The Argosy, October 10, 2013

Mount Allison’s

THE October 10, 2013

ARGOSY Independent Student Newspaper

Not going to school tomorrow since 1872

Vol. 143 Iss. 7

Pride Week aims to raise awareness of issues facing the LGBTQ community. Several events were held on campus throughout the week. Pride Week began with a flag-raising ceremony. (Chris Donovan/Argosy)

Catalyst society presents Mt. A’s first Pride Week safety, security, and comfort on campus at Mount Allison University and [in the] surrounding community.”

Get REAL spent the week working with Catalyst to increase their visibility on campus. They were selling their signature pink hats in various locations throughout the week, in order to raise awareness and money for future events, such as presentations aimed at teaching students to unlearn various homophobic attitudes.

“I think students need to be involved because we are in such a

pivotal stage of our lives,” said Maddy Hill, a member of the Mt. A Get REAL executive. “We are starting to figure out what really matters to us, and how that shapes us as people. We are starting to solidify our identities.”

While this is the first official Pride Week held at Mt. A, it is the second such event for Sackville as a whole.

The town, in conjunction with Catalyst and the Sackville/Amherst division of PFLAG Canada, will hold an official rainbow flag raising ceremony on Oct. 17 at 12:00 pm in front of Town Hall.

Feldman opens Year of Global Engagement

Masked man threatens clerk with knife

Miriam Namakanda

Tyler Stuart

Harvard Law professor Noah Feldman delivered a wide-ranging talk on geopolitics in Convocation Hall last Wednesday, kicking off the President’s Speakers Series.

Prior to his speech, Feldman was hosted at Black House by University President Robert Campbell, where he dined with winners of a contest for students. To win, students had to submit a short piece explaining why they wanted to dine with Feldman.

Tyler Stuart, one of the three contest winners, said, “if they do this again I would encourage students to apply.”

Alex Economou, another contest winner, said he was “very lucky to be sitting at that table.”

Though Feldman is a specialist in

Islamic philosophy and law, his talk focused on the changing dynamics of the global political system due to China’s rise to power. This is the subject of Feldman’s book Cool War: The Future of Global Competition. He explained that a “cool war” arises when the “zero-sum game” of “geopolitical struggle” coincides with the “positivesum game” of international trade.

To illustrate the major changes in international trade and politics, Feldman pointed to the recent acquisition of Nexen, a Canadian firm, by the China National Offshore

Oil Corporation. During the Cold War, such a move would have been unthinkable. He argued that in the current global economy, Canada is not forced to “choose sides.”

Despite characterizing human rights as “luxuries,” Feldman noted that activism will gain more strategic political importance. The talk ended with a remark on the importance of global engagement. Feldman stressed the need to consider “the big challenges that make us want to be active in the world” and the importance of understanding economic issues.

Last Sunday, a masked man attempted to rob Penny Wyse, a Sackville convenience store located on Queens St. The intruder fled empty handed.

At 9:50 pm, Darlene Turner was about to close her convenience store when a man in a black hoodie entered through the open door.

Turner was speaking on phone when the man entered the store and did not notice the man’s balaclava until he turned to face her. She said the man wore many layers of clothing to appear big.

“I turned to ask him if I could get him something, and that’s when he told me to give him the money,” Turner said. “Then he shoved the knife at me.”

When Turner pushed the armed

robbery button, which sends an alert to the police station, the intruder nicked her near her elbow with the tip of his knife. She did not notice her wound until she was home safely.

According to Turner, the blade was at least 18 inches long.

“When I screamed, my husband heard me and came out. He chased the man down the street with a shovel.”

Turner said that the man had two accomplices: a man waiting in a car and a woman keeping watch.

The attempted robbery was the fifth break in to Penny Wyse in the last ten years.

“Now I’ve got bars on the door; I pay for security every month. It’s all costing me, and they are getting nothing out of it.”

Turner said it is foolish to rob a business in Sackville because clerks keep very little money in their tills.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police released a statement saying, “The matter continues to be under investigation and no charges have been laid to date.”

“I told the police, ‘This is enough,’” Turner said. “Something needs to be done.”

News

Opinions

Entertainment

Sports

Inside...

Week of events organized by campus group Taylor Losier

Features Writer

Colourful chalk messages decorated the campus pavement this week, announcing the arrival of a new event

to Mount Allison University: the First Annual Pride Week, presented by Mt. A’s Catalyst Society.

The week began with a flag raising ceremony in front of the chapel on Monday morning, and several events, organized by Catalyst, were held over the course of the week. Among these was a bake sale on Monday, followed by a ‘Bring a Friend Night’ at Catalyst; a screening of I Love You Philip Morris; and queer trivia at the Pond. Pride Week will end with a Pink Day and Hand-Holding Day on Oct. 11.

“I think it’s important to have these Pride events to make our student and town population aware that Catalyst exists as a group on campus, and to make everyone aware of LGBTQIA issues, to educate and inform them of things that [they] might not know about,” said Nicole Forbes, Catalyst President and one of Pride Week’s many organizers. “We’ve received a lot of people’s congratulations on keeping a Catalyst’s week of events going every year, and many people have conveyed that they hope it makes a difference in

President’s Speaker Series kicks off Attempted robbery

News Writer

Features Editor

Noah Feldman signs copies of his book following his talk. (Chris Donovan/Argosy)

Sustainable farming Limited water onElectronic artist plays Tempers flare in 4-1 workshop: Pg. 2 campus: Pg. 6 house show: Pg. 9 loss to UdeM: Pg. 12

News Ship’s Log Opinions Entertainment Housing Sports Science Arts & Literature Pg. Humour

2 4 5 8 10 12 14 16 918

NEWS

October 10, 2013

argosy@mta.ca

Expert architect addresses church restoration Alternative uses of building and resoration needs examined

Miriam Namakanda

News Writer

The Sackville Town Council has been exploring the possibility of restoring the United Church building downtown, and repurposing the building into a community centre. At a meeting last Thursday, they were presented with a feasibility report from Renaissance Sackville, and on Monday, Christopher Borgal, an internationally recognized restoration expert brought by the Heritage Canada Foundation, addressed a packed town hall.

The Renaissance Sackville report concluded that the necessary repairs and repurposing would cost $1.45 million and put monthly operating costs at well over four thousand dollars. The report stated “converting the United Church into a community centre does not make good or feasible economic sense.”

Borgal asked the audience to consider the alternative to the church building. “You have to think in terms of: if that building wasn’t sitting on that Main Street corner in this community, what would you have? You would have a parking lot, and you’d have a downtown core with no feature buildings at all,” he said.

“It’s an incredible asset that you’ve got in your midst,” said Borgal, adding “it’s completely

Repurposing options are being examined for the church. (Photo Illustration by Nick Sleptov/Argosy) repairable.” He described the church as “a very important building in this country.”

The building had been owned by the United Church until it was bought by John Lafford last year. The congregation decided to sell the building when they could no longer keep up with the costs. It was reported that Lafford did not have any plans to demolish the church at the time of purchase. He gave those who were concerned about demolition, namely the Heritage Board, some time to organize a way of saving the church. At the October 7 meeting, Hammock, a Renaissance Sackville spokesperson, praised Lafford for his cooperation and said, “he is very

keen to cooperate with us if we can find a way to save the building.”

Hammock suggested that coming up with the necessary funds will be difficult but doable, and that the Renaissance Sackville will continue to explore alternative uses for the building.

“If you look at the total cost to repair it upfront, it becomes very daunting,” said Borgal.

He said that the community should look at the incremental cost, and take early steps to stabilize the building and prevent it from falling further into a state of disrepair.

Borgal also drew attention to the large pool of potential donors with an emotional connection

Local activists join Rexton protest Stand-off between protestors and gas company in Rexton

ACORN workshop Group hosts farmer entrepreneurship workshop at Mt. A

Kevin Levangie

Political Beat Writer Anti-fracking groups across New Brunswick have been converging on Rexton to voice their opposition to shale gas exploration in the area.

Recent protests directed toward gas company SWN Resources by the Elsipogtog First Nation just outside of Rexton, a small town in Kent County, have attracted support from a variety of groups, including members of the Tantramar Alliance Against Hydrofracking (TAAHF), as well as Mount Allison University students and professors.

The Elsipogtog First Nation issued an eviction notice to SWN Resources on October 2. In a statement to the media, captured on camera by CBC, Elsipogtog band chief Aaron Sock explained the reason for the eviction attempt. “Due to mismanagement by the province and exploitation by corporations, our reserve native lands and waters are being ravaged and ruined,” Sock said.

SWN ignored the band’s eviction notice. The provincial government currently controls the land, and has given SWN permission to explore for potential shale gas wells. Protestors set up a highway barricade, blocking access to and from a lot where company trucks have been parked.

SWN filed a successful injunction to remove the protestors, which has not yet been enforced by the RCMP.

to the church and said, “you’ve got all those people who were ordained as ministers, you’ve got all the people that were married there, or whose grandparents or great-grandparents are buried in the graveyard.”

“It’s got to come from the community, the [restorations] that I’ve seen work do not come from the top-down from the politicians, it comes from people locally who really believe [in the project],” he said, emphasizing that restoration of the church for some alternative use will depend on community involvement.

Borgal also raised the point that restoring old buildings would complement the town’s green initiatives. He stressed that saving the building is “the greenest thing you can possibly do.”

At the October 7 meeting, Borgal reminded council members that the church is “directly connected with the university and has deep connections with the community and its development.” While construction of the church began between 1875-1876, the connections between Sackville’s Methodist community and the university were established decades earlier.

Methodist (later to become the United Church of Canada) clergy held prominent positions in faculty and administration well into the twentieth century. Mount Allison University was founded as a Methodist institution, and to this day the university remains affiliated with the United Church of Canada.

Of particular heritage value are the graveyard, organ, and stained glass of the church: The organ and stained glass have been praised by experts across the country. The church’s graveyard is home to the grave of Charles Frederick Allison, the founder of Mount Allison University.

Keegan Smith

Signs at the shale gas blockade in Rexton, NB. (Tim Reiffenstein/Submitted) On Saturday October 5, TAAHF held a yard sale at 1 Rectory Lane in Sackville, named ‘Junk for the Injunction’, to raise funds for a legal injunction against fracking in the province. This yard sale complements the work they have been doing for over two years, appearing at the Sackville Farmers’ Market every Saturday to raise public awareness about fracking, and to raise funds.

The group behind the injunction, NB Water First, explain their goals on their website. “We are seeking what is called a quia timet injunction that indicates there is a future probability of injury to our rights and interests if unconventional shale gas drilling […] is pursued.” The group aims to raise $500,000 in order to launch their legal challenge, aiming for a moratorium on hydrofracking in New Brunswick.

Linda Dornan, who worked at the yard sale, explained that TAAHF is part of a broader movement. “We have twenty-nine groups across the province who have formed a coalition that includes the three communities of Mi’kmaq, Acadien, and Englishspeakers,” Dornan said.

Penny Mott, another TAAHF member at the yard sale, went to Rexton on October 4, and described the TAAHF’s activities as supportive. She said, “We sat with the native people; we talked; we supported them; we listened a great deal. It’s a very respectful, positive, slow moving conversation.”

Emma Jackson, a Mt. A student, also went to Rexton on October 4 with twelve other students and three professors. Jackson also emphasized the community and discussion-based nature of the gathering, describing the atmosphere as “welcoming” and “positive,” and, despite the tensions, similar to “a community picnic.”

While some TAAHF members were running the yard sale, others were staffing their display at the Sackville Farmers’ Market. Marilyn Lerch commented on the recently approved injunction: “One of the really shocking things is how quickly SWN was able to get an injunction to stop the protestors, when [activist groups have] been working for two years. You know they have deep pockets and will be fighting for a long time.”

The student centre was home to a different variety of students this week, as newcomers to organic farming attended the “Planning for Success” business skills seminar.

This two-day event took place on Monday and Tuesday, and was organized by the Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network (ACORN), one of the most influential groups in the Maritimes in the field of sustainable agriculture. The workshop focused on enhancing the ability of young and inexperienced growers to develop and utilize business plans for their farms.

Thirty farmers from Atlantic Canada were in attendance, all with less than five years of experience.

This workshop was part of a larger ACORN initiative to train new farmers. The average age in the sector is fifty-five.

David Alexander, the seminar’s instructor, explained how traditional knowledge about running a farm is rare in modern times.

“Now, we’ve got this group of individuals with passion, drive, ambition, and skills, but (not growing up on a farm), they lack the entrepreneurial skills to do the job,” he said.

Coming from a background

in teaching, Alexander has been working at the Everdale Organic Farm and Environmental Learning Centre in Ontario for four years, and is the facilitator of their awardwinning ‘Farmers Growing Farmers’ initiative. He has helped new growers complete business plans, leading to the success of about ninety per cent of his graduates. “There’s a lot of interest in Southern Ontario,” he noted, “But it’s good to see other parts of the country. There’s a lot of interest from groups in this area.”

ACORN is one such group—a non-profit organization based out of Sackville. From their office on Main Street, they work to connect the agricultural community, from producers to consumers, by networking and education.

ACORN’s ‘Grow a Farmer’ initiative, coordinated by Lucia Stephen, is designed to offer apprenticeships and training in organic agriculture. This week’s workshop was part of that very initiative.

Stephen stressed the importance of developing business sense in new farmers. As she stated in an earlier press release, “It is essential that they have access to resources to support their start-up, and learning how to develop a well-designed business plan is a great tool.”

The focus on a ‘new generation’ of farmers opens many opportunities for young people, including students, and this seminar is part of an ongoing cooperation between the university and Stephen’s organization.

“ACORN works with Mt. Allison on many of our events, they’ve been very supportive,” she said.

The Argosy

NEWS

www.argosy.ca

MASU debates blood drive concern Canadian Blood Services donor criteria criticized

Pope Francis wants to focus on helping the poor

Political Beat Writer

Students get their blood tested in the student centre. (Nick Sleptov/Argosy) the appropriateness of MASU encouraging the blood drive, many councillors weighed in.

O’Hara explained, “The MASU seems to be all about representing diversity among students, and when you’re representing 2,500 people, [this includes] homosexual men at Mount Allison.” O’Hara continued, “If not everyone can donate blood who is a Mount Allison student, then [MASU is] not representing that diversity.”

O’Hara said that while she donates blood, she does it on her “own time,” and that “If not every single person can participate I don’t really think it should be happening” with promotional aid from MASU. First Year Representative Daniel Murphy suggested that the reasons for the ban are possibly outside of the understanding of the MASU, saying, “None of us are health officials here.”

President Melissa O’Rourke

defended MASU’s involvement.

“The intention behind supporting a blood clinic was definitely supposed to be a positive thing,” she said.

Arts Councillor Kyle Nimmrichter suggested that SAC should come up with a statement of disapproval about the policy, asking, “Can [council] create a policy on a stance on the Canadian Blood Services?”

Vice-President, External Affairs Ian Smith replied that MASU has historically “attempted to limit making press releases outside our institution.”

Ultimately, the SAC decided to move on, with Vice-President, Campus Life Heather Webster suggesting that any students who have a problem with the CBS policy can demonstrate their dissatisfaction “through the [MASU] Social Justice Committee.”

Relay for Life organizer recognized

Reid among Youth Citizen Award recipients Ashwini Manohar

One of the recipients of this year’s Sackville Youth Citizen Award was Ryan Reid, a fifth-year commerce student at Mt. A and co-chair for Relay for Life, the non-competitive, twelve-hour, overnight fundraising event held for the Canadian Cancer Society.

The award is presented annually to students who have contributed extensively to their community,

whether by volunteering or leading new initiatives in the town.

Cody Steeves and Christian Watts also received awards for their volunteer work with the Open Sky Co-operative.

Reid was nominated for the award

by Sheila Parker, the Sackville cochair of the Relay for Life campaign.

Parker said, “his efforts to organize this event, promote awareness, and raise funds are commendable.”

In addition to being an instrumental part of organizing the Relay for Life and Curl for Cancer events in Sackville, Reid also volunteers for the Canadian Testicular Cancer Association. “[He] has put in countless hours to educate his peers about cancer and to share

the story of his personal experience,” added Parker.

“I’m a cancer survivor,” Reid affirmed. “I was first diagnosed when I was sixteen, then I had a relapse when I was seventeen, and another relapse when I was eighteen, so the Canadian Cancer Society for me is a way to give back.”

