The Argosy, February 15, Vol.147, Iss. 16

NEWS C3 Climate Challenge (Pg. 3) ,,,,, chameleon since 1872

ARTS & CULTURE Acting techniques brought to Sackville (Pg. 7)

SPORTS New column by SHARE (Pg. 8)

OPINIONS Should a tax on sugar be implemented? (Pg. 10)

Mount Allison’s Independent Student Newspaper

COVER: GILLIAN HILL, FRAGMENTS OF SACKVILLE, 2018.

February 15, 2018 Vol. 147, Iss. 16

02 NEWS PLAYLIST

Black History Month ALI SIMBANEGAVI Contributor DNA. Kendrick Lamar

THURSDAY, FEB. 15

Surfin’ Kid Cudi, Pharrell Williams

CSIS recruitment info session Wallace McCain Student Centre 228, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Rock with You Michael Jackson

REB workshop Crabtree 223, 10-11 a.m.

Interdisciplinary Conversations Owens Art Gallery Foyer, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

RJC Alumni Speaker: Brian Harriman Avard Dixon 118, 6-7:30 p.m.

Modern languages department wine & cheese night Crabtree 304, 6-8 p.m.

Smooth Operator Sade Love On Top Beyoncé Ex-Factor Ms. Lauryn Hill On & On Erykah Badu YOU’RE THE ONE KAYTRANADA, Syd

WGST Galentine’s Day Movie Night RP Bell Library Theatre, 7-10 p.m.

Get Away The Internet

FRIDAY, FEB. 16

Supermodel (You Better Work) RuPaul

University announcement PCCA Foyer, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Versace (Remix) Migos, Drake

Truth and ReconciliACTION Film Series: Birth of a Family RP Bell Library Theatre, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Love Galore SZA, Travis Scott

Women’s Leadership Series 2.0 Jennings Hall Banquet Room, 3-5 p.m.

Gold High Klassified, Mick Jenkins Don’t Touch My Hair Solange, Sampha

Bad Movie Society Dunn Room 106, 7-9:30 p.m.

In A Sentimental Mood Duke Ellington, John Coltrane

ARTS MATTERS 2016 Undergrad Conference deadline for submissions Email submission at engagearts@ unb.ca

Superstition Stevie Wonder

SATURDAY, FEB. 17

All Along the Watchtower Jimi Hendrix

Mt. A women’s volleyball vs. Holland Main Gym, 2-4 p.m.

Missing You Diana Ross

Soap Opera with Double Vision T&L, 9:30 p.m., $5 cover, 19+

Untouchable Pusha T

Norf Norf - Vince Staples

SUNDAY, FEB. 18 Mt. A women’s volleyball vs. Holland Main Gym, 2-4 p.m.

MONDAY, FEB. 19 TO FRIDAY FEB. 23 Winter reading week No classes

THURSDAY FEB. 22

Very amateur stand-up comedy night T&L, 7-10 p.m., $ cover, 19+ HTTP://SPOTI.FI/2GBXODN SYLVAN HAMBURGER/ARGOSY

EDITOR: MAIA HERRIOT & MINNOW HOLTZ-CARRIERE | FEBRUARY 15. 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

STUDENT POLITICS

Newly elected MASU team plans to create Indigenous senate position and improve student awareness of services opportunities that are available to students,” said Titarenko, listing health care and tuition relief as examples of important services that might be difficult to understand how to access. “One of the big things I’ve come across is how complicated it can be applying to grants or to aid.”

Titarenko also wants to push awareness of town events and volunteering opportunities, as well as to help encourage students to vote in the upcoming New Brunswick general election this fall. Élise Vaillancourt was elected as VP student life, running against candidates Mackenzie Gordon and Caitlin O’Connor. Vaillancourt won with 57 per cent of the vote.

Vaillancourt wants to work on developing a co-curricular record – an official document that would list students’ non-academic achievements and participation at the University, as well as focusing on community involvement, support for clubs and societies, and mental health.

NEW MASU PRESIDENT EMMA MILLER SAID THAT SHE WANTS TO REPRESENT Vaillancourt emphasized that STUDENTS MORE ACCURATELY ON MASU COUNCIL. SYLVAN HAMBURGER/ARGOSY many students want to get involved MINNOW HOLTZ-CARRIERE Andrew Moreira. in the Sackville community, but News Editor “We have a gender-neutral might not know how to. She hopes to language policy at Mount Allison,” combat this by pushing community From Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, the Mount said Fry, “but that policy is from services and raising awareness Allison Student Union held 1989 and it’s reflected within the of opportunities for students to elections for the position of MASU policy, unfortunately.” Fry also wants participate. president, as well as for three viceto increase knowledge about how Grace Moreno, a third-year president positions: academic affairs, workplace harassment policies work, chemistry student, was also elected external affairs and student life. especially with as councillor-at-large Approximately one-third of students regard to TAs, with 72 per cent of the turned out to vote. and to make sure “I UNDERSTAND THE vote. Moreno will act as Emma Miller, a third-year political those policies are a voting representative science student and current VP adequate.

STRESS OF HOLDING AN of the student body in student life, ran unopposed and was Fry’s other goals Council. elected MASU president with 93.6 were increasing EXECUTIVE ROLE, BUT “I want to have per cent of votes in her favour. a c a d e m i c conversations about In her general speech, Miller awareness and MORE IMPORTANTLY issues that affect all of listed mental health advocacy, better knowledge, us at Mount Allison,” representation of students within building and THE STRESS AND said Moreno in her MASU, and student support as her structuring general speech. “I want main priorities. “I understand the policy that would FRUSTRATION OF BEING to know what people stress of holding an executive role,” govern how are passionate about said Miller, “but more importantly I MASU can lobby A STUDENT” and what they want understand the stress and frustration administration, and Indigenous represented on campus.” Moreno of being a student.” representation. emphasized her participation at Mt. A “It is important that the [Student Fry also wants to increase as last year’s Windsor Hall president, Administrative Council] be communication between MASU and in a number of clubs, and on several structured in a way that is reflective the academic faculties. He said that MASU committees. Moreno said of the student body it is speaking the dean’s council of the arts has been she wants to be an open resource to on behalf of,” said Miller on particularly helpful for exchanging students. representation in council. When information between arts faculties A referendum determining asked about the specifics of her plans and MASU, and would like to expand whether Lettuce Eat would gain to improve representation, Miller it to the sciences and social sciences. university funding included in the said, “I hope to consult and then bring Emelyana Titarenko, a third-year election was passed. Mt. A students forward to council the idea of having psychology student and current VP will now pay a $1 levy that supports Indigenous representation, hopefully communications, ran unopposed for Lettuce Eat as a part of their student through a position on senate.” Miller the position of VP external, garnering fees. Lettuce Eat provides students said that she would consult with other 92.7 per cent of votes in her favour. with a free vegan meal made with universities to determine other forms Her platform focused on housing donations of local food a few times a of representation. issues, helping students access more year.

Diverse representation was a main services and opportunities and MASU is currently hiring for point in Noah Fry’s platform as well. improving the relationship between the positions of VP finance and Fry, a third-year PPE student, was students and Sackville locals. operations, VP communications and elected VP academic after winning “I want to get people informed a number of other staff positions. All about 60 per cent of the vote over on all the government services and students are welcome to apply.

NEWS

THE ARGOSY | WWW.SINCE1872.CA

CONSERVATION

03

Climate change week talk sheds light on the future of forest birds in New Brunswick Chignecto Naturalists’ Club hosted Canadian Wildlife Services’ biologist Peter Thomas to discuss how bird population and migration patterns may change with the environment AMELIA MACDOUGALL-FLEMING

News Reporter

On Feb. 12, Peter Thomas of Canadian Wildlife Services spoke to the Chignecto Naturalists’ Club as part of Sackville’s climate change week.

The talk explained that climate change will affect migration timing, patterns, and start and end points for forest birds. This will alter ecosystems and negatively affect all species, including humans.

