba Fett accidentally get whacked by a blind guy’s stick and fall into a giant monster’s mouth. Then, when season two of The Mandalorian aired in 2020, you were probably blown away by his sudden return. He’s alive! He flies in with his signature ship and starts massacring Stormtroopers left and right. Awesome! The folks over at Lucasfilm know how much the fandom loves Boba Fett, so they gave him his own show. The Book of Boba Fett was announced as soon as season
two of The Mandalorian ended in December 2020, which had fans hyped beyond belief. A show starring one of the most iconic characters not only in Star Wars but in fiction as a whole? What could go wrong? The results? Disappointing. In this new show, Boba Fett’s the exact opposite of the character fans know and love. His silent demeanor? Now he’s a chatterbox that makes wisecracks like he’s straight out of a Marvel movie. His deadliness? Now he spares the lives of adversaries and would-be
assassins, something that the torturous and murderous Boba Fett we know and love would never do. His armor? Now it’s repainted and he spends most of his time without his trademark helmet on. In fact, he doesn’t even wear it at all in the unnecessary flashbacks that take up most of the show’s first half. Basically, picture everything that made Boba Fett cool, and now picture the exact opposite of that. Disney seems to be trying to redeem him, but why? The whole point of his character is that he
is an irredeemable villain. He’s a sociopath, a murderer, a torturer, and an all-around embodiment of, as Obi-Wan Kenobi would put it, “scum and villainy,” and he does it all while looking super cool. He’s earned the adoration of everyone around him, both in the Star Wars universe and in the real world. To take a character known for being a mysterious murderer and make him a talkative open book that refuses to kill is nothing short of character assassination. An interesting comparison
Wikipedia Commons
A Stormtrooper or something.
can be made to another Disney-owned killer: Deadpool. Fans love Deadpool for being an irredeemable murderer with a specific costume and personality traits. His popularity led to him getting his own movie in 2016, which spawned a sequel in 2018. Both these movies depict Deadpool as the wisecracking maniac fans know and love from his countless comic appearances, while mixing in a bit of redemption through his loyalty to his friends and love interest. Unlike Deadpool, whose recent live-action adaptation was able to stay true to his roots while having some originality thrown in to resounding critical and commercial success, Boba Fett’s show has failed to uphold his legacy in any way. Disney’s taken everything that made Boba Fett the icon he is and thrown it out the window, with the result being a merciful protagonist that occasionally commits acts of violence for the greater good. This is a character archetype we’ve already seen in Star Wars through the likes of Anakin Skywalker, Han Solo, Din Djarin, and more, and it isn’t one we needed to see Boba Fett become. In short, while The Book of Boba Fett is certainly an entertaining show when you don’t put too much thought into the logistics and plot holes, it doesn’t do justice to the legendary character of Boba Fett. It only serves to make him a boring and redundant shell of what he once was.
jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
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The problem with the When We Were Young festival Every emo kid’s dream may actually become a nightmare
jorah bright a&c writer Music festivals have been on the rise in recent years, even during the pandemic. Every year, fans wait patiently to see who is going to be on the Coachella line-up. The feeling of the sun on your face, the anticipation of waiting to hear your favourite songs, and being surrounded by other fans who are just as excited as you are. It’s an incredible experience. Yet, music festivals have been under fire recently. Specifically, festivals like Astroworld, where 10 people died in November while the performer, Travis Scott, kept performing. Astroworld was put on by the event promoter Live Nation Entertainment. The same
Natalie Parham via Unsplash
Some guitar player in a punk band jumping while his band mates just keep rockin’.
looking in favour of their favourite bands. Live Nation Entertainment is still facing several lawsuits as a result of Astroworld. Astroworld failed in hiring enough staff and security for the event and, again, several people died. Live Nation has responded to concerns about When We Were Young in the wake of Astroworld and they were very nonchalant. They told Newsweek that “The safety of fans, artists and staff is thoroughly planned for among event organisers and in coordination with local authorities.” It just seems like they responded with a very safe answer without actually going into the details of how they were
perform in 12 hours on 3 stages. In comparison, the Welcome to Rockville festival this May is spread out over four days with 76 bands playing, and no more than 19 bands playing per day. Another comparison is the large festival Lollapalooza. They have over 170 bands playing, except they have eight stages in comparison to When We Were Young’s three, and the festival takes place over four days. Oh, and during this time, when the When We Were Young bands have roughly 30 minutes for their performance, they also have to set up, do a sound check, and tear down before the next band performs. This leaves almost no
started at $400 for the day. The only additional things you get with the Plus path is an air-conditioned bathroom and a special entry lane. So, for $175 more, you can pee in a cold bathroom. And don’t forget about the VIP Cabana, which costs a whopping $12,500 for you and nine friends to sit in the shade with your own security, alcohol, and no lines. These were the prices before they added the additional day to the festival, and they stayed the same after the new day was added. And to boot, these tickets aren’t refundable. If something happens with COVID and you can’t make it to the festival, then you’re out at least $225.