A Sackville Tribune-Post report quoted Harold Jarche, chair of Renaissance Sackville (the organization which sponsors the awards), saying that Reid “puts service before self.”

While the nomination caught him by surprise, Reid said he was very pleased and appreciative.

This year’s Relay for Life will take place on October 18.

Province gets new minister for PSE Jody Carr resumes his former position Miriam Namakanda

News Writer

In a recent cabinet shuffle, New Brunswick Premier David Alward named Jody Carr the new Minister for Post Secondary Education and Employment Development.

Carr previously held this position in 2006. Prior to September’s cabinet shuffle, he was the minister responsible for early education.

The news of his new appointment has so far been received positively by the New Brunswick Student Alliance (NBSA). Mount Allison

This Week in the World Joanna Perkin

Kevin Levangie

The Mount Allison Students’ Union (MASU) promotion of a Canadian Blood Services (CBS) blood drive has left at least one student questioning the decision. MASU, as a part of the Healthy Living Month, has encouraged students to get their blood type determined on October 8 at the Student Centre in order to donate blood at the Tantramar Civic Centre on the 15.

CBS policy currently bars any man who has had sex with a man in the past five years from donating blood.

Up until recently the policy was even more restrictive, but CBS continues to face criticism from activists.

Grace O’Hara first raised her concerns about MASU promotion of the event through Councillor Allie Morrison, who enquired about it at a SAC meeting, prompting a lively discussion. Morrison said that one of her constituents was curious if MASU had heard any complaints about their support of CBS, given their policies surrounding men who have sex with men (MSM) donating blood. During this discussion about

3

Student Union President Melissa O’Rouke said that though she has yet to meet the new minister, she has heard “great things” and said he is “extremely experienced.”

Mario Levesque, a professor of Canadian politics at Mount Allison University, was more skeptical.

Levesque predicted that there will not be much action from the department, saying “I don’t think we will see any bold moves,” and arguing that this had been the case when Carr last held the position.

Levesque also pointed out that an election is close, meaning that until a platform is established, there will likely be little movement from the portfolio.

Carr recently announced a partnership with The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation to devote $7 million over five years of graduate

scholarships in the province. Only graduates who are nominated for the Tri-Council Award, those studying one of the STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) disciplines, and those whose discipline is deemed socially innovative will be eligible.

Carr’s department has yet to act on the fact that St. Thomas University recently raised tuition by $434, well over the government’s tuition cap of $150.

And despite the requests of the NBSA, there has been little improvement in funding toward post-secondary education. “There have been some concerns raised over the high turnover rate in that portfolio over the past number of years,” O’Rourke added.

Pope Francis has said he wants to strip the Roman Catholic Church of all “vanity, arrogance, and pride” and serve the poor in society. He wants to create a new Catholic Church that resembles his namesake, thirteenth century saint, Francis of Assisi’s Church of the Poor. At a lunch in Assisi, named for the thirteenth century saint, Pope Francis said he is hoping to create a Church that looks after others, stating that he thinks that the idea of a Church of the Poor is still valid. This is not the only change that Pope Francis wants to make in the Roman Catholic Church: The BBC’s David Wiley said he has become known for his unique and modern views.

Woman killed after car chase in Washington

A federal American law enforcement officer told the Associated Press that after a long car chase on October 3 in Washington, D.C., a thirty-four-year-old woman identified as Miriam Carey was shot and killed. Carey reportedly suffered from mental illness in recent months, and believed that President Obama was stalking her, stemming from a delusional obsession with the president. Carey was unarmed, and her one-year-old daughter, who was in the car during the car chase, was unharmed. The child has since been placed into protective custody.

Police officers have confirmed that it was not a terrorist attack. During the car chase, Congress and the Capitol were put on lock down.

Nuclear plant reports radioactive water leak

The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant has reported that workers have overfilled a storage tank that was slightly tilting and did not have a gauge, which caused a radioactive water leak. Approximately 340 litres were spilled into a nearby sea, but radiation levels in the sea water samples taken off the coast of the plant have remained below detectable levels. The Globe and Mail reports that the Japanese public has become concerned about the frequent leaks that have been reported at the Fukushima nuclear plant, also causing criticism of the government for the handling of the nuclear crisis. There has been a string of reports of leaks in the past few months, causing the public and experts to say that the water handling at the nuclear plant has been sloppy.

Mexico bus crash leaves fourteen dead

Fourteen people were killed October 4 after a city bus travelling on the outskirts of Mexico City hurtled down a hillside, and veered off the side of the cliff. The bus was plunged down the side of the mountain about 100 or 120 metres. Reuters reports that fourteen people died and twenty-five more have been left injured.

The cause of the accident remains unknown, but is one of several seemingly freak motor accidents involving public transit around the world in the past few weeks.

One of the more public accidents in Canada in recent weeks involved a public bus and a VIA Rail train collision in Ottawa.

Al-Qaeda leader captured by the United States

Abu Anas el-Liby, an Al-Qaeda leader that has been wanted by the United States since 2000, has finally been captured alive near the Libyan capital. The New York Times reported that after a fifteen-year manhunt, Abu Anas is in American custody and is being taken to the United States for trial. Abu Anas is believed to have joined Osama bin Laden’s organization as early as 1990, and was indicted in the 1998 bombings of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. El-Liby was high on the American government’s most-wanted fugitives list ever since.

Libyan officials have reported that they had no part in helping capture Abu Anas, insisting that their forces would play no role in any American military operation on Libyan soil. A senior official from the United States has stated, though, that the Libyan government was involved in the capture. Many Libyans are accusing their government of collaborating too closely with the West.

Destruction of Syrian chemical weapons begins

International inspectors from the United Nations have begun the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons and the machinery and products used to create them.

Officials at the UN could not confirm to the Associated Press exactly what had or would be destroyed, but mentioned that by October 6, a combination of chemical weapons and their production equipment would be destroyed. The UN has until mid-2014 to destroy Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons, as decided by the Security Council after a chemical attack in Damascus in August killed hundreds of civilians.

The Corrections Richard Kent Editor-in-Chief

“Successful Mt. A bone marrow drive” (News, page 3) was written by Miriam Namakanda.

“Winter carnival goes to referendum … again” (News, page 4) reported that the referendum failed when it did not reach a quorum of fifty per cent plus one. Quorum for Mount Allison Students’ Union

referenda is twenty-five per cent plus one. The referendum failed because it was not approved by a two-thirds majority of voters.

Corryn Bamber’s name was spelled incorrectly in “Downtown area comes alive with music and art” (Culture Days, page 10).

The Argosy regrets these and other errors. Errors requiring correction should be emailed to Editor-inChief Richard Kent at argosy@mta. ca.

SHIP’S LOG

October 10, 2013

argosy@mta.ca

The Argosy’s weekly rundown: upcoming events in Sackville EVENTS I m a g i n u s A n n u a l Po s t e r Sale

Thursday Oct. 10 - 11, 9:00 am 11:00 pm W M S C Tw e e d i e H a l l

Facult y Council

Thursday Oct. 10, 2:30 pm F lemington Auditorium 116

M e d i t a t i o n Yo g a

Thursday Oct. 10, 5:30 pm Chapel Yo g a / m e d i t a t i o n c l a s s e s ( n o c h a r g e ) Tu & T h 5 : 3 0 - 6 : 1 5 i n t h e basement of the Chapel. All levels welcome.

Sackville Film Society Presents Renior Thursday Oct. 10, 7:30 pm Vo g u e C i n e m a

Latin Dancing Society Practices

Fr iday Oct. 11, 7:00 pm WMSC Multipurpose Room We e k l y L a t i n d a n c i n g p r a c t i c e s ; no partner required, no experience required, no co-ordination required.

Thanksgiving Day - no classes Monday Oct. 14

C i n e m a Po l i t i c a

We d n e s d a y O c t . 1 6 , 7 : 0 0 p m D u n n M i n i -Wu Documentary film screening of Status Quo: The Unfinished Busin e s s o f Fe m i n i s m i n C a n ad a

Girl Guides Cookies for Sale!

Tu e s d a y O c t . 1 5 , 6 : 0 0 p m - 8 : 0 0 pm Outside of Save-Easy I t ’s t h a t t i m e o f y e a r a g a i n ! S a c k ville Gir l G uides and Pathfinders will be selling the Mint Chocolate Girl Guide Cookies for $5 a box. Buy some cookies to get you through your late night midterm studying sessions and help support a great organization in the process.

Crake Lecture

Thursday Oct. 17, 4:30 pm

D u n n Wu C e n t r e r o o m 1 1 3 Leading classical archaeologist D r. B a r b a r a B o r g o f E x e t e r U n i versity will present new research on Roman tombs in two public lectures October 17 and 18 a s t h i s y e a r ’s C r a k e L e c t u r e r i n Classics at Mount Allison Univ e r s i t y. A u t h o r o f t h e r e c e n t l y published Crisis and Ambition: To m b s a n d b u r i a l c u s t o m s i n t h i r d - c e n t u r y C E R o m e , D r. B o r g has published widely on the both the Greek and Roman world, in fields varying from geo-archaeology to the relationship between ancient images and texts. Currently she is working on a book on second-century CE Roman tombs. The first presentation is entitled “Famil y matters: the long life of Roman tombs”.

R e s u m e W r i t i n g Wo r k s h o p

Thursday Oct 17, 5:00 pm Avard Dixon Room 111 Please join Rebecca Leaman, Car e e r S e r v i c e s C o o r d i n a t o r, f o r a workshop on how to write a concise, professional resume. This is a great opportunity for students who need to start from scratch, or even just update their current resume for upcoming employment opportunities. Students attending will also have the opportunity to book a one-on-one session to perfect their resume.

Fall 2013 Open House Opening Session

Fr iday Oct. 18, 8:30 am Conservatory of Music Brunton Auditorium

University Open House

Fr iday Oct. 18, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Relay for Life

Fr iday Oct. 18, 12:00 pm - S aturday Oct. 19, 10:00 am Chaple Relay for Life Relay in Quad for cancer - involves center quad, chapel (MR & Sanctuary) Barclay f o y e r, C r a b t r e e M 2 & M 3 S t u d e n t & To w n E v e n t F r i d a y.

Crake Lecture

Fr iday Oct. 18, 4:15 pm D u n n Wu C e n t r e D r. B a r b a r a B o r g o f E x e t e r U n i versity will present new research on Roman tombs in two public lectures October 17 and 18

a s t h i s y e a r ’s C r a k e L e c t u r e r in Classics at Mount Allison U n i v e r s i t y. H e r s e c o n d l e c t u r e , “Cooks, Christians and other mortals: new research on the Roman catacombs.”

Starr y Sackville Night

Fr iday Oct. 18, 8:00 pm Dunn Centre Room 106 Starry Sackville Night starting at 8 pm. A lecture series presented by the Physics Department a n d G e m i n i O b s e r v a t o r y. To p i c : The Lives and Deaths of Massive Stars Moving out to Observatory if weather permits. Open to the Public!

Ron Joyce Centre Career Fair

Tu e s d a y O c t . 2 2 , 1 0 : 0 0 a m W M S C Tw e e d i e H a l l The Ron Joyce Centre for Business Studies is hosting their a n n u a l C a r e e r Fa i r, b r i n g i n g i n employers from around the regions to speak with students about employment opportunities in various business related fields.

All students welcome to attend.

PSA Sackville Legion Craft and Bake Sale S u n d a y N o v. 3 , 1 2 : 0 0 p m The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 26 Sackville, 15 Lorne Street Fo r t a b l e re n t a l s c a l l G e n e v a 536-2941 or the Branch 3649900.

All are invited to attend.

A RT S & M U S I C M t . A B a n d s Po p s C o n c e r t

Thursday Oct. 17, 10:30 am Convacation Hall M a t i n e e Po p s C o n c e r t : M o u n t A l lison Symphonic Band, directed

by James Kalyn, and Mount Allison Jazz Ensemble, directed by L i n d a Pe a r s e . Ad m i s s i o n i s f re e , a l l a re we l c om e t o a t t e n d . Fo r more information please e-mail music@mta.ca or call 506-3642374

Guest Recital - Michael Kim Fr iday Oct. 18, 8:00 pm Conservatory of Music

Roman archaeologist presents annual Crake Lectures Leading classical archaeologist Dr. Barbara Borg of Exeter University will present new research on Roman tombs in two public lectures October 17th and 18th as this year’s Crake Lecturer in Classics at Mount Allison University.

Author of the recently-published Crisis and Ambition: Tombs and burial customs in third-century CE Rome, Dr. Borg has published widely on the both the Greek and Roman world, in fields varying from geo-archaeology to the relationship between ancient images and texts. Currently she is working on a book on second-century CE Roman tombs.

The first presentation is entitled “Family matters: the long life of Roman tombs” and will take place in the Wu Centre, Room 113 of the Dunn Building at 4:30 pm on Thursday October 17th.

Her second lecture, “Cooks, Christians and other mortals: new research on the Roman catacombs,” also takes place in the Wu Centre, Room 113 of the Dunn Building at 4:30 pm on Friday October 18th.

Michael Kim - The Evolution of the Piano. An exploration of piano master works from centuries p a s t t o p r e s e n t d a y, M i c h a e l K i m takes you on a musical journey through the history and evolution of piano literature. Infused with interesting anecdotes chronicling pop culture and music practices of the time, this unique program travels through the churches of Bach to the courtyards and salons of Mozart and Brahms. It then transports you to the great concerts stages of Chopin and Liszt and as far as prestigious jazz halls of Gershwin. Brunton Auditorium, 8 pm. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 for students/seniors, $ 2 5 f o r f a m i l y. S u b s c r i p t i o n s f o r re c i t a l s a re a l s o a v a i l a b l e. Fo r more information please e-mail us at music@mta.ca or call 506-3642374.

B r a s s W i n d s a n d Pe r c u s sion Day

Saturday Oct. 19, 8:00 am Conservatory of Music Mount Allison Music Department welcomes music students in the Maritime region for a day of brass, winds and percussion i n s t r u c t i o n a n d e n s e m b l e s . To participate, please contact the department at music@mta.ca.

Po p s C o n c e r t

Saturday Oct. 19, 7:00 pm Convocation Hall Po p s C o n c e r t : M o u n t A l l i s o n Symphonic Band, directed by James Kalyn, and Mount Allison Jazz Ensemble, directed by Linda Pe a r s e . C o n v o c a t i o n H a l l , 8 p m .

Admission is free, all are welcome t o a t t e n d . Fo r m o re i n f o r m a t i on e-mail music@mta.ca or call 506364-2374

Ly n n D a v i e s Po e t r y R e a d ing

Monday Oct. 21, 4:00 pm Owens Art Gallery Governor General Award Nominee Lynn Davies will read from her latest poetry collection, “How the gods pour tea.”

S P O RT S M e n’s Fo o t b a l l - H o m e Saturday Oct. 12, 2:00 pm MacAulay Field Mt. A vs. St. FX

Submit to the Ship’s Log

If you have a non-profit event that you need to publicize, The Argosy can help. Submissions must include the event’s title, time, and location, along with a brief description. The Argosy reserves the right to edit submissions for length and style.

The deadline for submissions is one week prior to publication.

Submit an event to argosy@mta.ca For further information, visit www.argosy.ca or e-mail argosy@mta.ca

The Argosy

OPINIONS

www.argosy.ca

Is voter apathy really a problem at Mt. A? Low referendum turnout is not a red flag Mitchell Gunn

This past week, the Mount Allison Students’ Union handed down the result that a recent fall referendum—soliciting opinions on a $5 increase to student fees to fund the Winter Carnival— had failed to pass.

Sixty-four per cent of voters were in favour of the idea, which fell just two percent short of the two-thirds needed for the motion to pass.

However, only twenty-nine per cent of students actually voted; this was above the requisite twenty-five per cent to form a quorum and make the referendum valid, but only marginally—a fact that many people found concerning.

Immediately after these results were given, there was a distinctly negative response to the perceived ‘voter apathy’ plaguing our campus. If only about one in four students cared enough about the democratic process to give up a minute of their time and make their voice heard, what kind of message does that send about our

generation?

It’s official. Young adults these days are lazy and apathetic. The political scene of the coming years will be dominated by aging voices as the young ones refuse to speak up. The future is a grim tableau of fire, brimstone, and empty voting booths. The end truly is nigh.

Maybe, but that is a little premature. Take a step back and reconsider the issue that was debated for this referendum: a $5 increase to student fees to ensure that Winter Carnival events would be free of charge.