Thomas also spoke about how the distribution and abundance of forest birds will be altered due to climate change. One example was the boreal chickadee, which is moving further north as a result of the warming climate. According to Thomas, the boreal chickadee population has decreased three per cent annually from 2005 to 2015.

Thomas also noted that the trend of birds moving north will introduce new forest birds to N.B. coming from the south. Thomas explained that in the coming century New Brunswickers can expect to see unfamiliar species such as the orchard oriole, the yellow-throated vireo and many more. Thomas said, “You’ll be teaching your great-grandchildren how to identify a boat-tailed grackle, because in 2020 they’ll be making their way up the coast.”

Climate change is also endangering bird populations because it alters the food processes birds have adapted to. Thomas explained that climate change alters the hatching time of many insects, which disrupts the feeding cycle of many forest birds.

This happened with the European pied flycatcher – the species saw a 90 per cent population decline in the course of 20 years.

Thomas explained this could happen in N.B. as well. He used the example of the common gray jay. Gray jays stay in N.B. year-round and scatter-hoard their food, meaning they hide collected food throughout their territory.

However, the effects of climate change could cause hoard rot, meaning the stored food would not be consumed. In this case, the gray jay populations would drop significantly.

Another factor that is endangering birds is the effects of a changing climate on N.B. forests. “The climate is changing faster than the habitat can keep up,” said Thomas. Climate change is causing an increase in forest fires and pests, consequently reducing the available habitat for birds. If trends progress as predicted,

N.B’s climate will be more suited for oak-hickory forests, as opposed to the current boreal forests.

According to Thomas, a large factor in saving these forests is necessary change in the softwood industry and protecting natural environments.

“It’s one thing to have a model, but it’s another thing to take that model and put it to use from a management position,” he said.

First-year geography major Jacob MacPherson agreed, saying, “My hopes for the future of New Brunswick are wider and more consistent areas of protection as opposed to having things like waterfowl parks, which are good additions, but aren’t really big enough to support entire ecosystems.

More is good, and having them connected is really important.”

The audience was mostly comprised of members of the Chignecto Naturalists’ Club; however, a few interested community members came to the talk as well.

Katrine Cammann-Kummer came to learn more about the future of N.B. birds. “I just try to update my

“MY HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF NEW BRUNSWICK IS

WIDER AND MORE

CONSISTENT AREAS OF PROTECTION”

NEW BRUNSWICK FOREST BIRDS LIKE THE BOREAL CHICKADEE HAVE EXPERIENCED ANNUAL POPULATION DECREASES AND ARE MOVING FURTHER AND FURTHER NORTH AS THE CLIMATE WARMS. LOUIS SOBOL/ARGOSY knowledge and know what’s going on in these special fields,” she said.

“It’s important to have this critical thinking and there’s a lot of good insights from the people in these fields.”

By the end of the evening, the audience was left with more questions than answers about the future of

forests birds in N.B. Thomas asked, “Which birds will adapt? How will New Brunswick forests change, both in the short and long term? And how will forest managing and planning adapt?”

ENVIRONMENT

Annual Campus Climate Challenge begins

Mount Allison residences and academic buildings compete to lower energy consumption LILY FALK News Reporter

THE CAMPUS CLIMATE CHALLENGE TRACKS ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR A TWO WEEK PERIOD TO ENCOURAGE STUDENT AWARENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. SYLVAN HAMBURGER/ARGOSY

The campus climate challenge is on! This annual, inter-university competition takes place from Feb. 4 to 17. Energy consumption is tracked in residences and academic buildings and compared against a baseline of the previous two weeks to see which building can lower its energy consumption the most. At stake for the residences are house points, which contribute to winning House of the Year.

“The goal is not to be an exclusive two week recognition of environmental issues, rather, it aims to promote sustainable practices that can be adopted in everyday life for weeks, months and years to come,” said Andrew Linton, third-year student and head eco rep. He’s part of the student group that organizes the Campus Climate Challenge, otherwise known as C3.

The competition has been running since 2007 with schools participating across the Maritime provinces. In past years, residences at Mt A have reduced their energy consumption

upwards of 30 per cent.

Siobhan Doyle is a second-year international relations student, member of eco-action and eco-rep of Windsor Hall. “As an eco-rep, we do monthly building audits of whether windows are left open or leaky, are tapes leaky, are lights working properly, are they being left on,” said Doyle. Doyle plans on hosting a clothing swap for the competition and having the hall lights reduced to quiet hour lights. She also wants to find ways to reduce Windsor’s footprint when they host Mardi Gras.

Amber Leblanc is the eco-rep for Avard-Dixon and a second-year environmental science student. “I’ve always been super conscious of the environment and of living more sustainably,” said LeBlanc. “I’m in conservation biology this semester and it’s reinforcing everything, it’s so important to be aware of what we’re doing to the earth and to save where you can.”

Awareness is an important part of the competition, but some students

remain unaware that it’s going on.

“A lot people don’t know about it or they’ll forget that it happens every year or that it’s going on right now,” said Leblanc.

The competition has a Facebook page where they post tips for reducing individual energy consumption and host events to encourage participation, such as a joint meal with Lettuce Eat and a local food night. However, the habits made during C3 are meant to continue beyond these two weeks. “I think that we should always be thinking about how to live more sustainably, but presenting information in the form of a two week event provides an opportunity to convey information about energy use and sustainability to a larger proportion of the Mt. A community,” said Linton. “The event is important as a reminder of how individual actions can have an impact in reducing energy consumption.”

“IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE ... AND TO

SAVE WHERE YOU CAN.”

04

NEWS

OUTREACH

Community volunteer profiles The Mount Allison Semester Studies in English program offers specialized English programs for students from Mt. A’s international partners. Mt. A students can volunteer to join the conversation partner program and be assigned a MASSIE student to hang out with once a week. The program is intended to be a casual way for MASSIE students to improve their language skills and adapt to the exchange experience.

FEBRUARY 15, 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

ARCHIVES

Vol. XLIV, February 1918, No. 4 Many interesting letters have been received this month from Mt. A men in the service. The letters come from men scattered over two continents and in many branches of the service, but it is worthy of note that the spirit carried into the new activities is that of old Mt. A. and that the Alma Mater still occupies a large place in the heart of each of her soldier sons.

France, Jan. 2nd, 1918.

Editor, “The Argosy,”

Sackville, N. B. Dear Sir :Just a line or two to thank you for the Mt. A. Christmas box. It takes a

fellow back to college days with all their associations.

I have met very few Mt. A men during this year. I saw Ruggles away back in the spring and I ran into Jimmie MacLean one day, stepping along at the head of a platoon of full sized men. I met Baines a few days ago. I suppose I should say the Reverend Ernest Baines.

I am still at the same old job, signalling. It is a whole department in itself. It includes everything from wireless to carrier pigeons. It is really interesting work. First you have telephones and two or three different kinds of them. Then you have flares, all sorts of combinations of fireworks,

FINE ARTS

each with its own meaning. When it is too hot to keep up telephone wires, you use lamps or flags or shutters or discs or pigeons or power buzzers or wireless. Signals must go through, no matter what the cost, and go through they do. Another branch is signals to and from aeroplanes. Then you have codes and all sorts of schemes for fooling the Hun. Connected with signals you have listening sets. They are of different kinds and are used to pick up or overhear enemy messages.

Best wishes for the new year to all Mt. A. students. Thanks again for the Christmas box. Here’s hoping you won’t have to send any more.

Yours truly, BECK. ‘13.

Behind the scenes at the Mt. A Show and Sale

Student artists exhibit their work, ranging from prints to rugs and everything in between

MAGGIE HLUSHAK (RIGHT) , PICTURED WITH HER CONVERSATION PARTNER (LEFT), IS A SECOND YEAR WITH AN UNDECLARED MAJOR.

“[The MASSIE conversation partner program] is a wonderful program that I would sincerely recommend to anyone to apply to be a part of! We are technically meeting to help them but it also helped me; working on my communication and social skills and learning new and interesting things about the Japanese culture.”