does not appear to be any active sponsors on the poster or the website. To compare, Welcome to Rockville has two sponsors listed on their website: Bud Light Seltzer and Jack Daniels, two major alcohol brands. Lollapalooza has 29 sponsors, including major companies like T-Mobile, Hulu, and Toyota. Overall, the When We Were Young festival’s website is bad. It’s just terrible. It’s a one-page website. In comparison, Welcome to Rockville has eight tabs that you can open and browse. Some of these tabs are longer than WWWY’s entire page. So, yes, When We Were Young looks like every emo kid’s
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Instead of spreading out the performances across two days, both days are going to have 60 bands perform in 12 hours on 3 stages. In comparison, Welcome to Rockville festival this May is spread out over four days with 76 bands playing, and no more than 19 bands playing per day – Jorah Bright
company is putting on a new festival called When We Were Young. When We Were Young is a pop-punk music festival that will take place in October of 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. As of writing this article, the festival tickets have sold out. The line-up for When We Were Young boasts some of the biggest names in pop punk: My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Bring Me The Horizon, Avril Lavigne, and more will all be playing the festival. This all seems well and good right? Wrong. There’s a lot of issues going on with When We Were Young that many are over-
going to make changes to prevent another Astroworld incident. When We Were Young has over 60 bands in their lineup, and they only have three stages for over 60 different performers… in 12 hours. So, in 12 hours, 20 bands will play on each stage. The bands won’t even have an hour each to play a set. When the festival was first announced, there was only one day for performances, and after popular demand, they decided to add another day to the festival – with more of the same. Instead of spreading out the performances across two days, both days are going to have 60 bands
time for an actual performance. And I honestly don’t believe that some of the major bands like My Chemical Romance or Paramore are going to this festival to perform for 20 minutes and then leave, because if that was happening, they wouldn’t be getting paid as much. If my logic is correct, then it’s even less likely that most bands will have 30 minutes to play and do all the additional steps that need to happen for a performance. Another issue with When We Were Young is the cost. General admission started at $225 for the day. The General Admission Plus
To compare, for all four days of Welcome to Rockville, it costs festival goers a minimum of $280, or $70 a day. The VIP for When We Were Young costs $500, while Welcome to Rockville costs $615, or $154 a day. Lollapalooza’s tickets, to compare, start at $350 for all four days, or $88 a day. When We Were Young is an expensive festival. An expensive festival that doesn’t even have any parking. Something that I found very interesting about When We Were Young is that there are no sponsors. They have an option on their website to inquire about sponsoring the event, but there
dream, and that’s probably why it sold out – but there are a lot of red flags everywhere. Many are comparing it to the infamous Fyre Fest and are expecting it to crash and burn. Some are holding out hope for their childhood dreams of seeing their favourite emo bands live. Either way, it’s important to see that everything is not what it seems and not every dream is going to work out. No matter how it goes, Live Nation Entertainment has already made enough money to start paying off their legal fees from the Astroworld lawsuits.
jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
arts & culture
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The rise of South Korean movies and television The “Hallyu” wave is paying Netflix’s bills
amina salah staff writer “Hallyu” is a Chinese word that refers to the “Korean wave.” Hallyu highlights the rise in Korean entertainment from the 90s to today. Even 10 years ago, Korean entertainment was not easily accessible to the western audience. Fans used services such as Viki and Dramafever to access Korean films, dramas, and more. Today, Netflix is changing the access to South Korean entertainment. As someone who has had a subscription for what feels like ages, their selection of Korean entertainment was slim to none. I found myself having to use other services to watch dramas. However, as internet culture changes, so does Korean entertainment. Today, we know of Hellbound, Parasite, Kingdom, Squid Game, and more. The streaming platform doesn’t only cater to films and shows: it has been expanding to reality TV and variety shows such as Singles Inferno and more. But the fact is that South Korean content is paying Netflix’s bills. In its first 28 days of being released, Squid Game garnered 1.65 billion hours of viewership according to Netflix’s data. It ranked up 142 million household views, surpassing previous hits such as Bridgerton. According to Netflix, the other biggest Korean shows in 2021 were Vincenzo, Hometown ChaCha-Cha, My Name, Hellbound, Nevertheless, Hospital Playlist season 2, The King’s Affection, and The Uncanny Counter. In its early days, Netflix
changed the game as a DVD mail service that made it easy for customers to order movies online and return them. It was a more convenient service compared to Blockbuster. Only later did it transform into the full-on streaming service we know and love, making movies and TV shows easier for the public to watch. The success of Netflix in America allowed the service to expand into other markets. According to Troy Stangarone, the senior director and fellow at the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI), Netflix
offer, licensing some of their content over to Netflix. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, a drama created by TVN that was licensed to air on Netflix last year, had a total viewership hour of 271 million by the end of 2021, making it one of the most successful dramas on Netflix. The reason why Korean entertainment is becoming global is partly due to it being available on Netflix. Other streaming services such as Disney+ have even decided to follow their lead and launch Korean entertainment on their
Korean drama Love Alarm based on a South Korean manga, and many more. Netflix’s director for original Korean content, Kim Min-young, stated “Netflix is trying to become a channel to introduce Korean content to people around the world.” South Korean storytellers are given the space to tell stories that are significant to and resonant of their cultures, which will then be streamed to a western audience that appreciates authentic story telling. That is ultimately the appeal. The South Korean Hallyu
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The appeal is that Netflix doesn’t change the content from South Korean artists to attract a western audience. The content is original to the creativity and culture of South Korean artists. – Amina Salah
launched into the South Korean economy in 2016. Its success in the west made it easier for it to transform media in many countries, but especially South Korea. As a response, some South Korean entertainment agencies declined to license their content to Netflix, CJ E&M being one of the biggest entertainment companies in the country that chose to decline. Other popular entertainment companies such as TVN (Television Network) and JTBC (The Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company) accepted the
service, with works like the drama Snowdrop. But Netflix not only licenses South Korean content, it also curates original content. This appeals to actors, singers, producers, and directors in South Korea. It is an opportunity to have their ideas turned into reality. The appeal is that Netflix doesn’t change the content from South Korean artists to attract a western audience. The content is original to the creativity and culture of South Korean artists. Examples of these include the hit variety show Busted, the South
wave is definitely keeping Netflix’s lights on. As the Hallyu wave reaches every corner of the world, especially the West, some Western entertainment firms have seen the effect and their response has been to adapt South Korean content by making English or westernized versions of popular South Korean dramas: Crash Landing on You, for one. Critics have noted that this is a big mistake as it is changing stories created by South Korean writers. The lack of originality in Hollywood is quite astounding.