That’s $5 tacked on to our regular tuition fees that, for Canadian students, clock in at $7,245.

International students pay more than double that, and this is all to say nothing of residence and meal plan costs. Most people aren’t likely to notice if the total fees change by $5 one way or another. It just isn’t a significant enough difference to merit lots of attention.

As well, it must be noted that this referendum was held not long before the start of midterm season. Students may find it hard to devote time to a $5 question when they’re more worried about questions on an exam a few days later. Honestly, I can not find fault in that kind of prioritization.

Perhaps the biggest root cause of this ‘voter apathy’ is the absence of information. The first time I heard about this referendum was when I saw the MASU email in my inbox. A search on Google revealed almost no description of what

the Winter Carnival is, what the events are, or any other basic details beyond the fact that it apparently takes place in February.

Returning students likely had a bit more knowledge of the situation, but as a first-year, I felt a little concerned voting on an issue about which I wasn’t really informed. If there had been more information—or at least a little warning— it certainly could have encouraged more people to vote.

There was a similar problem with the recent MASU elections. The candidates gave speeches prior to the opening of the actual voting, but only about a dozen students came out to listen.

This wasn’t simply a result of apathy: when asked, many students hadn’t even heard about the speeches.

The point is, claims of voter apathy in young adults are nothing new, but that doesn’t mean they are always accurate. We can’t expect busy university students to drop what they’re doing for every little problem, particularly without even providing opportunities to understand the problem itself. People are only going to vote if it’s an issue about which they both know and care, and they cannot do either if nobody tells them what is going on.

The lack of information on campus, if anything, should be the takeaway from this supposed instance of ‘voter apathy.’

Free education is a no brainer

Part two of a series looking at publicly funded education

A RGOSY

w w w. a r g o s y. c a

Independent Student Newspaper of Mount Allison University Thursday October 10, 2013 volume 143 issue 7 Since 1872 Circulation 1,700

62 York Street W. McCain Student Centre Mount Allison University Sackville, New Brunswick E4L 1E2

Telephone 506 364 2236

Email argosy@mta.ca

THE ARGOSY is published by Argosy Publications, Inc., a student run, autonomous, apolitical not-for-profit organization operated in accordance with the province of New Brunswick.

THE ARGOSY is a member of the Canadian University Press, a national co-operative of student newspapers.

ISSN 0837-1024 The Underbridge Press is a student-run publishing organization at Mount Allison University.

editorialstaff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Richard Kent

NEWS EDITOR Christopher Balcom­­­

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SCIENCE EDITOR Norman Nehmetallah Allison O’Reilly ­­­ FEATURES EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR Tyler Stuart Alex Bates ­­­ ­­­ OPINIONS EDITOR HUMOUR EDITOR John Trafford Ian Malcolm ­­­ ­­­ ARTS & LITERATURE ONLINE EDITOR EDITOR Madison Downe Julia McMillan

productionstaff Rachael Hanakowski PRODUCTION MANAGER Julie Whitenect

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Emily James COPY EDITORS Susan Parker, Kimberly Sayson,

writingstaff

NEWS WRITER Miriam Namakanda

POLITICAL BEAT WRITER Kevin Levangie

John Trafford Two weeks ago I wrote an editorial that slammed the idea of free education as something that would lessen the value of an undergraduate degree and decrease the quality of education.

Now, I’m going to argue for the other side of the issue.

There are certain rights which ought to be granted to all human beings. This line of thinking became popular in the West after the Second World War, and has led to such social advancements as universal health care and subsidized housing for the poor.

How about education thought? Should we all have the right to read Plato, or to study particle physics until our eyes bleed?

The answer to those questions is a resounding ‘yes.’ Education is one of the best ways for an individual to achieve self- improvement.

The entire purpose of taxes is for creating and maintaining institutions that help individuals improve themselves and thereby improve society as a whole. Taxation is indeed a necessary evil and thus it is only right to use it to help those who gave up portions of their hard earned pay to improve their lives.

Higher education helps to better an individual in ways beyond the classroom and textbook readings. For me personally, I came to Mount Allison as unconfident seventeen-year-old with little direction in life and no idea what I wanted my life to be. Education has given me the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. If someone in the work place had made some of the mistakes I did in my first and second years the consequences would have be much worse. Sleeping through a psychology exam in first year will result in a bad grade; in the workplace it could get you fired. University gives you the opportunity to learn life lessons at your own pace, rather than at the demanding pace of

THE

FEATURES WRITER Taylor Losier

PHOTO MANAGER Nick Sleptov PHOTO EDITOR Chris Donovan ILLUSTRATOR Lisa Theriault ENTERTAINMENT WRITER Cameron McIntyre SPORTS WRITER Benjamin Foster SCI/TECH WRITER Martin Omes

ARTS WRITER Daniel Marcotte

operationsstaff BUSINESS MANAGER Megan Landry

CIRCULATIONS Sam Shury

OFFICE MANAGER Charlotte Henderson

IT MANAGER James Isnor

contributors Mitchell Gunn, David Shi, Edward Farkas, Keegan Smith,

Clay Steell, Jeff Hicks, Adam Cheeseman, Erin Porter, Ashwini Manohar, Anna Farrell, Ryan Harley, Joanna Perkin, Gavin Rea, Rachel Pagdin, Dorian Baker, Noel M. Candles, Michelle Kidd, Célina Boothby, Ben Holmes, Austin Landry,, Jean Sébaariwn Xomeau

publicationboard

Marilyn Walker (Chair), Dave Thomas, Dan Legere, Filip Jaworski, Charlotte Henderson, Megan Landry, Richard Kent

Tuition funded by the government would go along way to help Canadians. (Nick Sleptov/Argosy) an employer.

I think that it is clear that higher education is something that has the potential to better any who participate in it. Its implementation actually would not harm the quality of higher education in Canada.

Government-funded tuition may lead to increased enrolment in post-secondary educational institutions. A basic understanding of economics would suggest that the more individuals who hold a degree, the less valuable a degree would be. However, this does not translate into an understanding of the issues surrounding government-funded tuition. A bachelor’s degree will get someone’s name into the hiring pool at many workplaces, but it will by no means get that person hired in and of itself.

What also really matters is that resumés full of extracurriculars and positive references help an employer to separate the wheat from the chaff, and hire the right applicant. More people with

undergrads does not equal more people that managed to score an impressive internship, or a glowing recommendation from a professor; extras like these are critical in securing a job in today’s economy.

On top of this, community college is becoming more and more popular. There are thousands of Canadians that enjoy learning in a practical environment and in a hands-on setting. If your dream is to work as a carpenter, free access to a history degree will not change your career choice. I fail to see how free tuition would greatly increase enrolment numbers at universities at the expense of colleges and technical schools.

When you boil it down, the benefits to government-funded tuition are many and the draw backs are few. If we are going to pay high taxes they might as well be going toward something can be useful like eliminating tuition fees.

disclaimers and copyright

The Argosy is the official independent student journal of news, opinion, and the arts, written, edited and funded by the students of Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of The Argosy’s staff or its Board of Directors. The Argosy is published weekly throughout the academic year by Argosy Publications Inc. Student contributions in the form of letters, articles, photography, graphic design and comics are welcome. The Argosy reserves the right to edit or refuse all materials deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise unfit for print, as determined by the Editor-in-Chief.

Articles or other contributions can be sent to argosy@mta.ca or directly to a section editor. The Argosy will print unsolicited materials at its own discretion. Letters to the editor must be signed, though names may be withheld at the sender’s request and at The Argosy’s discretion.

Anonymous letters will not be printed.

Comments , concerns, or complaints about The Argosy’s content or operations should be first sent to the Editor-in-Chief at the address above. If the Editor-in-Chief is unable to resolve a complaint, it may be taken to the Argosy Publications, Inc. Board of Directors. The chairs of the Board of Directors can be reached at the address above.

All materials appearing in The Argosy bear the copyright of Argosy Publications, Inc. Material cannot be reprinted without the consent of the Editor-in-Chief.

6

OPINIONS

October 10, 2013

Is due credit that difficult?

Mt. A needs to rethink its volunteer photographer idea David Shi In my time at Mount Allison, I have been an event photographer for the Mount Allison Students’ Union, photo contributor to this paper, photo editor for The Argosy, as well as an event and sports photographer for Sue Seaborn of the Marketing Office, all of which I have done on a largely volunteer basis.

Last week, the Mt. A Student Alumni Association sent out e-mails promoting a new set-up of a network of volunteer photographers, which various members of our university community could call upon to document their events. Given my background, I was thrilled that a centralized network which would help Mt. A collect and preserve memories was taking off. But later that week, their call for applicants went out, and my appreciation turned sour faster than milk left out on a hot day.

Knowing the challenges of event photography at Mt. A, boiling down their description, what they are seeking is professional equipment, professional skills, and next-day-turnaround—a premium service in photography—all for free. In addition, not only is Mt. A to be granted universal rights (understandable), there is no guarantee of photo credit.

That last bit is what really irks me in this whole debacle. If you are going to go through

the trouble of setting up a bank of volunteer photographers, how difficult would it be to figure out to whom the credit goes? Probably the result of some administrative and legal ‘CYA,’ it is nevertheless disrespectful to the greatest degree.

Whether you are a professional with $4,000 gear, or a hobbyist who received a DSLR as a present last Christmas, we all are people—and students with loaded schedules, at that. When we produce work, we should be credited. It shocks me that in a university setting, this fundamental notion can be thrown out of the window so casually.

No self-respecting photographer—no selfrespecting person—would go for this deal.

So who is left to fill these positions? Someone who’d like to feel the exclusivity of wearing a shirt that says photographer at events? I also find it laughable that “up to a full day of training” would somehow render all applicants adept at photographing in the myriad of challenging photo conditions found at Mt. A events. The time-old saying of ‘you get what you pay for’ comes to mind. In my most recent position, Sue Seaborn went out of her way to credit me, and show me where my contributions were being used. So despite a time commitment which amounted to what a course itself would require at times, I felt good about doing it.

My friend Ian Chew is a photographer who administers the popular Humans of Sackville Facebook page. Like myself, Chew found the idea unwise saying that not guaranteeing photo credit is unfair to those students who volunteer their limited free time.

Talent abounds at Mt. A, but if you treat people like dirt, all you will get is dirt. I think memories made at Mt. A deserves better. If this idea of the Alumni Office is to succeed, some serious revisions need to be made, especially to where it relates to credit due.

Bagtown Economics Jeff Hicks Marijuana legalization is an idea whose time has come; it will almost certainly be enacted into law in Uruguay before Christmas. Colorado and Washington are already in the process of legalizing the use, sale, and cultivation, and there is a concerted push for a referendum in British Columbia. Now, these policy shifts can be justified on purely libertarian grounds alone.

Criminal law should be in place to prevent one person from harming another, not to act as a mechanism for one group of citizens to impose their moral beliefs on everyone else.

But this flavour of argument doesn’t seem to be enough for many people. So let’s talk about the equally-convincing and ever-practical economic justification.

In many respects, economics is the study of mutually-beneficial exchange. It’s one in which both parties to any given transaction gain some benefit from the exchange, otherwise the trade would not take place. When the government criminalizes marijuana, it prevents a great deal of these mutually-beneficial transactions, and thus decreases overall social welfare, what economists call a ‘total surplus.’ It prevents willing buyers and sellers from coming together to engage in beneficial market transactions. And more interesting, this exact concept of ‘total surplus’ is very often used by the Canadian government to evaluate all manner of projects and policies— from highway tolls and bridge construction, and to anti-trust case tax policies. But we seem not to subject marijuana criminalization to similar reasoning.

There is another more subtle effect to prohibition. A large majority of the producers outright leave the industry, and the few who

Letter to the Editor Edward J. Farkas Many Canadians do not like the increasing level of foreign ownership in Canada. China is of special concern.

Canada’s forests, lands, mines, and oil and gas resources constitute a glittering prize that China would really like to get hold of.

Table 179-0004 of Statistics Canada provides information on foreign ownership. Out of some 200 countries in the world, only six countries are listed in this table: the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Japan.

Additional countries are lumped together in one of several groups, but names of countries are not given.

The absence of China by name in Table 179-0004 is a giant and glaring omission, creating a strong suspicion of cover-up and dishonesty in the governing of Canada.

Everyone knows that a Chinese state-owned company purchased Nexen of Calgary, in February 2013, for $15.1 billion. If nothing else, a government that tries to hide this type of deal by not mentioning China in Table 179-0004 makes itself look like a bunch of fools.

I made an application under the Access to Information Act for information on China and inclusion in Table 179-0004. I was turned down on the basis of Section 17 of the Statistics Act. This section of the act essentially says in this example that if information on China were to be added, it would be possible for an unauthorized person to identify a specific individual or business.

But such identification could only occur if a foreign country’s ownership

of Canadian assets consists of a small number of companies. Foreign ownership by the Netherlands is probably smaller than that of China.

Yet the Netherlands is listed in Table 179-0004 and China is not. This situation is high farce, a joke.

As an example, foreign ownership of Canadian mining assets by all foreign countries grew nearly four times faster than Canadian ownership from 1999 to 2010. And according to Table 3760051, where information on China is included, China’s yearly foreign direct investment in Canada grew by a factor of 153 from 1991 to 2012.

Section 17 of the Statistics Act is trivial in comparison with two fundamental guiding principles: common sense and natural law.

It is simple common sense that the people of Canada must be told how much of the Canadian economy is owned or controlled by China. Secrecy and censorship applied to this issue is counterproductive and makes it easy to imagine that China already controls Canadian government policy.

BusinessDictionary.com explains natural law as: “[The] ideal of perfect law based on equity, fairness, and reason, by which all man-made laws are to be measured.

Natural law can be deduced through reasoning and the moral sense of what is right or wrong.”

“Equity, fairness, and reason,” and “reasoning and the moral sense of what is right or wrong,” tell us again that the Canadian people must be told how much of the Canadian economy is owned by China.

Our government’s past and present

argosy@mta.ca

dealings with China have been illadvised and very damaging to Canada.

But the China policy is only one of at least half a dozen fundamental policies that are headed in exactly the wrong direction, all with the passive acceptance of the Liberals and NDP. The political system consisting of the Conservatives, Liberals, and NDP does not recognize the ‘real’ unemployment that is thirty-five to forty per cent higher than the official government figure of seven and a half percent. This ‘real’ figure is the ‘R8’ figure that is readily found on the Statistics Canada website. In this ‘real’ statistic, 1.8 million Canadians are unemployed.

Even this ‘real’ figure is not telling the whole story. Continually sending manufacturing activity away to foreign countries for fifty years has impoverished the Canadian economy.

The result is the disappearance of jobs in many areas of the economy, not only in manufacturing. On top of the 1.8 million figure, there are 4.9 million Canadians who are not in the workforce. In a ‘normal’ economy supported by an adequate level of manufacturing, possibly an additional million out of this 4.9 million group would be at work. So, facing up to the darkest reality, effectively 2.8 million Canadians are unemployed today.

This figure demonstrates the depth of destruction to our economy.

Meanwhile our political system operates on a completely superficial level, truly a case of fiddling while Rome burns.

remain are given significant market power to charge prices above the marginal cost of production. The result is that, even after the total surplus is decreased, a good portion of the remaining surplus is transferred from the consumers to the producers. In the case of the illegal drug trade, this redistribution benefits the dubious and violent members of society: organized crime, for instance.

Consider the government money to be gained.

At a minimum, legally-sold marijuana could be subject to provincial and federal sale tax, which is roughly thirteen cents on the dollar depending on the province. Or, we could tax it like tobacco. According to Smoking and Health Action foundation, cigarettes in New Brunswick have a total tax burden of roughly 236 per cent. If marijuana was taxed similarly, a lot of government revenue would be raised that could be used for other important government services, such as support for low-income families, or it could be used to reduce the dreaded and highlydistortionary income tax. And even with a high tax, the final price per gram would likely still be lower than what it is today.

Finally, not only would legalization bring in new government revenue, it would eliminate the funding required to enforce cannabis criminalization, and the very high cost of jailing offenders. Estimates of the enforcement costs range from $320 to $490 million; another sizeable chunk of money that could be used in more productive ways. Cannabis legalization really is an idea whose time has come. It should be justified on the basis of personal sovereignty alone, but the economic argument is equally persuasive.