ART SUCH AS THIS WORK BY LOGAN MILNE @THEPUNKRABBIT WAS ON DISPLAY FOR PURCHASE. GILLIAN HILL/ARGOSY

RYAN KARIMI Arts and Culture Reporter

ANNA CAMPBELL (RIGHT), A SECOND-YEAR PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR, WITH HER CONVERSATION PARTNER (LEFT), SHIHO. .“The MASSIE conversation program was a unique opportunity that

allowed me both to learn about another’s culture and make a new friend. I loved that you were paired with a student with similar interests as your own – and my conversation partner, Shiho, and I enjoyed movie nights, picnics by Swan Pond, photography and sledding. We grew very close and I looked forward to our weekly meetings.”

ANNA CAMPBELL AND MAGGIE HLUSHAK/SUBMITTED

Several student artists exhibited and sold their work last Thursday and Friday at the latest iteration of the Fine Arts Society’s semesterly Show and Sale.

“Show and Sales are a great way for students to gain experience with marketing their work and make some extra cash. It has the potential to be a really great opportunity for both artists and those who are interested in finding gifts and adding interesting pieces to their collections,” said event organizer Brenna MacMillan.

Logan Milne, a fine arts student, added that “these sales are important because they not only help us fund our practices and projects, but also because they help with exposure.”

Beyond the usual paintings and sculptures, there were some unusual pieces with interesting stories behind them for sale. Milne’s own pieces come to mind.

Milne specializes in rug hooking, a time-intensive art form. A single rug can often take several weeks to

complete. Milne said, “I enjoy, and am naturally drawn to, processes that require a lot of time and effort.

I find that they enable a rich and worthwhile experience in terms of thinking an idea of a feeling through.”

“Making things with my hands,” she continued, “is something that has always come really naturally to me.

Last Christmas, I was lucky enough to be mentored by a master rug hooker in Fredericton, Elizabeth Bastin. It was amazing and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

In addition to Milne’s work, the Show and Sale featured lithography prints and silkscreen prints by fine arts students Bayonne Rongen and Sylvan Hamburger, respectively.

Rongen said about her pieces, “I really enjoy playing with the mythological or fantasy factor that can be applied to everyday life, which can create all sorts of emotions to come across in my work.”

On the logistical side of things, MacMillan said, “Organizing can be a little hectic but we have a great team on the Fine Arts Society: Madeleine Hansen, Braden Chetwynd, Malcolm

Campbell and Gabrielle Johnson. We work really well together and also have the help of the fine arts secretary, Leslie Bonang, who is fantastic and is essentially the glue that holds the whole department together.”

When Bonang was asked about the importance of a Show and Sale, she reiterated MacMillan’s earlier sentiment: “These shows are important for our students to show their work to both the University community and the larger Sackville community, as well as to provide them with an opportunity to sell what they have created.”

Rongen added, “I think that everyone should support local artists.

It sustains the continuous production of art, and it helps the smaller local artists get more of a voice within the community with what they are trying to say in their art.”

MacMillan mentioned that the next Show and Sale will likely take place at the end of this semester. Members of the Sackville community, definitely keep your eyes peeled. Who knows?

You might find your next living room centrepiece.

EDITOR: ALIX MAIN FEBRUARY 15, 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

SPEAKERS

ARTS & CULTURE 05

Mt. A hears from LaDonna Brave Bull Allard In a moving speech, influential activist discusses the repercussions of human activity

MAX CHAPMAN Arts & Culture Reporter Tuesday, Feb. 8 was a night riddled with storm warnings. Most of the East Coast was completely shut down and there was a halt on most travel throughout the Maritimes – but the Wu Centre was packed. Community members and Mount Allison students and faculty walked into the largest lecture hall on campus to listen to LaDonna Brave Bull Allard speak. Librarian Mark Truitt mentioned that the school has been attempting to bring Allard to Mt. A for years now.

Allard, one of the most influential catalysts for the protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline, told her story, and brought some audience members to tears.

“I am not an activist, I am a historian,” began Allard. During 2015 when the plans surfaced for the pipeline, Allard lived peacefully in her home near a Sacred Stone burial site in North Dakota, where her ancestors and the ancestors of her people have been buried for centuries. When the Dakota Access Pipeline, which Allard calls “the black snake,” became public, she realised she was the closest landowner. The project threatened to devastate her environment, which has belonged to Allard’s family for centuries. Allard had agency – she opened her land to the world and encouraged those who are against

these plans to show their colours and stand up for their beliefs.

Thousands of people flocked to her land, setting up tents to weather the coming of the seemingly unbeatable billion-dollar company. “I am a mom until I die,” said Allard on why she opened her land. “It is the young people who stood up.… It is [they] who were able to touch the world.”

The young men and women of the camp provided for the older members of the camp, and vice versa. When confronted by the military, as well as hired militia groups, they stood.

Even when they were being brutalized by these groups, the camp was resilient.

After the pipeline was built, Allard kept standing up for her beliefs. She took her cause to the global stage, imploring nations to divest from their fossil fuel dependence. Allard remains humbled by the group that backed her, insisting that she is not a leader but that she was simply given the opportunity to act.

At the end of her speech, Allard said, “Invest in your own communities.” She implored the audience to take their money from big banks, which spread it throughout the world, and turn the money inwards so it has a more recognizable effect on your life. “Our world is changing,” said Allard. “We must stand up and clean our environment.… It’s about wanting to live.”

“OUR WORLD IS

CHANGING. WE MUST

STAND UP AND CLEAN

OUR ENVIRONMENT ... IT’S

Allard said that sharing knowledge is of utmost important. For instance, Allard is currently involved in a project to make a trailer that costs about $6,000 and includes solar panels, a water reclamation system and other amenities that take the buyer “off the grid.” This project has been built and tested as a prototype, and is currently at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology being catalogued and tested for commercial use.

Following the presentation, a crowd of nearly 120 rose to their feet to celebrate and thank Allard, a person so courageous and humble that she both owned the room and shared it. “It was amazing to hear someone speak like that,” said Rebecca Estabrooks.

ABOUT WANTING TO LIVE.”

LADONNA BRAVE BULL ALLARD SPEAKS WITH ASHLEY CUMMINGS AFTER HER TALK. CHAOYI LIANG/ARGOSY

FILM

Sharp Reviews: ‘Weiner’

An intellectually limp, ultimately unsatisfying account of Weiner’s self-aggrandizing.

DEREK SHARP Columnist I can’t help but feel like I’m not the intended audience for Weiner. This documentary is laser-focused on Anthony Weiner, who is the eye of a complex, sexually charged storm.

He’s clearly an important part of the story, but is nothing compared to the swirling winds of scandal and electoral drama that rip up the world around him. I expect that the intended audience is already intimately familiar with the story of Anthony Weiner: the fall, the election, everything. I had not heard of him before viewing this, and so I found its laser focus frustratingly limited. I wanted to know about the election and the politics behind it all. If you, like me, want a deeper understanding of this messy election, you’ll find Weiner unsatisfying.

For the uninitiated: now-infamous American politician Anthony Weiner is a former congressman whose sexts, including dick pics, were leaked onto the internet in 2011. The controversy was exacerbated by the fact that

Huma Abedin, former advisor to Hillary Clinton and his wife at the time, was pregnant with their first child. She, it turned out, was not the recipient of these sexually charged messages. Uh-oh!

The documentary picks up in 2013; the Weiner is back, baby! And he’s running for the mayor’s seat of New York City. Unfortunately, Weiner is a shallow account that offers no real insight into the man, the mayoral race or the fallout of his actions.

The strongest part of Weiner is Anthony.

He is strangely charismatic, although a part of me felt he was too self-satisfied at being the focus of the documentary. He clearly loved being the centre of attention, and the documentary makes no attempt to challenge him in any way. It sort of felt like I was doing exactly what he wanted me to do, like this documentary was intended to be a PR stunt, complete with clearly

calculated candour; in watching it, I was playing right into his smarmy, politically desperate hands. About thirty minutes into the film I felt spiteful, watching more out of a desire to see him flail in the controversy as opposed to gleaning whatever political insight I could take from the doc.