Instead of stepping their game up, the response is to essentially copy entertainment from other countries to appeal to a western audience. The reality is that western audiences already enjoy entertainment from South Korea. It appeals to them because it is an opportunity to hear stories from people across the world, to understand and appreciate the nuances of another culture. Squid Game allowed a western audience to understand South Korean culture. Parasite was an opportunity for a western audience to understand the inequalities in the South Korean economy, something that people from different global economies can relate to. Right now, one of the top South Korean dramas on Netflix is Our Beloved Summer, ranking in at number nine. As Netflix focuses more on the world of variety content, Singles Inferno, another reality series from South Korea, made it on the streaming service’s top 10 charts this month becoming one of the most watched TV shows globally. As media evolves, the world must evolve with it too. This is what Netflix is doing and what makes it dynamic. Stangarone emphasizes that the threat of competition from Netflix that has made the entertainment industry realize they need better funding to further develop content and keep up with the streaming giant. As the Hallyu wave rises, the demand for South Korean entertainment also rises, and it is evident that Netflix is committed to delivering it.
Nathan Rupert
One of the triangle guys from Squid Game.
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editor: katie mutschler sports@carillonregina.com the carillon | jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
Gym review series: Kettle Bell Kick Boxing Canada Let’s kick our woes away
victoria baht s & h writer Hey there, Carillon readers. As you have been reading, you know that for the month of January I am going around to different gyms in Regina for a review and interview. January is almost over, which means we only have a few gyms left. Which one do you think is next? Looks like you will just have to come back next week to find out. For this issue, I want to tell you about “Kettle Bell Kickboxing Canada” at the YQR studio, which is located on 2135 Broad Street, Regina, SK. When you enter the doors, you walk into a very cute setup with a welcome desk, and there are some nice motivational signs and chairs to make you feel at home in the studio. Once you walk in you are now in the studio. After you get changed it is time to grab equipment. I grabbed three types of kettlebells: a light (8 lbs), medium (10 lbs), and a heavy (15 lbs). Once you get used to the gym and to the pattern, they have more choices and heavier weights, although this worked for me. The class I completed is called “Kettle Bell Kick Boxing,” a cardio and strength mobility workout where we use Russian kettle bells combined with martial arts motions. The gym uses martial arts motions and gives you a time frame of five-minute rounds with interval training. I had the experience of 50 seconds of work and a 10 second break. I thought the 20 second cardio bursts back when I went to Oxygen studio were hard, but now that I’ve done
Sean Behiel
Jodi Barrett is ready to teach us how to kick away all of our worries.
it for 50, those 20 seconds feel like a breeze! Now that you’ve had a rundown of what the class looks like, I will give you my overall thoughts throughout the class. The focus with these classes is to make you think about what you are doing. This way you are only focusing on what is happening in the studio, and not what happened before the class; it gives you a fresh new start. For me, the fact that I had to follow a pattern on my
comed by the staff in the studio and the clients. They helped fix my movements so I would not hurt myself and helped me follow along with the class. Even with COVID guidelines, we still worked as a team. For example, we did toe touches on the weight, and if you knocked over that weight everyone did a burpee (I would not knock it over if I were you). We worked as a team when completing bear and burpee rounds. We would all be in a bear
teaching classes at the studio? I love the fact that people come through the door, and they think training is only about the physical strength. Although, as they get stronger, they find out what mental strengths they [have, and] get to work on their goals. Whether it be weight loss or confidence, it all comes in pieces which takes time to notice. What keeps you motivated to be a fitness instructor?
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Once you start be committed, because you will never know when you will be tired but that is the challenge and as you stay consistent your body adapts. – Jodi Barrett
own and count for myself was a reset button. A routine that we did involved 10 repetitions of a movement and then a switch to a new movement in a rhythm. Then we moved down reps by two (beginning with ten, to eight, to six, etc.). This was a battle not only physically but also mentally which was an experience. You work independently to help focus on your mental and physical health, but you still get a team environment. This was my first class here, and I felt wel-
pose and move around in a small circle. When it was your turn, you completed a burpee and then went to bear. It is a great workout not only mentally but physically! This is a great one to try out and a great way to train constantly. If this class interested you, they also have a light class, a women’s only class, and classes for your kiddos to try out as well. Now that you have heard my reflection, let’s hear from Jodi Barrett. What do you like about
[I like] connecting with people and getting…involved in helping someone. Fitness…helped and pulled me through rough places, guiding me through my life’s journey. I love to move my body, and I think it is a gift and blessing everyday. What is some advice you would give someone who is wanting to try your gym for the first time? Biggest challenge is walking through the door and starting; you just got to do it!
We all know January is the month for “new year, new me.” What are some suggestions you have for people to not only have a “new me,” but to improve their healthy habits and lifestyle? Consistency is where it all starts. It does not matter if you are a newbie or a resolution person as long as you start somewhere and you are consistent. It does not always have to be crazy. It takes 21 days to create a healthy habit. Once you start be committed, because you will never know when you will be tired but that is the challenge and as you stay consistent your body adapts. Does the gym have any special promotions going on right now? If so, can you explain them? We have 20 per cent off our eight -session package use code “fitjan2022”. We also have a student rate that is constantly ongoing. So come on, University of Regina students! Each gym the Carillon has gone to this month has been great, challenging, welcoming, and has had a student rate. All the gyms have been saying the hardest part of getting started is coming through that door. If I can go around to multiple gyms through out the city and find what I like, so can you. If Oxygen Yoga, Fit Project, and Kettle Bell Kickboxing don’t sound like your style, come back next week to read about one more gym!
jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon |12
sports & health
Tips for a better sleep so you can get some better grades Who cares if I have good grades if I can’t sleep
katherine mutschler s&h editor I have suffered with insomnia for years, and I had finally fixed it until I got the infamous COVID-19. In my frustration, I went back into my sleep journal for all the coping I had used before getting sick, and I am sure many people can relate to my frustration too (online school is awful for sleep). I will walk you through environmental, behavioral, and thinking changes that can help according to the Government of Saskatchewan’s guidelines for sleep hygiene found on their website under “Healthy sleep habits summary”. The environmental changes section highlights the importance of associating the bed for certain activities so the brain does not get confused. The Government of Saskatchewan suggests that the bedroom should remain clean and comfortable so the mind can rest. They also suggest that you keep the bedroom for sleeping and other bed related activities (this does not mean reading or scrolling in bed). If you have a two-room apartment like me, I would suggest making a part of the bedroom be separate from your bed (I have a bean bag chair for reading). The government also suggests avoiding bright lights before bed, so you can turn on mood lighting an hour before sleep to make things dimmer (and trick your brain into thinking it is night time). Behavioral changes are also something to help get a better night’s sleep. Keeping a bedtime and morning routine is crucial, and keeping the times you go to bed and wake consistent is important for sleeping (if this is possible for your schedule). Exercise is also
a good way to help with sleep, but you may need to experiment with what works best for you. I find cardio before bed helps me, but this may make some people too awake to sleep. You will also see some benefit in experimenting with what time you cut off sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and other stimulants. I personally try to stop drinking coffee by 2 p.m. since my insomnia has come back (which means I have gone many days without coffee). If you can’t sleep, you can leave the room or bed so that your brain does not associate the sleeping space with staring at the wall having an existential crisis. The final section the Government of Saskatchewan highlights is changing the way we think about sleep. I know my insomnia is triggered by worrying I can’t sleep enough (how can I sleep 10 hours to heal my COVID and still make it to 9 a.m. zoom class?), but I can try to remember I do not need to sleep perfectly every night to function. You can also write down anything you are worrying about and make it a “tomorrow issue” (one of my favourite things to do). Finally, and this may not work for everyone, but you can try to meditate. Shut the mind off, focus on your breath, and sleep. Unfortunately, you could do all the right things and these things may not work. In that case, consult a doctor, therapist, or another professional about your sleep woes. Sleep issues can be a result of anxiety, depression, disorders, trauma, and other conditions, and therapy or medication are sometimes needed. Keep these tips in mind. Go grab a warm drink, a squish mellow, and get the phone out of your bed. I wish you the best of luck in your sleep endeavors.
Lux Graves via Unsplash
Perhaps I can just pretend my alarm never went off.
Mental health and physical health during online school There may be a plague out there, but we can still try our best to feel our best victoria baht s&h writer
In Regina, Saskatchewan, the winter season has just begun, and we are continuing the battle of COVID-19. For Carillon readers in general, and especially our University of Regina students, this can be a hard time as we are online once again for winter semester until at least February 7. All of these events take a toll on our mental and physical health. This week I’m going to talk about mental and physical health, and how we can try and remain healthy. These following activities are ones that you can do alone or with others! If you have been thinking about hobbies throughout the pandemic, then this may be the time to explore that. Too many of us resort to the easy hobbies that we do on repeat for endless nights, like watching Netflix or reading a good book. To help with your mental health and to have a highlight of your week, pick one new hobby to try once a week and stick to it. Some examples can involve knitting, coloring, a 30-minute exercise of yoga or meditation, learning how to play card games like crib
or solitaire, and the list continues. These activities do not only give you something different and spontaneous to do, but they can challenge your mind and physical body. How about we focus on the remainder of the week? What is something we all need daily, but some of us hate (or love) doing? Cooking! A good way to boost both your mental and physical health is by creating good meals to
refuel your body. You have a night off, and you are at home and do not know what do. Why not grab that cookbook at the back of your cupboard and try a new recipe to make lunch for the rest of the week, or a snack to enjoy later? Don’t have a cookbook? Grab your phone and look on TikTok; I am sure you can find someone to inspire you. Our mental health has a boost now, what about physical health?
Don’t worry, the Carillon has not forgotten about that. What is a show that has been going on for many years and just got renewed for another season? I’ll give you a hint…it is longer than 15 seasons. That is right, the show is Greys Anatomy! A main thing that happens in this show is they have a little dance party to brighten the mood – why not get into that action? It will only take about eight songs to do a full
Jonathan Borba via Unsplash
Just 5 more reps...just 5 more....
30-minute workout, so get that beat up on the stereo and in your chest! If dancing to fast music is a little too upbeat but you still want to get moving, an activity that you can do in the comfort of your own home to get yourself comfortable and ready for bed is yoga. If you have tried yoga before and that does not sound that appealing, look at your friend YouTube; they have yoga moves and workouts that go from just stretching to beginner and advanced. Not motivated yet? Did you know that yoga is good to increase flexibility, strengthen your core, legs, and arms (basically a full body workout), and is a great protection from injury? Well, now you do! Go give it a shot. Whether you learn a new a hobby, create a delicious snack to enjoy after your dance party, or do yoga, these are a great way to boost your mental and physical health. Partake in these activities alone or with friends to thrive. Try focusing on your mental and physical health to get through this winter. You are almost there, slowly but surely!
jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
sports & health
13
Human rights abuse at Winter Olympic Games What the Olympic Broadcast doesn’t show
gillian massie staff writer Due to COVID-19, the Olympics are airing twice within a year’s time. Despite countries coming together in unity of sport and friendship, it is important to analyze elements of the Olympics outside of the broadcast special to know what is really occurring within the host country. While harmful actions are occurring in host city Beijing, many harmful actions also took place in the Vancouver 2010 winter games. Both hosts tried to divert the attention through the platform that hosting the Olympic Games gave them. As Beijing takes center stage to host the Olympics, many ethical concerns have been raised about China’s treatment of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other ethnic minorities. Ethnic minorities have been forced into labour camps and have experienced much human rights abuse by the Communist Party in China. Many countries have avoided acknowledging horrific actions going on in China as genocide, and many athletes will continue to compete. China denies all complaints of human rights abuses. On Dec 8, the federal government announced that no Canadian government officials will attend the ceremonies of the Olympics. The government demonstrated the boycott, but Canadian Olympic athletes will still be allowed to compete. The Olympics are the epitome of irony considering they enforce ideals of friendship through sport. Many of their campaigns acknowledge that they enforce and support activism towards countries in danger, but do not follow through with physical and emotional support. This year, the Olympics are being hosted in a country where there is genocide
Brayden Law
occurring. By making Beijing the host city for the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee is awarding China the great honour of hosting the Winter Olympic Games, demonstrating that serial human rights abusers can get away with it because they were the highest bidder. The Olympics have been no stranger to controversy over the years. Many countries have a history of covering up their colonial, patriarchal, and imperialistic values by hosting the Olympics. When the opening ceremonies
acknowledgement of all First Nations Peoples whose territories reside in British Columbia. Then, they invited all other tribes existing in Canada to partake in hosting the Olympic Games. They performed a beautiful culturally uplifting ceremony welcoming other countries to Turtle Island. The performance really showed the unity and humanity that exists in the relationship between Canada and First Nations people. While this performance was beautiful and inspirational to onlookers, it does not adequately
ceremonies, the Canadian flag bearer was seen wearing a Hudson’s Bay staple scarf solidifying their mark as Canada’s official supporter. While this may seem like an incredibly small act of significance, it shows that the Canadian Olympic team represents ideals enforced from the Hudson’s Bay Company. The Hudson’s Bay Company is largely marketed as a white modernity store. The Hudson’s Bay Company came to Turtle Island guided by Charles II and snatched up 1.5 million square miles of land via
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Performative activism is described perfectly by this situation; Canadians want to have a better relationship but are not really willing to do anything about it to fix it. – Gillian Massie
air, you are seeing the most manufactured, nationalist ideals of each country. It is a celebration of the hosting country’s culture and values all packed into one orchestrated event. It quite pointedly covers up all the monstrosities that are occurring in their country behind the scenes. It is comparable to someone who has a perfectly manicured front lawn to receive complements on how lush and beautiful it is, but their backyard consists of sun-bleached grass that is dying for water. A great example of this happened when Canada hosted the Olympic Games in 2010. Canada’s 2010 Olympic Games opening ceremonies began with a land
represent the colonial standards that have been set in place by Canadian settlers. Organizers of the opening ceremonies represented the ideals of the relationship between settlers and Indigenous people rather than showing the reality of our relationship because they do not want people to think anything bad is happening. Performative activism is described perfectly by this situation; Canadians want to have a better relationship but are not willing to do anything to fix it. During the Vancouver Olympics, colonizer conglomerate The Hudson’s Bay Company was the Canadian Olympic team outfitter. During the 2010 opening
the Doctrine of Discovery. Colonizers worked with Indigenous people to learn the ins and outs of the fur trade before kicking them to the curb. The Hudson’s Bay Company only operated 100 storefronts on reserve locations in the twentieth century and sold high priced goods for low priced pelts provided by Indigenous people. Indigenous people were then subject to cruel and violent behaviours of settlers. In the “Cash Back” report, over 40 Indigenous leaders found the Hudson’s Bay Company had made $97.5 million off of land deals. The Hudson’s Bay Company has promised Indigenous people the equivalent of $50 million when they first be-
gan trading, but this was never paid to them. The Bay was the Canadian Olympic outfitter for 16 years before the switch was made to Lululemon for the upcoming Games in Beijing. The Olympic Opening Ceremonies clearly want to showcase the best aspects of Canada which means getting rid of the things that do not look good for Canada’s brand. In order to protect Canada’s brand and image, many Olympic host cities passed legislation to round up the homeless population in East Vancouver. The Assisting to Shelter Act gave authority to travel around wrangling anyone who was deemed as undesirable to the Canadian identity. The legislation is implemented for other reasons, like helping homeless people find shelter during extreme weather warnings. However, it was used to protect Vancouver’s image during the Winter Olympic Games to avoid broadcast of the growing number of homeless people in British Columbia. Many were relocated to a shelter across the city. If there was no room for people in shelters, the individuals were relocated to prisons. The relocation legislation is a gross example of what Canada was willing to do to keep up their reputation as international nice guys. Homelessness is a huge issue across Canada, but especially in Vancouver’s East end. The Vancouver Winter Olympics in total spent $2.6 billion on costs. Vancouver’s growing homelessness population continues to remain unsolved 12 years after the 2010 Olympics aired.
jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon | 14
sports & health
Interview with Astrid Baecker From soccer player to head coach: how did she do it?
katherine mutschler s&h editor The University of Regina women’s soccer team made the exciting announcement in January that we have a new head coach, Astrid Baecker. This does not come as a shock, as she was a player for the Cougars in 2001 and eventually became one of the interim co-head coaches during 2021. Baecker was involved with many sports as a child and landed on soccer for her main sport. Eventually, she became a player for the Cougar’s team, and through much experience, dedication, and hard work, became a coach for the team she used to play on. I sat down with Baecker to hear about her inspirations, where she gets her motivation from, and about her general love for the sport. For Baecker, sports had a special social aspect for her when she was young. “I was a multisport lover my whole life… I loved that I could go out and meet people” she said. Although Baecker loved the social aspect that came with many different sports, she says that soccer is where she felt most at home. She explained to me that her life long friend groups came from those early years of playing soccer. When asked about her biggest influence and inspiration, I was pleasantly surprised to hear her say that her father takes this role. She explained that when she was a child, sports were not as accessible to women as it is now: “I come from a time where you played with the boys. There were
Arthur Ward
She shoots, she scores (the head coach position)!