Don’t go chasing water fountains at Mt. A Drinking water limited after hours Nick Sleptov It’s midterm season again.

You can always rely on October to deliver tests, stress, and an overwhelmingly full library. Some rely on copious amounts of coffee and energy drinks to get them through the night, while others blast music to keep them awake.

Whatever the tactics are, stress is a guarantee. It should be a well-known fact that our bodies require extra resources to properly function under stress; proper water intake is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and avoiding hospital visits.

Like many others, I have found myself staying up late in the student centre, cramming fish taxonomy and memorizing various signal transduction pathways. Late at night I’ve walked downstairs to have a drink from a water fountain only to find that the fountain is inaccessible, hidden behind a wall inside the closed Gracie’s Cafe. This happens to be the only fountain in the student centre outside of the fitness centre, and for some reason it is only available for use from Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. This is certainly more than enough for most of the

people employed at the student centre, but it is rather useless for students that study during the evening.

I decided to investigate how many academic buildings on campus have water fountains. There are two water fountains in Crabtree, one on the first floor and a second one in the psychology department. Hart Hall also has two water fountains, one on the first floor, and one on the second; same goes for Avard-Dixon. Dunn and Flemington both have only one water fountain on the ground floor. However, the fountain in Flemington does not even work. Barclay, unfortunately, does not have any water fountains. The library has one water fountain on the first floor for filling water bottles and a drinking one on the third floor.

In total, I’ve counted eleven water fountains in academic buildings on campus, including the library. This amounts to one water fountain per approximately 200 students. However, consider the following: academic buildings usually close by 11:00 pm; the library closes at 10:45 pm at the latest. The student centre is open the latest, closing around midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and usually by 3:00 am on the weekends. It turns out that there are no usable water fountains on campus after 11:00 pm.

It seems quite ridiculous to place the only water fountain in the student centre in Gracie’s, making it useless most of the time.

I urge the administration to look into this issue before somebody’s health is compromised.

ATTIC TRANSMISSIONS

THE CHMA 106.9 FM CAMPUS & COMMUNITY RADIO BULLETIN

OCTOBER 10, 2013

THE RUNNING TURKEY EDITION

THE CHARTS

SPOTLIGHT ON LAST WEEKS #31: VIET CONG

Viet Cong (Self-Released) Calgary’s Viet Cong took last weeks coveted #31 spot on the CHMA charts, for their selfreleased cassette tape that’s been making waves at the station. This four-piece contains members of some other bands that may be worth mentioning: Friendo, Lab Coast, Sharp Ends, Women. The lead song, Throw It Away, is a bit of head-bopping, foot-tapping, chorusshouting magic, complete with chugging drums, weird lyrics, snappy synthesizer and a good old long breakdown. Currently in the middle of a massive cross-continent tour, Viet Cong is on track to take over the world with their “rock goth post-punk” music, one small university town at a time.

FOR THE WEEK ENDING TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 RANK

ARTIST

TITLE

(LABEL)

01 THE MOUTHBREATHERS* Stone Soup (Killer HAze) 02 VIET CONG* Cassette (Self-Released) 03 PAT LEPOIDEVIN* American Fiction (Self-Released) 04 FREAK HEAT WAVES* Freak Heat Waves (Self-Released) 05 BOLIVIA* Giants (Self-Released)

06 SHOTGUN JIMMIE* Everything Everything (You’ve Changed)

07 DEAFHEAVEN Sunbather (Deathwish Inc.) 08 COACH LONGLEGS* Coach Longlegs (Self-Released) 09 CHVRCHES The Bone Of What You Belivie (Glassnote) 10 THE ARCADE FIRE* Reflector-single (Merge)

11 THE HIGHEST ORDER* If It’s Real ((Indie Fix)

12 JAY ARNER* Jay Arner (Mint) 13 WALRUS* Lamb Girl (Self-Released) 14 SARAH NEUFELD* Hero Brother (Constellation) 15 HEAVEN FOR REAL* Wanton (Self-Released) 16 THE DARCYS* Warring (Arts & Crafts) 17 HOODED FANG* Graves (Daps) 18 ZACHARY LUCKY* Ballad of Losing You (Missed Connection) 19 CRABE* Mort de Fraiche Date (Self-Released)

20 AL TUCK* Stranger At The Wake (Cameron House)

21 ELAQUENT* Believing (Huh What & Where) 22 THE DODOS Carrier (Dine Alone) 23 GIANNA LAUREN* On Personhood (Forward Music Group)

24 DANIEL ROMANO* Come Cry With Me (Normaltown)

25 THE MOTORLEAGUE* Acknowledge, Ackknowledge (Sonic) 26 RYAN HEMSWORTH* Still Awake (Self-Released) 27 LAURA SMITH* Everything Is Moving (Borealis) 28 DAVID MYLES* In The Night Time (Little Pony) 29 CFCF* Outside (Paper Bag) 30 HUMAN HUMAN Human Human (Self-Released)

31 FREELOVE FENNER* Pineapple Hair EP (Self-Released)

NEWCOMER SESSIONS EVERY TUESDAY 4PM 364-2221 WWW.MTA.CA/CHMA 3RD FLOOR STUDENT CENTRE

SPOTLIGHT ON #31: FREELOVE FENNER Pineapple Hair E.P. (Self-Released)

Even though Montreal’s Freelove Fenner released this six-song EP a year ago, it still stands out as a solid example of psychjangle-pop (if that’s even a thing.) There are trippy, cool videos for half of the songs, and once you’ve heard them, it’s hard to get these songs out of your head...especially the title track and “Mint”, which is a Chevalier Avant Garde cover. Originally released as a cassette tape, this album is available on the Freelove Fenner bandcamp website.

With only one of the songs clocking in at more than two minutes, it doesn’t take long to listen and get attached to this wonderful and irresistible EP.

UPCOMING EVENTS & CONCERTS JOANNA BARKER & GREEN & GOLD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013 PICKELS PWYC - ALL AGES 9:00 PM

CENTURY THIEF & JOSH BRAVENER FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013 PICKLES PWYC - ALL AGES 9:00 PM

ENTERTAINMENT

October 10, 2013

Viet Cong stuns Struts Post-punk bands bring awesome show Cameron McIntyre

Entertainment Writer

Punk rock has returned to Sackville with a deadly force after its week long, Montreal Pop Explosion-induced hiatus. On the first of the month, it was coast-to-coast noise, punk, kraut, and indie rock channeled through performances

by Victoria-based Freak Heat Waves, Calgarybased Viet Cong, and local artist, and erstwhile food truck operator, Jon McKiel.

When Jon McKiel opens, shows have an amazing tendency to turn out well. His last couple of performances have led to some of the most memorable nights with regard to live music since the artist began his stint as a local music stalwart. His performance at SappyFest was a prime example. The night he kicked off the main stage truly came alive and was an absolute highlight of the festival. And the show in question was no different: McKiel began the event with the right tone, offering a more punk influenced sound than his usual set, hinting at what was to come and perhaps also hinting at new material being worked on by McKiel, who was joined by Evan Matthews, Josée Caron, and Kevin Brasier of Yellowteeth.

Freak Heat Waves, on their second continentwide tour, showed off a bunch of new material

that may appear on their yet to be released or recorded sophomore album. Judging by the set they played, that LP is shaping up well. The smooth twang that pervaded their previous album has been subordinated a bit in favour of a rawer brand of punk that really drove the show forward. The stylistic change marks a leap forward, and with the ins and outs of the album surely being hammered out and perfected during this tour, their new LP will certainly be one to look forward to.

Calgary’s Viet Cong ended the night off well.

The band, which features Matt Flegel and Mike Wallace of the now-defunct Women, has been busy keeping post-punk alive in their prairie province, and are now bringing it across the country. Their sound had a huge range to it and its highly rhythmic nature created a relentless sound collage, tying a high pitched psychedelia and prog-rock infused kraut-rock melody to a distinctly post-punk rhythm.

The dimness of the lighting in Struts Gallery was a welcomed addition to each band’s set.

As a genre, post-punk isn’t particularly bright and rosy, so to speak, and the almost dark, stark atmosphere constructed in Struts’ front foyer was exactly the right environment for what transpired there. The sound, which was collaboratively managed by the bands, was exceptionally well done, leaving the audience’s collective hearing in a state of disrepair by the time the show drew to a close. Freak Heat Waves and Viet Cong are heading back west to Calgary and Medicine Hat, with a handful of shows in the provinces between.

Pulp Fiction re-examined The most influential movie of the 1990s merits another watch Austin Landry Pulp Fiction, released in 1994, was only the second directorial effort from Quentin Tarantino, whose other popular works include Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds, and last year’s Academy Award-nominated Django Unchained.

Pulp Fiction’s enduring originality owes a lot to the strong foundation that its screenplay provides. The dialogue crackles with life. In fact, it is so entertaining I believe you could even successfully adapt it into audiobook format.

Tarantino’s idea for the movie was not as complicated as it seems. He took three relatively cliché plotlines: two hit men carrying out their boss’s dirty work; a mobster taking his boss’s wife to dinner but not being able to do anything with her; and a boxer, who is supposed to throw a fight, doing anything but that, and running from the mob because of it. Instead of just showing the audience the basics of these plotlines, he thought about what it would be like to hang out with all of these quirky characters before and after their respective plot requirements had been fulfilled. Then he put all these characters in the same city, cunningly interweaved their lives, and made the chronology double back on itself. Now there’s a movie for you.

Morality is a subtle but persistent theme at work here. The moral choices the characters are faced with and how said choices affect them is worth pondering long after the final credits have rolled. At one point in the film, two characters are faced with the same choice and go different ways. One of the characters ends up dead, seemingly through a kind of fluke, while the other finds redemption.

Frequent complaints about Pulp Fiction stem from the onscreen violence it portrays. Yes, there

are violence, blood, and guts, but none of these are ever as important as the consequences that follow. In arguably the goriest scene of the entire film, one character accidentally shoots another in the face while in a moving vehicle in broad daylight. Blood coats the car’s interior. Little bits of I-don’t-even-want-to-know-what find themselves lodged in the surviving passengers’ hair. Yet because the camera cuts away from the violence to the reaction of the other passengers, this scene almost always prompts the biggest laugh in the whole movie. Is violence funny?

Nope. Accidental death by firearms? Certainly not. How about the new situation the characters are thrust into? Absolutely. And Tarantino wastes no time in getting to the consequences, either.

The screenplay of Pulp Fiction is one of the best ever written, and I say that without any hyperbole, intentional or not. The characters and situations depicted are so sharply drawn that punch lines aren’t even necessary for a laugh, yet there are laughs scattered throughout. A number of conversations that take place in the movie, particularly those held between the two hit men played by Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta, seemingly serve only to delay and build action.

However, Tarantino almost always employs these conversations as part of a greater method.

For example, a well-known discussion regarding the implications of a foot massage sets up dramatic groundwork for a later sequence in the movie. Furthermore, a character’s explanation of the plot, which would be deemed superfluous in any other movie, is in one instance used to establish the personality of a new character.

Pulp Fiction is entertainment of the highest calibre, a timeless original work that hasn’t aged a day in nearly twenty years. If you haven’t seen it, make a note to do so at your earliest convenience.

If you have, know that your appreciation for it can only grow.

Austin Landry is the president of the Classic Film Society.

argosy@mta.ca

Mixed Tape Pre-dawn jogging in Waterfowl Park - Robert Campbell Each week, The Argosy asks a member of the Sackville community to create a mixtape playlist on a theme or topic of their choosing.

“Best of Friends”—Palma Violets (180) The next generation of exuberant post-punk English rock.

“Show Me the Wonder”—Manic Street Preachers (Rewind the Film) Are they the best active rock band in the world?

“Not Giving In”—Rudimental (Home) The incredible John Newman on this standout track with out-of-control drumming—the song of summer 2013.

“Come Save Me”—Jagwar Ma (Howlin’) Spacey Australian rock strongly endorsed by Noel Gallagher.

“Where You Stand”—Travis (Where you Stand) Fran Healy is still writing the most beautiful tunes around on their seventh CD. “Hearts Like Ours”—The Naked and The Famous (In Rolling Waves) Strong follow-up to Kiwi electro-pop’s outstanding debut.

“First Time Caller”—White Lies (Big TV) This is epic synth pop from the English band that quietly fills the largest arenas in Europe.

“Harper Lee” —Little Green Cars (Absolute Zero) This is clever low-fi alt rock from Dublin.

“What a Shame”—The Strypes (Snapshot) More Irish rock, but for fans of The Yardbirds.

“Alive”—Empire of the Sun (Ice on the Dune) Hypnotic stuff from yet another spacey Australian band.

“Good Together”—Chapel Club (Good Together) New direction from this underrated London synth pop group.

“Stand on the Horizon” —Franz Ferdinand (Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action) Clever, three-songs-in-one tune from their newest album.

“Ways to Go”—Grouplove (Spreading Rumours) My son Malcolm says this is a ‘must’ group to see live.

“I’d Rather be Dead (Than be With You)”— Glasvegas (Later….When the TV Turns to Static) Is there anybody who does melancholy better than this Glaswegian band?

“Transmission”—New Order (Live at Bestival 2012) We saw them (without Peter Hook) on this tour. Respect.

“Chocolate” —1975 (The 1975) This is perfectly crafted pop.

Robert Campbell is president and vice-chancellor of Mount Allison University.

West Ave and friends whip up Lorne Street The Legion hosts a couple of rock ‘n’ rollers for a wild show Cameron McIntyre Entertainment Writer

October 8 saw the triumphant return of West Ave to the Sackville scene. The Sackville rock ‘n’ roll band, alongside the Karvorkas, who played a quirky Seinfeld-seasoned and tasteful indie set, played to a surprisingly good turnout, at least by recent Sackville standards, at the Legion. The sound was not so great, and the lighting was nothing special either, but the imperfectness of the event seemed to suit the two bands and their onlookers. It was one of those nights where it was quite clear the alcohol was flowing, poor decisions were in the process of being made, and it was impossible not to have a lot more fun than you would have thought coming in.

The Karvorkas, comprised of Robert Blackbeard on vocals/guitar, Sharoni Mitra on bass/keyboard, and Hayden Nurse on drums/ vocals, played first. They had an interesting take on the indie rock sound, weaving in elements of folk and jazz. The end product was a highly dynamic sound that kept evolving and changing throughout the night. It allowed them to transcend the ever-present ‘bore-core’ hole that so many indie bands tumble into. Sticking true

to being a self-proclaimed band about nothing through the influence of the infinitely famous show about nothing, Seinfeld, the band managed to play off their nihilistic underpinnings and give us a show with no take-away morals but memorable moments throughout the performance.

The Kavorkas’ drummer Hayden Nurse stayed on for the night’s second set, ushering in West Ave, who tied off the night. It was their first show in a while, but after their set started off it was quite clear that they had been practicing.

Although their namesake is a sleepy suburban street off of York St, the band opened up their unique blend of ridiculously fast-paced hard rock with so much overdrive-laden guitar solos and drum rolls it bordered on the genre’s noisier cousin. The anxious pace kept the Legion alive and succeeded in whipping up some mosh pits with enough intensity to split a lip or two and make crowd surfing seem like a good idea, despite there not being enough people to support it.

The show itself went off without a hitch, although the lights did come on a bit quick after the show, flushing the still celebratory crowd out of the bar. Although the crowd was divided between the tables at times, with some choosing the comfort of chairs over the whirling mosh pit and sometimes awkward free-form dancing, there was a unity that has been absent as of late.

But as far as evenings go, on a whole this one was an exemplary instance of how exciting live music can be.

The Argosy

ENTERTAINMENT

www.argosy.ca

9

Born Gold provides a new domestic experience House show has the energy of a packed stadium Jean Sébastien Comeau Thursdays. For the most part, they could be considered rather uneventful: patiently waiting for the weekend to grace us with its presence and having to hide the excitement by burying ourselves in homework. However, last Thursday went against all odds and proved to be one of the most amazing evenings of my university career. This is all because of the native Edmontonian electronic music outfit known as Born Gold, joined by his accompanying musicians, who gave an absolutely stellar performance. When I was asked to review their show for The Argosy, I knew next to nothing about this band. The editor quickly showed me a few songs to give me an idea of what to expect, but that was the extent of my knowledge coming into the show. Nonetheless, I was already quite impressed by the accomplishments of the artist. Taking it all in, I promptly made my way to 14 Estabrooks, affectionately known as Patches, later

Cecil Frena of Born Gold plays an energetic electronic set to an excited small crowd at Patches. (Nick Sleptov/Argosy) that evening.