When the second wave of dick pics hits and the campaign grinds to a halt, the movie maintains a firmly sympathetic perspective and doesn’t seek to flesh out the issue at all. It barely even attempts to explain how the world is reacting beyond his falling poll numbers. Put plainly: there are more interesting parts of this story than Anthony Weiner and his wife silently staring at each other for a minute. This is, again, indicative of my own limited grasp of the situation, but the film is a lean hour and a half. Another 10 or 20 minutes dedicated to fleshing out the world beyond Weiner would have gone a

[SHE] WAS NOT THE

RECIPIENT OF THOSE SEXUALLY CHARGED MESSAGES. UH-OH!

long way to elevate the rest of the experience for me.

In the end, I can’t find it in myself to recommend Weiner. Frankly, this is because, since its release, Anthony has been sent to jail for sexting a 15-year-old. On top of being despicable, it makes his coy denial of any sexual wrongdoing in the film eerie. It’s one thing when these are consensual infidelities – there’s a certain scandalous allure to that.

Pedophilia is nothing but repulsive, and really casts a whole shadow over the events of Weiner. He could have

been doing this right underneath our noses, and there’s no way to know.

Even if Weiner was good I would be hesitant to want to give Anthony any exposure at all; he deserves none.

But with Weiner being as shallow and superficial as it is, there is no reason to even consider watching. Your time would be better spent doing literally anything else.

I saw Weiner at a screening courtesy of Mount Allison’s Political Science and International Relations Society!

Check them out on Facebook!

06

ARTS & CULTURE

FEBRUARY 15, 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

MUSIC

Students take part in Entre Amis performances

COLUMN

Local musicians collaborate with peers from the U de M ISAIAH YANKECH Contributor

Last Thursday and Friday, music students from Mount Allison and Université de Moncton participated in an annual joint performance collaboration. Every year since 2004, the two music departments host an evening performance in their respective recital halls, giving students an opportunity to perform outside of their usual performance setting.

“What I enjoyed the most about Entre Amis was the range of music that was performed,” said first-year saxophonist Owen Switzer. “It was everything from Bach to Noda.”

Friday evening’s concert in Brunton Auditorium featured varied repertoire from more familiar works for vocalists, solo piano and brass, to contemporary works written by living composers.

The concert opened with an unconventional performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in G minor. Rather than hearing it performed on a keyboard or stringed instrument, it was played by a saxophone quartet comprised of students from U de M, which immediately provided a type of sound quality listeners aren’t used to hearing with this particular genre.

Performances by students from Mt. A followed the first work and filled the remainder of the first half, with performances by vocalists, pianists and a flautist. Excellent storytelling was conveyed in performances of Pauline Viardot’s Hai Luli! and Hector Berlioz’s L’Île inconnue (Les nuits d’été), performed by vocalists Emily Steers and Sarah Kaye Klapman respectively.

More sizeable works were performed by pianists Madeleine Gaudette and Martine Jomphe. In

IV. Air and Variations (Suite No. 5 in E major, HWV 430) by Handel, Gaudette brought out the graceful and lyrical melody through her effective choice in tempo, which allowed the work to grow in shape and intensity as each movement expanded in density and rhythmic activity. Jomphe’s performance of the third movement (Rondeau.

Allegro) from Mozart’s Sonata in D major, K. 331 was engaging through her ability to distinctively display the different sections within the movement. Overall, her playing had a nice sense of flow, direction and clean articulation, which complemented the differences between the playful passages and the more singing-like quality phrases.

In Andante, the third movement of J.S. Bach’s Sonata in E minor, BWV 1034, flautist Lucie Bauby played beautifully through the melodic lines, which had an evident range of dynamics and was aided by the gentle yet supportive playing by collaborative pianist Sébastien Leclerc, producing a well-balanced performance.

Following an intermission, the second half opened with a soothing performance of Claude Debussy’s Arabesque No. 1, arranged by E. Baranzano and performed by guitar student Caleb Bourgeois from U de M, which was fitting in terms of programming order, given the extreme contrast of the following work.

The next piece, Improvisation II, written by Japanese composer Ryo Noda for alto saxophone, was performed by Mt. A saxophonist Jack Smith. The piece consisted of an abundance of resonant and high-pitched sounds. Smith took full advantage of this contemporary work in his performance, which was engaging not through the beauty of

the melody (which was scarce) but rather through the unconventional and intriguing techniques employed at various dynamic and pitch levels, such as multiphonics (loud growl quality) and bisbigliando (colour trill or whisper tone).

A return to regular harmonic structure was found in French horn student Luke Rayworth’s performance of the first movement of Beethoven’s Sonata in F major for Horn and Piano, Op. 17. Leclerc continued to do an excellent job, through the flexibility in his playing, of helping the soloist give the movement energy and life, making Rayworth’s entries bold and stately.

Jocelyn Blanchette’s performance on the marimba of the third movement from Emmanuel Séjourné’s Concerto No. 1 was one of the highlights of the program. Performing alongside collaborative pianist Nhat-Viet Phi, Blanchette’s piece came across as virtuosic within the opening sounds through the impressive complexity of rhythmic intensity and density, further highlighted by the swift tempo.

The concert concluded on a light note, with a funny performance of What a Movie! from Trouble in Tahiti

by Leonard Bernstein from vocalist Sarah Sharpe. Her acting was on full display in this comical aria, a perfect end to a program of varied works by the talented student musicians New Brunswick has to offer.

“The Entre Amis concerts are a fantastic performance opportunity for Mt. A and Université de Moncton students,” said third-year vocalist Emily Steers. “Not only is it a great opportunity to perform in unfamiliar spaces in front of a new audience, it’s a chance to meet other students like us and share in this experience.”

TINA OH Columnist Two summers ago I was driving in Moncton when a car pulled up beside me at a traffic light. A group of young white boys were singing a rap song called Man of the Year by Schoolboy Q. I remember this moment well because I had just listened to the song in my own car as it came on shuffle.

I remember thinking to myself that it was a fun coincidence, so I looked over just as they sang the lyrics, “N**** cop a crib in the burbs, N**** you ain’t said nothing but a word.”

Then the light changed, and they were on their way.

I can’t comment how old those boys were or what their intentions were, but I am unconvinced that it matters. The ease of which those boys sang the n-word – without a second thought – is symbolic of how complex and deep-seated anti-blackness is ingrained not only in our political and social spheres, but in how we portray culture.

White privilege is being able to sing lyrics to a song about surviving on welfare cheques to finding success as an artist and living in a white neighbourhood, all while claiming ignorance in saying a word that is associated with such a vile and dark history. White privilege is being able to blast a song on a busy street and be looked at “as kids” while Black boys are thought of as a threat to society. It is emblematic of a failed education system where young Canadians are barely, if at all, taught Black history in Canada and Black contributions to society.

Canada, which takes so much

pride in multiculturalism, utilizes it to provide institutional power to the appropriation of cultures that it neglects. While Canada promotes itself as a safe haven for immigrants and refugees, thousands of Black people and children (deemed “illegal”) spend years (in some cases over 10 years) in detention centres without being charged for a single crime. We cannot take what we like about Black culture and remain quiet as another young Black man is murdered at the hands of police. We cannot stand idle as our government steals Black children away from Black parents who are deemed “unfit” due to racial profiling.

Over the past couple of years, I have thought back to the relatively mundane situation of those boys singing in their car at least a dozen times. How many times have we, as non-Black people, ignorantly taken from Black culture to make us seem “cooler” or “cultured” without respecting the Black people who created it? This is not to say that we cannot support or be fans of Black work, but that we have systemically failed to support Black people in return. It is cheap to look back at the situation and call it harmless when it is just another case of non-Black people borrowing, stealing, praising, glorifying and appropriating Black culture without using our privilege to end the violence against Black bodies. No matter how negligible situations of cultural appropriation may seem, let it remind us how embedded the theft of culture is in our Canadian history and framework.