no all-girls teams, and [my dad] basically went around town and got all the girls together and made an all-girls team…that group has been together…since we were between nine and ten years old.” Her dad helped develop teams for women in Regina, and even helped bring the players to play in places like Australia: “he has been a lifelong influence and advocate for…a lot of women players to give them opportunities.” Since Baecker started as a
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ing role with them. Through her journey, she saw her path become clearer. After becoming a candidate on the Canada Soccer A-license program in 2020, she knew that she wanted to be a head coach, and that she was on the right path to be successful in the position. I was particularly interested in how Baecker’s perspective has changed as she has grown as an athlete and prepared for this position. She says, “one of the biggest
I then asked Baecker how she handles the pressure of the environment that comes with sports. For her, consistency and aligning her words with her vision is crucial to helping keep calm in intense situations: “I really value people’s perspectives, so I really try to incorporate as many perspectives as I can…especially for high stress or high-pressure decisions.” She also emphasizes the importance of keeping calm and having consistency in
There is no substitute for hard work. – Astrid Baecker
soccer player for the Cougars, I wanted to know when she decided to switch lanes and become a coach. When asked, she said, “about 10-12 years ago is when I wanted to make coaching a career.” During her time to land this position, she got experience with different kinds of coaching, but needed to decide which age group she wanted to coach. Baecker says, “[finding the path] is the tricky combination of experience plus certification, and I think it is finding that right equation.” She got experience through being a coach at Queen City Soccer. In 2018, she got a full-time coach-
changes is how we view our players, and I think one of the biggest takeaways when you become a coach is that you want to create a player-centered environment, and you want to have individual considerations within a team environment.” As she has spent more time in a leadership position, she views the team less as a whole and more as how players fit into a positional role. Seeing the players as individuals is an important part for her coaching. Baecker explains that the more time she has spent in leadership, the more her views on individual approaches have shifted.
high-pressure environments: “I try to make sure my athletes know who they are getting…I try to align my vision with who I am, my words, and stay consistent in my approach, and that helps me manage those high-pressure situations.” By having a focus on values and other perspectives, Baecker believes that it aids with staying grounded when in a high stress situation. When asked about how she keeps her goals, she was very clear. “There is no substitute for hard work,” she said, “there are no special pieces that you can throw together. There is no way
around it; you have to do the hard work.” I am sure any athlete, performer, or person who is working on their craft can keep this sentiment in their heart. In modern days, it is common for people to want instant gratification. This is not something you can get in sports: “nothing worth having comes easy,” she says. She also reminds athletes that we need to “trust the process, and be patient.” When looking at goals that are 10 years in the future, it is daunting. Trusting the process is an important part of progressing, as we cannot get instant results for our craft. Through Baecker’s career from a player at a young age to now being a coach, she has important perspectives to share with us. She shares the importance of having a good support network, especially for women athletes in the field. Baecker also shares the importance of experience and education to reach your goals, especially as an athlete. Through her many years of training and preparation, she has gained perspective on how the team works, and how individual players are. She shares important points on how to maintain perspective in keeping goals, and handling high-pressure situations. The University of Regina is happy to have Baecker as head coach, and we are excited to hear more from her as she grows further in the position.
op-ed
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editor: sarah nakonechny op-ed@carillonregina.com the carillon | jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
Needed removal of Onision from YouTube
Supporting those who are causing harm on public platforms is more harmful than we realize Who are we to dictate who’s allowed to post content on the internet? Oftentimes, it is easier to unfollow or unsubscribe from someone who is creating or sharing content that we don’t agree with. It seems futile to bother starting a fight with someone about their views and what they deem appropriate to post for the world, and instead we delete them from our pages and thus remove their content from our minds. However, what happens when that content is actively harming those who are involved and who do not realize the effects it’s having on them? What happens when the mastermind behind the creation is using it to gain access to specific demographics for personal exploitation? We cannot just be content sitting idle or clicking that button to ensure they don’t appear on our screens anymore. The need to report the content is an important step in the process of getting these individuals off the internet, away from public consumption. We owe it to those who are most vulnerable to do the bare minimum. Report that video or photo instead of just scrolling past it. Just because you won’t see it doesn’t mean that others won’t still be exposed. Now I have never been one to consume much content on the platform YouTube. Outside of the videos shown in courses and the occasional Crash Course search to explain a concept, this is not where I choose to spend my time. My attention has been drawn to this platform after viewing a docu-series called Onision in Real Life. This docu-series details the content that this creator has posted for over a decade, and the damage that he has done to countless individuals in the process; talking to victims who were groomed as young adolescents, dehumanized as they were entering adult-
hood, and who had the course of their lives altered by the individual who goes by the name Onision online. During this docu-series we are exposed to the stories of Shiloh - his first victim – all the way through the list of those who have made the decision to come forward to speak. We see a variety of females with different backgrounds and from different areas of the country who are coming forth to speak out about the experiences they had. Throughout this we see the different tactics
women to their home through the promises of friendship. While all of this was happening, everything was being documented and broadcasted for the enjoyment of his viewers. Millions of people were viewing the destructive nature of his relationships with all these women, and yet nothing has been done about it. Investigations have been launched and yet the victims are still sitting by, waiting for the day that charges are laid, and the court process begins.
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Knowing that YouTube has been notified of this and all they have done is prevent him from making money is not enough. – Sarah Nakonechny
used to gain the trust of these women, all who were underaged when their interactions began, the youngest being 14 years old when they first made direct contact with the YouTuber. Although these women were all very different, they had a few striking similarities; low self-esteem, few friends, and the longing for acceptance and affection. As a result, Onision would treat them all very different with a few glaring similarities that couldn’t be overlooked such as taking away their sense of femininity when they turned 18, pressuring them into flying across the country for him, isolating them from their loved ones, and eventually starting to use his current partner to assist in luring more
Until that day happens there are other things that can be done. Although YouTube has taken away his ability to make a profit from his videos, he is still creating content and everything that he has made is still available for consumption. He has access to other media platforms, like Twitter, where many of these underaged females would attempt to make contact or be noticed by him. Now again, I don’t spend really spend much time on YouTube, but knowing that there is content of this nature that is supporting someone so destructive by providing them a space for their voice to carry influence over others makes me want to never engage with this platform. Know-
ing that YouTube has been notified of this and all they have done is prevent him from making money is not enough. Not only does Onision still have his platform available for his voice to be heard and his way of thinking to still influence those who are most impressionable that he targets, but others on that platform will continue to engage with him as well. He will continue to show up on other YouTube channels, whether they are dragging his name through the mud, or having him on to partake in their regular content. He will continue to be there and the number of people that he will negatively impact will continue to increase. Onision ruined the career of up-andcoming popstar Shiloh. He altered the entire period of critical development for his youngest victim, Sarah, who was in contact with him and his partner from 14 to almost 19 years old. Other YouTubers have been personally attacked over and over again for the purpose of driving his views regardless of the harm that it may have caused. Yet here we stand with Onision still being able to create and upload videos onto YouTube. It may not be easy to go through the process of formally charging him and giving the victims the true peace of mind that they so desperately crave and deserve. The least that we could do in the meantime is take away the medium in which he goes about facilitating this type of harm. Remove the way in which he can readily access those who are vulnerable and ensure the safety of those who need it the most.