Upon entering the house, my feeling of uncertainty was even more pronounced: there were only a few people hanging out in various rooms, the vibe was extremely laidback, and I knew absolutely no one. Set upon finding out what was going on, I approached a small group of people and asked them if Born Gold was still playing that evening. One of the girls cracked a smile and simply said “Of course! That’s them, actually!” Indeed, the band was just enjoying some casual conversation with the crowd, while Aiden, their percussionist, was

reviewing shots from an upcoming music video. There was a genuine sense of proximity between the band and their fans that I had never experienced before. Quickly making the rounds and getting acquainted with the members, I started by asking them a few questions.

It was Eric’s, the man behind the more electronic side of things in the band, second time in New Brunswick, but it was Aiden’s first time on this side of Canada. On the other hand, Cecil, the main creative force behind Born Gold, was accustomed to our little town, having played Sappyfest with

fellow Canadian artist Grimes two years prior to this show. Not long after, Aiden gave me a peek of what this tour consisted of; indeed, it was extremely expansive. Doing solely house shows, they had already toured across Canada and the United States, driving through it all. Doing house shows is not a very common thing, and Cecil expanded a little more on the matter by saying: “Your morale is very high, because the shows are consistently awesome.

But there’s a measure of risk involved, financially speaking, in terms of the variability of your income.”

At last, the moment came: it was

time to go downstairs and witness the abilities of Born Gold. The show proved to be much more than a band playing out their discography. It was a sensory experience. Blending electronic music with choreographed dancing, unique lightshows, and unparalleled levels of energy, the band had the crowd mesmerized. Cecil Frena is not only a musician, but a true artist in every sense of the word. His ability to create something so unique and powerful was unlike anything I had ever seen before. After the show, Cecil treated us to an eclectic and energetic DJ set to keep us on our feet until the wee hours of the morning.

When the performance came to an end, I had the chance to catch up with him for a few more questions.

When asked about the recent prominence of former collaborators, and good friends, Purity Ring, he simply said: “I can genuinely say that I love each of them and that I adore their art. (…) It’s exciting for me to see the world getting behind something that I think is absolutely the best.”

It is clear to see that Born Gold cares deeply about his art, and will not let anything get in the way of his creative process. When someone is so deeply passionate about something, it shows, and in the case of Born Gold, it was undeniably showing.

The new Everyday Food Truck hits York Street

Local pair offers a wide variety of fresh and innovative food Norman Nehmetallah

Entertainment Editor

Although a relatively recent staple of metropolises and other urban centres the world over, even Sackville is now home to its own food truck. The Everyday Food Truck, which is owned and operated by Allison Crinkley and Jon McKiel, has been a mainstay of the York Street landscape for the last month. The truck is further evidence of a worldwide trend toward gourmet food trucks that diverge from the standard food truck fare of fish and chips, hotdogs, and hamburgers.

While the Everyday Food Truck is their first culinary venture in Sackville, both Crinkley, who attended culinary school, and McKiel, a local musician, have experience working in restaurants and the food truck industry. The pair purchased and briefly operated their first truck, Food Wolf, while living on the south shore of Nova Scotia. They sold it to another couple shortly before their relocation to Sackville.

Food Wolf, the second place recipient of The Coast’s Best Food Truck of 2013 award, is still operating in Halifax.

Crinkley and McKiel have experienced a positive reaction from both the town council and the citizens of Sackville, and have found that “students and market-goers are the most receptive” to the truck’s offerings. While they are content to start small in order to maintain their focus on “interesting, fresh, local, and well-prepared food,” Crinkley and McKiel have definite plans for the future. For instance, they plan to begin a foray into take-home dinners, which McKiel mentioned could be anything from “shepherd’s pie to curry,” as well as other seasonal menu changes. Although the festival season has largely come to an end for the year, the duo plan to expand their operations to include travel to various music festivals next

The side of Allison Crinkley and Jon McKiel’s The Everyday Food Truck gives a suggestion for how often one should eat there. (Jon McKiel/Submitted) summer, of which McKiel cited Evolve and the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, as potential locations. Additionally, the pair expects to offer some catering services in the near future, so as to maintain a presence in the town.

The Everyday Food Truck generally operates from Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm for lunch, and Saturdays at the farmers’ market. Although their offerings are fresh and seasonal, the menu generally consists of tacos, burritos, and lobster poutine. The food is cooked fresh daily, and the pair make an effort to use primarily local foods, although staple Mexican ingredients, such as avocado and lime, have to be

purchased elsewhere out of necessity.

Although the public opinion of food trucks has certainly shifted with the widespread establishment of gourmet food trucks, many may remain sceptical of a truck’s cleanliness, especially considering the antiquated nickname ‘roach coach.’ However, recent legislation passed throughout North America has heavily regulated food truck operations, rendering them both clean and affordable. McKiel described the daunting process of setting up the truck, which mostly involved obtaining permits and passing inspections, as a “funny bureaucratic maze.”

Despite these laborious procedures, the pair were

up and running this summer with assistance from Sarah Evans and Alan Barbour of the Black Duck Coffee House, Paul Henderson, and other supportive locals.

With the spectre of paperwork and inspections behind them, the Everyday Food Truck looks to be here to stay. Although McKiel is an active musician, he considers the truck, and the selfemployment it entails, to be a more fulfilling way to do the work that musicians often “have to do outside of music anyway” in order to make ends meet. One would be well-advised to look for the characteristically sparse white truck on York St to try some gourmet food.

10 HOUSING

October 10, 2013

Francesca Patten, Revecca Dafoe, Emma Pots, and Alanna MacDonnald (right to left) enjoy a meal in their new home (above, Chris Donovan/Argosy). Ian Smith, MASU Vice President of External Affairs, wraps up the first MASU Landlord Fair. The event was held in Tweedie Hall last Saturday (left, Nick Sleptov/ Argosy). The bulletin board on the ground floor of the Wallace McCain Student Centre is another resource for house-hunters (Bottom left, Chris Donovan/Argosy).

MASU launches Landlord Fair Tyler Stuart

Features Editor Students trickled into Tweedie Hall for the first Mount Allison Students’ Union (MASU) Landlord Fair, where they talked with prospective landlords and exchanged information.

“The whole point of it is to show students that they have options and where to look, but also to teach them their rights as a tenant,” said MASU Vice-President, External Affairs Ian Smith, who was responsible for the Saturday event.

Smith, who stressed the importance of living in residence before moving off-campus, said that he plans to change the name of the event to the MASU Housing Fair to include residences.

Due to a recent decline in residence retention rates, MASU and Student Life have tried to promote a two-year stay on campus before moving off.

“There is another landlord in Sackville that is probably the most involved with Mt. A, and that is [the university],” Smith said. Present at the fair was Gayle Churchill, the

Director of Student Life.

“My mantra is about making informed decisions, and you can’t make informed decisions without information,” Churchill said. “I think there is still a lot of room for education.”

Chris Ward, a landlord who operates under Vestland Realty Management, said that Mount Allison students came ready to learn about off-campus life.

“I think they already made the choice that they want to be offcampus,” Ward said, “but they are undecided as to where or how many people might be co-occupying with them.”

Kathy Beal, a Sackville landlord, said that the fair was helpful to both her and the students.

“You get to talk to the person instead of sending a lot of emails,” Beal said.

“I was pretty nervous before it happened. I had a scenario in mind where landlords were here and no students showed up,” Smith said.

“Thankfully, that didn’t happen.”

While students were present, Tweedie Hall was fairly quiet.

Landlords often sat unvisited at their booths because an average of ten students were in the hall at a time.

The turnout, Smith said, while small, gave students more time to

interact with landlords. Students who attended thought that the fair was helpful and informative.

Kim Greven, a second-year science student, said that she was ready for a change after her two years in residence.

“I thought it was really helpful; there were a lot of options,” she said.

“It just showed me what was out there because a lot of it is not online yet.”

First-year student Anastasia Aks concurred.

“You don’t really get informed by anyone living [off-campus], so this is the one event where you get to know what your opportunities really are.”

Justin Pauley, who owns D&S Realty with his father, said that the fair made it easier for landlords to promote themselves and for students to interact with landlords.

“I think that it is a very good idea.

It’s the first year for it, and hopefully they do it a lot more,” he said.

Smith said that he hopes to make the fair a semiannual event as many landlords and students express housing interest in January and February.

“I can see a lot of things evolving from this, depending on the outcome,” Ward said. “There are certainly opportunities to build and improve on this effort.”

argosy@mta.ca

The Argosy

HOUSING

www.argosy.ca

Living on- or offcampus?

Taylor Losier Features Writer

Mathieu Mina, a second-year commerce student, chose to stay in residence for two years for the people, atmosphere, and culture of Hunton House, as most students at Mount Allison University tend to do. It is a system that both the university the Mount Allison Student Union (MASU) promote, and one that is typically followed. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule.

Mina and his future roommates, Steven Black, Brandon Williams, and Colton Rafferty, recently signed a lease together. Of the four, only Mina is a second-year student.

Black, Williams, and Rafferty are all third-year students who, for varying reasons, chose to enter the world of off-campus living for their upcoming fourth year.

Rafferty, an anthropology major, did his first year at home at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), and decided to do the standard two years in residence in order to get the full experience.

However, he is not anticipating any problems. “[I] rented an apartment this past summer, so I’ve dealt with a lot of the standard roommate

problems, rent, and landlord dealings before,” Rafferty said.

While Rafferty noted that the process was “quite hectic,” and Black noted a few technical problems with the MASU Housing Directory, they were able to find a house at a good price.

“It will be different living with just three other people rather than ninetyseven,” said Black, an international relations major who returned for a third year in residence as a residence assistant. “I will be required to put effort into maintaining my friendships rather than simply relying on chance encounters in the hallway to do that for me. However, I am looking forward to the freedom of living with people who will not care whether or not I wear pants at home. I am also looking forward to being able to go to bed before 2:00 am on weekends.”

“Living on campus is something I think everyone entering university should experience for the first two years of their university career,” said Williams who, like Rafferty, is a transfer student from UPEI. “Moving out with friends is a fluid transition from residence.”

Some make that transition earlier.

Rebecca Dafoe, Alanna MacDonald, Emma Potts, and Francesca Patten are roommates who decided to find a place off-campus to live together after their first year, rather than return to residence.

“First year in residence isn’t an experience I would want to take back,

11

but by the midway point I knew offcampus life was more suited to me,” said Patten, a second-year political science student. “The lifestyle I had chosen perhaps didn’t fit as well as it could have. Off-campus life provides the flexibility that I need, and having like-minded roommates helps.”

Her roommate, Rebecca Dafoe, also felt that the residence life was not suited for her, and said that it was “too overwhelming.”

As to the actual moving-in process, the roommates agreed that it was much more convenient than their first-year experience.

“There was a broader move-in date, and we had everything sorted out way before,” said Potts, a second-year history student. “We had our keys, and everything was ready when we got there.”

“We’re still getting used to it,” Patten said. “But the routines fell into place surprisingly fast. Obviously, once classes started we had a few bumps in the road, but it’s a learning experience, and I’m having a great time.”

MacDonald, who is starting her third year, only one of which was spent in residence, said that living off-campus is working better than she had hoped.

“It’s been an easy adjustment and a worthwhile thing to do. It’s nice to have the sense of freedom and responsibility when living on your own.”

Renting Tips Erin Porter

Brandon Williams, Mathieu Mina, Colton Rafferty, and Steven Black (left to right) recently signed a lease together (above, Chris Donovan/Argosy). Students play sports, walk to dinner, and relax in the Windsor Quad on the Norh side of campus. Most Mt. A sudents stay in residence for two years before moving offcampus. (below, Chris Donovan/Argosy).

Ten questions to ask before moving off-campus: 1. Have I viewed the exact unit that I will rent?

2. Is the unit in good repair?

3. Who am I going to live with, if anyone?

4. How far will I be from campus, from the grocery store, and from work?

5. Will there be a superintendent living in the building?

6. How much is the rent?

7. Are the utilities included?

8. What appliances are provided?

9. Is lawn care and snow removal provided?

10. Are there sidewalks and streetlights?

Find your roommates: One of the first things to consider is with whom you want to live. Maybe you think that you would rather live on your own. If you are moving offcampus for the first time though, it is probably best if you don’t live by yourself. Living by yourself can get lonely, and with roommates, you will have people around to keep you company.

Another benefit to living with roommates is that there are more people to share the costs associated with renting a house. Expenses such as furnishing common areas, food, Internet, and cable will be much less when divided among even a few people.

When you choose your roommates, don’t decide to live with people just because they are your best friends; make sure that they are

dependable. Make sure that they will pay their rent and that they are going to do their part to keep your accommodations clean.

There is no way to be absolutely sure that you will get along with your roommates when your lease starts, but if you have a gut feeling that you shouldn’t be signing a lease with someone, it’s best that you don’t.

Use the Rentalsman: The Rentalsman is a provincial government service responsible for protecting the rights of landlords and tenants.

When you pay your security deposit, your landlord must give you a receipt. Your landlord must then pay your deposit to the Rentalsman within fifteen days. The Rentalsman will then issue you a receipt to confirm that they have received your security deposit.

If you want to pay your security deposit directly to the Rentalsman, you can do so in Sackville at the Service New Brunswick office located at 170 Main St., beside Jack’s Pizza.

The Rentalsman ensures that at the end of your lease, you are refunded the appropriate amount of your security deposit. Your landlord may be reliable, but the Rentalsman is there to ensure that all aspects of the renting process are handled correctly. The only way that you can be certain you will receive the correct amount of your deposit back is to have the Rentalsman hold onto it.

The Office of the Rentalsman is an excellent resource for renters in New Brunswick; if you have any questions about your rights, contact the Rentalsman at 1-888-762-8600.

SPORTS

October 10, 2013

argosy@mta.ca

Women’s Rugby downed by underdog Dal AC Mounties lost to Dal AC in potential ACAA championship bout Michelle Kidd The Mount Allison Women’s Rugby team hosted their last home game of the regular season against the Dalhousie Agricultural College (Dal AC) Rams this past Saturday.

In their first meeting earlier in the season, the Mounties took home a close win, and were hoping for a repeat in this game.

The game kicked off with a strong offensive effort by the Rams, forcing the home team into their own end for the majority of the first half.

When they finally pushed the ball over the line, the Mounties responded quickly with a try from Sydney Phelan and a convert by Sydney Mann, putting the score at 7-5 for Mt. A. The offensive momentum continued for the Mounties, dominating Dal AC in the scrums and set pieces. Just before the whistle was blown for half, a Rams player received a yellow card for dangerous play, which gave Mt. A a one player advantage entering into the second half.

It was an even match for most of the half, with the Mounties shutting down the Rams’ strong

Mt. A will likely have a chance to avenge the loss in the ACAA championship. (Nick Sleptov/Argosy) offensive backfield with huge tackles from rookie Julie Richard and second-year player Amanda Rundle. A hard tackle by the Rams resulted in the loss of veteran player Laura Windhorst with an injury, but the Mounties persevered, as Mann ran in another try off of a set play.

The Rams picked up their game in the last quarter, pushing the Mounties back into their own end. Mt. A’s nerves got the best of them, and they began to make high tackles, resulting in a number of penalties, and a yellow card for rookie Catherine Bannon. Dal AC capitalized on the one man advantage, and pushed through the Mounties defensive line to bring the score to 12-10.

The battle continued, and a strong defensive effort from the home team kept the score unchanged until the last five minutes, when a missed tackle resulted in the Rams’ winger running the ball into the end zone, and adding a two point conversion. The Mounties fought back with a strong burst of offensive play in the dying minutes, but were not able to beat the whistle, and the game ended with a final score of 17-12 for the Rams.

Having secured their spot in the finals with this win, the Rams will face off against Mt. A in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) championships on November 3. “We expect another game within five [points] or

Men’s frustrating season continues Soccer team loses to playoff-bound rivals

Michelle Kidd is the beat contributor for the Women’s Rugby team.

Staying fit in more ways than one MASU Month of Healthy Living, October 2013

Alex Bates

Sports Editor Temperatures were similar to a January matchup on Curly Lambeau’s field at MacAulay last Friday night.

The wind was blowing with force, and temperatures had dropped significantly after what had been a beautiful fall day. The Mount Allison Men’s Soccer Mounties entertained the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus (UdeM) in an Atlantic University Sport (AUS) matchup that would have an affect on the playoff picture.