THE LIGHT CHANGED, AND THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY.

LOUIS SOBOL/ARGOSY

ARTS & CULTURE

THE ARGOSY | WWW.SINCE1872.CA

WORKSHOPS

07

Drama students learn Suzuki and Viewpoints

Thomas Morgan Jones of Theatre New Brunswick applies techniques from across the globe JENA MCLEAN Arts & Culture Reporter “Frustration is a kind of tension, isn’t it?” Thomas Morgan Jones asked at one point during his workshop last weekend. “It’s a tension in your mind.

Let it go because it’s really not useful.”

He then gave a cue by whacking a thick bamboo stick against the ground; the students moved into the next position.

Despite the winter weather, Jones, Theatre New Brunswick’s artistic director, travelled to Sackville to share his training. To three current students and two alumni, he taught a five-hour workshop on the Suzuki Method of Actor Training and the Viewpoints methodology.

Before starting on exercises, Jones provided the history of the method, developed by Tadashi Suzuki and his actors in Toga, Japan. Suzuki “seeks to heighten the actors’ emotional and physical power and their commitment to every moment onstage,” Jones explained.

This is done by “returning the wholeness, or the totality, of the human body back into the theatre” through intense focus on energy creation, breath control and controlling one’s centre of gravity.

This method provides alternative to typical post-20th century acting techniques that focus primarily on internal thought and text. Alison Crosby, an alumna who travelled from Halifax, said in an email that

she was excited to learn more about Suzuki, which she’s “been curious about for a long time.”

“It’s rare to find workshops that are intensives in such specific forms of theatre training, so travelling two hours to and back from Sackville was more than worthwhile,” she wrote.

For most of the workshop, Jones led the attendees through several precise and demanding Suzuki moves, which required each actor to create a “fiction” or mental image to build focus. He would first perform and explain the exercise, allow everyone to try it together, provide notes and corrections, and finally give students the chance to watch and perform for each other.

These exercises were taxing, both physically and mentally. One of the most demanding required sustained focus while moving at a measured pace from standing straight to a squatting position, coming to complete stillness, then back up again. Notes were given while legs wobbled from the burn. The amount of time to move shortened between each set of moves before Jones moved to cuing a change in position with a sharp sound from the bamboo stick.

“It was perhaps more challenging than I had initially expected,” Crosby wrote, “but this kind of intense and immersive introduction is, in my experience, the most effective way to learn.”

Between beats and notes, Jones

SARAH NOONAN/ARGOSY challenged students to embrace the obstacles presented by Suzuki.

“Move toward the difficulty, master it, and then, because you’re an artist, immediately identify the next difficulty and move towards that,” he said. “That’s how we grow.”

After a break, Jones and the attendees returned to explore theatrical Viewpoints, a methodology based on Mary Overlie’s original Viewpoints, which are used in dance.

This training focuses on an actor’s relationship with time through tempo, duration, kinesthetic response and repetition. There is also a focus on space through shape, gesture, architecture, spatial relationship and topography.

“A lot of Viewpoints is really

SERIAL

Small Town, Big Mystery

noticing,” Jones explained. “It’s noticing what’s already there and how that can be a part of your work and how you can make it a part of your work.”

The attendees observed the Motyer-Fancy Theatre as a group, naming everything they could see that drew their attention. This included elements such as orange extension cords, symmetry in metal bars, shadows and salt stains on the theatre floor.

Students then explored the space as different genres of instrumental music played. To strings, they worked together to both find harmony and create discord while playing with speed. To a polka, one explored solitude and repetition, squatting and

moving in straight lines. Two worked together in floorwork while a piano melody played; two others chased each other in circles, playing with distance to techno beats.

“Surprise yourself,” Jones said about these improvisations. Some moments were predictable, and he challenged students to “amp it up and then keep going past what you think you know as opposed to what’s safe.”

This wisdom is one of the reasons Crosby viewed the workshop as worthwhile. She wrote, “The chance to learn from him for a few hours was like a small glimpse into the work he uses to create the theatre he does, which is endlessly fascinating to hear about and witness.”

SYLVAN HAMBURGER/ARGOSY

Chapter Six: Ghost Trails MARIA DIME Columnist Ms. Fannon stood still as an anvil, her breath held in, attempting even to keep her hazel eyes in place. She was positioned along the side of Sir Ipswich’s house, wedged in-between the brick wall and a thick cedar hedgerow that ran the entire length of the Victorian mansion. The sound of his muttering grew louder and she caught wind of something about investments and the Orient. For a brief second she saw the hem of his khaki shorts and his sandals before his voice trailed away as he walked into his flower garden. Knowing this was her chance, Ms. Fannon crouched down, shoved open the basement window, and slid into the house.

The drop was the exact height she had expected, but she had expected an uncomfortable distance, and she collapsed when she hit the ground.

Grumbling as she returned to her feet, she found herself in a large, unfinished basement filled with dozens of racing cycles from Sir Ipswich’s youth. (The baron had been a local hero in his youth, once placing third in the Tour de Giro in Italy.

Lincolnshire’s annual race now bore his name.) She reached up to slide

the window closed and made her way up a staircase which took her directly into the unused servant’s kitchen. Ms. Fannon was on a mission, and she had only 20 minutes until Sir Ipswich came in from his morning rounds of the flower garden. She was loosely familiar with the house’s layout (she always snooped about at cocktail parties), and raced through a maze of rooms and then up a spiral staircase to Sir Ipswich’s study at the top on the mansion’s turret.

The study looked as you’d expect a pompous, arrogant, wormlike aristocrat’s study to look, so it needs no description. She set to work at once, pilfering his drawers and notebooks for anything to do with Herr Hansel. The old woman worked at a furious pace, but after 10 minutes she still had not found anything of interest. She peered out the window to check on Ipswich’s whereabouts and could not see him in the garden below. Perfect, that fool must still be back in the hot house. At just that moment, she heard footsteps coming up the stairwell. Panicked, she grabbed all the loose files on the desk, spun open the window and tossed them out, then leapt behind a leopard print loveseat that angled out from the room’s only corner. Seconds

later, Sir Ipswich waltzed into the room, but as he crossed the threshold a cool feeling overtook him (he had a cyclist’s intuition) and he tensed.

“Who’s in here?” he whispered. Ms. Fannon was squatted, motionless, and could feel the dull edge of her knife digging into her thigh. “I’m armed!” he whispered, this time a bit louder, but no less timid.

Without thinking, Ms. Fannon stood up. “Admit it! You killed Herr Hansel!”

Ipswich was stunned. “Ms. Fannon! I… What… In the name of the Queen Mother, what business have you here!?”

“Sir, I have grounds to believe you are responsible for the murder of Herr Hansel. I’ve been privy to some conversations between yourself and Landon. Do not attempt to deny it!” Her hand felt the hilt of her knife below her dress.

“Murder!? Ms. Fannon, I’m afraid there has been some terrible misunderstanding. I was deeply saddened by Herr Hansel’s death. He was … my business partner.”

Ms. Fannon was incredulous.

“And what business would that be?

And what does my boy Landon have to do with this?”

“Ms. Fannon, I can assure you, I

had no involvement in Herr Hansel’s death. Now please, leave my home!”

“Monty, answer my question. I tell you, I too am armed.” Ipswich began to back towards the stairwell.

“Monty! If you were not involved, then please explain this business of yours.”

Her eyes bore down on him with a power she didn’t know she possessed.

“We… we… sold flowers together,

in Germany.

He had the contacts, I had the flowers. The petals of certain flowers, if properly pressed, are extremely valuable to the German aristocracy.”

“And Landon!? What of the boy?”

“Please, forgive me Ms. Fannon.

We sold dahlias of the rarest variety, the most exquisite I’ve ever seen. We sold the dahlias from your garden.”