sarah nakonechny op-ed editor
Daniel Olah via Unsplash manipulated by Morgan Ortman
A respresentation of how hearing about this human trash will make you feel.
jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
op-ed
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
16
Bitter cold creating couch potatoes
It’s always so much easier to sit stagnant during the cold winter months I have lived in the Canadian prairies for around five years now. Every year in the spring and summer, I wonder why more people do not move here and take in the breathtakingly beautiful prairies. Every year in late fall, I remember why. The bitter cold we experience is more than just an inconvenience. As an international student, I often have conversations with people back home who are thinking of coming to Canada. One topic that always comes up is how people get around and function during the at least couple of weeks when we get to –40 C, a snowstorm, or some combination of those. I try telling them you get used to it, and unless things are spectacularly bad, we go about our daily lives, with a few more layers than those in warmer climates. I can certainly attest that for myself, whether it is getting to class, work, or a grocery trip, the only reason I look at the weather is to pick out which jacket, gloves, and toque combination to go with. Barring exceedingly inclement weather, it certainly never occurs to me to put off work or the business of life simply because
it is cold. After all, if I did that, I would have to hit the pause button on life for anywhere between three to six months every year. However, the above only applies to the things that act on me and demand my reaction. I do have to get to a lecture, I do have to get to work, and if I want to make some soup to tide me over the dark long nights of winter, I do need to get groceries. The story is markedly different, though, when it comes to those things in life that call for a more proactive attitude, like going for a walk or just stepping outside to get some natural light, something I do not get a lot of in my basement suite. I would like to think that I am not a complete couch potato. In the summer months, I go for a walk around Wascana nearly every day. Sometimes this is on top of the long walks I take around my own neighborhood in the evenings, basking in the long late afternoon sun. One look at my activity tracker charts from back then confirms that there are days when I log in around ten kilometres of walking without even trying. It certainly helps that, when stuck with a problem in my dissertation, taking a
walk almost always seems to untangle the strands of thought in my head. Sometimes, I do cheat and count those hours of walking as time spent working on my research! The same activity tracker, however, tells a very different story once winter is well and truly upon us. Some days I do not even put it on, opting not to be given visible evidence of how the only steps I have taken are to and from the kitchen. An oft-repeated joke between me and a friend is that during the winter months, our shoes probably think we are no longer bound to this earthly realm. The biggest culprit, I would say, is the brutal weather. A walk outdoors, or taking in some sunlight, feels markedly more like a chore when it involves putting on layers, gloves, toques, and what not. To be perfectly honest, I even put off taking out the trash because I will have to get decent shoes and a jacket on, opting to either ask a housemate who is headed outside anyway or wait until I must head out for other errands. However, I have been trying to do better for the last couple of months. One thing that has helped is audiobooks. I am
someone who needs constant stimuli – is that good or bad? I prefer not to delve deeper. In the winter months, this has often taken the form of letting the television blare on while I curl in under the blankets. However, I have recently begun to leverage my love of books. So, I will play an audiobook, giving myself maybe half hour or forty-five minutes to listen, but only if I am on my feet, moving my body around, making sure to get some exercise. It is not the greatest, but it is an improvement over the status quo. Yes, it is not as pleasant as being outdoors in the summer months, but I personally much prefer it over being outdoors in the winters. I also want to clarify I personally feel no external pressure to look or act a certain way and that has little to do with my trying to be active. Over the last few years, I have just realized I feel better and do my best when I take the time to work out. So, this will do for now and I will always have my long summer walks around Wascana.
hammad ali staff writer
Nathaniel Yeo via Unsplash
Complaining that it’s too cold to go outside but you’re in summer attire.
Zoom hours are taking over
Refreshers on how to stay on top of Zoom university The past two years have been incredibly difficult for everyone. It would be an understatement to say that they were emotionally taxing. For many, it has felt like a disturbing fever dream that we hope to one day wake up from with a sigh of relief. If only. Add all of that to the reality that many students are completing their degrees in the pandemic. University has become Zoom university. Some students have not even had the opportunity to experience college life before the pandemic. They were unfortunate to start university in the pandemic. I can’t even recall the last time I talked to a student face to face. All my interactions with students have been through Zoom and dreadful breakout sessions. It can be difficult to try to find hope in the times we’re living in. It is important to know that what we are dealing with right now is a universal human experience. It is crucial to form helpful habits when dealing with online classes. For starters, time management is the most important thing. Rest and time management go hand in hand. In my opinion, you are only able to rest peacefully if you can manage your time during the day. To do lists are great for
helping with time management. Rest does not necessarily just mean sleep. Rest can be time where you are not doing anything that stimulates your brain or makes you work. Rest can be taking some time off to knit, to paint, and even to watch your favorite show. The most important trick that helps me feel awake during classes is to have my camera on during Zoom classes. I am
aware this may not work for everyone, but it helps to stimulate the same feeling you’d get in an in-person class. Seeing my professors’ and fellow students’ faces is something that genuinely helps me mentally because it means I am interacting with actual people, and not screens – to be honest, that is important in a time when almost all the population is socially deprived of human connection. Keeping my camera on means
Icons8 Team via Unsplash
Working so hard that you’ve let your flowers wilt.