UdeM sat on the cusp of a playoff spot before the game started with twelve points. Conversely, the Mounties sat on the outside looking in, with five points, chasing many, including the opposing Aigles Bleus.

Moncton got off to a quick start in the poor conditions. Ahmed AbdulRehman scored in just the seventh minute of the game. What occurred afterwards was slightly confusing, and somewhat entertaining. The Aigles Blues all ran to the corner of the field to start a celebration dance. These sorts of shenanigans are common in association football, but “we really never see that in the AUS,” said Mounties centre defender Adrian Crace.

Crace took the game into his own hands though, scoring on a header in the twenty-eighth minute. Crace moved up the pitch and was able to head the Connor McCumber throw into the net. “Connor’s got that long

less again for finals,” said Dal AC coach Owen Hutchison.

The Rams scrumhalf Georgia Lewis also commented on the championship matchup: “It’s such a fair match; there’s no way of knowing what the outcome is going to be. We have such great players on both sides,” she said.

Although the loss ended the Mounties’ perfect regular season, captain Sydney Mann was still pleased with her team’s effort. “It was a lot better than our past games, probably the best so far. It’s just too bad the score didn’t show that. A lot of people stepped up to really make a difference in our scrums,” Mann said.

Third-year veteran Anne Haley, who returned to play on Park St. field for the first time this season after struggling with ankle injuries throughout the last year, felt the game would have turned out differently if the Mounties had avoided the penalties in the second half.

“I thought it was a really hard-fought game; the forwards really powered through the scrums and the backs made some great plays. The only thing we really got caught on is penalties,” Haley said.

The Mounties will resume practice on Monday to fine tune their skills before they face off against the Rams again in the finals.

Home field advantage will be determined by the outcome of the Mt. A vs. King’s College game October 20 in Halifax.

Célina Boothby

Jonathan O’Keefe battles a UdeM midfielder in an AUS affair. (Nick Sleptov/Argosy) throw. We can use it like a set piece, and it’s just as effective as a corner or a free kick. If we can get a head on the ball then we can easily put it into the net.”

The score was not to be though.

UdeM quickly regained the lead in the thirty-eighth minute on a Christian Yapi goal. The Aigles Bleus returned to their antics and produced another choreographed celebration.

UdeM would go on to score two more goals, accompanied by flamboyant celebrations. Usually in sports, once a team goes up by an insurmountable tally, antics like celebrations are usually nipped in favour of good taste. UdeM appeared to want to practice their celebrations, which elevated tensions between the two teams.

Both teams were warned about talking to the referees and complaining about the officiating.

This was evident by the amount of yellow cards that were awarded to the two sides in the second half. The most notable yellow card that was awarded was to last week’s Player of the Week

Kevin Seely: The first occurred while lining up for a free kick in the eightysecond minute. It wasn’t very clear what had happened on the play, but Seely and UdeM defender Alexandre Theriault were both awarded yellow cards. In extra-time, Seely looked like he was inadvertently booted in his upper chest. There was doubt as to if any incident had actually occurred, but Seely took offence to the non-call. The referee immediately dismissed him from the game, and Seely had to miss the team’s game on Sunday against the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds.

The Men still remain out of the AUS playoff race. There is no positive outlook for the team’s chances either.

They will have two tough matchups against the Saint Mary’s Huskies and a game against the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers.

The Mounties have been able to beat the Huskies before, but the Huskies will be heavily favoured, as they are currently in first place in AUS standings. .

Laci Green, a self-pronounced sexuality geek and YouTube star, started off the Mount Allison Students’ Union (MASU) Month of Healthy Living with a bold interactive talk on the importance of sexual health. This talk was the preliminary event to a month put on by the students’ union that is chalked full of health-themed lessons to ensure Mount Allison students stay sexually, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and academically fit.

This week marks the first annual Pride Week put on by Catalyst MTA, a queer-straight alliance group on campus. Attending the queerthemed trivia night at The Pond on Thursday night 10:00 pm is highly recommended. Remember to show your pink patriotism all day Friday and wear your rosiest garments for Holding Hands Day. To assist you, Get REAL will be selling hats Thursday and Friday of this week in preparation for Pink Day. Accepting and supporting our diverse population at Mt. A is a huge contributor to health and wellness as a whole!

Nutritional awareness begins October 15, so keep your eyes peeled for fun reminders on portion control and what specific coloured foods our

diets should see more of. Nutrition is the premium gasoline in our engines and remembering to eat with our stomachs and not with our brains is a huge challenge. Remember to load your plate with fifty per cent vegetables, legumes, and/or fruits, twenty-five per cent with a protein like grilled chicken or side of roasted tofu, and twenty-five per cent with a non-refined, preferably whole grain, carbohydrate.

Nutrition week also includes a blood drive at the Civic Centre on October 15, and Relay for Life on Friday October 18.

Finally, mental health awareness will begin during the last week of October with a few pending events on promoting life balance, and drugs and alcohol awareness. It’s also a good idea to attend meditation yoga at the Athletic Centre from 5:00-6:30 pm on Sunday October 27. Or you can always kick it up a notch and attend the campus-wide dodgeball game on Sunday October 20 at the Athletic Centre Gym. E-mail saccampuslife@ mta.ca to register your team today!

Additionally, all residence Academic Mentors will be hosting study/help sessions throughout October to keep your academic health just as strong and prosperous.

Keep your eyes open for updates from the MASU Facebook and Twitter log (#livewell) and remember to take responsibility for your health and wellness to ensure a successful and well-balanced school year.

Stay healthy folks!

Célina Boothby is Mount Allison University’s Health Intern.

The Argosy

SPORTS

www.argosy.ca

Better Know a Mountie

Sex Bomb The best and worst places to construct your love fort on campus So you’ve convinced yourself that having sex on campus is going to spice up that love life of yours, eh? It is my job to remind you at this point that there are a number of better decisions to be made in this life. After all, getting caught would kill the mood faster than a broken condom, and The Argosy has been hankering for an opportunity to say, ‘we told you so’. But hey, it’s your criminal record! If you’re going to do this, do it right.

From worst to best, let’s explore the geography of getting ‘sextra-curricular’.

The dancefloor at the pub While I suggest that sex surrounded by a bunch of sweaty drunks is not really something to be desired, residence remains a popular housing option. The pub has a few things going for it: everyone is too shitfaced to pay attention; the lighting is poor at best; and the loud music drowns everything out. Unfortunately, these advantages are only skin-deep: a satisfying podger is unlikely to occur if you’re so drunk that this kind of ‘dance’ seems like a good idea.

The library As the centrepiece of academic life, the library is an obvious choice for those looking for some hands-on sex ed. Unfortunately for you, the Pickard Bell is laid out like a panopticon, and any noise louder than a pin dropping is liable to attract unwelcome attention. There are ways around this—look for secluded, dimly lit, and poorly utilized areas—but such precautions are a poor match for the gaze of staff and the appetite for knowledge of your fellow students.

The roof of meal hall Extreme sport enthusiasts, take note! The

13

roof of Jennings offers a one-of-a-kind view of Sackville’s night sky—and the interiors of two residences. Remember that if you can see someone, they can see you. If your innermost desire is to be the subject of voyeurism, we can’t stop you. Just don’t get stuck—if the fire department has to come to the rescue, the embarrassment will be the least of your worries.

The chapel balcony By far the most beautiful and intimate space on campus, the chapel’s balcony is probably the only location on this list that could be called romantic: the stained glass, architecture, and low risk of interruption knock it out of the park—so long as you’re okay having a ménage à trois with the Holy Ghost. Be careful not to get too close to the organ, either—nothing will alert innocent bystanders to your presence like a blast from the pipes.

Convocation Hall Con Hall is a great place to graduate with a Bachelor of Exhibitionism. Find a reason to book the building and look forward to disrobing backstage—it’s not like you’ll be shaking Peter Mansbridge’s hand if someone finds you midrehearsal.

Owens Art Gallery Art and sex go together like peanut butter and jelly. Much of the Owens is under video surveillance, so reconnaissance is a must. You have two options: get as far away from the art as possible, or wait for an installation to come along with work that can be entered, such as a sculpture.

If you get caught, claim it’s performance art.

Quinn Everett Benjamin Foster Sports Writer

You could say Mount Allison Mountie Quinn Everett is your prototypical defensive lineman.

At six-foot three inches, and coming in at 305 pounds, he is literally one of the biggest players in every game he plays. His size and ability make him one of the most influential people on the field. He had always been a big kid, and that’s the reason he decided to give football a try at thirteen.

“I started in grade eight and I got into it because I was big and my dad said I should try football, and I loved it.”

He started wearing number ninety-nine in high school when his coach told him that the “biggest, baddest dude” wore that number. He has worn it ever since.

Everett was also selected as one of four Mounties to play in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport East-West Bowl this past May. In limited action, Everett assisted in making a tackle in his own red zone that was key in forcing the West to attempt a field goal on the drive.

The Glen Haven, Nova Scotia native is an interesting football player because he has always wanted to be the toughest player on the field, but there is no doubt he also has a soft side.

Everett could be one of the nicest and most approachable guys on the field. Ask Everett if he is a dog or a cat guy and it won’t take long to discover his love of felines.

“I am a big fan of cats, I have a cat named Kitty

Katty,” he said.

Everett is also a big user of the social media site Twitter, often tweeting about cats and some of his interests such as video games, music, and of course, football. His tweets are often comical and offer a look into the life of a football player at Mt. A. Mt. A recruited him in high school. He decided to come here for many of the same reasons most of his colleagues came. He loves the small class sizes and that you can walk anywhere in almost no time.

“I can’t get through a full song on my phone going from point A to point B, its great,” Everett said.

The fourth-year commerce student plans to come back next year and play football again. He played only two games in his first year, but ever since he has played a crucial role for the Mounties defence. He gives credit to all his coaches and teammates throughout his career for getting him where he is today.

Everett is looking forward to the second half of this season. He has enjoyed the whole football experience here at Mt. A so far, and he is ready to make his last year and a half as a Mountie as successful as he can.

“The season started off slow and that was disappointing for all of us, but we know what we need to do in the second half. We definitely have the chance to make something happen,” the lineman said. With two more games against Saint Francis Xavier and one each against Saint Mary’s and Acadia, the doors are definitely open for them to make a run to the playoffs.

The one play that swept college Mounties in brief: Soccer football, and now the NFL, by storm Women’s shine; Football Is the read-option here to stay in the NFL, or a fad?

Ben Holmes The age of the drop-back pocket passer is fading, or is it? Professional football is more like college than ever before.

For generations the prototypical National Football League’s (NFL) quarterback’s job was to stand tall in the pocket, step up and deliver an accurate throw to his receiver. That has always been the optimal way to move the chains. Running backs used to play instrumental roles and still do, but every year their contributions are diminished more and more. Now NFL teams are looking to the college ranks for ideas on how to run their offences.

The Canadian Interunversity Sport (CIS) and National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) alike rely much more on trick plays and other gimmicks. The vast majority of educational institutions simply do not have the calibre of players to run a pro-style offence. The Oregon Ducks for example, whilst never winning a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) title under Chip Kelly, still had tremendous success with the spread offence that they ran. Completion percentage would be abysmally low without the use of the spread

offence. While a player can shine and captivate the fans, they do not always have the measurables or the skill to translate into a good pro player.

Denard Robinson of the Michigan Wolverines is the perfect example.

Once a star quarterback in college, he is now struggling for playing time as a receiver for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.

Coaches and players alike always have one eye over their shoulders in fear of getting fired if their team is not performing. The goal is to win, the same as any sport. The key to victory is using your players to the highest of their ability. The read-option took the NFL by storm in the 2012-2013 season. It was used predominantly by teams that had fast, mobile offence.

San Francisco went from a pocket passer in Alex Smith to a read-option with Colin Kaepernick in 2012 and almost ran with it all the way to the Super Bowl in 2012.

The quarterback is significantly more vulnerable to receiving a huge hit the second he breaks the pocket and becomes a runner, which is what occurs when they run the readoption. Robert Griffin III is still not his explosive self that he showed in 2012 since coming back from ACL surgery. When Kaepernick and the 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round of the playoffs in 2012, he ran the ball for 181 yards and two touchdowns. This season when they played, he only amassed a mere twenty-two rushing yards but tallied up 412 yards and three touchdowns

through the air.

Teams in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) often do not fully utilize pocket passing. Instead they prefer to keep the ball in the hands of runners to minimize the chances of turning the ball over. When the quarterback does keep the ball and looks to pass, he often escapes the pocket, even when he has adequate time and space to step up and let it rip. A majority of balls thrown are short, and sometimes intermediate throws, not many downfield. Big plays in the AUS are most often generated from a catch and run.

Interceptions are more likely to occur in the AUS because the quarterback’s ability to read a defence and to look off a safety and come back to the receiver is not adequate enough to do often with a high level of success. This is incredibly hard to do, something that NFL calibre quarterbacks still struggle with all the time.

Clearly NFL defences required only one off-season to see how to defend the read-option. It may soon be used sparingly or may even go the way of the wildcat and become practically extinct.

This style of play is not sustainable.

Historically, Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks have always been pass first and only break containment when all else fails whilst keeping their eyes down-field, looking for the open man at all times. Different styles of offences will come and go but the NFL is and always will be a pass driven league.

Ben Holmes is a casual contributor to the sports section of The Argosy.

looks to recover

Alex Bates & Benjamin Foster Women shock Aigles Bleus The Mount Allison Women’s Soccer Mounties shocked the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus on Friday October 4. The Mounties entertained the Aigles Bleus, who, with six wins, have won more games than anyone else in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference in 2013. Amanda Volcko broke the draw in the seventyeighth minute of the match on a shot just outside the eighteen-yard box. A very strong performance from Mounties goalkeeper Robin Bessemer sealed the Women’s first victory of the season. A spectator’s account of the game was that “it was the best

the Women had played in four or five years.” This victory proves that the Women can keep up to any team in the AUS, and should be able to contend going forward into next year.

-Alex Bates Football falls to 1-4 against X-Men It was homecoming weekend at Saint Francis Xavier University (St. FX) and they pleased their fans by beating the Mount Allison Mounties with a final score of 30-9. The game had shades of the season opener throughout.

The highlight of the game came in the first quarter when Michael Bohan returned a seventy-eight yard punt return for a touchdown, the Mounties only of the game. Jordan Botel had his best game of the year running for 121 yards.

Mt. A will to try to avenge the loss next Saturday at MacAulay Field at 2:00 pm against the St. FX X-Men. -Benjamin Foster

The Women showed elite form against top-notch UdeM. (Nick Sleptov/Argosy)

SCIENCE

October 10, 2013

argosy@mta.ca

League of Legends championship has million dollar prize South Korean team of gamers takes top prize at LoL competition Martin Omes

Science Writer

Imagine you are sitting in the Staples Center in Los Angeles, sitting in front of over ten thousand people watching your every move, and your every click, as you try and win the championship as the top team in the world. Not to mention the millions of people watching from home. You realize that a single mistake can cost your chance to win that last game to claim the prize you have been playing all year to get. No pressure, right?

Try adding a $1 million dollar first prize. That is what happened last Friday night as South Korea’s ‘SK Telecom T1’ took on China’s ‘Royal Club’ in the finals of the popular free-to-play PC game League of Legends where the victors would claim $1 million dollars.

Unlike many other video games on the market, League of Legends is a game with a vast amount of strategy and teamwork that requires all five team members to select a superhero-like character from a selection of over one hundred champions. Team members then attempt to destroy each others’ bases. Riot Games, the creator, mostly makes money from the free-toplay game that draws over 32 million players each

The LoL championships took place in the Staples Center. (Marco Verch/Flickr Creative Commons) month by selling virtual items and characters that can change the look of your character, or help unlock new characters quicker.

The finals wasn’t much of a contest though, as South Korea’s ‘SK Telecom T1’ dominated China’s ‘Royal Club,’ winning three straight games in the best-of-five series. The team consisted of Jung ‘Impact’ Eon-yeong, Chae ‘Piglet’ Gwang-

Water discovered on Mars, sort of Curiosity finds water molecules locked in planet’s soil Clay Steell The lines “water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink,” from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” may have a new extraterrestrial meaning.