08 SPORTS & HEALTH

COLUMN

EDITOR: ISAAC DOUCETTE FEBRUARY 15, 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

VARSITY SPORTS

Mounties swim team attends AUS championships, two members qualify for nationals

Introducing a new weekly column from the Wellness Centre HUNTER STEPHENS Peer Educator MELODY PETLOCK SHARE Advisor Under the umbrella of the department of student affairs at Mount Allison, SHARE is a service devoted to educating, helping and supporting students who have experienced gender-based violence such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, homophobia, transphobia or intimate partner violence.

The SHARE team consists of advisor Melody Petlock, peer education mentor Emelyana Titarenko, peer educators, and a team of professionals within Mt. A’s student affairs. Together, we strive to maintain a healthy environment on campus – free of sexual harassment, sexual assault and discrimination based on sex, gender or sexual orientation. Our office is located in the Wellness Centre on the lowest level of the Wallace McCain Student Centre.

Why SHARE needs a column!

Having a column in the Argosy allows our group to further educate and reach out to the Mt. A community.

Encompassed in this, the column will function as a platform to continue the conversation with respect to genderbased violence and discrimination on campus, provide news and updates on campus situations, and increase the presence and awareness of SHARE on campus. In the future, the column will address and discuss student concerns about gender-based violence, inform the community about events and partnerships, elaborate on the SHARE Prevention Strategy for 2017-18, and share support resources.

During the fall semester we were involved in raising awareness of Mi’kmaq History Month and participated in the REDress Project.

The latter involved hanging red dresses around campus to serve as a

visual reminder of the more than 1000 missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. SHARE also coordinated a Love Shouldn’t Hurt campaign in November, drawing attention to emotional and physical abuse in partnered relationships.

Later that month we advocated for 14 days of action and awareness against violence against women.

In recent weeks, you may have seen SHARE posters in washrooms in academic buildings across campus.

These posters addressed cyber harassment and cyber misogyny, which were our focus for the month of January. They were intended to inform the Mt. A community that harassment and misogyny are a prevalent issues that extend into the cyber and social media world. In the coming months, we will focus on raising awareness of sexual assault and harassment and promoting equity at work.

We look forward to the future of this column in its ability to support, help and educate Mt. A students. One of the goals of the weekly column is to encourage conversation within the community and with SHARE. We would appreciate any comments, concerns or feedback that would help improve SHARE’s involvement in the community. With this, anyone in need of support or just in need of someone to talk to is encouraged to reach out to SHARE via our contact information below. If you are looking to become more involved in the Mt. A community and would like to become a part of SHARE, or if you would like more information about SHARE, please visit our page on the Mt. A website. Thank you for taking the time to read this; we look forward to building and maintaining a healthy and positive Mt. A community with you!

Melody Petlock, SHARE Advisor Office: 506-364-2613 Reception: 506-364-2163 E-mail: share@mta.ca

OLIVIA FESCHUK PLACED THIRD IN BOTH THE 100 M AND 200 M BACKSTROKE AND GERAINT BERGER PLACED SECOND IN THE 50 M FREESTYLE AT THE AUS CHAMPIONSHIPS. BOTH QUALIFIED FOR NATIONALS. ROB BLANCHARD/UNB MEDIA SERVICES

KEIFER BELL Sports Reporter The Mount Allison varsity swim team participated in their final meet of the season this past weekend at the AUS championships held in Saint John.

Several Mountie swimmers were successful in their competition and qualified for the U Sports national championships.

Olivia Feschuk is one of two Mounties who qualified for nationals.

A senior from Halifax, she has been a swimmer since she was only five-years-old. “I knew that I wanted to swim for a long time. Since I was young, I paid attention to the AUS swim meets,” she said. “I went to the AUS meets growing up and volunteered when I got older. Seeing Dal swim inspired me to swim in university.” After years of training and watching AUS meets, she has not only participated herself, but is able to say that she won.

Feschuk will be participating in the 200 metre individual medley and 200 metre backstroke at the U Sports National Championships after qualifying at the AUS meet.

Along with Feschuk, Geraint Berger will also be heading to nationals to participate in the 50 metre freestyle race. Berger is also from Halifax and has been swimming since a young

age. The senior swimmer qualified for nationals last year as well and won MVP for the Mt. A swim team at last year’s Night of the Mounties.

Maddie Henry, a third-year swimmer from Toronto and one of the Mounties captains, explained the format of the AUS championships.

“Everyone swims four individual events, and there are two to three relays where we participate as a team,” she said.

“OUR TEAM GOAL IS CHEERING EACH OTHER ON INDIVIDUALLY INSTEAD OF THE AUS TITLE” Both of the men’s and women’s teams finished in fourth place this weekend, but going into the event their goal never was to win the team portion of the event. “Our team goal is cheering each other on individually instead of the AUS title,” Henry said.

Dalhousie University has won the team championship for 17 straight years.

In addition to being an important

meet for qualifying swimmers and recognizing team achievements, the AUS championships was also the last swimming event for seniors on the team.

James Kwan, a senior swimmer from Lethbridge, Alberta, and another captain, talked about how the final meet was emotional for himself and other seniors. Being his last university meet ever, Kwan wanted to savour the emotions of the meet while having fun with the team.

“I’m very proud of what the Mounties have accomplished throughout my years here and hope for continued improvement for those continuing to U Sport Nationals and swimming next year,” he said.

With the season coming to an end, the swimmers anticipate changes to occur in their schedules because they no longer have to be at the pool every week. “Even though it’s nice when swimming is over to have extra time, it’s always nice to have that routine that keeps you on schedule and makes you do your work and not put stuff off,” Henry said.

Olivia Feschuk and Geraint Berger will travel to Toronto on Feb. 22 to participate in their respective events at the U Sports national championships.

EDITOR: ALLISON MACNEILL| FEBRUARY 15, 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

GENDER EQUALITY

OPINIONS 09

THE ARGOSY

The wage gap is not a myth!

w w w. s i n c e 1 8 7 2 . c a Independent Student Newspaper of Mount Allison University Thursday, February 15, 2018 volume 147, issue 16 Since 1872 Circulation 1,000

on Unceded Mi’kmaq Land 62 York Street W. McCain Student Centre Mount Allison University Sackville, New Brunswick

506.540.0231

MIKAILA SHAW Contributor The wage gap: All of us have likely heard about it and felt appalled. Some of us have heard about it and snorted because we couldn’t possibly believe it is true.

Yet, despite what you believe, it is real. This past summer, I experienced it first hand. Without naming the company, I, in 2017, experienced gender bias in the workplace in the form of unequal monetary compensation. I started off the summer excited to be making $12 an hour, because, hey, it was better than minimum wage! A few weeks later, one of my good friends started working with me as well. Two weeks after that, I found out I was making 74 cents less than he was per hour.

We were doing the same job. He had no qualifications that should have placed him above me with regard to our hourly wage, and yet there it was in black in white.

So, for the same job, I was getting 5.8 per cent less per hour than my

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CANADIAN WHITE WOMEN MAKE 87 CENTS FOR EVERY DOLLAR A WHITE MAN EARNS, WHICH IS ONLY A 10 CENT INCREASE SINCE 1981, ACCORDING TO A 2015 REPORT. SARAH NOONAN/ARGOSY

EDITORIAL staff EDITORS-IN-CHIEF | Adrian Kiva, Mirelle Naud MANAGING EDITOR | Mathieu Gallant

male counterpart. Now, I understand this may sound a bit overdramatic, but to put it in perspective, I worked approximately 50 hours per week.

For eight weeks of work I would earn $4,800 while my male friend would earn $5,096, excluding taxes, of course. $200 may not seem like the biggest difference, but in the long run, with all the extra costs of living as a woman (such as a pink razor costing more than one that is blue, a.k.a. the Pink Tax), this difference is huge. I am not naive. I understand the world is not a fair place, but to see this in my pay stubs weekly was extremely harmful to my self-concept. Was my

work not as valuable as my male coworker’s? Was my time worth less than anyone else’s? When confronted about this, the management staff told me not to discuss wages. They offered no explanation except snappy retorts about how other individuals’ income was none of my business.