that I can’t just fall asleep, and I must pay attention to the class. Of course, I have my off days, too. The pandemic has forced me to accept that we are all just trying to survive. We are trying to do our best in unfortunate circumstances, and that is okay. Another helpful way to stay awake is to have specific foods or drinks that wake you up. For some, it is coffee. For myself, it is green tea, matcha, and almond milk. I like to keep nutrition bars on my desk in my room to have when I need a quick pick me up. It is also important to take breaks during class. Sometimes all you need is a stretch and some time to move or walk. It is also important to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water during Zoom classes. Furthermore, it is important to have some light. I like to let some sunshine into my room every day to help me focus during classes. Having a view is extremely important to me and sometimes if I feel that I am getting bored then all I need to do is just look outside and look at nature.
amina salah staff writer
jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
carillonregina.com | the carillon |
op-ed
What the Muppets taught me
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This may be just a children’s show, but it taught me a lot
Loren Javier via Flickr
Why listen to your parents when you can listen to talking puppets?
“The Muppet Show” is a beautifully satirized children’s show that incorporates themes of a late-night, interview, theatrical, comedy television network. It is performed by puppets whose mantra is “the show must go on” despite all the shenanigans that happen on stage and behind the scenes. The Muppet Show is a treasure and is the origin of the disaster show, where something always goes wrong in the middle of one of the acts. Host Kermit the Frog constantly copes with the disasters that occur on the show by scheduling different scenes or performing them himself. The combination of unique characters with various absurd talents makes for a perfect satirical show. What really makes the Muppet Show tick is the humility within each of the characters. Whether that be Fozzie Bear’s dadjoke fuelled stand-up routines or Gonzo blowing himself through the roof, all the Muppets come together at the end of the episode for a musical number about friendship. It’s nice seeing a bunch of goofballs come together to have a laugh at their screw-ups and then sing about it at the end of the day. It shows you can still be appreciated without being perfect. Perfectionism is impressive, but your mistakes are what makes people fall in love with your character. Humility cannot necessary extend to Miss Piggy, but the Muppets exemplify a hodge podge of critters and creatures that come together to laugh at one another’s mistakes before they head onto the next act. As a kid, I was first introduced to the Muppets through the song “Mahna Mahna” sang by two pink puppet back-up dancers and their lead singer, a jazzy Muppet who looks like early interpretations of Animal from Electric Mayhem. The song was a funny little tune that only has a few words the entire time. That might sound bland to those who have never heard or
seen the segment, but it shows how words can be influenced through presentation and speech. The linguistic approach throughout the song shows happiness, sadness, frustration, and silliness all together by the performer. I still cackle at the Muppets throughout the segment showing that they interpret themselves however they wish. The panel discussion segment reoccurred frequently during the first season of the original Muppet Show due to its popularity which poked fun at philosophic questions. All the debates began with a pre-
that we have political party leaders comparable to Muppets. The ridiculousness of the Muppet discussion panel translates across a multitude of platforms – especially now that everyone has a podcast. The number of podcasts I have listened to that could have been a FaceTime call is growing like a wart. The moral of the lesson I have learned is that we need restrictions to own a microphone. Fozzie Bear’s bad comedic routines have been a staple to his character from the beginning. Fozzie’s routines normally end with the jeering of Statler and Waldorf,
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As I grow older and started watching political leader debates, I cannot help but notice how similar they have become to the Muppets. – Gillian Massie
tentious question such as “Is the art of conversation dying?” or “What is the meaning of life?” Proper gentleman, Sam the Eagle, was a frequent guest on the segment. Sam was a favorite Muppet, embodying the stereotypical patriotic American who was comparable to a firm, uptight, military general. Often moderated by Kermit the Frog, the panel always erupted in chaos by the end with hilarious gimmicks and mixups. As I grow older and started watching political leader debates, I cannot help but notice how similar they have become to the Muppets. These political leader debates are often bang-on resembling Muppet satire – which is incredibly troubling to think
the two resident geriatrics with permanent booth tickets to the Muppet Show. I firmly believe that my dry sense of humour has stemmed from the heckling that came from the two men in the booth. I can’t help but think that if Statler and Waldorf were in the stands of a Dave Chapelle show, maybe he would finally shut the fuck up. The two are never nice – which is something that can come into great importance in many situations. I do not think that kindness is a sign of weakness. However, in terms of having told off people who cannot take no for an answer, I think that it is incredibly beneficial to channel the energies of Statler and Waldorf.
The comedic stylings of Wayne and Wanda shows a couple performing a theatrical number that is beautifully rehearsed. Unfortunately, their number normally ends in some freak disaster relating to one of the lyrics in their song. For example, in a song about the weather, they reference a storm where it automatically begins to hail on them. The bad luck that these two have is uncanny, but it also presents the opportunity that you really do get what you put out. As a Journalism student, I know that at some point I will probably have to cover on-scene weather conditions. The amount of YouTube complications that exist of journalists being blown away in the wind or getting hit with the run-off from snowplows is numerous. Always be prepared for disaster, but do not handle it like Wayne and Wanda. Another famous segment of the show is the ballroom segment showing many of the Muppets at a dance where they make ridiculous puns as the camera flips between the different partners. Say what you want about puns, but they always get a little giggle out of someone who is standing nearby. The jokes are typically made at the expense of people who just do not get it. People who just do not get it are quite a broad group of individuals, but as I would like to describe it, they are people who have been “Dick Cheney’d.” Getting Dick Cheney’d is being sacrificed in the pursuit of economic value or power. One of the best lines in the At the Dance segment goes like this; Mildred Huxtetter says, “I hear the president says not to worry if you don’t have a job,” to which George the Janitor responds, “Easy for him to say, he has a job.” The moral of the story is to avoid being Dick Cheney’d at all costs
gillian massie staff writer
graphics
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editors: safal gangwani, rooky jegede graphics@carillonregina.com the carillon | jan 27 - feb 2, 2022