On September 26, NASA announced that the Mars Curiosity rover had discovered a surprising amount of water in the planet’s soil. This discovery is being heralded as the rover’s most significant since landing on the Red Planet fourteen months ago, and has new implications for potential human colonization and the existence of life.

Perhaps surprisingly, this isn’t the first discovery of water on Mars.

Scientists have known of vast stores of frozen polar water since 2005, when the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter confirmed their existence. Curiosity sampled soil near Mars’s equator, far enough from the poles for water not to freeze. What makes this discovery unique is its implications for how common water might be on every other part of the planet.

What was perhaps most surprising to Curiosity scientists was the amount of water found, about two per cent of the soil’s weight. Laurie Leshin, co-author of the discovery’s paper, described it as follows: “If you took about a cubic foot of

the dirt and heated it up, you’d get a couple of pints of water out of that—a couple of water bottles.”

Of course, Curiosity had to heat the sample to 835° Celsius, but the example remains useful in visualizing the volume present.

Upon NASA releasing the paper outlining the discovery, scientific media was awash in headlines proclaiming, “water discovered on Mars.” This brings to mind lakes spotted across the barren desert surface, the kind of water you can skip rocks on. But in reality, this discovery is far more subtle. The water discovered in the Martian soil is chemically-bonded to minerals and particulate; it’s not the kind of water you can just pump out of the ground.

The soil would certainly not ‘feel’ wet.

What does this discovery tell though, and why has it made such scientific waves?

Firstly, it bolsters the evidence that Mars was once a wet planet, possibly suitable for the formation and existence of life as we know it on Earth. Yet the water discovered would be of little use to any life forms clinging on to existence on the barren planet, as its bonded form couldn’t be directly consumed.

Secondly, it holds implications for potential future visitation and colonization of Mars. The water locked in Mars’s soil, vast volumes if uniform across the planet, could support early explorers, or even colonizers. Yet our understanding of Mars’s near-static water cycle is poor. How much humans could consume and how that might affect the planet’s systems would have to be initially determined.

jin, Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok, Lee ‘PoohManDu’ Jeong-hyeon, and Bae ‘Bengi’ Seong-ung, and they were able to lift the Summoner’s Cup trophy and the $1 million grand prize.

The festivities kicked off with a musical performance by The Crystal Method, who composed an original song for one of the game’s champions. The duo was joined by an orchestra,

drummer Joe Letz, bassist Danny Lohner, cellist Tina Guo, and former Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland. Riot Games said that booking the Staples Center and the elite performances were less about making a statement to outsiders about e-sports and more about making the diehard fans of the franchise proud of their favourite sport.

Riot Games runs its business with a focus on players and community engagement, and that night’s culminating match was further proof of how well that strategy has paid off. In just four years, the game has become a centrepiece in competitive gaming, knocking off giant franchises such as Halo, Call of Duty, and Starcraft, with players from all around the world fueling the intense—and now very profitable—community.

The shocking fact that people may not know is that Riot actually loses money on events as big as these. Competitive gaming gets players excited and keeps them committed to the game whether or not they’ll ever have a chance to play it on the stage. It can be related to the game Halo 4, which after the World Championships that happened months ago, suffered the biggest drop in players.

Due to the lack of upcoming official tournaments, players have turned to other games. Lastly, the game is free to play, which allows anyone to be able to download the game and join in.

With Riot Games’ success in such a short time, it further shows how much of a future e-sports have in the world, and how gamers are now receiving recognition for their tough work ethic to earn the top prize.

Honours Profile Mesha Sagram Allison O’Reilly Science Editor

Mesha Sagram is a fourth-year environmental science honours student working with supervisors Georgia Klein and Brad Walters.

Climate change is a serious threat to the health of the planet due to increased carbon emissions. One of Earth’s natural methods of mitigating this change is through carbon sinks (such as oceans and forests). Carbon sinks absorb carbon emissions and store it for an indefinite period time; this is a process known as carbon sequestration.

Sagram’s thesis is entitled “Dynamics of carbon sequestration in coarse woody debris and forest management.” It involves measuring the carbon storage in coarse woody debris located in Whaelghinbran Farm, which is part of the Acadian forest. The Acadian forest ranges over Northeastern United States, and covers New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Coarse woody debris includes lying deadwood over a metre in length and ten centimetres in diameter. This debris rebuilds soils, restores soil nutrients, and limits erosion. It also stores a large amount of carbon (depending on its volume and decay class).

Sagram’s research is conducted through Community Forests International, a non-profit organization that works to connect people and their communities to the forests that sustain them. Their main focus is on forest restoration and sustainable forestry.

Mesha Sagram researches with Community Forests International. (Allison O’Reilly/Argosy)

With Community Forests International, Sagram measured carbon storage. She did this by sampling fifteen plots in five different tree stands for various tree composition and age. Two fifty-metre paths were laid out for each tree plot.

The diameter of lying deadwood was measured, and the decay was recorded using a machete test. A machete test was conducted by hitting the log with a machete. The logs were then classified in one of three categories, depending on how far the machete passed through the log.

With the results, Sagram plans on making a comparison with an unmanaged forest (such as a natural forest in the Fundy Biosphere Reserve) and an intensively managed forest (such as one where trees are constantly being cut down and replanted).

Working for Community Forests International is a rewarding experience for Sagram because her research is

being directly applied. Her work consists of helping compare their forests on Whaelghinbran Farm to unmanaged forests and giving them recommendations on how to better manage their sustainable forest.

Sagram is interested in researching policies that surround sustainable forest management around the concept of carbon sequestration and the vital role it plays on counteracting the effects of climate change.

“The topic hasn’t been researched much at all”, said Sagram, “it’s a very new concept.”

Sagram had a strong love for the environment before coming to Mount Allison for her studies.

“My purpose in life is to do everything I can to help the environment,” she explained. She chose to study the environment from a scientific perspective.

“It’s how I can best apply my skills to help the world,” she said.

The Argosy

SCIENCE

www.argosy.ca

Barnacles go with the flow Guest speaker talks dispersal methods of invertebrates Keegan Smith A study led by Claudio DiBacco from the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Nova Scotia has discovered that barnacle larvae (called cyprids) have a simple, yet effective, behaviour for traveling around the sea.

“Ocean invertebrates typically have a planktonic larval stage,” DiBacco explained.

“This is their best chance to disperse across large distances.” However, to reach maturity, the larvae must return to the coast and settle.

The question for years has been how this is possible. Cyprids are microscopic in size; crossing miles of ocean seems like a Herculean task for them. Numerous explanations have been proposed, and the most compelling is the examination of cyprid behaviour in downwelling convergence zones—regions of the ocean where physical conditions cause water to come together and rush downwards.

An earlier study found that cyprids tended to be concentrated in the upper half-meter of these zones, which occur around the world.

Thus, it was suggested that cyprids were taking advantage of the currents to minimize their energy expenditures in returning. But how they knew what to do was unclear, with explanations ranging from the innocuous (such as moving towards light) to the convoluted (such as

measurement of angles to celestial bodies).

DiBacco’s work, which he discussed in a talk Mount Allison on Friday afternoon, aimed to determine what was driving the cyprid’s behaviour. To do this, he carefully designed and tested a special flume to mimic conditions of a downwelling zone. Pumps drove water from the top of a cylinder to the bottom, with minimal turbulence. A pair of video cameras were set up to observe behaviour of cyprids added to the flumes, and special software analysed the video data, assessing the movement tracks of individual cyprids.

Successful cyrpids tended to show a diversity of strategies to stay in the water column—some hovered, expending energy to remain in one spot, while others alternated between swimming up, then sinking slowly down to rest and recover.

All exhibited “positive rheotaxis”—their instincts were to fight the current, letting the convergence zones carry them shoreward.

“These are very simple organisms, hard-wired with a single purpose,” said DiBacco. “Many complex explanations [for their behaviour] have been put forward, and that’s the first indication that you’re probably wrong.”

DiBacco noted that his use of complex techniques in the study of simple behviour is justified by high-quality results. He finished his talk by telling students to be wary of alarmist news articles about “expensive” and “frivolous” research work, saying that, “science for the sake of curiosity is never a bad thing.” He is continuing research at BIO, using new techniques to study the potential effects of climate change on ocean invertebrates.

Rocky Mountain research Glacier Discovery Walk and National Park planning Adam Cheeseman GENV 3701 student Natalie Gillis chose to study the role of National Park organizations and public participation within national parks.

She will investigate these roles using a case study example of the Glacier Discovery Walk in Jasper National Park. The development sparked extensive objections within the public community and Jasper National Park organizations. The majority of these objections are based on arguments relating to the environmental impacts associated with the skywalk.

The Glacier Discovery Walk is being financed

by Brewster Travel Canada, a prominent tourism company in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

The development features a semi-circular loop overlooking the Sunwapta Valley. The loop provides tourists a bird’s-eye-view experience of the Athabasca Glacier area. Construction of the glacial skywalk is currently underway, with plans for it to be completed by May 2014. The skywalk

will be open to tourists through the months of May to October and will provide an interpretive storytelling description of natural features in the area.

Gillis interviewed many key stakeholders during her time in the area to understand the controversy surrounding the Glacial Discovery Skywalk. She hopes this information will assist her in determining the level of involvement that different stakeholders have in this project.

“I believe this research will be really beneficial to understanding where our National Parks are at now, and how they take into consideration public input,” Gillis said. “National parks are supposed to be for all citizens and for the protection of the environment, and it will be interesting to see if these commercial developments are hindering this idea of what a National Park is supposed to be.”

Natalie is currently compiling interview data and reading through environmental impact assessments associated with the project. She is hopeful that this background literature will provide evidence for her to determine whether or not National Park organizations and the public were properly consulted in the proposal of this project. Natalie will disseminate her course research through reports and presentations in class and send it back to the park as well.

The Glacier Discovery Walk in Jasper National Park will be open to tourists in May 2014. (Adam Cheeseman/Submitted)

15

Environmental News Emma Jackson

Participants of the Energy for Everyone summit protesting on the streets of Saint John. (Emma Jackson/Submitted)

The eleventh Annual Atlantic Canada Energy Summit took place on October 3 and 4 at the Delta Hotel in Saint John, New Brunswick. Hosted by the oil and gas industry, the conference featured speakers such as Paul Browning, President and CEO of Irving Oil; Steve Pohlod, President of the Energy East Pipeline; and New Brunswick Premier, David Alward. Tickets cost $2,367 for the general public and $1,915 for members of Aboriginal communities and public sector workers. Presentation topics included investment opportunities for energy infrastructure, the status of TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline, and the feasibility of shipping crude oil to the deep sea port at Saint John for export to the U.S Gulf.

Renewable energy development and the changes to federal environmental assessments were also topics addressed.

In response to this conference, the Council of Canadians hosted a counter-summit from October 2 to 4. The conference brought together multiple stakeholders to engage in a panel discussion, workshops, and a rally centred on the future of energy in the Atlantic provinces.

In a statement describing the Energy for Everyone Summit, Council of Canadians board member Leticia Chair said that “[F]racked gas, tar sands pipelines, and nuclear energy aren’t the future—they’re the past. The Atlantic Energy Summit promotes this extreme energy to industry insiders. Energy for Everyone brings people together to learn and organize for the sustainable Atlantic energy future we deserve.”

People from across the Atlantic region and the country attended the Energy for Everyone Summit. Many of the attendees came from environmental groups, such as 350.org and the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, while others attended as concerned citizens, landowners, and as political representatives. Nine Mount Allison students from Brad Walters’s environmental activism class also attended the conference.

The event began on Wednesday evening with a panel discussion featuring Maude Barlow, the Council of Canadians National Chairperson; Alma Brooks, a member of the Maliseet Grand Council from Saint Mary’s First Nation; and

Catherine Abreau, the Regional Coordinator of the Atlantic Canada Sustainable Energy Coalition. Popular topics of discussion included the proposed Energy East pipeline, hydrofracking in New Brunswick, and a renewable energy future for Eastern Canada.

Alma Brooks opened the discussion by emphasizing that the creation of a sustainable energy future for New Brunswick will rely on pressure and participation from all communities, regardless of origin. Maude Barlow, who is currently on her national book release tour of Blue Future, followed speaking to the water contamination risks associated with many of the fossil fuel projects currently taking place in the Atlantic region.

“There is no such thing as a pipeline that doesn’t leak,” she said in reference to TransCanada’s proposed Energy East line.

Catherine Abreau rounded off the discussion with an optimistic tone, highlighting the immense potential and leadership that Atlantic Canada holds in wind, solar, and tidal power.

On Thursday afternoon, while David Alward was speaking inside the Delta, the countersummit participants marched in the streets of uptown Saint John. Dressed as ‘fracked fries’ and raindrops, they shouted, “no pipelines, no tankers” as the RCMP escorted them to outside the Brunswick Square Shopping Centre where Maude Barlow and David Coon, the leader of the New Brunswick Green Party, spoke. Two Mt. A students also addressed the crowd, voicing their concerns over the Energy East pipeline and what they described as Canada’s over-reliance on fossil fuels. The students voiced their support for a renewable energy future and called on other youth to become involved and informed on current environmental issues.

While the majority who attended the Energy for Everyone Summit were over the age of thirty, third-year international relations and geography student Sharoni Mitra said, “the conference really validated that youth can work with older people on these issues,” continuing that “as a young New Brunswicker, five years ago I never would have seen the province as a hotbed for environmental activism, but today it clearly is.”

ARTS & LITERATURE

October 10, 2013

argosy@mta.ca

Canadian poets discuss creative writing

Julie Bruck and Susan Glickman speak at Mt. A

Fact Box

#

Info

Daniel Marcotte

Arts & Literature Writer

The Centre for Canadian Studies held their third event in their fall lineup last Thursday, with award-winning Canadian poets Julie Bruck and Susan Glickman leading a discussion after reading selections from their respective poetry collections. Hosted

by Professor Christl Verduyn in the Owens Art Gallery foyer, the event served dually as the writers’ secondlast stop in their two-week tour of Maritime universities.

Both writers published major, critically-acclaimed works last year: Bruck’s third collection of poems, entitled Monkey Ranch, earned her the Governor General’s Award for Poetry, and Glickman’s historicallyinspired novel, The Tale Teller, as well as her poetry collection The Smooth Yarrow, continue to receive positive reviews throughout Canada since their release in 2012.

Bruck was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, and now lives in California where she continues to write and teach classes at the University of San Francisco and The Writing Salon, an independent school of creative writing for adults based in San Francisco and Berkeley. Her

Julie Bruck and Susan Glickman speak of their writing experiences as part of the Canadian Studies Department speaker series. (Brittany Jones/Mount Allison) poetry has been featured in popular publications such as The Walrus and The New Yorker, among others. She is currently in the process of writing her fourth poetry collection.

Bruck cites the home as a frequent source of information and inspiration.

“Our family relationships are our most intimate ones, and often our most fraught,” she explained. She believes this is often where people bear their true selves, giving a truer sense of being and living: “We reveal ourselves at our most human, whatever that may be.”

Although unbeknownst to her at the time, Susan Glickman went to the same high school as Bruck in Montreal, and went on to study

dramatic arts and English literature in Boston, Massachusetts and at Oxford University in England. She has taught at the University of Toronto, and continues to live in the city where she works as a freelance editor for academic journals, in addition to pursuing her own creative projects.

Because of their extensive experience as educators, particularly in the fields of creative writing, both Glickman and Bruck offered advice regarding the composition process. They described their best inspirations as coming from extended contemplation and metaphoric extrapolation, rather than an instant eureka moment. “It’s usually a thought that won’t go away, like a grain of sand

in your shoe,” speculated Glickman.

Due to Glickman’s success in both prose and poetry, she could attest to the varying challenges provided by each medium. “People who read novels like everything to be explained, and I’m still not used to that,” she elaborated, praising the concise and “compressed” nature of poetry. She also views poetry as a genre that is more perfectible and capable of expressing a complete idea or thought: “there’s a possibility of getting every word right, but that never happens with fiction,” she said.

Both poets also agreed that the process of writing must change the writer as much as it aims to change the reader. They explained that the role of

a poet is to describe or conceptualize a common idea or feeling in ways that have not yet been used by either the writer or their audience. “If you’re not surprising yourself in the process,” Bruck commented, “then the work will be very flat.”

Despite their acclaim and success, both writers were refreshingly humble and eager to share their stories and advice with their audience during the discussion. Although not all students may go on to publish awardwinning poems or prose, the pleasure of meeting excellent writers with the help of the Centre for Canadian Studies is a rewarding experience nonetheless.