Sadly, my experience is not the only one like it. The wage gap between white men and women is roughly 7.4 per cent in New Brunswick. Even more than I experienced! And, when the intersection of gender and race occurs, these numbers grow even more. In Canada, racialized men and women earn 77.9 cents and 55.6

cents, respectively, compared to every dollar earned by a white person.

Earnings for trans women can drop to a point where they only earn 66 per cent of what they did before publically transitioning. It is shocking to me that this remains an issue in 2018, where individuals in power are oh-so-quick to claim their feminist badge. This is especially frustrating when the simple request of pay equity seems to cause such a ruckus because many refuse to believe it.

NEWS EDITOR | Maia Herriot, Minnow Holtz-Carriere ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR | Alix Main SPORTS AND HEALTH EDITOR | Isaac Doucette OPINIONS EDITOR | Allison MacNeill HUMOUR EDITOR | Carly Penrose COPY EDITOR | Charlotte Savage

PRODUCTION staff PRODUCTION MANAGER | Marina Mavridis PHOTOGRAPHERS | Gillian Hill, Chaoyi Liang ILLUSTRATION EDITOR | Sylvan Hamburger ILLUSTRATORS | Sarah Noonan, Louis Sobol VIDEOGRAPHER | Louis Sobol VIDEOGRAPHY PRODUCER | Lily Falk ONLINE EDITOR | Marina Mavridis

REPORTING staff NEWS REPORTERS | Amelia Fleming, Lily Falk ARTS & CULTURE REPORTERS | Max Chapman, Ryan Karimi,

How history can save the world

Jena McLean SPORTS REPORTER | Keifer Bell, Hamza Munawar

Learning how to empathize with others is a key aspect of studying history

The world is in trouble. Corporations strip-mine the environment, gather record profits, and then underpay their workers. Powerful demagogues use dog-whistle rhetoric to divide us along political, racial, and religious lines. Most pervasively, amidst all this violence, uncertainty, and hatred, we feel more disconnected from each other and ourselves than ever before.

This disconnection lies at the root of many of the world’s most persistent ills. An inability to connect with other people – in short, a lack of empathy – is at the root of the greed, hatred, and fear plaguing our world. It is the opinion of your correspondent that the study of history can alleviate, even solve, these problems.

When the average reader thinks of academic history they imagine dusty

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ACADEMICS

COLIN ROBERTSON Contributor

E4L 1H3

old tomes being pored over by dusty old men in the hopes of discovering something mildly novel, and they would not be entirely wrong. But the study of history is, at its heart, a human act and one that can teach us to be more human. It forces us to reach across great gulfs of time and distance and tell stories about people with whom we share nothing but our humanity. Our subjects seem to have little in common with us. They were men and women who lived 50, 100, or 500 years ago. Men and women who lived in circumstances utterly alien to our own. Men and women who understood themselves in ways entirely different from our own.

Yet it is the impossible task of the historian to reach out to these citizens of the past and tell their stories with compassion, creativity, and accuracy.

The best histories, and the best historians, understand their subjects to be essentially and inescapably human. That is the starting point for their analysis, and enriches every fact, date, and narrative. In short, good history requires empathy, and without it our stories become dry and useless recitations of events long past.

History can save the world, not by teaching us to avoid the mistakes of the past, but because it can teach the same empathy that it requires of us. The ability to empathize with

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a person who lived in the depths of history makes it immeasurably easier to empathize with someone who lives on the other side of a river, or with a different skin colour, or by a different faith. If we can form a human connection with a Han dynasty peasant or a medieval German monk, then we cannot help but develop the same connection with someone today whose politics, origins, and values appear entirely divorced from ours.

The reading, and especially writing, of good history demands that we become better at connecting with each other and provides us the ready means. In

a world where we obsessively divide ourselves by political alignment, racial and national origin, values, and class, there is an intrinsic value to being able to cut through to the humanness at the core of all of us.

If empathy can salve so many of the world’s ills, bind up so many of its wounds, and right so many of the its wrongs, and if the study of history can improve our ability to connect with each other, then we owe it to ourselves and our children to embark with joyful hearts and ready minds into the past.

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10

OPINIONS

FEBRUARY 15, 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

COLUMN

Trump’s America leaves no room for compassion

THE REV. JOHN C. PERKIN Columnist Donald Trump has issued a directive to the military to begin planning a military parade: hardware and members of the armed forces parading past the White House, the Capitol, and along the way past the Trump Hotel. All this, analysts seem

to think, is simply to satisfy a childish fantasy about displaying power.

I think the prospect of military parades has a much deeper implication than that. While such parades have more traditionally been the preserve of dictatorships in the Southern Hemisphere, Trump now wants the same display of tanks and jets in Washington.

It didn’t take long after the White House confirmed that the directive is, in fact, true, for analysts to start comparing the current American political climate to that of ancient Rome. Distract the masses from the problems of the state, give them bread and circuses. The allusion to bread and circuses is a reference to ancient Rome; the writer Juvenal used the

phrase to speak to the neglect of the citizenship to wider Roman concerns as long as their basic needs of food and entertainment were met. The implication was that the sense of civic duty was being eroded through the government’s ability to keep the population subdued in the face of national challenge by ensuring they were distracted by various and diverse amusements. Noam Chomsky suggested that “maintaining public attention diverted away from the real social problems, captivated by matters of no real importance” is one way in which authoritarian governments maintain their grip on power, especially in the face of challenge.

I think that the real implications of such displays of power are much deeper than simply distraction. It is a sign of bully power at work, and the consequences may be especially strong in the United States.

The Trump administration has been compared to the ancient Roman emperors, and those comparisons continue in the media with this latest distraction from the real business of state. The distractions available in ancient Rome included triumphal parades and also gladiatorial contests, which not only distracted attention from war losses but prepared people for more war, inuring them to pain and death and toughening them against such weaknesses as

compassion. Seneca, writing in the first century, noted that pity was the “vice of a timid mind.” The Romans were not noted for their compassion, and while compassion did exist, it was not universally extended. The degree of compassion felt by a citizen was determined by the status of the victim: the higher the status, the greater the compassion, and the lower the status, the greater the indifference.

The gladiatorial contests contributed to the hardening of Roman hearts to the needs of those who were weaker.

The projected displays of military hardware in the U.S. may serve the same function, not only distracting the populace from civic concerns, but also reminding them of raw power and emboldening them to shy away from such “weak” values as compassion and mercy, especially for those already marginalized. The implications are frightening.

Trump’s bid to Make America Great Again is simply an affirmation of the triumph of power, with a consequent loss of compassion.

America may be on the road to becoming great on the world stage, but that greatness comes at a cost of being human, caring and looking out for others, particularly the weak. Jesus said, “Whoever would be great must be last of all and a servant of all.” I prefer the model that Jesus sets before us, both personally and societally.

PUBLIC POLICY

A bittersweet drink

Imposing an excise tax on refined sugars could be the solution to Canada’s growing health problems

DAVID ARSENAULT Contributor Whether we acknowledge it or not, Canada has a weight problem.

Obesity and diabetes (particularly among youth) are on the rise, as are the associated health costs. Perhaps it is time to shift our perception of this issue from a failing of personal responsibility to a failing of government policy. There are, of course, many different strategies the government could pursue in tackling the nation’s growing health problems; however, today’s inquiry concerns the taxation of added, refined sugars in products such as pop and candy.

To explain, I’d like to draw an analogy between the effects tobacco taxes have had on lung cancer rates and the potential effects that a tax on refined sugars could have on obesity, diabetes and other health issues. According to the World Health Organization, a 10 per cent increase in tobacco prices will reduce consumption by about four per cent in high-income countries. Even if a sugar tax does not have a significant effect on sugar consumption, it would still raise revenue to help fund the ever increasing health-care costs associated with its consumption.

In spite of the pressing need for action, the suggestion has garnered few supporters on either side of the aisle. Often dismissed by the right as

a government overreach that would lead to even more bureaucracy and dismissed by the left as a regressive tax that would further burden those already struggling to get by. With this being the anticipated objections, I will attempt to address both.