Sackville’s history brought to life in photo-book Sackville: Then and Now a mustread history Julia McMillan

Arts & Literature Editor For most students, Sackville’s history begins with their first year at Mount Allison University, and ends with their last. The transient nature of the town and its residents can make it difficult for students to look beyond their own experiences in Sackville, and connect with the area’s surprisingly rich history. Sackville: Then and Now, a book of photographs and history

by Charlie Scobie and Kip Jackson, remedies this problem. The book renders Sackville’s history interesting and accessible to readers through engaging text and photographs that compare historical landmarks to contemporary settings.

The book uncovers little known elements of Sackville’s history through archival and anecdotal exploration.

Composed largely of photographs depicting both the current and past states of recognizable locations, such as the downtown core, the campus, and the surrounding residential areas, the book gives readers a rare insight into Sackville’s evolution over time.

Left: Centennial Hall after the 1933 fire (Mt. A Achives, Picture Collection, 2007.07/712); Right: Centennial Hall in its current condition (Kip Jackson/Submitted); Bottom: the Owens Art Gallery in 1894 (Mt. A Archives, Picture Collection, 2007.07/337).

The earliest photographs presented in the book date back to 1862, while the contemporary photos were taken in 2012 and 2013.

Many of the historic photographs depict landmarks and structures that have disappeared from the town’s contemporary setting. These images help bring lost elements of the town’s history back to life. One piece of history that was of particular interest

to me was that Sackville used to house an active harness racing track. The racetrack operated from 1945 until 1959, when the site was expropriated to form what is now exit 506 on the Trans-Canada highway. If the track still existed today, it would be found in the vicinity of the Westmorland Animal Hospital, the Tantramar Motel, and the Ultramar gas station.

The archival photographs in the

book are beautifully restored and accurately portray the distinctive style and aesthetic of the periods. Some of the book’s most striking photos document fires that destroyed or damaged town establishments. The photographs and textual information about the downtown area are also fascinating, as they reveal that many of the town’s original buildings are still in use today. The space that currently

houses The Black Duck, for example, used to be another restaurant called the Oscar Tracy lunch room that operated from 1900 until 1910.

Although Sackville: Then and Now was compiled primarily by Scobie and Jackson, the book’s creation was also a community effort. Sackville residents contributed old photographs and stories in an effort to create a holistic account of the town’s history. The collaborative approach to the book’s creation is representative of Sackville’s emphasis on the value of community.

As the authors wrote in the book’s preface, “it is only fitting that a book produced about Sackville should be produced by the community it describes.”

Scobie and Jackson emphasize the importance of the preservation of the town’s historic landscape in the book’s preface—a timely statement given the recent discussion about the potential destruction of the Sackville United Church. “[…] Sackville’s connection to its unique past is lost each time a heritage property falls into disrepair and is eventually destroyed. This book will act as a reminder of what Sackville stands to lose if this trend continues,” they wrote.

Sackville: Then and Now is a joint project of the Tantramar Heritage Trust and The Town of Sackville Heritage Board. It is now on sale at Tidewater Books.

The Argosy

ARTS & LITERATURE

www.argosy.ca

17

Fall Fashion trend report: plaid, fur, and grunge How to wear this season’s runway hits Dorian Baker

Fall has arrived in Sackville. It’s time to switch it up and welcome back fashion’s favourite season. Make a statement this fall by experimenting with some trends hot off the runways of Paris, New York, and London— you might be surprised to find some of this season’s staples already in your closet!

Plaid: The plaid trend is undeniably back, making an appearance on nearly every runway this season including consumer favourites Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, and Céline. Top off your look with a tartan print jacket, or consider layering with a cozy flannel. For a bolder look, don’t be afraid to pair checks with checks, as seen on the runways of Lanvin and Dolce and Gabbana.

Fur: This ain’t your grandmother’s fur, people! Sinfully soft and ultra lux, fur is

Integrate these fall favourites into your wardrobe this seasn. From left we see plaid of the runways of Céline Paris, leopard print at Louis Vuitton Paris, and an 80s grunge throwback at Saint Laurent Paris. (Left: Monica Feudl/ feudleguaineri.com, centre: Yannis Viamos/indigital, and right: Fillipo Flor/indigital) back, and it’s here to stay. Fur has long been a staple of northern climates, and this season designers found new and interesting ways of incorporating fur into their collections. Fox, coyote, mink, and exotic furs juxtaposed with

sequins, glitz, and other high gloss fabrics make for an eye-catching look that’s unabashedly glam. PETA fan?

Opt for incorporating an animal print jacket or sweater into your look.

Grunge: The eighties have made a

Ai Weiwei against artistic censorship Artist creates provocative artwork despite political implications Rachel Pagdin No-one says fuck the system quite like Ai Weiwei, a bold Beijing-based artist. Working the mediums of photography, fine art, sculpting, architecture, (you name it, he’s probably done it) to create controversial thought, push the buttons of the Chinese regime, and fight for the freedom of public opinion. The artist activist makes it clear that art cannot, and should not, be censored.

Weiwei’s artistic philosophy rests upon his conviction that being able to share ideas and hear different views on what’s going on in the world is “the foundation for civil society.”

In a PBS interview, Weiwei described the political situation in China, and its effects on creative expression, stating that, “[In China], we are still living under a very restricted dictatorship. We are still dealing with a very restricted control on freedom of expression.”

Despite the challenges an artist in China might face, Weiwei is committed to creating meaningful artwork that fights against a controlling regime. In a censored society, Weiwei provocatively, yet poetically, challenges those viewing his art to consider and question things such as social structures from a different and often uncomfortable angle. Usually, his efforts result in government retaliation.

One of his most controversial pieces followed the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, when thousands of schoolrooms collapsed, killing at least 5,000 children. The incident

resulted in accusations of corruption and patterns of faulty architecture. Weiwei used his artwork to publicly exhibit his opinions when political censors discouraged media from publishing articles that suggested that Chinese schools were poorly built.

To voice his opinion, he sculpted catastrophe into art, collecting twisted steel from the wreckage, straightening it out, and forming it into a long rolling topography titled “Straighten.”

Symbolizing the same event, Weiwei created a massive serpent out of children’s backpacks inspired by the piles of abandoned bags he saw by the wreckage upon his visit.

It’s works like these that have led Weiwei to numerous beatings by the police and, in 2011, imprisonment. After being arrested on unclear grounds, he told The Art Newspaper that “the accusations [were] ridiculous, [but] it’s more frightening to be thrown into the hands of people who will never understand what you are trying to say.”

His art is dangerous, and he acknowledges that. “Life is never guaranteed to be safe,” he says in his documentary, Never Sorry. To the government’s dismay, Weiwei continues to produce artwork.

Although opportunities to display his art in China are few and far between, Weiwei has found a devoted audience in Canada, where his message of resistance has been heard and applauded. His work was recently featured in Toronto’s “Nuit Blanche” exhibition, and is also currently on display at the Art Gallery of Canada. Although his art is in Canada, he has not been able to leave Beijing since 2011. Even from there, he is still making his statement.

Rachel Pagdin is from Kelowna, BC. She is working towards her B.Sc., but when she is not in class, she is all about the arts.

comeback! This season it’s all about mixing and matching. Take some plaid, add studded leather paired with a pleated miniskirt, and you’ll capture the deliberately grungy appeal of the looks that hit the runways. Men, keep

it simple with a pair of jeans worn with a leather biker jacket.

Dorian Baker is a Music student, fashion lover, and international traveler.

Creative Corner “Dollarama” by Noel M. Candles “Dollarama is great, though,” Rob said, standing over us on the city bus, “they’ll like say stop but they won’t do anything. You fill your pockets and leave.”

So we went to Dollarama. Harmun and I ran distraction while a couple aisles over Rob stuffed his hoodie with stale candy. Harmun and I swore loudly and touched things and laughed at our own jokes. Employees watched us. They appeared in whatever aisle we were in, adjusted stuff, glared.

Every time I’ve seen someone shoplift it was a mother with a stroller or a man in a suit. Once at a grocery store I saw a white-haired bean of a grandma slip a bottle of MSG into her purse. She winked at me and shuffled off to the magazines.

At first I wanted to sit outside, watching people push their clattering carts.

“If you want some,” said Rob, “You have to contribute.”

I didn’t really want candy but I did want to contribute.

There was also no way for Dollarama to tell we were Rob’s accomplices. I wouldn’t have helped otherwise. Rob came in after us and would leave while we distracted the cashiers.

Harmun was snagged on a basket of DVDs. He was sifting through strata of Disney knockoffs, Vietnamese action films, and Korean Pixar imitations. “Who even makes this shit?” he laughed. Harmun loved this stuff. Once at a pawn shop we found a bunch of Nollywood anthologies and he practically crapped his pants.

It probably meant the stuff was stolen from a Nigerian family, but before I said anything Harmun was counting toonies into a bearded picker-man’s hand.

Harmun was holding three DVDs when a woman bellowed, “Excuse me.”

We assumed it wasn’t for us. They’d shoot glares but they’d never do anything.

“You two.”

We looked up.

It was a lady, a squat lady with grey hair and a green Dollarama apron cascading over her belly, round pug-eyes bulging. Her squatness made her more puggish. She was hard to take seriously, but the pin on her chest said Manager. She strode

right up to us. She stood in our space.

“Yeah?” said Harmun.

“I have to ask you to leave,” she said, “You’re bothering my customers.”

“Yo,” said Harmun, “We are customers.”

(He really wanted to buy those DVDs.) “I don’t give a damn,” she said.

“What did we do?” I asked, “Why are you throwing us out?”

“I don’t have to answer that,” she said, “just get out of my store.”

We didn’t move.

I muttered, “Public property…”

Her eyes flared, mouth warped. She snatched the DVDs from Harmun. She shouted, “OUT.” We waited for Rob on a bench by the door.

Harmun forced a chuckle. I thought about Rob on the city bus, his brags about shoplifting.

Harmun laughs, Rob brags. He brags about his girlfriend, too, where they fuck. In the woods, behind the theatre, at her parents’. Rob’s scared shitless he’ll lose her. He twists himself towards her, demanding what she wants and likes, slipping arms over her even when she’s angry.

Rob bragged about shoplifting in the same voice that bragged about Clara.

I was thinking that when the white mall security Civic pulled up to the curb. Two guards, a guy and a lady, got out. The lady guard held open the door and as she held the door he looked at us and nodded.

“Boys,” she said.

When the pug-eyed manager pointed him out, Rob had the Twix bar I requested half in his hand and half in his pocket.

We waited three hours until Rob’s dad showed up. Rob would have to pay the fine. He wasn’t allowed to hang out for a while. Harmun and I took the city bus to Blockbusters. We didn’t chat. We bought popcorn and rented a game that wasn’t much fun, then went walking, because that’s about all you can do in our neighbourhood.

An ice cream truck came by. We pooled cash and split a sundae, sat on a park bench while the sun set eating ice cream with white plastic spoons.

Some kids played cops and robbers on the jungle gym. We watched them, then went back home.

HUMOUR Across

October 10, 2013

Answers will be posted to The Argosy’s website.

1- Score; 5- Fountain treats; 10- Chicken, e.g.; 14- Jazzy James; 15- Person of exceptional holiness; 16- It’s a thought; 17- In spite of; 20- Uptight; 21- FedEx rival; 22- “Awake and Sing!” playwright; 23- Altdorf ’s canton; 25- Disinfectant brand; 27- Large landed estate;

31- Black Sea port; 35- Blind as ___; 36- Delighted; 38- Suffix with Capri; 39- Nasser’s org.; 40- 1963 Paul Newman film; 41- Beehive State athlete; 42- Back muscle, briefly; 43- Cpl., e.g.; 44- Beethoven’s Third; 46- Principal; 47- Characteristic quality of a sound; 49- Capital of Australia; 51- Break up;

53- Goddess of dawn in Greek mythology; 54- Port-au-Prince is its capital; 57- Classical beginning; 59- Disgrace; 63- Like afterschool activities; 66- ___ breve; 67- Spring up; 68- Group; 69- Be dependent; 70- Furnishings; 71- Florence’s river; 70- Like an abyss;

Down

18- Able was ___...; 19- Dried strip of egg dough; 24- Pained; 26- Cassock; 27- Visit habitually; 28- Primitive calculators; 29- Billiards shot; 30- Extinct flightless bird; 32- Word with panel or energy; 33- Flight of steps; 34- Big name in insurance; 37- Juan de ____; explorer; 40- Rupture; 45- Jaundiced;

46- Crazy; 48- Be unfaithful; 50- Anjou alternative; 52- Harden; 54- Listen to; 55- Wheel shaft; 56- ___ do; 58- Estimator’s phrase; 60- Banned apple spray; 61- Jazz flutist Herbie; 62- Thus; 64- Structural engineer’s software; 65- Comparative suffix;

1- Lady’s escort; 2- Plains native; 3- Env. notation; 4- Litigation; 5- Fast flier; 6- Island of Hawaii; 7- Show; 8- Fidgety; 9- RR stop; 10- Violin; 11- Comics canine; 12- Proceeded; 13- Falls behind;

argosy@mta.ca

(CUP) — Puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com. Used with permission

The Argosy

HUMOUR

www.argosy.ca

19

RHODES SCHOLAR {2.}

STUDY IR & [INSERT UNCONVENTIONAL COMBINATION WITH IR] This step is essential. Knowing how the nations relate to one another is going to come in handy at Oxford. Whether you’re a realist, a feminist, an institutionalist, or a postmodernist, it really won’t matter. The point is, you’ve started a dialogue. There are no right answers, only perspectives.

What really matters is that you talk a lot in your seminars. Just say things. Pull your other major out of a hat; you’ll look well rounded. You may as well challenge yourself here, because nothing could be harder than getting an experiential learning credit approved.

{1.} SECURE YOURSELF AN ARBITRARY POSITION OF POWER WHILE IN RESIDENCE It really doesn’t matter if you’re an RA or on Exec: you have made yourself essential in the sticky, sweaty, liquor-soaked machine that is residence life at Mount Allison. Congratulations! You’ve just earned yourself a one-way ticket to any committee, club, or society executive on campus you want! Elections are a breeze, because hey—you’re a leader! And it’s a good thing you get paid nickels and dimes, too, because you sure as hell have to keep that scholarship now.

“It’s easy to be a BIG FISH when the pond is really, really small!”

{3.}

WORK HARD TO CONVINCINGLY START A NEW ATHLETIC CLUB——OR PREPARE TO SERIOUSLY ROMANTICIZE YOUR LATENT LOVE OF JOGGING According to the criteria set by ol’ Cecil himself, all potential Rhodes scholars need to have the “energy to use one’s talents to the fullest, as exemplified by fondness for and success in sports.” In other words, you will need to show the fight and tenacity to get yourself out of playing a real varsity sport.

{4.}

SPEND YOUR SUMMERS {a} ‘HELPING’ PEOPLE THAT DON’T WANT YOUR ‘HELP’, &/OR {b} RESEARCHING WAYS OF ‘HELPING’ PEOPLE WHO STILL PROBABLY DON’T NEED IT With this step, you can get creative. Most applicants opt for the latter option, because Honduras was just too damn hot. You’re an intellectual. So grab a seat on Ducky’s sunny patio for a full Sackville summer of half-baked undergraduate research that posits massive change for time-honoured methods and institutions. And enjoy yourself! You’re unmolested by the gravity of work that has been done in the discipline. The committee will love your enthusiasm; you’re an agent of change after all. Go nuts!

{5.}

PREPARE FOR THE GUILT OF KNOWING YOUR GRADUATE STUDIES WILL BE FUNDED BY THE DIRTIEST BLOOD MONEY THE WORLD HAS EVEN SEEN! After four years studying the world’s injustices, get ready to cash in! Think back to your first Poli Sci paper—the one titled, “Colonialism is the worst: a white, upper-middle class adolescent’s perspective.”

Well, now you get to go to grad school on ol’ Kurtz’s dime! My advice is to just keep reminding yourself that you’re going to make up for all the human rights violations that paid for your education by being the best damn walking advertisement the university has ever seen!

BY RYAN HARLEY: A shark in the kiddie pool

So you want to be a doctor?

Have the advantage.

MOCK MCAT prep Session Saturday, November 2nd | Crabtree M14 | 9:00 am For more information and to register visit: http://masu.ca/advantage

Â