Let us begin with the conservative argument. The government oversight of nutritional information is already in place; as such it would likely not require a significant increase in bureaucracy to apply a tax on to those producers. Even if, for the sake of debate, it is conceded that you indeed are not your brother’s keeper – and neither you nor your government should be responsible for the dietary choices and health of others – If we are to have a public health-care system, the public’s health would still very much be the business of the government and, by extension, you. Let us not ignore that the logical progression of this argument would be the removal of the deterrent taxes on tobacco and alcohol as well.

Now, to the argument I suspect the majority of dissenters hold: “The consumption of these items and the health problems associated disproportionately affect lowerincome people, and as such any taxes levied will also disproportionately affect lower income people.” This, of course, assumes said consumption would not change, which is not very likely the case. As most any

A 2016 SENATE REPORT RECOMMENDED TAXING SUGARY DRINKS. THE REPORT ALSO PROPOSED BANNING ADVERTISEMENTS FOR FOOD AND DRINKS DIRECTED AT CHILDREN, AND SUBSIDIZING HEALTHIER FOOD OPTIONS. GILL HILL/ARGOSY study (as well as common sense) will show, lower-income people are highly price-sensitive in purchasing decisions, so it seems reasonable to suggest said consumers would choose healthier alternatives if they became relatively less expensive. Further, the tax revenue from this policy could be used to directly subsidize or otherwise invest in the production of healthier options, further driving down the

cost of healthy eating, and (at the risk of sounding like a “capitalist douchebro”) the increased demand would likely drive private investment toward health food producers.

I expect a great deal of remaining criticism rests on the grounds that health is a complicated, multi-faceted problem; a tax on sugars will do next to nothing to educate the public on living healthy lifestyles. Be careful

not to make the good the enemy of the great. Obviously, a tax is not a comprehensive solution, but it is a step in the right direction, one of many (including better health education) that can reduce the health problems in Canada. A tax on refined sugar will not resolve these problems, but it could help to reduce their dominion, and for that it warrants at least some serious consideration.

HUMOUR 11

EDITOR: CARLY PENROSE | FEBRUARY 15, 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

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ACROSS 1. Hot wing sauce 4. To let someone (often soldiers) stay in your house 10. Canadian tennis prodigy Milos 15. This multiplayer online roleplaying game is set in Tamriel 16. A Mt. A student journal has seven 17. To decorate with fancy things 18. Got the seal of approval 23. To change direction, like in a car 25. Arabic name meaning “lion” 27. Farmed without pesticides 28. Not wide 29. ___ if!

30. This device helps you remember

32. Porta-bed 35. Frowns 36. A test to examine unconscious attitudes 37. What a Douglas fir might drop 39. Aquatic mammal that holds hands when it sleeps 42. Company responsible for the 2K Sports video games 43. A response to a “what’s up?” text, often followed by “hbu?”

44. To involve in conversation 45. When there’s nowhere left to sit at the restaurant 47. Rubies, amethysts, emeralds, e.g.

49. Colour on screens 50. The shining example

ADVICE...?

52. Ways to get there (abbr.)

54. When you think you will get there (acronym) 56. Send one of these electronically instead of in the mail 58. The Pioneer Woman’s first name 60. Morgue mode of transportation 64. Having very little body fat 65. Crunchy breakfast bread 67. Surprise! It’s ____ Incredible!

68. A set of exercises that are used to release muscle tension and trauma 69. Bank known for its green chairs 70. Grape grower 71. The difference between this and a Bloody Mary is clam juice 73. Pre-June

75. The sound a spring makes, in cartoons 77. To counter a nay 78. This type of walk was a common gym class warm up 80. If this is “on you” it means you are responsible 82. The best thing at Bridge Street Café 84. An adjective commonly claimed by cows and Christians 85. “__________ Baker’s man. Bake me a cake as fast as you can…”

86. Danny Zuko’s girlfriend DOWN 1. Conduct ______ 2. What you log in with 3. Happens after you forgive 4. To foreshadow a (potentially bad) outcome 5. Amidst 6. The official name of the Mormon Church (abbr) 7. Muscle heavily targeted by chin ups 8. The window to the soul 9. Modernist author of The Wasteland 10. Egyptian sun god 11. People make much of it about nothing, according to Shakespeare 12. Zygotes of an algae or fungus that occurs when an oosphere is fertilized 13. Powerful, dangerous lobbyist group in the U.S. 14. Like the man who escaped Dorchester prison last week 16. Myself and I’s third companion 19. Doubled makes the name of a drum 20. Untreatable, even for the doctors in Grey’s Anatomy 21. Making people pay for littering, for example 22. Real decorators call it a “piping bag” 24. The smallest state by area (abbr) 26. A chemistry test

EYES ON THE OLYMPICS

31. Pana____ means a universal solution for all problems or “ills” 32. A dorm that is not separated by gender 33. Not in front, behind or under 34. If you show this, you are showing determination and perseverance 35. Soccer superstar from Brazil 38. Like many movie effects these days 40. A bit late 41. The best way to post embarrassing pictures of your friends (especially on Thursdays) 46. Lesser-known brewery in Halifax 48. To do with hospitals and doctors 51. Spooky exclamation 53. Not “yous” 55. Everyone thought this 90s toy would be worth a lot someday 57. At this very moment 58. Carly Jepsen’s second name 59. Art shop on your laptop 60. Where the second-stringers sit 61. Take dangerous amounts of something 62. Famous for his fables 63. Sassy walk 64. How university years are divided, for short 65. Turner, Fey and Belcher 66. ______’s Big Moka was a documentary film from the 70s 70. This B.C. city’s university is sometimes called U-___ 72. Ancient Greek prefix meaning “up, on, again” 74. Like Joan, or a well-developed character story 75. Millennial term of endearment 76. These often settle tie games 77. A diagnostic category which included Asperger’s Syndrome 79. How Scooby-Doo might say “no” 81. Not an Ave. or a Rd. 82. I’ll allow it 83. What you click on many websites to translate the page to English Answers will be on twitter next week! (@The_Argosy)

Events overlooked at PyeongChang 2018 CARLY PENROSE Humor Editor

nah.

xoxo, Trill

MEME TEAM

The Olympics are an exciting time: All the adrenaline, the uncharacteristically brutal Canadian competitiveness and the one time every four years that lets us appreciate our winters. Much like all institutions and cultural phenomena, the Olympics are constantly changing, with new sports being added to the games all the time. Lucky for you, we at Humour HQ have gotten our hands on the list of “honorable mention” sports that almost made it to Pyeongchang.

1. Speed Scraping How fast can you scrape all the ice off

Joke of the week: WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO PUT ON EYELINER? “HOLLOW BEATBOX” AND “KRAMER TANK” /SUBMITTED

JUST WING IT

MARY MCGAFFEY /SUBMITTED

your car? Speed is the most important thing here, but finesse and attention to detail are also considered. Turning the defrost on during the event is grounds for disqualification.

2. Negative Naked Mile Self-explanatory. However, since beer pong – I’m sorry, beer table tennis – hasn’t made it to the Warm Olympics, this event was unfortunately disqualified from consideration for PyeongChang 2018.

3. Figure Falling Who can fall on ice most fantastically.

The elusive “catch your footing at the last minute” move has yet to be completed in competition to this day!

4. Bobslide How far can your car slide on an icy driveway before you just give up

WHEN ROLL UP THE RIM SEASON COINCIDES WITH MIDTERM SEASON

trying and hope for the best?

5. Snow Slog You know how rugby is kinda like football, but without all the equipment? Well, this is like snowshoeing, but without the equipment or mental preparation.

Think: trying to walk to an 8:30 class when you were expecting (and deserving of) a snow day.

6. Competitive Breathing Who can breathe -35 degree air the longest without their nostrils sticking together or without sharp, searing pain in their lungs? This one is real a test of endurance.

So as you’re watching the olympics, don’t forget to respect the sports that could have been. Go Canada!

12 HIRING

FEBRUARY 15, 2018 | ARGOSY@MTA.CA

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